Veronika Jordan's Blog, page 60

Death Of A Bookseller by Alice Slater

In this “utterly unforgettable” debut (Catherine Ryan Howard), a disaffected, true crime-obsessed bookseller develops a dangerous obsession with a colleague.

Roach would rather be listening to the latest episode of her favorite true crime podcast than assisting the boring and predictable customers at her local branch of the bookstore Spines, where she’s worked her entire adult life. A serious true crime junkie, Roach looks down her nose at the pumpkin-spice-latte-drinking casual fans who only became interested in the genre once it got trendy. But when Laura, a pretty and charismatic children’s bookseller, arrives to help rejuvenate the struggling bookstore branch, Roach recognizes in her an unexpected kindred spirit.

Despite their common interest in true crime, Laura keeps her distance from Roach, resisting the other woman’s overtures of friendship. Undeterred, Roach learns everything she can about her new colleague, eventually uncovering Laura’s traumatic family history. When Roach realizes that she may have come across her very own true crime story, interest swiftly blooms into a dangerous obsession.

A darkly funny suspense novel, Death of a Bookseller raises ethical questions about the fervor for true crime and how we handle stories that don’t belong to us.

My Review

Roach is one of the creepiest characters I have ever come across in a book. I have a bit of a thing about personal hygiene so boyfriend Sam’s sweaty, unwashed sheets (I’d have been out of there pronto first time never to return) and her bed smelling of dirty knickers turned my stomach. Plus all the Dark Fruits cider and cigarette breath just add to the disgust.

Laura also smokes continuously and drinks whatever is put in front of her, usually bought by co-worker Eli, who is in a supposed relationship with Lydia. They had a bit of a thing in the past, but he has chosen someone else.

Roach is obsessed with true crime – her favourite department in the bookshop where they all work is the true crime section, obviously. She listens to podcasts by the ‘Murder Girls’, reads books about serial killers and the likes of Ted Bundy and Charles Manson, and regards them as ‘celebrities’. She’s a bit like those women who write to killers in prison and end up marrying them. The most famous of these is Charles Bronson, a violent criminal who attracted a number of women after they read about him and started writing to him. It’s something I’ve never understood.

She is also obsessed with Laura, believing them to have a ‘connection’. Laura, on the other hand, hates Roach. I feel quite sorry for Laura because of her tragic past, but I can’t say any more. Roach’s obsession is seriously misplaced, her ‘understanding’ delusional.

When Roach meets gothy Sam we immediately expected something much darker, but is the darkness only in Roach’s head, or will it ultimately manifest itself for real?

I’m very glad I don’t work in a shop where they go out after work all the time to get drunk. I work in retail (a large department store) and we go out every now and again for the two-for-one cocktails at Turtle Bay – max two each. God we are so posh!!

Many thanks to The Pigeonhole, the author and my fellow Pigeons for making this such an enjoyable read. The interaction with my fellow readers was a big part of the enjoyment.

About the Author

Alice Slater spent six years working as a bookseller with Waterstones. She started as a Christmas temp in Manchester Deansgate and worked her way up to bookshop manager of Romford, then Gower Street’s fiction section, and eventually Notting Hill Gate, lending a hand in 20 different branches across the UK on the way. Now a London-based writer, she is a co-host of literary podcast “What Page Are You On?” and writes about short stories for Mslexia.

Killing Jericho by William Hussey

Murder this twisted demands a new kind of detective. Fresh out of prison, former Detective Constable Scott Jericho is a desperate man.

Disgraced and penniless after his assault on a violent suspect, he is forced to seek refuge with the fairground family he once rejected. Now, troubled by his failure, Jericho’s brilliant mind stagnates.

That is until a series of bizarre murders reawaken his interest. Men and women with no obvious link to each other are being ritualistically slaughtered.

Slaughtered in ways that recall an old legend of the Jericho Travelling Fair.

Now, in a race against time, he must unpick the threads of a baffling mystery. But as his investigation unfolds and the corpses pile up, a shocking truth awaits him. A revelation that will test not only Jericho’s intellect but challenge the very core of his morality…

My Review

I loved this book. Not just exciting and suspenseful, I learnt so much about the travellers’ way of life. It was fascinating. The Jericho ‘freaks’ (I hate to call them freaks) killed when their caravan went over the bridge into the river when it collapsed was based on the true story of the Hartley Bridge disaster of 1853, when 30 people died, many of them travellers. It became known as Travellers Bridge. The freakshow came from the author’s research into real-life showman Tom Norman’s diaries.

