#Review By Lou of Her Charming Man By Rachel Sargeant @RachelSargeant3 @HobeckBooks #TheGloucestershireCrimeSeries #PoliceProcedural #HerCharmingMan #CrimeSeries #BlogTour

Her Charming Man
By Rachel Sargeant

What links 2 cases in Her Charming Man? The second in this gripping Gloucestershire Crime Series. Discover the dramatic cover that would look great on any bookshelf, the blurb and my review below.

DI Steph Lewis of West Gloucestershire Police is working two cases.

A woman is found dead in the Cathedral grounds. Few, not even her family, mourn her. And a man has gone missing. His wife, colleagues and neighbours fear for the safety of this perfect gentleman.

A witness comes forward to say the cases are linked. A breakthrough, perhaps? But the witness has form for finding dead bodies and she knows things about Steph that the detective wants kept hidden. A reliable witness? Or a fantasist with the power to cause chaos in Steph’s personal life?

What could possibly connect the murder of an unpopular woman and the disappearance of a charming man?

Her Charming Man is the second book in the Gloucestershire Crime Series, featuring DI Steph Lewis, a spirited, no-nonsense detective with secrets of her own.

Review

Cathedral or church grounds often make perfect atmospheric settings and in Her
Charming Man, there’s added sadness in a way. There aren’t many mourners and the deceased was deeply unpopular, even with her own family. It makes you think, that to live a life that has, not only a sad ending to it through being murdered, but to be undesirable to almost everyone, who others would be close to is a sad life to lead indeed.
In another case is a charming, pleasant man who is well thought of by others, has disappeared.
The characterisation of them both of these characters and the witness, who may or may not be a fantasist is makes this a fascinating read, even just working out their psyche.
DI Lewis and her team have to work out what the connection is. She definitely has the tenacity and the resilience to fathom it all out, even when her personal life could be tarnished if the witness exposes her past.
It all leads to a clever ending.

#Review By Lou of Death At A Shetland Festival By Marsali Taylor #MarsaliTaylor @between_pr #blogtour #ScottishNoir #PoliceProcedural #CrimeFiction

Death At A Shetland Festival
By Marsali Taylor

Shetland, an island off the north of Scotland is a great location for a crime and what better premise than a festival? Check out my review, after the blurb below.

Blurb

‘This series is a must-read for anyone who loves the sea, or islands, or joyous, intricate story-telling.’
ANN CLEEVES

Crowds are gathered for a concert at Shetland’s renowned folk music festival when there’s a shocking discovery – international folk legend Fintan Foley has been stabbed backstage.

Sailing sleuth Cass Lynch and her partner DI Gavin Macrae are in the audience and must untangle a complicated case where nothing is quite what it seems. Cass soon discovers that Foley’s smiling stage persona concealed links with Shetland. He’d worked here in the 80s, the days when oil brought wealth to the islands.

Has a long-buried secret risen to the surface – and will it make Cass a target for a cold-blooded killer?

Atmospheric and gripping, Death at a Shetland Festival is the latest instalment in the much-loved Shetland Mystery series by Marsali Taylor. Perfect for fans of Ann Cleeves and Elly Griffiths.

Review

The heady heights of a renowned folk festival and the rugged island beauty of land and seascape with all the people and wildlife that inhabit Shetland, creates a magical atmospheric combination that whisks readers away to somewhere that feels like a great escape. In contrast, darkness then falls on the island when a killer is around and international folk legend Fintan Foley is found backstage, stabbed, so not exactly a discreet location.

The book takes readers between the present day and the 1980’s when thousands of workers were constructing the Sullom Voe oil terminal.
Cass, deduces there must be a link between then and the present day to the death of the folk musician. She and her partner DI Gavin Macrae just have to work out what it is, but it also puts Cass in danger.

There are secrets abound, but how long can they possibly be kept, especially with an investigation of a death at a highly popular festival?

If you are intrigued by island life, a mystery or love scenery, this book is an enjoyable read.
Thankfully there is a glossary at the back full of translations for the Scots words.

