Tag Archives: books

Quirky Whodunits: Jay to the World & Death and Fromage

15 Oct

Jay to the World
by Donna Andrews

Jay to the World is the newest book in my favorite Meg Langslow mystery series by Donna Andrews. This story is set during Christmas season, but the mystery has appeal beyond the holiday season. When Meg’s mother is attacked, Meg learns that she has been receiving threatening letters. There are plenty of red herrings and this one of the more action-packed stories of series. Of course, it is still full of the cozy charm long term readers like myself expect such as a sweet storyline about Meg’s blue jay loving niece. The story also involves the local woman’s shelter and though nothing is particularly graphic in the story, those who are particularly triggered by violence against women should be aware. If you haven’t previously read this mysteries series and love mysteries with quirky characters than this is one you should definitely check out.

Death and Fromage
by Ian Moore

Death and Fromage is the second in Ian Moore’s Follet Valley Mystery series about a British ex-pat who is running a B&B in France. Richard is enjoying a gourmet tasting menu at a restaurant in a nearby village when controversy erupts over the use of vegan goat cheese in the chef’s signature dish. When the cheese supplier turns up dead in one of the pasteurization tanks it leads to speculation over whether he chose to end his life or he was murdered. This had been in my tbr list for a while after enjoying the previous novel in the series Death and Croissants. I found this story to also be a funny whodunnit and it will delight fans of humorous mysteries as well as fans of stories about British expats such as Peter Mayle’s memoirs set in Provence.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

Artful Fantasy: A Portrait of a Witch Undone and The Art of Charming a Changeling

25 Aug


A Portrait of a Witch Undone
by Kate Shay

Dark fantasy fans will want to check out Portrait of a Witch Undone, the new novel by Kate Shay, a suspenseful tale of a young witch who must discover her true power in order to save her best friend and the coven that has rejected her.  Shay has created an intriguing alternate Boston, along with the surrounding marshes, that are painted with great verisimilitude with details such as the Gardner Museum and its artwork. Having lived there for two years and recently revisited on my last summer vacation I loved seeing all the details that make Boston unique. For those of you in the Hoboken area, the marshes will also remind you of those in the nearby meadowlands. Warning: you’ll be looking for mysterious witch lights there when you pass by after reading this since these real world details are infused with magical unique moments that set this apart from other witch fictions. If you enjoyed A Discovery of Witches, Practical Magic, and Kim Harrison’s Shadow Age series, then Portrait of a Witch Undone will have you spellbound.

The Art of Charming a Changeling
by Sylvie Cathral

The Art of Charming a Changeling is a sweet cozy fantasy set in a magical and more diverse Regency world where fairies are real and live in a world revolving around art. Florrie Hyverfell is a conservator, who on her first day working for a prince realizes that not only is a famous portrait a fake, but there is a trapped fairy, Vern, inside the painting. She has to find the original to keep her job and rescue Vern from captivity. Fans of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels will enjoy the clever humor and fantastic spin on historic fiction. This is also a great pick if you are looking for a fun, light fantasy romance beach read this summer. I was truly charmed by the world Cathral created which had as much whimsy of Alice in Wonderland including a giant butterfly who survives by sipping colors, which may be my new favorite animal sidekick. If you also enjoy The Art of Charming a Changeling, you can also check out Cathral’s Sunken Archives series.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager