The Carnival Murders by Irina Shapiro

 

There are murder stories that are factual and then there are murder stories with atmospheric backgrounds, complicated characters from varying backgrounds which add so much depth to the story. Ms. Shapiro’s stories are like that. From the first to the last you are swept into Gemma’s and Sebastian’s lives.

Gemma and Detective Sebastian hope to get married as soon as possible. Colin not able to release Gemma from her nursing duties has been a frustrating obstacle to them but now with a date set both of them feel they are moving forward to a joyful period from the very hard and harsh realities they’ve lived through.

With the discovery of a young woman’s body found autopsied and followed by others they know they are looking out for a cold blooded surgeon killer. The killer seems to be fixated on human beings with disabilities and once the investigation starts several hitherto unknown cases keep getting mentioned. The fact that they were poor, disabled and had no family looking out for them, may be one of the reasons the killer did not get any attention. The first body discovered by Gemma and Sebastian was the anomaly. A normal young woman pregnant with her first child.

Apart from the detective work pursuing the killer and knowing that he would have the patronage of a higher class in society made their job harder. What added to the interest was how the background of the victims was woven into the story, sad though those backgrounds were. The inhumane treatment of anyone who was physically different during Victorian times was horrible. And there was no recourse for the victims. There was no social justice at all. The power of birth and money was paramount.

Connecting the victims from the conjoined twins to the dwarf murdered to Tamzin was hard but they got to the villain in the end

Not an easy read but it was a compulsive one.

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

The Two Deaths of Lillian Carmichael by Paulette Kennedy

 

Lillian is falsely accused of her sisters murder and is due to be hanged. This is done but she is not dead, and in a horrific state crawls out of her tomb. She knows who is responsible for her sisters death but due to family loyalty keeps quiet. Fast forward to several murders of young women in the town, and the discovery that Lillian is alive, puts the entire focus on her as the murderer.

Lillian has found a life with Kate, an actress who dons several personalities as the demand for her capabilities as an actress grows. Kate and Lillian form a very deep attachment but as the number of victims increase, the need for the town to find Lillian reaches fever pitch. 

This was a story with several narratives. One was the misguided family loyalty of Lillian who protected her mother’s name to the end. Her mother threw her to the wolves at the first hurdle. Kate who first appeared in Lillian’s life as a male who nurtured and looked after her, nursing her back to health, before her real identity as Kate was revealed. The abolitionist movement of whom Lillian’s father was a supporter was an important part of the story. It caused the family to be social outcasts, but it also provided the focus for Lillian’s work at a later stage of her life to join the underground free slavery movement.

The story gothic in parts with the vampire theme of death amongst the women heightened both the atmosphere and tension in the story. The combo was irresistible.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for sending this to me for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

A Wretched Folly by Lynn Messina

The new Duchess of Matlock is an easy going girl, not given to ideas of grandeur but she abhors pineapple and the estate is very proud of its pinery and the successful that it has achieved. Known for her predilection for solving murders, she never expected to find a body in the pinery but she does. Bea now faces tge quandary of solving the murder with the able help of her husband, but trying to keep to the narrow expectations of society at the time.

A nice Regency mystery murder, the hero here is the Duke. Giving ample support in a situation where most husbands of the time would be horrified. Especially as Bea was pregnant. 

Nice story, setting and characters.

Sent by Book Whisperer for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

St Sebastian’s Church. Negombo

 

A Grave Deception by Connie Berry

 

Trying to see similarities between a 14th century murder and a present day one, seems far fetched. It sounds hysterical to anyone investigating but there are so many similar facts that it is uncanny. 

Kate has been asked by the owner of the land where a 14th century body was buried, to find out any identification of the very well preserved corpse. An archaeological study is happening in the area, with the idea that it could be a plague pit. Grave finds have been documented but Kate discovers anomalies in the accounting of several gold finds. When the body of the chief archaeologist is found in one of the pits,  Kate’s husband Tom comes in to head the investigation. A second body is also found and the investigation has to be pushed further, before more bodies turn up. Tom is on another investigation with a missing, dangerous fugitive and he has to handle not two dangerous situations, but also a difficult co-worker bent on undermining the police presence. 

