Vanished in the Crowd (Molly Murphy #22), by Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles

 

Publication March 10, 202

Lots of excitement over the upcoming Hudson-Fulton celebration of 1909. It's the 300th anniversary of Henry Hudson's discovery of the Hudson River and Molly Murphy Sulivan's family is caught up with it in a variety of ways. Her teenage daughter is super excited to be riding on a float while husband Daniel's early days with the fledgling NYC offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation are beyond busy and stressful. As for Molly, she's stressing over an unexpected scarcity of funds since Daniel hasn't been paid in months. She's also chaffing a bit at being somewhat relegated to simply the role of wife and mother after running her own detective agency. In fact, women's reduced roles (in comparison to today) is a running theme of the book, including the suffragette movement two of Molly's dearest friends are deeply involved with. Then, a case falls into Molly's already busy world. Seems a well-known female research scientist has gone missing. She was supposed to be staying with neighbors Sid and Gus (you'll learn more about them as you read) but never showed up and now Willa Parker's husband has hired a Pinkerton agent to find her. Molly, already struggling with being underestimated as a woman, is determined to find Willa first. 

As always, it's the characters and ample doses of  history that keep me coming back to this series. I have grown to like Molly, Daniel, and, well, all the usual side characters. Balancing work and expectations as a wife and mother is a mental weight Molly carries throughout this entry. I mean, she even suffers a bit of a guilt trip over missing church while keeping some secrets from husband Daniel. Of course, Daniel hasn't exactly been forthcoming, either, so it was intriguing to see them work through this divide. It was also intriguing given the furor over vaccines as I type, that the missing scientist was focused on finding a cure for polio. Her findings, however, were all credited to her husband. Sigh. In any case, the plot moves right along and manages to insert bits of the real celebration, including a flyover by Wilber Wright and the first ever total illumination of NYC by electric bulbs.

And, oh, yes, there's a murder to solve, too, albeit the murder aspect of the mystery doesn't occur early on. Let's just say, don't stop reading when it appears the initial case has been solved. It all ties together, trust me. I won't detail the plot further other than to say that the women's suffrage movement is front and center as are, let's see, science and the social divide via class status. We even get a gentle reminder of how quickly a single "cold bug" can get around. My sympathies were with Molly the whole time, especially in Daniel's more unbending moments, but, hey, he's coming around. The ending was satisfactory albeit I found myself feeling weird to be rooting against a Pinkerton agent after just finishing another book with a female Pinkerton agent as the main character. Oh, well, reality bites. In any case, bottom line, this words wonderfully well as a standalone but I'd highly recommend that you check out the entire series. It's a solid, good one, that is built on strong characters who've grown as the series progresses. Thanks #StMartin'sPress - #Minotaur for this early peek and for initially introducing me to Molly. There's a bit of a startling teaser for the next book at the very end and, of course, Molly's struggle to balance a career and home and family will always prove interesting. 

If Pets Wrote Poems: A Parody Collection, by Susan Johnston Taylor, Sandie Sonke (Illustrator)

 

Publication March 10, 2026

Fun. Just plain ol' fun.

I thoroughly enjoyed this parody collection of poems credited to the writer's pets. Although I have to admit to not being fully familiar with the writings of all the writers showcased here, it was fun to learn about them through the eyes of their pets. Did you know Ben Franklin had a pet squirrel named Mungo? We get Mungo's supposed take on its human's adventures with a kite and lightning. I do think my favorite parody may have been by Catterina, Edgar Allen Poe's cat simply for the ending. You're even encouraged to sing one of the poems to the tune of that pet's owner's contribution to America's national song selection. And, oh, I don't want to list them all by know you'll enjoy Dr. Seuss' Sam-I-Am  as told by his Yorkshire terrier Sam, who is actually a Samantha. 

The book is set up with each spread featuring a different poet/pet. You get the parody poem and a bit about the human side of that partnership. Nothing long winded, hence easily digested by young minds. Heck, even the brief bits about the writers offer up humor, as do the illustrations. While not realistic, they are colorful and, well, fun, with the pet supposedly being quoted easily recognizable. Well, if you know what, say, a wombat is. In other words you're getting a bit of poetry with a side of history. There's a list of picture books available for the poets/writers spotlighted as well as a select list of the works cited at the end.  Even if you aren't particularly familiar with the wordsmiths, it's a great way to introduce them to yourself and young readers. Thanks #GnomeRoadPublishing for allowing me this early peek at what was a fun, lively read. Rather wish I'd had this in my teaching days, gotta admit. 

