Betrayal on the Bowery by Kate Belli (A Gilded Gotham Mystery No. 2)

At the end of reading this book, I was very sorry as I had now read both books in this short series. I do hope the author has more coming our way. Summer 1889 Genievieve Stewart is not your average New York upper crust family girl. Down to earth and wanting to pursue her journalistic bent she is disheartened by always being assigned to society events in the active New York social calendar. Women were still not given positions of eminence in the journalistic world, and despite her success in a previous case - solving a complicated mystery/murder she now has to work almost behind the scenes if she wants to do anything of substance. Accompanying her friend Daniel to see off their good friends on a honeymoon cruise, she is confronted with a murder of a well known personality in the cabin of her friends and all hell breaks loose when Rupert the Earl of Umberland is arrested for the murder. Working closely with Daniel to unearth the clues of this random murder which does not seem to be as random as they would think. Moving between the world of social, aristocratic New Yorkers and its seamier side of gangs and every kind of vice available Genevieve and Daniel have to clear Rupert's name and find out who is behind the murders as deaths mount. Very descriptive of New York at the time, also of the seamier side of New York as not seen on the surface, it also shows the difficulties that women faced generally at the time. The story has a lot of history in it and is intense and a page turner. Sent by Crooked Lane Books for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

A Surprise for Christmas & Other Seasonal Mysteries edited by Martin Edwards

This was such a delightful collection of short stories - in the mystery/detective genre but going back a few decades so the pace was slower, more quiet deduction and plodding rather than hi tech solutions. It also showed in a number of cases the cleverness of the detectives who spotted human errors and were thus able very quickly, very smoothly to solve the crime. All the stories set during Christmas, it brought a small degree of Christmas spirit to me personally. What with a extended lockdown, curfews, horrendous number of Covid cases and deaths, the inability to get to a church has left many of us feeling slightly isolated and as time went on depressed. I could not wrap my head around the fact that Christmas seems around the corner. This book of stories took me out of it for a bit, made me relive Christmas's past. The stories were all very well written, with central characters and slick side characters, also very descriptive of settings as well. Would be enjoyed by those readers who like a slightly older vintage of the mystery genre. Sent by Poisoned Pen Press for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Vanished Days (Scottish series) by Susanna Kearsley

This had all the elements of excellent story telling. Strong characters, history, family sagas and their personal histories, a story encompassing several generations and community and country. What was there not to like. The period of 1707 but going back to the late 17th century covering the Jacobite revolution, the return of James III. We have a young woman coming forward to claim her entitlement of a widow of a man who went on the ill fated Darien expedition. To assess her claim two men have to check out all the facts but one of them is suspicious of what is put forward, the other falls headlong in love with her. The story starts from there, alternately going back in time to previous times of Lily's birth, and then her young years coming into a family which protected her and then when her only protection was gone, literally threw her to the wolves. The hardships encountered by Lily till her present predicament are very well outlined and told by this author whose research into the turbulent history of Scotland at the time was meticulous. A must for readers who like history, who like a story well told. I've liked very much everyone of Susanna Kearsley's books one of the few authors whose books I have kept back in my declutter as I do so like to go back to them every once in a while. Sent by Sourcebooks Landmark for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Bad Blood by Marilyn Todd

1895 London. Not the best age for women - especially single ones like Julia McAllister doing a man's job and pretending there is a man who actually owns the establishment as otherwise it will not be patronised as it would not be considered "respectable" enough for ladies to enter. The photographic business is not doing well and it is only Julia's sideline unknown except for the models and for the men who buy the photographs. If word does get out, that will be the end for Julia. Austin Forbes is found dead, and Julia is called upon to photograph the evidence before it is contaminated. This is a new development and one that is not looked favourably upon by the hierarchy as well as the lower orders. In the process of photographing the dead man, Julia finds that the case could be connected with the abduction of the man's son eight years prior. Enquiring from all, including the family it transpires the man was disliked, was a womanizer, was harsh in his business dealings so that there are umpteen suspects in his murder. The characters both the main ones which fade as the story goes on, to the secondary characters who come out more strongly as the story develops, the setting and the history of this era all come to the fore in this story. So apart from crime and mystery there is a strong historical fiction element as well. A good read. Sent by Sapere Books for a unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Murder in the Village by Lisa Cutts (Belinda Penshurst book No. 1)

The village of Little Chalham is idyllic in its setting but alongside its quaint history and characters, there are hidden depths. When the local tavern keeper, Tipper - a surly soul is found murdered drowned in his own barrel of beer, swiftly followed by another murder this time wrapped in cling film Belinda and Harry an ex detective have their noses to the ground to try to find out the trail of why and how these murders are happening, all connected to Harry's own employment as a supplier of dog food. With kidnapping of dogs, three taverns or pubs competing for business the downfall of one definitely leads to the increase in business for the other and there was no love lost between the three owners. Then how do the dog nappings get connected into the puzzle? Slightly naive Belinda and Harry who is led by his nose by Belinda follow a series of clues and with a great deal of luck as well, solve the mystery. A light hearted cosy. Sent by Bookouture for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

A Bright Young Thing by Brianne Moore

1930s England must have been a very difficult time for young women who had a yen for independence. They had a peak at it during WWI, got all their freedom taken back at the end of it and were expected to go back to a Victorian age. The plight that befell Astra Davies was similar. Her parents dying in a freak accident, her taken in by an unwilling Aunt, no monies available for survival and no skills at all for her to survive on her own. Astra realized soon after the death of her parents that things were really bad. The only way out, as touted by her Aunt was a rich marriage. Suitors were there in plenty but on Astra's side she had to hide the fact that she was almost destitute. What she thought was a comfortable living was a lie, her father had invested badly had lost it all. When Astra realized that she had been living in a coccoon, she took the reins into her own hands and tried to slowly uncover the secrets her parents had hidden from her, in a foolish bid of protection. From discovering a simple minded young man, purported to be her brother in an institute, to fraudulent withdrawal of monies due to her by her lawyer, her own Aunt's hand in witholding information and a virulent, psychopathic jealous woman amongst her circle who is ready to destroy Astra's reputation in anyway possible to get rid of her from the social scene. The last was the vituperative bit and unimaginable to what lengths a jealous woman would go to bring down a rival. It was fascinating reading and as the story unfolds the importance of "what will society say" seems paramount for society at the time and anything and everything was done to maintain one's position just so. Very descriptive of the times, very descriptive of the main characters in this story this was a really interesting book to read. Sent by Alcove Press for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

1985 is not really a very long time ago. The way the story unfolds however it seems like the Middle Ages. Bill Furlong his wife and family live in Ireland minding their own business. He supplies coal and kindling to everyone around, is a fair businessman and a steady family man. His focus is on building up his business and providing for his wife and children. The convent in their midst is one of the features of Irish life. Strong Catholic links everyone in these parts but though others are aware of what goes on Bill seemed to have been a bit oblivious. The Magdalene laundries are infamous and after having read one account of it, I would not have picked this one up if it was too descriptive of these places but it was not so. On a visit to supply coal and kindling to the Convent, Bill is faced with a small view of what actually goes on in these places but he closes his eyes to it and returns home. It weighs heavily on his mind though. His wife just wants him to forget what he saw because she knows interference with the workings of the Convent will have a huge repercussion on the family. The power of the Church was widespread, and vindictive. (at the time in Ireland). The story is very touching, and emotional. It is also quite precise and not long winded. Though the subject is a tough one, the feeling of being humane and compassionate are all encompassing in this read. Sent by Grove Atlantic for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.