After the Storm is written by Isabella Muir and published by Outset Publishing Ltd. Set in 1964 in the usually tranquil seaside town of Bexhill-on-Sea in East Sussex, the novel is the second instalment in the Giuseppe Bianchi mysteries. After the Storm treats the reader to a quintessential English setting with a #classic Italian twist. Bexhill-on-Sea is famous for being the birthplace of British Motor Racing and is home to the famous Da La Warr Pavillion. This heritage, together with its health-restoring air, make it the perfect setting for the retired Italian detective to settle, even for a short while, with his cousin Mario and his family. Like all good detectives though, even retired ones, mysteries seem to have a habit of springing up right under their nose. Giuseppe is no exception to this.
After spending a lot of time walking the family dog, Max, to help his family out, he befriends Edward Swain. Edward accompanies Giuseppe on his walks and they find companionable ground, setting the world to rights as they stroll. Edward seems to trust Giuseppe and just as it seems he is about to reveal something that has been troubling him, a terrible October storm hits Brexhill-on-Sea and Edward is killed by a falling tree. During that fateful night, from his vantage point in the room above the Bella Café, Giuseppe knows that something isn’t right and rushes out into the wildness of the storm. Despite his quick action, he’s too late to save his new friend; however, with his last breath, Edward Swain discloses something that leads Giuseppe to believe that it’s more than a freak accident caused by the storm that has killed the owner of Claremont Lodge. Despite the scepticism of his family and the mild scorn of his cousin, Mario, Giuseppe follows his investigative hunches. He believes that it wasn’t an accident. Yet if it was not an accidental death, then who was responsible and what possible motive could they have for killing someone who seemed to have no connection to anyone?
What did I think of the eBook?
If it’s a quirky protagonist with a nose for a good mystery that you’re after, then this instalment of the Giuseppe Bianchi mysteries will provide you with the opportunity to do some detective work whilst being drawn into the trials and tribulations of Bianchi’s family. I haven’t read the first book in the series and you don’t need to in order to enjoy the plot of this one. However, I’d recommend reading the first book, Crossing the Line, so that you’re able to gain further insight into the characters and their complexities. This eBook has more to it than a mystery that needs solving and so if it’s high suspense and tension that you’re after, this may not fit your brief. Instead, Muir provides the reader with an interesting mixture of characters who were surviving in the 60s with their own dilemmas relating to family, politics and social injustice. Take Christina, for instance, the daughter of Giuseppe’s cousin Mario. A journalist for the local newspaper, she unwittingly becomes Giuseppe’s sidekick in more than one mystery. Christina doesn’t really seem sure about the direction she wants her life to go and this is complicated further by her wayward sister Flavia and her little boy Stevie, who she left to the care of the family while she went off to find herself. You then have Giuseppe’s complex and fractious relationship with his cousin, Mario. While Mario welcomes Giuseppe into his home with the help of his wife Anne, it seems that he isn’t always happy to have him there. Giuseppe is a constant reminder of the unfinished business that the cousins left in Italy. This together with Giuseppe’s reluctance to go back to the home country that he loves, shows that there are more answers to be had in later instalments in this series by Muir. Although the mystery seems to be a slow burner, the array of characters and the different themes that the novel touches on make this an enjoyable and easy read. If you do decide that it sounds like a book you could get your nose into, make sure you make yourself a decent cup of coffee to enjoy while you read, otherwise, I can guarantee you’ll want one after reading about Giuseppe’s expertise with a coffee percolator. Very clearly a man of many talents!
How much is the eBook and how can you buy it?
After the Storm by Isabella Muir is available to buy on Amazon. The Kindle edition is priced at £1.99 while the paperback version retails for £7.99.
About the Author
Isabella is never happier than when she is immersing herself in the sights, sounds and experiences of the 1960s. Researching all aspects of family life back then formed the perfect launchpad for her works of fiction. Isabella rediscovered her love of writing fiction during two happy years working on and completing her MA in Professional Writing and since then has gone to publish five novels, two novellas and a short story collection.
Her first Sussex Crime Mystery series features young librarian and amateur sleuth, Janie Juke. Set in the late 1960s, in the fictional seaside town of Tamarisk Bay, we meet Janie, who looks after the mobile library. She is an avid lover of Agatha Christie stories – in particular Hercule Poirot – using all she has learned from the Queen of Crime to help solve crimes and mysteries. As well as three novels, there are three novellas in the series, which explore some of the back story to the Tamarisk Bay characters.
Her latest novel, ‘Crossing the Line’, is the first of a new series of Sussex Crimes, featuring retired Italian detective, Giuseppe Bianchi who arrives in the quiet seaside town of Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, to find a dead body on the beach and so the story begins…
Isabella’s standalone novel, ‘The Forgotten Children’, deals with the emotive subject of the child migrants who were sent to Australia – again focusing on family life in the 1960s, when the child migrant policy was still in force.
Aside from books, Isabella has a love of all things caravan-like. She has spent many winters caravanning in Europe and now, together with her husband, she runs a small caravan site in Sussex. They are ably assisted by their much-loved Scottie, Bonnie.
To find out more about Isabella, the Sussex Crime Mysteries, and forthcoming titles, visit: www.isabellamuir.com – where you can receive a free novella when you sign up to her monthly newsletter.
About the book
- ASIN : B08P534Y2K
- Publisher : Outset Publishing Ltd for mystery and crime (24 Dec. 2020)
- Language : English
- Print length : 214 pages
You may also want to read other titles by Isabella Muir:
Crossing the Line a Giuseppe Bianchi mystery
Review by: Rowena Jukes
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eBook Review: Summer Kisses at Mermaid Point
eBook Review: Sherlock Holmes and the Ripper of Whitechapel
eBook Review: Ransomed The Missing Children Case Files
* Disclaimer: We were given a copy of the book in return for a feature. All opinions are our own.
13 comments
This sounds like a very interesting book and one you will need a coffee to hand I will be adding this to my reading list
Absolutely, you don’t regret reading it
This sounds like an interesting book – I have to admit I do like a crime novel and I would definitely love to know how this one progresses.
A fab read, you won’t be able to put it down
I like that this is in an ebook format. It sounds like this is going to have me glued to my reading chair. I will check this out soon.
You would definitely as it is such an interesting read
Sounds like a gripping read, although I agree it’s always better to read the first book when it comes to reading sequels. It’s very well-priced, especially on Kindle.
I agree, I have read so many ebooks recently due to the cheap pricing
I love a good mystery and this seems like it is a really gripping read! I used to visit Bexhill on Sea when I was younger and could definitely visualise this story there.
How amazing, thank you for sharing that
Sounds like an interesting, although I don’t remember the last time I read a crime or mystery novel x
This sounds a great mystery book. I haven’t read a mystery in a while will add it to my list
Please do Kira