Stacking the Shelves #104

 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. It's a place to showcase any books I have purchased, borrowed, or been lucky enough to have been given an advance copy of. Hope you find something that looks interesting to you or that makes you remember a favorite book you need to finish. Happy reading y'all!

Click on the cover to learn more about the book!

Queen of Trial and Sorrow by Susan Appleyard

Hoopla Digital borrow: free

I can't believe in all my searches for books about historical figures I've not yet run across this author. I've already started this one and it's fantastic! It is essentially the same type of book as Philippa Gregory's The White Queen, covering the life of Elizabeth Woodville and her adventurous journey through the Wars of the Roses. It is written in first person and draws you in immediately through her relationship with King Edward IV and her desperation after the death of her first husband. The great thing is that this author has multiple books on other topics and people that look just as promising. 

Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot Book 36)

Libby Audiobook borrow: Free

I didn't know Christie had written a Halloween book and was even more excited to find out it was with Poirot as the lead detective. I love listening to these in the car with Hugh Fraser as the narrator. In this book, a young girl is found drowned in a barrel at a party where they were playing an apple bobbing game. As Poirot digs into the girl's life and the party guest list he finds she may not have been beloved and may have witnessed another murder herself, prompting someone to want her dead. A good one just in time for October.  

Murder at Melrose Court by Karen Menuhin (Heathcliff Lennox Book One)

Kindle Purchase: $2.99 this week 

This cover made me stop and look, as did the price and the fact that it is book one in a series I haven't tried. I also love the 1920's mysteries with male inspectors for a change. This will be a good one to get ready for Christmas posts. When Major Lennox finds a body on his doorstep it leads him to his uncle's country estate just in time for snow and more murder. The synopsis says "Downton Abbey meets Agatha Christie with a touch of Wodehouse and a dog of distinction." I love it already!

Death From High Places by Benedict Brown (Lord Edgington Investigates Book 1.5)

 

Publication Date:

January 24, 2022

Genre: 

Cozy Mystery, Historical Mystery

Length:  

84 pages

Series:

Lord Edgington Investigates

Book description courtesy of Goodreads:

Lord Edgington of Cranley Hall has some living to do. The next item to cross off on his list of grand ambitions is a serene balloon flight above his palatial estate. But, after a man falls to his death, the pleasant pursuit is interrupted, and the esteemed detective suspects foul play.

With the help of his hapless grandson, their loyal golden retriever and a couple of parachutes, Lord Edgington must solve the murder before the meddlesome police arrive to take control of the case. But, when all of the suspects seem like such nice chaps, it's awfully difficult to spot a killer.

My Thoughts: 

This was the perfect book for me this week. I have been in a bit of a reading slump lately. Overthinking my choices, feeling guilty I'm not reading or blogging as much. But I've just returned to teaching after a very long ten month medical leave and so it's been a lot. So this short, cute novella featuring some characters I love was the perfect way to jump start myself. 

Lord Edgington just wants to take a nice, quiet balloon ride but thanks to his grandson Albert's friends it doesn't quite turn out that way. Luckily, his other grandson, Christopher is there to help when a man falls to his death the day of the balloon ride. It appears his parachute did not open when he jumped from the balloon and Lord Edgington wants to know why before the pesky local police arrive. Being a former high ranking police official himself, he knows a thing or two about investigations and Christopher is a great assistant.

They interview the usual suspects and discover love triangles and resentments along with a killer that didn't fit their initial expectations. Throughout the story, Brown inserts his usual humor and sarcasm, especially within Christopher's thoughts, and he accurately portrays the way an awkward teen would feel around his older brother's much more beautiful, sophisticated friends. Brown also does a great job in his stories with setting. I do feel like I'm in England in the 1920's on holiday at a great country house, which is where most of his stories take place. The relationship between grandfather and grandson is sweet and subtle and very English. Lord Edgington does not suffer fools and secretly likes how Christopher is the only family member willing to take risks and come along for the ride with him- this time literally in a balloon. 

