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Satabdi Mukherjee

  • [Book Review] The Helsingor Sewing Club by Ella Gyland

    February 4th, 2022
    The Helsingor Sewing Club
    Front Cover

    Inspired by the incredible true story of how the people of Denmark saved their Jewish neighbours during WW2

    Helsingør, Denmark, 1943

    In the midst of the German occupation during World War Two, Inger Bredahl joins the underground resistance and risks her life to save members of Denmark’s Jewish community and help them escape to Sweden.

    Copenhagen, 2018

    Inger’s granddaughter, Cecilie Lund, is mourning her death when a mysterious discovery while cleaning out Inger’s flat leads past and present to intersect. As long-held secrets finally see the light of day, Cecilie learns the story of her grandmother’s courage and bravery, and of the power of friendship, love, and standing for what’s right…even when you have everything to lose.

    An inspiring tale of the resilience of the human spirit and the power of community.


    My Review of The Helsingor Sewing Club

    The Helsingor Sewing Club will stay with me for quite some time. The story is primarily about the courage and selflessness of a young Danish woman who risks life and limb to protect her Jewish countrymen from Nazi persecution.

    The anguish of the characters at the mindless loss of life and the anger at the ruthlessness of the German soldiers is palpable.

    The atmosphere of the book is mostly charged with tension, secrecy, and danger. Yet, it was a loss of a more personal kind that had a greater effect on me. The thought of what could have been made me as disappointed as the characters in the book.

    Descriptions of how people had to make do with what they could get fascinated me. How they worked around the shortage of essentials and scraped and scrounged to save up for special occasions makes me think we’re blessed to live in a world of excess.

    The rationale behind the unusual title of the book is revealed much later and only fleetingly. But it doesn’t matter. The story of how a community rallied around to help its members and stood up to wrongdoing, even if they did it clandestinely, is powerful and visceral.

    This book is not for the faint-hearted. Themes of murder, suicide, separation, and persecution are explored in great depth. You should pick it up only if you’re prepared to read about it. I felt, by turns, shocked, inspired, and tearful at the dramatic events in the story.

    If you’re not familiar with the culture of Denmark and the Danish language, you may find it a bit difficult to follow certain parts of the book. The author has beautifully integrated Danish and German words and phrases in the story to give it an authentic feel. It doesn’t interfere with your understanding of the overall storyline, but you may not get the details. But what’s Google for, right?

    (Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for my copy of the book.)


    Purchase Link – amzn.to/3nv7jR6

    Author Bio – Originally from Denmark, I have lived in London for many years, surrounded by my family, cats, books and the Scandinavian hygge I try to create everywhere I go. As a linguist I love playing with words and language, and I am addicted to story-telling. I also believe strongly in social responsibility and sustainable living.

    Social Media Links –

    Twitter: Ella/Henriette Gyland, @henrigyland

    Website: https://henriettegyland.wordpress.com/ 

  • [Book Review] Dark Holds the World by Pradnya Kulkarni

    January 30th, 2022
    Dark Holds the World Pradnya Kulkarni

    Genre: Poetry, Horror

    Publication date: December 23, 2021

    Publisher: Literoma Inc.

    Length: 46 pages

    Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60129447-dark-holds-the-world

    Amazon India: https://www.amazon.in/-/hi/Pradnya-Kulkarni/dp/B09PBKQBHT/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

    Blurb

    This book of horror poetry is brought to you by Literoma. The book contains 20 horror poems. Title ‘Dark Holds The World’ itself indicates that there exists a life in the dark which is unearthly. The book will make you visualize this world. Also it will make the noisiness of the dark nights audible. Scary nights, creepy places & spooky things! Experience the horripilation through words.

    Review

    It’s interesting to see that the author has chosen to write poetry in the horror genre. I haven’t come across very many horror poetry collections.

    Not all the poems in the book are hair-raising. Some are laced with dark humour, such as This Street Seems Different Tonight and Something Is Not Right In The Basement. Others are outright horrific like Death Awaits Your Arrival and Through the Window of Terror. Time is Tick Tick Ticking Away felt like a cold hand squeezing the heart.

    The illustrations add to the spooky atmosphere of the book and do a good job of eliciting the shivers.

