The Off Season - Amber Cowie

If you love suspense novels, you're going to want to pick Amber Cowie's new book - The Off Season. 

The set up for this tale was perfect! Jane has just married a man she's known for only six months, he's thirteen years older, has a teenage daughter and has been married already. Jane doesn't want children and is rebounding from something that went very bad in her work. A recipe for disaster? Maybe. How about adding in being caretakers for a remote lodge in the winter? Oh definitely yes...

The setting is wonderfully described. The lodge is large and luxurious. The forest surrounding the lodge beautiful - but also dangerous. And this crossed my thoughts...Redrum...

Cowie's character building is perfect. The dynamics between Jane and Dom are still in the honeymoon stage. But relations between Jane and Dom's daughter Sienna, are fractious, to say the least. The past is also a character in the plot. But is anyone telling the truth at all?

Oh my gosh - with every chapter Cowie builds and builds the tension in the lodge. There was no way I was going to stop reading! The plotting is great - I had no idea how things were to going to play out. Cowie kept me guessing right through to the last pages.

The Off Season is a fantastic entry for your summer reading list! 

See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Off Season.

A Man Downstairs - Nicole Lundrigan

If you enjoy suspense novels, you're going to want to pick up Nicole Lundrigan's latest - A Man Downstairs.

Molly Wynters returns home to her small town as her father isn't well. And her mother? She was murdered when Molly was very young. Being back in town raises all kinds of questions for not just Molly - but for all of those who remember...

Lundrigan tells The Man Downstairs in a now and then timeline. I've always enjoyed this style. With each new chapter, a clue, a memory, an action is revealed, making it very hard to put the book down for the night.

There's a large number of characters, most of them aware of the death of Molly's mother. But as an adult now, Molly questions the past and the part that she and others played in her demise. We, as readers, are privy to chapters from other players. Molly's father has lost his speech with his stroke, but he is given a voice with a 'past' chapter. I have to say that the chapters attributed to 'Him' were so very creepy! 

Lundrigan has woven her suspense tale with an exploration of marriage, trust, love, family and loss. This is most definitely a character driven book. 

I was so very sure that I had the right character for the final whodunit. And I was happily wrong! I really appreciate not seeing a twist or turning coming.  

An excellent suspense tale. I really enjoyed this book and will be looking for Lundrigan's next book! Read an excerpt of A Man Downstairs. 

Everyone Here is Lying - Shari Lapena

Shari Lapena is one of my fave authors. I don't read the synopsis of Lapena's books before I dive into reading, as I like to be surprised. Everyone Here is Lying has just released and it was a surprise - a very good one!

From the outside - a nice neighbourhood. From the inside, not so much....

Everyone Here is Lying opens with a bang. A nine year old girl goes missing -  seemingly without a trace. The police start their investigation by interviewing family, then friends and then the neighbours. And...you guessed it, there's more than one liar.

But everything is not revealed right away. Lapena slowly and deliciously discloses the secrets of the residents through their own thoughts and the police interviews. 

The two police are characters I would be happy to see again - especially Gully. The neighbours? Not so much. Lapena does a great job building the characters, giving them realistic emotions and actions. 

I have to say I was caught off guard with the unexpected development in part three. What a good twist! A few details ask the reader to suspend disbelief, which I happily did.

If you like their psychology suspense and unreliable characters, you'll enjoy Everyone Here is Lying. See for yourself - read an excerpt. 

Much Ado About Nada - Uzma Jalaluddin

I absolutely adored Uzma Jalaluddin's last book - Hana Khan Carries On. I couldn't wait to read her newest novel - Much Ado About Nada - and I loved it just as much. 

From the publisher:  "A sparkling second-chance romance inspired by Jane Austen’s Persuasion." Perfect!

Nada Seyd is still living with her parents and brothers in the Golden Crescent neighbourhood of Toronto, Canada. Her mother is bemoaning Nada's single status at the ripe old age of 28. Her bestie, Haleema, convinces her to attend a "giant annual Muslim conference downtown, where Nada can finally meet Haleema's fiancé." She reluctantly agrees to go...and what she didn't want to happen....does. She meets up (again) with Baz...

