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OutsmartYourShelf

OutsmartYourShelf

Joined September 2016

review
OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

I vaguely remember the repeats of 'Happy Days' but I was much more interested in spin-off 'Mork & Mindy' (shazbot!) in which the much-missed Robin Williams was absolutely hilarious. I digress, so anyway this is the autobiography of Henry Winkler, best known as 'The Fonz' (Ayyy) in Happy Days.

Winkler has been in a lot more than just 'Happy Days', not things that I have tended to watch in the main but I remember him in 'Scream'. (Continued)

OutsmartYourShelf Outside of his acting career, it was touching to see his realisation that he had lived with undiagnosed severe dyslexia for many years & that he has used this to write a series of children's books where the main character also has difficulties.

Winkler seems a nice guy from reading this, humble & genuinely interested in others. It was a nice, gentle read with lots of humour. 4🌟
10h
DieAReader 🎉Wonderful! 8h
23 likes3 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
Closer Than You Think | Darren OSullivan
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Mehso-so

Ten years ago Claire Moore narrowly escaped being the eighth victim of the Black-Out Killer, a serial killer who gained entry by cutting all power to the victims' homes & then killing couples by burning down their homes with them locked inside. Claire's husband, Owen, was killed & Claire has been struggling with grief, survivor's guilt & PTSD ever since, (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf but has gradually been able to rebuild her life & is tentatively starting out with a new relationship.

Having thought that the Black-Out Killer had died in prison, Claire is horrified when a new victim is killed with the same MO. Is it a copycat or has the Black-Out Killer evaded justice all this time & is he back to finish what he started with Claire?
17h
OutsmartYourShelf This was OK until the ending - WTF was that? After building up to a final confrontation between Claire & the Killer, it just leaves everything up in air with no resolution. I felt like frisbeeing the book straight out of the window. Minus a star for that so 3⭐

TWs: domestic abuse, murder, injury detail, sexual content, animal cruelty/death.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4191286413
Read 2nd-4th Jun 2025
17h
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 10h
24 likes4 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

How do you steal an archive? One file at a time.

This is the story of a quiet, introverted archivist who had access to the most heavily guarded files in the world. Vasili Mitrokhin had started out as a communist party believer until he was transferred into the archives of the KGB. What he read there angered him to such an extent that he decided to copy the files, one by one, in his own shorthand code to be rewritten in his own time at home.

OutsmartYourShelf This work goes on for decades until one day, an old man presents himself at the British Embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania & says that he has important information for them. Pages & pages of information about Soviet secret services & the infiltration of Western countries by sleeper agents known as Illegals, including names & codenames of double agents - all dutifully copied by Mitrokhin. 2d
OutsmartYourShelf What turned him into a dissident, a spy, & a traitor was a love for his country & hatred of the dark forces that were now running it.

A fascinating & informative look at the post-Stalin Soviet Union & the rule of the Chekists - we even get an introduction to a young Putin. Although it sometimes veered into academically dry territory, the author always managed to re-engage my interest,
2d
OutsmartYourShelf especially with the workings of the (sometimes seemingly inept) British MI6. A well-researched, accessibly written account. 4🌟

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, 4th Estate/Williams Collins, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7617428178
Read 1st-6th Jun 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
2d
DieAReader 😏Fascinating! 2d
27 likes4 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
The Rush | Beth Lewis
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Bailedbailed

I skipped ahead to check if anything happens to the dog & I'm glad I did. There's way too much graphic animal cruelty for me to continue. DNF

review
OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

Emily was in a coma for 4 months following an accident & to aid her recovery somewhere quiet, she agrees to move from London to 'Larkin Lodge', a house on the Devon moors. She hopes that this will give her marriage to husband Freddie a fresh start, but when they arrive, far from the pretty country home on the website, the house is shrouded in mist & inside the house is either unbearably hot or achingly cold.

OutsmartYourShelf As strange things start to happen especially on the top floor in the empty suite, Emily becomes convinced that the house is haunted, but as the occurrences only happen when she is alone, Freddie thinks she is seeing things due to her meds. When four of her friends come to visit they drunkenly decide to use Emily's old Ouija board & it spells out the message 'Find it, find it.' Find what? And why is Freddie acting so oddly? 4d
OutsmartYourShelf My reading experience with this author has been a bit hit & miss, but this one is definitely a hit! It kept my attention from the start & the twists were excellent. I loved the short chapters which kept things moving, & those half dozen or so chapters from the raven's point of view are poignant. I really enjoyed this one & I recommend readers go into this one knowing as little as possible about the plot. 4.5🌟
4d
OutsmartYourShelf My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Orion Publishing Group, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7463735725
Read 1st-2nd Jun 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
4d
DieAReader 🥳Fabulous!! 4d
32 likes4 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
The Party | Natasha Preston
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Mehso-so

A group of friends decide to have a secret party weekend in a remote castle owned by the parents of one of the teens. Undergoing development, the castle has limited electricity & heating & no-one will know they are there. Soon after they arrive a storm rages & only 10 of them manage to make it to the site. The weather traps them inside & their mobiles go missing on the first evening so they can't call for help, (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf & as one by one they begin to meet with fatal 'accidents', friend Bessie & Kash realise they are trapped with friends that they don't know as well as they thought.

The covers, settings, & synopses of the books by this author suck me in every time, & every time the characters are too underdeveloped for the reader to care about what happens to them. In this one there was also a lot of wandering about with a killer on the loose -
4d
OutsmartYourShelf the group would decide to stay together (safety in numbers) & then one of them would suddenly take off meaning the rest of them would split up to find them. Rinse & repeat. Entertaining enough to finish reading it but I wouldn't pick it up again. 3⭐

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7221169259
Read 2nd-4th Jun 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
4d
DieAReader 🎉👋🏻 #Next 4d
29 likes3 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

Theories about the identity of Jack the Ripper are legion & a plethora of suspects have been proposed over the decades, but is there a suspect who has been overlooked all this time? Charles Lechmere (aka Cross) was a carman who was on the way to work in the early hours when he discovered the body of the first canonical Ripper victim, Mary Ann Nichols. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf Lechmere, along with another witness who happened along the way shortly after, alerted a police officer on his beat nearby & gave evidence at the inquest, but the fact he gave an incorrect name & that the timings were fuzzy was never picked up on. Could the Ripper have been in-situ at the first murder & hidden in plain sight all along?

