It’s Release Day for HELLCAT, Book 9 of the Jax Diamond Mysteries series. I’ve read it already, and it’s the twistiest one yet! Click the image below for the Amazon link.
Book Description (Hellcat)
New York City, 1923. PI Jax Diamond and his trusted partner, Ace, are having a hell of a day. It starts with the suspicious death of a salesman and a family’s pleas to find their missing father. It ends with a murdered mob leader marked with red lipstick, proving they have a female killer on their hands.
While Jax works around the clock, Laura, his new bride and Broadway star, helps him on one of the cases. She and her friends try to find the owner of a gold locket found at the crime scene and uncover shocking evidence that points to Jax’s mother as the prime murder suspect.
Jax, Laura, and Ace frantically search for the truth, only to become trapped in a maze of misleading facts, twisted timelines, and dangerous assumptions. All the while, the body count is rising, and time is running out to stop Death Row Dotty before she delivers her final act of ‘justice’.
My Review will come later.
But I urge you to check out Hellcat at a great price right now for release day! Like all the Jax Diamond series, it can be read as a standalone. If you love historical mysteries, you’ll love this one!
Eleanor Fan is completely alone after the death of her mother, Lele. Lele had controlled everything, from doing Eleanor’s taxes to even hand-feeding her when she was studying. Lele even controlled her own death. After Lele’s death, Eleanor is drifting in a sea of grief. The only thing she knows to do is what her mother told her last: Use her inheritance to buy a house. She finds herself following the instructions of a realtor who takes care of everything, much as her mother did. As a result, she ends up alone in a model home of an abandoned housing project. And Lele’s ghost is everywhere.
Vivid descriptive writing enables the reader to instantly picture the scene. For example, the description of the realtor, Matt, tells you his personality: “His thick hair was slicked back, coiffed high off his forehead. He smiled toothily as she approached. He held his hand out for a shake, and a large watch slid out of his jacket sleeve, the band and bezel the same chrome brightness as his car.”
The aftermath of the COVID pandemic is portrayed so well by Eleanor, a mental health counselor, who is still doing her appointments by video long after the pandemic has ended. The house is so vividly described that it takes on a character of its own. Eleanor appears almost locked inside it with her own ghosts. The house’s bright façade and crumbling infrastructure remind the reader of Eleanor, who is slowly unraveling. As the secrets of the house unfold, so do Eleanor’s secrets, and she ultimately has to face them or let them destroy her.
Conclusion
Literary fiction and magical realism combine to paint a portrait of a woman who is lost, alone, and haunted by the past. Highly recommended.
Acknowledgements
I received a free copy of The Valley of Vengeful Ghosts from the publisher, Tin House. My review is voluntary, and the opinions expressed are my own.
Kim Fu is the author of five books, including the 2026 novel The Valley of Vengeful Ghosts, a New York Times notable book for March. This novel received starred reviews from Kirkus and Foreward, and was most anticipated by TIME, Book Riot, and the Chicago Review of Books.
Fu’s story collection Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century (2022) won the Washington State Book Award, the Pacific Northwest Book Award, and the Danuta Gleed Literary Award. It was also a finalist for the Giller Prize, the Ignyte Awards, the Shirley Jackson Awards, and the Saroyan International Prize. Stories in this collection have been selected for Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy and Best of the Net, featured on Levar Burton Reads and Selected Shorts, and optioned for television and film.
Fu lives in Seattle, Washington.
Purchase Link
**Click on the cover below to purchase on Amazon;
My Reviews of Other Books Featuring Magical Realism
Wishing you all a Happy New Year and a peaceful, happy, and healthy 2026. Here are some snapshots of each month of 2025 on the blog. For the “books I highlighted” section, I highlighted a lot more books during some months than others, so I just picked three or less from each month. There is a link at the end of each month to all of my posts.
January
Apparently a year ago we had some snow, at least at higher elevations. Not so in 2026 yet.
In May we had an earthquake in Bryson City. The folks in California will not even blink, but for us, in the mountains of Western North Carolina, it was very unusual. It was 4.1 on the Richter Scale, so mild in comparison, but if you don’t usually get one in your area, it’s eyebrow-raising. It shook the whole house, but there was no damage.
I went to the Historical Novel Society conference in June. I learned a lot, but Vegas has changed since my visit in the 1990s and not for the better. It’s just too expensive now and I won’t go back.
Books I Highlighted In June
I just reviewed one book in June. Wildcard by Gail Meath. I spent a lot of time on Historical Novel Society Reviews, Editing, and the Conference. in June.
