I’m sure we’ll barely get out of the car before she’s upon us, like one of those cloaked things out of Harry Potter.’ ‘Cloaked thing? Favorite Quotes:
I’m sure we’ll barely get out of the car before she’s upon us, like one of those cloaked things out of Harry Potter.’ ‘Cloaked thing? Like a wizard?’ ‘No… You know, the big flying hooded things that suck the joy out of everyone they touch.’
Zoe was at once captivated by the tranquillity of narrow roads, so clean and ordered there had to be an army of elves patrolling when everyone was asleep, keeping it tidy.
‘Magnus,’ Geoff said. ‘Put the shovel down– you’re only digging deeper every time you open your mouth.
They looked normal enough, if it helps. I only counted one head on each of them, so that’s a good sign.
‘You didn’t move here because you were drawn by some mystical force?’ she asked wryly. ‘Were you?’ ‘Oh yes, it was called a job offer.’
Are there any village weirdos? There must be, right? Anyone with six fingers married to their sister?
Some men can be grown-up about these things, and then there’s Ritchie.
My Review:
Tilly Tennant is one of my favorite go-to authors for a relaxing, easy-to-fall-into, and gentle read. And I need those between the tense heart-pounding thrillers I alternatively pick up. The Village Midwife is a continuation of the Village Nurse tales and features the same quaint Lake District village and its eccentric villagers of Thimblebury. The storylines are thoughtful, colorfully detailed, relevant, and easy to follow while populated with authentic and knowable characters. It was a leisurely paced and pleasant read. ...more
Wow. Well that really does go to prove you can’t judge a book by its cover. She looks so prim and proper and then BAM! It’s all fairy Favorite Quotes:
Wow. Well that really does go to prove you can’t judge a book by its cover. She looks so prim and proper and then BAM! It’s all fairy porn and werewolf harems.
Not that I don’t like what I do. But it’s not exactly a respectable pastime is it? When people ask what you do for fun, it would be far easier if you could say you like reading or building Lego or whatever, rather than killing scrooges.
Spoiler alert: I’m still convinced I’m in my twenties and that fate is just playing some kind of cruel stunt on me by making me look like I’m mid-forties.
‘I don’t use TikTok.’ It was set up a few years ago when I was having a crisis of confidence about my writing career and thought I needed to do more myself. I vowed to post to TikTok every single day for three months to see what happened. I lasted four days before I ran out of content and lost the will to live. Sometimes I get an urge to try again and then I remind myself just how painful it was and have a large glass of wine instead.
I read something last year about how the average person consumes over six thousand calories on Christmas Day. I’m treating that as a challenge that I fully intend to beat.
My Review:
The name Sarah Bonner has become synonymous with the idea of smirk-worthy good fun to me. The little pea in my brain leaps for joy whenever I pick up one of her cleverly penned missives. I revel in her witty snark, wry humor, and snappy inner musings. I adored this tale; it kept me gleefully engaged from start to finish....more
It was truly surprising how many people were interested in a calendar of naked people covering their wobbly bits with their homegrown Favorite Quotes:
It was truly surprising how many people were interested in a calendar of naked people covering their wobbly bits with their homegrown vegetables. The internet was a strange place.
“How else should I put it?” I replied. “That we engaged in coitus? Partook in premarital activities?” He stared at me. “Tossed the hotdog down the hallway,” Isa offered. I snapped my fingers in her direction. “Did the bedtime slip’n’slide.” “Planted the parsnip.” “Fed the kitty.” “Stuffed the taco.” “Buried the bone.” “Slammed the ham.” I paused. “Why are all your sex euphemisms food- related?”
Oli, this woman is two colours short of a rainbow.
Maybe Eleanor de Havilland had a few screws loose. Well, even if she did, she was in good company. I barely had any screws, much less loose ones.
Always ask for someone’s name before you do the dance with no pants.
Put your fishing pole away. There are no compliments here for you to catch.
… she was practically running this town like a mafia lord now. The woman was a master of deceit— everyone thought she was a kind, sweet lady always willing to lend a hand, but she was actually a rabid bull who had no qualms about breaking down a door or two to get what she wanted.