1w
OutsmartYourShelf First of all this is a intriguing theory & the book is written in a very accessible way for those not familiar with the murders. It gives brief synopses of the five canonical victims, considers other possible victims, & either excludes or rules in the usual suspects. All this takes up 80% of the book, & Lechmere is not really discussed in any detail until almost the end. This could be because there is scant information about his life apart from 1w
OutsmartYourShelf the usual birth/marriage/death, but it just seems strange that the subject of the book would only appear in, at most, 20% of the book. It is very readable though & the theory is worth considering. 3.75🌟

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Pen & Sword, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7538881075
Read 22nd - 25th May 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
1w
DieAReader 💖💖💖 6d
23 likes4 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

The Zodiac Killer, who committed his serial killings in the late 1960s in the San Francisco area, has never been caught. Over the decades, many suspects have been posited but in June 1999, Mike Rodelli followed a hunch & found evidence that suggested a suspect that had never been fully considered before. This book sets out Rodelli's 20-year quest to prove that this man was the Zodiac Killer. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf I've heard of the Zodiac Killer through films & TV (like Criminal Minds) but never read a book about them until now. Rodelli argues a convincing case - sure, some of the evidence could be argued away as coincidence, but not all of it. It was fascinating to see the evidence laid out & how each point connected to the suspect. Not least of which was a photograph of the suspect which does look very like the sketches of the Zodiac. 1w
OutsmartYourShelf I agree that the Zodiac was most definitely not a sexual sadist. There is no sexual element in the killings & it was about power & control - thumbing his nose at the authorities & getting away with it. I did find it a little heavy-going at times, there seemed to be some repetition & an irritating habit in the early chapters of mentioning something & then saying it would be dealt with later on. 1w
OutsmartYourShelf Overall though it was an interesting read & I think the author may be on to something here. Pity we'll probably never know for sure. 3.5🌟

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Indigo River Publishing, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4145541068
Read 29th-31st May 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
1w
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 6d
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blurb
OutsmartYourShelf
Untitled | Unknown
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My June list for #ReadYourKindle

I managed 1 from my list for May, but had a very heavy ARC month. Bit lighter load in June so aiming for 2.

@CBee

review
OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

In a futuristic Chicago (Shytown), its human inhabitants have upgraded themselves with various bits of technology & cybernetic hardware. Cam Sexton traded his eyes for cyberoptics & works as a Looker - where followers subscribe to literally see through his upgraded eyes. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf
When a ride-along on a police sting goes wrong, Cam finds himself on the run for his life as a contract killer - a weapons-enhanced killer clown named Stabby - is sent after him. Can Cam survive or will his followers get the ultimate front seat to his death?

What I liked/what worked: the plotline & pacing was good, the world vibe was very 'Bladerunner meets Minority Report', & Cam was a fairly likeable protagonist.

1w
OutsmartYourShelf What I didn't like/what didn't work: a few instances of 'info dump', the vocabulary took a little getting used to, & the two brief sex scenes added absolutely nothing to the story.

Overall it was entertaining & it looks like there are more planned books in the same world, so I'll probably pick up the next one. If you like cyberpunk dystopian, then give this a whirl. 3.75 🌟

My thanks to NetGalley & publisher, BooksGoSocial, for the ARC.
1w
DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 1w
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OutsmartYourShelf
The Prison Healer | Lynette Noni
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Pickpick

I was absolutely glued to the start of this book & the premise was intriguing, unfortunately it suffered from the tendency to prioritise romantic relationships over the Trials which made the middle section drag a bit. The ending almost made up for it though, I was surprised by that extra twist, & that doesn't happen often. I was 50-50 on carrying on but the ending caught my attention again, so I probably will read the next one. 3.75🌟

TheSpineView Great job!🤩📖📚 2w
DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 2w
Tove_Reads Ah, these books are a bit challenging, but good that you‘ll continue. 2w
31 likes4 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
The Darkest Minds | Alexandra Bracken
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Pickpick

In a dystopian USA, children start dying from a new illness which has a high mortality rate. Those that do survive develop alarming new abilities, making the adults afraid of them. From the age of 10 all surviving children are taken into federal custody & placed into camps run by guards. The children are sorted into colours according to their abilities: green is the least dangerous, then blue, yellow, & orange, with red being the most dangerous.

OutsmartYourShelf Ruby is locked up on her 10th birthday & is categorised as green but when she reaches 16, she is broken out of the camp by The League. Ruby soon realises that they are wanting to use her ability for themselves so runs away at the first opportunity. She joins 3 other teenagers on a road trip to find East River - a group of kids living out in the woods with a leader who is rumoured to be able to do the impossible. 2w
OutsmartYourShelf Ruby knows that all of them are hiding secrets from her, but she is hiding one from them, you see she's not really a green....

At heart this is your standard YA dystopia: kids against adults, sorted into factions, hot guy, second hot guy for the obligatory love triangle, etc. It started off quite slow & I almost DNF'd but it did pick up about a third of the way through. I already have the next 2 so will probably read them at some point. 3.75🌟
2w
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TheSpineView Well done! 2w
DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 2w
Andrew65 Looks good, well done 🎉🎉🎉 2w
35 likes6 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
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Mehso-so

England, 1942 & American & Canadian soldiers were billeted in the Surrey countryside awaiting details of their next posting. One soldier was Private August Sangret who struck up a relationship with local girl, Joan Wolfe, one that Joan thought would be leading to marriage. For weeks witnesses usually saw them together, including living in a hastily constructed 'wigwam' or tipi in the woods until one day Joan disappeared. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf Sangret searched for her for a while but then seemed to be over it & he told anyone who asked that Joan had gone away on a course.

When Joan's body was found in a shallow grave, the lead detective honed in on Sangret. He was not the first or only soldier that Joan had been involved with, but he was executed by hanging for her murder. The forensic evidence was mainly inconclusive so was Sangret actually guilty,
2w
OutsmartYourShelf or was he a scapegoat due to his Métis (mixed European & indigenous Canadian ancestry) background?

This was an interesting read about a case I had never heard of before, but the timeline seemed a bit confusing to me. The narrative jumped around over lots of different background stories & it was difficult to work out what had happened when. The author argues that Sangret did not get a fair trial due to his skin colour & background.
2w
OutsmartYourShelf The investigation was certainly perfunctory in some respects as Sangret was by no means the first or only soldier to have a relationship with Joan, but none of the others seem to have been investigated. At present, I'm not 100% convinced that Sangret wasn't the killer but there is certainly enough evidence to suggest that other avenues should have been investigated more fully. Overall, an interesting if slightly confusing read. 3⭐
2w
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DieAReader 🎉Excellent! 2w
Andrew65 Well done 🎉🎉🎉 2w
29 likes6 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

The fifth outing for the team of Detective Sergeant Washington Poe & civilian analyst, Tilly Bradshaw sees them tackle two puzzling cases. A poisoner is running amok, seemingly able to get to his victims even if they are under police protection, & for his fourth victim he uses the might of social media to get the public to vote on who he kills next. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf Meanwhile pathologist Estelle Doyle has been arrested for killing her father. She says she's innocent but there's physical evidence including firearms discharge residue on her hands, & hers are the only footprints in the snow going in. The house has been thoroughly searched & no weapon has been found.

