Random Things Tours: The Night Ship by Alex Woodroe

End of dictatorships sets the perfect setting for dark apocalyptic novels. As terror is incessantly played against the rebel citizens, the world gets dark sunking in the sea of uncertainty. It is, the end of a world, while the birth of the new one remains largely unknown.

I personally deeply and organically hate dictatorships. The ways in which they kill dreams and destroy destinies and trust. But it may also learn people how to resist together, and this feeling may go beyond the politics, as it prepares individuals to be awake even in the face of a doom.

Rosi is a smuggler active somewhere near the Romanian Western borders. While on her way to a ´secret economic survival´ mission together with her partner Gigi, the radio transmission station starts sending bizarre messages. It seems it is not the feared Romania secret police, but who is behind those transmissions? Warned by the changes taking place outside, Rosi and her group are slowly taking control of their lives trying to figure out the origin of the chaos.

The author of The Night Ship, Alex Woodroe is a Romanian-based author hence her familiarity with names, locations, various local dynamics and historical details from the recent communist past. But even without those specific elements, the ways in which the story is built and the character features of the protagonists may project the narrative in a timeless horizon. 

The descriptions do have a strong visual feature and interesting psychological details, particularly about human reaction in face of catastrophies. 

I have serious reserves about apocalyptic dark novels - and movies too - but a well written book is beyond any genre-based classifications. And The Night Ship just encouraged me take a chance out of my mental comfort zone and give a boost to my imagination. 

Was worth it and the intersection between so many separate topics was a blessing for my brain constantly hungry for new ideas.

Rating: 4.5 stars

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

Random Things Tours: (Not Quite) Done with Dating by Bella Osborne

I personally cannot resist a book about dating: no matter where do you find yourself in the process, learning about the ways of love is never a close chapter. Dating is such a clear miror of the ways in which we understand relationships and of the value of love. Or, the disrespect for it.

Nora, the main character of the latest by bestseller romcom author Bella Osborne (Not Quite) Done with Dating may know few things about the dark side of dating. But she is not convinced that she can so easily resign. She takes break, get back on the track, hopes again. And suddenly, it happens, that one date that screams love. Once you had the feeling meeting that person whose heart beats at the same speed with yours, you forget about all those bad dates. There were just for the purpose of entertaining you until the right person arrives. It may be just few numbers of dates away - Nora is a statistician, by the way.

Don´t think though that you may just be exposed to rows of dates as in a reality show. There is much more to it, including a tight group of friends and some really adventurous episodes that bring even more fun to the reading.

I enjoyed spending time with this book during few dark cold January evenings. As usual in such cases, it helped me to gain perspective and new insights about humans looking for humans to love. The humour is contagious and couldn´t resist laughing out loud more than once. 

Rating: 4 star

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

Random Things Tours: Just One Look at You by Jill Mansell

I forgot to count how many books I´ve read lately where there is a romance starting on a cruise, but each romance is different and so are their writers. Jill Mansell´ latest, Just One Look at You is my latest add to the list of romantic reads, happening during a trip - this time, Venice - but with a very heartwarming and empathic touch that I loved so much when I´ve read and reviewed another book by her. 

The book shares with smart humour and vivid dialogues, a moderately paced story about slowly going beyong grief and fear and embracing love and friendship. 

Fen is accepting the invitation of her long-grieving grandmother Disa on a cruise to the enchanting Venice. Among the passengers, two charming bachelors, that may add a bit of spice to the story. But the love story doesn´t go necessarily straight forward as the ways of real love aren´t that easy to grasp at the first sight. 

The lives of many characters are seamlessly intertwinned and Mansell adds to all those interactions so many emotional intricacies. The reader may not be always faced with a fake bed of roses, and some episodes are heartbreaking, but those nuances makes the story even more relatable.

Just One Look at You is a perfect weekend read, embarking on a purely human journey enfolding against the romantic Venetian backdrop.

Rating: 5 stars

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

Random Things Tours: Greek Gods on TikTok by Rupert Stanbury

As someone who embraces social media in all the possible ways, I am far from dismissing bookish and intellectual projects and ideas communicated via social media. I disagree that ´this new generation´ only watches nonsensical cats and dogs videos on repeat. If you offer quality, they will recognize it, even if you can use cats and dogs and many capibaras to express some timeless ideas.

