Author: Ashley LP

30 something year old writer, reader and member of the Travel Industry. I used to read more than I do, so it's all about getting that enthusiasm back.
Book List 2013

The Cuckoos Calling by Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling)

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The Cuckoo's Calling (Cormoran Strike, #1)The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book took a lot for me to get into, but I am glad I picked it back up after discarding it and decided to give it a second chance.

Once I got past the beginning of the novel I began to slowly fall for the character of Cormoran Strike and all his flaws and what he represents.

He is not a hero, by any means , not truly, in the way he acts now but yet he does do what’s right in the end. If anyone is reading this expecting the same as what was received in Rowling’s Harry Potter series they are most likely going to be disappointed but as a fan of mystery books I did quite enjoy this one.

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Book List 2013

The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen

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The Mephisto Club (Rizzoli & Isles, #6)The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book took me quite a bit longer than the others in this series to read, in part because it was so rich in detail and in part because I was so fascinated by the religious history, and the mythological history in it that I frequently stopped to further research what was being talked about, wanting to know more.

I think that is one of the things that makes a book like this a really great book, it leaves you wanting to know more about some of the source material, therefore leaving it’s mark on you further than just any old novel.

I loved the different concepts of evil which were played with in this novel, from sociopathic tendencies to the possibility of Satanic possession. The weakness of Maura isles was completely fascinating to me, as it showed a lot of frailty to a character who often seems to make the best decisions based purely on logic.

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Book List 2013

Vanish by Tess Gerritsen

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Vanish (Rizzoli & Isles, #5)Vanish by Tess Gerritsen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is more chilling than any of the books that came before it and the crimes, so realistic, and sickening. And sadly, do happen in real life quite frequently although not quite with the same connections.

It was interesting to me to see the shift with Gabriel and Jane, as well as Isles’ analytical mind. There are few words to express how well I feel this book was written.

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Book List 2013

The Body Double by Tess Gerritsen

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Body Double (Rizzoli & Isles, #4)Body Double by Tess Gerritsen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book absolutely terrified me, but I loved it completely.

It was chilling, and often nauseating because of the subject matter but I was driven through it, needing to know what would happen and how it would end.

I do feel terribly sorry for Isles though, who doesn’t seem to catch a break at all when it comes to relationship, but loved the revelation of family, and the value of nurture over nature. This was a fantastic read .

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Book List 2013

The Sinner by Tess Gerritsen

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The Sinner (Rizzoli & Isles, #3)The Sinner by Tess Gerritsen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was the first glance we got to see of the cases through Maura Isles’ eyes and man do I love her as a character. S

he’s enjoyable, analytical but seems to have more of a heart than anyone would give her credit for.

It was a heartbreaking novel, and yet warming for Jane. I don’t even know how to explain this book except to say that I devoured it and loved every minute of it.

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Book List 2013

The Apprentice by Tess Gerritsen (Spoilers Abound)

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The Apprentice (Rizzoli & Isles, #2)The Apprentice by Tess Gerritsen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was such a quick read for me, and genuinely, brilliantly written. While not your standard mystery, the gritty details are all laid out before you and I found as a reader I could not help but feel the revulsion, and fear of Rizzoli. I absolutely love this book, even though there were parts that made me cringe, due to my weak stomach and wild imagination.

The return of the Surgeon was absolutely brilliant, where it could have ended up being cheesy. I liked meeting Korsak and Dean was an interesting new development.

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Book List 2013

A Beginners Guide to Acting English by Shappi Khorsandi

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A Beginner's Guide To Acting EnglishA Beginner’s Guide To Acting English by Shappi Khorsandi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is absolutely brilliantly written and I can’t believe it took me so long to get to it.

While I do love Shappi for her comedic side, this book is a touching, wonderful book which made me cry, laugh and smile all throughout.

The honesty with which it is written is refreshing and I couldn’t put it down.

Shappi is one of my favourite comediennes and I never could’ve imagined the life she lived before she came to England and even after.

It was so vivid, and detailed and amusing but there were parts that left me with an inexplicable sadness. Even if you aren’t a Shappi Khorsandi fan read this book, because of its human element.

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Book List 2013

A Game of Lies by Rebecca Cantrell

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A Game Of Lies (Hannah Vogel, #3)A Game Of Lies by Rebecca Cantrell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is probably my favourite in the series so far, with more mystery for me than the other two combined and a great deal more drama.

I devoured it completely and loved it. I love the way history is melded with fiction and I drank it down like it was the richest of drinks.

The drama is heart wrenching and the stakes are definitely higher. Hannah is one of my favourite female characters in fiction, because she makes mistakes and is not infallible but she is soon ready to admit it.

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Book List 2013 · Reviews

A Night of Long Knives by Rebecca Cantrell

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A Night Of Long Knives (Hannah Vogel, #2)A Night Of Long Knives by Rebecca Cantrell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

While I did not enjoy this book as much as the first one it was still very easy to sink into and Hannah is still one of the most formidable female characters I’ve read in a while.

She is strong, and yet at times her vulnerability is what draws me in more than anything else. Her life is one of quickly made decisions and thinking on her feet.

The suspense in this novel is rich, and yet it didn’t capture my attention as much as the first however it remains an interesting piece of historical fiction which had me reaching for more information about the time and finding only that Rebecca Cantrell’s research is immaculate.

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