Bellatrix (Legion XXII Book Two) by Simon Turney

 

Bellatrix (Legion XXII Book Two) by Simon Turney.

Published 5th January 2023 by Aries, Head of Zeus.

From the cover of the book:

Warrior and combat medic of the Twenty Second Legion, Titus Cervianus, must fight the armies of the fabled Warrior Queen in this blistering new Roman adventure from Simon Turney.

Egypt, 25 BC. Titus Cervianus is no ordinary soldier. And the Twenty Second is no ordinary legion. Formed from the personal guard of a conquered king, the Twenty Second's ways are strange to soldiers of the Empire - yet the legion has proved itself in the blistering heat of the desert.

Cervianus and his comrades march into the unknown as he and the Twenty Second Legion contend with the armies of the Bellatrix: the Warrior Queen of Kush. 

The Kushites and the Egyptians are united against the Roman presence in their lands - but there are complex political and military forces at work. 

Deep in the deserts, Cervianus and his comrades must brace themselves for a furious onslaught as they take on the might of the Bellatrix.

***********

Egypt, 25 AD. With Buhen secured from the Kushite invaders after a bloody battle, Cervianus and his fellow comrades of the XXII Legion are faced with the prospect of a foolhardy incursion into Kush to take on its infamous warrior queen Bellatrix, under the command of the increasingly unpopular Vitalis.

It is Cervianus' fate to be capsarius to the force of the First and Second cohorts who must march into the inhospitable desert towards the Kush stronghold of Napata, and attempt to survive its dangers - and be ready for battle when they get there.

Can they hope for victory in an environment that wants to see them dead, against a bloodthirsty foe, and under the command of a man who prizes fame above the welfare of his men?

Bellatrix is the second gripping adventure of Titus Cervianus, capsarius (combat medic) to the XXII Legion, following closely on from the exciting events of The Capsarius. 

Cervianus begins this story between a rock and a hard place, most likely destined to become collateral damage to Vitalis' vanity mission to subdue the kingdom of Kush and its warrior queen. The prospects of the XXII are certainly not looking bright given the task ahead, especially for the First and Second cohorts who must cross the desert wasteland to arrive at their battleground.

But in many ways, this Cervianus is very different to the naive, friendless, and extremely annoying young man who set foot of Alexandria not so long ago. He has made some firm friends, seen the reality of combat, and been forced to confront some of the intellectual principles he holds with high regard, while learning about the religious devotions of the people whose land he finds himself in - and all these factors will come into play in this second book.

Obviously, I am not going to give away spoilers about what happens, but I can tell you that Simon Turney uses his considerable talents to weave fact and fiction together to create another rip-roaring historical adventure that immerses you completely in the Roman world - this time, beyond the fringes of the Empire in an environment that has been little explored, deep into the territory of the ancient land of Kush.

Turney holds nothing back about the dangers of nature and human kind that Cervianus and his comrades in arms face on their journey, and the impact of the inevitable losses that result. You feel yourself trudging along beside these men in the heat and the dust, with despair dogging their heels. There are many difficult, and emotional moments to take in, but along the way you also get to know Cervianus and his friends all the better for them, learning so much more about their talents and the way they complement each other under exceptionally difficult circumstances. I grew to love them, to understand the importance of the dark humour that sustained them and forged the bonds of friendship, and felt every casualty with force - tears were shed.

In keeping with what I have come to expect from Turney, as one of my very favourite historical fiction writers, there is so much fantastic detail here about how Romans lived and died in pursuit of the glory of the Empire, even though many of them were born and bred far from Rome. There is also such lovely interplay between the intellectual ideas of science, and the mystique of religion, in the way Cervianus comes to terms with how intellect and belief can come together for good - which makes for a cracking climax to this story. I am always fascinated by the breadth of knowledge he has, and his dedication to learning, and it was very satisfying to see him finally receiving recognition for the personality traits that have previously made him unpopular amongst his colleagues - while still being kept grounded by his close friends.

I am rather sad to be leaving the XXII behind with this book, as the two volumes of Legion XXII have been a joy to consume. I am pretty sure that there are further adventures of the XXII to tell, which I certainly want to read, so my fingers are crossed that there may be more in the future. 

Bellatrix is available to buy now in hardcover and ebook formats.

