The Cliff's Edge by Charles Todd

 

First Lines: Somerset, July 1919. Simon brought in the post, set it on the salver in the hall, and went on through the house and out across the back garden to his cottage just beyond the wood. I'd watched him from the window.

 

Now that the war is over, Bess Crawford is restless. After four years of working as a nurse on the front lines, she's not used to having time on her hands. This is why she reluctantly agrees to go to Yorkshire to be with one of Cousin Melinda's friends as she recuperates from surgery.

 

She finds Lady Beatrice to be a force of nature, unused to taking it easy though intelligent enough to follow doctor's orders. When they receive word that the older lady's godson has been gravely injured, Bess is sent to assess the situation.

 

What Bess finds is an isolated house filled with secrets. One man has died in a tragic fall, and the other-- Lady Beatrice's godson-- is seriously injured. To make matters worse, the police, led by a heavy-handed inspector with a grudge against the rich and titled-- are underfoot and asking a lot of questions.

 

When another death occurs, the police are ready to make an arrest, and it seems as though Bess is the only one who wants to work through all the secrets to get at the truth, even though her sleuthing is going to have a profound effect on the people she holds most dear.

 

~

 

The Cliff's Edge is another good outing for Bess Crawford, who's finding it difficult to decide what to do now that the war is over. She fears she's made an irreparable mistake with lifelong friend, Simon Brandon, and this is the major reason why she agrees to go to Yorkshire to nurse an older woman through surgery. 

This thirteenth book in the series shows readers how people are (or are not) adjusting to life after World War I. The men who returned are experiencing survivor's guilt, and the injured man Bess is sent to care for has found that his village isn't happy to see him. "When my brother enlisted, half the village went with him. Most of them didn't come home. There's some hard feeling about that." 

 

Bess finds herself in a house filled with people who'd come to celebrate a birthday. Every single one of them seems to have some sort of secret. Every single one of them is economical with the truth. Trying to keep track of them all is like trying to herd cats, but if anyone is up to the task, it's Bess.

 

I enjoy this series for its "slice of life" feel, its strong mysteries, and the interactions among all the characters. Everything is taken care of by the end of The Cliff's Edge except for the question hanging over the heads of Bess and Simon-- a question that many faithful followers of the series have been wondering about for quite some time. I am very much looking forward to seeing how that progresses in the next book. Bring it on!

The Cliff's Edge by Charles Todd

eISBN: 9780063039964

William Morrow © 2023

eBook, 320 pages

 

Historical Mystery, #13 Bess Crawford mystery

Rating: A

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

February 2023 New Mystery Releases!

 

It's been a rainy January here in the Sonoran Desert, which is a wonderful thing-- although Californians might disagree with me. I hope Mother Nature continues to give this desert I love gentle, soaking rains. Who knows? We may even have a super bloom of wildflowers this year, which is so gorgeous it has to be seen to be believed.

Of course, I'm well-known for multi-tasking. I'm able to stretch out on the daybed to read and watch it rain as well as keep my eyes peeled for the best new crime fiction being released throughout the month of February.

The following list contains my picks for the new mysteries you need to read. I've grouped them by their release dates, and I obtained their covers and synopses from my favorite showroom, Amazon.

Let's see if any of my choices are on your own lists...

=== February 1 ===

Title: Invitation to a Killer

Author: G.M. Malliet

Series: #2 in the crime writer Augusta Hawke series set in the Washington, D.C. area.

240 pages

Synopsis: "Callie Moore is no ordinary aspiring writer. Notorious wife of a Washington lobbyist, Callie believes no publicity is bad publicity and that publishing her scandalous memoirs will help her achieve her heart's desire: a diplomatic posting. She just needs crime novelist Augusta Hawke to be her ghostwriter.

It's hard to say no to Callie, but Augusta does agree to attend her dinner party. The guest list is impressive, and it's Augusta's chance to meet celebrity doctor Doc Burke. But before Augusta really gets a chance to chat with the famous humanitarian, the evening ends in his untimely death.

Signs point to a heart attack, but Augusta isn't convinced. Especially when his niece tells Augusta about the mystery woman who claimed the doctor's remains.

Augusta decides to host a writers' retreat and invite all the suspects, most of whom are connected in some way with writing. Isn't that what Agatha Christie would do? But the remote lodge soon becomes snowed in and the group starts to crack when it becomes clear the killer may not be finished killing. Can Augusta flush out the culprit before anyone else gets hurt?"

=== February 7 ===

Title: Wined and Died in New Orleans

Author: Ellen Byron

Series: #2 in the Vintage Cookbook cozy series set in New Orleans, Louisiana.

288 pages

 

*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books.

 

Synopsis: "It’s hurricane season in New Orleans and vintage cookbook fan Ricki James-Diaz is trying to shelve her weather-related fears and focus on her business, Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop, housed in the magnificent Bon Vee Culinary House Museum.
 
Repairs on the property unearth crates of very old, very valuable French wine, buried by the home’s builder, Jean-Louis Charbonnet. Ricki, who’s been struggling to attract more customers to Miss Vee’s, is thrilled when her post about the discovery of this long-buried treasure goes viral. She’s less thrilled when the post brings distant Charbonnet family members out of the woodwork, all clamoring for a cut of the wine’s sale.
 
When a dead body turns up in Bon Vee’s cheery fall decorations, the NOPD zeroes in on Eugenia Charbonnet Felice as the prime suspect, figuring that as head of the Charbonnet family, she has the most to gain. Ricki is determined to uncover the real culprit, but she can’t help noticing that Eugenia is acting strangely. Ricki wonders what kind of secret her mentor has bottled up, and fears what might happen if she uncorks it.
 
In the second Vintage Cookbook Mystery, Ricki has to help solve a murder, untangle family secrets, and grow her business, all while living under the threat of a hurricane that could wipe out everything from her home to Bon Vee."

 

 

Title: Last Seen in Lapaz

Author: Kwei Quartey

Series: #3 in the Emma Djan private investigator series set in Ghana.

360 pages

 

*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books.

 

Synopsis: "Just as things at work are slowing down for PI Emma Djan, an old friend of her boss’s asks for help locating his missing daughter. According to her father, Ngozi had a bright future ahead of her when she became secretive and withdrawn. Suddenly, all she wanted to do was be with her handsome new beau, Femi, instead of attending law school in the fall. So when she disappears from her parents’ house in Nigeria the middle of a summer night, they immediately suspect Femi was behind it and have reason to believe the pair has fled to Accra.

