Review: Murder in the House of Omari by Taku Ashibe

Synopsis: Osaka, 1943: as the Second World War rages and American bombers rain death down upon the city, the once prosperous Omari family is already in decline, financially ruined by the terrible conflict. Then the household is struck by a series of gruesome murders.

Can anyone solve the mystery of these baffling slayings before the Omari line is extinguished entirely? To do so, and unravel the killer's fiendish plot, they will have to delve into the family's past, where a dark and deadly secret has been festering for decades...

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To be perfectly honest I was not a fan of this one. I had to have a serious think about this one before putting pen to paper a it were.

Even for Japanese crime fiction, this book was excrutiatingly long winded with a snaking narrative that when it finally gets to the point, doubles back on itself, becoming long winded and snaking yet again.

I did enjoy facets of the book - the family dynamics and historical content, but felt my interest waning as the pathway to the conclusion became lost.

I am sure many other will enjoy this - and I will continue to champion Japanese crime fiction as I have grown to love it.

Review: The Six Loves of James I by Gareth Russell

Synopsis: From the assassination of his father to the explosive political and personal intrigues of his reign, this fresh biography reveals as never before the passions that drove King James I.

Gareth Russell’s “rollicking, gossipy” (Dan Jones, author of The Plantagenets), and scholarly voice invites us into James’s world, revealing a monarch whose reign was defined by both his public power and personal vulnerabilities. For too long, historians have shied away from or condemned the exploration of his sexuality. Now, Russell offers a candid narrative that not only reveals James’s relationships with five prominent men but also challenges the historical standards applied to the examination of royal intimacies.

This biography stands as a significant contribution to the understanding of royal history, illuminating the personal experiences that shaped James’s political decisions and his philosophical views on masculinity and sexuality.

~ ~ ~

Russell aims to tell the story of James I - his life and rule - through the prism of the men and women he loved and was intimate with, from his youth until his death.

For a man "nurtured in fear", James placed great store in the intimate relations he cultivated, with men and women alike, and in both a sexual and non-sexual way. These close and strong attachments often reflected the way James acted and behaved in private and on the political field.

James was said to have "loved indiscreetly and obstinately" which gives an insight into the person and character of the monarch. However the reader cannot fall into the trap of assuming that every friendship or attachment was a camoflaged romance - a strong cohort of loyal and trusted intimates - whether personal or political - was important - and not just to James, but also to his kindred monarchs.

As mentioned, against the backdrop of James' personal and political life, Russell introduces the reader to the agreed consensus of those whom James held in great affection. We begin with his cousin, Esme Earl of Lennox, who was the first to organise James' household along more "royal" lines; Patrick Gray, who was dismissed amid accusations of of espionage and sedition; James, Earl of Huntley, later imprisoned by Charles I; Alexander Lindsay who was contemporary with James' marriage to Anne of Denmark; Alexander Ruthven, James' frequent hunting companion; followed by two lesser known favourites whose time in the sun coincided with James' succession to the English throne upon the death of Elizabeth I.

We the reader musn't overlook James' interaction with his female favourites and here Russell looks at James' brief relationship with Anne Murray, and - more importantly - that of his wife and queen, Anne. Again, the reader cannot assume that Anne was completely ignorant as to James' sexuality, indeed at times she was more than complicit in soliciting "companions" for her husband. This in itself shows that she was a powerful and influential figure on the political scene, even if her influence was channeled through others.

Finally we arrive at the two men who were considered to be the most influential of all of James' men - Robert Carr and George Villiers. Both men meet James after he takes the English throne, both become involved in politics and scandal - only one would outlive James.

Russell finishes with a brief outline of the events from the death of James to the accession of Charles II and the sisters, Mary and Anne Stuart; followed by the extension notes and references used in this well constructed biography.

The reader will be suitably entertained with the "gossipy scandal" of James' love-life, and informed through this user-friendly historical study of both English and Scottish politics under the first King of a united kingdom.

Review: Women in the Scottish Wars of Independence by Beth Reid

Synopsis: The Scottish Wars of Independence are often celebrated for the heroic deeds of men, but behind the scenes, noblewomen played an equally pivotal role in shaping the nation’s fate. In Women in the Scottish Wars of Independence, Beth Reid brings to life the stories of these remarkable women, from royalty to influential landowners, whose contributions to Scotland’s turbulent history have long been overlooked.

From noblewomen like Isabella MacDuff, Agnes Randolph, and Agnes Comyn—who made kings, defended castles, and led conspiracies—to royal women who influenced key decisions and defined dynasties, this book paints a vivid picture of resilience, strategy, and courage. Through chronicles, royal charters, and material culture, Reid uncovers how these women navigated war and politics, revealing their critical yet underappreciated roles in shaping the outcomes of the Wars of Independence.

Focusing on noblewomen rather than ordinary lives, this book offers a fresh perspective on a male-dominated narrative, shedding light on the influential partnerships and actions of women who stood at the heart of Scotland's history. With meticulous research and compelling storytelling, Women in the Scottish Wars of Independence is essential reading for history enthusiasts eager to explore the often-untold contributions of Scotland’s noblewomen during one of its most formative periods.

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On the one hand, Reid's book is a very detailed history of the period commonly known as the Scottish Wars of Independence - the era dominating the political landscape of Scotland from the death of the little Maid of Norway to the Treaty of Berwick which formally ended the wars and secured the release of King David II of Scotland from English captivity.

