Intrigued? Read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from A Pair of Aces by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray, which releases on June 2nd 2026.

Eunice Carter, assistant district attorney for the City of New York and Manhattan’s first Black female prosecutor, has her sights set on the one and only Lucky Luciano, head of New York City’s five largest organized crime families. Other prosectors have tried to bring down Lucky, but they’ve all focused on the crime syndicate’s traditional businesses—bootlegging, gambling, loan sharking, and drug dealing—or tax evasion. No one has thought to approach the mob through its role in prostitution. Until Eunice. But she can’t get Luciano alone.

Polly Adler has worked long and hard to build up her high-class brothel business. Her client list is filled with well-known names, both the famous and the infamous, who all know her booze is top-notch, her music first-rate, her food exquisite, and her girls the best. But Lucky has gone too far, putting her girls in danger, and Polly finally sees the chance to end his reign once and for all.

Together, Eunice and Polly fashion a case utilizing a network of women. Bridging the enormous divide between them and risking their own lives, they assemble evidence bit by bit, under the nose of the man they’re trying to convict. It is this very alliance—of two women from vastly different worlds—that launches the most sensational trial New York City has ever seen.

Chapter Three

Polly

New York, New York

April 4, 1935

The sharp clip of heels on concrete echoes throughout my cell, growing louder with each step, and I brace myself. The fast tempo isn’t the lazy thunk of a guard’s boots or even the confident, slightly bored stride of a lawyer’s dark tan Derby shoes. No, the staccato, metallic sound is unusual for the corridors of the 30th Precinct Station House, and yet, I should be able to identify it. After all, I’ve spent many a long hour listening to the clatter of shoes as they cross bedroom floors to engage in all manner of debauchery.

I start to get concerned, and then I have it. Only the heel of a woman’s oxford pump could make that sort of solid but somehow dainty rat-a-tat-tat. With its elegant, womanly heel curving into a narrow point and its sensible perforated top designed to resemble a man’s oxford dress shoe, the oxford pump is the shoe of a woman who stands between two worlds. The shoe of a woman who means business but hasn’t entirely surrendered her femininity. Among other things.

But now I’m even more curious. Because it’s strange that the sort of person who’d wear those shoes would be in this jail. The 30th Precinct Station House is the place for the drug addicts and drunks and streetwalkers and thieves who’ve been hauled in; even I don’t really belong here, and neither do my girls. Unless, it comes to me, the woman in the oxford pumps is a rare female lawyer. Who else would have access to jail cells in the 30th Precinct Station House?

With this thought, a new sort of worry sets in. Could she be here for me? When I was booked into the station, the charge was listed as pandering, or “facilitating prostitution.” I’ve batted away this charge time and time again, but I haven’t heard a peep from the cops or my lawyer since. Even when I asked to call my attorney. What if I’m being held here on pandering charges, but they’re really planning on squeezing me for information on Dutch? Do the cops know that he and his thugs were in that hotel suite with us—just before Coll was murdered?

My heart begins thudding in time with her step. Not that an onlooker could tell. Should the unkempt detainee slouched against the cinder block wall in the cell abutting mine wake up and look in my direction, she’d see a petite, well-manicured, composed woman of an indeterminate age in sky-high heels. I’d seem out of place among the common criminals surrounding me, with the exception of my girls, of course. And they’ve been placed in cells scattered around the jail, so we aren’t close enough to talk.

I pull my fur stole tight around my shoulders like a shield. I’ve worked long and hard to build up my business—traveled far from Russia with its poverty and its pogroms and endured far worse on the shores of this so-called Golden Land—and I have no intention of returning to a desultory existence. Just like I have no intention of a life without the regular feel of a fur stole on my cheek.

So when the clatter of heels grows louder and abruptly stops in front of my cell, I do not look up. Leaning against the hard steel bars that constitute one of the walls of my cell, I keep my eyes firmly fixed on the dingy gray cell floor before me as if there’s no one there at all.

A long moment ensues. A powdery lemon scent drifts into my cell—could it be Charles of the Ritz’s new Jean Naté?—and I learn something else about the woman outside my cage. Her fragrance, decidedly not floral or fussy, is worlds away from the heavy, spicy, sometimes musky perfumes my girls wear. Or the distinctive Chanel and Lanvin concoctions chosen by the few select grand dames who frequent my house. It is the scent chosen by a woman with means who intends to be taken seriously.

Neither of us speaks for a long moment. Finally, she clears her throat. “Miss Adler?”

There, between the steel-gray bars of my cell, I peer first at her shoes: two-toned oxford pumps. I have to suppress a self-satisfied smile. I knew it. Working my way upward, I take note of the sensible stockings and the navy worsted wool skirt, the coordinating jacket cinched at the waist with a cordovan leather belt that matches her shoes. All as I expected for a woman lawyer.

Then my eyes reach her attractive face with its symmetrical features, arched brows, and stern lips, and nothing is as I guessed. Because the woman standing before me is the rarest of creatures. Not only is she a woman in a man’s world, but she’s a colored woman in a white man’s world. I’ve forged my way in a man’s world, too, but nothing quite like this.

“Who’s asking?” I answer when my eyes meet hers.

My tone is barbed, because I’ve got to be very, very careful to whom I speak and what I say. I’m no stranger to getting pinched, but the more I think about it, the stranger this latest arrest seems. The timing on the heels of Dutch and his men rushing out to witness the shoot-up of Mad Dog Coll, for instance, which I know did happen, because I’ve heard the guards natter on about it. The way in which the Algonquin lobby had been cleared out and the cops ready for us, as another example. Either I’m being set up to turn on Dutch, maybe for the role he played in the murder of Mad Dog, or someone identified me as the Polly Adler on the way to an assignation with my girls at the Algonquin Hotel and really has it out for me. Regardless, I’ve got to protect myself, and that includes not becoming a rat.

“Assistant District Attorney Eunice Carter,” the woman answers.

A colored female assistant district attorney? I thought I’d never see the day. In fact, it occurs to me that the only one I’ve ever heard of is the woman Dewey hired for his special group of lawyers dedicated to fighting the Mob. My stomach lurches at the thought that this Eunice Carter could be one of Dewey’s and that she might be here specifically to get me to talk about Dutch. Why else would she come here now?

Even if this Eunice Carter doesn’t know that I’ve interacted with Dutch, and even if she’s not one of Dewey’s special twenty, the fact that an assistant district attorney is here to talk to me isn’t good news. It means that this was no normal police roundup. Or maybe that I’m no normal inmate.

I will myself to stay still, stay silent, and I remind myself that it isn’t necessarily about Dutch. After all, the name Polly Adler is known in and of itself, and arresting me for pandering is a feather in the cap for any cop or assistant district attorney. I must wait for this unusual woman to play her cards.

She’s patient and steely, though, and can play the waiting game, too. Our eyes are locked—hers deep, dark brown and mine a coppery shade. Just when I think I might break first, she says, “I’m here to talk to you about your work.”

“And what work would that be?” I ask, trying to make my face the picture of innocence. I will give up nothing to this woman.

