The Pain Of Others: A Novel by Miguel Ángel Hernández

(Thank you to Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

In this blend of police thriller and poignant autofiction, a writer revisits a tragic crime from his adolescence and reckons with a dark, underexplored side of Spain.

On Christmas Eve 1995, Miguel Ángel Hernández’s best friend murdered his sister and took his own life by jumping off a cliff. It happened in a small hamlet in the Murcia countryside. No one ever knew why. The investigation was closed, and the crime forgotten.

20 years later, when the wounds seem to have stopped bleeding and the mourning died down, Miguel decides to return to the countryside and, putting himself in the shoes of a detective, tries to reconstruct that tragic night that marked the end of his adolescence. But travelling in time always means altering the past, and the investigation will awaken ghosts that he thought he had left behind: a childhood marked by the Church, by sin and guilt; the constant presence of illness and death; the oppressive, closed world from which he managed to escape.

This raw, moving novel about the collision of two worlds and two ways of life is a reckoning with the past and, above all, a subtle and incisive meditation on the ethics of literature, which makes us aware that “writing isn’t always a triumph, that sometimes, we too may founder upon the pain of others.”

my thoughts:

A literary autobiographical novel - whoa, talk about the perfect mix of genres. The Pain Of Others by Miguel Ángel Hernández is an emotional and thought-provoking story that makes for quite a compelling read. We have a murder and suicide, a crime that has been shelved by the police. A writer who decides to confront the deaths of his sister and best friend, by exploring the town where it happened, the investigation  into the crime, the role of the Church, along with the history of that time in his life. It's like a true crime procedural with a personal twist. Talk about powerful storytelling. I absolutely LOVED this book!

I would happily recommend The Pain Of Others to anyone and everyone looking for their next great read - you will fall in deep with this intriguing book. It's mesmerizing, chilling, and beautiful. It showcases the author's talent so clearly and honestly. This is one book you won't want to miss out on. Make sure to grab a copy ASAP! 

Thank you to Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!

My Friday Five...

1. Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke. The book comes out April 7th. It is terrific. I gobbled it up and loved every second with it. The book is clever and chock full of of absurdist humor. A definite must-read. 

2. Maisie Dobbs series. I'm thinking of rereading the whole lot of them starting this month. I'm craving a comfort read and these books fit the bill. 

3.  Bravo-sphere. Yes, I'm a Bravo fan. Yes, I try to quit watching the shows, because they are toxic. And yes, I am prone to follow the gossip surrounding these shows. So, I am definitely Team Ciara when it comes to the whole Amanda and West relationship. I mean, c'mon, how can you betray your best friend over a guy that you know broke hear heart twice. 

4. Tracker. I'm still watching this show and loving it. However, I do wonder if we are ever going to see Colter confront his mom over her role in his dad's death. Also, will all three siblings ever be in an episode together? Oh, and what is up with Reenie's assistant - I do not trust her at all. There is just something suspicious about her. Then again, Randy did look into her background, so I'm sure he would have found her skeletons. Hmm... And, Reenie definitely needs to see a therapist - she is traumatized to the max and needs help. Plus, Colter is acting more and more like a contract killer than a tracker nowadays, so I'm not sure where that story line is headed. All I know is that I definitely want to see what happens next. 

5. Mental health is still a struggle. I'm making sure to keep writing it out, which really does help. And, I do talk it out as well. It's just frustrating that I have to keep dealing with this. However, I am grateful that I do have a better handle on it, so that is a true blessing. 

And now, I'm off to tackle my to-dos. Wishing you all a lovely weekend. Happy reading!

Still Life: Ten Crime Stories by Malin Persson Giolito

Thank you Other Press for gifting me a copy of Malin Persson Giolito's new book, Still Life: Ten Crime Stories. I'm a huge fan of her work - ever since I read Quicksand. Her writing is smart, thought-provoking, and unforgettable. I just know that Still Life will be even better. Short stories are my jam and I am stoked to read Malin's. 

So, what is the book about: (summary from Goodreads)

These 10 sharp yet deeply human stories show how people from all walks of life can end up on the wrong side of the law, regardless of their intentions.

A compelling portrait of modern Sweden that speaks to universal questions about crime and morality, from the internationally bestselling author of Quicksand.

A police officer fresh out of the academy becomes acutely aware of the deadly consequences of prejudice and how biases color our actions, leading us to justify faulty choices. A teenager has lost her voice and resorts to violence to get heard, even against those she loves. A university student breaks a law on a night of youthful revelry, which soon has fatal consequences that plunge those involved into an abyss of remorse. A mother commits the very same crime her son is being prosecuted for, in order to protect him. A man extends a helping hand in defiance of state restrictions, keeping a refugee safe from the harsh Swedish winter and deportation.

