In the Shadow of War by Adrienne Chinn

 

"How could she be a girl of nineteen in love one day and an exhausted woman of almost thirty-nine the next?"

"Jessie is a saint and Etta is a sinner. Where does that leave her? The pathetic dutiful wretch who gets nowhere because she believes that hard work will be rewarded?"

In the Shadow of War by Adrienne Chinn is an excellent family saga/historical novel, set in the 1930s. The third book in the series gives us a textured, authentic rendering of the social and policial events in  London, Egypt, Canada, Italy and Spain. It has a solid plot, with a complex setting.

This book could be read as a standalone, but do start with the first book in the series. The storylines of the three sisters Fry and their mother, their secrets and tragedies, will be much clearer, if you know what has happened before, and it's a fascinating story.

Blurb:

One war may be over, but their fight for survival continues...

For sisters Etta, Jessie and Celie Fry, the Great War and the hardship of the years that followed have taken a heavy toll.

Determined to leave her painful past behind her, Etta heads to the bright lights of Hollywood whilst Jessie, determined to train as a doctor and use her skills to help others, is hampered by the men who dominate her profession. On the vast, empty plains of the Canadian prairies, Celie and her small family stand on the brink of losing eveything.

As whispers of a new war make their way to each other, each must face the possibility of the unthinkable happening again.

March 1932.

Etta Fry Marinetti is back at her mother's house, after being released from the psychiatric hospital. Despite their assurances that Etta is ready to come home, she appears confused about where she is. Etta also believes her late husband is still alive.

Etta's mother Christina opens her home to both her daughter and granddaughter Adriana. Adriana is a wayward adolescent, who can easily compete with Etta in their tendency to prioritise their own desires and needs above anyone else's.

Etta feels suffocated in her mother's house. "She has to rescue herself from this life of tedious normality. She is bored and irritated with the unrelenting monotony of it all". Believing she could give any Hollywood film star a run for their money, she decides to leave the boring life and head for stardom in California. It doesn't matter that she has no acting talent, or that her daughter loathes her and calls her weak, conceited and sefish, Etta is determined to have fun in Hollywood.

Her twin sister Jessie s running the Altumanina health clinic in Cairo. Her husband, Dr Aziz Khalid, is a caring, understanding and loving man. Jessie is training as a medical doctor, despite many difficulties. Their daughter Shani spends more time with the Khalids' cook and housekeeper than with her own parents.

The Egyptian society is changing, with the political unrest too close to home. When the tragedy strikes, Jessie has to reconsider her position and re-establish herself.

Their older sister, Celie, is building a life of a farmer's wife in Canada. Having suppressed her intellectual abilities and talents to accommodate the moods of her husband Frank who comes damaged from the war, she feels like "a rudderless boat in a sea of sun-beaten Alberta wheat. She is so far away from her mother and her sisters, out here on the Canadian prairie. So far away from everything and everyone who had once been so important to her, who are still important to her".

Celie and Frank's daughter Lulu is the apple of her parents' eye. Their dream of a new life of prosperity in Canada is constantly under threat.

Etta is the least likeable of the sisters. "Singularly self-absorbed", manipulative and totally deluded about her own skills as an actor, she is a walking disaster. 

Despite all the tragedies that befall her, it's difficult to sympathise with her. 

At first Jessie might appear as the total opposite of her twin sister, working in the medical profession and helping the others, but there is a certain selfishness about her as well. Jessie completely neglects her only daughter, depending on the others to bring her up, while she herself concentrates all her efforts on being a doctor. She fails her child as a mother.

For me the most fascinating storyline is that of Celie, struggling to eke a living in the harsh conditions of the Canadian prairie. 

The book ends on a cliffhanger which was a bit of a surprise, as I expected this book to be the final instalment of the trilogy. 

In the Shadow of War is an accomplished, compelling historical saga, a moving story of love and tragedy, family secrets and lies, betrayal and loyalty.

Well researched and written.

If you missed my previous reviews of the books I and II in the series, here are the links

Love in the Time of War

and

The Paris Sister

This post is part of the blog tour for In the Shadow of War.

