Paterson Loarn's Blog: Paterson Loarn on Goodreads, page 8
January 29, 2023
To Hel in a Hound Cart
Here’s my review of To Hel in a Hound Cart by Jacqueline Lambert.
Jackie and her husband Mark chose to retire early, in order to indulge their twin passions for travelling and their four Cavapoo dogs. Jackie writes amusing travelogues recording their adventures, to which Mark contributes comments on the darker aspects of European history. A sprinkling of political comment blends with the humour. Somehow this eclectic mix works, and To Hel in a Houndcart is the sixth in the Adventures Caravanning with Dogs series. The Lamberts’ chosen lifestyle has its ups and downs – literally. Jackie’s descriptions of death-defying journeys down steep gorges and around hairpin bends, from the Italian Alps to the Ukranian border via Romania and Poland, made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
Fortunately Mark is a skilled and confident driver. He also has a knack for diagnosing mechanical problems and carrying out repairs on the go. Jackie, who speaks three languages with varying success, is in charge of communications. She delivers neat summaries of the history and culture of each location, but brings the reader down to earth by recording the price of coffee and a cake everywhere they go. In spite of having to fend off unwanted help from fellow campers and evade disruptive children, she always finds time to arrange fun activities for her adored pets, The Pawsome Foursome.
It’s impossible to ignore the shadow of Covid-19 hanging over the journey to Hel. Borders are closing and the people the Lamberts meet on their journey are less friendly than they normally would be, because they fear infection. However, the author’s sense of humour shines through and her writing style is engaging. Her account of gigantic Griffin vultures circling over the Gorges du Verdun will stay with me.
I was given an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.
To Hel In A Hound Cart: Journey To The Centre Of Europe
Jackie and her husband Mark chose to retire early, in order to indulge their twin passions for travelling and their four Cavapoo dogs. Jackie writes amusing travelogues recording their adventures, to which Mark contributes comments on the darker aspects of European history. A sprinkling of political comment blends with the humour. Somehow this eclectic mix works, and To Hel in a Houndcart is the sixth in the Adventures Caravanning with Dogs series. The Lamberts’ chosen lifestyle has its ups and downs – literally. Jackie’s descriptions of death-defying journeys down steep gorges and around hairpin bends, from the Italian Alps to the Ukranian border via Romania and Poland, made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
Fortunately Mark is a skilled and confident driver. He also has a knack for diagnosing mechanical problems and carrying out repairs on the go. Jackie, who speaks three languages with varying success, is in charge of communications. She delivers neat summaries of the history and culture of each location, but brings the reader down to earth by recording the price of coffee and a cake everywhere they go. In spite of having to fend off unwanted help from fellow campers and evade disruptive children, she always finds time to arrange fun activities for her adored pets, The Pawsome Foursome.
It’s impossible to ignore the shadow of Covid-19 hanging over the journey to Hel. Borders are closing and the people the Lamberts meet on their journey are less friendly than they normally would be, because they fear infection. However, the author’s sense of humour shines through and her writing style is engaging. Her account of gigantic Griffin vultures circling over the Gorges du Verdun will stay with me.
I was given an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.
To Hel In A Hound Cart: Journey To The Centre Of Europe
January 20, 2023
Storm in a D-cup
Nancy BaroneStorm in a D Cup
Storm in a D-cup by Nancy Barone is a fast-paced, entertaining account of family life set in Italy. Pretty plus-size Erica Cantelli and her handsome second husband have moved from America, with her teenage children, to run a vineyard in the fictional village of Castellino. The beauty of the landscape and the relaxed lifestyle they enjoy in their new home make a charming background to the story. In the course of the novel all the characters undergo transformations of one sort or another. Erica’s insecurity about her appearance and warm, responsive personality make this a wild ride, but in the end all their problems are resolved – for the time being. Storm in a D-cup can be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone, but as it’s the latest in a highly successful series, there’s likely to be plenty more emotional trauma in the tank.
Many readers will find Erica’s experiences relatable, because in her lively narration she is open and honest about her emotions. I felt some sympathy for her husband Julian, because however much he tries to reassure her she seems to be unable to trust him. Her doubts appear to be justified when he allows his stunning movie star ex to move in for a long visit with her troublesome daughter. This is only one of the many crisis points in the plot. With a predatory local millionaire on the prowl for vulnerable women, a devious girlfriend hanging around Erica’s son and her fifteen year old daughter in a continual strop, there is plenty of action. Barone handles issues which affect the average family with sensitivity and kindness.
