Tuesday 30 January 2018

#BookReview Look For Me by Lisa Gardner @LisaGardnerBks @DuttonBooks

Look For Me by Lisa Gardner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner's latest twisty thrill ride, Detective D. D. Warren and Find Her's Flora Dane return in a race against the clock to either save a young girl's life . . . or bring her to justice.

The home of a family of five is now a crime scene: four of them savagely murdered, one—a sixteen-year-old girl—missing. Was she lucky to have escaped? Or is her absence evidence of something sinister? Detective D. D. Warren is on the case—but so is survivor-turned-avenger Flora Dane. Seeking different types of justice, they must make sense of the clues left behind by a young woman who, whether as victim or suspect, is silently pleading, Look for me.


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I have wanted for a long time to read a Lisa Gardner book, so I was thrilled when I got the chance to read book nine in the Detective D.D. Warren series. Since I'm a newbie when it came to this series did I not have any previous knowledge about the characters in this book, but I'm pleased to say that I have found myself a new favorite series!

The story starts off with a BANG! Frankly, this is one of the best intros I have ever read when it comes to a crime novel and I was instantly hooked. And, the book never got boring. I found both Detective D.D. Warren and vigilante Flora Dane to be interesting characters in their own ways, and I loved to follow the investigations from their different perspectives. I need to get to the past books in the series, both because I want to know more about D.D's past, but also get Flora's story.

The story is very tragic, and towards the last 100 pages of the book did I start to suspect the killer's identity and yeah I was right about it. But, it didn't bother me, it was more a feeling of almost dread when I started to suspect the truth. It's a book about consequences and thinking back to what started it all, how people's decisions in the end led to the killing of almost a whole family is heartbreaking. Thankfully is there some really sweet moments in the book as well with D.D's son getting a puppy.

This is my first Lisa Gardner book, but it sure isn't my last!

I want to thank Dutton for providing me with a free copy through Edelweiss for an honest review!

#BlogTour The Secret Life of Mrs. London by Rebecca Rosenberg @MrsLondonsLover @hfvbt #Giveaway

The Secret Life of Mrs. London by Rebecca Rosenberg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Secret Life of Mrs. London by Rebecca Rosenberg

Publication Date: January 30, 2018
Lake Union Publishing
eBook & Paperback; 348 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction

San Francisco, 1915. As America teeters on the brink of world war, Charmian and her husband, famed novelist Jack London, wrestle with genius and desire, politics and marital competitiveness. Charmian longs to be viewed as an equal partner who put her own career on hold to support her husband, but Jack doesn’t see it that way…until Charmian is pulled from the audience during a magic show by escape artist Harry Houdini, a man enmeshed in his own complicated marriage. Suddenly, charmed by the attention Houdini pays her and entranced by his sexual magnetism, Charmian’s eyes open to a world of possibilities that could be her escape.

As Charmian grapples with her urge to explore the forbidden, Jack’s increasingly reckless behavior threatens her dedication. Now torn between two of history’s most mysterious and charismatic figures, she must find the courage to forge her own path, even as she fears the loss of everything she holds dear.

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound


BOOK REVIEW

I instantly knew that I wanted to read The Secret Life of Mrs. London from the moment I read the blurb. I just love reading historical fiction about famous persons and I was intrigued by the prospect of reading a book about Jack London, a man that I didn't know much about. Also, the addition of Harry Houdini to the story made my eagerness to read this book even greater.

I've actually been putting off writing this review, you know waiting for the right moment because I was so taken with the story that I needed some breathing pause to be levelheaded to write a review that is just me rambling. To be honest, I'm not sure it helped, but anyway, here we go!

The Secret Life of Mrs. London is about Jack London's wife Charmain London and in this story we get to follow Charmain story through a period in life when everything around her changes. Her marriage isn't the easiest and although Jack loves Charmain do one really get a feeling that she is there to take care of Jack businesses, from his writing to the dream house that he's building. Her own ambition, her own writing is something that she has to just dream about. The Harry Houdini sweeps into her life...
As much as I liked Jack in this book can't I help, but frankly adore Harry Houdini. The attraction between him and Charmain is palpable. It helps that the writing is top-notch that the characters are so alive, so well-developed that I breathlessly turned every page with the desire to know what happens next, but at the same time didn't I want the story to end. Yes, I'm gushing, but seriously, this is one book I could easily read again and nowadays I don't have time to re-read books. Another character I came to like very much is Bess Houdini, she shows up in the book now and then, and just like her famous husband has Bess a strong and vibrant personality. I quite liked her interaction with Charmine.

The Secret Life of Mrs. London is one of the best books I have ever read. It's a story I will never forget and I can't wait to see what Rebecca Rosenberg will write next. 

The Secret Life of Mrs. London by Rebecca Rosenberg

Praise for The Secret Life of Mrs. London


“The Secret Life of Mrs. London is a heart-wrenching portrait of a marriage between two people who utterly depend on one another, but ultimately aren’t enough for each other. With skillful precision of language, Rosenberg weaves a narrative that defines the complexities of love, passion, and art. This is a perceptive, deeply moving novel by a great new talent about a couple who has gone unnoticed in historical fiction until now. Anyone who has ever loved another person will want to read this book.” —Victoria Kelly, author of Mrs. Houdini: A Novel

“One of Houdini’s best kept secrets was his affair with Charmian London in 1918. Now Rebecca Rosenberg tells the story using an elegant blend of fact and fiction, creating a Houdini book like no other. The Secret Life of Mrs. London is a true peek behind the curtain and a page-turner.” —John Cox, Wild about Harry

About the Author


A California native, Rebecca Rosenberg lives on a lavender farm with her family in Sonoma, the Valley of the Moon, where Jack London wrote from his Beauty Ranch. Rebecca is a long-time student of Jack London’s works and an avid fan of his daring wife, Charmian London. The Secret Life of Mrs. London is her debut novel.

Rebecca and her husband, Gary, own the largest lavender product company in America, selling to 4000 resorts, spas and gift stores. The Rosenbergs believe in giving back to the Sonoma Community, supporting many causes through financial donations and board positions, including Worth Our Weight, an educational culinary program for at-risk children, YWCA shelter for abused women, Luther Burbank Performing Arts Center to provide performances for children, Sonoma Food Bank, Sonoma Boys and Girls Club, and the Valley of the Moon Children's Home.

For more information, please visit Rebecca's website and blog. You can also find her on Facebook and Goodreads. Visit the Facebook page for The Secret Life of Mrs. London.

