In the Maharani's Pearls, we got to meet Bess and her parents in India. Bess is told by a fortuneteller that someone she cares for is in danger. I likIn the Maharani's Pearls, we got to meet Bess and her parents in India. Bess is told by a fortuneteller that someone she cares for is in danger. I liked this because we got a story about Bess when she was younger and it gave an interesting glimpse into her childhood in India. ...more
Bess Crawford finds a dead body on a beach in “The Girl on the Beach” and she and the local police try to find out who the dead girl is and who took hBess Crawford finds a dead body on a beach in “The Girl on the Beach” and she and the local police try to find out who the dead girl is and who took her life. I liked the story. I got introduced to Bess for the first time and I instantly liked her and felt that I wanted to know more about her.
In Sleeping Embers of an Ordinary Mind, we get three parallel stories, all of them have something to do with Antonia Uccello, or her father Paolo UcceIn Sleeping Embers of an Ordinary Mind, we get three parallel stories, all of them have something to do with Antonia Uccello, or her father Paolo Uccello, the famous painter.
In the past we get to follow Antonia Uccello as she is preparing to a life in a convent. Her father decided that's the best solution for her since there she will have a chance to continue to paint since if she would get married, painting would at all probability be denied her.
In the present time, a copyist is getting a commission from a rich Chinese businessman to duplicate a Paolo Uccello painting. He is visiting China with his teenage daughter. They are recuperating from a loss and in a way will this journey will be a new starting point for them. Something good after all the pain.
In the 2200-century is a painting found that could be painted by Antonia Uccello. This discovery is very important for art historian Toniah. She has for a long time wanted to bring light to Antonia Uccello life.
I think one thing that really appealed to me with this story was out of the three parallel stories in this book one was set in the future. I found the idea of time, just around 100 years in the future interesting. The world, almost similar to ours, yet with some differences. And, the largest difference is of course that the families can look a bit different from now. Because of technology, there are now partho families. At first, was I a bit confused about what that meant, then it was explained that thanks to parthenogenetic a woman can have a child without a man. Basically, this is cloning. I found that very interesting. Toniah, the main character in this story is actually a clone.
My biggest problem with this book is that even though all three stories were interesting to read separately didn't they feel linked together that much. I think I wanted something more than a small link, I mean what has the second story, the one about the father and the teenage daughter to do with Antonia Uccello? It felt more like it was linked to Paolo Uccello. I mean I liked the story, but I would have liked it even better if it had been separated from the others. If it had just been one story and not part of three stories. The same can be said for the other two.
Also, the book ended way too abruptly. I felt that the stories never got a closure. Like the last pages of the book was missing. That bothered me to be honest. It didn't feel like an ambiguous ending. It felt like the stories ended when they started to get good.
On the plus side was it interesting to learn more about Paolo Uccello and to learn that he had a daughter that was considered a paintress. Too bad that none of her paintings seem to have survived to present days.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy for an honest review....more
This book could have gotten a higher rating from me if it hadn't been for all the name droppings and for the fact that it felt like it took forever foThis book could have gotten a higher rating from me if it hadn't been for all the name droppings and for the fact that it felt like it took forever for me to finish the book. Now, this is a book that's over 500 pages long so it's no wonder it took some time for me to finish it. But, still, it just felt like the story could have been cut down 100-200 pages or so. But then Nora Kelly would have missed all those wonderful moments of meeting every single famous person that were alive during the beginning of the 1900-century, whether it be a painter, freedom fighter, politician, actress, designer, etc.
Sorry, I will stop with my nagging now. The book was not all bad, I quite liked Nora Kelly and her family. And, it was interesting to read about her life in Paris and everything she experiences, her meeting with Peter, the man she would come to love, and everything she went through during WW1 and after. I especially liked her involvement with the moment to free Ireland and how she would, in the end, travel to Ireland and Galway where her grandmother was born. It felt like a closing of a circle since the first book Galway Bay (That I haven't read) is about Honora Keeley, Nora's grandmother that she is named after and who left Ireland together with her husband Michael and used to tell little Nora stories about Ireland.