“I understand you run a house of prostitution,” she says matter-of-factly, gesturing down the row of jail cells. “In fact, I think a few of your girls might have been brought in with you.”

“I don’t know what on earth you’re talking about.” I shake my head as if her comment is ludicrous.

“Actually, I’ve heard that you run the most prestigious house of prostitution in the city. Apparently, you’re so famous that the phrase ‘going to Polly’s’ has become a euphemism for engaging in the sort of illicit fun you offer.”

I will not be lured in by her compliments; I wasn’t born yesterday.

When I don’t speak, she continues. “Miss Adler, I am not here to gather evidence for the pandering charges that have been lodged against you. I’m only interested in learning how your business operates. I promise.”

She seems earnest, and honestly, I’m relieved that she’s not asking any questions about Dutch or the Mob. But it’s clear this Eunice Carter doesn’t understand anything about me or my business if she thinks I’ll roll over so easily. I keep my lips sealed.

“Miss Adler, I’d be grateful for any information you might be willing to share. It must be a thrill to run an establishment as well-known as Polly’s, and quite exciting for the girls who work there.” She pushes on, a pleading note in her voice.

Here she goes with the flattery again. I’ve got to shut this down. “Assistant District Attorney Carter,” I say, enunciating every syllable. “I don’t know a thing about running a ‘house of prostitution.’ My arrest is a big mistake. I’m just a lady who was out on the town for a few drinks with some friends. But I will tell you something for nothing. No girl wakes up in the morning wishing to spend her life as a whore.”

Excerpted from A Pair of Aces by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray Copyright © 2026 by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘A Pair of Aces’ by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Get ready to look forward to some great fiction book releases in 2026! We’ve rounded up just a few fiction books releasing between January and June from thrillers and historical fiction, to stories of friendship and family, and more. With new releases from Jennifer Niven, Simone St. James, Claire Heywood, Catriona Ward, CG Drews, Natalie Haynes, Megan Lally, Xochitl Gonzalez, Emma Straub, Kylie Lee Baker, Nick Cutter, Catherine Adel West, Jennifer Saint, Rob Hart, and more, plus debut novels, you’ll be sure to find quite a few exciting new reads within this list!

Be sure to check out our other 2026 round-ups too, including our Most Anticipated, Romance, Fantasy and Sci-Fi, and Young Adult lists!

JANUARY 2026 FICTION BOOK RELEASES

Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven

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Funny, big-hearted, and deeply moving, Meet the Newmans is a rich family story about the dual lives we lead. Because even when our lives aren’t televised weekly, we all have a behind-the-scenes.

Is This A Cry For Help? by Emily Austin

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A luminous new novel following a librarian who comes back to work after a mental breakdown only to confront book-banning crusaders in an empowering story of grief, love, and the power of libraries.

Women of a Promiscuous Nature by Donna Everhart

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Based on the long-buried history of the American Plan, this powerful and shockingly timely story of resistance and resilience exposes the real government program designed to regulate women’s bodies and sexuality throughout the first half of the 20th century.

Dandelion Is Dead by Rosie Storey

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With sparkling wit and aching tenderness, debut author Rosie Storey gives us a modern love story about the courage it takes to live again after loss and finding hope in the most unexpected places.

Skylark by Paula McLain

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The New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Wife weaves a mesmerizing tale of Paris above and below—where a woman’s quest for artistic freedom in 1664 intertwines with a doctor’s dangerous mission during the German occupation in the 1940s, revealing a story of courage and resistance that transcends time.

You’ll Never Forget Me by Isha Raya

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In this captivating cat-and-mouse thriller, a struggling actress is only just beginning to enjoy the life sheʼs always wanted after inadvertently killing her rival—but now she must contend with the woman who threatens to take it all away.

Burn Down Master’s House by Clay Cane

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Inspired by long-buried true stories of enslaved people who dared to fight back, this powerful novel offers a searing portrayal of resistance. 

The Midnight Carousel by Fiza Saeed McLynn

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The Night Circus meets Water for Elephants in this enchanting, darkly glittering story of grief, obsession, revenge, and enduring love.

The Briars by Sarah Crouch

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The USA TODAY bestselling author of Middletide returns with a lush and atmospheric novel of suspense following a young woman whose job as a game warden puts her in the path of a murderer in a small town eager to protect its own.

Just Watch Me by Lior Torenberg

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Fleabag meets Big Swiss in this bold debut about a charismatic misfit who livestreams her life for seven days and nights to raise money to save her comatose sister—a poignant and darkly funny exploration of grief, forgiveness, and redemption.

A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James

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Simone St. James, the New York Times bestselling author of The Sun Down Motel, returns with her scariest, most shocking novel yet in this pulse-pounding story about siblings who return to the house they fled 18 years before, called back by the ghost of their long-missing brother and his haunting request: Come home.

The Seven Daughters of Dupree by Nikesha Elise Williams

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From the two-time Emmy Award–winning producer and host of the Black and Published podcast comes a sweeping multi-generational epic following seven generations of Dupree women as they navigate love, loss, and the unyielding ties of family in the tradition of Homegoing and The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois.

FEBRUARY 2026 FICTION BOOK RELEASES

The Exes by Leodora Darlington

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Who hasn’t wanted to murder an ex—figuratively, at least? In this explosive debut thriller, a woman’s seemingly perfect romantic life is on the verge of collapse as she uncovers a hidden history surfacing dark secrets that have deadly consequences.

A Crown of Stars by Shana Abe

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A sumptuously vivid and poignant account of the Lusitania’s fateful last days, drawn from the true story of an extraordinary young actress who survived the unthinkable—for fans of Marie Benedict, Louis Bayard, Fiona Davis, Kate Quinn, and HBO’s The Gilded Age.

The Wandering Queen by Claire Heywood

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An epic and fiercely imaginative retelling of the story of queen Dido, the legendary founder of Carthage, from the author of the national bestseller Daughters of Sparta.

Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris

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From acclaimed author Terah Shelton Harris comes a poignant story of survival and redemption that questions what it means to stop existing and start living.

The Fourth Princess by Janie Chang

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From the internationally bestselling author of The Porcelain Moon comes a haunting Gothic novel set in 1911 China. Two young women living in a crumbling, once-grand Shanghai mansion face danger as secrets of their pasts come to light, even as the mansion’s own secret threatens the present.

Out of the Loop by Katie Siegel

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The Seven Year Slip meets Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers in this wholly original time loop mystery.

Superfan by Jenny Tinghui Zhang

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From National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 honoree Jenny Tinghui Zhang, a novel about a pop idol and his superfan, whose stories shockingly collide

The Midnight Taxi by Yosha Gunasekera

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When the last fare of the night turns up dead in her backseat, a Sri Lankan American taxi driver works off the clock to clear her name in this mystery novel by debut author Yosha Gunasekera.

Adrift by Will Dean

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A high-tension thriller about a family’s descent into darkness that is perfect for fans of Dennis Lehane and Lisa Jewell.

A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage by MK Oliver

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A whip-smart and darkly funny crime novel—perfect for fans of My Sister, the Serial Killer and The Maid—that follows a wife and mother with a deadly secret that she must suppress if she wants to maintain her picture-perfect façade.

