Flaxmere Book Chat Recommends

Winter months often seem to be the perfect time to curl up with a good mystery novel, as was the case at Book Chat with several top crime novels appearing for discussion.

Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent is a mystery for word lovers. Set at the Clarenden English Dictionary, several compilers get caught up investigating what happened to the Senior Editor’s older sister. Charlie went missing a decade ago and the arrival of some cryptic letters has the team deciphering clues and asking awkward questions. A brilliant puzzle with quirky characters, secrets and murder.

Exiles by Jane Harper, is the third in the Aaron Falk series. Aaron is taking a break to visit friends for a christening at the time of the town festival. Here, a year before, the mother of a young baby disappeared. Of course, Aaron can’t help but ask questions, delving into secrets, some of which go back many years. A clever story with complex characters and a gripping ending.

The group have continued to read the William Warwick series by Jeffrey Archer, with Next in Line set in 1988 as royal fever sweeps the nation. At Scotland Yard the elite Royal Protection Command is all go but things get sticky when a renegade organisation targets the country’s security and the Crown. If only the young royal they are tasked with keeping safe didn’t keep flying the coop. Another ripping read.

The Queen of Poisons by Robert Thorogood is the third Marlow Murder Club mystery and follows what happens when the Mayor of Marlow dies suddenly during a council meeting. Traces of aconite are found in his coffee cup so it seems he was murdered. The police have few clues so rely on sleuthing by Judith, Becks and Suzie, now bona fide “civilian advisors”. Another difficult (and entertaining) case for the club.

The Wolf Tree by Laura McCluskey is set on a small island off the coast of Scotland. Two police officers are sent to investigate when a young man is found at the foot of a lighthouse, an apparent suicide. As a storm keeps the DIs stranded, they discover a village full of unease and secrecy, as well as being in thrall to their preacher. Not an island where you would want to stay for long was our reader’s verdict, but a good read nevertheless.

One reader discovered the first Hana Westerman crime novel, Better the Blood, by Michael Bennett. Set in Auckland, it follows a tenacious Māori detective on the tail of New Zealand’s first serial killer. The story delves into our colonial history, beginning with an 1863 image of a hanged Maori chief. Somehow the past story comes back to haunt the present-day investigation. A gripping read.

There were several terrific historical novels being passed around, beginning with a book by New Zealand author Soraya Lane. The Pianist’s Wife takes us back to Berlin in WWII where besties Amira and Gisele are harbouring a secret that could put them in danger. The story follows the girls as well as Fred, the pianist of the title, and the choices they make which test their loyalty and courage as danger closes in.

Tough Luck by Sandra Dallas, set in the American civil war/gold rush era, reads like a homage to True Grit. Young Haidie and younger brother Boots run away from an orphanage to find their father. Their journey will take them west to the gold fields where Haidie reckons her father will strike gold. A vivid story filled with period detail, colourful characters and adventure.

The Secrets of Eastby End continues Anna Jacob’s new saga, following Livia as she decides to train as a district nurse. Circumstances bring her to Eastby End, a poor area slowly improving and deserving better healthcare. But not all the residents are keen on change.

Our Sweet Violet is the third in the Flower Girls series by Rosie Goodwin and is set in 1905, Hull. When her father dies, Violet finds herself homeless, so turns to the family housekeeper, and the two women set up a café by the docks. But trouble arrives in the form of Violet’s brother. Another brilliant read from a popular author.

The Ship of Brides by Jojo Moyes takes us to the aftermath of WW2, with four young women who have married in wartime crossing the world from Sydney to England to be with their husbands. They’re on the aircraft carrier HMS Victoria, with another 650 brides and the captain isn’t happy about it. There are rules to keep the women and the 1000 odd naval officers strictly in their place while each of our four main characters has their own problems to deal with. A fascinating read, well recommended.

Quite a different story is The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis, a dual timeframe story that begins in 1936 when young anthropology student Charlotte joins a dig in Egypt. She makes an amazing discovery, only to have the glory fall to the head archaeologist. Then tragedy strikes. In 1978 young Annie gets a job working for Vogue fashion editor Diana Vreeland, helping to organize a fashion gala at the NY Metropolitan Museum where Charlotte is associate curator of Egyptian Art. A theft brings the two stories together in this thrilling historical read.

The Island of Mists and Miracles by Victoria Mas tells the story of Catherine, a young novice in 1830 who has a vision of the Virgin Mary. 200 years later we’re with Sister Anne, waiting for her own sign and who accepts a mission to go to an island off the coast of Brittany. As she gets to know the community, several people seem to be in need of a miracle, but it’s Isaac, an awkward young teenager who receives the vision, not Anne. The repercussions make for an interesting and very different story.

Barbara Erskine’s Sleeper’s Castle is another dual timeframe novel, beginning at Hay-on-Way in 1440, where war seems inevitable on the Welsh borders. Catrin is a young woman with a gift to see into the future, which doesn’t make her popular. In present day Hay, Miranda has come to Sleeper’s Castle to grieve, but her dreams are full of the story of a young girl reaching out to her from the past. A good story that fills you in on a slice of history.

Our Danielle Steel fan enjoyed A Mind of Her Own about young Alexandra who loses her parents during WWI and her grandmother to the Spanish flu. She sets off for Illinois, to her last living relative, where she goes to university and studies journalism. A novel about career, ambition and love.

One reader absolutely loved Eleanor Oliphant Is Really Fine by Gail Honeyman, a novel about a character who never strays from her simple routine, a structure that keeps her on an even keel. When a simple act of kindness derails her ordered life, new opportunities appear on her horizon, but she’ll need to deal with a long-buried secret first.

Karly Lane is one of our favourite Australian rural romance authors. In Fool Me Once Georgie is a farmer trying to buy back her family farm when she falls for Michael at a rowdy dance. But there’s a secret Michael’s hiding that will rock Georgie’s world. A feel-good romance about the problematic path to true love.

Finally, Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult takes us back to the early days of the pandemic, as Diana goes on holiday to the Galapagos without her doctor boyfriend. He’s in New York during the crisis, as Diana’s plans for her holiday, and for life generally, begin to look more insubstantial. Diana finds herself re-examining everything she knows about herself, her plans and her dreams. A great read from an author who rarely disappoints.

Flaxmere Book Chat meets at Flaxmere Library on alternate Tuesdays at 10:30am. Next meeting - 5th August. All welcome.

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