Happy Juneteenth! A highlight this week was our June pick for the Read Herring Book Club. Speaking of which, I am running a special giveaway to celebrate 1,000 followers on Instagram!

Learn more and enter here: @readherringbookclub

I really love this special edition of Murder on the Orient Express and I know you will, too. As a note, your copy of the giveaway book will be shrink wrapped and untouched.

This week’s reads:

• Murder at the Spirit Lounge by Jess Kidd (finished): An enjoyable return to Nora Breen and her new home in Gore-on-Sea. Excellent writing and characterization makes this a pleasure to read. The mystery is entertaining but predictable, in my opinion.

• The Tokyo Zodiac Murders by Soji Shimada (finished): I knew from the prologue that I was going to be gripped by this one, and that feeling remained straight through the epilogue. It is now tied for my favorite Read Herring Book Club selection so far (alongside February’s Devil in a Blue Dress). A puzzling mystery, an entertaining detective, and just the right amount of emotion made this an immensely satisfying mystery. I was literally giddy when I got to the explanation of the crime.

• Breakout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon (currently reading): I am rounding the final bend on this one and have my popcorn in hand for what I hope is a dramatic conclusion. While I am enjoying the story, the audiobook narration is hit or miss (but such is the risk of multiple narrators).

This week’s book mail:

• Moriarty: The Great Chaos (Audible Original): I got a crazy PR box for this third and final installment in Audible’s Moriarty audio drama series, which stars Dominic Monaghan as James Moriarty and Phil LaMarr as Sherlock Holmes, and Sir Ben Kingsley as Moriarty’s father. Watch my unboxing on your platform of choice: Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Facebook

• The Great Game by Arvind Ethan David (out July 14): A historical mystery with a Holmesian flare in which two men, a veteran-turned-law student and a gentleman thief, investigate a series of brutal aristocratic murders in 1905 London.

• The Intrigue by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (out July 14): A 1940s noir novel about a handsome con man and the two women who get in his way. Say less!

• The Enigma Challenge by S.C. Godfrey (out August 11): Here is the blurb that sold me on this one: “This is what you’d get if a Dan Brown novel was rewritten by Emily Henry.” (Kirkus)

Thank you to Audible, Thomas & Mercer/Megan Beatie Communications, Del Rey, and Pamela Dorman Books/Viking Books for these gifts.

Yours mysteriously,

Manon

Happy Friday! While I have you, I’ll throw in a friendly reminder that the July, August, and September selections for the Read Herring Book Club are live! We will be reading:

• July: The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith (1955)

• August: To Catch a Thief by David Dodge (1952)

• September: The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett (1930)

Like and save the Instagram post here. Once we get to 1,000 followers, I am running a special giveaway. 😊

Psst, this was also a Cluesletter week! ICYMI, here’s a link.

This week’s reads:

• The Heirs by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (finished): A YA mystery in the vein of Knives Out! Really enjoyed the pacing, twists, and characterization in this one. Sometimes the seventeen-year-olds came off wiser (and more weathered) than their years but I found the mystery to be solid and the story overall very engaging.

• Murder at the Spirit Lounge by Jess Kidd (currently reading): Almost finished with this one. I love Jess Kidd’s writing (as expected) and thoroughly admire Nora Breen. I have several theories for whodunnit—and why—so I am eagerly awaiting the big reveal.

• Breakout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon (currently reading): It’s apparently the summer of YA for me—this one follows a group of six rich teens as they spend spring break at a luxury resort, with disastrous consequences. I can’t wait to see what those consequences are.

This week’s book mail:

• The Clock House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji: An abandoned house with a haunting past, and a team of paranormal investigators trapped inside—only brilliant detective Shimada Kiyoshi can save them.

• She Walks at Night by Seishi Yokomizo: Scruffy sleuth Kosuke Kindaichi is called to the home of the aristocratic Furugami family, where in the midst of the Musashino countryside and enclosed on all sides by a long earthen wall, a gruesome scandal is brewing.

Thank you, Pushkin Press for these gifted books!

Yours mysteriously,

Manon

A very happy Friday to my favorite detectives (unless you count fictional sheep, in which case, Mopple is my number one). I finished some fun books this week and started two more, including the sequel to one of my favorite reads of 2025 (eek!!).

