Summer on Lilac Island by Lindsay Macmillan

 

Mackinac Island seems idyllic. A horse and buggy town with scooters for the very few elders, archaic rules no one wants changed but a place Gigi Jenkins wanted to run away from. Her few visits back home to see her mother have only been during winter. Now she is returning in summer when the island is on full display because she is broke, not in a relationship and without a place to stay. Her relationship with her mother is cool, the one with her younger sister warmer and her absent and disinterested father holds her warmest feelings.

Setting her mother on a date because her mother engineered one with the town doctor was a tit for tat response but her mother’s date went from strength to strength, gathering momentum that no one foresaw. Gini’s date fizzled out. Much to her chagrin because Gigi was used to calling the shots.

The story was charming, full of historical detail, typical of small town life where every movement was scrutinized and analyzed but surprisingly still full of secrets.

Sent by Harper Muse for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Blood Caste by Shylashri Shankar

 

Set in 1895 Victorian India, the story highlights life during the British Raj for even educated Indians. Mutilated bodies keep turning up and chief inspector Soob is turning up more and more suspects. From the Rulers Son, Ali to Arthur Templeton an editor of a newspaper suspicions run riot, because the murderer is always one step ahead.

The story of palace intrigue, a story as old as time to patricide and fratricide all are part of the story. So many red herrings, blackmail, massive financial losses all found in this fabulous read. Not just a mystery but an outline of life under a British Residency and the need which was galling, for people to kowtow to their invaders. The personal story of a high caste Brahmin was an intriguing addition to the story.

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

The War of the Roses by Warren Adler

 

A 1980s marriage seemingly very strong till the wife decides to end it. Her husband bewildered and then getting progressively angrier by the day, refuses to move out of the home he has painstakingly built from scratch. The retaliation between the couple starts out as trivial until you know it’s a fight to the death, as it becomes vitriolic on both sides till the tragic end. 

The story highlights how much value we place on material possessions and in this case any shred of humanity and goodness are left behind. It is a stark reminder to everyone not to get too attached to anything. The book was harsh to read, and frightening because it is very probable.

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

The case of the body on the Orient Express by Kelly Oliver

 

Starting from Paris in 1938, we have two brilliant authors bound for Constantinople on the glamorous Orient Express. Accompanying them is the competent secretary of Dorothy Sayers - Eliza. Also aboard is Theo, an aristocrat slumming as a laborer on the train. Well known to Eliza, he is madly in love with her, but too frightened to approach her.

Before the journey can start, a sudden violent death takes place, setting Eliza detecting with Theo. The list of suspects keep increasing with each mile including Dorothy, who seems to be hiding secrets of her own. A second death ups the tension and now the search for the murderer is very fast paced.

Very witty and humorous despite being a mystery murder, with nice characterization.

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

The Italian Vineyard by Anita Chapman

 

 

Set in two timelines of 1939 and present times, a family saga set in the English countryside and the vineyards of Verona and the stories of two women and the love they had for each other.

Lady Charlotte lost her husband due to an accident very soon after marriage. It was no great loss to her as he was indifferent, an alcoholic and only married her for her money. Going to Verona with an idea of reviving one of the few vineyards in England was her temporary escape. Falling in love with her head gardener was not on the cards but it happened. Heartache followed with Bertie being killed in the war, and Charlotte pregnant with a baby that she passed off as being that of her husband.

Fast forward to present times and Kate, after a short disastrous marriage returns to Verona to uncover what exactly happened years before. She discovers enough letters and photographs to follow the trail and returns to Copeland Park, determined to prevent its sale, turn the vineyard around and make it a profitable concern. Kate has also in a similar manner like her grandmother, fallen in love with the head gardener and is not giving him up.

The love stories and the family saga spread over two countries was emotional but very good reading. It was descriptive and brought to life the beauty and history of Verona in particular.

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

Martyrs Convent by Jody Brettkelly

 

Isla Johnson is looking for a big story and when she receives a call about an impending drug shipment giving her details of time and place, she knows this is a big one. The informant is strange - a nun. The next day the nuns body is fished from the Thames. The convent is a peculiar one, a closed order and no one is willing to shed any light on the death of a much loved nun.

The involvement of an aristocrat who is the nuns brother adds to a strange mix. He appears to Isla as being supportive and distraught over his sisters death, but he has lied over many things that Isla begins to realise he is manipulating her for his own ends.

