The Art Of Death by David Fennell

 

On her first day in a new posting DI Grace Archer is confronted with a series of shocking murders. An art installation consisting of glass containers holding the bodies of three homeless men appear in central London. The artist, @nonymous, uses social media to indicate that there are more to come. Grace Archer is in a race against time to discover who the mysterious artist is.

The opening chapter is deliberately vague and cryptic, leading into the shocking second chapter. The shock factor of the second chapter is enough to grip the reader. The pace is rapid, keeping the reader involved, and the crimes are novel enough to appeal to fans of thrillers.

DI Grace Archer is an interesting character. There is lots of background which we are given glimpses of. Abandoned by her mother and brought up by her policeman father. Her father was murdered by order of a London drug lord . As a child Grace is abducted by a child killer and survives. Her only known relative is her grandfather and his health is failing. Having recently uncovered a corrupt police officer, Grace is now posted to the station he was working from. As a result Grace is faced with a hostile work environment. All of this shows we have a lead character who is extremely human, vulnerable and damaged. With such a varied backstory author David Fennell has created a character who could lead a series of novels, it would be a shame if The Art Of Death is the only novel to feature DI Grace Archer.

Despite having to work in a hostile environment there are some positive characters, including her partner DS Harry Quinn. I thought analyst Klara was an interesting character and has lots more to offer. Grandfather Jake was sweet and vulnerable.

Fans of crime fiction love to try and guess who the villain is, there's nothing better than having a suspicion confirmed. There are lots of possibilities in The Art Of Death and this is probably the only thing that let this book down. Far too many possibilities mentioned in a very short space of time making it a little difficult to keep track of all of the characters.

Overall I enjoyed The Art Of Death and will read David Fennell's  second novel, See No Evil very soon. I do hope we see another outing from Grace Archer.

 

Christmas At The Borrow A Bookshop by Kiley Dunbar

 

Clove Lore is a quaint village on the Devonshire coast. The local bookshop is the latest addition to the staycation holiday trend, people pay to run the bookshop and the attached cafe for two weeks. Just before Christmas Magnus Sturluson turns up for his two week stay. Magnus isn't really looking forward to his holiday as it was a gift to him and his now ex-girlfriend. Rather than waste the holiday Magnus decides that a break from his troubles at home in Iceland might be what he needs. Unexpected events take place when a young woman is rescued just off the coast.

It seems very strange reading a book with Christmas in the title in July, this type of book would normally be set aside for a December read. Thankfully the Christmas aspect of this book isn't too over the top. There's not even any snow (despite the cover illustration) but there is a very different kind of weather. And who can resist a book about books.

Magnus is an engaging character, he has all the qualities you'd want from a romantic hero. Tall, broad (he is from Iceland after all) and brooding. As we get to know more about Magnus we begin to understand his "man of few words" nature. Not only is he healing from a broken heart but he's also devastated by the loss of his business, a bookshop in Reykjavik. The holiday at the bookshop was a joke gift from his brother before he lost his business.

The romantic aspect for Magnus is Alex Robinson, the young woman rescued in her damaged boat. Alex is from a small Cornish village and having discovered her boyfriend and best-friend together she simply ran away from home. Unfortunately conditions at sea damage her boat and she ends up in the Devonshire village. I struggled to empathise with Alex. As a result of circumstance Alex drifted into her job and her relationship. She isn't happy with the direction of her life but continued to drift, allowing others to make decisions for her. The part I really struggled with was the fact that once she was rescued she wasn't willing to share any information with the people around her.

The best part of the story is the setting. The village of Clove Lore and the eccentric inhabitants sound magical. I'd love to stay a few nights at the Siren's Tail pub, salivate over the different flavours of ice cream from Mrs Crocombe's shop or simply spend hours perusing the shelves in the bookshop.

The conclusion is pretty much as you would expect from romantic fiction, Magnus and Alex end up together after fate has tried everything in it's power to keep them apart. The bookshop now awaits it's next guest.

