Recent Reads - The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer by Ragnar Jónasson - When a bestselling crime author goes missing, the young detective Helgi is given the challenge of finding her or finding out what happened before the press and public realize there's a problem. Helgi hopes to prove his mettle with the case, and maybe his own love of crime and mystery fiction will help him make sense of the few clues available. He faces challenges in his personal life too, with his former girlfriend stalking and threatening his new love interest and his struggles to handle the situations. 

There's one flashback timeline in which the author, Elín Jónsdóttir, is being interviewed by an unknown person. We're given the transcript of this interview, and there's a sense that there must be clues for the reader that Helgi doesn't have access to, and it does add to the tension. The sections of transcript are interspersed throughout the story.

In another alternate timeline, the detective that Helgi replaced, Hulda, is doing follow-up work on a bank robbery and murder case. It was apparently the last case she was working on before she disappeared. Again, there's a sense to the reader that the cases or maybe even the disappearances must be related, but at the beginning it's not clear just how.

The tension builds throughout, as Elín's few close friends maintain hope that she is still alive and has just chosen to be incommunicado for reasons of her own. There are some clues that don't fit this solution, so Helgi keeps working at it, and the bits of interview transcript start to fall into place for the reader as well. There are some twists and turns in the solution.

There's some good payoff in how Hulda's investigation has a connection to Helgi's case, but those threads seem loosely woven together, and the way Hulda's timeline concludes makes me wonder if there is more to come in a sequel. Likewise with how the book ends on a cliffhanger, and such an abrupt one that I'm still not sure how I feel about it! I was actually startled that there was not another chapter and I really had reached the end of the book. I enjoyed the read, putting together the clues as best I could, and the rising suspense and subsequent satisfaction of the pieces coming together. However, that abrupt ending was very unsettling and left me puzzled and feeling like I'd missed something important.

This book is a sequel to Death At the Sanitorium: A Mystery, which I understand has a similar layout of Helgi following up on Hulda's previous investigation after her disappearance. I don't think it's necessary to read these in order, but given Hulda's disappearance and the drama in Helgi's personal life, I assume it would probably be very helpful to read in order. 

From the publisher:

The next thrilling golden-age-style mystery from the #1 Icelandic bestseller Ragnar Jónasson, author of Death at the Sanatorium and Reykjavik.

One winter evening, bestselling crime author Elín Jónsdóttir goes missing.

There are no clues to her disappearance and it is up to young detective Helgi to crack the case before its leaked to the press.

As Helgi interviews the people closest to her―a publisher, an accountant, a retired judge―he realizes that Elín's life wasn't what it seemed. In fact, her past is even stranger than the fiction she wrote.

As the case of the missing crime writer becomes more mysterious by the hour, Helgi must uncover the secrets of the writer's very unexpected life.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a review.

#NetGalley

By the same author: Reykjavik: A Crime Story (with Katrín Jakobsdóttir)

This is a book set in a country with an active volcano (#49) for The 52 Book Club's 2025 Reading Challenge.

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2025

This post will be linked at the current BookWorms Monthly link-up hosted by At Home A Lot.

©2008-2025 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. This post was written by a human.  http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Recent Reads - The Highland Heist

The Highland Heist by Pepper Basham - Frederick and Grace have had several exciting adventures on their honeymoon trip to Egypt and Italy, but before returning to England, Frederick surprises Grace with a visit to her family home in America. But the home has been sold and upon their arrival at her sister's house, there is another shock ― Lillias's husband has just been stabbed and she is the prime suspect and the household is in turmoil. Frederick and Grace try to take charge of the situation and find the real murderer. This is complicated by untrustworthy household staff, a phony police officer, and Lillias's uncooperative attitude.

Amidst all this drama, a solicitor arrives to inform the sisters that their late mother left them an inheritance in Scotland, and they need to claim it together. He has been delayed in finding them, and now time is of the essence if they are to claim the property before it is sold. Lillias grasps at this hope of salvaging her finances, but her name must be cleared before they can depart, so Frederick and Grace race to find out who killed Tony and keep themselves alive. It seems that someone wants to keep them from ever reaching Scotland and finding the original copy of the will!

