A Betrothed’s Betrayal by Deb Marlowe

 

Lady Lisette is in an unusual position for a single lady. That is for the Regency period. She has ditched her fiancée, a cad of the worst kind but the heartache from the sudden death of her brother is the one reason she feels lost.  He has provided for her amply, and she now finds herself in charge of A beautiful village in the Cotswolds but not without

its share of opposition to any new measures she brings in. Resistance to change is not new and the Lady has to step carefully.

Her position gets compromised almost immediately on arrival when her ex fiancée is found murdered and the local police, headed by former Bow Street runner, the dour Mr Sowerby is deeply suspicious of Lady Lisette and she is his first suspect.

The story dealing with the intrinsic charms of village life, gossip, character assassination and all add to the charm, but does not detract from the fact that a murder has been committed and Lisette is determined to get to the bottom of it and clear her name, mainly to get on with her life.

Interesting and very likeable plot and characters.

Thank you to Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op for the book, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Tailor by Tim Sullivan

 

A bespoke tailor with clients from the very upper circles is found murdered in a brutal manner in a train carriage. No ordinary robbery though his luggage is missing. DS George Cross is on the case with a new assistant which he finds hard to handle, with his former Assistant now promoted over him, overlooking matters.

What follows is a meticulously pulled apart detective story - procedurally detailed, sometimes puzzling to everyone else other than to Cross but bringing to light the murderers involved. A tale of betrayal, espionage, a highly improbable code system and the brilliance of George Cross.

I am sad that this is the last book on my kindle from this author. I was hoarding it and keeping it to enjoy at leisure. 

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

 

I fell in love with this story. Emotionally charged, very powerful feelings and a love story set in 1900s colonial India, then moving to blitzed England, in the grip of German bombing and two people trying to get on with their lives.

The story of Elsie, torn from the country she loves most, uprooted from an environment like India, directly to aristocratic circles and destined for a marriage within those circles. Tanveer her playmate and his sister, 

also of an ancient lineage, both destined for marriages to shore up financially ruin of their courtesy. Both deeply in love and divided by the social standards of the time, but both not giving up on their deep attachment to each other.

Heart breaking most of the time, it was still a very tender love story. Filled with history of both countries starting from 1900 and going on to the First World War, the story encompasses the best of both genres.

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

The English Bookstore in Bologna by Boo Walker

 

Five expats, all very different come together in a very poignant story of love, relationships and a sense of hope against many odds. Sandy tge owner of the bookshop, almost hell bent to make it fail. Sandy has a sad history and does not want to complicate it with love or even a mild flirtation. Moira her assistant, timid as a mouse and frightened to do anything independently until she decides that she is going to be more progressive. Bianca escaping her rat race of a life and then George her father, the very opposite, wanting and seeking the stability of a permanent job, things to do and the mundaneness of lists and “having a plan”. Finally the mousey lovelorn Harold, spurned by Alice the love of his life and now totally lost and wallowing in self pity.

The story was emotional, tense and humorous in stages. It pointed at all the frailties of human egos and how difficult it is to break old habits. However progressive and “modern” we may be, we have deep decades old beliefs drilled into us and those bonds are very difficult to break free from.

I enjoyed this book, and the beauty of Bologna and the food certainly added to the charm.

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

A Season For Justice by John Pilkington

 

England 1618 was a troubled time. Unrest in Europe affected England even in a remote hamlet ex magistrate Justice Belstrang gets involved in activities far beyond his realm. Visiting an old friend Richard Mountford, Belstrang is told that the death of Mountford’s brother is suspicious and he is begged by Richard to pursue private enquiries.

Visiting the foundries where John met with his death, Belstrang is met with suspicion and downright antagonism. A attempted threat to his life is unsuccessful and he realises that what he is uncovering is a wide scale operation, which is treason.

Painstakingly following clues and connecting the dots all lead back to Francis Mountford, Richard’s own son who will have no qualms to kill even his own father to cover up his operation. Belstrang pursues it to the end because his loyalty is to his country and King (despite the King trying to requisition his family home).

A slow pace, no fast action or gimmicks but still a page turner.

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

Murder in a Yorkshire Village by Helena Dixon

 

Part of the Kitty Underhay series doing very well as a standalone, the story combines the serenity and peacefulness of village life, the routine as it stands of England in 1938, coupled with murder with its unpredictable turns and the detective work that goes with it, a subject not quite in keeping with upper class morals.