Christmas At The Borrow A Bookshop by Kiley Dunbar will be published on 1st September 2022 in paperback and ebook format. My thanks to NetGalley and Hera Books for a review copy. 

The Accomplice by Steve Cavanagh

 

Serial killer, The Sandman, has terrorised New York for fourteen months. When the FBI finally identify him and raid his home the only person they find is his wife Carrie. As the FBI collect evidence from the home they become convinced that Carrie was an accomplice in at least six of the murders. In the absence of The Sandman they decide to prosecute his accomplice. The family lawyer is convinced Carrie is innocent and convinces Eddie Flynn to take on her case.

I've just finished reading The Accomplice and I'm breathless. Author Steve Cavanagh has written a blistering thriller that is part serial killer thriller and part courtroom drama. The action simply doesn't let up for a moment.

This is book seven in the Eddie Flynn series. Fans of the series will be familiar with Eddie's tactics in the courtroom. Over time the ensemble cast has increased, as a result of this there is less of a focus on Eddie Flynn and events inside the courtroom. Even though there is less time in the courtroom we still have all the usual tricks we would expect from Eddie. You constantly wonder what miracle he is going to perform, especially when he allows a witness to tie them self in knots ready for Eddie to pull the rug out from under them.

Much of the novel is about collecting evidence and a manhunt, this results in quite a few OMG moments. I cannot believe how many times my heart was in my mouth reading The Accomplice. There are even times when it looks like Eddie Flynn is completely out of his depth and there is simply nothing he can do to save his client.

As we reached the conclusion I was holding my breath in anticipation, wondering how Eddie was going to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, only for Steve Cavanagh to pull the rug out from under the readers feet.

The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh

 

Mirror Lake straddles the English and Welsh border. As the residents prepare for the traditional swim on New Year's Day the body of the villages most famous resident, Rhys Lloyd, is washed up. As the police investigate a possible stalker they uncover tensions between the residents who own holiday homes on the lake and the residents of the nearby village.

I loved all the twists and turns in this intriguing murder mystery. The setting is stunning (and would make a beautiful backdrop for TV). The descriptions of the lake and surrounding countryside give the  area a real wow factor. It's this wow factor that is used to entice wealthy people to buy the lodges that have been built at the lakefront resort, The Shore. The lodges are all holidays homes, far outside the purse of the residents of the local village, Cwm Coed. The fact that the lodges are owned by second-homers from England causes lots of friction with the Welsh residents, particularly as the residents of The Shore make little effort to participate in village life. 

Residents of The Shore are all well-off, they have to be to afford a second home costing almost half a million pounds. As we are introduced to the residents only five properties exist but there are plans for many more lodges to be built. A wide variety of characters inhabit The Shore. Rhys Lloyd and his family own the land the complex is built on and he has big plans to expand. Jonty Charlton is the financial backer for the project, he lives in one of the homes with his wife and two young children. A third property is owned by retired boxer turned soap star Bobby and his wife Ashleigh who is an influencer. Next up are Clemmie and her teenage son Caleb. Clemmie is trying to start a new life for herself and her son away from London and the life of crime Caleb was being dragged into. The final resident is seventy year old Dee, a mysterious character.

As the story unfolds we realise that everyone is hiding secrets, from financial worries to drugs to affairs. Many of these secrets are simply immoral, however someone may be willing to commit murder to prevent their secret being uncovered. 

The story isn't linear. We open on New Year's Day with the discovery of the body and then progress through the investigation into the murder. Every now and again the story jumps back in time, anywhere from a few days previously to the middle of the previous summer, as we uncover everyone's background and the secrets they are desperate to keep hidden. This technique works really well as it allows the reader to feel as if they are gradually uncovering the motive for the murder in much the same way the police must.

