Review: THE SEA HOUSE, Louise Douglas

• 
  This edition a large print version from my local library
  
• First published in Great Britain in 2024 by Boldwood Books
• ISBN 978-1-83751-649-0
• 472 pages  

Synopsis (Publisher)

A mysterious bequest and the legacy of a tragic love – only one person can unravel the hidden secrets of the past before it’s too late…

When Elisabeth Quemener dies she leaves a small parcel with the instructions that it must only be opened by Astrid Oake. The trouble is, no one knows who Astrid Oake is…

Elisabeth’s family turn to Touissants detective agency for help but, when Mila Shepherd and Carter Jackson try to track Astrid down, their frustration soon mounts. Their only clue is a photo of two young women holding the hands of a tiny child. The women are smiling but Mila is haunted by the sadness in their eyes. Is this Astrid and Elisabeth and if so, who is the child? And why are there signs everywhere in Elisabeth’s home that the old woman was frightened despite her living a quiet life with no known enemies?

As Elisabeth and Astrid’s story slowly unfolds, Mila feels the walls of her home The Sea House closing in. And as the secrets finally begin to reveal themselves, she is ever more determined to carry out Elisabeth’s final wishes. Because what is inside that unprepossessing parcel might just save a life…

Louise Douglas is back in the Brittany seaside town of Morranez with a heart-stopping, heart-breaking, brilliantly written and utterly compelling mystery!

My Take

In many ways a romantic thriller.  I struggled at first to get my head around the background to this story. Mila Shepherd has come to Brittany to look after her niece Ani whose parents died mysteriously at sea two years earlier. Mila's sister's body was found soon after the disaster but her brother in law's body has turned up recently in a local cave. The evidence found in the cave raises questions about how he died.

Mila is working for her stepmother at the Touissants detective agency which specialises in tracking people down. 

When Elisabeth Quemener dies she leaves a small parcel with the instructions that it must only be opened by Astrid Oake. The trouble is, no one knows who Astrid Oake is… 

The search for Astrid Oake takes Mila to England where Astrid's family was killed in a tragedy nearly 20 years earlier.

The plot gets better as it goes on, and eventually I really became invested in working everything out. 

My rating: 4.4

About the author
Louise was born in Sheffield but has lived in North Somerset for the past 20 years. She has three beautiful sons, and lives with her partner, who works in construction. 

Review: LAST BUS TO WOODSTOCK, Colin Dexter

• 
  This edition read as an e-book on Kindle (Amazon)
  
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004ZI0OFO
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Macmillan, Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 1, 1991
• Originally published 1975
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 269 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1743035771
• Book 1 of 13 ‏ : ‎ Inspector Morse 

Synopsis (Amazon)

'Do you think I'm wasting your time, Lewis?'

Lewis was nobody's fool and was a man of some honesty and integrity.

'Yes, sir.'

An engaging smile crept across Morse's mouth. He thought they could get on well together . . .'

The death of Sylvia Kaye figured dramatically in Thursday afternoon's edition of the Oxford Mail.

By Friday evening Inspector Morse had informed the nation that the police were looking for a dangerous man - facing charges of wilful murder, sexual assault and rape.

But as the obvious leads fade into twilight and darkness, Morse becomes more and more convinced that passion holds the key . . .

My Take

It is 50 years since this book was first published, and of course I have read it before. 
I am reading it this time with my U3A Crime Fiction reading group, introducing them to an author who is not only an award winner (see below), but someone who made a unique contribution to British crime fiction, and through that to our television screens with Morse and Endeavour.

This is the first in the series, the first time Morse and Lewis have worked together. So we learn a lot about each of them as people and as detectives, and the way they complement each other. We see Morse at his best and at his worst. As characters both are fleshed out, we learn important things about each.

The plot is an incredibly complex one, a murder mystery where the murderer and motive are not obvious until almost at  the end. Several times Lewis thinks Morse has lost his marbles; Morse also falls in love 

My rating: 4.5

I've already read

4.3, INSPECTOR MORSE: BBB Radio Collection
4.5, THE SECRET OF ANNEXE THREE - #7
4.6, THE WENCH IS DEAD -#8
4.3, SERVICE OF ALL THE DEAD - #4
4.4, LAST SEEN WEARING - #2
4.6, THE RIDDLE OF THE THIRD MILE - #6
4.6, THE JEWEL THAT WAS OURS - #9
4.8. THE WAY THROUGH THE WOODS - #10
4.7, THE DAUGHTERS OF CAIN - #11,
4.7, DEATH IS NOW MY NEIGHBOUR - #12
5.0, THE REMORSEFUL DAY, Colin Dexter  - #13  

The Inspector Morse series (Fantastic Fiction)

   1. Last Bus to Woodstock (1975)
   2. Last Seen Wearing (1976)
   3. The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn (1977)
   4. Service of All the Dead (1979)
   5. The Dead of Jericho (1981)
   6. The Riddle of the Third Mile (1983)
   7. The Secret of Annexe 3 (1986)
   8. The Wench Is Dead (1989)
   9. The Jewel That Was Ours (1991)
   10. The Way Through the Woods (1992)
   Morse's Greatest Mystery (1993)
   11. The Daughters of Cain (1994)
   12. Death Is Now My Neighbour (1996)
   13. The Remorseful Day (1999) 

