An Independent Woman by Sophia Holloway – wonderful Regency novel of a young woman from Allison & Busby

December 4, 2025

An Independent Woman by Sophia Holloway

I have had the pleasure of reading and reviewing several of Sophia’s books, in which I have always become really engaged by for their romance, plot, historical accuracy and clever humour. I’m happy to say that her latest offering combines all of these elements and even more insights into characters which really resonated with me. There are many things to enjoy in this book, in which a young woman must cope with many challenges, while realising that her attraction to a local man is growing. Lady Louisa Dembleby begins the novel as a young widow with a small daughter, but her adventures both in the English countryside and in fashionable Bath make this Regency-set book a really good read which I really enjoyed, and I was grateful for the opportunity to read and review it.

In this novel one of the characters, Major Benfield Barkby, has obvious injuries as a result of military service; another is wounded by a difficult marriage which has left her with a sour view of men. Not that this is a depressing novel at all; the main characters are realistic, sometimes funny, and affectionate in the main. While Louisa is supported by her own family, her late husband was uninterested in her, partly as a result of her only giving birth to a daughter. Little Emily thus knew nothing of her birth father and so reacts well to Barkby when they meet. Lousia is greatly impressed by this, as well as his support in her new home when danger threatens. She also meets his friend, Mr. Gilmorton, whose self-depreciating humour and support for his formidable grandmother provides a lovely aspect of the book. When the actions of Lousia’s former in laws drives her to Bath she makes new friends and meets with new challenges, but is still reluctant to commit to a relationship. Can her friends sort out their problems, can Louisa learn to really love, and will there be a happy ending?

As always Sophia’s research is impeccable not only into the well-known aspects of Regency life, but also the social pressures on people at the time. She takes great delight in describing the clothes that her characters wear, and the impact of changing style that can have. She is also brilliant at describing the emotions of her characters and what they choose to do, even though they may not be central to the plot. Little Emily is delightful, especially when she meets Barkby, and Louisa is well described in regard to her feelings towards the people she encounters. With some good people and those who seem determined to create trouble, Sophia describes three dimensional characters who I really enjoyed reading about throughout the novel. My own favourite was Mr. Gilmorton, who makes time to help everyone while making rueful comments on his abilities.

This is a book that I really looked forward to reading, and I was not disappointed. I recommend it as a great read, especially for fans of Regency novels, as this is such a well written tale of romance and life in a fascinating time.

Murder in Paris – The Blind Detective Investigates by Christina Koning – A murder mystery set in newly liberated Paris in 1945 from Allison & Busby

November 19, 2025

Murder in Paris – The Blind Detective Investigates by Christina Koning

This well written and impressive novel is actually the tenth in the series. It is, however, undoubtedly a book that can be read alone as an excellent novel. It is set in April 1945, before the ending of the Second World War, but following the liberation of Paris. While London has suffered a lot of physical damage, the people have largely pulled together, while things are very different in Paris at this time. Koning has set her story in a time when there is deep suspicion between everyone in the city, even within the groups that are supposed to be working together. This is a time when betrayal, collaboration with the occupying forces and past misdeeds are very alive and dangerous. Frederick Rowlands, the blind unofficial detective, has become involved with trying to ascertain the identity of a young woman who is of interest to the secret services. The research behind this novel is impeccable, with fascinating portrayal of not only a very difficult time but also the people who were in Paris in the heady days of freedom. This is a very enjoyable novel that I was grateful to have the opportunity to read.

Rowlands, the lead character of this and the previous novels, was blinded during the First World War. Every two years or so he has been involved in dealing with some form of investigation involving a murder in various settings, including Oxford colleges, Bletchley Park, pre War Berlin and the Spanish civil war. They have often involved a member of his family, including his socialist sister and his daughters. Another recurring character is Iris Barnes, a skilled linguist and identity changing secret service agent with contacts everywhere. On this occasion she has requested Rowlands come to Paris to identify a young woman who has been involved in the Resistance and a complex question of betrayal. Rowlands had met Clara in Berlin when she was much younger, and he is not confident that he will recognise her when she has undergone terrible treatment. This difficult situation is made worse when circumstances lead to deaths and investigations into other disappearances and terrible memories. As Rowlands is confronted by memories and another woman who has turned up reminding him of strong emotions, he must proceed with caution.

