SeriesAlice Pepper Lonely Hearts and Puzzle Club #3
PublisherKensington Cozies
GenreCozy Mystery
FormatKindle ARC
Pages367
Pub. DateJuly 28, 2026
Rating⭐⭐⭐⭐
DESCRIPTION
If her life were a puzzle, librarian Alice Pepper would be constantly adding pieces to it. Starting over after a divorce has opened up her world. Everyone in the small Oregon town that Alice calls home has something to add to the big picture. But the murder of one of their own leaves a gaping hole . . .
Alice is excited that the library is going to host its first-ever speed-puzzling competition—until time runs out on a prominent local woman. Glamorous realtor to the rich, Babe Kinkaid, is found floating in her own infinity pool. What police first suspect is an accident or medical crisis turns out to be a homicide when the autopsy reveals that Babe has been shot.
Alice faces a ticking clock in this investigation. There are a lot of moving pieces, and before she can shake loose a killer, an explosion and disappearance throw the town into even more of a tumult. It’s up to Alice to click all the clues into place before those nearest and dearest to her become the next victims . . .
I’d love for my life to be a puzzle, with the joy and satisfaction of solving it along the way. Perhaps this is what librarian Alice Pepper experiences. However, not by choice. A divorce has resulted in forcing Alice to start over. She loves her job as a librarian, and solving jigsaw puzzles is one of her favorite hobbies
With her library being chosen to host a speed-puzzling competition, Alice couldn’t be more excited. However, her enthusiasm is dampened Babe Kincaid, a prominent local realtor, is found dead. The police are trying to determine the cause of her death and as they begin to piece together what happened, the truth proves to be shocking.
Alice decides to do what she has become quite accustomed to lately: solve a murder. Despite being successful before, this time things might be different. Babe led a complicated life, leaving behind several men who may have and their own reasons for wanting her dead. Factor in her own family issues, Alice just might be overwhelmed. While solving jigsaw puzzles can help develop problem-solving skills, Alice soon discovers that putting the pieces of real life together is an entirely different challenge, especially when nefarious motives are involved.
I love this series! The previous books, Puzzle Me a Murder and That Missing Piece is Killing Me, were thoroughly entertaining, and this latest installment is equally enjoyable. I watching Alice searching for clues, and gradually putting the pieces together. Seeing her in her element has is such a pleasure, and Roz Noonan has once again delivered an enjoyable cozy mystery that kept me entertained. I’m already hoping Alice will be returned for another puzzling adventure!
Many thanks to Kensington Cozies and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rosalind Noonan is a New York Times bestselling author of contemporary fiction. A former editor in New York City, she currently writes fiction for Kensington Publishing and the Laura Mori Mysteries for Crooked Lane.
In collaboration with friends and bestselling authors Lisa Jackson and Nancy Bush, she has written two suspense thrillers set in Wyoming: Sinister and Ominous. Her work has appeared in anthologies with Lisa Jackson, Nancy Bush and Fern Michaels.
Her Christmas Chicklit novel Charming Christmas was made into a film for the Hallmark Channel starring David Sutcliffe and Julie Bentz. She helped produce two monster TV movies for children based on a children’s book series she created called Shadow Zone. Oscar-winning actor Ron Silver appeared in one of those films, Undead Express, which appeared on Showtime.
The cottage sits pretty with ornate, stone walls and embers still glowing cozy in the fireplace within, the remnants of a happy, sheltered life. But a woman's body lies still on the floor, her frozen face smeared with blood-red lipstick.
Detective Morgan Brookes thinks she’s seen it all, but goosebumps prickle her flesh as she walks inside a beautiful limestone cottage in Rydal Falls to find an innocent young woman strangled to death. The killer has applied lipstick to Rachel Hart and pressed her lips to a letter to seal it with a kiss.
Scrawled handwriting confirms this killer has already chosen his next victim, but the careful, calculated scene only frustrates Morgan when she finds no more clues. Rachel’s solitary life, dedicated to her tabby cat and barely speaking to her sister, yields no suspects. Until Morgan finds out about an argument between Rachel and her cleaner. Did the ex-employee murder her in cold blood and cover his tracks?
