What I read in July & August 2021

If you’ve been around here for a while then you’ll know I love reading. In fact a few years ago I used to write regular book reviews on here. I fell out of love with them though so I stopped. Last year I posted a few bookish posts though and I really enjoyed writing them. So I’ve decided to give monthly book round-ups a go instead. Here’s what I read in July and August.

Things have been a little crazy the last couple of months what with getting married and going on a minimoon so I haven’t had much time for reading. That’s why I’ve combined two months, as I didn’t even have time to do July’s book roundup. I’ve only managed 4 books across the two months which is very poor compared to the 7 books I read in June!

Hide and Seek

Author: M. J. Arlidge | Genre: Thriller | Length: 373 pages

Hide and Seek is the 6th book in the Helen Grace series. I really enjoyed every book in this series so far. They’re great books to dip into when I want to be guaranteed a gripping, fast-paced read. This book focuses on Helen’s time in prison, it was good to have a bit of a different setting for this one.

Helen Grace is famed for being one of Britain’s best police officers but now she’s in prison and facing many of the people she’s played a part in putting behind bars. Helen is desperate to prove she’s innocent and wants to show she had no part in the string of murders she’s going to be on trial for. But Helen doesn’t have many allies left and when a mutilated body is found in the cell next door Helen must find the killer before they come after her.

Another great book in the Helen Grace series. I love a good crime novel and this series has been wonderful. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Helen and the other characters in this series. If you’re after a new crime novel then I highly recommend giving this series a go.

The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde

Author: Eve Chase | Genre: Mystery | Length: 324 pages

I’d previously tried to read another Eve Chase novel and just couldn’t get into it so it ended up being a ‘did not finish’ book. I didn’t let that put me off though and I went into this one with an open mind and what a great mystery novel it turned out to be. It felt like the perfect summer read.

Margot and her three sisters are sent to Applecote Manor in 1959 to spend a few months over summer with their aunt and uncle. They’re expecting a quiet country summer but what they find is their aunt and uncle still reeling from the disappearance of their daughter five years ago. As the summer goes on the once closer sisters start to become divided as two handsome neighbours arrive and Margot finds herself slipping deeper into the life Audrey left behind. But then summer takes a deadly turn and the girls must unite once again.

Fifty years later Jesse and her family move to Applecote Manor desperate for a new start away from their lives in London. It seems like the perfect place to start again but it’s not long before Jesse starts to feel isolated, tensions rise between her and her stepdaughter and she’s left haunted by the history of the house.

The story is set across two timelines that perfectly weave together to create a brilliant ending. I did enjoy the 1959 timeline a little more as there was more going on but both parts were good. The story is slow but intense and tackles family, growing up, love and keeping secrets. A thoroughly enjoyable mystery.

Win

Author: Harlan Coben | Genre: Mystery | Length: 375 pages

Harlan Coben is basically the king of mystery so you know you’re going to get a good book from him. Win is the first novel in a new series – the Windsor Horne Lockwood III series – I’d I’m definitely interested to see how this series goes. This novel was only published this year though so I may have to wait a bit!

Twenty years ago, heiress Patricia Lockwood was kidnapped and locked in a cabin for months. Subjected to months of assault Patricia finally managed to escape but her captors were never found. All the items stolen from her family remained uncovered.

Until now when a recluse is found murdered in his apartment alongside a paining stolen from the Lockwood’s and a briefcase with the initials of Windsor Horne Lockwood III on it. Finally the authorities have a lead on Patricia’s case and another FBI cold case. Windsor – or Win – doesn’t know how his briefcase or the painting ended up in the apartment but the FBI tell him that not only is the dead man responsible for his cousin’s kidnapping but also an act of domestic terrorism. Win has his own unique way of getting justice alongside a massive fortune. With his personal connection to the case he sets about finding out exactly what happened in both cases.

Overall this was an easy and enjoyable read. There was nothing groundbreaking going on but it was good nonetheless. The main character, Win, was a little grating at times and I felt the whole wealthy lifestyle thing was very overdone throughout but still a good, quick mystery.

The Good Sister

Author: Sally Hepworth | Genre: Thriller | Length: 309 pages

Who doesn’t love a thriller about the dark secrets families keep?! The Good Sister does this perfectly with a mix of diary extracts from one sister and the story from the other sister’s point of view. There’s plenty of twists and turns too that made this book really hard to put down.

Fern Castle works in the local library. She likes routine and a life where she knows what will happen. Dinner with her sister Rose three times a week and no crowds, bright lights or loud noises. Simple. Fern lives with the knowledge that if her routine is disrupted things can get dangerous.

When Fern discovers her sister Rose can’t get pregnant she sees an opportunity to repay Rose for everything she’s done for her. Fern will have a baby for Rose. The mission that Fern sets out on will cause a huge shake-up to her routine an drag up dark secrets that have been hidden for years.

I absolutely loved this book. Most of it is written as a normal novel would be and focuses on Fern’s side of the story but inbetween chapters there are diary entries from Rose that often tell a completely different story. The twists and turns in the novel made it difficult for me to put it down because I was desperate to read on and find out what was really going on.

So they were my books for July and August. My reading majorly got pushed to one side before and after the wedding so I don’t think September will be much better. Here’s hoping I can pull it back after that though with some dark, scary Halloween appropriate books!

Have you read any of these books? What did you read in July and August? Let me know in the comments!