Top Picks from Book Chat

Here's a selection of the books we've particularly enjoyed recently at Flaxmere Book Chat:

Under the Covers: secrets of a magazine editor by Jenny Lynch 

In her new memoir, Lynch describes her 30 years among the editorial offices and newsrooms in the world of New Zealand’s print media. What went on behind the scenes of apparently conservative titles like The NZ Woman’s Weekly might surprise you. This was a trip down memory lane for this reader, who also went to school with the author.

The Lantern Men by Elly Griffiths 

We’ve all been following this best-selling series featuring forensic archaeologist, Ruth Galloway and no-nonsense detective DCI Harry Nelson. The latest book is another fabulous mystery with a thrilling ending. Bodies found in the fens, apparently buried by a convicted serial murderer drag Ruth back to Norfolk and away from her new life in Cambridge. Ticks all the boxes. 

The Christmas Spirits on Tradd Street by Karen White 

Sometimes there can be just too much happening at Christmas and this is certainly the case for Melanie. She and husband Jack have two-year-old twins, they’re in the middle of renovations and Melanie’s dealing with a secret, a mystery as well as sibling rivalry. A treasure trove of colonial artefacts supposedly buried on her property throws up yet another mystery and an unexpected ending. This is number six in the series, and leaves the reader desperate for more.

Here Come the Girls by Milly Johnson 

Four friends who met at school have discovered that their lives have not lived up to the dreams they had when young. Twenty-five years later, a sea cruise might just be the answer to at least some of their problems. A light, bright and entertaining read in the chick lit genre. 

The Colours of Love by Rita Bradshaw 

Wartime mum, Esther Wynford’s world is shattered when her mother confesses to a secret. Esther feels propelled to her take her young daughter away from the security of her family and forge her own destiny. A story about racial prejudice and the power of a mother’s love. 

An Amish Wedding Feast on Ice Mountain by Kelly Long 

A charming romance about two people each harbouring a secret sadness and who meet at the wedding of mutual friends. Set in Amish country, Pennsylvania, this is a warm-hearted and relaxing read. 

Billabong Bend by Jennifer Scoular  

A marshland in Northern Queensland is the setting for this rural romance. Nina is a grazier keen to buy the marshland known as Billabong Bend to help protect its delicate ecology. Throw in the return of her childhood sweetheart, a tragic death and some divided loyalties and you have the makings for a page-turning and emotional read. 

The Fire Baby by Jim Kelly  

This is the second instalment in a new mystery series featuring Cambridgeshire journalist, Philip Dryden. A complex story begins with deathbed secrets revealed to Dryden’s wife who is slowly recovering from a coma. If she can communicate what she learns, this will blow open the murder story Dryden is investigating. Great characters and a brilliant setting make this a series worth getting your hands on. 

The Pursuit of William Abbey by Claire North  

When a young boy is lynched in colonial South Africa, bystander William Abbey is cursed by the boy’s mother. In the decades that follow, William will come to discover what this curse will mean. This is a haunting story, originally told, as well as beautifully written, which is a mystery, a war story, a spy story and an indictment of capitalism told over a few nights during WWI.

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Quick Reviews from Flaxmere Book Chat

Inge’s War: A German Woman’s Story of Family by Svenja O’Donnell
Journalist, Svenja O'Donnell, uncovers the story of her grandmother’s war in East Prussia, from the rise of the Nazis and the harsh prewar years, to falling in love with a man sent to the Eastern front. Finally fleeing for her life with her family as the Red Army closed in, she made a new life for herself in Paris but hides the secret of her German life for decades. A powerful true story you can’t put down.

Jane in Love by Rachel Givney
This fun read poses the question: what if Jane Austen suddenly appeared in 2020 as a twenty-eight year old. Would she find a suitable husband or write novels? Jane befriends fading film-star, Sofia Wentworth and is attracted to Sofia’s brother Fred before discovering she is a famous writer. The more her romance with Fred blossoms, the more she begins to fade into obscurity as the writer we know and love. A witty romantic comedy with an original plot.

What If? By Martina Reilly 

Another book about family secrets revealed at the end of a woman’s life, in this case Lily, who is losing her memory to Alzheimer’s. A diary which she wrote at the age of fifteen holds the story of her youth and she persuades her caregiver to read it in the presence of her daughter, Deirdre. Will Deirdre now understand the choices her mother made all those years ago?

Lamentation by C J Sansom
This may look a huge tome, but you will find yourself whizzing though the pages because Sansom really brings history to life. As King Henry VIII lies dying, his queen, Catherine Parr, is desperate to find the book she has misplaced, containing her own potentially heretical writings on theology. Her life will surely be in danger if it falls into the wrong hands but how could it have vanished from its hiding place? Her friend and ally Matthew Shardlake must find it and solve a perplexing murder.