Intriguing cases for Poe & Bradshaw & they were well plotted. For me though, there was too much Doyle & not enough Bradshaw.
3w
DieAReader Excellent!!🎉🥳 3w
See All 6 Comments
TheSpineView Fantastic! 🤩📖📚 3w
Tove_Reads Love, love, love his books! 2w
Andrew65 Excellent 🎉🎉🎉 2w
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review
OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

n earlier times, life was a lot more communal than it is today, & the concept of a private life didn't really exist in a balanced way. This is an examination of the concept', those who helped shape it, & how it came into being from its initial start in the Reformation, through the 17th & 18th centuries & Sir Edward Coke (who was responsible for the saying 'An Englishman's home is his castle') through to supporters of women's rights (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf including Mary Astell, Mary Wollstonecraft, & John Stuart Mill in the 19th century. Today the ownership of one's image & the 21st century has brought forth new questions about privacy & the public space.

This was both an interesting & thought-provoking read. I especially enjoyed the historical chapters but found myself a little less engrossed as we neared modern day. The argument that privacy was historically looked on as a way to hide things
3w
OutsmartYourShelf from others rather than being a retreat from the outside world was intriguing & it shows how much society has changed & mainly uncoupled from religious influence in England. Well-researched & well-written, I recommend this if you like challenging reads. 4🌟

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Pan Macmillan/Picador, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7254294359
Read 14th-17th May 2025
3w
DieAReader 💖💖💖 3w
Andrew65 Excellent 🎉🎉🎉 2w
31 likes5 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

London, 1873 & Madeleine Brewster's marriage to Dr Lucius Everley is hastily arranged to assuage the tide of rejection & ill-feeling from their neighbours. Ever since Maddie's older sister left home under a cloud of suspicion, the Brewsters have been ostracised & Maddie's marriage is their passport back to respectability but it means Maddie moving to London far from her family to where she knows no-one. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf Lucius is solemn & secretive, working in his 'Small Museum' as a collector of natural curiosities, & consumed with finding the evidence to prove his evolutionary theory. He doesn't seem all that interested in Maddie - his sister, Grace, spends more time with him than his wife. The house is also odd with two sullen servants, the Barkers, & odd noises at night, like crying infants but whenever she mentions anything, everyone denies hearing them. 3w
OutsmartYourShelf Pushing to find the truth, Maddie finds herself accused of a hideous crime & on trial for her life.

I read this one as I received the sequel as an ARC, so wanted to get an idea of the story. I would say that you really do need to read this one first, there's a lot going on. It was a very dark, almost gothic, read with a possible haunting & furtive servants. The narrative alternates between Maddie's early marriage & scenes from the court case.
3w
OutsmartYourShelf I mostly enjoyed it apart from one thing which happened at the end which really irked me. Although there is nothing really graphic here, there are some upsetting themes (please see TWs below). 4🌟

TWs: death of a child, death of a parent, animal death, misogyny, & gaslighting.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7568002022
Read 15th-17th May 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
3w
DieAReader 💖💖💖 3w
Andrew65 Looks good, well done 🎉🎉🎉 2w
28 likes5 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
The Empty Chair | Jeffery Deaver
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Mehso-so

The third case for criminologist Lincoln Rhyme & partner Amelia Sachs sees them heading to North Carolina for Rhyme's upcoming pioneering surgery. Before the surgery takes place, the two are asked to consult on a case where two young women have been abducted by a 16-year-old local boy, Garrett Hanlon, known as the Insect Boy for his fascination with bugs. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf After a manhunt when the boy is apprehended, one of the women is still missing & Garrett refuses to give up her whereabouts saying he is protecting her. Sachs believes that the locals think the worst of Garrett & that his life could be in danger so she absconds with him from the county jail. Now the student is working against the master, has she learned enough to outfox him?

(edited) 3w
OutsmartYourShelf This one is firmly in the middle of the first two books when it comes to ratings - in my opinion the first book is better but the second book is worse than this one. There were some good twists & turns in the storyline but it did seem to be drawn out a bit too long. 100 pages shorter & it would have been great. 3.25⭐

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4846524624
Read 10th-14th May 2025

3w
See All 7 Comments
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 3w
TheSpineView Kudos for finishing a lackluster one! #Next 3w
Andrew65 Well done 🎉🎉🎉 3w
Tove_Reads 🥳💪🏽 3w
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OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

Tabbi is a privileged rich girl who is heading, under protest, to an exclusive rehab centre in Switzerland. She meets Ruby on the train there & although they don't look that much alike, there's enough of a similarity for Tabbi to hatch a plan. She decides to befriend Ruby & persuade her to swap lives for 6 weeks - Ruby gets an all expenses paid break & Tabbi gets 6 weeks of freedom, but will Ruby be gullible enough to fall for it? (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf It seems she is, & they swap identities but Tabbi soon finds out that Ruby's life is far from uncomplicated & she may not have been telling the whole truth either.

This started off great with a good pace & a premise which hooks the reader from the start. I also liked that the two points of view were split in two sections of the book rather than alternating chapters.
4w
OutsmartYourShelf It was all rather far fetched, but as the story progressed it went from 'suspend your disbelief' to 'absolutely no way that happens' territory towards the end. The epilogue was also a step too far. It was a shame because I enjoyed two thirds of the book before it became too much. 3.5🌟

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Penguin Random House UK Children's, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
4w
DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 4w
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OutsmartYourShelf
I Know You Saw Her | Ann Girdharry
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Mehso-so

Fiona & her sister Amy were always close but when Amy moves away for university they drift apart until Amy suddenly goes missing one day & hasn't been seen or heard of since. Several years later, Fiona rents a room in the same house where Amy had been living & pretends to be a new student all so she can find out what happened to Amy.

The house is shabby & in bad repair & her landlady acts oddly at times. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf Meanwhile the landlady's son seems annoyed with Fiona for no reason & watches her silently. The only bright spots seem to be a tentative friendship with Amy's BFF, & a burgeoning relationship with her landlady's charming nephew, but someone has a secret they‘ll do anything to protect.