Jalaluddin has created a wonderful lead in Nada. I loved her inner dialogue, her friendships and her family. Now, the book is told in a now and then timeframe. I have to say, I was surprised and a bit disappointed by young Nada. The past chapters end on some cliffhangers, which only had me staying up late to find out what's next. And as the past and present get closer and closer, everything falls into place. Did not see that coming!

The supporting cast is just as endearing. (I had a soft spot for Nada's younger brother) Most of these players have their own struggles, issues, changes and revelations as well. I cared about each and everyone of them. Except for that one guy....you'll know who I mean!

South Asian/Muslim culture plays a large part in Much Ado About Nada. Parental expectations, traditions and moreis woven into the narrative. 

And yes, last, but not least - romance and the sometimes rocky road to love are the driving forces behind Much Ado About Nada. Loved every bit of this book. Uzma Jalaluddin is such a talented storyteller. An easy five stars. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Much Ado About Nada.  @harpercollinsca 

I received a review copy of this title from the publisher. This in no way influences my opinions. 

The Whispers - Ashley Audrain

Ashley Audrain's debut novel - The Push - was a bestseller. Her new novel - The Whispers - is guaranteed to be one as well. 

Audrain again turns a keen eye on motherhood and marriage - the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The Whispers takes place in a suburb with a focus on four couples, specifically the mothers, the mothers to be, the mothers that were. The husbands come under close scrutiny as well.

A mother's behaviour opens the book with a bang. From that pivotal moment, the timeline moves from then to now, with more and more of the truth and the hidden being exposed and revealed.

The women all have an idea of what is happening and what did happen. But their own beliefs, opinions and history colours their perception. Audrain keeps the reader on their toes, changing the narrative and conceived notions as we head to the final pages. I had my own opinions and judgements. But were they 

coloured by my own experiences? 

Audrain's characters are so very well drawn. You'll find a favourite, and one to hate, but no one is perfect. Her suburban setting is just as spot on.

The book is so very hard to read at times, and I'd have to walk away and take a break. (There's a couple of cliffhangers that will have you shouting out loud) Other times, I couldn't put the book down. There as so many great lines in The Whispers, but nothing beats that last sentence. 

Just wow - another fantastic book from Audrain. And I think this one's even better than The Push.

"But more than any proof she has, is a feeling. She'd once heard them described as the whispers - the moments that are trying to tell you that something isn't right here." 

See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Whispers. 

Fit to Die - Daniel Kalla

Fit to Die is Danel Kalla's new novel.

There is such a focus on body weight in our society - rather than on being healthy. Kalla takes this skewed thinking as the basis of his plot in Fit to Die. Emergency rooms in Vancouver and LA are dealing with overdoses of an unnamed drug. Once the common thread is named, I thought, no way. But no, it's real. (and that is pretty scary)

Here's the neat bit - Kalla is himself an emergency physician in Vancouver, Canada. I can't even imagine what's he's seen or dealt with over the years. His medical expertise adds much to his book's overall feel in terms of setting, action and dialogue.

His protagonists are medical and law enforcement players whose lives intersect. Some of the characters have appeared in previous books and it's nice to see them again. The investigation is believable from both points of view.

Kalla keeps things moving at a good pace. There's a few twists that keeps the reader on their toes. Overall, an entertaining read for those who like medical thrillers. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Fit to Die.

Gentle readers there are some triggers. 

Funeral Songs for Dying Girls - Cherie Dimaline

I was thrilled to see that Cherie Dimaline had two books coming out in 2023. The second is the newly released Funeral Songs for Dying Girls. It's labeled as YA fiction. 

Winifriend lives with her widowed father on the grounds of a cemetery. She’s awkward and has few friends, except for Jack. But as they grow older, Jack is moving on and leaving Winnie behind. And then Phil arrives. Is she a figment of Winifred’s imagination? Or could she be real? Or...

Dimaline’s prose are simply wonderful. I stopped more than once to savour Winnie’s words before carrying on. Her descriptions and inner dialogue conjure up vivid mental images and thought provoking ideas.

The setting is just as well drawn - the mossy paths, the headstones, the mausoleums and more. I've always found cemeteries to be peaceful and calming. And so did Winifred - until now. 

The supporting characters are just right. My faves were Floyd, the cemetery's handy man and Auntie Roberta - everyone needs an Auntie like this. And all of us probably have an annoying relative like Penny. 

There are many themes - life, loss, love, coming of age, friendship, family and identity. Dimaline addresses them all with a fresh, unique and thoughtful eye.

I really like Dimaline's writing, messages and storytelling. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Funeral Songs for Dying Girls.

A Death at the Party - Amy Stuart

A Death at the Party is Amy Stewart's latest release. This is a standalone book.

I was hooked in the first few pages. The prologue gives us a body in the basement and lots of questions. Curious cat that I am - I needed to know who, why and how.  

The book takes place over 24 hours. Nadine is hosting a 60th birthday party for her mother, a bestselling author. Nadine is a meticulous planner and she wants this party to be perfect,  so nothing can go wrong. But… you just know it’s not going to go smoothly. There are simmering undertones between each and every character, from the immediate family, to the neighbours, work colleagues, acquaintances, clerks and more. These connections are all intricately woven together as the book progresses. 

The tension ratchets up and up with every hour that passes. The compressed timeline heightens everything - actions, emotions and more. We're with with Nadine as she tries desperately to keep all  of her balls in the air. But they start to drop one by one. The fall out is not what I expected at all. I had some inklings that things might be headed in a certain direction, but was happily surprised by the direction Stuart took the tale. 

I thought the mystery of the book was well done. But, just as much of standout for me was the depiction and exploration of Nadine. See for yourself - read an excerpt of A Death at the Party. An easy five stars.

Bookworm - Robin Yeatman

Bookworm is Robin Yeatman's debut novel.

Now, that cover and title had me expecting a lighthearted read. (Yes, sometimes it's solely the cover that makes me choose to read a book!) But, what I found inside the pages was not what I had expected.

Victoria is not overly happy with her life - her job, her parents, her best friend and especially her husband. Victoria also loves to read, seeking solace by getting lost in a book - and often imagining herself in other situations. One of her favorite things to do is come up with life stories for strangers that she sees.

Bookworm is told in a stream of consciousness style. Normally, I don't enjoy this style, but it does work in this novel. I felt like I was headed down the rabbit hole with Victoria. The lines between fantasy and reality have started to blur for her and there's no predicting where Yeatman is going to take Victoria. 

I liked the premise and the choice of delivery, but I did find the narrative to be somewhat repetitive - especially the 'levitation' scenes. There's not one character that's likable and I never connected with any of them. Which put me 'outside' the book looking in. I did want to see how it panned out. I did enjoy the ending - it's quite good. But, while the description of the book promises some black humour, it wasn't for me. 

Overall, Bookworm is a hard book to put a genre label on. Decidedly different. But see for yourself - read an excerpt of Bookworm.

We Spread - Iain Reid

I've read all of Iain Reid's books. Each one has brought something different, unusual and unexpected. And that's also the case with his latest - We Spread. 
 

Penny has been living in the same apartment for fifty years. Her partner has passed on. Penny has been getting out, but really has no contact or relationships  with others, excepting her landlord. She has a bit of memory loss (and sure, doesn't everyone her age?) So, my thinking was that We Spread would be an lament for aging. It was and it is. But it's much more.  

As an observer we are witness to Penny's failing memory and her deteriorating  physical condition until the inevitable happens - she has a serious fall. 

Unbeknownst to Penny, her partner had arranged for just this eventuality. Penny is moved to Six Cedars Residence, a small long term care facility in an older house, surrounded by trees. There are only four residents and two staff members at the home. Penny, although distressed by the move, is impressed.  