Bad Asians by Lillian Li

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From the acclaimed author of Number One Chinese Restaurant comes an affecting novel about an unforgettable group of friends trying to make their way in the world without losing themselves, or one another.

Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward

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Nowhere Burning is a harrowing tale of survival that places the dark fairy tale of Peter Pan and the ruthless dangers of Lord of the Flies into the unforgiving maw of the Colorado Rockies.

MARCH 2026 FICTION BOOK RELEASES

No Friend To This House by Natalie Haynes

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No Friend to This House is an extraordinary reimagining of the myth of Medea from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Stone Blind, Natalie Haynes.

Wretch by Eric LaRocca

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From rising horror star and award-winning author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke comes a nightmarish, haunting, tech-Gothic thrill ride about sorrow, memory, and the unabashed complexity of love as a transgressive act.

You Did Nothing Wrong by C.G. Drews

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Domestic suspense meets haunted house horror in this adult debut from the New York Times bestselling author of Don’t Let the Forest In.

Strangers In The Villa by Robyn Harding

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From the international bestselling author of The Drowning Woman, a psychological thriller about a couple rocked by infidelity who moves to a villa in Spain’s Costa Brava to rebuild their relationship, only to welcome a pair of visitors who have no intention of leaving.  

How Simi Got Her Groom Back by Sonali Dev

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Two sisters face the real consequences of a fake marriage scheme in an emotional yet hilarious novel about immigration, healing, and family from USA Today bestselling author Sonali Dev.

Bloom by Robbie Couch

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From the New York Times bestselling author of If I See You Again Tomorrow comes a delightful and heartwarming novel about family, love, grief, and one precocious houseplant, that reminds us of the beauty of living a life in full Bloom.

Dig by J. H. Markert

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J. H. Markert returns with a surreal horror novel, perfect for fans of Graveyard Shift and What Moves the Dead.

This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum

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Best friends Benny and Joy like to say they’ve been saving each other’s lives since the moment they met. Until the day Joy disappears and Benny is suspected of murder . . .

Turn Off the Light by Jacquie Walter

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Two women living centuries apart are bound by the same dark secret in this haunting novel that “upends everything you think you know about ghost stories” (Jennifer McMahon, author of The Winter People).

Sweetbitter Song by Rosie Hewlett

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Perfect for fans of The Song of Achilles and from the award-winning author of The Witch of Colchis comes a profoundly moving story of two women on the shores of Ithaca, in the shadows of a legendary war, who must face their own battle – one of sisterhood, survival, and a forbidden love that could destroy them both.

What We Did To Survive by Megan Lally

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A vacation in paradise turns deadly when four teens’ sailing charter hits stormy seas in this propulsive new thriller from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Megan Lally!

Finlay Donovan Crosses The Line by Elle Cosimano

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From New York Times bestseller Elle Cosimano comes Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line—the highly anticipated next installment in the beloved Finlay Donovan series.

APRIL 2026 FICTION BOOK RELEASES

Last Night in Brooklyn by Xochitl Gonzalez

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New York Times bestselling author Xochitl Gonzalez delivers a captivating story about a young woman whose life becomes ensnared in her glamorous neighbor’s secret past

A Murder Most Camp by Nicolas DiDomizio

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The Guncle meets Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies in this fun, twisty mystery following a spoiled nepo baby forced to work at a struggling summer camp who stumbles into a real-life murder mystery he has no choice but to solve.

We Would Never Tell by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau

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A high-glamour, high-stakes thriller trailing three ambitious women as they navigate Hollywood’s secrets, sins, and scandals during 12 days at the Cannes Film Festival. 

American Fantasy by Emma Straub

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From New York Times bestselling author of This Time Tomorrow, an irresistible story about what happens when your teenage fantasy comes true after you’re already an adult.

The Girls Trip by Ally Condie

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From the author of Reese’s Book Club Pick and instant USA Today bestseller The Unwedding, a novel of suspense and friendship about three friends who decide to disappear from their lives for a few days while on a trip to a national park—only to have one of them vanish.

The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke

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Fans of Agatha Christie’s locked-room mysteries and modern tales like Knives Out will fall for The Ending Writes Itself, which masterfully blends classic mystery elements with genre-bending tropes. Crafted with razor-sharp wit and a meta twist, this satirical take on the publishing world ensures readers will hang on every word, right up to its breathtaking finale.

The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer

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Come along with the Book Witch in this magical and inspiring love letter to reading from the USA Today bestselling author of The Wishing Game.

The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer

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From Marcus Kliewer, a new “titan of the macabre and unsettling” (Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author), comes a supernatural horror about a young woman who accepts a caretaking job from Craigslist, only to discover the position has consequences far greater—and more dangerous—than she ever could have imagined.

Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker

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In this lyrical, wildly inventive horror novel interwoven with Japanese mythology, two people living centuries apart discover a door between their worlds.

The Island Club by Nicola Harrison

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Set against the sun-drenched beaches of Balboa Island, with its prim and proper 1950s facade, The Island Club is a story of love, loneliness and the lies we tell ourselves―and what can be gained when the truth is finally revealed.

Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block by Jesse Q. Sutanto

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A nearly divorced trophy wife enrolls in culinary school to win back her husband, only to find a fresh start in the unlikeliest of places in this new novel from the USA Today bestselling author of Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers.

Go Gentle by Maria Semple

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The New York Times bestselling author of Where’d You Go, Bernadette returns to form in her most exuberant and life-affirming novel yet with the story of one woman’s cheerful determination to live a life of the mind only to have the heart force its way in.

MAY 2026 FICTION BOOK RELEASES

The Library After Dark by Ande Pliego

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A bookseller must escape the infamously haunted library that holds her darkest secrets, but with a murderer in her tour group, escaping alive is not as simple as it seems, in this twisty locked-room thriller from bestselling author of You Are Fatally Invited.

The Dorians by Nick Cutter

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The all-new novel of terror from “one of the hottest horror authors on the planet” (Paste) and writer of the #HorrorBookTok sensation The Troop!

Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister

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How far would you go to rescue your child? A mother races against the clock—and finds herself on the wrong side of the law—in a desperate fight to save her teenage daughter in this pulse-pounding thriller.

The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett

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The Calamity Club will make you laugh, cry, and cheer—an epic testament to underestimated women who know that calamity can be the spark of new beginnings. This is Kathryn Stockett at her most confident, heartfelt, and hilarious—the triumphant return of one of the most beloved storytellers of our time.

The Anniversary by Alex Finlay

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Twisty, high-concept, and emotionally charged, this novel is an utterly compelling story of the hunt for a serial killer. But it’s also a heartfelt―and heartrending―novel about fate, innocence lost, and two souls who find that sometimes being broken is the only way for the light to get in. 

The Young Will Remember by Eve J. Chung

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A sweeping novel about a correspondent trapped behind enemy lines during the Korean War, and the women who help her find her way home, from the national bestselling author of Daughters of Shandong.

