strange and random happenstance

A Fashionably French Murder by Colleen Cambridge
Published by: Kensington
Publication Date: April 29th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 272 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"American expat Tabitha Knight has found a new life in postwar Paris, along with a delightful friend in aspiring chef Julia Child. Yet there are perils in peacetime too, as a killer infiltrates one of the city's most famous fashion houses.

If there's one art the French have mastered as well as fine cuisine, it's haute couture. Tabitha and Julia are already accustomed to sampling the delights of the former. Now fashion is returning to the forefront in Paris, as the somber hues of wartime are replaced by vibrant colors and ultra-feminine silhouettes, influenced by Christian Dior's "New Look."

Tabitha and Julia join a friend for a private showing at an exclusive fashion atelier, Maison Lannet. The event goes well, but when Tabitha returns later that evening to search for a lost glove, she finds the lights still on - and the couturier dead, strangled by a length of lace. The shop manager suspects that a jealous rival - perhaps Dior himself - committed the crime. Tabitha dismisses that idea, but when another body is found, it's apparent that someone is targeting employees of Maison Lannet.

Meanwhile, Tabitha's Grand-père and Oncle Rafe are in the midst of their own design-related fracas, as they squabble over how to decorate their new restaurant. And there are strange break-ins at a nearby shoe store - but are the crimes related? It's up to Tabitha to don her investigative hat and find answers before someone commits another fatal fashion faux pas."

You can always be confident that the inside of one of Colleen's books is top notch, but this series also looks smashing on your bookshelves. Seriously, I love the design.

The Seaside Murders by Helena Dixon
Published by: Bookouture
Publication Date: April 29th, 2025
Format: Kindle, 258 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A pretty seaside town, a body on the beach, and a boatload of clues. Can super-sleuth Miss Jane Treen solve the mystery?

England, 1941. When Jane Treen is summoned to her boss's office at the end of a long day, she smooths down her tweed skirt and makes them both another strong pot of coffee. Brigadier Remmington-Blythe slides a folded copy of the evening newspaper towards her, with one small article circled in red ink. A body has been found on an English beach in the little seaside town where she grew up, and he wants her to investigate.

Jane is used to managing secret agents and spies, but she is now part of The Secret Detective Agency, England's answer to solving the most mysterious murders. Making her way to the coast and brimming with curiosity, she's heartened that shy and handsome codebreaking genius Arthur Cilento will be joining her to help her wade through the fishy goings-on. Although Jane doubts he will appreciate her bringing her beloved one-eyed cat, Marmaduke...

Together, Jane and Arthur drop anchor in her crumbling childhood home overlooking the sandy beach where the body was found. Surrounded by potential suspects, their eyes are on a devious doctor, an eccentric artist and a secret sweetheart. But as Jane and Arthur are searching for the truth, those giving evidence start to clam up. One thing seems sure: they need to reel in the killer before they're out of their depth...

Can The Secret Detective Agency triumph again, or will they meet their watery end at high tide?

If you love twisty crime novels, top-secret intrigue and the very best of Golden Age mysteries, then you will adore Helena Dixon's totally gripping cozy novel, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Verity Bright!"

I mean, we have to admit that the reason she's bringing her cat along is because the cat is solving the crimes.

How to Seal Your Own Fate by Kristen Perrin
Published by: Dutton
Publication Date: April 29th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Kristen Perrin is back with the second novel in her Castle Knoll series. Annie Adams is caught in a new web of murder that spans decades, returning us to the idyllic English village that holds layers of secrets.

Present day: Annie Adams is just settling into life in Castle Knoll when local fortune teller Peony Lane crosses her path and shares a cryptic message. When Peony Lane is found dead only hours later inside the locked Gravesdown Estate, Annie quickly realizes that someone is out to make her look guilty while silencing Peony at the same time. Annie has no choice but to delve into the dark secrets of Castle Knoll in order to find out just what Peony Lane was trying to warn her about, before the new life she's just begun to build comes crashing down around her.

1967: A year has passed since her friend Emily disappeared, and teenage Frances Adams finds herself caught between two men. Ford Gravesdown is one of the only remaining members of a family known for its wealth and dubious uses of power. Archie Foyle is a local who can't hold down a job and lives above the village pub. But when Frances teams up with Archie to investigate the car crash that claimed the lives of Ford's family, it quickly becomes clear that this was no accident - hints of cover-ups, lies, and betrayals abound. The question is, just how far does the blackness creep through the heart of Castle Knoll? When Frances uncovers secrets kept by both Ford and Archie, she starts to wonder: What exactly has she gotten herself into?"

Whenever there's a character named Ford I have to wonder if they're an alien.

A Death on Corfu by Emily Sullivan
Published by: Kensington
Publication Date: April 29th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 288 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Living in Greece at the turn of the twentieth century, widow Minnie Harper struggles to find her place in a swiftly changing world. But when a local woman is murdered, her resolve is put to the test in a race to shed light on the truth...

The first in a new series for readers of Tasha Alexander, Deanna Raybourn, Anna Lee Huber, and Rhys Bowen.

Minnie Harper isn't used to putting herself first. Not after she moved away from England only to be left raising two children alone on the Greek Island of Corfu following her husband's unexpected death. But with her daughter begging to be sent to school abroad and her son grasping at his own independence, Minnie realizes she must prepare for the next stage of her life.

When famous mystery author Stephen Dorian settles into a neighboring villa to escape writer's block and hidden scandals, she is intrigued at first by the handsome Londoner - until he proves to be nothing more than a boorish grump. Determined to avoid the man as much as possible, Minnie is shocked when he offers her a well-paid job as his typist. She isn't in a position to turn down work, even from a man she has sworn to hate.

But before Minnie can fully regret her decision to take the job, she makes a horrifying discovery that changes everything. A young maid has been murdered, and local authorities aren't moving fast enough to bring justice to the terrible crime. Unwilling to allow the death to fade into obscurity like the stories of so many other women deemed unworthy by society, Minnie launches an investigation of her own - and reluctantly accepts Stephen's help. As she embarks on a dangerous search for answers that reveals another side of Corfu, unsettling questions take shape about her employer-turned-confidant and the culprit who just might do whatever it takes to strike again..."

It's The Durrells but without the insufferable Durrells! Although if the Durrells showed up eventually and were murdered, I wouldn't object. 

