Tag Archives: #mystery

Reader’s Log 075: Current read and Studies

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It has been a while since I’ve written in my reader’s log. That is not to say I haven’t been actively reading. This year has been a great year for reading, and I’ve discovered quite a few authors I have not heard of before. But isn’t that always the case? Discovering new authors? New stories and adventures? Yes indeed. How is your reading going this year so far?

I’ve got two nonfiction books coming in the mail this week I want to blog about why I have chosen to read them and I do have a few thoughts I want to share on the ancient history and cultural background studies I’ve actively been engaged in for a few years now. I’ve held off on my thoughts about what I’ve studied, and now I’m ready to start sharing.

The fiction book I’m currently reading is Murders in the Marquee by Dana Mentink and I’m enjoying the story so far. This book will be published on the first of September and I’m looking forward to sharing my thoughts about the story.

About the book:

In 1905, the Grand Mallard Marquee is well known for its iconic style, as well as its daily duck parade. For Saul Niffler, a reformed jewel thief, working at the luxurious hotel offers a much-needed second chance. Staying out of trouble and in gainful employment is essential. Which makes seeing a body plummet from a penthouse window extra complicated.

Except…did he see it? There’s no body to be found, and Saul knows he should concentrate on his new duties as “Duck Commandant” rather than meddle. If only Kitty Rossi, a persistent young guest yearning to be a Pinkerton detective, would leave well enough alone. Kitty has already roped in Henry, the elevator man, to investigate suspicious goings-on around the hotel. And against his better judgment, Saul feels compelled to join them.

Between the mystery of Saul’s missing predecessor and a grisly discovery in a drain, all signs point to murder most fowl. And with a cold-blooded killer roaming the Marquee’s lavish corridors, keeping his job may be the least of Saul’s problems…

Stephanie

Book Review: The Castle in the Glen by Rhys Bowen

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PublishedAugust 4, 2026 by Lake Union Publishing

Australian writer Emma Callander has been recruited to complete the final historical mystery in a series by celebrated author Iris Blackburn. It’s 1964, and Iris’s memory is fading. She’s certain that only Emma can do justice to her novel about a murder on the Isle of Skye. When Emma ventures to Scotland for research, she discovers it isn’t fiction at all, but rather a true crime unsolved for more than fifty years.

It was 1904 when a couple’s suspicious drowning led to the disappearance of a mysterious young woman the locals called the Wild Girl. To this day the mystery is unforgettable, especially among the descendants of an aristocratic family who’ll do anything to keep their secrets buried. From the misty Highlands to a medieval castle, Emma and Tony Gordon, Iris’s handsome lawyer, work ever more closely to uncover them.

But while Iris may be known for her fiendishly clever twists, there’s one not even Emma could have seen coming.

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Emma is hired to be a ghost writer for a famous author and soon discovers that the story she is researching turns out to be an actual cold case, and as she investigates the case further, her life is put in danger. Not only that, but Emma also discovers that there is more to this mystery than meets the eye and it will change the course of her life.

Rhys Bowen is a talented storyteller. I have read her work before and was excited to pick this story up. I knew it would be good and she did not disappoint. Bowen has such a way of weaving a story that captures the reader and you become fully engaged.

Most of the setting for this story takes place in the Isle of Skye, Scottland and Bowen really captures the atmosphere and its surroundings. I was completely taken to time and place.

There is so much to this mystery, including family secrets and romance. The character development is well developed and the clever plot kept me turning the pages.

A must read!

Stephanie

I obtained an ARC from the publishers through Netgalley for an honest review.

I rated this book four stars.  

Book Review: Habits of the Sea by Shea Ernshaw

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Publication July 7, 2026 by Atria Books

The second adult novel from New York Times bestselling author Shea Ernshaw, in which a woman rediscovers the mythical island she stumbled upon as a child—and the man she once met who apparently hasn’t aged—and must choose between the life she’s built and a love that defies the laws of time and nature.

The night Clay Lockhart’s wife dies, a violent storm tears their home—and the eight hectares of land beneath it—away from the Scottish coast, sending it adrift into the Atlantic. Thirty years later, twelve-year-old Ellie Mills discovers the fabled floating island off the coast of Nova Scotia and finds Clay still living in the weatherworn farmhouse perched on its highest hill.

When the island vanishes overnight, Ellie is left questioning whether it ever existed at all. But decades later, now in her thirties, the island resurfaces—and Ellie returns, determined to uncover the truth. What she finds is even Clay hasn’t aged a single day.

