My 9 Must-Read Picks Across Humour, History, Mystery, and Romance
Welcome back, book lovers! July has been a whirlwind of pages and plots for me. This month, I devoured 9 fantastic books spanning humour, history, mystery thrillers, and romance, totalling an impressive 2943 pages. I usually only read between 5 and 6 books depending on the thickness. Not that I think reading is about the numbers, for me reading is about getting lost in the story. So, If you're looking for your next great read, you're in the right place. Have a look at my book recommendations from July discover new favourites, and don't forget to click the links to grab your copies.
Don't forget to let me know your thoughts on any of the books mentioned.
Alis x
Title: The Book of Beginnings
Author: Sally Page
Genre: Family Saga, Humorous Fiction
Publisher: Harper Collins
Date Published: 2023
Format: Paperback
Book Length: 416
Star Rating: 5***** I loved it and highly recommend
About Book: Her new chapter starts now…
Jo Sorsby is hiding from her past when she agrees to run her uncle’s beloved stationery shop. Glimpsing the lives of her customers between the warm wooden shelves, as they scribble little notes and browse colourful notebooks, distracts her from her bruised heart.
When she meets Ruth, a vicar running from a secret, and Malcolm, a septuagenarian still finding himself, she suddenly realizes she isn’t alone.
They each have a story that can transform Jo’s life… if only she can let them in.
My Thoughts: The Book of Beginnings by Sally page is a book about secrets, friendship, hope and belief. This is the second time I have read this book and although, I usually think there are too many books out there to read a book twice, I couldn’t resist as Sally Page is coming to our Book Club, so it has been made our Book of the Month.
As I read through the characters return to me like old friends, Sally writing makes you feel as if you are part of each conversation. I loved the camaraderie between Jo, Ruth, and Malcolm it felt like a friendship had been bonded for the long term wherever their lives would take them. Malcolm was still my favourite character, his personality opened up like a beautiful flower as the friendship progressed. Sally Page’s writing has the ability to get under the skin of people and makes you want to get to know them.
At times I cries, not because of the sadness, but simply because of the raw honesty, but at times I laughed because of the gorgeous quips, the description of the people’s faces and the antics the three friends got up to.
I loved the historical element from beyond the grave, and really enjoyed the musings between the three amigos on what the ghosts would talk about.
In conclusion, a book that is worthy of all 5 stars that is funny and sad and a great testament to true friendship. If you love a book that has a bit of everything romance, friendship, laughter, and raw emotion then this book is for you.
Title: The Walk
Author: Emma Marns
Genre: Historical
Publisher: Cranthorpe Millner Publishers
Format: E Book supplied by Love Books Tours in return for an honest review
Date Published: 2023
Book Length: 354
Star Rating: 5 ***** I loved it and highly recommend
About Book: ‘The two girls sat in the back of the car, their destination unknown and their crimes worse than murder.’
In November 1979, Ailbe and Maire disappear from their rural village in Ireland, never to return. Pregnant out of wedlock, they are now outcasts from society.
Believing they will at least have each other, the girls are devastated when Ailbe is dumped at the gates of a place known only as ‘Bessborough,’ whilst Maire is forced to continue on to Dublin, to be cared for by the relatives of her married lover.
What follows is an enduring tale of family, love, friendship, secrecy, self-sacrifice, and the extraordinary endurance of women in the most appalling of circumstances.
My Thoughts: The Walk by Emma Marns is a historical book based in Ireland in the late 70’s. Although, I am not Irish I was the same age and remember the 70’s. Marns has researched the period well and exquisitely described events and characters. It is a very emotive subject, sensitively dealt with and I didn’t want to put the book down.
The book is sad and horrific in parts, but it is also about family, hope, friendship, and secrets.
Marns prose was beautifully and sympathetically written in a way that told the story in the best way possible from all angles.
The story switched from different points of view and different timelines, which added to the tension and enabled you to see the events from different sides and made things much clearer.
In Conclusion a great read that I couldn’t put down that was both sad, happy, poignant, and extremely thought provoking and one I recommend.