 

The Book Tour, by Emily Ohanjanians

 

Publication March 3, 2026

I liked the concept of honoring second generation immigrants by focusing on Ana Movilian's story. She's struggling to balance her own needs while regularly feeling as if she's never living up to her mother's dreams for her. Ana dropped out of Harvard medical school to pursue what we'd consider a career as an influencer and has actually done quite well. She not only has a large audience for her successful self-help podcast but is about to begin a book tour for her first book. Everything seems to be going well until, uh-oh, her publicist, Meredith, quits. The replacement? Well, Ryan Grant is handsome but seems to look down on her work, preferring his "important" client list. I bet that even if you haven't read the blurb, you can see what's coming. I'm not quite sure I'd dub Ryan as an enemy, hence the enemy-to-lovers trope, but, well, sparks do fly.

And that's about all I'm going to share about the plot. As a character driven reader, I had difficulty relating to Ana, to be honest. While the plot moves along smoothly and there is humor, I didn't really dislike Ana but her need to prove herself over and over to everyone and fret that she wasn't respected seemed like a large chunk of the text. Ana knew her family had given up a great deal to immigrate to America and she couldn't quite help feeling as if she'd let them down by not fulfilling her mother's dream of her becoming a doctor. Ryan is initially seen only through Ana's eyes, so our initial expectation is that he is going to be stuck on himself and his own importance, so to speak. As it turns out, there's far more depth to him, however, and I found myself quite liking him as we find out more about his own family responsibilities and life. He hasn't had an easy life, either. 

While Ana and Ryan clash initially, it was satisfying to get a bit of a look behind the scenes of the publishing world and book tours in particular, too, always a plus for this book addict. While I'd have rather liked to have gotten to see things through Ryan's eyes, too, mostly to explain their attraction to each other, it worked for the most part for me. Thanks #Ballantine - #Dell for this early peek at how Ana finds her way to not just success on the public level but a more solid personal foundation. Oh, and readers, there's a Reading Club Guide and more at the end, so be sure to check them out. 

The Harvey Girl, by Dana Stabenow

 

Publication March 3, 2026

I bought my first book by Dana Stabenow in Denali Park, Alaska. I loved it and still have that book, now autographed. Yes, I've met her. As such, I was prepared to love this one from the git go. So, you can imagine my surprise when, after the first chapter, I was rather lost. I actually pondered putting it aside, figuring it was just me too caught up in real life events to allow myself to be sucked in. Fortunately, I kept reading and was glad I did. While I'm not quite sold on it the way I was on that first book set in Alaska, this one in the Wild West of 1890 did eventually pull me in. I've always been a sucker for a western, bring on those cowboys, but Stabenow's usual wonderful job of setting the story in the gritty, frequently violent, rough and barely civilized mining town of Montana Roja and it's quirky cast of characters was well done. Seriously, I could picture that drunk sheriff ignoring lawlessness and the likes of a killer one day showing up at a dance the next and shyly asking heroine Clare Wright to dance, not to mention delight in well-known names like Bat Masterson and Mark Twain popping up. 

As a history major, the historical aspects of the story were great fun. I'd heard of the Harvey Girls although I don't recall where. Reading Clare's daily routine as she worked undercover for the Pinkerton's to solve a murder made me wonder how she could stand up at the end of the day, let alone do any sleuthing. Those women didn't have it easy, that's for sure. Stabenow includes a Cast of Characters upfront, by the way, which I found helpful. I managed to get about halfway through before I finally had to satisfy my curiosity and skip ahead to the acknowledgements and Stabenow's notes on where the idea for the story came from and what was historically based and/or maybe tweaked just a bit. Sorry, Dana. I was impatient. I also took time to do a quick read up on the history of the Harvey Girls to refresh my memory. Worth your time if you're so inclined. Stabenow provides such a strong sense of the time and place that it makes it all the more real. (And, yes, there's a movie staring Judy Garland.)

So what's the mystery, you ask? Who killed the train conductor and what was he maybe or maybe not involved in? The murder is rather quick but, whoa, the murder itself is enough to remind you that you're reading about a lawless era when violence was often violent and quick. In addition, you'll get a great look at how train cars were hooked up, moved, and transferred from one train to the next while also being provided a mind picture of the setting the train travels through. I won't ruin the plot by saying much more but it was intriguing to see Clare working hard all day and dealing with the restrictions put on women of the era. 

