My Sister, The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite – review

 

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This is a novel that holds humour within its pages, but not much hope. Here, superficiality and violence rule.

Sisters Korede and Ayoola are quite different. The elder sister, Korede, is a nurse, organised and ambitious, and hoping to find love with Tade, a doctor at the hospital where she works. Ayoola is young and beautiful, a clothing designer with an impressive Instagram following, but no discernibly profound feelings. Not much beyond meeting her own needs and desires. Oh, and her boyfriends keep meeting violent ends.

Ayoola insists that the deaths her romantic partners suffer are the results of self defence and misfortune. But when the number of fatalities connected to her sister continues to grow it becomes more difficult for Korede to believe this. And then, there is Ayoola's lack of emotions . . .

With a character like Ayoola at its core, a character concerned mostly with violence and surface stuff, the novel can easily take on themes of abuse that happens between men and women – in both directions – and the social-media-material-world of today. And, appropriately, these themes are explored with a knife sharp wit.

Through Korede's eyes, we see the aftermath of her younger sister's bloody violence, and then we watch Ayoola coolly exploit her victims' deaths for likes on Instagram. A naughty little comment on performative compassion, and the gap that exists between people behind screens and what they display in their feed.

For a long time, women in crime novels and thrillers have too often been little more than the pretty victim. Throughout fiction, female characters haven't moved much beyond the role of 'damsel in distress' – frankly, it speaks to quite a lack of imagination in some writers!

So, a novel with two women at the centre, two sisters, with the men as supporting characters, is refreshing. It's something new and exciting. 

There are no damsels in distress here, but there are no heroes either. Yes, it's a novel without much hope, but it is a wickedly witty and fun read.

You can purchase a copy of My Sister, The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite here.

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Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie – review

 

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I suppose it is really quite unoriginal, and maybe old fashioned, to say that one of my most favourite fictional detectives is Hercule Poirot.

Still, there is something about this quite fastidious, sometimes feline-like, but certainly not French little detective. With stiff little moustaches decorating his egg-shaped head, he has cut a distinctive figure in the world of detective fiction for just over one-hundred years. Ever since he appeared in Agatha Christie's first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, published in 1920, he has earned his place amongst the best and most recognisable of crime fiction's most famous detectives.

But his distinctive appearance and fussy attitude would be nothing if it weren't for those "little grey cells", which were put to such great use over the course of five decades in Christie's original novels and short stories featuring the detective.

In 1941, Evil Under the Sun, was published; Poirot's second decade as depicted by the Queen of Crime . And this novel, despite Christie's burgeoning dislike for the character, proves that his powers of detection and desire for justice had not waned with the passing decades.

In this mystery, a body lies upon a beach – the body of Arlena Marshall. She is bronzed, and appears like any other sunbathing beauty holidaying in the area, stretched out with flesh bare to the sun. However, upon closer inspection, it's plain to see that Arlena Marshall is not sunbathing. She is dead. The life strangled out of her by some unknown individual. 

A mad, lone, and opportunistic attacker? Or someone known to the victim?

Other guests, holidaying at the same hotel as Arlena Marshall, had been quick to consider Arlena as wicked, a temptress. But it seems, as Poirot had suspected, she was always much more likely to be a victim than any kind of fiend.

And so, the little Belgian seeker of truth and justice begins investigating . . .

I suppose that it is his desire for truth and justice, rather than a slavish loyalty to the law, which partly makes Poirot such an attractive fictional figure. As evidenced in other stories featuring the detective, perhaps most notably Murder on the Orient Express, he does deviate from the rule of law to strive to do what is right.

And, a character that strives to do that can't ever really go out of fashion. An odd little hero, striving for what is right in a unjust world.

Christie can be considered cosy crime, but she did point a finger at, or at least hint towards, some of the darkness in the world.

I began reading Christie when I was a young teenager, and tore through her stories at a furious pace. Finishing one book, finding another, and so on. As an adult, I return to find that, unlike many things which seemed like a good idea in adolescence but which, in retrospect, were always pretty horrid, Christie's mysteries are still a joy.

I urge you to return too. And if you are yet to discover Poirot, and other of Christie's creations, oh, how I envy you!

You can purchase a copy of Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie here.

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The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths – review

 

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There is a quote on the cover of this book taken from the Sunday Mirror. A love letter to murder mysteries. And it certainly feels as though Elly Griffiths was having fun when she wrote this book.

In The Postscript Murders, we are invited into the world of crime authors, where sometimes they become the victims at the centre of a murder mystery themselves.

