#barbara cleverly

[writing-challenges-and-prompts]

Writing Prompt: Dialogue

"This isn't human country! It was never meant that anyone should be here, stand, sit, or walk here. This isn't country worth fighting for. Leave it to bake in the summer, freeze in the winter; leave it to bury its dead or not even bury its dead -- leave them to bleach away to nothing in the sun."

[nevinslibrary]

Mystery/Thriller Monday

Oh no, a female trumpeter… to be fair, it’s set in 1923 in Cambridge (unfortunately not the one that I can take the T to get to, but the one on the other side of the Atlantic). This woman, Juno, nearly dies, and so new DI John Redfyre (who is also a survivor of World War I) is on the case.

And then, when someone tries to kill Juno again, and he finds other women who have been murdered, suddenly his friends and family could either be targets, or perhaps the even the perpetrator.

It was an interesting novel. Very British with a lot of really really unique characters that exploded from the page.

You may like this book If you Liked: The Chessman by Dolores Gordon-Smith, A Necessary Evil by Abir Mukherjee, or Hardcastle's Runaway by Graham Ison

Fall of Angels by Barbara Cleverly

[randomnote]

Book: The Last Kashmiri Rose, Barbara Cleverly

[randomnote]

Book: The Last Kashmiri Rose, Barbara Cleverly

[my-52-weeks-with-christie]

Barbara Cleverly - Fall of Angels

Detective Inspector John Redfyre is a rare creature - he's the fourth (and therefore penniless) son of an aristocratic family, with a good university education and a clear sense of service. What makes him rare jewel in the eyes of his superiors? He's a Detective Inspector who can rub shoulders with the Cambridge's elite or pub thugs with equal ease.

This ability to skate between worlds comes in handy when Redfyre literally has front row seats to an attempted murder on the University campus! A female musician is pushed down the stairs following her performance (which was very controversial since it's 1923 and she's playing the trumpet - an instrument deemed only fit for male musicians) and lands pretty much in his lap (Redfyre's Aunt had given him tickets to the performance). This piece of skullduggery is quickly followed by an actual murder which unexpectedly dovetails with the previous evening's sabotage, much to Redfyre's surprise.

With no shortage of suspects, it's up to Detective Inspector Redfyre to suss out the motive behind these callous crimes before the murderer strikes again!

So, on the whole, I really enjoyed this book, I'd give it four out of five stars. The murder mystery, the Detective Inspector and the characters were all lovely and well constructed. In fact, the last two-thirds of the book was an excellent read...The problem with this book is the central red herring, which is a hair overcomplicated (or overexplained - I can't decide - because Cleverly gave voice to simply everyone's views at some point), which muddies up the narrative until the Detective Inspector unravels it.

That being said this mystery is well worth your time (because while the first bit might have been overly done - I never once entertained the thought of putting it down!). The mystery itself is well thought out, well executed and has a climatic conclusion.

FYI - don't let the cover fool you, the crimes happen to occur during Christmas time, but this book is not a holiday-themed mystery. There is no syrupy sweetness to be found anywhere between the covers, I promise!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical mysteries sprinkled with strong (opinionated) characters!

[dailywomanmystery]

Great Britain : The Tomb of Zeus, by Barbara Cleverly

Goodreads :

With the same flawless storytelling that earned her the CWA Historical Dagger Award, Barbara Cleverly delivers a dazzling new novel. Sweeping us to the exotic island of Crete in 1928, Cleverly introduces a marvelous new heroine: whip-smart and spirited Laetitia Talbot, an aspiring archaeologist with a passion for adventure–and for the mysteries that only the keenest eyes can see. Born into a background of British privilege, Laetitia Talbot has been raised to believe there is no field in which she may not excel. She has chosen a career in the male-dominated world of archaeology, but she approaches her first assignment in Crete the only way she knows how–with dash and enthusiasm. Until she enters the Villa Europa, where something is clearly utterly amiss… Her host, a charismatic archaeologist, is racing to dig up the fabled island’s next great treasure–even, perhaps, the tomb of the King of the Gods, himself. But then a beautiful young woman is found hanged and a golden youth drives his Bugatti over a cliff. From out of the shadows come whispers of past loves, past jealousies, and ancient myths that sound an eerie discord with present events. Letty will need all her determination and knowledge to unravel the secrets beneath the Villa Europa’s roof–and they will lead her into the darkest, most terrifying place of all….

[bookstoreaders]

I got this ARC from soho press at the fountain book store Diana's Altar by Barbara Cleverly

[cvfamily]

Not My Blood (Barbara Cleverly)

Her creation is Joe Sandilands who operates in London as a police commissioner between the World Wars. Not overtly political; not catch your breath suspenseful, good historical setting. WHAT HAPPENS: Joe investigates crime at a boys boarding school. The boy may be his son.