Faced with the impossible, Ellie learns that some mysteries aren’t meant to be solved—and that a life shaped by wonder may hold more promise than one bound by certainty.

Spanning centuries and coastlines, Habits of the Sea is a haunting, romantic journey through time, memory, and the invisible tides that pull us home.

My Thoughts:

When I received an email invite from Atria Books to review this book, I immediately accepted, no questions asked.  The very idea of an island that vanishes and resurfaces in different parts of the world captivated me.

In my review “A History of Wild Places” I stated that Ernshaw employs artistic composition in a unique and refreshing way that has you hanging on to every word. Her ability to articulate any situation or surrounding in the story is outstanding. This very statement applies to Habits of the Sea, but…

There was a sudden shift in the second half of the book that truly caught me off guard and after thinking about it for a bit, I could see where Ernshaw was going with it, but it just did not work for me. Habits of the Sea went from being mystery story centered around an intriguing mystical Island to a climate-changing, apocalyptic world without really any natural transition so that you aren’t disoriented when it happens. At least, that was my experience with the storyline.  Also, the character development was lacking and the relationship between Ellie and Clay was not convincing enough for a romance story.

That said, Ernshaw’s beautiful and unique storytelling laced with melancholy and highly emotional scenes had me hanging on to the end despite the moodiness, and frustrations I felt reading this story. I know many readers will love this book; I was just not the right reader for it.

I rated this book three stars.

Stephanie 

I received an ARC from the publishers via email and obtained a galley copy through NetGalley for an honest review.

Side Bar: There is profanity, a violent scene, and sexual content in this story. Yeah, I’m a closed-door romance reader with very little to no profanity preference. I’m frustrated with not knowing these things about stories before reviewing them. Early readers deserve that. I would also like to add, I wrote this review before the publication date, and I held off posting my review of this story on my blog, because quite honestly, I was torn about the descion of doing so.

Book Review: The Club for Rebellious Ladies by Siobhan Curham

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Published July 8, 2026 by Bookouture

Provence, 1919: When Elodie Sinclair is sent from Boston to a glamorous finishing school for socialites in training, she is determined to do all she can to rebel. Setting up The Wildflowers Club with best friends Genevieve and Lucille, the women make secret plans to escape their insufferable conversation classes. But just weeks later, a terrible scandal leaves the women reeling. And Elodie Sinclair is presumed dead.

2025: Looking for a fresh start after her drawn-out divorce, Rae Morgan finds herself in a crumbling clifftop manor house in Provence. The mysterious elderly owner, Madame Devereaux, speaks of a glitzy charm school and the tragedy that closed its doors. Though she refuses to say any more… until Rae finds a slip of yellowed paper titled The Wildflowers Club Vows left with the keys. Intrigued, Rae knows there is more that Madame Devereaux wants her to uncover.

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed the dual timelines of this story and Elodie and Rae’s story was equally intriguing and heartfelt. Rae’s dedication to finding out the mystery of what happened at the charm school and to Elodie kept me fully engaged in the story, and as the story unfolded, I kept thinking about which direction this story could go. I was pleasantly surprised by the conclusion and have been thinking about this story for days after reading it.

There are sad, and extremely emotional moments in this story including a tragic injustice that happened to Elodie that happens in society not just in those days but in today’s as well. I felt deeply distressed and heartbroken for Elodie. I will be thinking about her story for a long time.

Rae had just gone through an all too public divorce and her husband had no shame whatsoever in his public treatment of Rae. Wanting to escape it all and heal, she finds herself in Provence and the new owner of the school Elodie was a student at! Not long after she starts renovations, she begins to discover clues about its past. The more she digs, the mystery unfolds… I felt this mystery to solve is what she needed to heal from her own tragedy and it really adds to the story of resilience, hope and new beginnings.

A deeply atmospheric, emotionally compelling woven story that will transport you to time and place.

Stephanie

I obtained an ARC from the pubslihers through Netgalley for an honest review.

Side Bar: I must caution the reader that there is a rape scene in this story.

Book Review: The Museum of Second Chances by Jo Leevers

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Publish Date: July 1, 2026 by Lake Union Publishing

Every morning, Evelyn Silver walks the shoreline before the rest of Portheast wakes, gathering what the tide leaves behind. Broken cups. Lost trinkets. Objects others have discarded. In her small Museum of Maritime Curiosities, each one earns its place—because to Evelyn, every forgotten thing deserves to have its story told.

