Karen Chisholm
Second in the Jack Emery series, I'm having a bit of a binge :)
From the Blurb:
A chance lightning strike. A reporter in the right place. A scandal that will rock America.
Journalist Jack Emery has seen it all. Embedded for the New York Standard with the 8th Marine Regiment in the heart of Afghanistan, he has covered everything from firefights to the opening of new schools. But nothing has prepared Jack for the story that is about to explode right in front of him.
Karen Chisholm
There are a lot of books I should be reading right now, but this one shouted loudest.
From the Blurb:
He who holds the pen holds the power.
When a corrupt think tank, The Foundation for a New America, enlists a Taiwanese terrorist to bomb a World Trade Organization conference, the US and China are put on the path to war.
Karen Chisholm
Look I know I shouldn't like these books - they should be the sort of thing I run a mile from. And yet....
From the Blurb:
It’s the beginning of a hot, hot summer in Hobart. Tabitha Darling is in love with the wrong man, and determined to perfect the art of ice cream. Playing amateur detective again is definitely not on the cards—not even when her friends try to lure her into an arty film noir project in the historical town of Flynn.
Karen Chisholm
It looks like in order to get a reasonable number of books read, you also need to have a very busy weekend. It felt a bit like Spencer Street Station here this weekend which you'd normally think not conducive to much reading - but got a lot done. Must of been sitting down waiting for the next group to drop in :)
From the Blurb:
Some people love goodbyes...
Karen Chisholm
Another one from the weekend's reading.
From the Blurb:
In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
Ben and his sidekick, Mikey, run the Target Ball stand in a ramshackle carnival travelling up the east coast. Ben is trying to put his time in the army behind him and make some money. Mikey—AKA Mekong Delta, Fremantle’s answer to Fifty Cent—wants to work on his flow and impress girls.
Karen Chisholm
Started this on the weekend, new book from the collaboration of Linda Olsson and Thomas Sainsbury.
From the Blurb:
When budding writer Brent Taylor dies a horrific death in the Auckland University Library, his friend, sex worker Jade Amaro, refuses to believe it is suicide. She seeks help from Sam Hallberg, a former government advisor on terrorism, now working as a mechanic.
Karen Chisholm
The latest re-released June Wright book - for review at http://www.newtownreviewofbooks.com.au(link is external)
From the Blurb:
Karen Chisholm
First of my weekend's reading.
From the Blurb:
'Why do some people decide to get married when everyone around them would seem to agree that marriage, at least for the two people in question, is a terrifically bad idea?'
Karen Chisholm
Another book from the weekend's reading pile.
From the Blurb:
Miranda shrank away from him, arm pressed to the driver's door. ‘What's your name?' ‘I'm already dead. That's my name now. That's what they called me. I'm Already Dead.'
Journalist Miranda Jack is finally attempting to move on from the death of her husband by relocating up the coast with her young daughter, Zoe. Then a single event changes everything.
On a Monday afternoon as she waits at traffic lights, a stranger jumps into her car and points a gun at her chest.
Karen Chisholm
Head down catching up with some of the books I've had here for too long and contributing to my quest for the Neddies 2015 Best First Crime entries.
From the Blurb:
Something is very rotten in the state of Tasmania.
Brad Finch, the marquee player of the Tassie Devils Football Club, is the victim at the heart of a new murder mystery. Intense media interest, interfering superior officers and corrupt business interests all threaten to derail the homicide investigation conducted by the Serious Crimes Squad.
Karen Chisholm
The third book in the Peter Clancy series sees him in London, working for one of the "red-top" gossip newspapers and getting his love life all out of control. Not sure why these books aren't getting more attention - it's a great series.
From the Blurb:
Australian journo Peter Clancy is in London this time, working for a notorious scandal sheet. While writing salacious stories on celebrities, Clancy poses as a biographer to dig the dirt on drug- and alcohol-raddled Olivia Michaels, once a star of the screen.
Karen Chisholm
To be reviewed over at Newtown Review of books - this is the second of the re-released Maggie Byrnes series.
From the Blurb:
Karen Chisholm
This year I've promised myself a red hot go at reading the entire submissions list for all 3 of the Ned Kelly Categories. Preferably before the 2016 Submissions List is released although there are days when I think I might have bitten off more than I can possibly chew. Still - getting there :)
Starting out with the True Crime list because I CLEARLY have some work to do here:
Karen Chisholm
It's probably the cover - which makes me sigh with how shallow that sounds - but I wasn't sure what to expect with this one. Set in Melbourne in World War II thus far it's beating expectations hands down.
