Kathy

Not McKinty's best

Revisado: 09-06-23

I bought this for my husband for his birthday. I introduced him to McKinty's books and he has loved them. I've listened to a couple, but they are a bit violent for me. He was really looking forward to this. As always, Gerard Doyle is spectacular. The author's writing is excellent, but he found the story not as cohesive and captivating as the previous books. He did finish it and said he enjoyed it okay, but would not go back and reread it as we often do with favorites.

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I love Gervase Phinn's books and this is a true de

Revisado: 08-19-22

Gervase Phinn is a Yorkshire born man who has never lost his acdcent. He is a performer and storyteller. I wish I could see him live, but don't think he travels to the States. This is a book about a cruise to ports of call in Cadiz, Rome and other places. The cruisers are a completely disparate group of people with their hang-ups, quirks and problems. They range from an incredibly bright almost 13 year old boy to two sisters who are close but annoy one another. To top that off, one of them has the most wonderful malapropisms. "I hope there won't be any salamis on this cruise." And her sister explains to the captain that she means tsunamis. They get better.

Over the period of the cruise, lives change, some for the better, some for worse. The captain is a lovely and perceptive man. Phinn has a wonderful ear for language and brings it to this book which he reads. He is not young, but his expressive reading and his delight in his characters is something I love! This is his first book, at least that I know about which is not set in Yorkshire, a place I dearly love and almost lived. Listen to the sample to see if you will like his narration. I love it, and love his knack for bringing out lots of nuances in the people he portrays. I can't wait to read another book by this lovely writer!

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Wonderfully researched and beautifully read!

Revisado: 08-16-22

I will download the next tale in this series when I have a credit. I have loved the first five books. Please do start with the first one as the story builds on all the previous books. Philip Batley is a wonderful reader. He has a lovely voice and reads as if he is Nicholas, the narrator. These are not quite conventional mysteries. In some of the books there is a murder, but in a couple there is a grave miscarriage of justice. Ms. Swinfen obviously knew a lot about Oxford and paints vivid pictures of what life was like shortly after the plague which killed so many in England. There is much in these books about the scrivener's art and that of those who did illuminations for books of that time. Having visited present day Oxford, it's really neat to "visit" the medieval town. Each book has gotten better and better, because the characters continue to grow. I don't want the series to end!

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A truly lovely read!

Revisado: 07-30-22

This book brings one of the most delightful young characters Grainger has given us yet. Harp Delaney is a 12 year old girl who lives with her mother, who is housekepper to the wealthy family of their Queenstown city. It takes place at the time of the Titanic voyage. Harp does not fit in with her schoolmates as she is far advanced in her reading. She has read philosophy, literature and much more. Her mentor is the unmarried owner of the home cared for by Harp's mother. When her mentor dies, the will leaves the house to Harp. Her mum decides to turn it into a guesthouse for people leaving for America.
The last part of the book tells the plights of the first group of boarders and their worries and conflicts. In some ways this reminds me of Grainger's book The Tour, where each character makes decisions which will change their lives.

Ms. Grainger has a real understanding of people and what makes them tick. She writes with warmth and gentleness and I can't wait to purchase the next book in the series! This book came to me at a time when I really needed a feel good book and it lived up to my expectations and more!

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A truly lovely read!

Revisado: 07-30-22

This book brings one of the most delightful young characters Grainger has given us yet. Harp Delaney is a 12 year old girl who lives with her mother, who is housekepper to the wealthy family of their Queenstown city. It takes place at the time of the Titanic voyage. Harp does not fit in with her schoolmates as she is far advanced in her reading. She has read philosophy, literature and much more. Her mentor is the unmarried owner of the home cared for by Harp's mother. When her mentor dies, the will leaves the house to Harp. Her mum decides to turn it into a guesthouse for people leaving for America.
The last part of the book tells the plights of the first group of boarders and their worries and conflicts. In some ways this reminds me of Grainger's book The Tour, where each character makes decisions which will change their lives.

Ms. Grainger has a real understanding of people and what makes them tick. She writes with warmth and gentleness and I can't wait to purchase the next book in the series! This book came to me at a time when I really needed a feel good book and it lived up to my expectations and more!

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A truly delightful cozy mystery

Revisado: 06-29-22

This is the first book by Kinsey I've read. The characters are absolutely delightful. Lady Hardcastle is a woman of means and privelege in 1908 whose husband died years before the story begins. Her "maid" Flo is accomplished in ways to defend herself and is more friend than maid.

When a murder occurs in their new village, the two put their crime solving skills to work and assist the at first wary and then respectful police inspector to solve the murders. I wish I had infinite funds to purchase all the titles at once, but, no such luck! The narrator is what put this over the top for me. She is someone I've not listened to before, but I will search out things recorded by her. The book is clean, which is nice. Things are alluded to, but there is nothing graphic so I'm pleased about that.

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I am an Anna Jacobs fan for sure!

Revisado: 06-20-22

I have finished this entire series and loved them all. As the world seems to spin out of control and people are worried about food shortages and economic woes, it is good to realize that people have survived and even thrived during very trying times.

The fact that most of the people in her series are or have struggled. Yes, there are bad ones in the mix, but for the most part these books portrayed the important lesson (with no preaching) that when people work together and help one another out, all come out better. There is sadness and triumph. Reading these boks makes me want to try harder to look out for those who are struggling worse than I am.

I think for most people, the desire to be kind and helpful is important. When helping others get ahead, you are blessed. There is not one bit of preaching. The stories all end up with things wrapped up, but that's part of the aha! and ahhh! of finishing a book series which makes you feel better rather than worse about others.

I loved the reader for this book and can't wait for my next credits to buy another of Jacobs books. It's good to have a feel good series which also doesn't shy away from the fact that many people's lives are very shaky because of little or no income as well as sometimes evil people. It's also nice to see the nasty ones given there just desserts by the people who want their village and surroundings to thrive!

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I'm hooked again!

Revisado: 03-30-22

Jean Grainger is a lovely storyteller. Being Irish and having read a lot about the uprising in 1916 and the IRA later on, I have found this series to be very interesting. It's fascinating to see the class distinctions crumble due to WWII. In all of Grainger's books there is some intrigue which adds to the story. I have read 8 of Ms. Grainger's books so far and all have been at least highly readable and entertaining and most just wonderful!

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Totally engaging

Revisado: 03-22-22

Anna Jacobs has done her homework. We think things are bad today, and for some they are. But most of us have at least enough to eat, even if it isn't what we'd really like. We also have things like indoor plumbing and our 12 year olds don't need to work.
This is a story of a young girl who needs to take over the reins much too young and looks after her little sister. She is always just shy of losing the one room they live in. A pawn shop owner likes her pluck and offers a proposition that she marry his brother, who was badly wounded in WWI. She likes him and agrees, knowing she doesn't love him but that he is a good man and will be good to her and her little sister. He is not physically strong but does have talents and the two forge a very workable marriage and they realize together how much they can benefit the village of Ellendale, bringing much needed jobs to the people. There is some excitement and a murder attempt which is a place not to stop. The reader is one who has grown on me. She certainly knows dialects which for me is a plus. She was the perfect reader for this book. I'm about to begin the next book in the series.

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Just as much fun as the first three stories!

Revisado: 01-15-22

Loving both Oscar Wilde and Christie's Miss Marple, these have been a great find! The village is quaint and the residents are a delightful lot. Alfie is unlike anyone in his circle of friends. He gets along with everyone and has a wonderful way of solving mysteries along with two wonderful elderly ladies. Don't miss these!

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