Review: Songbirds by Christy Lefteri

Wow. Just wow. This book was so beautiful, and so well-written that I read most of it in one sitting. I just couldn’t put it down.

Nisha is a Sri Lankan woman working as a maid in Cyprus, for Petra and her young daughter Aliki. She is good at her job, and adores the family. One day she goes missing - no note, no warning, and taking nothing with her. But Petra knows that something is wrong, and together with Nisha’s lover Yiannis, she is determined to figure out what’s happened to her.

This was a heart-breaking story, but one that is so important as it’s real life for millions of foreign domestic workers in Cyprus and many other countries around the world. Since these women are not citizens and are considered disposable, no one is particularly concerned when they disappear, even if the circumstances are suspicious. Lefteri has such a unique way of writing, and I really enjoy her books.

Review: Such A Quiet Place by Megan Miranda

This was a really compelling read - so much so that I read most of it in one sitting.

Ruby Fletcher killed Fiona and Brandon Truett. It was obvious; she’s never fitted in at Hollow’s Edge. But now, freed by mistrial, she’s come back. And she’s never been one to quietly blend in. Clearly, everyone has something to hide about what really happened that night. But who is telling the truth? And how far are they willing to go to keep it hidden?

Definitely a page-turner, that’s for sure! Kept me guessing till right to the end too, which is nice because I find that sometimes I figure out what’s happening quite early on in the story. This book raises lots of questions about community, and how far people would be willing to go in order to protect each other.

Overall, a really interesting read that gripped me right until the end. I’d highly recommend this book!

        

Review: London’s Number One Dog-Walking Agency by Kate MacDougall

This was a genuinely lovely book which was a pleasure to read! 

Kate is in her late twenties and wants more from her life of office work and chores. So on a whim, she quits her job and starts a dog-walking business, much to the disappointment of her mother. But the business takes off, and Kate tells us her story through the many dogs that she meets over the years.

I loved that this story was told through the dogs, and that the focus was always on them. We also get to meet some of the dog-walkers that Kate employs, and this adds a nice touch to the story too. 

The reason I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 was because even though this was a lovely story, nothing really ‘happened’ in it. There was no big event or issue. Even the recession was over and done with in a few pages and the business picked up again fairly quickly.

Overall, this was a lovely story to read, and I would highly recommend.