Miss Beeton's Murder Agency by Josie Lloyd

 

Alice Beeton runs The Good Household Management Agency, a company that vets domestic staff for wealthy clients. When one of her placements is murdered Alice, along with her friends, investigate the murder and she finds herself closer to the action than she expected.

Josie Lloyd has written Miss Beeton's Murder Academy with a lightness of touch and gossipy style, which puts it firmly in the cosy crime genre. Combined with the cosy crime is another popular addition, the inclusion of recipes. This works particularly well as the main character, Alice Beeton, is a distant relative of Mrs Beeton.

Alice is the wrong side of fifty but is mainly content with her life. She has a wide circle of friends, a successful business and her beloved dog, Agatha. There are a couple of niggles; the noisy upstairs neighbours and the fact that her brother seems to be letting the family home fall into ruin.

Serendipity is at work when a young woman, Enya, signs on with the agency. At almost the same time Alice fields a call from a client desperate for a replacement housekeeper immediately. Enya seems to be the perfect fit and is able to start right away. Within days Enya is found murdered and the police are struggling to discover the culprit. Alice, thanks to her love of crime fiction, decides to go undercover as the new housekeeper to investigate and finds herself embroiled in high-end art theft.

During the investigation, Alice is supported by a host of friends. I loved the two women who work at the agency, Helly and Jinx. Jinx is a complete contrast to Alice. She's flamboyant, outspoken and seems to know everyone. There are also a couple of characters who have highly prized skills thanks to their previous employment working for the security services.

The first two-thirds of the book is really just developing the characters and setting the scene, the action doesn't begin to happen until the final third, and I felt this let the story down. I loved all of the characters and the gossipy style but just felt the pace was too slow. I would certainly read a sequel now that I've got to know all the characters.

Miss Beeton's Murder Agency by Josie Lloyd will be published on 24th October 2024. My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for a review copy.

Author Details

Mother of three teens and a beloved dog, Ziggy, Josie lives in Brighton in the UK with her husband, Emlyn Rees, with whom she sometimes co-writes. Together they have written seven internationally best-selling novels, including Come Together, which was number one for ten weeks, published in twenty-seven languages and made into a Working Title film. They've also written several parodies of their favourite children's books, including 'We're Going On A Bar Hunt', 'The Very Hungover Caterpillar' and 'The Teenager Who Came To Tea'.

Living Is A Problem by Doug Johnstone

 

Still coming to terms with the near-death attacks by a local police officer, the Skelfs find themselves investigating the disappearance of a Ukrainian refugee, gangland warfare and a case very close to home.

A new addition to the Skelf series by Doug Johnstone is always a highlight of the year. Book 6 in the series, Living Is A Problem, is probably my favourite. I'm still not sure how a book about three women who run a funeral business and solve crimes works, but it does. I suspect part of it is that the books make you think; think about your place in the universe and about connections. The other element is enlightening the reader about death, normalising conversations about the topic and making you aware of how the business of death has moved with the times and that we now have far more options available to us.

As usual, the book opens at a funeral service, this time around it's for the head of one of Edinburgh's criminal gangs. More often than not the opening chapters of the series have a humorous element, this time around the tone is far more serious and sees Jenny desperately try to prevent open warfare between rival gangs.

Dorothy finds herself struggling to help her partner Thomas. Following the attacks at the end of the previous book, The Opposite Of Lonely, Thomas is in a dark place, refusing any type of counselling. The sense of community Dorothy gets from being involved in a collective of musicians has certainly helped her to come to terms with the brutal attack, but it has also brought her a new case. Yana, a Ukrainian refugee, who is part of the choir has gone missing, leaving behind her children.

Hannah is trying to decide what to do next after finishing her PhD in astrophysics. Helping out at the funeral home she learns that Brodie, one of their employees, is worried that someone has attacked the grave of his stillborn son. As Hannah investigates she uncovers more about Brodie and also becomes intrigued by panpsychism (the belief that everything is conscious).

