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Book reviews TuesdayBookBlog

#TuesdayBookBlog Served Cold: BOOK #1 of the REVENGE SERIES by Terry Tyler (@TerryTyler4)

Hi, all:

I bring you a book by a favourite author of mine, and of many of you as well. She is also a fabulous reviewer, so I recommend reading her books and following her blog as well.

But, before I get on with the review of her newest book, I wanted to let you know that I won’t be around on social media and blogs very much for a while, and it might be a long while. I mentioned, some time ago, that due to family matters (my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s almost two years ago), I wouldn’t have as much time as before to share and interact online. I have kept things going pretty much the same, but, although nothing has changed dramatically, things are slowly deteriorating, as expected, and that means everything takes longer and longer, and, unfortunately, the days do not stretch. Something has to give, and I want to keep the few things I do locally happening for as long as I can, so… I will try to focus on reading and reviewing books, so I will still share reviews here when I can, but do not be worried if you don’t see me commenting on your blogs or interacting on the few networking sites I visit.

And now, on with the review.


Served Cold: BOOK #1 of the REVENGE SERIES by Terry Tyler 


Served Cold: BOOK #1 of the REVENGE SERIES by Terry Tyler 

Revenge is a dish best served cold

Two novellas in which vengeance is planned long after emotions have cooled … these are calculated, deliberate acts of retribution. Justice designed for catastrophic effect.

The Steal

Jodie Tarrant has it all – her own small business, a husband she adores, lots of friends, a house she loves in a cosy English village.
She can see her and Kirk’s future all mapped out, with the children she longs for – until the arrival of an enigmatic stranger becomes a threat to everything Jodie holds dear.

Lucky Star

Abduction! Imagine waking up in a strange room, in a strange building, with no recollection of how you got there.
This is what happens to Stevie Warren. Worst of all, she soon discovers that she can’t leave. But who put her there, and why? Deep down, she has her suspicions…

About the author:

Terry Tyler is the author of twenty-eight books available from Amazon, the latest being the post-apocalyptic thriller, Safe Zone.

Other recent publications include the SFV-1 rage virus trilogy: Infected, Darkness and Reset, also ‘Where There’s Doubt’, the story of a romance scammer and his prey, and ‘Megacity’, the final book in the dystopian Operation Galton trilogy. Happy to be independently published, Terry is an avid reader and book reviewer, and a member of Rosie Amber’s Book Review Team.

Terry is a Walking Dead addict, and has a great interest in history (particularly Saxon, Plantagenet and Tudor), along with books and documentaries on sociological/cultural/anthropological subject matter. She loves South Park, the sea, and going for long walks in quiet places where there are lots of trees. She lives in the north east of England with her husband.

Terry can be found on X @TerryTyler4

My review:

I have read several of Terry Tyler’s individual novels and series and have always been impressed by her talent. She is a great storyteller who writes in very different genres and always manages to create gripping plots inhabited by psychologically complex characters. This is most in evidence in her novels and series, where she has the time to develop individuals whose journeys engage the reader to the point of feeling as if they have known them for a long time. But even in her novellas, she still manages to dig deep into the psyche of the characters we only follow for a few chapters. This is true of this book, which features two novellas and is part of her latest series, the Revenge Series. Tyler has announced that this series will consist of 4 volumes, each one containing two novellas that develop a particular aspect of the revenge theme. And, she starts writing about the revenge that is long in the coming, served cold, as the saying goes. So cold, sometimes, that the guilty party has forgotten (or buried quite deep) the incident or events the victims are taking their revenge on. So, just deserts or not, the revenge might come as a far-from-pleasant surprise.

The two novellas are very different. The first one, “The Steal”, comes across as a story we have read or watched many times before, at least to begin with. Jodie, A woman living in a picture-perfect English village, whose life sounds ideal (her business goes well, she lives in a lovely house, has a great husband, has many friends and is fairly happy) with only one little nagging issue; she would like to have a child, but her husband keeps postponing the decision to do so, despite the ticking loud and clear of her biological clock. A new woman arrives in the village, Alana, and Jodie starts to feel jealous, but her friends reassure her that she is only imagining things. Only… Well, you can imagine the rest, but don’t be so fast, because while things seem to follow a well-trodden path, the second part of the story, told from Alana’s perspective, makes readers reconsider everything they thought was true. Sympathies change, and things are not as black and white as they seemed anymore. This story is told in the first-person, from different points of views in each part (and we get to hear from Jodie at the end again), and that means we get to inhabit the heads of both women, which are not always pleasant or comfortable places; and we get to appreciate the degree of desperation, obsession, and determination that guides some of their actions. I can’t say I “liked” either of the two main characters very much, but by the end of the story, I understood their circumstances and actions, to a certain extent.

The second story, “Lucky Star”, narrated in the third-person, appears to be about a reality TV contest —one where the contestants are unwilling participants and have no idea how or why they are there— that turns nasty pretty quickly. Imagine finding yourself in a situation where everything is random, and you have no way of making an informed decision, because there are no trustworthy clues or patterns that can guide your actions. There is no logic or reason behind anything that happens. And still, you have to decide. And your decision has consequences, not only for you and for the rest of the contestants, but also for your loved ones.

It is a disturbing and twisted premise that only gets worse as the story progresses. Readers get a first-row perspective, as they get to share in the experiences of one of the contestants, Stevie Warren (contestant 7), and another character, whose reasons only become clear much later. I won’t go into any further details, to avoid spoilers, but the author manages to make readers feel as if they were inhabiting the skin of the character, and we get to vividly experience some of the rounds she and her fellow contestants have to “play”. The plot gets ever more twisted, and the ending is truly dark (and horrifying).

I have already mentioned the author’s talent for creating great plots and characters, and these two stories are true page-turners, where readers get hooked by the plot and the immediacy of the experiences of the main characters, who feel recognisable and familiar. However, things are not as straightforward as they appear to be at first, and their backstories come back… well, with a vengeance.

I have always loved a good revenge story, but these two novellas made me wonder if perhaps I am no longer so keen on them, as they put me in mind of the rewording of the Bible’s Book of Exodus “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth”, attributed to Mahatma Gandhi: “An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind”.

In sum, a great series opening, recommended to fans of revenge stories who thrive on gripping, twisted, and eye-popping stories. And any readers who haven’t read Terry Tyler yet: this is a great chance to start.

Thanks to Terry Tyler for another great and creepy book, thanks to all of you for your patience, for visiting, liking, sharing, and for always being there. See you soon, take care, and keep smiling.

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Book reviews TuesdayBookBlog

#TuesdayBookBlog The Long Farewell by Bob Van Laerhoven

Hello all:

I bring you the review of a book by an author who has visited this blog frequently, and whose books never leave readers indifferent. He deals in historical fiction and always takes it a step further. And this time is no different.

The Long Farewell by Bob Van Laerhoven

The Long Farewell by Bob Van Laerhoven

A young man with an Oedipus complex in 1930s Dresden, Hermann Becht loses himself in the social and political motives of his time.

His father is in the SS, his mother is Belarusian, and his girlfriend is Jewish. After a brutal clash with his father, Hermann and his mother flee to Paris. Swept along by a maelstrom of events, Hermann ends up as a spy for the British in the Polish extermination camp Treblinka.

The trauma of what he sees in this realm of death intensifies his pessimistic outlook on humanity. In Switzerland, the famous psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung tries to free Hermann of his frightening schizophrenia, but fails to unravel the power of the young man’s emotions, especially his intense hate for his father.

