Category Mystery

No Time For Doubt by Robert Crouch @rcrouchauthor #crime #mystery #murder #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today of No Time For Doubt by Robert Crouch. I have read and enjoyed every book in this series and this latest one is the 10th. This one is another wonderful story and things are personal once again for Kent Fisher.

My huge thanks to Rob for inviting me to read and review this book. My review is my own and unbiased.

Can the wounds left by the past ever heal?
The decomposed remains of a murdered woman are found in a bedsit. Forced to confront a past he’s tried to forget, Kent Fisher discovers crimes that were brushed aside and hidden almost thirty years ago. Crimes that could destroy what’s left of his family.
When more murders silence those who know the truth, only one person remains to reveal what happened all those years ago.
Can Kent find her before the killer makes one final strike? Or will she die, taking the truth with her?

MY REVIEW

It is always great to pick up a new Kent Fisher book and this one is twisted, and devious and took me back into Kent’s past. If you have not read any of these books, I would suggest reading them in order, but they would work as stand-alone as the author does give background information.

Kent is a complex character and he has an interesting backstory, this is expanded upon in this latest book. As always Kent manages to find himself in an investigation, this one will test Kent more than some others have. He is still trying to sort out what he feels about Gemma while working out this latest murder and wondering what his future looks like.

The author really has nailed this one and there were more twists and turns, red herrings and misdirection. I will say that this is something that he does well, but this particular one seemed to take it up a notch. The murder victim comes with a whole load of questions and the answers do not come easily, when they do are they the answers Kent is looking for? He does have the help of Francis and Belinda and he does fall back on his contacts from his days working as an Environmental Health Officer.

As well as being an ex-environmental health officer, he also runs an animal sanctuary, it started small but then expanded and took on a different route. It has been run by various people and volunteers if you have read the previous books you will know how this has come about. He also solves murders and has done so since his time as an EHO, dead bodies and unhygienic premises seem to go hand in hand for Kent!

This story is intense for Kent and he does question what he knows against what he is discovering. He still needs to work out who is who, sort the truth from the lies and finally get to grips with what is going on. This one is a dangerous one for Kent and those around him and it has repercussions for many.

If you are a fan of crime and mystery books with a difference then have a look a this series, I have read and enjoyed each one and this is another that I would definitely recommend.

About the author…

Robert Crouch combined his love of murder mystery novels with his extensive experience as an environmental health officer to create a new kind of private detective.

Motivated. by desire for justice and fair play, Robert wanted to show how an ordinary person could solve complex murders. Inspired by Sue Grafton’s irreverent detective, Kinsey Millhone, Robert crafted an investigator who’s rooted in the classic whodunit, but firmly set in the contemporary world.

When he’s not creating complex mysteries, Robert can be found among the gentle hills and coastline of the South Downs with his camera.

You can find out more about Robert at his website, https://robertcrouch.co.uk, where you can also join his Readers Group for more news, insights and giveaways, including a free short story. 

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

The Shadow Key by Susan Stokes-Chapman @havillsecker #NetGalley #mystery #histfic #gothic #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today of The Shadow Key by Susan Stokes-Chapman. This is a fabulous eerie historical mystery that I adored.

My huge thanks to the publisher Harvill Secker for accepting my request to read this title via NetGalley.

Just look at this amazing cover 😍👇

There’s something mysterious about the village of Penhelyg. Will unlocking its truth bring light or darkness?

Meirionydd, 1783. Henry Talbot has been dismissed from his post at a prestigious London hospital. The only job he can find is as a physician in the backwaters of Wales where he can’t speak the language, belief in myth and magic is rife, and the villagers treat him with bewildering suspicion. When Henry discovers his predecessor died under mysterious circumstances, he is determined to find answers.

Linette Tresilian, the unconventional mistress of Plas Helyg, lives a lonely life. Her father is long dead, her mother haunted by demons which keep her locked away in her room, and her cousin treats her with cool disdain – she has had no choice but to become fiercely self-reliant.

Linette has always suspected something is not quite right in the village, but it is only through Henry’s investigations that the truth about those closest to her will come to light…a truth that will bind hers and Henry’s destinies together in ways neither thought possible.

