Hello and welcome to another weekly round-up. I discovered the other day that I still needed to relink my Facebook to my Blog. After changing my FB password I completely forgot how many other things are linked to it. I use various phone apps, the odd game, messenger, Instagram and other online sites that I sign in to via Facebook. It made me think about how reliant we have on social media apps and how invasive they actually are. It makes you understand how much of a trail we leave on the internet and how the shopping sites such as Amazon or Browsers use our digital footprint so easily.
We are entering a new month tomorrow, and while it is still quite mild, the weather is quite erratic. The clocks changed for us and luckily for me, I didn’t have work so I had an extra hour in bed. This actually meant I spent an extra hour reading 🙂
Here is what I have read over the past week.
They Lie Here by NS Ford – this is the author’s second book and it is brilliant. What starts out as a hunt for a missing musician ends in something much darker and sinister. I loved this book a lot. My full review will be later this week.
A Gathering of Gargoyles by Misha Herwin – this is the 5th book in the Letty Parker series and it was b5rilliant to catch up with Letty and her gang. To discover the problem of crumbling gargoyles, Letty will use a mix of science and magic to help save the night creatures. Full review next week.
Wicked Girls by Heather Atkinson – this is a book that is part of the Blog Tour in December. No, I am not super efficient or organised, but I am very good at getting the months wrong so I read this one super early. This is a gritty hardcore gangland story that sees two best friends standing side by side and backing each other up. That is until they decide that they actually want slightly different things. A really good story and some dangerous characters.
Queen of Diamonds by Gillian Godden – this is also another book that is for a December Blog Tour. It’s a good job I do check to make sure the dates are right!!! This is another fabulous gangland crime thriller story, this is the 3rd book in the series and it is a strong female lead as its main protagonist. Getting to grips with her dead husband’s business means she needs to get tough.
I am delighted to share my review today for Walk by James Rice. This is a title I saw on NetGalley and the synopsis looked interesting. It did take a while for me to get into but I soon found myself wanting to know how it was going to end. My thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for accepting my request to read this title.
Benny thought that it would be him and his dad doing the walk. Just him and his father, hiking through the Welsh countryside like they used to.
Only, when his dad got ill, it became obvious that this would never happen. So Benny was forced to consider other options.
If Benny is honest, he and Stephen haven’t been close since school, but once Benny had drunkenly blurted out the invitation, he couldn’t take it back.
Now Benny and Stephen are on the walk. A walk Benny has vowed to finish, no matter how hard it is. But as food runs low and money runs out, Stephen and Benny find themselves stranded on the edge of the world, far from home, where the possibility of return is becoming increasingly distant…
MY REVIEW
The synopsis for this book intrigued me it was a book that sounded quiet, I do like a quiet book it can be one that makes you think.
The book is essentially two guys walking along Offas Dyke, a route through the Welsh countryside that takes the walkers through the forest, mountain, marshy, and at times very stormy. On the whole, it is told by one of the men, with the other putting in his opinions when needed. One is an artist and the other works as a call centre worker for the benefits agency.
The two men are very different and as the story meanders through the countryside so the story of the men meanders with it. I discovered that they used to be friends, they used to be close but have drifted. With them, their sense of what they feel is important in life has also moved in different directions.
They both have demons and they still need to deal with them. Hopefully talking and walking will help them clear the air and their pasts.
This is a slower-paced story and one that I wasn’t sure about initially, it felt a little disjointed and I didn’t really feel I could gel with the two men. Gradually, however, they grew on me and I got to see how they thought, what they thought, and their opinions and views on many things in life. As I mentioned at the beginning of this review, this is a quiet story, but that doesn’t mean it is without its louder moments.
This went from a book I wasn’t sure about to one that I really knew I had to finish to understand the whole story and of course to see how things ended. This is one for those who like a story about life and discovering what is important. It is one that I really enjoyed after a shaky start and I would happily recommend it.
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
I am delighted to share my review today for Keeping a Christmas Promise by Jo Thomas. I am not a hugely festive person by when it comes to a book by Jo Thomas that happens to be festive then all deals are off.
My huge thanks to Random House and Transworld Books for granting my request to read this title via NetGalley.
