Category: Book Review

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: The Saffron Crocus by Alison McMahan

by The Lit Bitch2 Comments on Review: The Saffron Crocus by Alison McMahan

In 1643 Venice, singing teacher Margherita introduces the young Isabella to the world of opera.

Isabella has wanted to sing in Monteverdi’s Choir but it’s only for boys.

But opera opens up all kinds of new doors for Isabella instead…..all thanks to Margherita.

Just when things are going well for Isabella, she finds Margherita murdered.

Isabella sets out to discover why…..but soon secrets start surfacing about Margherita’s past and her handsome son, Rafaele, might be the murderer’s next target.

Isabella and Rafaele team up and try to solve the murder before it’s too late! But when an attempt is made on Rafaele’s life, she suddenly finds himself arrested for a crime he didn’t commit.

Isabella must solve the mystery before Rafaele is wrongfully executed!

Continue reading “Review: The Saffron Crocus by Alison McMahan” →

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: Alaina Claiborne (British Agent #1) by M.K. McClintock

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: Alaina Claiborne (British Agent #1) by M.K. McClintock

As a young girl, Alaina Claiborne witnesses a the murder of her parents…..an event that she doesn’t fully understand.

At ten years old, Alaina remains in her parents estate with her guardians, her aunt Charlotte and her uncle Sebastiaan.

As she grows older, she only minutely remembers the murders and she only finds comfort when riding her horses.

One afternoon she is out for a ride, she stops at her favorite spot on the lake by her property.

There she runs into her new neighbor, Tristan Sheffield. She is frustrated that this man has intruded on her favorite spot but yet she is oddly intrigued by him.

He is handsome to be sure, and arrogant but friendly enough. Suddenly he starts turning up at at her house and spending a great deal of time with her. What Alaina doesn’t know is her life is in serious danger.

Continue reading “Review: Alaina Claiborne (British Agent #1) by M.K. McClintock” →

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: The Canterbury Sisters by Kim Wright

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: The Canterbury Sisters by Kim Wright

Che’s life is literally hitting rock bottom. Her mom just died and her long time boyfriend just dumped her via letter for another woman. Right now her life absolutely, positively, sucks.

On the same day that she receives the break up letter, she also receives her mother’s ashes with a last request from her mom….take her ashes to Canterbury.

Che had forgotten that she promised to take her mother to Canterbury, it was a trip they both planned to take together but never did. So now her mother’s last wish is that they take that trip together.

Right now seems like as good of a time as any since se can’t stand the thought of facing her now ex when he comes to clean out their apartment so she boards the first flight to England. Instead of taking a train directly to Canterbury from London, Che’s mom wanted them to do a pilgrimage and follow the Canterbury trail which is a 60 mile walk from London.

Continue reading “Review: The Canterbury Sisters by Kim Wright” →

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: The Fatal Flame (Timothy Wilde Mysteries #3) by Lyndsay Faye

by The Lit Bitch2 Comments on Review: The Fatal Flame (Timothy Wilde Mysteries #3) by Lyndsay Faye

Wow, completely different than what I was expecting! This book is a very uniquely written mystery and I loved it.

I have never read anything by Faye before, but what a treat it was! Her writing style is so different and raw.

It’s almost had a film noir feel to it….gritty, dark, and real but at the same time oddly addicting.

In New York City, an arsonist threatens Alderman Robert Symmes, a corrupt and powerful leader high in the Tammany Hall gang ranks.

Copper Star detective, Timothy Wilde is investigating the arson situation when the love of his life, Mercy Underhill, suddenly shows up on his door step and takes in an orphan girl who is starving on the streets. But the orphan girl doesn’t quite have a grasp of reality.

It soon becomes clear that this girl holds the key to unraveling the mysterious arson attacks but her cryptic descriptions are anything but helpful.

Continue reading “Review: The Fatal Flame (Timothy Wilde Mysteries #3) by Lyndsay Faye” →

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: Dead Cert by Dick Francis

by The Lit Bitch2 Comments on Review: Dead Cert by Dick Francis

Horses and murder in the English countryside…..how can I resist a book like that?

Jockey, Alan York, is riding in a steeplechase race when his long time friend, Bill Davidson, takes a terrible fall over the last fence.

Alan finishes the race in first place and rushes back to check on his friend. Bill is quickly taken to the hospital but it is too late, he is dead. Alan examine the fence where Bill went down and discovers the remains of a wire, indicating that the fall was anything but an accident.

The dark world of horse racing and bookmaking is one that Alan is familiar with. He knows the dangers of ‘stopping’ a horse intentionally during a race, he knows that the horse racing world is full of unsavory characters but he also knows that his best friend Bill, would never enter into anything dishonest which makes his death even more of a mystery.

As Alan digs deeper into Bill’s death, he puts himself in great danger…..what happened to Bill could easily happen to Alan and it would look just like an accident.

Continue reading “Review: Dead Cert by Dick Francis” →