Books in December and January

 It's not my intention to keep doubling up months! Those of you who follow me on Facebook will know I've been busy - more below on that topic, but here's my reading for December and January.

Cecilia Peartree, Pamela Prendergast and the Fatal Accident: the latest from an author I love, but the first in what I believe is to be a new series. This is not quite as whimsical as her Pitkirtly series but it does start with a recently widowed woman being presented by a stranger with two dogs, just as she is moving house to Cramond. The setting plays quite a part in the book and the plot is constantly intriguing. It might be borderline cosy, I suppose. Pamela is an interesting character, quite resourceful, and her new friends are equally appealing.

Rex Stout, Fer-de-Lance: It’s a long time since I read one of this series, and a long time since this was written, back in the time of the Great Depression in the 1920s. Perhaps some of the attitudes of the characters are a little dated, but it’s a clever tale with its own excitements and amusements, and the narrator, Archie Goodwin, is entertaining particularly in his relationship with the lead detective, Nero Wolfe.

Neil Lancaster, The Blood Tide: I was distracted from a good plot by the number of typos, mostly missing speech marks, but another riproaring plot and great action, with a touch of humour for one’s sanity.

Vaseem Khan, The Dying Day: ‘She hesitated. Should she trust him? He was a writer, and in her experience writers could rarely be relied upon for their discretion. Any number of them had wandered through the Wadia Book Emporium over the years: novice writers seeking inspiration, failed writers in their cups, and renowned authors launching their latest bestsellers. On the whole, she liked them, but trust – that was a different matter.’ What an excellent book – a proper puzzle in the tradition of the great detective writers, but with such a good setting in 1950s Bombay. And how lovely to see a redemption of the swastika symbol that the Nazis took and spoiled, or at least a lament for its passing. Persis Wadia is a wonderful heroine, and her relations with the misfits in her office, and in her home, are wonderfully portrayed. I like this series more and more.

Peter Boland, The Charity Shop Detective Agency: Thoroughly cosy, this is great fun but the plot is tight and clever, too. I haven’t worked in a charity shop but have friends who do and this rings quite true. Full of eccentrics but sympathetic and entertaining.

Elly Griffiths, Bleeding Heart Yard: Once again I forgive the author for writing in the present tense. I have to with hers – they’re so good, so resoundingly human, and witty and observant. I love this new series, and while I had slight misgivings about Harbinder moving to London I’m enjoying seeing it through her eyes.

Sharon Penman, Dragon’s Lair: This starts off with the same promise as the others, even if there’s a touch too much switching of points of view for my sanity. But the scenes in Wales are well done, and the plot works well for me. I bought these three books as a box set, and though it has taken me a while to get through them, each time I settle down to read I enjoy them very much.

Carol McKay, White Spirit: I didn’t much warm to the main character, even though he was a useful example of someone being diagnosed with Addison’s. This is an interesting police procedural though it didn’t have much of a Scottish feel – could have been set anywhere, for the most part. But it was published in a good cause, and the story was sound.

Mark Richards, Salt in the Wounds: There’s a slightly muddly style to this, nipping back and forth from past to present and also into possible present, and I spent quite a bit of time rereading pages trying to work out what had actually happened. The setting is good, as the detective (an ex-copper) has come home to Whitby with his teenage daughter after the death of his wife. Whitby is fine but I felt I’d met the ex-copper a few times recently, one way and another. Still, his local connexions make for some interesting relationships, including with his loathsome brother-in-law, the actual cop investigating the death of his old friend and determined to put the blame on the best friend’s lovely wife.

  

Trevor Wood: One Way Street and Dead End Street: The second and third in this trilogy - it's rare for me to go straight on to a sequel after reading a book, but these are so strongly written and the characters so engaging that I had to. I think the author is wise to leave it as a trilogy, but what a trilogy - really good.

Alison O'Leary, Christmas Cat Blues: Ah, these lovely cats and this lovely family! A treat for Christmas, and a decent length, too - but not so Christmassy you can't read it any other time of the year.

Lesley Kelly, Songs by Dead Girls: The second in this extraordinary series about peri-pandemic Edinburgh, written before the pandemic. It's clever and funny and a very convincing world - if you haven't read these, you really should!

Dick Francis, Slay Ride: I haven't read a Dick Francis in years so I went looking for a cheap ebook of one I haven't read, and was pleased to find Slay Ride, set mostly in Norway. I love Norway so this was a bonus, and the mixture was much the same as before - horse racing, crime, learning some new things, some slightly dated romantic encounters. When I read ebooks I tend to read several at once, 10% of each of them. I was amused to find that I read this one just as I would have read a paperback Dick Francis years ago - straight through. Quick and entertaining, though not as many horses as usual.

Nikki Copleston, The Price of Silence: A prequel to other books in the series, this is an excellent mystery where no one is quite what they seem. It's a good series, police procedural with sound characters and plenty of interest.

Dale H. Lehman, The Fibonacci Murders: Clever plot, interesting characters that could carry a series well, maybe a touch short but a good read.

Right, well, I was about a quarter of the way through the seventh book in the Hippolyta series when I was interrupted, and ended up instead writing A Vengeful Harvest. The first draft was finished yesterday, so now for the edit! 

It's set in Aberdeen just at the outbreak of the Second World War, and the detective is the quiet and thoughtful Inspector Alec Cattanach, sorting out the puzzles of two nasty lorry crashes. More information to follow!

Reading in - oh my! September to November!

Oh, dear, with all the preorders and things I haven't posted any reviews for ages! No wonder I seem to have a backlog on my review file ...

Anyway, here we go: no pictures this month as I'm pressed for time, but just click on the links!

Anna Penrose, The Body in the Wall: I liked the older main character and the setting very much, enhanced by the fact that the author lives in a similar place and runs a bookshop just like the main character. And we’re tantalised by the main character’s criminal record – something for which she was jailed but which she would do again! As the plot builds and the police inspector grows ever more annoying, the main character is more and more sympathetic and the story more enjoyable. And who could not love a book with a swimming cat called Mackerel?

Ben Aaronovitch, Tales from the Folly: A collection of short stories that smacks of being all the bits he had lying around unpublished, but nonetheless fun. As he has carefully pinpointed where they belong in the series – or outside it – it was good to revisit those parts of the over-arching narrative, and for some reason it really highlighted the foxes, which I shall enjoy going back to. Clever things, foxes.

Chris Longmuir, Web of Deceit: I enjoy this author’s historical mysteries, too, but really enjoy her contemporary police procedurals set in Dundee, with their closely woven over-arching plot concerning Teasers Nightclub. This one is a lovely portrayal of people over-confident on the outside and terrified inside, and the misunderstandings that occur when people assume they are the centre of attention. Lovely.

Sharon Penman, The Queen’s Man: It took a few goes for me to get into this but I think this was probably my fault, not the book’s, for this time it gripped me very nicely. I liked the portrayal of the aging Eleanor of Aquitaine, and the story sits fairly easily in its historical setting with just a few anachronisms and a good atmosphere. The hero becomes likeable quite quickly and his social discomforts were sympathetically portrayed. There are heaps of fascinating historical details and some good action – and a very endearing dog, which all helps!

Sharon Penman, Cruel as the Grave: It would be wise, I think, to read these from the start, but the over-arching plot of Justin doing his bit for Queen Eleanor has a counterpoint here in an investigation of the death of a young woman assaulted in a churchyard. Justin’s new friends in Cheapside assume he will help them and indeed he does, bringing his expert colleagues in to sort out the mystery. There are very occasional modern clunks here: mostly the plot runs smoothly and one can abandon oneself to the twelfth century very convincingly.

Andrew Raymond, The Bonnie Dead: Rather grim start – a serial killer has been abducting children. He has vanished for a while, and now seems to have reappeared, and the police officer who devoted his career to catching him is brought back from Ultima Thule (or Paisley) to help with the case. Not many laughs here to relieve the tension, but it does build well and the final scenes are very exciting, with a satisfying ending. Glasgow is subtly portrayed and nicely done. This is a new writer to me and I might well go for another one.

JD Kirk, Here Lie the Dead: While I like the Hoon books I sort of wish he had not barged his way back into this series: he’s just a bit too much of a loose cannon amongst the delicate balance of Dave, Hamza, Tyler, Sinead and Ben. Setting him aside, the case is an interesting one and of course I enjoyed the ghastly wedding party, almost too easy to loathe.

