My book reviews for the month...
The Rotherham Trunk Murder: Uncovering An 80 Year Old Miscarriage of Justice by Jeannette HensbyMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Non-Fiction, 2016. Well researched and detailed account of the so called 'Tin Trunk Murder'. The twist about the murderer is intriguing, and I hope there will be an updated version if any more information comes to light!
Dead Secret by Ava McCarthyMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this fast paced thriller - so much so I couldn't put it down! Well written, superbly plotted, and enough twists and turns to keep anyone page turning. Highly recommended.
A Private Disgrace: Lizzie Borden By Daylight by Victoria LincolnMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
Non-Fiction, 1967. Some interesting information from a woman who grew up just a few doors away from Lizzie Borden, and could comment knowledgeably on the local personages, the layout of the house, quirks of dress and language, etc. But, and for me it was a big but, the writing style is so dull.
Lincoln makes much of Borden lacking imagination, and being completely unable to interest a court room with her version of event, yet the same could be said of her writing! It put me to sleep three nights in a row.
All-American Ads 1900-1919 by Jim HeimannMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Non-Fiction, 2005. Awesome reference book - a great addition to any pop culture collection!
The Secret Rooms: A True Gothic Mystery by Catherine BaileyMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Non-Fiction, 2012. Fascinating account of eccentric personalities, life, loss, tragedy, upper class clout, and family secrets. I found the archival mystery angle a real page turner and, though the end result was not as gothic and mysterious as I might have hoped for, it was a testament to Bailey's diligent research that she managed to fill those gaps in. All in all, a great read!
The Golden Age of Advertising - The 70s by Jim HeimannMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Fantastic peek into another time!
Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune by Bill DedmanMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Non-Fiction, 2013. This is a fab read exploring the life of Huguette Clark, an elusive heiress with more money than most of us can even imagine. Shying away from the limelight, Huguette lived over a 100 years - yet most of her employees and extended family had never seen her, and for the last decades of her life couldn't even be sure if she were alive or dead...
I had never heard of W.A. or Huguette Clark before reading this, but the book does a great job of covering the family history - and outlining how W.A. became so fabulously wealthy. Huguette's life comes across as equal parts mysterious and tragic and, I suppose, just goes to show that money really can't buy you everything.
I still have more copies of Chris Holm's The Killing Kind to shift - you can read how I came to possess so many HERE. So you can get up to 5 entries to win a copy by filling out the Gleam form below.
Competition Ended.
Oh some of these sound really interesting. I am definitely going to check out Dead Secret, it kept coming up on my Kindle recommendations and I wasn't sure - but now I know it will be good! #BloggerClubUK
ReplyDeleteI was really impressed by it - I read it all in one go. :)
Deletewhenever I see a post like this it makes me realize how little I read now compared to how much I used to. I really need to make more of an effort to sit down more often
ReplyDeleteIt can be so hard to find the time - some months I'm struggling just to get through one book.
Deleteooooh I might need to check out Empty Mansions and Secret Rooms... which kind of sounds like two halves to one book now that I stick them together, haha!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like the kind of book I'd love too!
DeleteOoh I really like the sound of some of these books! I don't read a lot of non-fiction but the empty mansions and secret rooms book both sound amazing, I am going to pop them in my Amazon basket I think X
ReplyDeleteThey were really good - even though they're non-fiction they read like a novel, if that makes sense! x
DeleteThis so makes me want to get back into reading again! I was a total book addict until I had my son and he's nearly 5 and apart from kids books I haven't read a single book for me since! Shocking :( Thanks for sharing, I am so impressed you read so much! Thanks for linking up xx
ReplyDelete#friyaylinky
Thanks! I used to read *all* the time but now it's mostly a hour or two after I go to bed. I don't read hardly any fiction these days though, I find it too hard to concentrate on. x
DeleteI so wish I was a faster reader - I still haven't finished the book I started in January! Not that I get chance to read it much but I am also pretty slow! That Dead Secret looks like a great beach read x #sharewithme
ReplyDeleteThat's why I don't read much fiction anymore - it's so hard to get back into it with people (well, person in my case!) interrupting you all the time. x
DeleteThat is a nice way to show us what you've read. I like the sound of 'Dead Secret', especially as you gave it 5 stars.
ReplyDeleteAmanda. #kcacols
It's well worth a read, I really enjoyed it. x
DeleteDead secret looks fun #KCACOLS
ReplyDeleteIt really is! x
Deleteyou have read a lot of books, puts my march reading list to shame! Dead secret is going on my to read list! #kcacols
ReplyDeleteInsomnia comes in handy sometimes ;) x
DeleteI live between Rotherham and Sheffield the Rotherham trunk murder I must read about that one interesting
ReplyDeleteI'd never heard of the case before but the manhunt was absolutely massive - they managed to co-ordinate every police force in the country!
DeleteThere's a few I can put on my holiday kindle list - good timing! :) #KCACOLS
ReplyDeleteOoh, hope you have a great holiday! x
DeleteWhat a great selection of books you have read this month, I am very impressed. Can you believe I haven't even managed to pick one up! I am hoping to catch up on my reading list once my maternity leave starts. Thank you for joining us at #BloggerClubUK hope to see you again this week x
ReplyDeleteI ended up reading loads before Marianna was born because we'd just moved in and had no TV and no internet - I don't think I've ever read so much in my life, in fact! :D
DeleteHow do you read so much?! I wish I still made time for reading, the only time I manage it is on holiday, but now having three kids I doubt that will happen now either! Dead Secret sounds good though! Thank you for linking up to #KCACOLS Hope you come back again next Sunday xx
ReplyDeleteI think if I had three I'd never find time either - one is bad enough! I mostly read in bed when I can't sleep. x
DeleteGreat timing I just finished my last book this week and needed some new recommendations always great to see what others are reading at the moment. Thanks for linking up to Share With Me #sharewithme
ReplyDeleteHope it gave you some inspiration for new reads! :)
DeleteHow did you manage to read so many books in one month?! Very impressive! #KCACOLS
ReplyDeleteHehe, I don't think month will be quite the same though! x
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