Book Giveaway - Poppy Redfern and the Midnight Murders

GIVEAWAY PRIZE:

One winner of a paperback copy of Poppy Redfern and the Midnight Murders by Tessa Arlen.  Click here for my review.

Book Blurb: "Summer 1942. The world has been at war for three long and desperate years. In the remote English village of Little Buffenden, Poppy Redfern’s family house and farmland has been requisitioned by the War Office as a new airfield for the American Air Force. As the village's Air Raid Warden, Poppy spends her nights patrolling the village as she tries to ease her neighbors’ fears about the “Friendly Invasion” and what it means to their quiet way of life.

 When two young, popular women who were dating American servicemen are found strangled, Poppy quickly realizes that her little town has been divided by murder. The mistrust and suspicion of their new American partners in war threatens to tear Little Buffenden apart. Poppy decides to start her own investigation with the help of a charismatic American pilot and she soon unearths some chilling secrets and long-held grudges. Poppy will have no choice but to lay a trap for a killer so perilously close to home, she might very well become the next victim...."

Entry for giveaway lasts until Friday October 1st 6:00 p.m. (MST).  U.S. entries only please.  

I will be shipping the book to the winners.

How to enter:

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All entries are to be in the comments for this post.  ALL ENTRIES WITHOUT AN EMAIL ADDRESS ARE DISQUALIFIED.

I will accept entries for this giveaway until 6:00 p.m (MST) on  Oct 1, 2021.  I shall notify the winner via the email address you provided to get your physical mailing address and have the prize sent directly to you.  If I don't hear from you in 3 days, I will select another winner and notify them.

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Review - Poppy Redfern & the Midnight Murders

During World War II, the Germans conducted mass air attacks against British industrial targets, towns, and cities, beginning with raids on London that was systematically bombed by the Luftwaffe for 56 out of 57 days and nights.  Overall eight months (247 nights) of bombing all over England never accomplished the surrender Hitler wanted.  

Underground stations sheltered as many as 177,000 people during the night. In the worst single incident, 450 were killed when a bomb destroyed a school being used as an air raid shelter.

England trained average citizens to assist during such air raids, which is what this main character does.  Charming and feisty Poppy Redfern stumbles into murder in this exciting new World War II historical mystery series from critically acclaimed author Tessa Arlen.

A little late to the party on this book, but better late than never! I meant to read this sooner, but just got around to it.

Author: Tessa Arlen

Copyright: Nov 2019 (Berkley) 320 pgs

Series: 1st in Woman of WWII Mystery series

Sensuality: innuendo mostly, nothing gory

Mystery Sub-genre: historical mystery, amateur Sleuth

Main Characters: Poppy Redfern, WWII Air Raid Warden 

Setting: 1942 England during WWII

Obtained Through: Library

Book Blurb: "Summer 1942. The world has been at war for three long and desperate years. In the remote English village of Little Buffenden, Poppy Redfern’s family house and farmland has been requisitioned by the War Office as a new airfield for the American Air Force. As the village's Air Raid Warden, Poppy spends her nights patrolling the village as she tries to ease her neighbors’ fears about the “Friendly Invasion” and what it means to their quiet way of life.

 When two young, popular women who were dating American servicemen are found strangled, Poppy quickly realizes that her little town has been divided by murder. The mistrust and suspicion of their new American partners in war threatens to tear Little Buffenden apart. Poppy decides to start her own investigation with the help of a charismatic American pilot and she soon unearths some chilling secrets and long-held grudges. Poppy will have no choice but to lay a trap for a killer so perilously close to home, she might very well become the next victim...."

Poppy Redfern is level headed and a determined young lady with a sense of duty who looks like Katherine Hepburn. I loved her right away. Lieutenant Griff O'Neal of the American Army Air Force is the potential romantic interest. Alice, Poppy's grandmother, is a darling-but old fashioned and doesn't like Poppy being an air raid warden.  Jasper, Poppy's grandfather, is a spitfire in his late seventies and he is a commanding officer in the local home guard.  