DS Harbinder Kaur investigates the death of ninety-year-old Peggy Smith, a 'murder consultant' who plotted deaths for authors. At first DS Kaur is little concerned by the case, but when Peggy's carer, Natalka, reports being held at gunpoint whilst cleaning out Peggy's flat, that soon changes.

By turning her lens onto the world of crime writing, Griffiths has been able to have a little fun with her own profession, and share its best aspects. For a start, there's Peggy, the victim herself, whose job it is to devise interesting ways to murder people. Not real people, mind you. Still, inventing ways in which to commit murder is still inventing ways in which to commit murder. 

And from Peggy, inventing murders and people-watching, and her death, there is born a mystery solving gang, almost à la Scooby Doo. Natalka, Peggy's carer leads the way, a strong and determined young woman from Ukraine with a past that's home to shadowy figures; Benedict is a mindful coffee shop owner – The Shack – who used to be a monk, and he is measured, but also uncertain when it comes to the ways of the world; Edwin is an elderly gentleman, a real gentleman, who used to work at the BBC, and who knew Peggy because they lived in the same building. Together this gang make it their mission to find the answers to the questions around Peggy's death. 

DS Kaur works with the gang to solve the case, whilst also navigating the struggles of having to live at home with mum and dad. Whereas other fictional coppers might hit the bottle for relief from the pressures of the job, DS Kaur is addicted to the games on her phone. 

Along the way, we traverse the world of the crime novelists, and even get to poke a little fun at elements of that world. Such as the slightly pretentious writer who insists their work is more literary than crime fiction – genres such as crime, horror, and romance all have to put up with their snooty detractors, sometimes from within.

Yes, it definitely feels as though Elly Griffiths was having some fun when she wrote this one. 

And, I had fun reading it. In particular, following the amateur sleuths, Natalka, Edwin, and Benedict. To be honest, I found each of these characters more interesting than the detective of the novel. If Elly Griffiths ever feels the need to return to this world, I hope it is to revisit the gang rather than the detective. 

In this novel, Griffiths presents each chapter from the point of view of each character. Apart from giving the reader the chance to see the mystery of the book from different points of view, the chance consider the problem from different angles, it is a useful device for getting to know each of the characters better. And I very much enjoyed getting to know the characters.

Though it is useful to have a detective in the novel, able as they are to go places an amateur sleuth would find it difficult to gain access, I did find those chapters with DS Kaur the least enjoyable of the book. I found her to be the least likeable character. She seems to have a problem with absolutely everyone and everything else – her brothers, her partner at work, the family dog. To be mildly annoyed seemed to be her default setting. 

However, of course, liking or disliking a character is all very subjective. It could be that I am in the minority and others will completely and utterly despise Natalka, probably my favourite character of the novel. 

Yes, I very much enjoyed this crime novel set in the world of crime novelists. I don't know that I have read a crime novel quite like it before. 

You can purchase a copy of The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths here.

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Eeny Meeny by M. J. Arlidge - analysis and review

 

Eeny Meeny by M. J. Arlidge (Photo from personal collection)

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The central theme of Eeny Meeny is a dark and terrible question - how much could you endure before you would commit a horrible act? 

A killer is abducting people in pairs, holding them captive, and forcing them to choose which of them lives and which of them dies. And, on the hunt for this monster, is DI Helen Grace, and her team, a DI who has her own demons, which she manages in her own way - the infliction of pain.

Throughout the novel runs a theme of people trying to cope with their demons. From the victims of the killer, to the killer too, who has taken the darkest of routes. But there are also the members of DI Grace's team, with their own pains and losses they are trying to navigate. DS Mark Fuller's problems with his ex-partner have seen him falling into a bottle. And then there is Helen Grace, dealing with emotional pains through the infliction of physical pain upon herself.

Yes, this novel could be considered an exploration into the ways which people further their own misery, through the unhealthy ways in which they manage troubles and pains.

This novel, Eeny Meeny, was the first Helen Grace novel, and it spawned a successful series. And, as I found out, back in March, when I had a little Q&A exchange with the author, M. J. Arlidge actively enjoys exploring those dark corners of what it is to be human. You can read that interview here.

In Helen Grace, Arlidge has created a unique and fascinating character. She does not turn to drink or drugs, like other fictional detectives before her, to deal with the darkness in her life. She controls inner torment with physical torment. She is a matter-of-fact woman, devoted to her work. But, though she gives little away to her colleagues, there are signs of a deeper and richer inner life to DI Grace. Signs of a good and caring heart.

She is a character I find myself wanting to know better.

