The Puppet Show by MW Craven
The first in the Washington Poe series, this was a really solid police procedural. Set in the Lake District, someone is burning men alive in prehistoric stone circles. When a suspended detective's name is carved into the chests of one of the victims, he reluctantly takes on the investigation. When the body count rises and Poe begins following his famous instinct, dark secrets emerge from the shadows. Craven's unlikely duo of jaded but experienced detective, Washington, and the socially awkward but genius analyst, Tilly Bradshawe, is a lot of fun! There were many twists and turns that will keep you guessing and the isolated, misty Lake District location made for an atmospheric reading experience. While a very dark read at times, the humour and zippy dialogue will give you plenty of reasons to continue to the bitter end!
Olivia
For Such a Time as This by Shani Akilah
I don’t tend to read books in hardback, so after waiting patiently (sort of) for the paperback to be out, I couldn’t help but dive right in! The book follows a group of Black British 20-somethings in London as they navigate the pandemic and the effect it has on their lives. Despite the heaviness of the pandemic, which is something that hangs over many of the characters and stories, Shani Akilah is still able to infuse the book with warmth, humour, love, and the strongest bonds of friendship.
I really enjoyed reading this and was it definitely worth the wait. It left me feeling hopeful and grateful, and so I eagerly wait for more from Shani Akilah!
And, with its enticing bright cover, I’d recommend this debut collection of short stories to anyone who enjoys them, especially when the characters lives intersect and intertwine with each other.
Alisha
The Horse by Willy Valutin
This is the first Willy Vlautin book I have read, despite him having been recommended to me on numerous occasions. I think it's actually a good thing that I've held off for so long, because now I can go and read all his other books in one big binge.
The Horse is the story of Al, an aging musician living alone in a remote mining claim in Nevada. One snowy morning a sick and injured horse approaches his cabin and Al ponders what action to take as coyotes begin to circle. He reflects on his life in songwriting, his alcoholism and his loves, as well as his hardscrabble life lived on the outside. I loved the unflinching but compassionate account of a marginal yet beautiful life.
Marianne
How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin
With a title like that who wouldn’t pick it up? I’m trying to read outside my usually niches and have never really given murder mysteries a go. I’ve never been a big fan of gore and violence or scary things, so was always unsure of where to start. But after watching movies like Knives out and the recent adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express, I figured I should really give the book genre a go. This title seemed to fit what I was looking for perfectly and turned out to be a great step in the door into murder mysteries. It was funny and easy enough to follow without being predictable at all. The story follows Annie Adams who is tasked by her Great Aunt Frances with solving her murder within a week of her death or lose her right to sole inheritance of the estate. Frances is convinced she is going to be murdered since having her fortune told 60 years ago and has spent her life since trying to prevent it, and compiling her own list of suspects and evidence. It's a truly bonkers premise but it really sucks you in! I was hooked from the prologue and loved the dual timeline and flashes between Frances’ diary entries and Annie’s investigations as they are both such entertaining characters.
I really enjoyed the mystery and it had the right amount of twists and red herrings to keep you guessing and invested. If you're looking for a good fun whodunnit than this is a great entry into the genre!
Aishah
Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka
This is a really interesting and refreshing take on the crime genre. Literary in style, but without losing the gripping, gritty pace of a standard mystery, Kukafka weaves a story of a man, not a monster. Alternating between the perspective of a serial killer on the final day of his life and the stories and histories of the women affected by his crimes, it's an intelligent re-analysis of those age-old questions: Is there such thing as evil? and Are serial killers born or made? The female characters are fully realised, their stories put front and centre of the narrative. It is their lives that make up the bulk of the story, including Saffy, a detective who knew Ansel as a child in their shared care home, Hazel, the twin sister of Ansel's estranged wife, Jenny, and Ansel's mother, Lavender.
It's a very moving and poetic novel that will surprise you with how it is able to create such a palpable sense of fear on one hand, while always keeping a firm hold on the reality of such heinous crimes in the other. 5/5 read for me!
Olivia
