Queen Bee by Jane Fallon. Book Review.

Jane Fallon is an Author whose books I would read without knowing the blurb, plot or seeing the cover. I have read a few of her previous books and all the ones I have read, have a similar style. They have a style that I love. I had no doubt that Queen Bee would be the same. Thank you to Netgalley and publisher Michael Joseph for gifting me a copy of this book. These are my unbiased thoughts on Queen Bee.

Description :

Welcome to The Close – a beautiful street of mansions, where gorgeous Stella is the indisputable Queen Bee . . .

It is here that Laura, seeking peace and privacy after her marriage falls apart, rents a tiny studio. Unfortunately, her arrival upsets suspicious Stella – who fears Laura has designs on her fiancé, Al.

When Laura stumbles on the big secret Al is hiding, suddenly Stella’s perfectly controlled world, not to mention Laura’s future, are threatened.

Taking a chance on beating Al at his own twisted game, these two former strangers are fast becoming best friends.

But has Laura forgotten that revenge never comes without a sting in the tail?

---

My Thoughts:

Although I was sure I would love this book going only by the author, I wanted to read a few reviews first.  One of the reviews I read mentioned a similarity to the set up of Desperate Housewives. I used to love that series so that made me more excited to read Queen Bee.

The plot is set around a Close of expensive mansions, rich couples who have nannies and house keepers and ” keeping up with the Jones'” is very much a thing.  The men work and earn far to much, and the women go to spa’s and organise parties. But then along comes Laura who rents the back house from one of the couple’s until she is able to find her next real home. Having nothing in common with these people Laura is not immediately accepted. In fact she is ousted due to no fault of her own.

The relationship between Laura and the Queen Bee of the street is a complicated and strange one.

I found Queen Bee Stella to be an intruing character, at some points I found her to be a little unbelievable

“…doesn’t even know how to warm up a pizza”

Can that really be true that first world women don’t know how to heat up a pizza because they have had people do it for them forever? That just shows how spoilt Stella is. Laura is the opposite and has to survive independently and work for everything she has. It was very interesting to see these 2 women navigate their lives together and separately. 

The Jane Fallon books I have read before have involved a revenge theme quite a lot. I was expecting the revenge to be against Queen Bee, but it wasn’t, in some ways this made it even better.

The book holds all the perfect escapism, easy reading, funny and engaging words that I hoped it would.

The book is up to date and modern with even a mention of my latest favourite Netflix binge watch.

” I don’t think that’s how it works.  I wish I’d stuck with Ozark” 

Jane Fallon’s books are addictively brilliant. I have loved all the ones I have read and this one is no different. Yes, different characters and a different plot, but the same fun, satisfying, escapism read. I loved it. Now I’m awaiting the next book Jane Fallon writes.

Links:

Twitter @JaneFallon

Goodreads

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Advertisement

 

Here’s my Calling Card. Book Review: The Chestnut Man by Soren Sveistrup.

The Chestnut Man book has been sitting on my shelf for quite a while. I always knew it was going to be a good read as it was given to me by my fellow book loving, book blogging friend Irena, and she knows my taste. The reason I hadn’t read it until recently was that I was daunted by the length of the book being over 500 pages. Many of the reviews I have read of this book say, don’t be put off by thickness! But I was! Now what better time to enjoy an excellent book than during lockdown.

Translation by Caroline Waight.

Description:

The heart-pounding debut from the creator of the hit Scandinavian television show The Killing.

If you find one, he’s already found you.

A psychopath is terrorizing Copenhagen.

His calling card is a “chestnut man”—a handmade doll made of matchsticks and two chestnuts—which he leaves at each bloody crime scene.

Examining the dolls, forensics makes a shocking discovery—a fingerprint belonging to a young girl, a government minister’s daughter who had been kidnapped and murdered a year ago.

A tragic coincidence—or something more twisted?

To save innocent lives, a pair of detectives must put aside their differences to piece together the Chestnut Man’s gruesome clues.

Because it’s clear that the madman is on a mission that is far from over.

And no one is safe.

My Thoughts:

I had never heard of Chestnut dolls before, but I do know I love a book whereby the murderer has a calling sign. This caller sign is Chestnut dolls. Chestnuts and match sticks made into little people. But what is the significance? The significance becomes even more strange ( intriguing for the reader) when the fingerprint of a girl that went missing a year ago is found on the chestnut!

The plot focuses on two main detectives who are on the case. Neither of them particularly happy about having to work with the other and both with other places they would like to be. Not a good match for a serious hunt for a serial killer with an agenda you might think? Perhaps not, but it was a nice change to read about detectives having to be a partnership and not wanting to be there.

This Scandi Noir books deserves all the praise and rave reviews it’s got. The short chapters enabled me to read ” just one more chapter” more times than I could have imagined. The finger prints on the chestnut were what got me turning the pages. How are there finger prints of a girl who has been missing presumed dead for a whole year. The missing girl is the daughter of a government minister, so should this case be re opened? Most think ‘No’, but a good detective leaves nothing uncovered.

Are the murders anything to do with the missing girl? What’s the link between Chestnut Men and the victims? Are the victims patterned? Who is next? All questions that whizzed through my head leading to the ” just one more chapter” feeling.

The plot was long, but gripping. The characters were individual but forced to come together. The murderer, well I can describe this damaged soul as gory, blood thirsty, clever and original. If that sounds like a serial killer you’d like to meet on these pages, get reading The Chestnut Man.

I had no idea of who the killer was. I had no idea how the book would end, but when it did end after investing all that time into reading it, I was pleased, satisfied and so glad that I took the plunge into this big book.

My lockdown experience definetly included Chestnut Men. 😊

Links:

Amazon.co.uk

 

#10BooksofSummer20. My Summer Reading List.

It’s that time again! I participated in #BooksOfSummer last year and it was a nice way to keep track of what I’m reading and follow other readers in the books they chose.The original idea of this 10, 15 or 20 books of summer came from Cathy at 746books. You can read her post HERE!

The idea is that you choose 10, 15 or 20 books that you think you will read over the summer, between June and September. I have chosen 10 that I would like to read. I am a mood reader so these may or may not change. I have added a variety so I still have lots of choice. Of course this may also change if I get offered to read something that just sounds to amazing to wait until after summer for.

Here are my summer reads.

---

Hattie Goes To Hollywood by Caroline James. Goodreads. Amazon UK

Cold Heart by Sean-Paul Thomas. Amazon UK

---

Queen Bee by Jane Fallon. Amazon UK

The Whisper Man by Alex North. Amazon UK

---

And a couple from my bookshelf that have been there for a while.

A Small Weeping by Alex Gray. Goodreads

---

The Ex by Alafair Burke. Goodreads

---

Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty.

Goodreads

I’ve just finished watching Big Little Lies, so I’m hoping this book will be just as good if not better.

---

Susan Willis Ten Short Reads. Goodreads

I have read quite a few of Susan Willis’ short stories but I haven’t read this compilation yet and it’s been on my kindle for a while. I think these will be perfect summer reads with a cold drink.

Children of the Enemy by DJ Swykert. Goodreads

I have read a few of this Author’s books and all have been brilliant. I expect this will not disappoint.

---

The final book in this list will be one that I will look through a lot over the summer. This is a book that has been talked a lot about on Twitter and the author has drawn lots of heart warming pictures and words that are appropriate for this time.

I was given this book by my brother and sister in law last Christmas. I have read it, but it is a book that is worth reading, re reading and flicking through.

The Boy, The Fox, The Mole and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy. Goodreads

I hope you all have a happy and safe summer of reading.

If you have read any of these let me know your thoughts.

---

 

#10BooksofSummer (or 15 or 20)….

