Tag One From My TBR Shelf

Wish Upon a Cornish Moon by Amanda James @amandajames61 @OneMoreChapter_ #contemporaryfiction #family #romance #bookreview

yvonnembee 3 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for Wish Upon a Cornish Moon by Amanda James. I do love this authors books and her latest one is just fabulous. A mix of past and present set in a wonderful Cornish cove.

‘I can see you don’t believe me, girl, but I’m telling you that there’s magic in the moon and that big sea out there.’ 1938
One midnight in June, 15-year-old Lamorna Williams throws a message in a bottle into the Atlantic at Magic Cove, hoping to meet her one true love – and someone writes back. 1997
On the other side of the world, Lamorna tells her story to her 16-year-old great nephew Ethan inspiring him to do the same. But this time, his message isn’t found for over twenty years… Present day
Single mum, Merrin Pascoe, is told of the legend of Magic Cove. In a moment of madness, Merrin wishes on the moon, and next day she finds a bottle in the sea. Will the cove cast its spell once again…

MY REVIEW

Not many people believe in magic or love at first sight, but not many live at Chapel Porth Cove in Cornwall—an area of magic, mystery and wonderous things. Over the years there has been a young woman who wishes for something more and to find her one true love. It has happened over generations and whether you believe in magic or not, if you don’t try, you will never know.

Merrin is a hard-working single mum, who helps out where she can and is not looking forward to her daughter leaving for university. When she meets Morwenna, she tells Merrin of how the cove is also known as magic cove and if a message is placed in a bottle and the words are spoken on a June night when the moon is full your true love will find it and you will meet.

Merrin has not had much luck with true love, she has in fact had her heart broken so is not looking for anything else in life. She is happy with her life, work and family.

The author has laid her story out over several timelines, these are easy to follow as are the different places where she sets her story, although the majority of it is in Cornwall. Mixing the past event with present situations is a great way of telling a tale as it gets pieced together gradually.

The story of Morwenna and her sister Lamorna is a sad one, but one that also makes sense when you realise what was going on in each of their lives at the time. A chance for a new exciting adventure with the man of your dreams is something that most girls want, but not everyone gets that chance, and some, they miss their chance.

Mixing the historical aspect of the story with a present-day one is a great way of drawing similarities between characters of many years of difference. It also makes for a tantalising read, I could see some things coming but not always in the way I expected them. The way the family dramas were worked in was great and it was a way of bringing different perspectives and experiences.

The romance side of the story is one that I adored, it was a mix of drama, adventure, daring and taking the chance when it appears. Set over different generations, it was a great way of showing how the magic of the cove and the message in the bottle could work in many different ways. Some things happen quickly, and some take a little more time, but things happen for a reason.

If you are a fan of romance, historical and contemporary fiction then this is one that you may well be interested in, there is a wonderful sense of warmth and hope throughout and with a message of taking a chance and doing what is right for you. I adored this one a huge amount and I would definitely recommend it, fabulous story.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amanda James has written since she was a child and even asked her parents for a typewriter for Christmas. She never imagined her words would ever be published. In 2010 the dream of becoming a writer came true when she had her first short story published.

Originally from Sheffield, Amanda now lives in Cornwall and is inspired every day by the wild and beautiful coastline. She can usually be found playing on the beach with her family, or walking the cliff paths planning her next book.

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

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill #gothichorror #ghoststory #thriller #atmosheric #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for the wonderfully atmospheric The Woman in Black by Susan Hill. I have had this one on my shelf for a while and it was a brilliant book to read. Ideal for fans of gothic horror and thriller books.

Arthur Kipps, a junior solicitor in London, is summoned to Crythin Gifford to attend the funeral of Mrs Alice Drablow, and to sort through her papers before returning to London. It is here that Kipps first sees the woman in black and begins to gain an impression of the mystery surrounding her. From the funeral he travels to Eel Marsh House and sees the woman again; he also hears the terrifying sounds on the marsh.

