Tag: Mystery

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Review: The Hangman’s Daughter (Hangman’s Daughter #1) by Oliver Pötzsch

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: The Hangman’s Daughter (Hangman’s Daughter #1) by Oliver Pötzsch

A scream rips through the early morning fog of the small Bavarian town known as Schongau.

The body of a young boy washes ashore, tattooed with a suspecious mark…..a witches mark to be precise.

The people are in a frenzy when the local hangman, Jakob Kuisl, arrives to investigate the body and determine if witchcraft was indeed involved.

Before Kuisl can make a final decision, the townspeople jump to their own conclusions and go after the only person who could be capable of witchcraft….the midwife.

With the dark memories of witch trials and stake burnings stil fresh in their minds, the townspeople arrive at the midwifes house demanding answers. Kuisl takes her into custody though he is convinced of her innocents.

Determined to prove her innocents, Kuisl and a local physician, Simon, begin their investigation.

Continue reading “Review: The Hangman’s Daughter (Hangman’s Daughter #1) by Oliver Pötzsch” →

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Review: The Tale of Hill Top Farm (The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter #1) by Susan Wittig Albert

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England’s charming Lake District is the home to the quaint village of Sawrey. Here in this cozy country village, life is different. It is far removed from the hustle and bustle of London which is precisely why Beatrix Potter means to make Sawrey home.

The beloved children’s book author has recently lot her fiance and with the success of her books, she finally has the means to afford a quiet country home: Hill Top Farm.

Instead of the welcome they expect from a country village, Potter and her four legged friends are met with trepidation and pessimism. In 1905, it was almost unheard of for a women to purchase anything on her own, let alone a farm! But Potter is nothing if not determined to make a go of it.

Continue reading “Review: The Tale of Hill Top Farm (The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter #1) by Susan Wittig Albert” →

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Review: Waiting for Sunrise by William Boyd

by The Lit Bitch1 Comment on Review: Waiting for Sunrise by William Boyd

The name of the game is deception. Real or fake? Truth or lie?

This gritty war time novel takes us all over Europe on an adventure unraveling espionage and flushing out spies.

The novel opens in pre-WWI Vienna where London based actor Lysander Rief is taking a ‘holiday’ to resolve a ‘personal issue’ with a local psychiatrist.

Must of Lysander’s “treatment’ and “cure” involves the psychological term Parallelism. This concept plays a large role in the themes/plot of the novel and with it’s characters.

At his first appointment with the doctor, Lysander meets the frazzled, yet beautiful, Hettie Bull. He is immediately drawn to her but, since he is engaged and seeking treatment for a sexual issue, he quickly dismisses his attraction.

While Lysander might have forgotten about Hettie, Hettie doesn’t forget about Lysander.

Continue reading “Review: Waiting for Sunrise by William Boyd” →

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Review: Full Dark House (Bryant and May #1) by Christopher Fowler

by The Lit Bitch6 Comments on Review: Full Dark House (Bryant and May #1) by Christopher Fowler

Modern day London is rocked by a bombing, killing a senior police detective. A detective that happens to be head of the special unit of the force: The Peculiar Crimes Unit (PCU). Arthur Bryant was working late on an old case for his memoirs on a Sunday when the bomb exploded. Ironically he survived the Blitz of the 1940’s only to be blown up in his office decades later.

His partner and fellow head of the PCU, John May, can’t help but wonder if the modern day bombing is somehow linked to their first case together at PCU back in 1940. Now in his 80’s May must try to find out why Bryant was researching such an old case and what he found that might have brought on his demise. Did they apprehend the wrong person, leaving the murder to roam free all these years? But there is one problem, everyone from the original case is dead–it’s been sixty years!

London, 1940. The theater is a place full of dreams, illusions, emotion, and tragedy. It is also the scene of a murder. When a dancer turns up dead in a lift missing her feet this strange crime  is handed off to a newly formed unit: The Peculiar Crimes Unit (PCU). It is PCU’s first case.  Continue reading “Review: Full Dark House (Bryant and May #1) by Christopher Fowler” →

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Review: Mr Churchill’s Secretary (Maggie Hope #1) by Susan Elia MacNeal

by The Lit Bitch21 Comments on Review: Mr Churchill’s Secretary (Maggie Hope #1) by Susan Elia MacNeal

With flaming red hair to match the bombs bursting in air, Margaret Hope sits behind a typist desk in the Prime Minsters office at Number 10…waiting to be useful to someone….anyone.

Air raid sirens sound throughout London in 1940. Bombs drop from the air threatening to destroy the heart and soul of the British people.

In this dark time, Winston Churchill has been named PM and with any luck, he will keep the British spirit alive while war rages on….though he knowns a German invasion is eminent, all he needs is a little bit of hope to give the people.

As luck would have it, Churchill does have Hope in his office–Churchill has just hired Maggie Hope to be his typist.

In Susan Elia MacNeal’s debut novel, Mr Churchill’s Secretary, we meet a new contemporary and captivating heroine! Continue reading “Review: Mr Churchill’s Secretary (Maggie Hope #1) by Susan Elia MacNeal” →