Audiobook Reviews: 5 Reasons To Pick Up Keep Quiet by Lisa Scottoline & The Winter Crown by Elizabeth Chadwick

Title: Keep Quiet
Author: Lisa Scottoline
Genre: Suspense/Mystery
Publication Date: 8th April 2014
Time: 8hrs 15mins
Book Source: own audio
Narrated by: Ron Livingston

Synopsis: an emotionally gripping and complex story about one man’s split-second decision to protect his son - and the devastating consequences that follow. Jake Buckman’s relationship with his sixteen-year-old son Ryan is not an easy one, so at the urging of his loving wife, Pam, Jake goes alone to pick up Ryan at their suburban movie theater. On the way home, Ryan asks to drive on a deserted road, and Jake sees it as a chance to make a connection. However, what starts as a father-son bonding opportunity instantly turns into a nightmare. Tragedy strikes, and with Ryan’s entire future hanging in the balance, Jake is forced to make a split-second decision that plunges them both into a world of guilt and lies. Without ever meaning to, Jake and Ryan find themselves living under the crushing weight of their secret, which threatens to tear their family to shreds and ruin them all.

1. Walter Scott's quote "Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive!" was my first thought. Keep Quiet is a hot mess of LIES and angst and extreme implausible lengths but I was hooked, cringing but hooked. 

2. If you want an unexpected character to loathe, Jake's wife Pam is the most hypocritical, sanctimonious, judgmental bitch I've come across in a while.

3. Ron Livingston 'fit' Jake well. I think the audio lightened up writing flaws and repetitive angst. My first Lisa Scottoline and my first Ron Livingston narration ... I'd go there again. 

4. Moral dilemma ... hmm, well at the risk of sounding sanctimonious, I don't think there's much to debate. This was not 'protection' ... 

5. It's twisty and fast-paced and despite the flaws you go along for the ride ... it's the trainwreck you can't look away from. 

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Title: The Winter Crown
Author: Elizabeth Chadwick
Genre: Historical Fiction
Series: Eleanor of Aquitaine #2
Publication Date: 11th September 2014
Time: 18hrs 56mins
Book Source: own audio
Narrated by: Katie Scarfe

Synopsis: It is the winter of 1154 and Eleanor, Queen of England, is biding her time. While her husband King Henry II battles for land across the channel, Eleanor fulfils her duty as acting ruler and bearer of royal children. But she wants to be more than this - if only Henry would let her.

Instead, Henry belittles and excludes her, falling for a young mistress and leaving Eleanor side-lined and angry. And as her sons become young men, frustrated at Henry's hoarding of power, Eleanor is forced into a rebellion of devastating consequences. She knows how much Henry needs her, but does Henry know himself?

Overflowing with scandal, politics, sex, triumphs and tragedies, The Winter Crown is the much-awaited new novel in this trilogy and a rich, compelling story in its own right.

1. Katie Scarfe's narration is brilliant, her tone, inflection, emotion; I could listen to her all day. In this and The Summer Queen, she is Aliénor ... one female historical figure I never tire of reading about. 19 hours ... who knew? 

2. I adore reading about strong women, especially at a time in history when their perceived value equates to their ability to produce heirs or seal an alliance. Aliénor, independent ruler of the Duchy of Aquitaine and Poitiers, Queen Consort of England and matriarch to a dynasty bearing 8 children to Henry. She's astute, influential, level-headed, a loving mother, (I loved the 'ordinary' warm moments with her children) compassionate friend and a formidable challenger of Henry's control and egotism.   

3. Elizabeth Chadwick tells a story with extensive research, integrity and creative flair with both foot planted firmly in the historical period. To feel like you are witnessing history rather than reading it is a powerful testament to an author's care and skill. I guess it also helps to have recently visited many of the historical sites of Henry's reign. 

4. The Winter Crown picks up at Westminster Abbey in 1154 and continues Aliénor's story, her fascinating and tumultuous marriage to King Henry II, their mutual ambition and passion fast turning to tension, resentment, utter loathing, rebellion and culminating in her banishment and imprisonment in Old Sarum in 1174.

