The Gardeners' Club by Marnie Riches

 

Description from Goodreads:

"Gardening is dirty work – but should it be deadly?

When Gill Swanley decides to take up gardening to fight a midlife malaise, she never expected it to become quite such a dangerous hobby.

Pushing herself to 'get out there', Gill picks herself up the secateurs and joins the Bromley Botanists. Here she finds a seven-strong group whose main agenda is how to win the coveted Golden Trowel for best community club of the year.

But when a dead body turns up in the community greenhouse, they suddenly have more serious matters to consider than victory. They must uncover whether their arch-rivals, Croydon, are taking things to another level or whether someone more dangerous is targeting their rag tag group.

Can they dig up the truth before someone else is left pushing up the daisies?"

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Oh my word ... I can't put into adequate words how much I absolutely loved this book!  I absolutely devoured it in quick time such was the quality of the story I was reading.

I'm not going to go into the story line as the blurb says it all but what I will say is that it's full of fantastic characters each of which are unique and 'special' in their own way but, equally, they could be your neighbour, work colleague or family member such is their relateability and how well they have been written and developed.

The story is much more than a cosy, murder-mystery; it's about life and everything that is thrown at us and gardening of course!  I cannot rate this book highly enough and would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Many thanks to the author, Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this excellent book.  This is the first in a new series and I can't wait for the next instalment to find out what is in store for The Bromley Botanists' Golden Trowel gardeners' club.

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The Great Decay by Steven Jenkins

 

Description from Goodreads:

"Like so many towns and cities, the giant walls around Camberwood stand as silent reminders of humanity's darkest hour—The Great Decay: a zombie invasion that nearly wiped-out mankind.

For seventeen-year-old Ruby and her friends, these walls are nothing more than relics of a history they're too young to remember, monuments to their parents' trauma.

Ruby dreams of a better life away from this small, soul-crushing town. Away from her alcoholic mother who still grieves the loss of her husband.

But boredom suddenly lifts when Ruby and her friends discover what seems impossible: a lone, emaciated zombie, perhaps the last of its kind, trapped in an abandoned coal mine. The creature appears docile, almost pitiful—a living artifact begging to be studied. Against all reason, they keep it secret, drawn to this rotting piece of forbidden history.

But their dangerous game of friendship with the undead is about to shatter their safe, uneventful world.

As a new wave of infection erupts within Camberwood's walls, Ruby faces a devastating realization: she and her friends haven't just unearthed a scientific curiosity—they've unleashed the very nightmare the last generation barely survived.

As the shadows of the past rise again, Ruby must fight to prevent a second Great Decay—or watch everything she loves crumble into ruin."

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I do love a good Zombie story and this is one of them and another hit from an author I enjoy reading.

The Great Decay is everything you would expect in a zombie story and more; great characters, great setting, horror, humour, action, suspense and all written at a great pace with a satisfying ending.

Another cracker from Steven Jenkins ... if you haven't read anything by him before, you won't be disappointed if this is the first book of his you read.

Many thanks to the author for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this great book.

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The Tenacious Nurse Nichols by Eileen Yanoviak

 

Description from Goodreads:

"There is only one known image of Lucy Higgs Nichols, a Civil War nurse who escaped slavery. In this captivating photograph dated to 1898, the elderly Lucy is the sole female and the only person of color. She stands stately in the middle of a large group of war veterans at a reunion that she diligently attended every year. Some of these soldiers were from the Indiana 23rd Regiment, the men who fiercely advocated for her Civil War nurse's pension in the 1890s. 

Her story is remarkable—a journey from enslavement in Tennessee, to freedom and service among the ranks of the Union Army, and finally to independence and national recognition from the press, the Grand Army of the Republic, and even Congress.

Despite considerable obstacles and unimaginable pain, Lucy achieved notoriety, nobility, and self-sufficiency in a post-Civil War era that often denied black Americans and women justice and opportunity."