Kitty and Matt are inadvertently drawn into a murder investigation whilst watching a bicycle race in the village. Discovering the body Kitty has to testify and is drawn into the subsequent proceedings when it is discovered that it was no accident but murder. When a second body is discovered and the focus turns on getting rid of Kitty and Matt, the investigation has to pick up pace before more accidents happen.

A very charming cozy which I enjoyed very much.

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

The Housekeeper of Worthley Hall by Beverley Bowry

 

1828 Suffolk. A woman in precarious circumstances. Emma after giving loyal services at the Rectory is summarily dismissed when the new Rector takes over. The new rector under the thumb of his pretentious and overbearing mother sees Emma as a threat to her ambitions of getting her son married to someone of “quality”.  Emma does not suit.

Emma falls on her feet when she is offered a job as ladies maid cum assistant to a reluctant housekeeper at the nearest manor and it looked like things will settle down. It was not to be and a series of mishaps including a drunken episode by her brother and the disastrous robbery of Emma’s possessions including documents and jewellery by the Squires brother put paid to any stability for Emma. The final nail in the coffin is when the squire himself faces bankruptcy and eviction because of the fraud and robbery by his own brother. The manor is put up for auction.

The last bit is a fairy story and gives the happily ever after to this read. 

For readers who like to know what it is to live in the early 19th century in rural England, the lifestyle, the rather helpless position of women, the dominance of men - this is good descriptive reading.

Sent by The Book Guild for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley 

Death at a Scottish Halloween by Lucy Connelly

 

Halloween or All Hallows Eve in Scotland is a time of festivity. Dr Emily recently retired, now finds herself in the midst of a murder enquiry, having discovered a body. There are a number of suspects, the problem is to whittle it down. Constable Ewans also the local laird will like Emily, Abigail, Jasper and 

Mara out of the investigation altogether, but that is not going to happen.

Like other readers, I couldn’t guess who the murderer was and this of course is the push one needs to continue reading. A very good cozy, set in descriptive surroundings with a very nice atmosphere as well.

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

The Widows Guide to Foul Play by Amanda Ashby

 

Monica Larkwell is back to celebrate a thirty year anniversary to the village and drama group where it all started. Now a star of the past she is hoping to revive a flagged career. It’s not going quite according to plan as there is too much tension, acrimony and underlying secrets that people don’t quite know what to make of. Until the star is murdered and Detective Wallace reluctantly calls on the group of women, who feel they are amateur detectives to help.

Slowly unraveling secrets and relationships of thirty years past, the group encounters broken into homes and offices, another dead body, out of towers with stories and agendas of their own, quick schemes to get rich amongst them, and killers in costume! Specifically bird suits.

A straightforward cozy, lots of humour. 

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

The castle in tge Glen by Rhys Bowen

Iris Blackburn is a world famous author facing a problem of a fading memory. With a novel half written, she employs fellow Australian Emma to research the story on the island of Skye and write the rest of the mystery. The year is 1964 but Emma has to back in her story telling to 1904 to a suspicious drowning of a couple, with a deliberate sabotage of their boat and the consequent disappearance of a young man who was the chief suspect.

The story is so vivid both in the telling of the actual murders, lifestyle of 1904 and then moving to more modern 1964, where old practices and ideas still live on in the memories of people, of the attitude of the rich and powerful of yesterday still continuing today and how they like to keep secrets hidden, just to m

maintain the facade of respectability. Revealing a sad story of the deaths in the past and the actual history as of now, the connections to Emma which were carefully researched and taken into account, when choosing her as a ghost writer form a convoluted, unbelievable but beautiful story. As is usual for this author.

Sent by Lake Union Publishing (many thanks) for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley 

Learning to Breathe again by Tonya Cam

 

1933 America. Women still followed their husbands wishes and Mary and Elena did just that. Mary fearful for her daughter’s life because of advanced bronchial disease and Elena who was a city girl and had not known anything other than the bright lights of Miami.

