My year on Goodreads

 

and why I haven't reviewed as many books this year

The Fellowship of Puzzle Makers - Samuel Burr

 

Description

An extraordinary, gloriously uplifting novel about the power of friendship and the puzzling ties that bind us

Clayton Stumper might be twenty-six years old, but he dresses like your grandpa and drinks sherry like your aunt. Abandoned at birth on the steps of the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, he was raised by a group of eccentric enigmatologists and now finds himself among the last survivors of a fading institution.

When the esteemed crossword compiler and main maternal presence in Clayton's life, Pippa Allsbrook, passes away, she bestows her final puzzle on him: a promise to reveal the mystery of his parentage and prepare him for life beyond the walls of the commune. As Clay begins to unpick the clues, he uncovers something even the Fellowship have never been able to solve—and it's a secret that has the potential to change everything.

Review

I researched this book before buying it in case it was going to be too hard to solve the puzzles. I got my copy on kindle and looked the preview pages. It seemed that you didn't need to be able to solve the puzzles to read the story, so I made my purchase.

I do love puzzles and at first I actually learnt a couple of things, so that was cool. The story was really rather charming to begin with but then I felt it began to be very drawn out. The dialogue also became cutesy and I found I wasn't rushing to pick it back up to read.

Set over two timelines that didn't work for me. I think it would have been better written in two parts. Some very nice characters and nothing too awful happens, so it's a cosy read.

Well I made it to the end of the book and have to say overall I was a little bit disappointed with the story. I think that the book was probably a little bit overhyped. So if you are really a puzzler maybe give it a miss.

I'm giving it 3 out of 5 stars.

Eat Slay Love - Julie Mae Cohen

 

Description

A friend will help you move on. A best friend will help you move his body.

Opal, Marina and Lilah are three strangers and have nothing in common. Well, except for the man who's been lying to all of them. And who they are now holding hostage in a basement.

From the author of Bad Men, Eat, Slay, Love is a book about making friends, finding joy, and discovering the woman you really are . . . though, sometimes, becoming your best self involves committing abduction and murder.

Review

This is the second book by the author I have read and this time rather than a professional killer it has an unimagined killer. 

Three woman are all involved with the same man, unbeknown to two of them. When the third one reaches out to alert the other two, they get together with a plan in mind to teach him a lesson. In teaching him a lesson they also form a sisterhood, and end up teaching each other a few life lessons too.

With some dark humour it also covers some serious topics including violence against women and coercion. It doesn't take itself too seriously though, and at times this led to the characters being perhaps too one dimensional for me.

At first I thought this read was going to be a little slapstick for my liking. But combined with a librarian and a down to earth Mother the book began well for me. It took me a minute to get who was who straight in my head, but once I did it was straightforward to read from the different points of view.

I went through a phase with the story where I wondered wasn't this all mapped out with not much left to discover. Then the story took a different turn and I couldn't put it down. Best of all though, OMG - the ending! No spoilers here!

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review. The book is published on 24 October 2024.

The Blue Hour - Paula Hawkins

 

Description

AS FEATURED ON BBC RADIO 4 FRONT ROW

‘Utterly compelling. Could not put it down.’ LIZ NUGENT

‘Really, really, REALLY good. Highly recommended!’ MARIAN KEYES

'I LOVED this art-world-set thriller with its stately-home Saltburn vibe.' DAILY MAIL

THE CHILLING AND ADDICTIVE NEW THRILLER FROM THE MULTI-MILLION-COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR.

**************
WELCOME TO ERIS - A SCOTTISH TIDAL ISLAND WITH ONLY ONE HOUSE, ONE INHABITANT,
ONE WAY OUT. . .

A place that is unreachable from the Scottish mainland for twelve hours each day. Once the hideaway of Vanessa, a famous artist whose notoriously unfaithful husband disappeared twenty years ago.

Now home to Grace. A solitary creature of the tides, content in her own isolation.

But when a shocking discovery is made in an art gallery far away in London, Grace receives an unexpected visitor.

And the secrets of Eris threaten to emerge . . .

Review

Is this another "The Girl on the Train"?- no. Is it a fabulous read in it's own right - yes!

Just before I started the book I saw a comment that this was nothing like TGOTT, and I worried that I had set myself up with a DNF. Someone living on an island all alone, cut off from the world, how exciting can this be? I thought. A shocking discovery - will it be that shocking?

Becker has a job to do. He needs to visit the island and understand why Grace isn't playing ball with the wishes in the will of the late artist Vanessa. Becker has a complicated life, but his love of the artist and his dream job makes him want to visit the island, and meet Grace himself.