This is billed as the first DC Morgan mystery. Ffion Morgan is the police detective investigating the crime for the Welsh Police since the body was washed up on the Welsh side of the lake. Ffion has to work with a partner, DC Leo Brady, from the English Police as the victim lived in one of the homes on the English side of the lake. There is a considerable amount of friction between Ffion and Leo. The detectives are complete opposites. Ffion prefers to work alone, she's headstrong, fiery and has little respect for authority. Leo follows the rules, doesn't like to challenge anyone and won't stand up for himself. Gradually they form a working partnership who really complement each other. I do hope that a second book allows the pair to work together again.

What really made this book for me was the murder victim. In Rhys Lloyd author Clare Mackintosh has written one of the most loathsome characters I've ever come across. Rhys was born and raised in the village of Cwm Coed but rose to fame as a singer. Fame has turned him into a very unpleasant person and now that his star is fading he's becoming even worse. Almost every character has a reason to hate Rhys, therefore almost everyone is a suspect in his murder. We even discover that before he became famous he had a darker side, this means that even some of the locals are suspects too. It's impossible to guess who is responsible and the final reveal is well hidden.

The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh will be published on 4th August 2022 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown UK for a review copy.

A Lady's Guide To Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin (Audiobook)

 

Following the death of her parents Kitty Talbot knows that the only way for her and her sisters to survive is if she can marry in to a fortune. With this in mind she heads off to London, with one of her sisters in tow, to find a husband. With the help of an aunt to guide her through the rules of society Kitty joins the season.

It would be extremely difficult not to listen/read this story and compare it to the likes of Jane Austen and Bridgerton. It contains all the same elements. Kitty is a feisty young woman who has little regard for the rules of high society in London, she is much more used to a quiet country life. Her outspokenness is frowned upon and at times is a barrier to some of the events.

When Kitty finds a gentleman she considers meets her requirements she goes on a charm offensive, knowing that it is important to have the mother's onside as it is the women who make the decisions as to whether individuals are a suitable match. Unfortunately the gentleman's older brother, Lord Radcliffe, does not agree with the match and puts an immediate end to the courtship.

Lord Radcliffe fits the mold of the distant, overbearing gentleman who clashes regularly with Kitty, even though we, the reader/listener, know that this is just an elaborate courting ritual and by the end of the novel they will be madly in love.

As you would expect there are lots of minor stories which pad out this tale while the major characters dance around each other. We have a dishonorable gentlemen who tries to swindle money, an elopement and an aunt with a dubious past.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this, the narrator does an excellent job and the time flew by. I felt as if I was fully ensconced in London society.

A Lady's Guide To Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin is available in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK Audio for a review copy. 

Love Untold by Ruth Jones

 

Grace Meredith is approaching her ninetieth birthday and her granddaughter, Elin, is determined to celebrate it in style by throwing a surprise party. Grace means the world to Elin as she rescued her at the age of twelve and has acted has her mother and father for over thirty years. Elin's daughter, Beca, is pretty sure Grama Grace really wouldn't appreciate a party. As her birthday approaches all Grace really wants is to be reconciled with the daughter she last saw thirty years ago, Alys.

This is a feel good story but it is tinged with sadness throughout. We learn so much about each character and what has molded them along with everything they are dealing with in life. 

Grace is a wonderful character, the type of grandmother we would all wish for. Patient, forgiving, always willing to listen. Grace is also a feisty character, refusing to give in to old age. Over time we learn that Grace was forced into a loveless marriage. Her husbands death triggers the poor relationship between her and her daughter Alys.

Elin is the head teacher of a secondary school, very organised and extremely concerned about appearances. Her marriage is in a rut but at the moment her main concerns are organising the surprise party for Grace and her daughter Beca's GCSE results.

Beca isn't academic and this is causing friction between her and her mother. Beca doesn't know what she wants to do with her life but she does know she doesn't want to go back to school. Beca loves art and music and it's her talent for music that has her forming a friendship that will build her self-esteem.

Alys is the least likeable of the four women. She's flighty and for the majority of her life has made questionable choices. Alcohol has played a major part in many of the poor decisions she has made and even though she's been sober for thirty years she still makes some dubious choices.

