Book Review Archives - The Quick and the Read

Book Review: ‘The Art of a Lie’ by Laura Shepherd-Robinson

Laura Shepherd-Robinson is a brilliant writer of historical crime fiction – she creates totally immersive worlds, well-rounded characters and some absolutely amazing twists. This book is one of my favourite so far of 2025.

In this novel (a standalone – not connected to her previous books, although still set in Georgian England), widow Hannah Cole is struggling to keep her confectionary shop in Piccadilly running. She’s facing the sexism of men who don’t like women in trade and William Fielding (yes, the famous author, who was also a magistrate) is trying to confiscate the money from her husband’s bank account as he investigates some dodgy dealing. The arrival of William Devereux seems to be a blessing, bringing with him ideas for iced cream that will revolutionise Hannah’s business – but is William all he seems?

I absolutely loved this book. I was rooting for Hannah from the start and there were a few twists along the way that absolutely knocked me for six! Georgian London and society was portrayed with depth and detail, and Shepherd-Robinson’s research on confectionary and the introduction of iced cream was woven beautifully into the narrative. I felt like I learnt quite a lot while reading a great story too! The characterisation of Hannah and William was cleverly revealed over the course of the novel, and I love books that throw in actual, real historical figures too – I wonder if William Fielding really was like that!

I feel like I shouldn’t write any more about this book in case I give anything away – there’s so much to enjoy in the rich narrative and through the different narrative perspectives used in the novel. It’s another absolute gem from Shepherd-Robinson and I absolutely can’t wait for the next one.

Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy of this book – opinions are my own.

Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash

Book Review: ‘The Penthouse’ by Catherine Cooper

Catherine Cooper books can be relied upon to be twisty, unexpected – and lots of fun. This one is absolutely all those things,

This book focuses on the intertwined stories of an early noughties girl band and a boy band. Both were discovered on a talent show and their fates seem ever-linked – from the early days of auditions to tours, romances, less-savoury happenings and then, 20 years later, a farewell concert. The story is told from the perspectives of the different band members and other key characters, with the time line shifting between the noughties heyday and the reunion/farewell concert.

For anyone who grew up watching X Factor, Popstars or The Voice, there will be a lot that’s familiar here: the drama of the auditions, the bands created from the most talented ones from other groups, the greedy managers and the relentless money-making from these young stars. It’s an interesting look at the industry, especially when we see the same people years later and the damage that fame has done as they’ve mostly drifted back into obscurity.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Catherine Cooper book without a great mystery, bucketloads of secrets surfacing and the questions over people’s versions of the truth. In this case, the mystery surrounds the disappearance of the girl band’s lead singer, Enola – and the way that the events of the final days before she vanished. It’s not clear what happened to her – but, as the reunion gathers pace, it seems that everyone has things they’re hiding, from Enola’s jealous ex (Max) to her bandmates who had their sights on taking the lead in the group.

This is a fun, easy read and will keep you guessing until the end – I’d recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley for my review copy – opinions are my own.

Photo by Matthias Wagner on Unsplash

Book Review: ‘The Death of Shame’ by Ambrose Parry

A new Ambrose Parry book is always cause for celebration – and this is no exception. I’m actually really gutted that the cover for this book suggests it will be the final book in the historical crime series to feature Dr Will Raven and his (now) apprentice, Sarah Fisher – it’s been such a great series from the start.

This instalment picks up Will and Sarah’s story in 1854 Edinburgh – it’s a city where the medical community is making great advancements in scientific understanding and practice, but also a city that struggles with poverty and has a very sinister side that both Will and Sarah have experienced before. In this book, Will finally has his own medical practice and is secretly training Sarah who is not allowed – as a woman – to study medicine. When Sarah is asked by a relative to find a young woman, Annabel, she follows a trail that leads her into the world of Edinburgh’s brothels and the trade in women by powerful men. Alongside this, Will is caught up in his own mystery involving the blackmail of some of Edinburgh’s most esteemed doctors. It seems that no-one is safe in this violent, immoral city – and both danger and scandal are edging ever nearer to Will and Sarah.

As with the previous books, the Victorian Edinburgh setting is evoked in all its grim detail – this is a world of baby famers, street prostitution, petty crime, lawlessness and violence. It’s clear that the writers (Ambrose Parry is the pen name of married couple Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman) have extensively researched not only the places and social issues of the period, but also the key figures and medical treatments – this is a book you’ll finish and then end up googling all the real historical figures and events!

Long-standing fans of the series will know that one of the common threads through the books is the relationship between Will and Sarah – they should so clearly be together, but there are just so many reasons why this isn’t possible and every book brings new obstacles. This is still a key element of this book too, and it’s really lovely to see their mutual respect and collaboration develop further as Will helps Sarah to achieve her medical aspirations and she leads parts of their investigations. They’re really brilliant characters – flawed, human, and so engaging to follow.

If you’ve not read an Ambrose Parry book before, obviously I’d suggest you start at the beginning of the series with ‘The Way of All Flesh’. However, if you do start with ‘The Death of Shame’, you’ll still be rewarded with an excellent mystery that can stand alone.

If dark, twisty, historical crime fiction is your thing (and it’s definitely mine!) then this series is highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley for my review copy of this book – opinions are entirely my own. This is due for publication on 5th June, 2025.

Photo by Jörg Angeli on Unsplash

Book Review: ‘The Secret Room’ by Jane Casey

I love this series, so this was bumped right to the top of my reading list as soon as my review copy landed on my Kindle. Thanks to NetGalley for granting my request to read. This book will be published on 24th April, 2025.