During Emma’s first week on the case, Femi is found murdered at his opulent residence in Accra. There are no signs of Ngozi at the scene, and fearing the worst, Emma digs further, discovering that Femi was part of a network of sex traffickers across West Africa.

Emma must figure out which of Femi’s many enemies killed him, but more urgently, she must find Ngozi before she, too, is murdered in cold blood."

 

 

Title: Sentenced to Death

Author: Betty Hechtman

Series: #3 in the Writer for Hire cozy series set in Illinois.

224 pages

 

Synopsis: "When writer for hire Veronica Blackstone is asked to write the copy for The Friends of Hyde Park's annual house and garden tour, she never expects to get involved in a violent death. But that's exactly what happens when famous author Landon Donte is found dead in his study during a dinner to highlight the tour.

With his career on the wane, and apparently having deleted his last manuscript, it looks as though Landon committed suicide. But Veronica isn't so sure. She discovers that left-handed Landon was killed by someone right-handed and becomes convinced someone murdered him.

It's true that Landon had many enemies: his rival and neighbor, bestselling romance author RL Lincoln; his put-upon assistant, Brad; even his own daughter! But are any of them capable of murder? Veronica is determined to uncover the truth."

 

 

Title: A Killing of Innocents

Author: Deborah Crombie

Series: #19 in the Duncan Kincaid & Gemma James police procedurals set in England.

368 pages

 

Synopsis: "On a rainy November evening, trainee doctor Sasha Johnson hurries through the evening crowd in London's historic Russell Square. Out of the darkness, someone jostles her as they brush past. A moment later, Sasha stumbles, then collapses. When Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and his sergeant, Doug Cullen, are called to the scene, they discover that she's been stabbed. 

Kincaid immediately calls in his detective wife, Gemma James, who has recently been assigned to a task force on knife crimes which are on the rise. Along with her partner, detective sergeant Melody Talbot, Gemma aids the investigation. But Sasha Johnson doesn’t fit the profile of the task force’s typical knife crime victim. Single, successful, career-driven, she has no history of abusive relationships or any connection to gangs. Sasha had her secrets, though, and some of them lead the detectives uncomfortably close to home.

As the team unravels the victim's tangled connections, another murder raises the stakes. Kincaid, Gemma, and their colleagues must put even friendships on the line to find the killer stalking the dark streets of Bloomsbury."

 

 

Title: Playing Dead

Author: Peggy Rothschild

Series: #2 in the former PI Molly Madison cozy series set in California.

304 pages

 

Synopsis: "Molly Madison has barely had a moment to catch her breath after moving to the sleepy beach town she now calls home. But as a former PI, she can’t help but notice the odd chemistry between members of Playtime Academy on the first day she and her loyal Saint Bernadoodle, Noodle, and golden retriever, Harlow, visit. When a trainer’s body is found on-site, Molly knows it’s her duty to put her ex-police skills to use. She can’t say no to temporarily taking in the deceased woman’s dog, either—not with those puppy dog eyes.

Relationships at the training facility are not as clean as the prize-winning agility runs, making it difficult for Molly to get a leash on potential suspects. And her personal life is just as messy—her boyfriend is hiding something, her agoraphobic neighbor needs help, and her number of four-legged friends keep growing as she agrees to dogsit a wriggly local French bulldog.
 
When Molly’s friend is arrested for the murder, she’s not sure who to believe anymore. Is the case as simple as the local cops make it seem, or is something more devious afoot?" 

=== February 14 ===

 

 

Title: The Cliff's Edge

Author: Charles Todd

Series: #13 in the Bess Crawford historical mystery series set in post-World War I England.

320 pages

 

Synopsis: "Restless and uncertain of her future in the wake of World War I, former battlefield nurse Bess Crawford agrees to travel to Yorkshire to help a friend of her cousin Melinda through surgery. But circumstances change suddenly when news of a terrible accident reaches them. Bess agrees to go to isolated Scarfdale and the Neville family, where one man has been killed and another gravely injured. The police are asking questions, and Bess is quickly drawn into the fray as two once close families take sides, even as they are forced to remain in the same house until the inquest is completed.

 

When another tragedy strikes, the police are ready to make an arrest. Bess struggles to keep order as tensions rise and shots are fired. What dark truth is behind these deaths? And what about the tale of an older murder—one that doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the Nevilles? Bess is unaware that when she passes the story on to Cousin Melinda, she will set in motion a revelation with the potential to change the lives of those she loves most—her parents, and her dearest friend, Simon Brandon…" 

=== February 21 ===

Title: Irish Knit Murder

Author: Peggy Ehrhart

Series: #8 in the Knit & Nibble cozy series set in New Jersey.

304 pages

 

Synopsis: "The Listers have been part of Arborville society for generations—though seventy-something Isobel Lister doesn’t fit the role of upper-crust heiress. She’s always been a colorful character, and her fun-loving spirit is on display at the senior center celebration as she performs some beloved Irish songs. But just minutes later, her body is found backstage.

It’s hard to imagine who’d target such a harmless eccentric, but Pamela finds herself suspecting everyone. There’s the Wiccan who thought St. Patrick wasn’t so saintly; the woman upset about cultural appropriation who feels the commercialization of shamrocks is a sham; the two men Isobel was seeing, who could have been green with jealousy—and old friends and family who may have feared Isobel would spill their secrets. But Pamela’s on the case, and that means for the killer, the jig will soon be up . . ."

 

 

Title: Sea Castle

Author: Andrew Mayne

Series: #4 in the Underwater Investigation Unit series set in Florida.

315 pages

 

*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books.

 

Synopsis: "When a young woman washes ashore on a Fort Lauderdale beach, Sloan McPherson of the Underwater Investigation Unit is called in to consult. Sloan’s instinct says murder, but even then, there are too many questions.

For answers she reaches out to Gwen Wylder. The Miami homicide detective is notorious for being manipulative, bitter, a tyrant to her peers, and wicked smart. And she demands something in return from Sloan: fresh insight into seemingly unrelated cold-case murders and disappearances―and a possible serial killer trolling the Florida coast.

As loose ends of the old files begin to come together, another woman disappears. Sloan and Gwen are certain she’s the newest link in a deadly chain. They are determined to track her down before she dies, but they soon find themselves in uncharted waters. And the deeper Sloan and Gwen go, the stranger the case gets." 