Many thanks to Adrienne Chinn, One More Chapter and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

 

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shadow-War-sweeping-emotional-historical-ebook/dp/B0CNVLQ831/

https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-War-sweeping-emotional-historical-ebook/dp/B0CNVLQ831/

https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/in-the-shadow-of-war-the-three-fry-sisters-book-3

https://books.apple.com/ca/book/in-the-shadow-of-war/id6476353957

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-the-shadow-of-war-adrienne-chinn/1144610234

https://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/untitled-sisters-book-3-the-three-fry-sisters-book-3/adrienne-chinn/paperback/9780008501662.html

https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Untitled_Sisters_Book_3_The_Three_Fry_Si.html?id=ogXlEAAAQBAJ&redir_esc=y

 

Author Bio –

Adrienne Chinn was born in Grand Falls, Newfoundland, grew up in Quebec, and eventually made her way to London, England after a career as a journalist. In England she worked as a TV and film researcher before embarking on a career as an interior designer, lecturer, and writer. When not up a ladder or at the computer writing, she often can be found rummaging through flea markets or haggling in the Marrakech souk. Her second novel, The English Wife -- a timeslip story set in World War II England and contemporary Newfoundland -- was published in June 2020 and has become an international bestseller. Her debut novel, The Lost Letter, was published by Avon Books UK in 2019. Love in a Time of War, the first in a series of four books in The Three Fry Sisters series, was published in February 2022. The second in the series, The Paris Sister, was published in February 2023, and the third book in the series, In the Shadow of War, was published in March 2024.

Social Media Links –

https://www.adrienne-chinn.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/adriennechinnauthor/

https://www.instagram.com/adriennechinn/

https://twitter.com/adriennechinn

2

The Missing Maid by Holly Hepburn

 

"Whatever she'd been expecting, it wasn't a bag full of letters to - well, to someone who didn't exist".

"It seemed detective work was considerably more difficult than the pen of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle suggested and, for the first time, Harry felt the magnitude of what she had undertaken".

The Missing Maid by Holly Hepburn is an intriguing and entertaining cosy mystery, set in London in the early 1930s. This Sherlock Holmes-inspired story is the first book in The Baker Street Mysteries series.

Blurb:

London, 1932.

When Harriet White rebuffs the advances of her boss at the Baker Street building society where she works, she finds herself demoted to a new position... a very unusual position. Deep in the postal department beneath the bank, she is tasked with working her way through a mountain of correspondence addressed to Baker Street's most famous resident: Mr Sherlock Holmes.

Seemingly undeterred by the fact that Sherlock Holmes doesn't exist, letter after letter arrives, beseeching him to help solve mysteries, and Harry diligently replies to each writer with the same response: Mr Holmes has retired from detective work and now lives in Sussex, keeping bees.

Until one entreaty catches her eye. It's from a village around five miles from Harry's family estate, about a young woman who went to London to work as a domestic, then disappeared soon afterwards in strange circumstances. Intrigued, Harry decides, just this once, to take matters into her own hands.

And so, the case of the missing maid is opened...

Harriet White aka Harry is introduced to us as a "woman of education and refined manners". She works at the Baker Street building society.

"She liked earning her own money... the granddaughter of a baron had no title to inherit and needed to make her own way in the world". Unlike many young ladies of her circles, she is not looking for marriage as means of supporting herself. Her mother insists on introducing Harry to suitable bachelors in hopes to see her married. 

"So her job, though frowned upon by her family, was more than just employment - it was a declaration of independence". 

When insufferable Mr Pemberton attacks her in his office, Harry doesn't hesitate to knee him in the groin. As he crumples to the floor, howling, Harry leaves the office and continues with her work as if nothing had happened. The next morning she finds herself reassigned to the post room.

And not just any post room. 

Harry's new job is to reply to the letters addressed to Mr Sherlock Holmes. 

"Every correspondent ardently believed not only that the great detective was a real, flesh-and-blood person, but also that he could and would solve their mysteries. The had each set pen to paper, some in frustration, others in desperation, all in hope and anticipation that Sherlcok Holmes would heed their cry for help".

Harry is signing the letters on behalf of the great detective as his secretary. 

She understands that her boss sent her here, "hoping she would refuse to lower herself to such ridicuousness, and she wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of being proved right".

Her replies are kind and soothing, telling the recipients that Mr Holmes has retired and doesn't reside at Baker St any longer.

As the weeks roll by, Harry is questioning her determination to stick things out. "And then, one Tuesday morning, she opened the envelope that changed everything".

Miss E. Longstaff has lost all hope that the police would help her family to find her missing sister, Mildred, who used to work as a domestic in London. She vanished without any trace, and her family is desperate for any news about her whereabouts.

Harry wants to help, seeking information about the missing girl, under the guise of Holmes.

