Mrs. Potter Calling - AJ Pearce

I absolutely adore AJ Pearce's Emmy Lake chronicles. The third entry - Mrs. Potter Calling - has just released.

What's to love?

The characters! Pearce has created an absolutely delightful character in Emmy. She's plucky, irrepressible and so darn likeable. The supporting cast includes her best friend Bunty, and the magazine staff who are just as well drawn. Additional players have been added on with every book, including this latest. I've become quite invested in the storyline of each and every player.

What magazine you ask? Well, it's called Women's Friend. Emmy started out as a junior and is now taking a larger role in the day to day duties of the magazine. But dearest to her heart is the "Yours Cheerfully" advice column. But, Women's Friend has a new owner - the Honorable Mrs. Potter. And although she comes across as upbeat and personable...well, you'll see.

British magazines in this vein are still printing today - I've read more than one myself. Pearce took her inspiration for these books "when I came across a 1939 copy of a women's magazine. It was a wonderful find - a glimpse into an era and world where I could read about everything from recipes for lamb's brain stew to how to knit your own swimwear."

The books are set in the WWII years in London, England. Pearce captures the heartache, the danger as well as the flip side - the 'can do' effort, the 'keep calm and carry on' attitude, the making do, the joy in camaraderie and simple things. 

Although you could read this as a standalone, I encourage you to read the first two books - they're just as delightful as this latest. 

I chose to listen to Mrs. Potter Calling. The narrator was Anna Popplewell and she was the perfect choice. Her voice embodied the mental image I had created for Emmy. Popplewell also voiced the first two books and the continuity is appreciated. She has a lovely rich British accent that is very pleasant to listen to. She enunciates well and speaks at a good speed. Her voice has movement, rising and falling as she narrates. She easily captures the emotions of the characters, the tone of situations and the action of the book with her voice. And the voice for Mrs. Potter is fabulous! An excellent performance. Hear for yourself - listen to an excerpt of Mrs. Potter Calling.

An five star tale and a five star performance. Absolutely one of my favorite series. I hope you enjoy them as well.

Remarkably Bright Creatures - Shelby Van Pelt

I was intrigued by the premise of Shelby Van Pelt's debut novel - Remarkably Bright Creatures. And I was hooked by the first few chapters.

Tova's son Eric died over thirty years ago and her husband is gone as well. She has coped with her grief by cleaning, both at home and on the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. She's the only one there at night and often speaks to the creatures who live in the tanks. Including Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus. No, he's not a talking octopus, but he is a sentient being.

Tova's grief is tangible, evidenced by the way she cleans and tidies, keeping her heartbreak locked away behind the façade she presents to the world. She's a lead character that you simple can't help like and feel for. There's a quirky group of supporting players. Ethan, the local Sowell Bay grocer - and gossip. And Cameron, a young man who jumps from job to job, searching for what is missing from his life. And a few more as well, including Tova's friends, the Knit Wits.

Tova, Cameron and Marcellus are given voices. The listener can see the tendrils of connection between the three lives. But how Van Pelt weaves those threads is an absolute joy to listen to. Van Pelt deftly explores grief, loss, love, family and friendship in this book. Heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. The ending brought me both joy and sadness.

The narrators were Marin Ireland and Michael Urie. Ireland is a longtime favourite of mine. She's quite talented, providing easily identifiable voices for each character. Tova's voice is crisp, clean and unfailingly polite. The Scottish brogue for Ethan was spot on. As well as a believable voice for Cameron that matched his age and personality. And if that wasn't enough - all of the supporting players had different voices as well. Ireland's reading is clear, well enunciated and easy to understand. Her speed of reading is perfect. Michael Urie's interpretation of Marcellus was absolutely perfect - a dry, droll, sarcastic tone, with a rich timbre. He also conveys the sadness of Marcellus with his voice. Both narrators interpret the plot well and bring Van Pelt's story to life. I've said it before - listening to a book draws me deeper into a story. That's definitely the case here. Hear for yourself - listen to an audio excerpt of Remarkably Bright Creatures. Great book, great performances. 

Remarkably Bright Creatures is an amazing first book. It's hands down one of my favorites for 2022. I can't wait to see what Van Pelt writes next!

And just because I was curious, I looked up the great Pacific octopus. They are indeed quite intelligent ' "Like other octopuses, the giant Pacific octopus is extremely intelligent and has been observed opening jars and mimicking other species."

The Stolen Hours - Allen Eskens

I read Allen Eskens' award winning debut novel, The Life We Bury, back in 2014 - and every book he's written since. They've all been fantastic reads and I can't recommend Eskens enough. 

His latest is The Stolen Hours. We first met Joe and Lila in The Life We Bury. It's Lila who takes center stage in this latest. She almost has her law degree and just needs to put in her time working with a prosecutor in the Hennepin County Attorney's office. Faithful readers will know of Lila's struggles to get this far. But the past comes barreling at her with a prosecutor who is determined to derail her dreams. Even worse is a suspect that Lila thinks has ties to her own past.

Lila is such a great character. She's so likeable and real - wounded, determined, clever and more. Eskens does a great job portraying her inner thoughts, struggles, trauma and memories realistically. The reader will be one hundred percent behind her. Joe makes a cameo and I hope Eskens has more in store for him. The supporting cast were just as well drawn, with Detective Nikki Vang returning and introducing prosecutor Andie Fitch. I hope she too is included in future novels.

I love a good mystery and courtroom battle. Eskens is a former defense attorney and that inside knowledge adds much to his plotting. The 'bad guy' in this case? A malevolent man named Gavin. He's quite sure he is smarter than the cops, his lawyer and the prosecutors. After all, he's been at this for awhile and has a foolproof plan if he's ever arrested. He's given a (chilling) voice with his own chapters. And I have to say that I was completely fooled by Eskens as to the whodunit! I love being unable to predict the final pages. 

Eskens' writing flows easily and makes for addictive reading - I devoured The Stolen Hours in a day. See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Stolen Hours.

The Silent Wife - Karin Slaughter

I eagerly await every new book that Karin Slaughter writes. It doesn't matter - stand alones or series. Her newest book, The Silent Wife is the tenth entry in the Will Trent series.

(Side note - this could absolutely be read as a stand alone, but you're missing out on some great reads if you've not read the previous books)

Will is an agent with the GBI. While investigating a riot at the prison, one inmate demands to talk to an agent. He insists that he is innocent, the killer is still out there and that he was railroaded by Sheriff Jeffrey Tolliver. Tolliver is the now deceased husband of Will's girlfriend (and coroner) Sara Linton. Whew, that is just the bare bones - there is so much more to this plot - did I forget to mention the serial killer?

Long time characters return - Will's partner Faith, Will's boss Amanda and....oh yes, the character I've loved to hate - Lena. Lena is a detective now, but her background, her actions and her time working under Tolliver (and now) are sketchy. And....there are chapters from the past through Jeffrey's point of view.

Slaughter's writing is amazing, her plotting is stellar and the characters are ones I've come to know and care about. (most of them.) The relationship between Will and Sara is also explored in The Silent Wife. Will is a wounded soul and Sara is carrying her own baggage. No sappy stuff here - but an exploration that suits the characters. (And I admit it - I'm a little infatuated with Will myself.)

An absolutely brilliant read! And - there's more to come - I can't wait for the next in this series!

The Daughters of Foxcote Manor - Eve Chase

Oh. my. gosh. I cannot tell you how much I loved Eve Chase's new book, The Daughters of Foxcote Manor!!

After a tragedy in London, Mrs. Harrington, her son and daughter move to the family's country home. With them is Rita, a naive nanny who loves the Harrington children. The danger and tension ramp up - and nothing will ever be the same for any of them.

What's not to love? 1970 England. An isolated, crumbling house in a forest. The forest itself is hiding many secrets. An older housekeeper who insinuates herself into the lives of the inhabitants. Danger in the form of a husband and a lover, each vying for the same woman. There's a Gothic feel to this part of the book.

The story at Foxcote Manor is alternated with a second timeline. Forty years forward Sylvie is making changes in her life. She has decided to leave her husband and start over. But, the fact is she has never really addressed her own start in life. Not until her daughter uncovers a cache of newspaper clippings in her ailing grandmother's home.

How Chase ties these two stories together is brilliant. There are so many threads from the past that weave into the present  - in ways I hadn't seen coming.

The characters were so well drawn. My heart was with Rita. The relationships are just as well developed - complicated, intricate and entwined. The plotting is so imaginative and unique. And the settings will draw the reader in. For me, it was the forest that called.

Chase's writing is so very, very good - she is a brilliant storyteller. And it makes for addicting reading.  I can't recommend The Daughters of Foxcote Manor enough. Have a look - read an excerpt.

Fans of Kate Morton will want to read The Daughters of Foxcote Manor - or any of Chase's books - I've read and loved them all.