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.

End Game by Jeffrey Archer

 

London 2012. The Olympics are here but the envy and hatred from others is very apparent. Outwardly democratic, old enemies plot London’s downfall hoping to mar the process and create chaos and death at its closing.

The story evolves from the first electrifying announcement to its climatic closing ceremony. Espionage, sabotage, precise planning and implementation of orders, the power of money and how corruption at every level can be most dangerous for any kind of society fill this story. William Warwick designated top dog of security for the London Olympics has the unenviable task of keeping the scores of visitors, athletes, visiting dignitaries safe and this he does meticulously.

The story is intense and you cannot put the book down.

Sent by Harper Collins UK Harper Fiction for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

A Plattering of Murder by J C Eaton

 

World renowned authors are coming to a small town library event. It will bring publicity, much needed for  this library. Katie has been asked to supply her famed charcuterie boards and she knows she has to do her best. She also has to take into account Edith, the ghost that seems to hover around her at the most inappropriate times, and forces her into conversation which can make Katie look odd. Edith with her friend Rosalind can also intervene at awkward moments making sometimes things clearer for Katie, creating diversions that help, and sometimes making a bad situation, worse!

Cozies are fun reads, but in this one it is very humorous. The body count starts with an author found dead in a waterfall, Katie’s aunt Regina interfering and rude stays with Katie, seems to antagonize all, and ends being the prime suspect. It is up to Katie to work with Ian, her boyfriend behind the actual detectives handling the case to bring it to a conclusion.

An easy read. 

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

Ripeness by Sarah Moss

 

The story set in the 1960s starts with Edith being sent from rural England to Italy, to people whom she has never met to keep an eye on her pregnant, enigmatic, sophisticated sister who seems totally indifferent to Edith or her efforts to make her comfortable.

The subject of the baby and its adoption, sight unseen by the mother itself but deeply felt for by Edith despite her being a very young teenager was poignant. Edith with no experience of love felt deeply for this child abandoned so blithely by its mother. Fast forward to Edith’s life as an older woman who has now found a good life for herself in Ireland and her best friend has discovered a brother in America, whom no one knew about.

The story is about community and particularly if one has moved and is an immigrant and has tried to find a niche for oneself in a different home from what is familiar with. A common enough topic nowadays. Not easy either. A sense of belonging and whether one can ever fully belong to the country you try to adapt to.

The story written by Edith is a emotional one for the nephew who was abandoned, and who may one day come looking for his roots.

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

Feast for the Ravens by Sarah Hawkswood

 

September 1145 a Templar knight found murdered in a thicket in the forest of Wye is not something the Sheriff is happy about. It brings untold focus on the area, his control of the region and also has set the local populace into a flutter. They believe it i the work of a Raven Woman, a spirit that lives in the forest.

The story was a mix of the usual story of greed for prominence and power within a family, the sadness because one member was treated so unfairly and a very cunning killer who has to be brought to justice. The Undersheriff, the Sergeant and Undersergeant have to pick their way very carefully as their main suspect is a man of influence and medieval law always looked after the aristocracy, however horrific the crime was.

The mix of the medieval with solid detective slogging was very well detailed and descriptive. It added a dimension to the story. A very different historical fiction read.

Sent by Allison & Busby for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

How to get murdered in Devon by Stephanie Austin

 

Juno was familiar with death in suspicious circumstances. It was well known to the local police too that Juno will be in the midst of unaccountable deaths so when a body is discovered in a car she bought for a boyfriend, it was not such a big deal. Except for the victim and how he came to be in the boot of her car.

The story has a lot of ups and downs, false starts, family disputes going back a long time and of course the greed for money overwhelming always and the cause for so many deaths. The power of money and with it the control that comes. Investigations continue and the story unfolds in different directions, hiding the true murderers till the end.

Very well told with wily characters.

Sent by Allison & Busby for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Empress of Cooke County by Elizabeth Bass Parman

 

Set in the 1960s in a small town with typical small town gossip Posey Jarvis always thought she was a cut above everyone else. Avoiding her husband at all costs, the long suffering Vern, Posey lived in a fantasy world of meeting CJ her former lover and father of her daughter and riding into the sunset with him. She stalked CJ and was determined that she would achieve her dream.

