Dear Amy by Helen Callaghan

 

Dear Amy the book I could not put down. I actuality sulked one day when I left it at home instead of bringing it to work to read in my lunch hour. 

I adored this book and was so happy to find out after reading it that Helen has in fact written another book which you know I will not rest until it is in my hands! 

Dear Amy is a heavy book, the subject matter is dense with darkness and Helen navigates through the darkness with care and respect for her subject matter.  From the first pages I was hooked. The story unravels at the perfect pace and much like our leading lady Margot you feel yourself falling into despair with her.  Margot is someone I fell in love with very quickly. The way she see's the world, the way she deals with the world around her and of course the things that start to happen and barrel down on her. She is a flawed woman, she is one us. 

The story as mentioned is not easy to read, I found my stomach turn a little in places but the care Helen takes is clear and makes me feel that I am in safe hands.  Helen I would say is a treasure and I am so pleased I took a punt at something new. 

The book does wrap the story up but not in a nice bow TA DA FINISHED! You come away knowing that yes, this is the real world. This is how it would end. I could imagine Hollywood if they made the story into a film making it all shiny and perfect and I for one am glad that it does not end that way. 

I would recommend this book highly! 

Charlotte Says by Alex Bell

Charlotte Says - Alex Bell 2017 RED EYE 

Following the death of her mother in a terrible fire, Jemima flees to the remote Isle of Skye, to take up a job at a school for girls. There she finds herself tormented by the mystery of what really happened that night. Then Jemima receives a box of Frozen Charlotte dolls from a mystery sender and she begins to remember  - The much-anticipated prequel to the bestselling FROZEN CHARLOTTE. 

I brought this from a charity shop after my delight at reading 'The Silent Companions'  I had not heard of it before nor had I read 'Frozen Charlotte' so of course maybe I needed to have read it to understand a lot about this book but it seemed to read well enough as a stand alone. 

Before starting this review I had a little google and noticed it had for the most part very good reviews so I feel I may be flogged for this review! Go gentle dear fans, it is one woman's opinion after all. 

The writing it self is easy to read, smooth and the addition I had the text was large and it didn't take too long to read however I did find myself waving a few times. It's just odd. 

I found that the story had way too many stories going on and it didn't feel that they jelled that well at all. I couldn't find a single thing that I liked about any of the characters including our main character Jemima. The author seemed to off people with little care, attention or love. I felt no sorrow for the deaths in the book. It felt rushed and clunky. There was little time to mourn and characters seemed to change who they were on the toss of a coin. 

While I did find it as explained about (hell I don't think I could write any better) I do think I like it to some degree otherwise I wouldn't have finished it. It was different and I admire Alex Bell, she clearly enjoys what she writes and others enjoy the books she gives the world. 

The book had a sample chapter of 'Frozen Charlotte' and I can say that no, that doesn't sound like my bag at all but I know it's been enjoyed by many so I'll leave that one alone. I wouldn't recommend this book and will be recycling it back to the charity shop soon. 

Death Comes to Pemberley Review

Death Comes to Pemberley – P. D James. 2011 Faber and Faber

The sequel you never knew you needed! Enter the remarkable P D James. James's novel follows on six years after Elizabeth and Darcy have tied the knot and we join them on the eve of a ball, only for the dark night to be shattered by murder and old wounds that have never really healed as the Wickham's come blundering back into the folds of Pemberley.

I first new of Death comes to Pemberley from the TV adaptation, I had no idea that P D James has written the novel and it wasn't until years later that I found the hard back book in “Poundland” for yes a £1....I had to have it and I was not disappointed.

P D James uses her voice as an author, she doe not try to be Jane Austen (You have to read her author note at the start of the book) she touches on words used from Pride and Prejudice and lifts a few very know quotes from it to give us all a little squeal of delight.

The novel absolutely keeps the world of Jane Austen alive, nothing Jame's writes seems to be out of character for Austins Characters, she knows them so well her self. P D James brings death to Pemberley and it's a ride all the way. We get to see characters we know and love trying to navigate a world they have never been introduced to. It's remarkable.

The story creeps forward at a good pace, we are taken on turns and twists and we get to enjoy the past as we knew it, the present as we watch with baited breath at what P D James has in store and the future for these characters who I truly believe go on living, long after the story has finished.

P D James know how to handle a good solid story and her characters are based on Jane Austen's but they move under her direction and I am glad to see a warmer Darcy, a bolder Georgiana and a happy Elizabeth. The old bonds are there but P D James gives new life to them.

Overall the story is enjoyable, its fast passed and it reads beautifully. There are some moments near the end of the novel that I did start to find a little tedious, but I still understood it and why it was written that way. Overall I am so glad I read it and it is different in parts to the TV show so I would say read it even if you have seen the show.

If like me you loved Pride and Prejudice you may just wish to read it to see what everyone had been up to! Otherwise it is a fine P D James mystery and one I know I will read again.

The Silent Companions Review

The Silent Companions – Laura Purcell – 2017 Published by Raven Publishing. 

“Newly married, newly widowed Elsie is sent to see out her pregnancy at her late husband's crumbling country estate, The Bridge. With her new servants resentful and the local villagers actively hostile, Elsie only has her husband's awkward cousin for company. Or so she thinks”

You must know the power of a book when it sends you running to re-start your blog that you long left for dead. The silent companions was met by such rapturous praise and I can see why. Not only does the story hark back to those dark Gothic tales that the Victorians reveled in but it's also deep and layered. It peels back layer after layer and leaves you guessing.

The story it's self is dark on all levels. We cross time periods and we go into Elsie's past, all which are dark, sad and brought to life with the beautiful and easy to read and understand words of Laura Purcell. As I sate in my YouTube video I am not against old English, hard to read and long draw out words, if the story is good it can be worth it to work for it but I appreciate when I can read a modern tongue. Laura does a wonderful job of mixing the time period and the language.

I find it hard to read a book that can unsettle me, I think the last book that did that was The Omen and I read that a long time ago. This book has given me hope that I can find books that build tension, leave you feeling a little uncomfortable and staying up late just to try and get in another few pages.

All of the characters are well drawn, they breath and they live. Every single one. Which is something I love about a good book. Give me 'real' people who are real, can feel and are scared and I am sold. Put these characters in a dark and dilapidated old country home and I'm home. A dash of Wicker man style villagers and I am truly in my element.

The story pays off in a big way and if you were astute along the way you can only smile at the ending and nod your head in agreement. Yes of course.

If you like creepiness, the uncanny and things that go hiss in the night then this is the book for you. Draw the curtains, light the lamp and sit back and enjoy your very own Silent Companions.