Many thanks to Head of Zeus @Hoz_Books and @NetGalley for sending me an advance review copy of Storm in a D-Cup by Nancy Barone in exchange for an honest review.
Storm in a D-cup by Nancy Barone is a fast-paced, entertaining account of family life set in Italy. Pretty plus-size Erica Cantelli and her handsome second husband have moved from America, with her teenage children, to run a vineyard in the fictional village of Castellino. The beauty of the landscape and the relaxed lifestyle they enjoy in their new home make a charming background to the story. In the course of the novel all the characters undergo transformations of one sort or another. Erica’s insecurity about her appearance and warm, responsive personality make this a wild ride, but in the end all their problems are resolved – for the time being. Storm in a D-cup can be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone, but as it’s the latest in a highly successful series, there’s likely to be plenty more emotional trauma in the tank.
Many readers will find Erica’s experiences relatable, because in her lively narration she is open and honest about her emotions. I felt some sympathy for her husband Julian, because however much he tries to reassure her she seems to be unable to trust him. Her doubts appear to be justified when he allows his stunning movie star ex to move in for a long visit with her troublesome daughter. This is only one of the many crisis points in the plot. With a predatory local millionaire on the prowl for vulnerable women, a devious girlfriend hanging around Erica’s son and her fifteen year old daughter in a continual strop, there is plenty of action. Barone handles issues which affect the average family with sensitivity and kindness.
Many thanks to Head of Zeus @Hoz_Books and @NetGalley for sending me an advance review copy of Storm in a D-Cup by Nancy Barone in exchange for an honest review.
December 14, 2022
The Wrong Mother
The first paragraph of The Wrong Mother by Charlotte Duckworth is voiced by an unidentified narrator. It describes trying to clean away a dead man’s blood, then forget what you have seen and done. The sense of dread created continues when two lonely women and newborn Jake are thrown together in a Norfolk village. At first it seems as if all three of them have reached a safe haven. Thirty-nine year old Faye is struggling to bond with Jake after leaving his abusive father, whom she met through a co-parenting app. Her sixty-four year old landlady Rachel misses her only son, who lives in Australia. The only thing Faye wants is to sleep. All Rachel wants is for Jake to think she’s his Granny. Warning bells ring for the reader when Rachel reveals that she had ‘bad experiences’ with her previous tenants.
Duckworth uses dual narration effectively to build up suspense. The women’s stories are told from their own points of view. Fiona obsesses about her past with Louis, Jake’s father. Rachel is more concerned with their futures, especially Jake’s. Unanswered questions worry the reader. Why does Rachel forbid Faye to open the back door, even when weeds grow under it? How can Louis track down the son he wanted so desperately? What will happen when the giant bonfire on the village green catches fire?
I’m not usually a fan of psychological thrillers, but I loved this one. The characters are convincing and relatable. I wasn’t able to predict the ending, but I enjoyed following the clues Duckworth drops so skilfully. I recommend The Wrong Mother as a compelling read which ticks the boxes for its genre but has many original elements, such as humour.
Many thanks to @NetGalley and @Quercus for giving me an advance copy in return for an honest review.
Duckworth uses dual narration effectively to build up suspense. The women’s stories are told from their own points of view. Fiona obsesses about her past with Louis, Jake’s father. Rachel is more concerned with their futures, especially Jake’s. Unanswered questions worry the reader. Why does Rachel forbid Faye to open the back door, even when weeds grow under it? How can Louis track down the son he wanted so desperately? What will happen when the giant bonfire on the village green catches fire?
I’m not usually a fan of psychological thrillers, but I loved this one. The characters are convincing and relatable. I wasn’t able to predict the ending, but I enjoyed following the clues Duckworth drops so skilfully. I recommend The Wrong Mother as a compelling read which ticks the boxes for its genre but has many original elements, such as humour.
Many thanks to @NetGalley and @Quercus for giving me an advance copy in return for an honest review.
