📖 Book Review ~ The Secret Keeper of Jaipur by Alka Joshi

 

Mira Books
22 June 2021

#2 Jaipur Trilogy

It’s the spring of 1969, and Lakshmi, now married to Dr. Jay Kumar, directs the Healing Garden in Shimla. Malik has finished his private school education. At twenty, he has just met a young woman named Nimmi when he leaves to apprentice at the Facilities Office of the Jaipur Royal Palace. Their latest project: a state-of-the-art cinema.

Malik soon finds that not much has changed as he navigates the Pink City of his childhood. Power and money still move seamlessly among the wealthy class, and favors flow from Jaipur’s Royal Palace, but only if certain secrets remain buried. When the cinema’s balcony tragically collapses on opening night, blame is placed where it is convenient. But Malik suspects something far darker and sets out to uncover the truth. As a former street child, he always knew to keep his own counsel; it’s a lesson that will serve him as he untangles a web of lies.

📖 My Thoughts..

Told in three voices, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur is a continuation of the story which began in The Henna Artist.  It's now twelve years later and Lakshmi is settled in Shimla with Doctor Jay Kumar whilst her young protégé, Malik, now aged twenty, has returned to Jaipur to become an apprentice at the Facilities Office of the Jaipur Royal Palace during an exciting time in the construction of a prestigious cinema for Jaipur. The third voice is that of Nimmi, a young widow, who has left her hill tribe in order to create a new life for herself, and her young children, in Shimla. Her gentle beauty attracts the attention of Malik, only for them to be separated when Malik, on the advise of Lakshmi, makes his move to Jaipur.

The story is clearly told by each of the characters in turn and it is very definitely their distinct voices which come across, however, there are occasions when their stories overlap and this is what makes The Secret Keeper of Jaipur into such an interesting story. It was just as fascinating to be in Shimla with Lakshmi, and Nimmi, as it was to return to the pink city of Jaipur with Malik. The continuous drama and complicated twists and turns in the narrative affect the future for all those characters who we came to know so well in The Henna Artist. 

After the success of The Henna Artist I worried that the The Secret Keeper of Jaipur wouldn't live up to my expectations but I needn't have worried as the story is every bit as enthralling as I wanted it to be and I am already looking forward to the third book in the trilogy. I am equally excited that the TV series of The Henna Artist  is currently in production.

Thanks to the Borrow Box facility from my local library, I have listened to the unabridged audio version of this fascinating story, which is expertly narrated by Sneha Mathan, Ariyan Kassam and Deepa Samuel. Their wonderful interpretation really brings the story alive in the imagination.

About the Author

Alka Joshi was born in India and raised in the U.S. since the age of nine. She has a BA from Stanford University and an MFA from California College of Arts. At age 62, Joshi released her debut novel, The Henna Artist, which immediately became a NYT bestseller, a Reese Witherspoon Book club pick, was Longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and is being developed for a TV series. The Secret Keeper of Jaipur is its sequel.

Twitter @alkajoshi

Website

@HQStories

Book Review ~ Buried by Lynda La Plante

 

Zaffre
2020

DC Jack Warr #1

Millions of stolen, untraceable bank notes lie untouched in an old Victorian cottage, the hidden legacy of the Dolly Rawlins and her widows.

But the millions are not forgotten. Released from prison, Esther Freeman is determined to retrieve the money. And so too is Mike Withey, Shirley Miller's brother and Audrey's son.

When a fire breaks out at the derelict cottage, with a badly charred body inside along with what looks like thousands of burnt bank notes, it attracts the attention of the police and one young detective in particular, Jack Warr.

Jack's investigation into the fire, and the burnt body inside, coincide with an investigation into his own past. Adopted at birth, Jack discovers his birth father may have been none other than Harry Rawlins, a renowned criminal.

As he finds out the truth about his own identity, Jack finds himself becoming increasingly aggressive, stopping at nothing to find the truth - including breaking the law himself.

My Thoughts..

