Confessions by Nicholas Rhea

Two unconnected events. Detective Pemberton is witness to a fatal car crash and assists the victim of the accident. Whilst dying, the man confesses to a murder. The rest of what he says is heard by a priest who has been a passenger in the Detective's car. The priest considers this as a confession and refuses to give any further information which he received.

Eleven young prostitutes have been murdered - every year around Midsummer. All strangled, raped violently and freakishly their sandals taken away.

With the victim's confession Pemberton is determined to find out what the murder is. He only knows that it is a woman who was murdered and no idea when, how or where. A proverbial needle in a haystack search. Investigating James's life is also a strange one - he is a likeable young man, with no social life and only had a passion for vintage motor cars. There is no history of violence, or crime and his background is quite normal.

Investigating further, the entire team work together to connect the faint dots they do have working backwards over a period of eleven years trying to get to grips how this man could have hidden his criminal tendencies so very cunningly and evaded arrest. The final outcome was surprising.

Well paced,  good for those who like procedures and orderly detection, this was a good read.

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

A Fatal Assignation by Alice Chetwynd Ley

London 1816 and Justin Rutherford is asked for his help in finding out who murdered Lord Jermyn. His niece Anthea is roped in to help. This is my second book in the series and I found it all delightful.

Reminscent of a Georgette Heyer mystery murder with bits of Agatha Christie thrown in set in an era where everyone pretended that things were right when they weren't and everything was a matter of form and etiquette is good to read (and know that we do not have to conform to this lifestyle at all!)
Lady Jermyn knows her husband has a roving eye, he has had several mistresses over the years and she has grown accustomed to this fact. He has however been considerate to the extent that he does keep her informed of his whereabouts and when he goes missing for five days, not even taking his valet with him she knows something is amiss. His death however has to be investigated and rather than leaving it in the hands of Bow Street Runners alone, she seeks Justin Rutherford's help.

Many husbands would wish Lord Jermyn dead but whether they would actually deal with the actual murder has to be seen and apart from them, his dealings have been murky and they slowly unravel to reveal some unsavoury acquaintances who would dearly like him dead.

Lots of descriptive writing with regard to society at the time, along with touches of romance, this was a very pleasant read.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Sapere Books.

Underr The Guise of Death by Vivian Conroy

Set in the 1920s, we have beautiful secretive Venice with all its character, and then we have a British cast. Most of them arrogant, rich and confident with it. All with secrets to hide and histories they wish they could get rid of.

A retired Scotland Yard detective with murder following him wherever he goes. At a masked ball the reappearance of a woman who was supposed to have died in a fiery car accident three years ago sets the cat amongst the pigeons. For the present Lady Bantham, does it mean she is married to a bigamist if his first wife is not dead, for Lord Bantham with many secrets to hide does it mean his life is going to come to an end to Lovelane who is Olivia's father who had a love hate relationship with his only daughter what is the future and to everyone around the implications are enormous. The mysterious lady disappears in a flash but her dead body turns up on a bridge the next day and now the search starts.

The setting of Venice was detailed and descriptive.  This alone is enough for me. Then the British characters were so on point - their colonial attitude does not die does it?? It added to the piquancy of the story which was a straight forward mystery as to who had actually died in the earlier car crash and who killed Olivia now and why. It was the story surrounding it that added to the flavour of the book.

I've read just one Vivian Conroy before this one and she is an author I will be looking out for.

The book was sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Canelo Books.

Mercy Road by Ann Howard Creel

WWI and American Mercy Hospital is the background. Women still not allowed to operate in the theatre of war despite a huge demand for them so they do whatever they could to alleviate suffering.

Arlene has been brought up in a comfortable home with money and loving parents. Losing her home and her beloved father to a fire, she now finds herself bankrupt and without a roof above their heads. Leaving her brother to look after the family stud business, Arlene takes on a courageous new role of ambulance driver in France. Working in the heartland of the war, and doing the best she can in very hard circumstances she did not expect to find a stalker in the form of an American officer, who would not take no for an answer and who proved dangerous when thwarted.

The story of the officer, finding romance with someone else was just part of the story. The more important part was the role that these female American surgeons and ambulance drivers played in the War. They did an important role of bringing relief to the villagers in the perimeter of the actual action who were neglected in the bigger picture of the actual battle. On top of that they also worked with wounded soldiers, ferrying them to the camps at much personal danger to themselves.

I have not read of this service before and maybe it is a hitherto ignored part of American history. Something that has not been given much prominence maybe. Which is a pity.

The story was a good one highlighting another aspect of one of the Great Wars.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Lake Union Publishing. 

In Her Eyes by Sarah Alderson

A home invasion in a house which is properly secured. An excellent location, a fabulous house, nice family - when the robbery goes wrong and Ava's daughter is hurt badly Ava's whole world is turned upside down.

Her husband whilst taking out the trash had not re-armed the security device which led to the invasion. Detectives unraveling the case turn up clues which devastate Ava. Her husband is bankrupt, he has swindled her out of all her inheritance, they are going to be left homeless, her daughter is in critical care,  her step son who is always zonked out is in a worse place than before and above all her husband refuses to even talk to her whilst in prison.

A vicious cycle of debt, drug deals gone bad, a home invasion that was not supposed to go the way it had and will Ava ever get her life together again. The family is split and even Hannah her elder daughter in college seems to be going away from her for reasons of her own.

Finding out who is responsible in a series of connected events if heart breaking for Ava.  Whom to trust in her life is limited as everyone around her has proved to be lying.

This was a twisty tale.

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

A View Across the Rooftops by Suzanne Kelman

1941 Amsterdam is not a very safe place to be. You need not be a Jew to feel unsafe. Professor Held is a quiet man. He lost his wife years ago and since then leads a solitary life, attending to his university job with care and diligence but not with any great passion.

