maryfelicep's reviews
49 reviews

Serial Killer Support Group by Saratoga Schaefer

dark slow-paced

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

2.0

Cyra's younger sister has been murdered and it's rumored she may have been the victim of a serial killer.  In order to avenge her sister's death, Cyra joins a serial killer support group hoping to find the person responsible.  An easy read with a couple of twists along the way which I guessed were coming.  This appeared at face value to be an interesting premise for a story but it felt flat, like it's many one-dimensional characters, and the story was a little silly really.  

Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book.  Publication date for this book is 18 March 2025.

The Next Chapter: Writing in Retirement by Julie A. Gorges

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

I found this book easy to read and filled with many practical tips for new writers or those considering trying their hand at writing and publishing.  Its divided into logical sections and essentially walks you through each step of the writing process from inspiration for ideas, how to create a workspace that helps you write, how to learn how to write and developing a routine for your writing.  There are additional areas of the book dedicated to specifically writing novels, non fiction, autobiography, memoirs, poetry and screen plays.  It also details how to edit, have your writing reviewed and the different publishing pathways.  It really does cover the entire process in a logical sequence.

A great resource for anyone who is considering taking up writing, with the benefit of being an enjoyable read.  As an aspiring writer, i thought this was an incredibly useful text.

The Death of Dora Black by Lainie Anderson

dark informative lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

It's 1917 and in Adelaide, South Australia, Kate Cocks and her off sider Ethel are the first 'Women Police officers'.  They're not taken seriously by most and aren't even allowed to carry a gun.  They're relegated to working on less serious crime however Kate is feared by many as she knows everyone and carries a 5-foot cane she's not afraid to use.  They spend their days looking after the community, especially the women and children. Despite incurring the wrath of their male colleagues, Kate and Ethel become involved in investigating an apparent suicide by a local girl and her missing friend.   

Don't be fooled - what may seem like an easy read is so much more.  This work of historical fiction is written in honour of South Australia's first female police officer and it offers commentary about societal norms, prejudices suffered by women and those in in dire financial circumstances at the time, and the struggles of a country at war. A really good read

Bay of Fires by Poppy Gee

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

3.0

Set in the beautiful Bay of Fires in Tasmania, this book tells the story of the families who  live or have holidayed in the area for many years.  When a tourist's body is found washed up on the shore, it stirs up memories of a young local girl who went missing the previous year and was never found. While this story is written as a mystery, its a moody read and strongly character driven, focusing on the relationships between the locals and the secrets within the small community.

A solid read that I enjoyed, especially given it's beautiful setting, I would have appreciated this a bit more had there been a stronger focus on building more atmosphere into the story.  

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Fred Fife has lost the love of his life and is now looking at losing his home.  Beside himself with worry, he goes for a walk and comes across a group of elderly people from a nearby nursing home who are out on an excursion.  When he finds one of the residents sitting deceased in a wheelchair he tries to wheel him to the nurses but completely by accident the dead man falls into the river and his body is swept away.

Fred has a passing resemblance to the decreased man and he's mistaken for him and bundled off with the other patients back to the nursing home.  Suddenly, Fred has a roof over his head, friends to chat to every day and good food in his belly for the first time in years, even if it is because he's living someone else's life.  He even has an 'estranged daughter' who hasn't seen him in years - perhaps this is an opportunity to put things right for the man who's life he's living. 

A poignant, beautifully written story about life, aging, loss and the lengths we go to when we seek human connection. This book made me laugh and cry, and left me with a warm feeling as day.  A wonderful read.

The Moon Sister by Lucinda Riley

emotional lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

2.0

I've enjoyed all the Seven Sisters books I've read up till now but this one left me feeling extremely disappointed.

I felt that Tiggy's story was very fragmented compared to the other books in this series which I've read so far.  I  didn't feel as though the main characters in this book were very well developed and they felt a little hollow. There wasn't any chemistry between Tiggy and her love interest at all and I didn't see a connection at all between them throughout the story.  This was better-developed in previous books detailing the other sisters' stories.

 The backstory about Tiggy's family was interesting in part, especially the setting in the time of the Spanish civil war.  However, overall it felt as though the author knew where she wanted this story to go but didn't know how to get there in a way that made the story flow well.  Tiggy's journey felt all over the place, jumping from one country to another at the drop of a hat.

I have really enjoyed the backstories in this series, at times even more so than the story of the sister in that particular book.  However, the backstory of Tiggy's family while interesting in part just didn't feel satisfying.  The story focused a great deal on the story of Tiggy's  great grandparents as well as her grandmother Lucia.  I struggled to care about Lucia, who wasn't a particularly empathetic character and I couldn't understand her behaviour when she fell pregnant and left her child with her mother  as it seemed out of character with who she had become at that time.  Her sudden death without explanation or lead-in felt quite artificial, as though it had  been inserted at that point to kill off Lucia's character as a way of explaining why she never saw her child again.  

Overall, a disappointing read.

The Mystery of the Crooked Man by Tom Spencer

funny lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

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

3.0

A fun whodunnit written in tribute to the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie.  Fans of AC will find many references and clues to her work and life within the story (so many!).  As a reader and collector of AC's books, i loved this aspect of the story!

The story centres around Agatha Dorn who works as an archivist in a library of rare manuscripts and first editions.  She comes across an unpublished manuscript of Gladden Green, a writer whose novels featured a foreign detective named Pere Flambeau. Agatha becomes famous for discovering the manuscript but before you know it, it's suddenly renounced as a fake!  The plot becomes quite complicated at that point with Agatha becomes embroiled with a number of shady people (including co-workers, ex-lovers and family) who will stop at nothing, including killing those who get in their way, to get what they want.  There are of course a few red herrings and twists along the way, as one would expect, although I found the storyline a little confusing at times.  

Agatha is a fabulous and funny  character you can't help both love as well as dislike a little (you just can't hate her). She's sassy, outrageously honest and determined to get to the truth: the story is really enjoyable and the references to AC are great fun.  

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this cub

The Book of Fire by Christy Lefteri

emotional hopeful reflective 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? Yes

5.0

A small community is reeling from an enormous fire which not only destroyed its beautiful forests but also resulted in the suffering of those left behind.  The community is enraged when everyone is told that the fires were deliberately lit, and when the alleged culprit is found hanged, investigators must determine if his death was caused by his own hand or by someone else's.  

I loved The Beekeeper of Aleppo and this author has written another haunting story about guilt, loss and how individuals and a small, tight knit community responds to significant trauma.  This story is told in 2 timelines and follows a grieving family's attempts to deal with the their physical and emotional scars in the aftermath of the fires in an attempt to move on and flnd hope and connection again.  Beautifully written, this book is filled with empathetic characters who struggle with individual and collective guilt.

An absolute must-read.

Joy Moody is Out of Time by Kerryn Mayne

dark emotional mysterious sad 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? Yes

4.0

Joy Moody has raised her twin daughters to believe they are from the future and on their 21st birthday, they will be returned to the year 2050.  She's a strict mother who controls what her twin daughters do every day of their lives, feeding them lies under the guise of protecting thrm.  What the girls don't know is that Joy is slowly dying from a brain tumour and when she is found dead on their 21st birthday, their lives and beliefs start to unravel.

A unique, heartbreaking story about the lengths a mother will go to, to protect those she loves. The main protagonist is a flawed, quirky character you can't help but feel for.  This is a well-written and captivating mystery told in 2 timelines that keeps you turning the page to find it how this family's story will end.