Awards

2011 Theakston Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution Award 1997 CWA Diamond Dagger 1996 Macavity Award for Best Mystery Short Story : Evans Tries an O-Level 1992 CWA Gold Dagger : The Way Through the Woods 1989 CWA Gold Dagger : The Wench Is Dead

Award nominations

1981 CWA Gold Dagger (nominee) : The Dead of Jericho 1979 CWA Gold Dagger (nominee) : Service of All the Dead 1975 ILP John Creasey First Novel (shortlist) : Last Bus to Woodstock

Review: THE LAST DEATH OF THE YEAR, Sophie Hannah

• 
  This edition read as an e-book on my Kindle (Amazon)
  
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DMYM1492
•  Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins, Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 23, 2025
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 318 pages
•  ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0008710026
•  Book 6 of 6 ‏ : ‎ New Hercule Poirot Mysteries  

 Synopsis (Amazon)

The new Hercule Poirot mystery by Sophie Hannah, follow-up to the bestselling Hercule Poirot’s Silent Night.

New Year's Eve, 1932.

Hercule Poirot and his good friend Inspector Edward Catchpool arrive on the Greek island of Lamperos for a little holiday…or is it?

Catchpool suspects Poirot has a different reason for being there — one he won't reveal. As the clock ticks towards the New Year and a festive guessing game takes a sinister turn, can Poirot stop a murderer who is determined to strike before midnight?

My Take

There were a number of times when I almost abandoned this book, and I will seriously think about reading another. I found the plot convoluted and pretentious and could not imagine Agatha Christie putting her name to it.

Poirot has not told his friend Catchpool the truth about why they are spending the New Year on the Greek island of Lamperos, at the "The House of Perpetual Welcome", that he is there to investigate an attempted murder, and to prevent a murder occurring in the future. 

My appreciation of the book was limited by the fact that I did not like any of the characters, and struggled to understand the philosophy behind "The House of Perpetual Welcome".  

My rating: 4.1

I have also read

• 4.4, THE CARRIER
• 4.3, THE MONOGRAM MURDERS - #1
• 4.2, CLOSED CASKET - #2
• 4.4, CLOSED CASKET - audio
• 4.4, THE MYSTERY OF THREE QUARTERS - audio book #3
• 4.4, THE KILLINGS AT KINGFISHER HILL - audio book #4  
• 4.4, HERCULE POIROT'S SILENT NIGHT - #5
• 4.4, THE MYSTERY OF THREE QUARTERS 

Review: THE HALLMARKED MAN, Robert Galbraith

• 
  This edition read as an e-book on my Kindle (Amazon)
  
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DS571XMN
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sphere, Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 2, 2025
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 908 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1408723777
• Book 8 of 8 ‏ : ‎ Cormoran Strike  

Synopsis   (Amazon)

A dismembered corpse is discovered in the vault of a silver shop. The police initially believe it to be that of a convicted armed robber - but not everyone agrees with that theory. One of them is Decima Mullins, who calls on the help of private detective Cormoran Strike as she's certain the body in the silver vault was that of her boyfriend - the father of her newborn baby - who suddenly and mysteriously disappeared.

The more Strike and his business partner Robin Ellacott delve into the case, the more labyrinthine it gets. The silver shop is no ordinary one: it's located beside Freemasons' Hall and specialises in Masonic silverware. And in addition to the armed robber and Decima's boyfriend, it becomes clear that there are other missing men who could fit the profile of the body in the vault.

As the case becomes ever more complicated and dangerous, Strike faces another quandary. Robin seems increasingly committed to her boyfriend, policeman Ryan Murphy, but the impulse to declare his own feelings for her is becoming stronger than ever.

A gripping, wonderfully complex novel which takes Strike and Robin's story to a new level, The Hallmarked Man is an unmissable read for any fan of this unique series. 

My Take

After reading the blurb, you don't need me to tell you much about the plot. I will comment though on how long this book is -900 pages - how complex the plot is, and how the strands seemed to multiply, and how it took me all of 2 weeks to read. There was a lot of extra information to take in, quotations from various authors at the beginning of each chapter and selected bits about freemasonry. (I did feel that some of this information was extraneous and could have been edited more tightly.) The number of staff working for the agency has multiplied and relationships have become very complex.

But, for all that, I never thought of giving up. And I'm ready for the next in the series, whenever it happens.

My rating: 4.7

I've also read

5.0, THE CUCKOO'S CALLING #1 

4.5, THE SILKWORM  #2

4.6, A CAREER OF EVIL  #3

4.7, LETHAL WHITE - #4

4.8, TROUBLED BLOOD- #5 

5.0, THE RUNNING GRAVE -#7

Review: THE BODY IN THE MARSH, Nick Louth

• 
   this edition read as an e-book on Libby, supplied by my local library
  
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Canelo, Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 1, 2018
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 380 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1788631455
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1788631457
• Book 1 of 12 ‏ : ‎ DCI Craig Gillard Crime Thrillers 

Synopsis

A woman goes missing - and for the detective, this time it's personal.

