For several years I wrote a book blog and accumulated reviews of some really good reads.
I saw on Twitter that Renee at It’s Book Talk started using the #ThrowbackThursday meme as a way to share books that are old favourites or have been waiting to be read for a long time.
I decided to visit my old book reviews and re-post my favourites here on 3sixtyfiveblog for #ThrowbackThursday.
So far I’ve included:
An Englishwoman’s Guide to the Cowboy by June Kearns
Kings and Queens by TerryTyler
and Make a Joyful Noise by Jenny Worstall.
This week it’s Everybody Lies, a Detective Crombie mystery thriller by Julia Hughes.
From the Amazon book description:
A conman flees the country after stealing a potentially explosive journal.
A fading rockstar on the brink of a new career as an actor commits suicide.
A talented ballet student boards a train and never arrives at her destination.
DI Crombie is determined to find the missing schoolgirl, who disappeared along with a mysterious Scandinavian youth. But as concerns grow for the kids’ safety, Crombie uncovers a web of intrigue and a family secret that someone is determined to keep – no matter what the cost.
Luckily Crombie’s got a new side-kick – and rookie McKay punches well above her weight!
My Review from Indie Bookworm
The first thing to say is that Everybody Lies is a really good novel and a most enjoyable detective story.
I like Julia Hughes’ writing but I think she’s written her best book so far with this one.
DI Crombie is a wonderful character. He first appears in the author’s Celtic Cousins’ Adventure series where he alternately helps and hinders the cousins in pursuit of their goals.
He’s taciturn, down-to-earth, idiosyncratic and totally authentic and when I met him in A Raucous Time I knew he had the potential to develop into a real star.
Next I read Crombie’s Christmas where Crombie appears centre stage in his own short story. It’s a quick read which includes some new aspects to Crombie’s character and more back story about his home life. Crombie’s Christmas ended with a hint from the author that there were more Crombie stories in the pipeline. And now there is! A full length Crombie novel which is really good.
A missing teenager, a disappearing conman and a suicidal rock-star are a huge challenge for Detective Inspector Crombie when he is given the job of investigating a complex web of family secrets and deceit.
The tricky plot is full of twists and red herrings that keep the reader guessing right to the end. There’s a great sense of reality with sharp, entertaining dialogue and an attention to detail that makes Everybody Lies a gripping page-turner and a thrilling whodunnit.
Everybody Lies has a strong supporting cast and some particularly good female characters on both sides of the law. Written in a light-hearted, easy-reading style, from start to finish the book is humorous and entertaining.
A great full-length first novel for DI Crombie and another good read from Julia Hughes.
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