srivalli's reviews
1557 reviews

 4 Stars

A young bride is found dead at the country house of her would-be husband. People claim that she is a victim of the Withington curse which affects all women who marry into the family. However, Dr. Spilsbury is sure the cause of her death is a human and not some curse. With help from Violet and Charlie, the famous forensic pathologist is ready to find the killer. 

The story comes in the third-person POVs of Dr. Spilsbury and a few other characters. 

While the book works as a standalone, I would recommend reading the first. Violet’s introduction is necessary to understand her character (and she is still my favorite). 

Yet again, we start with something that seems pretty simple at the beginning only to realize there’s much we don’t know. There is much more than a curse, which gets only a teeny space as Dr. Spilsbury is not the one for such stuff. 

The victim was a force to reckon with and a stickler for rules. We know such people make a lot more enemies than they should simply because they don’t know where to draw a line. 

The list of suspects is pretty long, though a certain clue cuts it down by half. The mystery is intriguing as we get multiple flashback scenes from the past (involving the victim). I did guess the killer, though I had to wait for the reveal to find the reason. It comes together well. 

The war is once again one of the prominent players in the plot. However, there are other themes like bullying, PPD, mental illness, old money vs. new money, and a few more. 

The dynamics between the trio are shifting even though Dr. Spilsbury is determined to ignore the changes and be his useful self. The next book should be more interesting! 

Though the pacing is a bit uneven (again), it doesn’t hamper our enjoyment. I did miss Annie but Charlie is proving himself to be a worthy addition to Scotland Yard (even if he can be annoying at times with his little rants). 

To summarize, Dr. Spilsbury and the Cursed Bride sustains the momentum established in the previous book and provides good entertainment in the process. I’m quite surprised this series has such few reviews on Goodreads. It’s a solid historical mystery with the right amount of dark. It deserves more readers. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #DrSpilsburyAndTheCursedBride 

 

 4 Stars

A woman’s body is found dragged from the Regent’s Canal one night. Famous forensic pathologist and criminal sleuth Dr Bernard Spilsbury sees that it’s a case of foul play. Soon, a second body washes up and the police have their hands with a possible killer bumping off women for some reason. Dr. Slipbury steps into action to solve the case before more bodies turn up. 

The story comes in the third-person POVs of Dr. Spilsbury and a few other characters. 

I did basic googling about Dr. Spilsbury before reading the book. Things are a bit different here since the fictional version seems to have a few traces of Holmes (lack of social cues and no family parts). The real one was married and had four children (or three) but the character is single and a loner by choice. Anyhoo, it didn’t affect my reading experience (though I am not fond of such changes to real people’s lives). 

The beginning is a bit slow (though this book has 400+ pages) as it introduces the main characters and establishes the situation. 

WWI might have ended, but it still had a strong impact on many lives. The war backdrop has a major role in the plot even if it doesn’t seem that way. 

While Dr. Spilsbury didn’t make the mark as I expected, I love Violet Malone. Her character is wonderful, so it makes me super happy to see she will continue to be in the next book (and the others). 

Charlie is another interesting character and will have a role in the subsequent books. His backstory and arc are also well done, making him an easy one to like and support. 

The pacing is pretty much steady with some new developments happening frequently. As the plot became more complex, I realized I didn’t want to stop reading (though I had to). The various tracks kept me hooked and wondering how it would all come together. 

I admit it took me a little while to guess the killer. I did figure out a few other things. The reveal is not highlighted which may make the whole thing seem a bit dull to some readers. However, I felt it was in tune with the rest of the contents and there were some loose ends to tie up afterward, so it fits on the whole. 

To summarize, Dr. Spilsbury and the Camden Town Killer is an interesting mystery that also deals with various other themes like prejudice, class differences, bias against women, the effect of war on soldiers, family relationships, lack of money, privilege, etc. 

Off to read the next in the series. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #DrSpilsburyAndTheCamdenTownKiller 

 3.7 Stars

I don’t read autobiographies or biographies as such. However, when the author approached me for a review, I wanted to give this a try. It’s the story of an Indian immigrating to the US and his experiences on the journey. How could I not read it? 

Ask an average middle-class Indian, and you will see that we know at least one person who has immigrated to another land. Based on the demographics and age, the same person could know a bunch of such people (more than 70% of cousins could be across the oceans). 

