Peter Fleming

#TheWomanInTheWall bk 5 in @heidiamsinck #Jensen series Published @muswellpress Jensen is now a mother with a five-month-old daughter Ea, who was born premature. She is on maternity leave from Dagbladet and is learning to cope as a single mother, with Ea’s father awaiting trial for murder. Surprisingly Jensen has taken to motherhood like a duck to water and is besotted with the life she has created. She is changed woman. This is a story that puts the reader through the emotional wringer. The crime of rape is central to it, the pain and suffering it causes destroys lives, something we are left in no doubt about. It is a crime of power and hatred, to damage or punish the victim, more than just sex as Funder is at pains to point out. It takes time for them to meet, but it was clear Funder and Jensen have much in common. Paternity and family add to this mix. That Jensen went ahead with the pregnancy shows the power of unconditional love, but Brix’s claim becomes an itch she must scratch. Marion her mother is adamant Brix is not Jensen’s father but becomes distressed that Jensen is so tenacious. Finally, the truth is revealed in an unexpected nerve shredding and harrowing scene. From this point aspects of Jensen’s past begin to make sense, their relationship dynamic changes and she realises that they are more alike than she ever realised. The plotting is tight, the prose is often taut, this is a powerfully written book with scenes that will have you holding your breath. Naturally this means the build-up is deliberate, but there are injections of pace and anxiety for Jensen to cope with now she is a mother with all the worries that come with it. She remains impetuous and has the habit of putting herself in harm’s way, which adds impetus to the conclusion, one which may surprise. Above all it is a story of acceptance, loving those close and being willing to change and adapt. Jensen is finally able to make sense of her life, become mature and emotionally stable. A searing examination of the damage the abuse of power and rape does to the victims within a superb crime fiction thriller. Free review copy Full review on my blog (link in bio) #bookstagram #bookreviews

#BloodLoss is the 4th in @linleversha 's #StephGrant series which was published this week by @hobeckbooks Former work colleague Robin’s apparent suicide has unsettled Steph and Caroline, who can’t believe he would do such a thing. He had been trying to get his life back on track by attending informal grief counselling meetings including a weekend retreat. Steph and Caroline had decided to attend the latest one undercover, presenting fabricated reasons for doing so, but in the hope to discover more about Robin’s state of mind. It is not only the attendees that they are deceiving though, as Hale is unaware of their true purpose. The kind of behaviour that came never be good, as Hale bumps into Steph when he is called to attend the murder scene. The crimes centre on fraud, scamming and money laundering, with the need to cover tracks leading to crimes against the person. The processing of grief is considered, how it is dealt with on an individual basis, with the need for honesty and openness to be able to move on is reflected upon. Secrets are kept and lies are told, not least by Steph and Caroline whose fictional grief stories admit them to the retreat. This brings questions of morality and some soul searching, before Steph continues her undercover work on an official basis. Being of the whodunnit style, the story is peppered with plenty of twists and red herrings for the reader to ponder. Great thought has been given in the portrayal the attendees, a collection of damaged people whose motives might not be what they appear, with some appearing downright creepy. Nicely judged and certainly had this reader guessing wrongly, though I was sure one wasn’t the killer. The motivation when revealed is initially surprising, but when considered fully makes perfect sense in the situation. The pacing feels just right; measured as the suspects are in turn considered, then rapidly increasing when Steph and Hale are on the right trail. This works perfectly in tandem with the nicely judged scenes with danger and jeopardy, in keeping with the storyline. An excellent murder mystery. Full review on my blog (link in bio) #bookstagram #bookreviews

Published today by @orionbooks #TheArtOfOccupation the fourth book in @chrislloydauthor 's wonderful #EddieGiral series, set in 1940s occupied Paris. Another gripping wartime noir. This story is all about stolen art works, superficially simple, but more complex once you scratch the surface. What emerges is a series of deals being brokered and an attempted sting operation, but a high stakes one where errors could be fatal. As ever Eddie has a balancing act ahead, trying to keep conflicting sides satisfied and stay alive. Eddie is such a world-weary soul, a real hardboiled hero, albeit one who has realised it’s not a good idea to wisecrack the Germans to their faces, so most of his pithy observations remain thoughts. It’s a brilliant portrayal of a good man trying to do right in an impossible situation, one constantly facing choices, making compromises at personal cost and sometimes working with the Germans. Clearly much thought and research have gone into recreating occupied Paris, and it shows. The Parisians are second class citizens suffering the privations of strict rationing whilst the German forces seem to get what they want. Then there are the petty mind battles with the Germans where small victories for Parisians keep up morale. The authentic feel is enhanced by the incorporation of real-life heroine Rose Valland into the story, as the art curator who aids Eddie, and who did so much to ensure the return of artworks after the war. The story moves along brisky considering the amount of action squeezed in. There is some violence, but not as much as might be expected, instead the writing captures a near constant sense of underlying menace. The author manages to make the confrontational scenes with the Germans pressurised and nerve jangling, where the wrong answer could mean a bullet in the head. Thereby this gripping tale keeps the reader constantly on edge. Full review on my blog (link in bio) #bookstagram #bookreviews

