Book Review: THE FROZEN RIVER by Ariel Lawhon

 

Title: THE FROZEN RIVER

Author:  Ariel Lawhon

Read: August 2024

Expected publication: out now

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 all the stars!

 

Book Description (Goodreads):

 

A gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history.

Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own.

Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie.

My musings:

 

I love books based on real-life historical people, but not every author has the skill to imbue their fictional counterparts with as believable personalities as Lawhon has done with each and every one of her characters in THE FROZEN RIVER. For me, her book was like time travel back in time and place to meet midwife Martha Ballard as she is looking after the women in her small community in Maine. Of course, I knew that women of her time did not enjoy the same rights and freedom as we do today, but some of the historical facts still stunned me.

 

Based on the real Martha Ballard’s diary, which mainly recorded births and deaths and weather details, Lawhon blended fact and fiction to bring her own version of Martha and her large family to life. I liked her instantly, this intelligent, brave woman who will risk her own safety to fight for justice. Being a midwife, she is not only called upon to deliver babies but also to examine women who have been raped, or bodies when there has been an accident or a suspicious death. Martha is also able to read and write – not common for women of her time – and keeps a meticulous account of all her clients and events. When a man is found drowned in the river, she is the person called upon to determine what could have caused his accident. In Martha’s opinion, the death looks suspicious, with the man bearing wounds that point to a fight or an assault. She also knows that the same man had been accused of raping a local woman recently. But not everyone shares her opinion, and in a society where men have more power, this could prove to be very dangerous for her.

 

Thus starts a gripping mystery with a wonderfully atmospheric setting that had me spellbound from beginning to end – I could not get enough of this book! 

Book Review: DEVOTION by Hannah Kent

 

Title: DEVOTION

Author:  Hannah Kent

Publisher:  Pan Macmillan Australia

Read: November 2021

Expected publication: out now

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟1/2

 

Book Description:

 

Prussia, 1836

Hanne Nussbaum is a child of nature - she would rather run wild in the forest than conform to the limitations of womanhood. In her village of Kay, Hanne is friendless and considered an oddity...until she meets Thea.

Ocean, 1838

The Nussbaums are Old Lutherans, bound by God's law and at odds with their King's order for reform. Forced to flee religious persecution the families of Kay board a crowded, disease-riddled ship bound for the new colony of South Australia. In the face of brutal hardship, the beauty of whale song enters Hanne's heart, along with the miracle of her love for Thea. Theirs is a bond that nothing can break.

The whale passed. The music faded.

South Australia, 1838

A new start in an old land. God, society and nature itself decree Hanne and Thea cannot be together. But within the impossible...is devotion.

 

My musings:

 

After reading Kent's previous books BURIAL RITES and THE GOOD PEOPLE, I knew that she has a special skill in bringing the past to life with vivid imagery of her words. The story of Hanne and Thea, two young Lutheran girls embarking on a journey to the colonies of South Australia to start a new life, sounded interesting. Little did I realise though that it was not a straightforward, ordinary piece of historical fiction. Though inspired by the real life characters and the origins of the settlement that is now Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills, Kent has a few surprises in store for her readers.

 

As Hanne and Thea's friendship blossoms into a forbidden romance, I was wondering about what the future would hold for these two young women, considering the ultra religious and conservative environment that entraps them. I could never have guessed the turn the story took at its half way mark, and I admit that I was a bit taken aback initially. However, Kent's lyrical prose lent the story an almost dreamlike quality that fitted in well with this "twist", for the lack of a better term without giving too much away. It also allowed for a broader perspective of the lives of the new community established in the colony, and a resolution that was unusual to say the least.

 

This turn of events probably won't be for everyone but I urge you to give it a chance, because the rest of the journey was worth it. I particularly enjoyed Kent's descriptions of nature and the slightly supernatural air that marked the later part of the book. Kent also doesn't shy away from exposing the darker side of European settlement and the treatment of the Peramangk people, the original custodians of the land. Overall, the story turned out to be less of a historical account, but an emotionally charged tale of love, longing and grief that rapidly got me under its spell. It was both beautiful and sad, with many topics to reflect on. DEVOTION is one of those books that will stick in my mind with its timeless quality and characters.