And thus Harry's adventures begin, taking her from the high society drawing rooms to the slums of London. Hoping to unravel the mystery, Harry has to think what would Sherlock Holmes do to solve it.

There is a fascinating insight in the female gangs of shoplifters, known as The Forty Elephants. Their heyday was in the interwar period. By 1932 Alice Diamond, the female crime boss, was in prison, but the new members replaced old hands. 

The character of Harry is well-drawn and likeable. Conan Doyle would have approved of Sherlock Holmes' "secretary".

The Missing Maid is a cracking mystery, with a strong female protagonist, and deft plotting. It is a finely-balanced mix of historical detail and cosy crime fiction.

This review is part of the blog tour for The Missing Maid.

Many thanks to Holly Hepburn, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/missingmaidsocial

Author Bio –

Holly Hepburn has wanted to write books for as long she can remember but she was too scared to try. One day she decided to be brave and dipped a toe into the bubble bath of romantic fiction with her first novella, Cupidity, and she's never looked back. She often tries to be funny to be funny, except for when faced with traffic wardens and border control staff. Her favourite things are making people smile and Aidan Turner.

She's tried many jobs over the years, from barmaid to market researcher and she even had a brief flirtation with modelling. These days she is mostly found writing.

She lives near London with her grey tabby cat, Portia. They both have an unhealthy obsession with Marmite.

Social Media Links –  

https://twitter.com/HollyH_Author

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollyh_author/

 

The Dubrovnik Book Club by Eva Glyn (review + #giveaway )

 

"...she could see the shop in front of her, Knjižara Svih Nacija written in a curve of gold paint across the top of the arched window. The name itself was wonderful, meaning "the bookshop where all are welcome". Even damaged souls like her. It would be her ethos as manager too: to welcome everybody".

"She had been an island for so long, but now she felt her very self would dissolve in a sea of emotion if she let it".

The Dubrovnik Book Club by Eva Glyn is a moving women's fiction, warm and engaging, positive and inspiring.

Blurb:

In a tiny bookshop in Dubrovnik's historic Old Town, a book club begins...

Newly arrived on the sun-drenched shores of Croatia, Claire Thomson's life is about to change forever when she starts working at a local bookshop. With her cousin Vedran, employee Luna and Karmela, a professor, they form an unlikely book club.

But when their first book club pick - an engrossing cosy crime - inspires them to embark upon an investigation that is close to the group's heart, they quickly learn the value of keeping their new-found friends close as lives and stories begin to entwine...

Claire finds herself in Dubrovnik, recuperating after a long Covid. Having found a perfect job in a local bookshop, Claire is hesitant. She feels vulnerable and anxious to return to work and be among people. She sees a threat of the dreaded virus everywhere, and the sight of just a few visitors to the store brings her panic attacks. 

"Claire didn't just want this to work out, she wanted her life back, full stop. And however terrified she was, she knew there was only one person who could make that happen".

The book club run by Claire and her younger colleague Luna is a little haven of tolerance and open-mindedness. It becomes a tribute to female solidarity, compassion and endurance.

Each chapter focuses on a character, and each book selected for the book club's discussion, mirrors some of the character's struggles and problems.

While I sympathise with Claire's anxiety after her prolonged illness, she is a bit self-absorbed to start with. Aided by her family, she has being protected to the point of cocooned. Coming across other people's stories and difficulties during the book club meetings and beyond, helps her face her own demons and realise that we cannot hide from life.

Claire's Gran Fran and her husband Jadran are very supportive, but they have their own serious problems. 

Her cousin Vedran has withdrawn from the society for his own reasons. His ex-girlfriend Didi has disappeared in suspicious circumstances, and many a finger point at him accusingly. Vedran's story adds a thriller/mystery element to the book club-centred narrative.

Luna is a young girl, exploring her sexuality, and struggling with her religious upbringing. In many ways she is very naive and childish. She is as bouncy as Tigger. Luna grew up in a small community, where religious narrow-mindedness reigns. Even her own parents are rigid and inflexible, dismissive of their daughter's identity.

And then there is Karmela, who appears quite stand-offish (more of being aloof rather than arrogant). Karmela is a visiting professor from Zagreb, who is doing research on the medieval Ragusan Republic and the place of women in the 16C society. 

She tries to push aside her childhood trauma of escaping from Sarajevo during the war, but memories are always there.

"The past - the war - was everywhere she looked, in everyone she spoke to. Crushing her like the oppressive heat before a storm. And she did not want it. Not at all. And yet she was powerless to stop it".