Bottom line, despite the slow-to-me start, I wound up enjoying this probably new series. Given my assumption Stabenow  is setting us up for a continuing series, I was able to overlook the fact that end maybe wasn't tied up for us all nice and pretty, not to mention that this character driven reader chaffed at not knowing more of Clare's background until near the end. Thanks #BloomsburyUSA for giving me this early peek at not just a favorite author (and fellow Alaskan) but letting me hop a virtual time travel machine to drop into an era I've always found fascinating, the still not neat and pretty Wild West. I'll definitely be on the lookout for the next in the series. 

Boston, 1776: A Rogue Tour of Revolution City, by J.D. Dickey

Publication Feb. 24, 2026

Forget the sanitized version of the era of the American Revolution we were taught in school. This is Boston, 1776, in all it's raw grit, determination, grime, shady characters in back alleys, and often seedy chaos. Small, only slightly more than a square mile at the time, by 1776 it had lost much of its status in commerce and trade while dealing with contagious diseases like smallpox, unemployment, street brawls, rabble rousers, and increasingly loud grumbling about what it saw as  an unfair burden and treatment from it's British overseers. Toss in England's own increasing financial woes and it was a powder keg ready to explode. 

And, explode it did. The history shared here of the goings on leading to the outburst of outright rebellion is a fascinating one. Forget any idea you have of genteel, learned gentlemen in fancy wigs having learned discussion and debate. While that certainly happened, real change came from the people. Common people just like us. It was interesting to sort of flip back and forth as I read, something the author actually recommends upfront, once you get into the guidebook of sorts to Boston's historic sites and see the mutiple, frequently interconnected events and feelings that lead them there. The Old North Church may be a familiar landmark to most of us thanks to our schooldays but this one takes us far, far deeper into the city. Into those same seedy taverns and the growing desperation that lead to the Old North Church's utilization in the first place.  

Needless to say, familiar names from those same history classes pop in and out of the narrative but the focus remains the city itself. It was interesting to see some of those now familiar names in a different light, I must admit. For instance, rich John Hancock of the flashy Declaration of Independence signature a smuggler? Maybe.  You'll also see various legislative acts whose names once occupied out minds at least long enough for an exam such as the Stamp and Townshend Acts, the symbolically nicknamed Intolerable Acts, and such, but you'll have a much greater grasp of what lead to them and the colonists' reactions in the first place.

Bottom line, the ol' history major thoroughly enjoyed my virtual trip not just to the Boston of 1776 but to the events that created the setting for the rebellion that has so shaped the world. It's all there with illustrations, maps, and such for you to read and digest. Change isn't pretty. Nor is it easy. I recommend this one to history teachers, of course, but it would make an excellent addition to not just your local library's shelves but your own. Thanks #DiverionBooks and #NetGalley for this intriguing look at where we came from. 

 

Murder on the Cricket Green (The Martha Miller Mysteries #4), by Catherine Coles

Publication Feb. 2026

It's May, 1948, and everyone seems to have a secret...or many. Westlehan Village is excited to be hosting its first cricket match since the end of the war. As one of the organizers, Martha Miller is focused on making the event a success. That is, until her missing husband Stan shows up at her door after simply vanishing about two years before. Small villages being what they are, Martha had been a target for gossip ever since, some local wags theorizing that Stan's body would eventually be found buried in her garden. But, nope. There he is. Very alive. Alive and well and wanting to talk to her. Seems he's in for a few surprises, too, such as discovering that the money he'd been sending Martha regularly via the local solicitor hadn't been delivered. In fact, Martha had no clue whether he was dead or alive. Unfortunately for Stan, he's really dead not long afterward. His death does little to clear the way for Martha's growing friendship with Luke, the local vicar. You'll learn more about the complications Stan's disappearance created for them and, oh, boy, how times have changed.  

But, romance aside, who'd kill the  recently returned Stan? True, he had a couple run-ins with locals, including that shady solicitor, but might the secrets of his last two years hold a clue or two as to the guilty party? Could the two gentleman he arrives with, Ted and his pharmacist brother be involved? DI Ben Robinson, about to marry Martha's sister, warns Martha away from the case, of course. Martha, also of course, begins to look into things herself, which, predictably, leads her to trouble. Secrets kept can be dangerous. 

No more teasers. Seriously, if you enjoy small town mysteries where the gossip flows quickly but things move a bit more slowly, you'll love this one. Seriously, the characters are likable, even Stan, go figure, and, hey, I can't forget sweet Lizzy the dog. The overall feel is warm and inviting, so don't hesitate to pay a visit to Martha and Westleham Village. Thanks #BoldwoodBooks for introducing me to Martha, Luke, and the rest and giving me this early peek at a major twist in the story.

