Review: Dark Aemilia by Sally O'Reilly

Little does she know it, but author Sally O'Reilly wrote this book just for me.

Set in London during the late 1500s and the time of Queen Elizabeth I, Dark Aemilia has it all: Shakespeare, plague, sorcery, witchcraft, witty dialogue, great writing and hot sex scenes. I mean come on! Sally O'Reilly, I love you!

And the cover, oh the cover, simply stunning.

Based on a real person, Aemilia is an inspirational woman born before her time, thought to be Shakespeare's dark muse, struggling with the role of women in society and how little power they had over their destiny. She was England's first female poet, and in O'Reilly's hands she's intelligent, proud, headstrong and passionate.

Here's a great quote from Page 129:
"...all my other little aches and torments have gone. Those besetting symptoms that all of us in London must put up with: soot-wheeze, ale-runs, head-gripe, back-ache, lassitude and dread-belly - not to mention sundry scabs, carbuncles and lesions of the skin - all such ailments have vanished."

And this from Page 270:
" 'Leave this house', I say. 'Get out, you scripture-spouting, fish-cold arse-wart. Or I'll call down a curse which'll curdle the guts in your belly'. " 

Brilliant writing, richly evocative and an intelligent story, I loved and adored this novel and didn't want it to end. 

Dark Aemilia is for lovers of historical fiction, witty dialogue, Shakespeare and the darker side of London in the 16th Century. Yes please! I can't wait to see what talented author Sally O'Reilly writes for me next. A tale worthy of the Bard I'm sure.

My rating = *****

Carpe Librum!

And another quote from Page 270, because I just have to:
"I'll broil your brain in its shallow skull! Mangle your preachifying words into Bedlam babble, and corrupt your skin into a thousand worm-infested sores! I'll make you pray for Hades as a respite from your pain! And I'll twist your mind to such distraction that you'll tear off all your limbs to find relief and sanity! Do you hear me, you pox-groined, foul-nosed turd-stain?"

Review: How to Watch the Olympics - An instant initiation into every Olympic sport at Rio 2016 by David Goldblatt and Johnny Acton

RRP $24.99 AUD
Published July 2016 by
Allen & Unwin and Profile Books

* Copy courtesy of Allen & Unwin *

I love everything about the Olympics and always watch as much as I physically can, with gymnastics, diving, weightlifting and synchronised swimming being some of my favourite events.

Reading How to Watch the Olympics - An instant initiation into every Olympic sport at Rio 2016 by David Goldblatt and Johnny Acton was the perfect preparation and I learned a lot about different sports that I didn't know beforehand.

Set out alphabetically by sport, this handy reference guide was informative without being overwhelming and entertaining with a light sense of humour throughout.

Some tidbits were memorable, like this one from the sport of badminton on page 76: 

"The shuttlecock may be mere cork and feathers but struck correctly it can split a watermelon in two."

While enjoying the Olympic footage, I often found myself recalling knowledge from the book: "oh, they don't have to row inside their lanes, they can row across the buoys as long as they don't interfere with anyone else" and "in synchronised swimming they can't touch the bottom of the pool, and the spectacle they put on before they dive into the water is called deckwork which isn't included in the scoring."

How to Watch the Olympics was a great companion for armchair Olympic viewers like me and I'll be sure to have it beside me in 2020 for the Tokyo Olympics.

My rating = ***1/2

Carpe Librum!

Review: Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley

* Copy courtesy of Simon & Schuster *

This review is going to be very unpopular. Lily and the Octopus seems to be the 'it' book at the moment, and many readers, bloggers and reviewers I know have fallen in love with this book. I just didn't. I might cop some flack for this but I have to be honest, I hated Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley.

The best parts were every segment of dialogue from Lily the dog. Great voice and amusing dialogue.

The reason I hated this book was because I couldn't stand Ted, the main character. I thought he was a self-absorbed, narcissistic, self-indulgent, vacuous man and I just couldn't warm to him or his plight.

And that was even before I got to the magical realism that didn't quite work and a 30 page dream sequence that had me hoping the finish would arrive soon.

I know I'm going to be in the minority of readers here, but sometimes that happens. This book wasn't for me, but I know it has made readers laugh and cry and provided enjoyment for plenty of others.

I was going to give this book 2 stars until I checked my own rating scheme. Two stars for me means not a good read, didn't really enjoy this one, whereas one star means terrible read, don't bother. I really wouldn't bother with this one and it was a terrible read for me, so one star it is.