Using documents of over seven hundred years ago, Kate is hopeful of bringing the ancient mystery to a close. Linked with the site are the other murders and clues have to be woven together to bring justice for those killed.

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

Ornate and very much in the Portuguese style, the church of St Mary’s in Negombo. This has been on my bucket list along with a couple more churches in this area. Saw them all.

The Woman and Her Stars by Penny Haw

 

This story was a fascinating one of a woman striving to succeed in her own right as a successful astronomer, but always living in the shadow of her widely successful brother. Her brother was a hugely popular musician and Caroline excelled in that field as well. When astronomy took over and her brother began to be sponsored by Royalty, Caroline felt she had no alternative but to follow him, her alternative was to be sent back to Hanoverian, to live the life of a servant to her autocratic brother and mother.

Caroline developed her astronomical skills quickly and began to get recognition in her own right. She was unable to find a partner and resented her brothers wives when they appeared on the scene. 

She was bound by family bonds but could not recognise her role as a sibling. 

The story shows her struggle to survive, to get financial independence and to accept her value as a human being, rather than a help meet and support to her brothers. It came very late though. The Georgian era was not supportive of clever women and Caroline is a stark example. The book was a one you could not rush through but it gave you a lot to think about.

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

The view from my flat. Because of the intense heat, everything is blooming. Bougainvillea in double shades of pink and white and a ehela tree in yellow which only blooms in April.

Murder by Moonrse by Patrice McDonough

 

A read I had to finish in one go. 1867 setting an outstanding lady doctor, rarer than hens teeth, a very different detective, Queen Victoria, her two daughters and all the royal rules and peculiarities one could muster, the background of the looming and ever present Irish Rebellion that the English would like to gloss over and the Isle of Wight, favoured by Queen Victoria.

The story starting with the murder of a ladies maid, and then slowly linking to the murder of her sister, a coachman, a milkman and the list goes on. 

It seems like the murderer needs to cover his back by eliminating any and everyone linked to the story. A meticulous and clever schemer,  Inspector Richard Tennant seems to be always one step behind. Dr Julia Lewis is the Detectives partner and help meet in all his endeavours, and both of them have feelings for each other. Sadly the Crimean war and their professions have kept them apart till now.

The story is a terrific one combining so much history with lifestyles of the aristocrats living under Queen Victoria who never let go of the reins, despite not being in the public eye, ruled the daughters and son living under her eyes with a will of iron and how secrets hidden for decades can be such a danger. It also gives glimpses of how attitudes are changing and how women will gradually fight and get what is rightfully theirs. 

Couldn’t put this one down.

Sent by Kensington Publishing for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley 

Stretch of beach in baking heat at Matara, Southern Coast of Sri Lanka.

The Witching Hours by Heather Graham

 

A story combing a lot of history depicted by its setting, a touch of the fantasy in the form of very otherwise normal people and a whole lot of evil set by a manipulative man thriving on the weakness and fragility of some humans.

We have abductions and kidnappings, the latest being mothers and children, and a devoted nanny and their charge. Going back into recently missing persons, one comes up with varying people. Someone homeless, someone addicted. All those on the fringe of society. The two detectives sent to assist the local team are “special”. Both can visualise images and people from objects owned by victims or from places where incidents have happened. Keeping their talents quiet, is part of the strategy particularly in an area like Salem, where  hunting of witches was commonplace and thousands were executed on the slightest suspicion.

The story was different and I did like the historical detail. It was a different opinion on witchcraft, the manifestations and the culture I liked reading about, as it was different to a somewhat similar culture still practiced today amongst certain people today in my country, where astrology and spirit or rather paranormal practices still influence people.

Thank you to Kensington Publishing who sent me the book for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Images from a temple in South Sri Lanka