Murder on 34th Street by Mariah Fredericks

MURDER ON 34TH STREET by Mariah Fredericks is a fun, holiday-themed mystery story set in New York City in 1932. The delightful main character is named Grace Verlander who is Assistant to the Head of Personnel at Macy’s. She seems to know each of the 8000 (!) employees and is constantly dealing with one crisis (e.g., smudgy counters) to another (e.g., request for a raise) to another (e.g., quality of toilet paper). I especially enjoyed the opening scene as she moves through the store to meet with Santa; it made me think if the West Wing opening when Leo walks through The White House. The staccato pace to her monologue and asides to the reader is quite amusing, particularly in regard to Raymond Di Nunzio, the window designer and a possible romantic interest. But for Grace, work comes first: “Lil [perfume saleswoman and her friend] would tell me to stop worrying about work and enjoy life. But what Lil does not understand is that I enjoy work because work can be divided into a thousand little tasks that can be put on a list, accomplished, and crossed off.” It gets quite involved when Santa’s life is threatened, just prior to the 9th annual Macy’s parade and when a body is found as the parade ends. Several other deaths occur, and Grace tries to investigate, even if it means suspecting Raymond or Lil.  Booklist gave a MURDER ON 34TH STREET starred review (“prose so witty and crackling that readers might start to hear the fast-talking Katherine Hepburn or Rosalind Russell in their heads”) and I sincerely hope that Mariah Fredericks writes more mysteries featuring Grace and this fun cast. Enjoy!

On a related note, Goodreads just posted “92 New and Beloved Cozy Reads for Fall.” Bookmark it now – the list includes so many titles personal favorites that we have enjoyed and reviewed (Everyone in this Bank is a Thief, The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies, The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances, The Reimagining of Thornwood House, This Book Made Me Think of You), plus “classic cozies” like Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand or The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, and many more. It is a great resource.

The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett

THE CALAMITY CLUB by Kathryn Stockett (The Help) is set in 1930s Oxford, Mississippi and the beginning is quite disheartening as Stockett describes life in an orphanage for Margot Louise (Meg) LeFleur, an eleven-year-old whose asides to the reader are reminiscent of those from Alan Bradley’s Flavia de Luce. Meg is intelligent, but scarred by being abandoned by her mother, called Charlie. And Meg struggles to cope with the abusive treatment at the orphanage. Things are a bit brighter (literally) when she meets Birdie Calhoun, poor sister to Francis Tartt, one of the local volunteers. Birdie is in town in hopes of much needed funds from her sister and the wealthier family into which she married. Sadly, it is the Depression Era, and no one is spared the ravages of poverty; that means Birdie eventually meets Charlie and, in an act of desperation, the two form a business venture. A LibraryReads Selection, THE CALAMITY CLUB is a tale of betrayal and also of loyalty; of strict social standards and also of acceptance due mainly to necessity; of sexual mores and women’s health. Book clubs will find much to discuss from this lengthy (656 pages) historical fiction novel which does drag in parts. Readers will develop affection and concern for Meg as well as Birdie - who is an especially likeable character - but their circumstances and the “calamities” they face are not.

The Moonshine Women by Michelle Collins Anderson

Beginning in 1912 and continuing through the Prohibition era, THE MOONSHINE WOMEN by Michelle Collins Anderson is a work of historical fiction set in rural Missouri that was chosen as an Indie Next pick for April 2026. The family saga revolves around the Strong sisters: Rebecca who loves nature and working on the farm; Elsie who is looking for love and a chance to escape to an easier life; and “Shine,” the youngest, who despite her impulsive personality and fiery, red hair, is the most talented at crafting moonshine with her father, Hiram and grandmother, Lidy. Rural life is especially difficult during the Depression, and, after a tragedy, these young women expand their operation to Hot Springs, Arkansas, a vacation spot for mobsters (Al Capone makes an appearance or two) and other wealthy customers. The sisters still suffer setbacks but stay strong (“who they were deep down, that core of pure obstinance and determination”) while also learning to depend on others (“enlarging your circle didn’t dilute love, but miraculously multiplied it”). Anderson has thoroughly researched this era: pointing, for example, to when “the government feared that female bootleggers outnumbered their male counterparts five to one!” She provides a useful list of Sources, some, like this, with online links, plus Discussion Questions for Book Groups. For interested readers, Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls is another fictional work which also deals with Prohibition and has strong female characters; it received multiple starred reviews.

