The Blackbirds of St Giles by Lila Cain

 

This was a heart rending, but fabulous read. Starting from the Jamaican plantations where Daniel and his young sister Pearl escape the burning estates and after a perilous journey first to America where he saves a Majors life, befriends him and his wife till the end of their tragically short lives, and then moves  to London to start a new life, claiming his inheritance. Daniel then faces disaster in the form of the Major’s brother who drugs him, destroys the will and both siblings are on the streets, impoverished as before.

Becoming a part of the underground haven for Blacks in London, Daniel comes to the attention of Elias then faces disaster king of the Rookery. Daniel has no chance to refuse the offer of whatever comes his way and he himself realises he is putting himself in the power of a very vicious, crooked man.

The story of a need for survival, the hopelessness when every card is stacked against you, the bonds of family, and especially the hostile racist element throughout the story. From Jamaica to New York to London the blacks were hopelessly marginalized, although it was their immense work which kept the plantations running and London itself working smoothly. The humiliation that had to be faced were immense and daily in every Black persons life. The hypocrisy of the white men of this generation were unimaginable and there were very few who stood up for the people working under them.

The saga of Daniel his fall and rise is one story, the history of the era covering three countries is another.

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

The Cardinal by Alison Weir

 

Tudor England was rich with history and Henry VIII was bigger and larger than life. He was an enigma at the best of times and the story of Cardinal Wolsey set in this era, is important because the two characters are so intertwined with each other.

The story begins humbly. Thomas Wolsey was just eleven when he entered Oxford. He was ambitious and knew that with his lack of rich and influential relations, he would have to find a connected and powerful sponsor. His ascendancy was very slow at the beginning and he was frustrated at his lack of a quick ascent. With him becoming the right hand of Henry VIIIThomas Wolsey became one of the most powerful men in the land.  Rich beyond his wildest dreams, he had homes, castles and properties galore. The King considered him his best advisor, but with his ascendancy there were many who disliked him and plotted his fall. Cardinal Wolsey fell in love with one woman, and one only. She remained the love of his life till the end. He separated from her and arranged a marriage at the implied order from the King, though it tore him apart especially as it also involved the loss of his children.

The decline of Cardinal Wolsey began with Anne Boleyn entering the life of Henry VIII.  The Cardinals inability to obtain an annulment from Rome for Henry, soured the relationship between the Cardinal and King, aided and abetted by the Boleyn family. 

This story dwells mainly on the man Cardinal Wolsey was. Today he would be called a kingmaker but he was looked at Henry as he would a son, and was heartbroken at the treatment he was meted out. As a lover Wolsey failed because he put his ambition above all else. He died still loyal to his King above all.

The history of the period is well known. The life of the man Cardinal Wolsey was new to me and this was 

Fascinating reading.

The history involving England with France, Spain, Scotland and Rome added another strand to the story. The constant arranging and break up of alliances and marriages going whichever way was advantageous to a country was mind boggling.

Fabulous reading.

Sent by Random House Publishing - Ballantine Group for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Doorman by Chris Pavina

 

Chicky is the doorman at the old but impeccable Bohemia Apartments. The tenants are rich, mainly white in little bubbles of their own. Staff in the form of cooks, nannies and chauffeurs are Hispanic and there is a sprinkling of black Americans working too. From the onset it seems boundaries are clearly marked, and anyone crossing the line is made to feel uncomfortable. Little difficult to get my head around as I always presumed boundaries had got a bit looser. Was I ever wrong.

Tension in the air and protests planned over the deaths of two Blacks in the city. Irrational shootings. A robbery well planned going wrong resulting in the death of two of the tenants. One disliked intensely. A fabulous cover up and all ends very neatly tied up.

Everyone in the story has secrets. All are under pressure of some kind. However wholesome they appear there are imperfections. There is a lot going on but I found the first few chapters slow going. It caught up to speed and became a roller coaster towards the end, bringing all the strands together very fast.

Entertaining and very good reading.

Sent by Farrah Straus and Giraux for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris

 

1888 is not medieval times but it literally could be. Celia working for an ultra rich family in Portland fell in love with the son of the house. It is not a relationship that would be accepted and Celia knew that. When she fell pregnant and was thrown out of the house, into the hands of a brothel, Celia had hit rock bottom. Never giving up on her dream of reconciliation with her lover, she kept her head down and got on with life.

The massacre at Little Rock’s which included the murder of her Chinese father was a catalyst for Celia to do something to get justice. Highlighting the case and bringing publicity was not going to do any good as the Chinese miners were considered by the whites to be subversive and dangerous. That they were murdered in cold blood for no reason other than the fact that they were hard working was not a plus in their favor. Celia was then kidnapped and put on a boat to get her out of the way. Her escape and return to Portland is a story in itself. Her uncovering of the high connections to the brothel trade was another. 

The story of immense courage and a search for identity, a search for justice is the focus of the story. The romance and the happily ever after is secondary.

