These Crooked Things by Ellen Byerrum

 

1934 and its Post Prohibition now. Bars are open openly but crime proliferates. Graydon and his brand new fiancée are called in to cover up a murder. An attack on a pregnant woman by her own husband, high on cocaine leaves her husband dead and a upper crust father doing his best to see that his daughter in law does not end in the executioners chair. A plausible story to protect the injured Maura was floated by Esme, agreed on by all parties including the Detectives on the case as a tidy way of sorting out the problem.

They did not think that there were two other people wanting to take a shot at the victim, one a make believe one to shake him up and one assailant who feels cheated out of his victim! The story involves local and Chicago criminals, show biz characters and Graydon’s own aristocratic parents, particularly his father who has very set ideas of people and their place in society. A daughter in law who is a drama producer and one who dabbles in crime is not what he thought suitable.

The story was interesting and fast paced from the word go. Characters were varied and the settings of the theatre and the theatre lifestyle caught my interest.

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

The Lies We Inherit by Angela R. Key

 

The Goodreads description was confusing. There is no Delilah and no caregiving of a mother with Alzheimers. 

At the beginning I thought the girl around whom the story revolves was in a state of being unstable. Then one questions the mental state of the overpowering mother and the cruelty of the brother. It was not an easy story to follow or analyse, but I liked the style of writing. The characters were difficult to like.

The story also portrays how one can very insidiously mess up a persons head by planting misinformation and memories, getting the person to think in a very different way as to sequence of events and what actually happened. This is what happened to Elise in the story and she had to unravel years of wrong information to get to the truth.

Sent by Crown Cipher Publishing for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley 

Murder at cottonwood Creek by Clara McKenna

 

Stella and Lyndy are visiting Stella’s mother’s ranch in Montana, where Lord Atherly, Lyndys father is on a mission to find fossils of a long extinct horse. It is rough country, and Lyndy who is used to deference due to his aristocratic status, finds that none of the people who he works with is cowed or bothered by whom he is.

Undercurrents exist on the site and amongst all those involved, but when one murder is followed by another, and the suspects all seem to have alibis Stella finds herself in a quandary. Limitations because of her being female also plays a role. On top of it all the coroner who seems to be the most powerful man in the area, over rides the verdict of murder and declares death by accident. His appointed jury follows him and though the Sheriff disagrees, he is not willing to go against the most powerful man in Cottonwood Creek. 

The setting in Montana, the era, the ranching lifestyle and the lack of pretension are all highlighted in this story.

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

The Marazion Murders by Sally Rigny

 

An elderly woman found dead in a care home would be quite a routine matter. It is a bit unusual in that all the inmates are former entertainers. Some more prominent than others, and a routine investigation turns into a murder investigation when we find the first victim has been murdered.

Once the detectives start the investigation, they find that the seemingly disparate characters have had dealings in the past professionally and personally and most of them did not end well. There is deep seated envy and antagonism, and when a second person is murdered the detectives have to up their game and fast before there is another victim.

A very good cozy.

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

Not Exactly Mr Darcy by Carolyn Miller

 

Olivia Bennett, a true Austen aficionado transfers from rural Australia to a tiny village to help her ailing grandmother. The fact that Hartbury Hall is within hailing distance helps, because that is where the famous scene of Darcy kissing Elizabeth occurs and Liv is so keen on visiting this particular site (and of course imagining the scene).

Hartbury Hall has fallen into an abyss of ruin and going downhill rapidly. Liam the present owner with no funds, no staff and a somewhat stubborn resistance to change doesn’t help the situation. A chance to bring in volunteers to resuscitate the Hall, using Liv as the coordinator, using the Austen connection to the full is not without its hazards and faces many obstacles. Liv and her team are determined to get there and prevent the Hall falling into the hands of private investors, and preserve its heritage for both the villagers and the family.

The story was a simple one with a clean romance, a mixed bunch of characters and an easy read.

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

Mystery at Mistletoe Place by Clare Chase (an Eva Mallow mystery)

 

Arthur’s Boatyard is a proud fixture of this village, having been around for decades. The owner however has been at odds with many people and when his brutally murdered body is discovered, there are many suspects and Eva Mallow has to tread carefully not to disclose her suspicions. The plot thickens when his own family and dear friends forms part of the initial group of suspects.