My Review:
I adore this author, Emma Hart is da bomb! I have gleefully giggle-snorted my way through every book of hers that I’ve been lucky enough to source. Her well-honed tales are laced together with clever wit, keen snark, and sharp visuals that dance through my gray matter while featuring authentically quirky characters that I enjoy getting to know. I can’t wait to see what she conjures next....more
Paranoia is different. It is a slippery, malignant thing– feared by those who know of its presence, an invisible threat to those who dFavorite Quotes:
Paranoia is different. It is a slippery, malignant thing– feared by those who know of its presence, an invisible threat to those who don’t.
I don’t remember what happiness sounds or tastes like, or how it feels between my fingers.
‘What if’ has been an enemy of mine for as long as I’m able to remember, standing in doorways to stop me passing, whispering in my ear at night to keep me awake. It has been the sibling I never had, competitive and sneaky, tripping me up then feigning innocence when I fall. Now, it stands here beside me, taunting me with everything that could go wrong.
My Review:
This was a tense and disconcerting read. But I am not a fan of angst, and I didn’t like these people; they were all rather heinous. Nor could I fully forgive them even after the driving force of their problems was revealed. But while I found them to be contemptible creatures who had done inexcusable things to each other and had knowingly neglected their child, I was unreasonably curious to find out what was going to happen next. Victoria Jenkins has penned a compelling tale. ...more
She never meant to be late. Distractions just seemed to impede her arriving on time.
...they were met by the fantastically sculpted sidFavorite Quotes:
She never meant to be late. Distractions just seemed to impede her arriving on time.
...they were met by the fantastically sculpted side whiskers and moustache of Monsieur Omfroy emerging onto the street. He regarded them with a look of alarm. She reciprocated with a genial wave, fleetingly wondering if there was a Madame Omfroy in his life, or if his facial hair was companion enough.
He smiled like a hungry crocodile.
I pity those knights of old who tried to rescue damsels in distress with a stubborn rhinoceros streak like you though. I’d have crept off quietly and left you to the dragon.
‘He’s signaling discreetly to that man in overalls over there.’ Clifford sniffed. ‘Hardly discreetly, my lady. A touch of St Vitus’s dance would have been less noticeable.’
My Review:
I continue my hero worship of all things Verity Bright, as I have adored each installment of this delightful series. Their well-honed writing style is smooth and polished, easy to fall into, and amusingly entertaining, while the enigmatic mysteries and murders are well-contrived and cleverly plotted. This volume ranks as one of my favorites because the couple is finally wed and on a Parisian honeymoon, which places the Scotland Yard detective on vacation and shows his unexpected, marshmallow-like, gooey, soft romantic side. Their honeymoon was certainly memorable and eventful....more
My mother has lived every one of her fifty-two years on this planet in the shadow of catastrophe, always thinking of the worst possiblFavorite Quotes:
My mother has lived every one of her fifty-two years on this planet in the shadow of catastrophe, always thinking of the worst possible case scenario and making sure we’re all aware of it.
These rich women are all the same: they need someone to tell them what to do or they’d never actually achieve anything, but they still want to feel superior to the mere minions who serve them.
It’s very easy to unalive wealthy men– they are so prone to an early death:
My Review:
I do loves me some clever snark and this book was laced together with the same delectable and sharply honed wit I reveled in with this nimble wordsmith’s previous offering of How to Slay at Work. The storylines were active, well-paced, and unpredictable. As in most families, many of the characters were various shades of vile, and no one was at all trustworthy or as they seemed on the surface. I adored it and look forward to this crafty scribbler’s next slay.
It’s been quite a few moons since I had an addition to my Brit Words and Phrases List but I found a fun one with hollibobs – which is what we Americans call a vacay....more
I definitely don’t expect you to cook, Morgan, I don’t want to add food poisoning to his list of problems. He has enough without forciFavorite Quotes:
I definitely don’t expect you to cook, Morgan, I don’t want to add food poisoning to his list of problems. He has enough without forcing your cooking onto him.