Descriptive in every aspect from the hypocrisy of the establishment, to the poverty and the brothels of Portland the story was an intense one.  I did not find this an easy or comfortable read, just grateful to be born in present times with no strictures or unfair boundaries.

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

A Most Parisian Murder by Millicent Binks

 

Opal sent across to Paris to help out as a lead milliner was too good to be true. Her mother seemed to want to bundle her away from home, and join up with a cousin from the other lower side of the tracks was a puzzle in itself but Opal was determined to make the best use of the time and learn something from the time spent.

What she didn’t envisage was becoming lead detective on murder in this most fascinating part of Paris - the theatre, the chorus girls, the machinations of many striving to be top dog. There are love interests, glamour, history - it is 1930 after all and lots to recommend this as a cozy.

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

The Keeper of Lost Art by Lelita Baldock

 

Rome pre 1944. Siena works in an art gallery, working for a man she has come to care for as a grandfather and who has inculcated in her a love for art, and the need to protect what they have against the foreboding shadows of Nazi Germany. When the inevitable happens Siena flees to Bari seeking safety for one book containing details of paintings.

What follows is the death and deprivation that followed wherever the Nazis went. It also highlights the resistance displayed by ordinary citizens who against the odds, worked in insidious ways to hinder the enemy progress. Books written about this period of history are stark and destructive and it never fails to unnerve because it happens again and again.

The three timelines were difficult to follow (at times) but overall the story was a good one, well told.

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

Death on the Island by Eliza Reid

 

I do like to ring in changes in the books I read and especially change the country settings. Sitting here in tropical Sri Lanka amidst sweltering heat amidst monsoonal showers, the change could never be more different to Iceland.

The novel itself is atmospheric, never mind the land. Nine people getting together, all with diverse interests and aims with a surface bonhomie which does not fool anyone. Everyone is aware that tensions simmer beneath the surface and when one is poisoned in full view of everyone at a public dinner, one knows the scene is set for a lot of deep feelings, animosity and anger.

Secrets abound amongst all and the weather the one thing that cannot be controlled, corals all within a narrow area that endangers all. A second brutal death in a fire shows that the killer is getting desperate and it is only after a departure from the island and then a resummons, where perhaps the killer is lulled into a sense of complacency that he is free, that the final renunciation is made.

A very intense story, culturally diverse, fabulous setting.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for sending this book to me for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Hanged Man of Saint Pholien by SIMENON

 

My first read of a Simenon book and it was an eye opener.

The story on the surface deals with a furtive man on a railway platform and ends with his self inflicted death. The detective Inspector Maigret brings another depth to the story. One of conscience, and whether inadvertently through the inspectors actions he caused the man to actually take his own life. Because the man was suspicious, the Inspector followed him, exchanged one shabby suitcase for another, and when this was discovered, the man shot himself in despair. Did the Inspector by substituting the suitcases do an illegal act? The other man was just furtive. Being furtive isn’t a crime?

The dead man shabby as he is has a history. He is also actively being followed by eminent people and Maigret is keen to know how and why. To the extent that Maigret becomes the pursued over what happened a decade ago.

Interesting take on detection, on guilt and how to solve a puzzle.

Sent by Farrah, Straus and Giroux for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Beast of Littleton Woods by T E Kinsey

 

I am sorry that I have not come across this series before. I enjoyed the village setting, the era, the determination of the two ladies who were brilliant in their detection, and brought such a genteel and a lot of understated humor typically British to the story.

Set in Littleton Cotterell it all starts with a sheep mauled to death. The stories start with the brutality of the hilling and when Sid Hyde is found mauled to death, the stories of a panther let loose in this English village abound. When Sids death is confirmed as murder, followed by another similar death, people in the village are in turns terrified and in a frenzy. 

The story was intriguing and one knew the solution lay within the village itself. I will be looking out for more of Lady Hardcastle.

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

A Fashionably French Murder by Colleen Cambridge

 

Tabitha Knight has firmly entrenched herself in her grandfathers and uncles house. She loves her work, her life and has no intention of returning to America. Becoming friends with Julia Child, introduces fabulous cuisine into the story, along with haute couture. What Tabitha did not think was that she will stumble over corpses and be the first person to encounter them. Her sort of on off attraction to n dashing Inspector helps.

In this story Tabitha establishes herself as a promising sleuth. There is a lot of history during this era in Paris, including the brutal treatment of women collaborators some of whom just got into it to survive. It didn’t turn out well for them. Julia Child was just coming into her own and the food descriptions are exquisite.

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

 

The Seaside Murders by Helena Dixon

 

The epitome of a cozy this story had it all. Village setting, eccentric and nosy characters, beautiful scenery and plenty of intrigue.

England 1941 a naked body on the beach. A harmless Italian prisoner of war, set to work on a nearby farm. Jane and Arthur have been sent down to enquire into this death and to check whether it is linked in some way to the black marketing racket rampant in the region. Add to this the sudden appearance of exotic animals, a black panther supposedly the cause of two deaths and a mauling, a talkative macaw and a smiling big rat, a quokka a native Australian.

