strange and random happenstance

The Cloisters by Katy Hays
Published by: Atria Books
Publication Date: November 1st, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In this "sinister, jaw-dropping" (Sarah Penner, author of The Lost Apothecary) debut novel, a circle of researchers uncover a mysterious deck of tarot cards and shocking secrets in New York's famed Met Cloisters.

When Ann Stilwell arrives in New York City, she expects to spend her summer working as a curatorial associate at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Instead, she finds herself assigned to The Cloisters, a Gothic museum and garden renowned for its medieval art collection and its group of enigmatic researchers studying the history of divination.

Desperate to escape her painful past, Ann is happy to indulge the researchers' more outlandish theories about the history of fortune telling. But what begins as academic curiosity quickly turns into obsession when Ann discovers a hidden 15th-century deck of tarot cards that might hold the key to predicting the future. When the dangerous game of power, seduction, and ambition at The Cloisters turns deadly, Ann becomes locked in a race for answers as the line between the arcane and the modern blurs.

A haunting and magical blend of genres, The Cloisters is a gripping debut that will keep you on the edge of your seat."

I've visited the amazing site that is The Cloisters and everything about this book screams must read to me, it seems like it has the atmosphere perfectly captured with just that hint of magic.

Deliberate Cruelty by Roseanne Montillo
Published by: Atria Books
Publication Date: November 1st, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"This glittering, "wild romp of a story, boldly and beautifully told" (Neal Thompson, author of The First Kennedys) explores the darkly intertwined fates of infamous socialite Ann Woodward and literary icon Truman Capote, sweeping us to the upper echelons of Manhattan’s high society - where falls from grace are all the more shocking.

When Ann Woodward shot her husband, banking heir Billy Woodward, in the middle of the night in 1955, her life changed forever. Though she claimed she thought he was a prowler, few believed the woman who had risen from charismatic showgirl to popular socialite. Everyone had something to say about the scorching scandal afflicting one of the most rich and famous families of New York City, but no one was more obsessed with the tale than Truman Capote.

Acclaimed for his bestselling nonfiction book In Cold Blood, Capote was looking for new material and followed the scandal from beginning to end. Like Ann, he too had ascended from nobody to toast of the town, but he always felt like an outsider, even among the exclusive coterie of high society women who adored him. He decided the story of Ann’s turbulent marriage would be the basis of his masterpiece - a novel about the dysfunction and sordid secrets revealed to him by his high society "swans" - never thinking that it would eventually lead to Ann’s suicide and his own scandalous downfall.

"A 20th-century morality tale of enduring fascination" (Laura Thompson, author of The Heiresses), Deliberate Cruelty is a haunting cross between true crime and literary history that is perfect for fans of Furious Hours, Empty Mansions, and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil."

Thanks to Ryan Murphy we must all become obsessed with Truman Capote right now. Although I already was...

The Stolen Book of Evelyn Aubrey by Serena Burdick
Published by: Park Row
Publication Date: November 1st, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"What if you could write a new ending for yourself?

England, 1898. When Evelyn first married the famous novelist William Aubrey, she was dazzled by his brilliance. But their newlywed bliss is brief when William is gripped by writer's block, and he becomes jealous of Evelyn's writing talent. When he commits the ultimate betrayal - stealing a draft of her novel and passing it off as his own--Evelyn decides to write her way out of their unhappy marriage.

California, 2006. Abigail always wondered about her father, his identity forever lost when her mother unexpectedly died. Or so Abigail thought, until she stumbled upon his photo and a message that her great-great-grandmother was the author Evelyn Aubrey, leading Abigail on a journey to England in search for answers. There, she learns of Evelyn's shocking disappearance and how London society believed she was murdered. But from what she uncovers about Evelyn, Abigail believes her brilliant great-great-grandmother had another plot up her sleeve.

Rich in atmosphere and emotion, The Stolen Book of Evelyn Aubrey tells the story of literary secrets, a family curse and the lengths women will go to take charge of their future."

Family secrets and mysteries, yes please!

A House Divided by Judith Cutler
Published by: Severn House
Publication Date: November 1st, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 240 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Stranded at a house party - when a murderer strikes.

May 1861, Victorian England. When Matthew and Harriet Rowsley are invited to a house party at Clunston Park by Matthew's cousin, Colonel Barrington Rowsley and his wife Lady Hortensia, Harriet is nervous - surely the aristocratic guests will snub her? After all, they are but mere servants in their eyes Her fears are realised on their first evening when the only person who deigns to speak to her is the spiteful Grafin Weiser and confirmed when she commits a major faux-pas at the cricket match the following day.

But there's no escape The cricket match is abandoned due to a storm, and flooding leaves the house guests stranded. Things worsen when Grafin Weiser is found murdered and the finger is quickly pointed at Clara, an eleven-year-old maid as the culprit. Convinced that she cannot be guilty, Harriet and Matthew agree to investigate.

The aristocratic facade begins to crumble under their scrutiny, and they start to unlock the secrets of Clunston Park. Why does the Colonel allow his bullying friend Major Jameson so much leeway? Is there more to the befuddled Lord Pidgeon than meets the eye? Harriet and Matthew must uncover the truth, before they find themselves in deadly danger."

Oh, people trapped in a house with secrets, oh no, what could possibly go wrong? Murder you say!?!

A Restless Truth by Freya Marske
Published by: Tordotcom
Publication Date: November 1st, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A Restless Truth is the second entry in Freya Marske's beloved, award-winning Last Binding trilogy, the queer historical fantasy series that began with A Marvellous Light.

Magic! Murder! Shipboard romance!

Maud Blyth has always longed for adventure. She expected plenty of it when she volunteered to serve as an old lady's companion on an ocean liner, in order to help her beloved older brother unravel a magical conspiracy that began generations ago.

What she didn't expect was for the old lady in question to turn up dead on the first day of the voyage. Now she has to deal with a dead body, a disrespectful parrot, and the lovely, dangerously outrageous Violet Debenham, who's also returning home to England. Violet is everything that Maud has been trained to distrust yet can't help but desire: a magician, an actress, and a magnet for scandal.

Surrounded by the open sea and a ship full of suspects, Maud and Violet must first drop the masks that they’ve both learned to wear before they can unmask a murderer and somehow get their hands on a magical object worth killing for - without ending up dead in the water themselves."

All I ask is for some proper worldbuilding in this installment. Just some. Please.

The Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. Holmberg
Published by: 47north
Publication Date: November 1st, 2022
Format: Paperback, 347 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A house of haunted history and ill temper. Make yourself at home in this beguiling novel of love, magic, and danger by Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Charlie N. Holmberg.

Rhode Island, 1846. Estranged from his family, writer Merritt Fernsby is surprised when he inherits a remote estate in the Narragansett Bay. Though the property has been uninhabited for more than a century, Merritt is ready to call it home - until he realizes he has no choice. With its doors slamming shut and locking behind him, Whimbrel House is not about to let Merritt leave. Ever.

Hulda Larkin of the Boston Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms has been trained in taming such structures in order to preserve their historical and magical significance. She understands the dangers of bespelled homes given to tantrums. She advises that it's in Merritt's best interest to make Whimbrel House their ally. To do that, she'll need to move in, too.

Prepared as she is with augury, a set of magic tools, and a new staff trained in the uncanny, Hulda's work still proves unexpectedly difficult. She and Merritt grow closer as the investigation progresses, but the house's secrets run deeper than they anticipated. And the sentient walls aren't their only concern - something outside is coming for the enchantments of Whimbrel House, and it could be more dangerous than what rattles within."

Bespelled homes? Yes, I totally believe.

Cruel Illusions by Margie Fuston
Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication Date: November 1st, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 5122 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Caraval meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer in this deliciously dark young adult fantasy about a girl who makes a deal with a magical secret society to enter a potentially deadly competition for the chance to avenge her mother’s death.