November 13, 2022
The Blue Bar
On the dark streets of Mumbai, the paths of a missing dancer, a serial killer, and an inspector with a haunted past converge in an evocative thriller about lost love and murderous obsession.
When I reviewed You Beneath Your Skin by Damyanti Biswas, I mentioned the truthfulness of her writing. She describes a society which is broken, especially with regard to the safety of women, but her characters shine with passion and human kindness. Her second novel, The Blue Bar, continues in the same mode, but has an even more complex plot. A serial killer hiding behind power and status is exposed through the mutual devotion of two lovers. The Blue Bar is both shocking and emotionally satisfying, without being moralistic.
After years of dancing in Mumbai’s bars, Tara Mondal was desperate for a new start. So when a client offered her a life-changing payout to indulge a harmless, if odd, fantasy, she accepted. The setup was simple: wear a blue-sequined saree, enter a crowded railway station, and escape from view in less than three minutes. It was the last time anyone saw Tara.
The reader must use their brain to keep up with the fast-paced action in The Blue Bar. Inspector Arnav is a serving police officer. For him there is no such thing as a quiet day at the office. Ravaged bodies of women begin to be unearthed and it becomes clear that evil is abroad. Throughout all this horror the charm of Mumbai itself never fades. Tara the dancer has suffered terribly and policeman Arnaz sees the worst of humanity every day, but neither of them would dream of leaving.
Thirteen years later, Tara’s lover, Inspector Arnav Singh Rajput, is still grappling with her disappearance as he faces a horrifying new crisis: on the city’s outskirts, women’s dismembered bodies are being unearthed from shallow graves. Very little links the murders, except a scattering of blue sequins and a decade’s worth of missing persons reports that correspond with major festivals.
Tara was a rebellious teenager. As a result her family sold her to the owner of the Blue Bar, where she spent her youth dancing provocatively for the pleasure of strangers. She disappears after the bar owner is paid by a wealthy stranger to supply women to act out their fantasies. It is not clear whether Tara was involved in prostitution while employed at the bar. To judge from the words of the bar owner, who says he doesn’t interfere with what ‘the girls’ do in their spare time, she may have been tempted to make money out of her situation. In Tara’s world women’s bodies are monetised and their lives treated as worthless, except when they are servicing men. Violence against them is either ignored or tolerated. Only good men like Inspector Arnav care enough to protect women.
Past and present blur as Arnav realizes he’s on the trail of a serial killer and that someone wants his investigation buried at any cost. Could the key to finding Tara and solving these murders be hidden in one of his cold cases? Or will the next body they recover be hers?
Arnav has his own problems. He has a rich and affecting back story, like all the other characters in The Blue Bay. The way they interact while his investigation proceeds is intriguing. Arnav and Tara were childhood sweethearts and he has not stopped thinking about her since the day she left their home town. He is under pressure from an influential developer to reopen a construction site where headless corpses have been found. Some of his police colleagues are more trustworthy than others and few of them feel the same responsibility as he does to combat violence against women. Ignoring political manoeuvring and threats to his future promotion, Arnav perseveres with his investigation. Half way through the novel I thought I had guessed the killer, but I was way off. As the crisis approaches the twists and turns of the story will amaze the reader. I defy anyone to predict the final resolution, which is beyond original.The Blue Bar
When I reviewed You Beneath Your Skin by Damyanti Biswas, I mentioned the truthfulness of her writing. She describes a society which is broken, especially with regard to the safety of women, but her characters shine with passion and human kindness. Her second novel, The Blue Bar, continues in the same mode, but has an even more complex plot. A serial killer hiding behind power and status is exposed through the mutual devotion of two lovers. The Blue Bar is both shocking and emotionally satisfying, without being moralistic.
After years of dancing in Mumbai’s bars, Tara Mondal was desperate for a new start. So when a client offered her a life-changing payout to indulge a harmless, if odd, fantasy, she accepted. The setup was simple: wear a blue-sequined saree, enter a crowded railway station, and escape from view in less than three minutes. It was the last time anyone saw Tara.
The reader must use their brain to keep up with the fast-paced action in The Blue Bar. Inspector Arnav is a serving police officer. For him there is no such thing as a quiet day at the office. Ravaged bodies of women begin to be unearthed and it becomes clear that evil is abroad. Throughout all this horror the charm of Mumbai itself never fades. Tara the dancer has suffered terribly and policeman Arnaz sees the worst of humanity every day, but neither of them would dream of leaving.