Buried gets this new crime series off to a flying start with a set of likable, and not so likeable, villains who literally leap, fully formed off the page. It's also a cracking introduction to a new detective as by no stretch of the imagination is Jack Warr your average Detective Constable. He's something of a maverick, occasionally even a little bit lazy, but when his intuition kicks in, he tends to be on the right track.  

Cracking this case is never going to be easy especially when a man's body is found in a burned out isolated cottage. However, what makes this case all the more baffling for the police is that the body was surrounded by thousands of burnt bank notes, and with very few clues to go other than tenuous links to a twenty year-old cold case, the detectives have a huge task ahead of them.

As with any La Plante novel, the story moves a startling pace and introduces a set of detailed characters, especially a group of women, all ex-cons who have fascinating back stories to tell. I enjoyed getting the know the ladies, they add much needed light, and shade, to what is after all quite a dark story. Those who are familiar with La Plante's Widows series will recognise a few names, especially that of Dolly Rawlins, but it's not necessary to have read those books to enjoy this new series.

As with any new series there is a sense of getting to know the characters and by including Jack Warr's search for his own past as part of the story we begin to see just what makes enigmatic detective tick. I look forward to reading the second book, Judas Horse which was published by Zaffre in April 2021.

By using the Borrow Box service of my library I listened to the audio version of Buried, which is nicely narrated by Alex Hassell and Annie Aldington.

Find out more about Borrow Box

About the Author

Lynda La Plante is a British author, screenwriter, and  actress, best known for writing the Prime Suspect television crime series.

Lynda's Latest book ~ Unholy Murder (Jane Tennison #7) published by Zaffre, is out now.

Twitter @LaPlanteLynda #Buried 

@ZaffreBooks

Review ~ The Phantom Tree by Nicola Cornick

HQ

What's it all about...

Browsing antiques shops in Wiltshire, Alison Bannister stumbles across a delicate old portrait – supposedly of Anne Boleyn. Except Alison knows better… The woman is Mary Seymour, the daughter of Katherine Parr who was taken to Wolf Hall in 1557 as an unwanted orphan and presumed dead after going missing as a child.

The painting is more than just a beautiful object from Alison’s past – it holds the key to her future, unlocking the mystery surrounding Mary’s disappearance, and the enigma of Alison’s son.

But Alison’s quest soon takes a dark and foreboding turn, as a meeting place called the Phantom Tree harbours secrets in its shadows…

What did I think about it...

It's been a while since a good time slip novel caught my imagination and I am delighted that this latest novel by Nicola Cornick really grabbed my attention from the start. I love travelling back in time and in the hands of an accomplished author it should be rather like stepping aboard a time travel machine. What's so refreshing about this book is that the author has flipped the idea on its head by having a protagonist from the past end up in the future which somehow takes the idea of time slip to a whole different level. The history feels authentic as does the story which surrounds the mystery, and moving seamlessly, as it does, between past and present it is very easy to get caught up in the story of Alison Bannister and Mary Seymour.

The Phantom Tree gets right into the heart of a Tudor mystery and gives us a possible explanation for the alleged disappearance of Mary Seymour. What I love so much about clever historical fiction is that whilst it brings history alive in special way it also allows a talented author to put their own individual slant on what might have happened.  Of course I know that time travel doesn’t exist but in the hands of a gifted writer it just shows that nothing is impossible to achieve.

Time slip novels are notoriously difficult to pull off successfully, but when they are done well they are a joy to read and The Phantom Tree certainly gets it right on every level. The author has the balance exactly right with neither one time element seeking to overshadow the other. I was equally comfortable reading about Alison Bannister in the present and then slipping back through time to read Mary Seymour’s story in the past and as both women are feisty protagonists they are equally deserving of the reader’s attention.

There is much to enjoy in this story which will appeal to all lovers of historical time slip novels. Nicola Cornick is fast becoming one of my favourite authors and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

Best Read with .. A tankard of small beer and  a venison pasty, rich and succulent 

More about the author can be found on her website by clicking here

International bestselling author Nicola Cornick writes romantic historical mysteries and witty and passionate Regency romance. She studied History at London and Oxford and was awarded a distinction for her dissertation on historical heroes. It was a tough study but someone had to do it. Nicola has a “double life” as a writer and guide at the stunning 17th century hunting lodge, Ashdown House.

Follow on Twitter @NicolaCornick

The Phantom Tree was my community Library read

~***~

Review ~ Coffin Road by Peter May

Quercus
January 2016

On the Hebridean Isle of Harris a man is washed up on a deserted beach. He has no recollection of his name and yet, he finds that he has a dog, a home and even a sexual relationship with another man’s wife, and yet nothing triggers substantial memories beyond a shadow of doubt. The only tangible clue he has, is a folded map to a place known as locally as the Coffin Road, but even this conjures more questions than it does answers. Meanwhile, a detective in Lewis is sent to a remote rock twenty miles off shore, to investigate the death of man found beaten to death. And in Edinburgh, a teenage girl mourns the loss of the father she adored and struggles to come to terms with the fact that her scientist father has taken his own life.

Three stories, all different and seemingly with no connection, come together in this skilfully plotted crime thriller. There is no doubt that our memories define us, and when robbed of recollection we flounder and rely on those around us to fill the gaps, and yet, in the Coffin Road there are so many unstable narrators that we never truly know who is filling in the gaps with the truth, or who are continuing to feed us fabrications and deceits.

As always, the author has used the stunning backdrop of the Hebrides to weave together a convoluted tale of self-discovery, in which the myriad twists and turns lead us first one way and then another. I enjoyed trying to figure out what was going on and thought I had it figured out, only for the plot to move up another notch, until I was genuinely surprised by the eventual outcome.

Best read with…lashing of bacon and eggs and mugs of tea, liberally laced with a slug of good Hebridean malt whisky.

About the Author

Find him on his website

Amazon UK

~***~

Review ~ Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult

Hodder & Stoughton
November 2014

Jenna Metcalf was just a baby the night her mother disappeared from the New Hampshire Elephant Sanctuary where they lived. Now, ten years later, Jenna enlists the help of disgraced physic, Serenity and disillusioned ex cop, Virgil Stanhope, in the hope of uncovering new evidence which may lead her to her mother whereabouts.

This multi stranded novel unfolds in several different voices all of whom have a part to play in the eventual outcome. The mystery at the heart of the novel is well explored and makes for compelling reading. Jenna is a feisty protagonist, vulnerable and ferocious in equal measure and the way she systematically sets out to find her mother is commendable. However, it’s the background research into elephant behaviour which is the real strength of the novel and it becomes utterly fascinating to learn just what makes these majestic creatures act the way they do.

There is no doubt that Jodi Picoult is the master of her genre, she holds the reader in the palm of her hand and doesn’t let go until the story is finished. 

Without doubt,  Leaving Time is difficult to put down and is one of my favourite of Jodi Picoult's books to date.

~*~*~*

Review ~ Lamentation by C J Sansom

Shardlake Book 6

PanMacmillan
2014

The latter days of the reign of Henry VIII are overshadowed by political and religious strife. No one who has any religious conviction feels safe to worship any religion other than that which is dictated by the King. For Queen Catherine Parr, Henry’s last stoical Protestant Queen, there are forces at work who would like to see nothing more than her downfall. When the Queen’s highly controversial confessional book goes missing, Shardlake is enlisted to track down the book on the pretext of looking for a missing jewel. Should anyone discover the real reason for Shardlake’s investigation, then the Queen, and all who are associated with her will be brought down.

Sansom writes about the Tudor age with great conviction, and allows Shardlake, as always, to take centre stage. The superb attention to detail, from the closeted elegance of the Tudor Court, through to the raggle-taggle print works in Paternoster Row, takes the reader on a journey through the vagaries of life in London during 1546. The noise, the stink, the sheer perversity of living alongside cut purses and murderers, as well as the stirrings of religious mania gives Shardlake one of his most complicated investigations. It’s a real joy to watch the pernickety lawyer and his dastardly sidekick, Jack Barak, go about solving such a convoluted murder mystery.