It was the end of July when a tiny ball of fluff ran out of an old barn, crying and abandoned by his Mom. We named him Oliver PeeWee (Opie for short). But August was when he became ours for sure. This is a picture of him weighing in at 9 ounces at the vet. He’s almost 8 pounds now. #Happy New Year
August was also when we added Doug’s garage to our property. It has been great for him to have a garage, and he’s gotten a lot done in there, including fixing two of our cars. #Happy New Year
I posted about the horrific death of Charlie Kirk. I didn’t know what I was going to see when I clicked on a video that day, but that is first time I ever watched someone bleed out, and I never want that to happen again. The man who killed him is in the justice system, and I hope Charlie’s family does indeed receive justice. Charlie never apologized for being a Christian, and neither will I.
A Stormy Sky in Bryson City. The turning of the leaves was quite late this year so I didn’t get a lot of leaf-changing pictures in October.
Books I Highlighted in October.
What a great reading month October was! I read The Weight of Snow and Regret by Liz Gauffreau for The Historical Novel Society. I actually posted the review in November. Gail Meath’s A Bloody Banquet came out, and my favorite author Jodi Taylor released another Time Police book! A link to my Oct 25 posts. Happy New Year
November
A November evening moon in Bryson City. You can see the colors are finally coming out.
I also rode The Smoky Mountain Railroad in November with my friend Lyric and her Mom. The photo is not from November, sadly.
Books I Highlighted in November
I actually reviewed two books by Beth Kanell in one post, but The Bitter and the Sweet is her most recent. A link to my November 2025 Posts.
December
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Here is Opie five months later! I also did an article about Scams Against Indie Authors.
Books I Highlighted in December
Version 1.0.0
I’ll actually be reviewing In The Spirit of French Murder this month, but I picked it up in December.
There is a bit of my 2025 on the blog! Like any year, it had its ups and downs, but I’m thankful for everything God has given me, and there have been many blessings. Hoping for all of us to have a Happy New Year! Link to my December 2025 posts.
As an additional Happy New Year, here is the Acapella Group Home Free singing Auld Lang Syne
Hi everyone. I have gotten so many review requests lately that I’m going to have to change my guidelines a little bit. At the Review Requests Policy tab on this blog are instructions for submitting your book for possible review. Unfortunately, a majority of the requests I get do not follow those guidelines. I am just one woman doing this for free, so I’m going to have to start a new policy: Anyone contacting me for a review must follow those guidelines. I have updated the Review Requests Policy, so please check it out when you get a chance. Also please see the new procedures below.
How to Request a Review
The request must simply be titled Review Request in the Subject line. That causes it to be filtered to a folder where I will see it. I will no longer look at emails that do not follow this procedure and do not end up in this folder.
The Review Request must include a link to your book Amazon. I will sometimes pick the book up myself on Kindle Unlimited if an Amazon link is included. This is beneficial to authors, and essentially a gift from me, as that will count towards your pages read if your book is part of KU. So be sure and include the link! If your book is not on Amazon, please let me know in your request.
There is a list at the Review Request Policy tab of genres I am not accepting. Please do not send a request if I am not accepting your genre. It’s nothing personal against your book. These are genres I know I do not enjoy.
There is a list of other situations for which I am not accepting review requests. Please be sure and look through those.
I don’t mind reminder emails, which should also be titled Review Request so they go into the appropriate folder. I am happy to give you an update on the status of your review if I have already accepted the book.
If you get a four-star or five-star review, I would appreciate your sharing my blog post with your social media followers. This helps my blog to grow while I’m helping you. Again, it is voluntary but it seems to be common courtesy to me. Comments and follows on my blog would be great, too. Again, voluntary.
Please be patient. As I’ve said before, I am one person doing these book reviews for no charge because I believe in Indie authors. It takes time to read all of these books.
I’m sorry if I sound strict or impatient right now. I really want this to work so that I can continue to help Indie authors. My goal for this blog has always been to create a community of readers, writers, and bloggers that support each other, and I’d love for it to continue to grow.
I love writing reviews of Historical Fiction books for the Historical Novel Society! Below are reviews of Books Two and Three in the Winds of Freedom series by Beth Kanell. My review of Book One, The Long Shadow, is here.
