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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2603 KP) rated Murder Cuts the Mustard in Books

Nov 3, 2019

Murder Adds Spice to Life

Walmsley Parva is facing yet another murder. It’s now June of 1921, and the body of Hector Lomax has been found in the graveyard. Hector was not a well-liked or respected man in town, and that holds true for Simpkins, Edwina’s elderly gardener. Simpkins was Hector’s brother-in-law, and they shared a house, so naturally, he becomes a suspect in Hector’s death. However, that isn’t the only surprise the day has in store for Simpkins and, by extension, Edwina and Beryl. It quickly becomes clear the pair of friends need to get to the bottom of what is happening for their own sake as well as that of Simpkins. Can they do it?

I love this duo. Edwina and Beryl complement each other perfectly, and with the book’s excellent use of limited third person, we get to know both of them. The growth in them continues here as well. The rest of the cast is just as strong. I did feel the plot got a little sidetracked in the middle, but I was always entertained and the book ramps up again for a logical climax. Since the story is set in 1921, we get an interesting look at the changes that were going on in the larger society at the time. I had never given these changes much thought, but I enjoy seeing how the characters are reacting to them. If you haven’t started this series yet, you really should. If you are already a fan, you’ll love our third visit with Beryl and Edwina.

Kudos

ClareR (6253 KP) rated The Lost Ones in Books

Dec 3, 2019

The Lost Ones

Anita Frank | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry, Horror, Paranormal

8.0

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

The Lost Ones is a gothic horror set during the First World War. It's 1917and Stella Marcham has already experienced a traumatic war. She has lost her fiancé, and seen more than most women as a nurse on the front line. She is grief stricken and it's highly possible that she has PTSD. Her brother-in-law asks Stella to go and keep her pregnant sister company at his country home, as she is experiencing strange occurrences, and he feels that she needs some support. He doesn't believe Stella's sister when she says that she can hear a child crying: there are no children at Greyswick.

I loved this book! it made me jump, gasp out loud and burst out in nervous laughter. It's worth bearing in mind that I was on a long train journey as I was reading this, so there are probably a number of people between Skegness and Chester who either think I'm a little unhinged, or are dying to know what I was reading (I'm considering wearing some sort of badge on long train journeys, that says 'currently reading (insert book name here)'. I'm sure it'll explain to people my frankly erratic behaviour in cases like this.).

Anyway, this book deserves any hype it gets, and I strongly suggest that if you're a fan of historical fiction with a gothic bent, you go out, buy and read this immediately. And read it in public. I can't always be the one to show herself up like this.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ for my copy of this book.

Kudos

Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Reckless (Mia Kazmaroff Mystery #1) in Books

Feb 23, 2020

Mia Kazmaroff has a gift nobody wants. She's able to tell the story behind any object simply by touch. It’s a gift that comes in handy when her only brother, a detective with the Atlanta Major Crimes Division, is murdered. Determined to find his killer, Mia reaches out to the one person in Atlanta she believes can help her—Dave’s ex-partner, Jack Burton.

Unfortunately, Burton is also the prime suspect.

Together, Mia and Jack create a partnership that breaks all the rules, skirts every law, and lobs as many sparks and landmines at each other as if they were adversaries–which half the time they are—all while attempting to ignore their undeniable mutual attraction.

Can two people so different—one intuitive and inexperienced, the other cynical and by-the-book—work together to solve the murder?

And can they do it before the killer turns his attention to Mia?

Ok so this book was so frustrating. The characters were good,the storyline was good my issue was in the execution. It wasn't awful but in parts it was so rushed and forced I struggled. I feel Mia's character was so over pushy and a little annoying in places. It's a shame because it shows so much potential (I don't claim to be an expert this is just my opinion). What I did like we're the characters and apart from a few things it had huge potential for me.

Also the killer didn't have the shock value I think it was meant to have.