Criminologist Martin Knight lives a gilded life. But then his wife Liz disappears. There is no good explanation and Martin goes on the run.

To make things worse, Liz is the ex-girlfriend of DCI Craig Gillard who finds himself drawn into the investigation.

Is this a missing-person case or something more sinister? How dark can the truth be?

My Take

This novel is anything but straightforward. At times it strains the bounds of credibility but nevertheless the plot engages. Plenty of red herrings, plenty of times when you can say what if? and definitely not a cosy.

My rating: 4.5

About the author

Nick Louth is a bestselling writer of thriller novels, investment commentator, and an award-winning financial journalist, hailing from Lincolnshire, United Kingdom. He is famous for writing humor, comedy, thriller, mystery, and nonfiction stories. Louth is particularly well known for writing the Bernard Jones diaries series, the DCI Craig Gillard series, several standalone novels, and one widely popular nonfiction book. He is known to have sold more than half a million copies of his books. Louth’s books have appeared on top of the Kindle charts in the UK multiples times and have been translated into as many as 6 different languages. Before making his debut in the field of writing fiction in 2007, he worked as a foreign correspondent for the news agency Reuters. He was also a frequent contributor to MSN, Financial Times, and many other financial magazines on a freelance basis.

Author Louth graduated from the London School of Economics in 1979. After working as a freelancer for a few years, he joined Reuters in 1987. While catering to his duty in foreign correspondence, Louth came across an experience at a 1992 Amsterdam medical conference that inspired him to write his first fiction novel. It was eventually published in 2007 under the title of Bite and reached the top spot of the UK Kindle bestseller in 2014. The book remained on the number one spot for several weeks and sold nearly 500 thousand copies. In the area of financial journalism, Louth has been working freelance since 1998. He has contributed to Investors Chronicle, Money Observer, Financial Times, etc., and has published 7 books based on finance. Author Louth is happily married and currently resides in Lincolnshire. He spends most of his time writing thriller novels and manages some time off from his writing projects to be with his family. 

Review: THE IMPOSSIBLE FORTUNE, Richard Osman

• 
  This edition read on my Kindle (Amazon)
  
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DJ1TQH16
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin, Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 25, 2025
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 409 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1405975629 
• Book 5 of 5: Thursday Murder Club Mysteries  

Synopsis (Amazon)

Who's got time to think about murder when there's a wedding to plan?

It’s been a quiet year for the Thursday Murder Club. Joyce is busy with table plans and first dances. Elizabeth is grieving. Ron is dealing with family troubles, and Ibrahim is still providing therapy to his favourite criminal.

But when Elizabeth meets a wedding guest who fears for their life, the thrill of the chase is ignited once again. A villain wants access to an uncrackable code and will stop at nothing to get it. Plunged back into their most explosive investigation yet, can the gang solve the puzzle and a murder in time?

My Take:

 Joyce's daughter Joanna is getting married and Elizabeth is still not really herself. And then at the wedding itself comes an action which brings the Thursday Murder Club a task, after almost a year of inaction. And the old team prove that they've still got it, despite the failings that come with their advancing years. 

There were times when I found this latest incursion into geezer lit both challenging and exasperating.  I struggled at times to remember the background to each character, but thank goodness it all came together at the end. 

My Rating: 4.4

I've also read

4.5, THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB  - #1

4.3, THE MAN WHO DIED TWICE - #2

4.6, THE BULLET THAT MISSED - #3

4.8, THE LAST DEVIL TO DIE - #4

4.5, WE SOLVE MURDERS

Review: THE FINE ART OF INVISIBLE DETECTION, Robert Goddard

• 
   Read as an e-book through my local library on Libby 
  
• Published: 30 November 2021, Penguin Australia
• ISBN: 9780552172622
• Pages: 384 

Synopsis (publisher)

Umiko Wada has recently had quite enough excitement in her life. With her husband recently murdered and a mother who seems to want her married again before his body is cold, she just wants to keep her head down.

As a secretary to a private detective, her life is pleasingly uncomplicated, filled with coffee runs, diary management and paperwork.

That is, until her boss takes on a new case. A case which turns out to be dangerous enough to get him killed. A case which means Wada will have to leave Japan for the first time and travel to London.

Following the only lead she has, Wada quickly realises that being a detective isn't as easy as the television makes out. And that there's a reason why secrets stay buried for a long time. Because people want them to stay secret. And they're prepared to do very bad things to keep them that way...

My Take

Umiko Wada has plenty of opportunity to practice her detective skills, trained by her boss, who is killed, apparently through their involvement in their current case. He has already handed an element of the case to her and she decides to go ahead with the investigation, which involves her travelling to London to meet up with a stranger on behalf of a Japanese woman whose husband refuses to allow her to leave Japan.

