The Temple House Vanishing - Rachel Donohue

The plot-line may have come straight from what could have been a trashy YA novel. However, the story telling was absolutely second to none and made it more than it originally seemed it was going to be.

16 & 41, one persons tale of a life that once was, and has become. A journalist writing a piece on a disappearance and tale of lust. The majority of the story focuses on a teacher, a want to be muse and a new girl at a catholic boarding school.

 

The teacher, grooming, the muse besotted and drawn into it all... the new girl. Predictable, yes. Twisted, in ways you wouldn't have thought of. Enjoyable, definitely.

 

This is one spanking debut novel. I take my hat off to you.

 

Rating: 4.7 / 5.0

 

Status: Completed   

I Dare You - Sam Carrington

Disclaimer: As I am doing this on a more regular basis. I received a copy of this book free of charge for an honest review to be made public.

This, is a tale of two stories. Separated by thirty years. Child and adult. Running alongside each other. The style that it was written in, gave you very short chapters, with each differing by the said thirty years. It may have been better, for some length to have been adopted, giving slightly more detail. Unfortunately, it seemed to be more skittish than having an air of continuity.

However, that being said. It was an enjoyable read. With the plot and the characters within, being shaped well. 

On the basis of the above -

Rating: 3.8 / 5.0

Status: Comleted

Starve Acre - Andrew Michael Hurley

Disclaimer: I am not afraid to admit that I had to reach for the dictionary a couple of times during the progress of this book.

This is a tale, within a tale. A parallel, with several hundred years between them. The constant, Jack and the Hare.

The setting, is God's own country, Yorkshire, England.

The setting, is described and the tale told, in such a way that you are almost there with the characters. I suppose it also helped that I know the area a little.

Intertwined with almost a 50/50 split between the two and the interlinking that takes part, progressing together at a considerable rate.

The only drawback, the ending. Obscure.

Rating: 4.1/5.0

Status: Completed.

Perfect Kill - Helen Fields

I think I might have to have a look for some more by this author.

To say that I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement. I found myself reading it, in any amount of spare time that I had. Whether, that was at work or home any spare time was taken with it.

Set between Paris and Edinburgh. With twists and turns, that has highly selective abductions on  pseudo-medical grounds from Scotland to France and sex trafficking Eastern European women on the return journey.

Everything, has to come to a climax, and this delivers on all accounts. I don't want to give anything away. So, all I can say is that if your interested. Go and get this book.

Rating: 4.2 / 5.0 

Status: Completed

Left Handed Death - Richard Hull

Originally penned some time around 1938, this is a very twee, and gentile murder mystery.

I would like to think, that like Nostradamus, the prediction of world war being in full throw during the setting of the book. Were, that of the author. However, I think that this may have been edited into the work to give it the extra impetus. Not that this detracts from the story itself.

It is everything that you would expect from a work that is circa 80 years old. A part of the Crime Club books. Having read some of the blurb at the start of it, Mr. Hull, helped Agatha Christie hone her skills for the Murder Mystery genre, that was popular at the time of the original release. However, I digress.

To the story. Like I have already said, it twee, gentile and exponentially British. In a tongue of the time, there are times when you are left wondering about a word or two. But it flows. You don't necessarily need a dictionary with you. Because sometimes the words just leaves a satisfying buzz in your ear as all the others around it draw you in.

A man back from the war, discharged on medical grounds, an MD, Government contracts, accountants and London's finest. The twists and turns, meander. Not in a bad way. But, are present.

A very British framing, featuring manipulation, coercion and suggestion. 

This may not be for everyone, but it does give insight into just how different things were. It does take a little getting used to the prose. But overall, a good read.

Status: Completed

Rating: 3.9 / 5.0