Gemma
Scorpion was a mind-blowing read. A futuristic, techno thriller had me questioning and admiring the mind of Cantrell. The intricate details of both the plot and the technology in which the CIA and assassin used to carry out their missions was very cleverly thought out and written. At no point in time did I anticipate where the novel was heading, and with so many twists and turns that messed with my mind I completely surrendered to Cantrell's ability to transport me to a different time and place. I loved the cat-and-mouse chase between the CIA and the killer and the way in which this book challenged me and my perception of things.
A fascinating read.
I love a Gothic novel and this book ticked all the boxes for me. It was dark, haunting and such a compelling read. The story is set in a secluded part of Scotland where Liv, a mother of three girls has been commissioned to paint a mural inside an old abandoned lighthouse. Fleeing from her former life Liv is happy to start over again, much to the annoyance of her teenage daughter Saffy, causing a rift in their relationship. Working on the lighthouse is a challenge especially with the nuisance of the bats to contend with and the strange symbols that appear along with other ghostly happenings. The lighthouse was once a place where women, who were accused of witchcraft, were kept before their trial.
Strange things start to happen when Saffy decides to hide from her mother to punish her for bringing them to Lòn Haven, and a child identical to her daughter knocks on her door one evening. The locals believe this child is a wildling who is there to kill everyone in the family. They warn and plead with Liv that the only way to protect her family is to kill the child/wildling. Running alongside this story line is Luna's story, she is now an adult and still trying to deal with losing her family when she was a child. Saffy never returned and then both her mother, Liv and her little sister Clover went missing. Luna was taken into foster care and has always been trying to locate news of her family. Then one day she gets a call saying they have found Clover. When Luna arrives at the hospital Clover is still a child and hasn't appeared to age in the twenty years since she last saw her. But how is this possible? Is this the real Clover or an impostor?
The Lighthouse Witches is deliciously creepy in parts; a Gothic thriller with a bit of witchcraft thrown in, a mystery to solve and at the centre a family of female characters. One of my favourite reads this year. Highly recommend.
The premise of the book is terrifying; to be stuck on a plane knowing that you probably won't survive! My heart was in my throat as I was reading and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.
The book alternates between the characters: Bill, the pilot; Carrie, his wife; Jo, head of the cabin crew and Theo, an FBI agent. This really helped with the pace of the novel and gave it a three dimensional quality. As Bill embarks on a routine flight he receives a message from home. His wife and family are being held hostage with an explosive vest strapped to their bodies. The abductor demands that the pilot makes a choice: who will die, his family or the passengers aboard the aircraft? In order to keep his family safe he must crash the plane.
The novel was so credible, due to the author's own experience of working as a flight attendance, that I was really drawn into the storyline and the drama that unfolded. A fast-paced, action-packed thriller, which I very much enjoyed.
What would you do if your 3 year old started to have night terrors, wet the bed and become very clingy after staying away with her father? Then use bad language and draw a disturbing picture? Tess, like any other mother I'm sure, begins to seek immediate help and starts investigating the change in her daughter's behaviour. A few days later a woman is found dead, suspected suicide. However, Tess is convinced that this is what her daughter's picture was depicting: a woman falling from a tower to her death.
With a growing sense of dread that Poppy has witnessed a crime, Tess is convinced that she must solve this mysterious death in order to protect Poppy. However, with the police and acquaintances not taking her serious Tess finds herself alone and going to dangerous depths in order to solve this mystery.
This was a real page-turner. I loved the dilemmas that Tess found herself in and the lengths she went to to protect her daughter. There is a fine line between doing everything you can to protect your daughter and then taking things to the extreme, which the author Nicci French explores brilliantly in the novel. Tess finds herself facing persecution from the police and her ex-husband. Feeling very much alone Tess has no option but to isolate herself further from everyone she knows in order to protect her daughter and eliminate who she can and cannot trust. I had no idea how this novel would pan out and I held my breath with anticipation whilst reading.
A great psychological thriller which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Em & Me is a charming novel by Beth Morrey. Having read and adored her debut novel Saving Missy, I was excited to dive straight into this book.