Quite a convoluted plot and I thought it was an unusual one for Goddard, although I haven't read one of his books for a couple of years. Wada make as unusual and as a middle-aged Japanese woman, almost "invisible" as she tracks people down. 

My rating: 4.5 

I've also read

NAME TO A FACE

4.5, LONG TIME COMING

4.4, FAULT LINE

4.3, BORROWED TIME

4.0, ONE FALSE MOVE

Review: THE WILL OF THE STANDING STONES, AG Barnett

• 
  This edition read as an e-book on my Kindle (Amazon)
  
• A Hammond & Circle Mystery Book 1
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C8TWMC91
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oddmoor Press, June 20, 2023
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 236 pages

Synopsis (Amazon)

A 1920's historical mystery whodunnit 

Someone has the will to murder…

1920’s England – A group of strangers gathers at an isolated house for the reading of a will. Tensions rise as the mysterious Mr. Badala’s fortune comes with unexpected conditions.

Cut off from civilization by a raging storm, the guests must uncover the truth when one of them dies in an apparent accident. As paranoia and accusations mount, it becomes clear that there is far more at play than a simple inheritance.

In a battle of wits and wills, the group must navigate secrets and lies to survive.

My Take

The scenario described in the blurb made this sound a more attractive read than it turned out to be.  It had too many characteristics of a "first" novel: too much convolution, too many deaths, and a central character who was a really poor judge of character. The setting of the standing stones had almost no relevance to the plot.

My rating: 3.2

About the author

AG Barnett lives in Oxfordshire with his wife, daughter, three ridiculous spaniels, and four frizzle chickens. 

Review: NO ONE NEAR, Rhys Dylan

• 
  This edition read as an e-book on my Kindle (Amazon)
  
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wyrmwood Books, Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 28, 2023
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 318 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1915185181
• Book 10 of 18 ‏ : ‎ DCI Evan Warlow Crime Thriller  

Synopsis  (Amazon)

What do you do when there is No One Near...

High in the Welsh hills, a honeymoon getaway takes a dark turn when a rotting corpse is discovered in the rental property’s bedroom.

In a dark, cold and damp December, DCI Evan Warlow and his team head out to investigate.

They find a victim who may not be as innocent as he first seems, and a rural community harbouring the worst kind of secrets.

When a second victim is attacked and a third goes missing, Evan knows he’s up against a rogue killer with a Christmas list of his own.

And it’s a deadly one.

Can he unmask the culprit before the season's festivities turn into a bloodbath?

My Take

A NON is a rental property where in theory there is No Owner Near and so complete privacy is ensured. These getaways are remote, secluded, and ideal for a honeymoon, or, that is the idea until a dead body beats you to it. The body of the owner, no less.

A well constructed and credible plot but who is responsible for the first murder is not clear until well into the story. Christmas is approaching and that puts extra pressure on Warlow's team to get on with the investigation.

I very much enjoy the exploration of the characters of the team and their development. The humour is an added bonus. 

The plot does leave one issue unresolved, and I guess it will resurface in a later book.  

My rating: 4.5

I've also read

4.6, THE ENGINE HOUSE - #1

4.5, CAUTION: DEATH AT WORK -#2

4.6, ICE COLD MALICE - #3

4.5, SUFFER THE DEAD - #4

4.6, GRAVELY CONCERNED - #5 

4.5, A MARK OF IMPERFECTION - #6

4.5, BURNT ECHO - #7 

4.6, A BODY OF WATER - #8

4.6, THE BOWMAN - #15 

Review: FATAL SECRETS, Anita Waller

• 
   This edition an e-book on my Kindle (Amazon)
  
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BLS4SVWB
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Boldwood Books, February 8, 2023
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 290 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1804153192
• Book 1 of 3 ‏ : ‎ The Forrester Detective Agency Mysteries 
  

Synopsis 

The thrilling first instalment in the Forrester Detective Agency Mystery series from the author of #2 bestseller The Family at No. 12

Nothing is more important than family . . .

Matt Forrester has followed in his dad’s footsteps, climbing the police ranks to become a DI. But when he receives an urgent call for help, Matt has to rethink his career. His dad has been murdered, and Matt’s not going to let this case go. It doesn’t help that his current boss is sleeping with his ex-wife.

Hermia Forrester didn’t follow her brother into the police force, instead she works in research at the university. But, she’s not going to let that stop her from helping her brother find out what happened to their dad.

But the siblings soon find themselves surrounded by more danger than they ever imagined. Can they both survive this case or will there be more of their family in the morgue?

My Take

A well plotted story, credible story, believable characters, a police procedural series I intend to follow.

My rating: 4.5

About the author

Anita Waller was born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1946. She married Dave in 1967 and they have three adult children.

In 2021 Waller signed a five book deal with Boldwood Books, followed by a three book deal, and currently has eight published books with them: Flash Point, The Family at No.12, Fatal Secrets (the first in a new series set in Sheffield), The Couple Across the Street, Fatal Lies, (the second in the Forrester series) and The Girls Next Door. The final book in the Forrester series, Fatal Endings, has now been launched and this has been followed by a standalone, The Missing Ones.

