These are in no particular order.
(1) The Coffin Maker by Breeann Allison
DISCLOSURE: I received an ARC from Curiosity Quills in exchange for an honest review.
With three books awaiting my attention before the end of June, I told myself I didn't need another book to review. But curiosity got the better of me, and I scrolled through the email with available ARCs from Curiosity Quills. If the title isn't enough to grab your attention, just the first descriptive paragraph will surely reel you in. Earlier caution out the window, I requested an ARC just a few minutes after receiving the email.
With three books awaiting my attention before the end of June, I told myself I didn't need another book to review. But curiosity got the better of me, and I scrolled through the email with available ARCs from Curiosity Quills. If the title isn't enough to grab your attention, just the first descriptive paragraph will surely reel you in. Earlier caution out the window, I requested an ARC just a few minutes after receiving the email.
I was NOT disappointed. This book is a can't-put-down, original concept, hilarious, haunting tale. 4.5 stars!
Jesse is a coffin maker who lives in Gregor's Hollow, a small town that lives off of tourism with their Poe Pageants, Hitchcock festival, and "ghostly" visitations. Halloween is their biggest season, and the date is fast approaching. Jesse has taken over the coffin making business from his dad who mysteriously disappeared 9 years ago. When Death shows up at Jesse's door to place an order for 8 coffins, things take a sinister turn. With a promise to tell Jesse what happened to his father, Death makes a deal for 8 coffins for the souls he's in town to collect by Halloween. Knowing that these coffins are for people he's grown up with, Jesse does everything in his power to stop Death from taking his friends.
REVIEW
Jesse is hilarious with his self-deprecating humor and sarcastic wit. We meet the people of Gregor's Hollow through his eyes, and the clever descriptions make is easy to get to know this community. Most compelling, though, is the interplay between Death and Jesse.
The only things I had issue with were a few clearly child-of-the-1980s references. First off, Rainbow Brite isn't a cartoon kids watch anymore. So having one of the kids obsessed with the show isn't realistic. I thought maybe this was set in the 1980s, but then Jesse references BB-8, so that wasn't correct. Jesse also mentions picturing "Melanie Griffith perched nude on something posh and marble." Melanie Griffith is 60 years old--not a 20 year old's fantasy. Additionally, I doubt 20-something Jesse knows the word "milquetoast." I like a rich vocabulary, but this word was completely out of the ballpark!
Beyond these minor gripes, I really enjoyed this book. With a twisty-turny plot mixed with great character development all dropped into a rich setting, I couldn't put this down. The plot is deeply layered, so readers may think they're getting an answer to one mystery only to find two more questions lurking in the shadows. I was fascinated and chilled at the same time as the plot drew to a close. Allison has a wonderful lyrical prose she uses to transition time and place. I found the observations and musings of her characters to be so well done. Such delightful prose was the caramel on the apple! I have already started recommending this book to my friends and am excited to see what's on the horizon for Jesse and Gregor's Hollow.
Review also posted via Goodreads HERE.
(2) Searcher of the Dead (A Bess Ellyott Mystery #1) by Nancy Herriman
DESCRIPTION
It’s 1593, and since fleeing Elizabethan London after her husband’s murder, Bess Ellyott has been living in her brother’s house in Wiltshire. One evening, their sister arrives at the door fearing that her husband, who left that morning for business in another town, is in grave danger. The next day, his body is found hanging from a tree. While the coroner and jury pronounce the death a suicide, Bess spots a suspicious mark on her brother-in-law’s body. As Bess begins investigating, she’s quickly reminded of her own husband’s tragic demise. Has a murderer followed her from London? Or is the shadow that edges around the periphery of her investigation a different threat to her family and friends?
REVIEW
Early on, Herriman’s level of historical detail pulled me in and never let go. Gramercy, how the dialogue sets the tone with finesse! I loved how immersed in time and place I felt. From patterns of speech, to details in homes of the poor versus the wealthy, to 16th-century law, the research Herriman has done is marvelous. The pacing is great, and I found myself glued to the pages. To my delight, on top of an intriguing mystery, the historical depth and the well-developed characters make this an extremely satisfying read. Certes, fans of Ariana Franklin will devour this book! I eagerly await more Bess Ellyott mysteries. Highly recommended!
Review originally posted via the Historical Novel Society at: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/searcher-of-the-dead/
(3) Isaiah's Daughter by Mesu Andrews
DESCRIPTION
In 732 BCE, five-year-old Ishma witnessed her family being murdered by Israel’s soldiers. After the prophet Oded’s words free her and other captives from slavery, she finds her way into the home of Isaiah, God’s prophet, who has fallen out of favor with King Ahaz. In a pagan ceremony, King Ahaz sacrifices his oldest son to the god Molek. The memory of that day leaves Prince Hezekiah tormented, and he suffers daily. When Ishma and Hezekiah meet, the two form a bond of healing and hope. Over the years, this friendship blossoms into love. So that Ishma can be considered for a royal betrothal, Isaiah adopts her and gives her the name Hephzibah, meaning “delight of the Lord.” But Hephzibah and Hezekiah face many challenges to their faith. Can they rely on God during great hardships affecting both their family and their country?
REVIEW
 Andrews, known for providing voice to women typically in the margins of biblical stories, paints a beautiful tale with heartfelt characters. While this is jarring at first, readers can easily adapt to the narrative switches from first person (Ishma/Hephzibah’s voice) to third person from chapter to chapter.Ishma’s point of view hooked me from the get-go, despite her being only five years old. Andrews skillfully develops Ishma from orphaned child to the young queen renamed Hephzibah. I also loved how Andrews dives into how difficult prophecy can be, both to interpret and to give. Isaiah’s inner turmoil, Hezekiah’s difficulties trusting God, and Ishma’s reluctance to accept that she is loved are all sensitively explored issues. Historical details are woven into the narrative flawlessly. I particularly loved Andrews’s choice for metaphors (one example refers to standing a camel’s length away). These details really authenticate the story. This is a very well-researched and deeply felt novel. Recommended! Review originally posted at the Historical Novel Society: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/isaiahs-daughter/
I hope you found a novel or two to add to your TBR lists! Feel free to throw a book or two at me via Goodreads. Enjoy the summer months and happy reading!
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