LOVE, FAIL, REPEAT Part 1: NOT SAFE by Alice Bohane

 5 out of 5 stars

On Amazon (universal link)
On Goodreads

How I discovered this book: it was submitted to Rosie's Book Review Team, of which I am a member.

In a Nutshell: Tense domestic thriller

What an excellent piece of writing this is - I was engrossed throughout.  It concerns Genna and her husband Melchior, and their five month old baby, Jim, and begins with a tragic scene that doesn't immediately connect to the rest of the story.  I love a prologue/first chapter that's a snapshot of an event in the past or one to come; done well, it means that the reader will keep turning the pages, eager to find out more, and this was executed very well indeed.

We realise early on that Genna is deeply affected by something in her past, to the extent that many of her security habits verge on OCD, but she's aware of her idiosyncrasies, and tries to keep a hold of herself.  Her fear and anxiety is so very cleverly drawn.  Intricate domestic details run through the whole book, but it's never boring, because the undercurrent of fear and possible danger is forever present. And just when you think she's imagining it...

Events take a turn for the worrying around halfway through, and it's real edge-of-your-seat stuff.  Gripping.  By the time the story was nearing its close, I suspected everyone of everything.

This is not a long book, it's either a long novella or a short novel, but it works perfectly for the length.  It's part one of a continuing story that will be told in three books, and as such it does not wrap up neatly at the end.  Suffice to say I'll be first in the queue for Book 2.

A great read, I highly recommend.

THE FOREST DWELLERS by Judith Arnopp @juditharnopp

 5 out of 5 stars

On Amazon (universal link)

On Goodreads

How I discovered this book: one of my favourite authors, I shall eventually read them all!

The Blurb, from Amazon

When the Normans come, the people of the New Forest are persecuted, evicted from their homes and forced to live in exile from the lands Saxons have inhabited for generations. Life is hard. The Norman interlopers are hated.

Twelve years after the invasion, three Norman soldiers molest a forest girl who is fairer than any they have ever seen. Leo stops the attack in the only way he can ...violently.

His actions that day trigger a chain of events that will end only with the death of a king.

The format of this book was not what I expected, in a very good way.  The story is told from the point of view of several of the characters starting with Ælf, younger sibling of Leo.  The first half takes place over a short period of time, with much detail, and then about half way through it moves swiftly on.  This took me by surprise but I soon understood that the earlier time period had to be told in more detail to make the broader view of the second half work so well.  From about a third of the way through I was dying to know who killed William Rufus and why - when the answer arrives, it's a beautifully thought out take on a question discussed by historians for centuries.

I loved the detail about Saxon life, especially about the forest dwellers themselves.  Made me long to time travel even more than usual.  Suffice to say I was engrossed all the way through.  My favourite characters were Leo, Thurrold and Tyrell.

This is one of Judith Arnopp's earlier books, but it's all still here.  The way you know the character immediately he or she opens his mouth, the flowing storylines, the research and love for the time, the accessibility of her writing style.  Highly recommended!

QUEEN ANNA (Stuart Queens Trilogy Book 1) by @tonyriches #RBRT

 5 out of 5 stars

On Amazon (universal link)
On Goodreads

How I discovered this book: it was submitted to Rosie's Book Review Team, of which I am a member.

In a Nutshell: The life of Anna, wife of James 1 of England.

I so enjoyed this book - particularly fascinating as I know next to nothing about the Stuart era, so I learned much.

Tony Riches portrays Anna as a woman who knew her own mind but was intelligent enough to know when to insist on what she wanted and when to keep quiet.  She felt like something of an 'old soul', even when she was younger; she was probably the best wife the inconstant James could have had.  I felt as though she understood her situation and decided, calmly, to make the best of it.  She never knew true romantic love, but she made up for this with her children, her interests, her friendships.

Of course the book is intricately researched, and I loved the detail about the masques that so absorbed Anna, about the customs of the time.  The novel flows beautifully all the way through, never too much information (I never had the feeling that Riches was writing from his research notes!), and it flows so well - it's a very 'easy read'.

I felt so, so sorry for Anna when she lost her children - Robert, Mary, Sophia and of course, Henry.  In an interview with the author that I read the other day, Riches describes Henry as the 'best king we never had', and that, coupled with what I read about him, made me wonder how we might have fared as a country, had there been a Henry IX.  Anna's failing health was very sad, too - if only she'd taken her doctor's advice early on, and kept away from the wine.