 

Seashell Season by Holly Chamberlain 

Verity Peterson’s baby daughter Gemma was snatched from her by Alan, the child’s father, sixteen years ago. Every year on the same date, Verity sends a message in a bottle into the sea in the hope that she is reunited with Gemma, but when Alan goes to prison, she might just get what she wished for. But how do you reconnect with the teenage daughter you hardly know? This novel about a mother's enduring love that is put to the test is a heartfelt and engaging read. 

The Fourteenth Letter by Claire Evans
This very different mystery is set in London in 1881. It is Phoebe Stanbury’s engagement party and she is all set to enter polite society when an intruder appears and stabs her to death, whispering to her fiance, 'I promised to save you'. As mystery enfolds into mystery, Inspector Treadway and shy young law clerk, William Lamb, have the task of finding all the secrets while plenty of dramatic characters and plot-twists add to the thrill.

My One True North by Milly Johnson 

Laurie and Pete are overwhelmed by grief when they meet at a counselling group for people who have recently lost their partners. But the more they get to know each other, the more they discover how alike their two stories are, even down to the day their partners died. An engaging story about love, loss, truth and hope with an interesting twist. 

Up and Down Australia Again by Arthur Upfield 

This collection of stories from the author of the Bony detective novels, draws from the author’s experiences in the bush between 1911 and 1931 and highlights among other things, the brutal treatment of Aboriginal people at the time. Along with 34 short stories, there’s a radio play as well as an unfinished Bony novel. This mammoth collection offers some fascinating insight into Australian life from the time.

Favourite Reads from Flaxmere Book Chat

     

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.

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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. 

Summer Reads Recommended by Book Chat

Here is a collection of super summer reads recently discussed at Flaxmere Library Book Chat.

The Path to the Sea by Liz Fenwick
Cornwall always seems to be steeped in history and secrets. Here at the beautiful house of Boskenna, three generations of women return to the place which held for them both joy and tragedy. As they face up to the past, their lives will be changed forever. A really enjoyable read.

The Blessed Child by Rosie Goodwin
In 1860s Warwickshire, spirited young Wednesday (Nessie) must try to keep her family together when her mother is killed and the family evicted from their home. After a run of difficulties, working for an undertaker opens opportunities and hope. Draws you in from the first page.

After the Storm by Linda Castillo
Police Chief, Kate Burkholder, is on the case when a skull is found in the remains of a barn destroyed by a tornado. The case will take her into the heart of the Amish community and the history oa young man missing from thirty years ago - with family secrets, cover-ups and an atrocity that is unimaginable. Another gripping read from a terrific series.

Matters of the Heart by Fiona Palmer
Popular Australian romance writer Fiona Plamer recreates Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice in modern-day Western Australia. The Bennets are a farming family trying to make ends meet; dashing Charles Bingley a recent addition to the community looking to buy more property; Darcy a farming magnate who upsets Lizzie at a dance. Sound familiar? A funny and well-written love story.

A Dog Called Jack by Ivy Pembroke
Jack the homeless mutt trots between houses in a terraced street, receiving pats and treats. He seems better at interacting with everyone than the neighbours themselves. When single parent Sam moves in with his young son, things are about to change, with a little help from Jack, of course. A warm-hearted story about love and community.

The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths
Griffiths is well known for her series featuring forensic archaeologist, Ruth Galloway. This standalone offers an unusual plot where teacher, Clare Cassidy, confides in her diary her suspicions about the death of a colleague. Imagine her shock when someone else starts writing in her diary even though it is locked away. Could it be a ghost or the murderer? A terrific mystery from a great storyteller.

Khaki Town by Judy Nunn
Townsville 1942 - the fall of Singapore and bombing of Darwin have brought an influx of soldiers - hence the title. But while the beer flows and the jazz plays, tensions arise between the American GIs and the Australian troops, while black GIs enjoy life without segregation. A thoughtful look at a snapshot of history inspired by a true wartime story.

Murder in Misdirection by Anne Cleeland
The seventh in the New Scotland Yard series featuring Chief Inspector Acton and DS Kathleen Doyle. When a body is found in a burnt-out church, is this a simple case of manslaughter, or was the arson intended to cover-up a murder? A gripping mystery with a wonderful pair of sleuths - one who's a lord with a knack for solving crimes, and his partner an intuitive, Irish redhead.

The Queen's Tiger by Peter Watt
The second in a wonderful new historical series, this novel takes us to colonial India in 1857. Army surgeon Peter Campbell is newly married, his wife Alice set to take on an unusual role as tensions simmer and nationalism is set to erupt. Plenty of action, intrigue and drama - Watt's fans won't be disappointed.

