Well this has been an interesting week for blogging as up until Saturday morning we had no internet and no phone line. During the second wave of storm Angus on Monday night it mysteriously packed its bags and left for a holiday. Happily all order is now restored but I apologise for my lack of comments which depended on limited availability; happily for this post I had mostly prepared all my posts before disaster struck!
I had a lovely surprise to receive my very own copy of Distress Signals by Catherine Ryan Howard containing my quote on the inside.
And then the lovely Joanne Robertson from My Chestnut Reading Tree shared this on twitter from Before I Let You In by Jenny Blackhurst.
This Week on the Blog
I was part of the blog tour for Edward Glover’s A Motif of Seasons on Monday which the author provided a lovely excerpt of his book.
My excerpt on Tuesday came from The Bad Things by Mary-Jane Riley, a book that sucked me in with its subtle hook of missing twins whose reporter aunt searches for answers on the release of the woman accused of perverting the course of justice.
My This Week in Books post detailed my reading of the aforementioned book and the upcoming The House of Birds by Morgan McCarthy; it really has been an outstanding reading week.
On Thursday I posted my first review of the week of The Beautiful Dead by Belinda Bauer. If I had any doubts about this author’s brilliant writing, which I didn’t, they would have been blown away before the first page was done.
On Friday I posted what is my most anticipated (by me) post of the year; Reading Bingo 2016. Struggling with internet issues tested my patience with my formatting but I really enjoyed deciding which of my reads would be placed in which box, and for the first time ever, I completed every square. What books would you choose?
From the poll other book blogger have done pretty well this year too!
My second review of the week was posted yesterday; another brilliant read with the thirtieth book published by Val McDermid – Out of Bounds which has not one but two cold cases for Kate Pirie to solve.
This Time Last Year…
I was reading Friday On My Mind by Nicci French the fifth in the Frieda Klein series. I really love this series and this episode went straight into the action. I particularly enjoy having such a switched on chief protagonist, psychoanalyst and uncoverer of truths in-chief, who has her own villain to outwit. Even better she is backed up by a cast of realistic characters and a stellar plot.
You can read my review here
Blurb
When a bloated corpse is found floating in the River Thames the police can at least sure that identifying the victim will be straightforward. Around the dead man’s wrist is a hospital band. On it are the words Dr F. Klein . . .
But psychotherapist Frieda Klein is very much alive. And, after evidence linking her to the murder is discovered, she becomes the prime suspect.
Unable to convince the police of her innocence, Frieda is forced to make a bold decision in order to piece together the terrible truth before it’s too late either for her or for those she loves. Amazon
Stacking The Shelves
Well after weaning myself off the daily deals on Amazon for quite some time by not opening the email, this week has provided temptation on an entirely different scale and I have acquired a restrained 4 books at a bargain price! This is my present to myself in anticipation of an entire month of festivity still to go before the big day!
First up is Never Alone by Elizabeth Haynes, a much-loved author of mine, and this, her latest book, had been on my wishlist from before the publication date.
Blurb
Elizabeth Haynes’ new psychological thriller is a brilliantly suspenseful and shocking story in which nothing is at it seems, but everything is at stake.
Sarah Carpenter lives in an isolated farmhouse in North Yorkshire and for the first time, after the death of her husband some years ago and her children, Louis and Kitty, leaving for university, she’s living alone. But she doesn’t consider herself lonely. She has two dogs, a wide network of friends and the support of her best friend, Sophie.
When an old acquaintance, Aiden Beck, needs somewhere to stay for a while, Sarah’s cottage seems ideal; and renewing her relationship with Aiden gives her a reason to smile again. It’s supposed to be temporary, but not everyone is comfortable with the arrangement: her children are wary of his motives, and Will Brewer, an old friend of her son’s, seems to have taken it upon himself to check up on Sarah at every opportunity. Even Sophie has grown remote and distant.
