Mystery | Books and travelling with Lynn

Crucible of Chaos of Sebastien de Castell

Posted On 11 March 2024

Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Reviews, Court of Shadows, Crucible of Chaos, Mystery, reading, Sebastien de Castell

Comments Dropped 10 responses

My Five Word TL:DR Review : Twisted Mystery Meets Dark Fantasy

CoC

I picked Crucible of Chaos up last year shortly before Christmas and I don’t think my frame of mind was in the right place for the bleakness of the setting so I put it down. I always intended to pick this one back up – the opening chapters were fantastic after all – it just took me a little longer than I’d planned.

As the story begins we meet Estevar Borros, a sword fighting magistrate and investigator of the supernatural. He’s making his way across a causeway to Isola Sombra where a towering abbey is literally in chaos. The monks seem to have gone crazy and talk of new Gods, demons and strange worship abounds. Can our investigator get to the bottom of these shenanigans.

I won’t really go into the plot because there lies the road of spoilers.

This is another clever murder mystery that brings the winning investigative style of one character into play and combines supernatural elements that quickly escalate into all out mayhem.

Estevar is an interesting character indeed. He’s sharp witted, sharper tongued and yet can turn on the charm when it benefits him. His mule, Imperious, is seriously the perfect sidekick – I loved that mule and I won’t deny that I felt more concern for his well-being than I did for any of the other characters.

So, the other characters. Well the monks have split into different factions. It is believed that new Gods are arising and nobody can agree on what exactly will come next. Some of the monks are taking a very militant stance, others have spiralled into drunken mania. And, the Abbot is dead – and yet refuses to stay buried. I liked Estevar, he’s a mash up of clever thinking and daring bluff. He’s not as young or fit as he once was and is hampered by a serious sword wound that he incurred before travelling to the island. I mean seriously – at points, I was thinking will you just give the man a break for goodness sake! He is joined on his investigation by a young woman who is determined to help and keen to learn, Caeda. I really liked her, she wriggled herself into my affections and there is, well, a double twist, coming your way with her involvement. I didn’t see either coming.

The setting for this one definitely plays really well into the story. People sometimes say that the setting is almost like another character and in this case that’s definitely true. A small island, battered by storm and sea, demons arising, tall windy towers, crypts beneath. It’s all wonderfully dark and menacing and creates the perfect atmosphere.

In terms of criticisms. Well, I think at first the darkness of the abbey was a little too much, also the pacing, after the initial causeway ‘incident’ dipped a little for me, although, as I already mentioned, I think some of that is due to my own mindset at the time.

What I can say is that once I picked this one back up I had no problem easily falling into the story. Indeed, the pace is totally ramped up for the finale and in fact becomes almost over the top daunting, you can’t see how these characters are going to get through these trials in one piece! And, I became fully absorbed by the overarching mystery and Estevar’s investigation.

Overall, this was a clever combination of fantasy and mystery. Dark and a bit brutal, wicked in parts, well written with a style that made me frequently smile. I look forward to reading more from the Court of Shadows series.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

My rating 4 of 5 stars.

Murder Road by Simone St James

Posted On 7 March 2024

Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Reviews, Horror, Murder Road, Mystery, Simone St James

Comments Dropped 16 responses

My Five Word TL:DR Review : Absolutely Loved It. Deliciously Creepy

Murder Road

I went off track a little and decided to pick up Murder Road a little earlier than planned. I couldn’t help myself, I’ve been wanting to read this author for so long and in fact have previously purchased at least two of her other titles but not yet managed to pick them up. Anyway, I was excited and sometimes the heart wants what the heart wants so I just went for it. And this does not disappoint. This was so wonderfully creepy. Believe me when I say those other books I already own – yep, they’re getting bumped to the top of the TBR. I love this combination of dark horror and supernatural elements all swirled together in such an intoxicating fashion.

So, Murder Road. Starts with a couple of newlyweds on the way for their honeymoon. I immediately cottoned onto these two. They have a relaxed vibe with each other that belies the fact that they only met six months ago. In a nutshell they feel right together. Anyway, they’re lost. They’re driving down a very dark road, hemmed in with trees and not another soul in sight. At this point, they’re not particularly concerned, maybe they’ll turn round and backtrack. Just as they’re making plans to go back the way they came they spot a lone woman on the road. They can’t just drive past without checking she’s okay, which upon closer investigation she clearly isn’t. Taking the young girl on board they drive to the nearest hospital – all the while being chased down by a mysterious black truck. By the skin of their teeth they make the turnoff and deliver the injured woman, only to discover within short order that she has died and they seem to be the prime suspects for her death.

The couple find themselves almost under arrest and taken to Coldlake Falls by the police, their car impounded and not so politely requested to stay at a local B&B until required for questioning. They are staying put and the honeymoon is just a distant dream.

