tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82739118838565802002024-03-18T20:17:53.419+10:30MYSTERIES in PARADISEWhy <b>MYSTERIES?</b> Because that is the genre I read. <br>Why <b>PARADISE?</b> Because that is where I live.<br>
Among other things, this blog, the result of a 2008 New Year's resolution, <br>will act as a record of books that I've read, and random thoughts.Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.comBlogger1640125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-60560920710085538782024-03-16T11:58:00.002+10:302024-03-16T11:58:43.908+10:30Review: THE NIGHT SHE FELL, Eileen Merriman<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71D3U2XwVML._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="523" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71D3U2XwVML._SL1500_.jpg" width="209" /></a></div> this edition is available on <a href=" https://www.amazon.com/Night-She-Fell-Eileen-Merriman-ebook/dp/B0CP6X5ZFJ/">Amazon</a> for Kindle<br /></li><li>ASIN : B0CP6X5ZFJ</li><li>Publisher : Penguin eBooks (NZ Adult) (March 5, 2024)</li><li><a href="https://eileenmerriman.co.nz/">author website</a> <br /></li></ul><p><b>Synopsis</b> (<a href=" https://www.amazon.com/Night-She-Fell-Eileen-Merriman-ebook/dp/B0CP6X5ZFJ/">Amazon</a>)</p><p>‘When I last saw Ashleigh, she was lying in a pool of blood . . . Her eyes were open, staring sightlessly into the sky. I’d like to think she saw the stars before she died; that in her last moments she flew, soaring on serotonin, dreamy with dopamine. I’d like to think she didn’t suffer . . .’<br /><br />A beautiful young law student dies on the concrete below her third-storey window in chilly Dunedin.<br /><br />It’s clear enough how she died. What isn’t is why — or who’s involved.<br /><br />Plenty of people had a reason to hate Ashleigh, with her straight As and perfect looks. She’s fallen out with her flatmates, and her boyfriend Xander is having second thoughts about their future together. And then there are the weird messages.<br /><br />The Night She Fell is a gripping psychological thriller from one of New Zealand's most multi-talented contemporary novelists. </p><p><b>My Take</b></p><p>This appears to be the author's first adult crime fiction novel.</p><p>Set in Dunedin where Ashleigh and Xander are university students living in different flats. Xander is a medical student and Ashleigh a law student. They have been together for seven years but Ashleigh is dominating while her parents have been financially generous to Xander and his family. Xander's eye has been recently caught by Ronnie, a psychology student with a room in Ashleigh's house.</p><p>And then one night Ashleigh dies, jumping from a third floor window. It is just a week since she and Xander broke up.</p><p>The structure of book centres around Ashleigh's death. The main voices are Xander and Ronnie and the chapters are Before and After. The puzzle is what caused Ashleigh to jump. Is anyone or anything to blame?</p><p>Very engrossing.<br /></p><p><b>My rating:</b> 4.7 </p><p><b>About the author</b></p><p>Several of Eileen Merriman’s young adult novels have been finalists in the NZ Children’s and Young Adult Book Awards, and also Storylines Notable Books. Her first adult novel, Moonlight Sonata, was released in 2019, and was longlisted for the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction. Her fourth YA novel, A Trio of Sophies, was released in Australia, New Zealand and Germany in 2020 and was a finalist in the Ngaio Marsh Crime Awards. Her fourth adult novel, The Night She Fell, is due for release in March 2024. Three of her young adult novels have been optioned for TV or film, including Catch Me When You Fall, for which the prequel, Catch A Falling Star, was released in 2023.<br /></p>Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-53934167510448269172024-03-11T15:51:00.002+10:302024-03-11T15:51:19.583+10:30Review: NOW YOU SEE THEM, Elly Griffiths<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ellygriffiths.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/9781786487346-1-667x1024.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="521" height="320" src="https://ellygriffiths.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/9781786487346-1-667x1024.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>this edition published by Quercus 2019<br /></li><li>#5 in the Brighton Mysteries</li><li>ISBN 978-1-78648-735-3</li><li>351 pages</li><li><a href="https://ellygriffiths.co.uk/book/now-you-see-them/">author website</a> <br /></li></ul><p><b>Synopsis</b> (<a href="https://ellygriffiths.co.uk/book/now-you-see-them/">author website</a>)</p><p>Three girls have left. None have come back.<br /><br />Brighton, 1963. Edgar Stephens has been promoted to Superintendent and is married to his former sergeant, Emma Holmes. Edgar’s wartime partner in arms, magician Max Mephisto, is a movie star in Hollywood, while his daughter Ruby has her own TV show.<br /><br />The funeral of an old friend highlights just how much the gang’s lives have changed in the last nine years. Edgar is struggling with fresh responsibilities and the new swinging Brighton of rioting mods and rockers; Emma is chafing against the restrictions of life as a housewife.<br /><br />Bob Willis, meanwhile, is tackling his biggest case since his promotion to DI: a schoolgirl missing from high-class boarding school Roedean. It looks like she’s run away; but there are disturbing similarities to the disappearances of a young local nurse and a tearaway Modette, neither of whom have been seen or heard from since…<br /><br />A new world is dawning in Brighton, but the city’s dark side is as dangerous as ever.</p><p><b>My take</b></p><p>The disappearance of 3 young women who have left similar goodbye notes sparks an investigation. And then the body of one of them is discovered and is followed by the disappearance of Ruby Magic, Max Mephisto's daughter. Ruby has also left a note telling people not to worry. But Ruby has missed work, an left her cat locked up in her flat.</p><p>Meanwhile Edgar Stephens' wife Emma is very much feeling underused and left out. She was one of the first female detective sergeants in the country, but she resigned on her marriage. Emma feels she could still make a useful contribution. In the long run it is Emma who eventually works out what has happened to the girls.</p><p>Set in the 1960s, the plot definitely shows how things are changing. Max has been asked to accept a role in a film with a film star of some prominence.<br /></p><p><b>My rating:</b> 4.6 </p><p>I've also read</p><ul><li>
<a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2010/08/review-crossing-places-elly-griffiths.html">4.6, THE CROSSING PLACES</a> - Ruth Galloway #1<br /></li><li>
<a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2011/04/review-janus-stone-elly-griffiths.html">4.6, THE JANUS STONE</a> - Ruth Galloway #2</li><li>
<u>4.6, THE HOUSE AT SEA'S END</u> - Ruth Galloway #3</li><li>
<a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/review-room-full-of-bones-elly.html" target="_blank">4.5, A ROOM FULL OF BONES</a> - Ruth Galloway #4</li><li>
<a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/review-dying-fall-elly-griffiths-audio.html">4.8, DYING FALL- audio book</a> - Ruth Galloway #5</li><li>
<a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/review-ghost-fields-elly-griffiths.html">4.5, THE GHOST FIELDS, Elly Griffiths</a> - audio book - Ruth Galloway #7</li><li>
<a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com.au/2015/10/review-outcast-dead-ellly-griffiths.html">4.7, THE OUTCAST DEAD, Elly Griffiths - audio book</a> - Ruth Galloway #6</li><li>
<a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com.au/2016/10/review-woman-in-blue-elly-griffiths.html">4.7, THE WOMAN IN BLUE</a> - Ruth Galloway #8</li><li>
<a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com.au/2017/07/review-chalk-pit-elly-griffiths.html">4.7, THE CHALK PIT</a> - Ruth Galloway #9</li><li>
<a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2019/01/review-stranger-diaries-elly-griffiths.html">4.6, THE STRANGER DIARIES</a> - Harbinder Kaur #1<br /></li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2021/01/review-postscript-murders-elly-griffiths.html">4.4, THE POSTSCRIPT MURDERS</a> - Harbinder Kaur #2<br /></li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2021/06/review-lantern-men-elly-griffiths.html">4.7, THE LANTERN MEN</a> - Ruth Galloway #12</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2021/08/review-stone-circle-elly-griffiths.html">5.0, THE STONE CIRCLE</a> - Ruth Galloway #11 </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2021/08/review-dark-ange-elly-griffiths.html">4.8, THE DARK ANGEL</a> - Ruth Galloway #10</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2021/08/review-night-hawks-elly-griffiths.html">4.7, THE NIGHT HAWKS</a> - Ruth Galloway #13 <br /></li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/05/review-locked-room-elly-griffiths.html">5.0, THE LOCKED ROOM</a> - Ruth Galloway #14</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/01/review-bleeding-heart-yard-elly.html">4.6, BLEEDING HEART YARD</a> - Harbinder Kaur #3</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/04/review-last-remains-elly-griffiths.html">5.0, THE LAST REMAINS</a> - Ruth Galloway #15</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2024/02/review-zig-zag-girl-elly-griffiths.html">4.8, THE ZIG ZAG GIRL</a> - Brighton Mysteries #1</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2019/12/review-smoke-and-mirrors-elly-griffiths.html">4.5, SMOKE AND MIRRORS</a> - Brighton Mysteries #2 <br /></li><li><a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com.au/2018/05/review-vanishing-box-elly-griffiths.html">4.4, THE VANISHING BOX</a> - Brighton Mysteries #4 <br /></li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/07/review-midnight-hour-elly-griffiths.html">4.5, THE MIDNIGHT HOUR</a>- Brighton Mysteries #6</li></ul>Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-65088409877372602492024-03-09T16:22:00.004+10:302024-03-09T16:22:52.203+10:30Review: SUSPECT, Robert Crais<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81PNb7fPDiL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="523" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81PNb7fPDiL._SL1500_.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>This edition available on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AZ0HGJI">Amazon for Kindle</a></li><li>ASIN : B00AZ0HGJI<br /></li><li>Publisher : Orion (January 17, 2013)</li><li>Print length : 418 pages</li><li>Page numbers source ISBN : 0425278271</li></ul><p><b>Synopsis</b> (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AZ0HGJI">Amazon</a>)</p><p>LAPD cop Scott James is not doing so well. Eight months ago, a shocking late-night assault by unidentified men killed his partner Stephanie, nearly killed him, and left him enraged, ashamed, and ready to explode. He is unfit for duty - until he meets his new partner.<br /><br />Maggie is not doing so well, either. A German shepherd who survived three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan sniffing out explosives before losing her handler to an IED.<br /><br />They are each other's last chance. Shunned and shunted to the side, they set out to investigate the one case that no one wants them to touch: the identity of the men who murdered Stephanie. What they begin to find takes them both on a journey through the darkest moments of their own personal hells. Whether they will make it out again, no one can say. <br /></p><p><b>My Take</b></p><p>I have read this book for discussion with my U3A Crime Fiction Reading Group.</p><p>If Maggie had been a human Marine, not a dog, she would be decorated, as it is she is under notice. Shape up or ship out! The same is true of her new human alpha, LAPD cop Scott James. In reality he should be retired. Both he and Maggie have been injured on duty, and both are struggling to resume a working life. They both suffer from PTSD and are temporarily part of the LAPD K-9 unit but the odds are stacked against them.</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>both react badly to loud sudden noises</li><li>both have long lingering injuries.</li></ul><p>Among the questions I am going to ask my group are those relating to the meaning of the book's title, because I think there is more than one. So, what is it that helps Scott and Maggie work together? What attributes does Maggie have that are of most use to Scott in his search for the killers of his former partner?</p><p>Crais attempts to make Maggie a real character, even to the point of getting inside her head, telling us how she sees her new partner. For Scott there is a real learning journey. He has never had a dog before, and has a lot to learn about how to treat Maggie.<br /></p><p>In a sequel to this novel <a href="https://www.fantasticfiction.com/c/robert-crais/promise.htm">THE PROMISE</a>, Crais decided to bring this pair into his Elvis Cole series but there don't appear to be any mention of them after that.<br /></p><p>I will be interested to see how my group react to this novel - for some of them it will not be their cup of tea. I should explain that in the case of this group we read sets of books supplied by our local library so I didn't actual choose this book specifically, just a title from a list.<br /></p><p><b>My rating:</b> 4.6</p><p>I've also read</p><p><a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2010/12/review-forgotten-man-robert-crais-audio.html">4.6, THE FORGOTTEN MAN</a> <br /></p>Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-83044526009102146762024-03-03T13:37:00.004+10:302024-03-03T13:39:07.406+10:30Review: A COMMON MAN, Inferno Trilogy 2, G. R. Jordan<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71evgZYyjNL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71evgZYyjNL._SL1500_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>this edition available from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLP9G14P/">Amazon on Kindle</a></li><li>ASIN : B0BLP9G14P<br /></li><li>Publisher : Carpetless Publishing (December 11, 2022)</li><li>Print length : 222 pages</li><li>Highlands & Islands Detective Book 23 </li></ul><p><b>Synopsis</b> (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLP9G14P/">Amazon</a>)</p><p>Removed from his post and cast aside by his superiors. Without authority and any resources to call to hand. Can Macleod operate from the dark and hunt down the mysterious group before another child dies?<br /><br />Having been sidelined from the investigation and fast tracked for an early retirement, DI Macleod knows that the child killer is still on the loose. With the assistance of his injured Colleague, DS Urquhart, Macleod finds himself operating beyond the law for the first time in his career. With DS McGrath increasingly frustrated by the glory hunting DCI, Macleod must pull whatever resources he can to bring about the arrest of the dark band of brothers before another innocent suffers.<br /><br /><i>With Hope removed, you need a rottweiler at your heels! </i></p><p><b>My Take</b></p><p><b>Warning</b>: don't start this until you have read <a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2024/03/review-death-of-macleod-inferno-trilogy.html">THE DEATH OF MACLEOD</a>, Inferno Trilogy 1.