Dear friends. It's been a good reading month with a lot of variety and three 5 star books, one of them non-fiction.
Books I bought myself are indicated with an asterisk. The rest were supplied by NetGalley as digital advance reader copies in return for an honest review.
Sisters of the Midnight Sun by Fiona Valpy, 5 out of 5
Historical Fiction, Romance, Women's Fiction
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A beautiful, touching story. I had not known much about the role Norway played in World War 2, and why the UK receives a gift of a Christmas tree every year.
Grieving from the death of her sister, Ruby uproots herself to flee to the unknown. She finds work in the Shetland Islands as companion to crofter Hanna, a feisty elderly woman who absolutely doesn't want a companion. It transpires that Hanna lost a twin during the war.
Hanna takes us back in time. At the start of the war Norway was invaded by the Nazis but kept up sufficient resistance, in collaboration with British special forces, to necessitate the Germans keeping a large military presence there. This disrupted their warfare. Hanna became a radio operator, passing secret messages to ensure that the British and Norwegians were co-ordinated.
Hanna is eventually captured and treated as an NN prisoner, classed as one of the most subversive. She and her sister are handed to the notorious Dr Josef Mengele and his hideous experiments. These are not described.
As summer turns to the harsh Shetland winter, Ruby finds she has made a momentous decision.
I can't describe how moving and inspiring the story is. As always with Fiona Valpy, it is based on real facts and people.
Seascraper* by Benjamin Wood, 5 out of 5 stars
Historical Literary Fiction, General Fiction (Adult)
Hauntingly beautiful. When we first encounter Thomas he seems like an older man, with his aches, pains and ingrowing toenails. It's shocking to find he is just 20, working the trade of his grandfather as a shanker.
The images of Thomas toiling in the sea with his horse, "sea scraping" to find shrimp, stay with me. They must avoid certain areas where falling into quicksand means certain death. Not to mention the fog which suddenly swirls around, obliterating the view.
Thomas and his mother live in poverty: she has her Thursday nights out, and he dreams of playing his guitar (which is hidden from his mother), and wooing the girl from the post office. A surprise meeting with an American film director, captivated by the bleak grey seascape, changes Thomas's life.
Gentle, evocative, awe inspiring. Totally justifies the awards and plaudits, including being long listed for the 2025 Booker Prize.
Mad Mabel* by Sally Hepworth (4 out of 5 stars)
A fantastic read. Firstly there's a brilliant heroine, 81 year old Mabel, who's very tall with red hair, and a bit of a curmudgeon. Then there's Daphne, her best friend. And then there's Persephone, a seven year old who is determined to wear Mabel down in an unlikely, and touching, friendship.
Mabel has been living an ordinary quiet life until she finds the body of a neighbour. Suddenly news of her background as a teenage murderer leaks out.
Told in two timelines, Mad Mabel is a darkly humorous book that delivers as a complex psychological thriller.
Eyes on You by Adele Parks* (3.5 stars)
Mystery & Thrillers, General Fiction
I was a bit perplexed after finishing this. Somehow the speedy happy ending didn't align with the taut, tense development of a dysfunctional relationship between two people whose lives had been changed forever by a murder when they were teenagers. Only Amy knew the truth, Oli was not aware of her true background.
After sleeping on it and still mulling it over, the sign of a good book, I must applaud Adele Parks for creating Oli's monstrous father. There's a toe curling exchange between him and Amy after her engagement to Oli is announced. Everything unravels after that and it briefly becomes a bit comedic when other people attempt to take the blame. The legal process engages at warp speed.
In summary, a thriller that keeps you glued to the pages, but somewhat bonkers and implausible.
Mr Winterbourne by Clara Van Houten (4 out of 5)
General Fiction (Adult), Literary Fiction, Women's Fiction
A short but perfectly formed novel with an outstanding central character, Debra. Her manuscripts have been ignored for 6 years so she decides to publish under a man's name. Suddenly she is in demand - as Alec Winterbourne. I was completely sold on the novel until a strange encounter on a bridge, where an unassuming man with a dog befriends Debra. This turned the story into a bit of a soap opera. It reminded me of It's a Wonderful Life. But at least one or two characters got their comeuppance. Clara Van Houten is definitely a talent to watch.
The Christmas Killer by Ross Greenwood (4 out of 5)
Mystery / Thrillers, Police Procedural
And in this we have a perfectly formed crime thriller. The last time we saw DCI Barton, he was taking time off work and we didn't know if he would be back. Fortunately for us he's offered a 2 week assignment to solve a mysterious murder. What a rip roaring yarn it is too. Ross Greenwood creates the most ingenious plots. It's impossible to predict the protagonist/s until the very final moments. Barton solves the puzzle - a festive one themed around A Christmas Carol - at the last minute. He later ponders if he's at his best after a year on sabbatical. The good news is, he reckons he'll soon be fully restored, I'd like to see more badinage with his old friend Zander in the next instalment. And more of the lovely and ever hospitable Mrs Barton.
Fabulous and Furious by Harper Ford (4 out of 5 stars)
General Fiction (Adult), Women's Fiction
Sheer unadulterated delight!
Imagine a place where you can rant to your heart's content with your female friends and colleagues.
This is what 55 year old Nell creates, a room called Rent A Rant, where she and her colleagues can let off steam about their sexist male boss and all the things that make women furious. Some of the latter are hilarious and were supplied via a Facebook group. Nell's rant room becomes so much more, with the women becoming each other's confidants, as well as agreeing to take action against a group of men who seem hell bent on destroying their meet ups.
Laugh out loud funny, while also sublimely satirical, uplifting and witty, this is a great book to raise our spirits.
The Isle of Mull Murders by Daniel Sellers
General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers, Police Procedural
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I was blown away by The Knapdale Murders by Daniel Sellers so was thrilled to get an advance copy of the latest Scottish mystery. It doesn't disappoint. Just before Christmas Detective Inspector Anna Vaughan is called in to investigate a suspicious death on Dumfala estate, Mull. As the weather worsens, and snow starts to fall, Anna and local DS Lachlan McKay are left on their own to catch the killer and untangle the web of secrets that have shrouded this isolated community for years. Sellers creates a cast of suspicious characters and makes it difficult for us to guess who the perpetrator is and their motive. The howling storm and ruined castle help to create a feeling of unease, tension and doom.
NON-FICTION
The Age Code*, 5 out of 5
Nutrition
I like to stay on top of nutritional trends and this new book is unusual in explaining the science in a very accessible way.
David Cox believes it's possible to rewrite our biological age by making the right food choices.
He experimented with his own diet, putting all the other nutritional theories into practice. He underwent some of the latest tests at the start of his quest, and again some time later.
The resulting Age Code is a low-calorie, nutrient-dense die aimed at lowering our biological age and improving our chances of living well for longer.
I learned a lot and am now actively adopting some of the advice:
- Avoiding ultra processed foods (UPFs)
- Grilling and frying a lot less to avoid glycation (the browned effect on meat or toast). Stews and casseroles are a healthier way of eating meat, and steaming is better than boiling.
- Eating a wider range of plants. Simply adding black beans, butter beans or chickpeas to a meal helps achieve this.
- More nuts and seeds
- Adding dried herbs, such as parsley and ginger, to my cooking. The drying process has been found to actually concentrate minerals in higher quantities. The same is true for dried fruit, in particular raisins and dates.
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