Category: Reading

What’s Ashley Reading?: The Case of the Missing Marquess

The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer

First line: The only light struggles from the few gas street-lamps that remain unbroken, and from pots of fire suspended above the cobblestones, tended by old men selling boiled sea snails outside the public houses.

Summary: Enola Holmes, the younger sister of famed detective Sherlock Holmes, has lived her life on the family estate with only her mother as a companion. However, on her 14th birthday her mother mysteriously disappears leaving Enola to wonder what has happened to her. Using the clues left by her mother, she eludes her brother’s plans and escapes to London in search of her.

Along the way, she becomes embroiled in the case of the missing marquess and the dastardly villains who have abducted him. As she tries to rescue the young noble, she must also evade her older brother while also continuing her search for her mother. All in a day’s work it seems for a youngest Holmes sibling.

My Thoughts: A month or two ago I watched the Enola Holmes movies on Netflix. I enjoyed the star-studded cast including Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill and Helena Bonham-Carter. Then recently I was looking for something short and lighter to listen to when I stumbled upon this. It felt like a perfect fit for my interest level at the time.

Having watched and read many Sherlock Holmes iterations, so I knew the feel of the Holmes-esque character. I liked both versions, movie and book, of Enola Holmes. She is smart, determined and resourceful as she tries to solve the mysteries before her. I loved how it introduces younger readers to clues and symbols in the art of detecting. For instance, Enola and her mother use the language of flowers to communicate in code. I can see this easily being a gateway into the more involved stories of Sherlock Holmes and other detective fiction.

Overall, it was an enjoyable listen. I may one day listen to more books in the series and see how they compare to the other movies. I would recommend this for teens looking for an engaging mystery series without too much violence or bad language.

What’s Ashley Reading?: Dead Mountain

Dead Mountain by Donnie Eichar

First line: It is nearly twenty below zero as I crunch through knee-deep snow in the direction of Dyatlov Pass.

Summary: In 1959 the Ural Mountains became the location of a mystery that has boggled minds for decades. Nine experienced hikers started an expedition meant to earn a hiking certificate but ended up claiming the lives of each member. In Dead Mountain a documentarian travels to the very location where the hikers died, studied their journals and photographs and spoke with some of the last people to see them alive. Told in a triple narrative interweaving the known moments of the hikers, the rescue teams efforts to find the students and the author’s visit to Dyatlov Pass over fifty years later. Through the reports at the time and advanced scientific knowledge, he tries to discover what happened on that fateful night.

My Thoughts: Years before I had watched an episode of Expedition Unknown where the host visited the site of Dyatlov group’s disappearance. Ever since seeing that it has been in the back of my mind as a wild mystery that I would love to learn more about. When I saw there was a book looking at the whole story I had to add it to my TBR list.

During our recent snowstorm in January, it felt like an appropriate time to pick this one up. From the very beginning, I was engrossed by the events in each narrative. I thought the way the author interwove all the different points and experiences together was the perfect way to consume the story. At first, I did not think I would care about the author’s trip but I came to find it essential because he was able to re-enact the trip and speak with people who were there in 1959. I cannot imagine how surreal it would be to retrace their steps.

Upon finishing it, I felt like I had more of an understanding of the mystery surrounding the hiker’s deaths. It is such a sad story but a fascinating mystery too. While it would be more interesting for aliens, Russian missiles or a yeti to be involved it is most likely something rather mundane. The conclusions reached by the author at the end seem more than plausible. If you love an unsolved mystery then you should try this. Maybe save it for a cold weekend in order to feel that atmosphere all around you as well.

The Blog Wants to Know: Feb. 2026

February is often a time to connect with a loved one, be it a friend, family member or partner. Whether you celebrate “the season of love” or not, this month’s blog question is sure to get you thinking.

This month, the blog wants to know:

If you could go on a dinner date (either romantic or platonic, your choice) with any character from a book, movie, or TV show, who would it be? What would you and this character talk about? What would you want to ask? Feel free to include more than one character if you’re struggling to narrow it down! 

Maycie, Public Support Services: Romantically — Hello Mr. Henry Tilney! He is my favorite Austen hero. He is snarky, smart and he is an “excellent judge” of muslins so you know you can trust him. 

Platonically — I think it would be very fun to have a night on the town with Merry and Pippin. You have to admit that they prove to know how to have a good time!

Kathy, Public Support Services: It would have to be Sean Connery and I would like to know what it was like growing up in Scotland and how he was selected to be the first James Bond.