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This is an inspirational and amazing story of a former slave and how she came to be a nurse during the Civil War and her fight to receive a pension and all whilst having to deal with prejudice and the hardships of life for a Black person in 1800's America.

This is a very informative book that has clearly been well researched.  It's easy to read and flows well and I would recommend it to anyone interested in the American Civil War, Black history or those who enjoy opening their minds and learning about history.

Thanks to the author, The Globe Pequot Publishing Group, Inc. and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this informative book.

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The Webs You Weave by Shade Owens [Audiobook]

🎙🎙🎙 Narrated by Kaden Catalina and Jay Parker 🎙🎙🎙

Description from Goodreads:

"MEGHAN

My husband is a cheating bastard.

If it weren't for my daughter, I'd have gotten rid of him years ago. But I don't want my sweet Hazel growing up the way I did. So I've continued putting up with Cole's indiscretions. But this time around, Cole crosses a line that he can't come back from. And I'm going to teach him a lesson he'll never forget.

COLE

I love my wife dearly, but she needs some serious help.

Ever since her traumatic brain injury, she hasn't been the same. She's constantly accusing me of cheating on her. Yes, I've made mistakes, but that's in the past, and I've apologized for those. Now, I think she might even be following me to work. She's taking things too far. I don't know how much more of this I can handle. The only problem is, I'm afraid that if I try to leave her, she'll kill me."

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Ooooo ... the title of this book is absolutely perfect ... so many webs are woven in this gripping audiobook.

I have read one of Shade Owen's previous books, Death Row Games, and really enjoyed it so didn't want to miss the chance to grab another and I wasn't disappointed.

This audiobook is intriguing in that you have no idea which of the main characters you can trust - Meghan who is recovering after a brain injury or her husband Cole, you also have their daughter, Hazel, and a mystery 'diary entry' person.  This does sound a little confusing and whilst it could be if you were reading a physical book, this was not the case with the audiobook with the excellent narrators who brought the characters to life.

A great book that's full of tension, misdirection and red herrings and one that I am happy to recommend.  Many thanks to the author, Red Raven Publishing and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of this book.

 

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In the Footsteps of the Holocaust by Ainslie Hepburn

 

Description from the Publisher: 

"This is a story of 'ordinary' people – ordinary people who were caught up in the cataclysm of events in Europe during the 1930s and 1940s. A discovery of letters that had been carefully kept for decades since that time led to the uncovering of a family story that took the author on a journey in the footsteps of her husband's grandparents through Germany, Belgium, and France.

Hermann Hartog (1887–1942) was a Jewish teacher in the north-west of Germany at a time of increasing anti-Semitism. He and his wife, Henny (1897–1942) recognised that Germany was becoming an unsafe place for Jews and sent their daughters to England for safety. As a leader of his community, Hermann stayed for as long as he could.

After 'Kristallnacht' in November 1938, Hermann was arrested with other Jewish men and sent to the concentration camp at Sachsenhausen. He was later released on condition that he would leave the country. Hermann and Henny fled Germany for Brussels, but when Belgium was invaded in 1940 they were sent to Paris, and then found refuge in a village in the south-west of France. Here, 'ordinary' people gave them shelter, work and friendship – and shared their lives during the dark days of 1941 and 1942.

When French police – acting on the orders of the Vichy government and the Nazi occupiers of France – arrested Hermann and Henny, it was part of a round-up of Jews to deport them for extermination. After a long journey, they were murdered in Auschwitz in September 1942.

An active memory of the Hartog family lives on. In France and Germany, 'ordinary' people remember their names, commemorate their legacy, and work to build communities where tolerance, acceptance, and friendship can thrive."

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This is clearly a well researched book that sheds light on an area of this horrendous period in our history that I was not fully aware of.  