Despite Kipps’s experiences he resolves to spend the night at the house and fulfil his professional duty. It is this night at Eel Marsh House that contains the greatest horror for Kipps. Kipps later discovers the reasons behind the hauntings at Eel Marsh House. The book ends with the woman in black exacting a final, terrible revenge.

MY REVIEW

This is a story that is told from the perspective of Arthur Kipps, he recounts his visit to Eel House when he was younger and a junior solicitor. His boss Mr Bentley had asked him to go to sort out the affairs of Mrs Alice Drablow who had died and it was up to the solicitor to put her papers in order.

The story is a fabulous one that has so much atmosphere. The author has injected so much eerie and chilling scenes into this story. A mysterious house that is only accessible at low tide by way of a causeway. The old woman lived alone and had no family. The locals won’t talk about her and don’t visit the house. It is an unmentioned place and one that worries everyone for some reason.

The arrival of Kripps to finalise the affairs does not bring any sense of relief, the locals worry and they are quite right as it turns out. The mystery of the owner is realised when Kripps discovers some letters, but it does not hold all the answers and there are still some things that are left unknown.

Having a ghost story that is not totally finalised leaves the reader with a certain suspense. I did enjoy this book a lot and having such a mysterious presence adds to the suspense. It definitely has that Victorian Gothic horror feel to it and there are events that leave the reader a little unnerved.

I do like the classic style of this story and I am so glad that I finally got around to reading this book. It had been sitting on my kindle shelf for far too long.

If you are a fan of stories that have that classic literature feel and of course ghost stories then this is definitely a book for you. I thought it was brilliant and I would definitely recommend it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Susan Hill was born in Scarborough, North Yorkshire in 1942. Her hometown was later referred to in her novel A Change for the Better (1969) and some short stories especially “Cockles and Mussels”.

She attended Scarborough Convent School, where she became interested in theatre and literature. Her family left Scarborough in 1958 and moved to Coventry where her father worked in car and aircraft factories. Hill states that she attended a girls’ grammar school, Barr’s Hill. Her fellow pupils included Jennifer Page, the first Chief Executive of the Millennium Dome. At Barrs Hill she took A levels in English, French, History and Latin, proceeding to an English degree at King’s College London. By this time she had already written her first novel, The Enclosure which was published by Hutchinson in her first year at university. The novel was criticised by The Daily Mail for its sexual content, with the suggestion that writing in this style was unsuitable for a “schoolgirl”.

Her next novel Gentleman and Ladies was published in 1968. This was followed in quick succession by A Change for the Better, I’m the King of the Castle, The Albatross and other stories, Strange Meeting, The Bird of Night, A Bit of Singing and Dancing and In the Springtime of Year, all written and published between 1968 and 1974.

In 1975 she married Shakespeare scholar Stanley Wells and they moved to Stratford upon Avon. Their first daughter, Jessica, was born in 1977 and their second daughter, Clemency, was born in 1985. Hill has recently founded her own publishing company, Long Barn Books, which has published one work of fiction per year.

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

The Waiting Rooms by Eve Smith @OrendaBooks #dystopian #thriller #suspense #bookreview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for The Waiting Rooms by Eve Smith. I think it was around this time last year that I read this author’s next book, Off Target (Full review HERE). It made such an impression that I immediately bought a copy of The Waiting Rooms, unfortunately, it took me nearly a year to read it. But it was excellent and has left me looking forward to more from this author.

The Waiting Rooms

Decades of spiralling drug resistance have unleashed a global antibiotic crisis. Ordinary infections are untreatable, and a scratch from a pet can kill. A sacrifice is required to keep the majority safe: no one over seventy is allowed new antibiotics. The elderly are sent to hospitals nicknamed ‘The Waiting Rooms’ … hospitals where no one ever gets well.

Twenty years after the crisis takes hold, Kate begins a search for her birth mother, armed only with her name and her age. As Kate unearths disturbing facts about her mother’s past, she puts her family in danger and risks losing everything. Because Kate is not the only secret that her mother is hiding. Someone else is looking for her, too.