At the heart of the museum lies her most precious fragment of Cornish lace, found pinned to her blanket when she was abandoned as a newborn. For over sixty years, she has kept it close, hoping someone might one day recognize it and tell her who she really is.

So, when the local council threatens to close the museum, Evelyn stands to lose far more than her livelihood. Forced out of her solitude, she rallies the community around the museum’s curious collection—and as the objects begin to give up their secrets, lives start to intertwine in ways nobody expected.

My Thoughts:

When I first read the book description about a woman who walks the shoreline to gather what the tide washes ashore, I knew I had to read this story.  That detail alone brought back memories of my childhood combing the sand on the beaches where I grew up.

I love the idea of a museum of maritime curiosities, and the stories the found items tell or secrets they reveal.  

Evelyn is an intriguing character. She is introverted, quirky and eccentric in some ways, and needs help to save her museum. Yet at the same time, she doesn’t want to be intruded on. As the story builds, and a group of individuals come into her life to help her, you begin to see a change in her, and in them as well.

I enjoyed reading about Evelyn and the other characters: Della, Jacob, Allison, Sariah and George. Each of their stories is heartwarming and their friendship is a special one.

There are many lessons to be learned in this story. One of them is when you’re in a bad situation or something bad happens, there is also something good that can come from it.  

A well written story with timeless themes, engaging characters, and found curiosities to spark your imagination of exploring.

Stephanie

I received an ARC from the Publishers through NetGalley for an honest review.

Book Review: A Botanist’s Guide to Tradition and Treachery by Kate Khavari

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Saffron Everleigh Mystery #5

Published June 9, 2026 by Crooked Lane Books

Saffron Everleigh is newly engaged and full of optimism as she sets off on the adventure of a lifetime for any a research expedition. She sails to newly formed Turkey, with her fiancé, Alexander Ashton, and a bevy of fellow researchers under the watchful and reformed eye of Dr. Henry. With only two other women on board, Saffron soon finds she is right back in the same infuriatingly misogynistic environment that marked the earliest days of her career. Only this time, Saffron is determined to show everyone, including Alexander, that she can handle the trials of an expedition.

And trials she has in spades. Before the expedition team has even arrived, Saffron has managed to find an enemy in historian Joseph Clark, who frequently torments the assistant that Saffron has taken under her wing, Martin Neill. But when Martin unexpectedly dies, Saffron is targeted as the main suspect.

Falling ruins, venomous snakes, and mysteriously blocked passages are the least of Saffron’s worries. With unexpected help from a familiar face, Alexander and Saffron have to work fast to prove not only that Saffron is innocent, but that they both have nothing to do with a larger conspiracy at play among the expedition crew.

My Thoughts:

A Botanist’s Guide to Tradition and Treachery is the fifth installment of Khavari’s Saffron Eveleigh Mystery series, and I am delighted I chose to pick this one up. When I read that Saffron Everleigh was finally going on her first expedition and sailed to the newly formed Turkey, I knew the story would be good. I’m fascinated with the history of the land and the archaeological discoveries, and with the blend of a murder mystery makes it all the more mysterious!

The story builds slowly in the beginning-in a good way- and half way through things really picked up and I couldn’t put this book down!  

I really enjoyed all the characters in this story, including the detective Polat, even though he was a thorn at Eveleigh’s and Alexander’s side. Polat was determined to get his man-if you will-with really only speculation to go on.

This story had a wonderful blend of culture, elements of suspense, social constraints that added depth to the mystery and the possible motives of who murdered the young man, Martin Neill. I must confess, I was sad that it had to be him. I really felt his loss in this story.

Stephanie

I obtained an ARC from the publishers through NetGalley for an honest review.

Book Review: The Book Club Murders by Maggie Allswell

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Book Club Murders #1

Published May 22, 2026 by @Bookouture

For widower Judy, her murder book club is the highlight of the she gets to hear all the local gossip and even discuss a good fictitious poisoning or two. But when local librarian Wendy disappears, Judy follows in the footsteps of her fictional detective heroes only to find her dead in her home, clasping a copy of Romeo and Juliet…

The police rule it a tragic accident, but Judy knows that her friend hated Shakespeare, and suspects foul play. Gathering her fellow book lovers together, soon they discover that several townspeople had motive to want Wendy dead. Was it Nigel from the tavern, who may have been Wendy’s secret boyfriend? Or could it be Bryan, the local bookshop owner, tangled in a bitter rivalry with the library?