She felt her skin crawl, this guy had to be in his late fifties, with a receding hairline and a comb-over. Thick wire-rimmed glasses made his small, narrow eyes look as if they wouldn’t be out of place on a rat. If she had to pick a serial killer out of a seventies’ line-up, he would be the one standing nestled between Dahmer and Nielsen; he gave her the creeps.
My Review:
Another well-crafted, smartly paced, and unpredictable case for the superior detecting skills of Morgan Brookes. No serial killer gets past her spidey senses. However, this time, the culprit was not even on her radar, or mine, for that matter. As always, Ms. Phifer’s writing was absorbing and easy to fall into, with lots of red herrings and misdirection to keep us scratching our heads, and our curiosity well and truly poked. I continue to enjoy this series and look forward to her next installment. ...more
Jane was perched on the edge of a seat next to a garrulous elderly woman who appearedFavorite Quotes:
Golly, it’s brass monkeys out there this morning,
Jane was perched on the edge of a seat next to a garrulous elderly woman who appeared to mistakenly believe that Jane would be interested in the state of her bunions.
My Review:
I became a Helena Dixon fan the first time I picked up one of her cozy mysteries, and each subsequent book of hers that I have read has only further cemented my adoration of her wry sense of humor, descriptive scenes, and smooth writing style. The mysteries found within are always full of unique twists and confounding clues, and I can rarely solve them myself as everyone seems a bit suspect.
The main female character of this new series is Jane. Jane is tenacious, very British, smart, not always likable, rather obnoxious at times, self-involved, and passive-aggressive. I am more drawn to Arthur as I sympathize with him putting up with Jane’s pushiness, but my favorite character is the ever-prepared and humble manservant, Benson. His pockets are like Mary Poppins’s bag. He reminds me of Verity Bright’s character of Clifford, whom I adore. I’m looking forward to more of their adventures and hoping Jane goes easier on Arthur in future installments....more
Leona’s face crumpled and she just cracked open, like an egg revealing rotten insides. Everything came spilling out all at once and itFavorite Quotes:
Leona’s face crumpled and she just cracked open, like an egg revealing rotten insides. Everything came spilling out all at once and it was messy and upsetting.
She feels like a feather in a storm, whisked back to the past then hurled into imagined future horrors.
Poppy’s magic trick is to divorce herself from the reality of it. Treat the bits she can remember like a bad movie she once watched.
Linda’s fear had infected Saffy on a cellular level. It was always with her, the gift that just kept giving. It was with her now.
Fear is so completely a part of who she is and what she does now, she suspects she might not know how to function without it.
My Review:
This one had a lot going on with several tense and active plot lines that kept me guessing. I couldn’t help but think of the adage that being paranoid doesn’t mean people aren’t out to get you. Most of the characters were deeply flawed and varying levels of annoying, yet I was concerned for them and my curiosity was well engaged and busy devising and discarding my own theories. I had it partially correct, but I never could have conjured the total package. ...more
...we all know Flo isn’t backwards at coming forwards. I’m sure she’ll have thoughts, and she’ll go out of her way to make sure I hearFavorite Quotes:
...we all know Flo isn’t backwards at coming forwards. I’m sure she’ll have thoughts, and she’ll go out of her way to make sure I hear about them.
Today she seemed out for an argument, though she also seemed as if she didn’t know who she wanted to have it with. It looked as if anyone who put a foot wrong and happened to be in her path would do.
My Review:
This installment was busy with several story threads and a bit of family drama. The storylines were leisurely paced and easy to follow. I enjoyed the continuation and ongoing relationships of my favorite quirky village characters, even when I wanted to give some of them a pinch or five. ...more
I zipped through this tense yet easy-to-read tale as I was rather reluctant to put it down. The writing was smartly paced and well-honed, with severalI zipped through this tense yet easy-to-read tale as I was rather reluctant to put it down. The writing was smartly paced and well-honed, with several story threads that came together cleverly with unexpected twists. Ms. Browne is a crafty one and kept me guessing until the very end....more
He looked at Eve as though she was something he’d just sneezed into a tissue.