After Sophie disappears, it’s clear she hasn’t been entirely honest with anyone, including Will, who seems more concerned for Sarah’s safety than anyone else. As the weather closes in, events take a dramatic turn and Kitty too goes missing. Suddenly Sarah finds herself in terrible danger, unsure of who she can still trust.
But she isn’t facing this alone; she has Aiden, and Aiden offers the protection that Sarah needs. Doesn’t he? Amazon
And then I found My Last Confession by Helen Fitzgerald, an author who has thrilled me with the variety of her books starting with my personal favourite The Cry.
When she starts her new job as a parole officer, Krissie is happy and in love. Then she meets convicted murderer Jeremy, and begins to believe he may be innocent. Her growing obsession with his case threatens to jeopardise everything – her job, her relationship and her life.
Perfect for fans of Julia Crouch, Sophie Hannah and Laura Lippman, My Last Confession is a dark and compelling psychological thriller that traces a young parole officer and her dangerous obsession with a convicted murderer. Helen FitzGerald is also the acclaimed author of The Cry, which was longlisted for the Theakstons Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year award. Amazon
After having finished The Bad Things by Mary-Jane Riley earlier this week I couldn’t resist the second in the series After She Fell.
Blurb
There are so many ways to fall…
Catriona needs help. Her seventeen-year-old daughter Elena was found dead at the bottom of a cliff near her boarding school. The death has been ruled a suicide, but Catriona isn’t convinced.
When her old friend, journalist Alex Devlin, arrives in Hallow’s Edge to investigate, she quickly finds that life at private boarding school The Drift isn’t as idyllic as the bucolic setting might suggest.
Amidst a culture of drug-taking, bullying and tension between school and village, no one is quite who they seem to be, and there are several people who might have wanted Elena to fall…
Lastly I simply had to purchase the latest in the Patrik Hedstrom and Erika Falck series, The Ice Child which is book 9, written by the highly talented Camilla Lackberg. Another already on my wishlist. This is a series that just keeps getting better, I couldn’t put down the last in the series, Buried Angels
Blurb
SEE NO EVIL
It’s January in the peaceful seaside resort of Fjällbacka. A semi-naked girl wanders through the woods in freezing cold weather. When she finally reaches the road, a car comes out of nowhere. It doesn’t manage to stop.
HEAR NO EVIL
The victim, a girl who went missing four months ago, has been subjected to unimaginably brutal treatment – and Detective Patrik Hedström suspects this is just the start.
SPEAK NO EVIL
The police soon discover that three other girls are missing from nearby towns, but there are no fresh leads. And when Patrik’s wife stumbles across a link to an old murder case, the detective is forced to see his investigation in a whole new light. Amazon
Four books for the absolute bargain price of £4.49!
TBR WATCH
Since my last post I have read 4 books and managed to gain 4, so my TBR is still standing at 178 books! Please note dear reader the gradual reduction in NetGalley books – I’m aiming to get to single figures by the end of 2016.
93 physical books
71 e-books
14 books on NetGalley
What have you found to read this week?
I have just finished Roald Dahl’s autobiography Boy & Going Solo.
Riveted throughout!
LikeLike
It’s good isn’t it – I read it a few years ago now and really enjoyed it.
LikeLike
Oh wow,seems like you had a good week despite the internet issues.Congratulations on your reviews being included in the two books.Now I can’t wait to read Distress Signals.I hope that you will enjoy After She Fell as much as I did.Its been compared to another book that has Amelia in the title(can’t remember exact title) but its a wonderful read.Have a great week 🙂
LikeLike
Distress Signals was really good so I was especially pleased to be quoted . I’m looking forward to meeting Alex Devlin again, The Bad Things was very good indeed.
I hope your week is a good one too Diana 🙂
LikeLike
The Camilla Lackberg sounds great! I do like her. Congrats on the book quotes.
LikeLike
I read the last one, Buried Angels on holiday this year which is one of my favourites of an extremely good series.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations on the book quotes ( I dream of those!). Just off to investigate Camilla Lackberg and ponder on my book bingo.
