A Cornish Recipe For Murder by Fiona Leitch

In the fifth book in the Jodie 'Nosey' Parker series Jodie is taking part in a baking competition when a member of the film crew is found dead. It's obviously murder and Jodie can't stop herself from investigating, luckily her boyfriend is the police officer in charge of the case.

Fiona Leitch has tapped into a number of popular trends in the fifth book in the Nosey Parker series. Alongside the cozy murder mystery we have a TV baking competition and drag queens, amazingly these all work together to give a fun read with quite a few red herrings along the way.

The relationship between Jodie and her boyfriend, DCI Nathan Withers, continues to develop. The interaction between these characters is very lighthearted. Since the majority of the events take place within the confines of the filmed baking competition there is less opportunity for some of the usual supporting characters to appear. While we do get snippets from her mother, Shirley, and her daughter, Daisy, their reduced interactions with Jodie could result in the story losing some of the humor we would expect in this series. Thankfully we are saved by the drag queen character Barbara Strident. Barbara is the comic host of the baking competition and really lives up to her name with a stream of funny quips to camera.

Fans of the series will know what to expect (and won't be let down by this latest addition to the series). If you've never read any of the series before don't let that put you off. This can easily be read as a standalone but I'm sure once you've finished it you'll be hunting down the earlier books in the series.

This is a lighthearted read, with enough twists to keep you hooked and guessing right to the end. Just what any reader would want from a cozy murder mystery.

A Cornish Recipe For Murder by Fiona Leitch will be published for Kindle on 18th August 2022 and in paperback on 13th October 2022. My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a review copy.

 

My Other Husband by Dorothy Koomson

 

We meet Cleo Forsum Pryce as she is arrested for attempted murder. The story then moves back a few weeks to when Cleo decided to wreck her perfect life. She's a successful writer who's books have been turned into a popular TV series and is happily married to Wallace. Suddenly, with no explanation, she tells her husband she wants a divorce and the production company that makes her TV series that the series must end.

Alongside this we have a glimpse of Cleo 25 years earlier starting life as a student. Cleo strikes up a friendship with Heath. It's obvious that Heath wants to be romantically involved but Cleo is adamant they are only friends. Heath is willing to accept friendship - for now - but is determined that eventually Cleo will fall for his charms. Over time the friendship develops into a romantic relationship. Everything seems perfect until Cleo realises that Heath isn't who she thought he was and ends their relationship.

Back in our current time frame people close to Cleo are being seriously hurt and Cleo realises that Heath will never let her go.

From the opening pages this was an intense read. Right from the beginning, when the main character is arrested for attempted murder, you are wondering what has happened. This then cuts straight to a discussion with a solicitor and the discovery that bigamy can carry a seven year jail sentence and the intrigue really ramps up. From that moment I was hooked.

We see two very different sides of Cleo in the book. Current day Cleo, trying to end her marriage and her job, seems cold and impersonal. She's made a decision and sees no reason to have to explain herself to anyone. It's only as the story progresses that we realise Cleo is doing this to protect people and herself.

The Cleo from 25 years ago is confident, fun and naive; she takes the geeky Heath under her wing. She doesn't want a romantic relationship with him but hopes that by helping him transform from an "ugly duckling" into "a swan" he'll become more attractive to the opposite sex and less focused on her. This really does read like a romantic comedy (and Rom-Com's are even referenced in the book) but you quickly realise that Heath's interest is obsessive. Even as Cleo tries to put distance between her and Heath his possessive and controlling nature continually draw her back in.

You real feel the nightmare that Cleo is living as she tries to cut all ties with her current life as quickly as possible, before Heath hurts more people. She is hampered when the police suspect that recent attempted murders may be linked to her. It becomes a frantic race against time.

My Other Husband by Dorothy Koomson will be published on 18th August 2022 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Headline for a review copy.

The Love Of My Life by Rosie Walsh (Audiobook)

 

Emma and Leo have been together for 10 years, they have a young daughter and are very much in love. Leo writes obituaries for a newspaper and when his wife has a health scare he is tasked with writing her stock obituary. As Leo investigates Emma's past he discovers she has been keeping secrets, secrets that could tear apart their relationship.

This is an emotional roller coaster and will appeal to readers/listeners of family dramas. The story begins well, told by two different narrators, Theo Solomon and Imogen Church. I really enjoyed having a male and a female narrator as it made it far easier to latch on to each characters part of the story.

Beginning on a high in the storyline you can feel the positive relationship between Emma and Leo. When Leo begins to investigate his wife's background you can understand his confusion and mistrust. Everything he thought he knew about Emma may be a lie. Leo continues to dig into Emma's past and I felt that the story began to drag a little at this point. With such a strong relationship mentioned at the beginning you just want Leo to talk to Emma and hear her explanation.

The story really picked up again in the final quarter of the story as we begin to piece together what happened in the past. Not only do we discover why Emma has so many secrets we also find out how other characters impacted on her life. The storyline isn't a comfortable one but it is handled with empathy.

The Love Of My Life by Rosie Walsh is available in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan UK Audio for an audiobook copy for review.

No Secrets by David Jackson

Isobel Lambert has a gift, she can tell when people are lying. Watching the news she sees an interview with the caretaker from her old school. A female pupil from the school has gone missing and the caretaker, Kenneth Plumley, was the last person to see her as she got into a large black car. Isobel is convinced the caretaker is lying but will the police believe her when he has no evidence?

I really enjoyed this book and flew through it, desperate to know what was going to happen next. After the disturbing opening chapter author David Jackson then spends time developing the characters of Isobel and Kenneth. Kenneth is a sinister and unsettling character, at times a meek cuckold and at others malevolent. 

It is the character of Isobel that really makes this story. She doesn't see her gift as a gift, previous experience has shown that it can be a curse. However she knows she has to do the right thing, but how can she convince the police when she doesn't have any real evidence? Her tenacity means that she puts both herself and those close to her in danger as she tries to prove that Kenneth is responsible for the girl going missing.

As well as fleshing out the main characters really well David Jackson has done an excellent job with some of the minor characters too. Andy, Josh and Abel are people you'd like to get to know better, while Polina and Michael will make your skin crawl.

While the conclusion wasn't a complete surprise I wasn't entirely sure I'd figured out exactly what was happening until the big reveal. The reader isn't quite sure who is going to survive either.

No Secrets by David Jackson will be published on 7th July 2022 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Viper Books for a review copy.

 

The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell

 

Back in May I finally got around to reading The Family Upstairs and it proved to be one of my favourite reads of the month. A group, mainly children, held in a cult-like household led to a riveting read. However, I'm sure I wasn't the only reader who finished the book wanting to know more. Thankfully author Lisa Jewell has satisfied my curiosity by writing a sequel, The Family Remains.

Most of the events in The Family Remains take place a year after the end of The Family Upstairs. Lucy, Henry and Libby are learning to be a family and get their lives onto a normal footing. Libby is making plans to track down the mysterious Phin but at the last minute something spooks him and he disappears. Henry then takes off, trying to track him down.

While all of this is happening a black sack containing the bones of a small female is discovered in the River Thames and a police detective connects the remains to the house from the original story. He's determined to track down what happened and who is responsible.

We also have a storyline set three years ago involving Lucy's ex-husband and how he met his current wife. At first this storyline, even though it is a really intriguing one, doesn't seem to fit in with the main story. As we approach the conclusion everything eventually fits together with a very satisfying finale to this thread.

The main story begins with a quick recap of the events in the first book. The narrative then moves forward very quickly. Henry is an intense, brooding character. A human chameleon with almost sociopathic qualities. As he hunts the elusive Phin you wonder what his end-goal is but you also wonder why Phin is so determined not to be tracked down.

When the traumatic events of 25 years ago are recounted in greater detail there are feelings of anger and sadness. You wonder how anyone can develop into a normal adult having experienced such events.

As we reach the conclusion to the story there is a sense of trepidation and dread. Lisa Jewell keeps the reader in suspense right up to the satisfying conclusion - however, I have my doubts that we've seen the last of Henry. Henry's story seems to have a life of it's own.

The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell will be published on 21st July 2022 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for a review copy

The Guilty Couple by C. L. Taylor (Audiobook)

Olivia is released from prison having served five years for the attempted murder of her husband. However, Olivia is adamant that she was framed and is determined to prove her innocence.

Audiobooks are relatively new to me having only listened to six but I have to say this one has been the best of them. Right from the opening sentence the action never lets up. Olivia was about to leave her husband when he framed her with the help of a female police officer. Her lover disappeared from the scene completely. 

Having served her time Olivia has two things on her mind when she is released; to clear her name and to reconnect with her daughter. You can feel the frustration of the main character, particularly in view of her innocence. Very few people believe her so once she is released she only has a couple of people to offer her support. One of the ex-prisoners she did time with is the best character in the story. Added to the mix is Olivia not knowing exactly who she can trust and her ex-lover suddenly getting in touch.

Trying to prove she was framed was a little like an onion, as one layer is peeled off another, more intricate layer is revealed. All of this adds to the tension and with time running out you wonder if Olivia will be able to succeed.

The Guilty Couple by C. L. Taylor will be published on 23rd June 2022 in audio, hardback and ebook format. My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for a review copy.

 

The Botanist by M. W. Craven

 

Detective Sergeant Washington Poe has his work cut out for him. His friend and colleague Estelle Doyle is accused of murdering her father and Poe is determined to prove her innocence. At the same time, almost 300 miles away, someone is using rare poisons to murder people and the powers that be need Poe to solve the case.

