So Long, Chester Wheeler by Catherine Ryan Hyde - Book Review

So Long, Chester Wheeler by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Publication Date: 06th Dec 2022

Genre: Contemporary Fiction 

3.7 Stars 

One liner: Heartwarming but not enough 

*****

Lewis Madigan is having the worst time of his life. He lost his job, the market is dull, and has no money to pay the rent. Having a rude, homophobic old man in a wheelchair as a neighbor frustrates him even more. But desperate times call for desperate measures. He agrees to become a temporary caregiver for his neighbor, Chester Wheeler. 

As if that isn’t enough, Lewis feels compelled to take Chester on a drive to Arizona to meet his ex-wife. Driving Chester in a Winnebago and becoming a part of his complicated life wasn’t Lewis’ plan. But he does it anyway. 

Lewis is more than surprised to learn more about the dying old man’s past. Their friendship forms a new beginning in his life… but Chester has only days left on this earth. 

The story comes from the first-person POV of Lewis. 

My Thoughts: 

I read Dreaming of Flight by the author and loved it. Though I wasn’t expecting a similar story, I did want the same kind of feeling. This one delivers only 70% of it. 

The writing is easy to follow. Lewis is 24 years old and sounds almost close to his age (and like a late teen at times). He grows assertive as the story progresses, so that’s good to read. 

The premise is very good, but the execution seemed more on the surface level. Chester’s homophobia is the only thing that seems emphatic and disturbing. The rest of the emotions were sorted a little too quickly. What’s more, it feels like the author doesn’t want readers to see too deep into Chester’s past. We get bits and pieces and have to weave a story on our own. 

Monetary troubles are real in any country. Here Lewis has money issues, but they are sorted out without much effort. The only thing is that he has to take care of Chester for the time being. Ellie seems to be super generous with finances. I sure wouldn’t say no to a fairy godmother like her! 

Sue’s character is well done, though she gets limited space. Her arc is more implied, but it is still a better arc in the book. 

Lewis is a sweet guy. He knows to draw boundaries and still be caring toward others. The book is his coming-of-age story as well. But it’s not seamless for two reasons. (removed from the review to avoid spoilers). 

The last chapter/ epilogue is a short story in itself. I was ready to get a rough gist of Lewis as a happy man in his new career and with a thriving love life. What I get is another story half-similar to Chester in a condensed form. Let’s say it did nothing to make me feel warm, say aww… or get teary-eyed. 

To Summarize, So Long, Chester Wheeler is a heartwarming story about dealing with life and learning to grow with grace. I wish it was better edited to up the emotional quotient. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #SoLongChesterWheeler 

Murder at St. Saviour’s by Merryn Allingham - Book Review

Murder at St. Saviour’s by Merryn Allingham

Series: Flora Steele Mystery #5 

Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery 

4 Stars 

One Liner: A comfort read 

*****

1957, Sussex:

Welcome to the Abbeymead village with Flora Steele, the owner of All is Well bookshop, and Jack Carrington, a (not-so) reclusive crime fiction writer, working together to solve yet another murder (or two). 

Lyre Beaumont, the new curate of St. Saviour’s church, is found hanging on the flagstone floor beneath the bell tower. No one seems to know what happened, but the mysterious note beside the dead body points to murder. 

With a bunch of suspects and more adding to the list, Flora and Jack have a tough time searching for information and identifying the killer. It doesn’t help that their sleepy village has been witnessing newcomers waltzing around. Flora thinks it cannot be a coincidence. 

The threat increases as the duo get closer to the truth. Can they solve the case without risking their necks? And, oh, what will they do with the latest developments in their relationship?

