In the Midnight Hour by Darcy Burke

 

Lady Cartwright loves books and has found a personal she considered a kindred spirit in her own neighbourhood. Finding him murdered didn’t do her any favours as she was the last to see him alive, and even more so when his last will left his fortune to her. Lord Northwood, another neighbour is attracted to the Lady but first he wants to help her clear her name. She is the sole suspect so far.

Detection in Victorian England worked on a different method. There were lots of subjects too delicate for the females, despite said females having to face male oppression, improper behaviour and the like.  Uncovering what goes on in the murdered baronets house made one realise that more than one young maid servant would be happy that the man is now dead.

Working with the coroner and Bow street runners, the duo somehow become privy to more information than what is officially known and solve the crime. There is an unusual twist in the tail at the end.

Very well told, and descriptive of Victorian lives.

Thanks to Oliver Heber Books for sending this book to me for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Millionaire Waltz by Anthony Quinn

 

Edie is attracted to the “different”.  She does not fall into the role of debutante, dutiful daughter though tge facade of dutiful fiancée is maintained for some time. Her heart is not in her engagement and her fast approaching marriage, to the confusion of her fiancée, her mother and her annoyed mother in law.

Edie gets involved platonically with several men, who are closet homosexuals ( for the time it had to be) but her sympathies are very much for them. Edie wanted a working life and she found that in the theatre. In small parts but she was happy that she got what she worked hard for. It was not a job that people of the upper classes did, and the story highlights this lifestyle as against the more mundane working middle class. Edie was light hearted and did not come across as condescending but she did not treat people as well as she ought to have.

Embodying 1920s society whirl it was in stark contrast to the aftermath of WWI and the struggle and heartache people were trying to get accustomed to.

Sent by Little, Brown Book Co. UK for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The River Runs Black by Tessa Wegert

 

Alexandria Bay is a small town near the Canadian border. The death of a sixteen year old sent shock waves through this town as this was something not commonplace here. When a massive stocks of drugs was discovered coming over from Canada, it sent the police force into a sense of euphoria, that at last that they were helping to make a dent in the horrific trade. However, when investigations proved that the drugs that killed Drew Fielding were different from the massive haul, Detectives now faced a very difficult fact. That two sets of operatives were working in this town and the fact that they got away with it for so long, rankled with the detectives.

What followed was a painstaking detection programme, uncovering blackmail, trafficking, abduction, murder and cracks within the police force itself. It was no longer a small town affair, the effects were rippling in bigger and bigger circles.

Dark and very tight paced it was a very good read.

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

The Heiress of Northanger Abbey by Nancy Bilyeau

 

Catherine Tilley is very settled in her life in rural Gloucestershire. Happily married with two young daughters, she wants a similar happy life for her girls. Decades ago her life was disrupted by the Thorpe brother and sister who destroyed her mind but fortunately she found peace with Henry Tilney. Catherine is now horrified when Isabella Thorpe appears in Bath, and her daughter befriends Catherine’s daughter Phoebe. The duo become inseparable much to Catherine’s dismay, but it is only she who suspects Isabella’s motives in befriending her daughter.

When a letter inviting Phoebe to remote Dartmoor is extended, Catherine flatly declines to send Phoebe but eventually gives in accompanying her on this long and arduous journey. Throughout and during the stay, Catherine feels that a plot is in the air, and definitely not for Phoebe or Catherine’s good. When her fears are realised, Catherine must use her limited resources to get them out of danger. 

The story deals with young women at the mercy of greedy men, only intent on the dowry that they bring.  In this story an illicit relationship which already existed between Isabella and Lord Pomeroy, where Phoebe was to be the bait as well as the cover for their relationship to continue. Both parties had no scruples in involving others, and in Isabella’s case even coercing her children in pursuit of her wishes.

The dangers that young women with good fortune faced was very real and that may be the reason for such strict protocols in place. Amply emphasised in the story. A very intriguing story.

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

Weligama Bay, Southern Coast of Sri Lanka.

The Shadow Friends by Tess Gerritsen

 

Ingrid and her former co workers now live a quiet retired life in a small town in Maine. The death of a former defector cum world famous authority on infectious diseases from Ebola, is not of concern especially as he has just returned from Africa. Investigations show he was murdered and when a waitress nearby is found murdered in a particularly brutal manner the former band of spies are alerted that maybe a Russian killer is amongst them and targeting Ingrid in particular.

The story goes back to Amsterdam so that is where Ingrid and a former colleagues (former lover) goes. Tracing a minute clue with no apparent links but in the absence of any other clues, they start the pursuit of whoever is behind the killings. 

The pursuit is relentless on both sides and the entire group joins in pursuit of Ingrid, to help out and safeguard the entire club. Their retirement is put on hold and they are all back in the
game.

Very good look at how espionage works today. Another good read from this author.

Sent by Thomas and Mercer for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Case of Bingley’s Missing Aphrodite by Emma Aubrey

 

I like almost all variations of the Pride & Prejudice theme. This was different and it was such a lovely read.

Mr and Mrs Bennett are deceased, the property has been entailed and three of the Bennett girls are living with a distant cousin in London, in respectable but impoverished conditions. Elizabeth is up north, working as a governess. Bingley has lost a very valuable statue and through a series of coincidences, reaches out to Mr Bennett to help him find the statue. The change in scenario, came when Darcy joins Bennett in the Sherlock Holmes style of detection, with many twists and a murder thrown in for good measure.

A further twist and a very pleasant one also happens and readers will be surprised how the tale turns.

A must for Pride & Prejudice fans.

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

The Rayburn Affair by Laurie Petrou

 

Ruth Morgan is desperate to obtain tenure. Struggling mentally and overburdened with questions regarding her future, she fears the worst. Until she teams with the golden couple Oscar a star in his own right and the glittering comet by his side, the darling of the writing world his wife Shelby. Immediately things begin to move for Ruth. The aura enveloping the couple covers her too. Ruth feels confident, feels that she can take on the University and also write again.

Shelby offers a path that Ruth has not even thought about before with her writing dreams. One that she has to keep secret till the big reveal. The story delves into AI with its very wide ramifications. What is real. What is manufactured by a bot. Where does human effort figure in writing? The human element is it getting phased out? Is the human even necessary?

All this and more takes you down a rabbit hole. On the periphery is human envy and jealousies, female friendships when they get too intense and relationships in general.

A read that gets you thinking.

Sent by Verve Books for an unbiased read courtesy of Netgalley.