I've bookmarked a few on Amazon, but I tend to inevitably find a review that discourages the purchase. What can you recommend?
Thanks in advance!
What kind of book are you looking for? Are you comfortable reading academic studies or do you require a more accessible style of literature? What kind of study?introduction to her life and times; a more detailed study of a particular aspect, for example as a military leader; a translation of the two chief trials (Condemnation of Rouen Trial, 1431; and Nullification, 1455-56)? Of course, I can't promise that a perfect study exists that will fit all interests (especially as Joan features prominently in dozens of essay collections) and you could identify the books you've picked out already that would be useful, too!
A very good introduction to Joan which might help you whittle-down your themes is Craig Taylor's introduction to his sourcebook, Joan of Arc: La Pucelle, (Manchester, 2006).
Ah, I think Joan of Arc is just terrific.
I will always recommend first of all Dan Hobbins, ed. and trans., The Trial of Joan of Arc. This is one case where reading the primary source itself is both illuminating and accessible (medieval sources can be weird and hard, but this one makes sense, and makes you fall in love with Joan.)
Besides that, I'd probably start with Regine Pernoud and Marie-Veronique Clin's Joan of Arc: Her Story. I like the focus on both the historical context and the issues surrounding modern interpretations of Joan. (But then, I'm a historian, so this is what you might expect.)
For a popular biography? Hm. They so frequently have a clear agenda. (To be fair, so do a lot of the scholarly works on her!) Probably I'd recommend Frances Gies, Joan of Arc: The Legend and the Reality, if you can find it.
Helen Castor's new book looks promising, but obviously I can't recommend it before I've read it.
Other people know much more about the best secondary sources, but let me add that the full official transcript of her trial is available online. The judges ask her extensive questions about her life. You'll need to look elsewhere for the context of a lot of what they refer to, and they don't even pretend to be chronological or comprehensive, but the transcript will still give you a good sense of Joan's personality as well as providing invaluable details about the trial, her childhood, her opinion of her visions, and many other things
As a follow up, what do experts here think of Helen Castor's recent book? I enjoyed it and it was well reviewed but I'm not an expert on the period.