When he unexpectedly offers shelter to Michael a Jew on the run, it is completely out of character and something he never envisaged. When this hiding of the fugitive continues for years, it becomes a game of deadly hide and seek with the omnipresent Nazis using neighbours, relations and friends to rout out Jew and Resistance sympathizers.

When his own niece, his only relative becomes intimately involved with a Nazi officer and turns informant he knows he is risking it all as everything and the network can be blown sky high. Michael needs to get back to Elke his Dutch partner and to keep Michael alive Josef Held has to use all his powers of serenity and good sense to keep matters on an even keel.

Another excellent story on this turbulent part of all our lives set in Amsterdam highlighting unheard of heroes.

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

An Equal Justice by Chad Zunker

David is ambitious and clever. A Stanford graduate his background leaves a lot to be desired. Grinding poverty, a mother who died young and a sister who made sure he did not lose track is his history which he has not forgotton. In the heady atmosphere of a swanky law firm, with untold riches and a bright financial future ahead of him David knows the path is competitive and hard but he is determined to get to the top.

What David did not get is that within the hard work, there is a dark thread of intimidation, corruption, even murder and conspiracies by the dozen. Getting embroiled in them was easy, getting out of it was hard and when the murders hit close to someone who has got close to him, the whole story starts unraveling.

Depicted as a legal thriller, this is also a coming of age story and a rags to riches story. All well told.

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

The Old Success by Martha Grimes

The body of a woman washes up on the Cornish coast. Quickly identified as a Frenchwoman are found by two little girls who seem to be reticent as if they have been slightly warned off talking too much.

Detective Macalvie is on the case and he is confused. When two more murders occur though in far off locations Tom Brownwell is called in although he is retired. He is convinced that the three deaths are connected but there does not seem to be any evidence linking the dots.
One of those cozy crime series (this is No. 25) which keep you going one with its location which is beautiful, the characters which are spot on and its very British sense of humour.

This was sent by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Grove Atlantic books.

A Transcontinental Affair by Jodi Daynard

May 1870 and this is history in the making. The first train to travel coast to coast is about to begin its journey and on board are myriad characters all going to San Francisco.

Two women Louisa and Hattie are also on the train. Louisa as a governess to two children along with their strange parents, and Hattie on a mission to marriage where Leland is waiting for her at the other end. Hattie is different for her times - bold, brash, innovative and clever. Louisa is sensitive, reserved and with a club foot with a marked limp she is very conscious of tends to keep to the background. How these two women forge a bond of friendship and love amidst the travails of travelling and the excitement of this journey is the story.

Add to this accidents on the way, encounters with Indians, deaths, and a massive cover up by the train authorities themselves add to the story. The book though very factual was a bit of a slow read and you had to pursue it to the end to understand the nuances of the LGBTQ connections in this story.
Being a history buff, this part of the story interested me more.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Lake Union Publishing.

The Afternoon Tea Club by Jane Gilley

This book is a timely reminder for anyone getting old (and who isn't) to be cautious about your temperament and character because you might end up all alone, curmudgeon ly and a total bore!

Set amongst a group of people growing old lonely, some quite bitter and mixed up, a social gathering of an Afternoon Tea Club tries to get this group of very disparate people to forget their troubles of the past and move forward in the best way they can. Whether it is beginner computer studies or art studies or even a simple trip to the beach this is indeed a start for all of them.

The progress of each of our characters was a very good study of human behaviour. The setting and story were rounded and matter of fact.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Avon Books UK.

Her Perfect Lies by Lana Newton

Claire has been in an accident. She was supposedly with her father who has also been hurt but in Claire's case she has no recall of the accident or what happened prior to that at all. She wakes up with a blank slate.

Her husband is a stranger to her, her best friend is unknown to her, her house is unfamiliar, even the housekeeper or even her closet feels alien as if it belongs to someone else. It is only the little glimpses of music and ballet which is not strange to her. She has to work with what she has to try to claw back her memory because those around her are determined to keep their information to themselves (I did not understand why) and keep her blundering more and more to try to put the pieces of her life together.

Even her personality has changed, from being arrogant and distant to someone who does not want to be condescending and patronizing and she needs to find out what made her click.
Unravelling this with no help from her husband, whom she now begins to see as enemy No 1 is not easy especially since you feel you are under surveillance and inspection at every turn.

This is classified as a psychological thriller. It was but the ending was tame and more romantic than anything else.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of HQ Digital books.

It's Complicated by Michele Paul (online dating for the middle aged)

The subject of online dating is almost unknown to me. I was curious. I wanted to know the system, how it affected both sides and what were the outcomes! I was also curious because in this book we are dealing with much older people so I felt I could empathize as well. (I couldn't!!) but thats another story.

Michele is a single mother of two middle aged, left alone by a cheating partner. Nothing extra ordinary there. Her adventures though in the field of online dating were numerous and hard, just showing human nature at its worst most of the time, how selfish people could be only seeing their own needs, their own worlds and insular and narrow minded to the last. The book did not leave me with a good taste of what online dating could be, because the joys of companionship, partnership, finding a soul mate is offset by the pettymindedness you have to go through to get there.

Most of the time reading this I felt for Michele who was trying to keep an even balance whilst in her search. Why she needed to search so much was also beyond me completely, but then that is a personal whim of mine and does not detract from Michele's story one whit. I found it hard reading about a woman who put so much into her search, was willing to see the good side of everyone she dated, was willing to give a second chance to all - for what??

This was a good book, matter of fact, precise and exposed warts and all of the many facets of humans seeking relationships. The fact that I couldnt understand the whys and wherefores is not the authors problem.

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

Death on a Quiet Day by Michael Innes

To get away from it all, and his fellow students David goes into the country. What he did not expect to find is a body with a bullet through his head. What becomes even worse is that when the police are called in there is no body and David is left looking foolish.

