January 2024

Hillary Clinton and Louise Penny, State Of Terror – OK, not entirely believable, and I think it was a mistake to bring in Three Pines, C
Debbie Young, Murder In The Manger – slight but pleasant, C+
Kate Morton, The Clockmaker’s Daughter – oh dear, an ‘archivist’ with cotton gloves who steals the archives and is supposed to be sympathetic, B-
Jessie Burton, The Confession – good, ultimately a dissection of poor motherhood, B+
Lucy Clarke, The Castaways – well constructed but not sure how the characters would manage in the future, B
Mavis Doriel Hay, The Santa Klaus Murder – entertaining classic crime, A
Karin Slaughter, The Last Widow - gripping but what a bleak world view, B+
Cara Hunter, Murder In The Family - great read but nb a baby in these circs would have been registered under the woman’s maiden name, A
Claire Douglas, The Woman Who Lied, quite good plot, mediocre writing, B-
Sarah Clarke, My Perfect Friend, not very good, C-
Walter Tevis, The Queen’s Gambit, very good, A-
Victoria Scott, The Women Who Wouldn’t Leave, quite good, B-
David Eddings reread, Enchanter’s End Game, B