I will be continuing with this series. In some respects it is your typical 1920's cozy English mystery but I find it to be a bit more unique and authentic than some of the others. If you like your books clean with charming characters and challenging mysteries you will enjoy these books!

Poison in Piccadilly by Kelly Oliver (A Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane Mystery Book Six)

Publication Date:

September 14, 2024

Genre: 

Historical Fiction

Length:  

256 pages

Series:

Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane

Book description courtesy of Amazon:

1918 London

Is Fiona Figg ready to exchange her sleuthing cap for a bridal veil? 

Fiona is set to tie the knot with her dashing flyboy, Archie Somersby. But, while Fiona is busy planning her happily ever after, side-kick Kitty Lane and a group of judo-chopping suffragettes are kicking up trouble at the Piccadilly Jujitsu Club. 

When Kitty is found unconscious in the locker room during a high-stakes competition, Fiona must forsake her bouquets and bridal gown to investigate. Her sleuthing leads to a posh lady's luncheon where a mysterious death crashes Fiona's wedding plans. 

To make matters worse, the arch-nemesis of all things matrimonial, Fredrick Fredricks is up to his old tricks, attempting to put the brakes on Fiona's journey down the aisle. Will he succeed in tripping up Fiona's wedding vows? Or will she finally say "I don't" to the charming devil?

With humor as sharp as a judo chop and suspense as tight as a wedding corset, Poison in Piccadilly invites you to matrimonial mayhem that will have you saying "I do" to laughter and "forever more" to page-turning suspense. 

The book features real life suffragettes Sylvia Pankhurst and her bodyguards trained by Edith Garrud, who taught them jujitsu, which became known as Suffrajitsu.

My Thoughts:

This is the final book in the Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane mystery series. It was a lot of fun and although it's not deep reading I don't care....these stories are just fun and light and I'm such a fan of the covers. On audiobook they are especially great driving to and from work for a lightheartedness to get you through your day. I am going to miss Fiona, Kitty, Archie, Clifford, Fredricks, and the little dog, Poppy, but something tells me Oliver left the door open for another sequel some day.

In this story we stay in England which wasn't as much fun for me but that's okay, I think she wanted to end up where the story started. Fiona is shocked when her friend Kitty is found unconscious at the Piccadilly jujitsu club and is determined to find out what happened. Then a second murder occurs and she knows there is more to the story. As she investigates while also planning her wedding to Archie, Fiona realizes she might not be as sure of her commitment to him as she once thought. Then Fredricks shows up to confuse her even more. We spend the whole book wondering which man she will end up with and start to see more of Archie's secretive activities. She does her best to find out who would want her friend harmed and another woman killed and to fight her feelings for Fredricks. 

I thought the mystery part of the story was a bit slow and truth be told I wasn't terribly interested in the whole jujitsu thing. But that's a personal preference, the story was still entertaining. The ending made up for it and I thought she did a great job of wrapping up the series. I would like to start her newest one starring THE Agatha Christie solving crimes of her own. 

Stacking the Shelves #103

 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. It's a place to showcase any books I have purchased, borrowed, or been lucky enough to have been given an advance copy of. Hope you find something that looks interesting to you or that makes you remember a favorite book you need to finish. Happy reading y'all!

Click on the cover to learn more about the book!

Game of Queens: The Women Who Made Sixteenth Century Europe by Sarah Gristwood 

Kindle purchase: $1.99 

This book by an author I featured last week is a study of the most powerful women of the sixteenth century, during a time when women were not likely to rule much. From Isabella of Castile to Elizabeth Tudor this study of powerful women rulers looks like an interesting read. And not just because they are women, but because they shaped history in their time. I like books that include many historical figures and give an overall snapshot of their lives and accomplishments. 

Matilda II: The Forgotten Queen by Joanna Arman

Kindle purchase: 99 cents

Pen and Sword history has some of the best books from England that I want to read so badly but often I can't get them here in the U.S. or they are incredibly expensive. When I ran across this book today I was so excited! I'd featured it a long time ago on my Can't Wait Wednesday post and now it is available for a great discount. Matilda II from Scotland, wife of Henry I is a queen that is rarely written about and I love to learn about the more obscure royals and events that don't get a lot of attention. And also, look at that gorgeous cover! This is one book I'm going to put on my TBR list. 

