Unsolved by James Patterson and David Ellis #AtoZChallenge

The Blogging from A to Z April Challenge is for bloggers who wish to participate by publishing a blog post every day in April except for Sundays. Each blog post will focus on a letter of the alphabet. For example April 1 will be A, April 2 will be B and on it goes. By the end of April, a blog post for every letter of the alphabet will have been posted

Unsolved – Invisible #2 by James Patterson and David Ellis

Summary

A chilling and shocking follow-up to Sunday Times bestseller Invisible by James Patterson.

FBI researcher, Emma Dockery is back with a vengeance. Obsessed with finding a link between a string of deaths across several different states, she is convinced that there’s a pattern. And where there’s a pattern, there’s a serial killer to put a stop to. When detectives working on some of the cases start turning up dead, Emma knows that she’s onto something. These deaths are murders, and she’s going to be the one to prove it.

The closer she gets to finding the killer, the more Emma feels like she’s being watched. Is she setting a trap for this depraved killer? Or with every step she takes, is she falling further into his web, with the death count rising, Emma must act fast to catch this killer, before she becomes the next name on the hit list. – from the blurb

Unsolved (Invisible, #2)

My Thoughts

I didn’t read Invisible 1, but it’s not necessary to read it before Unsolved. In fact, I didn’t realise this was a second book in a series until after I’d finished it. I have enjoyed the James Patterson collaborations that I’ve read so far, and this novel was no different. A fast paced, detective mystery with a great story line and a few twists along the way.

Of course, as with most James Patterson books, it’s obviously written to a formula which is quite cliche – the FBI agent who goes against protocol, but because she has great results she gets away with it.

 I enjoyed it this novel. It was a quick read with an interesting plot and unexpected twists.However, there is one thing that I didn’t like about this book and that was the ending. It just didn’t feel right to me, and left me disappointed at the end.

Star Rating: 3.5 star

About the Authors:

James Patterson

James Patterson is the world’s bestselling author and most trusted storyteller. He has created more enduring fictional characters than any other novelist writing today, with his Alex Cross, Michael Bennett, Women’s Murder Club, Private, NYPD Red, Daniel X, Maximum Ride, and Middle School series. He has sold over 380 million books worldwide and currently holds the Guinness World Record for the most #1 New York Times bestsellers. In addition to writing the thriller novels for which he is best known, among them The President Is Missing with President Bill Clinton, Patterson also writes fiction for young readers of all ages, including the Max Einstein series, produced in partnership with the Albert Einstein Estate. He is also the first author to have #1 new titles simultaneously on the New York Times adult and children’s bestseller lists. – Goodreads

David Ellis

 

David Ellis is a lawyer and the Edgar Allan Poe Award winner for Best First Novel for Line of Vision. Ellis attended Northwestern Law School and began his legal career in private practice in Chicago in 1993. He served as the House Prosecutor who tried and convicted Illinois Governor Blagojevich in the Impeachment Trial before the Illinois Senate. He was elected to the Illinois Appellate Court in 2014 and took office December 1, 2014. Ellis currently lives outside Chicago with his wife and three children.

Published 2019 by Little, Brown and Company
Audio book published by Bolinda Audio

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T: The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger #atozchallenge

The Blogging from A to Z April Challenge is for bloggers who wish to participate by publishing a blog post every day in April except for Sundays. Each blog post will focus on a letter of the alphabet. For example April 1 will be A, April 2 will be B and on it goes. By the end of April, a blog post for every letter of the alphabet will have been posted

Summary

This is the extraordinary love story of Clare and Henry who met when Clare was six and Henry was thirty six, and were married when Clare was twenty two and Henry was thirty. Impossible, but true, because Henry suffers from a rare condition where his genetic clock periodically resets and he finds himself pulled suddenly into his past or future. In the face of this force, that they can neither prevent nor control, Henry and Clare’s struggle to lead normal lives is both intensely moving and entirely forgettable. – blurb

The Time Traveler's Wife

My Thoughts

When I read that first sentence in the summary, I couldn’t wait to get my head into this story. I read this book when it was first released in 2005. This debut novel is so good and unputdownable, even on the second reading. I’m not a lover of romance, but the author has written this book to be romantic and sentimental, but definitely not mushy or sugar sweet. 

