My favourite bingo books

Having finally completed the Book Bingo challenge of 2019, I wanted to reflect on some of my favourite discoveries. This challenge has allowed me to discover new authors and encouraged me to continue doing so, beyond the Bingo. The books I have read have all offered enjoyment and I thrived on the challenge on finding novels that would fit each category, particularly the obscure ones.

Below is a list of my top favourite finds in the Book Bingo challenge. I hope the reviews have been helpful and I look forward to doing another challenge next year!

Young adult Victorian mystery

‘The Ruby in the Smoke’ – Philip Pullman

Sally Lockhart’s father was an unconventional man who preferred to teach his daughter how to run a business and shoot straight from a pistol, rather than school her in the social graces expected of a young lady. When he dies suddenly and unexpectedly, on a voyage to the Far East, Sally receives a mysterious letter containing a strange warning – one that is to lead to yet another unexpected death. Soon Sally finds herself at the heart of a deep and dangerous mystery, and one which she is determined to solve at all costs

The final outstanding category in my book bingo for the year was to read the first book by a favourite author. Looking over the books I have logged on my Goodreads account, Pullman was up there. I don’t have one favourite author but loved the Northern Lights trilogy. Having read The Ruby in the Smoke frequently when I was growing up, I thought it was high time to revisit that feeling of youthfulness!

I think this book, the start of a four-part series (reviews to be following soon), are an ideal read for a young adult, even pre-teenager. We have a strong, female heroine with the likes of Sally, and a likeable supporting cast. Set in Victorian London, we follow a mystery that involves Sally, the unexpected death of her father, and a precious ruby. When Sally first starts out, she is dramatically isolated, but quickly makes friends. Jim, Fred and Trembler are wonderful friends to her and show readers that companions can be supportive and never expecting something in return.

With all good mysteries we have a positive protagonist and then the evil villain. In this case, Mrs Holland is chilling, creepy and quite evil. She is determined and unstoppable; totally immoral, she is the antithesis to Sally in strength and loyalties. I found Mrs Holland rather chilling and, coupled with the recurrent motif of opium, this could make a rather dark novel for younger readers. Pullman goes into a lot of detail of the effects of this narcotic and yes, it can be used as a deterrent to drugs, it is all rather dark and like a nightmare. Opium and the opium dens are a key part to the progression of the plot, so this is something to consider if offering this book to a younger reader.

Whilst I really enjoy reading Pullman’s writing, this is not an example of his strongest fiction- perhaps because it is the first novel he published? I remember having this feeling when I read this series many years ago: deducing that other books in the series were more enjoyable and a lot less dark. True, the plot does move at a pace and there is plenty of intrigue in the mystery. However, aside from getting to know the key characters, this was not the most exciting.

I am pleased to be able to revisit a series from my childhood. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the books although, it is probably for the last time. If you are looking for a well-written, creepy Victorian mystery with a range of characters to suit all tastes however, then I think that maybe this book will suit your needs.

Book Bingo category: The first book by a favourite author.

 

It’s no Arthur Miller

‘The Witchfinder’s Sister’ – Beth Underdown

THE MOST THRILLING HISTORICAL DEBUT OF 2017.

Based on the shocking true story of the infamous witchfinder Matthew Hopkins, this haunting and gripping novel is perfect for fans of The Miniaturist, Sarah Waters and The Essex Serpent.

‘The number of women my brother Matthew killed, so far as I can reckon it, is one hundred and six…’

1645. When Alice Hopkins’ husband dies in a tragic accident, she returns to the small Essex town of Manningtree, where her brother Matthew still lives.

But home is no longer a place of safety. Matthew has changed, and there are rumours spreading through the town: whispers of witchcraft, and of a great book, in which he is gathering women’s names.

To what lengths will Matthew’s obsession drive him? 

And what choice will Alice make, when she finds herself at the very heart of his plan?

I was really excited to read this book but have been significantly disappointed after finishing it. Having studied Arthur Miller’s The Crucible at school, I have always had an interest in the witch trails and the history surrounding this. Yet, this book by Beth Underdown was considerably dull and I was somewhat underwhelmed. Whilst it is fantastically written, I instead found myself counting down the pages until completion.

It is obvious that Underdown has carried out extensive research for writing this novel and this certainly enriches the narrative. The authorial note at the end summarises the truth and what is known about Matthew Hopkins yet, the duration of the book did feel like a fictionalised version of a history book. The narrative was dry and quite tedious in places; it felt rather heavy-going and dense at times and I think this had a significant impact on my enjoyment of the book.