Her next book will be available in August 2025, and is entitled The House of Lies. This will be followed by a Christmas novel, aiming for an October launch date.

She is now in her late-seventies, happily writing most days and would dearly love to plan a novel, but has accepted that isn’t the way of her mind. Every novel starts with a sentence and she waits to see where that sentence and her characters will take her. If writer's block intrudes, be sure there will be a death.

In her life away from the computer in the corner of her kitchen, she is a Sheffield Wednesday supporter with blue blood in her veins!

Her genre is murder - necessary murder. 

Review: MURDER AT THE VICARAGE, Agatha Christie

• 
  Originally published 1930
  
• This edition an e-book on Kindle from Amazon
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FDT36R5M
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ft. Raphael Publishing Company, Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 1, 2026
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8892821865
• Book 1 of 12 ‏ : ‎ Miss Marple Mysteries 

Synopsis (Amazon)

"The Murder at the Vicarage" is Agatha Christie's first novel featuring the mild-mannered but brilliantly incisive Miss Jane Marple, an elderly spinster living a quiet life in the little village of St. Mary Mead who often steps in to assist the local constabulary in solving their most baffling cases.

In this story, narrated by Rev. Leonard Clement - the local vicar - the townspeople are shocked when Colonel Protheroe - a wealthy magistrate who is widely disliked in the village - is found shot to death in the vicarage. Suspects abound as the local inspector proceeds with his investigation and discovers that almost everyone in the village had a motive for ending the Colonel's life. It is only when Miss Marple - local gardener and renowned busybody - takes an interest in the case, that the puzzle pieces begin to fall into place.

One of the most widely admired detective stories of the early 20th century, "The Murder at the Vicarage" launched a number of Miss Marple novels and further established Agatha Christie as the premiere mystery writer of her era.  

My Take

My U3A Agatha Christie Reading Group at U3A this year have read 4 Poirot novels, and have now embarked on the first 4 Marples.

In beginning with a new sleuth, an amateur this time, Christie has continued with having a narrator as she did in the Poirot novels. But this time we are in the small village of St Mary Mead and the sleuth is an elderly spinster, one of a gaggle of "cats" who know everything that goes on in the village. 

 But really none of them knows who shot Colonel Protheroe, church warden, as he sat at the vicar's desk in the study at the vicarage. 

We are introduced to a range of characters, some of whom will also appear in later novels. Importantly, we get quite a comprehensive visual summary of Miss Marple herself, and there are a number of false leads (red herrings), as well as at least two other petty crimes which are eventually solved.    

I'm sure the group will enjoy our discussion and the video of the ITV series that we will watch after our discussion.

My rating: 4.5 

I've reviewed it at

THE MURDER AT THE VICARAGE and 4.5, THE MURDER AT THE VICARAGE 

Check my reviews of Agatha Christie novels here 

Review: MURDER UNDER THE SUN, Faith Martin

• 
  This edition an e-book read on Kindle (Amazon)
  
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0F4KN2ZNR
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Joffe Books Mystery, Crime Thriller, Suspense
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 12, 2025
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 232 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1805731122
• DI Hillary Greene Book 22 

Synopsis (Amazon)

Former Detective Hillary Greene and her cold case team are sweltering in their stuffy basement office on the hottest day of the year when they are handed an impossible case.

Fifteen years ago, Imelda Phelps was battered to death in the hallway of her home. The brutal crime shocked the residents of the pretty market town of Chipping Norton. The killer was never caught.

The motive for the murder remains a mystery. Could the happily married mother-of-two’s stunning good looks have played a part in her death?

Everyone will have to take a hard look in the mirror — and not everyone will like what they see. If Hillary is to crack the case, she must keep an open mind. But one thing is crystal-clear: this crime was personal. It’s up to Hillary and her team to work out which of Imelda’s family and friends is hiding a deadly secret.

A secret lover. A humiliated husband. A vengeful ex-business partner. A resentful daughter. The list of suspects grows . . .

Suddenly an unexpected lead throws the case wide open. And then a second body turns up.

This cold case is now red hot . . .

My Take

I've obviously missed out on reading quite a number in this series but this title has reminded me how much I have enjoyed them in the past.

Hillary Greene is still living in a canal boat but currently in a sweltering heat wave. She has been retired for 2 years but is now working for the Metropolitan police as a consultant on cold cases.  

Recommended. A Cosy. 

My rating: 4.5 

I've also read

Martin, Faith:

Hillary Greene series

• 4.5, MURDER ON THE OXFORD CANAL #1
• 4.5, MURDER OF THE BRIDE #2
• 4.5,  MURDER AT THE UNIVERSITY #3
• 4.5, MURDER IN THE VILLAGE #4
  
• 4.6, MURDER IN THE FAMILY #5
• 4.5, MURDER AT HOME #6

Monica Noble series

• 4.4, THE VICARAGE MURDER - #1

Review: MY DARLING DAUGHTER, J. P. Delaney

• 
  This edition an e-book on Kindle (Amazon)
  
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09MVVW1HT
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Quercus, September 15, 2022
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 361 pages 

Synopsis (Amazon)

The child you never knew, knows all your secrets . . .