Most of the suspects seem to have strong alibis, but when of them the first victims own sister is found strangled and drowned Eva’s calculations are thrown into disarray and she has to go over all her initial timelines and motives for the murders.

Plenty of characters, a complicated murder trail and lots of twists abd turns.

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

The Red Cottage by Hannah Linder

 

Someone wants Meg dead and won’t stop at one thwarted attempt. Meg and Tom are an item and nothing seemed to be able to stop them being together till a near fatal accident leaves Meg with total memory loss and in the hold of a rather accommodating Lord who wants Meg for his own.

Tom McGwen is not a man to give up and he tries very hard to protect Meg from the onslaught of repeated attacks by someone who wants Meg very dead, even if it involves hurting others.

Set in 1818, this Regency novel has quite a gothic feel as well. Some romance lots of mystery and quite a lot of twists and turns.

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

The Restoration Garden by Sara Blaydes

Julie has always been an avid gardener. She has now got her chance to restore a garden which has gone into decay and gone wild due to neglect. No plans and no definite instructions from the owners she has to start from scratch. This is also the only chance of her little nephew getting back to normalcy, after his traumatic past.

There is a lot of hidden history behind the garden, and hidden secrets which the present owner the ninety two year old is very reluctant to reveal. Her godson the enigmatic Andrew keeps his thoughts to himself, thinking that any emotional upheaval is dangerous for his aunts mental health.

The story covering 1940s history, plus the workings of a family are a good read. Complicated family relationships.

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

From my recent holiday.

Twelve Days to win a Count by Alexandra Alma

 

Very nice reading whilst I was on holiday, this combined the matchmaking efforts of a mother who like Mrs Bennett wanted the best most advantageous marriage for her daughter. Marriage of convenience which turned quite sensual, a headstrong but firm daughter who wanted a marriage with some she liked and not for just high stakes and convenience, this was a Christmassy feel good read.

Involving Puerto Rico and Barcelona as background settings was also interesting.

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

My best sighting at Yala Safari Wild Park

The Stolen Crown by Tracy Borman

 

In 1603 Elizabeth I died almost to the end never announcing her successor. On her deathbed she almost reluctantly appointed her successor and the reign moved from Tudor to Stuart. What preceded that however was decades of intrigue, espionage, murders by the dozen, treachery, crossovers and the like.

It did not show James in a good light because he manoeuvred every situation that arose to his advantage.

History during Elizabeth’s reign was turbulent with many discoveries, victories and innovations because Elizabeth was a great patron of art, inventions and travels. All this is documented in the book which shows Elizabeth totally focussed on one subject - her country and herself. The two were clearly one in her mind which she had no intention of sharing.

A book good for history buffs, the details of Elizabeth’s life is mind boggling.

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

I am at this wildlife park in Yara and had this peacock amble to my front door this morning.

Marianne by Alice McVeigh

Marianne is a young widow whose husband died tragically young leaving her wealthy and very much alone. She has now returned to London for the first time and has stirred a lot of interest amongst the men.

She is very eligible and several men try to gain her interest. The three men who try to gain her attention have very chequered pasts and some of them think she should be honoured if they propose and consider themselves a “good catch”

Into this scenario, comes Margaret Dashwood the younger sister dramatic, not yet made her debut but watching the proceedings with an eagle eye, all grist to her probable novel in the making.

There are a number of Austen characters and the book becomes a very pleasant read.

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

The Black Wolf by Louise Penny

 

A domestic terrorist attack was stopped in the nick of time and it is only after a few weeks had passed that Chief Inspector Armand Gamache decides that he has been hoodwinked. What is to follow was much worst, having horrible consequences for both Canada and American and starting a war between the two countries.

The story both political and involving the delicate balance of the environment, plays on the feelings and fears of people whose basic needs and wants are in danger. The story is so twisted that the improbable, when one thinks of it can just as probably be true. Very much keeping in with present trends the story deals with corrupt at the political level at the highest in the land, then goes on to corrupt billionaires.

I hadn’t read The Grey wolf before this one, but it did not detract from this story.

A book to be read slowly.

Sent by Hodder & Stoughton for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Murder on the Prince Regent by Irina Shapiro

 

Gemma and Sebastian are a couple who work very well together despite the constraints of women working in the medical field. Gemma longs to be a surgeon but knows it is a dream and Sebastian wants to make Gemma his wife but is held back by economic restraints.

Now working on the horrific murder of a member of the British aristocracy, the Lord’s wife missing and a ships captain just wanting to close the case and dock in London, Inspector Sebastian and Gemma have to work against the clock to find the murderer who is on board because once they dock, the chances of catching the man responsible for now two murders is remote.

The story was not just of detection. It highlighted the difficulties in the medical field, the work of the coroner who had to hide the fact that Gemma ably assisted him. If discovered all his students would leave and he would find himself destitute. It was appalling the level that women were held, almost chattels who had to follow blindly orders given by the male members of society. And this was 1859. Gemma herself was very poor and if not for Sebastian, her future looked so bleak. Losing a job without a reference was equivalent to suicide as in the case of the two maids of the murdered Lord. The lifestyle, the differences of class very well highlighted in the story. 

Sent by Storm Publishing courtesy of Netgalley.

Murder most British by Helena Dixon

 

London 1941 Miss Jane Treen working as a nondescript secretary for the government, flying under the radar has a very keen mind and a skill at detecting. Along with Arthur whom she treats at times with disdain are set to find out who murdered Tabitha who was on her way with vital information. The murder covered by a raid where Tabitha’s body was hidden, is the beginning of finding out who and where the mole is, especially when another is murdered and Jane and Arthur find themselves in the cross hairs of the murderer.

Apart from being an excellent detective/murder mystery, I find wartime Britain lifestyles fascinating. This is part of history and makes for very good reading. Attitudes towards women still have a way to go, it is not fair or equal or acceptable. 

The book was sent by Bookouture for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley. Many thanks.

Murder at the wedding by Anita Dawson

 

You really don’t want to find the vicar missing minutes before you walk down the aisle. This was what happened and to add to the chaos, the bride found the vicar murdered in a mausoleum in the church premises.

What follows is a story of what looks like a pretty ordinary vicar hiding a bucket load of secrets, very interesting characters in the form of Hannah and her Aunt Violet and a story that was extremely interesting. There were lifestyle descriptions which were fascinating considering that one was in the midst of war, and plenty of history thrown in for added interest.

Thank you to Boldwood Books for sending me this book for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Chocolate Tin by Fiona McIntosh

 

1915 may be considered modern times but for Alexandra Frobisher it was a battle to do whatever her heart was set on doing. Her love of chocolate developed amongst families in York in the business was frowned upon, because daughters in her position did not have a career. Her mother only wanted her to marry, one of the suitable young men lined up, and produce the required number of children. For Alexandra who wanted to fall in love and then get married this was a tall order. 

Meeting Matthew Britten Jones was a compromise. He promised to allow her to pursue her dreams and did not expect a model wife. Alexandra felt comfortable with him and life moved on. Harry Blakeney a veteran of the war was on a mission. Discovering the body of a dead soldier with a box of the King’s Chocolate with him alongside with a note, he was determined to bring some closure to the dead soldiers family, bringing with him the soldiers medals and whatever could make the boys family happy. Meeting Alexandra on the tour was a catalyst for both. Alexandra realised what was missing from her marriage and Harry was hopelessly in love.

The story took an eventful turn when Matthew’s homosexuality was discovered and outed to the authorities by Matthew’s own father. That saga alone was horrific and took this story forward. A happy ending ensued for all the players but it was only because of their courage and tenacity.

Very good characterization, beautiful setting for the story and details of lifestyle and the way of life meticulously displayed.

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

Murder of Crows by Andrew James Greig

 

James Costorphine has just got married , returning to work his wife running a clinic close by. He was blissfully happy and has a lot to look forward to. When a complaint is lodged about two scarecrows going missing in this rural community followed by a body being found on the rail tracks, the dots cannot be linked until a patient escapes from a facility, the body is identified as a nurse at the facility and Shamila, James’s wife gets abducted along with a young patient.

To add to his misery James is taken off the case, but he and his partner despite orders from higher ups try to find out what are the links between the victims and James’s wife. Her fear of scarecrows is not known widely so the scarecrows being used in the murders is also part of the ritual. When the number of murders escalate and Samhain approaches with a massive bonfire, James knows that it is critical to find Shamila, as otherwise it will be too late.

The clues are all over the place, pointing all the detectives in the wrong direction, by a clever murderer who not only covers his tracks but finds the perfect victim to take the rap.

