A Dangerous Goodbye - Fliss Chester

Your lost love never came home after the war. Would you risk everything to find out what happened

to him?

1944. While war rages in Europe, Fenella Churche is doing her bit in the green fields of England. But when she finds a letter addressed to her on the scrubbed farmhouse table, she knows the news won’t be good. She hasn’t heard from her fiancé Arthur since he was posted to France on a dangerous undercover mission, and from his very first words she knows he may not be coming back.

I fear this may be my last letter to you, my darling, Arthur writes. Fen won’t give up hope and calls the war office, wanting to know if Arthur is still alive; they refuse to tell her anything. Searching for answers, she returns to his letter, but parts of it just don’t make sense. Through her tears Fen realises that her darling Arthur is giving her all the clues she needs to find out what happened to him.

1945. With the war behind them and nothing left for her in England, Fen travels to the deceptively pretty French village where she thinks Arthur might be, but there’s no sign of him. She’s close to giving up when she finds his silver cigarette case and another letter full of clues. But when the local priest is killed, it’s clear someone wants to keep wartime secrets buried. If Arthur, a brilliant spy, was outwitted and betrayed, can Fen stay alive long enough to find out what happened to the man she loves?

A gripping story of war, mystery, espionage and murder. Fans of Jacqueline Winspear, Charles Todd and Rhys Bowen will absolutely adore this unputdownable World War Two murder mystery.

My Review

What a fantastic read this was. If you enjoy historical murder mysteries, then you won't go far wrong with this one. Set just after the close of the second world war, it focuses on Fennela Churche, who travels to France to see if she can find out what has happened to her Fiance. As she starts to look around the chateau and winery that he was based at, it becomes clear that whatever happened to him is tied up with events that are unfolding at the chateau now.

The book had a great sense of time, atmosphere and place. It wasn't hard to picture the small village in 1940's France and the life that they are trying to put back together after the German forces have left. The characters in this book are fantastic, both those who lead the story and those that are on the edges. It adds a great richness to the story.

As for the mystery itself, it worked well. I had solved it and the reasons behind it before the reveal, but that didn't really matter. I was still caught up in the book and wanted to know if my deductions were correct. The whole thing was well signposted with clues and the odd red herring. I don't think it was too obvious though.

I really liked Fen as a character. She's a great combination of brave and daring, without being unbelievable. She certainly feels of her time and not out of place in the historic setting. I quite liked the way that she has a little bit of a weakness when it comes to her appearance, it's these little things that humanise a character.

I really enjoyed A Dangerous Goodbye and will certainly be reading the next book in the series. I'm looking forward to what Fen might get up to next. 

The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories - Martin Edwards

The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories by Martin Edwards
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I think that I've become a convert to the world of short stories, particularly crime short stories. This is the third anthology that I've read in the last couple of months and I really enjoyed it. The stories here all relate in some way to Christmas. It's a bit early for that yet, but that didn't diminish my enjoyment.
One of the great things about this particular collection is that although all of the stories are what you could call crime stories, they are all very different. It also gives you a great chance to experience authors that you might not have come across before. It's quite surprising how different stories which are essentially in the same genre can be. Some of them deal with the crime from the point of view of the murderer or criminal while others are slightly more traditional in the telling of the tale.
I'm not sure if I have a favourite or not. The story that gives the collection its name was an interesting one, but the same could be said for all of the others.
This is a great little collection of mystery stories.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.


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Their Little Secret - Mark Billingham

