Bookouture Blog Tour for DEATH AT A PARIS HOTEL by Verity Bright

July 4, 2025July 5, 2025 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

Verity Bright has penned a new Lady Eleanor historical cozy mystery, and this one takes place on her honeymoon in Paris! Eleanor has barely arrived when a man comes crashing through the glass-domed ceiling and onto her table, then dies. Everyone is prepared to write him off as just a thief, but Eleanor is not ready to jump to judgment, instead finding a mystery to solve.

This is such a fun series. I always enjoy each installment and appreciate how they aren’t written to a formula. You can read them as a stand alone as well.

Thank you for my copy and for making me part of the blog tour!

Book Description:

For Lady Eleanor Swift, Paris means champagne at breakfast, romantic walks by the Eiffel Tower… and her deadliest case yet!

Newlyweds Lady Swift and Detective Hugh Seldon are honeymooning in the most romantic city on earth. Clifford, her butler,has come along for the trip to make sure everything goes to plan for the happy couple. And Gladstone, the mischievous bulldog, to make sure it doesn’t!

But the pair are shocked when, just as they are toasting their new marriage at the best table in their hotel’s opulent restaurant, a man tumbles through the glass roof and lands amid the silverware and coq au vin. Before he dies, he presses a striking pearl brooch into Eleanor’s hands. She has the strangest feeling of déjà vu. Has she met this man before? All too quickly, the local police arrive and immediately accuse the new Mr and Mrs of working with the victim – a thief who’d just robbed the museum down the block.

With her new husband by her side, Eleanor races to clear their name and discover who would kill to get their hands on the unusual brooch. Following a clue about a doomed love affair takes the gang from the famous cabarets and cobbled streets of Paris to rubbing shoulders with the aristocracy at the very top of the Eiffel Tower.

But soon Eleanor notices a mysterious man in black following their every footstep. Is he friend or foe? And can Eleanor and Hugh unravel the case before the City of Light becomes the city of death?

An utterly charming and unputdownable golden age cozy mystery set in Paris. Fans of T.E. Kinsey, Catherine Coles and Lee Strauss will adore it.

Author Bio:

Confident woman at office with laptop computer, mobile phone, and schedule notebook.Gradients, Blending tool, Clipping mask is used.

Verity Bright is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing partnership that has spanned a quarter of a century. Starting out writing high-end travel articles and books, they published everything from self-improvement to humour, before embarking on their first historical mystery. They are the authors of the fabulous Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series, set in the 1920s.

https://twitter.com/BrightVerity

Buy Link: NOT affiliated with BBNB

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0F2C1HJ3Wsocial

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you’ll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo

HTP Blog Tour for: A Most Puzzling Murder by Bianca Marais

June 10, 2025June 7, 2025 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

Here I am on the blog tour for a new and fun-to-read novel: A Most Puzzling Murder, by Bianca Marais, complete with puzzles and choose your own next step! Just a note that I recommend getting this one in a physical copy as I personally struggled with my older Kindle in navigating the pages and also clearly seeing the puzzles. That said, this was great fun and something that I would have enjoyed as an older teen as well. Definitely a unique choice that was fun and engaging – thank you for my copy and having me as part of the tour!

Here’s the scoop:

A Most Puzzling Murder

Bianca Marais

On Sale Date: June 10, 2025

9780778368601, 0778368602

Trade Paperback

$19.99 USD, $23.99 CAD

Fiction / Myster & Detective

480 pages

About the Book:

Interspersed with riddles and puzzles that both Destiny and the reader must solve, A Most Puzzling Murder is a one-of-a-kind mystery that will leave you guessing and gasping until the very last page!

Destiny Whip is a former child prodigy, world-renowned enigmatologist and very, very alone. A life filled with loss has made her a recluse, an existence she’s content to endure until a letter arrives inviting her to interview for the position of Scruffmore family historian. Not only does an internet search for the name yield almost nothing, it’s a role she never applied to in the first place!

She decodes the invitation’s hidden message with ease, and its promise to reveal her family secrets proves too powerful a draw for the orphaned Destiny, who soon finds herself on Eerie Island. It’s a place whose inhabitants are almost as inhospitable as the tempestuous weather. The Scruffmores themselves turn out to be not much better, a snarled mess of secrets and motives connected by their mistrust for one another.

