Month July 2023

My Week In Books (w/e 31st July 2023) #booklove #bookupdates #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 6 Comments

Hello and welcome to my round-up of books I have read over the past week. Tomorrow is August!!! Yea, I know!!!

It appears Twitter is now ‘X’ what does this symbolise? Not a question as such just another feature of a certain someone’s idea of a ‘good idea’ I presume. I was brought up with the ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ motto. Now it looks like Twitter is broken and I have to say there have been some interesting responses to this new ‘X-rated’ logo 😉🤣

Weather – well depending on where you are in the country or the world, it is something that is in the news. Floods, heat waves and wildfires are constantly breaking records. It doesn’t matter what your opinion is, everyone is entitled to their own, but… it is a scary place out there. I am glad to be able to disappear into books and escape real life sometimes 🤔😟

Talking of books, here is what I managed to read this week…

Canticle Creek by Adrian Hyland – this is set in Australia and is the first time I have read a book by this author. It is a slow-burner which is quite approp[raiate for the story, a mystery and suspense as well as a police procedural. I won’t say too much as the full review is out on Wednesday.

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods – this is a gorgeous story that is a mix of mystery, historical fiction, fantasy, romance and I adored it a huge amount. The author has created an amazing setting and added many secrets and mysteries to be revealed. Full review on Thursday.

Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter – I have not read any of this author’s books so this is a great introduction as it is a stand-alone and it is brilliant. A 20-year-old murder is unsolved, with no real leads but a chance for a true crime program to take another look at the evidence and see if they can discover the perpetrator. Set in transcripts, emails and messages this is a brilliantly addictive story and one I adored. Full review next week.

The Cornish Rebel by Nicola Pryce – this is the 7th book in her Cornish series and they are fabulous for readers of historical fiction, saga and romance. Each book is a story in its own right and this latest one is amazing. It soon became apparent that I would not be putting this one down once I had started it, it was a one-sitting book, with a fabulous story, great characters and a full review on Friday as part of the Blog Tour.

Four books this week and all were excellent reads.

Wishing you all a great week ahead

All the best,

Yvonne xx

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Karakorum by Don Mon McVey @donmcvey @RandomTTours #scifi #thriller #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for Karakorum by Don McVey. This is a brilliant sci-fi thriller that I adored. I don’t read a huge amount of sci-fi so this one really did hit the spot for me.

My huge thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for arranging my copy of the book. This book is Independently Published.

In this gripping sci-fi adventure, Sorcha, a youngster from the outer-edge, discovers a hidden anomaly within the deadly game of Scratch, setting off a chain of events that will test her abilities and challenge her very existence. Scouted by a stranger from a rival faction, Sorcha finds herself pursued by malevolent forces intent on unravelling the secrets she unwittingly uncovers. To find the truth and avert impending catastrophe, Sorcha must embark on a perilous journey to the heart of Karakorum—an expansive shanty town divided by borders formed from interconnected minds—a remnant of a dark era known as The Wipe. Within this chaotic world, the inhabitants abide by the dictums of the Modor, the founder of Sapienism; a religion based on the sacrosanct human gene. As Sorcha delves deeper into the labyrinthine society, she uncovers an ancient riddle that holds the key to the past and the future of every connected citizen. However, unbeknownst to her, her actions could inadvertently lead to their ultimate downfall. Enter the dystopian world of Karakorum and immerse yourself in the richly imagined world, where technology, consciousness, and humanity collide. Join Sorcha as she battles formidable foes, unravels enigmatic puzzles, and grapples with the consequences of her choices.

MY REVIEW

This is an amazing book set in a futuristic, dystopian world. The author uses a small cast of characters and this makes it feel like a personal story with Sorcha being the main character. She is seen as different by others, but that doesn’t mean she is an outcast, but she does live and make her money by playing a game called Scratch. This is a game where competitors vie to beat each other while they are connected to a, well I think it would be called an interface.

While playing the game Sorcha sees something that shouldn’t be there. This leads to a Doro hunting her down. With the help of others, she is able to disappear to a different level of this futuristic world and hopes to remain hidden. Things that are hidden are usually uncovered at some point. It is not just Sorcha that is wanting to remain hidden though!

This is such an addictive story and one that did take me a few chapters to get into, I will be honest there are some chapters that lost me but these were from a different voice. It is later on when I realised who this was.

