Seventh Sinner

Book Review: The Seventh Sinner by Elizabeth Peters (Jacqueline Kirby #1)

Jean is part of a group of seven scholars in Rome who have dubbed themselves the ‘seven sinners’. When she stumbles across another student, stabbed and lying in a pool of his own blood, she fears one of the seven has indeed committed one of the seven deadly sins.
Yes, Jean is the main character of this, the first in the series of books which go on to feature Jacqueline Kirby. Jacqueline is a visiting librarian with whom Jean strikes up a friendship after she runs into her, literally. Jacqueline then indulges in a little amateur sleuthing when it becomes obvious that Jean’s life too is in danger.
It’s not difficult to imagine why the series continued with Jacqueline as the main character instead of Jean. Jacqueline sizzles off the page with just the right balance of intelligence, cheekiness, sexiness and a mysterious past. Jean, meanwhile, is a bit bland and her personality only brightens up when she shares scenes with Jacqueline.
The Italian setting is great but I found the time setting a little odd. It was first published in 1972 and set around that year. However, I kept feeling like it was set a little bit further back, say around the 40s or 50s. Everyone seems a little old fashioned!
The mystery plot itself is pretty good. I guessed quite a few things, but there were enough surprises at the end to keep me satisfied.
Unfortunately when it comes to the rest of the series, I’m not going to be so well fulfilled. You see, this book, the first, is free on Audible and I assumed, as such, that the subsequent books would be there to purchase. I mean, that’s how these things work — they suck you in with the first book and you fork out the cash for the others if you enjoy it. However, there is only the fourth book available on Audible and the middle two are missing. Okay… So I check for the ebook version. Neither book two nor three have ever been released. Okay… So I check for the printed version. They’re not available at any of my local libraries (I live on the edge of two local governments, so I could try both). They’re not readily available at any of the local bookstores. I can get a copy for around $50 online… So… I’ll keep searching but I’m a little mad at Audible. Why get me interested in a series and then leave me high and dry? Grrr

Anyway, 4 out of 5 and I’d love to say I’ll be reading more in this series but I’m not sure if I will!

Unforgiven

Book Review: Unforgiven by Sarah Barrie

I’ve read one of Sarah Barrie’s titles and enjoyed it a lot. It was what I would call a rural mystery but Unforgiven has an urban setting and is a much grittier story.

Lexi is an alcoholic prostitute who, in her spare time, hacks into the dark web, infiltrating paedophile rings. Lexi was a victim of one such ring as a child until her main abuser, a man who also murdered several young girls and went by the name of Spider, was caught. Now, 18 years later, a young girl’s body has been found in similar circumstances of those original crimes.

Detective Inspector Rachel Langley is sent to lead up the investigation and is soon contacted by a man claiming he is not only the killer now but was also responsible for the original murders and the man convicted was not the real Spider. This casts a shadow over Rachel’s entire career, considering she was directly promoted due to her cracking the original case.

I usually avoid books featuring crimes against children. Barrie managed to present the horrors of the crimes without too many graphic details but they were still unpleasant enough for me to pause reading when little Chloe was in the news. The one redeeming factor on this score was Unforgiven’s humour. Yes, I know that sounds insane but, at times, this was one of the funniest books I’ve ever read.

This comic relief mostly comes from Lexi’s neighbour, Dawny. I can’t give too many details without spoiling but Dawny really stole the show. (I imagined Jackie Weaver the whole time as I read.) Lexi also had great chemistry with Rachel’s nephew, Finn, who was also a detective working the case and Jim, a young police IT expert.

I highly recommend this fast paced Aussie thriller and I can’t wait for Lexi’s next adventure as, although most of the mystery plot was resolved, this is obviously going to be a series.

4 ½ stars

Midwife on the Orient Express

Book Review: Midwife on the Orient Express: A Christmas Miracle by Fiona McArthur

I needed a mystery or thriller set during Christmas for a challenge so I picked up this book. And… It’s not a thriller or mystery. I’m not sure where I even got that idea, apart from the Agatha Christie inspired title.

So, the book is purely a romance. No thrills or mystery. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Kelsie takes her dream holiday – a trip on the Orient Express from Venice to London. Upon boarding, she discovers her first love and ex-fiance, Lucas, is also on the train, travelling with his grandmother. The story explains how Lucas and Kelsie got together when they were younger as well as why they parted ways.

Obviously, as these things go, Lucas and Kelsie are still quite attracted to each other and this is the classic second chance romance.

The midwife part of the title refers to Kelsie’s profession. Coincidentally (or conveniently) Lucas is an obstetrician and one of their fellow passengers is pregnant.

The book is, obviously, set during Christmas but the Orient Express trip is probably more of the focus. McArthur gives us many details of the opulence of the carriages and the food and drink served etc. I would have maybe liked a little more about the towns they passed along the way though.

Goodreads is telling me the book was only 177 pages. I’m surprised. It felt much longer and the characters were pretty well developed for something so short. Recommend for a nice piece of Christmas romance 3 ½ out of 5

Treasure and Dirt

Book Review: Treasure and Dirt by Chris Hammer

I loved all three of the Martin Scarsden novels by Hammer, so I didn’t wait around to grab his new release, Treasure and Dirt. Although Scarsden is referenced occasionally, this book hands over the leading man reins to police detective Ivan Lucic, who had a bit part in Trust.

Ivan is asked to investigate a death of an opal miner whose body has been found crucified at Finnigan’s Gap, a fictional outback town supposedly near the Qld/NSW border. Being the city boy from Sydney, Ivan is partnered up with Nell Buchanan, a young inexperienced detective who had, until recently, been stationed at the town. Although Nell proves to be of assistance when it comes to local knowledge, Ivan soon learns she has a chequered history with many townsfolk which leads to further complications with the case.

For the most the plot moved along nicely but I will admit to getting a bit bored (and, to be honest, confused now and then) with the stocks and shares talk. I also think it’s time Hammer ditched including cults and/or the church into his books. Do we really have this many religious nutters in Australia? (Er… Actually, that’s right… ScoMo…)

What I always love about Hammer’s books is his knack for writing the Australian setting and landscapes with such detail. He didn’t disappoint in this arena. I felt like I was flushing with the heat and swatting flies along with the characters as I read.

Both Ivan and Nell are really likeable with enough personal issues, flaws and interesting back stories to make readers cheer them on. There’s also a plethora of colourful supporting characters which, on more than one occasion, made me laugh out loud (especially when their Mad Max crossed with Priscilla craziness is highlighted comically during one of the tense climactic scenes).

Another thing Hammer is known for is his astonishing character names. This time, he hit new heights of craziness with the likes of Trevor Topsoil, Humphrey Tuppence, Delaney Bullwinkle and Petal Rimmington. At least Ivan and Nell have relatively normal monikers.

I hope Hammer continues and turns Ivan and Nell into the stars of a series. 4 out of 5

*This book will be titled Opal Country outside of Australia