Right. What did I like about this.

As I mentioned I really liked the central couple. The story is told by April and she has such a great voice that I was almost hypnotised. Eddie is also a great character, he has a certain strength that just radiates from him, he’s polite and people seem to immediately warm to him. Both of them have an inner strength that has been earned through bitter experience but in finding each other it’s as though they’ve found their own ‘home’. I just really liked them if you can’t already tell. The way they’re being treated seems so unfair but it soon becomes clear that this isn’t the first death on this particular road. Atticus Line has witnessed a number of murders over the years and it feels like our hapless couple are about to be scapegoated.

I also really liked Rose. She runs a local B&B although she never seems to have any customers and the locals make her life miserable, accusing her of murdering her husband, a wild accusation that the police simply smile at and make no attempt to counter. She’s a quirky character, a bit abrupt at first but she soon softens and helps the couple to start their own investigation. If they’re going to be under a strange form of ‘house arrest’ they might as well make the most of their time and try to clear their names.

I felt like this was perfectly paced and really well plotted. It’s a chilling ghost story that really did make me look over my shoulder on more than one occasion. When I’m reading I sit with a window at my back and sometimes, if it’s a particularly scary book, I get the horrible feeling that I’m being watched, it gives me the goosebumps.

The setting was also really good. You have this small town vibe, I think the residents themselves lived in a form of suspended horror – which felt almost inevitable with this creepy road where death so frequently occurs. There’s a local urban myth that the road is haunted by a particular ghost, and if you spot her, she’ll be the last person you ever see. And yet still, young people travel the road alone, hoping to hitchhike their way to the nearest beach.

On top of this our two central characters are being slightly cagey about their own pasts and inevitably these secrets are going to reveal themselves.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and really couldn’t put it down. The writing is really engaging. The dialogue flows well. The plot is intriguing and there are some wonderfully spooky elements that gave me a serious case of the shivers.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

My rating 4.5 of 5 stars

The Secrets of Hartwood Hall by Katie Lumsden

Posted On 29 February 2024

Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Review, fiction, Katie Lumsden, Mystery, reading, The Secrets of Hartwood Hall, Victorian gothic

Comments Dropped 6 responses

My Five Word TL:DR Review : Gothic Victorian Mystery, Modern Style

TSoHH

The Secrets of Hartwood Hall by Katie Lumsden is one of my backlist books from the first half of last year. I’m trying to read at least one book from my unread review books each month, two if I can manage it, so far so good.

This was a very easy read. I liked the writing style and it was easy to sink into.

As the story begins we meet Margaret Lennox, recently widowed she has found herself in dire straits necessitating a return to the governess lifestyle she practiced before marrying. Margaret is on her way to Hartwood Hall, set deep in the English countryside, where she will be responsible for her sole charge, Louis. Lost in the woods the coachman stops at a local village to seek directions and it becomes obvious that the locals have nothing to do with the Manor or it’s mistress which immediately gives you a sense of foreboding.

I won’t give away too much of the story. We learn early on that Margaret’s employer has few servants working at the Hall, she is somewhat suspicious and in fact very protective of Louis making it very clear that Margaret must accompany him fastidiously. On top of this, entry into one of the wings of the Hall is forbidden – well, in the interests of safety as it is in a state of disrepair. The rest of the staff are very close knit and there is an overall feeling of secrecy and close lippedness that eventually makes Margaret somewhat paranoid. The Hall is dark and poorly lit and there are strange noises at night which eventually lead Margaret into jumpiness and an overall feeling of fear of the house in general.

I liked Margaret but I didn’t get along with her totally. She bonded really well with Louis which was a nice element to the story and felt very protective of him. Margaret herself, still in mourning, is carrying a secret of her own that plays on her mind and makes her anxious. Eventually, her story unfolds and it makes it a little more easy to understand the choices she makes. She needs to work. She has no other income and her lack of references for the more recent years plus the fact that she has problems hearing in one of her ears, following a childhood accident, limits her choices a little. Eventually, almost because of her fear of the house Margarent finds solace in the arms of the gardener, a younger man who is very good natured but is also keeping things from Margaret.

Overall, I found this a very easy read. I really enjoyed the writing. There are clearly nods to classic gothic fiction although nothing that feels over referenced. More a general feeling of an enjoyable gothic set in a slightly creepy manor house with a mystery surrounding not just the owner but a few of it’s occupants. That being said, this story, whilst in some ways feeling reminiscent of Victorian novels has a more modern inclination. The characters sometimes resort to more uptodate dialogue and the ending definitely feels more contemporary. On top of that Margaret is a little more reckless with her reputation than you might expect from a story of this period – but, there are very few staff available who might witness her indiscretions – so, hidden silver linings.