#Review By Lou of A Therapeutic Journey By Alain De Botton #AlainDeBotton @PenguinUKBooks #HamishHamilton #ATherapeuticJourney #LessonsFromTheSchoolOfLife #MentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #NonFiction

A Therapeutic Journey
By Alain De Botton

A Therapeutic Journey is an interesting exploration of mental health by the Sunday Times bestselling author of The School of Life. A book many will find interesting in a factual way and for many it may well be rather relatable.
Check out the blurb and my review below.

AS HEARD ON THE DIARY OF A CEO PODCAST WITH STEVEN BARTLETT

From the Sunday Times bestselling author of The School of Life

A healthy mind knows how to hope, hanging on tenaciously to the reasons to keep going.

A healthy mind resists unfair comparisons, not allowing others’ successes to throw it off course.

A healthy mind avoids catastrophic imaginings, distinguishing worries of what could happen from what likely will.

Just as there is no such thing as a human being who will never become physically ill, there is no human who will go their whole life without becoming mentally unwell. But recognising ourselves when we’re well can do a lot to help us identify what can go awry. Written with his signature kindness and empathy, this book is Alain de Botton’s practical guide to caring for our mental health – from the acts of self-care in which we find respite to the help which psychotherapy can bring.

Mental illness is as common, and as unshameful, as its bodily counterpart. We should be no more reluctant to seek help than we are if we develop a chest infection or sore knee – and we are no less worthy of love and sympathy in those moments. This book is a reminder of that.

Review

A Therapeutic Journey takes readers into mental health. Everyone has mental health, healthy or otherwise and from either perspective of how you’re mentally feeling, it’s an interesting book. It’s a bit unfortunate that some of it can appear a bit angry in tone, but it is at least just a small handful of places, so it doesn’t detract too much from wanting to read the entire book. On the whole, the book is written with kindness and compassion with interesting information about mental health, in a way that people will be able to relate to. Fascinatingly it explores the history of mental health and certain well-known artists who are known for a deterioration in their state of mind at certain points in their lives. There is also some artwork in certain sections by people such as Picasso, Cezanne and more…

It’s a wise book, in many respects as it talks about the contributions to poorer mental health in many aspects of life, although lingers a bit long on childhood before moving along. The journey of the book also takes readers into the topic of therapy, which is rather insightful and thought-provoking.

A Therapeutic Journey takes readers through an exploration of art, love, compassion and more in a blend of historical perspectives and facts and personal experiences and discoveries.

About the Author

Alain de Botton is the bestselling author of fifteen books, including The School of Life: An Emotional Education, How Proust Can Change Your Life, The Consolations of Philosophy, The Art of Travel and The Course of Love. He is the founder of The School of Life.

#Review By Lou of Island In The Sun By Katie Fforde @KatieFforde @centurybooksuk @randomhouse #HolidayRead #Escapism #Summer

Island In The Sun
By Katie Fforde

Sun, sea and pure escapism can all be found in Katie Fforde’s latest, enticing book.

Blurb

Dominica. A beautiful remote island where the sun shines and the living is easy.

And where Cass goes to photograph a rare stone carving as a favour to her father.

With her is Ranulph, a deeply attractive, much-travelled journalist, who offers to help Cass with her quest.

But Dominica has just been hit be a severe hurricane, and Cass and Ranulph are spending all of their time helping the local community.

Cass knows she must not fall in love with him… He is just looking out for her. He’s being kind.

There is no way he could be even the slightest bit interested in her. Could he?

Review

Dominica is painted as a very attractive and desirable place to be. The idyllic location is soon rocked by a severe hurricane hitting its shores and interfering with community life. Katie Fford captures the contrast in between the calm, serene scenery and the destructive nature of the storm, beautifully.

Cass is on a mission from her father to photograph a rare stone carving in Dominica, where she also meets Ranulph. He’s well travelled and interesting, so very quickly becomes a character you want to know more about. He’s a journalist, so of course is curious about Cass, since she’s on the hunt for something rare.
When the hurricane hits, there’s a more genuine warm-heartedness about the characters as they want to help the community get through the devastation.

