The Mitford Affair

 

Author: Marie Benedict

Publisher: Sourcebook Landmark

Year: 2023

📖 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 📖

Two days in a row of historical fiction from me! What is up with that?! 

I had never heard of the Mitford sisters before this book. They were from an upper crust, but low on money English family. Diana divorced her super rich husband to take up with a fascist friendly English politician who had no intention of leaving his own wealthy wife. Girl, what were you thinking? Nancy, the oldest sister, was a writer and desperate to find love. Then there’s Unity. Even as a teen, Unity was enamored with Hitler and fascism. Why, girl, why? 

Long story short, Unity goes to school in Germany as after Hitler rises to power. She becomes a super stalker, meets the man, becomes his pal, & embraces the Nazis and antisemitism full on. Diana sees an opportunity to help her lover grow his budding fascist political party. She visits Unity & buddies up to Hitler too. She gets Hitler to give money to keep the English fascist moment afloat. Nancy, meanwhile, pens a fictional book mocking fascism with characters that closely resemble her Nazi-loving sisters. Family drama ensues. The war breaks out and Nancy has a big decision to make. 

Benedict always does her research, but even she can’t really explain how these English roses so unapologetically embraced the Nazis. I found it really hard reading about Unity & Diana gushing about how charming Hitler was & his how lovely manners were. That’s a testament to Benedict’s skill as a writer. This is a fascinating look at these sisters who had a seat at the table during a momentous time in history. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

QOTD: making any plans for the weekend? Here in the US, there’s a big sporting event on Sunday. So we’ll be watching that. 

#themitfordaffair #mariebenedict #sourcebookslandmark #historicalfiction #sisters #familydrama #worldwartwo #england #germany #nazi̇germany #bookstagram #kindlepaperwhite #librarybooks #bookworm #womeninhistory 

The Night Ship

 

Author: Jess Kidd

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Year: 2022

🎧 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 🎧

Where are my historical fiction fans? Can I tempt you with a story that has dual timelines, dual POVs, and a sea voyage? 

The first timeline is set in 1629 when Mayken, a precocious young girl, and her nanny set sail on the great ship Batavia. They are bound for the Dutch East Indies. The trip is long and arduous. During the trip, Mayken makes friends with the ship’s crew and has adventures searching for a mythical monster. Tragedy strikes when the vessel is shipwrecked on a small island off Western Australia. 

The second timeline takes place 300 years later. Gil, a lonely boy grieving the death of his mom, is sent to live with his gruff grandfather on a small island off the coast of Western Australia. Gil learns about the tragic shipwreck and the ghost of a little girl who roams the island. 

Author Jess Kidd skillfully and fluidly weaves both timelines together. Gil’s timeline pulled at my heartstrings a bit more than Mayken’s. Gil was just so lonely and desperate to make a connection with his grandfather or anyone else in the island’s small fishing community. Narrators Fleur De Wit and Adam Fitzgerald voice each timeline with pathos and emotion. 

The Night Ship is a great choice for readers searching for historical fiction that’s not centered on World War II or those looking for something a little different. I thought this was a really unique story that took me out of my reading comfort zone. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

Thank to @simon.audio and @librofm for the complimentary audiobook. 

QOTD: have you ever been on a cruise? 

My family went on a cruise when I was about 10 years old. We went to Naussa and the Bahamas. From what I remember, it was a lot of fun. My husband and I have talked doing an Alaskan cruise sometime. We know lots of people who’ve gone and loved it. 

#thenightship #jesskidd #simonaudio #librorm #fleurdewit #adamfitzgerald #batavia #dutchwestindies #historicalfiction #westernaudtralia #shipwreck #strandedonadessertedisland #grief #familydrama #audiobook #audiobookreview #audiobookstagram #dualtimeline #multiplepovs 

Ozark Dogs

 

Author: Eli Cranor

Publisher: SoHo Press

Publishing date: April 4, 2023

📖 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 📖

“Learned real quick there’s some dogs you got to keep locked up. Is it the same with people? That why you did what you did? You thought I’s different somehow?”

