By now, you’ve undoubtedly scrolled through the many cookbooks, coloring books, and memoirs penned especially for Mother’s Day. We love the love for mom, but we also think they don’t always get enough credit. Women like complex fiction and haunting mysteries, too! So, we present to you, dear reader, a handpicked selection of women’s lit from the depths of Bas Bleu’s stacks—biographies and fiction to inspire and empower, not to enforce the gender roles we’re still challenging in 2023. Happy Mother’s Day!

FICTION

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki

Though she would go on to host presidents, outrun Nazis, and rescue royal treasures, Marjorie Merriweather Post got her start gluing cereal boxes together on a rural farm in Michigan. In this richly detailed and well-researched novel, Allison Pataki reimagines Post's life in a way that almost makes “magnificent” feel like an understatement. Readers will get to know the heiress of General Foods on a deeply personal level, and every part of her life is a delight to learn about. (HH)

Madam, Will You Talk? by Mary Stewart

Mary Stewart's debut novel, originally published in 1955, showcases why she's been a Bas Bleu favorite for decades. Her playful wit, passion for adventure, and well-crafted characters are on glorious display in this suspenseful mystery/charming romance featuring Charity Selborne. A kind and intelligent WWII-widow on vacation in the South of France, Charity befriends a charming teenager and gets swept up in a heart-pounding (and twist-filled) mission to protect him from a murderer from his troubled past. (CH)

The Album by Mary Roberts Rinehart

Originally published in 1933, this twisty Golden Age mystery concerns the traditional yet secretive people of The Crescent, a cul-de-sac swirling with barely buried feuds. When Mrs. Lancaster, a bedridden mother intent on hoarding her fortune in gold bars beneath her bed, is brutally murdered, it sets off a series of mysteriously interrelated events, years' worth of stifled drama boiling to the surface. Narrated by the curious yet underinformed Louisa Hall, this thrilling Great Depression-era mystery will puzzle you at every precipitous turn. (RR)

A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham

Just before her wedding, psychiatrist Chloe Davis's hope for a happy life slips through her fingers when a local girl goes missing. Twenty years earlier, six teenagers disappeared from the Louisiana town where Chloe grew up and her dad confessed to their murders, upending Chloe's family. But her father's been in jail ever since… so how could this nightmare be happening again? A propulsive psychological thriller, this debut mystery will keep you up late! (AG)

Greer Hogan Mysteries by M. E. Hilliard

Librarian Greer Hogan loves literary crime novels, but she isn't thrilled when murders start popping up around her quaint town. Her knack for solving crimes comes in handy when she realizes she's more closely tied with the victims than expected. Unkindness of Ravens follows Greer attempting to solve her librarian friend's murder while running from her past. In Shadow in the Glass, a wedding guest is murdered at a lake house, and Greer dusts off her deduction skills to catch the culprit. Three Can Keep a Secret, the latest installment, follows Greer as she uncovers dark secrets after the murder of the chair of the library board of trustees. (HH)

The Secret of Elizabeth by Vera Caspary

Driving home from a party, Kate and Allan Royce stop to help a disheveled young woman. Claiming amnesia, the girl has nowhere to go, so they take her in and call her Elizabeth. She charms the Royce's friends and two potential suitors—but people keep showing up claiming to know her identity, from a couple missing their daughter to a psychiatrist searching for an escaped patient to a wealthy businessman on the hunt for his lost fiancée. Who is Elizabeth really? This 1979 mystery is still as page-turning as they come! (AG)

Bloomsbury Girls by Natalie Jenner

In postwar London, booksellers Vivien, Grace, and Evie are tired of running male-dominated, old-fashioned (or outdated) Bloomsbury Books from behind the scenes, so they bind together to take over the business and bring the store in line with society's changing values. Natalie Jenner highlights the workplace inequalities the women face while also giving her characters the opportunity to make a change for the better, making this a powerful and heartwarming read. (HH)