This is what I’d call an informal or a casual memoir. It reads more like a series of blogs, which is why I liked it as much. The tone is light, humorous, self-deprecating at times, and introspective and thoughtful at other times. 

The images and maps were a good addition. Saved me time from having to look up some of the details. 

Being a programmer, the author presented some confessions, trivia, etc., structured like snippets of code between regular texts. This worked most of the time but was also distracting in a few instances. 

I appreciate the attempt made to include extra information for non-Indians about our diverse cultures, customs, languages, food habits, etc. It’s quite impossible to generalize these aspects about Indians. Similarly, there is enough detail about the places and things in the US for Indian readers. 

The pacing is on the slower side due to the snippets scattered throughout but I wouldn’t say it dragged. I enjoyed reading the author’s personal experience and loved how he highlighted the role of various friends and dear ones who helped them when necessary. 

To summarize, Confessions of an Indian Immigrant is a heartfelt memoir about an Indian young man experiencing and adjusting to a new lifestyle in another land. 

I received a complimentary electronic copy of the book. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion. 

 3.7 Stars

Jonara has been a good girl all her life, which makes her a perfect choice as the village’s sacrificial offering to the dragon. Luckily for her, the dragon doesn’t eat virgins. Using this chance and the dragon’s help, Jonara rallies an army to fight Asphodel who had been destroying one town after another to claim the throne vacated by the death king. 

However, the dragon has its own secrets and Jonara could play a vital role. What does the future have in store for this feisty good girl?  

The story comes in Jonara’s first-person POV. 

I quite enjoyed the first book in the series, though I don’t remember much about the details. However, it’s not necessary. This works well as a standalone. The characters and the setting are different though the universe is the fantasy land of Lucitopia. 

While book #1 was YA, this is NA bordering on adult fiction. The lead characters are twenty and above, and there’s a fair bit of… *ahem* Still, it is closed-door romance. 

Jonara is quite a personality. She can order anyone around like a military commander. Is it any surprise that she plays a vital role in building an army to fight the villain? 

The Dragon is a sweet guy but also a sort of confused alpha. I rather like him. Also, I wouldn’t mind having such a dragon of my own. Scratch him and get gold! I’d be rich in no time. ;) 

The world-building is pretty basic but it doesn’t affect the reading experience. We can visualize the scenes as there is enough information. 

The writing style is casual which may not work for everyone. Jonara’s instinct to boss around might annoy some readers. I wasn’t bothered since I expected something like that (based on my experience from book one). 

A certain scene in the first half might put off some readers, especially if they haven’t guessed it would happen. I knew what to expect (it’s a trope-y thing, and there are enough clues) so I wasn’t the least bit surprised. 

The ending provides a short glimpse into the future (as in what’s to come in the next books). I noticed book #4 added to the list and read the blurb. Do NOT do that.  

The pacing is a little off in this one but I wasn’t bored at any point. The book was exactly what I wanted to remove the traces of annoyance at my previous read. 

To summarize, The Tinker's Daughter is what a GR friend calls brain candy – it is fluffy, lighthearted, cheeky, a bit dangerous, and has a good dose of romance. Ready for book #3! 

Thank you, NetGalley, Sungrazer Publishing, and Victory Editing Co-op, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

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 1.7 Stars 

During a trip to IKEA, Emma blurts that she wants space from Rob and their twenty-six years of marriage. Rob is not sure what the problem is but he agrees to Emma’s condition –a year of separation with no contact between them. 

As they go their separate ways for a year, both realize a few things and make some decisions. Can their marriage survive the Gap Year? 

The story comes in Emma and Rob’s third-person POVs. 

NGL, I’m not the target audience for the book, but the premise was so good that I had to read it! I went expecting two outcomes—they would realize their mistakes, recognize their love, and get back together, or accept that they grew apart too much and end the relationship as mature adults. What I got was a mess with a WTF ending. 

The first chapter has the IKEA scene from both POVs. It establishes the setup right away and the gap year starts soon afterward. So far good. It seems like both have made mistakes and need to sort things out. 

Then, we get alternate chapters from Emma and Rob’s POVs. Guess what? It took very little time to dislike Emma and the feeling worsened as the story progressed. Did she make even one right decision about her life? No! 

