1. The Blackhouse (Lewis Trilogy, #1) by Peter May (5/5)
I guess people who are expecting just a mystery novel tend to lose interest half way through because every odd chapter is about Fin's childhood and teens, his friends, the bullies at school, his first love. If you count only the mystery chapters without all the drama you have no more than 100 pages but then they wouldn't make sense. Excellent.
2. Daughter of the Red Deer (Reindeer Hunters, #1) by Joan Wolf (4/5)
Around 14,000 years ago. Mar of the Horse tribe sets to kidnap some women from the Red Deer tribe. Alin, the Chosen One, convinces them to give them a few months before they can choose a husband (yup) delaying it to wait for the rescue party. And they fall in love...
Nice research. I liked the details about treating fur and ivory and the hunting. Their religion of course is invented but credible. Good book.
3. Fated (Alex Verus, #1) by Benedict Jacka (4/5)
Couldnt. Stop. Reading. Uh
It's not a great book. I think there is a big hole in there. Because they are all scrambling to get that box since page 1 but they don't know what it does? But they do. But they dont. **dizzy
It was a page turner anyway. I'm getting the next 2 boks asap.
4. The Cold, Cold Ground (Troubles Trilogy, #1) by Adrian McKinty (5/5)
We know.
I know.
I walked back to the apartment. I put the key in the lock.
Quiet.
The hall.
Quiet.
The bedroom.
Quiet.
Where have you be
Sssshhh. Sleep.
Sleep?
Yes. Sleep.
And I got in beside her and we moved from one dream to another...'
5. Sacrilege by S.J. Parris (3/5)
What good is twice good if brief. Or something like that. This book could have been so much better without the endless paragraphs of "What if... but then... I think... wait no... but who? and then..." zzz
6. The Restorer by Amanda Stevens (4/5)
Well well. While I was reading I was thinking this was an average read full of topics -the ghost child, rats, spiders, tunnels, vaults...- but now I hink this was actually quite good. There are many questions though. And her relationship with Devlin is only starting. The end is open for the next book and I'm hooked. Already ordered book 2.
7. Where the Shadows Lie by Michael Ridpath (4/5)
This was quite a good try from a British author to write Nordic crime. The idea was cool. Because the mystery is centered around a ring. The Ring. Yup. That one. Bilbo's yay!
I like the character of Magnus, and all those strong women we meet. This has potential.
8. Semper Fidelis (Gaius Petreius Ruso, #5) by Ruth Downie (5/5)
I can't find the quote but there is a moment when Tilla is reading Catullus and makes a comment that would make her a top GR: "...like somebody else's hair floating in your bath".
rotfl
And there is that scene when Ruso is hoping she comes to rescue him on a stolen horse... looool
This was a page turner, intelligent, exciting.
I love this series.
9. Cursed (Alex Verus, #2) by Benedict Jacka (3/5)
I skimmed a little over all the reminders about the first book. If you have read it you don't need them If you haven't you don't want them. Minus that the book gets quite short. Not bad.
10. Orchestrated Death (Bill Slider,#1) by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles (3.5/5)
Not exactly what I was expecting. This book is more about Slider's personal life than about a mystery.. His wife's endless "You are a loser" rant was a little too much. Of course it was necessary to justify why he gets a mistress. In general this was different from the usual mystery novels.