The Mitford Mysteries by Jessica Fellowes

Based on the legendary Mitford family, these unputdownable mysteries follow the sisters' lives over the span of a few decades, each novel showcases the women's wit and charm…and mystery-solving skills! The Mitford Murders features eldest sister Nancy as she and the family maid Louisa attempt to solve a murder that occurred on a train. In Bright Young Dead, a man is pushed to his death from a bell tower, and it's up to eighteen-year-old Pamela to prove her maid's innocence after she's identified as the killer. The Mitford Scandal follows Diana on her mission to outrun marriage, and two murders in Paris are her escape. The Mitford Trial puts the sisters on a thrill- (and murder-) filled cruise in the Mediterranean. The Mitford Vanishing navigates the political unrest happening in 1937 Spain, and the roles the sisters play in a burgeoning war. The Mitford Secret begins in the midst of World War II, and the sisters must come together to solve the murder of a maid in Chatsworth. What heartpounding historical fiction! (HH)

Split Rock by Holly Hodder Eger

Annie Tucker is bequeathed a home on Martha's Vineyard by her beloved aunt. The mother of three young children, Annie decides to summer on the island while her husband continues his frequent workrelated escapades abroad. While mourning her recently deceased aunt, Annie becomes engulfed by memories of her carefree past, made all the more complex after running into her first true love, Chase, a well-off island townie. By weaving the depth and complexity of Annie's inner dialogue—feelings of doubt, loneliness, and those pesky "what ifs"— with other well-developed characters and a luscious Martha's Vineyard landscape, Holly Hodder Eger has crafted a remarkable, multifaceted story about family, loss, and love. Be sure to check out our interview with the author! (HC)

The Flames by Sophie Haydock

This ambitious novel is an elegant fictionalization of artist Egon Schiele's life, told in alternating perspectives by the women closest to him. Egon grows up alongside his sister Gertrude, and together they defy their abusive father and dream of moving to the city. While studying under Gustav Klimt, Egon is introduced to Vally, who becomes his model and muse. In opulent twentieth-century Vienna, young socialites Adele and Edith Harms fall in love with the bohemian artist. The women are all rendered in Egon's controversial paintings throughout the years, and while he relies deeply on their support, their lives are all irreparably altered by his decisions. Unique perspective, historical richness, and biting scandal collide in this one-of-a-kind book. (RR)

NONFICTION

The Nine by Gwen Strauss

As WWII was coming to an end, nine female resistance fighters who'd been imprisoned by the Nazis escaped from their final death march in Germany and navigated a perilous path to Paris. Gwen Strauss, great niece of one of "the nine," re-creates their miraculous true story via wide-ranging research and vivid storytelling. Their roles in the resistance, their horrific experiences in the labor camps, their incredible quest for freedom—every aspect of these women's lives reveals their limitless courage, determination, competence, kindness, humor, and generosity of spirit. The Nine is a breathtaking narrative showcasing the power of friendship and the astounding resilience of humanity. (CH)

The Pillow Book of Sei Shōnagon translated by Arthur Walley

Brimming with sly witticisms and intimate observations, The Pillow Book was written in 10th century Japan by a courtesan to Empress Teishi. A contemporary of Lady Murasaki Shikibu (author of The Tale of Genji, regarded as the world's first novel), Sei Shonagon recorded personal anecdotes, accounts of historical events, and even poetic reflections on nature. With sixteen pages of full-color prints from original illustrations, this charming diary is a lovely journey into Heian-period Japan. (RR)

The Queen: Her Life by Andrew Morton

Esteemed biographer Andrew Morton tells the story of a woman of unyielding self-discipline who began life as a timid child with dreams of leading a peaceful life (ideally among horses and dogs). Yet her destiny was altered when she became heir to the throne at twenty-five and, eventually, the longest reigning British monarch. She faced numerous obstacles and family strife but remained steadfast in her quest to keep the monarchy relevant in a rapidly evolving world. Readers will enjoy getting to know Queen Elizabeth II in this beautiful tribute to the dearly departed monarch—meeting her family and childhood friends and delighting in her quick mind and sharp sense of humor. (HC)

