Minnie's Fiction Addiction
Because one more chapter is never enough
Category: Book Review
-
👀 First impressions:Lucinda Berry is known for diving straight into the darkest corners of the human mind, and If You Tell a Lie is no exception. The premise immediately signals emotional tension, buried trauma, and a secret that refuses to stay hidden. From the opening chapters the story creates a sense of unease that pulls you in, suggesting…
-
👀 First impressions:The Women of Wild Hill opens with a strong sense of place, drawing the reader into a landscape shaped by history, weather and the long echo of women’s untold stories. The premise is compelling, centring on a woman who returns home and uncovers the hidden truths carried by generations before her. The dual timeline structure…
-
👀 First impressions:From the moment the Fitzmaurice family steps onto the page, One of Us feels like a slow, tightening coil of privilege, ambition and unresolved grudges. Elizabeth Day brings together old friends, old wounds and old scandals in a way that immediately sets the stage for betrayal. At the heart of the novel is Martin, a man…
-
👀 First impressions:Legion of the Damned is one of those books whose reputation precedes it, a cult classic of war literature first published in 1953 and still widely discussed today. Sven Hassel draws heavily on his own controversial past as a soldier in the German penal battalions during the Second World War. The novel follows Porta,…
-
👀 First impressions:Martin Edwards is a master of classic crime storytelling and Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife feels like a love letter to the Golden Age of mystery fiction. From the moment the story opens, there is a sense of nostalgia mixed with a sly modern twist. The premise is deliciously theatrical. A country house.…
-
👀 First impressions:I went into Namaste Motherfuckers expecting sharp humour, a bit of chaos, and a lot of honesty, and Cally Beaton delivers all of that with a refreshing lack of pretence. As a comedian and broadcaster, Beaton has a knack for cutting through polite filters and getting straight to the messy truth of modern life. The book…
-
👀 First impressions:Set in the bustling, dangerous world of ancient Pompeii, The Wolf Den follows Amara, a once free woman who has been sold into slavery and now lives and works in the city’s most infamous brothel, the Lupanar. The novel blends historical detail with emotional depth, revealing a world full of power plays, quiet rebellions,…
-
👀 First impressions:Heartwood begins deep in the Maine woods, where forty two year old Valerie Gillis vanishes only two hundred miles from completing her Appalachian Trail hike. Gaige immediately creates an atmosphere of isolation, cold air, and creeping dread as Valerie’s voice comes through in fractured, lyrical letters to her mother. Her storyline captures both physical…
-
👀 First impressions:The Essex Serpent begins with an irresistible mix of gothic atmosphere, Victorian unease and intellectual curiosity. Sarah Perry’s writing immediately stands out with its lyrical tone and rich historical detail. The novel introduces us to Cora Seaborne, newly widowed and intent on pursuing a life of freedom and discovery, who becomes fascinated by rumours of…
-
👀 First impressions:One Summer at Deers Leap immediately pulled me in with its blend of nostalgia, romance and the lingering echoes of wartime memories. Elizabeth Elgin is known for her sweeping emotional sagas, and this one settles into that familiar, comforting space. The setting is beautifully rooted in rural Yorkshire, centred around Deers Leap, a place touched…
Minnie's Fiction Addiction 