Blog Tour Schedule

Tuesday, January 30 
Review at A Bookaholic Swede 

Wednesday, January 31 
Interview & Giveaway at Passages to the Past 

Thursday, February 1 
Guest Post at Let Them Read Books 

Friday, February 2 

Monday, February 5 Review at Creating Herstory 

Tuesday, February 6 
Review at Planting Cabbages 

Wednesday, February 7 
Review at A Bookish Affair 

Thursday, February 8 
Interview at Planting Cabbages 

Friday, February 9 
Review at Bookish 

Sunday, February 11 
Review at Carole's Ramblings 

Monday, February 12 
Review at Cup of Sensibility 

Tuesday, February 13 
Review & Giveaway at
The Maiden's Court 

Wednesday, February 14 
Review at Donna's Book Blog 

Thursday, February 15 
Review at Jorie Loves a Story 

Friday, February 16 
Guest Post at Short Book and Scribes 

Monday, February 19 
Review at Reading the Past 

Tuesday, February 20 
Review at The Lit Bitch 

Friday, February 23 
Review at Pursuing Stacie 

Monday, February 26 
Review at Back Porchervations 

Tuesday, February 27 
Guest Post at My Reading Corner 

Wednesday, February 28 
Review & Giveaway at Suzy Approved Book Reviews 

Thursday, March 1 

Friday, March 2 

Monday, March 5 

Tuesday, March 6 
Review at Bookish Beck

Monday 29 January 2018

#BookReview The Mermaids Scream by Kate Ellis @PiatkusBooks

The Mermaids Scream by Kate Ellis
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Why did Wynn Staniland, a legend in the literary world, suddenly become a recluse in the 1980s? Most assumed he stopped writing because of his wife's bizarre suicide; a death that mirrored a murder case from the nineteenth century. And now a promising young author called Zac Wilkinson is working on Staniland's biography and hopes to reveal the true story to a waiting world - while at the same time keeping his own troubled past hidden from public view.

When Wilkinson is found brutally murdered, DI Wesley Peterson finds links to the unexplained poisoning of a middle-aged couple at a local caravan park - and Wynn Staniland appears to be the connection.

As Wesley delves further into the case he suspects a sinister puppet show might provide the solution: a grim re-enactment of the murder of Mary Field, a cause celebre from the reign of Queen Victoria that inspired Staniland's best-known novel.

The case becomes personal for Wesley when he discovers his son is involved, and as he begins to unravel decades of secrets and deception, the shocking truth proves almost too much to bear . .
.

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The Mermaids Scream is the third book I have read in this series and since this is book 21 have I missed a couple. However, they are perfectly alright to read stand-alone. The cases are closed after each book and the private lives of the characters are easy to figure out and follow.

In this book must DI Wesley Peterson try to figure out why someone would want to kill a young writer, Zac Wilkison, who was writing a biography of the legendary recluse author Wynn Staniland. As that is not enough is Wesley caught up in the case when he and a young friend stumbles over the dead body of Wilkison.

The Mermaids Scream plot sounded more interesting than it was. To be honest, was I not sure that I could finish this book because I found the story to be a bit slow. However, I decided to keep going and see if it would get better. But, alas, this is a story that just never got either really interesting nor thrilling. However, I did find the ending to be OK. And, that is at least something that the book was wrapped up nicely. The historical flashback to the murder of Mary Field through diary notes also something I found more in the way rather than a gain to the story. It felt more like an unwelcome interruption to the story. Personally, I think my biggest problem is that I have a hard time connecting to the characters in the books, which is strange since the first book I read in the series, The Death Season, was fabulous. The two after (including this) has just interested me as much as that one did.

Hopefully, the next one will be better!

I want to thank Piatkus for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!

#BookReview The Cottingley Secret by Hazel Gaynor @HazelGaynor @FreshFiction

The Cottingley Secret by Hazel Gaynor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Came Home turns the clock back one hundred years to a time when two young girls from Cottingley, Yorkshire, convinced the world that they had done the impossible and photographed fairies in their garden. Now, in her newest novel, international bestseller Hazel Gaynor reimagines their story.

1917… It was inexplicable, impossible, but it had to be true—didn’t it? When two young cousins, Frances Griffiths and Elsie Wright from Cottingley, England, claim to have photographed fairies at the bottom of the garden, their parents are astonished. But when one of the great novelists of the time, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, becomes convinced of the photographs’ authenticity, the girls become a national sensation, their discovery offering hope to those longing for something to believe in amid a world ravaged by war. Frances and Elsie will hide their secret for many decades. But Frances longs for the truth to be told.

One hundred years later… When Olivia Kavanagh finds an old manuscript in her late grandfather’s bookshop she becomes fascinated by the story it tells of two young girls who mystified the world. But it is the discovery of an old photograph that leads her to realize how the fairy girls’ lives intertwine with hers, connecting past to present, and blurring her understanding of what is real and what is imagined. As she begins to understand why a nation once believed in fairies, can Olivia find a way to believe in herself?


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THE COTTINGLEY SECRET is the first book I have read by Hazel Gaynor. I was intrigued by the idea of the book, about the cousins that took the Cottingley photographs of fairies (you can google Cottingley fairies to see the photographs yourself, they are added at the end of the book). Personally, from a modern perspective, I have a hard time to see how anyone can take them for real. But, it was another time back then.

READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!

#BookReview The Cafe by the Sea by Jenny Colgan @jennycolgan @FreshFiction #FFreview

The Cafe by the Sea by Jenny Colgan
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

The beloved author of The Bookshop on the Corner returns with a sparkling, sunny, soulful new novel perfect for fans of Elin Hilderbrand.

Years ago, Flora fled the quiet Scottish island where she grew up -- and she hasn't looked back. What would she have done on Mure? It's a place where everyone has known her all her life, where no one will let her forget the past. In bright, bustling London, she can be anonymous, ambitious... and hopelessly in love with her boss.

But when fate brings Flora back to the island, she's suddenly swept once more into life with her brothers -- all strapping, loud, and seemingly incapable of basic housework -- and her father. Yet even amid the chaos of their reunion, Flora discovers a passion for cooking -- and find herself restoring dusty little pink-fronted shop on the harbour: a café by the sea.

But with the seasons changing, Flora must come to terms with past mistakes -- and work out exactly where her future lies...


