The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong

Plot 1922. Since the Great War, Ruby Vaughn has made a life for herself running a rare bookshop alongside octogenarian Mr Owen. She thought that she had consigned painful memories of Penryth Hall, deep in the Cornish countryside, to the distant past. Returning to the hall, home to a once dear friend, Tamsyn, leads Ruby…

The Deadly Echoes by M.J. White

I first encountered the Cora Lael Crime Series on my favourite hour of the week; a Wednesday night at 8:00pm when a bunch of like-minded book peeps come together for a single hour to forget about the world for a bit. Started in lockdown by the ever-lovely Miranda Dickenson, and it's carried on to this…

Nothing Without Me by Helen Monks-Takhar

Plot April Eden is about to have the night of her life. The Vanished Woman, the film she wrote and directed is up for a raft of major awards. Her leading lady, Essie Lay, is on the cusp of a stunning comeback after the disturbing scandal that ended her small-screen career a year before. When Essie…

Poles Apart by Anna and Jacqui Burns

Plot The Pembrokeshire village of Morlan is a beautiful place to live, but breathtaking views of the Welsh coastline aside, four of the female residents find themselves stuck in a painful rut. The arrival of pole dancing exercise classes in the village hall offers each of them a chance to bond and discover previously hidden…

Welsh Myth and Murder: The Shadow Key by Susan Stokes-Chapman

Meirionydd, 1783. Henry Talbot has been dismissed from his post at a prestigious London hospital. The only job he can find is as a physician in the backwaters of Wales where he can't speak the language, belief in myth and magic is rife, and the villagers treat him with bewildering suspicion. When Henry discovers his…

The Secret Book Club by Shauna Robinson

When I first heard of this book, my excitement knew no bounds. As a confirmed bookworm with a love of all things mysterious, I grabbed the chance to be part of the read-along with both hands. Unfortunately, I was left a little underwhelmed.  The premise is a good one; Maggie is invited by her friend Rochelle to…

The Traitors by C.A. Lynch

In The Traitors by C.A. Lynch, I embarked on a literary journey which promised an intriguing premise, worthy of the Empress of Crime Agatha Christie herself. Sadly I found myself navigating through a narrative marred by shortcomings. The characters, who were at the heart of the story lacked the depth and likability needed to forge a connection…

The Colder War by Charles Cumming ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“The Colder War” skillfully weaves together multiple storylines, taking readers on a journey through the intricacies of modern espionage. Charles Cumming’s meticulous attention to detail shines through in his portrayal of the intelligence community’s tactics and strategies. The characters, especially the protagonist, are multi-dimensional and relatable, making their motivations and actions believable. The book’s exploration…

Happiness by Aminatta Forna ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Happiness" by Aminatta Forna delves into the lives of its diverse characters, weaving their stories together in a beautifully interconnected narrative. Set in contemporary London, the book offers a profound examination of love, loss, and the search for happiness amidst the complexities of modern urban life. Forna's writing style is both poetic and evocative, allowing…

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

The Lost Bookshop by Evie WoodsMy rating: 5 of 5 stars Plot The thing about books,’ she said ‘is that they help you to imagine a life bigger and better than you could ever dream of.’ On a quiet street in Dublin, a lost bookshop is waiting to be found… For too long, Opaline, Martha…