The Paris Library - Janet Skeslien Charles

 

IN THE DARKNESS OF WAR, THE LIGHT OF BOOKS - HOW LIBRARIANS DEFIED THE NAZIS

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

PARIS, 1939

Odile Souchet is obsessed with books, and her new job at the American Library in Paris - with its thriving community of students, writers and book lovers - is a dream come true. When war is declared, the Library is determined to remain open. But then the Nazis invade Paris, and everything changes.

In Occupied Paris, choices as black and white as the words on a page become a murky shade of grey - choices that will put many on the wrong side of history, and the consequences of which will echo for decades to come.

MONTANA, 1983

Lily is a lonely teenager desperate to escape small-town Montana. She grows close to her neighbour Odile, discovering they share the same love of language, the same longings. But as Lily uncovers more about Odile's mysterious past, she discovers a dark secret, closely guarded and long hidden.

Based on the true Second World War story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris, this is an unforgettable novel of romance, friendship, family, and of heroism found in the quietest of places.

What did I think?

Oh my goodness, this book is simply perfect.  Aside from the wonderful story, this is definitely a book for booklovers and if I could fall in love with a book, The Paris Library would be the one to win my heart.  It's like a love letter to books and libraries and Janet Skeslien Charles' beautiful writing has provided me with so many amazing phrases about books that I'll never forget.  I suggest you keep a notepad beside you while you're reading as there are so many literary gems (and book recommendations) that you will want to write down.  It's the first time I have ordered a book mentioned in a book I have been reading, while I was still reading it!

Set in the American Library in Paris in 1939 with the threat of Nazi invasion hanging over the city, Odile and her co-workers try to keep the library open as a sanctuary for all of their patrons.  With a growing sense of suspicion and unease, emotions are heightened and friendships are put to the test.  Although they try to keep things as normal as possible, nothing will ever be the same again.

The dual timeline sees us catching up with Odile over 40 years later when she is living in Montana and she becomes friendly with her teenage neighbour, Lily.  The pair share a love of all things books, particularly the Dewey Decimal Classification that can be applied to almost every part of life.  There really is a book for everything!  Lily is another wonderful character, she is a bookworm so everyone reading the book is guaranteed to love her.

Running alongside the story of Odile and Lily is the true story of Occupied Paris and I'm getting goosebumps just typing this now.  The description of a deserted Paris is so far removed from the lively, vivacious city we know it to be that it caused me to hold my breath in fear of making a sound to disturb the silence.  It's heartbreaking to see the effect of war; people turning against their friends and neighbours causes just as much devastation as bombs being dropped from the sky. 

So beautifully written and completely enthralling from beginning to end, The Paris Library is haunting, heartbreaking, captivating and so very highly recommended.  It's a perfect piece of historical and contemporary fiction and a simply wonderful novel.  I could write so much more about it but you really need to stop reading my review and start reading this stunning book for yourself.

I received a beautiful hardback edition as part of a Tandem Collective readalong; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The Night Gate (The Enzo Files Book 7) - Peter May

 

In a sleepy French village, the body of a man shot through the head is disinterred by the roots of a fallen tree. A week later a famous art critic is viciously murdered in a nearby house. The deaths occurred more than seventy years apart.

Asked by a colleague to inspect the site of the former, forensics expert Enzo Macleod quickly finds himself embroiled in the investigation of the latter. Two extraordinary narratives are set in train - one historical, unfolding in the treacherous wartime years of Occupied France; the other contemporary, set in the autumn of 2020 as France re-enters Covid lockdown.

And Enzo's investigations reveal an unexpected link between the murders - the Mona Lisa.

Tasked by the exiled General Charles de Gaulle to keep the world's most famous painting out of Nazi hands after the fall of France in 1940, 28-year-old Georgette Pignal finds herself swept along by the tide of history. Following in the wake of Da Vinci's Mona Lisa as it is moved from château to château by the Louvre, she finds herself just one step ahead of two German art experts sent to steal it for rival patrons - Hitler and Göring.

What none of them know is that the Louvre itself has taken exceptional measures to keep the painting safe, unwittingly setting in train a fatal sequence of events extending over seven decades.

Events that have led to both killings.

The Night Gate spans three generations, taking us from war-torn London, the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, Berlin and Vichy France, to the deadly enemy facing the world in 2020. In his latest novel, Peter May shows why he is one of the great contemporary writers of crime fiction.

What did I think?

Peter May is my Dad's favourite author but to my shame, The Night Gate is the first of his books that I've read.  I actually didn't realise it was part of The Enzo Files series until I started reading but it reads so well as a standalone that you don't need to have read the earlier books to enjoy it.  I didn't just enjoy it, I LOVED IT!!!

