Cosy mysteries and psychological thrillers were popular over winter with the Flaxmere Library Book Chat. Here are just some of the books that were particularly enjoyed.
Safe House by Jo Jakeman
Charlie (not her real name) arrives at a remote Cornish village where she keeps to herself, guarding a secret. For Charlie has just been released from prison after committing perjury for her boyfriend. Charlie fears someone will recognise her and that no one will forgive her for what she has done. Tension mounts when she finds out that someone is watching her. Shifting between before and after time-frames, this is a twisty story with a pacy finish.
Murder in the Locked Library by Ellery Adams
Jane Steward manages Storyton Hall, a luxury resort for the bookish. When building work digs up a skeleton, another shockingly bookish discovery is made. The Rare Book Conference attendees take an interest to help Jane clear up the mystery, but unfortunately one of members pays with his life. This cosy mystery takes a bit of getting into but it’s a good story overall and peppered with appealing literary quotes.
Grace Is Gone by Emily Elgar
Teenage Grace has multiple health problems and is cared for by her over-protective mother Meg. When Meg is murdered, Grace is nowhere to be seen and her father, Simon, is blamed as he was for the death of his son. Jon the reporter, still reeling from the tirade of disapproval from the earlier tragedy, decides to do some digging, along with Cara, the neighbour who found Meg’s body and who feels guilty for not being there for Grace. Another twisty story with an ending you won’t see coming.
The Other You by J S Monroe
Kate has the unusual skill of being able to identify criminals among the faces of crowds, a skill used by the police. After a car accident however she find she can barely recognise herself. Thank heavens her new boyfriend, Rob, is there to look after her – until one day she discovers a little of her old skill returning and she suddenly has the feeling he has been replaced by an imposter. An exciting psychological thriller set in an atmospheric house on the coast of Cornwall.The Beautiful Mother by Katherine Scholes
Set in Tanzania during the 1970s, this is the story of the Lawrences, a husband and wife team of paleo-anthropologists who are barely scraping by. Essie is dominated by her husband and mother-in-law, so when she fosters a Maasai baby for a few months, there are ramifications not just for her personal relationships but for the research camp where they work. With wonderful descriptions of the vivid Tanzanian landscape, the book explores issues of family and belonging, loss and identity.
Copper Beach by Jayne Ann Krentz
Abbie has a psychic talent to do with rare books and decyphering their codes. This skill brings her to the attention of the Coppersmith family who have made their fortune from crystals. When danger threatens, Abbie turns to Sam Coppersmith, a reclusive member of a family who has lost his fiancee a year before. Blackmail and rumours, romance and alchemy make this an enthralling read, the dazzling first book in the Dark Legacy series.
Twelve Dogs of Christmas by David Rosenfelt
Defense lawyer Andy has the fortune to be independently wealthy so avoids taking new cases, but is happy to help his old friend Martha. Martha takes stray puppies and finds them homes but runs into trouble when her neighbour complains to the city council. When he ends up dead, Martha's problems get a lot worse as she becomes the prime suspect. A Christmas themed story with lots of red herrings, a surprise ending, and dogs.
Coconut Layer Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke
Hannah Swenson returns to Lake Eden Minnesota from sunny California to help her sister’s boyfriend, Detective Lonnie Murphy, when he is accused of murder. How did he wake up on the victim’s couch only to discover her dead in the next room? Proving the innocence of someone with memory gaps is hard especially when Lonnie’s brother and fellow officer is taken off the case. It is left to Hannah to come to the rescue. A delightful cosy mystery with more than twenty recipes.
The Cracked Spine by Paige Shelton
Delaney Nichols moves to Edinburgh to start a new life, working at the Cracked Spine bookshop. Here she meets a bunch of quirky locals including bookshop owner, Edwin McAlister. The mystery revolves around the disappearance of a previously unpublished Shakespeare folio and then the murder of Edwin’s sister. Somehow, Delaney must get to the bottom of these mysteries and discover their connection without getting murdered herself. A fun new mystery series in the cosy crime genre.
Defense lawyer Andy has the fortune to be independently wealthy so avoids taking new cases, but is happy to help his old friend Martha. Martha takes stray puppies and finds them homes but runs into trouble when her neighbour complains to the city council. When he ends up dead, Martha's problems get a lot worse as she becomes the prime suspect. A Christmas themed story with lots of red herrings, a surprise ending, and dogs.
Coconut Layer Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke
Hannah Swenson returns to Lake Eden Minnesota from sunny California to help her sister’s boyfriend, Detective Lonnie Murphy, when he is accused of murder. How did he wake up on the victim’s couch only to discover her dead in the next room? Proving the innocence of someone with memory gaps is hard especially when Lonnie’s brother and fellow officer is taken off the case. It is left to Hannah to come to the rescue. A delightful cosy mystery with more than twenty recipes.
The Cracked Spine by Paige Shelton
Delaney Nichols moves to Edinburgh to start a new life, working at the Cracked Spine bookshop. Here she meets a bunch of quirky locals including bookshop owner, Edwin McAlister. The mystery revolves around the disappearance of a previously unpublished Shakespeare folio and then the murder of Edwin’s sister. Somehow, Delaney must get to the bottom of these mysteries and discover their connection without getting murdered herself. A fun new mystery series in the cosy crime genre.
Posted by Flaxmere Library Book Chat
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