Rob sounds like a typical complacent middle-aged man happy with his stagnancy and would rather be an ostrich than have a meaningful conversation. However, he starts to accept his flaws and makes an effort to become better. Moreover, he loves Emma (and stays loyal). 2 stars coz his arc was at least a bit realistic, and the cover is the best part of the book. 

Now, our heroine… what do I say about her? I don’t know if she is supposed to be an inspiration or an example. We sure could learn what not to do and how not to be. For someone who claims to have standards and integrity, she doesn’t display them even once throughout the book. In fact, she thinks she’s some flawless perfection and refuses to even acknowledge that she may also be responsible for the dampening of her marriage. Twice her friend tries to make her see her truth but nope. How dare someone judge her when she is the only one supposed to judge others? The audacity of it! And there’s infidelity as well. 

Despite the slow pacing and the unsuccessful attempts at providing backstories, I continued to read hoping for a decent ending. 

Nope, cheated again! What the heck is that even? What’s the purpose of the story? Where is the FMC’s growth? Whatever little changes she made could have been done even when she was with the hubby. Makes no sense! The whole thing reminds me of badly written Reddit AITA posts. *shudder* 

The best way to define the FMC would be a pre-menopausal judgmental woman who wants the perks of being single without losing the status of being married. Wonder what she has against divorce? 

 

To summarize, The Marriage Gap Year should have been an introspective and heartwarming read about character growth, self-discovery, and love. However, it is none of these (and definitely not hilarious as stated in the blurb). You might like it better if you belong to the women-can-do-no-wrong-and-men-are-always-wrong category. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Further Publishing, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #TheMarriageGapYear 

 3.7 Stars

One Liner: Fun!
 

Rodolfo Argento, Italy’s greatest opera singer had died in a terrible car accident. Except that his mother doesn’t think it was an accident or a suicide. She knows it was murder and wants Dan to investigate the case. Rodolfo may be kind, generous, and a natural treasure. However, he was also a womanizer who liked women a little too much. Though, he was happily married for a year, there’s no saying who might have wanted him dead. Was it a revenge murder or a crime committed for money? 

Dan and Oscar need to solve the case but they first need some solid clues! Dan also needs to prevent Oscar from joining the singers with his heartfelt howling. 

The story comes in Dan’s first-person POV. 

 My Thoughts:  

The ninth book in the series works as a standalone (and so do the previous books). However, you will enjoy it more if you read at least one of the earlier books. 

This time, Dan and Oscar, along with Anna, go to Verona to enjoy an opera show and solve a crime. Dan is not a fan of opera nor does he know anything about it. Will he be a convert by the end of the book? 

Oscar meets another black Lab, Elektra, and falls in love. Of course, he still has his priorities right – food comes first; always! 

The mystery is decent but doesn’t have the same tension as some of the previous ones. Of course, each case is different, so we can’t really compare. This one is on the slower side with a lot of questioning and trying to find the clues (makes sense since the death occurred almost a month prior). 

However, it took me a while to guess the killer, so that’s good. I was weighing my options when a certain detail made me wonder and connect the dots. 

As always, we get a tour of the region, though this time, it’s not much. Dan spends his time on the case, so there isn’t much left for exploring. But… there is enough food and gelato to make you happy! 

A few interesting themes are addressed using the plot and the characters. While there are quite a few suspects/ characters involved, it is easy to track them. Some of them have strong personalities. 

To summarize, Murder in Verona is another entertaining installment in the series and might appeal even more to opera fans (as it mentions quite a few leading singers and tracks). 

Thank you, Rachel’s Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

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 3.5 Stars

When local bakery owner, Sugar, asks Annie to host a gingerbread competition at the Secret Bookcase Shop, everyone is excited. A famous influencer baker, Lily Hawthorne, is the guest and is supposed to promote their small town, Redwood Grove. 

However, things take a different turn when there’s a death on the site and everything indicates it was a murder. Can Annie, with help from friends, solve the case and save the day for her town? 

The story comes in Annie’s first-person POV. 

I didn’t realize this had an influencer (the official blurb is rather vague). While it’s not my favorite topic, the book tackles the theme well. We see the real and fake sides of social media fame, as well as the threats that come with it. 

Set during the Holidays, the book brings the Christmas vibe alive with gingerbread, spiced teas, seasonal flavored coffees, cakes, cupcakes, and more! The weather is cold, which adds to the atmosphere. 

The pacing is fast just like the previous books in the series. We get enough backstory about the characters and the overarching subplot for this work as a standalone. Though, note that you’ll find it repetitive if you’ve read the previous books. 

Annie makes some major decisions and is excited about the future after a long time. While I like her love story with Liam, she tends to go off-tagent and daydream like a teenager. That doesn’t always work. 

The main mystery was easy enough to guess though there are a few suspects to consider. There is a little progress on the Scarlet track. I wish it would start to pick up pace and become a central mystery in one of the upcoming books. 

The recurring side characters like Priya, Fletcher, and Hal are adorable as always. I like how they are so supportive and care for Annie. Their thoughtfulness gives the story a warm cozy vibe. Too bad we get to meet Professor Plum only once. 

To summarize, A Holiday Homicide is a light mystery with some likable and unlikeable characters. Though it doesn’t have any dark vibes, it does talk about the grief of losing a loved one. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #AHolidayHomicide 

 2.7 Stars

William Margrave, the Duke of Ellis, tried his best to be a duke since he unexpectedly got the title a decade ago. He planned it all and his sight set on a perfect Lady to become his Duchess. 

Phoebe Atkinson is the middle daughter of a self-made businessman. While she, her older sister Alex, and younger sister Winnie were friends with Will before the dukedom, things have changed. Phoebe is now a school teacher the working class girls and has no time for society. 

However, when one of Phoebe’s pupils goes missing, she needs Will to help her out. As they search across the city to find the missing girl, Phoebe and Will realize a few things about themselves. 

The story comes in Phoebe and Will’s third-person POVs. 

The premise guarantees some drama and entertainment, right? We do get some of both but not to the extent I hoped. 

The beginning was good. I liked Phoebe’s spunk in the beginning. Will presented his dilemma about taking the ducal rules too seriously and how it affected his life. 

The mystery is decent though we cannot call it that. There’s some intrigue and a showcasing of the hypocrisy and evil side of those with power but it doesn’t overpower the plot. 

However, soon, things started to dim. Phoebe turned into a self-righteous martyr activist who thinks giving up the comforts of her home and living in a cramped flat to teach poor girls Homer and Shakespeare made her an award-winning activist. She judged everyone left, right, and center. Yeah, she sometimes accepts she is judgmental but continues to do the same. 

Then Will the Duke. He goes on and on and on about how Phoebe is not duchess material and how important it is for him to marry someone who fits the checklist. Even when he is made to realize how stupid it is, he continues to harp on it. They deserve each other, IMO. 

Now, the main characters, unfortunately, didn’t make a positive impact. But hey, the side characters were cool. Alex is my favorite. I can’t wait to read her book. She has a good head and knows how to use her privilege and position to help others. Freddie seemed interesting too with her sparkling personality that hides a sense of restlessness. 

I think something went a bit wrong in planning the characters and executing them. They shouldn’t have been like this but act realistically and show some flaws. Sadly, I couldn’t empathize with either of them. 

The romance wasn’t great either. There’s some spice but even that didn’t really make a difference. It could also be that I read a couple of books with similar ‘not duchess material’ trope this year and those were much better in terms of characterization and development. 

Luckily, it is a quick read and things get settled without much drama. Some of it is left for the next books, and the epilogue provides a definite lead. You bet I’m more curious about that one. 

To summarize, Duchess Material is a moderately spicy romance novel if you want something light and fluffy to read. I will read the next book since I already like the other two characters. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #DuchessMaterial 

 4.2 Stars

Gillian Larkin doesn’t mind being unnoticed but it sure feels good to make friends with the new roommate at school. Violet Claybourne is lively, spirited, and an enigma. When she invites Gillian to her home, Thornleigh Hall, for Christmas, Gillian is overjoyed. She sees it as a chance to meet Violet’s older sisters, Emmi and Laura. 

However, her stay in their home changes her life in many ways. An accident on the extensive grounds brings forth some truths and betrayals. Gillian needs to make some decisions, that have long-lasting effects. What happened all those years ago? 

The story comes in Gillian’s first-person POV. 

