From Wikipedia: Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Day, Bonfire Night and Firework Night, is an annual commemoration observed on 5 November, primarily in Great Britain. Its history begins with the events of 5 November 1605, when Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was arrested while guarding explosives the plotters had placed beneath the House of Lords. Celebrating the fact that King James I had survived the attempt on his life, people lit bonfires around London; and months later, the introduction of the Observance of 5th November Act enforced an annual public day of thanksgiving for the plot’s failure.
It’s 19 December 1931. Hercule Poirot and Inspector Edward Catchpool are called to investigate the murder of a man in the apparent safe haven of a Norfolk hospital ward. Catchpool’s mother, the irrepressible Cynthia, insists that Poirot stays in a crumbling mansion by the coast, so that they can all be together for the festive period while Poirot solves the case. Cynthia’s friend Arnold is soon to be admitted to that same hospital and his wife is convinced he will be the killer’s next victim, though she refuses to explain why.
Poirot has less than a week to solve the crime and prevent more murders, if he is to escape from this nightmare scenario and get home in time for Christmas. Meanwhile, someone else – someone utterly ruthless – also has ideas about what ought to happen to Hercule Poirot . . .
Confession/s – I’ve never read a Hercule Poirot book before or a Sophie Hannah story but a) I loved the TV show and b) I will read more Hannah now!
Bien, bien! All the stars!
December 1931, told from Catchpool’s point of view, we travel to Munby in Norfolk to Frellingsloe House to spend Christmas with the inhabitants which include Catchpool’s Mum, a terminally ill man, his terrified wife, 4 squabbling kids, a curate and a doctor! Poirot and Catchpool also desperately want to be back in London for Christmas!
And of course there is murder!
I was captivated by this book! The author painted such a vivid picture, it was like I was transported back watching the TV show with my parents! I could picture it all in my head!
Catchpool’s Mum was so amusing, I don’t think she meant to be but gawd, I laughed at her exploits!
I was busy pointing the finger at almost all of the characters, dismissing that and moving on but the perp and the reason for their actions made my jaw drop!
As I said before, I was enchanted with this read and now I’ve seen there are 4 other Poirot books by this author and I need them!
When shy Miss Eliza Balfour married the austere Earl of Somerset, twenty years her senior, it was the match of the season–no matter that he was not the husband Eliza would have chosen.
But ten years later, Eliza is widowed. And at eight and twenty years, she is suddenly left titled, rich, and, for the first time in her life, utterly in control of her own future. Instead of living out her mourning quietly, Eliza heads to Bath with her cousin Margaret. After years of living according to everyone else’s rules, Eliza has resolved, at last, to do as she wants.
But when the ripples of the dowager Lady Somerset’s behavior reach the new Lord Somerset–whom Eliza knew, once, as a younger woman–Eliza is forced to confront the fact that freedom does not come without consequences, though it also brings unexpected opportunities . . .
I loved A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting so grabbed the audiobook of this from the library.
No one warned me it was a love triangle. Oh I loathe them but I wanted to see if it was cushioned by historical romance!
Poor old Eliza hasn’t been able to make a decision about her own life all her life until her husband dies and she inherits money and property and hot foots it off to Bath with her cousin to get away from her money grabbing family.
Then Eliza lives, she breathes, she has freedom and she meets 2 men vying for her affections.
I love reading about this time period and all that goes on but I really don’t think I would’ve survived in that period without being deemed mad! Poor Eliza, I felt so bad for her!
My fave character however was Eliza’s cousin, Margaret. She was so funny and a loyal companion.
I didnt love this as much as the first book but it was still a good read.
Step into a fairytale forest where shadows shiver beneath arching trees, and tread the overgrown path through to a lamp-lit cottage where you can rest your feet.
Items inspired by Bitterthorn, The Last Tale of the Flower Bride, Once Upon a Broken Heart and The Cruel Prince!
💛 Nightfell Replica – inspired from Cruel Price, designed by @stacey.mcevoy.caunt 💛 Woodland Treasures Tabs – artwork by @veymoth inspired by Bitterthorn 💛 Domus Somnia Deskpad – artwork by @c.e.illo inspired by Last Tale of the Flower Bride 💛 Finding Dreams Notebook – inspiration from OUaBH, designed by @rosdottir
💛 FEATURED BOOK 💛
After the Forest by Kell Woods
Redesigned cover Colour printing on hardback @chattynora Digitally printed edges Endpaper artwork @lothlenan Bound in author letter
“Fear not November’s challenge bold— We’ve books and friends, And hearths that never can grow cold: These make amends!” — Alexander Louis Fraser, “November”
“Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons.” – Jim Bishop
Top Ten Tuesday is featured by That Artsy Reader Girl. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
Topic: Halloween Freebie!
I puzzled over what to do for this topic so I decided to resurrect an old post! A game of This or That!
Let me know in the comments what your choices would be!
👻 Skeleton or Ghost? 🧙♀️Decorating house or not? 🧛♂️ Vampire or Witch? 🦇Bat or black cat? 🔮 Scary movie or go trick or treating?
My choices would be: ghost, decorating, witch, cat and trick or treating!
In a manor by the sea, one sister is still cursed.
Despite dreams of adventures far beyond the Salann shores, seventeen-year-old Verity Thaumas has remained at her family’s estate, Highmoor, with her older sister Camille, while their sisters have scattered across Arcannia.
When their sister Mercy sends word that the Duchess of Bloem—wife of a celebrated botanist—is interested in having Verity paint a portrait of her son, Alexander, Verity jumps at the chance, but Camille won’t allow it. Forced to reveal the secret she’s kept for years, Camille tells Verity the truth one day: Verity is still seeing ghosts, she just doesn’t know it.
Stunned, Verity flees Highmoor that night and—with nowhere else to turn—makes her way to Bloem. At first, she is captivated by the lush, luxurious landscape and is quickly drawn to charming, witty, and impossibly handsome Alexander Laurent. And soon, to her surprise, a romance . . . blossoms.
But it’s not long before Verity is plagued with nightmares, and the darker side of Bloem begins to show through its sickly-sweet façade. . . .
Oh I absolutely loved this! If you enjoyed House of Salt and Sorrows then you will be overjoyed with this!
I can recommend the audio, it was fabulous! Absolutely perfect for spooky month!
17 year old Verity escapes her family’s estate to paint a portrait. But she leaves with a secret and basically arrives at the Chauntilalei manor where things aren’t much better!
I dont want to say much about the plot but what follows was dark, intense, quite disturbing and had me on the edge of my seat.
I honestly couldn’t put it down and the ending was shocking and made me go whaaaaaat! Please tell me there is more!
The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer It’s a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received.
Hi everyone, hope you’ve had a good week? 🎃
We had a really good, relaxing week off work and school, just what the doctor ordered!!
We carved our pumpkins today, well I carved 1 and my son painted Roblox faces on the others….and it didn’t go well so he ended up rubbing it off and carving them!
We just have to decorate and then we’re ready for the ghosts and ghouls to come trick or treating!
What I’ve Read
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J Maas (reread) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧 A Power Unbound by Freya Marske ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧 The Burning Maze by Rick Riordan ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You might have missed….
Review – Caged Wolf by Caroline Peckham Humour – Halloween funnies Spooky Review – Starling House by Alix E Harrow
CJRTB Books 