 

 

February is another one of the months that I love where there's something for everyone. If there's one book on my list that I'm the most excited about, it's Deborah Crombie's A Killing of Innocents. It's been much too long since there's been a new Duncan Kincaid & Gemma James mystery!

 

What about you? Are any of these books on your own lists? Which ones? You know that inquiring minds would love to know!

On My Radar: Charles Todd's The Cliff's Edge!

 

Ever since I read Charles Todd's A Duty to the Dead, I've been following the career of Nurse Bess Crawford. Watching Testament of Youth a long time ago turned me on to the entire subject of World War I and in particular the women who volunteered to nurse the wounded at the front lines, so I was predisposed to like Bess. 

Now that the war has ended, this series has entered a new phase, and I've had a keen interest in the directions it's taking. The thirteenth book in the series has Bess going to one of my favorite parts of the world-- Yorkshire-- so I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on it. 

Let me share what I know!

 

Available February 14, 2023!

 

Synopsis:

 

"Restless and uncertain of her future in the wake of World War I, former battlefield nurse Bess Crawford agrees to travel to Yorkshire to help a friend of her cousin Melinda through surgery. But circumstances change suddenly when news of a terrible accident reaches them. Bess agrees to go to isolated Scarfdale and the Neville family, where one man has been killed and another gravely injured. The police are asking questions, and Bess is quickly drawn into the fray as two once close families take sides, even as they are forced to remain in the same house until the inquest is completed.

When another tragedy strikes, the police are ready to make an arrest. Bess struggles to keep order as tensions rise and shots are fired. What dark truth is behind these deaths? And what about the tale of an older murder—one that doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the Nevilles? Bess is unaware that when she passes the story on to Cousin Melinda, she will set in motion a revelation with the potential to change the lives of those she loves most—her parents, and her dearest friend, Simon Brandon…" 

 

Sounds like another good one that will keep me turning those pages! How many of you are Bess Crawford fans already? How many of you are Ian Rutledge fans? How many of you enjoy both series? I have to admit that I'm a Bess fan. I tried reading Todd's Ian Rutledge series, and although the stories were every bit as good as the writing, the character of Hamish drove me around the twist, and I had to stop. You could consider that a mark of how good the writing is, though, couldn't you? ...the character trying Rutledge's sanity almost made me lose mine?

 

I will say that, if you like historical mysteries and you haven't read Charles Todd yet, you should really give one (or both) of the series a try. As for me, I'm waiting patiently for The Cliff's Edge!

An Irish Hostage by Charles Todd

 

First Lines: Somerset, June 1919. We had finished our supper and were taking our tea in my mother's morning room.

 

If you're British, Ireland is not the best place to be in 1919 due to the bloody Easter Uprising in 1916. Anyone who fought on the British side during World War I is now considered a traitor. All British nurse Eileen Flynn and former British soldier Michael Sullivan want is to be married in the small village where Eileen grew up. To make the wedding perfect, Eileen wants British nurse Bess Crawford and Michael's former commanding officer to stand up with them. 

 

Against all advice, Bess keeps her promise to Eileen and goes to Ireland. When Bess arrives, she learns that even Eileen's grandmother is against the marriage, and Eileen's only protector is her cousin Terrance, a hero of the Rising who's still being hunted by the British. What's even more shocking is that Michael has disappeared, and although many people are searching for him, no one can find the missing groom.

Eileen begs for her help, but how can Bess help her find Michael when she is in a strange land full of people who hate her simply because she's British? But if there's one thing Bess knows how to do, it's how to keep a promise and do her duty. With an Irish outlaw and a man wanted for murder to help her, she's determined to find Michael Sullivan. She just hopes that Michael will still be alive.

~

In An Irish Hostage, the writing team known as Charles Todd shows us how explosive matters were in Ireland after the end of World War I. There may not be bombs and gunfire, but Bess is in just as much danger as she was when she was nursing in aid stations at the front lines in France. An Irish Hostage is steeped in tension, in hatred, in claustrophobia. Bess is reduced to doing a lot of sneaking around after dark, and the only reason why she's (usually) left alone is because this is a small, isolated village with no doctor, and her nursing skills come in handy.

This is also a book about the futility of unreasoning hatred and grief, so much so that the book can be difficult to read at times. But it's also a book about a woman who's had four years of making her own decisions and living her own life now being expected to return to the role of dutiful daughter now that the war is over. Bess Crawford knows that there's no way she can return to that life. As this series progresses, it will be interesting to see the life she makes for herself.

The bright spot that made me exclaim "It's about time!" is that-- after how many books now?-- the penny finally drops for Bess concerning Simon Brandon. It's something that all the fans of this series have been waiting for so long that, no matter what the main plot of the next book is, we're all going to want to know what's next for Bess concerning the more personal side of her life. 

An Irish Hostage brings readers right into the heart of the Irish fight for independence with all its danger and high emotion, and it has an escape scene that will have readers at the edge of their seats. I can't wait for the next book.

 

An Irish Hostage by Charles Todd

eISBN: 9780062859884

William Morrow © 2021

eBook, 336 pages

 

Historical Mystery, #12 Bess Crawford mystery

Rating: A

Source: Net Galley

July 2021 New Mystery Releases!

 

Since I can't get out in the pool until the open wounds on my leg finally decide to heal and stay healed, I'm glad I've feathered my nest here in the living room. I'm feeling more connected to the neighborhood and have even started adding books to a nearby neighbor's Little Free Library. 

 

And may I just say that this "connected-ness" wouldn't be possible if not for the new windows we installed a couple of years ago. There's no way in the world I could've sat here in the living room with the curtains open and not roasted alive-- even with the air conditioning on. But now, here I sit, watching the neighbors come and go, counting the new arms the cactus is growing, and keeping track of all the visiting bees and hummingbirds at the fairy duster bush.

Of course, that's not all I'm doing while I'm sitting in pampered comfort. I'm getting a lot of reading done as well, and you know what that means. That means that I have to keep a lookout for new books to read!

The following list contains my picks of the best new crime fiction being released throughout the month of July. I've grouped them according to their release dates, and the covers and synopses are courtesy of Amazon.

Let's see if I've chosen any that are on your own wish lists!

=== July 1 ===

Title: Death and Croissants

Author: Ian Moore

Series: #1 in the Follet Valley amateur sleuth series set in rural France

230 pages

*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books.

Synopsis: "Richard is a middle-aged Englishman who runs a B&B in the fictional Val de Follet in the Loire Valley. Nothing ever happens to Richard, and really that’s the way he likes it.