Thirteen years later, Tara’s lover, Inspector Arnav Singh Rajput, is still grappling with her disappearance as he faces a horrifying new crisis: on the city’s outskirts, women’s dismembered bodies are being unearthed from shallow graves. Very little links the murders, except a scattering of blue sequins and a decade’s worth of missing persons reports that correspond with major festivals.
Tara was a rebellious teenager. As a result her family sold her to the owner of the Blue Bar, where she spent her youth dancing provocatively for the pleasure of strangers. She disappears after the bar owner is paid by a wealthy stranger to supply women to act out their fantasies. It is not clear whether Tara was involved in prostitution while employed at the bar. To judge from the words of the bar owner, who says he doesn’t interfere with what ‘the girls’ do in their spare time, she may have been tempted to make money out of her situation. In Tara’s world women’s bodies are monetised and their lives treated as worthless, except when they are servicing men. Violence against them is either ignored or tolerated. Only good men like Inspector Arnav care enough to protect women.
Past and present blur as Arnav realizes he’s on the trail of a serial killer and that someone wants his investigation buried at any cost. Could the key to finding Tara and solving these murders be hidden in one of his cold cases? Or will the next body they recover be hers?
Arnav has his own problems. He has a rich and affecting back story, like all the other characters in The Blue Bay. The way they interact while his investigation proceeds is intriguing. Arnav and Tara were childhood sweethearts and he has not stopped thinking about her since the day she left their home town. He is under pressure from an influential developer to reopen a construction site where headless corpses have been found. Some of his police colleagues are more trustworthy than others and few of them feel the same responsibility as he does to combat violence against women. Ignoring political manoeuvring and threats to his future promotion, Arnav perseveres with his investigation. Half way through the novel I thought I had guessed the killer, but I was way off. As the crisis approaches the twists and turns of the story will amaze the reader. I defy anyone to predict the final resolution, which is beyond original.The Blue Bar
Jump!
Jump! By JG Nolan is about a young boy with a passion for football. Passion is not always wise and it sometimes takes you to places which are not safe. It was neither wise nor safe for Robbie Blair to go on playing football for his team at Our Holy Redeemer's Primary School after breaking bones on three separate occasions, but he had so much passion for the game he overcame multiple setbacks to fight for his dream. Who can blame him? We all need passion in life.
The great thing about Jump! is that the story combines the vivid realism of school football pitches and hospital wards with a magical thread of fantasy. While his third leg fracture is healing, eleven year old Robbie is visited by famous Scottish footballers from the distant past. I hesitate to call them ghosts because because they are very practical and down to earth. They remind me of the ghosts in A Christmas Carol, except that instead of dealing with an old man's regrets about his past, Robbie's spirit visitors help a young boy to train in order to make his body stronger.
When someone believes in Robbie it motivates him to achieve more. It's not only the spirit visitors who encourage him to work hard and have faith in himself. A fascinating cast of characters back Robbie up while he bravely struggles to get back to match fitness. Jamie, a girl who is aiming to improve her football skills, helps Robbie to build up his strength. Robbie's school friend Hamish can be relied on for companionship and everyday support. When Robbie's class visits a care home he makes friends with WW2 veteran Fred, who has stories to tell of courage and endeavour. His class teacher Mr.McDougal looks out for him when he goes 'flying' with his spirit guides.
Jump! is a joyful and optimistic story, even though there is a down side to the experiences of some young footballers. Not everyone with dreams of reaching the top gets there, but with luck and a positive attitude they will find a satisfying alternative niche along the way. I felt for Robbie's mother, who has little or no support from his Dad and has to reorganise her entire life every time Robbie breaks a bone. However, you can't stop a dream or deny a talent, and in the end Mum is as proud of Robbie as everyone else.
The great thing about Jump! is that the story combines the vivid realism of school football pitches and hospital wards with a magical thread of fantasy. While his third leg fracture is healing, eleven year old Robbie is visited by famous Scottish footballers from the distant past. I hesitate to call them ghosts because because they are very practical and down to earth. They remind me of the ghosts in A Christmas Carol, except that instead of dealing with an old man's regrets about his past, Robbie's spirit visitors help a young boy to train in order to make his body stronger.
