All posts filed under: Book Reviews

Book Review: The Perplexing Theft of the Jewel in the Crown

Published by Alexandra

DETAILS Title: The Perplexing Theft of the Jewel in the Crown [book #2] Author: Vaseem Khan Publisher: Redhook ISBN: 9780316386845 Genre: Crime Fiction BACK COVER BLURB For centuries the Koh-i-Noor diamond has set man against man and king against king. Now part of the British Crown Jewels, the priceless gem is a prize that many have killed to possess. So when the Crown Jewels go on display in Mumbai, security is everyone’s principal concern. And yet, on the very day Inspector Chopra visits the exhibition, the diamond is stolen from under his nose. The heist was daring and seemingly impossible. The hunt is on for the culprits. But it soon becomes clear that only one man—and his elephant—can possibly crack this case… WHAT I THOUGHT Inspector Ashwin Chopra (Retd) a former member of the Mumbai policeman, is now one of my favourite characters. In this second installment of the Baby Ganesh series, we find Chopra settling into retirement as a private investigator, working out of an office in his new digs, a restaurant named after …

Book Review: FEAR THE DARKNESS

Published by Alexandra

DETAILS Title: FEAR THE DARKNESS [Brigid Quinn #2] Author: Becky Masterman Publisher: Penguin ISBN: 9780143182696 Genre: Mystery | Crime BACK COVER BLURB Ex-FBI agent Brigid Quinn has seen more than her share of psychopaths. She is ready to put all that behind her, building a new life in Tucson with a husband, friends, and some nice quiet work as a private investigator. But sometimes it isn’t that simple. When her sister-in-law dies, Brigid takes in her seventeen-year-old niece. There has always been something unsettling about Gemma-Kate, but family is family. Meanwhile, Brigid also agrees to help a local couple by investigating the death of their son—which also turns out not to be as simple as had been assumed. Her house with her husband isn’t the sanctuary it used to be, and new dangers—including murder—seem to lurk everywhere. Brigid starts to wonder if there is anyone she can trust, or if the devil has simply moved closer to home. WHAT I THOUGHT This is the second outing from Masterman in her Brigid Quinn series, and while …

Book Review: THE CALCULATING STARS

Published by Alexandra

DETAILS Title: THE CALCULATING STARS [Lady Astronaut #1] Author: Mary Robinette Kowal Publisher: TOR Books ISBN: 9780765378385 Genre: SF | Alt History BACK COVER BLURB On a cold spring night in 1952, a huge meteorite fell to earth and obliterated much of the East coast of the United States, including Washington D.C. The ensuing climate cataclysm will soon render the earth inhospitable for humanity, as the last such meteorite did for the dinosaurs. This looming threat calls for a radically accelerated effort to colonize space, and requires a much larger share of humanity to take part in the process. Elma York’s experience as a WASP pilot and mathematician earns her a place in the International Aerospace Coalition’s attempts to put man on the moon, as a calculator. But with so many skilled and experienced women pilots and scientists involved with the program, it doesn’t take long before Elma begins to wonder why they can’t go into space, too. Elma’s drive to become the first Lady Astronaut is so strong that even the most dearly held …

Book Review: SILENT SCREAM

Published by Alexandra

DETAILS Title: SILENT SCREAM Author: Angela Marsons Publisher: Zaffre ISBN: 9781785770524 Genre: Crime Fiction BACK COVER BLURB Five figures gather round a shallow grave. They had all taken turns to dig. An adult sized hole would have taken longer. An innocent life had been taken but the pact had been made. Their secrets would be buried, bound in blood … Years later, a headmistress is found brutally strangled, the first in a spate of gruesome murders which shock the Black Country. But when human remains are discovered at a former children’s home, disturbing secrets are also unearthed. D.I. Kim Stone fast realises she’s on the hunt for a twisted individual whose killing spree spans decades. As the body count rises, Kim needs to stop the murderer before they strike again. But to catch the killer, can Kim confront the demons of her own past before it’s too late? WHAT I THOUGHT First of all, let me say that reading SILENT SCREAM so soon after reading Glass Houses by Louise Penny, might have been a mistake. …