Monday, March 18, 2024

Random Things Tours: Crow Moon by Suzy Aspley


Martha Strangeways (What a predestinated name for a main character in a Gothic thriller) decided to quit her beloved job as an investigative journalist following the tragical death of her twins. But once an investigative reporter, always an investigative reporter. It´s almost impossible to take this gift out of you. Once a missed teenager is found dead, she is back on the investigative journey, decided to find out the truth at any price. The price though is the unleashed energy of human darkness.

Crow Moon, the much praised debut novel of Suzy Aspley, published this month by Orenda Books, is announced as the first installment in series that promise terrific gripping stories. The book is set in the Strathbran, Scotland, a place that seems to be took over by the unsettling strength of nature. 

Traditionally, the Crow Moon indicated the end of the winter, and as usual, the change of seasons means a dramatic struggle for survival, as nature changes and so the overall mood. A moment very well represented into the book, in its fully symbolism. 

Personally, I´ve found fascinating the mixture between old local traditions and the contemporary setting, which add a very strong layer of tension into the plot development. Even if you may not be a lover of Gothic mysteries, you will still remain interested into following the story, because in addition to the dark ambiance and unique characters, the story is told in a way that will not leave the reader indifferent. You either love or hate the story, while being unable to part ways with the book. 

On a side note, the cover offers an inspiring rendition of the book, and if you are one of those people - as the author of those lines - that are easily convinced to judge a book by its cover, you will not regret purchasing the book based only on the predominantly black visual representation.

I can´t wait the next installments of the series although I am still under the impression of this book, few days after having finished it.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Rachel´s Random Resources: The Last Resort by TJ Emerson

 


A mystery thriller set in an idyllic setting, in the Cyprus hills, The Last Resort by TJ Emerson is built around a dramatic moral decision: how far would one get in order to remain in paradise. Inspired by the author´s readings of German literature, the book is playing a daring game with destinies.

Faced with bankrupcy, the members of a carefree community of people that decided to re-start their life, far away from the everyday stress, are faced with a horrible choice: a death - only one - will save their house, and automatically their right to continue their life in the paradise. At the first sight, it´s an easy choice: refuse the offer. But the temptation is big, given the high stakes: their own carefree life. Would someone be able to make the step and save their present and future?

Personally, I find such situations - although just in books - very mind challenging. It was important to follow the characters reacting to the dramatically changing context, as well as the display of secrets they were hiding. Apparently, there is no innocence in paradise.

It is a tormenting feeling to advance through the book, as the story brings the reader in, and one may watch terrifying the unfolding events, unsure about what will come next. Such a story may weight heavy but it is nevertheless an interesting moral adventure.

Last but not least, the title itself, The Last Resort, plays very well the game of double meaning and ambiguity so valuable in a good thriller. 

Rating: 4 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Friday, March 15, 2024

Rachel´s Random Resources: The Spy Across the Water by James Naughtie


No matter how long is my TBR - and it´s always getting longer by the day - I have a weakness for Cold War spy novels. A terrible weakness to be honest. The confrontation between two worlds, none of them completely black or completely white, the tension of a potential atomic war and the race against time for acquiring better information are always a strong inspiration for powerful plots.

Journalists are great writers of spy novels. Especially those with experience in the world politics and international affairs. Because they got to know your friendly spy around the corner, they can relate to their own experiences, although in a fictional way. They, the spies, may know exactly which one of them was the inspiration for the novel.

James Naughtie, the autor of my latest spy novel read set in the Cold War, The Spy Across the Water is a popular BBC News journalist and presenter of Today on BBC Radio for 21 years. The book is the third installment in the series featuring former spy Willy Flemyng but it can be easily read as a stand alone book. 

Currently the British ambassador to the UK, Willy Flyming is facing unexpectedly ghosts from his past. He needs to help a former Cold War ´friend´ in lethal danger, but is there something like friendship of spies? From Washington DC to the bloodied streets of Northern Ireland, the book leads the reader through the maze of a world full of secrets, untold betrayals and loneliness. From the point of view of the global design, a human life is nothing but a tool to reach and aim. Wars and espionage may ignore completely the value of life as every single one can be replaced in the larger economy of things.

I enjoyed the spy adventures and at least getting to know some of the characters. The book is well paced, alert while still allowing thoughts about current political and diplomatic events. Well informed and well written, a very entincing combo for any spy novels reader.

Rating: 4 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own


Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Istanbul Tango by Esmahan Aykol translated from Turkish to German by Antje Bauer


 

Turkish literature has an enormous potential, especially the crime and thriller genre, but unfortunatelly, language remains a big deterrent. As my Turkish learning is too slow to jump suddenly to crime novels, I still rely on various translations, and as usual, German edition houses never disappoint.

Esmahan Aykol is well known as a German-Turkish author, the creator of Kati Hirschel character, a bookstore owner in Istanbul specialized in crime novels and herself passionate about solving a case or two. Istanbul Tango translated into German by Antje Bauer was my first encounter with the series and it looks like I may be interested in continuing my reading with other installment in the series.

Nil, a young woman, recently fired from her journalist job, is having a sudden attack while in a coffee, that will end her up in the Emergency Room, where she will lie few more days in coma before dying. Kati who didn´t have a close connection, if any, with the victim, is curious to figure out what exactly happened to her. 