With Janie’s death life changed for Mary. Her hopes and dreams were dashed and her stay in Clewiston, sugarcane growing country was hard. Herself afflicted with asthma, the burning of the sugarcane made her breathing more difficult. On top of that Elena now with a new born washed her hands off any work connected with her baby and both Mary’s and Elena’s husbands thought it nothing that Mary should take over all the work. The rift in the marriages were growing wider. In Mary’s case her frustration that she could not pursue her studies, and in Elena’s case an extra marital affair. 

The story of loss, grief, frustration at what life throws at you, and a theory that everyone is not born maternal is markedly depicted in the story. This just Book One of the series, which ends on a hopeful note so I am looking forward to Book Two to see how the characters develop from there.

The lack of communication between the four main characters led to silent conflicts with all four not knowing how to deal with each other.

An interesting read sent by Victory Editing Netgalley Co op for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Clockmaker’s Murder by Emily Organ

London 1889. Horace Whitby a highly respected clock maker was found murdered by Charlotte Mellor, who was herself in the time keeping business of selling accurate Greenwich mean time to banks and institutions. Charlotte had come apparently seeking Mr Whitby’s help in resetting a clock. The Mellor family was in the same business and now Charlotte continued the tradition. There was ill feeling and resentment on Mr Whitby’s side towards the Mellor family and this was the chief reason for Inspector Harris to make Charlotte his main suspect.

Charlotte appealed to Penny and Emma the two lady detectives, who had solved crimes before but she was not truthful with them and they discovered discrepancies during their investigation. Their attempts to get into the Royal Observatory was difficult and they used fictitious names and an organisation that did not exist to get into the place and observe people and surroundings that they felt were relevant to the case. 

When a second murder takes place Penny’s husband from Scotland Yard is roped in and together they try to find out who would benefit most from the murders.

Complicated plot, wonderful characters,  a Victorian lifestyle beautifully described make up another captivating story.

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

Sycamore Gap by L J Ross

 

Detective Chief Inspector is never going to have a quiet life. When he thinks one hurdle is behind him he is forced to face another.

This mystery murder is set in Northumberland, alongside the ancient Hadrians Wall and brings the Detective in directly confrontation with the historians and archaeologists and worse his own Police Force with their own agendas. A body is found within the Wall itself and it has been there for ten years. Identifying it was not long in coming and then the dots start to get connected with a serial murderer who is notorious and is in a high security prison. A second copycat killing shows a killer who is determined to out manoeuvre the Police. The detection has to be carefully followed because Ryan does know that opponents to him are within the Department and though most imagine The Circle (The cult which has caused them grief in the past is dead and buried), it is very much alive and wanting to consolidate their position.

A touch of romance adds another genre but adds to the overall danger because it becomes a tool for the opponents to manoeuvre a situation to their advantage and highlight the weaknesses of the Chief Inspector.

My second read of this author within a week but it still held my interest very much.

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

The Brothers Shaughnessy by James Snyder

 

1880s New Orleans was rough. Rival gangs, a hugely corrupt political and police force and distinct divisions in a society marked by the very poor and the very rich. Life went on, but the undercurrents of murder and mayhem was high.

The brothers with a rich Irish background, brings a mystery to life. Working in unorthodox ways but trying to set a right is not easy and there is heartbreak ahead for one of them. The rival gangs were a tad confusing at the beginning, but sorted itself out as you read. There is a sequel which I am looking forward to as there is some closure necessary.  The story gave the reader a no frills perspective of New Orleans at the time.

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

Heavenfield by L J Ross

 

DCI Ryan has got an anonymous message giving him details of a meet up at a very isolated church in Heavenfield. He finds a murdered man, known to him and then becomes the chief suspect in a murder.

Unsettling as that may be the systematic killing of people connected to a cult called the Circle, Ryan finds himself as a target himself. Speed is of essence to uncover the chief in the cult, and this is no easy task because it has permeated even the Police Department at every level.

The combination of strong characters, the deviousness of the plot, the almost gothic descriptions of the church and its environs adds to the heightened tensions in the story. Adding touches of humour and deep senses of loyalty within a group adds realism to the read. 

Part of a series and I was lucky I read the previous story but it does not do badly as a stand alone.

Extremely tense, one cannot wait to see the outcome.

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

Hail Holy Queens by Chris Mcginley

 

1887 Berkshire. A convent isolated by winter, unprecedented snow but continuing their normal life under the dictatorial supervision of Mother Superior. 