The whole story right from the start was tense with many loose ends which did not seem to connect at all. Declan who was Isla’s partner was also at times not supportive torn between his need to protect his daughter and the need for his partner. The widely contrasting characters of nuns, gang members, the aristocrat brother, the police were brought together very skillfully in the final telling of the story. The story is emotional but quite dark with a slight gothic twist.

Sent by the author for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Death at a Paris Hotel by Verity Bright

 

We follow the escapades of Lady swift, her beau now her husband, Clifford the suave butler and Gladstone the fat pug on their journey in Paris. Just married but with butler and pug in tow, they start sampling the delights that Paris has to offer, when murder literally falls into their laps.

Despite this being a murder mystery story, with two victims, suspects galore and our heroine and heroes being incarcerated, it is a light and refreshing read. Descriptive of Paris, its food and even police procedures and practices in France, overall a very comforting read.

You know it will end well and justice will prevail.

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

The Dark Library by Mary Anna Evans

 

Estella has come back to her ancestral home, a grand and much talked about house. Her father dead, her mother has disappeared and everyone wants to know what is going to happen. Her mother’s disappearance seems suspicious, but Estella wants physical proof of her mother’s death and so far there is none. The police feel that Estella is hiding family secrets (as she is). Her father’s library uncovers several clues as to what actually transpired in her parents life.

On top of it all Estella was treated badly in her professional life and one she is finding hard to deal with. Ignored by her boss for even small requests, and more importantly put on a lower pay grade than her male counterparts. Her boss himself commits suicide minutes after talking to her which adds to the pressure Estella has to face.

With only two friends to turn to, the entire town apparently hated her father and are quite happy he dead. Her mother with her condescending, patronizing ways is equally unpopular with the women so Estella is not give a warm welcome. The seemingly popularity has been just a facade hiding a history of fear of her father’s hold over people. Uncovering all this adds to the mystery surrounding her parents life and discovering her mother’s whereabouts which was unbelievable.

A Gothic mystery set in fairly modern times. Very interesting family saga.

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

French Windows by Antoine Laurain

                                     

Nathalie does snapshots of people’s lives. Those she can see from her own flat, going up the entire five floors and puts together a real life peep vicariously into what is going on, including a murder. The book is very French in flavor though that is not an apt description on my part. The stories are very different in both the telling and the listening to, and seem somehow different.

Dr Fabre is the therapist but one never knows whether the stories are true or not or whether Nathalie is maneuvering the older man for reasons of her own. The final story is the quirkiest and the end.

Entertaining and a quick read.

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

A Deceptive Games Ensues by Sophie Barnes

 

Adrian Croft escaped being executed by a whisker. But he has been warned that any future transgressions will not be tolerated. Bent on revenge for the murder of his sister, he is very sure that the Duke of Wrengate is behind his sisters death. Recently married to Samantha, a former spy herself, Adrian knows that his actions could have repercussions on his wife.

Drawn into the disappearances of several young people over a period of one year Adrian and Samantha see a pattern in the choice of people who have disappeared and convince the Chief Constable and his Runners that this has to be further investigated. This brings them straight away against a select group of medical doctors, part of a select cult, determined to find a way to anasthize patients using Chinese herbal medicines and folklore. How many people die in the process is not their concern. Their concern is only the progress of medicine.

New enemies surface before the old enmities can be laid to rest. There are several strands in the story which are distinct from each other. A quiet, peaceful life for the newly weds is far from happening right now.

Sent by an Independent Publisher via Book BuzzNet, courtesy of Netgalley.

A Daughters Guide to Mothers and Murder by Dianne Freeman

 

Frances and George enjoying a quiet interlude in Paris, away from family for much deserved leisure time. Cut short with an enquiry re a young man, a potential suitor for the daughter of family friends.

This was the beginning of the story where Carlson Deaver, master of the double life is slowly uncovered, a dead wife miraculously reappears, complicated liaisons under the pretext of respectability, and all the hypocrisy of double standards of the Victorian age are uncovered.

Very nicely told as a story, several strands of the lives of diverse people are brought together in a tale of murder and mystery galore.

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

The Secrets of Thorndale Manor by Syrie James

 

Anthea has done what she had dreamed about for years. Governessing had been hard but she and sister Selena had stuck it out and now opened their school for girls. The Manor was spacious and ideal for the purpose but what they did not take into account was its history. The previous owners sister was charged with the murder of her husband and was hanged for it. When just weeks into her ownership, a young housemaid was found drowned in a nearby river, the gossip and insinuations started that the house was doomed and the success of the school and getting more pupils was low.

