What a week hey? We march on towards the ‘C’ word at a steady pace, already now over half way through October. This thought fills me with a touch of dread. Not because I’m not a fan of the season (I’m not), or because it means the year is almost over (what is a year but a series of consecutive-but-feels-like-concurrent days anyway?). No – I am on the very of a panic attack because it means I need to start thinking about #Bookvent and I’M NOT READY!!! 😩
I do try and keep on top of my reading list each year, and (mostly) record my Red Hot Reads in a separate list in GoodReads. But I must admit that some of those are instinctive the minute I finish the book (so they get recorded) and some I realise as I am writing the review what an impact the book actually made and are awarded then, often weeks later. These I do not always remember to record. And when I’ve exhausted my list of RHR, I then have to make up the month with the ‘Best of the Rest’ which is no easy ask, believe me. And as for choosing my Book of the Year. I have a few in the pipeline which really hit the mark, but lots of 2022 released books still to be read so I may not have read that particular book just yet. And I don’t like not having a plan! It is so not me, causes me unending stress and I have enough of that in work thank you very much.
My week has been a bit more bookish. Actually managed to read some, but that was largely over the weekend rather than in the week. Also received some in the post. Three purchased, one gifted by Simon & Schuster. My gifted book was The Only Suspect by Louise Candlish (02 Feb 2023). Purchases were my (long awaited) copies of Ghosts in the Gloaming by Denzil Meyrick and A Heart Full of Headstones by Ian Rankin. I also received the copy of Ghost Eaters by Clay McLeod Chapman that I ordered from Bert’s last week to make up for missing bookshop day.
In terms of Netgalley I have been very good. 1 book (which I also have on pre-order), The Blood Line by Will Shindler (02 Feb 2023) from the Finn and Paulson series. Love those books. One further pre-order from ‘Zon, the next book in the Matilda Darke series by Michael Wood which is yet to have a name or cover but will be out March 30th next year.
Books I have read
Deceit by Jónína Leósdóttir (30 Oct)
Reykjavík detective Soffía finds herself struggling to cope with a single-handed investigation into a spate of malicious acts taking place across the city, and enlists help from an unexpected direction.
Her psychologist ex-husband Adam has advised the police before, but with Covid raging in the city, would prefer to stay holed up in his basement flat as he deals with challenges in both his working and private life.
He grudgingly agrees to work with Soffía, as the stakes in the investigation are continually raised.
Working out who bears a grudge that goes deep enough to lead to murder, they unravel complex family ties, lingering enmities and a dark past that the victims would prefer to keep secret, while Adam encounters a young woman in a race against the clock to find the father she has never seen, but for what purpose?
Ghosts in the Gloaming by Denzil Meyrick
From the author of the bestselling D.C.I. Daley series comes a thrilling new tall tale from Kinloch.
It’s December 1968. Having cheated Sandy Hoynes out of a rowing race and navigation certificate when they were young, Dreich MacCallum makes an unexpected return to Kinloch.
With the Girl Maggie up on the slip awaiting urgent repairs, Hoynes takes to his bed, the memory of it all too much. When first mate Hamish persuades his skipper to get up and put the fishing boat back into the water, there are unexpected consequences that put Hoynes’ liberty and reputation at risk.
Has Dreich won the day again?
But the spirits of the past have yet to have their say. Upon whom will the winter sun set?
The Silent Dead by Marnie Riches (01 Nov)
She was lying as if asleep on the wooden kitchen floor, beneath the fridge covered with a child’s colourful crayon drawings. But her frozen expression showed she would never wake again…
When Detective Jackie Cooke is called out to the scene, she’s expecting a routine check. The bottle of pills on the kitchen table, next to the note with the single word SORRY written in a shaky hand, make it seem obvious what’s happened. But Jackie is shocked when she recognises her old schoolfriend Claire – and she is convinced Claire would never take her own life.
Determined to dig deeper, Jackie soon discovers evidence that proves her right: a roll of notes has been thrust down the victim’s throat. And when she finds another woman killed in the same way, she realises someone may be targeting lonely single mothers. As Jackie talks to Claire’s distraught children, one of them too young to understand his mummy is never coming home, she vows to find answers.
Both victims were in touch with someone calling himself Nice Guy – could he be the killer? Pursuing every clue, Jackie is sure she’s found a match in dead-eyed Tyler, part of a dark world of men intent on silencing women for daring to reject them. But just as she makes the arrest, another single mother is found dead – a woman who never dated at all.
Forced to re-evaluate every lead she has, with her boss pressuring her to make a case against the obvious suspect, Jackie knows she is running out of time before another innocent woman is murdered. And, as a single mother herself, she cannot help but wonder if she is in the killer’s sights. Can she uncover his true motivation and put an end to his deadly game… or will he find her first?
A completely unputdownable crime thriller that will have you reading long into the night. Perfect for fans of Kendra Elliott, Rachel McLean and Val McDermid.
Another three. I will admit this was helped greatly by the fact that none of the books was over 400 pages long (bonus), in fact one of them was less than 200 pages and I’d swapped it for a 500+ page epic. I’m sure reading the book wouldn’t have been an issue but my focus is beyond limited right now so 300 pages is still a struggle. Some of my go to authors who write well into the 120k+ word territory feel like an absolute improbability for me at the moment as far as reading goes. Which sucks because I have one such book on my I really want to read this but don’t have the headspace list as well … ☹️
Busy enough week on the blog although now I can hand on heart say that we really are slowing down. Recap below:
#Review – I Don’t Talk To Dead Bodies – Dr Rhona Morrison
#Review – From Now On – Amelia Henley
#Review – Red as Blood – Lilia Sigurdardottir
#Review – Daughter of the Dawn – Marion Kummerow
#Review – Wolf Pack – Will Dean
The week ahead should be full (if I ever write the reviews up) but only one blog tour (must write that one at least!). The Moose Paradox by Antti Tuomainen (27 Oct).
Loved it. The delay in review writing is 100% about me and me alone. I am review broken. My head space has shrunk and what little there is left is crammed with work crap. I don’t like it. I have a long weekend off this weekend so plan to catch up on a) reviewing and b) reading, knowing that I have no work, no travel and no commitments to occupy my head for four whole days. Cannot wait.
I hope you all have a very lovely week. I leave you with a picture of my find of the week – a Golden Caramel Toblerone. Not remotely bookish but still looks pretty ruddy tasty don’t you think?
Jen x
Jen Med's Book Reviews 