April turned out to be a productive month – reading wise. In the past month I’ve read twelve novels.  I had designated April 2021 as a ‘NetGalley‘ month, so all twelve of my reads were books that I had downloaded from NetGalley.

My ‘Book of the Month‘ is “Soldier Boy” by Cassandra Parkin.

The writing style was quite unique and innovative. Chapters end mid-sentence and the next chapter picks up with the last word or two of that last sentence and continues on. Sometimes the new chapter is set in a different time period from the last one, sometimes the new chapter features a different narrator. Sounds a tad bizarre… but it works!

Told with a brutal honesty, the story covers some serious subjects such as PTSD, war trauma, gender identity, caregiver’s burnout, parental love, and much more.

The multiple points of view means you empathize with every character and want a happy resolution to the many trials they face. But life rarely provides a happy resolution…

Highly recommended to readers who enjoy realistic literary fiction.

I have five other favourites of the month – each highly different, but excellent reads. They are:

“The Postscript Murders” by Elly Griffiths (sequel to “The Stranger Diaries”)

It is the brilliant characterization coupled with the humour that makes this series special for me. I will eagerly read the next installment when the opportunity arises.

Overall, I found this novel to be an intelligently written, literary murder mystery with an outstanding cast of well-developed characters. A ‘whodunit’ rife with cryptic clues.

“What Could Be Saved” by Liese O’Halloran Schwarz

Highly recommended to fans of family sagas and literary fiction – the kind of story that you can disappear into – and have a huge book hangover when its last pages are turned.

“When I Was Ten” by Fiona Cummins

Dark and twisty. Highly, highly recommended to all those who enjoy a well-written crime thriller which feels authentic and will keep you riveted to your reading chair.
“A Measured Thread” by Mary Behan

A wise, wonderful work of literary fiction about an Irish woman who found happiness and contentment in Wisconsin. “Winter Witness” by Tina DeBellegarde

This fabulous mystery set in the Catskills marks the beginning of what I hope to be a long series. Highly recommended to fans of Louise Penny’s ‘Three Pines’ series.

I feel very lucky to have access to so many wonderful books. All the books above are reviewed here on the blog if you want to take a look.