Review - A Zoom With a View

Title:  A Zoom With a Vie

Author:   Jess Cannon

Publisher:   Dutton

Genre:   Cozy Mystery

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   384

Date of Publication:   May 5, 2026

My Rating:   3 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

A fiction debut filled with heart and humor, A Zoom with a View will make you want to move to Blue Oak—if only the annual Fourth of July festivities didn't end with a dead body.

Leo can't believe she's back in Blue Oak. Her small, quirky Texas hometown feels suffocating after trying to make it big as an English professor in New York—especially due to her strained relationship with her overly hair-sprayed mother, Karina. But with Leo’s career in academia in shambles, at least she's able to work as a photographer for her godmother's real estate business. And her best friend, Emily, is around to help her navigate through the mess—and maybe force her to reconnect with her old high school boyfriend, Mack.

But while at work, Leo makes a grisly discovery at one of her godmother's properties: the dead body of rival real estate agent and social media influencer Chaz. Even worse, Leo and Emily have been secretly running a snarky Reddit page making fun of Chaz’s cringe-inducing advice and duck-faced selfies. When someone she loves is accused of the murder, Leo finds herself flung headfirst into a dangerous investigation, teaming up with a local detective who is a lot more attractive than she remembered when they were both teenagers. Meanwhile, Karina has been acting stranger and stranger, as if all her hair hides a big secret. . . .

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

Leo finds herself thrown headfirst into a murder investigation. Despite the seriousness of what is going on around her, Leo is glad to have been able to spend time away for her position as an English professor. The setting of a professor turned snark Reddit page runner turned investigator is what we have in Jess Cannon’s enjoyable fiction debut.

This captivating mystery, infused with a delightful sense of humor, weaves a narrative that consistently references influencer culture. The ending left some intriguing questions unanswered, suggesting that this could be the first book in a series. Nevertheless, Jess Cannon’s exceptional creativity and storytelling prowess kept me engrossed throughout the entire read.

Many thanks to Dutton and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

BLOG TOUR - The Lady at the Lodging House

  

DESCRIPTION:

London, 1940. In a Mayfair townhouse behind a wide front door, three women must bond together to make it through the war – no matter their differences. 

A world away from the wealth and comfort of her family home, lord’s daughter Betony Styleshas come to love her new life at a London lodging house with Grace and Jess. Selling her beautiful gowns to pay for her rent and rations for the other girls, Betony is determined to do her bit.

By day she works in the factory sewing much-needed uniforms for the Women’s Air Force. At night, air raid sirens blaze – but Betony and the other girls do all they can to help in the hardest hit neighbourhoods, rescuing a precious newborn from the rubble. And she’s head over heels with her beau, brave Canadian pilot Winter Macpherson.

But her father believes duty to her family should come before her duty for her country. He demands she give up playing games and come home once and for all.

To stand up to her father and follow her own path, Betony needs Grace and Jess more than ever. But when Winter disappears, her heart shatters.

 Together, can the lodging house girls give each other hope even in the darkest times?

A completely unputdownable historical novel, perfect for fans of Jean Grainger, Lisa Wingate and Diney Costeloe. Your heart will break at this beautiful story of love, friendship and courage.

BUY LINK:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0GHZS3MKFsocial

Title:  The Lady at the Lodging House

Author:  Natalie Meg Evans

Series:   The Wartime Lodging House Book 3

Publisher:  Bookouture

Genre:   Historical Fiction 

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   391

Date of Publication:   May 6, 2026

My Rating:   5 Stars

MY THOUGHTS:

We met Grace and Jess in the first two books of the Wartime Lodging House trilogy, and in this final installment, it is Betony’s story that takes center stage. Set in London in 1940, the trilogy follows three women whose friendship sustains them through the hardships and heartbreak of World War II. Despite the danger and sorrow surrounding her, Betony finds herself deeply in love with serviceman Winter Macpherson, and it is those powerful feelings that continue to carry her forward.

I felt such a profound sense of warmth and connection throughout this series. Natalie Meg Evans has a remarkable ability to write with authenticity and emotional honesty, making her characters feel deeply relatable. Jess and Grace’s stories were moving, and Betony’s journey is equally affecting. Though the three women come from very different backgrounds, their lives become beautifully intertwined, creating a poignant and heartfelt narrative. It was especially difficult to witness the immense suffering Betony endured, particularly as her heart was repeatedly put at risk.

Leaving behind a life of comfort and defying the expectations of her controlling father, Betony takes a factory job in order to survive. The grief she carries during these turbulent times is immense, but it is not the only emotion that shapes her story. Hope, strengthened by enduring friendships and the love she holds for Winter, remains a constant presence throughout her journey.

