My Blog List

Saturday, February 27, 2021

Beneath Cornish Skies by Kate Ryder

To the outsider Cassandra seems to have it all. A luxurious lifestyle and a doting husband, but it is only she who knows the controlling aspect from her husband and the fact that having children do not come into his long term plans. Cassandra always wanted a family, and she thought that ten years of marriage would have softened her husband's attitude. Unexpectedly faced with a philandering husband was the impetus Cassandra needed to make a fresh start and walk away to work as a full time nanny and general dogsbody to a family with a carefree lifestyle, horses that needed to be trained and looked after and two lovely lively children. Trying to forget the man she had loved and lived with was easier said than done but a new romance also seems to be coming up in Cassandra's life. Seamlessly told between the two lives that Cassandra led, showcasing a controlling husband on the one side and a carefree life on the other it is upto her to make a decision as to what she wants to do. Very descriptive, this was such a pleasant read. Sent by Aria and Aries for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Thursday, February 25, 2021

Murder at the Mill by T A Belshaw

Set in 1939, the story set amongst the workings of a large mill in a small Kentish town begins with the murder of the owner's son. Edward was unpopular not just with the workers of the mill as he was immoral and tried to intimidate the women workers, but he was unpopular with his father despite being the only son. The detectives in charge of the case work slowly and methodically to eliminate so many people who are suspect as Edward made many enemies on the way. They were hindered in their investigations by their superiors because the big wigs in the town did not want to be interrogated or questioned in anyway, and felt that it was something below their dignity to be interviewed by the Police. The story not just a mystery murder, but set out in descriptive detail the social background and workings of a working class family life, the outlook and general day to day life of a working class girl and how they lived on a day to day basis. Amy was different from the other girls but she was also governed by the moral standards of the day and she adhered to them all. This part of the story was equally interesting as the detective part itself. Sent by BooksGoSocial for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Their Frozen Graves by Ruhi Chowdhury

Two women found by a lake and they are strikingly similar. They are also very similar to a social activist Katy who lives nearby. When the detectives go to meet the family, they are taken aback because Katy is very much alive. This is where the actual mystery starts. On top of it all, Detective Mack is facing her own personal demons. Just separated from her husband, she is completely shocked by the re-appearance of her father who was supposed to have died twenty years ago, and whose corpse she and her mother secretly buried. Mack knows she has to be personal problems aside and deal with the investigation before her because there seems to be so much history behind the two mystery women who were murdered. There are plenty of secrets that have to be uncovered both in the two murders and in Mack's personal life and these are not going to be easy to face. Told only from Detective Mackenzie's perspective, the other detectives are just on the fringe the story is puzzling, and full of suspense till it all gets sorted out. Sent by Bookouture for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Sunday, February 21, 2021

Murder in the Manor (Lacey Doyle series) Fiona Grace

Venice 1720. For Sophia fresh from a English countryside village it was all what she had dreamed of but with a repressive aunt whom she was accompanying, the art and beauty of Venice was being denied her. Sophia was no frightened miss and was determined to enjoy herself in this chance of a lifetime and this she did. Henry on the other hand was sent off to the Continent to "repent" for his many transgressions! he was not repenting in the least but enjoying himself to the utmost. When his father died suddenly, he realized the depth of his responsibilities and had to return to England to face upto them. They meet up once again in different circumstances, and the effect they have on each others lives is part of this novella. The story is light hearted and since it is a very short one we are not able to see how it is going to develop further. Hopefully there will be a sequel.

Friday, February 19, 2021

Lady Sophia by Pamela Stephen (novella)

Venice 1720. For Sophia fresh from a English countryside village it was all what she had dreamed of but with a repressive aunt whom she was accompanying, the art and beauty of Venice was being denied her. Sophia was no frightened miss and was determined to enjoy herself in this chance of a lifetime and this she did. Henry on the other hand was sent off to the Continent to "repent" for his many transgressions! he was not repenting in the least but enjoying himself to the utmost. When his father died suddenly, he realized the depth of his responsibilities and had to return to England to face upto them. They meet up once again in different circumstances, and the effect they have on each others lives is part of this novella. The story is light hearted and since it is a very short one we are not able to see how it is going to develop further. Hopefully there will be a sequel. Sent by BooksGoSocial for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

No Little Lies by AB Plum

Described as a psychological thriller, the story is more than that. Ryn runs a women's shelter and Beau runs a band. Ryn also has selective amnesia and does not remember all the details from her violent past including the murder of her mother. We have Molly living with an abusive and controlling husband Chad with no means to get out of the marriage. We have these strands continuing into the story on their own with the past death of her mother intruding into the present and one wonders where is the connection between the different strands. The story was compelling but a bit too complicated for me to read in one go. I came back to it with renewed interest and read it to the end. The characters were convoluted, the story line similar. Sent by BooksGoSocial for an unbiased read, courtesy of Netgalley.

