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OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OutsmartYourShelf First of all, this seems to me to be a very clear miscarriage of justice & Ellen's story needs to be out there so that the powers-that-be are finally convinced to re-examine her case. Unfortunately this book about the case is a bit of a mess. It really needs re-editing so that the arguments are more structured & linear to avoid repeating the same information over & over. 4d
OutsmartYourShelf The author is obviously passionate about wanting to see justice done but this was all over the place. 2⭐

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

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

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

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

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

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

If you've been reading this series so far, then I'm not going to spoil this one for you. Safe to say, the case is an interesting one, but the main aspect is the will-they-won't-they between the two main characters.
6d
OutsmartYourShelf The chemistry is turned up another notch from the last book & at some point Maeve & Josh are going to have to confront their feelings about other.

I thought 'The Close' was the author's best so far, but this one is just about perfect. I'm now moving straight on to the next book in the series (luckily I managed to snag an ARC) because I need to know what happened in that epilogue. 5🌟
(edited) 6d
TheSpineView Great job! 🤩📖📚 6d
DieAReader 💖🎉Excellent! 6d
35 likes1 stack add5 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
The Guilt Pill (Itpe) | Saumya Dave
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Pickpick

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

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

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

The use of interview transcripts & social media messages alongside the usual narrative worked here given the nature of Maya's business dealings, & it kept things interesting. Overall I thought it was an interesting read although the sudden switch to a thriller in the last few chapters was a bit jarring.
1w
OutsmartYourShelf I also thought that the ending was a little too neat but they are minor quibbles.
3.75🌟

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

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

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
1w
GHABI4ROSES YES, @DieAReader and @Andrew65 know that I seem to operate from GUILT. Ew. Glad I saw this, friend, thank you. 7d
DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES 🫂👰🏻‍♀️💖 7d
34 likes1 stack add5 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

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

29 likes2 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
Misery Plaza | J J Alo
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Pickpick

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Ruadan Books (IBPA), for the opportunity to read an ARC.
2w
DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 2w
dabbe That cover! 😱 2w
OutsmartYourShelf @dabbe The stuff of nightmares! 2w
25 likes5 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
3w
DieAReader 🎉Fantastic! 3w
38 likes1 stack add2 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

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

OutsmartYourShelf This book was very informative - I've read countless books on the subject & this one provided a different angle on the well-known events. The author discusses & gives evidence for the argument that the events onboard played out the social construction of Edwardian society at large & it seems an argument with merit. Recommended if you are an avid reader of all things Titanic. 4🌟 3w
DieAReader 💖💖💖 3w
27 likes3 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

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

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

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

This was a really good read. The author has a nice writing style which keeps the reader engaged &, in amongst the discussion of a serious subject, there are a few moments of dry humour which remind you that this is very much about real life. Very interesting & informative. 4🌟
3w
OutsmartYourShelf My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Penguin UK/Hamish Hamilton, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

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

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES

3w
DieAReader 💖💖💖 3w
34 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
Fair Play | Louise Hegarty
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Mehso-so

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

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

This started off quite well & I was looking forward to the offbeat angle of the mystery.
3w
OutsmartYourShelf There were aspects I liked: the knowing metaphorical 'wink' to the audience by the detective, the nods to the authors (including Conan Doyle & Agatha Christie) of some of the greatest detectives ever written, & the dual narrative, but overall it just didn't work. The main issue for me is that the ending just didn't make sense - I'm not sure if it was due to being an ARC & there was some text missing or not, but it just finished abruptly. 3w
OutsmartYourShelf I'm still not entirely sure who the actual killer was supposed to be in the end.
3.25⭐ as I did enjoy most of it but the ending let it down.

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

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

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
3w
DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 3w
37 likes4 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
Bright Smoke, Cold Fire | Rosamund Hodge
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Mehso-so

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

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

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

TW: Blood.

