Catching Up on Book Reviews

 

Here I've been, chugging along posting just one book review per week. I know that you know that's just the tip of the iceberg, although I do admit to reading much less when Denis was in the hospital and our niece Karen was here. So... it's time to do a little catching up. 

These will be short reviews. I'll provide links to Amazon in each title in case you want to learn more about any of the books. Let's get started!

The Girl in Cell A by Vaseem Khan

eISBN: 9781399707725

Hodder & Stoughton, Ltd. © 2025

eBook, 515 pages

Standalone Thriller

Rating: D+

Source: Net Galley

My Thoughts: This standalone thriller is a departure for one of my favorite authors. 

Orianna Negi was convicted of murder at the age of seventeen. She's always maintained her innocence, even though she has dissociative amnesia. Released from prison on parole, she returns to Eden Falls to uncover the truth, no matter the cost.

At 515 pages, The Girl in Cell A needed some editing. There were too many twists, too many turns, too many about-faces, and the book's length gave me plenty of time to tire of them all. If I'd warmed up to Orianna, I might've enjoyed the book more, but she left me cold. So did the rich and powerful Wyclerc family. (I think I've reached my saturation point on entitled rich folk.) The only reason why I kept reading was to find out the truth. In that, I was just as stubborn as Orianna. 

 

The Irish Convict by M.J. Lee

ASIN: B0CFFDRJRD

M.J. Lee © 2023

eBook, 287 pages

Genealogical Mystery, #10 Jayne Sinclair

Rating: B+

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

My Thoughts: M.J. Lee's genealogical mysteries consistently impress me. With his main character, Jayne Sinclair, he consistently centers engrossing mysteries around puzzles that can be unearthed when researching family history. 

In The Irish Convict, Jayne is in lockdown in Australia, and she agrees to research a well-known family's history. It should be easy, but it isn't. I love watching this character uncover the truth. Having helped my grandmother and mother in researching our own family history, I also know that she's giving valuable tips to anyone who might want to do the same. As always, I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

A Council of Dolls by Mona Susan Power

eISBN: 9780063281110

William Morrow © 2023

eBook, 304 pages

Multi-generational Fiction

Rating: B+

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

My Thoughts: A Council of Dolls covers almost two hundred years in the lives of Indigenous women, from the ancestral lands of the Lakota to twentieth-century Chicago. Readers learn of the lives of Sissy (born 1961), Lillian (born 1925), and Cora (born 1888) in part through the stories of the dolls they carried.

From life on their ancestral lands to Indian boarding schools to inner city Chicago, I found this book to be compulsive reading and, at times, emotionally draining. 

The Verifiers by Jane Pek

eISBN: 9780593313800

Vintage Books © 2022

eBook, 336 pages

Amateur Sleuth, #1 Claudia Lin

Rating: C+

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

My Thoughts: Claudia Lin is used to disregarding the expectations of her domineering Chinese mother, and she's certainly used to keeping secrets from everyone in the family. A lifelong mystery reader, Claudia believes she's landed her ideal job with Veracity, a referrals-only online-dating detective agency. When a client vanishes, Claudia breaks protocol to investigate and uncovers personal and corporate deceit.

I liked Claudia well enough; she has a penchant for comparing things to various books that I found enjoyable ("That man is harder to read than Finnegan's Wake"). I also enjoyed the insider's look at online dating services. But... there was something about the book that just didn't make me want to read more. 

City of Destruction by Vaseem Khan

eISBN: 9781399707671

Hodder & Stoughton © 2024

eBook, 359 pages

Historical Mystery, #5 Malabar House

Rating: B+

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

My Thoughts: After gunning down a man trying to assassinate the defense minister at a political rally, Detective Persis Wadia is tasked to hunt down the assassin's co-conspirators. Britain's MI6 immediately shunts her to the sidelines, but she rapidly picks up another case.

I really enjoy Khan's series set after India's Independence and the Partition. City of Destruction shows Persis learning a bit of spycraft as well as the relationship between Great Britain and India at this time. She's finally beginning to learn how to work as part of a team, but I am tiring of her knowingly running into danger without backup. Of course, this behavior can be laid at the feet of her fellow (male) officers, most of whom believe she has no business being there. This is a good, fast-paced read, even though it has a few too many (albeit excellent) similes.

Follow Me to Africa by Penny Haw

eISBN: 9781728295466

Sourcebooks Landmark © 2025

eBook, 304 pages

Historical Fiction, Standalone

Rating: A

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

My Thoughts: This dual-timeline historical novel was a match made in heaven for me. Inspired by the life of paleoanthropologist Dr. Mary Leakey, Follow Me to Africa moves from 1930s London to the Serengeti plains of 1980s Tanzania.

Seventeen-year-old Grace Clark's mother just died, and now she's been sent to help a father she barely knows on an archaeological dig at Olduvai Gorge. Here she meets the indomitable Mary Leakey, a scientist and rebel. With the help of Lisa the cheetah, Mary encourages Grace to think for herself, to choose what she wants to do before someone else does it for her, and she's stuck in a life she doesn't want. The friendship between Mary and Grace, the archaeology, the wildlife... marvelous. (And the Author's Notes and bibliography are must-reads.) I hadn't read a book by Penny Haw before, but now I'll be looking for more.

Am I all caught up now? Ummmm... nope! But I will get there eventually. Promise!

Did I tempt you with any of these books? Have you already read any of them? Which ones? What did you think of them? Inquiring minds would love to know!

The Missing Father by M.J. Lee

 

First Line: March, 1943, Chungkai Camp, Thailand. It was a day just like any other.

 

It's a week before Jayne Sinclair will board a plane for Australia, but when her next-door neighbor, 80-year-old Alice Taylor, asks her if she will help find answers to Alice's questions about her parents, Jayne agrees. Yes, Alice will be taking care of her cat while she's gone, but Jayne honestly enjoys her work as a genealogical investigator. 

Alice was adopted in 1942 when she was three years old. She was never told about her birth family, and her adoptive parents even changed her Christian name. Now Alice wants to know (1) Who were her birth parents? (2) How did her mother die? (3) What happened to her missing father? Since these events occurred during the chaos of World War II, Jayne has her work cut out for her-- especially with that Australian trip looming ever closer.

~

I have found M.J. Lee's Jayne Sinclair series to be the perfect blend of history and mystery, with the added bonus being the fact that Jayne's life is very seldom ever in danger. (Sometimes I just don't want any blood and guts in the mystery I'm reading, thank you very much.)

Jayne is very close to her stepfather who moved to a nursing home when he was diagnosed with dementia. Once there, he met, fell in love with, and married another resident, and Jayne spends as much time with the pair as possible-- even planning this trip for all three of them to enjoy.

The Missing Father proves that it's never too late to learn about your ancestors, and Jayne takes readers through all the various methods to learn about your family history. Alice Taylor's case is a bit trickier since she was adopted and her name was changed but Jayne has many tricks up her sleeve and learns the truth. Finding out what happened to Alice's parents is more difficult, and I really began to wonder if Jayne was going to get the job done before the plane took off for Australia. 

The Missing Father takes readers into the chaos of World War II and the fall of Singapore to the Japanese, and although Lee doesn't gloss over the facts or the horrors of war, he never goes over the top. (I do like it when authors let readers' imaginations fill in the blanks.) In one book after another, Lee has found fascinating little-known chapters of history to bring to life, and that's one of the many reasons why I enjoy this series so much. 

If you like reading mysteries closer to the cozy end of the spectrum that also have a strong dash of history, consider reading M.J. Lee's Jayne Sinclair mysteries. Although it's better to read them in order, it's not absolutely necessary. Start anywhere, and don't be surprised if you find yourself looking for the earlier books in the series.

The Missing Father by M.J. Lee

ASIN: B09VXJYMY9

Independently Published © 2022

eBook, 314 pages

 

Genealogical Mystery, #9 Jayne Sinclair mystery

Rating: A

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

The Christmas Carol by M.J. Lee

 

First Line: December 19, 1843. Devonshire Terrace, London. Charles Dickens sat at his desk, the pile of new books stacked in front of him.