My rating = *

Carpe Librum!

Winner of The Falls by B. Michael Radburn announced

Thanks to those who entered last week's giveaway to win a copy of The Falls by B. Michael Radburn. Entries closed at midnight on Friday 5 August and the winner was drawn today. Congratulations to:

Elias Zanbaka

Congratulations Elias, you'll receive an email shortly and will have 7 days to provide me with your postal address. Pantera Press will mail your book out to you and I'd like to thank them for this prize.

Carpe Librum!

Blog Tour for Maggie's Kitchen by Caroline Beecham

Today I'm participating in the Maggie's Kitchen blog tour thanks to Allen & Unwin. I'm sharing a recipe straight from Maggie’s Kitchen by Australian author Caroline Beecham so I hope you enjoy it. Looks delicious doesn't it?

Woolton Pie Recipe
The combination of oatmeal and vegetables is what makes this dish one of the most significant from the Second World War; both foods were home-grown and both full of nutrition. Oatmeal was added to many dishes because it increased the food’s nutritional value and made it go further. The basic Woolton pie would only have contained potatoes, swedes, carrots, leeks, cauliflower or whatever was in season, but here sweet potato and broccoli are used for extra flavour, although you can use any combination of your most-loved vegetables.

Woolton Pie from Maggie’s Kitchen by
Caroline Beecham

Ingredients
450g/16oz each diced potatoes, swedes, carrots and cauliflower (or
sweet potato and broccoli)
4 spring onions, sliced
1 tsp vegetable extract (or Bovril or Oxo)
1 tbsp oatmeal
Chopped parsley
225g/8oz sliced potatoes or pastry for topping
½ cup grated cheese
Gravy (to serve)

Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F. 
Place vegetables, vegetable extract and oatmeal in a saucepan and cover with water. Simmer gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season to taste. Allow to cool and then place in a pie dish, sprinkle with parsley then cover with potatoes or pastry crust and cheese. Bake until topping is browned and serve with steaming hot gravy. Serves 4–6.

About the Book

Published by Allen & Unwin
RRP $29.99, available now

When the Ministry of Food urgently calls for the opening of British Restaurants to feed tired and hungry Londoners during the Second World War, Maggie Johnson is close to realising a long-held dream.

But after struggling through government red-tape and triumphantly opening its doors, Maggie's Kitchen soon encounters a most unexpected problem. Her restaurant has become so popular with London's exhausted workers, that Maggie simply can't get enough supplies to keep up with demand for food, without breaking some of the rules.

With the support of locals, and the help of twelve-year-old Robbie, a street urchin, and Janek, a Polish refugee dreaming of returning to his native land, the resourceful Maggie evades the first threats of closure from the Ministry. As she fights to keep her beloved Kitchen open, Maggie also tries desperately to reunite Robbie with his missing father, as well as manage her own family's expectations. Ultimately, she can no longer ignore the unacknowledged hopes of her own heart, and the discovery that some secrets have the power to change everything.

More Info
Find out more information about Maggie’s Kitchen follow Caroline Beecham on Twitter @CarolineBeecham

Review: Out of the Ice by Ann Turner

* Copy courtesy of Simon & Schuster *

Out of the Ice by Australian author Ann Turner is set on a remote Antarctic Island and is a great book to read in winter huddled under the covers.

Laura Alvarado is an environmental scientist sent to make a detailed report on an abandoned whaling station where not all is as it seems.

The wildlife in this region of antarctica (whales, penguins and seals), the isolation and the freezing cold elements form a great backdrop to the novel and are well-written. The scenes that take place in the creepy and abandoned town of Fredelighavn were the highlight of the book for me, and successfully conveyed the horrors of the whaling industry and echoes of the past.

The male dominated environment of the nearby British station was captured well although I never really warmed to Laura and some of her decisions were frustrating.

Out of the Ice is being promoted as a tense and eerie thriller but I have to disagree with this categorisation. I found it to be an eerie slow burn until the last quarter of the book, when it takes a sudden turn and becomes a fast-paced crime novel. The ending was too neat and tidy for my liking and the romance unbelievable. 

One thing I will take away after reading Out of the Ice is a desire to visit Nantucket.

My rating = ***

Carpe Librum!

Friday Freebie to WIN a copy of Aussie thriller The Falls by B. Michael Radburn

Excerpt of my review

* Copy courtesy of Pantera Press *

Last week I reviewed The Falls by B. Michael Radburn and those who saw the review will know I really enjoyed it, giving it four out of five stars.

