Review of The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell

Set in the Lower East Side of New York in 1924 during Prohibition, the story begins with Rose, a typist in the local police precinct. She is no stranger to the confessions of gangsters and murderers whose confessions it is her job to type up. She herself is very straight-laced, having been brought up in a convent, so it is no surprise when she becomes mesmerised by the new typist Odalie, a very glamorous and “modern” young lady who exudes charm, mystery and money.

Odalie befriends Rose and introduces her to the highs and lows of speakeasies, alchohol and men. Rose is reluctant at first but inevitably falls under Odalie`s spell. Her one ambition is to find out who Odalie really is so that truth can cement their friendship forever – but is this a step too far?

I enjoyed this almost psychological study of two girls with completely opposing outlooks on life coming together and which ends in a startling denouement. Suzanne Rindell has a keen insight into character and beguilement which gives the book its fascination. An impressive first novel and an excellently well-written read.

Review by Liz.

Thank you to Penguin for sending us a copy to review.

Book News: Free e-book Short Story Collections from Avon Books

 

THE PERFECT ESCAPE is a collection of short stories from some of the top names in women’s fiction.  Featuring irresistible tales of love, friendship, betrayal and passion, authors include Sunday Times bestsellers Claudia Carroll, Miranda Dickinson and Julia Williams.  THE PERFECT ESCAPE publishes on 27th June.

 

 

 

THE PERFECT MURDER is a spine chilling collection of short stories from some of Avon’s talented crime authors including Paul Finch and Jacqui Rose.  THE PERFECT MURDER publishes on 10th June.

You can pre-order both titles on amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Perfect-Murder-Spine-chilling-ebook/dp/B00CGOIGHC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368698356&sr=8-1&keywords=the+perfect+murder

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Perfect-Escape-Weatherley-ebook/dp/B00CPPIBFY/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1368698383&sr=1-2&keywords=the+perfect+escape

Review of The Rose Petal Beach by Dorothy Koomson

The Rose Petal Beach is the first of Dorothy Koomson's books that I have read and I loved it. I'll definitely be stocking up on other titles by this author.

It is a fast paced thriller told mainly from the perspectives of the three main female characters. It is an effective and beguiling narrative that allows the reader to get to know each character. Tami Challey is happily married to Scott, they have two young daughters and live in a large comfortable home in Brighton. It's a perfect life for Tami until one evening when Scott is arrested for a dreadful crime and she watches her perfect life slowly unravel before her eyes.

This is a book packed full of emotion and suspense. It mainly follows the events through the eyes of Tami, Beatrix and Mirabelle. Each of these characters are very complex people and have their own story to tell. They all have big regrets in their lives, but it is not until the end of the book that you realise the extent to which they have gone to cover them up. Strangely, I felt attached to all three characters and was shocked by some of the things that happened over the course of the novel.

This is a book where nothing is quite as it appears and it is not until you're a fair way into the story that you realise something more sinister is lurking in the background. It's chilling, gripping and completely unputdownable. There are so many surprises in store for the reader.

This is a fantastic and compelling story that had me glued to the sofa until I had finished it. I thought the cover looked stunning too!

5 stars

Review of The Professor of Truth by James Robertson

James Robertson has portrayed in this book the search of one man, Dr. Alan Tealing, a university lecturer in English Literature, for the truth about the murder of his wife and daughter in an aeroplane bombing over Scotland. He has never believed that the man brought to trial for the abomination, Khalil Khazar, was guilty of placing the bomb on the plane from London bound for the USA. Twenty-one years, much investigation and public shaking of theories later, he is still searching for the truth even though Khalil Khazar has recently died. This winter he is visited by Ted Nilsen, an American agent dying of cancer, who gives him the address of the taxi driver Parroulet, who testified to Khazar`s guilt at the trial and who is the last link in Tealing`s investigation. Will travelling to the other end of the world finally put his tortured mind to rest?

James Robertson depicts the hopelessness and helplessness of one man who refuses to accept the official line concerning the deaths of his family in the bombing. He hauntingly describes Tealing`s agony in following lead after lead which end at brick walls, making him feel that he is in a prison of both his own and the authorities` making and from which he feels he will never escape. A magnificent study exploring motives, beliefs and the courage of one self-effacing man in his pursuit of truth, not without high drama.

Reviewed by Liz.

Thank you to Penguin for sending us a copy to review.