 

 

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan Australia for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.

Book Review: I AM THE SEA by Matt Stanley

 

Title: I AM THE SEA

Author:  Matt Stanley

Publisher:  Legend Press

Read: December 2021

Expected publication: out now

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 all the stars!

 

Book Description:

 

1870. Apprentice lighthouseman James Meakes joins two others at the remote offshore rock of Ripshaw Reef - replacement for a keeper whose death there remains unexplained.Meakes' suspicions grow as he accustoms himself to his new vertical world. He finds clues, obscure messages and signs that a fourth occupant may be sharing the space, slipping unseen between staircases.

With winter approaching, the keepers become isolated utterly from shore. Sea and wind rage against the tower. Danger is part of the life. Death is not uncommon. And yet as the storm builds, the elements pale against a threat more wild and terrifying than any of them could have imagined. 

My musings:

 

Phew, what a crazy ride this book was! If you have had any ill-conceived romantic notions about the life of a lighthouse keeper, then this book will soon set you straight. It started innocently enough: young James Meakes arrives at the remote Ripsaw Reef Lighthouse to commence his six months term as trainee lighthouse keeper under the supervision of Principle Bartholomew and Assistant Keeper Adamson. On the same day, the body of another lighthouse keeper, Spencer, is taken away from the island for autopsy, as he has passed away in suspicious circumstances, a fact that will come to haunt James during his traineeship. Straight away, we learn of James’ fascination with the lighthouse and life within it, which he shares freely with the reader. I can never resist books about lighthouses, so was most intrigued to hear details of its construction and workings, as well as the regimented lives and power structure of the men living in its confines.

 

It soon becomes obvious that all is not well in the lighthouse. Assistant keeper Adamson never exchanges a civil word with the head keeper, and also gives James a hard time, playing multiple pranks on him as he is starting out in his apprenticeship. James becomes convinced that Adamson has a dark past and that he may pose a danger to him, especially once he discovers eerie writings on walls and in hidden cupboards, as well as a message in a bottle warning him of danger. Did the unlucky assistant keeper Spencer write these as a warning prior to his death? And whilst James is able to district himself with the strict routine of his work, things start going wrong when an inspector arrives from the mainland and upsets the delicate balance ...

 

Stanley sure knows how to set a scene. Whilst the lighthouse initially presented a fascinating and interesting backdrop of fine engineering and workmanship, it soon took on a sinister countenance as the weather closed in and young James began to suspect that all was not well in its confines. The claustrophobia slowly increased until it had dispelled the last vestiges of any romantic or cosy notions I may ever have entertained about life in a lighthouse. But like the birds attracted to its beacon and crashing against its solid walls to their certain death, I was equally compelled to read on, even as the atmosphere became decidedly sinister and eerie. Stanley’s writing, which initially progressed in an orderly, almost scientific fashion reflecting young James’ fascination with his new home and detailed descriptions of the lighthouse, became more frantic and disjointed as James becomes fearful for his own life.

 

I am impressed by the way the author pledges the lighthouse itself as a character in the story, from solid foundation to dangerous foe, as if it had turned against the men manning it. Such a deliciously claustrophobic atmosphere is something I always seek out but not often find in novels, and it was masterfully crafted here. From early on, in the back of my mind, a suspicion was growing, ultimately consuming me throughout the reading experience. And despite several misdirections and my hope to be proven wrong, I found that in the end my worst fears were confirmed in an action packed finale so dramatic and horrific that it will probably stay in my mind forever, whenever I lay eyes on a lighthouse. Some imagery would befit a Hitchcock movie, such as the scores of birds committing suicide by throwing themselves against the lighthouse windows attracted by the light. Others are a stark contrast in their beauty, such as the aurora borealis as glimpsed from the top of the tower. And some are made from your worst nightmares, not to be described here because I am not about to spoil the experience for you by giving too much away.

 

Summary:

 

All in all, I AM THE SEA is one of those dark, claustrophobic and highly atmospheric books that comes around only rarely. Written in the first person, it will make you question everything, from the reliability of the narrator to the unravelling of the mind as the isolation takes its toll. And whilst the fascinating facts about the engineering of the lighthouse and the regimen controlling the lives of its keepers was most interesting, the lighthouse and the surrounding hostile sea soon became an evil force that made me shiver. Or was the evil within its walls? Culminating in an action packed, violent and vicious finale, this is a book that should be on your must-read list if you love an eerie, claustrophobic setting and characters who all have something to hide. Cleverly crafted, this book really got under my skin and its images will haunt me for some time to come. Highly recommended.