The narrative begins rather intriguingly with its first-person account from Alice. Readers are informed that she is imprisoned and is writing her story of what has happened in Essex. However, after the first few chapters, my excitement had lessened. The writer takes great pains in informing us of Alice’s past – her history of her marriage to Joseph and her childhood with Matthew – yet, I did not think this added to my understanding of her character. True, it was interesting but, the sudden time-shifts sometimes confused my already wandering brain. I would have preferred a chronological narrative, rather than non-linear, and believe this may have helped to increase the gradual intensity of the story.

As Matthew’s involvement in the witch-hunt is made clear, the techniques used to “discover” a witch were really intriguing. Again, it was obvious that Underdown has completed research on this and it was the middle section that I found most interesting. Interesting, however, in terms of fact-finding, but less engaging as an immersive novel to read. Alice’s helpless feelings were horrifying, particularly as it was obvious that no one was willing to stand up for these accused women and try to defend them.

Going into this book, I was expecting something akin to Arthur Miller: the pace, intensity and excitement of the witch-trails, and the paranoia and fear. However, I do not think Underdown successfully portrays these emotions and instead feel that the story is more of an account rather than a fictionalisation of events which I believe are usually overlooked in British history.

Book Bingo category completed: A book based on a true story.

Chilling atmosphere

‘The Ghost of Hollow House’ – Linda Stratmann

A peaceful country retreat has become the scene of relentless terror… 

Sussex, 1872 .

Mina Scarletti is invited to ancient Hollow House to investigate reports of ghostly occurrences.
The current occupants – newlyweds Mr Honeyacre and his wife, Kitty – have been plagued by unexplained noises and strange visions since moving into the property. 

And now most of their servants refuse to stay at the house after dark for fear of encountering the ghostly presence of ‘the woman in white’. 

A determined sceptic, Mina’s main concern is for Kitty, whose health appears to be dramatically sinking under the strain of all that is going on. 

With the help of her trusted adviser, Dr Hamid, and her lively friend, Nell, Mina must get to the heart of the mystery. 

Have the maids merely been frightening themselves with tales of the macabre? Is there a rational explanation for what is being reported? Or will Mina be forced to admit to the presence of a ghost in Hollow House?

A cosy mystery featuring an isolated mansion that is rumoured to be haunted. This is an ideal book to read for those seeking a spooky, chilling atmosphere. One to read at night, I found myself carried away with the gothic descriptions and often felt chilled and spooked by the narrative.

Although the fourth in the series, this is not noticeable and I quickly settled into the plot. The writer provides ample information about the protagonist, Mina, that I did not feel that anything was lacking. I imagine that the first book of the series allows readers a more detailed perspective into Mina’s background. This definitely appeals to me and opens up the probability of seeking out the rest of the series.

What I liked about this spooky mystery is the chilling atmosphere that the writer creates. This book gave me goosebumps and the pathetic fallacy employed doubles the creepiness of the setting further. An isolated mansion in the countryside that is in the process of being refurbished, it is surrounded by rumours of ghosts and hauntings. I wasn’t sure what direction the writer would take this supernatural angle, especially as sometimes the ghosts are considered as real (sorry to any believers out there!). That being said, I felt the treatment of the supernatural was justly done and the plot progression was enough to keep my spine tingling and my interest piqued; the narrative is not prolonged so as not to impact the pace.

Several moments in the novel really touched me, particularly as I read them before falling asleep! Images of a rocking horse with no rider, a violent seance and a groaning sleepwalker were all described in a manner that intensified the tension within the scenes. I loved Mina’s detached and logical treatment of the circumstances – it was the complete opposite to how I was feeling!

Having said all of this, I still could not give this book the full five stars. Mina’s secondary career is being, quite literally, a ghost writer. She creates scary stories under a false name (so as not to upset her mother!) and, at the end of the novel, is Mina’s adaptation of the events of the story. In other words, it is a repeat of the book in a far smaller story and the characters names have changed. For me, this was too much and I believe Stratmann could have approached this idea completely differently to avoid such repetition. In my opinion, the pace of the novel considerably lessened and I found myself slightly bored by the closing chapter. Surely there was a different way to show how Mina created her story based on the events at a Hollow House?

I know I have said this many a time now about discovering new authors, but I feel like I have to say it again: my first read by Stratmann and I am so pleased to have encountered her writing. I am certainly going to look to read the rest of the series as I enjoyed the Victorian, cosy mystery theme.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Bingo category completed: A book that scares you.

