The Secret Detective Agency by Helena Dixon - Book Review

Series: The Secret Detective Agency #1

Publication Date: 27th March 2025 

Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery

3 Stars 

One Liner: Decent mystery; the characters need work 

1941

Jane Treen is at work in the war office in London when the news of another missing agent reaches her. Soon, she finds out a dead woman was fished out from a lake in Devon, where she shouldn’t have been. 

Arthur Cilento is the code-breaker working for war offices and is back at his uncle’s house (now his) in Devon. Soon after he discovers a body, Miss Jane arrives in the village with her one-eyed orange cat, Marmaduke. 

Jane and Arthur don’t particularly like each other but they have to work together to find the killer. Agents being killed during war is hardly a small matter! 

The story comes in the third-person POVs of Jane and Arthur. 

My Thoughts: 

Can you see that cutie cat on the cover? Yeah, that’s how this book ended up on my list. Of course, I love historical cozy mysteries, so that was another factor. 

This book is set during WWII and uses the backdrop well since both main characters work for the government. However, the mystery is kept at the cozy level with the setting primarily being a village. 

Arthur is the brainy guy who likes patterns and codes (ya, that’s why I like him more). He also has sensitive health, which is different from the usually robust male leads we see. This is a welcome development and was handled well, though I wish he would set better boundaries. 

While I liked Jane’s introduction, it didn’t take long to be irritated by her. The constant smoking was annoying and so was her attitude. I know that the ‘tough feminist woman’ trope is trending but don’t overdo it. Having a possibly tragic backstory doesn’t mean the FMC has to be so callous and self-centered. Initially, I thought she wasn’t aware of the MMC’s health condition. Turns out she knew. She just didn’t care. Since this is the first book, I’m hoping these elements are a character flaw and the FMC will become a bit human. 

While I try to bear with characters who smoke, I cannot help but roll my eyes at the repeated mention of it. This book has ‘cigarette(s) mentioned 73 times. Yes! That’s 50 times more than what I think is enough for the character development. The way Jane smoked, I’m doubtful she’ll live long enough for the series to continue. Naturally, the MMC condition was mentioned as many times. If she smoked less, both of them would breathe easily!   

The pacing is moderate, neither slow nor fast (however, do note the book ends at 88%, at least the ARC does). The setting is well done. We get just enough descriptions to create the atmosphere and give us an idea of the place. This works to keep the mystery at the forefront. 

Marmaduke is a fluffy cat who I thought would have an active role in the book. What use is a cat if all he does is lick his paws? 

Despite my evident dislike for the FMC, I did see her merit. She has a good brain and is dedicated to her job. She has emotions, which means her arc can be adjusted quickly. The mystery is also good and establishes the foundation for the next books. 

To summarize, The Secret Detective Agency is a decent start to a new series, though it would have been even better if there were fewer cigarettes. I have the second book, so let’s see how it goes. Hoping it’ll be better. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheSecretDetectiveAgency

The Wife at the Last House Before the Sea by Liz Eeles - Book Review

Series: Heaven’s Cove #8 (Standalone) 

Publication Date: 24th March 2025 

Genre: Contemporary Small Town Fiction 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: A bit repetitive but nice 

Heartbroken and sad after her divorce, forty-six-year-old Emma moves to Heaven’s Cove to make her dream of opening a pre-loved dress store come true. Someone leaves a bag full of lovely clothes outside her new shop, and Emma finds the most stunning wedding gown inside it. 

Leo and his father Robert own the shop next door, a bespoke suit store. Their grumpiness doesn’t make Emma a fan nor do they seem to like her. However, Robert is shocked to see the wedding gown but doesn’t want to talk about it. Soon, Emma and Leo try to find the truth. However, learning the truth comes at a price. 

The story comes in the third-person POVs of Emma, Leo, and Robert. 

My Thoughts: 

Though this is the eighth book in the series, it works as a standalone. You will meet some characters from the previous one, mostly Rosie, who owns the Driftwood House, and Maise, the teenage brat. 

The book is women’s fiction rather than romance since the focus is on finding the woman who owns the dress and the growth of the FMC’s arc. Initially, there is quite a bit of repetition about the wedding dress, the past, the secret, etc. 

As well as repetition in the FMC thinking about her dreams and her ex-husband’s attitude toward it. This is understandable to a point since her divorce is still fresh and she has pretty much lost the confidence to stand up for herself. 

Getting Leo and Robert’s POVs balance the story even if the latter is hard to like. He sounds annoying and snobbish but manages to make an impact. I like that there are no drastic changes in him by the end. There is some development that feels believable. Though Leo is grumpy when introduced, he shows his true side quickly. He also has a sad past, the poor guy. 

The characters seem to act their ages, so despite a bit of tension towards the end, they are mostly decent in handling what life throws at them, albeit after a short tantrum. 

To summarize, The Wife at the Last House Before the Sea is a heartwarming story about choices, self-worth, second chances, and family. It is always great to revisit the beautiful Heaven’s Cove and its cliffs (never mind the erratic weather). 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheWifeAtTheLastHouseBeforeTheSea

When the Bones Sing by Ginny Myers Sain - Book Review

Publication Date: 04th March 2025

Genre: YA Paranormal Mystery 

3.2 Stars 

One Liner: Great atmosphere but... repetitive  

Lucifer’s Creek, Arkansas 

A seventeen-year-old Dovie comes from a long line of women who could hear the dead bones sing. She doesn’t believe in magic until she begins to hear the songs. In the last three years, many people have gone missing from the trials in the Ozark Mountains. 

Some think it’s the Ozark howler snatching people, though Dovie doesn’t agree. She doesn’t listen when her best friend Lo says he is haunted by shadows. Her only focus is on leading the local sheriff to the dead bones. However, Lo knows the shadows belong to the dead people, and they want justice. Can Dovie and Lo find the killer before more deaths occur? 

The story comes in Dovie’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

The book starts with a bang. We see Dovie hearing the ‘song of the bones’ and follow her. Right away, we also see the superstition and bias against ‘witches’ though even the police seem to wait for the bones to sing to her instead of actually doing their job. 

Dovie is your typical seventeen-year-old, meaning she thinks she knows the best, her emotions are intenseeeee, she is dramatic, and well… you get the gist. Despite the repetition, it wasn’t too bad being in her head. Though I initially sympathized with her, the constant ‘I don’t believe in magic’ got boring. After the initial quarter, I could increase my reading pace.That made the book quite enjoyable. 

I admit I liked Lo a lot more, though we don’t get a lot about him. There are only a few things the FMC has to say about him and those tend to go on a loop. The other guy is… I don’t know. He’s just there. 

The atmosphere is the biggest strength of the book. It is amazing! I could feel the dark forest, the stinky Lucifer Creek, the humidity, the weight of uncertainty and fear, and the presence of the howler. Still, I wish we got a wee bit more of the supernatural element. The setting is ripe for a proper horror mystery. 

Coming to the mystery, it is okay. Rather strange that the most important question doesn’t even occur to the FMC until someone points it out. Or maybe it aligns with her teen personality where she is the center of the universe. Anyhoo! 

The reveal is rather underwhelming. The topic is great. No doubts there. There’s even some foreshadowing but the focus is on the sub-mystery. The main one needs a bit more detailing and an extra touch of darkness to drive home the point. 

However, I did like the execution of Brother T’s role. It is quite stereotypical what with the Christian brother intent on converting ‘witches’ and ‘hill people’ but given how extensively such events occurred (and occur) around the world, I don’t mind it being shown in books. That said, he gets a lot more limelight than necessary. Maybe he was used as a smoke screen but not really needed. 

I would have rated this higher if not for the supposed ‘love triangle’ that had no place in the book. It is nothing more than exotification on one side and silly curiosity on the other. Imagine being surrounded by death and you prioritize kissing someone. How romantic (not)! Remove this attraction/ complication from the plot and nothing changes. My rating would have been higher. 

There’s an epilogue which I do like. It ties up the loose ends. Since mine is an ARC, there wasn’t an author’s note. I’d have liked to know about the forest and its local lore. 

To summarize, When the Bones Sing has a great premise and starts well but meanders into an average YA mystery with drama, romance, and a touch of supernatural. 

Thank you, NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #WhenTheBonesSing

Late-Blooming Cherries: Haiku Poetry from India by Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih, Rimi Nath - Book Review

Publication Date: 17th July 2024

Genre: Poetry

4.5 Stars!

One Liner: So beautiful!

As the title suggests, the book is a collection of heart-touching Haiku and Senryu poems by poets from across India.

Despite being a poet, I don’t read contemporary poetry books often. However, when I saw this one, I knew I had to try it. A Haiku is a three-line poem with a fixed syllable count (17). It is a traditional Japanese poetry form with a seasonal reference and a cutting word (usually in the second line). However, a simplified version involves only the syllable count – 5-7-5. Similarly, a Senryu is very much a Haiku except for the theme. It deals with human emotions, albeit using dark humor.

This book is a compilation of both types of poems, offering us a good variety of themes.

I remember the first time I wrote a Haiku. It was incorrect, lol. I counted words instead of syllables. Then, I figured it out (with help, of course). Luckily, I also found a free online Haiku syllable counter tool for verification. I still use the same tool for all syllable-related poems.  

Coming to the contents, the book has poems by 58 poets. As mentioned in the book, some poets have contributed five, while some have twenty pieces. We get the poet’s brief bio and their poems. This goes on until the end.