The story does jump around a bit, between narrations and time frames, but I still found it to be an easy to read and not at all annoying, as some books can be that have changes in dates in their storyline. 

Even though, the premise of The Time Travellers Wife is unbelievable, and even absurd, I found the book to be totally believable. At first I found it difficult to get into the story, but as soon as I worked it what was happening, I couldn’t put the book down. I was convinced that it was possible for the events to occur. The love story was beautiful and tragic all at the same time.

The themes of love, passion, destiny and fate were all thrown in together to create this beautiful and unforgettable story.

Recommendations

“At it’s core, The Time Traveler’s Wife, is an old-fashioned love story. A terrific book…..startlingly original.’ – Observer

“Niffenegger exploits the possibilities of her fantasy scenario with immense skill: no wonder this novel has spent weeks on the bestseller lists. This is one of those books that makes you want to eat it up from start to finish”

“Pick up Niffenegger’s book, and you’ll experience the visceral thrill, that only a few novels provide. An elegy to love and loss” – Independent on Sunday

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

About the author

Audrey Niffenegger

Audrey Niffenegger (born June 13, 1963 in South Haven, Michigan) is a writer and artist. She is also a professor in the MFA Creative Writing Program at Columbia College Chicago. Niffenegger’s debut novel, The Time Traveler’s Wife (2003), was a national bestseller.

Her Fearful Symmetry (2009), Niffenegger’s second novel, is set in London’s Highgate Cemetery where, during research for the book, Niffenegger acted as a tour guide.

Niffenegger has also published graphic and illustrated novels including: The Adventuress (2006), The Three Incestuous Sisters (2005), The Night Bookmobile (2009), and Raven Girl (2013). Raven Girl was adapted into a ballet by Resident Choreographer Wayne McGregor and the Royal Opera House Ballet (London) in 2013.

A mid-career retrospective entitled “Awake in the Dream World: The Art of Audrey Niffenegger,” was presented by the National Museum of Women in the Arts (Washington D.C.) in 2013. An accompanying exhibition catalogue examines several themes in Niffenegger’s visual art including her explorations of life, mortality, and magic.

Published 2004 by Vintage Books
Softcover, 539 pages

Have you read The Time Traveler’s Wife?  If so, I’d love to hear if you enjoyed it as much as I did. I love it when we have a conversation and promise to reply to all comments.

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S: The Scholar by Dervla McTiernan #atozchallenge

The Blogging from A to Z April Challenge is for bloggers who wish to participate by publishing a blog post every day in April except for Sundays. Each blog post will focus on a letter of the alphabet. For example April 1 will be A, April 2 will be B and on it goes. By the end of April, a blog post for every letter of the alphabet will have been posted

The Scholar by Dervla McTiernan – Cormac Reilly #2

When Dr. Emma Sweeney stumbles across the victim of a hit and run, outside Galway University, late one evening, she calls her partner, Detective Cormac Reilly, bringing him to the scene of a murder that would otherwise never have been assigned to him.

A security card in the dead woman’s pocket identifies her as Carline Darcy, a gifted student and heir apparent to Irish pharmaceutical giant Darcy Therapeutics. The multi billion dollar company, founded by her grandfather, sponsors university research facilities and has funded Emma’s own ground breaking work. The inpuiry into Carline’s death promised to be high profile and high pressure.

As Cormac investigates, evidence mounts that the death is linked to a Darcy laboratory and, increasingly to Emma herself. Cormac’s running of the case comes under scrutiny, and he is forced to question his own objectivity. Could his loyalty to Emma have led him to overlook evidence? Has it made him a liability? – blurb

My Thoughts

This is the second book in the Cormac Reilly series. I really enjoyed the first book, The Ruin, so was looking forward to reading the this book. It did not disappoint at all. There was always enough happening in this story, to keeping me turning the page. There were many unexpected twists and turns. The characters were believable, even the unlikeable ones.  In my opinion, many crime novels have one dimensional characters, but not so in this novel.

I read this book before I read the first in the series and it does stand alone. The events in the first novel are explained well so as not to lead to confusion.  There is no need to start with the first book, though I have gone back and read it. I couldn’t not after reading The Scholar. I had to know more about the main characters who had really interesting back stories.

Recommendations

“Taut, tense and darkly addictive, The Scholar is a treat for lovers of fine crime writing.” – Candice Fox

“Atmospheric and beautifully paced, with nuanced characters and a gripping plot – the Scholar has it all.” – Chris Hammer, author of Scrublands

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

About the Author

Dervla McTiernan

Dervla McTiernan is the author of The Ruin, The Scholar and The Good Turn. The Ruin was published in 2018 and is the first in the detective Cormac Reilly series. The Ruin was a top ten bestseller and an Amazon Best Book of July 2018. Dervla was a New Blood Panellist at Harrogate Festival. The Scholar was published in 2019 and was a top five bestseller. The Good Turn will be published in 2020. The Ruin has been optioned for TV by Hopscotch Features

Published in 2019 by Harper Collins Publishers
Paperbook, 377 pages.

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R: The Ruin by Dervla McTiernan #a-zchallenge

The Ruin by Dervla McTiernan – Cormac Reilly #1

The Ruin (Cormac Reilly, #1)

 

Summary

It’s been twenty years since Cormac Reilly discovered the body of Hilaria Blake in her crumbling Georgian home. But he’s never forgotten the two children she left behind…

When Aisling Conroy’s boyfriend Jack is found in the freezing black waters of the river Corrib, the police tell her it was suicide. A surgical resident, she throws herself into study and work, trying to forget – until Jack’s sister Maude shows up. Maude suspects foul play, and she is determined to prove it.

DI Cormac Reilly is the detective assigned with the re-investigation of an ‘accidental’ overdose twenty years ago – of Jack and Maude’s drug- and alcohol-addled mother. Cormac is under increasing pressure to charge Maude for murder when his colleague Danny uncovers a piece of evidence that will change everything…

This unsettling crime debut draws us deep into the dark heart of Ireland and asks who will protect you when the authorities can’t – or won’t. Perfect for fans of Tana French and Jane Casey. – blurb

My thoughts

Set in Ireland, this is an excellent and fast paced crime novel. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, the characters and the twists and turns along the way. I read this book very quickly, over just a couple of days, as I couldn’t put it down. Lovers of mystery and crime, I’m sure would enjoy this book.

This is a debut novel, which looks to become an excellent series.

Recommendations

“The Ruin is the kind of book you will inevitably find yourself recommending to every person you know, and probably also that lovely person who makes your coffee. It’s blisteringly good.” – Readings

“Dervla McTiernan gives us a gripping mystery set in Galway. It’s a complicated, page turning story, that touches on corruption, clandestine cover ups and criminal conspiracy. As moving as it is fast paced.” – Val McDermid

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

About the Author

Dervla McTiernan

Internationally bestselling and critically acclaimed writer, Dervla McTiernan is the author of The Ruin, The Scholar and The Good Turn. The Ruin was published in 2018 and is the first in the detective Cormac Reilly series. The Ruin was a top ten bestseller and an Amazon Best Book of July 2018. Dervla was a New Blood Panellist at Harrogate Festival. The Scholar was published in 2019 and was a top five bestseller. The Good Turn will be published in 2020. The Ruin has been optioned for TV by Hopscotch Features.

 

Published 2018 by Penguin Books. Paperback, 380 pages

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Q: Quick by Steve Worland #atozchallenge

The Blogging from A to Z April Challenge is for bloggers who wish to participate by publishing a blog post every day in April except for Sundays. Each blog post will focus on a letter of the alphabet. For example April 1 will be A, April 2 will be B and on it goes. By the end of April, a blog post for every letter of the alphabet will have been posted

Quick by Steve Worland
Audiobook read by Sean Mangan

Quick

Summary

Melbourne, Australia: Round One of the Formula One World Championship. Billy Hotchkiss no longer races a v* Supercar, but that doesn’t mean he’s lost the need for speed. When the young cop uncovers a diamond heist in progress, he leaps into action and almost captures the thieves.

Lyon, France: Interpol are convinced the thieves are connected to Formula One. And they think this Australia ex race driver is just the guy to stop them.

Sent undercover with an unwilling French partner, Billy is thrust into the glamorous world of international motor racing as the diamond heists continue. But as Billy closes in on the thieves, a far more sinister threat is revealed.

With the fate of a city, and the lives of half a million people in the balance, Billy will need to drive like never before to stop the worst act of terror since 9/11 – blurb

My Thoughts

Definitely, fast paced and action packed, this novel took me on a roller coaster ride. I was exhausting reading about the exploits of the main character, Billy. I found myself immersed and wanting to know more about the fast paced world of big money, fast cars and Formula 1. A great action ‘boys own’ type adventure, which is an easy, fast read, with lots of comedy.  I enjoyed the characters and their banter also.

The lower star rating is due to action, adventure not being my genre of choice. Fans of these type of books may give a higher rating.

Recommendation

“Hands down, one of the best action adventure novels, I’ve ever read” – Steve Waugh

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

About the Author

Steve Worland

Steve Worland has worked extensively in film and television in Australia and the USA. He has written scripts for Working Title and Icon Productions, worked in script development for James Cameron’s Lightstorm and wrote Fox Searchlight’s Bootmen, which won five Australian Film Institute awards.

Steve also wrote the action-comedy telemovie Hard Knox, the bible and episodes of the television series Big Sky and the Saturn award-winning Farscape. The family film Paper Planes, which he co-wrote, will be released worldwide in 2015. His novelisation of the screenplay will be released at the same time.

He is the author of the action-adventure novels Velocity, Combustion and Quick and is currently writing his fourth book.

Published 2014 by Michael Joseph: Penguin Australia
Audiobook 11 hours 47minutes

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Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho #atozchallenge

The Blogging from A to Z April Challenge is for bloggers who wish to participate by publishing a blog post every day in April except for Sundays. Each blog post will focus on a letter of the alphabet. For example April 1 will be A, April 2 will be B and on it goes. By the end of April, a blog post for every letter of the alphabet will have been posted

The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho

Summary

The Pilgrimage recounts the spectacular trials of Pauli Coelho and his mysterious mentor, Petrie, as they journey across Spain in search of a miraculous sword. The Pilgrimage paved the way Paulo Coelho’s international best selling novel, The Alchemist. In many ways, these two volumes are companions -to truly comprehend one, you must read the other.

Step inside this captivating account of Paulo Coelho’s pilgrimage along the road to Santiago. This fascinating parable explores the need to find ones own path. In the end, we discover that the extraordinary is always found in the ordinary and simple ways of everyday people. Part adventure story, part guide to self discovery, this compelling tale delivers the perfect combination of enchantment and insight –goodreads

Translated by Alan R.Clarke

My Thoughts

When I first came across this book, I was drawn to it for two reasons. Firstly, I am a fan of Coelho, having read The Alchemist a number of times. I list it as one of my favourite books of all time. Secondly, I did my own pilgrimage of The Camino de Santiago in 2014, so was extremely interested to read what Coelho had to say about his experiences.

I knew The Pilgrimage would focus on the mystical experiences of the author. This really interested me, as my own experiences of the walk were fitness related rather than mystical or religious.

