Happy Friday, all!

I was lucky enough to get my hands on two recent mysteries this week, one that’s already out and in ARC form.

How to Solve Your Own Murder is an adorably daffy British village mystery with deliberate nods to Midsomer Murders in which the heroine is summoned from London by her reclusive great-aunt– only to find that to inherit her estate, she must first solve her great-aunt’s murder.

Moving from the village to the city, I Need You To Read This has more of a New York noir vibe going, as our reclusive heroine finds herself stumbling into her dream job as advice columnist at a storied paper, only to discover that the dream might actually be more of a nightmare; the previous columnist might have been murdered by someone still at the paper; and what’s up with that cute finance guy who just happens to show up all the time?

As I’ve been feeling my way on my very behind deadline next book (a contemporary paranormal set at Green-Wood cemetery, theoretically coming to you in autumn 2025), I’ve resorted to old favorite Barbara Michaels novels: Here I Stay, in which a woman opens an inn in the house she inherits from her distant cousin but discovers she’s inherited more than the house, and Ammie Come Home, in which a woman who inherits her distant cousin’s house (sense a theme??) in Georgetown also finds she’s inherited more than just furniture.  (Ghosts.  They both find ghosts.)  I’m not sure what the special sauce is that makes me love these books so much, but even allowing for the ways in which bits now feel dated, or one very large plot issue in Here I Stay that’s always bothered me, I still find myself completely immersed the minute I open those cracked old covers.

What have you been reading this week?

Also, if you haven’t seen this year’s amazing Pinkoramae yet, check them out!  I’ll be posting the Pinkorama Round-Up next week.