Finding two photos of Rachel in a Ziplock bag inside the cleaner’s home, Morgan’s team lock him up. And when Morgan receives a hysterical call from a mother after finding her only daughter strangled, another letter buried at the scene, she should be able to tell the woman justice has already been served. But something about this case just doesn’t feel right. The timelines don’t add up, and Morgan feels watched in her own home. Can she uncover the truth and find this killer, or is she already too late to save the next victim?
Fans of Angela Marsons, Lisa Regan and Rachel Abbott will devour this unforgettable rollercoaster of a crime thriller late into the night.
The Detective Morgan Brookes series is 19 books in and continues to impress me just as much as all of the previous installments. In this book, Morgan's latest case begins when a woman has been murdered. As Morgan looks at the victim’s body, it is clear that it has been staged, and with a letter left on the victim that indicates a clear signature, Morgan is certain that the killer is in no way finished. Can she and her team work quickly enough to prevent another young woman from losing her life?
As Morgan delves into the victim’s life, nothing jumps out at her that points to motive. When she does find a clue, she acts with swift determination to identify and stop the killer before they claim another victim. Sadly, when a very distraught mother calls Morgan, it is with the devastating news that she found her daughter dead. Although Morgan recognizes similarities between the murders, she senses that there could be more to these crimes than meets the eye.
Meanwhile, Morgan has reason to feel uneasy about her own safety, and she realizes that she is truly in a race against time when it comes to solving this latest case. Throughout the investigation, Morgan and her team work together in person synchronicity. I particularly enjoy the humor they share, which highlights the warmth of their relationships and provides a welcome balance to the darkness of the crimes they investigate.
I have loved this series from the very first book, and each exciting installment brings a fresh case that keeps me coming back for more. While each book could be read as a standalone, watching Morgan grow personally and professionally, along with the development of her relationships, makes this a series I would encourage readers to enjoy in order. Fast-paced, suspenseful, and with a memorable ending, this 19th installment is a winner. I’m already looking forward to seeing what Helen Phifer has in store for Morgan and her team next!
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Helen Phifer is the bestselling writer of the hugely popular Detective Morgan Brookes series. As well as the Lucy Harwin, Beth Adams and Maria Miller series of books.
Her debut novel The Ghost House featuring Annie Graham went on to be a global bestseller.
She lives in the busy town of Barrow-in-Furness surrounded by miles of coastline and a short drive from the glorious English Lake District. Her favourite hobbies include reading, chasing the Aurora Borealis when it puts in an appearance, visiting Salem, watching the sunset, the moon rise and drinking coffee.
Helen loves reading books that scare the heck out of her and is eternally grateful to Stephen King, Dean Koontz, James Herbert and Graham Masterton for scaring her senseless in her teenage years, and to Alice Hoffman’s beautiful stories for inspiring her love of all things witchy and to write fantasy novels alongside her crime thrillers.
In this authorized biography set in twentieth-century Black America, Arlinda Willis, a sharecropper’s granddaughter from Jim Crow Alabama, fights to earn a love she does not yet know she already has, while a healthcare system she trusts dismisses her.
Born in 1951, in Toxey, Alabama, Arlinda grows up in the shadow of Jim Crow racism, raised by grandparents on a small farm while her mother builds a new life in Cleveland, Ohio. When she finally travels north to reunite with her family, she believes love must be earned.
She earns love as a teenager, dancing on Upbeat, Cleveland’s nationally syndicated music television show, performing alongside Stevie Wonder and James Brown, integrating the American airwaves while the Civil Rights Movement is reshaping the country on the streets below. She competes in the first Miss Black Cleveland pageant. She builds a distinguished career at one of San Francisco’s most prestigious law firms. Each achievement quiets the voice that tells her she is not enough.