I have read this book twice, and each time, I pick up something new from it. I have found that to be the case in each of his books that I’ve read.

For me, The Pilgrimage didn’t disappoint but I am aware that I have a bias towards the subject matter. It is possible that a reader without that bias, or without having experienced The Camino, wouldn’t get the same enjoyment out of this book.

Recommendations

Coelho’s writing is beautifully poetic, but his message is what counts…….he gives me hope and puts a smile on my face” – Daily Express

“His books have had a life enhancing impact on millions of peopleThe Times

Quotes

“We must never stop dreaming. Dreams provide nourishment for the soul, just as a meal does for the body.”

“We always have a tendency to see those things that do not exist and to be blind to the great lessons that are right there before our eyes.

We always know which is the best road to follow, but we follow only the road that we have become accustomed to”

My Star Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

About the Author

Paulo Coelho was born in 1947 in Rio de Janeiro. Before dedicating his life completely to literature, he worked as theatre director and actor, lyricist and journalist. In 1986, Coelho did the pilgrimage to Saint James of Compostella, an experience later to be documented in his book The Pilgrimage. 

His books are written in Portugese and translated into English.

This 25th anniversary edition published October 2012 by Thomson’s Publishers. Hardcover, 320 pages.

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Needful Things by Stephen King #AtoZChallenge

The Blogging from A to Z April Challenge  is for bloggers who wish to participate by publishing a blog post every day in April except for Sundays. Each blog post will focus on a letter of the alphabet. For example April 1 will be A, April 2 will be B and on it goes. By the end of April, a blog post for every letter of the alphabet will have been posted

Needful Things by Stephen King

Summary

Castle rock, Maine, where Polly Chalmers runs You Sew and Sew, and Sheriff Alan Pangborn is in charge of keeping the peace. It’s a small town, and Stephen King fans might think they know it’s secrets pretty well: they’ve been here before.

Leland Gaunt is a stranger – and he calls his shop Needful Things. eleven year old Brian Rusk is his first customer, and Brian finds just what he wants most in all the world: a 1956 Sand Koufax baseball card. By the end of the week, Mr. Gaunt’s business is fairly booming. At Needful Things there’s something for everyone.

And of course, for everyone, there’s a price. For Leland Gaunt, the pleasure of doing business lies chiefly in seeing how much people will pay for their most secret dreams and desires. And at Needful Things, the prices are high indeed.

For alan and Polly, this autumn week will be an awful test – a test of will, desire, and pain. Above all, it will be a test of their ability to grasp the true nature of their enemy. they may have a chance……

But maybe not, because, as Mr. Gaunt knows, almost everything is for sale: love, hope – and even the human soul.

With a demonic blend of malice and affection, Stephen King says farewell to the town he put on the map – and delivers another spellbinding testament to his dark genius. – blurb

My Thoughts

This is my second reading of this book. It became one of my favourite Stephen King books when I first read in when it was a new release in 1991. This second reading had me falling in love with the story and especially the characters, all over again.

In my mind King is intending this book to be a warning about materialism. Every thing that you want can be bought at Needful Things. But every thing comes with a price. The shelves may look empty, but every thing you need or want is there.

Needful Things has everything that fans have come to expect from a Stephen King – suspense – humour , action, the unbelievable that is believable, and really great characters. Stephen King is the master of characterisation.

As often happens in a King novel, you will come across people you know from earlier novels. I love that about his novels.

Star Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

About the author

King at the 2007 Comic Con

Stephen King is a No. 1 Best Selling Author many times over. He is the author of more than fifty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. Many of his books have been adapted into major films and TV series. King received the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. In 2007, he won the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America and in 2015 he received America’s National Medal of Arts.

He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist, Tabitha King.

Published 1991 by Hodder and Stoughton
Hardcover, 698 pages

Are you a Stephen King fan? If so, I’d love to know your favourite book. I promise to reply to all comments.