I was curious when a book with the name Violet in the title chose to present the story from Gillian’s POV. However, soon, I realized why it was done. Gillian is the right narrator even if she is a pathetic friend. 

The book begins in 1999 and quickly goes to 1938 where the majority of the events take place. There are a couple of time jumps afterward and complete the circle by ending the story in 1999. Having a single narrator for all of it works the best. No distractions or confusion. 

Initially, I thought I might like the narrator but in less than a few pages, I changed my opinion. There was a short scene that established her character and the next events solidified it. It was a little clue left for readers to guess. I like that! 

Despite seeing the others from one POV, we get a clear understanding of who they are. The characterization was great (even if I didn’t particularly like a certain move towards the end. Some people are inherently selfish and evil. There’s no need to create a reason to psychoanalyze their actions.) 

It has quite a few themes like friendship, toxic relationships, selfishness, cowardliness, need for approval, class differences, etc. A few triggers too but nothing graphic. 

The dark vibes were subtle but effective. The Hall and the estate added to the atmosphere and tension. In fact, the war backdrop kept the entire book in a sense of uncertainty. As we entered the second half, it felt like a key being tightened to its last point. 

However, the pacing in the first half was very slow. While it does set the stage and establish the characters, readers might feel bored or tired of anticipating the ‘incident’. Once it happened, the story picked up pace and sustained a steady momentum. I couldn’t stop reading after that. 

The writing was compelling. It was hard to not feel a jumble of emotions as the characters made decisions that showed their true colors. I wanted to hug poor Violet so many times! 

The ending made it a worthy read; satisfying in many ways. I did want a short epilogue from Violet’s POV. It would have been icing on the cake. 

To summarize, The Undoing of Violet Claybourne is a dark read with flawed yet well-etched characters. It will make you feel many things, so pick up the book when you want to think about the shadow side of human nature.  

Thank you, NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK (Zaffre), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #TheUndoingOfVioletClaybourne 

 4 Stars

One Liner: Heartwarming and a great virtual tour!

 Anna Love and Leo Knight share a history. However, he was the last person she expected to be her new housemate for six months in Prague. As they walk through the streets and work on their professional goals, the city’s magic might give them more than what they hoped for! 

The story comes in Leo and Anna’s third-person POVs. 

Firstly, kudos to whoever wrote the official blurb for the book. It is short, sweet, and shares only the bare minimum details. That means, right from the beginning, we get a series of surprises unspoiled by a lengthy blurb. This makes a lot of difference in how we perceive the characters and their backstories. No presumptions or assumptions! 

Since I mainly got the book to enjoy a virtual tour of Prague, I can say it delivers in that aspect. The city’s charming old buildings, the historical sites (and relevant snippets), the warmth of the locals, etc., are beautifully presented. The writing is easy to read. It flows well without being overly descriptive or dramatic. 

Quite a few Czech words have been used but mainly for the food items (with descriptions) and common terms like please, thank you, cheers, etc! This adds to the local flavor and provides an immersive reading experience. 

I do wish the beer brewery track was given a bit more space. While we get introduced to different types of beer, the learning and working part takes a back seat since the focus is mostly on the personal track. 

We cannot immediately take sides here, though we want to. I did naturally side with one character but could see the flaws as well. The details are revealed in stages as the plot advances, thus keeping us wondering about the whats, whys, and what next. 

Some of the side characters are adorable! A few of them are 2D, but they do what’s required of them. The sudden change of one character didn’t really fit, but she was the only one available for that scene, I guess. (There are 5 characters whose names start with J. It seems author Julie Caplin loves the letter J.) 

The book was an almost 5-star read despite a few niggles. However, an important aspect hadn’t been dealt the way I hoped it would be. Let’s just say that internal acknowledgment is not enough. It had to be said out loud, followed by an apology for being an idiot and wanting to get away with it. This is too important for me to ignore. All I needed was a two-line dialogue! 

To summarize, A Little Place in Prague is almost like an ode to the beautiful city with a heartwarming second-chances love story thrown into the mix. There’s an epilogue, but I would have loved an extended epilogue as well. 

Either way, I’m going to check out the previous books in the series. They have gorgeous covers! 

Thank you, Rachel’s Random Resources and One More Chapter (HarperCollins), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley