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Debbiereadsbook (1407 KP) rated Fall to Pieces in Books
Dec 11, 2021
loved the back seat the romance takes!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
I liked this book, I liked it a lot!
Xavier is sent to assess Alexandra's mental capacity to do her job, following the suicide of her detective husband. But things are not as they seem and Xavier and Alex are soon fighting her department as well as a child killer hellbent on driving Alex mad.
This is a dark book. Suicide, child murder and abuse. How cops deal with stress. And I liked that. I liked that it made me think about those things. I have no triggers though, and some readers might not like it.
Both Alex and Xavier have a say, and they have a lot to say about a lot of things! Both of them are suffering from things that happened but while Alex' is (mostly) clear from the start, it takes time to get the whole picture. Xavier's pain is far deeper and we don't get the whole picture there til much later. I like being made to wait.
The romance between Alex and Xavier takes a back seat to the crime aspect of the book and I loved the twist that took. I did think Alex would push Xavier away more than once and, Lord she tries! But Xavier is strong and even though the reasons he comes into Alex' life are beyond his control, keeping her safe is within his control and he will do that.
I liked this, a lot. It's the first I've read of this author, I would like to read more.
4 stars
*same worded review ill appear elsewhere
I liked this book, I liked it a lot!
Xavier is sent to assess Alexandra's mental capacity to do her job, following the suicide of her detective husband. But things are not as they seem and Xavier and Alex are soon fighting her department as well as a child killer hellbent on driving Alex mad.
This is a dark book. Suicide, child murder and abuse. How cops deal with stress. And I liked that. I liked that it made me think about those things. I have no triggers though, and some readers might not like it.
Both Alex and Xavier have a say, and they have a lot to say about a lot of things! Both of them are suffering from things that happened but while Alex' is (mostly) clear from the start, it takes time to get the whole picture. Xavier's pain is far deeper and we don't get the whole picture there til much later. I like being made to wait.
The romance between Alex and Xavier takes a back seat to the crime aspect of the book and I loved the twist that took. I did think Alex would push Xavier away more than once and, Lord she tries! But Xavier is strong and even though the reasons he comes into Alex' life are beyond his control, keeping her safe is within his control and he will do that.
I liked this, a lot. It's the first I've read of this author, I would like to read more.
4 stars
*same worded review ill appear elsewhere
ClareR (5849 KP) rated Shrines of Gaiety in Books
Dec 5, 2022
What can I write to do this book justice, other than say “just read it?” I have to admit to not having read much Kate Atkinson before - only the first Jackson Brodie novel, which I loved - but I really feel I should read more of her books!
Shrines of Gaiety is set in the 1920’s, post First World War, and encompasses post war life with all of its excesses, poverty, grief and debauchery.
Nellie Coker is a self made woman who owns a series of nightclubs in London. She’s a single mother, and five of her six children help her to run her empire (the sixth is too young). How she came to own these clubs is a mystery. But the chances are that it wasn’t legal money!
Then there are the 14 year old runaways, Freda and Florence, who want to take to the stage to find fame and fortune.
Detective Chief Inspector Frobisher is determined to bring Nellie Coker and her corrupt empire down, as well as the corrupt police officers that support her. He also becomes involved in the search for the two runaways, thanks to Gwendoline Kelling, a librarian who has inherited a considerable amount of money. She’s a friend of one of the runaways sister, and vows to find her.
I won’t just regurgitate the story, that’s no fun, and you need to read this book for yourself! Needless to say, I loved these characters - the whole novel in fact! It’s a gripping, entertaining story, and it was a joy to read.
Very highly recommended.
Oh, and for the book cover fans, it’s a gorgeous one!
Shrines of Gaiety is set in the 1920’s, post First World War, and encompasses post war life with all of its excesses, poverty, grief and debauchery.
Nellie Coker is a self made woman who owns a series of nightclubs in London. She’s a single mother, and five of her six children help her to run her empire (the sixth is too young). How she came to own these clubs is a mystery. But the chances are that it wasn’t legal money!
Then there are the 14 year old runaways, Freda and Florence, who want to take to the stage to find fame and fortune.
Detective Chief Inspector Frobisher is determined to bring Nellie Coker and her corrupt empire down, as well as the corrupt police officers that support her. He also becomes involved in the search for the two runaways, thanks to Gwendoline Kelling, a librarian who has inherited a considerable amount of money. She’s a friend of one of the runaways sister, and vows to find her.
I won’t just regurgitate the story, that’s no fun, and you need to read this book for yourself! Needless to say, I loved these characters - the whole novel in fact! It’s a gripping, entertaining story, and it was a joy to read.
Very highly recommended.
Oh, and for the book cover fans, it’s a gorgeous one!
Aerobics Can Be Deadly
10.0
Rate It
Book
When this odd couple signs up to be extras in a fitness video, it's lights, camera... murder. Sho...
The Last Truehart
Book
1898, Geelong, Victoria. Stella Truehart is all alone in the world. Her good-for-nothing husband has...
David McK (3540 KP) rated Peace Talks (The Dresden Files, #16) in Books
Mar 23, 2022
It was, what something like 5 years? 6? Between the release of the last book in the series (Skin Game) and this.
Long enough for me to go back and re-read the entire thing from scratch, anyway.
I'd also seen several reviews (on Amazon, mainly) bemoaning the fact that this is more like half a book: first impressions, upon receiving it, where that they were right: this was roughly half the size of that previous novel.
Having said that, there was also an argument to be made that those later novels (from around Changes onward) had themselves become too bloated, unlike the earlier entries in the series when Harry was (mainly) a detective.
Now that I've finished reading this, I can see where some of those reviews were coming from: more than any other I can think of in the series, this definitely sets up the next (Battle Ground, cutting off just as it 'tees up' the conflict to come and how the supernatural community is going to react to it.
After having conspicuously being absent in the previous, this also see's the return of Thomas Raith (and his sister Lara), both of whom play a large role in the proceeding within this, as does Harry's mentor Ebenezer McCoy, with the concept of family coming to the fore.
Did I enjoy it?
Yes.
Do I feel slightly cheated by the fact that it sets up but doesn't resolve the conflict to come, meaning I would have to buy the next book?
Also yes.
(I was going to anyway, having made it - and mainly enjoying them - this far)
Long enough for me to go back and re-read the entire thing from scratch, anyway.
I'd also seen several reviews (on Amazon, mainly) bemoaning the fact that this is more like half a book: first impressions, upon receiving it, where that they were right: this was roughly half the size of that previous novel.
Having said that, there was also an argument to be made that those later novels (from around Changes onward) had themselves become too bloated, unlike the earlier entries in the series when Harry was (mainly) a detective.
Now that I've finished reading this, I can see where some of those reviews were coming from: more than any other I can think of in the series, this definitely sets up the next (Battle Ground, cutting off just as it 'tees up' the conflict to come and how the supernatural community is going to react to it.
After having conspicuously being absent in the previous, this also see's the return of Thomas Raith (and his sister Lara), both of whom play a large role in the proceeding within this, as does Harry's mentor Ebenezer McCoy, with the concept of family coming to the fore.
Did I enjoy it?
Yes.
Do I feel slightly cheated by the fact that it sets up but doesn't resolve the conflict to come, meaning I would have to buy the next book?
Also yes.
(I was going to anyway, having made it - and mainly enjoying them - this far)
Murder on the Steel Pier (A Tess Mancini Time Travel Mystery #1)
Book
Greetings from the Nifty Fifties… The morning after a blowout birthday celebration in Atlantic...
Historical Mystery Time Travel
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated The Legacy (Children's House, #1) in Books
Apr 27, 2018
The book began with a scene of 3 young children, parent-less, sitting on a bench, while a group of adults decided what would happen to them. Would the children be split up, or kept together? What were the pros and cons of each? The children were split up and sent to opposite sides of the country, and since they were young enough, they would never remember.
The story then completely changes pace and goes forward about 30 years to a crime being committed, and that's where the main characters, Freyja and Huldar show up. Freyja is a child trauma psychologist, and Huldar is a recently-promoted detective in charge of his first case.
The first few chapters I really struggled to follow the characters, as it switched 4 times between different perspectives, but then once I figured out who was who I started to follow better. I loved how quickly the characters were developed and built, but it didn't feel like building, it felt like a gradual discovery. I figured out "who's the bad guy" about 15 seconds before it was revealed, which is my favorite way to discover a crime thriller. Looking back, of course there were subtle hints, but there's no way I would have figured it out on my own.
I'm very happy with the ending. It was conclusive enough to feel satisfactory, but definitely open to more adventures in the future. I anxiously await the next two books in the series, and will keep my eyes out for the author. (And no, I have no clue how to pronounce her name.)
Content/Recommendation: 17+, violence, language. It goes without saying that a crime thriller is for adults only, but I'll stress that even having read many crime thrillers over the past 10 years, this one managed to shock me.
The story then completely changes pace and goes forward about 30 years to a crime being committed, and that's where the main characters, Freyja and Huldar show up. Freyja is a child trauma psychologist, and Huldar is a recently-promoted detective in charge of his first case.
The first few chapters I really struggled to follow the characters, as it switched 4 times between different perspectives, but then once I figured out who was who I started to follow better. I loved how quickly the characters were developed and built, but it didn't feel like building, it felt like a gradual discovery. I figured out "who's the bad guy" about 15 seconds before it was revealed, which is my favorite way to discover a crime thriller. Looking back, of course there were subtle hints, but there's no way I would have figured it out on my own.
I'm very happy with the ending. It was conclusive enough to feel satisfactory, but definitely open to more adventures in the future. I anxiously await the next two books in the series, and will keep my eyes out for the author. (And no, I have no clue how to pronounce her name.)
Content/Recommendation: 17+, violence, language. It goes without saying that a crime thriller is for adults only, but I'll stress that even having read many crime thrillers over the past 10 years, this one managed to shock me.
Merissa (12669 KP) rated Dark Horse (Aspen Falls #3) in Books
May 16, 2018
Dark Horse (Aspen Falls #3) by Melissa Pearl & Anna Cruise
Dark Horse is the third book in the Aspen Falls series, and I have been waiting for this story from book one. Nate is a driven detective, you could say hard core, and Sally is his long-suffering and seemingly ever-patient girlfriend. But the thing is, people will only be long-suffering and ever-patient for so long, and I couldn't wait to see how this would pan out.
I wasn't disappointed.
Nate is an arse, pure and simple. He doesn't get on with Sally's family (and yes, they may be just slightly judgemental and over-bearing). He doesn't see the reason they don't like him though - because he never puts Sally first. It will take losing Sally and realising just exactly what she means to him, before Nate has a snowball's chance in hell of changing his ways.
I loved how this story progressed. There wasn't much from previous characters in this one, apart from Blaine telling him a few uncomfortable home truths. I don't think it needed it though. There was enough story going on with the historical murder, and what was happening now between Nate, Sally, and Oscar.
There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, and I adored the character development both Nate and Sally went through as they came to their own realisations.
This is a great series that I am thoroughly enjoying. Can't wait for the next one.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
I wasn't disappointed.
Nate is an arse, pure and simple. He doesn't get on with Sally's family (and yes, they may be just slightly judgemental and over-bearing). He doesn't see the reason they don't like him though - because he never puts Sally first. It will take losing Sally and realising just exactly what she means to him, before Nate has a snowball's chance in hell of changing his ways.
I loved how this story progressed. There wasn't much from previous characters in this one, apart from Blaine telling him a few uncomfortable home truths. I don't think it needed it though. There was enough story going on with the historical murder, and what was happening now between Nate, Sally, and Oscar.
There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, and I adored the character development both Nate and Sally went through as they came to their own realisations.
This is a great series that I am thoroughly enjoying. Can't wait for the next one.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Rachel King (13 KP) rated Demon Hunts (Walker Papers, #5) in Books
Feb 11, 2019
This was my favorite book in the series without a doubt, because I finally get to see Joanne in love! While it is not with her boss, Morrison, whom it is obvious she has an attraction to, it is still a very satisfying romance. Her bubbly happiness is quite enjoyable to read, and it does not get on my nerves despite how sickly sweet Joanne is in the descriptions. At times, her love interest really does seem like the perfect man, and I am thrilled that she gets to have this in the midst of the chaos of her shamanic lifestyle.
