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Review

Lady Darling Inquires After a Killer

by Charlotte Del Vecchio

BOOK OF THE WEEK

Lady Irene Darling, a 50-year-old widowed marchioness, returns to London in the first installment of Gleason’s newest mystery series. Lady Darling intends to chaperone a friend’s daughter, Miss Priscilla Bedwith, during her first season out in society. Her return is followed by whispers of a troublesome past connected to a tragic event at Lady Enfield’s ball four years prior, resulting in the friends not speaking since. As the aging Lady takes on the challenging task of finding a husband for Priscilla, she finds herself at the heart of a new mystery, the murder of Mr. Tripley at his home during a dinner party she attended. Deciding she is the only person equipped and smart enough to conduct an investigation—with a little help from her friend Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s curious detective in mind—she sets out to solve the case, eliminating one suspect at a time (even as the suspects become victims themselves). This tale of strong-willed women, amateur sleuthing, and unraveled secrets is great for fans of Bridgerton and Sherlock Holmes alike.

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Review

Is This a Cry for Help?

by Brian Kenney

In no way could this novel ever be described as a mystery. And yet it is chock full of mysteries, large and small, some poignant, others humorous, all deeply compelling. Darcy, a public librarian, has returned to her job after suffering through a nervous breakdown that was serious enough to have her institutionalized for a spell. Even though she’s queer, with a wife she loves, learning about the sudden death of her boyfriend from years back pushes her into despair, obsessed with understanding what could have killed him. When she returns to work (presented 100 percent accurately BTW), it’s with understandable trepidation. Patrons are still watching pornos, finding inventive ways to harass one another, protesting both for and against book banning, and expressing anger over DEI. In every way, Is This a Cry for Help? is hugely prescient as it demonstrates how community, colleagues, partners, spouses, humor, and especially libraries can come together to help us survive and thrive.

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Review

The List of Suspicious Things

by Dodie Ownes

Miv lives in a small Yorkshire town that sadly has been plagued with heinous murders of women, by a killer dubbed the Ripper, for many months. She and her bestie, Sharon, profile the likely suspects in town and end up finding out more than they would ever want to know—and it’s a lot for a pair of 12-year-old girls: regional pride, racism, mental illness, marital issues, pedophilia, fascism. The issues are astonishing in breadth and all so present, while the proper citizens mind their own business. Miv and Sharon’s close observations collide with a racist neighbor who appears to be targeting their friends Ishtiaq and Omar Bashir, leading readers to believe that they are closing in on identifying the Ripper as well. Godfrey builds an authentic small-town community, with Aunty Jean helping hide “the problem” (depression) with her sister Marian, Miv’s mother, who is essentially non-existent for most of the book. Miv sees the perfect family, the Wares, fall apart, while helping the town librarian, Mrs. Andrews, escape from her abusive husband. The mystery builds with chapters ending with annotations for The List, Miv’s profile for each suspect. As each heartbreaking truth is revealed, Sharon and Miv’s relationship begins to crumble, with readers wondering, along with Sharon, if finding the Ripper has become an obsession. There’s a lot packed in here. But the dizzying feeling Godfrey creates with all the reveals from the adults, who are shockingly less than perfect, makes this a great read for adults and young adults ready to have their neighborhood suspicions confirmed.

(Young Adult)

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Review

Vows and Villainy

by Danise Hoover

There is not a moment wasted in this cozy mystery that combines stately homes, joyful weddings, and acting troupes. The dead body appears in the first sentence. Molly Kimball, our transplanted Vermont librarian turned bookseller, is as usual in the middle of it all. Sir Nigel, famed Shakespearean actor, is found floating in the moat, posed like Ophelia. The police are of course efficient and on top of all the details, but don’t seem to mind being handed the occasional tidbit that Molly is able to ferret out. As it turns out, Sir Nigel was being sued for the death of a student whom he supposedly tormented. There is much going on to prepare for the two scheduled weddings and the theatrical performances to be held throughout the summer. Family issues and casting rivalries all must be sorted without missing important pre-wedding pampering. As to be expected, all is solved in plenty of time so as not to disrupt the festivities. Friendly characters and lovely weather make for a relaxing read.

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Review

Trust No One

by Jeff Ayers

Sharyn Karr, an American student studying at the University of Exeter, wants nothing more than to focus on her postgraduate work involving witchcraft and folklore. A professor she admires gives her a book with a strange cover and inscriptions, telling her to hide it and trust no one. Shortly after, she learns that the library where she was given the book caught fire, and her professor’s burned remains are found. Since she was the last person to see him alive, she’s the primary suspect. Sharyn and some of her friends attempt to solve the mystery surrounding the book, which was supposedly handwritten by enigmatic eighteenth-century mystic the Comte de Saint-Germain. They will dodge bullets, fight treachery, and play detective in various parts of the world while staying one step ahead of ruthless killers determined to obtain the volume at all costs. Fans of Rollins will find his terrific blend of historical facts, relentless action, and relatable and realistic characters on full display. Newcomers to this master of adventure will read this in one sitting and then will want to dive into his earlier novels. Trust this reviewer, and get Trust No One.