Delphine, a single mum still lives in the same flat since her childhood. Having lost her mum at a young age and supporting her still grieving father, Delphine has had to follow a different path than the one she had once dreamed of. She was an A* pupil with high hopes of furthering her education when she fell pregnant. Stuck in dead-end jobs, sharing a bed with her daughter and looking after her father has been all she's known for so long. Until she meets Em's teacher who sees much potential in Em's future and opens up new avenues for her own future. But to do so, Delphine will need to take a leap of faith in herself and let go of the past that has had a firm hold of her.
Morrey has a way of engaging the reader through her strong characteration and storyline. I was rooting for Delphine to succeed, to rekindle her passion and excitement for life. The relationship with her father was very touching. I loved the larger than life character, Letty Riche, who, despite her straight talking and hard shell, was a softie underneath her exterior. Their relationship was charming, although there were some bumps along the way.
This is a book you could inhale in one dose if life didn't get in the way. Secrets unravel slowly as the book progresses, and there are a few twists that I didn't anticipate. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can not wait to see what Morrey writes next. If you are looking for a book with a big heart, then Em & Me is the one.
It's every woman's nightmare: to think you have found ‘The One' only to find that he's cheating on you.
That's exactly where Hannah finds herself – and where this story starts. But this book isn't so much about Hannah being cheated on, but about finding her true feelings and re-discovering her need and love for her family, something she had forgotten during the last few years while building her career in New York.
Jenny Hale has written her characters with empathy and feeling and she knows how to draw you in.
Georgia is a prime example. At first she seems brash and even hard-hearted but as her character develops you see another side to her – and I loved her Southern accent! The setting is beautifully described and comes to life on the page; Franklin, Tennessee. Hale has painted a picturesque and idyllic American neighbourhood that I have always longed to visit. Hannah's Gran's quaint little bungalow and flower shop add to the overall ambience and charm of the novel. And I adored getting to know Gran through her journal, hearing about her past.
The Memory Keeper is a sweet romance that could easily be a ‘Made for TV' afternoon movie that I secretly love to watch while doing the ironing. Although, I was anticipating moments of sadness and grief this was definitely not the case. The story was humbling, heartwarming and like a cosy hug from a loved one. A real pleasure to read.
The Final Twist is the third installment in the Colter Shaw series and although it can be read as a standalone you will probably want to read the first two books first, as they make for quite an addictive read. In this novel Shaw finds himself trying to track down the persons responsible for his father's death and discovering the reasons why. Shaw is sent on a hunt to locate evidence that will give him the answers he is after, although this mission is highly dangerous and time is running out.
This novel hits the ground running from the opening pages and the tension and action does not slow down. Espionage, danger, mystery and conspiracy is at the heart of this novel. Deaver's writing is highly descriptive and it was easy to picture the action unfolding, just like watching a movie. There were many anxious moments where my heart was pounding in my chest. Shaw and his family are bad-ass! Having been taught survival skills from their father and facing one threat after another, I was confident they would outwit their opponents and was rooting for them to do so.
A fast-paced thriller with twists and turns along the way making this quite the gripping read I was hoping for.
Molly's character shines through the pages of this book and it is hard not to fall in love with her. Yes she is quirky and different and not good in social situations but she has an absolute heart of gold. I love her relationship with her grandmother, who has recently passed. Her Gran's words still echo through Molly, showing her the way to behave and manage difficult situations. This book has a cosy mystery feel to it, with the characters at the heart. If you loved books like Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and Saving Missy then this is a must read. I truly enjoyed this debut novel; set in a glamorous hotel with high profile guests, a murder, a police investigation and a story of acceptance and friendship.
Many thanks to Nita Prose, for writing such a heartfelt novel and for giving the character Molly such a prominent voice in this story. I devoured this gorgeous book.
As you may already know this book has been selected for the Reese Witherspoon's Book Club May Pick and is trending all over social media at the moment. Having just read it I can totally see why. This book is simply irresistible.