All the individual stories become interconnected, creating a fascinating tapestry.

Dubrovnik provides a beautiful and inspired setting for the plotline. The visual/descriptive aspect is one of the strengths of the book. I loved learning more about the history of this captivating place and found myself googling into the night some of the names mentioned in Karmela's research (something I wasn't familiar with).

Books about books and book clubs are very popular, and for a good reason. They shine a light on the intellectual and healing power of books. For me reading is like breathing, I wouldn't be able to survive without it. The last year has been pretty horrendous, and books keep me afloat, saving my sanity. And though my personal problems are completely different from the problems which the members of The Dubrovnik Book Club's have to face up to, I do share with them the joy the books bring, comfort and escapism, and the way they make you reflect on your past and present.

The Dubrovnik Book Club celebrates reading and brings sensitive subjects into the light. This captivating tale of friendship, with well-developed characters, and a strong sense of place, is truly affirming and redemptive. 

Potential triggers: long Covid, religious bigotry, domestic violence, people's lives damaged by wars.

This post is part of the blog tour for The Dubrovnik Book Club.

Many thanks to Eva Glyn and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

Purchase Links  - https://mybook.to/TheDubrovnikBookClub

Other retailers:
UK https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/the-dubrovnik-book-club-eva-glyn
US https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-dubrovnik-book-club-eva-glyn

Author Bio –

Eva Glyn fell in love with Croatia during her first holiday there in 2019; the incredible scenery, the delicious food, the country’s dramatic twentieth century history all played their part, but most of all it was the friendliness of the people.

 

One of these was tour director Darko Barisic, who told an incredible story about growing up in underground shelters during the war in the 1990s, and she knew she had to write a book around his experiences. This became her first Croatian novel, The Olive Grove, and she and Darko have become good friends and he continues to advise her on all aspects of Croatia.

 

Eva delves into Croatian history and everyday life for her inspiration, and visits the country as often as she can, having uncovered so many stories by talking to local people. Travel in general is her passion, followed closely by food and wine, which also find their way between her pages.

 

Although Welsh by birth she now lives in Cornwall with the man she met and fell in love with almost thirty years ago. She also writes as Jane Cable.

 

Social Media Links –

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/evaglynauthor/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EvaGlynAuthor/

Twitter https://twitter.com/JaneCable

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@dubrovnikbookclub

Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/eva-glyn

 

Giveaway to Win a paperback copy of The Dubrovnik Book Club (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –

Worldwide entries welcome.  

Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  

The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. 

If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. 

Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  

Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. 

This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  

Chez Maximka is hosting the Rafflecopter gadget for free for the purposes of the book promotion. I do not have access to the data collected, or the selection of the winner.

Neither am I responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thor's Revenge by Donovan Cook

 

"Someone dropped a cup and Sven thought he could hear the gods laughing in the sound it made as it bounced off the table. He gripped the ivory Mjöllnir around his neck and wondered why Odin loved to toy with him".

"The more he looked at it, the more beautiful it became. He couldn't tell any more if it was the allure of the power it possessed that drew him in more or just because it truly was the most beautiful cross he had ever seen".

Thor's Revenge by Donovan Cook is a splendid historical novel, set in Denmark and Francia.

This is the third book in the Charlemagne's Cross series, following two previous books - Odin's Betrayal and Loki's Deceit. This book reads as a standalone, though it would help reading the previous novels to better understand the dynamics between the main protagonists, and also the political intrigues that set the actions in motion.

Blurb:

Thor's revenge

A kingdom without a crown.

A boy forsaken by his God.

A warrior bent on revenge.

After the bloody Battle of Jelling, Denmark's throne lies empty and chaos reigns as Jarls jostle for power.

Sven survives the bloodshed only to return home to find Ribe acked by those he trusted and Charles, a pawn in a much bigger political game, kidnapped.

Consumed by the loss of Charles, Sven is shocked by the arrival of the Abbess Hildegard, daughter of his nemesis King Louis of East Francia, who seeks the whereabouts of Charles, her son, and also the cross of Charlemagne.

But whilst others want revenge for the chaos Sven has caused, Denmark burns and Sven must stand in the shield wall one more time if he is to survive and rescue his grandson.

Outnumbered and outmanoeuvered, Sven and Charles must put their fate in the hands of the gods if they ever want to see each other again.

