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ClareR (6167 KP) rated Wreck in Books

Feb 18, 2026  
Wreck
Wreck
Catherine Newman | 2026 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
We’re back with Rocky and her family - this time at home. It’s two years after their Cape Cod holiday, and things have changed. Rocky and Nick’s son, Jamie now lives in New York; Rocky’s widowed father has moved in; Willa, their daughter, has moved back home after finishing college.

Rocky has become obsessed with the death of a young man from Jamie’s school year - as if she hasn’t enough to deal with, with her own increasingly perplexing medical issues (and I thank the NHS that our system is nothing like Rocky’s experiences!).

I love Catherine Newmans’s witty, clever, heartfelt writing. One minute I’m laughing along, the next moment I’m empathising with her and reminiscing about her (my) children when they were small - and feeling as emotional as she does! Ahh, menopausal motherhood!

This book just seemed to finish far too quickly for me - I enjoyed everything about it.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my copy. All opinions are my own!
  
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ClareR (6167 KP) rated Confessions in Books

Sep 10, 2025  
Confessions
Confessions
Catherine Airey | 2025 | Fiction & Poetry
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Catherine Airey’s book Confessions didn’t end up on some prize lists this year. It’s so well written, engaging, unputdownable (I read it in a day - I was ill!), and it has a lot to say about loss, purpose, family, secrets and women’s experiences.

I love a multi-generational story, and this starts with Cora Brady, the Twin Towers disaster and how she wanders the streets of New York afterwards. Her estranged aunt comes to her rescue in a letter, offering Cora a home with her in Ireland.

Some parts of the book are about Cora’s mother, an artist, her aunt and her own daughter.

I was pretty much transfixed by this book; I was completely immersed in the lives of these women. Sometimes it was heartbreaking, and at other times there was a real hope for the future.

It’s a great read, and I’d highly recommend it.
  
Silent as the Grave
Silent as the Grave
Rhys Bowen, Clare Broyles | 2025 | Mystery
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Mayhem Behind the Scenes of Silent Pictures
When Molly visits her friends Ryan O’ Hara on the set of an early silent movie, her adopted daughter Bridie winds up getting discovered and cast in the lead. So Molly starts spending time on the set herself, where she sees some suspicious accidents. But when one hits very close to home, Molly starts investigating. Can she find proof of sabotage before someone dies?

I’ve always appreciated that this series has given us glimpses into many different worlds of 1900’s New York City. As a fan of movies, this setting was very fun. Having said that, the pacing was really off here, which was disappointing. The climax is satisfying, however. I enjoy spending time with the characters, although some growth would be nice. I did feel transported to the time period as I read. Fans of the series will appreciate time with the characters even if this isn’t the strongest book in the series.