We follow the story of the Hartog family which has been pieced together following the discovery of letters and postcards sent during that time.  Henny and Hermann had to make the difficult decision to send their daughters to England and then try and survive all that was happening around them whilst trying to make arrangements to leave.  I admit to struggling to understand why other countries wouldn't accept people trying to flee especially when they had an inkling of what was going on!  I don't know how they could live with themselves knowing that they could have saved so many people once the full horror or what happened came to light.  However, what came through strongly was that there were many people who were kind and went out of their way to support the Jewish refugees despite having very little themselves and at great risk and whilst it didn't save Henny and Hermann, it did make a huge difference to them.

This is a book that needs to be read by everyone if only so that we don't repeat what happened and that we continue to remember the names of those who didn't survive.

Thanks to the author, Pen & Sword and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts on this powerful book.

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The Secret Room (Maeve Kerrigan #12) by Jane Casey

 

Description from Publisher:

"A closed door.

An impossible murder.

2:32 p.m. Wealthy, privileged Ilaria Cavendish checks into a luxury London hotel and orders a bottle of champagne. Within the hour, her lover discovers her submerged in a bath of scalding water, dead.

At first glance it looks like an accident. No one went in with her. No one came out. But all the signs point to murder.

For DS Maeve Kerrigan, the case is a welcome distraction. But when shock news hits close to home, affecting her partner, DI Josh Derwent, she faces the toughest challenge of her career. And if she fails her world will never be the same again…"

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Yet another cracker from Jane Casey in her excellent Maeve Kerrigan series that never gets stale and I absolutely devoured it.  I find myself sounding like a broken record in that I haven't got enough different words to describe how much I enjoyed it and despite it being the 12th in the series, it continues to feel fresh with the partnership of Maeve and Josh being a particular highlight of mine and one which I absolutely adore.  

I definitely recommend you read at least a few of the previous books before getting into this one, you won't be disappointed, but I think it's essential to get the character development and the important relationships in this series.

This is yet another gripping read and kept my grubby little eyes reading as fast as they possibly could.  At the end of the book, Jane asks to keep from mentioning any spoilers so I will keep schtum and say nothing about the plot or anything else but I will highly recommend this and the whole of the series ... believe me you will become as hooked as me! 

Thank you to the author, HarperCollinsUK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this excellent addition to a brilliant series ... roll on the next one.

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The Rest is Death (DCI Tony McLean #14) by James Oswald

Description from Goodreads:

" A macabre ancient artefact. An innovative biotech company connected to the highest levels of government. And the trail of bloodshed in its wake.

Detective Chief Inspector Tony McLean is called to investigate a break-in at Drake BioTech, a trendsetting Edinburgh start-up. It's well below McLean's pay grade, but given the extensive political connections of its eccentric owner Nathaniel Drake, he doesn't have a choice. Even if nothing appears to have been stolen.

A missing person case turns complicated for DI Janie Harrison when a body is found half-buried in woods outside the city. The missing man shows no signs of trauma, the cause of his death a mystery. But when another man - linked to the break-in - is discovered dead in similarly mysterious circumstances, the police suspect there may be some connection between the two.

McLean is convinced the answer lies with the strange ancient artefact clutched in the second dead man's hands. But when the two bodies are stolen from the mortuary, and the artefact goes missing from evidence, the race is on to prevent yet more death."

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This is the 14th instalment in the DCI McLean series and I have read quite a number of them but it can be successfully read as a standalone although I would recommend you delve into previous books to get the backstories of the main characters and an understanding of the nuances of their individual stories.

Once again, this book has the usual brilliant characters, 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 read.  I admit that it didn't grab me as much as his previous books and it took me a bit longer to read than it normally would because of this, but I enjoyed it nevertheless and would recommend.

Thank you to the author, Headline, Wildfire and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this book and I look forward to the next instalment.

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Judy Tudor is Not a Psychopath by Jennifer Holdich [Audiobook]

 🎙🎙🎙 Narrated by Clare Corbett 🎙🎙🎙

Description from Goodreads:

"Julie Tudor is Not a Psychopath.

Julie Tudor is 49 and has it a fantastic job (well-maintained spreadsheets are the lynchpin of an efficient office), a beautiful house (some may wonder how she got the money for it, but nothing has been proved) and the man of her dreams.