My husband’s grandad’s family went hop-picking (this will make sense when you read the book) in Kent between the wars. They lived in South London and lots of people did it during the summer holidays. I remember being about 14 years old and going fruit picking. A scruffy, mud-stained land rover with a trailer picked us all up outside Boots Chemist and off we went. We were so rubbish at it that we hardly earned any money – the travellers did though. They knew how to work hard. We just ate the fruit!

Former Detective Constable Scott Jericho has just been released from prison. He was serving time for beating up a suspect in a terrible crime, which resulted in his disgrace, sacking from the police force and the culprit literally getting away with murder. Being totally broke, he had to return to his traveller family, whom he rejected when he joined the police.

But then he is asked to investigate a strange case – three people murdered, their deaths staged to look like the victims of the Travellers Bridge tragedy. But there are no links between the killings or the victims. And five travellers died in that accident. Will there be more murders and can Scott, with his brilliant investigative mind, solve the clues in time.

This was so good, the twists coming thick and fast, but it was the last two that really grabbed me. Especially the final one. I would never have guessed. Next book in what will no doubt prove to be a brilliant series? Bring it on.

Many thanks to The Pigeonhole, the author and my fellow Pigeons for making this such an enjoyable read.

About the Author

William Hussey is the award-winning author of over a dozen novels, including the Crime Fest award-nominated Hideous Beauty and The Outrage.  Born the son of a travelling showman, he has spent a lifetime absorbing the history, folklore and culture of fairground people, knowledge he has now put to work in his Scott Jericho thrillers. William lives in the seaside town of Skegness with his faithful dog Bucky and a vivid imagination.

The Bone House (Slayton Thrillers #3) by Caroline Mitchell

When hundreds of birds fall from the sky into Slayton’s lake in a terrifying freak event, the waters are dredged – revealing a dark, long-held secret.

An old pram is pulled from the depths, with the bones of a baby still strapped inside.

It’s the moment that new mother, Cora, has been dreading since she moved to Slayton – because someone knows, and is going to make her pay.

#TheBoneHouse @Caroline_writes @emblabooks @Tr4cyF3nt0n #CompulsiveReaders #blogtour

With the help of forensic anthropologist Sophia Hudson, and the extraordinary young Elliott Carter, Detective Sarah Noble gets to the bottom of a cold case that refuses to stay in the past. Will she survive the secrets of the bone house?

My Review

Atmospheric and creepy, what secrets are hidden in The Bone House? Only Cora knows, but when an old pram is pulled from the lake with the remains of a baby still strapped in, she knows it’s time for her to pay. And that the residents of the strange town of Slayton will make sure she does.

Detective Sarah Noble from the first two books in the series is given the cold case to solve, but it turns out to be more than just that. I don’t know Sarah’s back story, but I gather it was traumatic, as I also don’t know about her next-door neighbour Maggie or Maggie’s son Elliott, who has extraordinary powers of clairvoyance. Is that what it is? He ‘sees’ things that others don’t, as does his teacher – we meet her part way through the book. I will need to read The Midnight Man and The Night Whispers to find out more. They also sound really creepy – just up my street.

But back to the ‘now’. Cora has a beautiful, eight-week-old baby named Millie and runs a bookshop called Turn The Pages. She has an assistant, Timmy, who also helps with babysitting. Life was looking up for her until hundreds of birds fell into the lake. It was when it was dredged that the pram was discovered.

Cora’s history is shocking. Her time at The Bone House with her stepfather, a well-respected consultant, her fragile mum and baby sister is just terrifying, but I won’t say more in case I give anything away. But you will be horrified, as was I. What follows is full of red herrings and numerous suspects, but it’s Cora’s story that will keep you up at night.

I can’t get over how good this book was; it’s absolutely riveting. I couldn’t put it down. I read Silent Victim by the same author some time ago (before I started reviewing on my blog) but this was even better.

