Portrait of Peril- Book Review

 Portrait of Peril by Laura Roh Jowland

Book 5 of the Victorian Mysteries

Publication date: 12th Jan 2021

Genre: Mystery/ Thriller, Historical Fiction

3.8 Stars

The leading lady, Sarah Bain, a crime scene photographer for Daily World, is getting married to Detective Sergeant Thomas Barrett, her beloved. Right after the wedding, the dead body of a ‘spirit’ photographer Charles Firth is found in the crypt. Who committed the crime? Will Sarah and Barrett uncover the mystery? This forms the main plot of the story.

Being a series, we also see a strong subplot of Sarah and Sally’s (half-sister) father Benjamin Bain and the crime he is supposed to have committed, the murder of a young girl Ellen. Sarah and Sally are determined to prove his innocence even if it means they’ll have to wake up the dead ghosts of the past.

Of course, we see only the main plot coming to a conclusion while the subplot moves ahead just enough to keep us interested and eager for the next book.

This is the fifth book in the series and my first. Did it affect my reading? No. The references to the previous cases don't bother much. The main plot doesn’t depend on those. We have recurring characters, the homosexual friend Lord Hugh, his faithful valet, and Mick, the 15-year-old orphaned photographer, all of whom are Sarah’s friends and support system.

We also have Inspector Reid, the typical villain within the police department who doesn’t like Sarah and Barrett. He waltzes in and out of the story whenever Sarah needs to add another problem to her overflowing list.

The main plot has a lot of characters, from spiritualists to professors to models to an heiress, who is determined to expose mediums and fake ghosts. The suspect list grows, and we go from one clue to another, one piece of information to another.

Sarah talks, thinks, and rambles (at times) in the present tense (yes, first-person, present-tense narration) about the murder, her mother, her past, and how her life was hard. While I needed to know the details as a new reader, I did find it becoming repetitive towards the end. I’m not sure how the readers of the series would take it, considering they’d have been reading about it in the previous four books.

But there’s quite a bit of action in the cold and foggy London streets and houses. It was refreshing to read a story with characters who do not belong to the elite London society. This is definitely more real and grounded.

There are predictable scenes between Barrett’s mother, Sarah, and Barrett. Our leading lady is an independent woman with fears and insecurities. There was drama, but nothing over the top. That’s was a plus.

I did have an inkling about who the killer(s) would be, so the revelation wasn’t much of a surprise. But I am glad that the writer did not throw in an unexpected twist to give the story an extra punch. It’s good to see the ideas and hints connect well and come out as a proper piece.

Overall, this is an engaging read and picks up pace after the first 70 pages or so. I noticed that my reading speed increased in parallel. If you like Victorian mysteries that are set in the middle class and lower-middle-class sections of London and a heroine with spunk, you’ll enjoy this book.

I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books.

#PortraitofPeril #NetGalley

To Dream in Daylight- Book Review

 To Dream in Daylight by Cadence J. Thomas

Publication Date: 1 Sep 2020

Genre: New Adult/ Romance/ Fantasy/ Sci-fi

2.7 Stars

The cute cover and the blurb attracted me to the book. Imagine two people, dreaming of each other since childhood and wondering if the other is real or imaginary. It’s not until a humiliating video of the girl reaches the guy, thanks to social media, that he realizes she is indeed real.

His conflicting emotions and desire to meet her leads him to Chicago from Portland. Meanwhile, the girl, sick of all the unwanted attention, chooses to get off social media and go invisible. How will the dream mates meet? Will they find each other? Can they have a happy ever after?

That’s the premise of the book (in my words). Doesn’t it sound like a cute, angsty, sweet love story with the promise of HEA?

But does the book deliver? Yes and no.

Here is what I like about the book.

• The story has a HEA.
• The secondary characters are interesting.
• The relationship between Simon and his sister was warm and sweet.
• The concept of dreams was handled very well.
• The reactions are realistic to a good extent.
• Geeky references will make it a better book for some readers.
• There is enough mismatch of time to keep the readers hooked towards the end.

 What I wished was better or was disappointed in the book-

·  The narration alternates between Simon and Adri with the dream sequences in the third person. That’s very good. But, if not for the names and setting, I wouldn’t have been able to differentiate between Simon’s narration and Adri’s. They sound so similar, it’s hard to distinguish (until 80% of the book). That’s where Simon’s ready belief in Adri’s existence is contrasted by her disbelief. Even then, they react similarly, in just about every situation. The voices have got to be different and unique.