Like most mystery murders set in an older time frame, the story only gets going much later in the book which is not to everyone's taste. In modern mystery murder books the action seems to start from the first page, and this difference is something one has to get used to and understand that it is part of the build up of the story.

The setting is very good, the detective work is spot on and the characterization is good.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Agora Books.

The Unexpected Past of Miss Jane Austen

This combined the best of several genres - history, English literature, time travel, modern romance. The combo worked very well, each one complementing each other, not jarring and not out of place despite the huge differences in time, and naturally everything was different from food to drink to dress to attitudes.

Rose and Aiden are transported back in time along with Jane Austen who was living in modern times to her (JA) own time. Going back 300 years so they are aware all of them of the future of Jane Austen, her popularity, her death (at this time she had only four years to live). Rose discovers her father who disappeared when she was two. He was on a boat and his body was never found. He is also part of the time travel saga. He now appears in JA time as a much married man with a family. It is Jane who discovers the fact of Rose's father and then convinces Rose herself.

That is the main story but it is the little tidbits about the actual living conditions in Jane Austen's time of the 1800s which were fascinating. The food (horrible), the water (undrinkable), the bedding (uncomfortable) and the clothes (difficult). The standards of behaviour not easy for a 21st century miss and one had to conform.

The book and its story and characters were both entertaining and educative.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Canelo.

These Little Lies by Gretta Mulrooney

This was a page turner.

Detective Inspector Siv Drummond is facing demons of her own. Just back and on her first day, two murders come up. Seemingly random the two victims found close to each other by a river in an isolated spot are not connected to each other at all. One a young woman a nursery school teacher and the other a Polish immigrant working as a carpenter.

One link which is that Lauren one of the victims is a conservationist and objected to a signboard put up near the river which stated that no Poles allowed fishing in this area brought on her ire and she did clash with the angling club over this. But this did not connect her to the other victim in any way.
Upto the detectives to connect the dots in this seemingly inexplicable murder is not easy.

All the suspects seem to have something to hide. All of them provide false information and false alibi for the time of the murders. They give seemingly worthless information which send the detectives on a wild goose chase, but within the rubbishy conversation the DI knows that there will be one careless slip and something will be of use.

This was one of those where I never had a clue as to who the murderer was till the very end. The story and reasoning was convoluted and sick but very feasible and believable. It reiterates the fact that psychiatrists will never go out of business!

Fast paced, energetic with a good bunch of characters and descriptive surroundings this is a good one.

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

Two mystery books. One in the present and one set in the past.

Two short reviews.



America is in a depression and entertainment is the only way ordinary people can add a bit of light to their lives.

The pair of detectives in this book are supposed to be complementary to each other. Apart from their work there is a thread of deep friendship between the two apparent in a matter of fact way.  There is a good mystery here, with a lot of historical fiction detail along with the colorful background which goes with theatre.

Reminscent of an Agatha Christie this was a good mystery detective story.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of BooksGoSocial.





Children here and see things that adults think pass them over. When Scooter and Mary overhear that their great great grandfather was hanged in Dry Gulch in California their interest is piqued. They want to get to the bottom of this mystery which is not discussed in the family and swept under the carpet.

On a holiday with their Uncle and Aunt they try to uncover this mystery and clear his name. Not easy seeing that this happened in 1873 and very few clues lie around.

More like a Western than a mystery, this was different reading from the usual.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Austin Macauley Publishers.

All about Evie by Cathy Lamb

Stunning setting of an island which I had to google to find out where it was this is a lovely story of an unusual girl.

Evie has always been unsettled. Despite ample love from her parents and sisters and extended family of lovable, quirky aunts she has one trait which no one in the family has. Her ability of premonitions which has put a huge burden on her shoulders. When should she act on them and when should she ignore them (she did ignore several mainly for the benefit of the survivors).

When inevitably the secret comes out, Evie and her family are at peace but getting there was the fun. Romance, pot growining 70 year olds, a bookshop (could we ask for a better setting) and a new police chief who has his eye on Evie and is not letting go.

This was a wonderful story of family, secrets (all families do have them), and finally peace when it is all in the open.  To cap it all a beautiful setting both the bookshop and the natural surroundings.

The one criticism -the cover.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Kensington Books.

The Caldwell Girls by Rowena Summers

The second book I am reading about this very interesting family. The war has continued and each daughter is finding their niche and how best they can serve their country. Bristol is being bombarded and being destroyed a bit at a time and how to protect oneself if of vital importance as everyone wants to survive and come out of this intact along with their loved ones.

It is not always possible and in the family with the loss of Baz just sixteen years old, the value of life is very precious now. Elsie decides to go to Yorkshire to live with her husband's family along with her baby Faith and live out the war there as it is comparatively safe there. Daisy continues with her nursing in the burns unit of the hospital, her dream of entertaining troops temporarily dashed. She is worried over the fate of her Canadian pilot boyfriend and his safety and then there is Immy the eldest who maintains a strong facade and their father Quentin who has now found a safe haven in Mary after the tragic death of his wife Frances.

The strands of the story encompass these lives, the daily tribulations which face everyone in war time irrespective of being rich or poor and the indomitable will to survive all odds, most apparent in everyone at the time.

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

A Reputation Dies by Alice Chetwynd Ley

I've said this before. When crime and too much mayhem gets in the way you need something like this. A hark back to simpler times. This book also involved murder and mystery but it seemed so much more acceptable if you can call murder acceptable!

Set in 1816 reminiscent of a Regency romance setting we had the Rutherfords and Justin in particular, a young man who was quite different to the other young men of the time and his niece Anthea cut form the same cloth both quite certain that justice must prevail and you must help where you can, never mind the expectations of this era.

When a murder happens and it is slowly revealed that a blackmailer is at play here, all the first round of suspects are innocent. What is Justin supposed to do to uncover the villain who has fleeced many of the aristocracy for fortunes. From just one young recently married lady, the victims go on and on and Justin realises that the blackmailer is a ruthless man who will not stop at anything to get what he wants.