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Flora swore she would never go back home to Mure, the little Scottish island where she grew up. Instead, she settled in London, working and enjoys the life there. Well, enjoy is a bit far-fetched, but she has a great friend, Kai, at work and a crush on her boss, Joel. However, he is definitely out of her league. Then, she has to go back, thanks to a millionaire with big plans for the island. So, now she has to face her past, her father, and the brothers she left behind. And, who knows, going back home may turn her life around.

READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!

Saturday 27 January 2018

#BookReview A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams @authorbeatriz

A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Memorial Day, 1938: New York socialite Lily Dane has just returned with her family to the idyllic oceanfront community of Seaview, Rhode Island, expecting another placid summer season among the familiar traditions and friendships that sustained her after heartbreak.

That is, until the Greenwalds decide to take up residence in Seaview.

Nick and Budgie Greenwald are an unwelcome specter from Lily’s past: her former best friend and her former fiancé, now recently married—an event that set off a wildfire of gossip among the elite of Seaview, who have summered together for generations. Budgie’s arrival to restore her family’s old house puts her once more in the center of the community’s social scene, and she insinuates herself back into Lily's friendship with an overpowering talent for seduction...and an alluring acquaintance from their college days, Yankees pitcher Graham Pendleton. But the ties that bind Lily to Nick are too strong and intricate to ignore, and the two are drawn back into long-buried dreams, despite their uneasy secrets and many emotional obligations.

Under the scorching summer sun, the unexpected truth of Budgie and Nick’s marriage bubbles to the surface, and as a cataclysmic hurricane barrels unseen up the Atlantic and into New England, Lily and Nick must confront an emotional cyclone of their own, which will change their worlds forever.


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I've spent a lot of time lately going through Beatriz Williams books. Luckily did I have a lot of them available as audiobooks. Like this one. It's a pure joy listening to Williams books.

In A Hundred Summers are we introduced to Lily Dane who has returned to the summerhouse at Seaview, Rhode Island. However, her peaceful summer is interrupted when Nick and Budgie Greenwald arrives. The couple has just married and they are there to restore Budgie's family's old house. Lily and Budgie used to best friends, and Nick was Lily's boyfriend. So, this reunion is hard for Lily. Through the book, we get to know more about Lily's past through flashbacks as the summer progress and Lily try to get used to having Budgie and Nick back in her life.

As usual is the story Beatrix Williams has woven together fabulous. I spent some blissful hours listening to this book while working and I must say that if there is one thing Williams can do is take what seems to be a kind of straightforward story and throw in some twists. The writing is so good that I can easily picture the wonderful oceanfront community of Seaview. As for the story, I was captivated and I enjoyed that I did not always guess right what would happen next, especially towards the ending. What I truly enjoy is how human the characters in the book are, and that the title and the cover may make it seem like a light story, but there are serious events and people aren't always who they seem to be.

A Hundred Summers is a fabulous book and I recommend it warmly!

#BookReview Den tatuerade cirkeln (The Tattooed Circle) by Susan Casserfelt (SWE/ENG) @SusanCasserfelt

Den tatuerade cirkeln by Susan Casserfelt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

SWEDISH REVIEW

En ung man skjuts ihjäl i Gamla stan. De märkliga omständigheterna gäckar polisinspektör Kajsa Nordin som börjar gräva i fallet tillsammans med den pensionerade kriminalkommissarien Christian Modig från Örnsköldsvik. Spåren leder dem vidare uppåt i landet, till en nyöppnad plastikklinik i Västernorrland. Men vad pågår egentligen i den gula villan i det natursköna landskapet kring Höga kusten-bron?

Allt börjar med att Kajsa, under ett romantiskt restaurangbesök, hör två skott, rusar ut och hittar en svårt skottskadad ung man. Hon påbörjar livräddande insatser, men blir bryskt bortmotad av tre svartklädda män som hon antar vara hemliga poliser. Men snart riktas misstankarna i stället mot henne och hon tvingas ta saken i egna händer.

Detta leder till att hon än en gång kommer i kontakt med Zeta, och via kändiskonstnären ett dolt sällskap med en synnerligen ljusskygg verksamhet. Bland annat med kopplingar till en privat klinik vid foten av Höga kusten-bron.

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Jag läste för inte så länge sedan Prästens lilla flicka, den första delen i denna serie och jag tyckte den var mycket läsvärd, och jag såg verkligen fram emot att läsa uppföljaren.

Polisinspektör Kajsa Nordin är nu färdig polis och har lämnat Örnsköldsvik för Stockholm. Men trots att livet är bra, sÃ¥ kan hon hjälpa att hon saknar Örnsköldsvik och dess vackra miljö och nu har en plats blivit ledig och hon är frestad att söka den. Problemet är att hennes flickvän inte alls gillar tanken pÃ¥ att flytta frÃ¥n Stockholm. Men detta problem hamnar lite i sidoläge när Kajsa finner en man skjuten utanför restaurangen där flickvännen just har friat till henne. 

Den tatuerade cirkeln är en mycket bra uppföljare till Prästens lilla flicka. Handlingen är intressant och jag har kommit att tycka väldigt mycket om Kajsa, som i denna bok hamnar i problem när hennes version av vad som hände pÃ¥ kvällen när en ung man tragiskt blev nedskjuten, ifrÃ¥gasatts. Zeta frÃ¥n första boken dyker ocksÃ¥ upp, och även om jag finner henne nÃ¥got pÃ¥frestande, sÃ¥ är hennes egenhet ocksÃ¥ nÃ¥got som gör boken väldigt speciell. Berättelsen är välskriven och spännande och jag ser fram emot att läsa fler böcker i serien. 

Tack till Mima förlag för recensionsexemplaret!

ENGLISH REVIEW

A young man is killed in Stockholm. The strange circumstances baffle police inspector Kajsa Nordin, who begins to investigate the case together with the retired ex-college Christian Modig from Örnsköldsvik. The tracks lead them further up in the country to a newly opened plastic clinic in Västernorrland. What's really going on in the yellow villa in the scenic landscape around the High Coast Bridge?

Everything starts with Kajsa hearing, during a romantic restaurant visit, two shots, rushing out and finding a badly injured young man. She begins life-saving efforts, but gets pushed aside by three black-dressed men who assume she is secret police. However, soon the suspicions are directed at her and she is forced to take the matter into her own hands.

As a result, she once again comes into contact with Zeta, and through the celebrity artist a hidden company with a particular shadowy business. Among other things, connections to a private clinic at the foot of the High Coast Bridge.


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I finished "The Priest's Little Girl", the first book in this series, not so long ago and I found that book to be really good. So, I was looking forward to reading the sequel.

