bookswithlydscl's Reviews (639)

I know I'm in the minority but I didn't love this for most of the book BUT the final third won it over for me. I've seen it described a lot as humourous and funny but missed mention of it actually being a farce. Once it clicked with me at that level (shades of Wodehouse especially the ridiculous situations in Jeeves and Wooster) I started to come round and was won over when we started to get our character's stories - Estella's especially and I found the round up of everything to be really moving.

so 3* on this initial read, and i have a feeling I'll come to it again in future and may rate it higher knowing what I know.

Never felt like we got to know Marilyn.

I really enjoyed book one in the Carla James series - "Death Rites" and "Quiet Bones" follows hot on its heels with another mystery revolving around the history of Jericho and its odd inhabitants.

I get real Twin Peaks vibes about the setting for these thrillers, there's so many secrets waiting to be uncovered and I get a real sense of unease about the people and what is hidden beneath the surface.

Much like Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway series i am really enjoying the archaeologist meets police set up and our main character, Carla James has good insights with the historical elements. She doesn't have good instincts though and makes so many rookie errors that you have to suspend belief a little but despite that I really enjoyed this one and will continue reading future instalments to the series.

Love the concept, didn't quite click on execution and that ending just annoyed me. A quick and easy read with an immersive isolated setting. I would say i enjoyed it but its not one that will stick with me.

"Murder at the English Manor" is the twentieth instalment in  Helena Dixon's Miss Underhay Mystery series and once again delivers a thoroughly enjoyable cosy mystery that as always gives us a wonderful blend of mystery, intrigue and period detail that I always enjoy from this series.

This time, Kitty and Matt are engaged by Mrs Craven to attend a engagement celebration at the home of Lord and Lady Faversham to look into the disappearance of a housemaid, Agnes, but the festivities soon take a dark turn ensuring that it's a race against the clock to solve the mystery before it's time to head home. As always there are plenty of motives and secrets amongst the guests which gives us plenty of red herrings and twists along the way.

Kitty's character continues to shine and develop in this book and her relationship with Matt adds depth and warmth to the story.  The mystery is overall highly engaging but unfolds at a leisurely pace, allowing us to get to know the characters and enjoy an immersive journey into the historical period in which it is set.

"Murder at the English Manor" is one of my favourite recent additions to the Miss Underhay series, and the storytelling, settings, characters and attention to detail makes this series a must-read for fans of period cosy mysteries. It's a story that entertains and intrigues, and as always, has left me eager for Kitty's next adventure.

Just wasn't working - 25%

Didn't really get it. Need to come back to it again in the future

They Had It Coming starts with all the ingredients of a Nikki Smith destination thriller: a glamorous cast, an exotic villa, a tightly knit circle of suspects and enough buried secrets to fuel a dozen red herrings. Smith’s talent for building tension is undeniable, but this time around a few missteps kept me from fully surrendering to the suspense.

What Worked

Intrigue & Secrets: The wedding fiasco had me asking throughout, “What really went down that night?”

Atmosphere: Smith nails that “trouble in paradise” vibe. The sun-drenched villa feels suffocating, and every offhand glance or hushed conversation hints at hidden agendas.

What Didn’t

Drug-Dealing Subplot: Unfortunately, the Bali-set drug storyline feels both undercooked and clichéd. Rather than adding depth, it distracted from the central mystery—and never really fit the otherwise polished tone.

Pacing & Plot Thickness: The narrative occasionally circles back on itself instead of pushing forward especially in the middle third.

Final Reveal: The big twist landed a little flat for me. Once the culprit is unmasked, the “why” doesn’t quite live up to the elaborate setup.

Having adored The Guests, my expectations were sky-high—and while They Had It Coming is still an enjoyable read, it falls short of Smith’s previous knockout. That said, if you love sun-soaked thrillers with simmering tension, it’s a breezy, entertaining choice and will make for a fun summer-holiday page-turner.