The Mystery of the Crooked Man by Tom Spencer
Published by: Pushkin Vertigo
Publication Date: April 29th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Fraudulent cozy mystery expert Agatha Dorn is cancelled - and severely ticked off! - in this quirky homage to Golden Age detectives, lost manuscripts, and famous authors

Meet Agatha Dorn, cantankerous archivist, grammar pedant, gin afficionado and murder mystery addict. When she discovers a lost manuscript by Gladden Green, the Empress of Golden Age detective fiction, Agatha's life takes an unexpected twist. She becomes an overnight sensation, basking in the limelight of literary stardom.

But Agatha's newfound fame takes a nosedive when the 'rediscovered' novel is exposed as a hoax. And when her ex-lover turns up dead, with a scrap of the manuscript by her side, Agatha suspects foul play.

Cancelled, ostracised and severely ticked off, Agatha turns detective to uncover the sinister truth that connects the murder and the fraudulent manuscript. But can she stay sober long enough to catch the murderer, or will Agatha become a whodunit herself?

Don't miss this distinctive, delightfully quirky, English cozy murder mystery featuring an unforgettably spiky protagonist - perfect for fans of The Twyford Code, Magpie Murders, and Yellowface."

I mean, we do have an unreliable narrator... Who's to say she didn't write the 'rediscovered' manuscript herself? You'll have to read to find out!

The Cornish Castle Murder by Fiona Leitch
Published by: One More Chapter
Publication Date: April 29th, 2025
Format: Kindle, 301 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The time has finally come for former Met police officer Jodie 'Nosey' Parker to wed her fiancé DCI Nathan Withers. But their long-anticipated wedding doesn't quite go to plan...

As their guests descend on a luxurious Cornish castle for a weekend of pre-wedding activities, the happy couple look forward to spending time with friends and family. But celebrations grind to a halt when an arrow flies off-course during the archery session, and they find the body of a young woman floating face down in an ornamental pond.

With the champagne chilling and canapes assembled, and an old London adversary brought in to investigate, it's up to Jodie and Nathan to uncover the killer, before they strike again.

Could the murderer be on the guest list?"

Of course the murderer is on the guest list! Now which guest is it!?!

Off the Beaten Path by Eloise Corvo
Published by: Level Best Books
Publication Date: April 29th, 2025
Format: Kindle, 230 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Stone's Throw State Park Ranger Maudy Lorso spends her days playing cards and sipping drinks with her millennial gal pals, hiking steep sand dunes with her scruffy dog, Martin Short, and trying to ignore the pain of a recent, devastating breakup. After building a quiet life in the Lake Michigan coastal village of Stone's Throw, Maudy's emotional safety net is turned inside out when her boss informs her of looming budget cuts that threaten to permanently close the park - and eliminate her job. Determined to prove the park's value, Maudy throws herself into organizing a successful campground opening weekend, just one week away. But when the body of a missing tourist is discovered in the park, her hope of saving Stone's Throw State Park quickly begins to fade. In order to save her dream job and maintain her quirky, quiet life, Maudy jumps in to solve the murder of the dead man."

I mean, I'd want to preserve this job too if it were mine, it seems she doesn't do much...

Julie Chan Is Dead by Liann Zhang
Published by: Atria Books
Publication Date: April 29th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In this debut thriller perfect for fans of Bunny and Yellowface, a young woman steps into her deceased twin's influencer life, only to discover dark secrets hidden behind her social media façade.

Julie Chan has nothing. Her twin sister has everything. Except a pulse.

Julie Chan, a supermarket cashier with nothing to lose, finds herself thrust into the glamorous yet perilous world of her late twin sister, Chloe VanHuusen, a popular influencer. Separated at a young age, the identical twins were polar opposites and rarely spoke, except for one viral video that Chloe initiated (Finding My Long-Lost Twin And Buying Her A House #EMOTIONAL). When Julie discovers Chloe's lifeless body under mysterious circumstances, she seizes the chance to live the life she's always envied.

Transforming into Chloe is easier than expected. Julie effortlessly adopts Chloe's luxurious influencer life, complete with designer clothes, a meticulous skincare routine, and millions of adoring followers. However, Julie soon realizes that Chloe's seemingly picture-perfect life was anything but.

Haunted by Chloe's untimely death and struggling to fit into the privileged influencer circle, Julie faces mounting challenges during a weeklong island retreat with Chloe's exclusive group of influencer friends. As events spiral out of control, Julie uncovers the sinister forces that may have led to her sister's demise and realizes she might be the next target."

I mean, sure, being a popular influencer might be exciting, but then again, why is she dead!?! Those are questions you should ask BEFORE impersonating said influencer. 

The Murder Machine by Heather Graham
Published by: Mira Books
Publication Date: April 29th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Artificial intelligence meets genuine murderous intent.

This state-of-the-art smart home has everything: a next-generation entertainment system, an ultramodern kitchen where every appliance is online and even a personal AI to control it all. Standing above its owner's lifeless body, FBI agent Jude Mackenzie is faced with the daunting task of discovering how the woman was killed by her own home. How do you catch a murderer that doesn't leave any fingerprints?

Enter Special Agent Victoria Tennant, whose familiarity with cybercrime reveals the stark truth: a machine can only do what it's been directed to. As the number of grisly "accidents" begins to rise, the pair must race to uncover the perpetrator even as they find themselves caught in their digital crosshairs! There's nowhere to hide when danger may be as close as the very phones in their pockets."

Not so much rise of the machines as programmers revolt.

25 Alive by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
Published by: Little Brown and Company
Publication Date: April 29th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Sergeant Lindsay Boxer, medical examiner Claire Washburn, Assistant District Attorney Yuki Castellano, and crime reporter Cindy Thomas investigate the shocking murder of a former SFPD chief in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.

SFPD homicide detective Lindsay Boxer knows her way around a crime scene.

But nothing can prepare her for the shock of recognition: the victim is Warren Jacobi, Lindsay's onetime partner who rose to chief of police.

A top investigator until the end, Jacobi managed to leave Lindsay a clue.

Following a trail of evidence along the west coast, the Women's Murder Club pledges to avenge Jacobi's death before the killer can take another one of their own."

Anyone else really want to make a Johnny 5 joke?

Serial Killer Games by Kate Posey
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: April 29th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"What would you do if you thought your coworker was getting away with murder - literally?

Dolores dela Cruz has been dying to spot one in the wild, and he fits the mold perfectly: strangler gloves, calculated charm, dashing good looks that give a leg up in any field...including fields of unmarked graves.

The new office temp is definitely a serial killer.