Their lives are disrupted by the appearance of beasts of almost demonic proportions and appearance. Their lives are nuns are attacked and with the initial deaths, the group of quiet nuns turn into a fighting force, they become the hunters and unleash almost super human power on the destruction of these beasts.

The story is loud and violent and the setting was epic. Related by Henrietta who has been dumped there by her husband (convents were convenient places to get rid of unwanted relatives) and she describes each encounter really well. 

Sent by Lee Matthew Goldberg for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Murder on Devil’s Ridge by Irina Shapiro

 

A Victorian mystery which highlights this authors attention to detail and meticulous descriptives which bring the entire story alive.

A little girl taken out in the middle of the night. An extremely well secured home, two nursery maids plus many servants. Murdered in cold blooded apparently with all the signs of a ritualistic pagan death abd her body kept on Devils Ridge.

Sebastian and Gemma he from Scotland Yard and she a nurse are visiting family when they are summoned  and then given the authority to investigate the killing by Viscount Ravenel, the father of the dead child. 

The story unravels slowly because none of the servants wants to divulge secrets of the family, well known to them and hidden to outsiders. They are bound by a sense of fear, of losing their livelihood. The binds out of a sense of loyalty is a poor third. Gemma starts with the women of the household, making little headway though she begins to realize deep undercurrents within and Sebastian handles the males of the household. Almost all resent the outsiders in their midst and it is when a second child goes missing (again in the middle of the night) that tongues are loosened with the conviction amongst the household that the stories are going to come out and a very complicated story emerges. The need for a male heir, the dominance of a mother in law, homosexuality rumours which have to be kept hidden from society, the brutality and contempt that the aristocracy felt for anyone in their world who they felt inferior, and most importantly the helplessness of women whether rich or poor are amply shown in this novel.

Apart from the death of a young child, the lifestyle of Victorian England both upper, middle and poorer classes are seen very clearly. How the rich literally get away with every wrongdoing possible is sad, but inevitable. The story like all her stories was emotional, tense and a page turner.

I am always very appreciative when I get the opportunity to read her books.

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

Chalk Dust abd New Chapters by Gervase Phinn

 

Post war Britain had to face many changes. Trying to cope with economic hardships, the changing attitude of young women seemed to go head to head with the old guard who just could not accept that women were not willing to be silent or quiet in the face of injustice, and some men not accepting that times have changed.

Set amongst the Yorkshire Dales, Helen is a bright, determined teacher just returned from a stint in Germany, to a sadly neglected, run down school. As a supply teacher she is filling a temporary gap, but she is appalled by not just the conditions of the  classrooms but also the out of date practices and the apathy of teachers indifferent to their charges. The Head Teacher has a policy of not interfering or trying to improve the situation. Despite opposition, Helen steps in to improve her class. Moving on to the next school, the Head is only concerned with results at the Eleven Plus exams. Anything else is not necessary. Here too Helen sets things right. Her next assignment takes her to a modern school where romance also follows with not one, but two suitors.

The story is a good informative one about lifestyles, attitudes of the working class and middle class in Yorkshire at the time and the manner in which change was coming. A very good read. 

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

A Lark’s Gambit by Lynn Messina

 

Verity Lark has many persona. She is an avid reporter, a spy amongst the aristocracy, running a complicated household, madly in love with Coulson son of the Marques of Ware. Complicated enough but she is now pursuing tge opium trade in London, in disguise of course and now has to account how and why tge Marques of Ware is patronizing an opium den. Explaining that to his son is going to take gumption, explaining why she is kissing said Marques is going to be much more troublesome.

I love the historical details and snippets that flavor the entire read. The lifestyle and autocratic style will leave one puzzled as to how the aristocracy in Britain got away with it, for as long as they did, and did not face the way the French went. The sheer bigotry, the powers that were vested in them was unbelievable. Still that is history and we have Verity and Coulson, Delphine, Freddy and Lucy all playing a role in righting society’s ills.

Excellent reading of a historical fiction, romance, mystery read rolled into one very illuminating read.

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

The Harrogate Spa Murders by Mona W Gloss

 

The Thorne Spa offers pampered luxury - a Three Heat treatment guaranteed to relax and reinvigorate tired people. On this day eight people registered and only six were left alive at the end. Seemingly unconnected, people were linked by a twenty year old unexplained murder of a young woman. Brought together through very clever, invidious means they did not know they were in for an upheaval, with two ending dead.