Title: Vengeance Day
Author: Simon Dinsdale
Genre: Crime, Thriller Mystery
Series: The Detective Christian Dane thriller series book 2 of 2
Format: E book supplied by Love Books Tours in return for an honest review
Date Published: 2023
Book Length: 264
Star Rating:5***** I loved it and highly recommend
About Book: Liam Rafferty and Mary Sullivan are both Irish Republican dissidents. Their plan is to bring terror to the British mainland and avenge Liam's brother’s murder. Their former comrades in Belfast learn of his activities and order Mick McArthur, the Republican movement's intelligence chief, to stop them at any cost. Detective Superintendent Christian Dane works the most serious crimes and is determined to get justice for the victims. He leads major inquiries in Essex. When Karen Teller, a veteran MI5 officer, receives a warning of an imminent terrorist attack, by an unknown dissident group, Dane is called in to investigate. The only lead is a weekly call to Belfast made from a telephone box on the Essex coast. With Detective Constable Hayley Cross, Dane’s most capable officer, at his side they set to work tracking the terrorists down. Working around hindrance from Chief Superintendent Brown of the Met Counter Terrorism Command Dane isolates and arrests some of the gang and confirms the threat is real. As he races to prevent the attack Rafferty's plans for him are revealed. Dane must now risk everything to protect his family from Rafferty’s vengeance.
My Thoughts: "Vengeance Day" by Simon Dinsdale is a gripping crime thriller and the second book in the Detective Christian Dane series. The story begins by focusing on the perpetrator, setting the scene with meticulous detail. Dinsdale’s ability to vividly describe people and places is a testament to his writing prowess. His thorough research and deep knowledge of the subject matter elevate the book, making it all the more believable.
Detective Christian Dane is a compelling character, portrayed as both formidable and human, which adds a layer of authenticity. However, I was less enthusiastic about the character Grant, who reappears from the previous book, leaving me puzzled about his continued presence.
While this book is the second in the series, it can be read as a standalone. However, reading the first book enriches your understanding of the main characters. I particularly enjoyed how the story delves into Dane’s life outside of work, adding depth to the narrative. As the plot progresses, the tension builds, making it increasingly difficult to put the book down.
In conclusion, "Vengeance Day" sets the stage gently but delivers a fast-paced and thrilling second instalment in the series. If you love crime thrillers, I highly recommend giving this book a try.
Title: Selection
Author: HC Kingsmill Moore
Genre: Thriller, Crime, Mystery
Format: Paperback supplied by love Books Tours in return for an honest review
Publisher: Nine Elms Books
Date Published: 2024
Book Length: 352
Star Rating: 5 ***** I loved it and highly recommend
About Book: A rocky cliff face, the tragic death of his father, a spell in a harsh young offenders’ institution and a promising military career cut short all leave Seb Faber vulnerable and without direction.
His prospects looked bleak. Then an unexpected and lucrative job offer in the City seems to point to more secure future. Despite his reservations, Seb turns out to be a natural on the equities trading floor of Blounts – the City’s oldest and most respected finance house. This success leads to his selection for a special project.
To add to his change of fortune, Seb falls explosively in love with the beautiful and passionate Sophia.
However, his personal antennae are picking up anomalies. Perhaps, not everything is quite what it seems. Why does a cheating client blatantly try to bribe him during a game of golf? Will the Hoodia gordonii plant really deliver the wonder appetite suppressant qualities being promised to investors? Why does his boss’s wife try to seduce him?
As his suspicions rise Seb is increasingly uncertain who he can trust.
Then his world is turned upside down. Torn in all directions, Seb fights through the mists of despair to regain his self-control and sense of purpose as he perseveres to uncover what exactly is happening around him.
Seb’s final steps lead to dramatic and totally unexpected events in the South African bush.
My Thoughts: Selection by H. C. Kingsmill Moore is a crime, mystery thriller one of my favourite genres of books. I must say at the outset what a beautiful cover, it certainly made me stop and look at the blurb and then once read I was fully hooked.
Sebs character is complex, intriguing, flawed and thoughtful and I love him. The way Kingsmill Moore portrays him makes him feel believable. He also describes places and events so clearly; I could almost have been there with them on the side lines. I didn’t want to put the book down.
Some of the chapters were really short and this added to the urgency, pace, and tension. What can I say about this book, but brilliant. There were many twists and turns that kept me hooked all the way through wondering what was going to happen next. The book evoked honest emotion and at times I cried. Which happens rarely, especially in this type of genre. I can definitely see another book after this and I for one cannot wait to read more.
