The Women Are Not Fine: The Dark History of a Poisonous Sisterhood - Hope Reese

Abusive husbands. Desperate women. Poisonous solutions.

At the turn of the 20th century, the women of Nagyrév, Hungary, were in trouble. Their stories were hauntingly similar: husbands who drank, who beat them, who made their lives unbearable.

The village midwife - their confidante - offered an answer: arsenic. Soon, women began slipping poison into their husbands' brandy, porridge, and stews. Over the next twenty years, the quiet village became the epicentre of one of the deadliest series of poisonings in modern history.

In The Women Are Not Fine, journalist Hope Reese pieces together archival newspapers, court documents, police records and more to uncover the truth behind this extraordinary case. Her findings serve as a stark warning: when women are pushed to the brink, the consequences can reverberate through history.

What did I think?

The Women Are Not Fine is the true story of a number of women from a small village in Hungary who fought back in the deadliest way.   I had never heard of this famous case, a case I'm sure the patriarchy don't want us to know about in case we get ideas, so it was a complete eye-opener for me.

Hope Reese gathers all of the evidence in one concise and informative account of what really happened.  It is very well written and easy to follow, despite a lot of the names being very similar, as each woman's story is the same: in fear for their lives, they must either kill or be killed. 

Whilst the abusive husbands are naturally painted in a bad light, there are heartbreaking reasons for their actions and unfortunately history never seems to learn from this.  It's interesting that the village midwife is at the heart of the scandal and if it was an earlier period of history she would have been branded as a witch.  Whether she was a witch or a saviour, the relief for the abused women was short-lived as the consequences of their actions catch up with them.

I loved poring over the documents and photographs that are included in the book; it really brings the true story to life and reminds us that these were real women and these poisonings actually happened.  I'm so pleased that Hope Reese has written the book as it's a story that shouldn't be forgotten and I only wish that we could learn from our mistakes when it comes to mental health and domestic abuse.

Fascinating, informative and poignant, The Women Are Not Fine is a moving and thought-provoking account of the Angel Makers of Nagyrév.  Are they criminals or victims?  Read the book and decide for yourself.

I received a gifted paperback from the author and publisher and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: Fatal Dose (DC Mel Cotton Crime Series Book 3) - Brian Price

Death stalks Mexton

When a spate of poisonings hits the town of Mexton, DC Mel Cotton and her colleagues are left perplexed. All the deaths seem to be ingeniously planned and the police cannot see anything obvious to connect the victims.

Is a vigilante at work?

Jenny Pike, reporter for the Mexton Messenger, seems to think there’s a link and she’s not afraid to publish her controversial theories. All the victims seem to have got away with harming people in some way. Is that the connection?

Fear from the East

Already stretched to the limit, Mel and her colleagues also face another huge challenge. A ruthless Albanian gang has launched a crime wave in the area and someone has murdered a notorious blackmailer.

How will the team cope? With a serial poisoner at large, is anyone safe?

Fatal Dose is the thrilling sequel to the critically-acclaimed Fatal Trade and Fatal Hate by the brilliant Brian Price

What did I think?

I don't know what they're putting in their authors' tea at Hobeck Towers but there's something special about the third book in a series at the moment.  I enjoyed Fatal Trade and Fatal Hate but Fatal Dose takes this fantastic series to the next level.  It is absolutely outstanding and I loved it.

Although it's the third book in the DC Mel Cotton series, you could read it as a standalone and enjoy it, but it's well worth reading the series in order to follow the characters as you really get to know them throughout the series.

I loved the poisoning storyline and the murders happen so quickly that the police are stretched to their limit.  The headlines almost write themselves for local reporter, Jenny Pike, and she has no qualms about creating panic and fear for her readers.  Is she next on the killer's list though?

I really cannot praise Brian Price highly enough; the plot and the writing in Fatal Dose are both exceptional.  This is a crime series that is going from strength to strength.  The whole execution of the killer storyline is very cleverly done and I loved the other threads of the story that run alongside and keep the police very busy.  

Clever, gripping and very fast-paced, Fatal Dose is an outstanding police procedural that should not be missed.  Very highly recommended.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: The Lost Apothecary - Sarah Penner

 

With crackling suspense, unforgettable characters and searing insight, The Lost Apothecary is a subversive and intoxicating debut novel of secrets, vengeance and the remarkable ways women can save each other despite the barrier of time.

Hidden in the depths of eighteenth-century London, a secret apothecary shop caters to an unusual kind of clientele. Women across the city whisper of a mysterious figure named Nella who sells well-disguised poisons to use against the oppressive men in their lives. But the apothecary’s fate is jeopardized when her newest patron, a precocious twelve-year-old, makes a fatal mistake, sparking a string of consequences that echo through the centuries.