One day, however, one of his older guests disappears, leaving behind a bloody handprint on the wallpaper. Another guest, the exotic Valérie, persuades a reluctant Richard to join her in investigating the disappearance.

Richard remains a dazed passenger in the case until things become really serious and someone murders Ava Gardner, one of his beloved hens... and you don’t mess with a fellow’s hens!

Unputdownable mystery set in rural France, by TV/radio regular and bestselling author Ian Moore – perfect for fans of Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club."

=== July 6 ===

Title: An Irish Hostage

Author: Charles Todd

Series: #12 in the Bess Crawford historical series set in Ireland during the years immediately following World War I.

336 pages

 

*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books.

 

Synopsis: "The Great War is over—but in Ireland, in the wake of the bloody 1916 Easter Rising, anyone who served in France is now considered a traitor, including nurse Eileen Flynn and former soldier Michael Sullivan, who only want to be married in the small, isolated village where she grew up. Even her grandmother is against it, and Eileen’s only protection is her cousin Terrence who was a hero of the Rising and is still being hunted by the British. 

Bess Crawford had promised to be there for the wedding. And in spite of the danger to her, she keeps that promise—only to be met with the shocking news that the groom has vanished. Eileen begs for her help, but how can Bess hope to find him when she doesn’t know the country, the people, or where to put her trust? Time is running out, for Michael and for Bess herself, and soon her own life is on the line. With only an Irish outlaw and a man being hunted for murder on her side, how can she possibly save herself, much less stop a killer?" 

 

 

Title: The Hollywood Spy

Author: Susan Elia MacNeal

Series: #10 in the Maggie Hope historical series set in California in 1943.

368 pages

 

*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books.

 

Synopsis: "Los Angeles, 1943. As the Allies beat back the Nazis in the Mediterranean and the United States military slowly closes in on Tokyo, Walt Disney cranks out wartime propaganda and the Cocoanut Grove is alive with jazz and swing every night. But behind this sunny façade lies a darker reality. Somewhere in the lush foothills of Hollywood, a woman floats lifeless in the pool of one of California’s trendiest hotels.

When American-born secret agent and British spy Maggie Hope learns that this woman was engaged to her former fiancée, John Sterling, and that he suspects her death was no accident, intuition tells her he’s right. Leaving London under siege is a lot to ask. But John was once the love of Maggie’s life . . . and she won’t say no.
 
Maggie struggles with seeing her lost love again, but what’s more shocking is that her own country is as divided and convulsed with hatred as Europe. The Zoot Suit Riots loom large in Los Angeles, and the Ku Klux Klan casts a long shadow everywhere. But there is little time to dwell on memories once she starts digging into the case. As she traces a web of deception from the infamous Garden of Allah to the iconic Carthay Circle Theater, she discovers things aren’t always the way things appear in the movies—and the political situation in America is more complicated, and dangerous, than the newsreels would have them all believe." 

Title: People Like Them

Author: Samira Sedira

Standalone psychological suspense set in France

192 pages

 

Synopsis: "Anna and Constant Guillot live with their two daughters in the peaceful, remote mountain village of Carmac, largely deaf to the upheavals of the outside world. Everyone in Carmac knows each other, and most of its residents look alike--until Bakary and Sylvia Langlois arrive with their three children.

Wealthy and flashy, the family of five are outsiders in the small town, their impressive chalet and three expensive cars a stark contrast to the modesty of those of their neighbors. Despite their differences, the Langlois and the Guillots form an uneasy, ambiguous friendship. But when both families begin experiencing financial troubles, the underlying class and racial tensions of their relationship come to a breaking point, and the unthinkable happens.

With piercing psychological insight and gripping storytelling, People Like Them asks: How could a seemingly "normal" person commit an atrocious crime? How could that person's loved ones ever come to terms with it afterward? And how well can you really know your own spouse?" 

Title: Palm Springs Noir 

Editor: Barbara Demarco-Barrett

Short Story Anthology set in Palm Springs, California

304 pages

Synopsis: "Akashic Books continues its award-winning series of original noir anthologies, launched in 2004 with Brooklyn Noir. Each book comprises all new stories, each one set in a distinct location within the geographic area of the book.

Palm Springs Noir features brand-new stories by: T. Jefferson Parker, Janet Fitch, Eric Beetner, Kelly Shire, Tod Goldberg, Michael Craft, Barbara DeMarco-Barrett, Rob Roberge, J.D. Horn, Eduardo Santiago, Rob Bowman, Chris J. Bahnsen, Ken Layne, and Alex Espinoza.

From the introduction: The best noir writers make us feel the heat of the sun, the touch of a lover. Setting can be gritty but can also be sublime, no longer relegated to urban locales and seedy hotel rooms but also mansions and swimming pools. Hence, Palm Springs, which may seem like an odd setting for a collection of dark short stories--it’s so sunny and bright here. The quality of light is unlike anywhere else, and with an average of three hundred sunny days a year, what could go wrong?...

The stories in this collection come on like the wicked dust storms common to the area. More than half are by writers who live here full-time; all have homes in Southern California. They know this place in ways visitors and outsiders never will. These are not stories you'll read in the glossy coffee-table books that feature Palm Springs's good life. There is indeed a lush life to be found here, but for the characters in these stories, it’s often just out of reach."

 

 

 === July 8 ===

 

 

Title: The Dying Day

Author: Vaseem Khan

Series: #2 in the Persis Wadia historical series set in India

400 pages

 

*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books.

 

Synopsis: "For over a century, one of the world's great treasures, a six-hundred-year-old copy of Dante's The Divine Comedy, has been safely housed at Bombay's Asiatic Society. But when it vanishes, together with the man charged with its care, British scholar and war hero, John Healy, the case lands on Inspector Persis Wadia's desk.

Uncovering a series of complex riddles written in verse, Persis - together with English forensic scientist Archie Blackfinch - is soon on the trail. But then they discover the first body.

As the death toll mounts it becomes evident that someone else is also pursuing this priceless artefact and will stop at nothing to possess it . . .

Harking back to an era of darkness, this second thriller in the Malabar House series pits Persis, once again, against her peers, a changing India, and an evil of limitless intent." 

