Crescendo by Joanna Howat

 

The story is stark and you’ve got to force yourself to turn the pages especially hard to read about the disintegration of a family.

Jamie and Caz lose their parents in a home fire. Jamie overnight becomes homeless living with a girl whom he met just once and who kindly allows him to live with her. Jamie is disorganized, does not know how to share chores and is a mess. Losing his job, which he is not interested in adds to the mess. Caz cannot cope with the normal workings of her marriage- caring for two little girls and very very swiftly goes into an abyss of drinking, cutting herself and sleeping her days and nights away. Stevie her husband avoids facing any unpleasant situation or the fact that his home life is spiraling out of control.

Jamie without any idea how to control matters takes up the slack of parenting two confused children, housekeeping the best way he can and trying to salvage his personal life and his destroyed piano in the best way he can (which is not much). The characters ebb and sway this way and that in a constant state of confusion, living for the moment and not caring for consequences. There is no stability or purpose in any of their lives till a crisis blows up in their faces and all of them have to face the consequences of their action and inaction.

Emotional and very pragmatic in its writing this is a good, but hard to read story.

Sent by Flying Dog Press for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Mandeville Curse by Callie Langridge

 

Hettie has been entrusted with cataloging the contents of an estate in the form of photographing the items. Photography is her forte and both her parents and the Hills family where the items are, feel this is the remedy to get Hettie out of her present state of mind - inertia, depression and overwhelming guilt over the cruel death of her protege.

Set in 1937 but going back to the time that Hettie’s own grandfather and Sir Charles were young men the story explains the close links between the families and the history of each person in the story. There is a lot to assimilate- the family dynamics, the loss of an inheritance, the resulting enmity and deaths that result and the danger for the present family members too in a way completely unthought of.

The romance between Rhys an ex soldier and now a groom at the estate, and Hettie is a slow build up and adds to the depth of this story. Hettie herself is a strong woman and is unusually modern and independent for the 1930s, most probably due to her slightly unconventional and modern upbringing.

The book is part of a series but does well as a stand alone.

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

The Midnight Hour by Kate Hewitt

 

Bordering on the fantastical, this futuristic read is normally not my thing. But this is quite probable the way the world is going, and I just couldn’t put it down.

The determination to survive has been there for a millennium and this book amply describes this. A family bonds and parents need to protect their children at any cost is also very clear in this story.

Set against a nuclear holocaust and the widespread destruction of major cities, one family’s escape to a safe haven is fraught with dangers mainly from fellow humans who have turned into marauding beasts, they themselves trying to survive.

There is a lot of violence, but it is a gripping and very emotional story, lasting much longer than the initial read, in the mind of the reader.

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

Lunch Ladies by Jodi Thompson Carr

 

Set in small town America in the 1970s we read about three ladies and their families, and a parade celebrating America. The preparations that go into it, the wholehearted participation and the work involved and then the personal troubles that our part of the ladies lives.

Crystal, Coralene and Sheila do not think it is their duty to handle food stalls in the parade, but when asked to participate they do so very willingly. Each of them have quirks. Crystal scans the obituaries and tries to match the dead with a living person (sounds eccentric in the extreme but its very matter of fact in the book).  Coralene has a family and a nephew she has promised to look after, guide and protect and she takes those duties seriously, and Sheila lives in the past with no friends except one. She doesn’t like interaction and anyone getting even marginally close.

The characters were very real, heart warming and practical.

Thanks to Century House Press for sending me the book for a review, courtesy of Netgalley.

I am at this beautiful hotel in the mountainous part of Sri Lanka, cool and quiet. My entire family is here after twelve years all of them in one place. It is something to be enjoyed having them all.

Ruth’s First Christmas Tree by Elly Griffiths

 

Ruth was not a Christmas person but now that her baby girl is a year old, she is drawn into the Christmas spiel of food, gifts, a tree, tinsel and all the trimmings of a traditional Christmas. She has also invited Max for the first time into her home and is hoping for a relaxed, intimate period with him.

The expected seldom happens and so is it with the day. A party isn’t what it seems, a chance visit to a bedroom to take a call turns up something unexpected and Ruth’s return home is something she longs for. 

A very short magical read. Just right for Christmas.

A free download from Amazon.

A Midwinter Murder by Verity Bright

 

We follow the characters of Lady Eleanor, butler Clifford, Lady Eleanor’s entourage including the pug and the cat when they encounter another murder.