 

An extremely rare first edition of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol has been found in a charity shop. Its auction price will skyrocket if more information can be found about the man named in Dickens' handwritten dedication. Genealogist Jayne Sinclair is given three days to locate information on the man with nothing more to go on than his name, a place-- Victorian Manchester, and a date-- December 19, 1843. Can she do it?

Facing a Christmas alone, Jayne accepts the challenge, little knowing that she'll find the true meaning of Christmas along the way.

~

When I picked up M.J. Lee's The Christmas Carol, I knew I was guaranteed an enjoyable read. After all, I've been a fan of this series since the very first book (The Irish Inheritance). What I didn't expect was a mystery that's also perfect holiday reading.

Lee is a master at finding fascinating yet little-known nuggets of history that he can weave into his story, and incorporating Dickens and his inspiration for and writing of one of the most famous books in the world-- A Christmas Carol-- is a gold mine. As familiar as I am with the story, having both read it and watched many film adaptations, I knew very little about the story's roots in Manchester, England. As the story danced between Dickens in 1843 and Jayne Sinclair in the present day, I was almost mesmerized as the author was taken on a walking tour of Manchester. I felt like a little girl exclaiming over treasures-- That's his inspiration for Scrooge! There's Tiny Tim! There's Scrooge's long-lost love! 

 

And watching Jayne try to identify the man to whom Dickens inscribed a copy of his book was just as special. The actual work she did to locate information was fascinating, and while she raced against the clock, she also found herself contemplating the path her life was taking, a perfect thing to do considering Dickens' story.

If you like a little mystery with your holiday reading, I've found the perfect choice: M.J. Lee's The Christmas Carol. No violence. No murders. No cheating spouses or corrupt policemen. Just a mystery and the thrill of the chase. While it will definitely put a smile on your face, don't be surprised if you find yourself looking for the other books in this series. It's one of my favorites.

The Christmas Carol by M.J. Lee

ASIN: B08K2Q6Y65

Amazon Digital Services © 2020

eBook, 309 pages

 

Genealogical Mystery, #8 Jayne Sinclair mystery

Rating: A

Source: Purchased from Amazon. 

The Merchant's Daughter by M.J. Lee

 

First Lines: July 5, 1842. Wickham Hall, Cheshire. Last night, Emily Roylance dreamt she was in Barbados again.

 

Actress Rachel Marlowe agreed to a DNA test in order to appear on a new television program. She'd been told that it was good publicity for her career. Her family had long been proud of its unbroken line of male heirs that went back for centuries-- all the way to the time of William the Conqueror. What Rachel did not expect from that DNA test was the fact that she has an African ancestor. She wants to know who that ancestor is both to escape typecasting in the acting roles she's given and to be prepared for the media storm when the program airs. Who does she turn to? Jayne Sinclair, of course.

 

But Jayne soon finds that the short period of time she's been given to solve the mystery may not be enough. There are too many dead ends. Too many missing documents. Too many people determined to keep her from learning the truth. But the more roadblocks Jayne encounters makes her that much more determined to learn the identity of Rachel Marlowe's African ancestor.

~

M.J. Lee's Jayne Sinclair series has to be my favorite mystery series that focuses on genealogy. He's created a strong female lead in investigator Jayne Sinclair. A former police officer, she doesn't stumble into dangerous situations blindly. She knows how to take care of herself, and she still has plenty of friends on the force if the need arises. She's also a first-rate investigator, and readers can actually learn about the resources available to those who want to work on their family trees.

Lee also does an excellent job of weaving together two different timelines in these books. The older timeline which concerns the ancestor that Jayne is trying to find usually ties into a fascinating (if sometimes painful) historic event. In The Merchant's Daughter, readers learn about the treatment of women in 1840s England and the importance of the slave trade to Liverpool, England-- a topic that may come as a surprise to many. I was aware of Liverpool's role in the slave trade, but I was unaware of how slave traders were eventually persuaded to put an end to it all. 