My Thoughts: 

• The book works decent as a standalone, but I recommend reading at least one of the previous works to have a better idea. Book 4 should be enough if you don’t want to read them all from the first. 
• I love that the plot is compact and fits within 250 pages. The book starts slow but gains momentum after the first 25%.
• The book is also set in November (which is a little too cold in Abbeymead). It’s a good way to feel the full impact of the weather and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and warm muffins. 
• The plot is simple enough, as it is usually in most books of the series. Flora and Jack talk to people, gather information, investigate, discuss the suspects and continue to deal with their daily life issues. 
• The climax is cleverly done. It is a little different from other books and brings a refreshing change. Also, it’s good to see Inspector Ridley have a bigger role in this book. 
• The ending upped the intrigue by 10x. I feel the next book has high stakes. It’ll be interesting to see how Flora and Jack handle the past, present, and future. 

To summarize, Murder at St. Saviour’s is an entertaining and comforting read if you like cozy mysteries with a touch of danger. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC.  

#NetGalley #MurderatStSaviours 

P.S: Here’s a little piece of history. Though the timelines don’t match, you’ll understand why I shared it after you read the book. ;) 

Murders at the Montgomery Hall Hotel by Gina Kirkham - Book Review

Murders at the Montgomery Hall Hotel by Gina Kirkham

Publication Date: 14th Nov 2022

Genre: Contemporary Humorous Cozy Mystery (cum Romance)

3.5 Stars 

One Liner: Interesting premise but got a few misses 

*****

Librarian Prunella Pearce and her bestie Bree are all set to start a detective agency after their success in the previous case (book one). The duo and other ladies of the Winterbottom Women’s Institute go to Montgomery Hall Hotel for Halloween to enjoy a murder mystery weekend away from the village. 

The hotel’s current owner Tarragon Montgomery is stuck between matriarch Cecily (who doesn’t want to make changes to the place) and his money-loving wife, Stephanie. As if things aren’t bad enough, there seems to be a thief at their barely surviving hotel. 

Psychic Selma, who was to be a part of the murder mystery weekend, has been replaced by an impostor with an ulterior motive. With a raging storm outside and the Winterbottom women going wild (thanks to free-flowing booze), it’s up to Pru and Bree to solve the cases and determine if there’s a connection between the mysteries. 

Can the duo repeat their success? 

The story comes from multiple POVs. 

What I Like: 

The book works great as a standalone despite being the second in the series. The characters can be a bit confusing (continued in the next section), but the plot is independent. 

The pacing is steady and consistent even when nothing seems to be happening. That’s hard to achieve in a book with 350+ pages, but here it keeps going without slowing down. 

The mystery, as such, isn’t much. We can figure it out in the first quarter of the book. It’s more of ‘how will all these threads come together, and will the criminal be nabbed’ that keeps the reader moving. 

The book is more of a chick-lit and family drama with murders thrown into the mix. Though that wasn’t what I expected, I readjusted my expectations and could enjoy the book (to an extent). 

The scenes with the killer are decent and well done. They don’t delve into the darker side but show enough glimpses to create an impact. 

What Didn’t Work for Me: 

There are three ladies whose names start with C. Two of them stick together and are kinda bosom buddies (in many ways). This doesn’t help in remembering who is who, especially when all of them are loud. 

I have no issues with old ladies lacking a filter or making sexual innuendo jokes. But there’s only so much I can read without rolling my eyes at the constant sex jokes (it doesn’t help that some of those went over my head). There’s a difference between older ladies speaking their minds and blabbering. I like the former kind, while the book has the latter. Also, I don’t particularly like the ladies being used as comic relief. 

Humorous cozies are fun (I recently enjoyed a goofy book). However, here the slapstick comedy and the murders don’t gel completely in this book. The author can write (the book is very visual). It just wasn’t that good for me. I also see how this will make a great script for the screen (after editing). The comedy I found too much in the book can be appealing when enacted by people. 

To summarize, Murders at the Montgomery Hall Hotel is the book for you if you like mindless comedy and jokes with a bunch of murders thrown into the mix. The cover is super cool, though. 

Thank you, Bloodhound Books, for the eARC. 

The Real-Life Murder Clubs by Nicola Stow - Book Review

The Real-Life Murder Clubs: Citizens Solving True Crimes by Nicola Stow

Publication Date 24th Nov 2022

Genre: Non-Fiction, True Crime  

4.5 Stars 

One Liner: Loved it 

Nicola Stow shares stories about real-life amateur sleuths and armchair detectives who worked for years to solve crimes no one else could. They take cold cases and use information in the public domain to solve crimes. 

Some work alone, some in pairs, and others in groups. From handwriting experts to graphic designers, analysts, homemakers, and retired employees, real-life murder clubs have an array of people with the same goals. The book includes a collection of such murder clubs and how the members have worked on some of their best cases. 

I’m glad I didn’t focus much on the blurb except for the last paragraph. As someone who didn’t watch the Netflix show (or many others), I could get into the book without expectations. 

I have to say I loved reading it. The writing is compact yet detailed. It has a conversational style without being too casual or friendly. 

Some of it is descriptive, but it is needed to provide a backstory about the criminals and the crimes (people from other countries may not know the details about killers in the US, and it doesn’t make sense to Google each of them to understand the book). That’s not needed, of course. The book tells me what I should know about the case, the proceedings, and the role of real-life sleuths who cracked it years afterward. 

While some have a personal connection with the case, others felt compelled due to different reasons. They talk about the trigger moments that made them get into this path. Imagine spending your time, money, and other resources on someone you don’t even know. 

On one side, there are official groups like Websleuths with strict moderators that work genuinely for what they believe in and help the police departments. Yet, there’s no dearth of over-excited armchair sleuths who don’t think twice before speculating or sharing someone’s personal information. 

The last chapter in the book deals with such instances where amateur sleuths caused more harm and resulted in the hounding of an already grieving family. It also highlights the role of careless and fame-hungry journos and influencers using social media to share rumors as facts. The recent case of attacks on Hindus in Leicester, UK, is a great example. What does one say when a Guardian journo shares fake news to target one community? 

 I love the closing statement made by a retired cop. Becoming a real-life detective shouldn’t be for credit or fame. It is a responsibility and a selfless service to help people find closure. Those who expect recognition should not get into these activities. 

To summarize, The Real-Life Murder Clubs is an impressive and inspiring collection about ordinary citizens who chose to be extraordinary by taking up crime-solving as a true passion. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Ad Lib Publishers, for the eARC. 

#TheRealLifeMurderClubs #NetGalley 

*****

P.S: I’m going to search for similar clubs in India. Hoping to find at least a few clubs. 

The Christmas Wish by Lindsey Kelk - Book Review

The Christmas Wish by Lindsey Kelk

Publication Date: 10th November 2022

Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction, Christmas Fiction

4 Stars 

One Liner: Funny and entertaining (but a bit slow) 

*****
Gwen has been in low spirits, no thanks to her newly single status and trouble at work. She is determined to enjoy Christmas with her family, but things get messy. It sure is not easy when her father wants to live his dreams through her lawyering career, and her sister Creys (and her sister’s husband Oliver) seem to make things worse. It doesn’t help that Gwen meets her childhood crush, Dev Jones. 

Then Gwen wakes up the next day to repeat Christmas Day all over again. Someone made a wish, and it’s up to Gwen to find out and fulfill it. This turns out to be an eye-opener as Gwen realizes that there were many things she didn’t know about her family. Also, she wonders if she is living the best life when it no longer makes her happy. Can Gwen find what she wants for Christmas while helping her family truly come together as a unit? 

The story comes from the first-person POV of Gwen Baker. 

My Thoughts: 

I’m glad I went into the prepared to read it more as Women’s Fiction than romance. Right expectations are important to enjoy the book. 

The writing is easy to read and flows with natural humor. It is silly, quirky, and even eye-roll-inducing. But it is entertaining and lighthearted. Even those several pop culture references didn’t diminish the effect. 

The characters are well-defined despite not being too layered. What we see is enough to understand their essence. Gwen has a few not-so-nice moments, but those make her human. After all, who hasn’t embarrassed themselves at one time or another? A bit of exaggeration is expected in fiction, so I don’t mind. 

The Groundhog Day loop doesn’t start until close to 100 pages. I feel this is necessary to establish the characters and set the stage for the actual time loop. The reader goes into the main plot armed with the required information. 

The book deals with varied themes like dysfunctional families, parental pressure, love, relationships, cheating, career struggles, workplace issues for women, etc. They blend with the plot, appear whenever necessary, and get resolved (sometimes easily, sometimes not). 

The pacing is a bummer. Despite the humor and everything, the story dragged in some places. A couple of themes are handled with a weeny bit extra emphasis, but that’s no big deal when the book delivers on the nice Christmasy feeling and a happy ever after. 

To summarize, The Christmas Wish is a lighthearted, humorous read with lots of family time and some romance (for icing). 

Thank you, NetGalley, HarperFiction, and HarperCollins UK, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley 

Note: 

So, Dev Jones is half-Indian. His mom is Sunita, and they also have a teeny dog called Pari. Diverse- check. Brown character- check. 

Unfortunately, Devendra could have easily been David or Dave, and it could have been the same. While I’m glad that there is no stereotyping, I don’t like Dev’s cultural roots being erased without a trace. I couldn’t even imagine him because everything about him is 100% British. Now, if a book had Irish, Scottish, Italian, or other characters, there would be something other than ‘his thick black hair’ to show cultural diversity. 

Here, there’s nothing. Food, language, and music are connectors that keep the cultural element alive in second and third-generation immigrants. The book had ample opportunities to include a line or two to weave the Indianness without emphasizing or stereotyping the character. All it needed was a bit of research and some effort to make use of the diversity instead of ticking it off with physical descriptions and names. I haven’t docked points for this, but I would have added them if this was taken care of.

The Shadows of Rutherford House by C.E. Rose - Book Review

The Shadows of Rutherford House by C.E. Rose

Publication Date: 10th Nov 2022

Genre: Drama, Thriller (Domestic), Multi Timeline 

3.5 Stars 

One Liner: Mixed bag (outliner review)

*****

Christie is a psychiatric nurse at the institution where Lillian is recovering from a mental breakdown. They become friends (though it is against the rules). Christie helps Lillian recover and encourages her to get back to her life (and the stately home, Rutherford- Percy House). She feels a mysterious attraction toward the strange family and its past. However, Lillian is not adamant about not accepting her family home and legacy.  

Christie tries to uncover the past of Lillian’s family and discovers a shocking connection to her own family. It appears that her missing mother has ties to the Rutherford House. Will Christie finally find the answers to her questions, or will she end up with more questions? What will happen when the secrets are laid bare at last? 

The story comes in the first-person POVs of Christie and Milly and a third-person POV of Duncan. 

My Thoughts: 

With multiple POVs and timelines, the beginning sure feels messy and confusing. The dates appear after a few chapters, and by then, the damage could be done if the reader feels annoyed. I could create a timeline and link the characters a bit easier because I note down the names and details when I read a book. 

The short chapters made it easy to sustain the pace. The book has almost 90 chapters, but that’s fine because most are short and keep the story moving. 

Once I understood the basic premise, I could figure out half the twists. Not that I mind, as it shows that the storyline and the reveals make sense to the reader. The final twist was a surprise, and that’s good too. 

I really wished Imogen had a few chapters in her POV. She was one of the main characters, and reading her twisted thoughts would have elevated the story a lot more. 

The chapters with Milly and Duncan are done well. Somehow, I didn’t feel for Christie’s character. Some of her actions made me doubt her professional capacity as a psychiatric nurse. The insta-love angle wasn’t appealing either. It felt a little too convenient. 

The characters were well-etched despite being more than a handful. However, I wasn’t particularly impressed by a couple of twists that had to be there to merge the tracks and arrive at the climax. 

While the book has many individual elements that sound good, the overall effect wasn’t great or wow. I liked it enough but wasn’t eager to know more or rush to the end. I didn’t have the feeling of satisfaction a good book (irrespective of the genre) would give. 

To summarize, The Shadows of Rutherford House is a contemporary gothic family drama plus thriller with interesting characters and a twisted plotline. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Hera Books, for the eARC.  

#TheShadowsofRutherfordHouse #NetGalley