The Poison Pen Letters by Fiona Walker

I am doing this review a day after our elections, keeping one eye on the TV!  We have had floods in one part of the country and people going to vote in tractors and lorries. I have had broiling heat in Colombo. There were five fatal accidents, all caused by speeding and two murders. But there is still a lot of hope, because this election is bringing radical change to our country, and I am hoping for a better tomorrow.

Getting back to the review.

I needed a light hearted read despite the genre of a gruesome murder (poisoned pen nibs), so much of  vicious trolling relentless and anonymous, but the characters were so fluffy and light hearted. Juno living in an imaginary world of her being young and flirty with everyone, Mil the bar man who had the measure of all the “girls”, Phoebe deep, anxious and protective of her wastrel and philandering husband and then the miscellaneous characters sprinkled through the story. The mean and the frivolous equally interesting.

The detective work was all over the place, each person following different suspects and with no coordination, though they all wanted to solve the problem. The murderer was not someone you’d suspect as a reader because of the many believable red herrings strewn all over the place.

Nice, light hearted story.

Sent by Boldwood Books for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Limelight by Emily Organ

 

Lizzie Dizzie was famous and died tragically in a huge ship accident in which over 600 souls perished. Her husband showman is continuing with his shows and bringing up Lizzie’s daughter who is in show business herself. When Lizzie’s body is discovered, shot in Highgate cemetery five years later, it is a great mystery all around. Why did she fake her own death, where did she live all these five years, how did she sustain herself and why now - was she a threat to anyone.

Her friend Penny who worked as a journalist and a amateur detective,  lost her job due to the unfair influence of the detective in charge of the case is distraught at the death of Lizzie and despite caution by all, is determined to get to the bottom of the story. There are many suspects for this murder including Lizzie’s husband, Lizzie’s producer director who was her lover and father of her daughter and a slightly built young man always appears at crucial moments and is so elusive that he is never caught.

The story is full of historical detail and is also a social commentary of the times. The characters drawn from show business and normal Victorian society add a dimension as well.

Sent by Storm Publishing for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Whispering Dead of Rewley Abbey by Dr Peter Stephenson

 

Set in the 13th century amongst a Cistercian monastery and an Abbey of Benedictine nuns going Upto the dissolution of monasteries and convents in the 16th century, this story of mystery and murder was a page turner in many ways, just like a story from a more recent vintage.

A murder of a young Brother is the start of the story. It leads to the enquiry why this seemingly harmless young man was brutally murdered. The second death was equally brutal and the lawmakers are left with no clues, whilst peasants and rabble rousers talk of mystical curses and occult practices. Before hysteria strikes the lawmakers call on the help of the Sisters from the convent, well versed in the herbal arts and poisons. Also a logical mind to work out the detection of how and why these men were murdered. A bard who gives clues to the murder, and details of a murder to come in verse, is also murdered and it is to the Lady of the Castle, an authority in the area and Sister Agnes to find out who the murderer is and prevent any further bloodshed.

It was the historical research that had gone into this story, coupled with the detailed descriptions of life in a monastery and abbey that added so much depth and layers to the story. Medieval England was still difficult but the work and knowledge found in the abbeys and monasteries were under estimated. 

I found the entire book fascinating.

Sent by BooksGoSocial for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

13 Park Lane by Naomi Clifford

 

1872 marked turbulent times in Europe. Marguerite has first run away from her native Belgium, then arrived in Paris to a way of life that was hard and now has turned up in London. With no English language skills, she has to work for a French family and from the kindly Dumas family she moves to the volatile and penurious family of the Riels. Facing abuse and extreme stinginess from the lady of the house Marguerite gets enamoured by the daughter of the house and despite opportunities to leave continues to be a drudge in the household. One wonders as to the reason why she continued to stay despite the harsh treatment she received and the opportunities to get away when presented to her.

Her murdering her mistress, her running away to Paris and then her incarceration in British prisons is the rest of the story. A ideal prisoner doing her jobs competently she did get pardoned and finally returned to Belgium but at what personal cost. 

Victorian England was harsh and oppressive to the poor and not willing to accept change. Women’s position in society was predetermined by birth and occupation. It was a harsh time. The murder story was intense and detailed, including details of police work and workings of prisons. The emotional story was heart breaking. Marguerite never stood a chance against everything arrayed against her. She was a very small cog in the whole story, though her actions were the entire story. 

Sent by Bloodhound Books for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Secret War of Julia Child by Diana R. Chambers

 

I never knew this aspect of Julia Childs life. I only knew her for her gastronomy skills and that was it. This
was an absolute surprise and I loved her description of Sri Lanka where she had her initial foray into her training as a spy, because I myself am Sri Lankan. She spoke of an era before my time of a colonial past, rich and evocative and many of the places she speaks of are very much part of Sri Lanka today.

A tall according to her ungainly woman, from Pasadena’s elite Julia started her career as a clerk and then graduated to a secret Fire Registry before her transfer to India, Sri Lanka, and then on to a fiery baptism to China. Her efforts and very successful work wherever she was employed was muted, though the contributions she made were vast and impact immeasurable. She who had never thought she’d find love, did so in China with Paul Child and this formed an integral and beautiful part of the story.

Descriptive not just of terrain, but people and food of course, the story was a page turner and so detailed in its description of day to day life during the end of WWII especially the dangerous expansion of Japan towards the end of the war.

Sent by Sourcebooks Landmark for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

A Rosie Life in Italy by Rosie Meleady

When Rosie’s landlady without any warning doubles the rent on her shabby home in Ireland, Rosie without hesitation decides to up sticks and move with husband, son and daughter. Her initial choice was Spain but things changed and it was to Italy they went. Rosie has a way of turning her decisions into very reasonable explanations as to their necessity and is like a whirlwind once she decides on something.

Being a wedding planner hoping to offer sunny climes, romantic villas and backdrops Rosie is a typical digital nomad. Buying a derelict 22 roomed castle complete with eight squabbling cousins did not fall into her plans. Neither did she take into account the vagaries of Italian property laws, all of which had to be undertaken by different masters of the law. Finally no one took into account COVID, the quarantine, the long long closure of neighborhoods and countries, cutting people off completely from family and friends and economic disaster for many like Rosie.

The story goes from one incident to another (home ownership is hard and be prepared to slog it out), but Rosie and her husband soldier on. The end seems in sight despite so many hiccups on the way. Humorous but informative, descriptive and emotional, the book had it all. 

Sent by Sourcebooks (non fiction), for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Telegram by Debbie Rix

 

Told in three timelines 1915, 1943 and 1960 we see and hear first of the telegram that will change the lives of this family forever. 1915 and 1943 were turbulent times but the discovery of a hidden message only in 1960 uncovers secrets that were never revealed.

Charles Carmichael was an enigmatic man, who kept everything very close to himself not allowing his wife access to what he felt was private. Luckily for him she was not the prying type and seemed resigned to what would appear as indifference both to his wife and baby. A chance encounter with his now grown up daughter brings up another problem. To explain this present wife Violet, that he has a daughter almost the same age as his present wife and there is an ex wife. Keeping so many secrets seemed easy for Charles but created problems all around but he carried on. After his death in 1959 things had to come out and they did. Violets acceptance of it all was questionable, but his daughter dealt with matters in a more believable manner. They each knew only a part of an intriguing character.

The story was interesting, the characters were mixed and added a balance to the story. The description of women’s work during the war years was descriptive though it was irritating to read of the constant second position they were forced to take, despite contributing hugely to the war effort.

Sent by Bookouture for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.