Review: What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan

 

Title: What Happened To Nina?

Author: Dervla McTiernan

Published: 5th March 2024, HarperCollins Australia

Status: Read February 2024 courtesy HarperCollins/Netgalley

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My Thoughts:

What Happened to Nina? is a stand alone mystery from bestselling Irish born Australian based author, Dervla McTiernan.

When Leanne Foster discovers that her daughter’s boyfriend has returned home from a week’s getaway the couple took at his family’s rural retreat, she’s puzzled. Having not heard from Nina, Leanne and her husband try to speak with Simon Jordan, only to be stonewalled by his parents who advise them that the couple broke up and their son has no idea where where Nina could be, before shutting the door on them. It’s the same story, more or less, that Simon gives Detective Matthew Wright who is assigned to investigate after the Foster’s report their daughter as a missing person, but to Nina’s parents it just doesn’t make sense.

Unfolding from multiple points of view, it is the aftermath, rather than the crime itself that is the focus of What Happened to Nina? Desperate to find their missing daughter the Foster’s are willing to risk anything for answers. Meanwhile Simon’s wealthy parents go to extraordinary lengths to protect their son from any suggestion of wrongdoing. I really liked how McTiernan represented the perspectives of the parents, particularly the mother’s, both of whom are faced with the unthinkable.

To be honest though the plot as a whole feels sort of derivative. McTiernan seems to have been heavily inspired by the real-life case involving the murder of Gabby Petito, not only with regards to the facts of the crime, but also the involvement of social media and its impact on the investigation. Had I been less familiar with the case I think I would have found the story more absorbing. That said, the twist at the end was hugely redeeming.

Though there were elements of What Happened to Nina? that I was impressed by, overall I found it underwhelming. A good read, just not a great read.

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Review: All the Words We Know by Bruce Nash

 

Title: All the Words We Know

Author: Bruce Nash

Published: 27th February 2024, Allen & Unwin

Status: Read February 2024 courtesy Allen & Unwin/Netgalley

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My Thoughts:

Told from the perspective of Rose, an elderly woman with dementia, All the Words We Know is an unusual literary mystery.

When Rose learns her Scrabble partner has fallen to her death, she is sure that it is no accident but can’t quite recall why. It has something to do with the golden Scare Manager and the Angry Nurse, and perhaps her son’s dirty bottom and the password he needs. To make sense of what is wrong, Rose must sort through the present and the past, the understood and the unknown, the remembered and forgotten.

With a clever use of language, Nash draws the reader into Rose’s world as she roams the halls of the aged care facility. The narrative is surprisingly playful, humour deftly tempers the sharp-edged pangs of loss and frustration. Muddled words and puns add a layer of lightness, even absurdity at times. Moments of lucidity fade into the labyrinth of forgetting, so that parts of the narrative feel circular, but Rose slowly makes progress. We get glimpses of the truth that Rose is searching for, but as an unreliable narrator, it’s often as murky for us as it is for her.

I admire what Nash has accomplished with this unique novel. All the Words We Know, is clever, poignant, and entertaining.

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Review: The Best Way to Bury Your Husband by Alexia Casale

 

Title: The Best Way to Bury Your Husband

Author: Alexia Casale

Published: 14th March 2024, Viking

Status: Read February 2024 courtesy Penguin Books UK

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My Thoughts:

On average, 1 in 4 women will experience domestic abuse in her lifetime, and 2 women a week are killed by a current or former intimate partner in the UK where this book is set. In a note addressed to the reader, Alexia Casale explains that she wrote The Best Way to Bury Your Husband as “…a way to confront a truth that otherwise seems too much to bear”. This black comedy takes place during the Covid Lockdown, a period which saw the femicide rate double in England.

Trapped in their homes with their abusive husbands, four women take desperate measures to defend themselves, and their children, and in doing so are faced with a dilemma. Sally finds a temporary solution using a tarp, kitty litter and gaffer tape, while trying to avoid the prying of her watchful neighbour. Samira tells curious family members her CoVid stricken husband is self- isolating in the garage. Ruth lights a bonfire in her backyard, while Jane makes a desperate phone call to an old friend. Fate brings these women together and The Lockdown Ladies Burial Club is born.

The premise of the story may be (deliberately) absurd but the characters and their emotions as they suffer at the hands of their partners feel all too genuine. The women all effortlessly evoke sympathy and compassion, each are representative of real life circumstances, and Casale provides thoughtful insight into the different dynamics present in relationships marred by domestic violence. Sally, as the primary narrator, and club instigator, is an appealing lead, but I really liked the way in which each woman made a distinct contribution to the story.

There’s some suspense in the novel as the women struggle to keep their secrets, with each coming fairly close to being discovered at different times. I was definitely on their side, and I actually thought their plans to explain their husband’s absence and dispose of their bodies was pretty clever, even if far fetched. While there are not any high stake twists in the novel, there are some surprises including a rather delightful, if somewhat macabre, revelation at the end.

Casale achieves her aim “to make people laugh – and then think”. Written with humour and compassion, The Best Way to Bury Your Husband is an entertaining and thought-provoking novel.

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Review: Body of Lies by Sarah Bailey

 

Title: Body of Lies {Gemma Woodstock #4}

Author: Sarah Bailey

Published: 27th February 2024, Allen & Unwin

Status: Read February 2024 courtesy Allen & Unwin

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My Thoughts:

Body of Lies is the fourth and final book by Sarah Bailey to feature Detective Gemma Woodstock, and though I’ve (strangely) not read any of the earlier series instalments this worked perfectly well as a stand alone.

Set about a year after the events of Where the Dead Go Gemma has returned to live in her home town with her partner, their new baby daughter, and her young son from her previous marriage. She’s visiting her father, hospitalised after a heart attack, when the body of an unidentified woman killed in a car accident is stolen from the morgue. Though still on maternity leave when Body of Lies opens, Gemma can’t help but involve herself in the mystery and when an infant is later found abandoned, which she suspects is related, she decides to return to work early.

There is a lot happening in Body of Lies, and Gemma quickly finds herself with more questions than answers. Several well crafted red herrings complicate the investigation that grows to include a pub brawl, a brutal murder, and a local cult. With the main action taking place over a few weeks, Gemma slowly makes the connections necessary to piece the complex case together, unwittingly putting herself in mortal danger as she does so. The root of the crime is unexpected, and perhaps a touch fantastical, but certainly adds shock value to the plot.

Gemma’s personal life is similarly complicated in this novel. Already struggling with the dilemma of balancing motherhood with her career, the sensitivity of her son to his father’s recent death, and her insecurities regarding her current relationship with Mac, Gemma is devastated when she learns the identity of the stolen body and the secrets it reveals about her past, putting her at odds with almost everyone she is close to. Gemma is a complex character, well portrayed with realism and nuance.

A gripping police procedural with a compelling lead, Body of Lies is a great read. As this is the last book which will feature Gemma, an epilogue set around three months after the dramatic end of the investigation proves to be satisfying.

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Review: A City on Mars by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith

 

Title: A City on Mars: Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through?

Author: Kelly and Zach Weinersmith

Published: 2nd November 2023, Particular Books

Status: Read January 2024

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My Thoughts:

Though we’ve known since the early 20th century that Mars is essentially a lifeless wasteland, humans have been reluctant to relinquish the dream of one day living there. In A City On Mars, self-described space geeks, Kelly and Zach Weinersmith explore the feasibility of life among the stars.

As technology advances providing continued innovation in space travel the dream may seem closer than ever but it’s only a single practical challenge among many. Drawing from several years of original research including interviews with a myriad of experts, the Weinersmith’s explore topics with regards to the the ability of both the human body and mind to withstand life in space for long periods, and the obstacles to creating safe, self sustaining biomes at scale among hostile environments. It’s surprising to realise just how much we don’t know about living in space, and I found these sections to be the most engaging.

A large section of the book is also devoted to examining legal and ethical concerns regarding space settlement, and though I found myself skimming a fair bit of the detail that covered the former, the issues raised were interesting to consider. The analogy with company towns is a clever comparison, I look at the mess Musk’s ego has made of Twitter, and know I could never trust him to act in my (or society’s) best interests.

The Weinersmith’s interject some humour into their work, which enhances its readability and their enthusiasm for the topic comes across well. Zach’s illustrations are a lighthearted, if superfluous, addition. I do think readers will require at least a casual interest in the subject to stay engaged with the narrative. The length of the book works against it slightly, though I appreciate the authors’ thoroughness.

A City on Mars is a pretty pessimistic view of the viability of space colonisation, there are still many questions to be answered and I agree with the Weinersmith’s conclusion that just because we can, doesn’t mean we should. Life in space is no guarantee of utopia, in fact we’d just be taking all the same problems with us, and likely creating many more.

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#ReadNonFicChal -The Future

 

Review: A Blizzard of Polar Bears by Alice Henderson

 

Title: A Blizzard of Polar Bears {Alex Carter #2}

Author: Alice Henderson

Published: 9th November 2021, William Morrow

Status: Read January 2024

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My Thoughts:

In need of a book set in the Arctic Tundra for reading challenge, A Blizzard of Polar Bears by Alice Henderson caught my eye. It’s the second book in a series featuring wildlife biologist Alex Carter, though reads well as a stand alone.

In A Blizzard of Polar Bears, Alex has taken an assignment in the Canadian Arctic studying its threatened population of polar bears. Teamed with an assistant and a helicopter pilot Alex’s job involves tracking and sedating the majestic, but dangerous animals, and recording their condition. It’s exhilarating work but soon things begin to go wrong- the pilot quits without notice, equipment goes missing, and then Alex’s research is stolen. Refusing to abandon the study, Alex is relieved when she is able to secure another pilot but when the helicopter catches fire forcing the crew to ditch on the ice in the middle of nowhere, it quickly becomes clear that someone will do anything to stop her.

I enjoyed this fast paced, action packed thriller. Alex finds herself in several dangerous situations after being targeted by thieves, poachers, and an unscrupulous businessman. I thought the mystery was well plotted, with Henderson deftly crafting several red herrings diverting from the true motive of Alex’s most persistent attackers.

Though Alex is capable and resourceful, she doesn’t always make smart decisions, and the odds are often against her, so a little suspension of belief is required as her circumstances worsen. Alex is likeable though and I thought she was a strong lead character.

The appearance of helicopter pilot Casey, who apparently had a brief role in Henderson’s first novel featuring Alex, A Solitude of Wolverines, adds another layer of interest to the novel.

Henderson does a great job of evoking the Arctic landscape. I found Alex’s work with the polar bears to be interesting, and I appreciated the information Henderson included in an Afterword detailing the threats they face. The forecast that all natural populations of polar bears may be extinct by 2080 due to man-made pollutants and climate change is chilling.

A Blizzard of Polar Bears is a quick and easy read offering lots of excitement and a strong eco message.

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Review: It’s Probably You by Jayne Denker

Title: It’s Probably You

Author: Jayne Denker

Published: 3rd January 2023, Simon & Schuster Australia

Status: Read January 2024 courtesy Simon & Schuster

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My Thoughts:

It’s Probably You (published as Hedging Your Bets in the US market) is an engaging enemies-to-lovers/opposites-attract small town romance novel by Jayne Denker.

When part of her prized garden is accidentally destroyed by her new neighbour, Gillian Pritchard is not in the mood to make nice, even though her friends, and her inner Bette Davis, are quick to remind of her that handsome, eligible men aren’t thick on the ground in Willow Cove. It’s something Gillian is well aware of given the string of disastrous dates she’s endured since her divorce, but she’s sure Noah West would only be another disappointment.

Noah is baffled by Gillian’s refusal to forgive and forget his mistake. He’s tried to apologise, he even bought her a gnome for her precious garden, but Gillian seems determined to think the worst of him. When Noah is blackmailed into thwarting Gillian’s plans to win Willow Cove’s annual garden competition he is expecting her to declare war, but instead she offers to make peace in the face of a common enemy, and suddenly their relationship seems starts to blossom.

There was a lot I enjoyed in It’s Probably You. The buildup of the relationship between Gillian and Noah is entertaining, their banter is often witty, and the tension of their attraction comes across well, despite this being a closed door romance.

I appreciate a mature romcom heroine, and I liked Gillian from the moment of her introduction, she’s smart, sassy, and self confident. I was generally happy with the way in which Gillian was represented as a curvy woman, though perhaps Denker stresses the size ≠ health a little too often, unintentionally implying that Gillian is the ‘right’ kind of fat. I absolutely empathise with Gillian’s issues with Louise though, I’ve met one or two women just like her.

Noah is an attractive hero and clearly a good guy. He’s a little lost after the end of his relationship and not really sure what to do with himself, which generates sympathy.

There are some lovely scenes in It’s Probably You, Noah being bailed up by the older ladies in the neighbourhood under the guise of a welcome was a favourite, as was his awkward introduction to Gillian’s protective friends. The list of Gillian’s dating disasters made me cringe and laugh.

Sweet, cute and funny, It’s Probably You is a light-hearted, easy read.

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Review: The Furies by Elizabeth Flock

 

Title: The Furies: Three Women and Their Violent Fight for Justice

Author: Elizabeth Flock

Published: 9th January 2024, Viking

Status: Read January 2024 courtesy Penguin UK/Netgalley

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My Thoughts:

Award winning journalist Elizabeth Flock was inspired by her own experiences as a result of the justice denied her after an assault to write The Furies: Three Women and Their Violent Fight for Justice. The book focuses on three women who took violent action as a response to male misogyny, aggression and brutality, with Flock particularly interested in how their actions have impacted the women, and society at large.

Brittany Smith shot dead a man who she claimed raped and brutalised her in her own home, but was denied a self-defense (stand your ground) legal claim in Alabama. It’s a heartbreaking and infuriating story of a woman whom the deeply misogynistic court system refused to recognise as a victim.

Seething with fury after years of mistreatment, Indian woman Angoori Dahariya formed a gang, inspired by the notorious figure of Phoolan Devi (known as the ‘Bandit Queen’) primarily to avenge victims of domestic violence and exploitation. Her ‘Green Gang’, now numbered in the thousands, threatens and punishes men publicly armed only with sticks. It’s an inspiring example of female empowerment, but not without its pitfalls.

Kurd Cicek Mustafa Zibo is a member of the all-female militia, the Women’s Protection Unit or YPJ, a sister force to the larger YPG fighting for freedom as an ethnic minority among hostile forces, including ISIS. Never keen on tradition which dictated she focus on becoming a wife and mother, Cicek decided to take up arms at age 17. She was proud to join the revolution and eager to fight, proving to be a committed soldier who quickly rose through the ranks, but the death and loss took its toll.

Flock built a relationship with the women she features over a period of about three years, and her connection with them is evident in the intimate details of their moving stories. I generally found Flock’s writing engaging and informative. Her reporting seems well researched, and well contextualised, balancing fact and emotion.

I found The Furies to be a confronting read, but one I believe imparts important lessons about that everyone can, and should, learn from.

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Review: The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose

 

Title: The Mystery Guest {Molly the Maid #2}

Author: Nita Prose

Published: 29th November 2023, HarperCollins Australia

Status: Read December 2023 courtesy HarperCollins/Netgalley

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My Thoughts:

The Mystery Guest is a sequel to Nita Prose’s wildly popular debut, The Maid, featuring Molly, a hotel maid.

Set around four years after the events of the first novel, Molly is now Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel, and has been placed in charge of the service for a special event to be held in the newly restored Grand Tearoom. World-renowned, bestselling, and award-winning author J. D. Grimthorpe has a secret to reveal and his audience is agog, but moments after taking the stage and sipping his tea, Grimthorpe collapses and is pronounced dead.

Once again Molly finds herself caught up in a mystery, as Grimthorpe’s cause of death is pronounced as murder, with a poison tainting the honey taken with his tea. Detective Stark seems as eager to blame Molly for this murder as the last, and if not Molly, then her protégé, Lily, so it’s up to Molly to find the real culprit.

It was a delight to reconnect with the characters from The Maid. Molly, though less naive, is still sweet and optimistic. She and Juan Manuel now live together (though he is absent from this story) and Molly’s colleagues, except for Cheryl, have become her friends. The Mystery Guest sheds more light on Molly’s background, and the murder investigation reveals surprise connections  

While The Mystery Guest is an engaging read, with a decently plotted mystery I felt it was missing the edge that surprised me in The Maid.

(To be continued..)

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Review: Writely or Wrongly by Joanna Anderson

Title: Writely or Wrongly: An unstuffy guide to language stuff

Author: Joanne Anderson

Published: 3rd October 2023, Murdoch Books

Status: Read November 2023 courtesy Murdoch Books

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My Thoughts:

Joanne Anderson draws on her experience as a newspaper journalist and editor to explain the vagaries of the English language in Writely or Wrongly: An unstuffy guide to language stuff. Dipping in to the history of the hyphen, the danger of the dangling participle, and the controversy of the comma, among other things, this practical style guide is written with humour and clarity.

Writely and Wrongly is enhanced by whimsical illustrations from Melbourne-based cartoonist Matt Golding.

This would be the perfect gift for a writer or wordsmith of any age

 

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