I highly recommend this book for all historical fiction lovers, especially if you're not already versed in the period - and I'm very much looking forward to the next book, about Henrietta, wife of Charles I.  Actually, I can't wait.

COURAGE: Tales of History, Mystery and Hope by Judith Arnopp, Annie Whitehead, Anna Belfrage, Cathie Dunn, Helen Hollick and others

 5 GOLD stars 

On Amazon (universal link)

On Goodreads

How I discovered this book: I saw it advertised pre-release, expressed interest, and one of the authors was kind enough to offer me a review copy :)

In a Nutshell: A collection of stories spanning an almost 2000 year time period, on the subject of great courage under adverse circumstances 

*

This is what you want from a collection: not one weak story.  These 15 tales of courage in the most adverse circumstances are all excellent, every one a winner.  They're presented in chronological order, from Roman times to the present day, and take place in various settings around the world.  Here's a short overview of my favourites.  Purely subjective, of course - time and place has so much to do with this.  Show me England in the middle ages or occupied Europe in WW2, and I'm all over it!

Siflede by Judith Arnopp: London 1066, when the residents of Southwark must fight or flee the Norman invasion.  Judith is one of my most-read authors and this story was no disappointment.

Daisy Chain by Annie Whitehead: a mother's grief, on the road in 12th Century England. Nothing like a good 'road' story, no matter when it's set, and this shows early medieval times in all its dank glory.

Stepping Between by Anna Belfrage: Ludlow Castle 1308.  A young man finds his way out of a nightmare homelife.  I hadn't read Anna Belfrage before, and liked this very much.

The Portrait's Secret by Amy Maroney: a fascinating look at the world of portrait artists in Paris, 1536.  I love stories like this that describe an aspect of life I know virtually nothing about.  Reminded me of The Silk Code by Deborah Swift, for this reason.

Legacy by Jean Gill: Tudor England, 1558.  An honest man blows the whistle on a member of the aristocracy, and pays the price... heartbreaking yet uplifting!

A Sack of Potatoes by Antoine Vanner: the Netherlands, 1954, though most of it is set ten years earlier.  Brilliant story about two women who travel through occupied territory simply to find food.  I wanted it to be a whole book.  What those people endured... you hear that in the war the people of *insert name of country* were starving, but this really brought it home to me what that actually means.

A special mention for The Gate by Elizabeth St John, the last line of which made my mouth drop open.  No clues, you'll have to read it. :)

The book is beautifully presented, with Author's Notes that add interest every time.  Highly recommended, and thank you!

THE ENEMY'S WIFE by Deborah Swift @swiftstory

 5 out of 5 stars

On Amazon (universal link)

On Goodreads

How I discovered this book:  I have read every single book by only one author, and it's Deborah Swift, so I was waiting for it!

In a Nutshell: WWII drama, set mostly in Shanghai.  Book 2 of a series but completely stand-alone.

******

Blurb from Amazon

1941. When Zofia’s beloved husband Haru is conscripted into the Imperial Japanese Army, she is left to navigate Japanese-occupied Shanghai alone.

Far from home and surrounded by a country at war, Zofia finds unexpected comfort in a bond with Hilly, a spirited young refugee escaping Nazi-occupied Austria.

As violence tightens its grip on the city, they seek shelter with Theo, Zofia’s American employer. But with every passing day, the horrors of war and Haru’s absence begin to reshape Zofia’s world – and her heart.

Can she still love someone who has become the enemy?

******

My Review

I was as gripped by this book as I expected to be after reading its prequel, Last Train to Freedom.  The Enemy's Wife is completely stand-alone, as I, with the memory of a goldfish, can confirm.

I was particularly impressed by the structure and pacing - so smooth, and such an indication of the author's talent.  Getting it right is an art, and Deborah Swift is a maestro.

One aspect I found most interesting was the psychological effects of the horror of war.  That sounds a tad simplistic, but in this book the horror is all too real.  So many aspects came to life - the hell that changes the minds of men, the pointless and brutal loss of life, the erasure of communities, the lack of concern for ordinary people, the hunger, the restrictions, the constant sting of fear.

