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.