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'He never went out without a book under his arm, and he often came back with two.'
-- Victor Hugo
In April 2024 we read 10 books and had some hits (yay cosy mysteries!) and some misses (looking at you Inspector Morse!).
We revisited the faerie realms with Emily Wilde, ran for our lives with a final girl, enrolled at Ellingham Academy with some truly devious youths, learned about the Dreaming spirits in the Aussie outback, solved a few murders that we had no right investigating, and saw what the future will look like once AIs take over humanity.
If any of the titles outlined below peak your interest, we’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Happy Reading, Friends!
This is Book One in the ‘Inspector Morse’ series.
Beautiful Sylvia Kaye and another young woman had been seen hitching a ride not long before Sylvia’s bludgeoned body is found outside a pub in Woodstock, near Oxford. Morse is sure the other hitchhiker can tell him much of what he needs to know. But his confidence is shaken by the cool inscrutability of the girl he’s certain was Sylvia’s companion on that ill-fated September evening. Shrewd as Morse is, he’s also distracted by the complex scenarios that the murder set in motion among Sylvia’s girlfriends and their Oxford playmates. To grasp the painful truth, and act upon it, requires from Morse the last atom of his professional discipline.
Get in the bin, creepy old Morse. DNF (Did Not Finish).
I can’t remember watching Inspector Morse on TV, but for some reason I had a soft spot for the series and thought of it fondly. So when I saw this first book in a second-hand shop, I thought – “Great! More Morse!”. Sadly, the language used to discuss women and sexual assault, was really poorly done. A product of its time? Who knows. Too gross and skeevy to read now? Yeppers.
I would like to go back and watch some of the TV series to see if Morse was as letchy as he appeared to be in this book, or if they mellowed him a bit for the show. Either way – I’d suggest skipping this one and calming yourself down with a dose of Miss Marple, if you’re looking for a classic TV detective series to pick up in print.
This is a stand-alone novel.
Charity Curtis has the summer job of her dreams, playing the “final girl” at Camp Mirror Lake. Guests pay to be scared in this full-contact terror game, as Charity and her summer crew recreate scenes from a classic slasher film, Curse of Camp Mirror Lake. The more realistic the fear, the better for business. But in the last weekend of the season, Charity’s co-workers begin disappearing. And when one ends up dead, Charity’s role as the final girl suddenly becomes all too real. If Charity and her girlfriend Bezi hope to survive the night, they’ll need to figure out what this killer is after. Is there more to the story of Mirror Lake and its dangerous past than Charity ever suspected?
3/5 Stars. This was a quick and entertaining read, and it was on my radar thanks to the 2023 Bram Stoker Award ‘Superior Achievement in a YA Novel’ nomination it received. Also, final girl at Camp Mirror Lake? Sign me up! Only for the story though. I’d be the worst final girl on account of the running I’d refuse to do … though I am pretty stubborn. Anyway, I digress. I enjoyed the read, however the ending of this one didn’t quite stick it for me. I wanted a bit more moxy from Charity when things started to kick off – she knew the park like the back of her hand and was used to creating special effects and tricks to fool the punters, so I would have liked her to pull some cool tricks out of her bag as decoys. Charity resorted to violence pretty quick too for someone that should be very suspicious of being pranked. I did like the weird old lady, and the cultish feel of what was lurking in the woods. A slasher-esque thrill ride to recommend to the horror-loving young adults in your life!
This is Book 2 in the ‘Emily Wilde’ series. Check out Book One – ‘Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries’.
When mysterious faeries from other realms appear at her university, curmudgeonly professor Emily Wilde must uncover their secrets before it’s too late. Emily is a genius scholar of faerie folklore. She just wrote the world’s first comprehensive of encyclopaedia of faeries and has learned many of the secrets of the Hidden Folk on her adventures, and also from her fellow scholar and former rival Wendell Bambleby. Bambleby is more than infuriatingly charming, he’s an exiled faerie king on the run from his murderous mother, and in search of a door back to his realm. While Emily works on a new project (a map of the realms of faerie), Bambleby lands her in trouble yet again when assassins sent by his mother invade Cambridge. With new relationships for the prickly Emily to navigate and dangerous Folk lurking in every forest and hollow, Emily must unravel the mysterious workings of faerie doors, and of her own heart.
5/5 Stars. Loved it! One of the few books I’ve borrowed from the library lately that I’m considering buying – this series is great! So atmospheric and FULL of great descriptions of fairy folk, creatures and lands. Emily is smart and capable, and we continue to explore her relationship with Wendell as the team try to find a door back to his realm. In this book, Emily has completed her encyclopaedia and is now tackling the mapping of faerie realms. I loved the side notes and research history scattered throughout her journal, describing the Folk and descriptions of all the realms. Faerie is a dangerous and magical place – ‘The correct path – that which might actually lead you back to civilisation – is always treacherous or seemingly impassable‘ (p188). The characters were likeable, the story well paced and I’m keen to hear more about Wendell’s family and return from exile in Book 3! I’d also totally buy a copy of Emily’s encyclopaedia.
This is Book One in the ‘Truly Devious’ series.
Ellingham Academy is a famous private school in Vermont for the brightest thinkers, inventors, and artists. It was founded by Albert Ellingham, an early twentieth century tycoon, who wanted to make a wonderful place full of riddles, twisting pathways, and gardens. “A place,” he said, “where learning is a game.” Shortly after the school opened, his wife and daughter were kidnapped. The only real clue was a mocking riddle listing methods of murder, signed with the frightening pseudonym “Truly, Devious.” It became one of the great unsolved crimes of American history. True-crime aficionado Stevie Bell is set to begin her first year at Ellingham Academy, and she has an ambitious plan: She will solve this cold case. That is, she will solve the case when she gets a grip on her demanding new school life and her housemates: the inventor, the novelist, the actor, the artist, and the jokester. But something strange is happening. Truly Devious makes a surprise return, and death revisits Ellingham Academy. The past has crawled out of its grave. Someone has gotten away with murder.
3/5 Stars. I think I may have had higher expectations for this one, as it’s been on my TBR for some time and I’ve always heard great things. Don’t get me wrong, it’s an intriguing first book in a twisty murder mystery centred at an unusual school for gifted teens. It’s well written, and kept me turning the pages to see what would play out. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the chapters set in 1936 – where ‘Truly Devious’ first strikes – preferring to spend time with Stevie and her friends in the current timeline as she navigates the school and the darkness at its core. I also found the ‘Truly Devious’ riddles and poems a bit clunky. On a brighter note, all the kids have different skill sets and interests, and were well defined. I liked Stevie’s aim to follow in Sherlock’s footsteps. Not sure I’ll carry on with the series, but can see how the book would appeal to a young reader who loves a good mystery/thriller, and I’m glad that I finally picked it up!
This is a stand-alone novel.
Jono, a city-born Indigenous teenager is trying to figure out who he really is. Life in Brisbane hasn’t exactly made him feel connected to his Country or community. Luckily, he’s got his best friend, Jenny, who has been by his side through their hectic days at St Lucia Private. After graduating, Jono and Jenny score gigs at the Aboriginal Performing Arts Centre and an incredible opportunity comes knocking – interning with a documentary crew. Their mission? To promote a big government mining project in the wild western Queensland desert. The catch? The details are sketchy, and the land is rumoured to be sacred. But who cares? Jono is stoked just to be part of something meaningful. Plus, he gets to be the lead presenter! Life takes a turn when they land in Gambari, a tiny rural town far from the hustle and bustle of the city. Suddenly, Jono’s intuition becomes his best guide. He’s haunted by an eerie omen of death, battling suffocating panic attacks, and even experiencing visions of Wudun – a malevolent spirit from the Dreaming. What’s the real story behind the gas mining venture? Are the documentary crew hiding something from Jono? And could Wudun be a messenger from the land, fighting back against the invasion?
4/5 Stars. Was a hoot reading a story with ties to my home town of Brisbane, and told with such heart and vulnerability. We follow 17 year old Jono’s story of disconnect, family and the love of country – set against the backdrop of the Dreaming and an ominous creature who returns to cure the land. Not sure I’d call this a ‘horror’ story, but I loved the magpie totem imagery and the descriptions of the Aussie landscape. “The magpie spirit animal is a messenger foretelling death and the birth of new life.” (p51) Found it sweet when the characters rented a holiday unit near Cotton Tree – one of my favourite places on the Sunshine Coast 😀 Support Aussie Indigenous authors and you’ll find some great reads. ‘Borderland’ has also been shortlisted for ‘Best Horror Novel’ and ‘Best Young Adult Novel’ in the 2023 Aurealis Awards!