Four friends Twenty-five years ago, Freya and her three best friends created a bucket list. The future seemed bright, full of hope and most importantly guaranteed . . .
One promise Now they are travelling to Iceland in memory of the friend they’ve lost, determined to fulfil her dream of seeing the Northern Lights at Christmas.
A life-changing adventure They didn’t count on an avalanche leaving them stranded! Handsome local, Pétur, comes to the rescue, showing them how the community survives the hard winter. With Christmas approaching, Freya and her friends throw themselves into the festivities, decorating and cooking for the villagers using delicious local ingredients.
But will the Northern Lights appear so they can honour their friend’s wish? And can Freya’s own dreams come true, this Christmas?
MY REVIEW
I have read enough of these authors’ books to know that you should not start one as you go to bed! Around 2am I turned the final page, it was simply a case of “just more chapter” followed by, “maybe just one more, before finally deciding that as I had the next day off it didn’t matter if I was later up than usual 🙂
Years ago four friends make a bucket list of places they would like to see, things they would like to do and what they wanted to achieve in their lives. Over the years there have been marriages, divorces, promotions, children and the death of one of the four.
Deciding to fulfil one bucket list item, the three friends go to Iceland to see the Northern Lights. They are booked in for a weekend and in theory that should be enough time to see the lights and make it back home ready for a new Christmas menu to be rolled out at a restaurant, for making sure the arrangements are in place for a family Christmas and the last minute wedding plans.
It takes a lot for the women to get together so three days is all they can manage in their busy schedules.
The author has done a brilliant job with this story and it is one that really does epitomise lives in today’s society. Busy with work, families, lives and non-stop lifestyles. The demand for their time seems to be constant, phone calls to check things, calls to keep the peace and to make sure everyone is happy. I know if it was me going to Iceland I would want to spend more than just a weekend.
Knowing time is of the essence before they all disappear back to their lives, the girls take a risk and get routes and spots where they might see the lights. Unfortunately, this goes terribly wrong after they are involved in a shunt. All the women are unharmed, but they are now stranded.
I adored this story and I really loved how the lives of the women had been built up to be busy, almost too busy for each other and also for their departed friend. As I mentioned, a weekend would not be enough for me, and I do think that something as important as achieving a close friend’s bucket list wish is something that should take more time. It’s a good job the author also thinks this way.
The author chose a wonderful way to show the real Iceland, the food, the people, the scenery and also the smaller communities away from the hotels and tourist spots. Being without things like electricity, a phone signal and a road back to the hotel encourages the women to look at their lives. The longer they stay cooped together the more they realise that they are not living their lives to the fullest. Yes, they may be achieving some of their goals, but is this making them happy?
A friend of mine told me a few years ago that “you should work to live and not live to work”. I think this sums up this story very well.
The author once again spoils with mentions of hearty foods and also tantalising recipes. The community spirit of this remote Icelandic area is one of warmth and friendliness, but also of caution. Outsiders wanting to change things, hardships, depression and rising costs are also mentioned as part of the story. The world is changing and with it are people’s thoughts and expectations.
This is a story that has a few moralistic scenarios, it did make me stop and think. This is a wonderful story that is fabulous reading and kept me up till ridiculous o’clock until I got to the end. If you like a contemporary fiction novel that has romance and friendship and is definitely addictive, then this is one I would definitely recommend.
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
I am delighted to share my review today for The Botanist by M.W. Craven. This is the 5th book in the Washington Poe series and as with all the other books, I adored this one.
Any regulars to my Blog may be aware that I am prone to read books in a series out of order. It is sometimes because it’s a book that I have seen on NetGalley and requested or it has caught my eye as part of a Blog Tour.
The Washington Poe series I have followed from the start and each book has been read in order. Yep, I am very proud of myself 🙂
‘I swear I’m one bad mood away from calling it black magic and going home . . .’
Detective Sergeant Washington Poe can count on one hand the number of friends he has. And he’d still have his thumb left. There’s the insanely brilliant, guilelessly innocent civilian analyst, Tilly Bradshaw of course. He’s known his beleaguered boss, Detective Inspector Stephanie Flynn for years as he has his nearest neighbour, full-time shepherd/part-time dog sitter, Victoria.