The investigation by each member of the family leads to greater problems for each of them, but overshadowing it all is the threat posed by Don Webster, the police officer who almost killed Dorothy and Thomas. This threat fills you with a sense of foreboding as you read, wondering where the danger will surface next.

It was lovely to see Jenny being kinder to herself and in a happy place. However, Doug Johnstone, has this knack of showing us that in the universe everything is connected and there needs to be balance. With one of the family discovering happiness, another seems to pay the price, leading to an ending that left me quite bereft.

Author Details

Doug Johnstone is the author of Fourteen novels, includingThe Great Silence, the third in the Skelfs series, which has been optioned for  In 2021, The Big Chill, the second in the series, was longlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. In 2020, A Dark Matter, the first in the series, was shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year and the Capital Crime Amazon Publishing Independent Voice Book of the Year award. Black Hearts (Book four), was published in 2022, with The Opposite of Lonely (book five) out in 2023. Several of his books have been bestsellers and award winners, and his first science fiction novel, The Space Between Us, was a BBC2 Between the Covers pick. He’s taught creative writing, been writer in residence at various institutions, and has been an arts journalist for twenty years. Doug is a songwriter and musician with five albums and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers. He lives in Edinburgh.

In Too Deep by Lee Child & Andrew Child

Waking in a strange place, with no memory of how he got there, Reacher finds himself in the centre of a criminal gang stealing high-end art from wealthy Russians. Things don't look good for Reacher as the members of the gang don't trust each other, convinced they've been infiltrated by an FBI agent.

In Too Deep is the twenty-ninth book in the Jack Reacher series, with author Lee Child writing alongside his brother Andrew Child. The book opens strongly, promising lots. Reacher wakes to find himself cuffed, wrists and ankles, to a table. He has no idea where he is or how he got there. Using guile he coaxes one of his captors to uncuff one wrist, which happens to be broken, and then manages to overpower the man. 

Another member of the gang persuades Reacher to work with him to escape, promising he'll help Reacher in return. From this man Reacher learns that he was involved in a car accident, hence his broken wrist and mild concussion which is blocking his memories of the hours leading up to the accident. He's also told that the driver didn't survive the crash and was an undercover FBI agent. Reacher is wary of everything, throughout his career as a military policeman and afterwards he knows that people lie. Unable to recall the events up to the crash leave Reacher even more cautious than usual.

From this point on the story just seems to keep going in circles, with very little action taking place. The gang has one big job they want to carry out before the FBI turns up looking for their missing agent. The gang members don't trust each other, convinced they are going to be double-crossed. Reacher is desperately trying to piece everything together, thanks to his memory loss. I felt pretty much the same as Reacher, the descriptions are vague and the dialogue is confusing. 

The crossing and double-crossing was interminable, sadly lacking the Reacher action fans love. The story did pick up pace in the final quarter, when the plot takes a completely new turn and we finally got to see Reacher engage with the villains, but even this was brief, lacking the face-off's which are classic Reacher.

In Too Deep by Lee Child and Andrew Child will be published on 22nd October 2024 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Transworld Publishers for a review copy.

Author Details

Lee Child is one of the world’s leading thriller writers. He was born in Coventry, raised in Birmingham, and now lives in New York. It is said one of his novels featuring his hero Jack Reacher is sold somewhere in the world every nine seconds. His books consistently achieve the number-one slot on bestseller lists around the world and have sold over one hundred million copies. Lee is the recipient of many awards including Author of the Year at the 2019 British Book Awards. He was appointed CBE in the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours.

Andrew Child is the author of nine thrillers written under the name Andrew Grant. He is the younger brother of Lee Child. Born in Birmingham, he lives in Wyoming with his wife, the novelist Tasha Alexander.

 

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

 

Three influencers have been brutally murdered. Clues left at the scene indicate the main suspect is Amy Wheeler, a personal bodyguard to the rich and famous. Amy knows she's innocent so enlists the help of her father-in-law to help her uncover the real murderer.

Richard Osman has made a name for himself in the publishing world with the hugely successful The Thursday Murder Club series. Moving away from a much-loved series must have seemed a big risk to both the author and the publisher. I'm a fan of The Thursday Murder Club series so approached We Solve Murders with a little apprehension. I'm very pleased to say that my worries were completely unfounded, the book was wonderful.