When Lillias recklessly leaves for Scotland by herself, the pressure is really on Frederick and Grace to get there as quickly as possible not only to find the will but to rescue Lillias from the villain they realize is following her. More surprises await them all as they confront a ruthless killer and hunt for a will in a castle rumored to be haunted.

Coincidences and danger seem to follow Grace everywhere she goes, but her sense of adventure and love of books keeps her optimistic and high-spirited. As a character, she has matured over the series, but still seems very young, showing a childlike quality that borders on naivete at times, but her cheerful boldness and determination make her a very appealing and likeable character. She and Frederick are still in the early days of their marriage and both often reflect on the good fortune of their relationship and the devotion is accompanied by some starry-eyed newlywed behavior as well.

The adventures, coincidences, and character quirks are just exaggerated enough to provide drama and humor, although stretching credulity a bit. Grace's love of story and penchant for viewing everything through the lens of books she has read brings a lighthearted quality to the suspenseful situations, and one can't help but cheer for the fairytale happy endings along with her.

From the publisher:

Grace Storms a Scottish Castle to Save her Sister

Lord Astley surprises his wife with a trip to America to see her family before they end their honeymoon adventures. But just as they arrive, they find Grace's sister, Lillias, is the prime suspect in her husband's murder. To add to the confusion a solicitor arrives to tell the sisters they are needed in Scotland immediately to claim their mother's inheritance.

The clock is ticking to clear Lillias of suspicion, but someone is determined to keep the sisters from reaching the Scottish Highlands. When Lillias disappears, Freddie and Grace race to Scotland, sure the answers will be found in a long-forgotten castle.

With a ghost from Frederick's past leaving threatening clues along the way, the mysterious Mr. Kane waiting in the wings to grab the inheritance for himself, and an apparition haunting the infamous castle, Lord and Lady Astley must capture the castle, save Lillias, and not die in the process.

The Highland Heist is a Freddie and Grace Mystery, sequel to The Mistletoe Countess, The Cairo Curse, and The Juliet Code.

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a review.

#TheHighlandHeist #NetGalley

By the same author: The Juliet Code, The Cairo Curse, The Heart of the Mountains, Hope Between the Pages; The Red Ribbon; My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge: Laurel's Dream

This is a book featuring a character with red hair (#2) for The 52 Book Club's 2025 Reading Challenge.

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2025

This post will be linked at the current BookWorms Monthly link-up hosted by At Home A Lot, and at  the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2025 hosted by The Intrepid Reader and Baker.

#histficreadingchallenge

©2008-2025 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. This post was written by a human.  http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Recent Reads - Kingdom of Love

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee.

Kingdom of Love by Tracie Peterson - The three novellas in this collection read almost like fairy tales thanks to their medieval settings with lords and ladies, castles and knights, and the 'happily ever after' romances in each. 

In "A Kingdom Divided" Arianne and Richard agree to an arranged marriage in which she finds kindness and respect for the first time. She is very cautious about opening her heart to her new husband, but he is patient and gentle in winning her over. But it's only when an enemy puts them and everyone in the castle in danger that Arianne truly realizes how much she does love Richard. Initially it seems as though the conflict is resolved almost immediately, since Arianne's opposition to the match is reversed as soon as she realizes that she will probably be safer with Richard than with her abusive father. There are quite a few peaceful chapters with them getting acquainted before the real conflict with the invader begins. 

In "Alas, My Love" the main character Helena is also in an abusive home and refuses to submit to the plans her step-siblings try to force upon her. She escapes when they try to confine her to a convent and is taken in by Arianne and Richard when one of their tennants brings her to the castle. Helena has nursed the hope that a young man, Tanny, that she knew when she was a little girl would someday come back and rescue her, and that he is her true love. This is another fairy tale ending reconciliation story, and although I did find the idea that a woman would believe herself genuinely in love with a man she hadn't seen since she was nine years old, the story was one of hope and restoration and quite interesting.

