Tag Archives: book blogger

February 13, 2024 · 8:00 pm

The Final Hours of Muriel Hinchcliffe MBE by Claire Parkin – a review

When this suggestion popped up from netgalley I thought it sounded intriguing so was delighted to be accepted for a copy.

Muriel lives with her friend Ruth. They have been best friends since they were small and have shared everything, even things that shouldn’t be shared. Muriel was a best selling romantic novelist but her declining health means she no longer writes and Ruth has to act as her carer. When Muriel makes a shocking announcement Ruth realises that her life will never be the same again.

This was a really compelling read that I absolutely loved. This tale of two friends was one that I thought about a long time after it had finished. There were bits where I had to go back and reread to try and see if what I thought was the case had been signposted before and often it had but equally often I was completely off track.

The Final Hours of Muriel Hinchcliffe MBE was a great portrayal of how friendship can go sour and shines a light on how many friendships are products of history and circumstance rather than desire and respect. They were two people who have been so focused on each other in an unhealthy way to the exclusion of all others that they couldn’t see anything beyond their toxic relationship.

I really enjoyed the dynamic of the story, it was told through the view point of Muriel and so it is a very one sided tale. This gives the reader a sense of how trapped she feels whilst you also get a feeling of menace hidden underneith as you know you are getting a biased tale yet can’t work out exactly who is telling the truth. I thought this was really well written novel, the story was utterley absorbing and I felt like I was a fly on the wall observing a private relationship.

The story flits backwards and forwards as the friendship starts to fracture under pressure, whilst the background that led them to this situation is gradually revealed. The ending seemed to be incredibly sad yet somehow it was fitting. It was one of those endings where you close the book (or put the kindle down in my case) and just stop and sit for a moment.

I would definitely recommend reading this.

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January 31, 2024 · 4:43 pm

The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen – a review

I must confess I’m not always a massive fan of spy novels, yet I love Tess Gerritsen so was keen to give this a go, and I was certainly not disappointed. 

The Spy Coast introduces us to Maggie Bird, chicken farmer, good neighbour just your average retiree living quietly and enjoying life with her ‘book group’ which is nick named the Martini Club. However when a dead body turns up on Maggie’s doorstep it seems that her past is coming back to haunt her and the Martini Club are going to have to come out of retirement.

I absolutely loved this gripping, funny and charming wild ride of a spy tale. Told from multiple viewpoints and with multiple timelines it was a great story that had me absolutely hooked. The writing was the high quality you expect from Tess Gerritsen and it moves seamlessly backwards and forwards.

I liked the main character of Maggie, she was smart and clever yet also showed her soft side that her years as a spy hadn’t quite managed to wear out of her. The group as a whole all seemed believable and I loved the way they all turned up with food whenever a crisis was happening. People dealing with the criminal underworld and saving the country still have time to cook a moussaka for friends.

The story itself was interesting and the flashbacks gave us an insight into Maggie’s history and what has lead to the point of the story we meet her. The ending was also enjoyable and fingers crossed it means there will be a second installment. 

Since I read this every conversation I’ve overhead on my many recent train trips where people are talking about travelling lots I’ve assumed they are a spy which has certainly made listening into conversations even more interesting. I for one can’t wait to see what the Martini Club and Maggie Bird do next.

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December 4, 2023 · 8:44 pm

Murder Mile by Lynda La Plante – a review BLOG TOUR

So this week it is back to the 70’s as we find out what Jane Tennison is up to in number 4 of her series.

Murder Mile takes us back to 1979 and Jane is now a Detective Sergent in Peckham. When two bodies are found in two days it seems the only link is the location of the bodies. When a third body is found the press are soon jumping on the story and the headlines are proclaiming that it’s a murder mile. The police are under pressure to catch a killer before they strike again and as the investigation progresses Jane soon comes under the spotlight.

Murder Mile was another superb read from Lynda La Plante is a series that I am throughly enjoying. I felt that this time the story had almost been ramped up a bit. There were some quite grim descriptions of the crime, and as Jane rises through the ranks so to does the pressure she is under as she tries to balance the demands of her job with the demands of her family. As always there is also the background of mysogeny and sexism that was rife at the time, although it does seem as though Jane is gradually gaining some respect.

I am really enjoying the setting of these books. The actual detective work within these books is fascinating and it is interesting to read about investigations before the modern day trappings of things like the internet and DNA testing. 1979 was the winter of discontent apparently with strikes causing wide spread disruption (some things never change) and this gave a really interesting background to the story giving it an almost ‘pressure cooker’ feel about it. You could sense the tension in the atmosphere as the police fight to keep control.

The crime itself was a good story that I found interesting, and it kept me guessing throughout. The twists and red herrings meant I had no idea where it would end up.

This was another fantastic instalment and huge thanks to Zaffre books and Tracey at Compulsive Readers for the chance to be part of #teamtennison.

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November 30, 2023 · 4:57 pm

Anna O by Matthew Blake a review

A recent rather long train trip to London gave me ample time to catch up on some netgalley reading, so my first choice this time was Anna O by Matthew Blake.

Anna O hasn’t opened her eyes for over 4 years, not since the night that her two best friends were found murdered and she had the murder weapon in her hands. She soon became a worldwide sensation. Those who believed her to be innocent call her Anna O, those who think she committed double murder call her Sleeping Beauty. Dr Price thinks he can wake her up, but what if waking her up is just the start?

I really enjoyed this story of a sleep disorder specialist who wants to crack the crime of the century. It is a very suspenseful story yet at the same time is a real slow burner. The story is told through the eyes of Benedict as well as flash backs to Anna’s life and varying diaries and newspaper articles. This gives the story an interesting dynamic as you almost feel that you are discovering the truth alongside Benedict.

The characters are a mixed bunch of people, all of whom have secrets they are hiding. The more we delve into the mystery the more blurred the lines become between good and bad as motivations are revealed and backstory appears.

As is the case with all good stories there are plenty of twists and turns along the way. Anna’s homelife is revealed through her diaries and we gain an understanding of the Sleeping Beauty. Whilst there were some bits that felt a little repetitive and padded out, overall this was a really intriguing read that I can imagine being a huge success when it comes out next year.

Anna O is released on the 1st February 2023m get it on amazon here.

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