SUNDAY POST – 14th April, 2024 #Brainfluffbookblog #SundayPost

This is part of the weekly meme over at the Caffeinated Reviewer, where book bloggers can share the books they’ve read and share what they have got up to during the last week.

The second week of the Easter holidays has just slipped by and I don’t know where the days have gone. Monday was a milestone for me. I accepted an invitation to read a selection of my writing at the monthly Arts evening at The Victoria Institute in Arundel. Before I became ill, I regularly stood up in front of audiences to either read my work, or give a talk on various aspects of writing. But this was the first time I’d faced an audience since the end of 2019, given we went into lockdown in early 2020. So it was a very big deal for me. I wasn’t even sure that I’d enjoy performing anymore, given I’m still so diminished compared to the person I used to be. In the event, the venue was cosy and welcoming and the audience friendly and responsive. It was also wonderful to be surrounded by other creatives in an evening of poetry, comedy, and a monologue interspersed with excellent live music and I came home buzzing. The photo is the outside of the building in Arundel – it’s an absolute warren inside.

Sadly, that meant I was very, very tired on Tuesday and Wednesday and had to take it easy until I recovered my energy levels. Having Ethan home was lovely and on Thursday he and I joined in a painting day that Himself had organised with his guitar teacher, who is also a very keen gamer. I painted a few of the Wood Elves I used to game with when we played Warhammer Fantasy, but I had to stop after a couple of hours as my eyes grew blurry. The day ended with a delightful board game that John brought along called The Grand Carnival, where each player has to make a fairground and add attractions and guests. We all joined in and had a lovely time. Friday saw Ethan returning to uni and tomorrow Oscar returns to school.

Meanwhile the evenings are drawing out and we’ve had a couple of sunny days, although everywhere is still very wet and Littlehampton made the national news on Wednesday when the River Arun flooded the homes and businesses along Rope Walk on the west bank due to the spring tides and the aftermath of a storm that brought onshore winds. It doesn’t help that river levels are so very high/, anyway.

Books I’ve read this week:
The Witchwood Knot – Book 1 of the Victorian Faerie series by Olivia Atwater
The faeries of Witchwood Manor have stolen its young lord. His governess intends to steal him back.

Victorian governess Winifred Hall knows a con when she sees one. When her bratty young charge transforms overnight into a perfectly behaved block of wood, she soon realises that the real boy has been abducted by the Fair Folk. Unfortunately, the lord of Witchwood Manor is the only man in England who doesn’t believe in faeries—which leaves Winnie in the unenviable position of rescuing the young lord-to-be all by herself.

Witchwood Manor is bigger than its inhabitants realise, however, and full of otherworldly dangers. As Winnie delves deeper into the other side of the house, she enlists the aid of its dark and dubious faerie butler, Mr Quincy, who hides several awful secrets behind his charming smile. Winnie hopes to make her way to the centre of the Witchwood Knot through wit and cleverness… but when all of her usual tricks fail, who will she dare to trust?
I thoroughly enjoyed this Victorian gothic fantasy, complete with haunted house and family curse. Winnie makes a particularly sympathetic protagonist. 9/10

The Lucky Starman – Book 3 of the Leif the Lucky series by Colin Alexander
Is Leif really lucky? Stranded in orbit, viewing a destroyed civilization on Earth through the screens of a starship almost out of fuel and food, he doesn’t feel that way. It wasn’t supposed to be like that. As the starship Dauntless returns from a successful mission to the planet called Heaven, Earth holds no attractions for Exoplanetary Scout Leif Grettison. He wants only to complete the mission and leave for another star, along with ace pilot Yang Yong. In fact, he would be happy spending the rest of his life flying the starways with her. But they and the rest of the ship’s skeleton crew awaken from hibernation to find Earth’s solar system dark and silent—no signals, no responses to their transmissions. When they make orbit, the magnitude of the disaster becomes clear.

