The Three by Kelsey O’Brien

 

1791 England. Interesting times and we have people living dangerously on the edge.  Matthew is a skilled corset maker and his business is steadily on the rise. He came from nothing and has clawed himself up, setting up a business which is seen as successful. Though catering to the elite, he is still on the outside of society until he takes up with the aristocratic Henry with whom he falls in love. The danger of keeping a liaison like this secret is a must as it is a criminal offence. Matthew moves into Henry’s house as a private corset maker to Henry’s wife Elina so that the deception can continue.

So far the story is nothing untoward because society had many secrets swept under the Carpet, and ignored by polite society so that surfaces are not ruffled and secrets are kept hidden. Discovering that his lovers wife was well into revolutionary politics which she had kept carefully hidden was a surprise. Supporting her in her movement to popularise her ideas was not part of Matthew’s duties but he sympathised with Elina’s position in the household and then began his surreptitious life of helping Eliza without Henry’s knowledge.

The reckoning was coming and it did. It was sobering, difficult and emotional to process, but it was excellent reading.

The book was sent by Hera Books for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Shark House by Sara Ackerman

 

Set in Hawaii we have a story of a woman working in a man’s world (yes this is 1998) having to face a patronizing attitude because of her gender, despite being highly qualified for the job. A marine biologist by profession Minnow Gray on her subject of sharks, is at variance with the authorities on the islands. A few shark attacks, resulting in severe injury and a death are creating a pall over the tourist dependent islands. The powers that be would like to have a shark hunt and eliminate the threat, but Minnow knows that there is more to the attacks and does it warrant a hunt of these endangered mammals.

The story is very descriptive of the islands themselves, the myths and legends of the islanders themselves are brought into the story as a backdrop the reality of business and local politics. Striking a balance is not going to be easy and Minnow becomes a target because of her opposition to the hunt. This is a story about the natural world and the power of nature and things humans are still trying to understand. 

Sent by Harper Muse for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Beattie Cavendish and the Highland Hideaway by Mary-Jane Riley

 

My second read by this author and she did not disappoint.

Beattie is unassuming and her supposed role in the Civil Service is to improve efficiency amongst employees especially their typing skills. It seems like a good cover because Beattie is discreet, fearless and loves her job. She had to overcome obstacles from her family who just wanted her to be domesticated and married. Their knowledge of what she did was vague and she kept it at that.

Her present assignment to go to Kilbride, a remote Scottish outpost where something was awry. There was talk of double agents, people working for both sides, and on arrival a missing head of the unit, as well as a missing uncle, the very enigmatic Howard Cavendish.

Paddy Corrigan, a past conspirators with Beattie also works in this story, bringing mixed emotions to both of them. Their attraction to each other is deep, trust implicit but there are many barriers and this was sad.

The setting was bleak and descriptive providing just the amount of negativity needed as a background for the story that emerged. Spies, double dealings, mercenaries and trying to see the wood from the trees was Beattie’s instructions.

An excellent story with strong and weak characters which fitted their respective roles perfectly.

Sent by Allison & Busby for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley 

The Green Baize Door by Eleanor Birney

 

Marie’s grandmother works for a rich family as a housekeeper, earning their respect and kindness. Her son and grandson were avaricious, only looking for the wealth they thought she had accumulated over the years. Marie loved her grandmother for who she was and nothing else. When she was found brutally murdered, marie did not want to believe that her family were involved but the facts pointed to them having some kind of role in the murder.

When both her brother, father and her brothers closest friend were found to be suspects, Marie appealed to the family for help to get them out. James Lett was attracted to Marie and believed in her, though he had reservations about her kin.  The green baize door separated the masters from those who worked for them, and the demarcation was very definite. James and Marie had to work together to find the murderer and both had to keep within their boundaries. Class identity, the gap between the two were marked characteristics of the story. The grinding poverty prevalent amongst the working class was another sad commentary of the times. A feature of the story is also the effect of having a coloured ancestry and how it affected your entire life, from finding a job to finding a decent place to live. It did not matter that you appeared white, even the suspicion of being coloured was enough to blight your existence.

The book was a social commentary apart from the murder connotations. A good one.

Sent by Parlor & Dock Press, courtesy of Netgalley.

We were Never Friends by Kaira Rouda

 

A reunion. A celebration for an engagement party. A beautiful house in a fabulous setting almost a luxury hotel atmosphere. That was the setting. The animosity, the resentment, the patronizing attitudes were still there. Amidst it all the story of a girl who died in a similar house years before, not forgotten by any of them, compartmentalised into a small box hidden away till this weekend opens a Pandora’s box from which there is no escape.

Each of the women had an agenda. Each had secrets to hide. One of them was blackmailing one and had her sights set on another. One was very quiet and very much in the background. She was the one to watch. 

Not a single character was likeable. All rotten to the core but the story was a twisted tale which kept you wanting to read another chapter to know where it would go.

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

Mrs Hudson and the Spirits Curse by Martin Davies

 

I am  Sherlock fan so any link to them draws my eye. This did not disappoint.

Sherlock and Watson are setting up house and there are new characters - Mrs Hudson and Flotsam. Both are “characters” in every sense of the word. Mrs Hudson inscrutable, hidden talents, contacts with everyone and Flottie under her watchful eye being trained and educated for higher things. This was a story in itself.

The mystery had many twists including spirits (debunked by both Holmes and Watsonville), though quite plausible at the beginning. Murders galore and detection of the usual sort by the pair, at times bested by Mrs Hudson.

My first introduction to the lady and I hope I get to many more.

Very much enjoyed this read.

Sent by Allison & Busby for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley 

A Very Novel Murder by Ellie Alexander

 

Annie has opened her detective agency, after successfully launching her bookshop. Now she awaits her first client. In a small village she expected to have to deal with missing cats, unfaithful husbands and cases of vandalism. Her first enquiry was an eye opener - someone who thought her partner could be Agatha Christie s own son and brought stuff to support her claim. The other, an elderly lady brought in a full scale murder enquiry with lots of arguments to support her case.

Kelly had been June’s friend and despite being very young had befriended June or that was the story. June despite local police ruling it a death by accident, (Kelly was found drowned in a bath tub), June was suspicious of the boy friend, Kelly’s surfing coach and also the girl who shared the flat. 

Initial investigations supported Annie’s suspicions that everything was not what it seemed and the local police got involved again. What followed was a plethora of crimes, and several suspects. The actual murderer was able to hoodwink two sharp detectives and the local police force almost to the end.

Excellent detective work.

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