Srivalli Rekha (Semi Hiatus)'s Blog, page 72
September 20, 2021
Down a Dark River- Book Review
Genre: Historical Crime Fiction, Scotland Yard 3.8 Stars
Inspector Corravan, an Irish former bare-knuckle boxer and dockworker from the East End of London, is drowning under a large pile of files, pending reports, and cases. The latest mess up in the (Scotland) Yard has led to changes in the department and distrust in people.
The Inspector manages to track down a missing woman, Mrs. Beckford, when he gets called to supervise a crime scene near the Thames. The new case takes prominence as bodies accumulate every week.
With leads going nowhere and families unwilling to help (they’ve got to protect their secrets, after all), Corravan starts to feel the pressure. His straightforward methods seem to be doing more harm than good.
As his young colleague Stiles discovers a few links, Corravan realizes that both his cases could very well be connected. But where do the leads take him, and who is the killer? And most importantly, what kinds of crimes have been buried, and will the victims ever get the justice they deserve?
As someone who has a soft spot for historical crime fiction, I was eager to read this book. Since I already know that this is the first book in the series, I could be better prepared for gaps in the backstories.
However, the first half of the book seemed too slow and took forever to establish the plotline. Things kept hitting a dead block, much to the Inspector’s and my frustration. Luckily, the second half made up for it.
The book picked up pace after 55%. There was enough action and information to keep me guessing and intrigued. The recurring characters are promising, and I’m looking forward to knowing more about them.
The Inspector’s arc shifted gears at the right time. He’s not an entitled rich guy with contacts. He’s a hardworking man with strengths and flaws that make him likable and not-so likable at the same time.
The writing is engaging, though I wished things would proceed faster at times. However, I do understand the need to go slow in the first book (let me tell you that knowing that a book is the first in the series in advance and knowing it at the end can really impact the reading process).
The not-so-perfect side of Victorian society was portrayed accurately. The climax seemed a little less dramatic but suited the overall tone of the book. I’m satisfied with the way things went and must admit that Inspector Corravn is turning out to be an interesting character.
To sum up, Down a Dark River is a decent historical thriller with people and incidents from real life. I’m curious enough to pick up the next in the series whenever the author has it ready for us.
Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Land Press, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #DownaDarkRiver
September 19, 2021
Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village- Book Review
Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village is a short illustrated travelogue or a humor novella written with the good intention of saving lives. I appreciate the author’s efforts to come with this book and save unfortunate tourists from increasing the already high death count in English villages.
The illustrations are perfect in their 50 shades of grey (minus erotica) and the fresh scarlet red to remind us of blood. Death follows us everywhere in a sleepy, cute, and tiny English village, and there’s no escaping it.
The tongue-in-the-cheek humor and the author’s dry wit are a potent combination. They bring alive the deadly secrets (pun intended) of unassuming English villages. As a fan of Agatha Christie and historical cozy mysteries, I loved just about everything in the book.
Nothing gets too much, nor does anything get boring (how can death even be boring!). From village churches to vicars, spinsters, gossip lovers, manor stairs, the hounds, the freely available knives, poison vials, and scheming members, we’ve got to be wary of everything.
The book works as a breather between heavy reads or as a little stress buster after a long day of work. Pick it up when you need to laugh (only if you have a twisted sense of humor) and feel the day’s weight slip of the shoulders.
Thank you, NetGalley and Clarkson Potter/ Ten Speed Press, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#YourGuidetoNotGettingMurderedinaQuaintEnglishVillage #NetGalley
September 16, 2021
The Bookbinder's Daughter- Book Review
Genre: Contemporary, Fantasy, Magic Realism, Romance3.7 Stars
Sophie gets a job offer to work at the Ayredale Library as a bookbinder. Her uncle, Edward, holds a prominent position at the library. Her mother has last disappeared from the same place fifteen years ago. Her father, too, used to work there until the incident made him break his ties with the Library and everyone associated with it. Sophie has little memory of the past but wants to find the truth.
Getting away from a manipulative ex, Sophie finally begins to feel at home in the strange Library. With Will, her childhood friend and first love, being the guardian, Sophie starts to reestablish herself and dig through her memories to fill the gaps. The Library and the antique books have always called to her. In fact, they sing to her, luring her into a place of no return.
However, the ancient power demands sacrifice and control. As Sophie’s memory returns in bits and others fill in the blanks, can she give what it takes to be the Binder of the Library?