The Falls was published this month, and as promised, you now have the opportunity to win a copy for yourself and find out first hand why I enjoyed this Aussie thriller so much.

Blurb
A week of despair... a century of evil.

Damaged but not yet broken, park ranger Taylor Bridges believes his ghosts are in the past - until a raging forest fire in an isolated canyon of The Falls lays bare the remains of a young woman… and a decade-old killing ground.

After the police enlist Taylor in their investigation, the evidence bizarrely points to a deranged preacher who reigned over The Falls a century ago.

But when a crucial witness and a policewoman disappear, it’s clear that a disciple of The Falls’ dark history is on the loose.

Author Bio
Writing from his farm in the hauntingly beautiful Southern Highlands of NSW, B. Michael Radburn's work reflects both natural and supernatural environs. Described as “Ian Rankin meets Stephen King”, Radburn is the author of three full-length novels: The Crossing, Blackwater Moon and The Falls.

Radburn loves his family, jamming out the blues and his motorcycle! He also loves giving back and inspiring others from all walk of life – his Harley Davidson chapter (Sydney HOG) works with Father Chris Riley’s Youth off the Streets program. Radburn uses these opportunities to talk to youth living rough in Sydney – offering reading and writing as “therapy” and sharing his own teenage experiences.

Giveaway
This giveaway has now closed.

Winner of Bad Blood by Gary Kemble announced

Thanks to those who entered last week's giveaway to win a copy of Bad Blood by Gary Kemble. Entries closed at midnight on Friday 22 July and the winner was drawn today. Congratulations go to:

Anne_MB

Congratulations Anne, you'll receive an email shortly and will have 7 days to provide me with your postal address. Echo Publishing will mail your book out to you and I'd like to thank them for this prize.

This Friday I'll be giving away a copy of The Falls by B. Michael Radburn, and you can read my review of it here.

Carpe Librum!

Review: The Falls by Australian author B. Michael Radburn

Published August 2016

* Copy courtesy of Pantera Press *

The Falls by Australian author B. Michael Radburn is the second in his Taylor Bridges series although it can easily be read as a stand alone. (The first novel in the series was The Crossing and you can see my review here).

Taylor Bridges is a Park Ranger who is drawn into a local missing persons case in country Victoria. The novel is centred around a disused mine (pictured on the cover) and some of the scenes are almost cinematic in quality. 

Radburn really knows how to write about the Australian bush, and with a deadly bushfire scorching the earth, I could almost smell the ash at the crime scene and hear the tinkle of the glass apple trees in an orchard not too far away. I also experienced a jolt of recognition at the mention of Lakes Entrance and Bairnsdale and appreciated the familiar rural setting. 

Taylor makes for a refreshing protagonist and I don't know of any other author who has a Parks Ranger as their main character, but it works. My favourite character though by far was Gordo, the ex-Navy chopper pilot, and his unique expression made me smile every time I saw it on the page. (You'll have to read it to find out, no spoilers here).

Radburn mentions in the Acknowledgements section that his daughter designed the cover of The Falls and I must day she's done an amazing job. The cover has an eerie quality to complement the storyline and the shiny (spot UV) Bendigo Tool Co. logo on the back is a touch of artistic genius.

I recommend The Falls for fans of crime and mystery novels and those looking to discover more Australian authors. Readers in Victoria will enjoy it just a little more owing to the setting.

My rating = ****

Carpe Librum!

You'll have the chance to WIN your own copy of The Falls by B. Michael Radburn in a giveaway here on Friday 29 July 2016.

Review: The House Between Tides by Sarah Maine

RRP AUD $29.99
Published 22 June 2016

* Copy courtesy of Allen & Unwin *

When a novel includes a crumbling estate, an inheritance, a mystery and a dark secret then I've got to read it and The House Between Tides by Sarah Maine has it all.

Set in Scotland, the landscape is truly the main character in this novel. It's wild and atmospheric and you can almost feel the wind in your hair, lick the salt spray from your lips and hear the squawk of the birds in the air. 

Unfolding in dual time frames, we learn the present story from Hetty Deveraux (2010) and the past from Beatrice in the early 1900s.

I preferred the chapters from Beatrice's point of view, as I found Hetty to be a real push over. I was often frustrated by her actions and was desperate for her to make a stand but it works for the novel.

