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Madeleine's Reads 2022

What have you read in 2021? Post your list here and update it as you go along! (One thread per member, please.)
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Madeleine
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Preferred HF: Plantagenets, Victorian, crime, dual time-frame
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Madeleine's Reads 2022

Post by Madeleine » Wed January 12th, 2022, 9:46 am

January

A Cotswold Christmas Mystery by Rebecca Tope - I haven't read a book in this long-running series for a while, and things have moved on quite a bit for house-sitter Thea, who is now married to Drew Slocombe, a local undertaker who she presumably met through her 2nd job (her first is house-sitting) as an unofficial detective! No house-sitting in this book, instead Thea, Drew and his 2 children from his first marriage (he's a widower) are getting ready for Christmas and awaiting the arrival of Thea's daughter from her first marriage. Trouble breaks out when a local woman, who is a friend of Thea's, goes missing, and when the body of the local landlord, on whose land the woman and her family were tenants, is found dead in very suspicious circumstances, things don't look too good for Thea's friend. So Thea and her stepdaughter, 10 year old Stephanie, decide to try to find out what is going on. Not surprisingly this ruffles a few feathers, not least from the dead man's wife and her daughters from her first marriage. It's an easy enough read, but I didn't find the way it was told primarily through the eyes of a child very convincing, this child was more like 10 years old going on about 50! Other things didn't make sense either, mainly that surely if the dead man had been electrocuted, wouldn't there have been marks on his body? So a comfort read for Christmas, but nothing particularly special. 6.5/10

The Dead of winter by Nicola Upson - this is the 9th book in the Josephine Tey detective series, I've read the first one but not the others, however this works perfectly well as a stand alone novel. it's set at Christmas 1938, war clouds are already looming but it's business as usual for Hilaria St Aubyn, the chatelaine of St Michael's Mount in Cornwall, who organises a charity Christmas house party to raise money for child refugees from mainland Europe. One of the invitees is none other than Marlene Dietrich, and others include Josephine Tey and her partner Marta, and her friend, Det inspector Archie Penrose. One murder occurs before the guests have even arrived, we know who the culprit is, but another brutal murder takes place on Christmas Day, and the horror struck guests and villagers, cut off by a blizzard, have to somehow keep safe whilst Penrose carries out what investigations he can. This was a short, enjoyable read, well-written with believable characters, although the denoument felt a little rushed. 7.5/10
Currently reading "Mania" by L J Ross

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Madeleine
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Re: Madeleine's Reads 2022

Post by Madeleine » Wed February 9th, 2022, 10:00 am

February

"The Sanatorium" by Sarah Pearse - Elin and her boyfriend, Will, are in Switzerland for her brother's engagement party at his exclusive new resort hotel, which has been converted from the sanatorium of the title (I wouldn't want to stay there!) She has misgivings as the siblings are pretty much estranged, and neither has recovered from their other brother's death when they were children - Elin still has unsolved questions, and her career as a detective is on hold as she recovers from almost being killed by a suspect, as well as their mother's recent death - her brother Isaac never even attended the funeral. So it would be fair to say that relations are strained, not helped by a storm closing in. There are more problems when a hotel cleaner is found dead, and then Isaac's fiancee goes missing. An avalanche then totally seals off the hotel, and Elin, apart from being in phone contact with the local police, is pretty much on her own as the bodies start to pile up. This is another book in the "chalet noir" genre, basically a variation on the country house murder genre. Elin's family history, and the hotel's creepy history, add extra frissons, and although I found it an easy, fast-paced read, the ending felt rather rushed and incomplete. However it looks like there'll be more adventures (and dangers!) for Elin, as this looks to be the first in a series. 7.5/10

