TRIGGER WARNING: this book involves the death of a child
Ava arrives in Greece with an address, a key and a broken heart. Her marriage is over following the death of her daughter and she has travelled to Greece to discover more about her recently deceased grandmother who owned a house in a rural village but never mentioned her homeland. Ava meets an elderly woman who sees the resemblance to her grandmother and instantly begins apologivsing for the past. Can Ava uncover her grandmother’s wartime secrets as well as heal her own heart…?
Beyond the Olive Grove is a dual timeline novel set in the present day and 1940s Greece.
Ava is griefstricken following the breakdown of her marriage due to the death of their daughter. She feels her husband was emotionally distant and they could not support each other. She has always had an impulsive streak and decided to investigate her grandmother’s past: Sophia left Greece after WW2 and never spoke Greek or told her family anything about her early years.
We meet Sophia as a young woman in the early 1940s. She has been struggling to look after her family as well as work at a time when money and food were scarce. I felt annoyed at her flighty sister for not being more supportive. Sophia is working in a coffee shop in a village caught between Nazis, Communists and Republicans, all battling for control of Greece. She is recruited against her will but her character is brave despite her fear.
The ending of the book felt a little abrupt and I wanted to know that Sophia had a life of happiness. It does end on a note of hope for both women which lightens the tone after so much sadness and grief earlier in this book. Several characters are haunted by the past and need to work through their pain. However, the catharsis of talking about their feelings allows them to heal or at least accept their circumstances.
Beyond the Olive Grove book description:
The place seemed utterly still, the only sound was the wind rustling high in the pines above. Standing there, realizing she didn’t even know which house had belonged to her grandmother, Ava wondered just how crazy and desperate she’d been to come all this way with no hope or plan.
When Ava arrives in Greece, it’s with a heart that’s shattered into a thousand pieces. But as she pulls up in a tiny village nestled on a cliff above the glittering Ionian Sea, and steps out in front of a tumbledown house that once belonged to her grandmother Sophia, everything changes.
At first Ava almost wants to laugh at this bizarre inheritance—a home that has been uninhabited since the Second World War—that appears as close to collapse as she herself feels. But with nowhere left to run to, her only choice is to start putting the house together again.
What Ava doesn’t expect is for pieces of her grandmother’s story to emerge, as a local survivor from the war begins to share her secrets. Ava can’t help but be drawn to Sophia’s hidden past… even though the truth could change her own life forever.
Because Sophia’s story is one of devastating choices she had to make during the Nazi invasion of her beloved country. It’s a story of bravery, betrayal and tragedy. But most of all, it is a story about love…
An utterly unforgettable story of two remarkable women who find the strength to persevere against all odds and find hope, courage and light in the darkness. Perfect for fans of The Nightingale, The Lilac Girls and Victoria Hislop’s The Island.
Previously published as The Other Side of the Bridge by Katharine Swartz.
Author Bio:
Kate Hewitt is the author of many romance and women’s fiction novels. A former New Yorker and now an American ex-pat, she lives in a small town on the Welsh border with her husband, five children, and their overly affectionate Golden Retriever. Whatever the genre, she enjoys telling stories that tackle real issues and touch people’s lives.
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Josie Quinn has been on leave since the death of her beloved grandmother Lisette. On the day before she is due to return to work, she finds a woman’s murdered body in the cemetery. The victim is the mother of a child killed in a bus crash and the driver is about to go on trial. Josie has the unpleasant task of investigating the lives of the other bereaved parents but they are in danger too…
Her Deadly Touch is the 12th book to feature Josie Quinn and her team. There are no spoilers about events in previous books except for the death of Lisette.
The grief described throughout the book is hugely emotional and made even more so by the author’s note at the end. Survivors’ guilt as well as the incessant ‘what if’ and ‘if only’ plays on the minds of many of the characters.
Josie has a vulnerability in this book that hasn’t been so apparent in previous books. Her inner strength that has got her through previous intense situations has been shaken by her guilt. She appears much more human in this book as her emotions take control, however she is still determined to catch the killer.
The plot kept me guessing until the very end. The range of suspects are all credible culprits as secrets unravel and more murders ensue. Picking apart the lives of the crash victims’ parents is tough work emotionally for Josie as she struggles with her own grief. There are plenty of twists and this allowed me to make lots of incorrect guesses about the killer and their motive.
Her Deadly Touch is an engaging and enthralling mystery although I was left with a feeling of overwhelming sadness (sign of a good writer when you care about the characters!)
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Book: Her Deadly Touch
Author: Lisa Regan
Pub Day: August 12th 2021
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The woman is kneeling at a gravestone, her hair blowing in the breeze, a bunch of wilting yellow daffodils on the grass beside her. Her eyes are fixed on the ground and her mouth is parted in a silent prayer. But the wax dripping from her cold blue lips means it’s already too late to save her…
On her first day back with the Denton PD after a major trauma, Detective Josie Quinn is on the hunt for a missing woman, Krystal Duncan, the mother of one of five children killed in a devastating school bus crash. Hours later, Josie finds Krystal’s body beside her daughter’s grave, her lips sealed together forever with wax.