This is the twelfth book in the series featuring DS Maeve Kerrigan of the Met Police and her partner, DI Josh Derwent. Regular readers will know the back-story of these two and enjoy the ongoing saga of their will-they-won’t-they romance, but for everyone else, this works as a brilliant standalone police procedural.

Book Review: ‘Mrs Spy’ by M J Robotham

Spy stories aren’t usually my thing, but a middle-aged, single-mum spy? In 1960s London? With humour and sass and secrets? Yes, I’m sold!

Thanks to Aria and NetGalley for my review copy. Opinions are entirely my own.

Book Review: ‘The Earl Meets His Match’ by T J Alexander

This isn’t my usual genre, but having recently discovered Bridgerton (yes, I know I’m so late to the party that I nearly missed it!) I was intrigued by a Regency romance told through a trans lens. Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for my review copy.

Lord Christopher Eden lives as a recluse – having lost his parents, he’s been able to bury himself in life at his country estate with only a couple of trusted staff for company, keeping away from the gossip of the ton. Unfortunately, his comfortable existence it put in jeopardy when he’s told the future of his estate rests on him finding a wife by the end of the Season, which might just cause a few issues… One of his first hurdles is to appear as a respectable and eligible young bachelor in the eyes of high society – and for that, he’ll need a valet. Of course, the valet that arrives – James Harding – is problematically gorgeous and may prove to be quite the distraction from Christopher’s main goal.

Book Review: ‘You Are Fatally Invited’ by Ande Pliego

Classic crime fiction fans, this one is for you! If you can imagine a modern ‘And Then There Were None’ (Agatha Christie in fine form) and mix it with all the crime tropes you can think of, plus throw in some classic horror elements…you might be part of the way to imagining this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for my review copy. As always, opinions are entirely my own.

Book Review: ‘Victorian Psycho’ by Virginia Feito

This is such a hard book to review – it’s so dark and gruesome, disturbing and odd, Gothic and horrific, yet also strangely compelling. I found that I couldn’t put it down, even as I was being pulled into the twisted workings of the protagonist’s mind.

The novel follows Winifred Notty as she arrives at Ensor House, the home of the fairly odious Pounds family. Her role is to be governess to the children, Andrew and Drusilla, although her unconventional bedtime stories and tendency towards brutality are at first dismissed as merely eccentricities compared to their previous governesses. As she begins to draw the attention of the master of the house, strange things begin to happen – someone defaces the family portraits and even the staff start to go missing… When guests begin to arrive for Christmas celebrations, it becomes obvious that Winifred is going to continue on the path of destruction that led her to Ensor House in the first place.

Wow, this book is so dark – we are literally taken inside the mind of a killer whose twisted way of looking at the world means that no-one around her is safe. Her thoughts and actions are presented in graphic detail and her total lack of remorse or empathy is chilling for the reader – although her voice is also often humorous and knowing and so not totally alienating for the reader. The book often focused on the macabre and grotesque – this is a book where description is frequently visceral and repellent. There’s lots of blood, bodily function, gorging on stomach-churning things, decay and rot, filth and death. Yes, it’s disgusting, but also shocking and interesting and unlike much I’ve read before.

As is evident from the above, Winifred isn’t a character we grow to love – this isn’t a book for anyone who needs to like the characters in what they read. In fact, every one of the characters is awful in their own way. Indeed, we are shown a procession of greed and lust and any of the other deadly sins you can name – and it’s probably best you don’t get attached to any of the characters anyway as they don’t have long life expectancies!

The writing is clever, although references to ‘fall’ for autumn jarred a little within a story set within Victorian England – in an otherwise immersive book, I found this tricky to skim over.

So, if you’re of a strong disposition then there’s much to get caught up in within the world of ‘Victorian Psycho’ – I’m not sure it is a wholly enjoyable experience, but it’s one you won’t forget!

Photo by Aimee Vogelsang on Unsplash

(Audio)book Review: ‘Mavericks’ by Jenny Draper

I’ll be honest – the words ‘TikTok historian’ didn’t draw me to this book as I’m far too old to grapple with too many social media platforms and so was unaware of Jenny Draper before now. I am on a perpetual hunt for engaging, lively history books – and if they’re funny too then that’s a bonus. The blurb of ‘Mavericks’ proved appealing for this reason. Thanks to Watkins Publishing and NetGalley for my review copy.

I liked the format of this audiobook – short chapters focusing on different ‘mavericks’ from history from whom we can learn something important, or certainly intriguing (“firing a gun at someone won’t make them love you” being a favourite). The figures chosen were mostly ones I hadn’t encountered before, although a few more familiar names such as Margery Kempe and the Chartists were mixed in. I enjoyed learning about historical figures who had taken the unconventional path – especially as these figures included a lot of women, non-nobles and those from around the world who don’t always make it into traditional history books. The chapters revealed quirky and telling details about each of the figures, reflecting Draper’s eye for an entertaining story and skills in producing vivid biographical writing.

The audiobook is engagingly narrated by the author herself – I’ll admit that I enjoyed hearing the stories told in the author’s own voice as the pacing sounded natural and the jokes landed well.

I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys history told with humour and wit – think along the lines of ‘The Rest is History’ or Terry Deary for comparison.

Photo by C D-X on Unsplash

Book Reviews: New Crime Fiction

I haven’t been great at keeping on top of my blogging recently. Sometimes life just takes over! However, I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to highlight some crime fiction and thriller gems that I’ve enjoyed in the past few months.

‘The Dark Hours’ by Amy Jordan

I loved the premise of this novel – seeing a police officer at the very start of her career in 1994, then when she’s called back as a retired detective in 2024 to pick up a case that has echoes of that traumatic first one.