No Life For A Lady by Hannah Dolby

 

Lily Hamilton left her home one evening to attend a soiree and never returned. Ten years later her daughter Violet, now twenty-eight, does the most unladylike thing and hires a detective to try and find out what happened to her mother.

I had seen quite a lot of chatter on Twitter regarding How To Solve Murders Like A Lady by Hannah Dolby in the run-up to its publication date. I liked what I was hearing about the style of the writing and was very pleased to learn it was a sequel to No Life For A Lady, so I decided to read the first book in the series. It certainly won't be long before I delve into the recently published sequel.

The heroine of No Life For A Lady is twenty-eight-year-old Violet Hamilton who lives with her father in Hastings. Violet's father is desperate to marry her off, I thought it was hilarious that she is considered an elderly spinster. Violet, however, is determined to never marry and goes out of her way to put off the possible suitors her father finds. Much of Violet's reluctance to marry comes from a talk her mother gave her at the age of eighteen regarding "marital relations". To help visual, Violet was told to seek out pictures of a turkey's head and a stinkhorn mushroom!

The humour in the rest of the book follows in the same vein, making for an entertaining read as we discover that Violet is extremely independent. Alongside her unwillingness to marry, Violet also has ambitions to work, although she's not entirely sure what kind of work she could do. Hiring a detective to find out what happened to her mother doesn't quite go to plan and Violet finds herself in a number of precarious situations. Violet begins to wonder if she could be a Lady Detective.

Violet finds herself in many scandalous situations, all of which are extremely tame by modern standards. There are a lot of references to sex and the disparity between the sexes is shocking. It was unbelievably easy for a lady to lose her standing in society and Violet pushed every boundary and glass ceiling possible.

As the truth about Lily Hamilton's disappearance is revealed the story does take on a slightly darker tone but this is balanced by the strides Violet makes in both her personal and professional life. 

Author Details

Hannah Dolby's first job was in the circus and she has aimed to keep life as interesting since. She trained as a journalist in Hastings and has worked in PR for many years, promoting museums, galleries, palaces, gardens and even Dolly the sheep. She completed the Curtis Brown selective three-month novel writing course, and she won runner-up in the Comedy Women in Print Awards for this novel with the prize of a place on an MA in Comedy Writing at the University of Falmouth. She currently lives in London. 

Our Holiday by Louise Candlish

When families from London spend the summer at their second homes on the south coast conflict with the locals ensues. Secrets are uncovered and property is destroyed as the summer lingers on.

Louise Candlish has written some superbly twisty thrillers so a new book is always keenly anticipated. Our Holiday, unfortunately, didn’t quite live up to expectations for me. The book is a classic slow burner. Right from the outset you know that something monumental has happened, but the vast majority of the book focuses on the slow build-up to the actual event and I felt that this was a little too drawn out.

I think the main reason for not loving the story was that none of the characters are likeable. We focus on two families from London who descend on Pine Ridge each August. The rest of the year their holiday homes are left empty. They are so entitled that they feel that they add value to the area, little realising that the only value they add is to property prices which results in the locals having to live in caravans. Their only consideration is how things effect them.

The living situation of the locals elicits more sympathy and raises a number of points that would be really good for a reading group. Some of the younger residents are keen to raise awareness of what is happening through peaceful protest. The second-homers feel that they are being harassed. When a local hotel is commandeered to house refugees, the locals are angered even more, feeling that their plight has been overlooked, with the refugees ending up in better accommodation than the caravans they are forced to live in.

Once the story reaches the shocking event we are told about at the start of the book the pace really picks up. I was fully engaged at this point, wanting to know exactly what had happened. Louise Candlish manages to keep the reader dangling for a little while longer as events are slowly unpicked and alibis examined.

Our Holiday by Louise Candlish will be published on 4^th July in paperback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and HQ for a review copy.