And then there’s Estelle Doyle. It’s true the caustic pathologist has never walked down the sunny side of the street but this time has she gone too far? Shot twice in the head, her father’s murder appears to be an open and shut case. Estelle has firearms discharge residue on her hands, and, in a house surrounded by fresh snow, hers are the only footprints going in. Since her arrest, she’s only said three words: ‘Tell Washington Poe.’
Meanwhile, a poisoner the press has dubbed the Botanist is sending high-profile celebrities poems and pressed flowers. The killer seems to be able to walk through walls and, despite the advance notice he gives his victims, and regardless of the security measures the police take, he seems to be able to kill with impunity.
For a man who hates locked room mysteries, this is going to be the longest week of Washington Poe’s life . . .
MY REVIEW
This is yet another fantastic book in the Washington Poe series, to be honest though, I wouldn’t expect anything less. These books can be read as standalones, but to get a real sense of the working relationship between Poe, Tilly, Doyle and Flynn you really need to have started this from the beginning. And, also because they are great books.
This starts from an odd place and is very far from Cumbria. The author gives a quick prologue before returning back to what is the start of the case. In fact, there are not one but two cases in this story. One involves the arrest of Estelle Doyle, the teams go to a pathologist as she has just been arrested for murdering her father. Then there is the case, well it is more than one case, of people being poisoned.
With Poe trying to be in two places at one time, something is going to have to give. Wanting to be there for his friend and colleague Doyle is great but also too personal and it doesn’t look good when he is seen visiting Doyle in prison when someone who he is supposed to be protecting dies. Realising he has to prioritise his focus he again looks at the poisoning cases.
The dynamics between Poe and Tilly have become legendary in this series, if you have read them from the beginning then you will know what I mean. But there are also the dynamics of Flynn and Doyle that are also part of this great crime-busting outfit. Flynn is responsible for keeping things within the law and getting requests signed off, Tilly is the tech genius, Doyle is the Pathologist and Poe is usually the one they are all keeping an eye on to make sure he does wander too far off course. Together they all bring something special. Over the course of the books, this team have become a family and they will fight for each other.
Having two cases, one looking like a locked-room mystery and the other one that is leaving them playing catch up with the killer always ahead of them. Even with their combined expertise, this would be tough, but without having input from Doyle, things are even tougher.
The poisoner is clever, plans well, thinks out the scenarios and is not compulsive. It seems he has thought of everything. He is being talked about and tweeted about and people are noticing him.
The author really has done an amazing job with this story. Again it is complex and compulsive reading. There are mentions of tech, biology and other specialist stuff but it isn’t too over the top. Thank goodness things have to be basic for Poe to understand or else there would be a few confused readers as well!
With time being a crucial part of this story, the pacing is fast and the author conveys this through his characters so well. He shows their frustrations and occasionally odd outburst. Even in the midst of this tense and highly charged investigation, there are some amazing one-liners, these are perfect for defusing stress and tension, and are usually courtesy of Tilly.
If you have not read any of the books in this series then you really are missing out on some wonderful top-rate crime thrillers. The series just gets better and better with so many twists and unexpected events. I never read the synopsis for a Washington Poe book I just buy it.
Ideal for those who love twisted, complex and totally addictive thrillers and one I would absolutely recommend.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
M. W. Craven was born in Carlisle but grew up in Newcastle, running away to join the army at the tender age of sixteen. He spent the next ten years travelling the world having fun, leaving in 1995 to complete a degree in social work with specialisms in criminology and substance misuse. Thirty-one years after leaving Cumbria, he returned to take up a probation officer position in Whitehaven, eventually working his way up to chief officer grade. Sixteen years later he took the plunge, accepted redundancy and became a full-time author. He now has entirely different motivations for trying to get inside the minds of criminals . . .
M. W. Craven is married and lives in Carlisle with his wife, Joanne. When he isn’t out with his springer spaniel, or talking nonsense in the pub, he can usually be found at punk gigs and writing festivals up and down the country.
You can find out more on his Goodreads Author Page.
