eyes.2c Reviews

When the Germans Come  by David Hewson         ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The world’s gone mad! It’s 1940 and just after the Dunkirk retreat in Dover. The place where a German invasion would surely land. The Castle, an imposing fortress like building overlooks Dover and its harbour. The Castle houses a myriad of Ministry departments including one devoted to dirty tricks, of far fetched ideas. Dover and the Castle is a place on the defensive footing. Into this madness comes Louis Reynard, a former Scotland Yard detective, who was wounded during the Dunkirk evacuation. He’s maybe just a little mad or lost, maybe both. His Aunt Veronica, a renowned actress of the West End, and doyen of the Dover area, has a word in the right ears. When he’d recovered Louis found himself posted to the quietness of Dover. Not that that lasted! Now he’s dealing with murder, treason and German agents. He’s also being haunted by a serial killer whom Renaud believes killed his fiancé. The killer is obsessed with Renaud. Then t

Mr Campion's Christmas  (An Albert Campion Mystery #12) by Mike Ripley         ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Classic Ripley’s Albert Campion mayhem taking place over Christmas 1962 at their Norfolk farmhouse. A lively description of Lugg as Santa driving an Arandel Works landrover made out to be Santa’s sled adds to the Christmas spirit. However later on a blizzard envelopes the area. A pilgrim’s bus enroute to the shrine of Walsingham crashes into their sturdy entrance pillars during in a blizzard. The stranded passengers, a very mixed and puzzling group, take sanctuary with the Campion’s. Three young American servicemen help out. They’re heading to the RAF Markham base where Lady Amanda has her aeronautic works. However things change when Campion and Lugg discover the missing bus driver. His  dead body is on the coach. A startling and unwelcome Christmas surprise for the Campion’s complete with treason and spies. This is apparently the last Campion writings from Ripley. So sad! A Severn House ARC

Schemes & Scandals  (A Rip Through Time #3.5) by Kelley Armstrong        ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Not as exciting as previous titles but an interesting novella if like me you’ve been following the series. Mallory Mitchell, our 21st century detective who’s found herself trapped in a rather buxom maid’s body, Catriona, in Victorian Edinburgh, is taking up a case to do with the blackmailing of Dr. Duncan Gray’s ex lover and companion , Lady Patricia Inglis.  Lady Patricia is being blackmailed over letters of a ‘sensual’ nature sent to a friend with benefits. Only they were stolen from him. The blackmailer is threatening to have the letters published by Hogmanay if his payment demands aren’t met. One of best moment was when Mallory meets Charles Dickens, a hero of hers. This raises a heap of other realisations for Mallory. Another great addition to the series with the requisite mystery and a look at the traditions around Christmas and Hogmanay in Victorian Scotland. A Subterranean Press ARC via NetGa

A Deadly Flame  (DS Malkie McCulloch #3) by Doug Sinclair         ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Scottish police procedural mystery with an interesting group of characters. Detective Sergeant Malkie McCulloch and Detective Constable Stephanie Lang have each other’s backs. Malkie is still recovering from the death of his cancer stricken mother in a fire. A candle left burning caused the fire. Malkie had bought her a candle for her birthday. He obsesses that the tragedy might have been his fault. Now eight months later he’s confronted with another fire investigation and the death of someone sleeping inside the warehouse. A fireman on duty dies in the conflagration. Meanwhile Steph is coping with news about her true father, a first rate scumbag and rapist. I went from wondering who these people were to becoming completely immersed in their lives. Now I have to catch-up on previous titles by Sinclair. A Storm ARC via NetGalley.                                               Many thanks to the author and publi

Lola in the Mirro r: A Novel by Trent Dalton          ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Lola in the mirror is controversial. Some say Dalton’s romanticising domestic abuse, others see it treading the recognition of the Tyrannosaurus Waltz, the dance between mothers and their monsters! Some say Dalton’s looking down on the homeless (The girl with no name, the artist figures she’s not of that elk. She’s houseless. There’s a difference! She lives in Brisbane’s West end near the river, in a scrapyard, in a Toyota van without wheels.) Her mother’s running away from a crime she committed. Hence her daughter without a name. Because no one can trace them. When the artist turns eighteen her mother’s going to turn herself in. That’s two months away. A lot can happen in that time. The artist has dreams of becoming another Picasso, of hanging work in the MET! Quirky, fascinating, bringing the underbelly of Brisbane’s forgotten to the fore, this is Dalton at his universal best. Another gritty, magical tale from Dalton y

A Tainted Heart Bleeds  (House of Croft #2) by Sophie Barnes       ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️    Trained assassin and agent Samantha Carmichael has married Adrian Croft but things are not going smoothly.  Just after their marriage Adrian discovers Samantha is more than she seems.  That problem is a challenge for their relationship. Samantha realizes that Dorian Harlowe,  England’s premier spymaster, sees her only as an asset. He and his wife had, along with other young girls  taken her out of  an  orphanage and become their guardians.  Where will she land? On the side of her husband or her master? Added to this a vicious murder has taken place. The Earl of Orendel’s daughter has been horrifically killed. Lady Eleanor will only be the first. A pattern is emerging, yet prior to their marriage Adrian and Samantha had caught the killer of young women. What’s happening?  Orendel wants Croft to look into it.  Meanwhile, Chief Constable Peter  Kendrick is doing all he can to bring Croft down. Beyond this we