In conclusion a fast paced thriller that will keep you guessing and enthralled with the many twists and turns right until the very end and I highly recommend I would say if you love thrillers but this book was more than that, and I think it will appeal to a wide range of readers, who like action, adventure, mystery, crime, thrillers and even romance.
Title: Vengeance Street
Author: Louise Sharland
Genre: Crime, thriller, mystery
Format: E Book supplied by Love Books Tours in return for an honest review
Publisher: Bloodhound Books
Date Published: 2024
Book Length: 282
Star Rating: 5 ***** I loved it and highly recommend
About Book: A disgraced probation officer’s clients are falling victim to a vicious killer—but will anyone believe what she has to say? Grace Midwinter is at breaking point. Following a dreadful mistake at work, her career as a probation officer is hanging by a thread. Then her clients start dying in grotesque and premeditated ways. When one ex-offender is beaten and dumped in the harbour, and another grisly corpse is discovered soon afterwards, Grace can’t help but dredge up her recent past. Rumours swirl about conspiracies and vendettas, some involve Grace and her colleagues. Grace discovers that the deaths have been made to look like the sordid results of a gangland turf war but are hiding something else. Can she persuade the people in power that her suspicions could be correct?
My Thoughts: "Vengeance Street" by Louise Sharland is a gritty crime thriller that I think masterfully blends mystery and suspense. Sharland’s descriptive prose is exceptional especially in the scenes involving the perpetrator, this created an eerie atmosphere that enabled me to feel the fear and tension.
The main protagonist, Grace, is a complex character laden with flaws, angst, and uncertainties, despite being a professional woman with a child and an ex-husband. Her relatability drew me in, making me truly root for her as she battles not only her personal demons but also her boss.
As I read more of the story, I found myself trying to piece together the clues and predict the outcome. However, Sharland's intricate plotting kept me guessing until the very end, making "Vengeance Street" a true page-turner. In conclusion, Sharland has crafted a compelling narrative that kept me on the edge of my seat, making "Vengeance Street" a must-read for fans of crime and thriller genres.
Title: The Group
Author: Sigge Eklund
Genre: Mystery, thriller
Format: Hardback supplied by Love Books Tours in return for an honest review
Publisher: Ithaka
Date Published: 2024
Book Length: 299
Star Rating: 3 *** I liked it it’s OK
About Book: When Hanna moves to Spain for an internship at the prestigious Prado gallery, she finds herself spending her days buried in the museum's stifling archives, and her nights alone in a tiny, rented flat. Then one day she sees them; Tom, Samuel, and Leah. Glamorous and elegant, they are also foreigners in the city. But unlike her they are fabulously wealthy, their lives an endless whirl of creativity and hedonism. And when Hanna discovers an uncatalogued 17th century etching in the archive, she makes a decision which changes everything . . .From the sultry streets of Madrid to the gleaming world of Mediterranean luxury villas and exclusive art world parties, as Hanna gets closer to her deepest desire, the stakes mount ever higher. Intoxicating and unputdownable, The Group is a timeless story of hidden identity and obsession.
My Thoughts: The Group by Sigge Eklund is a mystery thriller but feels completely different from the usual mystery, thriller books I have read. It is about longing, greed, overindulgence, and excess to the highest level. But it is also about wanting to fit in.
The main protagonist, Hanna, has a secret she is hiding, but it also feels that all of the people in the group have their own secrets as well. How far will Hanna go to fit in, the books prose at times is exciting, but I must say at times it felt a little laborious and I found myself speed reading to get through those periods.
The book is separated into months and takes you through the groups journey together, the chapters are short and that normally adds to the tension for me but in this instance it didn’t. Although the words on paper seem to express a joyous time the group are having the under lying feeling I got was the opposite which made the book feel sad.
In conclusion some exciting prose, although a little too long for me. This book is worth a read of you want something different to the usual mystery thriller books
Title: These Hands
Author: Darcy Daniel
Genre: Romance
Format: E Book supplied by Love Books Tours in return for an honest review
Publisher: Thorpe Bowker Australia
Date Published: 2024
Book Length: 489
Star Rating: 5 ***** I loved it, and highly recommend
About Book: These hands are magic - but must be kept a secret These hands are love - but keep me loveless These hands are life - but might be the death of me These hands are mine.