Monday, February 15, 2021

The Silver Collar by Antonia Hodgson

1728 London a place for only the brave and the spirited. Thomas Hawkins and Kitty Sparks have found their peace with each other, running a rather unusual shop - selling condoms and dildos (allowed) and bawdy tracts and books (not allowed). It is a roaring success and Kitty is the sole owner and a rather wealthy woman. Enter Gonson a puritanical (supposedly) man who is out to close the shop and get rid of Thomas with an eye to the main chance Kitty. Thomas has a fiery temper which does not bode well for either of them whereas Kitty hopes to handle the situation diplomatically for the benefit of both. They did not envisage Kitty's sordid past history to come into the scene. When Thomas is attacked on the streets and discovers a price on his head, the puzzlement leads to an investigation and to the Lady Vanhook and an escaped slave Jeremiah. The lady seeks to destroy anything which is of import to Kitty and then Kitty herself. Strands of historical crime fiction, history and detection all woven into a story of interest. Sent by Hodder & Stoughton for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Sunday, February 14, 2021

Home Fires Burn by Lisa Hartley

Catherine Bishop working in an overwhelmed police force is just trying to get over a traumatic attack in the past. Still under medication, she is slowly getting to grips with herself and has thrown herself headlong into the latest cases. Deaths which seem to be involving domestic violence. A young couple dead leaving behind two babies. Added to this is an arsonist in town, setting alight businesses. Now he has upped his game and set fire to a business with an inmate inside and this is now arson and murder. When investigations reveal that the victim was first murdered and then the building was set alight it adds another dimension to the recent incidents and the detectives in charge of the case, are now looking to find links between the three deaths though on the surface, no one was known to each other nor knew each other. We have arson, rapists, domestic violence, robbery and everything going in the mix to put the detectives off the scent. Every witness brought forward seems to be hiding secrets and it is difficult to find out any clues as to who killed whom. Slowly evolving, the detection work goes step by step and it is sheer plod that gets the work done. Very well told, this was a good story. Sent by Canelo for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Thursday, February 11, 2021

A Case of Blackmail in Belgravia by Clara Benson

This was a detective story of sorts which started out as being absolutely unbelievable. A blackmailer, in with all the upper crust people in London has found out secrets of the most vicious kind and is blackmailing them for years. They find it a niggling worry only and pay him off. When someone decides to poison him during a dinner party, and he dies in the taxi being accompanied by one of the guests, she decides to involve her son by dragging him in a wheelbarrow and dumping him just outside his premises. The lady in question believes that with that she has washed her hands off the whole affair and blithely involving her son in such an escapade which could probably involve a jail sentence does not seem to bother her at all. In fact all of them are not bothered by the death, other than that it is a good thing for all, but they did not expect his man servant to follow up with the profession of blackmailing his master's clients. It gets ugly and a second murder takes place. Detectives in charge know that things are fishy, that none of the characters involved are disinterested but they cannot pin it on anyone. Freddy trying to save his mother knows that the first thing is to find the incriminating letters and then save all his mother's friends. All of them were oblivious to the crime of being part of a murder cover up and the story goes on in similar strain. Read over Christmas it was the ideal light hearted read. A free download from Amazon

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Hidden Bones by Vivian Barz

Four friends on a road trip culminating in a music festival stop off at a small town. Susan and Eric both have a lot to put behind them - Susan her last episode with crime and dead bodies and Eric with his new found ability to see the dead. When Madison and Clark two of their group go missing, and when the Chief of Police in this town scoffs at the idea of there being foul play the remaining members know that it is upto them to undertake a search operation for their friends. The entire town of Clancy is downright antagonistic and in several instances dangerous. Their room has been vandalized, all their equipment damaged beyond repair, they've been threatened by goons in the town but they still are adamant they will not leave till they find out what has happened to their friends. Getting information from the FBI and using that as well to their advantage, they discover a trail of drugs, intimidation by the mayor who was not averse to using blackmail to get the town to do what she wants, they discover so much murder and mayhem and sadly the dead bodies of their two friends. The atmosphere of the book was always antaganostic and tense. The physical surroundings of Clancy added to the general weirdness weighing down the town. Sent by Thomas and Mercer for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Sunday, February 7, 2021

