Seven Letters opening line: Sarah smiled to herself as two more bottles of wine were ordered. My blurb: Sarah adores her daughter Izzy, and each year she writes her a letter. So far there are seven of them. Sarah is pregnant and blissful. But that bliss is soon shattered. She does not want to share with … Continue reading Seven Letters, Sinéad Moriarty

All That's Dead opening line: The study cupped itself around him like a hand around a match, guarding the flame until it can ignite the fuse. My blurb: Inspector Logan McRae wanted his return to work to be simple and easy. He was not looking for a case that would be hard to solve. Or … Continue reading All That’s Dead, Stuart MacBride

Subtitled 50 simple drinks to restore, revive & relax, Infused Waters is going to be my inspiration for summer. Infused Waters I drink a lot of water and have stuck to the same formula for 30 years. You take your weight and multiply it by 30. This gives you the millilitres you should be drinking. … Continue reading Infused Waters, Georgina Davies

Widows' Revenge opening line: Bella had recommended Mr Jarrow to Dolly as one of the best men in London, and so Dolly had made an appointment. My blurb:Dolly think she has it all figured out. But it seems like the other women are going to find a way to thwart her plans. Nothing is really … Continue reading Widows’ Revenge, Lynda La Plante

I love making jams and preserves, as long as they are small batches. My one and only recipe book that I have has been well used, and so it was with great excitement I received a copy of Pam The Jam. Pam The Jam Pam Corbin may be well known to British consumers through her … Continue reading Pam The Jam, Pam Corbin, The Book Of Preserves

The Inn opening line: Something very bad was about to go down. My blurb: Bill Robinson will always be a policeman. Even though he has been stripped of his badge and his gun, the instincts are there. And when tasked by the local police force to work beyond their realm, he does so. But this … Continue reading The Inn, James Patterson And Candice Fox

In Alex Hamilton's recipe book, The Barbecue, he gives you a 'hero' recipe to use as a template, with a variety of marinades to mix it up each time you make the meal. The Barbecue We have both a charcoal and a gas braai so I was pleased to see that the book does not … Continue reading The Barbecue, Alex Hamilton

Once Upon A River opening line: There was once an inn that sat peacefully on the bank of the Thames at Radcot, a long day's walk from the source. My blurb: Joe Bliss can tell a story, and it is why people travel to The Swan. But nothing can hold the attention of the guests … Continue reading Once Upon A River, Diane Setterfield

A Gift For Dying opening line: The shock of the impact, then an act of kindness. My blurb: Kassie keeps her head down, avoiding eye contact. She doesn't want to see someone's death, which is what she claims she can see. Not only, that, but she can feel the way in which someone dies. But, with … Continue reading A Gift For Dying, M.J Arlidge | Book Review

Maybe This Time opening line: So this was it then, the countryside. My blurb: Cal seems like the perfect man when Mimi first meets him. And he is! He has the perfect dog, the perfect wife and the perfect child. Mimi gets to know all aspects of his life, and he hers. And a perfect … Continue reading Maybe This Time, Jill Mansell

What attracted me most to A Taste Of South Africa was the byline, with the Kosher Butcher's Wife. I am always on the lookout for recipes for traditional Jewish food. And in this recipe book, Sharon Lurie combines her Jewish cooking with local cuisine. A Taste Of South Africa Sharon starts of the book with the most … Continue reading A Taste Of South Africa, Sharon Lurie

Unsolved opening line:I am neither evil nor deranged. My blurb: Emmy's brain works in ways others don't. She can see the pattern of a serial killer emerging, even though all the crimes are different. But in her quest to bring him down she is about to discover someone close to her is not who they seem. … Continue reading Unsolved, James Patterson & David Ellis