Postcards from a Stranger - (Audio) Book Review

 

Postcards from a Stranger by Imogen Clark
Audio book narrated by Henrietta Meire
(10 hrs and 11 min) (2018)

Cara grew up with her father and brother, and doesn't have any proper memories of her mother, who died when she was just around 2 years old. As an adult, she's still living with her father, who now has Alzheimer's; while her older brother, Michael, lives in London and has a family of his own. Cara has a skill for dressmaking, and runs her own business from home, designing wedding dresses; which also allows her to keep an eye on and be at hand for her father. In the long run that all gets a bit too much for Cara, tough; but then she manages to employ a qualified nurse to help her father in the daytime.

One day, Cara happens to find a stash of old postcards in the attic. The cards, from various corners of the world, are addressed to Cara and Michael, sent regularly every year until Cara's 18th birthday, always with the same message. The sender is anonymous, but Cara starts thinking that it feels like the cards could be from her mum - if not for the fact that the cards are all from after her mum died...

Cara's father is too deeply lost in his disease to be of any help, so Cara tries talking to her brother about it. But Michael says he does not know anything about the cards - and obviously they can't be from their mum, as she was already dead when they were sent.

Cara can't let go of the mystery though. She finds out that her mother had a sister, now living in America, and actually flies over there to try and get in touch with her aunt.

Even this does not seem to unravel the mysteries involved, though.

Somewhere half way into the story I began to have some suspicions of my own about the outcome in the end... But as it turned out, I too was on the wrong track.

I'm not going to reveal any more, but I got quite wrapped up in this book while listening to it. (It was another one included to listen to for free in my Audible membership. Seems to be the only one of hers included there for free, though.)

The author's page on Audible says:

Multi-million copy bestselling author Imogen Clark writes contemporary book club fiction about the hidden truths within families—and the consequences of uncovering them. Her novels have topped the Amazon Kindle charts eight times and are now translated into twelve languages, reaching readers worldwide. Originally a lawyer, Imogen left her legal career to raise her four children before returning to her first love—books. She studied English Literature part-time at university and soon began writing stories of her own. When she’s not writing, Imogen is usually planning her next adventure. A passionate traveller, she finds inspiration for her novels everywhere from Yorkshire, where she lives with her husband, to the far corners of the globe.

When I tried looking her up in Wikipedia, I just found an author with the same name who lived 1858-1936, though!

Books I Read/Listened to in May 2026

 

The Saint Mary's Cipher by Anna Elliott and Charles Veley
No 9 in The Homefront Sleuths Cozy Mystery series
Release date 2026-04-27
Audio book narrated by Iona Campbell (9:50 hrs)

Introduction from the Audible website: 

Palm Sunday brings spring to Crofter’s Green and a deadly secret. When a postal van crashes outside the Cozy Cup, Dorothy agrees to hold a registered parcel for the shaken driver. Minutes later, the parcel vanishes and the postman is found murdered. The only clues are an address in London and a faint cipher that points back to St Mary’s Church.

As Alice, Blake, Harry, and Evie follow the trail, the Homefront Sleuths uncover a chilling wartime plot that could leave the village in ruins. With blackout-darkened church bells, a father’s fate hanging in the balance, and a wedding at risk, they must stop a ruthless local ring before the first bombs fall.

My opinion: I've listened to all 9 books (so far) in this series, in order, in four months, becauseI found them included in my Audible membership for free - but am not sure how long that will last... I wouldn't be able to re-tell the plot in each individual book/mystery, but the characters are likeable, and the books have been entertaining enough to listen to. The setting is an English village in the early 1940s, during the war. (The events in the first seven books all took place during 1941, while with No 8 we moved into 1942 - and as you can see in the introduction for No 9, that one starts at Easter 1942.) 

I assume the series will continue... Whether I'll also continue to listen, probably depends on if it will also continue to be included among my "free" titles!