With a dual storyline that kept me riveted from beginning to end, I can see why Peter May is a bestselling author.  His research is meticulous, giving his writing such authenticity in its detail which makes the story come alive.  I loved both storylines; the mystery and danger of hiding works of art during Nazi occupied France in 1940 and the present day murder of an art dealer coupled with the discovery of a wartime corpse during the Covid pandemic of 2020.  

Although this is the first time I have encountered Enzo Macleod, I really felt as if I knew him as Peter May includes useful snippets of Enzo's history for anyone new to the series.  Enzo's colourful past has certainly made me want to read the earlier books as soon as possible.  I love the way that Enzo's brain works, he really doesn't miss a trick although he sometimes forgets that his body isn't quite as able as it used to be.  Investigating a murder during a pandemic certainly has its challenges.

I don't have any interest in art whatsoever, so for Peter May to draw me into the story and keep me interested just shows what an amazing writer he is.  Adding an air of mystery to the Mona Lisa had me intrigued and I didn't realise that she had been on quite a journey during the war.  It's quite moving to think that brave people put themselves in danger by hiding her and other works of art.

Intriguing, mysterious and so moving that it gave me goosebumps, The Night Gate is an exceptional novel that is destined to top the charts for quite some time.  Make sure you grab a copy as it's not to be missed.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour; all opinions are my own.

My rating:

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About the author:

Peter May was born and raised in Scotland. He was an award-winning journalist at the age of twenty-one and a published novelist at twenty-six. When his first book was adapted as a major drama series for the BCC, he quit journalism and during the high-octane fifteen years that followed, became one of Scotland’s most successful television dramatists. He created three prime-time drama series, presided over two of the highest-rated serials in his homeland as script editor and producer, and worked on more than 1,000 episodes of ratings-topping drama before deciding to leave television to return to his first love, writing novels. He has won several literature awards in France, received the USA’s Barry Award for The Blackhouse, the first in his internationally bestselling Lewis Trilogy; and in 2014 was awarded the ITV Specsavers Crime Thriller Book Club Best Read of the Year award for Entry Island. Peter now lives in South-West France with his wife, writer Janice Hally.

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BLOG TOUR: The Twenty Seven Club - Lucy Nichol

 

It’s 1994. The music industry is mourning Kurt Cobain, Right Said Fred have re-emerged as an ‘ironic’ pop act and John Major is the country’s prime minister. Nothing is as it should be.

Emma is hurtling towards her 27th birthday, riddled with anxiety that her idols Joplin, Hendrix and Morrison all died aged 27, and now Kurt Cobain has gone too. Will Emma be next to join The Twenty Seven Club?

Emma, a working-class rock music fan from Hull, with a penchant for a flaming Drambuie and a line of coke with her best mate Dave down The Angel, is troubled. Trev, her whippet, has IBS, and her job ordering bathroom supplies at the local caravan company is far from challenging. So when her dad, Tel, informs her that her music idol, Kurt Cobain has killed himself aged 27, Emma is consumed with anxiety.

Why have so many legendary musicians gone aged 27? Is there a link between the members of the so-called Twenty Seven Club? Is this why her mum had an affair and left them? And could Emma be about to join The Twenty Seven Club too?

The 27 Club is a nostalgic, often humorous, drug and booze-infused tale of friendship, discovery and anxiety as Emma tries, for once, to focus on life, rather than death.

What did I think?

Oh wow!  This book is simply awesome!  After reading the blurb, I knew I was going to enjoy it but I didn't expect so many laugh out louds, gasps of shock and eyebrow-raising nostalgic reminders.  

Lucy Nichol's writing is very fresh, raw, honest and edgy and, with an underlying sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll beat, it reminded me of Irvine Welch's Trainspotting but with nicer, funnier and more relatable characters.  Emma is such a multi-dimensional character that it is impossible to keep her on the page; I felt like she was talking to me and she could have popped out of the book at any moment, especially if I had any Drambuie in the house (which I don't).

As we follow Emma's life as she struggles with anxiety in the period after Kurt Cobain died, it's like being inside her head and walking in her shoes.  I loved reading about her drunk nights out with her friend Dave but her whippet Trev provided the best entertainment; his shenanigans providing many laugh out loud moments.  It's probably not a good idea to be drinking anything while reading this book as I frequently couldn't contain my laughter and there would have been drink spurting everywhere if I'd been drinking and reading.

Set in 1994, I expected some nostalgia but my eyebrows virtually shot up into my hairline when Emma meets John, a Geordie who reminisces about nights out at the Mayfair in Newcastle.  Although it wasn't part of my Friday night out, I knew all about the infamous rock club at the Mayfair and having been demolished in 1999, it's almost obligatory (for anyone old enough to remember it) to say: 'eeeh remember when this was the Mayfair' when visiting the cinema or restaurants at The Gate.  I didn't know that the Mayfair was such an historic music venue until I googled it following Lucy Nichol's reminder.  Although it's my local city, and I knew it hosted The Tube in the 80s, I didn't realise Newcastle had such a renowned music scene but then again, any excuse for a party in the toon.

