Anyone: A Novel
6.0
Rate It
Book
Charles Soule brings his signature knowledge—and wariness--of technology to his sophomore novel...
Courage to Stand: Mastering Trial Strategies and Techniques in the Courtroom
Book
#1 National Bestseller on Amazon in SEVEN categories, including Liability Insurance, Law Office...
court law nonfiction non fiction non-fiction courtroom
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2579 KP) rated The Bootlegger’s Daughter in Books
May 2, 2024
Obviously, these two women are destined to meet. The story along the way is enjoyable, and the further I got into the book, the more I wanted to keep reading. There are some surprises on the way to a suspenseful climax. I did feel like a few aspects of the plot were rushed, but that’s a minor complaint overall. We get the story from three different character’s points of view, Letty in first person and the other two in third person. These changes happen at chapter breaks and are all clearly labeled. The book is written in present tense, and once my brain got used to it, it didn’t matter. Many of the supporting characters don’t get much page time to be fully developed, but they feel real in the time they have. Letty and Annabel, however, are wonderful characters, and I enjoyed watching them deal with what life has given them. If you are looking for a historic crime story, you’ll be glad you picked this one up.
Covered in Flour: 1968: A Young Boy's Perspective on School, Family, and Changing Times
Book
It's 1968 in Whisper Haven, and 8-year-old Carl Pozzi's world is about to change. For...
Biographical Historical Fiction
Appointment in Paris
9.0
Rate It
Book
Following an acclaimed debut outing, Harry Fox, an MI5 Watcher, now suspended, and his associate...
Spies WW2
ClareR (6241 KP) rated The Silence Factory in Books
Jul 16, 2024
A factory in Telverton seems to have acquired a particular breed of spider whose web, when spun into a silken fabric, can bring silence to the person/ people sitting inside. However, if the fabric is the other way round, it produces sounds that can make people go mad (they don’t make too much of that fact). So, no the best factory to work in, then!
I enjoyed the two timelines: the discovery of the spiders in 1820, told through the journals of Sophia Ashmore-Percy; and the manufacture of the silk in a factory town decades later along with an audiologist who goes to work for Sir Edward Ashmore-Percy. He has the task of helping Sir Ashmore-Percy’s deaf daughter to hear.
I love how Bridget Collins mixes historical fiction and fantasy, and makes it all seem perfectly reasonable. There’s a lot to be said in this story about taking advantage of people for profit (in the factory in particular) and how nature can be used for man’s own ends, regardless of the consequences. Humans aren’t painted in the best of light, and I actually felt sorry for the spiders 🕷️🕷️🕷️
Still don’t like spiders though.
ClareR (6241 KP) rated Captive Queen: The Decrypted History of Mary Queen of Scots in Books
Jun 14, 2025
Captive Queen explains a lot of Mary’s life and also tells of how she got to the point of her imprisonment. So much information was gleaned from the encrypted letters that she sent to, and received from, her supporters. When they were decrypted, after their discovery in a French archive, they answered a lot of questions.
Jade Scott uses this information to paint a really interesting picture of Mary’s captivity, and just how involved she was in the various plots to release her and put her on the English throne. I mean, who can blame her?! She was imprisoned in some awful places - regardless of the fact that she was in castles or stately homes.
I rather enjoyed the little fictional chapter headers. They made it feel more personal, and ideal for people like me who don’t always enjoy dry, academic historical writing. This is absolutely not that - I whizzed through this book, thoroughly enjoying it.
So, if you enjoy history and want to find out more about Mary, Queen of Scots, you may well enjoy this too.
The Gray Prophecy (The Elemental Realm Duology #1)
8.0
Rate It
Book
“When you kill a Celestial Witch, their prophecies die with them.” Before Cori came of age,...
Urban Fantasy Romance
Wined and Died in New Orleans
10.0
Rate It
Book
The second in a fantastic new cozy mystery series with a vintage flair from USA Today bestselling...