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

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
(edited) 3w
OutsmartYourShelf #FrozenSick @Puddlejumper Finally finished this one.
H2 to H6 (Fantasy) to K2 (END!!)
3w
27 likes2 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

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

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

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

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4890342403
Read 30th-31st Mar 2025
4w
TheSpineView Fantastic! 4w
Andrew65 Well done! Agree in the comments re Maeve and Josh. 🎉🎊🎉 4w
DieAReader 💖💖💖 3w
26 likes5 comments
blurb
OutsmartYourShelf
Untitled | Unknown
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My list for April's #ReadYourKindle

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

@CBee

review
OutsmartYourShelf
There Came A-Tapping | Andrea Carter
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Pickpick

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

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

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

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

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

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

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
1mo
DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 1mo
32 likes2 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
Why Sinatra Matters | Pete Hamill
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Pickpick

Republished in honour of what would have been Sinatra's 100th birthday in 2015, this is a personal tribute to 'Ol Blue Eyes' himself. Although it obviously centres around the man & his career, it also covers Italian immigration into America & Sinatra's first brush with prejudice, the rise & fall of Prohibition (& by extension the Mob), & the Second World War. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf I'm not what you would call a Sinatra fan, he was more my mum's cup of tea, but I found this surprisingly interesting to read. It's fairly short at just under 200 pages but it's a good introduction if you have a longer biography about Sinatra to read (which I do).

The author was apparently a friend/acquaintance of the man before he died & his admiration & regard for Sinatra comes through his writing.
1mo
OutsmartYourShelf The focus is obviously on Sinatra's music, but I was surprised that his dealings with the Kennedys & the 'Rat Pack' were not covered here & I'm still not sure what the actual truth was when it comes to certain rumoured connections. A good read though. 4🌟

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/758408603
24th-26th Mar 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
#ReadYourKindle @CBee
1mo
DieAReader Fantastic🎉 1mo
34 likes3 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

The story of two real-life yet little-known women who ruled territories in the Merovingian empire in the Early Middle Ages. Brunhild & Fredegund married brothers who were the rulers of their own slice of the empire & whilst Brunhild was a princess who married into power, Fredegund schemed her way from palace slave to queen, & after the deaths of their husbands, both women took control. (Continued)

OutsmartYourShelf Yet both were, for all intents & purposes, written out of history by those that came after & their legacies used as warnings for limiting the ruling power of women.

An informative look at the lives of two women who refused to be limited by societal norms & fought, schemed, & bargained their way into rulership. I'm most definitely Team Brunhild in this one as she seemed to have been the slightly less murderous out of the two.
1mo
OutsmartYourShelf It's not a surprise that Fredegund has been posited as an inspiration for the character of Cersei in 'Game of Thrones'. My attention did flag at times but on the whole it was quite a good read. 3.75🌟

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Head of Zeus/Apollo, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4429679861
Read 19th-23rd Mar 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
1mo
DieAReader 💖💖💖 1mo
36 likes1 stack add3 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
55 | James Delargy
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Panpan

Police officer Sergeant Chandler Jenkins is manning the rural station in Wilbrook, Western Australia on edge of 100s of miles of unexplored wilderness. It's the usual kind of day until a dishevelled & injured man stumbles into the station. His name is Gabriel & he was abducted whilst hitch-hiking by a man named Heath. Heath had driven Gabriel to a remote cabin before telling Gabriel that he was to be victim no. 55, but Gabriel managed to escape.

OutsmartYourShelf Chandler has never dealt with a potentially big case like this before & has to call in the higher-ups, including Mitch, the man who used to be his partner whilst training who has now made the rank of Inspector. Chandler is making sure he has all his bases covered when a second man appears. Also dishevelled & injured, he says his name is Heath & he was abducted by a serial killer named Gabriel..... 1mo
OutsmartYourShelf The synopsis to this was immediately intriguing to me & the premise is really good. Unfortunately the execution of it was not so good - the story became bogged down around Chandler & Mitch's antagonistic working relationship. There seemed to be no real reason as to why Mitch was so nasty to Chandler & it just made him seem like an ass. Also police procedure seemed to go out the window & one of the suspects escapes police custody TWICE! 1mo
OutsmartYourShelf The worst thing though was the ending - what the heck was that? 2⭐

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Simon & Schuster UK, for the opportunity to read an ARC & apologies for the very late review.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3941916271
Read 21st - 24th Mar 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
1mo
28 likes1 stack add4 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
The Outsider | Jane Casey
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Pickpick

A standalone (but also linked to the author's 'Maeve Kerrigan' series) this book gives the reader an update on the life of Rob Langton. Previously a police detective colleague (& lover) of Maeve's, Rob abruptly left without warning, leaving Maeve to pick up the pieces.

