Yvonne
I have these lovely new books to be added to my shelf this week.
I am still trying to be good and schedule all the books I receive, so as not to increase my toppling TBR pile, and so far it is working, although it’s quite a close call!
First up this time, my thanks go out to Vicky, representing publisher Aria Fiction, for finding space for me on this lovely Blog Tour Review
THE DISTANT DEAD – (The Detective’s Daughter #8)
by LESLEY THOMSON
Cleaner-turned-detective Stella Darnell connects a murder in Tewkesbury Abbey to a decades-old mystery in wartime London.
London, 1940
A woman lies dead in a bombed-out house. It looks like she’s another tragic casualty of the Blitz, until police pathologist Aleck Northcote proves she was strangled and placed at the scene. But Northcote himself has something to hide. And when his past catches up with him, he too is murdered.
Tewkesbury, 2020
Beneath the vast stone arches of Tewkesbury Abbey, a man has been fatally stabbed. He is Roddy March, an investigative journalist for a podcast series uncovering miscarriages of justice. He was looking into the murder of police pathologist Dr Aleck Northcote – and was certain he had uncovered Northcote’s real killer.
Stella Darnell used to run a detective agency alongside her cleaning business. She’s moved to Tewkesbury to escape from death, not to court it – but Roddy died in her arms and, Stella is someone impelled to root out evil when she finds it. Now she is determined to hunt down Roddy’s killer – but then she finds another body..
I have to thank author Jonathan Yalon for my next great new read, as he reached out to Fiction Books for a review of the new English translation for the book.
KING GENGHIS I by JONATHAN YALON
King Genghis I is a wild, biting satire, blending all-too-real scenarios with a dizzying comic adventure.
When life is dull and tinged in gray, when you’re fired from your job and your girlfriend has just jumped ship—there’s nothing like a thrilling adventure in a faraway land to elevate your spirits.
Or at least so thought Turan—a New Yorker who travels from the heart of Western civilization to Genghistan—a small, hermetic Asian kingdom, ruled firmly but kindly by an affable, self-appointed benevolent dictator, who like other compassionate dictators is concerned principally with the well-being of his people.
The bond between the two men upsets the kingdom’s conventional wisdom, alters fates, and changes Turan from a broken-hearted and gloomy young man to a love-struck hero. Because, apparently, there’s nothing like the confines of a spunky little dictatorship to spark a new love.
And finally today – I don’t read poetry on a regular basis, however this I would call my ‘coffee table’ reading, books that I can dip in and out of to just read one or two poems at a time as the mood takes me. I would like to thank the author for reaching out to me through our friendship on Goodreads, and for gifting me a complimentary Kindle copy of the book for review.
YOUR WORDS by LOUISE BELANGER
Louise is a new author, living in Canada
Poems and a story, 33 in all.
It’s about God, confinement due to Covid-19 pandemic, life, relationships, and lovely stories.
It will make you think, encourage you, inspire you, and bring a smile to your face.
It also contains beautiful photographs, as that is the second passion of the author.
Chat with the author via her Goodreads page
‘Mailbox Monday’ is a gathering place for readers to share links to the books that came into their house during the last week.
This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well, after all you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!
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Three very interesting books this week Yvonne. And all so very different. I’m failing miserably at keeping up with my TBR. There are just too many great books out there.
Hi Veronica,
As you say, three totally different books this time, two which if I am honest, are taking me out of my comfort zone a little and of course a good mystery/thriller, which I can never resist. Looking forward to all of them!
Now did I say that my TBR is anywhere near under control! 🙂 So far this year, I have managed not to add any more books than I can schedule in to read and review – However, if you look at my NetGalley and Goodreads stats. you will see how big of a problem I have left in my backlog pile, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. I have some serious catching up to do and no time allocated to do it in!
Hey Ho! it is what it is. There are so many great new books and authors and every hobby has its downside, or perhaps I am just a ‘collectaholic’ (that’s in the Urban dictionary BTW and not a word I would regularly use!) 🙂
Thanks for stopping by and have a safe week of Happy Reading 🙂
I love that word ‘collectaholic’ so much better than hoarder. I love collecting things, not just books. Half the fun is finding things to add to the collection.
I also collect jigsaw puzzles (these I usually buy from the charity shops), which have come in very handy during lockdown.
And knitting wool just seems to appear from nowhere 🙂 Now this I haven’t really touched at all during lockdown as the blog and reviews seem to have taken over my life like a job!
It’s good to know that I am not on my own in having little stashes of things around the place! 🙂
The Distant Dead sounds like a very interesting book. It makes me wonder if some people didn’t take advantage of the blitz to kill others. I hope the book delivers because the story is so interesting.
The other two books are not for me. Hopefully you’ll enjoy them. 🙂
Hi Anca,
Publisher of ‘The Distant Dead’, Aria/Aries Fiction, has promised to send me one of the hardcover copies they are having sent in to them, so I am looking forward to that. Also, I really like Lesley Thomson’s style of writing, so I just know instinctively that I am going to enjoy the story!