Their newly arrived guest proves to be just as much an enigma to them as they are to her. While Destiny slowly works to unravel the mysteries hidden throughout the ominous castle, she struggles to interpret disturbing nightly visions of what is to come. In the midst of cryptic ciphers, hidden passages, and the family’s magical line of succession, Destiny is certain of two things: one of the Scruffmores is going to die and she’s running out of time to stop it.

About the Author:

BIANCA MARAIS cohosts the popular podcast The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, which is aimed at helping emerging writers get published. She teaches creative writing through the podcast and was named a winner of the Excellence in Teaching Award for Creative Writing at the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies. She lives in Toronto, where she loves playing escape-room games and writing about strong female protagonists.

Social Links:

Author website: https://www.biancamarais.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/biancamaraisauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/biancam_author/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/

Buy Links: (not affiliated with BBNB)

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Most-Puzzling-Murder-humorous-mystery/dp/0778387690

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-most-puzzling-murder-bianca-marais/1146847363

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-most-peculiar-tale-indeed-original-bianca-marais/21435438

Books-A-Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/9780778368601

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-most-puzzling-murder

AppleBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/a-most-puzzling-murder/id6501987778

Google Play: https://books.google.com/books/about/A_Most_Puzzling_Murder.html?id=rbs7EQAAQBAJ

Libro.FM: https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781488233814-a-most-puzzling-murder

Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/a-most-puzzling-murder-a-quirky-humorous-locked-room-murder-mystery-with-riddles-and-puzzles-for-the-reader-to-solve/9780778368601.html

Target: https://www.target.com/p/a-most-puzzling-murder-by-bianca-marais/-/A-93112360

Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/ip/A-Most-Puzzling-Murder-A-Quirky-Humorous-Locked-Room-Murder-Mystery-with-Riddles-and-Puzzles-for-the-Reader-to-Solve-Paperback-9780778368601/5560832578?classType=REGULAR&from=/search

Thank you to Harper-Collins for my copy and for having me as part of the tour!

Bookouture Blog Tour for Nobody Saw Him by Liz Lawler

June 2, 2025June 1, 2025 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

I’m here today as part of the blog tour for Nobody Saw Him (also known as “one of my worst motherhood nightmares”). The woman in this book has a little boy who disappears and no one saw him go anywhere or be taken. In fact, no one saw her with him and soon everyone is questioning her story, her integrity, and even her sanity. Talk about a suspenseful read!

Here’s the scoop:

Book Description:

You say your child was taken. The police say you’re lying…

As I sit my beautiful blue-eyed boy Sam down on the bench outside the changing room, I’m certain today is going to be a better day. He can splash about with his pool toys without worrying about making too much noise, and I can take a break from tiptoeing around my husband Pete, who is becoming more distant every day.

But when I return to the bench to collect Sam, my little boy is gone…

I can feel my heart hammering as I search for him, rushing to the staff at the front desk who tell me they haven’t seen him. Nobody spotted Sam waiting patiently for me or saw him wander off through the frosted front doors. Nobody saw me reassuring him on our way in, his tiny hand clutched tightly in mine. Nobody saw him at all.

My blood turns to ice as the police show me the CCTV. I strain to see Sam’s light-brown hair through the grainy footage, sure I’ll see his curls bouncing as we walked in. But in the video, I’m completely alone.

How is this possible? He’s been erased. Gone without a trace.

And then it hits me. Will the police now discover my past?

I will stop at nothing to find Sam. My child won’t pay for what I’ve done…

An unputdownable, heart-stopping psychological thriller filled with jaw-dropping twists. Perfect for fans of K.L. Slater, Lisa Jewell and Nicole Trope.

Author Bio:

Liz Lawler grew up sharing pants, socks, occasionally a toothbrush, sleeping four to a bed. Born in Chatham and partly raised in Dublin, she is one of fourteen children. She spent over twenty years as a nurse and has since fitted in working as a flight attendant, a general manager of a five star hotel, and is now working with trains. She became an author in 2017 when her debut novel Don’t Wake Up was published by Twenty7.
https://www.instagram.com/lizlawlerauthor
https://twitter.com/ authorlizlawler?lang=en

Buy Link: NOT affiliated with BBNB

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0F53NVC4Zsocial

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you’ll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo

Thank you for my copy and for having me as part of the tour!

