Downton Abbey: The Official Film Companion by Emma Marriott

Downton Abbey: The Official Film Companion by Emma Marriott-313 pages

WOW!!  For anyone who LOVES Downton Abbey and has seen the film this is a must read.  Gorgeous photos of the homes where they filmed; beautiful pictures and descriptions of the costumes.  An added plus is all of the insight on the characters in the film.  It was like spending time with dear friends!  I highly recommend. 

The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz

The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz
400 pages / 9 hrs, 2 mins

"A wealthy woman strangled six hours after she's arranged her own funeral.  A very private detective uncovering secrets but hiding his own.  A reluctant author drawn into a story he can't control.

"What do they have in common?  Unexpected death, an unsolved mystery and a trail of bloody clues lie at the heart of Anthony Horowitz's page-turning new thriller."  --from the publisher

This is a classic crime/mystery novel with subtle clues that reveal the truth, but only if you're sharp enough to put them all together.  The book received starred reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist.  It's a winner!  On a personal note, the characters weren't particularly likable and that always lessens my enjoyment of a story.

An Irish Doctor in Love and at Sea by Patrick Taylor

An Irish Doctor in Love and at Sea by Patrick Taylor
(Irish Country #10)
496 pages / 18 hrs, 33 mins

"Long before Dr. Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly came to the colorful Irish village of Ballybucklebo, young Surgeon-lieutenant O'Reilly answered the call of duty to serve in World War II.  Fingal just wants to marry his beloved Deirdre and live happily every after. First he must hone his skills at a British naval hospital before reporting back to the HMS Warspite, where, as a ship's doctor, he faces danger upon the high seas...

"Decades later, the war is long over, and O'Reilly is content to mend the bodies and souls of his patients in Ballybucklebo...

"Shifting effortlessly between two singular eras, bestselling author Patrick Taylor continues the story of O'Reilly's wartime experiences, while vividly bringing the daily joys and struggles of Ballybucklebo to life once more."  --from the publisher

I love this series and the people and places seem so real to me.  That said, this book was just too long.  Heavy sigh.  It needed fewer words or more action.

This Was a Man by Jeffrey Archer

This Was a Man by Jeffrey Archer
(The Clifton Chronicles #7)
432 pages / 12 hrs, 47 mins

"In Whitehall, Giles Barrington discovers the truth about his wife Karin from the Cabinet Secretary. Is she a spy or a pawn in a larger game? Harry Clifton sets out to write his magnum opus, while his wife Emma completes her ten years as Chairman of the Bristol Royal Infirmary, and receives an unexpected call from Margaret Thatcher offering her a job. Sebastian Clifton becomes chairman of Farthings Kaufman bank, but only after Hakim Bishara has to resign for personal reasons. Sebastian and Samantha's talented daughter Jessica is expelled from the Slade School of Fine Art, but her aunt Grace comes to her rescue. Meanwhile, Lady Virginia is about to flee the country to avoid her creditors when the Duchess of Hertford dies, and she sees another opportunity to clear her debts and finally trump the Cliftons and Barringtons."  --from the publisher

Wow! This was excellently done. The cast of characters and time span for this series are both immense, and Archer does a masterful job keeping the details straight so the reader is engaged in the story. The plot dragged in some places, but not for long. I may have to revisit this series in the future.  Loved it!