Julie Tudor is Not a Stalker.

Sean is 25 and the love of Julie's life. The only problem is, he thinks he's in love with someone else.

And Julie Tudor is definitely, definitely not a serial killer.

But Julie has found herself in a similar situation before. And if there's one thing Julie knows, it's how to get rid of the competition...

After all, what's a little murder in the name of true love?"

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Judy Tudor is most definitely a psychopath!!

Well that was a really fun but dark book to listen to.  The entire book is told from Judy's point of view which gave a disturbing insight into her warped and unhinged mind and completely at odds with the majority of the population.   

Judy is a great character made all the better by the fantastic narration by Clare Corbett; she was perfect and really brought her to life and, to be honest, I don't think I would have enjoyed it quite as much if I had read the physical book.

What a fantastic debut this is and definitely recommended to those of you who enjoy dark stories that make you laugh out loud, cringe and gasp.  This audiobook isn't released until 05-June-2025; I would definitely recommend you pre-order it.

Thanks to the author, Hodder & Stoughton Audio and NetGalley for enable me to listen to and share my thoughts of this excellent book.

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When Shadows Fall (DS Max Craigie #6) by Neil Lancaster

 

✴✴✴ due to be published 27-March-2025 ✴✴✴

Description from Goodreads:

"A TRAGIC DEATH

When the body of Leanne Wilson is found at the bottom of a Scottish mountain, it is classified as a tragic accident. There is no evidence to suggest otherwise.

A RISING BODY COUNT

Then DS Max Craigie discovers that five other women in the last year have died by falling off mountains, and something feels very wrong. They were all experienced climbers and alone when they died. This can only mean one thing: there’s a killer on the loose.

A KILLER IN THE SHADOWS

The more Max investigates, the more he believes that they are dealing with something much bigger than a lone serial killer. With five victims and conflicting clues, how do you catch someone committing the perfect crime?"

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I admit to being a fan of Neil Lancaster and of his Max Craigie series so could not miss the opportunity of reading book 6 in the series and I definitely wasn't disappointed; I was hooked and loved it from start to finish.  You can read it as a standalone but I would definitely suggest you read the others in the series as you miss a lot of the character and relationship development and you won't be disappointed.

This addition is another cracker; with fantastic recurring characters (Ross being one of my favourites with Barney in hot pursuit!) and a few new ones that have only added to the excellent ensemble.  The story is disturbing but absolutely riveting and, sadly, not beyond the realms of reality.  The pace is fast and totally engrossing and the language used by Mr Lancaster paints vivid pictures of the landscape and perilous situations clearly.

What can I say?  This instalment is a triumph; a brilliant book and one I would highly recommend as I would the rest of the series and many thanks to the author, HQ and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this, an excellent addition to a brilliant series.

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The Secret Detective Agency (The Secret Detective Agency #1) by Helena Dixon [Audiobook]

🎙🎙🎙 Narrated by Kristin Atherton 🎙🎙🎙
 

Description from Goodreads:

"Meet Miss Jane Treen–the coffee-drinking cat lover dressed head to toe in tweed, who just happens to be a secret super sleuth!

London, 1941: Miss Jane Treen is at her desk, strong black coffee in hand and fluffy ginger cat by her side, when her top-secret government work is interrupted by an urgent call to Devon. A woman has been found dead in a lake in a place where she shouldn’t have been. Jane needs to gather the clues and find the killer before someone else from the agency gets hurt…

Shy and handsome code-breaker Arthur Cilento is bewildered by the arrival of the efficient Miss Treen and her cat Marmaduke. She bursts into his life unexpectedly, forcing him out of his comfort zone. The reluctant colleagues huddle near the warmth of a crackling fire in Arthur's country home, working to piece together the murderous puzzle at hand.

In the sleepy Devon village, someone is hiding something: but is it the busybody vicar and his sister, the dutiful housekeeper and her secretive son, the stern librarian, or someone else altogether? And who were the people with the woman in the lake on the day she died?

