The Keepers of Metsan Valo: a mix of Nordic folklore, family traditions and mystery

 The Keepers of Metsan Valo by Wendy Webb is a mix of Nordic folklore and family traditions and finding a new future. In Metsan Valo, on the shores of Ile de Colette in Lake Superior, Anni Halla’s family home has been a place of happy memories, where she and her twin brother, Theo, explored the vast forests and listened to their grandmother’s folk stories. She comes back after the sudden death of her beloved grandmother and finds herself learning there is more to the family stories than just entertainment. As the family gathers for the reading of her grandmother’s will, there is tension in the air and not just between the family members. There are whispers in the wind, bursts of laughter when no one is around and nights filled with strange dreams and visions. As she investigates the strange occurrences, Anni learns there is more truth to her grandmother’s stories than she realized. 

Wendy Webb is one of my go-to authors for thrillers. The Keepers of Metsan Valo is a sleeper thriller with a mix of folklore, family drama and mystery. The story was engaging and mysterious. It was spooky enough to keep me reading and looking forward to more but not so spooky that I was frightened. The way Ms Webb incorporates forests and the animals into the story adds to the eeriness and atmosphere. I enjoyed the incorporation of Nordic folklore which isn’t used in literature very often. I enjoyed all the characters and how they interact with each other throughout the story. I also enjoyed the theme of staying connected to the family, the past and ancestors, remembering their stories and who they were. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I am looking forward to more books by Ms Webb. If you enjoy sleeping, gothic type thrillers, I highly recommend The Keepers of Metsan Valo. 

The Keepers of Metsan Valo is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Great Passage: a beautiful story of words, language and our lives

The Great Passage by Shion Miura is a beautiful story of words, language, and their meanings in our lives. Kohei Araki is an editor of dictionaries or a prominent Japanese publishing house. Along with his mentor, Professor Matsumoto, Araki dreams of creating an inclusive dictionary of the Japanese language. He hires Mitsuya Majime, a studious young man who is focused on accuracy and perfection. Joining the small crew, Majime is now tasked with a career-defining goal: the complete The Great Passage, the comprehensive 2,900-page dictionary of the Japanese language. Meanwhile, in his personal life, Majime discovers friendships, romance and a great dedication to the words that connect us all. Will Majime be able to hurdle the obstacles in his way to achieve the goal? Will The Great Passage ever be published?

The Great Passage is both a hard read and a beautiful lyrical flow of language. The story and interaction between the characters was my favorite part. As the suave, self-assured Nishioka becomes a reluctant friend of Majime’s, and is surprised at the quiet, awkward Majime succeeds where he fails. The sweet and simple romance between Majime and his wife. The characters are what made me stay with the story. However, it is a difficult read as the technical information of the work that goes into making a dictionary slowed down the story. I do recommend The Great Passage as it is a beautiful story and a glimpse of life in Japan and her people.

 

The Great Passage is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

 

The Black Midnight: are two serial killers actually one in the same?

The Black Midnight by Kathleen Y’Barbo is the newest addition in the True Crimes series. It is 1889 and Alice Anne von Wettin is called to meet with her great-grandmother, Queen Victoria. Alice Anne is known for solving puzzles and the queen is asking for her help in solving the greatest mystery. Who is killing the women in Whitechapel? She is told to assemble her team. Rewind to December 1885, Alice is now undercover as Annie Walters, working the Midnight Assassin murders in Austin, Texas with fellow Pinkerton detective, Isaiah Joplin. Gruesome murders are occurring in the dead of night by a suspect who seems to vanish into think air. It is a race against time as Annie and Isaiah gather clues in the hopes to identify the killer before he strikes again. In the meantime, Annie struggles whether to tell Isaiah who she really is. Will he understand? Will he see her differently? Will they catch their killer? Are the murders in Austin connected to the murders in Whitechapel?

The Midnight Assassin killed eight people between December 30, 1884 and December 24, 1885. The Whitechapel killer, who would become known as Jack the Ripper, killed between August 31, 1888 and November 9, 1888. The Black Midnight explores the theory that the two killers are one and the same. The story is interesting as it connects the two killers, however, it was not as exciting or gripping as other titles in this series. Perhaps because there is no real conclusion as the killers or killer isn’t caught. I may go back and read it again, just in case there was something I missed to make it more interesting. I have enjoyed the True Crime series as it takes real American Crimes and spins a story around it. I highly recommend The Black Midnight and other titles in this series.

The Black Midnight

is available in paperback and eBook

Refuge on Crescent Hill: where the truth will set you free

Refuge on Crescent Hill by Melanie Dobson is a story of family secrets and one woman’s journey home. Camden Bristow was a photographer who traveled the world taking photos of amazing sights and documenting tragic events. Until one day when the calls for her work stopped. Left destitute, her only option is return to her grandmother’s home on Crescent Hill. As she heads there, she has no idea what awaits her or what secrets will be revealed once she gets there. Alex Yates is the charge of the economic development for the same town of Etherton but every one of his ideas has been shot down by the city council and he is desperate for the next idea. Alex is running from his own past and a secret he’s desperate to keep hidden. Stephanie Ellison-Carter is a student writing a research paper about the Ellison family. She learns that her family had some jewels stolen and the theft could be linked to the disappearance of one of the Ellison’s slaves. As their journeys began to merge, their own personal secrets will be revealed. Will Camden finally find a home? Is there someone who is trying to sabotage Alex’s attempts to boost the town? How are Camden, Alex and Stephanie linked to the Crescent Hill?

I thoroughly enjoyed Refuge on Crescent Hill. Having read Ms. Dobson’s books before, I was eager to dive into this one and it did not disappoint. From the opening page to the closing epilogue, the story is driven family secrets, evil plots and twists and turns of a great mystery. I enjoyed all the characters, even the villains fit well especially the ones you wouldn’t suspect. When the connection between the three characters are revealed, it is an emotional moment for the characters as well for the reader. It reminds you that we might be strangers but our family pasts may be connection through an amazing story of strength, courage and bravery.  Even though I wanted to strangle Camden at times for being an idiot, I cheered for her by the end. I highly recommend Refuge on Crescent Hill. 

Refuge on Crescent Hill

is available in paperback and eBook