10, 15 or 20 Books of summer is hosted by Cathy @cathy746books.       You can read Cathy’s original post about it here on her blog –  746books.com

This is a slightly late post as it started on June 3rd, but I did start my first book on that day, so all is ok. 😉

The idea of 20 Books of Summer is that readers choose their books to read and enjoy them, while also reviewing over the summer dates of June 3rd to September 3rd. You can choose to read 10, 15 or 20 books. I went for the easier option of 10! so, 3 months, 10 books, here goes.

Here are the books I hope to read over this time. I am adding in a mix of paperbacks and kindle reads. Two of the books will be for blog tours and the rest are ones I have chosen myself.

So here goes with my list of 10 books I hope to read this summer. ( in no particular order). The blurb can be found using the goodreads links.

In The Swim Of Things by Tracie Banister.

A lovely chick lit summer read. If you ever wanted to be a mermaid, this is the book for you. Kyra has her perfect job, a new hunky surfer boyfriend and lives by the beach she loves. When her beach is threatened. Kyra needs to fight for it. A perfect read for the summer I think. Plus I have read a few of Tracie Bannister’s books before and enjoyed them all. 

Goodreads Blurb.

 

---

 

Where the Dead Fall. By M J Lee.

A page turning crime thriller. With murders, detectives and hunts for killers. This is my kind of read.

Goodreads Blurb

 

---

 

Meet Me in Cockleberry Bay. By Nicola May.

The much awaited sequel to Nicola May’s previous best seller The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay will be a glorious read for me. I love all of this Author’s books and I am sure this one will be no difference. I’m looking forward to seeing what Rosa and the beloved Hot the sausage dog will get up to in this book.

My review for this will be in the blog tour hosted by RachelsRandomResources.com in July, when the book will be published. Lucky me got an early read 😊.

Goodreads Blurb

 

---

 

 

The Chestnut Man by Soren Sveistrup

I was sent this book my my lovely friend Irena at bookdustmagic.com. Irena and many other bookbloggers have written amazing reviews for this book. I am excited to read it, but it is so long. I hope the length is necessary to the whole plot. I’m quite sure I will love it as Irena always has great recommendations.

Goodreads Blurb

 

Time of my Life by Laura Heffernan.

Another lovely easy summer read. You can just tell by the cover that this will be a perfect read for those summer evenings.

Goodreads Blurb

You see how I am mixing up thrillers and chick lits. I like to get a mix of gory, deceptive crime thrillers which make me hunt for the criminal. Then swap that for some really easy reads that are pure escapism. 

---

 

 

Fixed Odds by William McIntyre

The Author of this book is a criminal defence lawyer based in Scotland. That fact alone would be enough to make me want to read this book! This book is released on July 4th and I was very lucky to get an advanced copy. I am on the blog tour for Fixed Odds when it is published.

Goodreads Blurb

 

 

---

 

 

Author Clare Chase is another of my recommended Authors. I have read quite a few of her books and loved them all. I would describe the previous books I have read as cosy mysteries. I have had this book on my kindle for a little while and don’t remember what it is about. I do have a feeling that I will love it though.

Goodreads Blurb

 

---

Broken Humanity by Karine Vivier

 

Published in January this year, this book is the debut book by Author Karine Vivier. The Author contacted me and asked if I would like to read and review her book. I like to try out new Authors, and am hoping this book will be a good one.

Goodreads Blurb

---

 

Will To Live by Rachel Amphlett.

You may remember this book from a previous post, whereby I got a great deal on the first 3 books in the Kay Hunter series. I have read the first books and it was fantastic. For my summer reads, I am including the next 2 books in this series. As I loved the first one, I am quite sure I will enjoy book 2 and 3 also. 

Goodreads Blurb

 

 

One to Watch by Rachel Amphlett (book 3 Kay Hunter)

The covers are awesome and look so readable don’t they! 

 

Goodreads Blurb

 

 

---

So that my 10 reads for summer. I think its going to be a good reading summer, with lots of good reviews to come. What books do you have planned to read this summer? Have you read any of the books I mentioned? Which do you like the sound / look of? 

Here is to a good reading summer.