Random Things Tours: The Drowning Place by Sarah Hilary

DS Joseph Ashe is the sole survivor of a tragedy that happened 17 years ago. A bus carrying young people drove in Edenscar and all drowned but him. This miraculous survival is haunting him until now. As a detective he is requested later on investigating a crime that may bring him closer to elucidating an old mystery haunting him to this day. 

I´ve found the book from the very beginning emotionally challenging, but in the good literary sense. Both the atmosphere of the book and the characters - the bad and the good ones equally - are very well developed, with many hidden secrets that are dramatically challenging the plot in unexpected twists. 

Particularly Ashe is a world in itself, articulated and memorable. The choice of place and location in general may be surprising, as such a crime may work very well in a highly urbanized area. The eerie, spooky even, Peak District - situated in central-northern England - adds however additional elements of surprise to the challenges of the characters and of the story itself. 

The quality of the writing goes well beyond the usual police procedural investigation and this adds an additional quality to this very unique book.

The Drowing Place is the first in a series dedicated to Joseph Ashe and would be curious to continue with the next installments. For me, it was also the first encounter with this author that will definitely keep on my future radar.

Rating: 4.5 stars

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

Lázár by Nelio Biedermann

Lázár by Nelio Biedermann is like on everyone´s German speaking book list this summer and as usual, I couldn´t resist such a bookish temptation. Since the launch of the book in 2025, the 22-year old Swiss author is a literary sensation. The book was last year, among other prestigious nominations and awards, on the Schweizer Buch Preis list. Lázár is Biedermann´s second published novel.

I had one additional reason to read this book besides the German-speaking realm fame: it is set in Hungary/Austro-Hungarian Empires/Central Europe, a region that will always remain my big academic love. 

The author´s family, on the father´s side, is of noble Hungarian origin, refugiated to Switzerland in the 1950s. Lázár follows a family history during one century, from the times of the Austro-Hungarian empire until the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. The format may remind of the Miklós Bánffy´s Transylvanian Trilogy that hopefully will review it one day part of my CLASSIC READS series (eventually with some additional reading in Hungarian).

The ambiance of Lázár is similar to many books set during this period in this geographical realm, therefore relatable and so is the behavior of most of the characters, suffering of a timeless mal-de-siècle.

But, but, but...I felt for the duration of the 300-page of the novel operating mostly in a bubble. Although towards the end of the book there are more characters relating to the noble family, most of the time they behave as being in a bubble, without too much interaction - and social reflection of their immediate environment. Many locations are vague, unclear, lacking any specific individuality and therefore largely unauthentic.

The sex is true and it keeps busy many of the characters, almost most of the time. Which is fine, but for many characters it seems like this was the only reason why they existed in the story; they had sex once and again, and then few years later they died - not necessarily due to the sex activity. 

Hence, the book missed for me some depth, although it is not easy to emulate the style and talent of the Central European literates. On the other hand, it is noteworthy that the literature based in this region is still of interest and may create such a high wave of literary interest.

Rating: 3 stars

I´m a Fan by Sheena Patel translated into German by Annabelle Assaf

Let´s say that some books better would have not find me. At all. I am interested in books about relationships, dysfunctional, abusive (in books only, obviously). But not all those dysfunctional relationships are equal, especially if they are obsessively ideologic.

I´m a fan, the debut novel by Sheena Patel, was long listed for the 2023 Women´s Prize. I´ve read the book in the German translation by Annabelle Assaf, and at least from the language point of view it was definitely worth it. For the rest of the novel though, it didn´t resonate with me at all. 

The unnamed woman main storyteller - in her 30s - is obsessed by a successful writer - whom she sent a fanmail - , but also by his influencer American influencer lover - one of them. She wants to be like her and be with him. Both of them are white, highly priviledged. She is brown, middle-class. 

Instead of focusing on the relationship(s) dynamics and the obsession and the abusive dynamics between the two, the ideological is shortcuting the narrative without bringing anything else than stereotypes about race and power - which are fine, but in a work of fiction you expect to mix well with the facts of the story. A ´no go´ for me, no matter how many accolades and literary prizes this book was included. 

Definitely, I´m not a fan.

Rating: 2.5 stars  

Joyride by Susan Orlean

 ´(...) reporting makes you invincible´.

I don´t believe in role models in both journalism and literature. Trying to replicate someone else´s life and writing takes away your own creativity. But I strongly believe in people who are keeping your inspiration alive just by showing you how important is to keep what are you doing and how do be the best literary version of yourself.

Susan Orlean writes because she is curious. She examines closely ordinary things. She doesn´t teach a lesson, but wants to show you something that you never tought it is there. Her memoir, Joyride, I had access to in the audiobook format, read by the author herself, is a pleasure for the creative years. I felt blessed to have the chance of reading the contemporary works of such a talented nonfiction writer.

