strange and random happenstance

The Austen Intrigue by Julia Golding
Published by: One More Chapter
Publication Date: November 25th, 2025
Format: Kindle, 345 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"1812 London

Up-and-coming novelist Jane Austen joins forces with London's most esteemed investigative duo - the infamous Dora Fitz-Pennington and disgraced son of a Viscount, Jacob Sandys - to solve the brutal murder of a French count and his opera singer wife. The killer took his own life immediately after the crime - but who sent him and why?

As they find themselves swept up in London's shadowy underworld, can Dora and Jacob uncover the truth without jeopardising national security, and with the promises they made to each other still intact? And will their unique love story end up in the pages of one of Austen's novels?"

I'm intrigued as to why the killer took his own life...

Murder at Donwell Abbey by Vanessa Kelly
Published by: Kensington
Publication Date: November 25th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 416 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"This latest Regency-era mystery from USA Today bestselling author Vanessa Kelly finds Jane Austen's clever Emma Knightley (nee Woodhouse) as an amateur sleuth, navigating shocking changes in her family - while meeting her match in a deadly adversary...

Emma's spirits are elevated after she and husband George Knightley host a joyful holiday celebration at the Hartfield estate. But it's instantly a bitter January when her father makes an unexpected announcement - he and Miss Hetty Bates have decided to marry. Not only must Emma relinquish her role as mistress of the household, but also accept the reality that the excitable Miss Bates will become her stepmother...

More unwanted news arrives during an extravagant betrothal ball at Donwell Abbey, the grand Knightley estate where Emma and George will soon permanently reside. Nearly every villager in Highbury revels in the dazzling affair - except Emma's hardworking lady's maid, Prudence Parr. To Emma's horror, Prudence is found dead, sprawled across the stones of the library terrace...

The woman's tragic fall is quickly ruled a terrible accident and whispers circulate around personal troubles leading up to her untimely demise. But Emma's instincts tell her that something far more sinister is at play. Now, Highbury's matchmaker-turned-sleuth vows to outwit a cunning criminal before an innocent man loses his freedom - or Donwell Abbey plunges into a darker mystery..."

Oh my, just the sheer inanities of a Miss Bates and Mr. Wodehouse wedding! It's destined for failure but I can't look away!

A Murder in the Making by Victoria Laurie
Published by: Kensington Cozies
Publication Date: November 25th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 416 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The latest mesmerizing novel in a new mystery series featuring the captivating Dovey Van Dalen, once the belle of 1840s Copenhagen, now a spellbound, magic-wielding mystic in present-day Washington, D.C., charged with recovering magical property from the unbound - by any means necessary.

Dovey didn't expect to fall in love after the age of 200, yet she can't stop thinking about Grant "Gib" Barlow, the gorgeous FBI agent who helped her crack her last case. A romance with an unbound is obviously a terrible idea, but for Gib, it could be fatal - because Dovey's employer, Elric Ostergaard, arguably the most powerful mystic in the world, also happens to be her longtime lover.

Alas, Dovey's efforts to steer clear of Gib become impossible when her best friend, fellow mystic, and unapologetic romantic, Ursula Göransdotter, tricks them into a lunch date - during which Gib is alerted that a fellow agent has been murdered in his own home. The state of the crime scene, and of the body, seem to defy logic - but Dovey immediately recognizes the Crushing Curse, which could only be cast by a supremely powerful mystic - like her boss. When another agent is killed in the same manner, Dovey races to find Elric for answers.

Meanwhile, the FBI body count rises, and it becomes clear that a rogue mystic is targeting the unbound agents, but why? What ensues is another missing magical trinket, a tense confrontation with Elric, a shocking discovery about Gib, and grave danger to all involved - forcing Dovey to navigate realm-crossing love triangles, supernatural power struggles - and ultimately, her own surprisingly vulnerable heart..."

Anyone else picture Gib as a young Mark Harmon?

The Marriage Method by Mimi Matthews
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: November 25th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 416 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The Academy always comes first...which makes marriage to its most formidable adversary an exceedingly inconvenient arrangement.

Well removed from London's more curious eyes, the Benevolent Academy for the Betterment of Young Ladies strives toward one clandestine goal: to distract, disrupt, and discredit men in power who would seek to harm the advancement of women - by appropriate means, of course.

When intrepid newspaper editor Miles Quincey starts to question the school's intentions, the Academy appoints Penelope "Nell" Trewlove, one of their brightest graduates, to put this nuisance to rest. An easy enough mission, she supposes. Or it would be, if Miles wasn't so fascinating - too fascinating to resist - and if Nell's visit to London didn't perfectly coincide with the murder of one of Miles's reporters.

When the inexorable claws of fate trap Nell and Miles in a compromising situation, they agree to an arrangement that will save their reputations while enabling them to investigate the story that led to a man's death, as well as the surprising chemistry between them..."

I love that even with a clandestine academy one's reputation can be ruined.

Murder at Cottonwood Creek by Clara McKenna
Published by: Kensington
Publication Date: November 25th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Far from England and their beloved Morrington Hall, Viscount "Lyndy" Lyndhurst and his American wife, heiress and equestrian Stella Kendrick - now Lady Lyndhurst - find fossils and murder in Montana...

Led by his passion for paleontology, Lyndy's father, Lord Atherly, has traveled all the way to Montana, to explore the fossil-rich horse ranch owned by Stella's mother, Katherine, and her second husband, Ned Smith. Urged by Lady Atherly to look after her husband, Stella and Lyndy follow in his wake. Stella is excited to be reunited with her mother, and Lyndy is eager to experience the real "Wild West." Both are equally thrilled to participate in a fossil dig.

But when a local man who was guarding the dig site overnight is found the next morning dead in a creek bed, the couple fear his death may not have been an accident - especially when things get wilder still. The paleontologist on the dig has his notebook stolen, several fossil bones disappear, and a second body is found in the research tent.

No one is above suspicion - a rival paleontologist up to some skullduggery, members of their own crew, even Lord Atherly himself. Stella and Lyndy must keep digging to unearth the clues that will expose a killer in their midst - before more bones must be buried..."

Montana is prime fossil territory. I mean, we all learned that from Jurassic Park right?

Trouble in the Alps by Vivian Conroy
Published by: One More Chapter
Publication Date: November 25th, 2025
Format: Kindle, 312 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A devastating accident.

An isolated hotel.

A murdered guest...

When Miss Atalanta Ashford learns that her dear friend Raoul Lemont has had a serious accident, she rushes to his remote hotel in the Alps only to discover he has no memory of her - or his life before.

Atalanta is determined to stay undercover while she helps Raoul recover. But when another resident is found dead, she is pulled into the hotel's dark secrets. Can she untangle the web in time for them to escape the snowy mountains with their lives?

Look out for more Miss Ashford mysteries and get your passports ready as you travel with her to some of the most sought-after destinations on the continent..."

I love me some murder in snowbound locals.

The Bishop Murder Case by S.S. Van Dine
Published by: Pushkin Vertigo
Publication Date: November 25th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 394 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In one of the most well-known classic American murder mysteries, amateur detective Philo Vance must solve a puzzle series of crimes based on nursery rhymes.

A series of gruesome murders has left the glittering world of Jazz Age Manhattan in shock.

When Cock Robin is found dead with an arrow through his chest, New York's DA calls in amateur detective and professional flâneur Philo Vance to solve the case. But this mystery proves to be more challenging than Vance could have imagined, and a cunning presence seems to be constantly one step ahead of him. As Vance investigates, more gruesome murders occur, and a sinister pattern begins to emerge: each perverse death is staged to represent a line from a nursery rhyme.