An apocalyptic war has killed billions and destroyed every last source of power and tech that 22nd-Century humans relied on to survive. Getting down to Earth is only the beginning of Leif’s problems. Those few who survived the apocalypse are still divided, fighting over what’s left. The disastrous re-entry to Earth leaves him with no resources or allies. He lands in the middle of a makeshift family that needs him more than he’s comfortable with and hears stories—even nursery rhymes—that speak of a lucky starman. For once, he’s the only person with tech—but if he’s caught using it, they might kill him. Can a man back from the stars end the warfare on Earth, or will he make it worse? Can he save a family that might become his? Is he everyone’s lucky starman?
As I don’t read blurbs, the apocalyptic tone in this third book in the series caught me by surprise. Leif is a sympathetic character, whose overwhelming talent is for surviving in tricky situations when those around him tend to die… He’s not sure whether that makes him all that lucky and I tend to agree. Nonetheless, this one had me turning the pages to find out what happens next and ended on a doozy of the cliff-hanger that will definitely have me getting hold of the next book in the series. 8/10

AUDIOBOOK – Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
When editor Susan Ryeland is given the tattered manuscript of Alan Conway’s latest novel, she has little idea it will change her life. She’s worked with the revered crime writer for years, and his detective, Atticus Pund, is renowned for solving crimes in the sleepy English villages of the 1950s.

As Susan knows only too well, vintage crime sells handsomely. It’s just a shame that it means dealing with an author like Alan Conway….
But Conway’s latest tale of murder at Pye Hall is not quite what it seems. Yes, there are dead bodies and a host of intriguing suspects, but hidden in the pages of the manuscript there lies another story: a tale written between the very words on the page, telling of real-life jealousy, greed, ruthless ambition and murder.
Magpie Murders is also a successful TV drama that I thoroughly enjoyed. But listening to this entertaining story-within-a-story, I found the book far more engrossing than the TV version. If you enjoy a really twisty plot told within the conventions of the golden age of crime aka Agatha Christie, then go hunting for this one. The audiobook version is superb, given the quality of the narration by Samantha Bond and Alan Corduner. 10/10

AUDIOBOOK – Magic Burns – Book 2 of the Katie Daniels series by Ilona Andrews
Down in Atlanta, tempers – and temperatures – are about to flare…

Version 1.0.0

As a mercenary who cleans up after magic gone wrong, Kate Daniels has seen her share of occupational hazards. Normally, waves of paranormal energy ebb and flow across Atlanta like a tide. But once every seven years, a flare comes, a time when magic runs rampant. Now Kate’s going to have to deal with problems on a much bigger scale: a divine one.

When Kate sets out to retrieve a set of stolen maps for the Pack, Atlanta’s paramilitary clan of shapeshifters, she quickly realizes much more at stake. During a flare, gods and goddesses can manifest – and battle for power. The stolen maps are only the opening gambit in an epic tug-of-war between two gods hoping for rebirth. And if Kate can’t stop the cataclysmic showdown, the city may not survive…
I enjoyed the first book in this series, but wasn’t sure whether to continue or not until one of my book-blogging buddies assured me that this series goes on steadily getting better. This slice of Katie’s adventures certainly is brimful of action, but I also like that she looks into her future and isn’t thrilled at the thought of growing older and alone. I will be getting the next book in this series in due course. 8/10

Sinister Magic – Book 1 of Death Before Dragons series by Lindsay Buroker
I’m Val Thorvald, and I’m an assassin.

When magical bad guys hurt people, I take care of them. Permanently. This doesn’t make me popular with the rest of the magical community—as you can tell from the numerous break-ins and assassination attempts I’ve endured over the years. But thanks to my half-elven blood, a powerful sword named Chopper, and a telepathic tiger with an attitude, I’ve always been able to handle my problems with aplomb. Maybe some cursing and swearing, too, but definitely aplomb.

That changes when my boss is afflicted with a mysterious disease, a government agent starts investigating me, and a godforsaken dragon shows up in the middle of my latest job. I’ve taken down vampires, zombies, and ogres, but dragons are way, way more powerful. And it doesn’t look like this one is going to like me.

Worse than that, he wants to use his magic to compel me to do his bidding, as if I’m some weak-minded minion. That’s not going to happen. I’d die before being some dragon’s slave.
But if I can’t figure out a way to avoid him, save my boss, and get rid of the government spook, I’m screwed. Or dead. Or screwed and dead. And that’s never comfortable.
I always enjoy Buroker’s mix of snarky humour, action and engaging protagonists. Val is definitely one of the more bloodthirsty characters and could so easily have been just another sword-swinging gal who blends in with the crowd of similar-sounding heroines. She doesn’t. Her gutsy decision to stay away from her daughter and her lumpy relationship with her mother makes her stand out, for starters. I appreciate Buroker’s stance that if you live a violent, dangerous life there are consequences. Especially if magic is involved. I will definitely be reading more of Val’s adventures in due course – a very strong start to the series. 9/10

My posts last week:

Castellan and His Wise Draconic Tips on Life

Review of NETGALLEY arc The Witchwood Knot – Book 1 of the Victorian Faerie Tales series by Olivia Atwater

Sunday Post – 7th April 2024

Hope you, too, had some brilliant books to tuck into and wishing you all a happy, healthy week😊.

