Can't Wait Wednesday: Death On the Rhine by Vivian Conroy (Miss Ashford Investigates Book 5)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, Death On the Rhine, by Vivian Conroy. I have read the first two books in the series and while the second wasn't as strong on atmosphere as I'd have liked depicting the area of Santorini, the book was interesting enough to keep along with this series. Such gorgeous covers and exotic locations that make me want to keep reading them. In this book, Atalanta Ashford goes on a luxury river cruise down the Rhine and encounters a murder to solve. I will need to read books 3 and 4 first but this one looks good too. 

I hope you have found something you can't wait for! Happy reading ya'll!

Cozy Historical Mystery

April 4, 2025

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

A luxury cruise

Hidden family secrets

A body on board…

A birthday trip to Bonn sees amateur detective Atalanta Ashford drawn into the scandalous will of a wealthy grandmother during a scenic cruise down along the Rhine.

But growing tensions lead to a sudden and shocking death. Facing suspicion all around, Atalanta must unravel a deadly web of family secrets as treacherous as the river they voyage on, to find the killer.

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Secret Detective Agency by Helena Dixon (Book One of The Secret Detective Agency)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, The Secret Detective Agency, by Helena Dixon. I have enjoyed her other long running cozy mystery series with Kitty Underhay as the heroine, set in the 1930's. This book is the start of a brand new series which is something I've been looking for to read and feature on my blog. I always seem to never get to start new with series books.

This one is set in the 1940's during WWII and feature a Miss Jane Treen and her cat (a definite draw!) and code breaker Arthur who use their secret sleuthing skills to find a killer. I am excited because book two is already set to release in April. I am looking forward to being in from the beginning this time! 

I hope you've found something you can't wait to read this week. Happy reading ya'll!

Cozy Historical Mystery

March 27, 2025

Book Description courtesy of GoodReads:

Meet Miss Jane Treen – the coffee-drinking cat lover dressed head to toe in tweed, who just happens to be a secret super sleuth!

London, 1941: Miss Jane Treen is at her desk, strong black coffee in hand and fluffy ginger cat by her side, when her top-secret government work is interrupted by an urgent call to Devon. A woman has been found dead in a lake in a place where she shouldn’t have been. Jane needs to gather the clues and find the killer before someone else from the agency gets hurt…

Shy and handsome code-breaker Arthur Cilento is bewildered by the arrival of the efficient Miss Treen and her cat Marmaduke. She bursts into his life unexpectedly, forcing him out of his comfort zone. The reluctant colleagues huddle near the warmth of a crackling fire in Arthur's country home, working to piece together the murderous puzzle at hand.

In the sleepy Devon village, someone is hiding something: but is it the busybody vicar and his sister, the dutiful housekeeper and her secretive son, the stern librarian, or someone else altogether? And who were the people with the woman in the lake on the day she died?

No sooner have Arthur and Jane have drawn up a list of suspects, than a parcel reveals a clue that sends them in hot pursuit of a coded diary stashed in a village church. But as the heavy wooden door slams behind them and a key turns in the lock, one thing is they need to unravel the truth and crack this code before the killer decides their number is up…

But if they can catch the culprit in time, might this unusual pair become the finest crime-solving partnership since Holmes and Watson hung up their hats…?

Can't Wait Wednesday: A Recipe For Murder by Verity Bright (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery Book 21)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm featuring,A Recipe For Murder, by Verity Bright. I am finally reading book 11, Death Down the Aisle, which is where I left off a few months ago. This series was my first introduction to cozy mysteries and it remains in my top favorites. This book has Lady Eleanor and her dashing beau Detective Hugh Seldon planning their nuptials when their chef is poisoned. As more murders occur she must work to find the killer before they harm her or anyone else. Even Hugh is in danger and needs her help this time!

Cozy Historical Mystery

March 31, 2025

Book Description courtesy of GoodReads:

Cream cakes, cucumber sandwiches, apple tarts and… poison? Lady Swift is trying to plan the menu for her wedding, until murder strikes in kitchens across the village!

Lady Eleanor Swift’s marriage to dashing Chief Inspector Hugh Seldon is just days away. There’s a lot to organise from the dress to the catering, including, of course, the all-important wedding cake.

But Eleanor is heartbroken when their chef, apple-cheeked Annie Tibetts, dies of poisoning. And as the doctor confirms her death wasn’t an accident, accusations fly around the whole community.