The Lady at the Lodging House serves as a fitting and profoundly emotional conclusion to this trilogy. It’s a tale filled with heartbreak, resilience, friendship, and hope, beautifully capturing both the hardships and humanity of life during wartime. Natalie Meg Evans once again crafts characters that feel authentic and unforgettable, making this series a lasting impression that lingers long after the final page. As I bid farewell to these remarkable ladies, a deep sense of sadness washes over me.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Natalie Meg Evans has been an art student, actor, PR copywriter, book-keeper and bar tender but always wanted to write. A USA Today best-seller and RITA nominee, she is author of four published novels which follow the fortunes of strong-minded women during the 1930s and 40s. Fashion, manners and art are the glass through which her characters’ lives are viewed. Each novel is laced with passion, romance and desire. Mystery is never far away.

An avid absorber of history – for her sixth birthday she got a toy Arthurian castle with plastic knights – Natalie views historical fiction as theatre for the imagination. Her novels delve behind the scenes of a prestige industry: high fashion, millinery, theatre, wine making. Rich arenas for love and conflict. Most at home in the English countryside, Natalie lives in rural Suffolk. She has one son.

• Mailing List: https://bookouture.com/subscribe/natalie-meg-evans
• Website: https://www.blythe-evans.com/
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Review - Where the Water Meets the Sky

Title:  Where the Water Meets the Sky

Author:  Diane Les Becquets

Publisher:   Simon & Schuster

Genre:   Literary Fiction

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   320

Date of Publication:   May 5, 2026

My Rating:   4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

For readers of Tell Me Everything and Heartwood, Where the Water Meets the Sky is the story of a brave young woman seeking wholeness and love in the untamed forests of Michigan’s upper peninsula—and answers about a fire that took away everything.

On a night in January, on the Garden Peninsula of Michigan, a farmhouse burns to the ground. A young child makes it out and flees into the woods with a book of matches in her hand.

Ten years later, Abby, a lover of birds and the natural world, returns to Garden, to the woods and lakes and farms and fisheries of her childhood, to assist her uncle on an environmental study of trees. Her best friend, Brew, invites her to a party where she meets a troubled girl named Seda, on the run from her abusive ex. Abby sets out to protect Seda and introduces her to an abandoned cabin that becomes a sanctuary for them both. Here, Abby begins to process her unrequited feelings for Brew while also discovering the person she is becoming. She wants more for her life, a hunger both spiritual and physical, and seeks to understand the trauma of her childhood that took her mother from her. Abby cares deeply for the people and flora and fauna around her and identifies with the wounds of the environment. She is desperate to remember what happened the night of the fire and as the summer of 1996 unfolds, Abby will be forced to reckon with the truth.

Perfect for fans of the lush and tender nature writing of Helen Macdonald and Richard Powers, Where the Water Meets the Sky is a coming-of-age novel that expertly delves into the connection between our perception of ourselves and our natural environs. It is a paean to the vast and beautiful wildscape around us and to the power of community and the wisdom of love.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

The memory of a burning farmhouse on Michigan’s Garden Peninsula is one that Abby has carried with her for years. The fire was accidental, but the loss it caused was immeasurable. Now older, Abby returns to Garden to assist her uncle with a study he is preparing. Her uncle’s passion is trees, while Abby’s heart belongs to birds, making them a perfect team.

But Abby’s journey is shaped by more than the landscape and the lingering memory of the fire. Her relationships, both old and new, become just as meaningful. Her longtime friend Brew and her new friend Seda each play an important role in Abby’s life, and watching those friendships deepen and evolve adds so much warmth to the story.

One of the most touching aspects of the novel is Abby’s care for the injured birds she nurses. Those moments are written with such tenderness and compassion, and they beautifully reflect Abby’s own emotional growth. Diane Les Becquets captures Abby’s connection to nature in a way that feels vivid and heartfelt.

The mystery and emotional weight surrounding the fire continue to shape Abby throughout the novel, leading to some especially moving moments. Combined with the author’s beautiful writing and the gradual unfolding of Abby’s personal growth, particularly in her relationships and understanding of herself, this becomes a thoughtful and deeply rewarding story that I would highly recommend.

Many thanks to Simon & Schuster and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Diane Les Becquets is the author of BREAKING WILD and THE LAST WOMAN IN THE FOREST. Breaking Wild, an Indie Next Pick and a national bestseller, received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, and Booklist, and was featured on NPR’s "Morning Edition." It was the recipient of the Colorado Book Award in Fiction, the New Hampshire Outstanding Work of Fiction, and was shortlisted for the Reading the West Book Award in Fiction. Her newest novel, WHERE THE WATER MEETS THE SKY, will be published by Simon & Schuster on May 5, 2026.