Everything else was secondary, and when she inherited her Aunt Milbrays house, along with a secret stash of money, she was determined to be the Empress of the town. Hosting a reunion was one way to boast of her talents and good taste. That her daughter was unhappy with her almost forced engagement and Vern having a love affair was nothing to Posey. 

The characters were varied - you could loathe all of them, even Vern for his lack of determination, despite being a loving father and husband, Posey who was hard and a devil to live with, thinking her drinking was a secret, and Callie Ann who had to try very hard to decide on how her life should go. 

This typifies life in the 1960s and was an interesting read in retrospect though I’d hate to live that life now!

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

Murder at Somerset House by Andrea Penrose

 

The Wrexford series would be one I’d love to read except for the fact that I don’t get access to all the books sadly. My first foray into the series and won’t be the last. I found the story fascinating weaving in so many genres. Family life, science, warm affection amongst a very dimensional family, no discrimination and so much more not typical for the times, and certainly not for the upper classes in England.

A murder happens and there are many suspects because the victim has had “words” with many. Then Wrexford is drawn in and now it becomes a plot involving the government and foreign spies. It is also a time for discovery and some believe that the telegraph is about to be discovered, which will revolutionize war especially. There are those who would prefer the discovery delayed.

Taking us through many incidents and attempted murders and actual murders the story unwinds implacably revealing a traitor in their midst.

The book was a page turner with strong and unusual characters and with unexpected twists to the tale.

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

The Man in the Stone Cottage by Stephanie Cowell

 

The story revolves around the tragic Bronte family - the family marked by tragedy. First the loss of the mother at a relatively young age, and then the slow deaths of two daughters, then the beloved son and brother then Anne and  Charlotte and finally Emily. The family was unusually close knit and Anne, Charlotte and Emily had particularly strong ties after they lost their mother and siblings. Patrick Bronte was stubborn, selfish and wanted to keep his daughters tied to their home. 

Emily had a lover and she kept this secret from Charlotte though Anne was aware of it. Charlotte discovered it only after Emily’s death and it devastated her that she did not know her sister the way she thought she knew. All of the girls faced rejection in various forms - whether from lovers and this hit hard, and the rejection of their writings. Jane Eyre was the bonanza which at least lifted them from poverty and especially for Charlotte took her away on frequent visits to London. Though finding romance there, that too ended in loss and Charlotte was once more left heart broken.

The setting of the story amongst the moors and the isolation of this tiny village was atmospheric. The lack of any intelligent conversation amongst village folk hit hard for the three girls who were brilliant in their craft. It was not a time for well educated women (not even allowed to take books from a library). The atmosphere stunted them so that they had to find stimulation for their minds within the house itself. Their father was forward thinking in this way at least.

Their deaths at such a young age was a tragedy which with good hygiene and better living conditions could possibly have been averted. Ironic that their father lived into his nineties.

The story left me impressed with the author who took you into the Bronte home as if you were a sprite watching the story evolve.

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

Murder in the Choir by Alice Castle

 

Sarah Vane and Daphne are the amateur detectives who get embroiled inadvertently into every murder that happens in the village. They both epitomize the best of a cozy set in a village. You get the villain in the form of the choir master, done to death in a masterful manner. Disliked by all, intimidating and arrogant towards all, his death is not a surprise. The suspects are numerous as he has been nasty to so many. Both ladies are on the case.

The body count mounts, Daphne’s daughter is exasperated with the two ladies being one step ahead of the Police but the crime is solved in a dangerous and dramatic manner.

An easy to read story.

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

Tailored Truths by Nancy Jardine

 

Without connections or background life was hard in the 1860s for an ambitious young woman. Opportunities were limited for unmarried women and for someone as clever as Margaret life was frustrating. Having worked as a maid and treated badly, she was not afraid of hard work but wanted to improve her lot. Working as a tutor, sewing in a factory,  a ladies maid, and eventually ending up as an English tutor in a boarding school helped extensively. Another step up was heading a sewing unit in a factory providing readymade, cheaper clothes for workers. This was a revolutionary move back then and a very profitable one.

