ALL THE QUEEN'S MEN by SJ Bennett

ALL THE QUEEN’S MEN by SJ Bennett The Queen is a detective! Murder has come to Buckingham Palace and since the Constables don’t seem to be making any headway in finding the murderer, Elizabeth engages the assistance of her Assistant Rosie and investigates herself. Another amusing mystery in this series. The mystery is indeed mysterious. The bad guys don’t appear to be the bad guys and the good guys are all suspects according to the police. Rosie is more fully developed as a character. The author knows their way around Buckingham Palace and the “way things work” in royal traditions. Altogether this is a delightful romp. 4 of 5 stars

THE RITUAL BATH by Faye Kellerman

THE RITUAL BATH by Faye Kellerman I learned a lot about Orthodox Judaism from this exciting murder mystery. When a rape takes place outside a Mikvah in an isolated Orthodox community, Rina, who takes care of the Mikvah, meets Detective Peter Decker. An unlikely friendship begins and intensifies with a murder. Good characterizations, interesting setting, and an intriguing plot that moves at just the right pace make this a great mystery. It is the first book in a series but can be read as a stand-alone. 4.5 of 5 stars

MURDER AT THE MENA HOUSE by Erica Ruth Neubaurer

Jane’s background slowly unfolds as the bodies multiply in this cozy mystery that takes place in 1926 in Egypt. Jane and her eccentric aunt are on vacation, or so Jane thinks, at a luxury hotel near the Great Pyramids. When her aunt deserts her for the company of two younger women, Jane is left to discover a dead body and an enigmatic gentleman who may, or may not, be entirely innocent as the secrets multiply along with the bodies and red herrings. You will learn a bit about social life in Egypt after WWI and riding a camel in this entertaining, but hardly taxing, mystery, Two more Jane Wanderly mysteries have been published. Each can be read as a stand alone. Worthy of an afternoon read with tea -- or a neat whiskey. 4 of 5 stars

BAND OF SISTERS by Lauren Willig

BAND OF SISTERS by Lauren Willig Powerfully written and exhaustively researched, this lightly fictionalized account of the Smith College Relief Unit that assisted French villages decimated by Germany during WWI is an exciting tale of daring do. The Smith Unit, made up of recent graduates of Smith College, were young women mostly brought up to be wealthy, pampered society darlings. They were inspired by a visionary speech and formed a unit that soon found them living in filthy, bombed out buildings and working in dangerous, frontline areas of France. Willig used the Smith College archives to find the families (and occasionally the women themselves) of the Unit. She had access to letters and diaries written by the women as they toiled in France. The book uses these intimate writings to flesh out the women and tell of their deeds as the women lived them. The women and villagers come alive on the page. A wonderful book well worth your time. 5 of 5 stars

LITTLE BITTY LIES by Mary Kay Andrews

LITTLE BITTY LIES by Mary Kay Andrews Mary Bliss McGowan is happily married until her husband – and all their money – leave her. Keeping up appearances in her Atlanta suburb, she tells everyone he is on a business trip – until he turns up dead – maybe. This madcap adventure into deadly divorce finds Mary Bliss with two romantic pursuers, a teen aged daughter who has discovered sex, and a variety of part time jobs. Things go along smoothly (?) until she finds herself suspected of murder by one of her amorous companions. Deftly written, with well developed characters, lots of laughs and a complex plot, Little Bitty Lies is a good way to spend some time with other people’s problems while you relax in the sunshine. 5 of 5 stars

CINNAMON ROLL MURDER by Joanne Fluke

CINNAMON ROLL MURDER by Joanne Fluke Hannah agrees to provide cinnamon rolls for the Cinnamon Roll 6 Jazz Band but their bus overturns on the way to the festival. Keyboardist Buddy is slightly injured, until suddenly, he is dead! When it is discovered that he actually NOT Buddy at all, the mystery deepens. Who is this person and why is he pretending to be a piano player and hiding out in small town USA. Hannah uses her well developed detective and baking muscles to solve the crimes. This cosy series, complete with delicious recipes is an easy read for a lazy afternoon. Just pour a cup of tea and settle down with a cinnamon roll for a pleasant afternoon. 4 of 5 stars

SUMMER ENDIGS by Sollace Hotze

SUMMER ENDINGS by Sollace Hotze It is 1945. The war is over, but Christine’s POW father still has not been heard from. Christine, 12, is in her sister’s wedding and misses Rosie sharply when she moves away. A bright spot is working as a soda jerk at the local drug store and later dancing at the Aragon Ballroom. This coming of age novel intended for the young adult audience provides enough meat for adults to enjoy as well. Well written with believable characters and situations that give a glimpse of life in post war Chicago. 5 of 5 stars