The opening chapter really sets the tone for the rest of the novel. An influencer gets the fame they have been seeking by being murdered, and that fame is only fleeting as news cycles move on so quickly these days. The satirical tone continues throughout the story, with genuine laugh-out-loud moments.

Amy Wheeler is central to the story, a personal bodyguard whose skills are unmatched. When we first meet Amy she has been hired to protect Rosie D'Antonio, the world's second bestselling novelist, who's upset a Russian oligarch. Realising that the murders of three influencers have links to her, Amy knows that she needs to clear her name by uncovering who is really behind the murders. With her boss missing, and possibly dead, Amy turns to one of the few people she trusts, her father-in-law, Steve.

Unable to abandon the job she's on, Amy takes Rosie along with her as the story moves from Florida to St. Lucia, Dublin and Dubai. There are advantages to having Rosie along, her wealth gives them access to her private jet along with unquestioned access to numerous people and places. Rosie also seems to have the knack to talk her way into, or out of, any situation.

There is a lot of heart in these characters. Steve is grieving the accidental death of his wife, Debbie. He's set in his routines, reluctant to disrupt those routines as he feels it will dilute the memories of the wife he loved dearly. Amy is one of the few people Steve trusts but even then he's not willing to be completely open with her. Amy completely understands Steve's reluctance as she has built barriers around herself. We're only given very brief hints about Amy's childhood but these are enough to know it wasn't a happy one.

Light relief is offered primarily by Rosie D'Antonio, an author of indeterminate age with the energy of a teenager and the morals of an alley-cat. I loved the fact that Rosie never suffers from hangovers as she keeps herself permanently topped up.

The thriller part of the story is convoluted, with numerous hit men, hidden identities and a villain that is impossible to identify before the big reveal. Thankfully, the plot really is secondary to the fabulous characters Richard Osman has created.

Author Details

Richard Osman is an author, producer and television presenter. His first four novels, The Thursday Murder Club, The Man Who Died Twice and The Bullet That Missed were multi-million-copy record-breaking bestsellers around the world. We Solve Murders is the first book in a new series featuring a family detective duo. He lives in London with his wife, Ingrid, and their cat Liesl.

Into The Storm by Cecelia Ahern

 

Late at night, just days before Christmas, Dr Enya Pickering stumbles across a road accident involving a teenage boy. This accident is the catalyst she needs to appraise her life and make some drastic changes.

I have a few Cecelia Ahern books on my TBR pile but I don't think I've read anything by the author other than her debut novel, the runaway success, P. S. I Love You. With that in mind, Into The Storm wasn't quite what I was expecting. Into The Storm is a very emotional read, it's not likely to bring you to tears but it will make you think about tradition, the cycle of life and the role of women in families.

Enya is married with a teenage son, she is a GP in a successful suburban practice along with her husband. Life would appear to be sorted, but since her 46th birthday in November, she has felt as if she has a ticking time bomb inside her. This stems from the fact that her mother died of a heart attack on her 47th birthday.

On a wet and windy winter's night, driving along twisty country lanes, Enya comes across the scene of an accident. The first person on the scene, a taxi driver, flags her down, asking for help. Enya is initially shocked as the victim reminds her so much of her teenage son, but her professionalism kicks in and she does her best for the boy until the paramedics arrive.

The accident is the impetus needed for Enya to evaluate her life, particularly her marriage, and make some drastic changes. Enya's husband was despicable, I honestly couldn't fathom why she had remained married to him for so long. He's one of those people who puts on a charming front but when there is no one else around he's spiteful and bitchy. Within the marriage Enya has always played the peacekeeper, giving in to her husband's demands.

When Enya walks out on her marriage she also walks out on her job. Luckily, she is offered the role of GP in a rural practice. The change from working in a busy town to life in a rural community is a culture shock. Initially, Enya is treated with some hostility as she doesn't understand the traditions the locals hold dear. Being a doctor, a woman of science, means that Enya is scornful of superstitious beliefs. This attitude is surprising given her childhood, her mother was a firm believer in the healing power of nature.

