What We Carry Forward by Aithal

 

My first read  by this author (India Was One) was fifteen years ago, and every subsequent book since has delighted me in a different way—be it his fiction, science fiction, autobiography or now this short-story collection.

Here we have four novellas (See About the Book below): one compares two women, decades apart, and the lengths they go to in shaping their appearance to survive; another follows a young gay man in a deeply intolerant community (and family), who finds an ally in the most unexpected place; the third centres on a student facing a tough choice about his future—one that means choosing between continents. And then there’s the story about the lion. That’s all I’ll say about that one. It’s too much of a gem to spoil. Diverse though the stories are, they are connected by ‘what we carry forward.’

Each novella has something special. They’re emotional, poignant and quietly thought-provoking, clearly Aithal’s aim, achieved with exceptional skill.

See Also:

A Stroke of Luck: My Journey through a Traumatic Brain Injury
Beyond The Milky Way
Confessions of an Indian Immigrant

Blood Between Us by Lindsay Scott

 

I was hooked almost from the get-go. I love picking up a new-to-me author and realising, a few chapters in…actually, in this case, a few paragraphs in!...that you’re in very safe hands. The writing is sharp, the pacing tight, the characters well fleshed out. For most of the book, I was convinced this* was going to be one of my favourites of the year. 

And then I got to ninety percent.

With only ten percent left and a pile of loose ends waiting to be tidied up, I started to feel slightly anxious. We know who the culprit is from the start, so the tension hangs on how long s/he can stay undetected. (See About the Book below.) But when it was time to pull the threads together, the ending lands with a thud: abrupt, unfinished with so many questions without answers and quite at odds with how masterfully everything had been handled up to that point.)

I know Hep has another adventure in the pipeline, but I can’t help feeling a bit short-changed here. This was a gripping and enthralling read—right up until it wasn’t. A real shame, because it had all the makings of one of my top reads.

*Provided by BookSirens

A Cottage in the Country by Katie Fforde

 

Clichéd? Yes. Predictable. Of course. Implausible? Without doubt. And with an exasperating heroine. Classic chick lit and therefore, utterly and deliciously entertaining! 

I enjoyed Fforde’s Island in the Sun (another maddening proganist therein!), and she does know how to craft an easy and undemanding read, even if she is a little out of touch with modern-day romance. When my favourite genre is crime thrillers, some of which have a corpse or six, a lightweight like this* is a refreshing change. (See About the Book below.)

All the familiar ingredients are present: best friends who really ought to stop resisting being anything else, a wedding that very definitely shouldn’t take place, a very dear and with-it nonagenarian being steam-rollered by a grasping relative, some stiff-collared parents and a rather amiable nephew. 

None of it new, really, but it is warm and endearing. I wasn’t left with a ‘wow’, but smiling and uplifted.

*Provided by NetGalley

See also:

Fforde, Katie - Island in the Sun

Imminent Risk by S. Lee Manning

 

About eighteen months ago, I read Deadly Choice by Manning, which is an impressively paced, compelling novel, so I plunged into this* with great enthusiasm. Despite being the fourth in the series, it works perfectly well as a standalone; any necessary context is woven in seamlessly without disrupting the flow of the story.

This is the very definition of unputdownable (See About the Book below). The writing is sharp and confident, the characters feel fully alive, and the tension never lets up. From page one to ‘The End’, it’s a gripping, edge-of-your-seat ride that completely pulls you in and refuses to let go.

An intensely absorbing and satisfying read, and one that’s persuaded me not to leave such a long time before returning to Manningland and certainly more Kolya Petrov thrillers.

*Provided by BookSirens

Shadows of Deceit by Timothy R. Baldwin

 

I really liked the sound of this* but, ultimately, felt that some of the impact was lost in the delivery.

The present-tense narrative didn’t work (I hate it whenever it’s used) and limited the scope of the plot (See About the Book below). In addition, while I’m more than comfortable with first-person POV, in this case, it reduced the depth of the story, and the main character, Cassie, came across as somewhat underdeveloped. There was rather too much ‘telling’ and little, if any, ‘showing’, giving a rather flat narrative.

The copy editing was mostly good, though a few minor errors slipped through (‘your welcome’ (oops) and confusion over lay/lie). The book would have benefited from stronger technical editing, particularly to address repetition. Certain phrases and ideas appeared frequently with little variation, which became distracting over time.

That said, the underlying plot was strong and engaging, and despite the aforementioned issues, the story was compelling.

