Desecration (London Crime #1) by J.F. Penn.

 Follow Detective Sergeant Jamie Brooke as she helps solve a murder in London. This is not your average murder but one with a sinister background.

I have not read a book from Joanna for over 5 years now. What a delight it was for me to read another of her books. Once again Joanna mixes her extensive research with her extensive vocabulary to give the reader a very detailed and descriptive story. The plot behind Desecration is very good yet creepy as you wonder what can take place in research laboratories.

I found Desecration to be an excellent thriller, very gritty and quite gory in places. I really liked the emotional depth that was displayed when people have to deal with end-of-life choices and timescales. Joanna’s writing is so powerful that it brought a tear to my eye when I read that the time was right for one character. The words used really grasped the feelings in the same way as when a vet puts an animal down.

There are lighter parts to this story, like an exploration of various forms of body art and modification plus the joys of Tango dancing.

I think Desecration is an OUTSTANDING read that gets the top score of 5 stars from me.

Desecration was written in 2013 and is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook.

Only the Innocent (DCI Tom Douglas #1) by Rachel Abbott.

Extremely wealthy Sir Hugo Fletcher is found murdered in his posh London home. Can DCI Tom Douglas catch the killer and bring them to justice in the first book in this series?

This is the first Rachel Abbott book that I have read and I thought I would give it a go as she is popular with many of my friends on Goodreads.

Only the Innocent is not a standard British police procedural novel. I did not like the format of this book. The reader knows far more about what is going on than any police officer working on the case. Most of the novel is centred around Laura Fletcher, the victim’s wife. Annoyingly she reveals selected parts of her back story through letters she wrote but never sent to her ex-sister-in-law, Imogen.

There are lots of nagging hints that things in Hugo’s life are simply not right. These doubts are drip-fed to the reader as this story rolls on. I found it irritating how the characters were extremely wealthy, throwing money everywhere without question and their snobbery was outstanding. They thought they were above everyone else and felt their wealth gave them the right to behave however they chose.

Slowly the many secrets surrounding Sir Hugo Fletcher were revealed with the reader always knowing more than the police. I found the plot okay with the surprises coming at the end.

I did not like any of the characters in this novel and found them all arrogant and pushy. Also the blatant eavesdropping annoyed me and the characters appeared so unfair.

Only the Innocent is an OKAY 3 star read with nothing to recommend about it to other readers. There were no golden nuggets to enjoy and the dialogue between characters lacked wit and humour. The best quote I can provide also illustrates the class of people involved and shows why I did not develop any empathy for Sir Hugo etc…

On one occasion, we were just passing a vaporetto stop as a boat pulled in. ‘Oh look, Hugo - can we just hop on this for half an hour, just to see where it takes us?’ ‘Laura, it’s a bus!’ he said. ‘Really, darling, I’m not in the habit of getting on buses, even if they do float and they are in the most beautiful city in the world. If you must take to the water, we’ll hire a launch and you can have a ride after lunch whilst I read the papers. How does that sound?’

Only the Innocent was written in 2011 and is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook.

The Moscow Affair: A Nicole Graves Mystery book 6 by Nancy Boyarsky.

Nicole Graves, a Private Investigator based in Los Angeles is getting a little bored and fed up being stuck in her office while other staff are out in the field. Nicole is suddenly given the chance to get out of her office on an unusual assignment of simply observing and reporting on passengers aboard a luxury cruise ship in Moscow. Nicole is delighted to be offered this easy spotters job - a kind of busman’s holiday - a refreshing break playing the role of a tourist. What could possibly go wrong? Surely this is money for old rope?

I enjoyed reading this 6th novel in the Nicola Graves mysteries. Like the other books in this series, I feel this book can be read as a stand-alone. I liked how the dynamics of Nicole continued, it felt like catching up with an old friend. The author’s voice is consistent through her books and it is easy to believe that Nicole is actually Nancy, the author. There is a very easy flow to this book and although it is not written in the first person, it feels as though Nicole is sitting across the room for you, telling you about her exciting holiday cruise along the river Volga in Russia.

There is plenty of action in this story, it is not a sleepy river cruise but a tale of conspiracy and danger. By coincidence, whilst I was reading this book, I also watched a film called The Courier, - thinking that the role played by Olga Kurylenko - was similar to Nicole, a very strong, full action female with an army of talents to save the day.

I think the plot of The Moscow Affair was okay, nothing special - like the plot in her 4th novel, The Ransom. I found this book easy to roll along with, like watching a good television presenter. “And later in the programme I’ll be talking to....” making this a cosy armchair read. There is even a little romance towards the end with an old friend.

I do not think The Moscow Affair is as good as the other novels in this series like The Swap - book 1, The Bequest - book 2 or The Entitled - book 5 - but I found The Moscow Affair to be an OKAY read that gets 3 stars from me.

Thanks to the author for giving me an ARC on the understanding that I would publish a review.

The Moscow Affair was written in 2021 and is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook.

Making Friends with Anxiety by Sarah Rayner.

This self help book informs the reader all about anxiety. I found this book a real eye-opener and I learned an awful lot about anxiety and the physiological response our bodies make. The understanding this book has given me enables me to deal with any anxiety I encounter and know the problems other people may suffer from.

