Murder at Sea (A Miss Underhay Mystery #23), by Helena Dixon

 

Publication Feb.23, 2026

It's 1938 in Devon, England. As the story opens, to set the scene firmly in history's timetable, Kitty and those about her are hearing news reports of the Nazi government stripped of citizenship in Romania. A problem closer to home quickly developed, however, as Kitty's cousin Hattie bursts in in tears, saying she's been robbed. Even worse, by her gentleman friend who seems to have taken her jewelry, including a treasured keepsake, and vanished. A quick investigation later, Kitty and Matt find themselves boarding the ship Bonaventure to New York. It seems the gentleman friend may be none other than the elusive Redvers that Matt has been trying to track down for far longer than he likes. Much to their shock, they find him. Dead. That's just the beginning, of course, with lots of international intrigue quickly becoming apparent. 

That's about all I'm going to share of the plot as it's a fun one, full of everything from a young girl's starry eyed romance to secret plans (military?) that relate to the war creeping every closer to them in England. On, and stolen identities and, sigh, class differences and, well, even Kitty's father in NYC, who takes them in for their brief stay, plays a role. This has become a favorite series and I find that I like the regulars and am always eager to find out what they've been up to since my last virtual visit. There are quite a few side characters to keep up with, too, I admit, but they pretty quickly differentiate themselves and showed unique personalities and backgrounds. I did miss Bertie, Kitty's trusty spaniel, but he wouldn't have enjoyed cruising most likely. Kitty's father's quick thinking was a plus, too, so his quick appearance was definitely a plus. And, hey, the Statue of Liberty gets a mention, too, a definitely perk of their unexpected trip to America.

Bottom line, if you enjoy historical fiction/mysteries, give this one a try. It works well as a standalone although past readers will grasp certain aspects far more quickly than newbies. Dixon does a great job setting the scene, both in the sense of time and aboard the ship with the increasingly anxious captain and involved characters.  The plot moves along nicely and you'll enjoy meeting most of the side characters, even while suspecting them of murder most likely. Having cruised myself, it was interesting to compare Matt and Kitty's shipboard happenings and how passengers were assigned rooms, not to mention the slightly different lifeboat routines. Thanks #Bookouture for introducing me to this delightful couple of sleuths and giving me this early peek at their life and adventures. 

Cat on a Hot Tin Woof (Chet & Bernie Mystery #16), by Spencer Quinn

 Publication April 14, 2026

It's just cat-hating, detective dog Chet's luck that the next case he and his human Bernie will be involved in centers around, oh, dear, cats. A missing cat to be exact. A viral sensation of a cat. Miss Kitty. An internet star. Her human, Bitty, misses her terribly. While Chet would just as rather human PI Bernie Little pass this case up -- seems a cat had something to do with Chet flunking out of K9 classes -- Bernie is a sucker for a sad teen's face. He also is always, always in need of money. Chet will explain that here and there as the story progresses but, well, let's just say Bernie puts his money in all the wrong places. 

Anyway, Bernie accepts the case. Oh, and did I mention that the prime witness is a real pig. Real as in a oinking pig. Goes by the name of Senor Piggy. You know right there that this is going to be a fun, wild, and probably very humorous case.  I'm not going to detail the plot, it's too much fun to follow as it unfolds, but it does tackle what might be considered a timely issue, the down side of internet fame. It's narrated by Chet, who believes his human partner is absolutely brilliant, and is full of action and author Spencer Quinn's trademark humor. I've missed the last few books, alas, but fell right into this one with no issues, so would say it works well as a standalone if you're new to the series. 

