The Spiced Cocoa Café by Harper Graham (Audiobook)

 

Cassidy is new to the town of Maple Falls. She's sworn off men following heartbreak, but finds herself attracted to Liam, who has his own heartbreak to contend with.

The Spiced Cocoa Café by Harper Graham is the second book in the Maple Falls series. I read the first book in the series, The Cinnamon Spice Inn, back in September (you can read my review here) and fell in love with the town of Maple Falls. If you've read the first book in the series, then you'll enjoy this one as it's very similar. If you haven't read the first book, I recommend doing so, as it will give you a chance to find out what Maple Falls is all about.

As with the first book, the story is all about romance and holiday traditions in the small town. This time around, the action takes place in the run-up to Christmas, and once again, the author manages to make the town sound magical. Cassidy has recently moved to the town and taken over the chocolate shop. One of the traditions is a display competition between some of the shops. Liam runs the farm shop, and after rescuing Cassidy when she is locked out, sparks begin to fly.

This is a classic grumpy/sunshine story, or, given the setting, Miss Christmas/Grinch. Both have their own reasons not to be looking forward to the holiday season, but the attraction is unavoidable, and they're both competitive. Thrown into the mixture is someone who seems to be out to sabotage the whole competition.

The pair are continually thrown together, and each time their resistance slips a little more, the action is incredibly spicy. In time-honoured tradition, obstacles are thrown in their way, with one obstacle in particular looking as if it is going to derail the budding romance completely.

The conclusion isn't a surprise; it's what I expected from the beginning and was hoping for all along. The important question is, are you Team Cassidy or Team Liam? The ending sets up nicely a return to Maple Falls in spring with The Cherry Crush Flower Shop.

The Spiced Cocoa Café by Harper Graham will be published on 20th October 2025 in ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a review copy.

Author Details

Harper Graham lives with her mischievous spaniel in a cozy small town in Connecticut. Her quirky neighbours may or may not have inspired the residents of her Maple Falls series. When she’s not hiking with her daughter, baking her grandmother’s recipes or reading in her favourite coffee shop, Harper can be found writing the sweet and spicy romance stories of her own dreams.

The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman

 

A guest at the wedding of Joyce's daughter approaches The Thursday Murder Club for help as his life has been threatened. When he then disappears, they think the worst and spring into action to protect his business partner.

It is lovely to return to The Thursday Murder Club in The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman. I hadn't realised how much I'd missed them until I started reading. With this being the fifth book in the series, it felt very much like meeting up with old friends I hadn't seen in a while.

Everyone is celebrating at the wedding of Paul and Joanna, Joyce's daughter. When a friend of the groom approaches Elizabeth for help, her interest is piqued. Nick Silver, along with his business partner Holly Lewis, runs a highly secure cold-storage facility. That morning, Nick discovered a bomb under his car, and he's sure it must be linked to his business dealings. Elizabeth agrees to meet him the next day, but when they turn up, he is missing.

While all the usual characters feature, this is really Elizabeth's story. Consumed by grief since the death of her beloved husband, she has struggled to find her spark. Her close friends have rallied around but know that it is simply a matter of time and patience. Bombs, hidden compounds and codes are just what she needs to arouse her curiosity and employ all her skills and contacts. I particularly enjoyed meeting Jasper, one of those contacts. He's an interesting character who could offer much in future stories and allow Joyce to continue mothering him.

Joyce is supporting Elizabeth in trying to track down Nick Silver. Ron and Ibrahim have their own separate storylines, which eventually merge with the main one. Each of the main characters is feeling a little lost and questioning their value. These separate threads reinvigorate them, allowing them to feel a sense of purpose.

Danger is never far away. The mixture of menace and humour is finely balanced, just as you would expect in a cosy crime novel. The twists are cunning and delicious, and the ending will leave you feeling that karma has worked its magic and everything is as it should be.

Author Details

Richard Osman is an author, producer and television presenter. The Thursday Murder Club novels are a record-breaking, multi-million-copy, bestselling series around the world. The movie adaptation for The Thursday Murder Club, produced by Amblin Entertainment, is available to watch on Netflix. His new series, We Solve Murders, featuring a brand-new detective trio, is also an international bestseller. Richard promises there are more books to come in both series. He lives in London with his wife, Ingrid, and their cats, Liesl and Lottie.

The Queen Who Came In From The Cold by S. J. Bennett

 

It's 1961, and the country is obsessed with James Bond and British spies. Queen Elizabeth II is dragged into a potential diplomatic nightmare when someone tries to smuggle a Russian spy onto the Royal Yacht Britannia.

I've enjoyed each book in the Her Majesty The Queen Investigates series by S. J. Bennett. While I preferred the three books in the series which featured the older version of the Queen, using a historical setting has worked well too. The Queen Who Came In From The Cold is one such novel, set in 1961.

Elizabeth and her entourage are preparing for a trip aboard the royal train. During the trip, one of the passengers is convinced she witnessed a murder. The Queen, along with Joan, her Assistant Private Secretary, decides to investigate and discover a plot to smuggle a Russian defector aboard Britannia while the Queen and Prince Philip are visiting Italy. 