This started off well but the twists quickly became far fetched & yet remained oddly predictable. Fiona, who was supposed to be there to investigate her sister's
4w
OutsmartYourShelf disappearance, saying she'll trust no-one, immediately falls for someone she hardly knows. She was difficult to warm to as an MC & I also felt that the ending was unsatisfactory. Overall this is a slightly disappointing thriller. 3.25⭐

My thanks to #NetGalley & publisher, Inkubator Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7552657162
Read 8th-10th May 2025
4w
DieAReader #Next 👋🏻👋🏻 4w
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OutsmartYourShelf
The Lost King: The Search for Richard III | Michael Jones, Philippa Langley
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Pickpick

King Richard III was killed on 22 August 1485 at Bosworth Field, the last English king to die in battle. His remains were thought lost after the Reformation & closing down of Greyfriars Priory. His reputation has been maligned through the centuries starting with those in the Tudor era who had a lot to gain from muddying the waters. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf This book is about the archaeological search for King Richard III's body in 2012 & the dawning of a new chapter looking into what kind of King he had been.

This was an interesting & informative read & I especially enjoyed the chapters about Richard's life in the 15th century. Some reviewers have said that the main author is too biased about Richard & that is true to an extent, but there are some good points argued to counter the caricature of the
4w
OutsmartYourShelf man which has been handed down through history from Shakespeare & others.

We should view Richard as a man of his time - a time when kingships were won & lost in battle, when supporters changed side at the drop of a hat, & rebellions were frequent hazards. For my part, I believe that Richard was human like the rest of us. He had his good points & his bad, & that he probably did order the execution of the two young princes following a plot to
4w
OutsmartYourShelf liberate them from the tower.

His reign would never be secure whilst ever there was a focal point for rebellion, Henry Tudor found this out. Does that make Richard any worse than Henry VII who executed the young Edward, Earl of Warwick after imprisoning him in the tower for years? Or Henry VIII under whose reign Henry Pole disappeared into the tower aged 14 & was never seen again?
4w
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OutsmartYourShelf This book definitely helps to see the man & not the mythic monster. 3.5🌟

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/766363290
Read 6th-11th May 2025

#ReadYourKindle @CBee
#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
#ShelfSweeper @Tove_Reads
4w
DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 4w
Andrew65 Well done 🎉🎉🎉 4w
34 likes6 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

Jodi Dillon has been friends with Zack Thrasher since second grade, meaning she was pulled into his friend group in high school almost by accident. Julian, Lucy, Paige, & of course Zack Thrasher, they're rich, sophisticated, & gorgeous - everything Jodi isn't. The group occasionally let an outsider in for a short while for kicks but it isn't long before they are iced out, rejected, 'thrashed'. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf No wonder she feels out of place, as if she's a tag-along to the hottest friend clique in town, & always wonders if she is about to be the next one 'thrashed'?

When Emily Mills (a girl who wanted to be part of the group) dies, the group are interviewed by the police. Rumours abound that Emily was bullied by the others into committing suicide, rumours confirmed by Emily's journal.
1mo
OutsmartYourShelf As everyone turns on the group, & the others start to distance themselves from Jodi, she sees her friends through new eyes. Did Emily make it all up because she was rejected by the group or do the other 'Thrashers' have secrets even from Jodi?

Wow, I loved this one! You know when you start reading a book & you get that feeling that you just know it's going to be a 5 star read? From the first page this was a cracker.
1mo
OutsmartYourShelf None of the group are angels (even Jodi has her secrets) & sometimes aren't even that nice to each other, but they also have their good qualities. It makes for a tense read which grabs your attention & doesn't let go for a minute. If you like twisty YA thrillers with morally grey characters, then check this one out. 5🌟

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, HarperCollins UK, Children's/Harper Fire, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
(edited) 1mo
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Andrew65 Great review 🎉🎉🎉 1mo
DieAReader 💖💖💖 1mo
28 likes6 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
Fallout in Georgia | S. E. Glen
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Pickpick

Ellena Reed's life is now in tatters: her ex-husband is in prison, her home is in foreclosure, & she is awaiting confirmation that her career as an EMT is also done. At her wits end, she reluctantly agrees to accompany stepsister, Button (aka Elizabeth), on a camping trip. The night they arrive nuclear warheads hit multiple targets in the US.

Their fellow survivors are a mum & son, & a man who claims to be ex-SEAL. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf His answers to Ellena's questions are a little too pat & she's sure he's hiding something. The few survivors at the site hunker down together for the 3 days in which the fallout will be the worst, but with no word from the outside & the animals around the swamp starting to act out, it will soon be time to move on but where?

I don't know why but I tend to like postapocalyptic reads, people learning to cope with adversity etc.
1mo
OutsmartYourShelf I thought the cover for this book was really good & it actually made me think it was going to be a lot darker storyline than it actually turned out to be. My heart did sink a little when I realised there was a canine character, Winter the dog, as I knew I'd spend the rest of the book on tenterhooks hoping nothing happens to him. (He is still alive at the end of the book so don't worry.)
1mo
OutsmartYourShelf It's a gripping read but some of the characters are not really developed enough (Button & the mother & son included) & Button became really irritating at points. I enjoyed it enough to finish it though. It could be improved upon in parts but it was fine. 3.75🌟

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Cork Place Press, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
1mo
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Andrew65 Excellent 🎉🎉🎉 1mo
CatLass007 Sounds interesting. I would feel exactly the same way about Winter. I don‘t care how many people die in a book or movie, but harm a cat, dog or horse, and I turn into a wreck! 1mo
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 1mo
33 likes7 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

Born into enslavement in Tennessee, Lucy Higgs Nichols' early life was one of constant work & living with the threat of being torn away from her family & sold to another owner. As a young woman, Lucy managed to escape at the outset of the US Civil War & joined the Indiana 23rd Regiment of the Union Army as a nurse. Lucy cared for the men for 4 years before returning with them to Indiana to make a new life for herself. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf In Indiana Lucy met & married John Nichols but as they became aged & infirm, Lucy needed the pay that she had been promised for her nursing work but never given. With the backing of the remaining soldiers from the regiment, Lucy applied for a Civil War pension but was repeatedly denied. It was only after years of petitioning carried through by Lucy's sheer determination that she finally received her due. 1mo
OutsmartYourShelf Lucy seems to have been a formidable yet caring person who was determined that nothing was going to stand in the way of what was right. A task made doubly difficult by her status as a woman of colour & an ex-slave. Unfortunately much of Lucy's early life was not recorded & she was unable to read & write, so it has been extrapolated from the experiences of others.

This is a fascinating look at the US Civil War from a different angle though -
1mo
OutsmartYourShelf I have mainly seen it discussed in the context of the abolition of slavery, however, the evidence here suggests that for many it was more about keeping together the Union & attitudes varied. For example, even after their contribution during the war, after it ended, regiments of black soldiers (i.e. the USCT) were not invited to take part in the victory parade - the Grand Review of 1865.

1mo
See All 7 Comments
OutsmartYourShelf There has obviously been a great deal of research carried out here & the inclusion of photographs, including the two only known photographs of Lucy herself. This is an interesting & informative read, particularly for anyone interested in the life of freedmen & women in America after the US Civil War. 4🌟

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, The Globe Pequot Publishing Group/Lyons Press, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
1mo
Andrew65 This looks great. 1mo
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 1mo
28 likes1 stack add7 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
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Mehso-so

Mabel Rose Dixon is in New York to become a Ziegfeld girl, but things haven't gone to plan & she is currently reduced to picking the pockets of the wealthy. When she chooses the wrong mark, Mabel makes a deal to save her life & ends up trapped in the Grand Hotel, a luxury hotel run by demons. Mabel agrees to procure souls for the hotel owner, Frank, in exchange for being his headline act every night in the crowded theatre, (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf but soon finds that this type of fame has a steep price & if she doesn't figure out a way to escape, she may be lost forever.

This has an interesting premise, a hotel where your dreams can come true forever, but every day you stay, you lose a bit more of your humanity. Mabel is a spirited main character but I found that her peppiness became a bit irritating as time went on.
1mo
OutsmartYourShelf I could also have done without the (mercifully brief) mentions of animal cruelty, & I found the ending a bit jarring as Mabel had spent most of the book falling in love with one character only to suddenly be besotted with another & there'd been no hint of flirtation between them before. Overall, interesting but the conclusion & MC brings down the rating a bit. 3.25⭐

1mo
OutsmartYourShelf Thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, CLASH Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6864101172
Read 1st-3rd May 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
1mo
Andrew65 Well done 🎉🎉🎉 1mo
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 1mo
29 likes5 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
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Panpan

A look at the lives of J.M. Barrie & neighbours, the Llewelyn Davies family, whose five boys were instrumental in the development of the story of Peter Pan - especially Michael, their fourth son, on whom the main character was based. At first the friendships were thought to be of little concern but eventually Arthur Llewelyn Davies moved his family out of London to get away from Barrie's influence. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf In this he was thwarted by his wife who facilitated Barrie's involvement. Unlike Peter Pan, Michael did indeed grow up, & as he did so he tried to break free of Barrie's influence, but only managed to do so in death. Accident or suicide? We will probably never know.

If events happened as they are laid out here, Barrie's presence was a wedge between the boys' parents, Sylvia & Arthur, who grew apart just before Arthur's tragic death of cancer at
1mo
OutsmartYourShelf a relatively young age, & Barrie's continued influence fractured this family from within. Even after reading this, I'm still unsure as to whether it could be termed emotional abuse, but the dynamic between Michael & Barrie became unhealthy for both of them.

Even with this darkness at the heart of one of our best-loved children's story, there were points when my attention wandered.
1mo
OutsmartYourShelf The writing style is quite rambling & the narrative sometimes went off on tangents instead of sticking to the main point. I found it a bit confusing at times, but I hadn't known about the link between the Llewelyn Davies family & the du Mauriers before reading this. 2⭐

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4292906405
Read 1st-4th May 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
1mo
See All 7 Comments
Booksblanketsandahotbeverage Interesting and heartbreaking 💔 Reminds me of Lewis Carroll and his interest in Alice Liddell 1mo
Andrew65 An interesting scenario, but a shame the book wasn‘t better. 1mo
DieAReader 🎉👋🏻 #Next 1mo
OutsmartYourShelf @Booksblanketsandahotbeverage Indeed! That comparison was also mentioned in the book. 1mo
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OutsmartYourShelf
Irl | Jenny Goebel
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Pickpick

Lucy & her parents move to a remote town in Alaska for her mum's new job, where the local school, White Pine Secondary, runs online classes during the bad weather. Now in-person classes are due to start & Lucy is looking forward to meeting her 12 classmates, including Mara, Peter, Henry, & Josephine, in real life. They've been friendly, if a little strange at times with the questions they asked & how they dress.
(Continued)

OutsmartYourShelf The next day Lucy sets off for school but soon notices that she seems to be the only one walking there. When she reaches the address given on her phone's GPS, the school is an abandoned building which was obviously almost destroyed in a fire, but the sign outside definitely says White Pine Secondary School. 1mo
OutsmartYourShelf Nearby is a tiny cemetery with 12 headstones poking out of the snow & as Lucy examines them the names are horribly familiar: Mara, Peter, Henry, & Josephine, etc. Are her new classmates playing a cruel trick or is the truth more horrifying?

OK, I bought this on a whim when I saw it on sale & although I'm not the target audience for this one, it was a really good read.
1mo
OutsmartYourShelf It reminds me of those 'Point Horror' books from the 1990s (which I love) - a good mix of early teenage angst & creeping horror without the gore. If I had one criticism it would have been to lead in with getting to know the online students a little more before going straight to meeting in real life, but it's a minor quibble. This is a fairly short (170 pages), pacy read, perfect for those winter nights. 4.5🌟 1mo
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DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 1mo
Andrew65 Excellent 🎉🎉🎉 1mo
25 likes6 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
Aphrodite | Bryony Pearce
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Pickpick

Aphrodite is born from the sea, literally washed onto the shore. Wandering with no clue where she is or who she is, Aphrodite can sense when humans mean her harm, but she eventually meets a kind man who tends an orchard & who gives her a place to stay & food without asking anything in return. When the orchard is destroyed by giants, Aphrodite meets Ares, god of war, & they travel to Olympus together. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf Olympus is the home of the gods & goddesses where they jostle for power & prominence, & Aphrodite's appearance is about to unsettle things even more, yet even here the goddesses are given less freedom than the gods. Zeus wants control of Aphrodite & makes her the goddess of love & beauty - to be seen as nothing but beautiful is a curse that Aphrodite doesn't want but the other gods underestimating her may also be her strongest weapon. 1mo
OutsmartYourShelf This was a competent retelling of one of the Greek myths. Aphrodite has always seemed a bit of a vapid airhead compared to Artemis & Athena, so seeing her wield some power was a refreshing change. It was also nice to see her develop some real female friendships with minor deities & dryads. It was very YA-coded for me, the gods/goddesses acted very much like teenagers at times, 1mo
OutsmartYourShelf but please note that there is violence, a brief sex scene, & some disturbing behaviour from Zeus so I would say suitable for ages 15+. 3.5🌟

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, UCLan Publishing, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7322310846
Read 29th-30th Apr 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
1mo
Andrew65 Excellent 🎉🎉🎉 1mo
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 1mo
27 likes1 stack add5 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
Keeper of Enchanted Rooms | Charlie N. Holmberg
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Pickpick

Rhode Island, 1846 & writer Merritt Fernsby inherits a remote estate in Narragansett Bay. When he arrives he expects the property to be rundown as it has not been inhabited for over a century, but surprisingly, it looks good enough to live in. That's extremely fortunate as once he enters the house, it won't let him leave.

Hulda Larkin is sent from BIKER (the Boston Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms) to help Merritt with the house.