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
I am delighted to share my review of The Night Watch by Neil Lancaster. This is 3rd book in the DS Max Craigie series, and true to dorm this is the first one I have read. It is a belter of a book and I have now bought the previous two on kindle. I don’t think there is any need to tell you how much I enjoyed this one 🙂
This is not however the first time I have read a book by this author. I have read the first two books in his Tom Novak series, and this reminds me I must read the third one 😁
My huge thanks to HQ Digital for granting my request to read this title via NetGalley.
He’ll hunt you. The case is linked to several mysterious deaths, including the murder of the lawyer’s last client – Scotland’s most notorious criminal… who had just walked free. DS Max Craigie knows this can only mean one thing: they have a vigilante serial killer on their hands.
He’ll leave you to die. But this time the killer isn’t on the run; he’s on the investigation team. And the rules are different when the murderer is this close to home.
He knows their weaknesses, knows how to stay hidden, and he thinks he’s above the law…
MY REVIEW
This is the 3rd book in the DS Max Craigie series but the first one I have read. This book worked well as a stand-alone and I was able to keep up to speed with all the characters. The author does mention what I am assuming are brief background events.
The case is an interesting one as it is an investigation within an investigation. While this does sound complicated the author has made it really easy to follow. It does though cause a bit of a headache for me as I try to review this and still make some sort of sense!
The death of a lawyer and then the death of a man having recently been given a “not proven” verdict are just the tip of the iceberg and the body count doesn’t stop. The nature of the deaths is a little unusual as there appears nothing unusual about them. Yeah, I know!
So begins the investigation, this is also the start of another investigation by Max and his team. An undercover detective is brought in and with a small team, Max starts to piece things together. When they discover that the killer could possibly be on the main investigating team things get difficult. There are not many clues or signs of evidence as they are aware of forensic evidence.
This is such an amazing story and one that had me hooked. It has great pacing and even though there are several investigators that are essentially working on different teams I was able to follow along. The overall feel of this story is tense and there is a palpable sense of danger that lurks in the background. Max and his team have to tread quietly and keep things close to their chest for fear of their suspicions leaking out.
After reading this 3rd book I am definitely going to go back and read the previous two. This is a great intro for me to this series and yes part of me wishes I had read them in order.
Fabulous crime and thriller read that I do think police procedural readers would really enjoy. Great characters, complex plots and quite a few false leads and red herrings to keep you on your toes. It is a book I would definitely recommend.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Neil was born in Liverpool in the 1960s. He recently left the Metropolitan Police where he served for over twenty-five years, predominantly as a detective, leading and conducting investigations into some of the most serious criminals across the UK and beyond.
Neil acted as a surveillance and covert policing specialist, using all types of techniques to arrest and prosecute drug dealers, human traffickers, fraudsters, and murderers. During his career, he successfully prosecuted several wealthy and corrupt members of the legal profession who were involved in organised immigration crime. These prosecutions led to jail sentences, multi-million-pound asset confiscations and disbarments.
Since retiring from the Metropolitan Police, Neil has relocated to the Scottish Highlands with his wife and son, where he mixes freelance investigations with writing.
Welcome to another weekly round-up of books I have read over the past week. It has been a week of mixed weather and I was lucky to have a day out in the garden on Thursday, just as well as Friday was a washout. We do have warnings of thunderstorms today (Sunday as I write this post) and I for one am keeping my fingers crossed for that.
I bought a mahonia a couple of three months ago and I am pleased to see that is starting to bud so I am hoping for a nice display. The yellow roses that I cut back after they had finished flowering have started to flower again and the fuschia’s are looking brilliant. Why on earth my apple tree has decided to put out blossom again is beyond me!
Here are the books I have read over the week…
The Carnelian Tree by Anne Pettigrew – this is a murder mystery that has so many twists and red herrings I was never sure who was telling the truth or how the story was going to come to its conclusion. It was entertaining and a fab read. Full review as part of the Blog Tour.
The App by Stuart James – this is a brilliant book about how a simple app on your phone can turn you into a murderer. Addictive to say the least and a real edge-of-your-seat story. Full review as part of the Blog Tour.
The Cruise by Catherine Cooper – this was a one-sitting read for me and I read this not long after watching the newer version of Murder on the Nile. This is a twisted story that has two timelines, one of which is not mentioned in the synopsis, but it is excellent. Full review as part of the Blog Tour.