The Botanist has to be the best book in the Washington Poe series. Featuring a series of "locked room" scenarios that are intricately researched and plotted it is impossible for the reader to guess exactly what is happening, even though relatively early on we learn who is responsible.

It is frightening to learn that the poisons used in this book are somewhat easy to obtain or produce and that tiny amounts have such lethal consequences. The choice of victims does raise a wry smile, however; classed as morally bankrupt we might feel that The Botanist is providing a service. 

As usual Poe is assisted by the brilliant but socially awkward Tilly Bradshaw. The interactions between Poe and Tilly are classics and it feels that Tilly has grown so much that she might even be winding Poe up deliberately at times. 

The pace is frantic, particularly as Poe is torn between Newcastle and London, in his quest to solve the case and also prove Estelle Doyle innocent. The conclusion almost had me jumping out of my seat cheering but even then M. W. Craven still has a little something up his sleeve to round off this superb thriller.

Lying Beside You by Michael Robotham

Cyrus Haven, forensic psychologist, is working with the police to help find a young woman who has gone missing. A few days later a body is found, then another woman goes missing. Cyrus is convinced the cases are linked but is struggling to convince the police of this. It becomes a race against time to find the missing woman.

This is book 3 in the Cyrus Haven series. I honestly didn't think it would be possible to improve on the second book but this was a fantastic read. In the first book, Good Girl, Bad Girl we were introduced to Cyrus and Evie Cormac, a damaged young woman who Cyrus is trying to help. The book reveals a lot of detail about the traumatic backgrounds of both Cyrus and Evie, alongside a murder investigation.

The second book in the series, When She Was Good, has a focus on Evie. We find out in much more detail her harrowing backstory as she struggles to integrate into society.

This third book has a murder and missing person crime as the main story but we still get insight into how Cyrus and Evie are moving on with their lives. Cyrus has to come to terms with the fact that his older brother has been granted day release from a secure hospital.

Evie is as self-destructive as ever mainly because she doesn't have a filter and refuses to bow to societal norms. I am sure that Evie is the reason this series is so successful and fans will be willing her on every step of the way, wanting her to have as normal a life as possible without changing too much. It is great to see that some people are able to break through the barriers that Evie has erected around herself and she is now making friends other than Cyrus.

 As we reach the conclusion to the story it becomes a race against time, in this tense, action packed thriller.

Lying Beside You by Michael Robatham will be published  on 23rd June 2022 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group for a review copy.

Believe Me Not by Natalie Chandler (Audiobook)

 

When Megan wakes up in hospital her only concern is the whereabouts of her baby son, Luca. The only problem is that everyone around her tells her she doesn't have a baby and has never been pregnant. Megan isn't actually in hospital, she's in a psychiatric unit having had a psychotic episode but no matter how often she's told there is no baby Megan still isn't convinced.

This was an engrossing psychological thriller that had me wondering and doubting throughout. Whilst Megan is convinced she's given birth to a baby boy she keeps getting the same message from those around her that there is no baby. Everyone, including her husband, her sister and her psychiatrist, are adamant that Megan believes she was pregnant because of a psychotic break.

As Megan fights for more control over her life she keeps having vague memories that involve her baby but each time those around her have reasonable excuses that explain why she's wrong. Just like Megan the reader is full of doubt as to what is real and what isn't.

At times the story retreats to the past, when Megan and her husband were dating as older teens and we discover that issues with mental health figured in both their families. This adds possible evidence to the story that Megan has had a breakdown.

The psychiatrist treating Megan has a sinister bearing. His background reveals questionable treatment methods, Megan is heavily medicated and even nursing staff question his actions. This character really adds to unsettling nature of the story.

Right up to the conclusion you are wondering if a baby ever existed and when we discover the reveal there are still a few twists left. My only criticism of this audiobook is that I felt the story was a little repetitive at times and could have been pared down slightly.

Believe Me Not by Natalie Chandler is available in audio, paperback and ebook format. My thanks to NetGalley and Headline Audio for a review copy. 

The School For Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan

 

Frida is co-parenting her young daughter, Harriet, with her ex-husband. During her half of the week her daughter is ill with an ear infection, as a result of this Frida is sleep deprived and at the end of her tether. Frida does the unthinkable and leaves her daughter home alone while she pops into work to pick up a document. A neighbour hears crying and reports the situation to the police resulting in Harriet being given into her fathers sole custody while Frida's suitability as a parent is assessed. One option given to Frida is to enroll on a year long course to improve her parenting skills.

This is a dystopian novel, set in a world that doesn't seem any different to the one we live in now, apart from the role of parents. This issue is quite timely considering the recent child abuse cases in the UK and the pro-life debate currently raging in the USA.

