BOOK REVIEW: Euphoria by Lily King

Euphoria by Lily King is an immersive, heartbreaking historical novel. Set in the 1930s, it follows three anthropologists in New Guinea: Nell Stone and her husband Schuyler Fenwick (Fen), and loner Andrew Bankson. They have very different research styles, giving a fascinating look into the field of anthropology, with all its flaws on display. Yet despite the limitations of their work, they are passionate about it. Nell is particularly passionate and particularly methodical. Fen is more ruthlessly ambitious and possessive. Bankson is in the midst of a crisis of faith in the profession when he meets up with the husband-wife team. Although working with two different native communities, they manage to spend a good deal of time together. Bankson and Nell inspire one another, while Fen is driven by jealousy and competitiveness. 

Nell and Bankson are so in tune with one another that it is no surprise that they fall in love. The story is told largely by Bankson, years later, looking back. He’s aided in the tale by entries in a journal that belonged to Nell, that was given to him much later by Nell’s closest friend. This is an interesting device that shows us their yearning for one another and how hard they tried to resist the mutual attraction.

The relationship has a slow build, and seems doomed from the start. There is a sense of isolation and danger throughout, but the source of the danger is murky. Will it come from the natives or from the volatile love triangle?

The story is beautifully written. Shot through with regret, there is a poignancy to the narrative that makes the characters sympathetic (except for Fen) despite their questionable actions. Highly recommended. 

BOOK REVIEW: Murder in Moonlight by Mary Lancaster

I received this book for free from Netgalley. That did not influence this review.

I love Mary Lancaster’s writing. I’ve read several of her historical romances and historical romance with elements of mystery. Her latest novel (book 1 of a new series) takes a different tack. It’s a mystery first and foremost (with elements of romance.) The detecting couple have met before but very briefly. Now, they launch a series of their own. I imagine we’ll find them growing closer and closer as the series progresses. I love this type of series!

Murder in Moonlight is book 1 of the Silver and Grey series. Constance Silver and Solomon Grey (hence the series name) meet again at Greenforth Manor out in Norfolk, home of the Winsom family. Constance, the owner of a high-priced brothel back in London, is masquerading as a respectable widow, Constance Goldrich. Both Constance and Solomon have been invited for social reasons, by different members of the family. Both are there for information-seeking reasons of their own. Solomon could give Constance away, but sees no reason to, so he keeps quiet. Constance knows that could change at any moment, but she has learned to keep a charming, give-nothing-away demeanor, which intrigues Solomon even more.

The two watch each other warily, knowing they are both there under false pretenses. But the game quickly becomes very real when one member of the family is found dead, stabbed in the back with a kitchen knife. 

In this “stuck-together” mystery, the protagonists, family, and other house guests must remain at the manor until the police investigation is completed, which is longer than anyone wants, considering the murderer is very probably one of them. Constance and Solomon work together to solve the mystery, understanding that they are considered suspects, and knowing that they don’t quite trust each other. The more information they uncover, the more it seems everyone there has a motive. And opportunity. 

Fast-paced, well-plotted, and with a wonderful budding friendship likely to turn into more, Murder in Moonlight is my favorite kind of mystery. I eagerly await book 2.

BOOK REVIEW: The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society by C.M. Waggoner

The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society by C.M. Waggoner is a delightfully wacky murder mystery. It begins as a garden-variety cozy mystery. Sherry Pinkwhistle is a middle-aged librarian in a small town in upstate New York. She lives alone, has a close friend, a new friend, and an across-the-street neighbor that she looks in on. She has an almost boyfriend, a sweet middle-aged man who owns an antique shop. And, she solves murder mysteries.

There has been an uncannily high number of murders in their small town. Sherry has helped the local sheriff to solve them. She has a knack for it and, although he grumbles about her involvement, he accepts her help (and takes the credit).

A local art gallery owner is murdered—the cheating husband of Sherry’s new friend. Sherry gathers the clues (which are very conveniently strewn in her

path) and solves the mystery pretty quickly. She’s pleased with herself. As a reader, I’m wondering where this is all going. It’s a little too cozy. And Sherry is dizzy and funny, but...

And then her almost-boyfriend is killed. And everything flies off the rails.

