May has been another brilliant month for books, and I have read some books by some my favourite authors and been introduced to some wonderful new authors as well. It’s never easy picking my top reads of the month, but after much deliberation these are my choices.
The Lost Letters of William Woolf by Helen Cullen. This debut novel from Helen Cullen had me enthralled. The idea of the depot for lost letters and those letters being reunited with their recipients is a lovely idea. This book is set in the 1990’s, before emails and texts, this does have a nostalgic and romantic feel about it. William works at the Dead Letters Depot and is one of those who reunites lost letters with their intended recipients. One letter grabs his attention, sent to ‘My Great Love”, and he feels they are intended for him. With his marriage in trouble he goes in search of the sender of these letters. This is a stunning read, with wonderful characters and a fantastic plot line.
The House On The Edge Of The Cliff by Carol Drinkwater. Primarily set on the coast of Provence in the south of France in the present day and the 1960’s, this is a captivating read. Peter and Grace have retired to the south of France, living an idyllic life until a face from the past throws their life into turmoil. Grace and Peter originally met in Paris in 1968, a time of political and social upheaval, before a trip to Provence ends in tragedy and sees Grace return to London. Carol Drinkwater has a beautiful and descriptive writing style that brings the sights, sounds and smells of Provence off the page. I loved the musical playlist that went with the social and cultural history on France in the 1960’s.
Sleep by C.L Taylor. I love C.L Taylor’s books, and they are one of the few books that I always read in one sitting as they are so addictive. After a serious accident Anna Willis runs away to the Isle of Rum to escape her guilt and the feeling that someone is watching her and blames her for what happened. However, its not always that easy to run and hide and she soon finds herself in danger from one of the seven guests staying at the guest house she works in. Set on a small island where they are confined in a guest house due to a storm. there is a feeling of claustrophobia and cabin fever that fizzles until a sparks fly between them all and the plot blows open. Another brilliant thriller from C.L Taylor.
Those Who Are Loved by Victoria Hislop. Like her previous books Victoria Hislop writes about the history of Greece. Through the eyes of the main character of Themis, this book covers the tumultuous period of 1930 – present day in Greece that saw Nazi occupation, civil war, death, famine and families torn apart. Themis decides to fight for the communists and sees and takes part in some terrible atrocities until she is imprisoned and has to decide if she is willing to die for her beliefs. Full of historical detail this is another stunning read from Victoria Hislop.
I am now looking forward to June’s reads that include The Moor by L.J Ross, Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid and The Passengers by John Marrs.
