While The Poisoned Pen is closed on January 1, you can always check out the Webstore for books to order in the future. https://store.poisonedpen.com/.

Watch this space in 2025 for more reviews from Dana Stabenow and Deb Lewis, as well as events from The Pen. I hope you’ll come back in this new year! Happy New Year!

Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, called Sally Smith’s A Case of Mice and Murder “A brilliant English mystery debut”, one of her favorites of 2024. Author Dana Stabenow loved it. You might want to pre-order a copy through the Webstore. https://tinyurl.com/5cfdjeds.

Here’s Stabenow’s review of A Case of Mice and Murder(The Trials of Gabriel Ward).

For any fan of British police procedurals, even if the crime is set in 1901 and the current London police are less Dalgliesh and more Dalziel, only not as smart.

And it wouldn’t matter anyway because the murder happens in the Temple, that cloistered fifteen acres in the heart of London where British law was studied and practiced, and still is, and where the police are not allowed to enter, and still aren’t. Yes, you read that right.

But back to 1901, where the Lord Chief Justice is murdered, his body left where Sir Gabriel Ward, barrister, stumbles across it on his way into work one morning. To his further horror, Gabriel is placed in charge of the investigation, with a not-so-veiled threat of being dispossessed of his chambers if he refuses.

Which is going to interfere with his defense of publisher Herbert Moore, who four years before printed a children’s book, Millie the Temple Church Mouse, which has become an unexpected hit, relieved all of Moore & Sons’ debts, and provided a comfortable living for him and his family, not to mention has supported the Temple Church by vastly increasing its congregation.

Millie the Mouse, born in a hole in the round nave of the Temple Church to loving mouse parents, had grown up to become, thanks to her early exposure to the beauties of the Temple services, a devout mouse dedicated to performing acts of kindness for the congregation. These acts, necessarily limited in scope by her species and size, nonetheless assumed saintly proportions in the hands of Miss Cadamy.

(One gets the distinct feeling that Smith had even more fun writing the story of Millie than she did the story of Gabriel.)

The difficulty lies in the authorship of the book, which was left on Moore & Sons doorstep in a plain brown wrapper with no identification of its author other than a name, Harriet Cadamy, that Moore could not trace to any living person. Now a claimant to the rodentiary throne has materialized and Moore & Sons are being sued.

And now Gabriel, with the assistance of an inexperienced but promising young constable who nevertheless shows promise, vide his name, Wright, is set to the additional and equally onerous task of ferreting out the Lord Chief Justice’s murderer. Which, never fear, he does, although it certainly pries him out of his comfort zone, and out of the Temple, which he hasn’t left in forty years.

The scenes in court are worthy of Michael Gilbert

Mr. Justice Anderson, a judge of great experience and little patience, entered, and looked characteristically at the clock in order to convey that not a moment of court time was to be wasted.

And not forgetting the scenes in chambers.

She…leaned across the desk, her bosom perilously close to the inkwell. Gabriel backed against his bookshelves.

A thoroughly enjoyable read, and a pretty good mystery, too. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Do you have a little holiday cash you’d like to spend on a book? The Poisoned Pen has a limited edition of Emily Rath’s North is the Night. There are currently nineteen in stock. Once those are gone, that’s it for the edition just released on December 17. You can order it now through the Webstore. https://tinyurl.com/mscsjcu9

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Here’s the description of the limited edition.

***DELUXE LIMITED FIRST PRINT RUN with stenciled edges, a beautiful foil-stamped hardcover, exclusive interior design with full-color illustrated endpapers, and a reversible foil dust jacket!*** Only while supplies last.

Two bold young women defy the gods and mortals, living and dead, in this darkly mythical, Finnish folklore-inspired fantasy duology for readers of T. Kingfisher’s Nettle & Bone, Danielle L. Jensen, Thea Guanzon, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec.

In the Finnish wilderness, more than wolves roam the dark forests. For Siiri and Aina, summer’s fading light is a harbinger of unwelcome change. Land-hungry Swedes venture north, threatening the peace; a zealous Christian priest denounces the old ways; and young women have begun to disappear. 

Siiri vows to protect Aina from danger. But even Siiri cannot stop a death goddess from dragging her friend to Tuonela, the mythical underworld. Determined to save Aina, Siiri braves a dangerous journey north to seek the greatest shaman of legend, the only person to venture to the realm of death and return alive. 

In Tuonela, the cruel Witch Queen turns Aina’s every waking moment into a living nightmare. But armed with compassion and cleverness, Aina learns the truth of her capture: the king of the underworld himself has plans for her. To return home, Aina must bargain her heart—as Siiri plots a daring rescue of the woman she loves the most.

Happy Holidays to all who celebrate!

