Friday, January 24, 2025

My Review for The Christmas Jigsaw Murders by Alexandra Benedict

January 24, 2025  , , , ,  No comments



Cosy mysteries are really not my thing - they used to be - I used to read a lot of Agatha Raisin books, but I got bored and drifted to other things. However, this choice from #BookstaBritsBookClub may have persuaded me to try some more again, and for that I guess I have to thank Alexandra Benedict, author of The Christmas Jigsaw Murders.

I really enjoyed this, Edie is a feisty octogenarian who sets crossword puzzles and is famous amongst crossword puzzle solvers. She doesn't care what she says, or who she upsets as she goes along her merry way, trying to help (or hinder) the police solve the murders that are being committed, all of which look to be just one piece of a bigger jigsaw puzzle. 

There are thriller vibes woven through the book and despite the cosy mystery setting, there are some dark and heart-stopping moments included which I loved. I would definitely like to read some more of Alexandra's books, and I'm glad I read this just before Christmas.

There are some puzzles included within the pages, for the reader to solve, but I admit I didn't bother with these. I just wanted to get on and read!

About the Book

On 19th of December, renowned puzzle setter, loner and Christmas sceptic Edie O’Sullivan finds a hand-delivered present on her doorstep. Unwrapping it, she finds a jigsaw box and, inside, six jigsaw pieces. When fitted together, the pieces show part of a crime scene – blood-spattered black and white tiles and part of an outlined body. Included in the parcel is a message: ‘Four, maybe more, people will be dead by midnight on Christmas Eve, unless you can put all the pieces together and stop me.’ It’s signed, Rest In Pieces.

Edie contacts her nephew, DI Sean Brand-O’Sullivan, and together they work to solve the clues. But when a man is found near death with a jigsaw piece in his hand, Sean fears that Edie might be in danger and shuts her out of the investigation. As the body count rises, however, Edie knows that only she has the knowledge to put together the killer’s murderous puzzle.

Only by fitting all the pieces together will Edie be able to stop a killer – and finally lay her past to rest.


About Alexandra

Alexandra Benedict has been a composer, singer-songwriter, actor, and lecturer in crime fiction, and is now an award-winning writer of novels, short stories and scripts. As AK Benedict, she writes high-concept novels, speculative short stories and scripts. Her first novel, the critically-acclaimed THE BEAUTY OF MURDER, was nominated for the eDunnit Award; her short stories have featured in many anthologies; and her audio drama has been shortlisted for multiple awards including the BBC Audio Drama Award 2020, and, twice, for the Scribe Award, winning it in 2019. As Alexandra Benedict, she writes contemporary tributes and takes on Golden Age crime fiction. THE CHRISTMAS MURDER GAME was an Amazon Fiction Bestseller and was long-listed for the CWA Gold Dagger Award. Her latest novel, MURDER ON THE CHRISTMAS EXPRESS, arrives on November 10th. She lives on the south coast of England with her fiancé, writer Guy Adams, their daughter, and their dog, Dame Margaret Rutherford.










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Thursday, January 23, 2025

My Review for The Christmas Killer by Alex Pine, read by Neet Mohan

January 23, 2025  , , , , ,  No comments



This book grew on me the more I listened and as I got used to the narrator. I don't think it was intended as a cosy mystery, but I found it to be this, crossed with a thriller. It gave off cosy mystery vibes because all the murders take place in the small village of Kirkby Abbey, but a thriller as it's a Detective Inspector investigating, and not an amateur sleuth!

I had so many theories throughout this book, as to who the killer might be, and I didn't guess until the very end, which for me is always the sign of a great author, I was literally on tenterhooks, trying to work out who it might be and why they might be doing what they were doing. Aside from the murders and the investigative work surrounding that, Kirkby Abbey is a typical English country village, with nosey neighbours, a warm and welcoming village pub and a proper neighbourly feeling - well from most of the villagers anyway!

Thank you to Libro FM for the opportunity to listen to and review The Christmas Killer by Alex Pine.

About the Book

As the snow begins to fall, the body count begins to climb…

DI James Walker is ready for a quiet family Christmas in the sleepy village of Kirkby Abbey.

