eyes.2c Reviews

The Dying Light  (Matthew Venn #4) by Ann Cleeves        ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Two sixteen year olds are found dead near North Devon. They’ve come down from London for the summer holidays and to attend a music festival. One is the daughter of a politician, the other a product of a divorce. There are hints of a tainted past, and another girl who mysteriously died. On the home front Matthew is having trouble coping with the fact that Jonathan, his partner, has been seeking his birth mother. Ann Cleeves always never fails to intrigue. Her writing encompasses both the personal story of the main characters and the central mystery. A deep and often disturbing read! A Minotaur ARC via NetGalley.                                               Many thanks to the author and publisher.

Blood on the Wind  (Sister Fidelma #37) by Peter Tremayne     ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Set in post Roman times of seventh century Ireland,  Sister Fidelmas, a dálaigh, a justice in the kingdom of Cavel, and her husband, healer Eadulf are travelling back to Mumun (Munster) by ship when they’re blown off course and wrecked on islands. Two men are missing, some injured and some dead. They have landed in the Kingdom of Sulis. Their reception is unwelcome, with running suspicion high. It seems the King, Lowarn, has returned from a mysterious meeting, almost dead. Lowarn’s being looked after by an incompetent brother from the nearby Abbey. Fidelmas is asked by the king’s sister Princess Sirona to investigate what has happened. Eadulf recognizes the King’s symptoms as poisoning by arsenic, not from being falling down drunk as previously diagnosed. The king’s family is a strange mixture of those upholding the Old Gods and those of the New. An intriguing story unfolds as the traditional g...

Rogue Lyon : The Lyon’s Den Connected World by Lily Harlem      ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The plot’s simple, the characters pleasing and no intricaties to navigate. Jules Habsburg is illegitimate from the Habsburg line. Welsh Meredith Jones is a Gentleman’s daughter who’s been sent to London to have Mrs. Dove-Lyon find a husband for her. Nothing has succeeded. One thing happens though, Mrs. Dove-Lyon takes Meredith on as a dealer in the card room and a chess teacher. It turns out Meredith has an aptitude for such things, However an innocent trip to Paris by Meredith with the divine Jules, gives more than bargained for. It’s up to Mrs. Dove-Lyon to bring it all home. A chancy move that just might pay off. A Dragonblade ARC via NetGalley.                                               Many thanks to the author and publisher.

Massif : A Novel by Garth Nix    ⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’m a great lover of Garth Nix stories. I’ve been reading his works for years. Parts of  Massif reminds me of the latter works of C.J. Cherryh’s Foreigner series, or Tanya Huff’s Peacekeeper titles—being confronted by others who are very different. I liked this novel and the complexity of humans and first contact with intelligent mountains, but I didn’t love it. An Avon & Harper ARC via NetGalley.                                               Many thanks to the author and publisher.

The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies  (Oxford Guide #1) by Kate Westbury        ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Post WWII, 1950’s Oxford. Sidney Braithwaite, a former intelligence officer has decided to take up an ex Serviceman’s Grant to study at Oxford Stationed in France, he’s recovering from bad memories and the death of a French compatriot he worked with, Amélie. Sidney was more than fond of her. Then there was the matter of his wound. Sidney seems to have landed in a nest of appalling entitled behavior and Kremlin links. A member of the infamous Damolaces  Club was accused of treason whilst in a German prison. Many believe he’s wrongly accused.  The plot becomes murkier as things pan out and his old handler from Security Services, the Rook, makes contact. Then there’s the very upper class, the Honorable Ginerva Bishop who disturbed his studying in the Bodlean, and his life in other ways. Great start to a new series. A St. Martin’s Press ARC via NetGalley.   ...

Six White Horses  by James Robert Daniels          ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Battle hardened, weary and cynical ex Southern army Captain becomes a Texas Ranger after the civil war. He’s chasing a renowned train and stagecoach robber after the driver was killed. Cole Twist! A ruthless, yet charismatic bad’n who has people either scared of him or admirers. Lieutenant James Quinn captures Cole Twist, kills his brother Charlie, and brings Cole to stand trial in the town of Corpus. A town divided. This is where things get interesting. Quinn meets a Quaker widow, China Smallwood, who’s teaching black kids and their folks at the government supported reconstruction school. The last teacher had been tarred and feathered and run out of town. Quinn undergoes an interesting journey as he fights his personal battle demons, seeks justice for the victims of the crimes, and learns the benefit of forgiveness. A Cutting Edge ARC via NetGalley.             ...

Murder at the Stone Circle (Harlowe & Fitch Historical Mystery #8) by Elizabeth Rose         ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Just as life is becoming settled for Lady Vivienne Harlowe and Sheriff Zachariah Fitch, trouble strikes. Vivienne and Zachariah decide to marry outside in nature because the season of Advent had started and marriage inside the church isn’t  allowed during this time. Vivienne had always thought to be married in the stone circle feeling this would bring her closer to her dead mother. Unfortunately, during the ceremony, just as she bends over to pick up her dropped bouquet, an arrow flies by, grazing her before imbedding itself in the priest, Father Deocarus. Pandemonium erupts, the wedding is cancelled, and what the future holds is unknown. Vivian and Zac will have to face opposition from all sides, although they have some support. The pair are desperate to uncover the truth of Father Deocarus’ death, particularly as the prospect of ex communication for t...