At the law firm in 1994, she meets Rob Cole, a white British immigrant, who spends the next eighteen years as her closest friend, caregiver, and biographer. Their honest, funny, and sometimes difficult friendship crosses generational and racial lines.
When esophageal cancer strips away her independence and her carefully constructed image of strength, Arlinda encounters a healthcare system that dismisses her pain, minimizes her symptoms, and tells her one story while recording another in her medical notes. The gap between what her doctors say and what they write is a pattern. That pattern has a name.
For Once in My Life is the authorized biography thirty years in the making, a portrait of what can be gained and what is lost to care for someone you love. It follows Arlinda Willis from the sharecropping communities of the Alabama Black Belt through the Great Migration, the stages of Cleveland’s Black entertainment scene, the corridors of San Francisco’s legal world, and into a final chapter defined by medical racism, unconditional love, and the hardest lesson of her extraordinary That she is enough as she is.
Published on August 27, 2026, on what would have been Arlinda’s 75th birthday, and the 63rd anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
Some content in this book, which includes brief scenes of violence, allusion to child sexual assault, suicide ideation, and sexualit
I had never heard of Arlinda Willis, but after reading the book’s description, I was interested in learning more about her life. For Once in My Life is her authorized biography, gently and thoughtfully written by Rob Cole. Although it has been a couple of months since I read this book, I still find myself thinking about it. This may be Mr. Cole’s first biography, but I certainly hope it won’t be his last.
Throughout the reading experience, and even now, I found myself influenced by Mr. Cole’s words. He writes, “When people ask why I am telling Arlinda’s story, the simple answer is: she asked me to. I am painfully aware of my role in this telling. I am a White, cisgender male, heterosexual immigrant attempting to honor the life of a Black woman who navigated classism, racism, and sexism.”
One particularly memorable aspect of this biography is its acknowledgment of medical racism. For Black women, this is an unfortunate reality, as their pain and concerns have too often been dismissed or minimized. Mr. Cole recognizes that he has never personally had to navigate the same barriers Arlinda encountered, including racism, classism, sexism, and medical racism. His willingness to acknowledge that difference adds another layer of thoughtfulness to his telling of her story.
Being born into poverty did not stop Arlinda from making a name for herself. She experienced success on television and later built a career in the legal field. Her accomplishments are impressive, especially when considered against the social and racial barriers she had to overcome.
Although this is a posthumous biography, Mr. Cole’s personal relationship with Arlinda gave him a unique perspective. Through their conversations, his knowledge of her experiences, and discussions with others who knew her, he was able to bring together a more intimate portrait of her life. His personal connection to Arlinda is evident, and the additional material at the end of the book helped me better understand the care he took in telling her story.
Being only about a decade younger than Arlinda, I could also appreciate how the ideals and values of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. influenced her generation. Sadly, history has shown time and again that the promise of equality for all citizens has not always translated into reality. The color line has not been erased, and the struggles Arlinda experienced remain relevant today.
This biography tells the story of Arlinda’s fight to find her place in a society that did not always offer her the same opportunities afforded to others. It also explores the relationships she formed, the personal battles she endured, and the strength she demonstrated throughout her life. These struggles became especially poignant when she received a terminal diagnosis.
What stayed with me most about For Once in My Life was not simply Arlinda’s accomplishments, but the woman behind them. Her story is a reminder that success does not shield anyone from prejudice, personal struggles, or the need to be heard and understood. I appreciated Mr. Cole’s willingness to acknowledge his own perspective and the responsibility that came with telling Arlinda’s story. Will her story be told to a much larger audience? Fortunately, this book is available at multiple outlets.This is a book that gave me something to reflect on long after I finished reading, and I am glad I took the time to learn about Arlinda Willis.
Many thanks to Margot Erickson Publishing, Inc. and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rob Cole began writing in 1993, with his short story, "Brenin", first published in The Anthologist, Rutgers University's literary magazine. After earning his degree in English with specializations in Creative Writing and Comparative Literature, he crafted stories for non-profits such as the International Fund for Africa, and Steriliseren Nederlands. His fundraiser picture book, HOPE, showcased the impact of pioneering Spayathons on Romania. In 1997, he built an immersive virtual reality world to display his short stories. As social media grew, so did his writing, expanding into multimedia storytelling.
