Carrie Adams is a nurse serving in the US army during WW2. She falls in love with a surgeon but their romance is doomed as tragedy looms. Her focus is redirected on an Italian partisan and a small Jewish girl but can she keep them safe?
The Tuscan Orphan is an historical novel set mainly in Italy from 1943 onwards.
Carrie and Bill fall in love and plan to marry when they reach Rome alongside the victorious Allied troops. But victory seems as far away as ever and a rogue bomb ends their hope for a happy ending. In the aftermath, Carrie becomes focussed on the arrival of a young girl with a head injury. Partisan Vito blames himself for the girl’s accident but is in need of medical help himself.
I was swept up in the geography and history depicted in the book. It was really interesting to learn about the American nursing corps which I knew nothing about. Some of the descriptions of the medical injuries are a little upsetting but I felt this added to the authenticity. There is also a derogatory term used for Italians by a particularly unpleasant officer which could cause offense.
Carrie endures physical and emotional hardship through her experience of war. But she is also lucky enough to find love twice in terrible circumstances. The romance element of the plot is warm and uplifting in light of the backdrop of war. Other peripheral characters also enjoy love which reinforces the power of the emotion in face of adversity.
The Tuscan Orphan is an emotional historical novel which brings 1940s Italy to life.
The Tuscan Orphan
1944 – When an air raid strikes the hospital she’s been working in, Carrie’s life irrevocably changes. But as a nurse in the middle of wartime, she has no time to grieve, as she has too many people relying on her.
For resistance fighter, Vito, nothing is more important than seeking vengeance for the atrocities his fellow comrades have suffered. But when he liberates a convent, finding a group of Jewish children in hiding, he suddenly has even more to fight for.
Little Mimi is injured, scared and alone. Together Carrie and Vito vow to find her parents, a loving home. But under the shadow of war, is it wise to make promises you’re not sure you can keep?
Heartbreaking and immersive, this powerful story of the strength of the human spirit will delight fans of Kristin Hannah, Fiona Valpy and Rhys Bowen
Author Bio –
Siobhan Daiko writes powerful and sweeping historical fiction set in Italy during the second World War, with strong women at its heart. She now lives near Venice, having been a teacher in Wales for many years.
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Green-fingered Ally is providing the mistletoe to decorate the church hall for Christmas. As the tree lights are switched on, there is a fatality…
Murder Under The Mistletoe is the second book in the Abby Finch series. I have not read the first book and I think it would have been beneficial as there were lots of mentions of Abby’s past and her ex’s death which I believe were covered in the previous book.
Abby is happy to be reunited with former teacher Edward which makes his subsequent death even more upsetting. She is also feeling unsettled after meeting ‘silver fox’ Gregory who has a curious way of making people do things for him. He turns his attentions on Abby and hints at blackmail to coerce her…
Ooh my hackles were raised by Gregory. He is unpleasantly smarmy and I wasn’t surprised when his real personality becomes clear. I instantly thought he should have been the victim and Abby soons reaches the same conclusion. Edward’s past does raise some potential motives too but overall I was convinced that Gregory was supposed to die.
I found the mystery intriguing and enjoyed being introduced to the village and meeting the characters. In particular I really liked Abby as the main character. However, there were quite a few so I struggled a little to keep the relationships clear in my head especially as there were mentions of Abby’s recent past which are significant and featured in the first book.
Murder Under The Mistletoe is an enjoyable murder mystery and I look forward to catching up on the first book.
MURDER UNDER THE MISTLETOE by Liz Fielding
MEET ABBY FINCH. SHE’S THE BUSY MUM OF THREE, AN EXPERT GARDENER AND THE STAR OF YOUR NEW FAVOURITE COZY MURDER MYSTERY.
Abby Finch heads to the old church hall armed with mistletoe and holly ready to help decorate in time for the festive season. But she arrives in time to witness a horrifying sight. Edward Marsh reaches to test the antique star at the top of the tree. There’s a fizz and the lights go out.
Abby hears the sickening thud of a body hitting the ground. When the lights turn back on Edward is dead.
It soon becomes clear it was no accident.
The real victim should have been Gregory Tatton, a dapper silver fox, popular with the ladies of the seniors’ lunch club. And a known blackmailer . . .
