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The Lost Ones by Anita Frank {#gifted by @hqstories}
Some houses are never at peace.
England, 1917.
After the death of her fiancé, Stella Marcham goes to stay with her pregnant sister, Madeleine, at her imposing country mansion, Greyswick – but why is her sister gripped by fear and suspicion. Why is there a child crying in the night, little footsteps on the stairs – what are the secrets the dead whisper from the other side…
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#BookReview: The first 50 pages of this one had me worried, but as the mystery started to take shape, I was hooked - ended up reading the entire book in one day!
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This book’s success lies in the fun of solving the mystery. From very early on you have your key players, you know Greyswick mansion has a dark secret, you know the dead whisper – it’s just a case of solving the mystery.
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There are limited characters in this novel, and it becomes clear from very early on who is keeping secrets and what those secrets relate to. You know the individuals involved, you know the outcome, you just don’t know exactly how it came to be.
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What adds to the success of this novel, is the darkness surrounding the mystery; the unsettling atmosphere only the dead can bring, and when the dead have a message, it will be heard, you will feel their presence!
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The ending sees a dip in momentum, and that’s due to the mystery closing, the puzzle pieces aligning; by this time, you may have more or less figured it out, especially if you are familiar with this type of ghost story – the ending then becomes a clarification of what you guessed, rather than a “wow” reveal.
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While reading, you’re not necessarily rooting for any particular characters, you’re rooting for the truth to come out; so by default, you’re rooting for Stella. However, none of the characters were particularly likeable. In time, Annie, Stella’s maid, becomes the most favourable as she was by far the most intriguing character.
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Overall, a very enjoyable read!
#thelostones
A rare weekend off for me, and I’ve got some exciting stuff planned - naps & reading!!! And as if that wasn’t exciting enough, today is #busymamabookswap reveal day, a #bookstagram #bookswap organised by @busymamabookclub.
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For this swap I was paired with @confessionsofabookwormblog - I knew Diane got it 100% right as soon as I opened the parcel and saw CANDY CANES!!! And a hardback too!!! Girl, Woman, Other has been doing the rounds on the ‘gram, so I’m pleased to finally have a copy. Thank you for such an awesome swap parcel, Diane 💜🧡.
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Are you’ll ready for candy cane season? It’s my favourite thing about winter/Christmastime - not at all this season will a coffee be drunk by me where ‘twas not a candy cane stirred in!!
{#partner @getredpr}
Happy Publication Day to Barbara Taylor Bradford - @btbnovelist! IN THE LION’S DEN is out today, published by @harpercollinsuk.
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Historical fiction fans, raise your hand 🙋🏾♀️ Set in Victorian London, In the Lion’s Den is a family saga featuring the characters of the House of Falconer series, it follows Master of His Fate.
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London 1889: Victorian London is a place of wealth, privilege and poverty, a city of extremes. For James Falconer, who grew up as a barrow boy on a London market, it is a city of opportunity.
Working his way up Henry Malvern’s trading company in Piccadilly, James faces fraud and betrayal. A fierce rivalry develops with Henry’s daughter and heir Alexis – but their animosity masks a powerful attraction.
Embarking on a love affair with the daughter of Russian émigrés, James’s life begins to transform. But as treachery and danger threaten, a secret comes to light that will change his life forever. James must decide where his future lies – with Henry Malvern or following his own dream…
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Have you read anything by Barbara Taylor Bradford before? These will be my first novels by her, and hopefully I’ll discover a new #HistoricalFiction fave!!! I do love a dose of “treachery and danger” in #histfic!
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#barbarataylorbradford #inthelionsden #houseoffalconer #ukbookstagram #masterofhisfate #bookstagram #victorianlondon #bookcommunity #bookaccount #bookflatlay #tbr #instareads #alwaysreading #readersofig #bookobsessed #familysaga #toberead
{#partner @bookpublicityservices}
#NonfictionNovember - Book 20 of #mynonfiction19 is Out of the Fire and Into the Pan by Shannon O’Leary.
It’s the sequel to her first book The Blood on My Hands which told the story of her traumatic and violent childhood in the 1960s and 70s Australia. The sequel details how she progressed into the adult world while coming to terms with her terrifying past.
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#BookReview: As O’Leary details her life into adulthood, you’ll clearly see the knock-on effect of her childhood trauma. How it impacted her future actions, how they wreaked havoc with her mental health.
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“I constantly lost sight of what was good for me because anything was better than what I had before.”
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From a reader-interest perspective, this book may be of interest to those who work in certain fields, such as mental health or psychology, who want to gain an insight into how trauma in childhood impacts a person’s adult life.
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Out of the Fire and into the Pan likely won’t win any awards for poetic writing or fluidity, but it should win awards for honesty, for the author’s ability to reflect on the painful experiences in her life. For in this honesty, O’Leary demands you pay attention, this is her voice, and this is her story.
Reading The Blood on my Hands is highly recommended before picking up this sequel due to it being a continuation of events.
[#partner @aaknopf]
In 1970s rural Alabama, Reverend Willie Maxwell was accused of murdering five of his family members for their insurance money. In theory, this is a fascinating case, because the reverend is found not guilty, despite a pattern of murders and insurance claims. However, there is little known about the ‘ins and out’ of the events that occurred.
Having read ‘The Devil and Harper Lee’, a @scribd original. I was hoping to learn more about this case. But the known facts are limited. Personal preference, I preferred The Devil [..] Lee, it was a much more interesting read.
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#FuriousHours is split into three parts. Part one takes you through Maxwell’s accused crimes. Part two is about the lawyer who defended Maxwell, and later went on to defend his murderer. Part three (the only part I enjoyed & found most interesting), is about Harper Lee. Learning about the little that is known about her life, and her friendship with Truman Capote - I would read a book solely about it!
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There’s a lot of addition information in this book (on US senate, voodoo, how life insurance came to exist, and other pieces of history) - it just didn’t interest me. I wanted the murders and Lee.
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This is all personal preference, I know many highly recommend this book, but reading is subjective and this one was not for me 🤷🏾♀️.
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Importantly, book 19 of #mynonfiction19 = challenge complete 🎉 (#Bookstagram is behind my reading life, I’m currently reading my 21st #nonfiction book of the year.)
#NonfictionNovember
Which book do you think should be mandatory reading for all True Crime fans?
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I’m going with Chase Darkness With Me: How One True-Crime Writer Started Solving Murders by Billy Jensen. [Book 18 of #mynonfiction19].
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I listened to the audio, narrated by Billy, and it was a 5 star experience! Why do I say it’s mandatory listening…. Because Billy gives you the tools so you can solve murders yourself! Knowing these tips and tricks, will not only help you to solve crime if you want to, but also help you spot possible missed opportunities in crime books you read.
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With 15 years investigating unsolved murders, journalist Billy Jensen knows his craft. In this book, you get to chase darkness with him as he recounts the crimes he’s helped solve. Billy also speaks about his friendship with Michelle McNamara, author of I’ll Be Gone in the Dark (which I still haven’t read yet 🙈), her unrelenting pursuit of the Golden State Killer and how he helped finish her book after her sudden death.
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I read a lot more #nonfiction genres than I used to, but every time I finish a great True Crime read, I’m reminded of why it’s my favourite nonfiction genre. I love that as a genre it include memoirs/accounts of the wrongfully convicted, explorations of unsolved cases and those that took years to solve. As well as studies of serial killers and an attempt to understand them - there’s so much in this genre to keep me interested.
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I often tell people I love crime, and then quickly add “not committing it” when they give me a strange look - it’s no surprise I read Criminology at university and want to go back to study more in this field!
