The Murmur of Bees by Sofia Segovia

Translated into English the book is a mix of history, a family saga with a touch of mysticism, something faintly not quite of this world which is not understood by all and misunderstood by many.

Mexico is on the verge of revolution, bandits and the rule of force apply but in this small town
Francisco is able to maintain his position as head of the estates he owns by a mix of firm discipline and kindliness to all.  In the midst of all this is born a mute, a child who is led and protected by bees and seems to have his own fore knowledge of events about to happen. Francisco is blessed with a son years after the birth of his two daughters who are now married. This boy is the link between the mute Simonopio and the little boy whom he takes under his wing as a guide and protector.

The story evolves with the background history of Mexico turbulent at most times but the story seems to be set in an oasis of peace till of course strife hits out in the most heinous way.

Unlike others I found the story very slow moving at the beginning, but by midway it picked up and I did want to know how it all ended.

A very unusual read combining many genres all fascinating.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Amazon Crossing.

Death Comes to Dartmoor by Vivian Conroy

My first read from this author and I've been looking forward to this. Love the cover too.

Merula and Lord Raven are both zoologists but they also share a history of detecting. Having saved one person from the gallows they now search for mythical creatures in the wilds of Dartmoor in the home of the reclusive Oaks. What they encounter is not exactly what they were looking for. A young woman working in the house has been found murdered with the marks of the kraken around her neck and the villagers are out for blood.

How Raven and Merula jointly try to uncover who and what and why of this senseless murder is the story. Village life in all its detail - superstitious, incredulous to the outsider and how to bring justice about is painstakingly done in this story.

I liked the Victorian setting but I also liked Merula's modernity and the touch of romance over hanging the whole story though nothing actually materialised in this one. Lets hope it happens in the next!

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

The Dead Girl in 2A by Carter Wilson

There are times we feel we know someone but just cannot figure out from where. This is what happened to Jake on a usual flight he took. He knew her from somewhere but all the usual connections of college or work place or mutual friends did not turn up a clue. The same connection went with Clara herself. It remains a mystery.

On the startling revelation that Clara is flying out to a destination to kill herself, and then coupled with the recent realisation that things are not good with him too, too many coincidences seem to come up leading to a most remarkable beginning of their lives which were inextricably linked and which accounted for the almost immediate recognition of a like minded spirit.

Part fantasy, this was a likeable story.  Lots of twists and turns as said by many reviewers.

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

Tudor Dawn by David Field

Described as historical fiction, this is more or less a historical account of a particularly turbulent period in British history.

The war of the roses was full on - bringing war and strife as a permanent part of the English landscape and the war between factions supporting Henry VI and Edward IV were vast and widespread. The young Henry Tudor grew up in exile, not a very warrior like king, to the dismay of his seniors. It was only with his sudden accession through the efforts of his mother and uncle when he actually got to the throne that his more arrogant king like features began to emerge.

The story of the emergence and strength of the Tudors very well told in this concise history lesson. Of particular interest to fans of English history.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Sapere Books.

Bethlehem by Karen Kelly

Historical fiction coupled with a family story and the build up of relationships between adults, especially when it is a joint family. Rather unusual I thought for America.

We have Joanna from a middle class background with her two children moving to Bethlehem with her husband to a home where her in laws live. She has to find a fine balance of keeping her values and especially her parenting ideas intact, in the face of somewhat more lenient attitudes especially since money does not seem to be a problem.

Joanna is fearful that she is no longer a wife or a mother in her own right. That she is losing her identity and her spirit and she wanders away from the marriage dispirited. That is her story of the 1960s. Then we have the story of Susannah her mother in law, reserved and reticent, not really allowing anyone to get too close. There are too many secrets in the family and she is used to burying them deep underground hoping that the scandal will never be revived.

The two time lines were handled well. The two women were different in character, but both were strong women who handled issues head on. It was the women who were the main characters in the story.

The story was very well told and you do want to know how it is going to end.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of St. Martin's Press.

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms

   Amy is a single mother of two teenage children. Overworked, stressed, worried how to manage expenses with an aging house and two children who need stuff, a lifesaver in the form of a seemingly dejected husband turns up. Missing for three years, abandoning Amy to a sudden change in lifestyle she is now firmly in grip of her life but all the time feels that something is missing.

When an opportunity comes to attend a work related event which she likes in New York, she takes it albeit reluctantly wondering how the two children are going to cope without her. To her chagrin they manage themselves very well, seemingly getting on with their absentee father as if he was never absent. Getting in touch with her friend Talia opened a new world for her - a momspringa - a reawakening of herself and of her interests and of things she wants to do for herself. That she found plenty of romance was an interesting element to the story but the main theme of Amy's revival of spirit was the best part of the book.

Refreshingly humourous, light hearted fun this was a very good read.

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

Only Ever Her by Marybeth Mayhew Whaler

Annie Tafts is going to have the wedding of the year in the small town where she was born and brought up. She is looked upon with much fondness amongst the inhabitants of this town, mainly because of her mother who was found brutally murdered and whose killer was put away mainly by the evidence given by Annie a three year old at the time.

Now four days before the wedding Annie has gone missing. It is also no small coincidence that after 23 years the man convicted of killing her mother is released from prison. Could the two events be connected but it seems too pat, too contrived to be that. The list of suspects grow and the tension in her Aunt's house mounts as there seem to be so many secrets hidden for decades that are all going to burst upon the unsuspecting.

How well people know the persons they live with is reiterated in this story. It is amazing that very often we hardly know the people whom we are most intimate with, people whom we have spent our entire life with. In this case is the discovery of Annie going to be too late.

An interesting story of thrills and secrets.

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