Book Chat Reading for June

Post Lockdown we've been catching up with all our favourite authors and discovering a few new ones. One author we've enjoyed over the years is Barbara Erskine. Her novel, The Ghost Tree features a woman battling for her inheritance. After a falling out with her father and years of exile Ruth returns to Edinburgh after his death to find he's been a victim of a couple of scam artists. Woven into the novel is the story of Erskine's ancestor, Thomas Erskine, a Lord High Chancellor. This engrossing read will keep you turning the pages into the small hours.

Peter May's latest crime novel, A Silent Death features Scottish born investigator, John Mackenzie, called to Spain to track down an ex-pat fugitive after the death of his girlfriend. Criminal Jack Cleland blames the killing on Spanish detective, Christina Sanchez Pradell whose aunt is somehow caught up in Cleland's evil plan. With an intriguing past and present narration, May as usual has this amazing knack of conjuring up a thrilling crime story, but also showing immense empathy for his characters, and an understanding for what makes people tick.

The Lantern Men by Elly Griffiths is the much awaited latest in her series set on the Norfolk coast featuring forensic archaeologist, Ruth Galloway and DCI Harry Nelson. In this novel, we are reminded of the myth of the the lantern men - the mysterious figures holding lights to lure travellers to their deaths on the fens. Although Ruth has a new job, Nelson requires her help again when a convicted serial killer admits to having buried more women than originally thought. Fans of this series will enjoy the latest book which blends a wonderful concoction of atmosphere, myth, history and crime, with a touch of romance.

Finding Chika by Mitch Albom is a beautiful story about a very sad situation. In this memoir, Mitch (Tuesdays with Morrie) describes the experience he and his wife had when they took a little Haitian orphan into their household and then home to Detroit when she is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Somehow, Albom seems to find the joy and hope in what seems an impossibly sad turn of events. 

In The Last Train to London, Meg Waite Clayton weaves a  novel around the kindertransport and in particular the work of Dutch resistance worker Truus Wijsmuller during the years leading up to World War II. The story of two Viennese teenagers, Stephen Neuman and Zofie-Helene who are caught up in the crossfire adds a love story to the drama of Wijsmuller's last-minute efforts to save as many children as possible from the Nazi regime. 

Graham Masterton's mystery, Broken Angels, is the second in the Katie Maguire series and follows the Cork detective's investigation into the brutal death of a priest. A second murder leads Katie to discover a sinister cover-up at St Joseph's Orphanage. Katie must battle prejudice in the all-male domain of Catholic clergy if she wants to stop more killings and uncover the truth. A gripping if at times horrific story, but with a very welcome thread of Irish humour.

Posted by Flaxmere Library Book Chat