A Question of Betrayal by Anne Perry (An Elena Standish Novel Book Two) 

Kindle purchase: $1.99

There are five books in the Elena Standish series and I now own the first two. Anne Perry is one of my favorite authors and since she passed away not long ago I'm glad I still have a long way to go with all her many books.  In this series, set between WWI and WWII, the heroine becomes involved in her first mission for MI16 British intelligence during the Mussolini years. Perry is so adept at combining real historical events with mystery, intrigue, and authentic settings. 

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Harlot of St. Cecilia's by Darcy Graves (Inspector Garrett Book One)

 For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, The Harlot of St. Cecilia's, by Darcy Graves. This is book one of the series, Inspector Garrett. I have not heard of it or this author which is probably what made me request it. That and the cover which is gorgeous. Yes, it is another cozy, historical mystery set in the 1920's but this time it involves a librarian as the main character. Just my kind of story! It looks like a fun read and with my back to school tired teacher brain I need fun and easy to read. 

Cozy Mystery, Historical Mystery

October 1, 2026

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

England, 1923. The war is over but not forgotten, and in the cloistered corridors of a university town just outside London, life has resumed its careful performance of normality, with faculty politics, reading circles, and theatre productions.

Into this world comes Eden Brior: an American librarian, sharp-eyed and perpetually out of step, who came to England looking for her lost brother but has made her quiet life among the stacks of St. Cecelia's.

A trying evening becomes considerably worse when she and the charming, impossible Simon Cross are accidentally locked in the bookvault, and a French actress turns up dead in the nave upstairs.

Eden is a witness. She may also be a suspect. And Inspector William Garrett, who has seen everything, has not quite seen anything like her.

Witty, vivid, and steeped in the textures of postwar English life, The Harlot of St. Cecelia's is a mystery that earns its place on your shelf through character: the people who loved the victim, the ones who didn't, and the ones who aren't quite sure.

A cozy mystery in the tradition of Dorothy Sayers, Jacqueline Winspear and Kerry Greenwood, this book is for readers who like: historical mysteries, intrepid heroines, morally grey charmers, and the golden age of detective fiction.

The first novel in the Garrett Mystery series.

Stacking the Shelves #102

 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. It's a place to showcase any books I have purchased, borrowed, or been lucky enough to have been given an advance copy of. Hope you find something that looks interesting to you or that makes you remember a favorite book you need to finish. Happy reading y'all!

Blood Sisters: The Women Behind the Wars of the Roses by Sarah Gristwood 

Kindle purchase: 49 cents with points

Goodreads says "The true story of Philippa Gregory's The White Queen" for the summary of this book. While I know some complain that Gregory's books  aren't historically accurate, this author's is because it is not historical fiction. It covers everyone in the Wars of the Roses from Anne Neville to Margaret Beaufort. I look forward to reading it and seeing what new things I uncover about all these women. 

Poison in Piccadilly by Kelly Oliver (A Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane Mystery Book Six)

Libby audiobook borrow: Free

This is the last book in the FIona Figg series. After that I'd like to begin Oliver's Agatha Christie series. These are fun to listen to in the car and while doing chores. I like the recurring characters and keep waiting to see if Fiona will ditch Archie for her much more charming and exciting nemesis, Fredrick Fredricks. Since this is the end of the series I know we are going to find out soon!

Emperor: The Gates of Rome by Conn Iggulden (Emperor Book One)

Kindle purchase: $1.99 

I enjoyed the first two books by Iggulden in the Wars of the Roses series and need to finish the other two. I grabbed this book because I want to eventually read a series about Rome and Julius Caesar even though it isn't my favorite subject. I just think I should try to learn something of that time period. Hopefully this series is good by a solid author. Learning in an entertaining way is my motto with most of my reading.

Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon (Lord John Grey Book One)

 

Publication Date:

September 30, 2003

Genre: 

Historical Fiction

Length:  

368 pages

Series:

Lord John Grey

Book description courtesy of Goodreads:

The year is 1757. On a clear morning in mid-June, Lord John Grey emerges from London’s Beefsteak Club, his mind in turmoil. A nobleman and a high-ranking officer in His Majesty’s Army, Grey has just witnessed something shocking. But his efforts to avoid a scandal that might destroy his family are interrupted by something more.... the Crown appoints him to investigate the brutal murder of a comrade in arms, who may have been a traitor.

Obliged to pursue two inquiries at once, Major Grey finds himself ensnared in a web of treachery and betrayal that touches every stratum of English society — and threatens all he holds dear. From the bawdy houses of London’s night-world to the stately drawing rooms of the nobility, and from the blood of a murdered corpse to the thundering seas ruled by the majestic fleet of the East India Company, Lord John pursues the elusive trails of a vanishing footman and a woman in green velvet, who may hold the key to everything — or nothing.

The early days of the Seven Years War come brilliantly to life in this historical mystery by an author whose unique and compelling storytelling has engrossed millions of readers worldwide.

My Thoughts:

This is the second read of this book for me. I read it years ago before I had my blog and my goal is to review all of Gabaldon's books eventually. I thought I really needed to re-read it to make sure I remembered it. I absolutely love the character of Lord John from the big Outlander books and am anxiously awaiting STARZ to get on it and give him a spinoff show already based on these books!! If you've not read any Outlander books I would not start with the Lord John ones. At least try to read the first three Outlander books because I just don't think I'd have appreciated these spinoffs without the background knowledge provided in the "originals." But if you are like me, you will fall in love with Lord John and want to know what he is up to in his own personal and military life.

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Case of the Christie Honeymoon Murder by Kelly Oliver (A Detection Club Mystery Book Five)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, The Case of the Christie Honeymoon Murder, by Kelly Oliver. I haven't started this series yet because I have one more mystery to finish from her Fiona Figg series. I think this book will be a lot of fun as Agatha Christie and her new husband, Max travel down the Nile amid politics and murder. 

Cozy Mystery, Historical Mystery

September 26, 2026

Book description courtesy of Net Galley

Agatha Christie’s latest book, The Seven Dials, has set the literary world alight. With a new marriage to Max Mallowan and a honeymoon cruise down the Nile ahead, she’s looking forward to the trip of a lifetime. But the publication has also drawn the attention of the Secret Service, who have spotted strange coincidences within its pages.

When Eliza Baker, assistant to the secretary of the Detection Club, is asked to accompany Agatha Christie and her husband, she reluctantly agrees, determined to help clear her friend’s name. Yet her attention soon shifts to fellow passengers, the Hardwicke family, who are celebrating a daughter’s birthday aboard. And when a guest is found dead in his cabin, the idyllic voyage takes a deadly turn.

As the steamer drifts upriver, Eliza and Theo must sift through polite smiles and private grievances to find the truth. Can Eliza and Theo uncover the truth before the Nile claims its next victim?

Stacking the Shelves #101

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. It's a place to showcase any books I have purchased, borrowed, or been lucky enough to have been given an advance copy of. Hope you find something that looks interesting to you or that makes you remember a favorite book you need to finish. Happy reading y'all!

The Big Four by Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot Book Five)

Libby: Borrow, free audiobook

I have really neglected Agatha Christie this year. So it's time to get back into the latest Poirot book. I have enjoyed listening to her books while commuting or doing chores and so this one was next in line. Unfortunately, I've read nearly all the books for Read Christie 2026 so this one is not on that list. It was originally a series published in the paper and then cobbled together into a book. Looking forward to catching up with Poirot and Hastings in this very different book about espionage. 

The Greatest Traitor: The Life of Sir Roger Mortimer by Ian Mortimer 

Hoopla Digital: Borrow, Free

I have always been fascinated by the marcher families in medieval times. The Mortimers are part of that story and so this looked interesting. Ian Mortimer is known for being a great researcher and although I may not read every single page I'm sure I will get the gist of his life. And it's free with Hoopla so win win!