Nostalgic, hilarious and surprisingly feel-good, The Twenty Seven Club is an absolutely fantastic read.  You will read it and weep, both tears of laughter and sorrow as a full rollercoaster of emotions is experienced in this awesome book.  I really can't recommend it highly enough; just buy it, immerse yourself in the 90s music scene and get a guaranteed smiley face.

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

My rating:

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About the author:

Lucy is a mental health campaigner and PR consultant, and a former columnist with Sarah Millican's Standard Issue magazine.  She has written for The Independent, The I Paper, NME, Red Magazine, Den of Geek, Men’s Fitness, Metro and Huff Post.  Her first book, A Series of Unfortunate Stereotypes, a non-fiction mental health memoir, was published by Trigger in 2018. Lucy has worked with the media in PR and marketing for almost 20 years and has experienced Generalised Anxiety Disorder for even longer.  

The Twenty Seven Club is immediately available in paperback from Amazon and an official launch will take place on 3rd March 2021 when the e-book will be made available along with the book’s playlist. You can also sign up to Lucy’s author newsletter.

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BLOG TOUR: Sleep Tight (DC Rose Gifford 1) - C. S. Green

 

The nightmare is only just beginning…

When DC Rose Gifford is called to investigate the death of a young woman suffocated in her bed, she can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to the crime than meets the eye.

It looks like a straightforward crime scene – but the police can’t find the killer. Enter DS Moony – an eccentric older detective who runs UCIT, a secret department of the Met set up to solve supernatural crimes. Moony wants Rose to help her out – but Rose doesn’t believe in any of that.

Does she?

As the killer prepares to strike again, Rose must pick a side – before a second woman dies.

Twisty, original and compelling, SLEEP TIGHT is perfect for fans of Alex North and Cara Hunter.

What did I think?

What a fantastic start to a new series!  With a touch of the supernatural, Sleep Tight isn't just any old police procedural, it's a scary, creepy and downright spine-tingling one!  I am absolutely thrilled that it's the first book in a new series as I already want more.

DC Rose Gifford doesn't let anyone into her life as she has something to hide and although it's quite annoying for her, I found it rather amusing.  Rose's family history is very intriguing and, as it's only just touched upon in Sleep Tight, I know that there is so much more to come.  Rose just wants to be normal but her mother is always there to remind her that she is anything but.  Rose can't even pretend to be normal at work as even a secret police department sees something in her that makes them want her in their team.

Rose and her team are investigating a killer who is preying on women suffering from night terrors and sleep paralysis; a killer who is haunting their dreams, passing through locked doors and disappearing when they wake, if they're lucky enough to wake at all that is.  The police are baffled but DS Moony believes in the unbelievable and this unusual case is just the sort of thing that her team would investigate.

With a plot that knows no bounds, absolutely anything could happen in this outstanding book and I willingly opened my mind to prepare myself for the unexpected.  The whole premise got under my skin so much that it made my skin goosebump and crawl and I often had to stop myself from nervously looking over my shoulder.  It's not a book I wanted to read in bed at night, that's for sure!

Sleep Tight is an extraordinary police procedural that pushes the boundaries of what we are conditioned to believe.  I loved it!

I received a gifted ARC to read and review for the blog tour; all opinions are my own.

My rating:

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About the author:

C.S Green is the pseudonym for Sunday Times and ebook bestseller Cass Green. Her debut adult novel The Woman Next Door was a No.1 e-book bestseller and her second, In A Cottage, In A Wood was a Sunday Times top ten and USA Today bestseller. Don’t You Cry was her third standalone thriller. She is the Writer in Residence at East Barnet School and teaches crime fiction at City University and children’s fiction for Writers and Artist’s Yearbook.

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BLOG TOUR: Acts of Kindness - Heather Barnett

 

Dream Job. Fresh Start. Big Mistake.

When Bella Black arrives in a sleepy Wiltshire village, it seems like the perfect place for a new start: a lovely home, exciting job and an attractive colleague or two to take her mind off her recent divorce.

When people start disappearing, she realises she holds the key to a mystery bigger than she could have ever imagined.

Who is really pulling the strings at the secretive OAK Institute? 

Can anyone be trusted?

Will Bella make the right choices before its too late? 

What did I think?

This is a highly intriguing and mysterious book and the blurb is clearly purposefully brief so as not to give anything away, which makes this such a difficult book to review.  So I think less is more in this instance to avoid inadvertently releasing any spoilers in my review.

