Can't Wait Wednesday: Mydworth Mysteries- Lost in the City of Light (Book 18)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, I'm featuring, Lost in the City of Light, Mydworth Mysteries Book 18, by authors Matthew Costello and Neil Richards. They are a friend duo who have been writing together and working on projects for many years. I have not read this series yet and there are a lot of books to go through but I wanted to share anyway. It is rare to find male cozy mystery writers so I wanted to promote them. 

The main characters are a husband and wife team which is also less common in these 1920's historical cozies. In this story they travel to Paris and one of them goes missing and it's up to the other one to find them without being taken too. 

I hope you've found something you can't wait to read this week! Happy reading ya'll!

 

Cozy Mystery/Historical Mystery

 June 1, 2025

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

When Sir Harry is asked to go to Paris for a Secret Intelligence Service meeting, he of course asks Kat to come along. After all, it's Paris in the summer and fun awaits! But the getaway a deux quickly turns dangerous when Harry goes missing. 

Suddenly, with both their lives in danger, it's up to Kat to find out what's really going on. As the trail takes her from grand hotels to the late-night bars of Place Pigalle, it soon becomes clear that treachery has a murderous price in the City of Light.

The Last Camel Died at Noon by Elizabeth Peters (Amelia Peabody Book 6)

 

Publication Date:

September 1, 1991

Genre:

Cozy Mystery

Length:

 448 pages

Series:

Amelia Peabody Mysteries

Book description courtesy of Amazon books:

If Indiana Jones were female, a wife and mother who lived in Victorian times, he would be Amelia Peabody Emerson, an archaeologist whose extraordinary adventures are guaranteed entertainment. This time Amelia, her handsome, fearless husband, Radcliffe, and their precocious 11-year-old son, Ramses, are in the Sudan, searching for archaeologist Willoughby Forth, who disappeared 14 years earlier with his new wife. Rescued in the desert after every camel in their caravan dies, the Emersons are taken to a lost city where ancient Egyptian customs have been carried into modern times. 

There, entangled in two half-brothers' battle for the throne, Amelia and family fight for the freedom of the slave class while ferreting out the fate of Forth and his bride, and arranging to escape with their lives. 

Peters ( The Deeds of the Disturber ), who also writes as Barbara Michaels, laces her usual intricate plotting with Amelia's commonsense approach to hygiene and manners, and coyly delicate references to vigorously enjoyed connubial pleasures. Combining a fierce affection for her family with indefatigable independence, stalwart Amelia proves once again an immensely likable heroine.

My Thoughts:

Having finished the previous book in the series in which the family is in England, I was anxious to get back to their usual pyramid digs in exotic places. This time the Peabodys go to Sudan on an epic adventure. They are looking for a man and his wife who have disappeared into the desert 14 years ago and only have a map and their wits to guide them. Facing heat, lack of water and supplies and dying camels the odds are really against them. When they stumble upon an ancient society that has maintained Egyptian customs they are intrigued but soon realize they are also prisoners. The civilization does not want to be discovered and the Peabodys, along with their son Ramses are now coming to understand this is not just a fun history re-enactment but a kidnapping. 

This was truly a wild ride! I honestly enjoyed the first half of the book more, the part where they are asked to search for the Willoughbys, the clues, and just the amazing authentic details that Peters includes as they prepare for the journey and make their way through the desert. I was so excited to know where the map would lead them and was really invested in what they would find. Add to that Amelia and Radcliffe and Ramses banter and it was very entertaining. 

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Tiger and the Thief by Griff Hosker (The East Indiaman Saga Book 2)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, The Tiger and the Thief, by Griff Hosker. This is book two in his series about a soldier working for the East India Company, which I have always found fascinating. This premise is unique and of course I'd read book one first but this is his newest one coming out in May. I had not heard of this author before but researching his other books he has been writing awhile and has several other series besides this one. 

I hope you've found something you can't wait to read this week! Happy reading ya'll!

Historical Fiction

May 2, 2025

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

Although now hidden in a company of East India soldiers, Bill ‘Smudger’ Smith still harbours an intention to escape. These plans are put on hold however when his former life as a wharf rat comes back to haunt him. Bill is a skilled thief with a sharp talent for deception. When the Company needs one of their men to infiltrate the fortress of Seringapatam, it falls to Smudger to gather the necessary intel to take down Tipu Sultan, the Tiger of Mysore. 

