Happy Birthday - this blog is 10 years old!!

A mini birthday celebration photoshoot with Salted Caramel Macadamia Cheese Cake :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 

to

purplequeenfairyreads.blogspot.com

I can't believe that I have been blogging for ten years and have produced more than 650 over posts over the years.  I guess that works out to an average of 65 posts per year.

I am not very good and commercialising this blog.  At one point, I was pretty keen to explore how. However, it never was my priority and for now, I am happy to just read and post and keep a record of what I read and share my thoughts on what I read.

Anyway, I am just happy to have this platform to pen down my thoughts of books that I read. It also serves the purpose for me to keep track of how many books I read, how many books I bought for the year (been keeping track in recent years. Didn't do much of that previously)  It's also useful when I wasn't sure if I have bought or read a book before and I can just check from this blog.

Should I do a vlog next?  Sound like that's what I should evolve to but I don't think I would have the time and energy to do a good job. 

Thank you for those who drop by to read what I wrote.  I am humbly honored and extremely grateful that you choose to swing by.  Can I request that you leave a comment on this post as a present to me? hahah...no obligation though.

Anyway, thank you for joining me in this journey of blogging and here's to your good health and also to many, many more years of blogging.

Much love to everyone.

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The Hidden Child by Camilla Lackberg

Synopsis :

Crime writer Erica Falck is shocked to discover a Nazi medal among her late mother’s possessions. Haunted by a childhood of neglect, she resolves to dig deep into her family’s past and finally uncover the reasons why. 

Her enquiries lead her to the home of a retired history teacher. He was among her mother’s circle of friends during the Second World War but her questions are met with bizarre and evasive answers. Two days later he meets a violent death. 

Detective Patrik Hedström, Erica’s husband, is on paternity leave but soon becomes embroiled in the murder investigation. Who would kill so ruthlessly to bury secrets so old? Reluctantly Erica must read her mother’s wartime diaries. But within the pages is a painful revelation about Erica’s past. Could what little knowledge she has be enough to endanger her husband and newborn baby? 

The dark past is coming to light, and no one will escape the truth of how they came to be


This is what I say :

The Hidden Child is such an amazing investigative thriller with great insight into the different characters in this universe. The investigative part of this book is also so closely knitted into the personal stories of the characters and certainly can't be separated. Such is the uniqueness of The Hidden Child.

After reading quite a few titles in this universe, I am getting quite familiar with some of the characters.  Either the author is wanting readers to have a better understanding of the characters or I am just paying more attention to them.

Patrik's and Erica's roles are swapped in the book as Patrik is on paternity leave and supposed to care for the daughter 24/7 whereas Erica is supposed to be busy with her books.  However, she was more intrigued by the diaries her mother left behind.

Melberg who is rather 'air headed' boss in the police department is surprising rather endearing in this title.  He suffered tremendously emotionally the past few books so it's a good thing to see things moving towards a rather good direction for him.  

And then there's Gosta. He's the oldest in the team.  It's rather heartbreaking to have an insight into Gosta's personal...How he yearns and thinks back now and then of his child that lived for just a few days after birth many, many years ago.  To quote from the book about Gosta..."So many years have passed since then. Almost an entire lifetime. But he can still feel the tiny hand grasping his finger'.  

Even Annika, with her fear of miscarriages and her fear of adopting a child but yet wanted so much much to do so was given some attention in this title.  Perhaps, it has to do with the theme of  the book.

Yup, Camilla did not neglect any of her characters including Paula, the new girl in town and has something to contribute towards the theme too.

The crimes was also rather unique and well, you just have to read and be immersed into this universe. Overall, an excellent investigative thriller.

So far, I have liked almost all of Camilla's titles. I still have one on my shelf. Can't wait to start on it.

Lifetime by Liza Marklund

Synopsis :

Police Officer Nina Hoffman finds her fellow officer David Lindholm on his bed with bullets through his head and stomach. Next to the body is his wife, Julia. The traumatized Julia rambles on about a woman entering the house, killing David and running off with her son, but all the evidence seems to point in Julia’s direction. 