Kristina McMorris’ THE GIRLS OF GOOD FORTUNE

May 4, 2025 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

I really enjoy the books of Kristina McMorris, and she has a new one coming out this month (5/2025): The Girls of Good Fortune. This one is centered on a young woman in the Portland area in the late 1800’s and the discrimination that Asian immigrants faced at that time. Having grown up in the Bay Area, I was much more familiar with the experience of Asian, particularly Chinese, immigrants in Northern California. This is definitely a dark period of our history and this story is all the more haunting as it’s based in fact.

Here’s the scoop:

The New York Times bestselling author of Sold on a Monday and The Ways We Hide shines a light on shocking events surrounding Portland’s dark history in this gripping novel of love, lore, and betrayal.

She came from a lineage known for good fortune…by those who don’t know the whole story.

Oregon, 1888. Amid the subterranean labyrinth of Portland’s notorious Shanghai Tunnels, a woman awakens in an underground cell, drugged and disguised. Celia soon realizes she’s a “shanghaied” victim on the verge of being shipped off as forced labor, leaving behind those she loves most. Although well accustomed to adapting for survival―being half-Chinese, passing as white during an era fraught with anti-Chinese sentiment―she fears that far more than her own fate hangs in the balance.

As she pieces together the twisting path that led to her abduction, from serving as a maid for the family of a dubious mayor to becoming entwined in the case of a goldminers’ massacre, revelations emerge of a child left in peril. Desperate, Celia must find a way to escape and return to a place where unearthed secrets can prove deadlier than the dark recesses of Chinatown.

A captivating tale of resilience and hope, The Girls of Good Fortune explores the complexity of family and identity, the importance of stories that echo through generations, and the power of strength found beneath the surface.

This novel is a bit of everything: historical fiction, romance, suspense, mystery. I enjoyed it and thankfully that ending did not let me down!

Here’s a bit of info on Ms. McMorris:

About the Author

Kristina McMorris is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of two novellas and seven historical novels, including the million-copy bestseller Sold on a Monday. The recipient of more than twenty national literary awards, she previously hosted weekly TV shows for Warner Bros. and an ABC affiliate, beginning at age nine with an Emmy Award-winning program, and owned a wedding-and-event-planning company until she had far surpassed her limit of “Y.M.C.A.” and chicken dances. Kristina lives near Portland, Oregon, where she somehow manages to be fully deficient of a green thumb and not own a single umbrella.

I am thankful to Kristina McMorris’ publisher, Sourcebooks, for my review copy through Net Galley!

Happy Reading!!

Bookouture Blog Tour for The Seaside Murders by Helena Dixon

May 2, 2025April 29, 2025 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

I love this new series of this “perfectly imperfect” match of a sleuthing duo. This is #2 in the Secret Detective Agency historical cozy mystery series, but you can read it as a stand alone. Well-written and well-plotted, it kept me guessing up until the end. I look forward to more in this series!

Thank you for my copy and for making me part of the tour.

Description

A pretty seaside town, a body on the beach, and a boatload of clues. Can super-sleuth Miss Jane Treen solve the mystery?

England, 1941. When Jane Treen is summoned to her boss’s office at the end of a long day, she smooths down her tweed skirt and makes them both another strong pot of coffee. Brigadier Remmington-Blythe slides a folded copy of the evening newspaper towards her, with one small article circled in red ink. A body has been found on an English beach in the little seaside town where she grew up, and he wants her to investigate.

Jane is used to managing secret agents and spies, but she is now part of The Secret Detective Agency, England’s answer to solving the most mysterious murders. Making her way to the coast and brimming with curiosity, she’s heartened that shy and handsome codebreaking genius Arthur Cilento will be joining her to help her wade through the fishy goings-on. Although Jane doubts he will appreciate her bringing her beloved one-eyed cat, Marmaduke…

Together, Jane and Arthur drop anchor in her crumbling childhood home overlooking the sandy beach where the body was found. Surrounded by potential suspects, their eyes are on a devious doctor, an eccentric artist and a secret sweetheart. But as Jane and Arthur are searching for the truth, those giving evidence start to clam up. One thing seems sure: they need to reel in the killer before they’re out of their depth…

Can The Secret Detective Agency triumph again, or will they meet their watery end at high tide?

