March Reads

Hi Guys,

March was a bit of a hectic month. I went back to Suffolk for a few days leading up to Easter. I got in lots of walking around the Lowestoft to Southwold area. We had some amazing weather whilst I was home, although it was a bit windy. I’m really loving that spring is finally here. Getting out and about we have flowers starting to blossom and the hedges are turning green. I love this time of the year. 

I had a real mix of reads this month, several Janice Hallett books and a couple of non-fiction

 

So here is a breakdown of my March Reads:

1. The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett - A paperback library book read between 13/02/2024 and 02/03/2024. I really loved The Twyford Code and had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, I did not enjoy this novel as much. It follows two writers, commissioned to write their books on the same murder case. They have history and some unspoken grudges. They decide to collaborate during interviews and on site visits but are only out for themselves. It is psychological warfare, making one another think they have more information than they do in reality. I enjoyed the book but not as much as Twyford Code. Hallett gradually builds up the pathos of the story but I feel that the ending is a bit anticlimactic.

2. Necessary Evil (A Short Story) by Anna Mazzola - This was an ebook download file exclusive to those signing up to Anna’s newsletter, read on 11/03/2024. This is a gothic style short story. Margaret and her husband have been through a lot. She nursed him through illness in India on their honeymoon. Years later she finds herself in a similar position. The darkness within her seems to darken her judgement to choose a different future. With all short-stories I had a lot of questions that went unanswered, leaving me a little baffled. 

3. Bridgerton Book 6: When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn, Narrated by Rosalyn Landor - An audiobook read between 29/02/2024 and 14/03/2024. This story concentrates on Francesca. From previous books we have not learned a lot about this character except that she lives in Scotland and she is widowed. I found this book very enjoyable. Francesca is now my favourite Bridgerton! She is witty and strong willed and does not follow the norms of the age. She mourns her husband for six years and then falls in love with his cousin Michael. Their relationship starts as friends with benefits but Michael eventually grinds Francesca down and makes her his wife! 

4. The Appeal by Janice Hallett - A paperback library book read between 02/03/2024 and 16/03/2024. I enjoyed this book more than Alperton Angels. It follows an amateur dramatics group with a power couple at the helm. Their granddaughter has been diagnosed with cancer and they Am Drams are fundraising in order to get her experimental drugs from America. A murder happens and when the truth is almost revealed and there are many suspects within the group. This story follows two law students working through the evidence files to find out who the real suspect is. 

5. The Appeal 1.5: The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett - A hardback library book read between 16/03/2024 and 17/03/2024. I loved this little novella. The book is centred again around the Fairway Players for their Christmas Panto to raise funds for the church hall roof. Now the power couple from The Appeal are gone, there is a struggle for power from two new couples. The source of their bickering is an ancient beanstalk stage prop. The panto all goes wrong on their ‘one night only’ performance when Santa appears on stage, dead! The question is who killed Santa, and when!? The same two law students are tasked to search through the evidence and find the truth. In the process we find out more about the murder in The Appeal. 

6. Essex Eccentrics by Alison Barnes - A paperback library book read between 18/02/2024 and 17/03/2024. I spend my Sunday’s reading nonfiction books to learn more about Essex. This book was written in the 1970s and it is a bit dated. I had to google a few words and phrases. It is set into chapters of different types of eccentrics but it is confusing because there are no breaks between stories, just a new paragraph. I like that the book shared the stories of these eccentric characters from the 17th to 19th century. I did find that some chapters seemed judgemental and degrading to the people described. 

7. The Teacher’s Secret by Lauren North - A Kindle book that I pre-ordered, read between 11/03/2024 and 27/03/2024. I am a fan of Lauren North’s books and writing style. I pre-ordered this book but I didn’t get around to starting it until a week or so after the launch date. It was one of those books that I couldn’t stop thinking about when I had finished it. It had plenty of twists and turns that lead you down dead ends. It follows a story of a missing teacher and her son, her grieving head teacher husband and the substitute teacher who is covering her classes. They are all connected, written from each of the characters' perspectives. It is definitely a must read!

8. Essex Witches by Peter C. Brown - A paperback library loan read between 14/01/2024 and 30/03/2024. On Sunday’s I set aside some time to read nonfiction. I enjoyed Essex Witches. It was quite fun in places, finding out the trivial things witches were accused of. Sadly many died for these trivial things too. I also learned that cow prices varied drastically during the witch trials. My favourite account was a case where two cows were bewitched to produce milk of all colours (p.111). This book covered all aspects of the witch trials and life in England in the 1600-1700s. 

I enjoyed my March selection, a mixture of fiction and nonfiction. Every month I find new authors that I really like and I go down a rabbit hole reading their books. This month it was Janice Hallett. I have pre-ordered The Examiner which is released in August. 

I hope you have enjoyed my reviews. Please drop a comment below or contact me if you want to connect! 

Enjoy the rest of the Bank Holiday Weekend.

Sammie