Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena

 

Nine year old Avery Wooler is a difficult child. When she goes missing suspicion falls on her father, William Wooler, the last person to see her alive. As the police investigate they discover that there are lots of secrets in the small community.

Everyone Here Is Lying has you hooked from the very beginning. The book opens with a confrontation between father and daughter. Next thing we know is that Avery is missing. You immediately assume the father is responsible. Unfortunately William Wooler doesn't admit to having seen his daughter since he shouldn't have been at home. William has been conducting an affair with a married neighbour instead of being at work. When the police discover he's been lying they are convinced he's responsible for Avery's disappearance.

As the police continue to investigate we learn that quite a few of the neighbours are hiding secrets and there is more than one suspect. You really do begin to wonder who is telling the truth and who is responsible. A complete lack of evidence makes it even more difficult to determine exactly what has happened. There is lots of finger pointing and conjecture, this results in distrust among the community and the break-up of more than one relationship. 

I loved the way that suspicion fell on different people at different times; how for some individuals it was almost impossible to provide an alibi and prove their innocence. It really does highlight that you never really know what is going on behind closed doors. I was completely engrossed in the way that little snippets of information changed the focus of the investigation and suspicion would switch from one person to another. There was also a moment were you wondered if a false accusation was going to result in tragic consequences.

Unfortunately the twist didn't work for me. I really couldn't see the characterisation that was depicted and how it played out, leaving the conclusion a little flat for me after the first half of the novel was so good.

Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapend will be published on 6th July 2023 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for a review copy.

Something New At The Borrow A Bookshop by Kiley Dunbar (Audiobook)

 

Digital nomad Joy has been booked to modernise the running of the bookshop at Clove Lore following the disastrous floods of the winter. Along with Joy is her 6-year-old daughter, Radia. The pair have been on the move for five years but Joy is beginning to feel guilty about some of the things her young daughter is missing out on, such as friends and school. The tight-knit community of Clove Lore seems to magnify all the things Radia is missing but Joy is still reluctant to put down roots. Joy is determined that once the job is complete they will move on to the next one. Little does she realise the power Clove Lore and it's inhabitants have over people in need to connection.

This is Book 3 in the Borrow A Bookshop series from Kiley Dunbar and it feels like returning to a well-loved holiday spot. All the eccentric characters are still there and you have a pretty good idea of how the story is going to go but that’s part of the attraction of the familiar. The lightness of the story works well as an audiobook.

Joy is a complex character. Highly intelligent, an expert in IT, she’s traveled the world to fulfill contracts. The big question is why her need to constantly be on the move? As the story progresses, we learn that not only is she estranged from her own family, she’s also fearful of her ex-partner finding her.

Travelling with a young child means that her daughter has experienced more than most children. Initially Joy saw this as positive but now Radia is obsessed with all the things that young children are obsessed with; friends, school, parties.

The community of Clove Lore is rebuilding itself after the disastrous floods of the previous winter and as we have learnt from previous outings the community work together and help each other, particularly where the bookshop is concerned. Despite her best-efforts Joy is surrounded by support, friendship and a blossoming romance.

The on-off nature of the romance is exactly as we’d expect, straight-forward romantic fiction would be a bit boring. As we learn more about Joy and her past we discover why she is continually on the move and reluctant to become involved with anyone. Thankfully these darker elements of the story are contrasted with the lighter tones offered by eccentric Minty, lady of the manor, who is trying to launch a wedding business by persuading smaller businesses to provide goods and services for free.

Something New At The Borrow A Bookshop is available in paperback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Saga Egmont for a review copy.

The Trial by Rob Rinder

 

When high profile police officer Grant Cliveden is poisoned at the beginning of a trial suspicion falls on career criminal Jimmy Knight. Jimmy has history with Cliveden. He claims that Cliveden framed him for armed robbery, resulting in a ten year prison sentence. Knight had only been out of prison for two weeks when he met Cliveden for a drink; hours later Cliveden was dead. Trainee barrister Adam Green is the only person who believes Knight’s claims that he is innocent.

I really was pleasantly surprised by The Trial, it wasn’t the cosy mystery I was expecting, instead it’s a well plotted legal thriller that constantly has you wondering who are the villains and who are the heroes.

There is a great opening chapter which really pulls you in. Right from the start you’re told the heroic police officer who threw himself in front of a bullet to save the Queen’s life is going to die, and by the end of the chapter he’s dead. After saving the Queen’s life, Grant Cliveden has become a national hero and risen through the police ranks. There was something about his swaggering demeanour I just didn’t like.

When Jimmy Knight is arrested for the murder he insists on his barrister being Jonathan Taylor-Green. Jonathan was once a brilliant advocate but has become jaded, he’s far more interested in easy money and his numerous girlfriends. Much of the work needed for his cases is left to trainee barrister Adam Green. This has you seriously questioning why Jimmy Knight would insist on a barrister who really isn't at the top of his game.