Making Friends with Anxiety is an easy book to follow, read and understand. Sarah Rayner is a British author and her book is very, very down to earth. You don’t need to know anything about anxiety before starting this book. I found the text engaging, focused and extremely informative. I simply loved the psychology involved with how our minds work and how we deal with life.

Sarah explains that anxiety is a problem for everyone and her book can lessen the effects on you. However, anxiety is different for everyone and Sarah lists many of the symptoms. Sarah encourages readers to live in the moment, talks about mindfulness plus how and why household pets are happy and anxiety free. 

To give you the flavour of this wonderful book and the down to earth nature and quality of Sarah’s writing, below are some quotes to illustrate the focus and power of Making Friends with Anxiety...

“You can never be rid of anxiety completely as it’s a natural physiological response, but it’s impact can be reduced.”

“In other words, even relatively mild anxiety can make us alter our actions and restrict what we do.”

“We can influence our thoughts, and if we change the way we think, then our mood will lift and, eventually, anxiety will diminish too.”

“We can’t control much of what’s coming, and we certainly can’t change what’s been and gone. Put like this, it seems obvious that shifting our focus to the present will be good for our mental health.”

“let go of ruminating on the past and worrying about the future and focus on the here and now, anxiety lessens.”

...When I got to the end of this 132 page book, I understood fully why Sarah chose this title. Anxiety is a natural part of life and if you make friends with it, rather than fight anxiety, you will not struggle needlessly with a physiological response that we have all had since the stone age. I really enjoyed reading Making Friends with Anxiety, I found it very enlightening and I took a lot away from this book. I think it is a great book that explains what makes people tick and is an OUTSTANDING read that gets the top score of 5 stars from me. Sarah even mentions a value that I have held all my adult life...

“Alcohol should be a treat, not a treatment.”

This book was first written in 2014 but has been updated with a final chapter to cover the extra anxiety challenges that readers may face during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Making Friends with Anxiety was written first in 2014 and is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook.

Flesh Worn Stone by John A. Burks Jr.

Steven Alexander has what he considers the perfect life. With a good job, a loving wife, and happy and healthy sons, he has little to complain about. But then Steven hears just 2 gun shots and his nightmare begins.

WOW! This book was well out of my usual genres. Suddenly the reader is thrust with no explanations into a living nightmare. The lead character Steven Alexander doesn’t have a clue either. Where the heck has he woken up? He is stuck in a cage, on a beach, with 4 strangers - who like him and his wife also appear to be kidnap victims.

Flesh Worn Stone is a violent horror story that gave me the creeps. It is very colourful and the action made me wince in horror. How can Steven possibly get away from this madness?

I really enjoyed reading Flesh Worn Stone, although it is very, very violent and gruesome in places. This book is total escapism that you can read from the safety of your Kindle. I loved how little bits of conversation and detail were sprinkled throughout this story that made me guess what was behind this nightmare. I thought the plot was very good and I loved how the local politics that Steven was thrown into were developed and explored.

All human life is here, with a good range of personalities, all with their good and bad bits. I found the writing to be crisp, engaging, entertaining and of high quality. There were no slow, boring bits or padding in this novel. The tension throughout this story was full blast, all the way to the end. I think this book is an OUTSTANDING read of escapism that gets the top score of 5 stars from me. Makes putting out the wheelie bins for refuse collection a rushed affair from now on!

Flesh Worn Stone was written in 2011 and is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook.

The Stranger Next Door by Adam Southward.

Matthew, his wife Imogen and their daughter Ashley move from London to a house along New Church Road in Albury, a village near Guildford in Surrey. How will they adapt to village life compared to busy but anonymous life in London? How will they get along with their new neighbours? Follow this family as they deal with village life in this psychological thriller.

I liked the short chapters with their point of view from either Matthew, Imogen or their new neighbour Nancy. Sadly, these 3 main characters were not people you would want as a friend. Matthew was sneaky, Imogen is a nagging wife who is always spending money and Nancy simply gives me the creeps.

Sadly the warning flags in this psychological thriller are flown very early on. I guessed the plot very quickly and each hint confirmed my suspicions, one after the other.

I was pleased to read that I am not married to a woman like Imogen. Not only her rampant consumerism but the constant job allocation for Matthew to complete was wearing me down! Imogen even has the gall, in her own words “Or I could push, nag, dig until I revealed every little detail”.

Matthew for all his faults, does however offer to buy strangers a drink if he wants to talk to them. Simon turned down a beer in a near-by pub and had a soft drink but Chris not only had more than one coffee but had some cake too! That made me smile, the thought of a stranger buying me a beer “for a chat” - what do you want to know?

The Stranger Next Door rumbled along with no real surprises for me. I found it to be a comfortable, 3 star OKAY read that filled a hole, very much like eating toast before leaving for work in the morning. There is a lovely acknowledgement at the end when Adam, who wrote this novel during the Covid-19 lockdown, declares “And the final thank you is to you, the wonderful readers, tweeters, bloggers and reviewers, who take the time to remind everyone that the comfort of fiction is a constant, no matter what the world is doing.”

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Headline Accent for giving me an ARC on the understanding that I publish a review.

The Stranger Next Door is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook and was written in 2021.

The Secret War by Louise Burfitt-Dons.

