Two ... Oops Three ... Great New Series

The first week in January is the perfect time to talk about reading from the prior year. So I'm going to take this opportunity to share two (oops three, see below) of my favorite mysteries published in 2025 that start off new series. There are other books I read in 2025 that I loved too, but I like to promote new series when I can. First up ...

The Botanist's Assistant by Peggy Townsend 

Here's part of the story description from the publisher (Berkley):

A murder in the science lab shatters a woman’s quiet and ordered life when she decides she must solve the crime herself. 

Plenty of people consider Margaret Finch odd. She lives alone in a small cabin in the woods, drives a twenty-year-old truck, and schedules her life so precisely you can tell the time and day of the week by the chore she is doing and what she is wearing. But the same attributes that cause her to be labeled eccentric—an obsessive attention to detail and the ability to organize almost anything—make her invaluable in her job as Research Assistant II to a talented and charismatic botanist.

It's those very same qualities, however, that also turn Margaret into a target after a surprising death shakes the small university where she works. Even as authorities claim the death appears to be from natural causes, Margaret fears it might be something more: a murder born of jealousy and dark secrets. With the aid of a newly hired and enigmatic night custodian, Margaret finds herself thrust into the role of detective, forcing her to consider that she may not be able to find the killer before the killer finds her. 

And here is my take: 

I grew to love Margaret because she is wed to the truth, even when playing office politics would be a smart move. She's logical, loyal, smart, kind, and unintentionally funny. She sometimes did dumb things, but the author made those actions grow from Margaret's character and thus they were totally believable. The book has some great supporting characters, good clues, strong writing (including similes that are perfect for someone into science), and it has a cat too! I am eagerly awaiting book two. Highly recommended.

Vice and Virtue by Libby Klein

Here's part of the story description from the publisher (Kensington Books):

Layla Virtue, a blue-haired, thirtysomething recovering alcoholic and former cop, is trying to reinvent herself as a rock musician—between AA meetings, dodging eccentric neighbors at her trailer park, and reconnecting with her mysterious dad. It’s not easy competing against garage bands who work for tacos and create their music on a computer, while all she has is an electric guitar and leather-ish pants. But Layla isn’t in a position to turn down any gig. Which is why she’s at an eight-year-old’s birthday party, watching as Chuckles the Clown takes a bow under the balloon animals. No one expects it will be his last . . .

Who would want to kill a clown—and why? Layla and her unshakable posse are suddenly embroiled in the seedy underbelly of the upper-class world of second wives and trust fund kids, determined to uncover what magnetic hold a pudgy, balding clown had over women who seem to have everything they could ever want. Then again, Layla knows full well that people are rarely quite what they seem—herself included . . . 

 

And here is my take: 

 

This book has a solid mystery and rich character development, especially between Layla and her fun dad, Layla and her new friends, and Layla and her love-interest neighbor. Layla herself grows, too, thanks to all these people in her life. The book has lovely, heartwarming moments, humor sprinkled throughout, and a dog! I wish there had been a little more sleuthing, but that is a personal preference. The book's main mystery is solved, but an overarching series mystery has been set up that I expect will also be addressed in book two. (If you ever watched Veronica Mars, I think what the author has done is similar to how each episode's mystery was solved in that episode, but there was a season-long mystery too that was wrapped up at the season's end.) Book two, Gimme Shelter, will be released in late April, and I am ready for it.

 

Did you read anything great in 2025? Any fab novels kicking off a new series? I'd love to hear about them. 

 

Adding this Tuesday morning: I learned yesterday that another new great series kicked off in 2025. I had thought the first book was released in the last week of 2024, but I was wrong. It was released last January. If I had known in time, I would have included a third book above: The Case of the Missing Maid by Rob Osler. Fabulous book with a gay female PI in 1898 Chicago. I read it in one day.