Out of the blue, Susie Jukes is contacted on social media by Anna, the girl she gave up for adoption fifteen years ago.

But when they meet, Anna's home life sounds distinctly strange to Susie and her husband Gabe. And when Anna's adoptive parents seem to overreact to the fact she contacted them at all, Susie becomes convinced that Anna needs her help.

But is Anna's own behaviour simply what you'd expect from someone recovering from a traumatic childhood? Or are there other secrets at play here - secrets Susie has also been hiding for the last fifteen years? 

My Take

My second book by this author and it certainly won't be my last. More a thriller, a mystery, rather than crime fiction.

Susie Jukes has never forgotten Sky, the baby she gave up for adoption. And when Sky/Anna contacts her on social media her heart strings are tugged and she is anxious to help, although such contact is against all the guidelines and recommendations. 

Susie is very inclined to take Sky's part in resolving the problems she is having with her adoptive parents, but then it becomes obvious that some of the problems originate with Sky, and even that she may have  mental health problems. 

It becomes apparent also that Susie and Gabe haven't always been honest with each other. There are patches of their histories they haven't disclosed to each other despite ten years of marriage. 

The author uses several voices to tell this story: principally those of Susie, her husband Gabe, and Anna/Sky.  Just occasionally it is difficult to tell from the context who is actually speaking. 

A very engaging story.  Very credible.

My rating: 4.5

I have also read 5.0, THE GIRL BEFORE 

About the author
JP Delaney is a British writer of psychological suspense. His novel THE GIRL BEFORE was an instant New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller which sold over a million copies in 40 countries. It was adapted by him for a BBC and HBO Max TV series in 2021. His second thriller, BELIEVE ME, was also a Sunday Times bestseller, as were his subsequent books THE PERFECT WIFE, PLAYING NICE and MY DARLING DAUGHTER. His sixth book, THE NEW WIFE, is being published in July 2023. 

JP Delaney has previously written bestselling fiction under other names. The Carnivia Trilogy, a series of three standalone but interlinked thrillers set in present-day Venice and written under the name Jonathan Holt, was published in more than 20 countries. 

For more information, visit www.jpdelaney.co.uk or follow @jpdelaneywriter on Facebook. 

Review: RESTLESS, William Boyd

• 
  This edition provided as an e-book on Libby by my local library
  
• Originally published 2006
• 325 pages
• Winner of the Costa Novel Award 2006.

Synopsis (publisher)

What happens to your life when everything you thought you knew about your mother turns out to be an elaborate lie? Ruth Gilmartin discovers the strange and haunting truth about her mother, Sally, during the long hot summer of 1976.

For Sally Gilmartin is not what she seems at all. Russian by birth, she was recruited into the British Secret Service in Paris in 1939 and spent the war years as a spy. But once a spy, always a spy. Sally Gilmartin has far too many dangerous secrets and she has no one to trust. Before it is too late, she must confront the demons of her past. This time though she can't do it alone, she needs Ruth's help.

Restless is yet another tour de force from William Boyd. Exploring the devastating consequences of duplicity and betrayal it is a thrilling novel that captures the drama of the Second World War and a remarkable portrait of a female spy. Full of suspense, emotion and history, this is storytelling at its very finest.

My Take

One of those novels that I didn't want to put down so I read it in nearly one sitting. 

Set mainly in the period 1939 to 1941, before America is drawn into World War II, and then nearly 30 years later.  Two narrative voices - Sally Gilmartin formerly Eva Delectorskaya has written her story for her daughter Ruth to read, and then we also have Ruth's input as she tries to decide whether what she is reading is true or whether her mother is developing dementia. Sally has been carrying the burden of betrayal for nearly 30 years, and has lived what seems to Ruth to be a fairly normal life during that time in Oxford. Now Sally seems to be developing paranoia, looking over her shoulder, and she tells Ruth the time has come to confront her betrayer.

A fascinating read - did that sort of thing really happen? I'd worked out the final thread well before the end but that didn't matter.  

My rating:4.6

I've also read

4.7, GABRIEL'S MOON 

Review: GABRIEL'S MOON, William Boyd

• 
   This edition read as an e-book on my Kindle
  
• An Amazon Best Book of the Month (Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense)
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CW1B7PC7
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Viking, September 5, 2024
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 263 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0241542095 

Synopsis (Amazon)

Gabriel Dax is a young man haunted by the memories of a tragedy: every night, when sleep finally comes, he dreams about his childhood home in flames. His days are spent on the move as an acclaimed travel writer, capturing changing landscapes in the grip of the Cold War. When he’s offered the chance to interview a political figure, his ambition leads him unwittingly into the shadows of espionage.