=== July 13 ===

Title: Butcher Pen Road

Author: Kris Lackey

Series: #3 in the Bill Maytubby & Hannah Bond police procedural series set in Oklahoma

200 pages 

Synopsis: "On Oklahoma's Big Rock Prairie, a deaf boy finds a body in Pennington Creek. Johnston County Deputy Hannah Bond and Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Sergeant Bill Maytubby find a crime scene where nothing seems to fit -- from the dead angler's oversize waders to the kind of fish in his creel. They scour the creekside brush, then hit the road for Texas in a widening search for the killer.

On the Big Rock, a towering bearded man is building a limestone replica of Roman Jerusalem for a Christian passion play. His cronies, who are in league with an interstate fraud ring, want the boy to disappear now.

Flying an ancient rented Cessna, Maytubby takes fire from a suspect he is tailing, while Bond combs river trails for traces of the killer.

While Maytubby and Bond try to protect the deaf boy and his mother from the crime ring, an improbable ally materializes from the prairie oak thickets, wielding a monstrous shotgun."

=== July 20 ===

Title: Fatal Family Ties

Author: S.C. Perkins

Series: #3 in the Ancestry Detective series set in Texas

336 pages

 

*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books. 

Synopsis: "Lucy is just about to tuck into a plate of tacos at her favorite Austin joint, Big Flaco’s, when she gets an unexpected visit from her former―and least-favorite―co-worker. Camilla Braithwaite hasn’t gotten much friendlier since the last time Lucy saw her, but that doesn't stop her from asking a favor. In her hand is a newspaper feature on an ancestor, a civil war corporal―and a liar, according to the article. Charles Braithwaite is depicted as a phony and a deserter, and Camilla wants Lucy’s help clearing his name.

Lucy would prefer to spend her free time with her new beau, special agent Ben Turner, but takes the case, making no promises that Camilla will like the outcome of her investigation. Camilla leads Lucy to the Texas History Museum, where their first clue is a triptych painting, passed down in the Braithwaite family for generations, one panel of which has disappeared. But before Lucy can get much further, a member of the Braithwaite family is murdered in his own bed, and another panel of the painting found missing.

There are no shortage of suspects among the Braithwaite clan―including Camilla herself. This case will take Lucy to Houston and back again as she works to find the truth, and catch an elusive killer."

=== July 26 ===

Title: The Bookshop Murder

Author: Merryn Allingham

Series: #1 in the Flora Steele cozy series set in England

256 pages

 

*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books.

 

Synopsis: "The young man with the shock of white-blond hair lay spread-eagled on the floor, surrounded by fallen books. His hand reached out to the scattered pages, as though he was trying to tell her something.

But who is he? How did he come to be killed in Flora’s ordinary little bookshop? Flora finds out he was staying at the Priory Hotel, and when the gardener suddenly dies in its beautiful grounds only a few days later, she is certain that something untoward is happening in her quiet village by the sea.

But are the two deaths connected? And is someone at the hotel responsible – the nervous cook, the money-obsessed receptionist, or the formidable manageress?

Determined to save her beloved bookshop’s reputation and solve the murder mystery, Flora enlists the help of handsome and brooding Jack Carrington: crime writer, recluse and her most reliable customer.

As the unlikely duo set about investigating the baffling case, guilty faces greet them at every door. And they soon realise there’s more than one person hiding secrets in Abbeymead…

The start of a brand-new murder mystery series featuring bookshop owner Flora Steele and crime writer Jack Carrington. Fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Joy Ellis will love this perfect cozy murder mystery novel. An utterly addictive story that will have you guessing until the very end." 

Well, that's an interesting lineup of books, isn't it? A new Bess Crawford. A new Maggie Hope. The second in Vaseem Khan's new historical series featuring a female police officer in India. And some new faces. I'm looking forward to diving right in.

How about you? Which titles are already on your own wish lists? Did you find any new ones to add? Inquiring minds would love to know!

A Cruel Deception by Charles Todd

 

First Line: England, Late March, 1919. I was changing the surgical dressing on a patient in Ward 3 when Matron sent for me.

 

Representatives from the Allied governments have gathered in Paris to put the final touches on the Peace Treaty that will officially end World War I, but bitter disagreements have already broken out. Bess Crawford is sent to Paris on a personal mission for the Matron of the London headquarters of the Queen Alexandra's, of which Bess is a part. Bess would much rather stay and work with the severely wounded in England, but she can't refuse Matron.

 

She has been asked to find Matron's son, Lawrence Minton, who has gone missing from his duties at the peace talks. Contrary to what she expected, Bess finds that Minton is a very disturbed man who is well on the way to becoming addicted to opiates. He doesn't care if he lives or dies. Bess is convinced that something haunts him, and that he must somehow be brought to face that event before it destroys him completely.

 

~

 

Many readers may have expected Charles Todd's Bess Crawford series to end when World War I ended, but this writing team has continued Bess's adventures in order to create a portrait that illuminates the cost of war on human lives—the lingering pain and horror that no armistice or peace treaty can assuage. Bess has continued her nursing, working with severely wounded soldiers, but in A Cruel Deception, she finds herself thinking about what else she might want to do with her life. She also finds herself thinking about Simon Brandon who seems to be on holiday in Scotland-- and a mysterious woman might be involved. I imagine that I'm not the only fan of this series who's wanted Bess to start thinking more seriously about Simon. Who knows? We may be getting our wish.

 

Another thing that Charles Todd deals with so well in this series is how Bess has gotten used to living her own life and making her own decisions without deferring to her family. This is something many women in this time period found themselves doing for the first time, and they liked it.

 

This series often deals with various issues wounded soldiers had to face, and in A Cruel Deception, it's the anguish of mental trauma, that most difficult affliction for most people to understand or to even begin to deal with. Here, what we now call PTSD is treated with sensitivity and understanding as Bess tries to find out why someone is attacking both Minton and herself, as well as learning what happened to Minton that makes him want to destroy himself. It's another tale well told, and I'm looking forward to the next time I meet Bess.  

 

A Cruel Deception by Charles Todd

eISBN: 9780062859860

William Morrow © 2019

eBook, 336 pages

Historical Mystery, #11 Bess Crawford mystery

Rating: B+

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

A Hanging at Dawn by Charles Todd

 

First Line: Who is this man, Simon Brandon, and why has his past been a blank to those who think they know him best?

 

Like other readers I know, I never used to like short stories, but I've learned to appreciate them in the past few years-- especially when they can illuminate the backstory of characters in long-running favorite series of mine. Not all story ideas are worth a full-length novel, but that doesn't mean they're not worth writing. Such is the case with Charles Todd's short story, A Hanging at Dawn.

