Welcome to another Tuesday celebrating bookish events, from Tuesday/First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea Every Tuesday, Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea posts the opening paragraph (sometime two) of a book she decided to read based on the opening. Feel free to grab the banner and play along.
At the end of last year I read a delightful book about a young woman who worked in a newspaper office during the 1920s called The Jazz Files. When I saw that the second book featuring Poppy Denby was due to be published later this month I was keen to take a look and now give you the opener for The Kill Fee by Fiona Veitch Smith
Blurb
Do you know who that is Poppy?” asked Delilah.
“I do indeed.”
“So what does it feel like to dance in the arms of an assassin?”Poppy Denby’s star is on the rise. Now the Arts and Entertainment Editor at The Daily Globe, she covers an exhibition of Russian Art at the Crystal Palace. A shot rings out, leaving a guard injured and an empty pedestal in the place of the largest Faberge Egg in the collection. The egg itself is valuable, but more so are the secrets it contains within – secrets that could threaten major political powers.
Poppy is once again in the middle of a sensational story. Can she solve the mystery before time runs out and disaster strikes? NetGalley
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
First Chapter ~ First Paragraph ~ Intro
Chapter 1
October 1917, Moscow
Above the glow of gaslight a sprinkling of stars was beginning to appear. A man kicked at the golden leaves carpeting the pavement which would, by morning, have a dusting of frost. He pulled up the collar of his bearskin coat, wondering why, only that morning, he had felt overdressed. But he had been in Moscow long enough to know that things changed quickly in this city, very quickly, and a gentleman needed to be prepared for whatever the winds of change might blow his way. His fist tightened on his bone-handled cane and he allowed his thumb to rub against the secret clasp that would unsheathe the rapier closeted within.
So what do you think? Would you keep reading?
Please leave your links, comments etc. in the envelope below
The co we would be a turn off and th first few sentences seem rather overblown. And yet I might still be tempted…
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It is actually a gripping tale and I love the historical angle.
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I love the cover, but, I think I would have trouble with the writing. I hope you enjoy this one.
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Thank you for visiting – I am enjoying it enormously.
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I do like a well-written historical novel, Cleo. And this particular era really does fascinate me. This one definitely goes on the wish list!
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I do think you will enjoy it Margot, it manages the historical angle with quite a bit of factual stuff yet enough of a light touch to keep the story moving.
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Oooo assassins. I love assassins, so I hope you enjoy it.
sherry @ fundinmental My TT
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I’m really enjoying it – especially the assassins.
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I enjoyed The Jazz Files, so will be on the lookout for this one’s publication.
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If anything I’m enjoying this one more 🙂
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So mysterious. I would continue reading!
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I would definitely continue reading. I like Russian Art exhibits. I would also like to know how this guy is going to use that rapier in his cane.
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Excellent news!
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Cleo, I love this era, and anything about newspaper publishing also interests me. Great cover, too. Thanks for sharing, and here’s mine: “ALL THE UGLY & WONDERFUL THINGS”
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The thing that drew me to the jazz files was the cover and I’m pleased to report the stories are just as good.
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Oh, this one does sound good. Kind of reminds me of the Daisy Dalrymple books. I like the beginning and the settiing in Moscow and a hidden rapier. Very nice.
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It is nice to have a change of pace and the story is very good indeed, it’s split between Moscow and London a few years later.
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Ooh, yes, I’d keep reading! This one sounds like a lot of fun! I wonder how I managed to resist The Jazz Files now… must have been one of my willpower weeks…
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A whole week of willpower? Really? *raises quizzical eyebrow*
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Haha! Well, maybe a day…
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First, I love the cover. It reminds me of the Jacquelyn Winspear books. And then I love that beginning – “gaslight and stars” – puts me in the mood for a nighttime read.
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It is a comparatively gentle book to most of my reads yet full of history – like you I love the cover!
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I like the sound of this one! I hope you enjoy it as much as the first in the series!
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Thank you if it finishes the way it started I think it’s going to be even better than the first one!
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Not sure this my usual fare but I like the seeming light-hearted ness of it. Plus I am a sucker for anything 20’s.
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The time period really appeals to me and I seem to have gone for quite a few books lately with a slightly gentler feel
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I’ve seen this one around. It really looks good and a genre I love. I’d keep reading for sure.
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This looks like a fun mystery. This one is new to me. Happy Reading!
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Sounds good, plus how to resist such a cool cover?
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