Follow Private Investigator Karen Andersen as she helps get to the bottom of things during these challenging times of the coronavirus pandemic. Although this is book 3 in the series, it can so easily be read as a stand-alone.

I loved the contemporary nature of this novel with all the conspiracies surrounding Covid-19. Louise has her finger on the pulse of Britain coping under the numerous lockdown restrictions. I loved how the many modern threats to life in the UK were explored plus the global risk of bio-terrorism. All your fears are listed along with a very long list of what-ifs. I loved the plot and how suspicions of the many characters were creepily developed.

There were no boring bits in this novel and I found it very engaging - the conspiracy element is so strong. I really enjoyed reading The Secret War and think it would make a great television drama. This novel raises a lot of questions when you consider the modern problem of fake news. Just who is telling the truth as we womble around wearing face masks?

The Secret War is a work of fiction but it does make you wonder about the source of Covid-19. I found this novel to be an OUTSTANDING 5 star read and I will never think about the Yamaha DX7 in the same way again.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher BooksGoSocial for providing me with an ARC on the understanding that I post a review.

The Secret War was written in 2021 and is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook.

The Coldest Case (The Dordogne Mysteries #14) by Martin Walker.

And moving on with the latest from Martin Walker in his Bruno, Chief of Police series set in rural France. This 14th book follows the same style and content as the previous books in the series. It can be read as a stand-alone as there is just enough back story sprinkled throughout this book to make new readers feel at home.

 

I have read the first three novels in this series and jumping forward to the 14th was not a problem. Many of the characters from previous books are involved in this story with the exception of Gigi, the faithful basset hound belonging to Bruno. However, Bruno has a newer dog, another basset hound called Balzac.

 

In The Coldest Case, Bruno helps solve the mystery of a skull found 30 years ago. In Martin's familiar writing style, this is another soft mystery. There are the joys of rural life, Bruno's elderly but trusty Land Rover, lots of food and wine, plenty of gardening tips plus a small measure of romance.

 

I enjoyed reading The Coldest Case which I consider to be a GOOD 4 star read. I was really impressed with Martin's acknowledgements at the end which gave full explanations and closure for the reader.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Quercus Books for letting me have an ARC on the understanding that I write a review.

The Coldest Case is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook  and was written in 2021.

Black Diamond (Bruno, Chief of Police #3) by Martin Walker.

And onto the third book in this series of mysteries set in the Dordogne region of France. Bruno, the Chief of Police in St. Denis is on the case involving a scam in the supply chain of truffles. 

The atmosphere of this book is exactly the same as the previous two books in this series. A comfortable and easy read with a mix of police and private life. Many of the characters continue from the other books. There are plenty of crimes for Bruno to deal with as he enjoys his life in rural France. We have the scam in the supply chain of truffles, racial hate crimes, a murder, some illegal immigrants and arson plus the discovery of a very disturbing crime at the end of the story. But between all this crime solving, Bruno makes time for a little romance.

I enjoyed reading Black Diamond and consider it to be a GOOD 4 star read. I found Martin to be consistent in his writing and feel his name has become a brand readers can trust.

Black Diamond was written in 2010 and is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook.

Letters from Candy by Gerard Harrison.

 Larissa lives in New York and has a 15 year old daughter called Candy. Larissa tries to cope with the teenage rebellion of Candy but late one night they have a nasty row. Follow Larissa and Candy to discover what happens next.

 

This novella runs to 49 pages but do not let that put you off, this short book is a cracker. Gerard writes his story from both sides starting first with the mother’s. Gerard writes with great skill and a huge vocabulary. This is not a throw-away leisure magazine story but big book quality. Gerard comes out with a lovely line of…

An abject, guttural, mind numbing moan escaped her mouth like a witch in heat.

...I really enjoyed reading Letters from Candy which I found such a buzz. There was tonnes of raw emotion coupled with great sadness. This short novel is very powerful and really packs a punch. Gerard labels his novel as a horror story but don’t let that put you off as there are no ghosts or supernatural nonsense. I found Letters from Candy to be an OUTSTANDING thriller that gets the top score of 5 stars from me. I have no idea how parents of teenage children would feel about this book, maybe they would consider it to be a noteworthy urban legend.

Letters from Candy was written in 2014 and is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook.

The Dark Vineyard (Bruno, Chief of Police #2) by Martin Walker.

A fire has started and Bruno attends the scene. Was it an accident or was it arson? Follow Bruno as he is on the case to solve the mystery of this fire.

Although this is the second book in this series, I feel it could be read as a stand-alone. Having read the first book, this second follows on very well with many of the characters appearing again. I liked how the mood remained the same, with the comfortable, cosy rural life of a countryside policeman. I liked the tourist on holiday feel of this book and how French culture and life was explained. Throughout this novel there was a lot of cheese eaten and umpteen bottles of wine opened. There was so much socialising it was a wonder if Bruno would actually get around to some police work!

I liked how the plot developed and enjoyed the politics involved. Character development was good and there was plenty of drama. Romance raised its head again but nothing too heavy. My overall impression is that this would make a good television series, relaxing to follow with sufficient depth of plot. A constant thought throughout this novel for both Bruno and the reader was “I’m not sure”. These doubts really questioned motive and opportunity.