 And it's wonderful. Or is it? What we come to know of the other residents and staff is through Penny's eyes and experiences. The reader is left to their own imagination and interpretation of what she encounters. And my mind had more than one outlook and outcome happening. The tension rises with every page turned. Reid's dialogue is sharp and short and is very effective in 'speaking' for Penny. Out loud and internally. Aging, art and relationships and more are also explored. There's much food for thought for everyone in We Spread - whether it's yourself or a family member. 

As the book neared the final pages, I still had not made up my mind as to what was really happening. And the ending? Perfectly Iain Reid. See for yourself - read an excerpt of We Spread.

Haven - Emma Donoghue

Emma Donoghue is a brilliant writer and I always look forward to her newest book. And that would be the just released, Haven.

I've enjoyed every book she's penned, but I find myself most drawn to the historical pieces, as they are based on or take their inspiration from fact. In this case its Skellig Michael - home to a Gaelic monastery that was founded between the 6th and 8th centuries.

Haven tells the story of three monks set out to find an isolated, never settled island to build their own monastery. Their Prior is Artt - a visitor to an established community. He has a dream and asks the monastery for two monks to accompany him - the elderly Cormac, and the younger Trian. 

Their journey is not easy and the reader can see where there be strife. They land on a rocky, barren island that seems inhospitable, but Artt has faith that God will provide for them. His goals, intents and actions are obediently taken as God's word by the other two. But, there are cracks in the foundation.

Haven is a story of faith and survival, both of which are tried many times. I found the survival thread to be fascinating. How do you survive when there's nothing there? Or is there? Cormac and Trian's skillsets were unexpected and underline what a human can and will do to survive. I very much liked these two. However, I can't say the same for Artt. His motives, his inner dialogue and his sanctimonious attitude really rubbed me the wrong way. This will be the character that will prompt readers to form their own thoughts on the theological themes and threads in Haven.

The ending was satisfying to me. I was on the fence about  a piece of the plot that I could see coming. But after letting it sit with me for awhile, I decided it fit with what had gone before. It speaks to faith, acceptance, and survival. (I know that's quite cryptic, but I don't want to provide spoilers.)

For me, Haven was another great read from Donoghue. 

Are You Sara? - S.C. Lalli

S.C. Lalli takes a break from writing romance and women's fiction (as Sonya Lalli), to bring us a suspense novel in Are You Sara?

I thought Lalli's premise was great, opening the door for any number of paths...

Two women each call for a rideshare home. The hook? They're both named Sara and they each get into the wrong vehicle. The leading character Sara ends up in a rich neighborhood and has to walk back home. When she finally makes it to her own home, there are flashing blue lights everywhere - and a dead girl named Sarah. Which one of them was the intended victim?

Sara sets out to answer that question for herself and Sarah. Each of the women have a voice. Sarah's starts almost three years ago as a series of journal entries. Her tone is younger and focuses on her relationships. Sara is an older law student, who also works two part time jobs - as a bartender and baby sitter. She's also held a job in the past that really stretched incredulity for this reader. Yes, I'm being a bit obtuse, but I don't want to provide spoilers. As the details of the side gig are revealed, I found it difficult to reconcile that skill set with the student who pulls pints. This was probably the biggest hurdle for me. I didn't like Sara and never became invested in her. There's a fairly larger number of supporting characters that were easy to dislike as well. 

That initial premise got lost in a myriad of sub plots. Too many in my opinion. That being said, the book did hold my attention to the final pages as I wanted to know how things ended. Lalli gives us a few gotchas in the end that were appreciated. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Are You Sara?

I Told You This Would Happen - Elaine Murphy

I Told You This Would Happen is the follow up to Elaine Murphy's debut novel, Look What You Made Me Do. 

Quick catch up...

Carrie and Becca are sisters with very different temperaments - and interests. You see, Becca is a serial killer and over the years Carrie has helped her dispose of quite a few bodies. It's hard to say no to Becca and there's no telling what would happen if Carrie did refuse..... I'll stop there and let you discover what happens in book one on your own.

Both books are told from Carrie's point of view. In this second book, Carrie is finally able to take a deep breath as Becca seems to have left the area - at last. (Canadian peeps, if you live in Brampton - beware.) A group of local crime solving sleuths come up with a clue that may incriminate Carrie and disrupt the small window of peace she's finally found. And so begins another cat and mouse game featuring Carrie as both cat and mouse.

So, yes, you're going to have to suspend belief with some of the plotting. Despite Murphy's dropping of many victims along the way, this isn't a serious murder mystery. Instead it's a fun romp that would make a great addition to your beach bag. Which sound wrong, doesn't it? There's a lot of dark humour as well! 

I do think that reading the first book before diving into this one would give you a better reading experience. I wonder if there will be a book three? Read an excerpt of I Told You This Would Happen.

A Dreadful Splendour - B.R. Myers

Oh my gosh! I absolutely adored B.R Myers' new novel, A Dreadful Splendour. And you will too!

Why? Where to start!?

A catchy, quirky title. 1850's London, England. Spiritualism. Séances. Con games. Dusty, damp gothic estate. Stern, foreboding housekeeper. A nervous maid. A very handsome Lord of the Manor. A 'cursed' family. Secrets. Danger. Every character with their own agenda. Mysteries, chills and romance. 

Whew, what more could you want? Oh, yes, a wonderful lead character. Meet Genevieve Timmons, who makes her living as a spiritualist to the wealthy. And perhaps one or two side gig as a thief. But, she's skated too close to the edge with this last job. The constabulary has her scheduled for the noose, until a lawyer for that estate mentioned above, asks Genevieve to hold a séance at the manor in exchange for getting that appointment cancelled. The reader can't help but like Genevieve, and be beside as she explores, discovers and acts on what she finds.

Myers' descriptions are wonderfully detailed and I had vivid images of the manor in my mind as I read. And the players were just as well drawn and described as well.

Myers keeps the reader guessing as the final aha moments. Perhaps Genevieve is not the con she seems to be? And Myers gifts the reader a lovely, almost at the end of the book, twist. Well done!

A Dreadful Splendour was just so much fun to read! Absolutely recommended and an easy five stars. See for yourself - read an excerpt.

#BooksofHCC   

TJ Powar Has Something to Prove - Jesmeen Kaur Deo

TJ Powar Has Something to Prove is Jesmeen Kaur Deo's absolutely brilliant debut novel.

Why/what/who/where and how you ask? Let's start with the who. Deo's lead character is TJ, a popular senior at high school, first string on the soccer team, a leader of the debate team, a friend to all and is Liam's beautiful girlfriend. 

But what does she have to prove? Well, when her cousin Samrin is the target of a hurtful meme, TJ takes a stand. She will let all of her body hair grow, unchecked. "This house believes that TJ Powar can be her hairy self and still be beautiful."

I liked TJ in the first few chapters and I adored her by the last few. She's such a dynamic personality - quick, smart, caring and principled. But she's vulnerable and unsure as well. Do you remember the pressure at high school to conform in so many ways, with physical appearance being right up there at the top? Now, can you see yourself bucking the trend and saying no to hair removal of all kinds. And sticking to it when your life starts to fall apart? 

There's a great cast of supporting players as well. I thought the high school strata was well written and believable. And the same for family, friends and relationships. Matters of the heart are a large part of TJ Powar's story. There are some wonderfully funny bits and on the flip side, some very poignant, true life moments. 

Deo has employed a unique and very apt platform for the plot. Debating. Arguing for and against topics in front of others and being judged. TJ's mental debates with herself are so well written and structured. (I had no idea it was so cutthroat either!)

There's so much food for thought in TJ Powar. I'll leave you with this from TJ's esthetician..."Hair has no gender darling. It's just hair. Do what you want with it, but it does not make you less of a woman. It does not make you less interesting, less worthy, or less deserving Understood?"

This was such a fantastic read and a very easy five stars. I will be eagerly awaiting Deo's next book!

See for yourself - read an excerpt of TJ Powar Has Something to Prove. 

Last One Alive - Amber Cowie

The premise of Amber Cowie's new book, Last One Alive,  hooked me right away. 

What's it about? From the publisher: "A team of researchers exploring the myth of a witch find their numbers mysteriously dwindling in this irresistible psychological thriller for fans of Ruth Ware, Shari Lapena, and Lucy Foley."

I love 'locked room' mysteries. In this case, it's ten people on the site of an historic crime. And yes, one by one they die. But here's the thing that kept me guessing 'til the final pages. Is it the curse of the witch? Is there really something to the legends? Or is one of the ten turning on their fellow researchers?

Penelope is the organizer of the trip. While she has a good reason for the trip and says and does all the right things, I didn't like her. Or any of the ten for that matter. There's something 'off' with each and every one of them. Which only serves to have more suspects!

The setting descriptions easily conjured up a detailed picture in my mind. The isolation, the forest, the rocky beach, the old outbuildings and more all add to the unsettled feeling of the endeavor.

But what I enjoyed the most was trying to solve the whodunit - keeping track of who was where at a certain time, who was together, what was overheard, what was found. (I always wanted to be Nancy Drew.)

I did find some chapters ended quite abruptly and I would have to flip back to make sure I hadn't missed something. 

Cowie's book is well written, not easy to suss out and kept me interested right through to the final pages. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Last One Alive.  

Watch Out For Her - Samantha M. Bailey

Watch Out For Her is Samantha M. Bailey's second novel. 

Sarah and her husband Daniel decide to take on Holly as a summer babysitter for their young son Jacob. Holly is the daughter of one of Daniel's colleagues. And it's good in the beginning - until it's not. Sarah and her family end up packing up and moving from Vancouver to Toronto to put distance between themselves and Holly. 

So, what happened? Bailey tells her story from a now and then narrative, alternating between Sarah's and Holly's point of view. I didn't like Holly at all, despite what's going on with her. I initially liked Sarah in the beginning, but changed my mind fairly early on in the book. There are a number of supporting players in both locales, providing lots of options for suspicious behavior. 

As I read Watch Out For Her, I started to note some plot points with a 'really?' There were just too many coincidences, unrealistic behaviors and too many threads that were simply unbelievable for me. The whodunit is fairly obvious and easy to suss out. Much of the plot is cliched and the overall effect was too much. Less can sometimes work better than so many disparate and farfetched threads. 

I'm in the minority on this one. Check out what others thought on Goodreads.

Sari, Not Sari - Sonya Singh

Sari, Not Sari is Sonya Singh's debut novel. I really enjoyed it! 

What's it about? From Simon and Shuster: "This delightful debut rom-com follows the adventures of a woman trying to connect with her South Asian roots and introduces readers to a memorable cast of characters in a veritable feast of food, family traditions, and fun."

Our lead character is Manny - the owner of a unique business. 'Breakup' helps people ease the pain of ending their relationships. They'll help find the right way and words to break up - by email and/or text. A fun premise for sure. You'll find email requests at the beginning of each chapter that are quite funny. I found this tidbit reading Singh's bio - "Sari, Not Sari, is an ode to her own personal dating experiences, during which she honed the art of writing the perfect break-up email/text."

Now, following the rom-com formula, Manny has her own relationship issues, there's a client that might just be more than business, a find yourself epiphany for our lead character, a great bunch of quirky supporting characters and the ending that you really want. I quite liked Manny as a lead - she's warm, funny, caring and - she can't see that her fiancée is a bit of a donkey's behind. 

Singh gives us more to love with Manny's search for her South Asian roots and the large, boisterous and loving Patel family. Seriously, I'd love to go to one of their family get togethers - food, family and dancing - what's more to want? (Note that I really like Bollywood movies and can see this novel as a film!)

I loved Sari, Not Sari - what a great debut this was. Pick this one up for the beach bag this summer. 

I look forward to Singh's next book. But for now - read an excerpt of Sari, Not Sari. You can connect with Sonya Singh on her website and on Instagram.

The Deepest of Secrets - Kelley Armstrong

Kelley Armstrong's books make for addictive reading. But, I have to say, the Rockton series is my favorite. The Deepest of Secrets is the seventh entry. 

Rockton is a town that doesn't exist on any map, completely off-grid, hidden in the Yukon. The residents? They're all running from something or hiding from someone. Nobody asks too many questions. A town full of liars, thieves and criminals provides a wealth of opportunities for story telling. But even this town needs some laws - and someone to enforce them. That's where Detective Casey Duncan comes in - she was a homicide cop 'down south'. She and Sheriff Eric Dalton are partners at work - and at home. What a great premise!

This latest finds secrets being brought to light - and bodies to go along with them. The books are written from Casey's point of view. I enjoy being 'with' her as she investigates. I enjoy her internal reasoning and subsequent deductions as she investigates. The mysteries Armstrong presents are not easily solved and I quite like being kept guessing. This latest is no exception.

Casey is such a great lead - she's tough, intelligent and determined - but not perfect.  Her relationship with Dalton is well written. I'm not a big romance reader, but Armstrong does it well. Their relationship is believable, not 'over the top' and enhances the book, rather than being the main focus. There are many, many supporting players, each with their own secrets, strengths and weaknesses. They all have a role to play and I've come to appreciate how they add to the overall depth of the plots and the fabric of Rockton. 

Why do I love this series so much? I'm fascinated with the idea of a hidden town in the northern reaches of Canada. It's certainly a possibility. Armstrong's imagining of this is so detailed, from settings inside the walls and beyond. But there's another threat in Rockton in this latest entry. The council, who dictate from afar what happens in Rockton, have issued a new edict. One that threatens everything and everyone in Rockton.

The Deepest of Secrets was another great read for me. I have my hopes (and fingers crossed) for where Armstrong might take this series. See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Deepest of Secrets.

(Although there's a 'catch up' introduction, I would start with the first book, City of the Lost.)

The Maid - Nita Prose

Happy 2022 to you! It's a new year and there are some great titles coming out in the next few months. 

Nita Prose's debut novel The Maid releases today and it's a brilliant read to start off 2022! I was hooked from the opening pages...

Molly works at the upscale Regency Grand Hotel as a maid. "Every day of work is a joy to me. I was born to do this job. I love cleaning. I love my maid's trolley, and I love my uniform." But one day her ordered life is upset by the death of wealthy Mr. Black, whose room she cleans. It is Molly who finds his body.

Now, the other thing you need to know about Molly is that she struggles with social skills and can't read the nuances of interactions - facial and conversational.  Her beloved Gran, now deceased, left her with routines and rules to help navigate a world that Molly doesn't fully 'get'. "The truth is, I often have trouble with social situations; it's as though everyone is playing an elaborate game with complex rules they all know, but I'm always playing for the first time.

Well, first off, you're going to absolutely love Molly - her innocence, her upbeat attitude, her manner of speaking and those rules and sayings that guide her life. And then there's Gran. Even though she is gone, her presence is felt throughout the book. (It made me miss my Gran too!) The supporting cast of players gives us a large number of suspects for the whodunit. You'll have no problem deciding who you like - and who you don't. The reader can see what's happening - but Molly doesn't. Your heart will break for Molly as she misinterprets what's going on.

But. there's a turn in the story - one that I am not going to expound on, but it's absolutely perfect. Suffice it to say that Molly and her Gran read lots of Agatha Christie and watched all of Columbo...…

What more could you want - characters you'll be rooting for, a murder mystery, and some insightful thoughts about love, loss and life. Prose's writing will keep you turning page after page late into the night. Heartily recommended! See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Maid.

This is the first book that Nita Prose has written, but not the first time she's been involved in the publishing of a book.  From her website: "Currently, I’m vice president and editorial director at Simon & Schuster in Toronto, Canada, where I have the privilege of working with an incredible array of authors and publishing colleagues whom I credit with teaching me, manuscript by manuscript, book by book, the wondrous craft of writing." That experience shines through in The Maid. I'm really looking forward to the next book Prose pens. See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Maid.