With more of the village struck down by the poison, Eleanor must unmask a killer who seems intent on spreading chaos amongst her nearest and dearest. Everyone is accusing their neighbour… and Eleanor is in a pickle as the seating plans for the wedding fall apart. But she soon has bigger fish to fry when the source of the poison is traced to a trusted establishment in town. Eleanor is certain they are being framed and that sabotage is afoot…

And when a sample of poisoned wedding cake is delivered anonymously to Hugh working at his station miles away in Oxford, Eleanor realises that while she has been planning for the future, her past has been catching up with her. Eleanor must race across the countryside to save her love from certain death. Can Eleanor find the proof in the pudding and save Hugh in time? And will the poisoner finally get their just desserts?

 

Can't Wait Wednesday: Homicide in the Indian Hills by Erica Ruth Neubauer (A Jane Wunderly Mystery Book 6)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, Homicide in the Indian HIlls, by Erica Ruth Neubauer. I've read books one and three in this series and they were fun. I like the series mysteries that take place in unique, exotic places and hers generally do. 

The books feature heroine sleuth, Jane Wunderly, and her mysterious love interest, called Redvers.  I have started with book two this week. The only reason I skipped it was that it takes place in England and I really wanted to read the others taking place in other countries. Hope you've found something you can't wait to read this week. Happy reading ya'll!

Historical Mystery

March 25, 2025

Book Description courtesy of GoodReads:

Intrepid American newlywed Jane Wunderly learns that tigers aren’t the only dangers lurking in 1920s India, when a murder in a popular resort town threatens to destabilize the local government and undermine the resistance movement for Indian self-rule . . .

Ooty, 1927: Accompanying Mr. Redvers on an assignment to Ootycamund to quell revolutionary rumblings, Jane finds there’s more than meets the eye to India’s Queen of Hill Stations. Ooty’s lush tea plantations and tranquil gardens barely conceal its secrets--scandalous affairs, political sabotage, and a mounting anti-colonial movement. Even Redvers intends to subvert his official mission in Ooty, by arranging a series of clandestine meetings with local resistance leaders. But it’s not until the shocking death of a British national that Jane and Redvers are truly drawn into Ooty’s deepest shadows.

Jane’s suspicions that the death is more than a tragic accident are soon confirmed, but word of a murder could stoke Ooty’s simmering tensions into a full boil. Navigating corrupt local officials, festering personal vendettas, and a complicated network of bureaucratic entanglements that lead to the top tiers of government, Jane and Redvers edge closer to the truth…and its deadly consequences. Someone is willing to spill blood to protect their interests, will Jane become just another of Ooty’s darkest secrets?
 

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Whitechapel Widow by Emily Organ (A Emma Langley Victorian Mystery Book One)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, The Whitechapel Widow, by Emily Organ. It is book one of the new Emma Langley Victorian Mystery Series and looks like a book for fans of Anne Perry. It is a little edgier than the average cozy and considering it involves the time and era of Jack the Ripper I'm not sure you'd call it a cozy. But the mystery looks intriguing as a woman tries to get to the bottom of who murdered her husband In Whitechapel London. It does say in the comments it is a clean mystery so nothing too disturbing here. I think I might have to start this series. 

I hope you've found a book you can't wait for this week. Happy reading ya'll!

Historical Mystery

March 27, 2025

Book Description courtesy of GoodReads:

London hunts the Ripper. A widow hunts her husband's killer.

London, 1888. While Jack the Ripper's reign of terror grips the city, Emma Langley's world shatters when her husband is found murdered in Whitechapel. But grief is quickly overshadowed by a startling discovery. William Langley was not the man she thought she knew.

As panic fills London's streets, Emma delves into her husband's secret life, uncovering a web of lies that stretches from glittering society drawing rooms to the seedy gambling dens of the East End. Aided by Penny Green, a former reporter with a nose for trouble, Emma follows a trail of blackmail and corruption.

But exposing her husband's killer could make her the next victim and in the shadows of gaslit streets, a murderer waits, ready to strike again…

Can't Wait Wednesday: Silent As the Grave by Rhys Bowen (A Molly Murphy Mystery Book 21)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm featuring,Silent As the Grave, by Rhys Bowen. I have only read the first book in the Molly Murphys series but I know they are very popular with mystery lovers. This is book 21 and Molly is sleuthing now as a wife and mother. She gets to go on set to watch a movie being filmed where the special effects turn deadly. Bowen does a good job with historical detail and her fans will be excited to see a new book continuing Molly's story. I hope you've found something you can't wait to read this week. Happy reading ya'll!

