So excited by my latest tbr pile!
. . . or why I need a holiday to get some reading done
I’ve not shared my current reading for a while. Always I have good intentions . . . but life just gets in the way. Sometimes I am really organised and scribble down a short review of what I’m reading. Other times I don’t! But I’ve read and discovered such brilliant books lately I’m really keen to share.
Here is my current reading pile, which I am very excited about! And this sneak peak means I hope this means some reviews will be coming soon . . . if you want to know about these, keep your fingers crossed I remain organised!
I hope you will agree this is one handsome reading selection
Some of these I have been saving up for a while. But a flurry just came in and that always makes me feel guilty that I am not keeping up!
I have been organised and at least have put most of these in a list so you can get as excited about them as me if you want to find out more about them. Would be great to hear your thoughts as I put together mine.
Here are a few key picks
I have been really enjoying the new Anthony Horowitz series of mysteries. Traditional mysteries with a nice vein in humour. So pleased the latest has arrived.
I have loved all of Janice Hallett’s books, so thrilled to get a proof of that one. Exciting!
I also have to choose a book group book soon . . . and my book group are a tough crowd. So no pressure there . . .
I also went to a Waterstones Oxford Crime & Wine evening. It is the second event I’ve attended chaired by Helen Field who again was absolutely brilliantly at making these panel events fun and intriguing. Of course this means I now also have books by Jane Casey, Jennie Godfrey and Ellie Keel to add to the above picture!
Check out my fave books so far this year
The Antique Hunters Guide to Murder – CL Miller
Freya Lockwood left her life in the murkier side of the antiques trade behind years ago, but gets dragged back in with the mysterious death of her old mentor in this utterly delightful slice of antiques adventure.
Freya is the perfect character to root for in this tonic of a book. The sniff of dodgy antiques leads her to seek answers in sinister goings on at a creaking country house. It brings out all her long-buried expertise, along with her indomitable Aunt Carole who breezes through the skulduggery in a wonderful waft of Chanel.
There are enough eccentric characters pretending to be someone else to populate a Wodehouse novel.
And I loved the fact that it’s as much about the antiques you might kill for as the joy of second chances. The search for justice rekindles a fire in Freya for hunting the truth, along with a determination that antiques won’t ruin her life again.
It left me hoping there’s the prospect of a second chance to join more antique-hunting adventures with Freya and the gang. A perfect indulgence.
Lie or Die AJ Clack
A bunch of teenagers taking part in a reality-tv version of Mafia discover there is a real psychopath wanting to kill them all? – it’s a great premise for a novel!
I so enjoyed this thrill-ride of a story, which is about the popularity of reality tv games and the risks people will take for fame and fortune, coupled with a great whodunnit.
Kass enters a new reality TV show mostly by accident, but also to save her friendship with Thea, as Kass has already been caught out in a deception. Thea believes Kass will help her win, but the seeds of mistrust have already been sown.
But there is soon a lot more at stake than friendships and prize money as the bodies pile up!
This is a very tightly plotted story that uses the reality tv setting very cleverly. At first, the main protagonist, Kass, isn’t even sure her fellow contestants are being murdered – is it all just part of the game and deception? And everyone carries on playing, despite growing misgivings and twists aplenty.
As the body count grows, sometimes in gruesome ways, it’s up to Kass, who loves puzzles and playing games, to convince everyone there is real and not fictional danger.
It’s not only a very clever idea, but AJ Clack carries it off flawlessly treading a fine line between everyone’s lies and how far people will go to win, but bringing in a truly terrifying threat.
Lie or Die is a thrilling, scary page-turner that cleverly twists the idea that when you already know everyone is lying to win – who can you trust or even begin to work out the truth?
Do tell me what you are reading . . and look out for more reviews from me soon.
Nicki