In an even more disturbing twist, after each murder, the perpetrator sends a note to the press, signed simply 'The Bishop.' As more deaths go unsolved, the murderer's hubris grows, and each act is more brazen than the last. Vance must move quickly to stop the Bishop's bloody spree among the upper echelons of New York society.

Set against the glittering backdrop of Jazz Age Manhattan with a distinctive and erudite detective, this is considered one of the great classic detective stories. This intricate and skillfully crafted murder mystery is sure to delight any armchair detective."

If you're a fan of mysteries and you don't have any S.S. Van Dine on your shelf you need to rectify that. Now.

Murder at the Scottish Ball by Millicent Binks
Published by: Bookouture
Publication Date: November 25th, 2025
Format: Kindle, 269 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Holly wreaths, eggnog by a roaring fire and...A body by the Christmas tree? Opal Laplume is on the case!

December 1934. Spending the holidays in a Scottish castle has made Opal Laplume's festive wishes come true. Sir Seamus' Christmas Eve ball is legendary, and Opal dons her finest gown for an exquisite night of bubbles, baubles, and tartan kilts. But the festivities come to a screeching halt when their gracious host is electrocuted by some faulty Christmas lights.

The mood soon turns from festive to frosty when Opal discovers that what seemed like a tragic accident was in fact a deadly sabotage. Everyone has something to hide. Sir Seamus' marriage was crumbling like a piece of Scottish shortbread. Did his wife take 'til death do us part' too far? The butler was promised a large sum from Sir Seamus' will. Did he want an early Christmas bonus? And who is the ghostly figure playing bagpipes in the tower at night?

Just as the killer proves as difficult to find as the Loch Ness Monster, one of the guests is found smothered in their bedroom. Opal soon discovers Sir Seamus was hiding a deadly secret on a small island off the rugged Scottish coast. Can she find the key to the mystery there, before the entire party perishes? Or will this Christmas be her last?

An addictive and twisty Golden Age murder mystery set in the Scottish Highlands. Fans of Agatha Christie. T.E. Kinsey and Verity Bright won't be able to put this down!"

Now that we're so near to Thanksgiving you better have your holiday reading list ready. And if you don't, here's one to add to it!

Vows and Villainy by Elizabeth Penney
Published by: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: November 25th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 288 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Vows and Villainy is the fifth book in Elizabeth Penney's delightful Cambridge Bookshop series set in Cambridge, England, where celebrations are about to commence.

It's wedding season in Cambridge, and Molly Kimball is thrilled that it's almost time for her best friend's special day. With the help of her boyfriend Kieran Scott, she is determined to be the best maid of honor for Daisy and Tim. Daisy's heart is set upon a Shakespeare-themed wedding to be held at Hazelhurst House, Kieran's family's home. The Scotts are also hosting a Shakespeare troupe for the summer, and the actors have kindly agreed to be part of the festivities.

But all goes awry with the discovery of Sir Nigel Peck, a famous actor with a checkered past and present-day misdeeds, floating dead in the moat with flowers strewn around him, à la Ophelia. When Kieran's brother Alan becomes a top suspect, Molly and company must investigate to uncover the ugly truth behind this picturesque scene...before more bodies pile up.

Can Molly solve the murder before Daisy and Tim say "I do"?"

The one time I was a maid of honor I would have totally rocked solving a murder at the same time.

Death and Dinuguan by Mia P. Manansala
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: November 25th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Love is in the air for the citizens of Shady Palms, but Cupid's arrow isn't the only thing striking the town - not with another killer on the loose.

Things are looking up for the Brew-ha Cafe, and Lila Macapagal can't think of anything that could break the spell, especially with Valentine's Day coming up - she can't wait to celebrate with her boyfriend, Jae Park. Adding to the lovey-dovey atmosphere is Hana Lee, Shady Palms's newest resident. She's also Jae's beloved cousin and chocolatier at Choco Noir, the latest addition to the town's culinary offerings. Everything is coming into place for Hana, who left her old life in Minnesota behind to work at Choco Noir, owned by her best friend.

Unfortunately, beneath the sweet surface of Shady Palms runs a bitter undercurrent, as a series of attacks against women-owned businesses in the area escalates from petty theft to assault and murder when Hana is found knocked unconscious inside Choco Noir, and the chocolate shop owner is put out of business - for good.

With Hana left in a coma, a murderer hiding amongst them, and the safety of the women entrepreneurs of Shady Palms at risk, the Park brothers team up with the Brew-ha crew to put a stop to the villain before they strike again."

Come one, didn't one person at Berkley think to make a unsweetened chocolate joke instead of bitter undercurrent!?!

Now Dead by Kate Bold
Published by: Kate Bold
Publication Date: November 25th, 2025
Format: Kindle, 191 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"When a serial killer leaves an eerie trail echoing Greek mythology, brilliant FBI Agent Brynn Justice must race to halt a delusional psychopath - and save the next victim before it's too late...

In a deadly twist on ancient warfare, victims are forced into lethal duels at the hands of a killer emulating the wrath of Ares. It's up to FBI Agent Brynn Justice to enter the arena of murder and outwit an adversary who's always one fatal step ahead.

Now Dead is book #4 in a new series by #1 bestselling mystery and suspense author Kate Bold, whose bestseller Not Me (a free download) has received over 3,00 five star ratings and reviews. The series begins with Now Run (Book #1).

The Brynn Justice mystery series is a heart-racing cat-and-mouse narrative brimming with shocking twists and unexpected turns. This series breathes new life into the mystery genre with its unique lead character, guaranteed to capture your heart and compel you to read well past bedtime. Fans of Lisa Regan, Karin Slaughter, and Robert Dugoni are sure to fall in love."

I'm always here for a serial killer with a twist.

Fatal Decision by Ted Taylor
Published by: Vinci Books Ltd
Publication Date: November 25th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 240 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"He thought he'd left his life as a detective behind. But the past has a deadly way of catching up.

Three years after losing his wife, retired DI Gus Freeman is drawn back into the force to lead a new cold case unit. His first investigation: the brutal murder of Daphne Tolliver, a widow killed during her morning walk through the seemingly peaceful Wiltshire woods.

As Freeman and his team peel back layers of small-town secrets, they discover a web of hidden relationships and festering grudges. But the deeper they dig, the more dangerous their investigation becomes.

With the killer still at large and watching their every move, Freeman must confront not only a cunning adversary but the demons of his own past - before another life is claimed.

In this picturesque town, every silence has a story - and not everyone wants the truth revealed."

I just want to read this for the Wiltshire woods. And obviously the murder.

The Villa, Once Beloved by Victor Manibo
Published by: Erewhon Books
Publication Date: November 25th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A dark history is unearthed amid crumbling façades in Lambda Literary fellow Victor Manibo's new gothic tale of family, homecoming, and postcolonial vengeance...

SOME LEGACIES ARE BEST LEFT BURIED...

Villa Sepulveda is a storied relic of the Philippines' past: a Spanish colonial manor, its moldering stonework filled with centuries-old heirlooms, nestled in a remote coconut plantation. When their patriarch dies mysteriously, his far-flung family returns to their ancestral home. Filipino-American student Adrian Sepulveda invites his college girlfriend, Sophie, a transracial adoptee who knows little about her own Filipino heritage, to the funeral of a man who was entwined with the history of the country itself.

Sophie soon learns that there is more to the Sepulvedas than a grand tradition of political and entrepreneurial success. Adrian's relatives clash viciously amid grief, confusion, and questions about the family curse that their matriarch refuses to answer. When a landslide traps them all in the villa, secrets begin to emerge, revealing sins both intimately personal and unthinkably public.