It starts with a foreword, an introduction (by the curator), and a detailed note about Haiku poems. These are informative and useful, especially if you don’t know about Haiku and still want to read the book.

In the introduction, the curator talks about the title and the story behind it. I love it when we get a sneak peek into the backend process. If you want a hint, google yae zakura. Furthermore, learning a bit about the use of the Haiku form in Indian poetry (English and vernacular) was exciting. I didn’t realize we had shows and books dedicated to it! Still, this poetry form hasn’t gotten much exposure.

In the note, I learned about the concept of Zen Buddhism behind Haiku’s simplicity. Don’t skip the initial pages if you read this book. The poems are important; sure. But the background information is equally important. That’s how you can fully enjoy the poems that follow. Think about it. We are told Haiku is not about philosophy but about being in the present. If you miss reading this, it will impact how you perceive the poems. (Sometimes the curtains are blue because it’s the only color left in the store.)

Though I loved many, I can’t mention them all here! Sharing only a couple of lines that stayed with me. Note that not all poems follow the conventional 5-7-5 format. Some use the shorter version of 3-5-3 syllables.

*

mulberry silk –

cocooned in the fragrance

of grandma

*

amavasya (a new moon night)

my scars eclipsed

for a night

*

two flowers –

a hand

takes away one

*

I have to mention the book’s design. It’s a cute little hardbound book with a pastel cover and a contrasting spine. What I loved was those little cherry branches from the corner of each page. So cute, right?

How can it be that I review a Haiku book and not write at least one of my own?

In my hands at last –

Little late-blooming cherries

Emotions brimming

To summarize, Late-Blooming Cherries is a heart-touching and poignant collection of Haiku poems from diverse poets. Some simple, some pleasant, some poignant, and some heart-breaking; but all expressed in a handful of words!

Thank you, Blogchatter and HarperCollins India, for a copy of the book. This review is powered by the Blogchatter Book Review Program and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

A huge shout out to Nandini T from HarperCollins India. I was approved for the book sometime last year, but due to some logistics glitch, I didn’t receive it. When I remembered about it, I sent an email to the publisher explaining the issue. Nandini replied and offered to send a new copy, which reached me in three days. Thank you!

Buy the hardcover of Late-Blooming Cherries: Haiku Poetry from India.

 

Vanya and the Wild Hunt by Sangu Mandanna - Book Review

Series: (not yet mentioned) 

Publication Date: 06th March 2025

Genre: Middle-Grade Fantasy Adventure 

4.5 Stars 

One Liner: Love the setting… but the book ends on a cliffhanger! 

Eleven-year-old Vanya lives with her parents above their bookshop. As a British Indian with ADHD and an ability to converse with books, Vanya knows she cannot fit in at school or anywhere else. 

However, when her family is attacked by a monster, Vanya finds out she has special powers like her parents. She is sent to Auramere, a magical academy for training kids like her. But with The Wild Hunt on the prowl and mounting danger, Vanya has to find the master and stop the monsters before they destroy everything she holds dear. 

The story comes in Vanya’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

I’ve read the author’s adult fiction, but this is my first MG book by her. 

Though the MC is a British Indian, her Indian identity is limited to skin color since she was born and brought up in Norwich. This plays an interesting role in her character arc (those one-liners are funny). On a side note, the illustrations make her look very much Indian (which I love). 

Vanya’s (Lavanya is a lovely name!) voice is quite authentic and a combination of sass, vulnerability, wonder, fear, curiosity, and recklessness. Yeah, she is stubborn too but it is necessary. Her ADHD is presented well alongside the insecurities it creates. All in all, we have a great narrator who can make us laugh and roll our eyes in the same paragraph. Her hair… my god! The long and thick braid reminded me of mine when I was the same age. Now? Don’t even ask! I’m grateful to have some hair left on my head. 

The author blends various folklore narratives and uses mythical creatures from different cultures. The more knowledge you have about these, the greater your enjoyment. I enjoyed this salad bowl since I knew many of them (including the ones from Hindu Puranas). 

The setting of Auramere is terrific. It has the potential to sustain a series (at least a trilogy). Heck, I hoped it would be a series until I realized (too late) that it is one. Moreover, the book ends on a cliffhanger! It would have been nice to know this in advance. I prefer starting a book with the right expectations. Wonder why there’s no mention of the series on Amazon, Goodreads, or NetGalley? 

The pacing is slow in the first 35% but picks up momentum and sustains it afterward. This works to establish the plot and the characters. The sprinkling of B&W pencil illustrations adds a nice visual touch. The illustrations are wonderful. Apart from Vanya’s hair, my favorite is that of Reya. It was just wow! 

The side characters are cool – diverse and inclusive. Some stand out more than others (not uncommon). The parents and adults do have a role though limited in some instances. Given the genre, you can expect kids to get into trouble by rebelling or doing things that put them in harm’s way. 