The vast majority of the story is set in current day, however at various points we jump back to periods in time over the past seventy years. These points give us insight into how the relationships between the four women developed. Many of these instances also allow us to see how similar the women are even though they would probably deny they are similar in any way. They are all stubborn, refuse to accept help and refuse to discuss things. There were times reading this novel that you wanted to shake some of them.

The country of Wales and it's friendly people come across really well. Throughout I could hear Ruth Jones as Nessa whenever anyone spoke.

There are redemption arcs as we reach the conclusion, some of which are left slightly vague. I'm happy with that as we know that in real life not everything is tied up neatly with a bow all at the same time. Most of all this is a story of love, love in it's many different forms. 

Love Untold by Ruth Jones will be published on 29th September 2022 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Transworld Books for a review copy.

Do No Harm by Jack Jordan

 

Dr Anna Jones is a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon. Days before she is due to operate on a prominent politician her young son is kidnapped. Anna is given a stark choice, either ensure the politician dies on the operating table or she will never see her son again.

Author Jack Jordan opens Do No Harm with a punch and doesn't let up throughout. The majority of the story is told from the perspective of Anna, the surgeon. Anna isn't a likeable character but much of her demeanor is what is needed from a surgeon; cold, calculating, unflappable. When Anna realises that her son has been kidnapped you feel ever emotion she runs through; disbelief, doubt, anger, terror, and finally, acceptance. Torn between a doctor's oath to "do no harm" and a mother's need to protect their child no matter what you really feel for what she must be going through, particularly when it is made clear the extreme measures the villains are willing to take.

Alongside Anna's perspective we have Margot, a nurse who regularly works with Anna in theatre. Margot is struggling to make ends meet and has resorted to stealing from colleagues. All her life Margot has striven to escape her chaotic background but now seems to be dragged back by the poor choices she has made.

The first third and the last third of the novel are tense and filled with terror as we wonder how Anna, and to some extent Margot, are going to overcome the impossible situation they are in. I really struggled with the middle section of the story that knitted the beginning and end together. As a lover of thrillers I'm used to having to suspend disbelief, however I felt the discovery of why the politician needed to be killed was too easily discovered. The coincidences between some of the characters also spoilt my overal enjoyment of what started as a great medical thriller.

What The Flock! by Sally Urwin (Audiobook)

Sally Urwin gives a warts and all look at life on a working farm in the north of England.

Non-fiction is a rarity for me. When I do tackle non-fiction it tends to be something I can pick up and put down between fiction reads. The chance to try non-fiction as an audiobook seemed like an ideal opportunity not to be missed.

As the book opens we are introduced to Sally, fresh from university with a history degree that doesn't really prepare her for the world of work. With no career goal she falls into office life and eventually becomes a marketing executive for accountants. Unfortunately Sally realises pretty quickly that she isn't cut out for office life, she's happiest when outdoors.

In the early days of internet dating Sally is matched with Steve and their second date takes place on Steve's family farm. Sally isn't a natural on the farm but she is willing to give things a go and this impresses Steve. Eventually they move in together and Sally is over the moon when she's able to give notice on her office job and devote her life to working on the farm.

Life on a working farm isn't easy. Sally gives an accurate description of the hard work involved, along with the highs and lows of working with animals. Sally has a soft spot for those animals that would normally be euthanized as they are unprofitable for a farmer to rear so we have a variety of tales of "wonky" sheep, ponies and pigs and the trouble they cause.

Sally paints a very clear picture of how difficult it is for farms to turn a profit and the need to diversify in order to pay the mortgage. Pig breeding, glamping,  a tea room, brewery and wedding venue are just some of the projects that have been developed over the years. I really enjoyed the story of the tea room receiving a coach load of pensioners. Expecting a nice profit from a large number of afternoon teas Sally was left disappointed when the light-fingered pensioners acted like a plague of locusts stripping the tea room of anything that wasn't nailed down, even the toilet roll.

