We Chase Shadows by Richard Osman

WE CHASE SHADOWS by Richard Osman is another We Solve Murders mystery featuring a writer, Rosie D’Antonio, her friend and retired cop, Steve Wheeler, and his daughter-in-law, Amy, who is also a bodyguard.  They are hired by Vern Blackwood, a businessman involved with selling fake vitamins, to find out who killed one of his bodyguards, leaving a note signed by his longtime rival, Jakob Eriksson. Together, they supply plenty of cheerful banter – one interaction between Amy and her husband, Adam, is particularly amusing and surprising – although more and more corpses appear. The mystery (described as both “overly convoluted and too easy to solve” by Publishers Weekly) is not Osman’s best, but the character interaction redeems this tale as loyal fans await yet another of Osman’s Thursday Murder Club selections.

Receipts from the Bookshop by Katie Clapham

RECEIPTS FROM THE BOOKSHOP by Katie Clapham is a very clever account of “A Bookseller's Year in an English Seaside Town.” The author, Katie Clapham, and her mother (known as Business Mum or BM in the text) run a bookshop in a small town and Clapham takes great joy in entertaining her readers with accounts of her days. Each chapter covers roughly a month and there are always interesting customers, hunts for titles, and sales (or lack thereof), plus a truly amusing set of anecdotes about the passers-by and their comments on the bookshop. At first, the pace may seem overly slow, but this tale of titles and patrons quickly turns charming. Clapham writes with emotion about book buying: “A book is a beautiful present for almost any person in your life because it is a promise of an experience. It says: I want you to have this thing. I want you to have the time to enjoy it. I want you to be happy.” Or about children’s books: “Books always make great gifts, but I think there's something deeply special about gifting someone a few moments to be young again.” My favorite turn of phrase though, has to do with the English weather: “I guess the rain is due soon because someone is definitely playing with the dimmer switch in the sky.” Avid readers will enjoy RECEIPTS FROM THE BOOKSHOP and will likely find titles to add to their own to-be-read lists. To get a sense of Katie Clapham’s writing style and the ebb and flow of her days, visit her Substack and then be sure to visit your own local book store, too.

When Lemons Give You Life by Anna Johnston

A LibraryReads selection for August, WHEN LEMONS GIVE YOU LIFE by Anna Johnston (The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife) is the story of an older man, named Griff, who was a Michelin star chef but now lives (according to the author) in “the most negligent nursing home imaginable.” That low quality of care was a big obstacle for me when I started reading about Griff, his estranged sister, Lisa, and his partner, Beau. The author jumps around in time and shares stories from the childhood of Griff and Lisa, (thirteen years apart in age with different fathers) as well as from their adult lives. WHEN LEMONS GIVE YOU LIFE is very cleverly written (“odd that we fear ageing, forgetting how lucky we are to even get the chance”). Booklist says, “Johnston thoughtfully explores grief, loneliness, aging, and sibling relationships while leavening with warmth and humor.” Indeed, Johnston comments movingly on “the invisibility cloak of age and dementia,” while also promoting laughter with some madcap adventures. I found myself coming to care for the characters more and more and particularly enjoyed the last third of the book as conflicts were resolved and reconciliations occurred. One more quote: “What matters – what lasts – is how you love people. How you treat them when no one’s watching. That’s the only legacy worth leaving.”

The Distinctly Competent District Councillor

THE DISTINCTLY COMPETENT DISTRICT COUNCILLOR by Jonas Jonasson is a quick read (144 pages) which will have readers laughing and smiling even as Jonasson satirizes multinational conglomerates and their impact on small towns. The newly elected mayor, Julia Back, of a small Swedish town, Halstaholm, is intent on improving future prospects for her constituents and she spearheads a campaign to attract investment by a German mattress manufacturer. Her local task force (including a ten-year-old boy) quickly devise a number of surprising ways (e.g., starting a German language school) to convince the owner, Konrad Kaltenbacher Jr., and his two young daughters that Halstaholm is German-friendly. They are up against a tight timeframe and some unethical competition from consultants pushing for a rival location, however. Let the contest begin! Jonasson said that he “felt the urge to write something that might give us hope … about friendship between people from different nations.” Booklist called THE DISTINCTLY COMPETENT DISTRICT COUNCILLOR a “warm-hearted satire” and The Mail on Sunday described it as “a shot of serotonin in book form.” Enjoy!!