What follows is a tragic chain of events, leading to Hermann’s ultimate revenge on his father: the apocalyptic bombing of Dresden.

THE LONG FAREWELL is an unforgettable exploration of fascism’s lure and the roots of the Holocaust. More than ever, the novel is a mirror for our modern times.

About the author:

Bob van Laerhoven was born on August 8th, 1953 in the sandy soil of Antwerp’s Kempen, a region in Flanders (Belgium), bordering to The Netherlands, where according to the cliché ‘pig-headed clodhoppers’ live. This perhaps explains why he started to write stories at a particularly young age. A number of his stories were published in English, French, German, Polish, Spanish, and Slovenian.

DEBUT

Van Laerhoven made his debut as a novelist in 1985 with “Nachtspel – Night Game.” He quickly became known for his ‘un-Flemish’ style: he writes colorful, kaleidoscopic novels in which the fate of the individual is closely related to broad social transformations. His style slowly evolved in his later novels to embrace more personal themes while continuing to branch out into the world at large. International flair has become his trademark.

AVID TRAVELLER

Bob Van Laerhoven became a full-time author in 1991. The context of his stories isn’t invented behind his desk, rather it is rooted in personal experience. As a freelance travel writer, for example, he explored conflicts and trouble-spots across the globe from the early 1990s to 2004. Echoes of his experiences on the road also trickle through in his novels. Somalia, Liberia, Sudan, Gaza, Iran, Mozambique, Burundi, Lebanon, Iraq, Myanmar… to name but a few.

MASS MURDERS

During the Bosnian war, Van Laerhoven spent part of 1992 in the besieged city of Sarajevo. Three years later he was working for MSF – Doctors without frontiers – in the Bosnian city of Tuzla during the NATO bombings. At that moment the refugees arrived from the Muslim enclave of Srebrenica. Van Laerhoven was the first writer from the Low Countries to be given the chance to speak to the refugees. His conversations resulted in a travel book: “Srebrenica. Getuigen van massamoord – Srebrenica. Testimony to a Mass Murder.” The book denounces the rape and torture of the Muslim population of this Bosnian-Serbian enclave and is based on first-hand testimonies. He also concludes that mass murders took place, an idea that was questioned at the time but later proven accurate.

MULTIFACETED OEUVRE

All these experiences contribute to Bob Van Laerhoven’s rich and commendable oeuvre, an oeuvre that typifies him as the versatile author of novels, travel stories, theatre pieces, biographies, non-fiction, letters, columns, articles… He is also a prize-winning author: in 2007 he won the Hercule Poirot Prize for best crime-novel of the year with “De Wraak van Baudelaire – Baudelaire’s Revenge.” “Baudelaire’s Revenge” has been published in the USA, France, Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Russia. In 2014, a second French translation of one of his titles has been published in France and Canada. “Le Mensonge d’Alejandro” is set in a fictitious South-American dictatorship in the eighties. The “junta” in this novel is a symbol for the murderous dictatorships in South-America (Chile and Argentine, to mention two) during the seventies and beginning of the eighties. In The Netherlands and Belgium, his novel “De schaduw van de Mol” (The Shadow Of The Mole) was published in November 2015. The novel is set in the Argonne-region of France in 1916. In 2017 followed “Dossier Feuerhand (The Firehand Files), set in Berlin in 1921.

“Baudelaire’s Revenge” is the winner of the USA BEST BOOK AWARDS 2014 in the category Fiction: mystery/suspense.

In April 2015 The Anaphora Literary Press published the collection of short stories “Dangerous Obsessions” in the US, Australia, UK, and Canada, in paperback, e-book, and hardcover. “Dangerous Obsessions” was voted “best short story collection of 2015 in The San Diego Book Review. In May 2017, Месть Бодлерa, the Russian edition of “Baudelaire’s Revenge” was published. “Dangerous Obsessions” has been published in Italian, Portuguese, Swedish, and Spanish editions. In January 2018 followed “Heart Fever”, a second collection of short stories, published by The Anaphora Literary Press. The collection came out in German, Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish. “Heart Fever” was one of the five finalists – and the only non-American author – of the Silver Falchion Award 2018 in the category “short stories collections.” In April 2018, Crime Wave Press (Hong Kong) brought forth the English language publication of “Return to Hiroshima”, Brian Doyle’s translation of the novel “Terug naar Hiroshima”. The British quality review blog “MurderMayhem&More” listed “Return to Hiroshima” in the top ten of international crime novels in 2018. Readers’ Favorite gave Five Stars. In August 2021, Next Chapter published “Alejandro’s Lie,” the English translation of “Alejandro’s leugen.”

My review:

I discovered Bob Van Laerhoven, a Belgian author, and his books several years ago, and I have read many of his novels and short stories that have been translated into English, and always enjoyed them, although “enjoy” is not the right word. Because this author always chooses dark and morally complex and ambiguous subjects, hard to write about and not easy to read either. His novels are a combination of beautiful and compelling writing with profoundly dark subjects that dig deep into the human soul. And this novel is not an exception.

The description above covers the main facts of the plot. This is a novel set in a historical period of turmoil, where we follow a young boy, Hermann Becht, growing up in Dresden, at the time of Hitler’s rise to power. His loving father becomes an eager follower of Hitler, ready to do anything, including betraying superiors and family, to go up the ladder and end up in the SS. His mother, a Belarusian with a traumatic and shady past, sees her husband become a stranger and her own identity questioned, and decides to leave, after a confrontation between her husband and her son that makes her afraid for what might happen next.

Hermann witnesses terrible things all around him, some real and some not, and he finds it more and more difficult to tell the difference. Having lived in Paris, London, after losing his mother and discovering that his uncle is not the person he thought, he does not feel he belongs anywhere, and he feels empty. He tries to fill his void by becoming an artist, and he ends up getting involved in the British Secret Service more by chance than by will.

Hermann’s story goes beyond the typical coming-of-age tale, as his experiences in some way move in parallel and mirror (perhaps using a distorting mirror) the history of Germany and the world at the time. He is a witness to some momentous events, to the point of meeting Hitler in extraordinary circumstances, visiting Treblinka right at the moment when the prisoners of the camp revolted, or being the subject of Carl Jung’s analysis in Berne.

His demons, which he does not fully acknowledge until it is very late, are very similar to those that seem to be behind much of what is wrong with the world, at the time and nowadays. The bombing of Dresden, a historical episode that has been the subject of much controversy (a necessary part of the allied campaign to put an end to the war in Europe, or a war crime, depending on the sources one consults), becomes a symbol and an embodiment of the destructive power of hatred and of the demons of the collective unconscious, of the shadow that most of us fail to acknowledge and never want to analyse or look at too deeply, because it is scary and ugly. But, it is a part of us, and ignoring it causes more harm than good.

The writing is superb, as usual, and combines the beauty of the descriptions and the images the language creates, with the horror of some of the events Hermann witnesses. The story is narrated in the third person, mostly from Hermann’s point of view, but there are also moments when we follow other characters or see things from their perspective, and that gives us a clearer perspective. Although those changes of perspective can take place within the same chapter, and more than once, they are not confusing or difficult to follow, so readers do not need to worry about that. The writing is highly symbolic, and this is not an easy read or a page-turner in the usual sense, but a book that requires attention, concentration, and can be challenging at times, although the rewards are high.