Two major events show how bleak farming life has been in recent years. Firstly, the foot and mouth outbreak which saw many farmers having to destroy their animals. Secondly, COVID, which prevented movement of any kind. Just one of these could be the death knell for a working farm. Sally covers both of these events with honesty and openness, showing that with determination and a positive attitude things can, and will, get better.

What The Flock! by Sally Unwin is available in paperback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Thread Books for a review copy.

 

The Night Watch by Neil Lancaster

 

A body is discovered on an Edinburgh golf course. It turns out to be a well known criminal who has just avoided a conviction for murder. Almost two hundred miles away the advocate responsible for the "not proven" verdict falls to his death. Are the deaths linked? Is there a vigilante responsible? 

The death of another criminal who evaded justice 5 years earlier is connected to the case. Could the vigilante be a rogue cop? Max Craigie and the rest of his team are tasked with investigating who is responsible before any more deaths occur.

Right from the start you are gripped by the action packed opening first chapter. The pace doesn't let up as we are immediately moved on to yet more action. Neil Lancaster takes his time in setting the scene for the introduction of DS Max Craigie and the rest of the "Policing Standards Reassurance" team.

The team still consists of Max, Janie, Ross, Norma and Barney. The last two were a great addition to the team in the second book, The Blood Tide, so it's great to see that they are still around. The shift from the crime solving in the first book in the series, Dead Man's Grave, to unearthing police corruption in the rest of the series obviously meant a bigger team was required. The interactions between the different members of the team are superb.

A forensically aware murderer means that Max, Janie and the rest of the team have their work cut out for them as they try to piece together exactly how the first two deaths occurred whilst trying not to alert any possible suspects to their presence. Neil Lancaster's background in the police force shines through in the detail used to explain evidence gathering.

Even though a suspect is identified early on in the story it doesn't make things any easier for the team as the suspect managed to kill two people, hundreds of miles apart, without leaving any kind of trail. Twist after twist after twist leaves the reader wondering if Max and Janie have finally met their match this time around.

Fans of the first two books in the series will not be disappointed. Anyone who likes police procedural novels will also enjoy this. The book can easily be read as a standalone novel but I would encourage readers to invest in the first two books in the series to gain full enjoyment. It's difficult not to compare the story to TV series such as Line Of Duty, however Max and Janie (and the rest of the team) seem to solve the crimes much quicker.

The Night Watch by Neil Lancaster will be published on 8th September 2022 in Kindle and audio format and on 15th September 2022 in hardback. My thanks to NetGalley and HQ for a review copy. 

The Island Of Lost Girls by Alex Marwood

La Kastellana is a Mediterranean island, steeped in tradition and playground of the super rich. Islanders are indebted to the wealthy and turn a blind eye to what goes on. Over the space of a few days a mother from England turns up looking for her missing daughter and some of the residents of the island decide that they've had enough of being treated as servants.

When I first started The Island Of Lost Girls I wasn't really enamoured of the story. I think this was because of the number of different threads over a variety of timelines. I'm so glad I stuck with the book though because once I'd sorted everything out in my head I was absolutely gripped.

The story is primarily about a clash of cultures. The small island is home to a thousand residents who live a simple life, as they have done for hundreds of years. Deference is shown to the ruling class of the island, traditions are still followed. When the island becomes a playground for the super rich the residents are then treated as servants. The rich have no respect for traditions and act as if they own everything.

The majority of the story focuses on Mercedes, a young girl growing up on the island, and Tatiana, the daughter of a rich and powerful man. Initially the girls strike up an unlikely friendship, but over time Tatiana begins to treat Mercedes as a plaything and eventually a slave. The reader follows Mercedes as she is initially awestruck by everything the rich have access to but then grows to realise that beautiful on the outside doesn't necessarily mean beautiful on the inside.

Through Mercedes we see the contrast in the way women are treated by society. Among the residents women are held to a higher standard than men and punished if they bring shame to their families. Women have few rights. The rich, however, bring beautiful young women to the island. Women who should have everything going for them but are treated as commodities.