5. A host of other historical figures to love and loathe, King Henry's brother, the despicable William X, Count of Poitou, Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury, Aliénor's friend Isabel de Warenne, William Marshall, Henry's young mistress, Rosamund Clifford and Hamelin de Gatinais, half brother to Henry.  

The Autumn Throne concludes the trilogy and despite knowing the history I can't wait!

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Review: Lyrebird Hill by Anna Romer

Title: Lyrebird Hill

Author: Anna Romer

Genre: Historical-Contemporary Fiction/Mystery

Publication Date: 1st September 2014

Pages: 416

Book Source: Simon & Schuster Au & NetGalley 

Synopsis: Ruby Cardel has the semblance of a normal life – a loving boyfriend, a fulfilling career – but in one terrible moment, her life unravels. The discovery that the death of her sister, Jamie, was not an accident makes her question all she’s known about herself and her past.

Travelling back home to Lyrebird Hill, Ruby begins to remember the year that has been forever blocked in her memory . . . Snatches of her childhood with beautiful Jamie, and Ruby’s only friendship with the boy from the next property, a troubled foster kid.

Then Ruby uncovers a cache of ancient letters from a long-lost relative, Brenna Magavin, written from her cell in a Tasmanian gaol where she is imprisoned for murder. As she reads, Ruby discovers that her family line is littered with tragedy and violence.

Slowly, the gaps in Ruby’s memory come to her. And as she pieces together the shards of truth, what she finally discovers will shock her to the core – about what happened to Jamie that fateful day, and how she died.

A thrilling tale about family secrets and trusting yourself...

My Thoughts:

Anna Romer earned herself a fan with her debut Thornwood House and with Lyrebird Hill she cements her position as a voice to be reckoned with in Australian fiction ... an exceptionally talented writer.

I adored every minute of Lyrebird Hill. For me Anna Romer is synonymous with lyrical, atmospheric writing; of such haunting and addictive quality you savour every word. Once again it's a seamless blending of contemporary and historical narrative, Ruby 2013 and Brenna 1898 ... past and present intertwine with dark secrets and pain. 

Ruby Cardel returns to her childhood home Lyrebird Hill to unlock memories and the mystery of her sister's death. With the discovery of Brenna's diary and letters, Romer weaves the mesmerising story of two women seeking truth, generations and 115 years apart.

Lyrebird Hill never feels like a story being told. Some of our shameful history and treatment of aborigines made me cry with sorrow and outrage. The Australian landscape is so lushly described, I was immersed, my senses evoked ... eucalypts, camp fires, the scent of bush flowers, birdsong, Brenna's connection with the land and the aboriginal people tangible. 

I rarely read books again. For its exquisite beauty Lyrebird Hill is one I will.

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Review: Dancing on Knives by Kate Forsyth

Title: Dancing on Knives
Author: Kate Forsyth
Genre: Gothic Mystery/Contemporary Fiction
Publication Date: 2nd June 2014
Pages: 304
Book Source: Random House Aust & NetGalley

Synopsis: At twenty, Sara is tormented by an inexplicable terror so profound she hasn't left her home in five years. Like the mermaid in the fairytale her Spanish grandmother once told her, Sara imagines she is Dancing on Knives, unable to speak. She feels suffocated by her family, especially her father – the famous artist Augusto Sanchez – whose volcanic passions dominate their lives.

Then one stormy night, her father does not come home. His body is found dangling from a cliff face. Astonishingly, he is still alive, but the mystery of his fall can only be solved by the revelation of long-held family secrets.

At once a suspenseful murder mystery and a lyrical love story, Dancing on Knives is about how family can constrict and liberate us, how art can be both joyous and destructive, and how strength can be found in the unlikeliest places.

My Thoughts:
A slightly different feel to other novels I've read by Kate Forsyth but it's an interesting journey to re-publication for the story first conceived 30 years ago by a then 16 year old Kate. Dancing on Knives is kind of languid and meandering and yet strangely compelling. And a testament to Kate's skill as a writer that I was fascinated whilst in the midst of so many unlikable characters. 