</p><p><i>Spoiler: in the first in the Trilogy, Macleod had a falling out with the new DCI and has gone on indefinite leave. Clarissa was injured in that novel and so she is on leave too. None of Macleod's team are meant to be in contact with him.</i></p><p>This novel further explores the dynamics that holds this team together. The trilogy has one more title to go.<br /></p><p><b>My rating</b>: 4.6 </p><p>I've read <br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/03/review-waters-edge-g-r-jordan.html">4.5, WATER'S EDGE</a> -#1</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/03/this-edition-on-kindle-amazon-asin.html">4.4, THE BOTHY</a> - #2</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/04/reviewthe-horror-weekend-g-r-jordan.html">4.4, THE HORROR WEEKEND</a> - #3</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/04/review-small-ferry-gr-jordan.html">4.5, THE SMALL FERRY</a> - #4 </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/04/review-dead-at-thrird-man-g-r-jordan.html">4.5, DEAD AT THIRD MAN</a> - #5 </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/05/review-pirate-club-g-r-jordan.html">4.4, THE PIRATE CLUB</a> <span style="font-weight: normal;">- #6</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/07/review-personal-agenda.html">4.5, A PERSONAL AGENDA</a> - #7</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/07/review-just-punishment-gr-jordan.html">4.6, A JUST PUNISHMENT</a> - #8</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/08/review-numerous-deaths-of-santa-claus-g.html">4.5, THE NUMEROUS DEATHS OF SANTA CLAUS</a> - #9</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/08/review-our-gated-community-g-r-jordan.html">4.4, OUR GATED COMMUNITY</a> - #10 </span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/11/review-satchel-g-r-jordan.html">4.4, THE SATCHEL</a> - #11 </span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/11/review-culwych-alpha-gr-jordan.html">4.3, CULHWCH ALPHA</a> - #12</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/09/review-fair-market-value-g-r-jordan.html">4.5, FAIR MARKET VALUE</a> - #13</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/09/review-coach-bomber-gr-jordan.html">4.5, THE COACH BOMBER</a> - #14</span> </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/10/review-culling-at-singing-sands-g-r.html">4.7, THE CULLING AT SINGING SANDS</a> - #15</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/11/review-when-justice-fails-gr-jordan.html">4.6, WHERE JUSTICE FAILS</a> - #16 </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/11/review-cortado-club-g-r-jordan.html">4.5, THE CORTADO CLUB</a> - #17</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2024/01/review-cleared-to-die-gr-jordan.html">4.5, CLEARED TO DIE</a> - #18</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2024/02/review-man-overboard-g-r-jordan.html">4.5, MAN OVERBOARD - #19 </a></li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2024/02/review-antisocial-behaviour-gr-jordan.html">4.6, ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR</a> -#20 </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2024/02/review-rogues-gallery-gr-jordan.html">4.5, ROGUE'S GALLERY</a>- #21</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2024/03/review-death-of-macleod-inferno-trilogy.html">4.5, THE DEATH OF MACLEOD</a> - #22</li></ul><p></p>Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-9881942239692226952024-03-03T13:12:00.001+10:302024-03-03T13:18:32.403+10:30Review: THE DEATH OF MACLEOD: Inferno Trilogy 1, G.R. Jordan<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/815XJL8PKpL._SL1500_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/815XJL8PKpL._SL1500_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>this book available from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLZQ6FCS/">Amazon on Kindle</a></li><li>Highlands & Islands Detective Book 22</li><li><span class="a-list-item"> <span class="a-text-bold">ASIN
:
</span> <span>B0BLZQ6FCS</span> </span></li><li><span class="a-list-item"> <span class="a-text-bold">Publisher
:
</span> <span>Carpetless Publishing (November 9, 2022)</span> </span></li><li><span class="a-list-item"> <span class="a-text-bold">Publication date
:
</span> <span>November 9, 2022</span> </span></li></ul><p><b>Synopsis</b> (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLZQ6FCS/">Amazon</a>)</p><p>A slaughter of innocents. A crazed public demands vengeance from any source. Can Macleod hold his poise amidst a cry for blood before justice?<br /><br />When a heinous crime against children provokes a national outcry, Detective Inspector Macleod and his team are under pressure for results like never before. As the murders continue, top brass demands a scapegoat at all costs. But when Detective Sergeant McGrath suspects evidence has been planted to sate the public’s bloodlust, can Macleod find the real killer before the public tears their sacrificial lamb apart?<br /><br /><b><i>Today in the crucible, tomorrow the gallows</i>.</b></p><p><b>My Take</b></p><p>These stories continue to hold my attention. </p><p>Macleod has a new DCI who sees Macleod as a managerial challenge. When Macleod comes up with a radical interpretation of the ghastly events that are occurring, the DCI insists that he is wrong and forces Macleod to take action that he feels is wrong.</p><p>There can only be one result.</p><p>The author has chosen to break this story into 3 parts, hence the title.<br /></p><p><b>My rating</b>: 4.6</p><p>I've also read</p><ul><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/03/review-waters-edge-g-r-jordan.html">4.5, WATER'S EDGE</a> -#1</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/03/this-edition-on-kindle-amazon-asin.html">4.4, THE BOTHY</a> - #2</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/04/reviewthe-horror-weekend-g-r-jordan.html">4.4, THE HORROR WEEKEND</a> - #3</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/04/review-small-ferry-gr-jordan.html">4.5, THE SMALL FERRY</a> - #4 </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/04/review-dead-at-thrird-man-g-r-jordan.html">4.5, DEAD AT THIRD MAN</a> - #5 </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/05/review-pirate-club-g-r-jordan.html">4.4, THE PIRATE CLUB</a> <span style="font-weight: normal;">- #6</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/07/review-personal-agenda.html">4.5, A PERSONAL AGENDA</a> - #7</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/07/review-just-punishment-gr-jordan.html">4.6, A JUST PUNISHMENT</a> - #8</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/08/review-numerous-deaths-of-santa-claus-g.html">4.5, THE NUMEROUS DEATHS OF SANTA CLAUS</a> - #9</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/08/review-our-gated-community-g-r-jordan.html">4.4, OUR GATED COMMUNITY</a> - #10 </span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/11/review-satchel-g-r-jordan.html">4.4, THE SATCHEL</a> - #11 </span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/11/review-culwych-alpha-gr-jordan.html">4.3, CULHWCH ALPHA</a> - #12</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/09/review-fair-market-value-g-r-jordan.html">4.5, FAIR MARKET VALUE</a> - #13</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/09/review-coach-bomber-gr-jordan.html">4.5, THE COACH BOMBER</a> - #14</span> </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/10/review-culling-at-singing-sands-g-r.html">4.7, THE CULLING AT SINGING SANDS</a> - #15</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/11/review-when-justice-fails-gr-jordan.html">4.6, WHERE JUSTICE FAILS</a> - #16 </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/11/review-cortado-club-g-r-jordan.html">4.5, THE CORTADO CLUB</a> - #17</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2024/01/review-cleared-to-die-gr-jordan.html">4.5, CLEARED TO DIE</a> - #18</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2024/02/review-man-overboard-g-r-jordan.html">4.5, MAN OVERBOARD - #19 </a></li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2024/02/review-antisocial-behaviour-gr-jordan.html">4.6, ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR</a> -#20 </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2024/02/review-rogues-gallery-gr-jordan.html">4.5, ROGUE'S GALLERY</a>- #21</li></ul>Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-21163784030302410452024-03-03T12:34:00.006+10:302024-03-03T12:34:48.129+10:30Review: THE THIRTEEN PROBLEMS, Agatha Christie<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/719nKeKThDL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="469" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/719nKeKThDL._SL1500_.jpg" width="188" /></a></div>first published 1932<br /></li><li>this edition published by Harper Collins 2021</li><li>ISBN 978-0-00-850935-4</li><li>231 pages</li></ul><p><b>Synopsis</b> (<a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Tuesday-Club-Murders-Thirteen-Problems/dp/0008509352">Amazon</a>)</p><p>Follow the ingenious mysteries of the ‘Tuesday Night Club’ with this hardback special edition of Agatha Christie’s beloved classic.<br />THE ORIGINAL WEEKDAY MURDER CLUB<br /><br />‘Well,’ said Joyce, ‘it seems to me we are a pretty representative gathering. How would it be if we formed a Club? What is today? Tuesday? We will call it The Tuesday Night Club. It is to meet every week, and each member in turn has to propound a problem. Some mystery of which they have personal knowledge, and to which, of course, they know the answer.’<br /><br />Two years before The Murder at the Vicarage, Agatha Christie first introduced the world to Jane Marple and the stories of murder and intrigue told by each member of the Tuesday Night Club. Time and time again, crimes so wicked they have confounded even Scotland Yard’s finest are solved by St Mary Mead’s sharpest mind and everyone’s favourite armchair.</p><p><b>Additional information<br /></b></p><p>THE THIRTEEN PROBLEMS consists of 13 short stories, all dedicated to
demonstrating the cleverness of Miss Marple, who mainly solves the
mysteries by comparing them to her observations of life in St. Mary
Mead. The stories marked the debut of Miss Marple. The first set were
published in 1927-28, and therefore preceded her debut novel <span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2009/04/review-murder-at-vicarage-agatha.html">THE MURDER AT THE VICARAGE</a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span> which was published in 1930.<br /><br />The first story is <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Tuesday Night Club</span> and it sets the scene for the next 5 stories.<br />The author Raymond West is staying with his aunt, Jane Marple in the village of St. Mary Mead.<br />Apart from Raymond and Miss Marple, there are four other people in the room, the occasion simply an evening in MissMarple's
house. Other people might play charades but Raymond West suggests they
think about unsolved mysteries. One of the guests suggests they form a
club, call it the Tuesday Night Club, to meet every week, and each
member has to propound a problem. It seems at first that Miss Marple
will be left out but the others courteously include her.<br />As the
evening progresses, each of the guests tells a story, and then the
others each attempt a solution. Invariably the story teller knows the
answer and only Miss Marple guesses correctly.<br /><br />The stories generated are<br /></p><ul><li><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Tuesday Night Club</span>
- Sir Henry Clithering, until recently Commissioner of Scotland Yard,
tells a tale about tinned lobster that caused a fatal case of food
poisoning. December 1927.<br /></li><li><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Idol House of Astarte</span>
- Dr. Pender is an elderly clergyman. He tells the story of paganism
and the time when he saw a man "stricken to death by apparently no
mortal agency". January 1928.<br /></li><li><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Ingots of Gold</span>
- this story is recounted by Raymond West and is about a Cornish
village called Rathole (a sly dig at the real village of Mousehole?) and
treasure from the Spanish Armada. February 1928.<br /></li><li><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Bloodstained Pavement</span>
- Joyce Lempriere, the artist, also tells a tale from the village of
Rathole, of a husband and wife playing the cruellest trick of all, the
duping and eventual murder of another woman. March 1928.<br /></li><li><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Motive & Opportunity</span>
- Mr Petherick is a solicitor, "a dried-up little man with eyeglasses
which he looked over and not through." His tale is of spiritualism and
of a will that is eventually found to be a blank sheet of paper. April
1928.<br /></li><li><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Thumb Mark of St. Peter</span>
- this is Miss Marple's story, about her niece Mabel who married a man
with a violent temper, and who is suspected by the locals of causing his
death. May 1928.<br /></li></ul>The proposed Tuesday Night Club doesn't seem to have met again, or at least not regularly as was first proposed.<br /><br />Some
months later, Sir Henry Clithering goes to stay with friends, Colonel
and Mrs Bantry who live near St. Mary Mead. Mrs Bantry is arranging a
dinner party and Sir Henry suggests Miss Marple as the sixth person for
the party. He mentions the memorable evening the year before in Miss
Marple's house. Mrs Bantry adds Miss Marple to the invitations and
suggests they try her out on "Arthur's ghost story" after dinner. There
are 6 people at the dinner table and after dinner the stories are told.<br /><ul><li><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Blue Geranium</span>
- This is Colonel Arthur Bantry's tale. He is a red-faced, broad
shouldered man who tells his "ghost story" at his wife Dolly's
prompting. It is about a "dreadful" woman who had a weakness for fortune
tellers, palmists and clairvoyantes, until the latest warns her against
blue flowers, and the flowers on her bedroom wallpaper begin to change
colour. December 1929.<br /></li><li><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Companion</span>
- Dr. Lloyd is the grizzled elderly doctor who for the past 5 years has
administered to the ailments of the village of St. Mary Mead. His tale
is from time he spent practsing on the Canary Islands. Tragedy struck
when two English ladies, one the paid companion of the other, came to
stay, went swimming, and the companion drowned. February 1930.<br /></li><li><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Four Suspects</span>
- Sir Henry Clithering tells the story of a marked man, hiding from a
secret society, to whom he assigns a protector. Unfortunately the man is
still killed, in an apparent accident falling down the stairs, but
Clithering suspects the very man he sent in as the protector. January
1930.<br /></li><li><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">A Christmas Tragedy</span>
- Mrs Bantry, Dolly, protests she doesn't have a tale to tell, so Miss
Marple tells the story of the murder of a young wife, she had been
convinced would happen, and failed to prevent. January 1930.<br /></li><li><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Herb of Death</span>
- Mrs Bantry can't get out of telling a tale, and so she tells a tale
of what had appeared to be a case of accidental poisoning when foxglove
leaves were picked with sage, and roast duck stuffed with the mixture.
