I thoroughly enjoyed reading Children of the Sun by Harry Allen and although it is fiction, I wanted this story to be real.

Children of the Sun blends elements of bravery, friendship, and the pursuit of liberty in the face of adversity. It’s a story that captivates with its emotional depth while challenging readers to confront the harsh realities of life in North Korea, a society where freedom is an absolute luxury. Ra Eun Seo and her friends’ journey is a testament to the human spirit’s resilience and unwavering hope for a better future.

Ra Eun Seo and her friends, Min and Nari, find themselves in a gripping tale of courage and survival in a destitute North Korean town in this compelling novel. Their discovery of a forbidden radio broadcasting South Korean music and news opens doors to a world of possibilities but also leads them into a whirlwind of trouble. Seo, gifted with a beautiful voice, takes a daring step by performing at the Festival of the Sun, unaware of the severe consequences of possessing forbidden materials from the South.

Their imprisonment sparks a harrowing journey as they strive to break free from the clutches of the authorities. Locked away and facing an uncertain future in a labor camp, the trio must navigate through unimaginable challenges that test their resilience and determination to secure their freedom. Their journey is both gripping and confronting, offering readers a glimpse into the hardships and dangers faced by those who dare to defy the strict rules of their society.

48 Hours to Home by R. Lo and CJ Ives Lopez was another challenging and confronting read, but well worth the effort.

It delves into the gripping and challenging journey of Christian, a dedicated U.S. soldier transitioning from military to civilian life. This poignant novel presents the raw reality of Christian’s struggle with PTSD, skillfully capturing the tumultuous emotions and haunting memories that haunt him as he faces the final 48 hours of his military career.

The narrative skillfully navigates the complexities of Christian’s return to his family’s ranch, where the shadows of his brother’s tragic loss to the local drug epidemic loom. As Christian confronts the personal and societal challenges that entangle his life, the story poignantly portrays the inner turmoil he grapples with, especially in his relationships with his distant/aloof father and his loving/caring mother.

The book is a compelling yet emotionally taxing read, shedding light on the immense hurdles faced by soldiers transitioning back to civilian life and battling inner demons. Christian’s journey towards healing and recovery is both heart-wrenching and inspirational, prompting readers to confront the realities of PTSD and the resilience needed to overcome it. ’48 Hours to Home’ is a challenging yet ultimately rewarding read that offers a poignant portrayal of human strength and the arduous path to finding solace amidst overwhelming darkness.

Geneva by Richard Armitage began as a potential industrial espionage / medical ethics novel but became a cheating husband and his mistress thwarted by the clever protagonist with the unlikely help of an FSB agent – quite the plot twister.

Sarah Collier is a retired Nobel scientist and the wife of Alzheimer’s researcher, Daniel, and daughter of an Alzheimer’s patient, is invited to endorse a potentially life-changing piece of medical technology, the Neurocell, developed by Switzerland-based laboratory owned by Mauritz Schiller. In the weeks before the visit to Geneva, Collier suffers from the early stage symptoms of Alzheimer’s and a scan confirms her and Daniel’s worst fears. They travel to Geneva where Sarah is to confirm her highly-coveted endorsement for the Neurocell technology and so make the technology attractive to Schiller’s potential investors. The presentation is managed by the ultra-efficient Helen Alder, supported by the exiled Russian head of security, Pavel Osinov.

The story is interspersed with occasional posts from the medical ethics blogger Terri Landau, who foretells possibilities, good and bad, of the new medical technology that the Schiller Institute is on the verge of creating.

The story is told occasionally from Sarah’s and Daniel’s perspectives. Sarah tells of her anxieties associated with Alzheimer’s and with endorsing new and potentially dangerous medical technology. Daniel tells of the difficulties of being a husband of an Alzheimer’s patient and the profound changes to his and his family’s life. Other chapters and written in the third-person, recounting the plot of Helen Alder, Maurice Schiller and Pavel Osinov in their preparations for the presentation that is vital to the Schiller Institute’s financial survival. In these chapters we learn that Helen may not be as reliable and honest as Maurice thinks she is, and Pavel may in fact be working for another master. And to avoid blowing the suspense of the plot, I’ll stop there.

The characters are well-constructed and the relationship between Daniela and Sarah especially is crafted carefully. The suspicions relating to Helen and Pavel are very carefully and slowly revealed so that the reader is kept guessing for some time.

The plot’s pace is consistent and kept my attention throughout. As with all good suspense/thrillers the last few chapters are fast read of tense action and insightful dialogue.

Murder on the Farm by Kate Wells is the story of Julie Gray who discovers a dead body on her farm. As she investigates, more bodies appear and the investigation becomes more dangerous and closer to home.

Setting a murder-mystery on a quaint English countryside farm felt refreshingly different but at times, forced.

The plot is well-crafted with sufficient clues to keep the reader intrigued and invested in the ‘puzzle’ of the mystery. The characters are mostly well-created and credible to give the whole story a high degree of credibility.

I enjoyed reading this book but there was an underlying feeling that the setting didn’;’t really match the crimes.