Despite his barrister suggesting he should plead guilty since all the evidence is against him Knight refuses to do so. Thankfully Adam believes him and seems determined to find evidence to support his not guilty plea. Things are made more difficult though as Knight seems reluctant to provide any help.

The character of Adam Green really drives the story forward. He is full of self-doubt, much of it stemming from his own tragic background, but is determined to leave no stone unturned to get at the truth. The more Adam digs, the murkier the story becomes and you begin to question who is the criminal.

I really do hope that this is the start of a series, I’d love to see more of Adam Green, he’s a really engaging character. I’d also like to see how some of the other barristers get on, and more importantly I’d like to see Jonathan Taylor-Green get his comeuppance.

The Trial by Rob Rinder will be published on 22^nd June 2023 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for a review copy.  

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice For Murderers by Jesse Sutanto (Audiobook)

 

Vera Wong runs a tea house in San Francisco. When a dead body is found on the property Vera decides to investigate the obvious case of murder since she has no faith in the police doing a proper job. During the “investigation” Vera meets a variety of people connected to the murder victim, little do they realise the impact she is about to have on their lives.

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice For Murderers by Jesse Sutanto sits nicely in the genre of cozy crime. Gentle and unassuming it draws you in, before you know it hours have disappeared and you simply must find out what is going to happen next.

Vera is a strange character. Her “world famous” tea house is anything but; she has one customer a day. Alongside this her adult son has no time for her. However, Vera refuses to give up and puts on a brave front every day. This perfectly describes Vera’s nature, she’s set in her ways, traditional and forthright. Although Vera is traditional, she likes to think she’s up to date with modern technology, Googling anything she doesn’t understand. At times this is amusing but at others it shows you can never underestimate Vera.

The supporting characters all defer to Vera instead of ignoring or dismissing her, this is obviously a reflection of a culture where young people respect their elders. Combined with the cultural respect, Vera manages to use a little bit of deception and some fantastic cooking to get everyone to do exactly what she wants. Vera also seems to know what is best for everyone and manipulates them so that their lives are actually better for it.

As Vera gets to know each character, or suspect, in greater depth, she gradually whittles down her list of possible murderers. This is quite daunting as over time our affection for each character grows and you really don’t want one of them to be the villain. Befitting a cozy crime, everything is drawn together nicely at the end. I do hope that Vera Wong gets to investigate another crime.

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice For Murderers by Jesse Sutanto is available in paperback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a review copy.

The Invisible Women's Club by Helen Paris

 

Janet Pimm lives a quiet and lonely life. At 72 her life revolves around routines and her beloved allotment. When the council declare a bio-hazard on the land and it looks as if the allotments will be repossessed and sold to a property developer Janet decides to take matters into her own hands.

My preferred genre is obviously thrillers but I do enjoy something a little lighter now and again as a break from my usual reading material. When I looked back at my recent reads it turns out I haven't read anything but thrillers since early January so I really was in need of a "palate cleanser". When I read the blurb for The Invisible Women's Club from Helen Paris it sounded as if it would be the perfect antidote.

The first chapter really didn't grab me, the language seemed a little stuffy and Janet Pimm is not a likeable character. She's 72 years old, set in her ways, very opinionated and stand-offish. Life revolves around her plot at the local allotments and her cherished plants. While many of the other allotmenteers are friendly towards each other, Janet keeps her distance.

Not one to give up on a book after just one chapter I persevered, and I'm so glad I did. This is a wonderful story that fills you with pride, indignation and joy. This is a story mainly about one woman but it encompass so much more. We learn all about Janet's life, her struggles with misogyny, the loss of a child and a cheating husband, to name just a few things. This is a story that will resonate with so many women.

There is a slight thriller element to the story-line. Janet refuses to accept the council's findings and sets out to prove them wrong. We discover that Janet is a formidable character who can turn her hand to almost anything. There are strong echos of the Suffragette movement and the resilience of people during WWII.

There are some wonderful supporting characters. Bev, Janet's neighbour, is a force of nature. It's thanks to Bev's perseverance that Janet comes out of her shell. Together they are determined that they will no longer be overlooked or undervalued

The story certainly didn't take the direction I initially thought it would, which was very refreshing. Helen Paris seemed determined to show that women of all ages have hidden depths, strengths and wisdom that certainly shouldn't be overlooked or ignored. By the end I was cheering Janet and her friends along.

The Invisible Women's Club by Helen Paris will be published on 22nd June 2023 in hardback and ebook. My thanks to NetGalley and Transworld Publishers for a review copy.