Dancing on Knives is a novel of passion and family dynamics ... the severely dysfunctional Sanchez family. Twenty year old Sara Sanchez, suffocating under the weight of an egotistical, bullying father and loss and longing, so crippled by anxiety and panic attacks she hasn't left the family farm in 5 years. 

I loved the strong sense of place (Narooma, a small town on the far south coast of NSW) and the importance of food, recipes passed down through generations ... descriptions literally making my mouth water, adding light and warmth to an otherwise dark tale. And how I adored Sara's grandmother Consuela Sanchez. 

Sara inherited her grandmother's tarot cards, her prophetic 'knowing' and her recipe book. That was one of my favourite parts, I really enjoyed the descriptions and memories of that recipe book and I loved that Sara listened to her grandmother's wisdom, tapped into her inner strength and found a little peace and happiness.

Consuelo's recipes were all kept in a very thick old exercise book, bulging with odd bits of paper - old remedies, directions for making dandelion wine or rosemary shampoo, hand-scrawled notes on the secret properties of fruit and herbs - basil for enticing true love, rosemary for fertility, thyme for courage, apples for love and healing, figs to spell-bind love, sage for wisdom. 

‘Thyme is best for courage,’ Consuelo told her. ‘Make a cup of thyme tea with honey, that’ll help make you brave. Or wear a sprig of it in your hair, so you can smell it."

That was the ghost of her grandmother, Consuelo Sanchez, whose roast goose cooked with pears could make grown men tremble. ‘A stick of cinnamon is the secret,’ Consuelo would tell Sara, standing at the end of the bed, a hunched little figure in black, a shadow among shadows.

Oca Con Peras

source: solorecetas.com

Augusto always peppered his speech with Spanish when he cooked, although he had not set foot on Spanish soil since he was born. ‘The secret with zarzuela is the sweetness. Cinnamon, saffron, sweet paprika, bay leaves. Sweet and salty the zarzuela, like the sea, like pasión.’"

"... Zarzuela should be an embarrassment of riches. It should be a gift from the cook to those that eat." 

Zarzuela (Traditional Catalan Fish Stew)

Source: Cocina recetas 

I liked the magical feel, references to the macabre Little Mermaid fairytale, the Spanish culture, the segue from present to past and back.

Augusto Sanchez, I loathed ... passionate, egotistical artist, self absorbed, bullying human being, quite frankly I thought he got what he deserved ... oops, I mean I couldn't find it in myself to care about his 'accident'. For that matter, I didn't really care much for the rest of Sara's family either lol. 

Not my favourite of Kate Forsyth's, that honour goes to the The Wild Girl but as always, wonderful storytelling. 

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Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs.

Audiobook Review: Thornwood House by Anna Romer

Title: Thornwood House
Author: Anna Romer
Genre: Gothic Mystery/Romance
Publication Date: 1st March 2014 (1st published 1st Sept 2013)
Time: 16hrs 25mins
Narrator: Eloise Oxer
Book Source: own audio

Synopsis: When Audrey Kepler inherits an abandoned homestead in rural Queensland, she jumps at the chance to escape her loveless existence in the city and make a fresh start. In a dusty back room of the old house, she discovers the crumbling photo of a handsome World War Two medic - Samuel Riordan, the homestead's former occupant - and soon finds herself becoming obsessed with him. But as Audrey digs deeper into Samuel's story, she discovers he was accused of bashing to death a young woman on his return from the war in 1946. When she learns about other unexplained deaths in recent years - one of them a young woman with injuries echoing those of the first victim - she begins to suspect that the killer is still very much alive. And now Audrey, thanks to her need to uncover the past, has provided him with good reason to want to kill again.

My Thoughts: 

That ethereal cover caught my eye, (reminiscent of Picnic at Hanging Rock) the synopsis appealed and when I discovered Thornwood House was the work of Australian author Anna Romer, I had to have it. Thornwood House is a beautiful atmospheric read, where the past and present collide in dark secrets and obsession.   

