Mr. Rochester by Sarah Shoemaker

 

First Line: I know little of my birth, for my mother died long before she could tell me-- before I ever heard her voice or gazed at her face-- and my father banished the woman who helped deliver me, blaming her for my mother's death.

Sarah Shoemaker's Mr. Rochester is a retelling of Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre, and I fell in love with it. The book is told from the point of view of Edward Fairfax Rochester himself, and readers learn about his life from the time he was a motherless boy roaming the lonely corridors of Thornfield Hall to his eventual marriage to Jane Eyre. 

Although Charlotte is not my favorite of the Brontë sisters (Anne is), I've always loved her Jane Eyre. I've watched the BBC mini-series starring Zelah Clarke and Timothy Dalton so much that I have vast swathes of the dialogue memorized. I've always wanted to learn more about Rochester, and Shoemaker does a marvelous job of filling in the blanks that both blend in with the original book and make for an engrossing story.

Here, Rochester is a boy/man starved for love, starved for someone to call him by his name, and I couldn't help but fall in love with him. His schooling, his fruitless attempts to earn his father's love, the family business, his marriage to Bertha Mason... as he weathers each storm, I became totally invested in his soul-withering journey toward Jane. The icing on the cake was learning just how much he was willing to give up to have a life with her. I kept wanting to hug the poor man!

I found so much to appreciate in Mr. Rochester. How he came to have his dog, Pilot, and his horse, Mesrour. I even learned the origin of one of my husband's favorite expressions, "cloth ears." 

Oh... by the way, if you're thinking of reading this book to learn more about Jane, I wouldn't recommend it. Jane shows up two-thirds of the way through the book. She had her own book, her own time in the spotlight. This is Edward Fairfax Rochester's time to shine, and he does. Brilliantly. 

Mr. Rochester by Sarah Shoemaker

eISBN: 9781455569823

Grand Central Publishing © 2017

eBook, 465 pages

Historical Fiction, Standalone

Rating: A+

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

A Twist in the River by Stig Abell

 

First Line: There has always been the river.

People disappear all the time, but when a young nurse goes missing on the riverbank, leaving her phone and shoes behind, social media goes into a frenzy. Amateur sleuths flock to the area, each with their own theory.

Then another woman is found in the river, and the signs point to murder. Former detective Jake Jackson came to this rural area looking for peace. Now he's looking for a killer.

~

I have enjoyed Stig Abell's Jake Jackson mysteries from the first (Death Under a Little Sky)-- in particular for their gorgeous descriptions of the landscape and wildlife. A Twist in the River has those same descriptions, so evocative that I feel myself right in the middle of the English countryside.

Jake Jackson's path to this fourth mystery has been a fascinating one. Living off the grid. Making new friends in a rather insular community. His life and the lives of the other characters continue to grow, and the journey is a delight. As Jake searches for a killer, readers learn more about the lives and histories of the locals. Many of them moved to the area for the same reason as Jake: peace and privacy. 

While Jake's investigation progresses, readers can accompany him to his favorite secondhand bookshop to browse the shelves, and they can also try to avoid the hordes of social media influencers and podcasters trying to find content to boost their clicks and likes. It's not easy for Jake to avoid "Detective Dani," who has her own YouTube channel. She's zeroed in on him as the best source for the latest information, and she's so devious and manipulative that she causes friction between Jake and the woman he loves. 

The books in this series are naturally slow to unfold, but this time the pace of A Twist in the River really seemed to drag-- to the point where it bothered me and kept making me want to skim here and there. (I didn't.) But... the landscape is still beautiful. I still want to tuck myself away in the library in Jake's house. And the mystery is still a puzzler. I hope you decide to give this series a try, and if you do, please begin with the first one due to the character development. This is a series that should be savored.

A Twist in the River by Stig Abell

eISBN: 9780063472426

HarperCollins © 2026

eBook, 352 pages

Literary Mystery, #4 Jake Jackson

Rating: B

Source: Net Galley

The Bookseller by Tim Sullivan

 

First Line: "I have cancer, George."

Life has thrown Detective Sergeant George Cross a curveball in his personal life, so when the body of a bookseller is found lying in a pool of blood in his own bookshop, George must do something he's never actually had to do before: rely on his team for help.

Can the world of books really be all that cutthroat?

