strange and random happenstance

Smoke Bitten by Patricia Briggs
Published by: Ace
Publication Date: March 17th, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Mercy Thompson, car mechanic and shapeshifter, faces a threat unlike any other in this thrilling entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.

I am Mercedes Athena Thompson Hauptman.

My only “superpowers” are that I turn into a thirty-five pound coyote and fix Volkswagens. But I have friends in odd places and a pack of werewolves at my back. It looks like I'm going to need them.

Centuries ago, the fae dwelt in Underhill - until she locked her doors against them. They left behind their great castles and troves of magical artifacts. They abandoned their prisoners and their pets. Without the fae to mind them, those creatures who remained behind roamed freely through Underhill wreaking havoc. Only the deadliest survived.

Now one of those prisoners has escaped. It can look like anyone, any creature it chooses. But if it bites you, it controls you. It lives for chaos and destruction. It can make you do anything - even kill the person you love the most. Now it is here, in the Tri-Cities. In my territory.

It won't, can't, remain.

Not if I have anything to say about it."

It's FINALLY here folks! And it's EPIC! 

Dreams and Ghosts by Andrew Lang
Published by: Dover Publications
Publication Date: March 17th, 2020
Format: Paperback, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Best known for his "rainbow" series of fairy tale books, pioneering anthropologist and folklorist Andrew Lang was the first to compile a serious, critical survey of ghost stories. With Dreams and Ghosts, he collected scores of well-attested tales from civilizations around the world about spirit visitations. This pageant of supernatural guests includes the naked ghost, the wraith of the czarina, the dancing devil, the ghost that bit, the thumbless hand, and other apparitions from both the remote past and modern times.

Lang's approach is noted for its rational, unbiased, and highly analytical attitude toward his storytellers' accounts of visions and hallucinations. He provides facts and evidence, leaving readers to the fascinating business of deciding whether these tales of the occult - more than 80 in all - have any basis in reality or are merely vivid hallucinations from impressionable minds. In either event, the stories retain their spellbinding charm for all lovers of a ghostly yarn."

Anyone else beyond excited to learn that Andrew Lang of fairy tale fame wrote ghost stories!?!

After Me Comes the Flood by Sarah Perry
Published by: Custom House
Publication Date: March 17th, 2020
Format: Paperback, 256 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Elegant, sinister and psychologically complex, After Me Comes the Flood is the haunting debut novel by the bestselling author of The Essex Serpent and Melmoth.

One hot summer’s day, John Cole decides to shut his bookshop early, and possibly forever, and drives out of London to see his brother. When his car breaks down on an isolated road, he goes looking for help and finds a dilapidated house. As he approaches, a laughing woman he’s never seen before walks out, addresses him by name and explains she’s been waiting for him. Entering the home, John discovers an enigmatic clan of residents all of whom seem to know who he is, and also claim they have been awaiting him arrival. They seem to be waiting for something else, too - something final...

Written before Sarah Perry’s ascension to an internationally bestselling author, After Me Comes the Flood is a spectacular novel of obsession, conviction and providence."

The obligatory re-release when an author becomes famous.

The Woman in the Mirror by Rebecca James
Published by: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: March 17th, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Rebecca James unveils a chilling modern Gothic novel of a family consumed by the shadows and secrets of its past in The Woman in the Mirror.

For more than two centuries, Winterbourne Hall has stood atop a bluff overseeing the English countryside of Cornwall and the sea beyond.

In 1947, Londoner Alice Miller accepts a post as governess at Winterbourne, looking after Captain Jonathan de Grey’s twin children. Falling under the de Greys’ spell, Alice believes the family will heal her own past sorrows. But then the twins’ adoration becomes deceitful and taunting. Their father, ever distant, turns spiteful and cruel. The manor itself seems to lash out. Alice finds her surroundings subtly altered, her air slightly chilled. Something malicious resents her presence, something clouding her senses and threatening her very sanity.

In present day New York, art gallery curator Rachel Wright has learned she is a descendant of the de Greys and heir to Winterbourne. Adopted as an infant, she never knew her birth parents or her lineage. At long last, Rachel will find answers to questions about her identity that have haunted her entire life. But what she finds in Cornwall is a devastating tragic legacy that has afflicted generations of de Greys. A legacy borne from greed and deceit, twisted by madness, and suffused with unrequited love and unequivocal rage."