Alyssa, Adult and Teen Services: One of my favorite books and films is The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd and the character of August Boatwright is such a gentle, motherly soul. She’s a beekeeper, a caretaker for her sisters, and a truly independent woman. Every word she says is pure wisdom. I’d love to talk with her and soak in all of her loving energy.

Kristy H., Public Support Services: My favorite person in the whole world is Jim Carey. Since as long as I can remember (all the way back to In Living Color), Jim Carey has always been my rock. Whenever I’m sad or lonely or need someone, he’s there to make me laugh. Never a dull movie! I feel my happiest when I watch him or hear his voice. I would just listen to him talk and talk about him and his day. He’s truly the best person to have a drink or laugh with.

Baya, Youth Services: Book-wise, I’m going to a mystery dinner with my pal Nancy Drew. I would also thank her for three generations of reading—my grandma, my mom, and me. Film-wise, I would love to have coffee at Central Perk with Joey and Chandler. Chandler’s sarcasm is funny, and Joey is endearing. I think they would be really great F.R.I.E.N.D.S to have!

Shane, Public Support Services: I would go with Geralt from the Witcher series. It would be difficult with this character, but I would just want him to talk about being a Witcher and some of his stories of slaying evil creatures. Maybe if we bring Jaskier along, he can do most of the storytelling, accompanied with fantastic music!

Annalise, Public Support Services: I think I would go on a platonic date with Fran Fine from the TV show The Nanny. It’s one of my go-to comfort shows to watch, and I’ve always loved her fun sense of style! So I’d ask her all about her outfits.

Now it’s your turn! Let us know which fictional character you would like to chat with in the comments below!

What’s Ashley Reading?: Dollface

Dollface by Lindy Ryan

First line: My little sister collides with the open doorway of the master bedroom, skidding to a halt at the foot of the bed in a gust of chlorine and sunscreen and girl sweat.

Summary: Jill, horror novelist and mother, has recently moved across the country with her family to New Jersey. On her first day in the new house she meets her sweeter than sugar neighbor and PTA enthusiast, Darla. In one interaction is she is part of the PTA and meets the women who will become the victims of a serial killer stalking the town. As Jill tries to use her knowledge of horror to figure out who is terrorizing the PTA moms she starts to worry that she might be the final girl in a real-life horror story.

My Thoughts: When I finished reading this I struggled with how to rate it. I had fun reading it but there were a few things I found to be a little much. Starting with the good, I would say that this is definitely a good slasher book. There is gore and horror to the scenes with the serial killer. While these moments were a bit too much for me, others will definitely like them. I felt like the pacing went well and the story was not drawn out. I never thought it was boring and I wanted to pick it up each night.

Now for the negatives. There was a phrase that seemed overly used, “creaky-not-creepy house”, which just made me roll my eyes by the third or fourth time. The thing that made my rating a three rather than four stars was the fact that I was sure who was behind from early on! It seemed rather obvious and some of the big reveals at the end were not as shocking as they should be.

With all this said, I let myself enjoy the almost ridiculousness of the story and have fun with it. Fans of campy horror or slashers will like this very reason. Just enjoy and do not think too much about it.

FYI: Very gory!

**Release date is February 24, 2026. Place it on hold today!

What’s Ashley Reading?: A Box Full of Darkness

A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James

First line: When I wake in the middle of the night, I don’t always see darkness.

Summary: Fell, New York is known for its strange occurrences. For the Esmie family the disappearance of the youngest child, Ben, it is what finally drives them out of town and to lose contact with each other. Each of the older siblings have been haunted by mysterious visions and a fear of returning to their family home. That is until one day their brother Ben appears at the house, still a child, and summons them home. Why is he all of a sudden back and where has he been all these years? Fighting their fears they return to see if they can finally figure out what happened during that fated game of hide and seek many years before.

My Thoughts: Simone St. James is a master of her craft. Her books are a perfect mix of mystery and horror. It is always enough to give you the creeps but still keeping you invested in the plot. With this book I loved her inclusion of Easter eggs from her previous books. Tying them all together was genius and so much fun for her devoted readers.

There was so much to love about this book. It was truly spooky. The abandoned family home that is basically been left as a tomb for their missing sibling. Each of the siblings had some sort of paranormal encounters from seeing ghosts, visions of drowning and bright lights that no one else can see. Then there is a ghost child leaving wet footprints on the floor. A town with a dark past that no one can explain. What more could you ask for?

