Murder at Cleve College by Merryn Allingham - Book Review - Blog Tour

Series: Flora Steele Mystery #9

Publication Date: 24th July 2024

Purchase Link: https://geni.us/B0CW1J7W8Jsocial

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/208955165-murder-at-cleve-college

Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery

4 Stars

One Liner: The series is still on a high!

Book Blurb:

Bookshop owner Flora Steele and writer Jack Carrington fell in love solving mysteries. Now they’re taking their first steps as husband and wife… straight into their most perplexing case yet.

Sussex, 1958: A radiant Flora is being twirled across the dancefloor by her dashing new husband, Jack. It’s the perfect wedding in Abbeymead until a mysterious stranger is found dead just outside the village.

But when Flora finds an envelope tucked into the man’s silver cigarette case, the address is key to discovering the poor chap’s name – Russell Farr. He isn’t known to any of the villagers, so at first, all signs point to a tragic accident. That is until they discover Farr previously worked at the esteemed Cleve College, where Jack is now a writer-in-residence.

The college has made Jack feel uneasy ever since he learned his predecessor drowned in its lake, and now it appears a second suspicious death is connected to it. But who would want two mild-mannered academics dead?

Could it be Jocelyn, the ambitious young teacher with her sights set on the top? Joe, the sly porter living beyond his means? Or perhaps Maurice, the college dean who seems far more interested in power than educating students?

Just when it looks like no amount of studying will crack this case, a chance encounter brings Flora closer to the truth. But when Jack goes missing, it seems someone is determined to teach them both a lesson.

Can Flora and Jack outwit the killer before they graduate to becoming the next victims? Or will their first case as husband and wife be their last?

An absolutely page-turning cosy mystery, packed with unforgettable characters and sensational twists! Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin, and Joy Ellis.

***

My Thoughts:

The story comes in Flora and Jack’s third-person POVs.

They are married! I’m glad that we get a short scene with the wedding and reception. Given the book’s size, it works well and continues to keep the focus on the mystery. The book should work as a standalone but will be better when you know at least some backstory of the characters.

Ordinary couples may hate starting their new journey with a dead body, but not Flora and Jack. Jack is understandably a bit reluctant to divert his attention to sleuthing since he is already multi-tasking but Flora is as curious as ever to solve the crime.

The mystery is intriguing and has many threads. Quite a few suspects too, though I had my target on someone the sleuthing couple didn’t focus on (should I specify I was right?). The case is intricate with enough red herrings and reaches a logical conclusion.

The pacing felt a little off or maybe it was coz my timetable went for a toss, leaving me with less time to read! Either way, I could finish it as per the plan, so all good.

Jack has relocated to Flora’s cottage, so it is some time for adjustments for both. They manage to create a schedule that suits their career commitments and gives them some time to spend together. There isn’t any extra lovey-dovey which I like. After all, their character arcs don’t change.

There are a few more developments in the village, some of which are definitely annoying our dear Alice. I like how even the side characters have meaningful character arcs. Charlie is growing up too fast, and we don’t get enough of him now!

To summarize, Murder at Cleve College easily sustains the momentum of the series while also keeping it fresh with new changes. The danger levels are a bit high in this one, adding to the intrigue and entertainment.

Can’t wait for the next book. I guessed where the next case is likely to be. Now, I wait until the blurb is out to confirm.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #MurderAtCleveCollege

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About the Author – Merryn Allingham

Merryn taught university literature for many years, and it took a while to pluck up the courage to begin writing herself. Bringing the past to life is a passion, and her historical fiction includes Regency romances, wartime sagas, and timeslip novels, all of which have a mystery at their heart. As the books have grown darker, it was only a matter of time before she plunged into crime with a cozy crime series set in rural Sussex against the fascinating backdrop of the 1950s.

Merryn lives in a beautiful old town in Sussex with her husband. When she’s not writing, she tries to keep fit with adult ballet classes and plenty of walking.

Follow the Author –

Website: https://merrynallingham.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MerrynWrites  

X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/merrynwrites

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Merryn Allingham here: https://www.bookouture.com/merryn-allingham

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This has been a pitstop on the blog tour by Bookouture (@bookouture). Thank you for stopping by! 

Sign up for all the best Bookouture deals: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn - Book Review

Publication Date: 18 July 2024 

Genre: Historical Fiction 

4.2 stars 

One Liner: A long book but enjoyable 

1950, Washington D.C

The Briarwood House is a boarding house for women and holds many secrets. When a widow, Grace March, moves into the attic, it leads to new friendships with diverse people. Soon, Grace is hosting weekly dinners and finding solace in her new life. However, the secrets of her past continue to haunt her. When a murder occurs in the boarding house, it’s time for the women to make some tough decisions. Lives will change forever. What will happen to Grace and her friends? 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Pete, Nora, Reka, Fliss, Bea, Grace, Arlene, and a special character). 

My Thoughts: 

This is my first book by the author. I’ve seen many friends praise her works and know she writes lengthy yet well-crafted historical novels (turns out this is not like her previous works). The Briar Club is 444 pages (my NG copy) and feels like a 500-page book. 

However, soon I was immersed in the setting and the characters. The prologue is set in 1954 (crime scene). The story begins in 1950 when Grace enters Briarwood House. The narrative comes from different characters who share their backstory as well as carry the plot forward. This serves a dual purpose to make us understand the people who live in the boarding house while minimizing repetition. 

Each woman is different and clearly defined. The main male characters are also given enough depth (depending on their purpose in the plot). 

Since food plays one of the major roles in the book, we get recipes between chapters. However, these are not your standard recipes and act only as small interludes in those never-ending chapters. Why each POV had to be a single chapter beats me, but each one is 50-70 pages long (I think). Only one POV is short (thankfully).

The narrative is slow and steady. You cannot increase the speed. But that’s okay since things happen, and we don’t want to miss any of it. I was also ticking the characters to see if I could guess who was killed. 

I like that the first POV belongs to the young Pete (some reviews hated this) as it gives us an overview of the main characters and establishes the plot. 

There is a lot of talk about politics, the US welcoming every immigrant, communists vs. republicans, and blah blah. As you can guess, it gets boring after a while, though some of it is necessary for the plot. Considering the events that occurred when I was reading this one, let’s say, the big brother needs to stop bothering about democracy in other countries and focus on its own mess. Glass houses and all that (IYKYK). 

While the mystery is dangled as a carrot, this should not be read as a mystery book. It is a character-driven historical fiction that can also be read as a series of interconnected stories). The epilogue ends the story with the right blend of HEA and reality. 

My favorite is, of course, the detailed Author’s Note where she talks about the idea, how it grew, and what influenced the arcs of each main character. Wonderful! Don’t skip this even if you are not into the habit of reading author notes. 

To summarize, The Briar Club is an interesting read dealing with many themes and subplots. I enjoyed it, despite the few issues, and can see why the author is popular though readers say this is not her usual style. It worked for me, and that’s all I need! 

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia, for the eARC.  

#NetGalley #TheBriarClub

The Magical Adventures of Diesel the Husky by Perry & Rosie Tobin - Book review - Book Tour

Publication Date: 15th November 2023

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/dieselthehusky-zbt

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/200758671-the-magical-adventures-of-diesel-the-husky

Genre: Children’s Book, Dogs

3.5 Stars

One Liner: Cute

Book Blurb:

Join Diesel on his enchanting adventures through the snowy wilderness and into the magical forest, where kindness, friendship, and heroism shine brightly.

In this captivating children’s book series, readers of all ages will be transported to a world filled with wonder and excitement as they follow Diesel and his friends on their thrilling quests.

Each heart-warming tale is packed with valuable life lessons, promoting the importance of compassion, teamwork, and bravery. Prepare to be whisked away on an exciting journey that will leave you and your little ones spellbound with joy and delight!

***

My Thoughts:

This is a short and cute little story about an adorable Husky named Diesel. The doggie loves to explore and finds a magic crystal that gives it superpowers.

Let me specify that this is a picture book and not an illustrated one. It has photos (not art). I’m not sure if real images have been edited (the author couple has huskies and one of them is Diesel) or if some are AI-generated. A couple of the images do look AI-ish. If you go into the book expecting ‘illustrations’, you will be disappointed. The cover is the right indicator of what to expect. 

The story is straightforward and is written in two to three lines under each image. This makes it easy for younger ones to read. There’s a moral lesson too, which parents can discuss with their kiddos.

The book is set up to be the first in the series. Diesel the Husky will go on to have many more adventures. I hope the plots for the next books become a little more intricate as it adds to the fun element. Right now, the story is a bit too simple.