The premise and the cover were enticing, and I couldn’t resist requesting the book. The story starts with Sophie in London, living with her ex and working as a binder at another prestigious library, albeit a non-magical one.
After much hesitation and a reality check, Sophie accepts the offer to work at the Ayredale Library. She realizes that she can remember much more than she imagined, and Will occupies a good portion of them.
The writing is engaging. I wasn’t sure of the insta love between Sophie and Will, but it worked decently well in the overall plotline. Will’s character sure helped to see their love track in a positive light. The imagery is vivid and easy to imagine.
The pacing went a bit up and down; sometimes slow, sometimes too fast. A couple of other characters were interesting enough but could have had more depth. They don’t ‘come to life’ in the book. The same goes for Sophie, in a way. Somehow, it feels odd that she would choose to live with someone like her caricature-bad ex, even when none liked him. Only Will seemed to be ‘real’.
Of course, my favorite character is Tia. I could visualize her and Sophie’s mom, Elizabeth, with ease. Sophie paled in comparison, and even during the climax, her presence didn’t really elevate the scene. She just didn’t seem strong enough despite the scene being written for her to prove her worth. That diminished the impact a little, but Tia's presence made up for it.
To sum up, The Book Binder’s Daughter has a lovely premise and beautiful world-building. The premise demands nothing less than the best, and the story needed better execution. It’s good but doesn’t make me go wow.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #TheBookBindersDaughter
September 7, 2021
The Trapped Wife- Book Review
Genre: Psychological Thriller, Drama3.5 Stars
Jen is a GP in the same small town she grew up in. She’s also newly widowed, a mother to a teen son, and currently pregnant. She’s grieving the death of her husband when things start to crash around her.
Who is the mysterious man who claims to know her so well? What is it that she doesn’t remember? Can she ignore the breaking shards of her marriage before her husband died?
How will she survive the pressure mounting on her from all sides?
The cover is fab, and when the title appeared too frequently on my timeline, I went ahead and requested an ARC.
Now, I’m in two minds about it. For starters, don’t focus on the blurb. It’s a roundabout representation of the storyline.
Second, the first half is too slow to sustain interest. This is my second consecutive slow book, and that doesn’t work in its favor (sorry). The second half is a lot better, but the story makes more sense only when you read the author’s note. And no, don’t read it first if you want to enjoy at least half of the book.
Third, the characterization is decent, and I liked how I couldn’t fully trust any of them. However, Rhonda could have had a little more role towards the end. Don’t look for character growth here. The graph goes the other way (it’s a thriller, after all).
Fourth, some of the story seemed too far-fetched, even with the explanation. Though an important theme has been dealt with, it comes at a time when the focus is on revealing the mystery, and that dilutes its impact. I feel a topic like that needs more space, especially since it’s not as uncommon as we want to pretend.
The good news is that a part of the twist was well executed. It makes up for some of the other stuff. The book is pretty much a mix of things, and for me, the result is the same.
To sum up, The Trapped Wife is an intriguing thriller if you are willing to deal with the first half of it with some patience. If not anything else, you’ll at least get to talk about quite a few themes from the book.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture.
#NetGalley #TheTrappedWife
September 4, 2021
My Name Is Jensen- Book Review
3.3 Stars
Jensen is back home in Copenhagen and working as a journalist for Dagbladet. Her day starts with discovering a dead body that leads to more murders. She calls Henrik, the DI and her (ex) lover, to the crime scene.
The case is nowhere easy to solve, nor is Jensen’s sinking career and messed up life. Can she unravel the mystery and solve the mystery with or without Henrik’s help?
Will it save Jensen’s career? Is that what she wants? What makes the crime different from others? Is it a serial killer on a spree or someone with a motive?
*Unpopular Opinion*
The blurb and the cover were so good, I grabbed the book as soon as I saw a friend add it to her TBR. Since the book was less than 230 pages, I was confident about finishing it in a couple of days. There started my trouble. It took four days to finish the book. Yeah, that too when I’ve been on a reading high. I’ll keep my review brief and to the point.