Kajsa Nordin who in the first book was just an aspirant has now finished her education and is now working as a real police. She has also left Örnsköldsvik for Stockholm. However, despite that life is good can't she help put to miss her old life in Örnsköldsvik and now a job has been offered to her there. The problem is that her girlfriend doesn't want to leave Stockholm. This problem is taken over by the shooting outside the restaurant where Kajsa's girlfriend has just proposed to her.

The Tattooed Circle is a very good sequel to "The Priest's Little Girl". The story is interesting and I have started to care a lot for Kajsa, who in this book is in trouble when her version of what happened in the evening when a young man was tragically shot, is questioned. Zeta from the first book also appears, and although I find her sometimes bit bothersome does her character add some uniqueness to the story. The story is well written and compelling and I look forward to reading more books in the series.

Thanks to Mima förlag for the review copy!

Friday 26 January 2018

#Wishlist January 2018: Most Wanted Historical Mystery 2018

This month's wishlist is dedicated to 5 historical mystery titles that are released this year. Thye all look fabulous, don't you think? 

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From Mathew Pearl, the bestselling author of The Dante Club, a masterful tale of literature, obsession, and murder


The year is 1870. Five years after a series of Dante-inspired killings disrupted Boston, a man is found murdered in the public gardens of London with an enormous stone around his neck etched with a verse from the Divine Comedy. When more mysterious murders erupt across the city, all in the style of the punishments Dante memorialized in Purgatory, poet Christina Rossetti fears her brother, the Dante-obsessed artist and writer Gabriel Rossetti, will be the next victim.

Christina enlists poets Robert Browning and Alfred Tennyson, and famous scholar Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, to assist in deciphering the literary clues. Together these unlikely investigators rush to unravel the secrets of Dante’s verses in order to find Gabriel and stop the killings. Racing between the shimmering mansions of the elite and the dark corners of London’s underworld, they descend further and further into the mystery. But when the true inspiration behind the gruesome murders is finally revealed, Christina realizes that the perpetrator has even bigger and more horrific plans than she had initially thought.

A dazzling tale of intrigue from the writer Library Journal calls “the reigning king of popular literary historical thrillers,” The Dante Chamber is a riveting adventure across London and through Dante. Expertly blending fact and fiction, Pearl gives us a historical mystery like no other, captivating and enthralling until the last page.

In this sequel to the acclaimed The Wages of Sin—and once again set in moody fin de siecle Edinburgh—Sarah Gilchrist finds herself trying to prove her fiancé’s innocence in the midst of his murder trial.

Edinburgh, 1893.

Sarah Gilchrist has no intention of marrying her dull fiancé Miles, the man her family hope will restore her reputation and put an end to her dreams of becoming a doctor, but when he is arrested for a murder she is sure he didn’t commit, she finds herself his reluctant ally.

Beneath the genteel façade of upper class Edinburgh lurks blackmail, adultery, poison, and madness, and Sarah must return to Edinburgh’s slums, back alleys, and asylums as she discovers the dark past about a family where no one is what they seem, even Miles himself.

It also brings her back into the orbit of her mercurial professor, Gregory Merchiston—he sees Sarah as his protege, but can he stave off his demons long enough to teach her the skills that will save her life?

On the eve of the Victorian era, London has a new sleuth…

In the winter of 1835, young Charles Dickens is a journalist on the rise at the Evening Chronicle. Invited to dinner at the estate of the newspaper’s co-editor, Charles is smitten with his boss’s daughter, vivacious nineteen-year-old Kate Hogarth. They are having the best of times when a scream shatters the pleasant evening. Charles, Kate, and her father rush to the neighbors’ home, where Miss Christiana Lugoson lies unconscious on the floor. By morning, the poor young woman will be dead.

When Charles hears from a colleague of a very similar mysterious death a year ago to the date, also a young woman, he begins to suspect poisoning and feels compelled to investigate. The lovely Kate offers to help—using her social position to gain access to the members of the upper crust, now suspects in a murder. If Charles can find justice for the victims, it will be a far, far better thing than he has ever done. But with a twist or two in this most peculiar case, he and Kate may be in for the worst of times…

A brutal murder draws nobleman Sebastian St. Cyr into the tangled web of the British royal court in this gripping historical mystery from the national bestselling author of Where the Dead Lie.

London, 1814. As a cruel winter holds the city in its icy grip, the bloody body of a beautiful young musician is found half-buried in a snowdrift. Jane Ambrose’s ties to Princess Charlotte, the only child of the Prince Regent and heir presumptive to the throne, panic the palace, which moves quickly to shut down any investigation into the death of the talented pianist. But Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, and his wife Hero refuse to allow Jane’s murderer to escape justice.

Untangling the secrets of Jane’s world leads Sebastian into a maze of dangerous treachery where each player has his or her own unsavory agenda and no one can be trusted. As the Thames freezes over and the people of London pour onto the ice for a Frost Fair, Sebastian and Hero find their investigation circling back to the palace and building to a chilling crescendo of deceit and death…

Charlotte Holmes, Lady Sherlock, returns in the Victorian-set mystery series from the USA Today bestselling author of A Conspiracy in Belgravia and A Study in Scarlet Women, an NPR Best Book of 2016.

Under the cover of “Sherlock Holmes, consulting detective,” Charlotte Holmes puts her extraordinary powers of deduction to good use. Aided by the capable Mrs. Watson, Charlotte draws those in need to her and makes it her business to know what other people don’t. When her dear friend Lord Ingram stands accused of the murder of his estranged wife, Charlotte goes under disguise to help prove his innocence to Scotland Yard.

Thursday 25 January 2018

#BookReview The Spring Girls by Anna Todd @FreshFiction #ffreview @Marablaise

The Spring Girls by Anna Todd
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Four sisters desperately seeking the blueprints to life—the modern-day retelling of Louise May Alcott’s Little Women like only Anna Todd (After, Imagines) could do.

The Spring Girls—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—are a force of nature on the New Orleans military base where they live. As different as they are, with their father on tour in Iraq and their mother hiding something, their fears are very much the same. Struggling to build lives they can be proud of and that will lift them out of their humble station in life, one year will determine all that their futures can become.

The oldest, Meg, will be an officer’s wife and enter military society like so many of the women she admires. If her passion—and her reputation—don’t derail her.

Beth, the workhorse of the family, is afraid to leave the house, is afraid she’ll never figure out who she really is.

Jo just wants out. Wishing she could skip to graduation, she dreams of a life in New York City and a career in journalism where she can impact the world. Nothing can stop her—not even love.

