P.J. Skinner's Blog, page 2

Lethal Secret is out on 31st May…

Hi there I’ve recently returned from a fantastic research trip to Budapest to check the background for Lethal Secret. I stayed with dear friends of mine and we had great fun visiting the scenes of the main action in the book. Get My Copy of Lethal SecretWe visited Memento Park, which contains the communist monuments taken down when after the revolution. I found the brutalist statues quite extraordinary.I also visited the Budapest Commonwealth War Cemetery which contains the grave...

Not so mysterious Romans

The King's Gambit by John Maddox Roberts

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I read this book for research and I really enjoyed the wealth of detail about Roman everyday life and politics. The mystery was slightly weak, but I didn't mind as I was distracted by the lush descriptions and characters peopling the narrative. I didn't need the sex scenes, but I'm not into spice in books so I can't tell you if they were good or bad. I skipped over them. Overall an easy read, with a wonderful depiction of Rome pulling in real historical characters. Recommended to historical fiction buffs and mystery lovers who dont mind knowing whodunnit all along.



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Conterfeit Blurb

Codebreaking Sisters: Our Secret War by Patricia Owtram

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I wanted to read this book as one of the sisters worked in Cairo during the war when my great grandmother also worked there. I was hoping they might have met, but if they did, she doesn't say so. This book is divided into chapters written by one or other of two sisters. The sisters themselves were amazing; intrepid and intelligent and unwilling to fit into the pre-war roles expected of them. They didn't lack courage or brains and had wonderful experiences. However I found it less interesting than I had hoped because of the cloying nature of the multitude of letters written home. Also I imagined from the blurb that they had worked at Bletchly and was disappointed that this was a red herring. A good summary of how two women from a privileged background did their bit in during WWII.



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Cardinal Mistake

Conclave by Robert Harris

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I read this book after seeing the trailers for the movie. I loved the Cicero Trilogy and Pompei and couldn't wait to dive into this book. I'm not sure what to say about the plot. At first I thought it would be a run of the mill thriller although a twist seemed likely with the introduction of a mysterious figure. It seems as if the author took no clear decision on whether this was a red herring or the main storyline. The twist at the end was too silly for me. I loved and hated this book. Almost five stars, but also almost one star.



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Almost Epic Indian Tale

The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I'm a bit flummoxed by this book. The subject is fascinating, the setting promising, the cast of characters varied, but, but, but. The weird pacing, the random scenes of graphic violence, the strange lapsing into teenage slang all felt like walking into a lampost when trying to read a message on your phone (no, I haven't, but I saw someone do it). It should be a magnificent book, it has all the elements, but I felt as if the publisher short changed the author here. It's a first novel, so it needed tighter editing, much tighter, boa constrictor tighter, to keep it on track. Great idea, dodgy execution. Made me sad when it could have been epic. Sigh



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Cloying cerulean counterfeit

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This is not a positive review. I am leaving it to balance out the many rave reviews, because I have a different opinion. It is my opinion versus hundreds who loved the book, and hence unimportant but people like me should not waste their time on this book. So if you hate saccharine, cloying fairytales with an obvious romance, dont read this book. Before I read this, I was under the illusion that it was a book for adults, but now I am confused. It is so childish and condescending, I gave myself wrinkles screwing up my face in disgust. Also, and IDK if I am alone in this, why is there a cat? What is it for? I assumed it would turn out to be magical or something, but no, it just has a cool name. This is not a good reason to include a totally pointless character. I knew the end of the book after about six pages and that is generally why I don't read romance. I'm not sure why I ploughed through this book. I think I hoped it would get better or stray from the 'don't be mean, it's okay to fail, Linus is fat, Arthur is tortured, theme. More fool me. Two stars for a good idea, minus three for cloying, saccharine, fakeness. Yuck.



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Truth is more thrilling than fiction

The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War by Ben Macintyre

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Fantastic. I'm so invested in these great books. The fact that they are true stories goes to show that truth is stranger than fiction, and more thrilling, romantic, cruel, stunning. You name it. What I find most amazing is the banality of horror. People who will sell others lives for a bigger car or more money. Who have no qualms about the consequences of their treachery. Anyway. Great writing and a stand out real life thriller at the end.



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Mortal Vintage is a hit!

Mortal Vintage, book five in the Seacastle Mysteries, has been out for two months now and it is a roaring success. It has 166 ratings on Amazon already with an average review of 4.6 stars and ranks high among cozy/cosy myteries in all stores. You can buy it in paperback form direct from me or go to Amazon to buy the ebook or to read on Kindle Unlimited.

So what’s the background to the witchy theme? Well, I have always been fascinatedby the existence of ancient covens of witches in Britain...

We can be completely fine

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I devoured this book. This was a wonderful, 5-star read for me.As a survivor of clinical depression which wrecked my late thirties and early forties, I am always nervous to read books about people struggling with their mental health. I love this book despite being dubious in the beginning and read it in large chunks. Heartfelt but never maudlin, the story follows a woman who is trapped by her own misery and inability to deal with her horrific past. It is by times thoughtful, hilarious, tearjerking and profound. If you haven't read it yet, maybe you should. IMHO of course. 😏



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Dastardly in Devon

Death Comes to Dartmoor by Stephanie Austin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


One of the best so far. I love the cast of characters, but sometimes I feel the mystery in these books is too secondary for my taste. This tale starts with the death of a local journalist and is complicated by a spate of dognapping in Ashburton and environs. Juno is in at the deep end as usual as she struggles to cope with heartbrake and the demands of her day job. Great fun.



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