The mystery unfolded at a steady pace, but it wasn't a big surprise at the end. I would have preferred a little less focus on Blake's artwork and less about his passion for bird collecting, but all in all, The House Between Tides is a solid debut for Sarah Maine. 

Readers who enjoy Kate Morton's novels will feel at home with Sarah Maine.

My rating = ***

Carpe Librum!

Winner of Devour by L.A. Larkin is announced

Thanks to everyone who entered last week's giveaway to WIN a copy of Devour by L.A. Larkin. Entries closed at midnight Friday 15 July and the lucky winner was drawn today. Congratulations go to:

Cloggie Downunder

Congratulations Cloggie, you'll receive an email shortly and will have 7 days to provide me with your postal address. The publisher Hachette Australia will send your book out to you and I'd like to thank them for this prize.

For those who missed out, click here to enter this week's giveaway.

Carpe Librum!

Friday Freebie: WIN a copy of Bad Blood by Gary Kemble

RRP $29.99

* Copy courtesy of Echo Publishing *

Blurb
A journey into the world of corruption and dark magic on Brisbane’s streets.

Freelance journalist Harry Hendrick is beginning to realise that you’re only as good as your last exclusive, and buzz doesn’t pay the bills, when he’s blackmailed by the police into investigating a series of bizarre suicides.

Those investigations lead him into the web of Mistress Hel, who plies her dark arts from her luxurious suburban lair. With continuing challenges in his personal and professional life, can Harry resist her seductive power? Or the thrill of danger itself?

A novel about lust, power, control and revenge, featuring a strong, three-dimensional female antagonist who’s unlike anyone you’ve met in literature before.

Bad Blood is the latest genre-bending, supernatural thriller from an exciting Australian author on the rise.

Author Bio
Gary Kemble’s award-winning short fiction has been published in magazines and anthologies in Australia and abroad and several have been republished in ‘best of’ collections including Year’s Best Australian Fantasy and Horror. Gary’s journalistic career has included stints with national magazines and online publications in Australia and the UK. He is currently the Social Media Lead for ABC News.

Born in England, Gary emigrated to Australia when he was six, and grew up in Brisbane. Gary tweets at @garykemble

Giveaway

This giveaway has now closed.

Review: Brick History - Amazing Historical Scenes to Build from LEGO by Warren Elsmore

RRP AUD $24.99
Published May 2016

* Copy courtesy of Allen & Unwin *

I review a variety of books here on Carpe Librum, but Brick History by Warren Elsmore (from Allen & Unwin) was certainly a unique reading experience for me.

Containing detailed historical scenes made entirely from LEGO, Brick History begins with the birth of civilisation itself (Big Bang), and takes us through to the year 2011 with the Royal Wedding.

When it comes to which historical events to feature in a book like this, you know at the outset that many significant historical events won't make the cut and that you can't please every reader. Having said that, I was surprised to see just how many American events were included, knowing the author Warren Elsmore is from the UK.

The LEGO scenes were elaborate and it was obvious great care had been taken in their design to make them as historically accurate as possible. However, I just wanted more. I wanted to know how many LEGO pieces had been used in each scene or how many man hours it took to design and build each one.

Without this information, and only stylised photographs to go by, it was difficult to appreciate the magnitude of the effort and creativity involved.

There are several model projects with detailed instructions for readers to build themselves, and my personal favourite was a working sextant from Page 74 and a book of specimens from Sir Joseph Banks on Page 122.

Brick History - Amazing Historical Scenes to Build from LEGO by Warren Elsmore will appeal to readers of all ages and of course Adult Fans of Lego (AFOL).

My rating = ***

Carpe Librum!

Friday Freebie: WIN a copy of Devour by L.A. Larkin

RRP $29.99

* Copy courtesy of Hachette Australia *

Blurb
Devour is an action-packed conspiracy thriller with a spine-chilling psychological thriller sub-plot; an enthralling female central character; and a climax that will leave you breathless.

Their greatest fear was contaminating an ancient Antarctic lake, buried beneath the ice for millions of years. They little knew the catastrophe they were about to unleash. Welcome to the high octane world of Olivia Wolfe.

As an investigative journalist, Wolfe lives her life in constant peril. Hunted by numerous enemies who are seldom what the first seem, she must unravel a complex web of lies to uncover an even more terrifying truth.