Return to Sender by Stephanie Parente

RETURN TO SENDER by Stephanie Parente is a debut novel which succeeds and surprises on many fronts. While mainly a rom com, it explores aspects of identity, friendship, and grief, offering humorous sidenotes and road trip adventure with appealing characters. The most endearing is fourteen-year-old Phoebe who has recently lost her father and is living with her twenty-six-year-old sister, Violet, a teacher. Parente is described as “passionate about writing messy characters falling in love,” and she begins the story with a rebellious Phoebe opening and reading a stranger’s love letter. That leads to their finding and convincing Dex, a troubled young man, to return the letter to its intended recipient, named Catalina. Along the way, the trio visits several highlights (e.g., Yogi Bear statue, Coney Island, a gay bar in Chicago) and experience moments of self-reflection (“The sort of unremarkable night that maybe once would have been easily forgotten, but now I knew to hold onto it with both hands. What a privilege it was to be bored and boring. We were alive at the same time, on opposite sides of the couch. I could have lived in this moment with him forever.”). Violet often focuses on naming three good things and is relentless in trying to stay positive (although her musings about being a guardian can feel repetitive). As readers might expect, there are several romantic scenes as well. RETURN TO SENDER received a starred review from Publishers Weekly (“a zany road trip provides a path to recovery”).

A Zoom with a View by Jess Cannon

A ZOOM WITH A VIEW by Jess Cannon is an entertaining debut mystery set in small town Blue Oak, Texas and features numerous residents including the local cops (steadfast Jake, a bumbling sheriff, and a couple of other deputies), plus Leonora “Leo” Holloway (who has returned after a long absence), her mother (ditzy hairdresser Karina), and Leo’s long ago boyfriend, Mack Garner. The cast of characters also includes some local influencers and wannabe real estate moguls, Chaz Nickolson and Kymber Owens. Chaz is found murdered, and a rival real estate professional (best friend of Leo’s Mom) is arrested. Suddenly, Leo and her friend Emily, who have been covertly mocking Chaz online for years are local experts and guiding the police towards potential clues. The clever, humorous text is sprinkled with text messages, police memos, blog posts, and Reddit or Facebook entries. Complicating matters are hints of a romantic triangle as well as some long-hidden family secrets. Library Journal sums up A ZOOM WITH A VIEW well: “Readers who enjoy epistolary novels and quirky characters may enjoy this mystery from first-time novelist Cannon.”

Storm Warning by James Byrne

STORM WARNING by James Byrne is another Dez Limerick thriller (#4, after Chain Reaction) and it does not disappoint. Dez is a wise-cracking “gatekeeper,” skilled at opening doors and fending off intruders. He is off to Newfoundland during a blizzard with a State Department official, her bodyguard, and other law and medical personnel. Their mission is to contact a group of scientists who’ve suddenly gone quiet five stories down in an innovative mine that also appears to have cut off access. Byrne complicates Dez’ task by adding well-armed Russians who are after something in the mine, plus, greedy (and psycho) capitalists employing mercenaries and several traitors. The pace is exhilarating and feels like non-stop action interspersed with clever quips from Dez. STORM WARNING received a starred review from Publishers Weekly (“Byrne brilliantly braids plot threads from previous installments into the action, creating a high-octane page-turner that respects its audience’s intelligence.”). Don’t miss it!

Good Joy, Bad Joy by Mikki Brammer

GOOD JOY, BAD JOY by Mikki Brammer (The Collected Regrets of Clover) introduces readers to Joy Bridport, someone who at first seems truly too good to be true. Joy invariably looks on the bright side, gives others the benefit of the doubt, and sacrifices her own needs to help others. Her life, however, gets turned upside down (look at that cover!) when she learns that her best friend of eighty years, Hazel, has terminal cancer. Brammer shares Joy’s innermost thoughts about her parents’ values, her troubled relationship with her own daughter (Elizabeth) and grandson Finn, as well as a new friendship with Rowan, a neighbor recently released from jail. Joy starts to take some risks, and the lack of consequences will have readers nodding in agreement about how older women often are invisible. GOOD JOY, BAD JOY is a rather sad story and while Joy grows, it can be a difficult read emotionally. Like “good” Joy, Booklist describes this novel more positively as “a heartwarming, poignant story of self-discovery and hope.” Book groups will find much to discuss.