The book is fast-paced, with chapters short and delivering only what is necessary to tell the story - there is little fat here on this lean tale. I used to read quite a lot of crime fiction when I was younger, and this novel reminded me of why. I really enjoyed Eeny Meeny and, since I read the book, other novels in the DI Helen Grace series have been added to my bookshelves.

You can purchase Eeny Meeny by M. J. Arlidge here

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A blustering book list - my "TBR" pile . . .

 Disclaimer: Monsta Reader is affiliated with bookshop.org and Waterstones. If you should make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I might earn a small commission from the sale. However, this does affect the retail price, and it does not influence the content of this blog.

In today's post, we're going to take a little run through upcoming books on my "to be read" pile. It's just an easy little jaunt through some of books. So, get cosy, grab a coffee, chill, and let's begin . . .

Eeny Meeny by M. J. Arlidge

A girl emerges from the woods, closer to death than life, with a terrible and tear-inducing story to tell. 

Only days later, a similar scenario - a pattern is emerging. 

Pairs of victims are being abducted, and forced to either kill or be killed.

Detective Inspector Helen Grace leads the investigation to find the monster in the shadows, and put an end to the deaths . . .

You can purchase a copy of Eeny Meeny by M. J. Arlidge here.

A Room With A View by E. M. Forster

From eerie matters of life and death, to a classic novel that explores love, sex, and social expectation.

Lucy visits Italy with her prim and proper cousin Charlotte, and she is on the verge of an experience that will throw her neatly ordered life off balance.

Forster explores the theme of how matters of the heart can conflict with societal expectation masterfully, and I cannot wait to get between the covers of this book!

You can purchase a copy of A Room With A View by E. M. Forster here.

Out of Love by Hazel Hayes

Instantly, we are back to matters of the heart, this time exploring love and loss.

A young woman packs her ex-boyfriend's belongings, about to see him for the last time, and wonders where it all went wrong, or whether it was ever right to begin with. 

This is a bittersweet take on the romance novel, told from the end of a relationship, when love is over. In this, Hazel Hayes' debut novel, the author sifts through the relationship, the good and the bad, the highs and the lows, the moments of majesty and the moments of pain, considering love and its loss with a tender but honest eye.

You can purchase Out of Love by Hazel Hayes here.

The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths

Opening with the death of a ninety-year-old woman, we are brought into an investigation run by DS Harbinder Kaur. And, it turns out Peggy, the dead woman, had been sure someone was following her . . .

Peggy Smith had been a 'murder consultant' who helped authors plot deaths in their novels, and she knew a great deal about murder . . .

After her death, Peggy's carer comes to clear out the decedent's flat, only to find herself held at gunpoint by a masked figure . . .

DS Kaur investigates.

You can purchase a copy of The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths here.

The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quể Mai

Winner of the BookBrowse Best Debut Award 2020

Two generations of women and the shell shock world of war . . .

Hà Nội, 1972. For Hương's grandmother, the experience of war is terribly familiar. And, as Hương comes of age, she must learn the lessons her grandmother has already learned, in a nation rocked by conflict.

This novel is the multi-generational tale of the Trẩn family that is epic in its telling.

You can purchase a copy of The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quể Mai here.

Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie 

One of the greatest crime and murder mystery writers of all time, I fell for Christie's books when I was a teenager, and I can still plunge happily into her world today.

In this mystery, we join one of crime fiction's perfect creations, Hercule Poirot, as he once again must exercise his little grey cells, navigating red herrings, and deaths that are not what they seem.

You can purchase a copy of Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie here.

Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch

Do you love police procedurals? 

Do you love magic? 

Do you dream of novels that bring together these two loves?

Let me introduce you to PC Peter Grant and the Rivers of London novels by Ben Aaronovitch.

Come, see London as you've never seen it before.

You can purchase a copy of Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch here.

The Bridge by Iain Banks

A man lies in a coma after a near-fatal accident. Who is he? Is he closer to death than life? 

Immerse yourself into the surreal and fantastical world of the bridge.

You can purchase a copy of The Bridge by Iain Banks here.

The Ballad of the Sad Café and Other Stories by Carson McCullers

Carson McCullers' writing is unique. Dame Edith Sewell called her a "transcendental writer".

With poetry in her prose, McCullers here explored loneliness and the need for human connection, and understanding.

Along with her novella, The Ballad of the Sad Café, is a collection of her short stories.

You can purchase a copy of The Ballad of the Sad Café and Other Stories by Carson McCullers here.

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Thank you to every reader and supporter - as long as you read, I will write!