Thank you to Aries for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review, and for inviting me to take part on this blog tour.

About the author:

Simon Turney is from Yorkshire and, having spent much of his childhood visiting historic sites, fell in love with   heritage of the region. His fascination with the ancient world snowballed from there with great interest in Rome, , Greece and Byzantium. His works include the Marius' Mules and Praetorian series, the Tales of the Empire and The Damned Emperor series, and the Rise of Emperors books with Gordon Doherty. 

 lives in North Yorkshire with his family.

 Brownflopsy's Book Awards 2022

Time to shout about some of the wonderful books I read in 2022, with my annual book awards! 

Some of these I have already highlighted in my 22 of 22, and I will talk about them a bit more below, but there are also so many others that deserve your attention for a variety of different reasons, and this is their chance to shine. I really hope you will add some (if not all) of the ones that are new to you to your 2023 tbr piles, as they are all amazing!

I have linked all the books mentioned to my reviews so you can discover why I have chosen them...

THE DEBUTS:

There are far too many delicious debuts from 2022 to mention in this post, but here are 12 tasty morsels that really deserve your time.

In no particular order:

• All That's Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien
• Wake by Shelley Burr
  
• Nobody But Us by Laure van Rensburg
  
• The Midnight House by Amanda Geard
  
• Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu
  
• The Dictator's Wife by Freya Berry
  
• That Green Eyed Girl by Julie Owen Moylan
  
• The Measure by Nikki Erlick
  
• Bad Fruit by Ella King
  
• Wahala by Nikki May
  
• The French House by Jacquie Bloese
  
• The Secrets Of Rochester Place by Iris Costello
  

These are all fabulous, but which one makes it as my DEBUT OF 2022?

🥁🥁🥁

It has to be The Dictator's Wife by Freya Berry! 🎉🎉🎉

Freya's debut offering blew me away! It is beautifully written, cleverly conceived, totally gripping, and full of breathtaking similie and metaphor. I cannot wait for Freya's follow-up The Birdcage Library which is coming in June, and I predict a very bright writing future for her! ❤❤❤

FEEL THE LOVE:

Next up, meet the books that merit my FEEL THE LOVE Award - whether it be romantic love or love of family (sometimes both) these are sure to warm the cockles of your heart and reduce you to a blubbering mess!

The line-up:

• All About Evie by Matson Taylor
  
• Twelve Hours To Say I Love You by Olivia Poulet and Laurence Dobiesz
  
• Christmas Eve At Cranberry Cross by Kate Forster
  
• Every Shade Of Happy by Phyllida Shrimpton
  
• Love And Other Human Errors by Bethany Clift
  
• On The First Day of Christmas by Faith Hogan
  
• One Night On The Island by Josie Silver
• The Key To My Heart by Lia Louis
  
• Santa Maybe by Mary Jayne Baker
  

As previously announced, this group also includes by BOOK OF 2022: The gorgeous Love And Other Human Errors by Bethany Clift!

I gulped this magnificent book down in one delectable bite, completely enamoured with the way Clift combines all the best elements of a romantic tale with a rollicking, dystopian sci-fi adventure. I laughed. I cried. I lapped up the will-they-won't-they suspense. I adored it!

THE HEARTBREAKERS:

These two books are beautifully written and totally heartbreaking - be prepared to have a whole box of tissues near by when you read them!

• The Lion Tamer Who Lost by Louise Beech 
  
• Blue Hour by Sarah Schmidt
  

The Lion Tamer Who Lost is one of the most affecting stories I have read about family, connection and finding the courage to be true to yourself. Beech uses the themes of lions, family ties, honesty, love and the power of wishes to perfection, and just when you think you cannot cry anymore, she hits you with further moments of sob inducing drama to get you reaching for the tissues again. This the tear-jerker of all tear-jerkers! 

Blue Hour is a beautifull written, many layered story about two women trapped by the choices they have made. Schmidt holds you in moments that convey every ounce of painfully intense emotion, and shows great insight about the contradictions that make up her characters. The push and pull of opposing feelings is captured with perfection, and you become so caught up in the intricacies that only when it is too late do you realise where she has been leading you all along... It left me uttrrly broken.

LIFE AFFIRMING READS:

What is life all about? Read these and see...

• Animal Life by Audur Ava Ólafsdottir
  
• The Measure by Nikki Erlick
  
• A Little Hope by Ethan Joella
  

BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN:

This award goes to The Unravelling by Polly Crosby which is stunning. This follow-up to Polly's incredible debut The Illustrated Child confirms her place as an auto-buy author for me. I cannot wait for her next book, Vita and the Birds, which is out in May. 

BEST FICTION AUDIO BOOKS:

These are my two favourite fiction audio books of 2022, both from fabulous little indie press Gallic Books:

• The Lady In The Car With Glasses And A Gun by Sébastien Japrisot
  
• A Hundred Million Years And A Day by Jean Baptiste Andrea
  

BEST NON-FICTION/MEMOIR AUDIO BOOK:

This award goes to Putting The Rabbit In The Hat by Brian Cox which is the best acting autobiography I have listened to in a long time -just like settling down for a chat wuth Brian Cox! 

A CLASH OF CULTURES:

This award goes to the glorious Wahala by Nikki May

Nigeria meets London, and examines female friendship, and the expectations placed on women who have a foot in more than one culture, with fabulous insight - and with an injection of a whole lot of trouble!

UNSETTLING TALES:

Here's a selection to upset your inner calm - and keep you awake at night!

• The Blackbird by Tim Weaver
  
• The Bay by Allie Reynolds
  
• The Mirror Man by Lars Kepler
  
• Shadow Girls by Carol Birch
  
• This Might Hurt by Stephanie Wrobel
  
• Off Target by Eve Smith
  

OUT-STANDING OUTBACK:

Outback tales are one of my favourite things to read, and these are two of the very best from 2022.

• Opal Country by Chris Hammer
  
• Wake by Shelley Burr
  

Opal Country is a spin-off from Hammer's Martin Scarsden books, so if you have enjoyed them, you need this one too. The series continues with Dead Man's Creek which has just been released, and is my favourite Hammer yet (review up soon) - so, why not buy both? 

Wake is a cracking debut from new talent Shelly Burr, and it is seriously classy. I am very excited to see what comes next from her.

WISH YOU WERE HERE:

Next up, two books that evoke all those Golden Age crime vives that I love:

• Dear Little Corpses by Nicola Upson
  
• Miss Aldridge Regrets by Louise Hare
  
• 
  

Dear Little Corpses is the latest instalment in Nicola Upson's marvellous series featuring novelist Josephine Tey as a sleuth, which us such a brilliant concept - there us also a delicious appearance from Margery Allingham in this one too! I cannot wait for the next one, Shot With Crimson, coming in August.

Miss Aldridge Regrets is an enchanting 1930s murder mystery aboard a transatlantic liner, that nicely channels Agatha Christie. It makes a fine follow-up to Hare's incredible debut, This Lovely City, which I highly recommend. I am very much looking forward to her next book, Harlem After Midnight, due in September. 

I would love to be a character in both of these books - hopefully one that survives unscathed to the end of the story... and one not destined for the hangman's noose!

BEST TIME-SLIP NOVELS: 

All three of these offer a masterclass in using time in the most captivating way, whether it be in a Sliding Doors fashion, or bleeding the past and present together:

• On The First Day Of Christmas by Faith Hogan
  
• The Midnight House by Amanda Geard
  
• The Birdcage by Eve Chase
  

THE PERFECT CIRCLE:

The finest use of echoing the beginning and end of a novel, by very clever use of London's historic Thames Frost Fairs, earns The Weather Woman by Sally Gardner the PERFECT CIRCLE AWARD. The bits inbetween are pretty special too!

MULTIPLE POINTS OF VIEW:

This character driven, evocative stunner really pares down the cast of players from her wonderful previous book, The Silence of Scheherazade, to just four narratives that really get under your skin. Beautifully translated by Betsy Göksel, At the Breakfast Table by Defne Suman is simply stunning.

WHAT A DELIGHTFUL SURPRISE:

Imagine, if you will, a little bit of On the Road, a splash of Natural Born Killers, a twist of Trainspotting, and perhaps a touch of a more edgy Spinal Tap, distilled into a heady concoction from Ross' imagination that begs to be swallowed whole. It might be hard to get your head around at first, but then blossoms into something absolutely stunning, and vividly cinematic. 

Reading Dashboard Elvis Is Dead by David F. Ross  has been an experience... buckle up and go with it, because it is brilliant!

