Mysteries and Children's Books
Saltcliff on the Sea sounds like the perfect getaway—quaint California seaside vibes, charming locals, and a cozy inn with Instagrammable sunsets. But murder has a way of ruining even the best vacations.
The smell of popcorn, the hum of a projector, and a quiet seaside town with a small movie theater showing classic Hollywood films—sounds idyllic, right? Until a dead body shows up before the credits roll.
If you’re in the mood for a quirky, laugh-out-loud cozy mystery, A Hopeless Murder by Daniel Carson is a fun choice. This first book in the series introduces us to Hopeless, Idaho—a town bursting with eccentric personalities, nosy neighbors, and more secrets than you’d expect from a place so small.
You know I love a good academic mystery, so this month I’ve got an interesting twist for you. Imagine it’s the 1920s, and if you thought your college days were tough, you are in for a treat.
Who knew that stepping out of my mystery-loving comfort zone and diving into Brandon Sanderson’s Tress of the Emerald Sea would be such a memorable adventure? This fantasy book is an expedition to a distant planet where rain carries bizarre spores, lethal vines sprawl unchecked, and the seas are a mysterious shade of green.
Ever had a corn dog that led to a police escort? Welcome to Chloe Martin’s life in A History of Murder, where a rush to find a restroom turns into a full-blown mystery in Jericho Falls, Nevada. Chloe’s unexpected return to the town after thirteen years is not a happy homecoming.
Dearest Gentle Reader, I must confess. Choosing a tale that boldly claims to be “Bridgerton meets historical mystery,” I half-expected The Missing Diamond to drown me in high society balls and tea-time gossip. Thankfully, Lynn Morrison and Anne Radcliffe had a different plan.
Every once in a while, a book comes along that makes you think, “Wait, what?” and Parlez-Vous Murder? did exactly that for me. Picture this: American tourist Jules Hooker escapes to idyllic Southern France near the Riviera when a dirty bomb—an electromagnetic pulse (EMP), no less—throws Europe and America back to the technological stone age.
The first thing that struck me in Animal Climate Heroes was Jason Ford’s superhero-themed illustrations. They’re whimsical and fun, yet scientifically accurate, striking the perfect balance between entertainment and education.
Julie Mulhern’s Fields’ Guide to Abduction is a genre-bending adventure where cozy mystery humor meets action-packed escapades. Center stage in this whirlwind is Poppy Fields, a social media influencer whose seemingly shallow life is filled with perfectly curated Instagram posts.