Abby is desperate to know the truth, but putting herself in danger isn’t on her Christmas list.
Who’s been naughty? Who’s been nice? And who’s hiding the fact they’re a murderer?
Fans of Faith Martin, Jane Adams, Frances Evesham, M.C. Beaton, Clare Chase or Jeanne M. Dams will love this addictive cozy mystery!
MEET THE DETECTIVE
Brilliant gardener and the busy mum of three, Abby Finch’s dreams of winning gold at Chelsea Flower Show were put on hold by an unplanned pregnancy and marriage. But she wouldn’t have it any other way. These days she’s kept on her toes looking after her beloved family, running her own business and dealing with her imminent divorce. In an effort to keep things cordial, she’s allowed her ex to bully her into restoring the garden of his family home. Thankfully she’s surrounded herself with a great group of friends to lean on.
THE SETTING
Pretty Maybridge is a charming village set in the sheep-dotted Cotswolds hills, with a long history stretching back to Tudor times. It’s the type of place where everyone knows each other, but there’s a wonderful bookshop on the corner of the bridge, a popular riverside café and a bustling market at Christmastime. And with Bristol nearby and a big supermarket round the corner.
LIZ FIELDING
Award winning author Liz Fielding was born with itchy feet. She was working in Zambia before her twenty-first birthday and, gathering her own special hero and a couple of children on the way, has lived in Botswana, Kenya and the Middle East, all of which have provided rich inspiration for her writing.
She has written more than seventy books, several of which have won awards, and sold over 15 million copies. In 2019 she was honoured with the Romantic Novelists’ Association Outstanding Career Award. She lives in West Sussex.
BOOKS BY LIZ FIELDING:
MAYBRIDGE MYSTERIES SERIES
Lord Barlas is in fear for his life. He calls upon Kitty and Matt Bryant to investigate, bringing them to his remote Scottish castle for Hogmanay. They cannot prevent his death but can they catch his killer…?
Murder at the Highland Castle is the 14th book in the Kitty Underhay series of cosy murder mysteries. There are no spoilers about previous cases.
Kitty and Matt are celebrating their first wedding anniversary when they get the unexpected request to travel to Scotland to prevent an injury or even death. When they arrive, they find a fearful lord and a houseful of guests (and therefore potential suspects). Sadly their presence and intial investigation isn’t enough to top the killer’s success.
There is plenty of build up to the murder which doesn’t occur until over a third of the way through the book. This leaves significant time to establish the variety of characters staying at the castle and provides some motives. The remote location narrows down the suspects but I was still kept guessing until the reveal at the end.
I love Kitty and Matt’s characters and am so pleased that their married life has not changed them. They respect each other’s vulnerabilities and work together well, a very modern couple for the 1930s. I liked the historical and geographical specifics that underpinned the plot to add authenticity.
Murder at the Highland Castle is an enjoyable addition to this series.
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Book: Murder at the Highland Castle
Author: Helena Dixon
Pub Day: Nov 17th 2023
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About the Book:
A majestic castle by a Scottish loch, a glass of whisky by a roaring fire, stockings hung by the chimney… and a body? It’s a midwinter murder for Kitty Underhay!
Winter, 1935. Lightly dusted with snow and nestled on the edge of a sweeping Scottish loch, Finnglach Castle looks positively magical. Kitty Underhay, her husband Matt and their beloved dog Bertie are delighted to be celebrating the new year with a Hogmanay party, but just after midnight, a shot rings out across the grounds…
Their host, Lord Barlas, is dead, murdered in the snow. The killer’s footprints have vanished and the gun is missing. With the snow-covered castle completely cut off, and a killer in their midst, Kitty and Matt need to work fast to find the culprit before someone else ends up dead.
As the weather worsens, the guests begin discussing dark Highland stories about evil spirits. But with an anxious daughter, a new wife set to inherit a fortune and a suspicious spiritual adviser, Kitty is sure the killer is close at hand. Can she, Matt and Bertie sniff out the treacherous culprit in time for haggis and whisky or will they find themselves skating on dangerously thin ice?
Don’t miss this incredibly charming cozy page-turner! If you love TE Kinsey, Agatha Christie or Lee Strauss, you’ll fall head over heels for this totally unputdownable historical mystery.