Jake Ripper finds a welcome distraction in his combative and enigmatic new coworker. He hasn't come across anyone as interesting as Dolores in a long time. But when mere curiosity evolves into a darkly romantic flirtation, Jake can't help but wonder if, finally, he's found someone who really sees him, skeletons in the closet and all.

Until Dolores asks Jake's help to dispose of a body...

A morbidly funny and emotionally resonant novel about the ways life - and love - can sneak up on us (no matter how much pepper spray we carry)."

The main mystery I want solved is why anyone would name their kid Jake if their last name was Ripper. I mean, it's not Jack, but it's damn close.

The Hidden Dead by Tracy Whitwell
Published by: Pan
Publication Date: April 29th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 448 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The Hidden Dead is the fourth book in a hilarious series featuring Tanz, the accidental medium who, with the help of the dead, has become an unwilling crime-solver. When the dead call, she listens...

On a night out in a London bar, our accidental medium Tanz meets Einar, a charismatic and sexy Viking travelling for business. He offers Tanz an irresistible proposition: return to Iceland with him for an all-expenses-paid writing retreat and some no-strings-attached fun.

Promised a mix of work, play and maybe a bit of romance, Tanz follows her heart (and the voices in her head) off to Iceland on a whim; but when she arrives, she quickly realises that Einar and his charm might not be all they're cracked up to be.

Heartbroken, abandoned and left to the mercy of the long, haunting nights, Tanz finds herself surrounded not just by the rugged beauty of a land steeped in legend but also the mysteries that lurk in its shadows. With only the dead for guidance, Tanz is thrust back into the heart of a chilling cold case, where the echoes of the forgotten and the allure of old magic compel her to listen, to understand and to act..."

And in Iceland the cold cases are really cold!

Whisper in the Wind by Luke Arnold
Published by: Orbit
Publication Date: April 29th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 416 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The fourth installment of Luke Arnold's Fetch Phillips series, Whisper in the Wind, takes readers to a very different Sunder City. One where government corruption is rampant and tensions are rising.

Fetch is done being a hero. Once a detective, all he wants now is to run his cafe in peace. Sunder City is still recovering from the sudden and violent end of magic, and if one man can't solve all its problems, he can at least stop some people going hungry. But when a kid on the run shelters in Fetch's cafe, and a chain of gruesome murders begins among Sunder's high and mighty, trouble is brought to Fetch's door.

There's a word whispered on the wind, and that word is revolution..."

I wish the wind would whisper revolution more often...

Love at Second Sight by F.T. Lukens
Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication Date: April 29th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"When a teen has an unexpected vision about a future murder, he must juggle newfound interest from the supernatural community with trying to prevent the murder from happening in this "riveting" (Publishers Weekly, starred review) new romantic fantasy from New York Times bestselling author F.T. Lukens.

Fifteen-year-old Cam Reynolds wants to spend his sophomore year flying under the radar. That shouldn't be too hard, considering he's a human going to school with kids who have paranormal powers, like his best friend and witch, Al, and his longtime werewolf crush, Mateo.

Then Cam has a psychic glimpse of the future in front of most of the student body, seeing a gruesomely murdered teen girl from the point of view of the killer. When Cam comes to, he knows two things: someone he goes to school with is a future murderer, and his life is about to change. No longer a mere human but a clairvoyant, one of the rarest of supernatural beings, Cam finds himself at the center of attention for the first time.

As the most powerful supernatural factions in the city court Cam and his gift, he'll have to work with his friends, both old and new, to figure out who he can trust and who might be a werewolf in sheep's clothing. Because the clock is ticking, and Cam and his friends must identify the girl in the vision, find her potential killer, and prevent the murder from happening. Or the next murder Cam sees might be his own."

I'm just saying, Cam should have expected to have some supernatural power what with going to a school full of supes. I really don't think many regular humans go there...

Barbarian's Hope by Ruby Dixon
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: April 29th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 256 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The next novel in the Ice Planet Barbarians series, an international publishing phenomenon - now in a special print edition with bonus material!

Asha and Hemalo's relationship has never been easy, for there is just as much hurt between them as there is love. Will they find their way back to each other, or will they let tragedy keep them separated for good?

Seasons ago, I resonated to the quietest of tribesmates, a male content to love me from afar while I was the center of attention. We could have been happy. Despite our differences, I loved him and he loved me.

But then a terrible thing happened...and my world was never the same again.

Now resonance is giving us a second chance, but...I'm afraid. What if our bond is too broken to be fixed? What if there's no hope left for us at all?"

You KNOW you've been longing for the new Ice Planet Barbarians book!

The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet by Lindz McLeod
Published by: Carina Adores
Publication Date: April 29th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Jane Austen meets Bridgerton in this sapphic romance between Charlotte Lucas and Mary Bennet that begins four years after the end of Pride and Prejudice.

When Mr. Collins dies after just four years of marriage, Charlotte is lost. While not exactly heartbroken, she will soon have to quit the parsonage that has become her home. In desperate need of support, she writes to her best friend, Lizzie. Unable to leave Pemberley, Lizzie sends her sister Mary Bennet in her stead.

To Charlotte's surprise, Mary Bennet is nothing like she remembers. Mary's discovery of academia and her interest in botany (as well as getting out from under her mother's thumb) have caused her to flourish. Before long, Charlotte is enraptured, and with each stolen glance and whispered secret, their friendship quickly blossoms into something achingly real.

But when her time at the parsonage begins to dwindle and a potential suitor appears, Charlotte must make a choice - the safety and security of another husband, or a passionate life with Mary outside the confines of the ton's expectations."

Like Bridgerton because of the Regency or because of the sapphic?

Saint Catherine by Anna Meyer
Published by: 23rd St.
Publication Date: April 29th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A relatable adult graphic novel about a woman who skips Sunday mass for the first time in her life only to discover she's possibly being possessed by a demon.

In her 20-something years of existence, Catherine never skipped mass once. As a recovering Irish American Catholic, she has mostly traded the world of communion and confessionals for the "city-girl" struggle of work-life balance, family, and her relationships. The only thing she has not been able to shake is her fear that something bad will happen if she misses Sunday mass.

But her fears become a reality when she skips mass for the first time and discovers she is now being possessed by a demon claiming to be the prince of hell. As she takes matters into her own hands and attempts to exorcise these demons (both the paranormal and emotional kind), Catherine must face her buried guilt and what it truly means to be good.

