Author of Saxon historical fiction and non-fiction, 20th-century historical mysteries, and Norse-inspired historical romantasy. Book reviewer and blog host.
Today, I’m excited to share my review for Murder on the Cricket Green, the fourth book in Catherine Coles delightful 1940s cozy crime series #blogtour #MarthaMillerMystery
Here’s the blurb
Westleham Village, May 1948
The villagers of Westleham are excited for the first village cricket match since the end of the war. But Martha Miller has more pressing concerns – namely, the sudden reappearance of her husband, Stan, missing for two years and acting as though nothing has happened.
Martha doesn’t know what to feel, especially now that his return threatens her growing fondness for the kind-hearted village vicar, Luke. Yet she’s not the only one unsettled by Stan’s return…
As the match begins and the crowd cheers, Stan suddenly collapses – dead before he hits the ground. And all eyes turn to Martha.
To clear her name, she must uncover the truth about Stan’s missing years and his sudden reappearance. But in a village this small, everyone has something to hide. Will Martha’s amateur sleuthing find the real killer or will she pay the price for someone else’s deadly deed?
Let the investigation commence!
Find out if Martha and Luke can catch the killer in a brand new Martha Miller mystery from bestselling author Catherine Coles, perfect for fans of Lee Strauss and Beth Byers!
Murder on the Cricket Green is the fourth book in the Martha Miller historical cosy mystery series. I’ve read the previous books in this series, but I don’t hink it’s necessarily necessary for those looking for a lovely cosy mystery to read (there will be some elements that might not be understood, but they will be quickly picked up).
It’s always lovely to spend time with Martha and her allies (and enemies) in this quaint village. This latest book is a delightful, quick read, where we can all play ‘guess the murderer’ as there are any number of suspects.
Always a sure hit, this story is a light-hearted, fun, quick read. Let’s hope it’s not too long until we’re back with Martha.
Catherine Coles writes bestselling cosy mysteries set in the English countryside. Her extremely popular Tommy & Evelyn Christie series is based in North Yorkshire in the 1920’s and Catherine herself lives in Hull with her family and two spoiled dogs.
I’m delighted to welcome Brodie Curtis and his book, Showboat Soubrette, to the blog with a guest post.
Guest Post
SHOWBOAT SOUBRETTE is my third historical novel set in the riverboat era on the lower Mississippi River prior to the Civil War. To learn about the period, I dug into a variety of research sources that are listed below. I truly got energized to tell my story by taking a drive along the Big Muddy, from Hannibal down to Natchez, stopping frequently at historical sites, and along the river itself. Had to feel it!
Brodie Curtis Looks Upriver from Natchez
UNDERSTANDING THE ANTEBELLUM DEEP SOUTH:
Romanticism of the Antebellum American Deep South could be found in the pageantry of the attire worn by the privileged, and in the heady adornment of passenger-hauling riverboats that paddle-wheeled the Mississippi. But the period exhibited almost unbelievable cruelty in its institution of slavery and in the bigoted attitudes of the times. And in its violence. Perhaps the first title listed below, Olmsted’s The Cotton Kingdom illuminates these contradictions best.
Olmsted, F. (1861). The Cotton Kingdom: A Traveller’s Observations on Cotton and Slavery in the American Slave States 1853-1861.
McDermott, J. (“Edited with an Introduction and Forward”) ( 1968). Before Mark Twain: A Sampler of Old, Old Times on the Mississippi.
Stowe, H.B. (1852). Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
Northup, S. (1853). 12 Years a Slave.
Devol, G. (1894). Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi.
Jones-Rogers, S. (2019). They Were Her Property: White Women as Slave Owners in the American South.
James, D.C. (1968). Antebellum Natchez.
Kelleher Schafer, J. (2009). Brothels, Depravity, and Abandoned Women: Illegal Sex in Antebellum New Orleans.
Sharp, A. and Sharp, G. (2009). Antebellum Myths and Folklore: A Search for the Truth.
Grant, R. (2020). The Deepest South of All: True Stories from Natchez, Mississippi.
RIVERBOATS:
Is there a more majestic image than a multi-decked steamboat gliding on the river, smoke billowing from its stacks while water clicks over its paddles? Yet idyllic portraits belied the dangers, from collisions and boiler explosions to snags, sandbars, fire and ice and other in climate conditions. Thousands of boats ended up at the bottom of the river. Mark Twain’s memoir of his cub pilot days and old images in many of the sources below sparked my imagination.