The third story, "If Only" has an unrelated setting and characters, but is still set during the middle ages. The bubonic plague is ravaging England and Mary flees her home when her physician father is attacked by superstitious townsfolk because they believe he is doing the devil's work and has brought the plague upon them. As Mary treks towards York with a vague hope of finding the grandmother she has never met, she takes refuge at a monastery for a time and uses her knowledge of healing to help the monks there. Another traveler, Peter, is there as well, and they join forces for the rest of the journey, and take in several orphaned children along the way. This story was perhaps the most believable of the three in many ways.

The narration style also contributes to the fairy tale quality, because the viewpoint character switches often, with the narrator giving the thoughts, emotions, and reactions of multiple characters. Because the stories are novellas, the characters and conflicts are less developed than in full length novels. My understanding is that this collection is a re-release of Peterson's earlier writing, and I did feel like the writing style didn't have the same depth as other novels of hers that I've read. The stories were enjoyable and interesting, with sweet and clearn romances that would also be suitable for teen or young adult readers, in my opinion.

From the Publisher:

Kidnapping. . .Murder. . .Revenge.
If Only the Fortress Walls Could Talk!

From bestselling author Tracie Peterson come 3 unique historical novels, rereleased for old and new fans alike. Liberty and love--even life itself--are fragile commodities those living in medieval England. Will God's love and power triumph in the lives of these three courageous women? Find out in soul-searing historical novels of romance and suspense!

A Kingdom Divided
Raised in a home filled with violence, Arianne Pemberton experiences love and gentleness only after her arranged marriage to Richard, Duke of Gavenshire. But before she can feel confident both in Richard's love and in God's personal care for her, a mysterious enemy from Richard's Past over-powers the castle and takes Arianne hostage. Who is Tancred, and why is he set on revenge? What fuels the animosity between the two men? Exercising her new faith, Arianne risks her life to restore peace and unite a kingdom divided. 
 
Alas, My Love
England in the Middle Ages is far from a jolly place for an unprotected young woman. Yet the savagery of her stepbrother and the devious schemes of her stepsister have given golden-haired Helena Talbot little choice. She must find shelter elsewhere. Afforded protection by the magnanimouse Duke of Gavenshire, Helena nonetheless lives under an assumed name, ever fearful her whereabouts will be revealed to her stepbrother. Only one dream transports her above her worries, the desire that one day she will be reunited with brave Tancred. Years have passed since they were together and now an ocean and a king's decree keep them apart. But are those obstacles stronger than a woman's prayer for love? 
 
If Only
The year is 1349, the place, England. As the bubonic shadow spreads across the land, Mary Beckett finds herself alone and desperate. Her father, a physician who has been accused of consorting with the devil, has been murdered. Even her own interest in medicine has brought cries of witchcraft. Mary's only hope is to journey north to the home of her godly grandmother, a woman her father once rejected. Doctors and pilgrims will cross her path, and, last but not least, Peter Donne, a knight on a mission from the king. Hundreds will beg her to heal them. Will Mary Beckett, a lonely pilgrim herself, find a way to help her people and herself? If only she could reach her grandmother's home, if only she could find her own way to God. . . .

Visit Barbour Publishing for more info on where to buy.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a review.

#KingdomofLove #NetGalley

By the same author: In Places Hidden

This is a book related to the word "murder" (#50) - because the murder of a main character's parents was the catalyst for events and conflicts in the first two stories - and a book with a character who is a refugee (#41) - because the main character in the third story is a refugee - for The 52 Book Club's 2023 Reading Challenge

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2023

©2008-2023 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Recent Reads - A Louisiana Christmas To Remember

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee. 

A Louisiana Christmas To Remember - a novella collection by Morgan Tarpley Smith, Betsy St. Amant, and Lenora Worth - This sweet trilogy of novellas is like a Hallmark Christmas movie weekend in print! The stories center around a family of women in Moreau, a fictional small town in Louisiana as they come together to plan some very special holiday events. Each one finds love and a renewed connection to their town and to each other, and their faith plays a big role as well.

A Louisiana Snow gets things started with Mattie who is one of the key planners for a holiday marketplace that will also be a fundraiser for some important restoration work that needs done as the town is recovering after hurricane damage. On her team is Paul, a school friend that she saw as a rival. As they are forced to work together, Mattie learns to let go of her need for control as she gets to know Paul again and their friendship is rekindled. Mattie plans to have a mural painted and revealed for the marketplace but the artist is injured . . . 