Many thanks to @Tr4cyF3nt0n for inviting me to be part of the #CompulsiveReaders #blogtour 

About the Author

New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post and International #1 Bestselling Author. Shortlisted by the International Thriller Awards for best ebook 2017, the Killer Nashville Best Police Procedural 2018 and the Audie awards 2022. Over 1.5 million books sold.

Caroline originates from Ireland and now lives in a village outside the city of Lincoln. A former police detective, she has worked in CID and specialised in roles dealing with vulnerable victims, high-risk victims of domestic abuse, and serious sexual offences. She now writes full time.

Caroline writes psychological and crime thrillers. Her stand alone thriller Silent Victim reached No.1 in the Amazon charts in the UK, USA and Australia and was the winner of the Reader’s Favourite Awards in the psychological thriller category. It has been described as ‘brilliantly gripping and deliciously creepy’.

The first in her Amy Winter series, Truth And Lies, has been optioned for TV.

The First Cut (A Jane Renwick Thriller #1) by Val Penny

It’s hard to escape a brutal past. A vicious killer is on the loose. Victims targeted include an academic and members of Edinburgh’s high society. 

When the Murder Investigation Team find out that the killer is connected to her past, DS Jane Renwick is banished to the side-lines and forced to look on as the manhunt ramps up at a ferocious pace.

#TheFirstCut @valeriepenny @Zooloo’s Book Tours @zooloo2008 #ZooloosBookTours #blogtour

Has someone from Jane’s birth family returned to haunt her? Is one of her relatives involved? Where will the killer strike next? 

This gripping police procedural is set in Edinburgh and Glasgow. The exciting novel is the first in Val Penny’s new series of Scottish thrillers.

My Review

Having read all three novels in the DI Hunter Wilson Edinburgh Crime Mysteries, I was looking forward to a new thriller featuring DS Jane Renwick, who we have already met many times. We don’t see Hunter in this book, but we do see Jane’s wife Rachael, Tim Myerscough (my favourite character) and his now girlfriend Gillian, Bear and Mel and lots of the others from the force.

There’s still a lot of banter in this one, a bit more swearing and constant tea and coffee, cakes and donuts. In fact the amount of hot drinks they partake in is enough to flood the police station and it did make me laugh.

But on to the story itself. Edinburgh has a serial killer on the loose. He or she (though apparently we are told that it is most likely a ‘he’ as there have only been four female serial killers in the UK and none of them in Scotland) has so far targeted ‘an academic and members of Edinburgh’s high society’. The victims appear to have nothing in common, except the women used the same fashionable hairdresser, an expensive cleaning firm, and a dog grooming parlour. All the victims had also registered with an online dating society called Alone in a Crowd. But why would that get them killed? There had to be more.

In the meantime, we have learnt a lot about Jane’s traumatic past. Having been removed by a social worker from her neglectful, abusive, drug-addled parents, she was separated from her siblings, but there is something in her DNA that might link her to the killer.

Another fast-paced, exciting read from this author, and I’m looking forward to the next book in the Jane Renwick series called A Fighting Chance.

Many thanks to @zooloo2008 for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.

About the Author

Val Penny has an Llb degree from Edinburgh University and her MSc from Napier University. She has had many jobs including hairdresser, waitress, banker, azalea farmer and lecturer but has not yet achieved either of her childhood dreams of being a ballerina or owning a candy store. Until those dreams come true, she has turned her hand to writing poetry, short stories, nonfiction, and novels.

Val is an American author living in SW Scotland. She has two adult daughters of whom she is justly proud and lives with her husband and their cat.

Follow her at:
Twitter : https://twitter.com/valeriepenny
Instagram : http://www.instagram.com/valerieepenny
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/Authorvalpenny
Website : http://www.valpenny.com

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/122788545-the-first-cut
Buy Links – https://geni.us/WAYcoj

Amongst the Mists by M.L Rayner

It was the most anticipated summer break of their young lives.

For Bran Lampshire, that summer of 1986 would be far different. The lure of a wilderness adventure sends him and his friends on a troublesome journey that would see them far from home and into the isolated shadows of the Sleathton Estate.

#AmongTheMists #MLRayner @Zooloo’s Book Tours @zooloo2008 #ZooloosBookTours #blogtour

In a forgotten land where nature thrives, an unexplained mist settles upon the shaded grounds. And stories were told of events so chilling, they were forcibly buried over time.