Loki's Deceit, the second book in the series, ended on such a cliffhanger, and I couldn't wait to find out what happened next to Charles and his grandfather Sven. 

Thor's Revenge didn't disappoint. It is a riveting, galloping, compelling narrative, which brings the distant historical period to life. It begins where Loki's Deceit ends, smoothly picking up the thread of the narrative.

Cook has a gift for evoking the spirit of time and place. We meet again young Charles who is trying to survive in the aftermath of the great battle, where the king of Denmark has perished. The country is left lawless and defenceless. 

Charles is still pretty much a pawn in the chess game, and just like the pawn, he is passed, and isolated. He is the weakest piece yet also important, as his very existence creates threats to more valuable figures. All the conspiracies and secrets are being revealed rapidly, shattering his world even more.

Brought up as a Christian, Charles is questioning his faith, asking important questions regarding God's omnipotence and credibility. He begins to see that not everything is black and white. There are good and bad people among both Christian Franks and Danes who believe in the Norse gods. 

His grandfather Sven the Boar is broken by guilt. So many people who loved and trusted him, end up dead. And now his grandson is kidnapped. Sven blames himself for going along with the political schemes of the wannabe-king. His own people in Ribe distrust him, many of them don't want to see him as their Jarl. Sven makes one strategic mistake after another. Will he be able to be reunited with Charles?

There is a whole plethora of supporting characters, from the courageous and passionate shield maiden Thora to reserved Abbess Hildegard, from kind but weak Father Leofdag to everyone's grandma Ingvild who wants to feed Charles to fatten him up a bit, from Gerold the nasty piece of work to a very obstinate little girl Jorlaug, and plenty more. They are all memorable, portrayed masterfully, and superbly choreographed.

Thor's Revenge is a well-plotted, fast-moving blockbuster, with compelling characters and a cracking plotline.

This is a brilliant series, that got me hooked on the distant past. I cannot wait to read the next book.

Many thanks to Donovan Cook, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/thorsrevengesocial

 

Author Bio –

Donovan Cook is the author of the well-received Ormstunga Saga series and the Charlemagne's Cross series, both of which combine fast-paced narrative with meticulously researched history of the Viking world and are inspired by his interest in Norse Mythology. Donovan was born in South Africa but raised in England.

Social Media Links –   

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonovanCookAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DonovanCook20

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/DonovanCookNews

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/donovan-cook

Hazard Night by Laura Vaughan (guest post)

 

Hazard Night

Cleeve College is not for everyone...

When Eve's husband is appointed housemaster at his old boarding school, Cleeve College, she gives up her life in London to join him. But the isolation and loss of autonomy threaten both her happiness and her marriage.

The arrival of Fen, an enigmatic artist and wife of the new Classics teacher, is a welcome distraction. Fen doesn't play by the rules, and she and Eve enter into a game of escalating dares, disrupting the delicate balance of school life.

Then, the morning after Hazard Night, a tradition that allows the students to run wild and play pranks for one day, a body is found. Someone has been murdered. And it seems everyone has something to hide...

Purchase Link - https://shorturl.at/cMPS6

Author Bio – Laura Vaughan grew up in rural Wales. She got her first book deal aged twenty-two and spent several years working in publishing, followed by a behind-the-scenes role at English National Ballet. She lives in South London with her husband and two children. Hazard Night is her third novel for adults.

Social Media Links – https://twitter.com/CorvusBooks

https://twitter.com/LVaughanwrites

Please welcome Laura Vaughan who talks about HAZARD NIGHT & Dark Academia.

 

Dark Academia centres on the rot at the heart of elite educational institutions. The most famous example is Donna Tartt’s THE SECRET HISTORY, but you can find elements of the genre in classics such as BRIDESHEAD REVISITED or GAUDY NIGHT. For film-lovers, SALTBURN uses several of the tropes, as does THE RIOT CLUB (an adaptation of Laura Wade’s play POSH). It’s the kind of morality tale that’s concerned with the seduction, then corruption, of wealth and privilege. There’s a heady dose of youthful arrogance and twisted desires. What more could a crime writer want?

 My first adult novel, THE FAVOUR, was about a decadent group of art history students in Italy, who end up having to hide nasty secret. With HAZARD NIGHT, I set the action even more squarely in Dark Academia-land: an elite boarding school.

It’s transgressive fun to take a peek at privileged people behaving badly. The pay-off is when they get their come-uppance. In gilded-youth noir, the reader generally sees events through the eyes of an outsider who, knowingly or unknowingly, brings about everyone’s downfall. There are a number of outsiders in HAZARD NIGHT – and all are potential agents of destruction.