Firstly I'm not a mother, I don't have a maternal bone in my body but this novel made me angry, sad and frustrated. The system operating in this book is one that appears to be set up for failure, with constantly shifting goalposts and no tangible criteria for success. Anyone enrolling on the rehabilitation course has to sign a non-disclosure agreement, if they break this NDA they will be added to a Negligent Parent Registry. Once on the registry you cannot be removed and your name will be made available should you want to rent a house, apply for a credit card or move to a new neighbourhood. If you try to leave the course your name will be added to the registry. You will lose your rights to be a parent.

Both mothers and fathers can be held accountable, however mothers seem to be held to a far higher standard than fathers. Alongside this the course is far more generous towards fathers. The fathers have better living conditions, a lower boundary to pass modules and more rewards.

It's difficult to really say much more without giving away spoilers. This is a book to be read with trepidation. Throughout you are willing all of the women to succeed and your heart breaks each time they are knocked down.

A Sliver Of Darkness by C. J. Tudor

C. J. Tudor has put together a mixture of short stories that has lots to offer the reader. Many are set in a world on the edge of the apocalypse and this seems very timely at the moment. Alongside how humanity behaves when pushed to the edge there is also the subtle hint that something more sinister is lurking on the periphery.

As you would expect from a sinister selection of stories we have themes such as deals made with the devil, creatures lurking in the darkness, sanctuary on a desert island that may not be all it seems, a near-death experience that changes a person and graffiti that takes on a life of it's own.

The first two stories in the collection are my favourites. The End Of The Liner is set on a cruise ship that has been at sea for 50 years because land has become inhospitable. Resources are scarce so life-spans have a defined limit. The second story, The Block, is the creepiest. Set in an abandoned tower block a group of children find beetle type creatures looking for a food source.

A Sliver Of Darkness by C. J. Tudor will be published on 29th September 2022 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for a review copy.

 

May 2022 Reads

 

May took me back to my usual diet of crime and thrillers, with one exception. I also continued listening to audiobooks.

The month started well with a book from my TBR pile, A Three Dog Problem from S. J. Bennett. I read the first book in this series in April so was keen to read this book while everything was still fresh in my memory and it didn't disappoint. The author lovingly writes about the Queen, instilling her with warmth and wit, along with razor sharp intelligence. 

I then moved on to my favourite two books of the month. I discovered author Helen Fields back in late 2021 when I reviewed the explosive One For Sorrow so jumped at the chance to get my hands on a review copy of The Last Girl To Die. Set on a remote Scottish island this atmospheric story has everything you want in a thriller, including an ending that will make you gasp.

Following was a another book from my TBR pile. I've no idea why The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell kept getting passed over but when I realised that there was a sequel due out fairly soon I moved it to the top of the pile (although that is never a guarantee it's going to be read). The story was fascinating, the different timelines worked well together but there was always that sense of unease as if something wasn't quite right. Hopefully the unanswered questions will be addressed in the sequel.

My next book was light relief from the diet of thrillers, The Saturday Night Sauvignon Sisterhood by Gill Sims. I was laughing out loud from the first chapter, and also thanking my lucky stars that I don't have children as I doubt I'd be able to keep my hands off them if they were anything like the ones in the book. 

By the middle of May I was dancing a happy jig as I received review copies of two books that had been on my watch list for a while. Picture You Dead by Peter James is the eighteenth book in the Roy Grace series. Meticulous research and a writing style that grips from the start means that you immediately feel part of the story. By the time I'd finished I almost felt as if I was an art expert myself.

The other book I was overjoyed to receive was Murder Before Evensong by Richard Coles. My reasoning for wanting to read this probably seems silly but ........ being a student in the 1980's one of my favourite groups was The Communards. As a result of this I've always been interested when Richard Coles has shown up in the media. Murder Before Evensong is the first in the Canon Clement Mystery series, however I'm not sure I'll attempt a sequel. The novel is ideally placed to capture the growing cosy crime market that abounds at the moment but I just couldn't get away with the writing style.

The month finished off with two books themed around houses, The House Across The Lake by Riley Sager and The Party House by Lin Anderson. In The House Across The Lake there was an atmospheric opening and lots of twists early on, I was already thinking ahead and expecting something along the lines of Gone Girl when the story took a twist I didn't see coming and didn't enjoy. As for The Party House I didn't feel invested in the main characters and the story took too long to develop. The party house itself had little to do with the main plot.

As for the audiobooks, The Girl From The Sea by Shalini Boland was relatively short and kept my interest throughout. The other two audiobooks were fairly lengthy at over 12 hours each and I'm not sure I'd have persisted reading them if they were actual books. Guilty Women by Melanie Blake reminded me of a cross between the "bonkbuster" novels of the early 80's and the glamorous American soaps such as Dallas and Dynasty. The Ex-Husband by Karen Hamilton was another of those where you couldn't feel invested in the main character because they simply weren't likeable.