HIDDEN DEPTHS:

Blowing that difficult second book notion to smithereens, The Invisible by Peter Papathanasiou is the second book in the George Manolis series, follow an impressive debut The Stoning.

Papathanasiou layers theme upon theme, with beautiful interplay between facets of 'invisibility and references to uncomfortable history that will send you down many rabbit holes!

FAST AND FABULOUS: 

I present two absolute cracking page-turners from 2022, for tge thrill lovers among you:

• A Good Day To Die by Amen Alonge
  
• Double Or Nothing by Kim Sherwood
  

A Good Day To Die by Amen Alonge is an action filled debut novel that takes place over a single violent day. I am longing for the next Pretty Boy instalment A Good Night To Kill, which is hitting the bookshops in April!

Double Or Nothing by Kim Sherwood is the first book in a new trilogy set in the universe of James Bond. This tale of the new generation of 00 spies is one of the most exciting books I have read in ages. More please! 

SCI-FI STUNNER:

Many people think science fiction is a genre that is not for them, but sometimes a sci-fi book can show incredidle insight about the human condition - The Actuality by Paul Braddon is a fine example. 

This cracking, speculative dystopian thriller deftly weaves the best if sci-fi with brilliant touches of horror and literary fiction - and it made me sob!

SCANDI THRILLS:

We Know You Remember by Tove Alsterdal  is by a new voice to me in one of my favourite genres, and it kept me turning the pages long into the night. I am very excited to have a copy of the folow-up You Will Never Be Found in my hot little hands, which is out in February. I am really looking forward to be stunned by Alsterdal once more - keep your eyes peeled for my review.

TURN THE TABLES:

The award for the most original concept goes to Argo by Mark Knowles. 

This is a very clever retelling of the story of Jason and the Argonauts, with the mythical adventurers recast as mortals - and it works beautifully! The Blades Of Bronze series continues with Jason, concluding with Hades which publishes in October. Perfect for the Greek mythology fans out there who are not afraid of a new perspective in a familiar story. They are darned exciting too! 

SEQUELS PLEASE!

PART ONE: WHAT HAPPENS NEXT...

Here are two books absolutely crying out for sequels:

• Wahala by Nikki May because there is unfinished business needs to be resolved!
  
• Housebreaking by Colleen Hubbard because I want to be part of 'that' roadtrip! I'm going to keep banging in about this brilliant little book until Colleen gets to write that sequel! 🤣
  

PART TWO: TANTALISING TEAMS:

And... two books which set up such a lovely gang of characters that I want to read more about - both from fab indie press Moonflower Books:

• The Coming Darkness by Greg Mosse
  
• The Lost Diary of Samuel Pepys by Jack Jewers
  

My fingers are crossed that we will get to meet again for more adventures soon!

EAGERLY AWAITING... :

If historical fiction is your bag, then these books are all second instalments in absolutely compelling series. I am eagerly awaiting third books in them all:

• The Poison Machine by Robert J. Lloyd which delightfully echoes Alexandre Dumas in parts, and follows on from the first book in the intriguing Hunt and Hooke series The Bloodless Boy
  
• A Night Of Flames by Matthew Harffy which is a very exciting follow-up to A Time For Swords and I cannot wait for Hunlaf's next adventure A Day Of Reckoning (out in October).
  
• The House With The Golden Door by Elodie Harper which continues Amara's story in Roman Pompeii after The Wolfden, The trilogy concludes with highly anticipated The Temple of Fortuna (out in November).
  
• Traitor In The Ice by K.J. Maitland which is the second book in the Daniel Pursglove series after the knockout first book The Drowned City. Book three Rivers Of Treason coming soon (out in April).
  

THAT'S A WRAP:

Vera Kelly: Lost And Found merits a mention as the final book in an excellent LGBTQ+ series following the adventures of feisty former CIA operative Vera Kelly, through the 1960s and into the early 70s. This fab series deserves a lot more attention, and I highly recommend you pay a visit to the first two books in the trilogy Who Is Vera Kelly? and Vera Kelly Is Not A Mystery before polishing off the lot with this final volume. I am rather sad to be leaving Vera Kelly behind, but will definitely be reading them again in the future.

SHE WOLVES:

The SHE-WOLF AWARD naturally goes, once again to Amara in:

The House With The Golden Door by Elodie Harper

 Amara's character really grows in this second book in The Wolf Den trilogy through the continuing hard decisions she has to make. I have no idea where she will find herself by the end of the concluding book The Temple Of Fortuna (out in November), but it is a pleasure to be alongside her in her journey. 

QUIRKY LOVELINESS:

It was a joy to discover these QUIRKY GEMS by Finnish author Antti Tuomainen in 2022, from my favourite indie publisher of translated fiction Orenda Books:

• The Rabbit Factor
  
• The Moose Paradox
  

This wonderful series follows the hilarious, and surreal, adventures of emotionally challenged insurance actuary Henri Koskinen as he tries to make a success of adventure park YouMeFun, and negotiate the tricky landscape of inter-personal relationships. 

I totally love this series, and am so looking forward to book three, which I believe will be The Beaver Theory. Antti is now a firm favourite with me, and I have bought his entire back catalogue from Orenda to explore this year too!

UNDER THE RADAR:

An eclectic bunch here that deserve way more attention! 

• A Little Hope by Ethan Joella
  
• Housebreaking by Colleen Hubbard
  
• The Shimmer On The Water by Marina McCarron
  
• Madwoman by Louisa Treger
  
• Say Her Name by Dreda Say Mitchell and Ryan Carter
  
• Game Of Hearts by Katy Moran
  

I have already mentioned the amazing A Little Hope and Housebreaking more than once above, as they really stand out from the books I read in 2022, and I hope by now that they are on your list of books to read this year.

So let me expand on why these other books deserve your time...

The Shimmer On The Water by Marina McCarron caught me from the very first page. It is a genre-busting novel that combines a cracking mystery about the unsolved case of a child's disappearance, with a delicious exploration of complicated family dynamics. McCarron keeps you firmly on the edge of your seat with cleverly contrived suspense, while using water, and the tug of hidden depths nicely throughout. Great story telling.

Madwoman is an incredible feat of literature that displays Louisa Treger's impressive ability to mix fact and fiction in a way that really brings her characters alive - this time turning her attention towards the incredible Nellie Bly, whose quest to break the chains imposed on women changed the world in more ways that one. It is one of those brilliant books about forgotten women that are making their way steadfastly into the best-seller lists in recent years, and is the perfect way for Nellie Bly to step into the limelight for a contemporary audience. I hope it flies off the shelves.

Say Her Name by Dreda Say Mitchell and Ryan Carter really impressed me. At its heart, this is a compelling crossover between domestic drama, mystery and psychological thriller, but it is also so much more. It fulfils everything you want in an entertaining read, drawing you in nicely with deftly woven threads of corruption, secrets and sins of the past, but it is the way it delves deep into themes of identity, connection, and discrimination that make it a cut above, and unexpectedly emotional. Absolutely gripping!.

Game of Hearts by Katy Moran is the first in her excellent Regency Romance Trilogy. I came prepared to have a rollicking time, which I certainly did, but I did not expect to also find this quite so bursting at the seams with wonderful characters, storylines and a cracking spin on the historical front. It is a rare and beautiful thing, with lashings of scandal, players to both love and hate, and threads of sex, race and class woven tightly into the fabric of the story. Move over Bridgerton... 

SHORT AND BITTERSWEET:

My SHORT STORY AWARD goes to a cracking little novella, but an award winning author that needs to be more widely known:

Crossing The Lines by Amanda Huggins

This is a beautifully written, atmospheric novella that expands on the short story Red that Amanda Huggins first published in her excellent anthology Scratched Enamel Heart. It is a tale of love and family ties, of belonging and acceptance, that is infused with artlessness, hope, and innocence - making it almost the antithesis of the classic coming-of-age story.

Amanda's novellas, short stories and poetry are all outstanding. Go check them out! 

OLDIES BUT GOODIES:

My awards would not be complete without a mention of one of my favourite authors who has kept me company through 2022 as part of the #ReadChristie2022 challenge cekebrating her many travels - the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie.