Review of INDIE Ebook Dead Eye – Book 1 of the Tiger’s Eye Mysteries by Allysa Day #Brainfluffbookreview #DeadEyebookreview

I picked this up when it was free, after one of my book blogging buddies recommended it – through I can’t recall who!

BLURB: For Jack Shepherd, tiger shape-shifter and former soldier, life is heading for a dead end. Dead End, Florida, to be exact. When he learns that he inherited a combination pawn shop/private investigation agency from his favorite uncle, Jack’s first job is to solve his uncle’s murder. Because sometimes it takes a tiger’s eye to see the truth.

REVIEW: This is a spinoff series – something I didn’t gather until well into the story – and it didn’t remotely impact on my enjoyment, as Day does a solidly good job of providing bonding moments with the main protagonist. As you may have gathered, this is a paranormal urban fantasy whodunit, though the shapeshifter isn’t the main protagonist featured in the blurb, instead, it’s a sparky young woman called Tess. Like many people in Dead End, she isn’t exactly normal, either, but she does her best to overcome her issues by not touching people if she can avoid it.

I really like Tess, who comes across as warm-hearted and amusing – there are a number of laugh-aloud moments in this book, despite it being a murder mystery. While the investigation is the engine that powers this narrative, there is a lot more going on in the story. Jack’s homecoming is a major feature, for starters. And Tess’s reaction to him… It won’t hugely shock you if I mention there is a powerful physical attraction between them, which helps them become a solid team when trying to figure out who is the killer.

To be honest, the murder mystery didn’t take much unravelling. There weren’t all that many suspects and I’d more or less figured out who the main miscreants were just as Tess and Jack got there. But while there are stories where that would be a dealbreaker, this wasn’t one of them. Day writes with a warmth and energy that drew me into this small isolated community, so that I enjoyed the days when the tour bus visited the pawn shop, just as much as Jack facing down the creepy bloke stalking Tess in the middle of the night. I am very glad I picked this one up and will be continuing reading more of the adventures in this (finished) series, once I’ve ticked off a few more of the ongoing ones. Highly recommended for fans of paranormal fantasy.
8/10

*NEW RELEASE SPECIAL* Review of NETGALLEY arc The Nubian’s Curse – Book 20 of the Benjamin January series by Barbara Hambly #BrainfluffNETGALLEYbookreview #TheNubiansCursebookreview

About eighteen months ago, I read and thoroughly enjoyed the nineteenth book in this unusual series – see my review of Death and Hard Cider. Indeed, I liked it so much that I went back to the beginning of the series and started working my way through, albeit slowly. So I was absolutely delighted when I saw this offering pop up on Netgalley and even more delighted to be approved for an arc.

BLURB: December 1840. Surgeon turned piano-player Benjamin January is looking forward to a peaceful holiday with his family. But the arrival of an old friend brings unexpected news – and unexpected danger.

Persephone Jondrette has found a Sudanese man with extraordinary mental abilities who January last saw in France, nearly fifteen years ago, during a ghost-hunting expedition to a haunted chateau. January and his friends survived the experience . . . but Arithmus’ benefactor, the British explorer Deverel Wishart, did not. He was discovered dead one morning, his face twisted in horror, and shortly afterwards Arithmus vanished, never to be seen again.

Did Deverel succumb to the chateau’s ghosts – or did Arithmus murder him and run away? January is determined to uncover the truth about the tragic incident from his past, and clear his old friend’s name – but even he isn’t prepared for what happens next . . .

REVIEW: While I appreciated the shift in scene and tone to change things up – which must be an ongoing problem in such a long-running series, I was very glad that I’d read several books charting Ben January’s previous adventures. This is not one to plunge into if you haven’t previously read any of these books.

This particular adventure takes time to build, as the current situation comes with a detailed and complicated backstory that Hambly interleaves with the current narrative. I’m not sure it wholly works. There was also a new cast of characters to get to grips with and keeping both sets in my head took some effort and certainly meant that I didn’t immediately get pulled into the story in the way that normally happens with this author. Perhaps if the backstory leading up to the current adventure had been told in a single chunk, rather than constantly interrupted, the narrative pace would have been smoother. However, at no point was I ever tempted to DNF this offering – for starters, the genuinely creepy, gothic nature of the backstory was well depicted.

That said, once the narrative stayed in December 1840, the pace picked up and I once again found myself fully involved in Ben’s world. Hambly’s vivid descriptions of a New Orleans society from the viewpoint of a freed slave always resonates with me. It helps that Ben is a thoroughly likeable chap – intelligent, thoughtful and possessed with a strong sense of justice at a time when the colour of your skin absolutely defined who you could be and how far you could rise. Even a free man of colour was at risk of being kidnapped and shipped off down the Mississippi to the cotton fields. If you were a woman at that time, you were defined by how desirable you were and how much money your male relatives possessed. This tale gives a brutal example of how vulnerable a young woman was if she no longer had any male relatives around to protect her – and while there are no graphic scenes of any assault, I think a trigger warning for rape is in order.

In addition to the vivid descriptions of the landscape, the clothing, customs and food that makes this world leap off the page – there is also a thumping good murder mystery, full of tension and drama. Overall, this is a rather dark tale, but Hambly provides occasional shafts of humour that stops it from becoming too grim – as he was running through the swamp, I loved Ben’s changing opinion of his recent gift of a fine new waterproof. If it hadn’t been for a rather slow start – it would have been a solid ten out of ten and once again reminds me of why I like Hambly’s writing so much. Highly recommended for fans of historical murder mystery set at an unusual time with a particularly well portrayed protagonist of colour. While I obtained an arc of The Nubian’s Curse from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10

*NEW RELEASE SPECIAL* Review of KINDLE Ebook Adversary – Book 5 of the Hive Mind series by Janet Edwards #BrainfluffKINDLEbookreview #Adversaybookreview

I’m a solid fan of Janet’s writing. See my reviews of the Earth Girl series including Earth Girl, Earth Star, Earth Flight, Earth and Air, Frontier , as well as the prequel spinoff series featuring disaster magnet Draco Tell Dramis, Hestia 2781 and Array 2781, as well as the short story ‘Hera 2781’ and her short story collection Earth Prime. There is also the Scavenger Exodus series, including Scavenger Alliance and Scavenger Blood, as well as the previous books in the Hive Mind series, Telepath, Defender, Hurricane and Borderline. So I was delighted when Janet contacted me and asked if I would like an arc of the latest addition to the Hive Mind series.

BLURB: Being a telepath means being a warrior. Eighteen-year-old Amber is the youngest of the five telepaths who protect the hundred million citizens of one of the great hive cities of twenty-sixth century Earth. As her city celebrates the start of a New Year, one of the other telepaths must stop work to have lifesaving surgery.

Amber is already worried how she and her unit will cope with the increased workload, but then she finds herself facing twin enemies as well. Inside her city, Keith takes advantage of his increasingly powerful position as one of only four working telepaths. Outside her city, Hive Genex sends the devious Adversary Aura to lead their defence against charges of attempting to kidnap Amber.

REVIEW: It was a while since I tucked into the previous books, so I was pleased the start of the book provided plenty of reminders as to who was what and allied with whom. However, if you’re looking for constant foot-to-the-floor action, then this isn’t for you. Amber and her team face a steady stream of threats as they struggle to maintain law and order in the very crowded environment of the Hive. But this book is as much about the daily routine and customs of this underground society, as it is about the adventure – which is fine with me. I like my science fiction full of worldbuilding, so long as it is sufficiently interesting and continues to revolve around the main characters and advances the storyline. And Adversary certainly ticked that box.

I thoroughly enjoyed the celebration and vivid descriptions of Amber’s reactions and feelings at a keynote celebration, which also added background and context to her character and reactions. It was also enjoyable to learn more about how certain members of her team were coping with the added pressure that was being put upon them. If there is any quibble – and it’s a relatively minor one – I did think the final denouement, which had quite a buildup, didn’t provide the gritted challenge I was expecting. However, I also recall that at the time of reading the book, I was simply relieved that the worst of the ordeal was over for poor Amber and her team.