So yes, I enjoyed the book, but alas I also felt that the story dragged now and then and that sometimes it was just too many famous people in the story that Nora just had to meet. Still, the book was well-written and well researched and I wouldn't mind reading Galway Bay.
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!...more
DNF at 24%! This book is supposed to be funny and charming, but actually, for me, it was more silly, without being funny and it seems to be taking a rDNF at 24%! This book is supposed to be funny and charming, but actually, for me, it was more silly, without being funny and it seems to be taking a romantic turn that I just wasn't that interested to read about. The whole 7 letter thing and the fairie thing just didn't work for. I read some review to see if it was worth continue reading, but apparently the ending is a big let-down so I decided to not go on since there are better books out there in the world just waiting to be read...with great endings.
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy for an honest review....more
Blood Sisters is book 5 in the Katie Maguire series. I haven't previous read any books in this series, but it was no problem getting into the story anBlood Sisters is book 5 in the Katie Maguire series. I haven't previous read any books in this series, but it was no problem getting into the story and I never felt confused with past events since everything was explained well during the book.
DS Katie Maguire must catch a killer that torture and kill nuns. The question is why are the nuns killed, is is because of something in the past. Then a jawbone of a child is found in the garden of the convent. Could the finding have anything to do with the killing?
The cover and the blurb made me interested in reading the book and I was pleased when I was approved to read this book on NetGalley.
The book started off good in a bad way with the finding of several dead horses that had been forced over a cliff, but I must admit as the story progressed my interest in the story waned. I just couldn't find myself interested in what was going on. Sometimes it felt that there was just too many sidetracks in this story that the main story lost a bit focus. Some sidetrack had a connection, but some of them had a connection to past events. And, I felt that all too often what was happening in the book just didn't interest me and I think partly that was because I never connected with the characters in this the book. Katie Maguire is pregnant with another man's child and she struggles through the book to be able to tell her boyfriend that left her before she got pregnant that she is expecting a child that's not his. She also has a problem with a female college that's in love with her and is thinking of leaving the force because of that. But I just neve really cared about it all. The characters never came alive for me.
The book was not all that bad, it was sometimes very tragic, although some very descriptive scenes involving torture could I have lived without and I felt really sorry for the horses. And, I could actually imagine myself reading another book in this series, just to see if it was just this book that didn't work for me. Also, because the book ended with a cliffhanger and I want to know what happens next...
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!...more
The Enterprise is transporting a group of diplomats when a mysterious alien signal is detected from a planet. Spock, Doctor McCoy and Chekov and some The Enterprise is transporting a group of diplomats when a mysterious alien signal is detected from a planet. Spock, Doctor McCoy and Chekov and some bait...eh I mean red shirts, I mean some other crewmembers* are taking a shuttle down to find out more since it's unclear if the beacon is a distress signal or an invitation or even a warning. But, they crash because of some unforeseen circumstances and they can't send a distress signal back to the Enterprise.
This is a short Star Trek story that didn't take that long to read. I think the story would perhaps have been more interesting to read if it had been longer, now it felt like reading a script for an episode instead of a novel. It's short and concise, but it doesn't really grab hold of your interest since, despite the fact that Spock is wounded is it more likely that the crewmembers that are traveling with him Doctor McCoy, and Chekov are the once that are likely to be killed.
[image]
And, this story also reminded me of the episode in TOS when Spock and McCoy in the Galileo crashed on another planet. And, they even discussed that crashed in this story. It's interesting that they crashed in a shuttle called the Galileo in that story too. But now Spock has a bit different attitude than he had in the episode. But, then it's been 20 years since that happened.
The story was OK, not that surprising, but still, it's the old gang and I love reading a story with them in it. I like the new movies, but I do prefer the original tv-series and movies.