 

Immersive detail

‘The Trespass’ – Barbara Ewing

It is 1849 and following the death of her mother and protective elder sister, Harriet is left to the mercy of her father, who would rather she acted as his wife than his daughter. Her only option is to follow her cousin to New Zealand; but her father is prepared to chase her across oceans.

Set in the Victorian era, Ewing’s attention to detail made this a totally immersive  read. At times reminding me of a classic book, the imagery and descriptions of Victorian London, characterisation and the journey to New Zealand made it feel that I was there with the characters. However, I sometimes found the plot a little slow and hard-going, hence me only giving this four stars.

I haven’t recently read many books set in Victorian London but know a fair bit about the historical element. Ewing has clearly done her research (as supported by her selected bibliography at the back of the novel,) and the scenes that she describes are extremely powerful. The ignorance towards cholera and treatments, colliding with the “laissez-faire” attitude of the upper classes, is superbly captured by Ewing. I would argue that about a third of the story focuses on this setting and by the time Harriet, the protagonist of the novel, has eventually fled England, readers have a true sense of the suffering and traumas being experienced in a hygienically-challenged city.

Coupled with the powerful descriptions is the vivid characterisation. Many characters play key roles within this story and this is not something I will go into detail about, for fear of giving the plot away! However, undoubtedly, whenever Harriet’s father takes centre stage, I literally found myself growing cold and filling with hatred towards him. I wanted to take Harriet out of the awful situation she is in, especially the immediate days following the death of her sister, Mary. On the other hand, Benjamin was a hero to myself, especially with his forward-thinking ideologies on the treatment of women and the class system. The patriarchal nature of society was suffocating for women and Ewing expertly captures this in the male characters and their attitudes towards both Mary and Harriet’s actions.

As the book moves to New Zealand, the writing very much reminded me of a book I read several years ago (sorry, I didn’t review it back then!) – Kate Grenville’s The Secret River. The hope and optimism faced by travellers seeking a new start across the globe is confounded by difficulties with the land, natives and a severe lack of money and supplies. This is epitomised by Edward and even Harriet recognises that there has been some serious exaggeration of the truth when it comes to enticing emigrants to start a new life in New Zealand.

This was a thrilling read and a Victorian version of a game of cat and mouse. Except, this time, the females are in such a restricted environment that they literally had no voice and no control over any decisions. The empowerment that Harriet demonstrates, despite all the struggles she encounters, marks a move towards a new type of woman; one who is not afraid to be her own person and not dominated by men.

The thriller was recommended to me and I am certainly glad to have read this! Being my first Barbara Ewing novel, I am definitely enthusiastic to go and find further novels to add to my Ewing shelf! I am not sure if this has broad appeal due to some of the plot’s density, but it certainly made a change from my more recent reads.

Book Bingo category completed: A book your friend loves.

Accessible Dickens

‘Hard Times’ – Charles Dickens

No other work of Charles Dickens presents such a scathing indictment against the relentless greed of the Victorian industrial society and its misapplied philosophy. With savage bitterness, Dickens unmasks the terrible industries that imprisoned the bodies of the helpless labour class and the equally diabolical institutions that shackled the development of their minds.

I have read this book many, many times as a result of my schooling. I wasn’t too keen when I had to study it, often quipping that ‘it does as it says on the tin!’. However, years on, whilst I look at this book with rose-tinted glasses and fond memories, it was more to do with my years of studying, rather than reading this offering! Dickens is always quite an intense read and, whilst this is no exception, I do feel that this is one of his more accessible novels, aided by the fact that it isn’t too long either.

This book is Dickens’ critique on Utilitarianism and the impact of industrialisation on Victorian society. But don’t let these verbose words put you off! In other words, Dickens is criticising a way of life that Mr Gradgrind, Mr Bounderby and, the comically named Mr M’Choakumchild, follow. It’s all about Facts, Facts and more Facts. No room for sentimentality and emotion, it’s about the hard facts and statistics that make the world of Coketown go around. However, the early adoption of Sissy Jupe, a circus performer, into the Gradgrind household marks the beginning of change in this utilitarian upbringing. Trapped in a loveless marriage to the self-proclaimed, forever boasting, self-made man of Mr Bounderby, we watch as Louisa Gradgrind’s factual upbringing eventually crumbles, destroying all of the values that Mr Gradgrind had totally invested himself in. Other stories that run parallel with this focus on the emergence of trade unions, the treatment of the “Hands” (factory workers) and a surprising visitor to Mr Bounderby.

This novel isn’t that bad as far as Dickens go. In my opinion, it is one of his easiest to understand and follow, unlike his perhaps more famous novels. True, the wording is still sometimes hard to follow and very dense, but the story moves at a rapid pace and it is impossible not to note Dickens’ criticisms towards Victorian society. I think the biggest challenges within this story is reading and understanding Stephen’s dialect because of the number of letters that are omitted. This shouldn’t be a deterrent when reading this as I believe it is a fascinating insight into life in an industrial city where the rich are getting richer, and the poor are simply suffering.

The use of satire in this novel is rich and even I couldn’t help but smile at some of Dickens’ comments. This novel is an example of why Dickens is such a renowned writer, even today, and I believe this story should not be overlooked. The argument that Dickens puts across about society and industry are very significant and this is what made me enjoy this story more than I had expected. Having read this more times than I can remember as part of my revision, the plot was easily remembered, meaning I could focus more on the story-telling and Dickens’ message. I guess what I’m really trying to argue is that if you give this one a go, and make it through to the end (it’s about 300 pages), you would probably benefit returning to it much later on, re-reading it, to really get a gist of the sub-layers to this plot.

Honestly, this was at the bottom of my ‘To Be Read’ pile and I am glad that I took the courage to re-visit this classic! It’s probably not ever going to be read again in my lifetime, but I do believe it is a novel that should be explored by all, worldwide.

Book Bingo category completed: A book at the bottom of your ‘To Be Read’ pile.

Gang vendetta

‘Brotherhood’ – David Beckler

An ex-Marine is forced to confront his troubled past… 

Manchester, England, 1998 

When Byron Mason’s estranged nephew, Philip, rings him out of the blue in desperate need of help, he knows he must put his personal feelings aside to protect his family. 

A teenage boy has been murdered, and Philip is one of the suspects. 

Worse than that, the dead boy was the nephew of Ritchie McLaughlin – a local thug who Byron has clashed with in the past – and Philip has now gone missing. 

Desperate to clear Philip’s name, Byron enlists the help of his old friend Adam Sterling to track down the real killers. 

Is Philip in danger? Can Byron and Adam find him before the police do? 

Or has Byron’s violent past with McLaughlin come back to haunt him…?

A thrilling read from Beckler, this novel was full of suspense and certainly reminded me of Lee Child and the Jack Reacher series. It was an unusual take on the typical, city crime thriller and I enjoyed reading the plot development. However, some of the story was frustrating for me and this lessened my engagement with the novel.

Chief Inspector Siobhan Quinn is a powerful woman within Manchester’s police force, and I admired her determination to find Liam’s killers and the truth behind Philip’s disappearance. On the other side of the case, unbeknownst to the police investigators, is Byron and his best friend, Adam. Byron has a history linked to those suspected behind the murder and Philip’s disappearance, and this fuels his quest to find his nephew. Byron and Adam’s involvement started to grate on me as the story progressed, because it felt like thy should have colluded with the police investigations. At times, it felt muddled, especially as the police always seemed one step behind Adam and Byron’s illicit discoveries. This is what spoiled the story for me: I wanted to see more of the police succeeding, rather than the results of an ex-marine and his friend charging around Manchester.

Back-stories are key to understanding the gang that has committed this awful, bloody crime. The novel opens with details on this violent crime and this certainly sets the tone for the rest of the book. Indeed, we gradually learn about Mugisa’s past in Africa as a child. Beckler only identifies him as ‘The Boy’, but it is pretty obvious who these extracts are describing. However, his past is interesting to discover and I enjoyed learning how Mugisa came about his name. In addition to this, we also learn about how Byron became involved with Ritchie, one of the men involved in this murder/kidnapping, and I think this made Byron more of an interesting character.

This is quite a gritty story with plenty of violence – machetes and guns alike! More about the idea of family honour and loyalty, I felt this took further focus than the actual police investigation itself – especially as the police do not seem to know as much as Adam and Byron. As the truth begins to emerge about who exactly is responsible for Liam’s death, it feels as if the clock is ticking for Adam, Byron and Philip. When Philip is kidnapped in the latter half of the novel, I would have liked to have learnt about what happened to Jenna, Philip’s girlfriend. However, this capturing helps the plot pick up the pace towards its final, bloody ending.