MY REVIEW

If you are looking for a gothic-style mystery then this one may well interest you. Set in Wales, in 1783, Henry Talbot arrives in a small community to start work as the local doctor. He had worked in London and been successful and taught. There is a shadow over his head though and this has prevented him from finding work, so this one at the village of Meirionydd is ideal.

He arrives at a rather grand house, Plas Helyg, where he is due to meet the Lord of the manor, Julian. Also living there is Julian’s cousin, Linette, who manages the tenants and her mother who keeps to her rooms. The previous doctor was treating her, and this now falls to Henry Talbot.

Arriving in the area is not a welcoming endeavour for Henry, an Englishman arriving in a Welsh village where memories still remember past events. They are not friendly, ignore him, he is challenged and in general, made to feel very much like the outsider he is. Linette tries to calm the situation but even she has to admit there is something in the air that feels off.

This is such a twisted story and one that took routes that did not occur to me as I started reading the book. There are some great characters to get to know and to be honest, I was soon able to see why Henry felt like a leper. The author manages to create a wonderful air of distrust and this is something that continues throughout the book. It does have a gothic vibe to it and this adds to the general eerie feel of the story.

This is set in Wales, so there are some Welch words and phrases, these are explained through the story as Henry learns them, then so did I. Some of the names of the characters are ones that I have not come across before and the odd one I would not even attempt to try and say. This gives credence to the story and it also shows the differences between Henry Talbot and the working people of the village. There are English speakers, these tend to be the wealthy, rich, lords and the like. So, again it adds to the distrust shown to Henry.

If you are a fan of historical fiction then this is a book that you might want to have a look at. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I found it very addictive. It is at times creepy and eerie and also very mysterious as the threads are gradually unwound. I liked this a lot and I would definitely recommend it.

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

Westport by James Comey @HoZ_Books #netgalley #crime #mystery #murder #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today of Westport by James Comey. This is the first time I have read a book by this author and it was one I enjoyed. I will be looking out for more.

My thanks to Head of Zeus for accepting my request to read this title via NetGalley.

She’s the lawyer. But now she’s the one on trial.

A red canoe sits abandoned on Seymour Rock, right where the Saugatuck River meets Long Island Sound. The elegantly dressed corpse of a woman lies inside…

Nora Carleton left New York to become lead counsel at Saugatuck Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund, where her life has become slower, more predictable. That is until her colleague and friend, Helen, is brutally murdered – and she becomes the prime suspect.

In the months leading up to Helen’s death, she and Nora were investigating someone within the company who was using insider information to undercut Saugatuck’s investments. Nora knows this is somehow linked to Helen’s murder – if only she can see how.

Calling in old colleagues from the US Attorney’s office, Mafia investigator Benny Dugan and attorney Carmen Garcia, Nora must find evidence to prove her innocence – or risk being put behind bars herself…

MY REVIEW

This book took me a few chapters to get into, but once in I was addicted. the body of a woman found in a canoe and all the evidence points to the perpetrator as being Nora Carleton. She didn’t do it, others around her don’t think she did but the police are looking at her as being the number one suspect.

Nora lives with her daughter and mother, she has joined a hedge fund company called Saugatuck Associates. She was friends with the victim, Helen, and Nora was aware that there was an investigation being run by Helen. Nora found Helen a nice woman, got on well and were friends.

Nora has friends in the best places, and she calls on them to help her. Benny works for the US attorney’s office and Carmen is an attorney. The three of them start to dig and delve into Saugatuck and the hierarchy that runs the show.

Saugatuck is an interesting company that the author has created and it adds an interesting twist. Truth and transparency are something the company preaches and expects its employees to do the same. Some do, some think they do and some don’t. Working out which falls into which category makes for some interesting reading. As they look into Helen they discover she was running a personal investigation and she has discovered many secrets.

It took me a while to get to grips initially, I think that was because I wasn’t sure where the story was going, to be honest though, if I had read the synopsis it would have helped! Also, I couldn’t quite get a feel for the story or the characters, however, after a few chapters things started to happen and my interest was definitely piqued. I should also mention this is a follow-on from a previous book!

This is a murder mystery and one the author has added twists and red herrings to many times. It keeps you on your toes. There are also some light-hearted moments and this helps to alleviate some of the tension for Nora. There are several characters for the author and reader to deal with, but actually, these are used really well. Brought up when needed for questioning or being referred to, this means these additional characters are always in context rather than popping up randomly.

The main characters are memorable and some have some unique traits, these worked well in the storyline and also gave some of that light-heartedness I mentioned.

This is a complex book as I sit now and write my review, but at the time it had a wonderful flow and I didn’t feel out of my depth. One for those who like crime, murder and mystery stories and one I would happily recommend.

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

The Kellerby Code by Jonny Sweet @FaberBooks #fiction #mystery #NetGalley #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today of The Kellerby Code by Jonny Sweet. This is a book that took me a while to get into, but there was something about it that kept me reading. I am glad it did!

My huge thanks to Fabre Books for my e-copy via NetGalley.

Edward is living in a world he can’t afford and to which he doesn’t belong. To camouflage himself, he has catered to his friends’ needs: fetching dry cleaning, sorting flowers for premieres. It’s a noble effort, really – anything to keep his best pals Robert and Stanza happy. In return, his proximity to them might sponge the shame of his birth and violent past cleanly away.

But the chink in his armour is his painfully unrequited love for Stanza. When he realises Stanza and Robert are an item, Edward is pushed too far. His little acts of kindness take a sinister turn, giving way to the unspeakable brutality Edward fears is at his core.

Are there limits to what he will do for his friends? Are there limits to what he will do to them?

MY REVIEW

This is a book that took me quite a while to get into. I didn’t seem to be able to get my head around it and did re-read the synopsis a couple of times. I almost did think about giving up on it, but something told me to hang on and try for a bit longer. I am glad I did. It took me a couple of days to read around 30%, but then one day to read the rest!!!

The story is that of Edward, as the synopsis suggests he is living in a world he cannot afford. If you think of The Talented Mr. Ripley or Saltburn, then you will be on the right track. Edward is a tutor and has very rich friends, one is Stanza who he is a little bit fixated with. The other friend is Robert, Stanza’s boyfriend, this didn’t sit well with Edward, but things are what they are.

Edward is one of those guys who will do anything for his friends, to the point where they actually use him like a doormat. But, while he comes across as being affable not everyone likes him that much. Some are wary that others find him annoying and others creepy. Each to their own I suppose.

The beginning of the story is a slower plod along in the life of Edward, what he does, his conversations, what he thinks, who he sees and the like. But it is a way of getting to know him and the circle he mixes with.

As the story then deepens it becomes a bit more shady, well not dodgy shady but more, nervy I suppose. The sense of things going dark and not being completely above board starts to emerge, little whisps at the beginning, of things being not said but not unsaid. Sorry, it seems I am getting very random and abstract here! But this is how I feel about the story as I write this review and don’t want to give things away.

My the end of the story, (yeah I am jumping forward) I found myself wondering how on earth Edward ended up as he did. Talk about shocking! The transformation from the Edward of before to the one at the end was gradual and it was also quite cleverly done. It gave it a psychological edge as things seem to ravel and unravel and circumstances change. This is a book that I think will be a hit with some but not all, a Marmite book if you like.

I liked this one, if I could have speeded the first 30% up it would have been good, but then would I have understood Ed2ward as well? Probably not.

A mix of genres for this one, some mystery and psychological aspects especially manipulation, a contemporary fiction that is character-led and one that I would happily recommend.

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

The Escape Room by L.D. Smithson @LeonaDeakin1 @RandomTTOurs @TransworldBooks #mystery #thriller #psychologicalthriller #bookreivew

yvonnembee 8 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today of The Escape Room by L.D. Smithson. This is a brilliant locked-room mystery thriller that I absolutely adored. This author writes under another name and those books are also amazing 🙂 I didn’t know who the author was until I started to write up this post and I then discovered who it was!

My huge thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my copy of the book from Transworld Books Publishers.

