And to we’ve it – one other week gone – the primary full week of the second half of the 12 months in reality. It’s past loopy. It’s been an ‘fascinating’ week, within the UK, with a brand new Authorities elected and plenty of acquainted names in politics booted out, so it now stays to be seen what which means for the long run. In contrast to many nations we’ve managed to keep away from a shift to the extremely proper, so hope isn’t but misplaced (but being the operative phrase).
In higher information, I had a cracking finish to the week with a visit to Trentham Monkey Forest on considered one of my days off (see photos above), and a go to to Birmingham to see the tour of Hamilton on Saturday. I’ve prevented watching the Disney recording to date and while I’m accustomed to most of the songs (courtesy of the radio), I got here to this as a Hamilton Beginner. And what an expertise it was. I beloved it. Jogs my memory why I like theatre and the way a lot I have to make extra of an effort to get again there much more repeatedly than I’ve in recent times. That mentioned, I’ve been 4 instances in just below a 12 months, so I’m getting higher, and while on the theatre we booked for one more present subsequent April- to see Johannes Radebe in Kinky Boots. Tidy.
Guide smart, I had an excellent week too. Two new bits of ebook put up, and some purchased books, plus one other title by way of NetGalley. Guide put up I obtained One Of Us Is Useless by Peter James (24 Sep), courtesy of MacMillan and Riot Communications, and After The Storm by G.D. Wright (01 Aug), courtesy of Avon Books.
I *could* have purchased a few books – 5 to be exact, though a pair are books I already had, however obtained on audio – They Thought I Was Useless by Peter James and The Betrayal Of Thomas True by AJ West, and one I purchased on kindle to complement the book-book, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare by Damien Lewis. I additionally preordered a few books – particular exhausting again brief story anthologies from Flame Tree Press – Folks Horror (20 Aug) and Misdummer Mysteries (20 Aug).
I had one ebook from NetGalley – Useless Ends by Jeffery (01 Aug) – a brief story assortment that includes each Colter Shaw and Lincoln Rhyme. My concept of heaven!
Books I’ve learn
Cabaret Macabre by Tom Mead (01 Aug)
Sleuth and illusionist Joseph Spector investigates his most complicated case but on this gripping new locked-room homicide thriller from Tom Mead, set in an English nation home simply earlier than the Second World Warfare.
Hampshire, 1938. Victor Silvius is confined in a non-public sanatorium after attacking distinguished choose Sir Giles Drury. When Sir Giles begins receiving sinister threatening letters, his spouse suspects Silvius. In the meantime, Silvius’ sister Caroline is satisfied her brother is about to be murdered… by none aside from his outdated nemesis Sir Giles.
Caroline seeks the recommendation of Scotland Yard’s Inspector Flint, whereas the Drurys, desirous to keep away from a scandal, flip to Joseph Spector. Spector, famend magician turned sleuth, has an uncanny knack for fixing difficult crimes – however this case will take a look at his powers of deduction to their limits.
At a snowbound English nation home, a physique is discovered is unattainable circumstances, and a killer’s bullet is fired by a locked window with out breaking the glass. Spector and Flint’s investigations quickly collide as they discover themselves trapped by the snowstorm the place anybody could possibly be the subsequent sufferer – or the killer…
The Final Time I Noticed Him by Rachel Abbott (15 Aug)
WOULD YOU KEEP A SECRET FOR A STRANGER, IF IT MEANT THE BLOOD WAS ON YOUR HANDS?
Celia, Juliette and Nadia are full strangers with one factor in widespread: they’ve all been wronged by Ellis Cobain. A rich philanthropist on track for a knighthood, Ellis’ public persona is bulletproof – however lurking beneath this veneer is a sinister aspect that solely the ladies closest to him have seen.
Once they meet at a boutique lodge on the Cornish coast, introduced collectively by the blind conceitedness of their tormentor, they realise what connects them and type a pact: to blackmail him and free themselves from his grasp.
However when he’s found the subsequent morning, murdered in chilly blood, they’re left scrambling. None of them is aware of who did it, and now they have to desperately cowl their tracks.
Will they maintain one another’s secrets and techniques, now they’re all implicated in his loss of life? Will one activate the others, when any of them could possibly be subsequent?
That was it for this week. Not my greatest week however to be trustworthy, I’ve been actually in have to some respectable relaxation, as demonstrated by the truth that I spent nearly all of Friday asleep (I child you not). Didn’t cease a busy sufficient week on the weblog although – recap under:
#Assessment – Overlook Me Not – MJ Arlidge
#Assessment – The Lacking Household – Tim Weaver
#Assessment – The Misplaced Sufferer – Robert Bryndza
#Assessment – Entire Life Sentence – Lynda La Plante
#Assessment – The Betrayal of Thomas True – AJ West
I’ve one other full week arising on the weblog, loads of opinions so that you can peruse, together with just a few of excursions – Rewind by Pleasure Kluver (09 July) and Sharp Glass by Sarah Hilary (11 July); and The Croaking Raven by Man Hale.
And that’s my lot. I’m off to Booka Bookshop on Tuesday to spend a night with AJ West (and a great deal of different readers, clearly – I’m not particular), then extra work, work, work. We’re formally on countdown for Harrogate now so solely 8 working days to go – can’t wait.
Have a beautiful bookish week all. Blissful studying.
Jen