Audiobook Review: Knave of Diamonds by Laurie R. King

Knave of Diamonds
Author: Laurie R. King
Narrator: Amy Scanlon, Steven Crossley, Jefferson Mays
Series: Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes (Book 19)
Publication: Recorded Books (June 10, 2025)
Length: 9 hours and 39 minutes

Description: Mary Russell’s allegiances are tested by the reappearance of her long-lost uncle—and a tantalizing case not even Sherlock Holmes could solve.

When Mary Russell was a child, she adored her black sheep Uncle Jake. But she hasn’t heard from him in many years, and she assumed that his ne’er-do-well ways had brought him to a bad end somewhere—until he presents himself at her Sussex door. Yes, Jake is back, and with a load of problems for his clever niece. Not the least of which is the reason the family rejected him in the first place: He was involved—somehow—in the infamous disappearance of the Irish Crown Jewels from an impregnable safe in Dublin Castle.

It was a theft that shook a government, enraged a king, threatened the English establishment—and baffled not only the Dublin police and Scotland Yard, but Sherlock Holmes himself. And, now, Jake expects Russell to step into the middle of it all? To slip away with him, not telling Holmes what she’s up to? Knowing that the theft—unsolved, hushed-up, scandalous—must have involved Mycroft Holmes as well?

Naturally, she can do nothing of the sort. Siding with her uncle, even briefly, could only place her in opposition to both her husband-partner and his secretive and powerful brother. She has to tell Jake no.

On the other hand, this is Jake—her father’s kid brother, her childhood hero, the beloved and long-lost survivor of a much-diminished family.

Conflicting loyalties and international secrets, blatant lies and blithe deceptions: sounds like another case for Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes.

My Thoughts: Uncle Jake comes back in this 19th Sherlock Holmes/Mary Russell historical mystery. 

When Mary and Sherlock return home from Sherlock's son Damien's wedding, a visitor is waiting. Sherlock needs to travel to London to meet with his brother Mycroft. So Mary is home alone when her Uncle Jake makes his reappearance.

Uncle Jake is the family black sheep. He's a thief and a confidence man. But he is also Mary's only family and he has a problem. Some years earlier, he had been involved in the disappearance of the Irish Regalia although no one knew it at the time.

The case had all sorts of repercussions for Ireland and the British Crown. The theft threatened to open up a major scandal considering that the specter of homosexuality threatens both King and country. The jewels had never been recovered. Now, hints of their location are leaking.

Told in three viewpoints, the story details the hunt for the Irish Regalia from Mary, Jake, and Sherlock's points of view. 

This was another fun adventure for Holmes and Russell and lets us meet a character we've heard about in previous books. I enjoy the mix of real and fictional characters in this series. 

I bought this one November 1, 2025. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Midnight in the House of Commons by Charles Finch

Midnight in the House of Commons
Author: Charles Finch
Series: Charles Lenox Mysteries (Book 16)
Publication: Minotaur Books (November 3, 2026)

Description: Amateur sleuth Charles Lenox investigates the murder of a Parliament member, moving through the glamorous high society of Victorian London in the next novel from acclaimed author Charles Finch.

In the spring of 1881, Lenox is caught up in the whirl of London life when his brother arrives to tell him that there’s been a murder in the House of Commons. Robert Baddeley, a charismatic, womanizing Member, has been found poisoned in the hallowed chamber itself. Suspicion immediately falls on the women in his life, including his wife and mistress, but as Lenox digs deeper, he realizes that there were more than a few people who might have wanted Baddeley dead.

Meanwhile, Lenox must balance his investigation with his family life, which has grown increasingly complicated: his ward Sari struggles with heartbreak, the Lenox household receives an odd visitor, and a young woman comes to Lenox to implore him to find her fiancé, who has mysteriously vanished.

And just when Lenox is nearing the truth of Baddeley’s murder, someone close to him is arrested for the crime―and Lenox must race to solve the case before losing everything.

