I purchased This Happened to Jessica as soon as I finished book one, It Began With A Lie, as I had to find out if Becca would remember what happened the night Jessica disappeared.
Becca is doing her best to move on from all that has happened since she moved back to Redemption. It isn’t easy though when she still doesn’t remember what happened to Jessica. When further trauma hits the town, some residents blame Becca and her ‘weird’ aunt and she starts to believe she might be better off moving back to New York after all. She is determined to unlock her memories though.
I raced through this book. I’m really enjoying this series. I feel totally invested in the characters and their stories. I have purchased book three and will be starting it tonight.
** I purchased the Kindle edition on 1st April 2024 **
The Crossing is an excellent start to a new series.
Detective Louise Blackwell has recently been transferred and her first case is a brutal one. The first victim is an elderly lady who volunteers at the local church. What possible motive could there be for such an attack?
This killer isn’t done either and it soon becomes apparent that they might be seeking revenge. But, for what.
This is a fast-paced police procedural and I thoroughly enjoyed joining Blackwell and her team as they race against time to solve this case before anyone else dies.
I enjoyed the dynamic between the team and the back story behind Blackwell’s transfer. She does well to maintain professionalism considering.
The perpetrator is an interesting character. Not the type you imagine carrying out such horrendous crimes. As we get to know more about him though, things start to fall into place. He gave me a chill down my spine.
This book has everything you would expect from a good murder mystery. I look forward to catching up with Detective Louise Blackwell in book 2. It’s on my wishlist.
It Began With A Lie had waited patiently in my kindle library for a while but I am so glad I finally got to reading it. I was completely gripped from the very beginning.
When we meet Becca, she is moving into her aunt’s old house (which she has inherited) in Redemption, Wisconsin, with her husband and sixteen-year-old stepdaughter, Chrissy. It’s a temporary move whilst her husband sorts out his business, then the plan is to sell the house and move back to New York to continue with the life they know and love.
Rarely in this life though do things go that smoothly to plan.
There is an underlying tension throughout this book from the very beginning and it made me feel uneasy as I read it. I found myself thinking about it during the day when I wasn’t reading it and couldn’t wait to see where the story might lead. Becca is a likeable character, but I did wonder why she put up with so much from her husband. He came across as controlling and undermining and I didn’t like him at all. His daughter wasn’t much better to start with. A typical teenage girl/stepmother relationship though it seemed. When she starts to sleepwalk though…. I found these scenes really creepy.
And what happened fifteen years previously that Becca has been unable to remember since?
This was such an intriguing story, full of tension and suspense. The characters are brilliantly written, and I love the supernatural aspects of the story. I’m not sure I’d be brave enough to stay in that house after the first unexplainable incident. Becca is a tough nut though. She must be with everything she goes through.
I enjoyed this book so much that I bought book two and started it straight away. I rarely do that.
** I purchased the Kindle edition of this book on 16th July 2019 **
I listened to book 1, The Thursday Murder Club, on Audible a few months ago and I really enjoyed it, but I think I enjoyed The Man Who Died Twice even more. It kept me guessing all the way through, providing more than one surprise along the way. It has the most wonderful cast of characters who you can’t help but love (for the most part). Joyce is my absolute favourite! I enjoyed her POV being told in the form of diary entries. I think this added something a little different and she amuses me, a lot! I love her.
This book ticks all the boxes for me as far as murder mysteries go. It has an intriguing plot, is full of suspense, and has awesome characters. There are sad times, but also plenty of humour. A highly entertaining read! I’m looking forward to book 3.
** Many thanks to my Bookstagram friends for the buddy read. I read the hardcover edition. **
If you’re looking to get your teeth in to a new crime thriller series, full of action, and clever plot lines, then look no further!
Mission Black is the first in a new series by Mick Williams and it is quite simply awesome!
I love Fr. Black. He’s a fabulous character and one I can’t wait to catch up with again in book 2. He’s ex-military turned priest which I find an interesting change of career for a start. He’s a charismatic character and obviously still has a certain appeal with the ladies. Maybe more so because he’s off limits, but he sounds quite easy on the eye too.