Bottom line, a fun, interesting mystery. It's totally narrated by Chet, btw, so you get his somewhat quirky, goofy takes on everything from the way cats smell -- he senses there's going to be a cat involved even before Bernie talks to the clients -- to  Bernie's obsession with his car and, well, much more. It makes for a lighthearted read even when things get tense and there's always a lot of action in this series. You'll like Chet and Bernie, even if Chet's viewpoint of Bernie is, well, a bit of hero worship, too. It's Chet's voice we get, of course, and that keeps the humor flowing and Chet's genuine attachment to his human is obvious. Needless to say, lots of twists and turns in the plot, all ending up in a confrontation. Seriously, will Chet be able to bring himself to help, ugh, a cat? Thanks #StMartin'sPress - #MinotaurBooks for giving me this early peek at Chet and Bernie's latest case, cat, big, and all. I need to get to the library and catch up on this series!

Dog Person: A Novel, by Camille Pagán

Publication April 4, 2026

First, a personal note. While I was initially psyched to read an entire book/romance through the eyes of a loyal old dog, my enthusiasm dimmed with the passing of my own loyal old dog. As such, this was an unexpectedly tough read for me. It was a good story, however,  and I, of course, adored Harold, the old dog. It was fun to see his doggie take on things both profound and mundane, from squirrels to books and romance. Tasked by Miguel's late wife Amelia May, Harold is determined to help Miguel find his way through grief and find love again. Of course, it has to be someone Harold approves of, too. Hey, he is a dog.

The story centers about Miguel realizing he's about to lose his beloved bookstore that Amelia May and he started. She was a romance writer and had adopted Harold despite his less than cute looks and quirks. While I was a bit mystified about why she didn't ensure that her writer's royalties didn't go to Miguel given that she did have time, one must cut her some slack given the circumstances. Now Miguel's maybe last shot at saving the bookshop, the appearance of a popular author who bailed on him, leads Miguel to set out with Harold to find that author and convince him to appear. Well, he doesn't exactly find the author but maybe the next best thing is he finds the author's sister, Fiona, and her young daughter, conveniently named Amelia May, too. Oddly enough, Fiona doesn't much like dogs but, hey, her daughter does and falls in love with Harold. And this is where the story takes off.

Bottom line, I won't detail the plot, it's probably predictable  While it's certainly a romance, it's also multi-layered, dealing with grief, loss, and how to find one's way out of the shadow of grief. I liked the dog's point of view although I occasionally wished we could get more of a feel for what was going on in the humans' minds. You'll definitely feel the pain and hope of these characters, not to mention Harold's emotional roller-coaster perspective, too. Dog lover's, make sure you have tissue handy as you read the epilogue. There's more I could say but for now will leave this as it stands. I liked it but didn't enjoy it, if that makes sense, but that's on my own personal path, not the book. Thanks #Ballantine - #DelacortePress for making this early peek available to me. The timing didn't work as it turned out but I enjoyed the read nevertheless, which speaks highly of the author's talent. 

 

Dock Locks & Murder Shocks (Mysteries of Mount Pleasant: Book 5), by AUDREY ALDEN

 

Publication Date   Feb 27, 2026

 

Once an investigative reporter in a big city, Lila Bennett has settled into life in Mount Pleasant. There, she's co-owner of The Gilded Spine, a combo bookshop/cafe, with best friend Amy Johnson. She has a boyfriend, Alan Green, and has made solid friendships. She also had a tendency to find herself in the middle of murder investigations. In this case, it's "Who killed Camden Ward?" Given that Ward had managed to offend, well, almost everyone in town, there are multiple suspects.

 

Camden is described as a man who lived for the spotlight and it showed in his micro-managing of the town's spring celebration. His rapid fire pandering to the media while quickly making rapid fire changes to schedules and locations with rules that must be obeyed to the dot wasn't gaining him any support. Even his second-in-command, Tessa Langford, seemed perpetually stressed, a stress she then passed along to others. There are many layers to it all, ranging from signs being moved to badge colors and more that made it hard for me as a reader to keep up, so can't imagine regular volunteers dealing well with it all. There's a prologue that sets us up for what is to come, the discovery of Camden's body, and then we slip back a couple days and chapters for what lead up to it. And, oh, bet you can guess who was at hand when marina manager Rob discovers the body. Yep. Lila. While she isn't as actively involved in the investigation, ie putting her life at risk regularly, she's still involved. Police Chief Sofia Martinez has learned to trust her observational skills over the series and asks for her input. She also keeps reminding her to only believe what she sees with her own eyes, too, as well as to stay in her own lane, ie just an idle observer. I liked Sofia's no nonsense, just the facts, manner, I must admit. Meant Lila was concise and specific in her observations, not going off on wild tangents or theories.