Invited by the reclusive Duke of Auldwyke to be his guest at his manor house Lady Eleanor is hoping for a romantic weekend with her fiancée far removed from murder and investigation, to give Max a Scotland Yard Detective a much needed break. The murder of the mild tempered Secretary to the Duke is puzzling. He has no enemies, everyone in the Dukes employ speaks well of him, but to investigate Max and Lady Eleanor are frustrated by the Dukes rigid rules of not meeting guests, despite inviting people to be his guests. Every guest here has a link to secrets long hidden and unraveling them adds to the danger because they are all snowbound in an isolated area with no recourse to any outside personnel (which the Duke has prohibited anyway) as he has an aversion to the Police. When an attempt is made on the Dukes life and a guest is murdered, the investigating duo has to step up and apprehend the murderer because it is evident, the murderer is getting desperate.

Despite the murder aspect, the investigations are always jolly because Lady Eleanor makes it so. 1924 England is well described, both the lifestyle as well as where the story is set.

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

The Gentleman Spy Regency Mysteries by Bianca M. Schwarz

 

The continuity in the story is a highlight of all four books. We are dealing with a set of characters who appear in all four stories. In some of them one of the characters may take a leading role, and in the next it may be a supplementary one.

Sir Henry March is working to eradicate a ring of sex traffickers all of whom are protected because of their aristocratic birth. Prostitution was rife in Regency England and every form of sexual exploitation was rampant. 

The second book deals with the fact that Sir Henry must now decide on a wife especially to protect his illegitimate daughter Emily, who is in his care. His long time mistress Eliza now leaves his side and he rescues Isabella from the seamier part of London life and though she was never interested in marriage, Sir Henry is most persuasive and wins her over.

The third book deals with Allen, a dear friend of Henry who has been imprisoned and tortured mercilessly by the Russians, but is rescued and nursed back to health by Eliza. The story deals with uncovering who was actually responsible for Allen’s capture. The story uncovers a ring of spies and selling government secrets with a romance developing between Allen and Eliza.

The fourth book deals with Emily who is making her debut and a very successful one at that. Her romance with Max Warthon, whose grandfather is a mortal enemy of Henry, Emily’s father. He will not agree to the match and will do everything in his power to break the relationship. This book also deals with a group of powerful men involved in trade but also linked to the sex trade.

The stories brought to light the seedier aspects of Regency England society despite the veneer of respectability and the rigid rules of convention and behavior that was demanded in high society. The weakness of being a woman at the time was evident and without protection, their lot was open to exploitation. An unexpected feature was the detailed descriptions of physical relationships between lovers which I felt was not really intrinsic to the stories which were very interesting in their own right.

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

Beneath the Estate by Nick Allen Brown

 

The Biltmore Estate is magnificent  and more. A chance exploration brings a discovery of a machine decades old which has throwbacks to a long ago machine made by Leonardo da Vinci. What the machine is, how it works and getting it to work is the job of Daniel.

Not only are the odds against him by his colleagues on campus, who want to get rid of him from his professorship, but at Biltmore he faces antagonism from one quarter, who is against him and wants his own engineers to solve the mystery.

Working in two time frames is always interesting and we go back to Antonio who is a young inventor whom the Vanderbilts believed in, and the one who successfully built the machine, to the romance which started on the estate and then coming to the parallel story of Daniel and Penny who followed the identical way of romance.

The romance was just part of the story, the main part was the invention and in present times the remake and installation of the machine. The Vanderbilt family forms part of the background of the story.

Beautifully descriptive of every location the story was set in, the characters themselves were very interesting and varied.

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

Death Takes the Lead by Rosemary Simpson

 

This story gave a detailed insight into the workings of theatre in England. The hardships the actors and actresses faced, the attitude of the aristocracy towards the theatre world, supporting and patronizing only when it suited them and treating them with disdain for the most part.

Prudence an heiress and Geoffrey Hunter ex Pinkerton,  have worked before in detective mode, and when the theatre erupts into one murder of the lead star of the play, murdered by arsenic poisoning both George and Prudence are drawn into the investigation because prudence’s friend  Lydia is so troubled by the murder which both Police and the theatre producer is trying to sweep under the carpet. The lead actor Septimus  was Lydia’s cousin. Going undercover as seamstresses was not very successful but they discover another victim smothered in a trunk followed by two attempts on both Lydia and Prudence’s life.

The detective work is thorough but there are many hurdles to overcome. The theatre community is tight knit and the murderer knows that they are being pursued. The number of suspects varies from day to day and in the meantime the production of the play goes on and the opening night is very successful, even though the lead actress and the producer are prime suspects. Characters were very well portrayed and the touch of romance was a nice touch.

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

A Body at the Grand Hotel by Benedict Brown

 Fourth in a series and another in which I could not get the cover copied for this post.

Marius has been invited by a Torquay book society to give an address to its members. He is looking forward to the event and makes a family trip of it along with Lady Isabella, who is part time detective with Marius.

At Torquay when the address finished, and when the audience questions started, Marius realises that the members are hostile and antagonistic and not like any book loving public he has met before. Openly critical of the methods used in his detective novels, they seem to want to humiliate him as much as possible. Marius begins to wonder why he was invited in the first place.