Convoluted but a good read.

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

In Deadly Fashion by Rosemary Simpson

 

I love this gilded era and 1891 personified that. For the rich and aristocratic it was a very comfortable, secure life. For the working classes not so. For women, there were rules and regulations galore. Heiress Prudence Mackenzie was never one to bow down to unnecessary demands and her engagement to ex Pinkerton detective Geoffrey Hunter has taken place and the wedding is in two weeks.

Prudence has taken a chance on a dress salon run by Madame Regina hitherto unknown for her wedding gown, but when her gown is found shredded to bits with blood all over it, alongside the body of one of the seamstresses, it seems the attack is a tad personal. And it is.

Uncovering a story of revenge by the twisted mind of a woman who thought she was scorned is dangerous for both Prudence and Geoffrey. Imprisoned and brutally beaten for an imaginary crime brings violence very close to the couple.

A very interesting story set in a very rich setting this was an excellent read.

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

Two Truths and a Murder by Colleen Cambridge

 

Early 20th century England setting, an old hall and Agatha Christie as a background, battling it out with Hercule Poirot. In the actuality, Phillida Bright housekeeper and sleuth extraordinaire, drawn like a magnet to dead bodies and mysteries, much to the annoyance of the local Inspector.

The dinner should have been straightforward, if not for the parlour game initiated by one of the sisters present. Genevra was a trouble maker, her sister was the mild one. The dinner party comprised of people from the village, all known to each other. At the end one of the party was dead, murdered and the suspect had to be one of the dinner party attendees.  With slow elimination of suspects, plenty of red herrings, more deaths, the pace hots up and Phillida discovers so many secrets and lies that have been cunningly concealed that it seems as if everyone is a suspect. 

The illicit relationship that Phillida has does spice up the story in a very surprising manner, not at all vulgar! A very pleasant read.

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

The Hunters Club by Alis Hawkins

 

Oxford 1883. It is a most unjust and unequal world. Young men think they own the world and the young women working there are fair game. When a few young men turn up bound and gagged it is only a matter of time when anger turns deadly. A young shop girl is arrested and imprisoned for talking to a man. She seeks help from a young fearless journalist and an older lady who will help in anyway she can. When the Chancellor calls in Basil Rice to investigate the matters which are beginning to get attention and call Oxford into disrepute, it is too late. The discovery of a private club which aids and abets these young men adds to the mix.

Corruption amongst senior staff is rife, and everyone will cover up for boys who are from aristocratic families. The police do not want take action for fear of reprisal and Basil is fearful of discovery of his homosexuality, which will end in disgrace and any chance of a career. It is only Non who will work for justice for the young woman and very slowly the story comes to light. Helped by the Police who have to work very carefully, the whole system of injustice against the working class and the historical importance and rigidity of class is very apparent in the story.

The outcome of the case is far below of what is just but one takes what one gets.

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

The Missing Pages by Alyson Richman

 

Poignant, sad but reflective as well this story combined elements of a forgotten and buried love story which just had to be discovered, the doom and deaths on the Titanic and a present day young student bewildered by the loss of her young boyfriend and trying to maintain a stiff upper lip with her fellow students.

Violet Hutchins  is the young sophomore at Harvard, desperately trying to manage her life on a day to day basis after witnessing the drowning of a very much loved boyfriend. Now seconded for work in the Widener library, she is attuned from the start to the actual spirit and work of the young Harry Widener who died on the Titanic. 

The story is told in stages going back and forth between the years of the Titanic and present day Harvard, the contrast between the almost aristocratic Widener family and the middle class Hutchins one. Very beautifully told, heart rendingly sad for every one of the characters in the story the spiritual side of a ghost manifesting itself is very realistically portrayed. 

I liked the manner that everything beautifully dovetailed and provided a complete explanation of what was an incomplete story before. 

Sent by Union Square & Co - a subsidiary of Sterling Publishing, for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife by Martin Edwards

Set during Christmas, the characters don’t feel kindness or goodness to men. Six contestants carefully vetted for the puzzle solving of their lives. The contestants as well as the hosts have agendas of their own, but it is only when the body count starts increasing and the weather becomes murderous, that the game becomes more and more dangerous.