A Hanging at Dawn is all about the mysterious Simon Brandon, Colonel Crawford's right-hand man, and Bess Crawford's savior in Todd's series featuring a nurse during World War I. The story is told through the older Crawfords (Aunt Melissa, Colonel Crawford, and the colonel's wife, Clarissa) as well as Bess herself, and I certainly enjoyed learning more about these characters.

 

Most of all, I really appreciated learning more about Simon Brandon himself through incidents that occurred during his and the Crawfords' time in India. What I found absolutely amazing is that the writing team of Charles Todd made this tale so suspenseful that I was worried about the outcome-- even though I'm an avid reader of the Bess Crawford series and know he survives! I don't know about you, but I consider that to be the mark of some excellent writing.

 

If you're a fan of the Bess Crawford historical mystery series as am I, I don't think you should pass up the opportunity to learn more about Simon Brandon and the other more mature characters who've stayed in the background. It's going to add to your appreciation of the series. If you haven't read any of the Bess Crawford mysteries, you'll probably find A Hanging at Dawn to be a fine tale about the British in India; you just won't be as invested in the characters. But who knows? You may find yourself wanting to know more about them, and you'll know right where to go. (The first book in the series is A Duty to the Dead.)

A Hanging at Dawn by Charles Todd

eISBN: 9780063048560

Witness Impulse © 2020

eBook, 176 pages

 

Short Story/Historical Mystery, #11.5 Bess Crawford mystery

Rating: A

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

A Forgotten Place by Charles Todd

 

First Line: December 1918. The war had ended, but not the suffering.

World War I is over, but-- as Nurse Bess Crawford says, "...when we no longer needed soldiers, we tossed them aside like broken chairs." Now she has been assigned to a clinic for amputees, and a group of Welsh patients worries her. It's clear that they have nothing to go home to in a valley where the only employment is for the able-bodied down in the coal mines.

When their officer, Captain Williams, writes to tell Bess of their despair and of his own at trying to save his men, Bess requests leave and travels to Wales. She's too late. Most of the group is dead. Worried that Williams intends to kill himself, Bess follows him to an isolated peninsula where she's promptly deserted by her driver. Now Bess is stranded among strangers suspicious of outsiders. When she learns that the villagers are all hiding something, they do not allow her to leave, and-- what's even worse-- no one in England knows where she is. Bess must find the answers to all her questions without putting her only two allies at risk, but there is a murderer here who is driven to kill again and again...

My interest in nurses on the front lines during World War I began with the BBC's "Testament of Youth" and Lyn MacDonald's The Roses of No Man's Land. When I learned of Charles Todd's series featuring Bess Crawford, I had to get my hands on a copy. I've enjoyed the series ever since, but I have to say that with A Forgotten Place, this series has reached a whole new (and wonderful) level.

In reality, A Forgotten Place is a locked room mystery, if you can call an isolated peninsula a room. No one goes there. The police don't come there; the villagers take care of everything themselves. No one has transportation, so if anyone wants to leave, they have to walk miles and miles and miles over rough terrain. Getting letters in and out is left entirely to chance. The weather in December is atrocious, and the villagers are all suspicious, they're all hiding something, and they're Olympic gold medal winners at immediately thinking the worst of anybody or anything. It wasn't long at all before I wanted to run screaming away from the place, but I was trapped there along with Bess, and I simply couldn't leave until Bess could leave. The setting is superb and really set the tone for the entire book.

The writing team of Charles Todd always enlightens readers about a certain facet of life during World War I, and this time it's the plight of amputees. In many instances, it would have been kinder for them to have been killed in action. There were no jobs for them when they came home. Often their arrival meant even greater hardship for already poverty-stricken families. It's no wonder their suicide rate was high. 

The mystery in A Forgotten Place really kept me guessing, and I got to see a side of Bess Crawford's personality that has never really been shown before-- probably because she's never been in a situation like this one. She's always going to fight for anyone who's under her care, and she's always going to fight for the right, but this time, she's also got to fight for her own survival. These villagers are willing to kill to keep their secrets. Every time Bess was forceful with these people and their well-honed complicity of silence, I wanted to cheer aloud. And was I ever glad when Bess and I finally got out of the place.

I'm really looking forward to what Bess gets up to next!

 

A Forgotten Place by Charles Todd 

eISBN: 9780062678850

William Morrow © 2018

eBook, 384 pages

 

Historical Mystery, #10 Bess Crawford mystery

Rating: A+

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

A Casualty of War by Charles Todd

First Line: Lieutenant Morrison died as dawn broke on that Friday morning, a casualty of war.

Although World War I is nearing its end, Bess Crawford would never guess it by the pounding of the guns and the steady stream of the wounded to the forward aid station where she is a nurse. She meets Captain Alan Travis while waiting for transportation to her new post, and when he's brought into her aid station with a head wound, she's alarmed that Travis believes he was shot by his English cousin. When Travis is brought back with a more severe wound, once again he denounces his cousin. When it becomes apparent that his cousin could not be the person trying to kill him, Travis's sanity is in question-- and Bess wonders how such an experienced officer could be so wrong.

On leave in England, Bess visits Travis in a hospital for soldiers suffering from a variety of brain injuries. Finding him strapped to a bed in a room with no windows, she is horrified at his condition and, along with Sergeant Major Brandon, she travels to Travis's cousin's ancestral home in Suffolk to learn more about the relationship between these two men. As a result, Bess and Brandon are going to find themselves right in the middle of danger.

I have a longheld fascination for all things World War I, and after reading Lyn MacDonald's excellent The Roses of No Man's Land, I've found myself reading both fiction and nonfiction about the women who went to France and Belgium to nurse the wounded. Charles Todd's mysteries about Bess Crawford are very good, and A Casualty of War is no exception, although I would imagine that Bess's parents are sick of her solving mysteries instead of spending time with them on her infrequent leaves home in England.

The chaos of trench warfare is a fertile ground for mysteries, and the mystery in A Casualty of War is intriguing indeed. How and why would Captain Travis's cousin want to kill him... if indeed it was him in the first place? Why are the people of the village of Sinclair so hostile to Bess? There are many questions to answer, and it's fun to attempt to find answers for them all before Bess does.