The patron Mrs Thistlewaite seems to control the entire society, which includes the hotel manager and even the local constable. When her body is discovered seemingly drowned, Marius and Isabella starts their enquiry along with their Inspector friend to search for the truth, because there are secrets galore and half truths abound. There are many suspects and many who are evasive and some who are downright crooked. 

The setting of Torquay is picturesque and Marius himself is clever as a detective along with Isabella but hopeless as a wannabe partner! You really want him to have a bit of spunk and not be so gentlemanly but this was a very orthodox England.

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

A Perilous Premiere by Gail Meath

 

Vivian Steele has opened a fashion boutique which is turning out to be popular. Happily married (or so she thought) until she started investigations into her husbands death. Vivian always felt suspicious about George’s death but it was only after she started her enquiry did she realize his death was very much a planned murder, and that he had had a mistress on the side with whom he was planning to run away with.

At this stage Vivian is disillusioned but when she feels that she is being followed she begins to see that there is much more to George’s death than what meets the eye. Not only the local police but the mayors office is involved in the murder and cover up.

Vivian gets called to a hotel suite by an unknown female and finds the lady dead. There is a lot of incriminating evidence involving Vivian’s husband as well. There is also Preston who arrives on the scene and who from then on directs the action. Vivian doesn’t know who or what to believe in because she has been misled by many. Finding out that the reasons for the cloak and dagger stuff (and the murders) is because a valuable collection of coins has gone missing Vivian now has to protect herself from a gang including the local police who believe she has the coin collection.

The story was quick paced and the characters were wily and quick witted. 

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

A Thief’s Blood by Douglas Skelton

 

A serial killer is on the loose. One family humble with no gang affiliations murdered brutally. Before the hue and cry can die down, another very similar family is killed.

Jonas Flynn is ordered to investigate whether it is the work of a gang, from the Rookery, an infamous neighborhood in London or is it the work of a bloodthirsty single mad man. His investigation is meticulous. The detail in the story is amazing and covers all aspects of life in the Metropolis. From the characterization of aristocrats far removed from poverty, to small time underworld gangsters constantly trying to get rid of the competition and extend their holdings and then you get the common man just trying to survive and often becoming collateral damage. This was the characters.

The description of the environment where these events took place could well form a story in itself. The sheer extent of degradation and squalor in places where animals could not survive but where humans did live was a disgrace for the politicians of the time who ignored for the most part, the poor of the time.

The book is an eye opener and a page turner too.

Sent by Canelo for an unbiased review courtesy of Netgalley.

The Starlets by Lee Kelly & Jennifer Thorne

 

1958 and Vivienne Rhodes star of Hollywood arrives on a small Island to find her rolle of Helen of Troy ursurped by Lottie, a relative newcomer . Infuriated, and humiliated she recovers to act as if nothing is wrong, specially degrading when she finds Teddy her boyfriend seemingly now a couple with Lottie.

The story turns from Hollywood to gangster when crime, murder and drugs enter the scene and the two stars wary of each other at the beginning, know they have to join forces and use their wits to escape with their lives. A mad dash through Italy ending in Switzerland, trying to separate the good guys from the bad boys and also to salvage their careers.

Lots of Hollywood references and a story that kept one turning the pages. Lots of wry humour as well.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harper Muse. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Haunting of Hern Hall by G R Pidgeon

 

John Elliot a former chaplain in WWI returns to Hern Hall to keep a promise to a dead comrade and hand over a parcel to his sister. He finds a very sad family Lord Chiddingstone trying to keep it together, his Lady who lives in a very tragic past and Lucy the blind daughter. All are troubled people overshadowed by an accident where the youngest son died in an accident. The mother blames the elder boy for the accident and ignores the existence of everyone else. A spiritualist lives on the premises, promising Lady C that the spirit of her son will appear to her. 

When John arrives, he is like a breath of fresh air to both Lord C and Lucy but the spiritualist and Lady C seem antagonistic. Unraveling the secrets of years past and the “curse” that is supposed to affect the family was what John wanted to uncover, mainly to set Lucy free whom he is falling in love with.

Very atmospheric with threads of magic, the afterlife and what we do not know about death the story was spooky but held the readers interest throughout. It was not fast paced but followed a gentle rhythm.

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

Misery hates Company by Elizabeth Hobbs

 

Marigold has been left destitute and when an invitation arrives to visit a hitherto unheard of relation, she decides to do so hoping for an adventure and a better future. She did not envisage a crumbling pile, Gothic influenced relations, feudal family control and a family who had deliberately cut themselves off from the community and who lived in squalid splendor.

Setting to clear out the physical mess as well as the secrets of the family was an arduous process but one which Marigold was determined to undertake. There is plenty of malice buried for generations and murder as well. 

Plenty to keep you interested, a good commentary on the social norms at the time.

