Only the Innocent

Newly minted DCI Tom Douglas has been called out to investigate the suspicious death of Sir Hugo Fletcher.  Once he has found out basic details, he and his DS, Becky Robinson, travel to the airport to meet the deceased's wife, Laura, who is arriving on an incoming flight from Italy.  Unfortunately they miss connecting with her and she arrives home to a flurry of reporters.  She is shocked when the lone policeman informs her of the situation.

Later the two police officers discus her reaction to the news with their superior, DCS James Sinclair.  Things don't seem just right in their minds.

The post-mortem shows that the deceased had been injected with liquid nicotine.  A witness indicates that he saw a beautiful woman with long red hair leaving the victim's home about the time of death.  A long red hair was found at the scene, but it appears to have been part of a wig.

When the victim's sister turns up, the police are able to make more progress with the case because she is able to provide additional background.  However, what she provides still doesn't solve the mystery behind the man.  When the mystery is solved, shocking revelations come to the fore.

Author Rachel Abbott uses letters from one character to another to fill in background to the story, which I found to be a rather tedious way for her to achieve her goal of filling in the story.  Otherwise, a good murder mystery, which I am sure that the reader will enjoy.

Buckingham Palace Blues

While out jogging, Inspector John Carlyle comes across a young girl all alone.  She appears to be in a bit of distress.  He speaks to her and as he does, a well dressed man approaches, claiming to be the child's uncle.  When the child runs as a police car approache, Carlyle runs after her.  Upon returning to the car with the child, the man is gone.  The on call doctor informs Carlyle that the child has been physically and sexually abused.  Carlyle discovers that the child speaks Ukrainian and claims to live in Buckingham Palace.  Unfortunately the only thing left to do is turn the child over to Social Services.

Later in the day, when Carlyle goes to see the child, she has been taken by a man claiming to be a police officer.  Carlyle sets out to find her and who is behind her abduction, even if it means invading the environs of Buckingham Palace.  Unfortunately the child is killed in a road accident a few days later.  Is this the end of his investigation?  He sets out to rattle a few cages.

In doing so, Carlyle will set off events with international ramifications.  Author James Craig has put together a very good thriller, which I found hard to put down.

The Harem Midwife

Hannah has been employed by the sultan in Constantinople as a midwife for a few years now, but why was she being called to the palace this night when there were no pregnancies in the harem?

Arriving at the harem, Mustafa, the Black Eunuch, informs Hannah that she is to determine whether the young slave girl recently purchased for the sultan is still a virgin. Hannah is surprised to find a young girl who is a virtual hellcat, someone who doesn't want to have anything to do with anyone.  She is also Jewish as is Hannah.  Leah admits to Hannah that she is not a virgin, and begs Hannah to help her.

Can Hannah save Leah's life without jeopardizing her own?  Meantime, unbeknownst to Hannah, two people are plotting to take her son, and what little wealth she and her husband possess.  Isaac and Hannah are surprised when a woman shows up at their door claiming to be Isaac's brother's widow.  She demands the 100 ducats from them that Isaac's brother had lent him.  A rabbi suggests that according to Deuteronomy, Isaac and the woman are married.  Isaac refuses to accept this and promises to find the money.

Author Roberta Rich, in this sequel to "The Midwife of Venice" provides the reader with some exciting twists and turns culminating in a surprising finish.  A thoroughly good read.

Desert God

Taita is a freed slave, and advisor to the pharaoh.  He has devised a plan to create a division between the Hyksos and Crete in order to regain control of upper Egypt.  His plan is to steal a treasure belonging to Crete using men dressed as Hyksos soldiers.  It is not going to be an easy task to accomplish.

Upon gaining the treasure, a new problem arises.  How to get it back safely to Thebes. However, Taita has a solution for that, too.  Shortly after presenting the treasure to The pharaoh, he ennobled Taita.  However, Taita has another issue on his hands, for the princess Tehuti has been smitten by the young general who helped him in his scheme, Zaras.

Taita's plan to get the Hyksos and Minoans fighting each other worked out rather well.  In order to further move the plans along, Taita plans a mission to Crete, with the idea of giving one of the Egyptian princesses to the king as a gift.  Unbeknownst to him that same princess secretly orders Zaras to accompany the mission.  It is going to be a trip fraught with dangers.

