Well we’ve now said goodbye to the worst two months of the year and spring will soon be here – in fact walking in Jersey today the roadsides were full of daffodils so maybe it has arrived!
This Week on the Blog
Well it’s been a jam-packed week here on Cleopatra Loves Books, just the way we like it! The week started with my posting my review of The Chalk Pit by Elly Griffiths as part of the blog tour to celebrate the publication of this, the ninth book in the Dr Ruth Galloway series.
My excerpt post this week came from Boundary by Andrée A. Michaud which I will be reading soon.
This Week in Books had titles from Sarah Hilary, Caroline Lea and Gillian McAllister proving that my March reading has started strongly.
Next I reviewed Caroline Lea’s book, When the Sky Fell Apart, a book about the Occupation of Jersey during the Second World War, a story told through the eyes of a few of the inhabitants adding a richness to the back story.
On Friday I posted my review for The Long Drop by Denise Mina which is one of the best inspired by a true crime book that I have ever read – the details of life in Glasgow in the late 50s share a set with the serial killer, Peter Manuel who recently was the subject of the TV drama In Plain Sight.
It was the turn of David Jackson’s book A Tapping At My Door to be featured on Put A Book on the Map post yesterday so we took a trip to Liverpool with the help of Karen from Go Buy The Book and her wonderful pictures of key parts of the book.
This Time Last Year…
I was reading In Bitter Chill by Sarah Ward a book set in a fictional town in Derbyshire. I loved all the aspects to this crime fiction novel but particularly that some was set in the past, in 1978 and those events have a consequence in the present day story. Although the story rattles along it is made up of many cunning layers which meant it easily earned the full five stars from me.
You can read my full review here, or click on the book cover
Blurb
Bampton, Derbyshire, January 1978. Two girls go missing: Rachel Jones returns, Sophie Jenkins is never found. Thirty years later: Sophie Jenkins’s mother commits suicide.
Rachel Jones has tried to put the past behind her and move on with her life. But news of the suicide re-opens old wounds and Rachel realises that the only way she can have a future is to finally discover what really happened all those years ago.
This is a story about loss and family secrets, and how often the very darkest secrets are those that are closest to you. Amazon
Stacking the Shelves
Only two additions this week both from NetGalley, the first being the second in the Nathan Cody series by David Jackson; Hope to Die – perfect timing as the first featured on yesterday’s Put A Book On The Map post! If you can’t tell I’m extremely excited about this one which will be published on 6 April 2017.
Blurb
When the victim seems perfect, is it the perfect crime?
On a bitterly cold winter’s night, Liverpool is left stunned by a brutal murder in the grounds of the city’s Anglican Cathedral. A killer is on the loose, driven by a chilling rage.Put on the case, DS Nathan Cody is quickly stumped. Wherever he digs, the victim seems to be almost angelic – no-one has a bad word to say, let alone a motive for such a violent murder.
And Cody has other things on his mind too. The ghosts of his past are coming ever closer, and – still bearing the physical and mental scars – it’s all he can do to hold onto his sanity. And then the killer strikes again . . . NetGalley
I also have a copy of The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde by Eve Chase which will be published on 13 July 2017.
Blurb
Nineteen fifty-nine. The four Wilde sisters, Isla, Violet, Maggie and Dot, are spending the summer in the Cotswolds, at Applecote Manor. Affectionately called the Wildlings, the sisters are exceptionally close, yet this year there’s a sense of nostalgia. Things are changing.
Except for Applecote itself, a house that seems frozen in time. The sisters haven’t been there in five years; not since their cousin Audrey mysteriously vanished.
But as they discover Applecote’s dark secrets and new temptations, the sisters begin to grow apart. Until the night everything spirals out of control and the Wildlings form a bond far thicker than blood… NetGalley
Since my last post I’ve read 3 books and gained just 2 so the grand total is 188
Physical Books – 110
Kindle Books – 65
NetGalley Books – 13
Both of your latest acquisitions are on my wishlist. I’m trying to stay off Netgalley until I clear some books off my NG list- but it’s so hard!!
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I am being far more restrained this year because I worked so hard to get the total down to a manageable level but it’s full of temptation 😊
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Lovely image of spring Cleo, makes one want to get out and stretch the legs and take in the fresh country air!
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Not quite so spring like today sadly 😞
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Quite a busy week indeed! 🙂 Here we thought the bad and cold days were getting to an end but the weather has decided to freeze us a little longer, so despite the birds and the rays of sunshine, the temperatures and rain have decided to play with us!
I’ve been a good girl and did not log into NetGalley this week so no new books for me, but I like the sound of your new stories!
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I have been exceptionally restrained with NG I’m determined to keep the total down, and only exchanging on a one to one basis…
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Well congratulations 🙂 I’ve only stayed away because I’m too busy to check the new titles!
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I’m so tempted by the Eve Chase book but I need to try and stay away from NG for a while until I’ve reviewed some of the books I already have. It looks like you another had a great week of blogging and reading this week 🙂
Here’s my wrap-up: https://rathertoofondofbooks.com/2017/03/05/weekly-wrap-up-5-march/
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I am keeping a close eye on my total on NG in particular this year but once I knew the latest David Jackson was out I had to go and request a copy
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Another busy week and pleased we both agreed on The Long Drop. It was (to my knowledge) the first true crime inspired novel I’d read and it was brilliant.
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I’m pleased too Jill, especially as this isn’t your normal book genre – this was exceptionally well written and I thought the author took an inspired method of revealing both the characters and the crimes.
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Lovely start to your wrap-up. Daffodils always lift the spirits!
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Don’t they just?
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Love that ‘photo, Cleo! It certainly looks as though spring has arrived. So glad you liked The Chalk Pit. I do like Griffiths’ work an awful lot, and it’s good to hear that this one worked for you. Your new acquisitions look tempting, too…
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Aw thank you, sadly it wasn’t quite so springlike today 😊
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Love the photo of the daffodils and the cow! I can’t imagine daffodils by the roadside – just wild? We are a bit too warm here for daffodils and tulips and those types of flowers, but I love them. Our wildflowers are making an early entry though and I’m happy about that. I have the Eve Chase book to read too, but it’s called THE WILDLING SISTERS here. Look forward to reading it. Have a good week!!
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They are lovely and yes they grow in many different f the hedgerows here. I noticed that this one has two titles, very confusing! I hope your week is good too.
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SO excited to see that Eve Chase has a new book coming out!!!! Will have to work on getting a copy.
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I didn’t read her previous one so I may well need to add that one too!
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I must grab more of the Dr. Ruth Galloway series…they all sound so good…and I loved the character in the one book I read, The Crossing Places.
The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde is another one tugging at me, saying “buy me.”
Thanks for sharing and tempting me…and here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
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I do love Dr Ruth Galloway and really enjoyed this latest in the series. I think The Vanishing… is called The Wilding Girls in the US for some unknown reason – thanks for visiting 🙂
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I’m so ready for spring! I like to sit outside and read, so it will be nice when it’s not so cold. I’m trying to enjoy all the nicer days we get though. 🙂
Hope you have a great week,
Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com
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I missed a lot of posts this week! Sorry I’ve been away. I need to check out your reviews. Especially In Bitter Chill and Hope To Die. They sound perfect for me. I feel spring is almost here too. Most of my trees are budding and flowers are popping up and blooming. I love this time of year!
My Sunday Post
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I do hope you had a good trip 🙂
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Great pic and some good looking books. Enjoy
sherry @ fundinmental Sunday Memes
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Thank you Sherry 🙂
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