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ClareR (6256 KP) rated The Persians in Books

Feb 3, 2025  
The Persians
The Persians
Sanam Mahloudji | 2025 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
On the face of it, The Persians is filled with vacuous, materialistic women, but as I read further, these women had been either torn from their homes in order to escape the new religious government in Iran, or were having to live there, having remained. Trauma has a large part to play in the make up of these women.

Both the women in Iran and those in the US are non-conformists, rule breakers - and some more than others. There’s the obvious Shirin, who’s arrested on prostitution charges at the beginning of the book, and Bita, who decides to break away from her family history and wealth, and make her own way. Then there’s the matriarch, Elizabeth, who remains in Iran and uses her age and family name to get away with not following the rules of Islamic law (to some degree), and her granddaughter Niaz, who is arrested and put in a Tehran jail.

A lot of secrets are revealed (there are some big secrets to be revealed!), and when mothers and daughters are honest and truthful with one another, relationships can be repaired. But will they?

A very enjoyable, somewhat escapist read - I mean, the wealth of these people is startling!
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2623 KP) rated Death Comes to Marlow in Books

Jul 30, 2025 (Updated Jul 30, 2025)  
Death Comes to Marlow
Death Comes to Marlow
Robert Thorogood | 2023 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Locked Room Murder on the Eve of a Wedding
It’s been six month since our first visit to Marlow, and Judith is enjoying the hyphenation that comes in January. But when she gets invited to a pre-wedding celebration from Sir Peter, she decides to attend. She invites Suzy as her plus one, and Becks is there since her husband, the vicar, is performing the wedding. However, part way through the party, there’s a loud crash from inside the house. Judith is among those who rush in to discover Sir Peter’s body inside his locked study, crushed to death. All the evidence makes it look like it was a tragic accident, but Judith thinks there is something suspicious about it. Can she figure out what really happened?

This is a great locked room mystery. I thought I had things figured out, but I was wrong on the who and the how. Yet all the clues were there. I also enjoyed seeing the characters again and watching them and their relationships grow. The suspects were strong as well. The humor wasn’t as strong as the first book, although there were still some grins and laughs to be had. I’m glad I already have book three in this fun series.
  
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Merissa (14132 KP) rated His Forbidden Professor (Forbidden Mafia #2) in Books

Dec 26, 2025  
His Forbidden Professor (Forbidden Mafia #2)
His Forbidden Professor (Forbidden Mafia #2)
Silvia Violet | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
HIS FORBIDDEN PROFESSOR is the second book in the Forbidden Mafia series, and this story runs concurrently with His Forbidden Obsession.

I enjoyed the first book, although I did wish I had read the other series too, so I was looking forward to this one. While I still enjoyed it, I didn't enjoy it as much as the first for a couple of reasons.

Alex and Dante don't actually seem to have much of a relationship. Now, don't get me wrong, the spicy scenes are hot, but the emotional connection came in fits and starts. It was either all there or nothing. For me, there wasn't much build-up between the two of them. There were other relationships that either weren't explored (Alex and his father) or seemed almost superfluous to the story. The part near the end with Mitch felt quite disjointed.

Overall, it was a good book, and I'm glad I've read it, but I wouldn't rave about it. I'm looking forward to Rafe's story.

** 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!
Dec 26, 2025