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M: The Memory by Lucy Dawson #AtoZChallenge #audiobook

The Blogging from A to Z April Challenge  is for bloggers who wish to participate by publishing a blog post every day in April except for Sundays. Each blog post will focus on a letter of the alphabet. For example April 1 will be A, April 2 will be B and on it goes. By the end of April, a blog post for every letter of the alphabet will have been posted.

 

The Memory by Lucy Dawson
Audio book read by Clare Corbett

Summary

A haunting domestic drama about families and secrets.
“She’ll never forget…..I’ll never forgive. People always notice my daughter, Isobel. How could they not? Incredibly beautiful….until she speaks.”

An unsettling, little-girl voice, exactly like a childs, but from the mouth of a full grown woman. Izzie might look grown up, but inside she’s trapped. Caught in the day it happened…the day that broke her from within. .

“Our family fell apart that day, and we never could pick up the pieces.”

goodreads

My Thoughts

This book is described as an “unputdownable psychological thriller.” As a mystery I really enjoyed it, but to me it was not a psychological thriller. There wasn’t enough suspense for that in my opinion. To say that there is a supernatural theme to this story, doesn’t give anything away, but it does become a bit creepy at time. The story had many twists and turns, and unforeseen things happening which lead to an unexpected ending that I didn’t see coming. In my opinion this book is a great mystery with an inventive plot.

Audiobook – the narrator was able to portray the eeriness in this story where it was necessary. It didn’t lose anything at all in this format.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

About the author

 

Lucy studied Psychology at Warwick University before becoming a children’s magazine editor. Her first bestselling book – His Other Lover – was published in 2008. Since then she has published four other novels and her work has been translated into numerous other languages. She lives in Exeter with her husband and children. Lucy finds writing in the third person uncomfortable.

 

Published in 2018 by Bookoutre
Paperback, 338 pages
Audiobook Published by Bolinda Audio, 10 hours 16 mins

#2020 Aussie Author Challenge

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Next Phase In Fitness & Life
and Tracking Down The Family

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The Inn by James Patterson & Candice Fox #AtoZChallenge

The Blogging from A to Z April Challenge  is for bloggers who wish to participate by publishing a blog post every day in April except for Sundays. Each blog post will focus on a letter of the alphabet. For example April 1 will be A, April 2 will be B and on it goes. By the end of April, a blog post for every letter of the alphabet will have been posted.

The Inn by James Patterson and Candice Fox

Summary

The Inn at Gloucester stands alone on the rocky New England shoreline. Its seclusion suits former Boston police detective Bill Robinson, novice owner and innkeeper. As long as the dozen residents pay their rent, Robinson doesn’t ask any questions.

Yet all too soon Robinson discovers that leaving the city is no escape from dangers he left behind. A new crew of deadly criminals move into the small town, bringing drugs and violence to the front door of the inn.

Robinson feels the weight of responsibility on his shoulders. His sense of duty compels him to fight off the threat to his town. But he can’t do it alone. Before time runs out, the residents of the inn will face a choice. – from the blurb

My Thoughts

Candice Fox really gives a fresh feel to James Patterson’s style of writing. As usual with Patterson/Fox collaborations there is a great storyline and cast of unique characters. You could even say quirky characters in some cases.

Even though parts of this story were predictable, I found this novel to be a page turner, with many twists and turns which kept me guessing until the end. I really enjoyed the short chapters, which I think work well in a crime novel. building the tension.