This was such a page-turner and a very addictive read. It begins with Hannah opening her door to find a young teenage girl standing there with a yellow note addressed to her in the handwriting of her husband. The note simply says Protect her! All kinds of questions are running through Hannah's mind as to why her husband is sending her a note rather than phoning her. She assumes the note is referring to her step-daughter Bailey, but why? It soon becomes very clear that Owen has disappeared leaving them with a bag full of cash and no further answers. Owen's boss is arrested for fraud and even though Hannah and Bailey know that Owen would have also been questioned by the police they cannot understand his urgency to disappear without any explanation. As they dig deeper into Owen's past they start to discover the unthinkable and know that in order to survive this nightmare they will need to become united.
This clever, intriguing novel draws you in with the mystery surrounding Owen's disappearance. How can a man just suddenly vanish without a trace leaving his only daughter with his new wife, especially when they haven't had time to fully adjust to this new family arrangement and secured their relationship? On the face of it this book focuses around Owen and his disappearance, however, it is so much more than a mystery thriller. There is something softer that runs through the novel: relationships, in many different forms. The relationship between Hannah and her own grandfather, who raised her, is a heartwarming tale and although we get snippets of their time together through flashbacks, it is what centres Hannah and brings out the best in her. Her own relationship with her mother was a rocky one and it is through her determination not to be like her mother that we see how much love and thought goes into protecting Bailey and putting her needs first. Their relationship is a complicated one, which made the story feel realistic; two people thrown together having to cope with the emotions of losing the one person that unites them. Although very much strained it is their growth that makes this book such a compelling read. And then there is the relationship between Hannah and Owen. I love the way the book goes back in time so that we see the two of them together from twenty-four hours earlier to two years and four months ago.
The story line with its unexpected twists and turns was shocking at times but such an enjoyable, unpredictable read. I thought the ending was very fitting and although not the outcome I had hoped for I definitely believe this was the right ending for the book. I can absolutely see why this book is being made into TV adaption featuring Julia Roberts, how exciting!! Completely recommend reading the book before this series begins. What are you waiting for? Grab a copy now or add it to your TBR piles, a must read this year.
This Gothic beauty has a nod to the Cinderella fairy tale. Eleanor/Ella finds herself living in the grand Granborough House under the care of Mrs Pembroke after her mother's death. Mrs Pembroke promises her a life of privilege and wealth but unfortunately after her death Ella finds herself sleeping in the maids quarters at the top of the house, wearing a scratchy woollen uniform and serving Mr Pembroke rather than becoming a member of the family that Mrs Pembroke had promised her. During the evenings Ella would sneak into the library, a place that she used to share with Mrs Pembroke, and read some of her cherished books. One night Ella discovers the black-eyed woman, a fairy godmother? A temptress? Who promises to grant Ella seven wishes and in return wants her soul if and only when all seven wishes have been granted. Ella finds herself caught in a cycle of turmoil as she tries to change the fate of her future and is left to deal with the consequences of her wishes.
This was a fascinating read and one I really enjoyed. Although there was an element of the Cinderella tale woven into the story line it was a magical, mystical read for adults. I loved the historical feel to the novel and the dilemmas that Ella finds herself in. I found myself routing for Ella to escape the confinements of Mr Pembroke's household and started to wonder if the black-eyed woman was responsible for Ella's wishes or whether there was another innocent or sinister reason behind these events. I was completely hooked.
I loved the characters, especially Ella, Leah and Aoife. Although Ella's actions and choices were questionable you knew that she was acting on behalf of her friends and just wanted to achieve a better life for them all. I truly had no idea how the story would end and was constantly surprised by the twists and turns that panned out. I loved the spooky, Gothic feel of the novel, it is dark and very atmospheric giving you a real insight into the streets of Victorian London. I could feel the grime and loud, dangerous bustling streets come alive as Ella was sent on errands, dodging beggars and thieves.
Harwood took twelve years to write this novel and I can truly say I loved every word on the page.
Blackett and Gleichman are neighbours and writing partners based in Brooklyn, New York. The Very Nice Box is their debut novel.