One is Eve, the lonely and frustrated wife of a housemaster; the other is Alice, is the neglected teenage daughter of the school chaplain. Both Eve and Alice fall under the spell of glamorous newcomers. Fenn, the bohemian wife of the new Classics master, befriends Eve and draws her into an escalating game of dares. Alice is taken under the wing of the Bette, queen bee of the new female sixth-formers, and finds herself caught in a love-triangle of far-reaching consequences. Observing all of them from the shadows is Lindsey, the townie girl who works in the school laundries, and seems to know more of Cleeve’s secrets than the faculty do.

It’s no coincidence that this group of outsiders and disruptors is female. Cleeve College is a bastion of male entitlement: a place “where female rage has little currency”.  The story is set in the nineties, a more innocent time in some ways, when teenagers grew up free from the baleful influence of social media. Yet it was also a time when casual racism, sexism and homophobia were often imbedded in classroom life. The whole concept of Dark Academia is, in any case, rooted in privilege. I wanted to explore the viewpoint of the boys who rule the roost at Cleeve, but in a way which allowed for another outside perspective.

Henry Zhang is one of a number of recent arrivals from Hong Kong, whose parents, worried about the upcoming handover of the territory to the Chinese, have dispatched their children to the safety of a British boarding school. He’s handsome and popular, the captain of the cricket team, but also painfully aware his success is contingent on never rocking the boat, never being overheard talking Cantonese with the other Asian kids … and smiling along when he’s called the Yellow Peril. But for all his carefulness, Henry, like the other outsiders at Cleeve, doesn’t realise how quite how precarious his position is.

A boarding school campus is its own self-contained world, which can seem impregnable as well as impenetrable to those who don’t belong. But it’s a very delicate ecosystem, nonetheless. “Hundreds of disparate people, the majority of whom are in a hormonal maelstrom of one sort or the other, cooped up together in a wholly artificial environment and governed by a mixture of ritual and convention alone! You disrupt something like this at your peril,” as one character observes.

            And peril is certainly coming, for the discovery of a dead body in the school grounds is only the beginning…

Degustabox February Box

 

Degustabox is a monthly food and drink subscription box. It's an excellent way of discovering new products which have only just appeared in the shops, or those which have been around for a while, but you haven't had a chance to try them yet.

Thanks to Degustabox, I have found new favourites to add to our shopping list, including some products which I otherwise wouldn't have tried.

Each time a monthly box arrives, its contents are a total surprise. You get a good selection of foods and drinks.

If you haven't tried Degustabox subscription box yet, and would like to have a go, I have a £3off discount from your first box (and you can unsubscribe any time), just use code DKRLN when placing an order. 

What did we get in February Box Degustabox?

Kellogg's KRAVE Choco Brownie Flavour (£3.29) is the latest addition to the Kellogg's range. If you love chocolate-flavoured cereals, you will enjoy these cocoa flavoured mixed cereal pillows, with the gooey-melty chocolate filling inside.

This cereal is made of natural grains, and contains B vitamins, no artificial colours or flavours. Suitable for vegetarians, RSPO certified, and Rainforest Alliance certified (cocoa).

Nutritional information: 131kcal and 7.5g of sugar per 30g serving.

Available exclusively at ASDA.

Snatt's Bocaditos Tomato and Oregano (£2.20) are Mediterranean snacks. These oven-baked bread pieces are flavoured with tomato and oregano.

Nutritional information: 8g of protein, 8g of fibre, 2g of salt, 503kcal per 100g. No palm oil, no added MSG. 

Great with tapas, or toppings for creating authentic pintxos. Or serve with creamy dips, or a bowl of soup.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

Tweek Sweets Fizzy Fusion 80g/or Smoothie Chews 70g or Foam Fever 70g (£1.99) is a traditional candy with a twist. Their brand name is inspired by the word "tweak" meaning to fix, fine tune and improve. Try the new tweaked recipes and be the judge whether the new versions come up trumps.

These sweets have natural colours and flavourings, they are high-fibre, have no added sugar and 50% fewer calories. Also gluten free and halal certified.

Available online at tweeksweets.uk, on Amazon, Protein Package, TK Maxx, Margiotta, Skinny Food Co and Muscle Food.

You should receive 1 item in your box.

Maggi Recipe Mix Piri-piri and Fajita (£0.99 each) are blends of herbs and spices.

