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The Thursday Murder Club
The Thursday Murder Club
Richard Osman | 2020 | Crime, Mystery
9
8.2 (13 Ratings)
Book Rating
Humour (2 more)
Plot
Kept me guessing
Slow to start with (0 more)
This was not what I expected at all. I’d heard all the hype around it and tried to keep an open mind to be able to honestly review it.
I loved it, it started off quite slow at first but as soon as I got to a part about 4 pensioners somehow making a detective feel uncomfortable with a cup of tea and some cake I knew that it could only go up from there. There are some really funny quotes that I couldn’t contain my snorts of laughter whilst reading, luckily reading it at home meant there weren’t too many funny looks.
Following the Thursday Murder Club around their investigations and them somehow getting to the same place as the police investigating at around the same time was entertaining. I am still none the wiser as to what Elizabeth actually did for a living, and I think that really adds to the fun of the book, not knowing who else she can ask for a “favour” in order to further her investigations. When one murder turned into two and then a third was added into the mix, I really was kept guessing throughout as to who the murderer or murderers were. Each time I was sure, something else was thrown into the works as to why it couldn’t be them. I really was kept guessing until the very end, which I love when it comes to murder mysteries! The humour in the book also made it live up to the hype, and after having had conversations with my Nan this week about Whatsapp, I was loving when they found out how to use Skype and having lessons on how to text people nicely and abbreviations in texts. I am very much looking forward to the second instalment of the series!
  
Secret Legacy (The Windhaven Witches #1)
Secret Legacy (The Windhaven Witches #1)
Carissa Andrews | 2020 | Mystery, Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Secret Legacy is the first book in The Windhaven Witches series and is full of quotes from Buffy, which I loved! Autumn thinks she is a 'normal' person and her mum encourages her to think that way. Her dad is supernatural but she doesn't have much to do with him. So imagine her surprise when she receives a full scholarship to a prestigious school that she never even applied for. She decides to go for it and then is swept away by forgotten memories, unknown abilities, and mysteries.

The one thing I wasn't too keen on is the Wade situation. Not only was it insta-love but there is seriously something off with that dude and Autumn never seems to notice! And please don't tell me about his silver eyes any more! I just can't cope!!

Apart from that, there was plenty here to keep me occupied and turning the pages. I would love to know more about the other main characters and the school Autumn is attending but, maybe, that is something that will follow in later books.

There are some usual tropes in this book - from normal girl with untold powers to slightly dodgy boyfriend - but it is entertaining. The world-building could do with some work as I have questions about how the supernatural fits into everything but, on the whole, it wasn't bad.

A great start to a new series and I can't wait to find out more. Definitely recommended by me.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
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Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Just One Look in Books

Dec 17, 2020  
Just One Look
Just One Look
Harlan Coben | 2004 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Thriller
7
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is the tenth book in my #atozchallenge! I'm challenging myself to read a book from my shelves that starts with each letter of the alphabet. Let's clear those shelves and delve into that backlist!

When Grace Lawson picks up a set of photos from the store, she finds a strange photo in the envelope. It shows a group of four people she doesn't know. But one, she does: her husband, long before she knew him. When she shows him that evening, he leaves their home mysteriously. Soon a crazy series of events kicks off, and while Grace doesn't realize it, there are people who would do anything--even kill--to keep that photo from seeing the light of day.

This was my first Harlan Coben read--I have a bunch of Coben books I've collected sitting on my shelves, so it seemed like a great choice for my challenge. This was the supreme page turner. I had no idea where this book was going most of the time! It's filled with twists and turns, and it kept me guessing! There are a few real "coincidences," but they didn't diminish my enjoyment of the story at all. This was one of those plain 'ol good mysteries. I hadn't realized it was set in the mid-1990s (the development of film should have been a dead giveaway, ha), but it stood the test of time. There are creepy bad guys who fight the good guys. Sometimes you just need a tale of good versus evil with lots of twists to take your mind off of things.

Overall, an enjoyable and puzzling read. 3.5 stars. I'll definitely need to read more of the Coben books on my shelves.
  
They Wish They Were Us
They Wish They Were Us
Jessica Goodman | 2020 | Young Adult (YA)
7
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
They Wish They Were Us is about Jill Newman and her senior year at Gold Coast Prep. Though everything looks perfect, it's far from it. Three years ago, Jill's best friend Shaila Arnold was murdered. Her boyfriend Graham confessed, the police arrested him, cased closed. Now, Jill is a senior member of the Players (a Gold Coast Prep exclusive, not-so-secret society) and she's ready to make a change. One night, she gets a text claiming Graham's innocence and her year begins to crumble. She needs to find out what really happened to her best friend, no matter the cost.

I enjoyed this book, but I think I enjoyed it most because of the character of Jill Newman. She's a badass, independent female character who knows what she wants. Her friends though, I absolutely hated them at the beginning - spoiled little rich kids who thinks the world owes them everything. But throughout the book, Jessica Goodman was able to drop hints here and there about why they are the way they are, and it made me hate them less. By the end of the book, I actually started rooting for them.

Towards the end of the book, I had a thought as to what the twist was, but still didn't know who the killer was, not until it was basically revealed. Goodman did an excellent job at keeping the suspense. The twist ended up being good - sometimes with murder mysteries, the killer/killing ends up being a bit out there, but this one added up.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and the mystery within. It kept me turning the pages to see what the end results were.

*Thank you Bookishfirst and Razorbill for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
  
The Fool’s Folly
The Fool’s Folly
Keith Moray | 2020 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Fool’s Folly is set in 1485 in Yorkshire, England, when King Richard III has been on the throne for two years. It must have been a very unsettling time to live in: not knowing whether your King has murdered his nephews, not knowing how much longer the King will actually keep the throne (Henry Tudor was a very real threat at this time), and not knowing what your fate will be if you chose the wrong side!

This story is set at Sandal Castle, the seat of John de la Pole, King Richard’s heir (and now it becomes clear why Henry VIII wanted to get rid of the de la Pole family!). De la Pole’s jester is murdered, and the newly appointed judge, Sir Giles Beaton, is asked to get to the bottom of the mystery. What starts out as a seemingly open and shut case, ends up being the start of a killing spree. Giles has to wonder if the deaths are connected, and whether this has something to do with a plot against the King and his heir.

It’s a bit gruesome at points - I liked this, I will admit. Medieval postmortems wouldn’t have been for the more sensitive observer (or reader!), I’m sure. I do have a bit of a thing for historical fiction, and a newly developed respect for crime and mysteries. I appreciate the attention to detail, and the research that must have occurred in writing this book, it feels very authentic.

I haven’t read the first book in this series, but it didn’t affect my reading enjoyment at all. In fact it has made me want to read the first in the series as well!

Many thanks to Sapere Books for sending me a copy of this book to read and review!