Lose yourself beneath the endless trees. And discover that legends are sometimes so much more than ghost stories.

My Review

It all starts out as an innocent boys’ camping trip in the summer of 1986, when Bran, Marcus and Jack set off following the trail on Marcus’s antique map to the grounds of the Sleathton Estate. All seems well at first, but then Marcus falls off his bike and they are ‘rescued’ by a mysterious old man named Gregory. He takes them to his house in an abandoned village called Thyme and tells him about the myth surrounding the swamp, and the reasons why the village is now deserted. If they’d had the internet back then, I doubt they would have gone near.

Bran and Marcus have always been friends, but Marcus has invited Jack (who Bran calls ‘Special’ – it was the eighties remember), a slightly strange boy with odd coloured eyes. I really liked Jack, and Marcus, not so much Bran, who is a pain in the neck to be honest.

In the meantime, we hear from Olivia, a young girl wandering in the woods, near the swamp. But she’s been here many times and knows her way. Then she hears a voice that seems to be asking her to follow. The voice just repeats the same word ‘lost’ over and over. I found Olivia’s story the most harrowing. We feel her fear and ultimate panic.

Oh my goodness, what a creepy tale! It’s so cleverly written that I didn’t understand what was going on until the very last two chapters. And then it made sense. I never would have guessed. Would I want to go there and ‘check it out’? Not if my life (or my very soul) depended on it. Great stuff!

Many thanks to @zooloo2008 for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.

About the Author

Born and bred in the county of Staffordshire. Matt is a keen reader of classical, horror and fantasy literature and enjoys writing in the style of traditional ghost stories. During his working life, Matt joined the ambulance service in 2009, transporting critically ill patients all over the UK. After writing his first novel, Matt now dedicates his time on future releases. His hobbies include genealogy and hiking, and he enjoys spending time with his wife, Emma, his children, and his family.

Follow him at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MLRayner/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/m.l.rayner/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/M_L_Rayner

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63190613-amongst-the-mists
Buy Links – https://geni.us/j7cTyO

Between the Dragon King and His Wrath by Barbara Russell

Revenge is a curse that can only destroy.

Princess Annika loves dancing, wearing bright gowns, and enjoying life. When she travels to the neighbouring kingdom of Walhack for the spring festival, she expects to make new friends. What she doesn’t expect is to meet Wlad, the former prince of Walhack now a slave in his own kingdom, starved and beaten by the violent usurper. Her attempt to help the fallen prince ends with her being assaulted and her father damaged for life.

Revenge is the only thing that keeps Wlad alive after the invaders occupied his kingdom, killed his parents, and turned him into a slave. Annika is the first ray of sunlight in years of pain and humiliation. Her kindness and compassion awaken the most dangerous feeling of all in his heart—hope.

#BetweenTheDragonKingAndHisWrath @brussell84Kiwi @Zooloo’s Book Tours @zooloo2008 #ZooloosBookTours #blogtour

Desperate to take his kingdom back, he makes a pact with the Sister Witches. He’ll be cursed forever in exchange for the supernatural powers that will allow him to defeat his enemy.

Eight years later Annika doesn’t dance anymore. Doesn’t wear bright gowns anymore. As she struggles with her trauma, she has to meet King Wlad the Dracul—the Dragon King of Walhack who slaughtered his way back to the throne. Everyone says he’s cursed, turned into an immortal creature who seeks blood to survive. But she hopes he’s still the kind young man she met years ago.

This is a standalone, steamy paranormal/historical romance with a happily ever after. Trigger warning for explicit sex scenes, assault (off page), violence (off page), and trauma. There’s a time jump after the first few chapters. Cinnamon roll hero.

Here is a short extract from the book:

“She had to grab the wrought iron handle with both hands and pull with all her strength before the door swung inward. The bright lights of the corridor glared at her when she inched the thick and heavy door open. Distant voices, laughter, and music echoed from the lower floor. Music! She perked up on her toes, hearing the happy tunes of harps, flutes, and kettledrums. A fast tempo was beating through the castle, and even from her bedchamber, she could smell the scent of spiced roasted mutton and mulled wine. She shifted her weight, the music and scents teasing her. Oh, dash it. She wanted to go. Where were the servants? Was her maid already carousing without her?

“Chewing her bottom lip, she searched the hallway. The light from the torches hanging on the walls danced on the dark stone floor. Closed doors lined the corridor, but there was no one around.

“There… Her heart leapt when she spotted someone. Whoever it was, the person was slogging along the corridor, carrying a basket.

“Excuse me.” She stepped out of the bedchamber, a hand on the front of her dress to prevent it from falling. “Excuse me,” she repeated when the figure didn’t give any signs of having heard her.

“The sound of shuffling feet stopped as the servant paused. Under layers of tattered clothes was a young man, who stared at her in stunned silence. She stepped back. For some silly reason, she’d taken it for granted that the servant was an old woman. Now she wasn’t so sure she wanted this man’s help. But he had only to tie her belt. He didn’t need to enter her bedchamber or touch her. Of course, she wouldn’t tell anyone. Her papa would panic again and ship her to Sieben-Saxon for good.

“He touched his chest, mouth hanging open. “Are you talking to me, my lady?”

“I’m in need of assistance, sir.” She waved at him.

“He limped over to her, carrying the basket with one arm. As he came closer, shivers crawled down her spine, leaving a chill on her skin. His short dark hair was trimmed close to the scalp, showing a cut on his hairline. Despite his strong jaw and broad shoulders, his face still held the roundness of youth. She gathered he wasn’t much older than she was, perhaps a year or two. Although ancient pain swirled in his deep dark eyes. They were so dark that the pupils were lost in the black sea of the irises. Cuts and bruises marred his face, knuckles, and neck. Bones protruded from underneath his worn tunic. If anything, it wasn’t fear that gripped her heart as he walked closer, but compassion.

“My lady?” His baritone sent another set of shivers along her body. Deep and steady, it vibrated with an unexpectedly gentle note.

“I’m sorry to trouble you, but I need your help to tie my belt behind my back.” She
patted the saffron fabric. His gaze darted around, and his breathing sped up.

“My lady, that wouldn’t be appropriate. Lord Draga will punish you and me if he knows I touched your dress.”

“Why would Lord Draga care? Also, why did this servant speak in such a refined fashion?

“We’ll be quick. My belt only needs to be tied up. Please.”

Concern tightened his face, but he nodded. “As you wish, my lady.” He put the basket down, wincing as he bent over. Dried blood stained his sleeves and black eyebrows.

“Lord, you’re injured.” She couldn’t stop herself from eyeing his body. She wasn’t an expert on the art of healing as her mother had been, but sage oil would soothe those bruises. Something was wrong with his leg, judging by the awkward way he held it slightly up. Or maybe with his entire body.”

From the Author

“Love stories have always captured my imagination. What’s better than two people falling in love with each other? I write steamy romance, usually with a paranormal twist in an historical setting. Add a touch of suspense and mystery and a pinch of darkness. I love stories with strong, sexy heroes and mischievous heroines who pull no punches.  I live in the City of Sails, New Zealand, drinking tea (coffee gives me anxiety) and devouring books. 

“Join my newsletter for exclusive content and the chance to receive an ARC copy of my books. Just copy and paste this link into your browser:
Barbara’s Newsletter

“If you love steamy paranormal romance set in Victorian London, my Royal Occult Bureau series is for you:
The Royal Occult Bureau Series

“Are you into shape-shifter romance? Check out my da Vinci’s Beasts series, set in WW2:
da Vinci’s Beasts Series

“For more Victorian paranormal romance with witches and sexy warriors, see the Knights of the White Blade series:
The White Order Series

“Love steampunk? Check out my Auckland Steampunk series:
Auckland Steampunk Series

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/RussellBarbara84
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brussellkiwi/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/brussell84Kiwi

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/68057091-between-the-dragon-king-and-his-wrath

Buy Links – https://geni.us/qYezIr

No Place to Hide by J.S. Monroe

You might be paranoid, but that doesn’t mean they’re not watching you.

Adam lives a picture-perfect life: happy marriage, two young children, and a flourishing career as a doctor. But Adam also lives with a secret. Hospital CCTV, strangers’ mobile phones, city traffic cameras – he is convinced that they are all watching him, recording his every move. All because of something terrible that happened at a drunken party when he was a medical student.

