Recently reviewed:
Sun Damage by Sabine Durrant
Publication: August 1, 2023; Harper Paperbacks
Genre: mystery thriller, fiction, France, literary fiction
I loved reading the suspenseful events leading up to fugitive Ali's arrival as a cook for the vacationing family in the large house in the south of France. I also enjoyed the chance for romance for the wayward, lost soul that she is.
It was surprising how well Ali carried off her duties as cook, which she is not and only pretending to be, and how fortuitous it was to have a guest to help her with duties in the kitchen.
The ending of the thriller came with a twist that was not a total surprise but it did add more drama to the story. I liked the more or less realistic ending with Ali not totally changed in her ways but much better, enough that we like her and wish her well, even though she is not totally redeemed.
Genre: mystery, historical mystery, cozy mystery, romance
Catherine Tregowyn and Dr. Harry Bascombe, teachers at Oxford, decide to play detective and solve the murder by strangling of Oxford don, Agatha Chenowith.
There are several likely suspects in the world of professors, poets, and their partners, with everything from revenge, jealousy, fear, and secrets for the two amateur sleuths to investigate.
I enjoyed reading about the famed buildings and rooms at Oxford, and of the rivalries between colleagues that can build up. It was an enjoyable if light read and I would like reding the other books in the series of the two would be detectives.
Genre: mystery, thriller, suspense, adult fiction
Setting: an island off the coast of Ireland
About: On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests celebrate two people joining their lives together as one....And then someone turns up dead. Who didn’t wish the happy couple well?
I am very curious as to why I wrote only one short sentence for a review, after rating the book 5/5. And I'm even more curious about what I said:
Great characterization of a villain, which slowly unfolds as the story progresses.
That sentence intrigues me. Now I'll have to go back and reread the book I read in 2020. Anybody else prone to forgetting books they've read two or more years previously?
What are you reading this week?
An Oxford Murder sounds right up my alley, especially since I'm currently watching Brideshead Revisited.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy books set in the Oxbridge community
DeleteI have the same problem- forgetting books. I think it's because we read so many. Anyway I love the look of Foley's book. I'm overdue t oread it.
ReplyDeleteI think it's not uncommon to forget plots, especially ones with common and familiar tropes.
DeleteA lot of mysteries run together after a while...
DeleteI've lost count myself. It would be interesting to see how many we do remember, and why.
ReplyDeleteThe only one of these I've read is The Guest List. The ending blew me away, but I thought 3/4 of the book was just whiney people. However, the end was so outstanding it made up for the beginning.
ReplyDeleteNow I definitely must reread this book!
DeleteYes, I forget books quite often. These all look good
ReplyDeleteSome books are more memorable if they are unusual.
DeleteEven when I remember a book, it's only broad strokes - I can never remember character names (sometimes forget by the next day), and I often forget endings. But I can remember the feeling I had when reading the book if it was good. I keep my book lists in excel and write a few sentences about every book - even the ending or who dies, or what the best twist was, anything that would make it memorable. That helps me. Have a terrific week - and good topic for talking about.
ReplyDeleteTerrie @ Bookshelf Journeys
I sometimes try to write a synopsis without giving the plot away. That would remind me of what the book's about.
DeleteI have 'The Guest List' and will get around to reading it at *some* point. I just started reading 'Fighters in the Shadows - A New History of the French Resistance' by Robert Gildea today. It's quite chunky so will take me most of the week. Next up will be 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society' by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows.
ReplyDeleteYour books look bood. Enjoy!
DeleteOo An Oxford Murder sounds so good. And I have had the Lucy Foley on my list for a while, I need to get to it!
ReplyDeleteTwo books to enjoy!
DeleteI am so glad you wrote about forgetting books. I was wondering if there was something wrong with me. I also read that book, know I enjoyed it, but couldn't tell you the ending.
ReplyDeleteThe plots tend to be similar in many books, so it's easy to forget each one.
