A Hush at Midnight by Marlene M. Bell

 

Laura is a celebrity chef known for her desserts and pastries. Visiting her mentor, the famed WWII veteran was long overdue. Mattie is frail but her mind is as sharp as a rapier. After just days of meeting her, Laura finds Mattie murdered and herself as the main suspect. On top of it all, Laura feels the small town detective force is overwhelmed by the crime, refuses to take Laura’s claims seriously and does not even secure the crime scene.

When Laura sees the disinterest around her dear friends murder she takes matters into her own hands, not knowing that in small towns many feathers can be ruffled. Running foul of the detectives is one thing, but having antagonistic neighbours, a missing grounds keeper and a boyfriend who is a stalker does not help. Added to the mix is a woman fixed on revenge when she feels she is cheated of her inheritance.

The story is fast paced and all the characters add depth to the story.

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

Family Affairs at Orchard Cottage Hospital by Lizzie Lane

 

Doctor Frances  Brakespeare is at last settling into the small cottage hospital, a change from the bustling London one she worked in before. Getting over the loss of Izzy, the lady who adopted her is proving to be very hard, because Izzy’s sister keeps hounding her viciously, claiming everything that Frances owns.

The hospital needs modernization and Frances is determined to do this. Opening a family planning unit adjacent to the mother and baby clinic, may not however go down well in rural Somerset in 1936 and soon Frances faces the opposition she expected from irate husbands and the Church as well. 

The difficulties of dragging the hospital into the twentieth century is quite hard and you can see how diplomatic one has to be to achieve any kind of rapport. The support of the local lady of the manor helps to a great extent.

Though there are several small stories in this book like the blind son of the manor being helped in his rehabilitation, and the romance between Frances and the local vicar, it is Frances’s story mainly. A very readable story as well.

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

Murder at the Foundling Hospital by Irina Shapiro (A Tate and Bell Mystery)

 

This story which was emotional, sad and joyous too takes us into the world of orphanages in Britain in Victorian times and how hard life was for a great proportion of its people. 

Gemma works as a nurse at the Foundling hospital. She  considers herself lucky to get this job, and she knows she has to be careful not to overstep any of the rules and regulations governing her life as a single, unmarried woman. Her relationship with Detective Bell in its very early stages has to be kept secret as it can affect both their jobs. Her attachment to Lucy a little girl in the orphanage is viewed with suspicions causing distress to them both.

A body of a young girl, murdered in the laundry of the hospital begins an investigation which is fraught with difficulties. The Orphanage Matron wants it shoved under the carpet as an accidental death, not bringing any notoriety or press attention. Her focus more than on the safety of her charges, lies more with self preservation and keeping the sponsors happy.

Gemma from within the hospital has a better chance of obtaining clues as to who was responsible and despite the Detectives warning to stay clear, she pursues and gets clues which will link the very basic information they now have.

The murder and detective work was very well depicted, but it is the story of the orphanage its working, its rigidity and regulations that form the heart of the story.

Beautifully written.

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

Who Loves You Best by Marilyn Simon Rothstein

 

Dr Jodie Wexler drops everything - her husband (just fired from his job), her flourishing practice to be with her grand daughter Macallan. It was for one week and she intended to make the most of it. She did not think she will face the wrath and insidious jealousy of Grandma No 2 the glamorous Di, and a strange Grannie Annie a 22 something and a fixture in Callie’s life already.

Dealing with an amiable grand daughter was easy, but coming to terms with her role in the household was a difficult one for Jodie. Each character gave one light, superficial view to the world hiding deep insecurities and fears within. Jodie herself learned more about herself and her priorities and the choices which would suit her. After decades of pleasing everyone else, Jodie finds her own path keeping other considerations aside for the first time.

Charming read and an eye opener for self sacrificing people everywhere!

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

The Cursed Writer by Holly Hepburn

 

Blogger did it again. No picture and this was one I particularly wanted to show readers as it was so dull and didn’t do the story justice!

To new readers of the series, Harriet works in a Baker  Street  building society which has the same address for the fictitious Sherlock Holmes. Many believe he is a living person, and Harriet’s job is to ensure that a reply goes to every person who writes in.  One particular enquiry catches her eye and she pursues it in a private capacity along with Oliver and they uncover a scene which is quite unimaginable.

Mixing elements of attempted murder, hallucinations and a touch of the supernatural, the setting of Thrumwell Manor is very apt for the story. The plot is complicated, suspicions fall on everyone, but the final solution is far reaching.

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

Dear Aunt Addi by Aralyn Adams

 

This was a quirky read. We have a 109 year old with the entire history (and secrets) of the town wrapped up in her head. We have a nosey journalist with his own agenda, wanting to find out all the hidden details of his own ancestry amongst other things. We also have buried treasure and secrets.

This story is set in plantation and slave time Southern part of America. Very little is documented but stories passed from one generation to the next. How correct the stories are is anybody’s guess and did they get a wee bit mixed up in the retelling? Probably.

Its a rambling tale, can get a bit confusing but portrays realistically what plantation life really was, before moving onto present times. The events took place in 1895, we then come to the 1970s and then to present day times. A lot to cover.

Sent by Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Saratoga Woods by Elizabeth George

 

I’ve not been able to get an Elizabeth George book for years, much to my regret. That I got this was sheer luck. 

Becca King on the run from a criminal stepfather is abandoned by her mother on Whidbey Island. Becca is psychic, hears whispers which she sometimes cannot interpret, and this makes her stand out in the group of teenagers she has to live with. Derric of Ugandan origin and adopted and Seth a drop out and much maligned are her friends. Debbie becomes an adopted Aunt and Diana who understands the psychic part of Becca are her support system.

Because of her fear for her stepfather Becca cannot come clean even to those who want to help and when Derric is found unconscious after a fall in the woods, the local Sheriff turns his attention to the local bad boy Seth and then to Becca, the unknown quantity in this tiny community.

Dealing with teen angst, the way they think and react (mean girl Jenn being a case in point) the story weaves its way through small town America and how a community tries to help out one of its own.

Slightly different to this authors usual settings, this was still a very good read. One book from a trilogy, I do hope I can get to the others.

Sent by Elizabeth George for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.