The feel of the story is one that is actually quite fast-paced and full of action. The author brings the ideology and religious beliefs of the people to this story and also a sense of unrest as they are all workers. Describing life in Karakorum is done in such a way that you soon realise that it is not a place of happiness. People exist rather than live. It is a world that feels dark, oppressive and lacklustre.

The further the story goes on the more you start to realise that there is something else going on. The synopsis mentions this book as being a collision of “technology, consciousness, and humanity ” and this starts to become more obvious the more you read.

This did remind me of a couple of other Sci-fi stories and a film as I was reading, I won’t mention which ones as I am sure you will have your own ideas as you read the book. This does have a thriller feel to it and it does twist and weave around a fair bit. As I mentioned earlier there were times when I felt a little lost, or out of my depth. However, I had to keep reading to find out how this one would end.

If you are a reader of sci-fi, dystopia, and fantasy stories then I do think this one will be one to take a look at. There is some great detail and twists. Fabulous story and there are characters that you do want to cheer for. Definitely one I would recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Don McVey has worked for over 20 years in the Film and TV industry. After winning the H.G. Wells award for his short story ‘Transference’, he decided it was time to get round to writing a novel. His debut novel Karakorum was released in May 2023.

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…

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The Fallen by John Sutherland #crime #thriller #mystery #bookreview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

Today I am delighted to share my review of The Fallen by John Sutherland. I read his previous book The Siege last year and it was such an amazing story I was eager to pick his latest one up. You can read my review of The Siege HERE

The Fallen: The latest book from the Sunday Times bestselling author, the must-read new crime-thriller of 2023 by [John Sutherland]

ARE YOU READY TO SAVE A LIFE?

WHY HER?

Becca Palmer has just lost her job as assistant to Simon Jones MP – the highly-regarded Policing Minister, tipped as a future Prime Minister. But Becca claims that Simon was more than her boss, that she is in love with him.

WHY HERE?

When a heartbroken Becca leaves the Home Office, she heads to Westminster Bridge, intending to take her own life. Which is where hostage negotiator Alex Lewis meets her for the first time. It is his job to try to talk her back from the edge.

WHY NOW?

MY REVIEW

In the negotiation that follows, Becca suggests that she may know something about the Policing Minister that she shouldn’t. Something that could prompt a serious fall from grace were it to come out.

But can Alex save Becca – and get to the bottom of an alleged conspiracy that goes deep inside the highest levels of government – before it’s too late?

Having read this author’s previous book The Siege, I knew I wanted to read this one. The author has a background in the Police and it does show in the writing, not in a bad way but in a very good way. There are comments from his characters in the story that shows how the force is struggling due to cutbacks and bureaucrats. With a mix of politics and policing this makes for a cracking read especially as a squeaky-clean politician is quite as clean. But then, are any politicians clean!!!

Alex is called out to deal with a young woman on a bridge, he is a negotiator and he has been struggling to deal with his previous case. Back into the swing of things he manages to persuade the young woman down. When she mentions something about a politician he isn’t sure if he believes her, but there is something about her that has an element of truth.

From here the story gets really intriguing as there is a trail being laid but where it leads and who is involved keeps you on your toes. Politics for me means lies, backstabbing and power-grabbing strategies. When you don’t really know who to trust, then the storyline keeps you hooked waiting for a trickle of information that will give you more answers to your questions.

With a vulnerable young woman, a politician and police officers, the story is one that weaves its way through lies, deception and some very dodgy dealing. With those who have power and money then it seems the worse and deeper the problem is. Knowing what Alex went through in the previous book shows how PTSD can have an effect and the police deal with many incidents that leave their mark. This story shows the more human side of policing and the stresses they are under from those higher in rank and not necessarily with any front-line experience.

The is an ever-present danger lurking in the shadows. You are never quite sure where this is coming from because you can never be sure who you can trust. You kind of know who you want to trust, but can you?

I really liked the way the author brought in problems with policing and the funding they receive also the mentions of knife crime, things that are relevant in today’s society. A mix of crime thriller, and mystery, it is tense throughout. Fabulous story and great characters. I would definitely recommend it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

John Sutherland is a married father of three and he lives with his wife and children in South London.

He joined the Met Police in September 1992 and served a variety of ranks and roles across London.

He retired on ill health grounds in February 2018.