I think what keeps bringing me back to this series is that Joanne's narration is both unique and comical. She is refreshingly honest about herself and her quirks and abilities and keeps a running commentary behind the scenes, even as she solves supernatural-size problems while balancing a social life and a job as a detective. Even though I still understand very little of the role of a shaman and all of Joanne's world-jumping, there is something very likable about Joanne Walker.
The other half of Joanne's romance is a man that was assumed to be dead. Aside from the romance, I love that he shows up in this book, as I get to see more of what he can and cannot do and what his personality is really like. Plus, the tension between him and Morrison is quite interesting, as it brings to the forefront the chemistry between Morrison and Joanne and makes her admit to a few things about herself.
The wendigo is the "big bad" for this book, but the final battle ends differently than what I assumed. In a way, the wendigo teaches Joanne that some flaws are acceptable and even useful. I look forward to the next book, Spirit Dances.
I think what keeps bringing me back to this series is that Joanne's narration is both unique and comical. She is refreshingly honest about herself and her quirks and abilities and keeps a running commentary behind the scenes, even as she solves supernatural-size problems while balancing a social life and a job as a detective. Even though I still understand very little of the role of a shaman and all of Joanne's world-jumping, there is something very likable about Joanne Walker.
The other half of Joanne's romance is a man that was assumed to be dead. Aside from the romance, I love that he shows up in this book, as I get to see more of what he can and cannot do and what his personality is really like. Plus, the tension between him and Morrison is quite interesting, as it brings to the forefront the chemistry between Morrison and Joanne and makes her admit to a few things about herself.
The wendigo is the "big bad" for this book, but the final battle ends differently than what I assumed. In a way, the wendigo teaches Joanne that some flaws are acceptable and even useful. I look forward to the next book, Spirit Dances.
Rachel King (13 KP) rated The Lightkeeper's Daughters in Books
Feb 11, 2019
This is the first book I received from Thomas Nelson for reviewing, and because of shipping problems, by the time I recieved it I had forgotten why I originally picked it. I started reading the book out of obligation, and at first, had a hard time actually enjoying what I was reading. It felt a bit like a school assignment for the first 80 pages, which is generally how far I will go in a book before I decide whether or not I want to finish it. Luckily, at that point the book actually started to get interesting as Addie became snoopy around the house and began unearthing clues about her mother. I am not much for the mystery genre, but I found the detective-like aspects of this novel much more entertaining than the chaste romance between Addie Sullivan and Lieutenant North, which led up to a climax that was so exciting I chose finishing the novel to sleeping when I was sick with a cold.
Regarding the more religious aspects of the novel, I thought that the depiction of Addie's faith in God to be somewhat watered down and simplified with possibly not enough attention given to its place in her life. Often I find ithis is the case with literature in the genre of Christian fiction. The single time that scripture from the Bible is quoted, it's merely a few lines out of Psalms, and each time that we see Addie praying, she only spends a few moments in prayer before something else requires her attention. This is not to say that all Christian fiction - categorized works do this, as I have read some truly excellent portrayals of faith in Jesus, but this book certainly did.
Overall, I would recommend the book more for its plot elements of mystery and intrigue, not for its religious aspects.
Regarding the more religious aspects of the novel, I thought that the depiction of Addie's faith in God to be somewhat watered down and simplified with possibly not enough attention given to its place in her life. Often I find ithis is the case with literature in the genre of Christian fiction. The single time that scripture from the Bible is quoted, it's merely a few lines out of Psalms, and each time that we see Addie praying, she only spends a few moments in prayer before something else requires her attention. This is not to say that all Christian fiction - categorized works do this, as I have read some truly excellent portrayals of faith in Jesus, but this book certainly did.
Overall, I would recommend the book more for its plot elements of mystery and intrigue, not for its religious aspects.