I saw this little ‘poster’ online somewhere and felt it summed up the past few weeks.
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As well as spending a good bit of my time recently with needles in my hand and chasing up long lost ancestors …..I ‘discovered’ another sister of one of my GT Grandmothers…..there has always a book close at hand for quiet moments when I wanted to retreat from all the ongoing madness.
Two that I read were written by new to me authors – well not new in that I had never heard of them – just new in that I’d never read any of their works before. And just by chance both books were the authors’ first novels and also the first in a series.
Jo Nesbø -The Bat
Book Blurb:- Detective Harry Hole Is meant to keep out of trouble. A young Norwegian girl on a gap year in Sydney has been murdered and Harry has been sent to Australia to assist in any way he can…..when the team unearths a string of unsolved murders nothing will stop Harry from finding out the truth.
Such an easy read, Harry Hole sent to observe but becomes involved. It starts slowly but moves along dramatically/ violently/ humourously even at times- twisting and turning to a very surprising end. Introduces the reader to Harry’s past which influences his present. The other characters (the police he is working with) were very Australian, their language full of local expressions, not quite what he was used to and the more he learns about the first death the more he unearths about previous killings giving him reasons to become more involved in finding the killer.
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Michael Robotham – Suspect/The Suspect
Book Blurb:- Joseph O’Loughlin appears to have the perfect life- a beautiful wife, a loving daughter and a successful career as a clinical psychologist. But nothing can be taken for granted. Even the most flawless existence is only a loose thread away from unravelling. All it takes is a murdered girl, a troubled patient and the biggest lie of his life.
If I’d known I’d be reading the same story twice I might have thought twice about actually reading this book. The thing is it was what made the book what it was.
A really good read!
The first chapter certainly draws you in – meeting the main character on a window ledge trying to talk someone out of jumping! Later he becomes involved in what appeares to be the murder of a prostitute but is actually someone he knew a few years previously. Add that to the fact he’s recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and the book is off and running. It follows his daily life seeing patients- one in particular is marked in his mind as the killer but after a conversation with the investigating police officer it’s he who becomes the suspect. Cue part two!
After his arrest the ‘story’ is rewritten – same people places with different dialogue, thoughts, reasoning and explanations. Of course Joe O’Loughlin is innocent, he proves the one he suspected is guilty in a very surprising ending.
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Have any of you read either of these books? I’m hoping the library reopens soon as I’d like to order more of these authors works/series.
Until then I’m plodding through the large pile here at home. Next in line are two from my ‘give the girls a go‘ idea.
The Hunters Wife – Kathleen Scholes
Daughters of Australia – Harmony Verna