- Ozark Dogs

This is a bleak story of family secrets, trauma, and revenge. It’s a story that centers around the sins of fathers and the repercussions rippling down the generations. It’s the story of hard scrabble lives and blood spilled in the past and present. 

Author Eli Cranor’s writing is sparse and hard like the lives of his characters. This is gritty Southern noir and Cranor is quickly establishing himself as one of the leading voices of the genre. Last year Cranor’s debut novel Don’t Know Tough won rave reviews. Now Cranor’s sophomore effort is garnering lots of early praise. 

This isn’t always an easy story to read, but I guarantee you won’t forget it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @netgalley and @soho_press for the digital review copy. Ozark Dogs published on April 4.

QOTD: what are you reading or listening to this week? 

I’m reading Welcome to the Game and listening to The House of Eve. 

#ozarkdogs #elicranor #sohopress #crimefiction #revengefiction #revenge #mysteryfiction #suspensethriller #ozarks #arkansas #familysecrets #meth #ptsd #familyfued #bookstagram #bibliophile #netgalley #advancereaderscopy #publishingsoon 

Before You Knew My Name

 

Author: Jacqueline Bublitz

Narrator : Penelope Rawlins

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Year: 2022

🎧 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 🎧

“𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒍 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒂 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍. 𝑻𝒘𝒐 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏—𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆, 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒅—𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝒀𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝑪𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄 𝒎𝒖𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓.”

I haven’t seen Before You Knew My Name by Jacqueline Bublitz crossing my bookstagram timeline too much. That’s a damn shame because it deserves more hype. 

Alice Lee arrives in New York City with a couple hundred bucks and a stolen camera. She needs a fresh start. With a little luck and some help from a new friend, she starts building a life. Then one month later, she’s a Jane Doe murder victim. 

Australian Ruby Jones also desperately needs a fresh start too. She impulsively moves to NYC and knows no one there. Then Ruby discovers a body by the Hudson River and her life changes. 

The story is told from the duel POVs of Alice Lee and Ruby. I usually think using the dead girl as a narrator in a mystery is kind of gimmicky. But with Bublitz’s deft writing, it’s anything but. It comes off naturally and helps the story highlight the loneliness of the Alice Lee and Ruby.   It also really allows the reader to get to know Alice Lee. 

This book has so much that booktagrammers love- dual POVs, sympathetic main characters, an excellent cast of secondary characters, and great slow-burning storytelling.  Also, Penelope Rawlins provides an excellent narration for the audiobook. This was the author’s 2022 debut novel. I thought the writing was very polished for a debut. Definitely give this book a try. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

Thank you @simon.audio and @librofm for the #gifted audiobook. 

QOTD: If your life needed a fresh start where would you go? 

I’d go to Ireland. It’s such a beautiful place and the people are wonderful. 

#beforeyouknewmyname #jacquelinebublitz #simonaudio #librofm #audiobook #audiobookreview #audiobookworm #audiobookstagram #crimefiction #mysteryfiction #thrillerfiction #nyc #murdermystery #janedoe #murdervictim #alwaysreading

The Cabin at the End of the World

 

Author: Paul Tremblay

Publisher: William Morrow Books

Year: 2018

📖 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 📖

One word review- intense! 

OMG this was a page turner! I had to read this after seeing Instagram pal @melsbookshelves post about it. I tore through this book and even stayed up late one night because I didn’t want to stop reading. 

Here’s the short summary: a family is vacationing at a remote cabin. Their idyllic time together is interrupted by a stranger who makes an unfathomable request. 

It’s best to go into this one without knowing too much. Quick warning- there’s some graphic violence. This is the first book by author Paul Tremblay that I’ve read, but it won’t be the last. Consider me his newest fan. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I know the movie, Knock at the Cabin, based on this book just premiered. If you see the movie let me know how it is. 

