The Running Bibliophile

A Poisonous Pour (Cece Barton Mystery, #3)  by Maddie Day  opens with the city of Colinas, California celebrating Memorial Day weekend with various activities including a car show and picnic. While co-sponsoring a booth at the car show with local mechanic Josie Jarvin, Cece witnesses one of the attendees, Regan Greene, getting into multiple arguments with others. Aside from that, everything goes well. That is until the next morning when the town finds out that Regan is dead, and it looks like she was murdered. With multiple people having motives, Cece utilizes her amateur sleuthing skills to find out who actually committed the dirty deed. I was approved for and received a digital copy of an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of A Poisonous Pour by Maddie Day from NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. A huge thank you goes out to both for providing me a copy for free in exchange for my honest opinion. Maddie Day's Cece Barton series has become one of my favorite cozy mystery series, an...

Dear Pen Pal (The Mother-Daughter Book Club, #3)  by Heather Vogel Frederick  is the third book in a middle grade book series that is being rereleased. Chaos erupts in this third installment as the daughters in the book club get themselves into trouble. Each of the girls have big changes in their lives:  Jess is going to boarding school; Megan's grandmother comes to live with her; Emma starts a campaign against school uniforms; Cassidy has a lot of unexpected change coming to her family. Will the mother daughter book club stay together? I'd like to thank NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Dear Pen Pal  by Heather Vogel Frederick with it's upcoming rerelease to the public. I always love a good book that involves books, even if its target audience is children between the ages of eight and twelve. It wasn't until I reached the end of the book that I realized that it...

When I Kill You  by B.A. Paris  opens with Nell Masters feeling as though she's being watched, possible by someone connected to her past. She tries to convince herself it's al in her head, brushing it off as paranoia. But, is her past truly coming back to haunt her? B.A. Paris is one of my favorite authors from across the pond, so when I saw she had a new novel coming out, I knew I had to request an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) from NetGalley. When I received the approval, I was overjoyed. A big thank you goes out to both NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a free digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. Going into  When I Kill You , I knew absolutely nothing about the synopsis before requesting it and diving in. At first, I did struggle a bit to get into the story. Part of that was because the writing didn't feel as strong as I've come to expect from the author; it came across as a bit juvenile. That said, the further I read, the more the wri...

The Little Bee  by Nicola Killen  is a children's picture book about a girl name Ollie who follows a bee to a magical, secret garden. But, the next day, the beautiful garden was gone, and the little girl misses her new friends. What will she do? This beautiful book has an expected publication date of May 5, 2026. I'd like to thank NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, and Beach Lane Books for approving my request for a digital Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of The Little Bee . I received a copy for free in exchange for my honest review. Nicola Killen wrote such a beautifully worded story that I found myself immersed in the story, and I'm not even the target audience. It's a charming tale that should encourage children to explore nature and make them want to plant their own secret garden.  Equally beautiful were the illustrations. I found myself taking the time to actually look a the pictures as I read. It's a great story to read   at bedtime  with ch...

Mad Mabel  by Sally Hepworth  is a domestic thriller about the youngest person convicted of murder in Australia, Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick. Now 81 years old, Elsie is living on Kenny Lane and has been for the past sixty years. When a mother named Roxanne moves into Mabel's neighborhood with her seven year old daughter, an unlikely friendship forms between Elsie and the seven year old child named Persephone. As Elsie's secrets come to light, her world comes crashing down.  Having read quite a few novels by Sally Hepworth, I requested an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Mad Mabel  without reading the synopsis of the story. I was thrilled when NetGalley and St. Martin's Press approved my request. The expected publication date of the book is April 21, 2026. Not knowing anything about the storyline before I started reading Mad Mabel  made the story much more interesting to me as I had no preconceived ideas. The tale was told from Mabel's perspective in alternating timeli...

All the Ice Cream in the Land  by Emmy Kastner  is about a princess, the kingdom she lives in, and her loyal subjects. Full of twists and turns, children will surely delight in this story about ice cream. When I saw the title and cover art of this kid's book, it made me instantly think of my childhood and how I would've loved a book like this one. A huge shout out and thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for approving my request to read this book. I received a copy for free in exchange for my honest review. The storyline is very easy to follow, making it especially suitable for toddlers, preschoolers, and early readers, particularly children between the ages of two and six. Its straightforward narrative and clear structure make it an excellent choice for read-aloud sessions at home, bedtime stories, or classroom story time. While there is limited character development, which is typical for a picture book format, the princess is still an intere...

A Whiff of Murder  by Angela M. Sanders  is a spinoff of her Witch Way Librarian  series and opens with the reader meeting Lise Bloom, who works at the Lucky Lotus and can smell emotions. Hoping to learn more about her special gift, clairalience, she's suddenly thrust into the spotlight when she discovers the dead body of her boss, Dyann, in the back room of the store and becomes one of the prime suspects. With the help of her roommates, Lise sets out to prove her innocence and find out who could have a motive to kill her boss. I knew right off the bat that I had to read Sanders' latest novel without even reading the synopsis because I absolutely love her Witch Way Librarian  series. Additionally, I wanted another story by her to tide me over until the next installment of that series. A huge thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for approving my request for an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of  A Whiff of Murder  by Angela M. Sanders. I was ecstatic...