I loved the writing from the first page, it's very different and whilst descriptive, I felt every word deserved to be read. I was so taken by the portrayal of the artist that I began to think she actually existed, especially when her letters and diary entries were included. Also very vivid were the descriptions of her art and I longed to be able to actually see them in person. All this just a backdrop to what is really happening. So much planning has gone into the plot and the resultant story telling.

It's certainly a slow burner.  It's a well thought out and meandering ride until it reaches the fast paced ending. For the trip you are taken on I felt was worth the scenic route.

It's been a while since I have really wanted to keep reading a book, couldn't wait to get back to it. For that reason this deserves 5 stars from me.  My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review. 

Invisible Kitties - Yu Yoyo

 

Description

A whimsical and inventive debut, perfect for fans of The Guest Cat and If Cats Disappeared from the World. A young couple’s daily life is disrupted by their newly adopted cat, who soon initiates them into the wondrous world of felines.

Every cat contains multitudes…

When a young couple accidentally comes into possession of a playful kitten, their daily routine (and cramped apartment) is turned upside down. Soon they find their existence forever altered.

Charting the couple’s ever-evolving relationship with cats – some they live with, others who exist only in their imagination – Invisible Kitties is a meditation on the quiet moments of everyday life and a celebration of cats in all their many forms.

Review

Well, it's certainly different!

I found this book too surrealist for my taste. Of course as it is translated from the Japanese I was expecting it to be different to western writing.  At times it is more whimsical and that I was okay with. I can relate to some of the descriptions of cat behaviour and those I enjoyed. 

I think you need to be a cat lover to even pick up this book. For many cat lovers it would be the perfect gift. It's a short read with lots of drawings and paw prints on the pages.

I'm giving this book 3 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review.

Friends of Dorothy - Sandi Toksvig

 

Description

The funny, wise and brilliant new novel from the star of QI and the author of Between the Stops

'Warm, witty and wise... the perfect balm for these turbulent times' GRAHAM NORTON

After much searching, the happily married young couple, Amber and Stevie think they have found the perfect spot in Grimaldi Square. Despite the rundown pub across the way, the overgrown garden and a decidedly nosy neighbour, number 4 is the house of their dreams. Stevie, a woman who has never left anything to chance, has planned everything so nothing can spoil their happiness. But ... upstairs in their new home, seated on an old red sofa is the woman they bought the place from - eighty-year-old foul-mouthed, straight-talking, wise-cracking Dorothy - who has decided that she's not going anywhere. It turns out that Dorothy will be only the first in a line of life-changing surprises.

Friends of Dorothy is a touching, funny novel about a family that is not biological, but logical; a story close to Sandi Toksvig's heart.

Review

Amber and Stevie buy a house, but it has a sitting tenant, that they weren't expecting to have. She's 80 years old and doesn't care what anyone thinks and she certainly speaks her mind.

I really wanted to read this book as I loved Sandi's memoir book and her style of writing. Unfortunately for me from the first page I just didn't really gel with the whole premise of the book. Each time I picked the book up I thought the story wasn't progressing very much and I was beginning to get bored.

I stuck with it, and eventually there was a little bit more of a development to the story. Unfortunately whilst I had thought the book would be light-hearted it then went from almost slap stick to covering some darker themes. It felt like a bit of a slap in the face. Maybe the author thought that it was a truer representation of life, but it wasn't consistent with the rest of the book.

I did really like the character of Dorothy and she had some classic lines.

I'm giving this book 3 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review.

Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel

 

Description

Turn a tumbledown Paris hotel into a perfect boutique, bookish retreat, and have it open for Christmas? What could possibly go wrong?

When Anais receives a near-derelict Paris hotel in her divorce settlement, her first thought is to tidy it up and sell it immediately. All she wants is to move on and forget her disaster of a marriage ever happened.

But selling it proves impossible, so she has only one option: to make it gorgeous and open by Christmas… when her funds will almost certainly run out.

She’s not counting on the grumpy American bar-owner next door, Noah, coming and interfering at every moment though. Nor is she expecting to find a mysterious room – which holds the key to a one-hundred-year-old secret – about a woman who chose love against the odds.

One thing’s for sure… as the fairy lights twinkle all over the city of lights and the first snowflakes start to fall… this will be a Christmas in Paris to remember.

Review

It took a while for me to get invested in this story.

Anais gets an almost derelict hotel in Paris as her divorce settlement. We learn that her ex was not to be trusted and everyone had warned her before they married. Now rueing the day she met him and didn't take everyone's advice she is trying to salvage some money by renovating the hotel to sell. 

I didn't really warm to Anais. All her dialogue seemed a little too practised. I understand she is part French and part English, however, throwing in Oui every so often began to grate on me. Noah the owner of the bar next door started out as a bit of a bore, but slowly grew on me. So thank goodness for Manon, the cousin of Anais, and for me the best character in the book closely followed by Margaret the literary agent.