Most interesting of all, to me, was the stark illustration of the effects of the Japanese war machine on its own soldiers.  The swiftness with which fear changes the mindset into obedience, in itself an intended result of the psyop.  It made me think of much that is going on in the world now, and the escalation that is imminently possible.

On a lighter note, my favourite character was Theo until near the end, when it became Wu.  Hero!

If this genre is your thing, I highly recommend this book and its prequel.  

THE SIGNAL by Luke Voss #RBRT

 5 out of 5 stars

On Amazon (universal link)
On Goodreads

How I discovered this book: it was submitted to Rosie's Book Review Team, of which I am a member.

In a Nutshell: The sinister reality of 'collaborating' with AI in the workplace...

This is such a good book. It's well written, the characters clearly defined, the plot intricate and convincing, and Luke Voss clearly knows his subject inside out, and uses some nice turns of phrase. 

At a company called Nexus Technologies, workers are being 'transitioned', as their roles are taken over by the AI system, ARIA.  It's been introduced gradually, stealthily, so at first the staff believe that ARIA will be used in a 'collaborative' sense, as a tool to help them.  The myth is that it will take over time-consuming tasks, in order that the human workforce may have more time to be creative, to use their individual skills.  Over time, though, ARIA's ever-expanding capabilities means these skills are becoming surplus to requirements.

Some customers, for whom those in Maya Chen's department create publicity and marketing strategies, believe that they are corresponding with human beings, when actually they're talking to AI.

Sound familiar?  We all know how frustrating it is to contact 'customer services' departments, only to find that it is impossible to either email, message or speak to an actual person.  This book is like a warning from the very near future, in which workers lives, education, experience and service to a company no longer matter, because AI can do it better.  Or can it?  This is what Maya and her former colleagues Marcus and Donna are determined to address.

As well as the replacement, The Signal shows how difficult (though not impossible) it is to maintain contact with anyone outside one's own home, without AI knowing all about it.  How everything we do online is tracked and stored.  How the only way to have a truly private conversation is face to face - that's if you can arrange it in the first place, without giving away your location.

As a thriller it's low-key, with a lot of technical information - however, this is necessary, as it is the author's knowledge of his subject that makes the story believable.

I look forward to what comes next!

We're Sinking But Not Tonight by Torgeir Higraff with Randy Green #RBRT

5 out of 5 stars

On Amazon (universal link)
On Goodreads

How I discovered this book: it was submitted to Rosie's Book Review Team, of which I am a member.

In a Nutshell: An account of Torgeir Higraff's Kon-Tiki 2 Expedition 

I enjoyed this book a great deal, having an endless fascination for real life adventures of this magnitude; I think it's something about getting away from 'normal' life and seeing what one is made of that appeals.  Torgeir Higraff's aim was to re-enact the famous voyage of Thor Heyerdahl's balsa raft Kon-Tiki, but this time to do the return journey as well: from Peru to Easter Island and back again.

Both Higraff and Heyerdahl were keen to discover the origins of the Polynesian population, who also travelled by balsa raft over a thousand years ago; the aim was to see if the journeys back and forth were possible.  In this book, Higraff gives much historical detail which is most absorbing; aside from the ancient, he also talks about other raft voyages - I very much enjoyed chapter sixteen.

The rest of the book addresses the birth of the idea, the struggle for sponsorship and necessary permits, the actual building of the raft, and, of course, the voyage itself.  The storms.  The loss of vital supplies and deterioration of the logs and ropes that plagued them throughout.  However, the book is cheerful in tone, and Higraff talks a lot about his fellow sailors, both on Tupac and the sister raft, Rahiti.  The relationships between, their vastly different personalities and skills.

It's a highly readable book and I enjoyed it throughout.  During the time I was reading it, I watched the 2012 film based on Heyerdahl's voyage, Kon-Tiki, partly to give me a better understanding of the mechanics of inhabiting and sailing via raft.  If you're interested, click HERE for more about it, including trailers and where to watch.  I also looked at Torgeir's site - click on any of the photos and you can flick through all of them, they're great!  It's HERE

FOOTNOTES: The History behind the Novels by Judith Arnopp @juditharnopp

 5 out of 5 stars

On Amazon (universal link)
On Goodreads

How I discovered this book: Saw it on X, big fan of this author

In a Nutshell: A selection of articles that give background information about the subject matter of the author's novels

In the introduction Judith Arnopp apologises for any repetition in this collection of blog posts and articles from previous years, as her books were in progress.  Yes, there was some repetition, but it didn't matter to me, because so many of the articles were fascinating.  

