Catriona McPherson

Source: Review copy provided by publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

The Child Garden by Catriona McPherson
Midnight Ink, 2015
Crime Fiction; 336 pgs

Catriona McPherson's The Child Garden has a bit of a Gothic feel to it, set in a small Scottish town steeped in history and charm. Gloria Harkness has always lived in the area and knows it well. Now she resides in the centuries old home of Miss Drumm, taking care of the place and Miss Drumm's dog and cats, and rocking the old stone in the show more garden for luck or to keep evil at bay, Gloria isn't sure. Both Miss Drumm and Gloria's teenage son live in a care home not too far away, a home that once was an alternative school for children that closed down after the death of one of its students several years before.

There is a darkness and foreboding throughout the novel, which heightens the intensity and heavy atmosphere in the book. From the pouring rain at night, a near accident, the overgrown woods and an unexpected visitor at her door, Gloria's simple, and yet complicated life is about to change in a way she cannot imagine.

Stig Tarrant is scared and unsure of what to do. A call from an old classmate has him racing in the direction of the old school he once attended for answers. When his path crosses Gloria's, the two old friends put their heads together only to find themselves deep in a web of deceit and possibly murder. Neither are eager to go the police for their own reasons, but Gloria is determined to get to the truth--not only for her sake, but for Stig's especially. And it might be fun to live as if she's in one of those books she loves to read so much while she's at it.

Neither Stig or Gloria are particularly young, which endeared the characters to me even more, being that I'm not much younger than they are. They are not particularly beautiful people either, at least not on the outside. I liked that about them too. Gloria nor Stig are perfect, each with their insecurities and selfish moments, each wanting to do the right thing just the same. Always first and foremost in Gloria's mind is her son, who is special needs. She wants most of all to protect him and keep him out of harm's way.

As the story unfolds, Gloria uncovers many different versions of the "truth" and must find a way to piece it all together. What is obvious is that there seems to be a connection between the alleged suicide of the boy all those years ago at the school and the fate of the other former students, including Stig and an unexpected person close to her. There were many twists in the story as more information came out, and I found myself suspecting a few different people as I read, some more than others.

I loved the attention given to the more supernatural stories Miss Drumm insisted were true--about the devil's bridge, the rocking stone, and the hallowed places. It gave the novel a sense of otherness, and yet the author does a good job of keeping the story grounded in reality. For those who do not like ghost stories, have no fear. This is not one of them.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Child Garden. I love the book references given Gloria's love for books. And I liked the overall feel of the novel, the characters for their depth and struggles, and the overall story, which was both entertaining and, well, disturbing. show less

I do so love the Dandy Gilver mystery series. It's 1935 and Dandy's elder son, Donald, has found his future mate and it's time to meet the future in-laws. February is a frigid month and the entire family is off to Applecross, well north in the Scottish Highlands, which this time of year is only accessible via the angry sea waters of the Inner Sound. The amusement of that sea voyage alone was worth the price of the book.

The families meet. Donald's betrothed, Mallory, is at least 7 years his show more senior. That initially causes Dandy and husband Hugh to bristle. However, following the sudden death of the fellow mother-in-law to be, the day before her 50th birthday, Dandy can find no fault with dear Mallory, a young woman of inordinate reason and relative calm.

As it turns out, Lady Lavinia's demise was not a natural one and there's a murderer among them. Well surely, such a sordid business would cause the cancellation of the nuptials, but in all fairness, Donald can't jilt dear Mallory with her mother just recently dead. Dandy and her business partner Alec Osborne are on the case. They discover that a number of persons had motive to kill but the reader is held in suspense almost to the bitter end.

If historical fiction mysteries with a touch of humor appeal to you, then you won't want to miss this series and certainly not this book. show less

Such a delight to be back in the world of discreet sleuth, Dandy Gilver, and her trusted colleague, Alec Osborne. It is the spring of 1939 at the Gilvers' Scottish estate. Europe remains unsteady as hints of impending war run beneath the surface. Both of Dandy's sons are of that age to serve and it unsettles her tremendously. What better way to bury that feeling than by throwing oneself into a murder investigation. Sadly, the unfortunate soul was the philandering husband of Dandy's dear show more friend Daisy. Somehow, the constabulary can't seem to let go the theory that Daisy is the perpetrator. So it's off to the sleepy little village of Dirleton for Dandy and Alec to get to the bottom of the shenanigans and clear Daisy's name.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series since day one and the latest installment is as witty and entertaining as all the rest. This story is based on solid historical research which is worked into a spectacularly spun tale. If creatively conceived, well written historical mysteries are your cup of tea, then settle in and pour yourself a cuppa.

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Publication date: May 2, 2024
Number of Pages: 320
ISBN: 978-1399720397 show less

I've enjoyed other standalone novels by Catriona McPherson because she is skilled at heightening suspense and in creating characters that grab my interest. She's got plenty of suspense here in Go to My Grave, and the character of Donna Weaver certainly grabbed my interest. So, too, did the element of running a bed and breakfast on a beach in Scotland because I've enjoyed stays in more than one place like that.

The story is compelling, told in two timelines. One, in 1991, in the voice of a show more teenage girl invited to that fateful birthday party, and the other in the voice of Donna, the co-owner of The Breakers, in the present day. Both voices are forceful, making readers want to keep turning the pages. Both voices make readers want to know what really happened at that birthday party and who is responsible for what is happening at The Breakers now.

Unfortunately, I deduced what was going on almost immediately, and I came close to skipping to the end to find out if I was right because this group of cousins is nothing more than a pack of entitled, self-indulgent pillocks who've never taken responsibility for their actions in their entire lives. At one point, I closed the book and thought-- very loudly-- "Would someone stick a knife in that man!" because one of them is obnoxious beyond belief.

But you know what? Donna's voice kept me reading until the very end, and although this isn't one of my finest reading experiences this year, I'm glad I finished it. I will admit that, if the next book I pick up has a similar cast of characters, I won't finish reading it! show less