The Floating Admiral By: The Detection Club

What an interesting concept for a mystery!  Members of the Detection Club each contributed a chapter to this mystery.  There were rules thatchy were to follow in regards to what they could and couldn't do with the clues presented in the chapters preceding theirs.  Some chapters flowed nicely together, some you could tell were written by different authors; but al blended to make an intriguing mystery.  The really cool part of the book for me was the appendix which included the thoughts from each author on who they thought did it, why and how they interpreted the previous clues to write their chapters.  Great fun!

A Disturbing Nature By: Brian Lebeau

 

A Disturbing Nature is a stunning debut.  Paced like a predator staking it's prey, it takes us into the very nature of both it's protagonists to a bomb shell of an ending that will leave the reader a little misty eyed (if not downright weeping).  The story unfolds on parallel tracks following both main characters until the inevitable collision.  I found myself breathlessly reading to reach the end, and at the same time, not wanting to get there.  Writing so beautiful it's poetic, and is a sumptuous contrast to the subject matter.  A really breathtaking debut by an author who has a long career ahead of him!

Blaze Me a Sun By: Christoffer Carlsson Translation By: Rachel Willson-Broyles

A Swedish noir novel, ostensibly about a crime, but it's really about the people.  A beautiful translation, Blaze Me a Sun looks at a specific set of crimes, and the people those crimes affect, from the victims to the police, to their families and neighbors.  Quite a stunning novel, with a great many twists and turns which will leave you gob smacked by the end!

 

Dead Dead Girls By: Nekesa Afia

 

Louise Lovie Lloyd is my kind of heroine: flawed; heart in the right place; knows what's right and is willing to do what it takes to rectify a problem!  Dead Dead Girls is a wonderful debut novel from Nekesa Afia and I hope she has a long career ahead of her.  Aside from a few clunky transitions, this is a fascinating mystery/thriller set in 1926 Harlem.  The sad, statement is that although this novel takes place 100 years ago, if the author had set it in present time, she wouldn't have to change any major plot points.  If you're looking for a new heroine and a new voice Afia's novel is it!

Give My Swiss Chards to Broadway By: Gideon Glick and Adam Roberts with Illustrations by Justin "Squigs" Robertson

With a nudge, nudge and a wink, wink, this punny cook book is a delightful read all on it's own.  The recipes are interesting, don't look to difficult and their tie ins to the Broadway shows they are named after is cleverly done.  The background if the musicals mentioned as well as the tidbits about them at the end of the recipes, are just fun!  I highly recommend this!

 

While Justice Sleeps By: Stacey Abrams

 

One or two points I found a little less than credible, other than that, this was a great thriller!  Interesting characters, fantastic, underdog heroine, and a fascinating and tightly written plot, propelled this book along.  Can't wait for Avery's next adventure!

Deadly Nightshade: Best New England Crime Stories 2022 Edited By: Christine Bagley, Susan Oleksiw, Leslie Wheeler

I've been reading the Best New England Crime Stories for a number of years, and I have to proclaim Deadly Nightshade as the Best!  The caliber of the stories selected is astounding.  Each and everyone one of these shorts is creative, interesting, and tightly plotted.  A Superb read!

Age of Vice By: Deepti Kapoor

 

An ultra violent look at life, poverty, and power in India, Age of Vice is full of fascinating characters.  The same time line of this story is told from various characters' points of view and creates a vivid picture of the choices people make when they aren't in full control of their circumstances, and what those choices lead to and whom they affect.  Would have given it 5 stars, but I wasn't as thrilled with the ending as I should have been.

The House Guest By: Hank Phillippi Ryan

I was all set to write this one off as me not being in the right frame of mind, or the book itself not having Ryan's usual urgency, then I got toward the end, and with her usual brilliance, Ryan turns the whole story on it's head with a few sentences.  The twists then come fast and furious and bring all of the book into full focus and I was left breathless.  You'll be thinking about this one long after you've finished it!

The Spare Man By: Mary Robinette Kowal

 

This has to be one of the most fun books I've read in a while.  It's basically The Thin Man in space, and it is delicious!  Tesla (fabulously wealthy robotics engineer) and her new husband Shal (newly retired detective are on taking a cruise to Mars for their honeymoon.  In between all the cocktails and canoodling the bodies start piling up.  Once riled up there is no stopping Tesla and taking this cruise with her, Shal and their adorable dog, Gimlet, is a ride you won't want to forget!