Book 1: French Windows by Antoine Laurain (Author), Louise Rogers Lalaurie (Translator) 

French Windows was a delightful little novella and a wonderful audiobook experience.

Set within a Parisian apartment building, the story follows several interconnected lives, offering small but meaningful glimpses into the people behind the windows. I loved how each thread unfolded separately at first, only to gradually weave together into a satisfying whole.

What made it especially enjoyable was the constant feeling of “who’s helping whom?” The two protagonists seemed to be quietly influencing, observing, and unintentionally therapising one another in ways both that kept you questioning which way the story would go.

Character-driven, charming, and full of humanity, this is the kind of story that reminds you how interconnected our lives really are.

Book 2: The Labyrinth House Murders (The Bizarre House Mysteries #3) by Yukito Ayatsuji (Author), Ho-Ling Wong (Translator) 

The Labyrinth House Murders is the kind of mystery that makes you immediately want to flip back to the beginning once you’ve finished.

Built around a story-within-a-story, the novel openly claims to follow the fairness rules of classic detective fiction, laying out its clues for readers to find. Whether I was clever enough to catch them is another matter entirely. Human beings love believing they’re one step ahead of a mystery right up until a book politely proves otherwise.

What impressed me most was the narrative flow where every reveal feels deliberate, every detail carefully placed, and the ending reshapes everything that came before. I rarely encounter a final chapter that changes my understanding of a story so dramatically, but this one absolutely does.

This was my first visit to Ayatsuji’s world of impossible murders and elaborate puzzles, and it was enough to convince me that I need to continue with the series.

A clever, intricate mystery that rewards close attention and probably deserves a reread.

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The final explanation behind Strange Houses was… admittedly a little ridiculous. The kind of reveal that makes you stare at the page and think, “Humans really will do anything except communicate normally.”

But somehow, I still had a great time listening to the audiobook while referencing the illustrations on my paperback copy.

What fascinated me wasn’t the mystery itself, but the way the story unfolded through floor plans, architectural oddities, and tiny details hidden in plain sight. The houses become puzzles, and each new layout reveals another piece of something deeply unsettling.

It’s a slow-burn mystery where the spaces feel as important as the people. The creeping tension, the visual storytelling, and the gradual uncovering of secrets kept me turning pages long after I stopped believing the explanation would be remotely sensible.

'The Song of a Dark Angel' is the eighth book in the Hugh Corbett series by P.C. Doherty, and it’s a fantastic medieval mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Set in November 1302, the story takes you to the chilly Norfolk coast, where Sir Hugh Corbett, a secret agent, is sent on a dangerous mission.

The book starts with Sir Hugh Corbett arriving at Mortlake Manor with his loyal servant, Ranulf, and a quick-witted messenger named Maltote. They’ve been sent to Norfolk to investigate some truly creepy and mysterious deaths. The first body they find is particularly gruesome: a man’s headless corpse, with his head stuck on a pole on the beach. Even more disturbing, the young wife of a local baker is discovered hanging from a gallows on a cliff. 

The Norfolk coast is as cold and eerie as the crimes they’re investigating. The winds that blow through the area are called the “Dark Angel” winds, adding an extra layer of spookiness to the story. Corbett and his team have to figure out who is behind these horrifying murders while dealing with the harsh environment and the secrets of Mortlake Manor.

Paul Doherty does an amazing job of making the historical setting come alive. The book is full of details about medieval life, which helps you really feel like you’re back in the 1300s. The setting isn’t just a backdrop—it’s an important part of the story, making everything feel more intense and realistic.

Hugh Corbett is a smart and determined detective. He uses his brains and his knowledge of politics to solve the mystery. His interactions with Ranulf and Maltote add a lot of depth to the story. Ranulf, in particular, brings some humor and warmth to the book, balancing out the darker parts of the plot. The mystery is very cleverly put together. Doherty keeps you guessing with plenty of clues and surprises. The reason Corbett has been sent to Norfolk is a big part of the puzzle, and as he uncovers more about the murders, the story becomes even more interesting. The cold, windy coast and the isolated villages add a creepy feeling that makes the mystery even more exciting.

Overall, 'The Song of a Dark Angel' is a thrilling medieval mystery that blends history with suspense. Paul Doherty has created a fantastic adventure for Hugh Corbett, full of twists, turns, and historical details that make the story really come alive. If you enjoy solving mysteries - without forensics and more human psyche, then this book is certainly for you.

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'To the Land of Long Lost Friends' is the 20th book in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith, and it's another heartwarming read that fans of the series will love. If you’ve read the previous books, you'll be excited to see what Precious Ramotswe and her friends are up to next. If you're new to the series, I would suggest you read from the beginning to get some idea about the characters that are regular in the series and get acquainted with them before reading this book.