From the Blurb:
1943 is a dangerous time to fall in love...
Karen Chisholm
Started reading this over the weekend. Very engaging young adult novel that tackles an interesting combination of more current day problems for the younger crowd, along with much that has always been the same.
From the Blurb:
Cooper Bartholomew's body is found at the foot of a cliff.
Suicide.
That's the official finding, that's what everyone believes. <br>Cooper's girlfriend, Libby, has her doubts. They'd been happy, in love. Why would he take his own life?
Karen Chisholm
Debut book - high tech bank robbery!
From the Blurb:
A bank in Los Angeles, assumed to be impregnable, has its valuable taken. No idea how or when the crime was committed.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, a woman is kidnapped but her husband does not alert authorities for three days. Why?
Karen Chisholm
A book I've been trying to juggle to the top of the list for a while - this is historical true crime, written in the style of a great yarn.
From the Blurb:
The latest work from acclaimed historical author Robert Cox, A Compulsion to Kill is a dramatic chronological account of 19th-century Tasmanian serial murderers. Never before revealed in such depth, the story is the culmination of extensive research and adept craftsmanship as it probes the essence of both the crimes and the killers themselves.
Karen Chisholm
'Tart noir has a new champion' Angela Savage is one of the quotes on the cover of this book. Tart noir is one of my very favourite things.
From the Blurb:
Forensic psychiatrist Natalie King works with victims and perpetrators of violent crime. Women with a history of abuse, mainly. She rides a Ducati a size too big and wears a tank top a size too small. Likes men but doesn’t want to keep one. And really needs to stay on her medication.
Now she’s being stalked. Anonymous notes, threats, strangers loitering outside her house.
Karen Chisholm
Weekend reading - very very good weekend reading - the 2nd in the brilliant new DS Ferreira and DI Zigic series/
From the Blurb:
The car that ploughs into the bus stop early one morning leaves a trail of death and destruction behind it.
Karen Chisholm
Second book from the weekend's reading - historical set in the timeframe and place of the Dismissal.
From the Blurb:
Canberra, November 1975.
Gough Whitlam's Labor government is in crisis. Denied supply by a hostile Senate, distracted by the desperate moves of his wayward cabinet, Whitlam is seemingly confident of prevailing and oblivious to an opposition led plot to overthrow his government.
Karen Chisholm
Second in the series, second I've read - even though I'm working my way backwards because that's what I do (sometimes). Circumstances led me to reading the third book in this series first (The Fourth Reich). Despite a few misgivings about the character style and interaction it was still a most enjoyable thriller of the global domination threat type that at the time I promised myself a chance to read the earlier two in the series.
Karen Chisholm
Don't ask me to explain this but heading off to Russia over Easter felt like the thing to do... Given this is the first book in the Koldun Code series, which makes this a first book for a first-time author I was intrigued. And besides - that whole Russia thing at Easter (I don't even pretend to understand it), this book shouted loudly from the stacks anyway.
From the Blurb:
Karen Chisholm
The final of the Easter reading pile, Cold Deception is a debut crime novel from an Australian erotica and romance writer. Now I must admit I saw that and part of the blurb and wondered. But the first part of the blurb made this sound particularly interesting. So why not give it a try.
From the Blurb:
At 20, Julia Taylor went to prison for murdering a man who deserved it. Ten years later, she's ready to put the past behind her and get on with her life. But someone won't let her. Someone will do anything to drive Julia away, including murder.
Karen Chisholm
Catching up on the weekend's reading as usual, this is a self-published work from a local author.
From the Blurb:
The story unfolds as Sasha battles with a series of events that eventuate out of his need to satisfy himself and his brother's sexual desires. Both victims of their past they struggle to make the most of the world they live in and people die as a consequence. But who could blame Sasha as he uses his charismatic charm to shape his life and protect his disabled brother
Karen Chisholm
It jumped out at me, it literally jumped out at me ... It's not so much queue jumping as me being chronically unable to resist temptation. And a new Cato Kwong is too much temptation. Love this series, and if what I've read so far of this is any indication - oh this is a good one.