These are all the lovely Christie's I read last year:

JANUARY - Inspired by Agatha's travels: The Man In The Brown Suit

FEBRUARY - Featuring travel and romance: Parker Pyne Investigates 

MARCH - Agatha wrote abroad: The Mystery Of The Blue Train

APRIL- Featuring adventure: Why Didnt They Ask Evans

MAY - Set in Europe: The Murder On The Links

JUNE - Featuring archaeology: Appointment With Death

JULY - Which takes place on holiday: At Bertram's Hotel

AUGUST - Set in a hot climate: A Caribbean Mystery

SEPTEMBER - With a female adventurer: The Secret Adversary 

OCTOBER - With multiple settings: Marple

NOVEMBER - Featuring train travel: The 4.50 From Paddington 

DECEMBER - Containing precious jewels: The Adventure Of The Christmas Pudding

Strictly speaking Marple is a 'newbie but goodie', but you get the idea. My love affair with Christie continues and I cannot wait to pick up a new mystery this month as #ReadChristie2023 gets underway - wuth a brand new theme of Motives and Methods! 

***

That's all folks! Which books made your award winning line-up from 2022?

Death In Heels (The Dublin Drag Mysteries Book One) by Kitty Murphy

 

Death in Heels by Kitty Murphy.

Published 1st January 2023 by Thomas and Mercer.

From the cover of the book:

When Fi went to support her best friend’s drag debut, she didn’t imagine a killer would be going to watch it too. And they’re waiting for their grand finale…

Fi McKinnery is full of nerves as the gorgeous Mae B (aka her best friend Robyn) takes to the stage for her debut at drag club TRASH, but Mae B is dazzling…that is until local queen Eve lampoons her performance and ruins the show. So when Eve turns up dead later that night, face down in the gutter of a rain-soaked Dublin street, the timing seems awfully suspicious…

The police are quick to rule Eve’s death an accident, but Fi is convinced it was foul play. When her ‘Hagatha Christie’ amateur sleuthing backfires, it drives a wedge between Fi and Robyn. But when another friend is targeted in a hit-and-run, she’s determined to get this twisted killer caught, no matter what the consequences.

Even as the rest of the gang start to distance themselves, Fi is certain that they’re all in terrible danger. Something dark is lurking beneath the feathers, glitter and sequins of Dublin’s drag scene. And it’s not just the sticky floor and cracked mirrors. Someone is targeting the queens. When another member of the group is gunned down, it’s clear the danger is coming ever closer. Can Fi stop the killer before any more of her friends are hurt?

***********

The night has finally come for Fi's best friend Robyn to make their debut on the stage as their drag queen alter-ego Mae B, and she is there front of house at Dublin's drag club Trash to support her through an epic performance.

But the night ends with a sour note, when bitchy rival drag queen Eve upstages Mae B with a mocking rendition of her set, and has to be dragged from the stage. To make matters even more complicated, Eve then turns up dead in the alley behind Trash. The police are sure Eve's death is an accident, but Fi is certain there is more to it, especially since everyone at Trash had a motive to want Eve out of the way.

Fi is determined to get to the bottom of what really happened that night, even if it means alienating her Trash family by delving into their secrets. Someone is out to get Fi's drag queen friends, but as violence targets more members of the little group, she is not sure if it is a stranger or one of their inner circle. In her 'Hagatha' Christie guise she cannot rest until the culprit is brought to justice - even if it means putting herself in danger in the process.

I was sure that this book was going to be lots of fun (how could a whodunit set around the drag scene of Dublin fail to be anything but?), and, it was absolutely full to the brim with all the drama and passion that I hoped for!

Kitty Murphy immerses you completely in the drag scene of Dublin, taking you on and off the stage to bring alive all the glory of the performances, and the complex relationships that exist between the Trash family members, and their friends and blood family - using this as a rich backdrop for a very entertaining tale.

Shy, fleece-loving Fi drives the story as the unexpected sleuth, contrasting beautifully with a cast made up of vivid showbiz types. She comes out of her shell as the story progresses through thrills, spills, and emotional turmoil to an exciting climax on the streets of Dublin. I loved that she has her own journey to make alongside solving the twisty murder mystery, with a lovely little romantic thread of her own too. And, if you ever wanted a fascinating look beneath the glamour of the drag scene then you are in for a treat!