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BLOG TOUR - The Afternoon Tea Murders

Title:   The Afternoon Tea Murders

Author:  Helena Dixon

Series:  The Secret Detective Agency #4
Publisher:  Bookouture

Genre:   Cozy Mystery

Format:  Kindle ARC 

No. of Pages:  264

Date of Publication:   April 29, 2026

My Rating: 4 Stars 

DESCRIPTION:  

Tea and cake on the terrace, views of the Devon hills… and a dead body in the local village? This is one for Jane Treen…!

London, 1942. Miss Jane Treen is at her desk in Whitehall sipping a strong coffee when she receives an urgent message about her colleague, codebreaker Arthur Cilento. He’s in danger in Devon, and Jane needs to get there sharpish. But before her bags are properly unpacked, the local teashop owner in Arthur’s village is found lying amidst the scones and teacakes… and she’s dead.

When Jane arrives, it quickly becomes clear that the murder is a half-baked attempt to curdle Arthur’s current codebreaking mission – but how? There seem to be suspects at every turn. Is Arthur’s boss going to extremes to cover up his incompetence? Can the teashop customers be trusted? And what about the secretary, who seems to have secret links to the village teashop…

Spurred on by scones and clotted cream, Jane and Arthur start to whip up a theory as to who the killer could be. But just as they begin to make progress, someone else is murdered – and it looks like Arthur could be next. It’s clear they need to solve this case quickly, before teatime is over and Arthur meets a sticky end…

If you love twisty crime novels, top-secret intrigue and the very best of Golden Age mysteries, then you will adore Helena Dixon’s utterly gripping cozy novel, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Verity Bright! 

MY THOUGHTS:

Miss Jane Treen is on another assignment, this time under the guise of conducting an audit, so naturally her presence - and her questions - shouldn’t raise suspicion. In previous cases, Jane worked alongside Arthur Cilento, but now Arthur himself is in danger, and there’s no one better suited to help than Jane.

Accompanied, as always, by her one-eyed cat Marmaduke, Jane makes an unexpected trip to Devon. From the moment she arrives, she senses something suspicious lurking beneath the surface. Secrets abound, making the investigation far more complicated than she anticipated. When a local tea shop owner is murdered, Jane is determined to uncover the truth before the killer strikes again.

With its charming setting, engaging mystery, and the growing appeal of Jane as a protagonist, this was an excellent addition to the series. I’ve grown more attached to Jane with each book, and this installment was no exception.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Helena Dixon is the author of the best-selling Miss Underhay murder mystery series and lives in Devon. Married to the same man for over thirty-five years she has three daughters, a cactus called Spike, and a crazy cockapoo. She is allergic to adhesives, apples, tinsel and housework. She was winner of The Romance Prize in 2007 and Love Story of the Year 2010 as Nell Dixon.

Social Media 

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/NellDixon

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/helenadixonuk

Bookouture Email Sign Up: https://www.bookouture.com/helena-dixon

SERIES REVIEW - The Thursday Murder Club

 Link to shop the series

The beloved and New York Times bestselling series from Richard Osman, also author of We Solve Murders 

Four septuagenarians with a few tricks up their sleeves

A female cop with her first big case

A brutal murder

Welcome to...
THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB

In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet weekly in the Jigsaw Room to discuss unsolved crimes; together they call themselves the Thursday Murder Club. 

When a local developer is found dead with a mysterious photograph left next to the body, the Thursday Murder Club suddenly find themselves in the middle of their first live case. 

As the bodies begin to pile up, can our unorthodox but brilliant gang catch the killer, before it's too late?

     four stars across the series

Earlier I finished book five in the Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman. After I finished the second book I watched the Netflix movie.  I was very happy with the actors chosen for those roles.

In the upscale retirement home, Coopers Chase, four retirees (septuagenarians) get together each Thursday to work on puzzles together. Well, no, they get together to reexamine cold cases so they can “help” the police to solve these cases. In the first book, someone is found dead - a real live murder - and they take it upon themselves, with the help of a rookie police constable, to solve the murder. Meanwhile, they are also trying to hold on to their lovely little community. 

There were five books in the series, and I enjoyed all of them. I loved the time spent with Joyce, Elizabeth, Ibrahim and Ron. “Meeting” them on the Netflix movie really endeared all of them to me.

The most “fun” books were four and five. Book four took on a strong emotional edge and I couldn’t put it down. Book five there were codes that would get them the answers they need. Factor in the trouble they got themselves in over and over again, and it was a nice cozy series.

I love that we had the last book in the series (Perhaps?). Yeah, it was time. However, guess what? I got We Solve Murders - a new series and a new cast of players and it came in via Libby just this week.  