From the Blurb:
Karen Chisholm
The third in the Jennifer Shot series, Shot Through the Heart is set in Tasmania.
From the Blurb:
Summer sizzles as Jennifer Shot, law student and private detective, begins her end-of-year vacation. But serial killers don’t take holidays. The bodies of beautiful dead women are washing up on Tasmanian beaches. Hunter, an American mercenary, who Jennifer has worked with on other cases, is tracking an international drug trafficking ring and enlists her help.
Karen Chisholm
Bookclub book - this year's resolution is to read the book club books! (and not just show up and drink wine).
From the Blurb:
Margery Blandon has led a life of principles. Now she finds herself sitting on the 43rd floor of the Tropic Hotel, preparing to throw herself to her death.
Karen Chisholm
Over the weekend I picked up Databyte, which is the sixth book in the Byte Series, none of which I've read before.
From the Blurb:
When information becomes misinformation, how much of what you see should you believe?
Wanted for a murder she didn't commit and on the run from the FBI and Metro, Special Agent Ellie Conway has to protect an actor with close ties to Delta A from a serious threat as well as trying to clear her name.
Karen Chisholm
The second book from a weekend's reading - started this on Sunday after being momentarily distracted by Sherlock on the TV.
From the Blurb:
Karen Chisholm
Very nice way to spend a weekend - in the company of one of my favourite Policemen around.
From the Blurb:
AUGUST 1987: Against the backdrop of the nuclear ships stand-off with America; the rich and powerful gather in Auckland for a lavish election-night party. Before the night is out, a seventeen-year-old girl will be murdered and several lives utterly changed.
Karen Chisholm
The second in the Le Fanu series, set in pre-Independence India.
From the Blurb:
Karen Chisholm
Over the long weekend some serious reading took place, starting with this debut from NZ author Ben Atkins.
From the Blurb:
In a city of elusive agendas, it's hard to find the truth. It's even harder to find what's right. A bootlegger's dream is rocked by an attempt to destroy his lucrative business. What begins as a curious evening snowballs into a night-time odyssey as Fontana searches for answers he never thought he'd have to find. The city is saturated with criminal and political extremism - is there anyone he can trust?
Karen Chisholm
A thriller from Australian writer Peter Carey, somebody who is more known for their "literary" output than their genre work. Interesting to see how a well known non-genre writer approaches something different like a thriller styled novel.
From the Blurb:
Karen Chisholm
This was a re-read over the long weekend and a perfect way to fill in an afternoon in the sun.
From the Blurb:
Karen Chisholm
Such a fabulous author of thrillers, I always end up kicking myself when I let these books linger too long.
From the Blurb:
A mesmerising tale of three women who must overcome the past and beat the odds to find hope for the future.
Karen Chisholm
Sometimes I get to sneak in a book or two from the other hemisphere :) although for some reason I got the second book before this one, so now I've sorted that mess out and will start what's a very highly acclaimed series in order. For once.
From the Blurb:
A man is burnt alive in a suburban garden shed.
Karen Chisholm
Sometimes you just need to read something with a title like "The Glorious Heresies".
From the Blurb:
Karen Chisholm
The third in the Intrepid / Alex Morgan series these thrillers are part James Bond (Daniel Craig's version), part crime fiction, part real life action hero.
From the Blurb:
Alex Morgan is back and he isn't playing by the rules.
Policeman, soldier and spy for INTREPID, black ops agent Alex Morgan is hunting the Night Witch—the head of a shadowy criminal empire spanning the four corners of the globe and connected to Chinese triads, corrupt cops, and the Russian mafia.
Karen Chisholm
Inspired by a true story, set in Victorian London, this book is about a scandalous accusation and the subsequent trial.
From the Blurb:
The Victorian gossipmongers called them The Petticoat Men. But to young widow Mattie Stacey, they are Freddie and Ernest, her gentlemen lodgers. It is Mattie who admires their sparkling gowns, makes their extravagant hats and laughs at their stories of attending society balls dressed up as the glamorous 'Fanny' and 'Stella'.
Karen Chisholm
Right - there's stuff in the fridge that's probably edible. Work it out people, I'm reading.
From the Blurb:
Karen Chisholm
Final book on my ebook to be read list for this week - the first book in the Peter Clancy series.
