Poppy Harmon Investigates by Lee Hollis

When retired actress Poppy Harmon finds out that her recently deceased husband left her bankrupt, she wonders what type of job would be suitable for her. After a little thought, she decides to open the Desert Flowers Detective Agency with her best friends Iris, and Violet. They find that no one wants to hire three women in their sixties, so they recruit Matt, who is Poppy's daughter's boyfriend (and a very good looking actor) to join their team. With the addition of Violet's twelve-year-old grandson, Wyatt, in charge of all the computer (i.e. hacking) work, they are good to go. Their first case is finding out who is responsible for a series of burglaries at a local retirement community. With lots of humor and very vivid characters, this is a perfect read for those who love cozy mysteries.

Along the Infinite Sea by Beatriz Williams

In this final book of the Schuyler Sisters trilogy, it's 1966 and Pepper is in Florida, having just sold a vintage Mercedes to Annabelle Dommerich. The sale, Pepper hopes, will give her the financial freedom to have her baby on her own, and leave behind her former lover--a senator. She is trying to keep a low profile, so he can't find her. Pepper is intrigued by Annabelle and why she would pay so much money for a car. Annabelle, in turn, finds that Pepper reminds her of her younger self, back in 1930's France. At the time, Annabelle fell hard for Stefan, but all of Europe was beginning to destabilize with Hitler's rise to power. With Stefan being a German Jew, the outlook for their relationship was even more dire. Along the Infinite Sea recounts the storylines of Pepper and Annabelle in alternating chapters. A satisfying end to the trilogy.

Let Me Be Like Water by S.K. Perry

After the death of her boyfriend, Sam, Holly moves from London to Brighton to try and move forward with her life. Immersed in grief and her memories of Sam and their life together, she is finding day-to-day life hard. After arriving in Brighton, she meets retired magician Frank, who introduces her to his friends of varying ages. Spending time with new friends, some whom have been through similar tragedies, allows Holly to find bit of joy amid her sorrow. Let Me Be Like Water explores Holly's life in the year after Sam's death as she starts anew.

Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson

When Englishwoman Tina Hopgood was a child, a Danish archaeologist, Professor Glob, dedicated a book he wrote to Tina and her friends. Tina and her best friend, Bella, always vowed they would visit the museum in Denmark where the Tollund Man (one of Professor Glob's finds) is housed. Fifty years later, Tina has still not visited, and Bella has passed away from cancer. Tina decides to write to Glob, yet finds he has also died. She gets a letter from the curator of the museum, Anders Larsen, instead. Meet Me at the Museum features the correspondence between Tina and Anders as they find themselves confiding in each other their deepest thoughts and feelings, even though they live far apart. As their friendship grows, one wonders will Tina and Anders finally meet? A great read-alike for Letters from Skye and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis

In 1928, illustrator Clara Darden is teaching at the Grand Central School of Art, but is not taken as seriously as her male colleagues. With only five students, she is worried she might be fired. Still, Clara is confident about her work and dreams of the day she sees commercial success. Forward to 1974, Virginia Clay finds herself working at the information booth at Grand Central Terminal because she needs a job after an acrimonious divorce. One day, she happens upon the long-shuttered school and is intrigued. Her interest is further piqued when she uncovers a painting behind a cabinet. On an impulse she takes it home, figuring no one will miss it and she can hang it in her apartment--but, it turns out, someone does. In addition, with the razing of Grand Central a distinct possibility, Virginia begins to see the terminal in a whole new light. In The Masterpiece, Fiona Davis tells the engaging story of two women against the backdrop of two different decades amid the setting of Grand Central. While the book starts slowly, it picks up as you get to know the characters more, especially Virginia. A great read-alike for the novels of B.A. Shapiro and Beatriz Williams.

Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly

When LAPD detective Renee Ballard finds Harry Bosch going through a colleague's file drawer, she learns that he's privately looking into the murder nine years ago of a teenager named Daisy Clayton. Since the crime is still unsolved, Bosch is investigating as a favor to Daisy's mother, Elizabeth. Ballard is intrigued by the case and agrees to help Bosch go through all the old material and also look at other crimes and criminal activity around that time. Ballard is also busy with other cases that arise as she works the night shift in Los Angeles, while Bosch finds himself entangled with a local gang. Dark Sacred Night showcases the Ballard/Bosch partnership, which looks like it might turn into a series of its own. It will be published in October.

Princess Elizabeth's Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal

In this second book of the Maggie Hope series, Maggie is sent to Windsor Castle by MI-5. Her mission is to help protect Princess Elizabeth, but she will also be working as Elizabeth's math tutor. The British authorities feel the princess might be in danger, since she is next in line to the throne. Soon after Maggie arrives, one of the Ladies-in-Waiting is murdered and she wonders who among the castle employees is loyal to the Nazis. Princess Elizabeth's Spy is another enjoyable entry in this mystery series, with lots of details about life at Windsor Castle during World War II.

Safe Houses by Dan Fesperman

In the late 1970's Helen Abell is in charge of maintaining CIA safe houses in Berlin, where, one evening, she overhears and records two conversations which will have repercussions over thirty years later. In the present, her daughter, Anna, is stunned when Helen and her husband are killed by their son, Willard. She ends up hiring investigator Henry Mattick to help her uncover if Willard is really a murderer. In the process, Anna learns of Helen's past. Henry, however, has secrets of his own that might compromise his ability to aid Anna. Their inquiries uncover details of Helen's life with the CIA, which they slowly realize probably caused the disintegration of Helen's family. Safe Houses is a spy novel that reminded me of the books of Laura Lippman. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the characters and how the plot unfolded.

The Shortest Way Home by Miriam Parker

Thirty-year-old Hannah is just about to graduate from business school and has landed a coveted job in New York. But when she and her boyfriend, Ethan, spend the weekend in Sonoma, Hannah finds herself under the spell of the area, specifically the small, historic winery of Bellosguardo--so much so that she decides to stay in town and take a job at the winery while Ethan goes to New York without her. Hannah immerses herself in life at Bellosguardo, getting to know how the wines are made and connecting with the owners, Everett and Linda and their dog, Tannen. Sparks also fly when Hannah meets their son, William, but he is headed to New York himself for graduate school. The Shortest Way Home is a charming debut novel about one woman's journey to discovering herself and what really makes her happy. A great read-alike for Judith Ryan Hendricks and Christina Baker Kline's The Way Life Should Be. Absolutely one of the most satisfying books I've read this year.

In This Grave Hour by Jacqueline Winspear

In 1939, private detective Maisie Dobbs is asked to look into the murder of Belgian refugee Frederick Addens. Addens came to England during World War I and had assimilated into British life - marrying, having two children, and working as a railway engineer. Who could have wanted him dead? When the murder of another Belgian is discovered, Maisie wonders if the men knew each other, and goes about tracing their lives in both countries. Meanwhile, with war just being declared, Londoners and the rest of the country are preparing for the unknown - sending their children to the countryside, enjoying a few luxuries before rationing goes into effect, and worrying about those loved ones who are of age to fight. Maisie and her family and friends are bracing for the heartache that is bound to be on its way. In This Grave Hour is a heartfelt portrait of life in England at the beginning of World War II.

Day of the Dead by Nicci French

In this last book in the Frieda Klein series, Frieda is in hiding and has broken off contact with her friends and family because serial killer Dean Reeve has been terrorizing her and those she loves. However, a series of murders are happening around London, and they appear to be committed by Dean. Frieda knows it's inevitable that she and Dean will have a final showdown, and only one of them will probably come out alive. To make matters worse, Frieda's life is interrupted even more when criminology student Lola Hayes finds her and also becomes one of Dean's targets. In order to protect Lola, Frieda lets Lola join her in lying low. Will Lola cause Frieda to lose focus and put both their lives in jeopardy? Day of the Dead is a satisfying end to the series, but I will miss my annual catch up with Frieda and her friends.