Out of Darkness by Alex Gray

Synopsis from Goodreads:

"DSI William Lorimer and his wife Maggie are taking their first extended holiday for the first time in years, and they're looking for an adventure. What better place than Zimbabwe, with its bustling cities and beautiful scenery?

Back in Glasgow, PC Daniel Kohi, former inspector with the Zimbabwean police, finds himself uncomfortably close to a murder investigation. Why did the murdered man appear at Daniel's house just hours before he was killed? And how he is connected to the troubled family history of Netta Gordon, Daniel's dear friend and lodger?

But it's not just Netta's history that's about to resurface. For in Zimbabwe, rumours are circulating about Daniel Kohi, and the couple from Scotland who appear to know him. Rumours which could place the Lorimers in unimaginable peril."

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You would have thought that book 21 in a series would be feeling a little stale but this is absolutely not the case and whilst I have only read a few in this series (I know, I must have been living under a rock!), the ones I have, can be read as standalones quite successfully as this one can but, as with all series, you do lose a bit of the backstory and character development.

Full of excellent characters, an intriguing storyline set in Glasgow and Zimbabwe and with twists and turns throughout, this is an excellent addition to the series and the way the author describes the setting in Zimbabwe made me feel like I wanted to be there experiencing the noises, the scenery, the wildlife but not the dodgy Police!

I thoroughly enjoyed this and would very much recommend it to everyone and I must thank the author, Little, Brown Book Group, Sphere and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this excellent addition to this fantastic series.

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Other books by Alex Gray I have read and reviewed:

Before the Storm (DCI Lorimer #18)

Echo of The Dead (DSI Lorimer #19)

A Body on the Doorstep (London Ladies' Murder Club #1) by Marty Wingate [Audiobook]

🎙🎙 Narrated by Naomi Frederick 🎙🎙

 Description from Goodreads:

"Fiercely independent Mabel Canning can’t wait to begin working for the Useful Women’s Agency. But when she discovers a body on her client’s doorstep, it’s time to add solving murders to her job description…

London, 1921: Mabel Canning is proud to be a modern woman working for the Useful Women’s Agency, carrying out tasks for gentlewomen from flower arranging to washing muddy dogs. But when she answers the door for wealthy widow Rosalind Despard, she almost chokes on her cucumber sandwich when she finds a soldier’s body on the doorstep.

As she offers tea to the policemen of Scotland Yard, Mabel can’t resist getting drawn into the investigation. Who was the mysterious dead man? And why was he holding a letter for Rosalind, written by her husband on the day he disappeared?

As Mabel hunts for clues, she joins forces with Rosalind’s handsome brother, former detective Park Winstone, and his adorable terrier, Gladys. But when Mabel suspects she is being followed, the detective duo know that time is running out before the killer strikes again.

As she investigates, Mabel discovers dusty old photographs that help her reveal the soldier’s true identity. But as she gets closer to uncovering the young man’s murderer, she knows she’s also one step closer to danger... Can she outsmart the killer and save Park and Rosalind before they also turn up dead as doornails?"

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I listened to the audiobook of this book and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  It's a cosy murder mystery set in 1920's London that kept me guessing and intrigued from the start.

The author has created a fantastic character in Mabel Canning; she is strong, independent but not afraid of accepting help when it's needed and when a dead man literally falls at her feet whilst she is assisting at a wake for the Useful Women's Agency, so begins Mabel's foray into the world of investigation whilst juggling various jobs for the Agency.

This book is full of fantastic characters and the setting is vividly described putting you right there in that time period.  The plot is intriguing and the pace was perfect for me especially as it was an audiobook.  I found it easy to get back into the story when I had to take a break from listening ... due to work getting in the way!!!

Overall, a really good start to a new series and one that I am looking forward to seeing how the characters develop further and where it takes me.  Thanks must go to the author, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of this promising new series.

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The Wrong Sister by Claire Douglas

Description from Goodreads:

"Tasha has always felt in the shadow of her older sister, Alice. Their lifestyles couldn't be more different; Alice is married to wealthy entrepreneur Kyle and has a high-flying career, Tasha is married to her childhood sweetheart and lives in a Bristol suburb with their four-year-old twins.

When Alice realises that Tasha is struggling - with money, the kids, losing her identity - she suggests they do a lifeswap for a week. Alice and Kyle will come to stay at Tasha's terraced house to look after the twins, while Tasha and Harry spend the week in Alice and Kyle's Venice apartment.

But a few days in, it all goes terribly wrong. Tasha receives a phone call to say Alice is in hospital and Kyle is dead after an intruder broke into their house. They think it must have been a burglary gone wrong.

Until a note arrives through the letterbox saying It was supposed to be you.

Who was there that night, and why?

