A Five Star Review

 Five reasons I’m giving Five Stars to 

Down a Dark River by Karen Odden:

1. The stage - the year is 1878 and we are in Victorian 

London, a time of discovery and innovation, 

a time when people are still bound by their class and history.

2. The lead - Michael Corravan is an inspector in Scotland 

Yard, a young man with a prickly character and complicated 

history, in no hurry to share his secrets. 

3. The supporting cast - Corravan is surrounded by a motley 

crew of friends and colleagues who all add another 

dimension both to his character and to the story.

4. The plot - the book, the first in a new series, 

begins with the disappearance of one woman, 

the murder of another and a river that runs between them. 

Nothing more from me, this is a spoiler-free zone.

5. The summary - if you are in the market for a 

hard-to-put-down historical mystery with a different voice, 

plenty of atmosphere, plot twists, suspense, quality writing 

and a satisfying end, this could well be the book for you.

♡

Featured: I upcycled these bags

with a tea wash and embroidery.

A Five Star Review

 Five reasons I’m giving Five Stars to 
Smoke & Cracked Mirrors by Karen Charlton:

1. The Setting - the story takes us to 1940 York, 
a time full of intrigue and atmosphere. WWII books 
featuring young women are very popular right now 
but the author finds a fresh angle, an interesting location 
and a great plot.

2. The Detectives - Jemma James and Bobbie Baker 

are among the nicest, cleverest and most resourceful 

protagonists I’ve met in a long while. They never put 

a foot wrong, really (but I don’t hold that against them). 

And the secondary characters are every bit as good.

3. The Record -  author Karen Charlton has 
previously written the Detective Lavender Mysteries, 

a fun regency mystery series. I was quite looking 

forward to her new series and, indeed, I’ve enjoyed 

both her excellent writing and clever storytelling.

4. The Format – Charlton surprises us (no worries, 

this is a spoiler-free zone) with the structure of the plot, 

some cases are easily solved, others require the whole 

book, and they flow together very well.

5. The Summary – this is the first book in a new series 
and a fine start, IMO. If you’re in the market for an 
enjoyable, gentle, heartwarming mystery with unexpected plot 
twists, this could well be the book for you.

♡

Featured: baskets made out of t-shirt yarn

A Five Star Review

Five reasons I'm giving five stars to 

Murder at Mallowan Hall by Colleen Cambridge:

1. The Time and Place: We are in 1930, 

that breath of fresh air between the two wars, 

and in the green pastures of the English countryside, 

in the home of famed mystery novelist Agatha Christie, 

there is a body in the library.

2. She Who Must Be Obeyed: Phyllida Bright is the 

head of the household (though the butler would probably 

argue the point). Phyllida is no ordinary housekeeper. 

She is good looking, fashionable, easily the smartest person 

in the room and prides herself on her cool and calm head. 

The house, of course, is beautifully run at all times.

3. The Hidden Past: Phyllida hints at many secrets, 

at a past full of twists and turns, but the author 

is in no hurry to reveal them all. This is a 

woman worth knowing and we should take our time 

to do so.

4. The Newcomer: Our Phyllida has grown used to 

being universally adored, from Agatha and her husband 

Max Mallowan to the reluctant butler and the rest 

of the stuff (herself included). But there is a newcomer 

to Mallowan Hall who is not as easy to impress, 

who knows just how to unruffle the unflappable, 

and keeps her human.

5. Gimme More: If you're in the market for a 

light and lovely read, filled with an unforgettable 

protagonist, a few bodies and fascinating details of the 

daily life of a manor house, this is the book for you! 

Can't wait for the next book in this fun new series. 

♡

Featured: Knitted baskets, 

my winter obsession.

A Five Star Review

Five reasons I'm giving five stars to

the Wrexford & Sloane mysteries by  Andrea Penrose:

1. The setting - This mystery series takes us to

Regency London (aka Jane Austen time), both

to the glittering high society and the dark

underbelly, and dead bodies are everywhere.

2. The protagonists - Charlotte Sloane is a

satirical cartoonist with a complicated past;

the Earl of Wexford is a chemist with a 

complicated character. And they are both

wonderful characters that grow on you 

from one book to the next and a great pair.