But even she doesn't see what really happened, but Miss Marple works it
out. March 1930.<br /></li><li><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Affair of the Bungalow</span>
- Jane Helier, a beautiful young actress, tells the story of a "close
friend" but Miss Marple sees through it and gives her some timely
advice. May 1930.<br /></li></ul><p>The final story does not come from either
of the preceding occasions, but is a collaboration between Sir Henry
Clithering, again staying with the Bantrys, and consulted by Miss
Marple, who says she knows who has committed a local murder.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Death by Drowning</span>
- a local St. Mary Mead girl has been drowned. At first it is thought
to be suicide but Miss Marple is convinced it is murder. She asks Sir
Henry to intervene in the local investigation to ensure that the true
murderer is apprehended. She gives Sir Henry a slip of paper with the
name of the murderer on it. November 1931.</p><p><b>My Take</b></p><p>I have re-read these for discussion with my U3A Agatha Christie Reading group.</p><p>This is an interesting collection of short stories, a little patchy. I thought the first six were the best. <br /></p><p>We have already read the last story (Death by Drowning) which was reprinted recently in the collection <a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/12/review-deadly-affair-agatha-christie.html">A DEADLY AFFAIR: unexpected love stories</a></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://swanpride.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/miss-marple.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="254" height="283" src="https://swanpride.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/miss-marple.png" width="254" /></a></div>One of the questions that I will ask in our discussion is what they think of the image created of Miss Marple. Does it fit the one which we see in the videos and films?<p></p><p><span class="ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc"><i>Miss Marple (as she is affectionately known) is a <b>tall, thin woman of between 65 and 70 years of age</b>.
She has white snowy hair, pale blue eyes, and a pinkish wrinkled face.
Two of her hobbies (and subjects of conversation) are bird watching and
gardening, and she is often seen carrying knitting needles and yarn.</i></span></span></p><p>Here is the description from the opening page of <b>The Tuesday Night Club:</b></p><p><i>... she sat erect in the big grand-father chair. Miss Marple wore a black brocade dress, very much pinched in around the waist. Mechlin lace was arranged in a cascade down the front of the bodice. She had on black mittens, and a black lace cap surmounted the piled-up masses of her snowy hair. She was knitting - something white and soft and fleecy. Her faded blue eyes, benignant and kindly, surveyed her nephew and her nephew's guests with gentle pleasure.</i> </p><p>My other question is about what sort of person she is. Is she always kind and benign or do we sometimes see another side of her? <br /></p><p><b>My rating</b>: 4.5</p><p><b>My first reviews</b>:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2013/10/review-miss-marple-short-stories.html">THE SOLVING SIX<br /></a></li><li><a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2009/07/review-thirteen-problems-agatha.html">THE THIRTEEN PROBLEMS </a></li></ul><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/p/agatha-christie-novels.html">My list of Agatha Christie novels</a>Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-74139448543127703022024-02-24T16:01:00.002+10:302024-02-24T16:01:37.755+10:30Review: THE ZIG ZAG GIRL, Elly Griffiths<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ellygriffiths.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/9781784291969-667x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="521" height="320" src="https://ellygriffiths.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/9781784291969-667x1024.jpg" width="208" /></a></div> this large print edition published in 2015 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt</li><li>provided by my local library<br /></li><li>ISBN 978-1-62899-768-2</li><li>350 pages</li><li>#1 A Magic Men Mystery (Brighton Mysteries #1)<br /></li></ul><p><b>Synopsis</b> (<a href="https://ellygriffiths.co.uk/book/the-zig-zag-girl/">author website</a>) </p><p>Magic, murder and a mystery rooted in a murky wartime past. Meet DI Stephens and Max Mephisto.<br /><br />Brighton, 1950. When the body of a girl is found, cut into three, Detective Inspector Edgar Stephens is reminded of a magic trick, the Zig Zag Girl. The inventor of the trick, Max Mephisto, is an old friend of Edgar’s. They served together in the war as part of a shadowy unit called the Magic Men. </p><p>Max is still on the circuit, touring seaside towns in the company of ventriloquists, sword-swallowers and dancing girls. Changing times mean that variety is not what it once was, yet Max is reluctant to leave this world to help Edgar investigate. But when the dead girl turns out to be known to him, Max changes his mind. Another death, another magic trick: Edgar and Max become convinced that the answer to the murders lies in their army days. </p><p>When Edgar receives a letter warning of another ‘trick’, the Wolf Trap, he knows that they are all in the killer’s sights…</p><p><b>My Take</b></p><p>This story is a treat in many ways. First of all it is by one of my favourite authors. Secondly it is the first of a series that I've hardly touched, so I know I have at least a couple of treats in store.</p><p>This is the first in what has become known as the Brighton Mysteries series. The author carefully introduces the main characters, Max Mephisto, and Edgar Stephens, magician and detective, who first came together during World War II in a special unit intended to create illusions to trick Hitler into thinking England was about to invade Norway.</p><p>Now, five years after the war, Stephens is a detective in Brighton and Mephisto has gone back to the Variety Halls. They are brought together by a body in 3 parts. </p><p>I thoroughly enjoyed my outing.<br /></p><p><b>My rating</b>: 4.8</p><p><b>I've also read</b></p><ul><li>
<a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2010/08/review-crossing-places-elly-griffiths.html">4.6, THE CROSSING PLACES</a> - Ruth Galloway #1<br /></li><li>
<a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2011/04/review-janus-stone-elly-griffiths.html">4.6, THE JANUS STONE</a> - Ruth Galloway #2</li><li>
<u>4.6, THE HOUSE AT SEA'S END</u> - Ruth Galloway #3</li><li>
<a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/review-room-full-of-bones-elly.html" target="_blank">4.5, A ROOM FULL OF BONES</a> - Ruth Galloway #4</li><li>
<a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/review-dying-fall-elly-griffiths-audio.html">4.8, DYING FALL- audio book</a> - Ruth Galloway #5</li><li>
<a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/review-ghost-fields-elly-griffiths.html">4.5, THE GHOST FIELDS, Elly Griffiths</a> - audio book - Ruth Galloway #7</li><li>
<a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com.au/2015/10/review-outcast-dead-ellly-griffiths.html">4.7, THE OUTCAST DEAD, Elly Griffiths - audio book</a> - Ruth Galloway #6</li><li>
<a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com.au/2016/10/review-woman-in-blue-elly-griffiths.html">4.7, THE WOMAN IN BLUE</a> - Ruth Galloway #8</li><li>
<a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com.au/2017/07/review-chalk-pit-elly-griffiths.html">4.7, THE CHALK PIT</a> - Ruth Galloway #9</li><li>
<a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2019/01/review-stranger-diaries-elly-griffiths.html">4.6, THE STRANGER DIARIES</a> - Harbinder Kaur #1<br /></li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2021/01/review-postscript-murders-elly-griffiths.html">4.4, THE POSTSCRIPT MURDERS</a> - Harbinder Kaur #2<br /></li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2021/06/review-lantern-men-elly-griffiths.html">4.7, THE LANTERN MEN</a> - Ruth Galloway #12</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2021/08/review-stone-circle-elly-griffiths.html">5.0, THE STONE CIRCLE</a> - Ruth Galloway #11 </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2021/08/review-dark-ange-elly-griffiths.html">4.8, THE DARK ANGEL</a> - Ruth Galloway #10</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2021/08/review-night-hawks-elly-griffiths.html">4.7, THE NIGHT HAWKS</a> - Ruth Galloway #13 <br /></li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/05/review-locked-room-elly-griffiths.html">5.0, THE LOCKED ROOM</a> - Ruth Galloway #14</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/01/review-bleeding-heart-yard-elly.html">4.6, BLEEDING HEART YARD</a> - Harbinder Kaur #3</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/04/review-last-remains-elly-griffiths.html">5.0, THE LAST REMAINS</a> - Ruth Galloway #15</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2019/12/review-smoke-and-mirrors-elly-griffiths.html">4.5, SMOKE AND MIRRORS</a> - Brighton Mysteries #2</li><li><a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com.au/2018/05/review-vanishing-box-elly-griffiths.html">4.4, THE VANISHING BOX</a> - Brighton Mysteries #4 <br /></li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/07/review-midnight-hour-elly-griffiths.html">4.5, THE MIDNIGHT HOUR, Elly Griffiths</a> - Brighton Mysteries #6</li></ul><p></p>Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-13071407512144640152024-02-17T18:54:00.003+10:302024-02-17T18:54:51.158+10:30Review: I WILL FIND YOU, Harlan Coben<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/8166TrI+2QL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="521" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/8166TrI+2QL._SL1500_.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>This edition made available as an e-book on Libby by my local library<br /></li><li>Publisher : Century Physical (28 November 2023)</li><li>Language : English</li><li>Paperback : 416 pages</li><li>ISBN-10 : 1529160553</li><li>ISBN-13 : 978-1529160550 </li><li><a href="https://www.harlancoben.com/i-will-find-you/">author website</a> <br /></li></ul><p><b>Synopsis</b> (publisher) </p><p>David and Cheryl Burroughs are living the dream - married, a beautiful house in the suburbs, a three year old son named Matthew - when tragedy strikes one night in the worst possible way.<br /><br />David awakes to find himself covered in blood, but not his own - his son's. And while he knows he did not murder his son, the overwhelming evidence against him puts him behind bars indefinitely.<br /><br />Five years into his imprisonment, Cheryl's sister arrives - and drops a bombshell.<br /><br />She's come with a photograph that a friend took on vacation at a theme park. The boy in the background seems familiar - and even though David realizes it can't be, he knows it is.<br /><br />It's Matthew, and he's still alive.<br /><br />David plans a harrowing escape from prison, determined to do what seems impossible - save his son, clear his own name, and discover the real story of what happened that devastating night.</p><p><b>My Take</b></p><p>From my point of view, a story that stretches the bounds of probability, but nevertheless a feel good scenario, helping us think that justice can be achieved in the most improbable ways.</p><p>Two plot strands: a father jailed for life for killing his 3 year old son, and then the possibility that the son is still alive.<br /></p><p><b>My rating</b>: 4.4</p><p><b>I've also read</b></p><p><a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2011/10/review-caught-harlan-coben-audio.html">4.4, CAUGHT</a><br />
<a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2019/06/review-dont-let-go-harlan-coben.html">4.3, DON'T LET GO</a><br />
<a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2019/06/review-no-second-chance-harlan-coben.html">4.3, NO SECOND CHANCE</a><br />
<a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2019/07/review-run-away-harlan-coben.html">4.5, RUN AWAY</a><br />