 

 

 

Thank you to Netgalley and Legend Press for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.

Book Review: THE GIRL BEHIND THE WALL by Mandy Robotham

 

Title: THE GIRL BEHIND THE WALL

Author:  Mandy Robotham

Read: November 2021

Expected publication: out now

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟

 

Book Description:

 

A city divided.
When the Berlin Wall goes up, Karin is on the wrong side of the city. Overnight, she’s trapped under Soviet rule in unforgiving East Berlin and separated from her twin sister, Jutta.

Karin and Jutta lead parallel lives for years, cut off by the Wall. But Karin finds one reason to keep going: Otto, the man who gives her hope, even amidst the brutal East German regime.

When Jutta finds a hidden way through the wall, the twins are reunited. But the Stasi have eyes everywhere, and soon Karin is faced with a terrible decision: to flee to the West and be with her sister, or sacrifice it all to follow her heart?

What attracted me to this book:

 

Having grown up in Europe with the spectre of the divide between East and West very real to us (my grandparents lived near the then Czechoslovakian border, with barbed wire and a minefield) I was very drawn to the premise of this book. Robotham does well to explain some of the political wheeling and dealing that took place around the construction of the Berlin wall, and the impact it had on a city divided.

My musings:

 

Jutta and Karin, two young and vibrant Berliners, made for enigmatic protagonists to take us on this journey and let us catch a glimpse into the lives of ordinary citizens affected by this dark point in history. By switching POV between both sisters, we got to see alternative viewpoints that ultimately led to each sister’s fate. With a heavy emphasis on the sisters, some of the more peripheral characters missed out on character development, which made me question some of their decision making processes.

 

As with any historical fiction, it is called “fiction” for a reason, and some suspension of disbelief was necessary here. I would have liked to see more tension, because even as a child I felt the fear people experienced when the Stasi were mentioned. Despite a few hints at the dangers the sisters faced, I didn’t get this sense of utter terror when they faced being caught. I also travelled to East Germany two years after the wall came down, and the bleakness and despair was still palpable in many places, and the contrast between East and West obvious in the drabness of the buildings, the dire state of the roads and smaller, less obvious things that struck us, like the “holiday camp” near a polluted lake that was totally surrounded by barbed wire. I would have liked to get this sense of entrapment and hopelessness from Karin, who would have experienced it firsthand.

 

This made the story a light reading experience rather than one that packed a punch, which seemed like an opportunity missed to me – but then perhaps this is what the majority of HF readers prefer these days? I see that it has become a trend to steer towards romanticising WWII for the sake of fiction, and I’m not a fan. There was so much potential here to make this a tense, heart pounding story of two sisters divided by a wall, but only ever skimmed the surface. For this very reason, a few elements were implausible given the control and the reach the Stasi had at the time, and their ruthlessness in pursuing anyone they deemed an enemy of the state, plus their friends and families. I’m trying not to give too much away here, but Jutta’s repeated exploits would have been discovered very early on in real life, especially considering the risks she took. Okay, I hear you: “It’s fiction!” you say, and as such it was a light, enjoyable read with the background of a historical era that is fascinating and made for much pondering. 

 

Summary:

 

THE GIRL BEHIND THE WALL  will appeal to readers who enjoy a lighter brand of historical fiction that is hopeful and uplifting rather than delving into the darker themes that defined the era. Postwar Germany is a time in history that is not often covered in HF and made a nice change from the multitude of WWII novels that have hit the shelves lately. If you are a reader who prefers a heavier read, then I suggest reading CONFESSION WITH BLUE HORSES by Sophie Hardach, which doesn’t shy away from exploring the more sinister side of life in the GDR.

Book Review: THE WHISTLING by Rebecca Netley

Title: THE WHISTLING

Author:  Rebecca Netley

Publisher:  Penguin Michael Joseph UK

Read: October 2021

Expected publication: 14 October 2021

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

 

Book Description:

 

Alone in the world, Elspeth Swansome has taken the position of nanny to a family on the remote Scottish island of Skelthsea.

Her charge, Mary, is a strange child. Distracted and secretive, she hasn't uttered a word since the sudden death of her twin, William - just days after their former nanny disappeared.

With her charge defiantly silent, Elspeth turns to the islanders. But no one will speak of what happened to William.

Just as no one can explain the hypnotic lullabies sung in empty corridors.

Nor the strange dolls that appear in abandoned rooms.

Nor the faint whistling that comes in the night . . .

As winter draws in and passage to the mainland becomes impossible, Elspeth finds herself trapped.

But is this house haunted by the ghosts of the past?

OR THE SECRETS OF THE LIVING..?

My musings:

 

It’s this time of year that I start looking for spooky, atmospheric reads and THE WHISTLING fitted that category perfectly, from its cover to its claustrophobic setting seasoned with plenty of gothic vibes. Its basic premise is an oldie but a goodie: a nanny arrives on a remote Scottish island to take up a position in a grand old manor house, full of hope for a better future and to escape her own personal tragedy. She soon discovers, however, that there may be a good reason the previous nanny left in a hurry, never to be seen again. Elspeth’s charge, nine year old Mary, is so traumatised after the death of her mother and her brother, that she has been mute ever since. Her aunt, a stern, austere woman, will not speak of the past. And the house itself harbours secrets that may lay in a realm outside the human consciousness (let’s just come out with it, the house is haunted!).

 

I loved the way Netley set the scene. From the moment Elspeth arrived on the island, I could picture it all vividly. The rugged coastline, so stunning in summer, that turns sinister and dangerous in the cold, dark and misty days of winter. The old house, grand from a distance, but with signs of neglect that run deeper than just financial – and of course there are rooms that shall not be entered, and secrets that shall not ever be spoken of. Dark corridors, lit only by flickering candle light. Hostile servants. Whispers in the night, objects that are never in the same place, dusty portraits staring down from the walls, an eerie lullaby coming from the nursery at night. Netley’s descriptive writing brought it all vividly to life in my head. And Elspeth’s own tragic past made her a well rounded character whose motives and aspirations I could easily relate to.

 

From here follows a story that may not reinvent the traditional haunted house story, but runs with the tropes and uses them well to create a tense, eerie atmosphere. Apart from supernatural vibes, there is a whisper of witchcraft and wise women that fits in well with the era and the setting. I read this at night and got the full effect of the spooky atmosphere. The mystery at the heart of the story gave it extra depth, even though I felt that the ending felt a bit rushed to me after the deliciously slow and tense build-up.

 

Summary:

 

All in all, THE WHISTLING is a beautifully written, haunting novel with a classical haunted mansion theme and a wonderful atmospheric setting. Netley’s writing has a dreamlike, almost wistful quality that made it easy to emotionally connect with the characters, the place and the era it is set in. If you love spooky old houses, the dark corridors of Skelthsea’s manor will lure you in and send shivers up your spine. If you are looking for a perfect Halloween read, and love slower, atmospheric novels in the vein of Laura Purcell or Michelle Paver, then look no further!

 

 

 

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Michael Joseph UK for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.

 

Book Review: SONGS IN URSA MAJOR by Emma Brodie

 

Title: SONGS IN URSA MAJOR

Author:  Emma Brodie

Read: September 2021

Expected publication: out now

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

 

Book Description:

 

The year is 1969, and the Bayleen Island Folk Fest is abuzz with one name: Jesse Reid. Tall and soft-spoken, with eyes blue as stone-washed denim, Jesse Reid's intricate guitar riffs and supple baritone are poised to tip from fame to legend with this one headlining performance. That is, until his motorcycle crashes on the way to the show.

Jane Quinn is a Bayleen Island local whose music flows as naturally as her long blond hair. When she and her bandmates are asked to play in Jesse Reid's place at the festival, it almost doesn't seem real. But Jane plants her bare feet on the Main Stage and delivers the performance of a lifetime, stopping Jesse's disappointed fans in their tracks: A star is born.