I did enjoy reading this book but did not find it as exciting as I had hoped. Maybe it was too gritty; despite reading Lee Childs, this perhaps did not strike the right chord with me. The final showdown did feel quite prolonged and this reduced my interest towards the end. Nonetheless, all being said, for a debut novel, there is a lot going for it and I feel that Beckler is a developing talent who will undoubtedly produce more work featuring the brave and “solid” Byron and Adam.

I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. With thanks to everyone at Sapere Books and David Beckler for allowing me to participate in this blog tour.

David Beckler biography

David writes crime thrillers full of fast-paced action.

Born in Addis Ababa in 1960, he spent his first eight years living on an agricultural college in rural Ethiopia where his love of reading developed. After dropping out of university he became a firefighter and served 19 years before leaving to start his own business.

He began writing in 2010 and uses his work experiences to add realism to his fiction.

The Mason and Sterling series centre on two ex-Royal Marines, Byron who now runs a security company and Adam who is a firefighter. A strong cast of supporting characters support his protagonists. Sapere Books are publishing Brotherhood, the first novel in the series, in late 2018.

David lives in Manchester, his adopted home since 1984. In his spare time he tries to keep fit—an increasingly difficult undertaking—listens to music, socialises and feeds his voracious book habit.

Book Bingo category completed: A book with a one-word title.

Wartime adventure

‘Hollow City’ – Ransom Riggs

This second novel begins in 1940, immediately after the first book ended. Having escaped Miss Peregrine’s island by the skin of their teeth, Jacob and his new friends must journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. Along the way, they encounter new allies, a menagerie of peculiar animals, and other unexpected surprises.

Being several months since I read the first novel, I easily slipped back into the plot. The character list at the beginning was a good prompt and I could effortlessly recall what had happened. That being said, I found the novel had a slow start and it did take a while for me to get into it.

The writer continues the visual experience of this series with the many photographs. Not as spooky as the previous novel, it became a lovely way of retelling the story behind such eclectic pictures. In fact, I found myself looking forward these visual delights because it helped break the intensity of the story and I was curious to see another interpretation of events.

What made this novel so different for me was the fact that it is set in London during the Second World War. Combined with some of the photos, I have yet to read a young adult fantasy novel in this period and as result, it totally piqued my imagination. As the children continue on their adventures, they encounter other peculiars and I liked how this added extra depth to the plot and characters. Whilst I found it slow start, once I became immersed into the story, I was keen to see how it would develop and eventually conclude.

Having many unexpected twists and turns made this story even better to read. When I thought I had predicted how the plot would develop, Riggs throws in another curve ball and takes the story off into another direction. Crossing through various time loops added to this variety, I liked how this made this more of an adventure story as a result. Keeping the plot fresh and interesting made up for the slow start and am I keen to know the eventual fate of the peculiar children.

This was a great read and a nice break from some of the recent genres I have encountered. Probably stronger than the first book of the series, the novel is established in the story and this allows it to go from strength to strength. It’s a unique fantasy piece of writing that at times reminded me of something ‘Marvel’ would produce, and I look forward to seeing how the story develops further.

Book Bingo category completed: The second book in a series.

Australian fun

‘She’s Having Her Baby’ – Lauren Sams

Georgie Henderson doesn’t want to have kids, but her best friend, Nina, has wanted to have a baby for as long as she can remember. Sadly, Nina’s uterus refuses to cooperate. One drunken evening, Nina asks Georgie for the ultimate favour: would she carry a baby for her? Georgie says yes and spends the next nine months wondering why.

With intense bacon-and-egg roll cravings and distant memories of what her feet look like, Georgie tries to keep it all together in her dream job as the editor of Jolie magazine. Her love life’s a mess – and sauvignon blanc’s off the menu – leaving Georgie to deal with twists in her life she never expected.

Sams has created the Australian Bridget Jones in this hilarious story, an emotive trajectory that pushes the boundaries of rom-com fiction.

What a great, light-hearted story that was funny and bright all at once. I had never  come across this book, nor author, before and I am really glad that I had the chance to read this. Reminding me very much of Sophie Kinsella, this novel made me laugh and smile all the way through.

For me, this book was unique all the way through. Dealing with issues of surrogacy, pregnancy and close friendships, these three themes are very close to my heart. However, the way that Sams approaches these themes are comedic and from the opening Prologue, I was chuckling away and able to relate to George’s internal frustrations as she tries to shop whilst being very heavily pregnant. And whilst the issues of infertility and surrogacy are delicate matters, Sams writes about them in such a way that reinforces the theme of friendship and looking out for one another. As a result, I loved the relationship between George and Nina, and was rooting for them right until the very end.