<a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2019/09/review-woods-harlan-coben.html">4.5, THE WOODS</a><i> <br /></i></p>Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-53775697280943344522024-02-17T11:08:00.002+10:302024-02-17T11:08:27.208+10:30Review: THE TRAP, Catherine Ryan Howard<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81Xei+sjmAL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="513" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81Xei+sjmAL._SL1500_.jpg" width="205" /></a></div>This edition from <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Trap-Catherine-Ryan-Howard-ebook/dp/B0BPGFT141/">Amazon</a> on Kindle<br /></li><li>ASIN : B0BPGFT141</li><li>Publisher : Transworld Digital (3 August 2023)</li><li>Print length : 372 pages</li></ul><p><b>Synopsis</b> (<a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Trap-Catherine-Ryan-Howard-ebook/dp/B0BPGFT141/">Amazon</a>) </p><p>Stranded on a dark road in the middle of the night, a young woman accepts a lift from a passing stranger. It's the nightmare scenario that every girl is warned about, and she knows the dangers all too well - but what other choice does she have?<br /><br />As they drive, she alternates between fear and relief - one moment thinking he is just a good man doing a good thing, the next convinced he's a monster. But when he delivers her safely to her destination, she realizes her fears were unfounded.<br /><br />And her heart sinks. Because a monster is what she's looking for.<br /><br />She'll try again tomorrow night. But will the man who took her sister take the bait?</p><p><b>My Take:</b></p><p>Lucy lives in the same house as her sister's boyfriend. Her sister Nicki did not come home several months ago and there has been no trace of her. Lucy is convinced her sister is one of a number of Irish girls who have been abducted in the last three or four years, that there is a serial killer at work. Lucy cannot accept that she is never going to see Nicki again. The boyfriend Chris is convinced it is time they let go and moved on. He wants to get on with his life, and says Lucy needs to do that too.</p><p>We see the action from several points of view: Angela who works in the Missing Persons Unit; Denise a Gardai attached to a special task force searching for 3 missing women in particular; and someone who appears to be abducting women.</p><p>The story explores the motives behind setting up a special task force, why some missing women warrants searches and others don't, and we inch closer to finding out what happened. </p><p>There are a couple of unexpected twists right at the end, that make you feel the story has started all over again.</p><p><b>My rating</b>: 4.4 </p><p><b>I've also read</b></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/06/review-distress-signals-catherine-ryan.html">4.4, DISTRESS SIGNALS</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/06/review-liars-girl-catherine-ryan-howard.html">4.7, THE LIAR'S GIRL</a></li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/09/review-nothing-man-catherine-ryan-howard.html">4.7, THE NOTHING MAN</a></li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/09/review-rewind-catherine-ryan-howard.html">4.4, REWIND</a> </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/09/review-56-days-catherine-ryan-howard.html">4.7, 56 DAYS</a></li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/11/review-run-time-catherine-ryan-howard.html">4.4, RUN TIME</a> </li></ul><p></p>Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-42906413935592874072024-02-11T14:36:00.001+10:302024-02-11T14:36:52.255+10:30Review: VANISHING POINT, Pat Flower<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.dymocks.com.au/Pages/ImageHandler.ashx?q=9781862542921&w=&h=570" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="373" height="320" src="https://www.dymocks.com.au/Pages/ImageHandler.ashx?q=9781862542921&w=&h=570" width="209" /></a></div>this novel first published 1975<br /></li><li>this edition published by Wakefield Crime Classics 1991</li><li>ISBN 1-86254-292-9</li><li>209 pages</li></ul><p><b>Synopsis</b> (<a href="https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/vanishing-point-by-pat-flower-and-pat-flower-9781862542921">publisher</a>) </p><p>Cruel, egotistical Noel, a thistledown, a cheap balloon whisking willy-nilly away from the piercing, deflating needle of her fine judgement.<br /><br />Geraldine needs to keep her cool through the highs and the lows, but it's maddening when Noel keeps missing the point.<br /><br />The trek up north was gruelling, yet every plant and bird she saw, every sweaty, purposeless mile she crossed, convinced her that they were made for each other.<br /><br />Back home in Sydney, when there's still a gap between them, he has to be made to see.<br /><br />The Wakefield Crime Classics series revives forgotten or neglected gems of crime and mystery fiction by Australian authors. Many of the writers have established international reputations but are little known in Australia.<br /><br /><b>additional blurb</b> (<a href="https://saperebooks.com/books/vanishing-point-pat-flower-australian-thrillers/">Sapere Books</a>) - more revealing (almost a plot spoiler)<br /><br />When Geraldine Blaine embarks on a gruelling expedition through the remote Cape York Peninsula with her husband, she hopes it will be the trip of a lifetime.<br /><br />Noel is becoming ever more emotionally distant … and, she suspects, unfaithful. Perhaps a holiday is just what they need?<br /><br />But Noel never wanted Geraldine on the trip in the first place, and amidst the simmering menace of the wilderness their threadbare marriage swiftly begins to unravel.<br /><br />When Noel delivers the bombshell that he’s returning home early, in defiance Geraldine stays behind. But when she finally returns home to Sydney, her husband is more indifferent than ever — and clearly infatuated with beautiful young Nerida Jessop.<br /><br />It’s the final straw for Geraldine – and as her obsessive love turns to murderous rage, she’s driven to terrible extremes…<br /><br />In flight from the consequences of her actions, she finds herself journeying through the unforgiving Peninsula once more. But as her new travelling companions turn against her, Geraldine’s about to learn that some secrets aren’t so easy to bury…<br /><br />Why is her new travelling companion, Jim Oates, so hostile? And why are he and the mysterious Ralph Turner so interested in Geraldine’s past?<br /><br />And as the net begins to close in on her, what desperate measures will she resort to?<br /></p><p><b>My Take</b></p><p>Set in 1974, a thriller set around a trip from Sydney to Cape York. I found this a demanding read. It is written from the point of view of Geraldine Blaine who sees herself very differently to the ways other people see her. Her husband Noel really marries Geraldine for her money, which she never quite understands. By the time they undertake the trip North, Geraldine's hold on reality has become very stretched.<br /></p><p>Eventually Noel drives Geraldine to an extreme act, but she thinks she has got away with it. </p><p>The final pages of the Wakefield Crime Classic version of this novel contains a thought provoking review by editors Michael J. Tolley and Peter Moss.<br /></p><p><b>My rating</b>: 4.6</p><p><b>About the author</b></p><p>Pat was born in Ramsgate, Kent, England and moved to Australia with her family in 1928. She originally worked as a secretary, writing radio plays and sketches in her spare time. She eventually moved on to writing crime novels and TV scripts.<br /><br />She wrote so many episodes of the ABC TV series Australian Playhouse one critic called it “The Pat Flower Show”.<br /><br />She was married to Cedric Flower, an actor, costume designer, designer, playwright, director, playwright, producer and set designer.<br /><br />Pat passed away in 1977.<br /></p>Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-53840168941920568722024-02-11T14:00:00.004+10:302024-02-11T14:00:44.665+10:30Review: HOLDING, Graham Norton<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51QDQbhlrAL._SX325_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="327" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51QDQbhlrAL._SX325_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>this edition published by <a href="https://www.hodder.co.uk/titles/graham-norton/holding/9781399707756/">Hodder & Stoughton</a> 2016<br /></li><li>made available by my local library <br /></li><li>ISBN 978-1-444-79199-0</li><li>312 pages</li></ul><p><b>Synopsis</b> (publisher)</p><p>The remote Irish village of Duneen has known little drama; and yet its inhabitants are troubled. Sergeant PJ Collins hasn't always been this overweight; mother of two Brid Riordan hasn't always been an alcoholic; and elegant Evelyn Ross hasn't always felt that her life was a total waste. So when human remains are discovered on an old farm, suspected to be that of Tommy Burke - a former love of both Brid and Evelyn - the village's dark past begins to unravel.<br /><br />As the frustrated PJ struggles to solve a genuine case for the first time in his life, he unearths a community's worth of anger and resentments, secrets and regret.<br /><br />Darkly comic, touching and at times profoundly sad. Graham Norton employs his acerbic wit to breathe life into a host of lovable characters, and explore - with searing honesty - the complexities and contradictions that make us human. <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.hodder.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/hbg-title-9781399707756-13.jpg?w=440" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="440" height="320" src="https://www.hodder.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/hbg-title-9781399707756-13.jpg?w=440" width="209" /></a></div><b>My Take</b><p></p><p>You will note that this is the second time I have read this novel. My earlier review is <a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2021/10/review-holding-graham-norton.html">here</a> ( I first read it about 3 years ago) <br /></p><p>This time I am reading it for discussion with my U3A Crime Fiction group. This is the first book we are reading this year, and I think they will enjoy it.</p><p>We will be basing some of our discussion on some questions listed at <a href="https://tra-resources.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/entries/document/2027/Holding_-_Discussion_questions.pdf">The Reading Agency</a> (listed on <a href="https://tra-resources.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/entries/document/2027/Holding_-_Discussion_questions.pdf">Amazon</a>)</p><p style="margin-left: 120px; text-align: left;"><i>Duneen is a quiet place, far enough from the big towns to have kept its own rhythms. Its residents include cast down policeman PJ who lives a lonely, uneventful life punctuated only by the next meal – until now; the beautiful and mysterious family of three spinster sisters each with their own secrets and<br />sorrows; and of course, the town's gossip who think she knows the answers. When a grim discovery is made on a building site up by the old school, it becomes the catalyst for half lived secrets and seething rivalries to come to light and this silent, once innocent and repressed-seeming town is revealed to have<br />a much darker, hungrier undertow</i><br /></p><p>The other resources that I've found which we may use in our discussion are some short You Tube videos:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Graham Norton <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wwbC2AltAE">reading an extract</a></li><li>Character introduction : <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo5uG4ZTQTo">Evelyn Ross</a> <br /></li></ul><p>Both of these videos comment on the significance of the novel's title. </p><p><b>My rating</b>: 4.5<br /></p><p>I've also read</p><ul><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2021/11/review-home-stretch-graham-norton.html">4.6, HOME STRETCH</a></li></ul>Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-12685828946853858952024-02-05T19:17:00.000+10:302024-02-05T19:17:15.822+10:30Review: ROGUE'S GALLERY, G.R. Jordan<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://grjordan.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/HD21-ebook-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://grjordan.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/HD21-ebook-small.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>this edition an e-book on my Kindle (<a href="https://www.amazon.in/Rogues-Gallery-Highlands-Detective-Thriller/dp/1915562104">Amazon</a>)<br /></li><li>#21 in the Highlands and Islands series</li><li>Publisher : Carpetless Publishing (10 September 2022)</li><li>Paperback : 228 pages<br /></li></ul><p><b>Synopsis</b> (<a href="https://www.amazon.in/Rogues-Gallery-Highlands-Detective-Thriller/dp/1915562104">Amazon</a>)</p><p>Foreign royalty found dead on an island estate. A fractious gathering provides a plethora of suspects. Can Macleod and McGrath sort the treasure from the driftwood to reveal who truly gains the most from the duke's death?<br /><br />DI Seoras Macleod is ordered away from his recovering partner Jane, to investigate the suspicious death of a foreign duke at the estate of his mother. Found naked and deceased in a small loch near the family's holiday estate, the duke is not short of enemies at the milestone gathering of his remaining parent's birthday. Amidst bluster and genuine loathing, Macleod, and his faithful Sergeant McGrath, must hunt down a killer who seems ready to destroy an entire lineage.<br /><br />Blood runs thicker than water, every drop! <br /></p><p><b>My Take</b></p><p>A small European royal family has been allowed to set up a sequestered embassy on a remote Scottish island. MacLeod and his team have been ordered by the British government to investigate the murder of the head of the family. But MacLoed is far from happy. He is very restricted in the way in which he can carry out the investigation.