This was a very nice setting, and though murder it was not gruesome nor a psychological thriller suspense kind of read. Maybe it was the era.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased read, courtesy of Sapere Books.

Death in Room Five by George Bellairs

A very mixed bunch of people go on a trip to France. They are all from one town of Bolchester from mixed backgrounds and many of them do not actually like each other. When Alderman Dawson is found murdered the French police are called in along with Detective Littlejohn who is on holiday at the time.

When the French police discover the true identity of Dawson who worked with the French resistance for a time (and who was found to be a traitor) the whole attitude and significance of the murder changes and it is upto Littlejohn to try to find the actual murderer and not just think this is an act of revenge from a long hidden French resistance avenger.

Depicting French and English detective methods this is a rather slow process of trying to find a murderer when so many of the actual people on the trip have had ample reasons to murder the Alderman. On the surface he seemed liked, but beneath it all simmering tensions were there and to try to weed tensions out from an intent to murder is hard. When two more murders take place the investigation becomes urgent and Littlejohn has his work cut out to prevent the police from very conveniently holding on to the first available suspect so that the entire investigation can be done and dusted.

In true detective fashion, it is only through a long process of deduction and elimination that the final suspect is found.
A slightly old fashioned detective series.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Agora Books.

The Paris Girl by Natalie Meg Evans

Tatiana is from the Russian aristocracy and she seldom forgets that. Now that she has escaped the Revolution and is forced to work for a living, albeit a model in a fashion house which is a comfortable job but she seems to attract and make trouble wherever she goes.

Engaged to a stuffy Frenchman Tatiana looks at Gerard her fiancee as a means to an end. To not have to work, to not have to do anything but just to live a life of comfort and idleness. (Not very likable upto now) The problem arises with Gerard's brother who has an obsessive adoration of Tatiana and in one horrible incident rapes her and she becomes pregnant. Seeing the end of her dreams Tatiana is willing to do anything to continue with the facade of her marriage to Gerard which she is determined to follow through. You should feel sympathy for Tatiana for the trauma as sadly her focus was only on a good marriage and nothing else but actually I began to dislike her almost from the beginning!

There are side characters in the story which add much more interest to the main, from Regan the American photographer who is aware of Tatiana's plight and is willing to help to Katya and to Una all who play pivotal roles in this story. The story of Katya and Harry trying very hard to get their sister Verna out of a Russian prison in a bribery and pay out was a story in itself.

Descriptive of the workings of a fashion house, this part of the story was good and interesting.
I loved the cover too.

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

Beyond The Storm by Diana Finley

The setting is a familiar one. Anna born in Vienna has escaped to the West but the trauma of being persecuted as a Jew has not left her even decades later. The story however, is about relationships and the problem that happens when secrets are allowed to be kept hidden. These are secrets that have to be told but Anna is not happy with the timing of airing the secrets of her past, not knowing how it will effect her life as it is now.

Anna is now 100 years old and in celebrating this day the story goes back in sections to her life, which was tumultuous and frightening in turns. It also deals with stories of people who lived in her past and how they have all had an influence on Anna. The biggest secret of all which has eaten into Anna and which now needs to be told.

This was another story set in the backdrop of WWII, the slow but sure denouncement and elimination of Jews and the few stories of the survival of some who lived to tell the tale. 

Very emotional, very effective and good reading.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of HQ Digital

The Poor Relation by Susanna Bavin

1908 England must have been a very tough time for females. Subservient to either husbands or fathers, governed by outlandish ideas of knowing your place in society and not trying to rise above it which was obviously a cardinal sin is not easy when you know you are capable of doing better and are more intelligent than most of the men around you.

Mary was a clerk at the local council office but she was never going to get promoted even though her boss considered her a treasure. The boys who were inane and silly kept on getting promoted till finally she took matters into her own hands and found a job. Convincing her father that it was a respectable job was one matter but also trying not to annoy the family that they were connected to and who were the big wigs in the town they lived was harder to manage.

Mary's life went from hard to harder to downright unfair and crushing. That she was able to come out of it with her head held high, and to maintain her happy spirit showed courage and considerable determination. With very little support from family, she finds support from an unlikely outsider who sees herself in the young woman and is determined to help her sort out her life.

It was a hard read for someone living in present times to even accept the total unfairness of what was dealt out to women at the time. A well written story with rounded characters and a very good story line set in Manchester.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Allison & Busby.

In the Shadow of Power by Viveca Sten

Set on an island in Sweden the residents are established old hands at island life. They are not happy with the newcomers who have built a monstrosity of a house on this island, ignoring local rules and regulations.  There is a feeling of unrest running through the community at the brashness and overpowering aggression of the newcomers but notwithstanding that a house warming party ensures that everyone attends to gawp and look at how the other side lives.

When on the opening day itself a fire breaks out in the guest house adjoining the main house and the charred body of a man is found, it is no longer simply a matter of grumbling neighbours. The police called in no that the owner Carsten has many enemies - he is rude and overbearing even to the police and not co operative at all. Unknown to the islanders Carsten is facing his own demons and is facing financial ruin.

The story develops slowly but it is very apparent that Carsten is heading for a breakdown mentally and with that he will take his family down as well. His wife Celia is not the most loved of people either but the two young children are in danger and the story builds up to a crisis very well. The characters are well rounded and believable and the island is described simply and well.

My first read of this Nordic author but I will be looking out for her in the future as well.

The book was sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Amazon Crossing.

Death Beside the Seaside by T E Kinsey

The series is a new one for me and one which is mix of Agatha Christie as well as one of the Classic Crime series.

Lady Hardcastle and her companion Flo have been partners in crime and have supported each other through thick and thin. They have endured hardships together, solved crimes, escaped from prisons but this time all they seek is a peaceful seaside holiday of their own choosing (which is what they thought) complete with donkey rides, Punch & Judy shows and all the attractions of a British seaside holiday.