Villain by Natalie Zina Walschots

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The Boys meets Assistant to the Villain in the electrifying, sharp, violent, and hilarious sequel to the highly acclaimed novel, Hench. Filled with a queer and neurodiverse cast, Villain asks the question: what happens when a diabolically brilliant henchperson looks back at their already storied career and thinks, I can be so much worse.

The One Day You Were My Husband by Rosie Walsh

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From the New York Times–bestselling author of Ghosted and The Love of My Life comes an unmissable emotional thriller: an up-all-night, page-turning love story with a very dark secret at its heart.

Homebound by Portia Elan

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Five interlocking lives. One beloved story. A dazzling adventure across centuries and continents in search of the things that hold us together.

Lady X by Molly Fader

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The search for a notorious vigilante exposes the secrets among three generations of women in this propulsive novel of female resistance and rage, sweeping from contemporary L.A. to gritty 1970s New York.

The Hope Keeper by Heather Webb

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Set in Jazz Age D.C., the story of possession and obsession, and the ever-looming curse of the legendary Hope Diamond, comes to life as the socialites scheme and the jewels glitter in the evening light. 

The Players Club by Rachel Mills

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For fans of Lessons in Chemistry and Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, a bold, big concept debut about a secret club of women who risk everything to ask the question: If you could be anyone…who would you dare to become?

JUNE 2026 FICTION BOOK RELEASES

Tell Your Friends by Lauren Wilson

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A former child star and an envious fan collide in this cat-and-mouse psychological thriller about obsession, self-invention, and the dark side of internet fame.

There’s Only One Sin In Hollywood by Rasheed Newson

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A cinematic, razor-sharp novel following a backlot fixer’s daring investigation into the suspicious death of a closeted Black actor within the glamorous world of Hollywood, from the bestselling author of My Government Means to Kill Me.

A Pair of Aces by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

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A gripping novel about two trailblazing women on opposite sides of the law—a prosecutor and a madam—who team up to bring down notorious mob boss Lucky Luciano in 1930s New York, from the New York Times bestselling authors of the million-copy bestseller The Personal Librarian.

Strangers Behind Closed Doors by Catherine Adel West

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A twisty thriller about a woman who vanishes from a luxury hotel, and the detective who believes the case is tied to the unsolved disappearances of other Black women in the city.

The Break-Up Retreat by Camilla Sten

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
An undercover journalist goes to expose an exclusive psychological wellness clinic where women go to recover from heartbreak, with dire consequences, in this creepy thriller from The Bachelorette Party author Camilla Sten.

A Fortune of Sand by Ruta Sepetys

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The daughter of an automotive magnate escapes to an artistic retreat that holds more secrets—and more intrigue—than she could have ever imagined, in this Prohibition-era novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Salt to the Sea.

Girl’s Girl by Sonia Feldman

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From a dazzling new talent, a sensual and spellbinding novel about one summer that shatters the balance between three best friends, forcing them to confront the line between friendship and desire.

This Immortal Heart by Jennifer Saint

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The epic, captivating tale of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, who must reconcile her mind and heart when she is drawn against all odds to Ares, the god of war, from the internationally bestselling author of Ariadne and Hera.

Our Sister’s Keeper by Jasmine Holmes

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A gripping blend of historical fiction and Southern gothic psychological horror, Our Sister’s Keeper is a fierce exploration of Black sisterhood, rage, and resistance.

Three Hitmen and a Baby by Rob Hart

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Welcome back to Assassins Anonymous, where family is everything and danger lurks around every corner.

Pool House by Mary H.K. Choi

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Bestselling young adult author Mary H.K. Choi debuts a brilliantly observed adult novel about mothers, daughters and the complexity of family set against the backdrop of Hollywood.

The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
An ambitious young woman insinuates herself into a tight-knit social set, shaking up friendships and marriages in a small seaside town.

What 2026 fiction book releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Fiction Book Releases To Check Out In 2026 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Recently, as I was walking through my local town center, I passed by a little gift shop that had many of its wares displayed on tables outside. There were motivational posters, candles, and other kitschy knick-knacks. One particular sign that caught my eye read, “Well-behaved women never make history.” I was struck by the simple yet poignant sentiment of the thing. Talk about “spot-on.”

We all know that women are conspicuously absent from the historical record. It’s not because they weren’t participating in the major events of their day, they just had to do it from behind closed doors. As I researched and wrote my most recent novel, The Stockwell Letters, I was able to tell the story of Ann Phillips, who is best described as an ambitious, generous, and influential Boston abolitionist. Unfortunately, during the time in which she lived, she was known only as the wife of Wendell Phillips (also a famous abolitionist). As delighted as I’ve been to bring her story to life, I’ve realized how many accomplished, astonishing women from history are, like Ann, at risk of being lost to obscurity. Luckily, other novelists have found many of them, and by reading the books that tell their stories, we can help ensure that the legacies these women created endure.

How often have you heard the tongue and cheek expression that behind every great man there is a strong woman? For ten great novels about women from history who were so much more than simply a famous man’s wife, check out the below:

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain tells the story of Hadley Richardson, who was so much more than simply the wife of Ernest Hemmingway. Hadley’s struggle to retain her sense of self in the wake of her husband’s fame is evocative and eye-opening.

The Aviator’s Wife by Melanie Benjamin focuses on Anne Morrow Lindbergh who was married to the famous Charles Lindbergh but was a fascinating person in her own right. Anne’s drive for independence was as fierce as her husband’s and makes for a thoroughly engaging read.

The Traitor’s Wife by Allison Pataki follows the life of Peggy Shippen who was married to the scandalous Benedict Arnold. Pataki expertly brings to life not just Peggy, but many of the others in her life. Full of intrigue and suspense, this one is not to be missed.

The Paris Seamstress by Natasha Lester follows Estelle Bissette, the wife of the famous French fashion designer as she and her husband struggle with the difficult events of WW II and afterwards. Spanning generations, the book examines what happens when a strong woman is forced to flee everything she has ever known.

The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict is a fictionalized retelling of the life of Mileva Maric, the wife of Albert Einstein, who was also a gifted physicist. While it’s difficult to compete with a man as brilliant as Einstein, Mileva seems to have been thoroughly talented in her own right, and she may or may not have helped Einstein to reach some of his most genius conclusions.

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Ann Fowler is, as its name implies, about the woman who was married to F. Scott Fitzgerald. It was also the basis for the television drama, Z: The Beginning of Everything. Zelda never imagined the trajectory of her husband’s rise to fame or how it would affect her.

The Confessions of Catherine de Medici by C.W. Gortner examines the life of Catherine de Medici, who was married to King Henry II of France in the 16^th The novel offers a fresh look at a woman who has many times been cast as a villain, when in fact, the true story might be entirely different.

The Secret Life of Josephine: Napoleon’s Bird of Paradise by Carrolly Erickson tells the tale of Josephine de Baeuharnais, the first wife of Napolean Bonaparte. Glamorous and fashionable, with an exotic past, Josephine had many secrets of her own.

Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan is about Joy Davidman, who was married to famous author C.S. Lewis. A beautiful love story, the book focuses largely on the talent and grit of Joy Davidman.

American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld is based loosely on the life of Laura Bush, wife to former president George W. Bush. A story of the not-so-distant past, this book really shows what it means for a woman to stand behind her husband, even at great cost to herself.