The Queen comes across as shrewd, practical and considered. Well aware of diplomatic relations, she toes a very fine line in her support of the people trying to smuggle a spy into Britain. All of this is done against a backdrop of the uncovering of double agents in England who were working for Russia.

There is a very glamorous feel throughout. A royal visit to Venice conjures up beautiful gowns and gorgeous scenery. Time on Britannia invokes scenes of elegance and wealth. Across the country, the population is captivated by the thought of John F Kennedy and his wife on a state visit to Britain, the alluring world of James Bond, and the first man in space. Not everything is quite as captivating, though. The royal train gives you a glimpse of how frugal the Queen could be, with the whole thing being a mishmash of dated carriages. By mixing real events alongside the fictional elements of the story,  combined with such accurate and nuanced portrayals of the royal family, we get an amazing sense of authenticity to the narrative.

Danger lurks around every corner, however, and Joan finds herself in some precarious situations. I was on the edge of my seat, wondering which way events would go. For a cosy crime novel, this comes very close to being a full-blown spy thriller. Even when events are concluded, there is still a sense of unease. You can never be sure in the world of espionage and double agents.

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold by S. J. Bennett will be published on 6th November in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Zaffre for a review copy.

Author Details

S. J. Bennett was born in Yorkshire and travelled the world as an army child. She had a varied career before her first novel was published when she was 42. Since then, her books have won awards, been optioned for TV, and have been translated into over 20 languages. She was once asked to interview for the role of Assistant Private Secretary to the Queen and still considers it the job that got away. A curious royal watcher for many years, she lives in London, where she can often be found haunting its palaces, museums, galleries and libraries. She currently writes the ‘Her Majesty the Queen Investigates’ series.

The Woman Downstairs by JD Kirk (Audiobook)

 

Diane is sympathetic towards her new neighbour, Chloe, who is fleeing an abusive relationship. Things escalate quickly when Chloe's partner suddenly turns up and Diane begins to wonder if she's been dragged into a living nightmare.

I've never read anything by JD Kirk previously, but the synopsis for the audiobook The Woman Downstairs sounded chilling enough to intrigue me. I found myself completely engrossed in the story, thanks to the fast-paced narrative and fantastic narration of Samara MacLaren, Sarah Barron and David Monteath. With each chapter ending on a cliffhanger, I found myself constantly deciding to listen to "just one more".

The story opens with a gripping scene that immediately has you questioning what is about to follow. The story then jumps back a few days to Diane and Chloe meeting. It is easy to understand Diane's empathy towards her new neighbour, particularly as we slowly discover that she's been a victim of abuse herself. You also get the impression she's a little isolated and lonely, and welcomes some female friendship. What Diane, and I, didn't expect was the unpleasant situation that quickly followed, and then an even more shocking event shortly after. Three major scenarios in such a short space of time compel you to keep going.

As the story unfolds, we discover revenge is at its heart; however, both Diane and Chloe are unreliable narrators, leaving you wondering who is telling the truth, or even if we are given the full facts. There was also part of me wondering if there was someone behind the scenes manipulating events or trying desperately to hide their involvement.

The pair enters a destructive cycle, with vengeance at the centre, and you do wonder if either will survive. There are some nice touches of dark humour (who knew a dead body would be so difficult to dispose of) and a conclusion that allows you to breathe a sigh of relief, while having a wry grin on your face. I'll certainly be checking out more of the author's work in the very near future.

The Woman Downstairs by JD Kirk will be published on 15th October 2025 in paperback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for a review copy. 

Author Details

JD Kirk is a multi-million copy, bestselling author and the pen name of award-winning writer Barry Hutchison. He has authored over 150 books for children and adults, and is now thoroughly enjoying murdering people as JD Kirk. He resides in the Scottish Highlands with his wife and two children. He has no idea what the JD stands for.

Never Coming Back by Tim Weaver

 

David Raker is recuperating in Devon when an old friend asks for his help. Her sister, brother-in-law and two children have disappeared under strange circumstances. The hunt to discover what happened spans an ocean and brings Raker in touch with pure evil.

There's nothing quite like a book that, as soon as you've finished reading it, you want to immediately pick up the next one in the series. Vanished, book 3 in the David Raker series, is one of those books. The cliffhanger ending leaves you desperate to know what happens next. Luckily, I'm new to the series by Tim Weaver, so I didn't have to wait a year or two for author to write the next book in the series, Never Coming Back.

The events in the book take the series to a whole new level. The scope, both in theme and geography, is so much greater than anything Raker has faced before. Raker has relocated from London and has no plans for an immediate return to searching for the missing. Ex-police officer Colm Healey is staying with Raker in a small fishing village when a body is discovered. This coincides with an old friend asking Raker for help.

Emily's family disappeared almost a year ago under mysterious circumstances. Food was left cooking, all their possessions still remained, and even the family dog was left unattended. Given the events of the previous book, you can understand Raker's reluctance to get involved. However, he finds it difficult to say no to a friend, and he's intrigued as to how a group of four people can disappear so quickly and completely.

The relationship between Raker and Healey remains fractious. Healey is still struggling to come to terms with losing his job and doesn't understand why Raker isn't interested in finding out more about the body that was discovered. As the pair carry out their separate investigations, the rift between them widens. 

As Raker digs deeper into the disappearance, your apprehension begins to grow. With events jumping between 2007, 2011 and 2012 (when the story is set) as well as moving between Devon and Las Vegas, it doesn't look like there will be a successful outcome this time round. Raker finds himself in some precarious situations; I was holding my breath on a number of occasions. Not everyone is as they seem, and this adds to the perilous circumstances Raker has to deal with.

The conclusion is a somber one. As a reader, I empathised with Raker's feelings of hopelessness and failure. In real life, cases like this don't have a 100% success rate, and the author is giving us a grim taste of reality. There is a brief glimpse of hope, however, and I'm keen to see where this takes Raker in the next installment.

Author Details

Tim Weaver is the Sunday Times bestselling author of fifteen novels, including No One Home, The Blackbird and The Last Goodbye, and a short story collection. He is also the host and producer of the chart-topping Missing podcast and is currently developing an original TV series with the team behind Line of Duty. A former journalist and magazine editor, he lives near Bath with his wife and daughter.

The Token by Sharon Bolton

 

Seven strangers all receive a strange token and a letter informing them they are to be the beneficiaries of a billionaire's estate when he dies. The letters are just the beginning of a tumultuous series of events, including a treacherous journey at sea.

Author Sharon Bolton is someone whose novels I've always loved reading since discovering her writing (as S. J. Bolton) back in 2008 when I read Sacrifice. When I read the blurb for The Token, I was intrigued. Settling down to read the prologue left me gasping, wondering how on earth the author was going to resolve such an action-packed and riveting opening, and how it related to the synopsis. What followed was an intricate tale of greed, secrets and revenge.

After the explosive opening, the story jumps back two weeks and introduces us to the seven strangers. Each one is dealing with personal issues, from divorce through to addiction. For most of them, money is a major problem. Receiving the letter informing them of their future windfall is a welcome relief for many; however, like any normal person, they are initially skeptical, believing it to be some form of scam. Despite the personal problems they were each facing, I felt sympathetic towards each one. The author has made the characters feel very real and their predicaments the kind any of us could find ourselves in, as a result, I found myself wanting the best for each person.

By swapping between the different characters, the author takes the reader through all the different emotions that come with such surprising and life-altering news. The overriding question is "Why me"? Once the news becomes public, we also discover that it's a double-edged sword as others become jealous and lives are put in danger. The story makes you wonder how you would react in a situation like this.

A trip to meet their benefactors becomes a perilous journey. I was on the edge of my seat, particularly as I didn't want any of the characters to be harmed. Twist after twist leads us to a distressing tale of revenge and a conclusion that continues to offer shocks and surprises right up to the final sentence.

The Token by Sharon Bolton will be published on 6th November 2025 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing for a review copy.

Author Details

Sharon (formerly S J) Bolton lives in Buckinghamshire with her husband and, occasionally, her grown up son and is working on her eighteenth novel; her eighth with Orion. Her first book, Sacrifice, was voted Best New Read by Amazon.uk, whilst her second, Awakening, won the 2010 Mary Higgins Clark Award (part of the prestigious Edgars) in the US. In 2014, she won the CWA Dagger in the Library. She has been shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger, the CWA Steel Dagger, the Theakston’s Prize for Best Thriller, the International Thriller Writers’ Best First Novel award, the Prix Du Polar in France and the Martin Beck award in Sweden.

Hitwoman by Elsie Marks (Audiobook)

 

Maisie Baxter is a gun for hire, and a very successful one. On her latest mission, someone gets to the target before her. Does Maisie have competition, or is there a more sinister motive?

In Hitwoman by Elsie Marks, we have a slightly different take on the genre of female killers. The lead character, Maisie, is an assassin. Maisie isn't just any run-of-the-mill assassin though, she's an ethical one; the company she works for has a moral code. Would the world be a better place without their target? If the answer is yes, they take the job. 

The current job, working for the CEO of a chemical company, involves eliminating employees of the company who are selling a new pesticide to war criminals for nefarious reasons. During her latest mission, which involves being at a country fair, Maisie has a dalliance with a stranger. Things begin to go sideways when her target is killed before Maisie has the chance to put her plan in place. Back at the home of her boss, the team digs deeper into what happened and discovers another team of assassins is involved, including the stranger Maisie slept with.

As you would expect, Maisie and the stranger, Will, keep running into each other on subsequent jobs. There is obvious chemistry between the pair, which makes their jobs very difficult. Slowly, as they confide in each other, they learn that they have a common enemy. The lead-up to the action-packed conclusion is a little predictable, but thanks to the excellent narration of Amy Cameron and the engaging characters, you are willing them on.

Hitwoman by Elsie Marks will be published on 1st November 2025 in ebook format, with the paperback and audiobook published on 6th November 2025. My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK Audio for a review copy.