*Provided by BookSirens

The Last Place You Look by Nikki Smith

I've read two of Nikki Smith’s books. Glossing quickly over my review of them, I discovered that whilst I rated them pretty highly, my enjoyment of them was shaved by the use of the present-tense narrative.

It would appear Smith has a fetish for it, because it is used, alas, here, to no advantage at all. However, it’s* a pretty gripping psychological thriller (See About the Book below). It had me asking all sorts of questions, wondering how on earth they’d be answered and making all sorts of guesses (all wrong!). The ending, however, was very abrupt, and I found myself wanting to turn non-existent pages and then thinking, is that it? There was no ‘The End’, and there were ends to tie up, so despite a fairly climactic finish, I was left dangling.

Smith certainly knows how to plot a book and create some intriguing characters, and it’s hard not to describe her books as unputdownable, despite the poor choice of tense, a rather inconclusive ending and just a few bad grammatical errors (editor please brush up on the use of sat/stood).

*Provided by NetGalley

A Detective's Dilemma by Peter J Charles

 

Oh, I did enjoy this*. And I love that it comes with such a degree of authenticity, as it’s written by an ex-detective who was in the drug squad and who very thoughtfully placed a glossary at the front explaining a lot of procedural acronyms and words/phrases. I’ve come across many ‘useful’ explanations…at the end of the book, at which point, they’re utterly useless, if you don't know they are there. Thank you, Mr Charles.

As you’d expect, the story centres around drug smuggling and the lengths a frustrated detective will go to put away a very slimy, cocky criminal for a very long time. (See About The Book below.)

Brilliantly written, well-paced, gritty, with well-rounded characters and compelling right to very end. I noticed in the title that this is a DC Tom Kessler #1. That ‘#1’ is hopeful, because it just may mean there’s a #2. And I’d really love to catch up with Tom.

An excellent read, but there was one more gem that had me laughing out loud. Be sure you don’t miss the brilliant line about the Pizza Express in Woking and someone formerly known as Prince. Priceless.

*Provided by BookSirens

Someone is Lying by Heidi Perks

I've read one other book by this author…Now You See Her…which I enjoyed but was disappointed by bad editing. Happily, the editing in this* book is much, much better. However, it is let down by the use of the present-tense narrative. It let the book down.

That said, I thoroughly enjoyed it (See About the Book below): it focuses on an intolerable dilemma a mother faces in order to protect her daughter.

Perks writes really well with credible and relatable characters. I found the ending delightfully unpredictable: I really didn't see it coming, despite all my guesses. This all ensures I'll pick up another book by this author, but please, oh please, avoid present-tense narrative!

* Provided by NetGalley

See Also:

Now You See Her

Twisted Truth by Rob Kaufman

Oh my giddy aunt.  I don't have enough wows for this*.

I didn't think Daniel could possibly face any more personal tragedies, but no, Kaufman plunges you (and Daniel!) into one more, the third and last in the Edge of Fear trilogy (See About the Book below). Another gripping ride, keeping you guessing throughout. And no, you won't guess. The ending is explosive and ineffable. 

The writing is, of course, as brilliant and splendid as ever (Kaufman isn't capable of anything else), which draws you in right from the very first page until the final full stop.

The first book I read by this author put him hastily into my 'read more of/one of my favourites' category, but now, after reading six of his books, he has without doubt exalted himself to My Favourite Author.  I've said it before, I'll say it again:  I will read anything he writes.

*Provided by Booksirens

This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum

 

I can't quite make up my mind about this story* about two best-friend podcasters, Benny and (narcoleptic) Joy. Though hugely successful at what they do, the sudden disappearance of Joy and her husband, Xander, becomes a national mystery and, of course, of intense interest to their many avid followers. See About the Book below.

It's written in the present-tense narrative (bad choice) and peppered with chapters of Joy's draft memoir, which chronologically recounts events leading up to the time of the disappearance. I found this messy, and it took a minute to realise where in the course of events you were. The flow was not smooth and sometimes rather overworded.

It's a decent enough story, but I couldn't engage with the characters. I found them slightly frustrating. The best-friend relationship hovered very annoyingly at the gate of something more serious, and it takes the whole book to establish where this relationship should (although obvious) be.

As a first novel, it's commendable, but I felt it needed ironing out.

*Provided by NetGalley

Silent Shadows by Rob Kaufman

 

I'm a mighty fan of Kaufman: his books have built-in excellence. There's never a, 'will this be as good as the last one?'. It will always, indubitably, exceed expectation. I can say that very confidently after reading five of his books.

