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. 

Death on the Rhine (Miss Ashford Investigates #5), by Vivian Conroy

 Publication April 4, 2025

Atalanta Ashford is a bundle of contradictions. Named for a Greek goddess, on the one hand, she's a calmly cool and collected investigator, working to prove her grandfather's trust in her was correct. On the other, she's a bundle of emotions, most tied to her relationship, or maybe I should say wannabe relationship with race car driver Raoul.  We get insight into his thoughts this go-round which only makes the situation all the more perplexing. It's clear both have strong feelings for the other but are for various reasons stuck in neutral. Good thing her sleuthing gears are in full working order because this case is a complex one.

It starts innocently enough. On a vacation where she's joined by Raoul, Atalanta encounters an old acquaintance, the brother of a former teacher associate. Quite frankly, unhappy by Raoul's rejection once again, she enjoys the attentions of Otto Rabenhorst, someone she seems to have lots in common with. Otto invites her to a gathering that evening and Raoul tags along, giving lies to his earlier claims of no interest. Is he jealous? Maybe. He bows out quickly enough, however, when she accepts Otto's invitation to join his admittedly odd family on a cruise on the Rhine River. Like Raoul, this family seems to have many, many secrets. Initially mostly agreeing in hopes of brightening up Otto's now motherless daughter's angst over the believed harsh treatment of her grandmother, Frau Rabenhorst, Atalanta quickly finds herself embroiled in not just the workings of a dysfunctional family but a murder. 

But, wait. There's more. A daughter that sees all. Shady dealings. Mysterious deaths in past, not to mention present. Arranged marriage. Blackmail. Paper cuttings? Manipulation. Lies. A missing page of a letter. Pride. Greed. Drugs. Haughtiness of wealth. Riverboat cruise. Secrets. And more secrets. And even more secrets. Who is who? Who to trust? What is Raoul hiding. Heck, what is Atalanta hiding? Death. And, oh, that's more than enough teasers. Seriously, I don't want to give away the twists and turns by being too specific. While I had an inkling of the guilty party....been reading too many cozy mysteries of late.....I definitely didn't see those last couple twists coming. Thanks #HarperCollinsUK - #OneMoreChapter for letting me have this early peek at Atalanta's, oh, so complicated life. That ending has me anxious to see where it leads us next. 

Murder on the Nile (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery #19), by Verity Bright

 

Publication Sept. 28, 2024

Egypt has always fascinated me. Having read a few non-fiction books focused on Egypt, I jumped at the opportunity to read this fictionalized account set in 1924. It'd also been quite some time since I  checked up on the events in Lady Eleanor Swift's life. How long? Actually, I'm not sure, but obviously awhile since she was still relatively new to her title when I last tuned in. As much as I enjoy her growing friendship with Clifford, who seems to be the perfect lady's butler, I did miss getting to catch up with Hugh and the ladies of the manor until late in the story. That said, Egypt itself makes for a fascinating character in a way, particularly with the detailed descriptions we get from the author. I'm glad she made Lady Eleanor such an observant character, opening the way for those details. 

Eleanor is quite likable and seems able to talk to everyone, probably due to her past history of world travel. As it was, however, I had to chuckle at her almost bubbly efforts to make conversation with the other passengers, none of whom seemed particularly interested in being social. That Eleanor persists, tells you about her personality, one not easily detoured or put off by someone. I could relate somewhat to the others this time as I'm one of those who frequently prefers to simply sit and read or gaze at the world about me, hard to do when someone as chatty as Eleanor is about. Her trust and admiration for Clifford, the butler-friend who accompanies on this voyage, is definitely fun to watch. Clifford is a fascinating character in his own right and I fear I may have missed some character reveals of him while on hiatus from this series. He seems unflappable and to almost know what Eleanor is thinking or needs before she even does at times. He's also protective and, even better, seems to be good at it. I mean, there are crocodiles.

