May 2023 - The Quick and the Read

Book Review: ‘The Retreat’ by Sarah Pearse

I liked Pearse’s first book – ‘The Sanatorium’ – because of the claustrophobic atmosphere and the edge-of-your-seat tension levels. I had high hopes for this book, ‘The Retreat’, as this marks the return of detective Elin Warner in a different but equally remote setting.

Blog Tour: ‘Between Us’ by Mhairi McFarlane

Today, I’m delighted to join the blog tour for Mhairi McFarlane’s latest romcom – thanks to Random Things Tours for inviting me to join the tour and for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: ‘The Embalmer’ by Alison Belsham

I’d read and enjoyed ‘The Tattoo Thief’ by Alison Belsham so I came to this book with high expectations. I didn’t realise that this book was a sequel or that I’d actually missed the second book in the series- but all was fine. It helped that I had a vague sense of the relationships between the main characters, but I don’t think it was essential.

Book Review: ‘Fatal Witness’ by Robert Bryndza

I’d heard so many good things about Robert Bryndza’s series featuring DCI Erika Foster – but I’ll admit that I was irrationally put off by the book cover (I am a bit freaked out by photos of people staring at me!) I was wrong to judge a book by the cover – this is a really good police procedural and everything I love in a crime novel.

Book Review: ‘No Life for a Lady’ by Hannah Dolby

I wasn’t sure what to expect of this book, but I’d heard about it on social media and figured it was time for a break from my usual diet of gruesome murder mysteries!

The story focuses on Violet Hamilton, a 28-year old woman living with her father in Hastings in 1896. Her father has ideas about marrying her off, but Violet is much more interested in what happened to her mother who vanished from Hastings Pier ten years before. An advert in the local paper leads her to engage the rather odd Frank Knight as private detective. However, it isn’t long before Violet becomes unhappy with Mr Knight’s methods and takes matters into her own hands – with the sometimes unwilling help of Benjamin, son of a detective but who would rather have a quiet life selling furniture.

Violet was an absolute star! I loved that she heartily resists marriage and follows her own path – I was really rooting for her to discover the truth about her mother. I liked that revelations about her mother started to open Violet’s mind to the ways of the world – she moves from naive to more knowing without losing any of her charm along the way.

What made this book a joy to read was the humour – Violet’s naivete was good source of comedy, but Dolby also has a sharp eye for situational comedy. Violet’s attempt to swap a footstall for some help from Benjamin was just lovely, as was the way that she engaged in a battle of wits with Mrs Monk. Her revelations about the mushrooms also made me laugh so much…best read it to see!

I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical mysteries – it’s quite a gentle investigation with some larger-than-life characters on the way. I wasn’t totally sold on all the elements of the ending, but I was certainly glad that we seem poised to get another instalment of Violet’s adventures.

Thanks to NetGalley for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Header photo by Joël Vogt on Unsplash

Book Review: ‘The Detective’ by Ajay Chowdhury

I didn’t know that this was book three in the series featuring Kamil Rahman when I picked it up – credit to Ajay Chowdhury as it was easy to read as a standalone. However, fans of the series will – no doubt – appreciate the character development across the books as Kamil progresses on his path to being a British police detective (something he has achieved at the start of this book).

Thanks to NetGalley for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Non-Fiction Audiobook Recommendations

Regular visitors to my blog know that I’m an insomniac with an audiobook habit! Here’s some of the best I’ve listened to recently…

Book Review: ‘The Tumbling Girl’ by Bridget Walsh

Brutal murder in a Victorian music hall? A feisty heroine? Humour and twists galore? Definitely count me in!

Thanks to Gallic Books for sending me a copy of this book for review – as always, opinions are my own.

Book Review: ‘The Paris Apartment’ by Lucy Foley

Having read and enjoyed Lucy Foley’s previous books, ‘The Hunting Party’ and ‘The Guest List’, I was pleased to pick up ‘The Paris Apartment’ – another standalone mystery/thriller. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read the book in exchange for an honest review.

The story centres on Jess, a young woman visiting Paris to stay with her half brother, Ben (as well as running away from her life in England). He lives in a luxurious apartment block but – when she arrives – Ben is missing. The other residents of the block are not helpful – and some are downright hostile to Jess and about Ben. As Jess struggles to piece together the events surrounding Ben’s disappearance, she also begins to uncover some shady secrets about the residents of 12 Rue des Amants…