The novel is written centred around Rowlands and his progress. Although he has very little sight left, the descriptions of what he can work out from voices, sound and smell as well as sense of place give a full impression to the reader of what is going on. It is an impressive piece of writing which makes a feature of an apparent limitation. Rowlands makes brilliant detective as he works on connections and an insight into people which goes beyond normal perceptions. He has a well-developed ability to see the overall picture – and see the real motivation behind people’s actions.

This is a book which combines a murder mystery, a thriller and a well written wartime novel. It contains fascinating depictions of the huge variety of people who found themselves in Paris at the time, a place of fear and danger as well as conspicuous spending and artistic cliques.
All the characters are well defined, even if their involvement in the narrative is brief. Rowlands is the steady yet determined centre of the story, and he is a realistic hero is difficult circumstances. I recommend this book to all who enjoy a well written historical novel with so many twists.   

Young Mrs. Savage by D.E. Stevenson – a lovely 1949 novel of family reprinted by Furrowed Middlebrow at Dean Street Press

September 3, 2025

Young Mrs Savage by D.E. Stevenson

This is one of Stevenson’s delightful books set in a small Scottish town. It features a family affected by the Second World War: a young woman left widowed with four young children. This novel was originally published in 1949 and has been reprinted by Furrowed Middlebrow at Dean Street Press. It has tremendous warmth, with careful and thoughtful descriptions of small children, their relationships and obsessions. Dinah, their mother, has complex feelings about her late husband and other aspects of her life. Other people’s perceptions of the family are fascinating, as well as the actions of her supportive twin Dan, newly returned from War and determined to help the sister and children he has not seen for many years. This is a novel of small events, well drawn characters and small adventures. It is an enjoyable and lovely read, which describes life in a small community as the people mix a genuine welcome with encouragement of Dinah and her children. This book is memorable for the skilful weaving of storylines, adventures and surprises which make this a fascinating read.

At the beginning of the novel Dinah is struggling with her four children and a certain amount of guilt. Her late husband, Gilbert, had swept her off her feet, and when the children had arrived had wanted to carry on partying when on leave. His sudden death left her with financial difficulties, especially as she had never met his parents. While she has some local friends, she is only rescued when her brother Dan organises for her to return with the children on an extended holiday. He proposes that they go back to their childhood home where their old nanny and her husband keeps a guest house. Stevenson is careful to explore the reasons why Dinah has not sought help there before, as she is warmly welcomed back to Craigie Loch and the coastal town by the locals who fondly remember her and Dan. Her children are by turns difficult and lovable, and Stevenson delights in describing their small characteristics and adventures, even including the baby of the family who is content to sit and watch the others. As the people around them begin to reveal their secrets, Dinah’s future begins take a different turn.

I really enjoyed this gentle book which had hidden depths of people who at first seem straightforward. The subtle feelings that Dinah has for her husband are well described. The children are genuinely interesting little people in their misunderstandings and their developing characters, as one son begins to resemble his father. The people of the town also respond to Dinah in various ways, and the element of romance in the novel is gently introduced. This is a lovely novel to read as a distraction as it is so involving. The fact that it was written at the time gives it a truth and a depth that stays in the mind and adds to the overall impression of this novel as a really good read, which I recommend to those who enjoy reprinted fiction and well written mid twentieth century novels.    

Death on Fleet Street by Anna Sayburn Lane – the latest in a brilliant 1920s series of murder mysteries tackled by Marjorie Swallow

July 25, 2025

Death on Fleet Street by Anna Sayburn Lane

This is not a straightforward review – because I have realised that this is the fifth in a series of 1920s murder mysteries that I have not reviewed! This is a shocking omission as I have enjoyed every single one of these books and would heartily recommend them all. Marjorie Swallow is an exciting character who has a fascinating back story as she hails from a London shopkeeper background – so the new lifestyle she enjoys with her American employer Mrs Jameson is well described to the reader who may not have an exhaustive knowledge of high society in the 1920s. All the books are rich in well researched descriptions of clothes, places, attitudes and the social expectations of the period, but these descriptions are never allowed to slow the progress of the well plotted stories of murder and danger. Marjorie may well be the junior in this relationship, as she lives in a large house with staff paid for by her employer, but it is her story, her thoughts and the dangers she encounters which mainly feature in the book, with splendid back up from her friends and associates. There is often a hint of romance, but this is essentially the story of a young woman making her way in a world still trying to come to terms with the losses and upheaval of the First World War.

