When You Are Mine - Michael Robotham

Michael Robotham is a perennial favorite author for me. I don't bother reading the synopsis as I know I am going to enjoy whatever tale awaits me. The latest is When You Are Mine - a stand alone. 

Philomena McCarthy is an officer with the Met in London. She's passionate about her job and is a stickler for upholding the law, not cutting corners and protecting the public. She's also the daughter of a London crime family.

Phil responds to a domestic violence call and ends up arresting Darren Goodall, who just happens to be a decorated officer with Scotland Yard. And that's the beginning of a nightmare for Phil - although she doesn't know it yet. She is determined to help Tempe - the victim of the assault. Despite knowing she should set limits, Phil invites Tempe into her life. And that too may not have been the smartest thing to do.

Phil is a great lead character - she's smart, fearless and determined, a protagonist you'll be behind all the way. But, she has some blind spots and I myself shaking my head at some of the choices she makes. But of course those decisions drive the plot forward. Goodall is easy to despise. Tempe is complicated. Robotham did a fantastic job with her - she's hard to nail down - are her motives well meaning or does she have her own agenda? 

And, as always, Robotham's plotting will keep you reading until the wee hours. There are also some harsh realities to be found as well. I do hope we see Phil again, as well as her family. Despite the 'crime family' label, I quite liked her father and uncles.

I chose to listen to When You Are Mine. The reader was Katy Sobey, a favorite of mine. She speaks clearly and at a good speed, enunciates well and is easy to understand. Her voice is expressive, capturing the tone and emotion of the novel. And she is so versatile! Different voices and accents are used for the main players. They're easily identifiable and match the mental images I had of the players, both male and female. I have to say that the voice for Tempe is a stand out - lovely and chilling. An excellent performance of a great book from Sobey. Hear for yourself - Listen to an excerpt of When You Are Mine.

The Helpline - Katherine Collette

The Helpline is Katherine Collette's debut novel.

Germaine Johnson loves math and sudukos. She firmly believes that a formula can be found for everything in life. But such is not the case when an unfortunate happenstance at her insurance company job results in her being let go. But through a family connection she lands a job on a senior citizen's telephone helpline.

Although it is never specified, it is apparent that Germaine is somewhere on a spectrum - Asperger's? A telephone hotline is probably not the best fit for someone with her interests. But an unscrupulous city official has recognized that Germaine's naivete and attraction to a male Suduko player can be exploited.

And this is the part that saddened me. She has been taken advantage of more that once - the insurance company situation is particularly disheartening. But counterbalancing that are her new fellow employees at the council office. They are a quirky bunch, but for the most part good-hearted and accepting. They provide a needed balance to offset the nefarious mayor and counterparts. The seniors at the community center are also kind. And are also being taken advantage of.

And yes, you can see where the book is going to go. Can Germaine see and participate in life beyond the narrow constraints she has set for herself? Find friends and a new place for herself? Do the seniors take back their center? And is the mayor thwarted?

I liked the premise, but I must admit to having a harder time liking Germaine. I felt like I should be drawn to her as she's the lead character. But I wasn't. She is written with many hard edges and an inability to feel sympathy or empathy. This may be attributable to her 'condition', but I think I was expecting someone more like Don in The Rosie Project. Likable.

There are some funny moments in The Helpline. (I enjoyed the workplace fight for the biscuits) But I didn't find so many that I agreed with the idea that this would be a charmingly funny debut.

The ending provides a turn that I think it supposed to be humourous, but it fell flat for me and only solidified my inability to be on board with Germaine. Sadly, this book was just okay for me.

Aussie Jane U’Brien was the reader. Her voice is easy to interpret and listen to. She gives supporting players easily distinguishable voices and tones. She interprets the work well, giving movement to the words. There are easily differentiated from Germaine's voice. For Germain, she has used a lower timbre with a growly tone that  suited the cantankerous tone of Germaine's thoughts and actions. This voice suited, But. Germaine is a difficult character to depict as she is described as speaking in a flat and often monotone voice. U'Brien did a good job of narrating the book. Listen to an excerpt.

Others quite liked The Helpline - you can find those reviews on Goodreads.

Giveaway - Into the Night - Sarah Bailey

Into the Night is the follow up to Sarah Bailey's award winning debut novel and again features Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock. And I have a copy to giveaway to one lucky reader!

 From Grand Central Publishing:

"After the shocking murder of a high-profile celebrity, Gemma Woodstock must pull back the layers of a gilded cage to discover who among the victim's friends and family can be trusted--and who may be the killer.

Troubled and brilliant, Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock finds herself lost and alone after a recent move to Melbourne, brokenhearted by the decisions she's had to make. Her new workplace is a minefield and Detective Sergeant Nick Fleet, the partner she has been assigned, is uncommunicative and often hostile. When a homeless man is murdered and Gemma is put on the case, she can't help feeling a connection with the victim and his lonely, isolated existence.

Then Sterling Wade, an up-and-coming actor filming his breakout performance in a closed-off city street, is murdered in the middle of an action-packed shot, and Gemma and Nick have to put aside their differences to unravel the mysteries surrounding the actor's life and death. Who could commit such a brazen crime? Who stands to profit from it? Far too many people, and none of them can be trusted. Gemma can't imagine a pair of victims with less in common--and yet as Gemma and Fleet soon learn, both men were keeping secrets that may have led to their deaths.

With riveting suspense, razor-sharp writing, and a fascinating cast of characters, Into the Night proves Sarah Bailey is a major new talent to watch in the world of literary crime fiction." Read an excerpt of Into the Night.

"Sarah Bailey was born in Melbourne, Australia, where she has lived all her life and currently resides with her two young sons. She has a degree in journalism and has a career in advertising. She is currently a partner at the creative agency Mr Smith." You can connect with Sarah Bailey on her website, like her on Facebook, follow her on Twitter and on Instagram.

If you'd like to read Into the Night, enter to win a copy using the Rafflecopter form below. Open to US and Canada, no po boxes please. Ends December 22/18.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Clockmaker's Daughter - Kate Morton

Kate Morton is one of my favourite writers. Every time I finish one of her books, I'm sure it's the best one yet. And it is, until the next one comes along. The Clockmaker's Daughter is her latest - and yes, it's the best one yet!

Morton again employs all the elements that are hallmarks of her work. Past and present narratives, houses, their history, love lost, love found, an element of other otherworldliness this time and so much more.

"My real name, no one remembers. The truth about that summer, no one else knows."

Summer 1862. A group of artists and friends plan to spend a month at Edward Radcliffe's new home, Birchwood Manor. But before the month is out, one of them will be dead, a priceless heirloom is missing and Edward's life will never the same. Over one hundred and fifty years later, Elodie, a young archivist, uncovers photographs that seem somehow familiar to her....

"The woman in the white gloves unlatched the dull silver buckle and the satchel held its breath. Open me, open me, open me....She pushed back its leather strap and for the first time in over a century light swept into the satchel's dark corners."

The past has always fascinated me, bits of history and lore woven into family stories. Pictures of those now gone, houses now emptied. What is their story? I was immediately drawn to Elodie and couldn't wait to discover and uncover what happened in the past at Birchwood and why she seems to know the house. But it's not only Elodie we hear from. The past is unfolded from many different, yet intertwined viewpoints and time frames. Each and every one of those characters are so very well drawn. All of them have a connection to Birchwood Manor and feel inexplicably drawn to the house.

"Edward used to say that the river possessed a primeval memory of everything that had ever happened. It occurs to me that this house is like that, too. It remembers, just as I do. It remembers everything." It is this voice that I found the most poignant - the voice in the house. (No spoilers, so not saying another word about this.)

Kate Morton's descriptions are so wonderful. The house sprang alive for me - I could feel the warm spot on the turn of the stairs, smell the flowers in the garden, envision myself under a shady tree listening to the sound of the river going by.

I started reading slower as I realized I was reaching the end. I knew what was coming and I just didn't want to face it. But I wanted to see how all of those threads and lives would weave together.

My review doesn't do this book justice. But suffice it to say that I loved it. Absolutely, positively recommended. Pick up a copy for snowy nights reading. Read an excerpt of The Clockmaker's Daughter.

"Each clock is unique, he used to tell me. And just like a person, its face, whether plain or pretty, is but a mask for the intricate mechanism it concealed."

Three Little Lies - Laura Marshall - Review AND Giveaway

Laura Marshall follows up the success of her debut novel, Friend Request, with the just released Three Little Lies.

Three Little Lies is told over the course of fifteen years, flipping back and forth between then and now. In 2005, teenage Ellen is happily drawn into Sasha's family life - until an event on New Year's Eve changes the lives of everyone concerned. In 2017, Sasha goes missing. And Ellen is afraid that the past is not done with them all. Questions arise - how well does she really know Sasha.....

I always enjoy a back and forth narrative. It lets the reader take those pieces from the past and apply them to the mystery in current day. Marshall directs the reader's attention back and forth between possible suspects, but sharp readers may suss out the whodunit before the last pages.

Although Three Little Lies is a mystery, it also explores teenage angst, friendship and coming of age. Those early years definitely affect the future. Ellen is the lead character and she fills the 'good' role. The others are all damaged, suspicious and have questionable motives. And are all pretty unlikable.

I do feel the timeline could have been tightened up a bit, but overall a solid read.  Here's an excerpt of Three Little Lies.

"Laura Marshall was born in Melbourne, Australia, where she has lived all her life and currently resides with her two young sons. She has a degree in journalism and has a career in advertising. She is currently a partner at the creative agency Mr Smith." You can connect with Laura Marshall on her website, like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter. 

And if you'd like to read Three Little Lies, I have a copy to giveaway, courtesy of Grand Central Publishing. Enter using the Rafflecopter form below, open to US and Canada, no PO boxes please. Ends Sept 15/18.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Dark Lake - Sarah Bailey - Review AND Giveaway

The Dark Lake is Australian author Sarah Bailey's debut novel.

DS Gemma Woodstock is the lead investigator in a rural Aussie town. When a woman is found dead in a local lake, Gemma recognizes her from their high school days. But she downplays this connection. Why? "It's amazing what you can keep buried when you want to." The dead woman is an enigma - her students adored her and her colleagues admired her. But as the investigation continues, Gemma discovers that no one really 'knows' Rosalind, including her own family.

Bailey sets up the reader with not one, but two mysteries - who killed Rosanind and what event occurred in Gemma's past that she is so determined to keep hidden.

Gemma was an interesting lead character. She's smart and driven to find answers. But. She's also playing a dangerous game with her personal life. I didn't agree with the choices she was making and the actions she took to pursue that choice. I can't say that I liked her partner Felix either. I was intrigued by Rosalind. We only get to 'know' her from other's memories and observations though. I would have like a peek into her life from her own point of view.

Bailey's use of the 'then and now' technique gives the reader small glimpses into Gemma's past and then flips back to the present. The book is equally divided into a search for the killer and a character driven exploration of Gemma and her life.

Bailey gives us lots of options and characters to choose from for the closing 'whodunit' and the final answer was clever. I did find the reveal of Gemma's secret to be a bit of a letdown and the resolution she finds in her personal life in the final pages to be somewhat cliched. The book weighs in at 400+ pages. I feel this could have been tightened up a bit, as Gemma's dilemma became somewhat repetitive after awhile and I found my interest slipping.

I think this may be the first in a series. If so, I would be curious to see where Bailey next takes her character. Read an excerpt of The Dark Lake.

I think The Dark Lake is a solid debut, but the publisher's comparisons to Tana French and Paula Hawkins may be a bit ambitious at this stage of Bailey's career. I think I'm in the minority on this one, so please weigh in if you've read it already.

If you'd like to read The Dark Lake, I have a copy to giveaway. Enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Open to US and Canada, ends Oct. 28/17.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Secrets She Keeps - Michael Robotham

Michael Robotham is hands down one of my favourite authors. His latest is a stand alone called The Secrets She Keeps. And oh, it is so very good!

Agatha works in a grocery store part time. She's joyfully awaiting the arrival of her baby. And she's hoping to hear from the father of the baby who is out at sea. Meghan shops at Agatha's store and is also expecting a baby - her third. Meghan has all the advantages that Agatha doesn't - money, a large home, two other children, a successful enterprise and a husband. Agatha discovers that they are both due in the same month and and initiates a conversation. This contact looms larger in Agatha's mind, but both women are harbouring secrets....

The secrets are slowly revealed and one of the women has a secret agenda. Robotham's slow revealing of each woman's secrets and true nature makes for an absolutely addicting read/listen. And even though one of the women's actions are appalling, I found myself feeling sorry for her and hoping that maybe things would go her way. I am being deliberately obtuse as I don't want to spoil things for you. But what I can say is that this is one of my top reads for 2017. Loved it! And if you like psychological suspense this one's for you.

I chose to listen to The Secrets She Keeps in audio format. I find that some stories are even better when given a 'voice.' That was most definitely the case this time. The reader was Lucy Price-Lewis. She was wonderful. She had two very different voices for each character, making it easy to differentiate who is speaking. Her accents for each provided a vivid mental images. Her voice is easy to understand, pleasant to listen to and very expressive. She captured the tone of  Robotham's plot and characters. I felt immersed in the story.  Listen to an excerpt of The Secrets She Keeps. (scroll to the bottom)

You can connect with Michael Robotham on his website and follow him on Twitter.