When someone believes in Robbie it motivates him to achieve more. It's not only the spirit visitors who encourage him to work hard and have faith in himself. A fascinating cast of characters back Robbie up while he bravely struggles to get back to match fitness. Jamie, a girl who is aiming to improve her football skills, helps Robbie to build up his strength. Robbie's school friend Hamish can be relied on for companionship and everyday support. When Robbie's class visits a care home he makes friends with WW2 veteran Fred, who has stories to tell of courage and endeavour. His class teacher Mr.McDougal looks out for him when he goes 'flying' with his spirit guides.
Jump! is a joyful and optimistic story, even though there is a down side to the experiences of some young footballers. Not everyone with dreams of reaching the top gets there, but with luck and a positive attitude they will find a satisfying alternative niche along the way. I felt for Robbie's mother, who has little or no support from his Dad and has to reorganise her entire life every time Robbie breaks a bone. However, you can't stop a dream or deny a talent, and in the end Mum is as proud of Robbie as everyone else.
October 15, 2022
Bad Day at the Vulture Club
I've read all the books in the Inspector Chopra series and enjoyed them.Bad Day at the Vulture Club Chopra's pet elephant Baby Ganesh hovers in the background of the stories like an embodiment of the spirit of India, and the pranks of the young animal introduce a welcome strand of humour to very dark situations. This one is my favourite. When a Parsee aristocrat is found dead Chopra is called in to challenge the assumption of suicide. Of all Vaseem Khan's novels, Bad Day at the Vulture Club has given me the widest impression of Indian culture. It takes the reader from the heights of educated Parsee society to corpse bearers who are literally at the bottom of the pile. The Inspector's wife Poppy plays a significant part in all his adventures. This time she is spearheading a campaign to persuade people not to defecate in the street. Some might think that the combination of rotting bodies at the top of the Towers of Silence and piles of poo in the gutter makes for grim reading, but this is not the case. Bad Day at the Vulture Club is intriguing, wise and funny. The plot is logical and well paced. It's a great read.
READING PROGRESS
READING PROGRESS
September 8, 2022
Fake Alibi by Leigh Russell
The premise of Fake Alibi is gripping from the start. Doreen, an elderly wheelchair user, is murdered in her own home. After nosy neighbour Julie finds the body, DI Geraldine Steel is called in to investigate. Because Doreen’s adult son, Eddy, has learning difficulties he is seen as ‘not quite right’ by some residents of the neighbourhood. Doreen and Eddy were known to be in conflict, so he immediately becomes the chief suspect for the murder of his mother. When Eddy says he was with his girlfriend at the time of Doreen’s death, Geraldine endeavours to find her. In spite of the detailed information Eddy provides about his girlfriend’s home address and place of work, Geraldine is unable to track her down. At first it looks like an open and shut case. Geraldine’s superior officer, who is acting out of character, is in a hurry to charge Eddy, although there is insufficient evidence against him.
Meanwhile, Geraldine is struggling to hold things together in her personal life. Her partner Ian, who is also her work colleague, is away on family business, and the accountant husband of her best friend is also under suspicion in connection with Doreen’s murder. When Ian returns he and Geraldine disagree about the way she has handled the case so far. Most intriguingly of all, it begins to look as if Eddy’s girlfriend may not exist, even though her address and place of work check out. Louisa, who inhabits those places, claims she has never met Eddy. Twists and turns abound after Louisa is attacked in the street by a stranger.
I liked the domesticity of the crime scene. The everyday familiarity of a quiet suburban street where nothing much happens is in sharp contrast to the violence of the murder. I also enjoyed reading the back stories of the various characters. They were good stories in themselves. Leigh Russell’s writing style is well paced and easy to follow. It drew me in from the start of Fake Alibi and kept my interest until its unpredictable conclusion.