Ever since a vampire murdered her mother, Ava has been determined to get revenge. This all-encompassing drive has given her the fuel she needed to survive foster home after foster home.

But it’s been ten years since anyone's seen a vampire, and Ava has lost hope that she'll ever find one…until she stumbles across a hidden magic show where she witnesses impossible illusions. The magicians may not be the bloodsuckers she’s hunting, but Ava is convinced something supernatural is at play, so she sneaks backstage and catches them in acts they can’t explain.

But they've been waiting for her.

The magicians reveal they're part of an ancient secret society with true magic, and Ava has the same power in her blood that they do. If she joins them, they promise to teach her the skills she needs to hunt vampires and avenge her mother. But there's a catch: if she wants to keep the power they offer, she needs to prove she's worthy of it. And to do so, she must put on the performance of her life in a sinister and dangerous competition where illusion and reality blur, and the stakes are deadly."

Of course you have to prove you're worthy of you inheritance, sigh, just like Buffy!

The Ones We Burn by Rebecca Mix
Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication Date: November 1st, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 480 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Love and duty collide in this richly imagined, atmospheric young adult debut about a witch whose dark powers put her at the center of a brewing war between the only family she’s ever known and the enemy who makes her question everything.

Monster. Butcher. Bloodwinn.

Ranka is tired of death. All she wants now is to be left alone, living out her days in Witchik's wild north with the coven that raised her, attempting to forget the horrors of her past. But when she is named Bloodwinn, the next treaty bride to the human kingdom of Isodal, her coven sends her south with a single directive: kill him. Easy enough, for a blood-witch whose magic compels her to kill.

Except the prince is gentle, kind, and terrified of her. He doesn’t want to marry Ranka; he doesn’t want to be king at all. And it's his sister - the wickedly smart, infuriatingly beautiful Princess Aramis - who seems to be the real threat.

But when witches start turning up dead, murdered by a mysterious, magical plague, Aramis makes Ranka an offer: help her develop a cure, and in return, she'll help Ranka learn to contain her deadly magic. As the coup draws nearer and the plague spreads, Ranka is forced to question everything she thought she knew about her power, her past, and who she’s meant to fight for. Soon, she will have to decide between the coven that raised her and the princess who sees beyond the monster they shaped her to be.

But as the bodies pile up, a monster may be exactly what they need."

I judge a lot of books on if their made up turns of phrase sound right and trip lightly off the tongue. So here's to Bloodwinn and all the logical yet fantastical names Rebecca Mix has created!

The World We Make by N.K. Jemisin
Published by: Orbit
Publication Date: November 1st, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Four-time Hugo Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author N.K. Jemisin crafts a glorious tale of identity, resistance, magic and myth.

All is not well in the city that never sleeps. Even though the avatars of New York City have temporarily managed to stop the Woman in White from invading - and destroying the entire universe in the process - the mysterious capital "E" Enemy has more subtle powers at her disposal. A new candidate for mayor wielding the populist rhetoric of gentrification, xenophobia, and "law and order" may have what it takes to change the very nature of New York itself and take it down from the inside.

In order to defeat him, and the Enemy who holds his purse strings, the avatars will have to join together with the other Great Cities of the world in order to bring her down for good and protect their world from complete destruction.

N.K. Jemisin's Great Cities Duology, which began with The City We Became and concludes with The World We Make, is a masterpiece of speculative fiction from one of the most important writers of her generation."

I love duologies. I love N.K. Jemisin.

Wait for Me by Sara Shepard
Published by: Union Square and Co.
Publication Date: November 1st, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Drowning in déjà vu...

Who is Casey Rhodes? Is she a no-nonsense realist or a hopeless romantic? A just-getting-by scholarship student or a sometimes-Cinderella dating the cool, cultured heir to a media empire and New York City's most eligible? At seventeen years old and already in her sophomore year at NYU, Casey sheds disguises effortlessly. It's how she navigates school and avoids the second-guessing that's plagued her since she and her boyfriend Marcus got together.

But then Casey starts hearing voices that terrify her so badly she flees to the remote beach town of Avon where she can sort through her thoughts and reset. But the voices only get more intense and are now accompanied by visions of places she's never been and people she's never met, like Jake who's lived in Avon his whole life. There's no way Casey could know him, yet she feels an immediate connection. And, crazier still: he feels it too. Together they search for answers, finding only questions - about their connection, Avon, Casey's memories... And whose voice is she hearing inside her head?"

Yes, yes, voices in your head and memories that aren't yours... or are they?

A Visit by Shirley Jackson
Published by: Biblioasis
Publication Date: November 1st, 2022
Format: Paperback
To Buy

The official patter:
"World-renowned cartoonist Seth returns with three new ghost stories for 2022.

Margaret visits the lavish home of her friend Carla Rhodes for the summer holidays. But when Carla's brother arrives with a mysterious friend, strange occurrences cause tensions to rise within the group, and secrets hidden within the house begin to emerge."

SO excited to have Seth pick Shirley Jackson this year!

Theft of an Idol by Dana Stabenow
Published by: Head of Zeus
Publication Date: November 1st, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 272 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"When Cleopatra's most beloved actress disappears, her new Eye of Isis must solve a case that will lead to the darkest corners of Alexandria.

From the palaces of Alexandria reigns Cleopatra - seventh of her name, avatar of the goddess Isis, ruler of the Kingdom of Egyp - surrounded by riches untold. Through the streets of her great city bustle scholars and sailors, politicians and priests. For those with the means, it is a comfortable life.

But not all are invited to share in the wealth of Egypt's first city. For the peasants and farmers, their lives lie in the hands of the gods and the harvest. Unless, that is, they can find other methods to feed their families. Other, less savory methods.

When Herminia, one of Alexandria's most beloved actresses, disappears on the eve of a great performance, Cleopatra sets Tetisheri, her Eye, to investigate. In her search for the truth, Tetisheri will uncover a mystery that will take her to the city’s darkest corners..."

All things Egypt all the time!

Duke in a Box by Various
Published by: Zealous Quill Press
Publication Date: November 1st, 2022
Format: Kindle
To Buy

The official patter:
"Twelve novellas from your favorite historical romance authors featuring never-before-published steamy holiday stories. Don’t miss this limited time collection - on sale only from November 1-December 31, 2022."

Whomever thought up the title for this book I raise a glass to you. I still can't stop laughing.

Dead and Gondola by Ann Claire
Published by: Bantam
Publication Date: November 1st, 2022
Format: Paperback, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In this series debut, a mysterious bookshop visitor dies under murderous circumstances, compelling the Christie sisters and their cat, Agatha, to call on all they've learned about solving mysteries from their favorite novelist.

Ellie Christie is thrilled to begin a new chapter. She's recently returned to her tiny Colorado hometown to run her family's historic bookshop with her elder sister, Meg, and their beloved cat, Agatha. Perched in a Swiss-style hamlet accessible by ski gondola and a twisty mountain road, the Book Chalet is a famed bibliophile destination known for its maze of shelves and relaxing reading lounge. At least, until trouble blows in with a wintry whiteout. A man is found dead on the gondola, and a rockslide throws the town into lockdown - no one in, no one out.

The victim was a mysterious stranger who'd visited the bookshop. At the time, his only blunders had been disrupting a book club and leaving behind a first-edition Agatha Christie novel, written under a pseudonym. However, once revealed, the man's identity shocks the town. Motives and secrets swirl like the snow, but when the police narrow in on the sisters' close friends, the Christies have to act.

Although the only Agatha in their family tree is their cat, Ellie and Meg know a lot about mysteries and realize they must summon their inner Miss Marple to trek through a blizzard of clues before the killer turns the page to their final chapter."