I might be one of a very few people who didn't get an air fryer when it became trendy, and if you don't have one either, don't worry. These blends could be used for cooking in the oven, pan or grill too. Check out www.maggi.co.uk for more information.

You should receive two items in your box. 

Maggi Piri Piri is recommended to be used with chicken fillets, but it will give a lovely kick to a vegetarian dish as well, you could add it to veggie burgers or dips.

Nutritional values: 249kcal and 1.4g of sugar per serving. A packet makes 4 servings, when prepared.

Maggi Fajita is perfect with chicken, peppers and onions, but again could be used in vegetarian recipes.

Available at Sainsbury's, Iceland, B&M stores.

Maggi Chow Mein Flavour Instant Noodles (£2) are instant noodles, that could be eaten as a main or side dish. Add these noodles to your stir fry, or  a bowl of soup, with a little bit of garlic, ginger and black pepper for a satisfying meal.

This is a multipack of 4.

Nutritional values: 273kcal and 1.10g of salt per each pack. Low in saturated fat and suitable for vegetarians. Just add boiling water, wait for 3 minutes and enjoy.

Available at Poundland and Iceland.

Boundless Sweet Chilli Nuts & Seeds (£2.50) are gluten free vegan snacks. The motto on the package is We deliver Gut happy snacking.

Full of fibre and packed with nutrients (magnesium, potassium, zinc and iron) in every crunch to leave you feeling good.

Nutritional values: 172kcal and 0.26g of salt per 30g serving (3 servings in a packet).

Add these nuts and seeds to porridge, salad, soup or yogurt, or snack on their own.

Available at ASDA, Ocado and at weareboundless.co.uk and on Amazon.

Heinz Chicken Broth (£1.70) is a comforting soup made with pearl barley, carrots, parsnips, swede, chicken, leeks and other ingredients. Heat it gently in a pan before serving. A handy standby in the kitchen pantry, for a quick and easy meal, when you have no time or desire to cook. 

Contains no artificial colours or preservatives.

Typical values: 68kcal and 1.8g of sugar per 1/2 can.

Available at Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, ASDA and Ocado.

Just Spices Mexican Allrounder/ Pancake Spice Mix/ Chips Seasoning, or Avocado Topping (£1.90 for two sachets) are funky seasoning blends.

I discovered this brand a few months ago, and bought quite a few little jars to try. Our favourite is Egg Topping, it really lifts up boring fried or scrambled eggs. A real winner. There was also an Advent Calendar from Just Spices, which looked fabulous.

We received two sachets of Avocado Topping and Chips Seasoning. These seasoning blends are made without additives.

Available at justspices.co.uk only in the Taster Box at £9.99. You can buy bigger pots at Waitrose. 

Sparklean Tropical Vegan Protein Drink (£2.50) is a fizzy soft drink which promises health perks of a nutritional supplement, as it contains 15g of vegan protein in each 330ml can.

Ingredients include: water, pea protein, white grape juice, natural flavours etc.

It's available in tropical, strawberry & lime, as well as orange flavours.

Nutritional values: 80kcal, 1g carbs, 1g sugar.

Available at Boots, Amazon and Direct.

Whatever Brands Jelly Belly Fruit Drinks (£1.29 for 550ml) is a range of soft drinks with iconic flavours such as Very Cherry, Berry Blue and Tutti-Frutti.

These drinks contain 20% fruit juice, less than 5g sugar per 100ml, no artificial flavours and are fortified with vitamins A, C and E. They are also HFSS compliant and suitable for vegans.

You should receive 1 item of three in your box.

We received a blue bottle, Berry Blue. I had one sip, and found it way too sweet to my taste, but my son enjoyed it.

Available at local delis, groceries, Home Bargains and Poundland.

And finally, the Product of the Month - Tilda Tasty Sides Indian Black Dahl or Chinese Black Bean (£1.99). 

I saw Tilda's launch of the new products last year, and since Tilda is our favourite brand of pre-cooked rice, I really fancied trying new products. These vegetarian meals are both great with rice.

You should receive 1 item in your box. We got Tilda Indian Black Dahl. Its ingredients include cooked Urid lentils, vegetables (spinach, carrots), single cream, cooked Mung Dhal, tomatoes, caramelised onions, spices and oils. Serve with rice, and a naan bread for a tasty meal.

Nutritional values: 94kcal and 1.3g of sugar per 100g. No artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. High in fibre. Vegetarian, but not vegan. 

