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Kate Mancini is a female journalist reporting on the aftermath of WW2. Travelling through Berlin in 1946, Kate spots a girl, alone, mute, hungry, scared. She takes her to a place of safety before returning home to the US.

The Lost Girl of Berlin is an historical novel set in the aftermath of WW2. The world is adjusting to peace. Men and women are negotiating the changed circumstances.

Kate is a young woman, determined to prove herself equal to any male journalist. She has a solid friendship with many of the male correspondents in Berlin but none of their opportunities. The gender politics were infuriating as Kate is judged by virtue of being a woman rather than her worth as a journalist.

One man in particular, Rick, sees Kate as his equal and wishes to start a relationship with her as well as supporting her career. However, his family is wealthy and has strict expectations about his future life and wife. Are the couple fated to stay apart?

Alongside this stalled romance and the career trials, there are other perspectives and subplots. There is the unhappiness of Rick’s mother and the uneasy sibling relationship Kate has with her sister Bianca. The rescue of orphan Mia and her subsequent story is emotional. It allows us to see the softer side to Kate which contrasts with the hard headed journalist persona.

The Lost Girl of Berlin is an emotional and heartwarming story of love and peace. I have previously reviewed other books by Ella Carey including Secret Shores, Beyond The Horizon, Paris Time Capsule, The House by the Lake, From a Paris Balcony, The Things We Don’t Say and A New York Secret.

Author Bio:

Ella Carey is the international bestselling author of The Things We Don’t Say, Secret Shores, From a Paris Balcony, The House by the Lake, and Paris Time Capsule. Her books have been published in over fourteen languages, in twelve countries, and have been shortlisted for ARRA awards. A Francophile who has long been fascinated by secret histories set in Europe’s entrancing past, Ella has degrees in music, nineteenth-century women’s fiction, and modern European history. She lives in Melbourne with her two children and two Italian greyhounds who are constantly mistaken for whippets.

Ella loves to connect with her readers regularly through her facebook page and on her website.

http://www.ellacarey.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ellacareyauthor/

https://twitter.com/Ella_Carey

Buy Link:

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3dK8lEK

1914: Emma marries Ernest and moves to Singapore. But war is imminent and she is hiding her German heritage. 1939: another war approaches and Emma is a private nurse to a Jewish spinster, a close friend of Oscar Wilde. Again her German ancestry is crucial to keep hidden…

Emma’s Tapestry is a dual timeline historical novel set in the lead up to two world wars. This is a fictionalised account based on the author’s own great grandmother which adds a poignancy to the plot and characters.

Emma is quite a modern woman despite being born in the Victorian era. She successfully trains as a nurse and then battles with her husband to be allowed to work. Her husband is ambitious but Emma struggles to fit in with his expectations in contrast to her own thoughts and feelings. She takes up tapestry, stitching things of beauty to contrast with the sadness she feels inside.

Cultural, gender and social norms are all authentically represented in the book as well as the uncomfortable personal politics within a marriage. There are parallels between the Spanish Flu and the current coronavirus pandemic that make the book feel relevant. The animosity towards Germans caused by war-mongering of the period leads Emma to deny her heritage to protect herself.

Emma’s Tapestry is an enjoyable historical novel and I liked that it was based on real life events.

Emma’s Tapestry

At the dawn of World War Two, German-born nurse Emma Taylor sits by the bedside of a Jewish heiress in London as she reminisces over her dear friend, Oscar Wilde.

As the story of Wilde unravels, so does Emma’s past. What really happened to her husband?

She’s taken back to her days in Singapore on the eve of World War One. To her disappointing marriage to a British export agent, her struggle to fit into colonial life and the need to hide her true identity.

Emma is caught up in history, the highs, the lows, the adventures. A deadly mutiny, terrifying rice riots and a confrontation with the Ku Klux Klan bring home, for all migrants, the fragility of belonging.

Purchase Link –  http://mybook.to/emmastapestry

Author Bio – Isobel Blackthorn was born in Farnborough, Kent, England, and has spent much of her life in Australia. Isobel holds a PhD in Social Ecology from the University of Western Sydney for her ground-breaking study of the texts of theosophist Alice A. Bailey. She is the author of The Unlikely Occultist: A biographical novel of Alice A. Bailey and numerous fictional works including the popular Canary Islands Mysteries series. A prolific and award-winning novelist, she is currently working on a trilogy of esoteric thrillers.

Social Media Links – https://isobelblackthorn.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Lovesick.Isobel.Blackthorn/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5768657.Isobel_Blackthorn

https://twitter.com/IBlackthorn

https://www.instagram.com/isobelblackthorn/

A murdered woman is traced back to a trafficking ring. Can DCI Matthew Merry put his personal issues to one side and work with international colleagues to solve the case…?

Coldharbour is the fourth book from John Mead and the first that I have read. This works perfectly well as a standalone novel as there is enough background without giving details of previous cases.

Matthew Merry has significant personal concerns as his wife Kathy is going through a court case against her rapist. At several points during the book, he is torn between his dedication to his job and the desire to find justice for victims against his love for his family and their emotional needs.

The case itself is unpleasant but not too graphic. A woman is murdered and found to have links to a trafficking gang. The main plot is about the hunt for the ring leaders but Matthew’s wife Kathy finds herself personally and awkwardly involved. I didn’t feel a particularly strong emotional pull to the main plot or murder victim. However, this was counterbalanced by the vulnerability of Kathy and Matthew which brought their characters to life.

I found it a little tricky at times to keep up with the police acronyms and the range of nicknames/pseudonyms for the suspects. There were additional subplots of other investigations and I felt this was realistic as I’m sure police are rarely just dealing with one crime at a time. I enjoyed the involvement of the French and Italian police as Matthew hunts down suspects across Europe.

Coldharbour was an enjoyable crime thriller.

Coldharbour

The Met Police’s Major Investigation Team East has its hands full: a rash of tit for tat gang related stabbings, a strangled housewife, the decomposed remains of a woman found in a ditch and more to come. Adding to their woes is their boss, Chief Inspector Matthew Merry, being distracted by his problems at home.

For Matthew’s wife, Kathy, her only concern is dealing with the aftermath of being drugged and raped by a co-worker. Will the trial of the man responsible be enough to give her the justice she demands. Or, as her therapist states, is it revenge she really desires. She doesn’t know. As her emotions see-saw from elation to depression, her only certainty is that her husband seems more concerned about his work than her.

And Matthew is only too aware of his failings both at home and work. But the police machine grinds on, seeking information and sifting evidence — justice is not their concern.

Purchase Links –

UK –  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Coldharbour-John-Mead-ebook/dp/B08NF7VK8N

US – https://www.amazon.com/Coldharbour-John-Mead-ebook/dp/B08NF7VK8N

John Mead

John was born in the mid-fifties in Dagenham, London, on part of the largest council estate ever built, and was the first pupil from his local secondary modern school to attend university. He has now taken early retirement to write, having spent the first part of his life working in education and the public sector. He was the director of a college, a senior school inspector for a local authority, and was head of a unit for young people with physical and mental health needs. When he is not travelling, going to the theatre or the pub, he writes.

John is currently working on a seies of novels set in modern day London. These police procedurals examine the darker side of modern life in the East End of the city

Amazon author profile: https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B07B8SQ2ZH

Goodreads profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17891273.John_Mead

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnMeadAuthor

Christie visits the fens to conduct research for her employer’s book. She stays with her cousin Liz and partner Matt, retired cops now private investigators. The couple are investigating a woman’s disappearance and are then invited by the police to help with a murder enquiry. But Christie soon provides them with another case…

Marshlight is the fourth book in Joy Ellis’ Matt Ballard series but it can be easily read as a stand alone novel.

Matt and Liz have failed to locate their friend’s missing sister and now their latest case is a murder. However, this plot takes second place as the main plotline for this novel emerges: the majority of the first half of the book is dedicated to Christie and her developing friendships and antagonistic relationship with the locals. As a result of Christie’s interactions, she is involved when a woman goes missing.

Christie and the range of local characters provide a new dynamic as personal politics are established. Gina is a fabulous character that it perfect for us to love to hate and we share Christie’s suspicions about her behaviour. This is explored over the first half of the book to allow plot developments in the second half when the disappearance occurs and is investigated.

The setting of the Fens is vividly brought to life with Christie’s excursions to research the area for her employer’s book. The atmosphere created by the curious light phenomenon is unsettling and provides a great backdrop to the muliple plotlines.

Marshlight is an enjoyable mix of psychological and crime thriller. I have read and reviewed book 3 in this series, The Dying Light. Take a look at the blue links in the list at the end of this blog post for my reviews.

MARSHLIGHT (Matt Ballard #4)

A new psychological thriller from bestselling author and British Book Awards Crime & Thriller of the Year nominee Joy Ellis.

MATT AND LIZ MAY HAVE RETIRED FROM THE POLICE, BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN A QUIET LIFE.

An old friend’s sister disappears without a trace. There’s no sign of foul play, but she’d been acting very peculiarly . . .

Meanwhile, Liz’s cousin Christie comes to stay. She takes an immediate — and uncharacteristic — dislike to the local bookshop owner, Gina. Why does everyone put up with her awful behaviour?

HUNTING WILL-O’-THE-WISPS ON THE MARSHES CAN BE A VERY DANGEROUS HOBBY.

Christie is convinced that Gina is manipulating everyone around her. Is she onto something dangerous or just pushing her new friends away?

No one believes her suspicions until another friend goes missing late at night on the misty Fen marshes.

Can Matt and Liz uncover the truth in time to save lives?

DISCOVER A TOTALLY ENTHRALLING PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER

What readers are saying about JOY ELLIS:

“The suspense starts on page 1 and continues through the twists and turns until the very surprising ending.” Linda Strong

“OMG, this book was fantastic. I absolutely loved it. I was gripped from the first page, but as the tension and suspense mounted throughout the book it just got better and better. And that ending, well, just WOW!” Dawn

“I absolutely loved it.” Viv

“Will keep you guessing until the end of the book.” Barbara

“What a book!!!” Sian

“I was so engrossed I sat up way too late to finish it in one sitting.” Elaine

THE SETTING
England’s rural fenland is a strange place, with its never-ending fields, winding tracks, and long straight droves (the old livestock routes) that lead to nowhere. The lonely lanes are flanked either side by deep drainage ditches and are, for a good part of the year, filled with tall, whispering reeds. Closer to the Wash, high seabanks form a barrier between river and marsh, and the richly fertile soil of the drained land. But when the mists come down, as they so often do, perspective is destroyed and all sense of direction lost, and then the fens become a rather frightening place of mystery and danger. Somewhere that you do not want to be at night.

JOY ELLIS

UK #1 BEST SELLER WITH THEIR LOST DAUGHTERS, DARKNESS ON THE FENS, THE FOURTH FRIEND, BEWARE THE PAST, FIRE ON THE FENS, AND THE GUILTY ONES

OVER 2 MILLION BOOKS SOLD!

“I was born in Kent but spent most of my working life in London and Surrey. I was an apprentice florist to Constance Spry Ltd, a prestigious Mayfair shop that throughout the sixties and seventies teemed with both royalty and ‘real’ celebrities. What an eye-opener for a working-class kid from the Garden of England! I swore then, probably whilst I was scrubbing the floor or making the tea, that I would have a shop of my own one day. It took until the early eighties, but I did it. Sadly the recession wiped us out, and I embarked on a series of weird and wonderful jobs; the last one being a bookshop manager. Surrounded by books all day, getting to order whatever you liked, and being paid for it! Oh bliss!

And now I live in a village in the Lincolnshire Fens with my partner, Jacqueline, a highly decorated retired police officer, and our four barking mad Springer spaniels. If I do get any spare time, which is rare these days, my one relaxation is painting, especially using soft pastels. We have been here for twenty years now and although I’ll never be a true ‘Yeller Belly’, a native born to this county, I have adopted it as my own. I love the mists, the big skies and the endless waterways. All my books are set here on the Fens, and why not? The location is perfect for murder!”