Sifting through fact, folklore, and fiction, Sophie finds herself at the center of a reckoning. Did a mythical demon really kill Adrian's grandfather? How complicit are the Sepulvedas in the country's oppressive history? As a series of ill omens befall the villa, Sophie must decide whom to trust - and whom to flee - before the family's true legacy comes to take its revenge..."

Here for all the gothic goodness.

Hobtown Mystery Stories Vol. 3: The Secret of the Saucer by Kris Bertin and Alexander Forbes
Published by: Oni Press
Publication Date: November 25th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 264 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Return to Hobtown, the charming rural village in Nova Scotia at the heart of surreal and haunting mysteries, and home to the after-school Teen Detective Club dedicated to solving them. The third must-read volume of the page-turning series that the New York Times calls "forceful and haunting" starts here for the first time ever in a fully colored edition from creators Kris Bertin and Alexander Forbes!

The lines between conspiracy and reality tangle during election season in Hobtown as a new-old member of the Teen Detective Club surfaces to challenge Dana's leadership and redirect the group's attention back to the discounted but pressing concern that "ALIENS!" are among us. On a grander scale, amid the town's hotly contested mayoral race, the arrival of a flying saucer and a chaotic "Ape Lord" being pursued by the local Knitting Circle have the teen sleuths of Hobtown unsure if they're coming or going, as literal backward thinking tears at the threads of their friendships and their grasp on their latest case..."

Regressive thinking is the most dangerous threat out there!

Friday: The Complete Series by Ed Brubaker, Marcos Martin, and Muntsa Vincente
Published by: Image Comics
Publication Date: November 25th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Yellowjackets meets The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina in this genre-defying, post-YA masterpiece, now collecting all three volumes in one deluxe hardcover!

Friday Fitzhugh spent her childhood solving crimes and digging up occult secrets with her best friend Lancelot Jones, the smartest boy in the world. But that was the past, now she's in college, starting a new life on her own. Except when Friday comes home for the holidays, she's immediately pulled back into Lance's orbit and finds that something very strange and dangerous is happening in their little New England town...

This is literally the Christmas vacation from Hell and neither of them may survive to see the New Year.

From award-winning creators Ed Brubaker (Criminal, Reckless, Kill or be Killed) and Marcos Martin (The Private Eye, Daredevil), with brilliant colors by Muntsa Vicente, Friday is a chilling, coming-of-age story about growing up, letting go, and uncovering the darkness hidden in familiar places.

Collects all three volumes plus extra features."

Christmas vacation for college freshman is a deadly vortex of past and present! So masterfully brought to life here. I will literally read anything Ed Brubaker writes!

As Many Souls as Stars by Natasha Siegel
Published by: William Morrow
Publication Date: November 25th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"An inventive and romantic speculative novel about two women - a witch and an immortal demon - who make a Faustian bargain and are drawn into a cat-and-mouse chase across multiple lifetimes.

1592. Cybil Harding is a First Daughter. Cursed to bring disaster to those around her, she is trapped in a house with a mother paralyzed by grief and a father willing to sacrifice everything in pursuit of magic.

Miriam Richter is a creature of shadow. Forged by the dark arts many years ago, she is doomed to exist for eternity and destined to be alone - killing mortals and consuming their souls for sustenance. Everything changes when she meets Cybil, whose soul shines with a light so bright, she must claim it for herself. She offers a bargain: she will grant Cybil reincarnation in exchange for her soul.

Thus begins a dance across centuries as Miriam seeks Cybil in every lifetime to claim her prize. Cybil isn't inclined to play by the rules, but when it becomes clear that Miriam holds the key to breaking her family curse, Cybil finds that - for the first time in her many lives - she might have the upper hand. As they circle each other, drawn together inescapably as light and dark, the bond forged between them grows stronger. In their battle for dominance, only one of them can win - but perhaps they can't survive without each other.

Natasha Siegel has written an unexpected love story that feels both epic and deeply personal. Ambitious, gothic, and magical, As Many Souls as Stars is about the lengths we go to protect ourselves, our legacy, and those we love."

A true symbiosis.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Clara McKenna, Ed Brubaker, Elizabeth Penney, Julia Golding, Kate Bold, Mia P. Manansala, Millicent Binks, Mimi Matthews, Natasha Siegel, S.S. Van Dine, Ted Taylor, Vanessa Kelly, Victor Manibo, Victoria Laurie, Vivian Conroy

The Color of Revenge by Cornelia Funke
Published by: Chicken House
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Vengeance awaits in the follow up to the epic, award-winning, New York Times bestselling Inkheart trilogy by internationally acclaimed author Cornelia Funke.

Five years after the events of Inkdeath, Meggie, Mo, and the people of Ombra lead peaceful lives, their fires warmed by the flames of Dustfinger - the Fire-Dancer. But when Dustfinger spots Orpheus's glass man within the gates of Ombra, a familiar restlessness begins to haunt him once more. And for good reason...

The past five years have been a different story for Orpheus, who has spent his days living a meager and deprived existence, fueled only by his thirst for revenge against Dustfinger and all those who betrayed him. Now, Orpheus has found an unexpected way to seek vengeance against his greatest adversary. He has corrupted an artist to create bewitched portraits that will see the heroes fade to gray.

When Dustfinger's deepest fears come true, he'll have to figure out whether the words still obey Orpheus. Or if he should be afraid of the pictures this time..."

Oh, oh my. A new Inkworld book. I think I need a fainting couch.

The West Wind by Alexandria Warwick
Published by: S and s/Saga Press
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Paperback, 464 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From the author of The North Wind comes a darkly reimagined tale of forbidden love, inspired by the Greek myth of Hero and Leander and the Scottish ballad Tam Lin.

Brielle of Thornbrook has dedicated her life to the abbey. She spends her days forging iron and her evenings studying the Text, all in preparation of becoming an acolyte. Twenty-one years on this earth and she has never touched a man. And she never will.

But when she finds an injured stranger in the forest, Brielle can't resist the urge to help him. The encounter leads her to the realm of Under, where the air breathes rot, and the fair folk dance and whisper. Where she discovers that the man she helped is actually a god: Zephyrus, the West Wind, Bringer of Spring.

There are few Brielle can trust in Under, least of all Zephyrus. He is charming, dangerously so, and never has a man so thoroughly ensnared her. As she embarks on a journey through the eerie banks and caves of Under, Brielle finds herself in a perilous situation. For here is where faith and heart collide - and where she risks not only her future...but her life."

Is it wrong that I'm more excited about the Tam Lin aspect than the Greek aspect?

We Shall Be Monsters by Alyssa Wees
Published by: Del Rey Books
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Paperback, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A girl marked for death ventures into the wooded realm of the fairies to rescue her mother in this dark, lyrical fantasy about vengeful witches, beastly fathers, and the stories mothers tell to keep their daughters safe - from the author of Nocturne.

Gemma Cassata lives with her mother in an isolated antiques shop in Michigan, near a seductive patch of woods concealing an enchanted gateway to fairyland. Gemma knows she's not supposed to go into the woods - her mother, Virginia, has warned her multiple times about the monsters that lurk there - and yet she can't resist.

Virginia understands her daughter's defiance. She knows the allure of the woods all too well. Her own mother warned her about the monsters, and Virginia also did not listen - until a witch cursed her true love just days before their child's birth. So Virginia will do whatever she can to protect her daughter - even if it means stealing Gemma's memories.

But everything changes when Gemma gets too close to the truth, and the witch takes Virginia. Now it is up to Gemma to venture deep into the mysterious woods to rescue her mother and break the curse.

Told in the alternating viewpoints of Gemma and Virginia, this novel is not only a tale of a girl's fantastical quest through a darkly magical fairyland but also an exploration of the complex bonds between children and their parents."