Will he succeed in his mission? And what will it mean for his ultimate plans for freedom? Finding himself increasingly tied to his fellow soldiers, the Devil’s Dozen, will Bill be able to part from his new-found family? Or are his adventures with the East India Company destined to continue?

The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie (Superintendent Battle Book Two) Read Christie Selection April

 

Publication Date:

January 24, 1929

Genre:

Cozy Mystery

Length:

 282 pages

Series: Superintendent Battle Mysteries

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

A practical joke goes chillingly, murderously wrong in Queen of Mystery Agatha Christie’s classic detective story, The Seven Dials Mystery.

Gerry Wade had proved himself to be a champion sleeper, so the other houseguests decided to play a practical joke on him. Eight alarm clocks were set to go off, one after the other, starting at 6:30 a.m. But when morning arrived, one clock was missing and the prank then backfired, with tragic consequences.

For Jimmy Thesiger in particular, the words "Seven Dials" were to take on a new and chilling significance.

My Thoughts:

I try to be as honest as I can with my blog and reviews but without being harsh or finding nothing positive to add. I admit this wasn't my favorite Christie story, not even close and I gave up on it twice! But then I decided to stick with it as I'd already invested time in over half the book at that point. I'm glad I did (always glad to finish books!) but it was definitely a strange one. I read that it didn't receive positive reviews when it was released and that is lacked her usual efforts. I guess when you are as prolific a writer as Christie you are bound to have some misses sometimes. 

The "prank" pulled at the very beginning seemed very silly and juvenile to me. But I'm not a practical joker type person and especially noting they do this while someone is sleeping which I find very creepy. Gerry Wade, the victim of the joke is subjected to eight alarm clocks ringing at different intervals and ends up dead (not giving away particulars) so the joke goes horribly wrong. 

There were a lot of characters to keep up with and I just didn't connect with them much so I struggled to pay attention. As the story progressed it got more interesting though and by the time I was ready to quit I was getting intrigued. It changed from just the joke, deaths, and odd secret club mystery to more in depth of a plot involving  scientists and secret formulas. I had to know more. 

"Bundle" the nickname for one of the main characters is actually Lady Eileen Brent and she figures prominently throughout along with her Father and love interest as trying to solve the mystery of the Seven Dials Club, who the members are, and especially who "number 7" is. This is the shady character who might be the key to it all. At this point the story was intriguing and started to have that espionage feel to it that is fun in these types of stories. This occurs about halfway through as does the heavier involvement of Superintendent Battle. The behind it all unfolds very slowly but is a fun reveal and I enjoyed the justice that happens to the murderer. 

While not my favorite, I am glad I stuck with it. Read Christie each month is a reading challenge goal of mine and I try to complete it. I don't always get it done but I give it my best shot! 

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Seaside Murders by Helena Dixon (The Secret Detective Agency Book Two)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, The Seaside Murders, by Helena Dixon. I've read the first book in her other series featuring heroine Kitty Underhay and it was cute. I'd like to start this one eventually as well. There are always so many new cozies to feature!

I hope you have found something you can't wait for! Happy reading ya'll!

Cozy Mysteries/Historical Mysteries

April 30, 2025

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

A pretty seaside town, a body on the beach, and a boatload of clues. Can super-sleuth Miss Jane Treen solve the mystery?

England, 1941. When Jane Treen is summoned to her boss’s office at the end of a long day, she smooths down her tweed skirt and makes them both another strong pot of coffee. Brigadier Remmington-Blythe slides a folded copy of the evening newspaper towards her, with one small article circled in red ink. A body has been found on an English beach in the little seaside town where she grew up, and he wants her to investigate.

Jane is used to managing secret agents and spies, but she is now part of The Secret Detective Agency, England’s answer to solving the most mysterious murders. Making her way to the coast and brimming with curiosity, she’s heartened that shy and handsome codebreaking genius Arthur Cilento will be joining her to help her wade through the fishy goings-on. Although Jane doubts he will appreciate her bringing her beloved one-eyed cat, Marmaduke.

Together, Jane and Arthur drop anchor in her crumbling childhood home overlooking the sandy beach where the body was found. Surrounded by potential suspects, their eyes are on a devious doctor, an eccentric artist, and a secret sweetheart. But as Jane and Arthur are searching for the truth, those giving evidence start to clam up. One thing seems certain...they need to reel in the killer before they’re out of their depth.

Can The Secret Detective Agency triumph again, or will they meet their watery end at high tide?