I loved the style of this book, the way the writer had used a pastiche of each of the eras it's set in: Georgian, in letters between the characters and diary entries, Victorian, a third-person novel with bold themes and wonderful scenery description, and a hint of the supernatural; present day, a snappier, more casual style. I thought the plotting was so clever, following the painting through the centuries (I learned a lot about art too), and linking the characters - all that really kept me engaged with the story. When I got to the end I wanted to read it all again and find the clues I'd missed, and I loved the surprise at the end - I didn't see that coming. I found each of the three stories moving in a different way: I believed in all the characters, and wanted things to end well for them.
'A gripping mystery... sweeping across centuries in its three interlinked sections, Molly & the Captain summons the past effortlessly' Observer
A celebrated artist of the Georgian era paints his two young daughters at the family home in Bath. The portrait, known as "Molly & the Captain", becomes instantly famous. In the summer of 1889, a young painter glimpses a mother at play with her two daughters in Kensington Gardens and decides to include them in his picture. A century later, in Kentish Town, a painter and her grown-up daughters receive news of an ancestor linking them to the long-vanished double…
This crime/fantasy blend swept me in straight away, with the brooding cop called to investigate a bizarre crime scene. I don't dare say any more: you need to read it and find out for yourself. I was a bit worried whether the fantasy element would work - after all, how can you guess what motive an alien might have. I shouldn't have worried; just as in a conventional crime novel, we had all the clues. I loved the originality of the plot and the humour in the writing, especially Abidemi's 20s slang and her attempts to make sense of our world, and Holly's attempts to make sense of Abidemi. Dazzlingly original, and the ending had me in tears.
The history-bending speculative fiction from Adam Oyebanji, award-winning author of BRAKING DAY. A Booklist Book Of The Year!
An impossible death: Detective Ethan Krol has been called to the scene of a baffling murder: a man and his son, who appear to have been drowned in sea-water. But the nearest ocean is a thousand miles away.
An improbable story: Hollie Rogers doesn't want to ask too many questions of her new friend, Abi Eniola. Abi claims to be an ordinary woman from Nigeria, but her high-tech gadgets and extraordinary physical abilities suggest she's not telling the whole truth.
We all heard about the horrors of Canadian schools for indigenous children - torn from their parents, their culture denied them, many killed and buried in unmarked graves. Churches were burned by angry protesters, and Pope Francis visited Canada and apologized on behalf of the Catholic church. Except, as this book shows in meticulously researched essay after essay, the whole story began with one archaeologist suggesting the possibility of graves in the orchard, and was picked up by the media. After that it snowballed; then went quiet. No bodies were ever found. Record-keeping by the institutions showed that no children went missing. School log books showed teachers had to be fluent in indigenous languages, and children shared native crafts, songs and dances. This book was a welcome reminder of the power of media and the dangers of instant indignation culture. In this case, the lie really did get right round the world while truth was still putting its boots on. I couldn't put it down.
After the announcement by the T'kemlups First Nation of the “discovery” of unmarked graves at Kamloops, many politicians, Indigenous leaders, and media have thrown aside balance, restraint, and caution, turning truth into a casualty.Public discussion of Indian Residential Schools issues is now filled with the following assertions, all of which are either totally false or grossly exaggerated:Thousands of “missing children” went away to residential schools and were never heard from again.These missing children are buried in unmarked graves underneath or around mission churches and schools.Many of these missing children were murdered by school personnel after being subjected to physical and…
When an internet lifestyle influencer arrives on Shetland to document her 'perfect' holiday, the locals are somewhat sceptical.
Joining a boat trip to the remote islands of St Kilda with sailing sleuth Cass Lynch and her partner DI Gavin Macrae, the young woman seems more concerned with her phone than the scenery.
But when it's time to leave, there's no sign of her. Despite mounting a desperate search, she's seemingly vanished without trace - from a small island in the middle of the sea.
As a puzzling investigation gathers pace, there are more questions than answers - and uncovering the truth will reveal dark and long-hidden secrets...
Atmospheric and gripping, An Imposter on Shetland is the latest instalment in the much-loved Shetland Mystery series by Marsali Taylor. Perfect for fans of Ann Cleeves and Elly Griffiths.
