Murder at the Highland Games by Dee Macdonald

 

Its the Locharran Highland Games and the whole village is abuzz. The competitive spirit is very high with known defenders for each sport. But this time, there are “foreigners”. A trio of Scottish origin Canadians in fine fettle, one of them a reigning champion in Canada. Does not augur well for a spirit of brotherhood! 

When the Canadian winner is found with his head bashed in, the local Detectives have to appeal to Ally, particularly since the whole lot are putting up at her guesthouse. Archie did create a lot of antagonism with his win, but was it enough to kill him for it. When his brother in law, the quieter man is also found murdered, the investigation has to pick up before another death takes place.

The setting for the story is idyllic, the characters larger than life and details of the various games still popular today intriguing. 

Another very interesting cozy from this author.

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

An antique shop in Jewtown, Cochin, India.

Cassandra A Scandal in Pemberley by Linda O’Byrne

 

After a series of murder mysteries this was a somewhat lighter read. I like variations on Pride & Prejudice and subsequent narrations of how the Bennett sisters lives have progressed. We now seem to be going into the next generation and this story is tge turmoil that Cassandra is forced to face, with flighty, irresponsible Lydia as her mother, Wickham supposedly dead in India and an unappealing step father.

Running away from home after over hearing a conversation about an exchange of money between her stepfather and an older man, Cassandra comes to Pemberley not knowing that her Aunt and Uncle are not in residence and ending up with a local doctor and his sister. The doctor is someone whom she met in London and whom she liked but circumstances changed so much that despite an engagement, she ran away again! 

It all ended well and it was a happily ever after ending eventually.

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

Tge Blackthorn Women by Jess Lourey

 

Four generations of women living in a small town. They have a reputation for magic and spells and this holds them apart from other townsfolk.  The family has a curse on them, known only to one of the women who will do everything she possibly can to protect all of them. Add to this the event called snakening where every few years tge town is over run by snakes which is a precursor of hard and difficult situations.

Altogether a peculiar setting for small town modern America but the story was compelling. The mix of four modern women living in close proximity to each other, trying not to interfere even if it is for good is hard. Protective instincts are there but then one realises that everything one thinks of cannot be implemented and sometimes mistakes have to be made. Relationships are fragile, easily broken and hard to mend. Add to the family dynamics, the spirit of magic and the going is tough.

Despite magical realism being not a genre I would pick, I enjoyed the read.

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

The Family Secret by Patricia Gibney

 

Freya’s twelfth birthday was just like any other. A balloon arch, a bouncy castle which she thought ridiculous and her friends. Tension arose with her outfit, and that she’d cut her hair but that was forgotten. A day later three bodies discovered two strangled, one with stab injuries. Initially ruled as suicide and murder, it took another route when Sadie the dead mother’s best friend and her daughter went missing.

Too many coincidences, too many past history relationships in a small town can be ignored and tge number of suspects keep widening. No one can be ruled out, because the past has had plenty of demons. A cliffhanger because one keeps dithering over the plot, the connections and the suspects.

An excellent read.

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

Kathakali dancers both male, in all their colourful glory.

Fables & Lies by Elisabeth Storrs

 

The story set during WWII and the ascendancy of Hitler, is slightly different. It 

looks at the declaration of war and the period of Poland’s annexation and the destruction of Europe from the perception of German people. The people who believed wholeheartedly in the policies of the Fuehrer, the unprincipled and unshakeable attitudes towards Jews, Slavs, Roma, in fact anyone not a pure German Aryan ancestry.

The story dealing with the pillaged antiques, paintings of not just German homes, but the riches from other lands all stored in repositories and under the able guidance of educated and knowledgeable art historians, who carried out inventory and safe storage despite knowing their provenance. The individuals of the story are caught in a maelstrom - of what to believe, the facts that have been driven into them from birth. From the orphanages, to the forced adoptions, to the achievements of multiple births, to the second class of women, now voiceless which Germany had accepted as almost written as rules by God. But the cracks started appearing amongst some sections in society and uncertainty and questioning of what was never questioned began.

All the characters in the story are strong driven individuals. Their stories were very intense and highly emotional and traumatic even to the reader. But it is a factual account and history must not be forgotten. Not an easy read but in the present context, very necessary. That human beings are at times cruel, bestial almost, seeking power and supremacy over all. Sadly nothing much has changed since then.

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

The Teacher by Tim Sullivan

 

Tim Sullivan is an author I look forward to reading. Whenever I get the opportunity I grab his books. They keep me guessing and following Detective Sergeant Cross is a task I am not going to get bored with.

An 80 year old man is found murdered. Seemingly living a very quiet life, with a routine that has not changed. He is taciturn but has had severe problems with his neighbours the  Cotterells with whom he has had running battles. The local pub has said his behaviour was different over the last two weeks but no one can pinpoint a reason. Cross’s boss brings in a Detective Inspector Warner to work with Cross on the investigation. The two are poles apart in attitudes and work ethics. Warner is brash and seeking accolades- especially since the dead man’s son is a controversial MP. Cross works quietly under the radar seeking no limelight. Warner makes an arrest of Mr Cotterell which Cross disputes, but works behind the scenes to make sure the actual perpetrator of the crime gets caught.

The conflict between the two detectives, the manner in which they approach the same subject is one point of interest. Cross is on the spectrum and works in his own way, understood by his closest colleagues and even by his Superintendent who knows Cross gets results.

This story handled several painful subjects bullying and physical punishment in schools, sexual violence in the workplace, different kinds of autism and the general intolerance to it. All hard subjects.

The story is a winner. 

Sent by Grove Atlantic for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

I have been a bit late in reviewing books as I was on a short break in Kochi, India.

Impressive church of St George Malabar and Syrian faith. Very ornate and very well maintained.

Murder at Ravens Gate by Louise Marley

 

Very character driven, one had to have a clear head to sort them out but the setting, eccentric but glorious as only an English village can, with quite a few gothic touches to add to the drama.

Two old ladies living in a decrepit Blackheath Hall, keeping out everyone, ghostly figures hell bent on murder and the local constabulary gets involved when a young man is discovered with a pike in his back. There are ghost tours conducted around Ravens Head and especially around the Gateway to the Dead where a battle took place, and many died though no bodies are there anymore.

The mystery builds up with a fair amount of twists and though this is one in a series I found it very interesting as a stand alone. I like stories about vintage old ladies too (I am getting there slowly but surely) and find these ladies maybe old and somewhat physically feeble but wily to be able to get what they want.

Altogether interesting reading.

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