Welcome to my personal book blog - Brown Flopsy's Book Burrow!
I am mad about books in all their forms - paper books, e-books and audio books.
I review books and share the bookish love. You may also see me talking about books on Twitter (X), Instagram and Bluesky (@brownflopsy).
My reviews are an honest reflection of the books I have enjoyed, and the views expressed here are completely my own.
I am also a member of, and admin for, the SquadPod Collective bloggers group.
Tuesday, December 31, 2030
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Witch Trial by Harriet Tyce
Published 26th February 2026 by Wildfire.
From the cover of the book:
When 18-year-old Christian Shaw is found dead in an Edinburgh park, the city reels - and the shock only deepens when police charge her best friends, Eliza Lawson and Isobel Smyth, with her murder.
As their trial begins and headlines scream for justice, rumours of bullying spiral into something darker: whispers of rituals, obsession, and a teenage pact gone wrong.
But then the girls take the stand - revealing a chilling defence no one saw coming - and the jury must question everything: the motives, the evidence, even their own judgement.
Who's telling the truth? Who can be trusted?
And what really happened to Christian Shaw?
Let the Witch Trial begin . . .
***********
When eighteen-year-old Christian Shaw's body is found in an Edinburgh park, ominously surrounded by crows and with a rictus grimace of terror on her face, a media frenzy ensues - made worse when her school friends Eliza Lawson and Isobel Smyth are charged with her murder.
The trial is now about to begin, and the country holds its breath for gory details of how and why Eliza and Isobel allegedly scared Christian to death through occult means, knowing she suffered from a dangerous heart condition.
As the prosecution begins its case, it becomes clear that the defence Eliza and Isobel will employ not only sets them at odds with each other, but relies on 'facts' which must surely be pure delusion. Who is telling the truth? The jury must decide...
The story unfurls from the point of view of heart surgeon Matthew Phillips, who has been called to serve on the jury for the sensational case (with additional snippets from the witnesses as they are called to testify). Through his eyes, the tense high court drama plays out, immersing you in his thoughts on the the accused, the defence and prosecution cases, the testimony of the witnesses, his fellow jurors, and some of the people who have come to view the proceedings. In parallel, Tyce treats you to an intriguing fly-on-the-wall view of Matthew's troubled personal life, and the fracturing of his mental health as he begins to question reality and his role in the case.
Tyce beautifully portrays the ever-changing landscape in the courtroom, keeping you on a knife-edge as prosecution and defence play their hands, and the jurors navigate the difficult process of coming to a majority verdict. The suspense is pitched to perfection, with cracking reveals timed to shift your perspective on what really happened, especially when it comes to the deliciously nostalgic dark vein of horror that runs through the whole story. And then, when you are good and disoriented, Tyce pulls a blinder in the final swathes of the novel (and pokes a little fun at herself too).
Along the way, Tyce elegantly explores a wealth of themes to tweak your emotions and provoke your thoughts... perception, unorthodox beliefs, views on witchcraft (powerful echoes of witch trials through the ages), attitudes towards those who are a little different, mental health, and even the legal system itself. And there is a lot to reflect on when it comes to bullying, cruelty, jealousy, guilt, parent-child relationships, stress, and the complexities of female friendships.
I consumed it whole, unable to look away for a second. Absolute genius!
Witch Trial is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.
Thank you to Wildfire for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
About the author:
Harriet Tyce grew up in Edinburgh and studied English at Oxford University before doing a law conversion course at City University. She practiced as a criminal barrister in London for nearly a decade, and subsequently completed an MA in Creative Writing/Crime Fiction at the University of East Anglia. She lives in north London.
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
The Murder Pool (Stella Blomkvist Book Four) by Stella Blómkvist
Translated by Quentin Bates.
Published 5th March 2026 by Corylus Books.
From the cover of the book:
Sometimes murder runs in the family. Or does it?
When a well-known artist is found in Snorri's Pool with an axe buried deep in his chest, Stella Blómkvist is immediately thrown in at the deep end, brought in to defend the apparently harmless young man the police have in their sights as the killer.
The man's mother had spent time prison, convicted of the killing of a personal trainer, despite her protestations of innocence. Stella can't help being drawn into both the cold case and this fresh murder, with a trail of guilt that stretches half-way around the world.
As if she doesn't have enough to keep her busy, Stella's pursuing a political high-flyer suspected of being a serial rapist, and defending a senior police officer on corruption charges that have all the hallmarks of a vendetta. But the toughest challenges Stella faces are among her own loved ones…
With a razor-sharp tongue and a moral compass all of her own, Stella Blómkvist has a talent for attracting trouble. Her trademark explosive mix of murder, intrigue and surprise has made this of Iceland's best-loved crime series.
