Hard Candy Christmas: A Talbot & Andrews Investigation by Susan M. Boyer

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Liz Talbot, her husband Nate Andrews, and Liz’s family are at the airport seeing her brother and his family off for Christmas in Italy. It’s an emotional send-off, but nothing compared to what happens next:  an officer shows up to inform them that Frank, Liz’s father, has been accused of murder.

It’s not a recent murder, either. The bones that turned up in the swamp had been there for decades, maybe since the 1990s.  They belong to Paul Miller, who was married to Frank’s sister Sharon.  It’s safe to say Frank was not a fan.  He was heard arguing with, and threatening, Paul in 1998—and Paul was never seen again.

Although Liz’s mother Carolyn had forbidden Liz and Nate from resuming their careers as investigators, she’s willing to make an exception now.  Fortunately, Liz has Colleen, her best friend for life—and afterlife.  Colleen died when she was 17, but hangs around to keep a watchful eye on the island they both love and call home.  While Colleen can’t intervene, she can offer advice, cryptic though it may have to be.

The problem isn’t just that the murder happened so long ago. Paul Miller had a checkered past, to put it mildly: one that included drug running, violence, intimidation, and who knows what else. A lot of people weren’t sorry to see the last of Paul Miller.

With an arrest looming, and her father in fragile health, Liz and Nate are racing against time to find the real killer or else this could their last family Christmas together.

I’ve read and enjoyed entries in both of Boyer’s other series, the Liz Talbot Mystery series and the Carolina Tales series. She creates memorable characters, none more so than Colleen, the ghostly best friend with a sense of humor. Colleen who acts as a sort of guardian angel for Stella Maris, the fictional South Carolina island the characters call home.  Colleen is a treasure.  The setting has a wonderful Southern vibe to it, and I really appreciate Boyer’s gentle sense of humor.

I particularly enjoyed the plot in this one.  I freely admit that I didn’t see the answer coming but the solution felt plausible and satisfying.  The ends were tied up just right, including some I didn’t know need to be tied until I read it. While there can be tough times and unlikeable people, there is an underlying sweetness that has a great attraction for me.

There is a list of characters in the front of the book which appears a bit daunting but don’t let that deter you.  This book brings together characters from her other series, but you needn’t have read all of them to enjoy this book.

Fun note: the title is a Dolly Parton song, and each chapter has the title of a different Christmas carol.

I’m very much looking forward to Liz and Nate’s next adventure!

Full disclosure:  I was sent an Advance Reader’s Copy of the book but the opinions expressed are my own.

Nevermore: The Women in White, The Last Ballad, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

 

Nevermore October 6, 2026

 

The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen

Homeless after a divorce, Riley Bell takes a job as a live-in caretaker for an elderly woman named Betty, who seems stuck in a 1960s time warp. Betty is something of a recluse as well.  She asks Riley to find her three friends who were part of an experiment decades earlier.  The dual timeline story leads Riley to discover a disturbing story involving a university and the women who were test subjects.

“I’m interested in ESP, premonitions, etc. but this book was poorly written, with awkward conversations, and stereotyped characters.”  3 Stars CW

The Last Ballad by Wiley Cash

Ella Mae Wiggins is a millworker and mother who simply can’t make ends meet on the poor wages she’s paid.  In 1929 North Carolina, that’s the norm. Desperate for better pay and hours, she attends a union rally and becomes one of the leaders for the movement. Her gift for songwriting attracts attention and converts, but change is not going to be easy—or painless. This is based on a true story.

“It told a story I hadn’t known.” 5 Stars—WCJ

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika Sanchez

After the death of her older sister Olga, Julia is unable to become the “perfect Mexican” daughter” that Olga seemed to be: polite, interested in tradition, respectful.  Then Julia discovers that Olga had secrets of her own.