ALSO BY JOY ELLIS
THE BESTSELLING NIKKI GALENA SERIES
Book 1: CRIME ON THE FENS
          2: SHADOW OVER THE FENS
3: HUNTED ON THE FENS
          4: KILLER ON THE FENS
          5: STALKER ON THE FENS
          6: CAPTIVE ON THE FENS
          7: BURIED ON THE FENS
          8: THIEVES ON THE FENS
          9: FIRE ON THE FENS
        10: DARKNESS ON THE FENS
        11: HIDDEN ON THE FENS

        12: SECRETS ON THE FENS

JACKMAN & EVANS
Book 1: THE MURDERER’S SON
          2: THEIR LOST DAUGHTERS
          3: THE FOURTH FRIEND
          4: THE GUILTY ONES
5: THE STOLEN BOYS
6: THE PATIENT MAN

          7: THEY DISAPPEARED

DETECTIVE MATT BALLARD
Book 1: BEWARE THE PAST
          2: FIVE BLOODY HEARTS
          3: THE DYING LIGHT
          4: MARSHLIGHT

STANDALONES
GUIDE STAR

India 1930s. Rosie’s first loss is the death of her mother at the age of 10. She goes to live with her mother’s friend Silvia in Ceylon. An idyllic childhood ensues but the Second World War is imminent: who else will she lose…?

Those I Have Lost is an historical novel set during the 1930s and 40s in India and Ceylon (modern day Sri Lanka).

Rosie has an innocence at the beginning of the novel as she attempts to cope with her mother’s death and moving away from her father. Her guardian is hoping for a marriage between Rosie and one of her sons but she wishes to become a doctor and love is not on her agenda. She is unable to deny her heart for long as war threatens…

The gender, social and racial class structure is not shied away from despite the modern rejection of the system. Life in India and Ceylon was brought to life through the vivid descriptions of the colours, tastes, sound and views that Rosie experiences. I think the setting and era are quite unique as I have not read books set here before (most WW2 books that I have read focus on Europe).

The book is written from Rosie’s first person perspective. This allows us to see her opinions of others and the effect they have on her life and emotions. She is a loyal friend and sees people’s value rather than their place in society. At first she is naive and doesn’t understand why her friendship with Usha could cause problems within her adoptive family (sexual and racial politics).

Pacewise, the beginning of the book is a little slow as we establish Rosie’s family situation and the origins of her hopes and dreams. Things get more dramatic and events unfurl more rapidly as war breaks out and Rosie’s heart engages for the first time.

Those I Have Lost provides an interesting angle on WW2 fiction. I have previously reviewed The Faraway Girl, Her Darkest Hour and The Violin Maker’s Daughter by Sharon Maas.

A family on a faraway island. Seas crawling with Japanese spies. A terrible war creeping ever closer…

1940 When Rosie loses her mother and is sent to Sri Lanka to live with her mother’s friend Silvia and her three sons, her world changes in a heartbeat. As she is absorbed into the bosom of a noisy family, with boys she loves like brothers, she begins to feel at home.

But the war in Europe is heading for Asia. Searching for comfort from the bleak news and the bombings, Rosie meets a heroic soldier on leave, and falls in love for the first time. Yet the war will not stop for passion; he must move on, and she must say goodbye, knowing she might never see him again. She is left with just a memory.

Meanwhile, one by one, the men she considers brothers leave to fight for their island paradise. As she waits in anguish for letters that never come, tortured by stories of torpedoed ships and massacres of innocent families, she realises that she, too, must do her bit. Rosie volunteers to work in military intelligence, keeping secrets that will help those she loves and protect her island home. But then two telegrams arrive with the chilling words ‘missing believed captured’ and ‘missing believed dead’. Who of those that she loves will survive the devastating war, and who will she lose?

An emotional and heartbreaking read with rich historical detail set against the backdrop of Sri Lanka during World War Two. Fans of Hazel Gaynor, Fiona Valpy, Kristin Hannah and Clare Flynn will be swept away by Those I Have Lost.

Author Bio:

Sharon Maas was born into a prominent political family in Georgetown, Guyana, in 1951. She was educated in England, Guyana, and, later, Germany. After leaving school, she worked as a trainee reporter with the Guyana Graphic in Georgetown. She later wrote feature articles for the Sunday Chronicle as a staff journalist.

Her first novel, Of Marriageable Age, is set in Guyana and India and was published by HarperCollins in 1999. In 2014 she moved to Bookouture, and now has ten novels under her belt. Her books span continents, cultures, and eras. From the sugar plantations of colonial British Guiana in South America, to the French battlefields of World War Two, to the present-day brothels of Mumbai and the rice-fields and villages of South India, Sharon never runs out of stories for the armchair traveller.

https://www.sharonmaas.com/

https://twitter.com/sharon_maas

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3hnXnpq

Apple: https://apple.co/32xVlfr

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3v5rqHC

Google: https://bit.ly/3tzY5F1