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Two Terrific New Mysteries: Grave Reservations & Arsenic and Adobo

17 Nov

Grave Reservations
by Cherie Priest
Grave Reservations, Cherie Priest’s latest, a mystery novel, is more light heartened than some of her previous works.  Leda a struggling travel agent who has developing psychic abilities teams up with Grady Merritt a Portland police officer to solve two separate mysteries that might have a common perpetrator and have been haunting them both.  Leda and the cast of supporting characters are a likable, funny bunch and Grady is charming as a widowed father who they help rekindle an enjoyment of life.  I’m hoping there will be many more in this terrific mystery series.  Great writing, great characters, and an interesting mystery will have you not wanting to put this one down. You can read about Priest’s Cheshire Red Reports Series here.

Arsenic and Adobo
by Mia P. Manansala
Arsenic and Adobo is Mia P. Manansala’s entry into the culinary cozy scene.  Lila Macapagal must return home after a devastating breakup to help run her Aunt’s restaurant.  When a nasty food critic who was also a former boyfriend suddenly dies at their restaurant, her life becomes filled with more than just romantic problems.  Will Lila be able to keep herself out of jail and save her family’s business? Lila’s extended Filipino family and her friends add spice to the novel.  The book includes several tempting Filipino inspired recipes including Chicken Adobo and cookies flavored with ube, purple sweet potato.  There’s a sneak peek at the end of her next novel Homicide and Halo-Halo that will have you looking forward to a second helping of the series, when it comes out in February.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Head of Information and Digital Services

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They’ll Put a Spell on You: The Once and Future Witches and Murder Most Fowl

6 Oct

Here are two of my recent reads that are sure to bewitch you too!

The Once and Future Witches
Three very different estranged sisters reunite to join their powers in Alix E. Harrow’s novel The Once and Future Witches.  I enjoyed the unique interweaving of women’s suffrage in with the idea of women’s magical power being suppressed by men who labelled their magic as a weaker branch of sorcery, just as women were labeled the “weaker” sex.  As the sister’s explore their heritage and create new spells they also discover their path forward in life and find hidden strengths that they will need to overcome the obstacles in their path.  This is Harrow’s second novel after The Ten Thousand Doors of January. It is available in print and as an ebook.

Inspired to make some magic of your own? Check out Basic Witches: How to Summon Success, Banish Drama, and Raise Hell with Your Coven by Jaya Saxena and Jess Zimmerman.

Murder Most Fowl
Murder Most Fowl is the latest in one of my favorite mystery series centered on Meg Langslow, a blacksmith and mother of twins.  In this spooky edition perfect for the lead up to Halloween, Meg’s husband is rehearsing a performance of the “Scottish Play.”  Unsettling things keep turning up from oddly shaped mushrooms to a fragment of a creepy spell.  Although the book keeps to Donna Andrews light hearted touch it definitely has a much spookier atmosphere than many of her other works. You can borrow it in print from BCCLS libraries or as an ebook from eLibraryNJ (log in with your Hoboken Library Card for access).

Hunting for more fictional witches? Click on the links for our previous posts on magical historic fiction involving NY and books centered on magical family bonds.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Head of Information and Digital Services

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