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

Secrets of Swanfield House by Elayne Grimes

 

Marcie has made a life for herself in London, very far from her Scottish Highland roots and her grandmother. Reaching the village only after her grandmother had passed on, Marcie has now got to get to grips with her uncle Callum who seems distant and unwell. Her uncle had been very close to her but he seems to be pushing her away, and is distinctly antagonistic especially after they both are told that Marcie inherits the estate in total and Callum has been disinherited.

Marcie also has to deal with her friends in Strathkin two of whom are failing financially in their businesses because Strathkin is dying with tourists dwindling. It is only Dina now married to Marcie’s first love who is thriving. Her friends are not happy with her windfall and on to top it all, a strange young man has become a fixture in her uncles life and seems to be able to influence Callum to be uncharacteristically angry with Marcie.

Uncovering Brodies long term plans is difficult because he is viewed with favor in the village and Marcie is seen as the Londoner who is benefiting from her grandmothers death. Marcie has to work alone, even her fiancée Simon not believing her feelings about the threat posed by not just Brodie but his friends and even her own friend Heather.

How money can corrupt people, even friends and how relationships can fracture under the weight of wealth. It does not always help everyone when one persons wealth creates feelings of envy.

The story was set in beautiful surroundings which added interest to the story.

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

The Poison Pen Letters by Fiona Walker

I am doing this review a day after our elections, keeping one eye on the TV!  We have had floods in one part of the country and people going to vote in tractors and lorries. I have had broiling heat in Colombo. There were five fatal accidents, all caused by speeding and two murders. But there is still a lot of hope, because this election is bringing radical change to our country, and I am hoping for a better tomorrow.

Getting back to the review.

I needed a light hearted read despite the genre of a gruesome murder (poisoned pen nibs), so much of  vicious trolling relentless and anonymous, but the characters were so fluffy and light hearted. Juno living in an imaginary world of her being young and flirty with everyone, Mil the bar man who had the measure of all the “girls”, Phoebe deep, anxious and protective of her wastrel and philandering husband and then the miscellaneous characters sprinkled through the story. The mean and the frivolous equally interesting.

The detective work was all over the place, each person following different suspects and with no coordination, though they all wanted to solve the problem. The murderer was not someone you’d suspect as a reader because of the many believable red herrings strewn all over the place.

Nice, light hearted story.

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

Limelight by Emily Organ

 

Lizzie Dizzie was famous and died tragically in a huge ship accident in which over 600 souls perished. Her husband showman is continuing with his shows and bringing up Lizzie’s daughter who is in show business herself. When Lizzie’s body is discovered, shot in Highgate cemetery five years later, it is a great mystery all around. Why did she fake her own death, where did she live all these five years, how did she sustain herself and why now - was she a threat to anyone.

Her friend Penny who worked as a journalist and a amateur detective,  lost her job due to the unfair influence of the detective in charge of the case is distraught at the death of Lizzie and despite caution by all, is determined to get to the bottom of the story. There are many suspects for this murder including Lizzie’s husband, Lizzie’s producer director who was her lover and father of her daughter and a slightly built young man always appears at crucial moments and is so elusive that he is never caught.

The story is full of historical detail and is also a social commentary of the times. The characters drawn from show business and normal Victorian society add a dimension as well.

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

The Whispering Dead of Rewley Abbey by Dr Peter Stephenson

 

Set in the 13th century amongst a Cistercian monastery and an Abbey of Benedictine nuns going Upto the dissolution of monasteries and convents in the 16th century, this story of mystery and murder was a page turner in many ways, just like a story from a more recent vintage.

A murder of a young Brother is the start of the story. It leads to the enquiry why this seemingly harmless young man was brutally murdered. The second death was equally brutal and the lawmakers are left with no clues, whilst peasants and rabble rousers talk of mystical curses and occult practices. Before hysteria strikes the lawmakers call on the help of the Sisters from the convent, well versed in the herbal arts and poisons. Also a logical mind to work out the detection of how and why these men were murdered. A bard who gives clues to the murder, and details of a murder to come in verse, is also murdered and it is to the Lady of the Castle, an authority in the area and Sister Agnes to find out who the murderer is and prevent any further bloodshed.

It was the historical research that had gone into this story, coupled with the detailed descriptions of life in a monastery and abbey that added so much depth and layers to the story. Medieval England was still difficult but the work and knowledge found in the abbeys and monasteries were under estimated. 

I found the entire book fascinating.

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

13 Park Lane by Naomi Clifford

 

1872 marked turbulent times in Europe. Marguerite has first run away from her native Belgium, then arrived in Paris to a way of life that was hard and now has turned up in London. With no English language skills, she has to work for a French family and from the kindly Dumas family she moves to the volatile and penurious family of the Riels. Facing abuse and extreme stinginess from the lady of the house Marguerite gets enamoured by the daughter of the house and despite opportunities to leave continues to be a drudge in the household. One wonders as to the reason why she continued to stay despite the harsh treatment she received and the opportunities to get away when presented to her.

