I was drawn to this book by it's strikingly beautiful cover (possibly one of my favourite book covers ever), and sold on it by the tagline on the backI was drawn to this book by it's strikingly beautiful cover (possibly one of my favourite book covers ever), and sold on it by the tagline on the back: "There are two things I can simply not tolerate; feminists and margarine". Hilarious. Sold.
Rika Machika is one of many journalists trying to get an interview with Manako Kajii, a chef and food blogger in prison for the suspected murder of three of her male lovers. Following her highly publicised and scandalous criminal case, Kajii has refused to speak to the media, but Rika eventually piques her interest by asking for the recipe for her beef stew, and Kajii accepts a visit. Thus begins Rika's investigation into this mysterious woman, and the culinary world of food she inhabits.
This book is excellent. It's subtly psychological as Rika and Kajii's relationship twists and turns, with the slow reveal of these characters fleshing out as the story progresses. Who is influencing who, and did she really kill those men? And tied into all of this is food. Food plays such a crucial role in this story and the descriptions of the cuisine are luxurious and sensual, becoming a key factor of the passionate lives of these characters. The food becomes the conversation around which there are discussions about society, women, feminism, class and choice. It has meaningful things to say about the role of women in Japanese society, with commentary on dieting, weight, marriage and compromise.
I really enjoyed this. The story and characters were really engaging, the food descriptions so vivid, and everytime I closed the book I got to look at that gorgeous cover. Super recommend....more
The story starts with the murder of a young woman. The viewpoint jumps, and we then move to middle-aged housewife Nicola receiving her grandson for a The story starts with the murder of a young woman. The viewpoint jumps, and we then move to middle-aged housewife Nicola receiving her grandson for a night while her son and his wife, Parker and Luna, attend an evening function. Parker says he has something to tell his mother when he gets back, and sounds quite serious. Unfortunately, before anything can be revealed, Parker and Luna get into a car crash on their way home. As Nicola scrambles to hold her family together, investigations into the car crash and the murder seem to start converging...
So this was an audiobook book I picked up while on an Audible Plus binge. I'm not the best at listening to fiction, but for some reason this intrigued me, and it ended up sinking its hooks in and I was compelled to listen more, desperate to see where the story was going and get to the bottom of the whodunit. It's well paced, jumping between timeframes and character perspectives to slowly piece together the picture over time, but doesn't do a big reveal until the end (like all good mysteries) so you're left guessing the whole way through.
Really enjoyable story, well told, well narrated....more
**spoiler alert** Book 2 of the Magical Cats mystery sees Boston librarian Kathleen get tangled up in another crime; an elderly teacher of much local **spoiler alert** Book 2 of the Magical Cats mystery sees Boston librarian Kathleen get tangled up in another crime; an elderly teacher of much local renown is found dead in an alley by her favourite restaurant. Is this an accident, or murder..?
Another cozy, very silly book. I quite like these.
(Notes for me)
After managing to read these totally out of order (8, 1, 10, now 2) I found I have such a loose grasp continuity that I'm gonna make some nots so future-me can keep track of what happened when...
--- SPOILERS BELOW ---
::Characters:: - Kathleen: POV character; librarian originally from Boston; has the cats - Owen & Hercules: The magical cats, can be invisible/travel through walls respectively - Marcus: Police officer; likes Kathleen - Maggie: Friend; runs yoga and tai chi classes - Roma: Friend; vet; dating a famous hockey player, Eddie - Ruby: Friend; accused of Agatha's murder; ex gf to Justin - Rebecca: Friend - Harry Sr: Friend; gave Kathleen her truck; has unknown daughter with Agatha - Harry Jr: Harry Sr's son - Eric: Runs the cafe; previously alcoholic - Susan: Eric's wife - Gregor Easton: Murdered in Book 1; Kathleen was a suspect - Agatha: Murdered in Book 2 by Justin; Ruby was a suspect; formerly a strict but well-loved teacher - Justin: Ex-bf of Ruby; murdered Agatha for will money for charity project
::Book 2 Synopsis::
Agatha, an elderly teacher, is found dead in an alleyway beside Eric's diner. Found by Ruby. Suspected to have been hit by a car. Seen previously arguing with Harry Sr, Eric and Ruby. Agatha changed will to leave $250k to Ruby's bf Justin for his project to help troubled kids. Ruby arrested for her murder due to glass from a broken headlight like her truck. Side plot where Roma is seen with hockey player Eddie. Side plot where Harry Sr reveals affair with Agatha that resulted in a daughter that was adopted away. Eric and Justin revealed to be childhood friends and alcoholics. Kathleen deduces that Justin killed Agatha. Goes to his cabin, is confronted by Justin and locked in the cellar, cabin set on fire. Kathleen escapes with Owen. Justin arrested. Roma confirmed to be dating Eddie. Kathleen considers dating Marcus....more
Another one of the Magical Cat Mystery books, those cozy mysteries featuring Owen and Hercules, cats who can walk through walls and turn invisible.