The Four Queens of Crime by Rosanne Limoncelli

Set in 1938 in England, THE FOUR QUEENS OF CRIME by Rosanne Limoncelli is an intriguing debut novel featuring four famous mystery writers: enlists Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, and Margery Allingham. They have been invited to a charity gala being hosted at the estate of Baronet Sir Henry Heathcote. The party seems a fabulous success, but the next morning a dead body is discovered, and the writers eventually help the police sift through multiple personal and professional motives to unmask the killer. THE FOUR QUEENS OF CRIME received starred reviews from Library Journal and Publishers Weekly. Mystery readers may also have fun comparing this to the recently published The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict. I thought that Limoncelli did a better job of giving each of the writers a more distinctive character (she certainly relied less than Benedict on describing their outfits). I also liked how Limoncelli included other real people (Detective Chief Inspector Lilian Wyles, Lady Stella, even Home Secretary Sir Samuel Hoare) in her story and included a helpful character list. I am looking forward to more mysteries from this author and hope that as she develops her craft, she becomes more confident in subtly showing/pointing her readers to conclusions and clues rather than “telling” them. This cozy is an entertaining escape – enjoy!

Let Us March On by Shara Moon

LET US MARCH ON by Shara Moon is a debut work of historical fiction centered on the FDR White House. The main narrator is Lizzie McDuffie, a maid who was married to FDR’s valet, Irvin “Mac” McDuffie.  Their decades long association with the Roosevelts was clearly quite close, although it was a bit hard using modern eyes and biases to accept the idea of consulting one’s maid on federal policy or asking that person to take an active role like the one Lizzie held in presidential campaigns. Moon wrote that Lizzie referred to herself as “Secretary-On-Colored-People’s-Affairs” and Moon repeatedly stressed Lizzie’s private conversations with the President regarding overtures to organizations like the NAACP and its leaders. This was a fascinating look at “influence” as the civil rights movement was coalescing, but it was disappointing that the preview did not contain a list of sources or any commentary from the author. Readers interested in this time period may also want to look for The First Ladies by Benedict and Murray.

West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge

Described as “witty, charming, and heartwarming” by Booklist, West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge is a work of historical fiction based on true events. The setting is 1938 and the title characters are quarantined in New York, having survived a hurricane at sea. Their destination is the San Diego Zoo and Rutledge imagines that journey (avoiding overpasses less than 12’ 8”) along the Southern route (called the Lee Highway) in the company of Old Man, Woodrow Wilson Nickel (“Woody”), and Augusta Red (she’s a young, adventurous photographer, hoping for a break with Life magazine). West with Giraffes is a coming-of-age story, a romance, and a travelogue. As they drive across the US (sometimes at a top speed of ten miles an hour due to the winding, hilly roads), Rutledge chronicles numerous encounters and those provide ample opportunity for reflection and commentary on honesty, good vs. evil, families, feminism, race relations, and poverty vs. privilege. This novel is highly recommended, although there are some very sad parts as all of the main human characters are hiding secrets. Interested readers should explore this absolutely wonderful Libguide with more background on the giraffes, the book, and the author. Enjoy!

A favorite passage:
In the years ahead, through the War and beyond, it was this quiet day moving through the unmoving land with Boy and Girl and the Old Man and Red that I returned to when I needed it most. Like the jolting joy of giraffes amid the traveling bird wave, its peace passed any understanding, any attempt at words. You only get a few of those in your whole life if you're lucky, and some only get one. If that be true, this was my one. When I remember it, I'm not eighteen in the memory. I am whatever age its comfort came to me, be it 33 or 103, and I am driving us all, through the timeless red desert, headed nowhere in particular, just someplace good. Together.