Everything is a clue.
Eight strangers arrive at a remote sea fort off the coast of England. They are here to take part in The Fortress, a mysterious reality TV show in which contestants have to solve a series of complex puzzles. But this is no game, and the consequences of failure are more deadly than anyone anticipated.

No one leaves.
The show’s sinister purpose becomes clear when the first person is evicted from the competition. Instead of being sent home to their family, they are left to die inside a locked room.

The only way out is to win.
Under scrutiny from the watching public, the contestants soon turn one another. What are they willing to do for wealth and fame? How far will they go to survive? And who is behind it all? The only thing they know for certain is that if they want to escape, they need to win…

Are you ready to play?

MY REVIEW

This amazing book has you wondering who’s and what’s from start to finish. It is a locked room mystery and it was just brilliant.

Eight people are part of a game show, the set is off the coast and the idea is to solve puzzles to win and leave. There can be only one winner and the show is being televised. the contestants have been carefully selected and come with their own sense of identity. It doesn’t take long before tensions start to build and sides are formed.

I adored everything about this book, from the twist at the beginning and the ones that followed. When you think you have things sorted then another one comes along. It starts to make you wonder if up is up and down is down. The author has successfully brought out the best and the worst in his characters and within a locked room environment their true traits start to emerge.

From entering the venue and discovering what the puzzles entail, the truth of the game emerges. While I thought I started to understand it, well the author tweaked the rules and things started to change. From what I originally thought this book would be, to what it finally turned out to be was poles apart.

I am not a fan of reality TV and have not watched any of the shows apart from The Crystal Maze, which I adored, and that is about it. I have briefly glanced at some of the others but they have not held my interest. The game the author has created for his characters is something else though. If it was an actual reality televised show with real people, would I watch it… definitely not!!! Read the book and you will find out why.

This is a book that had me on tenterhooks all the way through. The characters are interesting and the end section of the book is just as twisted as the game section of the book.

If you are a fan of locked room, psychologically twisted mystery thrillers then this is a book you should be looking at reading. I adored it and would definitely recommend it.

About the Author…

L. D. Smithson was born in Staffordshire and now lives in Ilkley. She is an occupational psychologist and a crime writer who has published under another name.

Check out the other stops on the tour…

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

The Dream Home by T.M. Logan @TMLoganAuthor @ZaffreBooks @Tr4cyF3nt0n #suspense #thriller #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today of The Dream Home by T.M. Logan. I have several books by this author and he always has me hooked in his stories.

My huge thanks to Tracy at Compulsive Readers for my spot on the Blog tour and for arranging my copy from the publisher Zaffre Books.

Their dream house will become a nightmare . . .

Adam and Jess move into a new house with their three young a rambling Victorian villa right at the very top of their price range. Before long Adam discovers a door hidden behind a fitted wardrobe, concealing a secret room . . .

Inside Adam discovers an array of forgotten items, among them a wallet, an antique watch and an old mobile phone. Jess thinks they should simply throw them away. But Adam resists. He is fascinated by these items and how they came to be inside the hidden room.

But like the house, Adam has his secrets too. And soon he will find himself setting in motion a series of events that will place his family in terrible danger . . .

MY REVIEW

People have pasts and secrets and sometimes those secrets are also concealed within the walls of a house. Some of the secrets are small and almost benign, but, just occasionally they are serious and dangerous. So when Adam and his family move into a house which is within their budget they are delighted. It does need work and there is plenty of room for them in this Victorian villa.

Adam discovers a room, that didn’t appear in the plans and it is well disguised, but he discovers that this room holds a secret. It will open a big can of worms that he did not expect!

This is a cleverly written book and one that starts well. The family are introduced and the scene is set. There are not many people in this book, mainly the family and just a handful of carefully selected others. Moving into a new house, working and renovating does not leave much time for meeting any neighbours properly.

the discovery of the hidden room opens up into something much more devious and dangerous. The threat to the family becomes very real and the author does this so well. It makes you doubt as to where this will go. The suspense is something that creeps in and as the story continues it becomes more threatening and the thriller element really kicks in.

This is a story that has many twists and turns, when another character is brought in I did not know if he was credible, dangerous or what they were. By this time in the story everyone became suspicious. I can say that I was never sure “who was it” in this book until it was dropped!

This is a brilliant story and one that is full of suspicion and threat. It is one for those who like thrillers that have a sinister edge to it that borders on being a psychological thriller. Twisted and devious and one I would definitely recommend.

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…

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

In the Blink of an Eye by Jo Callahan #fiction #crime #mystery #thriller #bookreview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today of In the Blink of an Eye by Jo Callahan. I had seen many great reviews about this book and finally bought myself a copy when it was released in paperback. It is a brilliant book and I can see why it has gone down so well with many fans. It is thought-provoking, to say the least!

In the Blink of An Eye by Jo Callaghan

In the UK, someone is reported missing every 90 seconds.
Just gone. Vanished. In the blink of an eye. 

DCS Kat Frank knows all about loss. A widowed single mother, Kat is a cop who trusts her instincts. Picked to lead a pilot programme that has her paired with AIDE (Artificially Intelligent Detective Entity) Lock, Kat’s instincts come up against Lock’s logic. But when the two missing person’s cold cases they are reviewing suddenly become active, Lock is the only one who can help Kat when the case gets personal. 

AI versus human experience. 
Logic versus instinct.
With lives on the line can the pair work together before someone else becomes another statistic? 

In the Blink of an Eye is a dazzling debut from an exciting new voice that asks us what we think it means to be human. 

MY REVIEW

I have recently bought this book and I did wait until it came out in paperback. I have an advance copy of the next book I wanted to read, In the Blink of an Eye, to see if it was as good as people said. It definitely is and I am so eager to read the next one.

Kat is DCS Kat Frank and Lock is AIDE Lock, (Artificial intelligence detective entity). Kat has been asked to lead the pilot program for this new tech that will hopefully help the police and if all goes well to go further. Kat is very anti AI and the reason why is not known until much further into the book. Her reasons are justified when you do learn. Even though she is not a fan she does start to see that there are some advantages, but there is also a lot for Lock to learn. He may know the rulebook inside out but he does not know people.

The pilot is to look at some cold cases, there are several to choose from unfortunately and two cases are chosen. One is based on knowledge and the other on fact. given that the cases are cold, it comes as a surprise to find that these are not as cold as they think. Some shocking revelations and some real soul-searching for those involved in the cases.

There are two other detectives involved with this book, one meek and uncertain the other confident and I think you could call him a go-getter. They have their own stories and these also emerge I liked this as often you find that it is only the main characters that have details of their home lives revealed. I think because Kat’s side-kick is an AI rather than a person it does give the author the scope to include details of the other human members of the team.

The book is laid out in chapters and these do vary in length, but another voice is heard occasionally. I thought I was on the right path with who this voice is but I was completely wrong about the context. A fabulous revelation when it finally dawned on me!

This is a great story and one that would be brilliant for a book club discussion, there are things in the story that show prejudice and stereotyping but these views do differ as the story continues. Even though Lock is an AI he does have a good role in the story, and he does have some very awkward moments which does enamour him to the reader.

A story that mixes science and technology with good old-fashioned hunches and gut instincts. It is so well done and because of the mentions of the progress of AI in the news you can see this being a possibility. This then begs the question… will it happen and when!!!

This is one for fans of crime, thriller, and mystery books that have something different, it is a police procedural but it also looks into the lives of its main characters and how these could impact a case or are perceived. So, in some ways, it does have a psychological edge to it as well.

I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this book and it is one I would definitely recommend.

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

The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder by C.L. Miller @AtriaBooks #murder #mystery#NetGalley

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today of The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder by C. L Miller. This was a fun murder mystery and I do hope there will be more to come.

My thanks to Atria Books for granting my request to read this title via NetGalley.

In this irresistible and thrilling debut novel, a former antique hunter investigates a suspicious death at an isolated English manor, embroiling her back in the dangerous world of tracking stolen artifacts.

What antique would you kill for?

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

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

MY REVIEW

Freya is estranged from Arthur, they worked together in the antique business until something affected their relationship. This is something that will make itself known during the story. The only problem is that Arthur has just died. He fell down the stairs of his antique shop. But his best friend Carole is suspicious and mentions this to her niece Freya.

