maryfelicep's reviews
49 reviews

Love & Other U-Turns by Louisa Deasey

emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced

3.0

Lou is a city girl who's enjoying life working as a journalist when she meets and falls in love with free-spirited Jim, a comedian who lives out of his car and travels Australia, bringing his brand of humour to the multitude of towns he passes through.  On the spur of the moment, Lou sells off her possessions and with a small bag of clothes and her laptop, she changes her life and joins Jim on the road for a life of freedom and adventure.

While her new lifestyle affords her interesting adventures and the freedom of going wherever they wish to travel to next, Lou finds that balancing life with someone like Jim with the desire for some routine and security isn't always easy.

The story is filled with quirky towns visited along the journey, filled with characters that are uniquely Australian.  A good, lightheaded read which I enjoyed but which I also felt dragged a little in parts.  I would have loved Lou to have reflected a little more on her journey and learning at the end of the story.

33 Place Brugmann by Alice Austen

dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A beautiful story set in Nazi occupied Brussels, about a group of people living at 33 Place Brugmann.  When Nazi occupation becomes a reality, the lives of the residents are changed when they must decide whether to take the easy road ans submit to their new lives or risk everything to save one another.

I love historical fiction and enjoyed this novel, although it's story developed at a slower, more leisurely pace.  Not a huge amount of action in this storyline. There were quite a few characters introduced early throughout the book that took some time to get my head around.  I had to keep referencing the page at the front of the book which outlined who lived where and their familial connections.  Having said that, the characters are unforgettably beautiful.  I loved how each chapter was dedicated to a developing storyline from a particular character's point of view.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book

The Water's Edge by Karin Fossum

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Kristine and her husband Reinhart are taking their usual Sunday walk when they see a man coming towards them, avoiding their gaze and limping.  Continuing on their walk, they come across the body of a dead young boy and notify the police.  While waiting for them to arrive, Kristine is horrified that her husband takes photos of the dead child and during the investigation,  she is horrified at how much he is relishing his role as a 'witness', and their marriage starts to unravel.  Soon after the discovery of the boy's body, a second child goes missing and the pressure is on Inspectors Sejer and Skarre to solve the case.

A well-written, gripping crime novel by Norwegian writer Karin Fossum.  It's a sad and difficult read about the hunt for a paedophile in a small town filled with its own secrets.  While some readers might flinch from the fact that the book tries to portray some paedophiles in a slightly sympathetic light, I appreciate a story which makes you uncomfortable  when it's written in a way that's honest and straightforward, as Fossum does.

We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Duchess Radley lives her life to protect her 5 year old brother Robin and in many ways, is also the parent to her mother Star.  When Star dies, allegedly at the hands of Vincent King, the man who was responsible for the death of her sister many years ago, Duchess is determined to keep her brother safe and one day exact her revenge.  Walk, the town’s local sheriff does his best to look out for Star and her children and when Vincent King is charged with Star’s murder, Walk does all he can to save his childhood friend who he believes is innocent.

Beautiful and emotive, this story is filled with wonderful characters with heartbreakingly tragic stories.  It’s a story about love and friendship and the lengths we go to, to save those we love.  Written as a crime/mystery story, it’s at its essence a coming of age story about a young girl doing her best to care for and protect her young brother in terrible circumstances. The characters and their stories will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading it. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Death at the Village Chess Club by Debbie Young

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

This book falls into the category of what some might call a 'cosy mystery '.  Alice lives in the Cotswold village of Little Pride and runs a curiosity shop, selling an assortment of interesting goods.  Her ex is now off living the good life overseas and asks her to sell off the multiple chess sets he has in storage, which he purchased as a hobby over the years.  Alice and her friend Danny decide to host a chess event at the local school in the hope of raising some money for the school and finding some buyers for the chess sets.  Although the event goes well, by the end of the night some pieces from one set are missing and the alleged thief is found murdered without the chess pieces on him.  With the police investigating the crime and Alice concerned the locals may think she is involved, she becomes determined to solve the mystery.

Unfortunately, while the storyline was sweet and the characters likeable, overall I was disappointed with the book.  It was simplistic and the story moved along far too quickly to feel satisfying.  The character development lacked any real depth and they didn't seem to react realistically  in some situations . The mystery itself unravelled too easily and quickly  and the plot was underdeveloped so it didn't challenge the reader.  I've read a number of cosy mysteries and while I have an appreciation for this genre, I felt this one was disappointing overall

Thanks to netgalley for my opportunity to read and review this book.