"The Burial Circle" by Kate Ellis - the current Wesley Peterson novel goes a bit creepy on us when a psychic who is taking part in a themed weekend at a local hotel is murdered, and no he didn't see it coming! Though guests at the weekend did think seemed genuinely spooked during one sitting, and seemed terrified. When his body is discovered draped over the mill wheel at the tourist attraction of a restored wool mill, it's at first thought to be an accidental death, then the coroner discovers a stab wound.... Meanwhile things are turning personal for Wesley's 2nd in command, Rachel, whose new marriage isn't too happy, and she has further worries when a storm blows over a tree on her parents' farm, to reveal the body of a teenager who'd gone missing several years ago. Are the girl's death and the recent killing of the psychic somehow connected? As Wesley and his boss Gerry delve deeper, it does look like the answers lie in the past history of both victims. As usual, there's a historical sideline too, as Wesley's friend Neil, who's writing a book about the old mill, discovers a series of murders way back in the 1800s, when a doctor, newly arrived from London, discovered the local Burial Circle, an organisation set up to help the poorer give their loved ones a fitting burial, but also might mask a series of killings made to look like accidents, which seem to be mirrored by the events that are being investigated in the present day. This was another enjoyable mystery, with an exciting chase at the end, and which was intriguingly plotted. 7.5/10.
Currently reading "Mania" by L J Ross

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Re: Madeleine's Reads 2022

Post by Madeleine » Sat March 12th, 2022, 7:32 pm

March

"The Seal King Murders" by Alanna Knight - it's 1862 and Inspector Jeremy Faro returns to his birthplace of the Isle of Orkney, following his injury in an earlier case in Edinburgh (in "Murder in Paradise", must read that one!), and he intends to convalesce whilst staying with his mother, and hopefully re-connect with his first, brief teenage love, Inga. He's also there to try to find out what happened to a supposed valuable package of goods which was being carried by a local customs officer, destined for Edinburgh, but which disappeared after the customs officer fell whilst boarding the ship to take him to Edinburgh, and subsequently drowned in the rough sea. His body was recovered but the rumoured "treasures" have disappeared, so what is it a simple accident or part of a more sinister plan. Adding to the intrigue is the fact that his widow Thora was supposedly taken by the legendary Seal King, who takes a woman at Lammastide, keeps her for a year and a day, and then she returns in exactly the same clothes she was wearing when she disappeared. She has never spoken about her disappearance, which seems to time with her sister moving to the mainland. Then there is the mysterious brother of the local boatman, who is meant to be dying of consumption but seems to have a rather indulgent lifestyle, plus of course the local constabulary who aren't too happy at someone else on their patch. Then a local heiress goes missing at Lammastide, and Faro was one of the last people to speak to her, so he finds himself under suspicion, and when another local is attached, he also manages to be prime suspect. This was an entertaining story with some lovely selkie references, and seals do in fact play a prominent, and rather sweet, role in the story. Faro is a likeable character, and although the book was rather slow at first, I enjoyed once the story got going. 7.5/10

"Runes of Destiny" by Christina Courtenay -this is the 2nd book in the author's Viking series but can be read as a stand alone, a couple of characters from the first book do appear briefly but it doesn't detract from the story. Linnea is recovering from a car accident which killed her best friend's parents and severely injured her friend - she feels guilty for surviving relatively unscathed and is helping out on a summer holiday archaeological dig in Sweden, when she finds a gorgeous bracelet. She accidentally pricks her finger on the pin, and finds herself transported, Outlander style, to the 9th century, where she finds herself being taken captive as a thrall ie a sort of hostage for sale, and she joins the Jarl and his half brothers as they set sail for Istanbul, where they intend to trade many items, such as furs and amber, and also their thralls, for sale to the highest bidder. The Jarl, Thure, is a unlikeable, boorish type who prefers the good things in life, ie drink, gambling and women, whilst his half-brother Hrafn, is kinder and does the real work of keeping their estate going. He is also in charge of the thralls and it's no surprise that he and Linnea find themselves increasingly attracted to each other. As she settles into life on the Viking settlement, and then on the perilous journey south, Linnea finds herself fascinated by Viking life, and also by her host. But Thure wants her for himself, and Linnea finds herself in danger not only from raiders, but also from the Jarl. Although there were no surprises as to how this turned out, it was an enjoyable bit of escapism, with an interesting glimpse into everyday Viking life. I would say it's more of a time travel novel rather than timeslip, as Linnea stays pretty much in the Viking zone for most of the book. 7/10
Currently reading "Mania" by L J Ross

