My Favourite Reads of 2023

It was so hard narrowing down my favourite books this year, but these were my top five.

The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard by Natasha Lester

This one ticked all of the boxes for me – interwoven timeline historical fiction, fashion and France! Lester’s tale of three generations of Bricard women has been described as Vogue meets Daisy Jones & the Six and is a page-turning story of feminism and fashion.

The Codebreaker’s Secret by Sara Ackerman

A fantastic dual timeline novel set in Hawaii. In 1943 a brilliant female codebreaker sets out to avenge her brother’s death In 1965, a young journalist covering the opening of a new hotel in Hawaii uncovers a decades old mystery. Loved it.

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

I was a little late to the party on this wonderful Pulitzer Prize winner by Colson Whitehead. The story follows Cora, a slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia on her desperate bid for freedom to escape the horrors and brutality of her life.

The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman

Book 4 in the Thursday Murder Club series didn’t disappoint. When a friend dies and the package he was hiding disappears, the gang dig into the antiques trade, while dealing with heartbreak close to home. This series will be amazing on screen.

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

I re-read this wonderful novel again ahead of watching the excellent Netflix series. The story of a blind French girl and a young German soldier unknowingly linked by a children’s radio show, whose lives collide in St Malo in occupied France as they both try to survive World War II. Both heartbreaking and heartwarming.

My Favourite Books of 2022

As usual, compiling my favourite reads of the year has been tough! There are many great stories out there, but in no particular order, these made it to the top of my list for 2022.

The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman

The third book in The Thursday Murder Club series did not disappoint, and along with a great story, Osman once again imbued his characters with warmth and humour. Rumour has it that Steven Spielberg has optioned the rights to make a movie – can’t wait!

The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre by Natasha Lester

Alix St Pierre hopes that a post-war job for fashion designer Christian Dior in Paris will finally allow her to leave the horrors of World War II behind her. But when her dangerous past catches up with her, she must outwit a master chameleon—another brilliant historical fiction novel from Natasha Lester.

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell

This beautifully written novel gives a rich and vivid portrait of life in 16th Century England, but at its heart, it is a story of motherhood, loss and grief. The accolades heaped upon this book are well-deserved; O’Farrell’s lyrical prose deals with both devastation and love in a moving and powerful way.

Quiet in her Bones by Nalini Singh

I loved this crime thriller set on Auckland’s West Coast. When the bones of Nina Rai are discovered deep in the forest near her luxury home ten years after she disappeared, along with a quarter of a million dollars, her disappearance becomes a murder investigation. Her now-adult son must delve deep into the past to construct an accurate picture of events that fateful night.

The Mayfair Bookshop by Eliza Knight

Bright young thing and infamous Mitford sister Nancy takes a job at Heywood Hill bookshop during World War II as she struggles not only with a family including two Nazi-sympathiser sisters, an unfaithful and always broke husband, but also her own writing career. Here she discovers a new life in war-torn London – one not without its dangers. This dual-timeline historical fiction novel sees modern-day book curator Lucy St. Clair trying to uncover the link between their families through a personal inscription in a first edition of Nancy’s work. A fascinating portrait set around a legendary bookshop.

The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith

The latest instalment of the Cormoran Strike crime series sees Cormoran and Robin delving deep into a cult online game in search of a killer known only by their online alias. Atmospheric and rich with detail, this one will keep you guessing.

Dark Deeds Down Under, edited by Craig Sisterson

I highly recommend this showcase of Australian and New Zealand crime writing featuring Vanda Symon, RWR McDonald, Stephen Ross, Alan Carter and others.

My Favourite Books of 2021

Once again, trying to list my favourite reads this year was tough! I read so many good books and discovered a number of new authors along the way. But these were the standouts (in no particular order)

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

The Rose Code is a wonderful blend of love, secrets, spies and suspense. This well-researched story centres around three women who come together to work at Bletchley Park, Britain’s secret World War II code breaking facility. The fact that many of the characters and fictional stories are based on war time diaries and first-hand accounts, makes for an even more fascinating read.

