October Book Round-Up

Here's what I've been reading in October (I thought it was going to be a slow month but I've overwhelmed my expectations!)

Bad Girls - A History of Rebels and Renegades by Caitlin Davies - this is an absolutely fascinating account of the history of HMP Holloway and it's inmates.

From the suffragettes who were force fed (awful to read about), to socialites and sporting stars, prostitutes and nightclub queens as well as normal people who were imprisoned for things like "treason and murder, for begging, performing abortions and stealing clothing coupons, for masquerading as men, running brothels and attempting suicide". 

We hear about those who were hanged and those who were reprieved. Stories about Ruth Ellis, Edith Thompson, Myra Hindley, Annie Walters, a German Spy along with ordinary prisoners who lived in appalling conditions to those who could live in relative luxury if they could afford it. The author herself actually worked as a teacher within the prison walls. Would recommend as it's an interesting read.

Home by Karen Dionne (when I bought this I didn't realise it was the Marsh King's Daughter under a new name - I already had Marsh King nestling on my kindle!)

Helena's childhood was very unusual and she's managed to keep it from her husband and daughters until the day her father, escapes from prison and she knows he'll come looking for her... She was born in captivity. Her father kidnapped her mother and they lived in the remote marshes. She loved her father - he was the one who taught her all she knows - to hunt and survive.

The story goes between the past and the present and we learn about Helena's childhood and her relationship with her parents to her current happy married life with her own business and family. She knows she'll have to hunt for her father if he's to go back to prison where he belongs.... a fast paced and exciting read. Would recommend.

One Dark Night by Tom Bale* - I took part in the blog blitz last week. See my review HERE.

Five Days of Fog by Anna Freeman* - I absolutely loved this! It's not published until the beginning of November so I'll share my review in my November roundup.

Dead End - DI Kelly Porter #3 by Rachel Lynch* - oh I just love this series! 

The 7th Earl of Lowesdale is found hanged in his study at the Hall with his safe missing. DI Kelly Porter and the team need to find out if this was foul play. There's another case running alongside - could they be connected?

Two young female hikers go missing and when digging for clues the team find that another two women have disappeared. 

Young Zac was distraught to find his grandfather and is pleased to have the support of the local woman who cooks and cleans at the Hall and the gardener. Are they who they say they are? Secrets hang over everyone at the Hall.

Kelly finds out that her mother is connected with the Hall and parties that the Earl and his wife had in the 70s. She also finds out something about herself she's not sure she likes (I'm looking forward to this being explored in the next book). We also take off where we left off with Kelly's boyfriend, the lovely Johnny. Their relationship seems to be getting more serious (love). Her sister is still being the proverbial pain - they just can't get along as they are so different.... 

A great story full of twists and turns (I'd decided who was guilty) for the story to flip around once again. Just brilliant.

Bone Deep by Sandra Ireland - the story follows eccentric Mac, a historian who is writing stories based on folklore and employs Lucie as a Girl Friday type assistant. The story is told in alternating chapters.

They both have secrets which start to unravel and Mac's son Arthur, a baker is caught in the middle.  Why is the old mill out of bounds, what happened there? And what is Lucie hiding from her sister.. 

A darkly addictive and creepy read which I really enjoyed.

Forget My Name by J S Monroe* - A woman turns up at Tony and Laura's home convinced it's her home. She's forgotten her name and has lost her bag at the airport with her keys, purse and passport inside. She knows the quirky layout of the house and all about the village.

Tony thinks she's got amnesia and invites her to stay the night, even cooking her dinner. Laura's a bit apprehensive about it all but gives in and arranges an appointment with the GP in the morning.

Tony decides to name her until she remembers her own name and this in itself brings it's own problems... it's a real twisty read which had me on the edge of my seat throughout and so cleverly written. There are so many twists which I didn't see coming. Loved it.

Fatal Promise - DI Kim Stone #9 by Angela Marsons* - this series keeps getting better and better. 

A man is discovered in the local woodlands brutally murdered and Kim and the team quickly get to work to find out why and by whom. They surprisingly discover he's known to them as he was connected to their previous case. His son is suddenly involved in a car crash - can the cases be connected? A woman's body is found in strange circumstances and there seems to be a link which involves all the cases...but what..

Kim and the Team are still suffering after one of their own died and are finding it hard to adjust to a new officer working with them.  Stacey is running her own investigation alongside regarding a missing teen as well as working with Penn on data and CCTV analysis. He's not Dawson and never will be but she grudgingly finds she can work with him.

The race is on to find the killer and the links between the cases before more innocent victims die. An absolutely amazing read. Roll on book #10.

What Happened to Us by Faith Hogan* - I just devoured this fabulous read.

Carrie finds herself dumped by her long term partner. Kevin's her partner in both life and business but he's just announced he's in love with their young Columbian waitress and he's leaving her.

Life is hard for her seeing them everyday at the restaurant and Carrie is understandably heartbroken. The pain is softened however by gorgeous little pup Teddy she found at the back of the restaurant and the mysterious stranger who becomes her friend. He has connections with her friend Jane who owns the pub across the street.

When things go wrong for Kevin he thinks he'll be able to get Carrie back but she's moved on and wants to start afresh with the new and happy life she's forged for herself. An absolutely brilliant read. I loved it.

The Doll Collector by Joanna Stephen-Ward* - oh my this is a real creepy read. It's not out until near the end of November so I'll share my review in my November Book Round-Up.

The Orchid Girls by Lesley Sanderson* - which is published in the middle of November. Again, I'll share my thoughts in my November book round-up (it's brilliant).

Displacement by Anne Stormont - this had been nestling on my kindle for some time (shame on me!). I've accepted a spot on the blog tour for Settlement, Anne's follow-up book so I felt I needed to read the first book (although they can be read as standalones).

Rachel has just lost her mum having nursed her at the family croft on the Island of Skye. She's divorced, estranged from her daughter and still mourning her son. She feels lost. She's got her good friend Morag and her husband down the road but it's not enough.

Her new neighbour, Jack, an ex-cop helps her when she really needs it and becomes her friend. I loved Poppy, Jack's little granddaughter who comes to stay and you see what a warm hearted and kind lady Rachel is. Poppy is over the moon that Rachel writes and illustrates her favourite story about Seamus the Sheep.

Her brother is settled in Israel with his family and after counselling she decides to pay a visit to learn about the Jewish side of her family. She also meets her brother's attractive artist friend Eitan who brings her out of her shell and helps her live a little. On a trip with her sister-in-law to Palestine she meets a wise innkeeper who advises her.

She knows she wants more with Jack, a real relationship but doesn't know if he feels the same way... It's a story of love, friendship, loss and heartache and I absolutely loved it.

What have you been reading this month?

*copy from the publisher via netgalley

September Book Round-Up

Here's what I've been reading in September:

The Katharina Code by Jørn Lier Horst* - This is my first read of Chief Inspector William Wisting and I'll definitely go back at some point and read the series. Twenty-four years ago Katharina Haugen went missing. She left no clues apart from mysterious numbers scribbled on a bit of paper that no-one has been able to solve.

Every year on the anniversary Chief Inspector Wisting visits her husband, who has become a friend of sorts. He can't let go of the case (and even keeps the case files in the bottom of his wardrobe!)

Cold Case detective Stiller is convinced Martin Haugen is involved in the case he's investigating of the disappearance of a young woman....and wants Wisting to get close to Haugen.

I found the story interesting in parts and slow in others. All in all a good read which I enjoyed.

Tell Nobody DI Lottie Parker #5 by Patricia Gibney* - an absolutely amazing read. I love this series and Lottie. I'm taking part in the Blog Tour in October so I'll share my thoughts in my October round-up.

The Fake Date by Lynda Stacey*** - I just love Lynda's books. I reviewed it on publication day - see my review HERE.

The Relentless Tide - A DCI Daley Thriller by Denzil Meyrick** - such a brilliant read. See my review HERE.

Down to the Woods by M J Arlidge (DI Helen Grace #8)* - oh how I love this series! The story is set in the New Forest and a young woman camper awakens to find her fiancee gone. There is another similar incident where a young woman goes missing. Why is this happening? Are they connected in some way? Two new forest ponies are found dead with the same injuries and DI Helen Grace and the Team are on the case to find the twisted killer before he strikes again.

Annoying journo, Emilia Garanita thinks she's one step ahead of the law and publishes news articles that aren't helpful to the case. There's a new DS on the team who is attracted to his boss and makes this known on more than one occasion.... As ever, a fast paced, gripping and twisted read which I devoured in two days. Absolutely loved it. Highly recommend.

The Lingering by SJI Holliday** - oh this is a creepy read! Jack & Ali Gardiner leave the rat race behind and all their problems...or do they? The atmosphere seems to change the moment they arrive at self-sufficient Rosalind House, a former psychiatric hospital.

One of the residents Fairy Angela who is obsessed by ghosts is desperate to be friends with Ali but Ali's not so sure. Why is it only Ali's who can see the ghosts and what does it mean? A spooky read with an ending I never saw coming! Brilliant.

From last month:

The Lion Tamer who Lost by Louise Beech** - I was on the blog tour this month. I just adored this book. See my review HERE.

After he Died by Michael J Malone** - again I was on the blog tour for this un-put-downable read. See my review HERE.

What have you been reading this month?

*copy from the publisher via Netgalley
**paperback copy from the publisher
***copy from the author

Review: The Relentless Tide DCI Daley #6 by Denzil Meyrick

When Professor Francombe and her team of archaeologists find the remains of three women on a remote Kintyre hillside – a site rumoured to have been the base of Viking warlord Somerled – their delight soon turns to horror when they realise the women tragically met their end little more than two decades ago. It soon becomes clear that these are the three missing victims of the ‘Midweek Murderer’, a serial killer who was at work in Glasgow in the early 1990s.

DCI Jim Daley now has the chance to put things right – to confront a nightmare from his past and solve a crime he failed to as a young detective. However, when Police Scotland’s Cold Case Unit arrive, they bring yet more ghosts to Kinloch.

A tale of death, betrayal, Viking treasure and revenge set in the thin places where past, present and future collide.

My thoughts?

It's always an exciting day when you hear there's a new Jim Daley book about to be published!

There are two stories running parallel to each other - back in Glasgow in the 1990s and Kinloch in the present day.

The archaeologists led by Professor Francombe are hoping to discover ancient bones and artefacts instead uncover the bodies of three women killed more than two decades ago.  This brings back to the fore the "Midweek Murders", a Glasgow case never solved.  Jim was part of the investigating team. It also brings back Jim's arch enemy who is now a civilian investigating cold cases. Jim's also wondering if he'll finally find out who killed his mentor and friend, something that's been bothering him for many years. 

How are the cases linked and where is the missing nurse whom Daley finds familiar.. 

It was great to meet up with DCI Jim Daley and his sidekick DS Brian Scott. Not forgetting the wonderful Annie. We also meet up again with Hamish, with Ella, Brian's wife and for a more prolonged time James Daley Jnr.

It's a real twisty story with an ending I just didn't see coming! Just brilliant. Highly recommend.

*complimentary copy from the publisher

The Fake Date by Lynda Stacey

As you'll know I'm a huge fan of Lynda's books - I thoroughly enjoyed The Fake Date* and today's publication day! Congratulations Lynda!

Nine hours and eleven minutes … 

That’s how long it’s been since Ella Hope was beaten to within an inch of life and left for dead. 

She lies, unable to move and praying for somebody to find her, as she counts down the minutes and wonders who could have hated her so much to have hurt her so badly. 

Was it the man she went on a date with the previous evening, the man linked to the deaths of two other women? Or somebody else, somebody who wants her out of the picture so much they’re willing to kill? 

Whoever it is, they will pay. All Ella has to do first is survive…

My thoughts?

Journalist, Ella Hope is brutally attacked and left for dead. She'd been investigating Rick Greaves, local hard man and gym owner whose two wives died in mysterious circumstances. She's always been keen to quickly scoop that elusive story at whatever the cost.

She slowly recovers finding it hard to trust and be around men. Her folks buy her a gorgeous little pup to help her feel more secure. She slowly rebuilds her life with the help of her new neighbour, kind, friendly and handsome Will. Will has secrets however..

When Rick's found not guilty this sets her back and makes her more anxious that her attacker is still at large and could be coming back to finish what they started... A brilliant read (which I read in two sittings) with a few explosive twists I didn't see coming. Highly recommend.

*e-copy from the author

August Book Round-Up

Here's what I've been reading in August:

How to Fall in Love Again - Kitty's Story by Amanda Prowse - I loved Kitty's story almost as much as Anna's and it was great to read the third book in the trilogy from Kitty's point of view. The tale is stuffed full of memories, love, sadness, heartache and friendship. 

I hadn't been so keen on Kitty when she featured in Anna & Theo but I was rooting for her every step of the way in book 3! She was Theo's first love who she met at school and the story follows her idyllic childhood, growing up, falling in love and her own fair share of unhappiness and heartache. Just brilliant.

The Story Keeper by Anna Mazzola* - it's 1857 and Audrey leaves her home in London and her controlling father to take up a job with Lady Buchanan on the Isle of Skye collecting folk tales. The Highland Clearances are taking place and the crofters are more suspicious of strangers and prefer to keep themselves to themselves.

One of the reasons Audrey's drawn back to Skye is to find out more about her mother's death many years before. She's also keen to follow in her mother's footsteps as she too collected the stories.

She finds a dead girl on the beach and others go missing. She's determined to find out what's happened to them and why. Easy to read and a descriptive book which I enjoyed.

Stitch Up - A Best Defence Mystery by William McIntyre** - I took part in the blog tour for this book this month. See my review HERE.

Just Before I died by S K Tremayne* - I raced through this spooky read set on desolate Dartmoor. Kath lives with her husband, Adam and their autistic daughter Lyla. Kath wakes up after a car crash in hospital and can't remember a thing. Adam is furious and upset and their daughter acting more oddly than usual.

Kath is horrified to learn she brought the accident upon herself and she questions everything she does. She's determined to unravel the mystery no matter what. She can't believe she'd do the unthinkable to her family and it shocks her to the core. Her daughter keeps telling her mother she's seen a man on the moor watching them...

I loved this twisty and atmospheric tale which had an ending I for one would never have guess. Would recommend.

the party by Lisa Hall* - I was totally gripped by this book from the very first page. Rachel wakes up in her neighbour's after their New Year's Eve party and feels like she's got the hangover from hell, her body is aching all over and she's missing some of her clothes.. The most worrying thing is, she can't remember a thing. Why did her husband Gareth not make sure she was ok?

She contacts the police and they start an inquiry but Rachel feels they aren't going fast enough and starts an investigation of her own. The story jumps between storylines before the party and after the party. It's a fast paced and twisty read which I really enjoyed. I jumped between who I suspected throughout the book but near to the end I had an inkling of who they were looking for. Highly recommend.

The Photograph by Debbie Rix* - What a fabulous story set in the 1950s and the present day. The stories are interwoven and the book is an absolute joy to read.

The stories are about two women who are related - Rachael in the 1950s and her grand daughter Sophie in the present day.  We learn the hardships and heartache faced by Rachael and her father when they have to leave their beloved Hungary and start again in London and Sophie is facing heartache of her own which her husband just doesn't seem to understand.

Rachael, her daughter Angela and her father spend one glorious summer in Italy, her father at an archaeology dig he was in charge of.  Rachael experiences real love, passion and heartache that summer. 

Sophie is an anthropologist and is studying for her PhD in Roman Burials and is drawn back to Italy with a photograph of a young man and a handcrafted seasilk bracelet along with her parents and uncle. She finds glorious family connections with her grandmother Rachael's past and finds joy in her own life. I absolutely adored this beautiful read. So recommend.

The lion tamer who lost by Louise Beech** - I'm taking part in the blog tour next month so I'll include my review in my September round-up.

The Fake Date by Lynda Stacey*** - this un-put-downable read isn't published until 18 September so I'll have my review up then. It's brilliant!

A Question of Trust by Penny Vincenzi* - Tom Knelston was always going to rise from his humble beginnings and be a star. It didn't matter who he hurts along the way like his loving wife Alice and one-time mistress Diana. He's never forgotten his lost love and is unable to share with anyone how special she was. He's a rising star in the Labour Party and determined at all costs to make a name for himself.  He has to turn his back on his ideals to save his son with devastating consequences..

Alice's friend Jillie, a female surgeon is unlucky in love and finds it hard not to forgive Ned, lovely passionate Ned. He stands by his principles both in his work as a paediatrician and everyday life. The characters are brilliant although not always likeable but the story flows and grows around them. Absolutely loved this book.

Old Haunts - A Simon Serrailler Short Story by Susan Hill* - This is my first read of this character and series and surely won't be my last. A short read which delves into the past of Simon Serrailler, starting out his career as a PC in the Met. 

It's the 1990s and London is in the midst of IRA bomb threats and the police need to be on their guard at all times. Simon is asked to go undercover which both thrills and confuses him. An enjoyable short read.

Your Closest Friend by Karen Perry* - Cara is caught up in a terrorist attack and saved by an unknown young woman. She pours her heart out to her telling her things even her husband doesn't know.

Amy and Cara meet up again and Cara offers her a temporary job looking after her young daughter. This is when things start to go wrong in Cara's life. She starts to receive texts and messages that are sent to her work signed "your closest friend". She believes her ex Finn is behind it...but is he?

A fast paced and twisty read with that ending I just didn't see coming. Loved it.

My final read this month is After he Died by Michael J Malone** which is a fantastic twisty and un-put-downable read which I read in a day. I'm taking part in the Blog Tour next month so I'll share my thoughts in my September Book round-up.

What have you been reading this month?

*copy via the publisher from Netgalley

**paperback copy from the publisher
***copy from the Author

July Book Round-Up

Here's what I've been reading in July -

Her Watchful Eye by Julie Corbin* - Ruby, an ex-copper works as a CCTV operative in Edinburgh. She sees someone on the screen who she hasn't seen in five years and begins to watch her - following her moves on the screen as she goes to her job at the restaurant and back to her flat and hanging out with her boyfriend...she's just watching out for her...she's not being an obsessive stalker is she? Lennie, her friend and colleague gives Ruby's life some grounding when she lets him in.

We learn of the heartaches in Ruby's life and how she can't forget or forgive herself for the thing she's done. Her soon to be ex-husband who never wanted a family is soon to be father to twins which causes Ruby no end of pain. All Ruby wanted was a child and a second chance. A twisty read with an ending I just didn't see coming. Would recommend.

Stalker by Lisa Stone* - Derek Flint is middle aged and still lives at home with his mum. He works in home security and every night watches over his clients on CCTV in their homes. They've become like his virtual family.

A series of crimes take place and all the victims have CCTV installed by Derek's company. DC Beth Mayes digs deeper and finds that somehow Derek is involved. Unbeknown to him he's been hacked and they can see everything he can... A twisty read which I enjoyed.

The Death of Mrs Westaway by Ruth Ware* - Hal Westaway, who lives alone in Brighton following her mother's tragic death suddenly receives a letter from a solicitor in Penzance telling her that her grandmother has left her a substantial amount in her will. She doesn't believe the letter is for her - her grandparents are dead after all. She owes a lot of money to a loan shark and her day job as a tarot reader doesn't bring in much money so this might be the answer to her prayers.

She travels to Cornwall and Trespassen House and meets her relatives who are a mixed bunch, some of whom are enraged their mother has left almost everything to a stranger. The house is creepy and surrounded by resident magpies which makes everything feel more threatening. Hal's installed in an attic far away from everyone else with bars on the window and a lock on the outside of the door. The housekeeper, Mrs Warren seems to take an instant dislike to her.

There's a story running alongside from the past and two girls who have happy and unhappy times at Trespassen House. It's very cleverly woven into the story in the present day. Hal unearths a lot of secrets, myster and tragedies and you wonder if she'll make it out of Trespassen House alive...A brilliant, brilliant read which I loved.

Fatal Inheritance by Rachel Rhys** - It's 1948 and Eve Forrester is trapped in a dull and lonely marriage with straight laced husband Clifford. She receives a solicitors letter out of the blue in which she learns that a wealthy stranger has left her a quarter share in his villa. She's got no idea who or what Guy Lester means to her.

Clifford and of course her mother Mary almost forbid her to leave England for the beautiful and sparkling French Riviera. She's been invited alone to find out more about her inheritance. Used to rationing and penny pinching she falls head over heels for the decadence, abundance and glamour of the Riviera.

The Lesters are not at all happy to welcome this stranger to their midst. Who is she in relation to their father? A twisty read which made me gasp out loud when I learned of the connection(s). Eve was a brilliant character who grew and developed over the course of the story, ready to make her own decisions and forge her way in life. Totally brilliant and highly recommend.

In Love and War by Liz Trenow* - the story is set in July 1919 and three very different women are searching for three men very dear to them who lost their lives at the battlefields of Ypres in Belgium.

Ruby, is just married and looking for her husband's grave. Confident Alice, a loud American is looking for her younger brother and Martha and her son Otto, looking for someone close to them. Three very different women who when it comes down to it are not very different at all.

The women go to look for their men in the cemeteries around Ypres and beyond. You feel transported there to the battlefields, trenches and feel the devastation of war. Freddie, a British soldier who stayed there after the war is an interesting character who is also searching for who he is. The women grow and change and find out they are in fact stronger than they could ever believe. The characters and storylines stayed in my mind long after I'd finished the book.

Islands in the East by Jenny Ashcroft* - The story is set in Singapore in the 1890s and the 1940s and the two stories are intertwined. In 1897, identical twins Mae and Harriet, born from an affair have always had each other despite the malicious gossip. They are sent to Singapore by their benefactor and one of them has to marry creepy businessman David Keeley. 

When dashing Alex Blake comes into their lives the twins, for the first time in their lives fall out and their loving relationship fractures. The interwoven story is set in 1941 and Ivy, an Intelligence Officer is posted to wartime Singapore. She's going to be such an asset to the war effort as she speaks fluent Japanese and will work interpreting and tracking their movements. 

She has ghosts from war-torn London and when she meets gorgeous Kit she doesn't believe she should be allowed to be happy. She also meets up with friends of her grandmothers and is truly surprised to learn they lived in Singapore. The story is about love, rivalry, betrayal, war and friendships. I thought it was a brilliant novel. Highly recommend.

The Ice Maiden by Sara Sheridan* -  I adore Sara's Mirabelle Bevan series so pretty much knew I'd fall for The Ice Maiden and what a fabulous, well researched, engrossing and un-put-downable read it is.

The story is set initially in 1842 when Karina stows away on a boat leaving Deception Island. She's destitute and hungry, owing money here and there since her husband went missing at sea. She dresses as a boy and sneaks onboard a boat she believes is bound for England for onward journey to her sister in Amsterdam. But, the ship is bound for the chilling and unforgiving Antarctica. 

It's soon discovered that she's a woman and she forms a friendship with the ship's surgeon, Joseph Hooker. Life on board is tough and fascinating to read about. There's a twist in the tale which shocked me and took me a while to get used to. Karina is brave, plucky, passionate, impatient and wants it all. She's a great character. The fact interwoven into the story is an expedition - the Voyage of Discovery and the attempt to take the South Pole by Scott and Shackleton. I absolutely loved the story and would highly recommend.

The Girl in the Letter by Emily Gunnis* - The story opens in 1956 when Ivy Jenkins falls pregnant by her footballer boyfriend. He wants nothing to do with her or the child and she's sent in disgrace to St Margaret's, a house for unmarried mothers run by nuns. Her baby Rose is adopted against her will. 

In the present day, Samantha Harper is a journalist who is juggling her busy job and caring for her four year old daughter with the help of her Nana and sometimes her ex, Ben. Her Nana has a series of letters from a young mother who is begging to be rescued from St Margaret's which makes heartwrenching reading. Samantha delves into the past desperate to get the story which will be the making of her career. She also cares deeply about what happened to Ivy and Rose and getting to the bottom of what happened at St Margaret's. 

Kitty, a famous TV host is searching for her sister and will stop at nothing to find out the truth. The stories are intervoven and there are some surprises in store for Samantha. With twists and turns I didn't see coming. A thrilling but sometimes harrowing read. Highly recommend. 

What have you been reading this month?

*copy from the publisher via Netgalley **copy from Love Reading