I'm always ready to pick up a novel by James Lee Burke - his writing is always so atmospheric, and captures characters at their most vulnerable. I didI'm always ready to pick up a novel by James Lee Burke - his writing is always so atmospheric, and captures characters at their most vulnerable. I didn't connect with this one as much as the Robicheaux series, but liked Bessie as a strong young character with moxie, and the lite supernatural themes added to the intrigue. Recommended for lovers of historical fiction, and complex family dynamics. Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the early reader copy. Review to be posted to FishbirdCentral.com closer to publication date....more
I really disliked the main character in this one, so massive shout out to C.S Forester for getting a visceral reaction from me! I felt this could haveI really disliked the main character in this one, so massive shout out to C.S Forester for getting a visceral reaction from me! I felt this could have easily tipped into the horror genre with the suffocating atmosphere, unescapable fate, circles of influence getting smaller and smaller, dark domestic vibes and the inability to forget a crime committed in greed. I felt so bad for Annie Marble � what a desolate life, trapped in an abusive relationship with no lifeline to the outside world � other than her children who have their own focus � "� it was one thing to decide to make oneself agreeable to one’s wife, and quite another to carry it out." (p156) We learn early on that Mr Marble doesn’t quite have all the sandwiches required for a picnic & tends towards the morose � "He supposed it would end like the cases one read about in the paper, with his children’s throats cut and himself and his wife dead of gas-poisoning." (p5) He does have moments of self-awareness � ‘� there came moments when he saw himself in his true colours, as the cornered rat he was, struggling with the courage of desperation against the fate that would inevitably close upon him sooner or later." (p116). The ending seemed quite abrupt but did provide some nice closure. Would read more of Forester’s work, and this was another tick in the 'win' column for the Penguin vintage crime series. Head over to FishbirdCentral.com for more bookish goodness! :)...more
This was my first taste of Gardner (writing as AA Fair) and it was a hit! Picked this one up as part of the ‘Hard Case Crime� series - such cool editiThis was my first taste of Gardner (writing as AA Fair) and it was a hit! Picked this one up as part of the ‘Hard Case Crime� series - such cool editions (no pun intended). Keen to get stuck into the Cool and Lam series and think I might already be a little bit in love with Bertha Cool. Anyone that insists on the appropriate rations of butter and whipping cream for every meal, is a-ok by me. "B. Cool, Investigations" is run by the strong and capable Bertha, who is described as heavy and physically intimidating � but always in a powerful and light-footed way ... "Bertha Cool moving along with that flowing walk of hers which, coupled with her massive size, created such an impression of power" (p195). She’s fearless, savvy and refers to herself in the third person a lot - “Bertha Cool isn’t afraid of anything on God’s green earth,� she said. I’ll tackle anything there’s money in.� (p61). I got a kick out of how cheap everything was back in ye olde days � when Donald was negotiating his stakeout expenses � “You can get a very good hamburger sandwich for fifteen cents, and you may have to put in two or three telephone calls � say fifteen cents more. Here’s fifty cents, Donald.� (p27). Some of the references went right over my head in a cute way � "She put her head up and sailed into the joint as though she was Mrs. Astor’s pet horse.� (p50) � who dat? At one point someone actually says ‘Stick ‘em up� which I haven't heard outside a cartoon lol. The title phrase ‘the knife slipped� is used a handful of times � for readers who like to cheer when they find it. I did roll my eyes at the amount of times Bertha said she was going to "cut myself a piece of cake" � meaning a slice of the action. We get it Bertha, lol � "Listen, lover, Bertha tried to cut herself a piece of cake. The knife slipped. Bertha almost cut her fingers." (p179). All in all, a great intro to a celebrated author. Head over to FishbirdCentral.com for more bookish goodness! :)...more
I've got a love / hate relationship with the Circus - it's both nightmare fuel and also oddly comforting, depending on who's taking centre stage. LastI've got a love / hate relationship with the Circus - it's both nightmare fuel and also oddly comforting, depending on who's taking centre stage. Lastrapes manages to find a balance between lite supernatural and cosy. There's a lot of time spent in the first half of the book scene setting & I found the over-explanations of things a bit plodding at times, but this does mirror a lot of cosy popular reads at the moment & will be a hit with some readers. Recommended for lovers of urban fantasy or those wanting to see behind the curtain of a travelling sideshow that's hiding a few supernatural secrets. I received a free copy of this book via BookSirens in return for an honest review. Head over to FishbirdCentral.com for more bookish goodness :)...more
This was a fun take on a dual timeline Aussie whodunit, with a well-drawn cast of old boarding school friends who lost one of their crew, Ed, on a hikThis was a fun take on a dual timeline Aussie whodunit, with a well-drawn cast of old boarding school friends who lost one of their crew, Ed, on a hiking trip 10 years previously. It’s clear from the outset that the gang are keeping a tight lid on what actually happened to Ed many years ago, and it’s taken a toll on them all � but was Ed just a blameless passive participant? The oppressive and vast expanse of bushland and the remoteness of the farm where the action’s set, helps to create an ominous and page-turning reading experience. Unlike a lot of character driven small-town dramas, this story has the added element of the seemingly unhinged mother cutting off communication and supplies to the homestead to help pull the truth from our secretive schoolies. I’d read more from Rivers, and recommend this book to readers looking for a remote & atmospheric Aussie mystery that’s not centred around a detective. Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand for the advance reader copy in return for an honest review. Review to be posted to FishbirdCentral.com closer to publication date. ...more