A Cornish Seaside Murder by Fiona Leitch

 

Just as the local mermaid festival is about to begin a body is found having been drowned in a horse trough. Since the stone statue of a mermaid has disappeared from the church, some of the older residents think the mermaid of the local legend has returned to kill fishermen. Jodie 'Nosey' Parker is convinced it's more likely to be drug smuggling gone wrong. 

This is the sixth book in the Nosey Parker series from Fiona Leitch. Having previously read books 4 and 5 in the series I was really pleased to get hold of A Cornish Seaside Murder, at some point I'm going to get around to the first three books too. 

Firstly, you really don't need to have read any of the previous books in the series to enjoy this one. Secondly, this is perfect for fans of cozy crime thrillers. There are a couple of incidents involving brutal crimes but nothing is overly graphic.

This time around our main character, Jodie, is working as an auxiliary to the local police force, using the skills she developed when she worked as a police officer in the Met. This is much more of a police procedural than previous books, there is very little story-line involving Jodie's catering business. This means that some of the supporting characters (her Mum, daughter, assistant and dog) don't have a large part in the story, as a result of this I felt some of the usual humour was lost. What we do gain more of is Jodie's relationship with her boyfriend, Nathan.

Since Nathan is a police officer and Jodie is an auxiliary it means that Nathan is her boss while they are at work. Jodie doesn't like being told what to do and is so used to being her own boss that this arrangement does cause a little bit of friction but it is all dealt with in a lighthearted way.

The story-line initially seems pretty straight forward but there are enough twists to keep you hooked. An enjoyable read but I did miss the catering elements of the story as they involve the more eccentric characters.

A Cornish Seaside Murder by Fiona Leitch will be published on 8th June 2023 in ebook format and on 31st August 2023 in paperback. My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a review copy.

March 2023 Reads

March was another month of thrillers, of the five read only three are new books, even the audiobook I listened to isn't new. However, I thoroughly enjoyed each book.

The month started with Perfect Prey by Helen Fields. I'm working through the Luc Callanach series and this is the second book. The story builds on the relationship between Callanach and Turner that we were introduced to in book one. The relationship is on rocky ground though as someone from Turner's past appears on the scene. The pace is blistering and the crimes shocking. There are plenty of twists to keep you turning the page. I'm already looking forward to diving into the next book in the series.

Next up was Eleven Liars from Robert Gold, the sequel to Twelve Secrets. The story follows on closely from the first book so readers will be familiar with many of the characters. Following a fire in the derelict community centre attached to the local church secrets which have been hidden for twenty years come to light. The novel starts slowly, introducing a wide range of characters. The intricate plot eventually reveals all the connections and keeps you gripped to the end.

Will Dean has a loyal following on Twitter and I see regular praise for his novels. When the opportunity to review The Last Passenger came up I jumped at the chance, particularly as the premise of the story sounds intriguing. Caz Ripley wakes after her first night onboard an ocean liner to discover that she is completely alone. I was gripped from the opening page. The story is surreal, I really don't want to give away any spoilers. My heart was in my mouth as I read, wondering how Caz was going to deal with each challenge that was thrown at her. I'll certainly be adding the authors back catalogue to my TBR.

Another series I'm working my way through is the Maeve Kerrigan books by Jane Casey. March saw me diving in to The Reckoning. When someone starts murdering pedophiles a moral question is raised, is the murderer doing society a service? Kerrigan is determined to give the victims as much justice as any other murder victim, especially as some of the convictions appear questionable. The story quickly takes a turn when the daughter of a violent criminal goes missing. It is great to see Kerrigan forging her way in the male dominated team, and gaining an ally when another woman joins the team. Much more interesting though is the introduction of DI Josh Derwent. Sparks fly between Kerrigan and Derwent, and not in a good way.

Final book of the month was The Launch Party by Lauren Forry. The plot is brilliant, ten individuals win a competition to be the first guests to stay in a luxury hotel on the moon. Once they arrive though they discover that the hotel is completely deserted and it will be three days before they can be rescued. All indications are that they are taking part in an extreme reality TV show, until one of them is murdered. I was hooked from the beginning as, a bit like an Agatha Christie novel, any one of the guests could be the murderer. 

Only one audiobook this month, The Catch by T. M. Logan. I've read a couple of the authors novels and loved them, however I think The Catch is the best yet. A father is convinced his daughter's new boyfriend is hiding something. Determined to uncover the truth, a cat and mouse game ensues and his life begins to spiral out of control. This works so well as an audiobook, I was completely absorbed by the story.

More detailed reviews of each book are available on my blog.

Publication dates to watch out for are:-

The Last Passenger by Will Dean will be published on 11th May 2023 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

The Launch Party by Lauren Forry will be published on 22nd June 2023 in paperback, ebook and audio format.