Alison

What’s On Your Bookshelf – April 2023

This challenge is hosted by Deb, Sue, and Jo. They have some great recommendations this month also.

I’ve got some juicy books for this month. All sorts of genres with page turning twists.

I’ll start with my favourite. Honestly the best book I’ve read in a while. Such a sumptuous satisfying read. It was like a three course meal, starter, main and dessert, with words and phrases just tripping off the tongue. Kate Atkinson is wonderful writer.

Set in 1926 in a London still recovering from the Great War. Focusing on the nightlife and clubs of Soho, peers of the realm rub shoulders with starlets, foreign dignitaries with gangsters and girls selling dances for a shilling a time. At the heart of it all is the notorious Nellie Coker and her six children and the Detective determined to bring her empire crashing down. 5/5

Any book featuring Detective Harry Bosch is always a good read for me. This is the fifth novel in which he pairs up with Detective Renee Ballard. I’ve enjoyed all of these books so far and this one was no exception. I like the interaction between the two. I got the feeling that this may be the last in the series, sadly. 5/5

Weyward is Emilia Hart’s debut novel and it didn’t disappoint.

The story of three women from different times. It starts with Kate in 2019, then flits backwards in time to Altha in 1619 and then forward to Violet in 1942. Weyward Cottage is at the centre of it all and where they all end up living. The connection between these women apart from being related is their ability to commune with nature and animals. They are all fleeing dangerous men. I enjoyed reading about how they exacted revenge! Altha was my favourite character. 4/5

I’ve read most of Louise Candlish’s books and I’m always excited to see when she has written a new one. Her characters are not always likeable and they all have something to hide.

Alex lives a comfortable life with his wife Beth in a leafy suburb. He likes to keep to himself and is not the most sociable of men. It’s only when Beth announces the opening of a nature trail that has been disused for decades that things start to fall apart for him. Who is he really and what has be been hiding for years?

The books goes backwards and forwards in time, so it’s hard sometimes to keep track of what is going on. I did read it very quickly as I was determined to find out what Alex’s secret was. 4/5

I saw some great reviews for this book so thought I would give it a go. I wasn’t keen on The Seven Sisters books and I only read one of those. I enjoyed this old fashioned “Who Done It”. The characters are so well written and it wasn’t until towards the end that I guessed.

The story is about a prestigious boarding school in deepest Norfolk. A shocking event that may have been a tragic accident or maybe not. High flying Detective Jazmine Hunter from London is brought in to help local police with their enquiries. 5/5

A good fun read and it would have been the beginning of a good series, but sadly she died at the young age of 56, in 2021. I read somewhere that her son found this book unpublished.

This is another author I haven’t read before and I’m glad I’ve now added her to my list of favourite authors. I wasn’t sure when I first started reading it and wasn’t too keen on Tully and Rachel, but they gradually grew on me.

Tully and Rachel aren’t at all happy when they discover that their father, an eminent surgeon, is about to marry again to a woman half his age. On top of that he’s only just divorced from their beloved mother who has Alzheimer’s disease. Heather the woman in question goes out of her way to win over the two sisters.

A book full of hidden dark secrets, old wounds and shocking discoveries. 4/5

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

How do you read your books

I read all of the above books over the course of the last two months. I’ve been using my local library’s app called BorrowBox and downloading them onto my e-reader. Some books come through within days of each other with just two weeks to read them, however you can renew for two weeks. It’s been a real money saver I have to say.

How do you find your next book

I’m an avid book review reader and find most of my books from the magazines I read from the Readly app. I pay around A$11 per month and can read all my favourite magazines and newspapers on this. I always head to the book review page first.

I would be interested to see if anybody has read any of the above books and what they think.

31 comments

  1. So many interesting reads! I haven’t read any but I’m putting a couple on my bookshelf for later. Shrines of Gaiety and The Murders at Fleat House(my library doesn’t have this one, darn!). I think I’ve used my library more in the last month than I have during the 20+ years I’ve lived here. Love the free option 👍

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  3. Thanks for this post! I added a few books to my list and hopefully will find time to read them. Since having the little bubba in Jan, my reading, as my writing, has taken a backseat.

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  5. Shrines of Gaiety stands out to me, Ali, so I think I’ll be looking into that when I get the chance. (I’m doing some research at the moment and have found myself looking at old local adverts from 1935, so this could be a reason!) The Murders at Fleat House seems to be calling to me too. Glad I popped by! 😊

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  6. Hi Alison so lovely to have you join us for What’s On Your Bookshelf? this month. You have some great reads here which I know I would enjoy. My husband is a Michael Connolly fan so he may be interested in your suggestion. I will definitely be checking out Shrines of Gaiety. I look forward to you joining us next month. Happy reading x

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  7. I didn’t know about Lucinda Riley- that was no age! A friend was waiting for the follow up to 7 Sisters. Not going to happen. I don’t read many crime novels, Ali. Funnily enough the last book I read was excellent but I left it in a book bank in Leeds and can’t remember the title!

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  8. Borrowbox is a great resource. The only thing I find a little disappointing is that it doesn’t always have all the books in a series. We use it to download audio books when we’re on a road trip. Have you looked at PressReader? It’s also available through your local library and it’s great for magazines and newspapers.

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  10. I’ve only read The Younger Wife on this list, but there are a few I think I’d enjoy. I haven’t heard of teh Readly app so off for a look. Thanks for linking up.

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  13. I love a good crime novel and there are several on your list I haven’t come across. More books to add to my list! I’m just starting to use my library more. Books seem quite expensive here in Australia so I finding the free physical loans and ‘Libby App’ are helping me to save money. I also have a very sweet ‘street library’ on my road so sometimes pick up a book or two there!. Thanks for sharing.

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