Available at Tesco, Ocado and Amazon Fresh.

What was your favourite product in the latest Degustabox?

Murder at the Leaning Tower by T.A. Williams

 

"There was no question that he was a brilliant - and ruthless - businessman with a nose for a lucrative deal, and not too many scruples about how he made his money. According to what I'd read, in his private life he was also far from mundane".

"Murder's never pretty, but in a city of such overwhelming beauty, it appeared even more squalid".

Murder at the by T.A. Williams  is a marvellous and highly entertaining murder mystery set in Italy.

This is the 6th book in the Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mysteries series. It reads perfectly as a standalone, but it might help understand the dynamics between the main characters, as well as their back story, if you've read some or all of the previous books in the series.

Blurb:

A cozy crime series set in gorgeous Tuscany... It's murder in paradise!

A secluded villa...

When Dan Armstrong is asked to provide security at a private villa on the outskirts of Pisa, he's pretty sure it will be an easy job. Villa Gregory is remote; the gathered guests are rich - what could possibly go wrong?

A glittering gathering...

Inside the high walls of the palatial villa, Dan discovers the gathered guests are some of the most powerful tycoons in the media world, with plans for world domination. With so much at stake, Dan redoubles his efforts to keep everyone safe.

A detective under pressure?

But when one of the group is found murdered, Dan's heart sinks - especially considering Anna's own daughter is in the frame! When the police arrive, Dan meets formidable Inspector Adolfo Vinci, a man whose main talent seems to be for getting things wrong. It all goes from bad to worse for Dan as the man from the Leaning Tower starts leaning on him.

It's another case for Dan and Oscar to sovle and this one won't be easy!

Dan Armstrong is pretty content with his life in Italy. He has a decent job, a comfortable place to live, a loving girlfriend, and a loyal companion, his dog Oscar. "Now that I had resigned from the Met, moved to Tuscany, and set up my own business as Dan Armstrong, Private Investigator, I once again found myself doing my own legwork, and it wasn't always a bundle of fun."

One day he is approached by a Business Development Executive with a request, "My boss is hosting an important meeting there in two weeks' time and he'd very much appreciate it if you could be responsible for security while the meeting's taking place".

Thus Dan agrees to provide security for the top secret meeting of media and finance moguls. "The people taking part are all major players in the field, some household names, and if news of what's being discussed at the meeting were to get out, there would be hell to pay".

The meeting takes place in a remote Villa Gregory, known for its quirky previous owner and the replica of the Leaning Tower in the grounds.

When one of  the guests is found dead in their room, the local police make one blundering mistake after another. The local Inspector called Vinci "fancies himself as a tough guy, like one of those bad Hollywood cops... He likes to think he's a character from a movie - although he doesn't have Clint Eastwood's looks".

The murder victim wasn't universally popular, and though the pool of suspects is limited, it appears quite a few of them would have wanted to see this person dead. Jealousy, and financial misdoings are possible murder motives. Money and sex could be the prime motivators.

Vinci who thinks he's "God's gift to policing" coming with the ludicrous assumptions, one of which is accusing the daughter of Dan's girlfriend.

In a way, this is an Agatha Christie-esque type of plotline, with all the suspects being confined to a secluded villa. Dan has to read the clues and eliminate suspects one by one, if he wants to find the murderer(s) before the time runs out.

There are so many elements that make this series great fun - a gentle humour, a wonderful relationship between man and dog, spectacular settings (a new location in each book), descriptions of social mores and food, vivid characterisation.

This is cosy crime at its best. As enjoyable and delectable as an Italian gelato on a hot summer day, or a glass of zesty Aperol spritz by the seaside. 

You may find many dog characters in cosy crime fiction, who accompany the main protagonist and bring humour into the narrative, but Oscar is by far my favourite.

Murder at the Leaning Tower is a hugely enjoyable mystery, clever and well-plotted, with pleasingly ironic notes.

This post is part of the blog tour for Murder at the Leaning Tower.

Many thanks to T.A. Williams, Boldwood and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/MurderTowerSocial

Author Bio –

T A Williams is the author of over twenty bestselling romances for HQ and Canelo and is now turning his hand to cosy crime, set in his beloved Italy, for Boldwood. The series will introduce us to retired DCI Armstrong and his labrador Oscar and the first book, entitled Murder in Tuscany, will be published in October 2022. Trevor lives in Devon with his Italian wife.

Social Media Links –  

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