On the other hand, it is an attempt to give to a small cohort of women a more visual role on the political chessboard than they may have previously been given.

To the first, Reid provides an ample study of the succession, sovereignty and overlordship of Scotland during this period. The internal political factionalism, dynastic ambitions and prevalent warfare was dominated by men. Reid states her intent to provide a renewed focus on experience and perceptions of real people, particularly women; and this this tome will provide an accessible "correction to the wider understanding of 13th and 14th century Scottish women in warfare". However, the evidence is sparse and Reid relies on a wider context and a fair bit of speculation as to what may or may not have occurred.

Reid then collates her chosen subjects into three categories: politics, warfare and captivity. Under "politics" the focus in on the rise of the Bruce women; under "warfare" the focus is on the likes of Agnes Randolph and her ilk, who defended their castles against enemy armies; whilst "captivity" focuses on the humiliating and isolating fate of primarily the Bruce women after the defeat of Robert (kudos for exploring and and expanding on this in particular).

My issue, as with many other tomes of this style, is when an author attempts to ascribe to their given subject much more than is their due, particularly when "evidence" is lacking. 

To summarise: the women featured have not been overlooked - there is ample documentation both on the internet and in print - and what his been provided herein can easily be found via both if that is what you are looking for - I could put my hand on a number of books in my own library to support this. Secondly, I would question whether all these women had "critical roles in shaping the outcomes" - one or two or three perhaps, or is Reid possibly referring to this "critical role" in the context of dynastic political marriages. Thirdly, and unfortunately, I - personally - found no "fresh perspective on a male dominated narrative" - because that is essentially what it was - a period dominated by men and their actions on both the political and military fields. Yes, there were a number of women who stood out for their deeds and actions - however, we can find many examples among their historical counterparts both on the Continent and on home soil, both before and after their own times.  These are not singularly exceptional or unique only to the Scottish Wars. Again, these actions must be put in context to both the politics of the period and of personae dramatis in whose orbits they circled.

To give the author, Beth Reid, their dues, the book is well researched, providing a good background and context of the politics of the day; it accessible (conversational even) to the lay reader, thus not a dry, academic tome; and provides a good launching pad for further research. A well-read historical researcher will not find anything new.

Review: The Blazing Sea by Tim Hodkinson

Synopsis: The thrilling new Whale Road Chronicles Viking adventure. Einar and the Wolf Coats venture south, but danger and bloodshed is never far away.

Einar and the Wolf Coats have angered most of the kings of Northern Europe. With England no refuge, their only solution is to set sail across the Whale Road.

A chance encounter with a slave trader leads them to Muslim Spain, but what starts as a joyous homecoming for one of the crew ends in the Caliph's infamous dungeons.

The Mediterranean proves a perilous sea. Byzantine warships roam, armed with liquid fire that can torch man and ship alike. Viking mercenaries and pirate lords alike spill blood for gold or glory.

With a chance to retake his stolen kingdom of Orkney, Einar must first save an innocent life... and risk his own and those of his crew once more.

~ ~ ~

Following adventures in 10th century Brittany, Ireland and Saxon England, Book 8 in the series finds Ulrich and his band of Ulfhednar in sun-soaked al-Andalus, and as prisoners of the Caliphate not long after their arrival. After managing to make their escape, they flee across the Mediterranean Sea, only to find themselves again prisoners ... this time at the mercy of the Byzantines and their deadly liquid (Greek) fire.

The motley band find themselves in the legendary Miklagarad (Constantinople) where Araltes (Harold), a Norwegian Imperial (or Varangian) Guard, makes them an offer they cannot refuse .... infiltrate one pesky pirate island.

Hodkinson's narrative leads Einar and the Wolf Coats on a merry adventure which sees Affreca infiltrate the harem of the pirate king to find the daughter of one of their own. Byzantine plots, pirates, capture and evasion, battles and heroics, Greek fire and gold keep the reader suitably entertained.

Another rollicking story in the legend of Einar and the Wolf Coats that will surely be recounted in the best Skaldic tradition by the fireside!

Review: Nemesis by Catherine Hanley

Synopsis: The extraordinary tale of Philip Augustus, one of medieval Europe's greatest monarchs, and the part he played in the downfall of four Plantagenet kings of England.

Philip II ruled France with an iron fist for over 40 years, expanding its borders and increasing its power. For his entire reign his counterpart on the English throne was a member of the Plantagenet dynasty, and Philip took on them all: Henry II, Richard the Lionheart, John and Henry III. And yet we know so little about medieval England's greatest enemy.

Historian Catherine Hanley, author of the critically acclaimed 1217, redresses this imbalance, bringing Philip out of the shadows in this fascinating new history. Delving into French medieval archives, Nemesis explores Philip's motives for attacking England and in doing so we learn not only about him but discover so much more about England's most colourful and controversial of rulers – the Plantagenets.

When Philip first succeeded to the throne in 1180, Henry II of England, thanks to his Angevin and Norman ancestry as well as his wife's inheritance of Aquitaine, ruled more of France than Philip himself. By the end of Philip's reign in 1223, the pendulum of power had swung the other way. Nemesis reveals how Philip exploited the constant familiar squabbles of the Plantagenets to secure his grip on France, his wily political manoeuvring combined with a mastery of the medieval battlefield turning France into a powerhouse of Europe.