Trying to put the various pieces together amidst maybe a budding attraction between Jane and Arthur added much interest to the story.

Very enjoyable read.

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

The House of Lost Whispers by Jenni Keer

 

Olivia lost her parents when the Titanic sank in 1912 and she was sent to live with the Fairchilds who welcomed her into their lives. She felt a bit lost in a household of three boys but her guardians were kind people. The twist in the story is what if those we think are dead, live on in a alternative universe and Olivia continues to live with them as their much loved only child, growing up and having a very different life.

The alternative life is looked at closely in this story which takes you to fantasy (which could be probable) Shouldn’t be ruled out totally though! 

Part mystery, a lot of history, a touch of romance, heart breaking love story in part the story held my interest throughout.

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

A Death on Corfu by Emily Sullivan

 

Minnie Harper widowed with two young children lives in Corfu. Bound by old customs she is careful of her position as a widow and her reputation amongst the gossipy expat population. When a young girl is found murdered, and the local police try to close the investigation, just arresting a vagrant for the murder Minnie and her new neighbour (a mystery murder writer of repute with a unsavory past) try to get justice of some kind for the girl.

Beautiful setting, varied characters and a mystery set in 1898 in a very insular community of British expatriates. I liked the cover too!

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

A Lethal Engagement by April J. Skelly

 

An airship in 1890 set the tone for this story. Cora Beaumont is the owner. Sole owner. Does not go down well with many who are used to see husbands, fathers and brothers controlling their fortune. A brutal murder on the first day of its transplanting voyage does not help. Added to that Cora has just got engaged to the second son of a Duke of the enormously influential Tristam family, a point not taken well with the aristocratic daughters of the English who are travelling on the airship.

Cora’s fiancée is mainly absent and neglectful of Cora, and it is left to his brother Nicholas to step into the breach and act as protector and along with Cora, act as detectives when a second and third murder takes place. That someone is out to disrupt the entire line, and besmirch Cora’s name and reputation is obvious.

The setting of the airship travelling through rough seas, the restricted area and then the class distinctions and protocols which governed the people, added so many strands of interest and variety to the story. I also enjoyed the era.

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

.

An Unquiet Peace by Shaina Steinberg

 

Evelyn Bishop formerWWII spy has settled into her new space as head of the Bishop firm and is settling in well with the former detective Nick Gallagher, whom she intends marrying shortly. Her hopes for a quiet wedding are dashed by the arrival of her Aunt Taffy who like a whirlwind starts wedding preparations.

On top of that Evelyn gets called in for a covert op to find out the whereabouts of a wife and daughter of a German scientist, who was rescued and whose family was supposed to follow and who never did. Going back to Berlin is dangerous for Evelyn who has many people who will wish her dead. The enquiry is convoluted, nothing is as it seems and the person who is seeking revenge is much closer than she thinks.

The whole book was a complete package combining all that one looks for in a story of history, mystery, intrigue with a touch of romance to add balance.

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

My first read from this author. I hope I will be able to track down other books.

 

The Bookclub for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick

 

Its the 1960s four very different personalities join a book club and four very deep friendships are forged. Each one had strengths and weaknesses, and it is unbelievable that even in the 1960s the amount of power men had over women’s lifestyles, their attitudes, definitely their finances. 

The Feminine Mystique was the first book that the club read. It opened up vistas for many and for these four it struck a chord that they could be doing more for themselves, their families and their marriages by living the way they wanted to, and not a facade dictated by society, mainly men.

The story about how four women supported each other through crisis after crisis, forming a unique group giving strength to carry out dreams, and live a life they wanted to. 

I was engrossed in reading this book, cheering madly from the sidelines.

Sent by Harper Collin’s/Harper Muse for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Sufi Storyteller by Faiqa Mansab

 

My knowledge of Sufism was restricted to pictures of the dervishes and I knew nothing else. This story was informative on several issues.

A mother and daughter have been separated for decades but now Layla is almost sure she has found her mother. Two murdered women found in proximity to Layla is too much coincidence not just for the detectives but also to Layla. Mira knows more on the subject and realises that Layla is in grave danger, and that somehow she is the key.

Revealing the truth and her history is painful for Mira, but it is the only way that Layla will accept her abandonment at the orphanage. All the minor characters are themselves of much interest including the cat Gul. The preparation of food which was unique to Layla’s background added another layer of interest.

Sent by Unbound/Neem Books for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley 

The Cornish Witch by Louise Douglas

 

Meghan’s father gets a letter from his past going back forty years and he appeals to his daughter to go to the remote village of Mawgen Cove to verify facts and find a way of telling his wife about a secret from his youth and he does not know what his wife will make of it.

Meghan’s trip to Cornwall was with this focus in mind. Finding the step sister she never knew about. What she did not anticipate is getting lured into a history going back centuries, to lay to rest two souls who have been wandering in this village, never at peace.

So many inexplicable things we come across with no logical explanation and this is one of those things. May sound silly to some but to the person like Meghan who actually experiences something, it is not so easy to shrug as nonsensical.

An interesting history in this village, a tragic love story, superstitions in days gone by, a family reunited and a stunning setting.

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

Voices of the Elysian Fields by Michael Rigg

 

Set in New Orleans, we move into a more rarefied atmosphere of people of importance and power in the city. Johnathan Grays mentor of forty years has died unexpectedly, and in somewhat suspicious circumstances. Following this the apparent murder suicide of an elderly rich, well established couple seems too much of a coincidence.

Coupled with his Coroner skills, Johnathan moves into the world of detection, working closely with detectives to uncover a web of unexplained disappearances of young women, coupled with murder of a young man within the same family and attempted murder of several other people connected to the enquiry.

Full of proper police procedural and step by step detecting, trying to bring differing stories and people together, set against a city that is vibrant and one which bounced back after Katrina. The story was well thought out and it all came together very nicely at the end.

Sent by Level Best Books for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley 

A Poisonous Silence by Jenny Adams

 

1921 Philadelphia and Edie Shippen is trying to establish herself as a private investigator. She hasn’t got a single client but when an actress is poisoned, Edie along with Lizzie is on the case. When her friend Ava appeals to her, to help her as she is thought of as a murder suspect, Edie puts caution to the side. Along with her friend and a romantic interest, Gilbert Lawless from the coroners office, Edie and Gilbert have to tread carefully. Apart from the body count increasing, Gilbert finds that he is bringing the wrath of the mob on his family and they will stop at nothing to protect their own.

The setting of the theatre with its own double standards where women were concerned, what was considered proper for society women like  Edie and the chasm that separates Edie and Gilbert who was just a ordinary middle class guy. Characterization was spot on, there were plenty of blind ends to follow, Prohibition added to the story.

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

After Paris by Mary Ellen Taylor

 

With a dozen books to review, I picked this one up. I think too much of mystery murders and I was looking for something else.

Ruby has lived through a lot for her twenty five years. A cancer survivor with the specter hanging over her head, she returns to America, with a relationship in smithereens when her partner could not cope with the trauma of cancer treatments.  Ruby has embarked on research into the lives of Cecile, a fabulously beautiful French actress who had a bright career during the 1940s during the Paris occupation. Acting in films owned and run by the Germans, made her in the eyes of the French, a despicable collaborator. Only she knew how much information she obtained and forwarded to Emile her sister who worked in the Resistance. With Cecile was Sylvia, her seamstress and confidante, also a refugee and one with a chequered background.

The workings of both women were fascinating. One in plain sight, the other nondescript and hidden and the conduit for information. The manner in which people worked for the underground movements were so clever. Undermine the enemy, sabotage at every turn from massive destruction to simply puncturing the tyres of vehicles, the ordinary folk kept a facade of minding their own business, being strictly good citizens and led double lives. 

Written in two timelines, the unraveling of the story was meticulous.

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

Splintered Justice by Kim Hays

 

My reading is taking me around the world in just a few days. Set in the city of Bern, Switzerland we go back and forth within two timelines and two generations.

Giuliano and Renzo are two detectives who worked together amicably. Renzo very recently separated has feelings for his fellow detective which he feels will be reciprocated though she is married. He steps away and goes into this investigation single handed. A young man badly injured when another young man deliberately shakes the scaffolding he is working on, causing him to fall. Crashing into the suspect by accident, Renzo is able to pull the history of the antagonism between the young men. He then begins to unravel a death which took place years ago, and what was once deemed suicide is now a suspicious death, with plenty of suspects.

There are many points of interest - the small Croatian community in Switzerland, connected to each other closely. Then the very complicated subject of assisted death. Different from euthanasia, this was a subject examined closely in the story in connection with an investigation. The pros and cons of this controversial subject and the very professional workings of the organization called Exit - assisting people with decisions concerning their death, meticulously tabled. Very good subject anyway.

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

A Lesser Light by Peter Geye

 

I’ve been reading somber books in a row. I have been wanting a change from the mystery murder genre but did not expect to get philosophy and so much to think about.

1910 and Theodor has got a commission that he deems worthy of his status. He has also acquired a wife who is a total misfit for the isolated island, who is not fearful of him much to his dismay and one who has a mind of her own. A rough fisherman and his clairvoyant niece adds interest to Willa’s life with their interest and compassion, totally at variance with Theodor who having been brought up in a rigid, authoritarian household, does not know to act different.

The politics of an insular society - only a couple of families and the harsh, unrelenting weather makes for an environment stifling for Willa, but one with no escape.

The story with just a few characters, mainly all strong and determined in different ways, the lighthouse a focus and character of its own and one man not knowing how to adapt or handle different circumstances are the focus of this story. The story is slow but that befits this story.

Sent by University of Minnesota Press for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Wandering Season by Aimee K. Runyan

 

An unexpected present of a DNA test from her younger sister reconfirmed what Veronica had always known. Her adoption was never spoken of and kept a secret but she’d always known. Her parents were wonderful people and Veronica certainly did not want to open a can of worms. The present of an European trip highlighting places where her ancestry was most dominant led her to an adventure, which was strange and wonderful.

Fate, or coincidence played a part also the “fey” part of Veronica, gave her a bigger insight into her history and people who may have been her ancestors centuries before. The story interspersed with culinary wonders in the regions she visited added another strand to the story.

A coming of age story this was a book I finished in one go. I also learnt of a new profession - a food broker. 

Sent by Harper Collin’s Focus for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Stars and their Light by Olivia Hawker

 

1947 and the setting is a cloistered order of nuns. Sister Mary Agnes is joining a group of nuns and after twelve years is going to be an external- the person who will be the face of the convent, allowed to interact with outsiders and the community at large. The town of Roswell is a military base and almost every family has links of some kind to the military.

A crash of an aircraft brings the attention of the military who swoop in. Strangely there is no media hype and it is classified as a weather balloon. But the farmer on whose land it crashed knows that it is something else, and so does the officer sent to investigate. Sister Mary Agnes’s involvement starts with a young girl displaying signs of stigmata, after the incident. Inexplicable and incomprehensible, the church itself is dismissive of the affair. With no support from anyone Sister Mary Agnes is the only support for the Campbells as she does believe what she sees. A good bit of historical fiction, a touch of romance and a look into the lives of a cloister, so far removed from modern life. The fact that some things are beyond human understanding is also a feature of this story.

The authors note at the end of the book was an interesting addition to what is anyway a very unusual story.

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

A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett

 

High fantasy is not a genre I normally indulge in. This took me completely out of my comfort zone as the detailed, inexplicable and complicated workings of this world was slowly unfolding in the story.

A Treasury Officer disappears from a locked room, and the greatest detective of the realm is set to find him. So far the story panned out like any mystery but it stopped there. Very complex, and for a novice reader of this genre puzzling, interesting and oh so different.

I was determined to finish the book, though I did find it hard going, though that is my own fault definitely not the author.

Sent by Del Rey Random House Words for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Impact of Evidence by Carol Carnac

 

Set in Welsh Border country, we are dealing with hardy farmers in a very isolated community. Cut off with heavy snow, now melting into a flood a horrible accident involving a half blind doctor and a young farmer was just that, until the Police discovered that the unknown man in the doctors car also dead, was not dead from the crash but had been killed earlier.

Unraveling clues in a tight knit, very small community was not going to be easy. Everyone was an outsider and despite the doctor driving whilst half blind, no one thought of calling him out or informing the authorities.  Even after his death, the neighbours despite having reservations did not want to point out suspicious ideas they had as to why the doctor chose this remote outpost to live. Investigations move very slowly, but subtly and though in another setting it may have added to the reader being bored, in this case it was just the reverse. The characters, not just the inhabitants but even the detectives serving this area, the setting and the lifestyle added great interest and charm to the story.

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

iver knows your Name by Kelly Mustian

 

We have two timelines here 1930s the Mississippi area and then 1971 North Carolina. Nell and Evie very young children, and Hazel their mother. Always the two timelines makes for an interesting story when you compare lifestyles, attitudes and especially how far women have come in thirty years. 

Nell and Evie discovered a birth certificate thirty years ago in a copy of Jane Eyre. Evie's mother was not Hazel. The two girls vowed never to talk about this. How this discovery would have impacted and changed their lives if brought to Hazels notice is so huge, that it was only realized thirty years later.

The story winds around secrets of Evie’s arrival in Nell’s home, how Hazel became secretive, disconnected from her children and that distance was maintained almost to the end. The reasons of course unraveled and it showed Hazel in a totally different light, protective to the end.

Very atmospheric, with tragic/dark overtones, plenty of history intertwined within the story covering the Depression era. Most importantly very strong women figures in this story.

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

The Secret Detective Agency by Helena Dixon

 

Jane Treen is efficient, cool and collected. She is a sleuth for the government working behind the scenes, very unobtrusive. When an urgent call summons her to Devon as one of her agents are found murdered, she has to coordinate efforts to find a traitor who can cause mayhem to a network. Her co conspirator Arthur Cilento, recently returned not in the best of health finds Ms Treens ways overwhelming and slightly intimidating. The two have to work together because the deaths keep mounting and it is apparent that the leak is well within their inner circle.

For a few chapters it was slow going and repetitive. Jane’s penchant to smoke indifferent to Arthur’s difficulty with smoke became boring but the book quickened its pace midway to become intriguing as the murders mounted and the investigators tried to keep pace, and prevent more deaths.

Detective genre and espionage the book may be, but it did have a lot to offer history fans.

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

Homicide in the Indian Hills by Erica Ruth Neubauer

 

Bringing all the ritual, the romance and the grandeur of the British Raj, this story though a mystery murder, was evocative of Ootacamund in 1927. The British were in power and they wanted to hang on to it as much as possible. The independent movement had started and it would only gain momentum with the years and there would be protests and bloodshed galore before India gained her Independence.

This story dealt with British government officials bickering for power, and doing everything they could to prevent Indians having any say in formulating legislation. Redvers and Jane newly married have arrived in Ooty. Redvers job is to smooth the way for formulating laws advantageous to the British and keeping India very much in their grip. Redvers and Jane do not believe this is the right thing to do. In the midst of this two murders take place one of a British citizen who is very partial to Indian independence, and the secretary to the Governor.

Trying to find out not just who the murderer is, but also the motive for the murders is important. Besides this, there are plenty of behind the scene activity both political and personal and the couple want to see justice served despite the official coverup.

Very descriptive of the workings, the attitudes of British officers and how the Indians had to almost debase themselves to survive in this era are part of the story.

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

An additional novella at the end of this story, set in a snowy Christmas themed holiday where Redvers and Jane try to protect Redvers father from a bigamist, was a lovely story in itself.

The Runaway Wives by Karen King

 

We having sweltering, humid weather and it’s draining the little bit of energy I had!

I’m late on reviews and for this I apologize.

Dee is looking forward to her sixtieth birthday celebrations ever since she discovered her husband had been secretly planning a holiday break. Imagine the sadness when she did discover that he had forgotten her birthday and had planned a golfing break with his buddies.

On the other side Babs’s husband Geoff after their retirement, is determined to move to Spain and to her horror, without discussing it with her, has met a real estate agent, put the house on the market and arranged tours of property in remote areas of Spain without consulting his wife. To add to her anger, he informs her that the house they live in is his and he can do what he likes.

The two ladies decide unanimously to go on a short break themselves, to an idyllic village by the seaside. They are beginning to to enjoy themselves but each of them need different lifestyles. Dee despite her philandering husbands orders to return, is determined to make a new life for herself. Babs seeks a compromise. Both women show it’s never too late to change the direction of your life and one can make a break from the monotonous, the indifference and inject some excitement in one’s life however old you are.

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

The Versailles Formula by Nancy Bilyeau

Genevieve is now living a quiet life with her young son while her husband is working elsewhere. She was never meant for a humdrum, country living and feels stifled. An invitation to the castle of Sir Horace Walpole to also be a companion to Evelyn her friend and wife of Sir Humphrey Willoughby. Eventually, Genevieve finds out that the request was to be the facade for her to work her skills into finding out what and who is creating havoc at Sir Walpole’s castle, all in connection with a Fragonard painting.

Genevieve is no ordinary Huegenot refugee. She and her husband were responsible for the development of a cobalt blue pigment which was prized and pursued by both French and English, and which finally led to Thomas and Genevieve finding refuge in England. This was on top of the religious persecution at the time.Now Sir Willoughby wants to take Genevieve back to France to discover a spy network. Under a false name and history, Genevieve sets off on an adventure fraught with danger and one which she has kept secret from her husband.

There were many twists and turns in the story, it also seems unfinished. I hope there is a sequel. Mixed with fictional figures there is still plenty of actual history and figures to keep one deeply interested.

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

The Whitechapel Widow by Emily Organ

 

Emily married just four months did not expect to find herself a widow so soon. Neither did she expect to find out that her husband was a no good philanderer who had scammed a gullible young woman for all she had. 1888 London was tense with the unsolved crimes of Jack the Ripper and unexplained killings were rife. William was just one of them. 

Emily was not going to sit back and watch, when she realised that her case was low priority for the local police. Getting together with a former reporter of the local paper, she painstakingly uncovered William’s last few hours and his nefarious activities which led to his death.

The story depicts also the helplessness of women in general, where men controlled their entire lives from behavior to finances and unscrupulous men got away literally with murder. The workings of slums in London are meticulously documented and gives one an insight into how this city operated.

A mystery murder genre with a lot to attract history fans as well.

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

April Fools by Jess Lourey

 

Mira James has unfortunately discovered a corpse (inadvertently of course) every month. As a result her town is getting labeled as the most dangerous in the State and powers that be are not happy. Minnesota has got the nefarious distinction of being the state with very high sex trafficking and now Mira is getting proof that her town is having its own share of predators and victims. Worst of all is the suspicion that her own father, now dead, was also in the Gang of Four.

Also on the trail is Mrs Berns the indomitable old librarian determined to have her share of the action. Despite its serious content and very real tragedy, the story has comedic elements too adding to its charm.

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

The Moonlit Piazza by Annabelle Thorpe

 

Set in World War II in the village of Amatini, we have two distinct groups. The despised Nazi occupiers and the Italian villagers, seething and backed by their Resistance creating minor pockets of revolt. There is also the personal lives of all, because life does go on despite the harshness and cruelty that abound. The love stories and life stories of the inhabitants form a major part of this book.

