pickThis is a very enjoyable series set in Kent and the dungeness coast. DI Alex Culpidi is on sick leave after the events of the last few books but becomes curious about the murder of a couple in a local house. As she is dragged into the investigation, she quickly becomes at risk herself as it also involves historic events covered up by her close friend.
pickAnother very enjoyable book from the DS Alex Culpidi series set in Dungeness. When a body is found in the freezer of a property on the market for sale, a chain links it to the development of land for new houses, which houses badger setts and local wildlife. The subsequent investigation touches on local mp's , businessmen, and environmental campaigning. Really good series, and I plan to read the next one soon.
Sorry I‘m already breaking the rules, Andrew, but I‘d like to include those books that ranked a 4.5 and were rounded up too. 😂🤷🏻♀️ Always a troublemaker…🙃
The tagged book was my only 5⭐️ for January ‘24.
#12BooksOf2024 (or a few more…)
pickThe third innthis series in which DI Alex Culpidi juggles investigating murders in Kent while managing as a single mum of a teenage daughter in her Dunganess home. Here, an arm is found in a piece of modern art displayed in a gallery, two youths steal a mobile phone from a man leaving a station, and slowly bodies mount up. A real page turner and a great character.
pickLike seemingly everyone else, I found out about this book through the (excellent) podcast, Backlisted. It was every bit as strange and compelling as they described it, like a walking tour of Kent directed by David Lynch, covering two centuries' worth of murder, depravity, and madness. In my experience there are few places with such sinister vibes as a decaying seaside town, and this book captures that feeling in spades.
pickCatching up from last weekends reading and I'd enjoyed the birdwatcher so much I picked up the next in the series in which DS Culpidi takes centre stage. She is a single mum police officer transferred from te met to Kent police and is a great character as are those surrounding her. The plot features migrant workers and their exploitation by gang members. Definitely a series I will be going back to soon.
pickI really liked this one, maybe even more than Messenger of Truth, although there is no need to compare. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
pickThe 5th in the #MaisieDobbs series of between wars mysteries was heartbreaking several times over. A current case uncovers a tragedy from WWI in small-town Kent. So many themes and connections, lots of growth for our favorite characters. Thoughtful consideration of what being labelled outsiders can lead to. Any book that makes me cry is doing its job drawing me in! By far the best one yet.
pickAnother stellar performance from Winspear. As I've said before and I'll say it again because it bears repeating, this series just improves with age. This was a bit different (although all of Maisie's adventures are unique) in that it involved both a current case and an unexpected 10-year cold case. The present-day case centers around fraud conspiracy while the cold case entails murder, lies and coverups. While both cases were absorbing,
pickNot my favorite Maisie Dobbs. Still, always a nice visit.
