Reading A Gentleman at Heart. It is the first time I've read anything by this author and the first time that I have tried a Red Zinfandel.
Enjoying both equally.

In the early stages of the book I felt that I was in the midst of a very enjoyable and interesting story. The plot was easy to follow, the characters were not overly complicated and having chosen a large print book it was not too difficult to read. As the book progressed I found that there were an abundance of chapters that lacked substance and were less enjoyable than others. The unexpected & shocking revelations at the end was the books saviour

2nd in the Northminster Mystery series I found this story to be even more tedious than book one, The Butchered Man. Although it is described as a mystery, a romantic melodrama would have been a better description.There was hardly any area of this book that I found particularly interesting and with very little action it was a relief to reach the epilogue. I can't see myself reading any further novels in the Northminster Mystery series.

This is the 3rd in the Redmond and Haze Mystery series and I have enjoyed all the books thus far. In this story a man is punished and the humiliating position of his body will be discussed in his home town for many years to come. Christmas 1866 is when the investigation begins but unlike the previous books, it quite easy to surmise who the perpetrators were along with their reasoning. A pleasant read but not as good as the previous two books.

Preferring crime novels with some excitement and a reasonable amount of action, both of these attributes were missing from this story. However it was a book I chose to read simply because it was historical fiction in the literal sense having been written 91 years ago.It could be classed as a cosy mystery but without the present day embience and warmth that you come to expect. While it was a good read I do like a more modern style of writing.

I purchased 'Whispers of Forbidden Love' as a gift for my partner. It was by a new author that she had not read before. Apparently the story is quite sexually explicit and therefore would probably be classed as an adult read. She said that it was a really enjoyable book. Currently Amazon UK are selling this book for £2.50 and at 310 pages it is quite a bargain.

The main characters are the Husband and Wife team that run a small seaside guest house. The storyline centres around their interaction with the guests and the discoveries plus secrets that they become aware of while out visiting their friends, neighbours and local shop keepers. Each chapter brings a new revelation, some of which are easily guessed but the main secret of all is quite unexpected. Why do some of the guest disappear? A good story

Having enjoyed virtually all of the previous books in the Railway Detective series I had great expectations for this, the 23rd in the series. Sadly it wasn't as good as I had expected. I found it very repetitive and lacking action or excitement. The sub plot which followed the Inspector's wife trying to track down someone who was copying and selling her paintings was distracting and not that interesting. Both the main and sub plots were below par

In the first book of the series Inspector Bowman had been released from a lunatic asylum. In each book he has flashbacks to the event that caused his admittance there which is understandable. In this the third book his psychological issues are given too much prominence. Coupled with an elongated investigation and too much detail rather than actual storyline I found this book tedious, complicated and uninspiring. It's not a book that I enjoyed.

1561 Spain was when this book was set so it was a bit odd that sandwiches were being passed around as refreshments.It wasn't until 1762 that the term sandwich was used for the first time.Sins of the Father is an historical romance coupled with an investigation into smuggling and it has some swashbuckling swordsmanship. While it was a steady read with not much excitement and lacking period detail it was reasonably satisfying and not too dreary.

A collection of short stories set around the Edinburgh law courts in the Nineteenth century. Edward Kane and Mr Horse are the main characters. One an advocate and the other a man servant. The few cases that Kane receives are detailed in this collection and while some are tragic there is plenty of amusement to be found, especially during the trials. A guest appearance by Charles Dickens rounds off this pleasant, light-hearted and thoughtful novel.

If you enjoy gossiping with your neighbours or finding out what goes on behind the closed doors of other people's homes, this is the book for you.. As the newcomers meet people in the village over the years they discover their disturbing secrets. Each new person they meet is portrayed in a short one chapter story. This format keeps the readers interest. Set in the 1950's it is a book suitable for light holiday
reading.

In 60 or more years of reading, without a shadow of doubt, this is the worst book that I have ever read. I intended to say that this book would be suitable for a 12 year old but I would not want to insult the intelligence of anyone that age. It is difficult to put into words how atrocious this novel is. The investigations and methods used in the story can only be described as farcical. The cover design is the only good thing about this novel.

I struggled with this book, once you put it down there wasn't much incentive to pick it up again. When a body was discovered in an unusual position I believed that an interesting story was about to be revealed. What transpired was a tour around the outskirts of Birmingham visiting AA call boxes and not much else. It became quite obvious how the body had been transported and that all the cases may eventually be linked. It was a monotonous read.

It has been so many years since I had read any of the Quest series that I had problems recollecting past adventures. The friends are no longer young and adventurous but old and ready for retirement. There is a lot of morality and political intrigue in this story. The excitement of previous books was missing. I found it a bit slow and with so many characters it was difficult to follow. The small print made it hard going and less enjoyable.

Three years after reading book one I finally got around to reading this, the second book in the Redmond and Haze mystery series.Not so much a mystery but a police procedural story and a cosy one at that. It's an ideal book for a relaxing read while snuggled up on the sofa. In parts I found the story quite exciting but mainly it was just a pleasant, satisfying read that kept me entertained throughout. I really liked it.