I love the nicknames Vanya’s dad uses. He rarely repeats the same thing! At one point, he calls her 'little Aardvark' and my desi brain read it as adrak (ginger), lol. Not the same at all! 

To summarize, Vanya and the Wild Hunt is an exciting and adventurous story with elaborate world-building and interesting characters. What with the cliffhanger, I can’t wait for the next installment and hope to get the ARC whenever it is available! 

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Books, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #VanyaAndTheWildHunt

***

Oh, the flowers on Nilgris that bloom once every twelve years are called Neelakurinji. 

A Comprehensive Guide to Indian Scriptures by Sunita Pant Bansal - Book Review

Publication Date: 21st Dec 2024 

Genre: Nonfiction, Hindu/ Religion 

4.2 Stars 

One Liner: A good beginner's guide 

As one of the oldest religions in the world, Hinduism has countless scriptures, notes, studies, philosophies, and frameworks. We have Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Ithihasas, Shastras, etc., each dealing with diverse topics, themes, stories, guidelines, and much more. There is no single standardized rule book we are supposed to follow. So, what do you do if you want to know about Hinduism? Where do you start? 

A tricky question indeed! 

This short book attempts to present a comprehensive overview of Hindu scriptures without going into extensive detail. It aims to sort and categorize the content while briefly explaining what they mean. 

Let’s be honest. This is no small feat. Kudos to the author for attempting such a complex task.  

The book starts with a short author’s note and an introduction. Both more or less say the same, though the author’s note touches upon her experience in the field. 

Though the author mentions tentative dates, she emphasizes that those are not definite. I too won’t talk about the dates unless necessary. For example, she says Mahabharata was about 5000 years ago, which puts it around 3000 BCE. This doesn’t align with the (1700-1850 BCE) dates proposed by Jijith Nadumuri Ravi (a scientist and a researcher), who used multiple parameters to arrive at a more realistic time frame. Instead of getting into a debate about this, I will focus on the actual content. 

Right at the beginning, the author says Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma) is not just a religion but a way of life. Many of you may have heard this statement. While it is true, it’s important to remember that this doesn’t give others a right to say Hinduism is not a religion. 

The author starts with Vedas, which are divided into four parts that align with the four stages of life – brahmacharya (student), grihastya (householder), vanaprastha (forest life, renouncing materialistic pleasures), and sanyasa (renouncing everything). 

The author also highlights character-based varna, the role of a guru, and numerous Upanishads that explain yoga. Giving it exotic names and calling yourself a yogi doesn’t make you one. What’s being taught today is not yoga. 

I like we get the significance of three lines of ash applied to the forehead (upper arms and wrists) and the context behind using the sacred ash (vibhuti) as bottu. Typically in our households, when kids cry or get cranky and refuse to settle down, an elder applies vibhuti to their forehead with a small prayer (it can even be a request to your favorite god to clear the negative energies around the child). And yeah, it works. Little ones do settle down and start to feel better. 

In the Puranas, the author provides an overview of what they are and a summary of each Puranam. For example, Garuda Puranam deals with death, last rites, and the concepts of the afterlife. Usually, when someone in the family dies, they play/ recite Garuda Puranam during the eleven-day mourning period. The Bhagavatha Purana is all about Vishnu and his ten avatars with a major focus on Krishna avatar (his childhood, etc.). 

Then, there are Vendangas, Upa Vedas, Vendata Sutras, Smritis/ Dharma Shastras, Agamas, etc. These include detailed instructions and frameworks about science, math, fine arts, behavioral science, language, magic, sports, law, warfare, medicine, gemology, geography, astrology, astronomy, architecture, sculpture, cooking, animal husbandry, farming, meteorology, transportation, etc. 

The Agamas are broadly divided into three – Vaishnava, Shaiva, and Shakta. Depending on which sampradaya you belong to, you refer to the relevant texts in Vedas, Upa Vedas, Shastras, Puranas, etc. 

Despite the extensive nature of the texts, quite a few themes repeat – Brahaman, the importance of correct pronunciation of mantra, the union of divine masculine and divine feminine as the core of the universe, and how the five elements of nature are integral to everything and can be found everywhere. Most importantly, even when the texts seem like they contradict each other, they actually don’t. The ideas co-exist and complement each other. That’s why even atheism comes under the same umbrella (not the distorted ego-centric version but the actual concept).  

Needless to say, this is not a book you read and forget on your bookshelf. It works as a great reference or beginner’s guide. It’s useful to check which Veda or Smriti talks about the topic you want to learn so that you can go and find the full-length materials. 

To summarize, A Comprehensive Guide to Indian Scriptures is indeed a well-structured, compact, and reliable guide to getting an idea about Hindu scriptures. This can be your starting point. 

My thanks to the publisher Readomania for a copy of the book. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.