As for the supporting cast this go-round, I never felt I got to know them well, though I'll blame the road work outside my window for that. There were interesting stories behind the characters but all seemed tied to the mystery. Ah, the mystery? Who killed Lieutenant Baxter. Even more delicious for mystery buffs, the body is found in a locked room of the (not so luxurious) SS Cleopatra. Shades of Agatha Christie. We do get to visit some pyramids, however, and actually spend time inside a tomb. Let's just say, that isn't for those with claustrophobia. There are also references to the discovery of King Tut's tomb and the demand for Egyptian artifacts, legal or otherwise. But, how is this all tied to the death of Baxter? Well, I'm not telling but will admit to not quite figuring it out myself prior to the reveal. The clues were tricky, let's just say, and I obviously need to up my sleuthing game. The killer is diabolical and there are reasons behind their actions that do help it all make sense in the end. Thanks #Bookouture for letting me catch up with Lady Eleanor again with this early peek at her adventurous life. I will be making an effort to catch up again, that's for sure.

Old Farts on a Bus, by C. A. Hocking

 

Can you guess why I picked up this book to read? You've got to admit, that title is intriguing. In the back of my mind I was probably thinking senior citizen mystery or something akin to that given that it popped up in the midst of blurbs for cozy mysteries. Instead, it's the author's remembrance of a guided tour she (and her husband) made to Egypt. It was both humorous and insightful into both the joys and angst of "old fart" travel and guided tours. I've never been on a true guided tour but it did bring back memories of taking advantage of cruise ship excursions, riding a bus with a driver whose stories to entertain us were memorable, and rubbing elbows with until then total strangers. The author, who does write mysteries, I later discovered, does a fun job of showing both the joys and angst of such trips, not glossing over the added difficulties of age on travelers. 

There were lots of laughs but also moments of sadness as the travelers adjusted to the behavior of an Alzheimer diminished fellow traveler and the foibles of each other. Having dealt with that horrid disease in my own family, I felt sympathy pangs for the duo involved. The group also learned not to drink the water in Egypt. Oh, boy, did they. The author's tale of her plane ride home was, well, rather a stark reminder of what happens when you forget that caution. Along the way, however, she backed up my belief that photos are perhaps best left to point-and-shoot cameras that do it all for you, and the need to read the "instructions" usually provided on what to wear and pack. Let's just say, as one of their group discovered to her dismay, Egypt is not the place to worry about showing off fancy heels. 

Bottom line, a fun, quick read with both laughs and moments of worry and concern. A sense of family developed between tour group members and it was reassuring to see them rise to any occasion and help in dire situations just as much as they learned what made each other behave as they did. And, oh, did I mention the shopping? I'm not particularly into shopping but I'd have loved to have seen the colors and swirl and movement so often described. You'll even learn a bit about the fine art of haggling down prices.  If you're looking for a fun, quick read that has some depth, not to mention a lovely virtual tour of Egypt, give this one a try.

Who Lives Near a Glacier?: Alaska Animals in the Wild, by Susi Gregg Fowler, Jim Fowler (Illustrations)

I'm lucky enough to not only live in Alaska but to have taken a few glacier viewing tours. I savored this book and all the wonderful memories it brought back. Beautifully illustrated it combines those with poetry, somehow appropriate for the awe inspiring beauty of glaciers and, indeed, Alaska itself, that tells you about not just the glaciers but the living creatures that live on or near them. I won't take away any of your first time reading charm to come by sharing more than this one phrase that leaped up at me as being insightful and conveyed my own sense of wonder during my glacier visits:

"You're left with the sense/You've been given a gift."

This book is another gift. Enjoy the lovely illustrations of everything from the majestic eagles and massive humpback whales to the wolves, bears, ravens and moose you'll encounter almost everywhere in Alaska. Of course, go figure, the one animal I haven't seen near a glacier is a moose but, well, since they visit my own front yard frequently, I guess I'll just call the mama moose and calf seen along the road on my last trip to Seward to catch a boat for a wildlife tour as counting.