The Flock by J.Todd Scott – this is a murder mystery story that is based around a cult in America and how its leader predicted an apocalypse. The signs of the upcoming apocalypse are a series of wildfires! Sounds just like what is going on today around the world, and as it was published at the beginning of this month the author has used our own events to show the relevance to the story. This was a bit long-winded at times but still, an enjoyable read that got better as I got further into the story. Full review to follow.
There we have it, I am still on the dark side as far as reading goes but I am really enjoying the mystery and thriller genres at the moment 🙂
Have a great week ahead,
All the best
Yvonne xx
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
I am delighted to share my review today for The Empire by Michael Ball… yes that Michael Ball! This is a fabulous debut novel that I adored and I was so lucky to have got a spot on the Blog Tour for this book.
My huge thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the Tour and for arranging my e-copy from the publisher, Zaffre Books, via NetGalley.
Welcome to The Empire Theatre
1922. When Jack Treadwell arrives at The Empire, in the middle of a rehearsal, he is instantly mesmerised. But amid the glitz and glamour, he soon learns that the true magic of the theatre lies in its cast of characters – both on stage and behind the scenes.
There’s stunning starlet Stella Stanmore and Hollywood heartthrob Lancelot Drake; and Ruby Rowntree, who keeps the music playing, while Lady Lillian Lassiter, theatre owner and former showgirl, is determined to take on a bigger role. And then there’s cool, competent Grace Hawkins, without whom the show would never go on . . . could she be the leading lady Jack is looking for?
When long-held rivalries threaten The Empire’s future, tensions rise along with the curtain. There is treachery at the heart of the company and a shocking secret waiting in the wings. Can Jack discover the truth before it’s too late, and the theatre he loves goes dark?
Musical theatre legend Michael Ball brings his trademark warmth, wit and glamour to this, his debut novel.
I really didn’t know what to expect when I first saw this book, and I only glanced at the synopsis to know it was one I wanted to read. The author has trod the boards of theatres around the world and so it makes sense that his first book would be set in a theatre.
The Empire is a theatre that has pretty much been left to its own devices. It is owned by the Lassiters, but neither really seems to take a huge amount of interest. The day-to-day running is done by Grace, a young woman with a passion for theatre. Not officially in charge, but knows that she needs to organise things to keep it running. The behind-the-scenes crew go about doing what they need to. When Jack is told to go and see Mrs Lassiter for a job it is Grace who he sees. Mrs Lassiter is in the US still in the morning over the death of her husband. As there seems to be no one really paying attention to the Empire, it seems that another businessman sees an opportunity to take advantage.
The author brings his passion for theatre, musicals and variety to every page of this wonderful novel. There are stories within stories and some real mysteries that are wonderfully woven into this tale of family disagreement, rivalry and blackmail. Underneath all of this though is the dogged determination of those who do not want to go down without a fight. It is their stubbornness and belief that gives magic to this story. They add glamour and glitz if you like.
While this is a story about grief and getting on with your life it is also about accepting mistakes from your past. There are a few juicy little secrets that the author has snuck into this story and it is one that had me hooked from the very first pages.
As well as the story of The Empire, this is also a story about certain characters as well. It is the everyday lives and working relationships of those who work in the theatre. They are a family and they have close bonds and therefore loyalties. This is something that I adored, as the author took me through the mazes behind the scenes, to the offices, the foyers, the dressing rooms and the stage.
The story has a bit of everything in it, so it is a romance, a mystery, it has loss and regret and hope for the future. Set between the wars in the 1920s this has the glamour and glitz of the music hall and variety shows. This is where the author really did work his magic so well. There were several times when I got goosebumps reading this book. Whether it be the cast getting a scene right, someone singing and dancing at an unexpected moment or when the cue for the show is called. The emotions and feelings that this book oozed were spo0t on for me.
This is a fabulous story and one that I really adored. It has the razzmatazz and the glamour, it also has the shady and the undesirable, but all the way through this story the feeling of “the show must go on” is one that resonated with me. No matter what the pitfalls there is always something to work toward, whether it is in the belief of others around you or accepting that you are capable of being successful, there is always a glimmer of the possible.
This a fabulous debut novel from someone who knows the industry, the history, the backstage and centre stage of theatres. A time when Jazz was making its way across the Atlantic and the roaring 20s was making itself heard. It is an addictive story and one I would absolutely recommend.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michael Ball OBE is a singer, actor, presenter and now author. He’s been a star of musical theatre for over three decades, winning the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical twice, he’s also won two BRIT awards and been nominated for a Grammy. Michael regularly sells out both his solo tours and his Ball & Boe shows with Alfie Boe and has multiple platinum albums. The Empire is his first novel.
I am delighted to share my review today for The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2023 by Lia Leendertz. This is a fabulous little book that I adored picking through and if you are a fan of nature, the natural world and planning for gardening, then this is a gorgeous book to have.
My huge thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my Hardback copy of this book from the publisher Octopus Books
Reconnect with the seasons in Britain and Ireland with this month-by-month guide to the world around us – including key dates, tide tables and garden tasks; constellations and moon phases; sunrises, folk songs, seasonal recipes plus a ‘bun of the month’; and – because 2023 will be a good year for planet spotting – the solar system and the zodiac.
The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2023 gives you the tools and inspiration you need to celebrate, mark and appreciate each month of the year in your own particular way. Divided into the 12 months, a set of tables each month gives it the feel and weight of a traditional almanac, providing practical information that gives access to the outdoors and the seasons, perfect for expeditions, meteor-spotting nights and beach holidays. There are also features on each month’s unique nature, with this instalment following the swirling micro world of the garden pond through the year.
You will find yourself referring to The Almanac all year long, revisiting it again and again, and looking forward to the next edition as the year draws to a close.
This year’s edition is illustrated by artist Whooli Chen.
MY REVIEW
This is a fabulous little pocket-sized Almanac. I love books like this and while a diary often gives you basic information, an Almanac goes into a lot more detail. This one is no exception.
After a basic introduction, this book then starts at the beginning of the year. January – there are important dates for this month followed by a wonderful page of what January represents, it is a time of reflection as the daylight hours are not as long as we would like. But the author does encourage you to look at what is happening outside, are there buds or bees starting to emerge.
Carrying on the author then takes a look at the sky, the moon phases, sunrise/set, tide times and then onto Lunar planting. Plants used to be set according to the moon phases and I really liked to see this included. There are also a couple of paragraphs about what shrubs, plants and trees are starting to flower as well as what you can harvest from your veg garden.
If you do have a veg garden or access to locally grown produce then what better than a couple of recipes? How about an orange glazed yeast bun or boiled suet and sausage pudding? Both of these sound amazing.
An Almanac also gives information about the Zodiac, here the author includes an introduction to the zodiac and gives information for Capricorn followed by a folk song. This then leads on nicely to what we can see in nature.
This is a wonderful book and has loads of detail and information. It is littered with black-lined illustrations and images that correspond perfectly to the item they accompany.
The book is easy to use as the pages have been sprayed on the corner and then gradually work down so it is easy to see at a glance roughly where you need to be. There is also a nice little ribbon that acts as a bookmark.
If you are a fan of the seasons and nature then this is a fabulous little book to have. It is great for leaving on a table for a reference book and takes no space up at all. It is a book that would make a wonderful gift for a family member or friend because I know I was delighted to receive my copy.
Educational and informative, wonderful to peruse through and one I would definitely recommend.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The Almanac 2023 by Lia Leendertz is out 1st September 2022.
Lia Leendertz’s reinvention of the traditional, rural almanac has become an annual must-have for readers keen to reconnect with the seasons, appreciate the outdoors, and discover ways to mark and celebrate each month, and the ideal stocking filler. The 2023 edition is the sixth in the series, and has a theme of the solar system and zodiac, with beautiful illustrations by artist Whooli Chen.
CHECK OUT THE OTHER STOPS ON THE BLOG TOUR…
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
I am delighted to share my review today for The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho by Paterson Joseph. I requested this one from NetGalley after spotting the cover first. This is a fictionalised account of an influential figure from history.
An illuminating and original tale of a Black writer and composer Charles Ignatius Sancho. Recently named as a Great Black Briton and immortalised with a Google Doodle this brilliant story charts the life of the little-known maverick and his life in Regency London in a witty polemic, we have grown to love through many great 18th Century English writers. Candid and characterful, illuminating and illustrious this is a great opportunity to revive the history of an important, engaging historical character to a wide audience.