First Taita must get the Sumerians to join the fight against the Hyksos.  For that he must use some of the treasure gained in his previous exploit.  Upon arrival in Crete, Taita is shocked when he finds out what has happened to his princesses.  He is forced to set about preparing for the war against the Hyksos.

Can the allies win a war against the powerful Hyksos?  Taita has his hands full as he plans an attack and worries about the future of the princesses.  Author Wilbur Smith once again has created an intriguing historical novel, however I must admit that I didn't enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed his previous historical novels.

The Empty Throne

"The Empty Throne" continues the story of Uhtred Uhtredson of Babbenburg.  His son has been involved in a successful battle on the Mersey River, fighting alongside his liege lady Aethelflaed.  She instructs him to take the prisoners and other prizes to where her husband is so that they can be sold.  She wants to build a stronghold on the Mersey meantime.  Unfortunately when Uthred gets there, the prizes are taken from him by Eardwulf to gain money for Aethelflaed's husband, Aethelred.

Uthred is astonished to find his father there (also named Uthred), but he had been summoned by the Witan. They were going to decide who will replace Aethelred as leader of Mercia as he is slowly dying.  During the meeting, Uthred comes to the realisation that Aethalstan's life is in danger.  Aethalstan is the first son of King Edward of Wessex.  He needs to get there to protect the lad.

Uthred also needs to prevent a wedding from happening, which will upset the balance of power.  However, in doing so, he could provoke a war.  War is averted with the help of Aethelflaed.  However, who is going to replace Aethelred?  Uthred manages to convince the Witan that he should, however he immediately hands the throne over to Aethelflaed.

In search of the sword that had wounded him, Uthred heads to Wales, in the hopes that the sword would help heal his wound.  In Wales, he learns that Norsemen are preparing to attack Chester.  Can he move his men in time to warn the fort of the forthcoming attack?

Once again, author Bernard Cornwell brings history alive in this fictional work.  For those who enjoy historical fiction, and the history of Britain, this is one not to be missed.

1964

Richard Warren grew up in rural Yorkshire in the 1950s, born into a poor family, with a brother five years older than him.  These factors would dictate his life as he grew up.

Richard's brother, Peter led him to an abandoned quarry one afternoon when they were supposed to be working on the farm.  Richard got lost in a tunnel and was rescued by his father.  To get Richard away from the influence of his brother, his Dad arranges for him to work in the pub run by his friend Simon.

Once Richard's punishment of working at the pub was coming to an end, Peter once again got him into trouble.  This time by having him climb up onto the roof of a neighbour's house.  Unfortunately he crashed through the roof, making the acquaintance of Albert Warner, the owner.

Through an inadvertent altercation, Richard meets Rufus Camberwell, a member of the wealthy elite of Yorkshire.  It is Rufus' father who is responsible for kicking Albert out of his home.  Richard hopes that an appeal to his friend Rufus will help the situation.  However, a conflict with Rufus turns into something bigger.

A author James Farner has written a very good story for anyone who grew up in the 1960s.  Having had an older brother of a similar age brought back many memories.  I am looking forward to the sequel.

The Highlander

In  1415, two young boys from two different towns in ancient Mexico meet up, and despite having an initial disagreement, become fast friends.  Kuini is from the Highlands and Coyotl is from a large city in the lowlands.

When Kuini agrees to visit Coyotl's town he is awestruck by the vast pyramids and temples.  He is also very wary.  After Coyotl is summoned to the palace, Kuini is on his own to find his way out.  He finds himself defending a young girl from soldiers who are part of a visiting delegation.  The leader of the soldiers is an Aztec warlord and is impressed by how the boy fights his men and he ensures the lad gets away safely.  However, the girl will lead him on some misadventures, which will in turn get Kuini taken prisoner.  Fortunately the leader of the soldiers gets him released into his custody.

This new situation will result in Kuini falling into another adventure as he helps the delegation make their escape from the clutches of an emperor who wants them dead.  The end result brings quite a surprise to the lad, and eventually disappointment.

A good, quick read by author Zoe Saadia.