LikeLike
😊 thank you Jill – glad to keep you immersed in bookish pastimes
LikeLiked by 1 person
So sorry to hear about your Internet woes, Cleo. That’s just so frustrating, isn’t it? I’m glad it’s all sorted now. And congratulations on getting your quote out there! That’s fabulous! I’m glad you’ve had a good week reading, at any rate, and it looks like you’ve got some fine ones ahead of you. I’m especially interested in the Haynes and the Fitzgerald. Both do great psychological crime fiction – very suspenseful.
LikeLike
Haha as we had no internet it just made for more reading time but it was frustrating. I did get some good books in the sale so the week ended on a high!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re doing superbly on the NG books! I’m impressed and jealous – I still have something like 33 to go, I think – maybe more. Hasn’t Amazon been awful this week? I’ve also acquired 4 but I’m pleased to say they were all on the wishlist so they don’t really add to the overall figure. My TBR as at today is 177, by the way… but I don’t like to boast. 😉
LikeLike
I decided to tackle the shortest list first 😉 Even without the internet at home I couldn’t ignore all the books that I wanted in the sale – I think just picking four was highly restrained – I caught a hint of a gloat there 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Living in the countryside with very weak Internet, I often find myself cut off from the rest of the world, that is why I am thankful for those scheduled posts! You had another great and busy week 🙂 I’m going to your Bingo page to check it, I love those. I have behaved and stayed away from Amazon deals this week. I still wonder how I did it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m perpetually laughed at for planning ahead but this week – it really paid off! Well done on staying away from the deals too!
LikeLike
Congratulations on the book quotes, its so exciting to see yourself quoted. Sorry about your internet woes but glad all is back. Some great looking books as usual, I snapped up the Elizabeth Haynes as well as this on my wishlist since before publication. I went to look at the Helen Fitzgerald but see that I’ve already bought this in 2011 ! Ahem, too many books me thinks!
LikeLike
Thank you 🙂 I was recommended a book last week and went to check it out and found I already had it too – far too many books that I need to read!
LikeLike
I love the idea of a TBR reduction plan but that would mean I would have to stay off Netgalley, Amazon Daily deal AND Bookbub which is my current downfall for bargain books. I tell myself not to open the email but I always do! I’m super interested in Never Alone as well as the Nikki French series which I just had Blue Monday from the library, didn’t get to it and had to return it:( Camilla Lackberg is also an author I know I must read!!
LikeLike
I’m not having a complete ban as I couldn’t last the over a year that it would take me to read all the books I have but I am being more selective and trying to drive the number down! The Nicci French series is fab, I’ve introduced a few people to this one and they all love it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congrats Cleo: I’m interested to see what you make of the Haynes and the Fitzgerald.
LikeLike
Thanks Guy, I was thrilled with both…
LikeLike
How great that you got the book with your quotes, and congrats again!
I also love Helen Fitzgerald, which reminds me that I have The Exit on Pippa.
A new Elizabeth Haynes! I guess it’s been out a while, but I’m going now to “click” to buy. Bad girl, right?
Thanks for sharing your wonderful bounty…and enjoy. May the storms hide and the Internet stay on! Here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
LikeLike
Thank you Laurel, and look at you clicking away with abandon!
I still have one on my TBR list from Helen Fitzgerald called Bloody Women from way back…
Thanks for visiting and sharing your link 🙂
LikeLike
I’m not sure I could live without the intranet. Or maybe it would be libertating? Some great books read as always. I like the look of Elizabeth Haynes. Whose books I have always enjoyed. Have a good week.
LikeLike
That’s awesome your quote was used in a book! I really want to read the Nicci French books. They sound great.
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com
LikeLike
Always a good wrap-up, even with no internet!
LikeLike
Currently reading The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Voglier – mythic structure for storytellers and screenwriters. I’m not exactly enjoying it but I hope it’s doing me some good!
LikeLike