No sooner have Arthur and Jane have drawn up a list of suspects, than a parcel reveals a clue that sends them in hot pursuit of a coded diary stashed in a village church. But as the heavy wooden door slams behind them and a key turns in the lock, one thing is they need to unravel the truth and crack this code before the killer decides their number is up…

But if they can catch the culprit in time, might this unusual pair become the finest crime-solving partnership since Holmes and Watson hung up their hats…?"

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This is the first in a new cozy mystery series starring Jane Treen and Arthur Cilento which was a pleasure to listen to and an entertaining murder-mystery set during World War 2.

The author has created three great characters in Jane, Arthur and his 'man-servant' Benson; they make a great team although I admit it took me a while to warm to Jane as she is quite a prickly person; she certainly tests Arthur's patience with her love of smoking and no-nonsense manner.

The story does take a little bit to get going but once it does, it is intriguing and compelling with a very satisfying ending.  The narration was excellent although I think it would have been even better had there been a male narrator as well but Kristen did a great job nevertheless.

Overall, despite the slow start, I thoroughly enjoyed it and many thanks to the author, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of this very enjoyable cozy murder-mystery and a decent start to a new series and one which I look forward to following.

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The Enemy Within (James Ryker #13) by Rob Sinclair

Description from Goodreads:

 

"Ex-intelligence agent James Ryker has done many things in the past he’d prefer to forget. The last time he saw Gregor Minko - son to one of Ukraine’s most dangerous and politically influential arms dealers – Gregor was a scared 6-year-old boy in need of protection. But Ryker had to walk away. The boy wasn’t the mission.

Twenty years on Ryker is approached by two strangers in Antibes, France, asking for his help in finding Gregor – now going by the name of Gregor Rebrov. With a back catalogue of ‘crimes against the Russian state’, Gregor has escaped from a gulag in Siberia and is now in the wind.

Fuelled by old demons and painful memories of his own brutal actions in the past, Ryker finds himself once again in the thick of a complicated race against time and who knows how many of the world’s secret services, to find Gregor and get some answers.

As answers turn into more questions, they lead Ryker closer to home… and he can’t shake the feeling that he may be to blame."

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I have read a few of Rob Sinclair's books which I have thoroughly enjoyed but this is only the second in this series that I have read however, I think it works well as a standalone.

Told from a dual timeline and set in various countries, this is a great story that has fantastic characters, an excellent plot, loads of action, suspense and thrills and all written at a great, fast pace, this is a really good action/adventure/spy/thriller so will appeal to many.  There are violent scenes but only what you would expect for this type of book and nothing that is over the top ... well I didn't think so.  

Excellent book that I thoroughly enjoyed and many thanks  to the author, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this, the latest in the James Ryker series.

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Murder on Line One by Jeremy Vine [Audiobook]

🎙🎙🎙Narrated by Jeremy Vine🎙🎙🎙

Description from Goodreads:

"The first in a brand new murder mystery series now!

There's a killer on the airwaves … and they're calling for you.

Darkness looms over sunny Sidmouth, when an unsolved murder comes to the attention of late-night radio talk show host Edward Temmis.

Recently sacked from his beloved job after a devastating tragedy, Edward is cast adrift – until he meets Stevie, whose grandmother, a devoted listener, died in a suspicious fire last year. Well, nobody hurts his listeners and helping Stevie might just give him the purpose he needs.

Joined by his old fling, Kim, they discover Stevie's grandmother wasn't the only one of his listeners targeted – this is just the tip of the iceberg.

But who is pursuing his ageing audience and why? And can Edward, Stevie and Kim get to the bottom of this mystery before it’s too late?"

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Unfortunately, this was a 'did not finish' book for me. I just couldn't get on with Jeremy Vine's voice as the narrator - I found him stilted and didn't project the characters very well. I don't mind listening to him on the radio but he shouldn't have narrated this book which ruined it for me. As a consequence, I couldn't get into the story or the characters so had to stop listening.

