The Book Post – January

Here we are at the start of another bookish year. (In case you missed it, I wrapped up last year in books here.)

Alrighty, without any further faffery, let’s get this show on the road with what I’ve been reading since we last spoke …

Fiction

The Book-Lovers’ Retreat by Heidi Swain

The Blurb:

Sometimes a book grabs you by the heart and grows to mean everything to you. That’s what Hope Falls is to friends Emily, Rachel and Tori. So, when they get the chance to spend a whole summer at the cottage in Lakeside where the film adaptation was located, they know it is going to be the holiday of a lifetime.

Spending six weeks away will give them a chance to re-evaluate their life choices. For Emily to decide which way her career will go – the safe route, or the more risky creative option? And for Rachel to decide whether to move in with her partner Jeremy. Then Tori has to drop out at the last moment, and her space is offered to another Hope Falls afficionado, Alex. 

But when Alex turns out not to be who they expected, the holiday takes an unforeseen turn. And as the summer develops, so does their friendship. Could this be where they uncover their future selves, find love in all its forms and where their lives will change course forever…?

The Verdict:

Heidi Swain is a go-to author for me, but I admit to being a tad disappointed by this one. While her motivations were strong, I found it difficult to like Emily, the lead even as I was cheering for her to choose a creative lifestyle over a corporate one. I also found the women’s friendship to be, at times, unapologetically toxic.

It’s still a good read, but not an excellent one.

Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect, by Benjamin Stevenson

The Blurb:

When the Australian Mystery Writers’ Society invited me to their crime-writing festival aboard the Ghan, the famous train between Darwin and Adelaide, I was hoping for some inspiration for my second book. Fiction, this time: I needed a break from real people killing each other. Obviously, that didn’t pan out.

The program is a who’s who of crime-writing royalty:

• the debut writer (me!)
• the forensic science writer
• the blockbuster writer
• the legal thriller writer
• the literary writer
• the psychological suspense writer.

But when one of us is murdered, six authors quickly turn into five detectives. Together, we should know how to solve a crime. Or commit one.

How can you find a killer when all the suspects know how to get away with murder?

My verdict:

If you’ve read Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone, know this – as good as that was, this is better. The mystery is better and the clues placed in plain sight are so well hidden. Loved it. This was on my friend Debbish’s list of her favourite books from last year – and deserves its place there … and is my read of the month.

Kill Your Husbands, by Jack Heath

The Blurb:

Three couples, friends since the university athletics team, travel to a house in the mountains for an unplugged weekend of drinking and bushwalking. No internet, no phones, no stress. On the first night, the topic of partner-swapping comes up. It’s a joke – at first.

Not everyone is keen, but an agreement is made. The lights will be turned out. The three men will go into the three bedrooms. The three women will each pick a bedroom at random. It won’t be awkward later, because no one will know for sure who they’ve slept with – though each guest is privately sure that they alone will be able to tell.

But when the lights come back on, someone is missing. A search of the house and the surrounding bushland turns up a body.

Five people remain. They have no way of contacting the police. Nor can they leave – the key to the car is missing. And the killer is just getting started.

Two weeks later, Senior Constable Kiara Lui drives to the house with her girlfriend, Elise. She’s already interviewed the survivors. Now, she must work out which of them is lying, and why …

My Verdict:

This is twisty, clever, and some scenes will linger long after you finish the book. Having said that, Heath’s dark humour also comes through. A very close second for read of the month.

The Oyster Catcher, by Jo Thomas

The Blurb:

Dooleybridge, County Galway: the last place Fiona Clutterbuck expects to end up, alone, on her wedding night. But after the words ‘I do’ have barely left her mouth, that’s exactly where she is – with only her sequined shoes and a crashed camper van for company. One thing is certain: Fi can’t go back. So when the opportunity arises to work for brooding local oyster farmer, Sean Thornton, she jumps at the chance. Now Fi must navigate suspicious locals, jealous rivals and an unpredictable boss if she’s to find a new life, and love, on the Irish coast. And nothing – not even a chronic fear of water – is going to hold her back.

My verdict:

I’ve never been to Ireland and so so SO want to go. Anyways, to this book. This is an enjoyable story and perfect for reading by the pool – which is where I read most of it. I had a few problems with some of the plot, but I suspect that was me being overly picky as it certainly didn’t detract from my enjoyment.

Nonfiction

Clanlands in New Zealand, by Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish

The Blurb:

They’re back! Stars of Outlander, Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish are no strangers to the rugged beauty of Scotland. But this time they’re setting their sights on a new horizon: New Zealand.

Join our intrepid Scotsmen on their latest epic adventure across The Land of the Long White Cloud in this thrilling follow-up to Clanlands. Setting out to explore a country that Graham calls home, and that Sam has longed to visit, these sturdy friends immerse themselves in all that New Zealand has to offer: stunning landscapes, rich history, world-class food and drink, and – much to Graham’s mounting anxiety and Sam’s deep satisfaction – famously adrenaline-fuelled activities! As ever there’s not nearly enough space in their trusty camper van and with plenty of good-natured competition and tormenting to go around, Sam and Graham’s friendship is put to the test once again. Along the way we learn about the length and breadth of this jewel of the Southern Seas, exploring the fascinating story of its people while testing the very limits of Graham’s sanity.

Like the very best buddy movie sequel, this latest instalment is full of unforgettable experiences and loveable characters and promises to be an even more memorable ride with two of the most entertaining travel companions around.

So, say goodbye to your inhibitions and kia ora to New Zealand like you’ve never seen it before.

My verdict:

I’m currently training (and I use the term loosely) to walk the Queen Charlotte Track in New Zealand in a few weeks so Sam and Graham have been keeping me company (and my mind off how much my back is hurting) as I trudge the neighbourhood streets in unrelenting heat and humidity.

Their banter is fun, but can wear thin at times, but the real treasure in this are the snippets of history and Maori culture. Thankfully they’ve resisted the urge to “presentism” and the stories are all the more valuable for that.

The Salt Path, by Raynor Winn

The Blurb:

Just days after Raynor learns that Moth, her husband of 32 years, is terminally ill, their home is taken away and they lose their livelihood. With nothing left and little time, they make the brave and impulsive decision to walk the 630 miles of the sea-swept South West Coast Path, from Somerset to Dorset, via Devon and Cornwall.

Carrying only the essentials for survival on their backs, they live wild in the ancient, weathered landscape of cliffs, sea and sky. Yet through every step, every encounter and every test along the way, their walk becomes a remarkable journey.

The Salt Path is an honest and life-affirming true story of coming to terms with grief and the healing power of the natural world. Ultimately, it is a portrayal of home, and how it can be lost, rebuilt and rediscovered in the most unexpected ways.

My verdict:

I began reading this months ago and have only just finished – not because I wasn’t enjoying it, but because, well, I had the festival of festive reading, and then a heap of reservations from the library came in all at once.

I’m not usually one for tales of overcoming life’s challenges blah blah blah, but I loved this one.

As an aside, I’m a massive fan of Angela Harding, the cover illustrator. To the extent that last year I gave my father a jigsaw of the cover and for the last couple of years those few people I actually send Christmas cards received Angela Harding ones that I bought at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) shop at Harlow Carr just outside Harrogate.

Your turn…

Deb, Donna, Sue, and I would love you to share what you’ve been reading…the linky is below.

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