The young women who are shipped to the island to "party" provide the thriller element of the novel. Thankfully the author chooses not to go into graphic detail but the descriptions will still have your pulse racing and fill you with shock and anger. I almost cheered out loud at the conclusion but I really wanted a little more detail about what happened to Tatiana at the end.

The Island Of Lost Girls by Alex Marwood will be published on 14th July 2022 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group for a review copy.

June 2022 Reads

 

June turned out to be a cracking months for reading. Not a poor book among the eight I managed and it's impossible to pick a favourite. The month basically falls into four star reads and five star reads.

If I begin with the four star reads the first two in this category are the ones that don't fit the "thriller" genre. A Sliver Of Darkness from  C. J. Tudor is a selection of creepy short stories that has something for everyone. The second book was The School For Good Mothers from Jessamine Chan, a dystopian novel that has a nanny state dictating how children should be raised and re-educating parents who fall short of expectation. Some really thought provoking topics included in the storyline.

The next two four star books are No Secrets by David Jackson, a real page turner with characters you feel you know really well and a couple who are unbelievably creepy. The only reason this didn't gain the extra star was because the ending wasn't a complete surprise. The month ended with A Cornish Recipe For Murder by Fiona Leitch. The fifth book in the Jodie 'Nosey' Parker cozy crime series is a perfect blend of murder mystery, baking competition and drag queens. If you like cozy crime don't let the fact that this is the fifth in the series put you off, it's a great read as a standalone, or even better hunt out the first book in the series and start there.

I awarded five stars for the other four books for June. I eagerly awaited Lying Beside You from Michael Robotham, the third book in the Cyrus Haven series. I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in this series,  Good Girl, Bad Girl and When She Was Good so I was eager to see how the stories of Cyrus Haven and Evie Cormac. Fans of the series won't be disappointed by what is the best book in the series.

Next up was The Botanist by M. W. Craven. Fans of the Poe and Tilly series know what to expect but this time around the author gave Washington Poe the seemingly impossible task of solving a series of locked room murders. I was left open mouthed and scratching my head wondering how on earth Poe and Tilly were going to solve the crimes. I did enjoy the fact that the villain was killing off morally bankrupt members of society.

Moving on to The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell readers got answers to many of the questions left hanging at the end of the fantastic The Family Upstairs. We have three strands to the story, all linked to the events of the first book, and I was full of dread as I approached the conclusion of the story. Lisa Jewell tied everything up in a very satisfying way but left a little chink open should she wish to re-visit one character in particular.

The final book in this category is My Other Husband by Dorothy Koomson, a dual time thriller about an obsessive and coercive partner. I really did feel the nightmare the main character was living through and wondered how she was ever going to prevent more people from being hurt.

June also saw me listen to three audiobooks. Believe Me Not by Natalie Chandler is an engrossing psychological thiller that had me wonder who was telling the truth throughout. The Guilty Couple from C. L. Taylor is my favourite audiobook to date. A wrongly accused woman in a race against time to prove she was framed for attempted murder. There simply isn't a slack moment in the story. The Love Of My Life by Rosie Walsh, a family drama which starts and ends well but is let down by a middle that drags. The theme of mental health isn't a comfortable topic but is handled in a sympathetic manner.

The vast majority of the books read in June were review copies, many thanks to NetGalley and various publishers for their generosity. Dates to watch out for are:

No Secrets by David Jackson will be published in hardback, ebook and audio format on 7/7/22

The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell will be published in hardback, ebook and audio format on 21/7/22

A Cornish Recipe For Murder by Fiona Leitch will be published for Kindle on 18/8/22 and in paperback on 13/10/22

My Other Husband by Lisa Jewell will be published in hardback, ebook and audio format on 18/8/22

A Sliver Of Darkness by C. J. Tudor will be published in hardback, ebook and audio format on 29/9/22