Rupert Stanbury an avid reader and a former Cambridge graduate, produces highly successful videos on TikTok about Greek Gods. Greek Gods on TikTok is a collection of the scripts of his videos, informative, playful and smart. As someone who read those stories several time in my youth, but unable to instill too much interest in my teenage boy to pay some bookish attention to it, this book was a blessing, because it gives a chance to classical topics in a very new and attractive format.

This book and Stanbury´s idea in general, offers so much inspiration in terms of approach, script writing and creativity. I loved the inspiration and I´ve spent a generous amount of time watching his videos on TikTok - where he is rupertstanbury. 

The lesson: don´t dismiss the medium; if you really have a message, you will find your way to your public.

I will recommend this book to any school teacher struggling with the inability to understand the tremedous outreach of contemporary social media tools. If you believe in education, maintaining old elitist attitudes is counter-productive. 

Rating: 5 stars

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

Rachel´s Random Resources: A Shore Thing by Portia Macintosh

Cleo and Lockie are on set turning a very special show, Welcome to Singletom. As it was not hard enough to work on a reality show, they have also their own issues, as it looks nothing really can be agreed upon between them. And the cherry on the cake: a tropical storm shy before 24 hours of the show start, delaying many participants and turning the official opening into a fiasco.

A Shore Thing by Portia Macintosh, an author I´ve featured before on my blog, is a summer, warming kind of read, with very diverse characters, and enough fun to spice the romanic sparkle. The entertaining pace matches very well the ambiance of a TV show set, with characters suited for their job description. Both the story and the characters are fun, bubbling of good humour and hilarious moments. 

Portia Macintosh wrote in the past books with similar dynamics, with enemies felling for each other and it´s just getting better. My only regret is that I am not lucky enough to read this book while sipping a cocktail in a warm destination. Maybe will read her next book in a better setting though.

Rating: 3.5 stars

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

Random Things Tours: Murder in Moonlit Square by Paul Waters

A semi-retired Irish nun - inspired by the author´s own auntie -, a hotel owner struggling with the local competition. The busy streets of Delhi. And enough crimes - a robbery, a corpse, a disappearance that may lead to an extended terror threat - to endanger the fate of the beloved historical hotel. The only chance to survive is to find out the reason of the crimes and the culprit. Preferably one step ahead of the law and order authorities. 

Murder in Moonlit Square by Paul Waters is a murder mystery set in India, with a fast forwarding pace and unexpected turns of events. So many that more than once I had to come back reading some details that felt I was missing to understand the context. It is the right type of challenge, because it requires your full attention and dedication, and that´s one of the reasons I love a good crime novel.

The unexpected duo Agatha Murphy-Avtar Mehta are people with a good heart, able to believe in the goodness in people, no matter the circumstances.The unfolding crimes and drama are a human fault, but what led those humans to commit it? Such questions are definitely far from being ´cosy´.

I liked how the elements of the whoddunit are setting the base of the story while adding on many other elements of a crime novel. The ambiance, as well as the unique characters do turn the story into an unforgettable, unputdownable novel. 

The book is the first from the Haveli Hotel Mystery and personally I cannot wait to read and review the next crime story. It promises a lot. 

Last but not least, just take one more minute and have a look at the fantastic cover: from the colour combination - those lavender purple shades are awesomely matching the yellow - to the graphic andd the lettering, everything is a great eye catching. 

Rating: 5 stars

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

Rachel´s Random Resources: The Boulangerie on the Corner by Susan Buchanan

Left without a job AND without a boyfriend, Lia is struggling to find her balance and a way to get back her happiness. The last time she fully enjoyed being alive was long ago when she spent time with the Molins in the French ´pink city´, Toulouse. Now at a crossroad, she wants to feel alive again, hence her decision to return. But it looks like she cannot stay away of trouble: the family bakery is facing serious financial difficulties, plus she has to chose between two charming men.

The Boulangerie on the Corner by Susan Buchanan is more than just a book about romance in France. I came for the love - and Toulouse - but stayed for the trouble. I loved how objective conditions - economic difficulties - challenge the characters, especially Lia, pushing them to find solutions and ultimately experience the feeling of belonging - to a family, a place, a community.

