Janet Gordon is married, retired, obsessed with her Westlake Terrier, Rollo – and books are her passion. She reads multiple books a week across all genres and reviews them for Rest Less.
This month’s round-up features True Crime, The Mini Breakers, The Yacht, and Winterborne.
Note: Prices can often change, so you may notice some variations on the providers’ websites. Prices and availability are accurate as of the 11th of June, 2026.
We’re just back from a short break in Vilamoura, Portugal, with brilliant weather, glorious food, and of course plenty of time for reading.
We discovered the Tivoli Hotel on the marina, which has a private beach with comfy loungers, chill-out music, and attentive waiters, all within toe-dipping sight of the shore. So, when we weren’t sitting in a glorious restaurant overlooking the water and checking out those wonderful yachts, we were on the beach. It gave me plenty of time to catch up on this month’s reading.
True Crime by Patricia Cornwell (Amazon £20.53, Kindle £9.99)
I’ve been reading Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta novels since Postmortem was published back in 1990, but True Crime, Cornwell’s memoir, is something else. You won’t believe what horrors she’s been through, and just how far away she actually is from the polished image that Kay Scarpetta presents to the world.
Abandoned by her father on Christmas Day, her mother, Marilyn, tried her best to raise Patricia and her siblings on very little money. The situation was so traumatic that Marilyn was institutionalised twice. Cornwell’s story details an abusive foster family, a shocking hospitalisation and a near-fatal car accident, all before she becomes the award-winning police reporter known by many.
This one is a true triumph over adversity, and I can’t imagine having to go through everything that she has. What a wonderful memoir.
The Mini Breakers by Lucy Kennedy (Amazon £13.97, Kindle £2.99)
I’ve never been away with a group of girl friends, but this is exactly what five besties do. Five old school friends meet up at Dublin Airport: there’s Beth, Kate and her partner Ariana, flame-haired Georgia, and Dee and Sam checking in from the US.
They’re off to Portugal, and this is what happens when five women are set free from children, husbands, and worries. They spend their time eating and sightseeing – with lots of drinking in between! But, taking a break from the messy realities of middle age, many of their secrets bubble to the surface, making this long-awaited trip a holiday to remember.
Win!
Courtesy of Bonnier Books, one lucky member can get their hands on a free copy of The Mini Breakers. To have a chance of winning, answer the question below…
What is the capital of Portugal?
a) Lisbon
b) Faro
c) Vilamoura
Terms and conditions
The giveaway will close at 11.59pm on 28th June 2026, and the winner will be chosen at random in a prize draw on 29th June 2026. The winner will be connected with Janet via email for the fulfilment of their prize.
The Yacht by Kayte Nunn (Amazon £9.49, Kindle £5.99)
Kayte Nunn is a new author to me. Although born in the UK and raised in the US, she now lives in New South Wales, Australia. I do love a destination chiller thriller, and this is a terrific read.
What does every wealthy and successful big businessman want? His very own giant yacht. Evan Thyssen, CEO of the Thyssen Group, is about to set sail on Ambition, his white yacht. Of course, he’s invited his wife, his children, and a few selected friends along on the journey. There’s also a crew of over 20, including Piper, a last-minute substitute for a regular crew member who was too ill to sail.
What nobody realises is that the Thyssen empire is on the verge of collapse. And Piper has a big secret – one that means she must sneak all over the yacht. I loved the twists and turns in this one.
Winterbourne by Elizabeth Wolf (Amazon £9.99, Kindle £6.99)
If Gothic novels are your genre, Winterbourne is an amazing read. Just think of Rebecca and Jane Eyre.
Anne is a librarian riddled with guilt over the death of her twin brother, Malcolm, who was killed in a horrific car crash whilst Anne was at the wheel. Following the accident and a series of operations, she’s discharged from the hospital with horrible scars and is barely able to walk. At home, her mother won’t talk to her and blames Anne for her twin’s death.
After being offered a job cataloguing the vast library at Winterbourne, a manor belonging to the enigmatic Lucien Broussard, Anne takes it, knowing full well that Winterbourne is set on a lonely, almost inaccessible island. All she wants is to get away from her mother and her blame.
A small boat is waiting to take Anne over to Winterbourne. Mrs Cooper, the housekeeper, grudgingly welcomes her and explains that, at midnight, all the lights are switched off and, of course, there’s no internet.
Then, there’s Lucien: darkly handsome with a personality that inspires followers. Anne is hooked and desperate to find out more about him. To top it all, there are strange footsteps at night, odd sightings, and locked rooms. All the ingredients that make a perfect Gothic novel.
Oh my goodness, you won’t be able to put this down. What a wonderful example of the genre, and once you start reading, you’ll understand just how appropriate the beautiful cover is.
For more reading inspiration, head over to our books, literature, and writing section.
Have you read any of these books? Or have you added any of them to your reading list? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.