OutsmartYourShelf Trained in dealing with magical structures, Hulda moves in as housekeeper & advises Merritt to make Whimbrel House their ally. Easier said than done.

Interwoven in this is the story of magician Silas Hogwood whose abusive childhood has turned him into a hoarder of magic & one that wants the magic of Whimbrel House (& revenge on Hulda) for himself.

This was a vastly different read to my usual fare & I found is a bit discombobulating at first,
1mo
OutsmartYourShelf but eventually got used to a lighter read. This is a world where magic is an everyday thing but it has been waning through the generations which is why BIKER wants to preserve magical abodes. There is a side plot of romance but it's not overpowering. Having said that, I'm not sure I'm invested enough to follow Merritt & Hulda through the next 3 books. 4🌟

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5019286104

1mo
Andrew65 Looks a good£ reading ahead. Well done 🎉🎉🎉 1mo
25 likes4 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

1545 sees England at war with France again in the last years of King Henry VIII's life. Shardlake is summoned to see Queen Catherine Parr & asked to undertake an investigation into a case under the jurisdiction of the Court of Wards.

Shardlake & Jack Barak travel to Hoyland Priory & then Portsmouth where the English fleet is gathering, & Shardlake also tries to find out what really happened to Ellen Fettiplace who is still incarcerated in Bedlam.

OutsmartYourShelf This is an interesting one. The case at Hoyland Priory is odd & I couldn't get a handle on what exactly was going on there for a long time - the reveal was one that I had actually considered & discarded as being unlikely. The use of the historical sinking of the 'Mary Rose' was well incorporated into the narrative & added to the pathos at the ending of the story.
1mo
OutsmartYourShelf What irked me a little was that everyone seems to be annoyed at Shardlake for varying reasons, even Barak is short-tempered with him. He seems to forget that the only reason he wasn't press-ganged into the war was the fact that Shardlake called in a favour. 3.75🌟

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4159932838
Read 27th Mar - 28th Apr 2025

#Readaway2025 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES @andrew65
#ShardlakeSeriesBR @dabbe
1mo
Andrew65 I love these books, such a shame there will be no more. 1mo
dabbe Good point about everyone being hard on Shardlake; can't wait to discuss! 😍 1mo
DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 1mo
28 likes5 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
Sophie Scholl and the White Rose | Jud Newborn, Annette Dumbach
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Pickpick

This book tells the true story of 5 Munich university students, who set up an underground resistance movement against the Nazis, & their tragic fate.

This was all new to me as although I've read quite a bit about WWII, I'd never heard of the 'White Rose'. The story of their tragically short-lived efforts to establish a resistance movement against the Nazis is an important one, but I felt a bit short-changed with regards to the people themselves.

OutsmartYourShelf The book tells us about their actions & their ideals & that they all showed remarkable courage even when facing their deaths, but very little about them as individuals so the reader is always kept at a distance from the main subjects. I don't feel as if I know anything about Sophie or her brother, Hans, outside of the group. The researching of the events was well done though. 3.75🌟

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/769854819
1mo
Librarybelle I‘m not familiar with this either. Good to learn something new! 1mo
Andrew65 This looks good! Well done 🎉🎉🎉 1mo
31 likes4 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
Coram House | Bailey Seybolt
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Mehso-so

TLDR: Not a bad book per se, but the MC spoiled it for me.

This could have been a really dark, almost gothic, mystery thriller - all the ingredients were there, but it was a bit of a miss for me. I think the issue is that the main character, Alex Kelly, is difficult to like. She does all the clichéd things: drinks too much making her unreliable, rushes into situations without thinking, thinks she's the only one who can solve a cold case, (cont)

OutsmartYourShelf thinks she's the only one with any tragedy in her life, blah blah blah blah. Yes, I really didn't care for her character at all if you can tell so it affected my enjoyment of this one. 3.25⭐

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Bloomsbury Publishing PLC/Raven Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6748507394
Read 24th-26th Apr 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
1mo
Andrew65 Excellent 🎉🎉🎉 1mo
DieAReader #Next 👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻 1mo
33 likes3 comments
blurb
OutsmartYourShelf
Untitled | Untitled
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My May #ReadYourKindle book list.

I've almost finished 'Sophie Scholl & the White Rose' which was my RYK read for April.

@CBee

CBee Yay! 1mo
26 likes1 comment
review
OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

On Wednesday afternoon, wealthy businesswoman Ilaria Cavendish checks into a luxury London hotel as usual. Shortly afterwards, her lover discovers her dead & submerged in a bath of scalding hot water. Accident or murder? The CCTV shows that no-one went in the room or came out during the time she was killed, so if she was murdered how did they do it?

DS Maeve Kerrigan is working on the case which is being run by DI Josh Derwent. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf This is the first time they have worked together in a while & things have been tense between them, but when he is accused of something that Maeve knows he would never do, she swings into action to clear his name.

The Cavendish case is quite interesting & a little more involved than at first sight with hints of an Agatha Christie-esque sleight of hand, however it's the case involving Josh & his interactions with Maeve which are the biggest draw.
2mo
OutsmartYourShelf I did work out what was happening early on so it was quite satisfying to see it all unfold. As for Maeve & Josh - you'll just have to read it & see for yourself. 4.5🌟

My thanks to #NetGalley & publisher, HarperCollins UK, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6948045743
Read 20th-22nd Apr 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
#SeriesLove2025 @thespineview
2mo
TheSpineView Fantastic! 2mo
DieAReader 💖🎉Excellent! 1mo
33 likes4 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
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Panpan

Philadelphia, 2011 & a young woman named Ellen Greenberg was found dead in the apartment she shared with her fiancée. Ellen had received over 20 stab wounds, many to the back of the neck & head, & at least one has been assessed to have been received post-mortem - and yet, her death has been judged a suicide. Examining what evidence there is, this case seems to have been either disastrously bungled or there is something darker at the root of this.

OutsmartYourShelf First of all, this seems to me to be a very clear miscarriage of justice & Ellen's story needs to be out there so that the powers-that-be are finally convinced to re-examine her case. Unfortunately this book about the case is a bit of a mess. It really needs re-editing so that the arguments are more structured & linear to avoid repeating the same information over & over. 2mo
OutsmartYourShelf The author is obviously passionate about wanting to see justice done but this was all over the place. 2⭐

Thank you to #NetGalley & publishers, Post Hill Press/Regalo Press, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7404599049
Read 19th-22nd Apr 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
2mo
DieAReader #Next 👋🏻 2mo
27 likes3 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

Sixteen years ago, nine-year-old Rosalie Marshall vanished from her bed one summer night & was never seen again. Her disappearance tore her family apart & now her parents have been found dead, in what seems to be a murder-suicide, but DS Maeve Kerrigan & DI Josh Derwent aren't convinced.