Once the renovations of the hotel began and a little mystery crept in, I was well and truly submerged into the story. I loved the latter part of the book. There's definitely some Christmas magic in the book and some great facts about Paris too.

I'm giving this book 3 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review.

Bella's Countryside Christmas - Claire Huston

 

DESCRIPTION

Fleeing her heartache and horrendous job, Bella stumbles upon a December wedding in the beautiful village of Haileybrook and the spirit of the season moves her to act as a fake date to handsome stranger Jack.

Jack and Bella hit it off, but Bella has to leave in a hurry and their magical evening soon becomes nothing more than a blissful memory.

A year later, Bella is returning to Haileybrook, seeking a fresh start and a quieter life. With a new job close to her cosy cottage home, a peaceful Christmas is surely only days away.

But it’s not long before family surprises, small-town feuds and romantic drama disrupt Bella’s plans, and she has to wonder if being alone is what she really wants for Christmas …

This cosy, uplifting festive romance is perfect for fans of Hallmark Christmas movies and authors such as Sarah Morgan, Phillipa Ashley and Sue Moorcroft.

REVIEW

What a great read with a wonderful storyline.

We first meet Bella in a church, shortly before she becomes entangled in a Christmas Tree. Her hero in rescuing her is Jack. Very quickly he becomes someone she decides to help out by becoming his fake plus one at the wedding about to take place in the church.

A year later Bella moves to the same village she met Jack in. Except he's a bit frosty to her this time around. Bella has more than enough to keep her occupied though. She needs to settle into village life after her demanding London career and adjust to her new job at a retirement complex. 

So many lovely characters in this book, as well as revisiting some of the ones we met in Claire's earlier books. This is a totally standalone novel though. I really liked the main character Bella, she was straight talking and just got on with everything, whilst being a nice person. Sometimes her internal voice was not in her best interest and I longed for her to see her way through what was happening. 

Reflecting on the story, such a lot happens but in a very natural way.  Each time I put the book down I couldn't wait to get back to it. It was like a little warm hug when you entered the pages.

My thanks to Claire for the ARC. I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. The book is published on 18 September 2024.

Tell Me Everything - Elizabeth Strout

 

Description

A hopeful, healing novel about new friendships, old loves, and the very human desire to leave a mark on the world, from the Pulitzer Prize-winning, Booker-shortlisted author – available for pre-order now

It’s autumn in Maine, and the town lawyer Bob Burgess has become enmeshed in an unfolding murder investigation, defending a lonely, isolated man accused of killing his mother. He has also fallen into a deep and abiding friendship with the acclaimed writer, Lucy Barton, who lives nearby in a house next to the sea. Together, Lucy and Bob talk about their lives, their hopes and regrets, and what might have been. Lucy, meanwhile, befriends one of Crosby’s longest inhabitants, Olive Kitteridge, now living in a retirement community on the edge of town. They spend afternoons together in Olive’s apartment, telling each other stories. Stories about people they have known – “unrecorded lives,” Olive calls them – reanimating them, and, in the process, imbuing their lives with meaning.

Brimming with empathy and pathos, TELL ME EVERYTHING is Elizabeth Strout operating at the height of her powers, illuminating the ways in which our relationships keep us afloat. As Lucy says, “Love comes in so many different forms, but it is always love.”

Review

If you haven't read any of the author's books before, this is not the place to start.

I'd met everyone in this book before. In this book some of the previous characters link up, as in Lucy Barton beginning to visit Olive Kitteridge in her retirement home to share stories. Following on from the previous book (Lucy by the Sea) which was set in the pandemic Lucy is still with her ex husband and now forming a stronger friendship with Bob Burgess through their walks. Some of the backstory is repeated but really to get the most out of this book you need to have read the previous ones.

How I have enjoyed meeting all the characters from Elizabeth's previous books again. It was like reminiscing with old friends and hearing new stories too. I think you need to be a fan of this style of slow paced character led writing to fully appreciate this book. Not too much actually happens in terms of a plot, apart from a potential murder. It is however packed with Elizabeth's signature on point descriptive prose about people, their actions and inner thoughts. I can understand how she observes to create character traits but how she fabricates characters inner thoughts so well, I do not know.

I still love the Olive Kitteridge character the most. In this book she is now in her 90s but still going strong. With her opinions very much still freely voiced. My one takeaway from this book will be "Just life... that's all it is life".

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review. This title is published on 19 September 2024.

Rewitched - Lucy Jane Wood

 

Description

It's time to rediscover her magic . . .

With found family, a dash of romance and an uplifting message about self-love, Rewitched is a cosy autumnal fantasy that will leave readers spellbound.