He writes blogs about life and policing – about the extraordinary people he served alongside and the challenges they face.

The Fallen: The latest book from the Sunday Times bestselling author, the must-read new crime-thriller of 2023 by [John Sutherland]

MAny thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

The Hotel by Louise Mumford #thriller #creepy #suspense #NetGalley @HQDigitalUK #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for The Hotel by Louise Mumford. This is the first book I have read by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed the creepy atmospherics of this story.

My thanks to HQ Digital for accepting my request to read this title via NetGalley.

Four of them went to the hotel

Four students travel to Ravencliffe, an eerie abandoned hotel perched on steep cliffs on the Welsh coast. After a series of unexplained accidents, only three of them leave. The fourth, Leo, disappears, and is never seen again.

Only three of them came back

A decade on, the friends have lost contact. Oscar is fame-hungry, making public appearances and selling his story. Richard sank into alcoholism and is only just recovering. Bex just wants to forget – until one last opportunity to go back offers the chance to find out what really happened to Leo.

Ten years later, they return one last time

But as soon as they get to the hotel things start going wrong again. Objects mysteriously disappear and reappear. Accidents happen. And Bex realises that her former friends know far more than they are letting on about the true events at Ravencliffe that night…

MY REVIEW

I do like a timeslip story and this is one that alternates back and forth between 10 years. Back when a group of 4 friends decided to make a visit to the abandoned hotel called Ravencliffe to make a film. Only 3 of the group return and as it is 10 years since the event there is the chance of a reunion. Will they discover what happened to the one that did not return?

Bex is the main character of the story, she is a recluse and has her own problems. The last thing she wants is to get caught up in a reunion but she knows this may be the only chance to discover what happened to Leo. The story tells of her and Leo’s friendship and also how they are joined by Richard and Oscar. Not a natural group but never the less they decide to go to Ravencliffe and make a film. It is one that will become a cult and internet favourite and gain a lot of followers.

In the present the story stages the reunion and also brings the characters up to date. Where as their earlier history is told in the past. The story flits easily between past and present and there are chapter headings to keep you on track. To be honest through you soon become aware of the changes.

I did like how they focus remained on Bex and how this was more her story, but also slotting in things from Richard and Oscar, and I should mention other characters. There are a few extra’s so to speak, and they do have a role that keeps the story moving.

This is a tense story and one that has atmospherics and a certain creepy feel to it. I am not a fan of horror but this does have the feels of a horror without the blood, guts and chainsaws.

If you like tense thrillers with a cast that you are not necessarily going t like then this is a book that I would recommend. It is a great intro to the author for me and I look forward to reading more.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

My Week In Books (w/e 23rd July 2023) #daysout #booklove #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 8 Comments

Hello and welcome to my somewhat overdue weekly book update ( I completely forgot about writing one for last Monday!).

Earlier this month I had a week off work so went to see my Mum for her Birthday. We had a wonderful day out at Easton Walled Gardens in Grantham, Lincolnshire, just up the road from where she lives. I had never been before, Mum had several years ago and was eager to see if she could manage the steps and to see how far she could get around. She did amazing and managed to walk the whole garden with some little stops to see the plants, flowers and to admire the view. Last year she had a hip replacement and this year she has had problems with angina so she is having to learn to slow down a bit. Considering she’s only got little legs, she can’t ‘alf get a move on 😉😁. It was a fabulous day and I am super proud of how well she managed.

Here are some more from the Gardens…

I was going to show all the books I have read over the past three weeks but decided it would be quite a few and some I have already reviewed on my Blog. So instead I will share what I have read over the past week…

The Hotel by Louise Mumford – It was one of those that I saw reduced to 99p and looked good, forgetting that I already had it downloaded via NetGalley! This is a creepy and unsettling suspense and almost horror story. It is like a modern gothic thriller and for me, it worked really well. Full review tomorrow.

Judgment by Edie Baylis – this is a fabulous series and this one brings together all the strands and threads. It is a gangland crime thriller story that follows Sam Reynolds and Seb Stoker, their families, friends and their enemies. Brilliant book and my full review will be part of the Blog Tour in August.

How can it almost be August!!!!!!

This year I decided to reduce my Goodreads challenge. For the previous three years, I had set it for 200. This year I reduced it to 150 and I am pleased that I did as I am also reading and researching for a course. It has meant that there is no self-imposed pressure to read and keep up with the challenge. I know it is not something that is set in stone, but it is something I like to achieve. So far this year I have read 93 books out of 200 and I am ahead.