Murder at Kelsey Hall by Elizabeth Schroer

Set at the end of the 19th century this vintage detective novella is a charming story. Maggie is a writer of detective stories. She is slightly unorthodox and always on the lookout for fresh material for her stories. She is not popular in certain circles as she has used easily recognizable characters and their stories in her novels. Her friend and companion Anna is the more conservative type considering the niceties of society and always trying to keep Maggie on what she considers is the correct path. Their invitation to a country house for a weekend turns on its head when first one lady gets murdered and this is followed by another. The fact that both ladies were having openly acknowledged liaisons with other men was surprising in the strait laced society they belonged to but apparently not to the party in the house! Set at the end of the 19th century this vintage detective novella is a charming story. Maggie is a writer of detective stories. She is slightly unorthodox and always on the lookout for fresh material for her stories. She is not popular in certain circles as she has used easily recognizable characters and their stories in her novels. Her friend and companion Anna is the more conservative type considering the niceties of society and always trying to keep Maggie on what she considers is the correct path. Maggie is delighted, Anna less so when they are approached by Inspector Blake and Doctor MacGregor to assist them in their investigation in the house. The ending was surprising as well and rather twisted too! This was a free download from Amazon.

Saturday, February 6, 2021

The Watchmakers Daughter by C J Archer

India Steele has been cheated out of her birthright by her fiancee. A watchmaker herself she was not allowed to join the guilt of watchmakers being a female, so her father willed his shop and business to her fiancee believing he would support and look after his only child. On the day of his funeral, Eddie threw India out of her home and changed the shop name. Knowing she was destitute India was determined to find a way out of her predicament and since the only thing she knew was watches and clocks she sort a livelihood in this sphere. Meeting Matt Glass and his peculiar American entourage did not actually help India but he sought her help and paid her well with board and lodging as well to help him find a old watchmaker who could repair a very particular kind of watch. Both the watch and Matt had an odd relationship and Matt was dependent for his life on the workings of the watch which had now begun to wind down. If the watch died, Matt would die and hence the urgency of finding Chronos the original watch repairer. When India reads about an outlaw with a two thousand reward on his head, she is convinced that Matt is the outlaw and thinks that she could earn this money which will be an answer to her problems, but before that Matt is arrested and she knows that without the watch he will die in prison. The story follows on with a happy ending but with elements of magic, romance, mystery and a background of gambling and life in London during the Victorian era provided a lot of entertaining reading. Again a free download from Amazon.

Thursday, February 4, 2021

Death Waits For No Lady by Andrew James (vintage mystery read)

Lady Evelyn Wright well past marriageable age is an epitome of respectability and very high standards. When she is found murdered in her own study by the parlour maid, the whole village is set astir. Detectives called to the case, now realise that this is not a burglary gone bad, but a well thought of murder but as to why and how is the mystery. Her brother is her sole inheritor and he has a watertight alibi but further investigations throw light on a history of Lady Evelyn which is surprising and most out of character. It now appears that the lady had had several liaisons with various people starting from the priest at a local chapel (he was anyway the chief suspect since he was considered not one of "them") being not a Methodist or Anglican chaplain! there were several other men who were unearthed during the course of the investigations which really set the cat amongst the pigeons. The obvious answer was certainly not the obvious suspect and the story went on. Set in a very descriptive background of both the house (manor) and the setting of a village life the book held my interest throughout. Vintage in essence it held true throughout. This was a free download from Amazon.

Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Stolen Hearts by Marci Bolden

Alexa is a private investigator with a team known as HEARTS. She got into this line of business after her sister disappeared and despite years of heartfelt searching, has never been found. When she is approached by Dean to look for his sister Mandy whom he believes is just missing Alexa puts her investigative shoes on. Surprisingly the first few clues turn up trumps, and it seems that even Dean's father is aware of her whereabouts but has hidden the fact, the police shrug the case off as Mandy is an adult and no one simply cares. Finding Mandy is one thing, getting her out of the drugs and human trafficking pimp she was involved with is heartbreaking and another whole new issue. Mandy is so dependent on the drugs and has been brainwashed so well that this is a herculean task. The story apart from the reunion of brother and sister, highlights the vastness of the human trafficking story of young, vulnerable women taking them away from families and stability to a world of dependence on drugs, alcohol and sex which finally marks them on a downward spiral to the end of their days. Ignored by the law, lost to their families, this must be a repetitive story. The love story that developed between Dean and Alexa was just an addition. Sent to me by Pink Sand Press for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley