A quick thriller that kept me turning the pages. A chance encounter in a book shop leads to murder!

An antenatal group meet for a barbecue after the births of their babies, tensions are high and secrets are uncovered with disastrous consequences.

A day out out yesterday, our long anticipated mobile app/geo location Murder Mystery game in Barnsley town centre, unfortunately we were rained off. The game itself was great, finding the locations and uncovering the clues: but our team “Don‘t Mess With Jess” became sodden and grumpy, even a cheeky G&T couldn‘t fix the problem. One to try again on the sunshine. Today I‘m staying dry and reading.

My goals for the #NutsInMay #Readathon are to actually get some reading done! Since the UK has begun to open up I feel I have been swamped with errands and been stuck in my car! I‘m starting with my #lmpbc read and then moving on to my real life book club pick. I have a whole bunch of books I hoped to read this month, fingers crossed.

A slow burn. Thirty years ago, seventeen people were murdered at a party, the drinks spiked with cyanide, of the party goers only two survived; the housekeeper and the blind daughter of the family. Told through interviews and excerpts, the reader questions memory, familial ties and morality. Very enjoyable @BarbaraBB

Rather gruesome as cosy crime goes. Jodie (Nosey) Parker has returned to Cornwall after leaving the Met Police in London, to start a new career as a caterer; on her first job, there is a murder and the bride disappears.

Four women at university in Tel Aviv make a promise, never to have children, that leads to deadly consequences. A chilling serial killer story. Excellent read.

#AprilWrapUp #AprilReads Stand out books this month were ‘Meat Market‘ and ‘Autopsy of a Boring Wife‘.

My favoured publisher of 2021 has to be #PushkinVertigo my longing to travel is being fulfilled by stories from around the world (not that I want to be in Tel Aviv with a serial killer), this weekend is Israel; for what is hopefully my first book of the #20in4 Readathon, hosted by @Andrew65

Today I‘m off to the local farm shop: a new cookbook to try, New German cuisine, Paprika Pork Chops tonight with apple mashed potatoes.

I absolutely adored this book. When Diane‘s husband leaves her for a younger woman, she feels her life has fallen apart. This is a book of loss and acceptance, with so much pathos and humour.

Sara and Shannon are routinely abused, beaten and diminished by their cruel and sadistic parents, one night they can take it no more. This is less of a whodunnit thriller and more of a look to the moral implications and the consequences of ones actions, the press and a public eager to know every last bloody detail.

A detailed account of Harry Price‘s ten year investigation of Borley Rectory, the methods used to ghost hunt, the village legends and statements by its tenants.

Thank you so much @Powered_By_Plants I loved this book for our #lmpbc I found myself highly invested in the characters and their fates. A novel that explores the less glamorous side of modelling and the exploitation of women and girls. It‘s on its way to you by Royal Mail First Class @jenniferw88

My second book by Prof. Sue Black. She has an amazing ability to describe the body, in all it‘s complicated detail to a lay person, with humour and clarity. This book takes the reader through the skeleton, section by section, and describes how our bones can be used to identify us. Fascinating.

A real life book shop ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️ I only bought one as I was in a rush, but utter bliss to be back in heaven. #WaterstonesLeeds #PenguinVintageClassic

An unnamed German woman unburdens herself her doctor, as he performs his mysterious examination between her legs, she talks of her wildest desires, National guilt, familial bonds and ties, the notion of femininity and sex and her overwhelming need to have a physical symbol of power - a penis. Darkly funny and unnerving, this novella raises issues of gender and conformity I had not considered.

My April Book Club read - a story of loss and redemption. After the loss of her son, Masha struggles to do more than endure living in a world without him. A meeting with Sally-Red-Shoes in the local cemetery opens her eyes to a world full of possibilities.

I think this is more of a YA horror, but enjoyable nonetheless. Sixteen year old Paige, her mother and younger brother Logan move to an old house in Idaho after a bitter divorce. Told in a diary style with accompanying photograph; we follow as events turn from annoying to disturbing. 🕷🕷🕷 The ending was a little rushed, but a creepy page turner.

A modern take on Gothic horror, ghost story meets crime thriller. Ali and Jack join a commune set in the grounds of an old asylum. A slow burner, with some sinister aspects; diary entries from the past, the old medical equipment still in situ, and a disparate group of people all wanting to get away from reality.

Thank you for sending me this book to read @jenniferw88 I enjoyed it so much. I have not read a book from this standpoint before, a country (Estonia) torn between the oppression of two opposing invaders, Communist Russia and Nazi Germany. I‘ll have it and the current #lmpbc book in the first class post on Tuesday.

A very different take on the cosy crime, country house murder mystery. We join the private detective, Elizabeth, literally, as she guides us the reader through twelve interviews to find the murderer of Jonty Caswell-Jones. Elizabeth asks the reader questions, gives them hints to background and history and summarises the facts. An immersive read, it took a bit of getting used to, but I enjoyed working it out with her.

#March Reads 2021

My current bedtime read - an odd one - I wasn‘t sure at first, it reminding me of a ‘murder mystery‘ game, especially as the detective talks to the reader in asides and there are stage directions, but I‘m more than halfway and quite invested in finding out who the murderer is.