The first little bit is Poppy finishing training in London, but the rest is set in Little Buffenden. The small town is perfectly rendered and you feel the gossipy environ with its small town suspicions of the Americans at the nearby base. The sense of isolation permeates, too.

The plot of girls being murdered in the middle of the night and the insistence that it has to be the American pilots meant to aid in defending Britain's skies is a good premise.  The atmosphere of the town really heightens this tension.  The pacing was steady and kept me glued to the pages, anxious to read on.

 I love the harrowing killer reveal and this delivered beautifully. Tip of the hat on that score! Great wrap-up and the hint of adventures to come in London.

I am partial to fiction books set in this time period. But, that also means I can be a little picky about them as well.  This book excelled on all counts. Rich characters, compelling mystery, delightful writing style with atmospheric touches, and a hint of romance.  I am already turning to the next book in the series. I highly recommend.

Rating: Near Perfect - Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend. 

Here is an actual reporting about the blitz from 

a reporter on the scene.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiW_yYOm2e8

Review - The Crossing Places

The first entry in the Ruth Galloway series follows an archaeologist in this gritty winner of the Mary Higgins Clark award.  Somehow it took me this long to begin this series.  So many books, so few hours in the day.  But better late than never!  Read on to see how I felt about this first in the series.

Author: Elly Griffith

Copyright: Jan 2010 (Mariner Books) 306 pgs

Series: 1st in Ruth Galloway Mystery series

Sensuality: One mild (no graphic details) sex scene

Mystery Sub-genre: Amateur Sleuth with touches of police procedural

Main Character: Dr. Ruth Galloway, Forensic archeologist 

Setting: Modern Day, Norfolk, England

Obtained Through: Library

Book Blurb: "Forensic archeologist Dr. Ruth Galloway is in her late thirties. She lives happily alone with her two cats in a bleak, remote area near Norfolk, land that was sacred to its Iron Age inhabitants—not quite earth, not quite sea. But her routine days of digging up bones and other ancient objects are harshly upended when a child’s bones are found on a desolate beach. Detective Chief Inspector Nelson calls Galloway for help, believing they are the remains of Lucy Downey, a little girl who went missing a decade ago and whose abductor continues to taunt him with bizarre letters containing references to ritual sacrifice, Shakespeare, and the Bible. Then a second girl goes missing and Nelson receives a new letter—exactly like the ones about Lucy."

Dr. Ruth Galloway lives a pretty solitary life. She teaches classes at the university in Norfolk, works archeology digs, and shares her house with two cats that keep her company.  She is brilliant but self conscious of her being more "full figured".  She is relatable in some ways, and not  in other ways.  Detective Chief Inspector Harry Nelson doesn't seem very bright at times. I'm not sure if that is a deceptive ploy or not (like Columbo). Example, simple things need explained to him like the concept of carbon dating, and he made no progress for ten years on analyzing the taunting letters.  Ruth's mentor Erik Anderssen, one of those professional men who expect everyone to bow to his superior knowledge, is part of the story and while intelligent he is abrasive.  Ruth's former boyfriend, Peter, is a total jerk trying to weasel his way back into Ruth's life now that his marriage has failed.  Then there is Shona, her friend, who has baggage of her own.  The characters are complex and all a bit of a mess.

The setting is deliciously gothic with the the bleak and treacherous saltmarsh. I love when the setting is used to optimal effect and that is the case with this novel. 

The story develops, unveiling the suspects and events from ten years prior, creating a twisting tale.  Ruth takes the investigation further than it had for the last ten years without exerting herself much.  The writing style kept me glued to the pages.

If you have followed my reviews for long, you know I love a scary, tense killer reveal/confrontation.  This book excelled in that sense.  Great suspenseful killer reveal.

Conclusion: This is character driven, so we see everything through Ruth's eyes and that is claustrophobic at times which adds to the overall feeling.  It is also written in first person, so if that turns you off you have been warned. Ruth weighs 12 stone (size 16) and you get how people have treated her as overweight in many ways. I know this could be misconstrued as fat shaming - but in reality the author has brought the reader inside Ruth's head to see how she has been treated is now part of her psyche.  I liked how Ruth was a strong character and a little stubborn who therefore makes occasional bad decisions.  This first novel shows strong potential and I look forward to the next book in the series.  