The chapter about the Mary Rose made me think, 'I have to see this', to the extent that I've looked up the site and trains, and asked my sister if she fancies taking the trip with me.  The one about Harlech Castle and Owain Glyndŵr made me want to read a book about the subject.  'The Mysterious Death of King William II' ensured that The Forest Dwellers will be the next book of Ms Arnopp's that I read.  Even the chapters about people I already knew a lot about, like Margaret Beaufort and Henry VIII's wives, I still enjoyed reading.

And now I want to visit all those ancient Welsh churches, too - this book is a little gem!

THE CAMEO KEEPER by Deborah Swift @swiftstory

5 out of 5 stars

On Amazon

On Goodreads

How I discovered this book: a favourite author

In a Nutshell: The election of a new Pope creates chaos in 17th Century Rome

Never a disappointment, a book by Deborah Swift.  I've read the others in the series and they're all stand-alone.  I know this because I have a terrible memory but I didn't have any unanswered questions.  The Cameo Keeper made me want to read the other books again; knowing what happens next makes everything that comes before mean so much more.

Now, to the book!  This one sees astrologer Mia living with stepmother Giulia and her new husband, in Rome.  Mia falls in with the wrong people, lured by glitter, which leads to the increasing distance between her and young chirurgion Jacopo. 

A powerful woman, a new Pope, a malevolent colleague of Jacopo's, money, murder and fear of the Inquisition provide splendid material for the plot to play with, with intrigue and ghastly secrets around every corner.  

As usual with the author's books, the research into the life and work of the people she portrays (many of the key players were based on actual people) is immaculate; in this book I felt as though I was heariing from an apothecary who lived in those days, so convincing was it.  Fascinating, too.  I loved reading about the practices of the day and how, already, natural remedies were being demonised in favour of scientific discovery/experiment, for the financial benefit of the latter.

Definitely recommend this one!

BOATYARD VIEWS by Valerie Poore @vallypee

 5 out of 5 stars

On Amazon (Universal Link)
On Goodreads

How I discovered this book: The latest in a long line of memoirs by Val Poore that I have enjoyed very much!

In a Nutshell: Short articles about Val's life on the water, in the Netherlands

Val Poore's memoirs of her boaty life are always a delight to read, and I thought the format of this one lent itself so well to the subject matter.  It's a series of articles that start with the purchase of her beloved old barge Vereeniging (DOB 1898!) at the beginning of this century, and dip in and out of the past twenty-five years.  They were first published in a women's sailing magazine called SisterShip*, and feature edited highlights of Val's watery ways, from the purchase of Vereeniging to the trials of maintenance, living without electricity, the joys of living in Oude Haven in Rotterdam, learning how to be a DIY plumber, how to deal with water when it doesn't stay where it should... even when life was very, very difficult she says that she wouldn't have had it any other way.

Boatyard Views is entertaining, funny, and fascinating to read, whether you know anything about this lifestyle or not.  I highly recommend this as a lovely book to dip in and out of, though I read it in a couple of sessions.  The writing flows like a conversation with a friend, and I guarantee it'll make you think, I wish I'd done that when I was younger, too...

* I couldn't remember the name of the publication without looking it up, and was going to make up my own ... Sisters at the Stern, Birds on Barges, Queens of the Quarterdeck, Galley Girls ... perhaps not!)

ABOUT THE REAL STAGES OF GRIEF: A Journey Through Loss by D G Kaye @pokercubster

 5 out of 5 stars

On Amazon (universal link)
On Goodreads

How I discovered this book: I read about it on Sally Cronin's blog

In a Nutshell: A personal account of grief after the loss of a spouse

D G Kaye lost her beloved husband to cancer in spring 2021, and she has written here about much that she has been through during his illness and since.

The blurb says 'I write not only for those who are grieving, but also for the ones who walk beside them—for the friends, family, and witnesses to heartbreak—so they might understand, even a little, what it means to live with loss', and she's achieved that in spades - DG is so open about her emotions that it made me want to go round and hold her hand.  Could be that I found it so because it's something anyone who has a long and happy marriage dreads, especially as we get older; I could feel her pain all the way through it - and I felt angry on her behalf, too, about how the situation was exacerbated by the 'Covid' fiasco.