Precious Ramotswe is a detective who runs her own agency in Botswana. She’s known for her gentle, wise nature and always tries to do what’s right. Her assistant, Mma Makutsi, has a bit of a temper but is very dedicated to her work. She started off as a secretary but has become a detective with experience over time. She is quiet a powerhouse and has the agency running smoothly. Then there's Charlie, who helps out wherever he can and wishes to become a detective too.

In this book, Precious reconnects with an old friend who seems to be having problems with her grown-up daughter. The daughter has a fancy job and lives a luxurious life, which makes Precious suspicious. She also learns that another friend who used to be wealthy is now poor. Precious wants to help these people around her and make things right. There's another cub-plot of a case involving a woman who thinks her husband might be cheating on her. Nothing is as simple as it may seem, and it is upto Mma Ramotswe to sort out the tangled web in the most humane way possible.

The book (like most in the series) is not like most mystery novels that have lots of action and big secrets. Instead, it focuses on small, personal problems and how the characters handle them with kindness and wisdom. The mysteries are about everyday issues and mostly revolve around human connections. The book’s heart is in the way it shows how people connect with each other and solve their problems. Precious Ramotswe’s wisdom and caring nature shine through as she helps her clients. The characters have their flaws but are very relatable and real.

This series may not be full of fast-paced action, but it always offers a thoughtful and uplifting experience that the existing fans enjoy, and new readers will find a welcoming and comforting world to explore.

I loved the first four books in the series quite a bit. So, when Antique Mourning released after a big gap, I was apprehensive and excited at the same time. I went back and re-read one of the books to make sure that I remembered the characters and the overall arc of Alicia's character before picking up Antique Mourning.

Alicia Trent has received an offer that is quite irresistible. She has been invited to an college in New York to catalogue and assess an antique collection that has been left to the college by an alumni. As a part of a deal, the college has also offered to let Alicia take some classes for free. Her business partner Barry is neither happy nor comfortable about having Alicia gone for better part of a year. But to top it off, Laudine would be traveling with Alicia to go and train the staff at the college.

What could go wrong?

Alicia and Laudine land at Druthmar college looking forward to an work and fun filled year ahead, yet they find themselves handling murders in a complicatedly big old place that has a haunted feeling on a good day!

Eileen Harris never fails to deliver a good mystery with a dose a drama and a pinch of humour. As the series progresses, the mysteries are getting more complex and darker. In Antique Mourning, the setting of the college building almost has a life of its own. I found the different buildings and their layout very complicated at the beginning and wished I had a map of it. But with time I loved that feel of 'known confusion' help build up the tension and mystery. The cast introduced in the book played their parts in both building up the plot and the air of mystery.

There is always something happening throughout the book - both on and off pages and as such, the pace held steady. It took me a while to figure out the who, the why and the how - and as such the book had me in its hooks through out.

Those who have already read other books in this series are definitely going to enjoy this one. But, if you are someone who hasn't read any of Alicia's previous adventures, this book isn't the best one to dive into the series with because there is so much in the previous books that have shaped up Alicia the way she is in this book. Without that context, I am not sure whether someone will 'get' our protagonist completely.

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I have been wanting to read one of Samantha Downing's book as I had noticed quite a few glowing reviews of her two previous books on my goodreads feed. So, I jumped at the chance to read and review 'For Your Own Good' when it was offered to me. And I am glad that I did not let this opportunity go by me.

Set in a posh and prestigious private school, 'For Your Own Good' where the children of the elites of the society are sent to by their demanding parents, expecting it to be the stepping stone that will send the students on to Ivy League colleges. Of course, there is a LOT of drama their with the privileged students and even some ex-students who have returned as the faculty. And amongst it all is Teddy Crutcher, a nobody from a mediocre background who has had to earn every bit of privilege he has today for himself. Even winning 'The Teacher of the Year' doesn't bring him as much respect as he deserves - well, because of the whiny little… So, Teddy has to take things into his own hands because after all as a teacher it is his job to teach his students a lesson; and maybe to a couple of his fellow colleagues too while he is at it. But when bodies start to drop, and people come nosing about not only into the school but also into his personal life, he has very little choice. What would you do if you were in Teddy's shoes?