Janet Evanovich’s Now or Never is the Hot Book of the Week at The Poisoned Pen Bookstore. Did you know you can order the backlist of the Stephanie Plum series through the Webstore? https://tinyurl.com/n5tcuvmx. And, of course, you can order a copy of Now or Never. https://tinyurl.com/mr9vyk29.

In case you missed it, here’s the summary of Now or Never.

INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

The latest Stephanie Plum novel from #1New York Times bestseller and “the most popular mystery writer alive” (The New York Times) Janet Evanovich.

She said yes to Morelli. She said yes to Ranger. Now Stephanie Plum has two fiancés and no idea what to do about it. But the way things are going, she might not live long enough to marry anyone.

While Stephanie stalls for time, she buries herself in her work as a bounty hunter, tracking down an unusually varied assortment of fugitives from justice. There’s Eugene Fleck, a seemingly sweet online influencer who might also be YouTube star Robin Hoodie, masked hero to the homeless, who hijacks delivery trucks and distributes their contents to the needy. She’s also on the trail of Bruno Jug, a wealthy and connected man in the wholesale produce business who is rumored to traffic young girls alongside lettuce and tomatoes. Most terrifying of all is Zoran—a laundromat manager by day and self-proclaimed vampire by night with a taste for the blood of pretty girls. When he shows up on Stephanie’s doorstep, it’s not for the meatloaf dinner.

With timely assists from her stalwart supporters Lula, Connie, and Grandma Mazur, Stephanie uses every trick in the book to reel in these men. But only she can decide what to do about the two men she actually loves. She can’t hold Ranger and Morelli at bay for long, and she’s keeping a secret from them that is the biggest bombshell of all. Now or never, she’s got to make the decision of a lifetime.

Dana Stabenow’s fourth book in her Eye of Isis series, Abduction of a Slave, will be released Jan. 28. You can pre-order it now from the Webstore. https://tinyurl.com/yne6568b. The Pen’s copies come with exclusive bookmarks and stickers.

Stabenow was kind enough to share her recent blog post with us. Check it out.

[*I was going to title this post “Puuuurrrrrrty,” but I caught myself in time.]

Yep, the finished copy is now in my hands, another stellar production by Head of Zeus. (And incidentally, who are those guys? I want names and photos and maybe addresses, too, so I can declare my undying devotion to each and every one of them who had a hand in making my book look this good.)

From the first Isis novel HoZ asked me to chose images of Ancient Egypt for the cover art, and at my request HoZ has used that same image as a line break symbol. For Abduction of a Slave it’s Montu, the Egyptian god of war (one of them, anyway).

Which I naturally think is the coolest thing ever. So of course I jumped right on my Zazzle store to see if they make stickers. They do and I did, of all four images from all four Eye of Isis novels. From left in the image below, the Wedjat Eye from Death of an Eye, Seshat the god of scribes from Disappearance of a Scribe, the scarab from Theft of an Idol, and Montu from Abduction of a Slave.

hese stickers will make their way into copies of the novels (Eye stickers in copies of Death of an Eye, etc) sold by the Poisoned Pen at the launch of Abduction of a Slave on January 25th, a live and virtual event. See you there, one way or another!

The PP books are the only ones that will have the stickers in them.

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Dana Stabenow will appear at The Poisoned Pen, in person and virtually, on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 5 PM to discuss her series. Pre-order a copy of Abduction of a Slave. Stabenow will be signing copies on Saturday.

Did you miss these titles? You can still order copies, although the books won’t arrive until 2025. Order them now through the Webstore. Deb Lewis from The Poisoned Pen Bookstore reviewed all these books that were published in October or November.

Pony Confidential by Christina Lynch (Berkley, Nov)

Is there anything more special than the love between a girl and her pony? Follow the incredible journey as Pony, separated from his grown mistress, Penny, sets out to find her and clear her name when she is wrongfully charged with murder. Do ponies talk? Yep. Do ponies manipulate their owners? You betcha. Do you want a pony on your side? After reading this you will! Funny, fierce, heartwarming and totally original. https://tinyurl.com/yc66k4xw

Tooth and Claw by Craig Johnson (Viking, Nov) 

The perfect stocking stuffer for any Criag Johnson fan, this short novel fills in the chronological  gap for young Walt and Henry after they have returned from fighting in Vietnam and before they become our favorite sheriff and bar owner in Wyoming. The Alaskan cold and a corrupt oil company is no match for these two. https://tinyurl.com/4n5daz7m.

Karla’s Choice A John leCarre Novel (Viking, Oct) 

Harkaway captures his late father’s voice, giving us one more time with fan favorite characters master spy George Smiley and his Soviet counterpart, Karla. An unexpected delight for long-time fans of the series or a shorter treat for newbies wanting to read about spycraft as a skill, soaked in 1960’s atmosphere. https://tinyurl.com/h9spdbb9.

