31 August 2013, On the doorstep, waiting to be read

What I end up reading is a mixture of review books kindly sent to me by publishers and authors, books to meet the various reading challenges I have undertaken for this year, and library books related to reading groups and personal whims. See the history of this occasional post. Please note that this listing is in no way a recommendation for you to read a title, simply a chance for you to assess for yourself whether you would like to read it. I will also try to discover whether the book is available on Kindle, particularly for Australian authors which are not necessarily available overseas.

I've recently been reading e-books on a combination of my Kindle and my iPad and I'm convinced they actually help me read faster. In the last month I have managed to read about 3 books a week but that is still not making much of a dent in my TBR.

Here are a couple of the review paperback copies that arrived this week. Both were published in Australia in August 2013.

HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN, Louise Penny
Louise Penny is one of my favourite authors and I am actually up to date with this series.
This review copy was sent to me by Hachette Australia

Synopsis

A DETECTIVE.
As a fierce, unrelenting winter grips Quebec, shadows are closing in on Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. Most of his best agents have left the Homicide Department and hostile forces are lining up against him.

A DISAPPEARANCE.
When Gamache receives a message about a mysterious case in Three Pines, he is compelled to investigate - a woman who was once one of the most famous people in the world has vanished.

A DEADLY CONCLUSION.
As he begins to shed light on the investigation, he is drawn into a web of murder, lies and unimaginable corruption at the heart of the city. Facing his most challenging, and personal, case to date, can Gamache save the reputation of the Seret , those he holds dear and himself.

Evocative, gripping and atmospheric, this magnificent work of crime fiction from international bestselling author Louise Penny will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

THE STOLEN ONES, Richard Montanari

This review copy was sent to me by Hachette Australia
I read and enjoyed PLAY DEAD by this author back in 2009 (gave it 5.0)

Synopsis (from the publisher)

The chilling new Byrne and Balzano case from the author of THE KILLING ROOM.
Destroyed by fire years ago, the infamous Philadelphia State Hospital was known as a warehouse for the criminally insane.
But one man never left.

By night Luther walks Philadelphia's backstreets, drawing to him the mad, the corrupt, the fallen. By day he roams the catacombs beneath the city, killing his prey.

Detectives Kevin Byrne and Jessica Balzano are called to a bizarre murder scene: a man has been killed by a railroad spike driven into his head and left sitting on a bench in a local park. But it is just the beginning of a trail of evil that leads back to the hospital and the nightmares it still contains. . .