~

If it seems as though I've spent most of my time this year praising Tim Sullivan's George Cross mysteries, you're probably right. I've almost caught up with the series, so those of you who wish I'd dial it back will be happy.

Tim Sullivan has created a rich world of characters and mysteries that will keep readers on their toes. In The Bookseller, we see how George reacts to a family crisis, and it's every bit as funny and touching as fans would expect.

One of the things that makes George Cross so special is that he's always learning something new about himself. These characters are not static. His partner, Josie Ottey, hesitates to share some news with him, and there's a new police staff officer, Prianka Patel, who's replaced Alice MacKenzie. (Don't worry, Alice has news of her own.) I have to keep reading these books just to keep up with the characters!

But the mysteries are every bit as good as Sullivan's cast. This time around, readers will learn about the bookselling business while sorting through the list of suspects. Although there is sadness and worry in The Bookseller, readers will also get to laugh while watching DCI Carson marshal the troops to apprehend a suspect. 

Strong mysteries, wonderful characters, humor, and poignancy-- if you have yet to make the acquaintance of George and his team, what on earth are you waiting for?

The Bookseller by Tim Sullivan

eISBN: 9780802167705

Atlantic Crime © 2026

eBook, 384 pages

Police Procedural, #7 George Cross

Rating: A

Source: Net Galley

Murder on the Rocks by T.E. Kinsey

 

First Lines: Lady Hardcastle was looking out of the train window as we clickety-clacked through the Somerset countryside. "Don't you just adore a train journey?"

It's February 1913, and millionaire J.B. McIntyre has invited his friends, Lady Hardcastle and her maid Florence Armstrong, to spend the weekend at his recently renovated Tudor fort on a remote island off the coast of Devonshire.

The weekend quickly veers into disaster when valuable jewels go missing, and a fellow guest is murdered with a very unusual weapon. Naturally, the intrepid duo agrees when McIntyre asks them to investigate. Is the murderer one of the guests? Everyone has an alibi, and everyone has secrets that they want to keep.

When a violent storm traps everyone on the island and cuts them off from help, the stakes are raised. Lady Hardcastle and Florence must work fast before someone else is killed.

~

When I want some light-hearted, historical fun, I know I can always turn to T.E. Kinsey's Lady Hardcastle mysteries, and his latest is no exception. 

Murder on the Rocks is essentially a locked room mystery set in a remodeled Tudor fort on a remote island. An old building, an island that's easily cut off from the rest of the world. What could possibly go wrong? Just my kind of mystery!

This book has a small cast, but there are more than enough motives to go around, so everyone is a suspect. I found this particular mystery a bit easy to solve, but I enjoy the banter between Lady Hardcastle and Florence so much that I really didn't care.

If you are in the mood for a light-hearted historical mystery series with two wonderful main characters, you can't go wrong with T.E. Kinsey's Lady Hardcastle. 

 

Murder on the Rocks by T.E. Kinsey

eISBN: 9781662521577

Thomas & Mercer © 2026

eBook, 296 pages

Historical Mystery, #13 Lady Hardcastle

Rating: B+

Source: Net Galley

The Teacher by Tim Sullivan

 

First Line: The victim's head was at a grotesque and unnatural angle to his body, which lay crumpled like a pile of laundry that had been thrown down the narrow staircase.

Others may think the dead man fell down the stairs and broke his neck, but Detective Sergeant George Cross thinks the stab wound on the elderly schoolteacher's body says differently.

As Cross investigates, he quickly learns that the victim, Alistair Moreton, made life hell for his neighbors and former pupils, so the suspect list is a long one. But every victim deserves justice, so Cross will not rest until he identifies the killer.

~

I may be reading much less than I have in previous years, but one thing is for certain: when the ones I do read are of the high quality of Tim Sullivan's George Cross series, I'm not going to complain. In The Teacher, Sullivan livens things up quite a bit by having Cross's usual partner, DS Josie Ottey, taking time off to move into her new house. He doesn't realize how much he's going to miss her until DI Warner joins the squad. Warner goes out of his way to aggravate Cross, and it's so much fun to watch Cross learn how to deal with him. Warner isn't much liked by anyone else in the squad either, one person even telling him, "He [Cross] is Sherlock Holmes to your Inspector Clouseau."