Another fab Japanese read, I‘ve learned that these are termed ‘Honkaku‘(orthodox) or ‘Shin Honkaku‘ (new orthodox) thanks to the Shedunnit Podcast. A disjointed and antagonistic family gather for the reading of an unusual will, bloodshed follows; the detective, Kindachai, must peel away the layers of animosity and lies to find the killer.

Starting well. In 1940s Japan, the autocratic head of the Inugami family has died, leaving behind a will that cause discord between the remaining members of the clan.

A wonderfully informative insight in to the workings, successes and failings and of Bethlem Hospital (Bedlam), from its first conception to the present day. All marked up and ready to post (am I posting to you @jenniferw88 ) #lmpbc

A not quite so cosy crime: An author of poison pen letters, with malice and without mercy is shocking the villagers of Tilling Green. When one young woman is found drowned in a supposed suicide, the Chief Constable of the County asks Miss Silver if she can do a little snooping. A Manor House, a younger wife, old maids and a recluse, this has all the perfect ingredients of a Classic Crime read.

Steadily making my way through my #lmpbc book, a fascinating history of Bethlem Royal Hospital or as it is more commonly know Bedlam Madhouse.

I‘m trying to read and annotate for #lmpbc but Pablo has other ideas #DogsOfLitsy #PetsOfLitsy we are all trapped in the kitchen, social distancing from the tiler working in the downstairs loo, it‘s going to be a long day.

I really enjoyed this collection of obsessive-love short stories. Reading of Du Maurier‘s own early life with an obsessive father and a neglectful mother, her own need for freedom from them adds a extra dimension to these tales. #AuthorAMonth #DaphneDuMaurier

Two brothers, isolated by a domineering mother begin their Grand Tour and their first taste of freedom. Benjamin quickly falls under the thrall of Mr Lavelle, through Paris, Florence and Rome they plunge in to a hedonistic life, blind to the consequences. Benjamin and his brother Edger reunite, but can the damage to their reputation survive, and can Benjamin go back to the life that is expected of him. #MarvellousMarch

Join @Andrew65 for the #MavellousMarch Readathon - informal, create your own goals - I would like to complete three books this week

Happy Mother‘s Day to you all in the UK. Wishing you all a relaxing day, full of time to read.

Mary‘s world turned upside down when she found out her husband of six years and father of her children was already married. This is the follow up to her book ‘The Bigamist‘; Mary finds strength from knowledge and finds out all she can about the psychology of her ex “husband”, she also discovers many more of his victims. A fascinating memoir.

Children back to school, so a peaceful day of a jigsaw and an audiobook. A corporate group of social media-music partners go to the French Alps for a break and to discuss an impending buyout - tensions are high when one of their number has a tragic skiing accident. But was it an accident, as the bodies pile up it becomes increasingly clear they have a murderer amongst them. Thank you @TheAromaofBooks of the pretty jigsaw, I really enjoyed it.

Today I‘m going on a Grand Tour from the comfort of my sofa - first stop Paris.

A sad, but enlightening story, my opinions of the characters shifted constantly as I read, from admiration, pity, loathing and back again. In the aftermath of the death of 16 year old Lydia Lee, her family ask themselves so many questions, why was she out on the lake at night, were there signs, was someone else involved and did they even really know her at all? A family tragedy, that explores marriage, parental expectations, academia and race.

An odd, but gripping thriller. Seven strangers meet to test out a new “luxury holiday” on an isolated island (acknowledged nod to Agatha Christie). Things take a turn for the bizarre almost immediately, and then it becomes dangerous. The characterisation were good, got a real feel for them, and the geography and descriptions excellent, the tech was a tad unbelievable and the plot was wild. All in all a good fast paced page turner

A beautifully told bittersweet story, in a cafe where you can revisit the past, but are unable to change the future, we visit a host of recurring characters, who use the magic of the cafe. I really enjoyed this unusual story and look forward to reading the next book.

A new month and two fresh books started. I‘ve really enjoyed the #20in4 and got lots of reading done this weekend. Thank you for hosting @Andrew65

A fun and quick cosy crime. Judith is 77 years old, a whisky drinker and crossword compiler; when her neighbour is murdered, she can‘t help but get involved. Can she use her knowledge of cryptic crosswords to find the motive and culprit. #20in4 (It really bugs me that the crossword on the book cover doesn‘t work).

A good amount read and enjoyed in February

A gripping Italian thriller. Annibale Canessa, retired member of the Carabiniere, returns to Milan after the murder of his brother. Canessa is desperate to discover the truth, but soon discovers he is alone, with enemies on every side, from the Camorra to his former colleagues. #20in4

Here are the books I am hoping to complete for this second round of #20in4 with @Andrew65 Cosy Crime and a Mafia/Camorra Thriller as well as squeeze in the new Netflix film ‘Capone‘ with Tom Hardy. Happy reading everyone.

Le Sommet sits high in the Swiss Alps, the former sanatorium has been restored to a hotel of the highest luxury. Elin, a British policewoman, on sabbatical, is there to visit family and friends; before long odd things begin to happen; a huge avalanche cuts them off from the world below and Elin is left as the only authority figure, she must challenge her confidence and wrestle with her past demons, as the body count escalates.

Walter Present‘s is a global streaming service (part of All4 in the UK) that showcase award winning foreign drama; this is the second book they have released in association with Pushkin Press (the third ‘The Ghost of Frederic Chopin‘ is due for publication in May 2021). The films and dramas I have watched have been excellency, as was the first book.