A cathartic and engaging view into the messy life of an urban women in her early twenties, Anna Meyer's Saint Catherine is truly a story of letting go of guilt and taking responsibility for your desires, hopes, and mistakes."

There's nothing Irish American Catholics do better than guilt. I should know.

Night Swimming by Aaron Starmer
Published by: Penguin Workshop
Publication Date: April 29th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 240 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From the author of Spontaneous comes a '90s mixtape of a young adult novel that delivers a summer romance with an unearthly twist. Perfect for fans of The Gravity of Us.

One final swim of the summer. Let’s make it last all night...

Summer, 1994. Trevor can barely wrap his mind around the fact that he and his friends have graduated high school. And yet there's no rush to get to college. He's determined to live one night at a time. Riding shotgun from party to party, windows down, music up, his focus is entirely on his crush, the enigmatic girl in the driver's seat. Will things ever go anywhere with Sarah?

Maybe? Because Sarah has proposed a mission: They're going to swim all the pools in town. Before long, they’re sneaking into backyards every night, splashing, floating, and loving every minute of it. But it's still not enough for Trevor. He yearns for Sarah, despite her college boyfriend, despite her "not yet"s, despite the way she keeps pulling away the moment it starts to feel truly magical.

Things finally change when they learn about a natural pool hidden deep in the woods. It seems like just another spot to check off their summer bucket list. But once they get there, they realize that this place has a curious hold on them, and something very strange is happening..."

Ever since I watched The Resort I totally don't trust natural pools hidden deep in anywhere.

The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner
Published by: Park Row
Publication Date: April 29th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Powerful witchcraft. A hunt for sunken treasure. Forbidden love on the high seas. Beware the Amalfi Curse...

Haven Ambrose, a trailblazing nautical archaeologist, has come to the sun-soaked village of Positano to investigate the mysterious shipwrecks along the Amalfi Coast. But Haven is hoping to find more than old artifacts beneath the azure waters; she is secretly on a quest to locate a trove of priceless gemstones her late father spotted on his final dive. Upon Haven's arrival, strange maelstroms and misfortunes start plaguing the town. Is it nature or something more sinister at work?

As Haven searches for her father's sunken treasure, she begins to unearth a centuries-old tale of ancient sorcery and one woman's quest to save her lover and her village by using the legendary art of stregheria, a magical ability to harness the ocean. Could this magic be behind Positano's latest calamities? Haven must unravel the Amalfi Curse before the region is destroyed forever...

Against the dazzling backdrop of the Amalfi Coast, this bewitching novel shimmers with mystery, romance and the untamed magic of the sea."

Maybe the witches want the jewels for themselves.....

One Way Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
Published by: DAW
Publication Date: April 29th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 240 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Set in the universe Africanfuturist luminary Nnedi Okorafor first introduced in the World Fantasy Award-winning Who Fears Death, One Way Witch is the second in the She Who Knows trilogy.

The world has forgotten Onyesonwu.

As a teen, Najeeba learned to become the beast of wind, fire and dust: the kponyungo. When that took too much from her, including the life of her father, she let it all go, and for a time, she was happy - until only a few years later, when the small, normal life she'd built was violently destroyed.

Now in her forties and years beyond the death of her second husband, Najeeba has just lost her beloved daughter. Onyesonwu saved the world. Najeeba knows this well, but the world does not. This is how the juju her daughter evoked works. One other person who remembers is Onyesonwu's teacher Aro, a harsh and hard-headed sorcerer. Najeeba has decided to ask him to teach her the Mystic Points, the powerful heart of sorcery. There is something awful Najeeba needs to kill and the Mystic Points are the only way. Najeeba is truly her daughter's mother.

When Aro agrees to help, Najeeba is at last ready to forge her future. But first, she must confront her past  - for certain memories cannot lie in unmarked graves."

This series seriously has cover art to die for.

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker
Published by: Mira Books
Publication Date: April 29th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In this explosive horror novel, a woman is haunted by inner trauma, hungry ghosts, and a serial killer as she confronts the brutal violence experienced by East Asians during the pandemic.

Cora Zeng is a crime scene cleaner, washing away the remains of brutal murders and suicides in Chinatown. But none of that seems so terrible when she's already witnessed the most horrific thing possible: her sister, Delilah, being pushed in front of a train.

Before fleeing the scene, the murderer shouted two words: bat eater.

So the bloody messes don't really bother Cora - she's more bothered by the germs on the subway railing, the bare hands of a stranger, the hidden viruses in every corner, and the bite marks on her coffee table. Of course, ever since Delilah was killed in front of her, Cora can't be sure what's real and what's in her head.

She pushes away all feelings and ignores the advice of her aunt to prepare for the Hungry Ghost Festival, when the gates of hell open. But she can't ignore the dread in her stomach as she keeps finding bat carcasses at crime scenes, or the scary fact that all her recent cleanups have been the bodies of East Asian women.

As Cora will soon learn, you can't just ignore hungry ghosts.

For fans of Stephen Graham Jones and Gretchen Felker-Martin, Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng is a wildly original, darkly humorous, and subversive contemporary novel from a striking new voice in horror."

Again, a new take on pandemic fiction that is worth the horrors.

The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig
Published by: Del Rey
Publication Date: April 29th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A group of friends investigates the mystery of a strange staircase in the woods in this mesmerizing horror novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Accidents.

Five high school friends are bonded by an oath to protect one another no matter what.

Then, on a camping trip in the middle of the forest, they find something extraordinary: a mysterious staircase to nowhere.

One friend walks up - and never comes back down. Then the staircase disappears.

Twenty years later, the staircase has reappeared. Now the group returns to find the lost boy - and what lies beyond the staircase in the woods...."

Did they have someone watching the woods for twenty years so they'd know when the stairs reappeared!?! 

Mapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones
Published by: Tor Nightfire
Publication Date: April 29th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 112 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Stephen Graham Jones, the New York Times bestselling author of The Only Good Indians, brings readers on a spine-tingling journey through a young boy's haunted home.

Times have been tough for twelve-year-old Junior, his mom, and especially for his younger brother Dino. When his dad makes a surprise visit late one night, Junior is desperate to make him part of their family again. The only problem is Dad drowned eight years ago.

And bringing back the dead always comes at a cost..."

Yes, this is a reissue, but look at that new cover, you know you want!

Murder Ballads by Katy Horan
Published by: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Publication Date: April 29th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 144 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In this unique, illustrated collection, Literary Witches co-creator Katy Horan unearths the true and fictional stories behind twenty traditional murder ballads, exploring the beauty and horror of the art form through stories, lyrics, and original illustrations.

Murder Ballads is a guide to the origins and cultural impact of murder ballads as a music genre, covering its roots in patriarchal violence and white supremacy, as well as its contemporary relationship to true crime.

From "Delia's Gone" to "The Death of Queen Jane," each of twenty carefully chosen ballads is accompanied by one of Horan's beautifully macabre illustrations and a thoroughly researched reflection on the song's history and evolution. At the back of the book, readers can browse a list of essential recordings for each ballad.

Mysterious and alluring as the songs themselves, Murder Ballads will delight history enthusiasts, armchair musicologists, true crime fans (and critics), as well as anyone who appreciates the darker side of folk music."

I really need to do more of a deep dive on murder ballads. 

The Traitor of Sherwood Forest by Amy S. Kaufman
Published by: Penguin Books
Publication Date: April 29th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 416 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"An immersive, sultry, heart-pounding historical reimagining of the Robin Hood ballads, told through the piercing eyes of one of his spies.

Jane Crowe is an ordinary peasant girl who never dreamed she would work for the infamous Lord of the Greenwood. But when she's forced out of her home, she has no choice but to turn to Robin Hood for help - and he makes her an irresistible offer. He needs a pair of eyes in the King's Houses, and quiet, unassuming Jane - who has spent her whole life going unnoticed - will be the perfect spy.

At first, Jane's work for Robin seems straightforward. She whispers to him about the nobles at King's Houses and all their secrets, including the new Sheriff of Nottingham, who would like nothing more than to see Robin Hood's head on a spike. But the more Jane is drawn into Robin's world, the more she's drawn to Robin himself - a man as charismatic as he is cunning, capable of plucking at her heart as easily as he notches an arrow. As Robin's tricks grow increasingly dangerous, and shockingly violent, Jane starts to suspect that her hero cares more about his own legacy than helping the common people - and that despite his declarations of affection, he sees her as just another object to be stolen.

When Robin's schemes implicate Jane in a brutal murder, she must decide: is she prize to be won, a pawn to be used and discarded - or is she an equal player in the game between nobles and thieves?"

Ever since I first watched Disney's Robin Hood I am here for ALL THING Robin Hood.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Chuck Wendig, Colleen Cambridge, Emily Sullivan, Fiona Leitch, Heather Graham, Helena Dixon, James Patterson, Kristen Perrin, Luke Arnold, Nnedi Okorafor, Ruby Dixon, Sarah Penner, Stephen Graham Jones

A Sinister Revenge by Deanna Raybourn
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: March 7th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Veronica must find and stop a devious killer when a group of old friends is targeted for death in this new adventure from the New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award - nominated author Deanna Raybourn.

Veronica's natural-historian beau, Stoker, has been away in Bavaria for months and their relationship is at an impasse. But when Veronica shows up before him with his brother, Tiberius, Lord Templeton-Vane, he is lured back home by an intriguing job offer: preparing an iguanodon for a very special dinner party.

Tiberius has received a cryptic message - along with the obituaries of two recently deceased members of his old group of friends, the Seven Sinners - that he too should get his affairs in order. Realizing he is in grave danger but not knowing why, he plans a reunion party for the remaining Sinners at his family estate to lure the killer out while Veronica and Stoker investigate.

As the guests arrive and settle in, the evening's events turn deadly. More clues come to light, leading Veronica, Stoker, and Tiberius to uncover a shared past among the Sinners that has led to the fatal present. But the truth might be far more sinister than what they were prepared for."

Time to cheer, the new Deanna Raybourn is here!

A Most Intriguing Lady by Sarah Ferguson
Published by: Avon
Publication Date: March 7th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, a sweeping, romantic compulsively readable historical saga about a Duke's daughter - the perfect Victorian lady - who secretly moonlights as an amateur sleuth for high society's inner circle.

Victorian London was notorious for its pickpockets. But in the country houses of the elite, gentleman burglars, art thieves and con men preyed on the rich and titled. Wealthy victims - with their pride and reputation at stake - would never go to the police. What they needed was a society insider, one of their own, a person of discretion and finely tuned powers of observation, adept at navigating intrigue.

That person was Lady Mary Montagu Douglas Scott, the youngest child of Queen Victoria's close friends the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch. Bookish, fiercely intelligent, and a keen observer, Mary has deliberately cultivated a mousey persona that allows her to remain overlooked and significantly underestimated by all. It’s the perfect cover for a sleuth, a role she stumbles into when trying to assist a close friend during a house party hosted by her parents at their stately Scottish home, Drumlanrig Castle.

It is at this party where Lady Mary also meets Colonel Walter Trefusis, a distinguished and extremely handsome war veteran. Tortured by memories of combat, Walter, like Mary, lives a double life, with a desk job in Whitehall providing a front for his role in the British Intelligence Service. The two form an unlikely alliance to solve a series of audacious crimes - and indulge in a highly charged on-off romance.

Pacy, romantic, and fun, A Most Intriguing Lady documents one remarkable woman's ability to be both the perfect lady, and a perfectly talented detective...and, of course, to find love too."

Is it wrong that if I were to ask her a question I'd be more interested in the welfare of the corgis than in this book, which does sound fascinating.

The London Seance Society by Sarah Penner
Published by: Park Row
Publication Date: March 7th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From the author of the sensational bestseller The Lost Apothecary comes a spellbinding tale about truth, illusion and the grave risks women will take to avenge the ones they love.

May mercy be upon the man who finds himself the enemy of a vengeful medium...

1873. At an abandoned ch teau on the outskirts of Paris, a dark's seance is about to take place, led by acclaimed spiritualist Vaudeline D'Allaire. Known worldwide for her talent in conjuring the spirits of murder victims to ascertain the identities of the people who killed them, she is highly sought after by widows and investigators alike.

Lenna Wickes has come to Paris to find answers about her sister's death, but to do so, she must embrace the unknown and overcome her own logic-driven bias against the occult. When Vaudeline is beckoned to England to solve a high-profile murder, Lenna accompanies her as an understudy. But as the women team up with the powerful men of London's exclusive Seance Society to solve the mystery, they begin to suspect that they are not merely out to solve a crime, but perhaps entangled in one themselves..."

Here's the thing, I LOVE reading about seances, probably because I'm not stupid enough to ever be a part of one.

My Dear Henry by Kalynn Bayron
Published by: Feiwel amd Friends
Publication Date: March 7th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 272 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A teen boy tries to discover the reason behind his best friend's disappearance - and the arrival of a mysterious and magnetic stranger - in misty Victorian London, in Kalynn Bayron's My Dear Henry, a Gothic YA remix of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, sixth in the Remixed Classics series.

London, 1885. Gabriel Utterson, a 17-year-old law clerk, has returned to London for the first time since his life - and that of his dearest friend, Henry Jekyll - was derailed by a scandal that led to his and Henry's expulsion from the London Medical School. Whispers about the true nature of Gabriel and Henry's relationship have followed the boys for two years, and now Gabriel has a chance to start again.

But Gabriel doesn't want to move on, not without Henry. His friend has become distant and cold since the disastrous events of the prior spring, and now his letters have stopped altogether. Desperate to discover what's become of him, Gabriel takes to watching the Jekyll house.

In doing so, Gabriel meets Hyde, a a strangely familiar young man with white hair and a magnetic charisma. He claims to be friends with Henry, and Gabriel can't help but begin to grow jealous at their apparent closeness, especially as Henry continues to act like Gabriel means nothing to him.

But the secret behind Henry's apathy is only the first part of a deeper mystery that has begun to coalesce. Monsters of all kinds prowl within the London fog - and not all of them are out for blood..."

I'm all about Jekyll and Hyde reinterpretations and this one is an entirely new take!

One Extra Corpse by Barbara Hambly
Published by: Severn House
Publication Date: March 7th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 256 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Hollywood intrigue, glamor...and murder: Enter the roaring twenties in this thrilling Silver Screen historical mystery, starring two very different female sleuths.

May, 1924. It's been seven months since young British widow Emma Blackstone arrived in Hollywood to serve as companion to Kitty Flint: her beautiful, silent-movie star sister-in-law. Kitty is generous, kind-hearted...and a truly terrible actress. Not that Emma minds; she's too busy making her academic parents turn in their graves with her new job writing painfully historically inaccurate scenarios for Foremost Studios, in between wrangling their leading lady out of the arms of her army of amorous suitors.

So when one of Kitty's old flames, renowned film director Ernst Zapolya, calls Emma and tells her it's imperative he meet with Kitty that morning, she's not surprised. Until, that is, he adds that lives depend on it. Ernst sounds frightened. But what can have scared him so badly - and what on earth does cheerful, flighty Kitty have to do with it?

Only Ernst can provide the answers, and Kitty and Emma travel to the set of his extravagant new movie to find them. But the shocking discovery they make there only raises further questions...including: will they stay alive long enough to solve the murderous puzzle?"

Hollywoodland calls to me. Always.

Weyward by Emilia Hart
Published by: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: March 7th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"I am a Weyward, and wild inside.

2019: Under cover of darkness, Kate flees London for ramshackle Weyward Cottage, inherited from a great aunt she barely remembers. With its tumbling ivy and overgrown garden, the cottage is worlds away from the abusive partner who tormented Kate. But she begins to suspect that her great aunt had a secret. One that lurks in the bones of the cottage, hidden ever since the witch-hunts of the 17th century.

1619: Altha is awaiting trial for the murder of a local farmer who was stampeded to death by his herd. As a girl, Altha's mother taught her their magic, a kind not rooted in spell casting but in a deep knowledge of the natural world. But unusual women have always been deemed dangerous, and as the evidence for witchcraft is set out against Altha, she knows it will take all of her powers to maintain her freedom.

1942: As World War II rages, Violet is trapped in her family's grand, crumbling estate. Straitjacketed by societal convention, she longs for the robust education her brother receives - and for her mother, long deceased, who was rumored to have gone mad before her death. The only traces Violet has of her are a locket bearing the initial W and the word weyward scratched into the baseboard of her bedroom.

Weaving together the stories of three extraordinary women across five centuries, Emilia Hart's Weyward is an enthralling novel of female resilience and the transformative power of the natural world."

Can I go to a cottage and transform through the power of the natural world?

The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland
Published by: Flatiron Books
Publication Date: March 7th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 480 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"By turns suspenseful and enchanting, this breathtaking first novel weaves a story of love, family, history, and myth as seen through the eyes of one immortal woman.

Collette LeSange is a lonely artist who heads an elite fine arts school for children in upstate New York. Her youthful beauty masks the dark truth of her life: she has endured centuries of turmoil and heartache in the wake of her grandfather's long-ago decision to make her immortal like himself. Now in 1984, Collette finds her life upended by the arrival of a gifted child from a troubled home, the return of a stalking presence from her past, and her own mysteriously growing hunger.

Combining brilliant prose with breathtaking suspense, Jacqueline Holland's The God of Endings serves as a larger exploration of the human condition in all its complexity, asking us the most fundamental question: is life in this world a gift or a curse?"

I always find the concept of immortality one that needs to be read and explored in as many ways as is possible.

A Man Among Ghosts by Steven Hopstaken
Published by: Flame Tree Press
Publication Date: March 7th, 2023
Format: Paperback, 240 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"You'll love this if you like the movie Jacob's Ladder, Stephen King's The Dead Zone or Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House.

After surviving a near-death experience, David finds himself haunted by ghosts in the old Victorian house he is renovating. These tortured souls beg for his help and offer him protection from a demonic presence that wants David dead for a crime he doesn't remember committing. Even more surprising, he soon learns these are spirits of people who are not yet dead. Is this real, is he hallucinating, or is someone trying to drive him insane? As his paranoia ramps up, he discovers the truth is even more bizarre. The haunting won't stop until he kills a man named "Fitz.""

Oh, insanity or haunting or both? 

Missing Clarissa by Ripley Jones
Published by: Wednesday Books
Publication Date: March 7th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 256 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Perfect for fans of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, Ripley Jones's Missing Clarissa is a gripping novel about two friends who start a true crime podcast - with dangerous consequences.

In August of 1999, dazzlingly popular cheerleader Clarissa Campbell disappears from a party in the woods outside the rural town of Oreville, Washington and is never seen again. The police question her friends, teachers, and the adults who knew her - who all have something to hide. And thanks to Clarissa’s beauty, the mystery captures the attention of the nation. But with no leads and no body, the case soon grows cold. Despite the efforts of internet sleuths and true-crime aficionados, Clarissa is never found - dead or alive.