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Re: Madeleine's Reads 2022

Post by Madeleine » Sat April 9th, 2022, 10:59 am

April

Cuthbert's Way by L J Ross - this is the latest in the DCI Ryan series, and carries straight on from the previous book, The Shrine. The artefact recovered at the end of that book was not the correct item, however the police want to keep this secret as several people, including one of their own, have died trying to keep this fact from the perpetrators. However it soon becomes obvious that the deception is no longer a secret, and Ryan, as head of the investigation, and now a new father, finds himself and his family in danger. It seems that someone is obsessed with St Cuthbert and his mythology (although he really existed a cult has grown up around his story) and will stop at nothing to get all the relics. So Ryan finds himself on a personal mission, to rescue those closest to him and keep everyone else safe. this book was much longer than the previous books in the series, and I felt it was better for it - more character and story development, rather than the slightly rushed feel I always get from the others. One of the best books in the series, although you do need to read the previous book first. 8/10

A Fever in the Blood by Oscar de Muriel - this is the 2nd in the series set in late Victorian Edinburgh, and it's New Year 1889, but no celebrations for our crime fighting duo when they're told that a resident of the same asylum where McGrey's sister is a long term patient has gone missing, and is the prime suspenct in the death of one of the nurses. McGrey is further drawn into the case when he learns that his sister, who has been mute since a terrible incident in their childhood, spoke to the man, who is none other than Joel Ardglass, who fans of the series will know has a personal connection to McGrey. A chain of events is set in motion which sees the duo heading over the border into England, and to the notorious Lancashire town of Pendle, which is still a draw for witches. there are so many plot twists that I felt a bit dizzy, and this is a fast paced romp across the Lancashire moors in pursuit of a gang of witches, both good and bad, who are involved in smuggling and murder. As the body count rises, it looks like Frey and McGrey will be next, especially as McGrey's obsession with his sister, and what made her speak, takes both him and Frey into greater danger. Great entertainment, with some genuine suspense as well as flashes of humour. 8/10
Currently reading "Mania" by L J Ross

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Re: Madeleine's Reads 2022

Post by Madeleine » Wed May 11th, 2022, 1:47 pm

May

"The Lamplighters" by Emma Stonex - this book is a kind of riff on the famous lighthouse mystery which occurred in the Hebrides around the turn of the last century - the 3 keepers vanished without trace, and to this day no one knows what happened to them. This book is set more recently, alternating between 1972 - when the Vanishing, as it's referred to, took place - and 1992, which is the present day in the book, and the lighthouse is off the Cornish coast. We get the story in two parts - the build up to the Vanishing, as the keepers pass the time together just before Christmas 1972 - and then we get an insight into their back stories, as well as that of their wives/girlfriends, and also the investigation, plus further revelations when an author decides to write an account of the Vanishing, and attempts to interview the women. One ignores him, as she has done to the other women when they've met for anniversaries of the Vanishing, one isn't sure, but the Principal Keeper's wife, Helen, is keen to talk. So we gradually find out what really happened. Although the book is quite well-written and fast paced, I can't say I really enjoyed it - I didn't find the characters particularly likeable, or convincing, and there are a couple of strange loose ends too, which I wonder if the author left to deliberately keep up the air of mystery? Obviously I can't say too much for fear of spoilers, but I think my overall verdict would be disappointing. The monotony of the routine on the light was evoked very well, especially as the keepers could see the mainland and the lights of their own homes on the mainland, as was the atmosphere and descriptions of the sea. The ghost story element felt a bit contrived though, and just didn't really feel that convincing. 6/10