This feeling of belonging is very important in this book, creating the backbone of the story. And when we are really aware of its strength, maybe we can also be able to pick up better partners that would rather care about other person´s feelings than being focused on their own wishes only.

The plot is engaging and relatable, with characters being faced with real-life choices. My bonus was to be literarily back in Toulouse where I always spent a joyous time.

Rating: 3.5 stars

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

Mon Vrai Nom Est Elizabeth by Adèle Yon

Mon Vrai Nom Est Elizabeth/My Real Name is Elzabeth by Adèle Yon was a French literary hit last year, with translations in English and German, among other languages and the recipient of many prestigious French literary prizes. 

The story is built around a personal history: searching for traces of life of her great grandmother, who spent 17 years in a mental institution as diagnosed with schizophrenia, the author is revealing a story of abuse and manipulation, where medical science - Betsy/Elizabeth was one the first to undergo a lobotomy in 1950 - was used for oppression aims. 

The book has the authenticity of ´MeStory´ with a touch of documentary authenticity. The story is compelling because it goes beyond the individual account, as it reaches out to the longer duration of the history of mentalities.

Yon uses the investigative base, with a very clear objective - the fear of being tainted by the same mental condition - allowing space though for meditation on women history and the tragical fate of those who refused to submit. In the very specific case of the book, the Catholic milieu - not often portrayed, but very much real, because France means more than just the laic anti-religious Paris - plays a very important role in shaping the family interactions, the medical interpretations as well as the reactions of the family members.

The choice and approach of the topic did not surprise me: I was aware from the very few lines where the conclusion will lead to. However, the story is individual and is worth reading it for its uniqueness. By fiercely gathering personal memories, letters, fragments of conversations, Elizabeth´s fate may not be changed, but her personal story can be rewritten. The story of the many Elizabeths can be rewritten as well, hopefully. 

Rating: 4.5 stars

Rachel´s Random Resources: How to Be Fabulous by Carmen Reid

Annie Valentine the main character of How to Be Fabulous by Carmen Reid is a wearer of many glamorous hats: fashionista, busy mom, role model. Fabulous from all angles.  

But being so successful may attract envy, and once she is faced with misfortune, it seems there is no end to it: her children are going through hard times, and the fashion show she wants to help her friend to prepare for a charity event is about to glamorously fail. And it may be just the beginning.

Annie is bubbling, maybe unrealistic and with her head up in the clouds of success. Some of her people are too. But, it is so much fun knowing them, laughing with them. The character is very well developed, it almost feels like a real one - I can in any case relate her to some of my best girlfriends, by the way. It was interesting to observe how the characters - like Lauren, Annie´s daughter, for instance - were able to change and adapt based on circumstances. 

Expect glamorous fashion descriptions as well as some inspired references known only to fashion lovers - hello, Schiaparelli lobster dress. 

This is the book 8 from the Annie Valentine series, but it can be easily read as a stand alone. However, I would be tempted to get more of it. 

Rating: 3.5 stars

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

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

´Family helps each other out. Family protects family. Family makes  sure family suceeds in life´.

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.

The intentions, the background of the characters and their uneven connections are very important details that should be kept in mind when following the plot. Especially Camille´s father details do challenge the dynamics of the plot, as it reveals the missing information we need to see the whole picture. Camille´s family in general is often taking the reins of the narrative, as it is goes against the legal mainstream taking instead ´non-traditional´ approaches ´(´I told you my family isn´t like other families. They tend to take care of their own problems´.)

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. The intrigue meets suspense meets greed and corruption.

I personally appreciated that although the pace is relatively fast - in sync with the requirements of a murder investigation - , there is enough space left for character and ambiance developments, so typical both socially and culturally to the American South. 

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

The Day My Best Friend and a Migraine Slept Over by Audrey Beth Stein, illustrations by Ana Solarte

Since around 15 years, migraine is my worst friend. Comes up out of nowhere, in the middle of the happiest times, and tends to stay longer as required, although never invited to come over in the first place. Although I got used to manage those moments and to react properly - including by taking the right medicine - explaining to the loved ones, migraine-free, especially children, is the worst part of the story. Migraine is a lonely endeavour and loneliness is better than being surrounded by people helpless to helping you.