Cozy Mystery

March 11, 2025

Book Description courtesy of GoodReads:

With a newborn and two children, Molly Murphy Sullivan is tackling motherhood. Her husband, Daniel, is off to work in Washington as Easter break begins in New York. Her dear friend and writer, Ryan O’Hara, is shooting a movie, one of the first to involve a real plot and actors. He invites Molly and the children to visit the set and watch the excitement. When one of the actresses is fired, Molly’s adopted daughter, Bridie, is called to replace her in the scene. Turns out she’s a natural and is asked to star in the rest of the film. Molly is skeptical about leaving Bridie alone on set, but her great friends, Sid and Gus, offer to chaperone her.

The movie industry is still experimenting with ways to get the best shot, like pretending to tie Bridie to real train tracks. But soon, their special effects start to malfunction. After a few mishaps where no one is hurt, the special effects turn deadly. With rumors of a feud between studios, Molly believes these malfunctions are sabotage. She is invited to go undercover on set to investigate the burgeoning film war. Once again, Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles deliver an engaging mystery full of vibrant historical details and thrilling escapades featuring one of mystery's most beloved sleuths.

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Case of the Christie Conspiracy by Kelly Oliver (A Detection Club Mystery)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, The Case of the Christie Conspiracy, by Kelly Oliver. I have really enjoyed her Fiona Figg series which are light hearted but well written cozy mysteries set during WWI. She has decided to take a whole new direction with this series by making Agatha Christie the suspect in the story. I'm not sure how it will turn out but it sure is an interesting premise. I hope you've found something you can't wait to read this week! Happy Reading ya'll!

Cozy Mystery

February 16, 2025

Book Description courtesy of GoodReads:

Agatha Christie is about to embark on a new, gripping murder case. But this time, she’s not the author – she’s a suspect…

1926 – Christie is a darling of the literary circuit and the most desired guest in London’s glittering social scene. She can often be found at meetings of the Detection Club – where mystery writers come together to share ideas, swap secrets and drink copiously. But then a fellow author's initiation ceremony takes a gruesome turn, and one of the group ends up dead. Now, Agatha is no longer just the creator of great mystery plots – she’s a player in one.

And when Agatha disappears the day after the murder, she’s widely assumed to be guilty. Only Eliza Baker, assistant to the Club’s enigmatic secretary, Dorothy Sayers, is interested in investigating the case. But in a world where murder is the ultimate plot device, can Eliza piece together the evidence and find the killer before it’s too late?

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Rebel Empresses: Elisabeth of Austria and Eugenie of France: Power and Glamour in the Struggle for Europe by Nancy Goldstone

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, The Rebel Empresses, by Nancy Goldstone. She has written several award winning non- fiction history books that I have added to my lists over the years. Many involve some lesser known historical figures such as Catherine de' Medici's daughter, Marguerite de Valois and Joanna of Naples. This one looks interesting and the cover is so pretty. I hope you've found something you can't wait to read this week. Happy reading ya'll!

History

February 25, 2025

Book Description courtesy of GoodReads:

When they married Emperors Franz Joseph and Napoleon III, respectively, Elisabeth of Austria and Eugénie of France became two of the most famous women on the planet. Not only were they both young and beautiful—becoming cultural and fashion icons of their time—but they played a pivotal role in ruling their realms during a tempestuous era characterized by unprecedented political and technological change.
 
Fearless, adventurous, and independent, Elisabeth and Eugénie represented a new kind of empress—one who rebelled against tradition and anticipated and embraced modern values. Yet both women endured hardship in their private and public lives. Elisabeth was plagued by a mother-in-law who snatched her infant children away and undermined her authority at court. Eugénie’s husband was an infamous philanderer who could not match the military prowess of his namesake. Between them, Elisabeth and Eugénie were personally involved in every major international confrontation in their turbulent century, which witnessed thrilling technological advances, as well as revolutions, assassinations, and wars.

With her characteristic in-depth research and jump-off-the-page writing, Nancy Goldstone brings to life these two remarkable women, as Europe goes through the convulsions that led up to the international landscape we recognize today.

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Queen's Favourite: A Novel of the Seymour Sisters by Raymond Wemmlinger

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm featuring,The Queen's Favourite, by Raymond Wemmlinger. This is his third book. His others include one about John Wilkes Booth's niece and the other about Lady Margaret Clifford's life during Mary Tudor's reign. 

This book tells the story of the Seymour sisters, Jane and Catherine, during Queen Elizabeth's time. The book covers are gorgeous and the subjects somewhat lesser known people so I find that interesting. I hope you've found a book you can't wait for this week. Happy reading ya'll!!

Historical Fiction

February 28, 2025

Book Description courtesy of GoodReads:

Two sisters plot to change the fate of their family…

England, 1558

Sixteen-year-old Catherine Seymour has always idolised her elder sister Jane. As a child Jane had been groomed to be queen, to marry her cousin King Edward, and since his death she has been determined to restore her family’s claim to throne.