MY REVIEW
The life of Charles Ignatio is a remarkable one, born on a slave ship and then sold into slavery before being taken into the care as an orphan. He was given to three sisters and was their pet. A chance meeting with Duke Montague gave him a start in life that benefited him later on. He was taught to read. In the Georgian era of the 1700s, it was not seen as a good thing for Black People to read as they were there to serve not to be educated.
Nevertheless, Charles Ignatius did learn, and it is through his diaries that the author has fictionalised the life of Charles Ignatius Sancho. I didn’t really know anything about this historical figure, but his name had recently cropped up while I was reading another book. As I had a copy of The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho it seemed the right time to pick it up and learn more.
While the author has fictionalised the life of Sancho, he has done research and references back to diaries and some of these have been included in this book. It tells of life starting with nothing and no parents and the conditions he lived in when he was between homes and also how he was perceived by different people at the time.
Sancho had built a reputation without realising it and therefore he would have been different and not just because of his skin colour. This builds up an image of Sancho as he tries to work out where he belongs. He is educated but this is a problem as he is Black, for this would be problematic, for others it made him better than them. As for Sancho he just wanted to live his life and eventually settle down to raise a family. Instead, he found himself in a sort of limbo, an outcast, a curiosity but one that started to make himself known and then worked on a way to be heard. In doing this he h found his vocation.
The author creates an interesting fictional account of this historical figure. It is done in a way that is interesting, but at times I did feel the story dragged a little. What this book did do for me though was introduce me to a historical figure who eventually found his voice and the courage to stand up to slavery. He was the first Black man to vote as at that time he was a man of property, and with the help of other Artists and Authors of the time became an ardent supporter of the Abolition of Slavery.
This is a book that I found really interesting, at times it did feel slow and occasionally repetitive. It is, however, a great starting point for further reading which is exactly what I did after reading this book. If you have an interest in historical figures then this is a good book to read, it tells the fictionalised account of a man born into slavery that then joins the movement to abolish slavery. Informative and interesting and one I would happily recommend.
I discovered more about Charles Ignatius Sancho on various websites. Here is a couple that I found interesting.
Welcome to another update of books I have read over the past week. The weather definitely has an autumnal feel to it now, chillier in the late afternoons and of course, it won’t be long before the clocks change… again!
It has been another good week as far as the books go, I seem to be leaning more towards the crime, mystery and thriller genres over the past couple of weeks, so I have tried to mix it up a little bit. I do wonder if it’s because the nights are drawing in and it’s getting darker earlier 🤔
Walk by James Rice – this was an odd read in some ways, a story of two friends walking Offa’s Dyke in Wales. The unprepared friends are chalk and cheese not realising what this trip will really entail. Interesting and quite unexpected. Full review soon.
The Girls Who Disappeared by Claire Douglas – this is an eerie mystery thriller that I adored. It involves the disappearance of three girls and how a reporter is looking into the case for a podcast. Full review to follow soon.
Forget Me Not by Miranda Rijks – this was a brilliant introduction to this author and I will be looking to read some of her previous novels. Set mainly in Switzerland with an interior designer who is returning to the area where her husband disappeared. A wonderful and atmospheric storyline that had me on the edge of my seat. Full review as part of the Blog Tour at the beginning of November.
Cat Lady by Dawn O’Porter – this is a story of a married woman and her cat, the cat is very important to her and is a link to the past. This is a tale that can be funny at times but is about dealing with life and all the problems that come with it. Full review as part of the Blog Tour at the beginning of November.
On the First Day of Christmas by Faith Hogan – I have read several of this author’s books and this one threw me for a moment. It is a parallel storyline about Liv, her life, which way it could go and the choices she makes. A poignant and thought-provoking and I will post my full review soon.
There we have it, while I did try to mix it up most of these stories actually do have a mysterious side to them. Another good week for books and some interesting concepts. I really must get caught up on posting reviews on this site, I have been saying for the past couple of weeks that reviews will follow soon, good job soon doesn’t have a specific time limit to it 🙂
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
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Yvonne - Me and My Books 