Books update for March

Ok, so I’m a bit late with my books update for March, but I’m pleased to say that I’m back reading regularly, and even (vaguely) managed to find some time alongside it for some crochet too.  I did think I’d not read much, but I finished 4 books in March so I’m still on track with my target of 52 books this year.  I’ve also been reading proper books as well as e-books.  I will reduce my paperback ‘to read’ pile.

The Good Thief’s Guide to Vegas – Chris Ewan

I’m not sure why or where I’d picked up this book, but it ended up being a bit of fun, and quite enjoyable.  I’d not realised, but it’s the 3rd book in the Good Thief’s series, but that didn’t matter when reading it.

Charlie Howard is a part time writer and thief, and ending up in Vegas with his agent Victoria, he ends up getting involved with a missing magician Josh; casino owners who’re after money that Josh had cheated them out of; and getting in deeper with his agent.  He mistakenly gets blamed for the theft, and is given a mission to either regain the money stolen or have a one way trip to the desert.

The plot’s all about Charlie and Victoria solving the mystery of Josh’s disappearance, who else is involved and trying to raise the money required, with interesting characters and daring tricks tried along the way.

Good fun, a bit like a tame version of Hustle.

Take Mum Out – Fiona Gibson

Back to chick lit again, and mum of 2 teen boys has been single for too long.  3 of her friends line up men for her to meet much to the scorn of her sons…at first.  As well as meeting men, Alice is finding herself, her new meringue business, increasing her self-confidence and building her relationship with her children.

This was an easy quick read, with some nice relationships and fun characters. It’s also nice to see a female lead not always winning as you expect (ie finding the man of her dreams), but still winning for her.

The Way Back Home – Freya North

I used to read a lot of Freya North books as a teen and later, and loved the sisters series she did.  I was half way through this book before I twigged that the Pip referred to was one of the previous sisters.

Oriana has returned to England and is drawn to the bohemian commune style house Windward and friends of her childhood, brothers Jed and Malachy.  We don’t find out right until the end how and why Oriana ever left Winward, why she and her parents don’t get on, and more.  There’s a love triangle going on, although Oriana appears oblivious (I’m not sure how), and you learn more about her childhood throughout the book, as well as meeting some o f the characters from it.

I didn’t mind the book, although it’s all a bit hippy and unrealistic for me.  I pretty much guessed what the mystery was around Malachy and Oriana half way through, but the reader doesn’t get told until nearly the end. Essentially families and communal living was destroyed, but it’s time for the younger generation to live again.

Daddy’s Gone a Hunting – Mary Higgins Clark

I’ve not read any Mary Higgins Clark for a while, but they’re always good for a crime story, secrets unleashed or discovered, and usually family struggles.

Kate gets injured in an explosion at the family furniture firm, where antiques also get burnt to the ground.  This unleashes questions about old crimes, dead bodies turning up, a homeless man, and her father’s unscrupulous dealings.  Kate’s sister Hannah wants to find the truth, as does the brother of a girl who went missing years earlier.

I did find it a bit confusing with the different people being introduced, and the father’s girlfriend was a pointless addition.  But it’s a usual Mary Higgins Clark style, lots of crime without the graphic violence that you read in so many other crime books.