Come on, a bookshop and a crime solving cat!?! Even if that cat does nothing the cat is there and I am sold.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Ann Claire, Charlie N. Holmberg, Dana Stabenow, Duke in a Box, Freya Marske, Judith Cutler, Katy Hays, Margie Fuston, N.K.Jemisin, Rebecca Mix, Roseanne Montillo, Sara Shepard, Serena Burdick, Shirley Jackson

Envious Casca by Georgette Heyer
Published by: Arrow
Publication Date: 1941
Format: Paperback, 384 Pages
Rating: ★★★★
To Buy (different edition than one reviewed)

Joseph Herriard wants a real English Christmas. With family, friends, and figgy pudding. After years abroad treading the boards he's returned home to Lexham Manor and his older brother Nat. While Joseph embodies the spirit of Christmas his brother embodies that of Ebenezer Scrooge. Needless to say, Nathaniel is not thrilled with having people descend on his home for the holidays. The holidays are just an excuse to force people whose only connection is blood to get together and argue. But Joseph has high hopes, even if his guest list might be a bit problematic being heavy on the relatives. First there's Joseph's wife, Maud, then there's their deceased brother's children, Stephen Herriard and his gold-digging fiance Valerie Dean, Paula Herriard, who brings a young playwright, Willoughby Roydon, in tow hoping her uncle will fund his new play which she will star in, Mathilda Clare, a distant cousin, and Edgar Mottisfont, Nat's old business partner. All these people don't get along at the best of times and they all want something from Nat. In particular, they all want what he's worked hard for; money. But why should he fund the bad play of a nobody? Why should he give his nephew funds against his expectations? Mathilda is the only one who can see what's coming, "[t]here'll be murder before we're through." Nat misses dinner. This isn't like Nat at all. His bedroom door is locked. Stephen and Joseph break it down to find that Nat is dead, stabbed in the back, though the murder weapon is missing. And all six guests, not to mention the inhabitants and servants of Lexham Manor, all have a motive. Inspector Hemingway of Scotland Yard isn't pleased to be called in on Christmas Day during a snowstorm. But murder is murder no matter when it happens and he has one to solve. A locked room whodunit with way too many suspects.

I don't completely know why it is that murder fits the bill around the holidays. I bookmarked an article to read the other day talking about this phenomena and then I promptly forgot to go back and read it. Probably because I know why they are comforting to me. It's not just the vicarious thrill of watching relatives be murdered, though perhaps this is a nice release of the pressure valve that has stopped you from committing familicide. They just make it feel like everything is right in the world. It's a small little world we can inhabit for a short while where everything makes sense and everything is under control. Sure there's death, but it's a death that makes sense. They were murdered for a certain reason, it's not the capricious nature of fate but someone with a score to settle. Murder mysteries literally are like comfort food to me and during the holidays is when we all turn to comfort food and cookies. Like how Midsomer Murders is cozy while still having the highest body count of any murder mystery out there. Seriously, I think in one episode we didn't just hit double digits, but somewhere around twenty people died if you took into account a historical tunnel collapse. Here's the thing, give me a country house, a murder, and something that forces everyone to stay put and I'm a happy camper. Therefore Envious Casca fit the bill perfectly. And it had the added bonus of being a locked room mystery taking place during a snowstorm. It ticked all the boxes. Sure, the cast of characters aren't the nicest lot. In fact any one of them could have been killed and I would have been fine with it. But I just loved the puzzle of it all. Who was where when. All the different rooms, all the preposterous alibis, this was a very cleverly engineered piece of malice and murder. And unlike the previous book involving Inspector Hemingway that I read the atmosphere and the environment added so much that I couldn't help but enjoy it. Savor it this holiday season!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Christmas, English, Envious Casca, Familicide, Georgette Heyer, Lexham Manor, Locked Room, Midsomer Murders, Murder, Murder Most Foul, Mystery, Nathaniel Herriard, No Wind of Blame, Scotland Yard, Scrooge

No Wind of Blame by Georgette Heyer
Published by: Arrow
Publication Date: 1939
Format: Paperback, 352 Pages
Rating: ★
To Buy (different edition than one reviewed)

Ermyntrude Carter is hosting a shooting party at her home, Palings. Little does she realize that it won't be fowl that is shot. She is a former actress and a wealthy widow with a precocious daughter, Vicki, who likes her ensemble to match the moment and the character she is emoting. A flair for the dramatic runs in the family. Ermyntrude made the mistake of choosing the feckless and philandering Wally Carter as her second husband and it has caused her no end of headaches. But if her guest, the Georgian Prince Alexis Varasashvil, has anything to say about it Wally won't be Ermyntrude's husband for much longer. She has put up with Wally's scheming and his sighing and his complaining, but knocking up a local girl might just be the last straw. And as for the blackmail letter.... Well, the Prince's offer of marriage is looking better and better. Who cares if he's also a fortune hunter? He's better than the one she's got. But then the one she's got claims that someone has taken a shot at him. No one believes Wally and what's more, no one cares. But then attempted murder because murder when Wally is shot and killed. He was crossing over a little bridge to the neighbor's house to discuss a new get-rich-quick scheme he's thought up and that, as they say, was that. But no one was near the weapon and it just doesn't seem possible. How can a weapon fire without someone on the trigger? The only evidence of a crime really is Wally's corpse. The local police see this murder as way beyond their pay grade and call in Scotland Yard. Inspector Hemingway arrives on the case and sees that everyone has a motive, from the misused wife, to the courting prince, to the quirky step-daughter, to the ward, to the neighbor, all the way down to the brother of the pregnant girl. And each and every one of them isn't being very cooperative or honest. But if Inspector Hemingway is honest he realizes that first they need to figure out how Wally was killed before they can come to a who. The method will reveal the murderer. Or at least that's the hope.

I picked up No Wind of Blame for one reason and one reason only, I wanted to read Envious Casca. I have a deep seeded need to read holiday themed murder mysteries during the month of December. If it's set up as a locked room murder mystery with the snowbound residents of a country estate as the only suspects, well, all the better. And that in a nutshell is the glory of Envious Casca. But I saw it was the second book in the Inspector Hemingway series so obviously I felt I had to read No Wind of Blame first. I really shouldn't have done this because this book was truly awful. And to add insult to injury, Inspector Hemingway is hardly in it. So really, what was the point? Plus now that they've renumbered the series and this is the sixth in the "Inspectors Hannasyde and Hemingway" series I don't think if I had had four more books to read before getting to Envious Casca I would have ever made it. In fact most Georgette Heyer fans have a strict policy of not reading her mysteries. I can kind of see why if this was the only one I'd read. But my main problem was that the blurb on the back cover basically gave away the whole plot. AKA, why I write my own blurbs for my reviews. They're the blurbs books should have had in my mind. I remember years ago in his book The Polysyllabic Spree where he recounted his love of reading Nick Hornby called out whomever wrote the blurb to his copy of Wilkie Collins's No Name. The book has an ingenious twist that the blurb gave away. His advice was to buy the book but read nothing on it and I did just that. I mean I'm very anti spoilers, but if someone blurts out something in the heat of the moment it's far less egregious an error than writing it out, getting it approved, and then getting it printed on the back of a book. Did no one go, hey, perhaps we shouldn't say this? Maybe they assumed as the book was written in World War II that spoilers no longer mattered. Spoilers always matter! But more importantly is unique characters, kindness to fellow humans, oh, and not having a twist out of a Bond movie!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Envious Casca, Georgette Heyer, Inspector Hannasyde, Inspector Hemingway, Murder, Murder Most Foul, Nick Hornby, No Name, No Wind of Blame, Scotland Yard, Spoilers, The Polysyllabic Spree, Wilkie Collins

The Rise of the Dragon by George R.R. Martin
Published by: Ten Speed Press
Publication Date: October 25th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"This lavish visual history - featuring over 180 all-new illustrations - is a stunning introduction to House Targaryen, the iconic family at the heart of HBO's Game of Thrones prequel series, House of the Dragon.

