Author: joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews

Australian writer Sophie Green has quickly become one of my go to authors. I have already read The Fairvale Ladies Book Club, The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle, Thursdays at Orange Blossom House, and Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society. Green also has a new book just out titled Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel. I will savor that one.

What Green does so well is to simply create stories that I want to sit down and read for a bit of escape. Her characters face challenges but they also learn, grow and even find happiness. That is certainly true in Bellbird River.

Another facet of the novels that I enjoy is that each takes place in a different part of Australia. The country is so vast and varied that these virtual trips offer armchair travelers a real treat.

This story features (as is true in all of the novels) a cast of women characters and those around them. They include Victoria a doyenne in her small town and whose husband recently left her. She is visited by her cousin, Gabrielle, an opera singer with voice issues. Readers also meet Debbie who has been in prison and is trying to regain some happiness, and Janine, who needs to value herself more. Finally there are Alex and her daughter. They are going through some struggles. Will their move to Bellbird River bring them closer together?

The device behind the plot is that all of the women sing in the same group. The joys that music can bring are clear.

I highly recommend this book and all of Green’s other novels to anyone who likes immersive fiction.

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There was a time in England when Cambridge grads became traitors; among the most famous of these men were Kim Philby, Guy Burgess, Anthony Blunt and Donald Maclean. They hid in plain sight, not suspected for a long time because of their social class and educations. They were idealistic to start with but some devolved into alcoholism and of course, many defected.

This novel takes place within the time frame of these spies in the late 40s and early 50s. One of the spies, Guy Burgess, is even a character in the novel.

Two sisters Iris and Ruth are the book’s protagonists. When the story opens, Ruth is successfully running a modeling agency in New York. She and Iris have not spoken for many years. Readers will find out why when they read the novel.

When the two were still close, they lived in Rome during part of WWII. While there Iris falls madly in love with Sasha Digby. She makes the decision to follow him wherever he goes and, not to spoil anything, they eventually make a big move. Readers will find out why.

One day, Ruth gets a call for help from Iris. She heeds it and this leads to the most exciting events of the novel.

Also in the story is Lyudmilla, a very conforming Russian. Where does she fit in the story and how do her life and the Digbys’ lives intersect? Again, read to find out.

Beatriz Williams has written an absorbing story here with an excellent plot twist. Events unfold; this is not a James Bond like read but it is a good one. The settings and characters shine.

Think about the title as you read. See how close you come to guessing some of the story’s resolutions. Enjoy the novel as you do. It makes for a good read.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Williams has a sure hand in this deceptively quiet novel, told from the perspective of three different women. She expertly shifts between family drama and a suspenseful espionage plot, and makes every word and note count.” — Library Journal (starred review)

When was the last time that you read a book and found that tears were rolling down your cheeks? For me, it has been quite a while but I cried over this one.

When I told my husband about this novel, he said that it must have been depressing. I replied that it was not depressing but that it was sad. Sadness is an essential piece of this book and yet to me it was a wonderful read and one that I recommend highly, if it is your kind of book or if you are willing to see if it is.

Henri, a French man with a history, is a journalist who covered wars. His thirteen year old son, Sam, did not know him. Just when they are about to meet, Henri saves a young girl but himself is injured and thereafter is in a coma. This means that Sam and Henri’s reunion takes place in the hospital where Sam, who has synesthesia, senses deeply and feels Henri’s presence. Sam spends every day at the hospital sharing himself with Henri and the novel’s other protagonists.

This book is the story of several characters: Sam, Madelyn who is a young girl in a coma and Eddie, the woman that Henri let get away. Their relationships are explored and intersect with one another over the course of the novel which is told in alternating voices.

There is a philosophical underpinning to this book. The characters both live their lives and imagine the ways in which their lives might have played out differently with the same people. The author also explores what she imagines that characters think and feel when they are in a non-awake state and what happens when someone is about to die.

Nina George comments that she wrote three of her novels, of which this is the third, to better understand death. She was writing in the aftermath of her father’s death. The book is beautifully written.

I very much enjoyed this author’s novel, The Little Paris Bookshop and feel that The Book of Dreams is also a keeper. For me, it is a five star novel.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a moving and wonderful read. The opinions are my own.

A Novel

by Beatriz Williams

#HusbandsLovers #NetGalley

The cover of this novel tells readers that it just might be a good summer read. The warmth of a day shines through. And, yes, this is a good book to read while at the beach or inside with the AC humming.

Warm locations are indeed settings in this dual time line story. Events in the past take place in Egypt at the time that the Suez Canal is being built. In the modern day, some storylines unfold on a wealthy New England beach enclave. Connecting the timelines and characters is a unique bracelet.