 

In the time of Five Pumpkins by Alexander McCall Smith
No 26 (!) in The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series
Release date 2025-09-04 
6 hrs 54 min

Introduction from the Audible website:

The rains are coming, but not just yet. When they do, there will be green shoots of growth throughout Botswana. Pumpkins will flourish – particularly those of Mma Potokwani, matron of a children’s home and old friend of Precious Ramotswe. Mma Potokwani and Mma Ramotswe have many other things to talk about, including a new friendship that Mr J.L.B. Matekoni has struck up with Mr Freddie Mogorosi, a prominent figure in the motor trade.

In the meantime, Mma Ramotswe looks into what seems to be a straightforward matter involving a husband who thinks his wife may be having affair. But there is a surprise in store: she, it transpires, suspects that he himself has a lover. This is obviously a case that will require tact – which of course is a quality Mma Ramotswe has in abundance. Along with kindness.

In this latest visit to The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency we are reassured that no matter how unhappy the world may be, there is always an oasis of courtesy and peace in that special place in southern Africa. To which you are now invited.

My opinion: I repeat what I said about the previous one in this series (in April): I'm  impressed that Alexander McCall Smith still manages to keep this long series enjoyable. The "concept" is pretty much the same as it has been all along, but at the same time the main characters do keep developing and maturing - giving the sense that time does pass in their lives as well as it does for us who have kept following the series from start (1998). (It's only the last few that I've bought with Audible credits, in the past I borrwed them from the library.) 

 

The Man with a Load of Mischief by Martha Grimes
Book 1 in the Richard Jury series (first published in 1981)
Audio book 9 hrs 32 min; narrated by Steve West

Introduction from the Audible website: 

At the pub The Man with a Load of Mischief, they found the dead body stuck in a keg of beer. At The Jack and Hammer, another body was stuck out on the beam of the pub’s sign, replacing the mechanical man who kept the time. Two pubs. Two murders. One Scotland Yard inspector called in to help. Detective Chief Inspector Richard Jury arrives in Long Piddleton and finds everyone in the postcard village looking outside of town for the killer. Except for one Melrose Plant. A keen observer of human nature, he points Jury in the right direction: into the darkest parts of his neighbors’ hearts…

My opinion: This is the first book in another very long series of detective novels. From Wikipedia I learn that Martha Grimes too by now has written 26 books about DCI Richard Jury. I have read a couple in the past, a long time ago (and not in order); and now decided to go back to the first one in the series to see where it all started. Besides the detective Richard Jury, and I think also the character Melrose Plant, another thing that links all books in this series is that their titles are all names of English pubs.

Murder on the Rocks by T.E. Kinsey

A Lady Hardcastle Mystery, Book 13
Release date 26 May, 2026
Audiobook 8 hrs 11 min
Narrated by Elizabeth Knowelden

Introduction from the Audible website:

February 1913. Lady Hardcastle and her diminutive but brave lady’s maid, Flo, have been invited by their friend JB McIntyre to spend the weekend at his recently renovated Tudor fort on a remote island off the Devonshire coast. But the holiday quickly turns sinister when first a number of valuable jewels go missing—and then a fellow guest is murdered with a most unusual weapon.

Asked by JB to investigate, the stakes are raised for the sleuthing duo when a violent storm traps the group on the island and cuts them off from help. Is the murderer in their midst? With everyone claiming to have an alibi—but each also having a skeleton in their closet—can Lady Hardcastle and Flo unravel this complex web of secrets and deception before the killer strikes again?

My opinion: This is one of my favourite mystery series in later years, told from the point of view of Florence, lady's maid (but really more like companion/friend) to Lady Hardcastle - both of them with a rather adventurous background from travels in foreign countries, but in the first book coming back to England to "settle down" in an English village. ... Well - as all of us who enjoy this genre of British literature, the idea of a peaceful and mystery-free life in the English countryside is really a contradiction in itself... 

This 13th book is a little bit different in that they leave their own house and village to go and stay with a limited number of guests in an isolated big house on an island. So their usual set of friends in their own village are not involved in this story.

