bookswithlydscl's Reviews (639)

4.25*

Is it a historical cosy mystery if there isn't at least 1 instalment of the series set in Egypt?! 

Finally Ellie and the gang have their turn visiting the Pyramids and cruising down the Nile and I liked that this one felt a little different and overall I really enjoyed it.

The set up was effective, with a mystery within a mystery and alas, whilst there was no Hugh, we had plenty of Eleanor and Clifford doing their detection thing, working well alongside a new character who I could see popping up again in future.

The Lady Swift series is one of my staples, it's a very comforting and familiar read and I hold a lot of affection for all the characters. After this exotic instalment I'm not so secretly hoping we next get a case a little closer to home as I really do enjoy seeing everyone in a more familiar setting and of course, it means more Hugh!

As always, a recommended read and despite the length of the series I do recommended reading the earlier books if you're new to the series so that you build your connection to our wonderful characters as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital review copy of "Murder on the Nile" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

Just wasn't clicking, I'm sure YA readers will love it.

I love Louise Erdrich's style and this one overall.wormed for me. A little slow to get into but the story hit the dark dystopian spot that I love and epistolary style worked well to move the story and timeline along.

There's not much hopeful on offer here but I found it powerful and relevant to many political threats we see today.

And I loved Eddy!

I enjoyed it but nothing stuck out. A fun and short read.

Didn't feel as substantial as the first two books in the series and the narrative voice of Ritsa wasn't as engaging as Briseis. But still, it's Greek mythology from a female perspective and I will always take those!

It wasn't clicking, soft dnf

Dnf at 56% 

Something was annoying me about the back half of this book. Loved everything up to her coming home so checked out the rest of the story and I'm not wasting my time with an affair for the 'romance' for the back half of the book and what will inevitably be me getting more annoyed about what will be Frankie's inevitable lack of self-respect.

The main thing saving the return to the US story is the treatment of PTSD and how America changed as the war went on but it's not enough to outweigh my massive dislike of romance arcs like what I've read will happen here.

Two sisters, one city and the ever unstoppable passage of time. This gorgeous story is a moving look at life in post WW1 and WW2 Berlin through the eyes of two young women, alone, except for each other and follows them as they grow, struggle and survive no matter what life throws at them.

What can I say except I loved this book. I loved the 1920s section, and the glitz, glamour and seediness of the Babylon Circus was giving 'Cabaret' vibes that exuded life and vibrancy. I loved how it acted as a anchor point for each of the timelines of the story, its state mirroring in many ways that of our older sister Leni. Initially full of hope, dreams and a bright future, it, like her becomes run down, tired and loses its sparkle, just existing as a shell of its former self.

There's so much to love about Leni as you hope against hope that she will get her happy ending after fate seems to conspire to keep tripping her up at every turn. She's the responsible one and the one time she tries to act for herself and her own happiness it backfires and sets her on the path she follows throughout the book. Annette, the younger sister, is a complicated character to get along with, at once victim and a kind of villain. She's a complex whirlwind of emotions and it is difficult to sympathise with her until all starts to come clear and loose ends get tied up in the 1960s section.

This book vividly brings to life its setting and realistically flawed characters, it draws you into the story and doesn't let go. Fans of Lucinda Riley and the Neapolitan Novels from Elena Ferrante will likely love it, and for me, whilst it was my first work from the author, it certainly won't be my last.

4.5*

Thank you to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and Netgalley for providing an eArc of "Circus of Mirrors" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review. 

A solid opening to a series but the obsession with her weight at the start was really grating - very mid 2000s 

This was what I hoped for and expected.

The world of Bond villains with island volcano layers, cat and dolphin henchmen and double and triple crossing galore.

I loved the Bellagio scenes especially and the labour dispute with the foul mouthed dolphins and of course any scenes with Hera the property investment guru/typing cat.

Such a fun read and well narrated by Wil Wheaton.