Sweeping from an all-too-real modern Britain to a pre-crisis South Africa, The Waiting Rooms is epic in scope, richly populated with unforgettable characters, and a tense, haunting vision of a future that is only a few mutations away.

MY REVIEW

With Covid, Avian Flu and also the threat of resistance to antibiotics fresh in my mind I decided to read The Waiting Rooms. I have read the 2nd book Off Target by this author and it made a huge impression. The Waiting Rooms is an amazing book to read and at times one that can be quite uncomfortable.

This book is set up as having two timelines. One is pre-crisis and the other is a near-future setting. The pre-crisis draws the reader into a world where antibiotics are not working, and infections, diseases and illnesses are deadly for those who contract them. Wave after wave of resistant diseases is killing millions of people worldwide. The race to find alternative medicines and cures is on.

The near-future setting is one that we are sort of familiar with, face masks, no contact and being super careful about being in groups. However, the author has made it a much more dangerous scenario with riots, risks of attack and the dilemma of what to do with people who are too ill to continue with their lives.

While the story in the near future does have medical implications there is another underlying story. How this is connected to the pre-crisis setting is one that is intriguing and shows how things change over the decades. How dealing with one problem can set off a series of events that causes a larger problem in the future. I think this is something we can relate to easily when we look at fossil fuels and other industrial advances against the global climate we live in today. The author has taken a similar route and it is one that is all too easy to be able to realise.

This is a brilliant read. The terminology is basic to understand and the importance of decisions made and that has to be made is one that keeps the story moving. Events and characters have been woven and twisted so that I always wanted to what was going to happen next.

I adored the suspense and thrill of this story, but it also exudes an element of reality. An eye-opener of a thriller and one I would definitely recommend.

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

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid #historicalfiction #bookreview

yvonnembee 6 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for a book that has been out for quite a while now. Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a brilliant book and one that has been sitting on my kindle since it was first released. Don’t ask me why I didn’t read it sooner, but I am so glad I finally did. I did read this one before Christmas and I am trying to get caught up with my reviews!

A gripping novel about the whirlwind rise of an iconic 1970s rock group and their beautiful lead singer, revealing the mystery behind their infamous break up.

Everyone knows Daisy Jones & The Six, but nobody knows the real reason why they split at the absolute height of their popularity…until now.

Daisy is a girl coming of age in L.A. in the late sixties, sneaking into clubs on the Sunset Strip, sleeping with rock stars, and dreaming of singing at the Whisky a Go-Go. The sex and drugs are thrilling, but it’s the rock and roll she loves most. By the time she’s twenty, her voice is getting noticed, and she has the kind of heedless beauty that makes people do crazy things.

Another band getting noticed is The Six, led by the brooding Billy Dunne. On the eve of their first tour, his girlfriend Camila finds out she’s pregnant, and with the pressure of impending fatherhood and fame, Billy goes a little wild on the road.

Daisy and Billy cross paths when a producer realizes the key to supercharged success is to put the two together. What happens next will become the stuff of legend.

The making of that legend is chronicled in this riveting and unforgettable novel, written as an oral history of one of the biggest bands of the seventies. Taylor Jenkins Reid is a talented writer who takes her work to a new level with Daisy Jones & The Six, brilliantly capturing a place and time in an utterly distinctive voice.

MY REVIEW

I have seen this book around for a while now, I bought it a while ago as well but only just got around to it. This is a fictional book about Daisy Jones and a band called The Six. The title does kind of give it away!

The Six are already a band, they have already had an album. Daisy Jones is an up-and-coming star and it is a chance comment that brings them together.

This book is set out as a documentary-style transcript. It is very easy to get used to this style and as it is a transcript you always know who is saying what. The author has created a story that is incredibly addictive and all the time I was reading this I had to remind myself that it was a fictional book about fictional people.

The author delves into the lives of her characters before they became the band known as Daisy Jones & The Six. This is such an insightful look into the lives of each of the members when the drugs, sex and rock’n’roll lifestyle was notorious around rock bands. The author doesn’t hold back in this and her characters go through some tough choices.