·       The genre says NA, but the leads act like young adults. I couldn’t imagine either of them being over 18. But they were supposed to be in their 20’s, and I still can’t picture them in that age group. The writing style is typical YA.

·       Adri is a lot more confused and stuck up on her ex. While it’s understandable she wants to live in the real world, she seems more disoriented about her life than Simon. Her character growth could have been better.

·       Both characters are socially awkward, geeky, writers (with other jobs) and seem to let others make decisions for them. Similarities again, and having two awkward leads tends to cut down the appeal for me. (Another example of why it is more suited to be a YA romance).

·       Finally, when the two of them do meet, the book is over. Bam! There is an epilogue of sorts, but that’s it. To read 90+% of the book only to know that it ends soon after they meet was disappointing. At least the ones who helped them should have been thanked or referred to. Considering our leads, without the supporting characters, their meeting wouldn’t happen.

Overall, it’s a clean romance (with mild kissing) and a decent YA (not NA) book.

I hope the team is going to proofread it another time before the final publishing. There are a few typos that need to be edited.

I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and Shadesilk Press.

#ToDreamInDaylight #NetGalley

The Wife- Book Review

The Wife by Shalini Boland

Publication Date: 9^th Sep 2020
Genre: Psychological Thriller/ Mystery

3.7 Stars

I’d like to start by saying that this is my first book written by the author. While I have mixed feelings about the story, I am intrigued by her writing and have added her to my TBR.

The Wife is the story of Zoe, a 37 yo woman with a loving family and a happy life. She’s planning her 10^th wedding anniversary celebration to make up for her fainting incident that marred the beauty of her wedding day. As the date comes closer, Zoe realizes that things are not what they seem. She is surrounded by lies and treachery. The blank space in her memory needs to be filled. Her questions need to be answered. But at what cost?

The story goes back and forth between the present and different sections of the past. We see the events through Zoe’s eyes, think her thoughts, and feel her overwrought emotions.

That’s where I’ve started feeling detached. I wasn’t able to think like Zoe nor feel like her. Her instincts were right (which I love). But she didn’t seem to be the kind to take a stand unless forced. The 2-3 times she does it, I kept cheering for her.  

What made me wonder and wonder (until the climax) was her obsession with her younger sister, Dina. Somehow, that character was never real. The references to the differences between them, the causes for it, and the hints about what went wrong got repetitive over time. I just wanted to know and be done with it.

And when the reveal finally happens, it’s doesn’t seem strong enough. I was disappointed. More so because that’s the only place we get some sort of direct connection with Dina, and she is as surreal as always.

A few characters add little or nothing to the story, and others could have been developed in detail. The extra scenes emphasize Zoe’s insecurity and vulnerability, which was evident quite early in the book. I wanted to know more about the ones who play a major role in the story rather than the ones who come and go without much reason.

The pacing during the first half is quite slow compared to the second half, where everything happens in quick succession. That led to information dump in immediate scenes. Couple it with predictable twists, the book dips as it fails to sustain the balance.

However, there is tension, suspense, and a sense of fear about what would happen. That makes up for this misbalance to a good extent. The ending, though expected, was nice to read. Zoe seemed to be taking better control over things.

Then we have a final shot- the epilogue. I’ve always been a fan of epilogues. But this one leaves me with mixed feelings. It shows the true colors of a character (which I liked) but takes the story away from the lead character. Someone else manages to trump over the heroine, and not for the first time. With Zoe being the narrator throughout the book, to have an epilogue by a much stronger character dimmed the new-found strength of Zoe we get to see a page ago.

Overall, the narration is engaging and the shifting timelines were interesting. The book is a page-turner, despite a few misses.

I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and Bookouture.

#TheWife #NetGalley

Between Witches & Angels- Book Review

Between Witches & Angels by TN Traynor

3.8 stars

Between Witches & Angels is the story of Megan and Jack with witches, demons, angels, and faith added into the mix. Megan and Jack are childhood besties with Megan loving Jack since forever, and this guy drinking himself to oblivion over the betrayal of his ex-wife.

Megan has magic in her blood and an immense interest in using her powers and herbs for healing. Her desperate move to Cornwall brings her new witch friends and a suitor with a magnetic personality. What happens when she agrees to marry the new guy, and Jack realizes he loves her? What happens when she disappears before the wedding and Jack feels she's in trouble? Can he find her? Will they have a HEA? What's the connection between Megan and demons?