What I like about the book:
The structuring of the plotline. The elements are revealed in stages. There’s no information dump anywhere. Jensen is not an easy character to like, but she gets better in the second half. It’s not her prickly nature that was a problem, but her way of drifting through. Almost every character is flawed. I wished even Aziz had some kind of flaw. Maybe in the next book. No unexpected twists or pull the rug moments to shock the readers. A female sleuth in noir who isn’t simply a rehashed version of the traditional male detective.What I wish could have been better:
A little more about Jensen to understand her better. I realized that this is the first book in the series (and another case is left unsolved for the next book), but it’s hard to root for someone who doesn’t seem fully into her own story (the lead character). Too slow for a thriller or even suspense. Though there’s some sort of information or update in most scenes, the overall narrative dragged. I’m wondering if the page count is probably off by 100 pages or so. Infidelity is something I don't really like. When the lead characters are part of it, it’s hard to empathize with their pain or conflict. I still admire Jensen for being so honest about it. And yeah, Henrik’s a jerk. I don’t prefer sweeping political statements in fiction unless they are very much necessary. Neither do I want to spend time researching the political scenario around the world nor wonder about the author’s inclinations. Jensen pretty much not bothering about the case allotted to her because she’s solving this one. And a causal statement about a death at the end. It looked like not all deaths are equal (which is, of course, very true in this world).To sum up, My Name is Jensen is perfect for readers who like slow-burn suspense that sets the stage for a series, or at least, a sequel (I wasn’t aware of it).
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Muswell Press.
#NetGalley #MyNameIsJensen
August 31, 2021
Once Upon a Wardrobe- Book Review
Genre: Historical Fiction 4.5 Stars
Megs Devonshire loves mathematics, equations, and physics. She finds it comforting and exhilarating to solve a problem and know that there’s only one correct answer to the question. She’s a student on a scholarship at Oxford. George is her eight-year-old brother with a weak heart and a lively spirit. He knows the limitations of his health and finds pleasure in escaping to the fantasy lands of the books. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by C S Lewis, has enchanted George, and the kid asks his loving elder sister to help find an answer to his simple question- Where did Narnia come from?
“With stories, I can see with other eyes, imagine with other imaginations, feel with other hearts, as well as with my own. Stories aren’t equations.”
Megs is not sure if she can go and ask Lewis the question. But she finds a way for her brother. After all, she’ll do anything she can to give him what he wants.
But Jack Lewis and his brother aren’t the ones to provide straightforward answers. Instead, he tells her about his childhood and life, asking her to listen and share them with her little brother. Megs is frustrated but has no choice but to agree.
As Jack continues with his tales, Megs understands what he intends. He wants her to look at the world from a different lens. The world doesn’t fit into mathematical equations, and Megs realizes that it’s a futile attempt.
“The way stories change us can’t be explained,” Padraig says. “It can only be felt. Like love.”
Maybe there’s more to life than maths and physics. Maybe imagination, stories, and equations are not opposites. Maybe stories and science can co-exist and actually complement each other.
George embraces the stories with eagerness, and Megs is still conflicted about whether she should give equal importance to the imagination. Yet, she can’t help but feel hope blooming inside her. Can she wish for a miracle?
This is my first book by the author, and I can say for sure that I love her prose. As someone who wants strong imagery in stories but without a thesaurus, I’m always delighted when an author paints a vivid scene using simple words.
The story is warm with a constant undertone of melancholy. We know what could happen by the end of the book. Still, we can’t help but hope. There is pain, death, fear, and sadness. However, overpowering these emotions is the strong presence of love. Love in all its glorious forms.
It’s been a while since a book moved me as much as this did. So much that I even marked a few favorite quotes (an old forgotten habit of mine).
I’m so glad that I requested this book. It fills my heart with warmth even though there’s enough pain. Tears blurred my vision more than once, and I had to stop reading to take a couple of deep breaths. It’s been so long since a book did that to me!
“There is a light, a bright lantern light where all stories begin and end.”
To Sum Up, Once Upon a Wardrobe is a beautiful book that takes us to Worcestershire, Oxford, Ireland, and the distant lands of magic and myth. This is a book I’ll recommend to bookworms, storytellers, and just about everyone.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Harper Muse.
#NetGalley #OnceUponaWardrobe
******
TW: Death of a sibling
P.S: Before anyone asks, the 0.5 deduction was for the (abundance of) adverbs.
August 28, 2021
The Couple Upstairs- Book Review
Genre: Thriller, Drama 3.7 Stars
Nina and Zac move into a ground floor flat in Mistletoe Lane. The house is charming and near a beach, a perfect choice to settle down and grow roots, Nina feels. The couple has been in a relationship for five years and considers this move a way to add to their happy relationship.
Zac is busy with his plumbing business, and Nina is running an online fashion store. They interact a little with the neighbors, and life seems to go on fine more or less. However, the couple upstairs causes mixed feelings in Nina. Why is Chris always rude? Why doesn’t Vanessa talk much? What are those sounds in the middle of the night? Why can’t Zac see what she notices?