Rob is currently undercover as Mark Howell & has infiltrated a notorious crime family by saving the life of patriarch Geraint Carter. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf He is there to get information on what Geraint is planning & enough evidence to take him down. This fast-paced thriller leads to a long-awaited reunion as Maeve & Rob finally come face-to-face after several years.

The whole undercover angle was interesting enough, but let's face it, Kerwent shippers are here to find out if there was anything left between Rob & Maeve.
1mo
OutsmartYourShelf No spoilers here, but the scene where the sight of a briefly scantily clad Maeve leaves both Rob & Derwent speechless was perfect. 4🌟

TWs: violence, racism, domestic violence, murder

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6000826862
Read 19th-20th Mar 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
#SeriesLove2025 @thespineview
(edited) 1mo
Andrew65 Love her books. Well done 👏👏👏 1mo
31 likes1 stack add3 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
Girl, Interrupted | Susanna Kaysen
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Mehso-so

Memoir from the author about 2 years in a psychiatric hospital in the 1960s. It was a quick read so I finished it but was left feeling a bit nonplussed. I don't feel that I got any insight about the author at all, & I agree with another reviewer who says it all just feels rather empty. Most readers seemed to really like this one but whatever they saw, I just didn't connect with it. 2.5⭐

Librarybelle I‘ve seen the movie but not read the book! 1mo
DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 1mo
Ruthiella I liked this a lot-found it interesting, especially to compare with the movie. 1mo
31 likes4 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
How We Fall Apart | Katie Zhao
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Pickpick

Nancy Luo's former BF, Jamie Ruan, queen of Sinclair Prep, goes missing & is then found dead. Word quickly spreads that their friend group (Nancy, Krystal, Akil, & Alexander) are considered the prime suspects in Jamie's death thanks to anonymous social media messages by someone calling themselves 'the Proctor'.

'The Proctor' somehow knows the group's darkest secrets & threatens to tell all unless the guilty party admits they killed Jamie.

OutsmartYourShelf The four friends race to find the true killer before they lose everything they've worked for.

I will say, right off the bat, that I am older than the intended target range so bear that in mind for my review. This was OK, the storyline itself was good, & I liked the setting in amongst the rich & privileged of Sinclair Prep School, but personally I thought that the characters, apart from Nancy, weren't particularly well developed.
1mo
OutsmartYourShelf The ending wasn't great either & there was a lot of loose ends left unanswered - possibly a sequel? Still no sign of one as far as I can tell but you never know. 3.5🌟

TWs: toxic friendships, adult/minor relationship, suicidal thoughts, drug use, alcohol use.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4164995820
Read 17th-18th Mar 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
1mo
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 1mo
32 likes3 comments
blurb
OutsmartYourShelf
Untitled | Untitled
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Anyone else having issues with Litsy?

The app is fine but the PC version won't load review page & I keep getting 'Bad Gateway' message.

I've tried logging out & logging back in but no joy!

julesG Yes, same here. The webpage doesn't work properly. 1mo
TheKidUpstairs I was on the website last night, it was loading but I couldn't comment or make a post, only read posts. 1mo
OutsmartYourShelf @julesG @TheKidUpstairs - not just me then! I've sent Litsy a quick email just in case they were not aware of any issues. I'll let you know if I hear anything. 1mo
See All 14 Comments
TheBookgeekFrau I saw a few people post this yesterday. You can report the problem with an email to Litsy@librarything.com 1mo
melissajayne I noticed it was taking a long time to load on my laptop last night (have a MacBook). 1mo
dabbe It‘s still majorly messed up. I keep writing to the email given by @TheBookHippie. I heard back the proverbial “we‘re working on it.” Keep writing! So annoying! #blehtotechnology (edited) 1mo
TheBookHippie It‘s been awful. Litsy is old and they don‘t update it or intend to. Last update is six years ago. I imagine it will slowly not work. I‘m in denial and hoping it‘ll just clunk along. 1mo
OutsmartYourShelf @TheBookgeekFrau Thank you, I have emailed them. 1mo
OutsmartYourShelf @dabbe I emailed today but will keep trying if nothing changes. 1mo
OutsmartYourShelf @TheBookHippie That‘s disappointing. I find it easier to copy & paste from my GR reviews rather than typing it out again on the app 😞 1mo
OutsmartYourShelf Finally managed to post a review - only took me about 30 tries! 1mo
dabbe @OutsmartYourShelf Hey, my 1st reply on the website. Looks like it might be fixed. #notholdingmybreath 🤣 1mo
rwmg I'm still finding Litsy very slow. I finally managed to post a review but it was by clicking the quote link and then changing to review. 1mo
27 likes14 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
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Mehso-so