A real closed room mystery thriller, with strong characterization. Good reading.

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

The Spy and tge Snake by M J Robotham

 

Maggie works for M15 but she finds the routine boring. When an opportunity arises to visit Budapest, abd decamp with a defector British to boot, who now wants to re defect back to Britain, Maggie sets out with fervour. What she totally did not expect was to be copped at the final post by M16, her captor taken over and to return empty handed to face another betrayal in the corridors of power by someone she trusted.

Whilst describing spy tactics, surveillance and the antics of the KGB and other agencies, there was a great deal of humour and camaraderie that Maggie found in Budapest. Colorful characters and you get a lot out of middle aged characters in this story.

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

The Cherokee Court Conundrum by Benedict Brown

 

Marius Quinn seventh in the series. An amateur detective he and Lady Bella are asked to solve an attempted murder and robbery. Set in the 1920s in a very countrified setting this is a comfortable read, the likes of which I never get tired of. 

This was a very pleasant cozy though I do think Marius has to get over his reticence in announcing his feelings for Bella. Maybe she could also indicate in some form her feelings for him. This endless to ing and fro ing is getting stale.

Nice read in the same genre as Agatha Christie classics.

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

The Secret of the Lantern Keepers. By Jenni Keer

 

This has got a lot to keep you going. A Victorian institute, run on almost feudal lines, an asylum according to its description. Many of the patients conveniently despatched there. An unwanted wife, a child with mental defects. A wife suffering from what was so wrongly called as hysteria. Never visited by family but the present management, within boundaries doing the best they can.

Edith, her father recently passed away with stipulations for his triplet daughters. Carry out the assignation given to them or forfeit the family home. For Edith and her sisters, homeschooled and who have not known the outside world this was a punishment but there was no choice. Edith entered the asylum as Mrs Brewer, tge lawyers clerk fictitiously acting as her husband. She entered as a woman abused violently by her husband. Her task set by her father to find out how the former superintendent Hawkins died. Her father’s hobby of pursuing cold cases was his passion, and he felt that this case needed enquiry. Edith had her own special gift which was to see memory clips and hear events, especially violent events and her father felt that she would be able to solve this unsolved violent murder. That he put his daughter’s life at stake obviously did not cross his mind, because the murderer could very well be around still - a member of staff or a patient perhaps.

Edith gradually gets involved with the workings of the asylum, begins to have warmer feelings towards the present superintendent Lambert but of course as an inmate and a married woman there was nothing further to be done.  Edith takes on more responsibilities and becomes aware of a secret confined to very few senior staff. A group called the Lantern Keepers who are a vigilante group, finding means to find the weaknesses and faults of those responsible to putting hapless people without a voice into the asylum. The blackmail and even their eventual deaths helps to keep Green Briars in funds and run in an efficient way with solid staff, very unlikely hospitals and asylums of tge time.

The story was full of a lifestyle of the day which made it almost a piece of history - the power of men over their wives and children was absolute. Rebellion of any kind was not permitted, women were restricted in every field and however clever one was, you were confined within clearly marked boundaries. The standards set for asylums and for the care of anyone in a mental institution was stark and brutal as seen in the past in this institution. Very few were of the calibre of staff found here, and this was in part because they carried their own trauma.  

Apart from this the description of the Cornish countryside in different seasons was very good reading too. The characters were varied and added so many layers to the story. An excellent book.

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

One Dark Summer by Sarah Hornsley

 

Penny walked out on her daughter Lily when Lily was four years old. It has always been only Lily and her Dad who is reticent about talking about her mum. It is accidentally that she got to know that her grand parents had a house on Orsea Island, and Lily surreptitiously plans a trip there when her father is away.

What is uncovered is an aunt, a family and more secrets because her mother’s family believed she was dead in a drowning accident on the island from decades ago and there is even a memorial for her mother. The why, how and where is slowly unraveled revealing a man who was so controlling, and one who eventually killed his wife and buried the body and the facts and lived peacefully with that knowledge that he almost got away with it.

A twisted and surprising story.