Rob met Arlinda Willis while working at a San Francisco law firm. The two formed a friendship that spanned 18 years. He documented her teenage brushes with fame, her rise in the legal world, and her battle with cancer. As her caregiver, he meticulously recorded her medical journey. For more than 30 years, he shaped her biography, For Once in My Life, determined to honor her voice, putting a face on all forms of prejudice.
Rob Cole is an author/publisher, and entrepreneur. For Once in My Life is his first biography.
A crossword that’s tricky to crack, a hot cup of coffee… and hidden clues? Can Jane Treen work this mystery out?
England, 1942. Jane Treen is hot-footing it to Devon, having received an urgent message from her colleague and fellow sleuth, Arthur Cilento. He had been deeply worried for his mentor, crossword writer Professor Watkins. And the invitation he’s sent Jane is to the Professor’s funeral… he’s dead.
Arthur suspects foul play, but before they have time to fill in the blanks, their clues lead them into a secret vault nearby. Jane, fluffy ginger cat by her side, begins to connect the dots. But then another man is murdered, and she realises that Professor Watkins’ death is one piece in a much larger and deadlier game.
But who could be behind the untimely deaths? Could the professor’s beloved sister be responsible? Or a wealthy and influential benefactor and her assistant? And someone else close to the professor – also no stranger to compiling a crossword – seems to be increasingly cryptic too.
It’s clear that the killer isn’t playing by the book. And when the clue the professor left in the last crossword he wrote doesn’t help them to solve the crime, Jane and Arthur are back to square one and must think outside the box to crack the code. But just as they start to figure out what’s happening, they find themselves trapped, their lives at stake…
Can the duo solve the puzzle and escape before it’s too late?
In this fifth installment in The Secret Detective Agency series, amateur sleuth Jane Treen is summoned by Crossword Club member and occasional sleuthing partner Arthur Cilento. As it is England, 1942, with World War II raging, the danger of bombing is never far from their minds. Arthur’s mentor, Professor Sanford Watkins, has been killed, and Arthur suspects murder. Having worked together on previous cases, Jane and Arthur join forces to find the killer. Posing as a couple provides them with a cover for their investigation, but with danger lurking around every corner, they know they must proceed with caution.
Jane arrives with her cat, Marmaduke, and after working together on several investigations, Arthur has finally stopped complaining about Jane bringing Marmaduke along! They get to work right away, but when another man is murdered, they begin to wonder whether the killings are connected to the Crossword Club or if the answer lies closer to home. As they question several people, including the professor’s sister, his benefactor, and her assistant, they discover that there is much more to this case than meets the eye.
As Jane and Arthur begin piecing together the clues, they uncover a possible motive involving missing art treasures. Hopefully, the professor’s final crossword puzzle will help them decipher the clues and flush out the murderer. As in previous installments, their investigation puts both Jane and Arthur in danger, as someone is determined to keep the truth from coming to light.
I thoroughly enjoyed this latest installment in the series. I love the historical setting, the intriguing mystery, and the way Jane and Arthur work together to unravel the clues. The crossword puzzle adds an interesting element to the investigation, and I enjoyed watching the pieces come together as they got closer to the truth. Marmaduke is also a welcome addition, and I always enjoy seeing him accompany Jane on her adventures. Another entertaining mystery that kept me guessing, and I look forward to seeing what Jane gets herself into next!
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 andhousework. She was winner of The Romance Prize in 2007 and Love Story of the Year 2010 as Nell Dixon.
Discover a BRAND NEW beautiful, uplifting, romantic read from BESTSELLER Kim Nash
Home is where the heart is…
Imo spent most of her childhood at Brightwater Falls – a peaceful lakeside resort tucked away in a picture-perfect village – where she made treasured memories with her beloved mother and doting godmother Dandy.