This is not a book for everybody, and it comes with a warning, as there is much violence and very dark and cruel subjects are touched upon. My recommendation remains the same I made for the first book by Van Laerhoven I read: if you’re looking for a complex and challenging historical novel and don’t shrink from dark subjects, this is a pretty unique book, and one that seems more necessary and current now than ever.

I thank the author for providing me with an ARC copy of this book, which I freely chose to review.

Thanks to the author for this novel, and to all of you for visiting, reading, liking, and sharing. Do keep smiling and take care.

Oh, and many of you will remember that I read and reviewed Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene’s book Dead of Winter, which she published in a serialised version some time ago. Well, if any of you didn’t read it at the time, you are in luck, because she has published it in an Omnibus version, so you have a chance to catch up with this wonderfully imaginative and beautifully written story. Make sure you don’t miss this opportunity. I am not a great fan of high fantasy but adored this story, and I know I am not the only one.

You can find the details in a couple of her posts, and the second includes an excerpt:

Announcing — Dead of Winter Omnibus #EpicFantasy (& audiobook), & 10th Anniversary Bad Moon Rising
#ThursdayDoors to an October Excerpt
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Book reviews TuesdayBookBlog

#TuesdayBookBlog The Very Last Production of King Lear: A Dwayne Finnegan Novel (The Dwayne Finnegan Series 3) by Richard Engling

Hi all:

I bring you one of the books I’ve read and reviewed for Rosie’s Book Review Team. It is the third in a series I discovered through the group, and I eagerly look forward to.

The Very Last Production of King Lear: A Dwayne Finnegan Novel (The Dwayne Finnegan Series Book 3) by Richard Engling

The Very Last Production of King Lear: A Dwayne Finnegan Novel (The Dwayne Finnegan Series Book 3) by Richard Engling

“a rollicking ride through the underbelly of the acting world”
–Midwest Book Review

In this third novel of the series, Dwayne Finnegan has another crack at the big time as he directs his highly talented (but definitely dysfunctional) actors in King Lear at Chicago’s prestigious Goodman Theatre. However, his lead actor succumbs to terminal confusion, his set designer plans a huge, illegal fire effect on stage, his actors fall in and out of love, his wife Angela consorts with a mysterious curandera, and Dwayne must set everyone straight before opening night.

Advance Praise

“Richard Engling is a Chicago theater guy—actor, director, artistic director. He’s taken his years of experience as the raw material for a trilogy of novels about life in Chicago storefront theaters. His latest book—The Very Last Production of King Lear—is the story of how the director of a small theater company is invited to produce a play at Goodman Theatre…Engling fills his book with so many local theater and Chicago references that it’s a treat for a Chicago theater lover to read…But I think the novel would be interesting for anyone who likes a good story…it is a damn good story.”
—Nancy S. Bishop, Third Coast Review
https://www.amazon.com/Very-Last-Production-King-Lear-ebook/dp/B0FLVZ3N3Q/

About the author:

Richard Engling is a Chicago actor, playwright, and novelist, whose books include the novels, GIVE MY REGARDS TO NOWHERE: A DIRECTOR’S TALE, VISIONS OF ANNA and BODY MORTGAGE, and the collection of plays, ANTIGONE AND MACBETH: ADAPTATIONS FOR A WAR-TORN TIME. His plays also include GHOST WATCH and ANNA IN THE AFTERLIFE and have been produced in Chicago and elsewhere.

My review:

I write this review as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team (author, check here if you are interested in getting your book reviewed) and thank her and the author for this opportunity.

I was lucky to discover Richard Engling and his Dwayne Finnegan Series through Rosie’s Book Review Team, and I have since read and reviewed the three novels of the series he has published so far.

I love live theatre, and I would always like to know what goes on behind the scenes. So, this series, about a theatre director who, somehow, ends up in charge of a bizarre but fascinating ensemble company, is a perfect match for me. The fact that the author knows inside out what he is talking about makes the books an even more compelling read. We are given inside knowledge, and it is a privilege to witness what goes on in a small theatre company, a fictional one in this case. The company might be fictional, but the inner workings of the theatre world feel true, and the utter dedication and love all the characters feel for their craft come across on every page. Whatever their difficulties are, they want to keep going and ensure that the public has an unforgettable experience every night.

The three books manage to combine and perfectly balance the adventures of an ensemble theatre company trying their luck in the small independent theatre world, with the colourful lives of the characters, all of whom we grow to care for and appreciate.

The third novel sees the company, The Psychedelic Dream Theatre, about to make real one of their dreams, performing at the Goodman Theatre of Chicago, one of the most prestigious theatres, not only in Chicago, but in the whole country. And they are going to perform one of the best-known and highly acclaimed tragedies by Shakespeare, King Lear. Cue to all kinds of issues coming up: the artistic director of the Goodman Theatre hesitating to decide if they will get the slot for Lear or not; Dwayne seems to have finally managed to get some financial security, but…; Angela, Dwayne’s wife, wants to have a baby, but things prove a bit complicated; Ingrid (set designer and executive director of the company) has some interesting ideas about the set and the special effects; a few of the actors face one crisis or another during the rehearsal stage; Wallace (who is scheduled to play King Lear) decides to direct a play first, and the results are a bit… loud; some of Dwayne’s choices for the cast are non-standard and questioned by others; an actor and friend of Dwayne returns and creates a bit of havoc; Aleister, Dwayne’s friend and a reputed psychiatrist, is called a few times to help the actors with their performance issues… And these are just a few.

And yet, despite all the things that happen, the author has enough time to keep building on the actors and their psychological arcs. As is to be expected, some of them play larger parts than others, but this is a true ensemble of a book, and although Dwayne gives name to the series, he isn’t the only one whose point of view we follow. Everybody plays a part, and I was happy to learn more about Ingrid, a very special woman, whom we get to know and understand better in this book.

The writing style is informal and easy to follow, full of humour, but we can also find some deeply emotional and moving moments. The story is written in the third person, although as I’ve mentioned, we see things from different characters’ points of view (clearly marked, so readers don’t need to worry about head-hopping. It is not an issue).

The book includes a cast of characters at the beginning (Dramatis Personae), which will make it easier for readers who aren’t familiar with the series to follow the story without getting confused. There are enough mentions of events that have happened in previous books for somebody who hasn’t read the rest of the series to get a sense of what the trajectory of the company has been like. Having said that, although I think the book can be read and followed as a stand-alone, there is so much joy and fun in reading the three novels in the right order and following the development of the company, the characters, and their relationships, that I’d recommend reading them in the right order.

I had a great time reading the story, I enjoyed the ending as well (although…), and I hope we’ll get more adventures of Dwayne and The Psychedelic Dream Theatre.

I recommend it to anybody who enjoys well-written books, with a good mix of plot and characters, and generous doses of humour, especially those who love the theatre. Let me add that it is worth checking the author’s newsletter, as he shares news of his writing and his live presentations, which I’m sure must be a treat. Unmissable.

Thanks to the author for the book and the whole series (I hope there are more to come); thanks to Rosie for her hard work and the rest of the team for their support; and, most of all, thanks to all of you for visiting, reading, liking, and sharing these reviews. Remember to take care and to keep smiling.

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Book reviews TuesdayBookBlog

#TuesdayBookBlog Speak Flowers and Fans: A Dictionary of Floriography and Fanology (Author Tool Chest) by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene (@teagangeneviene)

Hi, all:

I bring you a non-fiction book by one of my favourite authors (and people).