***********
With a lot on her mind, controversial Icelandic lawyer Stella Blómkvist goes for a night-time stroll, only to come across the body of a well-known artist in Snorri's Pool. It is immediately obvious that the man is dead, given the axe buried deep in his chest.
Already in the process of helping a woman prove her innocence over a conviction that had her imprisoned for the murder of her personal trainer lover years before, Stella now finds herself also defending the woman's young son - who the police believe is guilty of the brutal crime after acting as a model for the artist.
Meanwhile, Stella is also trying to bring down a powerful political advisor whose reign as a serial rapist has been allowed to continuing unchallenged, and defending a senior policeman from serious charges of bribery and collusion with the Icelandic criminal fraternity.
It is business as usual for Stella Blómkvist...
Stella Blómkvist, the ball-busting legal creation of the mysterious best-selling author of the same name, is back with her fourth gripping adventure, translated into English by Quentin Bates. And this time she has more on her drama-laden plate than ever.
Stella's new-found happiness with her wife, Rannveig, is clouded with worries, but the pressure of work is not about to let up for an instant. Stella finds herself in the midst of several tricky investigations at the same time, all of which have links with secrets and lies from the past - some of which touch Stella's own fiery encounters with very bad criminal types and the upper echelons of political and business circles.
The separate threads of murder, sexual misconduct, corruption, and revenge become increasingly tangled together, and Stella is off ruffling feathers; using her contacts to ferret out dirt; dropping hints into all the right ears; flying about in her silver merc; and using her forthright attitude to her advantage. The action comes thick and fast, punctuated by tense courtroom scenes, and there are many exciting twists and turns on the the way to hidden truths on several fronts.
Without a doubt, this is Stella's most complicated story to date. With so many parallel cases there is a lot to keep track of, particularly when it comes to remembering who's who in the rogues gallery. However, a Stella Blómkvist story is always a gritty fun-ride, with bags of suspense, and this is no exception. Stella's uncompromising attitude keeps you entertained throughout, and drives the plot onwards to satisfying conclusions (and intriguing moral dilemmas). I really enjoyed how many faces from the previous books made appearances, and Blómkvist makes excellent use of the echoing themes of dysfunctional families, ambition, sexual abuse, vendettas, and double-dealing.
A one-sitting read - superbly translated by Quentin Bates, as always. I am already looking forward to book five!
The Murder Pool is available to buy now in paperback and ebook formats.
Thank you to Corylus Books for sending me an ecopy of this book in return for an honest review, and to Ewa Sherman for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.
About the author:
With a devoted following in Iceland where the Stella Blómkvist books have been a bestselling series since their appearance in the 1990s, the books have been published under a pseudonym – and the author’s identity remains a firmly under wraps.
Who is behind Nordic Noir’s best-kept secret is a question that crops up regularly, but it looks like it’s going to remain a mystery...
About the translator:
Quentin Bates escaped English suburbia as a teenager, jumping at the chance of a gap year working in Iceland. For a variety of reasons, the gap year stretched to become a gap decade, during which time he went native in the north of Iceland, acquiring a new language, a new profession and a family…
He is the author of a series of crime novels set in present-day Iceland – and as a translator he has worked with some of Iceland’s coolest writers, including Lilja Sigurðardóttir, Sólveig Pálsdóttir, Stella Blómkvist, Einar Kárason, Ragnar Jónasson, Jónína Leósdóttir, Óskar Guðmundsson and more.
Thursday, March 5, 2026
The Harvey Girl (The Harvey Girls Mysteries Book One) by Dana Stabenow
Published 5th March 2026 by Aries.
From the cover of the book:
WELCOME TO THE GILDED AGE. WHERE NOT EVERYTHING GLITTERS.1890. The New Mexico Territory is a lawless frontier where criminals steal money and land alike with impunity. Everyone wears a six-gun and is ready and willing to draw it.
In the new city of Montaña Roja, Fred Harvey's growing empire is threatened by the robberies plaguing his newest Harvey House restaurant. To get justice, he needs a skilled detective to go undercover and procure answers to questions the law will not ask.
The assignment falls to Clare Wright, a young Pinkerton agent. Disguised as one of Harvey's famous hostesses, Clare travels west where she risks being exposed at every step of her investigation. To get answers - and to get out alive - there are only two things she can trust: her instincts, and her derringer.
