So far in 2024, I’ve read 57 books. It really has been a great year of reading, with many of those books being given a 4 star rating. Following are just four of those 4 star books.

Telling Tales by Ann Cleeves (Vera Stanhope No. 2)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Telling Tales is the second book in the very popular Vera Stanhope series. Jeannie was charged with the murder of 15 year old Abigail. It is now ten years later and evidence has been found that indicates that the wrong person was charged with this murder.

Inspector Vera Stanhope is called in to reopen the investigation and for many residents this brings up memories that haven’t been thought of since the murder.

I know it’s hard to believe, but I’ve never read any books in the Vera Stanhope series. The TV series is a favourite, not to be missed, so I thought there was no need to read the books. How wrong I was. I now plan to read the entire series of eleven books.

The Remarkable Mrs. Reibey by Grantlee Kieza

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The story of Mary Reibey is extraordinary. After being found guilty of theft in 1791, Mary was transported to Australia. She began her life in the new country as a convict, and went on to become Australia’s richest businesswoman. She was Australia’s first female entrepreneur and she appeared on the $20 note.

Her rags to riches story is inspirational, and unputdownable.

“Finding love early on her arrival in the new colony, Mary went on to develop a family business which grew to include a fleet of merchant vessels. Widowed at just 33, and with seven children to support, Mary would oversee the growth of that business to an international trading empire and go on to expand what is now Sydney’s thriving business district while helping to bankroll many of the colony’s first public services”.

I’m a fan of Grantlee Kieza and this book was another of his fabulous Australian fiction biographies.

Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
(Ernest Cunningham #1)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I find it really difficult to write anything about this book, without giving it a way. Goodreads have done a better job than I could do:

“Everyone in my family has killed someone. Some of us, the high achievers, have killed more than once. I’m not trying to be dramatic, but it is the truth. Some of us are good, others are bad, and some just unfortunate.

I’m Ernest Cunningham. Call me Ern or Ernie. I wish I’d killed whoever decided our family reunion should be at a ski resort, but it’s a little more complicated than that.

Have I killed someone? Yes. I have. Who was it?
Let’s get started“.

It did take me a few chapters to get into this unusual style of narration, but when I started to get used to it, I was hooked.

The Sea Captain’s Wife by Jackie French

The Sea Captain’s Wife is a love story and an unusual story of murder and mutiny on the high seas.

“You never know what the sea will give you … or what it will take back”

Mair lives a traditional life on an isolated island named Big Henry, and hunts for a husband along the beach. Eventually she finds a naked, half drowned man who she rescues and nurses back to life.

This story goes from Big Henry to Sydney, and a much more comfortable lifestyle than Mair was accustomed to on the island.

As a fan of Australian historical fiction and Jackie French, I was probably always going to love this book. It’s quite an unusual story line which didn’t disappoint.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Star Rating

Please note that my star rating system isn’t at all based on literary merit, but is based on my enjoyment for the book.
For me a book that gets five stars, is a book that I really enjoyed, and found difficult to put down.

⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Unputdownable. Would read it again.

 ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ Fantastic read. Not to be missed.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Enjoyable. Would recommend it.

⭐️⭐️ Wouldn’t read it again.

⭐️Don’t recommend this book at all.

The book mentioned in this post is of my own choice, and has not been sent to me to review. My opinions are my own and I receive no renumeration at all for them.

Have you read this book? If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts. I promise to always reply to comments made below.

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This post is linked to the Wednesday Words & Whimsy linkup hosted by Min from Write of the Middle 

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