The book is divided into many short chapters, delving into so many aspects of loss - emotional, practical, health, social, keeping yourself safe, the zigzagging between coping and not coping, distraction mechanisms, dangers and acceptance of sorts.  Her writing is so honest and I can see how much thought has gone into the structure.  It's not a long book, and is very easy to read.

I hope it helped DG to write this, in some way - if nothing else, she should be assured that this is bound to help others, if it hasn't already.  Buy it for anyone who is going through this, read it yourself if someone close to you is suffering.  

A SONG OF SIXPENCE by Judith Arnopp @JudithArnopp

 5 out of 5 stars

On Amazon (universal link)
On Goodreads

How I discovered this book: from the back catalogue of one of my favourite authors.

In a Nutshell: the story of Elizabeth of York and Perkin Warbeck

Having recently read Judith Arnopp's latest book, about Margaret of Anjou (review HERE), I was still in Wars of the Roses headspace, and had to read more.  This starts a little while before Elizabeth of York (daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville) marries Henry VII as a result of his victory in battle over Richard III.  Running alongside Elizabeth's trials, hopes, fears and joys as Henry's queen is the story of Perkin Warbeck, who claimed to be her brother Richard, one of the two princes in the tower whose fate remains a mystery to this day.

This book made me think of Phillippa Gregory's book The White Queen, in that Ms Arnopp has chosen the storyline that Perkin Warbeck actually was Richard; I liked this.  Her version is absolutely feasible, and ditto what happened to Prince Edward.  In fact, not just feasible but likely.

I liked Elizabeth, I wanted to like Henry, and was pleased when they found happiness.  Most interesting, also, was how Henry VIII the child was portrayed, and the differing personalities of his surviving sisters.  The Mary of this book absolutely would have run off and married Henry Cavill, no problem!

Loved it.  Every word.

The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom

 5 out of 5 stars

On Amazon (universal link)
On Goodreads

How I discovered this book: I read a review of it on Debby Kaye's blog, HERE

Blurb from Amazon

Adrift in a raft after a terrible shipwreck, ten strangers try to survive while they wait for rescue.

After three days, short on water, food and hope, they spot a man floating in the waves.

They pull him on board - and the survivor claims he can save them.

But should they put their trust in him?

Will any of them see home again?

And why did the ship really sink?

Here's me adding to the 30K reviews for this book!  I read it over a period of 2days, unputdownable as it is.  Thanks, Debby, for bringing it to my attention!

The book alternates between three scenarios: 'Sea', which is what happens on the boat, 'Land', which involves the hows and the whys of the devastating explosion of billionaire Jason Lambert yacht, on which many similarly wealthy and influential people were partying, and Inspector Jarty LeFleur's investigation, while 'News' covers what the people are told in the media.

The stranger calls himself the Lord, but says he will save them only when all present on the boat believe in him.  Scenarios take place that make the non-believers more sceptical than they were at first, though if you have Christian belief they may make you nod sagely!  Benji, the survivor who narrates the chapters that take place on the lifeboat, is disbelieving at first, though his thoughts change.

The spiritual aspect aside, the story of what the survivors went through on the boat is most interesting to read about.

The ending is left open, which I found a tiny bit disappointing, but that's just a personal opinion.  I wonder if it will be enjoyed more by those who believe in God; I think if I was an atheist I might not have liked it so much.

It's a strange book.  Strange good, that is.

BURKE AND THE WAR OF 1812 by Tom Williams @TomCW99 #RBRT

5 out of 5 stars

On Amazon (universal link)

On Goodreads

How I discovered this book: it was submitted to Rosie's Book Review Team, of which I am a member.

In a Nutshell: military historical fiction, one of a series, all of which are stand-alone.

A terrific book.  I didn't know anything about this war (as outlined on the cover), and found the whole account (fiction based on fact) absolutely fascinating.

James Burke and his sidekick William Brown, an NCO in the regular army, are sent to certain areas of the developing US, under instruction to persuade the First Nation warriors to fight with Britain and Canada against the US.  They must also find out they whens and hows of the coming attack in order to deliver this intelligence to the British - which means going 'under cover' as fur traders, to the Shawnee.

