It Had Been Sitting On The Shelf
Welcome to a monthly reading wrap up. One book, as the title suggests, had been sitting on the shelf for a year. I had a TBR sort out and this is how my May went…
Death of a Bookseller by Alice Slater
This is a debut novel by author Alice Slater, who was a bookseller herself.
Death of a Bookseller follows two very different characters. We have Roach, who is a true crime obsessive loner. Spending most of her day reading true crime or listening to podcasts about serial killers. Then we have Laura, who is the complete opposite in personality and interests, but most importantly, loathes people who love true crime.
But, Roach has become infatuated with Laura, and not in a romantic way…
As the story unfolds, we get to read from both booksellers’ perspectives. I found that aspect really interesting and so well written. You would expect repetition when there are two accounts of the same situation, but the story doesn’t feel like it was just continuously rehashed in a different characterisation.
Trying not to give the storyline away, I found this a great read until I got to the ending. I was really disappointed. The only saving grace was the epilogues. They were definitely needed. If the story had finished without them, I think I would have rated it a lot lower. The epilogues give that kind of ending that answers a lot of questions, but subtly created more. I wouldn’t be surprised if Alice Slater wrote a sequel and, because of that curiosity about what happens next, I would probably read it.
For the book as a standalone, I give it 3.5 stars.
Happy Place by Emily Henry
I have seen Emily Henry books everywhere. I caved when seeing this on the Waterstones website. This is the exclusive edition that came with these super pretty ombre spayed edges. And I didn’t have to pay any more than the normal hardback!
The only downside is that it did come slightly damaged. It was readable, but for those who collect the special editions, I’d suggest buying them in person.
Emily Henry has been one of those authors all over Booktok, all over BookTwitter and after reading the blurb for this I thought why not?
In this story, we follow Harriet and Wyn, two exes who make a pact one summer. Why? Because they hadn’t told their friends that they had split up…6 months ago.
During an annual summer getaway with their friends. They find out that the cottage they stay in every year is for sale. Two friends will be getting married and, with a whole lot more going on, they don’t want to bring up any drama about their breakup. Especially during their last summer at the cottage. But here’s the kicker. How can two exes pretend they are still head over heels in love, surrounded by the people who know them best?
I found this a really cosy, easy summer romance story. It is everything you think it is going to be from the blurb and yet, there were a few twists I didn’t see coming. In a similar fashion to a few books I’ve recently written about, this has chapters from past and present tense. I enjoyed reading the characters and then seeing how much they had either changed or personally developed through the story. The flashbacks to the beginning of their friendship made me want those connections Harriet has. I expected the ending. But, I didn’t expect how in depth Emily Henry which would explain why so many people reviewed this saying they cried. I welled but didn’t cry.
Booktok has come through again and I rate it 4 stars.
Gallows Court by Martin Edwards
I picked this book up in The Works, on a 3 for £6.00 offer, last year! This is the book that had been sitting on the shelf. When sorting through my physical TBR pile, I just fancied a crime, mystery, thriller kind of story.
This was so hard to put down each evening.
Set in 1930’s London, a young journalist called Jacob Flint is on the scoop. With a killer or killers on the loose, we also meet Rachel Savernake. Labelled as “no ordinary woman”, she puts Scotland Yard to shame with her detective skills. There is more to Rachel’s story. But with murder by murder occurring as the story unfolds, we also uncover deception and corruption with the truth.
I am really happy to have found Gallows Court. Having never read anything by Martin Edwards, he’s fast become an author I want to read more from. I currently have another book in the Rachel Savernake series. It has also been sitting on my shelf for the last year!
I rate this a massive 5 star read. The plot twists, the character assassinations and the descriptive scenes, make you feel like you are there. Like you’ve bought a paper off a lad in the street. I highly recommend this.
Have any of these books taken your fancy? Comment below, I’d love to chat about them.
As always, thanks for reading…