We are now half way through 2019 and I thought that it would be nice to reflect on the books read so far and choose my top ten reads of the year so far, maybe some will make it into your beach bag this summer.
Once Upon A River by Diane Setterfield. This book is an ode to reading and storytelling, and is part historical fiction, part mystery, part folklore but wholly spellbinding. On the Winter Solstice a man walks into the Swan Inn in Radcot with a the lifeless body of a young girl, but amazingly she comes back to life, but is unable to talk. And so the mystery begins of who she is, and how she came to be in the river. Diane Setterfield is a masterful storyteller and is able to capture the readers attention with her flowing prose and memorable characters that bring this book to life. A stunning read in my opinion.
The Illuminaton of Ursula Flight by Anna-Marie Crowhurst. Set during the reign of Charles II and follows the highs and lows of the life of Ursula Flight, for a young girl to an adult. Ursula is a feisty, intelligent and unconventional heroine of the period. Women were not meant to be educated, read books or want to be an actress/playwright. There are plenty of laugh out loud moments, especially at the expense of her dull and gormless husband Lord Tyringham. This is a beautifully written, atmospheric and detailed read; Anne-Marie Crowhurst uses the prose of the period that adds to the authenticity of this book. A witty, engaging and impressive debut novel.
The Butterfly Room by Lucinda Riley. Those of you who regularly read my blog will now that am a huge fan of Lucinda Riley, so it is no surprise that her latest novel is part of my top ten. This book covers three generations of the Montague family from the 1940’s to present day. Posy Montague finds her past and present collide when there is a chance meeting with Freddie, the man who broke her heart fifty years ago and carries a secret about Posy’s past. Beautifully written with attention to detail in both setting and character, this book is a stunning read.
The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal. This is another remarkable debut novel, and one that caused a bidding war between publishers. Set in the mid nineteenth century against the backdrop of The Great Exhibition, this book has a touch of the gothic about it. Iris is an apprentice in a Doll Factory with her twin sister Rose, but she dreams of a different life, of becoming an artist. Her dreams become true after a chance meeting with Louis Frost, a member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, but it costs her her sister and puts her in the sights of the sinister taxidermist Silas Reed. With characters worthy of a Dickens novel, and rich and evocative language, this is a fascinating and breathtaking read.
The Labyrinth of the Spirits by Calos Ruiz Zafòn. This is the fourth book in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series that started with The Shadow of the Wind. Set in 1950’s Madrid and Barcelona this book brings back Daniel Sempere, his wife Bea, his father and friend Fermín Romero De Torres. There are also new characters; Alicia Gris, Vargas and Leandro. Alicia is a dark character, a real femme fatal who is an investigator and sometime assassin, and is the one person who could help Daniel find the truth about his mother’s death. Rich in detail, with a multi thread plot line, this is a book that demands your attention and draws you in. This was a magical read and reminded me why I enjoyed reading so much; pure perfection.
Sleep by C.L Taylor. I am a huge fan of C.L Taylor’s thrillers and they are one of the few books that I need to read in one sitting they are so addictive. After a tragic accident, Anna Willis decides to leave her hectic life behind and take a job working in a small hotel on the Isle of Rum, but it’s not that easy to leave you past behind. One of the seven guests at the hotel means to harm Anna, and as secrets begin to be revealed, tensions begin to rise with shocking consequences. With a claustrophobic feel, this book reminded me Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. This is a fast paced, tense and super charged psychological thriller.
Those Who Are Loved by Victoria Hislop. As with her previous books this is about the history of Greece from 1930 to the present day. Through the eyes of the main character Themis we see the political turmoil that engulfed Greece during the Second World War and beyond. Themis decides to fight for the communists after the death of her best friend, and takes part in some terrible atrocities before being captured and sent to prison. With plenty of historical detail, engaging characters and flowing prose this is another hit for Victoria Hislop.
Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid. A real sex, drugs and rock n’ roll story about the meteoric rise of a band in the 60’s and 70’s. Daisy Jones was a wild child of the 60’s who lived a hedonistic lifestyle. Artistic parents who left her to her own devices, she accidentally finds herself signed by a record label and the ‘it’ girl of the moment. The Six are a band formed by the Dunne brothers and have had a lot of success, but it is the joint venture with Daisy that really takes off and send them stratospheric. Written as an interview we see the highs and lows of the band, the addictions, the arguments the creative differences and ultimately their self destruction. There is a rawness of emotion and verisimilitude in the writing that I forgot that this was a piece of fiction. An amazing read that I was. sad to finish.
The Garden of Lost and Found by Harriet Evans. I love books that have anything to do with art history, missing paintings and the art world in general and this book had that at its centre. Covering over one hundred years and three generations of the Horner family who find solace at the family home of Nightingale House, this has mystery, drama and history in abundance. In 1919 Ned Horner destroys his most famous painting The Garden of Lost and Found featuring his two children, and it his great-grandaughter, art historian Juliet, who moves back to the house after a divorce and begins to look into the mystery surrounding the painting. The split time line, the mix of past and present and the ties that bind make this an impressive and engaging read.
The Puppet Show/Black Summer by M.W Craven. Ok, I know this is a bit of a cheat but I couldn’t choose one book without the other. These are the first two books in the new Washington Poe series by M.W Craven. Washington Poe starts the series suspended after mistakes on a murder investigation but after a serial killer names Poe in a correspondence he is brought back to help capture him. What makes this book from me, apart from the intelligent and dark plot lines, is the relationship between Poe and Tilly Bradshaw, the genius technology and problem solver. Tilly has no social skills and takes things as she sees them making for some wonderfully comic moments. This an amazing crime series and I’s gutted I have to wait another year for the next instalment.
I am now looking forward to the second half of the year and some more amazing reads. I always find it interesting to see how many of these books will make it in my final top ten of the year.
