Review: Murder-on-Sea

Murder-on-Sea by Julie Wassmer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Christmas is coming in Whitstable and Pearl Nolan is eagerly awaiting her son Charlie's return from Germany for the holidays. Meanwhile, someone is sending poison pen Christmas cards to some of the locals with some harsh (if true) comments. However, things escalate when earl's accountant Diana collapses at a charity church fundraiser right in front of Pearl and DCI Mike McGuire. After she is rushed to hospital and later dies, it turns out that Diana was poisoned with antifreeze in her glass of Jenever - a tipple which she had brought to the church for her own personal use.

Suspects and motives abound. Diana was at odds with her new neighbours, a young couple who have built a treehouse which completely overlooks her house. She was heard having a heated argument/discussion with the local GP, and it was common knowledge that she subsidised her son and his family's extravagant lifestyle. Not forgetting of course that as the local accountant Diana knew everyone's financial business and may well have been privy to financial woes or even wrongdoing.

Since Mike was a witness he can't investigate the murder officially, but unofficially if he can help Pearl solve the case and get one over on the detective in charge of the case he'd be very pleased.

This was okay. I felt like there were a lot of red herrings thrown in simply to confuse matters, lots of strangers, lots of secret meetings, lots of secrets. Again, while the murderer's identity was plausibly explained I feel that could have been true about any of the other suspects. Also, and probably more damning, this morning (having only finished it at 11pm the night before) I wasn't entirely sure if the murderer was also the poison pen Christmas card writer - which again is because as a reader I didn't get that 'AHA' moment when all the random clues suddenly dropped into place and there could only be one suspect. Maybe that is more realistic but it didn't give me the moment of satisfaction I want from a mystery when it's solved.

View all my reviews

Review: The Whitstable Pearl Mystery

The Whitstable Pearl Mystery by Julie Wassmer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars.

Pearl Nolan owns a restaurant/bar in Whitstable. A single mother, she had to give up her burgeoning career in the Police when she became pregnant, but now her son is at University she has set up a detective agency on the side. Her first customer is a rather unsavoury man who claims to have invested money with a local oyster catcher called Vinnie Rowe but has yet to see any return on his money. Pearl knows Vinnie, so without actually accepting the job she goes to see him and find out what is happening. At first she can't find him anywhere on his boat but while pulling up the anchor to bring his boat into shore she discovers his dead body weighed down by the anchor.

The police, in the form of DFL (down from London) DCI Mike McGuire seem convinced that Vinnie's death was an accident, or possibly suicide, but Pearl is convinced it was murder, there's no way a seasoned sailor like Vinnie would accidentally get his foot caught up in the anchor rope and then fall overboard.

As Whitstable gets caught up in the annual Oyster Festival Pearl and Mike lock horns as she tries to uncover who killed Vinnie, and why. An investigation which will lead her far closer to home than she could ever imagine.

I bought this when it was on special offer at 99p because I enjoy the gentle (dare I say cosy) tv series based on the books. Other than completely changing the physical appearance of both Pearl and Mike beyond all recognition, from what I remember the tv series stays pretty close to the book. Also, I live not far from Whitstable and have been known to drive DFL for lunch in Seasalter.



View all my reviews

Review: A Murder in Eight Cocktails

A Murder in Eight Cocktails by Kelly Mullen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Willa and Marty are retired, she was an interior designer and he was something horticultural, their only son has flown the nest and Willa is feeling a little lost. Marty has enthusiastically embraced bird watching as a hobby and Willa has started a podcast.

The couple are invited to the opening of an exclusive cocktail bar where guests are served a series of special cocktails at precisely timed intervals. But no-one expects their host to plunge to his death from the rooftop during the evening, or for him to send what appears to be a suicide text to several of the other guests.

Willa is convinced their host was murdered, and when the police decline to get involved she and her ex-husband Paul, who was the host's business partner, decide to take matters into their own hands.

I struggled to get into this book, despite liking Kelly Mullen's previous book This Is Not A Game, and was about to DNF it when it suddenly got more interesting as Willa and Paul and (reluctantly) Paul start matching the timeline to when they received each cocktail, I could see that this would be like one of those Logic Problems where you have to match (say) the first name, second name, house colour and car type based on a series of clues. Unfortunately, after that spark it fizzled out again. I think for my taste there were too many suspects, too many motives, and therefore when the murderer was revealed it didn't really feel that they were the only suspect that could possibly fit all the clues.

Probably more importantly, I didn't really like Willa, Marty, or Paul and I found it difficult to keep the suspects separate in my mind. Pleasant enough but not one I would read again.

Contains the history and recipes for several cocktails.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

View all my reviews

Review: You & Me and You & Me and You & Me

You & Me and You & Me and You & Me by Josie Lloyd
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars.

Jules and Adam have been married for nearly twenty-five years and have two teenage children. Their lives haven't been easy, Adam's parents died in a car accident, and his dad was in a lot of debt when he died. Their son Liam was badly injured in a tragic accident and Adam passed up the opportunity to go into partnership with his best friend, a decision that cost him millions. Jules has run up thousands in credit card debt after her pop-up catering business folded during COVID, something she is scared to confess to Adam.

After yet another coulda, shoulda, woulda argument between them Adam retreats to his shed, which is jam-packed full of stuff he's never thrown away, and digs out an old mix tape he made for Jules when they first started dating and puts it into an old cassette player. Suddenly he is transported back in time to the moment he gave Jules the tape.

Adam shares his finding with Jules who is initially sceptical, Adam has always been a bit of a geek and a fan of sci-fi and time travel. But she humours him and also finds herself transported back in time. However, Jules takes the opportunity to make one small change, telling past Adam that she prefers smooth-shaven men (because present day Adam has a straggly grubby old man beard) and lo and behold when she returns to the present Adam no longer has a beard.

The mix tapes, something they used to record for each other all the time, bring the two of them together, but soon the little change they make, inadvertently or deliberately, start to mount up, but just like that chilling film The Butterfly Effect, every change they seemingly make for the better has unintended consequences.

I started this a long time ago and lost interest, but picked it up again a few days ago and raced through it. Proof, if needed, that its often the reader not the book at fault when things don't gel. Anyway, I love a time-travel story and how changes have consequences. Loved this.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

View all my reviews

Review: It’s Not What You Think

It’s Not What You Think by Clare Mackintosh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nadeeka is convinced her boyfriend Jamie is cheating on her, she heard a woman's voice in the background when she called him, he said it was the HR manager at work but she could hear a train go past in the background - their house is near the railway line whereas his office is not. Clearly there is a woman in her house. Full of righteous fury, she won't be cheated on again, she storms home (getting stopped by the police for speeding on the way) only to discover the house is a crime scene and Jamie is dead ...

But that is only the start of the weirdness, Nadeeka's view of Jamie is about to be challenged and everything she thought she knew turns out to be wrong.

I have read Clare Mackintosh's DC Morgan series and really enjoyed it, so I took a chance on this based on the blurb. Then forgot about it. Then picked it up and for some unknown reason thought it was by Gillian McAllister (even though I thought it was weird to have two ARCs by the same author available at the same time). Anyway, picked it up on Sunday, started reading and finished on Monday evening. Loved it, thought there was a slight similarity to McAllister's Famous Last Words but still very enjoyable and full of suspense, keeps you guessing right to the end.

Loved it. So if any of you are Gillian McAllister fans I think you'll love this too.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

View all my reviews

Review: The Dark Heart

The Dark Heart by Neil Lancaster
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A drug dealer converted to a right-wing cause. A Jewish author and idealist murdered in a car bomb with all the hallmarks of a Islamic fundamentalist group. A tip-off that one of the dealer's contacts may have been sharing details of his political affiliations. A faceless contract killer known only as The Cashier. Soon three more people are dead, including one of Barney's contacts.

Can DS Max Craigie and his team establish the links between these seemingly unconnected deaths before the next victim is executed?

Yet another dark and gritty, fast-paced police procedural that kept me on the edge of my seat. Loved it.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

View all my reviews

Review: This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me

This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

All the feels. I am chalant.

This is epic in all senses of the word. 481 pages of fights and magic and politics and machinations and clothes and more handsome men than you would ever see in real life.

Maggie is a very normal girl from Texas who wakes up one day naked in a ditch - in the middle of a city she recognises very well - its the setting for her all-time favourite unfinished dark fantasy novel series (its her favourite finished or unfinished - this just happens to be unfinished), the kingdom of Kair Toren. She has read the two books in the series multiple times over the years, she can recite parts of it verbatim, and this may be the only thing that can save her in this dangerous kingdom. Oh, and the fact that apparently she can't die, well she can, but then she comes back to life!

At first Maggie tries not to do anything to disturb the timeline, but when she starts to make friends with characters who she knows will die (often horribly), she starts interfering, just a little, then a little bit more. But the timeline is fighting back and Maggie is going to have to do something monumental to prevent Kair Toren descending into a cataclysmic war.

I loved this, and it reminded me of Stephen Donaldson's Mordant's Need series which I read and reread many, many times. It's got magic and plots and violence and its just wonderful. If you read my reviews you know I rarely give five stars, not even four and a half (162 in total out of 5,610 books) so when I say its a five star book you better believe I loved it. When I read that Ilona Andrews were working on Maggie 2 I was gutted because I want Hugh 2 - but now I would be ecstatic to get either.

The Book Devouring Horde will be in seventh heaven.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

View all my reviews

Review: Conflict of Interest

Conflict of Interest by C.G. Macington
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Preston York is the brilliant second York son, always viewed as the dilletante, the clothes horse etc while all the dynasty's expectations fall on his older brother. When goaded by his father and brother that he wouldn't last five minutes in the ER he takes that bet - although being Preston he has his scrubs tailored and still wears ridiculously expensive shoes (Gucci loafers).

Dr Lucas Silva is from the other end of the spectrum financially speaking, but through hard work he has worked his way up to Chief Resident at St Jude's hospital, he's not going to let the Chairman's entitled son swan his way around the hospital pretending to be a doctor - he's going to give Preston every scut job he can. In the meantime Preston is determined to prove everyone wrong.

This is a lovely opposites attract, finding your calling romance. My only gripe would be it was a teensy bit too similar to the first book.

Read on my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

View all my reviews

Review: In Her Own League

In Her Own League by Liz Tomforde
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Reese Remington is now the first female owner of a major league baseball team, having been passed the ownership by her grandfather. There was a delay in her taking over (due to her sleazy ex) and her grandfather made some expensive decisions in the meantime which means that Reese has to make a lot of budget cuts to try and claw the team back into the black. First on her hit list is the team's manager Emmett Montgomery, his current salary might be ludicrously small, but as one of the most successful managers in the league with his contract due for renewal that is about to change. Also, her grandfather pandered to him to a ridiculous extent, refurbishing the team plane to accommodate his daughter when she was nannying for their star pitcher etc.

Emmett thinks his new boss is sexy AF, but she seems to hate him and constantly brings up the fact that SHE will be negotiating his new contract. He is finally happy, doing a job he loves with his daughter settled, and the two players he considers to be pseudo-sons in close proximity. The last thing he wants to do is move elsewhere.

This is a fantastic enemies to lovers, forbidden romance with lots of politics with the advisory board not wanting a woman running the team etc. My only issue was that it felt very similar to Irresistible You by Kate Meader, just substitute hockey for baseball and veteran player for manager. Nevertheless, a very enjoyable romance with a wonderful MMC who 100% supports the FMC once they get on the same page. A single Dad, father-figure and all-round nice guy, no wonder readers wanted him to have his own book.

Read on my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

View all my reviews

Review: Abby Offsides

Abby Offsides by Anna McCallie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When Abby's fiancée cheats on her, then leaves her for the other woman shortly before their wedding she knows she has to leave Boston and her job at the Red Sox, on a whim she moves to Liverpool to be with her BFF Amina and applies for a marketing job with Mersey FC, the joke is she knows absolutely nothing about football (or soccer as she calls it).

On the day of her interview Abby has a jokey encounter with a stranger who later turns out to be Lachlan Ramsay, Mersey's latest signing, a world-famous footballer from Scotland. There is an instant vibe, even a connection, but Abby has been told in no uncertain terms that the job is not a stepping stone to becoming a WAG. Moreover, Lachlan is married, and Abby has just come out of a six-year relationship.

But it's difficult when you find someone who gets your sense of humour, whose face lights up when you enter a room, whose eyes catch yours wherever you go, and soon Abby starts thinking what if?

This was a book of two halves for me (football pun intended). I really liked the start, I liked the banter between Lachlan and Abby and I liked the way in which they tried very hard to keep it professional. However, about halfway through it deteriorated for me, things became repetitive, neither Abby nor Lachlan had the guts to say anything meaningful, and they may not have crossed the line but it certainly looked and felt that way. The book picked up again towards the end but by that point I thought they were both quite immature people.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

View all my reviews

Review: Watch Them Fall: A must-read Scottish police procedural from one of tartan noir's greatest

Watch Them Fall: A must-read Scottish police procedural from one of tartan noir's greatest by Marion Todd
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

DI Clare Mackay is fighting fires on several fronts. First, her partner Al has taken on a new job which keeps him away from home several days a week. She was offered his old job but wanted to stay true to her roots, which unfortunately means she needs to deal with Superintendent Meakin's disappointment. Second, there is planned protest march on Saturday through St Andrews against an application to build 50 luxury homes in the area. Third, a body has just been fished out of the river, it could just be a tragic accident, someone falling in whilst under the influence, but it could also be murder. And then, the cherry on the cake, Clare gets asked to divert her time to placating a wealthy couple (the ones planning to build the luxury homes) about a house break-in, where nothing was taken. Apparently the Superintendent believes that the couple, Rex and Erika Freeman, may have been targeted by the protestors.

It seems as though the cases might all be connected, but can Clare solve the crimes in time?

I can't believe this is the tenth book, or that it took me so long to start reading it! As usual, the mundanity of home life is interspersed with police legwork, theories, wagon wheels, and politics. Thoroughly enjoyable.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

View all my reviews