~ ~ ~

For those looking for a straight up biography of this French King, you may find yourselves disappointed - or might I suggest reading the synopsis wherein the author, Hanley, states her intent. 

This is literally a look at the man on a broader political scale, in context with four Plantagenet Kings - Henry II and his sons, Henry the young King, Richard, John and grandson, Henry III - all of who at one time or another were enemies, rivals and allies, often all three ... at once.

It is a study of a young man determined to rule on his own, "... fully aware of the nest of vipers that surrounded him..." - both within and without France. He was a shrewd, methodical ruler, who exploited the factions around him for his own benefit. Philip had a well-developed political acumen; he was a mentally competent and agile strategist, often both single-minded and ruthless - "... he did not necessarily have to draw his sword in order to achieve his political aims ...".

Philip was a monarch driven to protect and empower France, and as a consequence of this self-styled mission, he raised up men based upon their talent and aptitude. But his greatest quality was his patience - he was all about playing the long game, and stored up information for future use. Such was his military and political acumen that he outlived, outwitted and outfought Henry II, his four sons and grandson.

Hanley's book on Philip is well researched, informative, very readable, being neither dry nor pompously academic in tone. There are ample footnotes at the end of each chapter to allow the reader to explore more on their own.  Being slightly pro-Plantagent myself, I found myself moving into Philip's corner on more than one occasion.

For a more indepth biography and history of the period, you would do well to chase up books by Jim Bradbury and Elizabeth Hallam.

Review: French Windows by Antoine Laurain

Synopsis: Nathalia, a young photographer, has been seeing a therapist. Having accidentally photographed a murder, she finds that she can no longer do her job. Instead, Doctor Faber suggests that she write about the neighbours she idly observes in the building across the street. But as these written snapshots become increasingly detailed, he starts to wonder how she can possibly know so much about them.

With each session, Doctor Faber and his mysterious patient will get closer and closer to the truth. But are the stories Nathalia submits each week as she claims...

Bestselling author Antoine Laurain serves up a dose of suspense and intrigue in Rear Window with a Parisian heart.

~ ~ ~

After having photographed a murder and unable to pursue her passion of photography, Nathalia seeks out a therapist. To reignite her passion, therapist (and our narrator) Faber suggests writing a little story on one of the occupants on each of the floors of the building she lives in. Nathalia herself admits that she "watches the people opposite" and "feels like an eye", and though detached from life, she is not so from the act of looking.

One by one, Nathalia brings/ delivers her stories to Faber, starting with Alice, the personal coach on the ground floor, to the hypnotist on the fifth floor. All the while, Faber wonders if the stories are complete fabrications or if there is an element of truth. Only as the reader progresses do they discover the truth behind the stories and a secret that Nathalia has been concealing.

The ending .... superb!  This has to be one of my favourites from this author.

Review: The Mystery of the Crooked Many by Tom Spencer

Synopsis: A distinctive murder mystery with an unforgettably spiky protagonist, for fans of The Twyford Code, Magpie Murders and Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Meet Agatha Dorn, cantankerous archivist, grammar pedant, gin afficionado and murder mystery addict. When she discovers a lost manuscript by Gladden Green, the Empress of Golden Age detective fiction, Agatha's life takes an unexpected twist. She becomes an overnight sensation, basking in the limelight of literary stardom.

But Agatha's newfound fame takes a nosedive when the 'rediscovered' novel is exposed as a hoax. And when her ex-lover turns up dead, with a scrap of the manuscript by her side, Agatha suspects foul play.

Cancelled, ostracised and severely ticked off, Agatha turns detective to uncover the sinister truth that connects the murder and the fraudulent manuscript. But can she stay sober long enough to catch the murderer, or will Agatha become a whodunit herself?

~ ~ ~

Unfortunately, I was not really a fan of this one. I did persevere to the very end, but even that left me feeling flat and slightly disappointed.

I had no connection to / with / for the protagonist, Agatha Dorn; the story line was like a tangled ball of wool where neither end provided any narrative lifeline; the multiple references to Agatha Christie and her works bordered on ad nauseam (and smacked of laziness in the creativity department).

A homage or pastiche to Agatha - not from where I was sitting in my reading chair.

Review: The Black Swan Mystery by Tetsuya Ayukawa

Synopsis: Early one morning, the owner of a local mill is found lying next to the railway tracks just outside of Kuki Station. Suspicion initially falls on the workers' union, with whom the man had been embroiled in a labour dispute, then on a new religious sect that has been gaining followers recently.

Chief Inspector Onitsura and his assistant Tanna are called in to investigate, and soon set off in a journey across Japan, from Tokyo to Kyoto and Osaka, and finally to the island of Kyūshu, in a hunt for the killer. But as they investigate, the killer strikes again, and again. Will they be able to catch the murderer before even more people are slain?

Fans of Agatha Christie’s 4.50 from Paddington and Seicho Matsumoto’s Tokyo Express will delight in the devious twists and turns of The Black Swan Mystery, as well as in the characterisation and portrait of 1960s Japan.

The author, Tetsuya Ayukawa, is considered to be the master of alibi deconstruction mysteries–a talent that is on full display in this brilliant classic railway murder mystery, which won the prestigious Japanese Detective Writers Club Prize.

