The Murder Rule by Dervla McTiernan

Questions in the reader's mind start in the first chapter – why is Hannah creeping out of home in the early hours of the morning?

Hannah is a university student studying law. The story starts with her sneaking out of the house she shares with her alcoholic mother for unclear reasons. She transfers to another university and, by deceitful means, manages to get herself onto the Innocence Program run by Professor Rob Parekh and supported by a team of students. The program is dedicated to revisiting cases involving convicted prisoners.

 

Hannah particularly wants to be on the team of a specific case, that of Michael Danridge. Michael has been in prison for 11 years for the rape and murder of a young mother. He swears he is innocent and was only found guilty on flimsy evidence. Hannah uses devious ways to secure her place. 

Unlike the rest of the team, she intends to work to keep Michael in gaol. Her reason gradually comes to light through her mother’s diaries from 1994, in alternating chapters of the book.

 

Time is short for both the team to prove his innocence and for Hannah to succeed in her goal.

 

But doubt starts to enter Hannah’s thinking. It began when she went to the prison with Sean to interview Michael. Her investigations bring to light a crooked cop and cover ups. She begins to realise everything is not as it seems or as it has been portrayed but who is lying and who is telling the truth?

 

The characters are well developed. Hannah is not particularly likeable but interesting. She is smart, and conniving and will do whatever she needs to achieve her aim. The other two students are great characters although we see more of Sean who is very likeable.

 

I have purposely not said too much about the story, so I don’t spoil the mystery and suspense.

 

The story is slow at the beginning but still interesting. Stick with it. The gradual build-up with its many twists and turns makes for a gripping story filled with tension, corruption, and secrets.

 

As the mystery unravels, we read of intrigue, violence, and deception all making for a suspenseful and exciting read.

 

Warning: story contains sexual assault and violence but does not dominate the story.

 

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins Australia, and the author McTiernan for an ARC in return for an honest review. Due publication date May 2022

My rating 4*

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Where the Irises Bloom by Will Lowrey

I have read and loved several books by Will Lowrey so Where the Irises Bloom was a must read for me.

As with his other books, it is beautifully written with clear and often emotive descriptions putting you right there with little Fern.

 

Fern is an orphaned kitten living in a rough part of a busy city. Struggling to survive she makes friends with a homeless veteran, John, when others ignore her. The other main character is Matthew who helps homeless people and shows compassion for both John and Fern.

 

Fern has some frightening encounters with hoodlums, trains, a feral cat, and busy streets but John shows her compassion and caring.

 

Will Lowrey’s descriptions put the reader at ground level with little Fern. We feel, see, smell, and hear everything she does. It was so real I wanted to reach out, pick her up and take her home.

 

The story's heart-warming ending is emotional, both sad and happy.

 

This book is a must read for animal lovers.

 

My rating 5*

 

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All the Lights Above Us: Inspired by the women of D-Day by M. B. Henry

I love historical fiction and appreciate an author who does their homework. In All the Lights Above Us M.B. Henry has done exactly that to bring us an engaging story of D-Day from the viewpoint of five ordinary women with extraordinary experiences.

It covers a short time – the day before D-Day, D-Day and the following day. Incredibly Henry describes not only the women’s D-Day experiences but through short chapters, manages to provide the reader with their background stories giving us a full understanding of emotions, purpose, and reasons for their actions.  Each story for the most part is separate to the others. Each has their faults, but they are strong and persist in their beliefs and aims. The reader may not agree with their actions, but they represent many women during war and should not be judged. 

 

Characters include real people and fictionalised people based on the author’s research. The characters are well developed and as their stories unfold you understand the hardships of war on ordinary people.

 

The five women represent women in different countries and different situations. They are in non combative roles but enormously impacted by the war around them.

 

Adelaide is in her sixties. Her home in France has been taken over by German soldiers and she is compelled to care for their needs. She cares for them like a mother but it’s not until her town is affected by fighting that she sees the cold-heartedness within them. Her only wish is to be with her daughter who lives in another town. Bravely she leaves her home and heads off to find her. In doing so she experiences more of the horrors of war.