3. Caring is sharing - Each book sees new

characters, many of them unconventional,

that join our little group of fighters for

truth and justice. Love the way they all

interact with out two main protagonists.

4. The history- The author likes to weave

important developments in science

and technology into the books. It is gently

done and adds an interesting background

to the stories.

5. In short - If you like a well plotted

mystery with excitement and twists, interesting

settings, attractive characters, a pinch

of history and a dash of romance,

they could well be the series for you.

♡

Featured: I lined this crochet basket

with plastic lining to house a 

strawberry plant.

A Five Star Review

 Five reasons I'm giving five stars to 

Murder at Madame Tussauds by Jim Eldridge.

1. The setting - We are in London, 1896, and one 

of the nightwatchmen at the Madame Tussauds museum 

is found dead while his colleague is missing. 

2. The protagonists - Daniel Wilson was once a 

Scotland Yard detective, part of the team that hunted 

Jack the Ripper. His fiancé Abigail Fenton is 

an archeologist and Egyptologist. Together they are 

‘The Museum Detectives’ and they are great at it.

3. The history - There are many snippets of 

historical details in the book that never overtake the plot. 

I enjoyed learning more about the origins of the 

Madame Tussauds museum and the wax business. 

4. The tone - The tone of the book was spot 

on for me. This is not a gentle, cozy read. 

It is fairly fast paced with plenty of twists and a 

rising pile of bodies, but still not too gory or dark. 

A fun read.

5. More to come - This is the sixth book in 

the Museum Murders series (you guessed it, 

each book centers around a different museum) 

but perfect as a stand-alone. It is the 

first I've read and will now go back to read others.

♡

Featured: I made stickers for some

handmade gifts.

A Five Star Review

Five reasons I'm giving Five Stars to:

The Verity Kent Mysteries by Anna Lee Huber.

1. The Setting - These mysteries unfold in 1919,

just as the Great War comes to an end. The war - with

its tragedies, heroics and secrets - colors all the books.

2. The Protagonist - Verity Kent is a superwoman of

her time - she saw action as a Secret Service agent

during the war, has been solving complicated mysteries

ever since, and is always the cleverest, most observant

person in the room. And she is gorgeous and buys her

cloths in Paris, all at the tender age of 23. But she is

strong and fun and human and I don't hold this 

overachieving against her.

3. The Plots - The books have a feel of the classic

British murder mysteries with intricate plots, plenty

of twists and turns, and a lovely mix of mayhem

and social observation.

4. The Toys - Verity 'married well' so beside

the dresses from Paris there are swanky cars,

country estates, society parties, jazzy nightclubs, and all 

the glamorous trimmings of the bright young things 

of the era.

5. In short - If you like your murder mysteries set

against an interesting historical background, with 

attractive characters, plenty of energy and a little

romance, this could well be series for you. 

(This is a series best read in order, if possible).

♡

Featured: embroidered kitchen towels.

A Five Star Review

 Five reasons I'm giving Five Stars to:

An Extravagant Death by Charles Finch.

1. The Series: This is the 11th book in the 

Charles Lenox Mysteries series

unfolding in Victorian England.

The book can be read as a stand-alone

but the whole series is excellent.

2. The Detective: Charles Lenox is the

second son of an honorable family and

his choice of career has raised quite

a few eyebrows. He is the most 

thoughtful, courteous and civilized

man and a wonderful character.

3. The Members of the Band: Lenox is

surrounded by a colorful group of recurring

characters - his wife, his daughter, his

brother, his ex-valet, his physician friend, the 

partners in his detective agency.

4. The Plot: While most books in this series

take place in London, this time we 

travel to gilded-age Newport, RI. It is

fascinating to see this new shrine to

American wealth through Lenox's

English eyes.

5. The Best Part: Is the quality of the writing.

Charles Finch crafts an intricate mystery

plot with a memorable setting, wrapped in 

beautiful writing, tenderness and wit.

♡

Featured: a pile or crochet baby blankets.

A Five Star Review

 Five reasons I'm giving five stars to:

The Amory Ames mysteries by Ashley Weaver.

1. The Plot: These light-hearted mysteries unfold

in England in the 1930s. Amory Ames is a young

society lady, who naturally finds herself embroiled

in one murder mystery after another.

