Title: The Stranger Diaries

Author: Elly Griffiths

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Publisher: Quercus

Publication date: 1st November 2018

My rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Summary:

“Clare Cassidy is no stranger to murder. As a literature teacher specialising in the Gothic writer RM Holland, she teaches a short course on it every year. Then Clare’s life and work collide tragically when one of her colleagues is found dead, a line from an RM Holland story by her body. The investigating police detective is convinced the writer’s works somehow hold the key to the case.

Not knowing who to trust, and afraid that the killer is someone she knows, Clare confides her darkest suspicions and fears about the case to her journal. Then one day she notices some other writing in the diary. Writing that isn’t hers… “

My review:

A modern thriller with a gothic feel, The Stranger Diaries boasts a unique blend of antique tales and modern day family life. Its main character, Clare Cassidy, bridges this gap well as she is both portrayed as a normal mother and a teacher passionate about fascinating old tales, particularly those of RM Holland who has a close connection to the school she teaches at.

I truly enjoyed the gothic elements and reminders as they set a different tone to the story line. When one of Clare’s colleagues and closest friend is killed, the note found by her body is a line from RM Holland’s novel and from here on, all confrontations and events that follow are closely linked to RM Holland. These connections become even more eerie as Clare discovers that the suspect may be closer to home than she originally thought.

Unfortunately I could not warm to any of the characters and this ultimately left me feeling disinterested in their fate. When Clare suspects that her family may be in danger it didn’t encourage me to read on as by that point I was already feeling frustrated with some of the poor decisions she had taken and the lack of action to keep her family safe. She did not seem like a trustworthy narrator and I was questioning her decision making skills several times throughout the book. Her daughter, Georgie, also appeared unreliable and indifferent to the situation in her school which seemed odd.

An aspect which worked well but ultimately irritated me was the setting. Almost the entire book is set at the school Clare works at and Georgie attends, which is understandable as it was also the school connected to RM Holland. However, it almost seemed like there was not enough substance to transport these characters elsewhere therefore confining them to the same location which ultimately narrowed the possible murderers to very few. The school setting worked well with the gothic theme and there were many parts which left me astonished however I would have liked to see these characters in other settings too.

The Stranger Diaries is a well written thriller with many literary elements that lovers of gothic novels will admire. The supernatural elements are delivered in just the right doses without appearing too overwhelming. Unfortunately I couldn’t connect with the characters and was not taken aback by the ending either which leaves this thriller as solid however perhaps not a memorable one which I will recall months from now.

Title: The Lion Tamer Who Lost

Author: Louise Beech

Genre: Fiction/Romance

Publisher: Orenda Books

Publication date: 15th July 2018

My rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Summary:

“Be careful what you wish for…
Long ago, Andrew made a childhood wish, and kept it in a silver box. When it finally comes true, he wishes he hadn’t…

Long ago, Ben made a promise and he had a dream: to travel to Africa to volunteer at a lion reserve. When he finally makes it, it isn’t for the reasons he imagined…

Ben and Andrew keep meeting in unexpected places, and the intense relationship that develops seems to be guided by fate. Or is it? What if the very thing that draws them together is tainted by past secrets that threaten everything?

A dark, consuming drama that shifts from Zimbabwe to England, and then back into the past, The Lion Tamer Who Lost is also a devastatingly beautiful love story, with a tragic heart…“

My review:

Some books leave their mark for such a long time that I keep coming back even though months go by. I read this book in November but I have only just now been able to gather my thoughts and write this review.

The story begins as Ben is starting a new project as a lion tamer in Zimbabwe. He is young, nervous, yet hungry for life and adventure. His relationship with his father is strained and he has left a complicated relationship with Andrew back home. Several chapters later we learn who Andrew is and how he and Ben met, how their friendship developed into something more and how a set of unexpected circumstances led them to grow apart to such an extent that Ben decided on a fresh start abroad in an exciting environment. The story so far focuses more on Ben’s time at the lion resort and this part of the book was so interesting and eye opening. It was clear that the author had done a lot of research into the topic yet she presented her findings in a tender and beautiful manner with just enough technical details. I had no idea about the difficulties lion tamers faced and was left with my heart in my mouth at some of the tense moments.

The second part of the book focuses more on Ben and Andrew’s relationship prior to his trip as well as after his return. This part of the story line was emotionally draining and heartbreaking. I had to leave and return to the book several times as at times it felt too much. As with previous books, Louise Beech tells their story beautifully with a lot of emotion and care. However, I couldn’t get past the sequence of events which followed Ben’s return from Zimbabwe and Andrew’s fate. It almost felt like their story was destined to be over before it had even started and I would have preferred to see them make amends earlier rather than the devastating turn of events which followed.

Fortunately there are also moments of happiness as Ben’s relationship with his father develops in unexpected ways after he comes back. We learn more about his father’s prejudice, which is a sensitive topic handled extremely well by the author. The minor characters were also wonderfully woven into these last few chapters and a few extracts from Andrew’s book at the end don’t fail to move the reader in inexplicable ways and were a beautiful finish to a brilliant book.

With its superb storytelling and fantastic set of characters, The Lion who Lost is a gem not to be missed. Fans of Louise Beech will enjoy the unique traits present in her books and those who have not yet read her writing must do so in order to not miss out on the beauty in this book.

Title: Law and Addiction

Author: Mike Papantonio

Genre: Thriller

Publisher: Waterside Productions

Publication date: 7th May 2019

My rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Summary:

“One week before his law school graduation, Jake Rutledge is shattered. His fraternal twin, Blake, has died of a drug overdose. When Jake returns to his hometown of Oakley, West Virginia, he discovers that his brother was not the only person hooked on opioid painkillers. The entire region has been ravaged by an epidemic insidiously planned and carried out by one of America’s most powerful pharmaceutical companies.

Still wet behind the ears, Jake is determined to seek justice for all the victims of Big Pharma’s greed. He soon learns that the drug companies’ tentacles reach far and deep. His only hope is to get Nicholas “Deke” Deketomis to help. A partner at one of the country’s most powerful law firms, Deke’s “as tough as a two-dollar steak” and well-known for his winning tactics against corporate wrongdoers. With just enough persistence, Jake coaxes Deke to see Oakley’s devastation firsthand. Overwhelmed, Deke agrees to join forces with Jake.

And that’s when the real heat begins. Death threats, bribes, unlawful property seizure schemes – all are connected to the massive distribution of both legal and illegal drugs. Everyone is impacted, from the highest levels of corporate America to corrupt local officials to their lackeys and hapless victims. The complexity of the schemes is overwhelming.

Working tirelessly, the lawyers begin to uncover the truth. Along the way, Jake falls in love with Anna Fowler, a former homecoming queen who has succumbed to the power of opioids. With his support, she weans herself off the drugs. Hope begins to bloom — when suddenly, Jake disappears. As Deke undertakes a desperate search to find him, questions swirl. Has Jake abandoned Anna and his crusade? Can the case against the evildoers move forward without him? Will Oakley and its residents survive? Law and Addiction is real-life drama at its finest — a book that clears away the darkness page by page, spotlighting a profound truth about our society through expert storytelling. “

My review:

Law and Addiction is a stellar thriller which successfully manages to shed light on a central topic affecting thousands in USA while also introducing a set of interesting and unique characters. Jake Rutledge, recently graduated from law school, is devastated to find out that his twin brother died of a drug overdose and that many others in his hometown are suffering just as badly. He decides to take measures and enlists the help of one of the most successful partners in another law firm, Nicholas Deketomis, in order to unearth the unjust horrors surrounding the opioid crisis and big pharma industry.

I must admit that I did not know just how serious the opioid epidemic in USA was. A quick Google search while I was still in the first few chapters of the book made me realise how dangerous yet unaddressed it was which made me even more eager to read on to understand the topic further. The main character, Jake, is bold and assertive and I was pleasantly surprised at his willingness to expose big pharma’s scheme. His personal experience also meant that this was clearly a topic close to home as he greatly missed his brother which evidently encouraged him to succeed even more despite the many setbacks.

The writing is articulate and succinct and it became clear to me from a very early point that the author has a lot of experience in the legal industry. The prose was clear and easy to follow however I found the speech too wordy and stilted. At times, particularly in the courtroom, it almost felt like I was reading a movie script. This did not hinder the quality of the writing although it was enough to discontinue the flow.

One of my favourite aspects in the book, apart from the tough yet well researched subject matter, was the change in pace. I usually enjoy fast-paced thrillers with lots of action however I particularly enjoyed the slower parts in the book and the contrast with the fast-paced ending. The final chapters were intense and full of energy as the courtroom action drew to a close. A close and personal encounter with a powerful group meant that Jake ultimately understood the effects of opioids firsthand and this personal touch, although unfortunate and distressing, allowed for an even more compassionate approach.

Mike Papantonio has paved the way for success with Law and Addiction as well as emphasising the importance of tackling the opioid crisis with force through an exciting and action-filled thriller. I encourage those with little knowledge on the subject to read the book, as well as lovers of courtroom drama and legal procedurals.

Many thanks to Michelle at FSB Associates for providing an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Law and Addiction is out to buy now!

Title: Bridge of Clay

Author: Markus Zusak

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Doubleday

Publication date: 9th October 2018

My rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Summary:

“The breathtaking story of five brothers who bring each other up in a world run by their own rules. As the Dunbar boys love and fight and learn to reckon with the adult world, they discover the moving secret behind their father’s disappearance.

At the center of the Dunbar family is Clay, a boy who will build a bridge—for his family, for his past, for greatness, for his sins, for a miracle.

The question is, how far is Clay willing to go? And how much can he overcome?”

My review:

Another success for Markus Zusak! Anyone familiar with his writing will already know that his books are very different in concept but very similar in execution. Bridge of Clay was no exception. It follows the five Dunbar brothers and in particular one of the brothers, Clay, on his journey of forgiveness and redemption as he helps his father build a bridge.

The writing in Bridge of Clay is phenomenal. I can’t praise Markus Zusak’s writing enough and there is no way of categorising it either because it is so unique and cannot compare to anything similar in the market. Although the sentence structure is straightforward and vocabulary simple, he has the ability to provoke incredibly strong feelings of empathy in the reader through his writing. I was tempted to highlight almost every passage and had to hold myself back several times.

 “She laughed and he felt her breath, and he thought about that warmness, how people were warm like that, from inside to out; how it could hit you and disappear, then back again, and nothing was ever permanent…”

This book’s downfall was the beginning as it felt too slow and the details too irrelevant. Aspects like calling the stranger in the Dunbar house “the murderer” and their pets’ peculiar names felt odd at first but I slowly managed to get used to his style of writing again and eventually understand the pace, although it took me a lot of effort and I was stopping and starting this book over the course of around 10 days which is unusually long for me.

“A murderer should probably do many things, but he should never, under any circumstances, come home.”

It is hard to describe this book as anything other than unique. Markus Zusak writes about common and everyday parts of life and twists them to make each detail significant. Despite its shortcomings, it was ultimately the relationships explored between husband and wife, father and son, as well as the bonds between the five brothers which allowed this book to fit in with the bizarre and indescribable genre similar to The Book Thief and I Am Messenger. If you are a fan of Markus Zusak then this book is a must and I would equally encourage anyone not yet familiar with his style of writing to look into reading it as you might discover a hidden gem.