Hunting Shadows

He wasn't supposed to have brought either the weapon or the ammunition back. But he had, because the rifle has become a part of him. And no one searched his kit. Thank God he had.

The man deserved to die. But not this way. Not sacrificing himself. There had to be a better way. Look at it from a different perspective. God had brought this man to him once. He would do it again. All he had to do was wait. However long it took. His patience would pay off. He was ready. And Hutchinson would come to him for the killing.

Once again Scotland Yard has been asked to follow up on not only one murder case but two. When all leads come to a dead end, Inspector Ian Rutledge is called to find answers where there appear to be none. Both victims have strong social connections and both have been shot. The mystery is how they are linked and who has a rifle since all of them were supposed to have been turned in at the close of World War I. But apparently someone didn't and now is taking the time and diligence necessary to make sure that they are not caught and no clues are left behind. Is it possible that killer was a soldier or is it simply being made to look as if it is?

The other victim, Mr. Herbert Swift, a popular Tory candidate was also killed by a single shot while commencing with a public speech down the High Street, ending at the market cross. The only witness can only claim that she saw a monster in ironmonger's dormer window. What's more, the constable and afterward that Inspector Warren from Ely tried but they couldn't shake her account. Is it possible that hobgoblins are present in Fen country? Will Inspector Rutledge be able to find answers before the killer strikes again? Seems like Scotland Yard is Hunting Shadows!

I received Hunting Shadows by Charles Todd compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed are strictly my own. Once again Charles Todd takes readers back to London to 1920, where Ian Rutledge is called upon to solve a case with very little to go on. I've been a huge fan of his Ian Rutledge Series and this one did not disappoint. I easily rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and the attention to detail that Charles Todd utilizes in his series makes the reader truly feel like they are part of the action. It is always fun to see if I can solve the crimes before Inspector Rutledge does and I love the historical setting he places his mysteries in. This novel is due for release in January 2014. For more information about Hunting Shadows, Charles Todd or where you can preorder a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Hunting Shadows by Charles Todd

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To read more reviews on Hunting Shadows, visit William Morrow's website. 

The Best of Daughters

While waiting on baited breath for Season 4 of Downton Abbey to begin, I was contacted with an opportunity to review a book that is a definite read for fans of the series. Best of Daughters by author Dilly Court takes readers into the look at the Lennox family living in Pimlico, London in 1912 just on the cusp of the future World War 1. As most aristocratic families of that time, the Lennox's hoped for a rich future through the marriage of their daughter Daisy and her childhood best friend Rupert Pendleton. Both families hoped that they would marry as they have been in one another's company for as long as they can remember, but like most women, Daisy had hoped to marry for love. She can't seem to see past Rupert as being anything more than her dearest friend.

However when her father's business partner runs off with money from his company, he is left to declare bankruptcy and relocate the family to their country house leaving London far behind. Unable to find the man, his family is left with nothing more than a roof over their heads and the rich and wealthy lifestyle is now something in the past, one her complaining and bitter mother Gwendolyn can't seem to forget. Her mother believes that with her marriage to Rupert, they will no longer have to struggle with doing their own chores and living below their means like the common villagers do, but Daisy can't bring herself to find the love Rupert so desperately desires from her. Especially when she finds heated passion in the eyes of the mechanic, Barnaby Bowman, who has been hired on to repair the family car.

Bowman is nothing more than a player of female hearts and he has his eyes set not only on conquering Daisy but also the only maid and friend Daisy has, Ruby. If he can't have Daisy, Ruby will be a great substitute, but no matter how much the truth confronts her, Daisy is drawn like a moth to a flame every time her and Bowman encounter one another. Now sitting on the brink of London going to war with Germany, life is about to change for Daisy is many unexpected ways when both Rupert, her brother Teddy and Bowman are all called into battle. Will her love for any of them make a difference or will Daisy wind up as an old maid on the spinster shelf?

I received The Best of Daughters by Dilly Court compliments of TLC Book Tours and Random House Publishing Group for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. I would rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars and would have given it a higher rating had the book not contain any profanity, but it does contain some thus the need to rate the novel according to my own review scale. However this is such a great inbetween meal to indulge in while waiting for Downton Abbey to pick back up and along the way gives readers insight not only into the issues dealing with the women's suffrage movement but also their involvement in the FANYs or First Aid Nursing Yeomanry which helped out in the war efforts. I can't wait to read more of Dilly's novels and this one even includes an interview with Dilly Court as well a sneak peek into her next novel The Workhouse Girl.

For more information about The Best of Daughters, Dilly Court or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Best of Daughters by Dilly Court

 To see more reviews on The Best of Daughters from the TLC Book Tour, please click here. 

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Arrow (March 18, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0099562588
• ISBN-13: 978-0099562580
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces

A Bitter Truth

Life is about to change for battlefield nurse, Betty Crawford on a dark and blustery night in London. When the police are searching for a deserter, Betty heads home to her flat alone. Yet on the stoop of her doorway is a woman, hiding and wearing a thin coat, trying to find temporary shelter from the storm. When Betty offers her a cup of tea and a respite from the weather for a few minutes, she sees that the woman's face bears a battered and bruise hand print along with endless tears down her face.

Fearing the worst but don't wanting to frighten the poor woman, she learns that she is running from her husband, Roger Ellis. Not prone to violence against his wife, Bess learns that the woman's name is Lydia and offers her a place to stay. Lydia fears the worst could happen the longer she stays away and asks Betty to accompany her home to Vixen Hill.

There Betty will meet the Ellis family of three generations of widows and meet the spirit of Julianna, who died a young girl and one whom the family can't seem to forget. Betty is talked into staying a few days to help care for Lydia and help her deal with issues involving her husband's jealousy. During her stay, the family is planning a memorial service to lay the headstone of one of the sons that was killed in the war. Only on the eve of the memorial service, one of the house guests George Hughes confides a deep family secret to Betty when neither of them can sleep. When the house awakens in the morning, George is soon discovered murdered and someone in the house is the prime suspect.

I received the novel A Bitter Truth by Charles Todd compliments of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. It feels like a historical version of the game, Clue, as Bess Crawford attempts to solve the mystery surrounding the Ellis family secret and the murder of George Hughes. Set in London during the middle of World War 1, the mystery continues to grow as more and more people turn up missing or murdered as well. I rate this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars and is perfect for you crime solving sleuth fans!

For more information on this book, the author or where to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

A Bitter Truth by Charles Todd

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