Rather than being forgotten, the women who are brought to life through these novels now have the power to live on in perpetuity thanks to the writers and readers who continue to imagine them.

The post So Much More than “His Wife” appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray’s The First Ladies, which is out June 27th!

The daughter of formerly enslaved parents, Mary McLeod Bethune refuses to back down as white supremacists attempt to thwart her work. She marches on as an activist and an educator, and as her reputation grows she becomes a celebrity, revered by titans of business and recognized by U.S. Presidents. Eleanor Roosevelt herself is awestruck and eager to make her acquaintance. Initially drawn together because of their shared belief in women’s rights and the power of education, Mary and Eleanor become fast friends confiding their secrets, hopes and dreams—and holding each other’s hands through tragedy and triumph.

When Franklin Delano Roosevelt is elected president, the two women begin to collaborate more closely, particularly as Eleanor moves toward her own agenda separate from FDR, a consequence of the devastating discovery of her husband’s secret love affair. Eleanor becomes a controversial First Lady for her outspokenness, particularly on civil rights. And when she receives threats because of her strong ties to Mary, it only fuels the women’s desire to fight together for justice and equality.

This is the story of two different, yet equally formidable, passionate, and committed women, and the way in which their singular friendship helped form the foundation for the modern civil rights movement.

“It, it is nice to finally meet you, Dr. Bethune. I am Mrs. Franklin Roosevelt. When my mother-in-law mentioned that you’d accepted our invitation, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to meet the woman who serves not only as the President of the National Association of Colored Women, but also as the President of Bethune-Cookman College.”

Dr. Bethune carefully places her spoon down next to her bowl, and replies, “It’s a pleasure, Mrs. Roosevelt, and please call me Mrs. Bethune. I thought you’d forgotten about me.”

Her words, spoken bluntly but without acrimony, cut through me. How could I have allowed her to flounder in the face of this disrespect? What I’ve done is unforgivable, and my cheeks flush with heat.

“I cannot apologize enough for putting you in this awkward position, Mrs. Bethune. My mother-in-law and I did not anticipate that the ladies would behave in this way. After all, these women have pledged to lift up other women in their work,” I say, feeling that I must give her a complete explanation for what she’s had to endure.

She smiles and asks, “How did you think this luncheon would go?”

I am silent. What can I say?

“Mrs. Roosevelt,” she continues, the smile never leaving her lips, “you only need to have asked me. While many will sit in a meeting or a conference with me, there aren’t too many white folks in this country who care to break bread with colored people, no matter their station in life.” She gives a rueful chuckle.

“Mrs. Bethune, I’m so sorry for what you may have heard.”

“Oh, there is no may, I definitely heard them.”

“I don’t know what to say. I have never . . . ”

“You may have never, but I have. Women and men like this pass through my life every day.” Her voice holds no anger or even frustration.

“It’s unacceptable, and I want to apologize.”

“You must never apologize for a sin someone else has committed,” she says with a shake of her head.

“I appreciate that, but still, I’m terribly sorry. May I join you for lunch?”

“I was hoping you would,” she answers with a nod. “I have a feeling we’ve got lots to talk about.” Then she smiles at me with such warmth that I feel at ease for the first time since the luncheon began.

“I agree,” I say, lowering myself onto the chair next to her. “I have been following your impressive career for years, and I’m in awe of your accomplishments.”

“And I yours.”

Excerpted from The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray, published by Berkley, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC. Copyright © 2023

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Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Marie Benedict’s The Mitford Affair, which is out January 17th.

Between the World Wars, the six Mitford sisters dominate the English political, literary, and social scenes. Though they’ve weathered scandals before, the family falls into disarray when Diana divorces her husband to marry a fascist leader and Unity follows her sister’s lead, inciting rumors that she’s become Hitler’s own mistress.

Novelist Nancy Mitford is the only member of her family to keep in touch with Diana and Unity after their desertion, so it falls to her to act when her sisters become spies for the Nazi party.

Probing the torrid political climate of World War II and the ways that sensible people can be sucked into radical action, The Mitford Affair follows Nancy’s valiant efforts to end the war and the cost of placing loyalty to her country above loyalty to her family.

Chapter One
Nancy
July 7, 1932
London, England

The mellifluous sounds of the symphony float throughout the ballroom. Servants pour golden champagne into the cut-­crystal glasses. The fabled Cheyne Walk house exudes perfection down to the last detail, nowhere more than in its hostess.

There, at the center of the vast ballroom, stands the stunning, statuesque figure in a floor-­length sheath of platinum silk, a shade that echoes her silvery-blue eyes. Her diamond-­laden arms outstretched in welcome to her guests, she radiates serenity and unflappable, irresistible poise. If she were anyone else—­someone I didn’t know as intimately as I know myself—­I would judge that sphinxlike smile a charade. Or worse. But I know she is precisely as she appears, because she is Diana, my sister.

I wrest my eyes from her and glance around the gleaming gilt and marble ballroom, expansive enough to easily hold the three hundred guests in attendance. As the dancers begin to pair up and then organize themselves, the revelers appear to emanate from Diana like the rays of the sun. It is a pattern that has repeated itself since our childhood; she always dazzles at the center, with us sisters fanned out around her like lesser beams. Never mind that the press considers all six of us Mitford sisters the very essence of the so-­called Bright Young Things, she is the star.

The evening feels more like a celebration of the fashionable new home of Diana and her handsome, kindly husband Bryan Guinness, than a ball introducing one of our younger sisters, Unity, into society. Where has Unity scampered off to? I wonder, as I scan the crowded space for the spectacularly tall eighteen-­year-­old. Never one to abide by social dictates, she seems to have disappeared into the background instead of lapping up the attention as would be expected at an event in her honor. Finally, I spot her tucked into a shadowy corner, deep in conversation with our sister Pamela and our one and only brother, Tom, that golden boy of ours. Of my six siblings that leaves out only Jessica and Deborah, but they’re too young to mingle in society.

Even though she pretends to be listening, Unity is clearly watching the other partygoers rather than engaging with Tom and Pamela. At least here at Cheyne Walk, she won’t be required to curtsy twice and retreat backward as she’d had to do before the king and queen when she came out at Buckingham Palace. Poor Bobo, as we call her among ourselves, is not known for her grace, and we sisters had clutched one another’s hands and held our breath until she’d completed the act without tripping and catapulting herself into one of Their Majesties’ laps. Even then, she barely managed the feat without several awkward lunges and an initial backward step where her heel caught on her hem, sending a horrific tearing sound throughout the famous receiving room.

A shimmer of silver crosses the ballroom, and I observe Diana sashaying through the crowds. I think how alike Diana and Unity appear from a distance, both tall with their features blurred and blond hair flashing. Not so upon close inspection, and not only because Diana wears a seamless column of silver, while Unity sports a gray-­and-­white gown that is somehow ill fitting despite numerous trips to the tailor. For the millionth time, I give thanks that I was born with jet-­black hair and green eyes instead of blue; I’d never want to come up wanting by comparison to Diana.

