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Jul 25

Cold Cold Bones By Kathy Reichs

Cold Cold Bones‘Cold Cold Bones’ is the latest book in the Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs.

In a profession like this, you’re bound to make enemies. It all starts when Dr Temperance Brennan finds a box on her porch. Inside is a fresh human eyeball with GPS coordinates etched into it. They lead her to a macabre discovery in a Benedictine Monastery, and soon after she discovers a mummified corpse in a state park. There seems to be no pattern to these killings, except that each mimics a killing connected to something a younger Tempe experienced, or barely escaped. Someone is targeting her, and she needs to figure out why before they strike again. And then her daughter Katy disappears.

This is the first book in the Temperance Brennan series that I’ve read and I really loved the witty and gruesome book.

When an eye appears on the doorstep of forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan, her life changes drastically when the bodies mount up and it looks like a copycat killer is killing people the same way as Terence’s previous cases.

Seen from Temperance’s narrative, I immediately sunk into this story from the gripping first line. Temperance is a great protagonist, she’s witty, smart and is always one step ahead of people. Her interactions with supporting characters make for interesting reading. Her relationship with her only child Katy is turbulent, an army soldier who’s finding it hard to adjust to civilian life and Erskine Slidell aka Skinny, a private detective who’s meant to have retired but can’t seem to give up the chase. Their engagements made for really entertaining reading as they batted off each other.

The story is a gruesome one and not for the faint hearted with police procedures as well as the horrific deaths that the innocent people have met.

Dark, gripping and packed with suspense, ‘Cold Cold Bones’ is an excellent thriller, fast paced and filled with suspicious characters that made for intense reading.

You can buy ‘Cold Cold Bones’ from Amazon and is available to buy from good bookshops.

Jul 22

Lies At Her Door By AA Abbott

Lies At Her Door‘Lies At Her Door’ is the latest book by AA Abbott.

Lucy Freeman struggles to find satisfaction in life. Trapped in the shadow of her rock star brother, the thirty-two-year-old craves more than her days at home caring for her terminally ill mother. But her routine takes a turn for the horrifying when a giant sinkhole collapses the earth outside their house and reveals a skeleton. Shocked to discover the bones belong to a former member of her sibling’s band, Lucy’s worst nightmare comes alive when police suspect her of the killing. And as she turns to her dying parent’s diaries in a desperate search for vindication, she’s entangled in a dark and complicated truth. Will unearthing long-buried wrongs prove lethal?

‘Lies At Her Door’ is an intriguing story with a fascinating protagonist that kept me on my toes with her mystery and innocence.

The story is primarily seen through the narrative of Lucy, a woman who lives with her parents and cares for her mother. One day, a sink hole appears at their house and a body is discovered. The detectives Neil Slater and Sheridan Duffy are investigating the case and Neil knows Lucy from a former life.

Lucy is a complex character, she’s lived in older brother’s shadow for years, a member of a successful boy band called Dr. Sweet. She has a naivety about her, a simple sweetness that makes you warm to her. There is also the perspective from Neil and this give the police procedural slant to the story, as himself and Sheridan played good cop/bad cop whilst interesting the residents of Jackson Crescent. An influential area that is shocked by the discovery of a dead body.

I really enjoyed this story, it’s really relatively short with quick chapters so could easily be consumed in one sitting. I think the main reason I really enjoyed the story, was the complexity of Lucy and how unpredictable of a character she was. ‘Lies At Her Door’ is a cleverly crafted story with underlying suspense and tension threaded throughout.

You can buy ‘Lies At Her Door’ from Amazon.

Jun 29

He Is Not Worthy By Lis McDermott

He Is Not Worthy‘He Is Not Worthy’ is the latest book by Lis McDermott.

Rhi Dobbs is head of the art department in a secondary school in Whittingbury, a small town on the south west coast of England. She has her dream job and lives in her own idyllic cottage by the sea with her cat Tibbs. Her life is more than she could ever hope for. Ben Brooks is a loner who cares for his mum, who always makes him feel worthless. He is obsessed with a red-headed girl who he met several years ago, just once, on what was the worst day of his life. He lives his life vicariously through hers, until she does the unspeakable. Tragic events and an inappropriate love affair mean that both of their lives will be changed forever.

This book was a relatively short and easy story that was easy to consume in one sitting.

Rhi is a teacher who develops feeling for her student and when Josh reciprocated those feelings, she finds herself in dangerous territory and out of a job. But unknown to Rhi, she made a difference to someone’s lives many years ago and they never got over. Reclusive Ben lives with his mother and dotes on Rhi from afar, but she’s unaware of him.

The story is seen from the perspective of Rhi and Ben and it makes for interesting reading as Rhi struggles with her feelings for Josh and the consequences of following her feelings. I had conflicted feelings towards Ben, on one hand I felt a sympathy towards him for the sheltered life that he led but I also found him extremely creepy and unsettling.

A thrilling story about forbidden love, lust and obsession, ‘He’s Not Worthy’ is a well crafted plot that made for engaging reading.

You can buy ‘He Is Not Worthy’ from Amazon and is available to buy from good bookshops.

Jun 27

Love And Missed By Susie Boyt

Love And Missed‘Love And Missed’ is the latest book by Susie Boyt.

When Ruth’s beloved, reckless daughter is too caught up in drugs to look after her baby, Ruth decides to make off with the child. This time she’ll get the love right.

If you like stories that are deep exploration into fragile female relationships, then ‘Love And Missed’ is the book for you.

The story is primarily seen through the narrative of Ruth, mother to Eleanor. Eleanor has addictions and disorders and is rarely around. She promises to spend more time with Ruth but is always letting her down and Ruth being the committed mother that she is, sees the best in her only daughter. And when Eleanor gives birth to a little girl, Ruth takes it upon herself to bring Lily up and to have a second chance at being a mother.

This story is turbulent one, that I occasionally got lost in as I unsure who’s narrative I was reading, but having said I did find myself embroiled in this story.

Ruth is dedicated mother, she’s committed and is determined to be the best mother that she can be, with Lily’s mother absent. Ruth is a bit naive and always sees the best in people and this can make for sad reading, particularly when she’s making excuses for Eleanor’s behaviour.

Her relationship with Lily is a tender one and it’s heartwarming to read their time together as she does her best to provide Lily with love and protect her from Eleanor.

A beautifully written story about the hardship of unrequited maternal love, ‘Love And Missed’ is a keen observation in the troubled relationship between mother and daughter that is emotional, all consuming with the determination of never giving up.

You can buy ‘Love And Missed’ from Amazon and is available to buy from good bookshops.

Jun 20

Retreat To The Spanish Sun By Jo Thomas

Retreat To The Spanish Sun‘Retreat To The Spanish Sun’ is the latest book by Jo Thomas.

Eliza has a full house! When her three children grew up and moved out, she downsized to a smaller property… but now they’re all back. Every room in the house is taken and Eliza finds herself sharing her bed with her eldest daughter and her daughter’s pug. Combined with the online course she’s trying to finish, plus her job to fit in, there just isn’t the peace and quiet that Eliza needs. So when an ad pops up on her laptop saying ‘house-sitters wanted’, Eliza can’t resist the chance to escape. She ends up moving to a rural finca in southern Spain, looking after the owner’s Iberico pigs, learning about secret gastronomic societies… and finding a new zest for life and love along the way.

Settle into the latest book Jo and you’re settling into a Spanish adventure packed with delicious food, friendly pigs and an escape from the mundane.

Tired with her grown up children under her feet and not being able to get a moments peace, Eliza takes herself to sunny Spain to housesit.

It’s whilst away that Eliza takes stock of her life and how little time she has to herself and makes her reevaluate herself and makes new friends as well as finding love.

I loved this story, it’s sunny, fun and packed with adventure. Eliza was a great character, she was kind with a huge heart who immediately settles into her new life in the small Spanish community and befriends fellow English people. She’s not afraid to speak her mind and it’s such warm reading as she makes friends with Josep as well as becoming friends with his pigs.

As per usual Jo has delivered another story, that sweeps you away in life, packed with delicious and mouthwatering food and a traditional Spanish town, ‘Retreat To The Spanish Sun’ is the perfect book to curl up with beside the pool!

You can pre-order ‘Retreat To The Spanish Sun’ from Amazon and will be available to buy from good bookshops from 23rd June 2022.

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