I liked how Bruno’s dog Gigi was included and not just in name, for example when Martin writes…

Bruno understood his dog well enough to have accepted that a human never walks a basset hound. The dog and the human go for separate strolls, which always coincide at the beginning, sometimes at the end, and rarely in the middle, unless Bruno gave the special hunter’s whistle.

...I also liked the casual observations, for example…

Well groomed and wearing town shoes, they did not look to Bruno like troublemakers.

...Part of this story brought back surprising memories to me, something I had forgotten about, oh how engineering has progressed over the years when Martin writes…

It was a receipt from Lespinasse’s garage for melange, the oil and petrol mix that old bikes required.

...I remember motorbikes with Two Stroke engines, when you had to mix a small amount of Castrol TT two stroke oil with the petrol. It was simple but it worked, not environmentally friendly but the performance was hot!

I enjoyed reading The Dark Vineyard because aside from the basic mystery that Bruno helps to solve, there is tonnes of content to enjoy about the culture and life of St. Denis in rural France. This BIG picture makes for a GOOD 4 star read.

The Dark Vineyard was written in 2009 and is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook. 

Deviant by Consuela Barnes.

Deviant is an Adult short story of just 16 pages and follows a consensual group indoor sex session.

I liked how this fun read was told in the first person by a young dance teacher. She plays the submissive role and was granted the safe word of “Avocado” - this will forever bring a smile to the reader when they go supermarket shopping. 

I found Deviant to be very easy reading with a good flow and pace. I found it funny the concern about spills on floor tiles and simply blown away by the use of anal beads.

Deviant is a refreshing distraction from my usual reading genre of crime/mystery/thriller and is just long enough to provide a cheap accessible thrill with no boring repetition or padding.

I consider Deviant to be an OKAY 3 star read that will brighten up anyone’s day.

Deviant was written in 2014 and is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook.

 

Death in the Dordogne (Bruno, Chief of Police #1) by Martin Walker.

Encouraged by the Amazon Kindle Daily Deal, I thought I would try a new author in the crime/mystery/thriller genre. Death in the Dordogne was originally titled Bruno, Chief of Police, the first book in the series.

Follow Bruno, a country policeman from the fictional small town of St. Denis in the Dordogne. An elderly Arab is found murdered in his home and Bruno helps solve the mysteries surrounding the death.

I enjoyed reading Death in the Dordogne which has a full story mix. You experience the full life of St. Denis and it is not just a police procedural. The reader is thrown head first into the rural culture of the Dordogne, with its funny little ways of life. There are tonnes of characters with their little quirks to enjoy. I loved the descriptions of everyday life and the little schemes involved, for example…

Everybody knew the old woman was poor as a church mouse since her husband drank the farm away. She bought the cheapest eggs at the local supermarket, scraped off the date stamps, rolled them in straw and chicken-shit and sold them to tourists as farm-laid for a euro a piece.

...There were other incidents including a potato and visiting EU inspectors. I liked how this novel made me feel like a tourist enjoying a holiday. All life in rural France was fully explained with great detail about the food and wine. I loved the atmosphere created within this story. 

Bruno is a very likeable lead character who fully appreciates his job and life in St. Denis. I enjoyed reading about his day job and his very happy private life - he is a very active member of the community outside of work. Bruno has a Basset Hound called Gigi to complete the rural picture but sadly no current partner to share his free time. However, romance does creep slowly into this novel but nothing to offend your grandmother!

I liked the plot and how the mystery was solved with a surprise ending. No spoilers from me but the murder victim had a very unusual and colourful past! I even enjoyed reading about the 20th century history of France, Martin made the military and political struggles so interesting which is very hard for any author to do!

The format of this book made for very comfortable reading, there were no boring bits and it made me feel as though I was on a holiday with new experiences. The writing style is clear and entertaining. The feel of this book is identical to the Kate Shugak mysteries by Dana Stabenow which are set in Alaska.

I think Death in the Dordogne is a GOOD 4 star read and I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Death in the Dordogne was written in 2008 and is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook.

Drivers by Peter Carroll.

Ross Fleming lands a job as a driver for a gangster in Glasgow. He thinks this is an easy dream job, what could possibly go wrong?

I found Drivers to be a violent, fast paced thriller set amongst the criminal underworld in Scotland. There are lots of characters with dubious nicknames and very colourful history.

This novel floats about quite a bit over time, going backwards and forwards resulting in the reader knowing more about the background of the other characters, than the central character Ross Fleming does.

The dangers are obvious and I wished Ross would simply walk away and seek a less glamorous job. I lacked empathy for Ross as he was acting the fool.

The other characters in this thriller were simply bad, nasty people who you would never want to associate with. Drivers lacked any likeable characters and I felt their whole lives were a mess.

I found Drivers to be an OKAY 3 star read along the lines of a violent soap opera. Peter’s writing style was rather tabloid but very easy to follow. There was a lot of gang warfare that followed regular plot lines. This is a run-of-the-mill thriller centred around the day to day life of the unseen criminal underworld. My lasting impression is thank goodness I have NEVER met anyone like a character in this book. What a mess some people’s lives become. My reading pleasure was okay but Drivers lacked a USP - unique selling point. There was no feel good factor in this book but it was certainly thrilling with no boring or slow bits.

Drivers was written in 2014 and is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook.

