TESSA TALKS BOOKS

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels

by Janice Hallett

One-word review: Unpredictable

Emojis: 🤔🤯🤐

Rating:  5🌟s

My thoughts:

This is not my first book by Janice Hallett. I read The Appeal back in 2021, and the two stories follow the same technical format: story-telling through texts, emails, interviews, etc.… I wouldn’t like reading this format a lot. Still, I have to say that Hallett utilizes it exceptionally well, where it actually adds to the story and makes sense.

I absolutely adored all the twists and turns this story took. I didn’t see one coming until I was supposed to see it, and wow, what a story – a thriller – this ended up being! I haven’t figured out the pacing. It felt fast, yet I was never as far along as I thought when I looked at the pages. I believe that is one of the consequences of the technical aspect.

I also loved the cult plot – especially a cult of people who think they are angels on earth. It’s so instantly intriguing. It’s an area I find that I can’t instantly debunk. It seems a bit risky to discount it immediately. And that adds an extra layer to the story that is just perfection.

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels is my favorite book by Janice Hallett, and I am excited about what she has coming next.

Radiant Heat

by Sarah-Jane Collins

One-word review: Atmospheric

Emojis: 🔥🫣😮

Rating: 4 🌟s

My thoughts:

Radiant Heat by Sarah-Jane Collins began with a raging wildfire in the Victoria area of Australia. Allison survives the fire but finds a young woman who isn’t so lucky in a car parked in her driveway. The fire creates a claustrophobic atmosphere throughout the story, setting the perfect stage for the mystery.  

As with most atmospheric tales, the pacing is relatively slow, and there is a back-and-forth in the timeline as Allison remembers relevant things from her past that might lead to the solving of the mystery of why the woman, who looks eerily similar to her, was in her driveway, to begin with. Full disclosure:  I struggle with atmospheric thrillers. I love and appreciate the use of atmosphere in telling the tale. Still, my personality’s go-go-ness balks at slowing down with the story.

However, I loved the setting. I rarely get to read books set in Australia and written by an Australian writer. It’s always something special to me when a book comes along like this one. I also enjoyed the suspense, which kept me guessing what was happening, if the main character was in danger, and by whom. The suspense kept me engaged when the pace threatened to waylay me. Radiant Heat is a wonderful thriller for people who enjoy an atmospheric tale.

Diva

by Daisy Goodwin

One-word review: Moving

Emojis: 🫢🫣🤫

Rating:  4🌟s

My thoughts:

Before I began Diva by Daisy Goodwin, Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis were simply names of famous people who had passed. After I finished the novel, they were fleshed out so exquisitely that I felt I knew them inside and out, and I was forever moved by Maria Callas’ story.

Maria Callas was considered a diva because she controlled everything around her. She wouldn’t accept anything less and left no doubt about that fact. But that hardness and determination was a shield that protected a soft and injured middle from a childhood filled with hurt and abuse. Aristotle Onassis swept Maria away with his zest for life. But, let’s face it, Aristotle was a cad through and through – in the novel and real life. And he would hurt every woman who loved him, including Maria.

This story is told so compellingly and authentically that even though I know it took liberties with some historical facts, I felt it was the actual version of what happened. So, (in other words) I had no trouble suspending my disbelief. The character development is amazing. I was moved and felt great empathy for Maria, who was unprepared for an Aristotle Onassis or the feelings he created in her.