Category: Uncategorized

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I was lucky enough to have the hardback of ‘Blood & Sugar’ bought for me as a Christmas present. It was outstanding so I was delighted to receive an ARC of ‘Daughters of Night’ in return for my honest review. Many thanks to NetGalley, Pan MacMillan and Laura Shepherd-Robinson for this opportunity.

Although there are characters from the previous novel this is a stand-alone and develops on a couple of the characters, including Caro (Caroline Corsham). A stunning woman with sophistication and wealth Caro has some secrets herself. Her husband, Captain Henry Corsham (Harry), is in America on a political mission.

The novel begins with Caro walking through gardens to meet Lucy, a high-society prostitute, in Vauxhall, only to discover that she has been brutally stabbed and dies in her arms after whispering ‘he knows,’ before her death.  Caro blames herself as she had arranged the meeting and takes on the task to find the truth.

She hires a thief-taker, Peregrine Child, to help her solve the murder as the authorities do not show as much interest as Caro would like because Lucy was a prostitute. I warmed to both of these characters even though they are both flawed and struggle at times with what life throws at them.

The author paints a wonderfully accurate and detailed picture of Georgian London and the interrelationship between men with money and their treatment of prostitutes along with the behaviours in high-society and how easy it is to be shunned. There are twists and turns throughout and just when I thought I had read them all, there are a couple more shocks. A stunning murder mystery with suspense and a superb background.

Loved the ending.

Beautifully written.  Highly recommended.

 

 

 

 

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‘If I Can’t Have You’ centres on Constance, who is twenty-six, originally from Manchester and now living in a bedsit in London, working as a receptionist at a doctor’s surgery.  A new doctor arrives on the scene, Dr Samuel Stevens, and the two begin to see each other.

The novel begins with Constance on a tube train, in a wedding dress covered with blood and a tooth falling out, presumably from a fight.  This had me hooked. How did she get there and what had happened?

At times I felt sad, embarrassed for her and at others laughed out loud, certainly at her bedsit neighbour with the idea that her name could be ‘Constance Little-Cox’. Told by Constance, her humour and one-line quips about her work colleagues and others is brilliant.

Cleverly portrayed as a flawed character, she descends into a dark place for a variety of reasons but the story is compelling and addresses some sensitive areas with great sensitivity and clarity.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Pan MacMillan and Charlotte Levin for my ARC in return for my honest review.

Utterly compelling. Highly recommended.

 

 

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This is the second book by Harriet Tyce and after the amazing ‘Blood Orange’ I was so keen to read this so thank you to NetGalley, Headline and Harriet Tyce for my ARC in return for my honest review.

The novel centres around Sadie and her daughter, Robin, who have returned the UK from America as Sadie has left her husband in what appears to be a nasty split. As part of her grandmother’s will Robin will receive the house and an income providing she attends and completes her time at the girls’ school her mother attended.

Sadie hated the school and Robin struggles initially as she appears to be ostracised by the rest of her class mates. Sadie is trying to restart her career as a barrister as well as navigate the school gate politics and finds herself floundering.

The first sixty to seventy percent I was intrigued and gripped. However, I found the ending to be rushed and not really in keeping with the rest of the novel. I felt it had such potential. As usual it was well written.

A decent read but I much preferred ‘Blood Orange’.

 

 

 

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Tis is my first read of Mark Edwards and I am unsure how I have let this happen. I will definitely be buying those other novels I have somehow missed.

Ruth married to Adam have been given the chance to house sit a New York home of Mona and Jack who they met on a cruise. Ruth is making it as an actress and Adam is struggling as a writer. Eden arrives at the door step on a rainy night and professes to know Mona and Jack. Ruth and Adam let her in and she stays for a few days.

This is where the twists and turns begin and I always felt that Eden was not who she professed to be but I didn’t see the whole picture and was amazed at how it all turned out.

Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Mark Edwards for my ARC of The House Guest in return for my honest review.

Utterly brilliant read.  Highly recommended.

 

 

 

 

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This is another brilliant read from Karin Slaughter.  There are no punches pulled in this gritty crime novel.  Once again, I was gripped from the beginning and couldn’t put the novel down.

Agent Will Trent and forensic pathologist Sara Linton are involved and are rapidly becoming two of my favourite characters in crime novels.

The book begins with a death at a prison. Will is immediately in contact with a convicted paedophile who then accuses Sara’s dead husband, Jeffery, of convicting him for a crime he wasn’t guilty of. As the case is investigated it becomes clear that there are inconsistencies. In addition, new victims are discovered with same MO. The storyline intertwines between the past and the present.

Thoroughly enjoyable read, once again from Karin Slaughter.

Thank you to Harper Collins, NetGalley and Karin Slaughter for the ARC, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Great read.  Highly recommended.