Review of Good Husband Material by Trisha Ashley

I’m a big fan of Trisha Ashley and absolutely loved her last book ‘Chocolate Shoes and Wedding Blues’. As soon as I saw a copy of Good Husband Material, I immediately fell in love with the gorgeous cover and was eager to read it.

From the outside Tish has the perfect life, she has a husband that even her mother approves of, works from home and has just bought a beautiful little cottage in the countryside. So, why is it that Tish feels like something is not quite right? Then Tish’s first love Fergal moves into the manor house in the village and changes everything. Fergal is now a famous rock star and is someone whom Tish has not seen for years. I liked the way that we learn about Fergal through his comments in the media.

 Trisha Ashley delicately weaves marital problems into a fun storyline in a lovely country setting – the setting reminds me very much of a village close to where I live. Ashley’s style of writing hooks the reader straight into the storyline and I soon found myself trying to guess what would happen. This book was actually first published back in 2000 and there are parts where this is evident, such as the lack of internet but it didn’t make it feel dated at all.

This is another winner from Trisha Ashley. It’s warm, funny and addictive to read. I certainly did not want to put it down until I got to the very end.

 5 stars

 

Thank you to Avon for sending me a copy to review.

Review of Goodbye, Henrietta Street by Lin Treadgold

Goodbye, Henrietta Street is Lin Treadgold’s first novel and is published by Safkhet Publishing. It read it as part of the Goodbye, Henrietta Street blog tour.

Pippa Lambton is married to Rob, but after the death of the son three years earlier, their marriage seems to be falling apart. She decides to visit the Isles of Scilly and there meets handsome Sven. As their friendship develops, Pippa finds herself torn between leaving Rob and staying with Sven. The problem is that she does not really just want to throw away her marriage and how can she be sure that her relationship with Sven will not just be a holiday fling?

Set on the Isles of Scilly, Treadgold has vividly portrayed this beautiful landscape so well that the reader will feel transported there.

This is a lovely romantic story that I really enjoyed reading. I will be looking out for future work from this author.

 

Thank you to Safkhet Publishing for sending me a copy to review.

 

About the Author

Lin Treadgold was born in Yorkshire and attended private education. After travelling the world and visiting over thirty countries, she took the opportunity to become a writer and nature conservationist. She has always wanted to write a novel; moving to Holland gave her the opportunity to fulfill a dream. Lin is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and organises workshop events for new writers.

Review of Toby's Room by Pat Barker

I was fascinated and moved by REGENERATION, a true masterpiece , when I read it. I am equally transported  by TOBY`S ROOM and couldn`t put it down, such is the power of Pat`s writing. Elinor Brooke`s story begins in 1912. She is home for a weekend from the Slade School of Fine Art and is looking forward to seeing her beloved brother Toby, who is studying to be a doctor, also in London. They share a very close bond – they discover just how close that weekend. They return to their respective lodgings and their chosen paths to enjoy all that the city can offer – but they have changed.

1917 and the War has drained the hearts and minds of the population. Elinor has graduated and is now a member of the celebrated Bloomsbury artists who are all conscientious objectors. Elinor describes herself as a “pond skater” – going through the motions of a normal life but ignoring the horrors of the deeper parts. The image of the pond recurs throughout the book. And is crucial to Elinor and Toby`s early life in the country. Then comes news of Toby from the Front – “missing, presumed dead”.

Pat writes with sensitivity and perspicacity as Elinor tries to find out the truth of Toby`s fate. Is he really dead or is there hope? His uniform has been sent back to the family and she puts it first in the attic but then changes her mind and put it in Toby`s room. She contacts Kit Neville, the last person to see Toby alive, but he is in The Queen Mary`s Hospital in Sidcup, having his maimed face reconstructed by Harold Gillies the pioneer of facial reconstruction. Elinor by this time is working at the hospital with Henry Tonks, Chief of Fine Arts at the Slade, recording injuries and helping to reconstruct faces irreparably damaged in the war. Kit won`t talk about Toby, so Elinor enlists the help of Paul Tarrant, a former lover and also a fellow soldier. Will Kit tell him the truth about Toby? Is the devastating culmination of her search worth knowing?

Pat touches on many elements which war accentuates: the obsession with sex, with self-doubt, with loss and grief. She is finely observant of the nuances of feeling in her characters, some of whom are real (Henry Tonks and Harold Gillies) and of the minutiae of corporeal detail linked to those feelings and physical states. She also conveys the real struggle which artists experience when trying to paint. Her perspicacity is phenomenal.

An amazing book by a superbly talented writer.

Review by Liz.

Thank you to Penguin for sending us a copy to review.