See No Evil by David Fennell

 

The bodies of two men are discovered in a park. One of the men has been mutilated, including having his eyes cut out. DI Grace Archer and her colleagues are tasked with investigating. As other bodies with similar mutilations appear the team wonder if they have a serial killer and are the murders linked to a local cult.

A week ago I read The Art Of Death which is the first novel by David Fennell and enjoyed it so much I moved See No Evil straight to the top of my TBR pile. I was so pleased to see the return of DI Grace Archer, along with her partner DS Harry Quinn, grandfather Jake, analyst Klara and even her boss DCI Clare Pierce.

The novel is set three months after the events in The Art Of Death and Grace is just returning to work after recuperating. She still has to deal with hostility from some of her colleagues but it is pleasing to see that her relationship with her immediate boss is on a better footing.

This time around we have a more controlled story, however the murders are no less gruesome. Links to a possible religious cult dial up the creepiness a notch, particularly when we are introduced to the leader of the cult. Aaron Cronin appears to have slavish devotion from the other members of the cult and no empathy at all.

We get more information on Grace's background as the story progresses and it is good to see Klara and Quinn having a greater voice in this novel. Grace is also winning round some of her colleagues, however she is warned that someone within the Met is watching her and this raises doubts about who she can trust.

To make things more difficult for Grace she discovers that the drug lord who ordered her fathers murder, Frankie "Snow" White, is to be released from prison and has a vendetta against Grace. This certainly increases the menace (as if a possible serial killer isn't enough) and offers so much potential for future books in the series. The thought of a detective and a crime lord dancing around each other, hating one another but tolerating each other because of the mutual benefits is appealing.

I did manage to figure out who was responsible about halfway through but thanks to a few red herrings from David Fennell I had no idea as to why so the big reveal was still as much of a surprise and certainly didn't spoil my enjoyment. Roll on the next book in the series.

The Big Bang Of Numbers by Manil Suri

 

I don't read much non-fiction but when I do it tends to be science based. Having taught Maths at secondary school level (11 to 16 years old) for 35 years I was tempted by the claim that The Big Bang Of Numbers is for "maths aficionados and an accessible introduction for enthusiastic novices".

Author Manil Suri wants readers to stop thinking of maths as simply the arithmetic processes we are taught in school and use in our day to day lives. To view maths in a completely different way.

We are all familiar with the creation theories given by religion or physics. Manil Suri approaches creation from the perspective of numbers. He starts by simply asking where numbers come from? From a creation point of view this isn't as easy to answer as you would first think. If nothing exists numbers don't develop as a means of counting objects (since objects don't exist). 

The creation of numbers initially is very abstract, however the author then leads the reader through a natural evolution of the number system. From natural (counting numbers) we develop integers (positive and negative numbers), on to rational numbers (fractions and decimals) and then irrational numbers (such as pi). The concept of imaginary numbers is introduced in a very accessible way.

Once numbers have been created we then move on to how geometry would develop. Where possible practical examples are given to illustrate ideas, I particularly liked the use of crochet to explain the hyperbolic plane.

From geometry we moved on to algebra. Not the "find the value of x" type of algebra from school but the language used to construct laws and patterns. These laws can then be used as building blocks to construct our universe.

Overall this is an interesting addition to the genre of popular science. More philosophical argument than mathematical text. You do not need an advanced maths qualification to get something out of The Big Bang Of Numbers, however you do need to be comfortable using numbers. 

The Big Bang Of Numbers by Manil Suri will be published in hardback and ebook on 27th October 2022. My thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Books for a review copy.

July 2022 Reads

 

Not sure about anyone else but the warm weather really had an effect on me last month. No sooner had I picked up my book to read but I wanted to have a snooze. Reading time was also eaten into by four trips to the cinema. Finally catching up on all the blockbusters I wanted to see but also the luxury of sitting in an air-conditioned room for a couple of hours.

There was slightly more variety in books during July. Starting with the books that don't fall into the thriller catagory we had Love Untold from Ruth Jones. I enjoyed the story of four generations of women from one family and how circumstances had molded them. The main character, Grace, is wonderful and her story is the most surprising of all. Every time a character spoke I just had Nessa's voice in my head.