The music pauses, and I see Evelyn Waugh across the expanse. Delight and warmth course through me at the sight of my dear friend. Only the appearance of my unofficial fiancé would bring me greater happiness. But I know that’s impossible, as Hamish declared himself unavailable for this particular function, providing yet another reason for my parents, whom we call Muv and Farve, to dislike him, apart from the multiyear, oft-­delayed nature of our engagement. What plans could your fey fiancé have made, Farve wondered aloud using a most derogatory description, that prevented him from attending the ball of his fiancée’s sister?

In my darker moments, I wonder whether I shouldn’t have accepted Sir Hugh Smiley’s proposal instead; banal though he may be, our union would have saved me from my current financial worries. And I’d have spared myself the constant muttering by Muv that it was time for me to stop my unseemly roaming around society, as I’m nearing thirty and still unmarried.

Evelyn glances in my direction, and I raise my hand in greeting, eager to have him join the gaggle of friends assembled at my side. These men—­of which the poet John Betjeman and the photographer Cecil Beaton are but two—­are my chosen family. Why shouldn’t they be? The qualities that Muv and Farve disdain in me, along with most men of my acquaintance, are adored by these fellows, who revel in my well-­read, quick-­witted observations, particularly if they aren’t appropriate. They are the only group to which I’ve ever felt I belong, and so, of course, Farve despises these “dandies.” Even amid my five sisters, I’ve always been something of the outsider. With each sister usually paired off or teamed up—­in childhood, Jessica with Unity, Pamela with Deborah, and Diana with Tom, like golden twins—­I’ve often been alone.

Before I fix a bright smile of greeting on my lips for Evelyn, I run my tongue across my teeth to ensure that no slick of deep-­red lipstick stains them. I smooth my gown, and then rehearse a few of the witticisms I’ve collected for him since we last met. Everything must be just so; none of us wish to risk Evelyn’s humorous but biting censure. It’s hilarious if wielded against those outside our circle, less so within.

But Evelyn comes no closer. In fact, he’s changed course altogether, as if he’s being pulled magnetically in the direction of Diana. A sinking feeling overtakes me, and I know this is my fault. Once, Evelyn had been my friend alone. When he was researching a book on high-­society hijinks and asked to meet Diana, whose beauty and charisma had made her the star of her debutante season and catnip for the journalists, I made the introduction at a tropical party she hosted with her husband on board a riverboat called the Friendship.

I hadn’t been worried; I knew that Evelyn planned on disliking the young couple and making them the frivolous protagonists of his novel Vile Bodies. But all that changed when Evelyn came under Diana’s spell. Now, he’s so bloody mesmerized that I catch him wincing when I refer to my sister by the naughty nickname I’ve called her since infancy—­Bodley, a play on the name of the publishing firm Bodley Head, because her head has always been too large for her body. This small imperfection is nearly imperceptible to others because her beauty is so overwhelming.

I glance away quickly, not wanting Evelyn or the others to catch me staring. Gawking simply isn’t done; it reveals an unacceptable weakness. To hide my misstep, I say, “Looks as though Lady Tennant’s trip to Baden did not provide the ‘cure’ the spa so widely advertises.”

Even though this provokes the snickers I expect, I loathe myself for stooping low to achieve it. How I sometimes wish I had more weapons at my disposal than my barbed tongue and pen. But then my friends pile on with their own observations, each cattier than the last, until I cry with laughter. Only when I dab my eyes dry do I first notice it.

Diana stands at the center of a group of men, a common enough occurrence. But her gaze isn’t upon a single one of them. It’s not even on her doting, wildly wealthy husband. Those silvery blue, incandescent eyes of hers are fixed across the crowded dance floor at the last person I’d expect.

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘The Mitford Affair’ by Marie Benedict appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments if you’re looking forward to any of them!

Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
This sweet, enemies-to-lovers debut rom-com filled with Chinese astrology will undoubtedly prove to be a perfect match with readers of Helen Hoang, Jasmine Guillory, and Helena Hunting.

Vampire Weekend by Mike Chen
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
About a Boy meets What We Do In The Shadows in the next fun genre-mashup from Mike Chen, featuring a punk-rock vampire learning to connect to the world again when her surly teenaged grand-nephew needs her, and her music, to get him through a tough time.

Unseelie by Ivelisse Housman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
Twin sisters, both on the run, but different as day and night. One, a professional rogue, searches for a fabled treasure; the other, a changeling, searches for the truth behind her origins, trying to find a place to fit in with the realm of fae who made her and the humans who shun her. 

Maame by Jessica George 
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Smart, funny, and deeply affecting, Jessica George’s Maame deals with the themes of our time with humor and poignancy: from familial duty and racism, to female pleasure, the complexity of love, and the life-saving power of friendship. Most important, it explores what it feels like to be torn between two homes and cultures―and it celebrates finally being able to find where you belong.

Promise Boys by Nick Brooks
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The Hate U Give meets One of Us Is Lying in Nick Brooks’s Promise Boys, a trailblazing, blockbuster YA mystery about three teen boys of color who must investigate their principal’s murder to clear their own names―for fans of Jason Reynolds, Angie Thomas, and Karen McManus.

Sorry, Bro by Taleen Voskuni
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An Armenian-American woman rediscovers her roots and embraces who she really is in this vibrant and heartfelt queer rom-com by debut author Taleen Voskuni.

The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre by Natasha Lester
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New York Times bestselling author Natasha Lester delivers an unforgettable story of an orphan turned WWII spy turned fashion icon in Paris—perfect for fans of Kate Quinn and Fiona Davis.

Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo
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Wealth. Power. Murder. Magic. The Ivy League is going straight to hell in the sequel to the smash New York Times bestseller Ninth House from #1 bestselling author Leigh Bardugo.

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert
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From the New York Times bestselling author of the Brown Sisters trilogy, comes a laugh-out-loud story about a quirky content creator and a clean-cut athlete testing their abilities to survive the great outdoors—and each other.

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
Your past and your family can haunt you like nothing else… A hilarious and terrifying new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Final Girl Support Group.

Do I Know You? By Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
When a couple starts to feel like they’re married to a stranger, a flirtatious game of pretend becomes the spark they need to reignite their relationship.

Retro by Jarrod Shusterman & Sofía Lapuente
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What starts off as a light-hearted competition to live without modern technology for a year turns into a fight for survival in this unputdownable young adult thriller by New York Times bestselling author Jarrod Shusterman and debut author Sofía Lapuente.

What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall
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Kate Alice Marshall’s What Lies in the Woods is a thrilling novel about friendship, secrets, betrayal, and lies – and having the courage to face the past.

The Daughters of Izdihar by Hadeer Elsbai
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From debut author Hadeer Elsbai comes the first book in an incredibly powerful new duology, set wholly in a new world, but inspired by modern Egyptian history, about two young women—Nehal, a spoiled aristocrat used to getting what she wants and Giorgina, a poor bookshop worker used to having nothing—who find they have far more in common, particularly in their struggle for the rights of women and their ability to fight for it with forbidden elemental magic

The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict
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From New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict comes an explosive novel of history’s most notorious sisters, one of whom will have to choose: her country or her family?