X Marks The Haunt  by Lindsay Currie is a chilling middle grade horror novel that begins with Will Stone conducting genealogy research at Graceland Cemetery, where his mother works. When an old crypt key goes missing, it unleashes a sinister force within the cemetery, draining the lake and slowly sucking the life from the surrounding trees. As the eerie presence grows stronger, Will and his friends must rely on his unique knowledge and investigative skills to uncover the truth and put a stop to the dangerous energy wreaking havoc before it consumes everything in its path. I'd like to thank NetGalley, Random House Children's Books, and Delacorte Press for approving my request for an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of X Marks The Haunt  by Lindsay Currie. All I knew about the novel before I read it was that it was a children's horror book, and I loved the cover! I received a digital copy for free in exchange for my honest review. First and foremost, the story was exceptionally a...

Nightmare On Nightmare Street by R.L. Stine opens with Joe Ferber, his sister Sadie, and their parents moving into a haunted house on Nightmare Street. Their house has a creepy doll, a cemetery in the basement, and voices in the walls. Joe has trouble falling asleep that first night. As he tries to fall asleep, strange things keep happening, and when he finally dies catch some shut eye, he has nightmares. We also meet Shawn and his little sister named Addie, and it appears that they live in the same house. Shawn is having terrible nightmares, and strange things are happening to him. Can Joe and Shawn figure out what is real and what isn't before it's too late? I'd like to extend a huge thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for approving my request for an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of this middle grade novel. As a tween and teen, I was a huge fan of R.L. Stine's Fear Street series, so I was absolutely thrilled to receive a copy for free in exchange for my hon...

The Storm  by Rachel Hawkins  opens with Geneva Corliss, the current owner of the Rosalie Inn, learning that an author by the name of August Fletcher will be coming to St. Medard's Bay, Alabama to research the death of Landon Fitzroy, the son of a prominent politician. She's less interested in learning whether or not the infamous Lo Bailey murdered Landon but how the book could possibly get her inn more notoriety and people deciding to make reservations at her establishment. As a hurricane barrels towards the Rosalie Inn, Geneva learns that people can be deadlier than a monster storm. Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of The Storm  by Rachel Hawkins. I received a digital copy for free in exchange for my honest review. This book falls into the mystery and thriller genre, and it definitely is a slow burn in the best possible way. It's so engrossing that the reader feels like they're right there with the c...

The Last Death of the Year (New Hercule Poirot Mysteries, #6)  by Sophie Hannah and Agatha Christie  opens with Hercule Poirot and Inspector Edward Catchpool arriving on the island of Lamperos in Greece on New Year's Eve in 1932. Poirot has been requested by the leader of a religious community to investigate the threat against one of its members, but just a short while later, another resident is found dead after a New Year's game threatened this member's life. I'd like to thank NetGalley and William Morrow for approving my request for an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of this mystery. I've been a long time fan of Agatha Christie and her Hercule Poirot series, so learning I'd receive a copy of Sophie Hannah's new book based on this series made me absolutely giddy. A digital copy was provided to me in exchange for my honest review. Sophie Hannah has done a fabulous job of recreating Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot series and keeping a similar style of writin...

At Death's Dough: A Deep Dish Mystery (Deep Dish Mysteries, #5)  by Mindy Quigley  opens with a prologue set during the era when Al Capone and other mobsters ruled. The story then shifts to the present day in the lakefront resort town of Geneva Bay, Wisconsin, where pizza chef Delilah O’Leary is busy preparing her restaurant and eagerly anticipating her first Valentine’s Day with her boyfriend, Calvin Capone, who also happens to be the great-grandson of the infamous Al Capone. When a shocking discovery disrupts the festivities, Delilah must set aside both her personal life and business concerns to uncover the truth . I'd like to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for approving my request for an advanced readers copy of At Deaths Dough: A Deep Dish Mystery  by Mindy Quigley and providing me a digital copy for free in exchange for my honest review. I was thrilled to receive the book and quite sorry that it took me so long to read the book and provide my...

Death of a Tom Turkey (Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery, #18)  by Lee Hollis  opens with Tom Farley and his neighbors in a snit because he's the last holdout to sell his house to a property developer who wants to build a resort. When Tom is shot at a pre-Thanksgiving community gathering and hospitalized, Hayley Powell puts her amateur sleuthing skills to good use. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishers for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of this cozy mystery. I received a copy of this book for free in exchange of my honest opinion and review of the story. I loved the fact that this latest installment of the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery  series had a theme around the Thanksgiving holiday and included live turkeys in the plot. It was good to visit some familiar characters. Since this is the eighteenth installment in the series, Lee Hollis didn't go into much detail of the background of those reoccurring characters; however, she...