***********
1890. The New Mexico Territory is opening up fast. The march of civilisation is not far behind, but for now lawlessness is the name of the frontier game. Entrepreneur Fred Harvey is making the most of the opportunities offered in the Wild West by extending his chain of Harvey House restaurants into New Mexico, but frequent train robberies are threatening his empire. He needs someone to go undercover in his newest restaurant in Montaña Roja to put a stop to the thefts - especially now the culprits have upped their game to include murder.
Young Pinkerton agent Clare Wright is the perfect person for the job. Disguised as one of Harvey's famous hostesses, a Harvey Girl, she heads west to investigate - armed with her notebook and trusty derringer...
I am partial to a mystery set in the good old Wild West, so I was instantly attracted to this exciting novel from Dana Stabenow - especially as it is set in the intriguing Gilded Age (a term taken from a novel by Mark Twain, who makes an entertaining appearance).
Unfurling largely from the perspective of ingenious, kick-ass detective Clare, the story begins with her wrapping-up an investigation in Bienville, Mississippi (via a fascinating prologue about her origins, which becomes relevant later in the story). A meeting with a perplexed Fred Harvey and Clare's Pinkerton employers then sends her out west to New Mexico, for an incognito job that will test her sleuthing skills and her mettle to the max.
Montaña Roja is a revelation for Clare. Awed by the scenery, shocked by the lack of competent law enforcement, and bemused by the shenanigans of the local business mogul and his cronies, she sets to work ferreting out those responsible for the daring railroad raids - even though she is exhausted by the amount of work expected of her as a Harvey Girl. With a little help from some strategically placed hired gun-types (famous faces amongst them), and the steadfast women in Montaña Roja, Clare's investigation produces surprising results that spark a highly enjoyable, fast-paced finale that channels the Wild West vibe to perfection.
Stabenow perfectly balances this gripping adventure on the knife-edge of a new territory teetering between lawlessness and civilisation. Boom town fever, and the spread of the railroad are opening up the west, and she does an excellent job of immersing you in all the contradictions of a town where killings happen openly in the streets, while robber barons build gaudy mansions funded by back-room deals, and ordinary citizens go about their lives. The plot blends western fun with a compelling crime story, and encompasses fascinating political, geographical and historical detail - much of which sent me down rabbit holes, especially about Fred Harvey and Harvey Girls, who I had not heard about before.
I galloped (pun intended) through Clare's atmospheric escapade, and cannot wait for the next instalment of the series!
The Harvey Girl is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.
Thank you to Aries for sending me a proof of this book in return for an honest review, and for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.
About the author:
Dana Stabenow was born in Anchorage, Alaska and raised on a 75-foot fishing tender. She knew there was a warmer, drier job out there somewhere and found it in writing. Her first book in the bestselling Kate Shugak series, A Cold Day for Murder, received an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America.
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
The Other Moctezuma Girls by Sofia Robleda
Published 24th February 2026 by Amazon Crossing.
From the cover of the book:
In sixteenth-century Mexico, a fearless young woman strives to uncover the secrets her mother kept as the last Aztec empress in a sweeping historical epic by the author of Daughter of Fire.
Tenochtitlan, 1551. Thirty years after the Spanish Conquest destroyed everything she loved, the last Aztec empress has passed and left behind a pristine yet tenuous legacy for her children. As her last will and testament is read out, her daughter Isabel suspects that another account of her mother’s life may exist, hidden away, chapter by chapter, in the Valley of Mexico. Following each clue, Isabel is determined to find out who her mother really was and to discover the secrets she buried in order to survive.
Joined by her siblings and a handsome young cook named Juan, Isabel embarks on a perilous journey to piece together the past—a journey that will force the party to brave the brutal viceroyal court, face fearsome legends in mystical chinampas, and trek through desert, fire, and snow. As Isabel’s feelings for Juan grow, she confronts everything she thought she knew about her Spanish father, her empress mother, and herself.
Facing everything from the tunnels of ancient pyramids to the summit of an active volcano, Isabel will meet every challenge to fulfil an epic quest for the truth.
***********
1551, Tenochtitlan, Mexico. Tecuichpoch, the last Aztec empress (known as Isabel Moctezuma), has died leaving behind a will that causes consternation amongst her children. Brothers and sisters have been set against each other over Tecuichpoch's wishes. And for her youngest daughters, Isabel and Catina, the retired life of nuns in a convent beckons.
But Isabel has other ideas. A stunning tapestry left behind by their beloved mother convinces Isabel that there is more to her life than she revealed. Fleeing the wrath of their embittered elder brothers, Isabel, Catina (who is deaf), their closest brother Nano, and a young Moorish cook named Juan, set off on a dangerous quest to discover the real story of the last Aztec empress.
