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The Pig in the Derby Hat ( Trussel and Gout: Paranormal investigations 1)
By M.A. knights
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Young Clementine Trussel didn’t go looking for the supernatural. It found her.

When a small pig wearing a derby hat falls out of her Granny’s window, Clementine is inclined to believe she’s seeing things. Only someone else saw it too, the mysterious Theophilius Gout, and he claims to be an expert in the paranormal.

There is definitely something odd about the fat, tweed-clad man, and when her Granny falls deathly ill, Clementine is uneasy entrusting her recovery to a stranger. Even one as enigmatic as Mr Gout. Besides, he seems more interested in the cakes from her parents’ bakery than anything…otherworldly.

But with her grandmother's life, and Clementine's own future, hanging in the balance, she is forced to follow him into a world of magic and monsters hidden in the shadows of her quiet hometown.

Will they be in time to save her Granny? Is Mr Gout what he claims to be? And just what exactly is the pig in the derby hat?

This was a brilliant short read I loved it. A cosy paranormal story with fun characters, and so well written. Looking forward to reading more.
  
Seven Hundred Beachfront
Seven Hundred Beachfront
Ligia de Wit | 2025 | Contemporary, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
SEVEN HUNDRED BEACHFRONT is a story about a house, if the title didn't clue you in. This is not the usual genre I go for, but the blurb had me intrigued.

It is a cosy read that takes place over a couple of months during the summer, when Bec rents the house while she looks after her five-year-old brother, Bobby. Their summer stay becomes more interesting when the house starts making her opinions known, and both Bobby and Bev are able to understand her.

With a small town cast of supporting characters, there is a love interest in Jeff, the next door neighbour, plus some angst in the most un-mother I've ever had the displeasure of reading about.

Told from Bev's perspective throughout, this was a sweet read that I enjoyed. The intimate scenes are either very low spice or fade-to-black. If you want a story with a beach setting while you're sat at the beach, then I can definitely recommend this one.

** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
 
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
 
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 25, 2025
  
Gray Areas (Grey Areas #1)
Gray Areas (Grey Areas #1)
Brad Carl | 2015 | Crime, Romance, Thriller
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Henry Fields arrives in the small town of Gable, Iowa and takes a job in the small grocery store. A friendly but quiet man, he fits into small town life and starts to make friends among the local townsfolk.

But he is clearly hiding a secret in his past. Even a small town in middle America might not be a safe place to stay hidden.

From this simple premise, Carl weaves an interesting tale focusing on Fields and all the characters in interacts with. As the first in the series this doesn't have much direction until the last third, detailing small town life. But the characters are so well described I was happy to follow along just to see what happened. The warmth of living in a small community where everyone knows everyone else is almost palpable.

Once the cosy set up is established, Carl then turns up the pace with events outside of Fields' control forcing him to reveal more about himself than he intended. There are certainly twists and there is action too as things come to a head.

The only downside of Grey Areas is that once it has been finished the reader will immediately want to pick up the next in the series to see what happens next. But that's certainly a downside that's worth having.