Twain, M. (1883). Life on the Mississippi.
Powers, R. (2005). Mark Twain: A Life.
Brodie Curtis took in the Mark Twain Attractions in Hannibal MO
Shapiro, D. (2009). Historic Photos of Steamboats on the Mississippi.
Graham, P. (1951). Showboats: The History of an American Institution.
Allen, M. (1990). Western Rivermen, 1763-1861: Ohio and Mississippi Boatmen and the Myth of the Alligator Horse.
Lloyd, J. (1855). Lloyd’s Steamboat Directory, and Disasters on the Western Waters.
Hawkins, V. (2016). Smoke up the River: Steamboats and the Arkansas Delta.
Berger Erwin, V. and Erwin, J. (2020). Steamboat Disasters of the Lower Missouri River.
Sandlin, L. (2010). Wicked River: The Mississippi When it Last Ran Wild. Buck, R. (2023). Life on the Mississippi: An Epic American Adventure.
Here’s the Blurb
FROM STAR SHOWBOAT SINGER TO PIRATE PREY ON THE WICKED RIVER!
Showboat singer Stella Parrot’s star rises in the Antebellum South with every sold-out performance along the lower Mississippi River. When a river pirate viciously assaults her, new friends Toby Freeman and John Dee Franklin foil the attack. However, the pirate’s family is bent on revenge.
Stella, Toby, and John Dee escape their riverboat with able assistance from young cub pilot Sam Clemens, only to be pursued by the notorious Burton Gang. As the trio runs for their lives, mortal perils await at every turn: a fierce storm, high-stakes gambling confrontations, deadly combat, and a cotton boat up in flames. Stella, a Cherokee Indian, and Toby, a free Black man, and their friend White man John Dee endure relentless racial prejudices and injustices in the gritty underbelly of the Wicked River while fleeing to New Orleans—where the Burtons will be waiting!
SHOWBOAT SOUBRETTE’s fast-paced lower river adventure chase features romantic showboat scenes and is unsparing in its exploration of the bigoted and sometimes lawless riverboat era.
Praise:
“Captivating characters? A fast-paced storyline? Cameos from historical figures? Brodie Curtis checks all the boxes in his novel set along the Mississippi River on the eve of the Civil War. Well done.”
Tim Wendell, author of CASTRO’s CURVEBALL and REBEL FALLS
“SHOWBOAT SOUBRETTE is a novel that transcends a simple river chase, unfolding instead as a richly textured portrait of time and place where beauty and brutality are forced to coexist. Brodie Curtis has crafted a story that entertains without simplifying, thrills without trivializing, and ultimately delivers a powerful testament to courage and solidarity on the margins of history…For readers who crave historical fiction with pace and teeth, this novel will be a compelling and unforgettable ride.”
THE HISTORICAL FICTION COMPANY
“This was an unputdownable read for me!…It’s an optimistic picture of a shocking time in American history….SHOWBOAT SOUBRETTE is ideal for fans of historical adventure fiction, especially fans of Twain himself and Percival Everett’s JAMES.”
Ruth F. Stevens, author of STAGE SEVEN and THE SOUTH BAY SERIES Books 1 and 2
“Readers of historical fiction will love SHOWBOAT SOUBRETTE…a river adventure down the great Mississippi to New Orleans in the 1850s when racial tension is ripe in the Old South…an adventure worthy of Mark Twain’s pen… Curtis is a master of description and atmosphere.”
Tyler R. Tichelaar, PhD and award-winning author of THE MYSTERIES OF MARQUETTE
“(E)xtensive research draws the reader in and carries them along on this fast-paced adventure, blending interesting historical facts with compelling fictional characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey and recommend this voyage down the mighty Mississippi.”
Kris Abel-Helwig, author of THE HERO SERIES and the upcoming RULE OF ODDS.
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited
Meet the Author
Raised in the Midwest, Brodie Curtis was educated as a lawyer and left the corporate world to embrace life in Colorado with his wife and two sons.