Jesse stays on the island to recover from his near-fatal accident and he strikes up a friendship with Jane, coaching her through the production of her first record. As Jane contends with the music industry's sexism, Jesse becomes her advocate, and what starts as a shared calling soon becomes a passionate love affair. On tour with Jesse, Jane is so captivated by the giant stadiums, the late nights, the wild parties, and the media attention, that she is blind-sided when she stumbles on the dark secret beneath Jesse's music. With nowhere to turn, Jane must reckon with the shadows of her own past; what follows is the birth of one of most iconic albums of all time.

Shot through with the lyrics, the icons, the lore, the adrenaline of the early 70s music scene, Songs in Ursa Major pulses with romantic longing and asks the question so many female artists must face: What are we willing to sacrifice for our dreams?

What attracted me to this book:

 

“The year is 1969 ...” I didn’t need to read any further to grab this book off the shelf and settle in for a bit of time travel to the 1960’s. Even though this time period has been described as one of the most tumultuous and divisive decades in world history, for me it always evokes images of long haired youngsters dancing wildly to psychedelic music, summed up in Emma Brodie’s book as “a time of myth, a time of beauty, a time of rock and roll”. It’s the time when my parents came of age, and I tried to picture them bright eyed and happy, dancing at a music festival. And this imagery is exactly what I got whilst reading SONGS IN URSA MAJOR. I am in no way musical and had a few doubts whether this story would be for me, but soon found the backdrop of the music scene fascinating – who ever knew of all the politics involved in making an album?

My musings:

 

SONGS IN URSA MAJOR is a slow burning, character driven book that very quickly drew me in and transported me to another era. I was so utterly entranced by the setting and its characters that I looked forward to every minute I could steal to read a little bit more. Janie Q is a wonderful character who really drove the story for me. But what is a story without a good supporting cast, and Brodie hasn’t neglected her secondary characters, making them just as believable and enigmatic as her lead. Janie’s family, these strong women supporting one another, especially touched my heart.

 

Whilst Brodie perfectly captures the languid 60’s vibes, she doesn’t shy away from darker themes that shaped the era: sexism, drug addiction, mental health, grief and how to stay true to yourself despite fame are just a few of the topics explored here. SONGS IN URSA MAJOR is an incredibly perceptive and touching debut novel by a very talented writer. Even though Brodie states that the book was inspired by the love affair between James Taylor and Joni Mitchell, Jane and Jesse are uniquely her own creation and I loved the way they came to life for me as I was reading this book. I would have loved to listen to the soundtrack of Jesse and Janie’s songs, but found out later that there is a Spotify playlist of 60s songs that inspired Brodie when writing this story.

 

Summary:

 

In summary, I thoroughly enjoyed the virtual time travel to the 60’s music scene and the rich cast of characters who took me by the hand and let me step into their lives for a few hours. Brodie’s writing is evocative and compelling and I can’t wait to read more of her books in future.

Book Review: OUR WOMAN IN MOSCOW by Beatriz Williams

 

Title: OUR WOMAN IN MOSCOW

Author:  Beatriz Williams

Read: August 2021

Expected publication: out now

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

 

Book Description:

 

 

In the autumn of 1948, Iris Digby vanishes from her London home with her American diplomat husband and their two children. The world is shocked by the family’s sensational disappearance. Were they eliminated by the Soviet intelligence service? Or have the Digbys defected to Moscow with a trove of the West’s most vital secrets?

Four years later, Ruth Macallister receives a postcard from the twin sister she hasn’t seen since their catastrophic parting in Rome in the summer of 1940, as war engulfed the continent and Iris fell desperately in love with an enigmatic United States Embassy official named Sasha Digby. Within days, Ruth is on her way to Moscow, posing as the wife of counterintelligence agent Sumner Fox in a precarious plot to extract the Digbys from behind the Iron Curtain.

But the complex truth behind Iris’s marriage defies Ruth’s understanding, and as the sisters race toward safety, a dogged Soviet KGB officer forces them to make a heartbreaking choice between two irreconcilable loyalties.

 

My musings:

 

I can count on one hand the number of spy novels I have read, even though I do find the topic intriguing. But I have always found them very heavy on political agenda and brimming with macho, indestructible characters that are difficult to relate to. All these fears were unfounded with OUR WOMAN IN MOSCOW, which showed that spies can come in all shapes and sizes, and from all walks of life.

