Contemporary Reads

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

9 October 2023 | Monday · 5:51 PM

Traitors Gate: William Warwick#6

Traitors Gate
Title:
Traitors Gate
Series:
William Warwick
Genre:
Thriller
Publisher:
HarperCollins
Release Date:
Format:
Kindle
Pages:
376
Source:
BookForums Book Review Blog 2023

Come autumn and rises the anticipation for the new Jeffrey Archer release. Such has been the pattern for the past few years that the William Warwick series has become an inseparable part of the season for me! And so, here I was – all set and waiting with my copy of Traitor’s Gate pre booked well in advance.

My first impressions of the book were pretty clear, this 6th book in the Warwick series promised to be the best. To begin with, we have all the regular characters returning back – William, Beth, Miles Faulkner, Booth Watson, Sir Julian Warwick and last but not the least Christina! It is a pleasure to meet these bunch of people yet again for a fun …

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14 September 2023 | Thursday · 4:26 PM

None Of This Is True (Lisa Jewell) 🥉

None Of This Is True | Book Review | Lisa Jewel
Title:
None Of This Is True
Series:
NA
Genre:
Psychological Thriller
Publisher:
Penguin
Release Date:
Format:
Kindle
Pages:
385
Source:
Book Forums Book Review Blog 2023

Winner:
3rd Ranked Book 2023;
Best Negative Character 2023 (Josie Fair)

A scintillating, addictive, dark story. Stunning narration & tantalizing suspense which continues to deceive till the very end. This basically sums up this page turner by Lisa Jewell.

None Of This Is True is about 2 women – Alix & Josie – who share the same birthday. They happen to be celebrating their 45th birthday in the same pub at the same time, where Josie befriends Alix introducing herself to Alix as “I am your birthday twin“. Alix is a popular podcaster and as Josie gets to know about it, she talks Alix into doing a podcast about her. And there on the …

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8 September 2023 | Friday · 5:26 PM

The Covenant Of Water

The Covenant Of Water | Book Review | Abraham Verghese
Title:
The Covenant Of Water
Series:
NA
Genre:
Historical Fiction
Publisher:
Grove Press UK
Release Date:
Format:
Kindle
Pages:
794
Source:
BookForums Book Review Blog 2023

The Covenant Of Water is a story that spans 77 years and 3 generations of a South Indian family. Set in the village of Parambil in Kerala, the story endears you with this little girl – all of 12 years of age – being taken by her uncle & widowed mother to Parambil to marry her off to a much older man of an affluent family. The innocence of the child alongside inherent fears and sadness of separation from her mother comes across beautifully in the initial part of the book.

How the girl finds a mother and confidant in Thankamma – who eases her into the new household – is lovable. The story draws you effortlessly as …

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16 August 2023 | Wednesday · 5:23 PM

The Antiquity Affair

The Antiquity Affair | Book Review
Title:
The Antiquity Affair
Series:
NA
Genre:
Historical Fiction
Publisher:
Harper Muse
Release Date:
Format:
Kindle
Pages:
412
Source:
BookForums Book Review Blog 2023

Set in 1907, The Antiquity Affair is a historical fiction novel full of adventure, puzzles, decoding ancient texts and Egyptian History/Myth. As is evident, it promises to be an excellent premise offering insight to ancient legends & myths as well as the excitement that accompanies the Dan Brown style codes and their decoding.

The story revolves around two sisters – Tess & Lila – The Fearless Fords as they call themselves, but both with contrasting personalities. Their father, Warren Ford is an archaeologist. The centre of all focus (and the cause of all that follows) is an ancient Egyptian relic The Serpent’s Crown which is believed to possess supernatural powers that enables it’s owner to control …

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2 August 2023 | Wednesday · 5:48 PM

Simply Lies (David Baldacci) 🥈

Simply Lies | Book Review | David Baldacci
Title:
Simply Lies
Series:
Mickey Gibson
Genre:
Thriller
Publisher:
Macmillan
Release Date:
Format:
Kindle
Pages:
433
Source:
BookForums Book Review Blog 2023

Winner: 2nd Ranked Book 2023

David Baldacci back with another feast of a read. A new detective series with the introduction of Mickey Gibson, I was so keenly awaiting this book. And dare I say, it surpasses all my expectations and Mickey Gibson is right up there with my other favorite Baldacci character Aloysius Archer.

Mickey Gibson is a single mom of two kids – Darby & Tommy. An ex-cop, she now works for a private investigative agency ProEye. Being a computer nerd, she specializes in hunting down assets of rich delinquents – away from actual crime scene action toying with danger. Her dad himself is an ex-cop.

The story sets rolling with a call she receives from an Arlene …

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28 July 2023 | Friday · 1:27 PM

Silver Nitrate

Title:
Silver Nitrate
Series:
NA
Genre:
Historical Fiction; Horror
Publisher:
Jo Fletcher Books
Release Date:
Format:
Kindle
Pages:
337
Source:
BookForums Book Review Blog 2023

Silver Nitrate is one of those books whose title entices you to pick it. It piqued my curiosity when I first stumbled upon it and I had been waiting to read it.

The main characters of the book are Montserrate – a sound editor at Antares who is struggling with an underpaying job and her childhood friend Tristan Abascal – a mostly forgotten actor/model trying to resurrect his career. The two of them chance upon an unfinished, rare film from decades ago which is supposedly cursed and had brought bad luck to everyone associated with it back then. Upon the earnest pleas of it’s producer, they unwittingly become party to completing & dubbing the remaining of the film in …

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