Now out: The Square of Sevens

Four stars ****

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I think that this long (over 500 pages) book is going to be one of the big novels of the fall. It tells an involving story of a young girl called Red as the story opens and later called Rachel. She travels about with her father who is a man of unique talents. Red does not know anything about her mother as the book opens and she is curious.

Red has learned to tell fortunes using the square of sevens. Apparently this takes some talent. This cartomancy is important to the story.

SPOILER BUT EARLY IN THE BOOK: Red’s father dies.

Red later lives wit a guardian who introduces her to a much more luxurious lifestyle than she and her father had; they were close to destitute. Red becomes Rachel and moves to Bath from Cornwall.

I don’t want to give anything away as the plot is important in this novel. There are adventures, secrets, lives lost, charlatans and better people, will and inheritance issues, mysterious documents, the cards and so much more.I will say that this story, which takes places in Georgian England is Dickensian in scope. This is true both of characters and the story itself as can be seen from the summary above.

Will Red learn who her mother was? If yes, will she be welcomed by her family? Will Red find happiness? How much will the Square of Sevens be part of her life?

For readers who want to settle down with a long and involving (if a bit slow at times) read, you may just have found your next book.

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

From the Publisher

The Square of Sevens
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What are: Proud Sorrows (James Benn)

#ProudSorrows #NetGalley

I think that this is the eighteenth book in the historical mystery series featuring Billy Boyle that began around 2006. Over the years, Billy has faced many difficult situations as WWII rages, and has met many historical personages along the way. Fans of the series will be eager to read this newest novel to catch up with Billy and those around him.

This time Billy is not in the war zone, but rather in Norfolk (location of Sandringham).. He is hoping for some much needed R&R, as he stays with his romantic partner’s (Diana) family. He is looking forward to being with Diana. But, of course, there would be no book if life were quiet and peaceful for Billy.

Indeed, much happens in these pages. There are many events. A German plane crashes. Why is an Englishman in it? There are POWs and top secrets There is murder. There is so much to sort out. Fans will trust that Billy will get the job done even if the English inspector may not want this American’s help..

This title is highly recommended to fans of WWII fiction and mystery. It is one of the best in the series. Those who are not already acquainted with Billy will undoubtedly be moving to the backlist.

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

Pub date: 05 September 2023

Praise for the book:

“Benn’s Billy Boyle series has enchanted readers for many years and Proud Sorrows is an excellent addition. Benn is a master of suspense; his work builds to the end and never loosens its grip upon the reader. Even if this is your first Billy Boyle Mystery you will find Proud Sorrows a satisfying read!”
–Charles Todd, author of the Inspector Rutledge mysteries and the Bess Crawford mysteries

“Masterful . . . Benn combines the best elements of traditional small-town mysteries and WWII thrillers, developing a firm sense of place and never letting the suspense flag. This long-running series shows no signs of fatigue.”
—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“This long-running series grows in breadth and depth with every installment.”
—Kirkus Reviews

Worth a look: Crime Novels: Five Classic Thrillers 1961-1964

#CrimeNovelsFiveClassicThrillers19611964LOA370 #NetGalley

This title is not inexpensive but readers get five novels within this volume that comes in at over 900 pages so still pretty reasonable overall. The books that are included here reflect a transition in crime fiction away from the neater and less violent books of writers like Agatha Christie. Here, I would say, there is more gritty realism.

The general reader may well enjoy these stories. I think that anyone who wants to study mysteries in context and in an academic way will want to add this title to their collection as well.

Note: Books included are by Frederic Brown, Dan J. Marlowe, Charles Williams Dorothy B. Hughes and Richard Stark. Several of them are authors with whom I was not familiar.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Library of America for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 12 September 2023

It’s in the vows: Till Death Do Us Part (John Dickson Carr)

This title is part of the author’s Dr. Gideon Fell Series; there are many books that feature this sleuth. The book is published by Poisoned Pen Press as part of their commitment to reissuing classic mystery stories from earlier eras. Till Death Do Us Part originally came out in the 1940s.

Carr was known for his locked room mysteries, of which this was one. The case is meant to intrigue and to be possible for an astute reader to solve (that does not always include me). The plot in this one is complex. Is a mystery writer’s fiancee a murderer? If so, how many crimes has she committed? Or, is his fiancee being unjustly accused? Gideon Fell is eventually called in to solve the case with his expertise.

Those who enjoy crime novels dating from the 1940s will be thrilled with this one as will be those who are already the author’s fans.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

This title was published in August 2022.

Now out and such a good read: Reykjavik

Four stars ****

Recently, I read a story about the PM of Iceland who had found time to co-author a novel with one of her country’s best known writers. Here is that book and it is one that is easy to recommend.

The story opens in the 1950s with the disappearance of teen, Lara, from her summer position as a maid on an island off the coast of Reyjavik. An inexperienced police officer goes out to investigate but is stonewalled. The couple who live on the island for the summer includes a barrister who calls a higher ranking officer. That one tells the rookie not to press this couple.

Flash forward to the year of the capital’s birthday celebrations, 1986. The case has never been solved. A journalist chooses to re-investigate. What happens to him as a result? What will happen from this point? What will be discovered and by whom? Will it be the truth? What really did happen to Lara? Who does not want the facts to come out? For certain, there are secrets! Read this one to suss out some answers.

The book opens with a very helpful list of the story’s many characters. It may take those unaccustomed to the country’s language a little time to get comfortable with these but it is worth the time. It was also fun to look up some of the places that are used as settings, especially the small island of Videy.

The authors have dedicated this title to Agatha Christie. It is, I think, a book that she would have liked. That said, Reykjavik is not a story told in a hurry. If you require fast paced, this title might not be for you. I enjoyed it though.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur for this title. All opinions are my own.

Now out and highly recommended: The Raging Storm by Ann Cleeves. Third in the Matthew Venn series.

Four stars ****

Ann Cleeves is a true master of the mystery genre. From her early series featuring Inspector Ramsay to her Birdwatcher series, and then on through the Vera and Jimmy Perez novels, she has entertained me for hours. Her latest protagonist is Matthew Venn; here we have the third in that series.

Matthew has a somewhat complex history. His parents were part of a (fringe) religious group that he felt he needed to leave. Matthew was not comfortable with the Brethren’s beliefs and knew that his partner Jonathan might never succeed in being fully accepted by them. Series readers have followed Matthew as he engages in his new life. That said, this book could be read as a standalone.

The Raging Storm is a complex mystery with many characters, relationships and plot threads. The story takes place in the small community where Matthew had grown up. Readers spend time with his team, a sometimes competitive group, and with Matthew and Jonathan. Jonathan, by the way, is a very loving and tolerant spouse.

There are also all of the people in the community and they make for a large group of suspects. The (first) victim was a well-known sailor and a second murder occurs (no spoilers so not naming this person) as well. In addition, there is a disappearance. There are many interrelationships here.

Settings in the book are well described. There are emergency workers on the lifeboat group heading out to sea, members of the yachting club, houses that are falling apart and more.

Why did the first victim, Jem, return to the community? Who did he plan to meet? Why did he choose to spend his time there in a broken down hut? Was there a special reason for the location of his body and the next one?

This book has a slow burn. It is long (400 Pages) and involving. I recommend The Raging Storm most highly (though my heart will always belong to Jimmy Perez of another series).

I toggled back and forth between the print and audio editions of this title, reading when I was home and listening while on the go. This worked perfectly for me. The narration of the audio book was crisp, clear and easy to follow.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for this title. All opinions are my own.