A Course Called Home by Tom Coyne

A COURSE CALLED HOME by Tom Coyne is a series of wonderful “Adventures of an Accidental Golf Course Owner.” After entertaining us with travels to golf courses across America and Europe, Coyne will have readers enthralled by the efforts to save an almost 100 year old nine-hole golf course, Sullivan County Golf & Country Club in upstate New York. The amount of work required to run one’s own business, especially one that requires the physical upkeep of a golf course, plus concerns over finances are shared in an entertaining, relatable way. Coyne is extremely fortunate in the employees like Shane, chief groundskeeper, or the trio of pro shop retailers: Gary, Jimmy, and John; even the local high schooler Henry and other part-timers seem to form a family of sorts. And, Coyne’s connections in the golf world make their own (often surprising) contributions whether it’s equipment, supplies, rental golf carts, or financial support. Even Bill Murray, Jason Kelce and Mike Madden make appearances. Best-selling author Coyne weaves in reflections about his own family and the beauty of the Catskills where they now live for part of the year. Truly enjoyable and highly recommended.

Save the Date by Mallory Kass

SAVE THE DATE by Mallory Kass is, as several members of my book club would say, “a palate cleanser.” Kass, who has written previous bestsellers as Kass Morgan, offers a romantic comedy set at a wedding in Maine as her adult fiction debut. The action revolves around three women: bride-to-be Marigold who discovers she still has feelings for an ex-husband; Matron of Honor Natalie who is suppressing long held feelings for the groom; and lawyer Olivia who is Marigold’s sister and out to find her own perfect match. It is all a bit ridiculous and fairly predictable, but as Publishers Weekly says, “Fans of romantic comedies with a Hallmark Channel vibe will enjoy this heartwarming tale.” Cute and undemanding, if a bit slow paced and full of fluff, SAVE THE DATE will leave readers smiling. Below is a great graphic summarizing all of the confusion; the fact that none of the characters are shown with faces simply confirms how little they know themselves and their feelings. 

The Name Game by Beth O'Leary

THE NAME GAME by Beth O'Leary (The Switch, The Road Trip and others) is a cute, if confusing, story. Two people with the same name – Charlie Jones – show up to manage a farm store on a remote island named Ormer. Each so desperately craves a fresh start (“It’s so tiring. Trying to be what I think other people think I should be.”) that they agree to share the managerial responsibilities for the summer. The island doesn’t allow motorized vehicles and sports a cohesive local community filled with eccentric characters (like the doctor who is also a fabulous baker). Readers gradually learn parts of the Charlie Jones back stories (e.g., about a former girlfriend and boyfriend), but there is a lot to track and sharing a name doesn’t help. Emotions, especially romance and anxiety, run rampant and readers may, like one of the characters, ask themselves, “When did everything get so messy? It’s all lies and secrets and people pretending to be things they’re not.” An engaging story, but one that is hard to follow, especially at the end, THE NAME GAME is an April 2026 LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection. Booklist describes it as “a perfect read for those who enjoy the voice of Bridget Jones or want their romance with a side of drama.”  

Everyone in This Bank is a Thief

A LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection for March, EVERYONE IN THIS BANK IS A THIEF by Benjamin Stevenson is the latest in his very entertaining Ernest Cunningham series. In this case, old Ern may have really pushed the envelope as he is trapped in a bank by a rather ineffective robber. Someone mysteriously dies and it looks like Ern could be next. He’s intent on solving the mystery, though, and playing fair with his readers by providing as much background as he can. Noting, for example, that “We've got a dead body in Byron, two hours’ drive from here, a police raid a year ago that resulted in another dead body, a missing banker, a vault that can't be opened, a bank robber who doesn't seem to care about money, and a guard who doesn't care about protecting it, plus a priest who can't talk and a bird that won't shut up.” Stevenson is very clever in crafting this series and I doubt that too many readers will jump to the right conclusion here… plenty of twists and interrelationships despite Ern’s admonition that “You don't need to solve every little thing. Just solve the things that matter.”  The audiobook is narrated by Barton Welch who does a commendable job (and has so many great lines to deliver, like: “Winston rolled his eyes and turned to Juliette, ‘Is he always this argumentative?’ ‘Yes,’ [she responded] ‘I disagree,’ I said.)”. EVERYONE IN THIS BANK IS A THIEF received starred reviews from Kirkus (“Resign yourself to being stumped, and enjoy.”) and Publishers Weekly (“Stevenson’s hot streak continues”).