Curtis is the author of THE FOUR BELLS, a novel of The Great War, which is the product of extensive historical research, including long walks through the fields of Flanders, where much of the book’s action is set. His second novel, ANGELS AND BANDITS, takes his protagonists into The Battle of Britain. Curtis’ third novel is set on a Mississippi Riverboat prior to the Civil War.
A lover of history, particularly American history and the World Wars, Curtis reviews historical fiction for the Historical Novels Review and more than 100 of his published reviews and short takes on historical novels can be found on his website: brodiecurtis.com.
I’m delighted to welcome Heidi Eljarbo and her new book, Whispers in the Snow, Heartwarming Christmas Series, to the blog.
Here’s the Blurb
Of course, a young woman in Norway during the late nineteenth century can be a successful amateur sleuth, and goodness knows, Cornelia’s days are always more exciting when she can devote her time to resolving a local mystery.
Cornelia Gran is a dedicated daughter, friendly and kind; although, she has an exorbitant amount of curiosity. She devours Arthur Conan Doyle’s magazine articles and tries to follow the fictitious Sherlock Holmes’s investigative examples, but her fascination with solving puzzles always gets her into mischief.
Each morning, Cornelia reads the newspaper, looking for a conundrum to solve. Searching for clues—and then chronicling her discoveries—thrills her. She certainly finds those activities more entertaining than taking her grandmother’s advice and attending one Christmas ball after another in search of a husband.
But chaos and danger turn Cornelia’s quiet days upside down when her attempt to find information about the owner of a nearby abandoned cottage takes her into dangerous territory. As winter winds rattle the windows and swirl snowdrifts against the doors, she faces off with a ghost, gets in trouble with the police, and finds herself staring down danger without thinking of the consequences. In the middle of it all, she meets Simon and is captivated by his charm, good looks, and personality.
Meanwhile, a real killer is after her, and he won’t stop until he gets information she doesn’t have! Christmas, with all its cheery festivities, hygge, and family traditions, has never been more threatened. Cornelia must call on all her investigative skills, not only to stop the ruination of her family’s holiday, but also to make certain Simon and his aunt keep what belongs to them. And maybe, just maybe, the amateur sleuth will discover the meaning of true love.
Set in a fictitious town in Norway in 1891, this cozy historical mystery is perfect for those who enjoy curious and determined women sleuths, clean and wholesome romance, and the discovery of buried secrets in an abandoned house.
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited
Meet the Author
HEIDI ELJARBO grew up in a home full of books, artwork, and happy creativity. She is the author of historical novels filled with courage, hope, mystery, adventure, and sweet romance during challenging times. She’s been named a master of dual timelines and often writes about strong-willed women of past centuries.
After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She lives with her husband on a charming island and enjoys walking in any kind of weather, hugging her grandchildren, and has a passion for art and history.
Her family’s chosen retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summer and ski the vast white terrain during winter.
Heidi’s favorites are her family, God’s beautiful nature, and the word whimsical.
I’m delighted to share my review for Mrs Hudson and the Spirits’ Curse by Martin Davies, an intriguing Holmes-esque mystery #bookreview #mystery #HistoricalFiction
Here’s the blurb
An evil stalks London, blown in from the tropics. Stories of cursed giant rats and malign spirits haunt the garrets of the East London neighborhood of Limehouse. A group of merchants are dying one by one. The elementary choice to investigate these mysterious deaths is, of course, the team of Holmes and Dr. Watson. But the unique gifts of their housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson, and her orphaned assistant Flotsam, will also be needed to solve the case. Can she do it all under the nose of Sherlock himself?
Mrs Hudson and the Spirits’ Curse is an intriguing Holmes-esque tale where Sherlock Holmes is perhaps not the sharp observer of human nature we might expect, because that role goes to Mrs Hudson, his shadowy but exceedingly well-connected housekeeper. She has Flottie as her assistant, and Flottie has her own story running concurrently with the mystery brought to Holmes’ door.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It has a very Sherlock Holmes mystery to solve, and no end of obfuscation to contend with, while adding an ever greater element of grimy, Victorian London, and its denizens, to the mix through Mrs Hudson’s many connections with the mighty and the lowly..
That said, I did feel as though the resolution to all the mysteries were a little too elongated, although the final chapter, with Dr Watson bringing his accounting of the case to Mrs Hudson for her thoughts, did have me smiling once more.