~ ~ ~

I have been enjoying a range of Japanese crime mysteries, however, I felt that this particular one was okay. It is very detail orientated around trains and train timetables. The prime detectives, Onitsura and Tanna, seem to be merely secondary to events, coming late into the novel, which is initially dominated by Inspector Sudo and Constable Seki.

There is, of course, the inevitable twist in the narrative, and the murderer confesses in their own way, explaining to their audience, the hows, whys and wherefores.  This I did enjoy!

Japanese crime novels, well at least the ones I have read, tend to be long drawn out affairs, detailing both the social and cultural aspects of the people and places, as well as the investigation - sometimes it feels as if each moment of each day is being documented for the reader. Is this just a quirk of the writers of this genre? Perhaps.

Nothing groundbreaking - an enjoyable, if somewhat dry, read.

Review: Ink Ribbon Red by Alex Pavesi

Synopsis: Knives Out meets Saltburn in this wickedly plotted thriller where a group of friends play a deadly game that unwraps a motive for murder, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Alex Michaelides.

Anatol invites five of his oldest friends to his family home in the Wiltshire countryside to celebrate his thirtieth birthday. At his request, they play a game of his invention: Motive Method Death. The rules are simple: everyone chooses two players at random and imagines a scenario where one kills the other, then writes it down as a short story.

Points are given for making the murders feel real, as Anatol explains to the group. Of course, when given this assignment, it’s only natural to use what you know. Secrets. Grudges. Affairs. But once you’ve put it in a story, that secret is out. It’s not long before the game has reawakened old resentments and brought private matters into the light of day. So with each fictional murder, someone new gets a very real motive.

Ink Ribbon Red ultimately asks: When a real murder is headed your way, will you be able to spot it in time?

~ ~ ~

You really need to read this as a physical copy, because as the author states, this is ... " a mystery novel that builds its central mystery on the reader’s inability to tell story from story within story ..." and boy does the author achieve that in spades!

OMG .... talk about being led down the proverbial rabbit hole over and over again before some faint glimpse of reality presents itself ... the unreliable narratives (yes plural) ... the red herrings ... the back and forth between past and present ... this is definitely one book that needs to be savoured slowly, not rushed, and definitely read again ... and again!

Many will take umbrage at the narrative style and story format (even I was sceptical) but it really does work!

Highly recommended.

Review: The Adventures of Max Spitzkopf by Jonas Kreppel

Synopsis: Max Spitzkopf, the Yiddish Sherlock Holmes, “heads the famous Viennese detective bureau Blitz . . . He’s bold as a lion and takes the wildest risks.” Meet Max Spitzkopf: legendary private eye, undefeated foe of villains, and passionate defender of the Jewish people. No matter how hopeless or dangerous the case, when “the investigatory profession’s greatest artist” is summoned, justice is assured. Aided by his trusty assistant, Fuchs, super-sleuth Spitzkopf deploys equal parts physical bravery and intellectual ingenuity— not to mention a knack for stealthy disguise—to unpick evil conspiracies, outwit the canniest of criminals, and restore moral order to the world.

Giving a unique twist to a beloved literary genre, this complete collection of the fifteen Spitzkopf mysteries is also a vibrant testament to Jewish life, in all its variety, during the last years of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Reading the tales, with every iota of their linguistic verve and historical charm preserved in Mikhl Yashinsky’s translation, it’s easy to see why the young Isaac Bashevis Singer thought them “masterpieces.”

~ ~ ~

Highly engaging collection of fifteen short stories featuring a Jewish detective, written in the style of Conan Doyle's "Sherlock Holmes". The stories are set in and around Vienna in the 1920s, and deal with issues pertaining to the Jewish community and their dealings with those who are outside it.

Max Spitzkopf is a well respected (licensed) detective, and is accompanied by his Watson - Hermann Fuchs - who always seems to get himself into one scrape after another, resulting in a bash on the head, imprisonment and escape. Spitzkopf is inundated with cases from the seemingly banal to issues of national importance. As Spitzkopf bemoaned to Fuchs: “I would need at least ten heads, along with twenty eyes, twenty ears, and twenty pairs of hands and feet, to take on all of the cases these people wish to drop into my lap.”

Themes dealt with include religious bigotry, racism, murder, revenge, persecution, marriage, gang violence, espionage, forged wills, kidnappings, disappearing persons, - so if you have read your Holmes, you will feel at home with Spitzkopf. Like Holmes, Spitzkopf makes use of his assistants to do the leg-work, dons disguises himself, and throws out red herrings when on the trial of his mark. All cases are solved when the detective takes centre stage to unveil the villains and lay the matter to rest. And the villains always receive their dues.

Each of the stories follows in sequence and this is indicated by references at the beginning of the next tale. They are each in turn set out with a number of small chapters. As Yashinsky points out in his introduction, the stories of Spitzkopf were originally written as fifteen ".. pulp-fiction pamphlets that told his stories and cost only twenty Austrian heller for each shabby little shocker of thrity-two pages, published in Kraków around 1908."

I welcomed the opportunity to explore and savour a new detective series and highly recommend investing some time with Spitzkopf, the Yiddish Sherlock Holmes.

