Paula Longhurst's Blog, page 10

Auntie Poldi and the Lost Madonna, Mario Giordano

Donna Poldina is headed for her 61st birthday and it could be her last. A couple of late night visitors from the Vatican raise Poldi’s investigative antenna and by the time she’s relating the tale to her nephew (our narrator) she has watched an exorcism, floored the Holy See and been arraigned for murder whilst she and Vito Montana investigate a secret society which has spread its tentacles across Italy and deep into Poldi’s adoptive hometown. Can Poldi cheat Death (and his clipboard) again?

Project Hail Mary, Andy Weir

You wake up alone on a spaceship; you have a swiss-cheese’d memory and you’re a loooong way from the home this craft was designed to save. 

You’re a scientist who can’t remember his own name let alone how to save humanity from an extinction level event but you might not be alone in your efforts.

This could be the best scientific field trip ever!

A Good Mother, Lara Bazelon

Was a young mother simply protecting her baby or did she murder her husband in cold blood?

Nineteen-year-old Luz Rivera Hollister stands accused of stabbing her decorated Iraq war veteran husband to death on an overseas airbase. She will stand trial in the US amid a media circus. Her legal team: Abby Rosenberg, just off maternity leave and newly hired JAG ace, Will Ellet have to convince a jury and an unfriendly judge that Luz isn’t a murderer. That’s going to be hard as neither is sure of Luz’s innocence and one of them has developed an unhealthy obsession with her.

Gripping from pre-trial arguments to nail-biting verdict.

One Got Away, S.A. Lelchuk

Part-time bookstore owner and full-time badass, Nikki Griffin is on tail of a suave blackmailer and he's on the run. Nikki, with a blank check for expenses, tracks him to an pricey Monterey resort and that’s where things go sideways for the blackmailer, a young witness and Nikki herself. Repelled and attracted to her mark, Nikki is pulled off the case which means she has to convince the blackmailer’s victim to hire her. 

Can Nikki rescue a con man and does she really have any idea of the snake pit she’s running into?

(This is Nikki's second outing, the first - Save Me From Dangerous Men - drops in paper March 9th)

Gathering Dark, Candice Fox

Ten years ago, Det Jessica Sanchez arrested a Beverly Hills paediatric surgeon for shooting her neighbour. Now Sanchez is dealing with an unwanted bequest and a partner who doesn’t have her back. The last thing she’s expecting is not one but two ex-cons landing on her doorstep. Bad girls trying to do something good. Can Sanchez help them or trust them.

Want a sneak peak at Thunderball?

 Book 2 in the Nikki Doyle series drops in April. Click here for an excerpt

Guest post from Wendy Foster Leigh Windsor Knot, SJ Bennett

A blurb from Wendy is always a treat. She discovered this little gem so its only fitting that she tells you about it. 

When Rozie Oshodi begins her new job at Windsor Palace, little does she realize that the Queen will turn to her for more than the occasional fetch and carry duties.  The Queen is a wonderful, subtle, and bright character, who is confined by history and custom to the daily duties of the palace.  She recognizes the usefulness of this bright young British Nigerian officer formerly of the Royal Horse Artillery.  The Queen is definitely the protagonist in the novel; however, this young aide is the means by which the Queen can find the culprits in the murder in the palace.  The book hints at the start of a new series in which these two characters will intertwine. In this mystery a young Russian pianist is murdered during a “dine and sleep” held prior to the Queen’s 90th birthday, she takes a personal interest in his life and death.  The Queen is a quiet thinker who leaves the applause to the professionals even when they underestimate her.  She guides the professionals and uses Rozie as her link to the outside world.  As a woman of a certain age, I appreciate the portrayal of this 90 year old woman who is shrewd, wise, caring.  This is not a mystery that patronizes age but recognizes the importance of experience and knowledge.

Sleep Well My Lady, Kwei Quartey

Ghana’s police force have bungled yet another investigation - this time the murder of a  Lady Araba, a vibrant young fashion designer. Almost a year later a relative of the victim approaches the Sowah private detective agency because she is convinced that the police arrested the wrong man. Emma Djan and her colleagues go undercover to uncover the truth. Was the culprit so well connected that they could make evidence disappear. Could a jealous business rival be a killer, or was the motive family related. The agency will have to tread a fine line and call in some serious favours to solve this case.

Ring Shout, P Djeli Clark

 February is Black History month, and there are some great books (Caste, How to be an AntiRacist to name only two) that I've been using to educate myself but this is a blog that mainly covers mystery thrillers so let me introduce you to P Djeli Clark. 

Since I stumbled across his brilliant short story, A Dead Djin in Cairo (which is available on Tor.com) referenced in an NPR article about his book The Haunting of Tram Car 015 - both are set in an alternate Egypt where the British never invaded and magic and technology meet, he's been on my watchlist.

Yes, I have a watchlist of authors, people like Tana French, Candice Fox,  Anthony Horrowitz, Karim Abdul Jabar (yes that Karim Abdul Jabar) Gareth Hanrahan, Jess Kidd, Ben Aaronovitch people whose books I will buy and read without needing to know the subject matter because I love their stories.

Clark's Black God Drums, was set in New Orleans and Ring Shout- his latest- in Macon, Georgia in the 1920's. It weaves magic and fact into a tale of coloured female resistance fighters in the Jim Crow South. Chef, the former Harlem Hellfighter, Sadie, deadly sharp shooter and Maryse Boudreaux, orphan, champion and protector of her freed people. They hunt monsters who wear white hoods and blend in the with white Klansmen to feast on their hatred. But worse is coming, these Ku Klux are paving the way for a world ending event and the only thing standing in their way is Maryse and the giant sword she wields.

 One of the reviews I read said that Clark couldn't write a bad book if he tried - I wholly agree with that.

Burning Girls, CJ Tudor

Local legend has it that the burning girls appear to those in trouble

Rev Brooks is the interim priest in a small hamlet in the back of beyond called Chapel Croft. Jack and daughter Flo have a couple of weeks to settle in before assuming the duties of the last priest - who committed suicide.

Jack finds this and the housewarming  ‘gift’ that’s been left for her more disturbing than she’d care to admit. And both she, and Flo have been seeing ghostly things. And even priests have secrets...