Tea with Jam & Dread Vicki Delany I was new to Vicki Delany’s Tea by the Sea series of which Tea with Jam & Dread is the sixth book in the series. Most are set in Cape Code where Lily Roberts owns a tea shop next door to her grandmother’s Bed & Breakfast. However, in this novel, Lily along with her grandmother Rose and best friend head to England for a special 100th birthday gala for Rose’s former employer and dear friend Elizabeth, the dowager countess of Frockmorton, whose family’s castle is now running a hotel. Elizabeth’s family are loath to lose their blood blood status which provides plenty of drama. When there is first a murder and then a missing priceless necklace the trip becomes even more exciting than Lily could have ever imagined. I enjoyed the vivid way that Delany brings the setting to life and gives us an interesting postcard view of Yorkshire. I plan to check out other books in the series. If like me you are charmed by this story, Delany has written several other mystery series including The Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries, The Year Round Christmas Mysteries, the Constable Molly Smith Mysteries and the Ashley Grant Series.
Icing on the Murder Valerie Burns The protagonist of Valerie Burns’ Icing on the Murder also has plenty to celebrate with her wedding day drawing near. But on top of baking her own cake and one for a bridal expo, Madison is soon drawn into the mystery of a diva of a wedding planner’s demise. This is the fourth in the Baker Street Mystery series, which I’ve been meaning to check out for awhile. Madison is a great and unique mystery protagonist, a young black woman who previously was a social media influencer, but is now running a bakery she had inherited along with a giant bull mastiff named Baby. There is a little something for everyone in this novel, a sweet romance between Madison and her fiancé, a curious crime with plenty of potential culprits, strong family and found family bonds, and even at the end some tempting apple recipes based on dishes mentioned in the book. You can enjoy reading this book without having read the previous in the series, but if you are curious about how it all started I’ll have a review of book 1 in the series in my blog post Great Mysteries Pt 2 out next week.
Written by: Aimee Harris Information and Digital Services Manager
Adult Fiction Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver The teenage son of an Appalachian single mother, who dies when he is 11, uses his good looks, wit, and instincts to survive foster care, child labor, addiction, disastrous loves and crushing losses.
Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks A poignant love story about two young people who risk everything for a dream and try to leave the past behind. They will navigate the exhilarating heights and heartbreak of first love.
Lessons by Ian McEwan The story of one man’s life across generations and historical upheavals from his childhood in a boarding school to his marriage. As he searches for his vanished wife, he is forced to confront his restless existence.
The Last Chairlift by John Irving A young man moves from N.H. to Aspen, Colo., where he was conceived, to learn the truth about his mother, a former slalom skier and ski instructor. He meets some ghosts there involving his past.
Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout As the pandemic forces the world into lockdown, Lucy is uprooted from her life in NYC and whisked away to a small town in Maine by her exhusband. For several months, they relive their complex past together.
Mad Honey Jodi Picoult A married woman uproots from her ideal life in Boston to return to her hometown in N.H. to start over. Her teenage son then becomes a suspect in a murder when his new girlfriend is suspiciously killed.
Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng A 12 year-old Asian boy receives a mysterious letter and sets out on a quest to find his mother, a ChineseAmerican poet who left when he was nine. His journey leads him to NYC where a new act of defiance may bring about change.
Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell A compelling story about the young duchess Lucrezia de Medici who is thrust into the limelight upon the death of her older sister. She must adjust to an unfamiliar court where she’s not universally welcomed.
The Night Ship by Jess Kidd In 1629, a young orphaned girl is bound for the Dutch East Indies on the Batavia, one of the greatest ships of the Dutch Golden Age. She spends the long journey searching for a mythical monster above and below deck.
The Passenger by Cormac McCarthy After a plane crash in 1980, a salvage diver discovers that the pilot’s flight bag, the plane’s black box, and the 10th passenger are missing. He is drawn into a conspiracy beyond his understanding.
The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty An odd assortment of residents are struggling to survive in a low-cost and crumbling housing complex in the postindustrial Midwest. A bizarre act of violence finally changes all of their trapped and lonely lives forever.
The Winners by Fredrik Backman Two young Swedish people return to their small forest town and reunite with childhood friends. A new ice rink has been built, which has given folks optimism. However, an act of violence may change the mood.
Adult Nonfiction Starry Messenger by Neil deGrasse Tyson Tyson brings his cosmic perspective to civilization on Earth by shining new light on the crucial fault lines of our times: war, politics, religion, truth, beauty, gender, and race. His views stimulate a deeper sense of unity for us all.
And There Was Light by Jon Meacham This illuminating new portrait of Lincoln and the American struggle shows a very human, yet imperfect man. His moral antislavery commitment was essential to the story of justice in America.
The Queen: Her Life by Andrew Morton An in-depth look at Britain’s longest reigning monarch and how she influenced both Britain and the world for much of the last century, This reluctant, but resolute Queen was one of the greatest sovereigns of the modern era.
The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama A series of fresh stories and insightful reflections on change, challenge, and power. She shares the habits and principles she has developed to successfully adapt to change and overcome various obstacles.
Year of the Tiger by Alice Wong Essays, conversations, graphics, and photos are used as a scrapbook of Wong’s life as an Asian American disabled activist. She traces her origins, tells her story, and creates a space for disabled people to be in conversation with each other.
Finding Me by Viola Davis An emotional story from a crumbling apartment in R.I. to the stage in NYC and beyond. Awardwinning actress and icon, Davis examines her life journey with honesty & humility.
Invisible Kingdom by Meghan O’Rourke A landmark exploration of the rise of chronic illness and autoimmune diseases. These diseases are poorly understood, marginalized, and undiagnosed. A revealing investigation into “invisible” illnesses.
Hoboken Library Staff Picks 