Their Little Secret by Mark Billingham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I haven't read a Mark Billingham book before, in fact, other than the name sounding vaguely familiar for some reason, I don' think that prior to a couple of weeks ago, I knew who he was. Then, via a round-about route, that involved watching Red Dwarf with my kids and thinking of other things that they would enjoy, I was looking into what happened to other actors from Maid Marion and her Merry Men and discovered that one of the Sherif of Nottingham's hapless sidekicks was now an author. It wasn't until I got into the most recent of his books, after getting it on NetGalley that I discovered that I'd actually see TV adaptations of some of them a few years ago. I'm well aware that I'm rambling and that this has nothing to do with my review, but please indulge me for a second or scan through that, until I start my review proper:
It's always a joy to discover a new detective series. This one is number 16, so it's clear that there has been a lot already in the series. Did that matter? Not really. I suspect that I could quite easily go back and read earlier ones without them being ruined, although at least one earlier case was mentioned in this book, at least in passing.
Thorn is, like many other of his ilk, a bit of a mess, but a good detective. I liked reading about him and although he's clearly far from perfect, he was an interesting lead in this story. Perhaps that's what made him interesting and likeable?
The story is about two people who work, in their own way, in a web of lies and fabrication. One is a con-man who takes women for their life savings and the other a woman who lies to satisfy what is lacking in her own life. Once they meet, they become something much darker and more intense. This particular story gives insight into the criminals from the start, so although everything isn't revealed, this isn't a mystery to solve by the reader. It is still gripping and entertaining and I read on, anxious to know how it would play out.
Told from multiple points of view, it was easy to almost feel some level of sympathy for the wrongdoers. I think Billingham is careful to not give too much insight into how they became who they are so that we know that Thorn and Tanner are on the side of justice and good.
This might be my first Mark Billingham, Tom Thorne novel, but I strongly suspect that it won't be my last. A great read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.


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Death at Beacon Cottage - Betty Rowlands

Death at Beacon Cottage: An absolutely addictive cozy mystery novel by Betty Rowlands
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This third book in the Sukey Reynolds series is a little different from the first two. Yes, there's a crime and a murder or two that Sukey finds herself interested in, but there isn't a mystery as such to solve.
Sukey is again doing her job as SOCO when she finds herself under threat from a violent gang of criminals. She looks just like an undercover officer, who has been getting close to one of the gang. When a robbery doesn't quite go to plan, people start getting bumped off left right and centre and Sukey is spotted by one of the gang.
Although this book isn't a mystery in the usual sense, I still really enjoyed it. Sukey, her son Gus and boyfriend Jim are becoming characters that I know well and reading a crime story that involves the three of them is always interesting. I think the fact that this was a little different was perhaps a little more believable too, even someone who works for the police as Sukey does isn't always going to find themselves investigating a murder directly.
There was at least one occasion when the police seemed to think that the danger had passed when I'm not entirely sure that they would have been so quick to assume that in reality. that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book. I'll certainly be looking for book four in this series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Kill for me - Rebecca Bradley

Kill For Me by Rebecca Bradley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It seems a long time since I last had the pleasure of reading a DI Hannah Robbins book, in actual fact, it's only been five months. However long it is, it's always a please to tuck into one of these well-written mysteries, that have the added bonus of being set relatively locally to where I grew up.
I have thought with previous books that I hope that Rebecca Bradley never decides to go on a murderous rampage. She seems to have an uncanny knack of thinking up some of the most devious and disturbing ways to commit murder. Not, in this case, at least, the way that the murder actually was done, but the background that leads to it. She also likes to tell stories that push seemingly ordinary people beyond the limits to act in a way that they never dream to be possible.
This time around, I did wonder a few times if people really would go to these lengths? I really don't know. It was a gripping read in any case and I really enjoyed it.
If you haven't read any of the series as yet, then I really would recommend going back to the beginning and reading all of them. It doesn't really matter though if you'd prefer to start with this one, it's a great read and works just as well as a standalone novel. I'm looking forward to finding out what Hannah will face next time.


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The Changeling Murders - C.S. Quinn

Abduction. Murder. A conspiracy that could bring down the King.

London, 1667: In the wake of the Great Fire, a new city has emerged from the flames. The King has reopened the capital’s theatres, and the royal court is hell-bent on debauched entertainment. But amid the raucous festivities, an actress shows up dead, dressed in the clothes of a missing girl.

It’s a time of great change for thief taker Charlie Tuesday too: his old flame, Maria, is on the cusp of marrying someone else. But when she is abducted on the way to her wedding, Charlie realises her disappearance is linked to the murder.

Meanwhile, as Lent draws to a close, London is exploding into shocking riot. With brothels and theatres being attacked, Charlie and his sidekick Lily must find clues before an angry mob does. And as the mystery deepens and violence fills the streets, can Charlie solve a riddle that threatens not just Maria, but London itself? 

My Review

The Changeling Murders by C.S. Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love a good historical murder mystery/crime novel and this was definitely a good historical murder mystery novel. I hadn't read any of the previous books, but it really didn't matter. This worked fine as a stand-alone novel. Although, having enjoyed it so much, I'd be really keen to go back and read the earlier books.

The sense of time and place was very well written. This book touches on ideas of witchcraft, fairies and superstition. Unlike lots of books, there wasn't a clumsy attempt by the characters to whisper off camera that of course, they don't believe in it. What people believed or not was left shadowed, but their attitudes seemed to fit their time.

I enjoyed the mystery, the characters were well developed and interesting to read and the whole book was a great read. This was a great book to get lost in and visit another time. I couldn't put it down once I'd started and really enjoyed it. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Triple Threat - A.K Leigh

I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley. I thought that the idea of triplets working together to solve cold cases, with some romance thrown in, sounded like an interesting idea.

Triple Threat

They’re beautiful, accomplished, and they have identical interests...

In their spare time, identical triplets the Farris sisters work together to solve cold cases. Lizzie uses her skills as a Criminal Profiler, Nina her Scenes of Crime Officer experience, and Carrie assists through her work as a both a Forensic Scientist and Forensic Anthropologist.

Romantic and idealistic, Lizzie is picky about men. But despite the good-natured teasing of her sisters, she refuses to settle for anything less than ‘The One’. She loves her life, her job as both a profiler and a university lecturer, and her sisters, and won’t make changes for anything less. If that makes her unrealistic, then so be it. 

Gabe Montcoeur has just moved across Australia from Perth to Cairns and starts a job as a journalism teacher at Cairns University: the same university where Elizabeth Farris works. On the surface, the move seems innocent, but he has an ulterior motive. Gabe wants to elicit the aid of the Farris sisters in solving the murder of his family members, and the only way to circumvent their notorious ‘no contact’ policy is to reach out to them in person. 

But when Gabe meets Lizzie for the first time, the attraction is instantaneous — and mutual. The deeper they fall into each other, however, the more guilty Gabe feels about his real motivation for getting close. Lizzie wants the real deal, the one, true love — can Gabe ever offer her the future she deserves if he keeps holding on so tightly to the past?

My Review

I have to admit, that books that focus on twins, are not my favourite, I don't think that I've come across one about triplets before though. I think that if anyone else were writing it, I'd have the same concerns that I do with twins; using the usual twin cliches, using twins as an obvious plot device, only using twins because they are twins. If the author in question is a twin, then it's different, our author in this case is an identical triplet, so obviously, they have the insight to write from that perspective. 

There was a lot I liked about this book. The mix of crime novel and romance made for interesting reading, two of my favourite genres. I liked Gabe and Lizzie, I liked the way that their romance played out. The book is a quick read and quite short, so I did wonder if it would have been slightly better if there had been a bit more room for things to be developed a bit more. The romance happened quickly, despite their plans to take things slow. The mystery was cleared up fairly quickly too. I would have liked a little more time spent on both of these things.

This is the first book in a series of three, I'm not sure, but I would expect that the next books are going to focus on each of the other sisters as they find their man. I did think that the question of Gabe and Lizzie wasn't completely resolved in this book. (It's not that there's a cliffhanger, or that the question of their relationship was left up in the air, more that there's certainly room to find out what will happen next with them.) I'd be keen to read the next book in the series and find out where the story is going to go. I found this an enjoyable and entertaining read.

Three Weeks Dead - Rebecca Bradley

Back in June I read and reviewed the second DI Hannah Robbins book when it came out, Made to be Broken. This week I got to read the new book in the series, Three Weeks Dead. This is a little different as it is set before the previous two books and focuses on DC Sally Poynter, rather than her boss.

Sally is new to the team and trying to find her role within it. She is also trying to juggle the demands of working and spending time with her husband, who is a little less than thrilled at the idea of her working longer hours.

The case that the team are faced with this time, is a kidnapping. But unlike 'normal' kidnappings, this involves a dead body. Jason Well's wife Lisa had been killed in a car accident and buried. He soon discovers that her body has been stolen and that the kidnappers are threatening to feed her to dogs unless he steals some software the company he works for, has been developing. Jason is still struggling to come to terms with the recent death of his wife Lisa and having her body stolen is enough to push him into taking action that he wouldn't normally consider. 

I really enjoyed this story. It was great to get some background into one of the characters that appear in the other novels. You don't have to have to have read the other books and in some ways it would perhaps be better to start with this book first. 

I really enjoyed Three Weeks Dead, it was a great, quick read and I recommend it. I didn't manage to fully solve the mystery before the end of the book, although I had got a few ideas. I love the way that the crimes that DI Robbins' team seem to investigate seem to be a little different to the run of the mill crime stories. They have that little edge of difference, without being over the top or unbelievable. If you're looking for a new crime series, or a quick crime read, then Three Weeks Dead is a great place to start.

A Morbid Taste for Bones - Ellis Peters

I have read some of the Cadfael books, many years ago, when the television series was on (which I also loved) but although I enjoyed them, it's a long time since I picked up one of them to rea. This was the first book in the series, although, it would seem that many people suggest starting with the second instead. 

The reason for this seems to be that this book, although featuring some of the characters from the later books, is in many ways a stand alone novel. Not set in Shrewsbury, for the most part at least, it instead follows Cadfael and some of the other Monks on a journey into Wales in an attempt to gain possession of the remains of Saint Winifred and claim them for themselves, or rather for their Abbey.

This is actually based on real events, the Monks really did go to the grave of this Welsh Saint and remove her bones, taking them to the Abbey at Shrewsbury and installing them in a shrine there. What the local Welsh population may have made of this at the time, I don't know, but I did enjoy Ellis Peters handling of the story. (I should perhaps here, make slight mention of the fact that Ellis Peters is in fact a nom de plume for Edith Pargeter, I wasn't actually aware of that prior to reading this book, and I'll be honest in saying that I hadn't come across her under her 'real' name prior to this, I'd just assumed that Ellis Peters was a man.)

We are introduced to the character of Brother Cadfael, a somewhat worldly Monk, who has taken orders later in life, having had much experience of man (and woman) and their faults before hand. He treads the line between the Church and secular Medieval life, It's this life experience that makes him ideal to be our detective and guide through the story, leading up to discover whodunnit and why.

There is something hugely likeable about Cadfael, perhaps his contentment with his life in the Abbey, without ever fully embracing every aspect or idea that goes with it? He is kind hearted, generous, understanding and wise. 

The story itself is, although perhaps a little slower moving that some other murder mystery novels, very interesting and entertaining, and the final explanation and reveal satisfying. I suspect that I will be reading more of these novels in the series before much longer.

Blood from Stone - Frances Fyfield

I was interested to read Blood from Stone by Frances Fyfield when it was chosen as book of the month, for a crime novel reading group that I'm part of. Fyfield is not an author that I have come across before, but the premise for the novel sounded interesting.

The story opens with barrister Marianne Shearer 'winning' her latest case, although not perhaps in the way that her client would have liked. Rather than having him found not guilty, there was simply not the evidence to proceed. Shortly afterwards she jumps from a hotel window, killing herself, and leaving her colleague, Peter Friel to find out what has happened and why.

As the story progresses we find out more about her final case and the impact it had on those involved in it. Peter discovers more about Marianne and her life, than he ever suspected before. He also meets Henrietta, the sister of the main complainant in this last trial. It soon becomes clear that there is more going on here than was first apparent and that Marianne has very carefully and cleverly set everything up to be revealed as he looks into her life and what she has left behind.

One of the real joys of this book is the descriptions of vintage clothing. Marianne was, in her other 'hidden' life, a lover of fine clothing and had an immense and expensive collection. Henrietta (Hen) works as a dry-cleaner and preserver of vintage clothing, with work rooms where she mends and creates new pieces from the old. The descriptions of these items is fascinating, and it's easy to picture these beautiful items. (Just out of interest, should you read the book, the cape at the V&A, which is described as being similar to the skirt that features is this one.) This lively description of beautiful outfits and dresses really adds to the depth of the book.

