Stacking the Shelves #69

 

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 Big Four by Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot Book Five)

LIbby Audiobook Borrow: Free

I have decided to just continue with Hercule Poirot books in order. I have read so many for the Read Christie challenges but there are gaps and he's my favorite of them all! In this one he tries to figure out the identity of a mysterious man who appears in his bedroom covered in dust and then falls. Sounds very strange but I have to find out how on earth she makes a story out of that!

Nemesis by Catherine Hanley 

Sample: Free (will buy if I read the sample and love it!)

I absolutely love Catherine Hanley's books and when she's on a podcast featuring a new one I always listen. This is her latest and as always she picks unique subjects and topics. I confess this is just a sample as the book is expensive even on Kindle but if I love it I will buy it or try to get it at the library. It is about Phillip II of France and his interaction with the Plantagenets. There aren't many books devoted entirely to him so I will learn a lot. She is a great writer of medieval history.

The Last Queen: A Novel by C.W. Gortner 

Kindle Purchase: $1.99 with digital points

This is a novel about Juana of Castile. I find her fascinating. Way more interesting honestly than her sister Catherine (probably because there is so much written about her and I've read a lot!). Juana's story is tragic and whether or not she really was "mad" is still up for debate. Some say her circumstances drove her to insanity as she navigates court politics in Flanders. I hope this is a good, historical read as I've heard good things about Gortner's books before. 

Can't Wait Wednesday: Murder on the S.S. Cleopatra by Sara Rosett (Lady Traveler in Egypt Book Two)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, Murder on the S.S. Cleopatra, by Sara Rosett. I have wanted to start this series before and hadn't gotten around to it. I love all things set in Egypt and the first book, Murder Among the Pyramids, is one I keep forgetting about! So now there is a new one to catch up with as well. I really need to add these to my TBR pile for winter. It is very Agatha Christie like in that our heroine is cruising down the Nile and encounters a murder. Set in the 1920's it should be a fun read. I hope you've found something you can't wait for! Happy reading ya'll!

Cozy Mysteries

 October 21, 2025

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

Luxury, lies, and murder on a Nile cruise

Join Blix Windway, an adventurous lady traveler, on a journey down the Nile in 1924. An eclectic mix of passengers boards the steamer, including a captain of industry, a former stunt-girl reporter turned lady of the manor, an archaeologist, an American teacher, a British doctor and his invalid wife, and a German photographer.

When a passenger is found dead, the elegant cruise turns into a floating crime scene. With everyone confined on board, tensions rise and secrets surface. Even her traveling companion, Hildy Honeyworth, is behaving as if she has something to hide. Blix must navigate the treacherous waters of the investigation and uncover the truth.

Set against the stunning backdrop of the Nile River and the ancient wonders of Egypt, this classic whodunit is the second book in the 1920s Lady Traveler in Egypt series from USA Today bestselling author Sara Rosett.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books On My Fall 2025 TBR List

 

 

This week's theme for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is to list the books on my TBR list for fall. I love posts like this but I usually end up with many unread by the next season. Still, it's fun to look ahead with the best intentions and I truly love going to other blogs to see what they have posted. So in no particular order, here are ten books I'd like to finish before the end of December. Happy reading ya'll!

Click on the book title to link to GoodReads:

1. Murder in an Irish Castle by Verity Bright

2. The Enemy and Miss Innes by Martha Keyes

3. Hammer of the Scots by Jean Plaidy

4. A Fatal Encounter in Tuscany by Vivian Conroy

5. Murder at Everham Hall by Benedict Brown

6. Midwinter Murder by Agatha Christie

7. Tudor Dawn by David Field

8. Secrets of a Scottish Isle by Erica Ruth Neubauer

9. The Case of the Christie Conspiracy by Kelly Oliver

10.Stephen and Matilda's Civil War by Matthew Lewis

Stacking the Shelves #68

 

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!

Royal Blood by Rhys Bowen: Her Royal Spyness #4 

LIbby Borrow: Free

I have borrowed and started this one before but didn't get far. I was reading too many other books at the time. I am ready to continue with the series and love that this one takes place in Transylvania. I think cozies are more fun when they take place in exotic or historic places. This time Georgie is invited to represent the royal family at a wedding there and of course one of the guests turns up poisoned. Georgie is on the case while dodging possible vampires! Looks like a fun read. 

A Body at a Boarding School by Benedict Brown: Lord Edgington Investigates Book Two

LIbby Borrow: Free

I have read two Lord Edgington books, the first in the series and a Christmas one. Both are enjoyable and I would like to move to book two. This is the audio version so I can listen on the way to work. Edgington and his grandson Christopher investigate unruly staff and students at the boy's boarding school and find themselves involved in another murder investigation. They have a sweet, heartwarming relationship that forms the basis of these books. 

Murder at Rough Point by Alyssa Maxwell: Gilded Newport Mystery Book Four

LIbby Borrow: Free

It's been awhile since I've read one of these. Watching Season 3 of The Gilded Age on HBO Max this weekend got me thinking about them. I really wish Hallmark would get on with another movie too! The first one was great. In this story, reporter Emma Cross is sent to cover a story at the home of her Vanderbilt cousin who is having a party for the upper crust society set and artists. Her estranged parents arrive and when a body is found they become suspects. Should be a good one! I guess this week is just cozies for me. And I'm just fine with that. 

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!