One more thing. There were nice brief interviews with Osman at the end of the first four audiobooks. A nice peek into his ideas and writing process.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Richard Osman is an author and television presenter. His novels, The Thursday Murder Club, The Man Who Died Twice, The Bullet That Missed, The Last Devil to Die, and We Solve Murders were number one international bestsellers as well as New York Times bestsellers. He lives in London with his wife, Ingrid, and their cats Liesl and Lottie. The movie adaptation for The Thursday Murder Club released in 2025, produced by Amblin Entertainment.

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SERIES REVIEW - Ian Ludlow Thrillers

Link to shop the series

Spy and espionage novels are not usually my go-to genre, though I do love the Orphan X series by Gregg Hurwitz. I had previously read Lee Goldberg’s co-authored The Heist and the rest of the Fox and O’Hare series with Janet Evanovich, so whenever I saw one of Goldberg’s books appear on NetGalley, I grabbed it - even if I never quite got around to reading most of them at the time.

As I slowly chip away at my NetGalley backlog, I often check Libby or Hoopla to see whether books have since been released in audiobook format. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that almost all of Lee Goldberg’s backlist is available on Kindle Unlimited in both ebook and audiobook editions, which makes for great immersive reading.

Since many of the books are relatively short - often under 300 pages - I decided to start with the Ian Ludlow trilogy. Between my enjoyment of the Fox and O’Hare books and knowing Goldberg also wrote the Monk tie-in novels and other TV-related series, I had a strong feeling I would enjoy more of his work.

I would describe the Ian Ludlow series as a blend of Orphan X by Hurwitz and David Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter series, which I absolutely love. Add in some PG-13 language and content, along with a healthy dose of humor, and that gives you a pretty good idea of what to expect from the Ian Ludlow series.

The premise is fantastic: a thriller writer whose fictional plots keep colliding with real-world espionage and international conspiracies. Is Ian simply a novelist, or is there something more to him? Why does he continually find himself caught in increasingly dangerous situations?

Packed with action, suspense, sharp humor, and entertaining characters, this was a thoroughly enjoyable trilogy from start to finish.

Review - The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives

Title:  The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives

Author:  Jenny Kane   

Publisher:  Hodder & Stoughton

Series:  The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives #1

Genre:   Cozy Mystery

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   356

Date of Publication:   April 2, 2026

My Rating:   4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Don't miss this brand-new cozy crime mystery series, perfect for fans of Clare Chase and Peter Boland - available to pre-order now!

There's some fishy business happening in the idyllic Cornish village of Mousehole. As a killer begins to make waves, can these new amateur detectives solve the mystery?

Maggie Tyson loves living in the utterly charming village, Mousehole. She spends her days walking the local coastal paths, solving the latest crossword puzzle, and working in the small town's only fish and chip shop.

Looking for a fresh start, Ryan Stepney is in desperate need of a job, and stumbles across a vacancy at the chip shop.

When a body is found by the harbour, shock ripples through the village. And as Ryan was the last person seen talking to the victim, he becomes the number one suspect in the investigation.

Maggie is certain that her new colleague had nothing to do with the murder, so swaps her apron for a magnifying glass, and starts to investigate herself.

Can Maggie prove Ryan's innocence and reel in the killer, before they strike again? 

The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives
Forty-eight-year-old Maggie is a lover of puzzles. When she's not working at Robbins' Fish and Chip Shop, she can be found on her sofa, nursing a cup of tea and solving the latest mystery thrown at the detectives in Death in Paradise, Midsommer Murders and more. Maggie finds an unlikely friend in Ryan, a recent graduate who has just moved to Mousehole and is trying to figure out what to do with his life. Together, they serve up the best fish and chips Cornwall has to offer, with an occasional helping of mystery solving on the side.

The Setting
Mousehole is a picturesque fishing village in Cornwall, known for its scenic harbour, winding streets, and tiny sandy beach. It's also home to Robbins' Fish and Chip Shop, the only chippy in town. Tourists and locals alike enjoy a battered cod whilst admiring the calm waterfront. Mr Robbins, the owner, is notoriously private - no one knows much about him. Perhaps that's another mystery for our Fish and Chip Shop Detectives to solve...

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

Cozy mystery series are a favorite of mine, and this book by Jenny Kane was a delight. In this story we meet Maggie Tyson and Ryan Stepney. As the owner of a fish and chip shop, Maggie would love to spend the majority of her free time working on crossword puzzles, or even taking a walk in the fresh air. But, no, she soon finds herself embroiled in the mystery of a body found by the harbor. 

As the much younger Ryan has just begun working for Maggie, he becomes involved as well. Ryan has another reason for being involved in the investigation - he was the last to see the victim alive, and thus the police are looking at him as the chief suspect.

What a fun start in what promises to be an enjoyable new series. I already have the second book on my Kindle, and it releases in June. 

Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.