The Politician by Tim Sullivan

 

Another Inspector George Cross special, done the Tim Sullivan way. Precise, to the point, all corners tucked in neatly and a lesson in logic, facts and detection. Couldn’t put it down.

Peggy Frampton, former mayor now a popular influencer, found dead. A stash of expensive jewellery gone. A burglary gone wrong and the higher powers would like to close the case. But there is more to meet the eye and Cross and Ottey ( long suffering but now understanding Cross better than before) are on the case working in tandem to unlock unfaithful husbands, links with gangs and people who do not like Peggy’s new role as agony aunt.

Unravelled slowly, with multiple suspects another excellent read.

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

Mrs Walford by Brenda Tyedmers

 

Set in the 1800s between Halifax and New York, we go back and forth through decades and lots of information via diaries, memoirs and past events. Some of them do not seem connected but they eventually form the story of how Sadie Walford tried to escape a morphia addiction, was presumed dead for years by her family, was very much alive. The story behind her was complicated.

There are many facets in this story which are part of history itself and then there is the Tiffany glass making which was a story in itself. Lifestyles amongst many levels of society from boarding houses to independently wealthy people of the time added further layers of interest.

A story which would be of interest to those who like historical fiction as well as a close look how addiction was handled in the 1800s. Both the scientific and rather primitive ways were detailed. 

Sent by the author via the  Independent Book Publishers Association,  courtesy of Netgalley.

A Whiff of Murder by Angela M. Sanders

 

An old haunted house, three inmates two who seem ultra sensitive to the house and its past inhabitants, one with an acute awareness of scents and smells and each having pasts they’d like to stay hidden. A murder which seems like a death under natural circumstances, which even the police deem as a natural death. These three women decide otherwise and embark on the dangerous path of trying to find the murderer.

Involving the ex husband of the victim (vociferous despite being an ex), the only son blaise and almost indifferent to his mother’s death and a whole home of retirees who could also be suspects. 

A cozy definitely but it’s the characters, all of them that make up the interesting part of the story. Set in small town Oregonian, everyone seems to know everyone adding to the descriptive part of tge story.

Interesting cozy.

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

The Curious Case of the Poisoned Professor by Lucy Connelly

 

Dr Gwen Griffiths is not just changing countries, she is changing jobs as well. From working as managing editor in a Texan newspaper to heading a department in Journalism in a smaller setting of a university in Wales. She is looking forward to making the journalism department, the best of its kind. On her first day, after a very pleasant welcome dinner, she is confronted by the one person antagonistic from the beginning, who keels over dead at her feet.

The death is confirmed as suspicious, and strangely despite the victim being unknown to her, it seems Gwen is initially a person of interest. Slowly unraveling the story behind the surly dead woman , lies a long complicated history, unknown to any of her colleagues who have worked with her for years. 

The setting of the story in Wales was a first for me. The characters were interesting and the inquiry went in differing directions, before settling down!

Very interesting read with all the elements of a good cozy and lots of humour as well.

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

On another note we are having intolerably hot weather and I am looking longingly at scenes of icy rain in Bangalore to pouring rain in Texas. The grass is always greener on the other side.

The Witty Witches of Concord by Elizabeth Dunne

 

Concord, a small town seems to have more than its fair share of crime. Louisa May Alcott a resident has been in the forefront of solving past mysteries and when the body of Hannah Crook is found, it is to her that detectives turn to. On top of that a ritualistic murder of cattle adds to the mystery and gothic feel to the story, involving elements of magic, stories of witchcraft, energising the folk with a sense of unease that more dire things are about to happen. 

The story involves eccentric folk in the form of sisters, already under suspicion of murder and ever ready to create mayhem at any time, amongst a host of likely and unlikely suspects. A historical mystery combining the best of superstition and folk stories set against the detective skills of Ms Alcott who has to look through the muddled facts and decipher the truth.

Unusual characterization S, good setting and story are the marks of this book.

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

The Patient by Tim Sullivan

 

A young woman Flick is found dead from a drug overdose. A former drug addict now clean, her death is considered a suicide. Her mother has doggedly been of the opinion that she was murdered, and DI Cross, always a voice for the unheard is curious about the case.

Upsetting his superiors and Detective Campbell who closed the case was never going to be a problem for Cross. Afflicted with Autism Spectrum Disorder, he never knows if he is arrogant or rude (he often is) but works on logic and fact. Having an excellent conviction record helps and the story is a masterclass of finding facts, deleting the unnecessary and finding the murderer.  

The narration is splendid and the story unravels keeping the reader on edge, taking you from one suspects to the next. Wonderful read.

Looking forward very much to the next read from this author.

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

Caricature in intricate detail of a white man in one of the most famous shrines in Bangkok.

All in her Hands by Audrey Blake

 

1849 a female surgeon is a rarity and Dr Nora Gibson has to fight her way through the suspicious, wary and downright ferocious male fraternity to earn her place. On top of that she has to fight the opposition of her own sex, who do not think being a surgeon is a proper job for a woman. Annoying and upsetting the upper echelons of society is a thing to be avoided at all costs, because funding for everything is dependent on those who have the money and Nora does not seem to be dealing with them well.

The onset of a cholera epidemic, striking first the poorer sections of society and then creeping its way to the richer parts of the city affect the small coterie of doctors who support Nora. Her being pregnant does not help matters both with her husband who is hurt that she hid the fact and continued to work, and with his immediate family who cut ties with her and her husband over this. 

The story highlights the limitations of the medical profession in the 19th century and the lack of scientific knowledge on the part of doctors who wanted to keep the community closed both physically and scientifically to new methods and fresh ideas. The need to make money prevented many of them from seeking help from midwives, who had experience and knowledge far in excess of doctors who treated a few dozen patients only. The practice of bleeding was still being promoted and it was sheer luck that there were less fatalities than could be expected. The levels of hygiene amongst the poor was abysmal and no surprise that death rates were so high. The levels of hygiene of indifference to the poor was startling except for a few charities who tried to make a difference. Much more could definitely have been done. 

An eye opener of a read. History, lifestyle and an evaluation of social mores at the time.

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