~ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

This book wrapped me up in its warm arms while I was suffering with covid and in a reading slump. I’ll always treasure it close to my heart for that.

If you’re looking for something cozy to bury yourself into this Fall, but with a little bit of action, mystery and overall wholesomeness, then Autumn Embers is the perfect book for you!

I loved every second of this story. It transported me from my sick bed to a wonderful, crisp, autumn in Kyoto. The writing is so beautifully descriptive, it felt like I was actually there alongside Bianca in her travels. I was truly immersed in the beautiful culture of Japan that emanated through the pages of this book.

Although slightly slow at times, I loved how this story constantly reminded me to live in the present and not to worry about my past or future. For someone who suffers with anxiety, I felt like this book was teaching me a very personal lesson, and one I will definitely learn from.

~ Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author and publisher, for allowing me to read your eARC in exchange for an honest review!

There are two story lines in this novel. Bianca, the amateur sleuth, is in Japan visiting her son. At the same time, Sheriff Mike is back in New York dealing with new information on the death of his partner nine years ago when he was with the NYPD. Mike is also facing the stress of an election, struggling to retain his position.

Bianca's time in Kyoto is almost like a travelogue until there is a murder. Readers are immersed in the culture and society of the city. There is a dangerous underworld present, however and an unsavory character is murdered. He offended many and was not well liked so there are plenty of suspects, including Bianca's son. This story line is parallel with Mike's back in New York as new evidence in the old crime means he is considered a suspect in his partner's death. DeBellegarde links the two stories by having Mike help Bianca gather needed information leading to the mystery's resolution.

This is a good mystery for readers who like one containing a deep sense of place. Here we find out much about Kyoto as Bianca travels its streets and experiences its culture. I do have a pet peeve of an author including a suspense filled dream without letting readers know right off it is a dream. DeBellegarde does that here. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this novel as I have the earlier ones in the series. While there are some mentions of events from previous novels, this one does read well on its own.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Whilst ostensibly a murder mystery, this is really a story about family. Bianca is grieving the loss of her husband; Ian is trying to come out of his father's shadow; Mike is trying to decide whether his marriage is fixable or irrevocably broken. The story delves into some deep themes but does so in a light manner rather than being intense/depressing. In doing this, it's a light read for a warm summer's evening. The author does well in keeping the dual location storylines going as well as filling the reader in on anything crucial which had happened in the previous novels of the series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was surprised by this delightful little read! I’ve always found most stories deemed ‘cozy mysteries’ a bit silly; but, as I was reading this, I kept thinking that this book was literally a ‘cozy mystery’.

<b>What worked for me:</b>
• I didn’t realize this was third in a series and was delighted at how the author brought those of us unfamiliar with the story so far, along for the ride. I was able to immerse myself in the spaces and the story without feeling like I was missing key information or context!
• Sense of place: Both Kyoto and Batavia (which I pictured similarly to the Eastern Townships in Québec) were well done. I was impressed with how sensitively Kyoto and its culture and customs were portrayed. The imagery the author created was truly magnificent and I was transported to Kyoto! I grew up in rural Canada and Batavia whisked me back with some of its descriptions and characters too.
• I loved the theme of community and found family… especially among the expat community in Kyoto. While I understand how those communities can become toxic or stifling, the one in our book was supportive and inclusive which was enjoyable to read.
• Bianca and Ian’s relationship: As an expat living far away from her mom, I loved everything about this relationship and the time these characters spent together. Most of Bianca’s decisions were solid and I loved that she didn’t meddle with Ian’s life or decisions. When Bianca said farewell to Ian at the airport to go home, her speech about not wanting to be the reason that Ian returned to NY was similar to one that my parents gave me when I moved abroad. That whole scene was a really emotional read!
• While there was some instances where characters didn’t tell each other everything straight away, they were pretty good about open and honest communication with each other… even if sometimes they were withholding information in a misguided attempt to ‘protect’ the other person!
• The pacing was expertly done: I read this book in a few hours and was hooked throughout. It wasn’t break-neck which allowed me to digest it and, while some sections were more interesting than others (Bianca’s adventure vs the Sheriff election, for example), the author knew this and we didn’t spend excessive time in the slower bits. I was deeply impressed with the pacing overall.
• Bianca made some inquiries but she never interfered with the police investigation (one of my primary bugbears in what’s touted as ‘cozy mysteries’). She helped them, made some discreet inquiries, and recognized that they were best-placed to solve the crime. The whole thing felt a bit more plausible.

<b>What I wasn’t so keen on: </b>
• Some repetition with some descriptions, spoken lines, and character thoughts.
• Everyone was a bit too <I>nice</I>except for the Bad People who were Bad. I would have liked to see a bit more complexity in our characters than I did.
• The story was a bit predictable: <spoilers removed>
• Plotholes: for example, <spoilers removed>
• My understanding of Japanese language is very limited. Can someone explain to me what the faux-pas was that Bianca made when she spoke Italian? I assumed that it was something rude or funny but it wasn't translated so the full effect was lost on me!

While not a perfect read, there’s a lot to like about this book. If you’re looking for a cozy, autumnal read that’s gentle without being saccharine and transports you to Kyoto in the fall, I recommend checking this out. 🍁

I’m deeply appreciative of Level Best Books for making this available on NetGalley.

If a book is set in Kyoto, I definitely want to read it. But, I also worry about how the author will treat my favorite city. Happily this author knows her stuff and I felt at home in her settings and smiled to myself when reading her descriptions of the many places and charms of this special city.
Knowing that the book was part of a series, and having not read any of the others, my next concern was whether or not the book would work as a stand alone. Again, I was happy to find that it did, but when I finished reading I realized that I wanted to know more about some of the characters so I will certainly seek out previous books by this author.
I admired how deftly the author is able to maintain the flow of two stories at once as there are happenings in both Batavia and Kyoto. It's an easy flow and makes for smooth reading. The story itself works well as a mystery and kept me wondering how it would all come together. It's one of those stories that you hate to see end. I wanted Bianca to have a few more adventures! I look forward to the next book in this series for that reason.
The theme of chosen families is one that is very timely as the world becomes smaller and smaller, but creates more physical distance between family members. For readers who themselves are part of a chosen family this will give all the warm feelings. It's a great theme for the book and a theme that the author has obviously put a lot of thought into and has expressed those thoughts very sweetly.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. I look forward to learning whether or not Bianca ever learns her directions!