Moving on Margaret met a young man, got pregnant and married him and had to move away. Her welcome into her husband’s household was muted. Her mother in law, brothers and sisters in law all were warm, but the over riding bitterness of her father in law shadowed all their lives making it a misery for all.

Sandy her husband found it hard having to face the venom of his father and his spiral into drinking and gambling were inevitable. When he died the dreams that Margaret had were shattered.

What was intriguing however, was that the last few pages of the book indicated that many secrets were still to be uncovered, which would affect Margaret more.

The story was very descriptive of Victorian morals, attitudes and lifestyle particularly amongst the working class which was rigid and rules had to be followed. The upper class had their own rules, but enjoyed a much more relaxed life.

An enjoyable read.

Sent by 

Nobodies by Warren Adler and Shannon Mckenna

 

A crime novel. Henry Cody lives under an assumed name. Ämber Wright is a scammer who has lived by her with her entire life. Their paths cross. The story was confusing at the beginning because it is told from different Angelsi and you’ve got to straighten it out in your mind before you go to the next part of the story. 

A lot of suspense and one ends with a very believable plot and interesting characters which populate the story.

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

Bees in June by Elizabeth Bass Parman

 

Rennie expected her marriage to last despite opposition from those close to her. Tiny swept her off her feet but turned out to be a bully, not supportive of her in her darkest moments after she lost her baby and then became physically abusive when he was frustrated in his own ambitions.

Her fall back was her frail uncle Dixon. She and he were alike in spirit with a close affinity to animals and especially the bees from the hives. Dixon and Rennie  both believed that the bees were protective of their own, not just watching over them, but guarding and even letting them know of dangers that were lying in their path.

Fanciful though this may sound, the story convinces you that there is still much that humans do not comprehend. Maybe we should accept the fact that some people are blessed with different blessings to decipher things not visible to all.

This was a feel good book, despite the dark interludes and identified that good will prevail.

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

Julia by Heather B Moore (Julia Child)

 

Well renowned as the undisputed master of French cooking what is not very well known is her career in the field of intelligence during WWII. With the outbreak of the War, and when America got dragged into the effort, Julia was not one to stay on the sidelines. She knew she could help and with her intelligence and meticulous methods she soon secured a very important role in intelligence in the Far east. Starting with Ceylon which is breathtakingly described in this book her travels take her far and wide.

Her love for Paul Childs was immense and loyal and she followed him wherever he was stationed. Her love for cooking was a very late start in her life, but like everything else she did Julia gave it her all, not allowing repeated failures to slow her down. Paul and Julia were gourmet cooks and eaters and loved their food. Her efforts to make French cooking available to all, was laudable because she was dealing with an America which did not know about cooking with asparagus, mushrooms, crème fraiche and the travails of French flour!

The book dealt in detail about history and the need for intelligence services during war and then devolved into cooking and how Julia Child, almost single-handedly changed the way Americans looked at French cooking.

I loved the writing style of the author and the depth she carried it in portraying the woman Julia Child.

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

A Moment’s Shadow by Anna Lee Huber

 

I’ve always been a fan of this author and the series is one I particularly like.

Post WWI England and Ireland. The relationship between the two is fraught with tension. Neither party is willing to give in and the battles are constant. The death toll was appalling (and to a great extent I think unknown to the outside world). The destruction of property was equally vast particularly that of livelihoods was deplorable and reprisals were immediate and brutal. Into this scenario come Verity and her husband Sidney in the pursuit of hidden and now missing phosgene cylinders of gas. Now presumably in the hands of Lord Ardmore, their nemesis. 

Doing a balancing act because they will need both sides to help them if they are to find the canisters and thwart Ardmore, they actually do not know when, how or where it will be used. Both sides watch the other and it is a cat and mouse game with Verity and Sidney being in enemy territory all the time. 

