Book Review: Memories, Magic, and Mayhem

Book #53 for 2025: Memories, Magic, and Mayhem by K. Starling, 5/5 ★
278 pages / published February 2025 / available here

Goodreads blurb: Propriety insists ladies should never sprint, exchange gunfire, or perfect a right hook. How dull. Since Penelope Sedgewick felt such arbitrary societal expectations were rubbish, she became a sleuth. When not avoiding dances or calls by tiresome would-be suitors, she investigates delicate matters for ladies—love nests, stolen jewels, missing husbands who may or may not have been eaten by dragons—the usual. When a lady from another time falls dead at her feet, she plunges headlong into the past (literally) to unravel a mystery thirty years in the making. Penelope’s skills will be put to the test as she wrestles with ghosts from her future, tiresome rakes, and even Fate, all while concealing her magical abilities.

My review: An absolute delight, and possibly better than the first book! This sequel transports readers straight back into Starling’s Alderwood universe of whimsy, adventure, and heart. As passionate readers know, the best position to be in is deep in a book you can't bring yourself to read more slowly, but also dread coming to an end…which is exactly where I found myself in MM&M. Characters gain even more depth, a fresh plot is full of adventure, and the only romance depicted on the page is the most earnest, heartwarming reflection that brought tears to my eyes. I’m stingy with 5 star books, but for my first ever “I can’t believe I bought this on Kindle, because now I definitely need physical copies too” – it is earned. I only hope Starling continues to delight readers with this series! (please please!)