The mystery in The Merchant's Daughter isn't the strongest in this series. It was relatively easy to deduce, and what little violence there was seemed tacked on and not really necessary. I also wasn't shocked at the lengths that some people will go to in order to cover up "blemishes" on their family trees. After all, my own grandmother refused to do any further research on our Mudd ancestors on the off chance that she'd find out we were related to Dr. Samuel Mudd who was implicated in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

So... if I thought the mystery was easy to deduce, why did I enjoy The Merchant's Daughter so much? Because of the characters. Jayne is one of my favorites-- smart, determined, intuitive, and full of common sense. However, the character who shone the brightest in this book was the merchant's daughter herself, Emily Roylance. Her voice as she told me her story and what she had to endure kept me hooked, kept me firmly in her corner, and kept me hoping that things would turn out all right for her.

 

Do they? You'll have to find out for yourself. Is this a series that you have to begin at the beginning and read in order? Not really. The Merchant's Daughter works well as a standalone. Just don't be surprised if you read this book and find yourself wanting to read more of Jayne's investigations. 

The Merchant's Daughter by M.J. Lee

ASIN: B07ZVWWDDY

M.J. Lee © 2019

eBook, 289 pages

 

Private Investigator, #7 Jayne Sinclair Genealogy mystery

Rating: A

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

The Sinclair Betrayal by M.J. Lee

 

First Line: "Are you the Joes we're droppin' tonight?"

One family history that professional genealogical investigator Jayne Sinclair has never researched is her own. She's always been aware that it's full of secrets. What she didn't expect is the bombshell that her father is still alive-- and in prison for the cold-blooded killing of an old civil servant. When Jayne visits him, he tells her that he killed the wrong man-- and that he wants her to find the person who was responsible for the betrayal and death of his mother during World War II. In finally accepting her father's demand, Jayne finds herself immersed in the world of spycraft, and when she comes to the conclusion of her search, she'll never be the same again.

 

Due to excellent historical mysteries such as Susan Elia McNeal's Maggie Hope series, readers are becoming more familiar with the brave women who risked their lives to become very successful spies during World War II. M.J. Lee's The Sinclair Betrayal can now be added to this category of reading. Although welcome, the author's notes at the end really weren't necessary for me because I am well aware of the role of women spies during World War II. Men in power soon learned that women were better suited to many aspects of spycraft, such as coding, decoding, and handling the danger this work involved. Lee weaves the life and actions of Jayne's grandmother into a fast-paced tale that ends much sooner than I'd expected.

As the story progressed, I fell victim to some misdirection concerning Jayne, and I was very glad to learn that I was wrong. Although I did roll my eyes at such wartime slogans as "Beauty is a duty," I loved the cameo role Gavin Maxwell played in the story. It was good to be reminded of him. Lee also did a splendid job with the action scenes in the book, keeping me glued to the story and utterly invested in the welfare of the characters.

The only thing that really didn't work for me was the character of Jayne's father, Martin Sinclair. Readers see him as an infant and as an old man. There's nothing in between that helps us understand why he decided to kill an old man in revenge for a mother he thought had abandoned him. More background was needed to really make this work. However, I did enjoy The Sinclair Betrayal and look forward to the next book in the series. I haven't missed one yet, and I don't intend to start now!

The Sinclair Betrayal by M.J. Lee

ASIN: B07Q6K8DGJ

Independently published © 2019

eBook, 370 pages

 

Genealogical Mystery, #6 Jayne Sinclair mystery

Rating: B+

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

The Vanished Child by M.J. Lee

First Line: The backs of his hands were raw and red, arms exhausted and all his strength gone.

Jayne Sinclair's genealogy business is experiencing a slow period, which she needs in order to recharge her batteries, but when her new stepmother learns that she has a brother she never knew about, Jayne agrees to use her skills in an attempt to find out what happened.

As she lay dying, Freda Duckworth confessed to her daughter that she'd given birth to an illegitimate child in 1944 and temporarily placed him in a children's home. When she returned later to bring him home, he'd vanished and no one would help her find him.