But when he opens an early Christmas present left on his doorstep, he soon realises it is no gift. Inside is a gruesome surprise, and a promise – twelve days, twelve murders. Not long after, the first body is found, half frozen in the snow.

As the blizzards descend, panic spreads through the remote Cumbrian village – there’s a killer amongst them, and with eleven more victims to go, anyone could be next….

Can James stop the killer before they strike again?


About Alex

Alex Pine is the pseudonym of a bestselling author who has also written books under the names Jaime Raven, James Raven and JP Carter. He was born and raised on a council estate in South London and left school at sixteen. Before long, he embarked on a career in journalism, which took him all over the world - many of the stories he covered were crime-related. He then became a television producer and for a number of years was director of a major UK news division and co-owned a TV production company. He now splits his time between homes in Hampshire and Spain with his wife.


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Monday, January 20, 2025

My Review for How Do I Tell You? by Nicola May

January 20, 2025  , ,  No comments




Nicola May has been one of my go-to authors for a few years now, so when I got the opportunity to read her new novel, How Do I Tell You? I was straight in there to join the blog tour.

I rarely, if ever, read the synopsis of a book. I base my choices on author and/or book cover, and this was no exception. Suffice it to say I was surprised by the storyline, not in a bad way, it was just unexpected. Once I'd got my head around what was going on, I settled down and enjoyed the solidarity that Victoria, our female main character, found with her true friends and family who surrounded her, whilst she came to terms with the unexpected news she received.

There are some brilliant characters in Nicola's new book, I loved Jerico, Danny and Ray who all had Victoria's back, right from the start. They were supportive, encouraging and just downright awesome. Nicola deals with a difficult subject incredibly well, with sensitivity and, very obviously, a great deal of research. 

I would advise anyone wanting to read this book to check the trigger warnings first, but I have no hesitation in recommending it. Another bestseller from Nicola for sure.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Rachel's Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review, How Do I Tell You? by Nicola May.




About the Book

How do you rebuild your life when it changes forever in an instant?

Thirty-five-year-old Victoria Sharpe has a decent job as an illustrator, a perfectly good if predictable relationship, and great friends. So why can’t she shake the feeling that something is missing?

Keen to let off steam, she sets off on a night out with her best friends. Next morning – one reckless decision later – she resolves to make some seriously overdue changes to achieve the fulfilment she craves.

Then she gets devastating news that shatters everything she ever wanted for her future.

Or so she thinks. Because as friends and family rally around to support her, and an unexpected new romance makes her heart skip a beat, Victoria discovers that sometimes in the deepest darkness the brightest light can shine through. But, after all she’s been through, can she let it in?

About Nicola

Nicola May is a bestselling author renowned for her heartwarming and humorous romantic comedies. With eighteen books to her name, her work has captured readers' hearts around the world, has been translated into fifteen languages and consistently ranks in the top 100 of Amazon's Kindle bestseller charts. As a self-published author, she achieved the remarkable feat of reaching number one on Amazon twice, and has been a strong advocate for indie authors, pushing for a dedicated chart for them in The Bookseller magazine. Now signed to Storm Publishing, Nicola continues to write heartfelt rom-coms with her signature blend of warmth and wit. 

When she’s not writing, she enjoys cream teas in her beloved Devon, hikes through nature, and occasionally places a bet on the horses.





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Tuesday, January 14, 2025

My Review for Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier

January 14, 2025  , , , , ,  No comments



I've lost track of how many times I've read this book, and all I know is that Daphne du Maurier has been a favourite of mine since I was a teenager. So when Jamaica Inn was chosen as our January read for the classics chat I'm in, I couldn't wait to disappear again onto the wild Cornish moors!

This is such a good story, and I'd forgotten a lot of what happened. I remembered the gist, the Inn in the middle of Bodmin Moor, the smuggling and the wrecks at sea, but I'd forgotten many of the characters and how influential they are to the story. 

Daphne du Maurier has an incredible imagination, her vivid descriptions of the dank and dreary Jamaica Inn and the wilderness and inhospitable Bodmin Moor are something which will stay with the reader, long after the last page has been turned. 

Jamaica Inn is a gothic, dark, gruesome and twisted novel, and so much more than many people perceive it. There is nothing fun and fanciful about Du Maurier's writing, so if that's your thing, you'll not like this one. If it is, delve in and immerse yourself in the mists of Bodmin Moor.