I really, really enjoyed this book but I still had a few things that bothered me. The strong attachment to Ben seemed so strange to me. Maybe I just don’t understand it. My sister is close in age to myself and I never had to take care or raise her which could be the reason behind the sibling’s feelings. And then the ending seemed to be rather quick. I guess I just wasn’t ready for it to end. I will still recommend this to any and all readers who like a good ghost story but these things were what seemed odd to me during my reading of it.

FYI: Missing children, ghosts, death

What’s Ashley Reading?: The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher

The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher by Kate Summerscale

First line: On Sunday, 15 July 1860, Detective-Inspector Jonathan Whicher of Scotland Yard paid two shillings for a hansom cab to take him from Millbank, just west of Westminster, to Paddington station, the London terminus of the Great Western Railway.

Summary: It was in June of 1860 that the body of a small boy, Saville Kent, was found at the bottom of an outdoor privy (outhouse). He had his throat cut and dumped in the hole sometime during the night. The crime shocked the local community but it became national news upon the arrival of Detective Jonathan Whicher.

Detectives were a new invention and only a few existed in England. Upon his arrival at the Kent home, he began to suspect that someone inside the house was the perpetrator. Nevertheless, without clear evidence or a confession he was unable to prove anything. With the crime unsolved, he returned to London with his reputation in tatters. It was years later before justice was finally served and his theories proved correct.

My Thoughts: Last year I read Summerscale’s newest true crime book, The Peepshow, and found her work very intriguing. She goes to great lengths to research the people, the period and the workings of the criminal justice system.

Again, in this one she does the same. She lays out the events of the night in question, gives us information about the family and servants and explains how murders were investigate and solved in Victorian England. The most interesting part to me was the family dynamic. From the outset, you can tell that there is some strife going on in the household and it has made for a toxic environment. I think from early on you know who the killer is but with the lack of evidence and new art of detecting it is hard for Whicher to prove.

It is hard to imagine a world without a police force patrolling and investigating crimes but before 1829, there was no organized police to handle crime. So even by 1860 everything was still rather new. Quite a bit of the middle is spent on how the job of a detective was new and making its way into popular fiction as well. Summerscale gives examples of some of the first fictional detectives from books by Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins. While this is true crime, it also seems to be a history of detecting too.

This was a fascinating look into the world of a Victorian middle class family. By the end, we learn the fate of each of the main players in the story. I enjoyed this for the true crime but also the social history it presents.

FYI: Murder of a child.

What’s Ashley Reading?: A Year in Review

This was a busy year for reading! I completed 112 books in 2025 but there were a few standouts that I would highly recommend. Below are my top 10 books I read in 2025!

  1. Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian
  2. The Love Haters by Katherine Center
  3. Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
  4. First-Time Caller by B. K. Borison
  5. Finders Keepers by Sarah Adler
  6. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
  7. Warrior Princess Assassin by Brigid Kemmerer
  8. Boudicca’s Daughter by Elodie Harper
  9. The Undertaking of Hart & Mercy by Megan Bannen
  10. Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber

And I know that next year will have some great books for my TBR list. Here are the ones I am most looking forward too!

  1. Sparking Fire Out of Fate by Brigid Kemmerer (1/27/2026)
  2. And Now, Back To You by B. K. Borison (2/24/2026)
  3. Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line by Elle Cosimano (3/10/2026)
  4. Everyone In This Bank Is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson (3/17/2026)
  5. Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict (3/24/2026)
  6. The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer (4/21/2026)
  7. The Shippers by Katherine Center (5/19/2026)
  8. Wild Goose Chase by Sarah Adler (7/7/2026)
  9. The Unknown by Riley Sager (8/4/2026)
  10. Grim Tidings by B. K. Borison (9/1/2026)

What were your favorite reads of 2025? And what are you looking forward to the most in 2026? Leave us a comment!

What’s Ashley Reading?: Santa Cruise

Santa Cruise by Mary Higgins Clark & Carol Higgins Clark

First line: Randolph Weed, self-styled commodore, stood on the deck of his pride and joy, the Royal Mermaid, an old ship he had bought and paid a fortune to refurbish and on which he intended to spend the rest of his life playing host to both friends and paying guests.

Summary: The maiden voyage of the Royal Mermaid is turning out to be more eventful than the Commodore had hoped for. The Santa Cruise was set to launch with people of all sorts who had done good in their communities and donated to worthy causes. Among these are Alvirah, a lottery winner turned amateur sleuth, Regan Reilly, a private investigator, and two stowaways who are paying a fortune to escape from the law. As weird occurrences continue to happen Alvirah and Regan start putting the pieces together to find out who is sabotaging this holiday cruise.

My Thoughts: As part of my holiday TBR I picked up another Mary Higgins Clark book. This one brings together characters from her books, Alvirah Meehan and Regan Reilly from her daughter, Carol Higgins Clark’s, book series. I have not read either series yet but I met the characters in another holiday mystery last Christmas, Deck the Halls. Even without knowing the backstories I felt that it was easy to enjoy and follow the story.

This book had a cozier vibe to it than others I have read and it had a very complicated and sometimes ridiculous plot but I did have fun reading it, which is all that matters. There was a lot of coincidences that would never happen anywhere else than in fiction but this made it rather funny. There are two criminals hiding on the ship dressed as Santa Claus, a cabin mix-up leading to further complications and several sightings of a “ghost” which are the perfect recipe for a complicated but cozy mystery.

If you want something quick before Christmas than give this or Deck the Halls a chance. Each are short and sweet and will help get you in the holiday mood.

What’s Ashley Reading?: Vagabond

Vagabond by Tim Curry

First line: “Honey, you’re the third Tim Curry to call today,” she said, and hung up the phone.

Summary: Tim Curry has had a career that has spanned decades with some of the most memorable characters on stage and screen. In his memoir he explores his childhood as the son of a military chaplain, the start of his love for performing, the iconic roles throughout his career and overcoming the challenges following his stroke.

My Thoughts: I absolutely love Tim Curry. I always look forward to watching Rocky Horror Picture Show at Halloween (at times going to the midnight shows at the Orpheum). He stars alongside the Muppets in Muppet Treasure Island which is one of my favorite movies. Then I see him every Christmas as the creepy hotel worker in Home Alone 2. He can do so much and has been a part of my viewing life since I was a kid. When I saw that he was releasing an autobiography this year, which also coincides with the 50th anniversary of Rocky Horror and 40th anniversary of Clue, I immediately added it to my TBR.

Rather than reading it I decided to listen to the audiobook, especially since he reads it himself. It was a fascinating stroll through the ups and downs of his life and career. He makes a point at the start that he will not discuss personal relationships but focus on his work. For an actor who has spent so long in the public eye he has stayed very private about his personal life and he kept it that way here too. But as a reader I never even noticed the exclusion. He had so many stories about his work that he didn’t even need it.

After finishing the book I was just blown away by how much he has done, seen and lived. Listening to him reminisce was fascinating and to hear the behind the scenes stories made me love him and his work even more. If you love Rocky Horror or Clue or any of his other movies then this should be a must read. It will give you a new appreciation for the man who made these characters what they are.

What’s Ashley Reading?: The Winter People

The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon

First line: The first time I saw a sleeper, I was nine years old.

Summary: The town of West Hall, Vermont, has had a history of strange disappearances and deaths. One the first and most confounding is Sara Harrison Shea in 1908. She was found in her backyard shortly after the death of her daughter.

Now in the present day, Ruthie along with her mother and sister live in Sara’s house. Nothing strange has ever happened until one day Ruthie’s mother, Alice disappears without a trace. While Ruthie is searching for clues about where her mother has gone she discovers a copy of Sara’s diary. As she looks into the mystery surrounding Sara she starts to see some parallels with others who have searched for lost love ones. Could they all be connected somehow? What is happening on this farm in small town Vermont?

My Thoughts: I picked this up at a used bookstore with the plan to use it as a vacation read. I know it doesn’t look like something you’d take on a trip to sunny Florida but it was also October. I have read several of McMahon’s books and always really enjoyed them. She does a perfect mix of mystery with a paranormal twist.

I enjoyed the jumping between the historical events of Sara and the present day with Ruthie. Multiple timelines and flashbacks are one of my favorite writing formats. The Sara storyline was really creepy and gave me chills. It was a perfect pick for spooky season but under all the scary bits it brings forth a really difficult question. What would we be willing to do for a little more time with a loved one who has died? It seems so tempting but as we see in this novel it may not be all we expected it to be. This book will make you think deeper thoughts and scare you at the same time. If you want a book for those cold dark nights then this is it!

FYI: Trigger warning : Death of a child, murder, scary scenes.

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