Speak Flowers and Fans: A Dictionary of Floriography and Fanology (Author Tool Chest) by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene


Speak Flowers and Fans: A Dictionary of Floriography and Fanology (Author Tool Chest) by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

How could flowers or hand-held fans be used as a means of covert communications? It sounds odd, maybe extreme, or possibly comical. However, once that was the case. Throughout history, sometimes women in particular were discouraged (to say the least) from speaking in public places. Actually, that was most of the time.
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Those circumstances resulted in cryptological languages, or secret codes. Speak Flowers and Fans: A Dictionary of Floriography and Fanology explores two such codes, 1) Floriography, or the language of flowers, and 2) Fanology, the language of fans. The book is organized into a variety of interesting categories. It also defines the “secret codes” and gives examples. All this is illustrated by beautiful paintings from the eras when these languages were most used.
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This volume is part of Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene’s “Author Tool Chest” collection of resource and reference books. While writers are an intended audience for these nonfiction works, they are useful and entertaining for nonauthors as well. Readers have used them to make up their own games and for dinner party conversations. Although this is not a scholarly work, students and scholars find interesting topics and jumping-off points for additional research.

About the author

Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene is certain that the pen is in your hand. After a life shaped by the tragedy of losing a sibling to Münchhausen Syndrome by Proxy, along with the abuse she herself survived, Teagan took that metaphorical pen into her hand. She wrote her way to a new chapter of life with a successful career authoring and editing technical documentation. With another revision that pen took her to the next chapter, working alongside highly placed Federal executives to compose their communications. However, Teagan wasn’t finished. The pen was still in her hand. In her latest chapter she is an acclaimed multi-genre author, living in a high desert town in the Southwest of the USA. Rescue cats, the Scoobies — Velma and Daphne, offer unsolicited advice on all stories, as well as the book covers Teagan designs.

This author’s stories range from paranormal to high fantasy and urban fantasy, to various steampunk (and other types of punk), to mysteries with historic settings. In addition to fiction, she has created the Author Tool Chest series of non-fiction works as resources for writers and anyone who loves language. In free time she enjoys conversations with friends, singing karaoke, and playing her piano.

See her book trailer videos at YouTube.

My review:

I discovered Ríordáin Geneviene’s blog many years ago, and I have followed her writing career ever since. I have enjoyed the stories she writes in her blog (most in collaboration with her followers), her novels, novellas, serials, short stories, and more recently also her non-fiction, in particular her series Author Tool Chest, where she shares some of the knowledge she has acquired through her detailed research of all kinds of subjects with other authors and interested readers. These books cover topics such as language in the Victorian, Edwardian, and Steam Era or real steampunk devices, and the author seems intent on adding to the collection, to the joy of all who follow her.

This little volume tackles two topics, one more common and popular than the other. We have all heard the adage ‘Say it with flowers,’ and most of us have made comments on seeing a bouquet or a flower arrangement, trying to show our knowledge of the language of flowers, however limited it might be. But I suspect not many of us have researched it in depth. I definitely haven’t, and that was one of the reasons that attracted me to this book.

 This short volume is divided into two parts: one talks about flowers and their meanings (floriography), and the other, shorter, about fans (fanology).

Although the subtitle of the book defines it as a ‘dictionary’, it is much more than that. Some sections are organised as a dictionary, and readers can search for the meanings of a particular flower (in many cases varying according to their colour), but there are also sections on the history of both topics; how they are reflected in art and literature; how they vary in different countries, and also chapters that explore specific themes in more detail (celebrations, gratitude, house-warming flowers, flowers used as names…). And there are also beautiful illustrations at the beginning of each chapter, most of them classic paintings related to the content in question, which make this book beautiful as well as useful.

As is the case with all the books in this series, authors can use them to inform their stories, adding details about flowers and fans relevant to the plot that might add depth and intrigue to the proceedings. There is plenty here to inspire writers who want to add details to the setting of their stories, particularly those looking at historical fiction set in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, when social norms were paramount and communicating with others was not as straightforward as it is now. The use of codes and secret languages was all the rage because that was the only option available to many people, especially high-society women.

Other readers interested in historical subjects, particularly social history —not only authors— will also enjoy this book, as it provides plenty of information organised in an easy-to-search way. It can be read from cover to cover, or one can dip in and out and read about a particular theme or find out some specific information (like the meaning of a flower of a certain colour, or a gesture made with a fan). The book also contains a list of selected resources at the back, ideal for those who want to research and read more about floriography and fanology.

I enjoyed the way the book is organised, and the large amount of information it contains in very few pages. I was surprised by how little I really knew about both subjects. Some of the facts were totally new to me, for example, the information about the language of Filipino fans (Abaniko), and the fact that men used Japanese fans for war or signalling, and I also discovered the meaning of flowers I had never given much thought to. I know I will revisit it in the future, when I want to send flowers to somebody (or when I receive them), and I won’t look at my hand fan the same way ever again.

A great little book to add to anybody’s library, beautiful as well as informative. Totally recommended.

Thanks to the author for this wonderful book, to all of you for visiting, sharing, liking, commenting, and for always being there. Take care and remember to keep smiling!

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Book reviews TuesdayBookBlog

#TuesdayBookBlog The Stranger in My House by Judith Barrow (@judithabarrow)

Hi, all:

I bring you the review of a book by an author who is very well-known and respected, and whom I had the pleasure of meeting in person at a book fair many years ago. I’ve been meaning to read one of her novels for ages, and finally, this one caught my attention at the right time.

The Stranger in My House by Judith Barrow

The Stranger in My House by Judith Barrow

A gripping ‘cuckoo in the nest’ domestic thriller

After the death of their mum, twins Chloe and Charlie are shocked when their dad introduces Lynne as their ‘new mummy’. Lynne, a district nurse, is trusted in the community, but the twins can see her kind smile doesn’t meet her eyes. In the months that follow they suffer the torment Lynne brings to their house as she stops at nothing in her need to be in control.

Betrayed, separated and alone, the twins struggle to build new lives as adults, but will they find happiness or repeat past mistakes? Will they discover Lynne’s secret plans for their father? Will they find each other in time?

The Stranger in My House is a gripping ‘cuckoo in the nest’ domestic thriller, exploring how coercive control can tear a family apart. Set in Yorkshire and Cardiff, from the 60s to the winter of discontent, The Stranger in My House dramatises both the cruelty and the love families hide behind closed doors.

“Judith Barrow’s greatest strength is her understanding of her characters and the times in which they live.” Terry Tyler

About the author:

Judith Barrow is a writer of domestic thrillers, domestic noir, and historical family sagas. Her books include SISTERS, published in 2023, and THE MEMORY, which was shortlisted in 2021 for the Wales Book of the Year (the Rhys Davies Trust Fiction Award).

Originally from Saddleworth, a group of villages on the Pennines, she has lived in Pembrokeshire, Wales, for over forty years. She has an MA in creative writing, a BA ( Hons) in Literature, and Diploma in Drama. She is a creative writing tutor and holds workshops on all genres. She attends many festivals and book events, and frequently gives talks on creative writing.

My review:

I have read many positive comments and reviews about this author’s work, both in fiction and non-fiction, and based on my experience reading this novel, they are right.

This novel includes a prologue (written in the first person) that introduces the subject of evil, and how we might not be aware of having come across it in our lives, perhaps because we cannot even imagine certain things can happen around us. (It brought to my mind the saying that the devil’s greatest trick was convincing the world that it didn’t exist). It sets up the scene for what is to come subtly. Readers might not realise, but they are in for quite a ride.