Audrey Kepler welcomes the chance for a fresh start with her daughter Bronwyn when she inherits an old homestead in the small town of Magpie Creek in South East Queensland. Thornwood House was the childhood home of Bronwyn's father, Tony. 

Thornwood House holds tragic history - an old photo, letters and a diary open the door on a haunting love story and murder and mystery spanning four generations.  

Reading Anna Romer's website; Magpie Creek is based on the actual town of Boonah ... I spent quite a bit of time in the area growing up and Anna captures the essence of rural Queensland, the beauty and harshness of the Australian landscape ... her writing is a sensory treat. 

Eerie, haunting ...  Eloise Oxer's narration adds that extra special something to the story. 

Anna Romer is a fresh new voice in Australian fiction; with her debut novel she's earned herself a fan. I'll definitely be picking up her next book. 

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The Mourning Hours by Paula Treick DeBoard

Genre: Mystery/General Fiction
Publication Date: 25th June 2013
Pages: 336
Book Source: Thanks Harlequin Mira

Synopsis: A family's loyalty is put to the ultimate test in this haunting and unforgettable debut. 

Kirsten Hammarstrom hasn't been home to her tiny corner of rural Wisconsin in years-not since the mysterious disappearance of a local teenage girl rocked the town and shattered her family. Kirsten was just nine years old when Stacy Lemke went missing, and the last person to see her alive was her boyfriend, Johnny-the high school wrestling star and Kirsten's older brother. No one knows what to believe-not even those closest to Johnny-but the event unhinges the quiet farming community and pins Kirsten's family beneath the crushing weight of suspicion. 

Now, years later, a new tragedy forces Kirsten and her siblings to return home, where they must confront the devastating event that shifted the trajectory of their lives. Tautly written and beautifully evocative, The Mourning Hours is a gripping portrayal of a family straining against extraordinary pressure, and a powerful tale of loyalty, betrayal and forgiveness.

My Thoughts: 

I fell in love with the beautiful cover of The Mourning Hours before even reading the synopsis. I'm an avid suspense/thriller reader albeit a little jaded, I don't like to be dished up obvious red herrings, and I don't like to have it all worked out early on, to find out I'm actually right, it spoils all the fun. This wasn't the case for me with The Mourning Hours ... I really didn't see it coming and I loved that. 

Debut author Paula Treick DeBoard gets it right with so much ... the small town feel, the rural landscape, dual time frame and a family torn apart by suspicion. It's a highly evocative read as much for the first person narration of keenly observant 9 year old Kirsten as the  growing tension and turmoil following the disappearance of Johnny's girlfriend Stacy. 

Another favourite point is the pace, slow simmer and compulsive reading, what a wonderful combination. I thoroughly recommend The Mourning Hours if you're partial to a compelling mystery and equally so, if you're enthralled by the study of relationships and the complexities of human nature. 

Cover: One of my favourites

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Hysteria by Megan Miranda

Genre: YA Mystery/Suspense
Publication Date: 14th February 2013
Pages: 272
Book Source: Bloomsbury Publishing & NetGalley

Synopsis: Mallory's life is falling apart. Her boyfriend was stabbed. He bled to death in her kitchen. Mallory was the one who stabbed him. But she can't remember what happened that night. She only remembers the fear.

When Mallory's parents send her away to a boarding school, she thinks she can escape the gossip and the threats. But someone, or something, has followed her. There's the hand that touches her shoulder when she's drifting off to sleep. A voice whispering her name. And everyone knows what happened. So when a pupil is found dead, Mallory's name is on their lips. Her past can be forgotten but it's never gone. Can Mallory live with that?

My Thoughts:

Hysteria is a pacey read, part psychological thriller, part mystery, part mess ... what I enjoyed was the sinister undercurrent and eerie almost gothic feel. What didn't really work for me was the lack of cohesion between the two mystery story lines. 

Mallory is an unreliable narrator, the trauma of killing her boyfriend and subsequent gaps in her memory contribute to the reader’s uncertainty – questioning sanity, truth or lie, hysteria or reality - I do like feeling off balance. 