Book Description (Historical Fiction)
Alice Sanborn, seventeen years old in October 1852, expects Abolitionist political operative Solomon McBride to court her. Surely he visits for more than her insight and family connections in the Vermont farming village of North Upton! When Almyra Alexander, niece of the local minister, arrives in North Upton, she brings Boston sophistication and advanced political ideas. Temperance! Voting rights for women! Alice wants it all and Almyra’s friendship, too-but is this newcomer a rival for Solomon’s affections?
Friendship with Caroline Clark looks safer. Newly returned to the village, Caroline is deaf and fluent in American Sign Language, which Alice quickly learns. Her friends and her demand for Abolition propel Alice into action. Assist neighbors at risk? Rescue a horse? Capture an arsonist? She’s on it. Betrayal and danger lie ahead. Yet the three young women race into the righteous battle. For Alice and her friends, there’s no other choice. **Historical Fiction**
Book Review (Historical Fiction)
In this second book of the series, we see Alice trying to deal with a great loss. She is also hoping for a romance with Solomon McBride, with whom she shared an adventure in the wilds between Canada and Vermont in Book One.
As in the first book, we learn a lot about Vermont farm life at that time. Even more interesting is the work Alice’s family is doing in the Abolitionist movement and their fight to help free the enslaved. This brings an old friend, Sarah, back into Alice’s life, as the efforts to free Sarah’s family are still ongoing. The Temperance movement of the time also comes to the forefront, as new Temperance laws have important consequences.
Throughout the book, Alice tries to find chances to see Solomon, who is working in the Abolitionist movement behind the scenes. But she also does as much as she can to help the movement herself. Book Two also introduces two new friends, kind and gentle Caroline, who is deaf, and Almyra, a precocious and well-to-do thirteen-year-old with a somewhat absent family.
I enjoyed the descriptions of Vermont life at that time, and the opportunities Alice had to help others, regardless of race or physical challenges. This is a transitional book in the series, as Book Two often is. It is enjoyable, and is really a coming-of-age story for Alice and a glimpse at the future she wants to build. Recommended to all fans of YA Historical Fiction.
Book Description (Historical Fiction)
Home-brewed medicines, a mysterious family of women making them, and a threat to the local funding of the Abolition movement. Fifteen-year-old Almyra Alexander struggles with all of these, as well as adapting to the rough, unpolished life in a northern Vermont village. She’s determined to become a minister, like her politically involved but very absent father. Moving in with her aunt and uncle in Vermont seems the quickest way towards her goal of becoming a minister. **Historical Fiction**
Book Review (Historical Fiction)
In Book 3, our protagonist from Books 1 and 2, Alice Sanborn, has gone west with to teach and to further the cause of freedom. We are now looking at North Upton, Vermont, through the eyes of Almyra Alexander. Almyra is from a prominent Boston family, but has decided to stay with her aunt and uncle in North Upton.
Almyra has already been introduced to the abolitionist movement and begins to step into Alice’s shoes by helping wherever she can. This includes a secret visit on horseback and hiding money for the movement underneath her underwear in a saddlebag! Almyra also begins to get to know the Hall family, a mother and her daughters who have arrived to help Matthew Clark in his inn. Mrs. Hall is skilled in creating herbal remedies, and Almyra learns their value from her. Young Susannah Hall works with horses and wears pantaloons most of the time, often causing raised eyebrows around town. She eventually proves to be a great help to Almyra. Almyra also becomes better acquainted with Alice’s brother John.
I liked watching Almyra adjust to a more country life, and enjoyed how she learned from her aunt and uncle. Her ambitions to be a minister at that time when few women were allowed in that vocation were intriguing. She is even given a chance to preach from her uncle’s pulpit, which I thought was unusual for the time. Her aunt and uncle are good mentors to her, both in the home and out. . I missed Alice as a protagonist, but we are somewhat kept up with her activities via letters to Almyra from Alice and others.
Although there is a change in protagonists in this one, this is a strong continuation of the series. I do hope we get to see Alice again in future books. What I like most about this whole series is that we are walked through the history of the abolitionist movement in Vermont. At the same we watch all the pieces fall in place that will lead to the U.S. Civil War. This is an enjoyable and well-researched young adult series that I highly recommend. **Historical Fiction**
About the Author
Storytelling is Beth Kanell’s native language – and she learned it from her mother, who taught her to fill in the blanks as a story emerged. As a single parent in Vermont, for years she told stories “on the side” and developed a specialty in tales for teens (always starting with something scary!). Endlessly in love with Vermont, she began bringing the most fascinating parts of its history into her narratives, and discovered that what she really likes after all is writing fiction that explores the lives of young people caught up in the force of change. She is also a non-stop mystery reader, so she grapples for new and unusual plot twists, as well as the magic of the Green Mountain state.