For hundreds of years, the Targaryens sat the Iron Throne of Westeros while their dragons ruled the skies. The story of the only family of dragonlords to survive Valyria's Doom is a tale of twisty politics, alliances and betrayals, and acts both noble and craven. The Rise of the Dragon chronicles the creation and rise of Targaryen power in Westeros, covering the history first told in George R. R. Martin's epic Fire and Blood, from Aegon Targaryen's conquest of Westeros through to the infamous Dance of the Dragons - the bloody civil war that nearly undid Targaryen rule for good.

Packed with all-new artwork, the Targaryens - and their dragons - come vividly to life in this deluxe reference book. Perfect for fans steeped in the lore of Westeros, as well as those who first meet the Targaryens in the HBO series House of the Dragon, The Rise of the Dragon provides a must-have overview for anyone looking to learn more about the most powerful family in Westeros."

This will also help stave off any House of the Dragon withdrawals. Also, with the speed the series is moving, it will need more material to work with, because we've seen what happens when they don't have original material to work with...

Into the Riverlands by Nghi Vo
Published by: Tordotcom
Publication Date: October 25th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 112 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Nghi Vo's Locus and Igynte Award Finalist, and Crawford and Hugo Award-Winning Series, The Singing Hills Cycle, continues...

Wandering cleric Chih of the Singing Hills travels to the riverlands to record tales of the notorious near-immortal martial artists who haunt the region. On the road to Betony Docks, they fall in with a pair of young women far from home, and an older couple who are more than they seem. As Chih runs headlong into an ancient feud, they find themself far more entangled in the history of the riverlands than they ever expected to be.

Accompanied by Almost Brilliant, a talking bird with an indelible memory, Chih confronts old legends and new dangers alike as they learn that every story - beautiful, ugly, kind, or cruel - bears more than one face.

The Singing Hills Cycle

The Empress of Salt and Fortune
When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain
Into the Riverlands

The novellas of The Singing Hills Cycle are linked by the cleric Chih, but may be read in any order, with each story serving as an entry point."

Go on, read it, you know you just don't want to but you need to!

Sign Here by Claudia Lux
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: October 25th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 416 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A darkly humorous, surprisingly poignant, and utterly gripping debut novel about a guy who works in Hell (literally) and is on the cusp of a big promotion if only he can get one more member of the wealthy Harrison family to sell their soul.

Peyote Trip has a pretty good gig in the deals department on the fifth floor of Hell. Sure, none of the pens work, the coffee machine has been out of order for a century, and the only drink on offer is Jägermeister, but Pey has a plan - and all he needs is one last member of the Harrison family to sell their soul.

When the Harrisons retreat to the family lake house for the summer, with their daughter Mickey's precocious new friend, Ruth, in tow, the opportunity Pey has waited a millennium for might finally be in his grasp. And with the help of his charismatic coworker Calamity, he sets a plan in motion.

But things aren't always as they seem, on Earth or in Hell. And as old secrets and new dangers scrape away at the Harrisons' shiny surface, revealing the darkness beneath, everyone must face the consequences of their choices."

It's a workplace comedy and a Faustian bargain and a family drama all in one!

The Man Who Fell to Earth by Dan Watters and Dev Pramanik
Published by: Titan Comics
Publication Date: October 25th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 128 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"An all-new, fully-authorised graphic novel adaptation of the cult 1976 movie starring David Bowie and directed by Nicholas Roeg.

This book includes a gallery of never-before-seen photos used to illustrate an exclusive feature on the making of the movie. Also included is a bonus section showcasing the development of the book itself.

The film, based on the classic science fiction novel by Walter Trevis, sees an extra-terrestrial called Thomas Jerome Newton (played in the movie by David Bowie) land on Earth in search of water to save his dying home planet. Using his advanced scientific knowledge, Thomas becomes incredibly rich and uses his wealth to search for a way to transport water back to his home planet. But as his mission on Earth drags on, Thomas becomes seduced by the excesses of our world and desperate to return home unaware he has become a target of interest for the U.S. Government and a sinister corporation, eager to exploit him.

The all-new graphic novel also features exclusive bonus material including a 10-page article on the production of the original film illustrated with dozens of rarely seen on-set photographs. As well as cover concepts, character designs, a 'script to art' section chronicling the development of the artwork, and a reproduction of the original movie poster."

When you're craving some David Bowie but don't have the emotional resources to watch The Man Who Fell to Earth again this is for you!

Ghost Talker by Byrd Nash
Published by: Rook and Castle Press
Publication Date: October 25th, 2022
Format: Kindle, 163 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Madame Elinor Chalamet battles a ghost in the Beyond.

Trained as a medium by the elite Morpheus Society, Elinor Chalamet uses her skills to aid the police while she hunts for her father's killer in the coastal city of Alenbonne.

But a dead body found in the canal puts her in deep with royal matters. And she might even succeed in solving the mystery if Tristan Fontaine, duke de Archambeau, would stop getting in her way.

The first of a six part gaslamp fantasy ghost mystery series featuring a strong female character in a slow burn romance."

Gaslamp fantasy with a medium, hell yes!

Butcher's Work by Harold Schechter
Published by: University Of Iowa Press
Publication Date: October 25th, 2022
Format: Paperback, 256 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A Civil War veteran who perpetrated one of the most ghastly mass slaughters in the annals of U.S. crime. A nineteenth-century female serial killer whose victims included three husbands and six of her own children. A Gilded Age "Bluebeard" who did away with as many as fifty wives throughout the country. A decorated World War I hero who orchestrated a murder that stunned Jazz Age America. While other infamous homicides from the same eras - the Lizzie Borden slayings, for example, or the "thrill killing" committed by Leopold and Loeb - have entered into our cultural mythology, these four equally sensational crimes have largely faded from public memory. A quartet of gripping historical true-crime narratives, Butcher's Work restores these once-notorious cases to vivid, dramatic life."

Yes, let's bring to light all the crazy killers of America's past! But first, can we talk about the perfection of the cover design with the blood drop being the apostrophe?

Murder at the Majestic Hotel by Clara McKenna
Published by: Kensington
Publication Date: October 25th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Against all expectations in Edwardian England, newly married American heiress Stella Kendrick and British aristocrat Viscount "Lyndy" Lyndhurst are bucking traditions - and investigating murder - on their honeymoon in the latest installment of the Stella and Lyndy Mysteries from acclaimed author Clara McKenna.

Leaving behind tragedies surrounding their wedding at Morrington Hall, travel-worn Stella and Lyndy arrive at the grand Majestic Hotel in York to more misfortune - their stately honeymoon suite has been given away to Horace Wingrove, owner of England's largest confectionery. Stella refuses to let an innocent booking mistake spoil the mood, but her optimism vanishes when Horace suffocates in the room where she and Lyndy should have stayed...

Unlike authorities on the scene, Stella can't believe the business magnate's death can be explained away as an accident. Troubling signs are everywhere - strange murmurs in the hallway, tight-lipped hotel staff, and a stolen secret recipe for Wingrave's famous chocolate. Then there are Horace's murky intentions for visiting the historic cathedral city, and those who were closely watching his every move...

As Stella and Lyndy tour Yorkshire and mingle with royals as husband and wife, they face a sinister mystery that puts their vows to the test. Can the couple work together to discover the truth about their romantic destination and the strange happenings haunting their trip before they’re treated to another terrifying surprise?"

Because NOTHING says honeymoon for a crime solving duo than murder!

A Trace of Poison by Colleen Cambridge
Published by: Kensington
Publication Date: October 25th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 272 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Phyllida Bright, housekeeper to the grand dame of murder mysteries, Agatha Christie, must uncover the killer among a throng of crime writers in this sparkling new historical mystery from acclaimed writer Colleen Cambridge.