Joyfully set in ballrooms, supper parties, palaces, and Parliament Midnight in the House of Commons takes Charles Lenox through his trickiest, most satisfying case yet.

My Thoughts: The sixteenth Charles Lenox mystery has as its centerpiece the murder of a Member of the House of Commons on the floor of the House. A single earring, a note, and an unplanned supper are the clues that Charles has to follow.

Robert Baddeley was a charming womanizer with surprising influence in the House despite his relatively short tenure there. The first suspects that come to mind are the women in his life. He has a wife and a series of lovers. But there might also be a political motive for his death. The vote on the Poor Bill is coming up, and it looks like the more progressive party of which Charles' brother Edmund is a shining light is going to fall short of success by one vote. Baddeley's death would give Edmund's party the win.

While this is the main case on Charles' agenda, he is also trying to help a poor young woman find out why her suitor abandoned her. He is also dealing with his ward Sari's broken heart as her suitor has also abandoned her. 

I enjoyed this mystery. I like the Victorian setting as the story takes place in 1881. I like that Charles' wife Lady Jane is very involved in the Suffrage movement. I like that Charles is in a good place in his life with a successful business and a happy family. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (October 26, 2026)

 It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Want to See What I Added to My Stack? links to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Marlene at Reading Reality.

Other Than Reading...

This week was a pretty quiet one. I finished my reread of the Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold. Now I need to concentrate on Review copies since I have a bunch being released on November 10.

I hit 30 days of listening for Audible Rewards and earned a $5 gift certificate to use at Audible. The next reward comes at 100 days of listening. I won't hit that one until February at the earliest. It does require only 5+ minutes a day of listening which is easy since I tend to listen for hours at a time. 

I added one new Review copy, two Kindle books including one to go with one of my Bujold audiobooks, and one audiobook using an Audible Credit. The review book I'm reading right now seems to me to be mislabeled. They say Romantic Comedy. However, it is reminding me a lot of a modernized version of The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown which is more suspense and what led me to adding Angels & Demons to my Audible collection all eighteen hours of it.

This week along with watching the World Series (Go, Brewers!) I'll try to concentrate on lowering my stack of Review copies which is currently sitting at 43 books. I'll also be doing some record keeping as November hits. I have my State of the Stack post to finish and updates to both my Google Sheets reading list and LibraryThing account. Since LibraryThing's changes, I'm not really looking forward to learning how to add a new collection (November) but hopefully it won't be too hard. 

Read Last Week

• The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow by Caitriona Moran (Review, November 3) -- Epic fantasy. My review will be posted on October 29.
• Sunflower Season by Danica Nava (Review, November 3) -- Contemporary romance. My review will be posted on October 29)
• Winterfair Gifts by Lois McMaster Bujold (Kindle, Mine since December 26, 2020) -- Novella in the Vorkosigan series. 

• A Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold (Audiobook reread)
• Diplomatic Immunity by Lois McMaster Bujold (Audiobook reread)

• Captain Vorpatril's Alliance by Lois McMaster Bujold (Audiobook reread)
• Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold (Audiobook reread)
• Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen by Lois McMaster Bujold (Audiobook reread)

• Loki's Wolves by K. L. Armstrong & Melissa Marr (Kindle, Mine since October 8) -- First is a middle grade fantasy based on Norse mythology. My review will be posted on October 30.
• Tonight and Always by Nora Roberts (Audiobook, Mine since September 30) -- Vintage Nora Roberts romance. My review will be posted on November 17.