Despite warnings to the contrary Anthea was determined to get to both mysteries. Why and who would want to murder an inconsequential house maid unless she had valuable information that she could use as blackmail, and who hated Caroline Vernon so much that she got implicated in the murder of her husband. 

Anthea finds herself in a dangerous position of not knowing whom she can trust, because all of them have plenty of secrets to hide.

The ending was surprising and unexpected. Always a nice surprise. This Victorian setting gothic themed read was a good one.

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

A Botanists Guide to Rituals and Revenge by Kate Khavari

 

Saffron is returning home to Ellington after a long time and mainly to check on her grandfather who has had a heart attack. There are several strands in the story which have to be handled separately. The enigmatic Doctor treating her grandfather is no doctor and his presence means he is looking for something. Her late father’s research papers are the key but they seem to have disappeared. Her mother seems distanced and vague when asked anything about her father. The spiritual medium who is now in the neighbour hood preying on families who have lost loved ones in the War, adds to the problems in the house. Saffron has also brought her partner Alexander with her, and that is not proving acceptable to the family. All told very tense, and very fractured relationships.

The final outcome of healing the relationships within the family were good to read but the unfinished business with the Doctor is I think left for another book.

Historical detail is ever present in the story and the botanical highlights is interwoven throughout the story and this is what sets it apart.

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

Just Emilia by Jennifer Oko

 

Three women of different ages caught in a stuck elevator in a time travel episode is the main theme of the story.

All three women tell a story of one life - the teenager, the middle aged woman who seems to be the narrator and the older woman wanting to be closer to her estranged daughter. A journey of self discovery for all three and for each to try and turn the negative into the positive after this experience.

The story will make the reader self examine a little more closely than before. Were there things we could have handled better in the past and is there a way to be better in the future to avoid pitfalls as shown in this broken down elevator.

A story that will get you questioning yourself which is not a bad premise.

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

Question of Guilt by Sally Rigby

 

When Daryl approached Seb and Birdie, private investigators regarding a decades old case - her mothers murder, her fathers incarceration till he died in prison, there was little hope that anything new could be discovered. To the contrary, what turned up was a slew of missed interviews of people relevant to the case, corrupt cops and a carelessness which was planned and callous to pin the murder on the husband.

The slow unraveling of a case decades old was different. Files had been destroyed, many of the key people from police to witnesses were dead, there was shoddy paper work and just to get the timeline right took a lot of work.

Despite the time lapse, it was obvious that powers that be were uneasy at the pace of the investigation, and Seb and Birdie had to be cautious that they wouldn’t be the next victims.

The story telling was excellent and I did like the way the procedurals were followed in the investigation.

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

Off Menu by Amy Rosen

 

Hilarious most of the time, Ruthie pines for Dean whom she had a fling with in Thailand. She can’t get him out of her head but also thinks of looking at her future as a chef and registers for culinary school courtesy of grandma’s legacy. 

Interspersed with wonderful cooking lessons and mouth watering food is another romance, someone who breaks Ruthie’s heart, scams her out of her money and disappears. Ruthie has to concentrate very hard to get her priorities right and focus on what is important.

Lots of young fun, delicious food and a simple story which caught my interest.

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

The Lights of Shantinagar by Nidhi Arora

 

A fresh look at joint family life in a small town where everyone purportedly knows everyone else’s business. Joint family living has never been easy, not then not now and in this story there is a easy going mother in law and father in law ( half the battle won), a well established elder sister in law who has no wish to loosen the reins and the newest daughter in law, who is wise enough to compromise on many things. The men are harmless, non interfering. Very unusual in itself.

The happenings in one house are linked with their neighbours and so examinations, entrance to colleges, marriage proposals are all very much a communal issue. How lives get micro managed by everyone in their circuit, the inevitability of it all is highlighted. It is not callous and uncaring or harsh. Far from it. Everyone believes one is acting for the common good and the betterment of the unit.

I liked the story very much but for those who need personal space, this would be a bit of an eye opener. Reminiscent of what happens even today (maybe with a few tweaks here and there) this was a very good story.

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

Her First Mistake by Kendra Elliot

 

Noelle Marshall is a detective in the sheriffs office. Thirteen years ago she was the fashionable stay at home wife of Derrick Bell, Assemblyman. Derrick Bell was found brutally bashed to death and Noelle was left for dead. The case was not solved, despite thorough investigation.

Now the cold case is being reviewed and though Noelle never got her memory of the incident back she has made a life for herself, far away from her toxic in laws who tried their best to make her out as being in cahoots with the murderer. 

Noelle has secrets of her own and Derrick himself turned into a manipulative, narcissistic being totally different to the man Noelle fell in love with. As the case is being reopened, questions are being asked from both families as the detectives feel that the answer lies there. When a series of incidents take place culminating in a bomb attack on Noelle’s car, the detectives realise that they are getting closer to the truth than ever before.

The final revelations are totally out of the blue, and this is what made this a fabulous, intriguing read.

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

The Fire Concerto by Sarah Landenwich

 

This was a story where one needed all your wits around you. It was complicated, went off in wildly parallel story lines and then finally came together.

Clara a piano playing prodigy is one of the main characters. Injured in a fire which she blames on her teacher, she has turned away from music and now works in a bar. A unexpected inheritance to several notables in the music world including Clara took all by surprise. Madame Sikorska who was Clara’s mentor was not known for generosity or kindness.

The inheritance sparked off a search into its history, including the ownership as doubts arose whether it was part of looted property from Jews fleeing Poland. The metronome purported to belong to the composer Starza has been missing since 1885. It was also supposed to be the one used in his murder. However nothing seems what it appears to be and history may have to be rewritten as far as Starzas loves and life was. It also may provide the impetus to propel Clara back into her professional life.

This was a complicated quite emotional, violent and traumatic retelling of a hidden story where facts are being uncovered a hundred years later. It was sad too because characters were misunderstood and forgotten completely.

Sent by Union Square & Company, a subsidiary of Sterling Publications, courtesy of Netgalley.

Keeping the Countess by Lille Moore

 

After a series of murder and mystery, this was the reading required.

A new vicar with secrets and revenge on his mind. The young Countess being embezzled by her steward. Holding on just to get Adam her young stepbrother into university, she is prepared to sacrifice anything. 

Falling in love with the Reverend was not on the cards. For the Reverend his feelings of wanting to protect the young mistress of the Castle was surprising and messed up his real plans for his future.

A mix of a love story and shades of a mystery which needed to be solved, aided by young people,  greedy, grasping employees and a society which would not give any woman a place of authority or power, this was a light but cautionary story.

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

The English Masterpiece by Katherine Reay

 

Lily is proud of her achievements and position in the art world. As assistant to the famous art curator Diana Wilken, Lily has organized a Picasso exhibition in London. The opening night is glittery, filled with celebrities until the moment Lily announces to the world at large, that one of the Picasso is a forgery. It captures the attention of all including the media and both Lily and Diana’s jobs are on the line when the story breaks out.

That is just the bare bones of the beginning of the story. What follows is a convoluted tale of greed, deceit and avarice for position not caring whom you destroy in protecting your own interests. How ruthless human beings can be in a cut throat business where stakes are very high. It also highlights integrity on the other side and being true to what you believe in.

The 1970s art and fashion scene are vividly described in this story. 

Stories like this rich in a different era and environment add so much variety to a reader who may never get to experience such places. 

Sent by Harper Muse for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Hayley Hope is Gone by Michele Dominguez Greene

 

All Agent Emily Ray wants is to have a peaceful holiday with her ailing father in a place which had happy memories for her family. She did not think she would get embroiled in a case of a drowned teenager. The neighbour of Emily is convinced that it is murder, and an abduction run by a gang of corrupt law keepers who control the town.

Knowing she is out of her area limits and acting outside the boundaries of her mandatory leave, Emily slowly uncovers a trail of missing teenage girls, a cult fixated by their wishes to protect their own and very dangerous to outsiders.

The plot unravels slowly but Emily is not giving up. She is a voice for those girls without anyone to speak up for them. The predators seem to go for those in foster care, knowing that they are helpless.

Poignant and tense this was a good story about human trafficking, still prevalent today.

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

A Shipwreck in Fiji by Nilima Rao

 

Sergeant Akal  Singh is not in the good books of his colonial bosses. Facts misrepresented means that the so called disgrace follows him wherever he goes. The year 1915 in Fiji was for me a good background for the story with overt racism, colonial bullying and simmering discontent.

Charged with accompanying two English ladies to an island, Sergeant Akal, also has to keep an eye out for a group of German soldiers, find them, capture them and bring them back. The story involves two murders with a history of past misdeeds going back decades to India and a rebellion there, the English ladies with a secret of their own and the capture of a group of Norwegian soldiers aka Germans which was the coup d’etat for Akal.

History not so nice for the native population, very descriptive of life in this unusual setting with British overlords ruling the roost on a diminishing Empire.

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

A Marvellous Murder by David S. Pederson

 

Historical tones, plenty of mystery and detective work, a nice setting of Hollywood circa 1939, a background of homosexual relationships and the cover up that was so necessary at the time make up for this easy going read.

Set against the enactment of a film, the obnoxious director disliked by all even his girlfriends whom he has forced into bed with him is found shot in a room in the classic all doors windows locked. The police detectives are quick to rule it as suicide though many are skeptical how such a selfish man could do such a thing. Victor Marvel an almost has been takes it upon himself to investigate further and brings a trail of suspicion on him. Unearthing clues as he goes along, he solves it and presents it to the Police as a fait accomplie.

Detailed and descriptive this was a pleasant read.

Sent by Bold Strokes Books Inc for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Socialiste’s Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets by S K Golden

 

Evelyn Murphy lives in a hotel with her dog and cat. She is an heiress with a penchant to solving crime. She also has a dislike or a phobia of stepping out of the hotel and spends her entire day in the hotel.

When one of her guests falls ill whilst dining and subsequently dies and Evelyn herself is a witness, the death is ruled as murder and Evelyn is determined to get to the bottom of it and clear Chef Marco’s name and the reputation of the hotel.

Set in 1958 the story is descriptive not just of the era, but also of this particular class of society. I enjoyed a book by this author before but there seemed to be a sameness to the style and story in this one as well. 

There is a lot of the manner in which rich people of the time behaved which they thought perfectly normal. This grated after some time. 

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

The Summer House by Lauren K. Denton

 

All about revival after a devastating blow to your expectations. Lily has moved to Alabama just a little while ago and now finds herself facing a goodbye note from her husband and divorce papers for her to sign and return. Finding a vacancy for a hair stylist at a retirement village was a god send and a lifesaver. Finding friends and a support system was even better.  Rose the founder of the village is prickly, not sentimental and keeps herself apart from the friendly tenants. She finds some rapport with Lily and despite her normal self finds herself helping Lily to settle in.

This was an enjoyable, light hearted read set in a fishing community in the Deep South in America. The setting was different and made for a nice change. The story is set on an even keel and was predictable.

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

The Last Conclave by Glenn Cooper

 

So much in keeping with the present conclave conducted just weeks ago, this story sounds fantastical but very believable despite the secrecy, the hidden truths, but then that is the Vatican.

Starting with a much loved Pope who dies within two years of being elected, we then go into conclave and this is where the history starts. An entire conclave of cardinals disappears, kidnapped by a group of believers thought to have been erased from eight centuries before, the Cathars, and their demands for female representation as a pope amongst other demands.

The story is riveting, history detailed and very easily understood. The workings of the Vatican, the political wheeling and dealing, the ugly facets of the Church like the paedophile priests being swept under a rug and forgotten but at the same time what the church is trying to do, despite the obstacles it faces within its own community.

I do not know whether the book will appeal to those who do not know much about the catholic faith, but for me personally it was an excellent read.

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

Knave of Diamonds by Laurie R. King

 

I’ve only got to see the names of Sherlock Holmes, Mycroft. Watson and now the Russells to know there is a good story, always long and convoluted but one that will keep you turning pages. This story did not disappoint.

Jake Russell, the shady uncle chequered past reappears with a very strange story. The Irish Crown Jewels which disappeared is now in the news amongst pa small group of men, each of which have different reasons to get hold of them. Their whereabouts are vague and in pursuit of them Jake is able to persuade Mary to join in the escapade. Holmes catches on and follows his intrepid wife. Complicated forays all turn up nothing in this story of family loyalty, hushed up scandals involving royalty, skirmishes with the Dublin and London police till the final twist in the tale.

Very good reading, not so much detection but carries on at a goodly pace.

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

The Carter of La Providence by Simenon

 

Its dull, dreary, isolated and humdrum on the canals and locks in this part of France. No glamorous views, towns or people still a very pretty, fashionable woman is found brutally murdered with no evidence how she came to this isolated spot.

The clever Detective Maigret, the one of quiet thinking and few words is in charge but it’s slow going connecting the dots. The patronizing Colonel his aides Vladimir and Marco are the closest suspects as our victim was married to the Colonel and had been on the yacht till she disappeared. Maigret’s investigations cycling up and down the tow path on a rickety bicycle in really bad weather is typical of the plodding detective who has got the bit between his teeth and will not let go.

Descriptive of how life is lived in mid century France on the canals, this was an excellent read. The end was an absolute surprise and a triumph of writing.

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

A Dead Draw by Robert Dugoni

 

Schmidt is a psychopath killer. Due to a legal mistake he has once again got released. Tracy is very sure he is connected with her sisters abduction and death and she is now very sure she is in his sights for his next killing. Escaping to Cedar Grove with her family she thought was one way of protecting them. Tracy thought she was safe but she is dealing with a criminal with a brilliant criminal mind who seems to be always one step ahead.

The killer is out for revenge. Tracy killed his hero and he wants her to hurt too. The little hints that makes Tracy realise that he is on her trail is the cat and mouse game he plays before his final denouement. 

The story was a tense one throughout and was not long drawn. It was also a descriptive story detailing both the police environment as well as small town America (very nice for overseas readers).

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

The Curtain Falls in Paris by a Victoria Zackheim

Its the grand finale of a one act drama for a very famous theatre, now scheduled for demolition when one of the actresses is found brutally murdered whilst the play was going on. Aria Nevins, once a Pulitzer nominee in investigative journalism is in disgrace due to a grave misjudgment of a case. She is now in Paris understudying French police procedural, with Noah Roche a top French homicide detective who wishes Aria to anywhere else but on his team.

Roche is suspicious of Aria and thinks she has some ulterior motive for being on his team. He suspects whether leaks to the media are through Aria, or whether she is sneaking information to his nemesis boss who dislikes him intensely and is looking for some way to promote his downfall.

It does not promote for cooperation in the team, but fortunately Aria gets on well with the other two members of the team, much to Roche’s chagrin. Aria makes sure she keeps to the letter of her assignment and follows the rules.

The setting of French theatre with its inherent drama and in this case a lot of wheels within wheels, French police procedures (a process I find fascinating in whatever country it is portrayed), plenty of secrets, lots of jealousy and finally revenge makes for a very good plot.

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

Silent Retreat by Sally Quinn

 

A love story which started from very different beginnings. Sybilla enters into a silent retreat in a monastery to rethink where her life is going. To get away from a very controlled environment and seek a freer way of life. Romance was not in her sights.

We have James Kelly, Archbishop of Dublin, handsome and charismatic. Outspoken on child abuse in the church and the cover up, celibacy of the priests and though he himself remains celibate has spoken against it. He faces opposition within the church as he exposes faults within the structure and now is being summoned to Rome, for what he feels is a dressing down. 

The slow build up of an attraction between Sybilla and James is intense and something they both fight against. I liked the theological discussions throughout the story very much.

An unusual read, but not for everyone.

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

What We Left Behind by Luisa A. Jones

 

1939 England was on edge. The bombing of London hadn’t started but evacuation of children was being promoted and getting them to safety was important. On such a train five children found themselves left behind in a church hall after the initial selection was made. Three were colored and two were a brother and sister and Olive was determined not to be separated from Peter, who was a vicious, destructive little boy with a very foul mouth.

Olive was a soft hearted woman. She herself had suffered abandonment by her family and it was by their choice. She takes in all five children knowing she is in for a stormy ride. Her home always under the condescending patronizing sister Charlotte is going to be hard. Charlotte has a very low degree of tolerance for misbehavior or anything that disrupts her life.

Into this scenario we have teachers and villagers with attitude who do not take kindly to the evacuees, especially the colored children, taunting them and making life difficult. The saving grace is a teacher who accompanied the children, but again he is looked at with suspicion. Half American half Irish does not help in a very insular English village.

The story of day to day struggles of the children, the adults that surround them, the heartache of being separated from their families and the lack of communication is very emotional. Everyone is quite stoic bearing it up as best as they can. But of course, things do come to a head for everyone of them, and they also get resolved.

A warm, emotional read detailing history as it happened in a quiet English village, during a very bleak period.

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

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.

The Yellow Dog by Simenon (Inspector Maigret series)

 

Small town suspicions abound in this tiny seaside village where a man is shot, sending the town into panic,  rumors abound and an appearance of a scruffy yellow dog adds to the mystery.

1930s France and the Inspector is pulled from Rennes to solve this murder. Seemingly being at the wrong place at the wrong time or mistaken identity seems to be the general way of thinking. But the strange combo of characters, seemingly very different but very familiar with each other strikes Inspector Maigret as odd and he tries to find the reasoning behind this.

The story moves at a slow pace but the elements of revenge and love and murder are hard to resist.

Sent by Farrah Straus & Giroux 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.