Contemporary Reads

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

2 December 2021 | Thursday · 4:39 PM

Over My Dead Body (Jeffrey Archer) | Book Review

Over My Dead Body | Book Review

As I had written in my previous post, I needed a desperate break from those dark, wild crime thrillers that were quite distressing to read. So what did I revert to as a safe, tried-and-tested bet? Jeffrey Archer. There is a reason he continues to be my favorite author by a mile.

The best thing about Jeffrey Archer probably is the fast paced narration that never flickers for a moment and very believable characters that feel like “normal” people around us. Add to it the perfect settings, the indulgent mention of arts, paintings, galleries – it is the flavor of these William Warwick Series of books.

So coming to the latest in the series, Over My Dead Body, we have William promoted here has Chief Inspector. The book starts by introducing a new character James – aboard the cruise that William & Beth are enjoying their holiday on (which had …

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20 November 2021 | Saturday · 9:25 AM

Rock Paper Scissors (Alice Feeney) | Book Review

Rock Paper Scissors | Book Review

I didn’t like it. Simply put! I guess this might be an unpopular opinion, but so be it. I really even don’t wanna discuss much about this book – sends me eerie vibes I am not comfortable with.

I feel the problem I have with the book is that it is too dark & disturbing. I found the character of Henry – the horror novelist – psychic to put it subtly, or mad if I put it actually how I feel. The things he does, or the things his daughter Robin does is totally weird and crazy – they are people out of their minds. Carving out animal shapes with bulging eyes, creating ghostly atmosphere, a crypt full of wine, a screenwriter who cannot see the difference between faces. I really feel sick even recalling all that this book throws at you.

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15 November 2021 | Monday · 4:32 PM

A Gambling Man (David Baldacci): Aloysius Archer (Book 2)

A Gambling Man | Book Review

My first book of David Baldacci. I had been wanting to read one for a long while as he falls into the same broad genre as Girsham or Archer style fiction. As a first, I ain’t disappointed. A good suspense thriller with twists and turns to keep your interest invested.

Aloysius Archer, freshly put of prison is seeking apprenticeship with former FBI agent Willie Dash and is on his way to California to meet him. Along the way, he stops at Reno “The biggest little city in the world” – as it is called. It makes for an interesting read the people he meets there & how he finds a companion in Liberty Callahan, an aspiring actress. The instances in this city of Reno very subtly make known the goodness in Archer. Based in the 1940s & just after the war, the book has a cow boyish feel about it …

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4 November 2021 | Thursday · 4:38 PM

The Judge’s List (John Grisham) 🥇

The Judges List | Book Review | Book Of The Year

Book Of The Year 2021

This is my third John Grisham book this year, and each succeeding in outdoing the previous – when I always thought it couldn’t get better than this. It is the sheer brilliance of Grisham that makes each of his reads so riveting. The Judge’s List is an extremely intelligent book. It is Grisham at his best. The book is backed with a brilliant plot and makes for a chilling thriller.

The story revolves around Jeri, a lady in her mid forties, whose father was murdered some 20 years ago. She has ever since been digging through to find the murderer and put him to a worthy end. It makes for an extremely interesting read to see how she uncovers similar other murders in the process, and is able to link them all and pin down the crime to a sitting judge Ross Bannick – who …

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29 October 2021 | Friday · 3:56 PM

The Village Of Lost And Found | Book Review

The Village Of Lost And Found | Book Review

There are two ways to view this second book in the Riverside Lane Series by Alison Sherlock. First, as a stand alone book. And in that, The Village Of Lost And Found is everything that you expect from Alison Sherlock – heartwarming, uplifting and a happy read. A simple story based at a countryside hamlet, quiet and peaceful with lovable characters.

When you read this in conjunction to the first book in the series The Village Shop For Lonely Hearts , there are a few things that are easily noticeable. It is very evident that the author has followed a strict framework with the same steps in the ladder as before – infact strikingly similar. To start with, the protagonist of the two books (earlier Amber and now Lucy) are both low on confidence, Amber due to the bullying in her growing up years and Lucy due to lack of …

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19 October 2021 | Tuesday · 5:05 PM

The Village Shop For Lonely Hearts (Alison Sherlock) 🔰

The Village Shop For Lonely Hearts | Book Review

A feel good, heartwarming tale of the unexpected surprises of life, The Village Shop For Lonely Hearts is an adorable read. It is full of hope, love, friendship and inspiration. But most of all, it is endearing with it’s simplicity.

The first in the Riverside Lane Series of books by Alison Sherlock, this is the story of Amber Green, a window dresser by profession, who in order to fulfil her mother’s wish agrees reluctantly to visit her mom’s old time friend Cathy Kennedy in a small country side village Cranbridge – a beautiful, serene & quite setting for this calming story.

As life would have it, this supposedly short stay of hers brings all that her life had been missing – confidence, friends, appreciation, a sense of belonging, love & a place she could call ‘home’. This heart warming story revolves around a small old shop of the Kennedy’s ‘Cranbridge …

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