From the Blurb:
It is 1987 and Peter Clancy, a hard-drinking, hard-living Melbourne Truth journalist returns to his hometown to settle his mother's estate. Peter's two-day visit to Clarke's Flat stretches to eight as he is unwillingly drawn into the sinister secrets of this outback town
Karen Chisholm
The third Mitchell Parker book from Helen Goltz, this is my first look at this series.
From the Blurb:
Karen Chisholm
There's nothing like another weekend where it's hot enough to melt bitumen to ensure some reading gets done. This books follows on from The Holiday Murders.
From the Blurb:
Karen Chisholm
Historical New Zealand Crime fiction - with the central thread being corruption, land grabs and bad behaviour over money. Seems like some things never change...
From the Blurb:
The most dangerous people are those with the most to lose.
It is 1887. The young colony of New Zealand is in the grip of a deep depression. Insolvent speculators conspire with corrupt politicians while Maori land slips from the hands of its owners.
Karen Chisholm
A debut book using an unusual device - the story from the perspective of 4 people involved in a series of child abduction and murders.
From the Blurb:
Karen Chisholm
I've been trying to get to this book in the stacks forever, and I can't tell you how pleased I was to get a quiet weekend.
From the Blurb:
Karen Chisholm
There's nothing like a third book in the series being released to make me sit down and catch up with the second. Sigh. My bad.
From the Blurb:
James Mycroft has just left for London to investigate a car accident similar to the one that killed his parents seven years ago...without saying goodbye to Rachel Watts, his 'partner in crime'.
Karen Chisholm
How utterly astounding to realise that this is the 40th Cliff Hardy novel from Peter Corris. (Out in stores 25th February). How gratifying to see the series holding up so strongly. This was a one sitting read on the weekend - but more in a review to come.
From the Blurb:
Karen Chisholm
There are days when the trick of putting the book in one browser window and "work" in the other so you can flick backwards and forwards is very tempting.
From the Blurb:
How far would you go to protect a secret?
How far would you go to expose a lie?
Will Fletcher seems to have it all – perfect job, perfect life. Then in one act of extreme violence, his world is turned upside down.
Karen Chisholm
Given the 45% reference I've definitely decided to mention that this short story is from Scotland (and not just the UK :) )
From the Blurb:
It’s the night of the big Referendum, and all Acting Detective Inspector Logan McRae has to do is find a missing ‘No’ campaigner. Should be easy enough…
But, as usual, DCI Steel has plans of her own. As the votes are counted there’s trouble brewing in the pubs and on the streets of Aberdeen.
Karen Chisholm
Something from the much lighter side, set in Sydney in the world of a book club (seemed appropriate as our own version kicked off for this year on Sunday).
From the Blurb:
When Alicia Finlay walks out on her boring old book club and decides to start a new one—one devoted to her favorite mystery writer Agatha Christie—little does she know her new club is about to stumble into a mystery of their own. It's a mystery so baffling it would leave even the Queen of Crime scratching her head...
Karen Chisholm
I'm juggling a few books at the moment and currently this is the one that I can't put down. As opposed to the next one I'll mention that I can't put down. (Whoever invented having to work when there are books is a meanie).
From the Blurb:
When David's 11-year-old nephew goes missing and he finds the finger pointed at him, he has no choice but to strike out on his own – an unlikely vigilante running away from the police and his own family, and running towards what he hopes desperately is the truth about Andrew's disappearance.
Karen Chisholm
The final (for now) in the Ella Marconi series is the perfect bittersweet read for a particularly bittersweet time in life.
From the Blurb:
Paramedic Stacey Durham has an idyllic life; her dream job, a beautiful house, and a devoted husband. Until her car is found abandoned and covered in her blood.
Detective Ella Marconi knows information is key in the first twenty-four hours, questioning the frantic husband James, jealous sister Marie, and Rowan, the colleague who keeps turning up in all the wrong places.
Karen Chisholm
Loved the short story collection "Cars and Girls" so was very pleased to receive a copy of Riding in Cars with Girls. Could only be made better with Alpacas and chocolate worked in there somewhere ... although I'm still waiting for a ute story ;)
From the Blurb:
FIREBIRD -- A small town cocktail waitress. A glamorous stranger behind the wheel of a stolen muscle car. A raging forest fire. What could possibly go wrong?