Every Last Suspect by Nicola Moriarty

24 Apr 2025 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, Audiobook, Australian Women Writers, Fiction, Mystery, Thriller Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Published: 04 June 2024 (print)/04 June 2024 (audio) Goodreads badge
Publisher: HarperCollins Australia/Bolinda Publishing
Pages: 384/8 hrs and 56 mins
Narrator: Claire Warrillow, Eva Seymour, George El Hindi, Jessica Stanley
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Domestic Thriller/Mystery
★   ★   ★ – 4 Stars

Complicated, driven, loving. Manipulative, irresistible, monstrous.

Love or hate her, Harriet Osman is impossible to turn down. But someone in her life has finally snapped, leaving her lying in a pool of her own blood. Harriet isn’t one to die quietly though, and she is determined to reveal her killer before she goes.

Was it her devoted husband, Malek, with a violent past? Her best friend and lover, Victoria, with a deadly secret only Harriet knew? Or the new woman in her life, fellow school mum Karen? The one with an impeccable reputation … or so she says.

Bullying, friendships and games (in and out of the bedroom) combine with envy, lust and revenge, creating a darkly twisted tale of drama and suspense where the question isn’t who killed Harriet, but why did it take them so long?

I recently heard Moriarty speak at the Newcastle Writers’ Festival and was intrigue by her new book. I’ve enjoyed her books in the past and the premise was interesting and a different way to approach a mystery and a whodunit. The victim uses her dying moments to try and work out who has killed her. Who would have a motive to harm her? If only it could be figured out before she died then maybe she could leave a clue to those who find her. It piqued my interest and I was curious to see how it played out, especially Moriarty’s discussion about having a character who was unlikable, but balanced to also gain sympathy from readers.

I enjoyed the breakdown of the points of view, the three suspects Harriet believes could be her murderer. As we get each perspective we see how Harriet has influenced their behaviour and impacted on their lives in ways even they couldn’t imagine.

One thing I love about well done mysteries is having characters who can be complicated enough to have depth and feel real on the page, but also needing enough motive and be the kind of person who could kill someone. Moriarty does this incredibly well because as these lives play out in the Western Suburbs, the almost parasitic way Harriet has infiltrated their thoughts and their lives is enough to make you think they have a chance to risk everything to get payback.

The possible motives of the characters are fantastic and I loved the complexity and unique way everything is revealed. The surprise/non surprise party for Harriet is a great way to gather everyone and I loved how it’s a jumping off point to set things in motion as well as bring everything to a head.

The representation of messy families, jealousies, fears, hidden pasts, and semi toxic friendships is wonderful and nothing ever felt false or overdone. Each character brings their history and personality to the story and you could feel their real lives being impacted by Harriet and her actions.

I loved how complex Harriet was. She is a mean girl, a toxic friend, a person everyone loved and wanted to be friends with but could also burn you at the slightest thing. She was flawed but not entirely bad either and having her deductions in her own head as she dies it gives us an insight into her motives that beautifully contrast how those motives are perceived by everyone around her. Her flaws and own short comings make her be perceived in a harsh light, more than she intends, but she is also in no way completely innocent either. Moriarty has balanced her wonderfully.

The ending is deeply satisfying because not only is the revelation fantastic, the wrap up is incredibly clever. Things you don’t think are important come back, and things that felt important weren’t or they are in a different way. Unconnected things become connected and there’s misleads and expectations that don’t come to light. All the while making you think if some things had been discovered sooner would they have made a difference? You’re never really sure and it’s a great thing to leave readers thinking about.

You can purchase Every Last Suspect via the following

QBD |  Dymocks | Booktopia

Wordery |  Blackwell’s | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible

 

 

Kill Joy (#0.5) by Holly Jackson

28 Mar 2024 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, Audiobook, Young Adult Tags: , , , , , , ,

Published: 18 February 2021 (print)/04 March 2021 (audio) Goodreads badge
Publisher: Electric Monkey/Electric Monkey
Pages: 160/2 hrs and 59 mins
Narrator: Kristin Atherton, Richard Hughes
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Young Adult Mystery
★   ★   ★   ★ – 4 Stars

Pippa Fitz-Amobi is not in the mood for her friend’s murder mystery party. Especially one that involves 1920’s fancy dress and pretending that their town, Little Kilton, is an island called Joy. But when the game begins, Pip finds herself drawn into the make-believe world of intrigue, deception and murder.

