The Wife's Choice by Emma Davies

Divided into three segments of the past, present and future Alys quiet life - controlled and more than controlled manipulated very quietly by her unassuming husband Hugh - is about to take a nose dive. Alys is made redundant - the manner in which it was done was surreptitious (Hugh her husband is her boss too). He never mentioned it to hr earlier, she was just given her notice at the end of the day in an envelope with no fair warning. The fact that Alys just took it like a doormat was irritating. But Hugh had a habit of turning any conversation to the way he wanted it to be and for sake of peace and their daughter Esme let it ride. When Esme gets a job of her dreams in The Green Cafe, one that has a stellar reputation Hugh is miffed, Alys is elated till she one day meets up with the co owner Sam who incidentally happened to be her ex husband from whom she separated under very tragic circumstances. The story actually evolves from there - the path that Alys must take, the secrets that have to be told, the ugly truth of what happened twenty three years ago all revealed and then Alys must decide what she wants to do with her life even in the mid fifties better late than never. A story of a very late blossoming, of facing facts full on, unpalatable and earth shaking as they may be. A lovely story which I enjoyed reading tremendously. Sent by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Bookouture. PS still not resolved the picture issue here.

Pearl River Mansion by Richard Schwarz

We have a list of very strong characters in this book. Joan is a very powerful woman, used to getting her own way. Tyler her son and heir knows that his mother will only give anything if there are conditions attached and all are in some way or the other beneficial to her. Sarah his wife, impressed by the family wealth (she comes from very humble background) and then there are the twins Cody and Rachel. The story set in the South at a time of racial inequality is reflected in this book and it is at times disturbing and makes one aware of how hard it was for the average American black man to live or even to survive unless he toed the line and did everything that was expected of him by his white neighbours or his boss. The story of Joan Chandler, the control she had over her domestics, her grandchildren and the manipulative way she went to circumvent justice, just to get her own way in obtaining sole custody of her grand daughter were beyond imagination. The detectives in charge of the case saw it as an open and shut case. It was the determination of a private investigator instructed by a sister who knew that her father's absence was no missing runaway but that it hid a deeper secret and who pursued her belief that uncovered the whole sorry mess. Complicated, and a family saga this was a long story but it did hold my interest throughout. Sent by Mascot Books via Netgalley for an unbiased review.

The Day I Disappeared by Brandi Reeds

A little girl is abducted whilst playing with her friend, the two mothers are chatting just there. It is in broad daylight and very bold. There is a difference however, this little girl is returned unharmed physically 92 days later. Slightly different to other child kidnappings we hear about.


The family of course are the first suspects - the mother on the road to ruin by drink, the father does not know what to do to keep the family together, at the same time having a long term affair with the lady next door, both spouses know of their partners infidelity and do not want to bring it into the open and we have the children involved who are the victims here.


Fast forward twenty years and a similar case crops up and now detectives ponder whether the man serving the prison sentence is innocent. Is this a copycat case or is someone just continuing the work started twenty years ago. Eleven little girls missing, some found, some not all dressed in the same way when found eerily similar.


The story goes in chapter form from one character to another - each of their stories is a story in itself and all center around Holly's abduction and return. The actual links appear very slowly and only at the end.


A different kind of mystery story.


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


On another note reading vintage classics is turning out to be rather fun. As an alternative kind of read to the mystery or suspense stories of present times, these rather slower books are catching my fancy big time.

28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand

Can one hide a love affair for 28 years. Mallory and Jake have done just that. Jake is now married, with a family. He comes every weekend just one weekend mind you to live with Mallory and he has done that for 28 years unknown to his friends, to Mallory's own family and to his own wife. The circle is close, they are all known to each other and one thinks what is the love that binds Jake to Mallory but that is not sufficient for him to actually leave his wife (now a US Senator) and an aspiring Presidential candidate to boot. The story set in Nantucket in a quiet town and then going back and forth over the lives of each character appearing now in one city and then the next, the cross referencing between all of them and underneath it all the thread of Mallory and Jake's love story. Very poignant, sad and emotional this was inevitably a sad story of a different kind of love story. It has to end it cannot continue - one begins to feel that from midway through the story. This is one of the author's best ever books. Sent by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Hodder & Stoughton.

Musical Chairs by Amy Poeppel

Bridget and Will have a relationship which is close, intimate friends but nothing more. It is something that is platonic but very deep rooted. Bridget is with her head in the clouds on most practical things and would drive most people nuts! she is lucky her children see the goodness in her beyond the slightly scatty behaviour! Bridget has also got a egoistic father Edward who is famous and at 94 thinking of embarking on marriage (on a big scale at that). Bridget has also just been dumped in the most appalling fashion by her lover and Will has just fallen head over heels in love with Emma in the most unexpected of places (in the small village lives) Will is not a village type! Bridget and Will are musicians part of a trio. The third party has now led them down and Will has now approached Gavin a former member of the trio to rejoin them without running it by Bridget who has a history with Gavin, unknown to Will and when she does unveil the secret it catches all of them unaware of the repercussions. Slightly muddled, absolutely fascinating, me wanting to know what new mess everyone has got into because believe me they do. Chaotic and excellent reading. Family loyalty above all lots of love around. Sent by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Atria Books. PS If anyone can explain how I can get an image on this post I would be very appreciative.

The President's Dossier by James A. Scott

I dont seem to know how to post a picture of the cover of the book. In this case you are not missing much as its rather drab! The story was not though. Very fast paced and you have to be on your toes to see whether Max Geller is being pursued by M16 the CIA or the Russian Police or the Russian mafia, actually both. The story moves very quickly between one location and the next and seems slightly fantastical to a layman but I suppose this is the way high treason/spying works! Lots of betrayal, a President out for himself (money laundering in a huge manner) do you see the trend and a familiar figure peeking out! Very easy to relate to despite the quick work on the part of all parties involved. Interesting read of this genre to have. Sent by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of OceanView Publishing.

Poisoned Primrose by Dahlia Donovan

I've not read a book with several murders involving a character who is autistic, asexual and very much part of a community. At 40 Motts has just moved to a quaint village in beautiful Cornwall with her cat and her turtle. She wants a quiet life, to become independent of her parents who hover over her all the time and get on with it.


What Motts did not expect is to find a body buried in her back garden. This was where the murders start. She did not expect to be personally attacked either because she started an enquiry of her own with her eccentric friends in the village, who all had her back but who could not protect her from someone in the village who was determined to put a stop to all the enquiries.


As is usual in villages, there is usually a lot of history in personal quarrels and this was no exception.
A British cozy mystery set in (again) stunning settings of Cornwall, and this time with a very mixed cast of characters, a touch of romance (just starting btw) and probably more to come.


Very fun read.


Sent by Tangled Tree Publishing courtesy of Netgalley for an unbiased review.