Murder on 34th Street by Mariah Fredericks (NetGalley ARC, pub 10/6)

Murder on 34th Street by Mariah Fredericks (NetGalley ARC, pub 10/6) ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 I appreciated this historical mystery focused on Macy’s employees during the Great Depression, and centering around the Thanksgiving parade. It got off to a strong start, sagged briefly in the middle, but then came together nicely. I enjoyed the variety of layers, serious themes, solid character development, and a touch of romance, which made it feel like a balanced mystery with a holiday backdrop. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

Deck the Halls with Boughs of Murder by Jacqueline Frost (NetGalley ARC, pub 10/6)

Deck the Halls with Boughs of Murder by Jacqueline Frost (NetGalley ARC, pub 10/6) ⭐⭐⭐ This book does a lovely job setting the scene for the holiday season in small town Maine. But it felt so formulaic, with the main character not just being an amateur sleuth but make stupid choices with predictable consequences. A cozy mystery requires me connecting to the main character and in this one I wasn’t able to.

The Joy of Cookies: New Classics and Old Favorites to Share by Joanne Chang (NetGalley ARC, pub 10/20)

The Joy of Cookies: New Classics and Old Favorites to Share by Joanne Chang (NetGalley ARC, pub 10/20) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This is a good primer on techniques with a lot of classic recipes, but also some interesting twists thrown in. Oatmeal toffee, peanut butter miso caramel, chocolate cherry brownies, whole lemon bars, Danish butter cookies, Langue de Chat biscuits, meringue chicks (adorable!), and peanut butter sandwich cookies are now on my “to be baked” list! Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow | Harvest for the ARC.

The Holdfast (Seaside Mystery #2) by Christopher Mirabile

The Holdfast (Seaside Mystery #2) by Christopher Mirabile (NetGalley ARC, pub 9/15) ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 Sometimes the procedural descriptions feel belabored and at times the descriptions of team meetings feel redundant, so I think it could use tighter editing (which would help get these books under 400 pages perhaps?) That being said, the characters (including Bandit, the dog!) are lovable, the setting is lovely, and the mysteries are multi-layered and interesting. Happy to hear a 3rd book is expected! Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC.

The Washashore by Christopher Mirabile

The Washashore by Christopher Mirabile ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (NetGalley ARC pub date 4/7) The first of two books in a new series released this year featuring a fish out of water new police chief in Provincetown. This book came in at over 400 pages but when I first picked it up just “to get a taste” I read 70 pages quickly. The first half lays out the mystery but focuses more on character development, then the investigation picks up in the second half. It is definitely not cozy but doesn’t veer into thriller - it mentions some hard things but doesn’t stay there long so it is a solid mystery with a good dose of romance thrown in as well. I’ll be proceeding to the next book in the series shortly! Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC.

Grim Tidings (Ghosted #2) by B.K. Borison (NetGalley ARC, pub 9/15)

Grim Tidings (Ghosted #2) by B.K. Borison (NetGalley ARC, pub 9/15) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This was a fun but thoughtful look at life and death, and life after death. I enjoyed the characters and themes, although I found the body lusting and open door scenes a bit excessive and somewhat distracting from the heart of the story. While this is billed as the second in the Ghosted series, it can definitely be read as a standalone - it takes place in the same city with different characters, and just a couple small Easter eggs. I also enjoyed the autumnal and Halloween backdrop. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager​ for the ARC.

Deadly Entanglement (Harriman & Mancini #2) by Cathy Pegau (NetGalley ARC, pub 9/15)

Deadly Entanglement (Harriman & Mancini #2) by Cathy Pegau (NetGalley ARC, pub 9/15) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ It was fun to return to these familiar characters with some interesting themes, but I was frustrated by how transparent the mystery was from early on. The book layered in some complexity which I appreciated, but I wish it had kept me guessing longer. I enjoyed the sense of place and time. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

We Chase Shadows (We Solve Murders #2) by Richard Osman (NetGalley ARC, pub 9/15)

We Chase Shadows (We Solve Murders #2) by Richard Osman (NetGalley ARC, pub 9/15) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Much like the first in this series, this book started off somewhat slow with disparate threads but then the pacing accelerated as the mysteries came together. It took me a minute to reconnect with the characters as they are not yet as hardwired for me as the Thursday Murder crew. I enjoyed the extra layers to the three main characters that were revealed and I enjoyed the details and travel. By the second half of the book I started reading quickly and stayed up late to finish. Another fun romp! Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the ARC.