The story gradually emerges that Arthur has left a series of clues, and has things in place just in case something does happen to him. Good job he did because there is definitely something amiss as Freya and Carole attend an antiques weekend, it is not something that the general public would be invited to or even aware of, but Arthur has arranged for the women to be there.

I really enjoyed the twisted and devious way the author has brought together several characters. The book definitely has a whodunnit feel as Freaya starts to follow clues, leads and hunches. Carole helps her, but Carole is a bit dramatic, she was once an actress. But, it does have its advantages.

With several characters being introduced gradually it was easy to keep up with who was who. I will say that not all of them are nice, some are needy, aloof or just very unlikeable. Like most murder mysteries, there has to be a few twists and this book certainly has plenty of them. Some things emerge quite quickly but the vast majority fall into place later. With the final pieces being answered in a grand finale.

This does have the feel of a Marple-style mystery and I enjoyed it. It was a fun read with some danger and plenty of adventure for our daring do of Freya and Carole. I liked these two and there is an interesting development that would make this the ideal opportunity to make another book or series. I do hope that this is something that happens because I really enjoyed this one.

The author does mention some interesting antiques and this is down to her background. She is the daughter of Judith Miller of Miller Antique Guides and she helped with editing the guides and other books.

This is for fans of murder mysteries, crime, sleuthing and whodunnits. I enjoyed it and would happily recommend it.

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

Where They Lie by Claire Coughlan @simonschusterUK #mystery #crime #historicalfiction #NetGalley #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today of Where They Lie by Claire Coughlan. This is a mystery and crime story set in Dublin in the 1960s and is a wonderful story.

My huge thanks to Simon & Schuster UK for granting my request to read this title via NetGalley.

Dublin, 1943
Actress Julia Bridges disappears.
The last sighting of her is entering the house of Gloria Fitzpatrick, who is later put on trial for the murder of another woman whose abortion she facilitated.
But it’s never proved that Gloria had a hand in Julia’s death – and Julia’s body has never been found.
Gloria, however, is sentenced to life in an institution for the criminally insane, until her apparent suicide a few years later, and the truth of what happened to Julia Bridges dies with her.

Until . . .

Dublin, 1968
Nicoletta Sarto is an ambitious junior reporter for the Irish Sentinel when the bones of Julia Bridges are discovered in the garden of a house on the outskirts of Dublin.
Drawn into investigating the 25-year-old mystery of Julia’s disappearance and her link to the notorious Gloria Fitzpatrick, the story takes Nicoletta into the tangled underworld of the illegal abortion industry, stirring up long-buried secrets from her own past.

As much a murder mystery story as a look at a young woman’s struggle to succeed in a man’s world, Where They Lie is a beautifully atmospheric debut that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

MY REVIEW

I enjoyed this historical mystery story and it is set in Dublin in the 60s. A journalist for the Sentinel, Nicoletta Sarto, is looking at an old case. An actress disappeared in 1943 and her skeleton has just been discovered. Sarto along with another journalist, is looking into the case and it brings up far more than she would have ever expected.

This is such a good story and one that flitted back and forth. I really enjoyed getting to know Sarto and also learning more about the case as she did. It was a slower meander through a mystery which I thoroughly enjoyed and it was nice to read a slightly slower-paced story compared to the frantic ones I have read recently. I felt the pacing of the story fitted so well with the setting as Sarto is reliant on public transport, landline phones, and other people giving her a lift and where research has to be sought out rather than internet searches. It was quite refreshing, to be honest.

Sarto is a single woman trying to make her way. She is in a good job with the chance of promotion. She is not overly loud or flamboyant but, is studious and it seems that once she gets her teeth into a story she likes to follow it to its conclusion. Some of this book does mention illegal abortions and this is very much within the history of the time. While it is not a nice thing to read about it is something that did and still does occur. It has been dealt with well and is within keeping with the storylines.

The gradual emergence of details for the actress Julia Bridges makes for intriguing reading. It seems that people didn’t know her as well as they thought and when Sarto starts digging into Bridge’s past she finds more mystery than she would have expected.