 

May 2024 Reads

May was a great month for reading for me, although I didn’t manage any audiobooks. A two-week holiday gave me plenty of opportunity to read and this was added to by an enforced three-day digital detox (we were without internet access for three full days at the start of our holiday). The month had quite a mixture of genres as I took the opportunity to mix review books with some recently published ones.

May began with one of those recently published books, Nosy Neighbours by Freya Sampson. Dorothy is just one of the residents of a Victorian villa converted to flats, she’s also the longest-serving resident. The other residents think of her as a busybody. When eviction notices are served Dorothy refuses to accept the inevitable. This is a story about community, secrets and forgiveness.

I had very high hopes for The Unforgettable Loretta, Darling by Katherine Blake. Set in the glamorous world of 1950s Hollywood I had hoped for an exposé of the seamier side of the industry as we followed a young woman from the north of England. The style made the story easy to get involved in as Margaret recreated herself as Loretta and followed her dream of becoming a make-up artist. In the end, I was disappointed that it was more of a “chasing a dream” story than a true exposé.

Nightwatching from Tracy Sierra is one of those novels that has taken off through word-of-mouth and I can fully understand why. You are gripped from the very first line in this chilling tale of a mother and her two young children who realise there is an intruder in their home. The setting, an old house, late at night, in a snowstorm, is atmospheric and you can feel the panic as the mother tries desperately to protect her children.

I’ve loved Clare Pooley’s previous two novels so jumped at the chance to review How To Age Disgracefully. I’m pleased to say it was just as good as the previous books. Members of a senior citizens club decide to fight the council against closure. The lead character, Daphne, has all the skills of a retired spy, supported by a host of eccentric characters.

The Suspect by Rob Rinder is the sequel to The Trial and features many of the same characters. The author has tapped into the public’s obsession with celebrities by having the host of a morning TV show die on air and the TV chef accused of her murder. Lots of secrets and an indication that the public image of a celebrity doesn’t always match up with reality.

I’m not sure what initially drew me to One Of Our Kind by Nicola Yoon but I’m so glad I read this powerful reminder about the injustice of racism. A young black family moves to an affluent all-black suburb of LA, hoping that this will offer a safe environment for their children to grow. The mother becomes concerned when she realises that the other residents aren’t as concerned about black issues as she is. I loved the slightly dystopian feel of the story.

Another book that didn’t immediately shout to me was You Are Here by David Nicholls, but what a wonderful, life-affirming read it was. Strangers Marnie and Michael, both broken by failed romances, are persuaded by a mutual friend to go on a walking holiday. An unlikely friendship blossoms and it is obvious there is a spark between the pair, leading to a tentative romance.

Beth Morrey’s previous two novels have focused on community and have been uplifting. In Lucky Day the central character takes control of her own destiny when her bad day keeps getting worse. She simply walks out of work and decides she’s not going to be patronised any longer. Some hilarious situations arise because of her honesty and assertiveness.

Fans of the Cyrus Haven series from Michael Robotham will be pleased with the fourth installment in the series, Storm Child. We delve further into Evie’s traumatic past as Cyrus helps the police investigation into the drowning of migrants off the English coast. Memories begin to resurface as it looks like there are links between Evie’s trafficking experience and the recent tragedy.

Back in April when I read The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up by Laura Pearson I knew it wouldn’t be long before I read more by this author. The Last List Of Mabel Beaumont was an easy place to start as it was already on my TBR pile. Mabel realises how isolated and lonely she is when her husband of sixty-two years dies suddenly. Childless, and of a generation that finds it difficult to accept help, she sets out to answer the mystery note her husband left. Being open to new experiences leads to friendship and a new lease on life.

I love the Nosey Parker cozy crime series from Fiona Leitch so was very pleased to review the latest book, The Cornish Campsite Murder. Jodie ‘Nosey’ Parker can’t help but get involved in the murder investigation of the lead singer of an old rock band. Following an acrimonious split, the rest of the group are top of the suspect list, but they all have solid alibis. As Jodi and her fiancé dig deeper, the alibis begin to crumble.

