Tilly BagshaweRezensionen

It was probably the British accented reader that made this a book I enjoyed listening to.

Thriller

Mystery

enjoyable.

Mistress of the Game continues the saga of Kate Blackwell and her twin granddaughters Alexandria and Eve, as well as the children they sired based on decisions they made in Master of the Game. Kate's old as hell now and about to kick the bucket, and out of spite to Eve leaves Alexandria with everything. Unfortunately Alexandria dies in childbirth and her daughter who is named after her is at the forefront of this saga. This is where you know it isn't Sidney Sheldon - Ms. Bagshawe creates a world where little Lexi is kidnapped as a child, raped by her kidnappers, and then becomes deaf with a bomb they rig to the room she's being held in goes off, blowing her eardrums out. She makes out okay as a promiscuous teen and college student, but then begins a weird flirtation with her Aunt Eve's son Max, who is forced by his mother to kill his father on a hunting trip. Eventually they consummate their relationship in Eve's bid to get Kruger Brent via her son whom she's using. Meanwhile there's a side plot about Jaime McGregor's Great nephew, who also starts an incestuous relationship with an adult Lexi. This book started off great with the surviving notes from Sheldon, and then turned into a Tilly Bagshawe smut mess.

Mistress of the Game is the continuation of family saga of the Blackwells, first brought to life by Sidney Sheldon. Tilly Bagshawe does a good job of weaving ambition, psychosis, incestuous relationships, and criminal actions in a “Winner take all” fashion. Her characters were flawed and heroic, in other words, they were human.

Ms. Bagshawe does a wonderful job of bringing to life the uber wealthy in the same manner that Sidney Sheldon did, giving them personalities, faults and frailties. I will be honest, I did not know if Ms. Bagshawe would be able to write the character of Eve as evil as Mr. Sheldon did, but I was pleasantly surprised that she was able to make the character even more despicable. Its always refreshing to have a character’s faults be represented by their appearance. Kudos to Ms. Bagshawe for conveying a character who could withstand Eve’s machinations and familial hatred.

Recommend?
Highly recommend to those who wish to read a tight storyline with no unnecessary fluff.

This review appears on my website.

Disclaimer
I received via the OverDrive/Libby app from the Harris County Library system. It was read as a Kindle Book.

Na prateleira número 5

Unabridged audio

Granted, it is the first in what looks like a series, but I was disappointed.

Most cozies are about 5-6 hours in audio. This one dragged for over eight. There was an insufficiently explained childhood issue alluded to and that had significant emphasis in the book. Unfortunately, it is tied up at the end with a hint that it might be related to generational abuse. It isn’t clear. But abuse was only meted out on one of the three offspring without any explanation for how one escaped (the third is a handicapped child and so easy to accept as not abused). All in all, an interesting attempt at commentary on modern family psychology that fell short.

On the up side, there are two intertwined murder mysteries. On the down side, the killers practically leap off the page, waving flags and twirling batons.

Right now, I’m not sure about reading further into the series. Much will depend on my tbr stack when #2 comes out.

This is the first Iris Grey mystery that I've tried. It refers back to an earlier case quite a lot and ends with a clear pointer to another mystery on its way. There was one loose end that was never tied up which was a little frustrating considering there was an epilogue. I'm not sure if I'll look for others. This seemed very long, but the characters didn't feel all that real to me (maybe that's why it seemed long.) Great cover! Good narrator. Perhaps just the time that I was listening.

I felt that the author was trying a little too hard to create an elaborate mystery, carry several sub plots and then wind it all together at the end. And I think the trope of not too bight police detective is overdue for retirement. For example, the Down Syndrome son talks of having seen a ghost on the night of his father's murder. While dismissing the idea of an actual ghost, wouldn't it be part of the investigation to try to determine what the young man had perceived as a ghost? and where he had seen it? If a child said they saw a witch, wouldn't you try to find out if any women dressed in black had been noticed by others? Anyhow, this is first in a series, so the author may not have the same drive to put everything in the second book.

Set in Burgundy, spanning 50 years, this is a glorious family saga about the lives of the owners of a vineyard, their loves and betrayals, the secrets they keep and the legacy of the Chateau Saint Madeleine.

I really enjoyed this story, it’s a great piece of escapism. Okay, most of the characters aren’t particularly likeable but they are far from boring! I think my favourite is Chantelle, godmother to Elise, the daughter of the house. She’s a subsidiary but important character. The chateau is also very much a character and a crucial one, with its legendary family fable of the butterflies which is mentioned throughout the book. The plot itself kept me reading and wanting to know more. I found it quite the page turner, in fact. It’s an epic read but one which is engaging and multi faceted. It’s a story of transformation and hope, just like the metamorphosis of the illustrious and beautiful butterfly. 🦋.