They did not think they will end up in a hotel where guest by guest gets murdered (or abducted) one by one - at the end it is both of them and the two American ladies (also involved). Told in a matter of fact manner, the detection of the victims as well as the suspects continue in a very understated tone complete with high teas, entertainment and dinners as scheduled.

I loved the tongue in cheek humour, very reminiscent of a British comedy. Not a style of reading found often nowadays.

I found the cover fabulous too.

The book was sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Amazon Publishing UK

Secrets and Suitors by Joanna Barker

After a diet of mystery murders, psychological thrillers et al I did need this kind of Regency setting to keep me on an even keel.

Twenty one year old Nora is in a quandary. She is attracted to James, her father is pushing her towards Mr. Weston who is ultra rich, respectable and what he hopes for and there is Lord Worthington who has shown interest in the quiet, reserved Nora which is very unlike him. James has never actually spoken of his feelings, Mr. Weston is wooden and Lord Worthington makes it obvious he likes her. What is a girl to do.

Add this to a Season in London, her sister Susanna also making her debut despite the elder sister not being married and in her third season, a very distant and reserved set of parents who seem to want to keep their children at a distant length from them and you have the making of a very good story of not just love and romance, but how a family can distance itself from each other through sheer stubborness and at the same time get together with all the warmth imaginable when a crisis strikes.

The book was an interesting read of these times and morals (thank the Lord I live now!).

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Covenant Communications.

Penny For Your Secrets by Anna Lee Huber

Verity and Sydney Kent are a formidable pair and when they team up in solving a mystery, there are no holds barred and you do know that the end result will be exciting (apart from being solved of course).

1919 WWI is over but dangers abound and the Secret Service is still alive and kicking with political intrigue everywhere. Mystery and murder seem to follow Verity and when her friend Ada's husband is found shot dead in his own house, after a strange dinner party where his wife points a revolver at him and says she wants to kill him, there is little doubt who the murderer could be.

Between Inspector Thoreau and Verity it is decided early on that the facts are not what they seem and a plot is afoot to make use of Ada to screen the actual killer. Unfolding a plot which goes back decades and involves many of the aristocracy is not going to be good for politics and many a peer will use his powers to shut the investigation down.

Unfolding the details of the murder, going back into various scenarios seemingly unconnected to the main the story is descriptive and there is a lot of detail. Particularly of the historical kind. I loved it!

The settings are descriptive whether it is the Isle of Wight, France or London of 1919. The main characters are strong willed and so very clever. Add to that the history of the period and you have yourselves a wonderful story.

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

A Pretty Folly by Charlie Garratt

1939 England is not pretty. War is coming. There is much to worry over and James Given just after one episode of finding Jew baiters is now faced with many episodes in his home town.  Tracking down the brothers Demma who are behind the attacks, fueling hatred amongst ordinary folk is one of his goals. When a young woman's body is found in a crypt, after several months of lying there, Given knows he has a task on his hands.

Finding out who the young lady is, was not an easy task because no one seems to want to come forward with any clues and what there is seems to be those of a misleading kind. By slow deduction, and the detective work of the slow, plodding kind Inspector Givens is able to see the bigger picture of the whys and wherefores of this murder.

Classic British crime. Good characterization. Very descriptive of the settings.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Sapere Books.

Coached to Death by Victoria Laurie

Catherine is a wealthy woman. She is also going through a nasty divorce where custody of her two sons is hanging in the balance. Returning to a quiet coastal community seems to be a good option. To get out of the limelight since the sale of her million dollar business and try to recoup her life and her sons who have voluntarily decided on boarding school rather than reside with either of their parents.

Her new career as a life coach for the adrift does not seem to be going well and when her neighbour with an axe to grind with Cat dies in disastrous circumstances, Cat becomes the first suspect. Extricating herself from the nightmare she finds herself in and settling matters right, apart from being amateur detective and finding the murderer with the help of good friends is Cat's aim. That she tramples too many toes in the process is part of the fun part of this book.

Cat is funny and over confident. She sparkles and gets into trouble unwittingly. The story is fast paced and engaging. Characters are colorful.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Kensington Books.

The Poison Garden by A J Banner

Elise seems to be well settled. An idyllic marriage, a beautiful home, gorgeous settings and tranquil lifestyle. In an instant her world is turned upside down, when she discovers her husband having a relationship with a girl in her own home.

Faced with such a situation Elise finds that she does not seem to be able to think rationally.
Disturbed and distraught Elise reverts to sleep walking and seems to be unaware of what she is doing at the time. Forces around her want her to imagine that she is losing her mind and Elise falls into the trap very easily.

Who is her enemy and who is her friend. Did she imagine she saw her husband dead, is her ex husband who is constantly on the scene actually concerned for her or is it put on and what is it with a caring neighbour who we know is not quite right. Is Elise herself in a proper state or is she slightly off balance and mentally not stable?

I found the background of the story a bit disconcerting till its conclusion. I felt there were too many strands that had to be woven together. The descriptiveness of the setting of this island was very good.

This was a bit too much of a complicated story for me though I did read to the end.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Lake Union Publishing. 

Uber Alles by Robert Arthur Neff

WWI and WWII have brought forward a plethora of stories, most of them excellent. The perspectives have been from various angles - even from the German one portraying the German people as not villains but just people trying to survive in Hitler Germany.

This one is set against the backdrop of Poland, Czechoslovakia and Germany and the story of courage, bravery, spirit of survival, nationalist tendencies and the patriotism that arose amongst the ordinary men and women of the time to protect what was theirs. In this case the fact that the characters were Jews or Romani was separate from their Polishness or their German ancestry. It was important for the aggressors so that it gave them a foothold to turn their race against them but for the victims their race was just another thing.

The story was written in a very precise manner, the characters were perfect and the political intrigue that marked both the Resistance as well as the Gestapo was detailed and intriguing.

If you are person who likes history this is a must read. The personal saga of a family is well detailed and sadly reflects many of the lives of that era in that setting.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Old Stone Press.

Her Last Whisper (Detective Katie Scott No. 2) by Jennifer Chase

Katie has just been assigned a new assignment. Taking over cold cases is something she looks forward to and in a day she is assigned one which is unusual. Just six months old and already consigned to being a cold case because the "victim is not co operative".

Taking it from there trying to find out what and why Amanda is so terrified is not easy and when she fails and her body is found, Katie is more than determined to find out parallel links to other cases in the county and bring justice to the victims.

When another girl goes missing and then another Katie knows she has her work cut out for her because the suspect is someone who is in plain sight, and none of the detectives seem to be able to see it.

Twisty in the nicest possible way, not very complicated where your head turns in trying to connect the dots, this was a good mystery thriller read.

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

Bed, Breakfast & Beyond by Jo Ann S. Dawson

After a steady diet of mystery murders this was a good change of pace! There are many of us who feel that running a B&B is idyllic. This story gives us the inside information on how idyllic it is!

It was always JoAnn and to a lesser extent her husband Ted's ambition to own a place of their own. Running a horse(y) type of business offering services to trainers and owners is quite a different kettle of fish to running a B&B but when they found an acreage and a house which would offer them both there was little hesitation in taking it on.

A massive reconstruction and salvage operation on the house to make it habitable, running the horse business as well saw them at their full potential. The stories on a day to day basis are matter of fact, tongue in the cheek humour as well as a lot of love and affection for their livelihood and the business they run.

Anecdotes of guests (both good and strange!) are all part of the human interest of the story. Very down to earth and hilarious at the same time this was excellent reading.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of BookBaby.

Death at Sycamore House by Betty Rowlands

In Betty Rowlands fashion this is a good one. We have a very genteel elders care facility with a rather tense Mr and Mrs Seaton in charge. We have a block of flats equally high falutin with very nice tenants. When one of them is found murdered and dumped in the bins,  Sukey and the team backing her up are called in for the investigations.

Nothing is what it seems in murder and the links are slowly being put together but it is a puzzling sequence. The one suspect who seems to be the only one around has iron clad reasoning as to why he is not the murderer and though everyone assumes it is him, Sukey is always in doubt though he is an unlikeable character who has got under everyone's skin. Everyone would like him to be the culprit and then the case is closed.

When a second accidental death occurs, also someone linked to our victims and suspects and when a third victim seemingly random is also linked to the case, it is thrown wide open.

I never got it till the very end and then only because it was so very obvious!

Superb detection work very well written.

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

The Christmas Card Crime & Other Stories by Martin Edwards (Must read)

A mix of the very best of classic mystery murders, this was a wonderful set of stories set during the heart of winter. Freezing conditions, some harsh, some not so but all with winter as its backdrop and snow and winter played a great role in some of the murders.

From the Christmas Card one with two halves of a card held to solve a murder, to the jewellery heist which was discovered only through the shoe shine man who recognised a pair of shoes, from a party where a murder is expected and takes place right in front of a detective's very own eyes the stories from a collection of both well known and lesser known writers this was such a good collection to get one into the holiday mood despite the mayhem and scheming that went into murders!

Classic Crime stories never fail to make me very happy and this collection was no exception.

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

Bella Toscana by Nanette Littlestone

I am a sucker for covers and this one just drew me in. The other attraction was the setting and background. Chocolate, baking, and to top it all Tuscany. Could one ask for more. You then add in doses of romance a bit of time travel and you have a lovely story.

Toscana is the owner of a shop selling brownies. Not just brownies. These seem to be artisanal brownies. With an Italian heritage and going to Tuscany after decades she decides to try her hand at the export business of bringing brownies to Italy - a country that does not know what brownies are.
Her task is straightforward. Attend a Chocolate Festival, do her best to sell her product to three leading chocolatiers, visit her uncle and aunt and cousins and then return to Jackson her husband who at the last minute cannot join her on the trip.

What she didnt account for was meeting Flynn, a Professor of History in Rome, being instantly attracted to him and to top it all, having visions and dreams of a very disturbing nature - being part of ancient Rome involving Vestals, Roman soldiers, a very torrid love affair all set in ancient Rome.

The visions and going back in time are very matter of fact but the falling in love part was anything but!      Descriptive of both Tuscany, the chocolate and baking fields which formed the main part of the story and then returning to America to Toscana's life before Flynn was well told.

Whether it is rebirth or a soul's eternal travels this is a good way of handling some people's experience of a previous life.  Trying to make an explanation of this is not easy but this book handled it very well.


Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of BooksGoSocial.

The Patient by Steena Holmes

Danielle is a reserved woman. She is a therapist and seems on edge. She is worried that out of her three clients, one of them is a serial killer.

Cheshire a rural area has been plagued with murders. Parents are killed but the children in those homes are left untouched. Though we were told several times in the story that these parents were abusive ones, the police (according to what we read) never cottoned on to the fact that this was the common thread connecting the murders. We have detectives on the story and one of them is a good friend of Danielle's but this is never mentioned.

At the end of course it becomes obvious as to why so many salient facts that should have been noticed were not.  Like most reviewers I knew very early on that the plot revolved around Danielle herself but I could not figure out how.

My first read of this author. This is a genre I like though I did find this particular story a bit too convoluted.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Lake Union Publishing.

The Dressmaker's Gift by Fiona Valpy

Stories set in two time lines makes for very good reading. This more so, since one was set in WWII time frame and in Paris (and Brittany). Both good settings. Then we have the present day setting of Paris and again it was a fashion house.

Couture, espionage, love stories, faith and trust in huge measures and friendship of a deep enduring kind between women which lived on even after they were gone. The elements of the story woven together give you a story that is emotional, educative (I am still learning about the extent to which women went in the field of espionage in a very matter of fact way) and intriguing.

Mireille, Claire and Vivienne are the three seamstresses from 1940 Paris and Harriet is the modern one who is trying to find out details of her mother's and grandmother's life. Mainly to get an inkling and a feeling of belonging to someone because she feels isolated and lost from her present family of father, step mother and siblings. In unraveling the story of her grandmother she also gives us an unparalleled story of love and friendship.

Beautifully written,  charming settings, gruesome war time stories all combine to give us a wonderful read.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Amazon Publishing UK.

The First Lady & the Rebel by Susan Higginbotham

American history and politics are two subjects I know very little of. So this was a good read for me. A very good one.

Dealing with a civil war on the one hand, Abraham Lincoln on the other and on top of it all the history of sisters divided by political conflict and personal beliefs. The trio came together beautifully to give you one wonderful story detailing history and a personal family saga that was wonderfully told.

The North and the South of America divided on this issue, and the war was very real with losses on every side. The Todd family had their fair share of losses and so did the Lincolns. Both from illness and the war the losses were heart breaking. The detailed history of the conflict, parallel with the story of Mary and Emily and to a lesser degree their other sisters is an excellent read.

There are details of the clan which were totally unknown to me - that Mary Lincoln was committed to a lunatic asylum by her only surviving son was hard to take. Emily on the other hand handled her sorrows in a more balanced manner despite facing more hardships than Mary did. The two sisters were a contrast to each other and this is what added interest to their story. It also points out to the fact that despite their positions, they were foremost women who were wives and mothers who sought to protect those they loved.

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

One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow by Olivia Hawker

1876 Wyoming. Life on the frontier was hard and for the Bemis and Webber families very isolated. Maybe that was why one man started an affair with the other man's wife. There was very little warmth anyway in Substance and Nettie Mae's marriage in the first place but when he was killed by Bemis, Nettie Mae felt that she was done wronged by and hated Cora Bemis with a vengeance.

What started out as bitter enmity, had to be put aside when circumstances forced the two families to live together for pure survival. With limited resources of both food and warmth and lack of labour to handle two farms the two eldest children, both teenagers decided to come together to just survive the hard winter ahead.

The story of the two women, trying hard to adjust, Cora being submissive to Nettie Mae as she was the offender. Netti Mae biting back her hatred because of the weakness of her son, knowing that he needs the Bemis family support to survive is a story of tolerance, hard work and just getting on with life, however hard it seems to be.

When a romance builds up between the two teenagers, the entire story is out of the mother's hands and the next step forward is taken in reconciliation and getting to grips with family.

A tough story, very well told.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Lake Union Publishing. 

Where she Went by Kelly Simmons

The nightmare that no parent wants to face. Your teenage, college going daughter goes missing, the Police do not seem to take it seriously and her colleagues are oblivious to the fact that she has been missing from her room and from her classes.

Most mothers hesitate as to whether they are over reacting, it finally dawns that you do not really know what is happening in your daughter's life, you have not been privy to the daily happenings unlike before and that she is now grown up and quite independent of you.

Maggie does not take inactivity lying down. She pursues it on her own despite it being bordering on the illegal. Her daughter is missing and that is all she can think about.

I agree with one reviewer who said this is women's fiction. It is typical of a mother's behaviour, single or married. Your children are your focus and you are there to protect them. Everything else is beside. The story of Maggie and the unravelling of Emma who wants to fit in, who wants to have friends, who wants to be in the in crowd is a typical growing up story.

A good read about two women trying to come to terms with growing up and becoming independent.

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

The Painted Castle by Kristy Cambron

This was set not in two time lines but in three! my first read where it went into three separate stories.

Victorian England and Elizabeth an impoverished aristocrat is being touted by her mother as a suitable bride for anyone who is worthy of her. He has to be rich of course. Everything else is by the way. That is the original story of where the paintings begin - the paintings of Queen Victoria which so beguiled her consort  that he kept it only for his private viewing. That is the origin of this tale.

We then move on to the harrowing 1934 England. Almost the end of WW II and the arrival of American troops and the solace and uproar they equally brought to rural England. We have Amelia trying to hold it all together looking after orphaned children with very little funds and trying to hold on to her common sense and sanity when the Americans arrive.

We then have the present modern times. Keira is asked to authenticate a painting. During a modernisation of the castle, exciting news in the form of a new painting by Winterhalter has been discovered. Keira is needed in this connection.

All three stories are linked to Parnham Hall and the paintings - the unraveling of the story and the romance of each period was wonderful. They were not the run of the mill romances but very unusual ones - the first starting with revenge, the second with lost hopes and the third with desolation when you realise your idol has feet of clay. The stories ended well, wonderfully well.

Very descriptive of their settings in all three time frames, the characterization was splendid and the story was a page turner. I'll be looking out for this author in the future.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Thomas Nelson FICTION.

The Flower Arranger by J J Ellis

It took me a while to get into the space of this story. Set in Japan, the workings of a young journalist and the police force were at play here. That part of the story telling was just the same as any other. There were places in the mind set of the murderer or pursuer of the young girls who were his victims that was the hard part to fathom.

Two young women, one Swedish one French go missing. The Swedish girl's body is found. No violation, but just a small wound on her neck which indicates the blood drained out of her body systematically. The why of it could only be explained by the attacker himself in alternate chapters and this was the part that was culturally different. He wanted someone to be replicated by the image he had of his mother who used to make up as a geisha in chalk white make up and he was always on the look out for girls who were very pale who could be made to look paler and paler.

When Blain starts her pursuit of the story successfully and publishes her findings, it upsets the Japanese detective put in charge of the case. Foreigners involved make it more delicate and the subject is one that has to be handled with kid gloves. Alternating between Inspector Tanaka and Blain and the attacker the story goes on quietly but forcefully towards an end.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Agora Books. 

The Wayward Wedding by Sarah Richmond

After a very long time I read a book that was light hearted and a happily ever after in the nicest possible way.

Dolly is to be married in a week's time. She did not think the visit to the rector is going to end with her being arrested and ending up in Holloway. Finding the rector bashed on his head ended up her being the arrested, despite that there is no reason whatsoever that she was the attacker - courtesy of covered up evidence on the part of the char woman of the church and the officiousness and stupidity of the detective in charge.

This was a mystery murder (not much mystery actually, just botched up) a nice touch of old fashioned romancing, and ideal for a Sunday afternoon.

All ends well. Dolly does get married and we have a lovely wedding!

Sent to me by Netgalley, for an unbiased review, courtesy of The Wild Rose Press. Inc.

Sassafras by Trish Heald

Champs Noland is in a retirement community and he hates it with a passion. His wife has passed away and he is totally at a loss how to cope with everyday stuff. He wishes she left him notes on how to manage their three children, what to say to people and just how to survive.

Champs has been the provider and nothing else. He has not been able to actually grieve the loss of his wife and just plods on day to day just trying to get through the day the only way he knows how. Returning to his holiday home on the river is the only way he knows how to live, but finding on arrival that the entire place has been gentrified makes him so angry that again he does not know what and how to cope.

When the children start arriving with the intention of disposing their mother's ashes and having some form of closure, apart from trying to get to grips with their father things take on a slightly ludicrous turn with Champs opposing them at every turn and not being able to see the bigger picture of how concerned they all are for him. Faced with a discovery that he only suspected before Champs has to now learn how to live, and love and forget all over again.

A story of family - amidst grieving for a much loved mother, and relationships which have to be first mended before they can move on.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Glasswing Media.

Gallows Court by Martin Edwards

The setting of 1930 in London was good for this story. There have been several violent deaths of eminent people. All by their own hand so far and no suspects involved. The last one does not uncover any shady dealings in the man's history. His character and behaviour seems exemplary so why should he blow his brains out and top it all by accepting guilt for a horrendous murder, especially when his body is found with the decapitated head of the victim by his side.

On the other side we have the enigmatic Rachel Savernake. Daughter of a judge who finally went mad and killed himself, the daughter shows characteristics which do not make her seem normal. She is a brilliant detective though and showed up Scotland Yard by solving the Chorus Girl murder. Being a woman she was not taken seriously and still isnt by certain people, always to their detriment.

We have Jacob a young, keen Fleet Street journalist who becomes the pawn in Rachel's machinations and her vendetta against society who she feels did badly by her. One by one her foes are eliminated, along with the people who helped her put away people.
Very convoluted, very atmospheric I couldn't solve the puzzle till the almost end!

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

Death in the Village by Betty Rowlands

Adelaide Minchkin's body was found by the milkman dead on her bathroom floor. Apparently cardiac arrest but when her doctor insists that something is not quite right and that the coroner seemed to have overlooked or rather decided rather quickly that her death was due to natural causes, and causes a stir, the local Constabulary are called in.

When Sukey delves further into the happenings of this sleepy little village, lots of stuff surfaces. The previous owner herself, elderly in that case died suddenly and Adelaide who inherited the estate was an outsider, causing much ill will amongst the three siblings of Muriel. The owner before Muriel himself had died - sozzled, falling into a pool and drowning. The three deaths in succession are all quite self explanatory but now that a question has been asked, it is upto Sukey to investigate further.

Systematically going through the history and evidence around, and questioning all the villagers who are characters in themselves from the char lady to the local bar keeper was very well done and slowly a picture emerges of someone trying to hide something. When an old "cold" case seems to be somehow linked with the present deaths, Sukey knows she is on to something suspicious.

Told in a slightly old fashioned style, very reminiscent of this author's style the book is totally engrossing.

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

Christmas at Pennington's by Rachel Brimble

A department store in Bath brilliantly preparing for Christmas but behind the scenes there is a lot of drama. A killer stalks the streets of Bath preying on women - and women who are respectable and doing good for the community.

Cornelia desperately trying to carve a niche for herself and her two sons in a contested divorce case. Stephen head of security at Penningtons, finds himself drawn into a murder investigation which he does not want to even know about. Stepping down from Scotland Yard he just wants to keep his head down and get on with his daily life. Joseph and Elizabeth cannot get past the tragic murder of Joseph's first wife and this is affecting their marriage and when murder strikes again they know they cannot sit back, despite Police inaction.

The drama of individual lives going on apace, set against the backdrop of the murders was balanced very well. It was several stories interspersed with each other and though set against the backdrop of the impending festival it was not a Christmassy book per se and could be read at anytime.

The characterization was spot on and the mystery murder detective theme was well thought of and detailed.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Aria

the second chance supper club by Nicole Meier

Anything to do with good food interests me immensely! This book apart from the food aspect has another good combo Sisterly relationships.

Here Ginny and Julia's one is fraught with tension. One feels that she did it all when their parents died suddenly, uprooting herself and her family to deal with the aftermath of a sudden death. The other cut herself away from everyone, building up her career not thinking deeply of the consequences of her sister's life. When one of them is faced with a crisis, she runs away to the only place she knows she will surely not be turned away - her sister's home.

Coming home to Arizona was not the homecoming Julia expected. A home which is being run as a sort of illegal restaurant, catering for exclusive diners and a sister who seems to be living on the edge - facing financial disaster as well as a disaster of a relationship between her daughter and herself. Stepping into this minefield Julia feels out of place and she has to find a way to mend fences with both her sister Ginny and try to bridge the gap between her niece and herself.

The relationship part and how the story evolves from this was the best part of the book and the story is a commonplace one where miscommunicationn and no communication results in such a lot of misery and misplaced judgements.  I enjoyed the story emotional though it was.


Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Lake Union Publishing.