The plot thickens at a charity murder mystery night held at Nigel’s tavern. Suddenly more murders come to light, both real and very badly staged. And when Nigel makes an astonishing revelation, the book club agree it’s a plot twist no-one saw coming. Can Judy and her book club solve the mystery before they too fall victim to a killer plot?

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This is not your garden variety cozy mystery story where citizens work alongside police, or a detective, in helping catch a murder. I really had to sit on this review for a few days because I wasn’t sure how I could discuss this without giving too much away.

In this story we see a group of people taking matters in their own hands in the most extreme way. We also see another side of seeking justice, or the lack of the right sort of justice-in this case. Lines are so blurred between justice and retribution that the reader is taken to a dark place that leaves you wondering if the justice will be served. That said, this is the first book in the series and it shall be interesting how the author continues this premise in the next.

I must caution readers about the swear words in this story, and though there are not a lot, there are a few.

Overall, this was a fascinating and yet, crazy story that will have you keep turning the pages.

Stephanie

I received an ARC from the publishers through NetGalley

Reader’s Log 071: New Books on My Shelf  

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Book Highlights

Today, I thought I would share four books I’ve added to my shelf this week. I’ve added several others, but these really stand out to me. I just finished The Island Bakeshop by Roseanna M. White and I realize this book is the second book. I decided to go back to NetGalley and see if the first book was still available and sure enough, it was and I downloaded it to my Kindle.  Most likely, it will be a quick read because I flew through the second book.

The Daughters of Rosebud by Sonny Buttar sounds so good and I love reading about families, healing broken bonds, forgiveness, second chances.

Everything about The Restoration Garden by Sara Blaydes sounds intriguing, and the cover is beautiful!

Discovering, The Sabbath We Need by John Starke; Jena Starke is timely because the Sabbath has been on my mind a lot lately. I look forward to going more into that at another time. Perhaps, with my review of this book.

What are some books you’ve added to your shelf recently?

Stephanie

Fiction:

The Island Bookshop by Roseanna M. White

Book 1 of The Island Bookshop

Publish Date: May 13, 2025 by Guideposts

When Kennedy Marshall sets off for a prestigious career in the city, she leaves behind the sunlit shores of North Carolina’s Outer Banks—and runs from a love she believes she can never have. With her sister, Lara, managing their grandmother’s beloved island bookshop, Kennedy feels confident she’s escaped the past. But when Lara is suddenly injured, Kennedy is drawn back into the island’s warm embrace—and bittersweet memories she thought she’d buried forever.

For Wes Armstrong, the Outer Banks is more than home—it’s his anchor. Building a successful family business was supposed to bring stability, but life has been anything but steady since his wife’s passing. Haunted by past regrets and facing a life-changing decision, Wes is determined to make the right choice for his family’s future. Yet Kennedy’s unexpected return stirs up old emotions and mistakes he thought he’d put to rest.

As hidden family secrets surface and long-buried truths come to light, Kennedy and Wes must navigate the delicate tides of forgiveness, second chances, and the unspoken love that still lingers between them. Can they find the courage to rewrite their story and create a new future on the island’s shifting sands?

The Daughters of Rosebud by Sonny Buttar

Expected Publish Date: October 13, 2026 by Lake Union Publishing

Teacher Salma Chaudhry lives a quiet life, avoiding all attachments. But after a call from her estranged father, the protective shell she lives within starts to crack and the trauma she’s buried for eighteen years emerges.

Salma and her older sister Asma were inseparable growing up in small-town Rosebud. While Asma was bold and fearless, Salma tried to keep the peace in their fractured family. But amid their mother’s decline and their parents’ rigid expectations, Asma makes a choice that tears the family apart. The fallout changes everything—and forces Salma to choose between her sister and her parents.

Salma has spent years trying to forget. But as she recollects her past and considers reconciliation with her father, a young student opens a surprising connection to Asma’s past. In finally facing her history, Salma finds the bravery to love and hope again.

The Restoration Garden by Sara Blaydes

Published November 1, 2025 by Lake Union Publishing

A landscape architect unearths the tangled history of a once-celebrated English garden—and all its mysteries—in a captivating novel by the author of The Last Secret of Lily Adams.

Julia Esdaile is hired to restore the historic gardens at Havenworth Manor—the grounds of which are now an abandoned snarl of bramble and weeds—to their original splendor. For the enigmatic lady of the manor, ninety-two-year-old Margaret Clarke, the reason for the restoration is the deeply private story of a promise made a lifetime ago, and a vow to keep it before she dies.