Is it really Tasha they are targeting?

And can these two sisters find the answers they need, or are they about to stumble upon something more sinister?"

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This is a complex thriller that full of tension, misdirection and great characters.

Tasha and Alice lead completely different lives but they become intertwined when disturbing and tragic events occur to them both ... coincidence?  Their mother, Jeanette, has moved to France following the death of her husband - she, and her family, have a tragic backstory and this becomes interwoven with the main story when she returns following the horrific events that have occurred.

Written at a good pace, full of tension, mystery and red herrings, The Wrong Sister is a riveting read that I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend to anyone who enjoys reading complex thrillers.

Many thanks to the author, Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Wrong Sister.

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The Counterfeit Countess by Elizabeth White and Joanna Sliwa [Audiobook]

🎙🎙🎙 Narrated by Julie Teal 🎙🎙🎙

Description from Goodreads:

"The astonishing story of Dr. Josephine Janina Mehlberg—a Jewish mathematician who saved thousands of lives in Nazi-occupied Poland by masquerading as a Polish aristocrat—drawing on Mehlberg’s own unpublished memoir.

World War II and the Holocaust have given rise to many stories of resistance and rescue, but The Counterfeit Countess is unique. It tells the remarkable, unknown story of “Countess Janina Suchodolska,” a Jewish woman who rescued more than 10,000 Poles imprisoned by Poland’s Nazi occupiers.

Mehlberg operated in Lublin, Poland, headquarters of Aktion Reinhard, the SS operation that murdered 1.7 million Jews in occupied Poland. Using the identity papers of a Polish aristocrat, she worked as a welfare official while also serving in the Polish resistance. With guile, cajolery, and steely persistence, the “Countess” persuaded SS officials to release thousands of Poles from the Majdanek concentration camp. She won permission to deliver food and medicine—even decorated Christmas trees—for thousands more of the camp’s prisoners. At the same time, she personally smuggled supplies and messages to resistance fighters imprisoned at Majdanek, where 63,000 Jews were murdered in gas chambers and shooting pits. Incredibly, she eluded detection, and ultimately survived the war and emigrated to the US.

Drawing on the manuscript of Mehlberg’s own unpublished memoir, supplemented with prodigious research, Elizabeth White and Joanna Sliwa, professional historians and Holocaust experts, have uncovered the full story of this remarkable woman. They interweave Mehlberg’s sometimes harrowing personal testimony with broader historical narrative. Like The Light of Days, Schindler’s List, and Irena’s Children, The Counterfeit Countess is an unforgettable account of inspiring courage in the face of unspeakable cruelty."

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This is another powerful and important story about how one 'normal' woman ended up doing extraordinary things in a time when death was just around the corner and a story that needs to be told and shared with as many people as possible.

Dr. Josephine Janina Mehlberg, a Jewish mathematician, used a carefully crafted fake identity and an enormous amount of bravery to help save thousands of prisoners in the Majdanek concentration camp all whilst the threat of her identity becoming known hung in the air meaning a likely death sentence.

Written using Dr Mehlberg's memoir, an amazing amount of research and an excellent narrator, The Counterfeit Countess is a story that reads like a film and, in my opinion, needs to made into one so that her story becomes as well known as others such as Schindler's List.

Thank you to the authors, Bonnier UK Audio, John Blake and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of this remarkable woman.

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The Therapy Room (FBI Agent Susan Parker #1) by Sam Baron

Description from Goodreads:

"It’s a typical farm kitchen. A large table fills the space, and in one of the chairs is the lifeless body of Doctor Magnusson. Under his feet and the dusty wooden floorboards lie the basement – and twelve therapy rooms. Behind each locked door, the victims are about to be rescued…

When a world-renowned psychiatrist is found dead in an abandoned ranch house in the Californian Santa Carina Valley, a post-it note with the words ‘Susan Parker’ and her cell phone number is taped to the basement door.

Still grieving her husband’s devastating suicide less than a year ago, FBI agent Susan Parker is taking a break from work and trying to rebuild her life as a single mom to her seven-year-old daughter Natalie. When she’s called to the crime scene of Doctor Magnusson, a chill runs down her spine.

For years, Susan had been trying to hunt down the doctor, convinced he was the serial killer known as ‘Splinter.’ Someone is playing a cruel game with her, and they’ve only just begun.

Desperate to speak to the twelve victims rescued from the locked therapy rooms, Susan finds herself faced with a wall of silence. Why won’t they talk?

Battling her demons while confronting the toughest case she’s ever had to solve. Susan discovers a chilling truth about the true nature of ‘Splinter’ – a killer preying on those seeking therapy.

But that’s not all she finds…

She’s about to uncover a shocking secret behind her husband’s death – one that links him to the Splinter case.

