Mrs Walford by Brenda Tyedmers

 

Set in the 1800s between Halifax and New York, we go back and forth through decades and lots of information via diaries, memoirs and past events. Some of them do not seem connected but they eventually form the story of how Sadie Walford tried to escape a morphia addiction, was presumed dead for years by her family, was very much alive. The story behind her was complicated.

There are many facets in this story which are part of history itself and then there is the Tiffany glass making which was a story in itself. Lifestyles amongst many levels of society from boarding houses to independently wealthy people of the time added further layers of interest.

A story which would be of interest to those who like historical fiction as well as a close look how addiction was handled in the 1800s. Both the scientific and rather primitive ways were detailed. 

Sent by the author via the  Independent Book Publishers Association,  courtesy of Netgalley.

A Whiff of Murder by Angela M. Sanders

 

An old haunted house, three inmates two who seem ultra sensitive to the house and its past inhabitants, one with an acute awareness of scents and smells and each having pasts they’d like to stay hidden. A murder which seems like a death under natural circumstances, which even the police deem as a natural death. These three women decide otherwise and embark on the dangerous path of trying to find the murderer.

Involving the ex husband of the victim (vociferous despite being an ex), the only son blaise and almost indifferent to his mother’s death and a whole home of retirees who could also be suspects. 

A cozy definitely but it’s the characters, all of them that make up the interesting part of the story. Set in small town Oregonian, everyone seems to know everyone adding to the descriptive part of tge story.

Interesting cozy.

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

The Curious Case of the Poisoned Professor by Lucy Connelly

 

Dr Gwen Griffiths is not just changing countries, she is changing jobs as well. From working as managing editor in a Texan newspaper to heading a department in Journalism in a smaller setting of a university in Wales. She is looking forward to making the journalism department, the best of its kind. On her first day, after a very pleasant welcome dinner, she is confronted by the one person antagonistic from the beginning, who keels over dead at her feet.

The death is confirmed as suspicious, and strangely despite the victim being unknown to her, it seems Gwen is initially a person of interest. Slowly unraveling the story behind the surly dead woman , lies a long complicated history, unknown to any of her colleagues who have worked with her for years. 

The setting of the story in Wales was a first for me. The characters were interesting and the inquiry went in differing directions, before settling down!

Very interesting read with all the elements of a good cozy and lots of humour as well.

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

On another note we are having intolerably hot weather and I am looking longingly at scenes of icy rain in Bangalore to pouring rain in Texas. The grass is always greener on the other side.

The Witty Witches of Concord by Elizabeth Dunne

 

Concord, a small town seems to have more than its fair share of crime. Louisa May Alcott a resident has been in the forefront of solving past mysteries and when the body of Hannah Crook is found, it is to her that detectives turn to. On top of that a ritualistic murder of cattle adds to the mystery and gothic feel to the story, involving elements of magic, stories of witchcraft, energising the folk with a sense of unease that more dire things are about to happen. 

The story involves eccentric folk in the form of sisters, already under suspicion of murder and ever ready to create mayhem at any time, amongst a host of likely and unlikely suspects. A historical mystery combining the best of superstition and folk stories set against the detective skills of Ms Alcott who has to look through the muddled facts and decipher the truth.

Unusual characterization S, good setting and story are the marks of this book.

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

The Patient by Tim Sullivan

 

A young woman Flick is found dead from a drug overdose. A former drug addict now clean, her death is considered a suicide. Her mother has doggedly been of the opinion that she was murdered, and DI Cross, always a voice for the unheard is curious about the case.

Upsetting his superiors and Detective Campbell who closed the case was never going to be a problem for Cross. Afflicted with Autism Spectrum Disorder, he never knows if he is arrogant or rude (he often is) but works on logic and fact. Having an excellent conviction record helps and the story is a masterclass of finding facts, deleting the unnecessary and finding the murderer.  

The narration is splendid and the story unravels keeping the reader on edge, taking you from one suspects to the next. Wonderful read.

Looking forward very much to the next read from this author.

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

Caricature in intricate detail of a white man in one of the most famous shrines in Bangkok.

All in her Hands by Audrey Blake

 

1849 a female surgeon is a rarity and Dr Nora Gibson has to fight her way through the suspicious, wary and downright ferocious male fraternity to earn her place. On top of that she has to fight the opposition of her own sex, who do not think being a surgeon is a proper job for a woman. Annoying and upsetting the upper echelons of society is a thing to be avoided at all costs, because funding for everything is dependent on those who have the money and Nora does not seem to be dealing with them well.

The onset of a cholera epidemic, striking first the poorer sections of society and then creeping its way to the richer parts of the city affect the small coterie of doctors who support Nora. Her being pregnant does not help matters both with her husband who is hurt that she hid the fact and continued to work, and with his immediate family who cut ties with her and her husband over this. 

The story highlights the limitations of the medical profession in the 19th century and the lack of scientific knowledge on the part of doctors who wanted to keep the community closed both physically and scientifically to new methods and fresh ideas. The need to make money prevented many of them from seeking help from midwives, who had experience and knowledge far in excess of doctors who treated a few dozen patients only. The practice of bleeding was still being promoted and it was sheer luck that there were less fatalities than could be expected. The levels of hygiene amongst the poor was abysmal and no surprise that death rates were so high. The levels of hygiene of indifference to the poor was startling except for a few charities who tried to make a difference. Much more could definitely have been done. 

An eye opener of a read. History, lifestyle and an evaluation of social mores at the time.