This is such a wonderful book and one that once I got into found to be addictive. The author has brought a few twists and some unexpected turns that I did not see coming. Things from the past do have a habit of coming back and this one is no exception. It was an atmospheric read and one that is a bit more than just a cosy mystery given some of the subject matter.

This is one for those who like a twisted, enigmatic historical fiction story. Once for fans of crime and investigative mysteries and I would happily recommend it.

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

Relight My Fire by C.K McDonnell @Caimh @TransworldBooks #fantasy #supernatural #fiction #mystery #crime #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today of Relight My Fire by C.K McDonnell. This is the 4th book in the Stranger Times series and it is absolutely brilliant.

My huge thanks to Transworld Books for granting my request to read this book via NetGalley.

Some comebacks can be murder . . .

Stella is enjoying life as an almost student, or at least she is until a man falls from the sky right in front of her, leaving a big old hole in the pavement for Manchester Council to fill. The obvious question of how he ended up in the sky in the first place has no obvious answers, which is where The Stranger Times come in. This isn’t just the hunt for another story though. Dark powers think Stella might have been involved and the only way she and the team can prove her innocence is to find out what the hell is really going on. What have dodgy gear, disturbed graves and a decommissioned rock star got to do with all this?

Vincent Banecroft has problems of his own in the form of a tall, dark but-definitely-not-handsome man dressed like a one-man funeral who has been sent to make the paper’s editor atone for his sins. Once he finds out exactly what that entails, Banecroft is not keen. Being banished to a Hellscape for all eternity looks like being no fun at all, not least because he has that pale Irish skin that burns really easily . . .

All that plus territorial ghouls, homicidal felines, eternal (and seemingly unstoppable) gnomes and a celebrity ‘Who’s Who’ that’d put a royal wedding to shame, and you’re looking at a wild few days for The Stranger Times .

MY REVIEW

This is another fabulous and brilliant book in this series. The Stranger Times is a newspaper, you know the old printed sort and no way online at all, that is responsible for reporting the bizarre, unusual, weird, odd, batty, peculiar, outlandish, curious and downright unfathomable stories that come across the desks of the reporters. It is owned by Vincent Bancroft, whose favoured weapon of choice is a blunderbuss. Also Manny, a Rastafarian with an additional side to him, Stella, who also has an additional side to her, Grace who keeps everyone supplied with tea and prayers, and Reg, a ghoul, and a Detective inspector who is deemed to be ok to deal with the “weirdy bollocks” that the newspaper seems to deal with.

Vincent has had a curious past, it seems that it has now caught up with him as a mysterious man takes great delight in informing him. Vincent will soon be residing elsewhere for his part in the “Simon episode” from the last book. The story starts with Stella, leaving her college course for the evening and going home only to have a man fall from the sky in front of her. This is the start of some strange events that even those on the Stranger Times newspaper will find unsettling.

This is another brilliantly funny book in the series and yes it could be read as a stand-alone but I do urge you to read all the books in the series as not only do they give you the bigger picture on this crew at the paper, but they are all fabulous, funny and brilliant books to read.

The story will delve into the dark magic scene in this urban fantasy world the author has created. It runs alongside our everyday boring world with a few extras such as ghosts, ghouls, things that go bump in the night and lurk in dark corners and damp cellars. The author creates a story that is totally within keeping of the characters and as you read the story it feels like the author is having as much fun as I was reading it.

This is a fabulous book in a fabulous series. It is a mix of urban fantasy, mild horror, humour, mystery and crime. A mix of all sorts and then some! Yes, I adored this one and I would definitely recommend it.

About the Author…

Irishman Caimh McDonnell is a former professional stand-up comedian and TV writer who now concentrates all of his energies on writing books. Born in Limerick and raised in Dublin, he has taken the hop across the water and calls Manchester his home.

His TV writing work has seen him work on some of the biggest topical comedy shows on British TV, such as the The Sarah Millican Television Programme, Mock the Week and Have I Got News for You. His work as a children’s TV writer earned him a BAFTA nomination for the CBBC animated series ‘Pet Squad’ which he created.

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