I enjoy this series as I like the characters, the setting, and the witty repartee between Lady H and her maid. (Originally I fell for the series because one of my paternal grandmother's older sisters was a travelling lady's maid more or less in the same era. To my knowledge she didn't solve any murders, but she still led a more adventurous life than most girls/women of her time.)  

 

Entering June

For the month of June in my 2026 photo calendar, I chose this garden gate. It's from my visit last summer (in August) to the childhood home of the Swedish author Astrid Lindgren (at Näs, Vimmberby, in the province of Småland). If you'd like to (re)visit that post and look at more photos from there, you can do so here. 

. . .

A lot of my "computer time" is currently spent trouble shooting again. This time it's my printer that's being uncooperative (since a week or two). It still works as copier (showing that it's not "dead") but refuses to print documents from the computer - or scan images. I've tried the "automatic" trouble shooting routines without success, so I'll probably have to get into the more time consuming process of uninstalling and reinstalling etc... Or perhaps even wait for a new app which the old app says is going to be released soon... Just hoping no urgent printing jobs will turn up in the meantime!

Mother's Day Traditions, and Rhododendron

 

Rhododendron are now also in full bloom. The photos below are from the cemetery today; the ones below from around the housing estate where I live, 2-3 days ago.

The last Sunday in May is Mother's Day in Sweden. 

The tradition was imported here from America, and introduced here in 1919. The somewhat later date for it here is said to be because they wanted spring to be a bit further along, so that there would be more flowers about.

In 1920, a leaflet was printed and distributed, giving some suggestions how to celebrate:

1. If you have a flagpole in your yard, the Swedish flag should be raised in the morning.

2. Mother should be greeted with a song by the children in the morning.

3. While still in bed, she should be served coffee and buns, prepared by the children, and given flowers and a present.

4. If possible, Mother should not have to do any housework that day. The children should make the beds, sweep the floors, cook the meals, and wash up.

5. In the afternoon or evening the family should hold a small celebration in which Father also participates.

6. Children not living at home should send Mother a letter or telegram or postcard, especially made for the day, and sent in time for Mother's Day.

(From a Swedish museum website, translated by me.)

From my own childhood, in the 1950/60's, I recall it as a day when it was my Dad who tried to perform (some of) those tasks rather than Mum (who was a stay-at-home mum and wife ever since I was born, just over a year into their marriage). This primarily meant that on Mother's Day, she was served burned toast in bed in the morning, even though she did not like eating in bed. Later on, she managed to persuade us (dad) to at least let her eat her burned toast at the kitchen table... As for the rest of the day, I suspect she was probably allowed (for all our sakes) to do the cooking herself; but forced to let dad (or later on, me and my brother) do the washing up. 

AI generated image

Not having children of my own, I haven't really kept up with the development of the Mother's Day traditions in later years! I usually burn my own toast all year round - and like my mum, I don't like eating in bed, but prefer to have breakfast at the kitchen table. (Lunch, on the other hand, I often eat in front of the TV.)

Do you have any special Mother's Day traditions?

Azaleas

The azaleas in the old cemetery are at their very best just now. I've been going to check on them at least every other day or so, and just can't resist taking new photos every time...

May 24, 2026

May 24, 2026

May 27, 2026

 

May 27, 2026

May 27, 2026

 

May 28, 2026

May 28, 2026

May 30, 2026

Azaleas are flowering shrubs in the genus Rhododendron. Azaleas bloom in the spring; their flowers often lasting several weeks. Shade tolerant, they prefer living near or under trees. Plant enthusiasts have selectively bred azaleas for hundreds of years. This human selection has produced thousands of different cultivars which are propagated by cuttings. Azalea seeds can also be collected and germinated. 

What I did not know about azaleas until I looked it up just now is that this lovely flowering shrub is also highly toxic, and dangerous to pets - if consumed.

As I'm not in the habit of eating them, but just taking photos, I think I'm safe enough to just walk by and enjoy the abundance of colour they offer this time of year!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azalea