But Warner isn't the only worrisome item on George's list. His family life is steadily becoming more complicated, and he didn't realize how much he depended on DS Ottey to help guide him through the minefields of human interaction until she took this time off. This cast of characters is superb, and Sullivan certainly knows how to keep it fresh. Even DCI Carson-- normally a figure of fun-- is showing readers that he's not just a buffoon.

If you love strong mysteries that are fun to solve, and-- especially-- if you love characters who grow and begin to feel like friends and family, you simply have to start reading this series. Due to the character development, I urge you to start with the first book, The Dentist. You're in for such a treat that I'm almost jealous.

The Teacher by Tim Sullivan

eISBN: 9780802167767

Atlantic Crime © 2026

eBook, 387 pages

Police Procedural, #6 DS George Cross

Rating: A

Source: Net Galley

The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton by Jennifer N. Brown

 

First Line: Tyburn, 1534. Elizabeth was at first unafraid at the Tree.

When sixteenth-century nun Elizabeth Barton was executed for her prophecy condemning Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, it was thought that all copies of those prophecies had been destroyed-- until historian Alison Sage discovered a manuscript. 

Her find catapults Sage into academic superstardom and earns her an invitation to the exclusive Codex Consortium. For one week, she will be living with other historians in a crumbling English manor house next to the ruined priory where Elizabeth herself once lived.

When a murder occurs, this promising conference turns into a nightmare. Everyone is a suspect, and everything seems to point to a local legend about a centuries-old treasure. Alison's research makes her the logical choice to solve the mystery, and she soon learns that the world of academia is every bit as dangerous as Elizabeth Barton's sixteenth-century England.

~

Debut novelist Jennifer Brown has crafted a strong dual timeline mystery featuring a fascinating bit of English history. Elizabeth Barton, better known as the Mad Maid of Kent, had a vision and became locally famous, drawing pilgrims to the priory where she lived. The resulting monetary windfall gathered men with ulterior motives around this naive, unschooled girl. 

While Elizabeth is navigating a very dangerous time in English history, historian Alison Sage is finding the paths of academia rather murky. Everyone at the conference is outstanding in their fields. Everyone has a degree. Everyone is published... and everyone seems to have their own agendas. But what are those agendas?

The strongest part of The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton is the mystery. What's going on at this conference? Will the Mad Maid of Kent's voice be heard once again? Yes, the history and the mystery are solid, and definitely held my interest. However, I never did fully engage with any of the characters, and since that is what I like most in the books I read, I was a bit disappointed.

Read this book for the history and the mystery, and you should enjoy it. Read it mainly for the characters, and you might find it lacking.

The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton by Jennifer N. Brown

eISBN: 9781250383600

St. Martin's Press © 2026

eBook, 307 pages

Dual Timeline Thriller, Standalone

Rating: B-

Source: Net Galley

The Monk by Tim Sullivan

 

First Line: George Cross was rarely shocked by anything he came across during his work as a detective sergeant in the Avon and Somerset police.

Detective George Cross likes his life to be ordered and predictable, but with the reappearance of his mother, he's left feeling confused and uncomfortable. That's undoubtedly why, when the savagely beaten body of a monk is found in a woodland outside Bristol, he throws himself into the investigation.

It's a case tailor-made for him. There are no leads whatsoever. No one knows anything about Brother Dominic's past, and everyone seemed to have loved him. But when Cross learns that Brother Dominic was a wealthy man, he may have found the true motive: greed.

~

I normally prefer spacing series books several months apart, but Tim Sullivan's Detective Sergeant George Cross mysteries have proven to be an exception. Each book, like this latest, The Monk, has a strong mystery and a developing cast of characters that can really get its hooks into a reader.

The dead man, Brother Dominic, is a bit of a mystery. Seemingly beloved by everyone who knew him, nothing is known of his past, and it's not until Cross begins digging into that past that the investigation gains momentum. Watching this man's diligent, unstoppable search for the truth is a true joy. 

Readers learn more about Cross from his reaction to monastic life on repeated visits to St. Eustace's, and we also learn more about the others. Detective Sergeant Josie Ottey has a growing fondness for Cross. She realizes that part of her job is paving the way for this oftentimes difficult man so he can "do his thing." Is she becoming Watson to his Holmes?

We also see how each of the major characters spends a weekend away from work. Character-driven readers should sink into the books in this series with a deep sigh of pleasure.

