What I’m reading – August 2021

Friday, August 20, 2021 Permalink

A few blogging friends have started a monthly link-up sharing what’s on their bookshelves. My bookshelves are actually packed. I even have a to-be-read (TBR) bookshelf and – once they’re in my immediate future – a TBR bath trolley.

I figured instead I’d share some of my reading highlights of the past month and some coming up.

Favourite recent reads

Rabbit Hole is a standalone crime novel by Mark Billingham. It’s about murder in a psychiatric unit. It’s the quintessential locked room (well, facility) mystery. The police are investigating but – to their chagrin but her delight – Alice Armitage, formerly with the police herself but now a patient – is on the case. This is cleverly written from Alice’s somewhat distorted point of view.

The Last Guests is my favourite of JP Pomare’s thrillers. It’s set in his birth country of New Zealand and dips into voyeurism, gaslighting, blackmail and… ultimately violence. It’s twisty and will certainly keep you guessing.

Twenty Years Later is Charlie Donlea’s latest thriller and (like his other recent books) is centred around a true crime documentary, reinvestigating a case from… twenty years earlier. Donlea’s also given the TV show host a murky backstory to complicate matters.

 

Just Murdered by Katherine Kovacic brings to the page Miss Peregrine Fisher. Niece of Phryne Fisher and star of Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries. The characters here (a few decades after Kerry Greenwood’s Miss Fisher series) were created for the popular television show. Kovacic with an impressive background in art history (with detailed attention paid to fashion, culture and decor of the time) and sassy female detectives, has effortlessly brought them to life. This novel is based on the first show of the series and there are a few diversions that I think improved on the original.

The Devil’s Advocate by Steve Cavanagh is the sixth in the series featuring former con-man turned lawyer Eddie Flynn. Here Flynn’s co-opted into helping a young man accused of murder who is being railroaded into a guilty verdict for a prosecutor with a predilection for capital crimes and the death penalty.

The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell is one of my favourites of the last month of reading. It unfolds in two timeframes and is centred around a young couple who’ve gone missing. It’s only a few years after the fact when new evidence is found and we’re buried in a story where nothing and no one is really how they seem.

What’s up next?

I’ve just finished Cutters End by Margaret Hickey and the review is imminent. (When I get it down from over 750 words!) Sarah Bailey’s The Housemate is up next. But you can see my bath trolley has some excellent (immediate) future reads on it.

What I'm reading

what I'm readingI’m linking up with JoSueDeb and Donna for “What’s On Your Bookshelf?” a monthly feast of all things book related.

So… what’s on YOUR bookshelf?

18 Comments
  • Jo
    August 20, 2021

    I loved Ms Fisher! The Lisa Jewell book appeals to me too. Love your bath trolley…

    • Debbish
      August 20, 2021

      I’ve had this Ikea one for years. I’m sure I copied someone but notice they’re even more popular nowadays and heaps of people use trolleys for their books!

  • Retirement Reflections
    August 20, 2021

    Hi, Debbish – Thank you for joining us at ‘What’s On Your Bookshelf’. I believe we mostly read different genres. i.e. I am a bit of a chicken so tend to stay away from murders, mysteries and horror. (What’s left, I know!)
    I absolutely love the idea of your Bath Book Trolley and will be borrowing that thought!

    • Debbish
      August 23, 2021

      I bought the Ikea trolley for that 5-6yrs ago as I’d seen someone doing it but I notice a lot of people use them now!

  • Jennifer Jones
    August 20, 2021

    I haven’t read any of these books Deb. I love recommendations from friends so will pick a couple to add to my ever growing TBR pile.

    • Debbish
      August 23, 2021

      Thanks Jen, I hope you enjoy any you might choose!!!

  • Sue from Women Living Well After 50
    August 20, 2021

    Hi Deb! How wonderful that you have joined us. I’m always interested in the books you are reading and like the comment you left on my post, I haven’t read any of the ones you have listed. I do like a good murder or psychological thriller, just saying. Thanks for joining us for our first #whatsonyourbookshelfchallenge and for the recommendations. Have a great weekend .x

    • Debbish
      August 23, 2021

      Ah yes, I tend to almost ONLY read murders or thrillers but am trying to leap out of my comfort zone every so often….

  • Debbie
    August 20, 2021

    These all sound so good Deb! As you know I always value your recommendations so will be adding these to my piles (ever growing). Thanks for joining in with us, you’ll be a great addition!

    • Debbish
      August 23, 2021

      I can’t believe I almost forgot to join in Deb. When you first mentioned it ‘it’ seemed so far away and then suddenly I saw your posts. Methinks time is very confusing at the moment…

  • Lydia C. Lee
    August 20, 2021

    I’ve not read any of these! You read so much and you aren’t even lockdown!!

    • Debbish
      August 23, 2021

      I used to read more Lydia (not in lockdown) but haven’t spent much time writing at my desk so usually have to not-read so I don’t get ahead of myself / too many reviews behind.

  • Alison
    August 20, 2021

    I’ve read a couple of Lisa Jewels, I’ll have to put this one on my list. Great reviews Debbie, enjoyed reading them

    • Debbish
      August 23, 2021

      Hi Ali, I think I’ve only read 1-2 or hers previously but know she’s popular. I loved this one.

  • rawsonjl
    August 20, 2021

    I tend to prefer light reading.. but do enjoy the occasional murder mystery/ thriller thrown in there! These look like great picks.

    • Debbish
      August 23, 2021

      I fell in love with crime fiction by reading (what I guess is now called) cozy / cosy crime. Less macabre than a lot of the thrillers I read now. I occasionally read some general fiction and a bit of romantic suspense.

  • Andrea C
    August 31, 2021

    “The Last Guests” and “Rabbit Hole” sound awesome! Thank you for these recommendations! My favorite murder mystery read this summer has been “West Texas Dead: A Kailey and Shinto Mystery” by crime author Frances Hight (https://www.franceshight.com/). As an avid reader of all thing’s crime and mystery, this book was right up my alley. What a perfect time of year for this type of summer escapism! I love any stories that stick with me after I finish and this one will stay with me a long time. The main character’s, Kailey Carmichael and Shinto Elliot are on the hunt for a murderer after a professor ends up brutally murdered. After they initially believe they have solved the case, things aren’t as cut and dry as they had hoped. With a killer on the loose, not to mention the Mexican cartel being involved, the stakes are high! Definitely add this one to your summer reading list! If you do check it out I would love to know what you think. Thanks again!

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