I love a well done whodunnit, but recently I am seeing more and more author experimenting with the genre. These days sometimes it is more about the how and the why and I must admit, if properly done, it can be just as awesome and exciting. And, Samantha Downing has indeed done a good job. She introduced us to our quirky and slightly crazy antagonist right at the beginning and then the story is all about how he does what he does, whether he will get caught, how far will he go and what might trip him up. Though I did not agree with our antagonist's reasoning, I have to admit that there were times when I didn't really blame him either. That is a sign of a well developed antagonist. We all love to hate our antagonists and when they are clearly the 'bad guy' we hate him with all the passion we can muster. But what happens when you start seeing the greys in the character of the antagonist. What do you do when there are moments you feel like if you were in his shoes, you'd want to do worse? And better question to answer yet, what do you do when the antagonist turns out to be the least horrible person around? (Well, not counting the murders or the little accidents).

I am glad that I am not part of the esteemed Belmont Academy. It is the home to a hell lot of mean and simply bad characters. I honestly did not feel bad about the murders that took place. Character-wise the book's hook is it's antagonist. I wish there were a couple of characters that I could like, if for nothing else, then contrast. They were all just rotten apples. The multiple PoVs also keep the reader appraised of what is going on not only in the story but also in the minds of some of the other cast and characters. Yet I was surprised! The fast-paced story coupled with some snarky comments and unexpected twists keeps the pages turning in the book. It has enough drama and mystery to keep any reader hooked and entertained.

Definitely recommend this to mystery lovers as I go hunting for the other books by this author.

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I was attracted to the book by it's cover first and when I read an excerpt for the book tour, I knew I had to read this book.

Molly McGill, our protagonist, is a single mother of two, while running a one-woman investigation business. She clearly needs to take on as many cases as she can handle and so when Martha Dodson comes to her with her concerns about her meticulous garner neighbour, Molly takes on the case despite her initial scepticism. With the police department showing no interest in her target, Molly had hoped for some cooperation from Detective Art Judd, but without it, she needs to find her own way around. With two missing boys' lives on the line, Molly needs to step up her game if she is to solve this case.

The Begonia Killer, as a story turned out to be much more than what I had expected from the cover, blurb and excerpt. I enjoyed getting acquainted with Molly McGill. The author provides us with enough details of both her personal and professional life to be able to really get to know her. As a mother to a 6 year old and a 14 year old, Molly has plenty on her plate. Add her investigative business, that can get downright dangerous, and a curious grandma to the mix, one has to admire Molly's grit. The author has managed to maintain a good pace despite providing so much additional information on Molly's personal situation. It was easy to stay involved and keep turning the pages as there was enough drama and action with a hint of humour in the story. As for the plot, it was quite simple and peppered with enough twists to keep the readers engaged if not guessing. The character development of the antagonist did surprise me quite a bit and certainly one of the more shining qualities of the book.

Though this is the third book in the series, and there is some mention of previous cases/books in this one, I had no trouble understanding the story. So, this can be read as a standalone. I think this book will appeal to cozy mystery enthusiasts. This book has definitely captured my interest enough to want to go back and read the previous books in the series. I would definitely recommend cozy mystery lovers to give this a try as this is quite a quick and entertaining read.

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What was supposed to be a quick stop before catching a train, turns out to be a place that offers Avalon Nash a job and a place to stay. Okay, filling in the shoes of a murder victim may not be the ideal job, specially since the position seems to be cursed, but Avalon has no one to answer to and she is not the one to back down from a challenge unless it is from her past.

Avalon Nash decided to stop for a drink at a local tavern at small town called Tranquility before catching her connecting train. But while there she discovers the body of the bartender. As such, she is asked to hang around for a while by the local authorities and the owner of the tavern offers her the newly opened spot of a bartender. Avalon has always been serious about her skills and interest in bartending, and as such she is good at her job. She collects stories from her customers and as she discovers more about the town and its people, she puts herself in a dangerous position. Will she be able to bring the murderer to justice or will she end up as yet another murdered bartender in the history of Tranquility.

Avalon Nash is an intriguing character. The author has developed the protagonist's character shrouded in a cloud of mystery. We do not find out much about her life - and the bits that we do discover only adds to the intrigue that Avalon Nash is. She certainly has a checkered past but how bad is it is something that we can only guess at the moment. She is good at her job and quick on her feet. She is one of those people who can make people feel at ease. The qualities that make Avalon good at her job, are also the qualities that help her survive and take on a murderer. The story also offers a wide range of characters from the general townsfolk, people from Hollywood and out of town visitors. Each character have their own personality and role to play in the story. There are a couple of characters that I think will be recurring characters in the series from the way they are set up and developed in this book.

I did like the plot and the pace of the story. The murder happens right at the beginning and the pace never falters. There is always something new unfolding or some important information provided to keep the readers engaged. There were only a couple of twists in the story but cleverly placed.

Avalon is the main hook in this book and for the series - because I am sure I want to read the next book in the series just for her.

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