It’s 1940, and Margaret’s older half sister, Irene, an aspiring artist, dreams of an exciting world beyond Havenworth. Her only escapes are James Atherton, a handsome officer in the RAF, and her sketchbook of flower drawings. Bonding over their disdain for war, Irene follows James to London, where, irrevocably in love, she is forced to make a choice she never imagined. With that, Irene vanishes from Margaret’s life forever.

Now, with the help of Margaret’s godson, Andrew, Julia is determined to uncover both the long-buried secrets of the past and the truth behind a heartbreaking mystery that only restoring the gardens of Havenworth can solve.

Nonfiction:

The Sabbath We Need by John Starke; Jena Starke

Finding True Rest in a World of Counterfeits

Expected Publish Date: October 13, 2026 by InterVarsity Press – IVP

Detach from Chaos, attach to Christ, and Break Free from the World’s Demands

Our world offers endless prescriptions for wholeness—a sense of fullness through achievement, a perfect work-life balance, the ideal Instagram feed, or the pursuit of well-being and leisure. Yet these cultural visions of fulfillment often leave us more restless than before.

There is a more satisfying path. God invites us not simply to take a day off, but to be transformed to be like him through the joy, delight, and holiness of sabbath all seven days of the week.

In “The Sabbath We Need”, John and Jena Starke guide you away from the world’s anxious systems and into participation with God in his rest. This is not another book about relaxation or self-care. The biblical emphasis on sabbath rest isn’t necessarily about recovering from the week but to be set apart like the God who rested on the seventh day.

Based on their own practices as a family of six living in Manhattan, the Starkes offer a path for detachment from the world for a deeper attachment to Christ, providing hope for a culture exhausted in its search for rest. True sabbath is formation toward divine holiness and counter formation away from worldliness.

With “The Sabbath We Need”, you will discover the difference between counterfeit fulfillment and the true divine fullness of sabbath keeping;

Practical ways to make the sabbath the center of gravity for your week, reshaping your rhythms of life;

How to practice sabbath in different stages of life and in seasons of pain, success, struggle, and loss; and how to receive the gift of sabbath as God intended and practice it in a way that leads to joy, delight, and interior rest.

Choose the way of holy rest. The Sabbath We Need leads you out of worldliness and into holiness, out of anxious systems and into the heart of rest.

Book Review: Murder with a Side of Shrimp and Grits by Skylar Warren

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Published May 13, 2026 by @Bookouture

In the small-town Willow Bluff, Georgia, Jessie Haynes, a third-generation owner of Honeybee’s diner is in trouble when the town’s mayor dies of what appears-at first-to be an allergic reaction to Jessie’s famous shrimp and grits she served him just seconds before he took a bite that ended in his demise. In an instance all eyes are on Jessie as the mayor lies on the floor not breathing, and she becomes the talk of the town. Her family’s legacy in jeopardy, she and her friends race to find the culprit before there is no turning back from complete ruination.

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I absolutely love a culinary mystery and southern diners are the bedrock in many southern towns; which make for a perfect setting for a small-town southern mystery!

Skylar Warren is superb with character development. Each character in the story had their own unique voice, thoughts and personalities which enhances the readers engagement and connection to them. There was one character among Jessie’s circle that at first, I had a hard time trusting. His name is Chad and he is fairly new to town, and a therapist. To me, he seemed a bit too eager to help and please. He was too perfect in my opinion but eventually, I started to warm up to him a little, but still… I absolutely adore Maddie and Tee! Maddie is a teenager that works at the diner and she is so thoughtful, and loyal like Tee who is Jessie’s best friend that anyone would love to have!

From the start, I started making a mental note of suspects and practically everyone in the town could have done it! Needless to say, the mayor wasn’t a popular guy by a long shot.

This story would be great on film and as I read sheriff Roo’s role, I couldn’t help think that a younger Cherry Jones from the movie Signs with Mel Gibson would be a fantastic candidate for the role.

My only complaint is that I believe there are a couple scenes that could have been left out because they really didn’t help push the story forward, and it made the story a little too long. That said, it is so minor and it didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed this mystery.

A charming, fun read and I highly recommend this book. I will be on the lookout for more stories by this author!

Stephanie

I obtained an ARC from the publishers through NetGalley for an honest review.

Reader’s Log 070: A Week of Mystery and Crime Solving

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I tend to gravitate towards mystery reads for several reasons and it’s definitely the same reasons a lot of others do as well. Lately, I’ve increased my reading in the genre and so far, I have not been disappointed with my selection of late!