If you love twisty crime novels, top-secret intrigue and the very best of Golden Age mysteries, then you will adore Helena Dixon’s totally gripping cozy novel, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Verity Bright!

Author Bio:

Helena Dixon is the author of the best-selling Miss Underhay murder mystery series and
lives in Devon. Married to the same man for over thirty-five years she has three daughters, a
cactus called Spike, and a crazy cockapoo. She is allergic to adhesives, apples, tinsel and
housework. She was winner of The Romance Prize in 2007 and Love Story of the Year 2010
as Nell Dixon.

https://www.nelldixon.com/

https://www.facebook.com/nelldixonauthor/

https://www.instagram.com/helenadixonuk/

Tweets by NellDixon

Buy Link: NOT affiliated with BBNB

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0DW4JNLP6social

Harper-Collins Blog Tour for Midnight in Soap Lake by Matthew Sullivan

April 14, 2025April 13, 2025 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

I’m happy today to be bringing you this novel; it was an engaging read by a new author to me. It was part mystery that is current day, but with tie-ins to the past that were integral to the plot and the over all mystery of the lake. There were family secrets, murder, missing children, and a lake that held secrets of its own. I really liked the characters in this story and the overall “quirkiness” of the setting (though based on a real place – lava lamp plans and all!). Don’t miss the author’s note at the end.

Thank you for my copy and for making me part of the tour!

MIDNIGHT IN SOAP LAKE

Author: Matthew Sullivan

Publication Date: April 15, 2025

Publisher: Harlequin Trade Publishing / Hanover Square Press

Buy Links: NOT affiliated with BBNB

HarperCollins: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/midnight-in-soap-lake-matthew-sullivan?variant=43103022350370

BookShop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/397/9781335041791

Barnes & Noble: http://aps.harpercollins.com/hc?isbn=9781335041791&retailer=barnesandnoble

Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=9781335041791&tag=hcg-02-20

Social Links:

Author Website: http://matthewjsullivan.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mickmatthew1/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matthew.j.sullivan.77/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5690035.Matthew_J_Sullivan

Book Summary:

A lake with mysterious properties. A town haunted by urban legend. Two women whose lives intersect in terrifying ways. Welcome to Soap Lake, a town to rival Twin Peaks and Stephen King’s Castle Rock.

When Abigail agreed to move to Soap Lake, Washington for her husband’s research she expected old growth forests and craft beer, folksy neighbors and the World’s Largest Lava Lamp. Instead, after her husband jets off to Poland for a research trip, she finds herself alone, in a town surrounded by desert, and haunted by its own urban legends.

But when a young boy runs through the desert into Abigail’s arms, her life becomes entwined with his and the questions surrounding his mother Esme’s death. In Abigail’s search for answers she enlists the help of a recovering addict-turned-librarian, a grieving brother, a broken motel owner, and a mentally-shattered conspiracy theorist to unearth Esme’s tragic past, the town’s violent history, and the secret magic locked in the lake her husband was sent there to study.

As she gets closer to the answers, past and present crimes begin to collide, and Abigail finds herself gaining the unwelcome attention of the town’s unofficial mascot, the rubber-suited orchard stalker known as TreeTop, a specter who seems to be lurking in every dark shadow and around every shady corner.

A sweeping, decade-spanning mystery brimming with quirky characters, and puzzle hunt scenarios, Midnight in Soap Lake is a modern day Twin Peaks—a rich, expansive universe that readers will enter and never forget.

Author Bio:

Matthew Sullivan is the beloved author of Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore, an Indie Next Pick, B&N Discover pick, a GoodReads Choice Award finalist and winner of the Colorado Book Award. He received his MFA from the University of Idaho and has been a resident writer at Yaddo, Centrum, and the Vermont Studio Center. His short stories have been awarded the Robert Olen Butler Fiction Prize and the Florida Review Editors’ Award for Fiction. His writing has been featured in the New York Times Modern Love column, The Daily Beast, and Shelf Awareness amongst others.

Bookouture Blog Tour for Death at Inishmore Castle by Lucy Connelly

April 13, 2025April 12, 2025 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

I do love the Mercy McCarthy cozy mystery series and this one was quick and fun. You don’t have to read this series in order, but it does help to keep all the details in line while you are reading. It seems that wherever Mercy goes, murder follows. I love these characters and how they have pretty large backstories that took place before the series even began. This mystery kept me guessing, too!