Anyone with an interest in Alaska or wildlife period will treasure this book. Teachers, you will find this book of interest for most age ranges. The poems, while rhythmic and fluid, are relatively easy reading with assistance for younger children. The artwork illustrates the words nicely and can be used to ignite discussion. If you've ever been lucky enough to visit Alaska or are just dreaming, the book will make a lovely souvenir for anyone of any age, to be honest, of their glacier or wildlife sightings. Alaska's wild places and its wildlife definitely leave us feeling we've been giving a gift when we sight them. To borrow another phrase from the book, "The memory lingers/you hold it inside."

Thank you #NetGalley and #SasquatchBooks -- #LittleBigfoot for letting me daydream about my last glacier visit a few years ago. It's a memory I'll treasure forever and this book was a lovely reminder.

For readers of this blog, a special bonus, a few photos from one of my glacier tours and a few of the critters you'll see in the book. 

Out of Temper (Bean to Bar Mysteries #3), by Amber Royer

I loved this book. While the plot was intriguing and intricate, it was the depth of character that kept me focused. We learn a great deal about main character Felicity as the book opens, including the reason for her wariness at boarding a cruise ship. Her late husband died in a boating accident. She has invited along a friend, however, Autumn, a former mystery writer. Imagine her surprise to discover the cruise has a theme for this outing, a murder mystery one. To complicate matters, Logan, who seems to have some sort of police background, and Arlo, an old boyfriend and now a cop, are aboard. Then she sees the blogger/writer who made her relatively famous for her prior involvement in murder investigations is there, too. We learn more about each of these characters and others as the book progresses, including Felicity's sudden awareness that she perhaps doesn't know her friends as well as she thought she did.

I don't want to give away too much of the plot but do want to mention that one of the things that most intrigued me was finding out how past life events had influenced who the characters were today. For instance, at one point Arlo admits to having always had a nagging feeling that he wasn't good enough, perfect enough for people to stay after his father had abandoned him as a child. Rather than give in to the darkness that such thoughts might evoke, however, he notes that he became a police officer to "fight the darkness in human nature rather than succumb to it." That sort of depth is impressive from any author, especially in what I'd at first thought would be a light, easy cozy mystery read. Kudos to author Amber Royer. I am definitely planning to not just go back and read the prior books in this until now new-to-me series but will be following it from now on.

Bottom line, a deviously intricate and intriguing murder plot to follow along with some equally intriguing characters. Toss in an adorable former police dog, Satchmo, a Beagle who worked largely the drug division and helps sniff out some vital clues, and this one is a winner.

Thank you #NetGalley and #BooksGoSocial, not to mention author #AmberRoyer for this great new series. I'm glad to discover the #BeansToBarMystery series

Bear Witness (Alaska Untamed Mystery #1) by Lark O. Jensen

Thanks to #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for the advanced copy. 

As I was walking my dog this morning in the freshly fallen snow here in Alaska, I thought about this book. I realized that thought spoke highly of the book. True, as an Alaskan I might quibble with a few things, like dogs on tour boats that I know from personal experience encounter very rough water at times, but Lark O. Jensen's descriptive powers and ability to bring characters to life made it stick with me. I've been on tour boats in the setting described and she captured that excitement and wonder at both the scenery and wildlife you'll see on such a tour well. Knowing the setting well, including the tour boats themselves, I felt right at home with this book and look forward to more in the series. Any book that can divert my mind from the beauty about me on my daily walk, complete with snow and mountains and, yes, a dog, albeit not a husky, has something going for it. That the author set a murder aboard amidst some of the world's most beautiful surroundings made the murder all the worse. Although I'd have liked to have seen things more along a bit faster, the story did drag in a few spots, "Bear Witness" is an excellent start to the series. I think I dreamed of leaping whales, husky kisses, and glacier bears. If you love travel, particularly to Alaska, huskies, wildlife, interesting characters, and mystery, you might enjoy this stop in Alaska. We'll be waiting to welcome you.