I don't know about you, but I need a good Gothic escape with what's going on in the world. 

Death Stops the Frolic by George Bellairs
Published by: Agora Books
Publication Date: March 17th, 2020
Format: Kindle
To Buy

The official patter:
"Before there was Littlejohn, there was Nankivell. With his classic wit and trademark style, George Bellairs delivers this standalone mystery sure to keep you guessing.

And when they’re up, they’re up-up-up, And when they’re down, they’re down, And when they’re half-way up...

On a joyous afternoon filled with tea and cake, something strange happens at Zion Chapel’s Anniversary Tea Party. The infamous Alderman Harbuttle is behaving uncharacteristically playful - laughing with the assembly, singing rhymes, and leading people in a rousing game of Follow-My-Leader throughout the chapel’s winding halls.

But his jubilee is cut short when the revellers find the Alderman’s murdered body in the dark recesses of the chapel, a bread knife buried to the hilt in his chest.

Superintendent Nankivell of the local police force takes up the case, and his investigation quickly stirs up sinister secrets lurking within the walls of Zion Chapel. His suspect list soon proves massive, as he learns there are many people who would be happier without the sanctimonious Alderman Harbuttle around...

Death Stops the Frolic was first published as Turmoil in Zion in 1943."

A classic British whodunit!

A Conspiracy of Bones by Kathy Reichs
Published by: Scribner
Publication Date: March 17th, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"#1 New York Times bestselling author Kathy Reichs returns with a new riveting novel featuring her vastly popular character forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan, who must use all her tradecraft to discover the identity of a faceless corpse, its connection to a decade-old missing child case, and why the dead man had her cell phone number.

It’s sweltering in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Temperance Brennan, still recovering from neurosurgery following an aneurysm, is battling nightmares, migraines, and what she thinks might be hallucinations when she receives a series of mysterious text messages, each containing a new picture of a corpse that is missing its face and hands. Immediately, she’s anxious to know who the dead man is, and why the images were sent to her.

An identified corpse soon turns up, only partly answering her questions.

To win answers to the others, including the man’s identity, she must go rogue, working mostly outside the system. That’s because Tempe’s new boss holds a fierce grudge against her and is determined to keep her out of the case. Tempe bulls forward anyway, even as she begins questioning her instincts. But the clues she discovers are disturbing and confusing. Was the faceless man a spy? A trafficker? A target for assassination by the government? And why was he carrying the name of a child missing for almost a decade?

With help from a number of law enforcement associates including her Montreal beau Andrew Ryan and the always-ready-with-a-smart-quip, ex-homicide investigator Skinny Slidell, and utilizing new cutting-edge forensic methods, Tempe draws closer to the astonishing truth.

But the more she uncovers, the darker and more twisted the picture becomes..."

If you've been missing Temperance Brennan then I have good news for you! 

Ronan Boyle and the Swamp of Certain Death by Thomas Lennon
Published by: Amulet Books
Publication Date: March 17th, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The hilarious sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller, set in the world of law-breaking leprechauns from actor and writer Thomas Lennon.

Ronan Boyle may be the youngest and lowliest recruit to the secret Garda, but he’s determined to save his captain from the harpy that dragged her into Tir Na Nog at the end of book one. He may not be the strongest, or the smartest, or the best looking, or the most dexterous...So why was he picked for this mission? He’s not entirely sure. But he may be the captain’s only hope - if he can escape man-eating elves, escape a job in a unicorn’s lounge act, and find the captain before she’s sacrificed to a spooky cult trying to resurrect its leader. Eventually Ronan must battle the scariest monster of all: impostor syndrome. Fast-paced, action-packed, and utterly hilarious, the second book in the New York Times bestselling series delivers laughs and much, much more."

With all the parades cancelled for St. Patrick's Day tomorrow, what will you do? I have the answer! READ THIS BOOK! 

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Andrew Lang, Dreams and Ghosts, George Bellairs, Kathy Reichs, Mercy Thompson, Patricia Briggs, Rebecca James, Sarah Perry, Smoke Bitten, St. Patrick's Day, Temperance Brennan, Thomas Lennon

Under the Pendulum Sun by Jeannette Ng
Published by: Angry Robot
Publication Date: October 3rd, 2017
Format: Paperback, 416 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Victorian missionaries travel into the heart of the newly discovered lands of the Fae, in a stunningly different fantasy that mixes Crimson Peak with Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. 