Ava Simon lives alone and loves her job, designing storage boxes for STÄDA, a furniture company. Ever since the tragic accident that ripped her world apart, Ava has been afraid to get close to any other person and sticks to a strict daily routine where order and control are easily managed. But when Ava's new boss, Mat Putnam, arrives Ava finds herself drawn to him and an unlikely relationship blossoms.
The Very Nice Box was an easy read with the characters at its heart. As the pair engage in a relationship it was lovely to see Ava open up and let go of some of her repetitive routines. Grief, loss, friendship and trust are at the core of this novel with the writing very raw and emotive in parts. Although, there is a lot of sadness when learning about Ava's tragic past there is also a lot of humour and satire which balances this book brilliantly.
There were a few shocking twists within the novel and the pace picked up towards the second half of the book, which made it hard to put down. Overall, a very enjoyable novel, with likeable characters. If you liked Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine then I urge you to read this one.
It has been 10 years since Ambrosia Wellington left Wesleyan college, she is now married and has put those days behind her. But when she receives numerous emails inviting her to the tenth year reunion Ambrosia's thoughts turn to those upsetting years when her behaviour and action were far from acceptable. With the emails becoming more frequent and an invitation sent in the post Amb finds herself journeying to her old college with her husband in dreaded anticipation of what lies ahead. She is determined that Adrian does not find out the truth of what happened ‘that night' and about who she was back then. From the moment she arrives Amb knows that she has been lured there and that something sinister is being planned. Payback? Revenge for what they did? Someone is out to get the answers that she has hidden for all these years.
An addictive read from start to finish. Ambrosia, the main protagonist of the story, is a difficult character to warm to. There are times when you see a glimpse of something ‘good' in her and can put the blame of her actions on her wanting to fit in or perhaps being lead astray by Sully but I could never regard her as innocent or blameless, and believe me I so wanted to find something endearing about her. Sully is a much easier character to comprehend she is pure manipulation and definitely a ‘mean girl', one that you would hope to avoid at all costs. She would definitely throw you under the bus rather than save you. It is very unique to read a book where you don't gel or particularly like the characters, I confess I didn't like any of them! However, I believe this was a deliberate ploy of the author and for me, it made the book a much more addictive read. I became emotionally involved with the girl's behaviour and was always hopeful that something would happen to change my opinions of them.
The themes running through the book were powerful, emotive and realistic. This book is enough to put you off going to college or university as we would refer to it in the UK. I think everyone has experienced the notion of a group of ‘mean girls' during their own education and this novel takes hold of that premise and intensifies it. A chilling, psychological thriller that you know will end in complete disaster but you can't turn away from. Many thanks to HQ Stories for my gifted copy; what a dark, twisted and completely compelling read, I couldn't put it down.
This was a magical children's book and something I would have loved to have read as a child.
Rosemary knows her mum is a witch and has witches that pop by that only her mum and sister can see. One day Rosemary hears that Phyllis has disappeared and notices that mum and some of her witch friends go off to search for her, through the wall. Intrigued Rosemary asks her friend Adi to help her enter the wall and find Phyllis. With the addition of her little sister Lois, the threesome step into the magical world, through the mirror, to help bring Phyllis back and stop the the mayhem that is happening around them.
This book really captured my imagination and had a ‘Narnia' feel to it when the children stepped through the mirror. The characters were interesting and brought a uniqueness to the novel. I could picture each character in turn and especially loved the names given to them. The different rooms that the children found themselves in added to the magical feel and gave the book an air of mystery as you never knew where they would end up next.
I particularly loved Rosemary's gift of being able to see a coloured aura around people which beautifully helped illustrate the depression her dad was going through. I thought this was very cleverly explained and would help with children's own understanding surrounding depression. Despite the serious issues that are explored there is also a lot of humour which will definitely appeal to the reader. At the heart of this story is the concept of love, friendship and trust. There were some poignant moments in the novel where these themes shined through provoking moments of reflection and thought which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Overall a great fantasy adventure story with some fantastic characters. I can see this being the start to a great sequel and would love to read more about Rosemary and her magical journeys. Many thanks to Agora books for providing me with an ARC in return for my honest review.