A fine mystery, very Holmes-esque but with another side to it, that of Mrs Hudson.
Meet the author
Martin Davies is a writer and media consultant based in the UK.
He is the author of nine novels, including international bestseller ‘The Conjuror’s Bird’ which was a Richard and Judy Book Club selection, and which sold over 100,000 copies in the UK alone. ‘The Unicorn Road’ was chosen as one of The Times/WHSmith top paperbacks of the year, and ‘Havana Sleeping’ was shortlisted for an Historical Dagger award by the Crime Writers’ Association. Martin is also the author of a series of mystery stories about Sherlock Holmes’ housekeeper.
Martin Davies has travelled widely, including in the Middle East and India; substantial parts of ‘The Unicorn Road’ were written while travelling through Sicily, and his plan for ‘The Conjuror’s Bird’ was put together on a trekking holiday in Greenland.
When circumstances allow, he chooses to write in cafes or coffee shops, and often works in longhand on first drafts.
Martin Davies’ books have been translated into ten languages.
I’m delighted to share my review for Adam Lofthouse’s Wolf and The Crown, which is released today #historicalfiction #bookreview #RomanEra #WallOfHadrian
Here’s the blurb
Wall of Hadrian. Britannia, 382 AD. War is creeping back into the land. As silent as snowfall, as inevitable as winter. They’ve had sixteen years of peace, but all things must end.
Tribune Sixtus Victorinus has grown old, complacent. Blind to the truth that stares him in the face, he contents himself with what he has. He runs errands for the Dux Britanniarum Flavius Maximus and watches with joy as his boys grow to become men.
It is his friend, Prefect Gaius Felicius, who first spots the signs. Once more, the Caledonian tribes are rearing their heads in the north, but the greatest danger does not lie with them.
For there is a new pretender to the throne of the West. Another man who seeks to drape himself in purple. Caught up in a scheme they cannot comprehend, Victorinus and Felicius must navigate their way through both a war in the depths of winter, and a treasonous plot that will shake the Roman Empire to its core.
A new age dawns on the men of Britannia. For Victorinus, he must fight for the right to see the sun rise over it.
I’ve just been checking my review for book 1 in this series, and I see I also gave it five stars. Adam is a lucky author because I’m always told that I don’t often hand out a 5-star review. (Check out my review for Eagle and the Flame).
And he’ll be pleased to know he’s done it again with Wolf and the Crown.
I will say that this era – the coming end of Roman Britain fascinates me. Adam’s recreation of it speaks to me. We know what’s coming. The people in these books do not, although perhaps they suspect it.
Wolf and the Crown continues the story from Eagle and the Flame, but we move forward 16 years. Our two main characters remain Tribune Sixtus Victorinus and Felicius. Felicius is still a career Roman. Sixtus is not. They are both older, perhaps wiser, and contending with the results of their decisions as younger men.
Sixtus has finally given up the drink, but he is beset with heartache at the breakdown of his marriage and the long-ago death of his small son, which he missed because he was away fighting. Sixtus is a man trying to do his best in a world where the Roman influence of his younger days seems to have bled away. He’s still a friend and ally of Theodosius, the younger emperor, and indeed, they remain in contact via letter – a fabulous device ensuring the reader knows what’s happening beyond the shores of Britannia.
With all that said, this is an action-packed novel. There is barely a chapter that goes by without one fight or another. As we travel from Londinium to many locations on the Wall and even further north, Sixtus gets an absolute beating. Drost makes a welcome reappearance, and conspiracies abound. The set-up for book 3 in this trilogy is impeccably well-paced – I didn’t know how the book would end – although I had some suspicions. It didn’t do what I thought it would, and now I can’t wait for the concluding volume in the trilogy.
It is a fabulous Roman-era action and adventure story that rings with conviction and conspiracy, which readers of the genre will devour.
Meet the author
Adam has for many years held a passion for the ancient world. As a teenager he picked up Gates of Rome by Conn Iggulden, and has been obsessed with all things Rome ever since.
After ten years of immersing himself in stories of the Roman world, he decided to have a go at writing one for himself, and hasn’t stopped since. Check out the books on the website, or follow Adam on Social Media for regular updates.
Follow Adam on Twitter: @AdamPLofthouse Find him on Facebook: facebook.com/AdamPLofthouse Instagram: adamplofthouse