Review: Miss Winter In The Library With A Knife by Martin Edwards

Synopsis: Six down-on-their-luck people with links to the world of crime writing have been invited to play a game this Christmas by the mysterious Midwinter Trust. The challenge seems simple but ......

Solve the murder of a fictional crime writer in a remote but wonderfully atmospheric village in north Yorkshire to win a prize that will change your fortunes for good.

Six members of staff from the shadowy Trust are there to make sure everyone plays fair. The contestants have been meticulously vetted but you can never be too careful. And with the village about to be cut off by a snow storm, everyone needs to be extra vigilant. Midwinter can play tricks on people's minds…

The game is set – but playing fair isn't on everyone's Christmas list.

~ ~ ~

"... the skill lies in diverting attention from what really matters, seducing the players with red herrings ..."

The narrative is in the form of journals, letters, tourist-like pamphlets, maps, floor-plans where the challenge to solve the mystery is between both reader and characters. If the reader is stuck, Martin provides a "clue finder" at the back of the book. It will remind some readers of the classic interactive crime books and of more recent versions such as "Cluedle" or "Murdle".

For me, this really needs to be visual - I think you need to see how things play out - a bit like the movie "Clue". I wasn't really a fan of this one nor its set up. The story line was great, the characters fine, the setting suitable, but ... I don't know ... the delivery just wasn't there for me. I felt like I needed to be watching rather than reading, if that makes sense.

Give it a go as Martin is the supreme classic crime novelist - and his curated anthologies are exceptional.

Review: The Return of Moriarty by Jack Anderson

Synopsis: After Professor Moriarty survives Reichenbach Falls and Sherlock Holmes dies, Moriarty finds himself caught up in a locked-room mystery Holmes couldn’t solve.  This time, it’s up to Moriarty to crack the mystery, perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes ingenious retellings like the ones by Anthony Horowitz and Laurie R. King.

Upon escaping from Reichenbach Falls, his empire in ruins, criminal mastermind James Moriarty takes the identity of wealthy inventor Hugo Strahm and embarks on a dark pilgrimage to the cliffside manor of Schloss Alber in Bavaria.

When medical student Clara Mendel returns to Schloss Alber, she finds her childhood home on the verge of ruin. A deadly feud over a priceless heirloom has thrown the Alber family into chaos while its walls play host to an unusual cast of characters – the obstinate Lord Alber, his strange and beleaguered children, their cantankerous butler, and of course, their mysterious new guest, "Hugo Strahm." When one of them is poisoned at dinner, it’s the first act in a spiraling criminal conspiracy, in which any and all of them are suspects.

Working with the sharp and inquisitive Clara, the former crime lord attempts to solve the mystery whilst trying to keep his true identity concealed. Yet despite taking on the role of detective, Moriarty does not share Sherlock Holmes’s methods, nor his interest in justice. Only one thing is certain, for James Moriarty, dying at the hands of Sherlock Holmes would have been an elegant end… The question of what comes next is far more complicated.

This cleverly plotted mystery is a faithful and inventive take on the Sherlock Holmes legacy, paying homage to Arthur Conan Doyle’s signature style while adding its own devious tricks to the story that is destined to become a must-read classic for Sherlock Holmes fans.

~ ~ ~

As a huge fan of Conan Doyle's Holmes and Moriarty, I was eager to read this new mystery featuring Moriarty himself. And for the first part, I was intrigued and engaged as a series of journal entries and letters reveal that Moriarty did indeed survive after Reichenbach Falls in 1891 - these narratives explain this quite well, with each new narrator picking up where the previous one left off.

It is not until we meet our final main narrator in Clara Mendel and we reach our destination of Schloss Alber, that for me, events stagnate - characters become passe and even Moriarty himself is a bit wishy-washy. The actual mystery, was rather formulaic - just set in a different geographical location and timeline.

Whilst the use of a number of difference narratives does - at first - maintain a certain continuity, they actually begin to distract and detract from the mystery itself, bogging down the narrative to the point that I found myself wondering if the author was ever going to get to the point.

I was not a fan of this rendition of Moriarty, which was most likely one of the main reasons that this story just did not resonate - I would hardly describe it as a homage to Conan Doyle's own style nor being faithful to the Holmes legacy. One for the Holmes corpus ... I think not.

Review: The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson

Synopsis: Following the murder of her husband in what looks like a violent street robbery, Hannah Cole is struggling to keep her head above water. Her confectionary shop on Piccadilly is barely turning a profit, her suppliers conspiring to put her out of business because they don’t like women in trade. Henry Fielding, the famous author-turned-magistrate, is threatening to confiscate the money in her husband’s bank account because he believes it might have been illicitly acquired. And even those who claim to be Hannah’s friends have darker intent.

Only William Devereux seems different. A friend of her late husband, Devereux helps Hannah unravel some of the mysteries surrounding his death. He also tells her about an Italian delicacy called iced cream, an innovation she is convinced will transform the fortunes of her shop. But their friendship opens Hannah to speculation and gossip and draws Henry Fielding’s attention her way, locking her into a battle of wits more devastating than anything she can imagine.

~ ~ ~

Set in Georgian England, against the ice cream craze, this historical fiction mystery provides for two narrators - the widow Hannah Cole, and the friend of her late husband, William Devereux.

The alternating narrative allows the reader to witness events from these two viewpoints, as Hannah's husband's shady dealings are revealed, bringing her to the attention of local magistrate Henry Fielding. What the reader will have to decide is which of these two are Hannah's enemy, or something darker at work.