He wore a smart suit but still managed to look slightly dFavorite Quotes:
He looked at Eve as though she was something he’d just sneezed into a tissue.
He wore a smart suit but still managed to look slightly dishevelled. His hair stuck out at odd angles and his glasses looked as though they’d been dropped recently and possibly sat on.
My Review:
This was a complicated and well-plotted mystery that kept me looping around in circles. I was chasing my tail as I pondered so many suspects and what seemed to be red herring clues. Ms. Chase is a clever one and may well be an evil genius, as I marveled at how well she dovetailed all her brilliantly scattered pieces together in a realistic fashion. ...more
Mildred, is the most ghastly woman. Terrible social climber. She will insert herself in spaces where castor oil couldn’t reach.
My RevieFavorite Quote:
Mildred, is the most ghastly woman. Terrible social climber. She will insert herself in spaces where castor oil couldn’t reach.
My Review:
Helena Dixon’s cozy mysteries are always a fun, amusing, and engaging diversion with well-crafted murders that I can rarely solve on my own. I always think I have it worked out, but alas, even working overtime, the little pea in my brain still gets it wrong. I adore her Kitty Underhay character as much as I do Ms. Dixon’s clever and thoughtfully crafted arrangements of words....more
I’m not trying to push your buttons– if I was, I’d be looking for mute...
I heard a horrible screeching noise coming from the hall. I tFavorite Quotes:
I’m not trying to push your buttons– if I was, I’d be looking for mute...
I heard a horrible screeching noise coming from the hall. I thought we had bats. Roddy, please can you tell this howling harpy to sling her hook. I’m trying to get some rest.
My Review:
Judy Leigh is a master storyteller and agile writer. She never fails to provide an entertaining, engaging, and heart-warming read. I have become a lifelong acolyte of this talented scribe and constantly haunt her listings for new amusing tales to peruse. Her characters are realistically flawed yet always endearing and worth knowing. I wouldn’t mind getting older if I could have as much fun as these spirited septuagenarians. ...more
Elowen had hugged her and told her that Billy Crocker had told everyone in the class that her grandmother had found a ‘horrible drowndFavorite Quotes:
Elowen had hugged her and told her that Billy Crocker had told everyone in the class that her grandmother had found a ‘horrible drownded woman’ on the beach and Elowen had retorted that Billy was the reason God created the middle finger. The conversation had occurred during a lesson on religion and about how blessed the peacemakers were, so Miss Parker had not been best pleased.
Elowen declared she needed toys and clothes for her sleepover, despite Lamorna saying that in her day all she’d take to a friend’s was a pair of pyjamas and a toothbrush and if it was a male friend, she wouldn’t take the pyjamas. Tamsin shot her grandmother a look; Elowen didn’t need leading astray– she was already a handful.
‘It hurt my feelings and I felt like thunder and lightning inside.’ Morwenna took Elowen’s hand. ‘We all feel like that sometimes.’ ‘So I hit him in the face. It wasn’t just me. The thunderstorm in my heart did it really.’
I know that guilty face. Ever since you were a kid and peed in your toy box.
My Review:
Judy Leigh is a guaranteed fun read. She never fails to entertain and amuse me with her quirky, authentic, and entirely knowable characters. I am enjoying this new cozy series, the murders are well-contrived and unpredictable, and keep the little pea in my brain pinging. ...more
I never analyzed our friendship that much; it just happened, in the way a tree grows, or a sponge cake rises. We just happened.
The houFavorite Quotes:
I never analyzed our friendship that much; it just happened, in the way a tree grows, or a sponge cake rises. We just happened.
The house hits me with the pungent aroma of porridge and urine. I feel like some aging Goldilocks in a horror version of the fairy tale as I make my way through the dark kitchen.
There were other girls like me at school, ghosts in the classroom, invisible at playtime, our voices never heard, stories never shared.
