Special Feature: The Mitford Trial (Mitford Murders #4) by Jessica Fellowes

If you are thinking the name Jessica Fellowes sounds familiar, then you are correct especially if you are a fan of Downton Abbey. Jessica Fellowes is the niece to Julian Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey! While a writer in her own right, I can infer that Jessica Fellowes no doubt has a flair for writing elegant, witty, and endearing novels featuring the upper curst of society.

Her Mitford Murders mystery series, while new, has captured a dedicated fan base. Full of opulence, glamour, the Golden Age, and of course murder, these books follow each of the Mitford sisters and here we are on book 4. While this is part of a new series, I think that new readers could start with any of the books, but they would probably get a little more out of the series if they began with the first book. But again, it’s not a requirement.

While I haven’t read the books yet, I plan on picking this one up soon and diving into a series that sounds incredibly promising. One of the things that caught my eye about this book (besides the cover) is that each book follows a Mitford sister and since I don’t know much about the sisters, I felt excited at the possibility of learning more about them while enjoying a spot of murder!

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Special Feature: If I Disappear by Eliza Jane Brazier

Who here loves true crime podcasts? I for one do! My love of true crime started early. My grandma loved the TV show Unsolved Mysteries so I grew up on a steady diet of Unsolved Mysteries and 20/20. I was sure I was going to get abducted and murdered at every turn only to make national news…..all from the tender age of nine. I had a very active imagination.

Needless to say my love of true crime hasn’t diminished in the least! I still watch way way way too much ID Discovery and listen to too many true crime podcasts! And don’t get me started on the books and fictional true crime style novels that are on my TBR! One of my favorite shows on ID Discovery is Disappeared. I am absolutely fascinated by that show, to me disappearances are more chilling than an actual murder or dead body. It’s the unknown.

When I saw this book was coming out I actually squealed! A disappearance, true crime, AND a podcast host? Yes yes and yes! Today I am sharing a little about this book because it sounds absolutely delectable. I love the cover and the sound of it, so much that I am taking it to my book club (a murder mystery book club) to see if they want to read this one for our February pick! But until then, if you love true crime podcasts and thrillers, you might want to take a look at this one!

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Special Feature: A Deadly Fortune by Stacie Murphy

A Deadly Fortune by Stacie Murphy

Publication Date: January 5, 2021 Pegasus Crime
Genre: Historical Mystery



A historical mystery in the vein of The Alienist, in which a young woman in Gilded Age New York must use a special talent to unravel a deadly conspiracy.

Amelia Matthew has done the all-but-impossible, especially for an orphan in Gilded Age New York City. Along with her foster brother Jonas, she has parleyed her modest psychic talent into a safe and comfortable life. But safety and comfort vanish when a head injury leaves Amelia with a dramatically-expanded gift. After she publicly channels an angry spirit, she finds herself imprisoned in the notorious insane asylum on Blackwell’s Island. As Jonas searches for a way to free her, Amelia struggles to control her disturbing new abilities and survive a place where cruelty and despair threaten her sanity

Andrew Cavanaugh is familiar with despair. In the wake of a devastating loss, he abandons a promising medical career—and his place in Philadelphia society—to devote himself to the study and treatment of mental disease. Miss Amelia Matthew is just another patient—until she channels a spirit in front of him and proves her gift is real.

When a distraught mother comes to Andrew searching for her missing daughter—a daughter she believes is being hidden at the asylum—he turns to Amelia. Together, they uncover evidence of a deadly conspiracy, and then it’s no longer just Amelia’s sanity and freedom at stake. Amelia must master her gift and use it to catch a killer—or risk becoming the next victim.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

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Special Feature: Oranges and Lemons (Bryant & May: Peculiar Crimes Unit #17) by Christopher Fowler

I randomly stumbled onto this series a few years ago while I was browsing for books at a local used book store. I read the first couple of books and thought they were really fun and unique. A little Sherlock Holmes meets the modern era with detectives Bryan and May. But like so many long standing mystery series, the task of keeping up can feel overwhelming.

When I started the series it was already about 10 books in, and while I enjoyed the books, other books also caught my eye. Now flash forward a couple of years and the series is now publishing the 17th book! I am so pleased to see this series has stood the test of time and captured readers attentions as it did mine.

I have read a few of the other books published later but I do still want to go back and catch up in the series. This is a series that you can jump around in for the most part so if you are curious about the books then I would say just dive right in! I plan on reading this one later this year but for now, enjoy my special feature of the latest Bryant and May novel, Oranges and Lemons, out now!

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Review: A Deadly Fortune by Stacie Murphy

This was a book I was really looking forward to. I loved The Alienist and this book was recommended for fans of that book so I was eager to check this one out. The Alienist was probably one of the more dark and twisted historical mysteries that I have ever read so putting that as a ‘recommended for fans of The Alienist’ was a pretty tall order.

This is also Stacie Murphy’s debut novel, so I wasn’t sure what to expect beyond something with occultist undertones that was a darker mystery. I was still coming off the Christmas/holiday reads hangover so something with a little more meat to the story was definitely in order.

The cover of this book is elegant and the premise sounded so promising. I was looking forward to seeing how this one unfolded and I was pleasantly surprised that it was a well written and engaging debut novel! If you love historical mysteries with a little more grit and some supernatural elements then this is an excellent option and one that you will want on your radar!

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