Anna Komnene and the Alexiad: The Byzantine Princess and the First Crusade by Ioulia Kolovou

Kindle purchase: $2.99 this week

Anna Komnene is remarkable for her time. She is a rare woman, being the only Byzantine female historian and modern researchers are lucky to have her material to draw from even a thousand years later. I heard a lot about her when I was listening to the History of the Crusades podcast years ago. This book caught my eye because it was on sale this week and I haven't seen many books about her life before. 

 

A Great and Terrible King: Edward I and the Forging of Britain by Marc Morris

 

Publication Date:

May 6, 2008

Genre: 

History

Length:  

480 pages

Series:

None

Book description courtesy of Goodreads:

This is the first major biography for a generation of a truly formidable king – a man born to rule England, who believed that it was his right to rule all of Britain. His reign was one of the most dramatic and important of the entire Middle Ages, leading to war and conquest on an unprecedented scale, and leaving a legacy of division between the peoples of Britain that has lasted from his day to our own.

Edward I is familiar to millions as ‘Longshanks’, conqueror of Scotland and nemesis of Sir William Wallace (‘Braveheart’). Yet this story forms only the final chapter of the king’s astonishingly action-packed life. Earlier Edward had defeated and killed the famous Simon de Montfort in battle; travelled across Europe to the Holy Land on crusade; conquered Wales, extinguishing forever its native rulers, and constructing – at Conwy, Harlech, Beaumaris and Caernarfon – the most magnificent chain of castles ever created. He raised the greatest armies of the English Middle Ages, and summoned the largest parliaments; notoriously, he expelled all the Jews from his kingdom. The longest-lived of all England’s medieval kings, he fathered no fewer than fifteen children with his first wife, Eleanor of Castile, and after her death he erected the Eleanor Crosses – the grandest funeral monuments ever fashioned for an English monarch.

In this book, Marc Morris examines afresh the forces that drove Edward.  His relentless character, his Christian faith, and his sense of England’s destiny; a sense shaped in particular by the tales of the legendary King Arthur. He also explores the competing reasons that led Edward’s opponents (including Llywelyn ap Gruffudd and Robert Bruce) to resist him, and the very different societies that then existed in Scotland, Wales and Ireland. The result is a sweeping story, immaculately researched yet compellingly told, and a vivid picture of medieval Britain at the moment when its future was decided.

My Thoughts:

I've been on a mission the last couple of years to learn more about the 1200's. It just interested me because it seemed like there wasn't much in the way of history or historical fiction about those years and I wondered why. Sharon Penman's Welsh princes trilogy and Jean Plaidy's Plantagenet saga covers the time period but I'd never even heard of Simon de Montfort prior to those books. I'm an American so that is probably not unusual but still....once I started reading about that whole time of him and Henry III, I wondered how on earth there wasn't more written about them. Their stories are fascinating. 

So after I'd exhausted all I could find on Henry and Simon, I moved on to Edward, the next King in line. And his life is incredible too. Marc Morris does a great job of telling his story and including all the details of his early life, friction with his parents and relatives, involvement with battles as a young prince, and his reign while conquering Wales and Scotland (basically). It it a well researched, interesting story but at times it did get super detailed on some things I wasn't as interested in. In order to write a thorough biography of a King you have to discuss battles in detail to some degree and cover all aspects of the subject's life. Morris definitely does that. I was glad I'd read Plaidy's more fictional, yet historically accurate account prior to this book so I was more invested and understood what was happening. 

Morris's book felt like I was taking a history class with a narrative style. Sometimes I just want the facts, without fictional characters or dialogue, but it has to have a personal touch as well or it becomes too dry. I think he did a great job with this. 

I enjoyed this book on a topic that is rarely given the attention it deserves. Morris has clearly done his time covering all the parts of Edward's life. He has other biographies on Kings John and William I that I'm sure are good as well. It is worth your time if you want to know more about this period.