Things come to a crux when news reaches the village that a munitions loaded train is going to cross a bridge nearby. This is just what the rebels were waiting for. A chance to disrupt the supply and obtain badly needed ammunition. What they didn’t envisage was a traitor in their midst who fed them false information. The train turned out to be carrying POW and Italians and the carnage was terrible.

Finding out who the traitor was, was equally hard though suspicion had centered on someone. Getting it confirmed was a very bitter pill but punishment had to be meted out. The final scene of getting rid of the man who controlled the Nazi occupation in Amatini was a masterpiece of planning and drama.

The story was a harsh one but a realistic one, brilliantly portrayed by the villagers of this town. Germans and Italians both passionate to their cause with an odd exception of a single German in this story, who was helpless but stood against the brutality of the Nazis.

Sent by Aria & Aries for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Death at Porthcurno Cove by Sally Rigby

 

Porthcurno Cove is picturesque but Detective Lauren did not expect to find two dead bodies on her morning walk. Two youngsters, a bottle of Prosecco by their side and a note saying Sorry. Murder suicide was the natural thoughts of all on the force but slowly a different picture emerges of the seemingly young couples carefree life, holding secrets that their parents were blithely unaware of.

The investigation was slow because no evident clues sprang out. No enemies, no incidents at home or university, no drug problems. The final outcome was startling and ugly. The detective skills were thorough and the story panned out well.

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

My Sister’s Shadow by January Gilchrist

 

1904 and Harewood Hall still lives in a Gothic age. The twin daughters Adelaide and Victoria have only known each others company. Adelaide is reserved and happy to be at home, Victoria longs to leave. They both are petrified of their harsh father.

Forced into a marriage by her father, Adelaide is fearful of her future when she leaves for New York. She is counting on Victoria’s support but Victoria is anything but supportive. The story is a dark one - deep envy from Victoria destroying any chance of any happiness for Adelaide, coupled with her husbands desire for an heir and that he only married her for her dowry.  When Stanley wants to get rid of his wife, he commits her to an asylum, knowing there is no way she can get out. Lord Stanley fully supported by Victoria, who was irrational in her hatred for her sister who had made the society marriage she coveted, and in New York was able to effortlessly be befriended by top society, was just too much for Victoria to handle.

How Adelaide managed to escape and make a life for herself was the only bright outcome in a very sad story.

The 1904 in England was bleak for women but in New York freedom of a kind for women was very evident, especially for those who were rich enough to ignore public opinion. This story dealt mainly with upper class, fabulously rich American women who were far removed from other women of the time. The contrast between Harewood Hall and New York was immense. Two different worlds.

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

Murder at the Loch by Dee Macdonald

 

Ally recently retired is running a successful B&B in the picturesque hamlet of Locharran. Taking her dog for a walk was her relaxing time, finding a body floating of the lake was not.

Hamish the local Earl has just announced his nuptials. At seventy his bride is half his age and the gossip mill is flourishing. He has not been secretive over the fact that he wants an heir, usurping Randolph from getting the title. When the new bride is found poisoned just twenty four hours after the wedding, the local Detective finds everybody suspect, including Ally because she was physically present around when both women died. 

Ally herself an amateur detective along with her partner, looks into all the facts surrounding both murders, very sure that the two are linked.

A very interesting read, set in exceptionally beautiful surroundings. The atmosphere engendered by the castle, the village and the Loch added much depth to the story.

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

The Four Queens of Crime by Rosanne Limoncelli

 

The story involving four leading crime authors of the day Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Marjory Allingham and Dorothy L.Sayers could not be anything but entertaining. Four of them were playing host for a gala dinner to raise funds for charity. Sir Henry Heathcote was the owner of Hursley House where the event was being held and he seemed rather cold over the whole affair.

When Sir Henry was found dead in his locked study, Detective DCI Lilian Wyles has her hands tied. Coming from a different social background to those who were part of the scenario was difficult. No one in the immediate family were willing to speak of the tension and undercurrent running amongst them all. Delving further the detectives felt that the entire family could be suspect, because each one of them had reason to hate their father.

Recruiting the help of the four women despite the other Detective not happy with the idea, DCI Lilian felt that they would look at the mystery from different perspectives. And it worked.

We got to know the four women very well and the story set in 1938 was well told, set against a background of an arrogant, aristocratic family who still felt they could call the tune.

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

33 Place Brugmann by Alice Austen

 

1939 Brussels and on the eve of occupation, the lives of those in the Beaux Arts building are going to be changed forever, and not for the better.

Starting with Nazi occupation, looming threats, the solidifying of previous unheard of atrocities, the rationing and the build up of mistrust amongst neighbours, friends all with the aim of turning in someone you didn’t like, didn’t trust was becoming commonplace. At the same time resistance to the occupiers was very real, and hiding national treasures was very much the goal of many. 

The story builds up within these eight apartments from betrayal to resilience and the determination to survive.

Emotional reading but any story set in this era was hard reading.

