Death at the White Hart - Chris Chibnall

 Death at the White Hart - Chris Chibnall

Pub. Date: June 10, 2025

She read

A dead body is found in the middle of the road in a Dorset coastal community. The victim has been tied to a chair, with stag antlers attached to his head. Detective Nicola Bridge has just transferred here, her hometown, from Liverpool. Thinking this will be a quiet location, she finds herself immediately coping with a homicide, few support staff, and many suspects. 

From the creator of Broadchurch, this has some of the same, small village quirkiness as the TV show. Well plotted, it is an engrossing, suspenseful read; entertaining, with a bit of humor. There are colorful characters, red herrings, twists, and turns. I like Nicola, a capable individual dealing with personal issues while doing her best at her job. I also like Harry, her younger, less experienced partner who proves to be adept. 

I hope this will become a book series by Chibnall and perhaps optioned for TV as well.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #VikingPenquin for the  DRC.

The Book of Everyday Resistance - Lori Perkins, Christopher Golden, Jessica Pipp, Michele Hornish, David Freed, Ed Stein, Riki Wilchins

The Book of Everyday Resistance - Lori Perkins, Christopher Golden, Jessica Pipp, Michele Hornish, David Freed, Ed Stein, Riki Wilchins

 This is a book of essays responding to our present political situation in the US. The entries are written by people with a variety of backgrounds, including attorneys, teachers, writers, artists, poets, mothers, fathers. They all have been affected in some way by what is happening right now.

Mostly prose, there is some poetry, all providing ways in our lives that we can feel we are doing something to address our concerns. Some of the essays miss a bit, others are right on, some heartbreaking, others uplifting….but they are all worthwhile reads.

Whether you feel helpless, hopeless, enraged, indifferent, there is something here to help with those feelings and what individuals can do to effect positive change.

Available as a free download to all by the publisher (Riverdale Ave Books), I have recommended this quick read to all my friends.

Thanks to #NetGalley and @Riverdaleavebooks for the DRC.

*****

The Sublet - Greer Hendriks

 The Sublet - Greer Hendriks

She read

Anne is a ghost writer who has just signed an NDA to write a motivational wellness book for Melody Wells. A bit overwhelmed with balancing the demands of her job with married life and twin children, Anne and her family are in desperate need of a larger apartment. Melody assists her by telling her about an almost too good to be true sublet that is available. After she moves, Anne realizes all may not be as it appears in the new apartment and the history of its previous tenant.

This is a short story written by an author who has co authored a number of books I have enjoyed. This was a quick, but entertaining read. It is a mystery bordering on horror. I loved how Hendriks captured the “new agey”  and cringiness of Melody, a wellness guru. I did think that the story wrapped up a very quickly.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #AmazonPublishing for the DRC.

****

A Question of Betrayal - Anne Perry

 A Question of Betrayal - Anne Perry

She read

Elena Standish, posing as a photographer, is sent to Trieste to rescue fellow MI6 agent Aiden Strother. He is her former lover who betrayed her and possibly his country. It is 1933 and Hitler and Mussolini are ascending. These are dangerous times. Meanwhile, Elena’s sister travels to Germany for the marriage of a friend to a rising star in the Gestapo. Back in Britain, their grandfather, former head of MI6, is tipped off that there are traitors in the government who are helping to fund the Nazis. 

This has been on my TBR for a long time.  It is the second in the Elena Standish series. I read the third one, liked it, and wanted to go back and read the prior installments.

Well written with much historical accuracy, there is suspense, intrigue, and even fashion commentary. It makes for a fast, engrossing read.

Although it was released in 2020 and takes place in 1933, this book may be more pertinent today given our present political climate. There are so many quotes here that resonated with me and I saw as a warning for our times.I found myself underlining line after line to go back to read and think about later. 

This could work well as a standalone.There are three subsequent entries in the series; Anne Perry passed away in 2023.

Thanks to #NetGalley and @RandomHouse #BallantineBooks for the DRC. 

*****

#AQuestionofBetrayal #AnnePerry #Mystery #