Whisper Cottage by Anne Wyn Clark

 

How well do you know the woman next door? 

When Stina and Jack move to an old rural cottage, they’re hoping for a fresh start. Their new home is run-down compared to their neighbour’s, but generous Mrs Barley quickly becomes a friend.  
 
Until Stina sees a mysterious figure in the widow’s garden, and her happy new life begins to unravel. And when she hears strange noises in the night, she is forced to question if Mrs Barley is what she seems. 
 
Why do the other villagers whisper about her? Why is she so eager to help the couple? And what is she hiding in her picture-perfect home? 

Newly married, pregnant, and slightly neurotic, Stina moves into a rural cottage with her husband, where they plan to raise their child. In case you are confused that this cottage shares a wall and an attic with their elderly neighbor it's what would be a duplex in America, but a semi detached cottage in England. Stina is home alone most of the time while her husband is working as a veterinarian. She strikes up a friendship with her neighbor Mrs. Barley, an elderly widow who seems to be disliked by most of the other people in town. At first Jack and Stina can't believe anyone could be hateful towards such a sweet old lady, but after hearing some rumors that she might be a witch and seeing how quickly her moods can change Stina starts to wonder if perhaps people have good reason to avoid her. That along with some strange night time noises and a visitor only Stina seems to see, put her on edge and make her question whether this is a safe place to bring up a new baby.

I was expecting a psychological thriller but this reads more like a slow paced mystery.  I had a hard time relating to any of the characters. The villagers were quite fond of gossip, and Stina seemed too easily swayed by it. Some people may be shocked at the possibility that a person could be a witch, but in this day and age when religious persecution is supposed to be long past I don't think most people would begrudge someone their beliefs or practices.

Jack and Stina have their own secrets which are very slow to be revealed. The end was surprising but I think this book could have been shortened by about 60 pages. It did mostly hold my interest but I did not need or care for the flashbacks to how Stina met her only friend, or how she fell in love with Jack.

3 out of 5 stars

I received an advance copy for review.

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The Living and the Lost by Ellen Feldman

 

Millie Mosbach and her brother David escaped to the United States just before Kristallnacht, leaving their parents and little sister in Berlin. Now they are both back in their former hometown, haunted by ghosts and hoping against hope to find their family. Millie works in the office responsible for rooting out the most dedicated Nazis from publishing. Like most of their German-born American colleagues, the siblings suffer from rage at Germany and guilt at their own good fortune. Only Millie’s boss, Major Harry Sutton, seems strangely eager to be fair to the Germans.

Living and working in bombed-out Berlin, a latter day Wild West where the desperate prey on the unsuspecting; spies ply their trade; black markets thrive, and forbidden fraternization is rampant, Millie must come to terms with a past decision made in a moment of crisis, and with the enigmatic sometimes infuriating Major Sutton who is mysteriously understanding of her demons. Atmospheric and page-turning, The Living and the Lost is a story of survival, love, and forgiveness, of others and of self.

This story takes place in the aftermath of the war, in the rubble that is left of Berlin. Siblings Millie and David who had escaped to America when they were still kids are now grown and have returned to Germany in service of the United States. Millie is weeding out the Nazis from publishing and David is helping the displaced persons.

Though they hope to find out what happened to the rest of their family and you would think such hardships would draw them closer they have secrets from each other that keep them apart, even as room mates sharing an requisitioned flat. Millie seemed quite cold and unfeeling at first. It was difficult for me to like her, although it eventually became clear why she harbored such ill will towards the Germans even though she herself was one of them. 

I mostly enjoyed the story but there were times when it veered off towards secondary characters and plot lines that it did temporarily lose my interest and gave me the urge to skim. It could just be that I have finally had my fill of World War II novels or it could be that this story just didn't flow as well as it could. This is normally my favorite time period for historical fiction so I was really excited to read this book. 

3 out of 5 stars

I received an advance copy for review.

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About the author

Picker's Bleed by Mark R. Faulkner

Deep in the woods at Picker’s Bleed there’s a fairy-tale cottage, where witches lived and demons lurk.
When Hannah and Jake manage to buy the dilapidated house deep in the English countryside, they think they’ve found their dream home, but their dream becomes a nightmare when Hannah discovers the house’s dark past won’t stay dead.
Ensnared by witchcraft and betrayed by those she turns to for help, Hannah finds herself dragged into the realm of the dead, caught in a battle to break an ancient curse and save her soul from eternal damnation.

Jake and Hannah have longed to live in a quiet secluded countryside. When they find a listing that seems perfect for them, they do wonder why there are no pictures of the inside, and assume it's because it needs lots of work. It's not until far too late that it becomes apparent that just maybe there were no pictures of the inside because nobody dared to stay in there long enough to take any photos. 

Terrible things have happened and will happen in Picker's Bleed. With the arrival of Hannah a sleeping evil will awaken. Some of the villagers may also have nefarious plans for the new residents. 

This was a graphic and gory tale of witchcraft and possession. Expect betrayals, dark and evocative prose, copious amounts of blood, multiple deaths and mutilations. In short, it has all the elements of a great horror novel complete with storms to create a most spooky atmosphere.

4 out of 5 stars

I received an advance copy for review.

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About the author

Mark is a British horror author, who in 2011, published Flux. This was rapidly followed up by The Dark Stone, and the novella, Infested.
September 2021 will see the publication of Picker's Bleed, Mark's first full-length novel in almost a decade.

 

Attack of the Giant Mutant Worms by Matthew Weber

 Young worm-hunter Miller is collecting bait to catch The Beast, the legendary "monster" fish of his hometown. When enormous mutated worms squirm up from the ground with a frightening appetite, Miller must spring into action to save himself and everyone else!

Full of fun, colorful illustrations, 'Attack of the Giant Mutants Worms' is M.T. Weber's follow-up to his first children's book, 'I Want to Be a Monster When I Grow Up.' 

"This one was a whopper and a wiggly flipper-flopper, probably six or seven inches from it's start down to it's stopper."

Once in a while I am asked to review a children's book, and once in a great while I say yes. This one was too cute to pass up. This is the whimsical, illustrated story of Miller, a little boy in search of giant worms with which to tempt and catch a particular giant fish. It is written as a poem that mostly rhymes, (with a bit of poetic license.) It has a great rhythm that is perfect for reading out loud to the kids or grandkids, and if they are old enough, having them read it out loud to you. Whether you are looking to start a book collection for a small child or add to your bed time story repertoire this is an entertaining read.

I received a complimentary copy.

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