One of my favourite things in Hysteria was Mallory and Colleen's friendship, their loyalty was tested and their friendship stayed strong, a refreshing quality in contemporary YA. Not so enjoyable were the school stereotypes ...  definite *yawn*

All up I liked Hysteria, but for me the things lacking prevented it being a great read. On the plus side, the creepy factor kept me turning the pages.   

For more about Megan Miranda visit her website

The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsely

Genre: Mystery/Historical Fiction
Publication Date: 1st October 2012
Pages: 430
Book Source: Sourcebooks & NetGalley

Synopsis: Verity Grey abandons her comfortable job at the British Museum to seek adventure on an archaeological dig in the wilds of Scotland. But when she arrives on site, she discovers that the excavation is being led by a discredited and eccentric old man who has forsaken scientific evidence. Instead, the entire team is following the word of a local boy who claims that he saw a ghostly Roman soldier in the fields.

As she becomes entangled in a subtle web of treachery and danger, Verity begins to believe that there is a Roman sentinel haunting the site. And he's there to do more than guard the bodies of his fallen comrades...

My Thoughts:

The Shadowy Horses was my first Susanna Kearsley even though I have The Winter Sea, Marianna and The Rose Garden sitting on my bookshelves *shamed face* lol

The Shadowy Horses is a beautiful blend of mystery, history and romance, throw in a ghost, and a boy with second sight and it's a match made in heaven.

I don't think I need to say much more, I recommend this one without hesitation and here's just a few reasons why I loved it -

Attribution: Colin Babb

CC Attribution Share-Alike Generic licenc

• set in Eyemouth, Scotland ... the Scottish borders area of Scotland; wild, rugged beauty

• who can resist the Scots brogue *swoon* ... not me

• or a Scotsman for that matter ;)

• the Scots terminology, slang, colloquialisms, the dry humour

• just enough archeological detail

• loved the Scottish history - the Herring Queen Festival, The Great Disaster of 1881 and the tapestry made by Eyemouth women to record in stitches the names of the 189 lost fishermen on Black Friday

Susanna Kearsley's writing reminds me a little of one of my all time favourite authors Barbara Erskine, that beautiful, lyrical, haunting style I love. If her other books are anything similar then I know this author will fast become a favourite. My biggest dilemma ... which book next??

Ooh nearly forgot the trailer ... just the music makes me want to visit

Want to know more about Susanna Kearsely? Check out her website

These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf

Genre: General Fiction/Mystery
Copyright: 2011
Pages: 352
Book Source: ARC courtesy of Harlequin & NetGalley

Synopsis: Allison Glenn tried to hide what happened that night...and failed. The consequence? Five years in prison. Now she's free. But secrets have a way of keeping you caged...When Allison is sent to prison for a heinous crime, she leaves behind her reputation as Linden Falls' golden girl forever. Her parents deny the existence of their once-perfect child. Her former friends exult in her downfall. Her sister, Brynn, faces the whispered rumours every day in the hallways of their small Iowa high school. It's Brynn - shy, quiet Brynn - who carries the burden of what really happened that night. All she wants is to forget Allison and the past that haunts her. But then Allison is released, and is more determined than ever to speak with her sister. Now their legacy of secrets is focused on one little boy. And if the truth is revealed, the consequences will be unimaginable for the adoptive mother who loves him, the girl who tried to protect him and the two sisters who hold the key to all that is hidden.

Review:
I was enthralled with Heather Gudenkauf's debut novel, The Weight Of Silence so jumped at the chance to review the author's newest book, These Things Hidden. It surpassed my expectations, dragged me kicking and screaming through a gamut of emotions and had me gasping til the last page.

These Things Hidden is one of those rare books that has you holding your breath in shock and horror, weeping in despair and sighing with hope and relief. Ms Gudenkauf portrays the complexities of the human spirit with sensitivity and a mesmerising clarity ... frailties on one hand and selflessness and goodness on the other.

The lives of four women are intricately woven to create an intense, brilliantly crafted story. I read with my heart in my mouth, so completely immersed in the story and invested in these women's lives that I had to know the outcome.