I hope you all have a fabulous week ahead,

Happy Reading

All the best

Yvonne xx

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Forever Diamond by Gillian Godden @GGodden @rararesources @BoldwoodBooks #crime #thriller #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for Forever Diamond by Gillian Godden. I adore this series and each book gets better and better.

My huge thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my e-copy from Boldwood Books.

Patsy Diamond thought she had her life and her business dealings under control…she was wrong.
Because just as Patsy is hoping for calm – chaos erupts, and Patsy is forced to make decisions that could cost her everything.
The only people Patsy can rely on are her inner circle – her family and her close friends. But with danger and threats seemingly lurking around every corner Patsy must take extra care with who she trusts with her secrets.
So when Patsy meets handsome stable hand Phillipe Carreaux, she’s immediately wary. Can she bring Phillipe into her world or is simply too dangerous?
And is Phillipe everything he appears to be?
With her future on the line, Patsy must think smart if she hopes to hold on to her Diamond reign forever…
Purchase Link – HERE

MY REVIEW

From being a hairdresser, Patsy Diamond has certainly come a long way. After her husband Nick died she finally discovered just what his business was. Since then she has learned the ropes and gradually built up her own reputation. This book shows a more dangerous side to Patsy and she is enjoying it.

Patsy is a brilliant character and her role as a leader of gangs is one that she has nurtured. She is tough but she is a fair boss and treats everyone who works for her very well. It is their loyalty that she will need when her hair salon is absolutely trashed. She is surprised by how much respect she has built up but she is definitely glad of the help when she decides to start a turf war in London and it is from Glasgow that her forces travel.

She also has a business partnership in France, this one is a priority as she is part of a European gang, it is exclusive and while travelling for a meeting she is involved in an accident. It is by chance that a local sees her and drags her to safety.

This is another fabulous story in the Diamond series and it sees the family becoming more involved and the core of her friends getting involved in more serious and life-threatening exchanges. The battles are bloody and not for the faint-hearted, and there are some surprising outcomes.

The story flits from Glasgow, London and Paris with a lot of drama and danger in between. This is a big story and there are some serious players and the author uses them to great effect. I liked the way she kept some things cagey and didn’t really let on what was what, but there was the idea there. The thing is as a reader you can never be sure which way an author will go, in my opinion, the author chose some very appropriate routes that made sense.

In amongst the violence, bloodshed, torture and murder, there is a romantic streak in this one, and it works really well and it was a plot line that suited the story.

This is a fabulous series and the author has made Patsy Diamond a character to be reckoned with along with Sheila, Maggie, Victoria ad so many others. Great for fans of gangland crime and a series that has an ongoing storyline. Brilliant reading and one I would recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gillian Godden is a brilliantly reviewed writer of gangland fiction as well as a full-time NHS Key Worker in Hull. She lived in London for over thirty years, where she sets her thrillers, and during this time worked in various stripper pubs and venues which have inspired her stories.

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Ritual of Fire by D.V. Bishop @davidbishop #hist/fic #florence #mystery #murder #crime #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for Ritual of Fire by D.V. Bishop. This is the 3rd book in the Cesare Aldo series and it is fabulous. I would suggest reading this from the beginning because it is a brilliant series.

You can read my full review of the previous 2 books – CITY OF VENGEANCE & The Darkest Sin

Florence. Summer, 1538.

A night patrol finds a rich merchant hanged and set ablaze in the city’s main piazza. More than mere murder, this killing is intended to put the fear of God into Florence. Forty years earlier on this date, puritanical monk Girolamo Savonarola was executed the same way in the same place. Does this new killing mean Savonarola’s vengeful spirit has risen again?

Or are his fanatical disciples plotting to revive the monk’s regime of holy terror? Cesare Aldo has his suspicions but is hunting thieves and fugitives in the Tuscan countryside, leaving Constable Carlo Strocchi to investigate the ritual killing. When another important merchant is slain even more publicly than the first, those rich enough to escape the summer heat are fleeing to their country estates. But the Tuscan hills can also be dangerous places.