Enya is slowly accepted into the village, mainly due to the help of Margaret the property manager responsible for Enya's rented accommodation and the doctor's surgery. Margaret is my favourite character, a brusque woman with no filter. Over time we discover the brusqueness is a shield and that Margaret is consumed by guilt. Over the space of ten months the pair support each other, recognising the emotional trauma they are each struggling with. Secrets are gradually revealed, secrets that will have devastating consequences but also offer a chance of rebirth once they have been confronted.

Into The Storm by Cecelia Ahern will be published on 10th October 2024 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for a review copy.

Author Details

Cecelia Ahern was born and grew up in Dublin. Her novels have been translated into thirty-five languages and have sold more than twenty-five million copies in over fifty countries. Two of her books have been adapted as films and she has created several TV series. She and her books have won numerous awards, including the Irish Book Award for Popular Fiction for The Year I Met You. She lives in Dublin with her family.

A Most Unusual Demise by Katherine Black (Audiobook)

A young girl has disappeared and there are similarities to previous disappearances. Retired librarian May Morrigan decides to help a local journalist uncover what has happened.

A Most Unusual Demise by Katherine Black was originally published in paperback and ebook format back in 2023, the audiobook is now available. I really was surprised at how much I enjoyed listening to this story, helped immensely by the brilliant narration from  Jonathan Keeble. The story is definitely cosy crime and the opening chapter sets the scene perfectly; a quaint English village, a retired librarian, and set around a bookshop. Everything comes across as old-fashioned and twee - until you get that final sentence and you sit bolt upright, your attention grabbed.

May Morrigan has retired from working at the British Library and now owns a bookshop in a sleepy village. She shares her home with her best friend Fletcher. Fletcher is a larger-than-life character, in more ways than one, and is just one of the wonderful characters that pepper the story. The important thing about May is that she doesn't suffer fools gladly, as we learn pretty early on in the story. Woe betide anyone who upsets her, or any of her friends, as May will seek revenge.

The disappearance of a teenage girl is being investigated by Fox, a young journalist. He believes that the girl was targeted via an online game and the case has links to previous murders, including a friend of his. When May, Fox and Fletcher join forces they are able to uncover a suspect and it becomes a race against time to save the missing girl.

It is the slightly dark, slightly twisted take on cosy crime that hit the mark for me with this audiobook, along with the mix of eccentric characters. I'll certainly be checking out the sequel, A Most Malicious Messenger.

A Most Unusual Demise by Katherine Black is available in paperback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books Audio for a review copy.

Author Details

Katherine Black was born and raised in Texas, but has spent most of her life in England. These days, her drawl is long gone unless she's had a few drinks or a late night.
Armed with an art history degree from the University of Texas (Hook 'em, Horns!) she worked in the arts in the UK and Europe before chucking it all in for the glamourous life of a stay at home mom. When she decided to pursue her dream of writing crime fiction, she completed an MA in Creative Writing (Crime Fiction) at the University of East Anglia. Her first novel, written as part of the MA, placed third in the Yeovil Literary Prize. Re-titled as A Most Unusual Demise, that story is published by Bloodhound Books and is the first in The Most Unusual Mysteries series. You can read more of May & Fletcher's adventures in A Most Malicious Messenger. The series was longlisted for the Crime Writers Association's New Blood Dagger in 2024.
Katherine's novel, Lufkin, Texas (unpublished), was longlisted for the Crime Writers Association's Debut Dagger in 2022.

Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks

 

Tanner Hughes was raised by his grandparents after his mother died during childbirth. He's never known the identity of his father. On her deathbed his grandmother gives him a name, setting Tanner on a voyage to find his father.

It is quite a while since I've read anything by Nicholas Sparks. I have such vivid memories of reading my first novel by the author, Message In A Bottle, not long after it was published. A friend gave me a copy and when I got to the end I threw the book at her, I was so devastated by the ending. I've read a few more books from the author since then but none have had the same impact on me. After reading a few of the author's books you have an inkling of what to expect and this is probably why it's been a while since I've read one of his novels. Counting Miracles lived up to expectations, with all the usual hallmarks you would expect from Nicholas Sparks.