There have been eight King Henrys of England & this book examines their lives in detail. Up until Henry VII, a monarch's reign seems to have been one long battle. Kings were forever having to swing themselves up into the saddle & fight some 'Johnny-come-lately' who thought they could do a better job at ruling England. It must have been tiresome & I'm surprised anyone wanted to take on the responsibility in the early centuries. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf It was also quite taxing to read about actually, in that there was a lot of information (births, marriages, deaths interspersed with much fighting & innumerable sieges) but not much personality came through until Henry VII & III. Well-researched but rather dry to read. 3.25⭐

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Pen & Sword, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
1mo
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 1mo
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A Pocket Full of Rye | Agatha Christie
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Pickpick

When Rex Fortescue falls ill at work, he is rushed to hospital where he unfortunately dies. Inspector Neele is called & tests reveal that Fortescue was killed by taxine poisoning - a poison derived from yew trees. Fortescue's house is called 'Yew Tree House' & there is no shortage of suspects: is it the much younger second wife who is dallying with her tennis coach, or the elder son who has been arguing with his father recently, (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf or maybe the younger prodigal son who has just returned from abroad? Or is it someone else entirely? Neele is aided by the arrival of an elderly lady by the name of Miss Marple.

A thoroughly enjoyable read with the appearance of Inspector Neele (much nicer than Inspector Slack) who works well with Miss Marple. I know I've seen this one a couple of times on TV but I still couldn't remember 'whodunnit'.
1mo
OutsmartYourShelf Again, it was classic Christie with the clues laid out if you know what to look for.
4.5🌟

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4947660856
Read 15th-16th Mar 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
#192025 (1953) @Librarybelle
#SeriesLove2025 @thespineview
1mo
Librarybelle Yay! This is one I have yet to read. 1mo
DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 1mo
TheSpineView Fantastic!👍📖 1mo
36 likes5 comments
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The Cutting Place | Jane Casey
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Pickpick

2025 Reread Review: Not really much to add to my review from my first read through of the book. I am upgrading my rating to 4🌟as this time around I appreciate Kerwent's interactions a little more. I've gone from a jaded sceptic to a total shipper.

2024 Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3129123107
Read 12th-14th Mar 2025

33 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Rose/House | Arkady Martine
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Pickpick

Basit Deniau was an architect who designed & built 'Rose House', a house embedded with AI. Since his death, Rose House has been sealed with no-one allowed in apart from Dr Selene Gisil, who is allowed to visit for 1 week per year as per the terms of Basit's will. So it is a surprise when the local PD receive a call from Rose House reporting the presence of a dead body inside the premises. (Continued)

OutsmartYourShelf A police officer visits the house but is not allowed in by the AI, so Dr Gisil returns to the house to gain entry for the investigation.

This novella is a distinctly odd read & I mean that in a positive way. It's an intriguing premise: an abandoned house run by an AI who controls exit & entry of the one person allowed in there. So how did the dead body end up there?
1mo
OutsmartYourShelf Once Dr Gisil & the police officer are inside the house, the AI acts almost sentient as it displays enjoyment of subterfuge, word play, & double meanings. It must have seen what happened but is strangely reluctant to divulge that information. It's a fairly short read & the ending doesn't tie up all the loose ends, rather it leaves the reader with a sense of disquiet or unease. I thought it was an interesting read.
3.75 🌟
1mo
OutsmartYourShelf My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Pan Macmillan/Tor, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7322312798
Read 10th-11th Mar 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
1mo
DieAReader 💖💖💖 1mo
28 likes4 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

After a rocky childhood, adult Claire has finally found happiness & is engaged to fiancé, Noah Coors. Everything is almost perfect, until the day that Claire decides to take lunch to Noah's office only to find out he no longer works there. Her calls to him go unanswered & he won't respond to her messages - in fact he seems to have disappeared. As Claire looks for her missing fiancé, the truth about him starts to emerge.

OutsmartYourShelf This is a fast-paced read that keeps the reader's attention glued to its pages. The narrative is told from Claire's point of view, both in the present & via flashbacks & diary entries. It's difficult to review this without giving anything away, but I will say that about halfway through I started to wonder about certain things & after that the ending was not a surprise. 1mo
OutsmartYourShelf It was in fact quite predictable if you're a regular reader of thrillers & suspense, but that didn't detract from my reading experience. 3.5🌟

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Random House UK/Cornerstone/Penguin, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7083703726
Read 7-9th Mar 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
1mo
DieAReader 💖💖💖 1mo
26 likes3 comments
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Lizzie: A Novel | Diane Fanning
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Mehso-so

The well-known rhyme about the murders gets several things wrong (it was her stepmother & the amount of axe blows are incorrect for a start) but was Lizzie the killer? This book is an uneasy mix of historical fiction & true crime, with the author blending the events & aftermath of Lizzie Borden's trial for the murders of her father & stepmother whilst giving us a look into Lizzie's thoughts, that doesn't quite gel. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf The first third was very hard-going, the conversations felt very stilted as if the characters were automatons rather than people, but when we get to the point where Lizzie is first arrested, it vastly improves. I found myself engrossed in reading about the conditions in which Lizzie was kept before the inquest & the lead-up to her being charged & on trial. 2mo
OutsmartYourShelf The character of Lizzie though was her own worst enemy here, & it felt as if she was just parroting 'feminist' rhetoric at times & needlessly riling people who were on her side. I must say that I don't know much about her character & she may have indeed been very blunt & forthright. Overall it was interesting but treads a fine line between fact & fiction that isn't always work. 3.25⭐

2mo
OutsmartYourShelf My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Level Best Books (IBPA), for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7344389699
Read 3rd-5th Mar 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
2mo
DieAReader 🎉Great! 2mo
25 likes4 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

An honest autobiography from Tom Felton - warts & all. From his early start in the film industry (I didn't know he was in the remakes of 'The Borrowers' & 'The King & I' before landing the role of Draco Malfoy in the HP films), to the ups & downs of his personal life afterwards, I found myself rather liking him.

OutsmartYourShelf There were some parts that raised a chuckle whilst there were others that were rather sad. I'm glad he seems to have come out the other side of his trials & tribulations. Still can't believe that the HP actors are heading towards 40 already!
4.5🌟

TWs: alcohol, drugs, addiction, rehab, strong language.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5318929584
Read 7th-10th Mar 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
2mo
DieAReader 🎉Excellent! 2mo
37 likes2 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
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Mehso-so

A look at the dark side of London's history by examining the crimes which have taken place there & also the types of justice which have been dispensed. From being boiled alive in a cauldron, 'dancing the Tyburn jig', to lengthy prison sentences, this looks at both sides of the criminal life in England's capital city.

OutsmartYourShelf Although some parts of this book were quite interesting, it didn't live up to my expectations. The blurb says it “chronicles London‘s 1500-year history of crime“ & yet the majority of the book I would say concentrates on the 16th century onwards. It was also a bit dry to read & I wonder if splitting it into timelines may have worked better than into types of crime, 2mo
OutsmartYourShelf As it is, it's a little all over the place which didn't help this reader's concentration.
3⭐

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

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7335292892
Read 1st-7th Mar 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
2mo
Andrew65 Well done on finishing it, sounds a bit of a missed opportunity. 2mo
DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 2mo
29 likes4 comments
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Peril at End House (Poirot) | Agatha Christie
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Pickpick

Hastings & Poirot are on holiday in Cornwall (does Hastings ever return to his ranch?) when they make the acquaintance of Nick Buckley, a young woman who lives in End House on the hillside. Nick has had quite a lot of near misses recently & whilst talking to Poirot is shot at, leaving a bullet hole in her hat. Poirot decides that he will find the person trying to kill Miss Buckley, but can he prevent a murder still to occur? (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf This is the first Agatha Christie book I ever read. I was about 11, bored whilst staying at a relative's house one summer & asked if I could read one of their books. This was the one I picked up of the shelf first & I remembered some of it but not all. It definitely stands up to a second reading as an adult, again the clues are all there in plain sight but hidden so cleverly you can pass them by without noticing. 4.25🌟 2mo
Librarybelle That‘s so cool this was your first ever Christie when you were younger and that it stood up to the second read! 2mo
DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 2mo
TheSpineView Fantastic! 2mo
34 likes5 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
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Mehso-so

The author looks at how the misapplication or misunderstanding of the principles behind 'Occam's Razor' has led to unintended consequences in true crime cases. The vagaries of crime & those committing it means that the simplest explanation is not always the correct one.