On my Florida holiday, I was lucky to pick up a copy of One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware ahead of the UK publication date. A cross between Love Island and Survivor, contestants for a reality TV show are stranded on a tropical island with few supplies. Hostilities quickly arise and you begin to question if it is going to be survival of the fittest.

My final book of the month was The Dead Friend Project by Joanna Wallace. This murder mystery was hilarious. If you’ve seen Motherland or read any of the “Why Mummy…” books then you’ll have an idea of the humour. I was totally gripped as Beth tried to figure out who was responsible for her friend’s death. Lots of misdirection to keep you guessing and a comical scene featuring a labrador.

Publication dates to watch out for are:-

One Of Our Kind by Nicola Yoon will be published on 13/6/24 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

The Unforgettable Loretta, Darling by Katherine Blake will be published on 20/6/24 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

How To Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley will be published on 20/6/24 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

The Suspect by Rob Rinder will be published on 20/6/24 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

Lucky Day by Beth Morrey will be published on 20/6/24 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

Storm Child by Michael Robotham will be published on 26/6/24 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

The Cornish Campsite Murder by Fiona Leitch will be published on 28/6/24 in ebook format and on 4/7/24 in paperback.

The Dead Friend Project by Joanna Wallace will be published on 11/7/24 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware will be published in the UK on 18/7/24 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

 

One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware

 

(USA Cover)                                        (UK Cover)

Lyla is persuaded by her boyfriend Nico to take part in a reality TV series set on a tropical island. Disaster strikes the first night when a storm leaves the contestants stranded and fending for themselves.

I was very fortunate to be able to pick up a copy of  One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware on my recent holiday in Florida as it was published in May, a couple of months ahead of the UK publication date. This is the third book I've read by the author, each has been completely gripping and totally different, this means I know I'm in for shocks and surprises when I start reading.

Lyla is a research scientist, like many in her field she survives on short-term contracts. The instability of work and lack of confidence constantly prey on her mind, especially when she looks at her gorgeous boyfriend, Nico. Lyla really doesn't understand how she has been so lucky to end up with him. 

Nico is a struggling actor, looking for his big break. When he is offered the chance to take part in a reality TV series he sees it as the chance for exposure. The only problem is that the show is for couples so persuading Lyla to participate takes some doing. Lyla is filled with doubt, she's reluctant to take time off work knowing how precarious the job situation is. She's also well aware that she doesn't fit the mould of a typical reality show contestant.

The show is described as a cross between Love Island and Survivor and will feature five couples completing challenges on a tropical island. Lyla's apprehension isn't eased when she meets the other contestants onboard the yacht transporting them to the island. The other women all look like models with perfect skin, hair and nails. It's at this stage both Lyla, and the reader, realises the manipulation being used by the production team. Withholding information from contestants, altering details about individuals and manufacturing situations all come into play. Although I don't watch reality TV shows I can understand how the manipulation of the contestants keeps them unsettled and competitive. The male contestants in particular seem to have been picked to fit certain stereotypes; alpha male, joker, jock, and most importantly, villain. 

Disaster strikes the first night when the island is hit by a tropical storm. The production team onboard the yacht are heading back to a larger island to replenish supplies, leaving the contestants stranded. With only basic amenities and dwindling supplies, the contestants have to fend for themselves and hostilities quickly arise. With no way to contact anyone and explain what has happened, the contestants face rationing and begin to wonder who can be trusted. For the reader, this is compounded when we hear a new perspective offering a slightly different version of events. You begin to wonder what the truth actually is. I also started to wonder if the whole "disaster" was further manipulation by the production team, looking for the ultimate in TV.

The reader is on a knife-edge as we follow the events, wondering if anyone is going to survive when the dangers seem to go beyond running out of supplies. Is it a case of working together or is it every man for himself?

