This feature is where I spotlight older, recent, or upcoming releases I am looking forward to. The lists will include all genres I like to read, everything from picture books to comics, children’s lit to adult fiction!

First up is No Matter How Improbable, the third entry in the Portia Adams historical mystery series from Canadian author Angela Misri. I adored the first two titles in this Sherlockian-inspired world, and look very much forward to more of this beautifully written young adult series.

No Matter How Improbable (Portia Adams Adventures #3) by Angela Misri
Expected Publication: March 22, 2016 by Fierce Ink Press

Can Portia Adams right all that has happened in her brief absence in Italy or will she lose someone she loves to the gray London streets?

Second up is Jolly Foul Play, the fourth entry in the wonderful historical mystery series, Wells & Wong, from British author Robin Stevens. The Wells & Wong middle grade series is, like the Portia Adams series, rich in historical detail and features strong female protagonists. If you are on the lookout for British-set cozy mysteries in middle grade lit or young adult, then I would definitely recommend these series!

Jolly Foul Play (Wells & Wong #4) by Robin Stevens
Expected Publication: March 24, 2016 by Puffin

Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong have returned to Deepdean for a new school term, but nothing is the same. There’s a new Head Girl, Elizabeth Hurst, and a team of Prefects – and these bullying Big Girls are certainly not good eggs. Then, after the fireworks display on Bonfire Night, Elizabeth is found – murdered.

Many girls at Deepdean had reason to hate Elizabeth, but who might have committed such foul play? Could the murder be linked to the secrets and scandals, scribbled on scraps of paper, that are suddenly appearing around the school? And with their own friendship falling to pieces, how will Daisy and Hazel solve this mystery?

Another year of reading is inching its way to an end! All around, I would say that it has been a pretty solid year of reads: from brilliant and moving picture books, to gems in young adult, children’s and adult fiction, there have been a number of winners.

I am so happy to say that though I did not read a ton of YA, there were a number of terrific– smart, sharp, meaningful, innovative- teen titles in the relatively small selection I did get to. Great crop! In no particular order, here are my picks for best young adult fiction:

The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand
A Sense of the Infinite by Hilary T. Smith
Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman
Tonight the Streets Are Ours by Leila Sales
The Truth Commission by Susan Juby
Thrice Burned (Portia Adams Adventure #2) by Angela Misri
Simon Vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Conviction by Kelly Loy Gilbert

*Some titles may not have been published in 2015; the books are titles I read over the last year. Some titles may have been gifted from publishers in exchange for honest reviews; this had no impact on placing in this list.

Review: Thrice Burned (Portia Adams Adventure #2) by Angela Misri
Source: ARC courtesy of Fierce Ink Press. Thank you!
Expected Publication: March 24, 2015 by Fierce Ink Press
Verdict: Very Good/Excellent

Book Description:

If you play with fire, you might get burned.

Portia is still reeling from finding out that her guardian, Mrs. Jones, is actually the infamous Irene Adler and her grandmother. As if that wasn’t shocking enough, Sherlock Holmes is her grandfather, a secret Portia’s mother took to her grave. As a diversion, Portia throws herself into work and continues to consult with Scotland Yard on their hard-to-crack cases, including a brazen theft that the perpetrator boasted about before it took place, as well as the disappearance of prostitutes. While on the trail of an arsonist she meets Annie, a resourceful reporter. They strike up a friendship and Annie starts to report on “P.C. Adams”, the consulting detective keeping London safe, but she promises to keep Portia’s true identity secret. Neighbor Constable Brian Dawes takes a shine to Annie just as Portia starts to question her own feelings for him. At the same time Portia attracts the attention of Gavin Whitaker, a medical student and her intellectual equal. He may just be the distraction she needs.

As the press starts to show an interest in P.C. Adams, an impostor comes forward, and Portia must choose between remaining anonymous and letting the world know the truth.

I think all readers hope for novels in a series to steadily grow and heighten in story and character as subsequent books follow. While I find that this doesn’t happen often enough, I am happy to say that Thrice Burned absolutely shines.

Over the course of this novel we see quite a bit of development in Portia’s social life: her meeting of and growing friendship with reporter Annie Coleson; the affectionate interest of a handsome, determined doctor named Gavin Whitaker; and the increasing friction between her and Constable Brian Dawes (who was introduced in book one).  While some attention is placed on Portia’s affections and emotions for both Brian and Dr. Whitaker (and her insecurities), neither romance nor a plausible love triangle is the focus. I think that Misri did a great job here, building supporting and main characters and Portia’s case work instead of following the line of romance. Portia’s professional work, friendship with and respect of the police and doctors she works with is the cornerstone here and I think this sequel is all the stronger for it. Romance and relationships may become a larger focus in the next novel, and I think it will be all the more enjoyable and interesting because of the foundation laid out here and in book one.