Forensics match the wax to one of the candles lit in memory of the sweet little souls who died, giving Josie her first lead to a support group made up of the parents who lost children in the crash. Painstakingly dissecting the lives of these grieving couples, it’s clear to Josie that each of them is hiding something about the day of the accident—but whose secret is worth killing for?
The case takes an agonizing turn when the body of another young mother is found near the site of the bus crash. Someone connected to the accident is out for revenge. As the members of the support group are picked off one by one, every second counts for Josie to save the lives of these loving parents who have already suffered the loss of those they treasured most…
An absolutely gripping and totally unputdownable crime thriller from an Amazon, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Be warned, this book will keep you up all night! Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine.
Author Bio
Lisa Regan is the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Detective Josie Quinn series. Lisa is a member of Sisters In Crime, International Thriller Writers, and Mystery Writers of America. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Master of Education Degree from Bloomsburg University. She lives near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the U.S. with her husband, daughter, and Boston Terrier named Mr. Phillip.
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1820: Mercy, the orphan of an African prince, is uprooted from her life when her benefactor dies. She goes to live with Dr and Mrs Stephens who are relatives of her former friend. They espouse anti slavery rhetoric yet continue to patronise her. One night she meets Matthew, a black man who has been searching for his sister, stolen by slave traders…
Daughter of the Shipwreck is an historical novel set in 1820 which is 13 years before the UK outlawed slavery. At the beginning of the book we see two siblings ripped away from their village. However, the focus of this book is not the slave trade but the attitudes and identities surrounding black people in London.
Class and race are important themes in this book. The Stephens’ are patronising in their treatment of Mercy while ardently supporting the abolition campaign. The other servant in the household sees Mercy as privileged at first and dislikes her for her snooty behaviour rather than the colour of her skin.
Mercy has been protected and respected by her late benefactor. She is unprepared for the attitudes of others and this separates her from the other servants as well as the Stephens’. I was not clear if they are giving her a wage or simply giving her food and lodging in exchange for domestic and administrative work.
Matthew’s journey has been more fraught with danger as he searches for his sister which has taken him to unsavoury characters and locations. He is frequently rejected and reviled but his focus on his search gives him a passion to survive.
Daughter of the Shipwreck is a thought provoking novel about class and race issues in the past.
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Book: Daughter of the Shipwreck
Author: Lora Davies
Pub Day: August 10th 2021
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About the Book:
He kicked and struggled as his sister was carried out through the shallow water to one of the boats. The distance between them seemed to stretch out and out. There was nothing he could do. He cried out to her, his voice hoarse with tears, ‘I will find you! I promise!’
London, 1820: Nineteen-year-old Mercy, the orphaned daughter of an African prince, has come to live with the well-to-do Dr Stephens and his wife, Catherine, a passionate campaigner for the abolition of slavery.
Mercy throws herself into Catherine’s work, eager to help until – at an exhibition that has all of London talking – one particular painting makes a disturbing impression on her: conjuring vivid images of creaking wood and the screams of drowning people. Its effect on Dr Stephens is even stronger – a connection that seems almost personal.
Meanwhile, Mat, a young black sailor, scours the city in search of the men who kidnapped his sister many years before. When his path crosses with Mercy’s and he realises the girl he has been mourning is alive, it sets events in motion that will destroy everything Mercy thought was true about her old life – and her new one.
But as the names on Mat’s list are found dead, one after the other, the newly reunited siblings face a new danger. Someone is silencing all witnesses to the horrors of their past – and they could be next. But Mercy has had enough of secrets. She will have justice – no matter what the cost.
An utterly gripping and powerful novel about family, secrets, identity, and risking everything to be true to yourself. If you liked The Foundling, The Miniaturist or Amy Snow, you will love Daughter of the Shipwreck.
Author Bio
Lora studied English at Hull University before training at East 15 Acting School. She went on to work as an actor, director and workshop leader throughout the UK, as well as in Italy and Hong Kong, for companies including English Touring Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre and Theatr Clwyd. In 2018, Lora impulsively signed up for a writing course at her local bookshop and this led to a Masters in Creative Writing at Royal Holloway, University of London. Here she completed the first draft of her debut novel, graduating with Distinction in 2019.
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The body of a young woman is discovered. She has been strangled and the condition of her body makes identification tricky. DI Bernadette Noel interviews the teenaged boy who discovered the body and meets his 12 year old sister Laura who uploaded details to social media. Shortly afterwards, Laura disappears…
Broken Girls is the second book by Joy Kluver to feature Bernie but I have not read the first. There are references to things which must have occurred in the first book but no direct spoilers.
Bernadette has a few tricky professional relationships to negotiate. DCI Worth is officially leading the investigation and does not give her the free rein she usually enjoys. He calls in DS Anderson to work with Bernie, unaware of the tension between them due a missed date as she was warned off by his ex wife (I’m assuming this was in the previous book).
