Dead Souls (DI Kim Stone Book #6) by Angela Marsons* - Human bones are unearthed during a routine archaeology dig turning the farmer's field into a crime scene. As it's on the border with another force DI Kim Stone is forced to work with Detective Travis, an old partner with whom Kim fell out with and his team.
As the bones are sorted it becomes apparent that there is more than one victim and that they really suffered before their deaths. Meanwhile DS Bryant and DS Dawson are teamed up which causes niggles. DC Stacey Wood feels she's being ignored by everyone and goes off grid to investigate hate crimes running alongside the main investigation without telling the team what she's up to which has devastating consequences.. A fast paced read with many twists and turns. Would highly recommend.
The Sewing Machine by Natalie Fergie - this is an absolute gem of a read and it's one of my favourites this year so far.
The story is set in the past and the present day and I absolutely loved it. It's 1911 and Jean joins the strike at the Singer Factory in Clydebank which changes her life path forever.
In the present day Fred has just inherited a fully furnished flat from his grandfather. In the process of going through everything he discovers a Singer sewing machine which was his grandmother's. He discovers notebooks which note every piece of work sewn on the machine over the years. It's an amazing tale with the lives of the characters which you grow to love interwoven throughout the years. It really is a special book which I'm planning to read again soon!
A Dangerous Crossing by Rachel Rhys - it's 1939 and Lily and other chaperoned girls are on their way to Australia to work in domestic service. She throws herself into life on board and meets many interesting characters. She's dazzled by Eliza and Max Campbell, the wealthy first class passengers who love to party and heart throb Edward Fletcher who is travelling with his sister Helena.
They all have something to hide and by the end of the journey two people will be dead and WWII will have been declared. An absolutely brilliant read which I couldn't put down.
They all have something to hide and by the end of the journey two people will be dead and WWII will have been declared. An absolutely brilliant read which I couldn't put down.
A Perfect Heritage by Penny Vincenzi - I hadn't read a Penny Vincenzi in years. As ever it's a huge book with nearly 1k pages. The House of Farrell was created in the 1950s by husband and wife team, Cornelius and Athina Farrell. The Cream is their cult iconic product which still flies off the shelf in the present day.
However, sales are down and the company is close to bankruptcy. Bianca Bailey, hard headed business woman supreme is drafted in to turn the company around. Athina is determined to fight her every step of the way.
Florence Hamilton, who is in charge of the bijoux flagship store in the Berkeley Arcade is keen to help Bianca. She's been there since the beginning and knows so much about the company and it's staff. A fabulous read with lots of interesting characters. Highly recommend.
However, sales are down and the company is close to bankruptcy. Bianca Bailey, hard headed business woman supreme is drafted in to turn the company around. Athina is determined to fight her every step of the way.
Florence Hamilton, who is in charge of the bijoux flagship store in the Berkeley Arcade is keen to help Bianca. She's been there since the beginning and knows so much about the company and it's staff. A fabulous read with lots of interesting characters. Highly recommend.
Under the Harrow by Flynn Berry - Nora is due to go and stay with her sister Rachel. She's not at the station to meet her as planned. So Nora takes herself to her house and finds that her sister has been murdered.
Nora can't return to her life until she finds what happened to her sister. She's obsessed that an unsolved assault in Rachel's past is connected and decides to do a bit of detective work herself with devastating consequences. Fast paced and edgy with a twist I didn't see coming.
Nora can't return to her life until she finds what happened to her sister. She's obsessed that an unsolved assault in Rachel's past is connected and decides to do a bit of detective work herself with devastating consequences. Fast paced and edgy with a twist I didn't see coming.
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman* - an absolute gem. Full of laugh out loud moments as well as sad moments. Eleanor Oliphant has worked in a design studio doing the accounts since she left University.
She's used to being on her own since that thing happened which tore her family apart. She still speaks to Mummy once a week on the phone.