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

Hemlock Bay by Martin Edwards

 

Rachel Savernake is a clever amateur detective. Jacob Flint, a bit brash a journalist whose beat is crime receives a visit from a very unpretentious man, saying he is a clairvoyant and that he saw a murder being committed in Hemlock Bay. No idea of when or who the victim could be. Hemlock Bay is the latest seaside resort being touted as best for everything. Very recently developed by an original resident and now a brash new comer, its proving to be very popular with all segments of society, the posh and swindlers alike.

It is in this background that the first murder takes place, followed by the second. Jacob gets the scoop on it all and he joins forces with Rachel to find out who and why these are taking place. Seemingly unconnected, the dots do not link together to form a clear picture.

Lots of clues for readers. This reader was clueless.

Very good reading and part of a series.

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

The Housewife by Natalie Barelli

This is so twisted that to unravels it takes some doing. Jodie is married to a rich man, she has the house she longed for. Jodie loves to cook which she does beautifully and she likes to clean. But there is a housekeeper Marie who is a feature in the house, dislikes Jodie and constantly remarks that Roy is very much in love with his first wife who died in mysterious circumstances. Suicide by shooting herself. Jodie incidentally is Deborah the first wife’s sister and has just got out of jail on a murder charge. Those little details are all nicely hidden away.

Jodie suspects that her husband killed her sister and also that he had an affair with another woman, and was looking at a way to get rid of his wife. How Jodie gets the evidence to prove she is right, is the bigger part of the story. Her husband is rich n powerful, and Jodie is a nonentity. Most of the time Jodie goes over the top in her zeal to get all the evidence, but she is a bold and resourceful woman who knows her own life is now in imminent danger. Jodie knows how to cover her tracks very well and this murder mystery novel epitomises that. 

A tense story but a page turner as well.

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

After Darcy by Joanna Nadin

 

A modern sequel to Pride & Prejudice, all the sisters get equal notice and some in unexpected ways, not in keeping with the original theme. Makes for very interesting company.

Going through emotional upheavals, break ups, drunken spells it’s a nicely adapted variation which anyone with sisters could relate to. 

A fun read keeping to the original in broad outline.

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

The Posting by Gillian Edward’s

 

1939 England was bleak and for an adventurous young woman, village life was a trifle limiting. Going upto London to work as a domestic was a first step in a tale which swept Jane from the confines of a very narrow world, right across the world to Morocco, Egypt which were transit points and then on to Karachi, India and eventually Ceylon now Sri Lanka and then finally to Singapore.

Working as a junior nurse was very hard and the privations and harshness of superiors was grim but Jane and her fellow nurses always seemed to find something to be happy about. The stories are very vivid, very descriptive of actual living conditions in far flung areas with very little equipment and supplies but tge nurses did a marvellous job with limited resources they had.  They also had adventures galore, visiting every place of interest they could, despite orders not to!

I was particularly interested in Jane’s work in Ceylon, being Sri Lankan myself and the story was so informative as well on facilities I had no idea about and the yeoman tasks entrusted to these young women. 

The story is a real one, an account of the authors own mother in law who was an intrepid and brave young lady who flew into an unknown and alien land very bravely.

The cover however does not do the story justice.

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

Paris Reckoning by John Pearce

 

Colonel Sandrine has had enough. After a twenty year stint with the US Army, ending in a near fatal attack in the Sahel, her heart is set in Paris. A long held ambition to have her own security firm in a city which has won her heart.

The unexpected happens. Sandi falls in love with Stevie who disappears with many questions unanswered, leaving her lots of money but people wanting to know where he is, and also wanting the money back. What follows is a trail of a missing looted painting, belonging to Poland, treachery amongst friends and high rolling stakes amongst the mafia in several countries.

Fast paced, detailed and exciting reading for mystery fans.

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

A Dangerous Just8ce by John Pilkington

 

First in the series of Justice Belstrange this was historical fiction, very well told. No frills, no histrionics.

Justice Belstrange now retired, is seeking his neighbours son who has gone missing in London. The problem is that the neighbours is strong Catholic, and 1616 was not a good time to be Catholic. There was severe antagonism and witch-hunt for anyone with a hint of being Catholic and Belstrange was going very close to being tarred as popish in his quest.

Belstrange finds the boy eventually at the Bedlam Asylum in a very psychotic state. But the question is not without danger because Belstrange has now become the target of the rich and powerful at the Court. He is maligned, drugged thrown in jail - all to intimidate him and force him to give up on the search for Thomas Jessop and return home.  But Belstrange once he decides on something is determined and he is one man who will fight for justice.