The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict

THE QUEENS OF CRIME by Marie Benedict received a starred reviews from Library Journal and Booklist; it was also a LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection for February. In her latest work of historical fiction (1930s England and France), Benedict conveys the personalities of five Golden Age mystery writers.  She teams Dorothy Sayers with Agatha Christie, plus Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy. As part of an effort to impress the male writers at the Detection Club, these women work together to solve a murder of a young English nurse, May Daniels, in France. They trace her stops at the ferry and various shops, often employing their own characters’ techniques to learn much more than the local police while still providing plenty of suspense for readers. In the process, they redeem Daniels’ reputation and enhance their own. A great historical whodunit.

I was fortunate in being able to listen to the Audio Book narrated by Bessie Carter. She did a great job of using Benedict’s words to help readers picture these five authors and their varied personalities. 

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Story by James McBride

THE HEAVEN & EARTH GROCERY STORE by award-wining author James McBride is a complex, difficult novel to describe, but one that deserves your attention. Here are some thoughts from the author’s interview on PBS NewsHour:

Encouraging writers to forget race and focus on humanity, McBride says, “Self-definition is the first step towards self-control. ... just appreciate everyone for who they are.” He develops rich characters in his latest novel which centers on Pottstown Pennsylvania’s Chicken Hill neighborhood where Moshe and Chona Ludlow integrated a theater and ran a grocery store although the community was mostly filled with Black residents, including de facto community leader Nate (the theater’s janitor) and his wife, Addie. A skeleton is found in 1972, but relevant events from 40 years earlier drive the mystery and McBride's empathetic social commentary about marginalized groups (Jews, Blacks, Italian immigrants) in America. THE HEAVEN & EARTH GROCERY STORE was a LibraryReads selection for August 2023 and received multiple starred reviews: Booklist (“Funny, tender, knockabout, gritty, and suspenseful”), Kirkus (“pitch-perfect dialogue”), Library Journal (“compellingly written, and not to be missed”), AND Publishers Weekly (“endlessly rich saga”). For additional perspective, especially about the novel’s rather slow pace, here is the New York Times review.

The First Ladies by Benedict and Murray

THE FIRST LADIES by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray is another wonderful and informative historical fiction collaboration by these two best-selling authors (The Personal Librarian).  This time, they are focusing on Eleanor Roosevelt and renowned educator Mary McLeod Bethune. Taking readers behind the scenes and musing about relationships and attitudes (“funny how the same women who talk with me about the advancement of women in a formal meeting space open to whites and Negroes pretend not to even see me in this social setting”), Benedict and Murray highlight racial tensions from the late 1920s to the mid-1940s. The public and private strength of both famous women is evident as well as the parallels in how each had to rely on her own fortitude to ignore hurtful comments and actions. As Bethune says, “their racism isn’t my problem. Racism belongs to the people who are racists.”  Weaving in other historical characters, like FDR, Lucy Mercer, Missy LeHand, Lorena Hickock, and even Billie Holiday lends authenticity and immediacy to the storyline which is told from alternating perspectives. THE FIRST LADIES received starred reviews from Booklist (“impeccably researched, relevant novel is a must-read and destined to be a book club favorite”) and Library Journal (“unshakable bond of sisterhood”); plus this title was a LibraryReads selection for June 2023.