LibAnother one of the Magical Cat Mystery books, those cozy mysteries featuring Owen and Hercules, cats who can walk through walls and turn invisible.
Librarian protagonist Kathleen is busy preparing for Mayville Height's upcoming festival when one evening she stumbles upon the dead body of one of the festival singer's close friends. Could this be a case of mistaken identity? Who would have had any motive?
Another cozy (and there really isn't another word, it's COZY) story in the picturesque Mayville Heights with it's impossibly lovely community and those impossibly clever kitties.
This is Tom Cox's first foray into published fiction writing, coming in the form of short stories, each with a countryside setting and a dark ghostly This is Tom Cox's first foray into published fiction writing, coming in the form of short stories, each with a countryside setting and a dark ghostly overtone. The stories range in length and tone, and all are unique in style. It's very good writing, each little story draws you in immedately and the characters are interesting and engaging.
This is his second book to be published by crowdfunding site 'Unbound', which I gladly supported. As a perk... I may be in the book... In the very short 'Vanished House' you might find me...
A very good set of short stories. Highly recommend....more
Agatha Christie was one of my mother’s favourite authors. My mum loved a crime mystery, and she was partial to Christie and in particular the adventurAgatha Christie was one of my mother’s favourite authors. My mum loved a crime mystery, and she was partial to Christie and in particular the adventures of Hercule Poirot. I’d never read any myself, not being the biggest fan of crime stories, but wanted to read at least one, and this being arguably her most famous novel seemed like the one to go for.
I listened to the Audible audiobook, expertly narrated by David Suchet aka actual Poirot off the telly. His voice is so recognisable as the Belgian detective but he also does a stellar job bringing the rest of the multinational cast to life.
Anyway. The story. Upon receiving to summons to return to London, Hercule Poirot boards the Orient Express train from Istanbul to ol’ Blighty. What could possibly go wrong? (Spoilers: there’s a murder on the orient express. Shocking.) Poirot investigates the passengers to figure out the mystery of the murder.
The story is good. It’s a good mystery in that it gives you all the hints you need along the way to figure it all out, but only actually seems comes together when Poirot himself makes his deductions, but you can see that he’s made his deductions from information the reader also had access to, so nothing seems “pulled out of a hat” and contrived. I will say the ending seemed very abrupt though. That’s probably my only criticism.
Good novel. Would recommend the audiobook version for added characterisation and charm. ...more
I got this as one of Audible's Daily Deals about a year ago. I can't remember what attracted me to it, probably that it's set near Inverness (nearest I got this as one of Audible's Daily Deals about a year ago. I can't remember what attracted me to it, probably that it's set near Inverness (nearest city to my hometown) and the narrators have nice Scottish accents. Perhaps I was feeling nostalgic.
The seventh book in the 'Jack Parlabane' series, though I've never read the others and I didn't feel I was missing anything, so it works well as a first book to the series. The story opens with surgeon Diana Jager on trial for the murder of her husband Peter, who has died in a suspicious car crash. The narrative then splits between Diana telling her story (narrated by Scarlett Mack), the police investigation into the car crash, and Jack Parlabane's journalistic investigation at the behest of Peter's bereaved sister (both narrated by Angus King). The story weaves beautifully. In Diana's parts I found myself feeling for her, sympathising and understanding, whereas in the police and Parlabane's parts I saw her from the other side, as the devious surgeon with a dark side. I felt myself flip flop every time the narrator changed, such was the convincingness of the performances and the writing.
Very well written and engaging. The audiobook version is a particular delight....more
After getting up-to-date with both the Stormlight Archive and the Mistborn series, I figured I'd branch out into Sanderson's other material. 'The RithAfter getting up-to-date with both the Stormlight Archive and the Mistborn series, I figured I'd branch out into Sanderson's other material. 'The Rithmatist' is one of his forays into young adult literature (a genre I'm quite the fan of) so figured I'd give it a go.
Set in a slightly dystopian 1908 America, the magic art of rithmatism (mathematical chalk-drawn lines to attack and defend) protects the masses from the threat of chalklings; two-dimensional chalk-drawn monsters. Joel is a non-rithmatist student at a prestigious academy which trains rithmatists. When rithmatist students mysteriously go missing, he tries to get to the bottom of it.
I was a little skeptical at first though. Really? Chalk? 2D chalk-monsters? But it works quite well as a narrative and, honestly, the thought of a 2D shape crawling up and trying to eat me... yeah thats creepy. The setting is a bit weird though. It's clearly based on the real world, with America and Britannia and Europe being mentioned, but it's not quite how you expect (e.g. America is a series of islands for each state). It's also set in 1908, and there doesn't appear to be electricity, so everything runs on clockwork. But the characters all act as if they're in a modern setting with contemporary attitudes. The main characters names are Joel and Melody, for crying out loud. So the setting was a bit jarring and immesion-breaking at times.
I did enjoy the story. It has some nice twists and progresses well. It's clearly aimed at young adults with the school setting and teenage protagonists, and the chalkling/rithmatist lore didn't seem as deep and thoroughly explored as I've come to expect with Sanderson's other works. But this is only the first book, with another expected in... whenever... a year or two..? So maybe they'll go more in depth then.
When I was in America a few months back, I stopped by a Barnes and Noble. One of the disadvantages of using GoodReads as a Brit is that it's very US-cWhen I was in America a few months back, I stopped by a Barnes and Noble. One of the disadvantages of using GoodReads as a Brit is that it's very US-centric, and I get a lot of recommendations for interesting looking books that don't actually get published over here. So of course I dragged the bf for a big book-finding session. When in Rome, and all that.
He was sort of bored and went looking on his own (he's not a big reader). He came back a while later holding this book, and presented me with just the blurb. "What one word do you notice on here?" "Uuh... lets see... detective... murder... investigating... feline partners in crime... HOLD ON, feline?" He shows me the front of the book. "Paws and Effect: A Magical Cats Mystery". OH HELL YES.
So yes. It's a detective mystery where the main character happens to own two magical cats. Owen can turn invisible, Hercules can walk through walls.
It's so adorable and quirky. Quite a light read but the story flows well and the mystery ties up neatly with enough hints along the way that it made sense. The cats are hilarious and it made me feel a bit LESS of a crazy cat lady; at least I've never taken my cats on random trips in the car. Weirdos.
Random. Cute. Good cozy story. Apparently this is the eighth in the series but it works as a stand-alone novel. I will absolutely be reading the others though....more
Like most people, I got this as a free gift on Audible over Christmas. It's two short stories taken from the series of Max Carrados detective stories,Like most people, I got this as a free gift on Audible over Christmas. It's two short stories taken from the series of Max Carrados detective stories, which I had never heard of until receiving this.
To be honest, this wasn't anything special. The character of Carrados is interesting, but with each story being 40-50mins in length it wasn't enough for me to get into it, and not a lot really happened. That being said, for a free audiobook, and only an hour and a half in length, it was a decent enough time-filler, and Stephen Fry is a good narrator. But I wouldn't have got it if I'd had to pay for it....more
How I came to read this is a bit of a weird one. In September 2015, I went on holiday to San Fransisco with my family, and on our last night there we How I came to read this is a bit of a weird one. In September 2015, I went on holiday to San Fransisco with my family, and on our last night there we dined at a restaurant called 'The Maltese Falcon'. My Dad remarked that it was probably named for the book and film of the same name. I added the name to my 'potential reads' note in my phone and thought nothing much of it. A few months later, I got a trial subscription to Audible, with the idea to try audiobooks for when I can't physically read at work. I skimmed my potential reads list, and figured I might try The Maltese Falcon. Why not?
I've never much been in to crime novels. Well, more that I've never tried reading any. My mother loved crime novels, so I assumed they were dull and boring (kid logic, right?).
I was pleasantly surprised! The story twists and turns as you'd expect, with enough smoke and mirrors to keep you guessing about pretty much everything. It's got 'whodunnit' and 'whatisit' and 'whereisit' aspects, and every character is morally ambiguous, so their intentions are always hidden. The story unravels at a good pace, and the ending was satisfying.
I'm not sure if this will convert me to crime stories full-time, but it seemed like a good first outing, and makes me feel more open to trying the genre in future....more
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