This page is devoted to Gillian’s reviews of books she’s currently reading. Click here to read all of Gillian’s reviews at Goodreads
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Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty I found this enjoyable read, relishing Liane Moriarty’s witty portrait of domestic life with dark undertones as much as ever. A highly readable novel, with well-drawn and very relatable characters. There were lots of twists, and the ending was pleasingly unpredictable.
Molly the Maid by Nita Prose has a unique perspective on life and takes great pride in her job at the Regency Grand Hotel. She misses her late Gran very much, and her loneliness is palpable. Molly’s misperceptions of others’ behaviour means she is easy prey to be framed for the murder of the wealthy Charles Black after discovering his dead body in the hotel. Potential sadness and difficulty for Molly are overcome by her learning who her real friends are and her own indomitable spirit and resourcefulness. A heart-warming, witty and original page-turner. Perfect for fans of Eleanor Oliphant.
The Diary of Isabella M Smugge by Ruth Leigh is a delight to read, and I found myself veering between laugh out loud moments and gasps of horror. Isabella herself is a wonderful creation. Her snootiness and supercilious detachment could make her thoroughly ghastly, but the hints at her troubled childhood and regrets are redeeming features. Her lack of self-awareness is both comic and tragic. I will never forget the fabulously terrible scene involving Dover soles and seafood! Original and refreshingly non-formulaic, I raced through this novel and look forward to reading the sequel.
‘Big Little Lies’ by Liane Moriarty is the first novel I’ve read by this author, and I was totally engrossed by it. The characterisation is brilliant, not only of the protagonists, but also of the more minor characters. I enjoyed the switch between the stories of the three women Madeline, Celeste and Jane, and the comments of the other parents during the police investigation into the murder at the trivia night at the kindergarten. Despite dark themes, I found myself laughing out loud at times. It takes real skill to blend comic elements into a story including a murder and domestic violence. I look forward to reading more by Liane Moriarty.
The Last Words of Madeleine Anderson by Helen Kitson. I enjoyed the premise of this debut novel by Helen Kitson: Why does author Gabrielle Price have only one novel to her name, published twenty years ago to critical acclaim? When Simon, a young man with his own writing ambitions, bursts into Gabrielle’s carefully measured life, it is soon apparent that he has his own agenda. The novel is beautifully paced, psychologically astute and quietly disturbing.
The Mirror & the Light by Hilary Mantel. Hilary Mantel’s conclusion to her historical fiction trilogy about Thomas Cromwell was deeply satisfying. Her research into the personalities and politics during Cromwell’s final years as chief adviser to Henry VIII is meticulous, and I found myself completely transported into this volatile world. Her psychological insight is convincing and the book was a gripping read when I was able to devote time to it. The trilogy is a breathtaking achievement.
Saving Missy by Beth Morrey. This was a wonderful read. The characters were real enough for me to feel I knew them, especially Missy. When we meet her, she is a desperately lonely old woman. She knows her loneliness is largely self-imposed, but struggles to accept overtures of friendship. Her regrets border on bitterness. But as she grudgingly engages with the generous Sylvie and finds herself drawn in to the lives of Sylvie’s friends, Missy softens and opens up, almost despite herself, and finds there is hope of a new start even at 79. I didn’t see the revelation coming at the end, which made it all the more poignant. I look forward to reading more by Beth Morrey.
Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers. ‘Small Pleasures’ is one of my favourite reads of the year. I found myself totally immersed in the suppressed lives of the inhabitants of 1957 London suburbia. Small newspaper journalist Jean Swinney is a wonderfully drawn and very relatable character, struggling to find some space for her own ‘small pleasures’ in the midst of her invalid mother’s oppressive demands. The mystery of Gretchen’s claim of the virgin birth of her daughter provides an unusual plot line, and the gradual unfolding of the truth is very well-paced.
The Last of the Greenwoods by Clare Morrall. ‘The Last of the Greenwoods’ by Clare Morrall draws us into the lives of two eccentric brothers who continue to live in neighbouring railway carriages which formed their family home well into middle age, and a young postwoman, Zohra, who has retained one friend from school days, Crispin, a railway enthusiast. Zohra’s academic ambitions were shattered in her final year at school, and she has struggled to forge a life for herself since. Zohra delivers a letter from Canada to the brothers from someone claiming to be their sister, Debs. They believed Debs had been murdered. Her re-appearance leads them to re-examine their earlier lives and, finally, to move on. The novel is emotionally engaging. After a rather slow start, I found myself concerned about the future lives of the characters.
‘Big Little Lies’ by Liane Moriarty is the first novel I’ve read by this author, and I was totally engrossed by it. The characterisation is brilliant, not only of the protagonists, but also of the more minor characters. I enjoyed the switch between the stories of the three women Madeline, Celeste and Jane, and the comments of the other parents during the police investigation into the murder at the trivia night at the kindergarten. Despite dark themes, I found myself laughing out loud at times. It takes real skill to blend comic elements into a story including a murder and domestic violence. I look forward to reading more by Liane Moriarty.
The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths. Began this whilst still on holiday in Norfolk, and enjoyed picturing Blakeney and Cley as I finished it back home. Black Dog Farm is one of the most chilling settings of the series. Very skilfully plotted, with a number of suspects having motives to murder a couple initially suspected to have died in a murder-suicide. Ruth Galloway’s complex personal life adds colour as always to the detective story.
When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain. Troubled detectives abound in crime fiction, but I found something particularly compelling about Anna Hart. Haunted by her own difficult childhood and especially her overwhelming sense of failure towards her younger brother and sister, Anna is obsessive in her work as a detective seeking missing girls. Her own recent horrific personal tragedy isn’t revealed until the end, and adds to the powerful psychological portrait. The psychology of the perpetrator is also harrowingly convincing. I loved the lyrical and descriptive writing. The setting in the coastal town of Mendocino, where Anna found some happiness with foster parents as a young girl, and the forest cabin where she takes refuge, add to the bleak atmosphere. My only criticism is that I found it difficult to remember the wide cast of characters.
Gillian Poucher Author 