Restless In The Grave (Kate Shugak #19) by Dana Stabenow.

Follow PI Kate Shugak as she solves the mystery of a fatal plane accident. Was it mechanical failure, pilot error or even a murder?

I enjoyed reading Restless In The Grave and liked how the atmosphere carried on from previous books in this series. I liked the lifestyle descriptions of Alaskan life and the many cultural references scattered throughout this story. For example…

no one in Bush Alaska ever threw anything away

...There were many local North American words for me to discover like “zaftig” - which added to the feeling of being a long way from the UK. Also there were lots of brand names that British readers will not have come across like Carhartt bibs, Xtra Tufs boots, Arctic Cat snowmobiles and a beer I have not tried before called Alaskan Amber. Sadly the lead character Kate Shugak is teetotal and another character offers her a soft drink but he is clearly not pushing the boat out…

He nodded, his back to her as he filled two glasses with ice and split a Diet Coke between them.

… what a cheapskate! That is one of my pet hates, sharing a 330ml can - get a life!

Mutt, the half husky, half wolf pet dog of Kate Shugak has her role to play in solving the mystery of the fatal crash. I loved the dynamics between Kate and her dog, this bond added a lot to the story and dog owners will feel very much at home.

I liked the pace of this story and with its strong character development I felt as though I was there in the middle of this mystery. All the extra details painted a powerful picture in my mind as though I was sitting back enjoying a film.

I liked how the plot unfolded and all the nagging doubts thrown at the reader from the first page. I think Restless In The Grave is another GOOD 4 star read and Dana shows what a consistent author she is with her Kate Shugak series.

Restless In The Grave was written in 2012 and is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook.

Rescuing Eddy: Will He Bite the Big One? by Marty Gates.

Eddy, a Jack Russell terrier was abandoned in San Diego in 2011. Marty is involved with dog training and rescue, so he takes Eddy on and explains what adopters should do to give a dog a forever home.

I really enjoyed reading Rescuing Eddy which had a lovely text and many, many photos. Rescuing Eddy is not a big book and only runs to 132 pages. However, what you get is a good understanding of how dogs think and how to train them.

I liked how Marty used two voices in his book. The main voice was the author’s but the other was Eddy talking back to Marty and the reader with his point of view. Listening to Marty and Eddy you learn what being a pack animal involves. Dog’s brains and memories are very different to humans as Marty nicely explains…

Dogs, on the other hand, don’t live in the past, they don’t hold grudges, and they live in the moment.

...I liked how Marty explained the psychology of dogs and how they think. This insight gives a good understanding so you can develop a loving, loyal, respect and obedient bond with your dog.

I think Rescuing Eddy is a GOOD 4 star read that is a refresher course for dog owners everywhere regardless of your pet’s breed.

Rescuing Eddy was written 2014 and is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook.

Though Not Dead (Kate Shugak #18) by Dana Stabenow.

Continuing on from book 17 in this series, Old Sam dies aged 87 and leaves the majority of his estate to his niece Kate Shugak. However, Old Sam also leaves a mystery for Kate to solve. Follow Kate as she tries to solve the secrets Old Sam left behind.

I enjoyed reading Though Not Dead and felt quite at home with Alaska and Dana’s writing style. I liked how this novel had a strong sense of belonging and roots. Much fun is made of tourists and their off-the-rack clothing from REI and the differences between Outside and the Park. Yet more local North American words were used for example - coldcocked - which made me feel like a welcome tourist.

Mutt, the half husky, half wolf dog belonging to Kate had a great role to play in the story. I liked how the relationship between a dog and their owner was fully explored - the bond that is shared is beautiful and very strong. Also, all dogs can make you smile, for example when 

Dana writes…

“No,” she said, so violently that Mutt, snoozing peacefully before the fire, was startled awake. When no danger appeared imminent she gave Kate an indignant look and went through her pawing, circling, and flopping ritual, this time punctuating her displeasure with a loud and aromatic fart.

...I enjoyed how the mystery was skilfully solved by Kate who was acutely aware of Occam’s razor. However, I was distracted by the story rolling back and forth between Old Sam’s life before Kate was born and the present day. Very often throughout this novel the reader knew more about what had happened than Kate, the lead character did. Still, I think Though Not Dead is a GOOD 4 star read and I look forward to the next book in this series.

Though Not Dead was written in 2011 and is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook.

Left Turn Lane by Eva Ramona.

 Susan Elizabeth James, 38,  wife and mother of 2 teenagers has simply had enough of living with them and decides to take the Left Turn Lane to start a life on her own. Follow the new Susan as her life escapes into new horizons.

I enjoyed reading Left Turn Lane and found it very easy to step into Susan’s shoes. This novel is written in the first person and has a linear time line, which is my favourite format. I liked how Susan’s character blossomed and I felt as though I really got to know her.

I liked the holiday romance feel to this book as Susan enjoyed her time around Maui in Hawaii. I liked how relationships were developed with the handful of people Susan met along the way.

I liked the emotions Susan worked through about sharing your life with other people and what was really important in your life. I liked the comparisons Susan made between her lifestyle and a drifter she met in Maui. The romance Susan found was gentle and there was nothing in the text that could offend anyone, anywhere in the world.

I found the story and writing very easy to follow, engaging right to the end. And what a surprise ending it was at the end - no spoilers from me.

