My Book Reviews (Part 2) for February 2025
My Book Reviews (Part 2) for February 2025
My Book Reviews (Part 2) for February 2025 comprise titles – in police procedural, young adult and psychological thriller genres – published this month that I had the privilege of reading in advance. I thank the authors, publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity.
Before I review the NetGalley titles, here is my review of Blood Spots by Lin Le Versha, a newly published book I bought this month and I’m glad I did. It’s a terrific mystery. (Lin was my first ever guest on #FrontPageFridays with Blood Ribbons, the previous title in the series. Here’s the link: https://sunflower-pineapple-bstm.squarespace.com/blog/front-page-fridays-week-1)
This is the fifth outing for Steph Grant, former police officer turned school receptionist, and her life partner DCI Hale of Suffolk Police.
The Steph Grant Murder Mystery Series feature crimes related in some way to the school where Steph works. This time it’s the school holidays and a teaching colleague persuades Steph to be the stage manager for a drama production that will be performed at the end of August in the ruins of a church by the coast.
Director Beverly Elkin has secured the services of Hollywood actress Jessica Marlowe to play the lead. The two last met in summer 1989 when Beverly was a highly respected and formidable drama advisor directing eighteen-year-old college student Jessica in a production at the same ruined church.
Their reunion proves fiery when their giant egos clash over staging. Rehearsals fall into chaos when tragedy strikes on set. DCI Hale is called in to investigate whether what’s happened is an accident or a crime. However, he’s preoccupied with another case: the bones of an unidentified young woman have been unearthed in a landslide close to the ruined church. Steph lends a hand in the drama production case by questioning the cast and crew.
Most of the story is told from Steph’s viewpoint, but there are also chapters from the perspective of Naz, a local solicitor, who is enjoying a fling with actress Jessica. The pair were at college together in 1989, and Naz acted alongside Jessica in the play that summer.
Naturally – this is crime fiction after all – the sinister goings-on in the current production mirror what happened in the 1989 play.
The tone is light rather than gritty, but it is brisker than cosy crime. Pace is good and I was keen to keep reading to see what would happen. The denouement was most satisfying and I hadn’t guessed any of it. The story works well as a standalone but it’s a solid series to pick up from the beginning. Roll on book six.
Now onto the NetGalley titles I was privileged to read in advance of their publication this month.
Other People’s Houses by Clare Mackintosh 27 Feb
This is the third outing for DC Ffion Morgan of the North Wales Police and DS Leo Brady of the Cheshire Police, whose cases overlap on the Welsh/English border. This time Leo is on the trail of a burglar who is targeting an exclusive housing complex, and Ffion has a murder victim recovered from a lake. There are also excerpts throughout from a true-crime cold case that led to a miscarriage of justice.
Although this police procedural series is always light in tone, this book felt cosier than the previous two, with lots of bantering humour, straightforward storytelling and greater emphasis on Ffion and Leo’s growing romance and their relationships with their families. Fans of the author and the series will not be disappointed.
Pieces of Us by Stewart Foster
From the blurb: As the summer before college begins, Jonas is hiding a secret. He suffers with bulimia, but no one knows. Not even he knows how bad it really is. Until he meets Louis, a confident dreamer who believes in a better future for Jonas and together they enjoy a sun-kissed summer filled with music, memories and life-changing moments. But when tragedy strikes, Jonas must decide if he has the strength to face things alone . . .
This is one for readers who like Young Adult novels that cover several big themes at the same time, in this case: grief, body dysmorphia, bulimia, sexuality, parental expectation, friendship, starting university, and trying to make it in the music industry.
The main narrative is told in the 'you' second person and there are also several separate addresses to the departed friend in the 'you' form, plus many of the narrator's song lyrics.
Another suspense-in-the-sun story from an expert in the genre. This time she takes us to a surf house in Morocco and does a great job of creating this setting.
As usual there's a group of characters with secrets they must hide. However, in contrast to her previous novels, these characters don't share history but become involved with each other on location.
I did guess some of what was going on, but there was plenty more to discover.
The Stolen Child by Carmel Harrington
The story is told across three timelines:
Kimberley – 1980s – Her two-year-old son, Robert, is stolen from her cabin on board a cruise ship as she, her husband and her baby daughter sleep. The child is not found.
Lily – present day – The baby sister of the missing child is now married with her own family. She works as a therapist and sees how the trauma of losing Robert has affected her parents.
Sally – 1960s – A five-year-old is left at an orphanage by her mother and there she is befriended by eight-year-old Elsie, another orphan.
This was a different angle on the mystery/suspense story of a missing person. Ideal for fans of straightforward narration and larger-then-life twists.
So those are My Book Reviews (Part 2) for February 2025. Here is the link to My Book Reviews (Part 1) for February 2025: My Book Reviews (Part 1) for February 2025 — Rachel Sargeant