Apple Pies & Poisoned Lies at the Cider Falls Festival by Traci Hall

Apple Pies & Poisoned Lies at the Cider Falls Festival by Traci Hall (NetGalley ARC, pub 8/25) There’s a large family of minor characters (all named after apples), a lot of comments about bodies but no romance, (just an unresolved will they or won’t they storyline). They also fail resolve one of the storylines, perhaps trying to set up for a series? There was plenty to like about the autumn setting and pleasant characters, but this book needed tighter editing and maybe felt a bit YA to me. It dragged at times but was overall enjoyable and cozy. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC.

Christmas Mysteries at The Mysterious Bookshop by Otto Penzler (NetGalley ARC, pub 9/8)

Christmas Mysteries at The Mysterious Bookshop by Otto Penzler (NetGalley ARC, pub 9/8) I requested this book on NetGalley for kindle and the formatting was so bad it was barely readable. I relayed it to tech support who notified the publisher and they removed the kindle option but didn’t resolve it. I was stuck reading it on my computer - I would not have requested the ARC if it had not been available for kindle and this affected my reading experience. I enjoyed the variety of settings/characters for these stories, some of which had more prominent Christmas themes than others and of course being centered around a mystery bookshop was fun. I liked the concept but the execution was hit or miss, as happens with short story collections. Thank you to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers for the ARC.

The Mystic and the Missing Girl by Vikki VanSickle (NetGalley ARC, pub 9/8)

The Mystic and the Missing Girl by Vikki VanSickle (NetGalley ARC, pub 9/8) ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

I definitely would not have grabbed this based on the title or description, but when I read the preview in the

Minotaur sampler I liked it and am glad I requested the book. This story is set outside of Toronto and has cozy

autumn vibes without being cheesy. The characters are likeable although could use some more maturity, and

there are interesting elements around tarot and I would pick up the next book if this was turned into a series.

The Art of Fighting by Priya Parker (NetGalley ARC, pub 9/8)

The Art of Fighting by Priya Parker (NetGalley ARC, pub 9/8) ⭐⭐⭐⭐  There is a lot of conflict at work, so this book was often hard to read since it reminded me of those complexities and how many approaches are strategies could be tried. It also made me reflect on when or whether to have an intentional end to a collaboration. I liked this overall but it was really dense and sometimes felt like an overwhelming onslaught of information without enough road markers to help ensure the reader is tracking. Thank you to NetGalley and Riverhead Books for the ARC.

The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies by Kate Westbury (NetGalley ARC, pub 9/1)

The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies by Kate Westbury (NetGalley ARC, pub 9/1) ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 This had a bit of a slow start but I liked the setting (post-war Oxford University) and the characters, and they quickly won me over. I read the second half in one sitting and enjoyed the twists and turns and hope that this becomes a series. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

The Minotaur Sampler, Volume 22 (NetGalley ARC, pub 8/25)

The Minotaur Sampler, Volume 22 by K. Westbury; HP Ryan; V. VanSickle; M. Fredericks; R. Wilding; S. Paretsky with K. Holt (Editor) (NetGalley ARC, pub 8/25) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This included the first few chapters of 6 books: The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies - I already had an ARC so this preview confirmed that I’m looking forward to reading it. Mother Daughter Sister Stranger - too much thriller/suspense vibes for my preference, but an interesting setup. Mystic and the Missing Girl - not something that would have interested me from the description, but I liked the preview enough that I requested a copy. Murder on 34th Street - historical mystery but make it holiday-themed too, yep I grabbed a copy of this one too. Cherry - three women trapped in obsession and infatuation. The opener was too graphic, the story is trying to do too much, the vibe did not feel right for my taste. Bad Company - I am a fan of the retired ex-spy gets pulled back in for one last job genre, but I’m mixed on whether to request an ARC since the opening chapters didn’t grab me as much as I’d like. TBD whether I’ll pursue this one. Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the ARC.