I was given a free copy of Fake Alibi in return for an honest review.Leigh Russell
Meanwhile, Geraldine is struggling to hold things together in her personal life. Her partner Ian, who is also her work colleague, is away on family business, and the accountant husband of her best friend is also under suspicion in connection with Doreen’s murder. When Ian returns he and Geraldine disagree about the way she has handled the case so far. Most intriguingly of all, it begins to look as if Eddy’s girlfriend may not exist, even though her address and place of work check out. Louisa, who inhabits those places, claims she has never met Eddy. Twists and turns abound after Louisa is attacked in the street by a stranger.
I liked the domesticity of the crime scene. The everyday familiarity of a quiet suburban street where nothing much happens is in sharp contrast to the violence of the murder. I also enjoyed reading the back stories of the various characters. They were good stories in themselves. Leigh Russell’s writing style is well paced and easy to follow. It drew me in from the start of Fake Alibi and kept my interest until its unpredictable conclusion.
I was given a free copy of Fake Alibi in return for an honest review.Leigh Russell
July 28, 2022
The Hive by Scarlett Brade
Hell has no fury like a woman dumped on Twitter. The pain suffered by Charlotte Goodwin after her celebrity boyfriend leaves her is intense. Not only does she have to cope with being abandoned by her lover, but she is jeered at by a Twitter group called the Hive. Meanwhile her rival is praised and envied. In her debut novel Scarlett Brade takes the reader inside the head of a woman at the centre of a perfect storm of resentment and humiliation. The resulting despair and anguish finds its outlet in premeditated murder.
Charlotte Goodwin looks directly at the camera and reveals a chilling truth to the thousands watching her Instagram live broadcast. She has killed her ex-boyfriend’s new partner in cold blood. But she is not finished yet.
Charlotte is supported by three girlfriends who have stuck together through thick and thin since school. Their strong bond was forged by tragedy. In spite of their difficulties, these young women have a taste for luxury. One of them is wealthy, but she is the most sorrowful of all, because she faces having her children taken away from her. The fury Charlotte and her friends feel against the world is palpable from the first page of The Hive to the last.
Lincoln Jackson will now make his confession, then the viewers must vote to decide whether he should live or die.
After she suffers a miscarriage in violent circumstances, Charlotte sinks to the depths of despair. She holds Lincoln and his new fiancée responsible for her bereavement. As a result she tries to take her own life. Then she has a revelation. Instead of destroying herself, she resolves to kill her ex-boyfriend’s new lover. The nest step is to slaughter Lincoln himself. In the depth of her madness, it seems only natural to Charlotte to share the whole bloody business live on Instagram.
Bonded by mutual tragedy, Charlotte’s three best friends have supported each other through the soaring highs and devastating lows of their lives. Now, in Charlotte’s hour of need, her friends also face a choice – whether to help her get away with murder.
The loyalty of Charlotte’s close friends is tested beyond the limit. They have supported her without question all their lives, and she has done the same for them. Now the close bond they share threatens to take them to a dark place – perhaps a prison cell.
The Hive explores our darkest fears of the relationship between social media and mental health, and the strength of sisterhood against all the odds.
I like the way voices from Twitter chime into the story. They give a commentary on what is going on in Charlotte’s life. Some are kind and some are cruel, but they are all detached from the reality of her situation. The Hive shows how social media can damage mental health, and how destructive a peer group can be when loyalty becomes an obsession. It is a compulsive read.
The Hive
Charlotte Goodwin looks directly at the camera and reveals a chilling truth to the thousands watching her Instagram live broadcast. She has killed her ex-boyfriend’s new partner in cold blood. But she is not finished yet.
Charlotte is supported by three girlfriends who have stuck together through thick and thin since school. Their strong bond was forged by tragedy. In spite of their difficulties, these young women have a taste for luxury. One of them is wealthy, but she is the most sorrowful of all, because she faces having her children taken away from her. The fury Charlotte and her friends feel against the world is palpable from the first page of The Hive to the last.
Lincoln Jackson will now make his confession, then the viewers must vote to decide whether he should live or die.
After she suffers a miscarriage in violent circumstances, Charlotte sinks to the depths of despair. She holds Lincoln and his new fiancée responsible for her bereavement. As a result she tries to take her own life. Then she has a revelation. Instead of destroying herself, she resolves to kill her ex-boyfriend’s new lover. The nest step is to slaughter Lincoln himself. In the depth of her madness, it seems only natural to Charlotte to share the whole bloody business live on Instagram.