Purchase Links
Click on each cover below for a link to each book in The Winds of Freedom serieson Amazon.
Indie Spotlight is my effort to help promote Indie books. You can help too by sharing this post with all your social media followers. Below see my review of an amazing novel, When Secrets Bloom, the first book of a new series set in 15th Century Transylvania.
BOOK DESCRIPTION (FROM AMAZON)
Transylvania, 1463. A land of fortress cities, whispered heresies, and shadows cast by Vlad Dracula (the man, not the vampire.)
Kate Webber, a 28-year-old Saxon healer, has always lived between reverence and suspicion. Her gift with herbs and midwifery makes her indispensable – and dangerous – in Kronstadt (today Brașov) , a medieval city where fear rules and women are silenced. Her marriage to the powerful, secretive Magyar promised safety, but instead bound her voice.
One bitter Advent night, Kate breaks her husband’s command and saves a dying mother and child. Her defiance sparks awe in some, fury in others. The jealous town physician seizes his chance to destroy her. Rumors flare. A mob gathers. And Kate’s only ally is Iancu – her childhood friend turned militia captain – whose return stirs memories of freedom, laughter and forbidden longing.
Elsewhere in the city, Moise, a Jewish apprentice at the printing press, witnesses a cloaked Shaman haunting the square. When a rare manuscript vanishes, Moise discovers a dangerous secret: a book men will kill for. His search entwines his fate with Kate’s – until both stand accused in a city hungry for scapegoats.
On the day of execution, Kate chooses defiance again. She saves a child. Moise is framed. And in the shadows of fortress walls, a legacy map begins to reveal itself – a secret hidden not in books, but in the hearts of those who guard them.
BOOK REVIEW
When Secrets Bloom is Book One in Patricia Furstenberg’s series, Blood of Kings, Heart of Shadows. The beauty of the writing captured me immediately. A gifted Saxon healer in Krondstadt, Transylvania, who is told she can’t save the “wrong” people on a holy night, Kate does it anyway, at the threat of brutal 15th-Century justice, an example of which is here: “The air thickened in my throat for just a moment. Not because I feared fire, but because I had seen it all before. I knew what it smelled like when flesh blackened. When screams were choked by smoke.” This one quote shows us the fear and brutality of the time.
I could fill this entire review with amazing quotes, and here is one more: “To me Father had always been a pillar–weathered but unbroken. Yet in that moment, against the tide of self-interest, he seemed smaller. Not less, but alone. Like the last tower still standing after the fortress has fallen.” This is just one example of how Furstenberg, throughout this work, displays her strong ability to use people, places, and nature itself to not only convey meaning, but to pull the reader in and show them the story.
The novel’s characters are all intriguing. The relationship between Kate and Iancu is one of longing and regret. This book is not full of love scenes, but whenever they are together, the intensity and deep feelings between them are clear to see. The most mysterious character is the Shaman. He pulses throughout the novel, shadowy and dark, described as an almost mythical figure. But who is he? We first meet the Shaman when we meet Moise, a Jewish apprentice who seems to see the Shaman at every turn, and who begins a search for a missing book that will draw him to Kate. Other characters, many dark, greedy, and judging, seem to be everywhere, and the history of Transylvania at that time flows through it all.
This novel is what happens when exquisite writing meets meticulous, caring research. I look forward to Book Two in the series. Highly recommended.
Amazon Bestseller author, Top 100 Romanians from Everywhere Category Art 2023, Spillwords Press Awards MMXXIII Author of the Year, Patricia Furstenberg writes with passion about history that blends with fiction, about war heroes, human or canine, while the poetry she pens is sometimes incisive, sometimes humorous.
**If you read the book, please leave a review on Amazon. It is so important for Indie authors because the more reviews a book has, the more Amazon will promote it. Please also remember to share this post with your social media followers in order to get the word out about this great book.
It’s November 9th, and fall colors are finally out in full force. They were quite late this year, and not as vibrant as years past. Our peak leaf season was supposed to be the third week of October, and it was still very green then. I took a ride on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad with my friend Lyric, who was visiting, and her Mom, Dale. Although I live in a small tourist town, I don’t usually participate in the “touristy” things, but it’s nice to do that once in a while. We had a great time. We took the first class ride and were served lunch. We stopped in Dillsboro for some shopping and took in great scenes along the way.
**Picture of the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad in Bryson City, NC is from Shutterstock and was taken in 2023.
