Noteworthy News #10: The Glass King

 I am always raving about my favorite podcasts and this Noteworthy News is no different. I have enjoyed Dan Jones' podcast called This is History so much and looking forward to Season 8 which is starting soon. It will cover the reign of Henry V and he just published his latest book about him too. If you haven't read his books or listened to his podcast you are missing out big time!!

While waiting for Season 8, Jones is having a friend and author, Daniele Cybulskie take the reigns and her six episode series is called "The Glass King." It covers the reign of Charles VI of France also known as Charles the Mad due to his mental instability and what we now think was either bi polar disorder or schizophrenia. I have had a hard time finding books on French medieval history and shows that don't just focus on how France relates to England during that time period. So this was right up my alley and it is soooo good! She tells it in such a great narrative style and explains how his mental troubles contributed to civil war in France and how that affected Europe as a whole. You really get to know Charles and feel such sympathy for him. 

Those of you who have read In a Dark Wandering Wood  by Hella Haasse will really like it. I'm still working my way through that book about that time period and setting. In the podcast Cybulskie also brings to life Charles' spirited and smart wife, Isabeau of Bavaria and Charles' scheming brothers and uncles . The family almost reminds me of the Mafia, like an episode of The Sopranos, but French medieval style, lol.  It is like listening to a great historical movie. Even if you don't know anything about French history (like me, very green on this subject!) you will be fascinated by the story. 

And if you love English history, don't forget that Charles married his two daughters off to two Kings of England: Isabella to Richard II and Catherine to Henry the V. She is the mother of Henry VI, another king with mental troubles. It all ties together and makes for the most fascinating tale.

So if you need something to listen to on the way to work or wherever check out This is History: A Dynasty to Die For "The Glass King." Each episode is around 30-40 minutes, so not some huge time commitment like a full audio book. Happy listening ya'll!

Can't Wait Wednesday: Murder at the Royal Palace by Verity Bright ( A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery Book 23)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, Murder at the Royal Palace by Verity Bright. This is book 23 in this series and continues the adventures of Eleanor, her butler Clifford, and her dog Gladstone. This time they are invited to the palace to see Eleanor's husband knighted but of course get involved in another set of murders. Always a fun time!

Cozy Mysteries

 September 30, 2025

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

Lady Eleanor Swift has a special royal invitation. She’s got just the right dress and the perfect plus one… But wait! Is that a body by the throne?

Lady Eleanor Swift is at Buckingham Palace to see her new husband, Detective Chief Inspector Seldon, knighted. Brimming with pride, all she can hope is that Gladstone the bulldog behaves himself in front of the king.

But the happy day is overshadowed when Dilly Dalrymple, a royal guard from the Tower of London, tragically dies. The head of the royal police asks Eleanor and Hugh to investigate – unofficially. This is her first clue that there’s more to the story…

Donning a disguise as a journalist for a well-to-do magazine, Eleanor, with butler Clifford posing as her photographer, is invited to stay in the Tower amongst the remaining guards and their families. She wasn’t expecting gossiping wives, affairs aplenty and talk of long-lost treasure! Was Dilly killed to settle an old score or was he perhaps a little too close to someone else’s wife?

But when another soldier is murdered at midnight, hours after the gates are locked, Eleanor knows she needs to keep her wits about her… And when everyone seems to have a reason to lie, can Eleanor dig up the truth before it’s her head next?

Stacking the Shelves #67

 

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 ya'll!

What Angels Fear by C.S. Harris (Sebastian St. Cyr Book One)

LIbby Audiobook Borrow: Free

I have finally, finally started this series. I have been intending to for a very long time. Set during the Napoleonic Wars and sounding similar to the Anne Perry style of mysteries it looks like one I will enjoy.

I admit there is so much going on at work my blog and book life is suffering greatly so I am listening to this one in the car. So far I'm loving it and the narrator is fabulous. It's Davina Porter, the same lady who reads the Outlander series. So for those of you who've recommended this book series to me I thank you and look forward to continuing with it!