I love the engagement in solving puzzles and the analytical skills one employs while reading mystery. The race to solve whodunnit and why, and to see the triumph of justice. Suspenseful twists and turns that keeps one turning the page and while at the same time often feeling you don’t want the story to end because you’re invested in the characters lives. Thank goodness for series! Did I mention it is an adventure as well? Yes, it is an adventure to read these stories.

Today, I am sharing three book I am currently reading and I can’t wait to share my thoughts on them! What are you currently reading?

Coming up this week, I will be posting my book review for You Belong Here Now by Dianna Rostad.

Stephanie

Murder with a Side of Shrimp and Grits

by Skylar Warren

Expected Publish Date: May 13, 2026 @Bookouture

Cozy Mystery / Mystery / Fiction / Southern Story

Welcome to Honeybee’s diner, where the scent of butter and garlic wraps itself around you, thick and comforting. Jessie Haynes’ homestyle cooking feeds the hearts and souls of the good people of Willow Bluff. Until someone puts murder on the menu!

Y’all are invited to dig into a steamin’ plate of meatloaf. The diner’s well-worn red chairs have cradled folks from every corner of Willow Bluff—Jessie’s podcasting bestie, Tee, Old Mr Higgins, two mighty mischievous kittens, Biscuits and Gravy, and every tattling townsperson in between—so when the mayor turns blue after a bite of Jessie’s famous shrimp and grits, she finds herself in seriously hot water…

Suddenly, all eyes are swivelled toward Jessie. For fifty years her family has fed Willow Bluff, and Jessie won’t let one mouthful shatter the legacy of her grandmother’s secret recipes. The mayor’s peanut allergy was the talk of the town, so when traces are found in his food, Jessie must fight to clear her name.

An empty peanut packet in the diner’s pantry has Jessie and Tee hot on the heels of the murderer when another case of food tampering occurs at a nearby bakery. Someone is dishing out delicious death sentences—but how many locals will get served before Jessie can crack the case? Her investigation must be a recipe for success or Honeybee’s will be toast…

The Lumber Baron’s Wife by Lynn Austin

Historical Fiction / Christian Fiction / Mystery / Fiction

Published April 7, 2026 @TyndaleFiction

When the young wife of a powerful lumber baron vanishes into the wilds of frontier Michigan, her friend is left to unravel the truth in this captivating dual-timeline novel from bestselling author Lynn Austin.

1873

After a devastating loss, Hannah Wagner never imagined she’d leave her comfortable home for the harsh, unfamiliar wilderness near Lake Michigan. But when Henry Abernathy, a friend of her husband John, offers them a fresh start in a booming lumber town—where John’s skills as a doctor are sorely needed—Hannah reluctantly agrees.

There, she meets Kate Abernathy, Henry’s spirited, much younger wife. Kate’s sharp tongue and outsider status have made her unwelcome among the town’s elite. As she begins confiding in Hannah, it becomes clear her marriage is not what it seems—and that a secret from her past could destroy everything.

Present Day

Ashley Gilbert never planned to settle in Michigan, but when her husband lands his dream job as a conservationist, she agrees to follow. While restoring their historic home—built in the 19th century for a doctor and his wife—Ashley becomes captivated by its past and its connection to the nearby Abernathy mansion, now being transformed into a museum.

While volunteering with the restoration, Ashley stumbles upon the unsolved mystery of Kate Abernathy’s disappearance. What begins as curiosity soon becomes a quest for the truth—one that will connect her to two women whose stories and struggles echo and inspire her own.

Standalone historical fiction about marriage, grief, and the power of female friendships from the author of All My Secrets and Long Way Home A richly layered Christian women’s fiction novel with elements of mystery, perfect for fans of Martha Hall Kelly, Kristy Cambron, and Susan Meissner Includes discussion questions for book clubs

The Last Fatal Hour by Jan Matthews

Published April 7, 2026 @Coffee&inkPress

Historical Mystery / Mystery / Historical / Fiction

For Leona Gladney, former woman soldier of the Union Army, life goes on despite the echoes of the battlefield in her heart. Now a suffragist and budding socialite in Brooklyn Heights, she yearns for a literary life and family. But her husband’s business partner embezzles their money and disappears.

The society matrons of Brooklyn Heights turn a gimlet eye on Leona after the suspicious death of a wealthy friend. Leona will do anything to find justice for her friend and clear her own name, but she finds only secrets, seances and murder.