First up is a retelling of a book I hate, but I can’t actually articulate if it’s the book or the insistence that it’s a classic I need to LOVE because it’s so profound blah blah blah… so I am wondering if a retelling, without the baggage of all this will help me decide.
Second, is an intriguing mystery about a woman – one of the first – practicing psychology, a relatively new field for 1907 New York.
Third, oh I can’t believe I missed this! I adored the first in the series, reviewed here. And now, here’s book two, with my favourite and soon to be yours, Pinkerton detective.
Fourth, if ever there was a perfect or ominous title, this one is it. Yup.
And last, is about mothers and their children, and those women who desire motherhood above all else. I feel like this is going to make me bawl the entire way through.
No-one is coming to save us
The Great Gatsby. Far out, I hate that book and the insistence that I need to like it from people around me. Actually to be honest, barring Pride and Prejduice, that’s almost always the reaction I get about classics, but I digress: this is a retelling set in the contemporary American South, involving an extended African-American family. JJ Ferguson is Gatsby, who has returned wealthy to his home town and wants to woo his childhood sweetheart. As a result he seems to be the catalyst for those around him to rev-evaluate their lives. I seriously don’t remember Gatsby being like that.
A Deadly Affection
a psychiatrist? A female psychiatrist in NY in 1907 as the main character in her own series? Yes please! Genevieve Summerford thinks she may have provoked one of her patients into committing murder, but soon finds herself trying to clear them. Naturally she discovers a secret during her investigations, one that changes everything – don’t they always? But I can’t resist a mystery and Genevive will I hope prove to be a compelling MC.
Dead Man’s Blues
Ray Celestin writes the most atmospheric novels. The Axeman’s Jazz is mesmerising and given that it ended with Ida in NY about to start work with the Pinkertons, I’m beyond excited that I finally get to see her in action. Ida and her Pinkerton partner Michael are tasked to find a missing heiress, and once again Louis Armstrong plays a part in her investigation. While this world grows bigger, as does they mysteries, it’s still Ida with whom I am most fascinated.
Everything You Want Me to Be
Hattie is the perfect student: everybody’s friend. The perfect student. And then she’s found murdered. But, then the Sheriff starts to investigate and discovers, I think, that she’s exactly the title. The book is told from three POVs: the Sheriff, Hattie and a teacher, whose marriage is crumbling… perhaps I’m jumping to conclusions, but perhaps she and the teacher were sleeping together? This one is on my list because Hattie seems perfect, and those characters have the best secrets.
Lucky Boy
Solimar is an illegal immigrant in the US when she falls pregnant. For all the crap she has to endure, she holds on to her baby. He’s everything to her. But, when she is detained, she meets Kavya and her husband, Rishi. Kavya wants a child above all else, and she falls in love like only a mother can, with Soli’s child. See, going to rip my heart out, I can tell.
I can’t decide which one tops my list this week. What about you? Which ones are you looking out for?
Oh, Everything You Want Me To Be sounds quite good. Thanks for sharing!
Doesn’t it? It’s definitely one I WANT!
They all sound interesting, but I’m most intrigued by A Deadly Affection. That sounds pretty good.
Genevieve does sound good doesn’t she? I am pretty hopeful about that one!
I’m really looking forward to Everything You Want Me To Be too! I am planning on reading it in the next month or so. I also am really looking forward to Close Enough to Touch by Colleen Oakley and The Young Widower’s Handbook by Tom McAllister
Ohhh, I am going to be stalking you for your review for Everything you want me to be!! It’s definitely one I haven’t been able to shake. And oh goodness, what love recs you’ve linked to! Especially, Close enough to touch!
A Deadly Affection and Everything You Want Me to Be both sound right up my alley! Great recs as always. ❤️
You always seem to pick books I hadn’t heard of before and it’s fun to read a bit about these books. I can imagine that sometimes the retelling can be more enjoyable than the original depending on what you didn’t like about that. They all sound interesting.