There is an ebook introduction to the characters, but the first novel is “Blackmail in Bloomsbury” in which Marjorie must infiltrate the alternative lifestyles of the Bloomsbury set as well as the criminal classes. There is danger and intrigue in recognisable settings as Marjorie must meet new people and situations in Jazz Age London. It is not really a spoiler to say that she survives to feature in the next book: “The Soho Jazz Murders”, in which she meets a genuine “flapper” and she once more must become an undercover detective to find out what is really going on in the nightclubs of London. A death in the early book is respectfully dealt with, as the author’s careful creation of characters makes for three-dimensional people, but there is no unnecessary gore or bloodshed. In the third book, “Death in Chelsea” revels in the 1923 garden show, those who create the displays which make the Chelsea Show famous, and the suppliers of some of the flowers in Covent Garden. In this novel more than gardening dangers are exposed, as a Royal Visit is imperilled. The fourth book is set in the glamour of the south of France in “The Riviera Mystery” where artists, diamond dealers and the wealthy congregate – and Marjorie enjoys and endures some very new experiences.

This fifth Novel is set in London’s Fleet Street. The author is obviously very familiar with journalism (a previous occupation I believe) and the language of putting a newspaper together while coping with the opposition and a challenging publisher/owner is confidently handled. The sounds, smells and whole experience is so well conveyed, and the reader is treated to Marjorie’s new experience. At the heart of this book is a classic murder mystery with limited access to the victim, crucial timings and narrative twists in a brilliant plot. I really enjoyed this episode in Marjorie’s detection career, where all sides of the newspaper operation in the 1920s is explored as a background to murder.

The latest book, “Murder on the White Cliffs” has just been published, and I have yet to get a copy! Anna appears on social media and has a website annasayburhttp://annasayburnlane.comnlane.com which you can consult and sign up for her free ebook.

I really enjoyed Anna’s previous series of literary murder mysteries set in contemporary Britain, some of which I have reviewed on this site. Her ability to convey a real sense of place has been carried over into this series, the books of which I have really raced through with real enjoyment. I cannot wait to read of Marjorie’s latest adventures, and I hope that you will join me soon!

Silence After Dinner by Clifford Witting – a 1953 murder mystery set in an English village with a definate twist reprinted by Galileo Publishers

July 20, 2025

Silence After Dinner by Clifford Witting

I have read many Golden Age and postwar detective books, including several by this author, but rarely have I encountered one as clever as this one. When I first realised that some of the action (not a lot, it transpired) took place in China, I was not that keen – I favour British based mysteries. However, it soon emerged that only one character has written a diary which records a crime that happened before the real ‘action’ of the plot, and it is that event which reveals the nature of one of the suspects – but which one? This is a 1953 novel which has recently been reprinted by Galileo Publishers of Cambridge, and it is a very enjoyable read on many levels which really kept me guessing to the end.  

The novel is set in the South Downs of England, in the village of Yateham near the small but busy town of Lulverton.  The parish church has long been in the Micheldever family, in that the vicar has been from that line, with an interruption. The near to retirement Andrew Micheldever has hopes that his son Harold, who is a clergyman, will return from a Mission to China at take up the living. Sadly for him and his wife, Harold does not seem keen; indeed, he seems distinctly reluctant to stay in the church. When the Reverend Angus Donaldson arrives to replace Andrew, the couple with their adult daughter Janet must move to a local cottage. Donaldson proves to be a dramatic preacher, and the church is soon full, but Andrew chooses to go elsewhere. A tragedy soon occurs, however, and Donaldson dies at a disused Mill Pond owed by a local landowner, Timothy. When Harold returns, he gets a job with Timothy but struggles to settle. The next clergyman, Bruce Gault, is a stern man with a dubious associate. Another death occurs at the Mill, as discovered by Janet and her boyfriend, Dr. Dick Farringdon. When Inspector Bradfield turns up to investigate the mystery he must deal with strong local feelings as well as the mysterious and apparently deadly Mill. In the background further details emerge of the Chinese events that implicate one of several men, but which one?

This book details the countryside in which the novel is set in a very effective way; even if I was unsure how the Mill worked, I was drawn into the physical description. As is standard in a murder mystery a lot depends on timing as well as the motives and alibis of the suspects, which is all very well worked out. The added element of the shadowy Chinese journal increases the tension, as it seems to point to one of several men being guilty of serious crimes.

This is a book that I recommend for its excellent plotting with an extra element. It contains some convincing characters who behave in realistic ways, ranging from jealous clergy to a feckless son, a determined daughter and Inspector Bradfield presiding over a complex investigation. I was very grateful to be given the opportunity to read and review this reprinted novel, and I hope it finds the large readership it deserves.       

A Death on Location by the Reverend Richard Coles – the latest installment of murder and more from the English village of Champton

July 14, 2025

A Death on Location by the Reverend Richard Coles

This well written novel is the fifth Canon Clement Mystery, and like the others it includes a range of fascinating and very realistic characters in a rural setting set in the early 1990s. There is a great deal of underlying humour in the way the whole book is written, and yet due respect is paid to the fact that it does start with a murder. There are references to blood, but no gore or violence; the interest is in the puzzling plot as to which of the brilliant characters may be responsible for the crime. I think this book would stand alone as a murder mystery as there are comments which establish Daniel Clements role in solving mysterious deaths, as well as his working with Detective Sergeant Neil Vanloo. Fans of the series will also recognise the delightfully determined Audrey whose role as Vicar’s mother means she is always in the thick of things, as well as her social ambitions regarding the local gentry. As this novel relates to the filming of a period drama, a whole cast and crew are newly arrived in the village. The director is willing to listen to the realities of an investigation which is launched when the murder is discovered, but the memorable lead actor, Gillian, with her assistant Carrie, has a very different set of priorities. As in all the books, this is a skilful, sometimes funny, sometimes moving story of a murder from at the heart of a very English village, where several people may have motives, and many people have opportunity.

At the beginning of the novel, Margaret Porteous is a “supporting actor” in a scene of disorder. Suddenly experiencing extreme pain in her side, she seeks help and dramatically dies. While the film shot is closed immediately, locals who had become involved in the production realise that a pillar of the community, a churchwarden, is no more. As Neil and other officers appear and Daniel is informed, the great house is closed. This does not stop the difficult Gillian making her demands, mainly directed at her unfortunate assistant Carrie, and drawing others into her eccentric requirements. The Director is being pressured to keep filming going from the backers in America, but even the film already shot is being watched carefully. As Daniel is drawn into the mystery, he must balance the needs of identifying the murderer with his pastoral role for the people of the church and village. Meanwhile his brother Theo, an actor in the film, has his own issues. Audrey is planning an evening meal for some interesting guests but needs all her social skills to maintain a brave face.

I found this a really enjoyable read, being greatly entertained by characters familiar and new. The plot was good and satisfying within the unusual combination of film makers and villagers, and as always Daniel’s role is complicated. Coles is good on the role of a clergy person in a situation rapidly threatening to go out of control as people he has worked with mix with strangers. As always, his pet dogs add a certain element of anarchy to the proceedings, as they cause all sorts of minor challenges. Coles’ writing is certainly developing as he constructs new tales of Daniel, his family and friends, and I recommend this latest instalment of murder and thoughtfully drawn characters.  

The Eights by Joanna Miller – four of the first female undergraduates at Oxford in 1920 in a novel of loyalty and love.

July 9, 2025

The Eights by Joanna Miller

This book was an accidental discovery, but one that I am very glad to have made. It is a novel which is so convincing that I wanted to check if some of the characters really existed – there are some on the periphery who were real, like Vera Brittain, and the main characters are well drawn and named creations of this debut author. It is essentially the story of four young woman who matriculate at Oxford University in 1920, among the first women to do so, to a mixture of reactions. “The Eights” are put on Corridor Eight of St. Hugh’s College, a purpose built female institution with the remarkable Miss E.F. Jourdain as Principal, and soon discover that the strict rules regarding chaperones, compulsory chapel and many more must be adhered to by every undergraduate. In case this sounds dry and dusty, it is far from that in reality.

The four women, Dora, Otto, Beatrice and Marianne are very different in background and personality, yet become a loyal group who must stick together in the face of many challenges which are sometimes general to every female in the college, but are at other times very personal. This is a book which is obviously the result of a lot of research, but also of a lot of understanding of different women in a setting which seems designed to test them, against a background of male entitlement and tradition. It is also set in the shadow of the First World War, which has affected everyone in some form, even those women who seemingly escaped battle and obvious loss. It is a mature, magnificent read that I greatly enjoyed, and only wished it would go on longer.

Beatrice Sparks is the daughter of a notable suffragette leader who has had very few maternal feelings for her daughter and has failed to concern herself with her clever and sensitive only child. She is aware of her great opportunity as one of the first women to become a member of the University and is determined to make a difference in Oxford. Marianne Grey is clever, shy and unconvinced that she will cope in Oxford. A rural vicar’s daughter, she has secrets but also reservations about what she is undertaking. Theodora, Dora, Greenwood has arrived at Oxford still grieving the loss of her brother George and the man she was to marry, Charles. She knows that had either or both survived she would not be in Oxford; she would be the sister of a undergraduate or married and still in the provincial town in which she grew up. Ottoline, Otto, Wallace–Kerr is a socialite from a glamourous background with an host of abilities and contacts. She seemingly has little time for the most restrictive of the rules enforced by the college, is generous and wealthy, and seemingly blessed with boundless courage. However, she has a backstory of tough experiences in the recent War, and is therefore vulnerable in so many ways.

The combination of these four young women is so well drawn against their progress in a University that is not yet ready for them in some ways. Many of the male undergraduates take pleasure in teasing the women, unofficially playing tricks, officially bringing debates in the Union which deplore the inclusion of female scholars. Each woman must cope with the limitations and restrictions placed on them as a whole, but also their developing situations of attraction and history. Some men are supportive and as individuals come to care for the women in various ways, but being physically jostled is a problem for the four main characters from the first.

I found this novel had so many excellent elements, including the humour, loyalty and hope shown by the main characters. There are moving passages, as the losses of the War are recalled and lived, but also fascinating insights into the lives of women dealing with a whole range of postwar challenges. I recommend this book for its dialogue, its atmosphere and most of all its message of female solidarity in a unique situation.         

A New Home at the Wartime Hotel by Maisie Thomas – a saga of wartime women in difficult circumstances in Manchester 1941

June 24, 2025

A New Home at the Wartime Hotel by Maisie Thomas

Fans of wartime stories will find another series to love in this first book of a new set of novels. I am a huge fan of “The Railway Girls” series that Thomas also wrote, in which she cleverly brought together a group of women with a connection to Manchester’s railways during the Second World War. As in this novel, there is a variety of women from different backgrounds and ages, all held together by a common desire to do their best for the war effort. The Wartime Hotel, Dunbar’s, becomes a common factor which draws them together and creates a community. This community offers mutual support and practical help in difficult circumstances made worse by wartime shortages and circumstances. This is not the London Blitz – life in Manchester was changed permanently by the bombs that fell, by the losses of life and homes, and life for everyone in the city and the area had to adapt. In this novel three women are the focus of the story, with their own concerns, families and friends, but they are drawn together by a hotel building of long standing. How their lives are filled with challenges and how they tackle them is a narrative which I greatly enjoyed, and themes and situations are left for future novels to resolve and expand. I was so pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this novel and recommend it as a good read.

The first woman in this novel who is introduced is Kitty Dunbar in April 1928. She has just become a mother, and early surprise, and her daughter Abigail is already much loved. Her husband Bill is totally smitten, and proud, but from her first journey home spends heavily on a taxi. A top of the range cot impresses the neighbours, but already Kitty begins to fear how much it costs. As time passes and Abigail grows, the handsome Bill continues to buy treats for his wife and daughter to impress, but even his steady job does not mean they are paid for in a timely manner. When Kitty begins to discover just how much money Bill owes, she adopts dramatic measures which Bill is angry about – and he refuses to let her work to earn money to reduce their debt. Thirteen years later in 1941 the war has begun, and staying overnight in the shelter has become common. Hope comes with an inheritance, but Kitty soon realises she must work hard to make it pay.

Meanwhile Beatrice is a single woman who has a vital but challenging job, delivering adult “nappies” to people in need in the streets of Manchester. She unofficially helps several of the women who look after loved ones in dire circumstances, which leads her to contact with those who have very difficult lives, including children who have huge responsibilities which are affecting their education. She lives a sad life, regretting her own background and her lack of hope for the future. As she gets involved in the lives of others, she meets Kitty and things begin to change.

Lily is a young woman who meets the love of her life in the form of Daniel – who happily returns her love. She works hard at Dunbar’s as a chambermaid, but her whirlwind romance changes everything. Marriage and pregnancy should mean a happy ending, but when Daniel goes away Lily is left to contend with many challenges, and Dunbar’s offers her only sanctuary.

This is a very skilfully written book which covers women of various ages who are thrown together by war, a hotel and circumstances that they struggle with individually. I really enjoyed “meeting” these three women and eagerly look forward to following their stories in future books, as they and those they encounter experience wartime life. It is a thoroughly entertaining read, and it is worth looking out for by those seeking a strong, well written novel.

Double Stakes by Alison Morton – a contemporary thriller featuring a determined young woman in multiple cases

June 3, 2025

Double Stakes by Alison Morton

Over the years I have had the pleasure of reading many of Alison Morton’s books. Some have been from her Roma Nova series, which features a world in which the Roman Empire has continued, with female leadership and women taking the lead in many roles. The series in which Double Stakes is the third and latest book in the Melisende titles features a young woman who is a French special forces analyst. Mel is far from a desk warrior; she has multiple impressive skills in terms of physical combat, operation planning and execution, and creating illusions of being an innocent traveller. As she juggles multiple cases and concerns, she has to adapt and keep one step ahead of people who seem intent on destroying the mainly peaceful way of life enjoyed by much of Europe. Her language skills and technological abilities allow her to keep ahead of her enemies, her compassion and emotional intelligence mean that she makes a difference to people. She works with a partner who shares much of her life; Jeff McCracken is British and from a far tougher background than Mel, but they have a positive relationship which acknowledges the risks they take. This is a fast moving and complex book which I was grateful to have the opportunity to read and review.

The novel begins with a bang, quite literally, as a mysterious missile hurls through the conservatory of Mel’s family chateau. It narrowly misses her mother, Susan. Mel and Jeff are staying, and make the first moves towards an investigation. Mel’s father, Henri, is a wealthy and influential man, and he soon discovers that it is his son’s wife who was the probable target, as her secret gambling habit has got her into trouble. While this situation develops, Mel and Jeff must depart to their own work in the Germany. A tragedy has taken place which affects their immediate boss, but it is seemingly a much greater problem which needs their attention. With far-right groups gaining in popularity across Europe, a centre left politician stands a real chance of election and maintaining democracy. When his only child is kidnapped and he receives demands to stand down from the coming poll, Mel and Jeff must more quickly to find the teenager before the implications of the situation threaten far more than one family. Using skills honed in previous missions, Mel must concentrate on removing the threat to democracy in one of Europe’s most important countries.

Crucially other threats and problems exist. In a post – Berlin wall Germany old loyalties and new corruption continues, and it is accordingly difficult to know who to trust. Back in France the family situation deteriorates, and Mel finds herself torn. Can she maintain her concentration on her main mission while her family is under threat?

I found this complex thriller far more enjoyable and enthralling than I first expected. The character of Mel is so engaging, whether sneaking around a target building or catching up with her laundry, I really could not wait to find out what would happen next. Her combat skills are amazing yet realistic, as her reactions are so finely tuned and she instinctively finds weak spots. I would normally struggle with a narrative which moves with ease between countries, but the minutiae of life, architecture and phrases in other languages is so well handled that I was completely drawn in. I would recommend this as a standalone thriller and a really enjoyable read.