This book has two kickass female characters, Lyndsey, and Emmy.
Lyndsey is also ex-military but now devotes her time to Fr. Black’s church as his treasurer, amongst other things. As a church treasurer myself I could relate to her from a church finance perspective but that’s pretty much where our similarities end. Lol! I certainly wouldn’t argue with her. I love the professional relationship and friendship that they obviously share.
Emmy is a truly inspiring character. When Fr. Black finds himself working alongside Emmy it’s easy to see how she might test his faith. He’s true to his vows, but they do grow to be quite fond of each other within a short timeframe. They are thrown into a volatile and dangerous situation together but make a great team. I’d want them on my team. The banter between them is hilarious at times too. I hope to see more of Emmy in book 2.
The humour throughout this book is typical of Mick Williams’ writing and I love it!
I’m so excited that this is the first of a brand-new series. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
52 Weeks is a wonderful story. Having read 4 months: An introduction to 52 Weeks, which is hilarious, I was very much looking forward to catching up with the characters again.
It’s set in Stoke-on-Trent which I love. These people, as many often did at the time, met their spouses, and formed close friendships whilst working in the pot banks and these relationships have stood the test of time.
I loved Beryl immediately and my heart went out to her when she receives her terminal diagnosis. She is so determined not to let it dominate the rest of her life though. She will live each day, maintain as much normality as possible, and maybe try a few new things along the way. I love her acceptance of her son and her tolerance of her daughter who doesn’t cope very well with the news, understandably.
It seems so weird to say that a book about one lady’s battle with cancer is funny, but it really is. I read this at bedtime, and I had to stop myself from laughing out loud SO many times because my husband was already asleep next to me. Honestly, it’s just brilliant!
I LOVE Beryl’s husband, Len. He is hilarious! My favourite line of his being the one about him having no friends in Jamaica. LOL! I love that he tries to appreciate Beryl’s need to maintain a sense of normality, whilst also looking after her the best way he knows how.
I love Vera. She cracks me up!
I love that the group of friends are summoned when one of them has a new carpet or bathroom fitted. I can just imagine that’s how groups of friends used to be back in the day, in and out of each other’s houses all the time for cups of tea, and cake, and random chat. It’s a shame it’s not generally like that these days.
There are a few hospital scenes throughout the story where Beryl visits her consultant and there are references to her pain and other symptoms, but her illness is by no means the focus of this story.
Beryl is a special character who finds joy in everything, whether it be something she has never done before or just the small things that make her happy like coffee and cake with her friend of a morning whilst catching up on the gossip or sitting in front of the telly with her husband of an evening once she’s done the washing up after tea. Her love for her family and friends is palpable and her zest for life inspirational.
** Many thanks to Barry Lillie for my review copy **
52 Weeks: An uplifting story of survival.
When the twelve month life expectancy forecast comes as a bombshell, Beryl refuses to surrender to cancer’s ticking clock. She is determined to embrace each day and leave a record for those she’ll leave behind.
Supported by her family and best pal Vera, known for her eccentric approach to life, Beryl lives life to its fullest, finding humour in the mundane and happiness in the simplest of situations.
Everything, from a hen night to an out-of-date library ticket and a pregnant Bedlington terrier to being a life model, is a new adventure to be savoured. Yet it is befriending, Kate, who has the same prognosis, that becomes the most fulfilling. 52 Weeks is a heartwarming tale filled with moments of humour and flashes of heartache as Beryl discovers how love and friendship can make the act of living the most important part of every day.
Join Beryl’s journey today and be prepared to smile, laugh and perhaps even shed a tear.
I have loved every single one of the Bunch Courtney Investigation books, so I was very much looking forward to reading Deadly Plot. I knew I was in for a treat, and I wasn’t wrong.