Murder at the Duomo, by T A Williams

 

Publication Feb. 2, 2026

I thoroughly enjoyed my virtual visit with Dan and Oscar. In fact, there are spots in the book that had me wishing I could just book a flight to Florence. While that's not likely to happen, I found Williams' descriptive passages a great virtual trip as the plot and side stories moved along. Williams had me easily visualizing the setting as he takes us along the ways and byways of Dan's adopted home. While the murder investigation was obviously the focus, I liked the home scenes, too, where we got to to know not just Dan better but his family and associates. Dan is someone who enjoys his occasional involvement in police work outside his usual private detective agency but seems to have a firm grasp on what is really important in his life, his friends and loved ones. Loved his sorta "whatever" attitude toward wedding plans. As for Oscar, he  definitely has figured out who the weak links are to snag a doggie treat from, that's for sure, even among the suspects as it turns out. 

And, whoa, there are lots of suspects. The victim, Tristan Angel was definitely no angel. Instead, he was deeply involved in illegal arms dealing and surely had countless enemies who'd want him dead. That aspect pulls in intelligence agencies from here and there, much to the displeasure of Commissario Virgillo Pisano of the Florence police murder squad. He's probably Dan's best friend in Tuscany and finds Dan particularly valuable when the English language is needed. Probably doesn't hurt that Dan is ex-Scotland Yard, either. In any case, Angel's closest team members are all suspects. Most likely, you'll find yourself even liking some of them, hoping they aren't the killer. 

Bottom line, a fun, interesting, multi-layer mystery with equally interesting characters, both family and suspects. And, of course, Oscar was my favorite. That dog knows how to make friends everywhere. The setting makes me wish I could see it for myself and it was fun to drop out of the mystery vibe at times and see what Dan was seeing. Not being a hot weather fan, either, I bet Dan wanted to jump into a couple of those fountains with Oscar, too. I came into this series late and this is only my second read of the series but I'm hooked and looking forward to the next installment after checking the library for early adventures. Thanks to #BoldwoodBooks for introducing me to Dan and Oscar and giving me this early peek into their lives in beautiful Florence.  

Murder Will Out, by Jennifer K. Breedlove

 

Publication Feb. 17, 2026

While this one didn't quite click with me, I can see where many will love it. It has a Gothic and paranormal vibe, ghostly lights and voices, family drama, greed, and more. When Willow Stone arrives back in a small town off the coast of Maine, she doesn't quite know what to expect. It's been years since she visited due to her family suddenly leaving and never returning. You meet the ghostly souls of Cameron House early on before Willow's arrival, however. A nice, spooky but intriguing vibe. Are there really ghosts there or is it the murderer's guilty conscience? It made me want to know more about the house and its inhabitants, living or dead. Willow meets some odd residents almost as soon as she arrives including Geralt, the likely inheritor of Cameron House. The less than welcoming tone when Willow shows up to play the organ for her grandmother's friend Sue's funeral should have been a big hint to her that all was not well, however. In other words, lots going on that newcomers couldn't quite grasp. 

Part of my ho-hum reaction to the book was probably my initial, well, not dislike, but I wasn't really liking Willow, either. I found myself wanting to know more about the ghosts that her. She did grow on me a bit as the book went along but I never felt quite connected. That said, that may be on me as much as the book. Sometimes it's the right book but the wrong time, you know. In any case, people start dying and Willow is pulled into trying to sort things out herself as the police aren't convinced any foul play was involved. And, oh, did I mention that Cameron House is hiding a host of secrets itself?

Bottom line, while not a hit with me, a 3.5 rounded to 4 stars, it was still a pleasant read with mostly interesting characters and, oh, yes, a dog. I can't forget Finn, the corgi, probably why I requested this to review in the first place. Grin. I never really settled on whodunit until the reveal, I have to admit, but the clue were all there, so you can have fun seeing if you can figure it out faster than both Willow and me. Just remember, things aren't always as they seem. Thanks StMartin'sPress - #MinotaurBooks for the early look at Willow's return home and all that it involved. Ghosts and murder. What a combo, huh? 

The Last Kings of Hollywood: Coppola, Lucas, Spielberg―and the Battle for the Soul of American Cinema, by Paul Fischer

 Publication Feb. 10, 2026

 While I'm far from a serious film buff, I found this both entertaining and quite informative. I have to admit that I've never given much thought to what shaped them. That they would know each other was certainly a natural assumption given the nature of the industry, though I never realized they met before fame really found any of them. Even more fascinating was reading about their initial, not necessarily well-formed concepts that led to their most memorable work. And, while I had some vague memory of Lucas being involved in a car wreck, I had no idea how much influence that would have. Same with Spielberg being bullied in school or Coppola's personal struggles with his health and being unable to walk for nearly a year while surrounded by a family of, let's call them, over achievers. Nor did I know who his roommate at UCLA was. Nope, not telling. You'll have to read the book. Grin. Needless to say, Spielberg's Jewish roots should have been a hint to us of where it would take him for one of his most remarkable movies and, no, not the one with the shark. Grin. 