I liked the main character, Tanner Hughes. An army brat, raised by his grandparents, he's never settled down. Once he left the army he continued to work in various security roles abroad. On her deathbed, his sole surviving relative gives him the name of his father, a man he knew nothing about. With time before his next contract starts, Tanner decides to visit the town of Asheboro, the possible home of his father. Tanner's upbringing has given him a strong moral compass and we see this in the interactions he has with a teenager shortly after he arrives in Asheboro.

The interactions with the teen result in Tanner meeting Kaitlyn, a single mother. The chemistry between the two is instantaneous. You know immediately what the outcome of this meeting will be, and you also know that the progress won't be smooth sailing. The majority of the turbulence originates from Kaitlyn. I couldn't warm to her character, finding her to be a bit erratic and demanding.

Alongside the possible relationship is a second story featuring a loner, Jasper. Something in his past has left Jasper physically scarred, to the degree that he covers his face on the rare occasions he ventures into town. Over time we slowly learn Jasper's backstory. The novel alternates between Tanner's story and Jasper's story. While this regular switching keeps the interest flowing, for much of the time I couldn't see a connection and felt as if I was reading two completely different books.

There are highs and lows in both stories as the main characters battle with the problems that are thrown in their path. For one of them, danger lurks as they try to do the right thing. Eventually, the story lines merge and the two separate stories make sense in this wholesome tale.

Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks will be published on 24th September 2024 in hardback ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown UK for a review copy.

Author Details

With over 105 million copies of his books sold, Nicholas Sparks is one of the world’s most beloved storytellers. His novels include thirteen number one New York Times bestsellers. All Nicholas Sparks’ books have been international bestsellers and have been translated into more than fifty languages. Eleven of his novels have been adapted into major films – The Longest Ride, The Best of Me, Safe Haven, The Lucky One, The Last Song, Dear John, Nights in Rodanthe, Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, The Notebook and The Choice.

The Examiner by Janice Hallett

 

Six mature students, along with their course tutor, embark on a year-long MA multimedia art course. As personalities clash, it soon becomes obvious that one of the students has stopped attending, possibly murdered.

Fans of author Janice Hallett will be familiar with the style of her novels, a story told through a variety of mixed media. The same style is used in The Examiner, a deliciously wicked and twisty whodunnit. I say whodunnit but until the glorious big reveal at the end, we don't know the what, why or how either. The author has this amazing technique of drawing you in and leaving tantalising little hints, the problem is you don't even realise they are hints until the end and then you are scrabbling back through the book to check what you've previously read. (Slight aside, having read the author's previous books on my Kindle, I knew I'd want to flick back through the book regularly. I invested in the hardback this time around and would recommend a physical copy for any of Janice Hallett's books).

The media used to convey the story has been pared down to three types; chat messages using the university intranet, emails and WhatsApp messages. This voyeuristic style is so moreish I wanted to devour the book in one sitting, but I didn't. I found myself looking for distractions so that I could draw out my time spent engrossed in the story. This is the only problem with the book, you don't want it to end.

The six students on the course are a very mixed bunch. I found myself disliking some of the cohort almost immediately. The style of writing highlights the danger of making decisions based on text, so much subtly is missed when everything is text-based. Over time my opinions about each one of them changed, even going full-circle for some individuals. Being a fly-on-the-wall when so many massive egos and hidden agendas are at play certainly brought back memories of my professional life, I'm sure many other people will feel the same.

I had a vague idea of what was happening pretty early on, and when I say vague I mean an idea that is so nebulous I wouldn't dare risk anything on it. It's the delicious twists and turns that we go through, along with shocks and surprises, that really make this outstanding read, one which I'm sad to have finished, knowing it will be a while before the author produces a new book. I fully envisage the next book to increase the variety of mixed media used, maybe a soundscape or some 3D clay models! Until then, I guess I'll just have to re-read The Appeal.

