
The East Indian
Book
Meet Tony: the first Indian to set foot on American soil. Among the settlers, slaves, and...
Historical fiction

The Secret Midwife
Book
London, 1995: When on the fiftieth anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz a news broadcast runs...
Emma, the main character, is not what I would call a particularly likeable one; mind you, not many of the characters in this book are if I'm honest but that doesn't really matter to me that much and, if anything, it makes it even more intriguing as you don't know where the story is going to go.
It does start off pretty slowly while the scene is being set but during this time, there is the slow drip, drip, drip of information and the creation of tension, suspense and misdirection that all comes together in the end.
This is a complex and original story which uses a touch of the "unknown"; it's dark, unnerving and unsettling and I would recommend to anyone who enjoys something a bit different in their psychological thrillers.
Many thanks to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
In Rob Rinder's debut novel, he has created a veritable smorgasbord of excellent characters, a totally engrossing story with twists and turns and all written at a good pace. I particularly liked the chapters given over to conversations and messages between Adam and his mother, who is determined to marry him off to a good Jewish girl, which adds humour to the story.
Although a work of fiction, it is clear that Mr Rinder has put a lot of his own experiences into the book which added a level of authenticity and realism without it being dry and boring and I, for one, hope there is more to come as I want to know how Adam develops as a barrister and to make sure he is eating enough and/or whether he finds a nice Jewish girl!!!!
Many thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Trial.

Savage Beasts
Book
Bengal is on the brink of war. The East India Company, led by the fearsome Sir Peter Chilcott, are...
Historical fiction Mythology Retellings India Colonialism

Song of the Huntress
Book
A must-read for fans of Circe, Song of the Huntress recasts the folklore behind the Wild Hunt into a...
British Myth Historical fiction

The Mars Migration
Book
"The ending of the novel had me at the edge of my seat the whole way through, a purely addictive...
science fiction

The Truth Effect
Book
In the year 2030, the UK faces an extraordinary time where truth itself becomes a weapon in the...

Debbiereadsbook (1475 KP) rated Whichever Way The Road Leads (The Eastman Saga #1) in Books
Aug 4, 2024
I should say, I'm UK based, so the 1812 war between Canada and the US is not really one I know anything about. Therefore, I cannot comment on the accuracy of the details in this book.
What I can comment on, though, is the story between Zee and Jesse and their struggle to cope during this war. I loved them both, together and apart. They are both strong people, emotionally, do deal with such a difficult time, and to come out the other side.
It's beautifully written, from both Zee and Jesse's POV. There are wonderful descriptions of the scenery in that part of the world. I really enjoyed trying to picture them.
It has some lighter moments, but some darker ones too. There was much that made me cry.
I haven't read anything by this author before, A quick look shows her books seem to be about couples in settings with a war backdrop. I'd like to read more from this author.
4 very good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere

Enlightenment
Book
Thomas and Grace are fellow worshippers at the Baptist chapel in the small Essex town of Aldleigh....