Loud music is blaring and one neighbour can’t stand it any longer. He storms round to Miles’ flat and breaks downs the door before smashing the sound system. But then he finds Miles’ body on the floor and becomes the prime suspect in the initial murder investigation. DCI Roscoe and his team
Heir To Murder is the 5th book to feature DCI Gavin Roscoe and his team. I have previously read and reviewed books 1 and 4 from the series: Murder on Oxford Lane and Out For Revenge.
At first glance, the murder case looks straightforward. An unplanned attack by a neighbour driven to the edge by relentless loud music. Digging a little deeper, DCI Roscoe finds out that the victim is from a privileged family but has become estranged. The case meanders through false alibis, blackmail, affairs, and another murders.
Roscoe is preparing for his son’s wedding but this new case requires all his attention. I enjoyed his stable home life and the lack of typical dysfunctional relationships and behaviours that are usually common among police characters. DS Sunita Roy’s character continues to shine. She has good intuition and this leads her to make a number of surprising discoveries that help solve the case. Meanwhile in her private life, her boyfriend is trying to persuade her to invest some money and I was surprised she was not more suspicious!
I think this series goes from strength to strength. The writing style is easy to read and the detective characters are easy to like so I felt invested in wanting them to succeed in catching the killer. There are plenty of twists and I had no idea which way the plot was heading or who was responsible for the crimes.
Heir To Murder is an entertaining police procedural with strong lead detectives.
Heir To Murder
When a neighbour from hell comes to a sticky end, a plucky cop refuses to accept the obvious.
Miles Kenworth loves to play his rock music at a deafening volume. The other residents of his apartment block are not so keen.
One day, after hearing a commotion, Miles’ next-door neighbour discovers his body lying in a pool of blood.
Standing next to the corpse is Jake, the man who lives upstairs.
It should be an open and shut case for DS Sunita Roy. But with Jake vehemently protesting his innocence, she decides to dig deeper.
Most of the residents wanted Miles shut up for good. But was it really Jake who flipped, or was he just in the wrong place at the wrong time?
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Author Bio – Tony is a former Fleet Street journalist. Tony decided to set this string of novels in Warwickshire and Worcestershire after spending many happy years working as a newspaper reporter in Worcester.
He first developed a love of writing at the age of nine when he and a friend produced a magazine called the Globe at their junior school in Sevenoaks, Kent. When he reached his teenage years, growing up in Tunbridge Wells, his local vicar staged one of his plays, about Naboth’s Vineyard.
At Hull University, Tony was named student journalist of the year in 1971 in a competition run by Time-Life magazine and went onto become a national newspaper journalist, mainly working for the Sunday People in both its newsroom and investigations department.
His very first book to be published, the crime novel Smile Of The Stowaway, was released in December 2018. It concerns a Kent couple who harbour a stowaway and then battle to clear his name when he is charged with murder.
Then, in March 2020, the spy novel The Lazarus Charter, was released. It involves foreign agents operating in the UK. The book has kindly been endorsed by Marina Litvinenko, widow of the murdered Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko, and by Stan and Caroline Sturgess, parents of the innocent mother-of-three poisoned with novichok in Salisbury in 2018.
Tony, who has written several other novels which are as yet unpublished, has five grown-up children. He is a Life Member of the National Union of Journalists. He lives in South-East London with his partner Lin.
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Sam and Maggie head off on a cruise. He is hoping to kindle a romance in the sun while she wants to head to the Nordic countries. Then the pair spot some familiar faces and death isn’t far behind…
Death on the High Seas is the 4th book in the Shires Mysteries series to feature amateur sleuths Sam and Maggie. I have previously read and reviewed the 2nd book in the series, At Death’s Door.
The book is written from Maggie’s first person via journal entriees as well as third person narrative to show the plot developments. Her personality really shines through (I described her as eccentric in my last review but would perhaps update this to vivacious) which contrasts with the more reticent Sam.
I found it really interesting that the author has chosen to depart from the usual setting and supporting characters. I have always wanted to go on a cruise and felt immersed in the setting, however I am afraid I agree with Sam and would want a warmer one!
The mystery side of the book has several layers and I wasn’t sure which direction the book was going to take. Maggie can see spirits which adds another dimension to her character and the plot. Maggie and Sam spot a mother and son with a criminal background from their hometown, Maggie meets up with an old flame, and the cruise ship picks up a distress signal from a fishing boat with injured people onboard.
Death on the High Seas is an entertaining cosy mystery and I love the dynamic between the two main characters.
