journalist Archives - The Quick and the Read

Book Review: ‘Mrs Porter Calling’ by A. J. Pearce

This is the third book in the Emmy Lake series, following on from ‘Dear Mrs Bird’ and ‘Yours Cheerfully’. This is a series that is charming, cheerful and funny – even as the realities of World War II continue to have their impact on the characters’ lives.

Thanks to NetGalley for my opportunity to read this book and apologies for the late review.

In this third look at wartime Pimlico, we rejoin Emmy and her colleagues at the offices of Woman’s Friend, a publication packed with helpful tips on cooking, affordable fashion, and the general art of making do and getting by under rationing. One of the most popular sections is Emmy’s advice column, offering an invaluable lifeline to women trapped by their domestic situations, wartime problems or overwhelming worries. When a new owner takes over the publication (the titular Mrs Porter), Emmy and the team have to fight for the things that make their magazine unique and treasured by its readership.

Book Review: ‘Breathless’ by Amy McCulloch

I have absolutely no intention of ever climbing a huge mountain – entering the ‘death zone’, needing oxygen, fighting altitude sickness, etc. Not for me at all – which is why reading this book was such an adventure!

Cecily Wong is a journalist with a pretty dodgy track record of mountain climbing – which is why she faces the ultimate challenge when asked to join legendary alpinist Charles McVeigh and his team as they tackle one of Nepal’s highest mountains. However, the attempt seems doomed from the start and Cecily is soon fighting for her life against the elements and an altogether more sinister – and more human – enemy.

Book Review: ‘The Girls Who Disappeared’ by Claire Douglas

I’m always in the market for a twisty crime novel and this one seemed to good to pass up!

The story opens with the past disappearance of three teenage girls. Four of them drove home in one car but – after an accident – only one injured girl remains. Where did they go? Now, twenty years later, Jenna Halliday has come to Stafferbury to make a podcast about the events of that night. She needs the co-operation of Olivia, the survivor, but why won’t Olivia speak about her missing friends? Jenna finds herself in danger as she starts to uncover the secrets held by the residents of the small town.

Book Review: ‘Madwoman’ by Louisa Treger

Historical fiction with a strong female lead? The fictionalisation of a real-life journalistic sensation? Victorian-era New York? All of these things are exactly what brought me to this book – and I loved it!

Thanks to the author for providing me a copy for review. As always, opinions are my own.

Book Review: ‘The Slow Road to Tehran’ by Rebecca Lowe

This is absolutely the best type of travel writing – engaging, humorous, vibrant and packed with historical and cultural detail. Many thanks to Rachel Quin for bringing this book to my attention and for sending me a review copy – opinions, as always, are entirely my own.

Book Review: ‘A Memory for Murder’ by Anne Holt

I’ve developed a bit of a taste for Scandinavian crime thrillers – so I was very pleased to be introduced to Anne Holt’s writing by Readers First. Thank you to them and Corvus for my review copy. As always, opinions are entirely my own.

The book starts with the assassination of a Norwegian MP in a cafe – an attack in which private investigator, Selma Falck, is also hit. Looking for answers about who killed her friend, Selma works sometimes alongside the police, sometimes with journalists and her own contacts to piece together a puzzle that has far-reaching implications for her country. In doing so, she finds her life in danger again as yet more killings threaten to undermine the stability and peace of Norway…

‘Dog Rose Dirt’ by Jen Williams

As my lockdown experiences seem to mainly involve going through murder mysteries at the speed of light, I was very grateful to NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this before it comes out in July 2021 – as always. opinions are entirely my own.

This book opens with an ex-journalist, Heather Evans, returning to her childhood home after the suicide of her mother. While clearing out the house, she finds letters that make it obvious that her mother has been writing to a serial killer who has been in Belmarsh Prison for over 20 years, Michael Reave or ‘The Red Wolf’. As strange and creepy events occur to Heather, a murder victim is found with all the markings of a Red Wolf killing and Heather is forced to confront the truth about her mother’s past.

Blog Tour: ‘A Bad Bad Thing’ by Elena Forbes

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this complex police procedural and the first in a series to feature DCI Eve West.

With thanks to Damp Pebbles for organising the tour and for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

‘The Cutting Place’ by Jane Casey

This is the 9th book in the Maeve Kerrigan series and was published in April 2020.

This is the latest installment in the series featuring DS Maeve Kerrigan of the Metropolitan Police.  Although the series is great, this can also be read as a standalone as a lot of the backstory is explained or not needed to follow this book.

In this novel, Maeve's team are called upon to investigate the disappearance of a young journalist, Paige Hargreaves.  It seems that she was about to publish an article about the Chiron Club, a bastion of secrecy and dubious attitudes to women.  As Maeve gets closer to the truth, the extent of the Club's activities are revealed and there are some who would go to extreme lengths to preserve the secrets it holds.

Having read a few of the previous books, I was glad to see DI Derwent present as the potential romantic interest; this is a book where Maeve's private life takes a starring role, something that I felt rather distracted from the story's denouement although it was an interesting plotline.  This is a well- written and lively addition to the series, although not quite a 5 star read as I found the ending slight lacked something for me personally.

An enjoyable police procedural for those who are already familiar with Maeve's world, but I'd probably recommend starting earlier in the series if you haven't read any of the others.

I received a free copy of the book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Photo by Sarah Pflug from Burst

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