Ah yes, the point wherein you have to venture into the forbidden to save everything.

The Twice-Sold Soul by Katie Hallahan
Published by: Orbit
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Paperback, 432 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"I locked away my magic and ran from home for a good reason. So why am I ready to undo everything when my demon ex finally tracks me down?

You can't outrun your demons - McKenna Ellerbeck knows this all too well. She's been running from literal demons for a decade, one that will stop at nothing to take McKenna's magic for their own and one that shattered her heart by grasping for dark power. After a horrible run-in with hellhounds on the streets of Paris, McKenna is ready to hide again when she's confronted by her ex, the Archdemon of Desire Remiel Blake. Remi, the sexiest of gender-shifting demons, calls in an old debt that McKenna owes her, though unlike other deals the terms of fulfillment are simple: all she needs to do is return to her hometown of Arcadia Commons, Massachusetts, for seven days.

Disgruntled and disguised at her own insistence, McKenna returns home to the magical community, intent on simply staying in her hotel room watching pay-per-view. But with her high school reunion conveniently happening in the same hotel she's staying at - the one owned by her ex-boyfriend Bastien Lemaire - and her brother mysteriously picking fights with the town's most prominent witch family, she finds she can't stay away for long and decides it's finally time to face her past and the witches, werewolves, demons, and friends she left behind.

If you miss Supernatural, True Blood, or Buffy, you'll love this sexy and magical contemporary fantasy from a marvelous new voice in fiction, Katie Hallahan!"

I don't know... I find it's quite easy to stay away from high school reunions.

We Call Them Giants by Kieron Gillen
Published by: Image Comics
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 104 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A poignant, romantic, and devastating story of a young girl who wakes up to find her world has turned upside down.

Lori wakes to find the streets empty. Everyone has gone. Or at least, nearly everyone. She's thrown into a world where she has to scrape by in the ruins of civilization, nearly starving, hiding from gangs when...

They arrive.

The award-winning team behind dark fantasy smash DIE release their first stand alone original graphic novel."

SUCH a fan of Kieron Gillen!

In Wonderland by Paul Magrs
Published by: Penguin Group UK
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Paperback, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Doctor Who is the longest running sci-fi show in the world, and a flagship BBC property. First appearing on air in 1963, it follows the adventures of the Doctor, a Time Lord who travels through time and space, fighting alien monsters and saving the universe."

Two things I love, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and my friend Paul's books. Oh look, they have combined to be a new thing I love!

The Keeper of the Key by Nicole Willson
Published by: Parliament House Press, LLC
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Paperback, 264 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"There are a thousand things sixteen-year-old Rachel would rather do than upend her life to move into Morgan House, an old, run-down mansion owned by her mom's boyfriend, Geoff.

But when her mother announces they're relocating to St. Mary, Virginia to live with him, Rachel's cut off from her friends and life as she knows it. St. Mary is a remote, lonely place, and the best thing about it is Nick, a guy she knows is worth keeping when he takes her to a cemetery on their first date.

Rachel struggles to get along with Geoff and his mile-long list of annoying house rules - in particular, his bizarre insistence that she stay out of the basement. But something in Morgan House plays by its own rules. At night, an unknown force pulls Rachel down to that forbidden cellar, showing her harrowing visions of a strangely familiar man lurking in the shadows. When a sudden tragedy strikes her family, those visions become more frequent-and more violent.

The dead issue urgent warnings, and if Rachel doesn't heed them, she'll become part of Morgan House forever.

From the author of the Bram Stoker Award-nominated Tidepool comes a chilling new Gothic horror novel that will sink into your bones."

Never trust the boyfriends of mothers who own haunted houses.

Games Untold by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Published by: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 448 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Over 4 million copies sold of the #1 bestselling series!

Romance, luxury, and secrets abound in this thrilling new collection that takes readers deeper into the world of the #1 bestselling Inheritance Games series.

There is nothing frivolous about the way a Hawthorne man loves.

An amnesiac playboy and the woman with every reason to hate him. A daredevil, his favorite heiress, and three nights in Prague. An unlikely pairing between a cowboy and a goth. Four brothers with an inescapable bond, strengthened by the family they chose, in a house of wonders that promises to always deliver one more secret.

Discover their stories of love and loss, power, puzzles, and life-and-death secrets in this mind-blowingly romantic collection that proves that when you love the way Hawthornes love, there is no going back.

This collection includes:
-That Night in Prague (novella)
-The Same Backward as Forward (novella)
-The Cowboy and the Goth
-Five Times Xander Tackled Someone (and One Time He Didn't)
-$3CR3T $@NT@
-One Hawthorne Night*
-What Happens in the Treehouse*
-Pain at the Right Gun
*previously published in limited release."

We are FINALLY going to learn what happened that night in Prague!

The Legacy of Arniston House by T.L. Huchu
Published by: Tor Books
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A dangerous cult craves a dark power. The Legacy of Arniston House is the spellbinding fourth instalment of the USA Today bestselling Edinburgh Nights series by T. L. Huchu.

Ropa Moyo is a wannabe magician, can speak to the dead, and has officially given up being an intern. Leaving Scottish magic behind, she now works for the English Sorcerer Royal. But just as she adjusts to working for the English, an old enemy reveals a devastating secret about her Gran, and Ropa's world falls apart.

Outraged, she rushes home, but finds her grandmother dead - murdered - with no killer in sight. What's more, she's the prime suspect. In her quest to find the true murderer, Ropa becomes caught in the dark tendrils of a cult, hell-bent on resurrecting an ancient power. Ropa must use her wits, her magic, and call in all favors to stop the ritual - and clear her name."

I'm just saying, if Ropa was elsewhere and rushed home to her dead grandmother I really don't think that would make her the prime suspect...

Hobtown Mystery Stories Vol. 2: The Cursed Hermit by Kris Bertin
Published by: Oni Press
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Paperback, 208 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Welcome back to Hobtown, the charming but bleak rural village whose placid exterior belies the surreal underbelly teeming below.... The second must-read volume of the page-turning series that the New York Times calls "forceful and haunting" starts here in the first fully colored edition from creators Kris Bertin and Alexander Forbes!

Intrepid young investigators Brennan and Pauline are excited for Christmas break, until they're sent to an extra-credit boarding school called Knotty Pines. After attending their first classes, however, they grow suspicious of the unusually strict headmaster and headmistress, who seem to be controlling their students and transforming them into boneheads and bullies.

On their final night at Knotty Pines, the students are paired up to pledge eternal allegiance to the long-dead Lord Hobb, and to each other, in unholy matrimony! Isolated from their fellow sleuths, Brennan and Pauline forge new alliances to lift a curse that has plagued the good people of Hobtown for centuries."

It's like Nancy Drew written by Edward Gorey.

All's Fair in Love and Treachery by Celeste Connally
Published by: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Bridgerton meets Agatha Christie in this dazzling next installment in a captivating Regency-era mystery series with a feminist spin.

21 June, 1815. London may be cheering the news of Napoleon's surrender at Waterloo, but Lady Petra Forsyth has little to celebrate after discovering that the death of her viscount fiancé three years earlier was no accident. Instead, it was murder, and the man responsible is her handsome, half-Scottish secret paramour Duncan Shawcross - yet the scoundrel has disappeared, leaving only a confusing riddle about long-forgotten memories in his wake.

So what's a lady to do when she can't hunt down her traitorous lover? She concentrates on a royal assignment instead. Queen Charlotte has tasked Petra with attending an event at the Asylum for Female Orphans and making inquiries surrounding the death of the orphanage's matron. What's more, there may be a link between the matron's death and a group of radicals with ties to the aristocracy, as evidenced by an intercepted letter.