 

Given the volume of clues and/or red herrings that came to her attention, I admired Lila's disciple. I read the first book of this series and noted that I mentioned how pushy she was at questioning and coming up with theory after theory of whodunit, so this was a pleasant change. I'm still not quite taken with the series but do like most of the main characters, especially Amy, who seems to know just how to deal with Lila, from getting her to eat and hydrate to remembering to stay in her lane.  I found myself wishing for a character list, I must admit. Let's just say there are a lot of characters coming and going and I found it difficult to keep track of who was who. As noted, there were a lot of clues and red herrings coming at you fast and furious, too, making it difficult for me to take it all in and make sense of it all. Different colored badges, gossip, gate assignments and reassignments, and an daily calendar of events that seemed to change so often that even event organizers were confused, especially when fake lists began appearing. It was all a bit much for me to take in, probably just me, but a 3.5 rounded to 4 star rating. Others may find it a fun puzzle to sort out, so your mileage may vary. Glad Amy and Alan were there to keep Lila grounded and focused and, of course, we can't forget her beautiful Golden Retriever Finn. Thanks #BookSirens for the early peek at life in Mount Pleasant. One never knows the potential chaos that may be lurking beneath even the most bucolic small town. 

 

 

Murder at Big Ben: The Fairbanks and Flynn Mysteries, Book 2, by Michelle Salter

 

Publication March 30, 2026

You're about to take a deep dive back into the past. It's April 1911. About two months before the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary. That's neither here nor now, though. The focus of main character Coral Fairbanks is on women's rights. As such, she's quite active in the various activities of the group, some skirting the law. That makes Coral's potentially budding relationship with Scotland Yard detective Guy Flynn a bit tough, obviously, as he's usually tasked with halting the various activities or, as some call them, stunts. In this case, a small group, including Coral, plan to sneak into Parliament and hide out overnight in order to be counted there as part of the national census to be taken the next morning.Unbeknownst to Coral, Flynn is one of the officers sent there to insure nothing is damaged. Unfortunately, property damage is a minor worry as it turns out that one of the woman who sneaks in is found dead there. Hardly a feather in the cap with three Scotland Yard detectives on site. 

That's where the story really takes off. Flynn is torn by his official rank and his sympathy toward the movement which includes his daughter Theresa's growing interest. Coral and Flynn both fight their growing attraction but she quickly falls into helping him whenever possible. Who'd have wanted to kill the vivacious, apparently charming Amy, an American married to a British man? Maybe more puzzling, how did they do it? I'm not going to spoil the plot further for you but let's just say, let's see, it includes not just the suffragette movement but a deep dive into the art world, family drama, forgery, money problems, politics, poisons, and, more. You'll also learn quite a bit about what is called providence, or proof of the authenticity of works of art and it is discerned and proven. As always, I loved the historical aspects of the story (read the author's note at the end for more on that) and enjoyed the behind the scenes look at Big Ben itself, not to mention inside the Parliament building. You'll also be privy to both Coral and Flynn's points of view, which lets you see how things are progressing when the two main characters are apart. The author makes it easier for you to keep the characters straight, btw,, by giving us a character list with a brief description of who is who up front. That was much appreciated as there are quite a few characters.

Bottom line, a fun, relatively quick moving plot. And, nope, I didn't figure it out until the big reveal. I was so sure I had it, too. Good use of red herrings and twists and turns by the author to make it all make sense at the end. The characters were nicely fleshed out and largely likeable. Heck, I felt sympathy for the eventual killer, too, always a sign of good writing. And, oh, yes, seriously liked the ending. Nice to see the romances, yes, plural, moving forward. Thanks #BoldwoodBooks for introducing me to this series and continuing to allow me an early glimpse of Coral's complicated life through the virtual time machine. Looking forward to their next adventure, hopefully without Flynn having to arrest Coral for... well, whatever. 

 

With a Little Help from their Friends: New for 2025, a fun guide to the history and music of the Beatles, by Stuart Maconie

 

Publication April 7, 2026

You've got to respect and author who admits up front that he wrote this because, well, he wanted to write a book about the Beatles. I credit him for not taking the easy way out and doing some repetitive recap of their career. Instead, he takes another angle, taking a look at the people who came into the band members' lives, however long or short, and made a difference. You'll recognize some names and most likely be clueless as to some others but that's part of the charm. Through it all, it's an interesting, if occasionally too brief look at that angle of Beatlemania. I say brief because each gets a chapter, no more, no less, although there is obviously going to be some overlap. Author Stuart Maconie begins with the largely unknown Ivan Vaughn, who was the then young boy who introduced John and Paul way back when. He would later go on to become an academic and had some contact with the band but was not a major figure. It basically concludes that section of the book with a look at Allen Klein who, upfront, Maconie points at as the deciding factor in the band's breakup. Many would agree, I'm sure. 

Perhaps the strength of this book is the author's easy going, rather conversational tone and that you're not being asked to tackle heavy topics. I mean, do you really, really need to know about the then young officer tasked with ending the roof top concert? Maybe not, but it was fun to get some perspective on his unexpected role. That's the fun of it all, seeing how serendipity played into many events and the results. Did they all change the world? Nope. That was up to the four lads from Liverpool. But they did have a role and it was both fun and intriguing to be reminded how many things did work out perfectly as opposed to the negative encounters. 

This book isn't about the Beatles, mind you, but the people around them. Serious, long time fans will probably recognize many of the names or at least the role they played while less intense fans can just enjoy this for what it is, a fun trip to the past. Bottom line, I enjoyed it and hope to give it another read when time permits. Thanks #Abrams for giving me an early "ticket to ride" ("read"? Grin) back to this look at those in the Beatles' crowded past. I give the author kudos, too, for revealing his own personal favorite Beatle upfront as well as his sense of why the band is worth another book or two as the book winds down. Beatles fans, you definitely will want to read this one. 

Canada: We Are the Story, by Richard Wagamese, Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley (illustrator)

 

Publication March 17, 2026

Although I'm not Canadian, I'm an Alaskan. Our indigenous populations share a heritage, so I was drawn immediately to this book. The cover art with the aurora definitely caught my eye. With stunning artwork throughout and powerful words, this one is a winner. Seen through the eyes of an indigenous child tasked with writing an essay about why they're proud to be Canadian, it's a lovely, beautifully illustrated reminder of what all of us have in common. It encourages us to honor our past while looking to the future. 

Given that I read this soon after the controversy surrounding Bad Bunny's Super Bowl half-time show, it carried even more meaning. It is not just a strong testimony to not just ones own cultural identity but of learning where you fit in the grand scheme of things. There's something of a dreamlike quality to many of the illustrations, reminding us of the thin veil between our past and present. Written for children, its strength is how it honors the past and those who came before us, no matter what their origin, but gives a sense of how we fit into the whole, how we're shaped by all those who came before us. I've spent time working on my own family tree which harbors long gone souls from faraway places who made our country strong, including family who came on the Mayflower, but all were met by indigenous people who also helped shape the world as we know it. As such, I could sense the awe felt by the child in the book as they meet their ancestors and are reminded to celebrate not just past achievements but the present and future yet to come. I liked the subtle blending of "old" style and modern clothing used in some of the illustrations, a subtle shading of past and present. The artist's renderings of the Northern Lights was stunning, I must say, and captured that sense of awe well. Even today they are mystical as the wave and dance above us, reminding us that our ancestors also must have watched in awe. The spreads featuring the aurora were, no surprise, my personal favorites. 