Only two other people knew what happened that night. Two people he’s long left behind. Until one of them, Clio – Adam’s great unrequited love – turns up on his doorstep, and reignites a sinister pact twenty-four years in the making…

No Place to Hide is a spellbinding tale of psychological suspense, weaving together the dark web, murder, and blackmail…

My Review

What a page-turner this became. Slowly setting the scene in two timelines – Adam’s life as a medical student at Cambridge in 1998, and today as a paediatrician, married with two lovely children. The perfect life? It should be, but it’s all based on a lie. Because when Adam was at university, he was obsessed with an arts student called Clio and this led him to make a fateful pact with another arts student – Louis.

They all met when Adam played Dr Faustus in a college production, and Clio was Mephistopheles. Life imitating art? Most definitely.

Clio warns Adam not to get involved with Louis or her but he doesn’t take any notice. Louis is going to make a film of Adam’s life as a student. God only knows why thinks Adam; his life is so boring. But he agrees anyway and that’s when it all goes horribly wrong.

Twenty-four years later, Adam’s perfect life is beginning to unravel. But it all seems too far-fetched and unbelievable. Is he really being watched, stalked, filmed, all over again? Is Louis back, calling in a sinister Faustian pact they made after a terrible event at a drug-fuelled party? Why has Clio suddenly turned up after all these years? And will Tania believe him when he swears he’s innocent?

It becomes a race against time as Adam tries to protect his family before his ‘deal with the devil’ is called in. But he has one ally in all this – his old university friend Ji, obsessed with computer games and the dark web, where shocking videos are posted on a now defunct website called rotten.com. It was a ‘shock site’ which ran from 1996 until 2012. It was described as: “An archive of disturbing illustration…devoted to morbid curiosities, pictures of violent acts, deformities, autopsy or forensic photographs, depictions of perverse sex acts, and disturbing or misanthropic historical curiosities.” But that was not the worst of it as we discover later in the book.

I was almost afraid to research rotten.com and the dark web, because you know what they say – just because you are paranoid, doesn’t mean they are not after you. I’m waiting for a knock on the door…

This book was brilliant. By the end of stave nine on Pigeonhole, I almost bought the book on Kindle so I didn’t have to wait 24 hours for the final denouement. I’m glad I waited though. The ending was fantastic. I was almost late for work finishing it.

Many thanks to The Pigeonhole, the author and my fellow Pigeons for making this such an enjoyable read.

About the Author

J.S. Monroe, the writing name of a well-known British author and journalist, read English at Cambridge University, worked as a freelance journalist in London and was a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4. He was also a foreign correspondent in Delhi for the Daily Telegraph and was on its staff in London as weekend editor. He is the author of five other novels and lives in Wiltshire, England, with his wife and their three children.

Published by Aries Fiction and Head of Zeus: 

Twitter: @AriesFiction
Facebook: Aries Fiction
Instagram: headofzeus
TikTok: headofzeus

Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens by Shankari Chandran

Welcome to Cinnamon Gardens, a home for those who are lost and the stories they treasure.

Cinnamon Gardens Nursing Home is nestled in the quiet suburb of Westgrove, Sydney – populated with residents with colourful histories, each with their own secrets, triumphs and failings. This is their safe place, an oasis of familiar delights – a beautiful garden, a busy kitchen and a bountiful recreation schedule.

#ChaiTimeAtCinnamonGardens #ShankariChandran #RandomThingsTours @annecater @RandomTTours #blogtour 

But this ordinary neighbourhood is not without its prejudices. The serenity of Cinnamon Gardens is threatened by malignant forces more interested in what makes this refuge different rather than embracing the calm companionship that makes this place home to so many. As those who challenge the residents’ existence make their stand against the nursing home with devastating consequences, our characters are forced to reckon with a country divided.

Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens is about family and memory, community and race, but is ultimately a love letter to story-telling and how our stories shape who we are.

My Review

If you were looking for a light-hearted, funny read, you might be surprised. This is not The Good Karma Hospital. I am devastated. Not because it’s not Good Karma, but because there are images I will never get out of my head. Why are people so cruel to each other? I don’t understand. We could all live together in peace so easily.

Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens is a masterpiece and everyone should read it. Because it’s not just about the predicament of the Tamils or outright racism. (Imagine being asked a question and giving your answer in Tamil. Having petrol poured over you and being set alight. Answer in Sinhalese and they let you go.) It could be Nazi Germany and the Jews. Or Palestine and Israel. Or even Northern Ireland. Or homophobia or transphobia.