One of the other lovely parts of the story are the characters of Hen and Peter, to begin with I wasn't sure where the book was going, or if I actually liked any of the people within it. But I quickly warmed towards these two and their developing relationship. 

I'm not sure that I'll be in a rush to read more of her works, but I certainly enjoyed it, although it did take me a few chapters to get into it to begin with. 

Uprooting Ernie - Pamela Burford

While I'm all for serious books, when I'm in the mood, what I really love is a book that's lots of fun and can bring a smile to your face. A little while ago, I read a book that claimed to be a humorous, murder mystery. Sadly it wasn't very funny (it tried too hard) and the mystery part was quite lacking too.

Fortunately there are authors out there who can produce fun, funny books that also have a good mystery to try and solve. One of these authors is Pamela Burford.

I haven't reviewed any of her other books on here (yet) although I have read quite a few now. Most of her novels fall into the Romance or Romantic Suspense genre, but this fairly new series, the Jane Delaney mysteries are that, mystery stories. I was really lucky to get my hands on a pre-release copy to read and review (which I already have done on Amazon, Goodreads, and now here) before it was released on the 18th.

This is the second in the series, which stars Jane Delaney, also known as the Death Diva, and her poodle Sexy Beast. Jane is known as the Death Diva because of her unusual job, she does things for and to dead people, from visiting people's graves to deliver flowers, to stealing broaches from a corpse (in the first book, although she does say she'll never do that again) to giving a grave a 'drink' of cheap rose from a box. Along the way she becomes involved in some mysterious circumstances, and a once a dead body arrives on the scene, there's a mystery to solve.

The book is great fun and Jane's character is a great creation. She also has her ex-husband to deal with, who she's still sort of hung up on, and the very lovely Martin, or the Padre as she calls him. (If you want to know why, then read the first book, actually, read the first book anyway, it's good.) Both of whom more or less invade her life, for a while at least, on a day to day basis in this book. (Poor thing, two men after her.)

I didn't guess who-done-it until it was pretty much explained at the end of the book, which is usually a good sign, and it all made sense (an even better sign,) the mystery side of it certainly worked for me. I'm not sure if all the clues were there to work it out, I was too involved in the story to have done some kind of 'clue audit' but either way, it worked and I enjoyed it. I might try and read again at some point to see if I can spot the hints that point in the right direction.

I read the first book in the series, Undertaking Irene, last year when it came out, and I've been waiting for book two since. This is of course the main problem with books like this, when you discover the series in the early stages, you have to wait for the next one to come out. This was a great read, which I didn't want to put down, so I read it far too quickly, (greedy reading again) and now I've got to wait for book three...

Five Minutes Alone - Paul Cleave

I'm starting to really like Paul Cleave's novels, this is the third that of the Christchurch novels that I've read. Although there is a common story thread that runs through them, particularly ones such as Five Minutes Alone, that feature Theodore Tate, they also work well in their own right.

The books are all set in Christchurch, although in many ways this is a fantasy Christchurch or one in a parallel universe with a darker and more sinister feel than the 'real' Christchurch. The New Zealand in the book is also a fantasy version of New Zealand; a referendum having reintroduced the death penalty.

Into this dark world, we are reintroduced to two characters who have featured in a number of the previous books, Carl Schroder and Theodore Tate. 

What I particularly love about Cleaves books is the ambiguity, in so many stories, both those that are crime novels, and those that have other main themes, we have a hero and an adversary. Good and bad fight it out. Of course life is not so clear cut and certainly Cleave's novels and characters are not so black and white. This is especially obvious in Five Minutes Alone, the question of who is good and who is bad is not clear cut one. Rather than a fight between good and evil it's a fight between the really evil and the not quite so bad.

The story focuses a lot on revenge, unlike many in the crime novel genre there isn't a question of who-done-it, more a focus on why, and if that reasoning is at all justified. I found myself rooting for different characters at different times and questioning things all the way through.

The story is cleaver and well written, without trying to be too cleaver. I enjoyed it and really must track down some more of Cleave's books.