 

Emilia is a young German woman brought up to believe the Nazi way was the right way. She is a classic Aryan woman with golden hair and perfect blue eyes. She works as secretary to a Gestapo intelligence officer in Caen, France. After observing the constant cruelty of her boss’s interrogations, she begins to question everything and plans to escape.

 

Flora is a young member of the French Resistance passing on messages. She is frustrated at not being permitted to do more but there is more than just discrimination behind the reasoning.

 

Mildred is an American expatriate who makes her living as a radio broadcaster in Berlin. She is based on a real person, Axis Sally, who spread Nazi propaganda over the air waves. She has foolishly convinced herself she is only an actress, it’s not propaganda, its’s just her job. When the DA-Day landing is over she realises she will most likely go to prison or worse for her actions.

 

Theda is member of the Voluntary Aid detachment (VAD)- a medical volunteer caring for wounded soldiers in Portsmouth England. She shares a dormitory with her friends but unlike them who see their future as wives and mothers, she wants to follow a nursing career.

 

The struggle and frustration of caring for the wounded is brought home on D-Day when hundreds of soldiers are brought in needing attention. It depicts not only the suffering of those soldiers but those that cared for them often working around the clock.

 

The women’s stories were so real I felt their pain and fears and hope for the future.  Anyone who thinks that the atrocities of WWII did not happen needs to read this. I know it is "fiction”, but the author nailed the reality. It was like looking at the war from above as the women move through their troubled lives.

 

It is an absorbing read with vivid descriptions and emotional stories. Some scenes are graphic but needed to emphasise the horrors of war and the impact on everyday people – to put history in perspective.

 

If you read this book don’t ignore the author’s notes at the back where she explains how real people influenced the characters in the story. They also demonstrate how much research she undertook to get the realities of D-Day right.

 

I admire Henry’s writing style and dedication to researching the facts. I will be keeping an eye out for her future books.

 

Thank you NetGalley, Alcove Press and MB Henry for a pre-publication copy of this book. It is due for release on 10^th May.

 

My rating 5*

 

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Nenek Tata and the Mangrove Menace by Judith Vun Price and Jacqui Vun

Nenek Tata and the Mangrove Menace is a delightful story for 6-10 year olds. There is just enough scariness that children love but all works out in the end with an amusing twist.

 

The story is set in the Malaysian tropical forests and begins with Naknek Tata preparing breakfast for her husband Nenek Jantan (Nenek means grandparent). After farewelling him as he goes off on his bicycle to buy sugar, she sets about doing her daily chores feeding the animals, collecting water, and collecting the crabs from the pots in the mangrove swamp.

 

While she is at the swamp a monsoonal storm with heavy rain, thunder and lightning suddenly begin. Then a huge frightening monster emerges from the swamp dripping mud and begins following her. She rushes home and prepares to defend her home from the beast.

 

As the rain pours down on the monster the mud is washed away revealing it is just her husband who has fallen in the swamp when he crashed his bicycle.

 

The language used is an understandable level for the age group. Malaysian words used in the story are explained in the glossary at the end of the book.

 

It is told in the style of traditional hantu stories (ghost stories) told to children by grandparents. They are designed to both entertain and keep the children safe from the dangers of the swamps and jungles.

 

This delightful story is illustrated perfectly with large vivid pictures. They clearly depict the home and surroundings. The animal pictures are so much fun even if not directly part of the story. Don’t miss checking the expressions on their faces.

 

I hope this book will be part of a series introducing children to many cultures

 

At the back there is a glossary of Malayan words used in the story. I think these should be at the front for people like me who just jump in and start reading.

 

Overall, it is a great story with wonderful illustrations and many openings for discussion with children.

 

My thanks to NetGalley. Judith Vun Price, Jacqui Vun [Illustrator], and Logorythm/Crotchet Quaver for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My rating 5*

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