Belladonna Blackthorn hasn’t lost her magical spark, but she hasn’t seen it in a while either. Balancing work at her beloved London bookshop, Lunar Books, with handling her toxic boss and concealing her witchcraft from those around her – Belle is burnt out. Perfecting the potential of her magic is the last thing on her mind.

But, when her thirtieth birthday brings a summons from her coven and a trial that tests her worthiness as a witch, Belle risks losing her magic for ever. With the month of October to fix things and signs that dark forces may be working against her, Belle will need all the help she can get – from the women in her life, from an unlikely mentor figure and even from an (infuriating) coven watchman who’s sworn to protect her . . .

'I was completely charmed by this delightful and endearing novel about rediscovering your spark' - Sarah Beth Durst, author of The Spellshop

Review

A slow burner to begin with, but a rollercoaster of an ending.

We meet Belle as she is tackling changes at the bookshop where she works. A despicable new boss who is the son of the owner, thinks he knows best. He is progressively removing the appeal, some might say magic, that Belle has worked so hard to achieve.

We then learn that Belle is a witch and so maybe she has woven a little magic into her work at the bookshop. She could be in danger of losing the magic bestowed upon her on her 15th birthday. As now she is about to turn 30 the coven summon her to see how she has used her magic for the last 15 years. If they aren't satisfied with the evidence she could be about to lose her magic forever.

What follows is the mentoring she receives to try and pass the trial to retain her magic. I really liked the different trials and the magic, although at times it felt like it dragged a little as it was very descriptive. Belle is a great character as is her Mother Bonnie who is another witch. I didn't feel that I really got to know the other characters that well but towards the end of the book new depths to the characters were revealed.

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review. The book is published on 19 September 2024.

Smoke and Murders - J L Blackhurst

 

Description

COMING SOON – PRE-ORDER NOW The follow-up to Three Card Murder and the second book in a gripping new mystery series introducing Detective Tess Fox and her con-artist sister Sarah Jacobs.

Members of the Lewes Bonfire Society would say afterwards that the event would have been a huge success that year, if it hadn’t been for the dead body…

When the charred remains of MP Rupert Millington are found inside a burning effigy, no one knows how they got there, but there are plenty of rumours about whodunnit.

The lead suspect wants Detective Tess Fox and her con-artist sister Sarah Jacobs to help clear her name. She says she's being framed, but surely there is no smoke without fire.

The heat is on when a second victim is killed in a locked room while Tess and Sarah are in the building. Can the duo solve this puzzling mystery and find the real killer before they strike again?

Review

We are back with the two sisters Tess (police officer) and Sarah (con artist) from the previous book. I don't think you will get much out of this book if you don't read the previous book first. There are so many references which you won't understand otherwise.

Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed the first book, even though a lot of it was far fetched, I found this one a little harder to get into. I also found it too incredible how much time Sarah spent with her sister Tess whilst she was investigating an official police matter. There was the humour which was good and the banter between the sisters was also great fun. Some of the other characters read like they were caricatures and I got Midsomer Murder vibes more than once.

It was quite the tangled web that was woven between the characters in the village and more than once I got confused who was who, but then that seemed to be the order of the day with this story. It was this that made me decide whilst reading this book that I would not read a follow on, if there was to be one. Then I got to the last page and that all changed. What a cliff hanger is all I am going to say... I need book 3!

I'm giving this book 3 out of stars. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC and HQStories for the invite to read this book. It will be published on 12 September 2024.

The Lantern of Lost Memories - Sanaka Hiiragi

 

Description

One photograph, one treasured memory, one chance to go back . . .

In a cosy photography studio in the mountains between this world and the next, someone is waking up as if from a dream. A kind man will hand them a hot cup of tea and gently explain that, having reached the end of their life, they have one final task.

There is a stack of photos on their lap, one for every day of their life, and now they must choose the pictures that capture their most treasured memories, which will be placed in a beautiful lantern. Once completed, it will be set spinning, and their cherished moments will flash before their eyes, guiding them to another world.

But, like our most thumbed-over photographs, our favourite memories become faded with age, so each visitor to the studio has the chance to choose one day to return to and photograph afresh. Each has a treasured story to tell, from the old woman rebuilding a community in Tokyo after a disaster, to the flawed Yakuza man who remembers a time when he was kind, and a strong child who is fighting to survive.

Extraordinarily moving and wise, The Lantern of Lost Memories is a beautiful Japanese tale about the people that make us and the moments that change us.

Review

A beautifully written book. 

You know they say your life flashes before you when you die? Well in this book the concept is taken to mean a lantern which shows a photograph for every year of your life. The choosing of which photographs are in the lantern is down to the deceased. They meet with a special man in a photography studio while they pass between this world and the next. It is he who helps them navigate the selection of their photographs from a stack of photos, each one a day in their life.

