Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

This was a really good read about older women - four feisty, smart and determined ones taking up a challenge thrown their way and dealing brilliantly withthe chinless wonders they meet on the way. The Four women have worked as assassins,worked very creditably, now retired each one dealing with the new phase in their lives. Not so easy it seems, with one final assignment which on the surface seems reasonable, but as time goes on shows flaws such as an insider threat, betrayal within the over ruling establishment and too many coincidences to be probable. The level of skill in not just executing a person, but the precise forward planning before eachenterprise, the methodical implementation of the plan, the dependance of one and in other words putting your life in your partners hands is fabulous. Enjoyed every second of this read, feasible or not the reading was riveting. I got a Deanna Raybourn book after ages after requests were made and I am appreciative that I got this one. Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton who sent this on to me for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Rose Girls by Jennifer Chase

I have not posted or reviewed any books as I was on a short holiday in Singapore and Malaysia. I hope I will do better now and keep my reviews updated. A murder of a young girl is hard on detectives too. A young life cut in her prime, no apparent reason and withe words MORE carved on her torso sounds ominous. Days later her two best friends found in similar fashion and the Detectives nowfeel they have failed in their duty to protect the youngsters. Working blind against a very clever killer who leaves no clues behind, and a town which is hiding a lot of secrets, Detective Katie Scott has to stop the murders which are three times too many for this town to handle. One of-a series (this was my initial foray) the story and detective work are top class. will hold you riveted from beginning to end. Sent by Bookouture for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Polish Girl by Godiva Nealon

Poland 1944. Not a good place to be for ordinary Poles, for Jews, for Roma for anyone who did not fall in line. There were many ordinary people resisting the enemy, and despite the man power, the fire power and sheer weight of the German army, the Nazis had it hard in Poland. In this setting Wanda has to face her father's murderer, shot in cold blood. She vows she will kill him one day, but when that day comes she faces a quandary. One that she hadn't bargained for. The story evolves through the ravages of war time Poland - losses, brutality, murder, the fear that overwhelmed it all and the need for survival. The story had a unusual twist in the tale, almost from the beginning which roughly foretold the end. The change from enemies to lovers was another difficult feature to accept but then it became an integral part of the story. Very descriptive, even the harsh bits this was an excellent story. Sent by Bookouture for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Jumping Jenny by Anthony Berkeley

What started out as a party in costume - everyone had to come as some sort of criminal or a detective. It was meant to be a fun evening of camaraderie amongst a closely linked bunch of friends. All of whom knew each other. One was a famous writer of what else - mystery murders and the party got off very well. One woman however was not happy. She wanted attentiin, she was unhappy if others were happy and she felt unimportant. Everyone was very aware that she was spoiling for a fight and talking to all that she wanted to kill herself, going on and on and it was hardly a surprise when she turned up dead, hanging at the end of a rope on the top balcony of the house. Our famous author however at the onset knew this was murder but was determined that the initial verdict of suicide be upheld. The woman was vicious and created misery around her so a joint effort had to be made to keep their stories straight with the Police. Each person suspected another , all declaring themselves innocent. Funny in parts, really laughable at the very end, this was planning at its best Sent by Poisoned Pen Press for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Summer House at Larkspur by Kay Pritchett

This was one in a series but for me was my first read by this author. Mosey Frye is looking around an old house. An estate agent she is always scouting for a residence which could be sold or rented. she discovers human remains in a half covered cistern and reports it to Chief Oliviera to investigate. On the same day a nun, the only survivor of the family which owns this property is found brutally stabbed to death. The nun was mild,harmless and the killing seems senseless. Mosey is convinced there is a connection between the two incidents but the Chief thinks otherwise. The story set in a Southern part of america in a small town is quite descriptive of a more family oriented, close knit community whose family histories seem inter twined and connected over several generations. Quite old fashioned families with ties of loyalty and respect. The detective part of the story was well done and detailed. Sent by The Wild Rose Press, Inc for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Murder at an Irish Castle by Ellie Brannigan

Rayne and Ciara are cousins who do not know each other, two very different characters to boot. Ciara is prickly, antagonistic not willing to meet Rayne halfway. Rayne is a bridal designer with a posh boutique in California. Ciara is enmeshed in the life of a working farm. Thrown together with the sudden and suspicious death of a beloved uncle and father Rayne has to take over the responsibility not just of the castle but also the livelihoods of 500 villagers. Rayne has been cheated by her boyfriend of her livelihood leaving her bereft mentally and financially. Ciara is bereft by the fact that her father preferred to leave the property to his niece, rather than his daughter. Both of them have to pull together to sort out the mess they find themselves in and solve the mystery of Neville's death where everyone is a suspect. The story dealt with the intricasies of family well, the characterizations of two very different girls done particularly well, the Irish setting and people were spot on and the murder did not seem paramount to the story, though integral at the same time. Sent by Crooked Lane Books for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

No Life For a Lady by Hannah Dolby

1896 was not a good time for a lady and certainly not for Violet Hamilton. 28 years old, a spinster, outspoken but still hemmed in by antiquated rules of decorum and blighted in the eyes of local society because her mother the beautiful flirty woman that shewas has just disappeared. Nearing the tenth anniversary of her disappearance Violet is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery. There is a lot of pressure on the hapless Violet. Her father has started bringing a series of ineffectual and vapid young men as suitors, hoping one of them will take Violet offhis hands, his hope is that he himself wants to get married. After a disastrous interlude with the detective in town, whom Violet instinctively distrusts (but cant get out of his clutches) she appeals to the honest Mr Blackthorne for help. He is dragged into it much against his will but the entire story ends well for all. The hypocricy of the age, with its well delegated rules and roles for each gender heavily in favor of the males does not make for pleasant reading. It is however what it was. To have to navigate that and come out victorious one had to choose one's battles. That is what Violet strove to do. A bit slow at times, this was Victorian romance and life well written about Sent by Aria & Aries for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Three Widows by Patricia Gibney (Detective Lottie Parker series)

This story has all the elements of a thriller. A cold blooded calculating psychopath of a killer. Elements of deep seated hatred and revenge towards his victims. Three women - all have suffered loss of husbands. Detectives try to put the pieces together to find out what links the random women together. No one is talking and the trails are getting old, anyone on the periphery of tgr crimes are aggressively not divulging any information and when one of the final abductions hits close to the detectives themselves, you know the case is accelerating. I enjoyed the writing, the painstaking detective work but three quarters through it became very complicated to keep the plot in mind, along with many strands which were being woven together tocome to the end. I am willing however toread other books by this author because the storyline and characters were well portrayed. Sent by Bookouture for an unbiasedreview courtesy ofNetgalley.

Post afterPost Morten by E C R Lorac

The setting of the story was idyllic. We had the Surrays five children, sensible loving parents. All the children high achievers - no one failed at anything they put their hand to. All gathered for the holidays with a handful of friends. Very harmonious till the body of Ruth their daughter was discovered, dead from an overdose suicide note by her bed with explicit instructions. With minimum fuss the coroner gives his verdict and the family curls into itself to try to heal. The arrival of a letter written by Ruth arrives after the funeral and all hopes of tranquility is shattered. It indicates that there is a strong possibility that Ruth was murdered and now Scotland Yard in the form of the affable but determined Inspector Macdonald is called into play. Deciphering Ruth's life was not easy as many things were not disclosed to anyone and the detective work unraveling her secrets were slow. The story was not boring in the least and one never knew who the final murderer was. Very descriptive, full of varying characters this held my interest throughout. Sent byPoisoned Pen Press for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.