Death on the High Seas
Maggie and Sam take a break from the murder and mayhem of Bishops Well and embark on a relaxing mid-winter cruise across the northern seas. The brochure promises smooth sailing, good food and dazzling entertainment. Sam is hoping to sprinkle the mix with romance.
But nothing goes to plan.
Maggie runs into an old lover, the mesmerising Benedict Rawbotham, who goes out of his way to sweep her off her feet. Sam is left seething with jealousy.
A mayday signal sent by a fishing boat forces the cruise liner off course. But there is something fishy about the rescued crew and Maggie insists that two young women have died on that boat. Alas, no one believes her.
Soon one of the alleged fishermen is also dead and so is one of the cruise passengers. Cordelia Conti Lang, nicknamed the Bitcoin Queen, with links to London’s criminal underworld, is found in her cabin, stabbed to death.
In pursuit of the killer, Maggie hurtles from one disaster to another and Sam begins to fear for her life. Has he taken her on a cruise to hell?
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Author Bio – Although she writes in a wide range of genres, Anna Legat is best known for her DI Gillian Marsh detective series and The Shires, her cosy murder mysteries. Anna is also the author of the historical thriller, Buried in the Past. She lives near Bath.
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A book within a book! Author Alan Conway sends his final manuscript to his publisher and editor. But the book is incomplete and Alan dies before they can ask about the ending. Editor Susan notices similarities between the book and real life: has a murder been committed?
Magpie Murders is a murder mystery within another. It has recently been made into a TV adaptation which I only watched after listening to this audiobook (the TV version was fab but the book was even better!)
Alan Conway’s Atticus Pund novels are hugely popular and his editor Susan is excited to read the final book in the series. Atticus is dying but takes on one final case. A woman dies in an apparent accident but her employer is then decapitated. The detective then interviews the suspects and is about to reach a conclusion when the manuscript abruptly finished. Susan is eager to find the missing final chapter but her visit to Alan’s home reveals he was using people and places he knew as his characters and settings. Does this mean he wrote about real murders?
I LOVED the way the two mysteries unfolded and was gripped by the narrative style and audio narration. Everthing just worked so well together and was so cleverly constructed. Readers are allowed to read along with Susan as she enjoys the final book in the Pund series and then act as an amateur sleuth alongside her as she investigates the death of the author.
There are clues and red herrings aplenty in both the manuscript and real life as the plot threads together. However, it is the characters of Susan and Atticus that really shine. Atticus is reminiscent of Poirot who I grew up adoring, whilst Susan is modern and intelligent. Both characters just leapt off the page, brought to life by the fantastic storytelling skills of the author.
Magpie Murders is a clever mystery within a mystery and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
Magpie Murders book blurb (Susan Ryeland 1)
When editor Susan Ryeland is given the tattered manuscript of Alan Conway’s latest novel, she has little idea it will change her life. She’s worked with the revered crime writer for years and his detective, Atticus Pund, is renowned for solving crimes in the sleepy English villages of the 1950s. As Susan knows only too well, vintage crime sells handsomely. It’s just a shame that it means dealing with an author like Alan Conway…
But Conway’s latest tale of murder at Pye Hall is not quite what it seems. Yes, there are dead bodies and a host of intriguing suspects, but hidden in the pages of the manuscript there lies another story: a tale written between the very words on the page, telling of real-life jealousy, greed, ruthless ambition and murder.
From Sunday Times bestseller Anthony Horowitz comes Magpie Murders, his deliciously dark take on the vintage crime novel, brought bang- up-to-date with a fiendish modern twist.
1943, Paris. Christine is a British agent working to get secrets from the German occupiers. Now she teams up with Charlie, an American spy, but can she put her emotions to one side to save her friends?
The Paris Spy’s Girl is an historical novel set in Paris during WW2.
Christine has overcome a traumatic past to become a spy, using her feminine wiles alongside a truth serum to find out Nazi secrets. Now she is paired up with Charlie but finds it difficult to fully trust him while those she loves are in danger. Not only people but the whole war effort are compromised as events unfold.
I felt quite emotionally detached from Christine. She keeps her feelings in check so even though the book is written in the first person, I didn’t feel that I knew her well. Most of the book is written in 1943 but there are some chapters to show why she left England and how she trained for her role. This added some depth to her characters, a better understanding of her motives, and also heightened awareness of the restraint she shows in her interactions.
The pace of the book is quite slow at the beginning as we find out how Christine got involved with the resistance and her friendship with Suzanne developed. There is plenty of tension as danger is never very far away. I thought the angle of women spies was quite refreshing and even more so when you realise it has a basis on real people who bravely subverted the Nazi regime.