I love this series. Can you read them out of order? Yes, but I wouldn't recommend it. As strong as the mysteries are, watching the characters grow is the best part. Now that I've read The Monk, I'm looking forward to meeting with Cross and the others again soon.

The Monk by Tim Sullivan

eISBN: 9780802167729

Atlantic Crime © 2026

eBook, 408 pages

Police Procedural, #5 DS George Cross

Rating: A

Source: Net Galley

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page

 

First Line: The right book in the hands of the right person at exactly the right moment can change their life forever.

Since the death of her husband, celebrity memoir editor Tilly Nightingale has been in a fog of grief. Unable to enjoy her favorite books and her crafts, she is shocked to receive a call from a local bookshop telling her she has a gift waiting for her there.

The gift is from her beloved husband Joe. With the help of shop owner Alfie Lane, Joe has chosen a year of books for Tilly-- twelve books, each with a handwritten letter from him.

Seduced by her husband's words, Tilly becomes immersed in each book, and each one encourages her to open a new chapter in her life.

~

Like humor, grief is a very personal and very subjective emotion. After reading so many good things about This Book Made Me Think of You, I decided to read it. 

Having lost my own husband for about the same length of time as the main character, Tilly Nightingale, I was naturally drawn in by her situation. For the first half of the book, I enjoyed watching Tilly immerse herself in each book that her husband Joe had chosen for her. These books not only addressed her grief, but also began to help her with other issues in her life. 

Unfortunately, the second half of the book began to drag for me. Why? Because it was extremely predictable. Now... I know that a predictable, feel-good story can be just what the doctor ordered. It can give flagging spirits just the boost they need. I've had this happen to me. However, the magic just didn't work for me this time. Is it because of my own situation? I don't know. But, as I said, grief is a very subjective emotion. Just because this wasn't the right book for me at the right moment doesn't mean that it won't be for you.

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page

eISBN: 9798217187003

Berkley © 2026

eBook, 416 pages

Standalone Fiction

Rating: B-

Source: Purchased from Amazon

I Must Get Caught Up on My Reviews!

The time has come for another edition of Catching Up on My Book Reviews. Are you ready? 

I have four books that I want to give you my thoughts on. I have included a link to Amazon US if you'd like to read the synopses or find out more about each book. Here we go!

The Program by Charlie Lovett

Standalone Science Fiction set in New York City

Rating: D

My Thoughts: Lovett has written some wonderful books, like The Lost Book of the Grail, but The Program isn't one of them. This tale of a highly popular new weight loss program kept me intrigued, but when how the program really worked was revealed, it completely lost me. 

This one may not satisfy, but as I said earlier, he has written some wonderful books. 

The Restoration Garden by Sara Blaydes

Dual timeline Fiction set in England

Rating: B

My Thoughts: Julia Esdaile, who specializes in historic garden restoration, has been hired to restore the gardens of Havenworth Manor to the way they were in 1940. Many family secrets are uncovered along the way.

I enjoyed learning more about the language of flowers as well as the garden restoration itself. The characters were sympathetically drawn in both timelines, although the modern-day characters were a bit predictable.

An enjoyable, although not particularly memorable, read.

Lost Hills by Lee Goldberg

#1 Eve Ronin Police procedural set in Los Angeles, California

Rating: A

My Thoughts: When I shared how much I was enjoying Goldberg's Ian Ludlow books, I was told that I should give his Eve Ronin series a try. Of course, I had to.

Eve Ronin (AKA Deathfist) found a way to get the job she wanted in the LAPD, and although she has to put up with nonsense from her fellow officers, she doesn't let that stop her. Goldberg shows Eve's mistakes as well as her real talent as she investigates. 

Filled with Goldberg's usual fast pace, vivid descriptions, and laugh-out-loud humor, I thoroughly enjoyed Lost Hills and look forward to meeting Eve again.

The Missing Checkout Girl Mystery by Rachel Ward

#1 Supermarket Mystery set in England

Rating: B+

My Thoughts: I don't remember how this book first caught my eye, but it did. I was surprised by how many good reviews it had received, and I decided to give it a try because, well... I'd never read a mystery with a supermarket checkout employee as a sleuth. (It also brought back memories of the first time I set foot in a British supermarket and saw the checkout employees sitting down.)

After reading The Missing Checkout Girl Mystery, I am no longer surprised by its good reviews. Bea Jordan and her cohorts are so engaging, and I loved getting to know all of them. In fact, I enjoyed the days of our lives in a supermarket so much that I almost didn't care whodunit.