</p><p>And then the weather closes in and the team becomes isolated on the island, and then more murders take place. MacLeod can't understand why he has been assigned this case. In addition he has been taken away from his partner who suffered mental stress in the last case. He thinks Jane needs him more than this case does.</p><p>What is the British government hoping he will achieve, or do they have another agenda?<br /></p><p><b>My rating</b>: 4.6 </p><p><b>I've also read</b></p><ul><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/03/review-waters-edge-g-r-jordan.html">4.5, WATER'S EDGE</a> -#1</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/03/this-edition-on-kindle-amazon-asin.html">4.4, THE BOTHY</a> - #2</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/04/reviewthe-horror-weekend-g-r-jordan.html">4.4, THE HORROR WEEKEND</a> - #3</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/04/review-small-ferry-gr-jordan.html">4.5, THE SMALL FERRY</a> - #4 </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/04/review-dead-at-thrird-man-g-r-jordan.html">4.5, DEAD AT THIRD MAN</a> - #5 </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/05/review-pirate-club-g-r-jordan.html">4.4, THE PIRATE CLUB</a> <span style="font-weight: normal;">- #6</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/07/review-personal-agenda.html">4.5, A PERSONAL AGENDA</a> - #7</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/07/review-just-punishment-gr-jordan.html">4.6, A JUST PUNISHMENT</a> - #8</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/08/review-numerous-deaths-of-santa-claus-g.html">4.5, THE NUMEROUS DEATHS OF SANTA CLAUS</a> - #9</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/08/review-our-gated-community-g-r-jordan.html">4.4, OUR GATED COMMUNITY</a> - #10 </span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/11/review-satchel-g-r-jordan.html">4.4, THE SATCHEL</a> - #11 </span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/11/review-culwych-alpha-gr-jordan.html">4.3, CULHWCH ALPHA</a> - #12</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/09/review-fair-market-value-g-r-jordan.html">4.5, FAIR MARKET VALUE</a> - #13</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/09/review-coach-bomber-gr-jordan.html">4.5, THE COACH BOMBER</a> - #14</span> </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/10/review-culling-at-singing-sands-g-r.html">4.7, THE CULLING AT SINGING SANDS</a> - #15</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/11/review-when-justice-fails-gr-jordan.html">4.6, WHERE JUSTICE FAILS</a> - #16 </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/11/review-cortado-club-g-r-jordan.html">4.5, THE CORTADO CLUB</a> - #17</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2024/01/review-cleared-to-die-gr-jordan.html">4.5, CLEARED TO DIE</a> - #18</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2024/02/review-man-overboard-g-r-jordan.html">4.5, MAN OVERBOARD - #19 </a></li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2024/02/review-antisocial-behaviour-gr-jordan.html">4.6, ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR</a> -#20</li></ul>Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-13348594838229366192024-02-03T16:21:00.000+10:302024-02-03T16:21:54.908+10:30Review: ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR, G.R. Jordan<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81wyUDpui4L._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="502" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81wyUDpui4L._SL1500_.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>This edition available from <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Antisocial-Behaviour-Highlands-Detective-Thriller-ebook/dp/B0B21SCJCQ">Amazon</a> on Kindle<br /></li><li>#20 in Highlands and Islands series</li><li>ASIN : B0B21SCJCQ</li><li>Publisher : Carpetless Publishing (17 July 2022)</li><li>Print length : 228 pages</li></ul><p><b>Synopsis</b> (<a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Antisocial-Behaviour-Highlands-Detective-Thriller-ebook/dp/B0B21SCJCQ">Amazon</a>) </p><p>A youth is found dead at a children’s playpark. A stolen car burnt out with the joyriders inside. Can Macleod discover the avenging angel brutally restoring the highland’s peace and quiet?<br /><br />When a spate of deaths indicating teenagers as targets sends Macleod and McGrath into a very public hunt for killer, they must walk in view of the hottest debate of the day. But when Hope believes she sees an angle that points the blame at those who responsible for the nation’s safety, Macleod must trust his Sergeant’s instincts while dodging a career ending bullet.<br /><br />It was all easier back in the day, or was it? <br /></p><p><b>My Take</b></p><p>Set in Inverness. Gangs from two council estates appear to be at war. In one night 5 young people dead in two separate incidents. Macleod's DCI wants a public campaign with Seoras as the figurehead. He protests, that is not his job. His is finding out who is responsible for the murders.</p><p>Besides, he and his team are not convinced that gang conflict is the root of the problem. The weapons being used, including a grenade, are too sophisticated.</p><p>Another excellent read. <br /></p><p><b>My rating:</b> 4.6 </p><p><b>I've also read</b></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/03/review-waters-edge-g-r-jordan.html">4.5, WATER'S EDGE</a> -#1</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/03/this-edition-on-kindle-amazon-asin.html">4.4, THE BOTHY</a> - #2</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/04/reviewthe-horror-weekend-g-r-jordan.html">4.4, THE HORROR WEEKEND</a> - #3</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/04/review-small-ferry-gr-jordan.html">4.5, THE SMALL FERRY</a> - #4 </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/04/review-dead-at-thrird-man-g-r-jordan.html">4.5, DEAD AT THIRD MAN</a> - #5 </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/05/review-pirate-club-g-r-jordan.html">4.4, THE PIRATE CLUB</a> <span style="font-weight: normal;">- #6</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/07/review-personal-agenda.html">4.5, A PERSONAL AGENDA</a> - #7</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/07/review-just-punishment-gr-jordan.html">4.6, A JUST PUNISHMENT</a> - #8</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/08/review-numerous-deaths-of-santa-claus-g.html">4.5, THE NUMEROUS DEATHS OF SANTA CLAUS</a> - #9</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/08/review-our-gated-community-g-r-jordan.html">4.4, OUR GATED COMMUNITY</a> - #10 </span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/11/review-satchel-g-r-jordan.html">4.4, THE SATCHEL</a> - #11 </span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/11/review-culwych-alpha-gr-jordan.html">4.3, CULHWCH ALPHA</a> - #12</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/09/review-fair-market-value-g-r-jordan.html">4.5, FAIR MARKET VALUE</a> - #13</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/09/review-coach-bomber-gr-jordan.html">4.5, THE COACH BOMBER</a> - #14</span> </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/10/review-culling-at-singing-sands-g-r.html">4.7, THE CULLING AT SINGING SANDS</a> - #15</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/11/review-when-justice-fails-gr-jordan.html">4.6, WHERE JUSTICE FAILS</a> - #16 </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/11/review-cortado-club-g-r-jordan.html">4.5, THE CORTADO CLUB</a> - #17</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2024/01/review-cleared-to-die-gr-jordan.html">4.5, CLEARED TO DIE</a> - #18</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2024/02/review-man-overboard-g-r-jordan.html">4.5, MAN OVERBOARD - #19 </a></li></ul><p></p>Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-500537173065971142024-01-28T12:11:00.000+10:302024-01-28T12:11:41.813+10:30Review: A WINTER GRAVE, Peter May<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Gph5+SoGL.SX316.SY480._SL500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="316" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Gph5+SoGL.SX316.SY480._SL500_.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>This edition published Quercus 2023<br /></li><li>ISBN 978-1-52942-849-0</li><li>357 pages</li></ul><p><b>Synopsis</b> (<a href="https://www.fantasticfiction.com/m/peter-may/winter-grave.htm">Fantastic Fiction</a>)</p><p>A TOMB OF ICE<br /><br />A young meteorologist checking a mountain top weather station in Kinlochleven discovers the body of a missing man entombed in ice.<br /><br />A DYING DETECTIVE<br /><br />Cameron Brodie, a Glasgow detective, sets out on a hazardous journey to the isolated and ice-bound village. He has his own reasons for wanting to investigate a murder case so far from his beat.<br /><br />AN AGONIZING RECKONING<br /><br />Brodie must face up to the ghosts of his past and to a killer determined to bury forever the chilling secret that his investigation threatens to expose.<br /><br />Set against a backdrop of a frighteningly plausible near-future, A WINTER GRAVE is Peter May at his page-turning, passionate and provocative best. </p><p><b>My Take</b></p><p>Set in November 2051, this novel is not only a murder mystery, but portrays a future affected by global warming after the major powers have failed to meet targets back at the beginning of the century. The world has changed drastically with countries near the equator becoming too hot to live in, sea levels having risen, and the northern hemisphere has entered a new Ice Age.</p><p>The body of an investigative reporter has been found entombed in ice near a nuclear power station which supplies all the power for Scotland. It is just days out from a national election in which it is expected that the ruling party will be returned. </p><p>A Glasgow detective, Cameron Brodie, has recently received the worst news from his medical specialist, and decides to undertake this investigation which may very well be his last hurrah. He also has some unfinished business which he hopes the journey north will enable him to complete.</p><p>This novel has a nicely balanced story, set against this futuristic scenario, where unmanned drones fly people to destinations.</p><p>I thoroughly enjoyed it.<br /></p><p><b>My rating:</b> 4.6 </p><p><b>I've also read</b></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>
<a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2010/03/review-runner-peter-may.html">THE RUNNER</a></li><li>
<a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2010/03/review-virtually-dead-peter-may.html">VIRTUALLY DEAD</a></li><li>
<a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2010/04/review-freeze-frame-peter-may.html">FREEZE FRAME</a></li><li>
<a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2011/12/review-blackhouse-peter-may.html">4.7, THE BLACKHOUSE</a></li><li>
<a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/review-lewis-man-peter-may-audio-book.html">5.0, THE LEWIS MAN</a></li><li>
<a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com.au/2014/06/review-extraordinary-people-peter-may.html">4.5, EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE</a></li><li>
