St James Park by John Doll

 

Set in San Jose against the backdrop of Prohibition and the Depression,an era of political maneuvering and manipulation, corruption in local government, bootlegging and the enormous profits to be made from the prohibited liquor, we have a kidnapping of a prominent young man - Jewish background but brought up in a catholic college. He was found and then disappeared again.

For convenience two petty criminals were arrested and mob violence prevailed. The two men were beaten, hanged in the town square and one was burnt. Mob violence at its worst. We have the worst that the era represented and it is a factionalized telling of what happened in 1933 long before Silicon Valley came into existence.

Not an easy read but life is sometimes full of horror stories too.

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

My Great Aunt’s Diary by Laura Sweeney

 

The inheritance of the cottage comes at a point in Emily’s life that she knows she must actively seek change from the toxic relationship she is in. Not having been back to this rural village for fifteen years, she is saddened and puzzled why her Aunt left this idyllic place to her.

The story falls into two timelines. Violet’s own life - a struggle coping with a mother who was mentally frail, two brothers evacuated and lost to her and Violet having to cope with being the mainstay for her mother. Violets change of life on meeting Zella, her relationship developing into one which would be unacceptable in society and then the heartbreak when Zeyla chooses comfort and a place in society over love. Violets also meets Hugo after the end of the war marries him and lives as happily as she could.

All this is because Emily discovers zeyla’s diary hidden in the cottage.

Emily fighting her feelings for Will, from fifteen years ago realises her feelings have not abated despite time and distance and the search for Zeyla brings them closer than ever before. Emily feels that the cottage was how she brought closure to Zeyla who is still alive and brought love into her own life.

The story was a peaceful and loving read, despite the harshness of WWII, the restrictions placed on homosexual or bisexual people. The characters were strong willed women who found a path for themselves. This added a depth to the story.

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

Fonseka by Jessica Francis Kane

 

This was the unwritten story that Penelope Fitzgerald never wrote. 1852 she and her husband are almost bankrupt. Two children and another on the way, an invitation to visit Mexico, with the tantalizing treat of a legacy for Valpy, her son and apparently the only male heir to the riches of the two aunts. We see Penelope undertake a perilous journey to the aunts home, but the welcome is not that warm, though they like Valpy well enough. There are lots of other contenders for the legacy and everyone is kept at arms length.

The cast is very varied and interesting. In such a community, a certain cut throat attitude is there and that proves Penelope’s downfall and ouster from the race. Nice outline of good and mean features found in humans as well.

Sent by the Penguin Press for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Shakespeare Secret by D J Nix

 

Three women of contrasting social levels meet by chance. The play they watch is mediocre and they think they can do better. But play writing is forbidden for women. They meet in secret but enemies within the Royal circuit read more into the meetings than what is actually happening. Their writings are a huge success, and Shakespeare presents them as his own. Trying to remain secret as well as proving themselves loyal to the Queen is the trouble they have to face and face it they did, in the most ingenious way possible.

This was a very good story with three strong women, a lot of history woven into it with court intrigue, and a masterful plot which kept me guessing till the end.

Sent by Alcove Press for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

A Hollow Death by Colleen Dumaine

 

Set in the 1890s and this time in Adelaide, Australia, we follow the travails of a female detective battling prejudice because she is a woman, not doing what is considered normal for women of the times. Very seldom do I get to read a story set in Australia of that era, so this had a lot to recommend it.

Looking for missing dogs is Beth’s main means of survival because there is a hard mean gang doing exactly that. But then Beth is approached to find a missing husband, and at first with a lover on the side who has a brutish husband, the reasoning is that he has run away.  The story takes several turns with Eric found dead, but Beth is not happy with the accidental death verdict.

The story also highlights Beth’s personal life, her marriage and life in Afghanistan and Ariffs death and her flight to safety in Adelaide and the fear of kidnapping of her son by Ariffs brother, who is determined to take him back to Afghanistan. The dog robbing ring in Adelaide was a violent one and that added another circle to the story.

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

A Ghostwriters Guide to Murder by Melinda Mullet

 

Maeve ghostwrites mystery novels for a living. The Simon Hills series are thriving but she seems to have a writing blank. Living on a houseboat, amicable neighbours, peaceful surroundings doesn’t seem to help. Until the actual mystery hits her personally. Discovering fifty thousand pounds hidden on the boat, followed closely by the discovery of her ex husbands body floating beside the boat, plus the fact that she is the beneficiary of a fat insurance policy. Arrested on suspicion, it seems the detective in charge wants to get a conviction as conveniently as possible and move on.

Maeve has good friends who rally around and set up their own detection to try to unravel the mess which leads to underhand dealings, sub standard construction and the biggest surprise a corrupt detective right at the top.

A very lovely setting, quirky characters made this an enjoyable read.

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

The Women of Arlington Hall by Jane Healey

 

1947 and all the women working at Arlington Hall are brave and adventurous. They are going where the average woman is not going, into a world of crypto analysis, breaking codes, trying to find the Soviet spies that have infiltrated the US to an unimaginable degree.

Cat Killeen is one of them, giving up the conventional, for a life of intellectual adventure and she has found a band of similar women (and men) who will support her. The story goes from the hunt , Cat joining forces with Jonathan, where they put everything on the line, risking reputation and their careers to bring justice for all. 

The work was taxing and repetitive, but the social life compensated! 

Based on real life, this was a story full of suspense.

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