Not a spoiler but a warning. If the reader believes they are heading towards a dramatic climax to this story be prepared. On reaching the last page you will be greeted by the words 'TO BE CONTINUED'. As to the book itself - The first and last pages of the story is written in classic Conan Doyle style and are very exhilarating as the case frantically develops. The middle has a style that is really quite unbelievable and farcical. I won't buy book 2

Having read Pickpocket's Apprentice, the prequel to the John Pickett series made 'In Milady's Chamber' far more enjoyable as it gave me more understanding of the friendship between two of the main characters.
Set in Regency times I would class this as a cosy mystery. It was well written and interesting. With some unexpected moments which kept the flow of the story running at times when it became a little slow I was pleased with my choice of book.

Book 4 in the Inspector Chard mystery series. With Anarchy, a bomb and several murders it was quite exciting.
The description of the towns in the Victorian South Wales Valleys also added to the atmosphere of this really good police procedural. Parts of the investigation was a little hard to follow but this did not detract from my enjoyment of this novel. With an interesting storyline and a somewhat unexpected outcome it was a pleasure to read.

Seven students start their relevant courses at Oxford University and become friends then one is murdered. Ten years later a quest by one of the remaining six is started to discover who the murderer was.
Due to its content I wouldn't describe the book as enjoyable but more satisfying. The story is really about friendship, relationships, the realities of life along with the treacherous behaviour of one. A slow storyline but it is still worth reading

S. Grossey is a wonderful writer and I have read lots of her books although I am having problems with 'The Cambridge Hardiman Series'. The quality of writing is as good as ever but the story is so slow. It just drags on and with little action it takes forever to reach a conclusion. Set in 1826 Cambridge, Hardiman is a part time college constable and Ostler, miraculously he also finds time to investigate some murders.
I hope book three is better.

As 2024 draws to an end, 'A Case of Mice and Murder' will be my most memorable read of the year. It wasn't an exciting story or thrilling. Indeed, at the start i was finding it a bit slow. As the book developed, the characters despite having a cold demeanor became likeable, friendly and warm hearted. Everything pointed to a complicated investigation but in the end it was wonderfully simplistic. A really satisfying story which I enjoyed a lot.

My Grand-daughter asked for wool and crochet hooks for Christmas along with a copy of Whimsical Stitches A few years back it was knitting for beginners. I've never seen any fruits of her labours.

Mental health issues still bugs Bowman of the yard in this, the 2nd of the series. I took the picture of Butler“s Wharf which was mentioned in the story while standing on Top of Tower Bridge, it too also had its role to play. The case itself was complicated and took some following but was enhanced by the description of Victorian London that surpassed many other similar crime novels. While worthwhile it was a slow paced, methodical story line.

A gay teacher is found murdered at an exclusive school for boys and so begins an investigation for Detective Alan Stone. While there is some interaction amongst the teachers and the boys , the main characters mostly gel at the party following the memorial service. The vast majority of the book follows the detective through his thought process and interviews with potential suspects and witnesses. The story while good is slow paced and methodical.

The title combined with the cover design gave me the impression that this was a book for an adolescent and not one that would interest me. How wrong I was. It was s superb historical crime fiction novel set in the 1940's towards the end of the war. While the crimes were murder, they were not blood thirsty. The characters, apart from two were likeable. The investigation was enthralling, exciting and believable resulting in an excellent story.

This would have been really good British police procedural comprising of three short stories . It had enough excitement and suspense to keep the reader entertained. Set in the N. West and South of England the crimes being investigated were quite believable. Unfortunately the Belgium/American author made no attempt to remove American terminology making this a very un-British novel. Once guns became involved everything following was not plausible.

A deeply disturbing and gruesome storyline had me fighting back tears as I progressed from page to page. Set in 1715 London it follows the hardships of gay men of the time. The story is emotionally powerful and in a strange way there were scenes that reminded me of Oliver Twist, Alice in Wonderland and Gulliver's Travels. A book that covers everything from love too hate and all that's in-between. A truly thoughtful and outstanding novel

No precious Truth by Chris Nickson is now available to pre-order from Hive Books at a discounted price. Further discounts can be applied if you are over 55 or a Young person.

Remembering

Set during the reign of Elizabeth I in the 1580's the main body of the work centered around Actors performing and rehearsing plays. Described as an Elizabethan mystery, there wasn't much mystery. The story loosely followed the attempt to find a murderer of one of the actors. Queen Elizabeth did make an appearance in the final throws of what throughout was a rather slow story. Thankfully there was plenty of audience applause at the exciting finale

Three days before the due publication date, a copy of The Snow Angel that I purchased as a gift for my partner has just arrived in the post. There is now one happy lady in our home.

I realise 'The Catcher in the Rye', is meant to be a literary classic that possibly everyone should read in their lifetime but I would advise against it. It was very depressing throughout. Where as I read for enjoyment,and really like a satisfying story that has some excitement and pleasurable moments, this book was the complete opposite. Reluctantly I am giving it a Pick due to the skill of the author but equally I would happily bin it.