The story set against the background of terrorism, colonial expansion and a determined people fighting for independence, is a strong read with the spread being descriptive and moving at the same time. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the continuing adventures of the young couple.

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

Murder at Arleigh by Alyssa Maxwell

 

The scene set at a wedding is the start of something bizarre. Bessie is convinced her husband is trying to murder and get rid of her. She finds divorce out of the question but seeks Emma’s help to confirm her worst fears.

1903 and the times were not favorable for women despite it being the dawn of more modern times. Husbands and men in general controlled their women folk and the finances and there was a rigid set of rules that governed high society. Emma and Derrick are not fully accepted in this society by some, because their attitudes do not fall within society’s strict guidelines but this does not bother them at all. Emma tries to diplomatically see whether what Bessie is convinced of and there are many things which seem off but all can be also accounted for. When murder happens and Emma is personally threatened, the investigation steps up.

There is a lot of history mingled with the mystery and this certainly adds to the interest in this story. The characters are varied some are typical but people like Emma and Derrick are the breakthrough into more progressive times. It all adds weight to the story.

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

French Leave by Robert Verity

 

Martha works in a very highly skilled job as a social worker. Her French husband equally highly skilled job in a powerful firm. His sudden death in a hit and run accident leaves Martha bereft. Further investigation shows that he had actually taken a day off, unknown to Martha and only known to a trusted coworker of his. Casual clothes including a hoodie, never worn by Thierry found bundled in a briefcase adds to the mystery.

The story unravels with Martha not knowing what she should do next. Vulnerable and susceptible, she falls prey to the smooth talking Pascal while on a break in France, visiting her closest friend Erin. Falling in love with a decrepit, abandoned house was not on the cards but Martha feels that it will give her focus. Apart from Pascal, who is a scammer, Martha discovers that Pascal has a nineteen year old son, whom he was on his way to meet, on the fateful day he died.

The story dealing with how people manage or rather don’t manage grief, how feelings fluctuate between knowing what should be done and the irrational. The loneliness of the bereaved and the isolation when one has no family, no children to act as a support or envelope you in some warmth as was Martha’s case. That Martha had Erin was a godsend. The importance of friends is a highlight as well.

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

Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill

 

Joe after arduous medical treatment and his twin sister Meredith are treating themselves to a trip on the luxurious Orient Express to Istanbul via Paris. Joe is a writer and he hopes to get material for a story whilst traveling. Meredith wants to keep an eye on him. The characters boarding with them are a mixed crowd, some are mere travellers but most of them with ulterior motives, all which unravels slowly.

Murder is the starting point and the first one is mysterious as well. Murder but no body and with no way to dispose of one, the search is on. Coupled with the discovery of a new variant of an infectious disease, which means that two carriages have to be quarantined, adds to the complications of trying to solve the mystery. And then the body count keeps going up. Prevented from proceeding with the journey, the train is halted surrounded by the military and no closer to solving the many murders.

Atmospheric and very descriptive, the story is at turns modern and old fashioned because of its setting. A very good read. Very Agatha Christieish, with Ms Gentill’s own style.

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

The Secrets of Blackthorn House by Marie McWilliams

 

Evelyn is a young bride, very much in love with her husband. Soon after Peters uncle passes away and he assumes the title of Lord Black and takes possession of Blackthorn House. Here Peter changes from the amiable man Evelyn knows, into a controlling, obsessed freak only wanting an heir and with very creepy tendencies. Isolating Evelyn, not allowing her to have any contact with the outside world, not even her family Evelyn knows even her life is uncertain with the madman Peter has turned out to be.

This was a very gothic read and quite dark. Very well written and suspenseful.

Sent by Quill & Crow Publishing House for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Mrs Endicott’s Splendid Adventure by Rhys Bowen

 

1938 pre war Britain. Ellie comfortably married is blindsided when her husband asks for a divorce. Acting on impulse and totally uncharacteristic of her she persuades her maid Mavis, the toffee nosed and condescending friend Dora to abscond with her to Europe. She takes her husband’s Bentley, in an act of defiance and sets off.