Soon growing religious fervor combines with a scorching heatwave to drive the city ever closer to madness, while someone is stalking powerful men that forged lifelong alliances during the dark days of Savonarola and his brutal followers. Unless Aldo and Strocchi can work together to stop the killer, Florence could become a bonfire of the vanities once more . . 

MY REVIEW

This is the 3rd book in the Cesare Aldo series, and each book gets better. I would suggest reading this series in order, but then I am biased as I have read and loved each book.

In Florence, Cesare Aldo works outside the city under a dark cloud. He has been ostracised to a certain extent and the time he has spent out of the city is starting to show when he delivers a thief back to the cells. While in the city there is a murder, a man has been burned on a handcart and it is a similar situation to the execution 40 years previously. I had not come across Girolamo Savonarola, a Franciscan monk but luckily the author has. He has gone on to research and then create a brilliantly twisted and devilish story that concerns guild members.

As one murder is discovered, another one follows. While Aldo is trying his best to discover what is going on out of the city, his constable Strocchi is trying to discover what is happening with Florence. He is finding out that being promoted is not what he thought it would be. The pressure of a new baby and sleepless nights as well as trying to ruin an investigation are taking their toll as another body is added to the list!

This is such a brilliant series and I adore the way the author has brought another story to life and introduced me to another historical figure. Savonarola is quite an interesting character and using him as an influence in this story adds a dangerous mix to the politics of the time, that being religion. Mixing religion and politics is always something similar to having a lit match next to a bale of hay. You know something is going to happen but the question is when, and also how! The route the author took through this story is one that made this more of a crime thriller than just a mystery.

If you are a fan of historical fiction, mystery, crime and thriller novels then this is a series you really need to have a look at. It is a police procedural of the time and this book, as with the previous one, is one I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

D. V. Bishop writes the award-winning Cesare Aldo mysteries set in Renaissance Florence. The first, CITY OF VENGEANCE, received the New Zealand Booklovers Award for best novel, and was shortlisted for the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize. The second, THE DARKEST SIN, won the 2023 Crime Writers’ Assocation Historical Dagger, and is longlisted for the 2023 Ngaio Marsh Award. The third, RITUAL OF FIRE, was published in June 2023 and had already been longlisted for the 2023 McIlvanney Prize. Million-selling historical crime author Andrew Taylor describes RITUAL OF FIRE: ‘This is what you might call a cracker. It’s hard to think of a better guide than D.V. Bishop to the brutality and glamour of Renaissance Florence. Religion and lust? Money and politics? It’s all here, combined into a murderous brew. This fine thriller, the third in an ongoing series, opens a window on another time and place. More, please…’

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Sound of Thunder by Wilbur Smith @Tr4cyF3nt0n @ZaffreBooks #compulsivereaders #TeamWilbur #historicalfiction #TheCourtneys #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for Sound of Thunder by Wilbur Smith. This is the 2nd book in the Courtney series and the 12th in chronological order.

My huge thanks to Tracy at Compulsive Readers for arranging my copy of this book as part of the year-long marketing tour with Zaffre Books.

In the same way Sean saw it coming, he recognised it as the murderous rage which before had nearly killed a man, but still he could not prepare himself. And then it was upon him and the roaring filled his head.

Some will win. And some will lose.

Sean Courtney returns from the African wilds to find war has been declared between the British Empire and the Transvaal Republic. Not only that, but a rivalry is growing between the cruel, obsessive son who bears his name, and his elder, secret son, whom he cherishes deeply.

The Boer War will take from Sean, in both blood and gold, but the conflict and its consequences will also offer him everything a man could want. Sean must now decide: with both sons in his life, is he willing to pay the price he needs to keep them?

MY REVIEW

This is the 2nd book in the Courtney series and it sees Sean making a move back to where he grew up. Before that though there is a war and he finds himself once again in the company of his estranged brother Garrick or Garry. The first book relates how the brothers became estranged and the animosity that has grown. Neither want to admit they are related but it does come out.

The English have a presence in South Africa and when there is an uprising from the Boers the Courneys find themselves at war. This is a well-documented event and if you like world history in the early 1900s, then you will probably be aware of this.

The author brings the brothers together in a time of unsettlement and bloodshed. Over the years the brothers have developed their own personalities and characters and they are at times like chalk and cheese, but there is still the fact that they are brothers and there is a stubborn determination that they both share.