From the poppy palaces of Afghanistan and Antarctica's forbidding wind-swept ice sheets, to a top-secret military base in the Nevada desert, Wolfe's journey will ultimately lead her to a man who would obliterate civilisation. She must make an impossible choice: save a life - or prevent the death of millions.

Author Bio
British-Australian thriller author, L.A. Larkin, has been likened to Michael Crichton and Matthew Reilly. An adventurer at heart, Larkin has spent time in the Antarctic with scientists at the British Antarctic Survey and the Australian Antarctic Division and Thirst was described as 'The best Antarctic thriller since Ice Station'.

L. A. Larkin lives in Sydney and London, and teaches mystery and thriller writing. Find out more by visiting her website www.lalarkin.com.

Giveaway

This giveaway has now closed.

Winner of signed copy of No Free Man by Graham Potts announced

Thanks to everyone who entered last week's giveaway to WIN a signed copy of No Free Man by Australian author Graham Potts. 

Entries closed at midnight Friday 1 July, and the lucky winner was drawn today, congrats to:

Sarah E.

Congratulations Sarah, you'll receive an email shortly and will have 7 days to provide me with your postal address. The publisher Pantera Press will send your prize out to you and I'd like to thank them for providing this prize.

For those who missed out, I have another three giveaways scheduled this month, so there will be plenty more chances to win.

Carpe Librum!

Blog Tour & Review for The Twisted Knot by J.M. Peace

* Copy courtesy of Pan Macmillan Australia *

It's with great pleasure that I'm kicking off the blog tour for The Twisted Knot by Australian author and serving Police Officer J.M. Peace today.

Let's get started.

Blurb
A marked man. A damaged cop. A town full of secrets.

After her abduction and near death at the hands of a sadistic killer, Constable Samantha Willis is back in the uniform. Despite being on desk duty, rumours reach Sammi that someone in Angel's Crossing has been hurting little girls, and before long a mob is gathering to make sure justice is served.

So when a man is found hanging in his shed, the locals assume the pedophile has finally given into his guilt. That is, until Sammi delves further into the death and uncovers a dark family secret, an unsolved crime and a town desperate for vengeance.

My Review
This is the second crime novel in the Constable Samantha Willis series by J.M. Peace, and I thoroughly enjoyed the first one A Time To Run, so it was a joy to slip back into her world.

I was powering along within the first 10 pages, chuckling while reading a scene involving a member of the public trying to get out of a traffic related ticket. The dialogue is uniquely Australian and I loved the small town setting in Queensland, Australia. 

This time Sammi is investigating a crime (and not a victim of one), so the element of immediate danger was absent, which for me meant the plot wasn't as gripping as the first. Having said that, I really enjoyed the character development, the rhythms of work-life at the police station (my favourite part) and unraveling the 'whodunnit' aspects of the novel.

If you haven't read any Australian authors for a while - or even if you have - I heartily recommend picking up The Twisted Knot or A Time To Run. The Twisted Knot can easily be read as a stand alone novel, and with short punchy chapters and a dark atmospheric cover to lure you in, it's a quick and easy read.

Besides, the author is a serving Police Officer who is managing to keep her publishing success a secret from her colleagues, it doesn't get any more fascinating than that! #respect

My rating = ****

Carpe Librum!

Author Bio
J.M. Peace is a pseudonym to protect the author's identity as she is still a serving police officer. Over the past 15 years, Jay has served in a number of different capacities and her experience adds a chilling realism to her writing. Jay's debut novel, A Time to Run was published last year and she blogs regularly about policing and writing. She lives on the Sunshine Coast with her partner and two kids, juggling writing with police work and being a mum.

Blog Tour
I'm kicking off #thetwistedknot blog tour, but check out the blog tour schedule for more reviews, interviews and a giveaway.

Review: Fashion Victims - The Dangers of Dress Past and Present by Alison Matthews David

* Copy courtesy of Bloomsbury Publishing *

Fashion Victims - The Dangers of Dress Past and Present by Alison Matthews David takes a detailed look at fashion items responsible for death, disease and accidents throughout history.

The book is meticulously researched and cleverly broken down into separate chapters, each one denoted by colour coded page edges which make for an attractive hardback edition.

Some of the chapters include:
- Poisonous Pigments (Chapter 3)
- Entangled and Strangled (Chapter 5)
- Inflammatory Fabrics (Chapter 6)

Great chapter headings aren't they? I enjoyed learning about dangerous dyes, the deadly mercury used to make hats, hobble skirts, the arsenic contained in green garments in the 1800s, ballerinas who burned to death but refused to change their stage dress and so much more.