Samuel, a man who has lived a long and challenging life, takes on a job as a lighthouse keeper on a secluded island. Having been in prison for 25 years due to fighting for independence for his country Samuel is content living the rural and simple life, caring for his chickens and battling with nature to upkeep his small cottage and grounds surrounding his home. However, his solitude comes to an abrupt end when a man washes up on the sand. Samuel carries/drags this rather tall man back to his cottage in the hopes that he will pass away peacefully and can then be buried with the other humans who have been washed up on the island over the past years. Unfortunately for Samuel this man does make a full recovery and Samuel finds himself not only nursing him back to health but also sharing his cottage and supplies with him. Although, a language barrier stands between the two men, they communicate through gestures and actions.
The story is set over four days and weaves seamlessly between the past and present day. As the pages turn you hear about Samuel's early life; his struggles, his incarceration, the violence he has faced and his now complete isolation from humanity. The only contact Samuel has with the mainland is through his provisions being sent. After everything that Samuel has been through you can totally understand why he would chose to live the simple life away from others and why he reacts the way he does when he suddenly finds himself in the company of the young man.
Jennings writes a heart wrenching story about the effects of colonialism, dictatorship and political change. The setting of the island was atmospheric and the perfect backdrop for Samuel's solitude life. I loved how the island had a life of its own and couldn't be tamed no matter how hard Samuel worked at it. I guess a bit like Samuel himself. Although a short novel, An Island is an intense, powerful read where you can feel the tension build as you turn each page. And let me just mention that front cover - just fabulous!!!
This was such a charming book and so much more than I anticipated. Although the subject matter surrounding the novel was extremely sad and heart-wrenching it was surprisingly an uplifting story, one of hope, grief and moving forwards. Based on a real life natural disaster you are immediately drawn to the families that have been affected and cannot help but feel their pain and grief at losing love ones. The way they manage to still function is absolutely astounding and this is where the book's focus is, on the ones left behind learning to carry their pain and put one foot in front of the other day by day.
The story centres around Yui, who has lost her own mother and her young daughter. As a radio DJ she hears about a phone box where people from all over are travelling to to talk to their love ones. Yui decides to visit and meets a whole host of characters who are also grieving. Some who have lost love ones in the tsunami, others from natural illness or old age. All who find not only comfort in the ritual of visiting the phone box but a place to morn their love ones as part of their grieving process.
The story is told in such a beautiful way, almost poetic at times and I found it moving and humbling. The individual stories of the other characters were very touching, as well as following Yui on her own journey of self discovery after losing the most precious things in her life. This book made me reflect on my own life, my hopes, my dreams, my anxieties and on how blessed I truly am.
Many thanks to Bonnier Books for my gifted copy of The Phone Box at the Edge of the World.
The book starts with a bang! A murder has been committed and you are very aware of who has committed the crime, a mother and her daughter. I was hooked straight away. As you read on it becomes apparent that Lily is mute; a traumatic event from her past has caused her to lose her voice. This part of the story line in itself was so intriguing and I couldn't wait to find out more.
Grace is a very powerful character who dominates and manipulates not only her daughter Lily but others around her. She is a complex individual who also has a disturbing back story and I loved how the novel weaved its way from the past to present day to reveal both Grace's and Lily's childhood.
The Cry Of The Lake is a book where nothing is quite what it seems at the beginning, I loved this about the novel as it kept me guessing the whole time. I was very intrigued by the character's past lives as this held such relevance to the present story line and I loved how the plot unfolded. Although Grace was such a manipulative character I did actually feel sorry for her as her story is one of sadness, heartache and exploitation. The ending for me was perfect, all the loose ends were tied up and I loved how the last two chapters in particular, paid tribute to ‘the lake'. I found it very symbolic, calming and a beautiful way to round up the novel.
This book has everything: murder, revenge, love, loss, family secrets, mental health issues, cruelty - to name just a few. It is a dark, twisted tale with lots of suspense and has a gorgeous front cover to draw you in. Many thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for inviting me to join The Cry Of The Lake blog tour.
In true Laura Purcell style this book is both haunting and mesmerizing. The characters came to life on the page and I immediately felt a strong connection to the two main female characters Agnes and Pearl. I adore the historic era that dominates Purcell's novels including the names given to her characters. For me, the setting, Victorian Bath, was just the perfect location for this novel. Living quite near to Bath, and through Purcell's descriptions, it was easy to visualise Bath back in the Victorian age and Agnes' movements around the city. The writing; atmospheric with a gothic feel, adds to the ghostly encounters and mysterious deaths that are taking place. Both chilling and gripping, the intricate plot cleverly weaves its way through the novel providing tension, some harrowing scenes and shocking surprises.
Being a bit of a Laura Purcell geek I found myself finding parallels between her other novels which I loved. In The Silent Companions you have the supernatural element which not only fascinated me but gave me chills. I was delighted to find this ghostly theme running through The Shape Of Darkness through Pearl and her ability to communicate with the dead. In The Corset you have a child/young woman trying to survive through poverty and mistreatment. I found there were links here to both Agnes' and Pearl's life as both had lost someone dear and were trying hard to get by. Just like Ruth in The Corset, Agnes has a skill, a silhouette artist. It was fascinating to read about this rare and timeless artform which, using just scissors and paper, Agnes cuts out the subject's portrait in profile. I could really imagine the charming, detailed and accurate likeness that Agnes could create in a few minutes. It is traditions such as these, that were highly popular during the Victorian era, that Purcell brings alive again through her writing. Educating and adding a uniqueness to her novels.
You can always count on Purcell to throw you into a world of darkness and to expect the unexpected. Even though I was fully prepared to be shocked and tried to surmise the outcome I was still left unprepared for the ending. Normally I rush to finish a book through sheer determination to find out what the outcome is. However, with The Shape Of Darkness I found myself slowing down, I truly did not want the reading experience to finish. As always the ending was perfect, the characters have routed themselves in my heart and I am now bereft having finished.
I can't wait to see what Purcell writes next, I just hope I don't have a wait too long.
Birdy, a young women who has coasted through life so far and is feeling rather fed up. Her best friend Heather is off to Italy, renting out her flat so Birdy will become homeless and being estranged from her alcoholic father and unsupportive mother Birdy finds herself alone and fearful of the future. Having nothing to lose Birdy travels to Scotland to take on the job as a sommelier, a job that Heather was offered before she decided to go to Italy with her boyfriend. Birdy promised Heather that she would call the hotel and apologise on her behalf for pulling out, but with no job herself and nowhere to live Birdy decides that she can step into Heather's role, after all how hard can it be to recommend wine to customers staying at a rundown hotel? However, when Birdy steps out of the taxi she realises that this is not the hotel she was in fact expecting. Having current renovations going on, a new advisory head chef in position and over one hundred wines to get her head around, Birdy realises very early on that she has bitten off far too much...but she cannot turn back now! She is determined that she cannot let her friend down or tarnished Heather's reputation due to her own inexperience and stupidity of impersonating her. She must keep up the pretence that she is Heather and will do the very best she can.
You cannot help but warm to Birdy, even after all her lies, imperfections and betrayal she is a character who means well even though she goes about things in completely the wrong way. Her sense of humour and gregarious nature gets her by on a wing and a prayer and I love this element about her. I was so invested in Birdy and the other characters that The Summer Job was a pure delight to read. I couldn't always predict where the story was heading but I really hoped that when the truth about the real Heather was revealed that Birdy would come away unscathed.
Although, there are a few darker themes running through the book such as alcoholism and neglect, it is balanced beautifully with humour, love and self discovery. There was such a fun, witty, feel-good quality to this book which I absolutely adored. Highly recommend this novel; a real summer/holiday treat to get lost in. Much praise to Lizzy Dent and her highly entertaining debut novel.
This book starts with a bang; Beth is talking to Kathleen in the garden during a house warming party. Kathleen very much on edge confides in her friend telling her that she is terrified of one of the guests at the party who had been threatening her. Interrupted, Kathleen agrees to meet up with Beth the next day to reveal all. Unfortunately, Kathleen never gets the chance as she falls and dies the following morning.
