top of page
Search
Writer's picturefly276

Review *Deadly Autumn Harvest*

Updated: Aug 25, 2023



by Tony Mott

Translated by Marina Sofia

Cover Design by Sonja van der Westhuizen

Cover photo by Sergei Leont'ev: Unisplash

Published by Corylus Books




So many things might come to mind when we see this cover & title.


Have you ever had a niggling feeling or thought in the back of your mind? Sometimes it's the smallest detail that can lead you in a new direction.


Sometimes you just have to trust your gut.


*The dead cannot talk, yet they always tell us the truth*

Despite admirable, exhausting efforts to scrub them out, in EVERY industry & career field, there will always be some archaic hierarchy, often including stereotypical expectations & gender-based duty restrictions.

Forensic pathologist Gigi Alexa fights to be taken seriously in a society of old-fashioned, deeply rooted attitudes.

She has excellent book smarts & work ethic, extensive credentials & experience but it's still an ongoing battle to be entirely accepted, acknowledged or respected by everyone.

It's rare for a crime to be clear-cut or simple but an unexplained dead body, soon followed by another apparently unconnected murder, makes things so much more complicated.

Further deaths add to the puzzle & initially baffle the investigators but will Gigi be able to crack the questions & discover if they're at all connected?


A victim bears an alarming resemblance to Gigi, adding a new level of mystery to the already-shocking crimes.

Working in partnership with the police teams, whilst negotiating the usual rigours of a personal life & trying to forge her way in a tough career environment would be a challenge for anyone but Gigi is beyond determined.

Just to add to the jeopardy, they're all in the public scrutiny spotlight & trying extra hard to prove their skills after making recent headlines for lack of action in previous criminal cases.


Tony Mott has created such a great character in Gigi, set amongst the whole, excellent cast & the engaging writing style keeps the reader keen to see what's coming next.


The translation by Marina Sofia has brought a fantastic text to us in a smooth, unfaltering delivery, keeping the reader totally involved.

There's a lot of intriguing & clever detail in this story. Based in the Carpathian town of Brașov, we visit several real-life locations that have been fascinating to research & explore, virtually.


The setting is its own character & we can feel the nuances of Romanian life through the text. The author's thorough knowledge & personal familiarity with the location helps immerse us as we read.

Sometimes an unexpected detail can be the clincher & even a habit that's annoying to some people, can be the key to a vital development.


Keep an eye out for the details in this one as you read.

I've tried a national recipe inspired by a few different book locations. Here's a treat I tried from a traditional recipe.


Braşov & Romania might be famous for stylish, delicate cream patisserie-style cakes but I tried a more straightforward recipe! Help yourself.


*Romanian Lazy Cake*

Make sure you check out all the great titles from Corylus Books.


This one is part of the excellent 'Women in Translation' series & has been translated by Marina Sofia.


I appreciate the chance to review this book & future titles. Thank you Ewa Sherman & Corylus Books.

*îţi mulţumesc foarte mult*




18 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page