Jane had spent time at Queen Mary’s court but she has now returned home to Hanworth Park to the delight of Catherine and their brother Ned.

To their surprise, Jane brings with her Lady Catherine Grey, sister of Jane Grey, the ill-fated nine-day queen, and heiress to the throne after Princess Elizabeth.

Jane confides in Catherine that she aims to bring about a betrothal between Lady Grey and Ned, so that their brother and his children have a chance to lay claim to the throne.

But everything changes when Mary suddenly dies, and Elizabeth succeeds as queen. Now the sisters must seek favour with a new monarch.

Luckily, Elizabeth’s succession proves advantageous for the Seymour family. Jane is chosen as a lady in waiting and immediately becomes a favourite.

Can Jane still bring her plan to fruition? Will it mean betraying the new queen?

Or will rumours of a romance between Queen Elizabeth and one of her courtiers change everything for the Seymour sisters…?

THE QUEEN’S FAVOURITE is a biographical historical novel of the Seymour sisters, Lady Jane Seymour and Lady Catherine Seymour, set during the Tudor period at Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth’s court.

Can't Wait Wednesday: Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, Last Twilight in Paris, by Pam Jenoff. It looks like an interesting mystery set just after WWII. I don't read many books set during this time period but I know it is an incredibly popular era in historical fiction. Happy reading ya'll! 

Historical Fiction/Mystery/WWII

February 4, 2025

 

Book Description courtesy of GoodReads:

A Parisian department store, a mysterious necklace and a woman’s quest to unlock a decade-old mystery are at the center of this riveting novel of love and survival, from New York Times bestselling author Pam Jenoff

London, 1953. Louise is still adjusting to her postwar role as a housewife when she discovers a necklace in a box at a secondhand shop. The box is marked with the name of a department store in Paris, and she is certain she has seen the necklace before when she worked with the Red Cross in Nazi-occupied Europe —and that it holds the key to the mysterious death of her friend Franny during the war.

Following the trail of clues to Paris, Louise seeks help from her former boss Ian, with whom she shares a romantic history. The necklace leads them to discover the dark history of Lévitan—a once-glamorous department store that served as a Nazi prison, and Helaine, a woman who was imprisoned there, torn apart from her husband when the Germans invaded France.

Louise races to find the connection between the necklace, the department store and Franny’s death. But nothing is as it seems, and there are forces determined to keep the truth buried forever. Inspired by the true story of Lévitan, Last Twilight in Paris is both a gripping mystery and an unforgettable story about sacrifice, resistance and the power of love to transcend in even the darkest hours.

Can't Wait Wednesday: Two Weddings and a Murder by Alyssa Maxwell (A Lady and Lady's Maid Mystery) Book 9

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, Two Weddings and a Murder, by Alyssa Maxwell. Her Gilded Age series is very popular and I've read the first three. I have not read any from the Lady's Maid series but thought I'd feature it for those who have enjoyed them. Set in the 1920's it follows the goings on of lady's maid Eva Huntford.

Historical Cozy Mysteries

February 25, 2025

Book Description courtesy of Amazon:

As Lady Phoebe and her betrothed say their vows of holy matrimony, a killer has vowed unholy vengeance on the town’s chief inspector . . .

June 1922: The blessed day has finally arrived. Phoebe Renshaw and Owen Seabright are to be wed, and lady’s maid Eva Huntford could not be more delighted for her lady’s happiness. But she is disturbed by one notable absence from the ceremony—her beau, Police Constable Miles Brannock. When Miles finally does appear, breathlessly running into the reception at Foxwood Hall, he brings grim news: he’s found Chief Inspector Isaac Perkins murdered, shot in his home in his favorite parlor chair with his own gun.

A policeman naturally makes enemies, especially those of questionable character. In charge of finding his former boss’s killer, Miles reviews the details of the crime scene. The murder weapon has been wiped clean and left on the table next to the remnants of the chief inspector’s breakfast: sausage pasty and coffee reeking of a bit of whiskey. No sign of forced entry. A seemingly peaceful scene—other than the bullet hole in the victim.

Before Miles can make much progress in his investigation, a Scotland Yard detective arrives in Little Barlow to take over the case—and promptly focuses his suspicions on the constable himself, who he reasons had motive and opportunity. Coming to their maid’s defense, Phoebe and Owen postpone their honeymoon to join Eva in clearing her beau’s good name and unmasking the identity of the true killer . . .