And Amy, the youngest, is watching all her sisters, learning from how they handle themselves. For better or worse.

With plenty of sass, romance, and drama, The Spring Girls revisits Louisa May Alcott’s classic Little Women, and brings its themes of love, war, class, adolescence, and family into the language of the twenty-first century.


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I think it's very brave to take on a beloved classic and do a modern remake. Personally, I was curious to see how Anna Todd's version would turn out to be. I have not read the original novel, only seen movie versions, so I do not have to compare THE SPRING GIRLS to the original book. If you have read LITTLE WOMEN or seen any of the movies you already know the book is about four young sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy and their lives and dreams in Massachusetts in the 19th century.

READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!

#CoverCrush Boardwalk Summer by Meredith Jaeger

For new visitors do I want to explain that Cover Crush is something that my friend Erin over at Flashlight Commentary came up with and I adopted the idea together with some other friends. And, now we try to put up a Cover Crush every week. You can check below my pick of the week for their choices this week!





In this new novel from the author of The Dressmaker’s Dowry, two young women two generations apart discover the joy and heartbreak of following their dreams. Aspiring Hollywood actress Violet makes a shocking choice in 1940, and seventy years later, Mari sets out to discover what happened on that long ago summer

Santa Cruz, Summer 1940: When auburn-haired Violet Harcourt is crowned Miss California on the boardwalk of her hometown, she knows she is one step closer to her cherished dream: a Hollywood screen test. But Violet’s victory comes with a price—discord in her seemingly perfect marriage—and she grapples with how much more she is willing to pay.

Summer 2007: Single mother Marisol Cruz lives with her parents in the charming beach cottage that belonged to her grandfather, Ricardo, once a famed performer on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Drawn to the town’s local history and the quaint gazebo where her grandparents danced beneath the stars, Mari sells raffle tickets at the Beach Boardwalk Centennial Celebration, and meets Jason, a California transplant from Chicago.


When Mari discovers the obituary of Violet Harcourt, a beauty queen who died too young, she and Jason are sent on a journey together that will uncover her grandfather’s lifelong secret—his connection to Violet—a story of tragedy and courage that will forever transform them. 

Thoughts:
First I want to say that this cover feels way wrong in January. Or is it right? I mean who isn't dreaming away to a nice summer day at the beach while looking at the cover? Well, and a time machine back to the 40s...

Check out what my friends have picked for Cover Crush's this week:

Stephanie @ Layered Pages





Wednesday 24 January 2018

#BookReview Mayan Mendacity by L.J.M. Owen @Bleuddyn_Coll

Mayan Mendacity by L.J.M. Owen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dr Elizabeth Pimms has a new puzzle.

What is the story behind the tiny skeletons discovered on a Guatemalan island? And how do they relate to an ancient Mayan queen?

The bones, along with other remains, are a gift for Elizabeth. But soon the giver reveals his true nature. An enraged colleague then questions Elizabeth’s family history. Elizabeth seeks DNA evidence to put all skeletons to rest.

A pregnant enemy, a crystal skull, a New York foodie, and an intruder in Elizabeth’s phrenic library variously aid or interrupt Elizabeth’s attempts to solve mysteries both ancient and personal.

With archaeological intrigue, forensic insight and cosy comfort, Mayan Mendacity takes readers back into the world of Dr Pimms, Intermillennial Sleuth. Really cold cases.


**********

After finishing the first book in this series, Olmec Obituary, was I quite keen to start the next book. So, of course, it took me a little over one year to get to book two. I finally decided to read this book because I got book three in the series, Egyptian Enigma, and I felt that now is the time to read this one and get straight to book three (which I now have started to read).

I love Indiana Jones and I wanted to be an Archaeologist when I was younger. So, books that future Archaeologists and mysteries are really up my alley! Dr. Elizabeth Pimms had to in the first book give up her dreams of being an Egyptologist to support her family after her father died. In this book, is Elizabeth still missing lost career (at the moment), but both her work and family life have improved. Although the return of her fiance is not the joyous moment she had expected. Thankfully a new project distracts her. Bones have been found on a Guatemalan island, and just as in the first book will we get flashback back to the past, in this case to the Mayas. I just love how the two storylines intertwine throughout the book.

It was a great joy to once again step back into Elizabeth Pimms world. I read the book during one day because the story was so enjoyable and interesting. I loved both the mystery of the skeletons as well as the drama in Elizabeth's world. This is a great series and I recommend it warmly!

I want to thank Bonnier Publishing Australia for providing me with a free copy through Netgalley for an honest review!

Tuesday 23 January 2018

#BookReview The King of Bones and Ashes by J.D. Horn (@AuthorJDHorn) @amazonpub

The King of Bones and Ashes by J.D. Horn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Magic is seeping out of the world, leaving the witches who’ve relied on it for countless centuries increasingly hopeless. While some see an inevitable end of their era, others are courting madness—willing to sacrifice former allies, friends, and family to retain the power they covet. While the other witches watch their reality unravel, young Alice Marin is using magic’s waning days to delve into the mystery of numerous disappearances in the occult circles of New Orleans. Alice disappeared once, too—caged in an asylum by blood relatives. Recently freed, she fears her family may be more involved with the growing crisis than she ever dared imagine.

Yet the more she seeks the truth about her family’s troubled history, the more she realizes her already-fragile psyche may be at risk. Discovering the cause of the vanishings, though, could be the only way to escape her mother’s reach while determining the future of all witches.


*********

I instantly felt that The Kings of Bones of Ashes was something I wanted to read and I was thrilled when I got the book to read and couldn't wait! And, the book was great. I was thrilled to read a book about witches set in New Orleans (and not a YA) and the premise of a story about witches that are slowly losing their magic felt refreshingly new.

The King of Bones and Ashes is the first book in the Witches of New Orleans and the book starts off with a young Alice Marin right before she is sent to an asylum by her father who feared that she was going insane just like her grandmother. She will not come back to New Orleans until 10 years later when her grandfather dies. And, her return will be the start of unstoppable events...

This book is the kind that I felt right from the start was perfect for me. I love reading Gothic novels set in the American South about old feuds and secrets. The writing really appeals to me and I loved how the book both had a satisfying ending (to the story in this book), but at the same time, a cliffhanger that makes me wanna read the next book since not everything has been resolved.   

I want to thank 47North for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!

Friday 19 January 2018

#BookReview The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn @WmMorrowBooks

The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

What did she see?