Sienna McMahon es nieta de un legendario actor e hija de un multimillonario, fundadores ambos de una de las grandes dinastías de Hollywood. Para el gran público, la joven, bella e inteligente Sienna es la princesa de un cuento de hadas. Pero, tras las verjas de la imponente mansión familiar, lo único que parece unir a los McMahon es la ambición y la lujuria. Por encima de las miserias del clan, Sienna aspira a convertirse en una estrella de la pantalla tan rutilante como lo fue su abuelo, y está dispuesta a todo para conseguirlo... Incluso a renunciar al amor de su vida.

Eh, it's not really Sidney Sheldon, but if you're in the mood for those dramatic, soap-opera reversals of fortune, this has it.

This is the second book in the series but is easily read as a standalone.
This was a good, solid mystery that had me guessing. I thought I had it figured out but it took until the reveal for the full story to come to light. The subject matter is a little bit darker and more tragic than your run of the mill cozy crime novel and I felt that the setting of the old castle fit the atmosphere of the story very well.
The book, although a quick enough read, did slow down in places. I wasn't very pleased with the romantic element as it didn't add anything to the story but at the same time, it made me like Iris more as the character. She's in her forties and doesn't hesitate to have some guilt-free adult fun with a handsome man. It's good to see women of this age group represented well in fiction.

I liked the side characters, especially Haley, the police detective. Kathy seemed like a nice enough character but we don't really get to know her motivations very well. There seemed to be an unexplained and secretive backstory to her that left me with a few unanswered questions. The rigmarole with the teacher was left unexplained as well. Things are alluded to but never satisfactorily revealed. Tying up these loose ends would have tidied up the story better for the reader.

Over all, a good mystery and a series I will keep an eye on.

Murder at the Castle has everything required for a modern-day mystery paying homage to the Golden Age. Iris makes a likeable, suitably quirky and independent amateur sleuth. There is a complicated plot involving several potential suspects, a village full of buried secrets, a collection of feuding family members, a church fair in the village, parties at the castle, and a sympathetic local policeman. Add in a romantic subplot and a side trip to Italy to liven things up. There are a couple of loose threads that don’t so much need tying up as just tucked back into the fuzzy weave of this cozy mystery, but that is a quibble.

All in all, Murder at the Castle is a completely satisfying puzzler.

Someone had suggested Murder at the Castle by M. B. Shaw. The description of the Scotland country provides a wonderful backdrop to the story. Local traditions seep into the current day and hinders the police many times. Shaw uses many interesting similes in the story: tighter than a virgin’s ass and like a turd in a swimming pool. These release a comic relief when the story intensifies. Again, an old crime uncovers when Iris goes to Scotland to do a painted portrait of a bride. Shaw presents many likeable characters, as well as mean and totally wretched characters. Too many men involved in the cover-up and a few loose ends forgotten. I guess that wife #2, Fiona, stands as a red herring, as well as headmaster, John Donnelly. Really wanted to hear what Fiona knew about her ex-husband, Jock.

The last third of the book was pretty lame... In totality, the novel was just OK.

I decided to check this out, because i was curious how a sequel to my fav Sheldon novel would turn out. I stopped reading almost as soon as I started but read enough to say how it turned out with one word: CRAP!

(How much do these so-called authors pay people to write those rave reviews? I'll bet it's a heck of a lot.)

I'm using this space to share my opinion on all those authors, future ones, and wannabees, who think they can continue where a late novelistic genius left off. In my opinion, you can't, so don't. Why be a not so good imitation of someone else when you can just set your own style and write your own works? If you like certain authors and get inspired to write the kind of novel they did, that's fine, but cut out the so called sequels, because they don't make the grade, can't even come close.

This goes for those Jane Austen fans who want to continue the saga, write about Elizabeth and Darcy's marriage, or Jane and Bingley's, or find a husband for Kitty or Mary, etc. I say, if Jane Austen wanted those books written, she would have written them herself.

And if Sidney Sheldon wanted a sequel to "Master of the Game", he would have written it himself.

Obviously, both did not, and their wishes should have been respected. Wherever they are now (perhaps working on some more masterpieces to share with a better crowd), they're probably thinking how ridiculous it is.

I couldn't agree more.

The Phoenix here is referred to Athena Petridis who is antagonist. This book is about stopping Athena from doing bad business. To stop her is what the The Group a covet institution which trains and make them a moving weapon. The Group use Ella Praeger to kill Athena. How she kills Athena is the book about. Ella is recruited in The Group using a false accusation that athena killed her parents so she joins The Group. She completes the mission but still some questions related to her parents are unanswered. I think there will be another book of it. Overall I would say its a ok Goodread

I'll be looking for more books by M. B. Shaw. This was such a good read.

The Silent Widow is a murder mystery. Nikki is a psychologist, and her husband died a year ago in a car accident. Her patients start turning up dead, and the police see her as the prime suspect, even though her own life is in danger. Nikki gets involved with an investigator who somehow has an old case that might have something to do with Nikki's dead husband. Obviously, it's a twisting round and round kind of story. It's well written and keeps your interest until the end. Nikki is a flawed, sympathetic and intelligent character. Overall, the story is engaging and complex as the mystery slowly unravels. I recommend if you want a good mystery. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Murder at the Mill by M. B. Shaw takes us to charming village of Hampshire in England. Iris Grey, a portrait painter, has rented out Mill Cottage from Dom and Ariadne Wetherby. Dom is the charismatic author of the Grimshaw novels. Iris felt she needed time away from her playwright husband, Ian McBride whose career is on a downswing along with his attitude. Dom is retiring from writing and publishing his last Grimshaw book. Ariadne has requested Iris paint Dom’s portrait in honor of the occasion. During the sittings, Iris notices tension among the members of the Wetherby family. At the boisterous annual Wetherby Christmas Eve party, Iris meets Graham Feeney, lawyer and friend of the Wetherby’s. She is attracted to Graham, but Iris has yet to make a decision regarding her marriage. After a quiet Christmas day, Iris hears a scream down by the river. Lorcan, the Wetherby’s youngest son with Down’s syndrome, was playing with his boat in the river and it caught on a body. It looks like a suicide, but the victim had no reason to harm himself. Iris, with help from Jenna Wetherby, begins searching for the truth. The villagers are a curious and gossipy bunch who are happy to give Iris the lowdown on the Wetherby clan. Can Iris uncover the truth? Join Iris Grey in Hampshire on her inaugural investigation in Murder at the Mill.

Murder at the Mill is set in Hampshire, England which will please readers who enjoy English cozy mysteries especially those with a bit of edge to them. Hampshire is a small village where gossip runs rampant. Iris Grey is a portrait painter known for capturing the essence of her subjects. Doing a portrait of Dom Wetherby would be a feather in her cap and would greatly help her career. Iris has a colorful and quirky clothing style which some find garish. Dom is known for being charming and flirtatious which makes it hard to get to know the real man. Billy Wetherby, the middle son, is the villain of our piece. He has just been released from prison and a lack of funds has him living at home once again. Billy and Ariadne are frequently at odds. There are numerous characters in Murder at the Mill. It can be hard to keep them all straight. It is made more difficult since the point-of-view alternates between several of them including Iris, Marcus Wetherby, Ariadne Wetherby, and Jenna Wetherby. I think the novel would have benefited if the story had been told from Iris’ perspective or in the third person. It would have helped the flow of the story. The author has a descriptive writing style and likes to use similes. Some of the authors comparisons made me cringe (“the spindly tree branches swayed and shivered pathetically in the wind like the starved limbs of concentration-camp prisoners, pleading for escape” or “Lorcan tore at the wrapping on his gift like a starving child clawing at a bag of rice”). Her descriptions, though, help readers imagine the scenes in the book and bring the story to life. There are two mysteries in Murder at the Mill with multiple suspects, good clues and red herrings. I like how the two whodunits tied together and all the threads were tired up at the end. I do want to warn readers that there is a significant amount of foul language and animal lovers will be offended at how Ariadne uses real animals as subjects for her sculptures (she uses anesthesia to put them to sleep while she sculpts). Murder at the Mill is a potboiler that will have you on the edge of your seat as you quickly turn the pages to the surprising ending.

I really enjoyed this first book in a new series. I loved Iris Grey and look forward to her helping solve more murders. This book had many twists and turns that had me guessing as to themurderer. I will look forward to reading more books by this author. I received a copy of this book from Minotaur for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Iris, an artist, arrives to paint a portrait of Dom Weatherby, and finds him dead following a party on Christmas day. At first the local officers presume it to be suicide but when the toxicology report shows chloroform, she knows her hunch it was murder is correct. What follows is a rather convoluted plot. Although the book improves as it goes along, I failed to connect with the amateur sleuth and the official investigators seemed too far removed from the investigation. Another thread follows an older case which was determined to be suicide but provides motive for the current one. Iris also determines a wrong conclusion in that case, finding the guilty party. The similar circumstances make the plot too unrealistic. I received an advance electronic copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.