Murder on the Christmas Express by Alexandra Benedict

Rating:

3 Stars

Themes:

Thriller, Mystery

Thoughts:

This is a good little murder mystery that keeps you guessing. It isn’t overly christmassy, with the main part of Christmas being that the passengers are trying to get to Fort William for christmas which isn’t bad but if you’re after a full on christmas thriller this may not be the book for you. I liked that there was a brief mention of the murders at Endgame House the year before to let me know it’s all taking place in the same universe and found it funny that one of the characters steps aboard a sleeper train reading Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express before any murders actually happen in the book. It does take kind of a long time for the murder to start despite it being in the title. The characters were all complex with their own secrets being kept from the group and the themes of abuse and control as well as the pregnancy and birth bits were well thought out. I liked that Benedict included the quiz and Roz’s recipe for tablet at the end as it was mentioned so much throughout the book it may be a great make for my Scottish half of the family and may have introduced something new to readers from other countries.

Favourite Quote:

Winter festivals have always acknowledged death. It's about holding onto the light at the darkest times, a flickering hope that the long nights will shrink and, even though we can hardly imagine it now, dawn will come, and so will summer.

Comments

Vincent: A Graphic Biography by Simon Elliott

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Comic, Non-Fiction, Biography Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is a great little book on Vincent van Gogh. It is very detailed containing pieces of his life such as changing careers and failed love interests that are often not considered when we think of van Gogh, instead favouring his art and mental health. The illustrations were really well done and at times helped to bring levity to the story which isn’t often the happiest of lives.

The War of Sober by Edward Rand

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Non-Fiction, Self-Help, Addiction, Psychology Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is a great book not just for addicts trying to establish and maintain their sobriety but also psychologists, counsellors and the people working with them. It approaches the experience of addiction from the perspective of going to war and may help those who can’t get along with the 12 steps, contingency management or other forms of therapy traditionally used. It’s also helpful to have Edward detail his own experiences and approaches throughout so it feels less clinical and shows he does know what he’s talking about when he mentions the difficulties so it comes across less patronising than some self-help addiction books. Favourite Quote: "It doesn't matter what happened yesterday. Win or lose, if we are still alive, we must decide to be different today and then make the correct choices today, because friends, ...

Broken Glass by Sarah Kay

Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Poetry Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This collection is mixed for me, some of the poems were really good and all were definitely emotive but I think so many poems on the Hamas attack and subsequent war which is highly politically charged a little difficult to tackle. Favourite Quote: "What good is it to open my heart when in the end, you will stab it in the back?"

KJK Reads

Search This Blog