Rewind, recap: Weekly update w/e 08/03/20

Another week, another round up. I’d like to say I am going to bring something astoundingly original to the mix but I’m really not. A somewhat uneventful week at work, a nice trip to London on Tuesday afternoon and a couple of really brilliant books read and that’s about my lot for this week. Well, I spent yesterday doing all the pre-post pre for April so now with just one review to finish off for March, and the books to read and review for next month I’m pretty well organised right through until 1st May, but who is counting.

So how was your week? Did you have a good one? Managed to avoid Coronavirus and keep your heads buried in books? I did. Even when I ventured away from the family fold it was only to attend the triple launch for Steph Broadribb, Vanda Symon and Simeon Buchholz, whose stunning books are all released in paperback this month. A flying visit to London Tuesday saw me meet up with my fellow bloggers and the lovely #TeamOrenda authors to celebrate the launch of Deep Dark Night, Containment and Mexico Street, as well as top up my Orenda Books collection with my final missing book. For now …

So I didn’t get quite so much reading done this week, partly because I am still wiped out from my week following the Orenda Roadshows, but partly because one of the books I read was one I just wanted to savour. Book wise, I had one from Netgalley – The Shadow Friend by Alex North. I also bought a copy of Deep Dark Night by Steph Broadribb to add to my signed Orenda Books collection. Oh, and I pre-ordered the special edition hardback version of The Creak On The Stairs by Eva Björg Ægisdottir from Goldsboro Books.

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Books I have read

We Begin At The End – Chris Whitaker

With the staggering intensity of James Lee Burke and the absorbing narrative of Jane Harper’s The Dry, We Begin at the End is a powerful novel about absolute love and the lengths we will go to keep our family safe. This is a story about good and evil and how life is lived somewhere in between.

‘You can’t save someone that doesn’t want to be saved . . .’

Thirty years ago, Vincent King became a killer.

Now, he’s been released from prison and is back in his hometown of Cape Haven, California. Not everyone is pleased to see him. Like Star Radley, his ex-girlfriend, and sister of the girl he killed.

Duchess Radley, Star’s thirteen-year-old daughter, is part-carer, part-protector to her younger brother, Robin – and to her deeply troubled mother. But in trying to protect Star, Duchess inadvertently sets off a chain of events that will have tragic consequences not only for her family, but also the whole town.

Murder, revenge, retribution.

How far can we run from the past when the past seems doomed to repeat itself?

The Second Hostage – Jeffery Deaver

A gripping Colter Shaw short story from the master of suspense, with a twist you won’t see coming.

A captive held at gun point.
In search of a missing woman in Kansas, unique investigator Colter Shaw finds himself in the middle of a violent kidnapping that sends shockwaves through the rural community.
 
An investigator running out of time.
Someone has taken a local man captive and barricaded themselves in a lake-side property. The phone line has been cut and Shaw is the only person with a chance of getting the innocent victim out alive.
 
A twist nobody saw coming.
But before long the case takes an unexpected turn, and Shaw begins to suspect that the simple kidnapping has a darker purpose – one that might end with murder…

Killer Christmas – Leigh Russell

Have yourself a deadly little Christmas…

‘UNMISSABLE’ – LEE CHILD * ‘A RARE TALENT’ – DAILY MAIL * ‘BRILLIANT’ – JEFFERY DEAVER

A standalone short story featuring Detective Geraldine Steel

It’s Christmas Eve but not all is merry and bright for Detective Geraldine Steel. With her family abroad and her friends booked up, she finds herself alone in York for the holidays. But when a man collapses at the local fair, it’s clear that this isn’t a case of winter flu. There’s a killer in the crowds. Can Geraldine find the culprit before another life is taken?

For fans of Peter James, Angela Marsons and Robert Bryndza

Strangers – CL Taylor

Ursula, Gareth and Alice have never met before.

Ursula thinks she killed the love of her life.
Gareth’s been receiving strange postcards.
And Alice is being stalked.

None of them are used to relying on others – but when the three strangers’ lives unexpectedly collide, there’s only one thing for it: they have to stick together. Otherwise, one of them will die.
 
Three strangers, two secrets, one terrifying evening.

Two full books, two short stories – I’ll take that. Full week on the blog and you can find the recap below:

#Review – Inborn – Thomas Enger
#Review – Quick Reads 2020
#Review – Containment – Vanda Symon
#Review – Keep Him Close – Emily Koch
#Review – The Abrupt Physics of Dying – Paul E. Hardisty

The week ahead sees us reviewing all things Orenda and all things Paul E Hardisty. To celebrate the 5th anniversary of the paprback publication of Orenda’s first ever book book, I’ll be sharing and resharing my thoughts on not only the Claymore Straker series, but also my 2019 book of the year, Turbulent Wake. To round out the week Mandie will be sharing her thoughts on the beautiful book by Kjell Ola Dahl – The Courier. Do join us.

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I’m off to do more reading as well as take a short break away from the. laptop. I did the groundwork for 25 posts yesterday, as well as writing up a few reviews so I’m going screen blind. I think we’ve all been there. Day off work today so after a nice lie in (I may still be there as this post goes live …) I’ll be snuggling up with the cats and having a nice day of… reading. What else?

Have a brilliant week all.

Jen