Here's what I've been reading in October. If a book is marked * I've very kindly received it complimentary from the publisher via Netgalley or directly.
Dear Reader: The Comfort and Joy of Books by Cathy Rentzenbrink - this is the book you need to read - it's an absolute gem. The author tells us her life story and her love of books. I found myself nodding in agreement at a lot of her book memories and have now added a whole bunch of books to my TBR pile! Cathy has always had her nose in a book and books kept her going when she tragically lost her brother. We read about her fascinating life as a bookseller and later a writer and also as a wife and mother. A must read.
Cut Off:Quick Reads by Mark Billingham - ooh this was a creepy short read. Louise looses her phone in the local cafe and is beside herself with worry. Her whole life is on that phone. So when a stranger gets in touch offering to give it back to her she jumps at the chance. Is meeting a stranger on a quiet stretch of the beach really a good idea... A great little memorable if sometimes scary read.
Darkness Rising (Harry Virdee #0.5) by A A Dhand - is a great short read and introduction to the Harry Virdee series. DI Virdee doesn't play by the rules but he always gets the results. It looks like East/West Bradford drugs wars are escalating and who is the ex-con dealer trying to make his mark? We also meet Harry's bubbly pregnant wife Saima, a character I'm looking forward to reading more about. They broke the rules and married for love. Saima is Muslim and Harry, Sikh. Their families sadly have disowned them. Would recommend as a taster to the series.
*Burnt Out - The exhausted person's six-step guide to thriving in a fast-paced world by Selina Barker - I took part in the Blog Tour Celebration in connection with the Cheltenham Literary Festival. See my review HERE. A great read!
Streets of Darkness (Harry Virdee #1) by A A Dhand - after having loved Darkness Rising it was straight into book 1 of the Harry Virdee series! I've since bought the rest (books 2-4). Detective Harry Virdee is suspended when he comes across the body of a prominent local man. He's itching to be part of the team investigating the murder.
His heavily pregnant wife gives him her blessing to work undercover for his boss in tracing ex-con Lucas Dwight, former BNP Leader who incited the riots of 2001. He's always worked a case his way and when he finds Lucas he finds out all is not as it seems.
When he hears that his wife Saima is in danger he'll stop at nothing to make sure that she and their unborn baby are safe. The race is also on to make sure the city he loves doesn't burn...
An absolutely heart-in-the-mouth read which made my heart pound! I absolutely loved it.
*A Woman made of Snow by Elisabeth Gifford - I took part in the blog tour for this captivating read. See my review HERE.
*The Whisting by Rebecca Netley - I found the story gripping as well as eerie. Elspeth Swansome is alone in the world and takes a position as a nanny on Skelthsea, a remote Scottish Island. Her charge, Mary hasn't spoken since her twin brother's tragic death.
All is not well in the crumbling old house with its creaks, whistling noises and ghosts. Elspeth's employer, Miss Gillies who is Mary's aunt is distant and cold. She suffered a sad disfigurement in her youth.
As Autumn turns to Winter the island turns into a desolate place and Elspeth makes it her mission to find out who is singing the lullabies and where the whistling noises are coming from. Who can she trust and who is desperate that she fails..
Super creepy and spooky. A great read.
*Femlandia by Christina Dalcher - I took part in the blog tour. See my review HERE.
Awaiting Publication:
*Lying Ways - DI Kelly Porter #9 by Rachel Lynch - Yet another series with a lead character I adore. This time the story revolves around rural Highton Prison and it inmates and those who work there.
Two recently released prisoners are found dead and Kelly and the Team can see they've been tortured over a period of time. Their investigations also take them inside the walls of the prison. An officer and friend of Kelly's gets stuck in the prison during a riot and my heart was in my mouth during these scenes.
Kelly's personal life implodes when she and Johnny, who's been stay at home dad for their baby daughter disagree on something imperative to the case....
A great read (even though it made me slightly sad) and as ever I highly recommend.
*The Midwife's Secret by Emily Gunnis - I absolutely loved the story and devoured it in two sittings, it was always one more chapter!
It's told over different timelines and totally draws the reader in. It opens in 1969, with a New Year's Eve party at Yew Tree Manor. The Hilton family are getting ready for the party of the year. Tempers are frayed and their little daughter Alice disappears after going out to play in the snow. Her brother claims that local farmhand, Bobby James who lives at the Vicarage with his dad and sister is to blame as he was the last person to see her.
In the past we read about Tessa James, the midwife would help anyone in distress, even taking them to the safety of her secret place at home. When she's made the scapegoat for the local doctor's mistake the family realise their lives will never be the same again. This bring true heartache and grief to the family (and to the reader).
In the present day, Willow James is working as an Architect on the new development at Yew Tree. She feels that her boss and Leo Hilton are keeping secrets from her and she decides to delve into the past on the quiet as she feels that some things aren't quite right.. When another child goes missing Willow finds herself instrumental to finding her rather than letting history repeat itself...
I found the interwoven and intertwined stories fascinating and sometimes heartbreaking with plenty of intrigue and mystery. So highly recommend. It's one of my favourite reads this year.
What have you been reading lately?
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