I think Left Turn Lane is a GOOD 4 star read that nicely addresses the question, should I stay or should I leave?

Left Turn Lane was written in 2005 and is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook.

A Night Too Dark (Kate Shugak #17) by Dana Stabenow.

An abandoned car is found containing a suicide note. But where is the driver in this remote location of Alaska? Don’t worry because Private Investigator Kate Shugak is on the case and she will solve this mystery.

I was looking at the Amazon Kindle daily deal one day and saw this author’s books reduced to 99p. I have not come across Dana Stabenow before and as her books are in the crime/mystery/thriller genre, I thought I would try one of her novels. The Kate Shugak series runs to 21 novels, so which should I choose? Well I thought at 99p a go, lets have a Fiver’s worth of her most recent. This is why I chose book 17 as my Kate Shugak starting point.

A Night Too Dark can be read as a stand-alone and I believe that all her novels in this series are stand-alones. I did not think that anything was missing by jumping in at book 17. There is not tonnes of back story to study, just find the driver.

I enjoyed reading A Night Too Dark, it is lovely being able to travel in your mind to another country during the current coronavirus pandemic. I loved all the descriptions of remote areas in Alaska and the explanations of the culture with the diverse ethnic mix of the population. There were lots of local North American words and consumer brand names that I am not familiar with but British readers are still able to enjoy and understand this book. The local lingo and brands added to my feeling of being away - a cosy escape from Covid-19.

I liked the lead character Kate Shugak and her dog, a half husky, half wolf called Mutt. The plot of A Night Too Dark is complex and quite involved. I liked the way the story developed and how Kate’s private life was included. I liked how the reader was getting the bigger picture about everything that was going on at the same time and not just a simple, find the missing driver quest. Kate started digging and there was a lot more to this story than an abandoned car. I thought this novel had a good plot and I was pleased there was a little romance too.

I think A NIght Too Dark is a GOOD 4 star read and I will be more than happy to read some of the other books in this series.

A Night Too Dark was written in 2010 and is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook.

Imajica by Clive Barker.

Many readers consider Imajica an epic novel from a master storyteller. So after reading a friend’s 5 star review, I thought I would give this book a go.

Imajica is a fantasy novel of make believe worlds, containing magic and societies on planets away from earth. We are not talking about interplanetary travel but that earth exists in the Fifth dimension and the heroes can travel back and forth between the Fifth (ours), the fourth, the third and the second dimension. Part of this novel takes place on earth but some characters can travel to the other dimensions.

This is NOT a book in my normal reading genres but because of it’s reputation I thought I would read it with an open mind. Imajica is a VERY LONG book running to 896 pages. Normally I start a book and read it to the end but with Imajica I would read a chapter and put it down, turning to another book. I started reading Imajica last year and many, many other books inbetween. After 9 months I have finally finished reading Imajica. Looking back over the highlights I have made on my Kindle, I have found Imajica an exhausting read. The story covers a lot of ground in detail and I feel as though I have been on a very long journey. But at the end I do not feel it was a journey worth making.

Clive’s writing is articulate but I did not find his tale gripping. The lack of realism annoyed me and reading this book became a slog. The characters were richly described as legends with colourful histories. But everybody seemed to be wandering around in an endless quest which I found irritating. 

The plot was disappointing, lengthy and not obvious, making me wonder why any character was really bothered. I did not engage with Imajica and think it is a POOR 2 star read. Clive Barker has lots of fans but his novel left me cold and I do not think Imajica is a classic book. Imajica was written 30 years ago but I do not consider it to be a timeless classic. My curiosity has been solved but I shall not be reading another Clive Barker book.

Imajica was written in 1991 and is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook.

I’m in Seattle, Where Are You? By Mortada Gzar.

Mortada Gzar is a novelist born in Basra, Iraq and this is his memoir.

Mortada has an unusual writing style for his memoir. He goes back and forward in time and between his life in Iraq and America. He tells his story to the reader as though he is telling his life story to another person or object. His memoir is centred upon his falling in love with an African American soldier he meets in Baghdad and later moves to Seattle to make a life with him.

I liked Mortada’s story highlighting the cultures within Iraq and Seattle. He makes a big story about his homosexuality and the differences between gay culture in Iraq and America. However his memoir is very easy to relate to regardless of your gender or sexuality. Love of all types happens between people and his book is essentially a love story. The tension slowly but steadily builds as Mortada searches high and low around Seattle to find the love of his life Morise. In the final pages there is a surprise ending that simply tugs at your heart.

I liked how Mortada explained his teenage life around Basra collecting scrap metal from battles staged in the desert, observing an abandoned tank shake and meeting a three legged woman.

I liked reading about Mortada’s university life in Baghdad, where he met Morise and their relationship flowered. I liked the historical perspective of his memoir when Mortada wrote about the illegal invasion of Iraq in 2003. He explained the cultures and prejudices within Iraq, not just the looking down at the people of Basra by the people of Baghdad but the differences between Shi’i and Sunni Muslims.

I liked his observations of the gay scene in Seattle and the colourful and lively people he met. I also liked his use of nicknames and how he shared a house with the Three Monkeys and was befriended by the Three Monks.