Whilst well researched to bring 18th century Georgian England to life, I found my attention wavering and my interest in both the characters, the narrative and the mystery itself dwindling as the pages passed by. 

This period of historical fiction is out of my usual reading comfort zone, but that really was not the reason for my lack of engagement as I am open to new settings, both geographically and time-wise. Can't specifically put my finger on it, but it just wasn't enough for me. I am sure others will feel differently and devour with this eagerness.

Review: Sisters In Death by Eli Frankel

Synopsis: Who killed the Black Dahlia? In this eye-opening shocker, an award-winning producer, true-crime researcher, and Hollywood insider finally solves the greatest - and most gruesome - murder mystery of the twentieth century just before its 80th anniversary.

In January 1947, the bisected body of Elizabeth Short, completely drained of blood, was discovered in an undeveloped lot in Los Angeles. Its gruesome mutilations led to a firestorm of publicity, city-wide panic, and an unprecedented number of investigative paths led by the LAPD—all dead ends. The Black Dahlia murder remained an unsolved mystery for over seventy years.

Six years earlier and sixteen hundred miles away, another woman’s life had ended in a similarly horrific manner. Leila Welsh was an ambitious, educated, popular, and socially connected beauty. Though raised modestly on a prairie farm, she was heiress to her Kansas City family’s status and wealth. On a winter morning in 1941, Leila’s butchered body was found in her bedroom bearing unspeakable trauma.

One victim faded into obscurity. The other became notorious. Both had in common a killer whose sadistic mind was a labyrinth of dark secrets.

Eli Frankel reveals for the first time a key fact about the Black Dahlia crime scene, never before shared with the public, that leads inexorably to the stunning identification of a criminal who was at the same time amateurish and fiendish, skilled and lucky, sophisticated and brutish. Drawing on newly discovered documents, law enforcement files, interviews with the last surviving participants, the victims’ own letters, trial transcripts, military records, and more, this epic true-crime saga puts together the missing pieces of a legendary puzzle.

In Sisters in Death, the Black Dahlia cold case is finally closed.

~ ~ ~

The mystery of the Black Dahlia has intrigued many - including myself - for some time. Who really was Elizabeth Short, what was she doing in the days / weeks leading up to her death, and why was she murdered is such a brutal manner.

Frankel explores initially the murder of Liz / Beth / Betty Short in 1947 from what is popularly known and reported on. Elizabeth is the proverbial riddle wrapped up in a mystery inside an enigma. Then we move onto what Frankel perceives to be a similar murder - possibly the trial run to Elizabeth Short - that being the brutal murder of heiress Leila Welsh in 1941.

Frankel outlines the history and life of Welsh, including the love triangle she found herself in whilst a socialite at university. Then the detail of the murder, investigation, and trial - where the main suspect was her own brother! At this particular time, there was constant conflict between investigating parties, and rampant violence and corruption in the police force and judicial system was commonplace. A fair trial for Leila's brother was not on the cards - a quick and easy solution was, and as a result, the family endured more than then should.

We are then drawn back to Elizabeth Short - a more detailed look at her life in Hollywood, her associations, and a re-look at not only her final days, but of an investigation that had been tainted from the very start so that the real perpetrator literally got away with murder.

Frankel directs the reader to similarities in both cases: the bungled investigations, the return of the murderer to the scene of the crime to leave clues, witnesses and suspects discounted too easily, whilst providing information as to where, when and with whom the lives of these two women intersected. Frankel links one particular suspect to both crimes - a person of interest who warranted further investigation but wasn't. It is an intriguing proposition - and Frankel posits a plausible case for his suspect.

True crime fans will sink their teeth into this one - I did!

Review: Evil In High Places by Rory Clements

Synopsis: The closer you get, the further you have to fall.

Munich, 1936. All eyes are on the Bavarian capital for the upcoming Olympic games. As athletes fight for gold and the Nazis fight for power, Detective Sebastian Wolff faces a battle of his own.

A famous actress has disappeared and Wolff has been ordered to find her, fast. But Elena Lang is no ordinary film-star: she is the mistress of Joseph Goebbels - Hitler's right-hand-man in the party that Wolff despises.

But corruption runs deep in Munich and Elena is just the first to go missing. In a search that will take him from high society to the city's darkest corners, Wolff is about to learn just how easily the hunter becomes the hunted: this is a city on the brink of war, and some enemies are better left alone.

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Who do you trust when a stray word or action could mean a death sentence.

This is the second in a series, the first book being "Munich Wolf", which I do recommend reading before this one as it will give the reader move of an anchor for this second book. Both books are set in 1930s Germany, when the Third Reich was in the ascendant, war was not yet a reality, and the Olympic Games would be used by Hitler as an opportunity to promote his government and ideals of racial supremacy.

Into this cauldron of conspiracy, suspicion, corruption, paranoia, elitism and racism, is a solid police procedural wherein our main character, Sebastian Wolff is at odds with the party line, and his Sergeant, Hans Winter, has a secret that could end not only his career but his life.

Both men are sent to investigate the disappearance of film star Leila Lang, and are required to conduct their investigation without treading on the toes of the German aristocratic elite and the dreaded SS. Against this, the reader is confronted by the treatment and persecution of Jews, the support given to Hitler from elements of the British aristocracy, and the growing control over all levels of society that was beginning to be more forcefully exerted and enforced.

