Marnie Riches
This book describes itself as a “novel”, but is actually a murder mystery. And it’s British. And it’s about gardening. So pretty much guaranteed to be fabulous. It was indeed a great read. With a lovable, (if slightly irritating), cast of characters the book embodies the best of …
A Journey Through 20th-Centry Architecture
Geoffrey Goddard
Fans of mid-century modern ranch houses, googie-style buildings, and the neon of 50s diners will adore this book. This selection of architectural masterpieces roams the globe, though there is an emphasis on California. Buildings like the Chrysler Building are given the same loving …
A Pretty Cool Tour of America’s Fantasy Getaways
Margaret & Corey Bienert
What says romance more than a heart shaped tub in your room? Well, probably lots. But if a champagne glass hot tub, jungle themed room, or a night in an old plane is your idea of a good …
Kyle Prue
Author Margaret Atwood famously said “Men Fear Women Will Laugh at Them; Women Fear Men Will Kill Them.” While Prue’s little book is filled with witty zingers, it does come with warnings when to use, and not to use, various lines. Because some men do become violent when …
Stefan Bachmann and April Genevieve Tucholke
Similar to the Atlas Obscura books, The Secret Life of Hidden Places is an overview of mysterious places around the world. While some listed have been lost to time, or destroyed, there are a surprising number you can still visit. From speakeasys to grottoes, …
Carl Hoffman
The story of the disappearance of Michael Rockefeller, son of New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, fell off the front pages decades ago. But at the time it was the finest of tabloid grist. The young, wealthy art collector had ventured into the jungles of Papua New Guinea to …
Maureen Johnson and Jay Cooper
With a murder rate in the fictional Midsomer County something akin to Detroit’s, and with a solid trope canon spanning a hundred years, mystery readers know that the small English village is the most deadly of places. And yet, we are drawn in by fantasies …
Randall Sullivan
Who doesn’t love pirate stories? Adventure, freedom, exciting battles, chests of gold… So it’s no surprise the mystery of Oak Island, located off the shores of Nova Scotia, have fascinated us for centuries.
In the late 1790s, a group of teens exploring the heavily wooded island found a …
Robert Kurson
The idea of leaving your day job and mundane life and heading out to sea to find pirate treasure can sound like a pipe dream. But there really are people whose business is to search for lost treasure. …
And Other Real-Life Stories of Bones, Burials, and Murder
Douglas Preston
Douglas Preston, and his writing partner Lincoln Child, are best known for the best-selling Special Agent Pendergast novels. These include two of my all-time favorites – Still Life With Crows and The Cabinet of Curiosities. Preston has written …
Photography by Marc Appleton
Lotusland is a magical and rare place located in Santa Barbara, CA. This sprawling botanical garden was founded by former opera singer, and many times divorced socialite, Madame Ganna Walksa. Deciding six husbands was enough, she turned her attention full time to creating her amazing gardens. …
Rupert Holmes
A cross between Hogwarts and Terry Pratchett’s Assassins Guild, McMasters is a exclusive, private school teaching the fine art of murder. When “deletion” becomes the only option to solve you problems, McMasters is there to expertly guide you to the best solution – along with plenty of training …
Edward Brooke-Hitching
Brooke-Hitching has created another marvelous collection of oddities. His book The Madman’s Library focused on the most bizarre and unique books in the world. The Madman’s Gallery expands the scope, looking at some of the strangest artwork and art movements in history. Learn about the “Ghost Heads” of …
Exploring the Fussy-Cut World of Precision Patchwork
For those of us who love quilting, but can’t cut or sew a straight line, English paper piecing is the answer! The description of “fussy-cut” is both accurate and misleading. While English paper piecing does require more steps, it offers the …
Adam Savage
Adam Savage, of Mythbusters fame, has written a combination memoir and maker advice book. With decades of experience making props and sets for major studios like Industrial Light and Magic, then 20 seasons of the incredibly popular Mythbusters show, Savage knows what he is talking about. Always a …
I don’t really review cozies, despite reading A LOT of them. For those unfamiliar, the cozy genre are generally “gentle” murders – no graphic violence, not a lot of sex, blood or swearing, and the person who gets whacked deserves it. A lot of the focus on cozies is atmosphere …