My only issue with this book was the ending. In some respects it felt a little rushed, also maybe a little busy particularly in comparison to the rest of the story and ultimately a little disappointing – or perhaps bittersweet might be a fairer description. I think I found it difficult to swallow Margaret’s reasoning come the end but this didn’t stop my enjoyment of the story in general.

In conclusion, this was a compelling read, well written and very atmospheric. I shall definitely read more by this author.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

My rating 3.5 of 5 stars (rounded to 4)

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins

Posted On 25 January 2024

Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Audio, Book Review, Mystery, Rachel Hawkins, The Heiress, Thriller

Comments Dropped 13 responses

My Five Word TL:DR Review : One inheritance, one dysfunctional family

Heiress

Before I start this review I would mention that I listened to the audio version of this one and it was excellent.

Anyhow, The Heiress is my favourite book by Rachel Hawkins to date. It feels like she’s achieved this perfect combination of, almost cosy mystery but with sinister undertones together with a story telling voice that feels like its channelling Daphne Du Maurier – to be clear – gothic. So, the story is a winning mash up of different character motivations, secrets and lies and wonderful pacing all brought together by a lovely story telling style using past and present storylines and different methods such as letters and newspaper articles to relay the different events.

Firstly, to the characters. I’d like to say that the main characters are Jules and Camden, but, really, let’s be honest, the titular Heiress steals the show – even though she’s dead! Ruby McTavish Callahan was filthy rich. Heiress to her family’s fortune she also managed to accrue wealth in her own right during her crazy life. Ruby became famous as a child when she was kidnapped and returned to the family a year later. On top of that she had four husbands, who all died – I can practically hear you raising your eyebrows. She relates her story to the reader through a series of letters – to whom the letters are addressed is, of course, part of the mystery that eventually unfolds. I loved her dark humour.

Camden is Ruby’s adopted son and inherited the bulk of her estate. He chose instead to reject the wealth and leave the family home eventually settling down to a regular job and marrying the love of his life – Jules. Jules is a very interesting narrator, I can’t really say too much about her here other than the two clearly are in love, but, Jules has quite a few secrets of her own (well so does every character in the book to be fair, even Cam).

I’m not going to elaborate too much on the other characters, lets say that they are very bitter about Camden inheriting the bulk of what they consider to be their family’s estate and so when Cam decides to make the trip home and rebuild some bridges he and his wife don’t receive a warm welcome. I have mentioned that everyone here has secrets – I would add that nobody is completely innocent either.

Secondly, in terms of the plot. Well, we have all the family secrets to unravel and on top of that we have the past to catch up on and the true story of Ruby told in her own style. Again, I won’t say anything more.

Thirdly. I loved the atmosphere of this. It has this old style mystery feeling, the characters are almost exaggerated versions of themselves, totally over the top, apart from Jules and Cam who have the appearance of being the only down to earth characters of the story. There’s lots of backstabbing and furtive goings on. There’s a delicious gothic feel to the piece with Ashby House – an old and rambling mansion that has fallen into disrepair surrounded by thick forest and sheer cliffs. It almost feels as though you’re reading a conjured up plot from the board game Cluedo (It was Ruby, in the Lounge, using the candlestick – just joking – no spoilers here). It’s kind of hammed up but in a really infectious and unputdownable way and I think the reveals and secrets are perfectly blended. Hawkins manages to keep the tension throughout by revealing certain jaw droppers usually quickly followed by another teaser. She lets you off the hook, and then she puts you right back on it.

In conclusion, I don’t think I can lay a single criticism on this book. I loved it from start to finish. I consumed it in about two days and I enjoyed every minute. Lots of twists and turns and a totally satisfying ending. If you’re looking for something a bit more dark or brutal then this isn’t what you’ll find amongst these pages but I can’t recommend this enough if you’re looking for a compelling and addictive vipers den of secrets and lies.

I bought an audio version of The Heiress and thoroughly enjoyed the way the story was narrated. The above is my own opinion.

My rating 5 stars

Top Ten Tuesday : Halloween

Posted On 26 October 2021

Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Chiller, Ghosts, Halloween, Murder, Mystery, Recommendations, Vampires

Comments Dropped 12 responses

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme where every Tuesday we look at a particular topic for discussion and use various (or more to the point ten) bookish examples to demonstrate that particular topic. Top Ten Tuesday (created and hosted by The Broke and Bookish) is now being hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl and future week’s topics can be found here. This week’s topic :

Halloween Freebie

With the exception of one of my chosen topics (the adaptation – which I loved btw and highly recommend) all the books below have been fairly recent reads that have been read during the last 12/13 months. I was going to go all old-school horror but decided I’d like to use this topic to look at some more recent reads that I’ve enjoyed and are perfect for this time of the year.