Ramblings about some books that I have enjoyed
Alafair Burke's The Note had potential, but it takes a while to find its footing. The premise—three old friends caught up in a prank gone wrong—starts off more annoying than intriguing. Their constant secrets and poor decisions pile up fast, making it hard to root for anyone early on. Things do improve as the story … Continue reading The Note
“Disappointing and Forgettable” I really wanted to like My Name is Emilia del Valle—I used to be a huge fan of Isabel Allende's earlier novels—but this one just didn’t do it for me. I gave up about halfway through because I simply didn’t care how the story ended. The setup had potential: a young woman … Continue reading My Name is Emilia del Valle
"Mrs Spy" by M. J. Robotham is an absolute gem — a beautifully crafted espionage novel that captures the spirit of Slow Horses while carving out a voice all its own. Set against the richly atmospheric backdrop of mid-sixties London, it follows Maggie Flynn, a single mother turned MI5 operative, as she delves into the … Continue reading Mrs Spy
Mere by Danielle Giles is the kind of novel that wraps itself around you like the creeping fog of the Fens—at once beautiful, chilling, and impossible to ignore. Set in 990 AD in an isolated Norfolk monastery, Giles weaves a tale steeped in atmosphere, where pagan superstition clashes with the early roots of Christianity, and … Continue reading Mere