Over twenty years later, Oreville high-school juniors and best friends Blair and Cameron start a true crime podcast, determined to unravel the story of what - or who - happened to this rural urban legend. In the process they uncover a nest of dirty small-town secrets, the sordid truth of Clarissa's relationship with her charismatic boyfriend, and a high school art teacher turned small-town figurehead who had a very good reason for wanting Clarissa dead. Such a good reason, in fact, that they might have to make him the highlight of their next episode...

But does an ugly history with a missing girl make him guilty of murder? Or are two teenage girls about to destroy the life of an innocent man - and help the true killer walk free?"

Fictional true crime is my new jam because I get the true crime aspect but I am also guaranteed a solution.

The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell
Published by: Atria Books
Publication Date: March 7th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 288 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Only Murders in the Building meets The Maid in this darkly beguiling locked-room mystery where someone turns up dead on the set of TV's hottest baking competition - perfect for fans of Nita Prose, Richard Osman, and Anthony Horowitz.

Every summer for the past ten years, six awe-struck bakers have descended on the grounds of Grafton, the leafy and imposing Vermont estate that is not only the filming site for "Bake Week" but also the childhood home of the show's famous host, celebrated baker Betsy Martin.

The author of numerous bestselling cookbooks and hailed as "America's Grandmother," Betsy Martin isn't as warm off-screen as on, though no one needs to know that but her. She has always demanded perfection, and gotten it with a smile, but this year something is off. As the baking competition commences, things begin to go awry. At first, it's merely sabotage - sugar replaced with salt, a burner turned to high - but when a body is discovered, everyone is a suspect.

A sharp and suspenseful thriller for mystery buffs and avid bakers alike, The Golden Spoon is a brilliant puzzle filled with shocking twists and turns that will keep you reading late into the night until you turn the very last page of this incredible debut."

Because everyone who is a fan of GBBO has been wanting that extra element of murder... 

The Medici Manuscript by C.J. Archer
Published by: C.J. Archer
Publication Date: March 7th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 286 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"One book can change your life.

Finding an old manuscript in the attic has always been a fantasy of Sylvia's. She just never expected the fantasy to come true, or for it to lead her to answers about her mysterious family.

The silver clasps binding the pages contain rare magic - the same magic that might run through Sylvia's veins. To discover a link to her ancestors means understanding the book itself, but it's written in a code that proves difficult to crack. The only thing she knows for certain is that it was once owned by the Medicis, the powerful family that controlled Renaissance Florence.

With the help of Gabe and his friends, Sylvia investigates the book's origins. But following the clues throws up more questions - questions they need help answering. Trusting others is not Sylvia's strong suit, but with Gabe at her side, she becomes capable and confident. Until their trust is shattered when the book is stolen.

Uncovering the thief proves dangerous, particularly when someone is also trying to kidnap Gabe. With his own mysteries to unravel, Gabe's private life becomes more complicated. Sylvia tries to keep her distance but staying away from someone as magnetic as Gabe is impossible.

With so many distractions, can they find the thief before the book is lost forever? Or will the secrets contained within its pages remain unsolved and will Sylvia's past continue to be a mystery?"

Who doesn't want to have their past unlocked by a magical book owned by some of the most famous people in history?

Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
Published by: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication Date: March 7th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 432 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The Booker Prize–winning author of The Luminaries brings us Birnam Wood, a gripping thriller of high drama and kaleidoscopic insight into what drives us to survive.

Birnam Wood is on the move...

Five years ago, Mira Bunting founded a guerrilla gardening group: Birnam Wood. An undeclared, unregulated, sometimes-criminal, sometimes-philanthropic gathering of friends, this activist collective plants crops wherever no one will notice: on the sides of roads, in forgotten parks and neglected backyards. For years, the group has struggled to break even. Then Mira stumbles on an answer, a way to finally set the group up for the long term: a landslide has closed the Korowai Pass, cutting off the town of Thorndike. Natural disaster has created an opportunity, a sizable farm seemingly abandoned.

But Mira is not the only one interested in Thorndike. Robert Lemoine, an enigmatic American billionaire, has snatched it up to build his end-times bunker - or so he tells Mira when he catches her on the property. Intrigued by Mira, Birnam Wood, and their entrepreneurial spirit, he suggests they work this land. But can they trust him? And, as their ideals and ideologies are tested, can they trust each other?

A gripping psychological thriller from the Booker Prize–winning author of The Luminaries, Eleanor Catton's Birnam Wood is Shakespearean in its drama, Austenian in its wit, and, like both influences, fascinated by what makes us who we are. A brilliantly constructed study of intentions, actions, and consequences, it is a mesmerizing, unflinching consideration of the human impulse to ensure our own survival."

After I read The Luminaries I will never not read an Eleanor Catton book.

Lies We Sing to the Sea by Sarah Underwood
Published by: HarperTeen
Publication Date: March 7th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 432 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A legendary YA debut. This dazzling sapphic fantasy inspired by Greek mythology will captivate fans of Circe and The Song of Achilles.

Each spring, Ithaca condemns twelve maidens to the noose. This is the price vengeful Poseidon demands for the lives of Queen Penelope’s twelve maids, hanged and cast into the depths centuries ago.

But when that fate comes for Leto, death is not what she thought it would be. Instead, she wakes on a mysterious island and meets a girl with green eyes and the power to command the sea. A girl named Melantho, who says one more death can stop a thousand.

The prince of Ithaca must die - or the tides of fate will drown them all.

Sarah Underwood weaves an epic tapestry of lies, love, and tragedy, perfect for fans of Madeline Miller, Alexandra Bracken, and Renée Ahdieh."

I real physical arc of this book showed up on my doorstep and it really, truly, made my day.

Mr. and Mrs. Witch by Gwenda Bond
Published by: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: March 7th, 2023
Format: Paperback, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In Mr. and Mrs. Witch, the next novel from bestselling author Gwenda Bond, a couple discovers at the altar the surprising secret identities they've kept from each other.

Savannah Wilde is a witch, a very powerful one - an identity that only her fellow witches know. Following a whirlwind romance that surprised herself and her family, Savvy is all set to marry the love of her life. But she isn’t the only one with a secret that needs to be kept, even from her soon-to-be husband.

Griffin Carter is a top agent for a clandestine organization that, well, used to primarily hunt witches, but now mainly tries to shut down supernatural threats their own way. He can’t wait to lay his eyes on the woman he’s about to spend the rest of his life with.