The research covers both the garment makers (the dyers, dressmakers etc.) and the wearers, exposing the diseases, accidents and deaths attributed to both sides all in the name of fashion.

The following excerpt from the blurb sets the scene for what you'll find in Fashion Victims:

From insidious murder weapons to blaze-igniting crinolines, clothing has been the cause of death, disease and madness throughout history, by accident and design. Clothing is designed to protect, shield and comfort us, yet lurking amongst seemingly innocuous garments we find hats laced with mercury, frocks laden with arsenic and literally 'drop-dead gorgeous' gowns.

Wow, right?

Fashion Victims - The Dangers of Dress Past and Present is an excellent reference for students and academics as well as readers interested in fashion and/or history.

My rating = ****

Carpe Librum!

Friday Freebie: WIN a signed paperback copy of No Free Man by Graham Potts

RRP $29.99

* Copy courtesy of Pantera Press *

Blurb
Stepan Volkov forfeited his future when he was paid to forget his past.

Forced to adapt, he ultimately became the world's most wanted killer... feared, vicious and brutal.

A tool of the Organizatsiya, a Russian crime syndicate that forged him into 'The Wolf', he's pursued by American spies and Australian agents, torn between his need to survive and his desire to be free.

When a shock encounter in Australia uncovers forgotten secrets and threatens uneasy allegiances, Volkov suddenly sees a choice... one he thought would never be his to make.

With a billion-dollar international oil deal threatening to shift the global balance of power, will Volkov return to Moscow to wage war for the Organizatsiya, or will he find the courage to escape with a vengeful thief whose life he destroyed? 

Author Bio
War defines the first decade of Graham Potts’s adult life.

Potts has been known to have inspiration strike at inappropriate moments – such as when out on the wing of an aeroplane! That may sound as dangerous as one of his plots, but as an active member of the Royal Australian Air Force, it is merely an occupational hazard.

Despite challenging and ongoing RAAF assignments his inner strategist has finally acknowledged the truth: writing is his passion.

Graham has a thirst for literature and appetite for intrigue. His action-packed style throws you into international conflicts closer to home than you think. He tells stories that captivate, thrill and touch on the truth. And if you buy him a scotch, he might tell you a tall one or two.

Being from a Defence family that was always on the move, Graham has lived in nearly every state of Australia. His early love of reading and writing was sparked in primary school, where he discovered stories were something he could easily take with him.

Graham Potts is now taking his story to the world.

Giveaway
This giveaway has now closed.

Review: Matilda by Roald Dahl

It's been years since I've picked up anything by children's author Roald Dahl, but as soon as I read the first page of Matilda it was like falling through time to my childhood.

Matilda is a gifted - but sometimes mischievous - girl with TV obsessed parents who think she's rather naughty. Miss Honey is the ideal school teacher who nurtures her intellect and encourages her learning.

There's a nasty Headmistress, a likeable librarian and a few pranks which make Matilda a short yet enjoyable read.

The illustrations by Quentin Blake add to the entertainment of the story and I think Matilda will delight readers of all ages.

My rating = ***

Carpe Librum!

P.S. Matilda is now a musical thanks to the talents of Tim Minchin, has anyone seen it?

Review: Missing, Presumed by Susie Steiner

* Copy courtesy of HarperCollins Publishers Australia *

Missing, Presumed by Susie Steiner is a slow burn police procedural about the search for missing person Edith Hind.

DS Manon Bradshaw (great name) listens to her police radio at night to help her get to sleep and that's what convinced me I had to read this book. I had a police radio for a while and was addicted to listening to it at night, celebrating when news of a bad guy arrested was broadcast.

Anyway, Bradshaw is investigating the sudden disappearance of Edith, with many leads to track down.

I enjoyed exploring the different ways Edith's parents respond to her disappearance and the police work that goes into tracking down the various leads is a solid reminder of just how much work is involved in an operation of this magnitude.

Try as I might, I didn't really like protagonist Manon Bradshaw. I thought she was desperate, clingy, needy and cried too much. Having said that, I know many readers will find her more relatable than other police detectives in this genre and there are plenty of women just like her out there. I guess I just wanted her to have more respect for herself.

The ending was unpredictable, and I was glad to be mistaken when I thought I had the culprit sussed.

Click here to read a FREE sample.

My rating = ***

Carpe Librum!