    I received an e-copy from Literoma with a request for an honest review. 


  • [Book Review] Eye of Mind by Pradnya Kulkarni

    January 29th, 2022
    Front cover

    Genre: Poetry

    Publication date: September 3, 2020

    Publisher: Evince Publishing

    Length: 64 pages

    Format: Kindle eBook

    Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60135322-eye-of-mind

    Amazon India: https://www.amazon.in/-/hi/Pradnya-Kulkarni/dp/9389988691/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

    Blurb

    This book contains poems that are very inspirational, energetic & full of positivity. Also, some poems are about the beauty of nature and relations. The language used is simple and easy to understand. The name of the book itself indicates that you can visualize the words with the eye of your mind.

    Review

    Eye of Mind is a collection of short, inspiring poems that exhort the reader to become a better version of themselves. Written in simple language, it is easy for anyone to understand the message of the pieces.

    These poems would make good posters that you can put up at your work desk to help you get through the day. I loved Inspection, Spread Love Avoid Hatred, Heaven, Dear Woman, Eyes, and Nothing Lasts Forever for their hard-hitting messages and blunt truth.

    The poems are full of motivation, hopes, courage, love, and dreams. A good effort by the author!

    I received an e-copy from Literoma with a request for an honest review.


  • [Book Review] At Death’s Door by Anna Legat

    January 23rd, 2022
    At Death's Door

    When Maggie Kaye and Sam Dee join the Bishops Well archaeological dig, they are as surprised as everyone else to unearth a body that was buried there less than fifty years ago. It can’t possibly be the remains of an ancient Celt.

    Maggie, with her usual flair – and psychic intuition – is convinced that there is more to this discovery than meets the eye. And some Bishops residents seem to know a lot more about the case than they are willing to let on.

    But nobody is as shocked as Maggie when a face from the past – a face she thought she’d never see again – appears in the village, and long-hidden secrets begin to surface.

    With danger at her door, and Sam by her side, can Maggie uncover the truth before it’s too late?

    Purchase Links

    At Death’s Door: The Shires Mysteries 2: A twisty and gripping cosy mystery eBook : Legat, Anna: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

    At Death’s Door: The Shires Mysteries 2 by Anna Legat | Waterstones

    At Death’s Door: The Shires Mysteries 2 eBook by Anna Legat – 9781786159915 | Rakuten Kobo United Kingdom

    At Death’s Door: The Shires Mysteries 2 : A twisty and gripping cosy mystery: Anna Legat: 9781786159946: hive.co.uk


    My Review of At Death’s Door

    At Death’s Door is vast in scope, dealing with not one but two mysteries that take several twists and turns until they finally give up their secrets.

    The focus of this book is the eccentric Maggie Kaye who is nobly supported by her neighbor, Sam Dee. Maggie’s family dynamics are extensively explored by the author. You’re in for a series of shocks that will leave you open-mouthed.

    Just like the previous book, Death Comes to Bishops Well (Book #1), the story is alternately narrated by Maggie and Sam. I enjoyed the streak of humor that runs throughout the chapters. It helped lighten the sad, painful, and emotional moments–of which there are plenty.

    The mystery of the body found by Maggie and her friends from the local archeological society is overshadowed by the explosive secrets around the Kaye family. It barely made an impression on me because I was so absorbed in Maggie’s drama-filled story.

    The resolution of the mystery also appeared a bit weak but I guess the author chose to be realistic. I wasn’t quite satisfied with how either of the storylines ended because I like convenient happily-ever-afters. The author seems to understand human psychology well and her characters are suitably flawed and fickle. Chances lost are lost forever and the choices we make stick with us for a lifetime.

    Expect plenty of drama, shocking secrets, and emotional scenes from At Death’s Door along with a sprinkling of humor to top it up.

    (I received a free e-copy of the book from Rachel’s Random Resources with a request for an honest review.)


    Author Bio –

    Anna Legat is a Wiltshire-based author, best known for her DI Gillian Marsh murder mystery series. Murder isn’t the only thing on her mind. She dabbles in a wide variety of genres, ranging from dark humorous comedy, through magic realism to dystopian. A globe-trotter and Jack-of-all-trades, Anna has been an attorney, legal adviser, a silver-service waitress, a school teacher and a librarian. She has lived in far-flung places all over the world where she delighted in people-watching and collecting precious life experiences for her stories. Anna writes, reads, lives and breathes books and can no longer tell the difference between fact and fiction.