Annika Bengtzon covers the case and is drawn in headfirst when she sees that Julia is about to be falsely charged. 

Working against the clock, Annika must clear Julia’s name and find her missing son.


This is what I say :

Liza Marklund is a Scandinavian author.  I just realised that she co-wrote Postcard Killer with James Patterson which I read about three years ago.

I have never read any titles that just carries her own name.  Lifetime would be the first time.

Like many novels nowaday, while Lifetime has a stand-alone story-line, it's also part of a universe that consist of series of titles.  In this case, after reading it, I discovered that Lifetime is the seventh book in the universe of Annika Bengtzon.  

In this title. I can't be sure if  the story revolves around Annika trying to proof that Julia's innocent or Annika trying to find out who killed David. She did a lot of digging into David's past.  Nina is a dark horse.  The ending of the book reveals something about Nina but yet at the same time reveals nothing. It's most frustrating.

I don't quite like Lifetime.  I find the writing chaotic and rambles on at time.  I don't quite like Annika too.  She's too real. But yet, I can understand that Liza is trying to make her real.  

Anyway, I am debating with myself I I should read the other books by Liza Marklund that I have with me.  I have not decided.

The Stranger (previously The Gallows Bird) by Camilla Lackberg

Synopsis :

A string of suspicious deaths points to a potential serial killer who has turned his eye toward Fjallbacka and her dark forests, where two children vanished decades before.

A local woman is killed in a tragic car crash, but it isn’t a clear-cut drunk driving case. The victim’s blood contains high alcohol levels, but she rarely drank a drop. Meanwhile, a reality television show begins shooting in the town, and as cameras shadow the stars’ every move, tempers start to flare. When a party ends with an unpopular contestant’s murder, all eyes turn to the cast and crew―could there be a murderer among them? 

The ratings spike as the country tunes in to a real-life murder mystery. Detective Patrik Hedstrom finds himself increasingly unable to focus on the strange circumstances of the first case, but what if that holds the key to a series of other unsolved cases across Sweden? Under the unforgiving media spotlight, Patrik tackles his toughest investigation yet.


This is what I say :

Here I am, once again, with the next title in the Fjalbacka Series by Camilla Lackberg.  I seems to be unable to tear myself away from this series.


The previous title of The Stranger is The Gallows Bird.  I have no idea why the title was changed.  I really am not able to relate the title to the storyline but I actually prefer this than The Stonecutter.  It wasn't a very thick book too as it's less than 400 pages.

Timeline wise, The Stranger takes place right after The Stonecutter and I would say it's about a few months (at least 6 months I think) after The Stonecutter.  

Patrik and Erica and getting ready to get married.  Anna and family are currently bunking in the same house and it's rather amazing (also unrealistic) how quickly Anna got back to her feet right after a walk and a talk with Dan.

It's also rather unrealistic in certain plot in the storyline and without revealing much, I would say it's not the first time the same thing happen.. cue The Lost Boy.   Even then, I still enjoy it.

I still enjoy the story but the effect of too many books is beginning to affect the writer at this point. I really hope the next title, The Hidden Child gets better treatment.

Flea Market Sales - Pop Up Stall 2019

My pop up stall last year

It's been a while since I took part in a flea market sales.  I can actually trace back my previous post and yes, it been slightly more than 1 year.

Anyway, with quite a fair bit of books to clear, I decided to join one this weekend together with a friend who has the same mission where her collections are concerned.

Held from this coming Saturday to Monday, it will be at my usual neighbourhood mall at Green Height.

Anyway, I did some stock take and there will be quite a lot of books that I will be bringing with me. I really, really hope they would be able to find new owners :)

My pop up stall last year

Looking at my schedule, this will most probably be my one and only pop up stall for the year so come on by. I can certainly make recommendation to you based on what genre you enjoy. :)