Stateless by Elizabeth Wein

STATELESS is another excellent piece of historical fiction written by Elizabeth Wein; some of her other titles include Code Name Verity, Rose Under Fire, and Black Dove White Raven. She sets her latest novel in August 1937 where a dozen young adults are promoting peace by participating in an air race with separate legs between a variety of European cities like Salisbury, Brussels, Hamburg, Venice, and Paris. Initially, all of those characters (and their planes) need an introduction, but Wein swiftly concentrates the action around Stella North, who represents the UK, Tony Roberts, who represents France, and Sebastian Rainer, a Luftwaffe pilot flying for Germany. They have to learn to trust each other when another competitor disappears (possibly murdered) and it seems that someone involved with the race is now targeting them. The race itself moves the story along, of course, but there is much more exciting action and danger in this historically accurate mystery. Be sure to read the author’s note where Wein not only explains the title and some of her sources, but also draws parallels to today’s issues, especially the situation in Ukraine. STATELESS is highly recommended and received a starred review from School Library Journal.

The Circus Train by Amita Parikh

THE CIRCUS TRAIN by Amita Parikh is a work of historical fiction and an international best seller. The debut novel was chosen as the #1 LibraryReads selection for December. The suspenseful story of survival takes place in Europe during the 1930s (and later) at a touring circus named the World of Wonders. The main characters are Theo Papadopoulos, a talented illusionist and over-protective father to Lena, who had polio as an infant and must use a wheelchair; and Alexandre, a young Jewish orphan who becomes Theo’s apprentice and Lena’s close friend. A key theme of the novel is persistence and resilience; it is reflected in Lena’s efforts to learn to walk and the later descriptions of conditions in a concentration camp when the trio are separated. Parikh writes, “Your greatest achievements often grow out of the worst circumstances” and uses her research to accurately depict disability and hardship at that time, all while developing empathy and concern for her realistic characters. Booklist recommended THE CIRCUS TRAIN for teens, saying “Teens who enjoy coming-of-age journeys will be drawn to Lena’s story and the intriguing traveling-circus setting.” Of course, comparisons will be made to Sara Gruen’s Water for Elephants, but the time period and adolescent characters are also reminiscent of WWII titles by Ruth Sepetys (like Salt to the Sea) or Elizabeth Wein (Code Name Verity; Rose Under Fire).

Peril in Paris by Rhys Bowen

PERIL IN PARIS by Rhys Bowen is the latest in her Royal Spyness mystery series featuring Lady Georgiana Rannoch. Set in the mid-1930s and taking place primarily in the French capital, this new addition is not as strong as previous entries. Georgie, now pregnant, has come to Paris while husband Darcy is on assignment there. She spends time with her old friend Belinda, her mother, and fashion designer Coco Chanel. There is a murder at a fashion show and Georgie investigates, but it is as if her pregnancy has contributed to a personality change. She is much more hesitant than I recall from earlier adventures. The mystery, too, is not all that involving although there is an element of pre-WWII espionage. PERIL IN PARIS is fine as light entertainment, but readers will be much more apt to enjoy earlier titles in this series like God Rest Ye, Royal Gentlemen or Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding. 

The Three Dahlias by Katy Watson

THE THREE DAHLIAS, a debut murder mystery by Katy Watson, has a beautiful cover and a complex plot set in the present day at Aldermere, a manor house in the English countryside. That is the family home of Lettice Davenport, a famous mystery writer during the 1930s Golden Age of crime. Her many novels, featuring detective Dahlia Lively and her sidekick Detective Inspector Johnny Swain, have been turned into films and a television series and a brand new film is in the works. Three stars have held the Dahlia role: Rosalind King, Caro Hooper, and Posy Starling – all of whom are on site for a special promotional weekend with VIP guests, the new director, his assistant, the script writer, and the Davenports, Hugh, his wife Isobel, and her granddaughter, Juliette. A formal dinner culminates in a murder with roughly a dozen suspects, but more mayhem is on the way as the three Dahlias (Rosalind, Caro, and Posy) learn to overcome their insecurities and differences in order to find a killer. Closed room and cozy mystery fans (think authors like Sulari Gentill, Richard Osman, and Ashley Weaver) will enjoy this light and entertaining who-dun-it eventually solved by several female sleuths who are simultaneously uncovering secrets and learning to value themselves. Truly, THE THREE DAHLIAS could easily be a movie with a beautiful setting like Gosford Park; wouldn’t that be fun?