Suspecting the fall to be suicide or accidental death, the police start their investigation. However, Beth is not convinced and is troubled by their discussion the previous evening. She sets out to find who was threatening Kathleen and in turn find out the truth behind her death.
This was a really interesting read and one where you feel you are piecing all the parts of the puzzle alongside Beth. There are so many red-herrings along the way and everyone appears guilty. It is only when you get right towards the end of the book does the ‘real culprit' become apparent.
I loved the setting of the book and the fact that I had no clue who was to blame; everyone was a plausible suspect and had a motive. What was particularly intriguing was that it was someone in their inner circle of friends who was threatening Kathleen, someone they all knew and trusted. It was very interesting to see how the dynamics of the group changed once a seed of doubt had been planted. I know everyone has secrets, even between married couples, so the whole concept of the story line felt very realistic and plausible. I did feel Beth was a bit too trusting in revealing her thoughts to individuals but I appreciate these were her friends and her husband. I just feared for her as she got herself into quite a few potential predicaments, which made for a thrilling read.
Adams bases her novel Dangerous Women on the historical event in 1841 where 180 English women were transported to Van Diemen's Island for petty crimes committed. They sailed for 3 months aboard the Rajah where they were confined to the lower deck, sleeping on flimsy bunks with access to limited daylight. During their time aboard the women produced the Raja Quilt, by sewing together a patchwork quilt with material given to them by Elizabeth Fry and her committee of twelve other women. The Raja Quilt is now housed in the National Gallery of Australia.
Although Adam's uses some historic events and the names of people aboard the Rajah her story is fictional. The opening pages take you straight to the stabbing of one of the convicted women aboard the ship. The story then weaves from present day to a few months earlier where you get to meet Kezia Hayter, the matron in charge of the women and the convicts themselves. I loved this punchy start. A historical fiction novel with a whodunit mystery integrated. My perfect combination of genre.
The characters were rich in description and their backstories were heartbreaking at times. Clara, a woman who was convicted of murder should have been sent to the gallows but through her own devious actions managed to swap identities with another convict allowing her to climb aboard the Rajah. Clara's new identify is kept hidden until the very end and I loved trying to work out which convict's name she had adopted. Having murdered before was she the culprit responsible for stabbing Hattie? You truly can't help but feel for these women, most through their unfortunate circumstances are now facing a life in a foreign country away from their loved ones. The harsh conditions they face onboard the ship and the unknown fate which lies ahead of them is shocking.
Kezia, a young woman, showed kindness to the convicts and was determined to give them a daily distraction by the production of the coverlet. Her courage to speak up to the Captain, surgeon and Reverend was admirable especially in her determination to find the truth and protect the women in her care. What was interesting was hearing from Hattie. When we first meet her she has been stabbed and in a critical condition, we then go back two months and hear her backstory.
This book, although fictional, allows us to be reminded of historical events and the lives of so many women who were treated unjust. It was an interesting and thought-provoking book which I fully emerged myself in. I found myself trying to solve the mystery of who stabbed Hattie and why alongside the Captain, surgeon, Reverend and matron. A great read and one I highly recommend
This book!!! I loved every minute of it. C.J. Tudor has a knack of drawing you in with her opening sentence and once she has you hooked, you cannot escape! Enthralling and heart thumping this novel makes for one hell of a read.
Reverend Jack Brooks is transferred to a new parish after a traumatic event that leaves the local community angry and the press crawling all over the church. Having no choice in the matter, Jack and daughter Flo arrive in a small Sussex village to find a rundown chapel and a lot of hidden secrets. What was really interesting was the tradition of the Burning Girls that featured throughout the novel; twig dolls to represent the villagers who were burnt to death during Queen Mary's purge of the Protestants, the Sussex Martyrs. This historic event along with the supernatural sightings of two girls who seemingly are haunting the chapel give this novel such a thrilling Gothic feel.
Jack isn't your typical ‘Reverend' and I loved this about Jack; not afraid to stir up the past, ballsy and foul mouthed. I immediately connected with Jack and Flo and were routing for them from the outset.