Enter Mattie's cousin Jolene, who just happens to be an artist! Jolene has been away from Moreau for years and has a reputation for being flighty and unreliable, but when she comes home for the holidays, Mattie is able to talk her into taking over the mural project in the second novella, Restoring Christmas. Jolene reluctantly takes on the project under the supervision of Cameron, and they get off to a very rocky and combative start. They establish a truce, and Jolene's attempts to find inspiration for the art help her work through her guilt and fears. And the truce becomes a romance as Cameron sees Jolene for who she is and wins her trust. 

With the marketplace and the mural project looked after, the attention turns to the holiday ball and the third story picks up the thread. A Christmas Reunion focuses on Jolene's mother, Adale, a beautiful widow whose contribution to Moreau's holidays is planning the ball. She's caught completely off guard by the architect that has come to oversee the restoration work on the chapel, and who has been placed on her planning committee. Remy is not just any architect - he is the boy who stood her up in Paris when she was sixteen years old. And she suspects that her own mother, Eloise, had a hand in bringing Remy to Moreau. While Remy has never forgotten Adale and wants to make amends and earn a second chance with her, Adale is reluctant and fearful of being hurt again. It's only when she finally learns the truth about why Remy never met her that last day in Paris that she is able to fully forgive and allow herself to accept the second chance for happiness with him.

Despite being by three different authors, the stories are well coordinated and follow chronologically. Eloise, or Granny as Jolene and Mattie call her, is the matriarch of the family, and her presence in each story helps tie them all together as well. The characters and storylines work together so well that there's not a jarring change in style when a new author takes over. The viewpoint characters simply change, and this does allow a little bit more character development than most novellas have time for, since the four women appear in each story, even though they may be more in the background. 

Charming, heart-warming, light holiday reading with sweet romances and small town characters.

From the Publisher:

A Rare Snowfall Leads to a Christmas to Remember

Three heartwarming, interconnected stories of faith, love, and restoration, brought to you by three Louisiana-native authors. Will a rare snowy Louisiana Christmas bring restoration and hope to the hometown and hearts of three women from the town's founding family?

In A Louisiana Snow by Morgan Tarpley Smith, meet Mattie: A passionate visionary who learns to forgive and finds love in unexpected places . . . 

In Restoring Christmas by Betsy St. Amant, meet Jolene: An artist and prodigal daughter who discovers love exists in the very place she once called home . . . 

In A Christmas Reunion by Lenora Worth, meet Adale: A beautiful widow who finally dares to love again . . .

And don't forget Granny, whose feisty spirit, blunt dialogue, and quirky ways play an important and endearing role.

Visit Barbour Publishing for more info on where to buy.

I received a digital ARC of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a review.

#ALouisianaChristmastoRemember #NetGalley

This is a book with a contemporary setting (#44) for The 52 Book Club's 2023 Reading Challenge. Because it's three stories, I'm also counting Restoring Christmas as an enemies-to-lovers plot (#38) for the challenge.

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2023

©2008-2023 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Recent Reads - The Starlet Spy

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee. 

The Starlet Spy by Rachel Scott McDaniel - Amelie Blake has built a successful career as a Hollywood actress, but she is weary of being stereotyped as a dumb blonde. Those are the roles she plays and how most people view her, but she has a brilliant mind and an incredible photographic memory. So when a movie producer approaches her for a role in a spy effort in her homeland of Sweden, she's intrigued. She will need to continue allowing the world to believe she is empty-headed, but her keen mind, knowledge of languages, and remarkable gift for memorizing what she sees are needed in order to recover missing atomic research before the Nazis find it.

Once in Sweden, Amelie meets her contact, code named Wolf, and her assignment begins at a glamorous fundraising event where she must charm the shipping magnate Finn Ristaffason and find a way to search his property for the top secret files. She has a connection to his family and finds it easy to like his grandmother, but must remain on her guard around Finn - can he be trusted, or is he a double agent? What about Wolf and the way he shows up unexpectedly and warns her of potential danger? Is he truly protecting her, or does he have ulterior motives?