I have not read much at all about the early part of the 19th Century, and it struck me how different it was from the later part of the century, when the 'Second Industrial Revolution' was taking place; Burke's world was before technology started to speed up.  The descriptions of their day-to-day life and the ways of the First Nations absorbed me; the book is extremely well-researched without making one overly aware of this, which is an art in itself.  I also enjoyed the detail about America itself, wondering what Burke would have thought had he known what the country would become.

James Burke is a man of his class and time, and Tom Williams is confident enough not to worry about reflecting this, which was appreciated.  I liked the character of William Brown very much, and found Chapter 4, in particular, absolutely riveting - this is the first chapter from his rather than Burke's POV.

Highly recommended.

A PACT WITH THE DEVIL by Anna Legat @LegatWriter

5 out of 5 stars

On Amazon (universal link)

On Goodreads

How I discovered this book: a favourite author of mine, originally discovered by a tweet for one of her other books

In a Nutshell: murder and demonic possession in 15th century Poland

Loved this book - it's so unusual to read something set in the 15th century in eastern rather than western Europe.  I was fascinated by the names of all the territories, principalities and kingdoms, few of which remain today, in a time when the map of the world looked very different.  Ms Legat talks about this at the back of the book, which has inspired me to find out more.

The story centres around Nicolaus Copernicus, studying in Cracow (Krakow) in Poland, when the death of a certain doctor of much reknown causes angst around the neighbourhood; had he really sold his soul to the devil, or are diabolical plots of a human kind to blame for his and subsequent murders?

The plot is intriguing and well thought out, and Nicolaus leaves no stone unturned in his attempts to get to the bottom of what is happening.  More than this, what delighted me so much about the book was the sense of place and time, the descriptions of the towns and the townsfolk, the customs, the social mores, the beliefs, and the banter between Nicolaus, his wayward brother Andreas and their friends.  The characters sprang from the pages, fully formed.

Highly recommended!

DEATH OF A CLOWN by Catherine McCarthy @serialsemantic

 5 out of 5 stars

On Amazon - available for pre-order. Publishes 27 May.
On Goodreads

How I discovered this book: Saw the author talking about it on X, requested an ARC.

In a Nutshell: 'a metaphorical tale of dark fantasy, a story of hope, courage and self acceptance.'

Chester was born into the circus, into the life of a clown, but his public persona of tragi-comedy is not one that sits well with him.  What he really wants to do is change his entire life.  See the world, concentrate on his main passion - his writing.  As we join him in this unusual tale, circumstances have given him the impetus to begin his adventure.

This is such a beautiful book, in so many ways.  I always read on Kindle, preferring it, but I wanted to hold this in my hands.  The writing itself is so emotive and atmospheric, bringing the cities and theatres to life; it's the best I've seen from this author.  Chester himself is a total darling, someone you badly want to find happiness.

Interspersed with the events of his own life are the stories he writes under his pen-name of Runo Quill.  These are often metaphors for his own life, though one, The City of Silence, was more like a warning from fiction about the threats to free speech we experience in our own world.  I love clever deviations from the main theme of a novel, especially when, like these, they give you the feeling of delving down intriguing side alleys before resuming your journey.

Death of a Clown will be released on May 27th - I highly recommend!

COLD IN THE EARTH by Thorne Moore @ThorneMoore #RBRT

4.5 out of 5 stars

On Amazon (universal link)
On Goodreads

How I discovered this book: it was submitted to Rosie's Book Review Team, of which I am a member.

In a Nutshell: Cold case crime solving, mostly non-police

I'm not a fan of crime fiction, but I AM a fan of Thorne Moore's writing, so I chose this from the review team list without hesitation.  It's not a police procedural, as the main person doing the detective work is Rosanna Quillan, an ex-DC who is persuaded by a friend to do some digging.

Six young girls went missing in the early - mid 1990s, but the perpetrator was only ever charged with two of the murders; the other cases remained open but went cold.  The grieving families must wait another twenty-five years for truths and physical remains to be revealed.

The most interesting character in this book was, for me, Margaret Gittings, mother of the murderer; I'd have loved to have read her whole story from her own point of view!  Then there is 11-year-old Lolly, with whom the story opens. Clever, clever, Thorne Moore - Lolly's first chapter is brief and without resolution, which meant, of course, that I eagerly read the whole book within two days so I could find out what happened to her!  I also liked Malcolm, the retired officer who dealt with the case initially, after it was bungled by a less than diligent colleague.