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

YEAR OF YES by Shonda Rhimes (whose credits include Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and How to Get Away with Murder) was originally published a decade ago and the new 10th anniversary edition offers extra chapters and insight from an extremely talented writer. Rhimes was challenges by her sister about her tendency to say “no” and she chose to battle her introvert tendencies (“This is who I am. Silent. Quiet. Interior. More comfortable with books than new situations. Content to live within my imagination.”) and to begin to say “yes.” That meant she found a way to combat her fear and go on Jimmy Kimmel’s show as one example.  In addition, she gave a commencement speech at Dartmouth which is an amazing chapter – well worth the time to read. Rhimes is inspirational and informative (e.g., sharing studies about standing like Wonder Woman).  This is a book to which readers can return again and again. It’s exciting to think of the transformation which she achieved: “I do often say no. I can't do everything. But I am no longer saying no out of fear. The reflexive, knee-jerk, panic-induced ‘absolutely not’ that used to be my default setting has been rewired.”

100 Rules for Living to 100 by Dick Van Dyke

100 RULES FOR LIVING TO 100 by Dick Van Dyke is subtitled “An Optimist's Guide to a Happy Life.” I particularly enjoyed listening to the audiobook where narrator Tom Bergeron does an excellent job of channeling Van Dyke. The tone is reflective and friendly, and Van Dyke readily admits that there may not be exactly 100 rules, but he offers many funny stories and valuable insight. These tales span eight or nine decades and center on family members as well as acting and musical colleagues. I truly enjoyed and would definitely recommend. In fact, I plan to listen a second time!

Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library

MRS. CHRISTIE AT THE MYSTERY GUILD LIBRARY by Amanda Chapman is my new favorite book of the year. It is a very cleverly written mystery and features an appearance by Agatha Christie as she returns from “eternity” to solve a murder in current day New York City. Her fellow sleuths include Tory Van Dyne, a young book conservator who is coming to terms with her own past trauma. Tory’s voice (and the self-reflections to which readers are privy) is fun, observant, and somewhat self-deprecating. She is a very appealing character as is her ditzy actress cousin, Nicola (“exactly what you would imagine a grown-up Eloise would be like”). There is also her steadfast co-worker (Adrian Gooding), an 11-year-old neighbor from Ireland (Mairead – like parade), and Detective Sebastian Mendez-Cruz, all of whom contribute to solving the intricate, puzzling mystery with its multiple suspects and unexpected twists. Sebastian (a “man with the eyes of a sad saint”) provides a slowly building romantic interest which adds to the humor, but the best part of this novel is the way in which Chapman skillfully incorporates quotes from numerous works by Christie. Several are included as chapter introductions, but the author often had me smiling at the many others which are inserted almost seamlessly in the witty dialogue. MRS. CHRISTIE AT THE MYSTERY GUILD LIBRARY received a starred review from Library Journal (“a real treat for any Christie fan”) and Publishers Weekly (“Uncovering a killer, it turns out, can be just as fun in the Big Apple as it is in St. Mary Mead.”). Highly recommended. 

In her Author’s Note, Amanda Chapman recommends reading Lucy Worsley’s biography and John Curran’s Agatha Christie’s Secret Notebooks, saying of Agatha Christie, “I imagined I could almost hear her voice in my head as I began to write -- a bit reserved but warm, quietly confident and often very, very funny.”

The Library of Unruly Treasures by Jeanne Birdsall

THE LIBRARY OF UNRULY TREASURES by Jeanne Birdsall (The Penderwicks) transported me back to the summer when I was around 10 years old. This is a book geared to 4th through 6th graders and I loved it. So did the professional reviewers at Booklist, Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal (“an essential purchase”), all of whom gave it a starred review. The novel tells the story of Gwen MacKinnon; she’s only eleven years old and is sent to live with a distant uncle. Thankfully, he’s a kind man who indulges her fascination with the Lahdukan, tiny, winged creatures who have their own language and live in the local library. Of course, readers need to turn up the imagination factor and accept the rather fanciful adventures – perfect for middle-grade readers. This book is described as a whimsical, heartwarming story with memorable characters and a blend of real and magical worlds. It contains beautiful drawings by Matt Phelan. I especially loved thinking about many of the titles on this list of Penderwicks readalikes. A truly feel good, although totally implausible, story. Birdsall’s devotion to her characters and the story is evident – she says that she wrote this book over eight years. Let’s hope she gives us another funny, brave hero soon! 