Thank you for my copy and for making me part of the tour!!

A grand castle, a glass of Irish whiskey, a good book by the fire… and a rather mysterious murder?

Historic Inishmore Castle is opening its doors for the first time, hosting a charming weekend of whiskey tasting and soda bread baking. Sisters Mercy and Lizzie McCarthy are badly in need of a break, but their relaxing trip takes a decidedly unrestful turn when Mercy finds fellow guest Father Brennen slumped over the desk in the library… Did he have one glass too many or did someone want him dead?

Even more curiously, Mercy swiftly learns that the priest was no priest at all. So why was he searching through dusty old journals? Can the legend of Inishmore’s lost treasure possibly be true?

Mercy’s suspicions of foul play are confirmed when another of their party is found drowned in the lake at the edge of the manor’s estate. It can’t be a coincidence! Someone in this idyllic Irish castle is up to no good and Mercy is determined to find out who’s behind it, accompanied by her reluctant fellow sleuth and beloved dog Mr. Poe.

With a host of frightened guests and worried staff, and a storm closing in, Mercy soon has more suspects than bedrooms in the castle. Could it be the unconvincing nun, the busybody birdwatcher, or are the owners hiding something sinister? When Mercy realises there are secret passages in the walls, she thinks she might have cracked the case… but will she track the killer down, or will Inishmore be her resting place forever more?

A completely delightful Irish cozy mystery, full of warmth and wit. Fans of Agatha Christie, Carlene O’Connor and Faith Martin will love Mercy McCarthy!

Author Bio:

Bestselling author Candace Havens has published more than 25 books. Her novels have received nominations for the RITA’s, Holt Medallion, Write Touch Reader Awards and National Reader’s Choice Awards. She is a Barbara Wilson Award winner. She is the author of the biography Joss Whedon: The Genius Behind Buffy and a contributor to several anthologies. She is also one of the nation’s leading entertainment journalists and has interviewed countless celebrities from George Clooney to Chris Pratt. Candace runs a free online writing workshop for more than 2000 writers and teaches comprehensive writing classes. She does film reviews with Hawkeye in the Morning on 96.3 KSCS, and is a former President of the Television Critics Association.

https://www.lucyconnelly.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ LucyConnellyBooks/

https://www.instagram.com/ Candace_Havens

Tweets by CandaceHavens

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Lucy Connelly here: https://bookouture.com/ subscribe/Lucy-Connelly

Buy Link: NOT affiliated with BBNB

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0DLB91VV7social

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you’ll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo

Bookouture Blog Tour for Death in an English Village by Fliss Chester

April 11, 2025April 9, 2025 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

I do love this historical cozy mystery series so much and this most recent installment was fun to read and figure out. Nothing can stop Cressida Fawcett, and I love that she goes nowhere without her pug. If you enjoy series like Her Royal Spyness and Verity Bright’s mysteries series, you are sure to enjoy this series, too! You don’t need to read them in order, as they can stand alone, but reading them in order is more fun, I think!

Thank you for my copy and for making me part of the tour.

Book Description:

When the family gardener is murdered near a site of legendary buried treasure, dog-lover and mystery-solver Cressida Fawcett is on the case!

1926, Sussex. The Honourable Cressida Fawcett is delighted to return to her parents’ rambling mansion to introduce them to her pug Ruby’s puppies. But when the pups go running off with Cressida in hot pursuit, they lead her to a bubbling stream – Hell’s Ditch. And the body of Bob the gardener is floating there, his outstretched hand clutching a soggy cheese and pickle sandwich.

Everyone assumes Bob died of natural causes. But when Cressida finds a glittering gold coin grasped in his other fist, she realises this is part of the long-hidden Saxon hoard. Was Bob struck down by the gold’s ancient curse? As Cressida interviews the colourful members of the local historical society, she learns that Bob had been boasting of new-found wealth, much to the annoyance of his wife, and perhaps deadly jealousy of the other members…

Luckily for Cressida, eminent historian Sir James Colston, friend of the family, arrives at the mansion with tantalising information on the whereabouts of the rest of the Saxon gold. He promises to tell all, but the very next day he collapses into his morning porridge…

To Cressida’s horror, Marian – Bob’s widow and her parents’ cook – is accused of poisoning both the porridge and Bob’s sandwich and is carted off to jail. But Cressida is sure the answers are buried in the past. Just how far would a history boffin or a hard-up local go for an ancient pot of gold? And can Cressida dig up the truth before poison worms its way into her family’s kitchen again?