About the Book

The coachman tried to warn her away from the ruined, forbidding place on the rainswept Cornish coast. But young Mary Yellan chose instead to honor her mother's dying request that she join her frightened Aunt Patience and huge, hulking Uncle Joss Merlyn at Jamaica Inn. From her first glimpse on that raw November eve, she could sense the inn's dark power. But never did Mary dream that she would become hopelessly ensnared in the vile, villainous schemes being hatched within its crumbling walls -- or that a handsome, mysterious stranger would so incite her passions ... tempting her to love a man whom she dares not trust.


About Daphne

Daphne du Maurier (13th May 1907 - 19th April 1989) was first and foremost a really excellent storyteller but she was also part of the remarkable du Maurier dynasty - a granddaughter, daughter, sister, military wife, mother and grandmother. Daphne is often thought of as reclusive; she was perhaps solitary, comfortable with her own company and the make-believe world that she lived in and which enabled her to bring us her wonderful novels and short stories.  Her social media accounts are approved by her estate.




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Friday, January 10, 2025

My Review for Welcome to Pennycress Inn by Sarah Hope

January 10, 2025  , , , , , ,  No comments



Pennycress Inn is going to be another, thoroughly enjoyable series from Sarah Hope, and she is fast becoming a must-read author for me. Laura is our protagonist and I found her brave, independent and a woman who knows just what she wants. I loved her spirit, as she makes a new life for herself, taking on a new business challenge which proves a little - well a lot - more complex than she originally thought. 

I'm not sure that I'd have been as strong as she was when the villagers turned out to be a little hostile, and I admired this from her. She's proving that if you have the drive and determination, you can do anything you put your mind to, and overcome the obstacles in your way. 

There is humour, romance, tears, laughter and sheep (yes you read that right - sheep), along the way and if you need a fun, cosy book to get you through these dull January days, then get yourself a copy, grab a cup of your favourite hot drink and curl up on the sofa in front of the fire and disappear to the village of Meadowfield for a while. 

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review Welcome to Pennycress Inn by Sarah Hope.



About the Book

Laura wants to shake things up. She’s thirty-eight, and has been living in her parents’ house since her divorce last year. Her siblings seem to have got their lives together: successful careers, happy marriages, beautiful children. 

Laura’s determined to prove herself. And buying the beautiful Pennycress Inn in the idyllic Cotswolds village of Meadowfield could be just the way to do it. 

But getting the inn ready for its first guests proves easier said than done! With crumbling walls, dangerous woodwork and loose roof tiles, not to mention unfriendly locals and even errant sheep, Laura soon fears she’s made the wrong choice. 

Luckily a friendly face is on hand in the form of gorgeous chef, Jackson. But is he too good to be true? And just why are the villagers so against her? 

Can Laura turn her life around and get the fresh start she longs for at Pennycress Inn?


About Sarah

Sarah has been dreaming up stories ever since she was a child. She remembers many a family stroll when she’d daydream up her next story adventure. 

As an adult, she prefers to write romance novels and novellas with a Happy Ever After ending. She has two main romance series, the Escape To... series that focuses on single mums taking a chance and fulfilling their career dreams as well as finding love, and The Cornish Bakery series, that follows a busy bakery in a beautiful fictional bay in Cornwall. 

Sarah Hope lives in Central England with her two children and an array of pets and enjoys escaping to the seaside at any opportunity. 

She has also written some women’s fiction books.



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My Review for Dark Times for the Clarks Factory Girls by May Ellis

January 10, 2025  , , , , , ,  No comments



Book three in The Clarks Factory Girls series from May Ellis and once again we are thrown into war-torn Somerset, and the lives of the men and women of Street, many of whom work in the Clarks shoe factory. Throughout the series, battles are being fought, on the frontline, but also in homes, where parents and children don't always see eye to eye!

I love to read about the resilience of people, towns and villages, as they dealt with the horrors which war threw at them. Despite the hardships, they battle on and usually come out smiling. May Ellis draws me into her books and makes me feel like a part of the family, and I can just imagine sitting down with them and having a cuppa and a natter in front of the fire. 

The world has come a long way since the early 1900s, when women weren't allowed to work once they got married and were expected to keep house and look after the children. Sometimes it's difficult to imagine how that was even a thing!

