My new restraint in adding books to my Kindle and audiobook apps continues. Will wonders never cease? I think it's aided by the fact that good eBook sales are still few and far between, but I recently sat down with my Kindle and went through a couple of the genres (Kindle calls them "collections") and was a bit gobsmacked by how many books that I know I would love reading have fallen down the rabbit hole. As a result, I've made myself a bit of a monthly reading map, adding these forgotten jewels to the lineup of advance reading copies that I need to read.
We'll see how this reading map goes, although I have been "following" it for a couple of months, and my eyes are still lighting up when I see that one of my rabbit hole books is next up to read.
What books proved to be irresistible last month? Let me show you! I've got them grouped by genre/subgenre, and if you click on the link in the book title, you'll be taken to Amazon US where you can learn more about the book.
=== Canine Themed Mystery ===
Synopsis: "Ex-police officer and former P.I. Molly Madison is starting over.
After the death of her husband, she and her golden retriever, Harlow,
move cross-country to California. But as charming and peaceful as the
beachside town seems, she soon learns its tranquil tides hold dark
secrets.
On her first day in the new house, a large, slobbering Saint Berdoodle wanders in. Molly winds up taking on the responsibility of training Noodle since his owner is too busy to do the job. On one of their daily beachside walks, Noodle digs up a severed hand. Once Molly alerts the police and they run a background check on her, an incident from her past makes her an immediate suspect—after all, Noodle’s testimony to clear her name won’t hold much water in court.
To prove her innocence, Molly must rely on instincts keener than a canine’s to sniff out the real killer. But when Molly’s life is put in danger, will her two very loyal pups be able to rescue her?"
On her first day in the new house, a large, slobbering Saint Berdoodle wanders in. Molly winds up taking on the responsibility of training Noodle since his owner is too busy to do the job. On one of their daily beachside walks, Noodle digs up a severed hand. Once Molly alerts the police and they run a background check on her, an incident from her past makes her an immediate suspect—after all, Noodle’s testimony to clear her name won’t hold much water in court.
To prove her innocence, Molly must rely on instincts keener than a canine’s to sniff out the real killer. But when Molly’s life is put in danger, will her two very loyal pups be able to rescue her?"
♦ I'm a sucker for a well-written dog-themed mystery, and when I came across the second book in the Molly Madison Dog Wrangler series, something about it just grabbed me, and I found myself looking for the first book in the series. As you can see, I found it!
=== Thriller/Suspense ===
Synopsis: "Adelaide Hills, Christmas Eve, 1959: At the end of a scorching
hot day, beside a creek on the grounds of a grand country house, a local
man makes a terrible discovery. Police are called, and the small town
of Tambilla becomes embroiled in one of the most baffling murder
investigations in the history of South Australia.
Many years later and thousands of miles away, Jess is a journalist in search of a story. Having lived and worked in London for two decades, she now finds herself unemployed and struggling to make ends meet. A phone call out of nowhere summons her back to Sydney, where her beloved grandmother Nora, who raised Jess when her mother could not, has suffered a fall and is seriously ill in the hospital.
At Nora's
house, Jess discovers a true crime book chronicling a long-buried police
case: the Turner Family Tragedy of 1959. It is only when Jess skims
through its pages that she finds a shocking connection between her own
family and this notorious event – a mystery that has never been
satisfactorily resolved."
♦ I don't think I've ever been disappointed in any book I've read by Kate Morton, so when I realized that I had a spare credit at Audible, I decided to indulge myself. I've just begun listening to it. It's narrated by actress Claire Foy, who portrayed Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown. So far, so good.
=== Historical Fiction ===
Synopsis: "In 1941, country girls Minnie Hodgson and Margot McNee set sail
from Perth, Australia, for Singapore in search of adventure, full of
excitement and keen to do their part working as nurses to the fallen
soldiers in a time of war. What they encounter is an army of new friends
and the terrors of a city under siege.
When the Japanese attack and Singapore falls, they are forced to flee aboard the Vyner Brooke. The ship is bombed, resulting in utter devastation. Separated in the mayhem, one group of nurses find themselves in prisoner-of-war camps for the duration of the war, surviving on their wits, with humour, dignity, loyalty and determination. But another group of young Australian nurses – the girls on the beach – are washed ashore on Bangka Island, where they will meet a fate that must never be forgotten.
Inspired by the author’s own family story, this is an unforgettable novel of enduring friendship and boundless courage, based on the shocking true events of the Bangka Island Massacre. It is both a riveting tale and an important tribute to our brave nurses who sacrificed so much during World War II."
When the Japanese attack and Singapore falls, they are forced to flee aboard the Vyner Brooke. The ship is bombed, resulting in utter devastation. Separated in the mayhem, one group of nurses find themselves in prisoner-of-war camps for the duration of the war, surviving on their wits, with humour, dignity, loyalty and determination. But another group of young Australian nurses – the girls on the beach – are washed ashore on Bangka Island, where they will meet a fate that must never be forgotten.
Inspired by the author’s own family story, this is an unforgettable novel of enduring friendship and boundless courage, based on the shocking true events of the Bangka Island Massacre. It is both a riveting tale and an important tribute to our brave nurses who sacrificed so much during World War II."
♦ I was alerted to this book by Shelleyrae's review on her blog, Book'd Out. Her review and the book's synopsis pushed so many of my (good) book buttons that it was impossible for me not to buy it. And guess what? It's on my reading map!
What do you think of last month's purchases? Have you read any of them? Did you add any of them to your own wish lists? Do tell! Inquiring minds would love to know!