At its heart, this is a cosy murder mystery, but once the dramatic beginning hooks you in, it soon reveals itself to be so much more. There is layer upon layer of really interesting exploration of the dynamics between characters whose vulnerabilities are exposed over the course of the story. For the most part, the brash exteriors crack to offer a glimpse of the insecurities that lie within when the Trash family is targeted, taking you through a whole range of emotions. Murphy injects a lot of real world grittiness into the story beneath all the feathers and sequins in the menacing form of prejudice and hatred of those in the LGBTQ+ community, but there is a tonne of wry humour in the telling, and it is love that shines through in the end.  

This is the first part in a new mystery series, the Dublin Drag Mysteries, and having taken the Trash family into my heart, I cannot wait for them to reunite for book two.

Death in Heels is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to FMcM Associates for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review, and for inviting neto be part of this blog tour.

About the author:

Kitty lives with her husband, Roger, on the very westerly edge of Co. Clare, Ireland. She adores drag in all its forms and crime fiction in all its chilling splendour. 

Kitty is bi/queer. From a well-spent youth divided equally between the library and the LGBTQ+ scene, it was only a matter of time until both worlds collided in a flurry of fictional sequins. 

 22 of 22

When you read as many books as I do, it is always difficult to cut the number down of great ones which have crossed your path to fit into a 'best of list' at the end of the year. 

However, my lovely SquadPod sister Emma Shaw (aka @bibliotreasures) asked me if I could suggest a list for 22 of 22, so I have had a stab at choosing 22 books from 2022 which really left their mark on me - with the proviso that this is nowhere near enough to include the many fabulous books it has been the privilege to consume this year.

Here is my (very eclectic) list, in two parts, and in no particular order, with links to my reviews:

Part One:

• The Unravelling by Polly Crosby
  
• The Midnight House by Amanda Geard
  
• The French House by Jacquie Bloese
  
• A Little Hope by Ethan Joella
  
• Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu
  
• The House with the Golden Door by Elodie Harper
  
• One Night on the Island by Josie Silver
  
• The Rabbit Factor by Antti Tuomainen
  
• The Birdcage by Eve Chase
  
• Wahala by Nikki May
  
• The Dictator's Wife by Freya Berry
  

Part Two:

• Every Shade of Happy by Phyllida Shrimpton
  
• All About Evie by Matson Taylor
  
• A Hundred Million Years and a Day by Jean Baptiste Andrea
  
• The Poison Machine by Robert J Lloyd
  
• Love and Other Human Errors by Bethany Clift
  
• Opal Country by Chris Hammer
  
• The Weather Woman by Sally Gardner
  
• Chistmas Eve at Cranberry Cross by Kate Forster
  
• Double or Nothing by Kim Sherwood
  
• The Measure by Nikki Erlick
  
• Housebreaking by Colleen Hubbard
  

There really is something here for everyone, and I promise you will find lots of things to love about every single one.

Emma also asked me if I could suggest a favourite book of 2022 as well, which has been mighty difficult to do... but there is one novel from the 22 above that has absolutely everything I want in a book - and which totally blows that 'difficult second book' idea out of the water.

I give you Love and Other Human Errors by Bethany Clift which is my top tip as the book from 22 that most definitely needs to be on your reading list. I adored it!

If you are interested in finding out all about the 22 of 22 books that our lovely little SquadPod collective of bloggers recommend, then you can find all the info you need to fill up you tbr lists for 2023 over at Emma's blog HERE.

As I said above, this really only covers a fraction of the fabulous books I have read this year, so I have also awarded my famous Brownflopsy's Book Awards to quite a few others that I think deserve your attention. Keep your eyes peeled for my post covering these awards, which is coming soon...

 December 2022 Reading Round-Up

Eleven books on the menu this month, which was pretty good considering I've been busy with festive celebrations! Click on the photos below to go to my reviews. 

An Unfamiliar Landscape by Amanda Huggins

Arms Around Frank Richardson by Sylvia Colley 

Dashboard Elvis is Dead by David F. Ross

Animal Life by Audur Ava Ólafsdóttir

The Lady in the Car with Glasses and a Gun by Sébastien Japrisot

The Secrets of Rochester Place by Iris Costello

A Deadly Covenant by Michael Stanley

Christmas at the Little Knitting Box by Helen Rolfe

The White Priory Murders by Carter Dickson

A Little Christmas Panto by Angela Britnell

The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding by Agatha Christie

More great books incoming for January!

If you have enjoyed my pictures above, please stop by my Instagram account @brownflopsy for more!