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November Reviews from Book Chat

Follow Me Home by Cathy Woodman is a light, romantic read about midwife, Zara, who is rebuilding her life after a broken marriage. When she comes across a stray dog, could this be just the ticket to help heal her heart? Only Zara hasn’t a clue about dogs. Neighbouring shepherd Lewis comes to her rescue. A cosy, relaxing read set in rural England, the eighth in the Talyton St George series which began with Trust Me I’m a Vet.


The Silent Girl by Hjorth and Rosenfeld is a Swedish crime novel, the fourth
in the Sebastian Bergman series. When a family – mother, father and two children – are shot in broad daylight, Bergman can’t find a suspect. Only one witness holds the answer, but she’s a young girl who refuses to speak and now she’s vanished. As Bergman hunts for her, he can only guess the killer is after her too. A ripping read for lovers of Scandi Noir.

This Poison Will Remain is the new Commissaire Adamsberg novel by Fred Vargas. As usual the author has come up with an original crime – in this case, three elderly men are bitten by spiders, their deaths deemed accidental. Adamsberg has other ideas and his investigating takes him to an orphanage in the south of France and events that happened decades ago. ‘Cunning, corkscrew murder mysteries’ writes A J Finn of this series and we couldn’t agree more.

Labyrinth by Catherine Coulter is her new FBI thriller, and it gets off to a
flying start when Agent Sherlock is involved in a car accident – a man is flung onto her windscreen and she blacks out. When she recovers the pedestrian seems to have disappeared. DNA testing shows he’s a CIA analyst at Langley. The story also brings in a serial killer with conveniently powerful connections. This is another ripping read from Coulter and loads of fun.

Coming Home by Fern Britton is a lovely novel for fans of Cornish settings and stories involving family secrets. Ella returns to the Cornish coast at the death of her grandmother and also to heal a broken heart. Her mother had abandoned Ella and her brother as a single mother unable to cope, leaving her children in the care of their grandmother. The story deals in forgiveness and new beginnings. A light but charming read.

The Alexandrite by New Zealand author Dione Jones is a story of class conflict, hidden sins and
deceit. The alexandrite of the title is a rare gemstone, originally discovered in Russia, that changes colour, green to red, according to the light. It is also the stone that is found on a stranger discovered dead outside Lady Pamela Scawton’s family home. The story traces a mystery from WWI to the present day, from England to New Zealand – well written and impossible to put down.

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More Book Chat Winter Reading

The Russian Tapestry by Banafsheh Serov
A sweeping story of love against the setting of WWI and the Russian Revolution, this novel has been one of the most popular books discovered at Book Chat recently. The novel follows two characters caught up in huge political events: Alexei, a colonel in the Russian army, and Maria, a wealthy merchant's daughter, and is based on the lives of the author's husband's grandparents, making it all the more poignant.


The Road to Grantchester
by James Runcie
We've read the six books in the Grantchester Chronicles series about Sidney Chambers, the priest who solves crimes with policeman and backgammon pal, Geordie. But what set Sidney on the path to the church? This novel looks at Sidney's service in WW2 and events in the Cassino campaign which deeply affected him. Sydney before the war is not the same as Sydney after the war, and this book helps explain his problematic relationship with Amanda and his understanding for people caught up in all kinds of moral dilemmas.

My Mother's Secret by Sanjida Kay
A woman with a dangerous secret trying to keep her family safe. A disaffected teenager who is desperate to discover the truth her mother is hiding. These two story threads build into an page-turning narrative with an ending that will make you gasp.

The Jane Austen Project
by Kathleen A Flynn
What happens when two researchers from the future have the ability to travel back in time to the era of Jane Austen? Eager to solve questions around the famous author's death and uncover an unpublished manuscript, actor-turned-scholar Liam and disaster-relief scientist Rachel embark on a difficult quest. Austen fans will relish this as well as anyone who likes a good story.

Heart of the Grass Tree by Molly Murn
Pearl and her mother and sister return to Kangaroo Island, off Australia's south coast, to mourn the death of her grandma, Nell. This is a wonderful story about each woman's recollections of Nell, her secrets revealed in stories, art and poems, as well as evoking terrible events of the island's history. The stunning setting adds atmosphere to this multi-layered debut novel.

The Book of Dreams by Nina George
The author of The Little Paris Bookshop is back with another novel of warmth, compassion and whimsy. In The Book of Dreams, four characters connect in a hospital, including two that are coma patients. George brings together their stories - a boy who is meeting his father for the first time and the woman who still has feelings for the man; a young girl who is the only survivor of a crash that killed her family. A moving and thoughtful novel that contemplates the meaning of life.

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