Amelie uncovers clues to where the files might be, and as the danger around her increases, she must make some split-second decisions about who to trust and which way to turn, and when her mask slips, will it cost her the mission or even her life?

During WWII, some actors and actresses had roles to play that were not credited on the silver screen. This fictional story about Amelie was inspired by some of these stories and rumors. Amelie is a likeable character, and in many ways reminded me of Hedy Lamarr - a brilliant mind but needing to hide her intelligence in order to survive and serve her country. Amelie and her mother have a family secret that puts her at risk, and old wounds that keep Amelie cautious. There are sparks between her and Wolf, and between her and Finn, and not surprisingly, a romance develops, but given the circumstances it's a real test of trust and patience before the happy ending. Overall, this is a compelling and entertaining story full of action and intrigue that reads a little like an Indiana Jones adventure, stretching credulity at times.

Hollywood Star Turns Spy

In 1943, movie producer Henrik Zoltan approaches Amelie Blake under the guise of offering the Hollywood star a leading part in his upcoming film, but he has a more meaningful role in mind. Amelie's homeland of Sweden declared neutrality in the war, but Stockholm has become the "Casablanca of the North." When top-secret atomic research goes missing in Sweden, the Allied forces scramble to recover the files before they fall into Nazi hands.

The United States Office of Strategic Services (OSS) needs someone who's subtle enough to spy on the Swedish elite without triggering suspicion. Who better than the "all beauty, no brains" Scandinavian starlet? Fluent in three languages and possessing a brilliant memory, Amelie loathes being labeled witless but uses the miconception as her disguise. She's tasked with searching for the crucial files, but Finn Ristaffason keeps getting in her way. Is the charming shipping magnate after the missing research? Or does he have other reasons for showing up at her every turn?

With the Gestapo on her heels, Amelie must rely on her smarts in addition to her acting skills to survive and world of deadly spies and counterspies.

Visit Barbour Publishing for more info on where to buy.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a review.

#TheStarletSpy #NetGalley

This is a book featuring a fashionable character (#25) for The 52 Book Club's 2023 Reading Challenge

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2023

©2008-2023 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Recent Reads - Composition as Conversation

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Composition As Conversation by Heather M. Hoover - Although this concise guide to writing well is not a traditional textbook, it does offer valuable advice to students and instructors alike on how to improve the craft. Based on her experience as a college writing instructor, Hoover approaches composition as an ongoing conversation between the writer and readers. She begins with a question asked of her students about what makes a person an excellent conversationalist, and then applies seven of the top characteristics to the discipline of writing. This paradigm shift can invite and inspire writers to be more respectful and willing to continue learning about their subjects.

The suggestions and instructions are geared for college level students and classrooms, but I think the ideas could be adapted and incorporated into high school classrooms as well. In fact, high school students would benefit from learning how to be attentive and open-minded as they are developing their writing skills in preparation for college research. 

In my opinion, this book is best suited as a resource for writing instructors who wish to make their classroom more interesting and engaging, and inspire quality conversations and writing from their students. There is no lesson plan or syllabus, but many ideas for engaging students in ongoing discussions that will help them learn to listen and read attentively, and put their research and thoughts into more meaningful and relatable written conversations. There is an appendix of samples and templates for revision guides and peer reviews and the like that would be very helpful to many instructors. Certainly more advanced writers, especially at the college level, will find the book very helpful as well.

In keeping with her theme, Hoover's writing is conversational in tone and inspired me to ponder the ideas more deeply and consider how the suggestions could be useful in my high school level class for homeschool students. I was intrigued enough to purchase a paperback of the book when I was only about halfway through the digital ARC I received, so that I could easily highlight and annotate the instruction ideas I most wanted to incorporate into my classroom. 

From the publisher:

Teaching writing is not for the faint of heart, but it can be a tremendous gift to teachers and students. Students often approach writing courses with trepidation because they think of writing as a mystical and opaque process. Teachers often approach these same courses with dread because of the enormous workload and the often-unpolished skills of new writers. This approachable composition textbook for beginning writers contends that writing can be a better experience for everyone when taught as an empathetic and respectful conversation. In a time in which discourse is not always civil and language is not always tended carefully, a conversation-based wrirting approach emphasizes intention and care.

Written by a teacher with more than fifteen years of experience in the college writing classroom, Composition as Conversation explores what happens when the art of conversation meets the art of writing. Heather Hoover shows how seven virtues―including curiosity, attentiveness, relatability, open-mindedness, and generosity―inform the writing process and can help students become more effective writers. She invites writers of all skill levels to make meaningful contributions with their writing.

This short, accessible, and instructive book offers a reflective method for college-level writing and will also work well in classical school, high school, and homeschool context. It demystifies the writing process and helps students understand why their writing matters. It will energize teachers of writing as they encourage their students to become careful readers and observers, intentional listeners, and empathetic arguers. The book also provides helpful sample assignments.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Baker Academic through NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a review.

#CompositionasConversation  #NetGalley

This is a book under 200 pages (#6) for The 52 Book Club's 2023 Reading Challenge

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2023

©2008-2023 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Recent Reads - Reykjavik: A Crime Story

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee. 

Reykjavík: A Crime Story by Ragnar Jónasson and Katrín Jakobsdóttir - In 1956, a teenage girl disappeared from a small island just off the coast of Reykjavik, and the mystery remained unsolved. Detective Kristjan pursued the very few clues he had, but found no answers and had to leave the case open. He never forgot about Lara's disappearance though, and kept hoping she was alive. The opening chapter in Part One takes place just after Lara disappeared, the second chapter is ten years later, with Kristjan reflecting on the case after a newspaper runs a story on it. The third chapter is twenty years later, in 1976, with another news story focusing on the old mystery and Kristjan still wondering whether he'd done all he could. Then the story jumps ahead to 1986, and an enterprising young journalist named Valur who is working on yet another anniversary story on Lara's disappearance. He follows every lead and tries to interview the people connected to the case in any way, and makes enough progress that he believes he may be able to solve the mystery. He even receives a couple of mysterious and anonymous tips that seem very valuable, and indicate that someone does know what happened. Valur is determined and hopeful, but is taken aback when the newspaper editor starts advertising that the case will be solved in an upcoming edition of the paper, to coincide with Reykjavik's anniversary celebrations. Something seems off . . . and then an accident takes Valur's life . . . or was it an accident?

Valur's sister Sunna had been his confidant, and he had loaned her his notebook before his death, hoping for her insight on the leads he'd gathered. Sunna realizes that Valur must have been close to the truth, and that he may have been murdered because of it. She decides she will finish the story for the paper herself and sets out to talk to everyone mentioned in his notes. With help from Valur's girlfriend, Sunna untangles the threads of the mysterious messages he'd received and eventually discovers what happened to Lara and why the crime had gone undetected for thirty years.

This is the first Nordic Noir title I've read, and I wasn't sure what to expect. Still, I was pleasantly surprised that although the overall atmosphere of the story evokes sadness and regret, it was not dark or deeply disturbing. The pace is relatively slow, with characters thinking, reflecting, remembering, and talking through the clues and possibilities rather than actively chasing them down. The mystery is a perplexing one, and very well thought out, so as Valur and then Sunna start peeling back the layers, the reader is able to piece things together along with them until the final resolution, which holds a bit of a twist. I liked the character arc for Sunna as well, as she moved into the lead character role and found purpose and meaning after her own tragedy.

From the publisher:

With over three million copies sold worldwide, Ragnar Jónasson, along with Katrín Jakobsdóttir, brings us a gripping and chilling new thriller, Reykjavík.

What happened to Lára?

Iceland, 1956. Fourteen-year-old Lára decides to spend the summer working for a couple on the small island of Videy, just off the coast of Reykjavík. In early August, the girl disappears without a trace. Time passes, and the mystery becomes Iceland's most infamous unsolved case. What happened to the young girl? Is she still alive? Did she leave the island, or did something happen to her there?