Another reason why this series is so strong is that the writing team of Charles Todd does an excellent job of giving readers a real feel for the time, the attitudes of people from all walks of life, and what it was like to be a nurse at the front lines. When the end of the war is announced, Bess, the other nurses, the doctors, the soldiers all experience a feeling of relief, but also a sort of disbelief. They've been fighting for so long, and when Bess goes to England, it's plain to see that everyone will have many adjustments to make. Things aren't going to go back to normal. At least, no time soon.

I like the character of Bess. I like seeing how she feels about people and the lengths to which she'll go to do what's right for them. There's also the added fillip of possible romance when Bess and Brandon spend a great deal of time in each other's company.

If you like reading books with a strong female main character who solves intriguing mysteries set in a well-researched time period, I recommend Charles Todd's Bess Crawford series. They. Are. Good.

A Casualty of War by Charles Todd

eISBN: 9780062678805

William Morrow © 2018

eBook, 385 pages

Historical Mystery, #9 Bess Crawford mystery

Rating: B+

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

October 2019 New Mystery Releases!

Another summer has flown past with the speed of light. It brought me some mighty fine books to read amongst many other blessings. I have so many things to look forward to this fall, but I have to admit that my anticipation is dulled somewhat by the loss of my dearest friend in September.

Comfort can be found in routine; however, and what better comfort for a voracious reader than keeping an eye peeled for new crime fiction that is going to be released?

I've grouped my picks according to their release dates and give you a little information about each one. Book covers and synopses are courtesy of Amazon.



Let's see if I managed to include a title or two that will make it onto your own wishlists!

=== October 1 ===

Title: Dachshund Through the Snow

Author: David Rosenfelt

Series: #20 in the Andy Carpenter legal mystery series set in New Jersey. 

352 pages

Synopsis: "Lawyer Andy Carpenter and his wife, Laurie, have started a new Christmas tradition. Their local pet store has a Christmas tree, where instead of ornaments there are wishes from those in need. One poignant wish leads Andy to a child named Danny, whose selfless plea strikes a chord. Danny asked Santa for a coat for his mother, a sweater for his dachshund, Murphy, and for the safe return of his missing father.

It turns out Danny’s father doesn't want to be found, he’s on the run after just being arrested for a murder that took place fourteen years ago – a murder that Danny’s mother swears he didn’t commit.

With his trademark humor and larger-than-life characters – including a police officer and his K-9 partner, Simon – Rosenfelt never fails to deliver as Andy and his eccentric crew dash to reunite a family in time for Christmas."

Title: A House of Ghosts

Author: W.C. Ryan

Standalone Gothic thriller set in England.

384 pages

Synopsis: "Winter 1917. As the First World War enters its most brutal phase, back home in England, everyone is seeking answers to the darkness that has seeped into their lives. At Blackwater Abbey, on an island off the Devon coast, armaments manufacturer Lord Highmount has arranged a spiritualist gathering to contact his two sons, both of whom died at the front.

Among the guests, two have been secretly dispatched from the intelligence service: Kate Cartwright, a friend of the family who lost her beloved brother at the Somme and who, in the realm of the spiritual, has her own special gift; and the mysterious Captain Donovan, recently returned from Europe. Top secret plans for weapons developed by Lord Highmount’s company have turned up in Berlin, and there is reason to believe enemy spies will be in attendance. As the guests arrive, it becomes clear that each has something they would rather keep hidden. Then, when a storm descends, they find themselves trapped on the island. Soon one of their number will die. For Blackwater Abbey is haunted in more ways than one . . . .

An unrelenting, gripping mystery, packed with twists and turns and a kindling of romance, A House of Ghosts is the perfect cold-weather read."

=== October 8 ===

Title: A Bitter Feast

Author: Deborah Crombie

Series: #18 in the Duncan Kincaid & Gemma James police procedural series set in England.

384 pages

*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books.

Synopsis: "Scotland Yard Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and his wife, Detective Inspector Gemma James, have been invited for a relaxing weekend in the Cotswolds, one of Britain’s most enchanting regions, famous for its rolling hills, golden cottages, and picturesque villages.

Duncan, Gemma, and their children are guests at Beck House, the family estate of Melody Talbot, Gemma’s detective sergeant. The Talbot family is wealthy, prominent, and powerful—Melody’s father is the publisher of one of London’s largest and most influential newspapers. The centerpiece of this glorious fall getaway is a posh charity harvest luncheon catered by up-and-coming chef Viv Holland. After fifteen years in London’s cut-throat food scene, Viv has returned to the Gloucestershire valleys of her childhood and quickly made a name for herself with her innovative meals based on traditional cuisine but using fresh local ingredients. Attended by the local well-to-do as well as national press food bloggers and restaurant critics, the event could make Viv a star.

But a tragic car accident and a series of mysterious deaths rock the estate and pull Duncan and Gemma into the investigation. It soon becomes clear that the killer has a connection with Viv’s pub—or, perhaps, with Beck House itself.

Does the truth lie in the past? Or is it closer to home, tied up in the tangled relationships and bitter resentments between the staff at Beck House and Viv’s new pub? Or is it more personal, entwined with secrets hidden by Viv and those closest to her?" 

=== October 15 ===

Title: The Art of Theft

Author: Sherry Thomas

Series: #4 in the Lady Sherlock historical series set in England.

304 pages

Synopsis: "As "Sherlock Holmes, consulting detective," Charlotte Holmes has solved murders and found missing individuals. But she has never stolen a priceless artwork—or rather, made away with the secrets hidden behind a much-coveted canvas.

But Mrs. Watson is desperate to help her old friend recover those secrets and Charlotte finds herself involved in a fever-paced scheme to infiltrate a glamorous Yuletide ball where the painting is one handshake away from being sold and the secrets a bare breath from exposure.

Her dear friend Lord Ingram, her sister Livia, Livia's admirer Stephen Marbleton—everyone pitches in to help and everyone has a grand time. But nothing about this adventure is what it seems and disaster is biding time on the grounds of a glittering French chateau, waiting only for Charlotte to make a single mistake..."

=== October 22 ===

Title: A Cruel Deception

Author: Charles Todd

Series: #11 in the Bess Crawford historical series set in England.

320 pages

Synopsis: "The Armistice of November 1918 ended the fighting, but the Great War will not be over until a Peace Treaty is drawn up and signed by all parties. Representatives from the Allies are gathering in Paris, and already ominous signs of disagreement have appeared.

Sister Bess Crawford, who has been working with the severely wounded in England in the war’s wake, is asked to carry out a personal mission in Paris for a Matron at the London headquarters of The Queen Alexandra’s.