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

Fear Stalks The Village by Ethel Lina White

 

A perfect English village circa 1932. What we expect it to be - requisite houses, the big house, farmers and workers, no dissatisfaction, no quarrels, the old ladies, the vicar, the doctor all holding their special place in society, no one making waves until a poison pen letter surfaces and with it, no holds barred. Someone knows secrets, and will not hesitate to flaunt them, but it is the threat more than the actual which haunts and frightens this charming village.

A study of human nature and how the tide of opinion can change in a jiffy. How people close ranks to protect themselves, the meaness of humanity and selfishness of people when cornered, all revealed in this idyllic village.

The unraveling was not nice, but there was no choice once the letters took hold.

Not a heavy read. Very enjoyable.

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

Murder at the Palace by N R Daws

 

Hampton Court Palace is not the kind of place where you expect to find a lady murdered by a fancy letter opener. When Miss Franklin is found in just such circumstances, the rumors start flying around. Mrs Bramble, erstwhile Court Housekeeper and powers of all, is first on the scene.

Scotland Yard is next but Inspector Cole is no match for Mrs B.  Discerning, sharp and clever and blessed with common sense she is no match for the plodding Inspector Cole.

Filled with eccentric, old ladies who have earned a grace and favour apartment for work done by their husbands, these ladies give the atmosphere to the story and the almost village atmosphere that is brought about by a dozen old ladies with their so active social life and hidden histories and secrets all within the confines of a very small area.

The whodunnit was a sideline to the detective skills of Mrs B who was really clever and unassuming as well. 

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

The Widows Guide to Murder by Amanda Ashby

 

Endearing, eccentric characters (all widows), all quite vociferous in their views was not quite what Ginny expected when she moved to this small village after the death of her husband. Ginny was retiring, not forceful, taking a back seat and quite drab. Getting a job as an assistant librarian was for her a way to assimilate into village life. She didn’t anticipate her boss Louisa being a nasty piece of work but to find her murdered on the second day of her work at the library was overwhelming.

Lots of suspects because Louisa only made enemies wherever she went. The Detective in charge was not interested in theories put by the group of women, however sensible or ridiculous they were. Detective Wallace was also Ginny’s neighbour which did not help as he looked on them all as an irritant.

Complicated scenarios and relationships in this cozy. All the women had distinctive personalities which made for a very united, tolerant whole. 

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

The Undoing of Violet Claybourne by Emily Claybourne

 
1938. Gillian is in boarding school sent by her father who works in Egypt. She doesn’t quite fit in. The girls around her are upper class and seem to belong to another world, very far removed from Gillian’s working class roots. When she is befriended by Violet and invited to Thornleigh Hall, a crumbling mansion Gillian is delighted but overwhelmed, knowing she has to be on guard all the time.

The family dynamics are peculiar - the lady of the house is not keen on education for girls. All she wants is advantageous marriages. The father is kindly, but does not like confrontations and lets his wife have her way, Emmeline the eldest is holding out for a proposal from the eligible Hugh, rich and with piles of property. Laura the second is in love with Charlie, considered not good enough by Lady Claiborne and we have the youngest Violet who is the focal point in the story.

Machinations of a Machiavellian nature on the part of Emmeline who orchestrates it all, followed blindly by the girls, betrayal by Gillian of the deepest kind puts Violet in an extremely bad place. Everyone turns a blind eye to the reality and so many are damaged beyond belief.

The story told in two time frames show the damage that was done which led to the destruction of an entire family. Destruction that was deliberate, homicidal, psychotic and unbelievable.

The author brought the most improbable scenarios to the plausible, absolutely believable

Fabulous story telling capturing settings from the decaying grandeur of the Hall, to destruction of London during the war. The settings play a big role in this story. The characters were a story in itself. Each one was a separate story.

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

 

No 10 DoyersStreet by Radha Vatsal

 

New York City 1907. A lot of change is coming but for women it is very slow going. Attitudes are archaic and women wanting a greater share of the action, wanting challenging work will find it hard getting recognition and more importantly the permission to do what they want. In this context Archana considers herself fortunate. A liberal father who allowed her to travel alone from India, a husband who accepts a working wife, and in a profession like journalism and however hard her colleagues are on her, she is grateful for the opportunities to report on current matters.

Chinatown has always been a sore point for what it represents. Most people associated it with opium dens, gang warfare and unhealthy tenements. A move by the Mayor to demolish Chinatown is the subject of much debate and Archana is designated to find the human angle. A plot to take away the daughter of one of its leaders was not on the cards . Uncovering this story which led to the inner workings of City Hall, the manipulation that goes behind the seemingly good schemes being promoted for the city are what captures Archana’s interest.

Combining fact - many of the characters are real life ones, and the history of the city and how it ticks forms the setting of the story with Mock Duck, the Thaw murder case and Stanford White being focal human figures. How Archana or Archie as she was known moved in the world of journalism whilst being a woman and a foreign one at that was memorable.

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