In this book a body is found buried in a local allotment and Rose ‘Bunch’ Courtney is hired to help with the investigations, alongside her many other duties and responsibilities.
Bunch is a fabulous character. She’s determined she will not become a typical housewife and to be honest I doubt she’d even find the time. She very much needs to be busy. She is still grieving and trying to accept her own limitations whilst doing everything she can to support the war effort and help solve this most recent murder. I love how curious and intuitive she is. She is an asset to the team.
I love the relationship she has with her family and her colleagues. I do find her quite amusing at times. Her dedication to everything she does is admirable, especially considering the potential risks to her own life.
I love the language throughout this book and the setting. Obviously, I wasn’t alive during the war, and I’ve never been to Sussex, but this book transported me to that time and place. I was immersed in the story. There is such a diverse and fascinating cast of characters. I loved it!
If you love a good murder mystery, historical fiction, and/or books set during the war then look no further. If you’re new to the series though, start with book one, Winter Downs.
**Many thanks to Jan Edwards for my advance kindle copy for review**
When the body of Nario Costa is dug up in Wyncombe’s Victory Gardens, Bunch Courtney’s investigations unearth far more than an escaped POW!
What at first appears to be a cold case takes a darker turn as she uncovers links far beyond her Sussex home — and the body count begins to rise!
Trail of Broken Wings is an emotional, difficult read, but completely compelling.
I didn’t have any expectations about this book. It is one which has been waiting patiently in my kindle library for a while and I didn’t even re-read the blurb before I started it.
I was not prepared for the heartache.
The story is told from the point of view of a mother and her three daughters. Three grown up daughters who couldn’t be any different to each other, living very different lives.
They all once lived under the same roof as their abusive father though. The father who now lies in a coma he is unlikely to come out of.
I’m struggling with what to say without giving anything away, but my heart broke for all four women along the way. I struggled to understand the mother, but I have no experience of abuse so I can’t really judge. I can’t even begin to imagine how I would cope with a husband like hers. Nor could I ever imagine my dad laying a finger on me.
Learning how their childhoods are still affecting the daughters’ adult lives is heartbreaking. How could anyone not be affected by such a past.
As the story progresses truths are revealed, secrets are shared, and the heartache increases. I never imagined things could have been any worse, but it’s just devastating. No one should ever have to endure what these women went through.
However, a mother’s bravery, finally having an opportunity to talk things through and be truly honest with themselves and each other means healing can begin and there is hope for a happier future.
Such a beautifully written novel. I highly recommend.
**According to Amazon I purchased this kindle book on 15th April 2015. Sejal Badani’s other book, The Storyteller’s Secret, is now on my wishlist and I look forward to anything else she might write in the future**
Goodreads Best Fiction Finalist and Amazon Charts and USA Today Bestseller
When her father falls into a coma, Indian American photographer Sonya reluctantly returns to the family she’d fled years before. Since she left home, Sonya has lived on the run, free of any ties, while her soft-spoken sister, Trisha, has created a perfect suburban life, and her ambitious sister, Marin, has built her own successful career. But as these women come together, their various methods of coping with a terrifying history can no longer hold their memories at bay. Buried secrets rise to the surface as their father–the victim of humiliating racism and perpetrator of horrible violence–remains unconscious. As his condition worsens, the daughters and their mother wrestle with private hopes for his survival or death, as well as their own demons and buried secrets. Told with forceful honesty, Trail of Broken Wings reveals the burden of shame and secrets, the toxicity of cruelty and aggression, and the exquisite, liberating power of speaking and owning truth.
I very rarely read non-fiction, but this book intrigued me as soon as I received the email about it from NetGalley.
It isn’t a quick read by any means. I have dipped in and out of it over the last few months and I have found it fascinating.
I love the way it is written. It’s very easy to read even though it’s a complicated subject matter, full of scientific facts. The author makes it very reader friendly. I’d love to have a hardcover copy for my bookshelf.
If you’re even remotely interested in evolution, then I think you will appreciate this book. I learned a lot!
Chat About Books 