Fiction Reads
Ice Blue and Blue Murder, by Emma Jameson
Books one and two in the Lord and Lady Hetheridge series⌠The blurb for the first reads:
Lord Anthony Hetheridge, Chief Superintendent for Scotland Yard, has made a name for himself catching killersâa name all his own, apart from his hereditary title. On the cusp of his sixtieth birthday, the wealthy lifelong bachelor has it allâuntil DS Kate Wakefield upends his elegantly ordered world. The divide should be insurmountableâage gap, wealth gap, and a class gap wider than the Thames. But as Hetheridge, Kate, and his protege, DS Deepal âPaulâ Bhar, investigate the brutal murder of a financier, he finds himself falling in love with Kateâeven as the clues lead to a secret from his own past.
Iâm enjoying this series, so thank you to whoever recommended it. Sue, maybe? Iâm not entirely sure that I love the characters yet, though ⌠although that wonât stop me coming back for book no. 3 ⌠and 4 ⌠or 5 âŚ
Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch-up, by Kate Solly
Meet Fleck Parker: Mother, Crafter and Amateur Detective.
Fleck loves a good puzzle. She spends most of her time feeling invisible, caring for three small children, and that's fine, really. But it does make her brain itch occasionally.
When Trixie, fellow school-mum and avid crafter, is accused of stealing money from Many Hands, the women's charity known for its charming store full of handmade crafts, Fleck feels compelled to investigate and clear Trixie's name. From playground stake-outs to tailing cars while nursing the baby to sleep, Fleck and Trixie uncover a case more complex than either of them could have imagined.
Will they crack the case?
I LOVED this one - so much that it was a close second for read of the month.
Starting Over In Starshine Cove, by Debbie Johnson
Connie Llewelyn is the beating heart of the magical seaside village of Starshine Cove. She runs the local cafe, and is everybody's friend - always on hand with a kind smile, a listening ear and a freshly-baked scone.
Since losing her beloved husband five years ago, she's been busy raising her children, supporting her extended family and staying positive. Now, as her kids fly the nest, she finds herself wondering what her own future might look like.
When a face from the past unexpectedly arrives in Starshine, could meeting Zack again give her a second chance at love? Will Connie be brave enough to take a risk on living life for herself?
You donât have to have read the other books in the Starshine Cove series, but it helps - not because otherwise you wonât understand the story, but because theyâre such a pleasure to read.
This one was my read of the month.
The Marlborough Man, by Alan Carter
Nick Chester is working as a sergeant for the Havelock police in the Marlborough Sound, at the top of NZ's South Island. If the river isn't flooded and the land hasn't slipped, it's paradise - unless you are also hiding from a ruthless man with a grudge, in which case, remote beauty has its own kind of danger. In the last couple of weeks, two local boys have vanished. Their bodies are found, but the Pied Piper is still at large. Marlborough Man is a gripping story about the hunter and the hunted, and about what happens when evil takes hold of a small town.
Some of my favourite reads this year have been recommendations from others who link up to these posts. This is one of those books. Thank you, Barbara, from Thistles and Kiwis.
Audiobook
The Cut, by Richard Armitage
Thirty years ago, one of Ben Knott's schoolfriends was murdered. Another went to prison. The story ended. The village of Barton Mallett tried to move on.
As the murderer's sentence ends, the village is chosen as the unlikely location for a feature film by a Hollywood producer, with Ben's son, Nathan, cast in the leading role.
As the film takes shape, Ben begins to recognise the storyline from his own past. As his son becomes immersed in a tale of bullying and retribution, things turn dangerous, and an uncomfortable truth begins to emerge. Ben must choose between the safety of his children and reopening the wounds of the past. How much is he willing to risk to protect his family and himself?
I listened to this book performed by Richard Armitage and Jacob Dudman, and while it kept me walking (as I listened), I really found the lead characters to be unlikeable and sorta guessed the end which, incidentally, doesnât tend to impact my enjoyment of a book. Perhaps I was a tad disappointed because Geneva was one of my favourite reads this year. In any case, itâs clever and twisty and well worth a read/listen.
BKD Cookbook Club
This monthâs cookbook theme was a wide one â Holiday memories â and by holidays, I mean vacations rather than holidays as in seasonal celebrations. Has there been a cookbook or recipe that has brought back memories of holidays? Perhaps itâs a book you picked up at a local market, something regional to a place youâve stayed, or maybe even a dish that takes you back to your happy place.
Iâve chosen to head to Melbourne, my favourite Australian city. More importantly, weâre off to Cellar Bar at the Paris end (Spring Street end) of Bourke Street.
Why here? Sarah and I have been doing mum and daughter weekends away since she was about five. At first, it was a night in a hotel in the city, then as she got older, we began to go away for a whole weekend and would fly to Melbourne. It became our thing to do. Now that sheâs older (27) and earning real money, we go further afield. This year was Vietnam; last year, it was Penang and Singapore, but those weekends in Melbourne will always hold a special place in our hearts.
And part of that tradition is dinner at the Cellar Bar at Grossi Florentina in Bourke Street, Itâs proper Italian, usually with Italian waiters. We sit out front on the street in the cold (we always go in winter) and order pasta and a red wine. And when we canât be in Melbourne, we can cook from the book of the same name.
The recipe I chose to feature was Sarahâs favourite dish. Itâs no longer on the menu, but it lives on through the book. You can find the post here.
Booked on Classics - The Podcast
This month in the Simply Stunning Classic Bookclub, we discussed Ray Bradburyâs Fahrenheit 451. Youâll find the latest episode here.
Over to youâŚ
Deb, Donna, Sue, and I would love you to share what youâve been reading ⌠youâll find the link up here.
These look great Jo...hey, I can't find the link for the WOYBS. Did I miss an announcement that there won't be anymore link additions? Or am I just missing it.
I'm with you on The Cut. I abandoned the book. Disappointing because I loved Geneva. The Marlborough Man sounds interesting