Author Bio
Helena Dixon splits her time between the Black Country and Devon. Married to the same man for over thirty-five years she has three daughters, a cactus called Spike, and a crazy cockapoo. She is allergic to adhesives, apples, tinsel and housework. She was winner of The Romance Prize in 2007 and Love Story of the Year 2010 as Nell Dixon. She now writes historical 1930’s set cozy crime.
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Ursula Smart is astonished when Spear proposes to her. The pair try to avoid the angst of wedding planning by heading to Finland for a small ceremony with close family. But things do not do smoothly when the Smart women are involved!
Murder Most Cold is the 5th book in the Smart series of cosy murder mysteries. I have read and reviewed the previous book in the series, A Book of Murder.
Ursula and her dysfunctional family are quite delightful. The style of writing is a little quirky but also very personal as we witness Ursula’s first person experiecnes. She is shocked to receive a marriage proposal from Spear but is hopeful for the future and the pair plan their nuptuals in Finland. Well, actually, it is their mums driving the wedding plans forward!
There is a lot of build up to the wedding and murder, both of which finally occur a third of the way into the book. The family are snowed in as the number of bodies grows while the possible suspects decrease. Options are limited but I was still kept guessing until the very end.
There are plenty of moments of humour and I enjoyed the banter between Ursula and her family. Her mum is a real tour de force and I loved her but would hate to meet her! I had to suspend my disbelief and incredulity as there were supernatural elements and confused experiences. The ending was tense and completedly unexpected.
Murder Most Cold has wedding jitters, murder, laughs and huge twists: something for everyone!
MURDER MOST COLD by Victoria Dowd
DISCOVER THE FIENDISHLY TWISTY, UTTERLY ADDICTIVE CRIME FICTION OF VICTORIA DOWD.
**FROM THE WINNER OF THE PEOPLE’S BOOK PRIZE FOR FICTION 2021 AND SHORTLISTEE OF THE CWA DAGGER AWARD 2023**
A winter wedding.
A mysterious disappearance.
A body under the ice.
Handsome Spear proposes marriage and Ursula Smart suddenly has a glimpse of the sort of happy life she had never imagined for herself. Beginning with a small winter wedding, on the edge of a secluded, frozen lake, away from it all.
But trouble is never far from the Smart women, especially when the atmosphere is already so frosty.
Tensions start rising as soon as they arrive and it’s not just Ursula’s mother Pandora getting cabin fever.
Poisoning. Stabbing. A mysterious disappearance. Who’s targeting the wedding party?
Then on a midnight jaunt, Ursula sees a face trapped under the ice, eyes staring in frozen horror. And her happy future begins to fall apart.
Weddings should be joyous occasions. But there’s a murderer at this one.
A GOLDEN AGE MURDER MYSTERY BROUGHT BANG UP TO DATE.
Funny and shocking in equal turn, Victoria Dowd’s brilliant whodunnit is perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Anthony Horowitz, Liane Moriarty, Faith Martin, Frances Lloyd and Stuart Turton.
READERS LOVE VICTORIA DOWD AND THE SMART WOMEN
‘A modern take on the classic whodunnit!’ Anja Jager, bestselling author of A Cold Death in Amsterdam
‘Original, intriguing, great fun. Can you tell I loved it? Hugely recommended.’ CWA Silver Dagger winner, Barbara Nadel
‘A rip-roaring murder mystery that grabs the reader from the start.’ Louise Mumford, bestselling author of Sleepless
‘Witty, dark and gripping. I could read the Smart Women every second of every day and still want more.’ Tim Ewins, author of We Are Animals
‘A pacey, atmospheric and deliciously creepy murder mystery, laced with laugh-out-loud humour and a cast of larger-than-life characters. Loved it!’ Philippa East, author of Little White Lies and Safe and Sound
‘A little literary delight.’ Liz W., NetGalley
ALSO BY VICTORIA DOWD
SMART WOMAN’S MYSTERY
1: THE SMART WOMAN’S GUIDE TO MURDER
2: BODY ON THE ISLAND
3: THE SUPPER CLUB MURDERS
4: A BOOK OF MURDER
5: MURDER MOST COLD
VICTORIA DOWD
After graduating from Cambridge, Victoria was a criminal law barrister on the London circuit for many years, where many of her cases were much stranger than fiction.