Their adventures end with a breakdown in the idyllic village of St Benet. Continuing in the uncharacteristic vein Ellie falls in love with a derelict villa and sets to restoring it despite misgivings from all. The breakout of WWII the threat of Hitler, even in this remote hamlet, betrayal, death but also love form part of this endearing tale.

Beautifully descriptive this story had lovely vibes!

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

Beattie Cavendish and the White Pearl club by Mary Jane Riley

 

One of the best mystery/espionage books I’ve read, set in post WW2. Britain not recovered from the devastation, rationing still going on and women who played a pivotal role at every level, now relegated to home and hearth and the background of political life. 

Beattie was one of the lucky ones. Working for the ubiquitous Civil Service, her official role is training typists in secretarial work. Unofficially she works for Ashley Cooper head of a spy network. Her present task is searching for clues in the under secretary of Foreign Affairs Ralph Bowen, and to this end she develops a friendship with his son Ashley.

The story takes an alarming turn when Beattie discovers a body at the Bowen residence, that of their young housekeeper and it is from here the story takes off in different ways. Beattie's involvement is noticed and she is strongly warned to lay off. Her accidental partner in this the Irishman Patrick is warned, his rooms ransacked and he is roughed up. A young man who gave him some information is found drowned, the reporter who was active on the case was told to cool off and the young woman’s brother Martin was also beaten up.

Undeterred Beattie seeks justice for Sophie, because everyone is involved in a cover up but for who and why seems to be the question. The final coup is very surprising and unexpected. Spies are found in the most innocuous of places and clues lie in the open. One has to connect the dots to come to the final denouncement.

A very good story which kept me fascinated from the first page to the last.

Sent by Allison & Busby for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

St James Park by John Doll

 

Set in San Jose against the backdrop of Prohibition and the Depression,an era of political maneuvering and manipulation, corruption in local government, bootlegging and the enormous profits to be made from the prohibited liquor, we have a kidnapping of a prominent young man - Jewish background but brought up in a catholic college. He was found and then disappeared again.

For convenience two petty criminals were arrested and mob violence prevailed. The two men were beaten, hanged in the town square and one was burnt. Mob violence at its worst. We have the worst that the era represented and it is a factionalized telling of what happened in 1933 long before Silicon Valley came into existence.

Not an easy read but life is sometimes full of horror stories too.

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

My Great Aunt’s Diary by Laura Sweeney

 

The inheritance of the cottage comes at a point in Emily’s life that she knows she must actively seek change from the toxic relationship she is in. Not having been back to this rural village for fifteen years, she is saddened and puzzled why her Aunt left this idyllic place to her.

The story falls into two timelines. Violet’s own life - a struggle coping with a mother who was mentally frail, two brothers evacuated and lost to her and Violet having to cope with being the mainstay for her mother. Violets change of life on meeting Zella, her relationship developing into one which would be unacceptable in society and then the heartbreak when Zeyla chooses comfort and a place in society over love. Violets also meets Hugo after the end of the war marries him and lives as happily as she could.

All this is because Emily discovers zeyla’s diary hidden in the cottage.

Emily fighting her feelings for Will, from fifteen years ago realises her feelings have not abated despite time and distance and the search for Zeyla brings them closer than ever before. Emily feels that the cottage was how she brought closure to Zeyla who is still alive and brought love into her own life.

The story was a peaceful and loving read, despite the harshness of WWII, the restrictions placed on homosexual or bisexual people. The characters were strong willed women who found a path for themselves. This added a depth to the story.

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

Fonseka by Jessica Francis Kane

 

This was the unwritten story that Penelope Fitzgerald never wrote. 1852 she and her husband are almost bankrupt. Two children and another on the way, an invitation to visit Mexico, with the tantalizing treat of a legacy for Valpy, her son and apparently the only male heir to the riches of the two aunts. We see Penelope undertake a perilous journey to the aunts home, but the welcome is not that warm, though they like Valpy well enough. There are lots of other contenders for the legacy and everyone is kept at arms length.