There is a demon in her town, orchestrating the murders. And Sherry has to solve them to entertain the demon. A cast of characters help and hinder her: the sheriff who is intermittently possessed, the handsome, very young, very earnest new priest and his evil twin, as well as the dead boyfriend’s family. If this all isn’t enough, Sherry is hiding a crime in her own past.

The whole story is implausible (obviously), yet Sherry pulls it together to solve her boyfriend’s murder in conventional detective fashion. The trouble is, what will the demon do when Sherry wants the fun and games to stop?

BOOK REVIEW: A Holiday by Gaslight: A Victorian Christmas Novella by Mimi Matthews

I don’t generally read novellas, or seasonally-themed stories, but I love Mimi Matthews’ books so I read A Holiday by Gaslight: A Victorian Christmas novella.

Sophie Appersett is the older daughter of an impoverished baron, impoverished because of his passion for the renovation and innovation of his country home (among other extravagances.) In order to install gaslights in the house, he spent Sophie’s dowry. And he’s entirely unrepentant.

Sophie’s younger sister is just as impulsive and selfish as their father. She wears all the latest fashions, while Sophie and their mother content themselves with patched-up, made-over clothes. Sophie is resigned to this, but less resigned to the fact that she is supposed to marry for money to pay off the family’s debts. She is being courted by a wealthy, educated, manufactory owner, Edward Sharpe, but he is so cold and dull she breaks off the courtship.

Edward Sharpe is not as cold as he appears. Rather, he is truly smitten by Sophie, so much so that he has been following to the letter the advice in a book on gentlemanly behavior. When she breaks with him, he is hurt and peeved.

But Sophie has second thoughts. Not only because her father and sister are furious with her, but also because she thinks she didn’t give Edward a fair chance. She realizes they don’t know each other at all. 

The Appersetts are returning to their country home for a big Christmas celebration. Edward had been invited, and Sophie urges him to come despite their breakup. If he will talk to her, let her get to know him and him to know her, they might have a chance after all.

If you’re looking for a short and sweet holiday romance, this is a charming love story with likeable protagonists and a thoroughly happy ending.

BOOK REVIEW: Daniel Coit Gilman and the Birth of the American Research University by Michael T. Benson

Something completely different!

I have an interest in the early history of Johns Hopkins University and Hospital (which will be on display in my forthcoming historical novel, Till Taught by Pain, to be published by Regal House in November, 2025). I’m also interested in early U.S. university presidents (such as Robert M. Hutchins, a character in my work-in-progress). So I knew I had to read this biography of the first president of Johns Hopkins, who helped build the university, medical school, and hospital from scratch. The author gave a talk at our local library, which made me even more determined. However, it took two long car rides back and forth to my sister’s house for Thanksgiving before I finally moved it to the top of my TBR pile and read it.

Daniel Coit Gilman and the Birth of the American Research University by Michael T. Benson is an interesting account of Gilman’s life. It centers on his work, without touching upon his private life except to mention that he was married, widowered, remarried, and had two daughters. 

Born in 1831, Gilman devoted his life to the study of education, utilizing (as a young man) a position as an attaché to the ambassador to Russia to tour Europe and Russia and investigate universities there. His interest always seemed to lie more with administration than with teaching. He returned to various positions at Yale before being hired as the president of the University of California as it was getting started. (There is an analysis of the Morrill Act, the government program of land grants for education purposes; both Yale and the University of California made use of such grants.) Although Gilman accomplished a good deal in California, it wasn’t a great fit. (Disgruntled faculty members caused some problems.)

Back in the east, in Baltimore, the Trustees of the board administering the bequests of railroad tycoon Johns Hopkins were tasked with founding a new university. They took their responsibility seriously. Interviewing other educators and university presidents provided the unanimous recommendation of Gilman to head up this new endeavor. Gilman was promised almost complete control over building a true research-oriented university from the ground up. It was an opportunity he couldn’t resist.

This new biography delves into the nitty-gritty of Gilman’s process, the vision he had and the men he hired to bring his vision to life. It goes beyond the founding of Johns Hopkins. Gilman had his finger in many pies, all related to education.

It’s not an adventure-filled story, or even one rife with conflict, but it does bring notice back to the life of this remarkable man. It also shows the reader something of the state of higher education in the mid-to-late eighteen hundreds and the central role of Johns Hopkins University as a premier example of what academic research could become in the U.S.