As Gabriel’s reluctant initiation takes hold, he is drawn deeper into duplicity. Falling under the spell of Faith Green, an enigmatic and ruthless MI6 handler, he becomes ‘her spy’, unable to resist her demands. But amid the peril, paranoia and passion consuming Gabriel’s new covert life, it will be the revelations closer to home that change the rest of his story . . .

In his most exhilarating novel yet, William Boyd transports you from the vibrant streets of sixties London to the sun-soaked cobbles of Cadiz and the frosty squares of Warsaw in this thrilling adventure. 

My Take

Here is one slightly outside my comfort zone, not really crime fiction but a tale of espionage, the story of how a man becomes trapped into becoming a spy, a conveyor of packages and messages, working for MI 6, a carefully layered story.

I enjoyed the historical references too, to a period of that I remember quite well. 

My rating: 4.7

About the author

William Boyd was born in 1952 in Accra, Ghana, and grew up there and in Nigeria. He is the author of sixteen highly acclaimed, bestselling novels and five collections of stories. Any Human Heart was longlisted for the Booker Prize and adapted into a TV series. His books have won many literary awards, including the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, the Los Angeles Times Book Award for Fiction, and the Costa Book Award. He was named a Granta Best Young Novelist in 1983, and in 2005, he was awarded the CBE. Boyd is married and divides his time between London and southwest France.

Review: THE BOOKSHOP MYSTERIES: A Murder at the Church, S.A. Reeves

• 
   This edition on Kindle (Amazon)
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DHV7QW1S
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Stephen Haunts Ltd, January 21, 2025
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 274 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1068720956
• Book 2 of 4: The Bookshop Mysteries  

Synopsis (Amazon)

When a craft fair turns deadly, Gemma and Mavis investigate a local man’s murder, unearthing many secrets.

In the peaceful town of Belper, Derbyshire, Gemma, the owner of the Bookworm bookshop and café, and her trusted assistant Mavis are exhibiting books at the town’s annual fair. But the tranquillity of the town is shattered when the body of a local man is found in the church.

A man is arrested amidst the chaos, and the evidence against him is compelling but Gemma and Mavis don’t buy it and set out to clear his name and uncover the truth. As they delve deeper, they uncover startling secrets hidden behind the town’s picturesque facade.

Gemma and Mavis must tread carefully as they race against time to uncover the actual killer. But will they go too far? Will their relentless pursuit of justice put them in harm’s way?

My Take

A true cozy. A rather unchallenging but comfortable read. Village life mixed with some character development, and an unexpected death thrown in for good measure.

My rating: 4.3

I've also read

4.4, THE BOOKSHOP MYSTERIES: THE BITTER PILL - #1 

Review: THE BOOKSHOP MYSTERIES, A BITTER PILL, S.A. Reeves

• 
  This edition read as an e-book on Kindle (Amazon)
  
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0D9W3VBGG
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Stephen Haunts Ltd, Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 19, 2024
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 306 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1068720925
•  Book 1 of 4: The Bookshop Mysteries
  
  ★★★★★
  WINNER of the 2024 Firebird Book Awards in the Cozy Mystery Category
  WINNER for the Literary Titan Book Awards
  GOLD WINNER for the Global Book Awards (Women's Crime Fiction)
  FINALIST for the Reader Choice Awards for Best Adult Book
  SHORT LIST nomination for the Murder and Mayhem 2024 Awards
  ★★★★★ 

Synopsis (Amazon)

When a book signing turns deadly, two bookshop owners turn detectives.

Gemma loves the quiet life of her bookshop, the Bookworm—a haven for book lovers in a quaint town in the heart of Derbyshire. But everything changes when Gemma discovers the body of local author Dominic Westley during the shop’s latest book signing event.

When the police rule the death as an accidental overdose, Dominic’s estranged widow points the finger at one of his past lovers. Gemma and her trusty assistant, Mavis, won’t rest until they uncover the truth. Was it an accidental overdose or something more sinister?

Fans of cozy mysteries will delight in The Bookshop Mysteries - A Bitter Pill, a charming and suspenseful read that will keep you guessing until the very end. If you enjoyed books like The Thursday Murder Club or The Missing Maid, then this is the perfect book for you to curl up with.

My Take

A new cozy series to read on my Kindle: featuring two ladies who work in a bookshop. A local author who appears to be a rising star is invited to give a presentation at  the bookshop to an avid group of readers, and then collapses and dies in the middle of his presentation. A couple of likeable sleuths, and a variety of plausible characters. At times the scenario felt a bit "soft", but in general it was credible and all the loose ends were tied off. I'll be reading another. 

My rating: 4.4

About the author
S. A. Reeves is the pen name of a husband and wife writing duo, who have been married for over twenty years. They are based near the Peak District in Derbyshire (United Kingdom).

They both like to read and watch murder mysteries, and will frequently stand in front of a whiteboard, plotting the perfect murder—for creative Fiction purposes, of course.