It’s been ten long months since Anna Fox last left her home. Ten months during which she has haunted the rooms of her old New York house like a ghost, lost in her memories, too terrified to step outside.

Anna’s lifeline to the real world is her window, where she sits day after day, watching her neighbours. When the Russells move in, Anna is instantly drawn to them. A picture-perfect family of three, they are an echo of the life that was once hers.

But one evening, a frenzied scream rips across the silence, and Anna witnesses something no one was supposed to see. Now she must do everything she can to uncover the truth about what really happened. But even if she does, will anyone believe her? And can she even trust herself?


**********

The Woman in the Window is a book that I'm on the fence about. The writing is good, the storyline is, for the most part, both interesting and engaging. However, the book lacks surprises and suspense. And, the twists to the story is easy to foresee.

Yet, I found myself quite liking the book. It could be that the book reminded me of Rear Window with James Stewart, or the main characters love for old movies that charmed me since I adore old classic Hollywood movies. The biggest problem, however, is the use of a main character that is unstable, thanks to mental issues because of a past trauma (that was easy to figure out) and the combination of drugs and alcohol. I've come across too many unstable characters on books lately that I've started to avoid psychological thrillers with even the mentioning of characters with mental issues or in any.

The writing is good, the story, however, lacks the necessary twist to truly engage and the ending was too obvious. Although part of me enjoyed the last confrontation. I can actually see how this book would make a great movie. I just wish the story had been more surprising.

I want to thank William Morrow for providing me with a free copy for an honest review through Edelweiss!

#BookReview The Alice Network by Kate Quinn @KateQuinnAuthor @Morrow_PB ‏

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In an enthralling new historical novel from national bestselling author Kate Quinn, two women—a female spy recruited to the real-life Alice Network in France during World War I and an unconventional American socialite searching for her cousin in 1947—are brought together in a mesmerizing story of courage and redemption.

1947. In the chaotic aftermath of World War II, American college girl Charlie St. Clair is pregnant, unmarried, and on the verge of being thrown out of her very proper family. She's also nursing a desperate hope that her beloved cousin Rose, who disappeared in Nazi-occupied France during the war, might still be alive. So when Charlie's parents banish her to Europe to have her "little problem" taken care of, Charlie breaks free and heads to London, determined to find out what happened to the cousin she loves like a sister.

1915. A year into the Great War, Eve Gardiner burns to join the fight against the Germans and unexpectedly gets her chance when she's recruited to work as a spy. Sent into enemy-occupied France, she's trained by the mesmerizing Lili, the "Queen of Spies", who manages a vast network of secret agents right under the enemy's nose.

Thirty years later, haunted by the betrayal that ultimately tore apart the Alice Network, Eve spends her days drunk and secluded in her crumbling London house. Until a young American barges in uttering a name Eve hasn't heard in decades, and launches them both on a mission to find the truth...no matter where it leads.


**********

The Alice Network is a book that many of my bookish friends have read and loved and yet it took ages for me to get to it. Perhaps it was just the right time for it when I finally got to it. Sitting here trying to write a review of the book feels a bit daunting, to be honest. The blurb explains the story quite excellently without giving away to much and I don't want to spoil the story a bit.

So, I will start off by praising the authors writing. This is the first Kate Quinn book I have read and I was impressed with the wonderful flow of the story, how the two storylines so effortlessly fitted together. There is always the risk of one storyline dominated the other, but in this case, I think both were equally good. The women that worked as spies in WW1 really amazed me, their bravery, despite the danger. And the risk they took. Truly amazing! Here I also must say that I just I love how Quinn blended true events with fiction. As always when it comes to author's notes was I fascinated to learn more about true events.

Likewise, was I taken with Charlie's hunt for her cousin in France after WW2. And the connection between the storylines, or rather the connected person; Eve Gardiner is such a wonderful character, from her youthful spies day to the older, quite bitter version.

The Alice Network is a fabulous book and I'm quite eager to read more from Kate Quinn. I recommend this book warmly!

I want to thank William Morrow for providing me with a free copy through Edelweiss for an honest review!

#BookReview The Redeemers by Ace Atkins @aceatkins ‏@PutnamBooks

The Redeemers by Ace Atkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The electrifying new novel in New York Times–bestselling author Ace Atkins’s acclaimed series about the real Deep South.

He is only in his early thirties, but now Quinn Colson is jobless—voted out of office as sheriff of Tibbehah County, Mississippi, thanks to the machinations of county kingpin Johnny Stagg. He has offers, in bigger and better places, but before he goes, he’s got one more job to do—bring down Stagg’s criminal operations for good.

At least that’s the plan. But in the middle of the long, hot summer, a trio of criminals stage a bold, wall-smashing break-in at the home of a local lumber mill owner, making off with a million dollars in cash from his safe, which is curious, because the mill owner is wealthy—but not that wealthy. None of this has anything to do with Colson, but during the investigation, two men are killed, one of them the new sheriff. His friend, acting sheriff Lillie Virgil, and a dangerous former flame, Anna Lee Stevens, both ask him to step in, and reluctantly he does, only to discover that that safe contained more than just money—it held secrets.


Secrets that could either save Colson—or destroy him once and for all.


**********

I've found a series to fill the void left after reading all Longmire books by Craig Johnson. Now, starting with book five in a series is perhaps not the smartest thing to do, but it's my thing and, despite some struggle, in the beginning, to get the hang on the characters is this a book that I felt was just right up my alley. From the fabulous team of ex-sheriff Quinn Colson and deputy sheriff Lillie Virgil to the hapless criminals that are hired by a disgruntled man to break into a safe. Its action, it's humor and it's definitely captivating to read, or in my case listen to since I partly read, but mostly listened to the audiobook. The story is fabulous, especially the break-in part. Man, this robbery plan is doomed from the start.

The Redeemers is a fabulous thriller. I had a blast reading/listening to this book. The storyline is both funny and thrilling and I instantly liked both Quinn and Lillie. This is the kind of book that works reading as a stand-alone after one has figured out who is who. However, I bet it's even better to read this series from the beginning. What I did after finishing this book was listening to book three and four that were available as audiobooks and when they were done did I order the two first books in the series. Yup, you can say that I was hooked! So, now I'm waiting for my books to arrive!

If you are a Longmire fan, then I definitely recommend this series to read.

I want to thank G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing me with a free copy through Edelweiss for an honest review!