“I learned about the title in a previous program.  The seemingly coming of age of this 15 year old in Chicago, who is trying to find out more about her older sister who is run over by a truck, is really more to raise awareness of Latina teens who have attempted suicide.  More realistic than Trampoline.” 5 Stars—AH

Other Books Mentioned

The Good Good Pig by Sy Montgomery

Here and Hereafter by Tyler Henry

Tundra: Bottom of the Food Chain by Chad Carpenter

Whistler by Ann Patchett

The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett

The Good Good Pig by Sy Montgomery

Lost Souls Meet Under the Full Moon by Mizuki Tsujimura

Some People by Parini Shroff

Daisy Chain Flower Shop by Laurie Gilmore

 

New Books

Are They Dead Yet?  The Art of the Obit by Sam Roberts

Brimstone Hollow by Archer Sullivan

Hidden Haunts: A Creepy Collection of Forgotten Ghostly Places by Conner Gossel, illustrations by Natalie Dean

Reviewed by Jeanne

With an interest in both history and ghosts, Conner Gossel combined his interests to create “The Haunted Historian,” which is both a podcast and an Instagram account. He has collected some of the more interesting stories in Hidden Haunts which, as the subtitle suggests, focuses on lesser known haunted places rather than the one with high name recognition like the Winchester House.

The book is divided up by region and while most of the listings are from the United States, there are a few entries from other countries like Canada or Mexico. Each entry has a brief, well-written description with important information such as whether or not the site is available for public tours.  Many seem to have been turned into apartment buildings or B&Bs, and a good number have embraced the ghost stories as a selling point.  “Frightmore Manor” in Talbot, Tennessee has gone so far as to become a seasonal attraction, with added frights provided by entities more natural than super.

Of course, the first thing I did was to check the table of contents to see if I recognized any of the places and I did not.  I didn’t recognize any of the place names but after a couple of quick searches I discovered some where closer than I thought—the aforementioned Talbot, Tennessee is between Morristown and Jefferson City, while Harriman, Tennessee is a bit past Knoxville.

Even if the places aren’t in our own backyard, I enjoyed reading the descriptions. I like Gossel’s neutral tone, neither trying to sell the reader on hauntings nor debunking them.  He does have a few humorous asides, noting the commercial prospects of a haunted location, but for the most part his tone is compassionate regarding some of the tragic tales told about a property. He avoids sensationalism but still manages to be entertaining. Entries are short, one or two pages at most.  Gossel often mentions historic preservation in connection with these sites, including some restoration and renovation made possible by paranormal investigators.

I also was very impressed by the illustrations by Dean. They suit the book perfectly and to me have a bit of an Edward Gorey feel while also appearing to be mostly architecturally accurate.  (Not knowing the buildings personally, I have to rely on an image search.) I'm happy to report the illustrations are plentiful.  

The only disappointments were the lack of an index, especially as Gossel will occasionally toss in a bonus bit, like the Bell Witch.  The other complaint I have is that while the use of a gray textured background on the paper provided a good feel atmospherically, visually it made it a bit more of a chore to read for older eyes.  Bigger print would have helped a lot.

Those quibbles aside, this is an interesting, entertaining, and informative book enhanced by the atmospheric illustrations.  And if I ever find myself in Brandenburg, KY I definitely want to check out the prisoner pepperoni rolls at Jailhouse Pizza.

Seasonal Favorites: King, Kingfisher, Bradbury, Schwartz

 

Cell by Stephen King: I found this book to be a great take on the classic "zombie" trope, portraying a post-epidemic world brought about by cell phone use. King finds the perfect mix of introspection, sentiment, and fright, allowing you to root for the characters throughout, whilst staying cautiously aware of your own relationship with technology. A tale of love, loss, belonging, and survival, this novel is perfect for any season, but is sure to give you a thrill this Halloween.

Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher: This may very well have been the most bizarre horror novel I have ever read...and I loved it! Kingfisher delves into the world of entomology in this gothic thriller, centering around Sonia Wilson: a female illustrator of little consequence, seeking employment in 1890s rural North Carolina. During her stay at Dr. Halder's home, where she works illustrating various species of parasitic and carrion-reliant insects, Wilson begins to uncover the grounds' secrets lurking beneath the cloak of night. This story evokes all the best supernatural and suspense elements, making a worthy Halloween read, sure to send a chill up your spine.