Sean finally realises it is time to settle down, first, he has to recover from injury before he can decide what it is he wants to do. He also has his son Dirk to think about and this is something that will cause him problems. Dirk is similar to Sean, wild, reckless and wants to run before he can walk. He is going to cause problems for Sean but he doesn’t know how to deal with him.

Sean’s arrival back home sets in motion a series of business ventures and there are those who are hoping that he will fail and lose everything he has built for himself. Sean does have a business head though and is willing to take risks and work hard as he did in the previous book.

This story is one that is full of tension with the various rifts between family and friends. It is a fast-paced story and one that is full of action and adventure throughout. If you have read any of this author’s books then you will know that he knows how to write about the country he loved and its history.

Ideal for fans who are looking for a long-running series and a historical series. Amazing characters that just get better with each meeting. Great storytelling and writing and one I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Wilbur Smith was the bestselling author of many novels, each researched on his numerous expeditions worldwide. His bestselling Courtney series includes Assegai, The Sound of Thunder, Birds of Prey, Monsoon, and Blue Horizon. His other books include Those in Peril, River God, Warlock, The Seventh Scroll, and The Sunbird.

His books have been translated into twenty-six languages and have sold over 120 million copies. Smith was born to a British family in Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia, in Central Africa, and attended Rhodes University in South Africa. By the time of his death in 2021 he had published 49 books and had sold more than 140 million copies.

Wilbur Smith died at his Cape Town home on November 13, 2021. He was 88 years old at the time of his death.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

One by Eve Smith @evecsmith @RandomTTours @OrendaBooks #thriller #dystopian #bookreview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for One by Eve Smith. If you are a fan of dystopian and speculative thrillers then this is an author you really need to have a look at. Her books are fabulous.

My huge thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for my spot on the tour and for arranging my copy of this book with Orenda Books.

A powerful, prescient speculative thriller: a woman’s job of enforcing climate-emergency Britain’s one-child policy is compromised when she discovers a personal link to an illegal sibling on the Ministry hit-list, leading to a shocking discovery that changes everything…

One law. One child. Seven million crimes.
A catastrophic climate emergency has spawned a one-child policy in the UK, ruthlessly enforced by a totalitarian regime. Compulsory abortion of ‘excess’ pregnancies and mandatory contraceptive implants are now the norm, and families must adhere to strict consumption quotas as the world descends into chaos.
Kai is a 25-year-old ‘baby reaper’, working for the Ministry of Population and Family Planning. If any of her assigned families attempt to exceed their child quota, she ensures they pay the price.
Until, one morning, she discovers that an illegal sibling on her Ministry hit-list is hers. To protect her parents from severe penalties, she must secretly investigate before anyone else finds out.
Kai’s hunt for her forbidden sister unearths much more than a dark family secret. As she stumbles across a series of heinous crimes perpetrated by the people she trusted most, she makes a devastating discovery that could bring down the government … and tear her family apart.

MY REVIEW

Having read this author’s previous books I knew this was another I wanted to read. She has a fabulous ability to write a story that has echoes in today’s world and from history, but then to move them forward to provide a “what if” scenario in the future or an alter-universe. One is a brilliantly woven story that shows how politicians have taken steps and measure to protect the population of the UK similar to the way China did with a “One-child policy”. The author however uses her version of this and takes it further, mixing in climate change and corruption to provide a thrilling roller coaster from start to finish.

Kai is a young woman who is about to have her whole world turned upside down. Her job is that of a baby reaper, it involves her investigating women who have more than one pregnancy. The one-child policy is set in a world where everyone has a birth control device, and health is monitored so that if there is a change in hormones the Ministry of Population and Family Planning are notified.

Kai discovers she has a sister, it is a career-ending revelation and she has a small window in which she can try to work out the best way to protect her parents and herself. Her sister has other ideas. As she investigates she realises that her life has been a lie, what she knows is a lie but can she deliver the truth before she becomes just another statistic?

This is such a brilliant read and if you are a fan of speculative fiction with strong dystopian and sci-fi threads then you are going to enjoy this a lot. To be fair even if you are not a fan of this type of genre the story itself makes you open your eyes and set your mind racing as to potential population controls. Before you think it doesn’t happen take a look at China, after years of a one-child policy their population is in decline!

The story revolves around Kai and her work at the ministry, the investigation and what she discovers. The author makes this such an engaging story and as her characters explain their positions you can see how easy it is to believe what you are told. The thing is though, as I read this story I wasn’t sure which one to believe initially as they have been so convincingly portrayed.