On a less mystical plain, the artwork is largely done in earth tones, with the blues ancestors are pictured in perhaps meant to convey that thin veil between past and present. You see the ancestor spirits surrounding the child in one rendering, another powerful image. To paraphrase the author, the ultimate message is that we are all one, we're all family, mankind. Different parts of Canada seem to be shown, too, again a reminder that we are bigger than one soul, living in a diverse world. We can learn from one another and bring our knowledge to the future. Obviously I could ramble on longer but will simply say this is a beautifully done book with stunning artwork and words that mean something rather than just entertain. My sincere thanks to #TundraBookGroup for allowing me early access to this lovely work. As an Alaskan, Canada is my closest neighbor and our worlds do blend at times, I'll certainly have this book firmly in my mind the next time I take in a Native gathering. 

The Importance of Being Murdered, by Debbie Young

 Publication March 26, 2026

Fun!

Seriously, I was about half convinced that this was going to be a book where everyone was guilty. I was initially jotting down clues to help me solve it before the sleuths but, wait a minute, there really weren't any amateur sleuths. The book opens with a chapter introducing us to DC Windermeir who is basically cruising around looking for a house for her and her new husband, artist Darius, to buy. Next chapter, poof, no Windermeir but, oh, my, what a cast of characters, all of whom, it turns out, are basically the cast and crew of the local theatre's upcoming production of Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest". Save yourself from note taking as you're going to get to know these people well, very well, even before the murder and much, much better afterward. Given my love of character driven cozies, this was not just perfect but, as noted, oh, my, what a group. You'll get to know their personal quirks, strengths, weaknesses, and even better, the various connections, infatuations, and relationships between them. Add aged former star Bertram Manchester to the mix and, well, it's going to get even more interesting.

Set in the small town of Bunbury, population 1,000, you'll also see how quickly gossip can explode and rumors spread. That was quite funny, with various unlikely celebrity names spread as the latest resident. I was never quite sure how Hugh Grant's name emerged given the initial chatter, but it made all the sense to those excited at the idea of a celebrity in their midst. I'm definitely not going to detail the cast except to say that at one time or the other I wound up sympathizing and liking most, then the next finding them terrible bores and selfish, even sad and obnoxious. In other words, you know, the sort of people you might encounter anywhere and find you blow hot and cold with them. And, yes, I pretty much had each pegged as the killer at one point or the other. It wasn't even frustrating as, quite frankly, I was enjoying my read immensely. Do make sure you read the author's explanation of how/why she wrote the book this way at the end. It added to the fun and understanding. You may feel you're caught in some virtual game of Clue at some point but, hey, that's part of the fun, too.

Bottom line, I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book this much. It's supposedly a one-off book but I sort of hope the author somehow brings back some of these characters in a series. You get to hear their inner thoughts as the plot moves along, too, which  may or may not help you figure things out before the big reveal. Let's just say, it didn't really help me. Grin. The senior police officer, DI Whistler, in a hurry to solve the case so he and his wife can head off for a long planned vacation, is definitely fun to "hear" thinking, especially in conjunction with DC Windermeir who finally reappears about half-way when the murder (or was it murder) occurs. Again, makes all the sense in the world as you read, so don't let my rambling review confuse you. Opt for being intrigued instead as I'm leaning toward thinking fans of cozy mysteries with humor that are most definitely character driven will love this one. Thanks #BoldwoodBooks for allowing me this early peek at what was a fun, great read. 