One can read it as both a handbook of contemporary journalism but also as the best remedy against writer´s block. You write because there is no other place for you in the world. You writes because you have the passion to open up to a timeless portal of human experiences. You write because you document humanity - yours and the other´s. 

I´ve had the chance few years back to watch a short video by Orlean explaining how to open up an article. Her articles - her iconic are included in the memoir - have the catchiest opening lines. Once you read it you cannot go away from it until you are reading them. 

Joyride also shares a lot of personal stories - like about her getting drunk on Twitter/currently X, but gives many examples of working with edition houses and the publishing industry in general. 

I will recommend this book to any journalist - in the making or just a bit disillusioned about the current state-of-the arts in the media. It makes you believe again in the power of written words. 

Rating: 5 stars

Compulsive Readers Blogtours: The Stranger on the Stairs by Ruth Mancini

How does it feel to spend decades in prison paying for a crime you never committed, based on an incomplete, unreliable main testimony? Although one cannot bring all those years back, the act of justice itself has a restorative function that should follow its way nevertheless.

The Stranger on the Stairs by Ruth Mancini is based on a true crime story of miscarriage of justice. Jamie Clark is a recovered criminal who knows he paid for someone else´s crime. 

A seven-year old discovers her beloved mother dead on the kitchen´s floor. Her testimony was most important element in reaching a conclusion two decades ago. But now, it seems that there were other elements that haven´t been considered. 

As the case is being reconsidered, there are much more details that are revealed, and this creates an ambiance of incertainty and expectations. The impressive cast of characters and the different points of views going back and forth from the past to the current times creates a confusion that matches so well a thriller. 

I´ve particularly liked how the elements of the thriller are well mixed with details typical for dry the procedural investigation. It gives a completely different perspective to the story. Philosophically, the events in this book also shows, at a higher level, how connected we are, and how our deeds and words may influence the destinies of the others, over decades and generations. 

Personally, it was a very dark yet psychologically insightful read, well-written and seamlessly developed. 

This was my first book by Ruth Mancini, but I am definitely interested in reading her acclaimed debut novel as well. 

Rating: 4.5 stars

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

Random Things Tours: Old Bones in Puglia by Tom Benjamin

There are topics that cannot be missed while when writing a book, particularly a thriller, based in Italy. Topics like mafia connections and religious devotion may be necessary motives without whom such a novel may sound largely unauthentic. 

Some authors though can bring both topics in a highly eventful thriller. Old Bones in Puglia by Tom Benjamin was my chance to meet again Daniel Leicester, the Italy-bounded Brit. In a fascinating environment, Daniel is caught in the midst of a tale where mafiosi threats are coming dangerously close to home and his family, while trying to trace some stolen antiquities. 

I am personally fascinated by stories where antiquities and archeology are the canvas where thriller stories are written, and this book is exceptionally feeding my expectations in this respect. The personal story is tightly connected to the thriller and creates a special tension within the story. After all, the life and death in Leicester´s close knit family creates higher stakes as in a very neutral matter-of-factly investigation. 

Well-written, tensed and impossible to put it down; this is how I like my Monday thrillers. 

The book is the seventh in the Daniel Leicester series, but can be easily be read as a stand-alone. I personally hope there will be a number eight and many more installments in the series, as both the characters and the ambiance scream against an early farewell. 

Rating: 4 stars

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

Orenda Books Tours: Stop Dead by Katrín Júlíusdóttir translated by Larissa Kyzer

The author of the bestselling debut Dead Sweet entrepreneur, former politician and crime author Katrín Júlíusdóttir is back with the timed sequel Stop Dead, published by Orenda Books, translated from Icelandic by Larissa Kyzer. 

Detective in training Sigurdis has to abandon her academic training in criminal psychology in the US for further investigating the murder of her father. However, as a controversial media personality is murdered as well, during a marathon, inconvenient truths are revealed as the crime web goes deep into the darkest layers of the Icelandic society and especially its politics.

The mixture between political intrigue and crime is one of my favourite crime sub-genres, therefore, I enjoyed every single page of this novel, well-paced and diving deep into the dark encounters of corrupt and machiavellic politicians and their supporters. 

The story is slowly switching from what was considered as a simple procedural investigation into a much serious and clearly dangerous dive going beyond a simple crime. But the book itself does not read only as a true crime as Júlíusdóttir creatively built momentum through both the plot and the characters. 

Although more than one topics approached may pertain to everyday social challenges, their role in the narrative is not to demonstrate a thesis or to prove a theory, but to nurture the plot and allow the characters - like Sigurdis, which is my favorite - to expand.

I haven´t read too much Nordic Noir this year, but Stop Dead is definitely a book that I will remember and keep recommending to anyone interested in clear and strong Icelandic crime voices.

Rating: 5 stars

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