Then, Petra overhears a nefarious conversation with two other men about a plot to topple the monarchy, set to take place during three days of celebrations currently gripping London.

As the clock counts down and London's streets teem with revelers, Petra's nerves are fraying as her past and present collide. Yet while all's fair in love and war, she can never surrender, especially when more orphaned girls may be in trouble. And to save their lives, the monarchy itself, and even her own heart, Lady Petra must face her fears with the strength of an army of soldiers and fight with the heart of a queen."

I love that Queen Charlotte basically has her fingers in ALL the pies.

In Want of a Suspect by Tirzah Price
Published by: HarperCollins
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The first book in a thrilling mystery duology that follows Lizzie Bennet and Mr. Darcy from the acclaimed Jane Austen Murder Mystery series!

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that London's first female solicitor in possession of the details of a deadly crime, must be in want of a suspect.

The tenacious Lizzie Bennet has earned her place at Longbourn, her father's law firm. Her work keeps her busy, but luckily it gives her plenty of reasons to consult (and steal occasional kisses) with Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, a stern but secretly softhearted solicitor at Pemberley.

Lizzie is hired to investigate a deadly warehouse fire and to find the mysterious woman who was spotted at the scene moments before the flames took hold. But when the case leads to the sitting room of a woman Darcy once proposed marriage to, the delicate balance between personal and professional in their relationship is threatened.

Questions of the future are cast aside when the prime suspect is murdered and Lizzie's own life is threatened. As the body count rises and their suspicions about what was really going on in the warehouse grow, the pressure is on for Lizzie and Darcy to uncover the truth.

Classic characters with an enthralling twist - Lizzie and Darcy, as introduced in the hit novel Pride and Premeditation, are back for more suspense, danger, and romance!"

I mean who can resist a Pride and Prejudice twist? I can't.

Time and Tide by J.M. Frey
Published by: W by Wattpad Books
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Paperback, 408 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Historical fiction with a touch of time travel, for fans of Diana Gabaldon, Alexis Hall, and Olivia Waite's Feminine Pursuits series, where a modern bisexual woman is thrown into Regency England and must figure out how to survive, while she falls in love with a woman who will become a famous author.

Just a twenty-first century gal with nineteenth-century problems...

When Sam's plane crashes catastrophically over the Atlantic, it defies all odds for Sam to be the sole survivor. But it seems impossible that she's rescued by a warship in 1805. With a dashing sea captain as her guide, she begins to find her footing in a world she'd only seen in movies.

Then Sam is betrayed. At the mercy of the men and morals of the time, and without the means to survive on her own, she's left with no choice but to throw herself on the charity of the captain's sisters. She resigns herself to a quiet life of forever hiding her true self. What she doesn't expect is that her new landlady is Margaret Goodenough - the world-famous author whose yet-to-be-completed novel will contain the first lesbian kiss in the history of British Literature, and a clever woman. Clever enough to know her new companion has a secret.

As the two women grow ever closer, Sam must tread the tenuous line between finding her own happiness in a place where she doesn't think she'll ever fit in, and possibly (accidentally) changing the course of history."

Perhaps Sam is the one who inspired the kiss? Hmm...

The Viscount and the Thief by Emma Orchard
Published by: Boldwood Books
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Kindle, 312 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Preorder a brand new regency romance from the bestselling author of A Duke of One's Own.

Spring, 1811... A stranger arrives at Wyverne Hall.

Sophie Delavallois is the new companion to the ageing Dowager Marchioness, but she also has another reason for coming to the infamous Wyverne mansion, one that will shake the family to their core.

Lord Drake left his childhood home many years ago, and only returns now to see his beloved grandmother. He takes little interest in the goings on of the house, until the arrival of Mademoiselle Delavallois. There's something about her that he can't put his finger on; it's as if he's seen her before, but surely, that is not possible...

Sophie is also drawn to Drake, but he is a Wyverne, and she cannot allow herself to fall for him, because her intentions towards the family are resolute - revenge. But inside the walls of Wyverne Hall, she discovers the rumours about the family barely scratch the surface, and she can't escape the dangerous allure of the Viscount.

Once her plans are set in motion, will he be her saviour or her ruin?"

Such a dilemma, revenge or romance...

The Davenports: More Than This by Krystal Marquis
Published by: Dial Books
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The anticipated sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller featuring escapist romance and a wealthy Black family in 1910s Chicago.

Like the blazing Chicago sun, the drama is heating up for the Davenports and their social set. Before the summer of 1910 drops its last petal, the lives - and loves - of these four young women will change in ways they never could have imagined:

Newly engaged Ruby Tremaine is eagerly planning her wedding to the love of her life when a nasty rumor threatens her reputation and her marriage. Olivia Davenport has committed to the social justice cause and secretly hopes she'll be reunited with dashing lawyer Washington DeWight - until her parents decide she's to marry someone else. Amy-Rose Shepherd is making her lifelong wish of owning a salon come true, but when an incident forces her to return to Freeport Manor, she's back in the path of John Davenport, who still holds her heart. Helen Davenport is determined to get over her own heartbreak and bring the Davenport Carriage Company into the new century, even if it means teaming up with a thrill-seeking racecar driver who just loves to get under her skin.

Inspired by the real-life story of the Patterson family, More Than This is the second book in critically adored Davenports series, following four empowered and passionate young Black women as they navigate a rapidly changing society and discover the courage to steer their own paths in life - and love."

Oh yes, more OF this!

Guilt and Ginataan by Mia P. Manansala
Published by: Penguin Publishing Group
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Paperback, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Autumn is in full swing for the town of Shady Palms - the perfect time for warm drinks, cozy cardigans, and...dead bodies?

The annual Shady Palms Corn Festival is one of the town's biggest moneymakers, drawing crowds from all over the Midwest looking to partake in delicious treats, local crafts, and of course, the second largest corn maze in Illinois. Lila Macapagal and her Brew-ha Cafe crew, Adeena Awan and Elena Torres, are all too happy to participate in the event and even make a little wager on who can make it through the corn maze the fastest - but their fun is suddenly cut short when a dead body is found in the middle of the maze...and an unconscious Adeena lies next to it, clutching a bloody knife.

The body is discovered to be a local politician's wife, and all signs - murder weapon included - point to Adeena as the culprit. But Lila knows her best friend couldn't have done this, so she and her crew put on their sleuthing caps yet again to find the killer who framed Adeena and show them what happens when they mess with a Brew-ha..."

Not enough murders happen in corn mazes! Or is it very Midwest of me to think this?

The Museum of Wes Anderson by Johan Chiaramonte and Camille Mathieu
Published by: Prestel Publishing
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 216 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Welcome to the Wes Anderson museum - a place packed with illustrations, ephemera, trivia, and insightful commentary, and as whimsical and visually arresting as the cult director's films themselves.

This museum in book form takes readers deep into the world of Wes Anderson. Bursting with an exhaustive and eclectic collection of film stills, accessories, clothes, souvenirs, books, and delightfully bizarre ephemera, this immersive treasury offers extraordinary insight into Wes Anderson's literary, musical, and cinematic influences, which range from Indian cinema, French pop music, Italian speed car racing, to The New Yorker magazine and the work of J. D. Salinger.

Among the museum's artifacts are a recipe for a ham sandwich from The French Dispatch's Le Sans Blague café; the history of Tang - the drink of choice for the campers in Moonrise Kingdom; and the secret of L'Air de Panache, the cologne worn by the concierge of the Grand Budapest Hotel. Readers will discover Anderson's connections to the balalaika, The Beatles, and Benjamin Britten, and they'll discover how the filmmaker was inspired by the works of Hal Ashby, Satyajit Ray, Orson Welles, Mike Nichols, and Francis Ford Coppola. Perfect for dipping into and filled with information that will surprise even the most diehard Wes Anderson fan, this technicolor treasury is as profoundly entertaining as it is authoritative."

