May Reads from Flaxmere Book Chat

Christmas Bells by Jennifer Chiaverini

Jennifer Chiaverini is a bit like an American Philippa Gregory with her fictional exploration of key historical moments, and the lives and loves of those involved. Set in part during the American Civil War, Christmas Bells takes its title from a poem by Longfellow, at a time when tragedy dogged the life of the poet. His story is blended with that of a modern day music teacher who sets the poem to music. It’s a nicely put together plot but possibly not one of the author’s best.



Murder on the Bucket List by Elizabeth Perona

Five women in their seventies meet one evening to tick ‘skinny-dipping’ off their bucket list when they notice a strange smell coming from the pool shed. Next thing you know they are aiming to tick ‘solving a murder’ off their bucket list as well. A light, fun and surprising mystery read for fans of the cosy genre.



The Strawberry Girl by Lisa Stromme

Edvard Munch had a miserable upbringing and went onto create some fairly miserable paintings, most notably ‘The Scream’. The strawberry girl of the title is the maid who acts as go-between for Munch and his lover. The story contrasts the rigidity of respectable society with the bohemian lifestyle of the art world. The background it creates to one of the world’s most reproduced and memorable images is fascinating and vividly portrayed.


The Bell Tower by Sarah Rayne

A surprise discovery in an antiques shop sends Nell West and Michael Flint on an investigation into a mysterious bell tower on the Dorset coast that dates from before the dissolution of the monasteries. This supernatural tale of suspense describes a 400 year old tragedy which isn't too scary; add an evocative setting and likeable characters and you have a winning read.


The Woman Who Walked into the Sea by Mark Douglas-Home

Cal McGill is a detective with a difference. He's an oceanographer and sometime eco-warrior who tracks flotsam and jetsam back to their source using his knowledge of sea currents. Floating human bodies are his speciality. This case sees him embark on a quest to discover why, 26 years ago, a young woman walked into the sea, apparently drowning herself and her unborn child.