The story zips along so convincingly, perfectly paced, and I very much liked that, although a fledgling romantic interest for Rosanna was present, Ms Moore did not feel the need to wrap it all up with hearts and flowers.  It's good.  And there's a lovely little twist at the end, even after the remainder of Lolly's story (which was worth waiting for) is revealed.

The Queen's Avenger by Anna Legat @LegatWriter

 5 out of 5 stars

On Amazon (universal link)
On Goodreads

How I discovered this book: have read several others by this author.

In a Nutshell: the story of a monk who supported Mary, Queen of Scots, through all she suffered.

Anna Legat's books, of which I have read several, tend to be unusual in both theme and execution, and The Queen's Avenger is no exception.

The novel opens with young monk Gunther discovering, in his Bavarian monastery, scrolls written by the late Abbott, Ninian Winzet.  The scrolls take the form of a journal that reveals the precarious life of Winzet as the protector of Mary, Queen of Scots.  The main part of the story is his account of the monstrous treatment of Mary, throughout her life and by almost everyone with whom she was involved, whether a romantic partner, a political/religious opponent or a member of her own family, not least of all the execrable Lord Darnley, her second husband.  

This is a story of greed, lust for power, murder, malevolent conspiracies and fickle loyalties.  There were a few, like Winzet, who remained faithful and honourable, but these were in the minority.  I didn't know much about the late Elizabethan period or the life of Mary before, and this made me marvel that she remained alive and sane, at all.  Brother Gunther's own world was only marginally less dark.

The novel is so well written and I was glued to the pages throughout.  Highly recommended for all addicts of this period in history.

OPERATION TULIP by Deborah Swift @swiftstory

5 out of 5 stars

On Amazon (universal link)

On Goodreads

How I discovered this book: one of my 'go-to' authors!

In a Nutshell: Working for the resistance in Nazi occupied Holland, 1944

What a cracking book this is!  I loved it.  It's set mostly in The Hague in the Netherlands, as well as in other parts of the country under occupation, and in England.  Main character Nancy is assigned the most dangerous task of her life in the resistance - she must assume yet another identity, and get close to a high ranking Nazi officer.  Meanwhile, her beloved Tom, a coding expert in England, finds that he can no longer just wait for her, and makes plans that he knows are potentially perilous.

What made this book so compelling for me was the plot - unusual, as I'm usually all about the characters.  But this never lets up from the opening scene; it's perfectly paced, with more introspective passages complimenting the tension and action.  Deborah Swift brings the bleak terror of the occupied territory to life; I didn't know, before reading this, that the Dutch were kept in such appalling conditions.

It's a 'clean read' with no bad language, not even when streams of it would probably have been uttered, but the picture painted is so real, so raw that the characters' reactions all seem completely realistic.  This has been my favourite of this authors' tales of espionage in WWII; it's a real page turner!

LOCAL GODS by Mark Hurst @MarkHur41481024

5 out of 5 stars

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How I discovered this book: Recommendation

In a Nutshell: An assassin who needs to lie low discovers strange happenings in the village of Little Baddington...

Local Gods is a dark and terrifying little gem that I looked forward to getting back to each time I had to put it down.  London assassin Pete Collins allows personal vengeance to enter into his paid work, which does not please the faceless men he serves.  On the advice of his handler, he drives into deepest Gloucestershire, out in the sticks, to avoid any heat that might come his way.  

After a strangely cool reception on the night of his arrival (with the exception of new pub landlord Craig, who has made the mistake of trying to inject Little Baddington with the culture of Hampstead), Pete becomes increasingly unsettled by every experience in the village, and every local with whom he comes into contact.  And it's only going to get worse.  Suffice to say that Pete the contract killer soon starts to feel like the 'goodie'.

I love a story that surprises me all the way through, with developments I can't predict at all, and this was one such.  It's not a particularly long book, I imagine about 65 or 70K words (though I might be wrong, as the words do tend to whizz by when you're eagerly turning the pages!).  It's beautifully edited, with never a superfluous sentence, just the right amount of detail and atmosphere, with characters that pop into life as soon as they appear.  And the ending ... so, so good.  Really wish I hadn't finished it, though!

As is probably obvious, I highly recommend this novel.  If you're not the sort of person who spooks too easily...