This is Book One in the ‘Evenfall Witches B&B’ series.
For 400 years, the Warren witches have used their magic to quietly help the citizens of the sleepy New England town of Evenfall thrive. There’s never been a problem they couldn’t handle. But then Constance Graves–a local known for being argumentative and demanding–dies while staying at the bed and breakfast Brynn Warren maintains with her aunts. At first, it seems like an accident but it soon becomes clear that there’s something more sinister at work, and Aunt Nora is shaping up to be the prime suspect. There’s nothing Brynn wants more than to prove Nora’s innocence, and it hurts her to know that even 2 years ago that might have been easier. Brynn, after all, is a witch of the dead–a witch who can commune with ghosts. Ghosts never remember much about their deaths, but Constance might remember something about her life that would help crack the case. But Brynn hasn’t used her powers since her husband died, and isn’t even sure she still can. Brynn will just have to hope that her aunts’ magic and her own investigative skills will lead her to answers–and maybe back to the gift she once thought herself ready to give up forever.
5/5 Stars. Who am I, getting a bit teary at the end of a cosy supernatural mystery lol. How amazing is this cover, by the way! That cat is a supermodel. I enjoyed the additional magical elements with this one – the Warren sisters (witches) run the Ivywood Hollow B&B, along with their cat Faustus & a crow called Dog 🙂 Izzy’s a kitchen witch; Nora a garden witch; and Brynn a witch of the dead. While the sisters try to solve the murder of Constance Graves, they’re also battling to keep their identities a secret while they support Brynn through the loss of her husband and the resulting block to her witchy powers. I’d definitely be keen to keep reading this series – it’s lighthearted and comforting with a dash of witchy razzle-dazzle.
This is Book One in the ‘Council of AIs’ series.
The world is in the midst of a new Cold War – between the wasteful nations of the West, and the oppressively tyrannical regime of the Greater Far East. Ruth Sharpe and Cassie Bailey are radical journalists and brilliant hackers investigating the rumours that both governments are covertly run by sentient AI systems. What they uncover is a much more dangerous secret – one that could spell the doom of all humanity. They will need to cut through decades of lies from both sides to reach the truth and warn the world … while the clock ticks down to the extinction of all human life. Ruth and Cassie will have to decide what price humanity is willing to pay for its own salvation.
4/5 Stars! This book was nominated for ‘Best Science Fiction Novel’ in the 2023 Aurealis Awards! I don’t read a lot of sci-fi, so was worried that it would be too dense (ok, I would be too dense) and I’d lose the thread of the story. This one kept me intrigued and invested til the end though. Seven sentient AI systems have formed a council and want to destroy humanity to save the rest of the planet. Meanwhile in the Greater Far East, humanity are doing a great job of wiping out any joy or quality of life for themselves already thanks to the Party. This book is an interesting take on what it means to be human, the lengths we’ll go to for the ones we love, and how quickly society can deteriorate when power and control become the dominant forces. I found the Greater Far East rhetoric to be a bit heavy handed at times, and trigger warnings for sexual assault. The idea of uploading consciousness to different platforms was cool – and one of the characters reminded me of Krang from the Ninja Turtles which was a hoot. Definitely one to add to your TBR.
This is a stand-alone novel.
The murder of several politicians at sea has shattering implications for a local lobsterman and a young boy. Israel Pike was a killer, and he was an honest man. They were not mutually exclusive. After discovering seven men murdered aboard their yacht – including two Senate rivals – Israel Pike is regarded as a prime suspect. A troubled man infamous on Salvation Point Island for killing his own father a decade before, Israel has few options, no friends, and a life-threatening secret. Elsewhere on the island, 12-year-old Lyman Rankin seeks shelter from his alcoholic father in an abandoned house only to discover that he is not alone. A mysterious woman greets him with a hatchet and a “Make a sound and I’ll kill you.” As the investigation barrels forward, Lyman, Israel, and the fate of the case collide in immutable ways.