Meanwhile since the events of last summer when Maeve & Josh went undercover as a couple on Jellicoe Close, Josh has been keeping his distance. (Continued)

OutsmartYourShelf This new case brings them back together & both of them are acutely aware of the simmering attraction between them.

If you've been reading this series so far, then I'm not going to spoil this one for you. Safe to say, the case is an interesting one, but the main aspect is the will-they-won't-they between the two main characters.
2mo
OutsmartYourShelf The chemistry is turned up another notch from the last book & at some point Maeve & Josh are going to have to confront their feelings about other.

I thought 'The Close' was the author's best so far, but this one is just about perfect. I'm now moving straight on to the next book in the series (luckily I managed to snag an ARC) because I need to know what happened in that epilogue. 5🌟
(edited) 2mo
TheSpineView Great job! 🤩📖📚 2mo
DieAReader 💖🎉Excellent! 2mo
35 likes1 stack add5 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
The Guilt Pill (Itpe) | Saumya Dave
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Pickpick

“If a pill could free you of guilt … would you take it?“

This was not the usual kind of topic that I choose to read but it turned out to be rather good. Even women who aren't parents can identify with the many demands on our time & being expected to multitask, so being a mother must be a whole other level. It's also about the fact that women are held to much higher standards in business & also (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf the additional pressures & judgement on Maya because she is a woman of colour.

The use of interview transcripts & social media messages alongside the usual narrative worked here given the nature of Maya's business dealings, & it kept things interesting. Overall I thought it was an interesting read although the sudden switch to a thriller in the last few chapters was a bit jarring.
2mo
OutsmartYourShelf I also thought that the ending was a little too neat but they are minor quibbles.
3.75🌟

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Hera Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7424270078
Read 16th - 18th Apr 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
2mo
GHABI4ROSES YES, @DieAReader and @Andrew65 know that I seem to operate from GUILT. Ew. Glad I saw this, friend, thank you. 2mo
DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES 🫂👰🏻‍♀️💖 2mo
34 likes1 stack add5 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

This is a fast-paced, high-octane thriller with an interesting plot & an excellent premise. The use of how 'mob mentality' makes people do things they wouldn't usually do is well-played. I really enjoyed it - right up until the author introduced a cute dog only for it to be killed a few moments later. That is one of my pet hates (no pun intended), but it's a good read up until then so I rate this one 4🌟

29 likes2 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
Misery Plaza | J J Alo
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Pickpick

Joseph Griffin, notorious outlaw, has been laying low & hiding out, but when he gets the news that bounty hunters are on his trail, he packs up his two children & sets off for the remote Missouri Plaza (aka Misery Plaza). Now going by the name, William Potter, he hopes that he's run far enough for now, but when something odd is found buried on the land he is now living on, he realises that bounty hunters are not the only thing after him. (cont'd)

OutsmartYourShelf I agree with other reviewers that this isn't really a horror book, it's a western crossed with sci-fi: Men In Black meets Bonanza!

I've never been a fan of westerns either on the page or onscreen, but it's definitely an interesting take. Although the first 30% or so was really slow & I was wondering when the action was going to kick in. once it did there was a lot happening at once.
2mo
OutsmartYourShelf I also wasn't a fan of the ending but I could see what the author was going for. Finally, there was also a whole lot of 'smirking' going on - nearly every character was smirking at least once & it became odd.

It was an entertaining read once it got going but overall the pace was slow until nearly halfway through, & the ending was a bit lacklustre after all that had happened before. The Roswell nod was well-worked in. 3.75🌟
2mo
DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 2mo
28 likes4 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
Murder: The Biography | Kate Morgan
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Pickpick

A look at the development of the English judicial system on the topic of murder, & the cases that contributed to changing aspects of the law. From well-known cases to more obscure crimes, each one helped either set a precedent or provided the need for updating current case law.

Given the subject, I wondered if it was going to be quite dry to read, but I needn't have worried. It was a really interesting read from start to finish. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf As the book moves through the centuries from the Tudor legal bigwig, Sir Edward Coke, to the present-day, the author focuses on a particular aspect of the law from domestic murder to holding companies responsible for decisions which lead to the death of employees or customers. A comprehensive look at the evolution of English law. 4.5🌟

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, HarperCollins UK/Mudlark, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
2mo
32 likes1 stack add2 comments
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The Devil's Colony | Marie Lestrange
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Panpan

This is of course loosely (very loosely) based on the missing colonists of Roanoke who disappeared between 1587 & 1590 leaving behind the word 'Croatoan' carved on a tree. Although theories have abounded ever since, there has been little solid evidence of what happened to them so the scope for imagining their fate is quite wide.

This one started off quite well before descending into chaos which left me feeling 'What the heck did I just read?'.

OutsmartYourShelf Although it did keep my interest enough to finish reading it, it became a bit unhinged towards the end. I was also a bit disappointed that it relied on the usual stereotype of witches being ugly, old women. A miss for me I'm afraid.

TWs: death of a child, infidelity, scenes of a sexual nature, animal death, cannibalism.

Thank you to #NetGalley & publisher, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
2mo
29 likes1 stack add3 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
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Panpan

A collection of short stories, inspired by the music of the alternative era, from contributors including Josh Malerman, Meg Gardiner & Paul Tremblay.

I like the music of the era (Depeche Mode, Garbage, New Order, The Smiths etc), these short stories based on the music - not so much. Whatever the authors were aiming for with this collection, I just did not 'get' it, however, other reviewers really enjoyed them so don't let me put you off.

OutsmartYourShelf Standout was 'Superstition' by Silva Moreno-Garcia, & honourable mentions to 'All My Life' by Meg Gardiner & 'Never Let Me Down' by Brian Francis Slattery.

TWs: suicide, animal death, sexual assault, homophobia, infidelity.

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Ruadan Books (IBPA), for the opportunity to read an ARC.
2mo
DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 2mo
dabbe That cover! 😱 2mo
OutsmartYourShelf @dabbe The stuff of nightmares! 2mo
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OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

Returning from an army tour in Iraq, Nate Hankes feels adrift & so decides to hike the entire Appalachian Trail. At almost 2,190 miles long, it would take between 5-7 months & involve meeting with unpredictable weather & challenging terrain. Nate is joined by his brother, Ben, & initially this seems a mistake as Ben is not 'all in' initially. As the miles tick by though, the brothers make friends with other 'thru-hikers', (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf find that strangers can be welcoming & hospitable, & may just find what is missing in their own lives.