The novel is divided into two parts, set 12 years apart. Part one takes place in 1967, and part two in 1978. The story falls into the category of recent historical fiction because the atmosphere, setting, and social circumstances are accurately reflected. The story starts in a Northern English town, shortly after the death of the mother of a family due to an illness. The father, Graham, a local businessman who runs a car dealership with a partner and friend, brings a new woman into the equation, Lynne, who happens to be the nurse who had been looking after Graham’s wife during her final illness. The children of the family, twins Charlie and Chloe, not yet 11, had witnessed a distressing episode while their mother was still alive and knew that Lynne is not as nice and caring as she appears to be. However, their father thinks they just need time to adjust to the loss of their mother and to the new circumstances and doesn’t take their concerns seriously. To make matters worse, Lynne has two children from previous relationships, and although the girl, Evie, seems nice, the boy, Saul, is a bully and a nasty individual. The situation quickly escalates: Graham believes all his wife tells him about his children’s difficult behaviour, and both Charlie and Chloe end up as victims of a situation not of their making.

One of the things I liked most about this novel is the way we see what happens mostly from the point of view of the two twins (there are some chapters from other characters’ points of view, especially Graham, at the beginning), although they are written in the third person. The way they express themselves and think is appropriate to their ages, and we even get to read the letters Chloe used to write to Sandy Shaw, their mother’s favourite singer, which are very moving.

The second part shows us what has happened to the twins, who are no longer children, in the interim, and eventually brings things to a head.

I won’t go into specific details about the story, as there are enough details in the description to wet people’s appetite, and this being a domestic thriller, it is best to avoid revealing too much information. The story builds up progressively at a steady pace, and it is interspersed with the twins’ everyday lives and relationships, although things accelerate towards the end, with threats, scary moments, and plenty of action.

When I started reading, I must confess I kept having to suspend my disbelief and wonder how some of the incidents, or similar things, could happen without somebody reacting or doing anything to help these children, but if we take into account the time it is set in, it is not so surprising. People are more aware of some of the issues the novel raises nowadays (bullying, abuse in children’s homes, psychological abuse…), and one hopes something as extreme would not happen in this day and age, but then, one only needs to check the newspapers or watch the news to realise that things might not have changed as much as we would like to think, unfortunately.

This novel has something of the fairy tale, with the evil stepmother as the villain (even one of the characters, a psychologist, mentions that), but, the characters are well constructed, extremely realistic, and, in the case of the twins (and their father, to a lesser extent) easy to empathise with (and of course, sympathise as well), and rather than a fairy tale (whose stories can teach children invaluable lessons), it ends up becoming a cautionary tale. We should not trust appearances and believe all reputations are deserved, good, and bad. As we all know, some “pillars of society” are revealed to have been anything but, and we need to question everything and not take anything at face value.

A great novel, written in short chapters, full of psychological insight and detail, gripping and moving. I loved the ending, I am sure most readers will be satisfied with it, and I’d recommend it to anybody who enjoys the genre. Readers should be aware of the nature of the content, as it might trigger memories and cause distress.

Thanks to the author and the publisher for this novel, and to all of you for reading, commenting, liking, sharing, and for your ongoing support. You are all stars. Don’t forget to keep smiling!

Categories
Sants 3 Ràdio

What have I been up to? Have a look… Festa Major de Sants 2025

Those of you who follow my blog regularly will remember that I mentioned I was going to be busy with the local festival (Festa Major), because at Sants 3 Ràdio, the radio station I volunteer at, we do a lot of extra live programmes during the week or so of festivities.

This part of Barcelona is called Sants (the whole district, the District of Sants-Montjuïc includes several neighbourhoods, but they have separate festivals). Its patron saint is Sant Bartomeu (Saint Bartholomew), celebrated on the 24th of August. Some of the streets work all year to create decorations and a programme of activities for the week of the festival. There is a jury that awards different prizes to the best street, and also to certain categories (creativity, historical accuracy, etc.), but at the radio we also run a popular vote, and we award a different set of prizes (sometimes to the same streets, but not always), so we have listeners calling and voting for their favourite streets. Local shops and institutions offer small prizes and gifts, and we run daily raffles, where the listeners can get some of the gifts (things like discounts in certain shops, meals at restaurants, cakes, other produce or products…), and we run other contests as well.

I answer phone calls and also give out gifts to those who come to collect them, and I’m also in charge of the raffle, so I’m kept busy. I also help at some of the live events where the radio goes and help with live connections, etc. So, it is busy.

I am sharing some of the articles we publish during the Festa Major, so you can get an idea of what goes on. The first one includes pictures of the decorated streets. The one that won the official prize is carrer Valladolid, and you will recognize the homage to Jules Verne.

https://www.el3.cat/noticia/102782/decorats-de-la-festa-major-2025-el-reportatge-fotografic-dels-guarniments-dels-carrers

Here, the official opening of the Festa Major. Two actresses read a manifesto and several authorities gave brief speeches as well:

https://www.el3.cat/noticia/102784/un-prego-molt-reivindicatiu-dona-el-tret-de-sortida-a-la-festa-major-de-sants-2025

Here, the mass and the offering of flowers to Sant Bartomeu:

https://www.el3.cat/noticia/102785/sants-celebra-sant-bartomeu-patro-del-barri-amb-la-tradicional-missa-solemne-i-les-ofrenes

The local market always organises another flower offering (as there is an image of the saint inside the market) and organize an appetiser for neighbours (seafood based).

https://www.el3.cat/noticia/102827/el-mercat-de-sants-torna-a-celebrar-el-tradicional-vermut-mariner-amb-un-exit-rotund

There is also an international Chess competition:

https://www.el3.cat/noticia/102816/lopen-internacional-descacs-de-sants-supera-records-historics-amb-mes-de-700-jugadors-de-5

The radio awards ceremony:

https://www.el3.cat/noticia/102836/el-carrer-papin-guanya-la-25a-edicio-dels-premis-populars-de-la-festa-major-de-sants-2025

Every year, there is an event with the Castellers de Sants (els Borinots) a human castle group from the neighbourhood. They do a pilar (it’s a human tower with one person per storey, and it is called “pilar de 4, 5, 6… depending on the number of people and how high it goes) but this one is a bit special, because they walk, from a square where they traditionally do their shows in the neighbourhood, where the oldest church is, to el Parc de l’Espanya Industrial, a parc on the site of what used to be one of the biggest textile factories in Barcelona. This time the pilar fell before they arrived (only a few metres from la Casa del Mig, the place where they were headed), but it is an spectacular event, and the longest pilar caminant of the tradition castellera. I leave you their video about it. Oh, and don’t worry. Nobody got hurt. (And I’ve seen them do other amazing things, like go up and down a set of stairs, at the chuch, holding un pilar. You can check their account for more videos).

And the fireworks to put an end to the festa major (also organised by Sants 3 Ràdio)

https://www.el3.cat/noticia/102818/el-piromusical-al-parc-de-lespanya-industrial-clou-la-festa-major-de-sants-2025

And in case you wanted to see me doing a silly dance (I don’t do TikTok, but it was for the radio station… You understand)

@sants3radio

Estem de Festa Major, i toca gaudir i ballar molt! #sants3ràdio #el3cat

♬ Hem vingut a jugar – Buhos

And, if you want to see what we get up to the rest of the year, you can check Sant 3 Ràdio on Twitter , Instagram, or visit their news portal, el 3.