Sometimes the memory they favour the most is not very vivid because it has been replayed by the deceased many times. The photography studio has an answer for this. They let you select a camera and take you back to the day of the memory to retake the photograph. We also get to go back with them, and this is how we learn about the life they have lived.

As you can imagine this is a story for those who like a little fantasy and are not hung up on facts. We meet three people in the book as they decide on their photographs for their lantern. Although this sounds very cosy it does also deal with some very real abuse issues. However they are dealt with sensitively and not too graphically.

There is a little twist toward the end of the book which I just loved. Maybe there will be a follow on book? Which would be very nice to have.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review. The book is published on 22 August 2024.

Mina's Matchbox - Yoko Ogawa

 

Description

On sleepless nights, I open the matchbox and reread the story of the girl who gathered shooting stars.

After the death of her father, twelve-year-old Tomoko is sent to live for a year with her uncle in the coastal town of Ashiya. It is a year which will change her life.

The 1970s are bringing changes to Japan and her uncle's magnificent colonial mansion opens up a new and unfamiliar world for Tomoko; its sprawling gardens are even home to a pygmy hippo the family keeps as a pet. Tomoko finds her relatives equally exotic and beguiling and her growing friendship with her cousin Mina draws her into an intoxicating world full of secret crushes and elaborate storytelling.

Rich with the magic and mystery of youth, Mina’s Matchbox is an evocative snapshot of a moment frozen in time, and a striking depiction of a family on the edge of collapse.

Review

This was an intriguing read, although not much really happens.

As I reflect back over this book I realise that it was the beautiful writing kept me reading. There are some wonderful enchanting moments which made me gasp. You really need to be in the mindset of this being set in Japan and not the Western world.

Tomoko goes to live with her affluent family in Ashiva for a year in 1972. Apart from the obvious benefits of the lifestyle there are some quirky things that happen. Such as her cousin Mina riding a baby hippo to school each day. Mina is also asthmatic and this results in some time in hospital at various points in the book and how Tomoko finds her own way in the family without her presence.

The relationship Tomoko forms with Mina is charming and sweet. The book also charts the new found maturity that Tomoko experiences. There are a few loose ends that I wish had been explored more. I guess as it is being told from the perspective of an adult looking back on their childhood, this relfects their lack of understanding of what was happening.

I'm giving this book 3 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review. The book is published on 15 August 2024.

Scandalous Women - Gill Paul

 

Description

Mad Men meets the world of publishing in million-copy bestselling author Gill Paul’s new novel about Jackie Collins and Jacqueline Susann

1966:In London, Jackie Collins's racy The World is Full of Married Men hits bookshops and launches her career. In New York, Jacqueline Susann's debut novel Valley of the Dolls is published, and she's desperate for it to be a bestseller. But both are about to discover the price they will pay for being women who dare to write about sex.

Meanwhile, college graduate Nancy White is excited to take up her dream job at a Manhattan publishing house. But Nancy could never be prepared for the rampant sexism she is about to encounter.

When Nancy introduces the two Jackies, she fears they will become rivals in their race to top the charts. As she strives to achieve her ambition of becoming an editor, can all three women succeed despite the men determined to hold them back?

Praise for Scandalous Women:

'Scrumptious' Eve Chase

'Sensational' Tracy Rees

'Perfect' Elizabeth Freemantle

'A triumph' Alex Brown

Review

I could not put this book down!

A story of Jackie Collins and Jacqueline Susann and not only their rise to fame with their respective books, but the sexism and trials and tribulations they encountered along the way. Whilst the account is fictious it was so much fun to read, Gill really brought the two authors alive.

My favourite character was Nancy the fictious book intern and her navigation of New York in the 1960s. Even though the blatant sexism she encountered at work was hard to read I was routing for her throughout. From arriving to find she had no place to stay, to her friendship with Jacqueline Susann and later Jackie Collins, it was just a delight to read. The character was a brilliant bridge between the two author stories.

Gill wove factual detail into her story so well, that when I had finished reading I was grateful for her notes on what did and didn't actually happen. Also how she had entwined certain facts and fiction to make for a gripping read.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Avon Books UK and netgalley for the ARC to review. This book is published on 13 August 2024.

The Clique - Rhiannon Barnsley

 

Description

There’s only one way to join their society. If someone leaves, or dies…

High-flying lawyer Sara O’Neil had it all; the career, the money, the prestige.

And then she jumped to her death.

Cassandra Harlow never expected to see her friend fall from their office rooftop. Someone knows what really happened. But the only people who might know the truth are a secret women-only society, Inside, whose promise is to fast-track your career.

But if Sara was part of it and they helped facilitate her rise to the top, could they also be the reason she came crashing down to earth?