Unless the narrator is changed, I will not be following this series but thank you to the author, HarperCollins UK Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of this book.

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The Train That Took You Away by Catherine Hokin [Audiobook]

🎙🎙🎙 Narrated by Sarah Durham 🎙🎙🎙

Description from Goodreads:

"Berlin, 1938. I wipe the tears streaming down my darling son’s face, my heart shattering into a million pieces. “I promise I will find you, my love. No matter what…”

Ever since the Nazis came to power, violence has spread through the city Esther Spielmann once called home. Each night she prays her family will be spared. But when her husband and father are murdered alongside fellow Jews during Kristallnacht, she has no choice but to send her beloved son, Sascha, to safety.

Esther’s heart breaks as she watches his thin legs trembling in the cold as he is ushered with the other crying children towards the Kindertransport. As the train leaves in a cloud of smoke, she thinks of the painting of the two of them hanging in their house. In it, they are tightly embracing and laughing, everything just as it should be. She vows that she will hold him like this once again. But has Esther made a promise she can’t possibly keep?"

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This is a heartbreaking but powerful story of the intertwined stories of Esther, a Jewish mother, and Amalie, an art conservator.  

Esther Spielman, loses her family and sends her son away during Nazi occupation; she has to fight for survival in the hope that she will be reunited with her son.   Amalie, driven to protect art from Nazi looters, remains in Berlin, going against her family's pleading to return home to England; her experiences there fuel her continued fight for justice when she is forced back home.

I'm not going to go any further into the story but will say that it had me riveted from the very beginning with the narration of Sarah Durham being second to none and really bringing each of the various characters to life.

Highly recommended for people who enjoy reading books from this time period and many thanks to the author, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this excellent audiobook.

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Making a Killing (DI Fawley #7) by Cara Hunter

Description from Goodreads:

"When Nick Vincent, producer of true-crime show Infamous, hears about an explosive new angle on a high-profile case—the 2016 murder of an eight-year-old girl in Oxford—he leaps at the chance to send a researcher to verify the claims.

Two months later, a dog walker discovers a woman’s body, bound and buried in a shallow grave in the woods. Forensic evidence links the corpse to the disappearance of that same child.

DCI Adam Fawley, the original investigating officer, is called in to run the enquiry. And he remembers the case well—he arrested the child’s mother for murder. A murder he now knows she didn’t commit.

The investigation raises more questions than answers. What connects the two crimes? Where has the dead girl been all these years? How did she manage to disappear? For Adam Fawley, this is personal..."

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This is a follow-on from Book One of the series, Close to Home, however, you don't have to have read it as the author provides enough of the back story to get you up to speed.  Also, whilst this is the seventh in the series, you don't have to have read any of the others however, I would recommend it as you are missing a treat.

What we have is an enthralling and intriguing read told from the perspective of various characters in the book.  Once again, Cara Hunter uses different media to give the story more relevance however, the articles reproduced did not work well on my Kindle.  This may have been because I received an advance copy but is something to be aware of.

The story is a bit of a slow-ish burn to start with but you become totally engrossed in the story as it's told and it becomes faster paced the more you get into it and totally gripping by the end.

Highly recommended to lovers of police procedurals with twists and turns that keep you guessing ... roll on number 8!  Many thanks to the author, HarperCollinsUK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this enthralling book.

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Evil Families: A History of Bad Blood by Martin Knight [Audiobook]

 

🎙🎙🎙 Narrated by Maya Grant 🎙🎙🎙

Description from Goodreads:

"Is it true that the apple never falls far from the tree?

Throughout history, you see examples where criminality seems to run in the family. From the Ptolemaic dynasty that terrorized Greek Egypt to the modern mafia, familial ties often dictate your relationship to violence, cruelty and the law.  Evil Families examines just this, using case studies from across history. These include the Qing Dynasty of Ancient China, the cannibalistic Beane family in 15th century Scotland, the Stafflebacks of Kansas and the Messina brothers of London's West End. This book is about murder, madness, lust and ruthless ambition, as well as those devastating cases where family members gang up and cause harm other relatives.