Tricks of Fortune by Lina Chern

TRICKS OF FORTUNE by Lina Chern (Play the Fool) is the second murder mystery to feature tarot card reader Katie True. This time, her good friend, Gina, is a prime suspect in the murder of a local cop, Officer Pete. Chern is an Edgar Award-winning author, and I find her stories to be filled with suspense and humor. I had a sixth sense while reading and was gratified to see the author’s note which refers to the real-life case involving Illinois resident Lt. Joe Gliniewicz. Chern adds her own twists and character secrets. She also flashes back to the time when Katie’s eccentric Aunt Rosie, stressing the need to move forward and accept change, first explained how to read the cards. Those chapters are guaranteed to make readers smile and laugh. TRICKS OF FORTUNE works as a stand-alone mystery, but readers will enjoy reading Play the Fool first. As Katie says, “Our brains are wired to look for patterns. You get a bunch of random images, your brain is automatically going to make a story out of it. It's why the cards work. It's not magic, but it's real.” For more on Chern's  perspective on the cards and writing mysteries, see her interview with Chicago Review of Books. 

Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes

SAVVY SUMMERS AND THE SWEET POTATO CRIMES by Sandra Jackson-Opoku is a brand-new culinary mystery. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Karen Chilton – she did an excellent job. I liked the voice, the cozy story, and the clever use of language (e.g., “looking back from the intersection of hindsight and regret…”). This mystery debut is set in Southside Chicago so hearing about familiar locales was fun for me (despite the disparaging remarks about the beloved Cubbies baseball team). The title character is a woman trying to be strong and to give back to her community. She runs her own business, a soul food café based on her great Aunt Essie's recipes. But when a patron dies suddenly, Savvy’s livelihood is threatened, and she (along with her nosy assistant and policemen ex-husband) tries to figure out what happened. Savvy persists, often reflecting on Aunt Essie’s truisms like there are three sides to every story: “her side, his side and the dad-gone truth.” Library Journal gave SAVVY SUMMERS AND THE SWEET POTATO CRIMES a starred review, praising its “engaging community of characters.” 

The View from Lake Como by Adriana Trigiani

THE VIEW FROM LAKE COMO by Adriana Trigiani is a coming-of-age story from a favorite author about Italian American families, culture, and expectations. Trigiani introduces readers to Giuseppina Capodimonte Baratta (called Jess), a recently divorced thirty-something who has moved back in with her parents in Lake Como, New Jersey and handles household chores (e.g., the big Sunday dinner) somewhat resentfully. Jess was not able to go away to college and has worked for her childless Uncle Louie as a designer at his marble and stone importing company. She is finally allowing herself to dream a bit, especially about the trip to Italy that Louie has promised. A premature death thwarts those plans, but Jess perseveres and challenges herself to find independence and forgiveness. Amongst the advice for her: “When adapting to a new environment, be kind to yourself. Making friends and acclimating is a process. Seek comfort and familiarity but set a goal to talk to someone you don't know every day. You will be empowered to form bonds and make friends.” Romance, family history, and a visit to the original Lake Como await. THE VIEW FROM LAKE COMO received starred reviews from Booklist (“this may be her best yet”) and Library Journal (“a captivating and memorable read”). Be sure to also look for Trigiani’s debut novel Big Stone Gap (published 25 years ago), Big Cherry Holler, Milk Glass Moon or one of over a dozen other titles she has written.

Snoop by Gordon Korman

SNOOP by Gordon Korman is a fun, middle school read. I picked it up because I have such fond memories of Korman’s books, particularly Toilet Paper Tigers. This newly published novel features 12-year-old Carter Peregrine who broke both of his legs in a skiing accident. In an effort to avoid total boredom (and stay connected to classmates) he starts following local surveillance cameras and even hacking into some. There are, of course, several hilarious moments, but the limited qualms regarding surveillance and Carter’s use of a drone without permission subtract from the appeal as an adult reader. Rebellious pre-teens will likely be enthralled and relate to the endangered animals which Carter keeps spotting. SNOOP was positively reviewed with Publishers Weekly describing it as “fast-paced, rollicking contemporary homage to Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window.”