The narrative is full of " .. twists and turns as tight as the winding bend up to Schloss Stark ...".

This is a compelling work and one I would liken to by that of author Douglas Jackson, whose books are set in late 1930s Warsaw.

Review: What's Mine Is Yours by Leah Mercer

Synopsis: She invited her into her home. She shouldn’t have…

Emily: It’s been a long time since my best friend Ava stopped speaking to me. But I knew I’d find a way back in. When I hear that her daughter won’t sleep at home because of a burglary on the street, I offer to swap houses for a while. Ava is so grateful. And now I’m staying in her family home, I finally understand why she’s been avoiding me… Ava isn’t as perfect as she makes out. She’s been hiding a big secret that could ruin her idyllic life. Only now, I know all about it…

Ava: I didn’t want to let Emily back into my life, but my daughter begged me to agree to the swap. I’ll do anything for my precious girl. As I lie in Emily’s bed in her cramped apartment, I fear what she’s up to inside my home. Has she looked through my belongings? Has she found the key to the locked room in my basement? And does she know the truth about what I did?

Two friends. Two secrets. Which one is telling a deadly lie, and which is in danger?

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Two women - initially friends but drifted apart, are brought back together by tragedy and decide to house swap. One is keen - one is reluctant - but both women have secrets they have no wish for the other to discover, especially now that they have swapped residences!

Quick easy chapters with flowing first person narratives that quickly build the intensity of the drama until dark secrets linking them all are finally laid bare, out in the open. The reader is left wondering just how will these revelations impact the women and their families, and will it propel one or the other into actions with unforgiving consequences.

Loved every page as I sat highly engrossed trying to discover the secrets of Ava and Emily before they were ultimately revealed to the reader.

Review: The Revenge Plot by Jackie Kabler

Synopsis: When Ella Leonard arrives at work one Monday morning, she’s stunned.  The place isn’t just shut – it’s gone. Boarded up, closed down.

Days later, she gets home to find she’s been evicted from her flat, her belongings piled on the doorstep. It’s as if, bit by bit, someone is taking her entire life away from her.

Who, and why? And how much worse can it get? The answer? A lot worse.   This is just the beginning…

~ ~ ~

We all know that revenge is a dish best served cold, on fine bone china - but this tale takes the cake!

We are introduced to Ella Leonard front and centre - she is our first ... victim. Why is someone targeting Ella in such a despicable way, what has she done to merit such unwelcome attention. As Ella's life unravels, no clue is yet to be given.

Enter Harriet, an old friend of Ella's, who steps in to assist Ella in getting back on her feet. But as the narrative draws onward, we are left wondering if Harriet herself is all she seems. Harriet has a secret .. or two ... which are revealed to the reader, and here we learn of Nisha - nemesis and tormentor of Harriet.

The lives of these three women have intertwined over many years, and it is not until they begin to converge in the present, that the secrets and reasons behind their acts of revenge become clear.  The pace certainly picks up from this point.

The short sharp chapters of first person narrative keep the reader immersed - but we are left asking ourselves, who do we cheer for when all three consider themselves victims and all are just as unlikable as their past and present lives are linked. Everything comes full circle, but we are left wondering at what cost - who ultimately gains from their revenge - and who is left with nothing. The conclusion is a little convoluted but in the overall scheme of things, why not!

Review: Dead of Summer by Jessa Maxwell

Synopsis: Orla O’Connor hasn’t been to the isolated New England enclave of Hadley Island since she graduated from high school a decade ago. As a teenager, her best friend Alice disappeared from its shores without a trace—but with plenty of rumors.

Now, Orla returns to her family’s beachfront home to clean it out before her parents sell it. The island and her best friend’s house next door, abandoned after her family left in grief, are stirring up memories she would like to avoid. Then there are the locals, always gossiping and watching Orla’s every move. Worst of all, David, Orla’s childhood crush and son of a wealthy Manhattan family, is back for the summer with his new, impossibly pretty girlfriend, Faith.

Faith suspects that David is going to propose but as soon as she settles into his family’s sprawling Hadley Island estate, she feels out of place. She anticipated a luxurious summer of fun and romance, but David is never around—lured into business conversations with his entrepreneur father from dawn to dusk. With nothing else to do, Faith begins to investigate the island’s dark past, curious about what really happened to Alice all those years ago.

Meanwhile, local Henry hasn’t left his house since the young girl went missing, in an attempt to let the accusations against him die down. Except they never have. For years, Henry has had an endless supply of time to pursue his only hobby, watching the island from his telescope and recording the activities of its inhabitants. But Orla’s return has shaken him and lately he’s been seeing strange things: shadowy figures walking on the beach in the middle of the night and a light on in the upstairs window of the long-abandoned house of the missing girl.

When there’s another disappearance on the island, all three find themselves pulled into an eerie and twisty mystery that will haunt them for the rest of their lives.

~ ~ ~

Hadley Island - an isolated, secluded, insular, almost claustrophobic community, holding its dark secrets very close, especially by those with money and power. A community dominated by what is referred to as "narrow-prying neighbours" - where the public and private activities of individuals are open to observation (and interference) by the greater community.

