I Hope This Finds You Well - Natalie Sue

Okay, you know that feeling you get when you start to read a debut novel - and you can't put it down? Yeah, that's what happened to me when I started to read I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue. 

Jolene works as an admin for a large company. She does her best to hide in her pod, and interacts with the other staffers as little as she possibly can. Which works out, as they ignore her. Jolene has a way she uses to get back at them, but it backfires on her. She's now on HR's radar. But....someone in HR has messed up - and Jolene can see everyone's email - and what they're really thinking. Hmm, there are so many ways this tale could go... 

Having worked in similar setting, I could empathize with Jolene. I  was appalled and angered by the treatment she received from the others. Sue has filled the office with easily identifiable personalities. (I has some flashbacks from the television show The Office.)

Sue takes us home with Jolene as well. What is happening at work is only one issue. She's also carrying trauma from her past and there's pressure from her Persian family to get married and do well at work.  

Now, it might sound like heavy reading, but it is - and it isn't. I can't tell you how many times I laughed out loud. Rather than think 'heavy' I think of it as introspective and taking back yourself. I think that everyone that reads this book will recognize something that speaks to them.

I Hope This Finds You Well is a wonderful debut, one I can easily recommend. See for yourself - read an excerpt.

The Cleaner - Brandi Wells

The Cleaner is Brandi Wells' debut novel. 

The Cleaner is the lead character - her real name is never used or mentioned. She works nights in an office building and is fond of the fourth floor. Or I should say, she is fond of those who work there. But, she's never met any of them. However, she's come to know them through their desks, what she finds in their drawers, what's left out on top, what they've left in the fridge, and what's on their computers. She's got names for everyone, but not their real ones. Instead it's Yarn Guy, Mr. Buff, Mr. Trying Too Hard and so many more.

"I clean the offices and bathrooms and lobby five nights a week, but my actual job is to take care of everyone. They need so much help." "I see it all the time. These are the people need me the most.

As the book continued I wondered what that help would look like. How does she know what they need? Why does she do this? Is she dangerous? Or lonely? The only other people she talks to are the night security guard and delivery person. They too are only named with a single letter - M and L.

Wells has created a character that had me changing my perception of her from chapter to chapters. It's hard to not feel for her. She needs to be needed and has found a way to get that, albeit without the recipients being aware of what goes on at night.

The book was a slow burn for me, with things being repeated their way to the final pages. I thought the plotline might be headed to a different ending than the one Wells has written. It is fitting though,

I think there's a good lesson woven into the book, alongside our protagonist's needs. Truly, just treat everyone as you want to be treated. See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Cleaner. 

 

Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop - Jenny Colgan

Jenny Colgan is hands down one of my favorite authors. I'm always waiting for her new titles. And....Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop is here! 

Now, this sequel picks up where it let off in 'The Christmas Bookshop'. You can absolutely read this latest as a stand alonn - but you'd be missing a wonderful tale. I say buy them both for yourself for Christmas.

Why do I enjoy Colgan's books so much? Well, the characters are wonderfully drawn. I always feel like I'd love to meet them all and join in. In this sequel, I feel like I'm catching up with old friends. The players are not perfect, instead they feel like real people. There's always a romantic timeline that isn't quite a straight journey. I love the yes, no, maybe so trip to the final pages. Carmen is a wonderful lead, but the supporting cast is just as fun, full of quirky personalities.  I do have to say that her nieces steal the show on more than one occasion.

The settings are wonderful as well. I'd love to live in many of the places Colgan visits or imagines. This time we're again at McCredie’s little Old Town bookshop in Edinburgh. Oh, I want to visit, or heck, work there! The descriptions of the books in the shop are so detailed. Colgan adds to this location in this new book. There are more and more little alcoves, brim full of old books. Make that treasures. And some unexpected rooms upstairs. Carmen is doing everything she can to keep the shop running, but is it going to be enough? 

Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop is a book you can easily escape into. And I know you'll love it. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop. More please!

Kill Show - Daniel Sweren-Becker

Daniel Sweren-Becker's new book is Kill Show: A True Crime Novel.

Now, here's the thing...Kill Show is a work of fiction. But, what do the title and cover remind you of? Crime podcasts, crime books? How about true crime shows on your favorite streaming service? Uh huh, me too.