Victoria is now an award winning writer, having won the Go Gothic Short Story Award for 2019. She has had short fiction published in places such as Aesthetica: A Review of Contemporary Artists and was chosen as the runner up in The New Writer’s writer of the year award. Her work was Highly Commended by The Writers’ Forum and long-listed for The Willesden Herald International Short Story Competition. She has had short stories published in the BTS Literary and Arts Annual, Dream Catcher arts journal and Gold Dust Literary Magazine.
Victoria lives with her husband and two children. She writes full time, splitting her time between London and Devon, where she can indulge her passion for all things Agatha Christie.
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A criminal family turned good. A police officer as best man. But one of the guests is planning a murder….
Murder at the Wedding is the 9th book in the Rina Martin series. I have read and reviewed the previous book in the series, Murder at the Willows.
The book begins with a gangland killing and the escape of an undercover officer. The plot then jumps forward to the upcoming nuptuals of Bridie and Fitch, a chance for a new future on the right side of the law. But there are issue with a will and someone is prepared to murder in order to gain success and power for themselves.
There is plenty of build up to the murder which doesn’t occur until after the wedding, a third of the way through the book. Even Rina is almost a secondary character in this opening third as she enjoys the wedding preparations. Mac, a police officer has a better idea that something dangerous is brewing as he has been asked by his boss to keep an eye on proceedings, leaving him the difficult task of juggling the personal and professional.
As with the previous book, I felt a little overwhelmed by the number of characters and their pre-established relationships. I definitely think that the whole series should be read in order to understand the development of character profiles and their relationships.
I liked the claustrophobic atmosphere of the remote wedding venue which increase the tension. There were multiple layers of plot and I enjoyed the different viewpoints of the wedding location and guests.
Murder at the Wedding is a enjoyable murder mystery but a little slow at times as it relies on prior knowledge of the characters.
MURDER AT THE WEDDING (Rina Martin Murder Mystery Book 9) by Jane Adams
If you love Miss Marple or Agatha Raisin, you’ll love Rina!
Meet Rina Martin, a retired actress with a taste for tea, gardening and crime solving.
She played a TV sleuth for years, but now she has to do it for real.
Rina’s friend Bridie Duggan is tying the knot! At a majestic country house on a private island. Rina and thirteen other guests row out for the ceremony.
One of them has murder in mind . . .
The next day, Rina’s out exploring the island when she hears a blood-curdling scream. She races down the twisty steps to shore — to find a dead body!
This guest didn’t fall to their death. They were pushed.
A storm is rolling in on Bridie’s perfect day. Now there’s no way on or off the island.
Rina can’t stand by and wait for the police to come to their rescue.
But what if Rina’s snooping just moved her from the guestlist to the kill list?
If you love Agatha Christie, Jeanne M. Dams, Glenda Young, Stella Cameron and Frances Evesham, prepare to be hooked by this page-turning whodunnit mystery.
THE DETECTIVE
Determined and compassionate, Rina Martin on a mission is an unstoppable force. When Rina retired from acting, she bought a B&B in Frantham on Sea. There, she has a quirky cast of full-time boarders, including wannabe magician Tim. She only wanted a quiet life. Instead, events propel Rina into full investigation mode, and she gets a taste for sleuthing. Can she help it if crimes just keep turning up on her doorstep?
THE SETTING
Tucked away in a charming little bay on the Jurassic coast, Frantham on Sea is a typical Victorian seaside town, with a picture-perfect promenade, B&Bs, and a grand hotel perched atop the headland. At the end of the promenade is the police station, where the officers’ days have always been short and uneventful — until Rina comes to town, and things take a turn for the sinister.
JANE ADAMS
Jane Adams is the author of more than thirty published crime novels. The first, The Greenway, was nominated for both the Authors’ Club award and the CWA John Creasey for best debut novel.
Jane is constantly amazed at where life has taken her. Writing had never been on her ‘possible careers’ list, but she says once stories take root in your brain, they just have to be told – and she feels very fortunate that people want to read them.
In addition to writing, Jane teaches creative writing, read and mentor for The Literary Consultancy, and is a Royal Literary Fund Fellow and FRSA.
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