Bess is facing decisions about her own future, even as she searches for the man she is charged with helping.  When she does locate Lawrence Minton, she finds a bitter and disturbed officer who has walked away from his duties at the Peace Conference and is well on his way toward an addiction to opiates. When she confronts him with the dangers of using laudanum, he tells her that he doesn’t care if he lives or dies, as long as he can find oblivion. But what has changed him? What is it that haunts him? He can’t confide in Bess—because the truth is so deeply buried in his mind that he can only relive it in nightmares. The officers who had shared a house with him in Paris profess to know nothing—still, Bess is reluctant to trust them even when they offer her their help. But where to begin on her own?

What is driving this man to a despair so profound it can only end with death? The war? Something that happened in Paris? To prevent a tragedy, she must get at the truth as quickly as possible—which means putting herself between Lieutenant Minton and whatever is destroying him. Or is it whoever?"

Title: Strangers at the Gate

Author: Catriona McPherson

Standalone thriller set in Scotland.

368 pages

Synopsis: "Finnie Doyle and Paddy Lamb are leaving city life in Edinburgh behind them and moving to the little town of Simmerton. Paddy's been made partner at the law firm in town, and Finnie has snagged a job as a church deacon. Their rented cottage is quaint; their new colleagues are charming, and they can't believe their luck.

But only days after moving into the gatehouse, Finnie begins to have doubts. She keeps hearing strange sounds, and the thicket of trees make her feel claustrophobic rather than safe. When they witness the bloody aftermath of a brutal murder, it changes everything. They've each been keeping secrets about their pasts. And they both know their precious new start won't survive a scandal. Together, for the best of reasons, they make the worst decision of their lives.

And that's only the beginning. The deep, deep valley where Simmerton sits is unlike anywhere Finnie and Paddy have been before. They are not the only ones hiding in its shadow and very soon they've lost control of the game they decided to play..."

Title: The Night Fire

Author: Michael Connelly

Series: #4 in the Renée Ballard & #22 in the Harry Bosch police procedural series set in Los Angeles.

416 pages

Synopsis: "Back when Harry Bosch was just a rookie homicide detective, he had an inspiring mentor who taught him to take the work personally and light the fire of relentlessness for every case. Now that mentor, John Jack Thompson, is dead, but after his funeral, his widow gives Bosch a murder book that Thompson took with him when he left the LAPD 20 years before -- the unsolved killing of a troubled young man in an alley used for drug deals.

Bosch brings the murder book to Renée Ballard and asks her to help him find what about the case lit Thompson's fire all those years ago. That will be their starting point.

The bond between Bosch and Ballard tightens as they become a formidable investigative team. And they soon arrive at a worrying question: Did Thompson steal the murder book to work the case in retirement, or to make sure it never got solved?" 

=== October 29 ===

Title: Shot Through the Hearth

Author: Kate Carlisle

Series: #7 in the Shannon Hammer cozy series set in northern California.

304 pages

*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books.

Synopsis: "Shannon's good friend and retired tech billionaire, Raphael Nash, is loving his new retired life but he can't stay unoccupied for too long. He's started the Marigold Foundation that helps fund small companies and individuals who do humanitarian work around the world. It's an exciting time in Lighthouse Cove as Raphael hosts the first-ever global conference inviting big thinkers from every area of industry to give presentations on eco-living.

Raphael's old business partner arrives in town with a grudge and a plan to steal him away from his important new passion project. Shannon knows her friend has no intention of giving up Marigold and is proud of Raphael for sticking to his guns. But when his former associate winds up dead, all signs point to Raphael.

It's up to Shannon to hammer out the details of the murder before her friend gets pinned for the crime..."

Title: Silent Knit, Deadly Knit

Author: Peggy Ehrhart

Series: #4 in the Knit & Nibble cozy series set in New Jersey.

304 pages

*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books.

Synopsis: "Pamela has been in merry spirits since her artsy daughter Penny returned home from college for the holidays. But their mother-daughter bonding time gets cut short when a terrified Penny stumbles upon the dumped body of Millicent Farthingale, a wealthy craft shop owner who was popular for all the wrong reasons. From a scheming business partner to a seedy husband several years her junior, Millicent attracted scammers so in love with her assets, they’d toss her down a chimney to get their paws on them. Now, with only a hand-knit red scarf connecting the killer to the crime, Pamela and the Knit and Nibblers could use some extra creativity as they find out who’s really naughty or nice in Arborville—because going up against a looming culprit is DIY or die!"

=== October 31 ===

Title: A Body in the Bookshop

Author: Helen Cox

Series: #2 in the Kitt Hartley Yorkshire cozy series set in England.

304 pages

*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books.

Synopsis: "It's nearly Christmas in York, but it seems the season of goodwill hasn't touched everyone... 

When DS Charlotte Banks is suspended from the police on suspicion of assaulting a suspect in the burglary of a local bookshop, librarian Kitt Harley and her friend Evie Bowes refuse to believe she is guilty. But why is she being framed?

With Charlotte's boss DI Malcolm Halloran unable to help, Evie decides to take matters into her own hands. Kitt takes little persuading to get involved too - after all, as well as Charlotte's career to save, there are missing books to be found!

From the tightknit community of York's booksellers to the most gossipy bus route in the country, Kitt and Evie leave no stone unturned to get at the truth behind the burglary.

Then the discovery of a body raises the stakes even higher. For Evie, and now Kitt, this case is as personal as it gets. Can they catch the murderer in time to turn a bleak midwinter into something merry and bright?"

Title: The Case of the Reincarnated Client

Author: Tarquin Hall

Series: #5 in the Vish Puri Private Investigator series set in India.

240 pages

*UK Release*

Synopsis: "When a young woman comes forward saying she's the reincarnation of Riya Kaur, a wife and mother who vanished during the bloody 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Puri is dismissive. He's busy enough dealing with an irate matrimonial client whose daughter is complaining about her groom's thunderous snoring. Puri's indomitable Mummy-ji however is adamant the client is genuine. How else could she so accurately describe under hypnosis Riya Kaur's life and final hours? Driven by a sense of duty - the original case was his late father's - Puri manages to acquire the police file only to find that someone powerful has orchestrated a cover-up. Forced into an alliance with his mother that tests his beliefs and high blood pressure as never before, it's only by delving into the past the help of his reincarnated client that Puri can hope to unlock the truth."

So many good new books for October! Which ones made it to your own wishlists? Inquiring minds would love to know!