Bonded by mutual tragedy, Charlotte’s three best friends have supported each other through the soaring highs and devastating lows of their lives. Now, in Charlotte’s hour of need, her friends also face a choice – whether to help her get away with murder.
The loyalty of Charlotte’s close friends is tested beyond the limit. They have supported her without question all their lives, and she has done the same for them. Now the close bond they share threatens to take them to a dark place – perhaps a prison cell.
The Hive explores our darkest fears of the relationship between social media and mental health, and the strength of sisterhood against all the odds.
I like the way voices from Twitter chime into the story. They give a commentary on what is going on in Charlotte’s life. Some are kind and some are cruel, but they are all detached from the reality of her situation. The Hive shows how social media can damage mental health, and how destructive a peer group can be when loyalty becomes an obsession. It is a compulsive read.
The Hive
The Second Chance Holiday Club by Kate Galley
Evelyn Pringle is different from most older women described in novels. She is strongly built and, except for the odd niggling joint pain, in good health. Her relationship with her husband Tony, who has recently passed away, was distant but reassuring. He was there for the family and a popular member of the local community. It his only when she finds a concealed drawer in his desk that she realises Tony had a secret life apart from the one he shared with her. That's when she sets off on a voyage of discovery, to find out the truth about her marriage.
‘Evelyn Pringle isn't the sort to make rash decisions. Or any decisions, really – she's always left that sort of thing up to her husband. But he's been found dead, wearing his best suit, with a diamond ring in his pocket that doesn't fit her. When Evelyn finds a letter addressed to a woman on the Isle of Wight, she decides to deliver it. By hand. So begins a very unusual holiday, and an adventure no one could have predicted – least of all Evelyn herself. With the help of some unexpected new friends, and a little effort on her part, Evelyn discovers that it is never too late to have a second chance at life and forge friendships that are well worth living for.’
Evelyn ignores her daughter's plans for the Christmas period and signs up for a few days in the Isle of Wight. On the coach she gets to know the women sitting on either side of her. Cynthia, who is a little older, is a natural organiser. Joy, who is younger than the other two, is friendly but reserved, as if she is hiding something. What I like about these women is their willingness to take control of their lives. In spite of being from a generation of women who were expected to depend on their husbands for everything, they are enterprising and ready to take risks. Evelyn's daring attempts to locate her husband's lover almost land her in trouble, but with the help and support of her new friends she wins through and begins to see the future more posiitively.
I found the premise engaging. Evelyn’s struggle to recover from the shock of her husband’s betrayal is convincing. All of the experiences of the women in The Second Chance Holiday Club seem genuine and arouse sympathy. It is good to see older women being presented as real people with genuine emotions. The Second Chance Holiday Club
‘Evelyn Pringle isn't the sort to make rash decisions. Or any decisions, really – she's always left that sort of thing up to her husband. But he's been found dead, wearing his best suit, with a diamond ring in his pocket that doesn't fit her. When Evelyn finds a letter addressed to a woman on the Isle of Wight, she decides to deliver it. By hand. So begins a very unusual holiday, and an adventure no one could have predicted – least of all Evelyn herself. With the help of some unexpected new friends, and a little effort on her part, Evelyn discovers that it is never too late to have a second chance at life and forge friendships that are well worth living for.’
Evelyn ignores her daughter's plans for the Christmas period and signs up for a few days in the Isle of Wight. On the coach she gets to know the women sitting on either side of her. Cynthia, who is a little older, is a natural organiser. Joy, who is younger than the other two, is friendly but reserved, as if she is hiding something. What I like about these women is their willingness to take control of their lives. In spite of being from a generation of women who were expected to depend on their husbands for everything, they are enterprising and ready to take risks. Evelyn's daring attempts to locate her husband's lover almost land her in trouble, but with the help and support of her new friends she wins through and begins to see the future more posiitively.