What happened to the child? Why did he disappear? Where did he go? These are questions that Jayne Sinclair is going to try her best to answer.

M.J. Lee's Jayne Sinclair Genealogical Mystery series gets better with each book. Each is written so that you can read it as a standalone, but I've enjoyed working my way through the series in order. Jayne is a former police officer in Manchester, England, and her experience in law enforcement helps her repeatedly in the series, although I was certainly glad to see that she got to take a break from any derring-do in The Vanished Child (which is realistic, eh?).

I know that the covers of books should have nothing to do with a review, but I just have to say that the photograph of the little boy on the cover of this book is perfect. He looks bright and funny and mischievous-- and I just want to wrap him up in a big hug. The further into The Vanished Child I got, I found myself looking at that photo and asking, "How could they do this to you?"

There are those who read only non-fiction books in the belief that fiction has no knowledge to offer. I've lost track of the knowledge I've gained by reading fiction. In Lee's book, I learned about the child migrants, the 130,000 children who, between 1869 and the end of the 1960s, were sent by the UK to its former colonies. Some of the children were as young as four, and that 130,000 is an educated guess; no one really knows how many children were labeled as coming from problem families or single-parent families, or as illegitimate or abandoned and then loaded on ships and taken to far-flung places like Canada and Australia.

As all of the Jayne Sinclair books do, readers are treated to a dual timeline story. One timeline is the present day as we see what Jayne has to do to find information on a little boy named Harry. The second timeline begins in the 1950s, and it's all about Harry. Together, these timelines form a story that engages the mind and the heart. Don't be surprised if you are amazed at what you learn, and it might be a good idea to have a handkerchief on hand as well.

The Vanished Child is a wonderful piece of storytelling, and if you haven't read any of the books, I hope that you'll at least pick up this one and give it a try. You might just find yourself looking up all the others.

The Vanished Child by M.J. Lee

ASIN: B079214MXB

Amazon Services © 2018

eBook, 321 pages

Genealogical Mystery, #4 Jayne Sinclair mystery

Rating: A

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

 

The American Candidate by M.J. Lee

First Line: For some reason, she stopped in the middle of the wooden bridge and clutched her wicker basket closer to her chest.

When genealogist Jayne Sinclair is hired to research the family history of a potential candidate to be President of the United States, she is immediately plunged into danger. The man who commissioned the research is shot dead in front of her, and now Jayne is forced to run for her life.

Why was the man killed? Who is trying to stop the American candidate's family past from being revealed? This is something Jayne must find out, all while trying to stay alive.

Although The American Candidate is the third book in a series, it can easily be read as a standalone-- and I know that matters to some readers who don't necessarily want to "sign up" for a series. I have enjoyed every book so far, and that's primarily due to the main character, Jayne Sinclair. She's a former police officer, and that training and background serve her well not only in pursuing her investigations but whenever her assignments put her in danger.

There is plenty of danger in this book as Jayne is forced to go underground in Manchester-- the city she considers her home turf. The two timelines work together well: the present day and the second during World War II. In fact, the World War II timeline brought to light some things that I was unaware of, but I'm not going to go into any detail because once I start, I may give something away.

If you have the slightest interest in history, in fast-paced mysteries, and in strong, intelligent female characters, you should give M.J. Lee's Jayne Sinclair series a try. These books are really good.
  

The American Candidate by M.J. Lee

ASIN: B073RPZ55D

Amazon Digital Services © 2017

eBook, 359 pages

Amateur Sleuth, #3 Jayne Sinclair Genealogical mystery

Rating: A

Source: Purchased from Amazon.


 

The Somme Legacy by M.J. Lee

First Line: Three hours from now, he might be dead.

Former police detective turned genealogical investigator Jayne Sinclair is commissioned by a young teacher to look into the history of his family. Outside of a few names, he has only two bits of information to give her: a medallion with purple, white and green ribbons, and an old drawing of a young woman. Jayne has to work fast because there is a time limit on this investigation-- the young teacher wants to know if he is the heir to a fortune that is about to become forfeit to the Crown.