As if that’s not enough, her business starts to collapse. Bad reviews are affecting sales, and the arguments between Zac and Nina have escalated. Someone is doing this on purpose. But who and why? What do they get by ruining Nina and Zac’s lives?
The premise was intriguing, and the story maintains a good pace. There were quite a few characters introduced, and not all of them are important. Since the note down the names, it wasn’t an issue to remember who was who.
Though I wasn’t thinking of the twist, I figured it out pretty soon. The ‘why’ was a mystery, though I had a slight inkling. It was fun to read and discover that my guess was right, even if the reason seemed a little too far-fetched and melodramatic. But then, people do all kinds of things, and worse has happened in real life.
The author did a good job of keeping my interest intact. However, the reveal and the subsequent drama fell flat to me. It was over too soon, followed by a lengthy summary of the events. The solid buildup went for a toss here.
I also have a few issues with Nina and Zac’s relationship. Yeah, the book is narrated by Nina, and I’m bound to take her side. But it did seem like Zac wasn’t really worth all the stress, and he sure didn’t handle things well (despite being matured).
Considering these issues, the rating fell to 3.5. Still, I could finish it sooner than planned, and the story didn’t feel boring anywhere. So that’s plus 0.2 stars.
I remember reading The Wife by the author and thought that ending diluted the book. Looks like the same has happened here (at least for me). Some readers loved the ending, so likely that I’m the odd one out (won’t be a first).
To sum up, The Couple Upstairs is a decent thriller with a great pace and light twists. Don’t worry about figuring things out in advance. The story is still gripping enough to keep you interested.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture.
#NetGalley #TheCoupleUpstairs
August 26, 2021
My Heart Went Walking- Book Review
Genre: Women’s Fiction 4 Stars
The story is set in Ireland during the ‘80s, where things were changing and yet the same. It’s about family, friendships, love, loss, decisions, and acceptance.
Una has a decision to make at a young age, and she does what she feels is the best. She runs away from home to make a new life with people who become her new family. Yet, she feels the pain of staying away from her family and loved ones.
Then comes a situation where she has to go back, and secrets need to come out before people move ahead. How does it change Una’s life? Will she find what she’s looking for?
My Heart Went Walking is a debut novel firmly rooted in the Irish culture. The narration is much like the dialogue or thought, with a focus on emotions and actions.
The story spans over 2-3 years. We see how the lives of the people involved keep changing over time. The book has three POVs- Una, her sister Ellie, and their love Cullen.
All three of them are teens, and hence the tone has a sense of similarity. However, they are different people. I loved Una’s voice throughout the book, and Ellie’s in the second half. They grow up through the story, and that makes them more real.
Ellie is a sweet and loving sister- someone hard to hate even if you root for Una. She has more grit and compassion than one would expect from her and deserves a mention.
I wished the other main character (unnamed to avoid spoilers) had more space, at least towards the end. That person enriched the story but was left on the sidelines.
One reason I read books set in Ireland and Scotland is to enjoy the descriptions of the landscape. This book doesn’t have any of it. Of course, to include it would mean the author would have to change the entire narrative style (not a feasible option). The story works with this narration, and I can’t blame the author for my expectations.
I finished the book in two days (you can finish it in one sitting if you have the time) though the second half is a bit heavier than the first. A special thanks to the author for including the pronunciations of the names on the first page of the book.
To sum up, My Heart Went Walking is indeed a heartwarming story of finding that love has a way of changing our lives in the most unexpected ways and understanding that families will always matter.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Fire Drinkers Publishing.
#NetGalley #MyHeartWentWalking
August 24, 2021
The Lighthouse Witches- Book Review
Genre: Paranormal Mystery 4 Stars
Liv, a single mother, reaches a remote Scottish island with her three girls. She’s commissioned to paint a mural inside a lighthouse. Called The Longing, the lighthouse has a dark history that still haunts the islanders.
Strange incidents disturb their lives, and things go for the worse when two of the girls are missing. Saffy, the 15 yo sulking teen, disappears, followed by the youngest daughter Clover. Only Luna is with her mother, but things are far from normal.
Twenty-two years later, Luna is pregnant, living with her boyfriend. She has a vague memory of her past and has no idea what happened to her mother or two sisters. She is still searching for the sisters, and one day an unexpected call takes her to an injured Clover.
Luna is shocked beyond belief when she sees Clover at the same age when she disappeared. How is it possible that the girl hasn't aged? Is the little girl really Clover? For Luna to know the truth, she has to go back to the same place where it began. Can Luna do it? Can she risk everything to uncover the past?