Sent by Sourcebooks Landmark for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Case of the Christie Curse by Kelly Oliver

 

The setting is exotic 1930 Mesopotamia, present day Iraq. The characters in the story are varied and exciting. Starting with the famed Ms Christie, we have the intrepid members of the Detection Club invited to the digs by Miss Christie because she felt that things were not quite what they seemed. 

What Theo and Eliza expected were exciting finds. What they faced was tensions within the camp, secrets that could break the funding of the group, looting of assets, and eventually murder. There are plenty of suspects but finding the correct one is key. Eventually Theodor and Eliza not only have to find a murderer but they also have to acknowledge their feelings for each other. One feature which was enlightening in the story is the looting of artefacts which finds their way to colonial masters and not to the countries to which they actually belong.

This story is part of a series but does well as a stand-alone.

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

A Field Guide to Murder by Michelle L. Cullen

 

Harry globe trotting anthropologist now retired. To add to his boredom he is suffering with a fractured hip and has at last got a care giver whom he likes. The earlier one was a martinet. Harry also snoops, almost stalkerish but it’s benign. His neighbours aren’t benign though and this very respectable, expensive part of town hides a lot of secrets and even fugitives. 

First the death of one neighbour sends Harry into high speed action, because he is the only one who thinks the death is suspicious, and no amount of providing links to the local Police makes them waiver from their accidental death verdict. The Police do not want amateur snoops interfering with their business but quirky Harry disabled as he is, has somehow persuaded Emma his caregiver who has romantic problems of her own, to join him in his pursuit of justice for their neighbours Sue.

Unravelling secrets in the past of several neighbours puts them right in the middle of toughened crooks but this unlikely interesting generational team is determined to solve the murders. Quirky and funny this was a lovely read.

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

View from my window. 32 degree scorching heat. 

One London Day by Chris Humphreys

 

Severin seems a simple families man. Accountant by profession, members of his local synagogue, keeping his head down. Keeping the books of a rogue group from M15 should have warned Severin not to play any kind of games with the ruthless five. 

Connecting random links starting with Joseph Severins hopeless infatuation for Lottie, who is in love with Patrick an a drug addicted actor, and a Russian escort Sonya who is desperately trying to make up funds needed for her daughters operation in whatever way she could. Joseph hiding the account books with Lottie, put her in direct danger and the killer Mr Phipps. A meticulous and clever killer Mr Phipps would never think he could be thwarted in his attempt to obtain the books but he was by the very savvy Sonya. Espionage was everywhere in the story, spies followed Mr Phipps and the five and the books were duly handed over to people who would follow the trail to mete out justice when they could.

Everything dovetails nicely, lots get killed, some escape (for the moment) ready to face another day. Some have a happy ending and you do cheer for them. Very entertaining read.

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

Looking at this picture nostalgic feelings of when I could go travelling again. Just have to wait.

Missing in St Ives by Deborah Fowler

 

Merril had recently moved back to St Ives, idyllic quiet life in Cornwall. Helping out pro bono for various cases she likes the slower pace of life. Her friend Jane, in the midst of a messy divorce asks her to have her 16 year old daughter for the holidays. Not her ideal way of spending her time, she does not want to add to her friends worries and Emily comes to Cornwall. Emily turns out to be grumpy and rude and on her second day disappears from the cottage.

Now Merlin has to face Emily’s parents and the local Police to uncover how an absolute newcomer to the area can be abducted and why. When a ransom order comes in Police realise that their suspects know Emily’s background, her home (in Bristol) and now they have to join the links. The detectives work is excellent, until the kidnapper is shot dead whilst picking up the ransom with the police unaware of where Emily is being held. The only clue from the recording, is the sound of a curlew, found only in specific parts of the vast isolated area of Cornwall.

Alongside this kidnapping, the story of Billy with minor misdemeanours to his name now caught threatening a shop keeper with a knife, totally out of character and now tight lipped with fear, as to who put him up to this. Peddling drugs to very young children, the tragic death of a toddler who consumed the drugs thinking it was candy, the subsequent suicide of a 17 year old who couldn’t live with the guilt of bringing home the drugs, and the round up of the gang responsible for bringing the drugs to Cornwall is the other part of the story. Merlin is the support for Billy throughout the case. I personally didn’t not think Billy’s story though a good one had a bearing on Emily’s story which was a kidnapping and a ransom gone wrong.

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

Murder at the Duomo by T A Williams

 

Oscar is the sidekick but a very important one. Uncovering clues at a vital part of an investigation and helping to push it forward is his specialty. We have his boss the retired English private investigator, who lives in idyllic Tuscany with Anna his partner. The other party is Commissario Virgilio who calls on Dan when an investigation involves the English.

This one was a puzzle. A crowded cathedral, the Duomo. Tristan Angel found murdered in a confessional with professional skill. Tristan, an extremely wealthy arms dealer, secretive and close lipped had come with a bunch of associates to his villa in Tuscany to fine tune business. Whom he was going to meet no one knew, and the investigation is hindered mainly by the lack of general knowledge of the inner dealings of this conglomerate. When a second murder by poison takes place within the villa itself the number of suspects is confined to the associates themselves, and then the third attempted murder which was not successful reconfirms. Now the painstaking background check starts and what links may have been missed.

With accounts of scenic Tuscany plus the mouth watering food, and the mystery murder is very much a page turner. The story held my interest throughout because once the initial suspects became themselves victims, it was not easy to find the actual murderer.

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