With her unique and prominent voice in Swedish literature, Malin Persson Giolito sheds light on the lives of people at all levels of the society through these ten thought-provoking and emotionally charged stories. She delivers a poignant portrayal of societal failure, vividly illustrating that actions driven by good intentions may still be considered criminal in the eyes of the law, underscoring that the legal system doesn’t always shield those who need protection the most.

How fascinating does that sound? Like a definite must-read, right? I just know that it's going to hook me right from the start and have me jotting down so many questions as I ponder these characters predicaments, their 'bad' choices, the law's version of justice, and the concept of morality. Talk about short stories at their finest. 

I would definitely recommend Still Life, or any of Malin Persson Giolito's books to anyone and everyone looking for their next great read - you will fall in deep with her writing. Make sure to check out her books! 

From The Dust: A Novel by David Swinson

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

When a murder occurs in a small town in Upstate New York, retired police detective Graham Sanderson, is drawn back into a vortex of violence, deception, and a series of murders which get dangerously personal.

Graham Sanderson thought he’d left it all behind. His years as a Washington, DC, homicide detective, his tragically dead wife, pain, violence. Taking over his father’s house in the remote Finger Lakes region of rural New York, and looking after his shut-in brother, Tommy, seemed like a respite. That is, until the first body is found.

The chief of the town’s small police jurisdiction, who is also a family friend, asks for Graham’s assistance. Graham’s instincts immediately kick in and he soon discovers there’s more to the area – the people, its brutally quiet, sophisticated hierarchies – than he or his family ever knew.

David Swinson's latest novel is a soulful, rural noir story about the extremities to which it pushes a community, the fear it instills in the hearts of adherents and doubters alike, and need for it nevertheless. As Graham delves deeper into the strange and then stranger circumstances of the murders, his own beliefs become challenged. What do you finally stand for when you’ve got nothing left to lose?

my thoughts:

Love me a story set in a small town. From The Dust is a gripping mystery thriller by David Swinson. Chock full of suspense, this terrific tale will keep you on the edge of your seat as you follow along with each clue picked up along the way. I enjoyed getting to know Graham and the small town he now calls home. He thought looking after his brother would be easier than his former life as a homicide detective, except this small town has a dark underbelly that is darker than even he could have imagined. Yep, there is a serial killer on the loose and finding out whodunit may be even more dangerous than Graham expected. Whoa! Talk about a small town lacking in charm. 

Swinson has written a must-read detective story that is engaging, thoughtful and unputdownable. It's giving noir vibes in all the best ways. There are compelling characters, a dangerous mystery, secrets and lies, and the pace of the story is slow-going until it's not. This is one book that you have to get your hands on ASAP. You are going to LOVE it to bits! I would happily recommend From The Dust to anyone and everyone looking for their next great read - check it out!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Fortune Tellers Of Rue Daru: A Novel by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:(summary from Goodreads)

A fearless fortune teller in 1920s Paris must use her powers to divine who she can trust—and even more importantly, learn to trust herself—in the searing new gothic novel from the author of The Haunting of Moscow House .

Spirited twenty-something Zina and her secretive grandmother, Baba Valya, own a tearoom on rue Daru in Paris, where they have lived quietly since Zina’s mother’s untimely death. By day, the women serve tea, mostly to members of the bustling Russian émigré community, but when dusk falls, they divine fortunes and perform séances for their loyal clientele.

Then the charming Princess Olga and her brother arrive, searching for answers about the disappearance of their father, the Grand Duke and cousin to the murdered last Tsar of Russia. Zina, eager to learn more about the spirit world and her powers, performs the séance. She is able to summon the Grand Duke, but to her horror, he starts to haunt the shop, and he seems to know something sinister about her mother’s death.

As Zina delves into her family’s hidden past, dark secrets are unearthed, threatening Zina and her grandmother’s found family, home, and tearoom, not to mention their very lives.

my thoughts:

A story about fortune tellers in 1920s Paris - how could I not want to read this one? Plus, that summary makes it sounds unputdownable. I'm excited to fall in deep with Zina and her family. And, it's Paris - my favorite city to read about. I'm thrilled to travel the streets and city, learning all about divining fortunes and the Russian community in Paris at the time. Plus, I want to find out if the Grand Duke truly does know anything about Zina's mother. I'm sure that I'll be gobbling up this fantastical story in no time. I can't wait!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!