Everyone strives to protect their own family, but what cruelties are concealed by these bonds of blood?"

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A very interesting but shocking and disturbing look at evil and depraved families from Ancient Rome to more recent times. 

It is clear that the author has done an awful lot of research and it must have taken ages to write; it is full of facts and information from some crimes I haven't heard of before, and I have read and watched a lot of true crime, and new information from crimes I have some knowledge of which was very interesting and enlightening.  It never ceases to amaze me how evil some people can be to their fellow human beings.

I applaud the narrator for her professionalism whilst reading some of the most heinous crimes over the years however, it was a bit monotone and without any feeling at all which detracted from the book somewhat but I definitely recommend the audiobook as I would imagine the physical book would be very dry.  I listened to it in the car in short bursts so this kept my interest.

Overall, an interesting book for people who enjoy reading about true crime but beware, there are some horrendous stories.  Many thanks to the author, Arcturus Publishing and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of this disturbing but enlightening book.

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The Promise She Made by Julie Hartley

 

Description from Goodreads:

"As our ship starts to sink, I see flares lighting up the midnight sky. ‘Hold on tight. I will keep you safe. I promise,’ I say to my terrified little sister as I hold back my tears. But I know I can’t hold on for much longer and as she slips away, my heart breaks. Will I ever see her again?

York, 1942. On the night of the Blitz, Ruby returns to her beloved hometown with her heart shattered. She couldn’t keep the one promise she made to her dying mother, to keep her little sister Eliza safe from harm. The Germans have taken everything from her – her family, her fiancé Antoine, and now, her home. When she finds her family home destroyed, she falls to her knees in tears. Among the ruins of her life, she wonders if she has the strength to carry on. But then, she finds a mysterious note which gives her a flicker of hope.

Eliza is alive. I’ve seen her. You must find her…

Determined to find out what happened to her sister, Ruby joins the Special Operations Executive keen to defend all that she has left and fight against the Nazis. Whilst there, she is tearfully reunited with Antoine, who believes he may know what happened to Eliza that dark night on the ocean. Can they reignite their love after all the loss they’ve suffered, and will Ruby ever see her little sister again?"

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This is a compelling and emotional roller-coaster WWII fiction book that had me completely hooked.

The book follows the story of Ruby, a young woman from Yorkshire who has seen her fill of tragedy even before she gets out of her teens.  Ruby promised her mum that she would look after her little sister so when war breaks out, she seizes the chance to get her sister on a transport to Canada where she will be safe but to do this, she has to go against her family and the love of her life.  Little does she know, that more tragedy is to hit which compounds Ruby's feelings of guilt.

Existing rather than living, Ruby vows revenge and so begins the next chapter of her life but will treachery, misogyny and people from her past get in her way and will Ruby and those she love survive?  

With excellent, strong characters, a riveting story line written at a good pace, this is an excellent read that I thoroughly enjoyed and one which I would recommend to others who enjoy this genre. 

Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this emotional roller-coaster.

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The Perfect Mother by Claire Allan

 

Description from Goodreads:

"All I wanted was to help women become mothers. When I met Alice Monroe, we instantly connected. She was as passionate about motherhood as I was, and I couldn't wait to support her through this life-changing experience.

But the day that should have been Alice’s happiest, turned into a nightmare. And after Alice’s dreams were shattered, she blamed me. Even though there was nothing I could have done, she wanted to ruin me. I lost my business, my reputation. My world fell apart.

Then, I discovered I was pregnant. That’s why we moved hundreds of miles away to the remote Derry countryside. Now, with this beautiful baby, we can have a fresh start.

But then Alice sends me a message. She knows where we are. And I realise, it doesn’t matter how far we’ve moved, I am not safe from her. My baby is not safe.

She would have been the perfect mother. But if she can’t have her happy family, she's not going to let me have mine."

