The Distant Echo

I very much enjoyed The Distant Echo by Val McDermid which is set in Scotland in the 1970s, and twenty-five years later.  On a very cold night with snow covering the ground, four students on their way home from a pub stumble upon a dying young woman, Rosie.  Suspicion is cast upon them but there is no evidence to support the suspicion.  Rosie's brothers believe the students got away with murder and give them a hard time.  Twenty-five years later the case is re-opened because new technologies may help solve the crime.  The four students have grown up and established good lives for themselves.  However, two of the group are murdered and the remaining two know that if they can't solve Rosie's murder, they will also be killed.  Great story with lots of suspense before the murders are eventually solved. 41/2/5

Buried Angels

I enjoyed Buried Angels by Camilla Lackberg which is set on a small Swedish island.  A young married couple, Tobias and Ebba, go to live and renovate Ebba's childhood home.  The house has a mysterious history as when Ebba was a toddler her whole family disappeared, apparently when they were eating lunch.  At the time the house was an exclusive boarding school run by Ebba's father.  At the time the family disappeared there were five boys staying there but they were out fishing when the family disappeared.  On alternate chapters we read about an horrific crime that happened early in the 20th century.  The reader follows this story until it catches up with the present.  There are mysteries to be solved and there are many characters to follow - too many.  31/2/5

W is for Wasted

I quite enjoyed W is for Wasted by Sue Grafton where PI Kinsey Millhone investigates when a homeless man leaves her a lot of money in his will.  Kinsey finally learns the man's identity and finds he has three grown children who were left out of the will.  At the same time, a sleazy PI Wolinsky is found murdered.  Kinsey has a tenuous connection with Wolinsky and knew he was someone who cut corners.  She tries to work out why he was murdered while at the same time learning more about the man who left her so much money.  4/5

The Truth According to Us

I very much enjoyed The Truth According to Us by Annie Barrows which is set in 1938 in West Virginia, USA telling the story of a family in a small town.  Layla Beck, a "spoilt" young woman from a wealthy family is sent to the town as part of the Federal Writers' Project, part of the New Deal jobs program to learn about working.  She boards with the Romeyn family headed by divorced father Felix, his sister Jottie and his two small girls Willa and Bird. Layla's job is to write a history of the town.  Much of the story is narrated by Willa so the reader has an insight in to her thinking and learns about the different characters.  Other parts of the story are told in the third person so the reader steps away from Willa to see the story more broadly.  Felix is a lovable cad with whom Layla falls in love despite Jottie's warnings.  Jottie is a strong character who has a troubled past involving a tragic scandal.  The story was a little slow to start but worth persevering as the reader is drawn in wanting to learn what happens to everyone and discover the truth about what happened in the town in 1920. 41/2/5

The Miniaturist

I very much enjoyed The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton which is set in 17th century Amsterdam.  A young bride, Nella, arrives at her new husband Johannes's home (marriage arranged) to find he is away and her sister-in-law Marin is there with their two servants Cornelia and Otto.  Nella finds herself in an unusual household and is disappointed her husband is not behaving like one.  He gives Nella a gift of a miniature house which mimics the one she is now in.  Nella orders more objects to go in her miniature house.  Gradually some of the secrets of the house are revealed through the miniatures and Nella learns the truth about her husband.  The miniaturist seems to prophesy what will happen.  This is a terrific read, very compelling as the reader awaits the outcome for the characters. 5/5