2. The Setting: There is a nice feel for the escapist

period of the early 1930s, before the winds of war

are destined to appear. The books do a fine job of

conveying the glitz and glamor of high society.

3. The Protagonist: Amory Ames has been married 

for five years to a charming playboy and the marriage

is not going well. This provides both a little depth

to the series and a reason for her to immerse herself

in any murder that happens along.

4. The Writing: The books are well written and the

mysteries are well plotted. Each book offers some

repeat characters and some new, plenty of plot twists,

a different location, fun dialogs and a little humor.

5. In short: If you are in the market for a traditional,

murder mystery with a relatable heroine and a 

bit of  elegance, this could be the series for you.

♡

Featured: Crochet coasters. My father made the 

wooden stand for me.

 

A Five Star Review

Five reasons I'm giving Five Stars to:

The Kat Holloway Mysteries by Jennifer Ashley.

1. The series - We are in 1880 London and Kat

Holloway is a cook in a posh house. There is

an interesting upstairs-downstairs scenario, there is

a mysterious Daniel, and there are of course bodies.

2. The protagonist - Kat is always the smartest, 

kindest and most capable person in the room 

AND she's a fantastic cook. But I'm not holding it 

against her because, relatively speaking, she is a

product of her time.

3. The sensibility - So many protagonists of historical 

mysteries are liberal feminists with modern 

sensibilities that you forget how difficult it was for

a single woman to make her way. These books

feel more authentic in this respect.

4. The domestic details - I love details of daily life

and these books take the time to let us know how

a cook in Victorian London went about her day.

There are a LOT of yummy food descriptions.

5. The atmosphere - If you are in the market for

a light and gentle read, fast paced but without gore, 

with a likeable heroine, a nice feeling for the period

and a bit of romance, this could be the series for you.

♡

Featured: I made this granny square blanket
as a wedding present. Made with love to celebrate love.

A Five Star Review

Five reasons I'm giving Five Stars to:
The Bunburry Mysteries by Helena Marchmont.

1. The series - Alfie McAlister inherits a
cottage in the village of Bunburry. Someone
has died recently, the locals think that it is
an accident, but Alfie is not convinced.

2. The protagonist - Alfie is a Cary Grant

kind of protagonist - intelligent and

elegant with a keen appreciation of fun.

3. The literary connection - "anyone can be good in
the country, there are no temptations there" -
we are in Oscar Wilde country with a bit of
Miss Marple thrown in. 

4. The Atmosphere - these books are so

light they may very well float away

if you don't hold them tightly.

5. In short - if you are in the market for

a short and gentle read,
contemporary with a vintage feel,
these may well be the mystery novellas for you.

♡

Featured: A felt needlework
of a garden my niece drew for me.

A Five Star Review

Five reasons I'm giving Five Stars to:
The Rosalind Thorne Mysteries by Darcie Wilde.

1. The series - of historical mysteries starring,
you guessed it, Rosalind Thorne, has three
books so far, beginning with A Useful Woman.

2. The setting - the stories unfold during the regency
era, aka the Jane Austen years, and offer little
tidbits of history, without being too scholarly.

3. The Heroine - Rosalind is a lovely protagonist.

She is sometimes a little hesitant in matters of

the heart but always calm and resourceful

when it comes to detection.

4. The balance - the books do a fine job of balancing
the mysteries with Rosalind's rather complicated
personal history. They also make us appreciate the
many choices women have today.

5. To summarize - if you are in the market for a
light read with a well-crafted puzzle and a
likable set of characters, these could well be
the books for you.

♡

Featured: Washing my jam jar covers,
wondering which jam to make next.

A Five Star Review

Five reasons I'm giving Five Stars to:

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend

by Katarina Bivald:

1. Sara leads a small life - she works in a bookshop

in her hometown in Sweden and corresponds

with Amy, a woman from Broken Wheel,

Iowa. When the bookshop closes, Sara

decides to take Amy up on her offer and visit.

2. This is a book about books, about reading, about 

the wonderful worlds and characters you discover

between the pages. I found so many of my favorites

mentioned and made note of some I haven't read.

3. Sara is that precious commodity - an unusual

protagonist. She finds a new life in Iowa, a better

understanding of herself and... yes, love. 