The Paris Spy’s Girl is a well researched historical novel.
The Paris Spy’s Girl: An utterly breathtaking and heartbreaking World War II novel, inspired by true events by Amanda Lees
Paris, 1943. I stare at Charlie across the crowded room. Working deep undercover, we’re surrounded by Nazi high command. Slowly, he smiles at me and my breath catches. I have to trust him, or we’re both dead…
As war rages across France, English exile Christine has become the most deadly asset the British Secret Service has in occupied Paris. But when Suzanne, her best friend and the sole agent who knows the details of the top-secret D-Day landings, is betrayed to the Nazis by someone at the heart of their spy network, she is devastated. Going undercover with Charlie – a handsome but elusive American spy with an agenda of his own – is her only chance to catch the traitor in their midst.
Pretending to be not only Nazi collaborators but lovers too, they must save Suzanne from almost certain death and prevent the D-Day landing plans from ending up in the wrong hands. But as Christine and Charlie’s pretend desire turns to true love, her past – and the real reason she had to leave England forever – puts their whole mission in terrible danger.
With the Nazis closing in and Suzanne’s life on the line, Christine is forced into one last, desperate act: heading back into deepest, darkest enemy territory, knowing her disguise could have been exposed. With even her trust in Charlie shaken, will Christine have to choose between her love for him, her best friend’s life, and freedom for France? And who will pay the ultimate sacrifice…?
A totally compelling, page-turning historical novel of love, bravery and sacrifice in the darkest of times. Set in wartime Paris, this is an utterly gripping and tear-jerking read perfect for readers of Kate Quinn, Rhys Bowen and Mandy Robotham.
About the author:
Amanda Lees is an author, broadcaster and an actress. She has written for, or contributed to, the Evening Standard, The Times, US Cosmopolitan and Company Magazine, as well as numerous online publications. Amanda appears regularly on BBC radio and LBC and was a contracted writer to the hit series Weekending on Radio 4.
As well as her new World War Two romantic thriller series, she has published two bestselling satirical fiction novels, a YA thriller trilogy and a number of non-fiction titles including The Dictionary of Crime.
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TRIGGER WARNING: miscarriage, IVF, adoption, organ donation, brain damage caused by meningitis
Fifteen years ago Toni gave her sister Liv a kidney to save her life. Now Liv offers to give her baby to Toni so that she can have the family she’s always dreamed of…
My Sister’s Baby is a very emotional family drama novel set in Australia.
Toni, Liv and Mandy are united in their grief after their father’s death. Toni and her husband have the additional heartache of having been through several rounds of IVF that ended in miscarriage. The sisters’ mum Sara is struggling to cope with Mandy who suffered brain damage after contracting mengingitis as a child.
Liv has always wanted to repay Toni for donating a kidney to her after a car crash and now she has the chance to make her a mother. Toni accepts her sister Liv’s baby but finds the reality of a newborn difficult to cope with. Meanwhile Liv fraudulently arranges the birth certificate which lead to her getting blackmailed.
There are some big issues covered in this book. I thought they were handled sensitively and gave a depth to the characters. In particular, my heart went out to Mandy who is aware of her limitations and the burden she is to her family. The book is very thought provoking about the impact disability has on siblings, the sacrifices that are made and the resentment this could cause.
Toni finally has what she has always dreamed of but struggles to adapt. I felt so enraged at her husband’s double standards. The author makes many references to Liv’s secrets and it is pretty obvious that there is more than just the birth certificate. The ending was predictable but well written and engaging.
My Sister’s Baby is a hugely emotional book about family and impossible choices.
My Sister’s Baby
Your sister once saved your life… Would you repay her with the child she’s always dreamed of?
Liv and Toni were once inseparable. While their parents focused on Mandy, their little sister with special needs, the two older sisters leaned on each other for love, support and security.
When they were in their teens, and Liv needed a lifesaving operation, Toni didn’t hesitate to do whatever it took to help her. Since then, their lives have gone in different directions. They live in different cities and rarely see each other. But now it’s Toni who needs help from Liv. Because she’s desperate for a baby…
When Liv finds herself in a situation where she could help Toni fulfil her dream, she wants more than anything to say yes. But Liv is keeping a dark secret. And she can’t help but wonder – is giving a baby to her sister the right thing to do… or will it destroy their family forever?
A gripping emotional page turner. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Kate Hewitt and Emma Robinson.
Author Bio –
Louise Guy, bestselling author of six novels, blends family and friendship themes with unique twists and intrigue. Her characters captivate readers, drawing them deeply into their compelling stories and struggles. Previously published by Lake Union, she lives in Australia.
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