The author has dyslexia, and his wife helps him improve his reading and writing abilities. I applaud the author duo for pursuing what they love and sharing their work with the public. Best wishes to them.

***

About the Authors – Perry and Rosie Tobin

Perry is a 31-year-old author from Somerset. He has always struggled with dyslexia but was always fascinated with books. He dedicated his free time, to learning to read through his disability, and in spite of the challenge.

He gained custody of his two children the same year he met his partner, Rosie.

Rosie at the time had two children, the youngest being home-schooled, due to no spaces in local schools. So, along with their three youngest children, Rosie helped Perry with his reading and, understanding of the English language. Even though it took some time, he, along with their children fell madly in love with books, and the adventures of reading.

Rosie is a 35-year-old author from Somerset. She is the youngest of three girls and has two children (now four.). Her favourite books are the Night World series by L.J Smith, although she is still, keenly awaiting the final book. She met her partner in 2018, and moved her little family to Somerset, including her beloved husky, Diesel. She loved teaching her children to read, and now watching them fall in love with stories and literature.

Together they turned their love of reading, to creating. Always having loved animals, now having five cats and two huskies. So basing adventures around their pets, mainly their cherished boy. Keeping his memory alive forever. Comprising a series of short stories, to help other children learn to read, or parents to enjoy fun bedtime stories.

Children eventually grow up, and no longer want bedtime stories. Parents and children alike will always cherish the memories, and stories that were read the most. Eventually, passing the same books, memories, and characters down to the new generations. Like Biff and Chip.

Debut books, The Magical Adventures of Diesel the Husky.

Follow the Authors –

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dieselthemagicalhusky

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diesel_the_magical_husky

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Follow the Publisher –

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100059899875258

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlossomSpring3

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blossom.spring.publishing/

Website: https://www.blossomspringpublishing.com/

***

This is a pitstop on the blog tour by ZooLoo’s Book Tours. Thank you for stopping by! 

A Love Letter to Paris by Rebecca Raisin - Book Review - Blog Tour

Publication Date: 08th July 2024

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/alovelettersocial

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209616261-a-love-letter-to-paris

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

3.25 Stars (Outliner)

One Liner: Cute in parts; great side characters

Book Blurb:

Late at night when I wander the streets of Paris, my thoughts turn to her… How do I tell her how I feel? Perhaps, I need to show her…

The pretty little streets of Montmartre are abuzz with rumour. Apparently, a mystery matchmaker, known only as ‘Paris Cupid’, has somehow helped the city’s most famous bachelor find love.

But old-fashioned romantic Lilou is staying very quiet. She’d just wanted to set up her best friend, and to get on with her life selling whimsical old love letters, in Paris’s famous St. Ouen market.

She hadn’t imagined her little Paris Cupid project could ever have attracted so many people looking for true, heartfelt romance. Though the truth is that Lilou adores helping people find the right person. Even if her own love life is nothing short of disastrous.

But then a message arrives. And it’s just for her. Someone is in love with her. Someone who knows her secret. But they’re keeping their own identity secret too… Could it be from cheerful, talkative, flame-haired Felix? Or quiet, beautifully handsome Benoit? Or even Pascale – who drives Lilou mad every day?

After so long of helping others find their soulmate, is it time for Lilou to find love of her own in Paris herself?

***

My Thoughts:

The story comes in Lilou’s first-person POV.

A cozy book set in Paris dealing with love letters – what’s not to like? It is categorized as General Fiction on NetGalley, an apt tag. Don’t look for romance though there’s a lot of about around it.

The good things first –

The setting is lovely! The market reminded me of the bazaars in my city with multiple shops bundled in one region. It is almost always buzzing with activity.  

The side characters are very well crafted. In fact, I liked them more than the main character. They come in different types – flirty, old school, gossipy, friendly, nerdy, etc.

The cats, Minou and Marmalade, are a treat (even if Minou’s antics can give you grey hair!). They elevated the book when I was losing interest.

Lilou’s character is decent too. I like how she was great at giving relationship advice to others but too afraid to try it herself (relatable, lol). It is easy to see the bigger picture when we are a few steps away from the situation. Of course, her concerns about public opinions and SM outrage are more than valid!

If only –

Based on the cute cover and the premise (it mentions three men!), I expected it to have a lot more romance. While there is some love, most of it occurs off-page and mainly for other characters.