As Savvy walks down the aisle to Griffin, the wedding quickly goes from blessed day to shit show when their true identities are revealed. To say there’s bad blood between their factions is putting it mildly. Savvy and Griffin are tasked to take the other out, but when they discover a secret that could take down both of their agencies, they realize the only way to survive is to team up. With assassins hot on their trail, will Savvy and Griffin make it out alive to try again at 'I do'?"

Love the author. Love the concept. Hate the cover so much.

Instinct edited by L.J. Hachmeister
Published by: Source 7 Productions, LLC
Publication Date: March 7th, 2023
Format: Kindle, 342 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Danger. Evil. Death. Heroes can face it all, but they cannot do it alone.

Throughout history, creatures both big and small have stood alongside heroes and helped them through trying times, whether on the battlefield or in their laps. In these brand-new stories, seventeen bestselling authors regale us with adventures of animal companions and how they often are the ones rescuing the rescuer.

New stories by / in the world of

Jim Butcher - from The Dresden Files
Faith Hunter - from Jane Yellowrock
Patricia Briggs - from Mercy Thompson
Seanan McGuire - standalone
L. E. Modesitt - from Archform: Beauty and Flash
Kelley Armstrong - from Cainsville
L. J. Hachmeiste - from the Triorion Universe/Laws of Attraction
Sam Knight - from The Abandoned Lands
Eliza Eveland - from Talons and Tethers
Hailey Edwards - from The Beginner’s Guide to Necromancy
D. J. Butler - from Abbott in Darkness
Lucienne Diver - from The Latter-Day Olympians
A. J. Hartley - from The Bowescroft Series
Alex Erickson - from Furever Pets
John Hartness - from Quincy Harker, Demon Hunter
R.R. Virdi - from Tales of Tremaine
Jennifer Blackstream - from Blood Trails

Purchasing this book saves a puppy’s life! Book sale profits are donated to: Lifeline Puppy Rescue."

I mean, I'd buy this just for Patricia Briggs and the cause, but all the other authors? This book is stacked!

Backpacking Through Bedlam by Seanan McGuire
Published by: DAW
Publication Date: March 7th, 2023
Format: Paperback, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Seanan McGuire's New York Times-bestselling and Hugo Award-nominated urban fantasy InCryptid series continues with the twelfth book following the Price family, cryptozoologists who study and protect the creatures living in secret all around us.

Reunion, noun:
1. The state of being united again.

Reconciliation, noun:
1. An act of reconciling, as when former enemies agree to an amiable truce.
2. The process of making consistent or compatible.
3. See also "impossible."

Alice Price-Healy gave up her life for fifty years to focus completely on the search for her missing husband. The danger of focus like that is that it leaves little room for thinking about what happens after…and now that she’s finally managed to find Thomas, she has no idea what she’s supposed to do next. The fact that he comes with a surrogate daughter who may or may not have some connection to Alice’s recently adopted grandson is just icing on the complicated cake.

So the three of them are heading for the most complicated place in the universe: they're going home.

But things on Earth have changed while Alice, Thomas, and Sally have been away. The Covenant of St. George, antagonized by Verity's declaration of war and Sarah's temporary relocation of an entire college campus, is trying to retake North America from the cryptids and cryptozoologists who've been keeping the peace for the past hundred years. And they’re starting in New York.

Alice and company have barely been back for an hour before the Ocean Lady and the Queen of the Routewitches are sending them to New York to help, and they find themselves embroiled in the politics of dragons, kidnappings, and of course, the most dangerous people of all: family.

Getting "back to normal" may be the hardest task Alice has undertaken yet."

Seanan's fiftieth release of the year. I kid. Slightly. OK, it's only the third if you include the anthology above, but that's already one a month!

The Curator by Owen King
Published by: Scribner
Publication Date: March 7th, 2023
Format: Hardcover, 480 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From New York Times bestselling author Owen King comes a Dickensian fantasy of illusion and charm where cats are revered as religious figures, thieves are noble, scholars are revolutionaries, and conjurers are the most wonderful criminals you can imagine.

It begins in an unnamed city nicknamed "the Fairest", it is distinguished by many things from the river fair to the mountains that split the municipality in half; its theaters and many museums; the Morgue Ship; and, like all cities, but maybe especially so, by its essential unmappability.

Dora, a former domestic servant at the university has a secret desire - to find where her brother went after he died, believing that the answer lies within The Museum of Psykical Research, where he worked when Dora was a child. With the city amidst a revolutionary upheaval, where citizens like Robert Barnes, her lover and a student radical, are now in positions of authority, Dora contrives to gain the curatorship of the half-forgotten museum only to find it all but burnt to the ground, with the neighboring museums oddly untouched. Robert offers her one of these, The National Museum of the Worker. However, neither this museum, nor the street it is hidden away on, nor Dora herself, are what they at first appear to be. Set against the backdrop of a nation on the verge of collapse, Dora's search for the truth behind the mystery she's long concealed will unravel a monstrous conspiracy and bring her to the edge of worlds."

Eastern European in scope and mythmaking.

The Moth Keeper by K. O'Neill
Published by: Random House Graphic
Publication Date: March 7th, 2023
Format: Paperback, 272 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Being a Moth Keeper is a huge responsibility and a great honor, but what happens when the new Moth Keeper decides to take a break from the moon and see the sun for the first time? From the author of the beloved Tea Dragon Society comes a must-read for fans of the rich fantasies of Hayao Miyazaki and the magical adventures of Witch Hat Atelier.

Anya is finally a Moth Keeper, the protector of the lunar moths that allow the Night-Lily flower to bloom once a year. Her village needs the flower to continue thriving and Anya is excited to prove her worth and show her thanks to her friends with her actions, but what happens when being a Moth Keeper isn’t exactly what Anya thought it would be?

Night after night, it is lonely in the desert, with only one lantern for light. Still, Anya is eager to prove her worth, to show her thanks to her friends and her village. But is it worth the cost? And yet something isn’t right. When Anya glimpses the one thing that could destroy what she’s meant to protect, her village and the lunar moths are left to deal with the consequences.

K. O'Neill brings to life a beautifully illustrated fantasy with lush, gorgeous art and intricate world-building. A story about coming of age and community, The Moth Keeper is filled with magic, hope, and friendship."

Anything K. O'Neill does I need. Desperately.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Barbara Hambly, C.J. Archer, Deanna Raybourn, Eleanor Catton, Emilia Hart, Jacqueline Holland, Jessa Maxwell, Kalynn Bayron, Owen King, Ripley Jones, Sarah Penner, Sarah Underwood, Seanan McGuire, Steven Hopstaken