An added bonus was learning a bit more about British retail, as well as a certain slang term that even had my three English nieces a bit puzzled. (Pasta parcels, anyone?)

Okay. Are you sitting down? You'd better be because I am finally caught up with my reviews! 

Did I tempt you with any of these books? Which ones?

The Politician by Tim Sullivan

 

First Lines: A cup or mug for drinking tea wasn't even a question for DS George Cross. A cup. Obviously. Bone china, preferably.

When an investigation begins into the death of former mayor Peggy Frampton, Detective Sergeant George Cross can see that she was murdered. It is definitely not a case of a burglary gone wrong. 

After her career in politics, Frampton became a controversial blogger whose opinions attracted plenty of vitriol. But online trolls aren't the only suspects in this case. There are former political opponents... and that family of hers. 

The sheer number of suspects is really putting Cross's skills to the test.

~

My love affair with Tim Sullivan's Detective Sergeant George Cross series deepens with each book that I read. I could wax poetic for pages about this latest release, The Politician, but instead, I'll try to limit myself.

Each book in this series has a strong mystery for George (and readers) to solve, and The Politician is no exception. Wading through motivations and suspects alone is daunting, and it's always a pleasure to watch George put all the pieces of the puzzle together. So... plot-driven readers should love this series.

However, as strong as the mysteries are, character-driven readers will be in heaven. The character studies are marvelous. Sullivan has created a fantastic cast, and readers are always learning something new about each person.

The sly humor in each book is usually based on people's reactions to George, and readers will find themselves chuckling or smiling as they read. In The Politician, George not only has a perplexing mystery to solve, but he's also learning more about his own family. While he's learning about his family, his partner is learning ways to force Cross into acceptable mainstream behavior, and that's something else to make readers smile. 

We're also introduced to a new character, forensic scientist Michael Swift, who's so tall that he's been dubbed "the Shard" (London skyscraper). Swift is also a self-professed Cross groupie, so it's good to see someone work with Cross because he's Cross instead of despite the fact that he's Cross. (If I haven't mentioned it before, Cross is on the spectrum, and the only reason why most people on the police force put up with him is because of his phenomenal success rate.)

Well, I tried to limit myself, but I didn't succeed. Those of you who have already read a book in this series are undoubtedly fans like me. If you haven't succumbed to temptation, I urge you to do so. Because of the marvelous characters, I would suggest you begin with the first book, The Dentist. You are in for a treat!

The Politician by Tim Sullivan

eISBN: 9780802167743

Atlantic Crime © 2026

Originally published 2022.

eBook, 382 pages

Police Procedural, #4 DS George Cross

Rating: A

Source: Net Galley

Catching Up on My Book Reviews...Again

 

This is my latest attempt to share the books I've read with you all. My only excuse is that, for the past few months, I've been much too easily distracted to concentrate on reviews. 

These won't be the size of my normal reviews, but I will provide links to Amazon in each title if you want to learn more about any of the books.

Deadly Remains by Kate Ellis

#29 Wesley Peterson police procedural set in Devon, UK

Rating: B+

My Thoughts: Kate Ellis's Wesley Peterson series has been a "Go To" series for me for years. I love the blend of mystery, history, and archaeology. 

While Wesley and his team investigate the death of a celebrity ghostwriter and his missing laptop, Dr. Neil Watson, with the help of Wesley's teenage son Michael, excavates a crashed World War II plane on Dartmoor.

The mystery is solid, and the ongoing lives of the characters rich and satisfying. You can tell how much I like this series by the fact that it's 29 books long (so far), and I've read every one.

Killer Thriller by Lee Goldberg

#2 Ian Ludlow thriller set in Hong Kong

Rating: A

My Thoughts: After thoroughly enjoying the first book in the series, True Fiction, once again, I found myself in need of some light, fast-paced fun, so I turned to this second. I was not disappointed. 

In fact, his assistant Margo's choice of weapon in a fight had me howling with laughter. There's lots to learn about China and even filmmaking, but if you're in the mood to buckle your seatbelt and sit back for a laugh-filled adventure, I can't recommend this one highly enough.

One of my favorite lines? "The ambiance was so masculine that infertile men could increase their sperm count just by walking in the door."