Thanks for your patience, for visiting, and always keep smiling and having fun!

Categories
Book reviews TuesdayBookBlog

#TuesdayBookBlog Stupid Things I Won’t Do When I Get Old: A Highly Judgmental, Unapologetically Honest Accounting of All the Things Our Elders Are Doing Wrong by Steven Petrow (@StevenPetrow)

Hi, all:

This is a non-fiction book by a well-known, although new to me, writer. I had to check it out when I read the title.

Stupid Things I Won’t Do When I Get Old by Steven Petrow

Stupid Things I Won’t Do When I Get Old: A Highly Judgmental, Unapologetically Honest Accounting of All the Things Our Elders Are Doing Wrong by Steven Petrow

For fans of David Sedaris and Nora Ephron, here is a humorous, irreverent, and poignant look at the gifts, stereotypes, and inevitable challenges of aging, based on the wildly popular New York Times essay from award-winning journalist Steven Petrow.

Soon after his 50th birthday, Steven Petrow began assembling a list of “things I won’t do when I get old”—mostly a catalog of all the things he thought his then 70-something year old parents were doing wrong. That list, which included “You won’t have to shout at me that I’m deaf,” and “I won’t blame the family dog for my incontinence,” became the basis of this rousing collection of do’s and don’ts, wills and won’ts that is equal parts hilarious, honest, and practical.

The fact is, we don’t want to age the way previous generations did. “Old people” hoard. They bore relatives—and strangers—with tales of their aches and pains. They insist on driving long after they’ve become a danger to others (and themselves). They eat dinner at 4pm. They swear they don’t need a cane or walker (and guess what happens next). They never, ever apologize. But there is another way . . .

In Stupid Things I Won’t Do When I Get Old, Petrow candidly addresses the fears, frustrations, and stereotypes that accompany aging. He offers a blueprint for the new old age, and an understanding that aging and illness are not the same. As he writes, “I meant the list to serve as a pointed reminder—to me—to make different choices when I eventually cross the threshold to ‘old.’”

Getting older is a privilege. This essential guide reveals how to do it with grace, wisdom, humor, and hope. And without hoarding.

About the author:

Steven Petrow is an award-winning journalist and book author who is best known for his Washington Post and New York Times essays on aging, health, and civility. He’s also an opinion columnist for USA Today, where he writes about civil discourse and manners. Steven’s 2019 TED Talk, “3 Ways to Practice Civility” has been viewed more than 1.8 million times and translated into 13 languages.The most recent of his five books is Steven Petrow’s Complete Gay & Lesbian Manners. His next book, Stupid Things I Won’t Do When I’m Old, will be published in 2021. You’re likely to hear Steven when you turn on NPR’s “All Things Considered Weekend,” or one of your favorite — or least favorite — TV networks. Steven also served as the host and executive producer of “The Civilist,” a podcast from Public Radio International and North Carolina Public Radio WUNC.

My review:

I was attracted to this book by its title (I’ve just crossed the threshold of 60, and I live with and look after my mother, in her mid-eighties), as I thought I would easily identify with many of the topics discussed, and, as tends to be the case, I also realised that I was not the only one to notice some of the behaviours of the older generation and to worry about what I’d become like when I got there.

I tried a brief sample of the book and found it funny, and as I’ve been trying to read books on similar topics that might also bring a smile to my face, I thought this was a good book to try.

First, I wanted to let possible readers know that if they are followers of the author and have read many of his articles, they might be familiar with some of the content, as the book includes several edited and expanded versions of some articles Petrow has published in the past, so I’d recommend checking the content in detail to avoid disappointment.

Second, this volume was not exactly what I expected. Yes, there are chapters that made me nod, smile, and chuckle a bit, but it is not a funny book from cover to cover. In a chapter, there might be experiences or anecdotes that are funny, but also content that is fairly serious and even some pretty emotional and moving. People reading it to take their minds off worries or the concerning aspects of ageing might find that they have bitten more than they can chew.

But, third, that does not mean I am disappointed. Although I can’t recall reading anything by Petrow before, so he is not somebody whose life experience I was familiar with before reading this book, I particularly enjoyed his candid reflections about his life, his family, his friends, his circumstances, and the people, advice, and readings that had made an impact on his view of life. I don’t have a lot in common with the author (I love reading and writing, have an elderly parent with her own ideas about things, very different to mine, and have no spouse or children who might be around when my time comes. That is all), but, in spite of that, I connected with many of his concerns, observations, and goals. And some of the chapters made me think in more depth about some issues that have crossed my mind more than once, even if most people don’t want to face them (not only one’s own mortality, but also practical arrangements, like what to do with your stuff, where would you live if you cannot do so with full independence, and what legacy you want to leave behind). I felt that the book started on lighter topics and moved towards more serious and personal ones, and I felt moved by much of what the author shared (especially about his relationship with his parents and friends) towards the end. That is not surprising, as the book is divided into three self-explanatory parts: Stupid Things I Won’t Do Today, Stupid Things I Won’t Do Tomorrow, and Stupid Things I Won’t Do at “The End”.

The writing is excellent, and, although some of the details he shares (when talking about specific services available or locations, to name only two) might not be directly comparable to the readers’ own, the concepts and the questions it raises are easy to adapt to each individual’s personal circumstances.

To give you an idea of some of what you might find in the book, I include the title of some of the chapters:

I Won’t Limit Myself to Friends My Own Age

I Won’t Join the “Organ Recital” (As you might suspect, the author refers to exchanging complaints about physical ailments and shortcomings with friends and acquaintances you meet)

I Won’t Become a Miserable Malcontent, a Cranky Curmudgeon, or a Surly Sourpuss

I Won’t Tell My Life Story When Someone Asks, “How Are You?”

I Won’t Wait Until I’m Dead to Get a Hearing Aid (or, “What? What Did You Say?”)

I Won’t Forget to Plan My Own Funeral

This volume also includes an introduction that explains how the book came to be (why he started keeping a list of things not to do like his parents, and how he later realised what this list was really about), an afterword, a section of acknowledgments, and also a few words by Roseann Foley Henry (who is listed as co-author on the cover and explains what she feels she has contributed to the book).

This is a non-fiction book that deals with many topics people of a certain age start thinking about (even if they’d much rather avoid them) and does so sensitively, with touches of light humour and plenty of self-deprecation. It is divided into chapters, although sometimes the content strays off topic, and there is some repetition of ideas and concepts, because many of these subjects are interconnected. The chapters can be read in any order one chooses, although I felt there was a logical progression when read as published, and the collection worked well for me as a single read. I am sure I will come back to revisit some of the chapters and the parts I have highlighted in the future.

Recommended to anybody interested in these types of topics and to fans of the writer (with the warning I included earlier).

Thanks to the author for writing about such important and often overlooked topics. Thanks to all of you for reading, clicking, liking, commenting, and, above all, for visiting and always being supportive. Keep reading and smiling!

Categories
Book reviews TuesdayBookBlog

#TuesdayBookBlog One of Them Is Lying by Peter Bailey (@peterbailey111) #RBRT

I bring you another book and a new author I’ve discovered through Rosie’s wonderful Book Review Team. This is a pretty twisted one. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

One of Them Is Lying by Peter Bailey

One of Them is Lying by Peter Bailey

A dark, twisted psychological crime thriller

When a privileged student stumbles home covered in blood, urine, and bruises, he claims a teacher attacked him. The media explodes. The police are called. Careers are threatened.