I would just add that if you happen to pick this one up without having read any of the other books, you certainly won’t flounder. But if you don’t go back to the first book and read these stories in order, you’ll be missing out on watching characters develop in a highly enjoyable YA science fiction series that isn’t like anything else I’ve read. I was provided with a review copy of Adversary by the author, which in no way has influenced my honest, unbiased opinion.
9/10

Can’t-Wait Wednesday – 18th October, 2023 #Brainfluffbookblog #CWC #WOW

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they’re books that have yet to be released. It’s based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week’s Can’t-Wait offering – My Cousin Skinny – Book 5 of the Jersy Girl Legal Mystery series by E.J. Copperman – release date – 7th November, 2023

#crime #murder mystery #feisty heroine #humour

BLURB: An uncomfortable weekend awaits LA family lawyer Sandy Moss when she makes her way to her hometown in New Jersey for the wedding of her cousin Stephanie, sweetly nicknamed Skinny. Uncomfortable, because Sandy is not really looking forward to seeing her family, but at least her boyfriend, Hollywood movie star Patrick McNabb, is by her side.

However, if Sandy thought a weekend with her criticising mother and aggravating sister was bad, she definitely wasn’t prepared for the rehearsal event at the wedding venue! When Skinny enters the room, all eyes are on her and her beautiful party dress . . . covered in blood, with a knife in her hand.

Skinny says she didn’t do it. But with dozens of wedding guests witnessing her dramatic entrance, the question of who killed the corpse in the kitchen seems an easy one to answer – and an equally easy court case to lose.

Reluctantly agreeing to represent her cousin, Sandy sets to work. But how can she save Skinny when she’s not at all sure she’s innocent . . . and when Skinny seems oddly determined to put herself in jail?

I’ve been thoroughly enjoying this entertaining series – see my reviews of And Justice of Mall, Inherit the Shoes and Witness for the Persecution. So when I saw this next slice in Sandy’s adventures pop up on Netgalley, it was a no-brainer to grab a copy. I’ve grown very fond of this feisty heroine over the series so far. And I’m dying to see what Copperman’s blend of snarky humour and mayhem makes of a family wedding…

*NEW RELEASE SPECIAL* Review of NETGALLEY arc Mrs Pargeter’s Patio – Book 9 of the Mrs Pargeter Mystery series by Simon Brett #BrainfluffNETGALLEYbookreview #MrsPargetersPatiobookreview

I’m a fan of Brett’s twisty murder mysteries with a splash of humour and a sardonic commentary on modern British society. I’ve enjoyed reading Death on the Downs, The Liar in the Library, The Killer in the Choir and Guilt at the Garage in the Fethering Mysteries and my particular favourite is his more recent Decluttering Mysteries featuring Ellen in The Clutter Corpse and An Untidy Death and Waste of a Life. But I’ve also read a previous Mrs Pargeter story – Mrs Pargeter’s Public Relations, which encouraged me to get hold of this offering.

BLURB: When widow Mrs Pargeter decides to have her morning coffee on the patio of her mansion in Chigwell, her intention is to admire her beautiful garden in peace and quiet. Little does she expect one of the patio’s paving slabs to crack in two, depositing her on the ground – and revealing a human skull with a neat hole in the middle of its forehead!

Not wanting to bother the police just yet, Mrs Pargeter decides to save them some trouble and starts investigating the curious find herself. And who better to assist than her late husband’s ‘business associates’, private investigator Truffler Mason and chauffeur Gary?

The trio are soon certain that a murder has been committed and the body disposed of under some convenient building works. But who is the mysterious victim? And more importantly, who put the body under Mrs Pargeter’s patio?

Mrs Pargeter and her friends must find out the truth and soon, before the finger of suspicion points in an unthinkable towards the late, great Mr Pargeter, whose business dealings Mrs P remains – naturally! – in blissful ignorance of . . .

REVIEW: Having crashed midway into this series and only read the two – I don’t think it’s a dealbreaker if you haven’t read the previous instalments. Like many murder mysteries, each whodunit is wrapped up within the story and while I’m sure you’d gain further enjoyment and learn more about the characters if you’d read the previous eight books – you won’t flounder unduly if you don’t.

This series, compared to Brett’s Fethering and Decluttering Mysteries, is gentler and more escapist. Mrs Pargeter might be a widow, who adored her husband and has no intention of marrying anyone else – but there isn’t a sense that she’s burdened with unbearable bereavement. Neither is she afflicted with money worries, or real knowledge of her dead spouse’s criminal affairs. She isn’t the only one who regards her former husband with misty affection – it seems he spent quite a bit of his ill-gotten gains giving those around him a new start. And while these characters may or may not have gone straight, they are all falling over themselves to assist Mrs Pargeter in any way they can.