A Time For Violence: Stories With An Edge, An Anthology, Edited by Andy Rausch & Chris Roy - analysis and review

 

Disclaimer: Monsta Reader is affiliated with bookshop.org, and Waterstones. If you should make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I might earn a small commission from the sellers, but this does not affect the cost to the consumer. And it does not influence the content of this blog.

In this anthology collection, the theme of violence connects each short story. Sometimes the story is a straightforward tale, a crime or suspense thriller short story, but sometimes the tales are more subtle, or even surreal. 

I was sent this anthology via Twitter, and asked to take a look. I made my way through it slowly and, I have to admit, sometimes unenthusiastically. However, this might have had something to do with my dislike of reading my books on a screen. But, I found myself fully engaged with some of the short stories in this collection, with scenes and characters still inside my head after I finished reading.

Though you might be put off by a collection of stories exploring the theme of violence, rest assured there is a diversity of tales within. This is not just a collection of explicit slashing and gore stories. You will find some well thought out tales within. Though, it might be worth warning you, there is slashing and gore in there too. 

The collection opens with Blood Brothers by Richard Chizmar, a fairly straightforward "story with a twist" about a pair of brothers, one a family man and the other on the wrong side of the law. And from there, the collection undulates, from one story to another, some better than others. Though, as I say, there is enough diversity in there that you can probably find a story that you will find enjoyable.

I found Santa At The Café by Joe R. Lansdale, and Ladies Day At The Olympia Car Wash by Andrew Nette to be fairly entertaining tales, but perhaps your tastes are different.

To be honest, this is an anthology that I dipped in and out of, and it wasn't a collection that I felt a need to read from beginning to end once I had started. There were some stories that I found myself wanting to end sooner than they did, and there were some that I found myself entertained by more than I had expected. I suppose that that's the nature of a collection featuring different authors.

You can find A Time For Violence: Stories With An Edge on Amazon.

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The Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankell (translated by Laurie Thompson) - an analysis and review

 

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The Dogs of Riga was first published, as Hundarna i Riga, in 1992, in Sweden, and is the second novel in Mankell's Kurt Wallander series. However, it took nine years before it was translated and published in Britain. And, the series has become extremely popular amongst crime fiction fans in both countries.

One of the reasons I feel an appreciation for crime fiction, one of the things I think sets it apart from other genres, is the fact that within the pages of a crime novel writers are able to deal with such a wide variety of themes. The life of a detective or an inspector is naturally going to bring them into contact with the very extremes of human suffering, wanting, and crises. Therefore, writers can tackle themes which might begin at the very fundamentals of what it is to be human (in life and in death), right through to weightier topics of an existential nature, politics, psychology, and so forth. And Mankell manages that here, as he explores themes of corruption, relationships, and politics, set in the Eastern Europe of a collapsing Soviet Union.

I fear I have come to Wallander a bit late in the game and, there's a chance, you probably know more of this series than I! So far, this is the only book in the series that I have read but, since finishing it, I can tell you I intend to read more. 

With his drinking just a little too much and his love of music, Wallander reminds me a little of other brooding police inspectors of fiction - Morse and Rebus, anyone? Indeed, like those two characters, there are hints that the darkness involved in police work may be at odds with a more sensitive side (a love for opera, obvious desire for romantic love, and questioning his career choice). However, any writer of crime fiction could be forgiven for employing devices that show their protagonist to be human and not completely untouched by their work - work-related stress suffered by police officers in the real world is well documented. Besides, Wallander is also a distinct character in his own right; he has his own past, feelings, relationships, and beliefs.

As we follow the Inspector throughout the course of the novel, in fact, it is his character that informs many of the decisions he makes. For example, and without wishing to give too much away for those that might not have read it yet, it is Wallander's humanity, sense of right and wrong, and desire for romantic love that inform his choice to return to a country that seems to be full of corruption and a potential for fatal danger at every turn. Even though he has many instincts telling him to leave, even when his role as a police inspector is officially done, he is very much at the heart of this story.

This is a crime novel. But this is also a novel of suspense, and we follow Wallander into a world of paranoia. However, as we travel with this detective, I can't imagine much better company. And, when I compare Wallander with other fictional detectives - such as Morse and Rebus - it is only because he deserves to be amongst these other greats of crime fiction. If you like crime novels, I recommend this one, and I am off to get myself some more Wallander novels too.

You can purchase your own copy of The Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankell here, from bookshop.org, who support independent bookshops.

Again, be sure to check out my ko-fi page, and I hope you come back soon! But, until then, stay safe, and read lots of good books!