I am pleased that I read a copy of I’m in Seattle. Where Are You? - I was irritated by the backwards and forwards in time. I think Mortada wrote his memoir in this format to hook the reader in early with the love interest but I feel this was unnecessary as there were so many varied and enlightening things that happened to him before he met Morise. With his rambling story telling writing style it was so easy to forget this was a memoir/true story and think I was reading a regular mystery novel. As memoirs go, I’m in Seattle was not an inspirational read but an interesting and personal insight into another world. I found this to be a NICE read but I found nothing special or outstanding. Looking through the highlights I made on my Kindle, I found there was not a memorable quote I could use in my review. When I finished reading this book I felt as though I had met Mortada and got the measure of the man. It was a case of “nice to have met you” and I think that I’m in Seattle is an OKAY 3 star read.

I’m in Seattle, Where Are You? is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook and was written in 2021.

Imago (Kate Redman Mysteries #3) by Celina Grace.

Follow DS Kate Redman in the 3rd mystery in this series set around a fictional small town in the West Country. A body is found and it is the job of Kate and the other police officers to catch the killer.

I am enjoying reading this series and I find it a regular British police procedural. The main character is DS Kate Redman and you get her day job plus extras about her family and social life in each novel. I find this format of storytelling very comfortable as a reader. By mixing Kate’s work and private life the reader takes things in context as they are in real life.

Imago is different to the preceding 2 novels in this series. There are occasional chapters put in at random throughout this story that are simply the killer’s diary. This puts the reader in the position of knowing far more than the police do as their investigation progresses. Because you read both sides to this crime, the reader can appreciate just what a difficult job it can be for the police to catch a killer with little evidence surrounding the body.

I loved all the twists and turns as this story unfolded. It was nice that there was some romance thrown in the direction of Kate this time. I loved that “wait, I’ll get my coat” moment that really made me smile. Most women would react that way!

I like how Celina’s writing has remained consistent in quality and style in this series. Imago is another GOOD 4 star read. Having read 3 of Celina’s novels, I know what a sure fire hit her books are, in the same way that I know Tesco Multiseed Batch gives me lovely toast on a morning.

Imago is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook and was written in 2013.

The Devil’s Kiss by Gemma James.

Kayla has been caught by her boss Gage of stealing money from his company. Gage gives Kayla the option of becoming his slave in the bedroom or going to jail. Kayla does not want to go to prison because her 3 year old daughter is very ill in hospital. Follow Kayla in this dark romance as she puts trust in her boss with his out of court agreement.

I found The Devil’s Kiss to be a FUN read. It is an ADULT erotic story that has a fair amount of sex which involves a lot of BDSM. This tale is unrealistic but enjoy this book for what it is, a story of a fantasy world within a master and slave relationship.

The characters of Gage and Kayla were well developed and the rawness of their relationship is fully explored. Other characters are brought into this story to play their part, co-workers, an old boyfriend and an ex-husband.

I liked how this whole story was told in the first person, from Kayla’s point on view and with a linear time frame. There is a plot which gives this book a useful framework to work around. I liked how social issues were explored including the old adage of victims of domestic abuse whose new partners very often abused them. Sadly some women seem to repeatedly attract abusive men, going from one bad boy to another.

The Devil’s Kiss is a work of fiction and although the situations are very unlikely, I suggest the reader simply goes along with it and enjoys it as ADULT entertainment for a mature audience. Because this story is unbelievable, it is very easy to find it funny in many, many places. For example…

“We have a Christmas party to get to.” Gage helped me to my feet, and I gasped when he spun me around and pushed me to the bed. “Bend over.” I hadn’t noticed the cocktail dress he’d set out on the mattress...or the butt plug and nipples clamps. I cringed to think of the pain those things would inflict.

His eyes lingered on my nipples, and the edges of his mouth turned up. “Stand up straight and clasp your hands behind your back. You’ll learn to present your breasts properly.”

...The Devil’s Kiss is NOT a wonderful book but it is full of surprise that will raise your eyebrows and maybe a laugh with the role play between Kayla and Gage. It was a welcome change and distraction from my usual crime/mystery/thriller genre and I consider The Devil’s Kiss to be an OKAY 3 star read.

The Devil’s Kiss is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook and was written in 2013.

Requiem (Kate Redman Mysteries #2) by Celina Grace.

Follow DS Kate Redman as she solves the death of a young woman she met in a pub the night before.

This is the second book in the Kate Redman Mysteries but it can be read as a stand-alone. As always it is better to read a series in the order they were published. I liked how Celina developed the relationships between the police officers, both for the reader and Kate Redman as she has recently joined this West Country constabulary.

I liked how Celina continued her character development of Kate, members of her family and the other police officers. I loved the plot and the emotions Kate felt having met the victim for the first time before she died the next day. What an awful position to be put into with the shock of it all as Kate walked along the river bank, responding to the crime scene.

I felt cosy reading about Kate’s day job and the reader feels very much fly-on-the-wall. Requiem is a very easy book to roll along with. The pace is steady and has a lovely flow. I liked the linear time frame and the hint that romance could blossom between the police officers later in this series.

All in all I feel that Requiem is a GOOD 4 star read and I will be more than happy to read other books in this series.

Requiem is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook and was written in 2013.

The Mother of all Things by Gabriel Grace.