Poetry isn’t something I read on too regular a basis, but I do like to dip in and out of my few books in the genre, from time to time. I could really do with a ‘real’ colour copy of this one, as well as the download, as it is full of some of the author’s own photographs used to illustrate the poems. Louise is also a great Goodreads friend, always ready to chat and she too, enjoys a good murder/mystery/thriller, so we have that in common.
Thanks for stopping by and I hope that all is well with you and that you are not ‘snowed in’ – it is just so cold today!! 🙂
Hey Yvonne!
Wow! Thank you so much! ☺️ I’m so grateful, so happy to see my book on your blog!
And I also struggle with my TBR books it’s a wonderful problem.
Many many thanks Yvonne!
Hi Louise,
Thanks for taking the time to stop by to share in this week’s ‘Mailbox Monday’, I really appreciate it 🙂
I have scheduled your book in, so rest assured you are not a part of my ever-lasting TBR mountain, which is simply an insurmountable task I think, at least in a single lifetime!
I also have to get Goodreads under control, but I have so many great friends, such as yourself, so recommendations pour in thick and fast – What’s a girl to do? 🙂
Speak Soon and Take Care! 🙂
I’m more of a fiction reader but I’ll watch for your thoughts on the poetry book. My eye was caught by The Distant Dead! I hope you’re well and will have a lovely week.
Hi Mary,
The poetry book is a new venture by a debut author, so I shall definitely be running a review post for it in the very near future. As Louise is also a keen photographer, there are loads of lovely images to compliment the poems too!
I do like my fiction to be relatable whenever possible, either by virtue of an author who lives locally to me, or because I know of the location where the action takes place. I will read stories with fictional locations, but somehow it’s not quite the same. Having visited Tewkesbury Abbey not so long ago and remembering how suited it would be to the storyline outlined in the premise, I am already feeling a connection with ‘The Distant Dead’
Thanks for visiting today and have a good week 🙂
I am curious about The Distant Dead. Enjoy your week and your books, and here are my WEEKLY UPDATES
Hi Lorraine,
I know exactly what kind of read I am going to get from ‘The Distant Dead’. An author who is skilled in the art of story-telling and character building. A plot which will keep me turning the pages and a location which I know and can visualise. And even better, I am expecting to receive a lovely hardcover edition to read for my review – What’s to complain about there – I can’t wait!! 🙂 🙂
Thanks for stopping by and I hope that your week is good 🙂
I’ll admit I’m surprised to see two of these, as they don’t seem to be in your usual wheelhouse… but reading the replies you’ve left to other comments explains that some.
I’m not sure I’m particularly tempted by any of them, but do look forward to your reviews. The covers are appealing (in different ways) on all of them.
Hi Kelly,
I guess that King Genghis 1, is the one most outside of my usual fare, however the author was so sweet in his emails, even after I explained this, that I just couldn’t say ‘no’. In all fairness I have a read a couple of really random books in the last few months and enjoyed them, so I was quite happy to give this one a try. It isn’t fantasy or science fiction. which are my two least favourite genres.
I hope that you have been keeping up with your reading, despite no longer blogging about it and that you have some good thoughts about the books 🙂
Keeping up with the TBR is a constant battle! I’ve been bad at it this year but it should get better in the coming months.
The Distant Dead sounds good to me. Have a great week and happy reading!
Hi Kay,
‘The Distant Dead’ is a favourite this time, I didn’t realise how popular the murder/mystery/thriller genre was – it seems that we all enjoy a bit of death and depravity!
I am better at controlling my TBR this year so far, than I have been in the past, but that’s only because I have almost had to physically stop myself pushing the ‘Read Now’ button on all the lovely NetGalley pre-approved downloads!
It’s the historic TBR that’s the problem – Yes! I could delete everything and start again, but the old books are still sat there on NetGalley and my Kindle, demanding I read and review them – And what about the several hundred physical books I have on my shelves? Maybe when the charity shops re-open after lockdown, I will have the courage for a deep and meaningful cull, in line with my new found control – Maybe! 🙂
Have a good reading week and thanks for visiting, I appreciate your support 🙂
Great looking/sounding group. I especially like the sound of The Distant Dead but Your Words gets my interest too. Enjoy all of your reading!
Hi Martha,
‘Your Words’ is a debut book by a new Canadian author and I am looking forward to reading that one quite soon. I am definitely not averse to reading poetry from time to time!
‘The Distant Dead’ is my ‘bread and butter’ reading, and I guess crime fiction of any sub-genre will always hold top spot in my reading schedule!
Thanks for stopping by and have a good week 🙂
I prefer small bites of poetry as well. Happy reading.
I am definitely looking forward to the combination of poetry, a couple of short stories and some lovely pictures, all in the one book!
Thanks for taking the time to visit, I appreciate your support 🙂
You have some interesting books this week.
Hope they all are winners.
Take care.
Hi Elizabeth,
You can’t say I don’t enjoy an eclectic mix of genres, looking at three such diverse books. Something to suit every mood you might say!
Thanks for stopping by and I hope that all is well with you 🙂