She never strays from her routine - same lunch. same dinners each week night and same bottles of Glen's vodka to see her through the weekend. She's socially awkward and keeps herself to herself but such a compelling character. She finds a friend at work, kind hearted Raymond who helps her see the world in a different light. They spend time together after helping Sammy, an older man who fell in the street. It's a cracker of a book.
She's used to being on her own since that thing happened which tore her family apart. She still speaks to Mummy once a week on the phone.
She never strays from her routine - same lunch. same dinners each week night and same bottles of Glen's vodka to see her through the weekend. She's socially awkward and keeps herself to herself but such a compelling character. She finds a friend at work, kind hearted Raymond who helps her see the world in a different light. They spend time together after helping Sammy, an older man who fell in the street. It's a cracker of a book.
The Ferryboat by Kate Blackadder - this is an easy reading tale of a family who relocate to a rundown hotel in the Highlands. The story follows renovation, ups and downs and village life. It's a great wee read.
Dancers in the Wind by Anne Coates - Freelance Journalist and single mum Hannah Weybridge is commissioned to write a piece on the red light district of Kings Cross. She meets a young prostitute called Princess. She finds she can't get her out of her mind and when she turns up on her doorstep beated up and bleeding she finds she can't turn her away.
She also interviews Police Inspector Tom Jordan about the deaths of three prostitutes and they seem to be linked. She does a bit of detective work herself and finds out that those in the upper echelons are involved and this puts her life in danger. She also receives a cryptic note from Princess which becomes clearer later on. A fast paced read which I thoroughly enjoyed.
She also interviews Police Inspector Tom Jordan about the deaths of three prostitutes and they seem to be linked. She does a bit of detective work herself and finds out that those in the upper echelons are involved and this puts her life in danger. She also receives a cryptic note from Princess which becomes clearer later on. A fast paced read which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Books I read last month (due to be published shortly):
The Honeymoon by Tina Seskis* - I'm a huge fan of Tina's books having loved One Step too Far and A Serpentine Affair. The Honeymoon is told in the present day, the recent past and some months before.
It's a fast paced and edgy read and I was on the edge of my seat throughout. Jemma and Jamie have just got married and are on a dream honeymoon on a tiny island in the Maldives.
All is not well. Jamie goes missing and the finger points firmly in Jemma's direction.. a rollercoaster of a read with an ending I just didn't see coming. Loved it.
It's a fast paced and edgy read and I was on the edge of my seat throughout. Jemma and Jamie have just got married and are on a dream honeymoon on a tiny island in the Maldives.
All is not well. Jamie goes missing and the finger points firmly in Jemma's direction.. a rollercoaster of a read with an ending I just didn't see coming. Loved it.
The Lucky Ones by Mark Edwards* - the story starts with a woman's body being found in the grounds of an old priory. Her eyes are open and her face is fixed in a smile. She seems to be in a state of bliss.
Ben Hofland has moved back to the sleepy village he grew up in to be nearer to his mum who is dying of cancer and as a new start for him and his son Ollie after splitting up with his wife.
Ollie is finding it hard to settle in. Ben's looking for work and chances upon some too good to be true freelance work. Things also start getting better for Ollie at school.
Detective Imogen Evans and the team are trying to find a connection and a motive for the killings. The bodies have all been left in the same way and they believe a serial killer is at large. Fast paced and twisty I really enjoyed it.
What have you been reading this month?
*copy from netgalley
Ben Hofland has moved back to the sleepy village he grew up in to be nearer to his mum who is dying of cancer and as a new start for him and his son Ollie after splitting up with his wife.
Ollie is finding it hard to settle in. Ben's looking for work and chances upon some too good to be true freelance work. Things also start getting better for Ollie at school.
Detective Imogen Evans and the team are trying to find a connection and a motive for the killings. The bodies have all been left in the same way and they believe a serial killer is at large. Fast paced and twisty I really enjoyed it.
What have you been reading this month?
*copy from netgalley
