So there we go. Another week gone. It’s been a blast. Probably … I’ve read some books, done a lot less walking (fluffing weather), eaten Macaroni Cheese … Well. Sometimes it’s all about the little things.
How are you all? Hope you’ve had a good week. In the UK we are all inching ever closer to a wider freedom, and for me it means being able to get away on that break from work I should have had last June. Cannot wait. Not going abroad – think it will be a while before I’m tempted by that particular freedom, but we have plenty of lovely things to see and do right at home, so that is fine by me.
I had some lovely book post this week – three books in fact. First up was a copy of Accra Noir thanks to Cassava Republic. I also received copies of Bloody Foreigners by Neil Humphreys from Muswell Press and For Any Other Truth by Denzil Meyrick courtesy of Polygon.
One new Netgalley book – Dead Ground by MW Craven. Order wise, I preordered the as yet untitled Maggie Jamieson book by Noelle Holten. I also bought on audible, the three DCI Daley books by Denzil Meyrick that I didn’t have so I can have an audio bingefest – One Last Dram Before Midnight; A Breath On Dying Embers; Jeremiah’s Bell.
Books I have read
When terrorists use a drone to bring down a plane on one of London’s busiest shopping centres, it ignites a chain of events that will draw in the innocent and guilty alike.
DC Max Wolfe finds himself caught in the crossfire in a city that seems increasingly dangerous and hostile.
But does the danger come from the murderous criminals that Max is tracking down? Or the people he’s trying to protect?
Or does the real threat to Max lie closer to home?
FROM THE SHADOWS INTO THE LIGHT…
When a fishing boat is wrecked off the treacherous North Sea coast and the body of a young woman washes up on the beach beside the iconic ‘Marsden Rock’, DCI Ryan cannot ignore the call to duty.
With one already dead and more human cargo missing from the wreckage, Ryan and his team race to find the remaining souls — before it’s too late, and their investigation turns to murder. As they uncover the seedy underbelly of Tyneside, cold and calculated opportunism clashes with the rock-hard arm of the Law, but there’s one thing that proves stronger than stone…
The human spirit.
Murder and mystery are peppered with romance and humour in this fast-paced crime whodunnit set amidst the spectacular North Eastern landscape.
#taken in the night
They thought they were kidnapping the mistress of one of London’s most powerful gangsters. But they’ve taken the wrong woman. And crossed the wrong detective.
#taken underground
Detective Max Wolfe’s hunt for the missing woman takes him from New Scotland Yard’s legendary Black Museum to the glittering mansions of career criminals, from sleazy strip joints to secret sex dungeons – and to unspeakably dark deeds committed decades ago.
#taken to the limit
It’s a world of family secrets, sexual jealousy, and a lust for revenge – which might also become Wolfe’s grave…
That Night by Gillian McAllister
What would you do to protect your family?
ANYTHING.
During a family holiday in Italy, you get an urgent call from your sister.
There’s been an accident: she hit a man with her car and he’s dead.
She’s overcome with terror – fearing years in a foreign jail away from her child.
She asks for your help. It wasn’t her fault, not really. She’d cover for you, so will you do the same for her?
But when the police come calling, the lies start. And you each begin to doubt your trust in one another.
What really happened that night?
Who is lying to who?
Who will be the first to crack?
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
St Christopher’s College, Cambridge, is a closed world to most.
For Mariana Andros – a group therapist struggling through her private grief – it’s where she met her late husband. For her niece, Zoe, it’s the tragic scene of her best friend’s murder.
As memory and mystery entangle Mariana, she finds a society full of secrets, which has been shocked to its core by the murder of one of its own.
Because behind its idyllic beauty is a web of jealousy and rage which emanates from an exclusive set of students known only as The Maidens. A group under the sinister influence of the enigmatic professor Edward Fosca.
A man who seems to know more than anyone about the murders – and the victims. And the man who will become the prime suspect in Mariana’s investigation – an obsession which will unravel everything…
The Maidens is a story of love, and of grief – of what makes us who we are, and what makes us kill.
100% of all royalties from The C Word will be donated to NHS Together Charities.
So, what do writers do during Lockdown? They create murder, mystery, death and destruction of course!
The C Word is a collection of short stories collated during the COVID-19 pandemic to raise money for NHS Charities Together. A plethora of wonderful stories created by a wide variety of writers, each with their own unique style. Some you will know already and some we’ve yet to introduce you to. However, we’re sure you’ll want to hear from each & every one of them again as we leave 2020 behind us.
Including contributions from Steve Mosby , Elly Griffiths , Sarah Hilary , Sophie Hannah , Rob Scragg and many more
So six books read in the end – not a bad week all in all, helped once again by a good run of audio books. A very full week on the blog – here’s the recap:
No Going Back – Casey Kelleher
Yours Until Death – Gunnar Staalesen
The Last Thing He Told Me – Laura Dave
Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Longlist Announced
Capital Crime Announces The Amazon Publishing New Voices Award
Silenced – Sólveig Pálsdóttir
Faithless – Kjell Ola Dahl
Forgotten – Jeffery Deaver
The week ahead is full. No blog tours this week, but a whole variety of reviews of books that I hope will entertain.
I’m back to the books – they won’t read themselves. Have a day off this week – yippee – so if the weather holds, I’ll be making the very, very most of it. Failing that, I hope to at least buy some new t-shirts …
Hope you all have a fab reading week. Until next time
Jen x
Jen Med's Book Reviews 