Review

The author is a corporate lawyer, so it's obviously going to be based in reality, but at times it was stretched a little too far for me.

Cass is a lawyer about to hopefully make partner, when her mentor Sara, falls to her death at the office. Cass feels a bit at sea without her guidance and suggestions on how to deal with office politics. Only it might be that Sara herself wasn't who Cass thought she was, someone with all her ducks in a row. Maybe the secret society "Inside" have some of the answers but first Cass needs to gain membership to find out. With limited membership slots it's not going to be easy.

What ensues is towards the end of the book a page turning thriller. Cass certainly has lots of guts which made for edge of the seat reading. I did wonder what Cass was going to do as her avenues became closed and her allies lessening.  I thought that in places the writing was overly descriptive and explanatory. Don't get me wrong it's a great story and I enjoyed the read, but the writing shows it as a debut novel for me.

I'm giving this book 3 out of 5 stars. My thanks to One More Chapter for the invite to read this book and to netgalley for the ARC to review. The book is published on 1 August 2024.

The Cracked Mirror - Chris Brookmyre

  

Description

FORGET WHAT YOU THINK YOU KNOW
THIS IS NOT THAT CRIME NOVEL

You know Penny Coyne. The little old lady who has solved multiple murders in her otherwise sleepy village, despite bumbling local police. A razor-sharp mind in a twinset and tweed.

You know Johnny Hawke. Hard-bitten LAPD homicide detective. Always in trouble with his captain, always losing partners, but always battling for the truth, whatever it takes.

Against all the odds, against the usual story, their worlds are about to collide. It starts with a dead writer and a mysterious wedding invitation. It will end with a rabbit hole that goes so deep, Johnny and Penny might come to question not just whodunnit, but whether they want to know the answer.

A cross-genre hybrid of Agatha Christie and Michael Connelly, The Cracked Mirror is the most imaginative and entertaining crime novel of the year, a genre-splicing rollercoaster with a poignantly emotional heart.

Review

This is my first read by this author, so I wasn't sure what to expect, being drawn in by the sideways reference to Agatha Christie in the title.

I felt like the book started in traditional Agatha Christie territory in an English village and a little old lady who solved murders. Just settling into that when we are transported to Los Angeles and a homicide detective called Johnny Hawke who has trouble keeping his partners alive.

The story then switched between these two places and it was as if I was reading two totally separate books. What was happening here? How are these two opposite people going to end up being involved in the same story. Slowly it began to come together when suddenly a new person was introduced with their own agenda and story. I was now totally flummoxed with three threads and a shed load of characters, but I read on, hoping it was all going to become clear.

Without totally ruining the book there isn't much else I can say, other than I have never read anything like it before. So very clever, at times maybe too clever for the reader who is having to grasp all the information wondering when it will be needed.  

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Little Brown Book group and netgalley for the ARC to review.

This Motherless Land - Nikki May

 

Description

From the prize-winning author of WAHALA, a powerful de-colonial retelling of MANSFIELD PARK, exploring identity, culture, race and love

'A spirited exploration of culture and kinship' BONNIE GARMUS
'Deeply emotional and entertaining' EMMA STONEX, author of The Lamplighters
'Tugs at the heartstrings' DAMILARE KUKU, author of Nearly all the Men in Lagos are Mad
'______________
When Funke’s mother dies in an accident in Lagos, she’s sent to live with her maternal family in England. Against a backdrop of condescension and mild neglect, sensible Funke strives to fit in, determined to become one of them.

Free-spirited Liv has always wanted to break free of her joyless family, to be nothing like them. Fiercely protective of Funke, she at last has an ally. The two cousins give each other what they need most: love.

But the past casts long shadows and the choices made by their mothers haunt them, shaping the trajectory of their adult lives. Can they escape their legacy?

Review

Wow! I loved this book so much.

The story begins in 1978 set in Nigeria. When Funke's mother and brother dies her Father grieves his wife and his heir. Funke is sent to England to live with her estranged family. The estrangement came about due to her parents having an interracial marriage. This sets the tone for Funke's life in England albeit her cousin Liv who becomes her best friend.

The years pass and Liv is not a happy young woman. She drinks to excess as well as a lot of other things. When Funke gets unwittingly caught up in Liv's wrong doings it's hard not to cry for her. You could see the shortcomings approaching and reading on only confirmed my worst fears for Funke.

The book ends with the two girls now in adulthood. I was racing through those last chapters needing closure. I leave you to find out for yourself if I got it.

So many brilliantly drawn characters in this book. I felt totally immersed in the world of Funke and Liv.

It's been a while since I really wanted to pick up a book and just read and read it. I loved Wahala and wondered if this book would live up to it. I would say it is a totally different read, apart from covering the cultural differences between British/Nigerian cultures. 