Her murdering her mistress, her running away to Paris and then her incarceration in British prisons is the rest of the story. A ideal prisoner doing her jobs competently she did get pardoned and finally returned to Belgium but at what personal cost. 

Victorian England was harsh and oppressive to the poor and not willing to accept change. Women’s position in society was predetermined by birth and occupation. It was a harsh time. The murder story was intense and detailed, including details of police work and workings of prisons. The emotional story was heart breaking. Marguerite never stood a chance against everything arrayed against her. She was a very small cog in the whole story, though her actions were the entire story. 

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

The Secret War of Julia Child by Diana R. Chambers

 

I never knew this aspect of Julia Childs life. I only knew her for her gastronomy skills and that was it. This
was an absolute surprise and I loved her description of Sri Lanka where she had her initial foray into her training as a spy, because I myself am Sri Lankan. She spoke of an era before my time of a colonial past, rich and evocative and many of the places she speaks of are very much part of Sri Lanka today.

A tall according to her ungainly woman, from Pasadena’s elite Julia started her career as a clerk and then graduated to a secret Fire Registry before her transfer to India, Sri Lanka, and then on to a fiery baptism to China. Her efforts and very successful work wherever she was employed was muted, though the contributions she made were vast and impact immeasurable. She who had never thought she’d find love, did so in China with Paul Child and this formed an integral and beautiful part of the story.

Descriptive not just of terrain, but people and food of course, the story was a page turner and so detailed in its description of day to day life during the end of WWII especially the dangerous expansion of Japan towards the end of the war.

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

A Rosie Life in Italy by Rosie Meleady

When Rosie’s landlady without any warning doubles the rent on her shabby home in Ireland, Rosie without hesitation decides to up sticks and move with husband, son and daughter. Her initial choice was Spain but things changed and it was to Italy they went. Rosie has a way of turning her decisions into very reasonable explanations as to their necessity and is like a whirlwind once she decides on something.

Being a wedding planner hoping to offer sunny climes, romantic villas and backdrops Rosie is a typical digital nomad. Buying a derelict 22 roomed castle complete with eight squabbling cousins did not fall into her plans. Neither did she take into account the vagaries of Italian property laws, all of which had to be undertaken by different masters of the law. Finally no one took into account COVID, the quarantine, the long long closure of neighborhoods and countries, cutting people off completely from family and friends and economic disaster for many like Rosie.

The story goes from one incident to another (home ownership is hard and be prepared to slog it out), but Rosie and her husband soldier on. The end seems in sight despite so many hiccups on the way. Humorous but informative, descriptive and emotional, the book had it all. 

Sent by Sourcebooks (non fiction), for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Telegram by Debbie Rix

 

Told in three timelines 1915, 1943 and 1960 we see and hear first of the telegram that will change the lives of this family forever. 1915 and 1943 were turbulent times but the discovery of a hidden message only in 1960 uncovers secrets that were never revealed.

Charles Carmichael was an enigmatic man, who kept everything very close to himself not allowing his wife access to what he felt was private. Luckily for him she was not the prying type and seemed resigned to what would appear as indifference both to his wife and baby. A chance encounter with his now grown up daughter brings up another problem. To explain this present wife Violet, that he has a daughter almost the same age as his present wife and there is an ex wife. Keeping so many secrets seemed easy for Charles but created problems all around but he carried on. After his death in 1959 things had to come out and they did. Violets acceptance of it all was questionable, but his daughter dealt with matters in a more believable manner. They each knew only a part of an intriguing character.

The story was interesting, the characters were mixed and added a balance to the story. The description of women’s work during the war years was descriptive though it was irritating to read of the constant second position they were forced to take, despite contributing hugely to the war effort.

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

A Body at the Grand Hotel by Benedict Brown

 

This was another in the Marius Quin series. Another book where I couldn’t get the cover !

Marius has been invited by a Torquay book society to give an address to its members. He is looking forward to the event and makes a family trip of it along with Lady Isabella, who is part time detective with Marius.

At Torquay when the address finished, and when the audience questions started, Marius realises that the members are hostile and antagonistic and not like any book loving public he has met before. Openly critical of the methods used in his detective novels, they seem to want to humiliate him as much as possible. Marius begins to wonder why he was invited in the first place.

The patron Mrs Thistlewaite seems to control the entire society, which includes the hotel manager and even the local constable. When her body is discovered seemingly drowned, Marius and Isabella starts their enquiry along with their Inspector friend to search for the truth, because there are secrets galore and half truths abound. There are many suspects and many who are evasive and some who are downright crooked. 