Wasn't sure if I was going to get along with this one initially, as I was listening to the audio and we jumped between a few different players. EventuWasn't sure if I was going to get along with this one initially, as I was listening to the audio and we jumped between a few different players. Eventually I caught on, and was in for the adventure. It was interesting learning a bit more about the Donner Party and their descent into cannibalism. We’ve got some ye olde gold coins in play too, to ramp up the stakes while uncovering the bones of unlucky adventurers. I get the feeling that a lot of characters from Preston & Child’s other books will pop up now and then. This is our first foray into the ‘Nora Kelly� novels, however the rookie FBI agent Corrie Swanson, appears to have appeared before. I did guess a twist towards the end, but it didn’t take away from the overall enjoyment of the book. Recommended for readers who have a secret hankering to go digging for old bones and the secrets they keep. I’d read more from Preston & Child. Head over to FishbirdCentral.com for more bookish goodness :)...more
Lovers of the cosy mystery genre will find it hard to think of a more fitting setting for a whodunnit than “Britain’s Battle of the Bakers�. We followLovers of the cosy mystery genre will find it hard to think of a more fitting setting for a whodunnit than “Britain’s Battle of the Bakers�. We follow Claire as she wins a spot on her favourite culinary TV show and prepares to test her baking skills amidst the other contestants, filming on a rolling English estate. Claire has been dreaming of this moment since she was 10, but didn’t anticipate ghosts, murders and the disarming good looks of Jonny, the resident Viscount. Readers should be prepared for a LOT of baking puns and twee foodie ‘swear� words along the lines of ‘Crepes alive!� and ‘Son of a biscuit!� � which could have been sweet if used more sparingly. I did start rolling my eyes when Jonny also began using baking-themed curse words in high-stress situations for no reason. Ultimately, this book didn’t quite hit home for me, though I can see it ticking a lot of boxes for readers who enjoy an element of romance with their mystery, and a behind-the-scenes glimpse into ‘reality TV�. Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the advance reader copy in return for an honest review....more
This was a fun ride, and Driscoll paints a magnificent and sweeping Egyptian sandscape from which to base the action. Clemmie is a strong and capable This was a fun ride, and Driscoll paints a magnificent and sweeping Egyptian sandscape from which to base the action. Clemmie is a strong and capable character with layered motivations, so the plot flow always seems true to form. A hieroglyphist with a strong pull towards a sense of fairness, Clementine Attridge battles against memories of her mother and father, real-life betrayal from the men in her life and tomb raiders � as she attempts to return an amulet and restore her sister’s health. Driscoll weaves backstory into the present-day plot, along with a history lesson on Egyptian Gods and myth. This is a tale of family and obsession set against a compelling background. Despite the rich sense of place, I’m not sure it needed to be as long as it is, to convey the same story � but each reader will have their preference. Recommended for those looking for historical fiction complete with curses, light romance and a protagonist who won’t rest until balance has been restored. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Australia for the advance reader copy in return for an honest review. Review to also be promoted to FishbirdCentral.com closer to publication date in February 2025....more
This was a fun and atmospheric gothic novel, following Clara as she inherits her estranged father's property when he dies. I enjoyed the writing styleThis was a fun and atmospheric gothic novel, following Clara as she inherits her estranged father's property when he dies. I enjoyed the writing style and pacing and appreciated that there were supernatural elements running through this story � not all the bumps in the night can be explained away by human interference. I liked Clara as a character, however could have done without the building attraction with Tuck. It always bothers me in stories when the love-interest has an overly protective reaction for a woman he’s just met, seems a bit of a controlling red flag. Even though Clara was quite proactive in investigating the history of the Inn and her father’s shady business, I would have liked her to stand up for herself a bit more with the male characters. Saying that, I recognise this is set in 1933 and there were a lot more barriers in Clara’s way in terms of being independent. All in all, this was a solid, if slightly predictable read. Recommended for readers looking for a plucky and independent heroine standing up for the forces of good in a small town setting. Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for the advance reader copy. Review to be promoted to FishbirdCentral.com closer to publication date in January 2025....more
This was clever, frustrating, funny and monotonous. Toltz writes with an insight and depth that can be thought provoking and amusing while still movinThis was clever, frustrating, funny and monotonous. Toltz writes with an insight and depth that can be thought provoking and amusing while still moving the plot along. I was fully onboard with this book for the first half, but around page 213 I found myself becoming more and more frustrated with the afterlife and the lack of progression or answers � which may have been the point, as things kept going off the rails for the characters both alive and dead. I love reading about alternate visions of life after death � and this was a ride, to be sure. I’ll certainly read more from Toltz. This one left me with a bit of a downer though, and a lot of questions � but I’d definitely recommend to readers looking for a quirky life-after-life story that holds a mirror under societies nose.
What the afterlife feels like: "It feels like when a stranger sneezes and you say ‘bless you�, and then the bastard just keeps on sneezing and you’re stuck saying bless you over and over again, and you can’t stop until he stops." (p215)
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