LONDON’S HIGH SOCIETY, titled Russian expatriates, and complex murders add up to a snazzy 1922-set procedural!

STEAMPUNK, ALIEN LIZARDS, and a queenly Dahomeyan secret agent assassin add up to complex alt-Victorian fun.

BREATHTAKING HISTORICAL FANTASY: glorious take on the power of magic AND sharp commentary on race in the US.

WELL-CRAFTED REGENCY COZY mystery, complete with an Austenesque plucky, bookish spinster sleuth. Quality fun.

GORGEOUS, CHILLING, POETIC evocation of the lives of early 20th-century Japanese “picture brides” in the US.

CHANNELING HUNTER S. THOMPSON for a Lovecraftian retelling of Nixon’s second victory? An idea so crazy it works!

STEAMPUNK AND THE TALL TALES of the 19th century American frontier combine in a clever Twain-like picaresque.

1920s PARIS, VIVIDLY reimagined from the point of view of Hadley Richardson (Mrs. Ernest) Hemingway. Great beachread!

ELIZABETHAN THRILLER STARS philosopher Giordano Bruno as sleuth; rich in details of court life, low on thrills. B MINUS

AMBITIOUS HISTORICAL THRILLER begins with interesting premise, but tries too hard and ends up over the top.