The Lighthouse Witches is told in three timelines and from three POVs- Liv in 1998, Saffy (third person) in 1998, and Luna (third person) in 2021. We also have another POV in the form of a book (grimoire) with incidents from the past connected to the events in 1998 and 2021.
Nowhere does the book get confusing or complicated despite such intricate narration. The story flows quite well from start to finish, though it drags a little in the second half. The witch hunt of Scotland was one of the biggest events where women were burned at stake. However, there is very little known about the incidents.
The book highlights these atrocities while showing how fear and hysteria make people commit horrible crimes. The islanders suffer a similar fear they never bothered to investigate. We also see the vulnerability of a teen from a broken family and how it changes her life.
The atmosphere is fantastic, especially in past timelines, and suits the paranormal mystery theme.
Coming to the characters, I’m not sure what to say. Liv sure wasn’t supposed to be perfect, but she somehow didn’t make the kind of impact she should. I understand her position. Being an artist with no permanent job and three kids to manage is no joke. Bills don’t pay themselves. Still, her character seemed more like a catalyst that kept the story moving, and there was one major reveal that rather disappointed me (not revealing spoilers here).
Saffy was explored very well and an angsty teen. Luna was more or less easy to understand. No matter her lack of memory and nightmares, her family came first.
Where the book gained points was suspense. It was difficult to guess the reason for the events that were connected across the centuries. The reveal was phased for each character in a way to bring it all together at the end. I really liked how the author handled this.
A few things remain unexplained, but that’s fine too. The major explanations stretched a little extra, and adding any more would have dampened the ending.
The author's note is detailed and gave me a better closure than the story itself.
To sum up, The Lighthouse Witches is an intriguing read with steady suspense and atmosphere if you ignore the minor bumps on the way. It’s a book worth reading.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and HarperCollins UK.
#TheLighthouseWitches #NetGalley
****
P.S: This cover is perfect for the book.
August 18, 2021
Behind the Veil- Book Review
Genre: Horror, Historical, American 4 Stars
1920, Los Angeles: Letitia Hawking has sailed from England a few months ago to bury her past and lead a new life. She spends her days traversing the path between the living and dead. Her clients want some closure after their loved ones die, and Letitia offers them that. However, she is genuine material with strong powers and has strict rules about what cases she would take up and which she wouldn’t.
Alasdair Driscoll is tormented. His niece Finola has been seeing horrible things, and none of them know how to save her. Letitia is annoyed by his rude approach and terrified by the dark shadow haunting him. She doesn’t want to tangle with shadows again.
But she decides to take a step forward and help Finola. The girl needed saving, and Letitia could at least try and prevent the girl from being further tortured.
Time moves on, and before she knows it, Letitia is in the middle of a criminal case for helping a grieving father. Driscoll and his lawyering services come to her aid. Undecided about the growing attraction between them, Letitia is rather torn about what to do.
However, things take a turn for worse, and Letitia realizes that she needs to open the closed part of her if she wants to defeat the malicious shadow that’s hurting little kids. But is she strong enough to venture into a territory she swore never to enter? Will she succumb as she did the last time? What price does Letitia have to pay for interfering with the presence of evil?
The book starts on a steady note and progresses quite well. The setting is atmospheric, with a few lighthearted scenes added to the mix.
Letitia’s character has been crafted with care. She has her insecurities and vulnerabilities but is assertive and authoritative when required. Alasdair starts out as a rich rude man but shows his good side soon enough.
I think Abby was that one character I wasn’t too happy with. Her reactions were unexpected and either too demure or too excessive. Luckily, she doesn’t have a major role, and I could ignore most of it.
The final confrontation scene stretched over a good number of pages, and that worked in the story’s favor (at least for me). Of course, the ending could have been better though there is HEA. That complication felt unnecessary and seemed like it was used to tick off a trope from the list.
As a horror story, the book does very well and balances atmosphere with action, and is suitable for newbie horror readers. The author didn’t opt for explicit gore even though she could have done it. I appreciate this move as it made the book a better read.
To sum up, Behind the Veil is an engaging read with a steady pace and a good storyline. It’s nothing unusual or unique, but the overall effect is satisfactory, and that matters to me.
The book comes with content warnings. That said, the author doesn’t use any graphic descriptions. The themes, however, might trigger a few readers. Please read with caution.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and BooksGoSocial.
#BehindTheVeil #NetGalley
