What I read in April 2020

April meant a full month in Lockdown and I managed to read 3 books.

Hidden Depths by Ann Cleeves

The Plot:

One hot summer on the Northumberland Coast brings the discovery of two stylized murders to the attention of Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope. One body is found in a bath and covered in flowers. Another is revealed in a rock pool also surrounded by flowers. Their appears to be no link between the victims and Vera has to work quickly before the killer strikes again.

What I thought: This is the second book I’ve read by Ann Cleeves and I enoyed it as much as the first one. Vera is a great character, and her team draw the reader in as they investigate and rush against the clock to find the killer. There are lots of suspects and I found myself changing my opinion with each chapter.

My Goodreads rating: 4 stars

Can you keep a secret? by Sophie Kinsella

The plot:

Emma Corrigan has a few secrets but so does everyone. Unfortunately on a flight home she blurts all of hers out to the stranger sitting next to her. Every single last one. From her faked Maths grade on her CV to her thoughts on g-strings - everything is blurted out to her fellow passenger.

Thinking she’ll never see him again she isn’t concerned. Until the next Monday at work the company’s CEO, Jack Harper visits the office and she is introduced to the man who now knows everything about her.

What I thought:

Emma is a really sweet character and there are parts of the book that are humerous. Honestly, it wasn’t my favourite book for 2020 so far, nor my favourite by Sophie Kinsella but it passed the time. It was a pleasant way to take my mind off the fact we are living in a pandemic and life this month has been very different to previous months.

So it was a distraction and I’m not complaining.

My Goodreads rating: 3 stars

Our kind of cruelty by Araminta Hall

The plot:

Mike and Verity met at university. They had a very intimate and complex relationship which is now over as Verity is about to get married. Mike doesn’t quite understand why and is determined to get her back.

At any cost.

What I thought: I enjoy thrillers and suspense but didn’t enjoy this book very much.

Mike had a very traumatic childhood and when he met Verity he felt he’d found his soulmate and they’d be together forever. When she breaks up with him and gets engaged to another man, Mike assumes this is part of a game they had played when they were younger. He believes that he has to swoop in and rescue her and they will then get their happily ever after.

Unfortunately this is not a game and the consequences are deadly.

Mike’s obsessive thoughts and behaviour are well written but I’d have preferred to read some of the chapters from Verity’s point of view. Despite Mikes sinister obsession with his ex-girlfriend, as a reader I didn’t feel like I got to know her motives or side of the story.

My Goodreads rating: 2 stars

Linking up with Steph  https://www.lifeaccordingtosteph.com/ and Jana http://janasays.com/ for Show Us Your Books. 

xx