The setting of Torquay is picturesque and Marius himself is clever as a detective along with Isabella but hopeless as a wannabe partner! You really want him to have a bit of spunk and not be so gentlemanly but this was a very orthodox England.

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

A Hush at Midnight by Marlene M. Bell

 

Laura is a celebrity chef known for her desserts and pastries. Visiting her mentor, the famed WWII veteran was long overdue. Mattie is frail but her mind is as sharp as a rapier. After just days of meeting her, Laura finds Mattie murdered and herself as the main suspect. On top of it all, Laura feels the small town detective force is overwhelmed by the crime, refuses to take Laura’s claims seriously and does not even secure the crime scene.

When Laura sees the disinterest around her dear friends murder she takes matters into her own hands, not knowing that in small towns many feathers can be ruffled. Running foul of the detectives is one thing, but having antagonistic neighbours, a missing grounds keeper and a boyfriend who is a stalker does not help. Added to the mix is a woman fixed on revenge when she feels she is cheated of her inheritance.

The story is fast paced and all the characters add depth to the story.

Sent by Ewephoric for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Family Affairs at Orchard Cottage Hospital by Lizzie Lane

 

Doctor Frances  Brakespeare is at last settling into the small cottage hospital, a change from the bustling London one she worked in before. Getting over the loss of Izzy, the lady who adopted her is proving to be very hard, because Izzy’s sister keeps hounding her viciously, claiming everything that Frances owns.

The hospital needs modernization and Frances is determined to do this. Opening a family planning unit adjacent to the mother and baby clinic, may not however go down well in rural Somerset in 1936 and soon Frances faces the opposition she expected from irate husbands and the Church as well. 

The difficulties of dragging the hospital into the twentieth century is quite hard and you can see how diplomatic one has to be to achieve any kind of rapport. The support of the local lady of the manor helps to a great extent.

Though there are several small stories in this book like the blind son of the manor being helped in his rehabilitation, and the romance between Frances and the local vicar, it is Frances’s story mainly. A very readable story as well.

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

Murder at the Foundling Hospital by Irina Shapiro (A Tate and Bell Mystery)

 

This story which was emotional, sad and joyous too takes us into the world of orphanages in Britain in Victorian times and how hard life was for a great proportion of its people. 

Gemma works as a nurse at the Foundling hospital. She  considers herself lucky to get this job, and she knows she has to be careful not to overstep any of the rules and regulations governing her life as a single, unmarried woman. Her relationship with Detective Bell in its very early stages has to be kept secret as it can affect both their jobs. Her attachment to Lucy a little girl in the orphanage is viewed with suspicions causing distress to them both.

A body of a young girl, murdered in the laundry of the hospital begins an investigation which is fraught with difficulties. The Orphanage Matron wants it shoved under the carpet as an accidental death, not bringing any notoriety or press attention. Her focus more than on the safety of her charges, lies more with self preservation and keeping the sponsors happy.

Gemma from within the hospital has a better chance of obtaining clues as to who was responsible and despite the Detectives warning to stay clear, she pursues and gets clues which will link the very basic information they now have.

The murder and detective work was very well depicted, but it is the story of the orphanage its working, its rigidity and regulations that form the heart of the story.

Beautifully written.

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

Who Loves You Best by Marilyn Simon Rothstein

 

Dr Jodie Wexler drops everything - her husband (just fired from his job), her flourishing practice to be with her grand daughter Macallan. It was for one week and she intended to make the most of it. She did not think she will face the wrath and insidious jealousy of Grandma No 2 the glamorous Di, and a strange Grannie Annie a 22 something and a fixture in Callie’s life already.

Dealing with an amiable grand daughter was easy, but coming to terms with her role in the household was a difficult one for Jodie. Each character gave one light, superficial view to the world hiding deep insecurities and fears within. Jodie herself learned more about herself and her priorities and the choices which would suit her. After decades of pleasing everyone else, Jodie finds her own path keeping other considerations aside for the first time.

Charming read and an eye opener for self sacrificing people everywhere!

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

The Cursed Writer by Holly Hepburn

 

Blogger did it again. No picture and this was one I particularly wanted to show readers as it was so dull and didn’t do the story justice!

To new readers of the series, Harriet works in a Baker  Street  building society which has the same address for the fictitious Sherlock Holmes. Many believe he is a living person, and Harriet’s job is to ensure that a reply goes to every person who writes in.  One particular enquiry catches her eye and she pursues it in a private capacity along with Oliver and they uncover a scene which is quite unimaginable.

Mixing elements of attempted murder, hallucinations and a touch of the supernatural, the setting of Thrumwell Manor is very apt for the story. The plot is complicated, suspicions fall on everyone, but the final solution is far reaching.

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

Dear Aunt Addi by Aralyn Adams

 

This was a quirky read. We have a 109 year old with the entire history (and secrets) of the town wrapped up in her head. We have a nosey journalist with his own agenda, wanting to find out all the hidden details of his own ancestry amongst other things. We also have buried treasure and secrets.