The book was one of those that you had to finish in one go and I cannot think of a better recommendation. The keenness of those involved to save themselves, earn a fat prize and somehow defeat the competition was the main crux of the story. Goodness of character was fairly thin on the ground and in the face of suspicion and mistrust naturally disappeared.

An excellent read for this season (even in the tropics).

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

The Peculiar Incident at Thistlewick House by Jenni Keer

 

The story is a mix of the supernatural, mixed with magic and a touch of romance to give it balance. Set in 1895 in a remote village in Norfolk, the strange happenings only start when the bones begin to fall from the cliffs bordering the sea, due to erosion.

Edward was cheated of his inheritance and his bride by his cousin. Edward deals in the spirit world and Barbara’s appeals to him to come and save his wife who fell ill and recovered but is talking of people with strange names and about a circus and how they were killed years ago. Edward is a sham, but when a second death occurs and bones keep falling, he realises there is a connection. With each fall of bones, a fresh death could occur. Discovering the truth of what happened decades ago is a slow one of the deliberate murder of many people in the circus and the cover up by some of the villagers, who thought they’d got away with murder.

This was a very Gothic story with a fair amount of historical fiction too. The murders and unraveling that was also fascinating, because you had to go forty years back.

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

Murder at the Royal Palace by Verity Bright

 

Lady Eleanor is full of pride. An invitation to watch her husband being knighted is no small honor and she has promised herself to behave and not create any form of situation. But she is a magnet for strange situations, and a Royal guard collapses and dies a few feet away from where she is. When she and her husband are approached to investigate this death of a man known to have been very sick, and when it is strictly not official, you do know there is a mystery afoot.

The need for secrecy and for the Palace not to be even connected with the taint of murder and gossip is reminiscent of the times of King George, in comparison to present times where royalty is fair game and no one is bothered by it. Here the investigation is stealthy and under cover with Lady Eleanor acting as a journalist with her butler as a cameraman in order to get access to the Tower where they feel the secret to this death lie.

Apart from the investigation, the story is full of historical detail of the traditions of the tower, its inhabitants, the ravens, the archaic ceremonies and very important the hierarchy that operates this ancient place. However Royal the place, intrigue and corruption as usual is rife and this is what is uncovered.

An interesting story, more detailed than other books in the series.

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

Introducing Mrs Collin’s by Rachel Paris

 

This was a great spin off from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. It portrayed the staid Charlotte Lucas who went into the marriage with Mr Collin’s with her eyes wide open, from the slightly dull woman into someone who could fall passionately in love, who could throw caution to the wind, and become a woman in her own right.

I was cheering her on from her marriage to her romance and though I did not wish Mr Collins to die, I knew in that era there was no way to otherwise have a happy ending for Charlotte!

The story starting from her marriage to her move to Hunsford, the formidable Lady Catherine in the background, but someone who eventually became more humane, more softer than she ever could be imagined to be. All the characters are portrayed in the story here in varying degrees but it is definitely Charlotte’s story.

A delightful read.

Sent by Hodder & Stoughton for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Death on a Scottish Train by Lucy Connelly

 

Emilia has moved continents and is settling in very nicely into the old world Sea Isle. Happy with neighbours and the community, she is begin to feel at ease. The Storyteller Train has been in the pipeline for a long period and is now getting off on its inaugural journey with a band of storytellers, one for each carriage each outlining the whimsical and magical tales of Scotland. Dr Emilia is a passenger on the train as well.

Discovering a body chucked into a closet was not how the first journey should be remembered but when it is apparent that it is murder, the investigation hits a snag. Literally dozens of people on the train are suspects, including the organisers. The victim was a private, dour man who has made enemies so detection was not going to be easy.

Unlike other bloggers I could not guess who the murderer was till almost the end. Interesting read as a cozy as well as depicting life in a small community.

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

Murder in Miniature by Katie Tietjen

 

It was only at the very end that I knew that the idea of making miniatures of a crime scene had been formulated by Frances Glessner Lee and that it is still used in forensic education as a tool.

The story here of Maple using these miniatures called “nutshells” was enlightening and educative. A young firefighter found burnt to death in his own house was inexplicable. His childhood friend was determined to find out why he was killed and in the process found out how deep a mobs roots could go. Even if one did not want to participate blackmail and fear for one’s family could swerve the most straight soul. 

The final outcome was totally unexpected and sad. A plan gone wrong and a friend dead at the end of it. A mobster caught not for murder, but for a massive robbery. It was an unusual twist to the story.

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

I am late on reading and reviews and trying to catch up as fast as I can. My apologies to the authors and to Netgalley who keep me still supplied with fabulous reads.

6.40 to Montreal by Eva Jurczyk

 

Agatha is on a book deadline with writers block in a big way. Her husband to help things along gifts her a first class ticket for a six hour journey from Toronto to Montreal to get her writing. Beautiful views, quiet surroundings, very few passengers. What could go wrong?

Start with a death. First thought of accidental. Then not so. Then snowed in, completely immobile because according to the car conductor, doors automatically sealed shut. No Wifi, all communications with the top brass through the conductor. A young man goes into a diabetic coma.  He or his mother have forgotten the insulin. The body count rises and everyone is still trapped.

Lots of different points of interest in the story, a twist (and rather unsatisfactory end) but still a very convoluted story.

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

Perilous Journey to Freedom by Marion Kummerow

 

Two young women determined to live. One intrepid freedom fighter. Their common enemy the Gestapo slowly extending their hold on this remote corner of Montafon, turning people against each other, those who have lived as neighbors for generations. A question of survival by whatever means.

The story of two women, one with no experience of mountain climbing, one man who perishes, and the determination to succeed the grueling hike over the Alps, hard enough normally, now hit by a freak snowstorm and a avalanche. Beating the odds the two women escape and Felix has to return home to a Gestapo who is looking out for him.

Stories set with the theme of resistance are always brave adventures, so much of risks taken but the need to survive overtakes all. This was no exception.  Very well told.

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

A Carol for Mrs Dickens by Rebecca Connolly

 

It was acknowledged that in 1851 that it was Charles Dickens who had invented Christmas with all the magic and the emotion the festival brings. For his wife however it was not the same. She was an excellent hostess, an exemplary wife and mother but she did not enjoy the season the way she had in Christmass’s past. Eight children and heavily pregnant she was drained out.

A chance encounter with a cook in her kitchen brought a transformation, taking Catherine back to important stages in her life - when she was a young woman being wooed by Charles and even further back to her very happy childhood with her parents.

The story that shows the true spirit of Christmas comes when one opens one’s heart to love and giving to others - and not just materially but also of oneself. Catherine got true happiness from this so that Christmas became meaningful, rather than a description from a book.

One notable point however was that Charles and Catherine’s history was not idyllic and despite this being her tenth pregnancy, the marriage was on shaky ground. The couple separated. This is not reflected in the story in any way.

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

A Ghost Hunter’s Guide to Solving a Murder by F H Petford

 

December 1914 Britain was on edge. They had the Great War to contend with. The young men recruited were dropping off like flies, the rumors of German spies was rampant but bombardment of Falmouth where the story was set had not begun.

Anna Timperley, having a mundane job inherits a hotel from an Aunt she was not aware of and an entire new chapter in her life opens. Her aunt ran a spiritual retreat for people who had lost loved ones, with two people who ran seances and who reached and contacted the dead. Anna’s aunt herself was a spiritualist and Anna has inherited the gift, though she has not actually used it for years.

Drawn into both running the hotel, and against her inclination drawn into the spiritualist side as well, Anna stumbles into a plot to destabilize Falmouth, when she realizes her hotel is being used by someone who is a spy.

The combination of the spiritualist aspect of the members in the hotel and the espionage that was taking place alongside the murder of two young women in this quiet town was an interesting mix of genres. Reminiscent of the times, it was also descriptive of the lifestyle and attitudes of people.

Sent by Hodder & Stoughton for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Murder on a Scottish island by Lydia Travers

 

When Lady Proudfoot gets involved, there is always an element of surprise in the works. Going to Skye for a vacation, Lady Poppy did not expect to find a woman strangled in church but that is what happened and she makes sure that the handsome Inspector Mackenzie gets involved in her investigation.

What transpires is not a straightforward robbery and murder but a scam aimed at vulnerable women, lonely and preferably well heeled with an idea of robbing them of their wealth. If things got too complicated murder was also on the cards.

Set in an isolated location, the story unravels and is a wonderful cozy read. Similar to Verity Bright this was an enjoyable read.

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

The Perfect Murder by Amanda McKinney

 

This was complicated. SavinPortman was a debut author with a best seller. She was also unsettled and unraveling and for half of the book, one would presume it was the stress from her agent and publisher for a follow up story. Her draft of the follow up story seemed unreal, depicting events that happened soon after, even though it did not appear that Savi was in any of the scenes.

It is more than three quarters of the way through that the story of Savi comes through. Her mental state has disassociated herself from events in her life and created different persona acting out scenarios and followed up by reverting to the personality of Savi, totally unaware of what went before.

Trauma and grief are handled by people differently and Savi’s way was different and frightening. The fact that she had a wonderful family system in place to support and protect her was her good fortune. 

The book highlights mental health and so much of what is still unknown. It was fascinating reading.

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

Call of the Camino by Suzanne Redfearn

 

The story revolving around two women decades apart, and a host of supplementary characters all linked to the precarious and tiring pilgrimage of trekking five hundred miles to the Cathedral of St James at the end. 

One woman Reina is trying to walk the footsteps of her father, and Isabelle is trying to escape the horrors of a vendetta. 

The story goes week by week, each very descriptive. Each week outlines characters all part of the pilgrimage and each contributing much to the overall story. The grandeur of the setting whether flat desert land or steep mountains were vividly detailed and brought the scenes to life. It also highlighted frailties of humans who undertook the journey, if you were spiritual or not the journey changed you. The two timelines of the story were not jarring and worked well together. 

I enjoyed the entire story as a whole. Having read of the Camino and having seen the Cathedral the story brought the entire pilgrimage to life.

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

The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan

 

Set in the Scottish Highlands soon cut off from all, Mirren an antiquarian book hunter, with one book found which made her famous has now been set the task of finding a book which will enable the current Laird from getting buried in debt and having to sell the castle.

The clues are myriad and set in mazes and in poetry in rhyme, which makes no sense to anyone but Theo who is Mirren’s rival and the people who remain have to try to make sense of cryptic clues lying around.

You have to like treasure hunts, mazes, clues and falling down castles to like this story. But it’s a very likable one with lots of humour in a gorgeous setting.

Sent by Hodder & Stoughton for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Murder in the Winter Woods by Katie Gayle

 

A cozy set in the idyllic town of Berrywick. Winter is upon the town and festivities planned for Christmas are in full swing. Julia on a walk did not expect to find a body, a victim of a hit and run apparently until proven otherwise. Julia discovers a pendant in the vicinity of the victim presuming it is his, until that too was proven to be not his. The second victim in similar circumstances, could not be a coincidence but trying to connect the dots and connections was a little complicated. One was a taxi driver, one was a bee keeper but like all good detectives, Julia begins to find the strands that will bring the story to a close. A third death by poisoning of a random (seemingly) woman, and the attempted poisoning of another makes it confusing for a while.

The final denouement was surprising and out of the blue.

Interesting story, mixed characters and very nice setting.

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

A Dark September Night by Patricia Smiley

 

The hit and run death of her Aunt Lydie was a shock to Emmeline. The circumstances of her death seemed suspicious to Emmy and she is appalled by the disinterest shown by the Police in following up her concerns. Having two weeks leave from her corporate job does not help either because when Emmy starts connecting the dots, she knows she is on the track to find out who killed her Aunt.

The story unravels slowly because it is basic detective skills and Emmy’s instinct and psychic sense that draws her on. The same sense that her Aunt possessed. The story was a good read delving into the bigger world of espionage and corruption, not merely a murder in a small town.

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

Murder in Trafalgar Square by Michelle Salter

 

This story covers a period of history I particularly like. The suffragette era, the perilous journey which got women the vote in England. Which incidentally paved the way for us in Sri Lanka to get it with no battle cries at all.

Coral Fairbanks is one such suffragette, a feminist who also sits for artists nude. Not a stance which makes her popular with fellow feminists. Guy is a wonderful painter, who hides his talent as he is a Scotland Yard detective and his painting abilities will not go down well with the powers that be.

When a young woman is found murdered at the National Art Gallery and a painting stolen in broad daylight, the Yard is called in. This sets the investigation which looks into the suffragette movement, the appalling behavior of the cops at the instigation of Winston Churchill, a look at the behavior of the upper crust of English society and in the process unraveling a can of worms.

Described as a cozy, I’d say it’s much more than that. A very interesting read putting the genres of detection, mystery murder and history together.

