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Engrossing!

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Behind Five Willows  by June Hur         ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ When did a novel become legend? Hur has woven Pride and Prejudice into Behind Five Willows as the basis for a legendary / historical tale of 1780’s Korea. Set at a time when an edict for spinsters to marry was dispensed, and another to restore pure writing styles was decided. These two edicts become central to this Korean Austen like tale. The scholarly father, the unable to cope gossipy mother, the perfect nobleman, the beautiful shy daughter, the wilful daughter, and the thoughtful, protective one. All mesh together into a wonderful tale of forbidden novels and forbidden love. A time of book banning, government censorship and detentions, and forced marriages. A noble son Lord Yu Seojun is secretly writing fiction. The protective daughter, Shin Haewon is a secretly transcribing works. Instead of Lady Catherine de Bourgh seeking promises it’s Yu’s father, Minister Yu. It’s not Haewon who won’t promise not to ma...
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An interesting and complex British police investigation.

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Valley Of Death  (Detective Mike Nash #20) by Bill Kitson        ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A body is discovered at an archeological dig on farmland moors near Rowendale Village . The death occurred some twenty years ago. That’s the first body. Later another body is discovered by birdwatchers at the edge of the Ghyll Head Marshlands.  A police drone survey finds more. A convoluted story that has Detective Inspector Mike Nash and his team chasing genealogies, real estate ownership in their efforts to uncover the truth. This is just the beginning. A seperate case is being surveyed—a drug distribution system. Will the two link up? A long shot! I really liked the various characters and their interactions.  I haven’t read any of the previous titles in the series but this British police procedural/mystery encourages me to do so. A Joffe Books ARC via NetGalley.                                 ...
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A dystopian world populated by criminals and Crime Lords.

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Falconbrow  (The Painted Blade #1) by Peter Eliott         ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Hell’s Labyrinth was once an artistic city state now it’s a ruined wasteland run by criminal overlords. A fourteen year old girl, Terza Jaidenson’s very existence is challenged by the world around her. Daughter of the Foreman, a soldier, Terza has been trained in fighting.  Her interest is in art. Both figure in her journey towards fulfilment. This is Terza’s story. Of how she “ turned into the notorious Contract Blade, Terza Falconbrow, one of the most imposing figures to ever work the criminal byways of Hell’s Labyrinth.” Dark and dangerous, yet empathetic. An absorbing read. A Victory ARC via NetGalley.                                               Many thanks to the author and publisher. Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change.
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A building collapses!

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A Tarnished Canvas  (LadyDarby Mystery #13) by Anna Lee Huber      ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Once again Gage and Kieraare in the middle of a murder investigation. They attend an art and collectables auction at a private residence. By the third day many have turned up. It is the amount of people and their weight that causes the floor to collapse. Kiera and Gage are luck to escape with superficial injuries. Boonie Brock Kincaid calls on Kiera and hints at deliberate tampering with the supports.  Later Sergeant Maclean reveals that a supporting joist of the floor had been sabotaged. Gage and Kiera are thrown into the search for the culprit, no easy task. Kiera is nearly killed when she’s pushed towards a galloping carriage. Kiera has been working on an exhibition but will she be brave enough to actually show her paintings? Another tremendous tale from Anna Lee Huber. A Berkley ARC via NetGalley.                         ...
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Monstrous!

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The Carnival Murders  (Tate and Bell Mystery #7) by Irina Shapiro            ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I think this was one of the more wretched cases Gemma Tate and Sebastian Bell become involved in. Someone is desecrating the bodies of those who society view as different, in a thoroughly scientific manner. Gemma first becomes aware of this when a young, heavily pregnant woman, Tamzin Norris, is left near to her father’s pub. Tamzin has post mortem scars. Not only that but her unborn child has been autopsied too! As Bell investigates along with Gemma, they discover more bodies of people who have been killed and then autopsied. A gruesome tale, that strikes close to home for Sebastian and Gemma. A Storm Pub. ARC via NetGalley.                                               Many thanks to the author and publisher.
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Kelly’s Armstrong continues to fascinate with her Slip Through Time series.

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An Ordinary Sort of Evil  (Rip Through Time #5) by Kelley Armstrong         ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I adore the character Dr. Duncan Gray, a medical practitioner in 1870’s Edinburgh. I’m amused at the 21st century detective Mallory Atkinson who, after being struck on the head, inhabits the well developed body nineteen year old maid, Catroina of that era. Mallory continually has trouble behaving as a Victorian woman should. She keeps forgetting herself, how to behave, how to walk, how not to take offence at men leering at her chest. Duncan and his sister Isla know Mallory’s/ Catroina’s backstory. The case Mallory  and Duncan find themselves  investigating is at the request of Lady Adler, who is a patron of Isla’s charitable works. Mallory and Duncan find themselves involved in séances, dead young girls, Queen Victoria, and the thorny problem of being attracted to your employer. Mallory is at last finding her place in this culture, but she’s tripped up by the real dif...
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Emma! Not as well liked as thought!

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A Very Vexing Murder  (Harriet Smith Investigates #1) by Lucy Andrew          ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Austen’s “Emma” is turned every which way to produce an interesting and at times confusing mystery. Harriet Smith is a con artist and solves problems for the élite. Emma Woodhouse seems like a nice person—but she’s manipulative, and Jane Fairfax is a troubled young woman.  Harriet is hired by the dreadful Mrs. Churchill to get rid of Jane whom Mrs. Churchill believes has stolen her jewels, tried to poison her, and entrapped her son Frank Churchill.  A rather complicated, mysterious read with misleading clues, and unexpected happenings strewn across Harriet’s path. Her relationship with Robert Martin, a local tenant farmer is long standing and not all what we expect. I wasn’t sure I liked the tale at first, but Harriet and her exploits drew me in. A William Morrow ARC via NetGalley.                       ...
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