The best of historical fiction coupled with religious fear make this an excellent read.

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

The Club for Rebellious Ladies by Siobhan Curham

 

A dual timeline with fearless women. Elodie in 1918 finding it very hard to fit in a very rigid finishing school, meeting up with a man who becomes the love of her life, being raped by the benefactor of the school, ignored by her teachers and finally running away to Paris where she carves out a niche for herself in tge art scene. Fast forward to 2025, we have Rae buying the ruin of the school on a whim, with the idea of renovating the place. She feels a sense of belonging to the place, but realises there are many secrets hidden in its walls. She faces the hostility of her neighbours head on and is determined not to give into the petty annoyances and hindrances put in her way.

The discovery of a diary and papers give details of Elodie’s life post school and Rae sets out to Paris with the few clues she has to put her to rest. Elodie is supposed to have died in a tragic accident on the cliff walk, but investigations prove that was a cover up for Elodie’s escape. Elodie established herself as an artist, met Etienne again and had a child. Rae is determined to find out the child’s relatives and the story takes off from there with wonderful results.

A real page turner and one which ends so happily was a joyous read.

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

Judas Kiss by J T Ellison

 

Taylor is lead detective on a horrifying case. A young expectant mother found brutally murdered in her own home with a toddler daughter left unscathed. Discovered after a couple of days in a virtual bloodbath because the toddler had tried to waken her dead mother and there was bloody little footprints everywhere. 

As usual the husband was the first suspect but he was miles away on a business trip. When his alibi did not quite pan out, and with the discovery of a sophisticated porn recording studio in this seemingly ordinary house the net has to be thrown wider to ring in a few more people. The detective herself comes under heavy scrutiny, with an obsessive vengeful killer stalking her, and to add to Taylor’s difficulties, secretly filmed sex tapes of her and a former lover are available on the net. There was the added complication of a senior officer also gunning for her suspension and dismissal. 

So many strands to be woven together in this very tense murder/detective story that it can get a little mixed up but I did find the telling of the story a tense one with just the right amount of edge.

I have requested two more from this author from Netgalley and I do hope I get them.

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

Graham and the Flitchcombe Murders by David Fairer

 

Graham is on a working holiday. A crime writer his characters have passed their sell by date and his agent wants a change of scene, change of characters and even a change of name. Arriving in the Cotswolds seem idyllic, but small isolated villages seem to be anything but benign. What starts as a writers retreat ends up in murder, uncovering years of secrets, old, old antagonism, feudal warfare, very much alive and kicking in this century.

An interesting take on the cozy mystery genre adding a lot more to the story.  Totally unpredictable and a very good story.

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

Montecito by Michael Cox

Hollis is a very messed up man. He has been fired three times, always because he never could keep quiet and spoke up for what he felt was right but was not considered right by the big boss. Now in an affluent neighbourhood with fancy house neighbours, he is trying to do right by his very supportive family. Keeping up with the Joneses is not going to be easy.

A chance encounter turns out into what is supposedly a lucrative business offer, but what is too good to be true is really just that. Obvious from the word go, Hollis is taken for a ride from the word go, and unfortunately because he never disclosed the nitty gritty to his astute wife, he sailed on more and more towards disaster. How unsuspecting a manager could be is astounding in this story. Almost stupid.

It does get sorted in the end with murder, international money laundering, the Soviets getting involved and the FBI. That Hollis escaped with his life is a miracle.

The story is based on a real life experience, which makes it rather depressing. But it is a tense story nevertheless.

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

 

Lost in the Dark by Debra Webb

 

Dr C J Patterson made it out of Huntville. Her sister did not. Remorse hits CJ for not taking her sisters call and she returns to a childhood home that she detested to wind up stuff that needed to be done. In the light of what she feels no progress in the investigation, as to who killed her sister, CJ takes matters into her own hands, which puts her right as a target for the local crime boss who does not like attention, or what he feels is interference.

The romance part of this story comes from Detective Kevin who has lost his niece and now CJ’s sister in a similar scenario. CJ,s sister was his informant and he feels that he is inadvertently responsible for her death. The twist comes when the main suspect is found murdered in the most brutal way possible which opens the enquiry wide open, in an unexpected way.

