Rachel Random Resources: The Colletta Cassettes by Bruno Noble

At the end of the 1970s, in Colletta, Liguria, a family is spending a beautiful summer time in Colletta. But as the young members of the family are busy either flirting with young waitresses or watching the Argentina World Cup competition, their father, Peter Kentish, an investigative journalist has other serious plans. His interview with an ex-CIA agent, a dissilusioned American.

His journalistic curiosity is rewarded with some precious details leading deep into the already dark realm of Italian politics. 

The Colletta Cassettes by Bruno Noble republished last year, is a perfect weekend read for readers passionate about politics and smart political conspiracies, set in a very enjoyable location. The author is informed, with passion for detail, and creating a well balanced story, where family interests are competing with ongoing geopolitical turmoils. 

The book is enjoyable and smart, with so many different elements from differents areas - geopolitics, social classes clash, Italian traditions, nature and many more - brought together to adorn an eventful story. I love stories with investigative journalists, therefore I followed up closely Peter Kentish endeavours.

Rating: 3.5 stars

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

Random Things Tours: Caller Unknown by Oliver Johnson

A group of children are found out drugged and dumped in Maine. The year is 1970. They have no memories of your previous lives or themselves. They will be adopted or taken care of by the social services. One of them, Ed Constance, who is also the main storyteller of Caller Unknown by Oliver Johnson, grows up a bit different with more awareness about what really may have happened. And as people from his past may reappear into his life, there is a feeling of knowing where things may go to although the missing details are terrifying. Because it was a plan and those children were supposed to be the pawns of achieving it.

This book is a thrilling pageturner, with a perfectly elaborated dark plot. I love how the details are coming up from the darkness of memories and how they are melting with the elements of the present time. It is an admirable execution perfectly paced and with deep psychological insights.

Conspiracy with cultish accent, fight for survival and coping up with deep identity crisis are skillfully used to create tensions, manipulate fears and prevent finding the truth. 

It is a very good thriller, indeed, but hardly to believe it is a debut. I can even see it on screens.

A note of appreciation for the cover as well: the right combination of colours - no blood, and so be it; the lettering size and format; the small and minimalistic yet poignant picture detail.

Rating: 5 stars

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

Rachel´s Random Resources: The Arctic Cruise by Caroline James

Recently widowed, Joy is trying to enjoy the Northern Lights on a cruise touring the Norwegian fjords without her late husband. On the other side of the deck, Henry, the eternal bachelor, is having a great  and interesting time. Two random destinies meeting under the spectacular lights. Are they though meant to be together?

The Arctic Cruise by Caroline James is a suave story of later life romance, set in a charming environment and in a very intense social context. As expected on a cruise, there are so many different characters brought together, from all diverse lines of life; some are fun, some are annoying, some are great friends. Talking about friendship, it plays an important role in connecting the characters, in that slow yet solid way that usually happens at a later stage in life.

The slow pace suits very well the setting, as well as the personality of the characters. Personally, The Northern Lights are a travel dream of mine, but had the chance to explore the Norwegian fjords and I appreciated the geographical- and nature-based details of the landscape.

The book is the third in a series happening on a cruise, but it can be read as a stand alone as well.

I really enjoyed the pace and the ambiance of this book, as well as the interactions between the characters. A pleasant read that may inspire you to travel but also to believe in love, no matter how late in life it may occur.

Rating: 4 stars

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

Random Things Tours: Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston

Anatomy of an Alibi by Louisiana-based bestseller author Ashley Elston invites the reader to a provocative query looking for the real reasons and circumstances of a murder.

Camille is trapped in a marriage with a narcissist and controlling top lawyer, Ben. Aubrey is a bartender, orphaned from an early age following the death of her parents in a car accident. Desperate to find a serious reason to divorce Ben, Camille finds Aubrey´s name and number scribbled on a napkin and suspects an affair. But as she swaps identity with Aubrey for few hours, Ben is killed and the overwhelming maze of lies and delusions with unseen consequences is shaking the glamorous ground of Camille´s life.