I found the premise engaging. Evelyn’s struggle to recover from the shock of her husband’s betrayal is convincing. All of the experiences of the women in The Second Chance Holiday Club seem genuine and arouse sympathy. It is good to see older women being presented as real people with genuine emotions. The Second Chance Holiday Club
June 26, 2022
Counterfeit by Kirsten Chen
Winnie Fang and Ava Wong roomed together as students. After a scandal broke out over cheating in tests, Winnie gave up her degree course and returned to China. Twenty years later, she walks back into Ava’s life. Winnie is no longer the dowdy student who relied on Ava to explain American customs. Now she’s a confident, attractive young woman who wears Louboutins and carries a ridiculously expensive bag. She looks ‘Asian-tourist rich. Mainland-Chinese rich. Rich-rich.’
Ava seems conflicted about her Chinese heritage, but she has complied with her parents’ wishes by completing her degree and ticking the boxes to fulfil the American dream. She has married a handsome surgeon and given birth to a son. They live in a beautiful house in a desirable area, and two-year-old Henri has a nanny he adores. However, Ava’s world is not as perfect as it appears to be. Her husband Olivier is never home. Ava’s hopes of signing Henri up for an outstanding private school are destroyed by his terrible tantrums and refusal to share. Her career in law has fallen apart due to crushing maternal guilt, so she is dependent on Olivier’s income. Compared with her own stressful existence, Winnie’s independent lifestyle as a wealthy divorcée looks idyllic.
Winnie tells Ava that she handles contracts for multi-national companies. In fact, she is supplied with superb counterfeit designer handbags by her former lover and father figure, Boss Mak. One at a time, she takes these copies to reputable stores, claims to have bought them there and asks for a refund. She also sells the fake handbags in online stores.
After one of Winnie’s contacts enrols Henri in a good school, Ava becomes dependent on her for support. Eventually Winnie persuades her to take part in the handbag scam. At this point my belief wavered, because it seemed impossible that a woman with Ava’s background would succumb to this kind of pressure. But the crime appears to be victimless, Ava urgently needs money for Henri’s education and Winnie pays generously. Once I put myself in Ava’s shoes, her actions made sense.
A trip to visit her extended family in Hong Kong makes Ava vulnerable to further manipulation by Winnie. She crosses the border to China to inspect new stock at an illegal factory. From then on, the plot becomes darker as the reader learns about the real victims of the counterfeiting industry.
Counterfeit is a multi-faceted novel. It is an exciting crime story, an exploration of female friendships, an examination of modern values, an exposé of the counterfeit industry and a window into Chinese American culture. The characters are convincing and the conclusion is satisfying. I recommend it for a pacy and entertaining read with an intriguingly dark side.
Ava seems conflicted about her Chinese heritage, but she has complied with her parents’ wishes by completing her degree and ticking the boxes to fulfil the American dream. She has married a handsome surgeon and given birth to a son. They live in a beautiful house in a desirable area, and two-year-old Henri has a nanny he adores. However, Ava’s world is not as perfect as it appears to be. Her husband Olivier is never home. Ava’s hopes of signing Henri up for an outstanding private school are destroyed by his terrible tantrums and refusal to share. Her career in law has fallen apart due to crushing maternal guilt, so she is dependent on Olivier’s income. Compared with her own stressful existence, Winnie’s independent lifestyle as a wealthy divorcée looks idyllic.
Winnie tells Ava that she handles contracts for multi-national companies. In fact, she is supplied with superb counterfeit designer handbags by her former lover and father figure, Boss Mak. One at a time, she takes these copies to reputable stores, claims to have bought them there and asks for a refund. She also sells the fake handbags in online stores.
After one of Winnie’s contacts enrols Henri in a good school, Ava becomes dependent on her for support. Eventually Winnie persuades her to take part in the handbag scam. At this point my belief wavered, because it seemed impossible that a woman with Ava’s background would succumb to this kind of pressure. But the crime appears to be victimless, Ava urgently needs money for Henri’s education and Winnie pays generously. Once I put myself in Ava’s shoes, her actions made sense.
A trip to visit her extended family in Hong Kong makes Ava vulnerable to further manipulation by Winnie. She crosses the border to China to inspect new stock at an illegal factory. From then on, the plot becomes darker as the reader learns about the real victims of the counterfeiting industry.
Counterfeit is a multi-faceted novel. It is an exciting crime story, an exploration of female friendships, an examination of modern values, an exposé of the counterfeit industry and a window into Chinese American culture. The characters are convincing and the conclusion is satisfying. I recommend it for a pacy and entertaining read with an intriguingly dark side.
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