Review #700: A Closetful of Skeletons by Tanushree Podder

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


“Unfortunately, the clock is ticking, the hours are going by. The past increases, the future recedes. Possibilities decreasing, regrets mounting.”

----Haruki Murakami

Tanushree Podder, an Indian writer, has penned an interesting and slightly intriguing thriller called, A Closetful of Skeletons that revolves around an actress of yesteryear who escapes the silver screen glory to a quiet life at a sleepy hamlet somewhere up on the hills, but her life drastically changes when she meets an ambitious and mysterious young woman, whom she asks to ghost-write her autobiography. But little did the actress knew that her birthday party with her guest list of ex-lovers would go so terribly fatal when she announces about her tell-all autobiography.

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Review #62: The Cherry Blossom Murder by Fran Pickering

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A medley of Takarazuka Revue and an enthralling treasure of a Japanese dynasty spurs a murder of a young woman-- Intriguing and really very captivating!

Before beginning my review, I'd like to mention about Takarazuka Revue, since The Cherry Blossom Murder by Fran Pickering revolves around the world of Takarazuka Revue in Japan. Don't worry; it's similar like Broadway, except the actresses only take part in those lavish and gorgeous plays. In Takarazuka Revue, women form fan club of particular actresses who are hired under contract with so many clauses like no Takarazuka Revue actress can get married while they are serving under the contract period, etc.

Synopsis:
Josie Clark, an English woman, leaves behind her home in England for a job in Japan. But that was few years ago, now Josie has a bff, Keiko, works in an insurance company, AZT, and spends their hobby of attending Tammy's shows at Takarazuka Revue. But on one such show in Takarazuka Revue, a young girl, named, Mai-Chan ends up dead under a Cherry Blossom tree just right outside Takarazuka Revue. Feeling betrayed by the police for not doing Mai-Chan's murder investigation, she dons the hat of a sleuth and rolls up her sleeves to start a proper investigation with her boss, Mr. Tanaka. She comes up across so many suspects from Takarazuka Revue's manager, Ms. Kato to the actress, Tammy to Mai-Chan's childhood bestie, Sumiko. And also she comes across a deadly and a very gorgeous treasure at Takarazuka Revue which belong to a long-forgotten dynasty of Japan and vows to protect the treasure with all her heart and mind. It's the day of Annual Fireworks Display day at Japan, and things are getting little out of control for Josie in the basement of Takarazuka Revue. Who is killer? What is the killer's motive? Is it the treasure or some personal grudge? Read this book, to unlock these mysteries.

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