*The story is taking place some years after Wrath of Khan so now everyone is wearing red. But still the crewmembers are just bait!
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!...more
This short little horror story is perfect to read the day before Christmas. Santa is on his way home after his adventure against the Naughty (read theThis short little horror story is perfect to read the day before Christmas. Santa is on his way home after his adventure against the Naughty (read the first short story The Naughty List). But something is wrong at home...
Let me tell you, don't fuck with Santa, he will do whatever it takes to get back someone precious to him that the Naughty has kidnapped. Even seeking up and old enemy...
[image]
The only thing that I found to be negative with the story was the cliffhanger ending. Other than that, it was a well-written, but a bit sad (Why E, why? That poor reindeer) story.
Sarah Grey has returned to England after a brief time as a model in Paris. She is looking for a new job, but she never expected to be offered and acceSarah Grey has returned to England after a brief time as a model in Paris. She is looking for a new job, but she never expected to be offered and accepting a job as a personal assistant to Harry Price, the infamous ghost hunter. Harry has devoted himself to expose mediums and false hauntings. And, despite being temperamental and neurotic is he also very charming and Sarah can't help but be drawn to him. One of the most puzzling cases for them will be Borley Rectory. Is the place really haunted or are the rumors about it exaggerated?
I think the knowledge that Borley Rectory was a real haunted place and Harry Price was a real ghost hunter makes this book extra special. The author has taken some liberations with the story. This is not a true story, but there are some truths in the story. Sarah Grey has never existed, she is based on a secretary that worked for Harry Price a while. But still, it's really fascinating to read this book and I was intrigued by Harry Price and can fully understand why Sarah Grey was too. Even though as I understand it the Harry Price in this book was more charming than the real one.
[image]
I didn't know before I read the book that Borley Rectory had existed and that Harry Price was a real person. Or rather I have a vague feeling that I have known and forgotten about it and it hit me when I looked up the place and the man himself on the net during the time I read the book. Strange how the mind can forget things.
The story in itself was good. This was after the First World War, a time when many people were desperate to make contact with the other side, to know that they were all right. And, many people took advantage of this to earn money of other people's grief. Harry Price like Houdini in America, debunked many false mediums. Arthur Conan Doyle has a small part in this book, he was quite crossed with Harry Price because of his negative attitude towards the paranormal. Conan Doyle believed quite strongly in the afterlife.
This is absolutely not a horror book, more a mystery would I say. A paranormal mystery book. Despite dealing with a house that is said to be haunting was the book never scary to read. And, it could feel a bit long sometimes. I can honestly say that if Sarah Grey and Harry Price had not been so interesting to read about had this been dull to read. But they give the book life.
[image]
It's a very interesting book. There are not many big twists in this book, but still, the story is enjoyable. There are one big secret thing; Sarah Grey's secret that she hides from Harry Price. But, that never felt like a secret. I don't know how it was for others that read the book, but I guessed it right away and then it was just waiting for her to tell him. And, honestly, I thought that she was a bit too cruel to him towards the end when everything was revealed. Although he did treat her appalling sometimes. In the end, one can say that the case of Borley Rectory became something that bound and tore them apart.
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!...more
Finally done! This series annoys me, but I will probably read the next book just because I want some answers and I want to know how it all ends. ThankFinally done! This series annoys me, but I will probably read the next book just because I want some answers and I want to know how it all ends. Thank God for the library so at least, I don't have to buy the books...
Inspector Ian Frey is on a holiday at his uncle Maurice place in the country and he is enjoying this short break during Christmas. The an unexpected vInspector Ian Frey is on a holiday at his uncle Maurice place in the country and he is enjoying this short break during Christmas. The an unexpected visit ruin the cozy family event, at least for a moment. But in the end, everything turns out fine.
This short story is set between The Strings of Murder and A Fever of the Blood and is not really that necessary to read since it's just a family conflict story. But if you like the first book could this story be nice to read since it shows that Ian's father is not always disappointed in him and that he actually sometimes takes Ian's side....more
I was looking forward to reading this volume since I'm a longtime X-File fan. But honestly, both art and story just didn't work for me and I had a harI was looking forward to reading this volume since I'm a longtime X-File fan. But honestly, both art and story just didn't work for me and I had a hard time finish reading the volume and it was just 100 pages. How hard can it be to write a decent story and find a really good illustrator?
The art made it hard to read. I didn't even recognize Mulder at first who was in disguise, it took some time for me to realize that it was really him.[image]
Lose the mustache Mulder!
[image]
I mean I recognize the Lone Gunmen, but the art is really appalling.
And, together with the confusing storyline did it just made the reading experience quite bad. I was interested in reading this volume because Gibson Praise would be in it. But I haven't a clue about what the hell the Peacock family (see episode Home) had to the with the story. And, I wasn't that keen on reading something about that horrid inbreeding family. Well, I would have been perhaps if it had made any sense why they were in the story at all. I thought they, at first, wanted a new man (Mulder) to father some babies (shudder), but now I'm not sure about that. And, I'm not sure what Gibson Praise wanted either. The whole story was too darn confusing to be enjoyable.
Will I read more? Probably not. I rather see the tv-series and wait for the new season.
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!...more
I had only read a short Bryant & May story before I read this collection and one of the reasons I wanted to read this collection was because I thoughtI had only read a short Bryant & May story before I read this collection and one of the reasons I wanted to read this collection was because I thought this would give me some insight into the life and work of Bryant and May if I in the future read any of the books. Which I probably will.
This collection consists of eleven previously unseen investigations and it is everything from murder in a locked room, a suspicious case of poisoning on a boat and a killer on a Tourist bus in London. Some cases were more interesting than the others, most of them good. And, even a case or rather two cases connected that they couldn't solve. Bryant&May and the Secret Santa was the story I had read before so I skipped that one.
All and all I found most cases interesting, albeit I found some cases a bit tedious I must admit especially the one about the freak show. I just couldn't get into that one and it felt a bit long.
But I've come to like Bryant & May very much. Especially Bryant. Btw there is an excellent characters list in the beginning of this book. Perfect if you are a new reader, like me, to the series.
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!...more
THE NINTH LIFE is the first book in a new series by Clea Simon. This is the first book I have read by her. When I first saw the book was I intrigued bTHE NINTH LIFE is the first book in a new series by Clea Simon. This is the first book I have read by her. When I first saw the book was I intrigued by the lovely cover and the blurb. I felt this was a book for me, and I was looking forward to reading it.
Midwife Héloïse has been an outcast since she was a child. She is called a non-born. Her mother died while giving birth to her and her aunt Isa had toMidwife Héloïse has been an outcast since she was a child. She is called a non-born. Her mother died while giving birth to her and her aunt Isa had to cut her out of the womb. The local children teased her about that, and as an adult have the taunting children grown up to taunting adults. But she has always been strong in herself, and she has a wonderful husband and a beautiful daughter. Life couldn't be better. But then her husband arrives home after being away for two years and this should be a young full event, but then people are starting to get sick and die. The Black Death has come to their village.
There were a couple of times I had to stop reading this book and read something else, not that it was anything wrong with the book. But because I was so frustrated with the superstition that characterized the people at the time. How the fear made the people accuse, cats, lepers, and Jews for the plague. Héloïse tries to help everyone that is sick, despite her husband being against that. And, he, in the end, tries in his own way to protect her, but that backfires completely. I was so angry with him at that point. It's hard to read a book about a time when women weren't better than a kept slave.
Héloïse is such a wonderful character, strong and kind, but the superstition against her and the bone-sculpted angel pendant she has after her mother is strong among the people in the village. There are some that see her for the kind person she is, but she has some enemies with power in the town. And, a deadly plague is the kind of thing that could make her situation worse. Especially since she is quite outspoken and brave. A threat, for instance, could easily be interpreted as a curse...
But for all the darkness in this book are there also light moments, and I think the balance between the darkness and the light is the thing that makes this book so wonderful to read. It's an emotional reading experience. Sadness at the death of a child, joy of a birth and anger at the injustice towards women. I was deeply moved by the story.
I received a copy from the publisher and france book tours in return for an honest review!...more
Madeline and Daphne were once the best of friends until a terrible event took place. A man attacks Madeline and, despite the fact that the man would nMadeline and Daphne were once the best of friends until a terrible event took place. A man attacks Madeline and, despite the fact that the man would never again bother anyone did Madeline's grandmother close up the hotel she owned and moved with her granddaughter far away.
Now 18 years later Madeline is back at the hotel. Her grandmother is dead and she has to decide what to do with the old hotel. But she must confront the past when the old caretaker of the hotel is brutally murdered. Madeline and Daphne must face the past and find out who is behind the killing and could this person know the truth about what happened 18 years ago?
I was quite looking forward to reading this book as I enjoy reading the historical novels Jayne Ann Krentz writes under the name of Amanda Quick.
I found the beginning of the book interesting, with a dark secret that is kept by a little group of people and how someone out there is apparently out to know the truth. What is the secret and who is after Madeline and Daphne?
And, at first, the book was good, easy to get into and a bit intriguing. Unfortunately, the book didn't turn out the way I thought it would. For one thing, everything points to one suspect in the book, and that made me quite sure that all this is a big red herring and that made me look for someone else that could be the big bad wolf instead. Secondly, the couple thing, two men, and two women. That bored me. It was so predictable and utterly uninteresting to read about. Perhaps it would have worked better if the characters had been a bit more interesting, but they were flat and their romance just made the reading less engaging.
The story was just not imaginative or suspenseful. It was predictable and it felt like something I read several times before. I was hoping for a story that would enthrall me, but it simply never really did that and the last 50 pages were a real struggle to get through. This book was just not for me.
Thank you Piatkus for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!...more
Two children discover their father dead in the morning, but is it a natural death or were he murdered? It's up to DS Jane Bennett and DI Mike Lockyer Two children discover their father dead in the morning, but is it a natural death or were he murdered? It's up to DS Jane Bennett and DI Mike Lockyer to figure it out.
DS Jane Bennett has been on leave since the brutal attack in the last book and now she is back and her first case is the death of a family father who after some investigation into his background is discovered to have some skeletons in his closets. But still, who would murder him. Could it be a close friend or a lover or his ex-wife? That's what Jane and DI Mike Lockyer have to figure out.
I read the second book in this series a couple of months ago and, despite that I didn't fully enjoy the whole book (a loose thread bothered me) was I intrigued enough to read this one. One thing that I'm a bit curious about is why the series is labeled the Mike Lockyer series since the two books I have read out of three has been just as much (if not more) about Jane Bennett as Mike Lockyer.
Anyway, I like both main characters, they work well together and they seem to be good friends, but I also have a feeling that there will be a time when their relationship will take a more romantic turn. It's only book three so who knows what will happen in the future.
The case was not a very strong or frankly intriguing case. Sometimes I feel that it's just too easy nowadays to figure out who the culprit is and for some strange reason I was suspicious of one of the characters almost from the start. But then again the title is Trust No One and I figured out that could mean that even the must unlikely person could be the one.
Still, it's a good book, easy to read. It was just not that thrilling to read. It's a decent crime novel, nothing more nothing less.
Thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!...more
In this book, Jack and Laura travel to Hanover, Pennsylvania, because Jack needs somewhere where he can starJack & Laura are back in a new adventure!
In this book, Jack and Laura travel to Hanover, Pennsylvania, because Jack needs somewhere where he can start a new Blackie Doyle book. His agent Mildred has strictly told him that he must write a really good book or less his contract won't be renewed. But Jack also has another reason for choosing Hanover as the town to stay as he writes his first chapters. Jack's last case for Pinkerton was in Hanover. And, the last case is a case that he has never forgotten because it was never solved. A young woman was killed and her killer was never caught. Could Jack after ten years finally find the killer?
It was great to return to the 30s and once again read another Jack & Laura mystery. For one thing, I love movies from this period and the fact that Laura is an actress that's working with some of the biggest names of the time is marvelous. And, that she seems to have a past history with William Powell is interesting. Now she is slated to star against Clark Gable, unfortunately, he was never in this book. But perhaps in the next book...
The mystery of a murdered teenager girl is tragic, especially since the killer has never been caught. And, now the time is running out for the girl's mother who is dying. But taking on this case is not easy for Jack, most of the townspeople want him to quit trying to find the killer and open up old wounds and he has a very important book to write. But he is not the one to give up.
This is the kind of charming adventure book I love to read. I do wish that it had been more Hollywood stars in this book. I love cameos from known actors. And, the one I'm most looking to see beside William Power is Humphrey Bogart. I know, Laura is going to star alongside Clark Gable, and that will be interesting. But. Bogart in this series, well wouldn't it be perfect when you think about what kind of movies he starred in?
One thing I really enjoyed was getting to know Mildred, Jack's agent, better. She has always been a tough dame, but learning more about her and her life really made me like her very much. This was a good book, I liked the case more than the last book, probably because it was more personal for Jack and also because it was not easy to figure out who the killer was.
3.5 stars
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!...more
Forensic sculptor, Eve Duncan saved Cara Delaney life in the previous book, SHADOW PLAY, but the threat to her life is not over. Cara and Eve leave foForensic sculptor, Eve Duncan saved Cara Delaney life in the previous book, SHADOW PLAY, but the threat to her life is not over. Cara and Eve leave for Scotland, where Eve's adoptive daughter Jane MacGurie is looking for a treasure that is said to be buried. But Cara is still in danger and the people after her will stop at nothing to get to her.
The story in HIDE AWAY takes up directly after SHADOW PLAY ended, and it can be confusing for someone who hasn't read the previous book to understand what is going on. Fortunately, you get an explanation to what happened in the previous book early on.
Ethan “Hercules” Holt won in his twenties the decathlon at the Olympics. But now thirteen years later is he teaching at his alma mater and raising hisEthan “Hercules” Holt won in his twenties the decathlon at the Olympics. But now thirteen years later is he teaching at his alma mater and raising his young daughter Skip and trying to move on with his life after his wife death five years earlier. But the day after his birthday party is Skip kidnapped and the kidnapper wants Ethan to perform the Twelve Labors of Hercules. If he fails will he never see her alive...
DIG TWO GRAVES is a well-written and intensive thriller about obsession. Ethan and Skip live an ordinary life in a small town and since there are just the two of them are they very close. But the birthday party that Skip had planned didn't turn out as she wanted it to. She was hurt that her father didn't seem to appreciate the movie about his life that she has made and that Ethan had invited Wendy his girlfriend to the party. But, Ethan notices they day after when he comes home after working that Skip has planned to cook dinner for him, but she has never got to it, she is gone...
I think Kim Powers has done tremendous work of writing a thriller that shows just how far a father would go to find his daughter. His love for Skip shines through the book and every obstacle he takes on pushes him closer to finding her and also learning the truth about the kidnapper. In the middle of the all we also have a young man that is looking for the truth from Ethan, is he involved with the kidnapping? I had my suspicious towards the end on whom the kidnapper would be, but that never ruined the reading. And, the ending was heartbreaking.
DIG TWO GRAVES is a great book and a perfect book for anyone that is looking for a good thriller....more
Magdalena aka A Bookaholic Swede
>
Books:
read-2015
(387)
Loading...
