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
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