"False Value" by Ben Aaronovitch - this is the 8th book in the Rivers of London series and whilst I enjoyed it and it had some good moments I found it a bit too technical at times. It starts with Peter seemingly in a new job at a tech company, has he left the police? Fear not, all is soon revealed and he is in fact undercover at the firm to try to find out what exactly they are up to, mainly on the secretive, no-go area which is the top floor. Eventually he manages to access the restricted area and it looks like the billionaire owner is trying to develop an advanced form of Artificial Intelligence. cue lots of destruction and subterfuge, as Peter and his old team of police colleagues, and of course his boss, Nightingale, get involved. There are also a few new characters, and less of the Folly this time round as, due to renovation work, Peter is staying with his girlfriend Beverly Brook. An enjoyable read but not quite as good as the others in the series. 7/10

"Celebrations at the Chateau" by Jo Thomas - this was Jo Thomas's offering last Christmas (she usually has a Christmas themed book, and then one in the summer) so I'm a bit late to the party, but I fancied a change from crime and something light and fluffy, and you can't get lighter and fluffier than this. You can guess how it's going to end just by reading the blurb on the back, but here goes. Fliss and her sisters are bewildered when they find they've inherited a chateau in Normandy from their grandfather, whom Fliss shared a cottage with after his wife died. Fliss is between jobs - due to her dyslexia, she tends to do more physical jobs, such as waitressing at the local cafe in the seaside resort where she lives, and acting as a car park attendant in the beach front car parks, however now the season is over and it's decided that, as she has no work lined up until the Christmas season when she helps out at local pubs or hotels, she should be the one to stay and try to sort out the legal mess that they find themselves in, for not only is the chateau a money pit, but there is also a sitting tenant, in the form of Charlotte, who they must pay a month allowance, not to mention a huge tax bill. The locals are also very hostile, including the local farmer, who is also the mayor, and Charlotte's grandson - you won't be surprised to learn that Fliss can't help being attracted to him; her on/off boyfriend Ty is currently teaching snowboarding somewhere else in Europe. When a stranded couple whose car has broken down turn up, and are put up for the night, the idea of turning the chateau into a bed and breakfast takes root in Fliss's head - next thing, she's organising a stay for one of Ty's surfing friends, then a group of classic car enthusiasts, and finally she is asked to organise a wedding at the chateau - all this of course with no legal requirements like fire certificates, inspections etc - a quick nod from the mayor and she's up and running. Meanwhile her relationship with the mayor is looking more hopeful, except for his estranged wife, who wants to be chatelaine instead. It all bowls along to an entirely predictable ending, despite a few hiccups along the way - again, you can see them coming a mile off, and everything seems to be breezily put right. This was an improvement on last summer's "Chasing the Italian Dream", and is fine as a bright, quick read, and I'll probably carry on reading her books, though she still has the habit of constantly repeating the plotlines, such as what shall she do about Ty, and she must get the wedding right! We never really find out how Fliss's grandpa managed to buy a chateau - where did the money come from? -and the reasons as to why the chateau was closed down, which resulted in the hostility from the locals, is flimsy at best. Fine for a light read. 6/10
Currently reading "Mania" by L J Ross

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Re: Madeleine's Reads 2022

Post by Madeleine » Sat June 18th, 2022, 9:03 pm

June

"Murder in Chianti" by Camilla Trinchieri - this is the first in a new series about Italian/Irish/American cop Nico Doyle, who has moved to his late wife's home town in the Tuscan Hills. He was fired from his job in New York, and has decided to move to Italy to be near his wife's only relative, her cousin Tilde, who runs a restaurant where he helps out occasionally. His new life is interrupted by a gunshot one morning, on investigation he finds the body of a man in nearby woods, and so he finds himself helping out the local detective, who's only ever dealt with one murder in his career. A cast of characters soon emerges - the Italian cop and his wife, Tilde and her family, various locals, and a stray dog who Nico takes in, who is quite a character in his own right! There's plenty of gorgeous food and scenery - a visit to San Gimignano for example - and although it took me a while to get into the book, I did enjoy it and look forward to the next one. this easily falls into the cosy(ish) Eurocrime category, and would appeal to readers of M L Longworth's Provence series. 7/10

