Month: May 2020

Recent Reads: The Case of the Reincarnated Client by Tarquin Hall

Posted on by Pam

 

My review: ????

The Case of the Reincarnated Client is the fifth book in the Vish Puri series, and whilst I’ve not read any of the other books, I didn’t feel I was missing out on too much!

The rest of the books are all crime novels as well, all set in India, and Vish Puri is a private investigator. 

In this book his mother brings him a case that she has decided he needs to take on, and that she’s going to investigate with him. It’s the case of a young girl claims to be a woman who was murdered during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, and Puri’s mother is determined he will help her, especially as his late father had investigated the murder.

Puri is not pleased as he’s dealing with another client who he did the background check on the groom, who is now snoring.  And the government is just making some of the paper money defunct.

I enjoyed this trip to to India, and the customs and insight it gave me.   I also enjoyed Puri’s family life, and his mother.

The Case of the Reincarnated Client by Tarquin Hall was published on 4th February 2020, and is available to buy on Amazon and on Waterstones.  I’ve found a link to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!

You can follow Tarquin Hall on his website. 

If you’re interested in cosy crime, then I’d suggest the following:

In the Crypt with the candlestick by Daisy Waugh

Pecan Pies and Dead Guys by Angie Fox – this is a series I’ve been enjoying.

I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Severn House (the publishers) for this book.

 

Recent Reads: A Perfect Cornish Christmas by Phillipa Ashley

Posted on by Pam

 

My review:????

A Perfect Cornish Christmas is the second book in the series, but I didn’t feel like I was missing too much with the story.

 It’s Christmas in Porthmellow, and Scarlett takes a DNA test, which has unforeseen consequences for her family, tearing them apart.  

Scarlett feels like an outcast from her family for the next year, but starts to reconnect with her sister before the following Christmas, and moves to stay with her down in Porthmellow, where she hunts for someone she is related to, who she is sure is there.

It was a cosy, enjoyable read, perfect for a light Christmas read.

A Perfect Cornish Christmas was published on 31st October 2019, and is available on Amazon and Waterstones.  I’ve found a link to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!

You can follow Phillipa Ashley on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or through her website.

If you’re interested in light family com, then other books that I’ve read and enjoyed are the Rachel’s pudding pantry by Caroline Roberts:

Rachel’s Pudding Pantry

Christmas at Rachels’ Pudding Pantry

Here are some other Christmas books I’ve read and reviewed!

I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Avon Books (the publishers) for this book.

Recent Reads: Not Your Idol by Aoi Makino

Posted on by Pam

My review:  ????

Not Your Idol by Aoi Makino is a Japanese Manga (like a graphic novel), about a teenage girl who has been part of a girl pop group in Japan (so an idol), who was attacked by a fan.

If you’ve not encountered Japanese or Korean pop music, go ahead and have a look at a group like AKB48. In the west, we’re used to groups having 5-7 members, with 7 feels like a lot.  AKB48 has 22 members in 1 team, and the teams rotate.  

There are various rules that a member of groups have to obey, such as no dating, no bad behaviour.  They are expected to perform and to carry out ‘handshake events’ where they meet their fans.

Nina was one of the lead singers of her group, and was attacked at one of these handshake events.  She drops out of the group to recover, and to be normal.  She cuts off her hair, and starts dressing like a boy (yes, that’s her on the cover of the book), and we see the trauma that this event caused her mentally, as she has the scar to show what it caused her physically.

Not Your Idol will be published on 11th June 2020, and is available on Amazon and Waterstones.   I’ve found a link to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!

I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, and so my thanks to NetGalley and to Viz Media (the publishers) for this book.

 

Recent Reads: Asperfell by Jamie Thomas

Posted on by Pam

My review: ?????

Asperfell by Jamie Thomas is a fantasy novel, set in another world, where people can have different types of magic.  Some of these are more feared than others, like blood magic.  All is fine until the Crown Prince kills the King with his magic, and he is banished through the gate (a magic portal) to Asperfell from where no one has returned.

Briony is our protagonist, and starts the story as a young girl, with her father as an advisor to the King.  She witnesses the Crown Prince being sent through the gate, and is sent away to the country when the Crown Prince’s younger brother inherits the throne, and magic users start to be hunted.

I very much enjoyed this book.  It explored the world, both the world and Asperfell. It showed us different types of magic, which I enjoyed seeing how they would affect the world around them. 

The story moves at a good pace, and I wanted to find out what would happen next.  This is the first book in a trilogy, so don’t expect a complete ending!

 

Asperfell was published on 18th February 2020, and is available on Amazon.   I’ve found a link to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!

You can follow Jamie Thomas on Twitter, or through herwebsite.

If you’re interested in fantasy books, then here’s a link to others I’ve reviewed!

I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Uproar books (the publishers) for this book.

Recent Reads: Asgard, Vol 1, Ironfoot with Script by Xavier Dorison and Art by Ralph Meyer

Posted on by Pam

My review: ???

Asgard Volume 1, Ironfoot with script by Xavier Dorison and art by Ralph Meyer is a graphic novel set in the time of the Vikings.  

Asgard is born without the lower half of one of his legs, and so should have been killed as a baby, but his father decided not to.  Since then, Asgard has become a renowned killer of beasts of legend.

When a sea serpent of mythical size starts attacking, Asgard is the man that the king wants on the job, but they have history.

I enjoyed this trip into history, and seeing what life was like for the Vikings.  

Asgard was published on 17th April 2019, and is available on Amazon.   I’ve found a link to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!

You can have a look at other Graphic novels I’ve reviewed on here!

I was given this book in return for an unbiased review, and so my thanks to NetGalley and to Europe Comics (the publishers) for this book.