Below is a shot of a pretty fall evening at our house. The sun was setting, and the moon was out. I was standing on our porch at the time. I wanted a picture of the full moon, but my phone is just not up to it. It was so much more magnificent than that.
I was told there would be a cold snap starting tomorrow, but so far I see no sign of it. My weather app tells me we will be just above freezing for one day–not cold enough for snow–and then back to 50s and 60s, so we will see. Are you getting snow in your area? EDIT: I just got a Winter Storm Alert, but it seems to be for higher elevations.
LAST WEEK ON THE BLOG
It was all Indie last week. I love that because my heart is with Indie books and authors. I posted reviews of The Weight of Snow and Regret, Amanda in Ireland, and The Washashore. I get a lot of requests from Indie authors, and my list is long, but I try to read as many as I can. I am just one woman, so it can take a long time, but I will continue to do my best to support Indie books.
NEXT WEEK ON THE BLOG
Look for reviews of Books 2 and 3 of Beth Kanell’s Winds of Freedom series, and a review of Patricia Furstenberg’s When Secrets Bloom. I will also participate in Top Ten Tuesday if time permits.
Indie Spotlight is my effort to help Indie authors with marketing. You can help too by sharing this post far and wide. See below my review of Amanda in Ireland, part of a wonderful series for middle-graders by Darlene Foster that takes kids (and adults) all over the world with Amanda as she travels and solves mysteries.
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Twelve-year-old Amanda Jane Ross is invited to be a bridesmaid for her cousin’s wedding in Ireland! She falls in love with the Emerald Isle the moment she lands in Dublin. The warm, friendly Irish people immediately make her feel at home. Towering castles, ancient graveyards, and the stunning green countryside are filled with fascinating legends, enthralling folktales, and alarming secrets.
Things take a dark turn when disaster strikes. Amanda wonders if there will be a wedding at all. As she joins the search for a missing horse, she stumbles upon a world of screaming banshees, bloody battles, and dangerous peat bogs. The closer she gets to the truth, the more dangerous things become. Will she become another body in the bog?
BOOK REVIEW
This is another wonderful installment of the Amanda series. We travel with Amanda to her cousin’s wedding in Ireland, and immediately plunge into a mystery, as a valuable horse is missing, and so is the bride! Amanda begins to investigate, but along the way she (and we) learn so much about this beautiful country.
Readers learn something on almost every page as Amanda tours important Irish museums and landmarks, visits a farrier who explains his job to her, and learns about figures in Irish folklore, such as Cu Chulainn, a mythological warrior. One of the most devastating periods of Irish history, the potato famine, is explained to Amanda as well. The mystery is well written and engaging. There are insightful discussion questions at the end of the book which are great for retaining the information learned.
Mystery, history, and travel fans of all ages will enjoy this latest Amanda adventure. Although this is Book 11, they can all be read as standalones. I highly recommend this series to kids, parents, grandparents, and everyone who loves history and travel.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Growing up on a ranch near Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, Darlene Foster dreamt of writing, traveling the world, and meeting interesting people. She also believed in making her dreams come true. It’s no surprise she’s now the award-winning author of Amanda Travels, a children’s adventure series featuring a spunky twelve-year-old who loves to travel to unique places. Readers of all ages enjoy following Amanda as she unravels one mystery after another. When not traveling herself, Darlene divides her time between the west coast of Canada and the Costa Blanca, Spain with her husband and entertaining rescue dogs, Dot and Lia. http://www.darlenefoster.ca
If you read the book, be sure to leave a review on Amazon and/or wherever you purchase books. Reviews are so important to Indie authors, as Amazon will promote a book depending on how many reviews it has. Also please remember to share this post with all your social media followers so this book gets as much exposure as possible.
Indie Spotlight is my effort to help Indie authors with marketing. You can help too by sharing this post far and wide. Below see my review of My Grief Jar by Deborah Waffle. It is a memoir of a Mom who has lost her daughter, and how in the midst of her grief, she decided to help others.
BOOK REVIEW
My Grief Jar is the story of Deborah Waffle’s daughter, Kelsey, and her battle with constant pain and severe complications from Small Fiber Neuropathy. But it is also the story of Deborah’s journey after Kelsey’s death, as she sought to fulfill Kelsey’s wish that her Golden Retriever, Brody, become a therapy dog.
