This book was shelved on the 'general fiction' classification in my local library but, when I began to read I realised that it should have been listed as a romance, albeit with a mystery twist. The publisher, ChocLit, describes itself as a publisher of romantic fiction and many of the authors they publish are members of the Romantic Novelists Association (RNA).
Cordelia (Lia) Thompson is living happily in the USA, with her fiancé, when her grandmother dies back in Lia's native Norfolk. She comes home to sort out her grandmother's affairs, her life takes a different path from the one she expects. She meets Aidan and Suzanne, old school friends who are both keeping secrets that cloud their renewed relationships. Lia learns that her grandmothers's death wasn't as uncomplicated as it first appeared and her relationship with her fiancé, visiting for Christmas from across the pond, shows cracks that Lia can't ignore.
This is the perennial story of boy meets girl, events they can't control interfere, they fall in love and ...................is it happy ever after? Well, let's just say that Lia can't seem to make up her mind whether she's a straight up, law abiding citizen or someone who can ignore - or even condone - serious law breaking. I was confused by her confusion!
Still, a good read for those who like romance tempered with a bit of mystery. Technical bits seemed well researched and the story flowed along quite nicely. Not as 'chilling' or 'passionate' as the cover suggests, but a good bit of holiday reading for all that.
Thursday, 25 July 2013
Wednesday, 17 July 2013
The Chosen Seed by Sarah Pinborough
When I picked up this book I didn't realise that it's the 3rd volume of the author's series called "The Dog Faced Gods". I don't normally read novels in series because it's so often difficult to find the first one first and so on! However, I liked the sound of this story so soldiered on. I found there was just enough reference to previous books to give me an understanding of where the tale had come from.
Cass Jones is a former police officer, only nowadays he's on the run accused of murder. His ex-colleagues are busy trying to find a killer who is spreading a deadly virus through London, while Cass is trying to prove his innocence. The police investigation raises troubling clues that Cass might be innocent after all, much to the displeasure of certain senior officers, but how does it all tie in with The Network and The Bank? Who is Mr Bright and where did he and his colleagues come from? Do they really have as much power as they think they do?
What is hell and where is heaven? The Dying has started and Mr Bright needs to take extraordinary measures.
This is an unusual take on where the human race has been, where it came from and why, presented in a near future where these questions begin to take on a whole new meaning. Is Lucifer as black as he's painted in myth and where is God in human history?
You might not like the ending (as a matter of personal morality) but the story is original and will hold your attention. But try to read "A Matter of Blood" and "The Shadow of the Soul" first!
Cass Jones is a former police officer, only nowadays he's on the run accused of murder. His ex-colleagues are busy trying to find a killer who is spreading a deadly virus through London, while Cass is trying to prove his innocence. The police investigation raises troubling clues that Cass might be innocent after all, much to the displeasure of certain senior officers, but how does it all tie in with The Network and The Bank? Who is Mr Bright and where did he and his colleagues come from? Do they really have as much power as they think they do?
What is hell and where is heaven? The Dying has started and Mr Bright needs to take extraordinary measures.
This is an unusual take on where the human race has been, where it came from and why, presented in a near future where these questions begin to take on a whole new meaning. Is Lucifer as black as he's painted in myth and where is God in human history?
You might not like the ending (as a matter of personal morality) but the story is original and will hold your attention. But try to read "A Matter of Blood" and "The Shadow of the Soul" first!
The Small Hand by Susan Hill
When Adam Snow takes a wrong turning, whilst on his way home, he has no idea that his curiosity will have profound consequences. An derelict house, a strange old woman and the cool hand of a child slipped into his, even though there is no child to be seen, are all connected and Adam begins to suffer panic attacks and nightmares. He tries to stay away but is pulled back to the house and the small cool hand entwines with his more often until the feeling of a malevolent presence makes him wonder if the child is as harmless as it appears.
An old photograph trigger his memory and secrets and lies emerge into the light. Adam's mystery is solved at last, but with unforeseen and tragic results.
This is a ghost story, but without the blood and gore that characterise many of the genre nowadays. The mystery grows slowly, which I love. Too much too soon can spoil a good novel but, at the same time, the pace needs to be kept moving or the reader can lose interest. This is short book of only 204 pages of a larger than normal font size, which means fewer words to the page than usual. As a result, I read this novel in just 2 sittings and enjoyed it very much. Don't expect excitement but, if you like ghost mysteries, you'll like this.
An old photograph trigger his memory and secrets and lies emerge into the light. Adam's mystery is solved at last, but with unforeseen and tragic results.
This is a ghost story, but without the blood and gore that characterise many of the genre nowadays. The mystery grows slowly, which I love. Too much too soon can spoil a good novel but, at the same time, the pace needs to be kept moving or the reader can lose interest. This is short book of only 204 pages of a larger than normal font size, which means fewer words to the page than usual. As a result, I read this novel in just 2 sittings and enjoyed it very much. Don't expect excitement but, if you like ghost mysteries, you'll like this.
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