In England's stately manor houses, murder is not generally a topic for polite conversation. Mallowan Hall, home to Agatha Christie and her husband, Max, is the exception. And housekeeper Phyllida Bright delights in discussing gory plot details with her friend and employer...

The neighboring village of Listleigh has also become a hub of grisly goings-on, thanks to a Murder Fête organized to benefit a local orphanage. Members of The Detection Club - a group of celebrated authors such as G.K. Chesterton, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Agatha herself - will congregate for charitable events, including a writing contest for aspiring authors. The winner gets an international publishing contract, and entrants have gathered for a cocktail party - managed by the inimitable Phyllida - when murder strikes too close even for her comfort.

It seems the victim imbibed a poisoned cocktail intended for Alastair Whittlesby, president of the local writers' club. The insufferable Whittlesby is thought to be a shoo-in for the prize, and ambition is certainly a worthy motive. But narrowing down these suspects could leave even Phyllida’s favorite fictional detective, M. Poirot, twirling his mustache in frustration.

It's a mystery too intriguing for Phyllida to resist, but one fraught with duplicity and danger, for every guest is an expert in murder - and how to get away with it..."

I love Colleen Gleason under whatever name she writes, but getting in The Detection Club makes this one a favorite!

A Murder at Balmoral by Chris McGeorge
Published by: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Publication Date: October 25th, 2022
Format: Paperback, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The Crown meets Clue in this delightful locked-room mystery, sure to charm Agatha Christie fans and keep readers guessing to the end.

The king is dead. The killer is in the family. Solving this murder will be a royal pain.

The royal family has gathered at their Scottish retreat, Balmoral Castle, for a traditional Christmas. As a blizzard gathers outside and a delicious dinner is prepared, the family circles up for a holiday toast. King Eric has something momentous to say - in fact, he is about to name his successor. But as he raises a glass of his favorite whiskey, he drops dead.

The king has been poisoned, someone in the family must have done it, and each one of them had opportunity and motive. Eric's beloved head chef, Jonathan, must now play detective. Why would one of the king's own family members want to kill him, and how did they do it? What happens in the castle usually stays in the castle, but this secret might be too big for these battlements. Jon is determined to expose the truth, even if it puts him in a killer’s crosshairs - and shakes the entire monarchy to its core."

Oddly perfect timing I'd say...

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Byrd Nash, Chris McGeorge, Clara McKenna, Claudia Lux, Colleen Cambridge, Comic, David Bowie, George R.R. Martin, Harold Schechter, House of the Dragon, Nghi Vo, Targaryen, The Man Who Fell to Earth

Catt Out of the Bag by Clifford Witting
Published by: Galileo Publishing
Publication Date: 1939
Format: Kindle, 280 Pages
Rating: ★★★★
To Buy (different edition than one reviewed)

John Rutherford and his wife Molly aren't spending the holidays as he had hoped. Instead of being happily ensconced at their home they are the house guests of the de Fraynes. Because one doesn't turn down an invitation from Mrs. de Frayne as many times as they have without paying penance. And their penance is the holiday season as Mrs. de Frayne's puppets. They are to do what she wants when she wants it. Caroling, shopping, entertaining small children while dressed as Santa Claus, all these enforced activities fill John and Molly's time. But it's the caroling that will have a lasting impact. Mrs. de Frayne has their route through town mapped out to the minute. The group will sing at appointed locations while two of their number, Mr. Vavasour and Miss Gordon, each take a side of the street going door to door asking for donations to the cottage hospital. As the cuckolded Charles de Frayne says to John, he would gladly give whatever they would make on their rounds to stay out of the cold, but that would not be acceptable to his wife. At least he's in the dog house and is to stay home from the regimented event. As the night drags on Mr. Vavasour mysteriously disappears. At first the carolers make nothing of it. He must have gotten held up and will meet them either further along their route or back at the house. Neither happens. They assume he's gone home until his wife who was taken poorly and stayed home calls up asking if he was with them still. The next day John is still perplexed by Vavasour's disappearance and a newly arrived house guest suggests that they play detective. Going around to the Vavasour's house Mrs. Vavasour is nervous and makes up an elaborate story that her husband left town on business late last night and that they should just drop their inquiries. This only intrigues John more, and as luck would have it Molly's uncle is the famous Inspector Harry Charlton. Maybe Harry'd be able to get to the bottom of the Vavasour case? With John as his inside man of course.

As I enter December and the holiday season I always have my eyes peeled for a classic Christmas murder mystery. Catt Out of the Bag literally fell into my lab because one of my Goodreads friends had read it and gushed about it so much that I realized that if it was half as good as what they said it would be perfect for reading under the Christmas tree with the Netflix fire crackling away on my TV. I prefer the birchwood edition if you need to know. I finished the book on Christmas with a sigh of contentment. And here's the wonderful thing, the story is interesting with enough humorous characters and bizarre reveals about the life of the murder victim that figuring out the killer in advance doesn't detract from the story. Because I did figure out the killer in advance of the reveal. In fact I figured out who the killer was before they even killed. I'm not saying that to brag or anything, I just went, oh, that's the killer and then almost three-hundred pages later my hunch paid off. While I haven't read any other books in Clifford Witting's Inspector Harry Charlton series, seeing as I hadn't even heard of Clifford Witting before I picked up this book, I like that he obviously has fun in playing with the conventional murder mystery tropes. And he's not beyond a good joke. Seriously, when you get the meaning behind the title you will laugh. I also like that while this is in the Inspector Harry Charlton series we get a different POV with his nephew-in-law, John Rutherford, playing Watson to Charlton's Holmes, and doing a damn good job at aping Conan Doyle's style with a wink and a nod I might add. This is like a Christmassy The Hounds of the Baskervilles if you just looked to how the narrative is structured for the reader, because there are no evil fake botanists running around moors here. There is instead a bigamist. And I have to say, a very active bigamist. Really, I don't get bigamy. It seems like so much work to keep one household afloat and to have to do it at least twice? That man needed a nap and the killer obliged with a rather long one.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Caroling, Catt Out of the Bag, Christmas, Clifford Witting, Disappearance, Goodreads, Inspector Harry Charlton, Murder, Murder Most Foul, Netflix, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Hound of the Baskervilles

Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers
Published by: HarperTorch
Publication Date: 1935
Format: Paperback, 501 Pages
Rating: ★★★
To Buy (different edition than one reviewed)

Harriet Vane's name might be notorious because of a certain murder trial but she has decided that that is in her past and she will no longer allow it to control her future. She has longed to return to her beloved alma mater, Shrewsbury College in Oxford, to catch up with old friends, and therefore accepts the invitation to attend their Gaudy. She is surprised to be so warmly welcomed and falls quickly in love with academia once again. Perhaps she will return and write a book? A serious book, not the mysteries she is known for. On her return home though she finds a nasty and vulgar drawing in her robes. The poison pen message refers to her as a "dirty murderess" and taints her entire return to Oxford. She tries to put it behind her but then the Dean of Shrewsbury reaches out to Harriet. The poison pen letter Harriet received wasn't a one time occurrence. They have been plaguing the staff and students at the school and have escalated into wanton vandalism. As a woman's college they are viewed under a microscope so if word gets out about these attacks they could be ruined. Harriet, no stranger to the poison pen even before the Gaudy, agrees to come back to Shrewsbury and lend a hand. In order to not make it look suspicious she puts it about that she is there to research Sheridan Le Fanu for a biography she means to write, as well as assisting one of the dons on the endless revisions of her book. Alibi firmly in place she heads back into the bosom of Oxford and finds a writhing snake pit. The letters are getting more vicious, the vandalism more destructive. Harriet wonders, what would Lord Peter do? Well, as he's off doing something on the continent, she can guess, but can't get his help. It's up to her to solve this mystery and decide where she's going to go from here. Could she become a serious academic? Or is that only a way to run away from her feelings and the complication of love? And does she love Lord Peter? Will she succumb to his advances and agree to marry him? First she has to make sure she survives before she plans a future.