But as Pip plays detective, teasing out the identity of the killer clue-by-clue, the murder of the fictional Reginald Remy isn’t the only case on her mind…

Find out where it all began for Pip in this prequel to the best-selling A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and Good Girl, Bad Blood.

This prequel to A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is a captivating read. It’s definitely one I would suggest reading after you’ve finished book one, there isn’t spoilers per se, but there is a lot dependent on knowing what happens in book one that makes it more impactful. I thought it was much better to read an origin type story knowing the end with an understanding of who these characters were. Especially since they can be fleshed out much better in the novel length format.

Having said that, it’s a fantastic story on its own; Pip’s deductive mind, the great costumes, and the roles everyone plays while still being themselves all make this short novella a thrilling story. Jackson keeps the tantalising mystery alive and delivers thrills to the reader with unexpected events and surprises and a night that doesn’t entirely go to plan.

Jackson’s use of language and Pip’s imagination lead you to into theories of your own about whether they might be there only for a fictional murder or if something more nefarious is going on. Being a #0.5 prequel you have a little knowledge that nothing major will happen, but that doesn’t mean you are safe either. It is easy to become caught up in the hints of mysterious footsteps, shadows in corners, missing party members, as well as the unknown factor about what is on other people’s character cards.

There are hints to the first book, reminding us that this is a town with a real murder, and it shows how fresh it was on Pip’s mins when her project starts not long after these events. But at the same time it remains its own fun story about a fun evening between friends and a great story on its own.

It introduces us to the characters, the town, and a new side of Pip. I love how we get to see the small spark of Pip’s deduction skills and having read the main book first see how far she can go when given a real mystery to dig her nails into.

I adored the ending. I was fascinated at Jackson’s approach to the murder mystery and old style Poirot type investigations. The various levels of commitment from each person, as well as the switch between being in character and being themselves adds another level because while it is played like a real murder, it is still a group of teenagers playing a game.

It is a great book to read if you have read A Good Girl’s Guide and it’s a great introduction if you haven’t. There’s a great sense of Pip’s character if you know how she works through the main book, and it’s a wonderful lead in to see the friends and some of the main players in the bigger story.

You can purchase Kill Joy via the following

QBD | Booktopia | Dymocks

Wordery | Angus and Robinson | Blackwell’s

 Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible

Dishing the Dirt (#26) by M. C. Beaton

23 Nov 2022 Leave a comment

by Amy in 1 Star, Agatha Raisin, Audiobook, Mystery Tags: , , , , , , ,

Published: 14th September 2015 (print)/11 February 2016 (audio) Goodreads badge
Publisher: Minotaur Books /Audible
Pages: 304/6 hrs and 29 mins
Narrator: Penelope Keith
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Cosy Mystery
★  – 1 Star

A therapist had moved into the village of Carsely and Agatha Raisin hates her. Not only was this therapist, Jill Davent, romancing Agatha’s ex-husband, but she had dug up details of Agatha’s slum background.

Added to that, Jill was counselling a woman called Gwen Simple from Winter Parva and Agatha firmly believed Gwen to have assisted her son in some grisly murders, although has no proof she had done so.

A resentment is different from a dislike and needs to be shared, so as the friendship between James and Jill grows stronger, the more Agatha does to try to find out all she can about her. When Jill is found strangled to death in her office two days’ later, Agatha finds herself under suspicion – and must fight to clear her name.

I have seen a few reviews mention an Agatha Raisin drinking game but you could also do a Bingo based on the formulaic events that happen in each book. I certainly think it would be a more interesting way of experiencing the series.

The stories are still going the same unengaging way – some character thinks they can solve the murder before Agatha or the police and then they get killed before they tell anyone. Everyone is rude and instantly jumps to abusing people and calling them a variety of colourful names. The immediate answer to any inconvenience is to threaten to kill someone which means of course that someone will end up dead in the next chapter. It’s the same every time and while formula is good, and expected in a cosy, there is no creativity, imagination, or variation on any of these. The plot is all over the place, there are random characters and scenes and none of it was important and if it was it was so late in the story I didn’t care. It’s flat and uninteresting and grating on the nerves.

I can’t decide if Beaton wants only murders now and minimal village life because there’s no village normalcy anymore. No ladies society, no fetes and no village people other than token characters like Mrs Bloxby who only pops in as a plot device half the time.

What doesn’t help is Penelope Keith, who normally is fabulous, has the same voice for many of these characters so they all screech in the same way. I guess when all the characters start being abusive and screeching you only can screech in one way.

