smallhobbit | Books - March 2023

7 books this month, so I'm just ahead of target.

Death Comes To Marlow by Robert Thorogood
This is the second book of the Marlow Murder Series. When I finished the first I wasn't sure how keen I was, but I already had my library reservation in for the second (as there was a queue), so I continued. I won't bother with any more - for me the characters were unconvincing and there was a general air of implausibility. [F6]

River of Sins by Sarah Hawkswood
The next in the Bradecote and Catchpoll series, set in Worcestershire in the times of Stephen and Matilda (similar to Cadfael). I really enjoyed this. I like the main characters and I enjoyed how the story worked its way out. There was a real feel for the time and place. I've done so before, but I would recommend this series for anyone who likes crime novels - start at the beginning, as the characters develop. [D3]

Judas Horse by Lynda La Plante
Written by the author of Prime Suspect this was a story set in the Cotswolds, the posh areas. The plot is quite clever, but by the end I wasn't too bothered as to whether the main protagonist survived and also he failed my competency requirement. It was proof that not all crime in the Cotswolds is cosy. [B3]

Diary of a Somebody by Brian Bilston
Brian Bilston writes amusing poetry but this novel didn't appeal to my sense of humour. It includes a number of his poems, since this is written in the form of the diary of a poet, but I'd already come across all the better ones. [A3]

Murder in Midsummer by Cecily Gayford
A collection of crime short stories from 1920s to 1990s. It was on my bookshelf and I was looking for something to read just before I went away and so hadn't wanted to borrow a library book as I would lose almost a week out of the three week borrowing period (and it would be guaranteed that there would be another reservation if I wanted to renew it). I enjoyed the stories, although skipped a few as I'd read them before. It was a cheap secondhand copy so that wasn't a problem.

The Z Murders by J Jefferson Farjeon
A replacement for this month's Shedunnit book club read, which I'd read last year. It was written and set in 1930 and I enjoyed the story and also being immersed in the period. Part of the action takes place in Bristol and the surrounds so it was interesting to see what it was like and to look up various areas which have changed. SM borrowed it after me and also enjoyed it. [E3]

The Land of Green Ginger by Winifred Holtby
Sent to me by a friend who had two copies and who recommended it, knowing I'd read some of Winifred Holtby's other books. It's set in the 1920s in Yorkshire and is an interesting story about Joanna Burton, a woman who has great dreams and has to cope with the realities of a hard farming life. [C3]

[Letters refer to my reading lists. I aim to read at least one book from each list every month]

My book bingo is looking good, although more challenging from now on!