But DCI David Riley isn’t convinced.

Miss Fleming has a spotless record. Sebastian McBride has none. His wealthy father wants justice, or revenge, and he knows how to pull strings. But as Riley digs deeper, the story begins to unravel, revealing a toxic mix of lies, manipulation, and class warfare.

Meanwhile, Miss Fleming becomes a pariah. Vandalised. Harassed. Alone.

Until the truth surfaces, and by then, it’s too late.

Sharp, brutal, and disturbingly believable, One of Them Is Lying is a chilling story of power, perception, and the slow-motion wreckage of a single lie. Perfect for fans of Happy Valley, Broadchurch, and Line of Duty.

About the author:

Peter lives in England with his long-suffering wife. He originally trained as a teacher, but now supports Microsoft windows and ArcSight ESM. His first story was a fictionalized account of a disastrous trip to Las Vegas with a dental abscess. Since then, he has written a vampire story (without any actual vampires) and about a perfectly ordinary day at the office that will last for eternity. Walk in the Flesh is his first book, and possibly the only book based on a scene from the 1966 film Arabesque.

Facebook writing page: facebook.com/peter.bailey.940

Twitter: @peterbailey111

My review:

I write this review as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team (author, check here if you are interested in getting your book reviewed) and thank her and the author for this opportunity.

This was quite a curious reading experience for me. When I read the description, I thought the book would be mostly about one thing, an accusation of abuse against a teacher, and what resulted from that. When I started reading it, after only a few chapters, I felt reluctant to read on. Not because it was badly written —that is not the case— but because I had the feeling that it would be a tough read. And it was. It isn’t the most violent book I’ve read (not at all. I love horror, and I’ve read some extremely descriptive scenes in the past), although there is violence, but mostly off the page, described in reports, and readers aren’t direct witnesses of it (We all have imaginations, of course). But there is some nasty undercurrent of evil and menace in this novel, and one of the characters is one of the worst baddies I’ve come across. No shades of grey here. Total evil. We discover the full extent of that as we read, but, somehow, the creepiness grabbed me from very early on. It might not be the case for all readers, but I thought I’d mention it and see what you think.

I won’t go into a lot of detail, not to spoil the novel for you, and because the description is quite apt. The story is told in the third person, primarily from the point of view of DCI Riley, but also includes chapters that offer perspectives from some of the other characters. Although those are rare, they allow us to get a glimpse of what is going on inside the heads of some of the other protagonists and grasp how they are feeling. The more the novel advances, the more we are thrown inside the investigation, and although the book shares many characteristics of the police procedural genre, including some tropes we are used to read and see in TV dramas (a detective used to working in the big city but now sent to a small place, with more than his share of personal problems, and who is given a very new to the force and green assistant; a difficult to navigate small-town society with power struggles and important people whose influences reach high; interrogations, searches, looking for clues, trips to visit people involved, reluctant witnesses, doubtful pieces of evidence…), it also feels like a classical mystery/detective novel at times, because most of the advances in the investigation come from Riley’s deductions, hunches, and hypothesis, often difficult to prove, at least in the first instance. This is not a book where it is easy to follow the clues and reach a conclusion, because we aren’t always given all the elements or the information we need, and because, as expected in the genre, there are a lot of characters, clues, red herrings, twists, and turns. Readers need to pay attention to every little detail and keep their wits about them. This is not one of those books that you can read, drop for a while, come back after days or weeks and pick it up where you left off, because you’ll miss the connections between the events and end up feeling puzzled. And yes, there are many events, and although everything seems pretty cut and dry to begin with, things get more and more complicated the more the case advances. There are many separate strands to the investigation, strange happenings and characters come to light, and things get personal at points, as well. Of course, with such a plot and so many questions that keep popping up as we read (and the title gives us a clue already), it will be a challenge for readers not to keep turning the pages to find out what happens next, and to discover if they have guessed right.

I have mentioned a truly evil character in the novel, but he is not the only person of interest in the book. Riley is an intriguing character whom I wouldn’t mind getting to know better and seeing again in other cases. He has a dry and sharp sense of humour, he enjoys watching and finding fault with police dramas on TV (some pretty recognisable ones), and he is a man who has to fight his own demons and always tries to do the correct thing, even when it does not feel as the best or the fairest thing to do. That doesn’t mean he is beyond twisting the rules now and then, but only for a very good reason. George, his assistant, is a likeable character who grows and learns to be tough during the book, and there are some other memorable characters in the novel, even though many of them we only see very little of. But, overall, the novel creates a picture of an interesting town with enough of a personality to grow into a character in its own right in the future, if the author so chooses.

The writing is excellent, with the right amount of description, witty repartees, and many memorable and quotable paragraphs, some very funny, which help us break the tension, keep us hooked, and make us keep turning the pages.

The ending… I’ll only say that it is as twisty as it was to be expected, and that I enjoyed it a lot.

An author I’ll keep track of from now on, and a fascinating novel that combines elements of several crime fiction subgenres, full of character, which could easily grow into a series.

I thought I’d share a few samples of the writing to give you an idea of what it is like, but remember, you can always try a sample.

Long ago, chandeliers like frozen waterfalls had lit the room that echoed with laughter and wit. Now, fluorescent tubes hummed in metal cages hung on chains. The windows were packed with paper to stop them rattling and patched with yellowing tape.

The central part of the building was two stories of red brick with all the charm and grace of a budget supermarket.

Maybe she was worried he’d find skeletons in closets, but if they were there, he’d put them on the stage and get them to dance The Macarena.

Thanks to the author, Rosie and her team for their ongoing support, and above all, thanks to all of you for being there, for reading, commenting, sharing, and liking. I’ll be very busy for a couple of weeks or so, so don’t worry too much if you don’t see me around. I’ll be doing my best to try to survive and enjoy the local festival while helping at the local radio station. Remember to keep smiling and to have fun!

Categories
Uncategorized

#TuesdayBookBlog The Dance of Discord: A Short Story of Gilded Age Intrigue by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene (@teagangeneviene)

Hi all:

I bring you a short story for those who have little time to read, by one of my favourite authors and bloggers, one most of you have already met and whose stories have enjoyed. I won’t keep you waiting, because the story is intriguing enough already.

The Dance of Discord. A Short Story of Gilded Age Intrigue by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

The Dance of Discord: A Short Story of Gilded Age Intrigue by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

Welcome to the Gilded Age in Washington, D.C. The Dance of Discord short story is a lighthearted tale of spies and intrigue. In Washington, D.C. around the beginning of the 1900s, Secret Service agent Milo Quick and Duchess Felina Gattone must navigate an intricate and dangerous dance of diplomatic maneuvering. Hints are left all along the way for a twist at the end. Will you spot them?

About the author:

Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene is certain that the pen is in your hand. After a life shaped by the tragedy of losing a sibling to Mµnchaµsen §yndr◊me by Pr◊xy, along with the abµ§e she herself survived, Teagan took that metaphorical pen into her hand. She wrote her way to a new chapter of life with a successful career authoring and editing technical documentation. With another revision that pen took her to the next chapter, working alongside highly placed Federal executives to compose their communications. However, Teagan wasn’t finished. The pen was still in her hand. In her latest chapter she is an acclaimed multi-genre author, living in a high desert town in the Southwest of the USA. Rescue cats, the §coobies — Velma and Daphne, offer unsolicited advice on all stories, as well as the book covers Teagan designs.