I can't wait to read her next book. I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks for the invite from Randomhouse to read the ARC on netgalley. The book is published on 18 July 2024.

A Good Place to Hide a Body - Laura Marshall

 

Description

'Can you come round?' Dad says tremulously.
'Of course. Are you OK? Is it Mum?'
'No!' He almost shouts it. 'Just come quickly. The garden...the...body... we need you, Penny.'
For women of Penny's generation, being on hand for elderly parents is just part of life. But for Penny, things have become a little more serious...

When she receives a frantic phone call from her parents one night, with express instructions NOT to call the police, Penny rushes over at once. But they haven't had a fall. They haven't forgotten their computer passwords. They've killed someone. And his body is lying in the garden, right next to the rose bushes.
Everyone is capable of murder. They just need to meet the right person.

Review

A dark and in places amusing read.

Penny thinks her elderly parents are a little needy and getting in the way of her life. However, this time when they ring she realises they really do need her. 

The books begins with the "body" and works backwards for three months. Just as I was beginning to think there wasn't much to the plot we catch up to the present day, then it really became a page turner. Every time I thought I must be near the end of the book there was another twist. In the end this book definitely became a thriller.

The best drawn characters for me were the parents. Surprises up their sleeves at every turn. Whilst a lot of current books have older people solving crimes, in this case they are involved in the crime. Penny was a little judgemental about everyone and certainly very tardy with her work. However she did take a lot of risks that had me holding my breath at times.

An enjoyable read. I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review.

More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop - Satoshi Yagisawa

 

Description

In Tokyo, there is a neighbourhood with the highest number of bookstores in the world. It is called Jimbocho where book lovers can browse to their heart's delight and where hunters of first editions or autographed copies prowl the bookcases.

The Morisaki bookshop, a small family-run shop, is so packed with books that barely five people can fit inside. Books crowd the shelves and invade every corner of the floor; when a customer arrives, the owner, Satoru, immediately pops out from behind the counter. Recently, his wife Momoko has joined him, and often, in her free time after work, their niece Takako also helps out.

For the first time, the girl does not feel lonely; she has new friends and new rituals to keep her company: the annual Jimbocho festival, the café around the corner, or an unexpected visitor. Because, as she has discovered, a bookstore is populated not by the characters contained in the books, but also by those who frequent it. And those stories create bonds.
As a sign of gratitude, Takako gives her aunt and uncle a trip, promising to look after the shop while they are away. Everything seems to be going swimmingly, but then why is Satoru behaving so strangely? And what does that woman with the red umbrella want who has appeared at the end of the street? How many other stories, emotions, and treasures does the Morisaki bookshop hold?

Loved by thousands of readers worldwide, More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a story of hope, friendship and the healing power of books. Will we see you in the bookshop this summer?

Review

This is a sequel to Days at the Morisaki Bookshop. This book can be read as standalone, but you will really get to know the characters better if you read the first book. Also, you will be missing so much of the back story.

Takako is once again the central character in the book. This time she gifts a short break to her Uncle and Aunt and looks after the bookshop whilst they are away. She really relishes the time spent at the bookshop, even sleeping over in her old room. 

Once her Uncle and Aunt return from their trip things seem to be different, and Takako is unsure what is wrong. She also has some worries around her own relationship with Wada. Meanwhile two of her friends are also having a difficult time relating to one another.

The writing is as always magical and so eloquent, but the themes running through the book are a little melancholy at times. Sometimes to the Western mind it seems that it could all be resolved so easily but that is not the way in Japan. Without wishing to spoil the book I won't say anymore about that. 

I really enjoyed reconnecting with the characters, it was like meeting old friends.

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review. The book is published on 4 July 2024.

Our Holiday - Louise Candlish

 

Description

A gripping new summer thriller from the bestselling author of Our House, full of characters you'll love to hate and twists you'll never see coming!

‘A stylish, sun-soaked thriller… Our Holiday is destined to be THE summer read of 2024’ Janice Hallett

‘A sharp, brilliantly observed novel that had me gasping at every twist and turn’ Sarah Pearse

‘Smart, sharp and suspenseful with characters you won’t forget’ Adele Parks

Charlotte and Perry long for summers at Cliff View, their gorgeous holiday home overlooking the turquoise waters of Pine Ridge. And now that city friends Amy and Linus have bought a property nearby, they plan lazy weeks of sun, sea and sipping rosé on Charlotte’s summerhouse veranda.

But there’s trouble in paradise…

A rising tide of resentment towards second-home owners is heading their way and small acts of criminal damage are escalating into something more menacing. By the end of the summer, families and friendships will be torn apart and Pine Ridge will be known for more than its sun-drenched beaches.

It will be known for murder…

Review

I requested to review this book based solely on the author, as I have loved her previous books. This one not so much.