It goes without saying that Brett is a skilled writer – you don’t get to write and produce successful shows for the Beeb and Radio 4 if you don’t know your craft. But I was impressed that Mrs Pargeter doesn’t come across as an idiot, or unduly gullible, despite being blithely unaware of the late Mr Pargeter’s shady doings. As ever, I was sure I knew who’d dunnit – until it became clear that I didn’t. I always enjoy reading murder mysteries that can pull that rabbit out of the hat and frequently, they’re penned by Brett.

While this book is generally less acerbic in tone, compared to the Fethering Mysteries, for instance – I was amused to read Brett’s account of the popular gardening competition Dirt Under Your Fingernails. The author clearly loathes the type of shows that ritually humiliate and demean the competitors in front of a live audience encouraged join in the laughter against them. I read these scenes with relish, as I also hate this television sub-genre. As for Mrs Pargeter – while I’m not as fond of her as I am of Ellen from the Decluttering Mysteries, who I’d happily adopt as a member of the family – I enjoyed watching her determined to unravel the gordian knot around the discovery of the body buried in her garden.

All in all, another successful, twisty plot that had me reading far later than I should to discover what happened next. Recommended for those who like a bit of escapism with their murder mysteries, without resorting to treacly sentimentality. While I obtained an arc of Mrs Pargeter’s Patio from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
8/10

NEW RELEASE SPECIAL* Review of NETGALLEY arc Starter Villain by John Scalzi #BrainfluffNETGALLEYbookreview #StarterVillainbookreview

I’m a fan of Scalzi’s work. I enjoyed the quirky originality of Scalzi’s Old Man’s War series and absolutely loved his futuristic crime Lock In series – see my review of Lock In and Head On. And while I’m still unsure about the ending of the series, I also found his Interdependency series an exhilarating read – see my reviews of The Collapsing Empire, The Consuming Fire and The Last Emperox. I also enjoyed his standalone novel, The Kaiju Preservation Society. So when I saw this one pop up on the dashboard – I immediately applied for a copy and was delighted to receive one.

BLURB: Inheriting your mysterious uncle’s supervillain business is more complicated than you might imagine. Sure, there are the things you’d expect. The undersea volcano lairs. The minions. The plots to take over the world. The international networks of rivals who want you dead.

Much harder to get used to…are the sentient, language-using, computer-savvy cats. And the fact that in the overall organization, they’re management…

REVIEW: This is huge fun😊. Our gutsy, but somewhat clueless protagonist spends most of his time out of his depth and trying to catch up. That can grow a bit old – but Scalzi is smart in making sure that Charlie has enough nowse to avoid the pitfalls set out for him by the odious, entitled men who are in charge of major chunks of worldwide industry. Their antics are funny, with the humour having an extra bite because said characters bear a strong resemblance to those entitled, odious characters in real life who believe they ought to be In Charge, when they haven’t the integrity and/or talent to do a proper job.

Fortunately, there is also plenty of light relief in the form of talking cats and dolphins, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I liked the fact that Charlie is uneasy at the prospect of becoming a villain – I found him a thoroughly likeable character and I very much cared what was happening to him, in amongst the twisty plotting and double crosses.

All in all, this is a blast from the first page to the last. It can be read on two levels. With the talking cats, elaborate villainy and secret island stuff – it can be taken as a bit of light-hearted nonsense. Or the uncanny similarity between certain villains and some of our world leaders also throws a bit of satire into the mix. Both levels worked very well for me and if you enjoy either some escapist fun, or a far-fetched adventure that nonetheless has a pop at those attempting to run things these days, then this offering comes highly recommended. While I obtained an arc of Starter Villain from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10

*NEW RELEASE SPECIAL* Review of NETGALLEY arc Murder Off Stage – Book 5 of A Roaring Twenties Mystery series by Mary Miley #BrainfluffNETGALLEYbookreview #MurderOffStagebookreview

I enjoy Miley’s writing. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed her engaging Maddie Pastore series – see my reviews of The Mystic’s Accomplice and Spirits and Smoke and Deadly Spirits. But my introduction to Miley’s work was Renting Silence – the third book in this series featuring Jessie, an ex-Vaudville starlet. So when I saw this one was available, I immediately requested it, knowing I was in for an entertaining whodunit.

BLURB: New York, 1926 . It’s not like Jessie Beckett goes around looking for murders to solve, but the vaudeville star turned movie script girl has a natural talent for it. After a lifetime on stage, she’s sensitive to details that other people miss.

So when leading theater star Allen Crenshaw is shot live on stage during a performance of hit Broadway show Rules of Engagement – a horrified Jessie watching from the second row – she knows she has to act fast before Allen’s co-star, the beautiful Norah Rose, goes down for murder. After all, it was Norah who fired the fateful bullet . . . even if the shooting was all part of the show.

Jessie investigates those closest to Allen – the presence of her theater companion, the superstar Adele Astaire, opening doors wherever they go – and finds only enemies. With the suspects for the disliked actor so numerous, can she uncover the truth in time to save Norah – or will the killer silence her too?

REVIEW: It’s always a joy when a favourite author delivers yet another cracking read. And I really liked this slice of Jessie’s life. Not only were we treated to a nicely twisty plot with plenty of suspects – I appreciated that the perpetrator had strong reasons for wanting to commit the murder. And this time around, I was also impressed with the manner in which he offed his victim. Jessie had to spend plenty of time interviewing a number of people – and this time around, she isn’t in Hollywood. Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks are in New York, so Jessie is accompanying them as their script girl. Though these days, we’d probably call her a Girl Friday…

The setting is always a strength with one of Miley’s adventures. She has the clothing, food and customs of the time nailed. But the biggest difference we are confronted with is that during this era, alcoholic drink is illegal and Prohibition is in full swing. We already know that the result of this disastrous decision is the rise and rise of organised crime in all the big cities as the gangs cash in on many people’s unwillingness to abide by the law. I also like how Miley weaves real people within her story. Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks are here – but the star who attracted my attention is Jessie’s pal Adele Astaire, the sister of Fred. I loved Jessie’s description of this couple. Miley gives additional details in her fascinating extra notes at the back, mentioning that Fred’s glamorous sister was the one who first made it big, while Fred is creating her choreography and training her.

All in all, this is a thoroughly accomplished and entertaining addition to this series and highly recommended to fans of historical murder mystery adventures. While I obtained an arc of Murder Off Stage from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10

Can’t-Wait Wednesday – 17th May, 2023 #Brainfluffbookblog #CWC #WOW

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they’re books that have yet to be released. It’s based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week’s Can’t-Wait offering – The Launch Party by Lauren Forry – release date 22nd June, 2023

#sci fi murder mystery #Moon adventure #locked room whodunit

BLURB:
Ten lucky people have won a place at the most exclusive launch event of the century: the grand opening of the Hotel Artemis, the first hotel on the moon. It’s an invitation to die for. As their transport departs for its return to Earth and the doors seal shut behind them, the guests take the next leap for mankind.

However, they soon discover that all is not as it seems. The champagne may be flowing, but there is no one to pour it. Room service is available, but there is no one to deliver it. Besides the ten of them, they are completely alone.

When one of the guests is found murdered, fear spreads through the group. But that death is only the beginning. Being three days’ journey from home and with no way to contact the outside, can any of the guests survive their stay?
I’m a sucker for space murder mysteries. While on Earth, authors have to make up all sorts of elaborate reasons why people don’t simply walk or run out of buildings where some deranged serial killer is running rampant – in Space there is nowhere to go! I love the sound of this one😊.

SUNDAY POST – 16th April, 2023 #Brainfluffbookblog #SundayPost

This is part of the weekly meme over at the Caffeinated Reviewer, where book bloggers can share the books they’ve read and share what they have got up to during the last week.

Given that it was the second week of the Easter holidays, it wasn’t a surprise that the weather has been mixed, with several days of driving wind and rain. I even put the heating back on in the evenings, after having turned it off. On Monday, the boys came back from their holiday away with their stepdad, which they thoroughly enjoyed. So Tuesday ended up feeling weirdly like Sunday as we did the supermarket run, complete with menu plan and shopping list. It was lovely to have them back again – even though it was only a few days, I really missed their daft jokes and hilarity. We intended to go out and about a bit, but the weather wasn’t our friend and no one really wanted to brave the wind and rain for a trip to the beach/Highdown Gardens/Wetland and Wildfowl Trust. Or to go and see a film. Until yesterday when we went for a quick jaunt along the beach – which is what the pics are about. I’m so looking forward to the summer!