Can't Wait Wednesday: Murder at the Christmas Casino by Andrea Hicks (Book 13 of the Camille Devine Murder Mysteries)

 For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm featuring,Murder at the Christmas Casino, by Andrea Hicks. It is book 13 but since it's Christmas themed and debuts on Christmas Eve I thought that was fun. I have three books from this series purchased on Kindle and want to try them out soon. Happy reading and Merry Christmas :) I hope you've found something you can't wait to read this week. 

Historical Cozy Mysteries

December 24, 2024

Book description courtesy of GoodReads

LONDON - CHRISTMAS 1925

Camille and Richard thought they were in for a festive evening out when they were invited to a glamorous Christmas celebration at one of London's most exclusive casinos, The London Ivy Rooms. Invited by the enigmatic Lady Agnes Dunbar whom they had previously met under mysterious circumstances in Cairo, the event promises glittering lights, high-stakes gambling, and a touch of Christmas magic.

But when the holiday cheer takes a dark turn, and a dead body is discovered among the revellers, it becomes clear that not everything is as it seems. Lady Agnes, a government agent with a penchant for secrecy and surprises, reveals that she's been on the trail of a fraudulent betting ring operating within the casino's luxurious walls. Camille, Richard, Cecily, Elsie, and Knolly are drawn into a deadly game of deception and intrigue as the stakes rise.

With suspects lurking behind every corner and the clock ticking down to Christmas Day, the duo must navigate a world of lies, secrets, and danger to uncover the truth. Will they be able to unmask the killer and stop the fraudulent ring before it's too late? Or will this Christmas be their last?

Murder at the Christmas Casino is a thrilling festive mystery filled with suspense, unexpected twists, and the perfect dash of seasonal spirit.

Can't Wait Wednesday: A Midwinter Murder by Verity Bright (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery Book 20)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, A Midwinter Murder, by Verity Bright. I am so behind in this series. I love it and this is already book 20. I want to continue reading them in order so even though I'd love to dive into this one now for the season, I'll wait. But I'm happy to promote it. Happy Reading this week. I hope you've found something you can't wait for!

Historical Cozy Mysteries

December 4, 2024

Description courtesy of GoodReads:

Winter 1924. When Lady Eleanor Swift unexpectedly finds herself a guest of the reclusive Duke of Auldwyke, she’s determined to enjoy Christmas with all the trimmings at his sprawling manor house. And that includes kisses under the mistletoe and cozying up by the fire with her fiancé, dashing detective Hugh Seldon.

Instead, the season of goodwill turns frosty as she finds the Duke’s studious secretary, Mr Porritt, dead in the storeroom. Clasped in his chilly hand is a golden pendant in the shape of a rose. The Duke denies ever having seen the necklace before. But Eleanor can see the lies in his eyes… Did it belong to his mysteriously absent wife?

Hugh and Eleanor must ditch relaxing with hot cocoa in favour of interviewing the Duke’s holiday guests. Every suspect has a secret they’d kill to keep: the socialite with the false name, the Sir with a questionable inheritance and the husband hiding a crack in his marriage.

As the blizzard outside rages, Auldwyke Hall becomes cut off. Trapped by the snow, Eleanor and Hugh must skate around the increasingly secretive Duke to unwrap the identity of the killer. But does the answer to the secretary’s murder lie with a ghost of Christmas past? And when an attempt is made on the Duke’s life too, they realise the killer is closer than they think…

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Emerald Threads by Lynn Morrison, Anne Radcliffe (Book Four of The Crown Jewels Regency Mysteries)

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm featuring The Emerald Threads by Lynn Morrison and Anne Radcliffe. This author (Morrison) has been working hard on her books and getting them promoted and has a fun Faceboook group I joined awhile back. This is her fourth book in this series and I've read some of her other series, Dora and Rex.  

It sounds a bit like a Jane Austen meets a mystery type of book It has a gorgeous cover and looks like a fun cozy mystery! Happy reading this week everyone!

Historical Mysteries

December 1, 2024

Description courtesy of GoodReads:

Northumberland, 1813: Lord Roland and Lady Grace arrive in Northumberland expecting to celebrate the Christmas season. Instead, they are drawn into a frantic search for a group of local children who have disappeared overnight.
Roland’s grandfather urges them to leave the matter to the townspeople, but when they learn this is just the latest in a string of so-called runaways, they suspect something far more sinister is afoot.  With determination and compassion, Roland and Grace work to weave together the fragile threads of trust between them and the community. As they delve deeper into the mystery, they uncover a disturbing pattern that hints at a web of deception.
Just when they believe they are close to unmasking the culprit, someone they hold dear is taken in the dead of night.