Catherine Helstone’s brother, Laon, has disappeared in Arcadia, legendary land of the magical fae. Desperate for news of him, she makes the perilous journey, but once there, she finds herself alone and isolated in the sinister house of Gethsemane. At last there comes news: her beloved brother is riding to be reunited with her soon – but the Queen of the Fae and her insane court are hard on his heels."

Yeah, I'm basically in this for the copy mentioning Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. 

The Goblins of Bellwater by Molly Ringle
Published by: Central Avenue Publishing
Publication Date: October 3rd, 2017
Format: Paperback, 288 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Most people have no idea goblins live in the woods around the small town of Bellwater, Washington. But some are about to find out.

Skye, a young barista and artist, falls victim to a goblin curse in the forest one winter night, rendering her depressed and silenced, unable to speak of what happened. Her older sister, Livy, is at wit’s end trying to understand what’s wrong with her. Local mechanic Kit would know, but he doesn’t talk of such things: he’s the human liaison for the goblin tribe, a job he keeps secret and never wanted, thrust on him by an ancient family contract.

Unaware of what’s happened to Skye, Kit starts dating Livy, trying to keep it casual to protect her from the attention of the goblins. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Kit, Skye draws his cousin Grady into the spell through an enchanted kiss in the woods, dooming Grady and Skye both to become goblins and disappear from humankind forever.

It’s a midwinter night’s enchantment as Livy, the only one untainted by a spell, sets out to save them on a dangerous magical path of her own."

Ever since Labyrinth, say goblin and I'm in. 

The Little Red Wolf by Amélie Fléchais
Published by: Lion Forge
Publication Date: October 3rd, 2017
Format: Hardcover, 80 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Lose yourself in in the dark forests of Amélie Fléchais’ spectacular artwork. A young wolf, on a journey to bring his grandmother a rabbit, is charmed by the nice little girl who offers to help him…but nice is not the same as good. A haunting fairy tale for children and adults alike."

Look at the wolf!!! Seriously, have you ever seen anything cuter?

The Witches' Tree by M.C. Beaton
Published by: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: October 3rd, 2017
Format: Hardcover, 288 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The Witches’ Tree continues the tradition in M. C. Beaton's beloved Agatha Raisin mystery series―now a hit show on Acorn TV and public television.

Cotswolds inhabitants are used to inclement weather, but the night sky is especially foggy as Rory and Molly Devere, the new vicar and his wife, drive slowly home from a dinner party in their village of Sumpton Harcourt. They strain to see the road ahead―and then suddenly brake, screeching to a halt. Right in front of them, aglow in the headlights, a body hangs from a gnarled tree at the edge of town. Margaret Darby, an elderly spinster, has been murdered―and the villagers are bewildered as to who would commit such a crime.

Agatha Raisin rises to the occasion (a little glad for the excitement, to tell the truth, after a long run of lost cats and divorces on the books). But Sumpton Harcourt is a small and private village, she finds―a place that poses more questions than answers. And when two more murders follow the first, Agatha begins to fear for her reputation―and even her life. That the village has its own coven of witches certainly doesn't make her feel any better..."

Wait, the show is still on? I ask because most fans of the books I know don't like the show...

The Dead Shall Be Raised and The Murder of a Quack by George Bellairs
Published by: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: October 3rd, 2017
Format: Kindle, 297 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Two classic cases featuring Detective Inspector Littlejohn.

In the winter of 1940, the Home Guard unearth a skeleton on the moor above the busy town of Hatterworth. Twenty-three years earlier, the body of a young textile worker was found in the same spot, and the prime suspect was never found - but the second body is now identified as his. Soon it becomes clear that the true murderer is still at large...

* * *

Nathaniel Wall, the local quack doctor, is found hanging in his consulting room in the Norfolk village of Stalden - but this was not a suicide. Against the backdrop of a close-knit country village, an intriguing story of ambition, blackmail, fraud, false alibis and botanical trickery unravels."

TWO classic detection stories for the price of one!

Verdict of Twelve by Raymond Postgate
Published by: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: October 3rd, 2017
Format: Kindle, 197 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A woman is on trial for her life, accused of murder. The twelve members of the jury each carry their own secret burden of guilt and prejudice which could affect the outcome.

