I am getting really behind in reviews and posts on same and so am going to do an all encompassing round up today. Some of the books I am mentioning have been sent to me well ahead of publication date so I prefer to hold back on my thoughts until that date, but I want to flag some of these up for your attention as they are titles I have really enjoyed. So here we go starting first with books published and read:
The Kashmir Shawl by Rosie Thomas. I have read several of this author's titles over the last few years. She is not a writer I actively seek out but when I find her books in the library or, as in this case, was sent a copy I know I will enjoy it. In my library they are inevitably filed under Sagas which I really dislike as I feel it is a lazy way of categorising a book's content. I also feel that this rather downgrades a book. My opinion only I hasten to add.
In the Kashmir Shawl the author uses a device which I always love, ie a story in two time lines. Mair Ellis is clearing out her father's house after his death and finds an exquisite Kashmir shawl and a lock of a child's hair. Nobody knows anything about their provenance or where they came from and Mair decides to travel to Kashmir to trace her grandparents and their life as missionaries. Nerys Watkins (Mair's grandmother) and her husband are sent to India and high up in the heart of Kashmir she discovers the lakeside city of Srinagar, where the British live on carved wooden houseboats and live in a frivolous whirl of society. With her husband away for several months Nerys stays with friends in Srinagar and soon the naive young wife changes and becomes a different woman.
Flipping backwards and forwards between the two protagonists, full of wonderful descriptions of India which make me want to visit (the author has spent time there), and with a pacy narrative that made me not want to put the book down for a minute, I loved it and have since renewed my acquaintance with Rosie Thomas and borrowed a couple from the library. I know they are going to keep me in good company,
Five Days to Die - Kathia Lief. Another serial killer book, I do wonder why I keep getting sent these I really do. Her first book, You are Next, ditto and read by me and though it did not set the world on fire as far as I was concerned, it was a tight little book and well written. This book is, to all intents and purposes, her second but it really is her first as it was originally published in 2004 under a different title and name - Five Days in Summer by Kate Pepper. Presumably it did not do well and so it has now been reissued on the back of You are Next. Can't blame the publishers I suppose and it gives the author a holiday but not sure I really approve and it seems from some of the Amazon reviews that others feel the same. (Note: a 'new' book by Tess Gerritsen on Amazon turns out to be an old title reissued and I think it is reprehensible that it is being promoted in this way. I have had an email drawing my attention to the 'new' book).
OK so is Five Days to Die worthy of attention? It whiled away an afternoon very easily and is a solid little read. A wife is kidnapped from a car park in broad daylight and the police have no clues as to her whereabouts or the reason behind her abduction. A retired FBI profiler attached to the case (he is researching a book apparently) suspects she has been taken by a serial killer who targets others. He strikes every seven years and he keeps the victims for five days of mental torture before inflicting the worst punishment of all upon them. No need to rush out to get this but if it comes your way then give it a go.
And now those books to come which I want to flag up.
Women of a Dangerous Age - Fanny Blake. I had the pleasure of meeting Fanny last year when her publishers threw a tea for book bloggers at the top of the Oxo Tower. Food and chat were enormous fun and delicious and I was delighted to meet her having just read her first book What Women Want reviewed here. I read her second novel last week and found it witty, amusing and warm. 'Lou is married to a man who no longer loves her. It's time to move on.......Ali is a serial mistress. But when she returns home she finds her latest lover is not the man she took him for. She needs a new beginning"
And so begins a friendship in which both Lou and Ali discover they have more in common than they thought. I will be reviewing this later but nothing to stop you nipping over to Amazon and putting in a pre-order. A lovely book due to be published on 26 April 2012.
Mem: If the publishers feel that they would like to throw another tea party at the top of the Oxo Tower then I shall be delighted to attend................
The Gods of Gotham - Lyndsey Faye. I have mentioned this book before as I read it prior to meeting with the author last October at a dinner given by Headline, link to my earlier post here, but make no apologies for flagging it up again. Due to be published in March, so not long to wait, a story of life in lower Manhattan in 1845 and the founding of the NYPD. Great stuff.
Sidney Chambers and the Shadow Death - James Runcie. Am reading this at the moment and am spinning it out as long as possible because I am enjoying it so much I don't want it to end. Described as 'with a whiff of Agatha Christie and a touch of Midsomer Murders the Grantchester Mysteries introduces a new hero into the world of detective fiction'
Sidney is a vicar and really should have nothing to do with crime, detection or murder but it comes his way. I am not sure about Midsomer Murders but do agree with the Christie metnion as these stories are gentle and delightful and Sidney reminds me of Miss Marple and the village where he lives sounds like St Mary Mead. He has a friend in the police force who he meets every week for a game of backgammon in The Eagle in Cambridge. Having been in this pub several times myself this all helps to place the story and create an atmosphere for me. There are several stories in this first volume and I have one more to go and may just have to give in and read it this afternoon. I think this book is going to do very well - it just has that feel. And surely with a name like Runcie and being set in the world of vicardom, he must be a relative.............
Publication date 10 May 2012 and this is going to be another winner from Bloomsbury.
Right - that's it. Feel better now I have had this catch up. Always feel guilty when I get a bit behind, but as you will all know by my burblings, my wonderfullygorgeousandenchanting Florence has just had her second birthday and all other things were pushed into the background.
Au reservoir.
