⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A delightfully clever blend of Cold War intrigue and cozy mystery. This time, the Queen of England and her assistant private secretary find themselves quietly facilitating the defection of a Soviet scientist and untangling a murder spotted from the royal train. The Venice scenes were very suspenseful (fog, canals, gunfire), and the playful nods to classic James Bond lore were perfect.
The narration by Samantha Bond is perfection. She brings such elegance and wit to the story, and it’s extra fun knowing she stars in the TV adaptation of another mystery series I love (The Marlow Murder Club).
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the early audiobook copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
This month was a cozy collision of crime, classics, kids’ adventures, and King-level chaos:
✨ 7 newly published 🔁 15 re-reads 📖 1 book club pick 💻 1 NetGalley 🎧 100% audiobooks
Highlights included an Alex Cross binge, a Bill Hodges + Holly Gibney run, clever mysteries with Phyllida Bright and Her Majesty, the strangely timeless weight of The Bell Jar, and a nostalgic return to The Mysterious Benedict Society.
Mood of the month: 🔍 Murder 👑 British sleuths 🕷️ Serial killers 🧠 Smart kids saving the world 📜 One emotional classic for balance
Complete list for November:
The Case of the Missing Maid: Harriet Morrow Investigates, Book 1 Rob Osler ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The Bell Jar Sylvia Plath ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
We Had a Hunch: A Mystery Tom Ryan ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The Queen Who Came in from the Cold (Her Majesty the Queen Investigates #5) S.J. Bennett ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
October 2025 Audiobooks 🎧 22 audiobooks for October! 10 first-time listens 🎧 12 re-reads — some old favorites I’ve revisited many times ❤️ 1 #NetGalley audio-ARC 1 Non-fiction pick (for #SecretStuffBookClub) 16 of the 22 books crossed 7 different series, with 2 complete series read this month
⭐️ 5-Star Favorites (One of my all time favorite books) • The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith (3rd read)
🌟 4-Star Reads (Loved and would read again) • Murder in Matrimony by Mary Winters • Murder on the Marlow Belle by Robert Thorogood • The Librarians by Sherry Thomas • Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library by Amanda Chapman • The Improbable Tales of Baskerville Hall by Ali Standish (2nd) • The Sign of the Five by Ali Standish (2nd) • The Valley of Lies by Ali Standish • Writers and Liars by Carol Goodman • All the Words We Know by Bruce Nash • Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (3rd) • The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith (3rd) • Lethal White by Robert Galbraith (4th) • Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith (2nd) • Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith (6th) • The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith (4th) • The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith (5th) • The Golden One by Elizabeth Peters (2nd)
💫 3-Star Listens (Was good but probably would not re-read) • The Last Death of the Year by Sophie Hannah • Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara • The Running Man by Richard Bachman (Stephen King) • The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith (2nd)
💍 Murder in Matrimony (Lady of Letters #4) 🖋️ by Mary Winters | 🎧 Narrated by Sophie Roberts
Lady Amelia Amesbury, secret advice columnist “Lady Agony,” has her hands full this time! A blackmailer threatens to reveal her identity, her sister announces a wedding in one month, and then her dear friend the vicar turns up dead. The police call it a robbery gone wrong, but Amelia suspects something far more sinister…
This installment mixes mystery, humor, and heart so well. I adored Amelia’s loud country relatives shaking up her London townhouse, and Aunt Tabitha’s efforts to maintain perfect Victorian manners made me laugh out loud. The slow-burn romance between Amelia and Simon continues to be absolutely swoon-worthy. 💕
Sophie Roberts is the perfect narrator for this series. She nails every bit of wit and charm.
🎧 Listened on Audible using my own credit. Totally worth it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This has quickly become one of my favorite middle-grade series—but honestly, any Sherlock Holmes fan could enjoy it, no matter their age. Ali Standish does such a clever job weaving Holmesian lore into the mischievous adventures of these young students at Baskerville Hall.
I’ve been wondering since book one how Arthur’s roommate Jimmie (whose last name happens to belong to a famous Holmes villain), might one day become an enemy. This book finally delivers that answer in a big, emotional way. Poor Arthur had me worried from start to finish as he struggled under the weight of blackmail and isolation, refusing to reach out to friends or teachers for help.
Fans will appreciate the subtle nods to The Adventure of the Speckled Band and The Final Problem. I probably missed other references since it’s been a while since I’ve read any Holmes.