Currently

• The Case of the Christie Wedding Affair by Kelly Oliver (Audiobook, Mine since October 6)
• You, Me, & the Conspiracy by Emma Barry (Review, November 10)

Next Week

• Murder of a Merry Gentleman by Celeste Connally (Review, November 10)
• Thunderbird Ranch by Laura Griffin (Review, November 10)
• Bad Company by Sara Paretsky (Review, November 10)

• Fall for a Fairytale by Isabelle Taylor (Review, November 10)
• Infinite Wisdom by Thomas R. Weaver (Review, November 10)
• The Riddle Maker by Bruce Borgos (Review, November 17)

Reviews Posted

• Enchanting the Fae Queen by Stephanie Burgis (Audiobook)
• A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan (Audiobook)
• Joy to the Bones by Carolyn Haines (Review copy)

• Murder at Pellhurst Pond by Clara McKenna (Review copy)
• Murder in the Upper Crust by Mindy Quigley (Review copy)
• The Bone Woman by Paige Shelton (Review copy)

Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?

Review:

• Coffee & Conjuring by Isla Jewell (Review, February 17)

Bought:

• Angels and Demons by Dan Brown (Audiobook, Audible Credit)
• Bears Behaving Badly by MaryJanice Davidson (Kindle, $.99)
• Diplomatic Immunity by Lois McMaster Bujold (Kindle, $6.99)

What was your week like?

Audiobook Review: A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan

A Natural History of Dragons
Author: Marie Brennan

Narrator: Kate Reading
Series: A Natural History of Dragons (Book 1)
Publication: Tor Books (February 5, 2013); Macmillan Audio (November 15, 2013)

Length: 10 hours and 17 minutes

Description: First in a fantasy series combining adventure with the inquisitive spirit of the Victorian Age.

"You, dear reader, continue at your own risk. It is not for the faint of heart—no more so than the study of dragons itself. But such study offers rewards beyond compare: to stand in a dragon's presence, even for the briefest of moments—even at the risk of one's life—is a delight that, once experienced, can never be forgotten. . . ."

All the world, from Scirland to the farthest reaches of Eriga, know Isabella, Lady Trent, to be the world's preeminent dragon naturalist. She is the remarkable woman who brought the study of dragons out of the misty shadows of myth and misunderstanding into the clear light of modern science. But before she became the illustrious figure we know today, there was a bookish young woman whose passion for learning, natural history, and, yes, dragons defied the stifling conventions of her day.

Here at last, in her own words, is the true story of a pioneering spirit who risked her reputation, her prospects, and her fragile flesh and bone to satisfy her scientific curiosity; of how she sought true love and happiness despite her lamentable eccentricities; and of her thrilling expedition to the perilous mountains of Vystrana, where she made the first of many historic discoveries that would change the world forever.

My Thoughts: This historical fantasy tells the story of Isabella, Lady Trent, who is famous for her studies of dragons. It is told as a memoir in her own voice beginning from her initial enthusiasm begun as a child to her first expedition at age 19.

Set in a Victorian analog, Isabella is an unusual girl for her interest in natural history, but she is also a determined one. As an upper-class woman, her role is clear: marry and make a home for her husband. When she goes husband hunting at seventeen, she chooses a man who has an equal interest in natural history in the hopes that he will still allow her to read and study in that field.

After a miscarriage at about eighteen, her husband is offered a place in an expedition to the mountains of Vystrana and convinces the leader to take her along in the role of the expedition's secretary and artist. This story tells about her adventures and discoveries there.

This was an excellent story that works really well as an audiobook. I am eager to listen to the rest of her adventures. 

I bought this one August 20 and added the audiobook for $8.50 on September 24. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: The Bone Woman by Paige Shelton

The Bone Woman
Author: Paige Shelton
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (October 27, 2026)

Description: As a renowned forensic consultant digs into a case that could reconnect her with her long-missing father, she uncovers dark truths about her desert hometown.

This twisty, atmospheric mystery from New York Time bestselling author Paige Shelton will send chills racing down readers’ spines.

The desert runs through Hazel Dylan’s marrow. She grew up on the edge of The Wild, an untamed expanse outside her hometown of Black Vulture, Arizona. She became fascinated with bones as a child while observing her taxidermist father, Wilmot, until he disappeared without a trace decades ago. Now, after years of study and countless cases, she’s known as the Bone Woman. She can read the dark stories that bones tell.

