I finished twelve books in March including a couple of five-star reads and several that came close. You can find details of my five favourite books below. Click on the book title to view the book description on Goodreads.
You can keep up to date with all my reading in 2019 here with links to my reviews. If we’re not already friends on Goodreads, send me a friend request or follow my reviews.
First up is crime novel, Poetic Justice by R.C. Bridgestock. A prequel to the popular series featuring DI Jack Dylan, it was the perfect introduction to the series for new readers such as myself. I described it as ‘gritty, atmospheric and full of drama’ and you can read my full review here.
Staying with crime, this time of the historical variety, and another prequel is The Road to Grantchester by James Runcie. Starting with the young Sidney’s traumatic experiences in World War 2 through to the discovery of his vocation as a parish priest, it introduces readers to the character they will meet meet in the first book of the series, Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death. I thought it was a terrific read and one which worked equally well as a character study of a young man affected by his wartime experiences or as an introduction to the series. You can read my full review here.
Another historical crime series now but unfortunately not a prequel but the fifteenth book in the series. The American Agent by Jacqueline Winspear is the latest outing for the much-loved character, private investigator Maisie Dobbs. Set in London during the worst of the blitz in World War 2, it combines a intriguing, well-constructed mystery, an engaging leading character and convincing period detail. You can read my full review here and see why I’ve now joined the ranks of Maisie Dobbs fans.
For my next pick I’m moving from 1940s London to 1930s Malaya and The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo. I read this atmospheric, mysterious and magical novel as part of a buddy read organised by the publishers, Quercus, and it was one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much. You can learn nine other reasons why I loved the book here.
Finally there’s All Among the Barley by Melissa Harrison which in a relatively new departure for me I listened to as an audio book. I’d tipped it to feature on the longlist for The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2019 but in the end it only made the supplementary Academy Recommends list. Set in rural 1930s England, I described it as ‘a book to lose yourself in and admire the quality of the writing and characterisation rather than expect a swiftly moving story line’. You can read my full review here.
What were some of your favourite books you read in March? Have you read any of my picks?
First up is crime mystery The Last Thread by Ray Britain. I praised the book for its meticulous attention to the detail of police procedure – no surprise give the author is a former Senior Investigating Officer. This gives the reader the feeling they are almost part of the investigation team. Read my full review 
Next up is historical novel, False Lights by K. J. Whittaker, published by Head of Zeus, which imagines a world in which Wellington was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo and England occupied by the victorious French. Alongside this intriguing premise is an engaging romantic story line. Find out more about what I enjoyed about the book 
Another historical novel now – The Black Prince by Adam Roberts, published by Unbound on 4th October 2018. Based on unpublished material by literary giant, Anthony Burgess, it tells the story of Edward the Black Prince in a singularly inventive way using a range of narrative techniques. I described it as ‘full of verve and wit, crammed with vivid period detail’. Read my full review 
This year marks one hundred years since women (although not all women) won the right to vote. Published by Retreat West Books, The Word for Freedom is a collection of 24 short stories from both established and emerging authors in celebration of this anniversary. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the stories which I found imaginative and thought-provoking. You can read my full review 
Lastly, I come to my favourite of the books I read in October – historical thriller Paris in the Dark by Robert Olen Butler. Published by No Exit Press on 25th October 2018, the book is set in World War 1 Paris and involves a race against time as journalist and undercover agent Christopher Marlowe ‘Kit’ Cobb attempts to discover who is behind a series of bombings in Paris. As I commented in my 
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