#BlogTour An Argument of Blood by Matthew Willis & J.A. Ironside @hfvbt @airandseastories @DystopianIronside #bookbloggers #booklovers

An Argument of Blood by J.A. Ironside & Matthew Willis

Publication Date: June 19, 2017
Penmore Press
Paperback & eBook; 369 Pages

Series: Oath and Crown, Book 1
Genre: Fiction/Historical/War

 
William, the nineteen-year-old duke of Normandy, is enjoying the full fruits of his station. Life is a succession of hunts, feasts, and revels, with little attention paid to the welfare of his vassals. Tired of the young duke’s dissolute behaviour and ashamed of his illegitimate birth, a group of traitorous barons force their way into his castle. While William survives their assassination attempt, his days of leisure are over. He’ll need help from the king of France to secure his dukedom from the rebels.

On the other side of the English Channel lives ten-year-old Ælfgifa, the malformed and unwanted youngest sister to the Anglo-Saxon Jarl, Harold Godwinson. Ælfgifa discovers powerful rivalries in the heart of the state when her sister Ealdgyth is given in a political marriage to King Edward, and she finds herself caught up in intrigues and political manoeuvring as powerful men vie for influence. Her path will collide with William’s, and both must fight to shape the future.

An Argument of Blood is the first of two sweeping historical novels on the life and battles of William the Conqueror.

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes and Noble | Chapters


About the Authors


J.A. Ironside (Jules) grew up in rural Dorset, surrounded by books – which pretty much set he up for life as a complete bibliophile. She loves speculative fiction of all stripes, especially fantasy and science fiction, although when it comes to the written word, she’s not choosy and will read almost anything. Actually it would be fair to say she starts to go a bit peculiar if she doesn’t get through at least three books a week. She writes across various genres, both adult and YA fiction, and it’s a rare story if there isn’t a fantastical or speculative element in there somewhere.

Jules has had several short stories published in magazines and anthologies, as well as recorded for literature podcasts. Books 1 and 2 of her popular Unveiled series are currently available with the 3rd and 4th books due for release Autumn/ Winter 2017.

She also co-authored the sweeping epic historical Oath and Crown Duology with Matthew Willis, released June 2017 from Penmore Press.

Jules now lives on the edge of the Cotswold way with her boyfriend creature and a small black and white cat, both of whom share a god-complex.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Matthew Willis is an author of historical fiction, SF, fantasy and non-fiction. In June 2017 An Argument of Blood, the first of two historical novels about the Norman Conquest co-written with J.A. Ironside, was published. In 2015 his story Energy was shortlisted for the Bridport short story award.

Matthew studied Literature and History of Science at the University of Kent, where he wrote an MA thesis on Joseph Conrad and sailed for the University in national competitions. He subsequently worked as a journalist for Autosport and F1 Racing magazines, before switching to a career with the National Health Service.

His first non-fiction book, a history of the Blackburn Skua WW2 naval dive bomber, was published in 2007. He now has four non fiction books published with a fifth, a biography of test pilot Duncan Menzies, due later in 2017. He currently lives in Southampton and writes both fiction and non-fiction for a living.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads


Blog Tour Schedule


Monday, January 15
Review at Jaffa Reads Too

Tuesday, January 16
Feature at Passages to the Past

Wednesday, January 17
Review at Historical Fiction Reviews

Friday, January 19
Feature at A Bookaholic Swede

Monday, January 22
Review at Broken Teepee

Tuesday, January 23
Review at Pursuing Stacie

Friday, January 26
Feature at Let Them Read Books

Monday, January 29
Review at Locks, Hooks and Books

Tuesday, January 30
Feature at What Cathy Read Next

Wednesday, January 31
Feature at Just One More Chapter

Thursday, February 1
Feature at The Lit Bitch

Friday, February 2
Review at Bookramblings
Review at Impressions In Ink

Monday, February 5
Review at Back Porchervations

Tuesday, February 6
Review at Svetlana's Reads and Views
Wednesday, February 7

Review at The Writing Desk
Review at Donna's Book Blog

Giveaway

During the Book Blast we will be giving away a signed copy of An Argument of Blood! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below.
Giveaway Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on February 7th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

Argument of Blood

Direct Link: https://gleam.io/8Gt1d/argument-of-blood

Thursday 18 January 2018

#CoverCrush Kill the Farm Boy by Kevin Hearne and Delilah S. Dawson

For new visitors do I want to explain that Cover Crush is something that my friend Erin over at Flashlight Commentary came up with and I adopted the idea together with some other friends. And, now we try to put up a Cover Crush every week. You can check below my pick of the week for their choices this week!


The start of a magical, witty new series in the tradition of Terry Pratchett and The Princess Bride, from the New York Timesbestselling author of The Iron Druid Chronicles and the author of the New York Times bestseller Star Wars: Phasma.

Kevin Hearne has enchanted millions with the tales of two-thousand-year-old Irishman/Druid, Atticus O’Sullivan; Delilah S. Dawson is the up-and-coming talent behind the action-packed Star Wars novel Phasma. Together they have created The Tales of Pell, a new fantasy series as heartwarming as it is humorous. Gustave the Talking Goat, Fia the Unusually Tall, Argabella the Ensorcelled Bard, and Grinda the Sand Witch are on a mission to stop LØCHER, the chamberlain to King Benedick, and his lust for the throne. Along the way, they are joined by Toby the Hedge Wizard and Poltro the Clumsy Rogue, who have their own evil agendas, while all of them try to figure out the conundrum of The Chosen One. This magically unforgettable new world fractures all the tropes of the fairytale genre with a subversive sense of humor.

Thoughts:

I'm absolutely charmed by this cover. From the fabulous border, to the colorful motive. Isn't this a absolutely delightful fantasy book cover? 

Check out what my friends have picked for Cover Crush's this week:

Stephanie @ Layered Pages





#BlogTour The Swedish Girl by Alex Gray @Alexincrimeland @partnersincr1me @Marablaise

The Swedish Girl: A DCI Lorimer Novel by Alex Gray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Swedish Girl

by Alex Gray

on Tour January 8 - February 12, 2018

Synopsis:

The Swedish Girl by Alex Gray

Another gripping Lorimer novel from Alex Gray, evoking Glasgow like no other writer can

When Kirsty Wilson lands a room in a luxury Glasgow flat owned by Swedish fellow student Eva Magnusson she can’t believe her luck. But Kirsty’s delight turns to terror when she finds the beautiful Swedish girl lying dead in their home and their male flatmate accused of her murder. Kirsty refuses to accept that he is guilty and, inspired by family friend Detective Superintendent Lorimer, sets out to clear his name.

