The Librain……retired

I am sitting in bed writing this post and feeling quite pleased with myself. Why? Because I managed to get to the Library today and chose a lovely pile of eight books! These will soon be stacked on my bedside table 😀😀😀.

I finished two books this week, both ebooks. There were still two print books left on my pile and I started both of them, but gave up after a few chapters. Neither of them caught my attention and I decided not to mention them on here or Goodreads. The books that I did finish were both very good indeed and I will write about them in both places!

Perfect Silence by Helen Fields

The first book was Perfect Silence, #04 in the DI Callanach series, by Helen Fields. Here is the blurb:

When silence falls, who will hear their screams?

The body of a young girl is found dumped on the roadside on the outskirts of Edinburgh. When pathologists examine the remains, they make a gruesome discovery: the silhouette of a doll carved in the victim’s skin. And when a macabre ragdoll is found nestled beside an abandoned baby, DI Luc Callanch learns the killer’s horrifying game plan – cutting out dolls from the flesh of his victims.

When a series of drug-users are brutally branded with the letter Z slashed into their foreheads, Luc and his partner Ava must risk both their jobs and their lives to unearth the truth. Is this the merciless work of the same assailant?

As the killer’s twisted games persist, Luc knows it’s only a matter of time before he strikes again. Can they stop another victim from being silenced forever – or is it already too late?

And here is the review I posted on Goodreads:

Another very good addition to the series. If you like rather gruesome murders, then this is for you, although I am starting to get tired of reading about young women being killed in increasingly horrible, but inventive ways. Also Callanach’s issues are becoming rather boring now – can these be resolved soon, please?

The writing is well done and there are plenty of twists in the story to keep the reader’s attention, so I will watch out for the next book.

Despite a few reservations, I did give the book four stars. I have read each episode in the series and it is well-worth a look if you enjoy this genre.

The Devil’s Star by Jo Nesbo

I am currently trying to make sure that I have read all of the books in the Harry Hole series  by Jo Nesbo. There are a few still on reserve at the Library and I found #05, The Devil’s Star, on our ebook service last week. This is the blurb:

A young woman is murdered in her Oslo flat. One finger has been severed from her left hand, and behind her eyelid is secreted a tiny red diamond in the shape of a five-pointed star – a pentagram, the devil’s star.

Detective Harry Hole is assigned to the case with his long-time adversary Tom Waaler and initially wants no part in it. But Harry is already on notice to quit the force and is left with little alternative but to drag himself out of his alcoholic stupor and get to work.

A wave of similar murders is on the horizon. An emerging pattern suggests that Oslo has a serial killer on its hands, and the five-pointed devil’s star is key to solving the riddle.

I wish I could give this 4.5 or even 4.75 stars! Anyway, here is my short review:

Another excellent book in this series. This one is very grim and dark as our “hero” struggles with relationships and his alcoholism. In fact the gloom is pretty unrelenting. The clever plot and the ending, however, make it all very worthwhile and satisfying.

I am now trying to read every book in the series… well, someone must do it! Seriously, this series is highly recommended.

I am sure that I wouldn’t want to be in any kind of relationship with Harry Hole, either personal or professional. But he is a very interesting character to read about!

Life Ruins by Danuta Kot

I still have a few ebooks to finish before I begin my print book pile (anticipation is such a good thing!). This book – Life Ruins by Danita Kot – was started last night, so I will tell you about it next week.

Until then, Happy Reading to you all!

Best wishes,

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I read three books this week and have started a fourth. After all the excitement of the last few weeks, with highly enjoyable books, only one of the three was really engaging.

Shiang by C F Iggulden

My first book was Shiang by C F Iggulden (Conn Iggulden), #02 in his Empire of Salt series. Here is the blurb:

IF THESE STONES COULD SPEAK . . . THEY WOULD CALL FOR WAR.

In Shiang, the young king rules without dissent. Mazer swordsmen stand watch on every corner, looking for the first sign of rebellion. This city is a place of quiet and slow dignity, like a man eating rice with a razor pressed against his throat.