<a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com.au/2016/02/review-coffin-road-peter-may.html">5.0, ENTRY ISLAND</a></li><li><a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com.au/2016/02/review-coffin-road-peter-may.html"><span style="color: purple;">4.9, COFFIN ROAD</span></a></li><li><span style="color: purple;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2021/01/review-loskdown-peter-may.html">4.8, LOCKDOWN</a></span></li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/05/review-entry-island-peter-may.html">4.6, ENTRY ISLAND</a><span style="color: purple;"> </span></li></ul>Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-51600511785047429842024-01-24T16:21:00.002+10:302024-01-24T16:21:48.594+10:30Review: CLEARED TO DIE, G.R. Jordan<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71YMYEX1wEL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71YMYEX1wEL._SL1500_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>This edition read on my Kindle (<a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Cleared-Die-Highlands-Detective-Thriller-ebook/dp/B09SGS5979">Amazon</a>)<br /></li><li>Highlands & Islands Detective Book 18</li><li>ASIN : B09SGS5979</li><li>Publisher : Carpetless Publishing (3 April 2022)</li><li>Print length : 227 pages</li></ul><p><b>Synopsis</b> (<a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Cleared-Die-Highlands-Detective-Thriller-ebook/dp/B09SGS5979">Amazon</a>)</p><p>A dead controller killed alone in his tower. A climate of fear and coercion among employees and managers. Can Macleod enter the world of air traffic and bring a safe, orderly, and expeditious solution to the case?<br /><br />When a commercial turboprop is forced to go-around on losing communication with Mull tower, the operations team find their oldest controller dead at his post. Amidst a furore over a change of working, Macleod and McGrath find a company in turmoil and with grudges to settle. As the sides are unmasked and the stakes known, can the pair see through the anger and disgruntlement, to bring a brutal killer to justice?<br /><br />Silence is golden… unless you need to land! </p><p><b>My Take</b></p><p>I'm unashamedly hooked on this series.</p><p>This book is set on Mull where a traffic controller is found dead at his desk when a small plane is attempting to land. </p><p>A relatively quick read, but several puzzles keep you hooked until the end. </p><p>But if you are new to this series, do tackle some of the earlier titles, so get some real knowledge of the main characters. I enjoy the variety of settings, and also the real variety in plots. Look out to for the well developed interactions between the main characters. They get you thinkin!<br /></p><p><b>My rating</b>: 4.5</p><p><b>I've also read</b></p><ul><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/03/review-waters-edge-g-r-jordan.html">4.5, WATER'S EDGE</a> -#1</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/03/this-edition-on-kindle-amazon-asin.html">4.4, THE BOTHY</a> - #2</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/04/reviewthe-horror-weekend-g-r-jordan.html">4.4, THE HORROR WEEKEND</a> - #3</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/04/review-small-ferry-gr-jordan.html">4.5, THE SMALL FERRY</a> - #4 </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/04/review-dead-at-thrird-man-g-r-jordan.html">4.5, DEAD AT THIRD MAN</a> - #5 </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/05/review-pirate-club-g-r-jordan.html">4.4, THE PIRATE CLUB</a> <span style="font-weight: normal;">- #6</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/07/review-personal-agenda.html">4.5, A PERSONAL AGENDA</a> - #7</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/07/review-just-punishment-gr-jordan.html">4.6, A JUST PUNISHMENT</a> - #8</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/08/review-numerous-deaths-of-santa-claus-g.html">4.5, THE NUMEROUS DEATHS OF SANTA CLAUS</a> - #9</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/08/review-our-gated-community-g-r-jordan.html">4.4, OUR GATED COMMUNITY</a> - #10 </span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/11/review-satchel-g-r-jordan.html">4.4, THE SATCHEL</a> - #11 </span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/11/review-culwych-alpha-gr-jordan.html">4.3, CULHWCH ALPHA</a> - #12</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/09/review-fair-market-value-g-r-jordan.html">4.5, FAIR MARKET VALUE</a> - #13</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/09/review-coach-bomber-gr-jordan.html">4.5, THE COACH BOMBER</a> - #14</span> </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/10/review-culling-at-singing-sands-g-r.html">4.7, THE CULLING AT SINGING SANDS</a> - #15</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/11/review-when-justice-fails-gr-jordan.html">4.6, WHERE JUSTICE FAILS</a> - #16 </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/11/review-cortado-club-g-r-jordan.html">4.5, THE CORTADO CLUB</a> - #17</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p>Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-46495482402590556062024-01-24T15:50:00.000+10:302024-01-24T15:50:00.336+10:30Review: LOWBRIDGE, Lucy Campbell<ul style="text-align: left;"><li>This edition from <a href="https://ultimopress.com.au/products/lowbridge">Ultimo Press</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91LJsayVk2L._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91LJsayVk2L._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" width="210" /></a></div></li><li>ISBN 9781761152061<br /></li><li>Pub Date July 2023</li><li>Extent 384pp<br /> </li></ul><p><b>Synopsis</b> (<a href="https://ultimopress.com.au/products/lowbridge">Publisher</a>)<br /><br /><b><i>Where everybody knows everyone, how can somebody just disappear?</i></b><br />A missing girl. Decades of silence. A secret too big to bury.<br /><br />1987: It’s late summer and a time of change when 17-year-old Tess Dawes leaves the local shopping centre in the sleepy town of Lowbridge and is never seen again.<br /> <br />Tess’s unsolved disappearance is never far from the town’s memory. There’s those who grew up with Tess, and never left. And those who know more than they’re saying … <br /> <br />It just takes an outsider to ask the right questions. <br /> <br />2018: Katherine Ashworth, shattered by the death of her daughter, moves to her husband’s hometown. Searching for a way to pick up the pieces of her life, she joins the local historical society and becomes obsessed with the three-decades-old mystery.<br /> <br />As Katherine digs into that summer of 1987, she stumbles upon the trail of a second girl who vanished when no one cared enough to see what was happening in plain sight. <br /> <br />Her trail could lead right to Katherine’s door. <br /> <br />In a town simmering with divisions and a cast of unforgettable characters, Lowbridge is a heart-wrenching mystery about the girls who are lost, the ones who are mourned and those who are forgotten. </p><p><b>My Take</b></p><p>Katherine Ashworth and her husband Jamie have moved back to the town where he grew up in rural New South Wales following the shattering death of their daughter. While Katherine finds it difficult to move on Jamie just seems to be able to put everything behind him, and they grow further and further apart. Katherine drinks and does little else until Jamie challenges her to find something to do.</p><p>But when Katherine joins the historical society and finds out about the disappearance of a school friend of Jamie's,Tess Dawes, 30 years earlier, he becomes reticent to talk about it, and she fears the worst.</p><p>A well constructed mystery which flits between the past and the present. The central characters are well drawn. The eventual resolution is a shock.<br /></p><p><b>My rating:</b> 4.5</p><p><b>ABOUT THE AUTHOR</b><br />Lucy Campbell has worked as a writer and sub-editor across magazines, newspapers and non-fiction books. Lowbridge is her first novel. She lives in Canberra with her husband and three children.<br /></p>Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-91604077912657176582024-01-22T16:32:00.001+10:302024-01-22T16:32:23.177+10:30Review: DARKNESS FALLS, Robert Bryndza<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81oN2na5ytL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="496" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81oN2na5ytL._SL1500_.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>this edition published by Sphere 2021<br /></li><li>ISBN 978-0-7515-7280-3</li><li>356 pages</li><li>#3 in the Kate Marshall series</li></ul><p><b>Synopsis</b> (<a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Darkness-Falls-unmissable-thriller-pulse-pounding-ebook/dp/B08LQPXHJ9">publisher</a>)</p><p>Kate Marshall's detective agency takes off when she and her partner Tristan are hired to investigate a cold case from over a decade ago. Twelve years previously, a determined young journalist called Joanna Duncan exposed a political scandal that had major repercussions. In the fallout she disappeared without trace and was never found.<br /><br />When Kate and Tristan examine the case files, they find the trail long cold, but they discover the names of two young men who also vanished at that time. As she begins to connect their last days, Kate realizes that Joanna may have been onto something far more sinister than anyone first believed: the identity of a serial killer preying on the people who few will ever miss.<br /><br />But the closer Kate comes to finding the killer, the darker things become . . . </p><p><b>My Take</b></p><p>Well constructed layered plot with an unexpected twist at the end.</p><p>We are unexpectedly introduced to the serial killer early in the novel. He sees himself as exacting revenge for various beatings he has suffered throughout his life from bullies and homophobes because of his sexuality. But Tom leads a double life and only towards the end of the story do we learn his real identity. By then he has been responsible for the deaths of a number of young men who have vanished without trace.</p><p>But the story begins with a cold case - a young female journalist who disappeared after work, whose mother is looking for closure. The police have declared her disappearance a cold case and have handed all their files over to the family to be shared with an investigator. As they begin to go through the papers and boxes Kate and her partner Tristan come across some names and a phone number that the police do not seem to have followed up on. </p><p>As Kate says several times, she and Tristan have nothing else to occupy them or distract them, whereas for the police this was just one case among hundreds. So following leads is really important to them, although I found the detail that many of their contacts remembered quite surprising. Also was their willingness to share information with private investigators.</p><p>A good story. This series is recommended.<br /></p><p><b>My rating</b>: 4.6<br /></p><p></p><p><b>I've also read</b></p><p><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2018/09/review-dark-water-robert-bryndza.html">4.6, DARK WATER</a> - #1<br />
<a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2019/01/review-night-stalker-robert-bryndza.html">4.8, THE NIGHT STALKER</a> - #2 <br />
<a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2018/12/review-girl-in-ice-robert-bryndza.html">4.8, THE GIRL IN THE ICE</a> - #3<br />
<a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2019/01/review-last-breath-robert-bryndza.html">4.8, LAST BREATH</a> - #4<br />
<a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2019/01/review-cold-blood-robert-bryndza.html">4.7, COLD BLOOD</a> - #5<br />
<a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2019/05/review-deadly-secrets-robert-bryndza.html">4.6. DEADLY SECRETS</a> - #6<br />Kate Marshall<br />
<a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2020/01/review-nine-elms-robert-bryndza.html">4.7, NINE ELMS</a> - #1<br /><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2022/05/review-shadow-sands-robert-bryndza.html">4.7, SHADOW SANDS</a> - #2 <br /></p>Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-63723008982587997112024-01-20T14:05:00.003+10:302024-01-20T14:05:25.801+10:30Review: THE RUNNING GRAVE, Robert Galbraith<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/A1kr1aiLR6L._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="513" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/A1kr1aiLR6L._SL1500_.jpg" width="205" /></a></div> This edition read on my Kindle (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Running-Grave-Cormoran-Strike-Novel-ebook/dp/B0C3CKHR3F">Amazon</a>) on a variety of devices<br /></li><li>ASIN : B0C3CKHR3F</li><li>Publisher : Mulholland Books (September 26, 2023)</li><li>Print length : 961 pages</li><li>#7 in the Cormoran Strike series</li></ul><p><b>Synopsis</b> (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Running-Grave-Cormoran-Strike-Novel-ebook/dp/B0C3CKHR3F">Amazon</a>) </p><p>In the seventh installment in the "outrageously entertaining" Strike series, detective duo Cormoran and Robin must rescue a man ensnared in the trap of a dangerous cult. (Financial Times) </p><p>Private Detective Cormoran Strike is contacted by a worried father whose son, Will, has gone to join a religious cult in the depths of the Norfolk countryside. <br /><br />The Universal Humanitarian Church is, on the surface, a peaceable organization that campaigns for a better world. Yet Strike discovers that beneath the surface there are deeply sinister undertones, and unexplained deaths. <br /><br />In order to try to rescue Will, Strike's business partner, Robin Ellacott, decides to infiltrate the cult, and she travels to Norfolk to live incognito among its members. But in doing so, she is unprepared for the dangers that await her there or for the toll it will take on her. . .<br /><br />Utterly page-turning, The Running Grave moves Strike's and Robin's story forward in this epic, unforgettable seventh installment of the series. <br /></p><p><b>My Take</b></p><p>Well, this must be the longest book I've ever read - Kindle tells me nearly 18 hours, page count 961, but to be honest, my interest in it never flagged. I did initially contemplate reading the hard copy edition, but eventually hopped between my Kindle and my Samsung tablet.</p><p>The story itself has a huge time span, and an enormous range of characters, but the more you read, the more you want.</p><p>Highly recommended.<br /></p><p><b>My rating</b>: 5.0 <br /></p><p><b>I've also read</b></p><p><a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/review-cuckoos-calling-jk-rowling.html">5.0, THE CUCKOO'S CALLING</a> #1 <br />