When a hiker makes a disturbing discovery in The Wild—bleached human bones arranged with surgical precision into a taxidermy-like sculpture of a coyote mid-howl—Sheriff Calloway summons Hazel to the scene. Not just for her formidable expertise but because it looks like it could be Wilmot’s work. Could Hazel’s father be behind this twisted creation? Are these his bones?

Hazel doesn’t want to believe either is true, but after another sculpture is found and Wilmot’s well-known talisman—a rogue finger bone—is discovered amid both sets of remains, she can’t deny the optics.

As the case takes Hazel deep into her past, she unearths long-buried secrets. And with time running out, she’ll have to risk her own skin to catch the killer.

My Thoughts: Hazel Dylan grew up in Black Vulture, Arizona, on the edge of The Wild. Her father was a taxidermist who raised her alone after her mother died in childbirth. However, her father disappeared without a trace when Hazel was 13. Hazel was watched over by the town and by Sheriff Calloway who has been one of her father's friends. 

Twenty years have passed and Hazel has built her reputation as someone who knows bones. She consults with law enforcement and others all over the world. So, when Sheriff Calloway calls her to look at something he's found, she isn't surprised. However, the find rocks her world and has her looking back to the time of her father's disappearance which is a time period where Hazel has memory gaps.

Someone has turned a collection of human bones into an object the resembles a mounted animal from her father's collection. An extra bone similar to one her father always carried with him makes the tie to her father very clear. 

A second find of human bones shaped to resemble a desert scorpion and also made of human bones makes the situation even eerier. Hazel and Calloway need to identify the people whose bones were used in such a perverse way and identify the person making the installations. 

Since we also have sections from the point of view of the perpetrator, we know that his final goal is to kill Hazel and turn her into his next art project. We also learn that he is hiding himself in clear sight in Black Vulture. 

There are a number of new people in Black Vulture who might be the killer. The new people include a new police chief and deputy, a new scientist from The Institute, and a visiting professor from Boulder who has an interest in these sorts of bone sculptures. And some of the other residents are keeping secrets too.

This was an entertaining mystery. I liked Hazel who has a unique fascination and knowledge of bones. I look forward to reading more about her in future stories. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Murder in the Upper Crust by Mindy Quigley

Murder in the Upper Crust
Author: Mindy Quigley
Series: Deep Dish Mysteries (Book 6)
Publication: Minotaur (October 27, 2026)

Description: The sixth book in the delectable Deep Dish Mystery series, set in a Wisconsin pizzeria.

Chef Delilah O’Leary is going where no deep dish pizza chef has gone before: a swanky wellness retreat, where she's agreed to cater for a crowd of the who’s who. Instead of cashing a fat check for an easy gig, though, she encounters a diabolical plot with more layers than one of her signature pies.

The exclusive event, hosted by superstar guru Rhiannon Frost, promises inner transformation―but when a spiteful attendee turns up dead during the guided meditation, Delilah smells more than incense in the air. Every guest has a motive…and access to a sinister walled garden brimming with exotic poisonous plants.

With her restaurant short-staffed, and her boyfriend, Detective Calvin Capone, splitting his time between bartender duties and undercover sleuthing, Delilah’s got her hands full. Can she slice through the lies before the killer strikes again? Or will this luxe getaway turn into a one-way trip to the great beyond?

My Thoughts: Chef Delilah O'Leary finds herself at a swank wellness retreat. Her sous chef Sonya's new girlfriend Willow Wilson has a new job working for Rhiannon Frost who has made her name with her philosophy and through her latest best-selling book. Rhiannon is hosting a seminar at Nightshade Garden which is owned by Jay Mazur who was a famous rock star. 

