Recommended books

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Just found a couple of fotos which may be of interest?

Two very enjoyable romance books I recommend for anyone into romantic fiction would be The Belle Fields and its sequel Ashes of Roses by Lora Adams. Have actually read both of them twice and enjoyed both over again. Surprising what you can miss the first time round - perhaps only me there - as long as I allow a couple of months or so between reads. Was loathe to put either of them down and had to wait for the promised sequel for over a year - but def worth the wait! If you give them a try bet you enjoy as well!

Fran Smith

I have just been reminded of a lovely book, "Best wishes, Sister B" by Fran Smith, which is in the form of letters from a nun in a crumbling convent in the fens to another in Peru. Don't panic - they are not at all "churchy" but about her attempts to run the new convent shop and prevent the bishop from closing them down and selling off the land for a car park.

While checking on the exact name of the author, to send to someone on Facebook, I discovered that there is a sequel, called "The power of cake - that sounds very relevant to Gransnet. I have ordered it, will report back when I have read it.

I also loved & recommend
The Bronze Horseman by Paulina Simons

The Other Half of Augusta Hope, first novel by Joanna Glen, is a book I shan’t forget. I couldn’t get into it at first but it was well worth a second attempt.
It is disturbing at times. beautiful in so many ways and rooted firmly in today’s confusing world. I’m looking forward to her second book.

Just finished THE RESTLESS SEA by Vanessa De Haan.
Set during second world war, this book told a terrific story.
Couldnt put it down- read it in three sessions.

If you like mysteries/crime or unusual (a bit spooky) fiction try Louise Candlish, Sophie Hannah, Linwood Barclay, Paul Torday, Tim Weaver, Liz Henson, Graham Joyce, Emma Healey, C J Tudor and Joanna Cannon.

I have just read Somewhere Close to Happy by Lia Louis. So good I didn't want it to end.

Now started on American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. There's been a lot of controversy over that one. I'm finding it compelling.

grannydarkhair - both my DD and DS are big fans of Christopher Brookmyre so I must give him a try. I enjoy Simon Kernick although a bit "gory" at times. At the moment I am reading Robert Galbraith's ( J K Rowling) "Lethal White" and thoroughly enjoying it. I did watch the dramatisations of the first novels on tv but think I'll see if I can get them through the library. I also use the reservation service at our local library. I very rarely buy a new book these days as we have an excellent charity book stall in one of our local supermarkets in aid of a local dog charity which I know does good work - 50p a book. My current read as above is a hardback in new condition priced at £20 on the cover and hopefully by the time it is passed around through this stall it will have raised £20 or more for them!!

If you don't mind secondhand/used books then there are lots on WorldofBooks - free delivery too.

www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/category/all?search=joy%20ellis

After reading this thread, I re-joined my local library, haven’t borrowed any books for years. One of my new year resolutions, I feel I spend too much time on Gransnet!
Found Cara Hunter’s third book on the shelf, have nearly finished it, and have reserved her other three books, the newest one I am 53 on the reserve list!
I realise I am reading them in the wrong order, but hey ho!
Thanks for encouraging me to read again,

Two Scottish writers I really enjoy are Stuart MacBride and Denzil Meyrick. SB's Logan McRae is a great character, on a par with Jackson Brodie in my opinion.
Another wonderful Scottish writer is Chris Brookmyre, several of his books have the same main characters, e.g. an investigative journalist, a counter-terrorism policewoman, a private detective (not all in the same books, each character has their own set of novels). He also writes stand-alone novels, the themes of which are varied, but always very funny, and very dark. His writing has been described as Tartan Noir.
Also, have you tried any of Reg Hill's Dalziel and Pascoe books? "On Beulah Height"is one of my favourite books ever.

an author I discovered this year is M. W. Craven . His book the puppet show is so good.

If you like Joy Ellis then Clare Chase also has some great books based in that area, Murder on the Marshes, Murder in the Fens and a few others.

@Evie64 I love Shalini Boland! If you sign up to Bookouture Deals they always tell me when any of her books (and others) are on offer for 99p!

I like quite dark thrillers. My favs at the mo are one I've just finished today called "The Perfect Family" by Shalini Boland. My other favourite is "The cold cold sea" by Linda Huber. Both a bit dark and keeps you guessing till then end.

Bbevan, does your library have a reservation service? That's how I get the books I want to read, and here in Bucks you don't have to pay once you are over 65. Pity I didn't discover that little nugget until I was 67, but suffice to say I have made very good use of it!

My favourite book ever is Kate Atkinson's " Behind the Scenes at the Museum".
Thanks gulligranny I will give those books a try. If my local library has them that is.

Love Kate Atkinson's books too.
Currently enjoying Abir Mukherjee's books set in post WW1 Calcutta. The hero is a rather disenchanted ex Scotland Yard detective.

I'm with Lemongrove, the Jackson Brodie novels are excellent. I've just finished Big Sky, the latest in the series and it doesn't disappoint!

How about the Kate Atkinson books featuring the private detective Brodie? There are three or four in the series and I can really recommend them.

Going to check out Cara Hunter, Joy Ellis and Susan Hill ....
Thank you.

NanKate I have read in the dark by Cara Hunter I gave it 5 stars in my review on Goodreads and NetGalley, here’s my review for what it’s worth

From the author of the massive bestseller CLOSE TO HOME, comes the second pulse-pounding DI Fawley crime thriller.

In leafy suburban Oxford, a builder knocks through a basement wall, and finds a woman and child, barely alive. But the woman is on no missing persons' list, and her captor claims he's never seen her before. No one knows who they are - the woman can't speak, and there are no missing persons reports that match their profile. The elderly man who owns the house claims he has never seen them before.

A day later, another body is found - a young woman who went missing when walking with her baby in a local beauty spot. But the case is two years old. It can't possibly be connected to the first...

The inhabitants of the quiet Oxford street are in shock. How could this happen right under their noses? But DI Adam Fawley knows that nothing is impossible.

In the Dark is a very intelligent and brilliantly structured crime mystery. DI Adam Fawley returns in this second book from Cara Hunter.

'A twisty, utterly compulsive read with an ending you won't see coming, and that no one, no matter their appearance, is entirely innocent. 'Cancel everything. You're not going anywhere until you finish reading it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin books UK for an advance copy in return for a fair and honest review.

Bbevan, ok not American but how do you feel about Canadian? The Inspector Gamache novels by Louise Penney are excellent, set in and around Montreal.

For a thriller series with a difference, I very much enjoyed The Carnivia Trilogy by Jonathan Holt which are set in Venice. As with the Gamache novels, though, they do need to be read in order, I think, to derive maximum pleasure!

NanKate, I'm so glad you are enjoying Cara Hunter, I think she's a great new talent. Book 3 is the best, IMHO, so I'm sure you will enjoy it.