<a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/review-silkworm-robert-galbraith.html">4.5, THE SILKWORM</a> #2 <br />
<a href="http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com.au/2016/05/review-career-of-evil-robert-galbraith.html">4.6, A CAREER OF EVIL</a> #3<br />
<a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2019/01/review-lethal-white-robert-galbraith.html">4.7, LETHAL WHITE</a> - #4 <br /><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2020/10/review-troubled-blood-robert-galbraith.html">4.8, TROUBLED BLOOD</a>- #5 </p>Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-7675608107419816232024-01-13T16:03:00.001+10:302024-01-13T16:03:24.359+10:30Review: THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME, Laura Dave<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d28hgpri8am2if.cloudfront.net/book_images/onix/cvr9781501171352/the-last-thing-he-told-me-9781501171352_xlg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="525" height="320" src="https://d28hgpri8am2if.cloudfront.net/book_images/onix/cvr9781501171352/the-last-thing-he-told-me-9781501171352_xlg.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>this edition published by VIPER <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Last-Thing-He-Told-Me/Laura-Dave/9781501171352">Simon & Schuster 2021</a></li><li>ISBN 9781788-169271<br /></li><li>305 pages</li></ul><p><b>Synopsis</b> (<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Last-Thing-He-Told-Me/Laura-Dave/9781501171352">publisher</a>)</p><p>The “page-turning, exhilarating” (PopSugar) and “heartfelt thriller” (Real Simple) about a woman who thinks she’s found the love of her life—until he disappears.<br /><br />Before Owen Michaels disappears, he smuggles a note to his beloved wife of one year: Protect her. Despite her confusion and fear, Hannah Hall knows exactly to whom the note refers—Owen’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey. Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. Bailey, who wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother.<br /><br />As Hannah’s increasingly desperate calls to Owen go unanswered, as the FBI arrests Owen’s boss, as a US marshal and federal agents arrive at her Sausalito home unannounced, Hannah quickly realizes her husband isn’t who he said he was. And that Bailey just may hold the key to figuring out Owen’s true identity—and why he really disappeared.<br /><br />Hannah and Bailey set out to discover the truth. But as they start putting together the pieces of Owen’s past, they soon realize they’re also building a new future—one neither of them could have anticipated.<br /><br />With its breakneck pacing, dizzying plot twists, and evocative family drama, The Last Thing He Told Me is a “page-turning, exhilarating, and unforgettable” (PopSugar) suspense novel.</p><p><b>My Take</b></p><p>There was no warning in the morning that Owen Michaels wouldn't be coming home after work that night. A child turns up on Hannah's doorstep with a note from Owen and it becomes obvious he is on the run. That is quickly followed with a message from a friend, and then a story on the news, that the company he works for are in trouble, and that Owen's boss has been arrested for fraud and embezzlement.</p><p>Two days on and an FBI Marshall turns up on Hannah's doorstep and then the police come knocking. Owen's daughter Bailey finds a sack of money in her locker at school with another brief note.</p><p>Hannah realises that Owen is on the run and she and Bailey start to put together clues about where he is and why. A real page turner.<br /></p><p><a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Last-Thing-He-Told-Me/Laura-Dave/9781501171352">Reading Group Guide available</a>. <br /></p><p><b>My rating</b>: 4.6</p><p><b>About the author</b></p><p>Laura Dave is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Thing He Told Me, Eight Hundred Grapes, and other novels. Her books have been published in thirty-eight countries and have been chosen by Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club, Book of the Month Club, and the Richard and Judy Book Club. The Last Thing He Told Me was chosen as the Goodreads Mystery & Thriller of the Year for 2021. It is now a limited series on Apple TV+, cocreated by Laura. She resides in Santa Monica, California. <br /></p>Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-44887824141721257912024-01-12T17:30:00.004+10:302024-01-12T17:30:56.871+10:30Review: THE COVENT GARDEN MURDER, Mike Hollow<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71LViqmF2fL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="505" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71LViqmF2fL._SL1500_.jpg" width="202" /></a></div>this edition available from Amazon as a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Covent-Garden-Murder-compelling-Detective-ebook/dp/B0BWPNK6NG/">Kindle e-book</a></li><li>#8 in the Blitz Detective series<br /></li><li>ASIN : B0BWPNK6NG</li><li>Publisher : Allison & Busby (October 19, 2023)</li><li>Print length : 328 pages</li></ul><p><b>Synopsis</b> (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Covent-Garden-Murder-compelling-Detective-ebook/dp/B0BWPNK6NG/">publisher</a>) </p><p>December, 1940. Christmas is coming, but the season of goodwill is overshadowed by the death and destruction of the Blitz. In London's Covent Garden, where the glamour of theatreland rubs shoulders with the bustle of the capital's biggest fruit and vegetable market, the war has closed the theatres and ruined the market trade.<br /><br />When a daylight air raid hits the Prince Albert Theatre in Drury Lane, rescuers find a man dying in the wreckage. But it wasn't the bomb that's ending his life - he's been stabbed, and with his dying breath he whispers what sounds like a fragmented confession. As Detective Inspector John Jago begins to investigate, there's an underlying question he must grapple with: was the murdered man himself a killer?<br /></p><p><b>My take</b></p><p>This series began with the beginning of the Blitz in London at the beginning of September 1940, and here we are in the last book in the series, the 8th, at Christmas nearly 4 months later. </p><p>All the cases have been murder mysteries, cases that could have been attributed to the Blitz, except, as in most of the cases, for the obvious presence of a murder weapon. We have learnt little snippets of what it was like to be in London in the Blitz, also little bits about the legacy of World War One, and what was done by the authorities to try to keep life in London "normal" for its population.</p><p>The cases have been meticulously investigated by Detective Inspector Jago, originally of the Metropolitan Police force, but recently of Scotland Yard. His offsider/bagman has been Detective Constable Peter Cradock, plucked summarily from uniform and put into plain clothes. We have met a range of regular characters, including Dorothy, an American correspondent for the Boston Globe based at the Savoy Hotel.</p><p>The characters have been well developed and the plots plausible and the scenarios intersting.<br /></p><p><b>My rating</b>: 4.5</p><p><b>I've also read</b></p><ul><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/11/review-blitz-detective-mike-hollow.html">4.5, THE BLITZ DETECTIVE - #1</a></li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/11/review-canning-town-murder-mike-hollow.html">4.6, THE CANNING TOWN MURDER</a> -#2 </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/12/review-custom-house-murder-mike-hollow.html">4.5, THE CUSTOM HOUSE MURDER</a> - #3</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/12/review-stratford-murder-mike-hollow.html">4.5, THE STRATFORD MURDER</a> - #4 </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/12/review-dockland-murder-mike-hollow.html">4.5, THE DOCKLAND MURDER,</a> - #5</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/12/review-camden-murder-mike-hollow.html">4.5, THE CAMDEN MURDER</a> - #7</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2024/01/review-pimlico-murder-mike-hollow.html">4.5, THE PIMLICO MURDER</a> - #6</li></ul>Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-41412280924109514952024-01-09T16:53:00.001+10:302024-01-09T16:53:22.220+10:30Review: BRUNY, Heather Rose<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/assets.allenandunwin.com/images/small/9781760875169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="345" height="320" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/assets.allenandunwin.com/images/small/9781760875169.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>this edition from my local library<br /></li><li>first published 2019, <a href="https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Heather-Rose-Bruny-9781760875169">Allen & Unwin</a></li><li>ISBN 978-1-76087-516-9</li><li>406 pages</li></ul><p><b>Synopsis</b> (<a href="https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Heather-Rose-Bruny-9781760875169">publisher</a>)</p><p>Why is a massive bridge being built to connect the sleepy island of Bruny with the mainland of Tasmania? And why have terrorists blown it up?<br /><br />When the Bruny bridge is bombed, UN troubleshooter Astrid Coleman agrees to return home to help her brother before an upcoming election. But this is no simple task. Her brother and sister are on either side of politics, the community is full of conspiracy theories, her mother is fading and her father is quoting Shakespeare. Only on Bruny does the world seem sane. Until Astrid discovers how far the government is willing to go.<br /><br />Bruny is a searing, subversive novel about family, love, loyalty and the new world order. It is a gripping thriller with a jaw-dropping twist, a love story, a cry from the heart and a fiercely entertaining and crucial work of imagination that asks the burning question: what would you do to protect the place you love? <br /></p><p><b>My Take</b></p><p>Astrid Coleman's twin JC is the Liberal Premier of Tasmania, coming up to an election in less than 6 months. Their old sister is the leader of the Labor opposition. The focus of JC's activity has been a huge bridge to connect mainland Tasmania to the island of Bruny. But now someone has bombed the nearly completed bridge. JC asks Astrid to come home. He wants her to manage public relations while he gets the re-building of the bridge agreed to. Initially she refuses but then gets an instruction from her bosses to go. <br /></p><p>People find it very difficult to understand why the bridge is being built. It has Federal Government backing, and then JC announces that he has secured a workforce of about 300 Chinese workers to be available for the re-build immediately, and Astrid wonders what the Chinese are getting out of the deal.</p><p>This is a thought provoking novel in many ways. Astrid's parents are suffering from dementia and final-stage cancer and this adds another dimension to the story.</p><p>Rose has some interesting comments on Australian attitudes.<br /></p><p><span class="product-fields-title" data-v-2b6daa75="">Awards:</span><span class="product-field-display" data-v-2b6daa75=""></span></p><ul class="book-award" data-v-2b6daa75=""><li class="awards-list" data-v-2b6daa75=""> Shortlisted, Best Fiction, Indie Book Awards, 2020, AU </li><li class="awards-list" data-v-2b6daa75=""> Longlisted, Best Designed Commercial Fiction Cover, Australian Book Design Awards, 2020, AU </li><li class="awards-list" data-v-2b6daa75=""> Winner, General Fiction Book of the Year, ABIA Awards, 2020, AU </li><li class="awards-list" data-v-2b6daa75=""> Shortlisted, Adult Fiction Book of the Year, ABA Booksellers' Choice Awards, 2020, AU </li><li class="awards-list" data-v-2b6daa75=""> Shortlisted, Best Crime Fiction, Davitt Awards, 2020, AU </li><li class="awards-list" data-v-2b6daa75=""> Longlisted, Nib Literary Award, 2020, AU </li></ul><p></p><p><b>My rating</b>: 4.8</p><p><b>About the author</b> </p><p>Heather Rose is the Australian author of eight novels. Her seventh novel <i>The Museum of Modern Love</i>
won the 2017 Stella Prize. It also won the 2017 Christina Stead Prize
and the 2017 Margaret Scott Prize. It has been published internationally
and translated into numerous languages. Both <i>The Museum of Modern Love</i> and <i>The Butterfly Man</i> were longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award. <i>The Butterfly Man</i> won the Davitt Award in 2006, and in 2007 <i>The River Wife</i>
won the international Varuna Eleanor Dark Fellowship. Heather writes
with Danielle Wood under the pen-name Angelica Banks and their <i>Tuesday McGillycuddy </i>children's
series has twice been shortlisted for the Aurealis Awards for best
children's fantasy. Angelica Banks is also published internationally.
