Reviews: His Bloody Project, The Woman on the Orient Express, and The Children of Men

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

Title: His Bloody Project

Author: Graeme Macrae Burnet

Publication Date: October 18, 2016

Genre: Historical Thriller/Mystery/Suspense

Recommended If You Like: history with your mystery, mixed-media mysteries (trial transcripts, interviews, manuscripts), Man Booker Prize Shortlist Finalists 

The Book: 

Roderick Macrae is a seventeen year old Scottish farmer who has confessed to three brutal murders. It is not his guilt that seems to be in question, but his motive. A series of found documents may provide the answers everyone has been seeking.

What I Liked:

This is such a creative approach to a mystery, and it works so well here. Macrae Burnet presents the book as a collection of documents he has found, including the memoirs of Roderick Macrae himself. This presents the reader with multiple unreliable narrators, led by their feelings, personal prejudices, and deeply ingrained beliefs. The purported murderer tells a large chunk of his own story, and readers must decide on their own truth.

Anything I Didn't Like?

Honestly, there really wasn't anything I didn't like. This is an excellently done, highly creative take on a historical mystery.

So...?

I highly recommend this book. It's unique, suspenseful, and well-written. 

This was read for the Semi-Charmed Winter 2016 Book Challenge.

Title: The Woman on the Orient Express

Author: Lindsay Jayne Ashford

Publication Date: September 20, 2016

Genre: Historical Fiction

Recommended If You Like: learning more about Agatha Christie, strong female characters, travel descriptions

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

The Book:

Feeling broken after her divorce, Agatha Christie rides the Orient Express in hopes of finding herself again on the journey. Along the way, she befriends two other female travelers, and their lives intersect in powerful ways they could never have imagined.

What I Liked:

I love that this is a fictionalized take on what is known about Agatha Christie's life. Agatha is a powerful and fascinating person in her own right, and Ashford does a good job of expanding a story around her.

Anything I Didn't Like?

At some points, the story seemed to move a little slow. I liked this book, but because of the slower moving sections, I'm not sure I would have stuck with it if it if the main character hadn't been my favorite author of all-time.

So...?

This is a good book, not one of my favorites, but I'm glad I stuck with it. It was fun to read a fictional book centered around Agatha Christie's life.

I love P.D. James' mystery novels, and knew I had to give this a try. Once again, James proves a brilliant writer.

This is not a light read, but it is a beautifully written one. The story takes place in a world where woman can no longer give birth, and the human population is dwindling. The world will soon be coming to an end.

Theo, a professor, is coming to grips with this through isolation, and keeping a record in his journal. But when a former student tracks him down, asking him to get in touch with his cousin, the Warden of England, Theo finds there is much more to what remains of the world than he originally believed in. 

This was read for the Semi-Charmed Winter 2016 Book Challenge.