I leapt at the chance to read The Night Watcher by Tariq
Ashkanani via the Amazon Prime Reads program. This is the first in a series
featuring feisty private investigator Callie Munro. The storyline is pacey, as
Callie uncovers a serial killer haunting the streets of Edinburgh. I loved the
main character, an independent woman with little respect for authority. Support
from a member of the police force, alongside help from the leader of an
organised crime gang, could make for conflict in the future.
A Christmas Caroline by K. L. Crear is a
modern version of A Christmas Carol. Caroline Scroggins is the “Queen of Mean”
and is so frugal that she can make a tin of soup last three days. Visits from
apparitions make Caroline reflect on her past and consider her future. Set in
Yorkshire, there is plenty of humour and some extremely caustic remarks.
There has been such a buzz about Room 706 by Ellie
Levenson that I was over the moon when it finally made its way to the top
of my TBR pile. Kate is trapped in a hotel room with her lover when terrorists
take over the hotel. The enforced isolation gives Kate time to reflect on her
relationships. I loved the way the three separate stories, the situation in the
hotel, meeting her husband, and her affair, were intertwined.
The Croaking Raven by Guy Hale is the first
book in the Shakespeare Murders quartet. Set in 1972, it follows DC Toby
Marlowe, new to Stratford-Upon-Avon, and his partner, DS Fred Williams, as they
investigate a series of murders which seem to be based on the plot of Hamlet.
This is a very literary cosy mystery that will leave you wanting to know more.
The Miseducation Of Evie Epworth by Matson Taylor
was my November book group read. A coming-of-age story set in Yorkshire in
1962, Evie has just finished her O Levels and is undecided about what she wants
to do with her future. Her father is no help as he’s in the grips of a new
romance. The sudden appearance of her neighbour’s cosmopolitan daughter opens
Evie’s eyes to a life beyond the borders of Yorkshire.
After reading The Croaking Raven by Guy Hale, I
was determined to read the next book in the series, All Our Yesterdays.
This gives readers a glimpse into the background of the first book. We see the
formation of the Morris Oxford Players and the jealousy that drives Oxford to
destroy the lives of those he sees as competition.
I was delighted to get a review copy of Deception by Jack
Jordan. A couple, whose young son is dying, are offered a chance to earn
enough money to cover the cost of his surgeries. A series of illegal tasks lies
ahead. The big question is what are they prepared to do to save their son’s
life? Filled with moral dilemmas, we follow the couple through doubt,
indecision and terror as they fight to save their son.
A new John Irving novel is an exciting thing. When I
discovered Queen Esther was a sequel to The Cider House Rules, I
reread the book to refresh my memory. Unfortunately, St. Cloud’s Orphanage and
Doctor Larch only make a brief appearance in the novel. The eponymous Queen
Esther doesn’t feature much either in this story of a mother’s desire to keep
her son safe. I found the narrative extremely repetitive and a storyline that
meandered.
No Oil Painting by Genevieve Marenghi is about
a septuagenarian art thief. What begins as a hypothetical question turns into
the real thing when Maureen decides to steal a painting from the National Trust
property she volunteers at. As an elderly woman, Maureen is used to being invisible, so she decides to take full
advantage of the invisibility that seems to surround her. I enjoyed Maureen’s
inner monologue, and there are some extremely descriptive scenes.
My first audiobook of the month was One Of The Family
by Jess Ryder. Rachel suggests her daughter, Liv, and boyfriend, Jensen,
move into the family home once they finish university. Rachel is particularly
sympathetic towards Jensen as he lost his parents under tragic circumstances.
Once the couple moves in, things begin to go wrong, escalating to Liv going
missing. Jensen is adamant she’s gone to stay with friends, but no one is able
to contact her. Is Jensen telling the truth, or is he covering his tracks?
You Sent Me A Letter by Lucy Dawson is a
fast-paced and twisty thriller that works brilliantly as an audiobook. Sophie
wakes in the night to find a stranger in her bedroom. He explains that if she
doesn’t read out the contents of the letter he leaves to all the guests at her
party that evening, he will return. Sophie frantically tries to stop her dark
secret from being uncovered. I was shocked as each big reveal was uncovered.
My final audiobook was The Drop by S. R. Masters.
Kaydee makes a living reporting on theme parks. When she is offered the chance
to be one of the first people to ride the world’s biggest rollercoaster in the Middle
East she jumps at the chance. However, the ride grinds to a halt at its peak,
and there’s no one to rescue them. Stuck in the unrelenting heat, Kaydee and
her friends reflect on how they have ended up in the situation they are in.
Publications dates to watch out for:-
The Garden Of Shared Stories by Clare Swatman
will be published 3/12/25 in paperback, ebook and audio format.
The Drop by S. R. Masters will be published 4/12/25
in paperback, ebook and audio format.
Room 706 by Ellie Levenson will be published
15/1/26 in hardback, ebook and audio format.
Deception by Jack Jordan will be published 4/6/26
in hardback, ebook and audio format.
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