Sweren-Becker has employed one of my favorite styles of storytelling in Kill Show - a modern epistolary form. Television episodes, diary entries, texts, message boards, conversations, interviews and more. 

"This is the testimony of twenty-six people who played a role in the events surrounding Sara's disappearance." 

I was absolutely hooked by this sentence and couldn't wait to see for myself! My only worry was if I could keep track of twenty six players. No worries, as the character speaking is identified every time. Having so many players opens up many avenues, views, actions, interactions, truths and lies. As readers, it's so much fun to try and ferret out the truth and find Sara. Sweren-Becker does not make it easy for us - there are some crazy twists and turns! Foreshadowing is dropped at the end of more than one chapter to great effect.

So - fantastic story telling, a wide panorama of characters, an addicting format, and a crime to be solved. But, Sweren-Beckers also asks the reader another question. What is our fascination with true crime? Are shows such as this helpful? Or hurtful? Can you believe what you see? "Is this entertainment or exploitation"?

Kill Show is an easy five star read for me. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Kill Show.

Murder Most Royal - SJ Bennett

SJ Bennett has just released Murder Most Royal, the third book in the 'Her Majesty the Queen Investigates' series. I've read the previous two entries and have quite enjoyed them.

This third book takes place at Christmas 2016 at Queen Elizabeth's beloved Sandringham House. I love the details Bennett gives her physical settings. It lets me create vivid mental images, not just of Sandringham, but other settings that the book visits. And it's at one of those other locations that a severed hand, still wearing a signet ring, is found. It is the Queen who identifies the ring. 

Now, the Queen is not the one physically investigating. But she is conducting a secret inquiry of her own alongside the formal investigation. She again employs her Assistant Private Secretary Rozie Oshodi, to be her eyes, ears and legs, reporting back only to her. This time around the Queen is doing more investigating herself than in the previous two books. She knows all of the family ties of her titled neighbours and uses that information to gently direct the constabulary.

I initially had concerns over how the Queen would be portrayed in that first book. Well, I didn't need to worry. She is drawn as kind, gracious, wise, highly intelligent, well-spoken, observant, but imposing as well. All quite true. Her inner dialogue is a treat to read and her sense of humor is dry, as are her observations about her Royal family. The relationship between the Queen And Prince Phillip is lovely and loving

Rozie brings her own take on things as well. Bennett weaves current events from 2016, such as Brexit, through the book. 

The plotting is well done, giving a believable reason and victim by book's end. There are a number of characters to keep track of and more than once I had to stop and think who was who. 

I quite enjoyed Murder Most Royal. It's a fun, clever read that could be considered cozy. But with corgis and no cats. :0)  See for yourself - read an excerpt of Murder Most Royal. I'll be waiting for number four!

Lessons at the School by the Sea - Jenny Colgan

Lessons at the School by the Sea is the third entry in Jenny Colgan's School by the Sea series. 

Now, a lot of times you can read a series book as a standalone, but I highly recommend you go back and read the first two in this series. They're great reads as well - and you'll what lead to the opening pages. 

Jenny Colgan is one of my favorite authors. Her characters are warm and welcoming and I always feel like I'm catching up with old friends when I pick up the newest book. This latest opens within a minute of the ending of book two. 

Maggie Adair is the English teacher at a girl's boarding school. She's on the train, headed home for her wedding. But....yes, there's a but and the fallout from her decision will affect others as well. 

What's unique about this series is that it has myriad plot lines that include Maggie's teen students, the staff, families and more. Their worries, concerns, troubles, joys, successes and more are all relevant and real. I've become quite invested in their lives. 

The ending is satisfying, and I love that the door is open for the next entry. Colgan says there will be six books in this series. I'll be waiting! See for yourself - read an excerpt of Lessons at the School by the Sea.

The Kind Worth Saving - Peter Swanson

The Kind Worth Saving is Peter Swanson's newest novel. It's the second to feature Henry Kimball and Lily Kintner. But this new book can be read as a stand alone.

Henry Kimball has worked as a high school teacher, a cop and now as a private investigator. He's surprised when his new client walks in, as she was one of his students many years ago. What a coincidence...or is it?

Swanson tells this story in two time frames - then and now. I really like this style of storytelling. Each new chapter builds on the last and bleeds into the present. There are a few points of view and they too add details and history from the past to the present. As readers, we can see everything that is going and why. And the why is quite disturbing. We can only hope that Henry can put the pieces together sooner rather than later.  