Exiles by Jane Harper

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book is the 3rd instalment in Jane Harper's books featuring detective Aaron Falk.  In this one, he's on leave and travels to a small town in South Australia to act as godfather to a friend's son.  During his stay, Aaron is made aware of a missing woman who disappeared at a festival a year ago, leaving her newborn baby in a pram alone at the festival.  She hasn't been seen since and with the anniversary approaching, the family and friends of the missing woman are doing their best to raise the profile of this missing person case, hoping someone might remember something from the previous year. Aaron, on leave from his job, can't help but become involved in the case, doing his best to help the woman's grief-stricken husband, teenage daughter and ex-husband, who are all wondering where she disappeared to.  

Yet again, Jane Harper has written a great mystery thriller, weaving subtle hints within the narrative that when you finally reach the conclusion, you wonder how you missed the clues along the way.  I've read that this is the last of Harper's books involving Aaron Falk and if so, this was a great way of concluding his story.

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Grady Green is a happy man.  He's a successful writer with a beautiful wife who's on her way home to help him celebrate the success of his latest book.  While speaking with her on the phone, Grady hears her suddenly pull over and get out of the car - then nothing. A year later, Grady's life is in turmoil and he's lost everything important to him - his home, his career and most importantly, his wife, who has been missing since he last spoke with her.  His publisher offers him an opportunity to spend time in a remote cabin off the coast of Scotland, a chance to see if he can start to write again and try to get on with his life.  However, while he's there, strange things begin to occur and he is convinced his wife is on the island.   Grady's mental state deteriorates and while he's desperate to find his wife, he begins to question whether what he sees is real or delusion.

This book drew me in from the start with its great writing, mystery and atmosphere. I couldn't wait to keep reading to see what was going to happen next.  Sadly, the last 3rd of the book was a let down.  Yes, there were some interesting twists that came out and brought the story together, but not in a way that was particularly convincing or believable.  While the motivations of the characters was explained, I didn't feel they were drawn in a way that made them particularly menacing or believable and the ending just felt a little too far-fetched and a little silly.  A good book with a disappointing ending.

The Labyrinth House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji

dark mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I love a good murder mystery, especially one that pays homage the the classic style of this genre.  I also enjoy reading stories translated from other languages so this has double the appeal to me!

Famous mystery writer Miyagaki Yotaro invites a number of young crime writers, an editor and some critical role spend a few days in his remote home, Labyrinth House.  On their arrival their host is found dead by his own hand and he has left instructions that the authors must all write their own murder mystery over the next few days and the one judged as the best story by the critics and editor will win a considerable portion of his large estate.  The twist is that each author must be the victim in their own story 

Over the next few hours, the writers are slowly found dead, all seemingly killed in the manner described in the (unfinished) stories.  As the parties are all locked in the mansion with no way to leave, it becomes an urgent that the murderer is caught as soon as possible.

A cleverly written story which kept me turning the pages to find out what happened next!  A teeny bit challenging because of the translation but still easy enough to follow with some delicious twists along the way.  I will definitely be searching this author's back catalogue to read more! 

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.  Highly recommended!

Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A beautiful, young woman asks Poirot to investigate a 16 year old case involving her father's death.  Her mother was convicted of poisoning her husband  and when she dies in jail, she leaves behind a letter to her daughter, stating her innocence.  Her daughter is determined to learn the truth and begs Poirot to take on the case.

Another brilliantly written story by the queen of the murder -mystery genre, AC.  I hadn't read this one on years so I was excited to re-read it this year.  While I wasn't able to figure out whodunnit, I did pick up on a few clues which should have pointed me in the right direction (except that AC manages to weave in a number of red herrings that send even her most devoted fans heading off into the wrong direction).  AC is simply the Queen of this genre!

A great read with fabulously written characters who each have their own secrets and, of course, the wonderful Poirot who uses his little great cells to get to the truth.  A must read for anyone who enjoys this genre and especially AC fans!

A Victim at Valentine's by Ellie Alexander

lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Annie and her business partner Fletcher run an Agatha Christie inspired bookstore in Redwood Cove.  When one of the much-loved locals is found dead just before a Valentine's day event at the bookstore, Annie uses her sleuthing skills to help the detective on the case to find the truth.  There are quite a few suspects to choose from including a rival bookstore employee, a potential old flame and a crazy psychic.  Who killed George and is his murder linked to the murder of her best friend 10 years previously?

I enjoyed this easy and cosy read with likeable characters and a book-related setting.  Who doesn't love a storyline about people whose lives are surrounded by books - my ultimate dream life!!  I was able to finish this book in a couple of days and while it was a lot of fun to read, and I didn't guess where the storyline was heading, I felt the story lacked depth.  Had the characters been better developed with more background development of the story, I would have given it a higher rating. 

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book  to read and review.