 

Inspired by the real life story of Donald MacLean and the Cambridge Five, a spy ring who passed on large amounts of sensitive information to Russia during the cold war, Williams created a tale that was both intriguing as well as full of heart. There are no indestructible macho heroes here but real life humans with fears and flaws. In fact, it was interesting to read about the alcohol fuelled binges and extramarital affairs by the upper-class members who made up the spy ring, and their downward spiral that would ultimately be their undoing. It was equally fascinating to see what motivated these people to betray their own country for an ideal of communism that is so far removed from the stark realities of life in the Soviet Union.

 

OUR WOMAN IN MOSCOW was a book totally out of my comfort zone. I admit that I was sceptical, and struggled with the slow start to the book, which took its time to build the type of character development that turned out to be crucial to the rest of the story. But once the pawns were all set in motion and the real story began, I was hooked!

 

Iris and Ruth’s sister relationship was a huge driving force for the story, grounding it firmly in a deeply human topic of family, love and a sense of belonging, and quiet, underrated courage. With two female leads, the story explored the topic of espionage from a completely different angle: not from the men, who are written into the history books, but the effects on their wives, their families, and the roles they played in it. I can see why Williams was fascinated with this angle, because is it not always the unspoken of heroes in history that are the most intriguing? My main gripe with history lessons was always that you rarely heard about them – the ordinary people, the ones that kept the heart of society beating, that lived and suffered thought he wars and the battles, who lost and grieved loved ones, who managed to survive against all odds.

 

Whilst OUR WOMAN IN MOSCOW has two timelines, one set at the beginning of WW2 and one in the 1950’s, it primarily focuses on the time of the cold war, a period not often encountered in historical fiction. It also features some real life characters, such as Donald Maclean and Guy Burgess, two infamous members of the Cambridge Five. And even though Ruth, Iris and Sasha are entirely fictional characters, they fitted very well into this intriguing chapter in history. Williams goes one step further to include the POV of a Soviet KGB agent, who added extra depth to the story and also featured heavily in a clever twist towards the end, which certainly took me by surprise.

 

All in all, even though I found the start of the book a tiny bit slow, I was ultimately rewarded with a rich, intriguing tale of espionage seen through the eyes of twin sisters inadvertently caught up in a British spy ring. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from this author in future.

Book Review: THE STRANGE ADVENTURES OF H by Sarah Burton

 

Title: THE STRANGE ADVENTURES OF H

Author:  Sarah Burton

Publisher:  Legend Press

Read: June 2021

Expected publication: out now

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟1/2

 

Book Description:

 

Orphaned young, H is sent to live with her doting aunt in London. H's life is a happy one until her lecherous cousin robs her of her innocence, and the plague takes away the city and the people she loves. H is cast out—friendless, pregnant and destitute--into the rapidly emptying streets of London under quarantine.

Forced to fend for herself, she is determined to gain back the life she lost. H will face a villain out for revenge, find love in the most unexpected places, and overcome a betrayal that she never could have foreseen. Weathering it all, can H charm, or scheme, her way to the life of freedom and independence that she longs for?

 

My musings:

 

What a curious little jaunt through 17th century London this book proved to be! I admit that it was pure cover love that first drew me to the story, and I am so glad that I embarked on this journey. Covering historical events such as the plague, the Great Fire of London and the Shrove Tuesday Riots, this was not only an unusual but refreshingly honest (and sometimes funny) tale told through the eyes of an enigmatic, plucky young protagonist.

 

After having been orphaned as a young child,  the girl “H” and her older sister are sent to live with an aunt in London, where they act as part surrogate daughters, part hired help in their relative’s large and comfortable house. Life is good until a series of disasters (being raped by an older cousin, falling pregnant and losing most of her remaining family to the plague), H finds herself on the streets, having to fend for herself to survive. But she is nothing but resourceful, and the following story tells of her adventures ...