Even though her marriage is crumbling before her eyes, Jayne is compelled to investigate and finds herself mired in the trenches of World War I-- all because of one brave woman forced to live most of her life in an asylum. And it doesn't take her long to realize that there are people who don't want these secrets brought into the light.

As much as I enjoyed the first book in this series, The Irish Inheritance, The Somme Legacy is even better. This second book makes for compulsive reading. Not only does it have a moving love story, in its dual timelines (1916 and 2016) the author gives us a real taste of life during World War I both in the trenches and in hospitals and homes away from the front lines. The history of the suffragettes is also touched upon, and Lee successfully manages to weave all this history into his story without dulling it or slowing the pace. He also creates some memorable characters. Rose will stay with me for a long time, and Herbert Small and the Russell family are the sort of villains that readers love to hate.

Rose's life as a suffragette and as a woman forced to live out her life in an asylum is the beacon in The Somme Legacy. As Jane learns Rose's story, she refuses to give up her search for the truth-- Rose's truth-- that everyone refused to believe a century ago. Rose's plight also shows how having a person declared insane can completely change the dynamics of a family with lasting effects even a century later.

Jayne's investigation is fascinating. Yes, readers learn about inheritance laws in the UK, but it's how she methodically works to track down the missing documents she needs that draws readers ever deeper into the story. Her job is an extremely difficult one because-- unbeknownst to her, an obstacle course has been deliberately set up so that she will fail. With my sympathies firmly for Rose, M.J. Lee certainly had me cheering on Jayne Sinclair as she works against the clock to prove Rose was right.

Jayne's background as a police officer helps her in more ways than one-- even providing a needed bit of humor now and again. With this second book being even better than the first, I can't wait to get my hands on the third-- The American Candidate!

The Somme Legacy by M.J. Lee

ASIN: B01N1SY2QR

Amazon Digital Services LLC © 2017

eBook, 376 pages

Amateur Sleuth, #2 Jayne Sinclair Genealogical Mystery

Rating: A

Source: Purchased from Amazon.


 

The Irish Inheritance by M.J. Lee

First Line: From a distance, it looked like a jaunt into the countryside for a picnic.

Former police detective Jayne Sinclair is now a genealogical investigator. She's been hired by an adopted American billionaire to discover the identity of his real father. She has only three clues to help her: a photocopied birth certificate, a stolen book, and an old photograph. 

Once she begins investigating, it's obvious that someone else is looking for the same information-- someone who will stop at nothing to keep Jayne from finding it first. 

The Irish Inheritance deals with two timelines. One during the time of the Easter Rising and the Irish War of Independence and the second in 2015 with Jayne's investigation. I'm always on the hunt for genealogical crime fiction since so many mysteries deal with long-buried secrets anyway. This first Jayne Sinclair mystery intrigued me for two reasons: one, that the genealogical investigator was a woman, and two, she is a former police detective. I thought this would make a change from the other similar series I've read where the main characters were all amateurs and male.

It did make a difference. Jayne may be saddled with a self-absorbed jerk of a husband, but her years on the police force certainly help her in knowing how to conduct investigations and interviews. Any attempts to intimidate her merely make her angry, and she also knows how to protect herself, which certainly comes in handy in this book.  

One thing that amazed me (and shouldn't have) was when someone in the present-day timeline remarked, "There was fighting in Ireland?" Not everyone lived through all the IRA bombings in England, and few people seem interested in learning about their own history, which is why we keep repeating the same mistakes over and over. But to get back to The Irish Inheritance, although the identity of the person trying to hamper Jayne's investigation was rather obvious to me, I enjoyed the book a great deal. I liked Jayne, and her investigation was a fast-paced and intriguing one. I'll definitely be reading the next book in the series.
 

The Irish Inheritance by M.J. Lee

ASIN: B01FR5PP9S

Amazon Digital Services © 2016

eBook, 332 pages

Amateur Sleuth, #1 Jayne Sinclair Genealogical mystery

Rating: B+

Source: Purchased from Amazon.