This reads very much like it was based on a thesis or dissertation which are not always the most scintillating reading. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf I enjoyed an exploration of many of the true crime cases themselves, but the continued repeating of how 'Occam's Razor' pertained to each case was very much a sledgehammer to crack a nut. 3.25⭐

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

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7335293281
Read 26th-28th Feb 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
2mo
DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 2mo
30 likes2 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

When a schoolgirl is killed on a London bus, DC Georgia Shaw in on the case alongside DS Kerrigan & DI Derwent. The bus was full of passengers & there is CCTV, yet no-one noticed a thing.

This a novella of approx 100 pages from the viewpoint of Georgia. The reader gets to know about her life a bit more, including her crush on Derwent & how all he sees is Maeve. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf It was interesting to see Kerwent's dynamic through an outside observer & how obvious it is to everyone except Maeve. It didn't make me like Georgia any more than I did before though. 4🌟

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3492076650
Read 2nd Mar 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
#SeriesLove2025 @thespineview
2mo
DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 2mo
Andrew65 So love this series, well done 🎉🎊🎉 2mo
32 likes1 stack add3 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
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Bailedbailed

Not sure when I initially read this (way before I was on Goodreads) but this re-read has not gone well. It's very slow & whilst Lincoln is fine, there's just something about Amelia I don't like. It finally hit me about 10 mins ago that she doesn't come across as an authentic character but very much a male author's idea of a female character. DNF.

review
OutsmartYourShelf
The Bone Artists | Madeleine Roux
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Mehso-so

Short novella looking at the backstory of Oliver (character from Asylum Book 3: Catacomb) & how he became embroiled with The Bone Artists. It was OK, it also showed how Micah was involved & what led to him moving to New Hampshire.
3.25⭐

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7363556279
Read 28th Feb 2025

30 likes3 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

20 years ago eight-year-old Marty Grey's younger brother disappeared on the walk back home through the woods - she turned around & he had gone. Now 28, Marty still lives in the same house & keeps watch, waiting for her brother to come home. The search for her brother led Marty to an interest in true crime podcasts & she eventually started 'Welcome to Murdertown' looking at the disappearance of two female backpackers on nearby Ghost Mountain.

OutsmartYourShelf Unfortunately it backfired spectacularly leaving Marty almost a pariah in the town & now, when the sister of one of three men killed in a mall car park asks Marty to look into the case, she is reluctant because of what happened before, but the more she looks at the evidence the more she knows that something isn't right.

2mo
OutsmartYourShelf Wow, this is definitely my Read of the Month! I flew through two-thirds of the book in one sitting, it was as if it was tailor-made for me: true crime, unsolved disappearances, & a supposedly haunted ghost town. Sign me up! Marty is a great main character, imperfect but you can empathise with her & what she has been through. It also had good pacing & the storyline was well planned out. I did work out most of what was going on but not all. 2mo
OutsmartYourShelf Verdict: a really good read. Recommended. 4.5🌟

My thanks to #NetGalley & author, Rian Wynne, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7278365456
Read 27th-28th Feb 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
2mo
DieAReader Fantastic! 2mo
CoffeeK8 Sounds interesting! 2mo
26 likes1 stack add5 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
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Mehso-so

A well-researched, but sometimes academically dry, look at those who spent their lives closest to the heirs to England's throne. From Henry VII's formidable mother, Lady Margaret Beaufort, to Cat Ashley, Elizabeth I's confidant. The issue for me is that we seem to spend an awful lot of time on Henry VII, Prince Arthur, & Henry VIII, & seemingly whizz through Edward VI, Mary I, & Elizabeth I. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf That may just be my impression though as I find the latter three more interesting.

I do note that the author brought out evidence to counter the impression that most people have of Edward VI as a sickly invalid. Here he seems to have been a fairly healthy child & took part in activities such as tilting & hunting which he would not have done if he were fragile.
2mo
OutsmartYourShelf Overall though, it took me almost a week to read this & normally I absolutely tear through anything to do with the Tudors, so I rate this 3.25⭐
,
My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Pen & Sword, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7254294896
Read 19th-25th Feb 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
2mo
DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 2mo
26 likes3 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

I never realised Tina Turner had so many health problems towards the end. An inspirational woman! RIP.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4530059046
Read 24th-25th Feb 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES

DieAReader 💖💖💖 2mo
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OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

England, 1543 - Henry VIII is aiming to marry his sixth (& final) wife, Lady Catherine Parr, recently widowed, but perhaps too sympathetic to Reformists for a king who has drifted back towards Catholicism in his old age. The line between acceptable & unacceptable religious practice grows ever thinner & innocent people are being caught in the backlash.