Inspired by what little remains about the life of Tecuichpoch and her children, Sofia Robleda weaves an utterly absorbing adventure, set thirty years after the Spanish Conquest, that delves into the fascinating, and heart-wrenching history of sixteenth century Mexico.
The story unfurls from the perspective of fiery Isabel, beginning with a gripping scene where the reading of Tecuichpoch's will sets the seeds for sibling discontent amongst her seven children. When their Spanish father Juan Cano heads to his mother country to attend to the endless political wrangling that has kept Tecuichpoch's empire intact, discontent spills over into shocking violence - spurring Isabel, Catina, and Nano to escape, with the threat of their older brothers' wrath constantly dogging their heels.
In the company of Juan, the handsome gentle cook (who has a sad story of his own to tell), the siblings find themselves in ever more perilous situations in locations related to Tecuichpoch's life, on a quest for a series of diaries she has left behind. Each diary tells them a little more about her history, from her childhood as the favourite daughter of Emperor Moctezuma, through to her experiences following the Spanish Conquest at the hands of infamous Conquistador Hernán Cortés and her six husbands.
Robleda pitches this story beautifully, incorporating the kind of history that sends you down endless rabbit holes into a heart-pounding adventure at the side of the three siblings, Juan, and a host of unexpected allies. Each stage of the quest brings alive the life of suffering and sacrifice Tecuichpoch endured, explaining the decisions she made in order to survive the destruction of everything she knew when the Conquistadors arrived, and vividly juxtaposes aspects of pre-Hispanic old world with the new reality under cruel Spanish rule.
Along the way, the Isabel, Catina, and Nano learn things about themselves, their relationships with full and half-siblings, their father, the sides of their mother they never knew, and the history of their country. A slow-burn romance between Isabel and Juan intertwines all the fast-paced, mystery-laden loveliness, for top-notch emotional content too.
I could not put this book down. The characters are wonderful, especially the fire-brand women who shine through the entire novel; the well-written, coming of age plot captures you completely; and Robleda's passion for Mexico in all its complexity sings out. I learned so much about the uncomfortable history of the Spanish Conquest, and the powerful legacy of pre-Hispanic culture. And all the little touches around Catina's deafness added an intriguing extra dimension.
The forewords about Mexica history, Nahuatl pronunciation, and inclusion of a handy Family Tree were so helpful before embarking on the story - and for fellow fans of such things, there is even a map to help you navigate the journey of Isabel and her companions!
Highly recommended to lovers of captivating historical fiction (with an undercurrent of magical realism and folklore) that opens your heart and mind to the past in the best way possible. I loved it from atmospheric beginning to the clever twist in the tail at the end!
I also recommend signing up to Sofia Robleda's newsletter via the link at the end of the book for some welcome bonus content.
The Other Moctezuma Girls is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.
Thank you to Folk PR for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review, and for inviting me to join this blog tour.
About the author:
Sofia Robleda is a Mexican writer and author of Daughter of Fire. She spent her childhood and adolescence in Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore, and completed her undergraduate and doctorate degrees in psychology at the University of Queensland, Australia. She currently lives in the UK with her husband and son, and splits her time between writing, raising her son, and working as a psychologist, supporting people with brain injuries and neurological conditions.
Thursday, February 26, 2026
A Cottage In The Country by Katie Fforde
Published 12th February 2026 by Bloomsbury.
From the cover of the book:
She's found her dream home but can she make her dreams a reality?Hattie finds other people their dream homes for a living.
Surely she, of all people, has the connections and the knowledge to find her own forever home? Instead, she baffles those closest to her by choosing to pack up and move every few months from one housesitting job to the next.
Of course, that's because she knows where she wants to live. It's a beautiful house owned by a lovely old woman who'd simply love for Hattie to have it.
But nothing is ever that simple.
There's Clive who refuses to listen to his great-aunt's wishes about her house. There's Luke, Hattie's oldest friend, who just wants to see her happy. And there's Hattie herself. It might take a difficult client, an awkward teenager and a couple of dogs to help her see what really makes a house a home.
***********
Hattie spends her days finding the perfect homes for her clients, and yet she has yet to buy one for herself - even though she knows exactly which one she would pick. Her dream home is owned by her elderly friend Mary, and although Mary would dearly love for Hattie to buy it, there is a stumbling block... Clive, Mary's penny-pinching great nephew, who refuses to consider his great-aunt's needs and wishes.
Meanwhile, Hattie flits from rented property to rented property, relying of her oldest friend, builder Luke, to come to her aid in an emergency. She sometimes thinks that she and Luke could be something more, but she is unwilling to spoil their friendship.