Heather lives by the sea in Tasmania. <br /></p>Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-66373063298137665312024-01-08T15:42:00.003+10:302024-01-08T15:42:55.560+10:30Review: THE TEA LADIES, Angela Hampson<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://cdn2.penguin.com.au/covers/original/9781761344626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="521" height="320" src="https://cdn2.penguin.com.au/covers/original/9781761344626.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>this edition made available by my local library<br /></li><li>ISBN 9-78176-04385</li><li>368 pages</li><li><a href="https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-tea-ladies-9781761344626">Penguin Random House 2023</a> <br /></li></ul><p><b>Synopsis</b> (<a href="https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-tea-ladies-9781761344626">publisher</a>) </p><p>A wickedly witty cosy crime novel set in Sydney in the swinging sixties, ideal for fans of Richard Osman and Bonnie Garmus.<br /><br />They keep everyone's secrets, until there's a murder...<br /><br />Sydney, 1965: After a chance encounter with a stranger, tea ladies Hazel, Betty and Irene become accidental sleuths, stumbling into a world of ruthless crooks and racketeers in search of a young woman believed to be in danger.<br /><br />In the meantime, Hazel’s job at Empire Fashionwear is in jeopardy. The firm has turned out the same frocks and blouses for the past twenty years and when the mini-skirt bursts onto the scene, it rocks the rag trade to its foundations. War breaks out between departments and it falls to Hazel, the quiet diplomat, to broker peace and save the firm.<br /><br />When there is a murder in the building, the tea ladies draw on their wider network and put themselves in danger as they piece together clues that connect the murder to a nearby arson and a kidnapping. But if there’s one thing tea ladies can handle, it’s hot water.</p><p><b>My Take</b></p><p>Angela Hampson is obviously an accomplished writer but this is my first outing with her. It takes us back into the 1960s in Sydney with a bunch of observant tea ladies who become accidental detectives. </p><p>The glue who holds together a group of tea ladies who work in adjacent buildings is Hazel Bates. Hazel also provides an observant link between all levels of workers and management in Empire Fashionwear. It is Hazel who first notices "the woman at the window" in the bond store next door. It is Hazel who reports her observations to the police and raises the alarm when the bond store is torched.</p><p>Hazel is the ring leader of a group of tea ladies who work for neighbouring firms, and organises meetings where they compare notes on their observations.</p><p>There are lovely character sketches of each of the tea ladies, and touches of humour too. A satisfying read. I can see myself looking for more by this author..<br /></p><p><b>My rating:</b> 4.4</p><p><b>About the author</b></p><p>Amanda Hampson grew up in rural New Zealand. She has lived in London and Sydney, and now lives in Melbourne. Writing professionally for more than 20 years, she is the author of The Olive Sisters, Two for the Road, The French Perfumer, The Yellow Villa, Sixty Summers, Lovebirds, and the bestselling cosy crime novel The Tea Ladies. Her forthcoming novel is The Cryptic Clue.<br /></p>Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-83081008373276154502024-01-07T10:07:00.003+10:302024-01-07T10:07:17.610+10:30Review: MURDER ON FRIDAY STREET, Russell Cooper<ul style="text-align: left;"><li>This edition read on my Kindle (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Friday-Street-Mysteries/dp/B0CJBCR7K4">Amazon</a>)<a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71oLwXowutL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71oLwXowutL._SL1500_.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /></li><li>ASIN : B0CJBCR7K4</li><li>Publisher : Red Balloon Press (September 19, 2023)</li><li>Paperback : 394 pages</li><li>ISBN-10 : 1919602178</li><li>ISBN-13 : 978-1919602172</li><li>#1 Friday Street Murder Mysteries<br /></li></ul><p><b>Synopsis</b> (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Friday-Street-Mysteries/dp/B0CJBCR7K4">publisher</a>) </p><p>If you love Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series, you’ll love this.<br /><br />Eccentric twin brothers, Cedric and Ambrose, retire from MI6 to make honey and tackle crosswords at Tanglefoot Farm in England’s Surrey Hills.<br /><br />The unsolved brutal murder of their long-lost friend drags them back into the secret life they left behind.<br /><br />Can Cedric and Ambrose, along with Charlie, their dead friend’s daughter, and the seventy-five year old mystery woman who lives in a campervan, unravel the clues and crack the cold case before the killer strikes again?<br /><br />The chase is on to solve the mystery and catch the murderer.<br /><br />Murder on Friday Street is the highly entertaining first book in the Friday Street Murder Mystery series. If you like witty, feisty women, a tangle of clever clues, and hilarious adventures, then you’ll love Russell Cooper’s gripping murder mystery.</p><p><b>My Take</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_CMmy6qwAEy0Fln4bfysA3TTapTSmdUMo71D2Pxvbs4lyGFI7GtXt7q7iQ3Rw2N6uvR2MtqlWsRjXuVHSSkcxE6GcDL-VrUKtznpFtgBYseqApGEJQ-FYqrEKnVMHh1VcZK12czCjwP8/s200/coat-tails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="187" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_CMmy6qwAEy0Fln4bfysA3TTapTSmdUMo71D2Pxvbs4lyGFI7GtXt7q7iQ3Rw2N6uvR2MtqlWsRjXuVHSSkcxE6GcDL-VrUKtznpFtgBYseqApGEJQ-FYqrEKnVMHh1VcZK12czCjwP8/s200/coat-tails.jpg" width="187" /></a></div>While I enjoyed reading this latest outing in the <a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/search?q=geezer+lit">geezer lit</a> genre, I am just a little uncomfortable with its close proximity to that other very successful series by <a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/search?q=Richard+Osman">Richard Osman</a>. It feels a little to0 close to a spoof on a spoof, an author saying "<i>I can do a little better. ... instead of one retired spy lets put a few of them together and see what happens</i>." (although I am sure this sort of thing happens more than I indicate in my reviews)<br /><p></p><p>In the middle of it there is some serious plotting, a serious cold case, some delightfully drawn characters, some humorous and not-so humorous situations.<br /></p><p>However, if you read it then come back here and tell me if you think I've been unduly harsh with my <a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2008/08/riding-on-coat-tails-or-plagiarism.html">coattails analogy</a>.<br /></p><p><b>My rating</b>: 4.0</p><p><b>About the author</b></p><p>Russell Cooper...grew up on a rich diet of spy novels and Sunday afternoon television dramas. Following a hectic career in the restaurant business I did a couple of undisclosed stints (nothing dangerous) with NATO & GCHQ. Today I live in Surrey UK and when I’m not writing, editing or reading, I support the demands of Winnie, my toy poodle. <br /></p>Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-87008875062279262792024-01-02T14:36:00.001+10:302024-01-02T14:36:26.685+10:30Review: THE PIMLICO MURDER, Mike Hollow<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71DRfjsL0EL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="501" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71DRfjsL0EL._SL1500_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>This edition read on Kindle (<a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Pimlico-Murder-compelling-wartime-Detective-ebook/dp/B093PHTGBL">Amazon</a>)<br /></li><li>#6 in the Blitz Detective series</li><li>ASIN : B093PHTGBL</li><li>Publisher : Allison & Busby (18 November 2021)</li><li>Print length : 345 pages</li></ul><p><b>Synopsis</b> (<a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Pimlico-Murder-compelling-wartime-Detective-ebook/dp/B093PHTGBL">publisher</a>) </p><p>Armistice Day, 1940. The nation remembers the Great War while a new and harrowing conflict rumbles on. The Blitz Detective, John Jago, must set aside his own painful memories to investigate a suspicious death in Pimlico, south-west London. The body of a young man has been discovered in an Anderson shelter, with two white poppies in his pocket.</p><p>As the investigation progresses, Jago and his assistant, DC Cradock, find themselves knee-deep in Pimlico's shady underworld and connections with Mosley's fascist party. It will take all their skills to uncover the truth behind the young man's brutal death.</p><p><b>My Take</b></p><p>These stories are a reminder that even when there is a war as catastrophic as the Blitz of 1940, life goes on, and the deaths that occur are not necessarily the result of war: the usual crimes continue to be committed too.</p><p>In this one, Jago and Cradock are seconded to Scotland Yard to solve the murder of a young man whose body is found in an Andersen shelter. As usual they investigate a range of characters and unearth other crimes being committed. </p><p>So far these stories have actually taken place in a very short period of time: the second half of 1940 in London with Hitler's planes attacking it almost every night. The amount of research behind the stories lend a feeling of authenticity. There are a number of "personal interest" threads too which provide ongoing interest. <br /></p><p><b>My rating</b>: 4.5</p><p><b>I've also read</b></p><ul><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/11/review-blitz-detective-mike-hollow.html">4.5, THE BLITZ DETECTIVE - #1</a></li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/11/review-canning-town-murder-mike-hollow.html">4.6, THE CANNING TOWN MURDER</a> -#2 </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/12/review-custom-house-murder-mike-hollow.html">4.5, THE CUSTOM HOUSE MURDER</a> - #3</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/12/review-stratford-murder-mike-hollow.html">4.5, THE STRATFORD MURDER</a> - #4 </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/12/review-dockland-murder-mike-hollow.html">4.5, THE DOCKLAND MURDER,</a> - #5</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/12/review-camden-murder-mike-hollow.html">4.5, THE CAMDEN MURDER</a> - #7</li></ul><p></p>Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-88455453449148877252023-12-30T15:09:00.005+10:302023-12-30T15:09:54.308+10:30Review: THE CAMDEN MURDER, Mike Hollow<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71zMY8-6ZhL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="507" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71zMY8-6ZhL._SL1500_.jpg" width="203" /></a></div>This edition read on my Kindle (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Camden-Murder-Blitz-Detective-Book-ebook/dp/B0BBZ288RL">Amazon</a>)<br /></li><li>#7 in the Blitz Murder series</li><li>ASIN : B0BBZ288RL</li><li>Publisher : Allison & Busby (December 15, 2022)</li><li>Print length : 337 pages</li></ul><p><b>Synopsis</b> (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Camden-Murder-Blitz-Detective-Book-ebook/dp/B0BBZ288RL">publisher</a>) <br /></p><p></p><p>November 1940. As dawn begins to break, blackout regulations are rendered pointless by a car burning fiercely near the Regent's Canal in Camden Town, north London. In the burnt-out vehicle police find the charred remains of a body. The victim is Les Latham, a commercial traveller for the Baring and Sons confectionery company. He liked to be known as Lucky Les, but it seems his luck has finally run out.<br /><br />Detective Inspector John Jago discovers a mysterious photograph and some suspicious-looking petrol ration books among Latham's belongings. These lead him off on a murky trail of deceit, corruption and murder. It seems that the Blitz Detective will have to make his own luck to bring to light an unexpected killer. <br /></p><p></p><p></p><p><b>My Take</b></p><p>Another instalment in this lovely series with John Jago and his offsider Peter Cradock hunting down the person responsible for the death of a commercial traveller.</p><p>There are a number of red herrings to be discarded before the truth is finally revealed.</p><p>What I love about these books is the feeling of authenticity that comes from solid research and details gleaned from the news of the day. (Who knew that early RAF bombers were sent out with homing pigeons to deliver their location in the case of being shot down; or that Great Britain paid Jamaica NOT to export their banana crop?)</p><p>In some ways police procedures have not change in 80 years - fingerprinting, dental records etc - but these crimes are set against the setting and stress of London in 1940, and the characterisation is superb. There are glimpses of what is happening in the rest of the world and how England is surviving as Hitler attempts to cut it off.<br /></p><p>You will notice that I've inadvertently skipped reading #6, THE PIMLICO MURDER, but I will remedy that in the New Year.<br /></p><p><b>My rating</b>: 4.5 <br /></p><p></p><p><b>I've also read</b></p><ul><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/11/review-blitz-detective-mike-hollow.html">4.5, THE BLITZ DETECTIVE - #1</a></li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/11/review-canning-town-murder-mike-hollow.html">4.6, THE CANNING TOWN MURDER</a> -#2 </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/12/review-custom-house-murder-mike-hollow.html">4.5, THE CUSTOM HOUSE MURDER</a> - #3</li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/12/review-stratford-murder-mike-hollow.html">4.5, THE STRATFORD MURDER</a> - #4 </li><li><a href="https://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2023/12/review-dockland-murder-mike-hollow.html">4.5, THE DOCKLAND MURDER,</a> - #5</li></ul><p> </p>Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.com0