The Less Unkind by Rosaria Georgi

 

 

Blurb

At the tender age of twenty-one, Pico’s world is one of linguistic puzzles and academic pursuits. A student at the University of Copenhagen, she is thrilled to get a summer job working for enigmatic antique dealer Antonio Bartram. When Antonio suddenly disappears leaving behind nothing but a series of cryptic messages, Pico decides to use her linguistic prowess to decode the clues – with fateful consequences.

As Pico investigates, she uncovers a labyrinthine plot that stretches back decades to the theft of a priceless Caravaggio from a church in Sicily. Caught in the crosshairs of an obsessive art collector, a police murder investigation and a Mafia-sanctioned vendetta, her quest takes her across Europe: from the shadows behind the veneer of Copenhagen’s Nordic serenity, down the sun-kissed streets of the Italian Riviera, and even along the secretive corridors of the Vatican.

As she fights to uncover the truth and witnesses the lengths one will go to protect the secrets of the past, Pico confronts the moral quandaries that emerge when the pursuit of art eclipses the bounds of right and wrong.

My thoughts 

 First things first, I found this book fascinating. I've always loved art, puzzles and travel so a story that covers all three ticks a lot of boxes for me. It's a steady pace to start with but soon picks up to the point that I was wondering what I could put off doing so I could have a few more minutes (oh, ok then,  hours but that's just between you and I 😉).

 The story starts from a kind of truth as the author did actually work for the art dealer formerly known as The Umbrella Assassin (below is a note from the author which came with the assets - in a bottle no less)

but the story belongs to Pico. And what a joy she is to travel along on this journey with. She's clever, sparky, speaks several languages and, really, for a 21 year old should be quite annoying but she comes across as someone you can rely on for the little things as well as the 'brains' stuff. When you have to remind yourself to 'take a breath, she'll be fine' it's clear the author is doing a good job.

The puzzles side of things was well done, it's easy to see there could be more to the great works of art than just a composition on a board or paper and, again, this was really well handled and kept me thinking throughout. 

It is clear Rosaria Georgi knows her stuff and with The Less Unkind she knows how to tell a tale, hook the reader in and left me wanting more.

A job well done . . . 5*

Thanks to Jane at Midas for inviting me onto the blog tour and providing both the review copy and the assets (neither of which influenced this review at all, all views and opinions are my own)

Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory by Yaroslav Barsukov

                                                         

Today is my spot on the Blog Tour for Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory by Yaroslav Barsukov

                      FROM THE BACK PAGE

'Refusing the queen’s order to gas a crowd of protesters, Minister Shea Ashcroft is banished to the border to oversee the construction of the biggest defensive tower in history. However, the use of technology taken from refugees from another reality makes the tower volatile and dangerous, becoming a threat to local political interests. Shea has no choice but to fight the ruling hierarchy to ensure the construction succeeds—and to reclaim his own. 

MY THOUGHTS

I first heard of this when the author was at WorldCon in Glasgow earlier this year and posted that he had early copies. I wasn't there myself but we chatted online and he arranged to send me a copy in exchange for a fair review. Friends, I snapped his hand off (not literally, obviously, that would be a terrible thing to do to an author) at this offer. 

At this point I will state that all views and opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.

Anyway, the book turned up days later, I read the first chapter and was hooked straight away . . .

Below is the printed plastic tower which was part of the publicity push from the book. It is a copy of the tower on the front cover - and what a glorious cover it is too. Something else that drew me in (whoever said never judge a book by its cover was misinformed).

I delayed my read as Publication Day was a way off and I had a holiday abroad coming up. I always take my kindle on holiday (well, to be fare I take it everywhere) but also a paperback or two. Sleeping Worlds was the first thing I packed in my case.

We got where we were going, the weather was glorious, plenty of time to just chill out.

But what about the book? Was it any good? Did it live up to my expectations? . . .

Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory is the story of Shea Ashcroft, a former Minister who is sent into what is basically a form of exile by the Queen after he refused her orders to gas a crowd in the streets. He is posted to the border to oversee the building of a humungous tower. When he gets there everything is not as it should be. Unstable technology from a different reality is being used and the whole thing is just a bomb waiting to blow.

And then things really get interesting.

Shea has to rub a lot of people up the wrong way to make sure the tower can be finished, there is an assassination attempt, there is a portal to 'elsewhere' and all the time he is fighting his inner demons and trying to 'do the right thing'. It truly is a hell of a ride.

Describing Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory is a task in itself - it is Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Political Thriller and oh so much more all wrapped up in one marvellous, enthralling story that pulls you in and doesn't let go (I am currently on my second re-read and still loving it). The writing is such that the world has true depth and when I was reading it I felt I was there - smells, sounds, atmosphere of the place.

The best advice I can give is go grab a copy and see for yourself.

My final rating for Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory is 6/5* (my blog, my rules 😜)

 

Thank you to Black Crow PR for inviting me onto this tour and to the author for sending me the review copy. As I said earlier all views and opinions are my own.

So, while I am on the subject of just how good this book is I may as well let you all know . . .

Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory is my choice for The BlogCave Book Of The Year 2024

The Whispering Night by Susan Dennard

 

FROM THE BACK PAGE

'Winnie Wednesday's future is looking bright. Hemlock Falls is no longer hunting the werewolf, she and Erica Thursday are tentative friends, and Winnie finally knows exactly where she stands with Jay Friday.

With everything finally on track, Winnie is looking forward to the Nightmare Masquerade, a week-long celebration of all things Luminary. But as Luminaries from across the world flock to the small town, uninvited guests also arrive.

Winnie is confronted by a masked Diana and charged with an impossible task--one that threatens everything and everyone Winnie loves.

As Winnie fights to stop new enemies before time runs out, old mysteries won't stop intruding. Her missing father is somehow entangled with her search for hidden witches, and as Winnie digs deeper into the long-standing war between the Luminaries and the Dianas, she discovers rifts within her own family she never could have imagined.

What does loyalty mean when family and enemies look the same?

The forest is more dangerous than ever as secrets are revealed in this highly-anticipated, swoon-worthy conclusion to the bestselling Luminaries trilogy.'

                                                      MY THOUGHTS

Well, that was a hell of a final book. Things are starting to look up for Winnie, all the fun of the Nightmare Masquerade is in sight . . . Yeah, that's not going to last long!!

As you would expect with the final book in a series The Whispering Night (published November 19th from Daphne Press) soon kicks off, then it is more or less foot to the floor right the way through to the end. I lost count of how many "just one more page" moments I had reading this. 

The world building continued to be excellent, the characters generally carried on growing into themselves and lots of questions from previous books were answered (seriously, don't go into this without having read the previous books). There were new enemies to fight - always a good thing. All boxes were well and truly ticked for me.

Was I target audience for this book? Most likely not but that's never stopped me before. The name of Susan Dennard on the cover is a deal breaker for me. I was there at the beginning of the Witchlands series and have not been disappointed yet - and with The Whispering Night that continues to be the case.

Many thanks to Black Crow PR for inviting me onto this tour and to Daphne Press for providing the review copy. All views and opinions are my own.

2 Dumb Dinos by Nathan Hamill and Eric Filipkowski

 

2 Dumb Dinos is a collection of short comic strips, the kind you'd expect to find in the funnies section of the newspapers. The Dinos in question are Scumbag and Dingus and really, with names like that you can guess what's ahead.

The short stories (generally between 4-7 panels) cover various subjects but usually boil down to one or both of the Dinos saying something . . . well, dumb.

The humour here may, at times, sit more with the American audience but I enjoyed it a lot. I chuckled a lot, i laughed out loud a few times.

2 Dumb Dinos is a very nicely presented book and one I will be keeping close by. Sometimes, when the day isn't going your way you need a chuckle to raise your spirits and 2 Dumb Dinos is just the tonic in that situation. 

Thanks to Titan Comics for providing the review copy and inviting me onto the blog tour.

The Other People by C B Everett

 

Well, I guess this is my first 5* read for 2025.

10 people wake up in a big sprawly house, in rooms that seem pretty much like their own and with no idea of how they got there. The doors are locked, the windows are shuttered and they have 12 hours to find a missing girl.

All while they are being picked off, one by one.

Billed as 'And Then There Were None meets Shutter Island' I had a pretty good idea of what was going on and while I was correct to a point I was also way off the mark as well. There is a lot going on here and some truly heartbreaking moments (Cerys - you'll know when you get there).

This book had me hooked from day 1

Thanks to Jamie-Lee and Black Crow PR for allowing me early access to this book

Paths Not Yet Taken - Philip Rennet

 

From The Back Page

'A ministerial visit to a Midlands food distribution centre goes badly wrong. The prime minister vanishes without trace. As the security services and police launch a frantic search for the missing PM, the government scrambles to maintain its composure and manage the situation.

One man - warehouse worker Simon Pope - inadvertently ends up at the centre of things. Just where he's dreamt of being... and now wishes he wasn't. Pope harbours a secret life and a dark past, putting the unsuspecting, missing politician at risk of losing more than his job. The resolution of the crisis is threatened by assorted bureaucrats, trying to manage a situation that a rigidly structured system is not designed to accommodate, by identifying and looking to eliminate a useful scapegoat.

If you like drama, romance, dogs or drink, this book definitely has plenty for you. If not, there's always the ongoing chaos, the political shenanigans and the relationship intrigues to hold your interest.

Ultimately, one spur-of-the-moment decision is the catalyst for others - including the reader - to reflect on their own lives and to consider decisive actions of their own.'

My Thoughts 

I must say, this is not the kind of story that would usually get my attention (there's more than enough about politics on the news, on social media, down the pub etc) but something about 'Paths Not Yet Taken' intrigued me so I went with it - and I'm rather glad I did. The start had the feeling of an old 70s/80s style British Sit-Com but as the story developed it became much more than that. 

The author wrong footed me several times and I always rather enjoy that. Shortish chapters kept the flow going and all in all I found this a quite satisfying read

4/5 stars

The First Widow by Rob Starr

.                               BLURB

Over a hundred husbands dead.

Countless secrets.

The most horrifying case of Kiara Fox’s career…

Kiara Fox leads a relatively ordinary life as a fraud investigator, looking into life insurance claims. With a loving husband and twin daughters, her world seems close to perfect. But when a case involving a wealthy businessman named Martin Powers lands on her desk, she senses something is off.

After her bosses put undue pressure on her to pay the claim quickly, she is convinced foul play is at work and begins a clandestine investigation. She discovers that Powers was not the pillar of the community he was cracked up to be but, rather, a controlling abusive husband who died in questionable circumstances, and she suspects this may not be the first such case her company has settled.

As she delves deeper, innocent people begin to die and Kiara finds herself in dangerous territory. Torn between protecting her own family and uncovering whoever is behind the killings, she faces an impossible choice and will have to confront her greatest fears.

MY THOUGHTS

Rob Starr is an author that is new to me and so is, I believe, having a lead that is a fraud investigator so I thought I'd give it a go. 

Glad I did too, The First Widow was an absolute, edge of the seat belter. I wasn't 100% sure when I started but it quickly built up pace to become, as they say, un-put-downable. In Kiara Fox we have a tough and determined investigator who is pretty much put through the wringer by author Starr.

Action, dead bodies, fraud (obviously 🙄), The First Widow is cited on the front cover as 'THE BLOCKBUSTER THRILLER OF THE YEAR' and in this instance I'm going to agree with that statement.

My hope now is that Rob Starr is going to be able, if that is his plan, to build a series round Kiara Fox - I for one certainly want more.