Murder with a touch of romance with a lot of exposure to the seamier side of life.

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

The Case of the Christie Wedding Affair by Kelly Oliver

 

Set in 1930 on the Island of Skye, the setting was bleak for a joyous event. In secret to avoid the Press and because the Church of Scotland was kinder to divorcees, Agatha Christie was getting the banns for her wedding announced in Skye. With her are her friends from the Detection Club. 

The quietness of the occasion is shattered by the disappearance of Lord Blackwood who is part of a hunting party, sharing the lodge. His disappearance is strange because it is apparent that both the vicar and ghillie in charge are hiding grave secrets. When it is apparent that the Lady Blackwood and the general factotum of the lodge are also acting weirdly, Eliza and Theo start their own detection till a constable gets there. What is unearthed is a tale of brutality, cheating and sexual coercion going back decades which multiplies the suspects. Lord Blackwood was not a likeable character.

Very engaging with the romance of Eliza and Theo also very much on the scene, the story is very descriptive of the Island of Skye which adds to the starkness of the background. A cozy with a touch of historical fiction as well.

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

Death was not on the guest list by

 

Twenty top socialites gather for a glittering evening. Many of them dislike each other intensely but on the surface it is all full of camaraderie, but the knives are out. During the evening, one of them is dead, and with a snowstorm on, there is no escape for anyone. It also means that someone within the household is the killer. 

With the detectives trying his best to get to the bottom of the mystery - there are many suspects. One has conveniently got rid of four husbands and one is well versed in poisons. The others have secrets they do not want to share. When a second body is discovered, the need for survival is paramount and everyone wonders who is next.

The ending was a good one. A good cozy.

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

Not My Job Anymore by Margie Benedict

 

Viola lost her mother unexpectedly and this hits her hard. She thought she was close to her mother but going through stuff she has revelations that changes her world. She questions her mothers ethics, her secrecy and then questions herself - realising that she herself is guilty of not facing the unpleasant facts in her own relationships.

Coming back to her late mother’s home opens a new vista for Viola. What could be and the vista is exciting. Her earlier desire to be an artist, find a lover, ignore and later divorce her selfish husband, and finally live for herself. Reaching that goal came with hiccups on the way but Viola didn’t it all.

The elements of grief, lost dreams and new starts are very well expressed in this read. Gives a lot of hope that it is never too late for anything. 

A very enjoyable read.

Sent by Riveting Reads Inc for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

A Wasp In The Beehive by Mary Logue

 

Set in Salt Lake City this has the setting of a Mormon household. Brigid has just got her dream job, working in a bookstore and Mr Cutter has offered her accommodation in his own household. Mr Cutter already has five wives and is trying for a fifth. This is not going down well in the household as Amelia is his step daughter, and no one is happy with the idea.

When Mr Cutter is found murdered in his house, Brigid’s detective eye becomes keener to find out by a process of elimination, who was responsible.  Doctor Kohler is the city coroner and he is anxious too, to get to the actual murderer.

The book is a short one, but it gives one an insight into a typical Mormon household, especially one with plural wives, who somehow live in more or less harmony! 

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

A Botanist’s Guide to Tradition and Treachery by Kate Khavari

 

Part of a series but does well as a stand alone. The covers are always colorful and relate to Saffron Everleigh who is a botanist and in this episode is part of an expedition to Egypt. The only working woman in the group, ridiculed at every point, her fiancé Ashton has his hands tied because he cannot show favour and because Saffron herself demands it.

The pranking seems to have gone too far with rumours of Saffron having a relationship with a young man, and when tge man is found dead, poisoned in fact, Saffron becomes the first suspect and is arrested on suspicion of murder. The Inspector despite any evidence is determined to pin the murder on her and tge death penalty looms large. Investigations behind the detectives back involves large scale smuggling of antiquities, involving people at the top, espionage and a very surprising murderer.

The garbage Saffron had to face was enough to make anyone angry, and the story for one third was about this and how she had to overcome this to get to the job she was assigned to do. Very descriptive of an archaeological site, and the work involved was another dimension. Further enhanced by the relationship between Saffron and Ashton and their sudden marriage and return home. A fair amount of different threads woven into the story.

Interesting read.

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