One might like to point out to those who view this as a paragon, a classic of mystery fiction, that perhaps three hundred pages of exposition was unnecessary. But then again, as one member of my book club put it,"I had the thought today of going back to count every single proper noun that was dropped... at a guess: 82? If she expected me to remember anything about any of these people, well, she misunderestimated my attention span." More than an editor this book also needed a dramatis personae. But I feel like I'm getting ahead of myself here. Gaudy Night was to be the bellwether as to my final decision on Dorothy L. Sayers. This was her proving ground. I had earlier read the first three adventures of Lord Peter Wimsey, Whose Body?, Clouds of Witness, and Unnatural Death (which had a nice callback here) and basically hated them. There's no beating around the bush with my dislike of the books and her obvious hatred of Jews. I was shocked to see that she was actually against Hitler. But EVERYONE said Gaudy Night was a must read. So read it I must. But I kept putting it off. And off again. I even left it out and yet I couldn't bring myself to pick it up. So my solution was to make my book club read it. I feel slightly bad... maybe? But not really when I think of some of the things they've made me read. In fairness we don't mean to choose bad books, it just seems to turn out that way. Most people cite this book as their favorite Dorothy L. Sayers because it cements the relationship of Harriet Vane and Lord Peter. I wanted to read it because I love Oxford. I was let down on both accounts. The overt specificity with regard to Oxford down to specific turns at specific cobbles in the streets made it too hard for the Oxford enthusiast but not the aficionado to enjoy. As for Harriet and Peter, the aforementioned three hundred pages of exposition means that until Peter actually showed up there wasn't much of a book. I SO wanted Harriet Vane to solve the crime on her own, but sadly, it's Lord Peter who not only solves the crime, but makes the book bearable. Which is really Dorothy L. Sayers letting the sisterhood down. A college full of smart women and they can't catch the culprit in their midst? Yeah, that really supports women's rights. Grumble grumble. So the question becomes, did this book make me actually want to read the rest of the series? No, yes, I don't know. Give me a few years and maybe I'll pick up another one? Maybe. Just tell me she translates the Latin this time?

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Academia, Clouds of Witness, Dorothy L. Sayers, Gaudy, Gaudy Night, Harriet Vane, Lord Peter Wimsey, Murder Most Foul, Oxford, Poison Pen Letters, Sheridan Le Fanu, Shrewsbury College, Unnatural Death, Whose Body

Blitz by Daniel O'Malley
Published by: Little, Brown and Company
Publication Date: October 18th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 688 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A new recruit to the most powerful supernatural intelligence agency on Earth is accused of going rogue and must go on the run to clear her name.

September, 1940. Three women of the Checquy, the secret organization tasked with protecting Britain from supernatural threats, stand in the sky above London and see German aircraft approach. Forbidden by law to interfere, all they can do is watch as their city is bombed. Until Pamela, the most sensible of them, breaks all the rules and brings down a Nazi bomber with her bare hands. The three resolve to tell no one about it, but they soon learn that a crew member is missing from the downed bomber. Charred corpses are discovered in nearby houses and it becomes apparent that the women have unwittingly unleashed a monster.

Through a city torn by the Blitz, the friends must hunt the enemy before he kills again. Their task will take them from the tunnels of the Underground to the halls of power, where they will discover the secrets that a secret organization must keep even from itself.

Today. Lynette Binns, a librarian with a husband and child, is a late recruit to the Checquy, having discovered only as an adult her ability to electrify everyday objects with her touch. After completing her training, she is assigned to examine a string of brutal murders and quickly realizes that all bear the unmistakable hallmark of her own unique power. Unable to provide an alibi and determined to prove her innocence, she flees, venturing into the London underworld to find answers. But now she is prey, being tracked by her own frighteningly capable comrades.

As Lyn fights off powered thugs and her own vengeful colleagues, she will find that the solution to the murders and to the mystery of her own past lies in the events of World War II, and the covert actions of three young women during the Blitz."

This is one of my must buy books released this fall. We FINALLY have the third installment of the Checquy!

The Bequest by Joanna Margaret
Published by: Scarlet
Publication Date: October 18th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 312 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"After her professor’s suspicious death, a PhD student uncovers dark machinations among her academic associates in this "richly atmospheric and irresistibly readable" (Joyce Carol Oates) Gothic mystery set between Scotland, Italy, and France.

Fleeing a disastrous affair with a colleague in Boston, Isabel Henley moves to Scotland to begin a PhD with a renowned feminist professor - only to learn, upon arrival, that her advisor has suffered a deadly fall. Soon after, Isabel is informed that another scholar at the university is about to publish a book on her dissertation topic, leaving her disconcerted and in search of a new subject, all while struggling to acclimate to her new home abroad.

Isabel needs a good friend during such a rocky start, and finds one when she reconnects with Rose Brewster, her charismatic classmate from undergrad. But when Rose confides to Isabel that she is in trouble, and then goes missing, Isabel's already-unsteady life is sent into a tailspin. A suicide note surfaces, followed by a coded message: Rose is alive but, unless Isabel can complete the research begun before her friend's disappearance, both women will be killed by her captors.

As Isabel follows the Rose's paper trail from Genoa to Florence and, finally, to Paris, she uncovers family secrets, the legend of an enormous cursed emerald, and a chain of betrayal and treason which parallels her own perilous present. If she can put the pieces together soon, she could solve a 400-year-old mystery - and save her and her friend's lives in the process.

Combining epistolary elements, Gothic suspense, and an atmospheric "dark academia" setting, The Bequest is a gripping literary thriller that will appeal to fans of Alex Michaelides' The Maidens and Donna Tartt's The Secret History."

Tasha Alexander blurbed the book as "Intricately plotted, exquisitely written, and brimming with atmosphere, The Bequest is a brilliant debut, as smart as it is compelling." So that's me sold. Well, and plus the whole "dark academia" vibe.

Book Madness by Denise Gigante
Published by: Yale University Press
Publication Date: October 18th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The fascinating history of American bookishness as told through the sale of Charles Lamb's library in 1848.

Charles Lamb's library - a heap of sixty scruffy old books singed with smoke, soaked with gin, sprinkled with crumbs, stripped of illustrations, and bescribbled by the essayist and his literary friends - caused a sensation when it was sold in New York in 1848. The transatlantic book world watched as the relics of a man revered as the patron saint of book collectors were dispersed. Following those books through the stories of the bibliophiles who shaped intellectual life in America - booksellers, publishers, journalists, editors, bibliographers, librarians, actors, antiquarians, philanthropists, politicians, poets, clergymen - Denise Gigante brings to life a lost world of letters at a time when Americans were busy assembling the country’s major public, university, and society libraries. A human tale of loss, obsession, and spiritual survival, this book reveals the magical power books can have to bring people together and will be an absorbing read for anyone interested in what makes a book special."

Well there goes the title of my autobiography...

Drawing Outside the Lines by Susan J. Austin
Published by: Sparkpress
Publication Date: October 18th, 2022
Format: Paperback, 256 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Meet the brilliant, fearless, and ambitious Julia Morgan. In 1883, eleven-year-old Julia visits the amazing new Brooklyn Bridge - an experience that ignites within her a small but persistent flame. Someday, she decides, she too will build an astounding structure.