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Review

The Insomniacs

by Henrietta Thornton

The three insomniacs who first meet online and then at an all-night New York City diner have more in common than their tossing and turning. They’re each living a life that’s a lie. Famous baseball player Zeke believes he can only do one thing well—pitch—but isn’t sure he wants to do it anymore. Quiet older gentleman Julian is hiding his stressful past as an FBI agent. Sybil, a protective mom to the group, wants more than the stay-at-home life she quit medicine for. And the biggest lie of them all is that of the waitress they befriend, Betty, who pretends her parents are dead and her past is unremarkable. Flashes to her younger years reveal that she grew up the child of an abusive cult leader, and how she found her way to New York is a gripping plot point that grows in prominence as her insomniac customers try to help her. You’ll stay up late reading this cross between Maeve Binchy-esque strangers-becoming-family story and Tara Westover’s Educated, and fall in love especially with the Zeke and Sybil dynamic.

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Review

Silent Bones

by Chris Kahn

Book of the Week September 11, 2025

When a mudslide blocks a highway near Edinburgh, the debris also exposes a skeleton with a damaged skull, indicating signs of murder. Detective Inspector Karen Pitrie and her Police Scotland Historic Crimes Unit are called in to investigate. It’s spring 2025, five years after the traumatic COVID-related events of Past Lying. Research indicates that the skeleton, soon identified as that of freelance journalist Sam Nimmo, was buried back in 2014 when the road was constructed. At that time, Nimmo was the prime suspect in the killing of his pregnant girlfriend. Was his death an act of vengeance? Or was his investigation into a possible sex scandal connected to the 2014 referendum for Scottish independence the motivating factor? Pirie and her team also probe the so-called accidental death of a hotel manager with ties to a mysterious book club called Justified Sinners, whose members are wealthy, entitled men. Flavoring her writing with colorful Scottish slang, McDermid combines compelling, intricate plotting with strong character development. It’s nice to see DC Jason Murray developing his sleuthing skills and confidence under Karen’s patient mentoring, while talented but impulsive DS Daisy Mortimer occasionally still irritates her boss. The unsettled ending may disappoint some readers (real life is not always so neatly tied up), but McDermid’s passion for justice shines through.

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Review

No One Would Do What the Lamberts Have Done

by Henrietta Thornton

Let’s start by acknowledging that this book has been panned elsewhere—but that’s because it must be approached from the right angle. Readers expecting a straight murder mystery, à la Hannah’s Agatha Christie novels, won’t find that here (although Christie’s work does play a role). What to expect is a zany cozy-like caper that shines a light on feuding women in an upscale English village. Swaffham Tilney is the kind of place where book club disagreements and a feud between neighbors over a pet dog solve the too-much-time-on-their-hands problem. Sally Lambert is the owner of the dog in question, Champ (full name Champ Cuthbert Lambert), a pet that she considers her child and obsesses over more than even the worst helicopter parent. She’s horrified when Champ is accused of biting a neighbor’s daughter, Tess, culminating in the Lambert clan, furry and human, going on the run lest Champ is put on doggy death row. The instigator on the other side is Lesley Gavey, Tess’s mother, who’s hysterical over the bite and wants justice. Since there are teens in both families, social media plays a role in the chaos and soon #InnocentChamp fervor swamps the internet. In the end, the story returns to a more sensible world, but the wild ride that is Lambert vs. Gavey is wacky fun while it lasts. After enjoying this yourself, give it to your friends who call themselves “dog moms” and don’t look back.

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Review

The Italian Secret

by Danise Hoover

In a spectacular example of a post-war noir novel we have Billie Walker, a hardboiled PI following in her father’s tradition, with her specialty helping women out of terrible marriages by finding evidence of infidelity. The Sydney, Australia PI has a loyal and supportive staff, an attractive police officer to back her up, and a mystery in her background. In her father’s files, she finds an old picture, taken in an Italian town near Naples, of him, another woman, and a young girl. There follows the suspicious death of a client, a sea voyage with her mother to Naples, vendettas, the search for her father’s other family, and a deadly chase through the tunnels under the city. This is non-stop action, with an authenticity of mood, clothing, travel detail, and attitude that makes it special.

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Review

Guilt

by Brian Kenney

A brilliant novel that at first seems to be a simple murder case but grows into an expansive investigation of the nature of crime and its outcomes. Higashino is best known for his Detective Kaga and Detective Galileo series, and this is the first in his Detective Godai series to be translated into English. Godai, a member of the Tokyo Police Department, is investigating the death of a lawyer, Kensuke Shiraishi, whose body was found on a Tokyo riverbank. From there the story leads to Tatsuro Kuraki, said to have had some relationship with Shiraishi, who confesses to both the lawyer’s murder and another killing from 30 years ago. You would think this would wrap up the narrative, which is complex, albeit completely readable. But no, the story moves on, with new players, more motives, and a shocking conclusion. What a delight it is for English-speaking readers to have a new novel from Higashino.

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