Kick off soon

Some ##BookPost today. Thanks to @insighteditions and @rachelquinmarketing Quin for sending me this enormous coffee table book Immortal Moments #TheWorldCup. I'll off course be reviewing it,may show the odd peek of some of the many photos, but I'll also be posting about events during the event

An instance of perfect timing. In today's @thetimes an article about Hitler's looted art treasure including one by Lucas Cranach the Elder. Next week #TheArtOfOccupation the latest in @chrislloydauthor #EddieGiral series is published next. It' plot has art theft including a Cranach. I've nearly finished it, my review is coming soon

Behind the Ivy is the tenth book in @sjrichardsauthor #LukeSackville crime thriller series. I was lucky enough to receive a copy of the audiobook, narrated by Samuel James, from the author in exchange for a fair review and here is what I made of it. Superficially three vastly different cases, but there is a commonality. Once Luke and the team find it the pieces begin to fall into place in this rapid, at times franticly paced thriller. Naturally the team face danger, though thanks to some clever plotting there are some great moments of false anxiety, where danger doesn’t appear when expected, thereby retaining an element of surprise. This is nicely judged within the storyline, bringing just enough suspense to keep the reader engaged and on their toes. The characters are developing quite quickly and this time weddings are in the planning and having children becomes a hot topic. Life threatens get in the way of dreams though, nothing is ever smooth. This produces magnificently inventive set piece scene, with Josh realising what he needs to look after for a happy future and end with him behaving heroically. I love the depth given to Josh rather than him being just the funny guy, as he would say, Gucci. Josh still provides some of the best laughs and Glen Baxter’s malapropisms and language mangling produces some funny phrases. Luke passes the misper job to Misty Mictchell, the hilariously coarse and expletive using PI. Her tongue may be rasping but she has a heart of gold and a new sidekick in the shape of Indian Sunny (Sundeep). Misunderstandings abound; idioms are mangled as they prove their worth. The main thing is it is all good-hearted stuff. Narrator Samuel James does a great job negotiating the light and the dark and seems to enjoy voicing Josh in particular. Another highly entertaining crime thriller with more than a sprinkle of light-hearted moments. Fans of the series will love it. Full review on my blog (link in bio) #bookstagram #bookreviews

27 Church Street: The Gathering Storm by @adrian.hobart and published by @hobeckbooks is the first in a new series dramatising the lives of the Stretton family of doctors and surgeons. The family saga begins in 1910 Kidderminster. A brash American Calvin Whitmore, the self-styled Carpet King of Yonkers (New York) rides into town and threatens to shake up the local carpet makers. He plans to get a factory up and running in double quick time and show the Brits how it’s done. To ensure he gets the pick of the experienced workers, he offers double pay, to the consternation of his competitors. A wonderful character, as contemptable as he is colourful, but he is steadfast in his opinions and a man of his word though. Conflict arises with the outbreak of smallpox. A highly contagious and deadly disease requiring isolation and lockdown of the population to avoid catastrophic spreading. The Stretton’s take charge much to Whitmore’s disgust, who barricades his workers inside his factory to keep working and start paying back on his outlay. This cavalier approach leaves a difficult situation to be resolved. Family relationships and love is what holds the story together. From the beginning when it is Samuel and Kate’s Golden Wedding party it becomes clear that a family hierarchy exists. Sammy wants to escape its shackles, whereas Katie as a woman has accepted her place, but is at an age where the chance finding love might have passed her by. Calvin’s son Charles is railing against his position too. He’s being groomed to run the UK operation, but he is happiest working on art, the designs and patterns rather than getting rich. The characterisation is superb with the strong Katie and the creative but downtrodden Charles particularly engaging. There is certainly no shortage of drama, but it’s always believable and never overplayed, making it hard to determine where facts have been dramatized. The author has also managed to capture the sense that change is coming and cleverly plants the seeds for future drama. An engrossing historical drama with engaging central characters. Full review on my blog (link in bio) #bookstagram #bookreviews

The Future of Fraud by Becky Holmes part of the #FuturesSeries from @melvillehouse thanks to @griffiths_nikki for including me in the blog tour. Fraud and scams are not going away, but this insightful and amusing pocket sized book (144 pages) will leave the reader better aware of the risks, what to look for and some simple things to stay safe. It's a book written for the everyman, clear, concise and framed using terms that are easy for us all to understand. The nature of fraudulent attacks is clearly explained by an author with real insight and some examples from people she knows. It’s also a surprisingly enjoyable read with a sprinkling irreverent wit. There is a downside though, there is no magic bullet. Any concerns you may have are not going to be allayed, but you will be more cautious, more aware and better able to avoid some of the pitfalls. Alas, we will never be totally immune as many things are outside of our control. (yes I am trying out AI on images) Full review on my blog (link in bio) #bookstagram #bookreviews