Author Details

Janice Hallett studied English at University College London and spent several years as a magazine editor, winning two awards for journalism. She then worked in government communications for the Cabinet Office, Home Office and Department for International Development. After gaining an MA in Screenwriting at Royal Holloway, she co-wrote the feature film Retreat and went on to write the Shakespearean stage comedy NetherBard, as well as a number of other plays for London's new-writing theatres. Her debut novel, The Appeal, was a Waterstones Thriller of the Month and won the CWA John Creasey New Blood Dagger award. The Twyford Code was named the Crime and Thriller Book of the Year at the British Book Awards and The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels was a Richard & Judy Book Club pick. Her fourth book, The Christmas Appeal, is the Sunday Times bestselling follow-up to The Appeal. Her latest novel, The Examiner, will be published by Viper in 2024. When not indulging in her passion for global travel, she is based in West London.

August 2024 Reads

 

I really don’t understand why my reading list is so short this month. Apart from a couple of days in London where I did a LOT of walking and saw two fabulous musicals (Hello Dolly and Back To The Future), the month has been pretty quiet. I do know that I’ve struggled to concentrate for any length of time, which is surprising as I’ve read some amazing books in August.

Laura Pearson writes wonderfully uplifting novels, sometimes with bittersweet conclusions, and her latest, The Beforelife Of Eliza Valentine, is no different. An interesting premise has children before their conception watching their mother’s life unfold, seeing how the choices she makes affect the chances of them being born.

First Wife’s Shadow from Adele Parks is wonderfully twisty. Emma is a successful businesswoman who falls in love with Matthew, a recently widowed photographer. The shadow of Matthew’s dead wife seems to plague Emma. Matthew seems perfect, offering Emma everything she didn’t realise she wanted, but her friends are more cautious as the spectre of a dead wife plays on Emma’s mind.

Novels by Nicholas Sparks always offer a wholesome feel, giving readers a glimpse into life in small-town America. Counting Miracles is the alternating stories of ex-army Tanner visiting a small town looking for the father he knows nothing about and elderly Jasper, a loner living on the edge of society. I felt as if I was reading two completely unconnected stories until the conclusion.

Close To The Edge by Anna Britton is the exciting sequel to Shot In The Dark, the first book in the Martin & Stern series. The book opens directly following the horrifying conclusion of the first book and is filled with a sense of menace. Throughout there is a sense that danger is lurking just on the periphery as the police investigate the shocking events, wondering if a number of cases are connected.

One Of Us Is Dead by Peter James is book 20 in the Roy Grace series. It is amazing that the author is still coming up with ingenious plots and this one is no different. The team are hunting a contract killer who relishes his job planning meticulous and intriguing methods, resulting in undetectable murders. The only problem is their main suspect has been dead for two years.

There was lots of praise online for Blood Like Mine by Stuart Neville, so I was over the moon when I won a copy. The advice is to know nothing about it before you start reading it, other than it’s a thriller. I took the advice and thoroughly enjoyed this cat-and-mouse chase. An FBI agent is trying to catch a serial killer who lures groomers and pedophiles to their death.

The last read of the month was the emotional Into The Storm by Cecelia Ahern. Dr Enya Pickering has felt as if her life was a ticking time-bomb since her birthday. With her 47^th birthday approaching, the day on which her mother died, she is floundering. The scene of an accident is the catalyst for dramatic changes in her life and lots of introspection.

The only audiobook I managed to listen to was Close Knit by Jenny Colgan. An unassuming tale of an unassuming young woman who has never taken any risks in her life. When she is given the opportunity to work for a small airline not only does she see life differently but other people realise they’ve got her all wrong.

Publication dates to look out for are:-

Close To The Edge by Anna Britton will be published on 12/9/24 in paperback, ebook and audio format.

The Beforelife Of Eliza Valentine by Laura Pearson will be published on 20/9/24 in paperback, ebook and audio format.

One Of Us Is Dead by Peter James will be published on 24/9/24 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks will be published on 24/9/24 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

Into The Storm by Cecelia Ahern will be published on 10/10/24 in hardback, ebook and audio format.