 

If you think that having a character only referred to as “H” is strange, don’t let this put you off from reading this delightful book – you will find out the reason soon enough! H was a wonderful protagonist, representing the life of a young woman in the era, even if her journey was anything but ordinary. This is not the type of dry, tedious historical fiction often encountered when reading about the late middle ages, but a story full of family drama, intrigue and adventure. The setting in old London town is atmospheric and evokes the era perfectly, especially in the grip of the plague and with a fire destroying great parts of the city. I also fell in love with many of the other colourful characters starring in H’s life, which added interesting side elements to the story.

 

At times, I was divided between taking the book as an entertaining romp (it appears at times not to take itself too seriously, with H’s often quite humorous observations) and wanting a bit more emotional depth, for example the terrible stresses encountered during the plague, which sometimes felt rushed and a bit glossed over. Covering a large timespan, the story often jumped over details I really wanted to explore a bit deeper.

 

Summary:

 

All in all, THE STRANGE ADVENTURES OF H was an atmospheric, entertaining romp through 17th century London, led by an enigmatic female lead. Exploring the darker elements of the time through a tongue-in-cheek lens, the book never became dark or confronting despite not shirking away from the hardships faced by women of the era. The book made a pleasant change from others in the genre, not overly romanticizing history but also managing to remain upbeat and often laugh-out-loud funny when seeing the world through H’s eyes. I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from this author in future.

 

 

Thank you to Netgalley and Legend Press for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.

Book Review: THE LOST APOTHECARY by Sarah Penner

 

Title: THE LOST APOTHECARY

Author:  Sarah Penner

Publisher:  Legend Press

Read: June 2021

Expected publication: out now

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟.25

 

Book Description:

 

A female apothecary secretly dispenses poisons to liberate women from the men who have wronged them—setting three lives across centuries on a dangerous collision course.Rule #1: The poison must never be used to harm another woman.
Rule #2: The names of the murderer and her victim must be recorded in the apothecary’s register.

One cold February evening in 1791, at the back of a dark London alley in a hidden apothecary shop, Nella awaits her newest customer. Once a respected healer, Nella now uses her knowledge for a darker purpose—selling well-disguised poisons to desperate women who would kill to be free of the men in their lives. But when her new patron turns out to be a precocious twelve-year-old named Eliza Fanning, an unexpected friendship sets in motion a string of events that jeopardizes Nella’s world and threatens to expose the many women whose names are written in her register.

In present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, reeling from the discovery of her husband’s infidelity. When she finds an old apothecary vial near the river Thames, she can’t resist investigating, only to realize she’s found a link to the unsolved “apothecary murders” that haunted London over two centuries ago. As she deepens her search, Caroline’s life collides with Nella’s and Eliza’s in a stunning twist of fate—and not everyone will survive.

 

My musings:

 

Historical novels with two separate timelines have become very popular. They usually go something like this: someone in the present discovers an old photo / diary / artefact which links to a past mystery / tragedy / secret, and both timelines run parallel as our modern day protagonist finds the clues. I have a kind of love / hate relationship to this kind of story, because I always feel drawn to the premise of an old secret being discovered, and yet on the other hand invariable find one timeline more compelling than the other. #readerproblems

 

As someone who would dig for Roman coins as a child and dream of becoming an archaeologist in the vein of a 1930’s expedition to Egypt with a panama hat and a camel train, I was instantly excited by the premise of mudlarking. Who wouldn’t be excited to find an old treasure? Therefore, when could-have-been historian Caroline Parcewell finds an old blue glass vial in Thames river mud on her holiday in London, she is intrigued. With only a small etching of a bear in the glass as a clue, she embarks on a search for more information about the origins of her find.

 

In the second timeline, in 1791, we are introduced to Nella, who owns a hidden apothecary shop inherited from her mother. But unlike her mother, Nella has expanded her knowledge of plants and remedies to supplying poisons to women who need to free themselves of a man, for whatever reason. She does so by her own code of ethics, which includes that no woman must ever be harmed by her poisons. When twelve-year old Eliza turns up in her shop to pick up a poison meant for her mistress’s philandering husband, both Nella as well as Eliza’s lives are about to change forever ...

 

As soon as I met Nella, I was hooked on her story. She was both mysterious as well as damaged, a strong female defying all the norms of her time, a wise woman who had strayed off the path of a “normal” moral compass through her own tragic experiences. Here was a character who could really drive a story! I also loved the information about the herbal potions and poisons Nella dispenses to her clients, which made me furiously google “poisonous plants in your own backyard”. I now live in fear of some neighbour dropping dead and my search history getting scrutinised by police!