Alex Scarrow, Old Bones, New Bones: I meant to come back to this series earlier, having enjoyed the first one in both setting (Hastings) and character (bereaved but not too traumatised Boyd and his nice daughter and dog, and the team). There’s a reality to the injuries, if you know what I mean – even in book 2 he’s still remembering his ear injury from book 1. The plot here was good, too, a serial killer mystery, and if the ending was not altogether a surprise it was still very well done, with a nice little postscripty bit that just gave the flourish to the book.

S.G. McLean, The Bookseller of Inverness: It’s very difficult not to picture Leakey’s bookshop as I read this. It took me just a little while to get into it (my fault, I fear), then we were off, in a very realistic 18^th century Inverness with all kinds of interesting characters. A really excellent book, full of pace and action and sense of history.

Alex Walters, Human Assets: I’ve got to the stage where I preorder Alex Walters’ books even if I don’t know which series they belong to – and this turned out to be a standalone, which pulled me in straight away with a death on an allotment (always a risk). With the follow-up apparent suicide of a Cambridge student, only son of an angry police officer, we suddenly fall into the world of espionage and mystery, and it’s not clear who, if anyone, is on the side of the angels and who is just unbearably naive.

Olga Wojtas, Miss Blaine’s Prefect and the Weird Sisters: This has to be the best of the series yet – a take-off of the Scottish Play with some really hilarious jokes – I did like the witch with the hair, which made me think of the crime author in question before her name was even mentioned. Frank is one of those characters that has the reader shouting ‘Oi! Pay attention!’ to our heroine – and makes a lovely cat.

Cecilia Peartree, It’s a Long Way from Pitkirtly: I was made slightly anxious by the title, as I love Pitkirtly, but I need not have feared – in short order most of the gang are settling in by Loch Rannoch, and chaos follows. ‘Was his inner monologue starting to sound like Amaryllis? He fervently hoped not.’ Loved it as always.

M.J. Lee, Where the Dead Fall: Well plotted and a good read, but he needs to take more care of his health and his family! The whole opening set-up is excellent and is followed through very well.

M.J. Lee, The Irish Inheritance: It’s difficult, to start with, to like anyone much in this – they all seem uncharitable. But the mystery is intriguing. How does a man come to appear on a child’s birth certificate seven years after his own death? I think this is an older book than some of this author’s, and the writing is not as crisp and accurate as the later series, but it does draw one in.

Jason Vail, Bag of Bones: I do enjoy this series set in and around Brother Cadfael’s books, as it were – the right historical period and close geographically, but never actually touching. Here I was a bit thrown by Simon de Montfort being referred to as Montfort, rather than the more usual de Montfort, but the rest was sound and great fun.

David Gatward, Corpse Road: Marks for ‘disorientated’ instead of ‘disoriented’! I was quite upset by the murder, because I felt so sorry for the victim, but the setting and plot are as engaging as ever, and the team are growing together. Jim is excellent, and Fly is of course wonderful. Looking forward to the next one.

J.D. Kirk, Southpaw: violent start, but where’s the surprise in that? This one is brutal, though, and the follow-up, Westward, is just the same, with a continuation of the over-arching plot. Southpaw has a satisfying conclusion, though, despite the carry-over into Westward. Full marks for mentioning Queen Camel – I’ve spent a lot of time in Somerset and that’s one of the places that pings memories for me. Then up to Westward proper, and a good rural landscape, and we have elements of Skyfall, with some more laughs.

Alison O’Leary, Summer CatBlues: There was more time away from the cats in this one but plenty spent with Carlos and his adopted family, and enough menace from the baddies to chill a bit. I love this series, which is not as cute as the titles would imply – a hefty helping of reality for an apparently cosy book.

And here? Well, I'd started the next Hippolyta, then had to stop to do the first 10,000 of something else that I was going to start in January anyway, and now probably won't be able to start till April, so once I've finished the Hippolyta I might have start what I was going to start in April ... or I'll just go and have a cup of tea and sit in the corner for a bit and consider the world ...

Two exciting pre-orders now out!

Here's a great Christmas treat - six cosy and / or historical mysteries, including one about Hippolyta, on pre-order now! Only 90p / 99c till at least 4th. November.

Merry Little Mysteries

Murder Takes the Train by Katherine Brown
The quaint, mountain town of Riverbend Junction has only one train in and one train out for transportation. The town hasn't been home for two of the three Belle sisters since they moved away several years ago, but when they return home for Christmas a murder derails the train and all of their plans for getting back to their regular lives. Can the women put their heads together to track down the killer or will they find themselves steam-rolled into a murder charge?

The Children's Party by Lexie Conyngham
Edinburgh, 1828: Mrs. Fettes, competitively charitable, needs help to run a New Year party for poor children. But when things don’t go according to plan, it’s her daughter Hippolyta who has to solve the mystery and save the day – and the dog.

Feliz Navi-dead by Katherine Moore
Jingle-bells and jealousy. A treacherous treat. Can Eve save her friends’ lives from being wrecked?

A Dash of Deceit by Carmen Radtke
‘Tis is the season to be jolly, and Eve Holdsworth intends to make the most of her first Christmas in her new home. Helping her friends at the “Green Dragon” with baking and selling mince pies and gingerbread on the Christmas market is the icing on the cake - until a cantankerous customer is poisoned, and fingers point at everyone close to Eve. She has to cook up a plan fast if she wants to take the heat off her friends and unmask a clever culprit … “A Dash of Deceit” is the second cozy Eve Holdsworth mystery set in the idyllic British countryside, after “Let Sleeping Murder Lie”.

A Mistletoe Mystery by Donna Schlachter
Can sisters Holly and Ivy Christmas discover who seeded their spruce trees with dwarf mistletoe? And are the neighboring ranch brothers, Tom and Bob Jolly, behind this? Or victims as well?

A Christmas Wish Before Dying by C.H. Sessums
Vangie Guillory’s hands are full getting The Mystery Book Nook ready for the final shopping event of the season. The last thing she needs is to find out her best customer was involved in a hit-and-run accident. But it’s just the tip of the iceberg when the old man begs her to help him with one last wish before his time runs out.

And at the same time (because I like to keep busy) we have

The Contentious Business of Samuel Seabury

Samuel Seabury has travelled a long way from war-torn Connecticut, seeking consecration as the first Episcopal Bishop in America. Turned away in England, he ventures further into Scotland, and up to Aberdeen, his last chance. But even there the path is not straight: how far will some people go to prevent his consecration? Threats? Impediments? Or murder?

Shroud for a Sinner and autumn newsletter

Murray 13, Shroud for a Sinner, is available for preorder now - paperback available shortly!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shroud-Sinner-Murray-Letho-Book-ebook/dp/B0BFFSQ6HR/

Meanwhile, the autumn Letho Observer should be hitting your inboxes - let us know at contact@kellascatpress.co.uk if it doesn't appear!

Reading in August

Well, the first full day of the reign of King Charles III. It's quite hard to think straight, but I'd better do my usual post.

Marion Todd, Old Bones Lie: This has a good start, two prison officers, their prisoner, and their wives, all going missing at once. The writing seems more relaxed than the previous book I read (not the previous one the series – think I’ve skipped one or two) and I enjoyed it much more. Have to say I think my favourite character is the unflappable Jim, who never seems to be off-duty but just turns up and sorts stuff out (there seems to be a similar Jim, a PCSO, in the David Gatward books - every police station needs a Jim!). But I’m afraid Claire has gone down in my estimation – ketchup with fish and chips? No, and particularly not with fish and chips from Tailend in Market Street. Just no. Stop it now.

Marsali Taylor, A Shetland Winter Mystery: This series grows more political in a good way, and here there is some debate over windfarms. The mystery moves a little slowly but in a satisfying way, and in my opinion culminates in Cass’s high-level escape – benefitting from her mast work on tall ships. Domestically this is also a very pleasing book.

Luke Arnold, The Last Smile in Sunder City: No idea how I happened on this one – perhaps I just thought the cover looked a bit Rivers-of-London-ish. It’s not, but it is fantasy with some crime. All magic has been destroyed by a clumsy human attempt to take control of it, and erstwhile magical creatures are having to find new ways of living in a different world. In the middle of this, an elderly vampire teacher has gone missing, and his school would like him back. We’re somewhere between Raymond Chandler and Terry Pratchett here, with a dark occasional humour and a fascinating backstory. It took me a while to get moving on it though I kept going back for more – the last thirty percent, though, sped by. Intriguing.

Frances Evesham, A Harvest Murder: I was hesitant at the start where there were some very long sentences that were a bit confusing for dim people like me. But it began to take shape – might have been easier if I’d started at the beginning of a series like a sensible person. It’s more cosy than my usual style of read, but the plot was good and the characters were pleasant to spend time with, and I enjoyed it. I might well return when I need a cosy again!

Nicola Clifford, Not Forgotten: Triggering Corrs songs with the title but a gripping start, as Stacey’s policeman partner vanishes, and the officer in charge of the case is convinced that he has gone voluntarily. Fortunately all Stacey’s chums at the station conspire to continue investigating behind this chap’s back, and soon we’re beginning to think he’s a wrong ‘un. These do need a little suspension of disbelief (ambulances still appear with the promptness of fairy godmothers, and every female giggles at the least provocation, not to mention very intelligent police officers knowingly endangering both an operation and a civilian in one go) but are good enough reads.

Lucinda E Clarke, A Year in the Life of Leah Brand: This is a psychological domestic noir thriller, with a good deal of ‘No, don’t do that! Why did you marry him?’ from the start, and fluid, intriguing writing that is hard to put down. While I could guess at some of the solution, the ending was quite enough to make one want to go on and buy the next book to find out more.

M.W. Craven, The Botanist: Poe continues his social education of Tilly in this excellent next instalment of the series, where a killer is disposing of people society has no real problem with seeing dead. Clever plot, more of a howwasitdone than a whodunnit, and the ending was very neat.

Joy Margetts, The Healing: A soldier, wounded in a battle he had no intention of surviving, finds himself recovering in a monastery. There are so many unanswered questions at the beginning of this book you have to read on, and if the soldier himself is grumpy, you do want to know why, and the monks are lovely, good-humoured and clever. This is an overtly Christian book with Bible passages included – if I have a gripe it is that they are from a translation I don’t much like, but otherwise it’s a very well-written, beautifully researched, and well-plotted book, and I’m eager to read the next in the – not sure it’s a series, as such, but the family!

Sean Campbell, The PatientKiller: There are some oddities in the English here (I’m really fed up with unnecessary prepositions as in ‘parked up’ or ‘swapped out’), and Americanisms, but I enjoyed this. An intriguing plot, quite interesting tension amongst the investigating officers, and a good pace – I was always ready to get back to it each reading-time! The last quarter or so is devoted to the final trap of the guilty party, which is always quite tense and here is well done.

Alan McClure, Callum and the Other: The second in this fast-paced, chatty, fantasy series for teenagers. Life is moving on for Callum and his pals, but they are thrown back into the mysterious experiences they had in the previous book and face a new threat to their village and to the future. Tapping into many of the things that worry teenagers these days, this book gives hope for our own futures, as well as the incentive to put in a bit of work to get things right.

Jean Gill, The Ringbreaker: Something of a young adult book but definitely suitable for older adults, too! This is a skilfully written, beautifully researched coming-of-age story set in Viking Orkney, after the death of Jarl Magnus. I loved the persistent imagery of the cormorant, and the way the skaldic verse was woven into the story. Hlif, too, is a strong and interesting character shining a powerful light on Viking domestic life, while the warriors about them, including Jarl Rognvald, are well defined. Everything from fighting to stone masonry is convincingly portrayed, and from the practical to the mystical a scene in Maeshowe brings its known history to life and touches on the magical. A rich and compelling read.

That last one is part of the reason there might not be another Viking book for a bit - I feel distinctly outclassed!

Anyway, Murray 13, Shroud for a Sinner, is with beta readers and should be out soon (unless they really don't like it!)

The Contentious Business of Samuel Seabury, a kind of standalone sequel to The Slaughter of Leith Hall, is scheduled for 14th. November, all being well.

And I'm now writing a Hippolyta prequel novella for a Christmas collection - and it is not going well! But I need to press on, as contracts have been signed.