"The Mystery of the Lost Cezanne" by M L Longworth - this is the 5th instalment of this series, and the 2nd one I've read, I've gone back a bit in the story arc of the relationship between Judge Antoine Verlaque and his girlfriend, Marine Bonnet, who at this point have reached, it would seem, a bit of a tipping point. However Antoine is distracted when an elderly retired postman is found murdered in his flat, amid rumours that he was in possession of an unknown painting by the artist Cezanne, who is synonymous with Aix-en-Provence, where this series is set. Cue a trip across country as Antoine heads for Paris, and becomes involved with a stunning American art historian, who is also a prime suspect. And is the painting a real Cezanne, which is questionable. And the painting might not be the only thing that's fake either. After a slow start, with a couple of sluggish chapters involving a tenant's meeting, and Verlaque's cigar club, the book picked up - both the meeting and the cigar club do have a part to play - and I enjoyed it, finding it a fast read, with plenty of food, wine, and a bit of humour. there are also some flashback chapters to what might have led Cezanne to paint this particular work, if of course he really did paint it! I'd have liked some author's notes on the background, but apart from that this was an enjoyable, easy read. 7.5/10
Currently reading "Mania" by L J Ross

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Re: Madeleine's Reads 2022

Post by Madeleine » Mon July 11th, 2022, 10:24 am

July

"The Cove" by L J Ross - Gabi is working in London as a literary agent when, following her firm's Christmas party, she is attacked on her way home by the "Tube Station Killer" who pushes her onto train tracks.... she survives but the ensuing trauma results in her leaving her job, and her relationship with her fiancee also breaks down, so when she sees an ad for a manager to run a bookshop in a tiny Cornish village she applies, and of course gets the job and finds herself in a little community, which resolves around the bookshop and it's cafe - bliss, and she soon starts a relationship with the requisite local hunk. But one night she witnesses a terrifying incident, then her cottage is broken into several times, and it looks like someone is trying to either drive her out of the village, or drive her mad, or worse, put her in physical danger. To say anymore would be giving too much away, this was an enjoyable read and although the whole premise is slightly unlikely it works as a summer holiday read. This is the first in a new series of summer suspense novels by the author of the DCI Ryan series, and has the author's trademarks of gorgeous scenery, strong heroines, and slightly dark humour. 7/10

"The Path to the Sea" by Liz Fenwick - this book is set in 3 time zones, and tells the story of 3 women - at the start of the book Joan, the grandmother is dying and her daughter and grand daughter, Diana and Lottie, return to the family home of Boskenna, in Cornwall, to be with her and her husband. We get Joan's story from 1962, of how she and her husband and young daughter were based in Moscow during the Cold War, returning to Cornwall for the summer holidays. Diana was 8 at the time, and in 1962 a tragedy occurred which meant that mother and daughter spent years away from Boskenna. However Diana started to return when Lottie was small, but then another tragedy happens in 2008, after which Lottie doesn't return until the 3rd segment of the story, in 2018. We gradually get the back stories of the 3 women, and find out what really happened in August 1962. It's a story of secrets ,deception, quite a few lies (some told for the right reason, at the time anyway), and the mistakes that humans make, again sometimes for what they think is the right reason at the time. It was an easy book to read, enjoyable though I did find Lottie rather annoying! And it did seem to tie up a bit too neatly at the end. But Liz Fenwick's books are always enjoyable, easy reads, with lovely settings. 6.5/10

One August Night by Victoria Hislop - This is the sequel to Victoria's first book "The Island", which was a massive success several years ago. If you haven't read that, then beware of spoilers in this review. The book starts by going back to the events which happened at the end of the first book - there was a large party to celebrate the return of several former leprosy patients from Spinalonga, the island to which they'd been effectively quarantined for several years. But treatment and a cure for this awful disease has now been found, and those lucky enough to recover are returning, including Maria, whose fiance, Manolis, has been having an affair with her married sister Anna. The book ended, perhaps somewhat predictably, with the love triangle playing out tragically when Anna's husband shot and killed his wife. The new book picks up the story from this point, with the husband being quickly arrested and jailed for life, Manolis leaves Crete for the mainland port of Piraeus, and the couple's little girl is adopted by Maria and her husband. And that's pretty much it really, the story covers several years though these years pass in something of a blur; but not much really happens apart from little Sofia growing up into her teens, and her adoptive parents wondering how much they should tell her about her background, and Manolis builds a new life in Piraeus, working in a ship repair yard. But apart from that, this feels more like a slice of life, and the characters don't really develop that much. Maria is so saintly that she even says herself that she is not an angel, but she does come across as too good to be true. As it's a short book, I wonder if it was specially commissioned, but a slight twist at the end does possibly indicate that there's room for another sequel. Disappointing. 5/10
Currently reading "Mania" by L J Ross

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Re: Madeleine's Reads 2022

Post by Madeleine » Wed August 17th, 2022, 3:59 pm

August

"The Sicilian Method" by Andrea Camilleri - this is the penultimate novel in the Inspector Montalbano series, the TV version was recently shown here and, whilst entertaining, it was ultimately a bit disappointing and didn't really feel "right", the book is pretty much the same, in fact the TV film was better. At times the book seems to ramble, and Montalbano is definitely having a mid life crisis, whilst his long term relationship with Livia has become pretty tedious, the way it's dealt with here seems unrealistic, and although the book dragged, the ending still felt rushed. The storyline involves Montalbano's lothario deputy, Mimi Augello, thinking he's discovered a corpse, whilst hiding from his latest lover's husband, but when he returns to the flat, there's no body. So begins the usual convoluted tale, involving a real murder too, when an avant garde theatre director gets murdered, and there are plenty of suspects, including the cast of his latest production. I hope the final book in the series is better. 5/10

"The Locked Room" by Elly Griffiths - this latest book in the Ruth Galloway series takes place during the start of the Covid pandemic back in March 2020, and the first lockdown. At first all is normal, Ruth is teaching as usual, her daughter has just started secondary school and DCI Nelson's wife is visiting her mother in Blackpool, along with their youngest child. The police investigate, as a matter of routine, a probable suicide, but when another supposed suicide happens, and it turns out that both women were linked to each other, the police look at some cold cases, and it looks like there might be more to these tragic deaths than they first thought. Trying to investigate a possible serial killer whilst the country is in locked down proves difficult to say the least. Meanwhile two of Ruth's students go AWOL, and it looks like one of them knew at least one of the suspected murder victims. Ruth has a mystery of her own, when she finds an old photo of her house in Norfolk amongst her mother's papers, but the photo was taken years before Ruth was even born, and considering her family were based in North London, it seems a very strange coincidence. So lots going on in this book, and whilst it was as readable as ever, it did sometimes feel as if there were too many storylines going on. I still enjoyed it though, despite the uncomfortable reminders of the first lockdown. There's a nice bit of spookiness too, with some old Norwich legends coming to the surface, and this does provide quite a lot of the book's dark humour. Would you like to share a house with a Grey lady?! 7/10
Currently reading "Mania" by L J Ross

