My pick of the best books out this month....
#1 The Castaways by Lucy Clarke (18 March 2021)
It should be like any other holiday. Beautiful beaches. Golden sunsets. Nothing for miles. You’ll never want to leave. Until you can’t…
In my opinion: ★★★★★
This was the one of those books that you can't help racing through but at the same time don't want to end. The unique plot and dual timelines had me totally gripped and invested in the castaways' fates from start to finish. The descriptions of events and the island setting are so vivid and frighteningly realistic that they'll invade your thoughts and dreams, particularly if you are a nervous flyer. I loved the ending, which felt very apt for the character Erin and was the one I was rooting for from early on. My only criticism is that I really wanted more of Mike to better understand his actions. The cover blurb really doesn't do this justice.
#2 Summer Kisses at Mermaids Point by Sarah Bennett (25 March 2021)
Laurie Morgan runs a café in the small seaside community of Mermaids Point. Jake Smith is a journalist, burned out and disillusioned with life, whose editor has sent him on a crack-pot hunt for mermaids. Jake quickly finds himself drawn to village life, and to the gorgeous woman who runs the local café. But he soon suspects there’s trouble lurking beneath the idyllic façade, and when it looks like Laurie’s family might be involved, Jake faces a difficult choice. Pursue the truth, or protect the woman he’s beginning to fall in love with…
In my opinion: ★★★★★
I adored this book - it was a gorgeous, warm, light-hearted story set in a charming seaside village with likeable characters. The mystery of the mermaid sightings was the perfect accompaniment to Laurie and Jake's love story and I particularly enjoyed Laurie's folklore telling of a sailor who fell in love with a mermaid. It was pure feel-good escapism and the perfect read for these current times. My only criticism was Laurie's age as I did find it hard to believe she was 23 – perhaps that's simple village living for you but definitely the most mature, grounded 23 year old I’ve ever come across. Apparently this is the start of a brand new series one and I for one can't wait to revisit Mermaids Point.
#3 A Sprinkle of Sabotage by Fiona Leitch (11 March 2021)
A film company is coming to the Cornish village of Penstowan, and the whole village turn up to be cast as extras, even Jodie ‘Nosey’ Parker. But right on cue, the company’s caterer is sabotaged and Jodie must step up. As other small accidents begin to happen, it becomes clear that the filming is being sabotaged. Can Jodie save the day once again, or will it be their final curtain call?
In my opinion: ★★★★★
This is the third in The Nosey Parker Mysteries Series. I enjoyed the first but the opportunity to catch up with much loved characters made this one even better. I just love the family dynamic between the three generations of Parker women and the will they/won't they romance between Jodie and DCI Withers. I also knew what to expect this time because this is exactly as described on the cover "a cozy mystery". There's no clues to solve, no twists and turns, no darkness nor disturbing elements - it's a light-hearted, fun, comedic murder mystery and I loved it!
#4 The Whispers by Heidi Perks (18 March 2021)
Anna Robinson hasn't been seen since she want on a night out with her four closest friends. She has a loving husband and a son she adores. Surely she wouldn't abandon them and her perfect life... At the school gates, it's not long before the rumours start. Anna's oldest friend Grace is beside herself with worry - desperately searching for answers, and certain that someone is hiding the truth. With each day that passes, the pressure mounts, it won't be long before something cracks....
In my opinion: ★★★★
This is typical Heidi Perks where the author leads you one way, then layers on another point of view giving a totally different impression. Told alternately from the perspectives of childhood besties, Grace and Anna, the story is divided into three parts. It's not until the third and final part of the story when you get the whole picture and can fully understand who's maybe not what they seem. Sadly though I didn't take to either of the women so wasn't rooting for anyone in the usual way. It was an intriguing read but for me somewhat lacked the pace, action and suspense of Perk's first book 'Now You See Her' which is one of my favourite ever books.
#5 The Invitation by AM Castle (26 March 2021)
Thirteen guests. One killer. No escape. On an island on the coast of Cornwall, cut off from the mainland by the tides for most of the day, thirteen old friends meet at Tregowan Castle for a weekend of revelry. By the next evening only twelve are still alive. Amongst them is a killer – but who? As a storm traps them on the island and past betrayals and grievances are revealed, nerves fray and friendships begin to fracture. But with no escape and no way of calling for help it’s only a matter of time before the killer strikes again. And when everyone is keeping secrets, anybody could be the next victim…
In my opinion: ★★★★
One guest ends up dead when thirteen old friends reunite for the weekend. This closed-room who-dunnit really grabbed my attention. It was an easy and enjoyable read but sadly fell a little flat after the first murder. Each of the thirteen characters (except tween Ruby) had some sort of hidden secret but some of the disclosures felt too ridiculous and were left too late to be revealed which made it difficult to guess along and meant there was not a lot actually going on at times. The author did a good job of creating distinct personalities for each guest, perhaps because each character took up the ever-changing narrative so you got to know them all equally. However, the constantly rotating multiple points of view did make the narrative quite chaotic and awkward, and sadly none of the characters were particularly likeable.
#6 The Hiding Place by Jenny Quintana (18 March 2021)
Marina is adopted - Baby Blue, the newspapers nicknamed her at the time, after she’d been found wrapped in a blue shawl, in the hallway of a large, shared house in London. 24 Harrington Gardens - that was the house, split into flats. And one of them is to let.....Of course, Marina knows that the chances of her uncovering the truth about her birth are remote – but she hopes the house might hold some clues.
In my opinion: ★★★
I loved 'The Missing Girl's one of Quintana's previous books, but sadly this one just didn't do it for me. It was an interesting look at a different era (the 1960s) when unwed mothers were considered shameful, and teenage unwed mothers even more so, and men were to be spared from women's problems and responsibilities. As such many women were forced into back street abortions or hiding their pregnancies and difficult labours before giving their child up for adoption. However, disappointingly I also found it a slow burn, with little mystery and a limited cast of characters, none of whom I really warmed to.
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