 

Star Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

About the Authors

James Patterson is the world’s bestselling author and most trusted storyteller. He has created more enduring fictional characters than any other novelist writing today, with his Alex Cross, Michael Bennett, Women’s Murder Club, Private, NYPD Red, Daniel X, Maximum Ride, and Middle School series. He has sold over 380 million books worldwide and currently holds the Guinness World Record for the most #1 New York Times bestsellers. – Goodreads

Candice Fox is the middle child of a large, eccentric family from Sydney’s western suburbs composed of half-, adopted and pseudo siblings. The daughter of a parole officer and an enthusiastic foster-carer, Candice spent her childhood listening around corners to tales of violence, madness and evil as her father relayed his work stories to her mother and older brothers.
As a cynical and trouble-making teenager, her crime and gothic fiction writing was an escape from the calamity of her home life. She was constantly in trouble for reading Anne Rice in church and scaring her friends with tales from Australia’s wealth of true crime writers. Bankstown born and bred, she failed to conform to military life in a brief stint as an officer in the Royal Australian Navy at age eighteen. At twenty, she turned her hand to academia, and taught high school through two undergraduate and two postgraduate degrees. Candice lectures in writing at the University of Notre Dame, Sydney, while undertaking a PhD in literary censorship and terrorism. – Goodreads

Published 08 august 2019, by Century. 384 pages.

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All books that I review have been purchased by me or borrowed from the library, unless otherwise stated.

#2020 Aussie Author Challenge

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Half the World in Winter by Maggie Joel #AtoZChallenge

The Blogging from A to Z April Challenge  is for bloggers who wish to participate by publishing a blog post every day in April except for Sundays. Each blog post will focus on a letter of the alphabet. For example April 1 will be A, April 2 will be B and on it goes. By the end of April, a blog post for every letter of the alphabet will have been posted.

Half The World in Winter by Maggie Joel

Summary

It is London, 1880, and Lucas Jarmyn struggles to make sense of the death of his beloved youngest daughter; his wife, Aurora, seeks solace in rigid social routines; and eighteen-year-old Dinah looks for fulfilment in unusual places. Only the housekeeper, the estimable Mrs Logan, seems able to carry on.

A train accident in a provincial town on the railway Lucas owns claims the life of nine-year-old Alice Brinklow and, amid the public outcry, Alice’s father, Thomas, journeys to London demanding justice. As he arrives in the Capital on a frozen January morning his fate, and that of the entire Jarmyn family, will hinge on such strange things as an ill-fated visit to a spiritualist, an errant chicken bone and a single vote cast at a board room meeting. – blurb

Half the World in Winter

My Thoughts

I enjoyed the story line, and the historical setting of this book, but the plot was a little slow moving for me. The theme running through this novel is grief. Heartbreaking and all consuming grief. At times, it is very sad, and very dark, but it didn’t stop my enjoyment. I can’t really see how the nature of the plot could be anything other than dark. The book to me, has a sense of the coldness of winter running through it.

There were commas missing right through the book, which some might think a small thing, but that really did annoy me.

Quotes

“Inside 19 Cadogan Mews time had ceased. It no longer existed, it had no meaning. A silence had fallen that no one felt willing to break. Footsteps were muffled, and commands, if they were given at all, were given in muted whispers in the hallways and corridors. doors were kept closed and before entering hands hesitated on doorknobs and deep breaths were taken. An excuse not to enter at all was often found:”

‘It seemed that, though you could have the same parents, live almost the same number of years in the same house with the same people, it was no guarantee you would grow into the same type of person.’

Star Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

About the Author

Maggie Joel

Maggie Joel is a British-born writer who lives in Sydney, Australia. She has been writing fiction since the mid-1990s and her short stories have been widely published in Australia in Southerly, Westerly, Island, Overland and Canberra Arts Review, and broadcast on ABC radio. She has had five novels published: ‘The Past and Other Lies’ (Pier 9,2009), ‘The Second Last Woman in England’ (Pier 9, 2010) winner of the FAW Christina Stead Award for Fiction, ‘Half the World in Winter’ (Allen & Unwin, 2014), ‘The Safest Place in London’ (Allen & Unwin 2016) and ‘The Unforgiving City’ (Allen & Unwin 2019).

Published in October 2014 by Allen & Unwin
Paperback 432 pages

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All books that I review have been purchased by me or borrowed from the library, unless otherwise stated.

You can find my other blogs here:
Next Phase In Fitness & Life
and Tracking Down The Family

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