The main man behind The Six is Billy Dunne. There is a certain amount of animosity from the rest of the band at times as he takes charge of the direction they are going. Bringing in Daisy creates problems, but also adds a balance. However, two dynamic characters such as Billy and Dasiy are going to create waves.

The author has packed this story with so much tension, excitement, and mayhem of living a lifestyle in the late 60s and early 70s. Time on the road, creating new songs and how the dynamics between the band, their families and friends take its toll.

A fabulous story that I am so glad I finally got around to reading. Exciting and sad at times but with an addictive quality. I soon found characters I preferred over others and I did have an interest in hoping for the best for others. An unusual style but a brilliant book. It is one I would definitely recommend.

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

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley #classicfiction #dystopian #scifi #bookreview

yvonnembee 10 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for an old classic. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley was written in 1931 and published in 1932. A book that I have wanted to read for years but actually managed to pick up and read at the beginning of December last Year.

Brave New World is a dystopian novel by English author Aldous Huxley, written in 1931 and published in 1932. Largely set in a futuristic World State, inhabited by genetically modified citizens and an intelligence-based social hierarchy, the novel anticipates huge scientific advancements in reproductive technology, sleep-learning, psychological manipulation and classical conditioning that are combined to make a dystopian society which is challenged by only a single individual: the story’s protagonist.

MY REVIEW

This is a book that I have been wanting to read for years but never got to it. I finally decided to give it a go. I was only aware of the basics of this book and I hadn’t read any other reviews about it.

What I discovered is quite a bizarre story that became quite addictive. It does have a strong literary fiction feel to it. At times the writing is poetic, at others disjointed and overall a story that gradually got under my skin.

The world that Huxley has created is one where people are expected to be happy, they are brainwashed into feeling this. There is no mother, father or in fact any type of family connection. Each person has been produced in a test tube and altered at a genetic level to become what is required for Huxley’s world to function. There is a layered social system where people are born to be what they are engineered to be, so someone with a lowly job will be content with that job. They don’t aspire to be anything more than what they are supposed to be.

Creating this world, the author then throws an anomaly in the system, this is something that shows that even with the use of technology there will be a time when nature intervenes, or it may be a simple human mistake. Either way, this is where the characters that start to question the system have a more important role.

In the second half of the book, there is a move from the system to that of the outside world, this is more what we know today. Parents, relationships and unique traits and characteristics. This for me is where the story then takes an even more addictive turn. The comparisons built up between those in the system and those out of it are great. By the end of the book, I found I was very interested in some of the characters. The ending, well that was a shock!

This is a fabulous book to read, and I did struggle to find the flow at the beginning. I did read it in two sittings. The first sitting was a bit wobbly and at 33% I decided to have a break, this turned out to be a great time to pause and then come back to it the following night. I then found myself unable to put this book down and finished it.

This is a book that has loads of reviews, has loads of opinions and there are probably theories and it will have been analysed in every aspect. I read for the pleasure of it, so for me, this book was one that intrigued me. It did feel disjointed, to begin with, but it grew on me. I enjoyed this and I am very glad that I have read this book.

For a book that was written in 1931 and published in 1932, it has some brilliant imagination and foresight into a possible future. A world where people are engineered to fit into a hierarchical society. It is a very good book and it is one I would happily recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

This most prominent member of the famous Huxley family of England spent part of his life from 1937 in Los Angeles in the United States until his death. Best known for his novels and wide-ranging output of essays, he also published short stories, poetry, travel writing, and film stories and scripts. Through novels and essays, Huxley functioned as an examiner and sometimes critic of social mores, norms and ideals. Spiritual subjects, such as parapsychology and philosophical mysticism, interested Huxley, a humanist, towards the end of his life. People widely acknowledged him as one of the pre-eminent intellectuals of his time before the end of his life.