This story is set in plantation and slave time Southern part of America. Very little is documented but stories passed from one generation to the next. How correct the stories are is anybody’s guess and did they get a wee bit mixed up in the retelling? Probably.

Its a rambling tale, can get a bit confusing but portrays realistically what plantation life really was, before moving onto present times. The events took place in 1895, we then come to the 1970s and then to present day times. A lot to cover.

Sent by Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Saratoga Woods by Elizabeth George

 

I’ve not been able to get an Elizabeth George book for years, much to my regret. That I got this was sheer luck. 

Becca King on the run from a criminal stepfather is abandoned by her mother on Whidbey Island. Becca is psychic, hears whispers which she sometimes cannot interpret, and this makes her stand out in the group of teenagers she has to live with. Derric of Ugandan origin and adopted and Seth a drop out and much maligned are her friends. Debbie becomes an adopted Aunt and Diana who understands the psychic part of Becca are her support system.

Because of her fear for her stepfather Becca cannot come clean even to those who want to help and when Derric is found unconscious after a fall in the woods, the local Sheriff turns his attention to the local bad boy Seth and then to Becca, the unknown quantity in this tiny community.

Dealing with teen angst, the way they think and react (mean girl Jenn being a case in point) the story weaves its way through small town America and how a community tries to help out one of its own.

Slightly different to this authors usual settings, this was still a very good read. One book from a trilogy, I do hope I can get to the others.

Sent by Elizabeth George for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

A Letter from Ireland by Ann O’Loughlin

 

Four friends gone their different ways but brought together by the death of one in their group. Her last request that they spend two whole months on the remote island of Scarty to reminisce, rebond and find out about themselves. It is a big ask. Each of them have professional and personal commitments which they find hard to let go, but they eventually do and get themselves to this remote area of Ireland.

The story pivots around Casey but the other two have stories of their own. Each of them have conflicts of being taken for granted, for being cheated on and in Georgie’s case close to bankruptcy. How the issues get resolved through closer introspection and facing up to reality and their own failings, how the second chance life throws at you should not be allowed to go astray, are all highlighted in this story.

Rosie herself had a life and secrets unknown to anyone and that in itself was shattering for all around her. That she could only come out with them after she died, was sad. But that is the story.

An emotional and joyous read at the same time.

Sent by Bookouture for an unbiased read, courtesy of Netgalley.

Death Rites by Sarah Ward

 

Carla, a professor in archaeology has just started work at a new university in Jericho. Still trying to come to term with her husbands suicide, she is sensitive to nuances around her and feels that there is some kind of atmosphere around the faculty.

A murder happens and she is asked for her opinion on random objects found around the victim. Her assessment eventually leads to her pursuance of several other murders of many women, all cold cases except one where a suspect confessed. She feels her views are not welcomed by both her faculty fellows and the powers that be in the police department and she is warned to stop all investigation and not talk about her discoveries. Feeling that she is against a very twisted and clever killer who is killing according to a specific design and one which has bypassed the police who are looking for traditional clues. In this story hints of ancient beliefs, protection against evil spirits, elements of witchcraft are all brought into play adding a diversity to murder investigations.

Interesting twist to the story, I didn’t figure out who the probable murderer was at all.

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

Hometown vendetta by Traci Hunter

 

Luke Steele works as a military aide to the President and due to a terrorist attack has to return to his hometown. Luke has horrible memories of high school and the constant attacks he was forced to suffer as a student. He is now returning for a high school celebration with Special Agent Amberlynn Reiner trying to track down these terrorists who were spotted wearing tattoos and rings connected to Pine Hills school.

He is coming with Amberlynn as his fiancée which he hopes will be a good cover for their enquiry.

The return is not easy and the taunting is continuous. When their car is trashed and when a bomb destroys the apartment they are staying in, the attack seems personal and focussed on running them out of town. Their enquiry seems to be too close to home and although their cover is blown, both of them are committed to the chase. Now the urgency is to find the suspected second car bomb which is targeting the celebration at the school itself.

Highlighting the subject of bullying is a key point in this story as it has molded Luke to what he is today. It is also a worrisome feature in present society.

The element of romance was not overly emphasized and blended into the story.

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

Out of the silence by Marie Theodore

 

The story highlighting domestic violence was brutal but realistic. The extent to which defending lawyers will go to shred any opposition and get their clients to go free to wreck damage on other victims is unbelievable even though lawyers themselves know their client is guilty as charged.

Casimir escaped the justice system once after almost killing a woman. Alexa is going to make sure he doesn’t get away again. This time her adversary lawyer is much more powerful. Not only is he, her co lawyer in the same office but he is known to be corrupt, dealing in drugs and friends with people on the wrong side of the law. Alexa a powerful attorney in her own right takes matters into her own hands to bring both the attorney O’Brien as well as the suspect down. Putting herself in grave personal danger as this becomes a personal battle.