Bernie is unable to prevent a very natural revulsion at the forensic aspect of being a police officer. She vomits at the crime scene and I found this endearingly human in contrast to the usual objectivity that police characters display.
The police team are working tirelessly to solve the murder case when they are notified that a girl has disappeared. They need to assess if the two cases are linked or if it is just coincidence that they have had contact with the girl days before she went missing. The potential risk to Laura magnifies the tension in the plot as Bernie races to hunt down clues.
Broken Girls is an entertaining crime thriller with a strong lead character. I will definitely be catching up on the first book and looking forward to the next!
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Book: Broken Girls
Author: Joy Kluver
Pub Day: July 27th 2021
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Brambles catch her dress, scratch her legs, pierce her feet. To escape, she’d had no option but to go barefoot. They’d been laughing together a few minutes before, but things can change in the blink of an eye…
The woman is dark-haired and young, judging by the short red dress. Any other signs of her identity have been erased during her long wait to be found, but it’s clear she was strangled: this was a passionate and personal murder.
D.I. Bernadette Noel knows that every second counts if she is to catch this killer, but she has no leads – until the discovery that the dead woman’s rings match a stolen property report, and the rings’ owner mentions Rosa, her missing nanny.
Just when Bernie and her team think they’re getting somewhere, a shocking discovery about Rosa – and the news that another young girl has been abducted – changes everything the team thought they knew about the case.
Laura is only twelve, and her parents are beside themselves with worry – but Bernie has an additional fear. Laura’s home is right next to the woods where their murder victim was found: are the cases connected?
When Bernie notices similarities between descriptions of the man last seen with Rosa and someone Laura was messaging online, these fears grow stronger. But they still have no clear leads as to the identity of the culprit.
With few options left, and time running out, she makes a desperate plan to trap the predator. But any mistakes will mean another innocent life lost…
A gripping crime thriller with a nail-biting climax. If you like Angela Marsons, Val McDermid or Cara Hunter, you’ll love Joy Kluver.
Author Bio
Joy Kluver has been an avid reader and writer since childhood. More recently she’s been escaping the madness of motherhood by turning her hand to crime novels. A book blogger, she’s also part of the First Monday Crime team and if you’ve been to any of their events it’s likely you’ve eaten one of her cookies. She also organises author talks for her local library. Joy lives in SW London with her husband and three children. ‘Last Seen’ is her debut novel and the first book in the DI Bernadette Noel series.
Joy is represented by Anne Williams at the Kate Horden Literary Agency.
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A quiet street disrupted by the sound of gunshots. A family home that has become a prison. A race against time to prevent a tragedy…
The Family Across The Street is a stand alone psychological thriller set in Australia. The book is written from four perspectives: former bad boy Logan, nosy neighbour Gladys, Katherine and her captor. We learn from the prologue that a dangerous crisis is taking place within Katherine’s house and then go back in time over the past few hours to see how events unfolded.
I was instantly drawn towards the characters of Logan and Gladys. Their lives have been full of difficulties and they are intensely vulnerable. Logan’s life has been blighted by bad choices and a poor upbringing. He is often judged for his criminal background and feels very guilty for his previous behaviour. Gladys cares for her husband Lou who has Parkinsons. They have no children and her world revolves around trying to make human connections to combat the loneliness.
The scenes from Katherine and her captor’s viewpoint show the crisis within their family, with 5 year old twins in danger which heightens the tension. There are some violent actions and a gun in involved.
Psychology features heavily in this book, especially with regard to the impact of parenting on a child’s psyche. Katherine is concerned about the state of her marriage and considering the possible impact on her twins. Her captor has been significantly affected by his own parents’ animosity towards each other. Logan’s mother has failed him, causing his behaviour to spiral and he is struggling to prove himself worthy of a second chance.
The Family Across the Street book description:
Sometimes, the most perfect families are hiding the most terrible secrets. How well do you know the people next door…?
Everybody wants to live on Hogarth Street, the pretty, tree-lined avenue with its white houses. The new family, The Wests, are a perfect fit. Katherine and Josh seem so in love and their gorgeous five-year-old twins race screeching around their beautiful emerald-green lawn.
But soon people start to notice: why don’t they join backyard barbecues? Why do they brush away offers to babysit? Why, when you knock at the door, do they shut you out, rather than inviting you in?
Every family has secrets, and on the hottest day of the year, the truth is about to come out. As a tragedy unfolds behind closed doors, the dawn chorus is split by the wail of sirens. And one by one the families who tried so hard to welcome the Wests begin to realise: Hogarth Street will never be the same again.
A completely gripping, twist-packed psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Sally Hepworth and Lisa Jewell.
Author Bio:
Nicole Trope went to university to study Law but realised the error of her ways when she did very badly on her first law essay because, as her professor pointed out, ‘It’s not meant to be a story.’
She studied teaching instead and used her holidays to work on her writing career and complete a Masters’ degree. In between raising three children, working for her husband and renovating houses, she has published six novels. She lives in Sydney, Australia.
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