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

A Gift Called Hope by Eva Jordan @EvaJordanWriter #contemporaryfiction #festivefiction #family #bookreview

yvonnembee 3 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for a lovely festive book, A Gift Called Hope by Eva Jordan. This is such a wonderful and heartwarming story and I adored it. I have read several books by this author and have thoroughly enjoyed them.

A heartfelt novel of a Christmas shadowed by loss and regret—and brightened by hope for renewal—from the author of Time Will Tell.

Six-year-old Jack is counting the days to Christmas. But his grandmother is just counting the days until it’s over. For Jill, the holiday comes with painful memories, and she wants only to escape the recent past and its tragedies.

She’s moved and started a new life running a food truck in Widmore Bay, a quaint seaside town, in order to flee her agonising history.

It’s only for little Jack’s sake that Jill tolerates the tree and decorations. She just wants to spend Christmas with the curtains drawn, reading a book and drinking coffee.

But this season, she may stumble onto a miracle that restores joy—and hope—in her heart . . .

MY REVIEW

this is such a wonderful story to read. The story is about the loss of a loved one and how family members react and deal with the following grief. For a 6-year-old with Christmas coming up, it is all about excitement, for a parent it is about trying to hide the grief, for a sibling it is trying to cope with a missing brother.

The author has created such a heartbreaking story about the unexpected death. While the dates of loved family members are always something to be remembered it is more poignant when those dates fall on days when it is a time for celebration, such as Christmas. every year the heartache of not having them there is a constant reminder, but the author shows how different members of her fictional family are dealing with things.

They say there are 5 stages of grief and I think the author pretty much covers those with her characters. This makes for such an engaging story and one that is sad but also has that glimmer of hope, and this is what makes the title so good.

There is a small cast of characters but ones that all have an important role to play, and how they are incorporated into the story is great as they become not only a support system but also friends. Sometimes when things get tough you need a friend to tell you how they see things rather than trying not to upset a member of the family.

This is a gorgeous story and one that does have a Christmas theme, but it is one moment in the calendar, however, it does become a huge shadow. It is a shadow that needs to be talked about and therefore to let the light in for everyone concerned.

If you are a fan of contemporary fiction then this is one I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eva Jordan was born in Kent but has lived most of her life in a small Cambridgeshire town. She describes herself as a lover of words, books, travel and chocolate, and is also partial to the odd glass of wine.

Her career has been varied and has included working for the library service and in a women’s refuge. She is currently working on her 4th novel, writes a monthly column for a local magazine, and writes book reviews which she posts on her blog, where you’ll also find some fascinating author interviews. Storytelling through the art of writing is her passion and as a busy mum and step mum, and grandmother, Eva says she is never short of inspiration for her family based dramas!

It was the women in Eva’s life, including her mother, daughters, and good friends, that inspired her to write her debut novel, 183 TIMES A YEAR, which was then followed by ALL THE COLOURS IN BETWEEN, and finally TIME WILL TELL, all of which can be read as stand alone novels but are all part of THE TREE OF FAMILY LIFE TRILOGY. Modern stories exploring domestic love, hate, strength and friendship, set amongst the thorny realities of today’s divided and extended families.

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

The Thunder Girls by Melanie Blake #fiction #friendship #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for The Thunder Girls by Melanie Blake. This is a book that I have had on my shelf for a while. It was when Natalie, a fellow Book Blogger, posted her review of this book on her site that I knew I wanted to find my copy and read it.

Jackie Collins for a new generation. The Thunder Girls is a blockbuster novel, filled with obsession, addiction, betrayal and revenge, that charts the rise and fall of an 80s girl band from Melanie Blake, a true insider of the music business.

THE

Chrissie, Roxanne, Carly and Anita, an eighties pop sensation outselling and out-classing their competition. Until it all comes to an abrupt end and three of their careers are over, and so is their friendship.

THUNDER

Thirty years later, their old record label wants the band back together for a huge money-making concert. But the wounds are deep and some need this gig more than others.

In those decades apart life was far from the dream they were living as members of The Thunder Girls. Breakdowns, bankruptcy, addiction and divorce have been a constant part of their lives. They’ve been to hell and back, and some are still there.