Whilst being a chick-flick, I still found the plot unpredictable, which is unusual for me. Such little twists and turns were enough to keep me enjoying the novel, without having to “work too hard” at the plot. I loved the fact that this was set in Australia too. My geography is pretty pants, but, as my blog readers know, I love a good book set in the sunshine and could easily imagine the golden coast and the Australian vibes! This definitely adds to the light-heartedness of the story, in my opinion, and I don’t think it would have worked being set in grey, wintery, London. I haven’t read many novels set in Australia, for whatever weird reason, and I think Sams simply begins to highlight that this is another treasure trove of writers waiting to be discovered.

I can’t tell you enough how much I enjoyed this story and I am so pleased to discover that there is a second one in the series! This very much reminded me of Sophie Kinsella’s earlier writings, mostly the Shopaholic series because Sams makes everything a bit of innocent fun. There are so many things that female readers can relate to such as pregnancy and trying to juggle the symptoms whilst working. It is deserving of a happy ending and I am happy that this is what Sams provided.

This was a great, funny read and a great example of a chick-flick novel. Bring on the next one!

I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Book Bingo category completed: A funny book.

A bit of a struggle

‘The Lost Girls of Camp Forevermore’ – Kim Fu

A group of young girls descend on Camp Forevermore, a sleep-away camp in the Pacific Northwest, where their days are filled with swimming lessons, friendship bracelets, and camp songs by the fire. Filled with excitement and nervous energy, they set off on an overnight kayaking trip to a nearby island. But before the night is over, they find themselves stranded, with no adults to help them survive or guide them home.

‘The Lost Girls of Camp Forevermore’ traces these five girls—Nita, Kayla, Isabel, Dina, and Siobhan—through and beyond this fateful trip. We see them through successes and failures, loving relationships and heartbreaks; we see what it means to find, and define, oneself, and the ways in which the same experience is refracted through different people. In diamond-sharp prose, Kim Fu gives us a portrait of friendship and of the families we build for ourselves—and the pasts we can’t escape.

Normally when I write a book review, I have so much material and so many ideas, that everything just naturally comes together. However, with this read I am a little stumped: few notes that I have recorded whilst reading and a dazed feeling since finishing the story. Allow me to explain…

This novel follows both the before and after of five girls who experienced an unforgettable event during their holiday camp at Camp Forevermore. Immediately readers are given an introduction to these girls and the situation at Forevermore, before Fu suddenly switches to following the lives of each individual girl. It was a confusing and ambiguous leap: unexpected and consisting of vignettes, making it considerably difficult to relate to each character due to the frequently changing episodes. I wasn’t expecting this style of narrative and whilst Fu merely hints at an incident at Forevermore, it is not until the very end that readers find out exactly what happened. By this point, the experience feels detached from the main narrative as readers have learnt so much about the background of these five girls and how they grow up. As such, I found the ending very anti-climatic because I had been so focused on the lives of the girls.

What was surprising for me was how little detail was provided, for each child, about their experience at the Camp. Yes, it is clear how each girl has been affected by their experience, but only brief and ambiguous clues are given about what really happened. Maybe this was to lead the plot to a natural climax, but the lack of detail throughout meant it was a frustrating read as at first, I was more interested in Camp Forevermore than the girls’ adult lives.

This disjointed narrative gives this mystery book a unique feel and I think this explains my dazed finish. You never quite know where the plot is going to move next, particularly with Fu’s sparing details. As such, it is not just a mystery about what happened at Forevermore, but also the reader piecing together the puzzle of what the girls are like and how their lives have been impacted. Looking back, I think this is what allowed me to enjoy this novel: it was so unexpected and so different, that I felt pulled in to the narrative. I was desperate to learn more about what happened and also more of these seemingly misfit girls that already had displayed strong friendship preferences at Forevermore.

I found this novel a bit of a struggle to get into but enjoyed the mystery it provided. As it was so different to previous novels I have read recently, it certainly allowed me to approach this with a fresh head. Consequently, I recommend considering this when you need a change with your reading – both stylistically and in terms of genre! A satisfying read, I don’t think I could re-read this a second time because the plot and style of writing is definitely something that will stick with me for time to come.

I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. With thanks to everyone at Legend Press and Kim Fu for allowing me to participate in this blog tour.

Book Bingo category completed: A book with a mystery.