North of Ordinary: How One Woman Left It All Behind for Wilderness and Wonder in Alaska's Frozen Frontier , by Susan Aikens

 Publication March 10, 2026

Although I've certainly heard of Life Below Zero and Susan Aikens, I sometimes think I must be one of the few Alaskans who has never watched even one episode of Life Below Zero. As a result, other than the well documented bear attacks, I knew very little more about her other than that she was living a rugged life. As such, I was instantly pulled in from the opening chapter. Aikens struggles began long before Life Below Zero. I'm not going to go into detail here because I don't want to dilute one word of this astonishing tale of struggling not just to survive against the odds but thrive and find her place in a sometimes inhospitable land. This is her story and although I lean toward thinking some sections were glossed over, it's an amazing one. 

Alaska itself, of course, plays a starring role. I could instantly identify with how small and alone she must have felt as a child left alone here. Even in the best of times I have frequently pondered how, while we all need to be reminded at times that we're not the center of the universe, that there is life within the emptiness and grandeur and, yes, frigid cold where she lives north of the Arctic Circle. I've been to Fairbanks, south of her turf, in the winter and learned what -40 degrees felt like.... it wasn't great but was also amazing to realize one could survive it .... but I was surrounded by people and had a cozy, well heated cabin to retreat to that I didn't even have to chop and gather wood for. And, of course, surviving the harsh cold is only a small part of the battle of life. Loneliness, the unexpected, (an Alaskan specialty), vast emptiness, injury and sickness, wildlife who were there first, and, well, so much more, all play into just the survival mode, never mind finding yourself while surviving. The resilience of the human spirit can break or be strong. In Aikens, it is strong.

Bottom line, I could rattle on here endlessly but will try to restrain myself to saying that if you enjoy stories of not just surviving the elements but your past, you will thoroughly enjoy this book. If you are interested in it simply for the Alaska setting, that's okay, too. Alaska is vast and you'll find something to love, not to mention gasp over in astonishment of all she can throw at you in one of the most challenging areas of Alaska. Aikens faced not just the challenge of life in remote Alaska but one of overcoming her own past and haunting memories of never being enough. And, and, and....okay, I could keep going but it's tough not to want to detail specifics and I want to leave the readers to meet Aikens' Alaska fresh. Thanks #Sourcebooks for allowing me this early peek at Aikens. I think I may have to finally dive into watching a few episodes of Life Below Zero, or at least wonder if she's watching the same Northern Lights aurora display I am next time Lady Aurora dances above me. 

My First 100 Signs: Baby Sign Language Book: Tiny Signs for Everyday Moments, by Lane Rebelo

 

Publication April 21, 2026

Although I don't have a baby handy to practice on, I was intrigued by the idea of being able to "talk" to them in signs before they are actually able to verbalize. I once had a deaf student who came with a sign language interpreter that taught me a few pertinent words, too, so I was curious to see what words might appear here that I knew or, sigh, once knew. People also swear by being able to communicate with deaf dogs, another concept that drew me, so this was a natural read for me, babies around or not. 

As it turned out, I do remember some basic terms, like the sign for "dog" (grin), but was struck at how many actually are close to things we tend to do naturally. These terms are common, very much signs that are applicable to babies, ranging from common objects and routines, as well as memorable moments in a child's life. Parents will appreciate that "potty" is in there, as is "grumpy". The way to introduce this to pre-vocal babes is to keep it fun. This is info, readers, that you're given in the front of the book. Real time connections are obviously best to start with, starting with a visual as you say and sign the word. And, remember, every child is different so what works immediately for one child may be a total flop with another.

Bottom line, an interesting idea that I'd love to know more about. The illustrations are colorful and simple, with the sign both described in words then and shown in a circular graphic. I was reading this on my phone so the sign photo did seem small but my hunch is that had I had the actual book, that wouldn't be an issue. All seem good, practical choices and I especially liked that the phrase "thank you" was included. Thanks #CiderMillPress for the early peek at this intriguing concept. Have fun with it, readers.