I only became aware of Barbara Mullen's auto biography yesterday while watching an old episode of ' This is your Life'. Barbara was born in Boston, USA and became a famous actress. I remember watching her in Dr. Finlay's Casebook on our first ever TV: Sixty two years later I've started watching the surviving episodes on DVD and I am contemplating buying my own copy of 'Life is my Adventure' although, even a used copy is quite expensive.

Book 11 in the Victorian Detective series. Compared with the previous 10 it was a disappointment. Gone were the serious crimes and a style of writing that I liked. It was replaced by family greed, financial fraud, a non-existent plague and a lack-luster storyline. I felt the style of writing was also not up to it's usual standard. Even the detectives only had a superficial crime to investigate. Let's hope book 12 reverts back to a quality read

Better a book of surprise than a book of disappointment - and this book was certainly a surprise. Not only do you get an historical murder mystery that is very interesting, but also a story that is spattered with some very funny moments. Don't expect an epilogue as you will receive an epiphany. Bungling criminals and an inspector with a domineering wife just adds to the atmosphere. The trial and courtroom antics are the best that I have ever read.

Set in the early 1800's with most of the story taking place at a House Party, etiquette of that period in time is in abundance on every page. If you are an enthusiastic follower of this era then you are very likely to enjoy reading the Lord Julian Series. There were some characters that enhanced the story but it never really lived up to my expectations, I only really enjoyed the last 30 pages. This kind of novel though likeable wasn't for me.

Discovering 'Bowman of the Yard' by chance, The Head in the Ice is the first in a series of four books. As anticipated the story begins with the discovery of a severed head in the ice. What I didn't anticipate was how good this Victorian police procedural would be. Every few pages there was a new and usually shocking revelation. With larger than life characters and descriptive text that surpassed my expectations, it was an incredibly good read.

The 2nd book in the Hardiman Mysteries will be released later this year and will be called Sizar.

An interesting post by Susan Grossey.

Six years after the first Paget Brothers mystery, the 2nd in the series was published. It was s further three years later that I became aware of the fact. The nine years wait was not worth it. While some amusing dialogue did make me smile, these moments were few and far between. A comical crime mystery set in 1900 London during Christmas and with one of the Paget brothers styling himself on Sherlock Holmes I found it slow and dreary throughout.

Holmes and Watson are actually women dressed as men. The reasoning behind this will become clear in the very early stages of the book. Consisting of seven short cases, none of which will overstretch the readers imagination, each one was uninspiring. If you are a person who likes the thrill of a chase or a good investigation you won't find it in Secrets of Baker Street. I found it thoroughly disappointing from start to finish.

Finally after six years of waiting, book four in the William Quest series has been published. #HistoricalFiction

This 2nd outing for insp. Abbs was disappointing.
He was staying at his sister's house for Christmas in a small Norfolk village where some strange events had been occuring including a sudden death. There was no real investigation just general enquiries being made while visiting friends. The Novella was filled with irrelevancies and was over complicated, spoiling what could have be an interesting story. (Now only available by Anne Bainbridge).

Watching pointless on TV. They mentioned that the Catcher in the Rye is so popular that 685 copies are still being purchased every day. That's not bad foras it was first published in serial form in 1945 followed by the USA book which was published 1951. I purchased my copy last week.

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes. Shocking! Twenty five pages in and Holmes has deduced that Watson is actually a woman in disguise. Even more shocking is that Holmes has also revealed himself as a woman. Telling Watson to remove her bindings as she can't believe that they are comfortable, Holmes has been blessed with a completely flat chest so is spared the requirement of wearing them. What other shocking revelations is this book going to reveal?

Submarine was a recommended read at the end of a Penguin book that I had just finished. I was a bit dubious when a reviewer described it as 'Brilliant, laugh out-loud, funniest etc': it is rarely if ever that I have laughed out-loud when reading a book. Ever the optimist I purchased Submarine along with 'The Catcher in the Rye which was also recommended but I still have to read. I was so unimpressed with the first 50% of submarine that I bailed.

Starting in such a dramatic way, I had great expectations of a thrilling story throughout. This didn't materialise as it settled into quite a lengthy investigation. Although there was little action it was an interesting read with ladies being blackmailed, Queen Victoria's household being disrupted and friends reunited. A pleasant cosy read.
I have now read all of the Railway Detective series, Murder in Transit being the last published to-date

A relaxing tour around Bury St. Edmunds and Cambridge as described by the Railway Detectives in their latest investigation into a murder of a scholar at the famous university.While the Inspector's father-in-law had woman problems in London the story flittered between four places as Oxford also had its part to play. Was the killing due to the rivalry of the Oxford/Cambridge boat race team or something more sinister? A very enjoyable read.

Wanting something different to the normal genre of books that I read, I chose Ancient Light by John Banville, an author that I had not come across before. In my opinion, the author has taken the longest, rarely used words from a dictionary and surrounded them with an abundance of uninteresting text as he tries to recollect, not always successfully, his coming of age in the 1950's. Enduring ninety pages was as much as I could take before bailing.