The complexity of the plot with the different story lines was well written and made The Burning Girls quite the page-turner. The hauntings of the two girls, the mystery surrounding the two teenagers who went missing thirty years ago, as well as Jack's own past and the situation Flo finds herself in makes this a standout book that just kept giving. Just when you think you know where the novel is heading it completely turns on its head, leaving you with more questions than answers. Tudor beautifully balances the amount of action, mystery, crime and gruesomeness into this novel and leaves you with a WOW ending, one that I didn't anticipate.
An atmospheric, spooky, chilling mystery which I couldn't read fast enough.
From the very beginning I knew I would love this novel, from the proof cover to the blurb this was definitely a book for me. I love a good thriller especially one that is set in and around the UK. The added bonus for me with The Jigsaw Man is that it is set in South East London, my old stomping ground so I loved the fact that I could visualise each and every place Henley visited.
Nadine Matheson knows how to grip and shock her readers and from the opening pages of the prologue I was truly hooked; a man walking his dog stumbles upon a severed arm, a group of archaeology students find a headless torso and a kitchen fitter discovers a severed leg. What an opening!
Matheson's characters are extremely realistic and not without their faults and failures. I couldn't help but warm to Henley; a daughter, mother, wife and an inspector. Balancing all of those different roles became a real challenge and at times Henley got it completely wrong. You could see how torn, riddled with guilt yet how focused and determined she became on catching the serial killer, jeopardising her family's safety. Although Henley's previous case had left her traumatise and scarred I loved the twist that she had to reach out to the very person who attacked her in order to gain some meaning to this new case. The Jigsaw Man, a serial killer who previously tried to kill Henley and who she successful put behind bars may hold some answers into the dismembered body parts being scattered over London. Is this a copycat or has Olivier got some unfinished business and an accomplice on the outside to continue what he started?
This police procedural is everything you would expect it to be: it's graphic and disturbing in places, fast paced, action packed and has a real focus on its characters. Comforting and terrifying at the same I found myself using every spare moment of my time to pick it back up. For a debut novel this definitely packs a punch and I cannot wait to see what Matheson writes about next. I would love for this novel to continue as a series as I was very invested in the characters.
This was a very quirky novel and one I thoroughly enjoyed. I loved the format of the book and how there were seven different short murder mystery stories within the overall novel. This made it quite the page-turner I was anticipating. I loved the narrative between the editor and author and was intrigued to hear about the inconsistencies that she stumbled upon in each of the stories. I completely missed these each time and found myself overtly trying to find them in the next story. I failed every time!
This book was very unique and written in such a clever way. I was hooked from the beginning and loved how there was a running thread which linked the stories. For me, the ending was shocking and one I didn't see coming. I adored the twists that just kept coming. What an exhausting, invigorating read! Highly recommend.
Sal Prentiss, a sixth grader, who recently lost his mother finds his maths teacher dead one morning. His teacher Adam Merkel, was a newly appointed maths teacher at the school and had previously been a professor from the University of Nevada. Having made a significant change in job title and moving alone to a small town caused quite a stir within the local community. Without time to form bonds with his work colleagues and living in solitude made Adam and his death quite a mystery.
Although the book surrounds itself around the mysterious death of Adam, Adam's voice is told through the other characters and their limited knowledge of the man. I found this quite a powerful feature in the novel. The story alternates between three character's: Sal, Nora and Jake.
Sal was a really interesting character. A young boy who had recently lost his mother and had been sent to live with his two uncles. Sal had formed quite an endearing relationship with his teacher but I found myself second guessing his reliability and their relationship didn't sit comfortably with me.
Nora, a teacher at the school also had her fair amount of heartache and trauma having lost both her brother and mother. Her backstory was extremely fascinating, especially her relationship with her own father.
The Distant Dead is a complex story about a small town and the history that weaves its way into the lives of everyone living there. The characters have all faced adversity and their emotions are written with a rawness that cuts through to the reader. The plot was shocking, twisty and all-consuming.
I found Young's writing in The Distant Dead to be poetic, evoked strong emotions within me and was very thought-provoking.