traceyroberts's reviews
636 reviews

Happy Bloody Christmas by Jo Middleton is a festive murder mystery with a difference.  A true Christmas cracker of a read. 

Anna wakes up Christmas Eve morning after their annual party with the worst hangover, a dead santa in her larder and what's worse is her in laws are coming to stay for Christmas.  When the police arrive it's obvious that they are more interested in getting back to the station for their Christmas pies than solving the murder. So Anna and friend Jennie are left to solve the murder themselves.  They get their murder boards out and work through their suspect list.  Will they find our who stabbed Santa with a knife from Anna's sabatier set (you can't buy individual replacements you know) 

This was the funniest festive book that I didn't know I needed to read.  It's a brilliantly plotted whodunit, completely bonkers at times and told in a light, quirky and engaging way.  Jo Middleton is an author I haven't read before but I'm looking to reading more from her soon.  

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for providing me with a copy to read and review.  

I always enjoy a book by Dawn O'Porter so I was thrilled to reveive digital copy of her latest book, Honeybee.  Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for providing an ARC. 

Renee and Flo used to be best friends but have drifted apart since leaving school.  At the age of 22 the two friends are brought back together at a funeral on their home island of Guernsey.  Both women have their own struggles and demons to face. Can they rekindle their friendship and support each other while working out how  to be an adult?

I found this to be a wonderful read, full of warmth, wit and some truly cringey moments.  We hear from both Renee's and Flo's POVs who are great characters, who one moment had me laughing out loud and the next shedding a tear.   This book has all the feels.  I did love the side characters too, in particular Aunty Jo.  It was good to read about character going through menopause, a subject I really relate to.  I would love a book with Aunty Jo as the MC. 

While Renee and Flo have featured in previous books,  it's not necessary to read those first to enjoy this book as it totally works as a stand-alone. I would definitely recommend Honeybee if you're looking for a laugh out loud book with strong female characters.  

It's Anthony Wistern's 60th birthday and his wife, Olivia, has thrown the most lavish birthday party to celebrate and also to show off how disgustingly rich they are.  But the party ends in disaster when Anthony is found dead. Anthony is then stuck in the afterlife holding centre until he can figure out how he died.  Only then will he be able to move on. 

The story is told from three different POVs, the grieving widow, a true crime podcaster and the dead guy from beyond the grave. I love the authors take on the afterlife, it's both original and strangely believable in it's mundaneness.  
The characters are all deeply unlikeable and as a family they are most definitely dysfunctional but Mackie writes them in such a way that you love to hate them.  

This was my first time reading this author and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this darkly humourous and twisty thriller.   This is definitely an author I will read again. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the ARC 

I love a locked room thriller and throw in a reality TV element and I'll definitely want to read it.  Thank you to Netgalley and Headline for providing me with a digital copy for review.

Ten celebrities are brought together for a reality TV show where they must spend two weeks on a remote Scottish Island, live like monks and try to survive.  After several near misses the contestants soon realise that the production team's Health and Safety protocols are severely lacking or is there a killer in their midst?

I thought this was a solid debut novel from Louise Minchin.  I found the TV element combined with the desolate setting made this a pressure cooker of a thriller.  It had me gripped from beginning to end and I did not guess the outcome.  I also enjoyed the cast of characters. An interesting mix of personalities to make a few sparks fly.

Overall I found this a fast paced and twisty read, full of suspense and atmosphere. I'm looking forward to reading more from Louise Minchin. 

I've always been a fan of Jane Costello and it's wonderful to have a new book from her after quite a few years.  

This book in particular appealed to me as being a woman of a certain age I can definitely relate to the main character's struggles with menopause. Although the book isn't filled with hot flushes and moments of brain fog.  In fact I thought it was the perfect balance of humour, spiciness and real life struggles. 

I really enjoy this author's writing style.  It's easy to read with plenty of humour and funny side characters. It is wonderful to read a romcom that's aimed at an older reader. 

My thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an ARC. 

I visited the beautiful island of Crete some years ago and was looking forward to being transported back there by reading Beneath the Lemon Trees by Emma Burstall.  However this was not the uplifting summer romance read that was expecting.

The prologue promises this to be a novel filled with magic, but unfortunately this aspect was not really explored. I thought this was a shame as that would have made for a more interesting story.  Also the housekeeper, Katerina was an intriguing character who I would have liked to have seen more of. 

However, after the prologue we are introduced to Stella.  She is grieving the loss of her best friend and the breakdown of her marriage.  Stella is hoping getting away with her children and another friend will be the tonic she needs.   Unfortunately I just couldn't connect with Stella and couldn't understand why she made the decisions she does.  I also don't understand the relevance with Stella being accident prone. She was constantly picking at scabs and discovering bruises which she couldn't remember receiving.  When a little romance does eventually happen, it's in the form of a sex scene which for me was completely out of place, felt quite jarring and a bit icky. 

What I did enjoy was the descriptions of Crete, the scenery and the food.  It reminded me of what I love about the island. 

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC for review purposes.