Chain of Thorns by Cassandra Clare
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James and Cordelia must save London—and their marriage—in this thrilling and highly anticipated conclusion to the Last Hours series from the #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Cassandra Clare. Chain of Thorns is a Shadowhunters novel.

What January 2023 releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post January 2023 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi, Marie! Welcome to The Nerd Daily. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Thank YOU so much for inviting me — and for reading my work! Well, I confess to being a former lawyer; I worked as a commercial litigator in New York City for over a decade, but always knew it wasn’t what I was called to do. Eventually, I circled back to what I’d been passionate about since I was in middle school — the untold stories of history, particularly those about women. And now, I am fortunate enough to write novels that shine the light on fascinating women from the past who have left important legacies but about whom we know little.

I have learned about so many amazing women thanks to your books. How did you come to write about women from history?

Thank you so much!! Growing up, I never aspired to be a writer. I began instead as a voracious reader and avid user of the library, who had a wonderful aunt — who also happened to be an English professor and a rebellious nun — who was determined to expose me to the larger mysteries of the past and the different perspectives lurking in history. While she fed me a steady diet of phenomenal literature, it was Marion Zimmer Bradley’s The Mists of Avalon with its ground-breaking, female-centric telling of the famed Arthurian legends — in which the focus was on Arthur’s wife Guinevere and his sister Morgan le Fay — that really opened my eyes to the hidden world of women’s stories. I began asking myself how “history” is really fashioned, and I wondered why these women’s stories not part of the history I’d been told. I became fascinated with unearthing the unknown stories of women from the past

In Her Hidden Genius, Rosalind Franklin is a fearless scientist applying her knowledge to many fields in the sciences. What was the most challenging aspect of writing Her Hidden Genius?

The science!! I am not a scientist, so without a doubt, the most difficult aspect of writing HER HIDDEN GENIUS was getting a reasonable grasp not only on how the double helix structure of DNA was discovered by the scientific technique called X-ray crystallography but also the historical context of genetics and the early understanding of DNA. It presented significant difficulties but being able to tell the story of Rosalind Franklin was well worth it.

Her Hidden Genius comes at a time where RNA vaccines are a constant topic of discussion in households and social media. I enjoyed learning about Franklin’s discovery and thinking of how far we have come because of it. If you could meet Franklin today, what would you say to her?

I so appreciate your kind words. Oh, I have so many questions for Rosalind and things I’d want to tell her! First and foremost, I would like to thank her for the immense legacy she’s left for us — not only with her DNA discoveries but also, as you intimated, her research into RNA and vaccines, as they’ve has been crucial for understanding COVID and creating vaccines. Second, I would be curious how close my fictional Rosalind is to the real Rosalind, particularly her interior thoughts for which I used my imagination. Finally, I hope Rosalind might resolve questions around what she knew about the use of her research by Watson and Crick; she became good friends with Crick later in her life and had a professional relationship with Watson, and I wonder whether she knew and, if so, whether she simply forgave them. This last question was once I had to fictionalize in HER HIDDEN GENIUS.

What does your writing process look like? Do you research as you write or before you write?

The research is on-going throughout the drafting of a novel. I do a significant amount in advance to ensure the intrigue and modern issues of the woman’s life and the breadth of her legacy. Once I settle upon a particular historical woman, I then dive deep into the research for her world, exhausting whatever I can access in the way of original source material. At that point, I’ll then dig into both macro and micro details of her world — anything from political and cultural developments to the sorts of clothes worn in her time period and everything in between. But the research isn’t done then! As I write, there are always pieces of information I still need, and I always return to the sources.

All the women that you have written about inspire awe in their unique way. How do you choose the protagonists in your books? Were there any you always wanted to write about?

In terms of choosing a particular woman to serve as the hero of my novel, I do have a rubric of sorts. Otherwise, how would I ever be able to select a single women upon which to focus among the long, long list of women I keep? I’m looking for women who’ve made critical contributions upon which we rely in modern day but about whom we are largely unaware — and women who are struggling with very modern-day issues. There are so many women on that list I’d love to write about — that’s what propels me.

Turning to reading now, what are some books you love going back to?

Oh my goodness, while I’m always digging into new books, I do love to return to certain favorites, particularly when I’m looking for inspiration. Some of them are: Life After Life by Kate Atkinson, The Hours by Michael Cunningham, Possession by A.S. Byatt, Mansfield Park by Jane Austen, The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell, State of Wonder by Ann Patchett, Euphoria by Lily King, among them.

Do you read books that are similar in themes to the ones you write? What would you recommend readers to read if they loved your books?

I am drawn to historical fiction, although I admit that I can only read it when I’m not actively in the writing/creating part of my own process. There are so many incredible authors writing about historical women, and I can recommend the following (although there are so many more): Kate Quinn, Beatriz Williams, Lisa Wingate, Sue Monk Kidd, Pam Jenoff, Fiona Davis, Chanel Cleeton, Kristin Harmel, Patti Callahan, Lauren Willig, Kristina McMorris, Stephanie Dray, Renee Rosen, Erika Robuck, Natasha Lester, Jillian Cantor, just to name a few!

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. I eagerly await your next book!

Will you be picking up Her Hidden Genius? Tell us in the comments below!

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Rosalind Franklin is a young scientist who studies matter using x-rays. She is good at her craft and knows how to work the equipment with a finesse that other scientists find it hard to ignore. There are those in her life who know she is like no other, and then others, like her family, who don’t quite understand what she does. There are many times in the story when people try to confine her by setting boundaries and expectations and every time, she proves them wrong and just keeps going, undeterred. She takes every challenge head on and continues to work on her life’s work which ultimately ends up being the structure of the DNA.

Her Hidden Genius comes at a good time. Vaccines have been an everyday topic in our lives for at least a year now and what better time to learn about an amazing woman who had something to do with it? Rosalind may not be a household name but as it happens with many biological discoveries over the years, the access to that knowledge advances us many times faster. If we did not know the structure of the DNA or the proteins that it comprises, how viruses attack it, how would we have the tools to combat diseases?

It is the passion of scientists like Rosalind Franklin and their thirst to know more that has helped us to get to where we are. She is a hidden genius though because while she did her best to protect her research and get credit for it, her primary goal was to find answers to the aspects of matter and life that she was investigating. She did not let politics affect her and she wasn’t one to take advantage of other people. In a post second world war world, we see the scientific community and its differences through Rosalind’s experiences in Paris and then London. What was the scientist pursuit and the search for answers has somehow become the race between countries and universities to be the first ones to discover something.

I found Her Hidden Genius to be very interesting in balancing these outside expectations to internal drive to know and learn and share. It is not possible to do that without a good support system and I loved the people that Rosalind surrounded herself with. When she could not find the community of scientists she wanted, she made one and was open to people working with her.

There are many things to learn from Rosalind’s life and while she may not have won the Nobel Prize in her short life, that does not make her work any less worthy. She sounds like an amazing role model and I am sure researchers would have been lucky to have her as their mentor. With this book I reminisced my days of being a graduate student and the daydreams of being a professor. Through Rosalind’s eyes, I glimpsed a life I almost could have had while at the same time realising that the world has changed for the better since her time and I would hopefully not face the same challenges she did with her colleagues.

