Under the Shadows by Tony Mcfadden

 

Fast paced you just barely skim a bashing and then you are facing the next. 

Private Investigator formerly Federal Police’s first case is finding a missing teenager. Following clues left behind by the teen, this was easily completed but the case did not sit easy with Nick. He discovered his earlier nemesis, almost by accident. Leung long thought dead and the cause of many deaths amongst the Feds is alive but Nick has to convince his former colleagues who think he is delusional.

Following leads to Leung involves thugs who have no hesitation in using rough methods to interrogate Nick. It however is strongly linked to the mother of the rescued teenager but Nick has to join the dots to uncover the scams going on.

Interesting story set in Sydney. Fast and furious.

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

The diary at the last house by the sea by Liz Eeles

 

Blogger does this to me especially when the cover is particularly nice!

A very well written story involving two families. The housekeeper and her family before her have lived in the cottage on the grounds of the ‘big’ house and though Clarissa does not like the subservient attitude of her mother towards the owners of Brellasham Manor, she does know her mother is not going to change, but Clara resents it all the same.

When Geoffrey announces at a general meeting of all staff that the Manor will be sold, Clara is furious that the loyalty of generations does not count for Geoffrey, who could have told his housekeeper privately to cushion the shock. Geoffrey’s son River has also returned after a long time, along with Bartie the over smart cousin who is in the forefront of pushing the sale.

River and Clara had a romantic history as teenagers but it seems a memory now as all of them try to deal with the sale of their home, and for River a move back to Australia which has been his actual home. Unraveling the duplicity of Bartie, looking at ways of keeping the property in the family and rekindling the relationship between Clara and River form the rest of the story.

Beautiful setting, descriptively portrayed adds to the interest.

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

 

Death at Darrington Manor by Nancy Warren

 

I seem to be reading so many books set in the 1920s. The subjects are murder and mystery and deviousness nothing of what is supposed to be genteel and respectable so that ultimately it seems a facade, especially the more aristocratic the family is.

Abigail is a journalist working in Paris. Her heart is set on “meaty” topics but her editor has kept her firmly on the women’s pages. Now sent to Somerset to cover a society wedding - impoverished, county bride and brash millionaire from America, she and her friend Vivian masquerading as her maid faces many surprises as soon as they land at the estate.

Firstly the headlines are about the ex maid Gladys found strangled in London and the attempted murder of the bridegroom when a brand new car is found with the brake liners cut. This is followed by the murder of a protege of the American family who was almost a second son in the family.

Abigail knows the three incidents are connected but no one including the detectives on the case are taking any clues she offers seriously. Abigail uses her ideas skillfully coming out with the suspect who was far removed from the original list.

Descriptive in both the detective genre, the description of social life in the 1920s and the divide that existed amongst the classes added depth to the story.

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

Murder in Mayfair by Verity Bright

 

Lady Eleanor, her butler Clifford always deal in murder. The settings vary but they invariably involve the aristocracy and this is where normal rules of law are very often waived, however horrendous the crime.

The very interesting part of Lady Eleanor’s stories are however the social commentary of the times. Way of life, the distinct division of classes, the living standards of rich and poor all mixed in with murder and mystery.

This story is no different. Set at the time of the British Exposition and Fair, Lady Eleanor witnesses a murder. Implausible in an area under high security, no body to be found but Inspector Hugh does believe his madcap fiancée. Involving a loss of an heirloom necklace, blackmail, thievery and Lords and Ladies, the story evolves into a who dunit in the best possible fashion.

Good entertaining reading. 

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

An Art Lovers Guide to Paris and Murder by Dianne Freeman

 

George and Frances are detecting again this time at the request of Aunt Julia in Paris. Strangely once they arrive Julia seems to have changed her mind of why she got them down in the first place, and puts off any discussions for later. When Julia is found murdered during a crush at the Exposition in Paris, George and Frances realise that the deaths of Ducasse, Julia’s lover and father of her child are linked.

Put as legal guardian to Lissette, George takes his duty seriously especially since many things don’t quite add up. Lisette herself doesn’t trust her English relatives and till matters are sorted out, there are many escapades and near misses till the eventual murderer is discovered.

Paris as the background setting was good enough for me. Add the period setting and the quirks of the era like Frances being very conscious of attire and deportment in the middle of a ruthless murder enquiry, was good reading.

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

Short visit to Goa

 

I’m in Goa the land of old churches. I like old buildings so my cup of tea. Beaches were non existent because of rainy, rainy weather. The church buildings almost all deconsecrated were the compensation.

We packed a lot in four days. 

Murder at Traitors Gate by Irina Shapiro

  

Police Inspector Sebastian Bell and Gemma Tate have suffered unimaginable loss. Both have not come to terms with their grief which is always with them. Gemma lost the only family she had, and is suffering personally and financially after having served in the Crimea. Sebastian plods on in his career and the new case of the murdered Jacob Harrow is a complicated one. If he fails, he will become the convenient scapegoat for the Police.

The discovery of Jacob Harrows body hung on a meat hook, at Traitors Gate dismembered too was a message. Unraveling his background Inspector Bell discovers a long trail of blackmail - mainly preying on innocent people who have had a small fault or fall from grace. When Lydia Morton is found murdered, also dismembered the link is established and pieces fall into place.

The story is brilliantly written. Dealing with not just murder, the human aspect of loss, grief, the apathy and insular attitudes of the times almost cruel towards women are descriptively dealt with. London was not a good place to be for single women fighting for survival. The odds were heavily stacked against them. For someone like Gemma who was compassionate still is a wonder. For Sebastian to still seek justice is another. I found this book to be a page turner.

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

Details of a gopuram in India. The attention to such detail is fabulous.