A huge thank you goes out to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of The Hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens . I was provided a copy free of charge in exchange for my honest review, and I was ecstatic about it because Chevy Stevens is absolutely one of my favorite authors and is a must read in my humble opinion. The story opens with Alice and Tom, who are husband and wife, taking their newly bought RV from Seattle, Washington and take a road trip through Canada where they will end up at the 1976 Olympics in Toronto. As they pull into their first stop of the trip, a campground, Alice and Tom see a young couple named Simon and Jenny walking in their direction and offer them a ride to the next town. However, the young couple aren't as they seem and take their hosts as their prisoners. Chevy Stevens, a Canadian author, does not disappoint with her latest novel aptly named The Hitchhikers . From page one of this story, I was immediately suck...

Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and Kensington Cozies for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Murder at Cape Costumers (Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery, #7)  by Maddie Day  for free in exchange for my honest review. As a fan of the author Maddie Day, I was thoroughly excited to read this cozy mystery, but unfortunately, I didn't connect to this series. This latest installment of Maddie Day's Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery  opens with the town of Westham, Massachusetts being happy that a new costume shop and alterations store has opened in their town just before Halloween.  However, when one of the owners of the shop finds her elderly boyfriend murdered in the shop, the entire town becomes suspicious of her, the co-owner, and everyone else. To top things off, Mac's sister in law has gone missing, and she along with her husband are having to care for two young children. Mac knows she has to help solve both of these mysteries with the help ...

Witch and Tell (Witch Way Librarian Mysteries, #7)  by Angela M. Sanders   opens with librarian Josie Way's magic being on the fritz. Josie is also in a bit of a funk since her boyfriend, Sam, ghosted her after she told him she's a witch. To top things off, Josie wakes up in the middle of the night to find a body in the atrium of the library, only to have it disappear again after calling the cops. Why is there such bad energy surrounding the town of Wilfred, and why do bad things keep happening? First and foremost, a big thank you goes out to NetGalley for approving my request for an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of this novel. I was thrilled to receive a digital copy for free in exchange for my honest review. Receiving an ARC always brightens my day!  To be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect in this latest edition of the Witch Way Librarian Mysteries  series, but I wasn't let down in the least. Angela M. Sanders did a great job with providing plenty of twists and t...

Halloween Night Murder  by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Liz Ireland  is a collection of three novellas centered around Halloween. I received an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of this book from NetGalley for free in exchange of my honest review, and I have to say that I wasn't disappointed in the least as I gave it a resounding five out of five stars. The first novella is Halloween Night Murder  by Leslie Meier and Lucy Stone receives a late night trick - or - treater at her home in Tinker's Cove, Maine. The next morning, she learns that the teenager died shortly after coming to her house in a hit - and - run. Desperate to learn what happened, Lucy discovers some long held secrets in her small town. I wasn't expecting the outcome of who all was involved in the wrong doings in this story, but one of the characters that was unlikable ended up redeeming themselves some what by the end. I wasn't ready for the story to end and wanted more! I always feel like I'm visiting wi...

The Devil's Advocate (Eddie Flynn, #6)  by Steve Cavanagh opens with a prisoner in Alabama is on death row and who just had his last supper. His lawyer is trying to get a stay of execution when the DA speaks with the governor and talks him into going through with the execution. Fast forward a few months, another prisoner is waiting on his trial to determine whether or not he will be put on death row when his lawyer goes missing. The federal government pings Eddie Flynn to represent the prisoner and ensure the DA isn't dirty. This book is being re-released for whatever reason, and I received an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) from NetGalley for free in exchange for my honest review. I'm extremely thankful to NetGalley for this opportunity. I've only read one other novel by Steve Cavanagh, and it was great, so I was excited to read The Devil's Advocate , especially because the synopsis sounded so awesome! I wasn't disappointed in the least. This book absolutely clinch...

The Last Carolina Summer by Karen White is the story about Phoebe Manigault returning home to Mt. Pleasant, a suburb of Charleston, South Carolina, to help her sister with their ailing mother. When past memories resurface, Phoebe is thrown back into some childhood turmoil. I requested an Advanced Readers Copy ARC of The Last Carolina Summer from NetGalley, and I was ecstatic when the provided me with a copy for free in exchange for my honest review. So, a big thank you goes out to them! When I began reading this story, I just happened to be vacationing in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. I loved hearing about the different places, including streets and a bridge called the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, which I had to cross to get into Mt. Pleasant as well as Isle of Palms. It's always nice to be able to visualize the places and author writes about. With that being said, I'm not a fan of traveling over bridges, and one of the scenes of The Last Carolina Summer mentions a car going off ...

Lie In The Tide by Holly Danvers opens with four high school friends meeting up in Cape Cod, Massachusetts for a reunion of sorts. When one of them doesn't show up, and no one can get a hold of her, the other friends are desperate to find out what happened. NetGalley, thank you for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of this novel. I requested a copy of this book based on their synopsis and the author. When my request was approved, I was thrilled. The story started off well and kept me wanting to know more. Early on, I thought I had everything figured out, but much to my surprise, there was a plot twist I didn't count on.  I won't say more as to not spoil it for others. It's an easy read and perfect to take on vacation. Although I enjoyed Lie In The Tide by Holly Danvers a lot, I wish there was more action in the first half of the book. The second half was action packed, and I found myself rushing to finish the story to see if my gut instinct was correct. As for the charact...