The Thursday Murder Club & The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

The Thursday Murder Club is a fabulous, heart-warming mystery novel about a group of resourceful pensioners who meet to review unsolved cold cases, until their peaceful retirement village is shocked by not one, but two murders. Suddenly The Thursday Murder Club find themselves in the middle of their first live case! Clever writing, with plenty of red herrings and a cast of fun characters. In the second book in the series, The Man Who Died Twice, Elizabeth receives a letter from a dead man and The Thursday Murder Club are back in action avoiding mafia hit men and racing to find stolen diamonds.

Before you knew my name by Jacqueline Bublitz

One of the best books that I read this year. Ruby Jones, newly arrived in New York looking for a fresh start, discovers the body of a young women while out jogging one morning. But this isn’t just another story about a dead girl and the search for her killer, it’s a story about friendship, missed opportunities, heartbreak and love.

The Riviera House by Natasha Lester

Another well-researched, most enjoyable, dual timeline historical fiction novel from Natasha Lester. Nazi art theft in Paris is at the heart of a story full of danger, intrigue and compelling characters, together with the glamour of the Riviera and vintage fashion.

The Nancys by RWR McDonald

A clever, dark and funny mystery novel all about family and fitting in. When her teacher is murdered, Tippy, her Uncle Pike and his boyfriend Devon (visiting from Australia to look after Tippy while her Mum is away), use their shared love of old Nancy Drew books to form The Nancys, a secret crime solving club, to solve the murder. I’m looking forward to the follow up, Nancy Business.

Sisters of the Resistance by Christine Wells

A gripping story inspired by Catherine Dior’s (sister of fashion designer Christian) Parisian resistance network during World War II. Richly researched, with the glamour of 1940s fashion juxtaposed against the menace of war and deprivation.

The Century Trilogy by Ken Follet

I loved these three books. Beginning with Fall of Giants, the saga follows the intermingling lives of five families; Welsh, English, German, American and Russian through the First World War, the Russian Revolution, the struggle for women’s suffrage and a changing social landscape. Winter of the World follows the families through the enormous political, social and economic turmoil of the years leading up to and during World War II and into the beginning of the Cold War. Edge of Eternity follows the next generation through the turmoil of the 1960s to 1980s with civil rights, political assassinations, the Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam and the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall, all set against a backdrop of changing social norms and rock and roll. Wow!

Blood on Vines by Madeline Eskedahl

The peace and tranquillity of the beautiful wine growing region of Matakana is broken by the discovery of a severed hand beneath a farm house. Four old friends are being targeted, but by whom and why? Fabulous descriptions and a community of interesting characters, this is a thrilling, page-turning crime novel.

My Favourite Books of 2020

My favourite reads of 2020 were really hard to narrow down, but here goes. This a bit of a mixed reading bag from mysteries and thrillers (of course) to historical fiction and some lighter reads (and who didn’t need those this year?).

Code Name Helene by Ariel Lawhon

Code Name Helene is a fabulous fictional account of the exploits of real-life socialite turned spy, Australian Nancy Wake, known by several codes names, including the White Mouse, by the Germans who hunted her. Forced to escape from France, leaving her French husband behind, Nancy joins the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in England and is soon dropped back behind enemy lines to help prepare the resistance for D-Day. This is a page-turning story of love, courage and unwavering determination.

Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith

Troubled Blood is the fifth instalment in the Cormoran Strike series. The books are great, as is the TV series, C.B Strike.  Cormoran and Robin, his partner in their London detective agency, take on a 40-year old cold case involving the disappearance of a London doctor involving tarot cards, unreliable witnesses and a serial killer. I loved the way the mystery unfolded alongside the development in the relationship between the two main characters. I’m eagerly awaiting the next book.

The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo

The Night Tiger is a page-turning murder mystery set against the colonial backdrop of 1930s Malaysia. Jin Li, working as a dance hall girl to repay her mother's Mahjong debts finds a mummified finger in a specimen jar. Ren, an 11-year-old orphan is looking for his dead Master's severed finger. The tale weaves a mix of folklore, ghosts, and a mysterious deadly tiger stalking the colony as their lives intertwine. This is a beautifully written story of love, loss, greed, and murder.

The Paris Secret by Natasha Lester

Natasha Lester has made writing dual timeline, World War II women’s fiction something of an art form and following on from her best-selling novel The Paris Photographer, The Paris Secret doesn’t disappoint.

When a Sydney fashion conservator discovers a wardrobe full of Dior gowns hanging in her grandmother’s vacant cottage in England, she uncovers in her family’s past, a group of brave and daring aviatrix working for the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force during World War II, ferrying aircraft to and from factories to airbases in Britain, often under extreme circumstances. A story of love, bravery and sacrifice, the courage of the SOE and the French Resistance shines through along with the little known story of Christian Dior’s war hero sister Catherine.

What Goes on Tour by Gillian Scott

Imagine that Bridget Jones had been a tour guide in 1990s Europe…

What Goes on Tour is a fun, entertaining romp through Europe in 1996 as Shaz, with cassette tapes at the ready, leads a busload of partying young travellers whilst trying to make fellow tour guide RHR (ridiculously handsome Roger), realise that she is the one for him, and attempting to not mess up and lose her job in the process. But, as Shaz quickly discovers, the road to true love has a few unexpected twists and bumps along the way.

A light-hearted, funny book which will bring back memories for anyone who travelled in Europe in the 1990s!

Wife After Wife by Olivia Hayfield

Wife After Wife is a modern retelling of the life of King Henry VIII. What if Henry VIII was a 21st-century media magnate living in London? And his wives? - divorced, murdered, died, divorced, departed, survived! This was a quick, fun read.

London Calling

Anyone who knows me will know that I LOVE London. I lived there back in the 1990s and visit every couple of years.

Whilst most visitors flock to the usual tourist sites (and I have visited many of them, at least once over the years), London has many hidden gems and quirky places to satisfy both book lovers and history buffs, if you just know where to look.

So here are ten places in London that are perhaps not quite so well known, that I always enjoy visiting (and some of these just happen to turn up in my novels.)

1. The Banqueting House

This historical gem on Whitehall is often overlooked by visitors to the city, but it is well worth taking the time to lay back in one of the beanbags scattered throughout James I’s fabulous banqueting hall to admire the amazing Rubens ceiling – one of the few such decorations to survive Oliver Cromwell’s reformation. You can also stand where Charles I walked out onto the scaffold to his execution.

Photo credit: SL Beaumont

2.      The Brunel Museum

Brunel’s Thames tunnel was the engineering marvel of its day and the Grand Entrance Hall is now host to musical and theatre events throughout the year. This scheduled Ancient Monument was described as the Eighth Wonder of the World when it opened in the mid-19th century.

 3.      Brompton Cemetery

There’s something about wandering through an old cemetery reading headstones and watching squirrels and other wildlife going about their business. Brompton Cemetery was designed to be a tranquil garden as well as a cemetery when it opened in 1840. Over 200,000 people are buried here including the suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst.

Photo credit: ZJ Beaumont

4.      Churchill War Rooms

Beneath the streets of Westminster, lies a labyrinth of tunnels and rooms which were the top-secret home of Churchill’s war cabinet during the Second World War. Featured in many books and movies, visiting the real thing is endlessly fascinating. The addition of a museum dedicated to the life of Sir Winston Churchill puts it right up there on my list of must-sees in the capital.

5.      The Queen’s Walk

Get above ground and wander along the Queen’s Walk from Westminster Bridge along the South Bank to the Millennium Bridge. Hailed as one of London’s great walks, it will take you past not only the London Eye, the National Theatre, the Tate Modern, and the replica of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, but you also get fantastic views across the river to St. Paul’s and the city of London. If you don’t cross the Millennium Bridge to St Paul’s Cathedral, keep walking towards London Bridge and you come to the foodie haven of Borough Market. As you pass Southwark Cathedral, be sure to pop in and see the Shakespeare memorial which appears in The Carlswick Mythology.

6.      The Albert Memorial

The Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens is one of the grandest Victorian moments around and commemorates the death of Queen Victoria’s beloved husband Prince Albert at the age of 42. The intricate detail of the monument and magnificent gold statue of Albert gazing across the road towards the spectacular Albert Hall makes it well worth a visit, as Stephanie found when she stops to admire it, in The Carlswick Treasure. The statue was painted black during World War I, so that he wouldn’t be a shining target for the German Zeppelins and it wasn’t until an extensive restoration project in the 1980s that the gold leaf was rediscovered under the paint and Albert was re-gilded to his former glory.

7.      221B Baker Street

Fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle will love the period museum created at 221B Baker Street, the fictional home to his famous detective Sherlock Holmes.