In this extraordinary crime novel, we follow the trial through the eyes of the jurors as they hear the evidence and try to reach a unanimous verdict. Will they find the defendant guilty, or not guilty? And will the jurors' decision be the correct one?

Since its first publication in 1940, Verdict of Twelve has been widely hailed as a classic of British crime writing. This edition offers a new generation of readers the chance to find out why so many leading commentators have admired the novel for so long."

Yeah, love the work Poisoned Pen Press is doing, but NOT loving this cover. 

Snowdrift and Other Stories by Georgette Heyer
Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date: October 3rd, 2017
Format: Paperback, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Delightful, glittering, timeless romance for your holiday season.

The Queen of Regency Romance, Georgette Heyer, shines in this sparkling collection of fourteen short stories brimming with romance, intrigue, villainy, gallant heroes, compelling heroines, and, of course, the dazzling world of the Regency period.

Additional content in this re-issue of the Pistols for Two collection includes three of Heyer's earliest short stories, rarely seen since their original publication in the 1930s, as well as a Foreword by Heyer's official biographer, Jennifer Kloester.

Revel in a Regency world so intricately researched and charmingly realized, you'll want to escape there again and again in Heyer stories new and old."

Three rare stories? I'm in!

The Orphan of Florence by Jeanne Kalogridis
Published by: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: October 3rd, 2017
Format: Paperback, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In this irresistible historical novel set in the turbulent world of the Medicis, a young woman finds herself driven from pick-pocketing to espionage when she meets a mysterious man.

Giulia has been an orphan all her life. Raised in Florence's famous Ospedale degli Innocenti, her probing questions and insubordinate behavior made her an unwelcome presence, and at the age of fifteen, she was given an awful choice: become a nun, or be married off to a man she didn't love. She chose neither, and after refusing an elderly suitor, Giulia escaped onto the streets of Florence.

Now, after spending two years as a successful pickpocket, an old man catches her about to make off with his purse, and rather than having her carted off to prison he offers her a business proposition. The man claims to be a cabalist, a student of Jewish mysticism and ritual magic, who works for the most powerful families in Florence. But his identity is secret―he is known only as "the Magician of Florence"―and he is in need of an assistant. She accepts the job and begins smuggling his talismans throughout the city.

But the talismans are not what they seem, and neither is the Magician. When Giulia's involvement with him ends with his murder, she's drawn into a treacherous web of espionage and deceit involving the forces of Rome, Naples, and a man known as Lorenzo the Magnificent. Accused of the Magician's murder, Giulia is pursued by the handsome policeman Niccolo, Lorenzo's henchmen, and foreign spies, and in order to survive, she must not only solve the mystery of the mystery of the Magician's murder, but that of her own past."

I am a sucker for the Medicis. 

The Lido Girls by Allie Burns
Published by: HQ Digital
Publication Date: October 3rd, 2017
Format: Kindle, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Escape to the inter-war years in this emotional story where opportunity can be found at the pool-side in your local lido… Perfect for fans of Pam Evans and Gill Paul.

Change is in the air...

It’s the summer of 1935 and holidaymakers are flocking to St Darlstone’s magnificent lido beside the sea!

With little hope of finding a husband, no-nonsense Natalie lives for teaching, until she finds herself out of a job courtesy of her best friend Delphi. But if she can team up with Delphi to bring her rigorous physical fitness programme to the people of St Darlstone, maybe there’s a chance she can start again and help her friend to follow her dreams too?

So Natalie takes on the Lido Girls. But, with Delphi’s handsome brother, Jack, on the scene, and Delphi’s desperate struggle to defy her overbearing parents, Natalie must find the courage to face up to her own fears, and realise what she truly wants in life...

Set against the backdrop of the pioneering keep fit movement; this is a feel-good celebration of friendship and what's possible when you follow your heart."

There was a time when the lido was THE place to go when on vacation, hence I'm very excited about this book, even if it isn't a history of this phenomenon, I'm interested.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Agatha Raisin, Allie Burns, George Bellairs, Georgette Heyer, M.C. Beaton, Raymond Postgate, The Goblins of Bellwater, The Lido Girls, The Little Red Wolf, The Orphan of Florence