The Women of Rothschild by Natalie Livingstone

The Rothschild dynasty, known for its immense wealth and power, is often thought of as a male dominated family. But Natalie Livingstone reveals the untold story of the remarkable women of Rothschild who, despite being outsiders, forged their own paths and built a powerful legacy. They became diplomats, advisors to prime ministers, and advocates for social reform. From London to the United States, from the Vatican to Palestine, they would mingle with Queen Victoria, the Duke of Wellington, and Alec Guinness, as well as inspire some of the most prominent cultural movements of the Victorian period. This engrossing portrait is thoughtfully researched, captivating, and a true page-turner that "gives voice to the complicated, privileged, and gifted women whose vision and tenacity shaped history." (HC)

Agatha Christie: An Elusive Woman by Lucy Worsley

Why did Agatha Christie outwardly present herself as an "Edwardian lady of leisure" when she was actually "thrillingly, scintillatingly modern"? In this groundbreaking biography, historian and author Lucy Worsley compassionately reveals the mystery of the mystery writer—how Christie had a wildly adventurous spirit, an inquisitive mind, and a fierce ambition—and brilliantly celebrates her complexity as both a writer and a pioneering twentieth-century woman. Worsley is a beautiful writer and a meticulous researcher, well deserving of the rare opportunity to access Christie's extensive archive. This magnificent portrait illuminates the sensational mystery maven whose extraordinary personal life was as enigmatic and fascinating as the stories she wrote. (HC)

The Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly by Margareta Magnusson

This warm, wise, clear-eyed, and lighthearted memoir offers gentle tips on getting old gracefully. Throughout lovely stories from the author's full life, the reader will discover all sorts of profound and practical counsel: laugh often (your wrinkles will point upward and make you look happy); spend time with young people ("if you are over eighty, even a seventy-six-year-old is young"!); take care of things (the author has a fern named Anni-Frid); be open-minded; carry memories of departed loved ones with you always; don't sit for long periods of time; wear stripes; eat chocolate….There's even an appendix expanding upon "the gentle art of Swedish Death Cleaning" (the topic of her first book), which helps you cull your belongings so you can live more simply—and so your loved ones won't have to do it later. It's all wonderful, entertaining, and life-enhancing advice! (CH)

Women in White Coats by Olivia Campbell

In the early 1800s, when medical care was essentially inaccessible for most women without facing sexism or stigma, three courageous women—Elizabeth Blackwell, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, and Sophia Jex-Blake—became pioneers in the male-dominated medical field. This well-researched account follows these history-defining doctors through their perilous journeys, as they paved the way for medical care for women by women. (HH)

Agent Josephine by Damien Lewis

You might be familiar with Josephine Baker's distinctive dancing—before World War II, the American-born singer/dancer/ actress was one of the most famous performers in France—but this biography begins with the Nazi occupation in Paris, and, subsequently, the forced removal of "negroes and Jews" from entertainment. When Baker joined the Resistance as a spy, her position among the elite was unusual but indispensable to MI6. Damien Lewis's exhaustive and captivating research will not only bring you closer to Baker's true (untold until now) story, but also reveal her tenacity and patriotism as one of the first women to serve as an Honorable Correspondent in a time of great upheaval. (RR)

Listen, World! by Julia Scheeres and Allison Gilbert

In the early- and mid-twentieth century, Elsie Robinson was one of the most beloved writers in America: a syndicated columnist with an audience in the tens of millions, a pioneering illustrator, and (though she would have shunned the word) a fierce feminist. Listen, World! seeks to rekindle the memory of this remarkable woman, from her misbegotten first marriage to a rich widower to her years digging for gold in the mines of California with a second partner and the gradual discovery that she could support herself and her son through her writing. The tragedies and triumphs of Elsie's life make for surprisingly gripping reading, and the authors embroider the text with selections from her columns that showcase her uniquely poetic voice. (BH)

A Place in the World by Frances Mayes

Though Frances Mayes is known for her travels, she has always sought a sense of home wherever she goes. In this poetic testament to the power of place in our lives, Mayes reflects on the idea of home, from the earliest imprint of four walls to the startling discoveries of feeling the strange ease of homes abroad, friends' homes, and even momentary visits that spark desires for other lives. From her travels across Italy—Tuscany, of course, but also Venice and Capri—to the American South, France, and Mexico, Mayes finds here the connections between the homes she's inhabited.