DeleteSometimes I wonder why I even bother reading books when I never remember them afterwards. LOL For awhile I started keeping detailed reviews, with spoilers, for my own reference, but now I'm wondering why am I doing that? Am I actually going to go back and refer to it, ever???? I don't know why I'm compelled to do some of the things I do. LOL
ReplyDeleteI try to write more detail in goodreads reviews so I can go back and remember the books!
DeleteI love historical cozies and An Oxford murder looks great. I also love books set at colleges, so I'll have to check this out.
ReplyDeleteHope you like it, Bonnie.
DeleteLove the cover of Sun Damage! I don't read a ton of mystery, but once in a while I will pick one up. I do always love the titles of cozy mysteries. I'm a fan of puns. lol
ReplyDelete
DeleteThe Sun Damage is a bit unusual; I've seen it listed at literary fiction as well as mystery.
Oh yes, I recently read one that I had already read...I kept thinking it sounded familiar, LOL! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteThat happens to me too.
DeleteI enjoyed The Guest List, too, and would pick up An Oxford Murder based on the cover alone! It sounds like one I would enjoy. Have a good week!
ReplyDeleteI hope you like the series.
DeleteSometimes, right after I finish a book I forget. It's terrible!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy,then forget. What are entertaining books for?
DeleteI forget details of plot and characters completely, plenty of times! I wish I didn't, but what I do retain (at least, usually) is the memory of the experience - good or bad -- and the feelings the book provoked. (I don't read many mysteries, but when I do, I definitely do not remember the details years later.)
ReplyDeleteI usually remember when I like a book.
DeleteOh man, I recently returned to blogging after a two year hiatus, and had to completely scrap some posts I'd started before they were unceremoniously ignored because I could not for the life of me remember the books with any sort of detail at all. So I feel you. Have a wonderful week. - Katie
ReplyDeleteMy STS if you care to visit - https://justanothergirlandherbooks.blogspot.com/2023/03/stacking-shelves-18-march-2023.html
It's okay to say you don't remember a book. It happens to everyone.
DeleteI regret it when I don't write a review because I do forget after a while why I liked or disliked the book.
ReplyDeleteI try to write reviews on goodreads that help me remember a book.
DeleteI didn't know about this book - which has an awesome cover by the way. Great review, it sounds really good
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed it!
DeleteThe books I read before I started reviewing books are often a complete blank. I like to leave a few notes about the plot as well as a few thoughts about what I liked about the book.
ReplyDeleteSun Damage sounds like a book I'd enjoy. France is my favorite setting and I like the idea of posing as a cook when one is not a cook, especially in France.
Somehow the home owners were very tolerant of any aberrations, lol.
DeleteThe Guest List is on my shelf to read, it sounds like I would love the ending, lol! Happy reading 😊
ReplyDeleteI'm curious about the ending too!
DeleteThe Guest List is on my shelf. Now to find the time to read it!
ReplyDeleteMary @Bookfan
Time is always an issue with so many books to read!
DeleteThe Guest List Sound intriguing.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week.
I could easily forget books if I didn't list them and write descriptive reviews. I started keeping track so I wouldn't buy duplicate titles which I did years ago. An Oxford Murder looks like a cozy I could enjoy. The Guest List sounds interesting too. Happy Reading!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a nice variety of mystery/thrillers for you recently! I know The Guest List is super popular, but I haven't read it yet, so I have no insights into your brief review - lol
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy your books this week -
Sue
Book By Book
An Oxford Murder would be the one I'd want to read just for that cool Oxford setting!
ReplyDeleteThis is a fun revisit of sorts. I do enjoy going back and looking at past reviews, especially the ones that are a few years old. It can be neat to track how my tastes have evolved over the years.
ReplyDeleteLove the cover of Sun Damage
ReplyDeleteI don't always remember the books I read either, but that's because we read too many books. ;D
ReplyDeleteI'd have a hard time writing a review for a book I read in 2020! I enjoyed The Guest List too! I do remember quite a bit of it, but I listened to the audio so maybe that's why?
ReplyDelete