Meanwhile in present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, running from her own demons. When she stumbles upon a clue to the unsolved apothecary murders that haunted London two hundred years ago, her life collides with the apothecary’s in a stunning twist of fate―and not everyone will survive.

What did I think?

I am completely lost for words (no pun intended); The Lost Apothecary has taken my breath away and left me completely speechless.  I was mesmerised by the beautiful cover from the minute I saw it on social media and I still can't stop looking at it, long after finishing the book.  The Lost Apothecary is the exception that proves the rule; you can definitely judge this book by its cover as it is stunning both inside and out.  

When I finally managed to tear my eyes away from the cover, I was even more delighted to find a map of 18th century London inside.  Oh how I love maps inside books!  After poring over it for several minutes, I did actually refer to the map throughout the book when streets or places were mentioned as I was so immersed in the story that I wanted to follow in the characters' footsteps.

With a compelling past and present storyline that sees an American tourist in present day London researching a glass bottle that she found on the banks of the Thames, my eyes were firmly glued to the page.  I loved following Caroline's research and it felt like a treasure hunt as she digs through old maps and newspaper reports.  Whilst Caroline is researching, her chapters are interspersed with two forgotten voices from the 18th century: Nella and Eliza.

Nella is an apothecary in a hidden shop in London, that can only be found by those in the know.  She meets 12 year old Eliza when Eliza's mistress sends her to Nella for a tonic to rid her of her lecherous husband and Eliza's interest in poison and magic is piqued.  Although Nella is wary about letting anyone into her life, she forms a tentative friendship with Eliza and their lives become intertwined when a simple mistake by Eliza causes the police to suspect foul play in a recent death.

Sarah Penner's tale of mystery, murder and poison transports the reader to 18th century London in her remarkable debut novel.  Beautifully written with vivid descriptions and immersive prose, The Lost Apothecary is as addictive as laudanum and I couldn't put it down once I had picked it up.

Breathtaking, intriguing and mysterious, The Lost Apothecary is an absolutely stunning novel and one I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.  I loved it so much that I want to read it again as soon as possible and I can easily see this being one of my top books of 2021.  Do not miss this amazing book!

Many thanks to Legend Press for sending me an ARC to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: Bad Seed - Jessica Eames

A tragic death. A dark family secret. A past you can't escape. How well do you really know those closest to you?

Sarah's world has descended into a nightmare. Her only hope of moving on is to find out the truth of what happened, and make sure the guilty are brought to justice. She is haunted by her dad's death, consumed by her grief and the memories of a cruel day that changed her life forever... she doesn't even know who she is anymore. But the future holds some hope for Sarah, as she tries to move forward.

Nicola's future is not looking so hopeful. Since her husband died, the secret she's been keeping from her family - especially her daughter, Sarah - is eating away at her. The past is catching up with her, and the consequences will be devastating.

Inspired by the news that more people are having DNA tests to discover their heritage, BAD SEED subverts the tropes of the domestic thriller by exploring the closest relationship of all: that between parent and child. Clare Mackintosh's I LET YOU GO meets FRIEND REQUEST, this is a story about family, and of obsession, revenge and identity.

What did I think?

Oh wow, I LOVED this book!  It definitely has the wow factor as Part One ended and I was absolutely stunned, but that didn't even come close to how gobsmacked I was at the end.  Family secrets are always a good hook to have in a book and the secrets in the Gregory family are about to tear them apart.  Not content with just the damage caused by secrets, someone wants to speed things up a bit with the use of belladonna, also known as deadly nightshade.  Secrets and poison!  Awesome!

The story is told in three parts: Part One is Nicola's story having just lost her husband, Part Two is Nicola's daughter, Sarah's story and Part Three is Nicola's sister-in-law Fiona's story.  The whole Gregory family is grieving the loss of Charlie Gregory but none more so than Sarah who was devoted to her father.  Nicola didn't appear to have the perfect marriage and even Charlie's death doesn't manage to put a rose coloured tint on it as she moves on with her life.  Fiona is married to Charlie's step-brother, Ben, and although she invited Nicola to live in an annex in her garden after Charlie's death, she only just manages to tolerate her...for reasons that will become clear when you read the book.

Jessica Eames weaves a cunning tale as the reader is cleverly misdirected through the murderous plot.  It's often said that poison is the preferred method of murder used by women, so I must have pointed my virtual finger and shouted 'J'accuse!' to almost all of the female characters in Bad Seed.  With so many opportunities and motives, my head was in a spin as I tried to work out who was the real 'Bad Seed'.  

I loved every single thing about this book: the fast pace, the cunning plot, the police interview transcripts, the clever misdirection and the multiple possible culprits.  It certainly burrowed its roots under my skin and was kept fed and watered by Jessica Eames' stunning imagination and compelling plot.  Bad Seed is as chilling as it is gripping; a highly recommended read.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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