Roberta Reads

  Review - 5 out of 5 stars: I’m a big fan of the Miss Underhay Mysteries, so I was thrilled to be invited to review book 18 - Murder in New York. This time around, Kitty receives a telegram saying her father is unwell, and so her and Matt dash off to New York to see him. And, of course, murder and mayhem ensue! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Kitty and Matt are favourite characters, and feel like old friends. It was fun to see them solving another murder without their usual backup (though I did miss Alice). There were lots of interesting suspects, and the snowy weather made the story feel Christmassy. Overall, this was a truly enjoyable mystery, that kept me interested throughout. I highly recommend the whole series. I was given a copy of this book, my opinions are my own. Book Description: Sipping Manhattan cocktails, strolling through Central Park and sightseeing at the Empire State building. Kitty Underhay is loving life in New York… until she stumbles across a murder! Winter, ...

  Review - 4 out of 5 stars: I’m always on the lookout for some new cosy crime, so when the opportunity to read A Deadly Legacy came my way, I was pleased. A Deadly Legacy isn’t as cosy as my usual favourites, but I still really enjoyed it. I liked the characters, though I don’t feel like I know them really well (which usually takes multiple books). The slightly unusual pets were a fun touch. The mystery itself was really interesting, and seemed almost insoluble at first glance. However, Jack and Alexi obviously have well established methods of finding things out, and I had fun being along for the ride. I read this book without reading any of the previous books in the series, but it works well as a standalone. It has its own story that is complete in itself, and manages to introduce the characters well, without spending too much time and annoying readers who started at the beginning. It’s that there are aspects that develop from book to book, but these do not detract from the enjoy...

Christmas Wishes at Cranberry Cove by Holly Martin My rating: 5 of 5 stars I’ve been a big fan of Holly Martin’s books for years now, and I especially enjoy the Christmas ones. So I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Christmas Wishes at Cranberry Cove. I really enjoyed reading this book. It was lovely to finally have Orla’s story. I love both Orla and Shay, and their long history. And of course, I loved Ivy too. The story was a good one. I felt that the back story was handled well, and the reasons things didn’t work out to start with were realistic. I found part of the story to be more dramatic than Holly’s usual style (I can’t say more without spoilers, there’s a TW at the bottom), but it clearly needed something to get Orla and Shay talking properly! Just maybe save it for a day when you’re not feeling fragile. I loved watching Shay and Orla work through their issues and end up happy. The atmosphere of the book was lovely and Christmassy, and I loved...

  Review - 5 out of 5 stars: I’ve been enjoying Cressida McLaughlin’s books for quite a few years now. So when I had the opportunity to read an advance copy of The Secret Christmas Bookshop, I jumped on it. I loved this book. I loved the setting, which is beautiful and comes across really well. I loved the mix of people who live there, and how they affect Sophie. I love how they work together for the community. I really loved Sophie, who has not had the best upbringing, and so protects herself. I loved the fact that she makes handmade notebooks. I also loved Harry. He seems like a bit of a grump, but is actually lovely. And I was really pleased by the fact that Sophie didn’t fall for him because of the grumpiness, but because of the loveliness. I loved the way their relationship was written - you could feel the caring, rather than just being told it was there. I also loved how Christmassy this book was. The festive atmosphere just oozed out.  Overall, this was such a lovely, f...

  Review - 5 out of 5 Stars I absolutely loved The Missing Maid, so I was thrilled to get my hands on an early copy of The Cursed Writer. It exceeded even my high expectations! This time, Harry receives a telegram to Sherlock Holmes, and thus starts a truly excellent mystery.  I love Harry, who is both courageous and realistic about what she can achieve. She is also clever and compassionate, and is fast becoming my favourite sleuth. I loved this mystery too. It was really compelling, I couldn’t put it down. I loved the way it all seemed so unfathomable to start with, and small clues gradually revealed what was really happening. The setting was excellent. The house is mysterious and slightly creepy, and the fens even more so. They definitely added to the atmosphere of the story. Overall, this was a compelling and excellently written mystery that I just couldn’t put down. If you pick up just one book I’ve recommended this year, make it this one. Holly Hepburn is just getting bet...