It’s a hefty read, well over 600 pages, filled with the usual subplots, red herrings and dangerous subterfuges, and if I have to be a little bit picky, I would say that its about 200 pages overlong, however, having said that, the story flows well; the political and religious turmoil is written about with great authority and the portrait painted of the failing Henry VIII, is both poignant and terrifying in equal measure.

I can’t see any time soon when Sansom’s legions of fans don’t demand another Shardlake adventure. The ending of this one certainly lends itself to a continuation and  I for one, can’t wait to see where Shardlake's story goes next.

About the Author

Review ~ The Edge of Dark by Pamela Hartshorne

Pan Macmillan

2014

Be Careful What you Wish for....

Roz Acclam has just been appointed as the events manager at the newly renovated Holmwood Hall in the city of York, a fifteenth century town house, once the home of a prominent York family. From the beginning the dark and brooding nature of the house overwhelms Roz and as she starts to experience sights, sounds and sensations from the past, it is obvious that someone within the house has unfinished business.

In 1569, Jane is the eldest daughter of York butcher Henry Birkby. Her social standing and lack of beauty do not bode well for a good marriage and so plain Jane has resigned herself to being forever in the shadow of her more beautiful and flighty younger sister, Juliana. When an offer of marriage is made to Jane from the prestigious Holmwood family, she is amazed when her new bridegroom, Robert, is neither ill favoured, nor as ugly as a toad.

With skilful storytelling, a dramatic story emerges of two women both badly damaged by life events and of two marriages affected by circumstances. By using Roz as a conduit, every aspect of Jane’s bizarre married life is revealed and the very real drama being played out by Jane and Robert Holmwood in the sixteenth century becomes as compelling and just as convincing as the very modern marriage dilemmas being faced by Roz and her husband Nick.

The malign forces at play in Holmwood House have survived throughout the centuries and the immersion into the past in such a visceral and realistic way only emphasises the idea that just on the edge of dark, twixt night and day, is the most powerful time, and there is no doubt that the gut wrenching fear which is stirred throughout the novel powerfully evokes the edge of dark.

With each successive novel, Pamela Hartshorne’s writing goes from strength to strength. There is no doubt that she has captured the idea of the time slip/dual narrative historical novel to perfection and she continues to enthral, beguile and entertain.

Recommended if you like dual time narratives by Barbara Erskine, Susanna Kearsley, Rachel Hore.

More about the Author

Amazon UK


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End of an era...

I'm a little bit sad today as it the end of an era, because the visits to my local area by the mobile library service have been stopped forever. It's all due, of course,  to local government spending cutbacks, but it's a real blow to our community, especially for those like me who enjoyed the convenience of having a decent library right  there on my doorstep.

Luckily,I have a new library to visit, it's just a couple of miles away, but that means a journey by car - still, I realise how lucky I am to have a library service at all - so I'm not complaining.

I'm just sad for a service lost.....

Here are some of my favourite books  borrowed from the mobile library this year ....

The Small Hand by Susan Hill
The House at Sea's End by Elle Griffiths
Started early, took my dog by Kate Atkinson
The Anatomy of Ghosts by Andrew Taylor
Darkside by Belinda Bauer
Belle by Lesley Pearse
The Gallows Curse by Karen Maitland
Florence and Giles by John Harding
The Absolutist by John Boyne
The Midwive's Confession by Diane Chamberlain
Fallen by Karin Slaughter
Before I go to Sleep by S J Watson
Now you See Me by S J Watson
The Dressmaker by Posie Graeme-Evans
The Haunting by Alan Titchmarsh
Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult

And way back in 1991.... I was the first person to borrow a new book which was a little known historical / time travel novel by an unknown American author called Diana Gabaldon. That book was Cross Stitch or Outlander which has since become one of my all time favourite reads - and it's the only book EVER, that once finished I turned immediately to the beginning and started it again. I renewed it several times before reluctantly handing it back to the library !!