I also got lots of book mail this week, so take a peek at the list to see if any of these new and upcoming books catch your eye.

This week’s reads:

• Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann (finished): I finished this the night before seeing the movie and was not surprised to find that the mysteries were completely different. The book was slower, with darker, adult themes, while the movie prioritized cuteness. I enjoyed both for different reasons. Watch my short review of both on your platform of choice: Instagram | TikTok | YouTube

• It Happened One Murder by Liz Lawson (finished): What a fun and breezy mystery-romance! Two amateur sleuths reluctantly team up to solve a murder in their New Jersey beach town. This is cute and cozy and, dare I say, a great beach read. See next Tuesday’s Cluesletter for an interview with Liz.

• The Heirs by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (currently reading): A YA mystery in the vein of Knives Out! This has all the juicy inheritance drama you could ask for and I’m looking forward to the twists I know are coming. The audio is great so far but I also got a physical copy and it is gorgeous.

• Murder at the Spirit Lounge by Jess Kidd (currently reading): The second book featuring nun-turned-sleuth Nora Breen in a secretive seaside town. I’m loving the eerie death of a spirit medium and my god do I continue to adore Jess Kidd’s writing.

This week’s book mail:

• Self-Help for Serial Killers by Asia Mackay (out June 16): Work-life balance takes on a new meaning for Hazel and Fox, two killers who accidentally start a feud in suburbia, where they live with their two children.

• Scary Movie Night by Miranda Smith (out July 14): A horror-themed birthday party turns deadly. I’m not a huge horror fan (read: lifelong scaredy pants) but when have I refused a closed circle mystery? I feel like I’ll really vibe with this.

• The Oxford Guide to Scandal & Lies by Kate Westbury (out September 1): Sometimes I just have a good feeling about a book. This is one of those times. Post-WWII mystery with an enticing duo of spies . . . immediate yes.

• The Henchperson’s Guide to Unionizing by Marshall J. Moore (out September 22): A quirky and cute tale of saving the world while finding yourself.

• Lies Between Us by Jessica Goodman (out now): A summery YA murder mystery. My copy came with this adorable “Beach Reads” tote bag that will be coming with me to the beach this summer!

• Backstabbers by Eliza Jabore (out now): A slasher thriller following three friends who get lost in the same woods once haunted by a serial killer.

• Death Times Seven by Anne Perry and Victoria Zackheim (out now): The final novel of the late Anne Perry’s beloved Daniel Pitt series.

• The Only One Who Knows by Lisa M. Matlin (out now): A gothic coastal noir following a disgraced TV news reporter who returns to her hometown to investigate a series of deadly shark attacks.

• The Fox and the Devil by Kiersten White (out now): The daughter of a vampire hunter vows to hunt down the violent killer who murdered him. A gothic fantasy-horror with a side of sapphic romance.

Thank you to: Minotaur Books, Bantam Books (Stories & Suspects box), Miranda Smith, and Penguin Teen/Out of Print for these gifted books. ♥️

Yours mysteriously,

Manon

What a fun, murder-filled week! After some strangely cozy weather here (SoCal loves its May Gray) the sun is out and I’m beginning to think of summer reading—including what books we should read for our Read Herring Book Club. 👀

(Hint: I’m thinking we should armchair travel to 1950s Italy, where we might just cross paths with a con man . . .)

Psst, this was also a Cluesletter week! ICYMI, here’s a link.

This week’s reads:

• The Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley (finished): What a joy to read something so classically perplexing. The round robin-style format of analyzing a murder case worked very well, and I appreciated how the stakes and tension ramped up with each new person presenting their theory. I didn’t realize that the newer edition (published by the British Library Crime Classics) tacks on a new ending, written by Martin Edwards. I appreciate the creativity but I much prefer the original. This is for our Read Herring Book Club.

• Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann (currently reading): Still working away at this one! I love these sheep, but I do find it occasionally difficult to parse through the clues, because we are seeing them from a sheep’s point of view (and they happen to see a lot of things as food). But I do enjoy the audio and I hope to see the film this weekend.