My Review:
I despised the characters in this book, they were all selfish, petty, and horrid people, everyone had their own agenda and no one was trustworthy or at all admirable in any way. I grew impatient with them and wondered why they bothered with each other as I would have surely made tracks quickly and left either one of them eating my dust. Yet this crafty author tugged and poked at my curiosity and I found I needed to know what happened that fateful night, as they were all obviously lying like dirty rugs. Multiple twists and unpalatable turns later, I was glad I had hung in there. I had an inkling of some of their many evildoings but certainly didn’t foresee the totality. ...more
Hayley’s sigh held all the tragedy of the world, and the weight of her chosen career path– a choice that she sounded like she might reFavorite Quotes:
Hayley’s sigh held all the tragedy of the world, and the weight of her chosen career path– a choice that she sounded like she might regret at this precise moment.
...not one to mince her words. Or swallow them. Or even think about them too much. She was one to let them run freely out of her mouth and into the world, unchecked.
Henny Penny was the Houdini of chickens, and perhaps the Einstein of chickens, too. She mysteriously managed to get out of the coop often...
The Guide Dog School dropout had been the terror of Berrywick and surrounds. Chasing geese, stealing ice creams and biscuits from small children, threatening to topple the elderly.
Chaplin tended to be entitled and supercilious, but Julia had never seen or heard him hiss at anyone. Was this some kind of sign? Was Chaplin some kind of savant cat who could detect evil the same way as those people who could find water with twigs?
My Review:
I adore this clever pair of authors known as Katie Gayle, they keep me guessing in a must amusing and entertaining manner with their wry wit. Their comical descriptions seem to jump off the page and effortlessly play across my gray matter like a movie reel. Their murder mysteries are well-honed, easy to follow, smartly paced, well-nuanced, and authentic. I hope they keep Julia Bird going into perpetuity as I will never tire of her meddling and quirky fellow villagers, despite their unusual propensity for bloody murder. ...more
She looked wrung-out, like a pretty cloth that had been washed over and over and been through the mangle a hundred times.
She looked liFavorite Quotes:
She looked wrung-out, like a pretty cloth that had been washed over and over and been through the mangle a hundred times.
She looked like just the sort of person she was, with her sharp eyes, sharp bone structure and expensively dyed blonde hair. Bella almost expected her to have fangs when she opened her mouth.
She hated guilt. It was unproductive and offered no escape.
Your Scooby Doo methodology sounds less than professional.
‘Sorry your date didn’t work out,’ Matt said, stroking the cat. She sniffed. ‘How do you know I went on a date? And what makes you think it didn’t work out?’ ‘You left looking like a million dollars. As for the end result, you came back early, slammed the door, and sang “moronic” to Blondie’s “Atomic”.’
I was at school with Rupert… He always was an idiot. All smart trousers and no substance.
My Review:
I have always enjoyed picking up anything Clare Chase chooses to write. Her stories are well-polished and colorfully detailed, and while her tales are amusing and easy to fall into, I can never seem to fully solve the mysteries or ferret out the culprits on my own. I had fun getting to know the characters in her new series and am already looking forward to reading more of this sneaky snoop. Bella is tenacious and quite handy at stretching and acquiring resources. I admire her moxie. ...more
She flicked John a small I-told-you-so smile and took out her diary. It was a thing of beauty with gilded pages, decorated with tiny hFavorite Quotes:
She flicked John a small I-told-you-so smile and took out her diary. It was a thing of beauty with gilded pages, decorated with tiny hummingbirds. It made every entry feel important, which was just as it should be. You only got one life, after all.
Her clothes weren’t usually expensive or new, she just made sure they had that certain something.
Life was for living, you might as well do it like you meant it.
I’d settle for Leo just looking at me with the same adoration he has for an Eaton sausage sandwich. Though I suppose I can just about put up with him.
His sigh sounded like air leaking from a leather sofa.
My Review:
I have always enjoyed picking up anything Clare Chase chooses to write. Her stories are well-polished and colorfully detailed, and while her tales are amusing and easy to fall into, I can never seem to fully solve the mysteries or ferret out the culprits on my own. I had fun getting to know the characters in her new series and am already looking forward to reading more of this sneaky snoop. Bella is tenacious and quite handy at stretching and acquiring resources. I admire her moxie. ...more