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Re: Madeleine's Reads 2022

Post by znewbooks » Thu August 25th, 2022, 5:18 am

Yes I already these books

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Re: Madeleine's Reads 2022

Post by Madeleine » Sat September 3rd, 2022, 10:54 am

September

"Under a Siena Sun" by T A Williams - we first meet Dr Lucy Young in Mabenta, a small town in Africa which is caught up in a war, and she is waiting to be evacuated to safety by the UN, along with two nurses - she's a surgeon with the organisation Medecin sans Frontieres. The airlift is successful and Lucy returns to her parents' home in Devon. She's soon bored, so it's a relief when she gets the chance to go to Siena to attend her old friend's wedding - the women's mothers were at uni together, with the result being that Lucy spent many happy summer holidays in Tuscany, so the wedding is also a reunion of old friends. One of them, Bruno, asks her for help with an emergency at the clinic he runs - it's an exclusive establishment which only deals with very wealthy clients and this emergency involves an American tennis star who's accidentally shot himself. Patient duly patched up, and Lucy returns to the wedding party, but it's not long before Bruno offers her a permanent job at the clinic. Used to dealing with patients who have very little, Lucy wrestles with her conscience at dealing with unimaginably wealthy and privileged people, but she had wanted a break from MSF, and also wanted to have a place of her own, so she agrees and is soon renting a pretty house in the hills. Her new landlord turns out to be, yes the US tennis player, who at first is surly and grumpy - his career has been ruined by a knee injury, which is why he is having treatment at the clinic - but they gradually bond over food, the local history and black labradors, of which there are plenty in this book (they are one of the author's trademarks). Inevitably romance blossoms, but Lucy wrestles with the idea of living in utter luxury, whilst poor people can't afford basic medical treatment. This is all very honourable but after a while the constant references to her dilemma become tiresome, but it all works out in the end, so much so that I felt the ending felt contrived and schmaltzy, and everyone was too good to be true. If she wanted to help ordinary people so much, just get a job in the NHS! But she seems to want to have it all ways, and the solution to her dilemma wasn't entirely convincing either. However it's a nice holiday read, the descriptions of Tuscany are lovely, and there is also a lot of food involved! 6/10

"One of the Girls" by Lucy Clarke - this is yet another novel in the "a group of people go on holiday somewhere remote and one of them dies" genre! This one to be fair, is actually quite well-written and did keep me interested, it is a page turner and although all the characters have their flaws they are believable, for the most part, and the author kept me guessing right until the end, as to who doesn't make it home in one piece. There are some clever twists as secrets (and lies) all start to emerge, old resentments surface and it gradually becomes apparent that some of the group have come on the holiday for reasons other than to enjoy a hen weekend. The hen in question is Lexi, a dancer turned yoga teacher who finds herself at a villa on a small Greek island with her two best friends who she's known since school, a newer friend from her yoga class, her future sister-in-law, and the girlfriend of one of her friends. As the weekend carries on, ulterior motives start to be revealed, and everything leads to a beach party on the last night, with the group already fracturing. It's a good holiday read, and I enjoyed it and kept turning the pages as it's very easy to read, a "just one more chapter" type of book. I did think the ending, or various endings, were a little too neat though. i have a few booksby this author and she's certainly someone I would read more of. 7.5/10

"The Midnight Hour" by Elly Griffiths - this is the 6th book in what used to be called "The Stephens and Mephisto Mysteries" but has now morphed into "The Brighton Mysteries", probably because Stephens and Mephisto are pretty much supporting players in this one, with very little to do for most of the book. Instead the focus is on WDC Meg Connolly, who works in DI Stephens' team, and her immediate boss, Bob Willis, who are called in when an elderly theatrical impresario is found dead - not from old age or his health problems, but poison. Prime suspect is his wife, the glamourous former singer Verity, who seems to build a rapport with the young policewoman Meg. DI Stephens's wife, Emma, was also a policewoman until she married the DI, and they now live happily in Brighton with their 3 young children, but Emma misses her old job (women had to give up work back in those days - 1965 - when they married) and has formed a private detective agency with her journalist friend, Samantha Collins. So instead of the usual police procedural we have the 3 women at the front of the investigation. We see a lot of it through Meg's eyes, despite her job she is still quite naive and when she and Emma travel to Liverpool and Whitby she is agog at the thought of a long train journey and visiting "The North", the furthest she's ever travelled. Meg is a likeable character but at times the book felt very padded out and there were too many characters, and not enough emphasis on the original, male leads. Edgar, although the senior officer, is pretty much in the background, merely despatching his officers to interview suspects etc. Former magician Max Mephisto is in Whitby making a Dracula film, playing father to Dracula himself, who is played by an actor who is the middle son of the murdered man, who had lots of enemies, mainly due to the number of women he discarded during his heyday, not to mention several illegitimate children - yes he has left a trail of misery that's for sure! Although the book did pick up in the last quarter or so, at times I felt it dragged and I missed the interaction between the two old friends Edgar and Max. A shame as it gives the book a rather fragmented feel. Not the best in the series, though still not a bad read overall. 6.5/10
Currently reading "Mania" by L J Ross

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