Growing up in horse-and-buggy Oakland, Julia enjoys daring fence walks, climbing the tallest trees, and constantly testing her mother's patience with her lack of interest in domestic duties and social events. At a time when "brainy" girls are the object of ridicule, Julia excels in school and consistently outsmarts her ornery brothers - but she has an even greater battle ahead. When she enrolls at university to study engineering, the male students taunt her, and the professors belittle her. Through it all, however, Julia holds on to her dream of becoming an architect. She faces each challenge head-on, firmly standing up to those who believe a woman's place is in the home. Fortunately, the world has yet to meet anyone like the indomitable Miss Morgan.

Drawing Outside the Lines is an imagined childhood of pioneering architect Julia Morgan, who left behind her an extraordinary legacy of creativity, beauty, and engineering marvels."

You think they'd mention Hearst Castle in the blurb... But yeah, she did that.

Lavender House by Lev AC Rosen
Published by: Forge Books
Publication Date: October 18th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 288 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A delicious story from a new voice in suspense, Lev AC Rosen's Lavender House is Knives Out with a queer historical twist.

Lavender House, 1952: the family seat of recently deceased matriarch Irene Lamontaine, head of the famous Lamontaine soap empire. Irene's recipes for her signature scents are a well guarded secret - but it's not the only one behind these gates. This estate offers a unique freedom, where none of the residents or staff hide who they are. But to keep their secret, they've needed to keep others out. And now they're worried they're keeping a murderer in.

Irene's widow hires Evander Mills to uncover the truth behind her mysterious death. Andy, recently fired from the San Francisco police after being caught in a raid on a gay bar, is happy to accept - his calendar is wide open. And his secret is the kind of secret the Lamontaines understand.

Andy had never imagined a world like Lavender House. He's seduced by the safety and freedom found behind its gates, where a queer family lives honestly and openly. But that honesty doesn't extend to everything, and he quickly finds himself a pawn in a family game of old money, subterfuge, and jealousy - and Irene’s death is only the beginning.

When your existence is a crime, everything you do is criminal, and the gates of Lavender House can't lock out the real world forever. Running a soap empire can be a dirty business."

San Francisco, check, family legacy, check, queer historical twist, check, this is seriously checking all my boxes!

Shadow Sister by Lindsay Marcott
Published by: Thomas and Mercer
Publication Date: October 18th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 381 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From the bestselling author of Mrs. Rochester's Ghost comes the chilling story of a young woman who returns to her haunted childhood home to unravel the deadly mysteries of her family's past.

Ava grew up in a haunted mansion, envied by all her friends. But when her mother died mysteriously there, the thrills of Blackworth Mansion became nightmares. Ava never accepted that her mother perished from natural causes, but no one would believe her.

Seventeen years later, Ava returns home to unravel the truth of her mother's death - and her own demons quickly follow. Her estranged and vindictive father may be stalking her. Her secretive new sister-in-law lands on her doorstep with troubles of her own. And then there's the strange girl who may or may not be haunting the grounds. Even Ava's romance with her first crush is shadowed by her suspicions.

When Ava makes a terrifying discovery on the property, she must decide just how far into the past she's willing to go. Some secrets can be deadly - especially the ones Ava's kept hidden in the dark."

Haunted homes, haunted legacies, bring on the hauntings!

The Family Game by Catherine Steadman
Published by: Ballantine Books
Publication Date: October 18th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From the New York Times bestselling author of Something in the Water, Mr. Nobody, and The Disappearing Act....

THE RULES
1. Listen carefully
2. Do your research
3. Trust no one
4. Run for your life

Harriet Reed, a novelist on the brink of literary stardom, is newly engaged to Edward Holbeck, the heir of an extremely powerful family. And even though Edward has long tried to severe ties with them, news of the couple's marital bliss has the Holbecks inching back into their lives.

As Harriet is drawn into their lavish world, the family seems perfectly welcoming. So when Edward's father, Robert, hands Harriet a tape of a book he's been working on, she is desperate to listen.

But as she presses play, it's clear that this isn’t just a novel. It’s a confession.

A confession to a grisly crime. A murder. And, suddenly, the game is in motion.

Feeling isolated and confused, Harriet must work out if this is part of a plan to test her loyalty. Or something far darker. What is it that Robert sees in her? Why give her the power to destroy everything?

This might be a game to the Holbeck family - but losing might still prove deadly.

READY OR NOT, HERE THEY COME..."

A dangerous new family is a delicious trope I will never get enough of.

Secrets Scarlet edited by Charlotte Llewelyn-Wells
Published by: Aconyte
Publication Date: October 18th, 2022
Format: Paperback, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A secret organization ruthlessly seeks power over supernatural terrors in this globe-trotting anthology of arcane mystery and adventure, from the bestselling world of Arkham Horror.

Beyond our world lies another, one full of paranormal forces and eldritch horrors, and once that membrane has been pierced, life can never be the same again. In every corner of the globe, persons unknown are seizing objects of extreme supernatural power. They declare themselves defenders of humanity, fighting off the darkness which presses against the veil shrouding our reality from the unknowable. But do their claims of altruism ring true? And should they be permitted to wield such power? From the world of Arkham Horror comes an exciting new anthology that delves into new mysteries.

The Man in the Bubble by David Annandale
City of Waking Dreams by Davide Mana
Brother Bound by Jason Fischer
Honor Among Thieves by Carrie Harris
A Forty Grain Weight of Nephrite by Steven Philip Jones
Strange Things Done by Lisa Smedman
In Art, Truth by James Fadeley
Crossing Stars by MJ Newman
The Red and the Black by Josh Reynolds"

I am ALWAYS here for more Arkham!

Hate Machine by Stephen Blackmoore
Published by: DAW
Publication Date: October 18th, 2022
Format: Paperback, 288 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The eighth book of this dark urban fantasy series follows necromancer Eric Carter through a world of vengeful gods and goddesses, mysterious murders, and restless ghosts.

If there's one thing Eric Carter can count on, it's his past coming back to bite him in the ass.

Gabriela Cortez, La Bruja, has had her soul trapped...somewhere, and the only one who knows how to get it back is the Oracle of Las Vegas, a powerful artifact that Carter helped create almost thirty years before. It doesn't just predict the future - it makes things happen, influencing events to reach the goal it wants.

Only somebody's gone and stolen it, attempting to turn it into an artifact that doesn't just change the future, but also the past.

Eric needs to find it and steal it back before this comes to pass. If he doesn't, Gabriela's soul is lost. And quite possibly the future as well."

More adventures in, will someone PLEASE admit that Richard Armitage is the cover model!?!

The Future Is Female! edited by Lisa Yaszek
Published by: Library of America
Publication Date: October 18th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 450 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Go back to the Future Is Female in this all new collection of wildly entertaining stories by the trailblazing feminist writers who transformed American science fiction in the 1970s.

In the 1970s, feminist authors created a new mode of science fiction in defiance of the "baboon patriarchy" - Ursula Le Guin's words - that had long dominated the genre, imagining futures that are still visionary. In this sequel to her groundbreaking 2018 anthology The Future is Female!: 25 Classic Science Fiction Stories by Women from Pulp Pioneers to Ursula K. Le Guin, SF-expert Lisa Yaszek offers a time machine back to the decade when far-sighted rebels changed science fiction forever with stories that made female community, agency, and sexuality central to the American future.