An absolutely addictive, warm and witty whodunnit that will keep you reading late into the night, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Verity Bright.

Author Bio:

Fliss Chester lives in Surrey with her husband and writes historical cozy crime. When she is not killing people off in her 1940s whodunnits, she helps her husband, who is a wine merchant, run their business. Never far from a decent glass of something, Fliss also loves cooking (and writing up her favourite recipes on her blog), enjoying the beautiful Surrey and West Sussex countryside and having a good natter.

https://www.instagram.com/flisschester/

Buy Link: NOT affiliated with BBNB

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0DG2WKYQTsocial

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you’ll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo

Thank you for my copy and for making me part of the tour!

Harper- Collins HTP Books Blog Tour for Their Monstrous Hearts by Yigit Turhan

April 6, 2025April 5, 2025 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

Wow – this was a story that was a bit different from what I was expecting. I was expecting magical realism – which there is – but it also is gothic horror and creepy and gave me nightmares! There is a slow burn to this story, which is beautifully written. It starts slow – almost too slow for me (I kept putting it down and reading something else) but then it picks up in the last half and is sort of like an out of control roller coaster. There is a story within a story here, and I can see that this might not be a title for everyone (but what is??), but it definitely is not a book that you will soon forget once you finish it!

Thank you for my copy and for making me part of the tour!

THEIR MONSTROUS HEARTS

Author: Yigit Turhan

Publication Date: April 8, 2025

ISBN: 9780778368274

Format: Hardcover

Publisher: Harlequin Trade Publishing / MIRA

Price $28.99

Buy Links: Not affiliated with BBNB

HarperCollins: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/their-monstrous-hearts-yigit-turhan

BookShop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/their-monstrous-hearts-original-yigit-turhan/21435391

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/their-monstrous-hearts-yigit-turhan/1145530543

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Their-Monstrous-Hearts-timeline-suspenseful/dp/0778368270

Social Links:

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/13825951.Yi_it_Turhan

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yigit/?hl=en

Book Summary:

A haunting novel about the boundaries people will cross to keep their dreams alive.

A mysterious stranger shows up at Riccardo’s apartment with some news: his grandmother Perihan has died, and Riccardo has inherited her villa in Milan along with her famed butterfly collection.

The struggling writer is out of options. He’s hoping the change of scenery in Milan will inspire him, and maybe there will be some money to keep him afloat. But Perihan’s house isn’t as opulent as he remembers. The butterflies pinned in their glass cases seem more ominous than artful. Perihan’s group of mysterious old friends is constantly lurking. And there’s something wrong in the greenhouse.

As Riccardo explores the decrepit estate, he stumbles upon Perihan’s diary, which might hold the key to her mysterious death. Or at least give him the inspiration he needs to finish his manuscript.

But he might not survive long enough to write it.

Author Bio:

Yigit Turhan was born in Ankara, Turkey. A lifelong reader, he owes his love of horror to his grandmother and the films she shared with him. He has previously published a horror novel in Turkish. He lives in Milan, Italy, where he holds a C-suite role at a renowned fashion house. This is his English-language debut.

Bookouture Blog Tour for Helena Dixon’s The Secret Detective Agency

March 29, 2025 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

I really enjoyed the first in this new cozy/historical mystery series, focusing on two apparently mismatched undercover detectives, Jane and Arthur. I already have the second installment in the series to read for the near future!

I liked the writing style of this book, which reminded me a bit of the Maggie Hope series by Susan Elia MacNeal. I do love anything from the WWII period! I also chuckled out loud several times while reading as well — always appreciated!

Thanks so much for my copy and for making me part of the tour!

Here’s the scoop:

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 sure: 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…?

If you love twisty crime novels, top-secret intrigue and the very best of Golden Age mysteries, then you will adore Helena Dixon’s totally gripping cozy novel, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T E Kinsey and Verity Bright!

Author Bio: