Book Review: Shadows of Tehran by Nick Berg

FORGED IN CONFLICT: FROM IRANIAN REBEL TO AMERICAN SOLDIER

 

Shadows of Tehran would have to be the most amazing and terrifying story I've read for a long time.

 

Shadows of Tehran is a fictional tale inspired by true events from the author's lived experiences.  Nick Berg uses creative license with dialogue and thoughts of real characters.

 

My heart broke many times while reading Shadows of Tehran. It is a fascinating and timely story about fighting for what you believe in, even when the odds are stacked against you.

The story follows the life of Ricardo, born in Tehran to an Iranian mother and an American father, he never felt like he truly belonged to either culture. Abandoned by his father at a time when Iran was going through major political upheavals, Ricardo feels he must now become the head of the family, protecting his mother and younger sister.

 

At the age of 15 Ricardo joins a band of freedom fighters as the Revolutionary Guards take over Tehran with a reign of terror.

 

Shadows of Tehran is an astonishing tale of one man's will not to be broken. I'm not sure how much Nick Berg fictionalised Ricardo's story or if Ricardo is a combination of people. Either way it is a truly harrowing story of survival and the fight for a better life.

 

After capture and torture Ricardo escapes Iran and finds his way to America where he immediately joins the US Army. His knowledge and experience make him an invaluable member of his unit. However, his fight for freedom in his home country doesn't stop here.

 

Berg's writing shows the strength of courage and the power of hope that keeps people fighting for freedom against insurmountable odds. 

 

Shadows of Tehran is a must read. It's a story that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

 

Content: war, torture, child abuse, death. 

 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Fortis Publishing

Publication date: 22nd April 2025

Genre: Fiction / Autofiction / Military Thriller

Pages: 300

RRP: AU$11.99 (Kindle edition)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Smith Publicity 

 

 

Book Review: Out of the Woods by Gretchen Shirm

Out of the Woods is the thought provoking novel by Gretchen Shirm based on the 1995 massacre of thousands of civilians in Srebrenica and the ensuing trial of a former military man charged with war crimes.

 

In 2000 Jess travels from Australia to the Hague as secretary to an Australian judge who has employed her to transcribe the trial of a man charged with war crimes.

I was expecting Out of the Woods to be a lot more harrowing than it was, with descriptive witness statements of the genocide and brutality. However the short extracts of statements were more about what impact witnessing these acts had on their lives.

 

Whilst Shirm uses real witness statement extracts and the trial of a former General by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia was a real trial the character of Jess is fictitious. 

 

Out of the Woods focuses mainly on Jess and her mental health, having to listen to the statements day after day, her conflicting thoughts on the case and how hard it was for her to disassociate herself from the case.

 

Jess is very hard to connect with. She is awkward and so uptight, always looking for hidden meaning in people's actions and words. It was hard work being in her headspace. We follow Jess's journey through a complex round of emotions as she navigates her divorce, her relationship with her mother, making new friends and opening herself up to romance.

 

Even though Jess was a complex character, the concept of how listening to crimes can affect a person's mental health is intriguing and offers some thought to people who have to sit on juries. 

 

Shirm's writing is beautifully descriptive, almost poetic, and we get some lovely scenes as Jess plays tourist in the area on her days off.

 

Out of the Woods is thought provoking and topical. I was compelled to google the 1995 massacre to find out more information.

 

My rating 4 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Transit Lounge 

Publication date: 1st April 2025

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Pages: 352

RRP: AU$34.99

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Quikmark Media 

 

  

Book Review: We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

I enjoyed We Solve Murders more for the fabulous mix of characters than the mystery. The short chapters kept the plot moving along at a good steady pace.

 

Amy works for a private security company and is currently protecting world renown author Rosie D'Antonio after she has received a death threat. When it starts to look like Amy is being set up for a number of murders, she calls on her father-in-law, retired police officer Steve Wheeler, to help her find out who is behind the murders.

Not being able to leave Rosie unprotected, she takes her along as they investigate the murders. 