The October Country by Ray Bradbury: Bradbury provides a fun collection of eerie shorts, playing on the horror and thriller genres, set in an ever-long autumnal realm. On top of being a spooky read for the Halloween season, this book makes you wonder if the biggest frights are truly storybook monsters, or those lurking within everyday life, after all. Like always, Bradbury has done it again; this work is sure to make you second guess every ending and enjoy every page along the way!

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz: A childhood classic, this book is perfect for reading in the company of others. Whether you are looking to spook yourself, or perhaps those around you, this work provides a collection of tame, but chilling shorts. Something about this book feels so nostalgic that I can't help but enjoy picking it up on a cold October night, and suggest that everyone else does the same at least once.

~Madison

Nevermore: One Day Everyone Will Always Have Been Against This, Carved in Bone, Fox & I

 

Nevermore 9-15-26             Reported by Rita

 

One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad

One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This chronicles the deep fracture which has occurred for Black, brown, indigenous Americans, as well as the upcoming generation, many of whom had clung to a thread of faith in western ideals, in the idea that their countries, or the countries of their adoption, actually attempted to live up to the values they espouse. This book is a reckoning with what it means to live in the west, and what it means to live in a world run by a small group of countries—America, the UK, France and Germany.  It will be The Fire Next Time for a generation that understands we’re undergoing a shift in the so-called ‘rules-based order,’ a generation that understands the west can no longer be trusted to police and guide the world, or its own cities and campuses. It draws on intimate details of Omar’s own story as an emigrant who grew up believing in the western project, who was catapulted into journalism by the rupture of 9/11.

Somewhat informative - highly repetitive.       -NH      4 stars

 

 

Carved in Bone by Jefferson Bass

Renowned anthropologist Dr. Bill Brockton has spent his career surrounded by death at the Body Farm. Now he's being called upon to help solve a baffling puzzle in a remote mountain community. The mummified corpse of a young woman dead for thirty years has been discovered in a cave, the body bizarrely preserved and transformed by the environment's unique chemistry. But Brockton's investigation is threatening to open old wounds among an insular people who won't forget or forgive. And a long-buried secret prematurely exposed could inflame Brockton's own guilt—and the dangerous hostility of bitter enemies determined to see him fail . . . by any means necessary.

I love everything by Dr. Bass!     -CD        5 stars

 

Fox & I by Catherine Raven

Catherine Raven left home at fifteen, fleeing an abusive, disdainful father and an indifferent mother. More comfortable in nature than among people, she worked as a National Park ranger, eventually earning a PhD in biology. She built a house on an isolated plot of land in Montana, teaching remotely and leading field classes. One day, she realized that the mangy-looking fox who had been appearing on her property was now showing up every day at 4:15 p.m. She had never had a regular visitor before. How do you even talk to a fox? So, she brought out her camping chair, sat as close to him as she dared, and began reading to him from The Little Prince. Her scientific training had taught her not to anthropomorphize animals, but as she grew to know him, his personality revealed itself--and he became her friend. But friends cannot always save each other from the uncontained forces of nature. Fox and I is a poignant and dramatic tale of friendship, transformation, and coping with inevitable loss--and of how that loss can become meaningful. It is also the introduction of an original, imaginative, stunning literary voice.

I really enjoyed it. The author has a real knack for observational writing.      -PP       4 stars

 

 

Other Books Mentioned

How Stella Learned to Talk by Christina Hunger

The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout

Real Murders by Charlaine Harris

A Bone to Pick by Charlaine Harris

The Last Ballad by Wiley Cash

 

New Books

Plant Lady by Minyoung Kang

Ode to the Half-Broken by Suzanne Palmer

The Subtle Pleasures of Indiscretion by Alexander McCall Smith

Secret Wonders of the World by Lonely Planet

Retro by Jessica M. Goldstein

Seasonal Favorites: Hill, Jackson, Bradbury, McMahon, Ludwigsen

When the days get shorter and there’s a shiver in the air, many people turn to spooky stories.  I always say I don’t really like horror, but I do like uncanny tales that make a little shiver run up my spine.  Here are a few of my favorites:

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill is a classic English ghost story. Our narrator becomes upset at hearing his family recount ghost stories because he has experienced the real thing. As a young solicitor, he was sent to an isolated house to sort out an old woman’s belongings, despite being warned away by the villagers.  If you like atmospheric, this one has it to spare.  There have been a couple of movie versions, but while the one with Daniel Radcliffe caught some of the feel of the book, I was disappointed by the changes made to the story.

Shirley Jackson is one of the classic authors of the unsettling. Her short stories like The Lottery linger in the mind long after the last sentence. She wrote the legendary The Haunting of Hill House, in which four people go to stay in an old house which is purported to be haunted, and my favorite We Have Always Lived in the Castle which opens with the iconic paragraph introducing Mary Katherine Blackwood. I was hooked from that moment on.

Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes is a book that always comes to mind when autumn approaches.  While it’s often shelved in children’s or YA, I find I appreciate it much more as an adult. Bradbury’s descriptions of the restlessness and unease that comes with the dying of the year strikes a chord, and the darkness that comes brings a shudder.  It was also a fine movie—and yes, the library has both book and movie!

Among the more modern authors, I like Jennifer McMahon’s The Drowning Kind.  A young woman goes home only to find that her sister who has been suffering from mental illness has committed suicide.  Her notes allude to something or someone connected to the spring behind the family home. Even though I figured out where the story was going, the book has such an intriguing vibe that I was drawn in—and I love the ending. It doesn’t answer all the questions, which is just how I like it.

A Scout Is Brave by Will Ludwigsen is another recent favorite. Bud Castillo moves with his family to Innsmouth, MA in the summer of 1963.  It’s a big change, moving from Queens to a small, dreary town with not much for a ten year old boy to do. Then he meets Aubrey, a pale, sheltered boy who wants to be a Scout and things seem to be looking up.  But there seems to be something dark lurking in Innsmouth. . . .  I love the way this story is told, from the point of view of an adult Bud remembering a pivotal summer in his life, and I also like the mid-century setting.

-Jeanne

Halloween Picture Book Favorites: Johnston, Williams, Mueller, Boynton

 

Years ago, it seemed that Halloween was mostly a holiday for children, one that you outgrew in the teen years.  Nowadays, it’s more of an all ages holiday, but I still have fond memories of favorite picture books for the season.

For older listeners, I love Tony Johnston’s The Vanishing Pumpkin.  A little old man and a little old woman discover their prize pumpkin, intended for pie, has disappeared so off they go to track it down.  Vibrant illustrations by Tomie de Paola make for a fun and exciting search to a satisfying conclusion.

Shorter but just as satisfying is the somewhat spooky The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams with illustrations by Megan Lloyd.  A little old lady is walking home at night when strange sounds start following her.  This is a great book for audience participation as listeners can help make the sounds.

For very young listeners, A Halloween Mask for Monster by Virginia Mueller is one of my absolute favorite books.  Little Monster is not sure what he wants to be for Halloween.  He tries on various masks—a dog, a cat, etc.—but deems them all “too scary.”  Finally, he finds just the right one.  With illustrations by Lynn Munsinger, this book is no trick but a real treat.  It’s also very reassuring for young trick-or-treaters who have their own doubts about dressing up and don’t want to be “too scary.”

Finally, a book I have given to most small children I know, Spooky Pookie is a board book written and illustrated by the one and only Sandra Boynton.  Pookie is a little pig-child who is trying to figure out what to be for Halloween.  Boynton’s art is a delight for all ages, and her style is instantly recognizable.  Also "Spooky Pookie" is just fun to say.

-Jeanne