I like Henry and his way of looking at the world - and his limericks. Lily scares me - she's capable of more than you would imagine. The new client is, well, let's say she's interesting. Swanson's characters are well developed rather than being one dimensional.

Swanson's tale isn't straightforward and I love the twists and turns the plot visits. The ending - and the book title - are quite fitting. 

I enjoyed The Kind Worth Saving. I hope Swanson has planned a third book with Henry - I think he has more to say. Read an excerpt of The Kind Worth Saving.

J.T. Ellison - It's One of Us

 It's One of Us is J.T. Ellison's latest suspense novel.

Oh, the premise of this one is downright devious!  

Olivia Bender and her husband Park seem to have it all. But the one thing they both want, is to have a child of their own. However, when the police come knocking on their door, things will never be the same for this couple. DNA that matches Park's points to his son being the perpetrator. But he doesn't have any children - or does he? And that's just the opener. Ellison takes her plot down paths you won't see coming!

I really liked how Ellison presented One of Us. Almost every character is given a point of view and a voice. As the reader, we're the only ones who have all of that information in one place. Also running parallel to the search for the crime culprit is a dissection of a marriage in crisis mode. The cracks are widening with every disclosure. 

Ellison's writing makes for addictive reading. With the rotation of points of view, I can't wait to get back to one thread and another and another! And without providing spoilers, Ellison's plot premise is more than possible. Current technology of a certain type has opened the door for professional and amateur sleuthing. (I know I'm being quite obtuse but I don't want to ruin this read for you!)

I quite enjoyed this latest from Ellison. See for yourself - read an excerpt of It's One of Us. 

A Killing of Innocents - Deborah Crombie

Deborah Crombie writes one of my absolute favorite police procedural series - the Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James novels. The nineteenth entry - A Killing of Innocents has just released.

Kincaid and James are both Scotland Yard detectives, albeit in different departments. Sasha, a young trainee doctor is stabbed as she walks across a square to meet a friend. As it's a knife crime, both of their teams are on the case. But as the case progresses, they realize there's much more to this case than a random stabbing...

Crombie always writes an intriguing, multi layered plot that isn't easy to figure out. It's great fun to try and solve the crimes along with the detectives. I truly appreciate how those crimes are solved in Crombie's books - with a team that uses modern day methods as well as the ' old fashioned' ways. Interviews, intuition, experience etc. Adding to the mystery are some enigmatic missives that appear as italicized chapters. How will they figure into the plot?

But the biggest draw for me are the characters. From one of my previous reviews of this series.  "... the most captivating of all, is the large group of characters that appear in each book, their lives changing and growing with every new entry.  They're so well drawn, they've become almost real, especially Duncan, Gemma and their children. I feel like I know them. Although others may complain that the domestic details of the characters detracts from a good mystery, I find it gives the story much more depth. I've become invested in their lives and want to see where Crombie takes them from here. Sitting down with the latest feels like catching up with old friends." This is what has me always eagerly awaiting the next book from Crombie.

And no surprise - I loved this latest! The crime is solved, but the door is open for the next book. Can't wait! See for yourself - read an excerpt of A Killing of Innocents. 

Short and Sweet # 2 - Amanda's Wedding - Jenny Colgan

What? Well, time flies and sometimes I just seem to run out of it! So, Short and Sweet will be just that - some brief thoughts on books I've read or listened to. And when you see S and S, chances are I'm either busy, tired or on vacation!

From what I can see, Amanda's Wedding was Jenny Colgan's first book, originally published in 1999. It has just been re-released with a new cover this year. I love Colgan's writing and have really enjoyed her work. I realized I had never read this first novel.

From the publisher:

"From New York Times bestselling author Jenny Colgan comes the debut novel that made her the sensation she is today—a hilarious, unforgettable story of one woman’s mad dash to put a stop to the wedding of her old school friend who’s the complete opposite of the sweet Scottish lord she’s marrying.

Amanda’s old school friends, Mel and Fran, are shocked when the social-climbing queen of mean announces her engagement to a laird (Scottish lord). It doesn’t matter that Fraser McConnald has worn the same pair of Converse sneakers for the last three years and that his castle is a pile of rubble with one gas heater—she’ll be the wife of an actual laird! But Mel and Fran can’t just sit back and let the sweet and gentle Fraser marry Amanda, especially since Mel had a huge crush on him back in University. Something must be done!

Joining forces with Fraser’s adorable younger brother Angus, they set out to sabotage this mismatch of the century. So between fighting off the attentions of a love-crazed accountant, keeping Fran’s deadly maneuvers’ with the opposite sex under control and trying to win her own war of love with her aspiring rock-star beau, Mel finds herself preparing for a wedding that’s everything you’d wish on your worst enemy.:

My Thoughts:

All the right elements are in place - fun loving pair of friends, love lost and love found, miscues and miscommunications. But.....yes, there's a but. I know and love Colgan's current works. You can absolutely tell the difference between then and now. The characters in Amanda's Wedding are not likeable. They're often crude and rude, not at all what I want in a warm, fuzzy chick lit read. I want to be on board with the characters, but found I wasn't on board or on side with Mel at all. Usually in this genre, I feel like I could be friends with the lead character. Quirky is good. But, these are just mean girls. The only characters I liked were the McConald brothers - and I had a hard time fathoming why they liked Mel and Fran. I did indeed finish the book just to see the ending. Yes this was a first book - and it shows. But....you can see the potential. Colgan's writing now is warm and wonderful and oh so good. So, if you've not read Colgan, pick up one of those later books - you'll love it.

Christmas on the Island - Jenny Colgan

Oh, can I tell you how much I adore Jenny Colgan's books! (A whole bunch!) Her latest NA release is Christmas on the Island - perfect seasonal reading. It's the third book in the Seaside Kitchen series.

Flora is the owner of the Seaside Kitchen on the remote, beautiful Scottish island of Mure. Flora is a perfect lead - fun, quirky and very likable. The supporting cast also endear themselves to the reader - Flora's loud and noisy family and the wonderfully diverse and sometimes eccentric villagers. Each and every one has a part to play in the tapestry that is the life of Mure.

Everyday life, love lost, love found, friendship, family rifts, family uniting and community are the driving forces behind Colgan's works.

This is the time of the year when I enjoy seasonal reading, cosying up with a feel-good read, a cup of tea and a warm blanket. Delightful, inviting and heartwarming, Christmas on the Island was the perfect read for me. (And I would be quite happy living on Mure!) Here's an excerpt of Christmas on the Island. I hope there's another Mure book in the works - there are a few storylines that haven't been resolved....

I'll Be Gone in the Dark - Michelle McNamara

I love a good, fictional murder mystery and rarely read true crime. But I was eager to read I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara. It was the subtitle that grabbed me: "One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer."

McNamara was a journalist and the founder of TrueCrimeDiary.com. I say was, as she passed away before her book was published.

Michelle's instincts and drive for answers led her to delve deeply into the decades old case of a serial rapist and murderer who terrorized California for over the course of ten years.

It was truly fascinating to see the timeline, clues and hypothesis she built from her painstaking search.  McNamara pursued the tiniest of leads, coming up with connections that kept moving her forward. Her investigative skills were truly impressive. And along with fascinating, I'll Be Gone in the Dark is just as frightening. Definitely don't listen to this at night. Alone. By yourself.

The timeline of the book does jump around - keep an eye or an ear on the heading for each chapter. Despite that, it's not a problem to follow the story at all - it makes for riveting reading or listening.

McNamara offers up pieces of her own life in I'll Be Gone in the Dark. And for this reader, it was this personal aspect that had I'll Be Gone in the Dark encompassing more than simply a 'true crime' label.

I did choose to listen. Gabra Zackman was the narrator. She has a clean, crisp, no nonsense voice that matched the mental image I had for the author. Her inflection captures the tone and tenor of the content. An 'easy to to listen to' narrator that did a great job interpreting a not so easy narrative. Listen to an excerpt of I'll Be Gone in the Dark.

Gillian Flynn provides a great introduction to the book. And the title? "He pointed a knife at her and issued a chilling warning: "Make one move and you'll be silent forever and I'll be gone in the dark."

The case remains unsolved......

(Gentle readers, this is not the book for you -  the cases are somewhat graphic in their detail.)

All the Beautiful Lies - Peter Swanson

I would pick up All the Beautiful Lies on the cover alone - but it's Peter Swanson's writing and plotting that is the real draw for me.

When Harry's father Bill dies, he travels back to Maine to the home Bill shared with his second wife Alice. Harry doesn't know Alice very well, but he feels obligated to stay with her right now. He does find Alice - and her behaviour - a bit unsettling. When the police reveal that Bill's death was not an accident, his unease increases....

All the Beautiful Lies unfolds in a then and now timeline. We get to to know Alice from her childhood through to current day. No spoilers, but there are reasons she makes Harry uneasy. Her chapters were decidedly unsettling. There is another 'past' POV from someone in Alice's life that adds much to why and who Alice is. Again, I don't want to reveal too much. The present is the investigation into Bill's death and Harry's POV.

Oh, Swanson is a master of manipulating the reader. Just when you think you have things figured out, the story takes a sharp left. I honestly didn't see the first turn coming - or the ending twist. Another great read from Swanson. Here's an excerpt. (Gentle readers may find parts of this book disturbing.)

The Keeper of Lost Things - Ruth Hogan

I am a collector of 'things' - old things, interesting things and yes, things I find. I always wonder about the person who owned them, lost them or discarded them. I knew I was going to love Ruth Hogan's debut novel, The Keeper of Lost Things.

Anthony Peardew also collects things - ever since the day his fiancee died and he lost the one thing that he promised her he would always cherish. His goal is the find the owners of those lost articles. But, his time is drawing near and he decides to bequeath his house and the lost things project to his assistant Laura. A parallel story with its own lost and found had me wondering if the two tales would eventually meet - and how they might tie together.

"She had been dead for forty years, but she was still his life, and her death had given him his purpose. It had made Anthony Peardew the Keeper of Lost Things."

Oh there is so much to love about this book. The characters first and foremost. They're all eclectically (and wonderfully) a little left of center. Impossible not to like and not to root for.

The premise is intriguing as I've mentioned. I loved the back stories that Hogan created for some of the lost items. Hair bobbles, an umbrella, a glove and more. Some happy, some tragic. The plots of some disastrous books written by an aspiring author had me laughing out loud.

Hogan's writing flows so well and drew me into her story immediately. She weaves a delicious, heartwarming tale of love, loss, hope, redemption, romance and humour with a helping of magical realism that absolutely delighted me. I loved it! Read an excerpt of The Keeper of Lost Things.

Ruth Hogan describes herself as a “rapacious reader, writer, and incorrigible magpie” whose own love of small treasures and curiosities and the people around her inspired her first novel. She lives north of London.

Find out more about Ruth at her website, and connect with her on Facebook, follow her on Twitter, and Instagram.

See what others on the TLC book tour thought - full schedule can be found here.

I received this book for review from HarperCollins and TLC Book Tours.

Sleeping in the Ground - Peter Robinson

Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks series is one of my hands down favourites. Sleeping in the Ground is the 24th entry.

I have such a delicious sense of anticipation when I open the cover of the latest Banks. I had no idea what the plot was about, but knew I would be in for another great read. I wanted to catch up with characters I've come to know and appreciate. What has gone on in their lives? Robinson keeps them moving forward in real time with each new entry.

Sleeping in the Ground opens with a wedding - and a funeral. A unknown gunman opens fire on a countryside wedding, killing and wounding many. Banks is away attending the memorial service of his first love from forty years ago, when he is called to the scene. He's become quite introspective with her passing, looking at his own life and decisions. But, it seems to be manifesting itself in anger and short tempered outbursts - quite unlike the usually composed Banks.

The killer is identified early on in the book and I wondered where the book could go from there, as there were still many pages remaining. Banks has some niggling doubts though and continues to investigate even as the case is declared solved. Robinson's plot was inventive and completely unpredictable. I truly enjoy being surprised by a mystery as I read so many.

Robinson excels at both plotting and characterizations. As I mentioned earlier, I read this series as much for the mystery as for those who populate the pages. Familiar supporting players are back, including one from Banks' past. The settings and descriptions have me yearning to sit in a pub with a packet of crisps, catching up on the latest.

As always, I enjoy Bank's music selections. I've often put the book down to look up and listen to a song that is playing in the book, curious as to how and why it fits that particular scene or moment. Banks is also into poetry now and those references are also well suited.

Robinson's prose are effortless and so very engaging. Sleeping in the Ground is a stellar entry in this series - and I will be eagerly awaiting number twenty five. Read an excerpt of Sleeping in the Ground.