This* is the second in the Edge of Fear trilogy. Poor Daniel Wright has enough trauma to deal with and a serial killer who is making it all rather personal just isn't helping him move forward. (See About the Book below.) As usual, Kaufman keeps you guessing (had me foxed this time, well and truly), but, as always, the ride is compelling, thrilling (and chilling!) and utterly entertaining.

The icing on the cake with all Kaufman's books is his huge respect for his readers, to whom he dedicates more than just a few words in his acknowledgements. The respect is mutual, because this reader has a lot of time for any author who remembers his audience.

If Kaufman writes something, you can bet your bottom dollar, I'll read it.

*Provided by BookSirens

See Also:

A Broken Reality
Altered
False Faces
One Last Lie

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

I balked a bit when I saw how long this* book was, so I hoped it would keep me enthralled to the very distant end.

It didn't. It's a story (see About the Book below) encompassing nearly a hundred years, but it jumps about erratically. One minute we're in the early nineteen hundreds, and then we're in 2005. And back to 1975 and after that maybe back to 2005 or 1913 or even 1900. Or we could quite possibly not bother going back to any particular year and just read a fairy tale or two that the author decided we had to read because one of the main characters, Eliza Makepeace, was an authoress of fairy tales. All this was messy and frustrating and with a fair cast of characters you sometimes forgot who the heck was who.

None of the cardboard characters were in the least bit likeable or relatable, Eliza's sacrifice was beyond unbelievable, and the story just dragged on and on (and on) with just too many unneeded words. As for the included fairy tales, they are just a waste of your reading time.

I've reached the end of many books with 'oh no, I don't want this to end'. Ironically, this book never seemed to end, and I so wished it would. The misery was finally topped off by the author's acknowledgements that didn't even include a thank-you to her readers. They are the ones to whom any author owes his/her success the most.

*Provided by NetGalley

             

The Murder at World's End: #1 (Stockingham & Pike) by Ross Montgomery

 

The minute I 'met' Decima (see About the Book below), I knew I was going to like her. A Miriam Margolyes of the early nineteen hundreds! I want to be like dear old Decima when I'm 80, that's for sure.

Young Stephen Pike not only finds himself in Cornwall in the home of a viscount after being released from Borstal, he's also nominated to be the 'carer' of quite a force of nature: Decima Stockingham, the family matriarch. Together, they form a somewhat chalk-and-cheese sleuthing pair when a seemingly unsolvable murder takes place in the viscount's stately home.

Stephen's voice is very endearing and really quite charming, whilst Decima doesn't hold back. At all.

This* was a sheer delight from start to finish: extremely well-written, thoroughly entertaining, with a gosh-I-wasn't-expecting-that ending. Just perfect.

The '#1' tagged onto the title suggests there will be a #2. I do hope so…I can't wait.

*Provided by NetGalley

Back to Haunt You by S. Englefield

 

I leapt from DI Jennifer Stone #1 (The Only Child) to this*, #2, within a second! The first book was enough for me to fall in love with this author's story-telling talent, and the second simply endorses that. Like #1: very well written, compelling, gritty and thoroughly enjoyable.

Here, DI Stone has to find an abducted baby, Harry, and then investigate why everyone close to his mother are either being hurt or…murdered. All compounded by her spiralling personal life.  See About the Book below.

Englefield has a very readable style, constructs a well-paced plot and creates believable and well-rounded characters in a strong cast. His meticulour research into police procedures is another ingredient of an extremely engaging book and series.

I hope #3 is imminent!

*Provided by BookSirens

See Also:

The Only Child

The Only Child by S. Englefield

 

I was about to read 'Back to Haunt You' by this author, but discovered it's the second in the DI Stone series. I do, a bit pedantically, like to read books in a series from the start, so, like Julie Andrews, I started at the very beginning with this*, #1.

Criminals and murderers don't stick to a timetable, making it very hard for DI Jennifer Stone to balance her work/family commitments. Two murders, three kidnappings and a red herring or two not only compound her struggles, but it becomes personal…very very personal. (See About the Book below.)

I really enjoyed this. It ticked every box for a good, suspenseful, psychological thriller: extremely well and articulately written, well characterised and carefully dialogued. Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick. It's perfectly paced with a dramatic and conclusive ending.

I read about 30-40 books a year, and amongst them, very often, I'll find my 'discovery of the year', and Englefield is definitely this year's candidate.

Now and I can dive into book #2 (and all future DI Stone thrillers)!

*Provided by BookSirens

Nesting by Roisin O'Donnell

 

Although domestic abuse is a disturbing and unsettling subject, this* is a masterfully written and compelling debut novel about the evil of the kind of domestic abuse that shows no physical scars: coercive control. (See About the Book below.)

