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Mindfulness For Students
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Life can be tough. With so many decisions to make at such a critical time, it’s easy to feel...
ClareR (6253 KP) rated Black Thorn in Books
May 22, 2024
I found Black Thorn on my kindle, downloaded last year from NetGalley and forgotten (I’m sorry). So in recompense and quite a lot of guilt, I bought the audiobook. I’m very glad I did. Imogen Church does a great job of reading this rather disturbing story from Agnes Gale’s point of view. She’s the adult daughter of one of the men responsible for the building and sale of the houses in an exclusive development on the Cornish cliffs.
Just weeks after moving in, six people, including children, are dead. All the remaining inhabitants are told to leave their homes as they’re deemed unsafe, and the whole development is cordoned off. Agnes is sure there’s more to it, so she decides to investigate.
There’s a really unnerving atmosphere to this story, probably made more so coming from Agnes’ point of view. She’s autistic, and even though she’s adamant that something isn’t right, she’s largely ignored because of her autism. The insights into Agnes’ personality and her inner thoughts were sensitively handled and realistic, I thought.
All of the characters were really well developed: Errol, Agnes’ friend; Christie her brother; and Trevor her fathers business partner, especially.
This was a thoroughly good listen, and I’m so glad that I (eventually) found it!
Just weeks after moving in, six people, including children, are dead. All the remaining inhabitants are told to leave their homes as they’re deemed unsafe, and the whole development is cordoned off. Agnes is sure there’s more to it, so she decides to investigate.
There’s a really unnerving atmosphere to this story, probably made more so coming from Agnes’ point of view. She’s autistic, and even though she’s adamant that something isn’t right, she’s largely ignored because of her autism. The insights into Agnes’ personality and her inner thoughts were sensitively handled and realistic, I thought.
All of the characters were really well developed: Errol, Agnes’ friend; Christie her brother; and Trevor her fathers business partner, especially.
This was a thoroughly good listen, and I’m so glad that I (eventually) found it!
Morgan Sheppard (1036 KP) created a post
Feb 17, 2026
ClareR (6253 KP) rated Love Forms in Books
Mar 8, 2026
Love Forms was an enjoyable read - I liked it. It looks at the complex feelings Dawn has in the search for her daughter that she gave cup at birth. She now has two adult sons who are aware of their older sister, but Dawn still feels as though something, or someone, is missing.
She seems to have given up many things in her life all for the benefit of others. Giving up her daughter was to stop the scandal for her family; she gave up her career for the benefit of her marriage (it didn’t work) and her children. Being a doctor at the time was incompatible with motherhood for her.
This is a very melancholic read: Dawn appears to be lonely now her children have grown up and moved away. Her time is taken up with thoughts of her past, missed opportunities, and the search for her daughter. She has had failed attempts to find her daughter, and it sounds as though there were financial repercussions as well. There’s no mention of friends, as far as I can remember, just one male friend with benefits.
Should this have been on the Booker long list 2025 and now on the Women’s Prize long list? Why not, it’s an enjoyable, if rather sombre read.
She seems to have given up many things in her life all for the benefit of others. Giving up her daughter was to stop the scandal for her family; she gave up her career for the benefit of her marriage (it didn’t work) and her children. Being a doctor at the time was incompatible with motherhood for her.
This is a very melancholic read: Dawn appears to be lonely now her children have grown up and moved away. Her time is taken up with thoughts of her past, missed opportunities, and the search for her daughter. She has had failed attempts to find her daughter, and it sounds as though there were financial repercussions as well. There’s no mention of friends, as far as I can remember, just one male friend with benefits.
Should this have been on the Booker long list 2025 and now on the Women’s Prize long list? Why not, it’s an enjoyable, if rather sombre read.
ClareR (6253 KP) rated My Good Bright Wolf in Books
Mar 30, 2025
I knew that My Good Bright Wolf was a memoir, it says it is in the title after all, but when I started reading it, I thought I’d downloaded the wrong book. I’m a lover of fairytales, and this memoir reads as such in places, especially as it’s written in the 3rd person. This also seems to create a distance between the author and their story.
At its heart is Moss’ battle with anorexia. After reading about her childhood and her parents, it would be unrealistic to think that both of these factors had nothing to do with her eating disorder. In fact, some of her most intrusive thoughts have her parents voices.
Throughout is Moss’ love of literature, and how the books she read - the girls and women that they portrayed - influenced her self-worth.
This is a story of how women are policed, constrained and ultimately how they are treated in illness. It’s also a story of never feeling that you’re good enough and a lack of control over everything - except the control over what you put in your body.
This really is a stunning, shocking, very emotional memoir, and it reinforces to me what an exceptional author Sarah Moss is.
At its heart is Moss’ battle with anorexia. After reading about her childhood and her parents, it would be unrealistic to think that both of these factors had nothing to do with her eating disorder. In fact, some of her most intrusive thoughts have her parents voices.
Throughout is Moss’ love of literature, and how the books she read - the girls and women that they portrayed - influenced her self-worth.
This is a story of how women are policed, constrained and ultimately how they are treated in illness. It’s also a story of never feeling that you’re good enough and a lack of control over everything - except the control over what you put in your body.
This really is a stunning, shocking, very emotional memoir, and it reinforces to me what an exceptional author Sarah Moss is.
ClareR (6253 KP) rated The Surf House in Books
Feb 22, 2026
The Surf House is an entertaining, fast moving, atmospheric thriller, and really doesn’t do many favours for the Moroccan tourist board. Bea is attacked in an alleyway after she decides to leave her modelling set in Marrakesh, and when a woman comes to her rescue, the unthinkable happens.
Bea is invited to The Surf House to hide out and gather her thoughts, and it seems idyllic. The descriptions of the sea, surfers and the beach almost made me want to learn how to surf somewhere hot (almost). But at the same time, it’s clear that there’s something else going on. Something rotten. When Bea finds out that a young woman went missing a year ago, she starts to notice more things that don’t seem right.
There are so many twists, turns and dead ends that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I did find myself wanting to shout at her to just leave - I was so frustrated! She is pretty naive. But this is so well written and evocative of the setting and Bea’s feelings when she feels trapped and scared (and she feels those things a lot!), that I can forgive her naivety!
Ideal for those who enjoy a good thriller!
Bea is invited to The Surf House to hide out and gather her thoughts, and it seems idyllic. The descriptions of the sea, surfers and the beach almost made me want to learn how to surf somewhere hot (almost). But at the same time, it’s clear that there’s something else going on. Something rotten. When Bea finds out that a young woman went missing a year ago, she starts to notice more things that don’t seem right.
There are so many twists, turns and dead ends that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I did find myself wanting to shout at her to just leave - I was so frustrated! She is pretty naive. But this is so well written and evocative of the setting and Bea’s feelings when she feels trapped and scared (and she feels those things a lot!), that I can forgive her naivety!
Ideal for those who enjoy a good thriller!
ClareR (6253 KP) rated Victorian Psycho in Books
Feb 28, 2026
Unhinged. That’s the first word that comes to mind when I think of Victorian Psycho. I mean she is. A psycho, that is.
Is it nature or nurture? Macabre, blood thirsty thoughts go through her mind, and to begin with I wasn’t sure if she was “thinking” or “doing”. Comedy horror, except dark, dark comedy, this book made me laugh as well as cringe. Victorian repression let loose with homicidal mania. To be perfectly honest, these people deserve it. Uptight snobs who treat servants terribly, and the servants let them because they need the job. Not the Nanny. She’s taking none of their nonsense.
The question running through my mind as I was reading wasn’t: “Will she murder someone horrifically?”. It was more: When and how will she murder someone, and who will she start with? It’s going to be horrific!” And it’s not who you’d think.
A dark, dark read with a touch of Dickensian social commentary. The Nanny is an antihero who I ended up backing, of course. Please don’t judge me - I don’t condone murder of the rich though! 🫢
Great writing and well worth a read. Just close your eyes during the most blood-thirsty parts *nods sagely*.
Is it nature or nurture? Macabre, blood thirsty thoughts go through her mind, and to begin with I wasn’t sure if she was “thinking” or “doing”. Comedy horror, except dark, dark comedy, this book made me laugh as well as cringe. Victorian repression let loose with homicidal mania. To be perfectly honest, these people deserve it. Uptight snobs who treat servants terribly, and the servants let them because they need the job. Not the Nanny. She’s taking none of their nonsense.
The question running through my mind as I was reading wasn’t: “Will she murder someone horrifically?”. It was more: When and how will she murder someone, and who will she start with? It’s going to be horrific!” And it’s not who you’d think.
A dark, dark read with a touch of Dickensian social commentary. The Nanny is an antihero who I ended up backing, of course. Please don’t judge me - I don’t condone murder of the rich though! 🫢
Great writing and well worth a read. Just close your eyes during the most blood-thirsty parts *nods sagely*.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Girl in the Pink Shoes (Lucy Kendall #1) in Books
Feb 12, 2023
This is the first book in the Lucy Kendall series and the first by Stacy Green I have either read or listened to and it certainly won't be the last.
Lucy has her demons from her childhood as well as the ones she carries from her previous work in Child Protection Services and now she is a private investigator but with a secret - exacting her own punishment against those who have managed to escape justice for the heinous crimes they have perpetrated against children so when 8 year old Kailey goes missing on her way home from school, Lucy doesn't waste any time getting involved but what she discovers is shocking.
With excellent, strong characters, an upsetting but plausible story line with some great unexpected twists, The Girl in the Pink Shoes is a great start to a series. I grew to like Lucy and her band of helpers and I look forward to seeing where things go for her in future books.
The narration was understated and perfect - Amelia Sciandra did a great job and kept my interest and the story moving along nicely and my thanks to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of The Girl in the Pink Shoes.
Lucy has her demons from her childhood as well as the ones she carries from her previous work in Child Protection Services and now she is a private investigator but with a secret - exacting her own punishment against those who have managed to escape justice for the heinous crimes they have perpetrated against children so when 8 year old Kailey goes missing on her way home from school, Lucy doesn't waste any time getting involved but what she discovers is shocking.
With excellent, strong characters, an upsetting but plausible story line with some great unexpected twists, The Girl in the Pink Shoes is a great start to a series. I grew to like Lucy and her band of helpers and I look forward to seeing where things go for her in future books.
The narration was understated and perfect - Amelia Sciandra did a great job and kept my interest and the story moving along nicely and my thanks to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of The Girl in the Pink Shoes.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated Blood Runs Cold (DS Max Craigie #4) in Books
Apr 3, 2023
Wow ... just wow!!!
Once again, Mr Lancaster has written an absolute cracker in this brilliant series and whilst this is the fourth, it is quite successful as a standalone however, I would highly recommend you go back and read the other three because it will help with getting to know the main characters but also because they are just really good books!
DS Max Craigie and his team are strong characters that work well as a small but formidable team rooting out corruption within Police Scotland; Mr Lancaster has written them so well that I have found myself becoming really attached to them. Their relationship and dialogue feels authentic and I found myself tittering away to myself at times which helped to lighten what is, essentially, a very dark story.
This is a dark, gritty and fast paced police procedural that I was totally and completely absorbed by from the very start. The plot is scarily plausible and realistic with some excellent twists and turns which adds to the intensity.
Highly recommended and I urge everyone to read this excellent series; I can't wait for the next instalment and I must thank HQ, an imprint of HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of the brilliant Blood Runs Cold.
Once again, Mr Lancaster has written an absolute cracker in this brilliant series and whilst this is the fourth, it is quite successful as a standalone however, I would highly recommend you go back and read the other three because it will help with getting to know the main characters but also because they are just really good books!
DS Max Craigie and his team are strong characters that work well as a small but formidable team rooting out corruption within Police Scotland; Mr Lancaster has written them so well that I have found myself becoming really attached to them. Their relationship and dialogue feels authentic and I found myself tittering away to myself at times which helped to lighten what is, essentially, a very dark story.
This is a dark, gritty and fast paced police procedural that I was totally and completely absorbed by from the very start. The plot is scarily plausible and realistic with some excellent twists and turns which adds to the intensity.
Highly recommended and I urge everyone to read this excellent series; I can't wait for the next instalment and I must thank HQ, an imprint of HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of the brilliant Blood Runs Cold.
Anne (15130 KP) rated Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murder and the Birth of the FBI in Books
Mar 4, 2022
This book is an interesting look at the Osage murders. This is a version that's adapted for young readers and is more readable and easy to understand and follow. I read both the original book and this version and I prefer this version. This version was more interesting to me and I felt more connected to the story.
The story and look at the Osage people, the murders, and all the history is very intriguing to learn about and know. This tells the story of the true-life murders of the Osage people. This talks about how because of the wealth of the Osage a lot of people wished to control them all due to greed. It's an important part of history that's not discussed or shared about much so it was good to learn about this and it's a great addition to history books.
Reading about this was devastating and it appalled me to learn of the greed and evil people and the horrible treatment of the Osage. This is an enlightening and essential read.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Random House Children's, Crown Books for Young Readers for letting me read and review this informative and good book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
The story and look at the Osage people, the murders, and all the history is very intriguing to learn about and know. This tells the story of the true-life murders of the Osage people. This talks about how because of the wealth of the Osage a lot of people wished to control them all due to greed. It's an important part of history that's not discussed or shared about much so it was good to learn about this and it's a great addition to history books.
Reading about this was devastating and it appalled me to learn of the greed and evil people and the horrible treatment of the Osage. This is an enlightening and essential read.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Random House Children's, Crown Books for Young Readers for letting me read and review this informative and good book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.