Deborah shows us Kelsey’s debilitating pain and her own grief in such an honest way. Her decision to honor her daughter by helping others and getting Brody trained as a therapy dog is admirable, and as I read her story, I could see it was the absolute best choice. She was able to visit hospital patients with Brody, bring them joy, and feel close to her daughter at the same time. The analogy of the grief jar is a powerful one–the grief stays the same, but the vessel holding the grief can grow, and helping others helped Deborah to grow. She and Brody became a source of joy for hospital patients and Deborah then became a writer, for this is a very well-written book.
I feel honored that Deborah asked me to share her book, her beautiful daughter, her walk through overwhelming grief, and her remarkable journey afterwards with Brody because, just maybe, somebody will see this post, read the book, and be helped by it as well. Highly, highly recommended.
I downloaded this book on Kindle Unlimited. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Deborah Waffle taught second and fourth grade for 33 years and is now retired. She lives with her husband Marty, and their dog, Brody, in Broadalbin, New York. Deborah and Brody visit several different medical facilities once or twice a week as a therapy dog team. They recently celebrated their 50th therapy dog visit. Brody brings smiles to all the people and patients he meets.
PURCHASE LINKS
Click on the image below to purchase My Grief Jar. It is also available on Kindle Unlimited, where subscribers can read it for free.
BEFORE YOU GO
Remember, if you read the book, please leave a review. Reviews help the author so much, because the more reviews a book has, the more Amazon will promote it. The review does not have to be a masterpiece. Just a sentence or two about how the book made you feel will be perfect, and will make the author’s day. Please also remember to share this post with others so they will see this wonderful book.
The Time Police don’t think twice about jumping to the past. But, this time, the past has come to them…
What connects a dead dinosaur in Wales with Romulus the founder of Rome, a plot to murder the Princes in the Tower and a shocking cover-up at TPHQ?
It sounds like a joke. It isn’t.
The Time Police are determined to find the answers, helped – and occasionally hindered – by a certain wayward member of St Mary’s and a recently reunited Team 236. Will they succeed before Time runs out?
And, as if all that wasn’t enough, something somewhere in the Timeline is wrong. Very, very wrong. What is the Time Map trying to tell them?
BOOK REVIEW
In this sixth Time Police book, a chilling and horrible secret from the past comes to light, and it will shock almost everyone, except the two who already knew. At the same time, a dead dinosaur has been found in Wales, and it’s no fossil. A team is assembled to find out why, and Commander Hay reluctantly turns to an expert who has actually seen dinosaurs in person, Madeline Maxwell, better known as Max from St. Mary’s, As for Team Weird, Matthew gets trapped in the time map, and Luke is still sorting out his feelings for Jane as they head to St. Mary’s to pick up Max. Wait until they discover who is behind the dinosaur appearances and what their plans are next!
Jodi Taylor is a genius at combining history, time travel, and hilarity with a big dose of sadness and tears. She will literally leave you laughing and crying in many different times and places. Max, the main character from The Chronicles of St. Mary’s series, usually pops up in the supporting cast of the Time Police books, but this time she has a starring role, and you don’t want to miss it. As always, there are big revelations, and I was shocked more than once. The Princes in the Tower are mentioned in The Chronicles of St. Mary’s, and they come up in this book as well, in a very disturbing way. There are bloody battles and a heart-touching moment, but the end will surprise everyone. As always with Jodi Taylor’s books, I’m sorry the story came to an end, and I can’t wait for the next one.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Headline. My review is voluntary, and the opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jodi Taylor is a British author best known for her Chronicles of St. Mary’s series, which originated from her love of history and a self-published first novel, Just One Damned Thing After Another. Before becoming a full-time writer, Taylor had a long career in local government, working as a facilities manager for North Yorkshire Libraries. She retired in her early 60s to run a hotel in Turkey, where she started writing, and has since sold over a million books.
Early life and career: Born in Bristol, she worked for the North Yorkshire County Council for almost 20 years, including as a library facilities manager. She also spent time in the RAF.
Path to writing: After retiring, she moved to Turkey and, finding herself bored, decided to write a book at age 60. Her first novel, Just One Damned Thing After Another, was self-published online.
Publishing success: The book’s unexpected success led to a publishing deal with Accent Press, which was later followed by a contract with Headline Publishing Group.
Current status: As of 2024, Taylor lives in Gloucestershire. She is the author of several successful series, including the Chronicles of St. Mary’s, the Time Police series, and the supernatural thriller series featuring Elizabeth Cage.
Writing style: Her work is characterized by a blend of humor, history, and adventure. Taylor is known for engaging directly with her readers and attributes her success to them.
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