Orla O'Connor is drawn back to the island by unfinished business left behind after her hasty departure many years ago when best friend Alice disappeared.  Faith Ellis, a new arrival, is joining boyfriend David Clarke and his family, whilst hoping for an announcement of impending nuptials.  Long term resident Henry Wright, hidden from the community, plays silent witness to all that happens on the island.  What dark secrets will ultimately draw all three together - will these secrets be exposed or kept hidden once again - will the mystery surrounding Alice be finally laid bare.

Using flashbacks and recalled memories, Maxwell weaves her web that slowly draws the reader into the narration. We the reader suspect, guess, imagine where we are being led, but before long the pathway comes to a dead-end and we must back track to find that little trail off to the side that we missed. The clues are there for those paying attention - but Maxwell is clever in deceiving as well as exposing.

Wonderful read that I could not put down - my first by this author - and a great start for this reader.

Review: Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill

Synopsis: Crime fiction author Joe Penvale has won the most brutal battle of his life. Now that he has finished his intense medical treatment, he and his twin sister, Meredith, are boarding the glorious Orient Express in Paris, hoping for some much-needed rest and rejuvenation. Meredith also hopes that the literary ghosts on the train will nudge Joe's muse awake, and he'll be inspired to write again. And he is; after their first evening spent getting to know some of their fellow travelers, Joe pulls out his laptop and opens a new document. Seems like this trip is just what the doctor ordered…

And then some. The next morning, Joe and Meredith are shocked to witness that the cabin next door has become a crime scene, bathed in blood but with no body in sight. The pair soon find themselves caught up in an Agatha Christie-esque murder investigation. Without any help from the authorities, and with the victim still not found, Joe and Meredith are asked to join a group of fellow passengers with law enforcement backgrounds to look into the mysterious disappearance of the man in Cabin16G. But when the steward guarding the crime scene is murdered, it marks the beginning of a killing spree which leaves five found dead—and one still missing. Now Joe and Meredith must fight once again to preserve their newfound future and to catch a cunning killer before they reach the end of the line.

~ ~ ~

The author provides the reader with a puzzle and mystery that is centered around how Christie's story amplifies the travelers' own experience on the actual Orient Express and of their perceptions of the fellow passengers.

This theme is referred to quite often by the fictional character of crime fiction author Joe Penvale and his sister, lawyer Meredith, who embark on a journey on this famous train only to find themselves caught up in their own version of "Murder on the Orient Express".

Like the Christie novel, the reader meets Joe's fellow passengers on the train - in fact it is a train full of detectives of one sort or another. There is the locked room murder, all passengers are suspects as Joe put himself in the position of Poirot and investigates. Clues and red herrings abound, as the body count rises (a la Death on the Nile), and the author reveals that not all is what or who they seem.

An entertaining homage to the Queen of Crime.

Review: Arden by GD Harper

Synopsis: Alice Arden, idealistic and wealthy beauty, burnt at the stake for killing her husband, the former mayor of Faversham in Kent. But was she really the one responsible for the most scandalous murder of the sixteenth century?

William Shakespeare, England’s greatest playwright, born thirteen years after Alice’s execution. Why does his first-ever play, written about this murder, not bear his name?

This is a story of two people – one reviled, one revered – whose fates become linked in a tale of corruption, collusion and conspiracy. Based on historical documents and recently published academic research, Arden unveils shocking new evidence about the murder of Thomas Arden and reveals, for the first time, a remarkable new theory about Shakespeare’s early years.

~ ~ ~

The premise of this historical fiction tome was the lure for me - the delivery left me a little undecided with regards as to how I felt about the narrative as a whole - but persevere I did.

This tale of murder is told in the first person by both of our primary characters - William Shakespeare and Alice Arden - their stories separated in time by some fifty years with Alice's story taking place from the early 1530s and Shakespeare's from the 1580s.

We already know (or should do if we have picked up this tome) that Alice's rise and falls end with her being burnt at the stake for her involvement in her husband's murder.  This was the fate for wives at the time as it was considered treason for a wife to kill her husband.  Wifely insubordination must be neutralised and contained; scrutiny and proper regulation of the household was vital to the preservation of domestic order. Tudor society too was dominated by what Alice herself refer's to as "narrow-prying neighbours" where the public and private activities of individuals was open to observation and interference by the greater community.

We also know that this crime is the focal point for exploring the possibility the Shakespeare himself wrote as his first-ever play, based on the fate of Alice, with whom he may have been related to through his own mother. The play existed - it was written and presented and the reader can find a copy for themselves online (see links below).  Harper posits that quite possibly this theme such that the Bard was unable to ascribe his name to it - it was that much of a career-ending political hot-potato.

For me, the journey from beginning to end was itself a little arduous and didn't really pick up until Alice's lover re-appears in her life. Harper does a decent job of exploring through the Shakespeare narrative, of whether Alice was a naive tool of her lover Mosby or a willing participant, who used her husband's own greed to get what she wanted.

I found the author's note at the end the most informative, and if crimes set in Tudor England are of interest, then definitely pick up this historical fiction tome.

Further reading:

The English Broadside Ballad Archive - the Complaint & Lamentation of Mistress Arden

The Newgate Calendar - Alice Arden of Feversham

Chambers' Book of Days - Entry for November 23rd

Project Gutenberg - Arden of Feversham