After a shocking reading month in April, I finally seem to be back on track. I actually managed to read 5 books this month so I've split them into 2 posts, you can read Part 2 here. I'm also still binge watching Rizzoli & Isles. I've made it to season 5 and I don't really want it to end. I should hopefully have some other content up for you this month as well.
The Crooked Street by Brian Freeman* - #3 Frost Easton - 4/5
Frosts estranged friend, Denny, dies on his doorstep uttering the word Lombard with his final breath. Everyone is quick to class it as a drug-related murder. However, Denny seems to be the latest in a string of murders linked by a painted snake near the crime scenes. Is it the work of an under the radar serial killer or is it something even more sinister?
This is book 3 in the Frost Easton series but you don’t really miss much if you read this as a stand alone. I personally preferred the first 2 books but this one was still a great read. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it when I started reading but I soon got sucked it.
The crooked street is written well and is full of twists and turns, most of which I did not see coming. There are a few lovable characters including Shack the cat. I honestly didn’t know who to trust and I was suspicious of pretty much everyone. It does finish on a bit of a cliff hanger which I know a lot of people dislike but it definitely made me excited for the next instalment.
If you love your books full of corruption and deceit and love to be kept guessing then I definitely recommend checking this one out.
The Scent of Death by Simon Beckett* - #6 David Hunter - 4/5
A partially mummified corpse is found in the attic on an old hospital awaiting demolition. A bricked up chamber full of beds is found when the attic floor falls through. Things get more complicated when they realise that some of the beds are still occupied. Not only do they have to work out how they were killed, but they also need to work out who the hell they are?
This is book 6 in the David Hunter series. I haven’t read any of the others but I don’t feel like I suffered. I may go back and check out the rest of the series though.
I found this one a bit of a slow starter and the chapters jumped around a bit. Once I got used to it though and the story got going I was sucked in. David Hunter is a forensic anthropologist and I found the characters extremely well written. Simon Beckett also covered the science without making it over complicated or tedious. It also kept me guessing. Every time I thought I knew who it was it turned out I was wrong. If you love to see the sciencey side of crime books then definitely check this one out.
Julia hasn’t had sex in 3 years. After a one night stand accuses her of breaking his penis she swears off sex for life. A lesbian then makes her question whether she’s been looking for love and satisfaction in the wrong places.
I wanted this book to be so much better. It kind of just relied on graphic sex scenes, taking drugs and a bad portrayal of BDSM and Poly relationships. There’s very little consent and Julia seems to be uncomfortable with most of it which makes it an uncomfortable read.
It started well and was funny and entertaining but it soon went downhill. It’s like the author couldn’t decide what genre she wanted to write. It definitely isn’t a rom-com. Halfway through it switches from funny to just sad. You get to read along with an abusive relationship mixed in with uncomfortable BDSM practices which is not what I signed up for when I chose a rom-com.
With regards to characters, the only ones I actually liked were the minor background ones. The main characters weren't particularly likeable including Julia which was disappointing. I wanted to stop reading but I also wanted to see how it was going to end. It ends nicer than I expected but it's finished up in about 5 pages.
What have you been reading recently?
How is your reading challenge going?
Beth...x
* This book was gifted via NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review, however, it does not affect my views and the opinions expressed in this post are independent and my own
** This post contains affiliate links. These do not cost you anything but if you buy something from the link I will get a few pennies.
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