I am thrilled to welcome the lovely Cleo Bannister of Cleopatra Loves Books to damppebbles today.  Cleo’s blog is fabulous and if you haven’t discovered it yet, then you must.

Cleo has joined me today to share her three #R3COMM3ND3D2017 reads.  #R3COMM3ND3D2017 is an opportunity for book bloggers and authors to share what they believe to be three MUST READ books.  The only rule is that the books must have been published in 2017.  It’s that easy.  If you would like to take part then please complete the form at the bottom of this post.

Without further ado, here are the books Cleo has chosen…

Dangerous Crossing by Rachel Rhys
I was transported back in time and across the world with Lilian Shepard who is on her way to be a domestic servant in Australia. The year is 1939 as Lilian leaves Tilbury Docks and her journey ahead will be one that opens her eyes to life. This book is so well written that it was easy to visualise all that was described and learn a little bit of history along the way – it isn’t crime fiction but there is plenty of suspense. Oh and I have a cameo role in this book after winning an auction organised by CLIC sargent.

The Long Drop by Denise Mina
I have spent 2017 reading many books that are either true-crime reads or inspired by true crimes and this falls into the latter category. Denise Mina creates a story about Peter Manuel whose life had been spent burgling, vandalising, raping and murdering in Glasgow, she takes us to a meeting between Peter and the father of one of his victims and through this recreates the time and place giving the background from all angles to the crimes committed. This is such a nuanced piece of fiction it blew me away.

Love Like Blood by Mark Billingham
I love my crime fiction in all shapes and sizes, and eras but there is something especially pleasing about those authors who tackle contemporary subjects. Mark Billingham has chosen this, his fourteenth book in the Tom Thorne series to highlight honour killings. The fact that he does this within a brilliantly constructed mystery certainly makes for compelling reading. Not only is there a great mystery at the centre of this book, the characters and their interactions with each other are pitch-perfect. I know purists will mock me but even though this is some way through a series, it can be read as a stand-alone crime novel, it has so much to offer.

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Brilliant recommendations, thank you Cleo.  I’ll always have a soft spot for Mark Billingham’s books as his was the first crime series I became obsessed with.  I still kick myself for not introducing myself to him at Harrogate in July!  Good to see Rachel Rhys appearing again and I’ve heard great things about Denise Mina’s latest release.

If Cleo has persuaded you to part with a few pennies, or if you would like to find out more about the books she has suggested, then please click the following amazon.co.uk links:

Dangerous Crossing by Rachel Rhys | The Long Drop by Denise Mina | Love Like Blood by Mark Billingham |

About Cleo:
Cleopatra Loves Books started life as a blog in August 2013. I read mainly crime fiction although I do like other genres most notably historical fiction and non-fiction works that inevitably have links with crime. I love reviewing, offering my opinions on all the books I read which include those I’m lucky enough to receive as ARCs and many from my own collection that grows all the time thanks to the fantastic recommendations of other blogger’s reviews

Cleo’s Blog and Social Media Links:
Cleopatra Loves Books | Twitter | Facebook |

If you are a book blogger or an author and would like to take part in #R3COMM3ND3D2017, please complete the following form (before this evening when I will be closing the form for this year):