First Dates: The Art of Love
Book
'There's someone out there for all of us...' First Dates, Channel 4's runaway hit TV show, has...
Rosemary and the Witches of Pendle Hill
8.0
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My Mum is a witch. I know this to be a fact because: a) She has a broomstick by the front door. b)...
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Cat Who Caught a Killer in Books
Oct 30, 2022
This is definitely what is called a 'cosy mystery'; it is not offensive or violent. Emily's mother in law dies suddenly and unexpectedly and whilst her death is put down to natural causes, Emily, an ex Police Officer, is not convinced and so sets off to get to the truth along with a talking cat that has adopted her.
I thought I would struggle with the talking cat angle but whilst it was a little absurd at the beginning, it worked really well and, I think, it symbolised Emily's inner voice.
With great characters and a good story line, this is an easy to read mystery. There are twists and turns but, unfortunately, they weren't too much of a surprise so this let it down a little and although the pace was steady, there was a little bit too much description at times which slowed the story down somewhat.
Overall though, I would recommend to those who enjoy a simple, easy to read and inoffensive mystery and my thanks must go to PanMacmillan, Macmillan and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Cat Who Caught a Killer.
Merissa (11787 KP) rated The Quid Pro Quo (The Bradfield Trilogy #2) in Books
Jan 7, 2022 (Updated Jul 5, 2023)
It is set in 1920s England where magic comes alive in a not-so-fun way. Walt is the nurse to Sylvia's doctor, and the story starts with them being called to the village duck pond as a body has been found. The mystery unravels as the story progresses, giving you insight into a world 'other' than our own.
This is paced perfectly for a cosy mystery - with questions aplenty until it is all explained nicely and wrapped in a bow. I really want to read books one and three now (even though book three isn't even available yet) just to see where it takes me. The characters are wonderfully relatable and the world is both realistic and nostalgic in a rose-tinted glasses kind of way.
The story and characters held my attention from the beginning and kept me enthralled until the end. Thoroughly enjoyable and absolutely recommended by me.
** 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 7, 2022
Silvertown: An East End Family Memoir
Book
Melanie McGrath's critically acclaimed East End family memoir now in paperback. In this remarkable...
Furniture Hacks: And Other Creative Updates for a Unique and Stylish Home
Book
Nowadays, it is easy to find affordable furniture for your home from chain stores, but those pieces...
Kids in the Wild Garden
Book
Designed to get kids away from the TV and to get their hands dirty, Kids in the Wild Garden...
Christmas Cakes and Mistletoe Nights
9.0
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Join Fay and her friends this Christmas and indulge in this wonderful, cake-filled novel of romance...
The Feast Goes on
Book
"It's always about the food." A generous, warm-hearted book, The Feast Goes On features the...
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Thursday Murder Club in Books
Sep 10, 2020
The plot is multi-faceted with several murders both recent and historic but rather than this causing confusion, it all seems to flow smoothly and logically despite its complexity although you do have to keep your wits about you to keep up at times. The writing style is easy to read and flows well and although the main subject matter is murder, there are snippets of humour and more tender moments too.
The setting of a rather upscale retirement village is unique as are the main characters who are engaging, appealing and, at times, amusing. I really would like to get to know Elizabeth better - she is a very intriguing character and there are teasing morsels of her previous working life which are very interesting and I want to know more.
This book is what I would call a cosy-read that could be enjoyed by anyone and I would recommend it to those who enjoy a classic murder-mystery without the violence and graphic detail.
Thank you to Penguin General UK and NetGalley for my copy in return for an unbiased and unedited review.