Another book outside my normal genre was Christmas At The Borrow A Bookshop by Kiley Dunbar. This is the sequel to The Borrow A Bookshop Holiday which I haven't read but that really didn't matter to the story. Set in a quaint coastal village people pay to rent and run the local bookshop as as a staycation. In the run up to Christmas it's the turn of Magnus Sturluson who has recently split up from his girlfriend and also seen his own bookshop business fold. Lots of eccentric characters populate the village and help Magnus realise that things will get better. It felt very strange reading a book with "Christmas" in the title during July but there really wasn't much of a holiday theme, it was more about winter.

The remainder of the month was devoted to thrillers. Author Jack Jordan was new to me when I picked up Do No Harm. The story really packs a punch right from the start. You really do wonder how surgeon Anna Jones is going to rescue her kidnapped son. Will she do as the kidnappers have demanded and kill the prominent politician she is to operate on? A great beginning and end let down by a weak middle section and too many coincidences.

David Fennell was another author new to me this month. I have his second novel, See No Evil, near the top of my TBR pile but wanted to read The Art Of Death first. Shocks abound in this story about an anonymous artist who uses dead bodies in his work. DI Grace Archer is in a race against time to discover his identity. Loved the character of Grace Archer, damaged, vulnerable and formidable. I really do hope we haven't seen the last of her.

The rest of the reads this month were all five star reads. At this stage I'd normally say that it's impossible to chose between them but that's not quite the case this time around.

I struggled initially with The Island Of Lost Girls by Alex Marwood, lots of different threads over different time periods were a little confusing. Once I'd got to grips with the different characters I was gripped by this sordid tale of greed and corruption. A Mediterranean island becomes the playground of the uber-rich and anything goes. Be prepared to be shocked, saddened and angered by the way in which the rich and powerful use people as commodities.

The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh, was full of twists and turns. A luxury resort of second homes nestles the edge of a Welsh lake. When a body washes up the police have to investigate the possibility of murder. We move between the police involved in the investigation and the owners of the resort homes. As well as the current day investigation we move backwards and forward through the previous six months to find that lots of people are hiding secrets they would kill for. What really made this story for me was the way in which the author had fleshed out the murder victim, he has to be one of the most loathsome characters I've come across in recent times.

DS Max Craigie and the rest of the team investigating police corruption in Scotland return in The Night Watch, third book in the Max Craigie series. Neil Lancaster just gets better with each book. This time the team are dealing with a forensically aware killer out to murder criminals who have evaded justice and everything points to the killer being a serving police officer. The reader is left wondering if Max has met his match this time around. I love the way in which the team interact with each other, my favourite being analyst Norma. This can easily be read as a standalone novel but if you haven't read the first two books in the series I would heartily recommend starting with them.

Which brings me to my absolute favourite of the month (apologies to the other five star reads, I really do hate to favour one book over others). The Accomplice by Steve Cavanagh is a fantastic page turner, the type of book you simply cannot put down. When the serial killer who has been terrorising New York evades arrest his unsuspecting wife is arrested as an accomplice. Evidence points to her being involved in at least six of the murders. Lawyer Eddie Flynn and his team are drafted in a the last minute to prove her innocence. We have twist after twist and lots of OMG moments in this seventh book in the Eddie Flynn series. Fans of the series will be on the edge of their seat wondering how Eddie is going to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. 

I managed two audiobooks this month. What The Flock! by Sally Urwin was a look at the life of a working farm in the north of England. It was interesting to hear about the ways in which farms have had to diversify to survive and how they have had to deal with unprecedented events such as foot and mouth and Covid. My second audiobook was A Lady's Guide To Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin. In the vein of Jane Austen and Bridgerton we have a young woman seeking a wealthy husband out of duty to her family. The story flows pretty much as you would expect, the hero is identified early on, but the characters have the intricate battle of wills you would expect before realising they love each other. 

Publication dates to watch out for listed below.

The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh will be published in hardback, ebook and audio format on 4th August 2022.

Christmas At The Borrow A Bookshop by Kiley Dunbar will be published in paperback and ebook format on 1st September 2022.

The Night Watch by Neil Lancaster will be published in ebook and audio format on 8th September 2022, the hardback follows a week later on 15th September.

Love Untold by Ruth Jones will be published in hardback, ebook and audio format on 29th September 2022.

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 village's 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 holiday 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, 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 that really complements 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, almost everyone is a suspect in his murder. We even discover that before he became famous, he had a darker side, which 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.