- The Tomb of Dragons, Katherine Addison
- Story of my Life, Lucy Score
- The Unwedding, Ally Condie
- Bitter Waters, Vivian Shaw
- The Vampire of Kings Street, Asha Greyling
- The Christmas Murder Game, Alexandra Benedict
- Royal Gambit, Daniel O’Malley
- Murder Your Employer, Rupert Holmes
- A Marvelous Light, Freya Marske
- Kills Well with Others, Deanna Raybourn
I’ve had lots of reading time these past few weeks, but I’ve done a certain amount of rereading along with these new books.
I’m always thrilled to get another Katherine Addison novel set in the world of the VERY EXCELLENT The Goblin Emperor. The Tomb of Dragons continues the story of the Witness for the Dead, the modest and upright Thara Cellehar. I can’t explain how superior Addison’s world building is, except to say it could serve as an exemplar for a class. The perpetually poor and modest Thara Cellehar has a terrible adventure in the long- abandoned mines below a mountain, and this adventure lays a great obligation on Thara to speak for murdered dragons.
Lucy Score has a marvelous talent for investing her characters with life. Hazel Hart, romance novelist, whose career is almost on the rocks, sees an article on line about a small town where a grumpy contractor is saving the home of an elderly woman. Grumpy contractor! Charming small town! Derelict house for sale that Hazel can just afford! You can guess her next move. The Story of my Life oozes charm.
Ally Condie’s The Unwedding is a grimmer book by far, though this protagonist is also at a dark crossroads. Ellery has just had her entire life upended by a shocking divorce and the fact that now she has to share her children. Ellery has been persuaded to go on the vacation she’d planned with her ex, to a beautiful Big Sur resort. Ellery doesn’t know what to expect, but she finds the resort is gorgeous, it’s mostly been taken over by a large wedding party, and someone murders the groom before the wedding. Ellery is stretched in every direction by the murder, its aftermath, and an onslaught of terrible weather that isolates the party.
I’ve enjoyed all of Vivian Shaw’s Dr. Greta Helsing novels. Bitter Waters is set at Dr. Helsing’s partner’s estate, when a wight brings an abducted girl to the window for help. Dr. Helsing is a doctor to the supernatural community, and if anyone can help the child, it’s her.
The Vampire of Kings Street is yet another twist on an old theme. New lawyer Radhiika Dingra has no clients to speak of in 19th century New York until a vampire knocks on her door for help. No other lawyer will represent him. Almost all vampires are in service to a family, and her new client is not protected by the rules. The danger of representing the undead is obvious, but Radhika is brave and desperate. I enjoyed the novel approach of this book, and the characters are great fun.
The Christmas Murder Game is for those readers who like puzzles included in their novels. Alexandra Benedict sets her book in what seems a stock setting: a curious house at Christmas following the death of its owner . . .the mysterious death. And the house will go to the relative who solves all the puzzles set by the dead woman.
Since I am such a Daniel O’ Malley fan, imagine my delight when I received an ARC of his next novel. Thanks, Little, Brown. Royal Gambit will be available for purchase on 7/15/25. Preorder! Set in O’Malley’s world of the Checquy (an organization employing odd people who can do odd things), Gambit follows the reluctant Lady Alix Mondegreen, who is detailed to protect Princess Louise, a childhood friend. Alix has her own ambitions, and being a Maid of Honor is not part of the plan. However, she must answer the call when Louise’s brother, the heir to the throne, is murdered in a supernatural way.
Murder Your Employer is Rupert Holmes’s highly original work about a secret country estate where people learn how to kill their employers in ways both obvious and practically undetectable. If this has ever been your fantasy, you’ll enjoy this book from beginning to end.
I’ve previously reviewed another book by Freya Marske, Swordcrossed, so I was pleased to read A Marvelous Light. Coincidentally, this book is also about magic in England, but the way it’s handled is quite different. Baronet Robin Blyth finds himself appointed (by mistake) to be the liaison between the magical England and his own England, dealing with the prickly and disdainful Edwin Courcey. The learning curve is sharp, since Robin’s predecessor simply disappeared. Robin may do just the same.
If you haven’t read Killers of a Certain Age, Deanna Raybourn’s first book about four women operatives who have gotten older but are not about to be put to pasture, please grab it and drink it down before Kills Well with Others. Mary Alice, Natalie, Billie, and Helen swing back into action. Underestimate them at your risk!
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I have been quiet on line for a while, because . . . I hate to say this . . . I had more surgery. If this makes me seem like a surgery junkie, I only wish it had been cosmetic! (Not really.) I now stand at two knee replacements, a foot renovation, and now a new hip. When I go through security screening now, and they ask “You got metal?” I can only reply, “SO MUCH.” My new goal is not to have any more surgery for a calendar year, if ever. The diminution of pain has been a great reward. My husband is a saint for putting up with me through all this.
There were two more catastrophes: after hip surgery you can’t sit in a recliner for weeks. And our main television was fried in the terrible storm we had the night before Easter. These two things upended my life, silly though that is. Four more weeks to go on the recliner embargo, but the new television will be here and installed Tuesday. Life will gradually get better. Now I can shower every day since I got the surgical bandage off, and that’s a great treat. Two more weeks until I can drive. It will all happen, just not as quickly as I hoped.
You don’t realize how hooked you are on something until you are forbidden it.
I am incredibly fortunate to have good insurance and a good husband, who is still speaking to me.
I hope all of you stay safe, and if you have to have surgery, I hope it goes as well as mine did. All these times.
I look forward to attending ThrillerFest, Bouchercon, and DragonCon. Put up with me being slow!
Charlaine Harris