Told from different perspectives, by characters themselves morally tainted, there is so much left to the imagination until the end of the story. The mix between intrigue, suspense, greed and bad intentions is always a good fit for a crime novel and Anatomy of an Alibi is a proof in this literary respect.    

I personally appreciated that although the pace is fast, there is enough space left for character and ambiance development, so typical both socially and culturally to the South of the USA.

A recommended read if you are looking for an elaborated and suspenseful crime story.

Rating: 4 stars

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

Cover Reveal: The Heart-Shaped Box by Lucy Kaufman

It is my biggest pleasure to be part of just another enchanting cover reveal event organised by Rachel´s Random Resources. Although, this novella doesn´t give too many chances to imagine anything enchanting about it.

The Heart-Shaped Box by Lucy Kaufman is about the promise of a love story turned into a tale of darkness and obsession set in the rural Victorian Sussex. The cover plays with the ambiguity: from the lettering to the bloodied lace, we are left to expect the horror and the violence - emotional and physical. 

The book is the first installment of the Carousel of Curiosities series. Now, you really have all my curious attention!

The novella will be launched on the 27th of January and stay tunned for a review soon. Given the roller coaster the previous novella by Lucy Kaufman that I´ve read, I cannot wait to discover all those obsessive secrets hidden in the box of chocolate. She is such a master of magnifying details leading to the most unexpected 

Cover Story by Susan Rigetti

Inspired by the con artist ´Anna Delvey´ Cover Story by Susan Rigetti plays very well a game of smoking mirrors. There is so much smoke that one can hardly realize that from the first quarter onwards that´s just a well oiled play we are witnessing.Typical con artist tricks.

Lora Ricci is a naive wannabe fashion journalist who got a summer internship to ELLE. There she meets and is getting fascinated by one Cat Wolff, a socialite of Russian-Austrian origin, the daughter of a clean energy businessman. 

Through fragments of diary, dialogues of FBI agents and email exchanges between ´Cat´ and her brother in Moscow, we can make ourselves an idea of where the story goes. But you should wait until the last line to realize what was all about.

Cover Story has a touch of mystery but as it relies on second hand accounts and lacking completely real time dialogues it may feels artificious. But all my critiques, including towards the Lora character, as reflected in her diary - who plays a substantial part in the narrative -  although literarily legit, do not stand the ending. 

Rating: 3.5 stars

Cinderella Liberator by Rebecca Solnit

`There is always enough for everyone, if you show it properly, or if it has been shared properly before you got then. There is enough food, enough love, enough homes, enough time, enough crayons, enough people to be friends with each other´. 

`

 In the re-told tale of Rebecca Solnit, Cinderella goes to the party, loses her crystal shoe, is found by the prince - Prince Nevermind who doesn´t want to be a princee - but she doesn´t want to be a princess. She wants to open a cake store. She also made peace with her stepsisters, Paloma and Pearlita. The wicked stepmother remains thouh, as a counter-part to the dairy godmother who brought Cinderella to the ball in the first place.

Cinderella Liberator was my first re-told tale so far. I´ve read the Charles Perrault´s original story long time ago, without getting too much into it. It´s a fairy tale that I couldn´t replicate or identify in my immediate environment. No offense, but will take any time the prince instead of the cake store.

In this story, the CinderELLA - her declared name at the end of the story - she is a ´liberator´ aka ´someone who helps others figure out how to be free´. Perfectly fine with that, but I just love original stories more - with or without Cinderella. Stories that may set me or Cinderella or the prince who doesn´t want to be one, or the vilain, free. Each generation its own stories, don´t have to necessarily be write old ones.

Although I understood the message, I am happy to read stories and tales - new and inspired by old - but please give me the chance as a reader to set - or not - the characters free.

Worth mentioning though the classical illustrations by Arthur Rackham. 

Rating: 3 stars