Honestly the only saving grace is Charles who flits in and out as he pleases but he speaks his mind and there was a time a few books back I thought he and Agatha were going to get together which would do the series a huge favour. Charles is a delightful character, he has his flaws but the banter and dynamic between himself and Agatha is always enjoyable and I love seeing their interactions.

I’ve definitely decided that Beaton hates these characters and writing these books. It’s the only explanation for why they are so flat and feel like scenes tacked on to one another with no thought or care. I know Agatha’s behaviour and the outlandish behaviour by the entire cast are meant to be humorous but they end up making me angry at the stupidity of it all. Agatha hates everyone, all her friends annoy her and the solutions to everything are either get married and give up her job, or go on holiday and get over the trauma of nearly being murdered. Because when you’re attacked and almost strangled to death in your own kitchen it’s brushed over as a non-event and people expect you to recover immediately from your trauma. The fact Agatha is still shaken by it is the only redeemable part of her character because it shows she’s not completely hollow.

As if it couldn’t get any worse, Beaton, who published this book in 2016, has a scene with a man who initially is described as liking to wear dresses, but by the time Agatha meets him, she insults him, and Beaton can’t decide if he is a man who likes dresses, a cross dresser, or a trans woman because in the space of a few sentences she infers all three.

I had to pause the book in disgust when the word “Tranny” was used because it was so offensive, even if it was in relation to a shop name. This is unacceptable even for Agatha Raisin. The fact the sentence finishes with “for people like you” and then this person thanks her for helping them is pushing even my limits to finish this godawful series. The term transvestite is repeatedly used after this and it’s just wholly unpleasant. The whole series is filled with offensive terms, the earlier books repeatedly had Agatha threatening people by saying they should get AIDS so it isn’t beyond Beaton to use this kind of language but it was a surprise given this wasn’t the early 90s but published in a time I thought people, or even a few editors if she even uses them anymore, would know better.

I’m repeating myself here but the clear downfall of these stories was definitely extending them from four to six hours, or whatever the page length equivalent was. The extra length has completely lessened their quality. When they were shorter they were nice and concise mysteries which wrapped up while still having character depth and exploration. Now they are longer and the stories are drawn out, when the main mystery is solved another pops up and the remainder two hours is spent dragging it out. I also think as Ms Beaton ages her own opinions are bleeding onto the page and it ends up being a long rant about society and the youth and how no one is a lady anymore. It’s amazing she has time to fit a murder in amongst that.

You can purchase Dishing the Dirt via the following

QBD | Booktopia | Book Depository

Dymocks | Wordery | Angus and Robinson

 Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible

The Blood of an Englishman (#25) by M. C. Beaton

17 Nov 2022 Leave a comment

by Amy in 2 Stars, Agatha Raisin, Audiobook, Mystery Tags: , , , , , , ,

Published: 16th September 2014 (print)/11 February 2016 (audio) Goodreads badge
Publisher: Minotaur Books /Audible
Pages: 294/6 hrs and 18 mins
Narrator: Penelope Keith
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Cosy Mystery
★   ★  – 2 Stars

Even though Agatha Raisin loathes amateur dramatics, her friend Mrs. Bloxby, the vicar’s wife, has persuaded her to support the local pantomime. Stifling a yawn at the production of “Babes in the Woods,” Agatha watches the baker playing an ogre strut and threaten on the stage, until a trapdoor opens and the Ogre disappears in an impressive puff of smoke. Only he doesn’t re-appear at final curtain.

Surely this isn’t the way the scene was rehearsed? When it turns out the popular baker has been murdered, Agatha puts her team of private detectives on the case. They soon discover more feuds and temperamental behaviour in amateur theatrics than in a professional stage show—and face more and more danger as the team gets too close to the killer.

You can really start to see a lack of care in these stories. New characters that can be introduced and removed in one book, no need for backstory or cementing into the established world, simply in and out and on to the next thing. I had to reread this story because I couldn’t recall much of what happens and having reread it I can attest that is because nothing actually happens. It’s a boring story, nothing is memorable and the investigation is filled with a lot of nothing that can’t keep your attention. The plot seems to be random scenes pieced together that have the thinnest connecting thread if any.

Clearly Beaton has given up the complex community of earlier books and now focuses on these extra characters but none of them have any depth. Most pop in an out in one book and they are as shallow and ludicrous as each other. The only characters that keep being included are the detective staff, though less so in this story, and Charles. Beaton includes familiar characters as a reminder that they still exist but they serve no real purpose to the story. James is barely mentioned, Mrs Bloxby has a few scenes but it feels more like a reminder that other people live in this village than actually contribute to the story.