Elaine Davis is happily spending time with her family at a fun fair in London when her son Charlie goes missing. Follow Elaine as she copes with Charlie’s disappearance and secrets from her past.

I did not take to The Mother of all Things as this story got off to a bad start. The early chapters of this book alternate between the present day and 5 years earlier when Charlie disappeared. This chopping back and forth between time zones really annoyed me.

Elaine then moved to Helmsley in North Yorkshire where she spent her childhood years. Thankfully from then onwards this story remained in the present day. But many more frustrations lay ahead. Gabriel would at great length describe his scenes centred around Elaine only for the reader and Elaine to discover she was having a bad dream or nightmare. This constant challenge between her dream world and the real world really irritated me and spoilt any possible enjoyment I might have been able to get from this novel.

Gabriel teases the reader a lot throughout his novel. “Beware zero six four two” features time and time again through this story, making the reader want to discover what 0642 relates to.

There is a dark side to Elaine and mental health issues are thrown into the mix. Try not to smile when Elaine gives Ashton a surprise to remember!

The story rolled on with the action accelerating to a tremendous climax. But when I got to the end of The Mother of all Things, there were many details that were not resolved. I finished this book and was very disappointed with all the loose ends that were left behind. It is okay authors leaving room for the next book but most readers want closure when they have got to the end of a book.

I was not impressed with The Mother of all Things and consider it a POOR 2 star read. This is the first book I have read from Gabriel but I shall not invest my time to read another book from him.

The Mother of all Things is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook and was written in 2018.

Hushabye (Kate Redman Mysteries #1) by Celina Grace.

And welcome to a new author for me and a new series to enjoy. Hushabye is the first book in the Kate Redman Mysteries. Kate is a Detective Sergeant on her first day in the West Country. She is not faced with a garden shed burglary but a missing baby and a murdered girl.

This is a typical British police procedural thriller that is easy to read and follow. Celina’s writing flows crisp and swift with a tabloid style that is easy on the brain. Sadly Celina does not use real locations but makes up fictional and generic settings for her scenes. So bang goes the added value of holiday makers touring the West Country spotting the locations from this novel.

The plot was interesting with the usual finger pointing you would expect from any mystery. I will not give any spoilers, you can make your own assumptions as to who and why somebody took the baby and murdered the girl.

Character development of Kate and her fellow officers was standard and typical of average television police dramas. The dialogue between characters was functional, for example…

“We’ll be off now, but we’ll be in touch very soon. There’ll be a family liaison officer staying behind to support you and of course, if there are any problems, don’t hesitate to get in touch. DS Redman, could you come with me?”

...I think that although Hushabye is a routine and quite standard police procedural, it is indeed a pleasant 4 star GOOD read.

Hushabye is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook and was written in 2013.

Asking for a Friend by Andi Osho.

 Remember years ago before online dating apps you could persuade one of your friends to approach a stranger to put in a good word on your behalf to ask them out for a date. The common used phrase at the time was “Asking for a Friend”. Move forward to the current day and follow 3 best friends as they share good and bad times, plus a number of dates.

I loved the format of this novel. Each chapter is from the point of view of the 3 best friends, Jemima 42, Meagan 29 and Simi 35. There is a strict linear time frame so that when you start a new chapter, it follows the moment after the previous chapter ended, even if the same characters are still in the same room. This made this novel extremely easy to follow and made the reader feel like the fly on the wall. In many ways the dynamics and chemistry of this book is the same as the popular British television series Birds of a Feather.

I think the writing quality is very high and with an extensive vocabulary. The pace is lovely with good editing, so there are no slow or boring bits. The story is a continuous roll as though you are living along with the characters. I found this novel to be engaging, bright and refreshing with a huge feel good factor.

Character development is very good and although it is centred around 3 women, this novel should appeal to male readers too. This is because Andi Osho is a successful British stand up comedian and her humour appeals to both genders. Of course men find some things especially funny, so here are my top 3 from this book…

‘You got her to take a shower?’ said Jemima as Meagan walked back into the living room. ‘She smelt like a steak bake, babes.’

What happened to the cursory ‘hi’ followed by a frantic quickie? One time they’d got down to it so fast it was only afterwards she realised she still had her handbag on her shoulder.

Nether regions that felt like a pounded chicken escalope. Yep. Sex had taken place.

… I wonder if Andi knows how many men are attracted by the smell of steak bakes? Apart from the thought of making love to a girl smelling like a steak bake, there is a fair amount of romance in this story but nothing to offend your grandmother or 69 year old wife.

Andi is a very intelligent woman and by coincidence I saw a repeat on television the other night of her appearing on The Chase back in 2017. The 3 other contestants did not get through to the final round, so Andi was on her own against the Chaser. Generally the Chaser always wins in this television quiz as it is their day job. However, Andi was so good at the vast range of questions, she beat the Chaser and won £7,000 for charity.

Asking for a Friend is the debut novel that is simply a pleasure to read. I was really impressed by the quality and her talent shines bright. I think this book is an OUTSTANDING read that gets the top score of 5 stars from me. This story would make a great television comedy drama to be broadcast after the 21:00 watershed, maybe sponsored by Greggs.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher HQ Harper Collins for giving me a copy on the understanding that I post a review.

Asking for a Friend is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook and was written in 2021.