The cast is very varied and interesting. In such a community, a certain cut throat attitude is there and that proves Penelope’s downfall and ouster from the race. Nice outline of good and mean features found in humans as well.

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

The Shakespeare Secret by D J Nix

 

Three women of contrasting social levels meet by chance. The play they watch is mediocre and they think they can do better. But play writing is forbidden for women. They meet in secret but enemies within the Royal circuit read more into the meetings than what is actually happening. Their writings are a huge success, and Shakespeare presents them as his own. Trying to remain secret as well as proving themselves loyal to the Queen is the trouble they have to face and face it they did, in the most ingenious way possible.

This was a very good story with three strong women, a lot of history woven into it with court intrigue, and a masterful plot which kept me guessing till the end.

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

A Hollow Death by Colleen Dumaine

 

Set in the 1890s and this time in Adelaide, Australia, we follow the travails of a female detective battling prejudice because she is a woman, not doing what is considered normal for women of the times. Very seldom do I get to read a story set in Australia of that era, so this had a lot to recommend it.

Looking for missing dogs is Beth’s main means of survival because there is a hard mean gang doing exactly that. But then Beth is approached to find a missing husband, and at first with a lover on the side who has a brutish husband, the reasoning is that he has run away.  The story takes several turns with Eric found dead, but Beth is not happy with the accidental death verdict.

The story also highlights Beth’s personal life, her marriage and life in Afghanistan and Ariffs death and her flight to safety in Adelaide and the fear of kidnapping of her son by Ariffs brother, who is determined to take him back to Afghanistan. The dog robbing ring in Adelaide was a violent one and that added another circle to the story.

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

A Ghostwriters Guide to Murder by Melinda Mullet

 

Maeve ghostwrites mystery novels for a living. The Simon Hills series are thriving but she seems to have a writing blank. Living on a houseboat, amicable neighbours, peaceful surroundings doesn’t seem to help. Until the actual mystery hits her personally. Discovering fifty thousand pounds hidden on the boat, followed closely by the discovery of her ex husbands body floating beside the boat, plus the fact that she is the beneficiary of a fat insurance policy. Arrested on suspicion, it seems the detective in charge wants to get a conviction as conveniently as possible and move on.

Maeve has good friends who rally around and set up their own detection to try to unravel the mess which leads to underhand dealings, sub standard construction and the biggest surprise a corrupt detective right at the top.

A very lovely setting, quirky characters made this an enjoyable read.

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

The Women of Arlington Hall by Jane Healey

 

1947 and all the women working at Arlington Hall are brave and adventurous. They are going where the average woman is not going, into a world of crypto analysis, breaking codes, trying to find the Soviet spies that have infiltrated the US to an unimaginable degree.

Cat Killeen is one of them, giving up the conventional, for a life of intellectual adventure and she has found a band of similar women (and men) who will support her. The story goes from the hunt , Cat joining forces with Jonathan, where they put everything on the line, risking reputation and their careers to bring justice for all. 

The work was taxing and repetitive, but the social life compensated! 

Based on real life, this was a story full of suspense.

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

The Alchemy of Flowers by Laura Resau

 

Le Chateau du Paradis seems magical inside, foreboding from the outside. Three employees to maintain the gardens and get the produce but the chatelaine is an unknown quantity with rigid rules which she will not allow to be broken. Anyone who has broken the rules leaves or disappears. 

Eloise takes up a job there leaving her entire past life behind, to make a fresh start. Numerous failures to start a family, and the breakdown of her marriage has made her an ideal candidate for this job, where one of the conditions is that no children can be seen or entertained on the premises. From the beginning, it is obvious that all the rules are going to be broken, and chaos results. 

The story had a mix of magic and realism and the story of many lives - the ones seen and the few hidden all sad and complicated with dark history. Elements of love and romance also part of the story.

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

Murder on platform Four by Irina Shapiro

 

Inspector Bell has been a favourite of mine and I was delighted to read this story. He pairs off with Gemma and I am really hoping for a happy ending there. Penny is now married but a bit restless with the way the world looks at her - a wife, a mother who should leave her journalistic career behind.