Photo credit: SL Beaumont

8.      Disused Underground Stations

There are several disused underground stations around London, many of which have a fascinating story. Some were used to hide treasures from institutions such as the British Museum, V&A, and National Gallery during both World Wars and a number were used as air-raid shelters during the Blitz. Some have now been converted into underground hydroponic vegetable gardens supplying fresh salad ingredients to many of the city’s restaurants, whilst others are used as film sets. Perhaps the most famous, Aldwych Station, is now open for guided tours and this is where Stephanie took refuge in The Carlswick Mythology.

9.         London’s Pubs

No visit to London is complete without a drink (and usually great food) at one of the many historic pubs. Some of my favourites include The Blackfriar, the flower festooned Churchill Arms, the Dickins Inn (where Jess and Will met for lunch in Shadow of Doubt) and Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, especially for its famous literary links.

Photo credit: Richard Mcall from Pixabay

10.       London Bookshops

There is something special about spending an afternoon trawling through bookstores and London has an impressive array, from new to second-hand to those stocking rare collectibles. My favourites include the always wonderful Daunt Books, Waterstones at Piccadilly covering eight floors (I can recommend their bar, 5th View on the top floor), Persephone Books (overlooked women writers of the 20th century, anyone?) and any of the bookshops in Cecil Court a narrow Victorian alleyway comprised almost entirely of book sellers (this was apparently JK Rowling’s inspiration for Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter series.)

Photo credit: Foundry Co from Pixabay

Syrian Antiquities for sale on Facebook

Stephanie Cooper and DI Marks would have been saddened, but not surprised at recent news reports of looted Syrian antiquities being bought and sold through groups using Facebook.

Facebook has removed a number of groups following a BBC investigation. The latest threat appears to be from loot-to-order smugglers with mafia style networks set up to control the trade. Discussions in the groups on how to illegally excavate items have culminated in Roman mosaics, still in the ground, being offered for sale.

Photo credit: Iyad Al Ghafari

A number of organisations are working to try to halt the looting of the country’s cultural heritage, but they are facing a battle on many fronts; from individuals looking to make quick money, to more organised criminal groups, and from what UNESCO has described as “looting on an industrial scale” by Islamic State.

In The Carlswick Mythology, looted artefacts from the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra are discovered in Greece before being smuggled first to Switzerland and then Rome, as part of an organised criminal network. As recent news stories show, reality is no stranger than fiction.

On a positive note, a recent innovation has been the development of a solution, which when painted on artefacts is invisible to the naked eye, but detectable under ultra violet light, making many antiquities traceable. It is hoped that this may act as a deterrent to both smugglers and private collectors wary of prosecution.

Hunt for Degas looted by the Nazis

Nazi looted art and its modern day repercussions are at the heart of the first three novels in The Carlswick Mysteries series. The hunt to recover looted art continues to this day. In an article this week in The Guardian, the Rosenberg heirs discuss their attempts at recovering a looted Degas belonging to their grandfather, renowned Parisian Jewish art dealer Paul Rosenberg, and the difficulties they face. You can read the article here.

Illegal trafficking of cultural artefacts

In what is being described as a 'hard blow against the illegal trafficking of cultural goods' Europol, the European Law Enforcement Agency, announced in a press release that on July 4th, that more than 250 police officers detained 23 suspects and seized EUR 40 million worth of looted archaeological items.

The joint operation was initiated four years ago by a special unit of the Italian Carabinieri and was supported by officers from the Spanish Guarda, British Metropolitan Police and German Police. Members of the criminal gang are alleged to have illegally excavated and trafficked cultural relics to be sold at auction houses in Germany.

The scale of the looting and destruction of ancient historic sites in Europe and the Middle East is astonishing, as criminal networks turn to this lucrative source of income to finance their terrorist and criminal activities. Perhaps most shocking are the before and after images showing the scale of the looting in parts of Iraq and Syria, where the after aerial photos show historic sites, such as Apamea, pockmarked by holes where looters have roughly excavated whatever ancient relics they can find to sell.

In a case of life imitating art, my soon to be released novel, The Carlswick Mythology, finds Stephanie and James caught up in the trafficking of artefacts from the conflict zone of Syria to willing buyers in Europe...