The descriptions are repetitions of the same ones trotted out book after book. Honestly if I hear one more time about Agatha and her long legs and glossy hair I think I might just scream. I have no other image of this woman except long legs and glossy hair. I think somewhere a few books back there might have been a mention of “frumpy” in her lesser moments but what does that even mean? Beaton seems to have found her descriptors and refused to budge. No matter how much time has passed these are the facts of these characters and nothing else will be said of them. Small, bear-like eyes, long legs, glossy hair. Not to mention twenty five books in and Agatha is still in her early fifties.

Beaton’s opinions are out in force again about the state of society as well as whatever the current issues are at time of writing making casual comments about sexual assault and paedophilia, much like the earlier books she jumps to reducing serious issues to crass comments by characters. The mystery almost didn’t matter as a lot of time was focused on Agatha and her “unfortunate obsessions” as they’re called (of which there are many this time around) where she lusts after the latest attractive man she comes across. You’d also think a book that had such a gruesome death would be more interesting but I’ve expected too much.

Moving away from the set cast of characters is a hindrance because there isn’t a lot to keep your attention. New people who haven’t been well developed don’t hold your interest if you aren’t going to include well known characters that can tie things together. It’s another book following the usual formula with the addition of having random scenes added in that serve little to no purpose. It’s a shame Penelope Keith had to keep reading these if I’m honest.

You can purchase The Blood of an Englishman via the following

 Booktopia | Book Depository

Dymocks | Angus and Robinson

 Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible

Something Borrowed, Someone Dead (#24) by M. C. Beaton

09 Nov 2022 Leave a comment

by Amy in 3 Stars, Agatha Raisin, Audiobook, Mystery Tags: , , , , , ,

Published: 17th September 2013 (print)/03 October 2013 (audio) Goodreads badge
Publisher: Minotaur Books /Audible
Pages: 304/6 hrs and 19 mins
Narrator: Penelope Keith
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Cosy Mystery
★   ★   ★ – 3 Stars

Incomer Gloria French is at first welcomed in the Cotswold village of Piddlebury. She seems like a do-gooder par excellence, raising funds for the church and caring for the elderly. But she has a bad habit of borrowing things and not giving them back, so when she is discovered dead, folk in the village don’t mourn her passing too much.

Parish councillor Jerry Tarrant hires Agatha Raisin to track down the murderer. But the village is creepy and secretive and the residents don’t seem to want Agatha to find who the murderer is. Then Agatha’s investigations are hampered by the upset of discovering that her ex, James Lacey, has fallen in love with her young protégé.

The shift between these books that can go from horribly written to one that is actually decent is amazing. Decent for Agatha Raisin that is. There must be something in the water in the Cotswalds that make people go from calm to threatening death upon people at the slightest inconvenience.

The enjoyment of this book comes from the murder plotline and less so of the writing or extra content. Agatha’s obsession with her figure and the judgement towards other people are eye rolling and typical, but the fact Beaton managed an interesting premise for a murder and didn’t drive me up the wall reading it to execute it was something of a miracle.

There’s a lot of character action and conversations to suss out motive and intent, things happen that actually connect to the investigation and the side stories of characters when we get them are woven in a way that they still feel connected to the main story. There are throwaway lines that show time passing, Agatha taking holidays etc, but it keeps returning to interviewing people about the murder. The character interactions are more entertaining than reading long sections of narration which is probably why this was a better story than most.

There’s a couple murders in this one, the original and the second one that usually happens during the investigation of the first, typically after someone proclaims they know who the murderer is and then dies before telling anyone. The whole team gets involved and we see various avenues of investigation which is a change from quick mentions and having them behind the scenes and on other cases, even the non-detective gang help in their own ways.

The solution to having to extend the stories out this time involves having the main story for most of the book and then having a secondary mini plot afterwards to fill in time. The entire last hour was a side story that was what happens after the murderer is caught and it was a strange addition but I guess it’s a change to see what happens to the culprit and not just what new thing Agatha is up to.

There is also an unexpected addition about Toni that is tacked on at the end but given the haphazard nature of these books it’s easier to simply go along with it at this stage. The final pages feel like the start of a new book again as it introduces a whole other storyline but as a weird cliff hanger I guess it’s meant to lure you into the next one but with no real stakes, just pushing your curiosity about what’s going to happen next.

You can purchase Something Borrowed, Someone Dead via the following

QBD | Booktopia | Book Depository

Dymocks | Angus and Robinson

 Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible

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