This story is one that touches on some serious subjects, about the control of people and their lives and life choices. I mentioned China and I will also mention Roe v Wade. These are mentioned by the author along with other things at the end of the book. Even when the story has finished there is still more to learn!

This is a brilliant fictional look at how the world could be. It is imaginative, addictive and scarily realistic! It is one I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eve writes speculative fiction, mainly about the things that scare her. She attributes her love of all things dark and dystopian to a childhood watching Tales of the Unexpected and black-and-white Edgar Allen Poe double bills. In this world of questionable facts, stats and news, she believes storytelling is more important than ever to engage people in real life issues.
Eve’s previous job as COO of an environmental charity took her to research projects across Asia, Africa and the Americas, and she has an ongoing passion for wild creatures, wild science and far-flung places.
When she’s not writing, she’s racing across fields after her dog, attempting to organise herself and her family or off exploring somewhere new.

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The Ghost Ship by Kate Mosse @KateMosse @RandomTTours @MantleBooks @panmacmillan #historicalfiction #romance #piracy #bookreview

yvonnembee 5 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for The Ghost Ship by Kate Mosse. This is a fabulous, actioned-packed story set in Europe and on the high seas in the early 1600s.

My huge thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my e-copy of the book from the publisher Pan Macmillan and Mantle Books.

Piracy. Romance. Revenge. Across the seas of the seventeenth century, two seafarers are forced to fight for their lives. The sequel to The City of Tears , The Ghost Ship is the third novel in The Joubert Family Chronicles from bestselling author Kate Mosse.

The Barbary Coast, 1621. A mysterious vessel floats silently on the water. It is known only as the Ghost Ship. For months it has hunted pirates to liberate those enslaved during the course of their merciless raids, manned by a courageous crew of mariners from Italy and France, Holland and the Canary Islands.

But the bravest among them are not who they seem. The stakes could not be higher. If arrested, they will be hanged for their crimes. Can they survive the journey and escape their fate?

A sweeping and epic love story, ranging from France in 1610 to Amsterdam and the Canary Islands in the 1620s, The Ghost Ship is a thrilling novel of adventure and buccaneering, love and revenge, stolen fortunes and hidden secrets on the High Seas. Most of all, it is a tale of defiant women in a man’s world.

MY REVIEW

What a brilliant book this was. The 3rd in the series and one that is full of action and adventure right from the start and through to the end. The story is set in the early 1600s and focuses on a young woman called Louise. The story is set in various countries and Louise travels from The Netherlands to France, Italy, the Canary Islands and more.

She is fascinated with the ocean but doesn’t get much chance to go on a ship until circumstances change and she gets more than she bargained for. Her course is dangerous and fraught with uncertainty and secrecy.

Well, this story is impressive and if you are a fan of piracy, buccaneers, chases, storms, romance and so much more then you want to take a look at this one. It can be read as a stand-alone, as I did. It has been a series I wanted to read and I do have the books but they have evaded me. This story is that of Louise, her life, dreams, hopes and discovering just what she can do.

The historical fiction side is referred to and so it keeps you in the time. Europe is in a period of turmoil and this leads to the characters dodging authorities and trying to keep themselves out of the limelight. But when stories of the infamous Ghost Ship start to surface, it is only a matter of time before the chase begins and capture is on the cards.

The author has created brilliant characters and scenarios to great effect. The issues that a female in Europe in this era is one that is shown in the story and within the plotline. The politics are there as you would expect but not overly done. Secrecy is something that is embedded in the story and its consequences are shown in various ways, some unexpected and some inevitable.

If you like romance, adventure, a daring female protagonist and a fast-paced story that is set in turbulent times then this is one you should definitely have on your list. A wonderful historical fiction story that I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kate Mosse is an international bestselling author with sales of more than five million copies in 42 languages. Her fiction includes the novels Labyrinth (2005), Sepulchre (2007), The Winter Ghosts (2009), and Citadel (2012), as well as an acclaimed collection of short stories, The Mistletoe Bride & Other Haunting Tales (2013). Kate’s new novel, The Taxidermist’s Daughter is out now.
Kate is the Co-Founder and Chair of the Board of the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction (previously the Orange Prize) and in June 2013, was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to literature. She lives in Sussex.

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