Proof of Violence (Spencer& Read Mysteries #7) by Cara Devlin  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Detective Inspector Jasper Reid and Leonore Spencer find themselves drawn deeply into a maze of puzzles that might or might not tenuously connect. Hmmm! Fact! Mrs Zhao is missing and Jasper’s search for her doesn’t go unnoticed! Fact! Something is going on at a boys club that has led to the death of at least one boy.  Other boys are unwilling to speak out Fact! Jasper has been all but demoted in practice by Superintendent Munroe after Jasper ‘s refusal to entertain the thought of securing Munroe’s daughter’s hand in marriage. Fact! Leo keeps searching for her family’s killers. Slowly she’s discovering more. Finding answers to all these Facts is fraught with half truths and obstructions. A fascinating Fact is that Leo and Jasper’s relationship is blossoming! Another all consuming read from Devlin. An ARC via Booksirens.                       ...

The Camino :A Novel  by Anya Niewierra                 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A tale set along the pilgrimage trail that’s always been on my bucket list. The gradual unveiling by  a wife of who her husband really is. Lotte Bonnet  retraces her husband’s journey along the Camino. Her husband, Emile, killed himself near the end of his trek. Lotte decides to follow in his footsteps and perhaps glimpse why. Her husband was a refugee from Bosnia. Set out as a journal recording Lotte’s thoughts, the story grabs your attention from the start. Puzzling is the fact that fellow pilgrims keep having accidents around her for no discernible reason. What is going on? Lotte uncovers the grim truth about her husband, father of her children. Other discoveries flow and Lotte’s feelings are released as she walks this ancient pilgrim’s path. A Simon & Schuster ARC via NetGalley.                       ...

A Shroud of Snow  (Bradecote & Catchpoll Mystery #14)   by Sararh Hawkswood                   ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Worcester’s finest, Serjeant Catchpoll, Underserjeant Walkelin and Undersheriff lord Bradecote, face the puzzling murder of a merchant, Hamelin Isenmongere from Gloucester. As well as that the woman who kept house for Hamelin was raped and killed. Catchpoll boards the riverboat that’d  brought Hamelin to Worcester  to interview the  Captain and crew, and finds himself sailing away on the river, back to Gloucester before he’s aware of it. Back in Worcester Walkelin and lord Bradecote take up the search and begin to uncover what looks like treason in the midst of all the HooHaa! Various citizens come forward to help including a young woman forced into prostitution rather than starve. I love the way Walkelin has developed, how he’s beginning to think outside the box à la Catchpoll. A fairly convoluted plot that ha...

Pride Comes Before a Fall  (Miss Prentice’s Protégés #3) by Virginia Heath            ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A delicious story featuring a dyed in wool reformist influenced by the writings of Mary Wollstonecraft and a swoony much put upon Duke (with dimples). Portia Kendall is a governess from the well respected Miss Prentice’s School for Young Ladies. Her secret passion is writing incendiary political pamphlets. Portia has been offered the position of assistant editor with the newsletter Equitas in Bath.  Unfortunately it turns out to be voluntary. Portia must find another source of income in this very expensive city. Leopold Sloane, the Duke of Debden, has had enough of his mother’s lax chaperoning of his two sisters.  He’s determined to cut their wings somewhat. Cue stage right! Portia lands a job in Leo’s household and is immediately plunged into a whirlwind  of misunderstandings—and attraction. A delightful regency romantic comedy that invigor...

The Blackbird Conspiracy  (Callie Munro Thrillers #2) by Tariq Ashkanani          ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Callie Munro became a Private Investigator in part to search for her parents who’d abandoned her at a homeless shelter when she was a baby. When Callie finds her mentor, Martin Walsh shot in his ultra security protected apartment she’s shocked. Needing to avenge Martin’s death Callie pulls out all the stops to find his killer. Except that person keeps on murdering anyone connected to a mysterious document labeled only “Blackbird”. Great read when you want something that entertains and keeps your interest. The pace is terrific, with many unexpected twists. I enjoyed this so much I have to go back and read #1 An Amazon UK ARC via NetGalley.                                               Many thanks to the author and publisher.

Murder in Blackfriars  (Below Stairs Mystery #9) by Jennifer Ashley       ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️  Kat Holloway has come a long way from the Kat we were first introduced to eons ago. Changes are looming. Her friend Joanna is moving out of London. Joanna’s solicitor husband has accepted a new post. Joanne looks after Kat’s daughter Grace, and for the time being Grace will move with them. Kat is heavy hearted.  Kat’s now fiancé Danial McAdams is still searching for his identity. His past looms over him. Kat’s help will prove invaluable. There’s honorable rogues, a dangerous and sleek gang leader, ruffians and bullies, charming gutter rats and a host of beloved favorites. Kat is indomitable when roused, loyal to her friends, and caring. Another startling Victorian mystery from Ashley. A Berkley ARC via NetGalley.                                               ...

Storm Tide  (Mike Bowditch Mysteries #16) by Paul Doiron          ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A tale in four seasons. Action explodes off every page  Maine game warden, Mike Bowditch, is first on scene at a house fire. A woman is holding a baby. Mike goes into the inferno and brings out a man who dies. A woman inside has already died. (Previously Mike has been demoted from Warden Investigator to patrolling game warden.) The dead couple are suspected of killing a young boy, their son. Nothing is ever proved but the couple are pariahs in the town. Mike little suspect he’ll be caught up in vigilantism, more deaths, and a grudge going back decades. I love that he has a trusty wolf hybrid, Shadow, to assist. His wife Stacey is an emergency medical technician. A fast moving, nerve wracking read. A St. Martin’s Press ARC via NetGalley.                                         ...