Thirty years later, as the city of Reykjavík celebrates its 200th anniversary, journalist Valur Robertsson begins his own investigation into Lára's case. But as he draws closer to discovering the secret, and with the eyes of Reykjavík upon him, it soon becomes clear that Lára's disappearance is a mystery that someone will stop at nothing to keep unsolved . . .

I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley for the purpose of this review.

This is a book that I've been avoiding for the Summer Reading Challenge.

This is Nordic Noir (#24) for The 52 Book Club's 2023 Reading Challenge

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2023

©2008-2023 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Recent Reads - Beneath A Peaceful Moon

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee. 

Beneath A Peaceful Moon by Debby Lee - Mary Wishram, a Yakima tribe member, and John Painted Horse, a Navajo tribe member, meet while serving at Camp Pendleton during WWII. Mary's only remaining family member, her brother, is in a POW camp in the Philippines and she wants to do whatever she can to find out if he's safe and bring him home. As her friendship with John develops, she volunteers for additional training so she can use her language skills as a spy.

John has a lot of mixed feelings about his service in the Marines. He loves his country and wants to serve, but he is worried about his mother and young siblings and how they will be provided for if something happens to him. He wrestles with the decision to join the Code Talker program but eventually agrees and is deployed to the South Pacific as the conflict there intensifies.

The extremely short notice and secrecy of their deployments means that Mary and John have no way of staying in touch while they are serving, and their faith and courage are tested as they face danger and each worries for the other's safety. Mary looks for opportunities to gather information about her brother, and risks discovery in order to help the men in the POW camp, but she must not jeapordize her mission or the lives of those she's trying to help. Will she and John escape the peril they find themselves in, and will they be able to find each other once they return home?

This was a great story in terms of exploring the service of native Americans during WWII, especially the roles women were able to take on. Mary and John are both likeable and sympathetic characters, and as I read of course I was cheering for them to make the right decisions and accomplish their missions safely so they could find their loved ones and each other and continue on to their happily ever after. However, if you're looking for insight into the Code Talkers program, there's not a lot of that, and there's almost nothing about what kind of training Mary receives to be a spy. I actually felt like the story just needed the characters to be in those programs in order to get them to the setting, but was not about the programs or training at all. The story as a whole relies quite heavily on somewhat improbable coincidences, at least in my opinion. That John and Mary are both assigned to the same region in the South Pacific and on short notice is believable, but the "near misses" where they don't quite find each other despite being in very close proximity started to stretch belief, and (Possible Spoiler Alert!) when they both go missing and are presumed dead in separate incidents that involved improbable and daring escapes from peril, I thought it was a bit much. Especially when it happens twice to John. In places I thought the writing was a bit choppy and I wasn't sure whether it was intentional or not.

Overall, a very good story that invites some thought about how the native Americans that served patriotically during this time were treated, and the ambivalence many must have felt at putting their lives on the line for a country that had marginalized them. Enjoy the story with its light romance, heroic characters, and real dilemmas, but be prepared to suspend disbelief during some of the action.

Mary's Language Skills Could Help End the War in the Pacific

Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this series celebrates the unsung heroes―the heroines of WWII.

Mary Wishram, an orphaned Yakima tribal member, aches for her brother who suffers in a POW camp in the Philippine Islands and her Japanese friends who languish in a relocation center. Determined to end the war by any means necessary, she employs her language skills to become a spy. Leaving Camp Pendleton for the South Pacific, she faces escalating threats of peril to help bring her loved ones home.

John Painted Horse, a proud Navajo, struggles with the loss of his father who died in WWI for a country that didn't consider him a United States citizen. Though his home state didn't offer him the right to vote, he joins the Code Talker program at Camp Pendleton. Thrust into mounting danger in the South Pacific, he hopes to bring long overdue recognition and honor to his people, no matter the cost.

Will these two wounded souls find healing from their past traumas and a deeper relationship with God, before it's too late? Or will they lose their chance at love, and everything they hold dear?

Visit Barbour Publishing for more info on where to buy.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a review.

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This is a book set at the beach for the Summer Reading Challenge.