One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware will be published in the UK on 18th July 2024 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

Author Details

Ruth Ware worked as a waitress, a bookseller, a teacher of English as a foreign language, and a press officer before settling down as a full-time writer. She now lives with her family in Sussex, on the south coast of England. She is the #1 New York Times and Globe and Mail (Toronto) bestselling author of In a Dark, Dark Wood; The Woman in Cabin 10; The Lying Game; The Death of Mrs. Westaway; The Turn of the Key; One by One; The It Girl; and Zero Days. Visit her at RuthWare.com 

The Cornish Campsite Murder by Fiona Leitch

 

Jodie 'Nosey' Parker, ex-police officer, is persuaded to run a friend's food truck at a music festival in Cornwall. When the lead singer of an old rock group is found dead Jodie can't help but get involved in the investigation.

The Cornish Campsite Murder is the seventh book in the Nosey Parker cozy crime series by author Fiona Leitch. I've long been a fan of this series and feel as if the characters have become friends, having seen them evolve over the series.

Jodie is astounded to discover that a recent dinner she catered was hosted by Caz Harper, the bassist of a rock group she idolised as a teen. Caz, along with some of the other members of the band, have decided to perform at the local music festival. The group are unable to use their original name or much of their old material following an acrimonious split with the band's lead singer, Lee Roskill.

When Roskill's body is discovered the following morning the remaining members of the group immediately become suspects. Each of them has an alibi but as the police, well Jodie and her fiance DCI Nathan Withers, investigate, the alibi's begin to crumble. Having worked as a consultant for the local police in the previous book, Jodie had decided it really didn't work, particularly with her boss also being her fiance. As we learn as the story progresses, Jodie finds it impossible not to get involved with the investigation. Nathan is just as bad as he's supposed to be on holiday.

Initially, it is assumed that the motive for murder is the fall-out of the band members. The investigation points to other possible motives, motives which have been festering for years and still put the other band members at the top of the suspect list. By chipping away at each person's alibi, and a tense stand-off, the murderer is apprehended. I'm now looking forward to the next installment of this cozy crime series.

One of my few criticisms of the previous book in the series was that we didn't see enough of the supporting characters. This time around they all have a part to play in the investigation, although Debbie's usual effervescent self isn't used fully. The supporting character that shines the most this time around is Germaine, the dog.

The Cornish Campsite Murder by Fiona Leitch will be published as an ebook on 28th June 2024, with the paperback available on 4th July 2024. My thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for a review copy.

Author Details

Fiona Leitch is a writer with a chequered past. She’s written for football and motoring magazines, DJ’ed at illegal raves and is a stalwart of the low budget TV commercial, even appearing as the Australasian face of a cleaning product called ‘Sod Off’. After living in London and Cornwall she’s finally settled in sunny New Zealand, where she enjoys scaring her cats by trying out dialogue on them. She spends her days dreaming of retiring to a crumbling Venetian palazzo, walking on the windswept beaches of West Auckland, and writing funny, flawed but awesome female characters.

Her debut novel ‘Dead in Venice’ was published by Audible in 2018 as one of their Crime Grant finalists. Fiona also writes screenplays and was a finalist in the Athena Film Festival Writers Lab, co-run by Meryl Streep’s IRIS company.

The Last List Of Mabel Beaumont by Laura Pearson

 

Mabel and Arthur Beamont have been married for sixty-two years. When Arthur suddenly dies Mabel finds a mysterious note from him, "Find D", she sets out to do exactly as he asked.

Having recently discovered Laura Pearson's novels when I read  The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up, I knew it wouldn't be long before I read another book by the author. Since I already had The Last List Of Mabel Beaumont on my TBR pile the decision was even easier.