The book is mainly set in a seaside town in England. Two couples both who met in London where they live now have holiday homes in the same road. The idea being, at least by the women of the group, that they share time together on holiday.

The locals are not happy about the DFL (Down From London) people only occupying the properties for part of the year, when they are living in caravans and unable to afford property. So they've formed #NJFA - Not Just For August, to campaign against the DFLs. 

Not only are temperatures rising between DFLs and #NJFA, but the DFLs themselves have some rivalry and ignominy within their ranks too. Several storylines run throughout the book making it an interesting read. For me though, I couldn't get straight in my own head who lived in which property and whose children belonged to which couple.

The book begins at the end and is narrated throughout by various characters. The story then goes backwards to when the DFLs first arrive in August, before flipping between the two timelines. As the timelines began to catch up with each other I had to re read a few lines to realise which timeline I was now in. The story went on far too long for my liking, until about the last quarter of the book when I couldn't put it down. 

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review.

How to Age Dis-gracefully - Clare Pooley

Description

'Uplifting, heartwarming and joyful. Restored my faith in humankind' - Ruth Jones

When age makes you invisible, secrets are easier to hide

Daphne knows that age is just a number. She also knows that society no longer pays her any attention – something she’s happy to exploit to help her hide a somewhat chequered past.

But finding herself alone on her 70th birthday, with only her plants to talk to and neighbours to stalk online, she decides she needs some friends. Joining a Senior Citizen's Social Club she’s horrified at the expectation she’ll spend her time enduring gentle crafting activities. Thankfully, the other members – including a failed actor addicted to shoplifting and a prolific yarn-bomber – agree.

After a tragic accident, the local council threaten to close the club – but they have underestimated the wrong group of pensioners...and with the help of a teenage dad and a geriatric, orphaned dog, the incongruous gang set out to prove it.

As long as their pasts don't catch up with them first…

Review

Absolutely brilliant.

This is my third book by this author and it was just as good as the previous two novels. I was a little concerned that a group of people trying to save a club was going to be a little pedestrian to say the least. But with the cast of diverse characters in age and background, who all had such interesting storylines and a point of view in the story, it was amazing.

Witty writing and great one liners made this a joy to read. There were some hard hitting parts too but they were cushioned with the funny parts. Even when someone died it had a funny side. It kept me gripped until the end.

I'll admit I had the wrong idea about Daphne from the beginning. As the book progressed I started to realise she was definitely hiding her light and for disturbing reasons. When I grow up I want to be Daphne and get a walking stick and channel her. You need to read the book to find out why. She really was the star of the book closely followed by Ziggy and really everyone else!

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review. The book will be published on 20 June 2024.

No such thing as perfect - Emma Hughes

 

Description

'I lost count of the number of times I laughed out loud, I was rooting for Laura from the first page. Tender, funny, smart and brilliantly observed. The perfect blend of uplifting escapism and social satire, an utter page turner and such a clever, perceptive moving one. I LOVED it!' DAISY BUCHANAN

No one's life is as perfect as it looks.

Least of all Laura Morrison's. (Although she's not sure how perfect hanging onto your job by a thread and sleeping on an air mattress at your sister's looks, in all honesty.)

When Laura gets the chance to trial Cupid - a high-tech new dating service which will draw on everything she's ever done online to find her perfect match - she figures it's got to be worth a try.

She can't believe her luck when good-looking, kind considerate Adam turns up for their first date. On paper he's...well...perfect.

But when Laura develops feelings for the person who led her to Adam in the first place, familiar doubt creeps in.

Maybe for life to start falling into place, Laura has to learn to let go...

Sharply-observed and laugh-out-loud funny, NO SUCH THING AS PERFECT is the perfect novel for anyone who has ever wondered if there's a formula for finding love.

Review

A different kind of rom-com.

Laura's not much going for her. Her job at the Bugle magazine is on the line, she's sleeping on an air mattress and the guy she once dated is now loved up with their ex flat mate. So when an assignment to test Cupid a new dating service comes along she grabs it, as it might just save her job and get her a boyfriend.

Part of the book is a look back at Laura's childhood and also her relationship with Walker who is now with her ex flat mate. These parts of the book felt like a bit of a pity part at times and I wasn't sure what they were adding to the current story.

Everything seems great when she meets Adam who is the hook up from the dating service. Everyone likes him even her snooty sister. He seems to know what she wants and is willing to put himself out for her. It's still not enough for Laura as she then decides maybe another guy is the one she really wants.

I did like the comedic writing and Laura's friend Lil is a great character along with her little girl Dora. I just didn't really warm to Laura especially when she starts to mess things up. It certainly doesn't follow the usual rom-com path and kept me interested to the end.

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review.