This is a book in which chapters have cliffhangers (#36) for The 52 Book Club's 2023 Reading Challenge

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Recent Reads - In The Shelter of Hollythorne House

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In The Shelter Of Hollythorne House by Sarah E. Ladd - The opening pages of the story tell of the ending of the relationship of Charlotte Grey and Anthony Welbourne. Charlotte's father hadn't approved of Anthony's family and wanted her to marry someone else; while Anthony was determined to join the army anyway. After this sorrowful prologue, the story picks up some years later. Charlotte's marriage to Roland Prior has not been a happy one, except that she now has an infant son, Henry. When Roland dies suddenly, his brother takes over the family business until Henry comes of age, but he reluctantly allows Charlotte to take Henry and live at her own family estate once more. But he also hires William Walstead's watchmen to guard her.

Anthony has been serving with Walstead's watchmen since returning from the war overseas, and is glad to take an assignment that will take him back to his home in Yorkshire. But he is surprised to discover that the widow he will be protecting is none other than Charlotte. He is determined to set his own feelings aside, and to make sure she and her young son are safe.

Charlotte already mistrusts her brother-in-law, and starts to suspect that her husband had been involved in business dealings even less savory than she had imagined. Then she realizes that she has unwittingly placed herself and Henry in further danger, and it seems that even Walstead's watchmen may not be guarding her so much as spying on her. She fights her own re-emerging feelings for Anthony, but the threats and danger are becoming more intense and she needs to decide who she can trust. Besides, she will need Anthony's help and support if she hopes to keep Henry safe.

Will Charlotte and Anthony be able to trust each other and find a second chance together? Aside from the intrigues and betrayals in the story, this is a tale of not missing an opportunity for a second chance. The romantic aspect of the lost love regained combined with some mystery and dangerous drama make this a book that kept my attention from beginning to end. Both Charlotte and Anthony must grow and change, and there are interesting twists among the supporting characters as to who is trustworthy and who is not, along with enough development of those characters to make their actions and their dilemmas believable. The plot takes a couple of unexpected turns that lead to suspense and stir up even more conflict.  

From the Publisher:

Young widow Charlotte Grey faces an uncertain future . . . until a chance encounter with her first love gives her heart a second chance in this Regency romance set on the Yorkshire Moors.

England, 1817 Charlotte Grey thought she had seen the last of Anthony Welbourne. Knowing her father would never consent to his only daughter marrying a man he deemed beneath their family's station, Charlotte bid her final farewell to Anthony and vowed to never turn back. Instead, she honored her father's wishes by marrying the wealthy Roland Prior.

Determined to put his love for Charlotte in the past, Anthony Welbourne chose to follow his goals and immerse himself in a life full of meaning―first as a soldier fighting a war overseas, then as a member of William Walstead's watchmen, a rugged band of men dispatched to deal with perilous situations. Fearless and persistent, he makes it his life's focus to fight for those who can't fight for themselves.

When Charlotte's husband dies unexpectedly, she quickly realizes how blind she'd been to his nefarious ambitions and how many people he'd angered on his relentless quest for wealth. to protect her infant son, Henry, from those who wish them harm, she and the baby flee to Hollythorne House, her childhood home. There Charlotte comes face to face with her former love, who has been sent as one of the hired watchmen to protect her and Henry until the details of her late husband's estate are settled.

Anthony's presence brings back feelings she never expected to feel again, and she struggles to trust Anthony's intentions. Are Walstead's Watchmen really looking after Charlotte as they claim―or are they looking to make trouble for Roland's estate and heir? Despite the constant reminders of their past, Anthony must remain focused on the task he was hired to do. But when new threats emerge, danger arises, and the past collides with the present, both must decide what they are willing to risk for the chance to right past wrongs an carve out a new future . . . together.

By the same author: A Stranger At Fellsworth, The Governess of Penwythe Hall, The Weaver's Daughter, Dawn at Emberwilde, The Curiosity Keeper, A Lady at Willowgrove Hall, The Headmistress of Rosemere, The Heiress of Winterwood

I received a digital ARC of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishing through NetGalley for the purpose of this review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#InTheShelterOfHollythorneHouse #NetGalley

This is a book published in 2023 (#52) for The 52 Book Club's 2023 Reading Challenge

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2023

©2008-2023 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.