Rating:  Well done, loved it! 

Review - The Last Mrs. Summers

I have followed the series, but not faithfully.  Sometimes I have read a book not gotten to reviewing it (I'm bad).  Here are the reviews I have posted of prior books in the series. 

#8 Queen of Hearts (click here) 

#7 Heirs and Graces (click here), 

#6 The Twelve Clues of Christmas (click here,) 

#5 Naughty in Nice (click here,) 

#4 Royal Blood (click here,) 

Author interviews/Guest posts

2010 (click here) 

2016 (click here) 

2017 (click here)

 Lady Georgiana Rannoch is just back from her honeymoon with dashing Darcy O’Mara when a friend in need pulls her into a twisted Gothic tale of betrayal, deception and, most definitely, murder. . . .In the foreword, Ms. Bowen shares that this book is her homage to Daphne du Maurier's gothic book Rebecca. 

Author: Rhys Bowen

Copyright: August 2020 (Berkley) 320 pgs

Series: 14th in A Royal Spyness Mysteries

Sensuality: n/a

Mystery Sub-genre: Historical Cozy

Main Character: Lady Georgianna, 35th in line for the throne, cousin to the prince

Setting: 1934-35, Cornwall England

Obtained Through: Library

Book Cover: "After a heart-stopping journey in Belinda’s beast of a motorcar, we arrive at the creaky old cottage called White Sails and quickly realize that it is completely uninhabitable. Just when I’m starting to wonder if I would have been better off trying to get Queenie to cook a roast that hasn’t been burnt beyond all recognition, we meet Rose Summers, a woman Belinda knew as a child when she spent time in Cornwall. Rose invites us to stay at Trewoma Hall, the lovely estate now owned by her husband, Tony.

Belinda confesses that she never liked Rose and had a fling with Tony years ago, so staying with them is far from ideal but beggars can’t be choosers as they say. Trewoma is not the idyllic house Belinda remembers. There’s something claustrophobic and foreboding about the place. Matters aren’t helped by the oppressively efficient housekeeper Mrs. Mannering or by the fact that Tony seems to want to rekindle whatever he and Belinda once had right under his wife’s nose.

Our increasingly awkward visit soon turns deadly when a member of the household is found murdered and all clues point to Belinda as the prime suspect. I soon learn that some long buried secrets have come back to haunt those in residence at Trewoma Hall and I’ll need to sift through the ruins of their past so Belinda doesn’t lose her chance at freedom in the present. . . ."

 

Georgiana is married now but Darcy is off on Government business so she is bored.  Belinda is done making mistakes with men and is trying to focus on cleaning up her life. This book gives her a great opportunity.  Rose is the new Mrs. Summers but she was the poor daughter of a servant and feels isolated and in danger.  Tony is the unsympathetic husband who treats Rose in a belittling manner.  Belinda's Uncle, Francis, is a shady local character complicating Belinda's life.  Jago is the mysterious man from the past that now is the manager of the mansion on the property next door.  Jonquil, deceased, was the prior Mrs. Summers who slipped at a cliff and fell to her death.  Mrs. Mannering is the ever-present efficient house keeper who doesn't like Rose.

Trewoma Hall has an aura of tragedy and woe. It provides the delightfully gothic setting for some nice chills.  The isolated coast of Cornwall in general is perfect for some creepy chills.

The foreward lets you know this is an homage to Rebecca, so the plot isn't a surprise that much if you've read Rebecca.  The murder takes several chapters to arrive, but the story is building like an Agatha Christie novel.  And, if you've read Rebecca it isn't hard to figure out the villain, but that doesn't make the journey any less enjoyable. The pacing is a slow warm up with a lot going on to process.  I found this still a relaxing and fun pace.

The killer confrontation is tense and tragic even.  The wrapup leaves us with a smile and warm feelings.