Lucas Daniel was born with the power to heal. But it’s not a gift, instead it’s a life sentence filled with isolation and loneliness, leaving him starved of the love and affection he yearns for. During his secluded childhood, he defies his mother’s over-protective rules and tries to befriend Kelsey, the new girl next door. But she thinks he’s a freak and wants nothing to do with him … until she accidentally discovers his secret. They soon form an inseparable bond, sharing their hopes and dreams for the future. Until a devastating event leaves Kelsey’s life hanging in the balance. Lucas does everything he can to save her but leaves her face scarred for life. Believing his secret has been exposed, his mother whisks him away and changes their identities. Now a reclusive country veterinarian, he’s managed to keep his secret for decades. But when Kelsey moves to the same rural town, he just might get everything he's ever wanted, and everything he's ever feared.
My Thoughts: These Hands , in the main is about two people meeting as children, who at the time have their own difficulties and are desperate for friendship and company. Although there is another story running alongside. The book moves from the period of when the children are young, to when they are grown up and tells the story from each of the main protagonist’s point of view.
The story is heart warming yet sad and a testament to Daniels writing. The story flows so easily I didn’t want to put the book down. The descriptions are exquisite, it is difficult to put into words. There are many twists and turns, and I was left wondering what would happen right up until the end.
In conclusion a story full of opportunities lost and found, sadness and happiness, life, and death, love and hate. A book I loved reading and one that I fully recommend.
Title: Hold Me
Author: Helen C Kelly
Genre: Romance
Series: Greengrove Series book 3
Publisher: Softwood Books
Date Published: 2024
Book Length: 288
Star Rating: 3*** I liked it, It’s OK
About Book: Dawn had lived in Greengrove all her life. Love had never been a priority in her mind. She had plenty of time for that, especially after watching her twin sister Debbie fall in love and have her heart shattered. Why would you put yourself through that? For the past few years, Dawn had been suffering from ill health. Being given a diagnosis was a double-edged sword. Yes, they now knew what was wrong with her, but now she felt useless. All those things that she had put on hold may now not happen. Falling in love, having children is no longer a possibility who would want to stick around with her now. A chance meeting with one boy she went to school with proved her wrong. Could she believe he could love her and her broken body?
My Thoughts: Hold Me by Helen C Kelly is a modern-day romance and is the third book in the Greengrove series and is the first I have read.
The book follows Dawn who suffers with a debilitating illness and thinks she won’t find love because of it.
For me, the story feels a little stilted and predictable even with the cast of players the story also feels one dimensional.
However, the description of small village life is funny and charming and the setting that Kelly describes allowed me to get to know the area and its inhabitants.
In conclusion, Hold me does have the potential for a heartfelt romance but it just wasn’t for me, but I think if you love a good old-fashioned romance then this book is one for you.
Title: Season For Murder
Author: Anna A Armstrong
Genre: Cosy Romance
Series: The Fitzmorris Family mystery book 3 of 3
Format: Paperback supplied by Love Books Tours in return for an honest review
Publisher: The Cotswold Writer
Date Published: 2023
Book Length: 232
Star Rating: 4**** I liked it a lot and recommend
About Book: Vivian Plover is an unlikely murderer but needs must. If her bumbling husband is ever going to reach the exalted office of Lord-Lieutenant, Vivian, in sensible shoes, twin set and pearls has some murderous work to do. She is beset by challenges, from her godson’s fake fiancée to Dee’s meddling.
With the worthies of Little Warthing falling foul of accidents, can Dee FitzMorris thwart her scheme or will she find herself yet another victim?
Rarely has murder been so amusing.
My Thoughts: Season For Murder by Anna A Armstrong is a Cosy Mystery and the 3rd in the Fitzmorris Family mystery series but can be read as a standalone.
The book is based in the Cotswolds and the descriptions of the village are charming and authentic with the villagers a diverse group that are well thought out.
The book is an easy read, and the pages turn quickly with the lives of the inhabitants. If you have read any of the books in the series, this one continues with the endearing Fitzmorris family and a whodunnit that reveals the perpetrator right from the start. But the book also has humour, wit and romance thrown in for good measure.
In conclusion a cosy mystery with great characters, humour and wit with a little romance thrown in for good measure.
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