Her Hidden Genius reminded me of Benedict’s earlier book, The Other Einstein, and I am so happy to have read about these wonderful women who had a role to play in shaping the world we live in. While men may have presented a greater challenge and stopped them from being known, the women still persevered and continued to use their brilliancy for moving humanity and its knowledge forward.

Her Hidden Genius is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of

Will you be picking up Her Hidden Genius? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Mystery of Mrs. Christie and The Only Woman in the Room.

Rosalind Franklin has always been an outsider―brilliant, but different. Whether working at the laboratory she adored in Paris or toiling at a university in London, she feels closest to the science, those unchanging laws of physics and chemistry that guide her experiments. When she is assigned to work on DNA, she believes she can unearth its secrets.

Rosalind knows if she just takes one more X-ray picture―one more after thousands―she can unlock the building blocks of life. Never again will she have to listen to her colleagues complain about her, especially Maurice Wilkins who’d rather conspire about genetics with James Watson and Francis Crick than work alongside her.

Then it finally happens―the double helix structure of DNA reveals itself to her with perfect clarity. But what unfolds next, Rosalind could have never predicted.

Marie Benedict’s powerful new novel shines a light on a woman who sacrificed her life to discover the nature of our very DNA, a woman whose world-changing contributions were hidden by the men around her but whose relentless drive advanced our understanding of humankind.

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Thank you, Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray for writing this book. I’ve been waiting for a story that would keep me engaged till the end and finally, after a long and arduous search, I’ve found it! Writing a historical fiction about lesser-known real-life-characters is a challenging task on its own, and to make it engaging and realistic to the reader is another level altogether. But this dynamic duo did it, so kudos to them!

Set in the year 1905, the Personal Librarian is a historical fiction based on the life of Belle da Costa Greene. At just 26 years old, she was hired by J.P. Morgan, the financier, to be his personal librarian to create and curate a collection of collection of rare manuscripts, incunabula, books, and artwork for his newly built Pierpont Morgan Library in New York. But Belle wasn’t who she claimed to be. She was a coloured girl named Belle Marion Greener, but her light complexion could pass her off as white, and with the advice from her mother, she lived and led her life as one. With that, Belle accomplished what many other African Americans weren’t able to during that era of Jim Crow. By living as a white person, she was able to live more ‘freely’, attending balls, dining at restaurants, traveling and most of all, created a name for herself.

Marie Benedict, in her ‘Author’s Note’, shared that she discovered Belle when she was in an unhappy phase in her life and the Pierpont Morgan Library became her refuge. There she learned about Belle from a passing docent. Her story haunted her for decades, but she knew she couldn’t write this alone if she wanted an authentic voice and point of view of an African American woman. And that was how, author Victoria Christopher Murray came into this collaboration. I’m so glad that Benedict made this decision because it made the whole story all the more engaging.

I loved how the authors were able to combine history with fiction so seamlessly, making the whole story come alive. It kept me intrigued, fascinated, and mesmerised throughout. What a life Bella led! After her father left them, she took over the reign and worked hard to support her family. As much as she loved her father, she knew her mother was right and had to do what she had to do in order to survive—to live her life as a white person. But Bella not only survived, she thrived, excelled, and surpassed all expectations. She worked her way up a male-dominated world, earned their respect with her achievements and her forthright, tenacious, and indomitable character. And she realised, early in her career, despite what her mama told her—to be cautious and blend— that she ‘must be bold, daring to hide my differences in plain sight’ in order to fit in.

What kept me turning the pages wasn’t only Belle and the question of if her true identity would ever be found out, but also her complicated relationships with the people around her especially her boss, Mr. Morgan. They had such a unique relationship. When asked if she was his mistress, she replied, “We tried!” And in one scene, Mr. Morgan said he wished he were younger and when Belle asked why, he said, “It would give me longer with you.” Belle admittedly had romantic feelings for him too, had reciprocated his kiss, but also oftentimes look up to him as her partner in crime, her boss and also a father figure. They clearly held each other in high regards and were such a powerful pair. Their chemistry, the song and dance they played, their passion of wanting to turn the library into one of a kind, their celebratory toasts to Belle’s many successes, and the question of, will they ever be together (no I didn’t Google to get this question answered), kept me interested. Their feelings for each other were undeniable. Sometimes I wondered if Mr Morgan would still accept her were she to reveal her true self?

Then there was Belle’s love life; the one with Mr. Berenson. She found someone whom she loved and loved her back, but of course, with Belle’s life, nothing was simple and straightforward. Mr. Berenson was married. Nevertheless, they had a relationship, one that was ‘approved’ by Mrs. Berenson herself. Is he trustworthy? Will he stay true to her?

Amidst all the ups and downs that happened in Belle’s life, two things stayed constant—her drive to succeed and her passion for her job. I only wished she could share her success with her father openly, the one person who started and encouraged her love for books. It just goes to show that racism just continues to break families apart. It wasn’t easy for Belle to come to terms with her life living as a white, even as she became more confident, she still always had to be cautious, look behind her back, for always having that fear of being found out. She saw that it wasn’t easy for her mother too, especially when they went back to Washington, DC for Gramma Fleet’s funeral and received a cold welcome from their family, who felt betrayed by Belle’s mother’s decision to live as whites and said that ‘turned her back on [them]’, chiding her for taking on the name ‘Greenes’.

This book would also make you want to visit Morgan Library Museum in New York, walk through its ornate bronze doors, enter the lavish entryway rotunda, and be immersed in the grandeur of it all. Read the book first of course, then google the images, then book a tour when it’s safe to start traveling!

The Personal Librarian is an immersive, well-told, and thoroughly researched historical fiction about a remarkable personal librarian, whose name I think, should be mentioned alongside J.P. Morgan’s whenever the Morgan Library Museum is mentioned, because everyone should know about the woman who took risks, carved her own path, silenced the naysayers, and forged ahead to becoming one of America’s most prominent librarians in history.

Definitely a must-read, especially for fans of historical fiction!

The Personal Librarian is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of June 29th 2021.

Will you be picking up The Personal Librarian? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

The remarkable, little-known story of Belle da Costa Greene, J. P. Morgan’s personal librarian–who became one of the most powerful women in New York despite the dangerous secret she kept in order to make her dreams come true, from New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict and acclaimed author Victoria Christopher Murray.

In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J. P. Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture on the New York society scene and one of the most powerful people in the art and book world, known for her impeccable taste and shrewd negotiating for critical works as she helps build a world-class collection.

But Belle has a secret, one she must protect at all costs. She was born not Belle da Costa Greene but Belle Marion Greener. She is the daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black graduate of Harvard and a well-known advocate for equality. Belle’s complexion isn’t dark because of her alleged Portuguese heritage that lets her pass as white–her complexion is dark because she is African American.

The Personal Librarian tells the story of an extraordinary woman, famous for her intellect, style, and wit, and shares the lengths to which she must go–for the protection of her family and her legacy–to preserve her carefully crafted white identity in the racist world in which she lives.

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