So when Dandy falls ill and asks for help running the resort, there’s no question in Imo’s mind. She’ll do whatever it takes to save the place that meant so much to her, even if it takes some convincing of her two older sisters. Ally and Kate have always felt more like strangers than family, but thrown together under the same roof, maybe now is the time to work together.
As summer unfolds, Brightwater Falls brings unexpected reunions and difficult truths to the surface. But perhaps by returning to the place that once felt like home, the sisters can finally find their way back to one another.
A gorgeously uplifting and emotional story about sisterhood, second chances and finding your way back to the people – and places – that feel like home. Perfect for fans of Emma Burstall, Phillipa Ashley and Cathy Bramley.
Link to purchase the book
MY THOUGHT
Imo’s life was everything she had imagined it would be, but she soon discovers that there are still things missing. During her annual visit with her sisters, Ally and Kate, at her godmother Dandy’s resort, a single weekend sets in motion a series of significant changes - changes that may finally give Imo the chance for a new dawn of her own.
The visit with Imo’s sisters is fraught with friction. Imo has always felt somewhat alienated from Ally and Kate, especially after they left home, eventually leaving Imo alone with their mother. When their mother became ill, Imo was the one who cared for her until her death, and the experience left her carrying deep feelings of resentment toward her sisters.
Imo’s godmother, Dandy, doesn’t run the resort alone. Imo’s lifelong friends James and Milo work there as well. At one point, Imo and Milo were in a relationship, but it fizzled out for more than one reason. And where does that leave James? Readers will be pleased to see how that part of Imo’s story gradually unfolds.
Sadly, Dandy is injured in an accident and left in a coma. Imo soon turns to Ally and Kate for help running the resort until Dandy recovers. This unexpected extended time together forces the three sisters to confront the complicated dynamics of their relationships with one another, as well as the choices they have made in their own lives and families.
I very much enjoyed this sweet and touching story. The relationship between the sisters had me thinking about my own relationships with each of my sisters. Are there things left unsaid? Is there something unresolved that could still be worked out? Kim Nash did a wonderful job of making Imo’s story feel deeply personal and relatable. I also loved the little glimpses of the changing dynamic between Imo and James. Their developing relationship was handled with a gentle touch and woven beautifully into the larger story.
A New Dawn at Brightwater Falls wonderfully explores sisterly bonds, forgiveness, a growing romance, and the possibility of letting go of old hurts. There are deeper issues beneath this gentle story, and Nash handles them with sensitivity. For Imo, that “new dawn” is about far more than romance. It is about seeing her sisters, as well as herself, differently, allowing old wounds to begin to heal, and realizing that the life she thought was complete might still have room for something more.
Having read every one of Kim Nash’s novels, I was pulled into this gentle story from beginning to end. She has a marvelous way of writing stories that not only make readers feel, but also make them hope. With its absolutely wonderful and touching conclusion, A New Dawn at Brightwater Fallstruly lives up to its title, reminding us that even after years of hurt and misunderstanding, there can still be a new beginning.
I can’t wait for her next book!
Many thanks to Boldwood Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kim Nash is an author of uplifting, funny, heartwarming, feel-good, romantic fiction.
She lives in Staffordshire with son Ollie and Englis Setter Roni, is Head of Publicity for Bookouture and is a book blogger at www.kimthebookworm.co.uk
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Kim won the Romantic Novelists Association's Media Star of the Year in 2016, which she still can't quite believe. She is now quite delighted to be a member of the RNA.
When she's not working or writing, Kim can be found walking her dog, reading, standing on the sidelines of a football pitch cheering on Ollie and binge watching box sets on the TV. She's also quite partial to a spa day and a gin and tonic (not at the same time!) Kim also runs a book club in Cannock, Staffs.
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Amazing Grace was her debut novel with Hera Books and came out in April 2019. Escape to Giddywell Grange is Kim's second novel and was published in September 2019. Sunshine and Second Chances is Kim's third novel and will be published on June 4th 2020.
You can read Kim's Blog here: www.kimthebookworm.co.uk
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