One Dark Summer by Sarah Hornsley

 

Penny walked out on her daughter Lily when Lily was four years old. It has always been only Lily and her Dad who is reticent about talking about her mum. It is accidentally that she got to know that her grand parents had a house on Orsea Island, and Lily surreptitiously plans a trip there when her father is away.

What is uncovered is an aunt, a family and more secrets because her mother’s family believed she was dead in a drowning accident on the island from decades ago and there is even a memorial for her mother. The why, how and where is slowly unraveled revealing a man who was so controlling, and one who eventually killed his wife and buried the body and the facts and lived peacefully with that knowledge that he almost got away with it.

A twisted and surprising story.

Sent by Hodder & Stoughton for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Hemlock Bay by Martin Edwards

 

Rachel Savernake is a clever amateur detective. Jacob Flint, a bit brash a journalist whose beat is crime receives a visit from a very unpretentious man, saying he is a clairvoyant and that he saw a murder being committed in Hemlock Bay. No idea of when or who the victim could be. Hemlock Bay is the latest seaside resort being touted as best for everything. Very recently developed by an original resident and now a brash new comer, its proving to be very popular with all segments of society, the posh and swindlers alike.

It is in this background that the first murder takes place, followed by the second. Jacob gets the scoop on it all and he joins forces with Rachel to find out who and why these are taking place. Seemingly unconnected, the dots do not link together to form a clear picture.

Lots of clues for readers. This reader was clueless.

Very good reading and part of a series.

Sent by Poisoned Pen Press for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Housewife by Natalie Barelli

This is so twisted that to unravels it takes some doing. Jodie is married to a rich man, she has the house she longed for. Jodie loves to cook which she does beautifully and she likes to clean. But there is a housekeeper Marie who is a feature in the house, dislikes Jodie and constantly remarks that Roy is very much in love with his first wife who died in mysterious circumstances. Suicide by shooting herself. Jodie incidentally is Deborah the first wife’s sister and has just got out of jail on a murder charge. Those little details are all nicely hidden away.

Jodie suspects that her husband killed her sister and also that he had an affair with another woman, and was looking at a way to get rid of his wife. How Jodie gets the evidence to prove she is right, is the bigger part of the story. Her husband is rich n powerful, and Jodie is a nonentity. Most of the time Jodie goes over the top in her zeal to get all the evidence, but she is a bold and resourceful woman who knows her own life is now in imminent danger. Jodie knows how to cover her tracks very well and this murder mystery novel epitomises that. 

A tense story but a page turner as well.

Sent by Poisoned Pen Press for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

After Darcy by Joanna Nadin

 

A modern sequel to Pride & Prejudice, all the sisters get equal notice and some in unexpected ways, not in keeping with the original theme. Makes for very interesting company.

Going through emotional upheavals, break ups, drunken spells it’s a nicely adapted variation which anyone with sisters could relate to. 

A fun read keeping to the original in broad outline.

Sent by Bedford Square Publishers for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Posting by Gillian Edward’s

 

1939 England was bleak and for an adventurous young woman, village life was a trifle limiting. Going upto London to work as a domestic was a first step in a tale which swept Jane from the confines of a very narrow world, right across the world to Morocco, Egypt which were transit points and then on to Karachi, India and eventually Ceylon now Sri Lanka and then finally to Singapore.

Working as a junior nurse was very hard and the privations and harshness of superiors was grim but Jane and her fellow nurses always seemed to find something to be happy about. The stories are very vivid, very descriptive of actual living conditions in far flung areas with very little equipment and supplies but tge nurses did a marvellous job with limited resources they had.  They also had adventures galore, visiting every place of interest they could, despite orders not to!

I was particularly interested in Jane’s work in Ceylon, being Sri Lankan myself and the story was so informative as well on facilities I had no idea about and the yeoman tasks entrusted to these young women. 

The story is a real one, an account of the authors own mother in law who was an intrepid and brave young lady who flew into an unknown and alien land very bravely.

The cover however does not do the story justice.

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

Paris Reckoning by John Pearce

 

Colonel Sandrine has had enough. After a twenty year stint with the US Army, ending in a near fatal attack in the Sahel, her heart is set in Paris. A long held ambition to have her own security firm in a city which has won her heart.

The unexpected happens. Sandi falls in love with Stevie who disappears with many questions unanswered, leaving her lots of money but people wanting to know where he is, and also wanting the money back. What follows is a trail of a missing looted painting, belonging to Poland, treachery amongst friends and high rolling stakes amongst the mafia in several countries.

Fast paced, detailed and exciting reading for mystery fans.

Sent by Alesia Press LLC for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

A Dangerous Just8ce by John Pilkington

 

First in the series of Justice Belstrange this was historical fiction, very well told. No frills, no histrionics.

Justice Belstrange now retired, is seeking his neighbours son who has gone missing in London. The problem is that the neighbours is strong Catholic, and 1616 was not a good time to be Catholic. There was severe antagonism and witch-hunt for anyone with a hint of being Catholic and Belstrange was going very close to being tarred as popish in his quest.

Belstrange finds the boy eventually at the Bedlam Asylum in a very psychotic state. But the question is not without danger because Belstrange has now become the target of the rich and powerful at the Court. He is maligned, drugged thrown in jail - all to intimidate him and force him to give up on the search for Thomas Jessop and return home.  But Belstrange once he decides on something is determined and he is one man who will fight for justice.

The best of historical fiction coupled with religious fear make this an excellent read.

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