And there we have it. Another month bites the dust, All Saints Day is upon us (apparently) as we begin the onward march to Christmas. Whatever. the hell that is going to look like this year. Last year’s was a bit funky and messed up, lets face it. This year doesn’t hold much more promise but for a whole different set of reasons. What a strange world we live in. Thank heavens (or authors and publishers at the very least) for books. And Amazon (grudgingly) for kindles as at least we can still get ebooks, even if tree books are a challenge for everyone right now …
I’m starting the post with this week’s book deliveries because, in truth, I’ve not done a fat lot of anything else. Met a friend for an impromptu dinner midweek, did my grocery shopping and my laundry and went to work. Reading was variable (me not the books) and I had a rough week sleep wise so concentration is through the floor right now. Any typos in this (or any posts) are entirely down to brain fog. But hey – there are still books. Yay. Treated myself to a couple, got more through the post. First of my buys was The Cove by LJ Ross. Lovely book, gorgeous cover. I also bought Tall Tales & Wee Stories by Billy Connolly as it was a real bargain and very hard to refuse (so I didn’t bother …) Book post wise I got sent copies of Twelve Secrets by Robert Gold by the lovely folks at Sphere; The Killer In The Snow by Alex Pine from Avon Books; The Fields by Erin Young from Hodder & Stoughton and A Toast To The Old Stones by Denzil Meyrick by the fab team at Polygon Books.
Also treated myself to a preorder of No Way To Die by Tony Kent from Goldsboro Books. Two other ebooks purchased – American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins and The Last Seance by Agatha Christie. Netgalley wise I picked up a few – Murder At The Castle by Lisa Cutts; Nasty Little Cuts by Tina Baker; One For Sorrow by Helen Fields and Plain Dead by Andy Maslen.
As October ended yesterday, I can recap my monthly reads today too. Only thirteen this month. Unlucky for some but not for me as they were all terrific reads and I’d recommend each and every one of them.
Nowhere to Run by James Oswald; The Lost by Simon Beckett; No Way To Die by Tony Kent; The Commandments by Óskar Guðmundsson; Dead Mercy by Noelle Holten; Darkness Falls by Robert Bryndza; Stolen Ones by Angela Marsons; The Midnight Lock by Jeffery Deaver; Poetic Justice by Mark Tilbury; Good Cop Bad Cop by Simon Kernick; Fall by West Camel; Murder At The Castle by Lisa Cutts and A Toast To The Old Stones by Denzil Meyrick.
Books I have read
Estranged brothers are reunited over plans to develop the tower block where they grew up, but the desolate estate becomes a stage for reliving the events of one life-changing summer, forty years earlier.
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Twins Aaron and Clive have been estranged for forty years. Aaron still lives in the empty, crumbling tower block on the riverside in Deptford where they grew up. Clive is a successful property developer, determined to turn the tower into luxury flats.
But Aaron is blocking the plan and their petty squabble becomes something much greater when two ghosts from the past – twins Annette and Christine – appear in the tower. At once, the desolate estate becomes a stage on which the events of one scorching summer are relived – a summer that shattered their lives, and changed everything forever…
Grim, evocative and exquisitely rendered, Fall is a story of friendship and family – of perception, fear and prejudice, the events that punctuate our journeys into adulthood, and the indelible scars they leave – a triumph of a novel that will affect you long after the final page has been turned.
Murder At The Castle by Lisa Cutts
When the star guest collapses at a wine tasting, it seems someone has a taste for murder. Fortunately, amateur sleuth Belinda Penshurst was at the event – and now she’s on the case!
Belinda Penshurst loves her home village Little Challham, and its charming, peaceful ways. So when wine critic Sadie Oppenshaw dies at a tasting Belinda organised, she immediately turns detective to uncover the poisoner…
Accompanied by retired detective Harry Powell and her boisterous Labrador Horatio, Belinda sets out to investigate the world of wine. There are scandals brewing everywhere… but do the local DIY enthusiasts have a deadly vendetta, or did Sadie’s reviews cause a resentful restaurant owner to crack?
When another of the guests at the wine tasting is found poisoned, it becomes clear the killer is only just getting started. Can Belinda crack the case and open the champagne, before the murderer catches up with her?
A charming cozy mystery, perfect for fans of M.C. Beaton, H.Y. Hanna and Emily Organ.
A Toast To The Old Stones by Denzil Meyrick
It’s 1968, and the fishermen of Kinloch are preparing to celebrate the old New Year on the twelfth of January. The annual pilgrimage to the Auld Stones is a tradition that goes back beyond memory, and young Hamish, first mate on the Girl Maggie, is chuffed that he’s been invited to this exclusive gathering – usually reserved for the most senior members of Kinloch’s fishing community.
Meanwhile, it appears that the new owners of the Firdale Hotel are intent upon turning their customers teetotal, such is the exorbitant price they are charging for whisky. Wily skipper Sandy Hoynes comes up with a plan to deliver the spirit to the thirsty villagers at a price they can afford through his connections with a local still-man.
But when the Revenue are tipped off, it looks as though Hoynes and Hamish’s mercy mission might run aground. Can the power of the Auld Stones come to their rescue, and is the reappearance of a face from Hoynes’ past a sign for good or ill?
Three books again this week and I’m happy with that. I’ve had some very restless nights and it’s taking its toll. Full week on the blog, literally this time, with posts every single day. Recap below.
#Review – The Last Time She Died – Zoë Sharp
#Review – Dark As My Heart – Antti Tuomainen
#Review – The Rabbit Factor – Antti Tuomainen – Jen
#Review – The Rabbit Factor – Antti Tuomainen – Mandie
#Review – Dead Of Night – Michael Stanley
#Review – Survivors Guilt – Michael Wood
#Review – A Breath on Dying Embers – Denzil Meyrick
#Publication Day Promo – Love Heart Lane Box Set – Christie Barlow
The week ahead is pretty full too. Tour reviews this week are The Reacher Guy by Heather Martin which is out today and Good Cop Bad Cop by Simon Kernick on Wednesday. A good variety of views during the week to so do stop by.
That’s my week in a nutshell. Hope you have a lovely week this week. Mine will be … interesting I suppose is the best way to describe it. Off to a book launch on Thursday – can’t wait – so I may even have something interesting to say next week or at least some pretty pictures to share.
Have a fab week and keep reading.
Jen x
Jen Med's Book Reviews 