I was sucked into the story the minute I turned the first page. It's powerful, heartbreaking, tense, emotional. Ciara—the abused—is brave and quietly determined. You root for her from the beginning, and at every point you sense a moment of weakness and she might be taking the return path to the very misery she's trying to leave behind, you will her on and shout, no, no, don't do that! 

O'Donnell pulls you in and immerses you into an emotionally supercharged novel with an Irish backdrop, and portrays a determination of a courageous victim of domestic abuse to fight for her and her children's safety and future.

I shall most definitely be reading more by this author.

*Provided by NetGalley

The Santa Hat by Rebecca L. Marsh

 

I don't often read short stories, but it's always with the greatest pleasure that I open a book by Marsh. Her books are always beautifully written and wonderfully easy and entertaining to read. There is nothing to disappoint and everything to enjoy in this (my seventh book by Marsh!) charming and heartwarming collection.

In these stories, Marsh highlights that Christmas isn't all twinkly lights and sleigh bells ringing for everyone…for some, yuletide invokes not-so-happy memories and thus a desire to get through what for them is a miserable season as quickly as possible. And yet, a simple gift, a mysterious phone call, a stolen sandwich, a marital misunderstanding...are all it takes for Christmas to be the fun it was again.

An absolutely delightful anthology that shows there is often joy to be found in unexpected places and of course all perfectly and masterfully executed by Marsh.

See Also:

Beyond the Broken Shore
Remember the Butterfly
Summer's Runaway
The Rift Between Us 
When The Storm Ends  
Where Hope is Found

Shadows of Truth by Barry Finlay

 

Having read three of the Jake Scott mysteries, it was with great eagerness that I dived into this, the fourth.

As homicide detective Dani Perez's gentle sidekick and romantic partner, retired investigative journalist Jake and her make quite the sleuthing couple. In this, they are getting to the bottom of a murder (or two) on the ocean waves: Jake is a reluctant…very reluctant…passenger on a cruise that Dani persuaded him to 'enjoy'. (I'm with Jake on this one!)

Despite having to battle with jurisdiction protocol and some rather stormy weather (I'm very definitely with Jake!), the pair unearth some likely suspects, but when it gets extremely personal, there's no stopping them.

These crime thrillers are an immense pleasure to: there's always a well-written, meaty plot that runs alongside the very endearing growing relationship between widower Jake and Dani. 

'The End' left me sad to have to leave Jake and Dani's company but avidly waiting for their next adventure...on terra firma, I hope, for Jake's sake.

See also:

Just Keep Climbing
Searching for Truth
The Burden of Darkness
The Guardians of Truth
The Secret Truth

The World's End by Karen Fitzgibbon

 

I recently read Never Look Back by this author, which I thoroughly enjoyed, leading me seek out another of her books pretty promptly.

This* was another cracker…I might have enjoyed it even more than Never Look Back. I often describe good books as 'unputdownable', but for me, it's more theoretical than practical, i.e. if I could find more time to read, I wouldn't be able to put the book down! In this case, it absolutely was practical. I was virtually carrying my Kindle around the house, grabbing any five minutes I could to race to the end.

Well plotted with characters that come to life…be they goodies or baddies…this is a gripping story of a weekend in a beautiful Irish fishing village that turns very sour indeed, changing one young life forever.

A totally absorbing and gripping read.

*Provided by BookSirens

They Had it Coming by Nikki Smith

The Beach Party was my first rendezvous with Smith, which I enjoyed but for the use of the present-tense narrative.

It didn't put me off reading another of her books, but I have the same words for this*: enjoyable but for the present-tense narrative, which adds nothing and takes away a lot.

However, it's a tense thriller about four friends of longstanding, none of whom I particularly liked…but I think that was the intention. (See About the Book below.)  Of course, it's not long before you realise that the word 'friends' has to be used somewhat loosely. And then there's the intrigue of an event that occurred fifteen years previously that weaves in and out of the story, making you wonder what on earth it has to do with anything: until the very end. Nicely done.

Gripping, well-written and entertaining. But let’s ditch that present-tense narrative, shall we?

*Provide by NetGalley

See also:

The Beach Party

Death and Other Occupational Hazards by Veronika Dapunt

 

This* was a fun diversion from my usual diet of crime thrillers.  It's a very entertaining tale about the two major elements of existence, death and life, personified. 

Death and Life are sisters, would you believe. Like most sisters, they bicker, sometimes hate each other, but mostly can't do without each other. 