I just learned this might be the final book in the trilogy, and I truly hope it isn’t the last we see of Baskerville Hall. The world and its characters deserve more mysteries to solve!
Special thanks to @netgalley and HarperAudio Children’s / @harpercollins for an advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.
I mentioned that this was one of my favorites of September but I wanted to post my @goodreads review also to encourage more people to read it. It’s so good!
Here’s the text of the review in case it’s too small in the picture:
Eighty-four-year-old Martin Maxwell is temporarily staying in a seaside nursing home while recovering from hip surgery. His daughter (a police officer) drops by often, but it’s Martin who starts noticing something suspicious: the number of “natural” deaths in the home seems unusually high. With the help of his sharp-witted, wheelchair-bound neighbor, he decides to do a little sleuthing of his own.
This story is an absolute delight: equal parts funny, heartwarming, and cleverly plotted. I especially loved the uncertainty of whether Martin’s memories are reliable or if age has begun to blur the edges of truth. The humor lands perfectly, and the cast of residents is both quirky and endearing.
John Hopkins’ narration adds even more charm, capturing the dry British wit and warmth of the characters beautifully. I truly hope this is the first in a series. I’d happily follow Martin and his fellow “armchair detectives” through many more adventures.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.
25 books this month: A mix of cozy whodunnits, historical sleuthing, thrillers, and a dash of Egyptian adventure.
🏰 High society & golden-age style mysteries: Murder at Blackburn Hall, The Egyptian Antiquities Murder, Murder in Black Tie, Murder in Mayfair, Murder at the Mansions, Murder on a Midnight Clear, Murder in the Alps, Murder at Archly Manor, Murder Among the Pyramids, Murder on the S.S. Cleopatra, The Case of the Body on the Orient Express 🍸🔎⛷️⛴️🚂
🌴 Amelia Peabody’s Egyptian escapades: Crocodile on the Sandbank, The Curse of the Pharaohs, The Mummy Case, Lion in the Valley, The Deeds of the Disturber, The Last Camel Died at Noon 🐪🏺☀️🐊🦁
🕵️ Modern mysteries & thrillers: The Devil’s Advocate & The Cross (Steve Cavanagh) ⚖️ Sharp Force (Patricia Cornwell) 🐒 Sherlock Holmes and the Real Thing 🔍🎨🖼️ An Excellent Thing in a Woman 🕵️♀️ The Game is Murder 🎲🧩🃏 The End of the World As We Know It 🌍🔥 Murderland 🏭💨🔪
Favorite: The Devil’s Advocate Least favorite: The Game is Murder
An Excellent Thing in a Woman (The Sparks & Bainbridge Mysteries, 7) Allison Montclair ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers Caroline Fraser ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The End of the World As We Know It: New Tales of Stephen King’s The Stand Christopher Golden ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Crocodile on the Sandbank (Amelia Peabody, #1) Elizabeth Peters ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The Curse of the Pharaohs (Amelia Peabody, #2) Elizabeth Peters ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The Mummy Case (Amelia Peabody, #3) Elizabeth Peters ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Lion in the Valley (Amelia Peabody, #4) Elizabeth Peters ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The Deeds of the Disturber (Amelia Peabody, #5) Elizabeth Peters ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The Last Camel Died at Noon (Amelia Peabody, #6) Elizabeth Peters ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The Game Is Murder Hazell Ward ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The Case of the Body on the Orient Express: The Detection Club, Book 2 Kelly Oliver ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Sherlock Holmes and the Real Thing Nicholas Meyer ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ A suspenseful return to classic Scarpetta! This one delivers a gripping mystery, real danger, and a smart resolution, all with timely tech twists woven in. January LaVoy’s narration is spot-on, keeping me hooked the whole way. I can’t wait to see where Cornwell takes Scarpetta next. 🔬🔎🎧
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ London is frozen ❄️ solid, Holmes & Watson are bored… until a woman arrives seeking her missing artist tenant. Nicholas Meyer’s Sherlock Holmes and The Real Thing 🎨🕵️♂️ blends mystery with questions of authenticity: What’s real vs. imitation, and why does it matter? Easter eggs, Mycroft at the Diogenes Club, and narration that feels straight from Doyle. A must for Sherlock fans! 🔍 #sherlockholmesandtherealthing#netgalley
Holly Reads Too Much 