Don't Let Him In - Lisa Jewell

I always like to stop and take a good look at a cover before turning the first pages. Lisa Jewell's new novel - Don't Let Him In - had me curious. About halfway it struck me! Very clever!

And it's not just the cover that is clever. The plot is wonderfully byzantine. I am going to be purposefully obtuse and hope that I don't give anything away! There are three players who have who have something in common...

The narratives change rapidly. The reader has all of that information but the characters are limited in what they know. I had more than a few words for one of the players.

Jewell kept me up turning pages. I just had to know what happens. 

You must add Don't Let Him In to your beach bag! See for yourself - read an excerpt. 

  

So Far Gone -- Jess Walter

I had many people telling that I would love Jess Walther's new book - So Far Gone. So - I picked up an audio version and settled in to listen.

Rhys Kinnick has gone off the grid. But when his grandchildren are in danger....there's no question. He's going to save them. And can he save himself?

Honestly, I bounced between laughing and crying. There are many truths in Rhys’s beliefs, his history, his actions and reactions and more. He’s forced to step into his past with a second look. What about the future? He’s just such a wonderful lead character. And the supporting cast was just as well drawn.

Now, there’s a lot of light hearted situations and dialogue. But things get darker as you get closer to the end of the book. It was really late when I got to that section.. And I couldn’t stop listening. There’s much food for thought in So Far Gone.

Edoardo Ballerini was the narrator and he did a fantastic job of it. I find that sometimes I become more immersed in a tale. This was the case with So Far Gone. Ballerini captures the actions, the thoughts, dangers and more with his voice. He has created voices for all of the characters that suit and it's easy to know who is speaking. His his voice is clear and easy to understand. A wonderful presentation of a wonderful novel.

Hear for yourself - listen to an audio clip.

The East End Girls - Jean Fullerton - Blog Tour!

Don't you love coming across the first book in a new series that you just know you're going to enjoy it? I did! The East End Girls is Jean Fullerton's new book. It's set in 1942 East London, Britain.

I really enjoy WW2 historical fiction. But it's not all fiction. Our lead character is Effie Weston. She is one of a number of women who are learning how to launch a Barrage Balloon. I did not know about the Balloons before this book - it was fascinating.

I quite like Effie as a lead character - she's intelligent and determined to support the war effort. There's a good number of supporting players as well. I mostly enjoyed them. But...there is always a bad apple. It will be easy to find them. And of course - a romance!

The settings are well described and easy to imagine. The mind sets, the shortages, the mores, and the attitudes of the citizens are very well written. The realties are there.

I really enjoyed The East End Girls. I'll be looking for the second book! Check what other bloggers thought below.

Born and bred in East London, Jean was a District Nurse by trade working throughout East

London. She has published twenty-three sagas, including the popular World War Two Ration Book series, which, like all her books, is set in East London. Jean has also written her autobiography A Child of the East End , about growing up in post-war Stepney and Wapping. She is currently working on first book of her new four book WW2 series.

The Friendship Fling - Georgia Stone

It’s very hot in my part of the country right now. And author Georgia Stone turns up the heat even higher with her new book, The Friendship Fling! This book is most definitely a beach read!

Ava is a barista in a coffee shop. She doesn’t really love her job. Her love life is a series of one night stands. And then Finn walks into the café. He’s in London for six months on a work contract. And Ava can’t stand him. He talks too much, he’s upbeat and he’s got a list of things he wants to do before he leaves the country.

I really enjoyed the back-and-forth of this pair. Each of them have chapters, but it is Ava that drives the tale. The supporting characters are well drawn and have their parts to play.

Now you might think that you know what’s going to happen in this book. And you might be right, but you’ll enjoy the journey to get there! Beach reading for sure!

Fifty Fifty - Steve Cavanagh

I just finished Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh. I really enjoyed it and was quite happy to read another book featuring lawyer Eddie Flynn and his supporting crew - Fifty Fifty. 

Neat fact - Cavanagh  is a lawyer himself. He is now a full time writer - and his books benefit from his 'insider' knowledge. 

 

The premise of this case is another great idea. Two sisters each call 911, reporting that their father has been killed - by their sister! Which one is telling the truth? Who is a killer? Well, we readers are privy to what "She" has done...and it's downright scary! 

I really liked the 'behind' machinations of the trial. If you like twists and turns, you'll find them in Fifty Fifty. It's a page turner!

Note that you can read these as stand alones. 

Nightshade - Michael Connelly

I had heard that Michael Connelly had a new book out -  Nightshade. What I had missed was that this was the first book in a new series!

I was reticent to jump up and down until I had a few chapters under my belt. After that, I was on board. 

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Detective Stilwell has been moved back to policing Catalina Island. It's beautiful but he's capable of so much more. When a body is found in the harbor he goes to work. But he's told to let the mainland detectives in charge and to stay out of it. Yeah, you know what happens right? He can't stop...

Connelly has done an excellent job in creating a lead that you can't help but be behind. The plotting kept me engaged from first page to last. The supporting cast are well drawn. The set is well drawn and actual places are included.

Just a winner all round! I'll be waiting for book number 2.

Marble Hall Murders - Anthony Horowitz

A new book from Anthony Horowitz is such a treat. I think he is such a talented author. His new book, Marble Hall Murders is so very clever!

Marble Hall Murders gives us a book inside a book again. Editor Susan Ryeland returns as well. She’s out of work so she’s agreed to work with Eliot, a new author on Pund’s Last Case. After a reading, she’s found similarities and deliberate clues to a death in Eliot’s family. Was it an accident or a murder…?

I dove into the book and honestly forgot that I was lost in the manuscript. Scrambling out, I was still in a fictitious tale. I adored the fictional Detective Pund. He reminded me of Hercule Poitou in his methodology and mannerisms.

For those of you that are like me and try to solve the mystery before the final pages - I wasn’t able to do it. There’s twists, turns, red herrings, and more it kept me guessing till the last pages. Absolutely recommended for those who love 'old school' mysteries, where the answers are in deduction, not DNA.