The concluding part of @julieandersonwriter 's #ClaphamTrilogy is published by @hobeckbooks An excellent period noir and brilliant end to a fantastic series. In this story the 1951 Festival of Britain is in full swing, and with millions of visitors descending on the capital, there is a shortage of affordable accommodation available. A combination of can-do attitude and a public with lower expectations than today, sees the deep-level bomb shelter being repurposed as a dormitory style hotel, with the restaurant food was supplied from the hospital kitchens. Then the fiction takes over, as hospital administrator Ellie Peveril discovers two bodies, a white woman and a black man. It is the friendship of Faye and Ellie that makes the story work. On the surface they have little in common, coming from different social and economic backgrounds, but they are drawn together by their shared beliefs and moral outlook. Having experienced the opportunities for women war work brought, both are determined to make a life for themselves away from being a mere housewife. The dynamic of their relationship is so complete, that in scenes involving only one of them I my find myself thinking what the other would make of their actions. There are some other great characters, my favourite being Beryl the blunt Scottish nurse. The pace gradually increases as the story is revealed, with the final third being close to breakneck. Packed with incident and danger this is a thriller with a capital T. There is a magnificent set piece which could be the finale, but then you realise there’s still a lot of pages to go. From then it is not just gripping but all consuming, you will not put it down. Real edge of the seat stuff with twists and shocks. The theme is one of female exploitation and abuse. The chaos and deprivation at the end of the war providing fertile ground for the organised trafficking of vulnerable women. This is tactfully handled but leaving the reader in no doubt that what may appear to be modern crimes have been done before. #bookstagram #bookreviews Full review on my blog (link in bio) with great podcast link.

Publishing on Thursday by @bloodhound.books is the fourth novel in @david.hewson Arnold Clover series The Devil in Dorsoduro. I loved the first two and somehow overlooked the publication of book three (now acquired as audiobook). Arnold has been earning a little extra cash helping an elderly ex-pat Celia Monteith. When Carabinieri Captaino Valentina Fabbri contacts him, enquiring if he has Celia’s keys he is a little puzzled, but heads over to meet her. Celia’s dog Bruno is upset and loose and through the locked gates they can see the door ajar. Further investigation reveals Celia dead in unusual circumstances. Bruno takes Arnold for several walks sticking to his routine. Celia and Bruno had a regular series of visits around the city, so inadvertently the endearing canine reveals Ceila’s week, day by day, giving Arnold more insight into this mysterious woman’s life. Story is complex, tightly plotted and comes together beautifully at the finale. As ever a renaissance story is woven within, in this case Giordano Bruno a polymath with an interest in alchemy. It’s an absorbing cerebral mystery to be cracked, Arnold is not a man of action, but he’s always a step ahead of the reader. It takes in organised crime, with Arnold prying into the business of one gang boss who terrifies ex-pat tabloid hack Alf Lascelles. He uses his unassuming charm to safely navigate the dangers presented, even giving some the benefit of the doubt and the belief that people can change. This is a story about accepting people and situations as they are. Much of the joy is found in the setting, the city of Venice. The reader sees Arnold settle into the real Venice, absorbing the way of life of its inhabitants and the culture of the city. He is now part of the city as remarked upon towards the end of the story, he may leave the city, but the city will never leave him. A wonderfully enthralling murder mystery, cleverly pieced together and written with warmth and affection for Venice and its inhabitants. #bookstagram #bookreviews Full review on my blog, link in bio.

Today it is my turn on the blog tour organised by @sophie.ransom for Greta Garbo and the Rise of the Modern Woman #GretaGarboModernWoman which has been written by Garbo's great Nephew @reisfieldwrites and is published by Vendela Publishing. A very detailed biography of an enigmatic and misunderstood woman. When it comes to acting Garbo brought the Swedish naturalistic style to her work at a time when Hollywood was full of actors used to the over demonstrative style from the theatre. She realised that as camera technology improved, close ups would become the future of expression in the medium. She had the looks and the technique, that set her apart for this new form of acting. She also was one of the few megastars to successfully negotiate the transition from the silent to talkie era. She was a woman who was determined to live her life, her way, on her terms. Perhaps not a big deal in this new millennium, but this was in a period where women had barely achieved universal suffrage. The studio bosses quickly appreciated her appeal to the young single woman working in offices in the big cities and the married middle-class woman. They mass marketed her clothing from the movies which they premiered in cities with their target audiences. Her studio MGM didn’t have it all their own way, as she pressured them for greater artistic freedom and to be free of the shackles of the contact system. An insightful examination of the life of a Hollywood great of the Golden Years, told with great affection and in extraordinary detail at times. One for the movie buff and lover of 1920s and 1930s style. Full review on my blog.