Wet and stormy weather in recent weeks here in the UK made for the perfect excuse to curl up in the warm with a book. As a result, I read eleven books in February. Below are my five favourite.
First up is Requiem for a Knave by Laura Carlin. Set in medieval England, the book is part historical mystery, part love story. It combines a wealth of period detail with exploration of issues with more contemporary relevance such as gender identity and sexual equality. You can read my full review here.
Staying with historical fiction but moving forward to the 20th century, my next choice is Summerland by Lucy Adlington, published by Hot Key Books . Although aimed at young adults, I loved the fictional story of Brigitta, one of the children who survived the Nazi concentration camps or were orphaned by the War and brought to Britain as refugees. Read more about why I enjoyed the book here.
Next is Improvement by Joan Silber, published by Allen & Unwin UK. The book is a series of interconnected stories that explore the consequences of our actions on others. It was my first introduction to the author’s writing and I admired her acute observational skills and deft touch. You can read my full review here.
Back to historical fiction now and Stasi Winter by David Young, published by Zaffre. Set in pre-unification East Germany during the so-called ‘catastrophic winter’ of 1978/9, it’s the fifth in the series featuring Major Karin Müller of the People’s Police. A crime novel with a touch of the spy thriller, I thought it was terrific and it made me wish I’d discovered the series earlier. Read my full review here.
My final choice is Kirsty Wark’s The House by the Loch, published by Two Roads Books. Set in Galloway and moving between the 1950s and the present day, I described it as ‘an emotional, well-crafted story of a family dealing with change, guilt and loss’. You can read my full review here.
What were your favourite books you read in February? Have you read any of my picks?
You can find details of all the books I’ve read so far in 2020 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 it’s historical fiction and The Glittering Hour by Iona Grey. The story moves between 1936, as nine year old Alice seeks to uncover the secrets of her mother’s past, and 1925 in which her mother, Selina, recalls her days as one of the ‘Bright Young People’.
Next it’s Asylum Road by James L. Weaver, the fourth book in the Jake Caldwell crime series. When I need a break from historical fiction this is the series I turn to for some gripping, page-turning action. I’m never disappointed.
Back to historical fiction and a book that’s also the latest in a series, A Ration Book Childhood by Jean Fullerton. The book follows the fortunes (and misfortunes) of the Brogan family in London’s East End during World War 2. I particularly like the way the author completely immerses you in the atmosphere of the period. Read my full review 
Next it’s Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout the long-anticipated sequel to the much-praised Olive Kitteridge.
Did you know John Buchan, author of The Thirty-Nine Steps, wrote historical fiction? Well, he did and The Blanket of the Dark is widely considered one of his best. Set in the reign of Henry VIII in the Oxfordshire countryside Buchan knew so well, its premise is a ‘what if’ of history. Read my full review 
What Cathy Read Next... 