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.