OutsmartYourShelf Meanwhile Shardlake, has been asked to defend a teenage boy who is in danger of being labelled a religious fanatic & is currently being held in the infamous Bedlam hospital for the insane. After an old friend of Shardlake's is murdered, he finds himself also drawn into the hunt for the murderer as it seems that Shardlake's friend was not the only victim. 2mo
OutsmartYourShelf The killer is obsessed with the Book of Revelation & is punishing those deemed to have backslid on their faith.

This fourth book in the series was an easier read for me with few instances of the brutal treatment of animals. Here the focus is on the clash of religious doctrines & practice & how this created a climate of fear & mistrust amongst the population. Say the wrong thing to the wrong person & you could have soon found yourself condemned.
2mo
OutsmartYourShelf All in all, I really liked this one but it went on for just a shade too long for me so
4🌟

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4054423907
Read 29th Jan - 26th Feb 2025

#Readaway2024 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES @andrew65
#ShardlakeSeriesBR @dabbe
2mo
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dabbe Excellent review! Thanks for sharing, and I look forward to our discussion this Friday! 🤩 2mo
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 2mo
32 likes6 comments
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The Secret Adversary | Agatha Christie
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Mehso-so

Friends Thomas Beresford (Tommy) & Prudence Cowley (Tuppence) bump into each other in London after the end of WWI. In the aftermath of the war, they are struggling to find work & so they decide to place an advertisement together but before they can do so, they become embroiled in a conspiracy. Important government papers were entrusted to a passenger on the 'Lusitania' (a ship sunk by a German U-boat) who has since disappeared (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf & no-one has heard of her since. Is Jane Finn dead or being held somewhere?

This first book in the 'Tommy & Tuppence' series is a bit of a mad caper. Suspend your disbelief that a couple of inexperienced civilians would be asked to undertake a dangerous mission. Or that a government minister would spill secrets to two people who placed a newspaper ad.
2mo
OutsmartYourShelf The plot almost became interesting at a couple of points but I found the two main characters a bit grating. It's OK but I prefer the author's Miss Marple & Poirot books. 2⭐

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7269043224
Read 22nd-23rd Feb 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
#192025 (1922) @Librarybelle
#SeriesLove2025 @thespineview
2mo
Librarybelle I liked this better my third or fourth time reading it than I did the first couple. I think I‘m in a “suspend my belief” mood at the moment! I also prefer her Marple and Poirot stories. 2mo
DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 2mo
33 likes4 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
Untitled | Untitled
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List for March's #ReadYourKindle picks. Only managed 1 this month but fewer ARCs due in March so hopefully will manage at least 2.

@CBee

CBee 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 2mo
27 likes1 comment
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OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

A short story case for DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent sees them arrive at 'Mitchford Bexley', a solicitors‘ office where one of the partners, Diana Bexley, has been murdered. The killer gained access to the company under the pretence of being a motorbike courier then proceeded to kill Ms Bexley & disappear in under 4 minutes.

OutsmartYourShelf This is a very short story (about 40 pages) but it packs a lot in. Kerrigan & Derwent obviously solve the case but the main interest is their 'will they/won't they' relationship. Derwent turns up drunk at Maeve's flat that night & it's obvious (to us, the readers) that he is completely smitten with Maeve. He can't tell her that though. 4.5🌟

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3492076570
Read 24th Feb 2025
2mo
DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 2mo
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The Charter | Gillian E. Hamer
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Mehso-so

Sarah Morton returns home to Anglesey for the funeral of her estranged father. His will reveals that their family has ties to the 1859 shipwreck of the 'Royal Charter' & Sarah is pulled into a race to find the stolen treasure.

This is one of those books where the synopsis sounds more exciting than the book proves to be. It has almost every cliché you would expect & nothing is really a big surprise. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf I was also disappointed that the supernatural part of the story was very tangential, with just the flimsiest ties to the modern-day story. It could have been missed out & wouldn't really have made much difference. All in all, it was OK but I wouldn't read it again. 3⭐

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/750461577
Read 20th-24th Feb 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
#ReadYourKindle @CBee
2mo
DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 2mo
28 likes2 comments
review
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Cruel Acts | Jane Casey
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Pickpick

2025 Re-Read:

Not really much I can add to my 2019 review below as it pretty much covers everything. Except the fact that I'd have happily dropped Georgia down one of the septic tanks, never to be seen again.