GIRLS

Can the past be laid to rest for a price, or is there more to this reunion than any of them could possibly know? Whilst they all hunger for a taste of success a second time around, someone is plotting their downfall in the deadliest way possible . . .

MY REVIEW

This was a fabulous book to read and it was one that took me back to the 80s and mentioned pop stars and bands of the time as well as some of the dodgy fashion trends. The story is based around The Thunder Girls, chart toppers in the 80s but after a massive bust-up, the band members have not spoken in over 30 years. They were a 4-piece band and they were successful.

Each of the women has moved on, they have gone in different directions and all have made adjustments but the bitterness these once good friends had is still very much present. So when Chrissie has to get in touch with each of the other band members, she knows she is going to be in for a rough time. She doesn’t have any other choice in the matter though.

This is a story that dips into the past of the girls and brings up relevant things that build up the story of how they got to the stage they are each at. With fame in the 80s, they were wild, didn’t have any care but had problems. These are not fully revealed until later in the book and when the author reveals them they are shockers.

The author builds a picture and a past for each of the women, some have married, some divorced, some have children and they all try to put on a brave face like a mask. It is when they come together that this mask slips, but who is the one that is going to break and admit mistakes or own up to what happened? These are strong women and over the years they have become a little warier, but they still hold their anger. It is going to be tough for any of them to admit that they made a mistake or show any sign of weakness.

This is the story of the women but also the other important people in their lives. It also gives a glimpse into the scenes behind the stage and how bands are micromanaged. But while you may be thinking this is a nice little get-together you soon realise that there is a subtle but growing idea of something being amiss. There is more to these women and the other characters than meets the eye and when I say things will hit the fan, I really mean it.

This does refer to being a Jackie Collins for a new generation, I was a fan of the original books and I can see that there are some similarities. There is the sly, conniving, backstabber in bitchiness that you got with those books, but this one does go a lot further with the mysterious side of a longer game.

I was surprised by how quickly I got wrapped up in this book, and I pretty much devoured this in two sittings. The women became likeable and I could see why they had gone their separate ways, and it made sense. Putting the past in the past and moving on is a tough one to do, but the author did a brilliant job of weaving a story that did just that. Several twists, and great pacing and is a very addictive book to read.

This is the story of reunion, friendship and moving on and I adored it immensely. It is one I would definitely recommend.

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

Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch #fantasy #crime #murder #mystery #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch. This is the first book in the Rivers of London series and I am so glad there are lots more to read since this one was first published in 2011.

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Probationary Constable Peter Grant dreams of being a detective in London’s Metropolitan Police. Too bad his superior plans to assign him to the Case Progression Unit, where the biggest threat he’ll face is a paper cut. But Peter’s prospects change in the aftermath of a puzzling murder, when he gains exclusive information from an eyewitness who happens to be a ghost. Peter’s ability to speak with the lingering dead brings him to the attention of Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, who investigates crimes involving magic and other manifestations of the uncanny. Now, as a wave of brutal and bizarre murders engulfs the city, Peter is plunged into a world where gods and goddesses mingle with mortals and a long-dead evil is making a comeback on a rising tide of magic.

MY REVIEW

I have had this book on my kindle for far too long. (3rd August 2012 to be exact!) When I first saw this book I knew it was one I wanted to read but over time it has slipped down the list and now I have discovered it!

This is a police procedural of sorts, it does have police officers, and detectives and there is a chain of command and all that gumpf. But in with this, there are also ghosts, ghouls, auras, vampires and other things that lurk in the shadows.

Peter Grant is a probationary police officer, he has been given his first assignment. It isn’t to the detective department as his fellow officer is going to go, but to work alongside DCI Thomas Nightingale. He is a one-man department within the MET and he has decided to take on an apprentice. Yes, an apprentice!

Nightingale is the officer that is called when bizarre and other world events happen. River of London is a wonderful introduction to the Gods Goddesses and other creatures of the Thames and tributaries. Peter will have to tiptoe the shores and the politics of the river rulers as well as keep on the right side of other detectives who are reluctant to accept that Nightingale does in fact have his uses.