I love my days with the girls, and I can't wait to see what May has in store for them next.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review Dark Times for the Clarks Factory Girls by May Ellis.


About the Book

1916: As fighting in Europe continues, the Clarks Factory Girls find themselves caught in a divided community...

With the country in the grips of conscription, the pacifism at the heart of Street village comes under scrutiny, and when Kate befriends Gerald, a young Quaker arrested for refusing to fight, she starts to understand the true dilemma the community finds itself in.

Still grieving the loss of her sweetheart Mattie, Louisa finds herself at odds with her parents, who refused them the chance to marry. As her mother’s attempts to find Louisa a husband show no signs of abating, Louisa takes solace in her friendship with Jeannie’s brother Lucas, but could an unexpected opportunity offer a solution to both their problems?

Meanwhile, Jeannie finds herself torn between her heart and her faith. With each other’s help, can the girls hold true to what they believe in, even as the village enters its darkest days yet?


About May

May Ellis has been a legal executive, registered childminder, professional fund – raiser and a teacher. She has travelled the world, including trekking in mountains, deserts and the Great Wall of China, as well as helping build a house in Thailand. She went to university in her forties and gained a first class degree and an MA while still working full – time. Her first book, a contemporary romance, was published in 2014. Since then she has had five more novels published, including another romance and a YA time travel adventure. The last three are gritty dramas set in the 1960s/70s published by Darkstroke Books. She lives in Somerset, within sight of Glastonbury Tor, volunteering at her local library and for the Alfred Gillett Trust (custodians of the Clark’s archives). Her current series, based on the factory workers at Clark’s Shoes was inspired by her move to the area and her love of social history.


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Sunday, January 5, 2025

My Review for Forever Love at Wildflower Lock by Hannah Lynn

January 05, 2025  , , , , , ,  No comments



Forever Love at Wildflower Lock is the fourth book in this series, and Theo and Daisy are about to move forward in their relationship - or are they? Daisy is wondering where their relationship is going, why are Theo's parents so unwelcoming, and whatever would she do without her two besties, Claire and Bex? 

Both Theo and Daisy made some irritating decisions throughout the book and there were many times I just said out loud 'no, don't - why would you do that'?!!! Of course, it all comes good in the end, but I was often left wondering as I read - just what was going to happen next.

This is such a lovely book to settle down with, and while away a rainy afternoon, escaping to the tranquil Wildflower Lock, imagining yourself drinking coffee and eating the delicious cakes from Daisy's narrowboat coffee shop. 

I'm looking forward to seeing what Hannah has next up her sleeve. Whatever it is, I'm sure it'll be another amazing read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review Forever Love at Wildflower Lock.



About the Book

Daisy May thought she had everything figured out. After successfully establishing her coffee shop at the idyllic Wildflower Lock and with things going well with charming Theo, she was ready to embrace her happily ever after. But when Theo pops the question, the happiness is overtaken by worries.

Because meeting Theo’s family for the first time is not accompanied by the warm welcome she hoped for. Theo’s parents disapprove of her and they have no qualms in showing it. And when they reveal secrets about Theo’s past, Daisy is left in a spiral.

As insecurities creep in, and with even her own mother expressing her doubts, Daisy begins to question her future with Theo.

Will love conquer all, or will she give in to her fears and cancel the wedding?

About Hannah

Hannah Lynn is a multi award winning novelist. Publishing her first book, Amendments – a dark, dystopian speculative fiction novel, in 2015. Her second book, The Afterlife of Walter Augustus – a contemporary fiction novel with a supernatural twist – went on to win the 2018 Kindle Storyteller Award and the Independent Publishers Gold Medal for Best Adult Ebook.

Born in 1984, Hannah grew up in the Cotswolds, UK. After graduating from university, she spent 15 years as a teacher of physics, first in the UK and then Thailand, Malaysia, Austria and Jordan. It was during this time, inspired by the imaginations of the young people she taught, she began writing short stories for children, and later adult fiction. 

Now settled back in the UK with her husband, daughter and horde of cats, she spends her days writing romantic comedies and historical fiction. Her first historical fiction novel, Athena's Child, was also a 2020 Gold Medalist at the Independent Publishers Awards.


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