Jay and his daughter SilverMoon who is dating Delilah's ex Sam are working together to turn Nightshade Garden into a profitable event center. SilverMoon has a business dealing aromatherapy, candles and essential oils which she hopes Rhiannon will advertise at her seminars. 

When the caterer for the event backs out, Sonya and Willow beg Delilah to take over. She reluctantly agrees since both she and her boyfriend Capone have the days off and Delilah had other plans for things that they could do together. 

The first thing Delilah notices is the tension at the seminar. Sure, Sonya is worried about introducing Willow to her overwhelming mother Fran, but there is more. One of the attendees spends her time glaring at Rhiannon, SilverMoon and Rhiannon's publisher are holding secret meetings where Delilah overhears the word blackmail, and Rhiannon is driving Willow crazy by asking her to do three people's jobs and being really passive-aggressive to her. 

When the glaring woman is found murdered by the smoke from a poisoned candle, it is up the Capone, Delilah, and the new Chief of Police to solve the crime before all the rich attendees scatter to the ends of the earth. 

This was another excellent episode in this series. I like Delilah's practicality and the way even she gets swept up, at least momentarily, by the dazzling Rhiannon. The new police chief is a hoot with the way she keeps going off on verbal tangents. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Murder at Pellhurst Pond by Clara McKenna

Murder at Pellhurst Pond
Author: Clara McKenna
Series: Stella and Lyndy Mysteries (Book 8)
Publication: Kensington (October 27, 2026)

Description: Viscount “Lyndy” Lyndhurst and his wife Stella, an American "Dollar Princess," dive into a new investigation after discovering a body in a pond on the estate of a man rumored to have killed his wife…

When a hot air balloon lands near Morrington Hall, it draws the attention of Stella and Lyndy as well as others, including Quentin Lockyear, son-in-law of Reuben Woodridge, a recluse who is suspected of murdering his wife. Quentin is keen to invest in aeronautic ships and automobiles, and invites Stella and Lyndy to Woodridge’s estate, Exbury Lodge.

Upon their arrival, they meet the mysterious patriarch, accompanied by his nurse, and his daughter, Enid. Reuben takes Stella and Lyndy on a tour of his stables and a large mill pond on the property, encouraging them to take his skiff out whenever they like. Returning the next day for a bird shoot, the couple go for a ride in the skiff only to discover a body in the pond.

The woman is dressed in expensive clothes but has no identification on her. An accidental drowning? Suicide? What is she doing on the property? When an autopsy reveals traces of poison, Stella and Lyndy attempt to discover who she was and who might have had a reason to do her harm. Rumors aside, what secrets are they hiding at Exbury Lodge?

My Thoughts: Stella and Lyndy next mystery begins when they discover the body of a well-dressed young woman while boating in the mill pond at Exbury Lodge. Reuben Woodbridge who owns the lodge was once a friend of Lyndy's father but has become a reclused since the death of his wife and rumors of his complicity in the death. 

Reuben's daughter and her husband are trying to convince him to move with them to London where his financial business is. He doesn't want to leave his home and horses. His health is failing and his young nurse isn't very competent at nursing. And his grandson seems to have a gambling problem. 

When the grandson is also found dead in an apparent fall from a horse, Stella and Lyndy's best suspect for the death of the young woman takes eliminates himself leaving them looking for someone who wanted both of them dead. 

Reuben's son-in-law has been trying to convince him to invest in the latest crazes for balloons and fast cars and has gathered balloonists and auto enthusiasts to try to convince him. While the son-in-law is a possible suspect since he has clear financial motives for getting his father-in-law out of the way, he wouldn't have had any reason to kill the young woman. 

Stella and Lyndy have lots to sort out including a postmistress with a grudge against Reuben and a nurse who is acting in a suspicious manner. All the while Stella is under pressure from her own mother-in-law because she's been married for a year and is not yet pregnant. Stella seems to be surrounded by mothers and babies which makes her feel jealous and deficient.

This was an interesting and entertaining episode in the Stella and Lyndy series. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.