Here are the books we’ll discuss in 2025. Click the titles for book descriptions and Amazon links.
You can find all the books in your favorite format: print, eBook, and audio.
We meet at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month at the Elusive Grape wine bar, 129 N. Woodland Blvd, DeLand FL 32720.
Come a few minutes early to settle in and order drinks and appetizers.
January 14: Ten Beach Road
by Wendy Wax (Fiction)
When three women discover their life savings have been wiped out by a Ponzi scheme, they inherit co-ownership of a crumbling beachfront mansion on Florida’s Gulf Coast. As they band together to renovate the property, they rebuild their lives and discover the power of friendship, self-reinvention, and second chances. Read more.
February 11: Florida Roadkill
by Tim Dorsey (Humorous Mystery)
This zany, fast-paced caper follows the wild escapades of Serge A. Storms, an eccentric Florida native with a penchant for justice, as he navigates absurd crimes, colorful characters, and the chaotic underbelly of the Sunshine State. Expect laugh-out-loud moments and biting satire. Read more.
March 11: Flamingo Diner
by Sherryl Woods (Contemporary Fiction/Family Drama)
Emma Killian returns to her family’s beloved Florida diner after her father’s sudden death, only to face a mountain of debt, family discord, and lingering questions about his passing. With help from the town’s reformed bad boy turned police chief, she uncovers hidden truths while rediscovering the meaning of home. Read more.
April 8: Murder Mystery Book Club
by Danielle Collins (Cozy Mystery)
Eva Stewart, the owner of a bed-and-breakfast in the Florida Keys, uses her love of mystery novels to solve a real-life murder when a body turns up near her inn. With a talkative parrot for company and her murder mystery book club for inspiration, Eva proves amateur sleuthing can be both fun and dangerous. Read more.
May 13: The Book of Lost Names
by Kristin Harmel (Historical Fiction)
In 1942, graduate student Eva Traube flees Nazi-occupied Paris to join a resistance group forging documents for Jewish children escaping to Switzerland. Years later, as a librarian in Florida, she’s drawn back to her past when a mysterious codebook resurfaces, reconnecting her with the names of those she risked her life to save. Read more.
June 10: Beach Town
by Mary Kay Andrews (Romantic Comedy)
Greer Hennessy, a struggling movie location scout, finds herself charmed by a sleepy Florida panhandle town perfect for her next film. But she clashes with the town’s stubborn environmentalist mayor, Eben, whose passion for preservation may just rival Greer’s growing attraction to him. A delightful mix of romance, humor, and coastal charm. Read more.
July 8: Star-Tangled Murder
by Nancy J. Cohen (Cozy Mystery)
When hairstylist Marla Vail and her husband attend a Fourth of July Revolutionary War reenactment, the discovery of a body in a historic Florida fort turns their holiday into a murder investigation. This patriotic-themed cozy mystery blends historical intrigue, quirky characters, and Florida sunshine, making it a perfect mid-year read. Read more.
August 12: Well Read, Then Dead
by Terrie Farley Moran (Cozy Mystery)
When the shyest member of their book club is found murdered, Sassy and Bridgy—owners of the Read ’Em and Eat café in Fort Myers Beach—dive into an investigation filled with eccentric locals, bookish banter, and small-town secrets. A delightful blend of cozy charm and tropical intrigue. Read more.
September 9: The Last Train to Key West
by Chanel Cleeton (Historical Fiction)
Set against the backdrop of the devastating 1935 Labor Day hurricane, this novel intertwines the lives of three women—a waitress, a runaway bride, and a desperate wife—whose fates collide in the Florida Keys. It’s a powerful story of survival, love, and resilience during one of Florida’s most harrowing historical events. Read more.
October 14: The Orchid Thief
by Susan Orlean (Nonfiction)
This captivating true story follows journalist Susan Orlean as she delves into the bizarre and obsessive world of orchid collectors in Florida, focusing on John Laroche, a man determined to clone the rare ghost orchid. It’s a fascinating exploration of passion, greed, and the untamed Florida wilderness. Read more.
November 11: Florida
by Lauren Groff (Short Story Collection)
This evocative collection of stories captures the beauty, brutality, and strange magic of life in the Sunshine State, exploring themes of family, nature, and survival. With vivid imagery and complex characters, it’s a perfect companion for the shifting moods of fall. Read more.
December 9: An Appetite for Murder
by Lucy Burdette (Cozy Mystery)
Food critic Hayley Snow relocates to Key West, only to become the prime suspect in her boss’s murder after a poisoned key lime pie is discovered. This culinary cozy combines mouthwatering descriptions of food, a spunky protagonist, and the vibrant atmosphere of Key West for a satisfying holiday read. Read more.