Yet another unique book looking at the innovative filmmaker. 

The Watkins Book of Urban Legends by Gail De Vos
Published by: Watkins Publishing
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A comprehensive and entertaining collection of urban legends from around the world, with a history and analysis of the origin of each tale, compiled by a leading authority in the field.

A rich and unique collection of folktales and urban legends from around the world. Each story comes with an accompanying brief note to provide context. Including new tales reflecting new concerns; old tales repurposed for new audiences and new ways of telling.

The collection illustrates that these stories are now alive across many new media. This is the first such popular book to bring together stories with both traditional and digital media origins and to examine how the phenomenon of social media has affected both the spread of urban legends and their very nature.

-Features the uniquely modern manifestation of folk mythology and legend, now made ubiquitous by the internet; the conspiracy theory.
-Includes urban legends such as: The Pickled Hand, The Babysitter, The Sandman.
-Includes conspiracy theories such as: Wild Fires, Fifteen Minute Cities and Organ Theft.
-40% of the stories originate in North America, 30% in Europe, 20% in Asia, 10% in Africa and elsewhere.
-The book also shows how stories spread and change from the country of origin to become global."

And if you buy the book you'll get an email saying that if you don't forward it to ten friends you shall be forever cursed. Or was that just something someone told me once? Read this book to find out!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Alexandria Warwick, Alyssa Wees, Celeste Connally, Cornelia Funke, Emma Orchard, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Katie Hallahan, Kieron Gillen, Krystal Marquis, Mia P. Manansala, Paul Magrs, T.L. Huchu, Wes Anderson

Starter Villain by John Scalzi
Published by: Tor Books
Publication Date: September 19th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 272 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Inheriting your uncle's supervillain business is more complicated than you might think. Particularly when you discover who's running the place.

Charlie's life is going nowhere fast. A divorced substitute teacher living with his cat in a house his siblings want to sell, all he wants is to open a pub downtown, if only the bank will approve his loan.

Then his long-lost uncle Jake dies and leaves his supervillain business (complete with island volcano lair) to Charlie.

But becoming a supervillain isn't all giant laser death rays and lava pits. Jake had enemies, and now they're coming after Charlie. His uncle might have been a stand-up, old-fashioned kind of villain, but these are the real thing: rich, soulless predators backed by multinational corporations and venture capital.

It's up to Charlie to win the war his uncle started against a league of supervillains. But with unionized dolphins, hyper-intelligent talking spy cats, and a terrifying henchperson at his side, going bad is starting to look pretty good.

In a dog-eat-dog world...be a cat."

The best cover art EVER has arrived, all others are just pretenders.

42: The Wildly Improbable Ideas of Douglas Adams by Douglas Adams
Published by: Unbound
Publication Date: September 19th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Over 60 boxes full of notebooks, research, letters, scripts, jokes, speeches, to-do lists, hard drives and even poems...Welcome to the incredible archive of Douglas Adams.

After his death in 2001, Douglas Adams's papers were loaned to his old Cambridge college, St John's. Reproduced here, in facsimile form and in close association with Adams's family and literary estate, 42 is a full-colour, large-format hardback that follows Adams career from early collaborations with Graham Chapman to his work on Doctor Who, through the Hitchhiker years, Dirk Gently, his groundbreaking non-fiction book Last Chance to See and his later digital work. Alongside this are details of projects that never came to fruition like a proposed theme park ride and a TV series provisionally entitled The Secret Empire.

Edited by Kevin Jon Davies, who has worked on a number of Hitchhiker-related projects and had a personal friendship with Adams spanning more than twenty years."

I'm very intrigued by the idea of Adams doing a theme park ride... I mean, it would be terrifying but oh so unique.

Wandering Through Life by Donna Leon
Published by: Atlantic Monthly Press
Publication Date: September 19th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 208 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The internationally bestselling author of the Guido Brunetti mysteries tells her own adventurous life story as she enters her eighties.

In a series of vignettes full of affection, irony, and good humor, Donna Leon narrates a remarkable life she feels has rather more happened to her than been planned.

Following a childhood in the company of her New Jersey family, with frequent visits to her grandfather's farm and its beloved animals, and summers spent selling homegrown tomatoes by the roadside, Leon got her first taste of the classical music and opera that would enrich her life. She also developed a yen for adventure. In 1976, she made the spontaneous decision to teach English in Iran, before finding herself swept up in the early days of the 1979 Revolution. After teaching stints in China and Saudi Arabia, she finally landed in Venice. Leon vividly animates her decades-long love affair with Italy, from her first magical dinner when serving as a chaperone to a friend, to the hunt for the perfect cappuccino, to the warfare tactics of grandmothers doing their grocery shopping at the Rialto Market.

Some things remain constant throughout the decades: her adoration of opera, especially Handel's vocal music, and her advocacy for the environment, embodied in her passion for bees - which informs the surprising crux of the Brunetti mystery Earthly Remains. Even as mass tourism takes its toll on the patience of residents, Leon's passion for Venice remains unchanged: its outrageous beauty and magic still captivate her.

Having recently celebrated her eightieth birthday, Leon poignantly confronts the dual challenges and pleasures of aging. Complete with a brief letter dissuading those hoping to meet Guido Brunetti at the Questura, and always suffused with music, food, and her sharp sense of humor, Wandering through Life offers Donna Leon at her most personal."

You only can hope that one day you will be as cool as Donna Leon.

The Mysterious Double Death of Honey Black by Lisa Hall
Published by: Hera
Publication Date: September 19th, 2023
Format: Kindle, 337 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"You know she has been murdered. Can you stop it happening twice?

Two very different lives...

It is 2019 and Lily Jones is living her dream in LA. Sort of. It hasn't quite turned out as she planned and instead of working as a movie producer, she is cleaning at the prestigious Beverly Hills Hotel. At least she gets to work in the renowned Paul Williams suite, site of the brutal murder of Honey Black 70 years ago, shrouded in rumour and dark glamour.

It is 1949 and Honey Black is about to hit the big time. She may have started out a country girl from Hicksville but now she is a star. And Hollywood had better watch out - nothing can stop her now!

One Hollywood murder...

After an accidental bump to the head, Lily finds herself in Hollywood, 1949. Like a dream come true, she is rubbing shoulders with the great and good of Tinseltown. Including Honey Black...Horrified, Lily realises that the actress has only two weeks left to live before she will be murdered.

Could this be why she has found herself in 1949?

To find the killer and stop them in their tracks?

A glamorous, time-slip murder mystery set in the Golden Age of Hollywood - All About Eve meets Back to the Future. Don't miss this unforgettable read from bestselling author Lisa Hall; fans of Stuart Turton and cosy crime will love this!"

Oh yes, definitely for fans of Stuart Turton!

The Golden Gate by Amy Chua
Published by: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: September 19th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Amy Chua's debut novel, The Golden Gate, is a sweeping, evocative, and compelling historical thriller that paints a vibrant portrait of a California buffeted by the turbulent crosswinds of a world at war and a society about to undergo massive change.

In Berkeley, California, in 1944, Homicide Detective Al Sullivan has just left the swanky Claremont Hotel after a drink in the bar when a presidential candidate is assassinated in one of the rooms upstairs. A rich industrialist with enemies among the anarchist factions on the far left, Walter Wilkinson could have been targeted by any number of groups. But strangely, Sullivan's investigation brings up the specter of another tragedy at the Claremont, ten years earlier: the death of seven-year-old Iris Stafford, a member of the Bainbridge family, one of the wealthiest in all of San Francisco. Some say she haunts the Claremont still.