Into The Uncut Grass by Trevor Noah (One World, Oct) 

Beloved comedian and author of BORN A CRIME delights us all with a gorgeously illustrated fable that follows a boy’s journey into the uncut grass to discover the secrets of sharing and compromise. A perfect holiday gift to read to the grands! https://tinyurl.com/25b2wy36.

Framed by John Grisham and Jim McClosky (Doubleday, Oct)

Bestselling author John Grisham has delivered a powerful work of nonfiction, his first in many years. Co-written with the founder of nonprofit Centurion Ministries, it outlines 10 cases that will shock you: 10 Americans who were innocent but found guilty. A powerful look at the courts and systems that are decked against the wrongly found guilty, this call to arms is written in Grisham style, and is a fascinating and disturbing read. https://tinyurl.com/3wmhmpr8

Like Mother, Like Mother by Susan Rieger (Random House, Nov) 

This novel blurs the line between reality and fiction in a way that will have you stopping and Googling at the end of each chapter: did that really happen? Are these characters real or fiction? Follow the lives of three very different generations as these powerful, witty and wonderful women live, love and lie. Was Zelda committed to an asylum or did she run away and leave her kids with her abusive husband? How do you mother when you have no mother of your own? Be prepared to fall in love with the sparkling dialogue and bigger than life characters here. https://tinyurl.com/56pz846y

Kim Bussing s a debut author from Arizona. She’ll introduce her first book, Cinderella and the Beast (or, Beauty and the Glass Slipper) at The Poisoned Pen on Friday, Jan. 17 at 5 PM. It’s designed for children ages 8-12. Her book is the first in a brand-new series that turns our favorite classic fairytales on their head. The series is called The Princess Swap. You can order a copy of Cinderella and the Beast through the Webstore. https://tinyurl.com/2wye26z3.

Here’s the summary of Cinderella and the Beast.

What would happen if Cinderella found herself in the beast’s castle, and Beauty woke up in some evil stepmother’s home? Fairy tales meet Freaky Friday in this series, where there’s a magical mix-up for every princess!

*The magical first edition paperback of Cinderella and the Beast (or, Beauty and the Glass Slipper) will feature dual-toned sprayed edges!*

Ella’s spent her life dreaming about adventure, but it’s hard to have adventures when you’re stuck with a stepfamily who treat you like a servant. When she unexpectedly wakes up in a land far, far away, she’s thrilled at the chance to embark on an epic quest. That is, until she finds herself trapped once more—this time in the castle of a dangerous beast.

Belle, meanwhile, has plans. Her family’s trading company is on the brink of ruin, and to save it, she’s going to enter—and win—a royal competition in the prince’s honor. But when she unexpectedly winds up in a cellar with a wicked stepfamily who have their own plans to keep her from the competition . . . things get complicated.

Happily-ever-after couldn’t feel farther away. Can Ella escape the beast’s clutches? And can Belle get rid of this stepfamily in time for the competition?

For other Princess Swaps, don’t miss Snow White and the Dragon (or, Sleeping Beauty and the Seven Dwarfs)!

Yesterday, we discussed The British Library Crime Classics. Today, author Dana Stabenow reviews another book in that loosely connected series. As I said, you can check out the various titles through the Webstore. https://bit.ly/3ZSUMLJ. If you read Stabenow’s review of The Spoilt Kill: A Staffordshire Mystery by Mary Kelly, you might want a copy. https://bit.ly/3BuXBcx. It’s always interesting to read Martin Edwards’ introduction to The British Library Crime Classics, and he wrote one for this book.

Here’s Stabenow’s review of The Spoilt Kill.

Mary Kelly’s The Spoilt Kill beat out John le Carre’s Call for the Dead for the Gold Dagger Award in 1961, and now I know why. This book is exquisitely written, with a totally character-driven plot in a fully realized workplace setting (a commercial pottery). The detective is undercover on a case of industrial espionage and the pottery’s accountant is found murdered by, well, let’s just say by clay.

But this is one of those books that is about far more than its mystery. I’ll excerpt one sample for you.

“…But you heard what Dart said. “You have to have these things.” Have to. Obligation. England the great mercantile nation, rolling in prosperity, measures poverty against a new list of basic possessions. And it’s no longer a pity to be poor, a misfortune, it’s a disgrace, a stigma, a reflection on your character, a condition you daren’t permit to be seen, like syphilis. Perhaps I exaggerate.”

No, he doesn’t. Who says we need that enormous TV, that flashy car, that McMansion? That is a passage that could have been written today and be just as true now as it was then. The sheer pettiness of the motive for the espionage rings horribly true.

Be aware, this is not a light-hearted read and there is no HEA, but on a level of craft it reads as well as le Carre himself ever did. I especially recommend it to my writing friends.

N.B.: I will say this and no more in criticism [SPOILER]:

Nicholson is meant to have been disappointed in love at the end, but my feeling is he really dodged a bullet there.