Review: THE LAST DAYS OF KIRA MULLAN, Nicci French

• 
   this edition published in 2025 by Simon & Schuster
  
• ISBN 978-1-3965-2414-9
• 438 pages 

 Synopsis (publisher)

She thinks it was murder.
But if she can’t trust herself, can anyone else?

Nancy North and her boyfriend Felix are making the move across London to Harlesden. A new flat, a new area, a new start. Because while Nancy is fine now, she wasn’t fine before. But settling into the new flat and meeting the new neighbours isn’t helped by Felix’s hovering concern. She is all right. She is sticking to her breathing exercises and doctor-prescribed help.

So, when their new neighbour Kira Mullan is found dead by suicide, Felix is understandably worried about Nancy’s frame of mind. But Nancy saw Kira the day before she died and she didn’t strike her as someone who was suicidal – she was upset and angry, yes, but was she upset and angry enough to take her own life?

Nancy is the only one convinced that there’s more to Kira’s death than has been discovered. But all the police and the neighbours see is a vulnerable woman who isn’t sure of what she saw, and might even be imagining things . . .

Is Nancy imagining things, or are there more questions that should be asked about the last days of Kira Mullan?  

My Take

Once you've started this book, it just sort of grabs you and you have to know how it finishes.  Nancy North is the only one in the flats who rejects the idea that Kira Mullan's death is suicide. And what would she know? She only met Kira for a few minutes, and her own mental health is fragile.

Nancy insists on telling the police about her suspicions, but those around her including her boyfriend Felix are  worried about her state of mind and take steps to ensure she is "safe".

Now, I am not going to tell you any more, but believe me the middle part of the story left me gasping over the injustice of what happened to Nancy.

There are always unexpected twists and red herrings with this superb British author, and I wasn't disappointed. 

My rating: 5.0

I've also read

4.3, BLUE MONDAY

4.5, TUESDAY'S GONE

4.7, WAITING FOR WEDNESDAY

4.7, FRIDAY ON MY MIND

4.7, THE LYING ROOM

4.5, DAY OF THE DEAD

4.7, SECRET SMILE

4.6, THE UNHEARD 

4.8, THE FAVOUR

5..0, HAS ANYONE SEEN CHARLOTTE SALTER?

Review: TO THE LAND OF LONG LOST FRIENDS, Alexander McCall Smith

• 
  this edition made available by my local library
  
• large print edition from Pantheon Books published 2019
• ISBN 978-1-4328-7127-7
• 343 pages 

 Synopsis (publisher)

THE TWENTIETH BOOK IN THE BELOVED NO. 1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY SERIES The one with the mysterious reverend . . .

At a local wedding, Mma Ramotswe reunites with a friend whose daughter has inexplicably turned away from her. Elsewhere, several ladies in the region fall under the spell of a charismatic self-styled reverend. With little work on at the agency, Precious and Mma Makutsi see no harm in looking into such curious events. Meanwhile, Charlie is anxious. How can he, the part-time detective, secure his love's hand in marriage? Even in the quietest months, it seems, there's plenty for the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency to investigate . . 

 My Take: 

It seems a long time since I have read one of these books, perhaps 10 years, but I have enjoyed many of them in the past. 

Here are a few

TEA TIME for the TRADITIONALLY BUILT
THE MIRACLE AT SPEEDY MOTORS
THE DOUBLE COMFORT SAFARI CLUB
4.5, THE SATURDAY BIG TENT WEDDING PARTY
4.5, THE LIMPOPO ACADEMY OF PRIVATE DETECTION
4.6, THE MINOR ADJUSTMENT BEAUTY SALON  

The author really hit the spot when he created Precious Ramotswe and her faithful offsider Mma Makutsi. And their agency now includes Charlie, once a mechanic, not a very good one though, and now part time detective in search of a wife.

 Their homespun philosophy is still the same, and they still find solutions to problems.

 My rating: 4.4

Review: MURDER ON THE MARLOW BELLE, Robert Thorogood

• 
  This edition read as an e-book on Kindle (Amazon)
  
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0D4CJZ261
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ HQ (January 16, 2025)
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 333 pages 
• Book 4/5 Marlow Murder Club series

Synopsis (Amazon)

Verity Beresford is worried about her husband. Oliver didn’t come home last night so of course Verity goes straight to Judith Potts, Marlow’s resident amateur sleuth, for help. Oliver, founder of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, had hired The Marlow Belle, a private pleasure cruiser, for an exclusive party with the MADS committee but no one remembers seeing him disembark. And then Oliver’s body washes up on the Thames with two bullet holes in him – it’s time for the Marlow Murder Club to leap into action.

Oliver was a rather complicated chap and he wasn’t short of enemies. Judith, Suzie, and Becks are convinced they’ll crack the case in no time. But things are not as they seem in the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, and the gang will need to keep their wits about them, otherwise a killer may sail away scot-free …

My Take

Quite an enjoyable cosy. Lots of red herrings. Every one seems to have an alibi for Oliver Beresford's murder and the final denouement is in an an unusual setting. A bit of a "soft" read.

My  rating: 4.4 

I have read 4.6, THE MARLOW MURDER CLUB