I had a good reading month volume wise, with nine read in total, including one 200,000-word monstrosity. Alas, quality wise, it was not a good month. Only five of those nine have made it into My Favourite Reads (and not the monstrosity which I can’t recommend but, for some weird reason, I also couldn’t put down).
But the following titles wholly deserve their place in My Favourite Reads!
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The Secrets of Strangers by Charity Norman
The Secrets of Strangers is the first book I’ve read by Charity Norman, and it won’t be the last. This book was extraordinary. I’m still thinking about it.
It tells the story of a group of strangers taken hostage in a café by a gunman. A terrifying experience, except as the siege progresses, and the hostages and the gunman reveal more and more about themselves, another story unfolds.
I spent the entire time reading torn between fury and despair, but also warmed by the hope and compassion these diverse people unveil. The Secrets of Strangers was incredibly moving. Many tears were shed.
Very highly recommended. Suspenseful and emotional, and with bonus dogs!
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Death and the Chapman by Kate Sedley
I’m a big fan of Graham Brack’s Master Mercurius mysteries set in 1600s Europe, featuring a scholar who also happens to be a gun at solving mysteries. While set in a different era and place (15th century England), when Death and the Chapman came to my notice, I thought it might be similar and grabbed it.
This was a lot of fun. Roger the Chapman is an ex-trainee priest who’s ventured out into the world seeking a living as a chapman (a kind of pedlar). Being very handsome, well-built and, thanks to his priestly training, educated, Chapman manages to charm not only women with his looks and honesty, but also men.
His curiosity and desire to help has Chapman promising to investigate the mysterious disappearance of the son of a wealthy Bristol alderman, only to discover that this isn’t the first disappearance from that London laneway. Danger and even more mystery, plus a brush with royalty, ensues!
I’d definitely read more of these. They’re like medieval cosies and Chapman is a nice man to spend time with.
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Dying to Know by Rae Cairns
Rae Cairns is a new to me author, whose debut novel The Good Mother was highly rated and shortlisted for a Ned Kelly award. While I wasn’t sure about that title, I loved the premise for Dying to Know and snapped it up.
This was a serious page-turner!
Cadet journalist Geneva Leighton is busy working when her sister asks her to grab nappies. On a deadline, Gen refuses, forcing Amber to go instead. A journey she never returns from.
Twelve years later, guilt-ridden Gen is playing mother to Amber’s traumatised kids and living in her sister’s husband’s house when one of the original investigators arrives with new evidence. Evidence that sets Gen investigating. And stirring up a whole lot of trouble.
Lots of twists and turns, excellent pacing, great characters and even a touch of romance, I enjoyed Dying to Know so much I downloaded The Good Mother. Fingers crossed it’s as good!
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The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo
I’m a big fan of Leigh Bardugo. I’ve read every book in her Grishaverse world and the first in the Ninth House series (must read the next). Her fantasies are rich, her characters wonderfully drawn, and her storytelling brilliant. She’s pretty much an autobuy author for me.
Which is why I picked up The Familiar. Now, I’ll admit that this historical fantasy took some getting into, and there were more than a few times when I wanted to set it aside and read something else. But this was Leigh Bardugo. Surely she wouldn’t let me down?
She didn’t. Once I got into it, The Familiar had me hooked. I couldn’t stop reading. The combination of Spanish Golden Age, with its dangerous politics and religious persecution, and magic was mesmerising. And I loved the relationship between Luzia and Santangel.
Can’t wait to see what Bardugo releases next.
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Secret Fling with the Billionaire by Michelle Douglas
Ah, I do love me a Michelle Douglas romance. They are so gorgeous, and the stories and characters always give me the warm fuzzies.
Secret Fling with the Billionaire was no different. A lovely, heartwarming romance with a thrilling opening, an attraction that develops on an English narrow boat (sigh!), glamorous settings, and two wonderful, damaged and likeable characters who truly deserve their happy ever afters.
But what made this extra special (besides the glorious romance) was the depth of Cleo’s and Jude’s backstories. There was a moment between Cleo and her sister that had me in tears, and Jude’s relationship with his family tugged my heart too.
Oh, and talk about tropey goodness. Close proximity, grumpy-sunshine, billionaire, a ticking clock, and an absolute need to keep any relationship secret. Fabulous.
Secret Fling with the Billionaire releases November 13th in ebook (Australia). Grab yourself a copy!
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What have you read recently that you’d like to rave about?
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14 Responses
Loved Dying to Know. I read The Haters by Robyn Harding and loved it. I have almost finished Head for the Hillsby Tricia Stringer.
I looked up The Haters, Michelle, and it sounds a real page-turner! Also a bit scary. As an author I know how much those bad reviews can hurt, and when you’re attacked like that… YIKES! Thanks for the recommendation!