Then her sister asks Hattie if her son Xander can come and stay with her while she is away working in Switzerland. Hattie is unsure she is the right person to look after a teenager, but knows she will be able to rely on Luke's help. She does not realise that Xander's arrival will show her what makes a house a 'home'...
A Katie Fforde book is always balm for the soul, and this one turned out to be just the tonic I needed! I loved Hattie from the start. Her unconventional style, her kindness, her intuition, and her ability to see glimpses of the future for the people around her (inherited from her wild Irish granny) make her easy to take to your heart - but finding her own happiness proves to be a little more tricky.
As the story unfurls, Hattie's big heart and her insightful visions allow her to steer her friends and loved ones towards their perfect partners. This generally involves complicated, and highly entertaining matchmaking schemes. And yet she struggles to see where her own heart really lies, until the moment she realises who she wants has been there all along. Ahh.
Fforde being Fforde, she handles all the messy business of friendship, family, and finding the perfect soul-mate to perfection. Lovely themes run through the threads of the story, touching on almost every character in the very likeable supporting cast (which includes Luke's adorable dogs Frank and Fearless); and there are even a couple of very creditable villains to loathe (looking at you Lance and Clive) who Fforde uses to explore controlling relationships, and those more concerned with a future inheritance rather than the well-being of an elderly relative (how I loved, and worried about, Mary). I really enjoyed all the house hunting in the beautiful Cotswolds too.
Tissues were required on more than one occasion when it came to the developments in Hattie's relationships with Xander and her hitherto spiky sister. And the slow-burn romance between Hattie and Luke is enchanting... more tissues required to mop up the tears when their happy ending eventually rolled around.
Possibly my favourite feel-good Fforde book yet. I adored it!
A Cottage in the Country is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.
Thank you to Bloomsbury for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
About the author:
Katie Fforde lives in the beautiful Cotswold countryside with her family, and is a true country girl at heart. Each of her books explores a different profession or background and her research has helped her bring these to life. She's been a porter in an auction house, tried her hand at pottery, refurbished furniture, delved behind the scenes of a dating website, and she's even been on a Ray Mears survival course. She loves being a writer; to her there isn't a more satisfying and pleasing thing to do. She particularly enjoys writing love stories. She believes falling in love is the best thing in the world, and she wants all her characters to experience it, and her readers to share their stories.
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Into The Midnight Wood by Alexandra McCollum
Published 22nd January 2026 by Viking.
From the cover of the book:
There are 100 things wrong with Meredith Schwarzwelder. At least.#1 He has an absurd name.
#3 He's an irredeemable eccentric who flirts with everyone in his path.
#35 He cries at anything.
#50 He talks to mice, or imagines he does.
For David Carew, keeping track of these things is the only way he's managed to remain living with him for as long as he has.
But when magic starts to seep in from the Midnight Wood and a dark being emerges with a sinister plan involving Meredith, David decides that it’s time to leave the cottage, and his roommate, behind. Then Meredith’s brother gets engaged to the daughter of David’s boss, and he sees the perfect opportunity to advance his career and make his escape.
With wedding bells sounding and the dangers of the Midnight Wood encroaching, David realizes there’s much more hiding beneath the surface of his roommate’s seemingly carefree charm, and that perhaps his own exasperation carries more fondness than he’d like to admit.
There are 100 things wrong with Meredith Schwarzwelder. And David's starting to like them all...
***********
On the edge of Midnight Wood lies Midnight Cottage home to unlikely roommates David Carew, Meredith Schwarzwelder, a rhinestone bedecked Chihuahua called Bianca - and a varied selection of 'third' tenants who only stay fleetingly. The presence of enchanted flora and fauna on the doorstep of the cottage might be enough to scare their short-lived roommates away, but for David, the cause is mostly down to Meredith's chaotic life-style.
Keeping track of the ways in which Meredith infuriates him sustains David in his exasperated moments, and he has compiled a list of at least a hundred so far. It is a miracle he has managed to live with him in the same house for so long.
When the mood within the house takes a turn, driven by unsettling happenings in the wood, and the looming presence of a family wedding that has Meredith on edge, David decides it is time to make a move away from the cottage and his roommate. But as darkness creeps over them, he finds he cannot bring himself to leave. Perhaps the hundred reasons that Meredith vexes him, might actually be the reasons he wants to stay...
Through this whimsical tale McCollum weaves a heartfelt queer love story between two very different characters - sensible, down to earth accountant David, and his eccentric tattooist roommate Meredith. The story unfurls through the perspective of David, who has somehow lived with Meredith for several years, despite all the ways in which he drives him to distraction, and who introduces you to the very peculiar surroundings in which they live, and the wonderful cast of characters (of magical and non-magical kinds).
The list of one hundred ways that are particularly irksome to David drop steadily into the story to great comic effect as the roommates negotiate ever-changing fellow tenants; the disturbing chain of events within the wood that draw them into danger; and the relatable drama that arises around the impending wedding between Meredith's brother and the daughter of David's employer (who David is very keen to impress). Not to mention the absurd situations that arise from their interactions with their landlord Mr Bednarek; their near neighbour, the witch Mrs Jupiter; a band of disgruntled Neo-Nazis; and a whole host of creatures (wonderful and down-right scary) that reveal themselves over the course of the story.
I really enjoyed how McCollum spins such an immersive tale about a fairy tale world, and blends this so delightfully with oodles of lovely stuff about romance, being seen, identity, stereotypes, dysfunction, trauma, friendship, found family... and of course, queer love. Emotions run heart-stirringly high, and the transformation of the relationship between David and Meredith is powerfully poignant (expect spice!). Humour is used on point, and I adored the message of finding the courage to be true to yourself.
This charming story is beautifully written, and it made me laugh and cry on the way to its lovely sparkly ending.
Into the Midnight Wood is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.
Thank you to Viking for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
About the author:
Alexandra McCollum grew up in rural northeast Ohio and now lives in Nevada with their husband and dog. Among other jobs, they’ve worked in a bakery in Austria, managed a coffee shop in Ohio, and taught high school in Las Vegas. When not writing, they can be found studying languages and exploring local coffeehouses in search of the perfect americano.
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
The Mark Of Eternity (The Egyptian Stones Book Two) by Murray Bailey
Published in paperback 21st February 2026 (ebook 6th March 2026).
From the cover of the book:
An ancient code. A deadly killer. A truth buried beneath the sands of time.FBI Special Agent Charlie Rebb thought the Surgeon - a notorious serial killer - was a ghost from the past.
But when a new series of murders erupts, each marked with strange, arcane symbols, the trail leads Rebb across continents to Egypt... and to a chilling revelation: the Surgeon has returned, and this time, his killings follow a
pattern—one tied to a purpose more terrifying than anyone imagined.
Meanwhile, in Egypt, Alex MacLure has uncovered more encoded messages in ancient tablets. An ancient Egyptian was searching for a forgotten symbol. His name appears in a programme written by a brilliant AI student. The student reaches out with a wild theory - but before MacLure discovers the truth, he’s arrested for a murder he didn’t commit.
Thrown together by fate and hunted by forces beyond their understanding, Rebb and MacLure must unlock an ancient secret. They must stop the Surgeon before he unleashes a plan, millennia in the making.
***********
The dismembered body of a missing young man is found under a building housing a controversial new church in Atlanta, Georgia. Soon more bodies of young men are found, each tattooed with a strange symbol. FBI Special Agent Charlie Rebb fears that the notorious serial killer, the Surgeon, is back - but this time he seems to have an unknown purpose. A trail of clues takes Rebb to Egypt, where the Surgeon appears to be continuing his disturbing mission.
Meanwhile, Egyptologist Alex MacLure has been busy uncovering the secrets of the curious tablets he discovered during his earlier adventures in Egypt. The story he has been decoding takes an unexpected turn when the tablets tell of the search for a powerful ancient symbol. Unfortunately for MacLure, he is not the only one interested in what the symbol could mean, and when his name appears in an innovative AI programme he becomes a target.
When MacLure is framed for a murder he did not commit, he becomes a person of interest to the Egyptian police, and Rebb realises that his case might actually be related to her investigation into the Surgeon's dark purpose. Together they must find a way to stop the Surgeon, before he can bring about the fulfilment of a plan set in motion millennia ago...
This second book in the gripping Egyptian Stones series begins in good old American serial-killer-hunt country. An FBI investigation gets underway, with some great interactions between the federal agents and local police, via unsettling interviews with smarmy religious zealots and skin-crawling satanists. What they discover sends Special Agent Charlie Rebb off to exotic territory, in the heart of Egypt, where she has to negotiate a very different way of working - especially when it comes to how women in law enforcement are perceived.
Meanwhile, MacLure has been unearthing more discoveries in dusty tombs, and this time the 'truths' the tablets convey point to something far more incredible that tales of religious unorthodoxy. Soon, he and his journalist girlfriend (hello again, Rebecca) become embroiled in dangerous conspiracy theories, the Surgeon's search for a lost symbol that will unleash a long-held secret on the world, and the murky machinations of secret societies.