I really like books about hiking long trails or climbing mountains as, unfortunately my chronic health issues mean it's something I will only be able to do vicariously. This one was a middle-of-the-road read. I enjoyed the hiking bits, found the flashbacks to the author's tour in Iraq interesting,
2mo
OutsmartYourShelf but I must admit I speedread through the 'ruminating on life' bits, just because they were not as interesting as the other two topics & I wanted to get back to them.
3.5🌟

My thanks to #NetGalley & publisher, BooksGoSocial, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4145542724
Read 4th-8th Apr 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
2mo
DieAReader Excellent review! 2mo
25 likes3 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
We Were Warned | Chelsea Ichaso
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Pickpick

This was rather entertaining. I love anything in abandoned resorts/theme parks so the setting was a plus. Yes, there was some of the usual YA stuff: two characters not communicating & assuming what the other was thinking, an historic misunderstanding to start off the animosity, & the almost ubiquitous love triangle, but it all worked here. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf There were one or two good twists & turns in the plot & the ending was strong. Overall it was a good YA mystery thriller & I enjoyed it. 4🌟

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Sourcebooks Fire, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7364768581
Read 4th-6th Apr 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
2mo
DieAReader 🎉Fantastic! 2mo
38 likes1 stack add2 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

The prevailing stories around the sinking of the 'Titanic' revolve around social class, gender, & origin. The overall image is one of upper-class British & American men stoically awaiting death whilst dressed in their finest evening suits & waving farewell to their wives. This book examines first-hand accounts from survivors to show it was more nuanced than that. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf This book was very informative - I've read countless books on the subject & this one provided a different angle on the well-known events. The author discusses & gives evidence for the argument that the events onboard played out the social construction of Edwardian society at large & it seems an argument with merit. Recommended if you are an avid reader of all things Titanic. 4🌟 2mo
DieAReader 💖💖💖 2mo
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OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

The author grew up considering his great-grandfather a fascinating figure. Siegfried Merzbacher was a German-Jewish chemist who invented radioactive toothpaste & took his family & fled Germany out of the reach of the Nazis in the late 1930s.

However, when Dunthorne read Merzbacher's autobiography (a hefty tome that no-one else in the family had tackled before then) a very different story emerged, (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf one that would turn the author's world on its head. This discovery led to further investigation, retracing his great-grandfather's footsteps in Germany & later in Turkey.

This was a really good read. The author has a nice writing style which keeps the reader engaged &, in amongst the discussion of a serious subject, there are a few moments of dry humour which remind you that this is very much about real life. Very interesting & informative. 4🌟
2mo
OutsmartYourShelf My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Penguin UK/Hamish Hamilton, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7083705433
Read 2nd - 4th Apr 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES

2mo
DieAReader 💖💖💖 2mo
34 likes2 stack adds3 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
Fair Play | Louise Hegarty
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Mehso-so

Abigail is hosting a birthday party for her brother, Benjamin & has invited his circle of close friends. She arrives at the Airbnb to set up the food & drink & also hide the clues for the period murder mystery game they'll be playing later. The party passes without a hitch but the next morning, Benjamin fails to appear for breakfast. His bedroom door is locked & he isn't answering their knocks so they break the door open - Benjamin is dead.

OutsmartYourShelf The story then splits into two, one following the aftermath in the present & the second has the friends appear in a real-life murder mystery. A famous detective arrives to investigate the death & the house suddenly has staff including a butler, a gardener and a housekeeper. This is a golden-age locked-room mystery & everyone is a suspect.

This started off quite well & I was looking forward to the offbeat angle of the mystery.
2mo
OutsmartYourShelf There were aspects I liked: the knowing metaphorical 'wink' to the audience by the detective, the nods to the authors (including Conan Doyle & Agatha Christie) of some of the greatest detectives ever written, & the dual narrative, but overall it just didn't work. The main issue for me is that the ending just didn't make sense - I'm not sure if it was due to being an ARC & there was some text missing or not, but it just finished abruptly. 2mo
OutsmartYourShelf I'm still not entirely sure who the actual killer was supposed to be in the end.
3.25⭐ as I did enjoy most of it but the ending let it down.

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Pan Macmillan/Picador, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6786452819
Read 1st - 3rd Apr 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
2mo
DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 2mo
37 likes4 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
Bright Smoke, Cold Fire | Rosamund Hodge
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Mehso-so

This retelling of 'Romeo & Juliet' had a great deal of promise & it looked like an intriguing read. Unfortunately it didn't quite work. Most of the characters were quite flat including Romeo, whose whole personality was his being in love with Juliet.

Runajo & Juliet were by far the more interesting storyline but even there I don't think the full potential was utilised. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf There were also sporadic chapters back in time at Romeo & Juliet's first meeting but no indication was given at the start of the chapter so it was a bit confusing the first couple of times. I'm not sure I'm invested enough to bother with the second book. 3⭐

TW: Blood.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2141260240
Read 20th - 31st Mar 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
(edited) 2mo
OutsmartYourShelf #FrozenSick @Puddlejumper Finally finished this one.
H2 to H6 (Fantasy) to K2 (END!!)
2mo
27 likes2 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

Two parallel cases in this one but neither of them really mattered (to me anyway). I managed to narrow down the Jellicoe Close case to 2 suspects fairly early on, but let's face it - I'm here for Kerrwent!

Now, I'm not usually one for reading romance but Jane Casey has me in a chokehold with the smouldering attraction between Josh Derwent & Maeve Kerrigan. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf There's witty banter galore, flirtatious moments, & more chemistry than your average science lab. It's like peak Maddie Hayes/David Addison in the first 2 seasons of Moonlighting. It was by turns intense sexual tension & frustrating communication but never less than a gripping read. 4.5🌟

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4890342403
Read 30th-31st Mar 2025
2mo
TheSpineView Fantastic! 2mo
Andrew65 Well done! Agree in the comments re Maeve and Josh. 🎉🎊🎉 2mo
DieAReader 💖💖💖 2mo
26 likes5 comments
blurb
OutsmartYourShelf
Untitled | Unknown
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My list for April's #ReadYourKindle

Read 1 from March's list & it turned out to be quite a good read.

@CBee

review
OutsmartYourShelf
There Came A-Tapping | Andrea Carter
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Pickpick

After a slow start, this one grew on me & I really enjoyed reading it. The MC starts off as someone whom the reader is unsure about whether they can trust her version of events, but as time goes on, the reasons for her anxiety & actions become clear.

It was well thought out & the historic plotline dovetailed nicely with the present-day one. I worked out some of the conclusion but not the full picture of what was actually going on. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf Recommended if you like slow-burn thrillers with a paranormal edge. 4.5🌟

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Little Brown Book Group UK/Cornerstone, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

TWs: death of a parent, mention of suicide, miscarriage, birds

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7278367530
Read 24th-26th Mar 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
2mo
DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 2mo
32 likes2 comments