The many threads of the case keep leading Sullivan back to the three remaining Bainbridge heiresses, now adults: Iris's sister, Isabella, and her cousins Cassie and Nicole. Determined not to let anything distract him from the truth - not the powerful influence of Bainbridges' grandmother, or the political aspirations of Berkeley's district attorney, or the interest of China's First Lady Madame Chiang Kai-Shek in his findings - Sullivan follows his investigation to its devastating conclusion.

Chua's page-turning debut brings to life a historical era rife with turbulent social forces and groundbreaking forensic advances, when race and class defined the very essence of power, sex, and justice, and introduces a fascinating character in Detective Sullivan, a mixed race former Army officer who is still reckoning with his own history."

I can never get enough of San Francisco, especially when it's Historical Fiction with a slice of reality.

Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter
Published by: William Morrow and Company
Publication Date: September 19th, 2023
Format: Paperback, 480 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Mega-bestselling British crime novelist Cara Hunter makes her big American debut with a shocking thriller about a cold case, a fictional true crime series, and the family caught in the middle.

Eight Episodes. One Killer.

It was a case that gripped the nation. In December 2003, Luke Ryder, the stepfather of acclaimed filmmaker Guy Howard (then aged 10), was found dead in the garden of their suburban family home.

Luke Ryder's murder has never been solved. Guy Howard's mother and two half-sisters were in the house at the time of the murder - but all swear they saw nothing. Despite a high-profile police investigation and endless media attention, no suspect was ever charged.

But some murder cases are simply too big to forget...

Now comes the sensational new streaming series Infamous, dedicated to investigating - and perhaps cracking - this famous cold case. The production team will re-examine testimony, re-interview witnesses, and once again scour the evidence. The family will speak. The key players will be reunited - on camera. The truth will come out.

Are you ready to see it?"

Oh yes I am! This book is so of the moment in true crime obsessions.

Murder and Mamon by Mia P. Manansala
Published by: Berkley Books
Publication Date: September 19th, 2023
Format: Paperback, 288 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"When murder mars the grand opening for Lila Macapagal's aunties' new laundromat, she will have to air out all the dirty laundry in Shady Palms to catch a killer...

Lila Macapagal's godmothers April, Mae, and June - AKA the Calendar Crew - are celebrating the opening of their latest joint business venture, a new laundromat, to much fanfare (and controversy). However, what should've been a joyous occasion quickly turns into a tragedy when they discover the building has been vandalized - and the body of Ninang April's niece, recently arrived from the Philippines, next to a chilling message painted on the floor. The question is, was the message aimed at the victim or Lila's gossipy godmothers, who have not-so-squeaky-clean reputations?

With Ninang April falling apart from grief and little progress from the Shady Palms Police Department in this slippery case, it's up to Lila and her network to find justice for the young woman.

The Calendar Crew have stuck their noses into everybody's business for years, but now the tables are turned as Lila must pry into the Calendar Crew's lives to figure out who has a vendetta against the (extremely opinionated yet loving) aunties and stop them before they strike again."

I just realized that I really need a name for my crew...

The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman
Published by: Pamela Dorman Books
Publication Date: September 19th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A new mystery is afoot in the fourth book in the Thursday Murder Club series from million-copy bestselling author Richard Osman.

It's rarely a quiet day for the Thursday Murder Club.

Shocking news reaches them - an old friend has been killed, and a dangerous package he was protecting has gone missing.

The gang's search leads them into the antiques business, where the tricks of the trade are as old as the objects themselves. As they encounter drug dealers, art forgers, and online fraudsters - as well as heartache close to home - Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim have no idea whom to trust.

With the body count rising, the clock ticking down, and trouble firmly on their tail, has their luck finally run out?

And who will be the last devil to die?"

It's September, time for your latest Thursday Murder Club fix.

Dead on Target by M.C. Beaton
Published by: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: September 19th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 256 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Beloved New York Times bestseller M. C. Beaton's cranky, crafty Agatha Raisin - the star of her own hit TV series - is back on the case again in Dead on Target.

A visit to the local village fete for a spot of fun and relaxation turns into a nightmare for Agatha Raisin when she discovers the body of the local landowner in the woods - with an arrow in his chest and trousers round his ankles.

Agatha's old adversary, Detective Chief Inspector Wilkes, declares the death a tragic accident, believing the victim has been hit by a stray arrow from an archery demonstration. Agatha is convinced of foul play, however, and is shocked when Wilkes eventually agrees...with her as his prime murder suspect.

Determined to clear her name and find the real killer, Agatha launches her own investigation, quickly becoming involved with a family at war, an unscrupulous gangster - and a killer who is determined to make her the next victim..."

I'm so glad that Agatha Raisin lives on.

Murder at Midnight by Katharine Schellman
Published by: Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date: September 19th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn and Ashley Weaver, when a body is found shot to death after an unexpected snowstorm, Lily Adler quickly realizes that some people will stop at nothing to bury their secrets.

Regency widow Lily Adler is looking forward to a quiet Christmastide away from the schemes and secrets she witnessed daily in London. Not only will she be visiting the family of her late husband; she will be reunited with Captain Jack Hartley, her friend and confidante, finally returned after a long voyage at sea.

But secrets aren't only found in London. Jack's younger sister, Amelia, is the center of neighborhood scandal and gossip. She refuses to tell anyone what really happened, even when an unexpected snowstorm strands the neighborhood families together after a Christmas ball. Stuck until the snow stops, the Adlers, Hartleys, and their neighbors settle in for the night, only to be awakened in the morning by the scream of a maid who has just discovered a dead body.

The victim was the well-to-do son of a local gentleman - the same man whose name has become so scandalously linked to Amelia's.

With the snow still falling and no way to come or go, it's clear that someone in the house was responsible for the young man's death. When suspicion instantly falls on Jack's sister, he and Lily must unmask the true culprit before Amelia is convicted of a crime she didn't commit."

Does anyone else horde Christmas books like a festive dragon for their holiday reading? Because if not, you should. You should also put this book on your list.

A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel by K.J. Charles
Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date: September 19th, 2023
Format: Paperback, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Bridgerton goes Gothic in this sweeping Regency romance by celebrated author K.J. Charles.

Major Rufus d'Aumesty has unexpectedly become the Earl of Oxney, master of a remote Norman manor on the edge of the infamous Romney Marsh. There he's beset on all sides, his position contested both by his greedy uncle and by Luke Doomsday, son of a notorious smuggling clan.

The earl and the smuggler should be natural enemies, but cocksure, enragingly competent Luke is a trained secretary and expert schemer - exactly the sort of man Rufus needs by his side. Before long, Luke becomes an unexpected ally...and the lover Rufus had never hoped to find.

But Luke came to Stone Manor with an ulterior motive, one he's desperate to keep hidden even from the lord he can't resist. As the lies accumulate and family secrets threaten to destroy everything they hold dear, master and man find themselves forced to decide whose side they're really on...and what they're willing to do for love."

An LGBTQ Poldark!

Hex and the City by Kate Johnson
Published by: One More Chapter
Publication Date: September 19th, 2023
Format: Paperback, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Something wickedly sexy this way comes...

A laugh out loud witchy romcom for fans of Lana Harper and Erin Sterling !

Spice: ️️️

Things you should know about Poppy:
1. She's a witch
2. She has magical hair like Rapunzel from Tangled
3. She lives with Iris, the head of her coven, in a beautiful, ramshackle house next to Highgate cemetery
4. She works at Hubble Bubble, a magic shop in Covent Garden. Though none of it is real magic as that would be highly irresponsible. Until...
...Poppy accidentally sells gorgeous celebrity magician Axl Storm, all six-foot-four of him, a cursed pendant.