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I have read and thoroughly enjoyed a couple of Claire Allan's previous books so didn't want to give up a chance to read her next outing and I wasn't disappointed.

Whilst this was a difficult book to read due to the subject matter of death in childbirth/stillbirth, it was still a riveting read that I was totally invested in.  The characters are great and whilst the pace dropped off in the middle and became a little repetitive, it kept me reading so I finished it in double-quick time.  I enjoyed the twists which I didn't see coming but the ending was a little disappointing and left some questions unanswered.

Overall though, a good quick read that is perfect to dive into on these dark, winter nights when there is little on the tv!  Many thanks to the author, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this difficult to read but riveting book.

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I Bet You'd Look Good in a Coffin (Kitty Collins #2) by Katy Brent

 

Description from Goodreads:

"My name is Kitty Collins and I’m a serial killer.

I don’t want to kill. It’s just so hard to resist. Some men really, really deserve it.

Men like Blaze Bundy, an anonymous influencer spreading misogyny online. He’s making it very hard for me to control my murderous urges.

Meanwhile I’m in the South of France to watch my mother marry a man I’ve never met. I should be drinking cocktails and focusing on my tan, not plotting a murder.

But a woman’s work is never done. Surely one more teensy little kill wouldn’t hurt, would it?"

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I have read and listened to a couple of Katy Brent's books and thoroughly enjoyed them so I certainly wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to read the latest outing of Kitty Collins and I am so pleased I didn't because, once again, Katy Brent has produced an outrageously funny, wicked and addictive story which, whilst implausible, is great fun to read.

This is the second in the series and whilst it does work as a standalone, it works so much better having read the first, How to Kill Men and Get Away with It - it will make so much more sense.

I loved everything about this book ... the story, the characters, the twists, the pace ... everything.  Kitty is a very flawed character but she is written in such a way that you can't help rooting for her; she does and says things that I don't agree with absolutely however, it doesn't stop me rooting for her and wanting a happy ending.

Full of dark humour, wit and misogynistic men getting their comeuppance, this is a book that I highly recommend and it most definitely is a 5 star read for me.  Katy Brent can't write the next one fast enough for my liking!!!

Many thanks to the author, HQ and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this, the latest in the Kitty Collins series and I can't wait for the next.

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Daughters of the Fatherland by Jericho J Johnson [Audiobook]

 🎙🎙🎙 Narrated by Alyona Popova 🎙🎙🎙

Description from NetGalley:

"In this griping true-to-life historical novel, Berlin-born Rosa is abandoned as a baby during the height of Germany’s Great Depression but rescued by an elderly couple in a passing Gypsy caravan. Ten years later, on the brink of World War II, Rosa is the unwitting cause of her adoptive Romani family being incarcerated: Rosa and her mother are sent to the Women’s Gypsy Concentration Camp in Austria, while her father is sent to the Men’s Gypsy Camp in Berlin. The women’s camp despises her rebellious spirit, so Rosa vows to escape to rescue her beloved father. However, before she can enact her escape plan, Rosa and thirty other Romani children are conscripted to appear in Nazi Director Leni Riefenstahl’s ill-fated movie about a Gypsy Queen, Tiefland.

Daughters of the Fatherland highlights the plight of the children during World War II with a special focus on the Romani Holocaust, Porajmos (devouring or destruction). Wars tear families apart, with children being left to fend for themselves in a chaotic world. During war, the conflict between and within nations can result in the loss of humanity; however, in Rosa’s case, love and peace ultimately restore her community allowing personal redemption for Rosa." 

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I have read quite a lot of fiction and non-fiction books that are set and about this era of history but very few focus on the Romani and their experiences so felt this would provide some information given it is billed as "true-to-life" and whilst I'm sure there are aspects that are just that, it just left me feeling a bit like the author was trying to put too much into it to cover all bases which resulted in it becoming OTT.

It's not a bad book but it's not the best I've ever read or listened to.  The narrator was good and I think she managed all the characters well.  

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of this book.

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