This author’s stories range from paranormal to high fantasy and urban fantasy, to various steampunk (and other types of punk), to mysteries with historic settings. In addition to fiction, she has created the Author Tool Chest series of non-fiction works as resources for writers and anyone who loves language. In free time she enjoys conversations with friends, singing karaoke, and playing her piano.

See her book trailer videos at Youtube.

My review:

The author of this story has published books in a variety of genres, fiction and non-fiction, and her blog has become very popular as she has shared there many stories in serial format, always written with the cooperation of her followers. Some of these serials have later become books in their own right, and this is the case of this story, the latest serial the author has published on her blog. I have read many of her previous publications, and I am always eagerly waiting for anything she publishes, even when she writes in genres I am not a big reader of.

The Dance of Discord is a great example of some of the characteristics of the author’s writing: a well-researched setting, particularly important in historical fiction, like this short-story; attention to detail, especially noticeable in the use of turns of phrase and expressions of the era; richly descriptive writing; a surprising and intriguing plot, and an impressive cast of unforgettable characters.

Even in this short story/novelette, the characters are well-drawn and very distinctive. Among my favourites were Duchess Felina Gattone, one of the protagonists and narrator of the story, who is unique, full of character, and a queen of style, and Milo Quick, who reminded me of some of the characters in Oscar Wilde’s plays, witty, a dandy, but quite in earnest when it is required. I won’t discuss any of the other characters or reveal too much about the story, as I don’t want to spoil it. The story is short, but intriguing and very intense. Be prepared for secrets, mysteries, spies, and even some violence, always in the best of taste, of course.

Being adapted from a serial, this short-story is ideal for those who don’t have a lot of time to read, or read on the go, in little bursts, while they travel or go about their everyday lives, because the chapters are short and gripping, and it is short enough to read in one go for those who have a longer break but not enough time to read a full-length novel.

For those who are curious about endings, I can say I really enjoyed it and found it satisfying. There is a twist at the end, but is not a twist in the sense of a totally unexpected turn of events, because as the author explains in the preface, there are hints left all along the way. It might come as a surprise to readers, but when one goes back and reads the story again, it is all there. And it is cleverly done.

A great little story, full of glamour, intrigue, wonderful writing, and memorable characters I hope to read more about in the future.

Thanks to the author for another wonderful story, thanks to all of you for reading, commenting, liking, sharing, and make sure to take care, have fun, and keep smiling.

Categories
Book reviews TuesdayBookBlog

#TuesdayBookBlog The Big Four (Hercule Poirot Series Book 5) by Agatha Christie

Hi all:

I bring you a book by a classic and very famous writer, although it was quite a surprise to me, and not one I had come across before. It is not one of her best, in my opinion, but it is a fun and light read, and recommended to fans of the author and her characters. A warning, though. There are many versions of this novel, and you can find it in paperback, hardback, ebook, audiobook, large print…, so do not worry if the link does not work when you try (it seemed to have changed from the time I bought it, and it wasn’t long ago, although it is still very cheap). If you fancy it, you will have no problem finding it.

The Big Four (Hercule Poirot Series Book 5) by Agatha Christie

The Big Four (Hercule Poirot Series Book 5) by Agatha Christie

‘The Big Four’ by Agatha Christie offers a thrilling departure from her typical whodunit mysteries, diving into a world of international intrigue, conspiracy, and global stakes.
In this action-packed adventure, Hercule Poirot faces a new kind of enemy—an elusive and dangerous criminal organization known as “The Big Four.” This shadowy group consists of four powerful individuals, each representing different facets of global influence: finance, science, politics, and crime. Their goal? World domination.
The Big Four is an exciting, suspenseful thriller and fast-paced read, filled with unexpected turns and high drama. Its daring plot and focus on global intrigue add a fresh dimension to Christie’s signature style. (US store)

A cryptic warning, a ruthless international crime syndicate, and Hercule Poirot at his sharpest—Agatha Christie’s The Big Four is a gripping thriller packed with mystery, espionage, and unexpected twists. When a seemingly simple case turns into a deadly pursuit, Poirot must use all his brilliance to unravel a web of global conspiracies and outsmart four dangerous masterminds. With his trusted companion, Captain Hastings, at his side, Poirot embarks on a high-stakes investigation that leads to shocking revelations.

First published in 1927, The Big Four stands out as one of Christie’s most unique detective novels, blending classic whodunit elements with a thrilling adventure spanning multiple countries. A must-read for fans of Sherlock Holmes and international crime thrillers, this novel keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the very last page.

With over 2 billion copies of her books sold worldwide, Agatha Christie remains the undisputed Queen of Mystery. The Big Four continues to captivate generations of readers with its blend of suspense, clever deductions, and larger-than-life villains.

Get your copy today and uncover the truth behind The Big Four! (UK Store)

About the author:

Born in Torquay in 1890, Agatha Christie began writing during the First World War and wrote over 100 novels, plays and short story collections. She was still writing to great acclaim until her death, and her books have now sold over a billion copies in English and another billion in over 100 foreign languages. Yet Agatha Christie was always a very private person, and though Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple became household names, the Queen of Crime was a complete enigma to all but her closest friends.

My review:

Agatha Christie and one of her most famous creations, Hercule Poirot, don’t need much of an introduction. Most people have read and/or watched adaptations of the novels and are familiar with the Belgian detective, his cases, and his peculiarities.

I came across this novel, which I wasn’t familiar with, and was intrigued by the premise. Hastings is married and has been living in Argentina for some time at the novel’s beginning. He has to travel to London for business reasons and takes the opportunity to pay a surprise visit to Poirot. The surprise is his when he finds his friend about to leave for South America, on his way to solve a case there. As I want to avoid spoilers, I won’t reveal too much of the plot. Still, I can say that I found this novel quite different from the other novels in the series I had read. There are international conspiracies; mysterious and powerful people moving the wheels behind the scenes, and they have very dark and big designs that affect the whole world. Poirot’s famous little grey cells have to confront four brilliant minds rather than one this time. It is as if Poirot had landed in a spy novel, and I am sure James Bond would have felt at home with some of the things that take place here.

I don’t think the plot is as tight or the details as convincing as in some of Christie’s best novels. There are some plot holes and plenty of coincidences, not what we tend to expect of her work. But I enjoyed the twists and turns (even when some of them were easy to guess and felt familiar), and the ending is not only satisfying, but also leaves readers with an uneasy feeling, something that I’ve always liked.

My favourite part of the novel was the characterisation and the interaction between the characters, especially between Hastings and Poirot (although some of the secondary characters are given pretty good lines as well), and the tongue-in-cheek sense of humour, which was very noticeable in this novel and at times made me laugh out loud. Hastings is a wonderfully naïve and unreliable narrator at times, and even he seems put off by Poirot’s sense of self-importance and vanity.

The novel is self-aware (metafictional even), and there are fabulous and funny comments about detective fiction (Sherlock Holmes, anyone?) that will delight fans of the genre.

In sum, an entertaining novel, both a classic but fairly original Poirot adventure, and even if not one of Christie’s best books, it is well worth a read.

Thanks to the author for her wonderful stories and characters, thanks to all of you for reading, and remember to like, share, comment, click, and especially keep smiling. Enjoy the summer, and the well-deserved break if you go on holiday. Have fun!

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