When all hell breaks loose can the guy with fake magic and the girl with real magic fix the chaos they've caused? Or will sparks fly both in and out of the cauldron?"

I was sold at ramshackle house next to Highgate cemetery.

Hex Education by Maureen Kilmer
Published by: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Publication Date: September 19th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Nice witches finish last...

A guilt-ridden former coven is forced to tap into the magic of their past...if they want to stop their lives from going up in flames again.

On the outside, luxury realtor Sarah Nelson looks like every other mom in the neighborhood. But she has an edge that others don't: She's a witch. And no one knows...except her estranged ex-coven and college friends, Katrina and Alicia.

One terrible night during their freshman year, the trio accidentally burned down their dorm, and soon after they scattered. Their secret had been safe, until Sarah learns they've been invited back to commemorate the anniversary of the fire.

Suddenly, the magic doesn't want to be controlled. Sarah's orange tabby cat, Katy Purry, now argues with her. Her broom has become self-brooming, and her fridge somehow restocks thirty pounds of sliced turkey for school lunches. As it grows increasingly difficult to hide the magic and the past, Sarah, Katrina, and Alicia must harness their power together to keep their secrets safe...before they find out if polite society still burns witches."

Um, who needs thirty pounds of sliced turkey? Like ever, not just for school lunches.

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
Published by: Harperteen
Publication Date: September 19th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Bestselling author Ava Reid makes her YA debut in this dark academic fantasy perfect for fans of Melissa Albert and Elana K. Arnold.

Effy Sayre has always believed in fairy tales. Haunted by visions of the Fairy King since childhood, she's had no choice. Her tattered copy of Angharad - Emrys Myrddin's epic about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King, then destroys him - is the only thing keeping her afloat. So when Myrddin's family announces a contest to redesign the late author's estate, Effy feels certain it's her destiny.

But musty, decrepit Hiraeth Manor is an impossible task, and its residents are far from welcoming. Including Preston Héloury, a stodgy young literature scholar determined to expose Myrddin as a fraud. As the two rivals piece together clues about Myrddin's legacy, dark forces, both mortal and magical, conspire against them - and the truth may bring them both to ruin.

Part historical fantasy, part rivals-to-lovers romance, part Gothic mystery, and all haunting, dreamlike atmosphere, Ava Reid's powerful YA debut will lure in readers who loved The Atlas Six, House of Salt and Sorrows, or Girl, Serpent, Thorn."

Doesn't everyone survive because of a tattered copy of some book?

The Collectors: Stories edited by A.S. King
Published by: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 19th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 272 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From Michael L. Printz Award winner A.S. King and an all-star team of contributors including Anna-Marie McLemore and Jason Reynolds, an anthology of stories about remarkable people and their strange and surprising collections.

From David Levithan's story about a non-binary kid collecting pieces of other people's collections to Jenny Torres Sanchez's tale of a girl gathering types of fire while trying not to get burned to G. Neri's piece about 1970's skaters seeking opportunities to go vertical - anything can be collected and in the hands of these award-winning and bestselling authors, any collection can tell a story. Nine of the best YA novelists working today have written fiction based on a prompt from Printz-winner A.S. King (who also contributes a story) and the result is itself an extraordinary collection."

I wish we celebrated collecting more as a society, like back when there were cabinets of curiosities.

The Winds of Poppy Pendleton by Melanie Dobson
Published by: Tyndale House Publishers
Publication Date: September 19th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In this compelling new time-slip mystery, a little girl goes missing from her family's castle in the Thousand Islands of New York. Eighty-five years later, a journalist teams up with a woman living on Koster Isle to find out what happened to Poppy, once and for all.

1907. On the eve of her fifth birthday, Poppy Pendleton is tucked safely in her bed, listening to her parents entertain New York's gilded society in their Thousand Islands castle; the next morning, she is gone, and her father is found dead in his smoking room.

1992. Though Chloe Ridell lives in the shadows of Poppy's castle, now in ruins, she has little interest in the mystery that still captivates tourists and locals alike. She is focused on preserving the island she inherited from her grandparents and reviving their vintage candy shop. Until the day a girl named Emma shows up on Chloe's doorstep, with few possessions, save a tattered scrapbook that connects her to the Pendleton family. When a reporter arrives at Chloe's store, asking questions about her grandfather, Chloe decides to help him dig into a past she'd thought best left buried. The haunting truth about Poppy, they soon discover, could save Emma's life, so Chloe and Logan must work together to investigate exactly what happened long ago on Koster Isle."

A more time-slippy Truly, Devious.

Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian
Published by: Tor Nightfire
Publication Date: September 19th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 464 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From bestselling author Alex Grecian comes a folk horror epic about a ragtag posse that must track down a witch through a wild west beset by demons and ghosts - and where death is always just around the bend.

Sadie Grace is wanted for witchcraft, dead (or alive). And every hired gun in Kansas is out to collect the bounty on her head, including bona fide witch hunter Old Tom and his mysterious, mute ward, Rabbit.

On the road to Burden County, they're joined by two vagabond cowboys with a strong sense of adventure - but no sense of purpose - and a recently widowed schoolteacher with nothing left to lose. As their posse grows, so too does the danger.

Racing along the drought-stricken plains in a stolen red stagecoach, they encounter monsters more wicked than witches lurking along the dusty trail. But the crew is determined to get that bounty, or die trying.

Written with the devilish cadence of Stephen Graham Jones and the pulse-pounding brutality of Nick Cutter, Red Rabbit is a supernatural adventure of luck and misfortune."

I love the supernatural combined with the wild west.

The Forest Grimm by Kathryn Purdie
Published by: Wednesday Books
Publication Date: September 19th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A spellbinding YA fantasy from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kathryn Purdie, where fairy tales come to life with dark, deadly twists.

"Tell me again, Grandmère, the story of how I die."

The Midnight Forest. The Fanged Creature. Two fortune-telling cards that spell an untimely death for 17-year-old Clara. Despite the ever-present warning from her fortune-teller grandmother, Clara embarks on a dangerous journey into the deadly Forest Grimm to procure a magical book - Sortes Fortunae, the Book of Fortunes - with the power to reverse the curse on her village and save her mother.

Years ago, when the villagers whispered their deepest desires to the book, its pages revealed how to obtain them. All was well until someone used the book for an evil purpose - to kill another person. Afterward, the branches of the Forest Grimm snatched the book away, the well water in Grimm's Hollow turned rancid, and the crops died from disease. The villagers tried to make amends with the forest, but every time someone crossed its border, they never returned.

Now, left with no alternative, Clara and her close friend, Axel - who is fated never to be with her - have set their minds to defying fate and daring to accomplish what no one else has been able to before. But the forest - alive with dark, deadly twists on some of our most well-known fairy tales - has a mind of its own."

Like a fairy tale version of this season of Nancy Drew.

A Bride's Story, Volume 14 by Kaoru Mori
Published by: Yen Press
Publication Date: September 19th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 210 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The Halgals enter talks of marriage with another clan, but first, Azel and the other men must be tested to see if they are worthy. They face off against their prospective brides in a horse-riding competition, and whoever retrieves an arrow and makes it to the finish line first will hold the future of both clans in their hands!"

I've loved this series from day one and can never get enough!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Amy Chua, Ava Reid, Cara Hunter, Donna Leon, Douglas Adams, John Scalzi, K.J. Charles, Kaoru Mori, Katharine Schellman, Kathryn Purdie, Lisa Hall, M.C. Beaton, Melanie Dobson, Mia P. Manansala, Richard Osman