Bella is headhunted at just the right time in her life and she is given a job offer that is too good to refuse.  So she packs up her belongings, says goodbye to London and sets up home in a picturesque Wiltshire village.  Heather Barnett's amazing sense of humour comes through loud and clear when Bella is welcomed by an unfortunately named neighbour bearing an unusual welcome gift.  It never got old as I sniggered and guffawed every time this colourful character appeared.

The plot is excellent with multiple layers of mystery and intrigue over an underlying thought-provoking premise.  There is so much secrecy that my mind was whirring at full speed as I tried to work out what was going on but, at risk of going dizzy, I found it was better to just sit back and enjoy the show.

Incredibly thought-provoking and hugely entertaining, Acts of Kindness is a brilliant debut from Heather Barnett.  Whatever your preferred genre, it really does have something for everyone; it's mysterious, funny and feel-good.

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

My rating:

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Amazon UK

Bookshop.org

Amazon US

About the author:

Heather Barnett gained a degree in English and French from the University of Leeds and has written ever since: from copywriting to stand-up comedy and sketches. She is now focusing on writing novels. Heather's influences span Jane Austen and Douglas Adams at one end of the alphabet through to PG Wodehouse at the other. 

Heather's debut novel, Acts of Kindness, is an uplifting, light-hearted mystery. It was inspired by witnessing commuters helping a woman who'd fallen down the stairs at Paddington station; intermingled with wondering what was behind some grand stone gateposts that she used to drive past in Wiltshire. 

Her second novel, Lord Seeks Wife, is a romantic comedy and will be published summer 2021.

Aside from writing, Heather's interests are classic literature, cats and comedy. 

Heather is head of marketing at an agency near Oxford and lives by the river Kennet in Berkshire.

For more information on Heather and her books, please visit her website: www.heatherbarnettauthor.com or join the discussion on Twitter @WritesHeather.

Social Media Links – 

Website: www.heatherbarnettauthor.com

Twitter: @WritesHeather

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writesheather/ 

Serpentine Books:   www.serpentinebooks.com   Twitter: @SerpentineBooks

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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.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The Paper Mill Girl - Glenda Young

 

'She's just a paper mill girl.'

Seventeen-year-old Ruth Hardy works long hours at Grange Paper Works, with her younger sister Bea, and spends her free time caring for their ailing parents. Their meagre income barely covers their needs, so when Bea reveals that she is pregnant out of wedlock, Ruth knows even tougher times are ahead.

Ruth's hard work at the mill does not go unnoticed and it looks as though her luck might turn when she's promoted. But when the arrival of Bea's baby girl ends in tragedy, Ruth is left with no choice but to bring up her niece herself. However, news of Ruth's plan brings a threatening menace close.

Although Ruth's friendship with the girls at the mill, and the company of charming railway man, Mick Carson, sustain her, ultimately Ruth bears the responsibility for keeping her family safe. Will she ever find happiness of her own?

What did I think?

Glenda Young is definitely an author not to be missed when it comes to family sagas and I have been a fan of hers since I read Pearl of Pit Lane almost a year ago.  Although tinged with sadness, The Paper Mill Girl is a wonderfully heart-warming novel filled with strong, colourful characters that I took to my heart.

I loved the main character of Ruth Hardy; dedicated to looking after her unexpectedly expanding family, Ruth is also the best friend a girl could have.  Friendship plays a huge part in the book as the rag room girls work, laugh and love together.  In a time where every penny counts, they are always willing to share what they have and look after each other and their lunchtime outings never failed to put a smile on my face.

Set in 1919, it's a stark reminder that it's very much a man's world and Ruth is in the unenviable position of being the sole breadwinner as the Hardy family struggles to keep a roof over their heads in the back room of the Guide Post Inn.  It's shockingly amusing that men always find money for beer whilst their wives could be at home boiling the bones of a chicken to feed their family.  I'd take beer over chicken any day though!

I'm not ashamed to say that I shed a tear or two while I was reading The Paper Mill Girl.  Glenda Young's beautifully warm writing really brings the characters to life and I experienced their emotions alongside them.  I was positively beaming towards the end of the book and tears of happiness brimmed in my eyes but I quickly blinked them away so I could keep reading as I didn't want to miss a single word.

I always look forward to reading the author's note in Glenda Young's books as her research is outstanding and adds authenticity to the story.  I actually didn't realise that Sunderland had a paper mill and even though I've had a book in my hand for most of my life, I had never considered the composition of paper.  It was really interesting to get a glimpse inside a working mill in 1919 through Glenda's fantastic storytelling.

The Paper Mill Girl is heart-warming, emotional and simply wonderful.  It's perfect escapism and I really can't recommend it highly enough as I absolutely loved it.  If you think family sagas aren't for you, you've never read Glenda Young's books - pick one up today and you'll be converted.

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

My rating:

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