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

Restitution by Tamar Shapiro

 

The story set against the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany is about the complicated relationship of Kate and Martin, both living in the United States but knowing very little of the lives of their mother and father and more so the secrets of their grandparents.

Like most immigrants the family kept secrets close to their hearts, worried that it would cause further disruption and unease amongst the children. They would prefer them to look forward and get on with their lives but in this case it could not be allowed to be forgotten. The visit back to Germany long after the fall of the wall, to places and homes owned by the family unravel very complicated and chequered histories. 

Things do not appear to fit the dialogue and stories related of their grandparents and it leads to uneasiness between the siblings, each hiding information from the other - in some instances not to unravel bitter experiences and disappointments faced by the family in the past. 

The story is very descriptive of each city of its setting. Leipzig, Grimma and Illinois. One could actually feel the places described. The siblings had a peculiar competitiveness especially Kate who sought her mothers approval and love, because she felt her mothers and fathers feelings were warmer to her brother. With that there was a undercurrent of vindictiveness and a certain meanness when she could hurt Martin in a very insidious way. The way she hid the information of her fathers last days, his demise and revealed it bluntly much later showed a mean streak because she was happy that she had the chance to see her father at the end though it was Martin that the father actually wanted. This was apparent on many occasions during the story. Martin himself took decisions which should have been shared, by himself. It did not make for a very warm relationship.

The story was slow but intense and emotional with its fractured relationships within one family.

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

A Very Bookish Murder by Dee Macdonald

 

Absolutely idyllic setting. A tiny village in Scotland. Ally is playing host at her guest house to five woman. All writers one of them very famous. The rest of the group are in the posh hotel down the road. The retreat gets under way and on the very first day the famous author is murdered. The manner and circumstances of the killing leaves the field wide open for suspects. In the meantime Detective Rigby in charge, collapses at the scene of the incident and a dashing replacement arrives.

Ally and her partner Ross decide to investigate privately because they feel they are privy to more facts since they have the writers resident with them. Slowly surprises emerge of connections within the group of women, secrets hidden for decades and even more damning evidence against several writers.

The cozy gets complicated with a second murder taking place and the pace hots up, because the murderer is now determined to get away with it. The final denouement was surprising.

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

Murder in the Soho Graveyard by Emily Organ

 

When the body of a wealthy widow is found in a disused graveyard, the two amateur detectives Penny and Emma get on the case because they realise the detectives are dragging their feet and trying to pin the murder on the unfortunate person who found the body.

London 1890 is not conducive for any lady to have any job and this detecting has to be carried out discreetly. They realise that though the lady was wealthy and contributed to many good causes, no one actually liked her and on investigation, Penny and Emma discovered why. This opened up the number of suspects greatly and it was up to them to whittle it down to the one person who had done this.

The story is a very good one, with strong female characters but it is the descriptiveness of the era, and the manner in which Emma and Penny had to work that drew my interest.

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

To Chase the Glowing Hours by Katherine Kirkpatrick

 

1922 England. The Lady Eve was not a run of the mill aristocrat. She was bold and wanted to follow her father the Earl of Carnavon on his adventures through Egypt.  She accompanied her father and Howard Carter, a reputed archaeologist acting as a curator and hostess for her father and also watching out for her father’s health and safety. Working in such close proximity to Carter, she fell in love with him, and though he reciprocated her feelings, he knew this relationship would never be accepted by society, a fact that Lady Eve blithely ignored.

Discovering Tutankhamen’s tomb, handling the delicate balance between the Egyptian government, who themselves were in the midst of a rebellion was not easy and the story also highlights an area that is sometimes ignored. The robbery of artifacts and jewels belonging to one country by another. The English in this case, financed the expedition for vast sums of money and expected an equal share of the finds (which the government ignored when it came to actual division) of the spoils.

The story of this family and the part they played in the excavations of the period are meticulously detailed. We are also dealing with a young woman who exceeded the boundaries set for ladies at the time, acting with an independence far exceeding expectations. She did not have much support from her mother who was involved with an affair of her own. Her relationship with her father was intense and very close. 

The story deals with a young woman’s coming of age and how naive the young Eve actually was. Historical fiction fans will like the story of the discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb set against Egypts rebellion and search for independence against British rule.

Thanks to Regal House Publishing for sending me this book. The review is unbiased and my personal review.