But off my soapbox and back to the book. It’s written from the point of view of a number of the characters. We also revisit timelines from the 1970s, 80s and 90s. It talks about the burning of the Jaffna Public Library which took place on the night of June 1, 1981. And the torture and genocide of so many people.

First we have Maya, now in old age, mourning the loss of her husband archaeologist Zakhir, ten years earlier, as well as her father in terrible circumstances many years before. ‘Possession of land is nine-tenths of the law. Possession of history is nine-tenths of the future,’ her father said. His book made him an outlaw.

Her daughter Anji is a twin, though her brother doesn’t really feature in the book. She runs Cinnamon Gardens now her mother has retired. She is married to Nathan and they have three children.

Then there is Nikki, whose daughter Florence died ten months ago, leaving her with a young son Oscar, and her husband Councillor Gareth Barton. At one point he behaves unforgivably towards his wife, but he has never really been able to grieve properly for Florence and it has torn them apart. He is still in the anger phase of grieving and is unable to move on.

Ruben is Tamil and works at the nursing home. He has been beaten up for being a person of colour, even in Australia. In many of ‘his’ chapters he takes us back to the terrible things that happened before he left Sri Lanka.

The elderly residents of Cinnamon Gardens are a real mix, all with ‘colourful histories, each with their own secrets, triumphs and failings’. They are all called Aunty or Uncle by the carers and visitors alike. Some of their back stories are heartbreaking, especially Uncle Saha Anna, who was a gemologist in Sri Lanka. Shanthi and Maya knew each other from University and still hate one another. Ray is Nikki’s father.

As the story unfolds, we witness not just the terrible events in Sri Lanka in previous decades, but also the creeping racism in modern Australia. Allowed to get totally out of hand, it results in the most devastating of consequences. Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens will be stamped on my memory for years to come.

Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours

About the Author
Shankari Chandran was raised in Canberra, Australia. She spent a decade in London, working as a lawyer in the social justice field. She eventually returned home to Australia, where she now lives with her husband, four children and their cavoodle puppy, Benji. In January 2017, she published her first book with Perera-Hussein, called Song of the Sun God. Her second book, The Barrier, was published in June 2017.

Elizabeth Finch by Julian Barnes

She will change the way you see the world .

Elizabeth Finch was a teacher, a thinker, an inspiration. Neil is just one of many who fell under her spell during his time in her class.

Tasked with unpacking her notebooks after her death, Neil encounters once again Elizabeth’s astonishing ideas on the past and on how to make sense of the present.

#ElizabethFinch #JulianBarnes @VintageBooks #RandomThingsTours @annecater @RandomTTours #blogtour 

But Elizabeth was much more than a scholar. Her secrets are waiting to be revealed . . . and will change Neil’s view of the world forever.

My Review

Neil is our narrator. A failed actor, with one marriage and divorce behind him (so far), he’s a mature student, who becomes fascinated by his lecturer Professor Elizabeth Finch, while taking her class on Culture and Civilization. She’s a typical blue-stocking, never married (as far as we know), wears tweed and brogues, has neatly coiffed hair – I kept imagining a spinster version of Margaret Thatcher.

Elizabeth Finch or EF as the students refer to her, has a deep, lasting effect on the members of his study group, particularly on Neil, but also on Anna, a Dutch girl with whom he has a strange kind of affair. Linda wants EF to help her with her love life or unrequited love (not sure why she would ask EF), and then there is Geoff who doesn’t find her fascinating at all. In fact he finds her views old-fashioned and obdurate. I have to admit I tended to agree with him much of the time.

It’s not really a story – nothing actually ‘happens’ in the traditional sense – it’s mainly Neil’s musings on his platonic relationship and strange crush on this charismatic woman, because once his degree is finished, he continues to meet her for lunch a couple of times a year. Barnes examines the unusual friendship between these two mismatched people. For Neil it’s probably the only satisfying relationship in his life.

After her untimely death, Neil meets her older brother Christopher, who refers to his sister as Liz and admits that he was never as clever as her, or as compelling. She has left her papers and books to Neil, including a lot of material about Julian the Apostate, and the rise of Christianity in Europe, with which he becomes obsessed. He considers writing her memoir, though neither he nor her brother seem to know vey much about her private life.