QOTD: recommend a good movie you’ve watched recently. 

We watched Blank Panther: Wakanda Forever last night and really enjoyed it. 

#thecabinattheendoftheworld #paultremblay #williammorrow 

#crimefiction #apocalypsefiction #thrillerfiction #suspensefiction #intense #thebookisbetterthanthemovie #endoftheworld #bookstagram #alwaysreading #backlistbooks #librarybook #lovemylibrary 

The Levee

 

Author: William Kent Krueger

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio 

Publishing: February 27, 2023

🎧 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 🎧

Happy Friday! Any big plans for the weekend? Arctic cold here so I’m planning on sitting in front of the fire and reading most of the weekend. 

William Kent Krueger packs a lot in this audio original historical fiction novella. It’s the story of a dangerous and daring rescue of a family during the devastating Mississippi River flood in 1927. Three convicts from a local prison are allowed out to help a man navigate the swollen river to try to rescue his brother and niece. Their home is surrounded by a levee, but the flooding is so great that the family and their two servants are still in grave danger. Desperate men do desperate things, especially when time is running out as the floodwaters rise. 

Krueger quickly fleshes out the characters, showing us loyalty, love, hubris, and evil. This is a man-versus-nature story that also encompasses redemption, compassion, and second chances. Kreuger’s prose is beautiful and the narration by J.D. Jackson is powerful. A remarkable story that can be devoured in one sitting and will stay with you for a long time. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Simon & Schuster Audio and Libro.fm for the advanced listener audiobook. The Levee will be available February 27th. 

#thelevee #williamkentkrueger #simonaudio #librofm #audiobook #audiobookstagram #audiobookreview #novella #historicalfiction #manvsnature #mississippi #mississippiriver #historicalflooding #daringrescue #bookstagram #advancedlistenercopy #alwaysreading 

January Reading Wrap Up

 

📚 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗪𝗿𝗮𝗽 𝗨𝗽 📚

Hello February! 

January was a tough month, but I managed to get some reading done.  I read eight books for the month and I enjoyed all of them. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 📖 The Lies I Tell - lots of twists and turns in this tale of a writer tracking a con woman. 

🎧 Look Closer - nonstop twists & very cleaver plotting from multiple POVs made this an engrossing listen. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 The Levee - historical fiction about a desperate recuse mission during a flood. Thank you Simon & Schuster Audio for the complementary audiobook! 

📖 Red London - thrilling cat & mouse game of espionage as a CIA agent befriends the wife of a Russian oligarch. Thank you NetGalley & Putnam’s Books for the digital review copy! 

🎧 Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone - a locked room mystery set at a remote ski resort. Lots of suspects to keep you guessing & a dash of humor makes for a fun and tragic mystery. 

📖 All Good People Here - a family is ripped apart by the murder of their young daughter. Years later, a reporter sets out to find the truth when another girl is killed. The ending! Whew! 

📖 Blackwater Falls- racial tensions rise when the body of a Syrian immigrant teenage girl is found at a mosque. Other immigrant girls have disappeared, but the local sheriff doesn’t seem too concerned. Denver Police Detective Inaya Rahman is recruited to investigate. A timely and engrossing mystery. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️

The World Played Chess- historical fiction. A recent high school graduate just wants to hang out with his friends and make some money to help pay for college. He gets a job on a construction crew working with a Viet Nam veteran and gets the education of a lifetime. 

QOTD: what book are you looking forward to reading this month? 

I’m looking forward to the new book in the Orphan X series. It publishes on the 14th. 

#readingwrapup #januarywrapup #monthlywrapup #crimefiction #mysteryfiction #thrillerfiction #historicalfiction #audiobooks #audiobookstagram #bookstagram #librarybooks #giftedbooks #booksbooksbooks #bibliophile #bibliophilelife