Here are twenty-three wild, witty, and wonderful classics that dramatize the liberating energies of the 1970s:

Sonya Dorman, "Bitching It" (1971)
Kate Wilhelm, "The Funeral" (1972)
Joanna Russ, "When It Changed" (1972) NEBULA AWARD
Miriam Allen deFord, "A Way Out" (1973)
Vonda N. McIntyre, "Of Mist, and Grass, and Sand" (1973) NEBULA
James Tiptree, Jr., "The Girl Who Was Plugged In" (1973) HUGO AWARD
Kathleen Sky, "Lament of the Keeku Bird" (1973)
Ursula K. Le Guin, "The Day Before the Revolution" (1974) NEBULA and LOCUS AWARD
Eleanor Arnason, "The Warlord of Saturn’s Moons" (1974)
Kathleen M. Sidney, "The Anthropologist" (1975)
Marta Randall, "A Scarab in the City of Time" (1975)
Elinor Busby, "A Time to Kill" (1977)
Raccoona Sheldon, "The Screwfly Solution" (1977) NEBULA AWARD
Pamela Sargent, "If Ever I Should Leave You" (1974)
Joan D. Vinge, "View from a Height" (1978)
M. Lucie Chin, "The Best Is Yet to Be" (1978)
Lisa Tuttle, "Wives" (1979)
Connie Willis, "Daisy, In the Sun" (1979)"

No one, literally NO ONE puts out anthologies of the quality Library of America does.

The Magic of Minalima by MinaLima
Published by: Harper Design
Publication Date: October 18th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 224 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A full-color illustrated compendium chronicling the magical twenty-year journey of acclaimed art and design studio, MinaLima, the creative genius behind the graphics for the Harry Potter film series.

"It all started with a letter..."

Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima began their extraordinary partnership in 2001 when Warner Bros. invited them to realize the imaginative visual universe of the Harry Potter film series. The two artists would never have guessed that the graphic props they designed for the films - including the Hogwarts acceptance letter, Marauder's Map, Daily Prophet newspaper, The Quibbler and Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes - would become cultural icons loved by Wizarding World fans around the world.

Eight years later, the pair formed their own design studio, MinaLima, and expanded their work to include the graphics for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade at Universal Orlando Resort and the Fantastic Beasts film series. To showcase their treasury of designs, the studio has opened House of MinaLima, its immersive art galleries and shops in London and across the world.

The Magic of MinaLima is an illustrated history and celebration of Mina and Lima's twenty-year evolution and groundbreaking vision. Their wondrous creations illuminate the Wizarding World as never before, and their commentary offers insights into the imaginative thinking that shaped their designs.

This collection showcases the very best works from the award-winning studio's two decades and includes interactive elements such as the Marauder's Map, the Black Family Tapestry, and Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.

Designed to delight and enchant, The Magic of MinaLima will be an invaluable resource for Wizarding World and graphic art fans alike."

Seriously, working with MinaLima would be a dream job.

Side Effects by Tara O'Connor
Published by: Aftershock Comics
Publication Date: October 18th, 2022
Format: Paperback, 112 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"HANNAH DOESN'T WANT TO BE A HERO. SHE JUST WANTS TO BE WELL.

It's Hannah's first year away at college - the first time she's been away from home, without a support network. Within the first month, the combination of classes and socializing and adjusting to college life sends her into a full-on breakdown. Fortunately, her roommate finds her, Hannah goes to campus mental health, and they prescribe her therapy and meds - though with every new medication, you've got to watch out for unexpected side effects.

Every new medication Hannah tries comes with a new power and side effect. One makes her super-tough, and also makes her gain thirty pounds. Another gives her telepathy, while also completely screwing up her sleep schedule. Yet another gives her super-strength, as well as terrible constipation.

Nothing balances, but the powers are handy; Hannah even manages to save a few of her friends from mortal peril, or at least minor annoyances. And with the growing confidence from her powers and her therapy, Hannah even manages to ask out the cute girl she's been eyeing.

Hannah doesn't want to be a hero - she just wants to be well. But what does "well" even look like? What does it mean to be "healthy," mentally speaking? How do you fix your brain when you're living inside it? And can you really help other people if you can't even help yourself?"

I so relate and feel for Hannah!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Arkham Horror, Catherine Steadman, Daniel O'Malley, Denise Gigante, Joanna Margaret, Lev AC Rosen, Library of America, Lindsay Marcott, MinaLima, Stephen Blackmoore, Susan J. Austin, Tara O'Connor, The Checquy

Grey Mask by Patricia Wentworth
Published by: Open Road Media Mystery and Thriller
Publication Date: 1928
Format: Kindle, 320 Pages
Rating: ★★★
To Buy (different edition than one reviewed)

When Margaret Langton jilted Charles Moray he fled England vowing never to return. He crossed and recrossed the globe but his love for Margaret has never wavered. Four years have passed since he set foot on English soil and he has only returned because he needs to deal with his inheritance. He doesn't even want to visit his family home. That is where he fell in love with his neighbor Margaret. That is where they planned their future. That is where everything fell apart. But he is unable to sleep and decides to pay his home a visit. He leaves his hotel and strikes out to the family abode. Only the place isn't as uninhabited as it should be. Yes, there is the caretaker and his wife, but this should be their night off and they should have left the door locked. Sneaking into a closet he often used as a child he observes a clandestine meeting taking place. These are definitely criminals. If their choice of venue for the meeting didn't tip Charles off the fact that the apparent ringleader is wearing a grey rubberized mask would have done it. That and the fact that they refer to each other by numbers instead of names. Just as he is about to summon the police the last thing he expected in the world happens. Margaret walks into the room and talks to Grey Mask. The police are right out. Whatever criminal conspiracy or kidnapping these villains are involved in has to be dealt with outside the proper channels in order to save Margaret. He still loves her after all. In fact, could this be why she left him? Talking the next day to one of his friends Charles hears about Miss Silver and how her methods get things done. She will root out the truth, detect the wrongdoers, and save the day. Though Charles isn't too impressed when he meets Miss Silver. But he's holding back and not telling her the whole story, not telling her about Margaret, and she senses this. If he is unwilling to trust her completely then why help him? Perhaps because it's more than just Margaret's life at risk. A young heiress, Margot Standing, is in danger. She is in line to inherit a lot of money. Money that Grey Mask wants. Money that Grey Mask will do anything to get. Can Charles, Margaret, and Margot somehow come together and save themselves from this dastardly villain? Or will he escape, once more, unharmed?

Patricia Wentworth has been on my radar for awhile. Maybe it's because of all the Kindle deals of the day? Because during the start of the pandemic every day seemed to usher in a new Patricia Wentworth deal in my email. Me being me I instead got Grey Mask from my local library to see if Miss Silver was my cup of tea. And after reading the first book I'm still undecided. The reason being is that there really isn't much of Miss Silver to be had. In fact could this be a similar case to when Margery Allingham started writing about Albert Campion? Because he wasn't meant to be the star of the series, Doctor George Abbershaw was the star sleuth in the first "Campion" book, The Crime at Black Dudley. And I think those of us with a passing familiarity of golden age detection all say George who!?! Because seriously, I am ALL about Campion these days and his small appearance at Black Dudley made him a star wherein anytime he wasn't on the page you started to question why you were reading the book in the first place. This lack of Campion was thankfully fixed by Margery Allingham in subsequent books starting with Mystery Mile. But Grey Mask has a similar Miss Silver sized hole. She appears occasionally to be a sounding board or correct certain misconceptions, but it's not really until the end when she appears as a Deus ex machina where she explains she's known what's been going on, or at least suspected it, for some time. Oh really? Because I did too. So there! The plot therefore rests in the hands of the slightly downtrodden bright young things which makes the whole book feel as if Nancy Mitford wrote an episode of The Avengers. And I don't know what to make of that! I love Nancy Mitford and her witty repartee, and I love The Avengers and Mrs. Peel kicking ass and bantering with Steed, but it's like they are oil and water. Both might have banter and both might be fun, but placed together they are too incongruous. It's a bit like whenever Agatha Christie tries to bring in overly elaborate spy plots to the Tommy and Tuppence stories. It kind of works, but not really. So for me and Miss Silver? The verdict's out until I read another volume.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Albert Campion, Bright Young Things, Grey Mask, Margary Allingham, Miss Silver, Mrs. Peel, Murder Most Foul, Nancy Mitford, Patricia Wentworth, The Avengers, The Crime at Black Dudley, Tommy and Tuppence