    Subscribe to Anna’s News, Rumours and Scandalous Revelations at https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/j6b7k1

    Social Media Links –

    To find out more: https://annalegat.com/

    Join Anna on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AnnaLegatAuthor/

    Follow Anna on Twitter: www.twitter.com/LegatWriter


  • [Book Review] Hunter’s Rules by Val Penny

    January 18th, 2022
    Hunter's Rules Val Penny

    Hunter’s Rules

    When best-laid plans go awry…

    Hunter and Meera’s romantic plans come to an abrupt end when they stumble into the scene of a crime.

    A young woman was attacked in a hotel lift. She has traumatic injuries, but she clings to life. Hunter notes that her wounds are like those inflicted on two other women, who died from their ordeal.

    Can Meera keep the injured woman alive long enough for her to identify the assailant? Is the same person responsible for all three crimes?

    When Hunter is identified as a suspect, can he establish his innocence and lead his team to solve the crime and keep Edinburgh safe?

    Purchase Links

    UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hunters-Rules-Edinburgh-Crime-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B09JWKCF9W

    US – https://www.amazon.com/Hunters-Rules-Edinburgh-Crime-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B09JWKCF9W


    My Review of Hunter’s Rules

    I’d read Book #5 in the Edinburgh crime mysteries series last year (Hunter’s Secret). As you can tell from my review, I enjoyed the book immensely. So I was glad to have received a spot on the blog tour for Book #6, Hunter’s Rules.

    Hunter’s Rules follows the trail of a particularly inhuman murderer who drugs and incapacitated his victims and then gouges out their eyeballs with a knife. DI Hunter Wilson and his team are racing against time as they seek to narrow the suspect list and catch the attacker before the next victim is claimed. And the person very nearly does get away with the next crime!

    While I didn’t find Hunter’s Rules as engaging as Hunter’s Secret was, I definitely had trouble putting the book down. The clues brought out through interviews with suspects made my head spin and, at one point in time, it felt like practically anybody could be the murderer. It’s due to the brilliance of the author that I couldn’t spot the guilty person hiding in plain sight.

    The story has a bunch of shady characters who are up to no good, dabbling in a variety of anti-social activities like drug dealing and money laundering. The atmosphere is real and gritty with no padding to soften the hard edges. Make no mistake, police work is dirty work!

    The banter and irreverent wit of DI Wilson’s team sustain the reader’s interest through the exchanges that happen at the police station. Otherwise, it’s just a series of briefings and cigarette breaks and tea/coffee breaks.

    What’s interesting is how the author draws a contrast between the way of life of the common people at Edinburgh, the life of the police personnel, and the so-called nobility. On the surface, these people have wildly varying lifestyles. But it seems like they’re driven by the same motivations – money, greed, power, or a good time.

    There’s much to chew upon in Hunter’s Rules. I think I’m going to read the book again to catch any insights I may have missed the first time around because I was so focused on trying to find the sociopath among the crowd.

    P.S.: The author says you don’t need to have read the previous books in the series to enjoy this book. I agree you won’t have trouble understanding what’s happening. But you might be able to make the connections between the recurring characters better if you’ve read the earlier books. They’re all available on KU so let the party begin!

    (Thank you to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my free copy of the book. It has not influenced my review in any way.)


    Author Bio

     This is the first in the new series of novels, The Jane Renwick Thrillers. Val Penny’s other crime novels, Hunter’s Chase Hunter’s Revenge, Hunter’s Force Hunter’s Blood and Hunter’s Secret form the bestselling series The Edinburgh Crime Mysteries. They are set in Edinburgh, Scotland, published by darkstroke Her first non-fiction book Let’s Get Published is also available now and she has most recently contributed her short story, Cats and Dogs to a charity anthology, Dark Scotland.

    Val is an American author living in SW Scotland with her husband and their cat.


    Giveaway to Win a PDF of Hunter’s Rules by Val Penny (Open INT)

    *Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

    http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494467/

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