This Week in Books (June 17)

Hosted by Lipsy Lost and Found, my Wednesday post gives you a taste of what I’m reading this week. A similar meme is run by Taking on a World of Words.

| LAST BOOK I FINISHED READING |

When a body is pulled out of an office fire, three women are first in line for questioning.
All of them have reasons for wanting revenge against the company’s CEO.

It could be Laura, who has returned to work to find that her maternity cover isn’t leaving. The CEO insists he’s doing what’s best for the company. Laura isn’t convinced he’s telling the truth.

Or there’s Mia. Brought in as temporary cover for Laura, she has quickly made herself indispensable – and popular with her colleagues. But if people knew why she was so desperate to keep her job, they might not welcome her so freely.

Then there’s Janie, wife to the CEO, who gave up her courtroom career to support her husband and his business. She has her own secret to protect – and will go to any length to keep it safe.

They never thought it would come to this.

[I normally really enjoy Heidi Perks’ books but this one didn’t quite do it for me.]

| THE BOOK I’M CURRENTLY READING |

The year is 1911 when twenty-year-old heiress Peggy Batternberg is invited to spend the summer in America’s Playground.

The invitation to the luxurious Oriental Hotel a mile from Coney Island is unwelcome. Despite hailing from one of America’s richest families, Peggy would much rather spend the summer working at the Moonrise Bookstore than keeping up appearances with New York City socialites and her snobbish, controlling family.

But soon it transpires that the hedonism of nearby Coney Island affords Peggy the freedom she has been yearning for, and it’s not long before she finds herself in love with a troubled pier-side artist of humble means, whom the Batternberg patriarchs would surely disapprove of. 

Disapprove they may, but hidden behind their pomposity lurks a web of deceit, betrayal and deadly secrets. And as bodies begin to mount up amidst the sweltering clamour of Coney Island, it seems the powerful Batternbergs can get away with anything…even murder.

[After two somewhat disappointing books in a row, time for a genre change. I’m enjoying this one so far and I look forward to getting back to it this afternoon.]

| CURRENTLY LISTENING TO |

The teenage girl was the first victim.

Her throat cut to the bone, she didn’t stand a chance.

Her mother was the second.

She, at least, had time to fight back. Briefly.

Called to the crime scene in leafy Wimbledon, Maeve Kerrigan’s first thought is that this is a domestic dispute gone bad. But the husband is found lying bleeding and unconscious in an upstairs room. A top criminal barrister, he insists he’s the third victim rather than their prime suspect, even if he is a man who makes enemies easily.

Her twin sister is the only witness.

The other surviving family member, fifteen-year-old Lydia was the one to find her mother and twin sister’s bodies.

But she isn’t talking… 

[I know, you’re surprised to see I’m still listening to an audiobook once in a while, aren’t you? I really like this series, Maeve and the narrator so I guess I’ll just keep going. Still plenty to catch up on.]

| WHAT I’M (PROBABLY) READING NEXT |

If there are two sides to every story, someone is always lying… 

Jack: Three words to describe my wife: Beautiful. Ambitious. Unforgiving.
Anna: I only need one word to describe my husband: Liar.

When a woman is murdered in Blackdown village, newsreader Anna Andrews is reluctant to cover the case. Anna’s ex-husband, DCI Jack Harper, is suspicious of her involvement, until he becomes a suspect in his own murder investigation.

Someone is lying, and some secrets are worth killing to keep.

[I’ve been hearing a lot of good things about this one so I can’t wait to get to it.]

Have you read any of these? Would you like to?

What are you reading this week? Do let me know! Happy reading! xx