I’ll keep this brief – been nowhere, done nothing, and up until Friday, it was nearly another week without buying any books or getting any from Netgalley too. This post very nearly didn’t happen. You’d have been getting a picture of six bright pink flamingo ducks, two books read and not a fat lot else … I know it’s not just me struggling with 2020 but I think this past month has been the hardest one of all, probably because days are getting shorter, weather wetter, and moods just altogether gloomier. I can’t even be bothered to make food which is never good really is it?
So – as I said it was a quiet week as far as books went. I actually went 11 whoe days without the sniff of a new book. 11. I still don’t technically have the sniff of a book as they were pre-orders and a lot were ebooks, but it still counts. I ordered Blood On Snow by Rachel Amphlett, Bound (ebook – tree book has been on order a while) by Vanda Symon; Hotel Cartagena (ebook) by Simone Buchholz. I also pre-ordered signed copies if The Burning Girls by CJ Tudor and The Coffin Maker’s Garden by Stuart MacBride from Goldsboro Books. Two new Netgalley books – Shadow of a Doubt by Michelle Davies, and Lie Beside Me a last minute approval for the Gytha Lodge novel from Penguin MJ just as I was typing this post. 1 very last minute ebook received which is for a blog tour – An Eye For An Eye by Carol Wyer.
I had one lovely piece of bookpost – a lovely Detective in Training mug from Rachel Amphlett. Love it and it brought a much needed smile to my face.
Books I have read
Kill a Stranger by Simon Kernick
They took your fiancée.
They framed you for murder.
You’re given one chance to save her. To clear your name.
You must kill someone for them.
They give you the time and place.
The weapon. The target.
You have less than 24 hours.
You only know that no-one can be trusted…and nothing is what it seems.
A masterclass in page-turning suspense, this twisting and addictive read will leave you guessing until the very last chapter.
The Chalet by Catherine Cooper
French Alps, 1998
Two young men ski into a blizzard… but only one returns.
20 years later
Four people connected to the missing man find themselves in that same resort. Each has a secret. Two may have blood on their hands. One is a killer-in-waiting.
Someone knows what really happened that day.
And somebody will pay.
An exciting new debut for anyone who loves Ruth Ware, Lucy Foley, and C.L. Taylor
CWA Anthology of Short Stories: Mystery Tour
Crime spreads across the globe in this new collection of short stories from the Crime Writer’s Association, as a conspiracy of prominent crime authors take you on world mystery tour. Highlights of the trip include a treacherous cruise to French Polynesia, a horrifying trek in South Africa, a murderous train-ride across Ukraine and a vengeful killing in Mumbai. But back home in the UK, life isn’t so easy either. Dead bodies turn up on the backstreets of Glasgow, crime writers turn words into deeds at literary events, and Lady Luck seems to guide the fate of a Twickenham hood.
Showcasing the range, breadth and vitality of contemporary crime-fiction genre, these 28 chilling and unputdownable stories will take you on a trip you’ll never forget.
Contributions from: Ann Cleeves, C.L. Taylor, Susi Holliday, Martin Edwards, Anna Mazzola, Carol Anne Davis, Cath Staincliffe, Chris Simms, Christine Poulson, Ed James, Gordon Brown, J.M. Hewitt, Judith Cutler, Julia Crouch, Kate Ellis, Kate Rhodes, Martine Bailey, Michael Stanley, Maxim Jakubowski, Paul Charles, Paul Gitsham, Peter Lovesey, Ragnar Jónasson, Sarah Rayne, Shawn Reilly Simmons, Vaseem Khan, William Ryan and William Burton McCormick
A busy enough week on the blog. Nothing special but we posted every weekday so that’s good, right? Recap below
#Review – Hell Bay – Kate Rhodes
#Review – The Lingering – SJI Holliday
#Review – Lies – TM Logan
#Review – Betrayal – Lilja Sigurdardottir
#Review – Pulpit Rock – Kate Rhodes
We have a full week of reviews ahead. No blog tours and quite a bit of catch up in terms of reviews because I’ve been pretty poor at keeping up this year. Better late than never though. And that’s about it really. I’m off to stir my messerole and cuddle the cat (not at the same time) whilst I try and recapture my variable reading and blogging mojo. Maybe I’ll even treat myself to a proper walk this week. Stranger things have happened! At least i know I managed to bring a friend some cheer this week so it wasn’t a complete write off. And I found Milka Darkmilk chocolate so – yay!!
Have a fab week all. See you on the other side.
Jen xx
Jen Med's Book Reviews 
I’m with you on the mood thing – its a ‘don’t wanna’ time of year – add in the covid stuff and I’m struggling. Started 3 books last week, and just couldn’t rustle up the interest to read to the end. Sorry Authors, I will get back to them. So I know what you mean Jen
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It’s so hard. I am really busy at work at the moment but being in my spare room makes it feel like there is no gap between work ending and that reading day beginning. And I read mostly ebooks so feel like I am permanently attached to a screen. I think I am just plain frazzled
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