It's time for part three of my May reads, if you missed the previous two don't worry there are links at the end of the book reviews below.So Coming up...We have the beautifully illustrated The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mcksay and my Agatha Christie read of May, They Do It With Mirrors. Along with a teaser review of Daughters of Night by Laura Shepherd-Robinson.There are never any spoilers in my book reviews so read ahead with confidence knowing there are no plot giveaways.
The Boy, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mcksay
Synopsis
Enter the world of Charlie's four unlikely friends, discover their story and their most important life lessons.My ReviewThis book reached me at an important time, it was a few weeks into the Corona virus lockdown here in the UK. Things were starting to feel very odd and different - everything we did was not the same as it used to be. Then my middle sister delivered along with some shopping this gifted book.
So one morning with a cup of tea I sat down to start reading it. I had no idea what to expect, it has appeared quite a lot on Instagram but hadn't really paid much attention, thinking it was a childrens book. So it was a real pleasure when I opened the cover, to discover such a wonder of words and paintings. As someone who has discovered art in the last few years, it was an absolute delight to see the wonderful use of paint brush and paints that captured the imagination and tone of the book. I really should tell you about the story...The book is about a small boy who goes out and befriends a mole, they then go on to meet a fox, these three new friends go on to meet a horse. The words in the book are simple yet powerful, they capture friendship, worry, loneliness, happiness and love. The story is cleverly written, in that each reader will associate more closely when one of the characters shares an insight into an emotion they too my be feeling. 
I'll confess that as I was reading this book during the first few weeks of the lock in the following quote had my eyes well up with tears. "Sometimes I feel lost." said the boy. "Me too", said the mole, "but we love you, and love brings you home".
So sit down with the book and a cup of tea and indulge in a little me time. Enjoy the friendship of the unusual characters, the thought provoking words and the beauty of the drawings. A big thank you to my sister for buying such a special and uniquely illustrated book. I think I need to get her to write in the front of it, so I will always remember it found its way to me during the pandemic of 2020.
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy can purchase from Amazon as an ebook, hardback and audio book. By using my link to purchase I earn a small amount from the sale, which helps me to maintain my book review blog.
They Do It With Mirrors by Agatha ChristieSynopsisA man is shot at in a juvenile reform home – but someone else dies…
My ReviewThis is the fifth of my Miss Marple books, I'm aiming to read one of her sleuthing adventures a month in 2020. Currently it is fair to say that this is my least favorite of the Miss Marple books I've read so far. I didn't particularly enjoy the setting of the book, a rehabilitation center for delinquents, there were also very few characters that I liked or enjoyed reading about. The exceptions being Mr Gilbrandsen, the lead Inspector and of course Miss Marple is a given. I should add that I also didn't guess who the murderer was and as it says from the title they do it with mirrors it was all a bit of an illusion and a mystery, and it certainly was to me.Any of the Miss Marple books I have read can be ordered from Amazon as an ebook, hardback and audio book. By using my link to purchase I earn a small amount from the sale, which helps me to maintain my book review blog.
Miss Marple senses danger when she visits a friend living in a Victorian mansion which doubles as a rehabilitation center for delinquents. Her fears are confirmed when a youth fires a revolver at the administrator, Lewis Serrocold. Neither is injured. But a mysterious visitor, Mr Gilbrandsen, is less fortunate – shot dead simultaneously in another part of the building.
Pure coincidence? Miss Marple thinks not, and vows to discover the real reason for Mr Gilbrandsen’s visit.
Daughters of Night by Laura Shepherd-RobinsonThis is a teaser review SynopsisFrom the brothels and gin-shops of Covent Garden to the elegant townhouses of Mayfair, Laura Shepherd-Robinson's Daughters of Night follows Caroline Corsham, as she seeks justice for a murdered woman whom London society would rather forget . . .
Lucia’s fingers found her own. She gazed at Caro as if from a distance. Her lips parted, her words a whisper: ‘He knows.’
London, 1782. Desperate for her politician husband to return home from France, Caroline 'Caro' Corsham is already in a state of anxiety when she finds a well-dressed woman mortally wounded in the bowers of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. The Bow Street constables are swift to act, until they discover that the deceased woman was a highly-paid prostitute, at which point they cease to care entirely. But Caro has motives of her own for wanting to see justice done, and so sets out to solve the crime herself. Enlisting the help of thieftaker, Peregrine Child, their inquiry delves into the hidden corners of Georgian society, a world of artifice, deception and secret lives.
But with many gentlemen refusing to speak about their dealings with the dead woman, and Caro's own reputation under threat, finding the killer will be harder, and more treacherous than she can know . . .
Teaser ReviewThat synopsis alone must have you wanting more of this book! Written by the author who also wrote Blood and Sugar, you can read my review of her debut book here. Daughters of Night was due to be released in June 2020 but due to the pandemic has been rescheduled to January 2021. Me, being ever so lucky and extremely grateful was sent an advanced readers copy to read and review. I have read the book but will leave a more comprehensive review for later this year.
There is no need to have read the previous book Blood and Sugar to read Daughters of Night, but I certainly would recommend it. There are a number of cross over characters between the books.
I was excited to see this book focus on the wife of Harry Corsham, who was the main character in Blood and Sugar. Just like her previous book Laura writes about history that is gritty and at times a difficult subject to read. But life in Georgian England was a matter of existence, something Laura captures particularly well. The desperation to find food for the next meal, the short working life of a high end prostitute, and don't start me on the supposed ethics of gentlemen.
A great read, could not put it down. Plenty of inter weaving storylines, to keep the reader thinking. Also, I love it when a book includes a list of households at the beginning, makes referencing back to characters so much easier.
Full review later this year, but do remember that this book can be pre-ordered now, see link below. My thanks to Mantle Books and Pan Macmillan for my advanced copy.
Both Blood and Sugar and Daughters of Night (Pre-order) can be ordered from Amazon as anebook, hardback and audio book. By using my link to purchase I earn a small amount from the sale, which helps me to maintain my book review blog.
You can keep up to date with my past and present reads by visiting my Goodreads page, see the link in the sidebar on the right hand side of your screen.
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