Contemporary Reads

Reviews & recommendations of contemporary books.
Literary Fiction, Thrillers, Feel Good Books, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction & more…

22 February 2025 | Saturday · 5:54 PM

The Winter Reads

I hate winters. And, that is the truth – I hate winters! With the chilling cold & dullness around, I still managed a handful of reads.

Also worth mentioning, I took time off from new books to read the past works of some authors I admire. And woah, was it not worth!

Orbital by Samantha Harvey
I am pretty sure now and can safely say, I just can’t get along with these Booker nominated books. And here we have not just a nomination but a winner. And as always, not my kind. Suffices to say, I didnt enjoy it, period.

The Curse of Muziris by Hamish Morjaria
Thoroughly enjoyable read! The fact that it was based in India, had a historical touch and the ever looming secret. All adds up to an exciting experience.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by TJK
*Claps* *Claps* & more *Claps* for TJK once …

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19 October 2024 | Saturday · 4:35 PM

Death At The Sign Of The Rook

Title:
Death At The Sign Of The Rook
Series:
Jackson Brodie
Genre:
Mystery
Publisher:
Penguin
Release Date:
Format:
Paperback
Pages:
319

Plot Summary
Two highly valued paintings (possibly Renaissance period) go missing from two different places – one from the Padgett’s, belonging to Dorothy Padgett who has just passed. And the other from Burton Makepeace, home to Lady Milton & her family. With stark similarities & the clues left behind, you are bound to ask – are the two thefts related? Is it the same person? What was the reason behind the thefts? All this promises for a brilliant read, sprinkled with humor thanks to a shambolic Murder Mystery Weekend being hosted at Burton Makepeace.

Verdict
This is exactly my kind of a book. Art, Renaissance portraits & their thefts makes you feel you are reading a Jeffrey Archer book. Except that, …

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5 September 2024 | Thursday · 5:19 PM

The Bluff: Bonnie Traymore

The Bluff | Bonnie Traymore | Book Review
Title:
The Bluff
Series:
NA
Genre:
Thriller
Publisher:
Pathways Publishing
Release Date:
Format:
Netgalley ARC
Pages:
259

Plot Summary
The Bluff by Bonnie Traymore bases it’s plot in the town of Crest Lake on Lake Michigan. The shoreline houses are facing a threat from the crumbling bluff on which they are situated. And the owners are divided in their opinion on how to save their houses.

The main characters of the book are Kate Breslow (Sullivan), Claudia Mitchell, Ryan Breslow, Dough Mitchell, Margaret Brenner, Daisy Parker and the investigating team – Travis Whittaker, Sloane Davis & Chief Thompson. Kate & Claudia live two houses apart and have opposing views on the issue. While Kate lost her husband Ryan a year ago under mysterious circumstances, Dough Mitchell is killed right before the vote on the issue. And there begins the whodunnit case (actually …

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6 July 2024 | Saturday · 5:47 PM

I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue

I Hope This Finds You Well | Book Review | Natalie Sue
Title:
I Hope This Finds You Well
Series:
NA
Genre:
Literary Fiction, Romance
Release Date:
Format:
Google Play Books
Pages:
352

Plot Summary
The story of I Hope This Finds You Well revolves around a corporate employee Jolene, socially awkward and unable to gel with her office colleagues. The central characters being Rhonda, Caitlin, Armin as her coworkers and Gregory their creepy boss. Frustrated with their habits & whims, she vents it out to them through texts in emails that she hides out with white fonts. On one such occasion, she forgets to white out her rant to Caitlin and gets into deep trouble casting a shadow over her job.

As a result, she is put to a training course that she must pass to retain her job, wherein she comes close to the HR guy Clifford. In her bid to save her job, …

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23 January 2024 | Tuesday · 1:39 PM

The Heiress

Title:
The Heiress
Series:
NA
Genre:
Thriller; Mystery
Publisher:
Headline
Release Date:
Format:
Kindle
Pages:
Pages: 305
Source:
BookForums 2024

Plot Summary

Ruby McTavish, the infamous heiress of the Ashby House, Tavistock, leaves behind her inheritance to her adopted son Camden who is least interested in the money, estate or any of the McTavishes left and decides to stay away. 10 years later, a sequence of events draws Cam & has wife Jules back to Ashby House. And as they do so, there are revealed dark secrets that each of them had been guarding from the others. Ruby herself had her past – a kidnapping & 4 times widowed with an air of mystery surrounding it all. What was the truth behind her kidnapping, the truth about her husbands’ deaths, why did she adopt Camden, the reason for Cam & Jules returning are few …

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15 January 2024 | Monday · 4:46 PM

First Lie Wins

First Lie Wins | Book Review
Title:
First Lie Wins
Series:
NA
Genre:
Thriller
Publisher:
Headline
Release Date:
Format:
Kindle
Pages:
340
Source:
BookForums 2024

Plot Summary

Lucca Marino lives with her mother in a trailer sewing dresses for wealthy women. When her mother falls ill, she picks up odd jobs to support her ailing mother and survive. She starts pilfering the wealthy clients and is spotted by a mysterious Mr. Smith who picks her for his devious, criminal activities. For each job that she is assigned by Mr. Smith, she is given a new identity and a mark with instructions on what is to be carried out. As she chances upon the mysterious deaths of others working for Mr. Smith, there starts a twisty tale of uncovering the real identity of Mr. Smith and to set herself free from Mr. Smith’s unassailable grip.

Pluses
* Enthralling plot & uncommon …

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