It is just an accident, a medical occurrence, after all, why need to go so deep into a crime investigation?This is a question I´ve asked myself several times, as almost 100 pages into the book, was not yet very clear if there is any crime plot besides the intention of it. I´ve rarely read a story which is moving so so slowly towards an unexpected end.

Crime, sex, political corruption, an omnipresent intelligence apparatus, but also unique stories about the connection between Argentinian Tango and Istanbul - as at the time of her death, Nil was about to finish a beautifully written novel inspired by those connections. The story is well written and I enjoyed how it was constructed, although it took a bit too long to reach the end. The advantage of this take was though to add a lot of local flesh and colour, including by portraying the characters and focusing on their relationships. The human element is very important in this story, as it leads from different directions to the final storyline.

Istanbul Tango is not my cup of crime tea, but I would love to read more from the series, because it seems like Esmahan Aykol has a well curated art of writing that sometimes can be as important as building a powerful story itself. 

Rating: 3.5 stars

Piglet by Lottie Hazell


A delicious debut novel about a foodie shaking herself free, Piglet by Lottie Hazell has precise - and mouth watering - food descriptions accompanying a story of falling out of love set with the sound of class and priviledge in the background.

Piglet, the foodie-obsessed character of the book is about to get married with his boyfriend Kit. She, an editor of cookbooks, commuting from London to Oxford where he moved with his priviledged husband-to-be. Her family is delighted, his not too much. Their decision is to go onwards with their plans. But shortly before the wedding, Kit confesses having cheated on her. Would she rather give up her newly acquired priviledge plus the social status of a wife for such an accident?

Although I usually like stories with a more expansive plot, I loved Piglet - the book and the character. She is genuine, a foodie, and her foodie endeavours are extensively detailed, in a very inspired way, and her late awakening to self awareness may not be radical, but definitively much awaited.

The dialogues do balance the extensive foodie descriptions and do convene the social disparities, especially when the both pairs of parents are talking and interacting. Both Piglet and Kit though, they are the result of their own indistinguishable, as for now, class natural selection. This may come with time, though.

Piglet is a debut novel announcing even better literary endeavours. For me, it is the favorite debut of the year so far and the occasion to add another author to my watch list.

Rating: 3 stars

Monday, March 11, 2024

The Ultimate Tragedy by Abdulai Sila translated from Portuguese by Jethro Soutra

 


The meeting between the colonizer and the colonized do have its own layer of humour. There is that encounter mediated by the lack of communication, different cultural codes, mistranslations that indulge hilarity. That´s what usually help the colonized to survive day after day the pressure of the coloniter.

The Ultimate Strategy - I didn´t research, but maybe the title is inspired by this quote by MLK Jr. : The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence - by Abdulai Sila, the creator of the modern novel in Guinea Bissau, translated from Portuguese by Jethro Soutra portrays the white man lost in its own endeavours, facing an increasing opposition from the local population, itself undergoing a dramatic shift at the level of mentalities and daily practices. Various Christian denominations - as Scolastique Mukasonga already wrote about it - in the case of the Portuguese colonies, the Catholic Church - did play an important role in performing the most important part of the colonisation, with effects visible until today.

Guinea Bissau gained independence from Portugal in 1973. The story is centered during the last decade before the independence. Ndani is the constant character of the story. She is first a housegirl that is brought to the church and ´emancipated´ by the illiterate wife of an equally illiterate colonizer, afterwards a Regulo´s - chiefdom - wife and finally the wife of The Teacher, a brave defier of the colonial balance of power. From one stage to another she is reflecting the changes taking place slowly within different levels of the society.

The social and political development plays definitely an important role in the story and builds up a special dynamic. However, the story line is sometimes getting lost and the intertwinned stories are missing some points or not necessarily connecting.

I was very happy to discover this important novel for the literary history of Guinea Bissau and I am looking forward to read more literary testimonies from the former lusophone realm. There is so much to discover.

Rating: 3 stars

Random Things Tours: To Kill a Shadow by Julia Castleton


I have a weakness for books having as main character journalists or/and blogger, aimed at revealing inconvenient truths about politics and politicians. To Kill a Shadow, the first stories in a series featuring citizen-journalist Julia Castleton is just a different level of fiction rooted into the daily reality. 

A former Times journalist and a single mother, her troubles start when a potential source died while trying to get in touch with her to share some story of political corruption. But soon she will turn into a target herself, as she ends up in the middle of a complex net of lies and deceit that may not only put her own life in danger, but also her son´s. What is really saves her - as in the case of many single mothers, more or less exposed to dangerous work circumstances - the network of friends and relatives is saving and protecting her and her little one.

What I´ve found interesting in the case of this book was the use of political realities and sadly corruption at the highest level to create a fiction story. Thus the story is relatable in terms of the background and entertains through the thriller and spy setting. The balance is quite good while showing how important the work of honest journalists continue to be for the society and lethal for the enemies of freedom.

Julia Castleton is the pen name of a writing duo. I feel very priviledged to be part of the blog tour featuring the first installment in the series and can´t wait to read the other books. It promises a lot of action and political entertainment.

A recommended read to any lover of political intrigue set in our sad times.

Rating: 4 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own