The Day My Best Friend and a Migraine Slept Over by Audrey Beth Stein, illustrated by Ana Solarte, is more than just another picture book. Through the story of the girl who is telling the story of her daily experience with migraine, inherited from her mother, we are provided an example of empathy and acceptance facing a chronical illness. 

I personally find interesting the acceptance of migraine nowadays, categorized as a chronical health impediment, compared to the previous decades when it was dimissed as just a more serious headache. 

The book is using a language and a context appropriate for the readers´ age target, but considerate enough to be taken seriously by the parents as well. 

Personally, I just wish there is more openness and discussion about such medical conditions, helping both the patients and their immediate environment to better communicate in such situations.

Recommended for both parents, children and pre-school educators and teachers.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Greek Lessons by Han Kang translated by Deborah Smith and Emily Yae Won

Greek Lessons by Nobel Prize winner Han Kang, translated into English by Deborah Smith and Emily Yae Won is my third by this Korean author. The book was published in original in 2011 and translated only 12 years after. 

More than the other two novels I´ve read, Greek Lessons flows like a poem switching between languages. A poet, a mother whose son was taken away, about to lose her voice, is attending some evening classes of ancient Greek, held by a teacher estranged from his family, about to lose his sight. It is a gentle encounter, where foreign words are replacing the silence.

There is no plot, just life sequences out of time, with information about the past episodes of the main characters, enough to explain the rationale of the present. The woman character - unnamed, as her male counterpart - shares some mental features with the other women presences from previous books: a certain lability and mental fragility due to the social pressure and unresponsiveness of her peers. 

You read this book for the pleasure of language - in translation - and for the metaphysics surrounding the existential condition of the characters. A different literary genre that requires a different positioning and even a different amount of time dedicated to the post-reading - thinking - experience.

Rating: 4 stars

Crush by Ada Calhoun

The unnamed storyteller of the debut novel by Ada Calhoun, Crush is encouraged by her husband Paul to trust herself and dare kissing other men. A kiss-open relationship, nothing more, but expectedly this first step, took seriously by the protagonist, will end up the relationship, although she is maniacally adverse to divorce and keep repeating it obsessivelly until it is actually happening.

The elements of the relationship game meet highly intellectual conversations about love and friendship ending up laughing out loud when faced with the absurdity of the situation. It is well written with references on point, but the naivity of the main character when it comes to relationships is appalling. 

She is taken over by the flow - a e-platonic intellectual relationship with a professor that will eventually end in bed - and she gets disappointed - a talented penpal with a bibliography on point doesn´t make one a relationship material. She is rarely having her own thoughts when not adding different quotes to fill her plot, like pieces in a puzzle. Plus, a relationship is not a book club; cultured relationship may lead to a nice crush, but togetherness requires a deeper kind of interaction.

I loved the intellectual snippets in Crush, although the premises of the story sounded weak for me. But relationship are a very vaste topic to think and re-think and this book was my opportunity of being faced with opinions contrary to my experience and way of seeing and living relationships.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Rachel´s Random Resources: Tomorrow Starts Today by Jessica Redland

Yvonne is since five years widow, consuming most of her time in the company of her faithful parrot Trevor. She is aware of her limited social life and worries about being abandoned and isolated. Everything will change though after she registers for a local crafts club at Willowdale Village where she is meeting new friends, enjoying the beauty of the Lake District and may be tempted to give a new chance to love.

Tomorrow Starts Today by bestseller author Jessica Redland is an uplifting story of life after loss, despite grief and the social challenges of getting older. I loved Yvonne very much, for her inner quietness and discrete sense of humour, but also her love of life. 

Sometimes, life offers you the best when you expect less, and when one gives a chance to authentic human connection. The crafters are a jolly group and they play an important role in the book ambiance. The book has unique characters and there are some turns of events, especially of sentimental nature that make the story even more likeable.

A recommended book if you believe in the power of friendship, no matter the age and circumstances.

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 Retired Assassin´s Guide to Orchid Hunting by Naomi Kuttner

What do assassins when they retire? Maybe they get a cat, or two, get into gardening, visit once in a while the AA - which stands, obviously, for Assassins Anonymous. Get interested in orchids, facing ghosts from the past. Plenty to do, you see?