Yet with one sharp movement, order is overturned. The balance of centuries is undone in the sudden spill of blood – and in the darkness, something terrible returns to Shiang.

Far to the west, four Shiang masters approach the city walls of Darien. The sword saint and his companions have crossed a continent to bring an old man home for punishment. They will not be denied, even if the whole city stands in their way.

TWO ANCIENT CITIES. ONE FINAL WAR.

And this is the three star review that I wrote in Goodreads:

I read the first part, Darien, some time ago so I found it quite difficult to remember characters and events when reading this. It was particularly disorientating because this book began in a different setting and I felt very confused until the story got going. I really didn’t feel that either book were up to Iggulden’s usual standard. His writing is good, but he doesn’t do enough to build a fantasy world. There was also the odd mention of Rome that was rather jarring. Was this a hint of something to be told in a later book?

I think that this series is actually intended to be a trilogy, so I will almost certainly read the final part, when it is published. Generally speaking, I believe that Iggulden is a much better writer of historical fiction, which I really enjoy.

The Thirst by Jo Nesbo

My second book of the week was great: #11 in the Harry Hole series: The Thirst by Jo Nesbo. This is the (not very expansive) blurb:

In Police—the last novel featuring Jo Nesbø’s hard-bitten, maverick Oslo detective—a killer wreaking revenge on the police had Harry Hole fighting for the safety of the people closest to him. Now, in The Thirst, the story continues as Harry is inextricably drawn back into the Oslo police force. A serial murderer has begun targeting Tinder daters—a murderer whose MO reignites Harry’s hunt for a nemesis of his past.

I gave this four stars and wrote the following review:

I have read quite a few of the Harry Hole books and think that this is one of the best. This book is so cleverly crafted – I particularly enjoyed the beginning. Nesbo is playing with his readers!

I don’t think that the series necessarily needs to be read in order, well I haven’t, but it does help to give quite a lot of background and context if you have read a few. To see Harry happy is pretty amazing and certainly unusual. I am now requesting all of the other books in the series to fill in the gaps, or Holes – ouch!

OK, I couldn’t resist that!

The Staveley Suspect by Rebecca Tope

The third and final book was a complete change of direction into a much more domestic take on a murder mystery: The Staveley Suspect by Rebecca Tope (Persimmon Brown #05). Here is the blurb:

Simmy Brown has a lot on her mind. Not just keeping her florist business afloat, her father’s failing health, the challenge of developing a long-term relationship with Christopher, but also the approach of Mother’s Day, a busy and painful day for her.

But in taking an order for a retirement party in Staveley, she is pulled into her most challenging investigation yet. When a daughter starts accusing her own mother of murder, Simmy, Ben and Bonnie find themselves taking different sides of the investigation. With her relationships under strain, Simmy has to learn to leave her own concerns behind to discover just who the killer is.

I only gave this one two stars on Goodreads – maybe I prefer more high octane reads!

I haven’t read nothing by this author before and I might just try another book from a different series. I enjoyed the setting of this book as I have been to the area quite a few times and actually stayed in Troutbeck as a child. The domestic and personal background to the story was quite interesting at first, but very soon it all overwhelmed the actual mystery that the main characters were trying to solve, so much so that I became bored with all of the shop opening and closing, deliveries and personal issues. The ending was so abrupt that I thought, at first, that there had been a few paragraphs or pages missed out. So, not a very satisfying read.

By the way, this book averages nearly four stars on Goodreads, so please check the other reviews on there if this kind of book appeals to you. Perhaps I am too bloodthirsty!

All of my books this week have been ebooks from our library service’s extensive collection. I always check the digital catalogue first before looking for the print versions because, if the ebook is available, I can download it instantly to my iPad. I need to visit the Library soon, however, as I have now run out of print books!

Perfect Silence by Helen Fields

I am currently reading #04 in Helen Fields’ DI Callanach series: Perfect Silence, and I will give you my verdict next time.

Happy Reading to you all!

Best wishes,

📚📖📚📖📚