4. Broken Wheel is not a Hallmark small town, 

full of charm and cheer. Bivald does a wonderful

job of finding beauty in unexpected places.

5. I love books where letters are exchanged.
This one is not all letters but in spirit it does remind

me of a great favorite - The Guernsey Literary 

and Potato Peel Pie Society.

♡

The little hippo

suddenly froze,

he felt a funny

itch on his nose.

A Five Star Review

Five reasons I'm giving Five Stars to:

The Right Sort of Man

by Allison Montclair:

1. The period - We are in 1946 in London

as the city is slowly recovering from 

WWII and shortages and loneliness 

are everywhere.

2. The plot - Two young women decide to go

into business together and open

The Right Sort Marriage Bureau.

It doesn't help that one of their very

first customers is murdered.

3. The characters - Iris Sparks and Gwendolyn Bainbridge 

come from different backgrounds, have different

personalities and life experiences. No reason, 

of course, not to become best friends.

Each is a great character in her own right

and both capture our hearts.

4. The issues - While the book is a historical

mystery with the emphasis firmly on

the murder case, it touches on questions of

gender, class and personal responsibility

in very intelligent ways.

5. The summary - If you are in the mood

for a well-written fun read, full of charm,

energy and plot twists, with two lively and 

lovely women, this is the book for you.

It is the first in a new series.

♡

Featured: A small needlework

winter scene.

A Five Star Review

Five reasons I'm giving Five Stars to:

The Lady Sherlock Series 

by Sherry Thomas

1. The Setting: This historical mystery series

takes us to a Victorian London where

society is strict, the streets are mean,

and a clever woman can still

take charge of her life.

2. The Protagonist: Charlotte Holmes

is a brilliant investigator with a fondness

for frilly dresses and all pastries

(there is an on-going battle with

the Acceptable Number of Chins).

3. The Supporting Cast: Are all

delightful, from Charlotte's

partner Mrs. Watson, to her sister Livia,

Livia's mysterious admirer, and the most

liberal minded lord in London.

4. The Gender Bender: It is

lovely to meet a heroine who is

never afraid of being the smartest

person in the room.

5. The Plots: Very clever,

with a surprising amount of twists and turns.

There are now four books in the series,

beginning with A Study with Scarlet Women,

and I suggest reading them in order.

♡

Featured: A small felt applique

waiting its fate in the dreaded

unfinished pile.

A Five Star Review

Five reasons I'm giving Five Stars to:

Murder in Park Lane

by Karen Charlton:

1. The Setting: The book, a historical

murder mystery, unfolds in 1812.

It is not too rich in historical detail but it is

nice to see that things could still get done

without computers, cell-phones and that all

important DNA testing.

2. The Protagonist: Stephen Lavender, a

Principal Officer at Bow Street, is 

considered 'the best policeman in England.'

The nicest thing about him is his relationship

with his sidekick, constable Woods.

3. The Gentleness: For when you've had your

fill of violence and gore, and want no more.

4. The Plot: A body is found in a fashionable 

address in Mayfair. I'm saying no more.
This is a spoiler-free zone.

5. The Best Part: I couldn't really tell

who did it. Isn't it awful when you work

it out half-way through the book and then

have to wait for the detective to catch up?

♡

Features: Celebrating Detective Lavender

with small lavender sachets made for coat hangers.

♡

Talking of mysteries, the blog of our blogger
friend Diane of Lavender Dreams has disappeared
in very disturbing circumstances.
You can find her and her story HERE.

A Five Star Review

Five reasons I'm giving Five Stars to:

The Little Library Mystery series

by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli:

1. The Plot: Jenny's husband turned out

to be a major disappointment. She returns 

to the small town in Michigan where she

grew up and her mother, Dora, still lives.

There is an interesting neighbor with a

potential to be a new best friend, and an

interesting man with a potential to be

a new romance. And there are bodies.

2. The Protagonist: Jenny is not your typical

plucky heroine. And these books 

are not a one-woman effort. There is a whole

cast of characters working to solve the murders.

3. The Coziness: The books have a

small town setting with all the

expected charm and quirky characters.

It is not, however, all fluffiness and light.

The protagonists are more fleshed out

and murder is a bad, sad thing.

4. The Literary References: The first 

book is a tribute to Lewis Carroll,

the second has Emily Dickinson

references, and the third... Jane Austen.