Romance is in the air and oozes off the page, just like the romance of the location does. It’s a very different sort of romance from the norm, which I rather liked. I won’t say too much about that as I feel it’s something to be explored as you read the book. It certainly adds much interest to the characters as its played out.

Island in the Sun is a rather interesting escapist read that embodies romance and danger.

#Review By Lou of Island In The Sun By Katie Fforde @KatieFforde @centurybooksuk @randomhouse #HolidayRead #Escapism

Island In The Sun
By Katie Fforde

Sun, sea and pure escapism can all be found in Katie Fforde’s latest, enticing book.

Blurb

Dominica. A beautiful remote island where the sun shines and the living is easy.

And where Cass goes to photograph a rare stone carving as a favour to her father.

With her is Ranulph, a deeply attractive, much-travelled journalist, who offers to help Cass with her quest.

But Dominica has just been hit be a severe hurricane, and Cass and Ranulph are spending all of their time helping the local community.

Cass knows she must not fall in love with him… He is just looking out for her. He’s being kind.

There is no way he could be even the slightest bit interested in her. Could he?

Review

Island in the Sun is a rather interesting escapist read that embodies romance and danger.

#Review of Hattie Brings the House Down By Patrick Gleeson #PatrickGleeson @noexitpress #ATheatrelandMystery #Theatre #HattieBringsTheHouseDown #Mystery

Hattie Brings the House Down
By Patrick Gleeson

Hattie Brings the House Down is a book that serves theatre and mystery lovers well. Thanks to No Exit Press and Random T. Tours, I have the blurb and my review for you.

Blurb

Get ready for a thrilling backstage ride in the world of theatre as seasoned
stage manager Hattie embarks on a new production at London’s Tavistock pub
theatre. Here, the drama doesn’t just occur on stage.
Troublesome directors and fastidious assistants soon become the least of
Hattie’s worries as, a week into rehearsals, an actress is found dead backstage
on the same day that an extremely valuable theatrical mask goes missing.
Hattie begins investigating both mysteries, all the while trying to keep the
dysfunctional cast and crew on track for opening night. As she delves deeper
into the secrets behind the scenes, her allegiance to her theatre, cast and crew
will be tested to destruction.

Follow this unconventional detective as she delves into the alluring and
exquisitely perilous world of the theatre.

Review

There’s as much drama off-stage as there is on-stage, if not more…

A theatre, this case London’s Tavistock pub theatre, provides a great setting for a mysterious plot with some larger than life characters, some with more than just a few quirks and foibles.

Readers are treated to theatrical shenanigans and intricacies of putting on a play. All is far from well as, dramatically, there is a dead body and a theft, so the fact the cast and the backstage team aren’t ready for opening night, since it’s only week 1 of rehearsals meaning they’ve got a lot to deal with.

The case isn’t easy to solve as it takes readers down trap doors of secrets and lies and red herrings. Suddenly it isn’t as easy as just saying “stage left” etc. The circumstances sends Hattie on quite a quest to discover the truth of what’s been going on that led to the theft of a valuable item and a death.

Patrick Gleeson’s passion for theatre shines through and as the plot unfolds, the concept could almost be an entertaining play within a play on a stage. As it goes, it’s an entertaining and enjoyable book.

About the Author

Patrick has a degree in philosophy and classics, another one in technical theatre
and stage management, and one more in business administration. He has
worked as a theatre sound designer, an “interpretive naturalist” at an aquarium,
a software developer, a business mentor to fledgling entrepreneurs, and a voice
actor.
He composed the music for a musical about taxidermy that The Stage said “put
to shame the hackneyed standards of the contemporary musical scene”, and has
been performed in London, Edinburgh, Suffolk and, weirdly, Alaska.
He now lives in Norfolk with his wife and two children, where he brews
mediocre cider.