• It Happened One Murder by Liz Lawson (currently reading): Murder mystery romance is having a moment, and I’m not complaining. This one is light and fun, and both plots (mystery + romance) are moving along nicely. The characterization feels a little all over the place, but it’s still a cute read. Keep an eye out for the next Cluesletter for more. 😉

This week’s book mail:

• The Heirs by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (out June 2): Technically this is a NetGalley audiobook approval but I’m popping it in here because I’m so excited about this one! A Knives Out-style YA mystery about teen prodigies and their adoptive father? Say less.

Yours mysteriously,

Manon

Welcome back to Case Files! This week gave me some great reads—from continuing our Read Herring Book Club pick for May, to finally reading the 2012 smash hit Gone Girl (and watching the movie).

PS, did you know you can now get a personalized book rec from me? Just visit my Bindery homepage and click the “Get a Rec” button in the top right corner.

Let’s get into the clues and evidence . . .

This week’s reads:

• Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (finished): I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would, considering I already knew the big, mid-book twist. It’s psychologically sharp and deliciously tense, the audiobook is well-performed, and the movie is spot-on (probably because Flynn herself wrote the screenplay).

• Murder Most Delicious by Danielle Postel-Vinay (finished): This cozy murder mystery will make you want to fly to Paris immédiatement. The mystery is solid, but I actually most enjoyed the descriptions of the French neighborhood and its close-knit community. Look out for a Cluesletter interview with Danielle on Tuesday! 😊

• The Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley (currently reading): Witty and fun! Really enjoying Roger Sheringham and his compatriots. The mystery is delightfully perplexing and the story moves along at a decent pace. This is for our Read Herring Book Club.

• Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann (currently reading): I’m making myself read this before seeing The Sheep Detectives! I loved the sequel, Big Bad Wool (for which I interviewed author Leonie Swann), so it’s no surprise I’m enjoying the sheep’s escapades in this first installment. The audio is delightful and infused with Irish charm.

This week’s book mail:

• That Which Feeds Us by Keala Kendall (out now): A supernatural thriller set at a luxury resort in Hawaii, with themes of colonialism, horror, and the true cost of paradise.

• Murder by Design by Lee Goldberg (out Jun 1): A new series starring a brilliant (but rude) insurance investigator and a struggling actor hired to keep him in line.

Yours mysteriously,

Manon

Welcome to a new segment of my Bindery! Case Files will cover my weekly reading updates: finished books, current reads, and even book mail.

For now, consider this a beta newsletter—I’m going to see how it works with my content schedule before I fully commit. But I’m hoping it sticks, because I would love to refresh my Bindery with some exclusive content for Book Snoops and Novel Sleuths.

Psst, this was also a Cluesletter week! ICYMI, here’s a link.

This week’s reads:

• The Library After Dark by Ande Pliego (finished): I love an ambitious mystery and this one about a tour group stuck in a famous—and potentially haunted—labyrinthine library is as ambitious as they come. While slightly over-complicated, this was highly entertaining, and wonderful for fans of old books and dark curses.

• Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (currently reading): Better late than never, right? I’m not a huge fan of domestic suspense, but I felt an obligation to try the book that more or less defined the genre, at least in this century. I’m enjoying the audio so far.

• The Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley (currently reading): Just barely started this one, but I do love a public domain classic crime novel with a well-rounded, refined cast of characters. I also somehow forgot that Berkeley also wrote The Wintringham Mystery (1927), which I enjoyed, so it’s fun to return to his witty writing style.

• Murder Most Delicious by Danielle Postel-Vinay (currently reading): Also just barely started this one, but I so love a Parisian setting! And the premise of this one—of a sommelier who lost her sense of taste after COVID—is quite special.

This week’s book mail:

• The Inklings Detective Agency by John R. Kelly (out now!): In 1936 Oxford, England, literary greats including J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis team up with Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers to unravel a mystery. Yes to all of this. Yes, please.

• You’ll Be Sorry by Lisa Gardner (out Aug 4): A standalone thriller from an author I’ve always wanted to try! An abandoned lodge in a small mountain town? Sign me up.

• Beyond Honor by K.B. Brodsky (out Sep 1): A political thriller involving a paramilitary operative, a CIA analyst, and a Russian agent. First in a new series!

• Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley (out Sep 22): One of my most highly anticipated releases of the year! The first Miss Marple outing since 1976. Filling Agatha Christie’s shoes is no easy task, and I’m looking forward to seeing Foley’s take on our favorite older sleuth.

Yours mysteriously,

Manon