If you are a devoted reader of the Royal Spyness mysteries I must say that this is different than all the others.  By the very nature of doing an homage to Rebecca it had to be different than any of the others. There is no duty to the queen, Georgianna's disaster of a maid/cook doesn't tag along.  There is less humor than the typical mystery in the series, and Darcy's appearance seems forced.  But it is still a good homage and mystery that I found entertaining and well worth my time.

Rating: Excellent - Loved it! If you are a fan of the series, keep my caveat in mind. If you haven't read this series before you can enjoy without reading any prior books in the series. 

 

Review - Vampire Knitting Club

 I came across this unique book concept and thought this would be good for Halloween coming up.  This is a completely new to me author and series.  Nancy Warren has 70+ books to her credit and started with Harlequin way back in the day.  So read on to find out more about this new series featuring vampires who knit like fiends.

Author: Nancy Warren

Copyright: October 2008 (Ambleside Publishing) 258 pgs

Series: 1st in Vampire Knitting Club Cozy Paranormal Mysteries

Sensuality: mild

Mystery Sub-genre: Cozy Paranormal Mystery

Main Characters: Lucy Swift, just inherited a knit shop in Oxford

Setting: Modern day, Oxford England

Obtained Through: Purchase

Book Blurb: "At a crossroads between a cringe-worthy past (Todd the Toad) and an uncertain future (she's not exactly homeless, but it's close), Lucy Swift travels to Oxford to visit her grandmother. With Gran's undying love to count on and Cardinal Woolsey's, Gran's knitting shop, to keep her busy, Lucy can catch her breath and figure out what she's going to do.

Except it turns out that Gran is the undying. Or at least, the undead. But there's a death certificate. And a will, leaving the knitting shop to Lucy. And a lot of people going in and out who never use the door—including Gran, who is just as loving as ever, and prone to knitting sweaters at warp speed, late at night. What exactly is going on?

When Lucy discovers that Gran did not die peacefully in her sleep, but was murdered, she has to bring the killer to justice without tipping off the law that there's no body in the grave. Between a hot 600-year-old vampire and a dishy detective inspector, both of whom always seem to be there for her, Lucy finds her life getting more complicated than a triple cable cardigan.

The only one who seems to know what's going on is her cat ... or is it ... her familiar?"

Lucy Swift is an average character with a lot of potential to be more memorable.  Her grandmother, Agnes Bartlett, who is now a vampire, is fantastic as a dear older lady who is adjusting to now being a vampire. Her character was much more vibrant and spunky.  Sylvia is the vampire best friend of Agnes and they make a fun pair.  

Rafe Crosyer, vampire and leader of the local fanged residents is only described as "seriously hot".  He is known in the mortal world as an expert in book restoration and a dealer in rare books and manuscripts.  But for the book, he is a close friend to Agnes and seems to like Lucy more than a little.  Detective Inspector Ian Chisholm is the second potential romantic interest and was interesting enough for the limited time on page he received.  Nyx the kitten, her newfound familiar, is one determined cat with some abilities of her own and a fighter.  Nyx is the star of the book in my opinion.

Oxford England is presented as a quaint college town with danger lurking.  I'll be honest, it could have been anywhere in the world with a smattering of older buildings.  The specific setting wasn't utilized but it did provide an old world backdrop.

With this being the first book, time is spent setting up the premise that Agnes was killed in her shop and to save her she was turned by her best friend.  The pacing picks up once Lucy accepts this information, and she switches from mild grief to sleuth almost immediately.  

The killer reveal turns into an opportunity for Lucy to exercise her new-found witchy gifts in self-defense.  This provides a combination of danger and humor.  The wrap up ensures the continuation of Lucy's story as a knit shop owner in Oxford.

If you are looking for a mild paranormal mystery story for a little Halloween fun, this is a good bet.  The idea of knitting vampires is fun and is set up with many of the standard cozy mystery tropes to satisfy most.  This is a fun outing to while away a few hours for a little fun.

Rating:  Well Done - A fun, quick, and easy read I enjoyed.  

Here is an interview with the author writing the series.

https://youtu.be/fITDwCGf9oo?t=394