So, young and ambitious, struggling for recognition and success, while also chaffing under the then restrictions of film making, they met and became friends. Of course, they were also competitors with all that would mean, but the three of them certain changed movies as we knew them. I still remember leaving the theater after seeing Star Wars repeatedly mumbling "Wow!", totally blown away. While I never quite warmed up to Coppola, I certainly could appreciate the likes of The Godfather and know I've been surprised to see his association with movies like The Outsiders. Even more amazing, to read how long he'd pondered a war movie that ultimately became Apocalypse Now. Wonder how many avoided the beach after Spielberg's Jaws, or were shaken by Schiendler's List? Or fell hard for Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones? Obviously I could rattle on endlessly but I'm reluctant to reveal too much because it all rather builds on each part. The comings together and apart and the reasons for it are all intriguing and give us insight into not just these three talents but movie making in general, too, so I want you to get the full scope as it builds. 

Bottom line, I obviously thoroughly enjoyed this read. How they became friends and motivated and challenged each other was thought provoking. You'll get some intriguing behind the scenes looks at their movies, of course, a real perk. Thanks #CeladonBooks for this early look at an intriguing book that, shh, I honestly didn't expect to enjoy as much as I did. Amazing to see how serendipity played such a role, too, from childhood trauma and events to the red carpet as they changed how we though of movies. 

The Whisking Hour (Bakeshop Mystery #22), by Ellie Alexander

 

Publication Feb. 24, 2026

I always feel a bit like I've overeaten at a scrumptious meal and shared lots of hugs, laughs, and good times with wonderful friends by the time I finish a book in this series. Seriously, don't even think of sitting down to read while you're hungry. I'm not even remotely a foodie but you'll almost feel like the aromas and tastes of the meals and treats being prepared throughout almost seep out of the pages. Given that my usual move is to stick something in the microwave and be done with it, that's high praise from this not-even-pretending-to-be-a-cook reader. It's been a delight to follow the saga of Juliet Capshaw over this series and I've come to think of the characters as old friends. Even those physically missing, such as Carlos' son Ramiro, who was a fun ingredient over the last few books but has returned to Spain for his final school year before college, gets space. Of course, it's always extra fun with the way over the top Lance Rousseau gets to share the spotlight with Juliet/Jules. Oh, boy, wait till you hear some of Lance's ideas for his upcoming wedding.  Then there's Jules' mother, Helen, and Shakespeare quoting step-dad Doug, hardly what one expects when contacting the police, as well as officers Thomas and Kelly. And, of course, the entire crew at Torte, Jules' family's amazing bakery. Again, if you weren't hungry when you started the book, you'll be by the time you finish.

So, while I'd say it's the characters that keep me coming back book after book, but Ellie Alexander always offers up an interesting mystery to be solved, too. It was actually quite refreshing to see Jules not rushing off to confront potential murderers or putting herself deliberately in harms' way, something that we can't always say of many amateur sleuths. Maybe that has something to do with the fact Jules' is pregnant with twins and has become more aware of the need to take care of herself.  Thus, while wildly curious about the "perfect murder" at the end of a performance of a Lance produced play, we get to see several others take the lead in chasing down not just the clues but suspects. Well, sorta. Nope, not telling. Let's just say that murder party had an unexpected ending and the cast is, well, let's say, all rather weirdly suspicious. True crime podcasts and even AI get their moments, as does some weird method acting. I never quite settled on my choice for whodunit, I have to admit, though. One of those where my best guess kept changing until the end, nearly the very end, in fact. 

Bottom line, it's surely obvious I'm a fan of the series and loved the maturity Jules showed in not being the proverbial "too stupid to live". Thanks #StMartin'sPress - #MintaurBooks for the early peek at how Jules' pregnancy and life is going, not to mention whether Lance has driven them all crazy with his impulsive ideas for his wedding. You'll also learn that running a bakery isn't all about bakery. Planning and being able to go with the flow of events, even bad ones, not to mention all the paperwork. Ugh, paperwork doesn't sound at all appetizing. The ending is a delight, too, highlighting the sense of community and family. I'm already ready for the next in the series.