Saturday, November 30, 2024
A Thief’s Blood by Douglas Skelton
Friday, November 29, 2024
The Starlets by Lee Kelly & Jennifer Thorne
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.
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
The Haunting of Hern Hall by G R Pidgeon
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.
Sunday, November 24, 2024
Misery hates Company by Elizabeth Hobbs
Saturday, November 23, 2024
Secrets of Swanfield House by Elayne Grimes
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.
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
The Poison Pen Letters by Fiona Walker
Monday, November 18, 2024
Limelight by Emily Organ
Saturday, November 16, 2024
The Whispering Dead of Rewley Abbey by Dr Peter Stephenson
Thursday, November 14, 2024
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.
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
The Secret War of Julia Child by Diana R. Chambers
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.
Sunday, November 10, 2024
A Rosie Life in Italy by Rosie Meleady
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.
Thursday, November 7, 2024
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.
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
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.
Monday, November 4, 2024
A Hush at Midnight by Marlene M. Bell
Friday, November 1, 2024
Family Affairs at Orchard Cottage Hospital by Lizzie Lane