historical

Interview with Alyssa Maxwell (Murder at the Elms and Murder at Vinland)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Each of Murder at the Elms and Murder at Vinland by Alyssa Maxwell intertwines a mystery within an historical novel. The setting is the turn of the century Newport where during the Gilded Age there is vast income and a power disparity. The main character, Emma Cross, is the “poor Vanderbilt” having inherited some money from the famous family. But she is an anomaly because she is independent and a working journalist who owns …

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Review Roundup Summer 2024 – Part 2

A quick little roundup of several smaller reviews I wrote in Summer 2024. Beware of spoilers! Title: House of Marionne Author: J. Elle Series: House of Marionne #1 Much thanks to J. Elle, Penguin/Razorbill, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book hits many of the same story beats as other YA fantasy*, so I could understand if some readers accuse it of being formulaic. I didn’t mind its predictability. …

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Review Roundup Summer 2024 – Part 1

A quick little roundup of several smaller reviews I wrote in Summer 2024. Beware of spoilers! Title: The Burning Author: Linda Castillo Series: Kate Burkholder #16 Much thanks to Linda Castillo, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to use free ARCs in exchange for an honest review. Not much to say, this book was great! The mystery was very intriguing and brilliantly framed the dilemma of victim blaming, how easy it is to fall into. The …

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Interview with David Lewis (A Jewel in the Crown)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper A Jewel in the Crown by David Lewis is a thriller and mystery all in one book, a spy novel set in England during WWII. In 1940 there is a fear of German infiltrators throughout England. To safeguard the Crown Jewels from the Nazis, Winston Churchill devises a daring gamble to have them shipped overseas. The priceless artifacts will be secretly removed from the Tower of London and driven north to Scotland by two …

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Interview with Stephenia H. McGee (The River Queen)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The River Queen by Stephenia H. McGee has readers experience the glitz and glamour of a showboat, along with an immigrant family and their flare for showmanship. There are River pirates, smuggling, some romance, showboats, and a setting of the Roaring 20s. Readers find Emmett Carter who is investing with his brother in their inheritance in a steamboat. The boat is attacked by river pirates, and he is thrown overboard. Left with nothing else …

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Interview with Amanda Flower (To Slip the Bonds of Earth)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper To Slip the Bonds of Earth by Amanda Flower is another winner. This book was a blend of historical fiction and cozy mystery, spotlighting the sister of the Wright brothers. The story weaves historical facts into a clever murder mystery. Like her famous brothers, Katharine is a woman ahead of her time. Katharine is innovative, like her brothers, but not with gadgets, but in solving crimes. Living in their hometown of Dayton, Ohio, she …

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Interview with Shaina Steinberg (Under the Paper Moon)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Under the Paper Moon by Shaina Steinberg is a fun read. Between the scenes of WWII and the murder of someone in 1948 this blends a mystery and thriller. There is love, duty, loyalty, and forgiveness. The heroine, Evelyn Bishop, has joined the OSS as a spy. Besides wanting to help the allies she is trying to rescue her brother, held in a German POW camp. Her supervisor is Nick Gallagher. They become intimate …

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Interview with Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles (In Sunshine or In Shadow)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper In Sunshine or In Shadow by Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles the focus is on the good friend of Molly Murphy, Sid. As with all these books readers get a glimpse of what is happening in the time period that is weaved throughout the story. This book is very relevant because it delves into the Catskills before it became a resort and how antisemitism flourished, just as today. Because of the typhoid epidemic in …

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Review Roundup Spring 2024

A quick little roundup of several smaller reviews I wrote in Spring 2024. Beware of spoilers! Sorry these first two are duds. Title: Lady Charlotte Always Gets Her Man Author: Violet Marsh Series: n/a Thank you to Violet Marsh, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review. Soooo in the approval email, there was a bolded paragraph about how much they wanted feedback on the audio production in …

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Speculations in Sin by Jennifer Ashley

Title: Speculations in Sin Author: Jennifer Ashley Series: Below Stairs Mystery #7 *heart eyes* MUCH thanks to Jennifer Ashley, Berkley, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Also thank you to Kaila Mundell-Hill once again for inviting me on the blog tour. Yes, another approval from Berkley! They waited several months to approve my request only four days before publication, but a win’s a win! I LOVED this book!! Ashley’s writing …

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