Murder in an Irish Castle by Verity Bright (Lady Eleanor Swift Book 12)

Kindle Purchase: Free with digital points

My next book in this delightful series! I have so many yet to go and just keep buying them when I can. This one looks like a Christmas/Winter one but I think I'll go ahead and start it. There is already a new one out I'm featuring on Can't Wait Wednesday this week. In this book Lady Eleanor is expecting a fun vacation at her late Uncle's estate in Ireland exploring her heritage and instead finds another body! Should be a fun read and I love that it is set in Ireland.

Mayhem in the Mountains by Kelly Oliver (A Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane Mystery Book 3)

Libby Borrow: Free

I think this series is really cute and this is the 6th book for me so far. The first three books were just Fiona but now her sidekick Kitty has been added along with her love interest Archie and villain Fredricks. I'm always trying to figure out if he is really a villain and suspect that when the series comes to an end he will turn out to be a secret spy good guy. I am excited to catch up with them!

Stacking the Shelves #66

 

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 ya'll!

The Strange Fate of Kitty Easton by Elizabeth Speller

Hoopla borrow: Free

This one just looked unique and interesting to me. It is number two in the Laurence Bartram series but the first book doesn't seem as exciting. This one involves the disappearance of a young girl in a village during 1916. The synopsis of the book sounds like it will have a lot of WW1 as the background and how the village is coping with it all. 

The Families of Eleanor of Aquitaine by J.F. Andrews

Amazon Kindle: Free with points

I just can't seem to resist any books about Eleanor of Aquitaine. And this one focuses on her daughters. The male line gets so much attention and I know her daughters had amazing lives as well. Can't wait to learn more about them!

A Sunless Sea by Anne Perry (William Monk Book 18)

Libby Borrow: Free

This is one series I have remained faithful to and love. And Libby has them all. I've been reading my way through the Monk series for 20 years and love everything Perry has written. It's time to catch up with the next one. Here Monk investigates the death of a woman who has been seeing a mysterious guest with possible ties to the government. Perry books are always great mysteries! You can't go wrong.

At Bertram's Hotel by Agatha Christie (Miss Marple Book 10) Read Christie Selection September 2025

 

Publication Date:

January 1, 1965

Genre:  

Cozy Mysteries/Historical Mysteries

Length:   

 223 pages

Series: 

Miss Marple

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

This old-fashioned London hotel may not be quite as reputable as it makes out! When Miss Marple comes up from the country for a holiday in London, she finds what she's looking for at Bertram's: traditional décor and impeccable service. But she senses an unmistakable atmosphere of danger behind the highly polished veneer. Not even Miss Marple can foresee the violent chain of events set in motion when an eccentric hotel guest makes his way to the airport one day late.

My Thoughts

I thought it was a bit of a stretch to call this a Miss Marple mystery. She is not in the story very much and her usual expertise in solving the mystery is not in depth. Rather, I think she is there more to be the one who slowly realizes the hotel is not old world charming but rather sinister and jaded. In that respect, her character shines through. But she is not in the novel enough to be as memorable as the other Marple mysteries I've read. 

Bertram's Hotel is pitched as an old style, full service hotel that aims to please its patrons by being a classic London lodging of old. Everyone assumes there is nothing going on but the usual. As the story unfolds we get glimpses of things not being quite right. Shady dealings and train robberies add to the confusion and make the story suspenseful and exciting. The seeming disappearance of a hotel guest and their fate are unexpected and add a lot to the drama; I didn't guess what was actually happening to him at all!

Most of the time we hear from the detectives on the case. Their thoughts, interviews, etc. This felt more like a Hercule Poirot type of story in that respect. It was enjoyable and I came to like the character of Inspector Davy, even though he didn't spend a lot of time with Miss Marple.

The story was unique and worth reading even though I wished we'd seen more of her. Unlike other Christie novels, this one didn't focus as much on murder as it did other crimes but that was a nice change. This one definitely stands out as a departure from her typical mysteries.