5. The Little Libraries: The town has no 

proper library and Dora has a nice idea.

♡

Features: Two small needlework cushions

made from leftover bits and pieces.

A Five Star Review

Five reasons I'm giving Five Stars to:

The Jane Austen Project

by Kathleen A. Flynn

1. The plot - Rachel and a colleague are sent back

in time from an unspecified future to 1815 England

with a mission to track down Jane Austen.

Why? Of course I'm not telling.

2. The protagonist - Rachel is in her mid 30s,

a medical doctor with a passion for all things Jane.

She is equally tough and fragile, smart, capable,

and very endearing.

3. This is a light read but the book does make you think

about the long way women have come since

the regency. Personally, I've always been concerned 

with questions of hygiene when contemplating 

time travel and the book does touch on that as well,

indoor/outdoor plumbing included.

4. The book reminded me a little of another time travel

favorite - To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis.

5. If you've never dreamed of going back in time

to meet Jane Austen... really, why not?

♡

Featured: a couple of lavender sachets.

A Five Star Review

Five reasons I'm giving Five Stars to:

Maybe This Time

by Jennifer Crusie

1. The plot - Andie Miller's ex-husband needs a favor.

He finds himself the guardian of two children living

in a creepy old house and there are rumors of strange

things. Andie, he is convinced, can sort it out.

2. The protagonist - Andie is my kind of woman. 

I liked her from page one and she didn't put a 

foot wrong. She is resourceful and intrepid,

loyal and loving. And she bakes.

3. The things that go bump in the night - I quite like ghosts.

Wouldn't necessarily want them in my home, but

in a grand crumbling mansion - they are almost a must.

4. The message - this book, as the title delicately implies,

is about second chances and these are a precious commodity.

5. Sometimes you really want a light, funny, happily-ever-after 

book that is well written and touches your heart.

♡

Featured: tea towels blowing in the wind

A Five Star Review

Five reasons I'm giving Five Stars to:
The Darling Dahlias
by Susan Wittig Albert

1. For me this is cozy mystery at its best.
A series of books (6 so far) with an interesting setting,
not too much blood and gore,
a light tone and very decent writing.

2. The time and place - the story is set in the small town of
Darling, Alabama, in the early 1930s.
A group of ladies get together to form the Darling Garden Club
and if they happen upon a mystery - they are on it.

3. The protagonist - we gradually get to know all the ladies
of the club and some of the town's people, but
the protagonist and my favorite character is
Miss Elizabeth Lacey, club president.
Lizzy is a legal secretary by profession,
a gardener and a writer, and as nice as they come.
She is said to look a little like Loretta Young.

4. Beyond the mystery plot this is the story of a small town
struggling with the Depression of the early 1930s.
There are a lot of domestic details, which I always love,
and a lot about the way the ladies help each other and the town
through these difficult times.

5. The message of these books, to my mind, is that
friendship and community are the best weapons to have
in times of adversity (and always).

♡

Featured: My little bear is going to the library in style

in this brilliant car made by my dad

A Five Star Review

Five reasons I'm giving Five Stars to:

The Midwife of Hope River

by Patricia Harman:

1. The time and place - the story unfolds in the

Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia during the great depression of the 1930s.

The fine details of the story bring to life the unique community that lives there 

in poverty and isolation, but always with hope. And then there are the many

domestic details that I found particularly interesting.

2. The protagonist - Patience Murphy.

Patience has unique voice, unlike any I've ever heard.

She comes to the mountains to escape a complicated past.

Armed with a birth satchel and little confidence, she delivers babies 

for blacks and whites who can no longer afford a doctor.

3. The message - The story carries a beautiful message of 

love and hope, friendship and humanity, with a little humor thrown in.

We meet people who have so little to give yet are the most giving of all.

4. The author - This is Patricia Harman's debut novel.

Harman herself was a lay midwife in rural communities in the 60s

and there is an honesty in this book that must come from her experience.

5. Do you know that feeling you get when you finish a great book

and you are sad about saying goodbye to everyone?

Well, there is a sequel, The Reluctant Midwife, and it is every bit as good!

♡

Featured: a cloth bag embellished with a heart applique.

Could be used for books. Or a sandwich.