#WWWWednesday – 25 January 2023

Posted on January 25, 2023 by J-LBRBSBLOGS

Expectant (Sam Shephard series Book 5) by Vanda Symon

A pregnant Sam Shephard investigates the murder of an expectant mother in Dunedin, as it becomes clear that the killer is ready to strike again … Queen of New Zealand Crime, Vanda Symon, returns with a shocking, twisty new Sam Shephard thriller…

The shocking murder of a heavily pregnant woman throws the New Zealand city of Dunedin into a tailspin, and the devastating crime feels uncomfortably close to home for Detective Sam Shephard as she counts down the days to her own maternity leave.

Confined to a desk job in the department, Sam must find the missing link between this brutal crime and a string of cases involving mothers and children in the past. As the pieces start to come together and the realisation dawns that the killer’s actions are escalating, drastic measures must be taken to prevent more tragedy.

For Sam, the case becomes personal, when it becomes increasingly clear that no one is safe and the clock is ticking…

What did you recently finish reading?

As with last week the last book I read is Someone is Coming by T.A. Morton. I also listened to Marple: Three new stories on BBC Sounds.

Someone is Coming by T.A. Morton.

Memories come thick and heavy like the rains that fall in the jungle. Dense droplets wash the leaves and soak into the ground, cleansing the acrid smell of rubber, absolving the jungle of its sins.

Philip Goundry is 93 and living out his days quietly in a care home in England when a young researcher from Singapore arrives, wanting to learn more about his former life in Malaya for the Singapore archives. His memory growing fitful, Philip is torn between wanting to unburden himself and staying silent, as he has done all these years, about the sinister and shocking events of his childhood on a Malayan rubber plantation. The truth, however, has a habit of winning.

Marple: Three new stories on BBC Sounds.

Marking 45 years since the publication of Agatha Christie’s last Miss Marple novel, ‘Marple: Twelve New Stories’ is a collection of ingenious new stories by acclaimed authors and Christie devotees.

I do have a copy of MARPLE: 12 new stories, 12 great writers, 1 Agatha Christie (see photo above) and will read them all but three of them were featured on Radio 4 in December. I don’t often listen to audiobooks but I find these ‘bite size’ episodes relaxing and enjoyable listening.

BBC Sounds – Marple : Three new stories

Agatha Christie’s iconic detective is reimagined for a new generation with a murder, a theft and a mystery where nothing is quite what it seems.

The stories have been written by Natalie Haynes, Ruth Ware and Ellie Griffiths.

The Unravelling by Natalie Haynes When an itinerant farm hand is found dead outside Weaver’s Haberdashers it’s chalked up as a brawl gone tragically wrong – but Miss Marple refuses to accept this simple solution…

Read by Monica Dolan Abridged and produced by Eilidh McCreadie (three episodes)

Miss Marple’s Christmas by Ruth Ware All Miss Marple wants for Christmas is a quiet, peaceful celebration. Accepting her friend Dolly Bantry’s invitation to Gossington Hall puts paid to that. A crime will be committed and as the guest list grows, the mystery deepens.

Read by Georgie Glen Abridged and produced by Eilidh McCreadie (four episodes)

Murder at the Villa Rosa by Elly Griffiths An author who has travelled to the Amalfi coast with murder on his mind barely notices the genteel old lady who is also a guest at the villa…

Read by John Heffernan Abridged and produced by Eilidh McCreadie (three episodes)

What do you think you’ll read next?

I’ll be reading the book club choice The Accordionist by Fred Vargos (for our meeting on 6 Feb).

The Accordionist (The Three Evangelists Book 3) by Fred Vargas (Author), Siân Reynolds (Translator)

SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA INTERNATIONAL DAGGER 2018

When two Parisian women are murdered in their homes, the police suspect young accordionist Clément Vauquer. As he was seen outside both of the apartments in question, it seems like an open-and-shut case.

Desperate for a chance to prove his innocence, Clément disappears. He seeks refuge with old Marthe, the only mother figure he has ever known, who calls in ex-special investigator Louis Kehlweiler.

Louis is soon faced with his most complex case yet and he calls on some unconventional friends to help him. He must show that Clément is not responsible and solve a fiendish riddle to find the killer…

This meme is a great way to keep my reading organised and share a regular weekly post with you. I hope that you enjoy it too. Do share your thoughts on this post and the books featured above by leaving a comment below. It’s always good to read what you think.