When confronted with a body at Paddington Station at the same time he has arranged to meet his long estranged brother, there is no question in Sebastian’s mind about what should take precedence. Following up on clues despite opposition from higher ups who think this investigation of an unknown poorer woman is of no significance as against bigger and potentially cases which will get better publicity for the police. It seems symptomatic of the times, that poorer people got little attention as against the richer strata of society in England.

The constraints on women were irritating to even read about, and how clever intelligent women had to skirt around people in order not to irritate the men and their egos. It was a hard time for women. The book does well as a stand alone but is part of a very good series.

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

The Sanctuary Keepers by Alexandra Barber

 

Carrie has had a double whammy. Her boyfriend ditched her for the glamorous Paloma and also undercut her at work and got the promotion. Unable to bear the sympathetic words of co workers or the tirade from her ambitious parents, she flees to the Isle of Wight to Hideaway House for healing and a chance to reset.

The House is magical with its own set of benevolent ghosts, supportive neighbours and a charismatic man with his own brand of charm. The story proceeds in a nice manner despite villainous boyfriend reappearing on the scene, a series of misunderstandings resulting, but all ends well.

Descriptive of the workings of life on a remote island, the story is a relaxing one.

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

The Poison Puzzle by Emily Organ

 

Emma Langley was duped by her husband of her inheritance, her confidence and her self esteem, even before she was widowed. London 1989 was not pleasant for someone in reduced circumstances, and she was fortunate to live with benevolent landlords. Her friendship with Penny, a former journalist and someone who helped Emma to solve some cases were one of the few brighter things in Emma’s life. Coming across a strange picture amongst her husband’s belongings, set Penny and Emma on a path to discovering a secret society, amongst the more unsavory and richer men around, the search for buried treasure and the murder of anyone who got in their way.

The story is fascinating not just for the mystery and the detective work, but also of the very descriptive ways of life in London for young women. In this case one respectably married and comfortable, the other living on limited resources and still having to maintain an aura of respectability. They both lived in a world with very little tolerance for women seeking any interest outside hearth and home and thought it “unnatural” if one had an intellect and liked to use it.

They book was sent by Storm Publishing for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Myth Maker by Alie Dumas-Heidt

 

Cassidy is a devoted detective. This is all she wants to do. Restricted by a protective family, and a very clingy boyfriend she now finds herself needing time and space to help in solving the most cryptic of murders. A series of random girls found murdered and posed in scenes reminiscent of Greek mythology. It’s a case which baffles the detectives and no one knows what to expect next.

The FBI gets drawn in and the case gets more complicated when Cassidy gets photographs and notes relating to the death of her dearest friend, decades ago. Are the killings related and is Cassidy now a focus for the killer? 

I like the pace of the story but at the end it was not as sharp as it could be. A good story though.

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

Arsenic and Old Lies by Benedict Brown

 

Marius Quinn did not expect to find a murdered man in his library. That he was the fiancé of Bella, whom Marius was madly in unrequited love, made it much worse. Told to stay away from the investigation, steered him in the direction of Felicity Mortimer who has served fifteen years for a crime she didn’t commit. 

Marius finds a too convenient thread of overlooked in your face facts in Felicity's defense. Determined to unlock the reason why Felicity was neglected over and over again, takes him and Bella into Felicity's own home where a killer is waiting to strike to cover secrets from fifteen years ago..

Very good story and excellent characterization, set in the 1920s an age just emerging into modern times.

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

Murder at Castle Vyne by Louise Marley

 

It’s a decade old murder. Eighteen year old Sarah’s body was found floating in a lily pond in the nearby Castle. No one was arrested but Natalie her sister felt that stuff was hidden, too many secrets were around mainly in her family, and her talking about the murder has upset some people.

Within weeks of her return, bodies turn up and particularly one and the same place as Sarah’s, also that of a young girl. DCI Doug Cameron has a hard task ahead of him, with so much of the stories hidden.

The story has plenty of false starts and turnarounds but the ending is totally unexpected. A very good mystery thriller. Gothic almost in content and a good standalone book.

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

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.