5/5 Stars. Really enjoyed this one & will hunt down some more of Koryta’s work to add to my TBR. As we piece together what happened out on the yacht, we find out more about Israel’s backstory – why he went to prison for murder, and the wider implications for the island. The island setting was atmospheric, and the intergenerational family dynamics were interesting and at times hard to read – trigger warnings for child abuse. I listened to a lot of this on audio, which was done well too. This book was nominated for ‘Best Novel’ 2024 Edgar Allan Poe Awards! The final scenes were quite heartfelt and cinematic, and if you saw me well up, no you didn’t. Defs recommend!
This is Book One in the ‘Corie Geller’ Series.
Just a few years ago, Corie Geller was busting terrorists as an agent for the FBI. But at 35, she traded in her badge for the stability of marriage and motherhood. Now Corie is married to the brilliant and remarkably handsome Judge Josh Geller and is the adoptive mother of his lovely 14-year-old daughter. Between cooking meals and playing chauffeur, Corie scouts Arabic fiction for a few literary agencies and, on Wednesdays, has lunch with her fellow Shorehaven freelancers at a so-so French restaurant. Life is, as they say, fine. But at her weekly lunches, Corie senses that something’s off. Pete Delaney, a milquetoast package designer, always shows up early, sits in the same spot (often with a different phone in hand), and keeps one eye on the Jeep he parks in the lot across the street. Corie intuitively feels that Pete is hiding something–and as someone who is accustomed to keeping her FBI past from her new neighbours, she should know. But does Pete really have a shady alternate life, or is Corie just imagining things, desperate to add some spark to her humdrum suburban existence? She decides that the only way to find out is to dust off her FBI toolkit and take a deep dive into Pete Delaney’s affairs.
Sadly, I didn’t get on with this one – DNF. I really took an early dislike to the main character Corie and could see I’d fall into a reading slump if I tried to slog through it. This one has a decent overall rating but mixed reviews on Goodreads. Was ultimately sad to put it down as I wanted to get through to Book 2 – ‘Bad, Bad Seymour Brown‘ – to check it off the Edgar Allan Poe Award Reading List. Thankfully there are a LOT more books on that list to get on with. Life is too short to keep reading a book you’re not vibing with. Onward, readers! Onward!
This is Book One in the ‘Enchanted Garden Mystery‘ Series.
The Enchanted Garden behind Elliana Allbright’s perfume shop draws people of all ages with its fragrant flowers and lush greenery. But when the magical serenity is interrupted, it’s up to Ellie to sniff out a killer. Ellie’s life has blossomed in Poppyville, California, since she opened Scents & Nonsense, a custom-made-perfume store. Her skills with aromas and botanical essences—some from her very own garden—seem almost…supernatural. Her perfumes can evoke emotions, bring about change, or simply make people happy. Customers are flocking to the store to buy her wares or just to sit in her beautiful garden, sip tea and enjoy homemade cookies. But she smells trouble when she learns that her part-time assistant Josie is dating her ex. And before she can tell the young woman to beware of his charms, she finds Josie dead in the Enchanted Garden. Now the prime suspect in Josie’s murder, Ellie must search for the real culprit in Josie’s past—because it’ll take a miracle to nip this problem in the bud..
5/5 Stars. Haha look at the cat & dog on the cover (Nabokov the Russian blue shorthair & Dash the corgi). Sold! I’m loving cosy mysteries at the moment and something about holding the pocket trade paperback version is so comforting! This one has a bit of a supernatural garden-witchy feel to it too, for a bit of a different spin. I loved the description of Ellie’s enchanted garden and her connection to nature. “The beta fish circled a couple of times, then stopped, eyeing me with piscine skepticism.” (p98) The plot was pretty run-of-the-mill but that’s kind of what I want with a cosy mystery. Someone barging their way (nicely) into an investigation they should not be a party to and the law-enforcement kind of going – ‘Look, you seem to be having fun and finding clues, so knock yourself out.’ The love interest angle is only just developing and I liked the quote – “… you know what they say about the men in Poppyville, Dash. The odds here are good, but the goods are pretty odd.” (p7) Keen to keep reading the series & see Ellie develop more into her ‘powers’.
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