Killer Vibes by Jack Friday (NetGalley ARC, pub 7/14)

Killer Vibes by Jack Friday (NetGalley ARC, pub 7/14) ⭐⭐⭐ My feelings were mixed about this book. The storyline picked up around midway and was engaging, but I could not connect with the main character. Some of the descriptions were crude and/or gory. I get that the character was a stoner, but I didn't want to read over and over about each new blunt he rolled. The writing was generally good, but it felt like the author wanted to hammer the same themes over and over in lieu of actual character development. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

Fundamentals of Flavor by Nik Sharma (NetGalley ARC, pub 9/22)

Fundamentals of Flavor by Nik Sharma (NetGalley ARC, pub 9/22) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I knew a bit about Sharma but I actually found his backstory at the start of the book quite fascinating. The book is organized around the four elements of fire, earth, air and water. While a lot of the scientific explanations went over my head, the ingredient combinations look delicious (a combination of classic and original pairings), and the recipes are more accessible than I expected. Some of the recipes that caught my eye included: Caramelized Shallot + Feta-Labneh Dip; Grilled Sweet Potato, Red Onion + Halloumi Salad; Grilled Nectarines with Bulgur Salad + Hazelnut Aillade; Yellow Curry Pork Chops with Citrus; Basque Cheesecake with Salted Date Caramel Sauce; Baked Beet + Sweet Potato Chips with Za’atar; Roasted Asparagus with Orange-Miso Dressing; Tomato Couscous Soup; and Salmon with Buttermilk-Dressed Apple-Pecan Salad. This book offers a wide range of techniques and layers of flavor. Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the ARC.

Beatrix Potter’s Botanical The Art of Flowers and Fungi by Marta McDowell (NetGalley ARC, pub date 10/13/26)

Beatrix Potter’s Botanical The Art of Flowers and Fungi by Marta McDowell (NetGalley ARC, pub date 10/13/26) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I had no idea Beatrix Potter's artistic range, as shown by the variety of sketches and paintings in this collection. The animals, of course, are the best known and so darling, but I really enjoyed seeing all of the botanicals and backstories featured in this book. How lovely to have sprawling gardens for inspiration. But always, Peter Rabbit has my heart. Thank you to NetGalley and Timber Press for the ARC.

Tsubaki Stationery Store by Ito Ogawa (NetGalley ARC, pub 7/7)

Tsubaki Stationery Store by Ito Ogawa (NetGalley ARC, pub 7/7) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This is a story about found family, the art of letter-writing, and stationery supplies. The book is not very plot-driven and very slow moving - it focused more on characters and a sense of place, with seasonal rituals and traditions and odd townspeople. It was a contemplative, soothing read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves (NetGalley ARC, pub 7/7)

Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves (NetGalley ARC, pub 7/7) ⭐⭐⭐💫This was both beautiful and painful to read. The formatting of the dialogue was unfortunately very frustrating, and in some ways the stories felt repetitive. I ended up skimming some sections since I couldn’t commit to reading the full book closely. I did read the note at the end and appreciated the life-affirming message. Thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for the ARC. 

The Top of the World by Ethan Joella (NetGalley ARC, pub 6/30)

The Top of the World by Ethan Joella (NetGalley ARC, pub 6/30) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I finished this a couple days after the publication date because I needed to take my time with it. If you can embrace the sadness, it is a really beautiful story. But yes, it made me cry multiple times. It is the kind of book that makes you reflect on the goodness and beauty in life, and that you want to hug at the end.