Dante, the main character of The Retired Assassin´s Guide to Orchid Hunting by Naomi Kuttner, may be an example for other professionals from this very niche field about how to really spend the golden retirement time. Only that old habits die hard, if ever, and his problem solving habits may not suit very well his new ´civilian´ lifestyle. Hence his challenges in facing the real life without any need to push the trigger.

This is the second book from The Retired Assassin´s series - a third is also ready - and I devoured it. Smart, with funny change of situations, all set in a small Te Kohe locality in New Zealand. It is highly entertaining, and so well written, that I forgot how reluctant I am to anything paranormal, particularly in books. Those outerworldly elements do make sense and really enjoyed the story. 

Most probably, will check the other books from the series soon.

Rating: 4 stars

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

An Eye for an Eye by Carol Wyer

DI Kate Young is still coping with PTSD after a traumatic incident that took the life of her beloved journalist husband. As she is requested to join a crime investigation team trying to trace a complex murder, she is not only taken back in time facing events that may lead to the death of her late husband, but may also destroy myths and trust she invested in people dear to her.

An Eye for an Eye by Carol Wyer is a tensed and complex psychological thriller coping with a question that generates many novels belonging to this genre: how far one can get to render justice - the ´eye for eye´ line of thought?

Through voices and events of the past resonating in Kate´s mind, we are brought close to the circumstances that lead to her current situation. At times, it may confuse you as it is not clear from the beginning what happened with her husband, with whom she keeps talking with in her head. It is also unclear until the last pages where the story leads to and what are the circumstances of the crime, but this aspect is a plus, as the ending may not only surprise, but also invite to a serious thinking about human trafficking and its weight both on victims and their families. 

A thoughtful and highly innovative novel, recommended to psychological thrillers lovers interested in going beyond a purely crime-focused plot.

Rating: 4 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Nevada by Imogen Binnie

´Maria is transsexual and she is so meek she might disappear´.

Maria is a trans woman living in Brooklyn, working in a bookstore, with no interest whatsoever in what she is doing for a living. Her relationship is about to end and other persons that may be of love interest do not show her seriously. She is a little bit of everything but nothing completely.

Once jobless though, she is embarking on a road trip, while driving the loaned car of the ex-partner. As best meetings do happen on the road, Maria crosses the path of James, a young in which she may reflect herself at a different stage in life. Maria is four years out of her transition. James may be or not coming out. 

Although the story moves in the pace of a reportage, Maria never ceases to question the body. The body - as a physiology, as observed from outside, as an object to be embellished - stays in the center of the daily conversation and routine. 

The book was published in 2013 and it suits the historical time-bounded narrative, especially the online context, where Maria is doing so well, much better compared to her relatively pathetic real life. 

Personally, I´ve found Nevada by Imogen Binnie an interesting and revealing work of trans fiction of a very clear historical relevance, both from the literary point of view, as well as from the trans story perspective.

Rating: 3 stars

Orenda Books Tour: Into the Dark by Ørjan N. Karlsson translated by Ian Giles

 

Starting the new bookish year with a passionate Nordic Norwegian thriller published by Orenda Books says tons about what the bookish 2026 is about to offer to passionate crime and thriller readers. Into the Dark by Ørjan N. Karlsson translated from Norwegian by Ian Giles is my first from hopefully many Orenda books tours I will take part to in the next 12 months.

Developed through different separate, sharply built episodes, the story starts in a very atmospheric heavy note that sets the key for the further story development. Constantly, the geography and natural ambiance is carefully reconstructed, in small details that may resonate alongside the story lines. Darkness surrounds insidously every step of the plot.

It is a diverse geography, covering remote Northern Norway places, matching at certain regards the diverse characters and their intricate personal and terrifying encounters: a mutilated body found in the waters, a woman found dead in an apparent suicide, a horrible encounter between a hiker and some faceless creature. Hence, the emergency task that Jakob Weber and Noora Yun Sande need to solve. Before the killer strikes again.  

This sense of emergency is progressively taking over the story, as the pace intensifies. For the reader, it means more involvement and guesses about the possible solutions, which for me is always an interesting way of reading psychological thrillers with a dark, very dark take. 

The author himself grew up in those parts of the country, hence the authentic and detailed ambiance.

Into the Dark is a tensed and challenging dark read, suspenseful happening in a deeply atmospheric surrounding. Recommended if you are really looking for a challenging reading year.

Rating: 4.5 stars

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