The first-person POV means we see only what Lilou sees. Though this didn’t affect my opinion of some characters, it definitely distanced me from the MMC.

Moreover, in an attempt to keep the suspense going for as long as possible, we don’t get Lilou’s ‘real’ feelings. So I found zero chemistry between her and the main guy even though we are supposed to guess it. Enemies-to-lovers is not an easy trope, and without good banter, it feels flatter than a crepe.

The ending is rushed and wrapped up too quickly. There’s no surprise since that’s the only way it would go. But that doesn’t mean the characters cannot at least have a decent connection. I still don’t know why the MMC fell in love with her.

At least, there’s a short epilogue which is good.

To summarize, A Love Letter to Paris is more of a story about a woman realizing she needs to follow the relationship advice she gives others through the matchmaking website. Would have enjoyed it more if I saw the FMC fall in love.

I’m an outliner here, so check other reviews before you decide.

Thank you, Rachel’s Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley 

***

About the Author – Rebecca Raisin

Rebecca Raisin writes heartwarming romance from her home in sunny Perth, Australia. Her heroines tend to be on the quirky side and her books are usually set in exotic locations so her readers can armchair travel any day of the week. The only downfall about writing about gorgeous heroes who have brains as well as brawn, is falling in love with them – just as well they’re fictional. Rebecca aims to write characters you can see yourself being friends with. People with big hearts who care about relationships and believe in true, once-in-a-lifetime love. Her bestselling novel Rosie’s Travelling Tea Shop has been optioned for film with MRC studios and Frolic Media.

Follow the Author-

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaRaisinAuthor

Twitter: www.twitter.com/jaxandwillsmum

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccaraisinwrites2/

TikTok: @rebeccaraisinwrites

Newsletter Sign Up: bit.ly/RebeccaRaisinNews

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rebecca-raisin

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This has been a stop on the #ALoveLetterToParis blog tour by Rachel's Random Resources. (@rararesources) Thanks for stopping by!

Smothermoss by Alisa Alering - Book Review

Publication Date: 16th July 2024 

Genre: Southern Dark Mystery, Magic Realism 

2.7 stars 

One Liner: Ambitious and dark but flatters in execution 

1980s, Appalachia

Sheila, a seventeen-year-old, lives with an old woman, a twelve-year-old sister Angie, and their mother. Life is hard and a constant battle of bullying, lack of money, and too much work. It doesn’t help that Angie lives in her own world and draws cards that seem to have a life of their own. 

When a pair of female hikers is murdered in the region, the sisters are drawn to the case. This brings danger and violence closer to their home. As things get murkier, can Sheila and Angie survive the aftermath? 

The story comes in the third-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

There’s something dark and suffocating about the title and cover, which made me request a copy of the book. The premise was intriguing too, especially the setting. The main characters are YA but this is an adult read. I wouldn’t recommend it to teens (unless they are comfortable with dark themes). 

What I Like:

The setting is dark and intense. It shows the brutal side of nature, which aligns perfectly with the plot and the characters. The atmosphere is thick, suffocating, strange, uncomfortable, and sinister. Anything can go wrong and they do. 

There’s hardly any lighter moment or a scene that makes the reader smile. Everything is tainted with suspicion. Naturally, it makes for an intense read. I enjoyed how the elements were used even when the rest wasn’t working as expected. 

Despite the characters living in imaginary worlds, the situations are very much real and gritty. The MCs are poor, outcasts, and bullied. They have different coping mechanisms. The adults aren’t great either. Flawed and compelling. 

The chapters' titles and the drawings are intriguing.

What Didn’t Work for Me: 

There’s magic realism of sorts, and the lines between real and imaginary often blur. I don’t have issues with this since it is one of my favorite genres. However, I do need things to be a little less haphazard.

The mystery is so, so weak! I hoped for some tension-filled stuff. But nothing much happens for a long, long time and then something happens. After that, I’m not sure how the whole thing would work in reality. It’s confusing and disappointing. 

While I understood metaphors like the invisible rope, I’m still not sure about ifs and what’s regarding the recurring role of rabbits. Is there even some sort of inference? No idea! 

There are a few more themes like sexuality, gender orientation, eating disorders, dysfunctional family, etc. These weave in and out of the narrative but don’t always make sense. The whole thing feels elusive and hazy. 

The ending is okay, decent. There is some progress but this feels largely like a slice-of-life narrative that doesn’t provide any answers. All those bits and pieces were underdeveloped and went nowhere. 

The POVs jump from one character to another and from reality to make-believe. It is easy to lose track if we don’t give it 100% attention. In fact, I’ve had to reread some paragraphs even when I was fully focused on the narrative. It feels like a fever dream in many places. 

The book is just 250+ pages but packed full, though nothing much seems to happen. This is a strange mix of everything and nothing and further weighs down the reader (unless you enjoy such styles). 

To summarize, Smothermoss sounds great in theory and has some worthy elements. It works great in parts but ends up a bit undercooked as a whole. The results will be case-sensitive. So, if my nays are your ayes, give this a try. I know I’d want to read another book by the author. Good potential. 

My thanks to NetGalley, and Tin House Books, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #Smothermoss 

A Poisoner's Tale by Cathryn Kemp - Book Review

Publication Date: 11th July 2024

Genre: Dark Historical Fiction 

3.5 Stars (rounded up) 

One Liner: A dark yet poignant read 

17th Century, Rome 

The plague has taken over the city. People are dropped dead in hundreds. Deep inside the Eternal City are the witches and sorceresses, hiding from those in power who are ever-ready to hang them in public. 

Giulia has spent her life helping broken women from all parts of the society. She is a healer, midwife, abortionist and poisoner, depending on what the women need. 

Pope Alessandro VII is determined to rid his city of the witches and the mysterious women, no matter what. Will he succeed? Can Giulia come out alive and escape the witch hunt? 

The story comes in Guilia and Pope Alessandro VII’s first-person POVs in the present tense. 

My Thoughts: 

This is a dark book with several triggers (listed at the end). It is a fictional take on the life of Giulia Tofana, the woman who helped hundreds of women poison the men in their lives for various reasons (abuse mostly). I first read about her in the League of Lady Poisoners by Lisa Perrin. However, I confess it took me some time to connect the dots and realize that the book is about the same person. 

The narrative starts with a prologue where Giulia and four other women are being hanged for witchcraft. So we already know how the book will end. Now, we go back to when Giulia was thirteen and first let into the secret world of her mother. 

The content is pretty graphic and can be hard to read at a stretch. There’s a lot of abuse (physical & sexual), which makes it hard to keep going. The book openly shows what women faced from men (husbands, fathers, brothers, lovers, clients, strangers, and just about everyone). 

While I appreciate the first-person POV, I’m unsure why we get it in the present tense. Based on the prologue, this would have worked better in the past tense. Also, the voice is not too different, whether the FMC is thirteen or thirty-six. This would have made sense in the past tense. 

However, I have to ask- why does the Pope get a first-person POV? This is a poisoner’s tale. It is supposed to be Giulia’s narrative. The Pope could have been limited third person. It would have been better and easier to keep the focus on the FMC. 

As with most real-life-based retellings, this one also leaves me with mixed feelings. While I like that the FMC is a flawed person who made wrong decisions (which put others at risk), I’m not sure how it seems when comparing the book to a real person. As a character, Giulia makes a strong impression. 

Sadly, I can’t say the same about her daughter who feels like a surreal butterfly or a spoiled brat. However, I do like the pattern we see here – the younger generation thinking it is better than the elders while making similar mistakes. 

Tarot reading is one of the devices used for foreshadowing. No surprise that I liked how it played in the plot. I did find it ironic that the Hierophant card is called the Pope when the Church thinks things like tarot are a sin [Hierophant is the traditional head of spirituality (any religion), the masculine counterpart of High Priestess.] Of course, the card’s interpretation in the book aligns with Pope’s role in the story (and reality).

The abuse and torture are not too graphic but disturbing enough to affect the reader. Some of those details are necessary to show why the women did what they did and how they had to pay for it. And oh, some of those torture devices were used during the Goan Inquisition to covert people. 

To summarize, A Poisoner's Tale is a dark, disturbing, and difficult read based on a real person. Make sure you are in the right mindset to read this one. There’s a bibliography at the end, which I appreciate.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers (Bantam), for eARC. 

#NetGalley #APoisonersTale

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TW: Pedophilia, rape (repeated), assault, domestic violence, miscarriage (deliberate), abortion, abuse, torture, hanging, strangling, plague (epidemic), torture