The last few years I've made a list of 10 books - 5 books off my shelf, 5 books from the library - that I'm really wanting to read. There's no real rhyme or reason. I just go through my library list and my shelves and pick the books that are calling to me. My focus in 2026 is reading books I think I'll love - or at least really enjoy.
Goodreads: The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths
Blurb: Ali Dawson and her cold case team investigate crimes so old, they’re frozen—or so their inside joke goes. Nobody knows that her team has a secret: they can travel back in time to look for evidence.
The latest assignment sees Ali venture back farther than they have dared before: to 1850s London to clear the name of Cain Templeton, an eccentric patron of the arts. Rumor has it that Cain is part of a sinister group called The Collectors. Ali arrives in the Victorian era to another dead woman at her feet and far too many unanswered questions.
As the clock counts down, Ali becomes more entangled in the mystery, yet danger lurks around every corner. She soon finds herself trapped, unable to make her way back to her beloved son, Finn, who is battling his own accusations in the present day.
Could the two cases be connected? In a race through and against time, Ali must find out before it’s too late.
Why I Think I'll Love This One: I adore a cold case investigation and this looks like an interesting twist on that.
My Thoughts: I love the concept but when it comes down to it I'm just not a big fan of time travel. Ali going back to 1850 seemed so overly risky to me that it leaned into TSTL territory pretty heavily. I wasn't fully satisfied with the solution to the cold mystery itself. It looks like that a continuing plot line so hopefully it will be resolved in later books. As well, while the solution to the modern day mystery did make sense one major aspect seemed a bit unnecessary. Griffiths' pacing is excellent and her writing style kept me engaged even when I wasn't really enjoying the story. I probably won't continue with this series but I will read more by this author. My Rating: Liked It (3 Stars)
I like her Ruth Galloway series but I didn't like this one and abandoned it. Soe time travel aspects appela to me, such as Matt Haig's Midnight Library...but that wasn't really time travel as much as "take a look at what your life would be like if you choose This path" kinda thing.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I do as you are by trying to read off the shelf. When a library book comes in I try and fir it in. That's what this was for me, a library return.
I am the biggest fan of the Ruth Galloway series, but....I liked this book OK - enough so that I'm going to try the new one in the series that comes later this year (I think). However, our mystery group had some who liked it and some who didn't. Wish we could go back to Ruth and Nelson - ha!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Ruth Galloway but haven't read this one.
ReplyDeleteAnne - Books of My Heart
Great review. I do hope you get some resolution in the next book.
ReplyDeleteSounds good. I do like cold case investigations.
ReplyDeleteSounds like some pluses so I can see why you might not continue the series but still read something else by the author. I don't mind time travel most of the time, it just depends really.
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