April Reading

 This month I read six books, of which three were paperback ones. But there was one paperback one I didn't finish, something I don't do often.

In The Dead Of Night, by Greg Haddrick, is about the murders of Russell Hill and Carol Clay in the Wonnangatta Valley, Victoria. The book tells the story of how the investigation took place and how the police painstakingly put their case together. Very interesting read.

The Knitting Club at Wagtail Ridge, by Janet Gover. Set in the Hunter Valley Region of New South Wales, it is about Bree Johnston, a former city lawyer, leaving that life behind and doing something very different, in Wagtail Ridge. There is a love interest, a controlling grandmother, family struggles and the townspeople. An easy read.

A Bird In The Hand, by Ann Cleeves. (Ann writes the Vera Series, that I enjoy reading and her new Two Rivers Series, that has got me hooked.)

This book is the first featuring George and Molly Palmer-Jones. Set in Norfolk, it is about a birdwatcher's murder and how George gets involved in solving it. I found it slow to start, then it picked up only to slow again. I don't know if I like George, but will give another one in the series ago.

Orbital, by Samantha Harvey was on interesting read. Set on one of the last space station missions, there are four astronauts and two cosmonauts. They come from several different countries. The book covers one day in their lives, 16 orbits around earth. It was an interesting read, that I enjoyed. It won the Booker prize in 2024.

The next in the Tea Ladies Series, by Amanda Hampson, The Deadly Dispute, sees Hazel in a new job on the waterfront, for a union. The Ladies still get together and in this book they have several mysteries to sort out. 

Heart of the Valley, by Catherine Hein. Set in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales it focuses on Brooke Kingston and the family's racing business and the aftermath of Brooke's accident. A manager is hired to look after the farm, as Brooke can't and sparks fly. Another good book from Catherine.

The one I didn't finish was my letter A book for April. As I don't have an author on my shelves, whose surname started with A, I selected a title instead.

All About Us, by Tom Ellen, was my choice. I found it confusing. Sort of a sliding doors theme where Ben, who loves December, goes ack in time to December 2005. The date is because it's the month and year he met his now wife. When Ben 'travels' back, he knows what is going to happen and it's like he is trying to explain it, to the reader. Confusing.   I don't know how it ends.