Meanwhile, Lorimer calls on trusted psychologist Solly Brightman to help unravel the truth behind the enigmatic Eva’s life and death. But it is not long until another woman, bearing a marked resemblance to Eva, is brutally murdered. Horrified, Lorimer realises that Kirsty could be right. Is it possible that Glasgow’s finest detective has put the wrong man behind bars? And is there a cold-blooded killer out there orchestrating the death of the next innocent victim?

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery
Published by: Witness Impulse
Publication Date: January 9th 2018
Number of Pages: 368
ISBN: 9780062659255
Series: A DCI Lorimer Novel, #10 (Stand Alone)

BOOK REVIEW

I couldn't pass up the chance to read this book with a title like this. I mean The Swedish Girl. It's like it's written just for me...

Anyway, I have read a couple of Lorimer books by now and this one is one of the best so far. I quite enjoyed the storyline with a young girl getting murdered it what seems like an open an shut case. But, is it really so. Jo Grant, the police in charge seem to think so. However, Kirsty, one of the roommate with Eve, the Swedish girl, doesn't believe that her fellow roommate and friend Colin is the one that killed Eva. And, with some help from DCI Lorimer is she going to prove that.

I found the story to be engaging from the very start. I liked the premise of the story, with five young students living together and later one is one found murdered. Who would kill a girl everyone liked and why? I also enjoyed the contrast between the police investigation that went straight for the one person that seemed most likely to have done it, vice versa to Kirsty who instead started to dig a bit deeper. And, it turned out that Eva had some skeletons in the closet.

I really like Kirsty, she's the daughter of a college to Lorimer, and she turned out to be a pretty fine amateur detective. In contrast, to Jo Grant, who seemed more eager to grab the very first suspect just to be able to close a case quickly. I have to be honest, Jo Grant is a pretty annoying character. Thankfully, Kirsty has Lorimer on her side.

On a side note, I love that the story takes place both in Glasgow and in Stockholm. The author did a fine job describing Stockholm. Reading it felt like was back there.

As for the ending, here I found the only real let down, don't take me wrong. It's a good ending. However, it was hardly surprising. I would have wanted a more shocking ending. And, ending I had not seen coming. But, all and all is this a great book!

Read an excerpt:

From Chapter 9
December
Kirsty turned the key in the door and closed it behind her with a sigh. The hall was in darkness and there was no sound coming from the living room. Her shoulders moved up and down in a shrug of resignation; she was alone in the flat again. Then she remembered. Wasn’t there some party that Eva had mentioned? They’d all be there, wouldn’t they? Pulling off her thin raincoat and hanging it on the old-fashioned wooden coat stand, Kirsty sauntered into the bedroom next to the front door, unbuttoning her jacket. It was fair handy having this big room to herself, especially when she was working late shift at the hotel. Nobody would be disturbed by her comings and goings. She took off her shoes and tossed her jacket, bag and mobile phone onto the bed. Oh, it was good to be home. A wee cup of hot chocolate and some of her own gingerbread would go down well, she thought, already imagining her teeth sinking into a thick slab of treacly cake.
She stopped for a moment, listening. There was a swish then a click as the front door opened and closed again. Then, nothing.
‘Colin? Is that you back already?’ Kirsty wandered out into the hall, her bare feet sinking into the pile of the hall carpet, still thick and soft despite all their winter boots tramping back and forth. Eva’s father had spared no expense in doing up this flat for his daughter and Kirsty Wilson was grateful for those small luxuries that were absent from most of her friends’ student flats.
Frowning slightly, Kirsty padded down the unlit corridor, one hand out ready to flick on the light switch as she reached the kitchen. But something made her turn left into the living room instead, just to see if anyone was at home after all.
At first she imagined the girl had fallen asleep, sprawled out in front of the television.
‘Eva?’
Kirsty moved forward and bent down, expecting the girl to sit up and yawn. One hand reached out to touch the back of her head but then she drew back as though guided by some inner instinct.
She stood up again and stepped around the recumbent figure, unaware that she was holding her breath.
Then, as Kirsty saw the expression in the dead girl’s eyes, the thin wail escaping from her open mouth turned into a scream of terror.
* * *
Detective Superintendent Lorimer crouched over the body, aware of the sounds of voices coming from the hall. The dead girl was lying on her back, one arm flung out, the fist curled tightly in the moment of death. Her head was bent to one side, blond hair partly obscuring her features, but Lorimer could see enough to make him wonder about the cause of death.
‘Manual strangulation?’ he asked, glancing up at the consultant pathologist who was kneeling on the other side of the girl’s body. The on-duty pathologist tonight was his friend, Dr Rosie Fergusson. He glanced at her with his usual admiration for her calm efficiency, knowing how different she could be at home as a doting mother and as the wife of Professor Brightman, an eminent psychologist and sometime criminal profiler who had worked with Lorimer in the past.
‘Looks like it,’ Rosie murmured, her gloved hands smoothing the hair from the victim’s face, letting Lorimer see for the first time what Kirsty Wilson had found earlier that night.
Eva Magnusson still had that ethereal quality in death that had captivated those who had gazed upon her: Lorimer saw the perfect oval face with flawless skin and bow-shaped lips that were slightly parted as though she had been taken by surprise. He watched as Rosie reached out to close the dead girl’s eyelids, seeing for the final time those pale blue Scandinavian eyes staring out at a world that had proved less than kind.
***
Excerpt from Swedish Girl by Alex Gray. Copyright © 2018 by Alex Gray. Reprinted by permission of Witness Impulse, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

Author Bio:

Alex Gray
Alex Gray was born and educated in Glasgow. After studying English and Philosophy at the University of Strathclyde, she worked as a visiting officer for the Department of Health, a time she looks upon as postgraduate education since it proved a rich source of character studies. She then trained as a secondary school teacher of English. Alex began writing professionally in 1993 and had immediate success with short stories, articles, and commissions for BBC radio programs. She has been awarded the Scottish Association of Writers' Constable and Pitlochry trophies for her crime writing. A regular on the Scottish bestseller lists, she is the author of thirteen DCI Lorimer novels. She is the co-founder of the international Scottish crime writing festival, Bloody Scotland, which had its inaugural year in 2012.

Catch Up With Alex Gray On: Website , Goodreads , & Twitter !


Tour Participants:

Visit the other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and giveaways!

Giveaway:

This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Alex Gray and Witness Impulse. There will be 3 winner of one (1) eBook copy of Alex Gray’s A Pound of Flesh. The giveaway begins on January 8 and runs through February 14, 2018.
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