Link to 2019 review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2731718383
Read 17th-19th Feb 2025

34 likes1 stack add2 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

The true story of an American woman who married into Prussian aristocracy in the early 20th century & became a lifeline for those fleeing the Nazis. Muriel White Seherr-Thoss used her connections to send her sons away to prevent them being conscripted into the German army, & also to help Jewish families escape. When the Gestapo finally came for her, Muriel made the ultimate sacrifice to protect others.

OutsmartYourShelf An interesting & informative book, it was a little difficult at first to keep straight who was who as there were just so many people mentioned. Although this is supposed to be about Muriel in the main, it actually encompasses the wider families & at times Muriel seemed to be almost a peripheral figure. It really worked though as a study of the aristocratic & political world before the Second World War & 2mo
OutsmartYourShelf the author has obviously carried out a lot of painstaking research. 3.5🌟

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Globe Pequot Publishing Group Inc/Lyons Press, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7083704599
Read 15th-17th Feb 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
2mo
DieAReader 💖💖💖 2mo
28 likes1 stack add3 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

A look at female killers in the Early Modern period in Britain (16th to 18th centuries CE), where the plethora of ballads & pamphlets would have had us believe that female killers were fairly common. This book examines the evidence & argues that then, as now, most murders were committed by men & that those committed by women were sensationalised. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf Violence was thought to be in the nature of men but against that of women so women who killed were therefore going against the natural order of things.

There are examples here of women who killed under different circumstances, from escaping domestic violence to being accused of being a witch. Women have killed for various reasons but they have always seemed to be deemed worse than male killers in the court of public opinion.
2mo
OutsmartYourShelf I thought this was an informative read about an intriguing subject. Coincidentally I read a book about Alice Arden earlier this year - before that I had never heard of her & she crops up in this book too. I didn't find it quite as good a read as the author's first book & there was some repetition in the chapters but it was interesting. 4🌟

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Williams Collins, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
2mo
See All 8 Comments
Butterfinger Wow, the ballad making when women kill must have carried over to US. I can think of two folk songs around western NC that became semi-famous. Frankie and Johnnie were lovers and Tom Dooley. Tom was executed for the crime, but everyone believes he was protecting a woman. That's really an interesting theory. It makes so much sense. 2mo
Butterfinger I was wrong. Frankie Silver killed her husband in NC and there was a ballad about her, but the song "Frankie and Johnny" was from a murder in Oregon. Again, the killer was a woman and it was sensationalized. 2mo
OutsmartYourShelf @Butterfinger interesting. Was the Elvis film loosely based on that? I seem to remember a bit of the song. 2mo
Butterfinger I have no idea. My mother watched Elvis movies every time one was on TV, but I have only seen his western as an adult. 2mo
OutsmartYourShelf @Butterfinger I would have been a kid when I watched it some time in the 80s but I vaguely remember a song about Frankie & Johnny & a shooting. I‘ll have to look it up. 2mo
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The Reunion | Bronwyn Rivers
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Pickpick

Ten years ago, 6 teenagers went hiking & camping in the Australian bush - but only 5 returned alive. Now Hugh, Charlotte, Alex, Laura, & Jack return to the farm of Ed's parents, the starting point of that fateful trip to attend a memorial for Ed. When they get there, Ed's mother Mary, is obviously still struggling with his death & the more recent death of her husband. None of them want to be there & just want to get through the weekend.

OutsmartYourShelf When Mary disappears the friends realise that they are short of water & food, they can't leave due to their cars being sabotaged, & they can't call for help as the farm is isolated & their phones don't work there. Someone wants to know the truth of what happened that day 10 years ago & they might just kill to get it.

I thought this was a gripping read. I love the 'isolated location' trope & this is a good one as not only is the land inhospitable
2mo
OutsmartYourShelf but also the weather. The friend group is made up of characters all with something to hide about that day but did one of them commit murder? The reader slowly learns what happened through flashback chapters. It's a medium-paced entertaining read & I flew through it. 4🌟

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Little Brown Book Group UK/Constable, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
2mo
33 likes3 comments