My Book Reviews for May 2025 (Part Two)
My Book Reviews for May 2025 (Part Two)
My Book Reviews for May 2025 (Part Two) include two purchases: a powerful novel about army veterans coping in modern-day civvy street and a crime short collection, plus two NetGalley novels I had the privilege to read in advance of publication.
In 2016, five men leave the British Army. Despite everything they have seen and done, the return to civvy street presents each man with the greatest challenge of their lives. Set against political turmoil after the Brexit vote, the novel follows each protagonist as they struggle to forge a new path.
After a successful army career of 22 years, Dean initially takes work as a security contractor in Iraq, but when he returns to his wife and daughters to live full-time in Yorkshire, he struggles to maintain status. Seeking stability in a Britain he doesn’t recognise, he gravitates towards a far-right group.
Ever optimistic Steve never gives up hunting for a new work role, despite having sustained life-altering injuries in Iraq and being faced with careers advisers and potential employers who just don’t get him.
Former warrant officer Pete returns to a management role in his family’s drinks manufacturing business in Scotland. For various reasons, he repeatedly disappoints his family and his estranged wife. There is also a skeleton in his closet from his days serving in Northern Ireland that will come back to haunt both him and the other protagonists.
Kyle was a young reservist soldier, who suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. His story ends tragically as the other men’s civilian journeys begin.
Malcolm is a former army officer under whom the others served at different times. University educated and with leadership experience, he starts a new career in management consultancy. Despite what appears to be a seamless assimilation into civilian life, Malcolm struggles with office culture and running a team of young people who don’t respond like soldiers to chain-of-command instructions.
The stories of these five men blend seamlessly into one cohesive narrative, with each protagonist given a distinctive voice and personality. The way the author peppers speech and thoughts with soldierly slang and military jargon is masterfully done, achieving the right balance of authenticity and accessibility for the civilian reader. Flashbacks to active service are powerfully written and a real strength of the book.
Dr Fergus Smith, a former army officer, wrote the novel as part of his PhD thesis following extensive research and interviews with former soldiers.
Poignant and thought-provoking.
A Pocketful of Poisons by Brian Price
This is a short story collection by crime writer Brian Price. These bitesize police procedurals and mysteries make good coffee break reading for a crime fiction fan. (Just watch out for the poison…) Here’s a quick guide to each piece:
The Scent of an Ending – A neat mini locked room mystery.
Dead Man's Fingers – A police procedural. I'll never look at an organic veg box delivery the same way again.
The Dose Makes the Poison - A thriller told mainly from the killer's viewpoint, plus a guest appearance by DC Mel Cotton, the main series character in Brian's crime novels.
Killer on the Hop –Good title for this short and furry story. I once studied this very poison for a whodunit I wrote. I learnt a lot but not this method of application.
Taking the Biscuit – Genteel enemies take revenge in this 1930s piece.
Payback – An already toxic atmosphere at work gets steadily more poisonous.
Lamb to the Slaughter - A shocking find between the pages of a Mrs Beeton.
Natural Justice – Was it murder or arrogant stupidity?
Summertime, and the killing is easy – A well-paced piece told mostly in monologue. For a while, the reader might sympathise with the murderer until the full story is revealed...
Death After Dinner – Golden Age style murder set in the present day.
Mind the (knowledge) gap. – In the manufacture of genetically modified food, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Peace and Quiet – When medicine becomes poison.
The Venomous Bread – Murder involving an unusual poison is carefully planned and carried out.
Scum – A stomach-churning way to make a water company pay for its negligence.
The Case of the Poisoned Apple – A Charming Mash Up of two widely different literary phenomena.
The Sound of Death – When a successful author changes publisher, lots of people have reason to want him dead.
The Tipping Point – When enough is enough for a victim.
Getting Away with It – A 150-word story with a twist.
Death on the Doorstep – a dog walker chances upon double fatalities outside a rental cottage.
Death on the Tracks – Murder on a moving vintage train.
The Lock on the Toilet Door – An amusing tale about a husband's attempts to poison his wife.
Fatal Dose – The collection closes with a taster of the opening chapter of the third novel in Brian Price’s DC Cotton police procedural series. (Previously, I reviewed the first book in the series, Fatal Trade.)
The Santorini Writing Retreat by Eva Glyn
Strangers, with different backstories, attend a writing retreat in Santorini and learn about life, resilience and friendship. Told in an easy-to-read style, the book evokes the geography and culture of its Greek island setting.
This is an ideal follow-up to The Dubrovnik Book Club as one of the leading characters, Karmela, features in both novels. However, it also works as a standalone.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.
Only in New York by Melissa Hill
Publicist Hannah needs to get away from a disaster in her work life, so she gets transferred to her company’s New York office and takes up the offer to housesit a celebrity client's sumptuous apartment. Hannah’s first assignment in her new location is to manage the public image of Wade, a grumpy ice hockey star.
Told from the viewpoints of both protagonists, the book weaves an enemies-to-lovers story that depicts a dazzling version of New York, complete with designer labels and glitzy showbiz events. Alongside the escapist setting, there is a subplot on a serious, topical issue.
Ideal for fans of slow-burn sports star romances.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.
As the title My Book Reviews for May 2025 (Part Two) suggests, this is my second round of reviews this month. The first batch is here.