Much transpires in this story. In the 1950s Hannah has survived a tough war and married for safety. However, when she meets a hotel employee, what will happen to her (temporarily) secure life? What excruciating decision must Hannah make? How will this choice reverberate in the contemporary storyline?

In the present, a child has a severe reaction to a poisoned mushroom and needs a kidney transplant. Will his mom, Mallory, reach out to his now famous father to let him know that she was pregnant and needs a donor? How will her decision impact multiple lives?

What, other than a bracelet, connects the two stories that are told? Will there be happy endings for anyone? Read this atmospheric title to find out. It was enjoyable.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 25 June 2024

#EveryoneonThisTrainIsaSuspect #NetGalley

I did not read Stevenson’s first novel though I think that I may now do so. That was, however, in no way a handicap to enjoying this title with recurring narrator Ernie.

This book strikes me as an, at times, humorous homage to the classic mysteries of authors like Agatha Christie. As in Murder On the Orient Express (though Ernie says it should be Murder IN the Orient Express), a group is assembled and isolated, there is mayhem and much to solve. As an added twist/bonus, many of the story’s characters are mystery authors and that adds to the fun.

There is much to enjoy in this entertaining story. Many thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

This book was published in January 2024

From the Publisher

And coming in October 2024

New historical fiction for August — Berlin Duet to The Instrumentalist

https://www.thetimes.com/article/835a723d-b8e8-41d2-8f16-2a109ee1e4fe?shareToken=860b6067b9752c25f96a2fda908b7810

#TheHoneymoonAffair #NetGalley

Books by Sheila O’Flanagan consistently offer just what a reader in search of relaxation needs. There are good characters, a story that keeps the pages turning and some luxurious settings. In this story, I also liked the literary quotes that begin each chapter.

Izzy is broken hearted as the novel begins. She was all set to be married in a gorgeous island venue when her fiancé concludes that he is not ready to settle down. Rather than give up the honeymoon trip, Izzy travels with her cousin to a resort that sounds amazing.

There is a well known author, Charles, staying there. He was once in a relationship with his agent Ariel who continues to represent him. Working on his forthcoming novel while holed up in this paradise, Charles meets Izzy. The lives of these three characters then keep readers engaged.

What will happen to each of them? Will Izzy or Ariel have a long term and more permanent relationship with Charles? If not, where will each of their lives take them?

I enjoyed that, in addition to the relationships, readers learn about the work of each character. Charles who had big success illustrates that writing the next books can be a challenge. Ariel offers insight into the life of a literary agent while Izzy taught me a lot about inspections at ports.

This book will be welcomed by fans of the author and those who flock to women’s fiction titles.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Headline for this title. All opinions are my own.

This title was published in May 2024

by Holly Rosensweig

#LetsGoKitty #NetGalley

This book begins with a short section for adults that notes the importance of sounds and ways to encourage very young children’s speech development. All this is indeed so but I think that little ones will enjoy this title without knowing that it has higher aspirations. The illustrations are adorable and the kitty is just mischievous enough. What a great way to learn without even trying!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ninewise Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 27 August 2024

A Board Book

by Stephanie Campisi

#FamiliusBooks #NetGalley

This title is categorized as a book for children but also as humor & satire. I put it not exactly in either of these categories. To me, this book is a kind of treasure trove of illustrations that invites readers to identify the literary references. That can be entertaining. Just a few examples: a picture of puffed sleeves, a skull, a serpent and so on.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Familius for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 03 September 2024

A Novel

by Louise Penny

Louise Penny’s All the Devils are Here is one of my favorite books ever. In that title as in all the others I have found that it is easy to love Armand Gamache. Much like Donna Leon’s fictional Brunetti, Gamache is a good man and it is a pleasure to spend time with him.

Glass Houses is the 13th entry in the series that began with Still Life. Most of the books are set, as this one is, in the fictional village of Three Pines (Canada). Gamache has chosen to live there for the sense of peace and community that he finds there, in contrast with the grittiness he sees in his investigations.

In this novel, all of the reader’s favorite townspeople are there. To name a few besides Gamache, there is his second in command (and son in law) Jean Guy Beauvoir, Isabelle, the inn owners, poet Ruth, and painter Clara, to name a few. There are also some weekend visitors including a politician and an architect. However…in addition, there is someone rather odd in the village. This character is dressed all in black, stands in one place, does not engage and leaves everyone feeling menaced. Why is this figure there? What does this character symbolize? What will be uncovered? What moral dilemmas will Gamache face? Readers will want to know.

The structure of this book is goes between a court trial and the actual events. This perspective heightened my interest in the story.

Kirkus Reviews notes the very high level of tension in this story. I agree. My opinion is that one can NEVER go wrong reading this series. Pick up this one and all of the others. Note that Penny has a new novel coming out this fall.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press-Minotaur Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

This book was published in 2017.