Here I sit, at the end of the first week of Term 4, wondering where the year has gone and when I’m going to make some time to sit down and attack the pile of reviews I have to write; knowing that it won’t be this weekend. This weekend I have a skip on my front lawn screaming to be filled and a jungle/yard requiring all of my attention. I can only hope that the rain will hold off just enough to get me over the line.

For now, while it’s dark and late, I will wander through the database and bring you a wealth of reading recommendations to add to your already heaving TBR piles. I know I will add at least one more title to my list, because I always do.

In this round-up there have been 65 Reviews of 41 books by 37 authors, and that tells me that we should have some popular titles with a number of reviews, and some authors with multiple books. I can’t wait to jump in and see what our challenge participants have been up to since last I looked. I have been doing a lot of reading, and not a lot of reviewing.

It seems that there weren’t as many books with more than a couple of reviews as I thought, which makes for a smaller group that I usually focus on. There were also very few books not published in 2020/2021. An interesting round-up really so  let’s have a look and see what I can tempt you with.

Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty is a book awaiting me on my Kindle, I am looking forward to starting it.

Veronica @ The Burgeoning Bookshelf says:

Apples Never Fall is a keenly observed family drama with finely nuanced characters. Underlying themes of domestic violence, anger and child abuse give a chilling look at parents in competitive sports. 
In Apples Never Fall Moriarty depicts marriage and family in all its love, rage, passion, grievances, regrets, dreams, resentments and splendid dysfunctionality.  Above all this is a story of the complexity of family and all things that are left unsaid.

Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out says:

This is not a fast paced story, but there are plenty of surprises in Apples Never Fall. I’ve read more than a few complaints about the ending(s) of the novel (especially with its reference to the pandemic) but I thought there was a subtle and clever implication in it.

Offering compelling characters, authentic emotion, and sharp wit, I found Apples Never Fall to be an entertaining, incisive and absorbing novel.

On Goodreads Cloggie Downunder says:
Some readers may find this too much of a slow-burn as Moriarty lays down the detail of the lives of each member of the Delaney family, but patience and persistence is rewarded as the story develops, with each new twist, turn and wrinkle adding another layer of intrigue before the dramatic reveal.

Moriarty gives the reader a level of intimacy with these characters that may cause a lump in the throat on several occasions in the final chapters. A perfect mix of humour, heartache and drama, Moriarty’s latest does not disappoint.

Apples Never Fall was also reviewed by Mrs B’s Book Reviews and on Goodreads by Jennifer Cameron-Smith, Helen Sibbrett and Brenda Telford.

 

The Housemate by Sarah Bailey was released in August and has already attracted 5 reviews.

Ashleigh Meikle – The Book Muse closes her review with: “This stand-alone from Sarah Bailey was my favourite of hers – I think I enjoyed Oli as a character more than Gemma, and liked the contained 

world in this book, as well as the pre-COVID setting (2015 seems so far away right now but in reality, it isn’t), as it allowed us to explore a journalistic and media world on the cusp of dramatic change in the channels used to present the news to us. This is a great book for fans of Sarah Bailey and those new to her writing. A great crime story with a different take on the main character looking into the crime.”

Theresa Smith Writes opens with: “First and foremost, I need to let you know that I’m a Sarah Bailey super fan. Not a crazy one (seriously) but a dedicated one. I’ve read and reviewed all her books, with the most recent two releases sporting quotes from my reviews inside of their opening pages. I love crime fiction, but it’s the police procedural more than the psychological thriller that draws me in and that’s where Sarah Bailey comes in. Her crime fiction is the perfect balance of investigation, suspense, and the unexpected. The Housemate is her first standalone and it comes on the back of a very strong trilogy, so expectations were high. They were certainly met. This novel is just all shades of awesome. The main character, Oli, is an investigative journalist which ticks my boxes of interest since I am a journalist (even though I no longer work as one, I still have a heavy interest in the profession). I was so drawn into the daily grind of chasing the scoop with Oli and Cooper and I loved how Sarah captured that frenzied urgency that characterises live news. This, combined with the police investigation angle, made for an absorbing and gripping read from start to finish.

Also reviewed by Mrs B’s Book Reviews, Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out and on Goodreads, Helen Sibbrett.

The Curlew’s Eye is the debut novel of Karen Manton and is gaining favourable reviews on Goodreads

Brenda reviewed on Goodreads and her thoughts contained this little gem: “The Curlew’s Eye is the debut novel by Aussie author Karen Manton and is set in the Top End of Australia, not all that far from Darwin. The blurb says A richly atmospheric Gothic mystery set around a ruined homestead in the NT’s Top End. and that is exactly what it is. Beautifully descriptive, I could see what Greta saw, and feel what she felt. The heart was pounding while waiting to see what was going to happen next. All in all, an impressive debut novel which I have no hesitation in recommending.”

Still on Goodreads Helen says: “I thoroughly enjoyed this fabulous story so very well written, I was on the edge of my seat so many times throughout waiting to see what was going to happen, I felt very close to this family the love they shared and the life they lived so different from the normal. I loved that Greta never gave up and when Joel opened up you could almost feel the emotion flow and I just knew their next stop in life would have both Greta and Joel leave the past where it should be and move forward to the future for this family. I do highly recommend this one.”

I think that’s it from me, and it’s time to lay this head to rest, before I fall asleep at my desk again.

Be Well, Stay Safe and keep in touch with those you love. These times can be very isolating so make the most of the little things with those you love.

There are so many other great crime novels reviewed and if you want to check out all of the crime novels that have been reviewed you can head to the AWW Books Reviewed page and search by Genre. It will put all of the reviews at your fingertips.

We would love to hear about the great crime reads you have enjoyed recently, and those that you are looking forward to. As with every round-up I write I found more to add to my towering pile of books to read, and my even longer wishlist.

Have a great evening and a reading filled weekend.