I can't say too much without giving away spoilers but suffice to say the characters tug at your heartstrings. I liked Allison, her strength and goodness shone through despite her tragic past. I really admired Claire and Charm too, their love, compassion and honesty were portrayed with emotion and realism. I loathed Mr and Mrs Glenn for their shallow expectations and emotional barrenness and can see how their coldness shaped the lives and decisions of Allison and Brynn.

A favourite read for 2011, I urge you to run out and buy These Things Hidden; it's that good!

Visit Heather Gudenkauf's website to find out more.

Purchase These Things Hidden @ Amazon or The Book Depository

See my review for The Weight Of Silence.

The Weight Of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf

Genre: General Fiction/Mystery
Copyright: 2009
Pages: 373
Book Source: Own audio

It happens quietly one August morning. As dawn's shimmering light drenches the humid Iowa air, two families awaken to find their little girls have gone missing in the night.

Seven-year-old Calli Clark is sweet, gentle, a dreamer who suffers from selective mutism brought on by tragedy that pulled her deep into silence as a toddler.

Calli's mother, Antonia, tried to be the best mother she could within the confines of marriage to a mostly absent, often angry husband. Now, though she denies that her husband could be involved in the possible abductions, she fears her decision to stay in her marriage has cost her more than her daughter's voice.

Petra Gregory is Calli's best friend, her soul mate and her voice. But neither Petra nor Calli has been heard from since their disappearance was discovered. Desperate to find his child, Martin Gregory is forced to confront a side of himself he did not know existed beneath his intellectual, professorial demeanor.

Now these families are tied by the question of what happened to their children. And the answer is trapped in the silence of unspoken family secrets.

Review:

Depressingly good! That's the first words that spring to mind when reflecting on The Weight of Silence. Not a feel good story by any stretch of imagination but a sensitive often painful exploration of family, alcoholism, abuse, secrets, and friendship.

I''m glad I listened to this one on audio, it gave the multiple narrations clarity and depth. The only narration I didn't care for was the voice of Petra's father, Martin; but that's probably a matter of personal taste. The story isnt overly graphic but obviously any novel dealing with the tragedy of emotional and physical abuse is difficult to read and particularly sad to listen to.

Calli, Ben & Petra are characters that tug at your heartstrings, Calli and Ben for what they have been through with an abusive, alcoholic father and Petra for providing Calli with a voice and loving her best friend unconditionally. The reader is educated about the heartbreaking circumstances behind Calli's selective mutism but her silence also adds another element of suspense to this mystery.

The Weight Of Silence is definitely a story that stays with you and I'm looking forward to reading Heather Gudenkauf's new novel, These Things Hidden.

Visit the author's website to find out more.

This Pen For Hire by Laura Levine

Series: Jaine Austen Mystery #1
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Copyright: 2002
Pages: 224
Book Source: Own purchase

In the first novel in her wickedly witty new mystery series, Laura Levine introduces Jaine Austen, a hip, jack-of-all trades writer who spends her days penning smarmy personal ads and daring declarations of passion--and her nights looking for Mr. Right in Hollywood's swinging singles scene.

Jaine's letter writing skill on behalf of her geeky client Howard, earns him a date with the stunning aerobics instructor Stacy. Unfortunately the first date ends before it really begins, with Howard arrested for murder when Stacy is found bludgeoned to death with a thigh master. Jaine, sympathy and curiosity aroused begins her career in amateur sleuthdom to prove Howard's innocence.

This was my first chick-lit/cozy mystery and I'm pretty sure it will be my last. An ultra fluffy, quick read, light on substance, and heavy on self-depreciating humour. If you like your banter centred mainly around thighs big enough to rent out as condos, "queen-sized pantyhose" or dates with a trusty vibrator and a bottle of cheap chardonnay then you'll probably find this a hoot. Jaine's cat Prozac (love the name) was my favourite character but I'm surprised poor Prozac survived the story after "inhaling" her gourmet tuna, ad nauseum.

Definitely a giggle or two in this one but just a bit too cute for me!

To celebrate my 1st Blogoversary two lucky readers can take their pick from a choice of 6 books in this month's spookalicious competition. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.