Ian Ludlow's observations alone are well worth the price of admission. I'm sad that there's only one more book in the series.

Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell

Standalone Historical Fiction set in the Egypt and the Middle East

Rating: B+

My Thoughts: Narrated by schoolteacher Agnes Shanklin, we follow her through life with a suffocating mother, through the losses of World War I and the Great Influenza, and right into the creation of the modern Middle East. 

Russell, once again, has a marvelous sense of time and place. I found myself wanting to swat flies as Agnes walked the streets of Cairo, and the friendships she made with people like Winston Churchill, T.E. Lawrence, and Gertrude Bell gave the sheltered woman's life a fairy tale aspect. Few would have expected her to have the bravery to set out on such an adventure by herself.

All in all, Agnes reminded me of a young Eleanor Roosevelt, and I enjoyed her story.

Jungle of Stone: The Extraordinary Journey of John L. Stephens and Frederick Catherwood, and the Discovery of the Lost Civilization of the Maya by William Carlsen

Set in Central America

Non-Fiction

Rating: C+

My Thoughts: I have always been fascinated by the ancient civilizations of the Aztec, the Inca, and the Maya, so this book was right up my street.

The sections on the Maya were fascinating, but the book bogged down with the detailed biographies of Stephens and Catherwood. For some reason, the title of the book led me to expect more Maya than it delivered, which was disappointing.

A Fatal Feast at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison

#11 in the Honeychurch Hall cozy series set in England

Rating: C+

My Thoughts: Although the number of cozy mysteries I read has fallen in recent years, there are still certain series that I follow, and this is one of them.

Unfortunately, not all entries in a long-running series can be dazzling. This one is lackluster. There is little humor, nothing about antiques, and the whodunit was easy to deduce. The emphasis is on people's mean-spirited, money-grubbing actions, and that's never been a favorite of mine.

I'd also like to add that I think it's past time for Kat's mother's chickens to come home to roost. I've never liked her allergy to the truth and what it's done to the people in her life, but I doubt it's going to happen. I have a feeling that most readers find her funny. I wish I did!

That's all for now. I'm getting really close to being completely caught up. When that happens, I may have palpitations! 

The Resistance Knitting Club by Jenny O'Brien

 

First Lines: Tuesday 9 March, 2010-- Guernsey 4 PM. "I think she's coming round, Anna. I'm sure I saw her blink."

When an elderly woman suffers a stroke and then begins speaking perfect French-- a language her family has never heard her speak-- her granddaughter is encouraged to unravel decades of silence, and her grandmother's wartime experiences come to light.

Eighteen-year-old Lenny Gallienne becomes a spy for Churchill by posing as a clerk in a Paris bookshop when her beloved brother is declared missing in action at Dunkirk. She encodes information into her knitting as she makes sweaters for escaped prisoners returning to England. When the Gestapo begins closing in, Lenny finds herself faced with an impossible choice in the Metro tunnels beneath Paris.

~

I learned about women using their knitting to encode messages to the Allies during World War II several years ago, so when I heard of The Resistance Knitting Club, I knew I had to read it. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would.

My enjoyment was hampered by two things. One, the predictable plot, and two, the main character. Lenny is a young woman who feels compelled to do more than knit socks and sweaters for soldiers when she learns her brother is missing in action at Dunkirk. She joins Churchill's secret army and uses her knitting to master Morse code during training. However, Lenny is supremely unsuited to life as a spy, either physically or mentally. For example, she faints at the drop of a hat-- something a person constantly facing danger should avoid doing. No, she really should have stayed home with her needles and yarn.

For any knitting fans out there who might want to read this book for that particular skill, it's mainly used as a hook to draw enthusiasts in. Once Lenny gets to France, the story has little to do with knitting or even knitting code. That was a bit of a disappointment, I must admit.

The Resistance Knitting Club is listed as the first in a series called Threads of Resistance. I'm afraid I won't be reading any further.

The Resistance Knitting Club by Jenny O'Brien

eISBN: 9781837002542

Storm Publishing © 2026

eBook, 359 pages

Historical Fiction, #1 Threads of Resistance

Rating: C-

Source: Net Galley

The Cyclist by Tim Sullivan

 

First Line: "Excuse me? How long before my men can get back to work?"

Detective Sergeant George Cross's logic, determination, and precision can make him almost impossible to work with, but since he has the highest crime clearance rate, his co-workers in the Bristol police force make allowances for his peculiarities.

The faint clues on a ravaged body found in a demolition site lead Cross into the world of amateur cycling, drugs, ambition, and a family that is imploding. But just when the police seem to have solved the case, Cross doubles back on his investigation. Is he doing the right thing?

~

Tim Sullivan's George Cross series was one of my favorite discoveries of 2025, and this second book in the series, The Cyclist, definitely makes me want to read more. The mystery is ingenious. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, Cross did an about-face and headed in a different direction. Did this anger me? No. This man has "an inbuilt intolerance of things being wrong," and I've quickly learned to trust him.

I'm not the only one who's learned to trust him. One of the best things about this series is that readers don't get the story from Cross's point of view alone; we're treated to how his co-workers, DC Josie Ottey and trainee Police Staff Investigator Alice MacKenzie, are continuously learning how to deal with his eccentricities. Being privy to their thoughts when Cross is being particularly uncooperative is a treat.

And speaking of treats, Cross's relationship with his father is tested in The Cyclist, and his frequent (spot-on) digs at the ongoing cost-cutting methods of the police department turn into a running joke.

Tim Sullivan's characters and plots make this a very enjoyable series, and I'm looking forward to the next book.

The Cyclist by Tim Sullivan

eISBN: 9780802167781

Grove Atlantic © 2026

eBook, 272 pages

Police Procedural, #2 DS George Cross

Rating: A

Source: Net Galley

Three Reviews for the Price of One Post!

 

First Line from Prologue: Île de la Cité, Paris 2019. The fire peels Notre Dame like an illuminated manuscript soaked in water, its layers separating, releasing their secrets.

Skylark is a dual-timeline story about underground Paris. The timelines take place in 1664 and 1939, and concern the daughter of a master dyer at the Gobelin Tapestry Works who tries to save her father when he is unjustly accused of a crime, and a psychiatrist faced with the Nazi persecution of Jews.

The prologue concerning the burning of Notre Dame led me to expect more from the present day; however, it was used just to show readers how certain events can uncover stories and secrets. 

Seventeenth-century dye-making techniques and the three hundred plus kilometers of tunnels and catacombs under Paris made for some very interesting reading, but the story ultimately never engaged me as much as I thought it might. 

Skylark by Paula McLain

eISBN: 9781668028179

Atria Books © 2026

eBook, 464 pages

Historical Fiction, Standalone

Rating: B

Source: Net Galley

First Lines: I never meant to see what was in his drawer. I was never a mother who snooped.

In this thriller, two teenage girls have been found dead in a wealthy Chicago suburb, and high school counselor Abby Rosso begins to suspect that her son might be their killer.

Occasionally, I forget that I have to be careful with the psychological thrillers that I choose to read. In the case of What Boys Learn, I found whodunit to be much too easy to deduce and the neurotic Abby Rosso extremely annoying. The pace of the book was very slow, and more editing would not only have sped the story along but also not given me the time to realize how little I cared for any of the characters.

What Boys Learn by Andromeda Romano-Lax

eISBN: 9781641296922

Soho Press © 2026

eBook, 464 pages

Standalone Psychological Thriller

Rating: D

Source: Net Galley

First Line from Prologue: Cambridge, 1935. The banks of the River Cam were a bustle of activity on the first day of the Lent Bumps.

When Iris Sparks' friend from her Cambridge days is suspected of being a Soviet operative, British Intelligence coerces her to find out the truth. First, she and business partner/friend Gwen Bainbridge must find a way for the suspect to hire their marriage service.

I have enjoyed this series from the very first book, and having the opportunity to see the irrepressible Iris Sparks in her university days was a treat. Fire Must Burn also gives readers a chance to watch a spy-in-training while navigating the murky dealings of the intelligence service. 

While reading this eighth book in the series, I suddenly realized that one of the reasons I like it so much is the repartee between Sparks and Bainbridge, and that repartee is reminiscent of T. E. Kinsey's Lady Hardcastle series, another favorite of mine.  

Bring on the next adventure for Iris and Gwen! These books are definitely "more-ish."

Fire Must Burn by Allison Montclair

eISBN: 9781448315949

Severn House © 2026

eBook, 256 pages

Historical Mystery, #8 Sparks & Bainbridge

Rating: A

Source: Net Galley