I’ve been reading the caretaker by Gabriel bergmoser hard to put down would highly recommend it author has become a favourite
Lovely to see you here, Fran, and thanks so much for the recommendation. I really must pick up a Gabriel Bergmoser. These books sounds smack in my zone. Great to hear they’re a favourite for you!
Cathryn, great list as always. I read Remember Me by Charity Norman a couple of years ago (a librarian recommended it) and loved it so I’ve put The Secrets of Strangers on my list. Love the sound of Death and the Chapman. Will hunt that one down too.
I’ve clearly been doing too much work. I checked my reading list for October and it was PATHETIC!!! Not only was it pathetic, there was only one 5-star read, a book you recommended. I clearly need to take more time off. Anyway, the book I loved was Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune who I discovered thanks to your rave reviews. What a beautiful book. I cried!
I hope to have a few more books to recommend to you next month! I’m definitely letting the side down.
Yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed Under the Whispering Door. I cried buckets in that one too. I have The Secret Lives of Puppets by the same author on my to-be-read pile, which makes me think I might boost it up the list. Did you see there’s a sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea? That’s gotta be a must-read.
I will pick up Remember Me in the future for sure. The Secrets of Strangers was amazing.
Sorry you had a slow reading month. Definitely too much work and not enough play!
I’m planning a couple of weeks off over Christmas where I do nothing much but lie around and read and eat cherries. I’ll have LOTS of recommendations for you then! I’ll track down those T.J. Klunes. Didn’t see Cerulean Sea had a sequel. I LOVED that back. Again, thanks to you.
That sounds a perfect few weeks. Definitely something to look forward to!
Thanks for more fascinating books to check out! I’m looking forward to Michelle Douglas’s ‘Secret Fling with the Billionaire’ – so great to see you enjoyed it so much. I recently read Anna Campbell’s ‘The Duke Says I Do’ which was a joy to read. Plus I’ve been having a ball delving into Philippa Gregory’s ‘Normal Women: 900 Years of Making History’ which is full of fascinating detail about what women were doing in Britain in all those years when they were being left out of mainstream history.
You’ll love ‘Secret Fling’, Annie. It’s a gorgeous read with a lot of depth. Wonderful to hear about ‘The Duke Says I Do’. That’s next on my reading pile and I’m really looking forward to it. I do love me some Anna C. That Philippa Gregory sounds a fascinating read. Thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks for the recommendation Cathryn I’ve ordered ‘The Secrets of Strangers’ 😁 I’m currently reading ‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’ Heather Morris which is heartbreaking and life affirming at the same time but having visited the concentration camp in my 20’s it’s quite a hard read having seen first hand where the horrors happened. I also read Sarah Barrie’s 3rd in the Lexi Winter series ‘Vendetta’ and really enjoyed it – now I’m ready for her last in the series ‘End Game’ which is released today. I love that they are set between Sydney, Central Coast and Newcastle so I know all the stomping grounds! I also read Christian White ‘The Ledge’, Meredith Appleyard ‘The Seachangers’, Mary Kubica ‘She’s Not Sorry’ and Tess Woods ‘The Venice Hotel’ and thoroughly enjoyed them all ✌🏽 November is shaping up to be a good reading month as well yahoo exciting times ⭐️
Ooh, I hope you enjoy The Secrets of Strangers as much as I did, Tracey. That book made me cry quite hard. Love it when a book does that.
I must be one of the few people who haven’t read ‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’. I’m not sure I’d be up for it at the moment. I just read The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah and that was a traumatic enough war story.
I agree re reading books where you know the location. It’s so much fun being able to go “I know there!” Have you read Jaye Ford’s thrillers? They’re set around Newcastle (although Beyond Fear is more Dungog area) and they’re brilliant.
That’s a great list of books. You are absolutely having a good reading month. Thanks so much for sharing!
Oh, that Charity Norman book sounds interesting! Am going to have to check it out. And YAY that you loved my Secret Billionaire. That opening is one of my favourites. 🙂
The most interesting book I read last month was The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak. It was our book group pick for the month and rather extraordinary. I didn’t really know much about the conflict in Cypress and found it all gripping (and tragic). The book explores themes of generational trauma and belonging (and so much more). I thought it was really well done. My other fave book for the month was Remarkably Bright Creatures. It was such a warm-hearted book even though so much of the subject matter was sad. I totally fell in love with Marcellus (the octopus).
That’s fab about Remarkably Bright Creatures, Michelle. I’ve had that in my sights for a while but haven’t dived in. Looks like I’ll have to now. Thanks for the rec.
Secret Billionaire was gorgeous. And I agree totally re the opening. Fantastic and SO MUCH FUN!