The vast number of characters introduced at the start of the book made it hard to keep up with and remember who was who.  However it soon settled into a rhythm and the connections became easier to keep track of.

 

We Solve Murders is an easy read. The plot is uncomplicated, there is plenty of humour and you don't have to think too deeply about the mystery.

 

You may have to suspend your disbelief at times but it is its absurdness that makes it so funny.

 

We Solve Murders is perfect for those who like their murder mysteries with a dose of humour and heart. 

With over 129,000 ratings on Goodreads already, and 78% being 4 & 5 stars, it looks like Richard Osman is on another winner with this series.

 

My rating 4.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

 

Publisher: Penguin Random House

Imprint: Viking

Publication date: 17th September 2024

Series: We Solve Murders #1

Genre: Crime / Mystery

Pages: 444

Source: Own Copy

 

 

Book Review: An Invisible Tattoo by Suellen Dainty

 An Invisible Tattoo is a powerful story of female friendship, long held secrets and the ongoing battle for equality for women.

 

Narrated by both Ruth and Kate in Contemporary Sydney and a second timeline of Somerset 1972 is narrated through Ruth's reminiscence. 

Ruth is housebound suffering from severe arthritis and the after affects of a stroke and battles with cancer.

Kate, a young journalist, is hoping, through Ruth, to get the scoop of a lifetime.

 

There is a lot to unpack in An Invisible Tattoo. The title refers to the imprint friendships leave on us, an impression, although invisible, that is carried within us forever.

 

1972 - Ruth's friendship with Adela takes her to Somerset, where Adela is married to famous singer songwriter James Bennett. Here we delve into the hedonistic, bohemian days of the early 70's. Drugs, alcohol and sexual freedom. It was a huge time for feminists however, Dainty points out that the freedoms of the time still seemed to be ruled by men. 

 

Present day - Kate is wily and uses her charms to get Ruth to open up and spill the beans about Adela and James' relationship and more importantly about the night he died. Everyone else living in the house at the time have died and the discovery of new songs, hidden in an attic, has the world eager to find out what happened on that fateful night. 

 

I loved that we got both Ruth and Kate's point of view. They are very similar in personality. Ruth shows that old and frail doesn't necessarily mean senile. She's stringing Kate along and knows exactly what she's doing. She enjoys the company and she wants to prolong Kate's visits.

 

An Invisible Tattoo has an underlying mystery surrounding Bennett's death. It is also a story about working out what you want in life and Dainty throws in a moral dilemma for Kate to ponder. I enjoyed Kate's character growth.

 

The twist at the end was unexpected and certainly added weight to the themes included. 

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 1st April 2025

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Pages: 309

RRP: AU$32.99 (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher 

Book Review: Dancing With Bees by Anna Maynard

Dancing With Bees is the outstandingly entertaining debut novel from Australian author Anna Maynard.

 

Sunny Moritz thinks at 33 she really does need more meaning in her life. She decides to start with saving the bees and will keep her own beehive. Through email  she connects with Al, the man with all the information to get her started. When Al arrives he is a perplexing mix of mysterious Antarctic scientist and sexy player full of confidence. Someone Sunny definitely should not fall for.

I originally thought this was going to be a friends to lovers romantic comedy and although it does have these qualities there are also some deeply emotional elements within the story such as death by cancer and attempted suicide.

 

Dancing With Bees is a story that will make you laugh-out-loud and make you cry. Some parts were lots of fun while others were profoundly heartfelt with themes of misunderstandings and reconnection. 

 

I found Sunny a bit annoying, however I enjoyed her growth and how she decluttered her life and started doing more meaningful things with her time and doing what gave her joy. 

 

Dancing With Bees was an emotional roller coaster; funny, sad, meaningful with a touch of spice. 

Dancing With Bees is the whole package! 

 

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 1st April 2025

Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Romance 

Pages: 320

RRP: AU$32.99 (paperback)

Source: Uncorrected proof from the publisher