Bittersweet Pre-orders

Special price for 'Bittersweet' if the novel is pre-ordered.

Pre-order at Smashwords and Amazon for $2.99
The price rises to $3.99 on launch day.

Author, Antony Millen, kindly included me as his 50th author in his weekend name drop blog.
https://antonymillen.com/2016/12/15/weekend-name-drop-p-d-r-lindsay/

I've been so busy with the new house and garden and the edits of the novel and so I've been neglecting my Goodreads pals, my book reviews and my blog. 

I am about to launch the pre-orders for the new novel so trotted across to Smashwords to find out how they did it. 

Mark has a great article on the reasons why pre-orders are a good sales tool and how to do it. Go and read it if you are thinking of launching a book some time next year.

http://blog.smashwords.com/2015/06/how-to-reach-more-readers-with-ebook.html 

'The Secrets of Wishtide'

The Secrets of Wishtide by Kate Saunders

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This novel is the first in a promised series and promises well. Author, Kate Saunders, has managed to find a new heroine and a new way of allowing her to work as an investigator. This is a Victorian hist-myst and an original.

Middle aged Laetitia Rodd, recently bereaved and now the impoverished widow of her dearly beloved Archdeacon, finds herself in a financial pickle because the Archdeacon never got round to making out an annuity for her. She is scraping along in unfashionable Hampstead but her life is enlivened by her brother. He is a highly acclaimed criminal barrister and he uses his sister to find out little details which will help him win his cases. When Sir James asks for help in proving that the woman his heir claims to love and wants to marry is totally unsuitable, brother Frederick knows just the person for the job. Laetitia sets off for Lincolnshire disguised as a 'finishing' governess and the fun begins.

Of course there is a murder and Scotland Yard enter in the form of a stolid inspector who does not approve of Mrs Rodd's meddling. But the plot twists and turns and Laetitia ends up being rescued by the inspector in Antwerp.

This is not a grim read, Mrs Rodd has a sense of humour and the story gallops along at a good pace. Anyone seeking something new in historical mysteries will be delighted with this one. Mrs Rodd is no carbon copy Miss Marples nor is the book an imitation Anne Perry. She is an original and the novel is a pleasant read.





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Review: 'Frontier Wolf' by Rosemary Sutcliff

Whoever put the book up on Goodreads certainly hadn't read it, or understand the magic of Rosemary Sutcliff's writing and her way of writing characters that reach from the past to the reader's present. She does this by giving them problems we might have. Here it is having to make again a decision which once cost Alexios a great deal of pain and disgrace.

'Frontier Wolf' deals with Roman Britain under the young Emperor Constans. Alexios has an influential uncle who is Dux of Britain and this uncle uses his influence to smooth Alexios's path through the Legions. Stationed in what we know of as Germany where the tribes are restless there is an attack on Alexios's fort and the commander is killed. Second in command Alexios, and he really is too young and inexperienced to hold the post, decides to abandon the fort, against advice. He has been tricked into believing that his gallopers - the messengers - did not reach help at the other forts. He loses half his men and is only saved from ultimate disgrace by his uncle. But his punishment is to be made commander of the Frontier Wolves who guard the wild British frontier between Hadrian's Wall and what was the Antonine Wall. The men of the Wolves are called the scum and scrapings of the Empire, sent into the Wolves because they are troublesome in their Legions or are hard core prisoners sent there to be out of the way.

Alexios's command takes place just before and during the year known for the 'Great Conspiracy' when the 'Barbarian' raiders launched a coordinated attack on Roman Britain. He has no easy task but he is no fool, and with some help from his fellow officers, who are the first to accept him, he does command the men. When the attack comes, Alexios has to decide again whether to stay or leave.

One of the joys of Rosemary Sutcliff's Roman novels is that she writes about people, not a bunch of soldiers fighting. They are not 'war' stories. That is just one aspect of her many layered plots and her complex characters delight in their learning and growing, friendships and problems, living as unwelcomed strangers in a land not their own. She presents both sides as the tribes are well represented and in this novel, Alexios becomes friends with the new Tribal leader, a young man in a position similar to his own. Her research is excellent and her writing skills such that the reader is pulled straight into Roman Britain and can almost smell, touch and taste this world not their own.

For those who love lyrical writing, excellent research and a great historical story then Rosemary Sutcliff is a must. 'Frontier Wolf' is one of the Roman Legion stories which start with 'Eagle of the Ninth' and are all unforgettable, but her many other novels are as good. Don't miss them.

Review of The Dead Woman of Deptford'

The Dead Woman of Deptford by Ann Granger

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Ann Granger is known for her detective series. The Dead Woman of Deptford is the sixth in a Victorian series. Readers of Anne Perry will probably enjoy this. It is similar in its use of the husband as detective and the wife as intelligent helper, but this time the wife is not welcomed as a helper. However the novel is not a copy of a Perry novel. This novel has more a lower middle class background with the detective work involving the working class. The style of writing is also unlike Perry's rich prose. This a a plain tale well told in simple English.

A body is found in Deptford and it takes a lot of time and patience to find out who she is and what happened. I don't want to explain more and spoil the plot, but wife, Lizzie, cannot keep out of the case as it begins to involve her relatives.

Background research is good but I did wish the dialogue was sharper. However the novel is a good read and would be enjoyed by any lover of hist-mysteries. I certainly enjoyed reading it as a book at bedtime!



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Review of 'Even Dogs in the Wild' by Ian Rankin

Even Dogs in the Wild by Ian Rankin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


An Ian Rankin novel is always worth reading. A new Rebus Rankin novel is a cause for celebration. 'Even Dogs in the Wild' is thought provoking and a grim reminder of the misuse of power.

Even though John Rebus is officially retired from the Edinburg police force he can't keep his nose out. When his old friend and colleague, now promoted to D.I.,Siobhan Clarke wants to pick his brains about a peculiar case he is happy to oblige. And soon they are involved with that old villain, Ger Cafferty, and a really complex puzzle. Criss-crossing their path is DI Malcolm Fox, Siobhan's pal, who is supposed to liaise with a Glasgow police force covert team but finds that he needs Rebus's wisdom too.

The plot twists are dizzying, the characters as 3D and 'real' as ever and the ending realistic yet satisfying. If you are not a fan start with earlier novels to get the fullest enjoyment, but this novel stands alone. Any reader who enjoys British police procedurals should really enjoy this one. It's a cracking good read.





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Review 'Coffin Road'

Coffin Road by Peter  May

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Peter May is a reliable good read. His books have pace, remarkably good plot twists, 3D characters and are not blood soaked and full of 4 letter words.

'Coffin Road' starts with a man scrambling half drowned out of the sea. He has no memory of who he is. It's a good start. The reader is hooked. Who is this man? We feel his frustrations as he seems to be able to do things and recognise things but has no idea of his own name and identity. Plot twists follow thick and fast. He turns the cottage upside down and seems to find who he is in a bundle of newspaper clippings in the attic. But when he checks up it is another false identity.

The plot is good, tight, with an important and contemporary theme. The writing is good plain English, intelligently written, and the story leaves readers with something worthwhile to think about.
I kook forward to reading more of Peter May's crime fiction and heartily recommend it as a good read.



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