Early Review: Delia's Shadow

Delia’s Shadow

Jaime Lee Moyer

Publisher: Tor Books - To Be Released on 17^th September 2013

E-Arc Courtesy of Netgalley & Tor Books

It is the dawn of a new century in San Francisco and Delia Martin is a wealthy young woman whose life appears ideal. But a dark secret colors her life, for Delia’s most loyal companions are ghosts, as she has been gifted (or some would say cursed) with an ability to peer across to the other side. Since the great quake rocked her city in 1906, Delia has been haunted by an avalanche of the dead clamoring for her help. Delia flees to the other side of the continent, hoping to gain some peace. After several years in New York, Delia believes she is free…until one determined specter appears and she realizes that she must return to the City by the Bay in order to put this tortured soul to rest. It will not be easy, as the ghost is only one of the many victims of a serial killer who was never caught. A killer who after thirty years is killing again. And who is now aware of Delia’s existence...

Delia returns home to San Francisco when a particularly persistent ghost demands her attention and she become involved in the police investigation into a series of particularly brutal killings. Slowly she and her friend Sadie, become aware that the ghost named Shadow may hold the key to finding and stopping this murderer before he comes too close.

This story has a wonderful mix of society of San Francisco in that era, a blossoming romance between two particularly guarded and emotionally distraught characters and an involving murder mystery. The writing is very easy to follow with some wonderful descriptions of the fair in San Francisco at the time which allow you to smell the grounds and be awe-struck by the stands.

The crimes themselves are horrific. While the impact of the gruesome murder scenes are described on the character, the details of the actual scenes are absent which allows all our information about the crimes come to us filtered through a characters reaction – something which helps to connect to both Delia and Gabe, the lead police detective on the case. I really liked the different characters surrounding to two leads with Gabe’s partner, Jack a good foil to the seriousness of Gabe while Sadie the flighty but strong best friend, ailing foster mother Ether and mothering Annie help make Delia grounded and more than just a conduit to the spirits.

Great characterisations and an involving murder mystery are layered with Delia and Gabe’s growing relationship which is built on respect and personality. It’s hard to know what I enjoyed the most but the whole package built a thoroughly entertaining read that I will want to re-read before long!

Recommended for fans of Elizabeth Peters and Elizabeth May. 8 out of 10

Shakespeare's Champion (Lily Bard #2) Review

Shakespeare’s Champion (Lily Bard #2)

Charlaine Harris

Publisher: Gollancz

Lily Bard has started over in the quiet town of Shakespeare, Arkansas, as a cleaning lady. One who works out her anger and the pain of her past in a martial arts class. For Lily, the gym is a place to get away from her troubles, not find more of them. But when she stumbles on the corpse of a local bodybuilder, his neck broken with a barbell, the town's underlying racial tensions begin to boil over. The white victim was connected to two unsolved murders of black residents in Shakespeare, and a dogged policeman is determined to stop the killing. Lily may have to decide whether to stay and fight for justice, or run away one more time.

For some reason I was convinced this was a cosy mystery series – and I really couldn’t be more wrong! There is violence of the extremes in Lily’s world with this book alone including death by beating, bombings, and racist extremists. Not that any of this is done badly, but it helps if you approach these books as a small town mystery/thriller rather than a cosy story. With this in mind it is an extremely competent mystery which starts for us with a death in Lily’s gym and ends in a big shoot out.

The writing is easy to relax into even if some of the events are not easy to read about. The town is boiling on the brink of social unrest between the black and white communities. I don’t know if it’s because I’m a city girl, or British but I find that kind of unrest in a small town difficult to understand in this day and age - I would hope that type of tension is less frequent these days (the book was originally written in 1997)!

Lily is still the same self contained survivor we met in Shakespeare’s Landlord but she seems to be forging friendships with other better even if opening up entirely isn’t easy for her. Her relationship with the local doctor, Carrie gives her some nice female friendship as otherwise Lily is surrounded by guys. A new love interest is introduced who has as much history and baggage as Lily so it will be interesting to see how this is balanced in the long term. Lily still isn’t the warmest of heroines and she likes to keep herself to herself, even in her own book, but she is constantly surprising and she is growing on me.

The murder mystery was intriguing and I have to confess I didn’t guess what was going on until near the end. This was a very good book that breaks expectations (or mine at least!) and entertained me throughout – and what more can you ask from a book?

Recommended for fans of Nora Roberts and Dean Koontz. 8 out of 10 

The Red Tree Review

The Red Tree

Caitlin R Kiernan

 Publisher: Roc Trade

Sarah Crowe left Atlanta, and the remnants of a tumultuous relationship, to live alone in an old house in rural Rhode Island. Within its walls she discovers an unfinished manuscript written by the house's former tenant-a parapsychologist obsessed with the ancient oak growing on a desolate corner of the property. And as the gnarled tree takes root in her imagination, Sarah risks her health and her sanity to unearth a revelation planted centuries ago...

This story is a slow building atmospheric chiller that is difficult to forget about. I have to admit from the cover I expected an UF-style investigation into the house and tree’s history with some exciting action scenes to move it forward. Instead what you get is a slow burning haunting tale that takes place mostly in one location with a leading lady who is damaged and not particularly likeable. However, something about the story just draws you in and the further you get the harder it is to stop thinking about what is happening. Who is really haunted? The writer who can no longer write, the mysterious tree yards from the back door or the young painter who becomes obsessed with painting…?

It’s difficult to try and describe what happens in the story as for large parts of it nothing of much note does happen or perhaps a lot does. It is very cleverly written with the introduction by the publisher of the final book ever written by one of their authors before her suicide. That book is less fiction and more journal like as we see what happens on the run up to her last day. There are some asides into her recent past particularly her failed relationship which help set the scene for her lonely existence at the farmhouse as well as plenty of quotes and name dropping from other haunted stories like The House on Haunted Hill. This all really adds character and atmosphere as does the stifling heat of the summer and the repetitive nature of her existence at the farmhouse. At time the sweltering heat seems to soak through the page and the whole idea of a heat mirage with the Red Tree as the focus just sticks in your mind.

 I was thoroughly engrossed by the tale and despite knowing at the beginning how it would end, I really wanted a different ending. If you like closure and everything wrapped up, then this book will sorely disappoint. There are a hundred unanswered questions and in the end you have to decide yourself if this was a ghost story or just the story of one woman losing her mind. Whatever you decide, the journey to the end is intriguing, captivating and one that will stay with you long after the book is done. Highly recommended! 

Recommended for fans of Susan Hill and Michelle Paver. 9 out of 10

Early Review: Like This, For Ever

Like This, For Ever (Lacey Flint #3)

S.J. Bolton

(Published as Lost in the US)

Publisher: Random House: Released 14th April 2013

E-Arc Courtesy of Netgalley and Random House UK

A serial killer is being closely watched by one young boy.
Barney knows the killer will strike again soon. The victim will be another boy, just like him. He will drain the body of blood, and leave it on a Thames beach.
There will be no clues for detectives Dana Tulloch and Mark Joesbury to find.There will be no warning about who will be next.
There will be no good reason for young policewoman Lacey Flint to become involved . . . And no chance that she can stay away.

S.J. Bolton has once again delivered a hauntingly tense and atmospheric mystery that is very difficult to put down or even stop thinking about. I always find myself pondering over her stories days after the final page and the crimes seem to linger in my head for far longer than I would like! Without a doubt she has a way of sneaking into my head, playing with my expectations and twisting everything around. For a modern crime thriller, the plot is surprisingly creepy and timeless while the mixture of characters and action blend together seemlessly.

While this is the third book to feature Lacey Flint, this is more of an ensemble piece with Dana Tulloch taking the lead on the murder of five young boys in South London, all found near the river. Lacey is still struggling to come to terms with the events of Now You See Me and Dead Scared, but even if you haven’t read those books, you can start here. SJ Bolton deftly explores how damaged Lacey is without regurgitating the previous stories plots – and for those of us who have read them, there are some great ‘Easter eggs’ in the terms of a couple of cameos who play important parts to the story. Dana Tulloch makes a memorable co-lead and a unique character – being both compassionate and fierce. It’s great seeing two leading female characters that are tough and independent, yet still different in personality in a detective novel.

Added to the two female leads, the other main characters is Barney, a nine year old kid who is smart but emotionally detached. He is a balanced counter-point to the adult view of the murders and gives a street view insight into the atmosphere of those most at risk during some high profile cases. While the characters are all strong and easy to connect with, it is the ever-changing plot that drives the story forward. There are numerous red-herrings and I found myself continually changing my mind about who the killer(s) is/are.

Once again the descriptions of London are a wonderful background to an intense murder mysery and some deceptively gruesome murders and ideas are played with. The involvement of social media like Facebook makes the story even more creepy and intense. I could barely bring myself to stop reading and was on edge for the final hundred pages as I was so involved with the plot. Tense, gripping and beautifully written, this is a murder mystery that stands out in a crowded genre.

Recommended for fans of Amanda Stevens and Chris Carter. 9 out of 10

The Girl You Left Behind Review

The Girl You Left Behind

Jojo Moyes

Publisher: Penguin

In 1916 French artist Edouard Lefevre leaves his wife Sophie to fight at the Front. When her town falls into German hands, his portrait of Sophie stirs the heart of the local Kommandant and causes her to risk everything - her family, reputation and life - in the hope of seeing her true love one last time. Nearly a century later and Sophie's portrait is given to Liv by her young husband shortly before his sudden death. Its beauty speaks of their short life together, but when the painting's dark and passion-torn history is revealed, Liv discovers that the first spark of love she has felt since she lost him is threatened...

I started reading this as a complete change from my usual paranormal, fantasy and YA reads – I wanted something to clear my head out and to stop seeing vampires in every dark corner. What I found was a fantastic insight into an overlooked era of history, a beautiful romance, and a morally grey court-case over stolen art which has become one of my favourite reads of the year.

My favourite part of the book is definitely the time spent in 1916.  Sophie and her sister are struggling to keep their family hotel and bar running behind the German lines in occupied France. Most books I’ve read set in that time period tend to focus on the atrocities taking place on the front, but seeing how life was like behind enemy lines for everyday French people is fascinating with the townsfolk treading a fine line under occupation and struggling to feed themselves something that is usually associated with the second world war. Sophie is strong woman of her time – having returned to her home town when her husband went off to war to help her sister and younger brother. She has to walk a fine line when the local Kommandant takes an interest in her. Sophie’s story is told in the first person which really lets you get under the skin of the character and the times and when the story jumps forward a hundred years after following Sophie for over 150 pages it does take some getting used to the third person narrative again.

The contemporary part of the novel is less dramatic and more soap-opera with Liv still struggling to get over the loss of her husband after four years, but the guy she meets in a bar happens to work as a specialist art-retrieval and his latest commission is a picture of Sophie sitting in Liv’s flat. However, Paul’s attempts to bring Liv out of her self imposed exiled are very sweet and I liked the way Liv seems to come life over the course of the book. The contrast between Liv coming to life and Sophie clinging onto life was a pleasing juxtaposition to the story. Towards the end the story moves between the two much quicker as Sophie’s completion has a direct impact on Livs.

I was completely enthralled from the beginning and just adored the historical story. Perhaps it was just the change in pace from my usual reads but the writing was engaging and the characters felt like friends by the end. A thoroughly entertaining read with a great mix of romance, mystery and history.

Recommended for fans of Sebastian Faulkes and Audrey Niffenegger 9 out of 10

Early Review: Blackwood

Blackwood

-       Gwenda Bond

Publisher: Strange Chemistry – To be Published 4^th September 2012

Ecopy courtesy of netgalley and Strange Chemistry

On Roanoke Island, the legend of the 114 people who mysteriously vanished from the Lost Colony hundreds of years ago is just an outdoor drama for the tourists, a story people tell. But when the island faces the sudden disappearance of 114 people now, an unlikely pair of 17-year-olds may be the only hope of bringing them back. Miranda, a misfit girl from the island’s most infamous family, and Phillips, an exiled teen criminal who hears the voices of the dead, must dodge everyone from federal agents to long-dead alchemists as they work to uncover the secrets of the new Lost Colony. The one thing they can’t dodge is each other.

As one of the first books to be published by Angry Robots new YA imprint, Strange Chemistry, Blackwood has an intrigue premise and a lot of promise. Luckily it manages to deliver on that promise and sets a high standard for Strange Chemistry’s future releases.

Miranda lives on Roanoke Island, site of one the first settlements colonised from England, but after a few years the whole settlement – all 114 people disappeared without a trace. Then, in present day another 114 all disappear at the same time...what does this mean to Miranda and her cursed family? And how does the boy who branded her a snake when they young fit in – especially as he hasn’t been back to the island in the last four years?

The set up and introduction of the characters is well done – pulling you in and playing on your brain? What happened to the original settlers? Why is it repeating now? How does Miranda’s family fit in? I love historical mysteries and the disappearance of the Roanoke settlement is a real puzzler. The repeat disappearance is enough to send shivers up your spine with the whole community frightened. Miranda seems to be caught right in the middle when her father is first thought to be one of the missing. Phillips return to the island and his relationship with his parents is a great contrast to Miranda’s situations and adds some heart to the proceedings. I loved his mother and father and how they want to both help and protect – and occasionally making the wrong decision, but for the right reasons.

The writing is like marshmallows – easy to swallow and addictive – you just want to read one more page. However, for me the answers to the questions, and the resolution were not as strong as the set up. The true reasons and even motivations of the missing just don’t seem to ring true for some reason – it all seems a bit too simple with little shades of grey that I expected given the strong characterisation of Miranda and Phillips. However, Blackwood is a fun read with a fantstic set-up and characters you can’t help rooting for – sit back, relax and explore Roanoke Islands mysteries...

Recommended for fans of Jeri Smith-Ready and Tamora Pierce. 7.5 out of 10

Waiting For Midnight Review

Waiting for Midnight

-       Merrie Destefano

Kindle Book

E-Copy received courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review

From the author of Afterlife: The Resurrection Chronicles comes a collection of 16 short stories, full of the rich prose and plot twists that have become Destefano’s trademark. Written to keep you reading all night long, this combination of short stories and flash fiction contains a ghost story, a werewolf story, and a science fiction story, as well as two stories that feature characters from her novels, AFTERLIFE and FEAST.
Short stories included in this collection:
Set on an alien world, “Letters from Home” tells the tale of a mother’s love for her wayward son and the great lengths to which she’ll go to rescue him from another dimension.
“Learning to Hunt” features Ash, the Darkling dream-eater introduced in Feast: Harvest of Dreams, as he explores seventeenth-century Amsterdam, where his father teaches him how to harvest dreams.
“Waiting for Midnight” explores that dangerous territory between first love and obsession, all set in Primrose Wood, a forest where dark magic rules.

This is an intriguing collection of stories. There are some flash fictions which are very short but do tend to raise a question or two and leave you wondering. The longer stories though are more satisfying. My favourite is In The Garden which is a very different look at what happens in a garden and is a story I’ve been thinking about ever since. In fact I felt like that was a real strength of these stories – looking at something that was familiar but giving it a twist – like looking at the world in a mirror: everything is the same but reversed.

There are a couple of short stories set in the worlds Merrie has created in full length books which are interesting little insights into both world, but it’s not necessary to read the full length books to enjoy them. I was really intrigued by Letter For Home where in a short space of time Merrie has created an interesting science-fictional world in the vein of Blade Runner or the Culture novels and gave it some real emotional depth.

Merrie’s writing style is very lyrical and rich. It’s descriptive without labouring the point and full of detail. This anthology is a great sorbet between courses – refreshing, flavourful and palate cleaning!

Recommended for fans of Rachel Caine and Kelly Meding. 8 out of 10

Early Review: The Prophet

The Prophet (The Graveyard Queen 3)

-          Amanda Stevens

Publisher: MIRA – Published on 24^th April 2012

E-Arc Courtesy of netgalley and MIRA

My name is Amelia Gray.I am the Graveyard Queen, a cemetery restorer who sees ghosts. My father passed down four rules to keep me safe and I've broken every last one. A door has opened and evil wants me back.In order to protect myself, I've vowed to return to those rules. But the ghost of a murdered cop needs my help to find his killer. The clues lead me to the dark side of Charleston—where witchcraft, root doctors and black magic still flourish—and back to John Devlin, a haunted police detective I should only love from afar.Now I'm faced with a terrible choice: follow the rules or follow my heart.

Returning to Charleston after the revelations about her heritage and past in the mountains, Amelia has been avoiding Devlin and his ghosts, but she can’t stay away for long and soon she has to face not only his haunting past, but also search for a murderer who doesn’t want to be discovered...

In this book, Amelia starts to make decisions and be proactive rather than waiting for things to happen to her. She really seems to take control of herself more and rather than hiding away in her hallowed places, she starts to use her abilities and explores what it lets her do, rather than hiding all the time. I liked this new Amelia with more of a back bone. But this doesn’t mean she doesn’t still hide her powers, remaining introspective and lonely. Even Devlin can’t completely break through her armour.

The setting continues to be lush and beautifully described – at times I feel like I can just walk into the book and be in the graveyard with Amelia. I adore the beautiful prose and invocative descriptions which create a gorgeously gothic and timeless atmosphere. This is a traditional ghost story wonderfully told and will have you checking over your shoulder at twilight for any ghosts following you home. This series just builds with each story creating such a layered and complex world that lingers long after you stop reading. A chilling ghost story wonderfully told. I’m very excited that Amanda Stevens has sold another three books in this series – although I worry what Amelia and Devlin will have to go through next!

Recommended for fans of Susan Hill and Neil Gaimen. 8 out of 10

The Kingdom Review

The Kingdom (The Graveyard Queen 2)

-          Amanda Stevens

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA

E-Arc Courtesy of netgalley and MIRA

Deep in the shadowy foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains lies a dying town…. My name is Amelia Gray. They call me The Graveyard Queen. I've been commissioned to restore an old cemetery in Asher Falls, South Carolina, but I'm coming to think I have another purpose here.Why is there a cemetery at the bottom of Bell Lake? Why am I drawn time and again to a hidden grave I've discovered in the woods? Something is eating away at the soul of this town—this withering kingdom—and it will only be restored if I can uncover the truth.

Amelia is still haunted after her troubled relationship wit Devlin, the Charleston detective we met in The Restorer. Trying to move on, she takes a new restoration project in a dying town in the mountains only to discover that something lurks in this town, something which is attracted to her and her abilities to see the dead...

This is a beautifully haunting gothic ghost story. The writing has a lyrical element that reminds me of Anne Rice at her best, making it difficult to forget or stop reading. The descriptions are beautiful and vividly paint the atmosphere of this dying town. It is always difficult to tell ghost stories well but there is no doubt that with this series Amanda Stevens has succeeded by making a lonely central character that is relatable. Amelia’s history is explored throughout the story and some of the questions raised in The Restorer are answered, yet it feels like this could be read without needing to pick up the previous books. There are more subtle layers that benefit from having read the first book though.  

This is a very evocative story that deals with the questions of nature verses nurture, the darkness of human nature and what ghosts truly are. I loved the poetic elements and the long standing mystery surrounding the town. I honestly wished I could read this book slower so I could enjoy it for longer, but like an ice cream sundae I had to finish it before it melted! Beautiful book.

Recommended for fans of Anne Rice and Deborah Harkness. 9 out of 10

Early Review: The Unseen

The Unseen (Krewe of Hunters 5)

-          Heather Graham

Publisher: Harlequin - Published on 27th March 2012

E-Arc Read courtesy of netgalley and Harlequin publishing.

1800s. San Antonio, Texas: In room 207 at the Longhorn Saloon, in the long shadow of the Alamo itself, a woman renowned for her beauty was brutally murdered. Her killer was never found. One year ago: In that same historic room, another woman vanished without a trace. Her blood was everywhere…but her body was never recovered. Now: In the last month, San Antonio has become a dumping ground for battered bodies. All young women, all long missing, almost all forgotten. Until now. Texas Ranger Logan Raintree cannot sit by and let his city’s most vulnerable citizens be slain. So when he is approached to lead a brand-new group of elite paranormal investigators working the case, he has no choice but to accept the challenge. And with it, his powerful ability to commune with the dead. Among Logan’s new team is Kelsey O’Brien, a U.S. marshal known for her razor-sharp intuition and a toughness that belies her delicate exterior. Kelsey has been waiting all her life to work with someone who can understand her ability to “see” the past unfolding in the present. Now she has her chance. Together, Kelsey and Logan follow their instincts to the Alamo and to the newly reopened Longhorn, which once tempted heroes with drink, cards and women. If the spirits of those long-dead Texans are really appearing to the victims before their deaths, only Kelsey and Logan have the skills to find out why. And if something more earthly is menacing the city’s oldest, darkest corners, only they can stop it – before more innocent women join the company of San Antonio’s restless ghosts...

With Jackson Crow’s original Krewe of Hunters all paired up and proving a huge success investigating haunted crimes, a second team is being set and is introduced here. I can’t tell much about most of the characters in the second team which the exception of Logan and Kelsey as they don’t really take a major part in the story. This is squarely Logan and Kelsey’s story with a cameo from Jackson to bring them together. Kelsey is a US Marshall who can see ghosts, is good at her job but retains her emotional connection to people. Logan is part native American and 100% Texas ranger who can hear and see the dead.  However, while they made a nice couple I never really connected to either in any meaningful way. They were both too nice and neither had any characteristics that made them particularly memorable.

Where this story succeeded more for me was in the mystery. With piles of female bones turning up across San Antonio and only a tenuous link to the Almo to connect them, I was more than curious to see how it was solved. The Almo is one of the most famous historical sites for the US, but I’m afraid my knowledge before this book didn’t really cover more than Davy Crockett hats and general slaughter. However, this story focuses more on the modern day than on the past, with the historical giving an interesting piquant flavour to the mystery. The ghost element is barely needed in the story but was nonetheless enjoyable and added a different layer to the story. There are plenty of suspects and I enjoyed trying to figure out who it was – although I got there long before our heroes. Overall an enjoyable mystery with a rather bland romance.    

Recommended for fans of Nora Roberts and Amanda Stevens.  7 out of 10

The Water Room Review

The Water Room (Bryant and May)

-          Christopher Fowler

Publisher: Bantam

They are detection’s oddest couple: two cranky detectives whose professional partnership dates back half a century. Now Arthur Bryant and John May return in a case of multiple murder that twists through a subterranean course of the secrets, lies, and extreme passions that drive even ordinary men and women to the most shocking crimes….
They are living legends with a reputation for solving even the trickiest cases using unorthodox, unconventional, and often completely unauthorized methods. But the Peculiar Crimes Unit headed by Detectives John May and Arthur Bryant is one mistake away from being shut down for good. And when the elderly sister of Bryant’s friend is found dead in the basement of her decrepit house in Kentish Town, they find themselves on the verge of making exactly that mistake.
According to the coroner, Ruth Singh’s heart simply stopped beating. But why was a woman who rarely left the house fully dressed for an outing? And why was there river water in her throat? Convinced that the old lady didn’t die a natural death, the detectives delve into a murky case with no apparent motive, no forensics, and no clues. And they’ve barely launched their investigation when death claims another victim. Suddenly they discover some very unnatural behavior surrounding Ruth Singh’s death by “natural” causes—from shady real estate developers and racist threats to two troubled marriages, from a dodgy academician working London’s notorious “grey economy” to a network of antiquities collectors obsessed with Egyptian mythology. And running beneath it all are the sweeping tentacles of London’s vast and forgotten underground river system. As the rains pour down and the water rises, Bryant and May must rely on instinct, experience, and their own very peculiar methods to stem a tide of evil that threatens to drown them all.

Set in modern day London, The Water Room follows detectives, eccentric Bryant and dapper May and the Peculiar Crime Unit as they investigate an elderly woman who apparently died through drowning despite the room and her clothes remaining dry.

The writing creates a beautiful atmosphere as we follow Bryant and May who are in their seventies as they get to know the residents of Balaklava Street. Bryant as independent and forthright as ever is convinced something strange is happening on the street, but May just wants them to concentrate on the newly re-opened Peculiar Crimes Unit and their official case load. The writing re-creates a small corner of North London which you can picture perfectly from the cobble stones to the neighbours. The characterisation is strong and every person even with little page time feels like a three dimensional character – I especially liked the banter between the members of the PCU – both old and new.

What lets down this wonderfully written ambience and characters that could easily populate any number of TV show series for many years, is the plot itself. While the initial mystery is intriguing, there is too little to move it forward. There is little evidence of actual wrong-doing and very little happens for weeks at a time – apart from some decorating. This meant my attention would wander and there felt like there was very little impetus to solve the case. Still the characters and the atmosphere kept me reading and by the end the action increased with an exciting chase through the underground London waterways.

Recommended for fans of Reginald Hill and Elizabeth George. 7 out of 10

An Expert In Murder Review

An Expert In Murder

-          Nicola Upson

Kindle Book

It is March 1934, and Josephine is travelling from Scotland to London for the final week of her celebrated play Richard of Bordeaux - but joy turns to horror when her arrival coincides with murder. Detective Inspector Archie Penrose is convinced that the killing is connected to the play. Richard of Bordeaux has been the surprise hit of the season, with pacifist themes which strike a chord in a world still haunted by war, but now it seems that Josephine could become the victim of her own success, as her reputation - and even her life - are put at risk. As his investigations lead him from the romance of the West End to the stark reality of the trenches, he and Josephine must confront their own ghosts in a search for someone who will stop at nothing to right the wrongs of a past generation.

Set in London’s theatre-land in the late 1930s, An Expert In Murder is a throwback to the old fashioned murder mysteries where motive and alibi are more important than physical evidence. The period feels authentic with men and women ‘stepping out’ together and plays are popular form of entertainment for the masses. The spectre of the future hardships doesn’t appear here despite the late 30s era, but it feels  as everyone is still haunted by the shadow of The Great War – whether they were fighting or not on the front. Indeed the fear and actions of the past loom large over every character in this novel – especially when they contemplate their futures.

The murder mystery itself is intriguing, and plunges headlong into the social and economic ideals of the theatre where everyone has their own secrets and desires. The writing feels traditional and adds to the atmosphere. However, I never really felt connected to any of the characters. The heroine, Josephine Tey, based on a popular but mysterious real-life writer and playwright, always feels aloof and impersonal. She never really seemed to express emotion and as such I always felt like I was following a friendly and polite stranger. Other characters experienced similar issues, although Archie Penrose, the detective was more involving –especially his feelings for Josephine which are not discussed, but shine through in his actions.

There are a number of red herrings scattered about, especially in the early half of the book which add depth and intrigue but many of these are dropped without resolution. While this adds to the mystery in the beginning but does leave you feeling a little bereft by the end – which does show how strong small glimpses of secondary characters can be! Overall, this was fun, traditional murder mystery in a forgotten era and made a pleasant change in my reading matter for a few days.

Recommended for fans of Agatha Christie and Carola Dunn.  7 out of 10

Audiobook: Cards On The Table

Cards On The Table

Written by Agatha Christie

Performed by a full BBC Cast

It was the match-up of the century: four sleuths--Superintendent Battle of Scotland Yard; Mrs. Ariadne Oliver, famed writer of detective stories; Col. Race of His Majesty's Secret Service; and the incomparable Hercule Poirot - invited to play bridge with four specially invited guests, each of whom had gotten away with murder! But before the first rubber was completed, the host was dead.

I went through a stage in my early teens when I read through all the Hercule Poirot books I could get my hands on. I never liked Miss Marple for some reason, but I couldn’t get enough of ‘ze little grey cells’. So when I came across a BBC audio drama based on one Poirot’s cases I thought I would give it a spin.

This is only a short play – only 1 hour 45 minutes in total, but the mystery is intriguing. The host of a dinner party is murdered in the same room as four people he claimed had gotten away with murder. This is one of the original who-dunnits with no mystery really over how it was done. There is no crime scene investigation – all the investigation was done through talking and thinking – with Poirot making the connections between what people said and what that means. However, what is surprising is how little Poirot actually does in this story. It might be the way the story has been adapted for radio but here he has one of suspects visit him and count stockings (really!) but apart from that he all he does is talk about bridge. I don’t play bridge – and have no idea what the rules or method is – and it isn’t explained. Perhaps Christie thought that everyone knew how to play and it doesn’t need explaining – but times changes and all the discussion around the match is lost on me. Unfortunately there is a lot of discussion – and I found my attention drifting at times.

The voice acting is top notch – with each character brought to life and given some very different characters by some of the best of British voice artists. Overall, though I think the set up and idea is better than the execution here.

Recommended for fans of Agatha Christie and Jules Verne. 6 out of 10.

The Burning Wire Review

The Burning Wire (Lincoln Rhyme 9)

-       Jeffery Deaver

Publisher: UK- Hodder

When an attack is made on Manhattan's electricity grid, it seems that terrorists must be responsible. What better way to hold New York to ransom than to manipulate the city's power supply? While the FBI and CIA try to determine whether religious or environmental fundamentalists are behind the attacks, Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs race to decode the forensics in order to prevent the next assault on the grid. Because electricity is more than simply power keeping the city alive - it is as lethal as it is vital, and Lincoln Rhyme is up against the most terrifying killer he has ever encountered - a killer who who can turn everyday life into certain death...

Lincoln Rhyme is the original Grissom. Back before CSI New York, long before Hoartio put on his first pair of sunglasses and before Vegas had such a strong crime resolution rate, Jeffery Deaver wrote the first Lincoln Rhyme book – The Bone Collector, about a paraplegic forensic analyst who can solve crime just by studying the evidence. Using a former model, turned cop, Amelia Sachs as his legs and eyes on the scene he is able to pin point future action from the smallest of crumbs, the tiniest splat of mud and the hint of perfume in the air.

The Burning Wire is the ninth in the series and is has complex and intriguing as ever. However, as the perpetrator this time is killing with electricity the first half of the book feels a little like a text book as Jeffery Deaver attempts to explain ‘juice’ to us. Various methods of death by electricity are gruesome to read and have a cinematic feel to them – but getting to the understanding behind them felt a little like hard work at times. However, this is balanced by the paranoia the usually confident Amelia displays – how do you protect yourself from some as invisible as electricity – especially when it is around us all the time? This humanising element is something that balances out the cold science – and the reason why I keep reading!

For me the joy of these books is never being able to figure out who done it – because this isn’t an investigate about the motives but the journey of how to narrow down and capture the suspect. Lincoln is not a very sympathetic character – although he is intelligent and professional. After eight books I never concerned myself about his disability anymore, so I was concerned when his former suicidal ideas seem to resurface here. It’s not Lincoln that keeps me coming back but Amelia, Fred Dellaware and Ron Pulaski who are more relatable and human. I still enjoyed the journey here even if it felt a little harder than previously to get my head around electricity. An intelligent thriller for those you like a little challenge in their crime novels.

Recommended for fans of CSI and Kathy Reichs. 7 out of 10.

Death Sentence Review

Death Sentence

-       Mikkel Birkegaard

Publisher: UK - Bantam

Frank Føns is a very successful crime writer. His novels, famed for their visceral descriptions of violent death, have made him a household name. But now someone is copying his crimes. For Frank what once seemed a clever, intriguing plot twist, has suddenly become a terrifying, blood-spattered reality.In the novel, a redhead who was scared of water is drowned. In the mirror-image of the real world, she has become an ex-girlfriend chained and left to die at the bottom of the harbour. A corrupt police-officer tortured to death becomes a contact who dies with fear in his eyes. Someone is taking Franks’ fiction and using it to destroy his life. The writer must become the detective.In fiction, the bad guy always gets caught, but in real life there is no such guarantee. Fear becomes real. The knife cut hurts like hell. Our narrator may not survive. No-one is promising you a happy ending. For Frank what had once been a game is now a matter of life and death.

Frank is an alcoholic, writer of horror novels which specialise in extreme torture and gory scenes. He makes a living from it even if it has cost him his family and turned him into an isolated man with little human contact. Then someone starts to recreate his graphic murder scenes in complete detail using people close to him as the victim...

Frank is a difficult person to like. At first I just thought he was lonely and isolated but as I read further and find out more about his past I have to confess that I just didn’t like him very much. But I was fascinated by his story. The way he is drawn into the murders is well done – even if you think he should have gone to police straight away. There aren’t many characters introduced in detail outside of Frank himself, but this is more the study of the man losing his grasp than a crime novel. Crimes do occur but it is Franks reactions that keep you glued to the page rather than the mystery of who did it.

The details of Frank’s books are gruesome and for the most part lacking in glamour. The detail is needed for the story but not lingered over – something I was grateful for as that level of detail would have turned me off! However, some of the scenes are not for those with a weak stomach. Alcohol, drug use and sex is prominent throughout but in keeping with the characters and the story.

The writing is easy to slip into – the translation from the Danish seems flawless. The ending will frustrate some people but I enjoyed the ambiguity. I hadn’t read a crime or mystery book for a long time and now I realise I’ve been missing out on a genre a really enjoy. I won’t be leaving it so long before I pick up another mystery. J

Recommended for fans of Steig Larsson and Jo Nesbo. 8 out of 10.

The Thirteenth Chime Review

The Thirteenth Chime (Sense of Truth 1)

-       Emma Michaels

Publisher: Bokheim Publishing

HATRED NEVER DIES...
Destiny has finally found the life that she has always wanted. She is about to finish college, has a fiance that loves her, and a great summer on the West Coast planned with her friend, Stephanie. But her world is turned upside down when an antique clock mysteriously chimes thirteen times and someone attacks them, sending Stephanie and her mother to the hospital.
Alone, and without any help from the police, Destiny has no choice but to turn to the one man she had left behind a year ago - her ex-boyfriend, David. Together, they must solve the riddle of the thirteenth chime before the clock strikes thirteen again. Yet as they face their own past and hearts, a trap over half a century old is waiting for them to become its prey.
For revenge, fifty years is never too long...

This is a creepy, spooky story centring on ex-couple – Destiny and David. Destiny calls David to help explain what she saw the night that her friend and mother were attacked. Although they haven’t spoken in over a year, David is the first one Destiny thinks about calling – even more so than her own fiancé. There are two elements to the story – the vestige of the relationship between the two and the mystery surrounding the house and what happened that night. I really liked David – he was heroic and intelligent – really getting his teeth into helping Destiny. However, I really didn’t like her much – she left David after he had risked his life to save her and then not spoken to him in a year. She was a little selfish throughout in my opinion.

There are some great action sequences – especially at the finale. And the town was a very picturesque place – I could picture it vividly. The coastal setting and the prison island were well described.

The mystery was interesting, although the idea of Sense, which David studied as part of his thesis, is a little elusive. I’m not entirely sure what it is supposed to be – actual ghosts or memories haunting a place, but I would hope that this explained in more detailed in future books. Overall though the story was fast paced and different from anything else out there – even if I wasn’t sure what it was David was investigating at times. It’s a strong start to the series and I am curious to see what the sense of truth is really about. Plus I have a little crush on David! J

Recommended for fans of Heather Graham and Nora Roberts. 7 out of 10.

The Quarry Review

The Quarry

-       Johan Theorin

Publisher: Doubleday

As the last snow melts on the Swedish island of Öland, Per Morner is preparing for his children’s Easter visit. But his plans are disrupted when he receives a phone call from his estranged father, Jerry, begging for help. Per finds Jerry close to death in his blazing woodland studio. He’s been stabbed, and two dead bodies are later discovered in the burnt-out building. The only suspect, Jerry’s work partner, is confirmed as one of the dead. But why does Jerry insist his colleague is still alive? And why does he think he’s still a threat to his life? When Jerry dies in hospital a few days later, Per becomes determined to find out what really happened. But the closer he gets to the truth, the more danger he finds himself in. And nowhere is more dangerous than the nearby quarry...

First I have to confess that I haven’t read many of the Scandinavian crime writers that seem to be appear on bookshelves – no reason really. This is only the second one I’ve read but I did enjoy the little hints that it was set in a different country. Such things as the celebration of 1st May and the frequent references to crisp bread and fish-roe gave the story some extra colour and made some of the everyday elements seem more exotic.

I have to confess to finding the first two thirds of the book slow going. It sets the scene introducing Per and his family as well as his new neighbours on the island. There were plenty of characters and it took me a while to remember who was who. However, Theorin created a spooky atmosphere on the island with frequent mentions of trolls, elves and changelings and even had me guessing at times how the supernatural played into the events of the past and the present. The quarry was a great setting and made the setting different from the numerous city set crime stories. Per is going through a tough time with his daughter seriously ill and he’s not sure how to deal with that. It makes him a very introverted main character and difficult to relate to. In fact I’m not sure if I really bonded with any of the characters as they were all stoic and reserved.

The final third the story picked up with the mystery element coming to the fore and Per starting to be more pro-active rather than reactive. The plot starts to move more quickly then and finishes in an exciting climax in the Quarry. The slow start spoiled the flow a little for me, but the different from normal setting and atmosphere that is built in the beginning pays off in the end. Worth a read if you fancy a visit to Sweden from the comfort of your armchair, but probably won’t be to everyone’s taste.

Recommended for fans of Stieg Larsson and Jo Nesbo. 6 out of 10.