Month: May 2021

Deadly Obsession – OMJ Ryan

~ Eden Haslam ~ Leave a comment

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Synopsis: DCI Jane Phillips and her Major Crimes team are called in for the murder of a retired teacher in a care home. Not long after, more bodies turn up, each one completely different with nothing linking them together except for the fact that they all resemble murders by notorious serial killers. As the body count rises, the murders get progressively more violent but Jane and her team struggle to identify any suspects. Their opponent seems to always be one step ahead.

Review: I raced through this book, finding it extremely enjoyable and exciting. I was desperate to get to the ending to learn who the killer was and how everything was going to be resolved.

Even though I haven’t read the other books in the series this wasn’t off-putting, this book can easily be read as a standalone. If anything, I will now probably go back to read the other 4 books as this one was such a good read. I really liked DCI Phillips as a strong female lead and enjoyed the workplace dynamics with the other police officers and her boss. I felt that there was a good balance struck between getting to know the characters and the fast-paced murder investigation.

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Ariadne – Jennifer Saint

~ Eden Haslam ~ Leave a comment

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Synopsis: In the tale of Theseus and the Minotaur the character of Ariadne often gets overlooked, even though she is the one who betrays her family to help Theseus slay the Minotaur. This story however places Ariadne and her sister Phaedra at the centre, focusing on them as they deal with the horror of their family and the subsequent fallout. In Ancient Greece, the women are inconsequential, voiceless, and traded like commodities. But the story of Ariadne shows they are much more than that – her complicated feelings towards her mother, the Minotaur (her brother), and her duty are explored as she learns the power she holds and attempts to discover where she belongs.

With romance, betrayal and tragedy, this story breathes life into the women that are often forgotten. Travelling from the labyrinth of the Minotaur, to the shores of Naxos, and the city of Athens, it explores the relationship between women, men, and the ever vengeful gods, and uses women’s voices to take familiar stories in a new direction.

Review: I was really excited to read this book. I grew up reading Greek mythology and was so interested to see how this book retold a familiar story but from a female perspective. And I have to say I wasn’t disappointed. Although it did take me a while to connect to Ariadne as a character, her feelings for Theseus in particular could have been explored in more depth to feel less superficial, I was drawn in by the beautiful descriptions and strength of emotions that drive the story.

The various tales of Greek heroes and Gods were well woven in, helping to create a rich atmosphere and a clear sense of the mythological world this story takes place in. As someone quite familiar with the different myths, it was nice to hear them told as stories by the different characters as it reminds you how interconnected the different stories are.

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Black Widows – Cate Quinn

~ Eden Haslam ~ Leave a comment

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Synopsis: Black Widows follows the perspectives of three wives, all married to Blake who is found murdered on their land far from anywhere else. Being in a plural marriage means these women are on the edge of society, even within the Mormon community. They do not trust the police and certainly do not trust each other as it seems clear that one of them must have killed him.

Review: This was such an interesting and intriguing book, partly because of the murder but also because of the relationships that are created. I found the plural marriage dynamic extremely interesting. I was so curious about the relationship between the three wives, especially considering how different they all are, and enjoyed how this developed across the book. I did feel that the character of Emily was not as fully developed as the others, but overall, there was a good sense of each character’s distinct personality.

The mystery aspect of the plot was very well-done, helping to draw the story to a satisfying conclusion. There were so many twists and turns that constantly makes you second-guess who the murderer is. I think having the three perspectives of the three wives really beneficial in this aspect as you get to hear each of their suspicions about each other, thereby influencing your own opinion.

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