The story of Mabel Beaumont is a poignant one that really resonated with me, as I'm sure it will with a lot of women. Mabel is eighty-six, for the past sixty-two years she and Arthur have been a unit as they had no children. Mabel acknowledges that this means their relationship has been intense but also isolating as they have done everything together. Arthur had a few friends at the local pub but for Mabel, her life revolved around Arthur. With Arthur's sudden demise, Mabel realises how lonely and isolated she is. Ever thoughtful, Arthur had considered this and put a plan in place, he'd arranged for a carer to visit Mabel daily. Mabel is staggered when she learns of this, and is adamant that the last thing she needs is a carer. This, in part, is down to Mabel's personality. The couple never needed any support in the past, they just got on with things. Mabel also thinks she's a lot younger than she is and this adds to her struggle to accept the help offered. Loneliness is the biggest issue and Mabel acknowledges that a daily visit from Julie, the carer, would help combat this, even if there's nothing for her to do.

With Julie's help, Mabel sets out to "Find D", which she has interpreted as finding Dot, the friend she hasn't seen in sixty-two years. Lots of memories resurface focusing on the years in which she first met Arthur and her brother was dating Dot. You form a picture of how caring and loving Arthur was, but there are hints that not everything in the marriage was perfect.

Not only does Julie help Mabel in her quest to find Dot but she also encourages her to try new experiences. Through this Mabel meets new friends, women at various stages of life, who are also dealing with their own problems. Mabel forms her own list, wanting to help her new friends solve the issues they are each facing.

This wonderful novel highlights how invisible the older generation becomes, particularly widows, and that friendships are difficult to make the older you get. Being open to new opportunities and experiences is key to meeting new friends and can offer a new lease on life.

Author Details

Laura Pearson is the author of four novels. The Last List of Mabel Beaumont was a Kindle number one bestseller in the UK and a top ten bestseller in the US. Laura lives in Leicestershire, England, with her husband, their two children, and a cat who likes to lie on her keyboard while she tries to write.

Lucky Day by Beth Morrey

 

Clover Hendry, wife, mother, and TV producer, is constantly on the go, doing everything for everyone, it's the only way she can guarantee that things are done correctly. When her morning routine seems to go from bad to worse she tells her boss exactly what she thinks of him and his meeting and takes off for a day of "What ifs?".

Beth Morrey has written some of my favourite heart-warming books in recent years so I was keen to read her latest novel, Lucky Day. In her previous two novels, Beth Morrey focuses on a central character who, through the help and support of a wider community, is able to find their place in society. This time around the central character, Clover, uses her own knowledge and skills to finally say "Enough is enough".

Clover's day doesn't start well, her husband has put the forks the wrong way up in the dishwasher. As with many of this kind of story, it's something utterly trivial that is the catalyst, the final straw. The dishwasher saga, combined with a headache, means Clover just knows it's going to be a bad day. Her tendency to catastrophise things results in her getting a bump to the head as she flees her train. When her boss holds one of his interminable meetings Clover can't take anymore and walks out of work.

With her newfound honesty and assertiveness Clover sets off on a day of adventure, one in which she refuses to accept any bullshit. We follow Clover through some hilarious situations where she speaks her mind. I admired Clover and her brutal honesty, along with her refusal to be patronised. The swimming pool scene was side-splittingly funny, the reactions of the staff were just so believable. As for the dress shop, I had "Pretty Woman" vibes as I cheered Clover on.

The old Clover was a doormat, sometimes it was easier to do things herself, rather than delegate, because she knew that the task would be done correctly. At other times, it was simply because she was too nice to be assertive. Her boss took advantage of these characteristics by piling extra work on her. Combined with members of her team not pulling their weight it was always going to lead to one thing and it was brilliant to witness Clover's epiphany.

By the end of the day Clover is able to settle a few scores and realises that going forward, she needs a mixture of the old and the new Clover.

Lucky Day by Beth Morrey will be published on 20th June 2024 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a review copy.

Author Details

Previously Creative Director at RDF Television, Beth Morrey now writes full time. Her debut novel, Saving Missy, was a Sunday Times bestseller and longlisted for the Authors' Club First Novel Award. Beth lives in London with her husband, two sons and two poodles.