The narration is descriptive and fast-paced. The story had me hooked from the prologue and sustained my interest throughout. It progresses over a few months, which are mentioned in each chapter. The settings are vivid, and I love how the author makes the atmosphere a tangible part of the story. 

The story is written in both present tense and past tense, separated based on the timeline to avoid confusion. The story is in a limited third person from Megan's POV until her disappearance. It then moves to Jack's side of the narrative with an omnipresent third-person view whenever needed. The POV changes were smooth and flowing. Even with lots of internal dialogue, I had no trouble following who was thinking what.

*spoilers*

One thing that surprised me was the shift from routine fantasy to Christian fantasy. I knew there would be some of it, but towards the end, the emphasis was entirely on the Lord and becoming a good Christian. It was still a gripping read, what with angels and demons actively fighting each other.

What I would have liked was giving more importance to the witches (because I like them). There are good witches (the story has enough of them), and it made me sad to see Megan give up her magic towards the end. If magic is in her blood, she should use it for the good, as she wanted to. 

*end of spoilers*

Despite there being another book lined up in the series, this one has a satisfactory ending. I love how you can read it as a standalone.

The characters are well developed though Megan has better characterization than Jack. She has more depth and layers, and Jack needs to catch up. His sudden giving up of alcohol seemed a bit unrealistic. He is, almost throughout the book, a weaker character than Megan and even his granny, who plays a vital role in the climax. 

The other witches (Megan's friends in Cornwall) had good character definitions, and I hope there will be more of them in the next book.

Overall, it's an engaging read that'll keep you turning the pages to see who is who and if your guesses are right. If you like a few spells, some strong faith, the theme of good vs. evil, a clean romance with a pacy thriller, you'll enjoy this one.

I received an ARC copy of the book from NetGalley and BooksGoSocial.

#BetweenWitchesAngels #NetGalley

Murder Old and New- Book Review

Murder Old and New- Laurie Williamson and Chet Williamson

3.8 Stars

Murder Old and New is the story of two incidents that take place in a gap of 70 years. Was the first death a suicide or murder? Are the latest deaths at the senior’s residence natural or unnatural? Is there a connection between the two? What does Livy Crowe, the owner of Better Days, a nostalgia shop, think?

In short, that’s the premise of the book. The story is narrated by Livy, a 45-year-old divorcee who lives a pretty contented life with her cat, Fudge. Her time is divided between the shop, visiting Gates Home (senior residence), and going to auctions. Thrown in Tim, a 30 odd young lad with a crush on her, a mother with signs of depression and dementia, and an envelope with pictures taken by her late father; the book starts with the photographs of a dead man hanging from a tree.

Now, that’s the kind of beginning I love to read. The story progressed at a slow and steady pace during the first half. While there were times I wished something happened, I could see the need to establish the setting and the characters. There are quite a few interesting characters, including the killer(s). The setting also plays an important role.

There are tidbits about old pulp fiction, comics, music, and stuff that I could have enjoyed even more if I had good command over the topics. Still, it was informative, and I liked reading about the types of paper and changing preferences of people over time.

Back to the mystery, Livy, as she declares it quite a few times, has an overactive imagination that helps her connect the dots and also takes her focus away from what is right in front of her. Some clues were too apparent, but she refuses to consider them and goes off tangent.

That’s the advantage of writing from the first person POV. The reader knows before the narrator can focus on it. This frustrated me at times, but then, it shows I was hooked by the story. The climax had all the elements a thriller should have. Everything that should go wrong, goes wrong, making it almost impossible for our leading lady. But she succeeds in her mission and captures the killer.

The loose ends were handled, even with a small surprise added to the mix. I just wished the two people who gave Livy some of the most pieces of important information were also mentioned at the end.

There is a sort of triangle story that starts sometime in the middle and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. I’m just not sure how I feel about it. If the roles were reversed and Livy was a man, well, he’d lose fans. Still, I don’t have any major issues with it.

One thing that stood out odd in the book was an overly graphic scene describing death. While most of them were glossed over (imagine a book that doesn’t even have cuss words), this one sticks out like a sore thumb. I don’t see any need for it, considering it adds nothing to the story. There’s another towards the end, but it is justified. I have no issues with gore that serve a purpose.

Overall, the book is worth a read. Be patient in the beginning, and you’ll enjoy the style of narration is both simple (in a good way) and engaging.

I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and Cross Road Press.

#MurderOldandNew #NetGalley