This was a brilliant story to sit down with and it soon became one that I knew I would not put down until I had finished it. A one-sitting read that has many twists, and unexpected occur5ance, with danger lurking around and within the walls.

At times this is quite funny and I love the writing style of the author. A mix of fantasy and mystery that have been warped or wrapped around a crime and police procedural genre. I can see now how this book has garnered so many great reviews and why it has become a popular series. I will definitely be reading the next book very soon and I would definitely recommend this to readers who like crime with a fantasy twist.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ben Aaronovitch’s career started with a bang writing for Doctor Who, subsided in the middle and then, as is traditional, a third act resurgence with the bestselling Rivers of London series.

Born and raised in London he says that he’ll leave his home when they prise his city out of his cold dead fingers.

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

The Botanist by M.W. Craven #crime, #thriller #psychological #bookreview

yvonnembee 3 Comments

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.

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February’s Son by Alan Parks #crime #historicalfiction #policeprocedural #bookreivew

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I am delighted to share my review today for February’s Son by Alan Parks. This is the second book in the Harry McCoy series and it now means I am up to date with this series. There are five books published so far and I am eagerly awaiting the next one.

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Bodies are piling up with grisly messages carved into their chests. Rival gangs are competing for control of Glasgow’s underworld and it seems that Cooper, McCoy’s oldest gangster friend, is tangled up in it all.

Detective Harry McCoy’s first day back at work couldn’t have gone worse.

New drugs have arrived in Glasgow, and they’ve brought a different kind of violence to the broken city. The law of the street is changing and now demons from McCoy’s past are coming back to haunt him. But vengeance always carries a price, and it could cost McCoy more than he ever imagined.

The waters of Glasgow’s corruption are creeping higher, as the wealthy and dangerous play for power. And the city’s killer continues his dark mission.

Can McCoy keep his head up for long enough to solve the case?

Bruised and battered from the events of Bloody January, McCoy returns for a breathless ride through the ruthless world of 1970s Glasgow. 

MY REVIEW

After reading the first book a while ago I was really looking forward to seeing how things progressed. I should mention that I have read the books that follow this one, the author is currently up to book 5 in the series.

Detective Harry McCoy is a copper with dubious friends. Having recently been injured he is back to work as a new brutal case rears its head. This isn’t a pleasant one as the body has a word carved into the chest. As the team is getting their heads around this murder another body turns up.

This is set in the tough 1970s Glasgow area. Gangs, drugs and prostitution are rife, life is tough and for some, it is going to get tougher. The fact that Harry has dubious friends can at times work to his advantage. At others though these friends test the patience of Harry’s boss. Wattie finds himself in the midst of things as well.

This is one tough one to read at times as there is a lot of violence in it. If you are a fan of hard-boiled crime then you are going to want to read this one. This is a tough area, people do not hold back and if you find yourself on the wrong side then you had better know how to disappear or find yourself in a fight for your life. The book, the language and the storyline are, well colourful to say the least. It is all in context and having anything softer would not work.

The cases and the evidence does start to stack up and another storyline is introduced, this one though is one that McCoy is going to try to sort out with his old friend Stevie. The author does like to give these two a battering.

As I have read the next few books I am aware of things that are going to happen, but coming back to the start of the series is great as I get to find out more about the main recurring characters. McCoy seems to court trouble at every turn and it is Wattie, his colleague who is starting to keep an eye on McCoy a little more. While he is naive he does what is best.

If you like tough, gang-related, crime fiction then this is a book you are going to enjoy. This one also has a great psychological edge to it and this makes it very twisted and dark. Pasts are brought up, egos are bruised, names are made and things are changing. Fabulous 2nd instalment and one I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alan Parks has worked in the music industry for over twenty years. His debut novel Bloody January was one of the top crime debuts of 2018 and was shortlisted for the prestigious international crime prize the Grand Prix de Littérature Policière. He lives and works in Glasgow.

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