On Friday, I finally got around to tackling the BOOKS section of my blog pages, which were hideously out of date. It had been on my To-Do list when I got sick in March 2021… So if you saw a lowering black cloud swirling in a threatening manner over Southern England – that was me trying to recall exactly HOW to add pages. I know I’d done it before, but blessed if I could remember! And none of the videos were very helpful as they were mostly about WordPress websites. One did give a fleeting glimpse of the toolbar I needed, so I was able to figure it out. And then I had another conniption when I visited Bitly for the universal links I needed – the whole site was unrecognisable from the last time I’d used it! After a moment’s hyperventilating, I gritted my teeth, navigated my way around until it all made sense again. Needless to say – the whole job took most of the afternoon and early evening. But I’m ridiculously proud of myself for having tackled the job and got it done. I’ve also been editing Flame & Blame and Trouble With Dwarves to ensure I’ve enough description of the world. It’s a bit of a balance, as I want to give enough details so folks can envisage the place, without over-describing it.

It’s been another reading week where I haven’t got through many books, as I’ve once again been working hard on editing. Though I feel very fortunate to have listened to Paladin of Souls, which is absolutely fantastic.

Last week I read:-

AUDIOBOOK – Paladin of Souls – Book 2 of World of the Five Gods series by Lois McMaster Bujold
In a land threatened by treacherous war and beset by demons, royal dowager Ista, released from the curse of madness and manipulated by an untrustworthy god, is plunged into a desperate struggle to preserve the endangered souls of a realm.

This wonderful sequel to The Curse of Chalion features poor, unlucky Ista, who had been disastrously entangled in the terrible Curse. And though released from its clutches, seems doomed to live a half-life surrounded by fussy old courtiers who are constantly on the lookout for any odd behaviour from her. Until she decides to escape by going on a pilgrimage. And is promptly overtaken by a catalogue of dangerous adventures that spin her onto a completely different trajectory. I simply stopped to give all my attention to the unfolding story, wonderfully narrated by Kate Reading. I love that Ista is a middle-aged protagonist who is justifiably bitter and angry at what befell her – and this nuanced, brilliantly written story explores her emotional landscape, as well as her ongoing escapades. 10/10

And Put Away Childish Things by Adrian Tchaikovsky
All roads lead to Underhill, where it’s always winter, and never nice.

Harry Bodie has a famous grandmother, who wrote beloved children’s books set in the delightful world of Underhill. Harry himself is a failing kids’ TV presenter whose every attempt to advance his career ends in self-sabotage. His family history seems to be nothing but an impediment.

An impediment… or worse. What if Underhill is real? What if it has been waiting decades for a promised child to visit? What if it isn’t delightful at all? And what if its denizens have run out of patience and are taking matters into their own hands?
Once again, Tchaikovsky delivers a quirky, thought-provoking book that has left me thinking about it a great deal since I finished reading it. Among other things, it’s a homage to all things Narnia and provides an interesting, somewhat dark, ‘what if’ around the portal fantasy tale. It’s also very funny in places… Review to follow. 9/10

AUDIOBOOK – The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal
Tesla Crane, a brilliant inventor and an heiress, is on her honeymoon on an interplanetary space liner, cruising between the Moon and Mars. She’s traveling incognito and is reveling in her anonymity. Then someone is murdered and the festering chowderheads who run security have the audacity to arrest her spouse. Armed with banter, martinis and her small service dog, Tesla is determined to solve the crime so that the newlyweds can get back to canoodling—and keep the real killer from striking again.

I absolutely loved the Lady Astronaut series – see my reviews of The Calculating Stars, The Fated Sky and particularly The Relentless Moon, which was my absolute favourite as it was a wonderful murder mystery set in space. So I was very excited when I heard of this offering. But it didn’t quite live up to my expectations… I thought Tesla was a strong character – I thought her PTSD and physical issues were dealt with very well and Gimlet, her adorable dog was just that – adorable. But there was an awful lot of to-ing and fro-ing around the ship that became a tad repetitive and I also found her constant canoodling with her husband in public places somewhat tacky. Even if they were on their honeymoon. And by the end of the audiobook, the cocktail recipes that began every chapter were driving me bonkers – I couldn’t quickly fast-forward through them and they completely yanked me out of the story with some boring yabber about drinks I’ll never try – I’m teetotal. Nonetheless, it still gets a respectable score, because I mostly enjoyed it. 7/10

My posts last week:

Castellan the Black and his Wise Dragonic Musings on Life

*NEW RELEASE SPECIAL* Review of NETGALLEY arc We Dream of Gods – Book 4 of The Reborn Empire by Devin Madson

Can’t-Wait-Wednesday featuring I, Julian by Claire Gilbert

*NEW RELEASE SPECIAL* Review of The Exes by Jane Lythell

Hope you, too, had some brilliant books to tuck into and wishing you all a happy, healthy week😊.