Review of the Book The Man in Black and Other Stories by Elly Griffiths (#review)

I want to welcome Elly Griffiths to Books R Us. Elly is the author of numerous novels that include The Ruth Galloway Mysteries, The Brighton Mysteries and other works. She recently published a collection of short stories called "The Man in Black." The Book will be available on October 15th. 

 

About the Book:

 

Elly Griffiths has always written short stories to experiment with different voices and genres as well as to explore what some of her fictional creations such as Ruth Galloway, Harbinder Kaur, and Max Mephisto might have done outside of the novels. The Man in Black gathers these bite-sized tales all together in one splendid volume.

In the title story, Ruth Galloway crosses paths with a mysterious man in a bookstore, setting in motion a rescue mission that hinges on the legends and lore of Norfolk.

Looking into the past, a young magician in 1920s Leeds wonders just what happened to his missing landlady in “Max Mephisto and the Disappearing Act.”

In “Justice Jones and the Etherphone,” a witty girl detective investigates the dire prediction of a fortune teller in dreary postwar London.

A flashback in time reveals Harbinder Kaur as a Detective Sergeant surviving her first day on the job at Shoreham DCI.

To celebrate the holidays, Ruth gets her very first Christmas tree, and her beloved cat narrates his own seasonal story in “Flint’s Fireside Tale.”

And readers can armchair travel with stories set on the Amalfi Coast, in Capri, and in Egypt as Ruth and DCI Nelson experience their very own version of Death on the Nile.

The Man in Black illustrates the breadth and variety of Elly Griffiths’s talent for blood-chilling, page-turning stories all with her trademark humor and heart.

My Thoughts:

I recently had the opportunity to review "The Man in Black," a collection of stories by an author whose other works I haven't read. The book features a mix of themes, including mystery, magic, ghost stories, Christmas traditions, and tales of love and loss. While I didn't enjoy every story, one highlight for me was "Flint's Fireside Tale," which offered a unique perspective by being told from the point of view of Ruth Galloway's cat. This story made me smile and wonder what my cats might think when I interact with them. However, I felt that I would have better understood the characters' backgrounds if I had read some of the author's other novels.

Thanks for stopping by.

 

 

Disclaimer:

The publisher gave me a copy of the book for my honest review, and I was not compensated for my review.

Review of Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey (CONTEST)

I want to welcome John Grisham and Jim McCloskey to books R Us. They are the author of a great nonfiction story Called Framed. To be released on October 15th. Thanks for stopping by. The publisher is giving away a copy of the book to 100 lucky winners. Enter below to win.

About the Book:

In his first work of nonfiction since The Innocent Man, #1 bestselling author John Grisham and Centurion Ministries Founder Jim McCloskey share ten harrowing true stories of wrongful convictions. Impeccably researched and grippingly told, Framed offers an inside look at the injustice faced by the victims of the United States criminal justice system.

A fundamental principle of our legal system is a presumption of innocence, but once someone has been found guilty there is very little room to prove doubt. Framed shares ten true stories of men who were innocent but found guilty and forced to sacrifice friends, families, wives, and decades of their lives to prison while the guilty parties remained free. In each of the stories, John Grisham and Jim McCloskey recount the dramatic hard-fought battles for exoneration. They take a close look at what leads to wrongful convictions in the first place, and the racism, misconduct, flawed testimony, and the corrupt court system that can make them so hard to reverse.

Told with page-turning suspense as only John Grisham can deliver, Framed is the story of overcoming adversity when the battle already seems lost, and the deck is stacked against you.

Connect with the authors:

John Grisham

Jim McCloskey:

 

 My Thoughts:

 I have to say, "WOW." This book on injustice and racism in the law enforcement and judicial systems is unique. As someone who typically finds non-fiction books a bit dull, I found this one a pleasant surprise. Each chapter vividly portrayed the struggles of those who were wrongly arrested and imprisoned, often due to coerced witnesses and judges who turned a blind eye to evidence. The authors' skillful presentation of each case's facts and impact on individuals and their families was commendable. A Great Job done Gentlemen.

Disclaimer:

I was given a free copy of the book by the publisher and Netgalley and I was not compensated for my review. Contest ends on September 23 2024 and is only available to the US only. Good Luck.

 

Win A Copy of the Book