Regarding Portia’s detective work, I especially enjoyed and was taken in with the breadth of detail in each of Portia’s case books. It a bit funny because I found the first novel to be dragging in some portions and hoped for a faster clip in future installments; in Thrice Burned there are more technicalities and pieces of information given for each major case but Misri makes it work so well and it flows at smooth pace. I personally found that the writing became sharper, more focused and fluid as the cases went on. The last casebook, Truth Be Told– regarding missing female street workers and a highly suspicious reverend- was fascinating. Whether due to the case’s slightly grittier nature, Portia’s sheer tenacity, or that it afforded eerie parallels to present-day, I thought the last case book was really gripping.

What I also found interesting is that while Portia- along with Dawes and other prominent members of Scotland Yard- figure their way through major three cases, not everything gets resolved. In other words, things do not necessarily wrap up tidily. Loose threads start to appear between cases and criminals; the Yard starts to falter and hints at a potential threat to come from upper agencies. Furthermore, on top of Portia’s qualms about coming forward publicly to news agencies about her work with the Yard, she worries greatly about what will happen if more people discover that both Irene Adler and Sherlock Holmes are her relatives. Multiple threats to Portia herself and Scotland Yard start to emerge in this novel; I started to wonder if or when we might be introduced to a Moriarty-type character! Someone utterly sinister and twisted…with his or her heart set on extinguishing a descendent of Holmes. Needless to say, there is quite a bit left untied here; all the more for the next Portia Adams Adventure to sink into, I think!

Overall, this sequel did impress. Portia is slowly growing into first-rate character for me; one that I genuinely like and look forward to reading more about. She is exceedingly bright but with a level of empathy that can often be lacking in other brilliant detectives. If you have read and enjoyed Jewel of the Thames, then I highly recommend continuing on with the series.  As I noted previously, readers on the lookout for intelligently written historical mysteries, detective fiction, and/or Sherlock Holmes-inspired YA, might want to try this series out. Fans of this series, myself firmly included, can look forward to a third Portia Adams Adventure expected in 2016.

This blog tour- featuring reviews, Q&A’s, and guest posts from Angela herself- is taking place from March 9th to March 24th on various Canadian blogger sites. The tour will be stopping by right here this coming Tuesday, March 10th!

For more information on the tour and blogger line-up please check out Fierce Ink Press’s post!

Source: ebook, Published March 25, 2014 by Fierce Ink Press Co-op Ltd

Verdict: Good/Very Good

Book Description:

There’s a new detective at 221 Baker Street

Set against the background of 1930s England, Jewel of the Thames introduces Portia Adams, a budding detective with an interesting — and somewhat mysterious — heritage.

Nineteen-year-old Portia Adams has always been inquisitive. There’s nothing she likes better than working her way through a mystery. When her mother dies, Portia puzzles over why she was left in the care of the extravagant Mrs. Jones but doesn’t have long to dwell on it before she is promptly whisked from Toronto to London by her new guardian. Once there Portia discovers that she has inherited 221 Baker Street — the former offices of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.

Portia settles into her new home and gets to know her downstairs tenants, including the handsome and charming Brian Dawes. She also finds herself entangled in three cases: the first involving stolen jewelry, the second a sick judge and the final case revolving around a kidnapped child. But the greatest mystery of all is her own. How did she come to inherit this townhouse? And why did her mother keep her heritage from her? Portia has a feeling Mrs. Jones knows more than she is letting on. In fact, she thinks her new guardian may be the biggest clue of all.

If you, like me, are keen for more Sherlock Holmes-inspired tales and 20th century-era YA mysteries, then Jewel of the Thames may be for you!

Misri has created what I think is an intriguing take on the legend of Sherlock Holmes, bringing promising charm to a beloved (and very copied) oeuvre. As the description notes, our main character Portia Adams comes suddenly into the inheritance of 221 Baker Street- the famous dwelling of Holmes and Watson- forcing her move from Toronto to London in the 1930s. With her mother recently deceased and no one answering questions of ‘why’, Portia takes it upon herself to figure out her links to Watson and Holmes. Mrs. Irene Jones, a formidable and charismatic older woman appointed as guardian of Portia, remains relatively close lipped about Portia’s inquiries into the famous duo.

While investigating her own lineage and her mother’s possible deceptions about her true relatives, Portia slowly becomes a force in helping out Scotland Yard with a number of cases. I appreciate a good story featuring an independent and resourceful female protagonist, and the character of Portia Adams is precisely that. Portia is written as a very capable, highly observant, intelligent woman from the get go. With generous monetary help from Irene Jones, Portia begins to study law at university, so her jump into police investigation flows wonderfully with the story. Additionally, the end of the novel closes with a great reveal from Irene Jones, leaving quite a bit of room for more intricate- and possibly higher-caliber- mysteries.

I will say that those just looking for rip-roaring, high-speed sort of a mystery (or mysteries) might need to look elsewhere: Jewel of the Thamesis rather careful in its pace, build and climaxes. This is not necessarily a bad thing, though I hope for future Portia adventures and mysteries, the pace and plotting clips up a little bit! Fans of Y.S. Lee’s fantastic historical The Agency series (a favourite series of mine); Jennifer McGowan’s Maid of Secrets; Canadian author Kit Pearson; cozy mysteries; or BBC mysteries might especially enjoy this novel.