With her family’s safety hanging in the balance and her career on the line, can Susan protect her precious daughter and prevent a new killing spree before it’s too late?"

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I love coming into a series with the very first book as I like to be where it all starts and whilst some can be a hit and some a miss, this is a semi-hit for me but it could have been an absolute stunner.

Susan is a great character; strong, tenacious and not afraid of ruffling some feathers but she is also a widow and a mum with a sad and tragic history -this is a bit of a cliché as are some of the other characters in the book which made me actually tut and give my head a little shake at times.

I did like the way she worked with her team and felt the camaraderie between them clearly and I am looking forward to getting to know them more in future books however, I found some of their dialogue strange and not what I would have expected.

The plot is intriguing and whilst I pegged the "bad guy" early on, I did quite like the way the story got there but felt it took a bit too long and was a bit long-winded even when, strangely, the time period jumped ahead which felt a bit out of sync.  I also wasn't expecting the ending and tried to flick to the next page to keep reading only to find ... nothing ... I now have to wait until the next book!!!! 

There are other little niggles and inconsistencies that I noticed however, it is a creditable debut and I would like to see how the series develops.  Thanks to the author, Storm Publishing and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this, the first in an intriguing new series.

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The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder by C L Miller [Audiobook]

🎙🎙 Narrated by Emilia Fox 🎙🎙

Synopsis from Goodreads:

"What antique would you kill for?

Freya Lockwood is shocked when she learns that Arthur Crockleford, antiques dealer and her estranged mentor, has died under mysterious circumstances. She has spent the last twenty years avoiding her quaint English hometown, but when she receives a letter from Arthur asking her to investigate—sent just days before his death—Freya has no choice but to return to a life she had sworn to leave behind.

Joining forces with her eccentric Aunt Carole, Freya follows clues and her instincts to an old manor house for an advertised antiques enthusiast’s weekend. But not all is as it seems. It’s clear to Freya that the antiques are all just poor reproductions and her fellow guests are secretive and menacing. What is going on at this estate and how was Arthur involved? More importantly, can Freya and Carole discover the truth before the killer strikes again?"

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I listened to the audiobook which was excellently narrated by Emilia Fox (the excellent British actor) and have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This is the debut novel by C L Miller and I think it was pretty successful.  The plot was intriguing, the characters were excellent, if a little stereotypical at times, and the twists, whilst not totally unexpected or a massive revelation, fitted well with the story.  The pacing was a little slow and had this not been an audiobook, I may have struggled a little more but as it was, it worked ok for me.

This is a cosy mystery with no swearing and very little violence which was a welcome change to what I usually read!  I really hope this is the start of a series as I would certainly welcome getting to know Freya a little more and delving into the murky world of antique theft.

Many thanks to Macmillan UK Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts on this excellent debut novel.

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For Our Sins (Inspector McLean #13) by James Oswald

Synopsis from Goodreads:

"The wages of sin is death.

The partial collapse of a disused Edinburgh church reveals a dead body in the rubble, his head badly smashed by falling masonry. Soon identified as an old ex-con - Kenny Morgan - his death is put down to a heart attack and deemed non-suspicious.

Tony McLean is approached by a notorious crime lord who suggests the police should be looking into Morgan's death more closely. Despite struggling with his recent retirement, he is reluctant to involve himself.

But when a second man is found dead in another disused church, his forehead branded with a cross, this time it is clearly murder.

There's a killer stalking the streets of Edinburgh. Is it time for McLean to get back to doing what he does best?"

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This might be the 13th book in this series but it is no less a riveting read and slightly different to the previous ones as it focuses more on Acting Detective Inspector Janie Harrison with McLean taking a bit of a back step.  Whilst this may not please everyone, I for one enjoyed it and because of this, you can definitely read this is as a standalone although I would definitely recommend you delve into previous books to get the backstories of the main characters and an understanding of the nuances of their individual stories.

For Our Sins is a story of death under strange circumstances. It has the usual great plot with all the twists and turns you would expect and with a touch of the supernatural thrown in to make this more than the usual police procedural that all blends together seamlessly to give an engaging and totally engrossing read.  

I would highly recommend reading any of the books in the series especially if you enjoy something a bit different than the usual police procedurals and I must give thanks to Headline, Wildfire and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of yet another great read in this fantastic series.

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Other books by James Oswald I have read and reviewed:

Cold as the Grave (Inspector McLean #9)

Bury Them Deep (Inspector McLean #10)

What Will Burn (Inspector McLean #11)

All That Lives (Inspector McLean #12)

No Time To Cry (DC Constance Fairchild #1)

Nothing To Hide (DC Constance Fairchild #2)

Nowhere To Run (DC Constance Fairchild #3)