The threads of Rebb and MacLure's sides of the story gradually draw together, setting them on a collision course with the Surgeon that requires all of MacLure's considerable intellectual skills to fathom out what the lost symbol actually is; what its rediscover might mean; and where the gripping climax of the story will play out (with very personal consequences for MacLure himself).
The action is relentless in this second adventure for MacLure, with full-on vibes of Dan Brown's Robert Langdon's stories, as Bailey's very likeable protagonist drives the twists and turns with his intellectual leaps forward. I thoroughly enjoyed the double act between Rebb (whose character develops nicely across the story) and MacLure, and there is a great supporting cast for the both - many of whom I would like to see again.
This was whip-smart, non-stop fun Murray Bailey style, full of fascinating detail about Egyptology, archaeology, mythology, religion, and symbolism that sent me down endless rabbit holes - and I suspect there is a lot more to come in book three... which I cannot wait to read!
The Mark of Eternity is available now in hardcover, paperback and ebook formats.
Thank you to Murray Bailey for sending me a ecopy of this book in return for an honest review, and for inviting me to join this blog tour.
About the author:
Murray is well traveled, having worked in the US, South America and a number of European countries throughout his career as a management consultant. However he also managed to find the time to edit books, contribute to articles and act as a part-time magazine editor.
Murray was born in Manchester and now lives on the south coast of England with his family and two dogs, Teddy and Muffin.
Monday, February 23, 2026
Love And Other Brain Experiments by Hannah Brohm
Published 12th February 2026 by Aria.
From the cover of the book:
Fake data is out of the question . . . but fake dating?
Neuroscientist Dr. Frances Silberstein has always had success on the brain. In grad school, she turned down a job - and her accomplished boyfriend - to forge her own academic path. Five years later, she's still single, hustling from project to project, and about to face her ex at a high-stakes conference - the same ex who once told her she'd never make it on her own.
When an argument with her meticulous and infuriatingly attractive rival Dr. Lewis North leads to a mistaken assumption that they're a couple, Frances accidentally confirms the misconception, inadvertently putting both their careers at stake. Forced to keep up appearances, Frances and Lewis know that for any scientist worth their salt, faking data is out of the question. But fake dating?
That might just be genius.
***********
Neuroscientist Dr. Frances Silberstein is determined to be a success in her field, but that elusive goal of tenure seems as far away as ever. Awaiting the result of yet another application for funding, she sets off to New York for a conference that might help her career along. The only problem is that it is being organised by her former boyfriend, Jacob, now an accomplished professor - the man she turned down years ago to forger her own path.... the man who said she would never make it on her own.
To say she is nervous would be an understatement, and when her anxiety transforms into a full-blown panic attack in the air, she is relieved to find a handsome fellow scientist on the flight who distracts her from her over-wrought state, only to find he is the man who launched his career using her research - her arch nemesis, Dr Lewis North.
Somehow, when they both arrive at the conference, Frances accidentally confirms the impression that she and Lewis are an item. To keep their professional reputations intact, they now have to pretend they are a couple for the entire two weeks...
Oh, how I adored this! Hannah Brohm weaves a delicious will-they-won't-they romance between Frances and Lewis that is full of fabulous tropes around enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, and forced proximity; and is packed with really insightful themes around the nature of academic research.
Frances and Lewis both come to this story with a lot of emotional baggage, not to mention a history of academic rivalry that began with Lewis acting so unprofessionally. As the conference progresses, Frances begins to see a different side to Lewis, and the competitive spark between them develops into attraction. But is it real or fake?
The irresistible chemistry between these two dominates as they get closer, and I was here for all the heat! Lashings of messy family stuff gets thrown up in the process, and they both learn things about themselves, and what they want, on the way to the sob-fest finale.
I am so impressed by how much Brohm explores about women in science, and the shifting global nature of the research community in this story, by touching on how the relentless pressure of results, publishing, peer-reviewing, obtaining funding, and doing good science affects both Frances and Lewis. The fine-line between rivalry and collaboration is examined so well, as well as the real danger of losing sight of the bigger picture, and the risk of burnout. This all adds to the tension between the two, professionally and romantically.
This has everything I want in a kick-ass romance: a smart story written with heart, humour, and HEAT; a great setting; and a stellar supporting cast (Brady was such fun). It gave me ALL the feels.
What a fabulous debut! More please Hannah Brohm!
Love and Other Brain Experiments is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.
Thank you to Aria for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
About the author:
Hannah Brohm penned her first novel when she was a teen, and yes, it was about vampires.