Elizabeth Finch is certainly not like anything else I have ever read. A fascinating insight, I would have liked to know more about Neil himself – he considers himself to be too dull to be worth writing about – but I feel it would have helped me to understand how and why he became so absorbed in his mentor.

Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours

About the Author

Julian Barnes is the author of thirteen novels, including The Sense of an Ending, which won the 2011 Man Booker Prize for Fiction, and Sunday Times bestsellers The Noise of Time and The Only Story. He has also written three books of short stories, four collections of essays and three books of non fiction, including the Sunday Times number one bestseller Levels of Life and Nothing To Be Frightened Of, which won the 2021 Yasnaya Polyana Prize in Russia. In 2017 he was awarded the Légion d’honneur.

Barking Up The Right Tree by Leigh Russell

When Emily’s boyfriend walks out, she is devastated. As she is puzzling over what to do with the rest of her life, she is surprised to learn that her great aunt has died, leaving Emily her cottage in the picturesque Wiltshire village of Ashton Mead.

This inheritance comes with a condition: Emily must take care of her great aunt’s pet. Not knowing what to expect, Emily sets off for the village, hoping to make a new life for herself.

#BarkingUpTheRightTree @LeighRussell #RandomThingsTours @annecater @RandomTTours #blogtour 

In the village, she soon makes friends with Hannah who runs the Sunshine Tea Shoppe, and meets other residents of the village where she decides to settle. All is going well… until her unknown pet arrives. Then Emily’s ex-boyfriend turns up and against the advice of her new friends, she takes him back.

When her next-door neighbour’s daughter disappears in mysterious circumstances, Emily decides to investigate, unwittingly putting her own life in danger…

My Review

What a lot of fun this book was! Our intrepid hero Emily, having lost her job and been dumped by her prat (I’m being polite or my review will get rejected) of a boyfriend Ben, has inherited her late aunt’s house in the depths of Wiltshire. But in order to keep the house, she has to agree to look after her aunt’s pet. Only she has no idea what it is. It could be a poisonous snake, a tarantula (eek), a stick insect (I hate those) or even a leopard (now I jest).

Phew! It’s only a goldfish. Except that turns out to be temporary. It’s actually a cute puppy called Poppy. She’s a Jack Tzu (Jack Russell crossed with a Shih Tzu – we have another name for those) and she’s friendly, playful and fluffy. Emily has no idea how to look after a pooch, but how difficult can it be? Bit of food – she’s only small – and two walks a day.

Emily soon makes friends in the village of Ashton Mead. There’s Hannah who runs the Sunshine Tea Shoppe and Toby who lives in Swindon, but cares for his disabled mum nearby. Emily is loving it in her new home, that is until Ben turns up and she takes him back. Nooo! I hear you cry. Hannah doesn’t trust his motives, Toby thinks he’s an idiot and Poppy hates him. And dogs know best, don’t they? If only she could talk.

Poppy also gets spooked by Emily’s next-door neighbour Alice, who is very unfriendly, except when it comes to talking about her daughter Sophie, who has gone travelling.

Emily’s new friends worry about her, She’s suspicious of everyone, not just Alice. She thinks her aunt’s death wasn’t an accident but has no proof of anything untoward, except her aunt saying she feared for her life – the day before she died.

Barking Up The Right Tree is an easy read, a cosy mystery, with a lovable dog at its core. I can’t wait for the next instalment of the Poppy Mystery Tales.

Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours

About the Author

Alongside her popular DI Geraldine Steel detective novels, Leigh Russell is the author of the Poppy Mystery Tales, a brand new cosy crime series set in an idyllic English village. The stories feature Poppy, a lively puppy who helps her owner solve mysteries. Leigh has an MA in English Literature from the University of Kent. She has been shortlisted for the CWA New Blood Dagger Award, the CWA Dagger in the Library, and the People’s Book Prize. Keen to support new writers, Leigh chairs the CWA Debut Dagger Judges, and is a Fellow of the Royal Literary Fund. Leigh lives in London, near her two daughters and granddaughter. One of her daughters has a rescue puppy who inspired the Poppy Mystery Tales.