 

Unfortunately, I soon found my interest waning in Caroline’s story. I became bored of her marital problems, her lamentations about wanting a baby but not wanting a baby, and about her failed aspirations of following her dream to study history at Cambridge. Her “research” into the little glass vial she had found sounded so easy that surely every one of us would be able to unearth a hidden underground city just by trowelling a garden bed and googling a few historical facts. I was tempted to skip through the present timeline just to get back to the “real” story, that of Nella and Eliza, which was so much more intriguing.

 

In the end, I felt that the whole book could easily have done without Caroline’s timeline, and those pages used to flesh out the peripheral characters in Nella’s story instead. I wanted more Gothic vibes, I wanted to hate the villains and understand Nella’s true motivations on a much deeper level. I think that the problem was that Caroline had no real emotional involvement in unearthing the past secret her little vial held hidden, which made both timelines run parallel rather than connect in any meaningful way, such as – for example – an old family secret would have done. Instead, it takes her only a couple of days to solve a mystery that has been missed by every single person in London for the last 200 years. I just didn’t buy it.

 

Summary:

 

In summary, THE LOST APOTHECARY offered both the highs and lows I often experience in historical fiction – a potentially 5 star timeline diluted by one I felt woefully uninvested in. However, I loved the way the author brought Nella to life for me, and eagerly followed her story. I think that the book will appeal to readers who enjoy a pleasant, entertaining story that is neither too dark or too mentally taxing but which still offers an intriguing past mystery to explore.

 

 

Thank you to Netgalley and Legend Press  for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.

Five star book review: THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE by V.E. Schwab

 

Title: THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE

Author:  V.E. Schwab

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 all the stars!

 

Book Description:

 

France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.

Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.

But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name.

 

My musings:

 

Five star reviews are the hardest to write, because how could I possibly do a book justice which touched my heart on all levels and totally captivated me from beginning to end? These types of stories don’t come around very often, and I am eternally grateful for my book buddies who talked me into this one. “Magical realism isn’t really my thing”, I can still hear myself say. And hear the devil laugh. Which is a bit of poetic justice because this is a book about a pact with the devil. “A pact with the devil?” I hear you say, and yes, I get it, because I thought it would be a bit strange as well. But wow, what a wonderful read this book turned out to be!

 

Meet Adeline (Addie) LaRue, a young girl living in the 18^th century who is being forced by her parents into a marriage  with a boy from the village. In a desperate plea to escape this fate worse than death, Addie makes a deal with the devil. But her wish for freedom will have unforseen consequences, because the devil is clever and cunning and you should be careful what you wish for. Because now Addie may have her freedom, but she is also unable to leave a mark on the world, and everyone who sees her will instantly forget her again. Across the ages, a beautiful young woman called Addie LaRue will remain a shadow, flitting in and out of people’s lives, of history, but never leave as much as a footprint behind. Until in 2014, she meets a young man called Henry in a bookstore, and he remembers her name ...

 

Playing out in parallel timelines exploring both Addie’s life in the past as well as the present, the book explores what it means to be human. There are so many themes in this story to be discussed and explored that this would make for the perfect group read. I was lucky to read it as part of a buddy read and we brought up some of life’s essential themes: what is more important, to live a good life or to leave a mark when you’re gone? How important are human relationships in our life, and can we live a life free of attachment and be happy and fulfilled? At what points in your life have you been so desperate that you would have happily made a deal with the devil to get you out of a situation? I could go on and on because there was just so much to talk about.

 

But let’s forget about meaning and just talk about the sheer entertainment value of the book. It had a bit of everything: some historical fiction, adventure, a strong female lead, a bit of romance, a villain you still can’t help but root for, and some truly painful moral dilemmas. I was utterly consumed by the story and couldn’t tear myself away. Let me also mention that the audio narration was fantastic and well worth the 15 hours of listening.

 

To  cut a long story short, THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE has earned itself a spot on my all-time favourites shelf. It had everything I look for in a book and totally swept me away in its fantasy world. My words will never do it justice, so go and see for yourself how brilliant this book really is!