Death has been in charge of every single death over quite a few millennia and is singularly unimpressed when she learns of three 'unplanned' demises: ones she didn’t know about.  Investigation is therefore essential.  This entails a bright, mismatched, eccentric wardrobe, some unexpected friendships and some rather dicey situations, even for Death. See About the Book below.

Quirky, darkly comic but wonderfully entertaining. 

Just a little note to Ms Dapunt.  In your very comprehensive list of acknowledgements (pet dog included), where was that nod to your readers?  Whilst all your helpers are important, where would you be without readers?  Food for thought.

*Provided by NetGalley

Never Look Back by Karen Fitzgibbon

 

I hadn't read anything by this author before this*. Gosh. Taut, suspenseful and utterly gripping. It's very well written (grammatical errors notwithstanding: apostrophising plurals and a couple of instances where the author got the characters' names wrong), but for that, the characters are well drawn and compelling.

Secrets/lies/deception/the path to truth always make for a good psychological thriller, and Fitzgibbon blends these elements perfectly. (See about the book below.) Set in Limerick, Ireland and London, we have a missing university student with a secret, her mother with a secret, a brother with an unrequited love and a PI who brings it all together…the unrequited love as well!

A tense, psychological thriller you'll find hard to put down. There have to be more 'cases' to be had by Lana, the PI, surely? I do hope so: I would pick them up with relish.

*Provided by Booksirens

False Faces (Edge of Fear Series) by Rob Kaufman

 

You can write a review of Kaufman's books before you've even read them because of the inevitability: it will be excellent, gripping and flippin' brilliant.

This* is, obviously, all of the above. One of Kaufman's (many) talents seems to be managing to make you think you are reading a very long book when in fact, it isn't. Inside 260 perfectly constructed pages, there's War-and-Peace-length tome busting to get out. Carefully chosen words masterfully put together give you an enthralling plot full of suspense and captivating from start to finish.

This is the first in a new series (Edge of Fear): an agoraphobic author is put through a reign of terror by a stalker (see About the Book below). I'll be honest, I did suss out the perpetrator fairly early on, and the ending wasn't a total surprise: as I neared the finale, a (correct) possibility did cross my mind. But, but, but, this didn't spoil my enjoyment one jot, not a one. The journey was just as thrilling, exciting and satisfying.

*Provided by Book Sirens

The Cleaner by Mary Watson

 

Well, gosh. This* has everything: revenge, tragedy, drugs, domestic abuse, deceit, violence, obsession, death, bribery and…believe it or not…love and passion. The whole kit and caboodle. See About the Book below.

I loved it. It kept me glued to the pages (well, my Kindle!) and with all the twists and turns, guessing until the final pages.

It's dark, it's deep, it's tense and the suspense builds as you peel back the layers of secrets and lies to reveal why Esmie, the cleaner wriggled her way into cleaning three homes. Three homes owned by three families of very particular significance to Esmie.

I'm a bedtime reader and couldn't wait to go to bed and devour this book for an hour before lights out.

*Provided by NetGalley

A Stroke of Luck: My Journey through a Traumatic Brain Injury by Aithal

 

I don't often read a book like this…about another person's journey through a health trauma…but I've read more than one of Aithal's books, and he has a very gentle, chatty and conversational style that engages you with whatever he writes.

Aithal is a survivor of a TBI that occurred some twenty odd years ago…it was severe, but his guardian angel kept him alive. However, the road to recovery was a very tough, uphill climb. It needed a half-full-glass mentality and a shedload of positivity. Fortunately, Aithal has all of that (along with a wonderfully supportive family and circle of friends) and two decades later is, mercifully, around to be able to share his experience.

The account is certainly a testament to his incredible determination, an appreciative nod to the medical assistance he received and a loving acknowledgement to his wife, who was his constant supporter and encourager.

A humble and inspiring memoir.

Murder at Church Lodge by Greg Mosse

 

This* is a gripping and entertaining cosy murder mystery. It's well-written, suspenseful and thoroughly enjoyable.

Maisie is our amateur, would-be Miss Marple (a much younger version!), trying to piece together the events that led to her estranged brother's murder, helped by the policeman with whom she'd been at school and whose soft spot for her all those years ago is still there. See About the Book below.

The cast of characters is diverse and the clues lead you down many different paths. The seventies setting brought back many memories of those miserable power-cut days!

It's well strategised and well paced and brought to a gentle conclusion, but I am now curious if Maisie and her policeman ever pick up where they left off so many years previously. I was very pleased to discover that this new-to-me author has written other Maisie Cooper mysteries, so I shall enjoy familiarising myself with them all.

*Provided by NetGalley