Fascinated by the human mind, she studied psychology in university and graduated with a PhD in neuroscience. After years of investigating memory and emotion, she rediscovered her passion for storytelling and swapped writing articles about brain science for nerdy romance novels.
Born and raised in Germany, Hannah lived in the Netherlands and the US, before moving to London, where she now lives together with her husband and an ever-growing collection of books and hand-knit sweaters.
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
The First Time I Saw Him (Hannah Hall Book Two) by Laura Dave
Published 15th January 2026 by Penguin.
From the cover of the book:
HE DISAPPEARED. NOW HE’S BACK. AND THEY HAVE TO RUN.Five years ago, Hannah’s husband Owen vanished without a trace, leaving Hannah and her stepdaughter Bailey to piece together a new life from the wreckage.
When Hannah spots Owen at her Los Angeles exhibition – silent, watching – she knows immediately that the danger they once escaped has found them again.
Then comes the message:
‘GET OUT OF THE HOUSE. NOW’
Hannah and Bailey are forced to go on the run in a relentless race to keep their past from catching up with them, pursued by enemies they cannot see and haunted by questions that have never been answered.
Why has Owen returned? Who is hunting them?
And can they finally uncover the truth before it destroys them all?
***********
Five years ago, Hannah's husband Owen left for work one morning, and then disappeared - leaving behind a note asking her to protect his sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey. It took all of Hannah's resourcefulness to do it, but her efforts bought them the freedom to live their lives, even if it meant never seeing Owen again.
When Owen makes a surprising appearance at one of Hannah's exhibitions, she recognises him straightaway, even underneath his disguise. She is puzzled about what this might mean for her and Bailey... and then a message from Owen arrives telling her to "Get out of the house. Now!".
The moment Hannah feared has arrived. The agreement she hoped would keep them safe has been broken. She and Bailey must go on the run, and she has no idea what safety will cost this time.
In a brilliant twist, this gripping thriller begins with a prologue that repeats the closing chapter of the previous book, The Last Thing He Told Me - when Hannah spots a heavily disguised Owen in the crowd at her exhibition. Dave uses this emotionally-charged moment to kick off an action-packed sequel in which Hannah and Bailey are forced to flee for their lives, after a change in leadership amongst the crime family Owen betrayed.
Hannah and Bailey are in danger of becoming collateral damage in a long-standing vendetta once again, even though they have been reconciled with Nicholas, Owen's former father-in-law. Despite the closeness that has grown between Nicholas and Bailey (a closeness that has encompassed Hannah too), Hannah has never allowed herself to relax. She has planned for this eventuality, but even Hannah's foresight did not allow her to predict the chain of events that will take them right into the jaws of danger.
Unlike the first book, which unfurled from Hannah's point of view alone, Dave mixes things up beautifully in this follow-up. Hannah's voice is now joined by Owen's, giving his side of the story around his disappearance, and where he has been in the intervening years; and by Nicholas' as he tells about the relationship between himself and Frank (the crime lord who changed the course of his career, and became his closest friend).
The threads of the story weave back and forth in time, segueing between edge-of-your-seat peril in the present for them all as they try to negotiate an exit strategy with some very bad people, and revelations about the past from Owen and Nicholas' history that drastically change your perspective on the things you think you know about how this whole situation came into being.
The action is relentless, with delicious twists and turns around schemes made in the wings of Hannah and Bailey's lives, and stunning disclosures that blur the edges between friends and enemies. The story develops so cleverly as Hannah, Bailey, Owen and Nicholas risk everything in one final play to ensure Owen can return to his family. Inevitably, there is a cost to pay, but what this will be only becomes clear in the tense climax.
I absolutely inhaled this book, totally caught up in a story that combines great characters with a genuinely exciting plot. I really enjoyed the themes of family, friendship, guilt, and reconciliation that run through the novel too. What a cracking sequel!
The First Time I Saw Him is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.
Both Hannah Hall books have been adapted for Apple TV+, as The Last Thing He Told Me.
Thank you to Penguin for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
About the author:
She is the national and international bestselling author of Eight Hundred Grapes, London is the City in America, The Divorce Party, The First Husband, Hello, Sunshine, The Last Thing He Told Me, The Night We Lost Him, and The First Time I Saw Him. Her fiction and essays have appeared in The New York Times, Oprah Magazine, Glamour, Redbook, The Huffington Post and The New York Observer. In 2008, Cosmopolitan named her a 'Fun and Fearless Phenom of the Year'.
She is married to Oscar-winning screenwriter Josh Singer, with whom she resides in Los Angeles, California.
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