The erotic part of the story did not add much to the book which could have done without it very well but Alexa’s secretary’s involvement showed the human element and how this can be manipulated and used to bring down someone.

Very well told of court room drama and the proceedings that precede a judgement, made for good reading.

Sent by Greenleaf Book Group for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Devil Hath a Pleasing Shape by Terry Roberts

 

Stephen Robbins is rather introverted but a reputation for finding missing persons and solving unsolvable crimes precedes him. It is the 1920s and he lives with his three year old son Luke and a couple who are like family to him. He would like life to continue like this.

The appearance of Benjamin Loftis put paid to that. Owner of a famous and old hotel, the discovery of a naked girl murdered in Room 340 does not do much for the image he is wanting to portray. Business is down and he wants the murderer found. Not easy in a town where racism is high, and tensions run high too.

Fast forward to Stephen’s appearance in town, his investigation which are quiet, but do not go unnoticed by the powers that be aka the local Sheriff who does not like outsiders and has got his suspect all tied up and ready for execution.  The discovery of a second body and a third does not affect the Sheriff even though his suspect is behind bars, because he wants the problem to just go away. Stephen is only interested in getting justice and when nothing works because his suspect is too powerful, Stephen’s takes matters into his own hands.

A very powerful story, very realistic of conditions in the 1920s, epitomizing the hold the rich, powerful and white community had over their neighbours.

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

Murder on the Nile by Verity Bright ( A Eleanor Swift mystery)

 

Blogger does this to me, especially when I want to show a particularly nice cover.

The Eleanor Swift mysteries follow a pattern. Lady Eleanor and her faithful butler generally followed by her coterie of domestics, encounter a sticky situation. In this case a voyage to the Aswan Dam in a less than luxurious craft. The other passengers are a mixed bunch of archaeologists and businessman, all of whom seem shady and who never get their stories straight.  When one murder is followed by another, particularly when Lady Eleanor’s assistance was sought by the murdered man himself, something needs to be done. There is a constraint of time followed by the fact that they are in an isolated town, far from help.

The surroundings are gorgeous, the characters range from the shifty to the quirky and the detective work is done with much flair. It takes the cozy to another level altogether.

The Eleanor Swift stories are very entertaining

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

Flipping the Birdie by S L Woeppel

 

This is not a book I’d normally pick up but I was surprised how easily I slipped into the story.

Birdie has super powers but she has irked many of her bosses, with unruly and uncontrolled rants. Now she is suspended from duty, asked to see a therapist and mend her ways.

A chance encounter sets her on a fresh path, trying to live a normal life, with work and developing friends which for Birdie has always been hard.

The story continues with Birdie trying to balance her strengths with her feminine side, give in to the increasing attraction she has for Aiden and be as normal as a super could.

Interesting take on alternative lifestyles.

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

Where Secrets Stay by CherAnn Wright

 

The story was a good but a twisted one. Plenty of solid characters, especially strong willed women. However it could get confusing with the constant change of place and period. One had to have your wits about you when reading this book. 

Plenty of secrets in this story. Everyone had one. In some cases so buried away that they were all but forgotten till a trigger happened, which brought back memories, mainly horrific. The psychic character of some of the women was very plausible in the context of this story and added another dimension.

Despite the going back and forth between childhood and the present day situation the story held one’s interest throughout.

Sent by Sleuthing Sloth Press for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley 

The Cloverton Charade by Sarah E. Ladd

Set in Regency England the story of the two antiquities brokers and how the best friends fell apart forms the beginning of the story. Olivia and her sister are left with nothing as their father bequeathed the business to his brother, who through mismanagement has run it to the ground. Lucas has inherited his father’s business also in a precarious financial position.

The approach to Olivia to assess and catalogue Mrs. Milton’s collection is a rare chance to get a footing in the business, and establish herself despite her uncles antipathy and obvious disapproval. Lucas is approached by the nephew of the late Mr Milton to value and dispose of his inheritance. Mrs Milton and the heir do not see eye to eye on how to manage a burdensome estate and both Olivia and Lucas have to keep the purpose of their visit to Cloverton under wraps. A full scale week of entertaining has been arranged which provides the cover necessary for both Olivia and Lucas.

Covering regency England at its best and worst in a descriptive form, we are taken through the jobs undertaken by Olivia and Lucas under the eyes of their bosses, who cannot stand each other. Both have to be diplomatic, especially when Lucas discovers that a lot of chinoiserie is fake and that a scam is going on right under their eyes.

Discovering who was responsible was a difficult job, in the process Olivia loses her job but the romantic angle was just right and the story ends well.

Sent by Thomas Nelson Fiction for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.