Small Hours by Bobby Palmer

 

Small Hours by Bobby Palmer.

Published 14th March 2024 by Headline.

From the cover of the book:

The eagerly awaited new novel from Bobby Palmer, author of the critically acclaimed debut Isaac and the Egg.

If you stood before sunrise in this wild old place, looking through the trees into the garden, here's what you'd see:

A father and son, a fox standing between them.

Jack, home for the first time in years, still determined to be the opposite of his father.

Gerry, who would rather talk to animals than the angry man back under his roof.

Everything that follows is because of the fox, and because Jack's mother is missing. It spans generations of big dreams and lost time, unexpected connections and things falling apart, great wide worlds and the moments that define us.

If you met them in the small hours, you'd begin to piece together their story.

***********

When Jack loses the job he has put years of his life into, at the expense of everything else, including his relationship with his family, he is lost. A phone call from his sister Charlotte, telling him their mother has gone missing, brings him back home and forces him to confront the reality of a crumbling family home that he has not visited in years, his sister's simmering anger at his abandonment of them, and the dementia that is slowly claiming their father, Gerry.

Jack is full of anger of his own at the direction his life has taken. He is unable, and unwilling to even attempt, to cross the divide that has grown up between him and his father - not to mention bemused at Charlotte's resentment towards him, and unable to get his head around why his mother would suddenly take off out of the blue.

Gerry is lost too. His life has become one of confusion, and memories of the past now seem to concern him more than the unfathomable human interactions happening around him in the present. His only solace is his garden and the wildlife that lives in the woods around his home. One thing he is sure of though... that his wife is not really missing, and will return once she has made the journey she needs to complete.

There seems to be no way to bring this troubled family back together, but all hope his not lost. Between Jack and Gerry stands a fox - a wise fox - that sees and understands much more than any wild animal should...

Lone foxes die alone...

Small Hours is the highly anticipated follow-up to Bobby Palmer's astonishing debut, Isaac and the Egg, and the emotive muscle that he exerts through the use of language and different literary techniques is, ironically, very difficult to sum up in words. 

The story unfurls through beautifully written scenes from Jack's perspective as he tries to navigate extremely difficult family circumstances, which he knows he has been guilty of pushing to one side rather than dealing with, interspersed with fragmented passages from Gerry that represent his equally fractured state of mind; flashes back to the past of Gerry and his wife's relationship; and sections of what can only be described as free verse, mostly on the part of our friend, the fox. It is certainly unconventional in story-telling terms, but somehow everything comes together in an exquisite perfect storm of atmosphere and emotion that is simply breath taking.

Palmer manages to achieve so much in this story, immersing you completely in a compelling, inter-generational family drama that thrums with relatable themes. He explores the weight of loss, and facets of memory with such sensitivity, especially when it comes to Gerry's dementia. He writes so well about sibling relationships rife with recriminations, long marriages, parenthood, and the feeling that time has passed all too quickly to recapture the moments that have slipped through our fingers. I am not sure how 'real' Palmer intends for his fox to be, or if it is merely the metaphor for the healing power of nature on broken souls that it becomes, but this does not actually matter in the grand scheme of things - I was completely invested in the little furry creature that forms the catalyst to bring this dysfunctional family back together, and consumed with floods of tears about where this story ultimately goes.

This is a quiet novel, imbued with all the thought-provoking poignancy that its title, Small Hours, brings to mind, which makes it truly powerful. I promise you, this is novel that will stay with you a long time after you close the cover. 

About the author:

BOBBY PALMER is an author and journalist. His critically acclaimed debut novel, Isaac and the Egg, was published in 2022 and was a Waterstones paperback of the year. He co-hosted the literary podcast Book Chat with Pandora Sykes, and his writing has appeared in GQ, Esquire, Men's Health, Cosmopolitan and more.

The Trade Off by Sandie Jones

 

The Trade Off by Sandie Jones.

Published 28th March 2024 by Pan Macmilan.

From the cover of the book:

Would you print a lie across a front page?

For Stella, Deputy Editor of The Globe, the choice has always been clear. There is no stone she will leave unturned in her pursuit of the best story. It’s what she’s built her reputation on.

For Jess, The Globe’s rookie reporter, the story stops when the truth does. But she knows that the dirty tricks of the tabloids will be hard to overturn.

And when the subject of the story Jess is working on pays the ultimate price, she suspects that the paper may have had more to do with it than they’re letting on . . .

What price would you pay to uncover the truth if someone is prepared to kill to bury it?

The Trade Off from Sandie Jones - the author of the Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick, The Other Woman - is an addictive, page-turning psychological thriller about how far a journalist will go to get the story. Everyone has a price. What's yours?

***********

The Globe prides itself on 'getting the story', and rookie journalist Jess knows she is going to have to put in hard graft when she gets a coveted job on its news team. What she is not prepared for is quite how far Stella, Deputy Editor of The Globe, is prepared to go to secure those headlines ahead of the competition.

Despite Jess' twinging moral compass, and the assurances of the Editor, Max, that he wants to clean-up The Globe's act, she soon finds herself drawn into playing Stella's games. When a famous celebrity is hounded to death as a result of the  irresponsible acts of The Globe, Jess begins to realise that real harm can come from the dodgy tactics they employ to sell copies, and she is determined to put a stop to it. But as she digs into The Globe's own dirt, she uncovers the disturbing truth about just how far the paper will stray from the straight and narrow to stay on top - a truth that puts her in mortal danger...

In The Trade Off, best-selling author Sandie Jones channels her experience as a seasoned free-lance journalist into a jaw-dropping thriller that keeps you perched precariously on the edge of your seat. The story unfurls through the perspectives of Jess and Stella, one undergoing a baptism of fire as she learns first hand what the dodgy end of tabloid journalism is all about, and the other a hard-nosed newshound who is not afraid to do more than a little 'spinning' to get to the top.

Jones has a ball here with multiple threads that explore the sharp-end of the gutter press, weaving them into a tale that will have you questioning quite how much of this can be true post the 2012 Leveson Inquiry - and having listened to Jones talking about her experiences that have inspired this book, the answer is more than you would believe. As Jess and Stella's story lines play out, diverging, crossing over, and eventually colliding together in a cracking finale, Jones delves deliciously into the way truth is manipulated to 'sex-up' a story; the impact of less than accurate reporting on the subjects whose lives are suddenly under the spotlight; and unscrupulous media moguls who are only interested in playing power games and making a fast buck. It is compelling, and disturbing stuff.

But this not all swagger and no substance, because Jones also examines some really thought provoking themes amid the thrills, spills and pacy plot. There are certainly baddies that make your blood boil, sometimes not always in plain sight, and Jess is a delightful shining light amongst the muck for you to pin your colours to. But there are shades of grey as well, especially when it comes to Stella, who is definitely the most interesting character in this story. There are some lovely subtleties too around how ambition can cloud your judgement; the right to privacy; and the complex and nigh-on incestuous relationships between politicians, law enforcement, big business, the capricious world of celebrity, and the media.

The Trade Off was such fun, and it left me lots to ponder on too. I cannot wait to dive into Sandie Jones' back catalogue for more of her luscious story-telling.

The Trade Off is available to but now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Sandie Jones has been a freelance journalist for over 20 years, interviewing celebrities such as Justin Timberlake, Isla Fisher, Simon Cowell and Naomie Harris.

Her debut novel, The Other Woman, is a psychological thriller about the destructive relationship between a woman and her partner's mother.

If Sandie wasn't an author she'd be an interior designer as she has an unhealthy obsession with wallpaper and cushions!

She lives in London, England, with her husband and three children.

Crow Moon (A Martha Strangeways Investigation Book One) by Suzy Apsley

 

Crow Moon (A Martha Strangeways Investigation Book One) by Suzy Apsley.

Published 14th March 2024 by Orenda Books.

From the cover of the book:

When the crow moon rises, the darkness is unleashed…

Martha Strangeways is struggling to find purpose in her life, after giving up her career as an investigative reporter when her young twins died in a house fire.

Overwhelmed by guilt and grief, her life changes when she stumbles across the body of a missing teenager – a tragedy that turns even more sinister when a poem about crows is discovered inked onto his back...

When another teenager goes missing in the remote landscape, Martha is drawn into the investigation, teaming up with DI Derek Summers, as malevolent rumours begin to spread and paranoia grows.

As darkness descends on the village of Strathbran, it soon becomes clear that no one is safe, including Martha…

Both a nerve-shattering, enthralling and atmospheric thriller and a moving tale of grief and psychological damage, Crow Moon is a staggeringly accomplished debut and the start of an addictive, unforgettable series.

***********

Investigative journalist, Martha Strangeways' life fell apart when her young twins died in a fire at her family home, in the remote Scottish village of Strathbran. Months later, with a broken marriage behind her, she is troubled by guilt that she was away working on a story at the time of the fire, and has barely even begun to deal with the grief that overwhelms her. However, she is trying to keep things together for the sake of her teenage son, Dougie.

When one of Dougie's friends goes missing, Martha is shocked to be the one who stumbles across his body in the woods - the horrific scene made worse by the bizarre verse scrawled across his bare back. She suddenly finds herself embroiled in a murder mystery that stirs her long dormant instincts as a journalist, and she begins to look anew at Strathbran and its residents. When another teenager goes missing, the connection she has uncovered to local folklore, an old Celtic poem about the crow moon, and the very farmhouse where her sons died, leads to her forge a partnership with the policeman in charge of the case, DI Derek Summers.

Rumours of withcraft and dark powers abound in Strathbran, and Martha and Summers must find a way to sift through gossip and hearsay to get to the facts of the case. They each have their suspicions about who might be the guilty party, but what terrifies Martha the most, as another crow moon approaches, is that her own son might be in danger...

Suzy Apsley's unsettling debut Crow Moon is one of those books that throws you headlong into a disturbing tale that grips you with icy fingers like a vice! The story unfurls through three separate threads that Apsley weaves beautifully to blur the boundaries between past and present, to create a timeless Gothic horror tale within a modern murder mystery. The first follows Martha Strangeways, a protagonist you can really get your teeth into, as she tries to get to the bottom of the shocking events in Strathbran; the second, plunges you into the unhinged mind of a nameless killer as they go about their grisly work; and the third, takes the form of diary excerpts from 'The Book of Shadows', written by a desperate woman at an unknown time in Strathbran's murky past. 

Each thread has its own peculiar timbre and intent, and Apsley uses them to perfection to drive the story on, and drop cleverly contrived red-herrings to mislead you. As the investigation proceeds, a pulsing slow-beat gradually builds up to a heart-pounding tempo, holding you fast to a story that keeps its secrets close until the thrilling climax plays out. Apsley builds atmosphere with a capital 'A', using weather and environment to imbue scene upon scene with a sense that danger lurks behind every corner - made all the more menacing by whispers of the supernatural, and the creepy cawing, of ever-watchful crows. There is something gloriously vivid and cinematic about the whole shebang, making it ideal for an adaptation, if any production companies are listening. It is going to take me while to get those crows out of my nightmares...

But this is not just a story designed to scare the bejesus out of you (which it does in spades), because alongside the discomfiting thrills, spills, and whodunit plotline, Apsley also explores some deeply poignant themes that cut straight to the emotional quick. There is an echoing theme about motherhood, which Apsley uses particularly well to show how Martha's profound grief both isolates her and gives her common ground with others, and mental health is touched on with a deft hand. But the most affecting theme, for me, is all about the things we cling to to save us from being overwhelmed by loss. Martha's emotional journey in this book is really powerful, and it made me shed a tear or two as I turned the final page.

This is a very accomplished debut, pitched somewhere between the feel of a literary love-child of C.J. Tudor and Douglas Skelton, bedecked with a Hammer House of Horrors bow. I am thrilled that it will be the first part in a new series featuring Martha Strangeways, because I am nowhere near ready to say goodbye to her yet! 

Crow Moon is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats. You can support the best of indie publishing by buying direct from Orenda Books HERE.

Thank you to Orenda Books for sending me a proof of this book in return for an honest review, and to Random Things Tours for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.

About the author:

Originally from the north east of England, former journalist Suzy Aspley has lived in Scotland for almost 30 years. She writes crime and short stories often inspired by the strange things she sees in the landscape around her. 

She won Bloody Scotland’s Pitch Perfect in 2019 with the original idea for her debut novel and was shortlisted in the London Capital crime festival’s new voices award. In 2020, she was mentored by Jo Dickinson as part of the Hachette future bookshelf initiative. Her novel Crow Moon was also long listed this year for the Caledonia Novel Award. She’s currently working on the second book in the series featuring journalist Martha Strangeways. 

When she’s not writing, she’s either got her nose buried in a book, or is outside with her dogs dreaming up more dark stories.

The Lagos Wife by Vanessa Walters

 

The Lagos Wife by Vanessa Walters.

Published 29th February 2024 by Hutchinson Heinemann.

From the cover of the book:

THE PERFECT WIFE. THE PERFECT MURDER.

Nicole Oruwari has the perfect life: a handsome husband, a palatial house in the heart of Lagos and a glamorous group of friends. She left London and a troubled family past behind to become part of a community of expat wives.

But when Nicole disappears without a trace after a boat trip, the cracks in her so-called perfect life start to show. 

As the investigation turns up nothing but dead ends, her aunt Claudine flies to Nigeria to take matters into her own hands. As she digs into her niece's life, she uncovers a hidden truth. But the more she finds out about Nicole, the more Claudine's own buried history threatens to come to light.

***********

When Nicole Oruwari moved to Lagos from London, to live with her husband Tonye's wealthy parents, she was excited about the kind of life that lay ahead for them and their two small boys. However, underneath the shine of their picture-perfect existence among Lagos' elite, Nicole's time as a Niger-wife is far from easy. When she suddenly goes missing after failing to return from a boat trip with her glamorous friends, no one seems concerned enough to ask the important questions about where she might have gone... except for the woman who raised her as her own, her aunt Claudine. 

Frustrated at the lack of progress in discovering the fate of her niece, Claudine flies to Lagos to find out exactly what is going on, and she is disturbed to discover that Tonye and his family are a lot more concerned about a big family wedding than the mystery of Nicole's disappearance. Claudine decides to do some sleuthing herself, however difficult the task. As she gradually uncovers the uncomfortable truth about her niece's unhappiness, the secrets she has kept hidden for so long about her own past threaten to burst free too...

The Lagos Wife is a slow-burn literary thriller that combines a gripping murder mystery, with a beautifully written exploration of a feast of fascinating themes about ex-pat life, expectation, and isolation in Nigeria's bustling city of Lagos. The novel unfurls in two utterly compelling timelines - one 'before' Nicole's disappearance from her perspective, and one 'after' from Claudine's as she goes about trying to discover what happened to her niece.

Claudine drives the crime element of the story forward, as Nicole fills in cultural detail about the complexities of living in Lagos as an outsider. Walters uses them both to perfection to explore a marriage falling apart, while Nicole attempts to find a sense of purpose in a life that promised so much but has failed to deliver; and, in parallel, follows Claudine's determined meddling into the affairs of an outwardly conservative society that prefers to keep its scandals very much undercover - an enterprise that brings her own trauma to the fore. Hand in hand, the two threads intertwine to make a spellbinding whole that keeps you turning the pages all the way to the shocking twist and twist again ending. 

The woman in this story hold your attention completely: primarily through the voices of Nicole and Claudine, as the impact of their dysfunctional family history ripples through time. Walters also delves into the wider experiences of women in Nigeria through Tonye's family, and the Niger-wives society formed to help ex-pat wives negotiate the intricacies of life in an unfamiliar landscape. Intriguingly, she does not just confine herself to the women, as she adds balance by having some thought provoking things to say about Nigerian men too, especially the pressure felt by those returning to their homeland after living away from family demands in less strict countries around the world. 

One of my favourite things about this novel is the way Walters probes different aspects of racism, power, discrimination, and the value placed on human life. And I am in awe at the striking way she incorporates the terrible history of the slave trade into Nicole and Claudine's sides of the story - especially the mind-blowing way she brings this full-circle at the powerful conclusion of the book.

This is literary crime at its very best, with a gritty core embellished by rich cultural texture, that informs as much as it entertains. As one of the best books I have ever consumed about contemporary Nigeria, I can wholeheartedly recommend this to you as a must-read. I loved it, and am really looking forward to what comes next from Vanessa Walters.

The Lagos Wife is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Hutchinson Heinemann for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Vanessa Walters was born and raised in London and has a background in international journalism and playwriting and is a Tin House resident and a Millay Colony resident. She is the author of two previous YA books and The Nigerwife. She currently lives in Brooklyn.

Deliverance by James Dickey (Audio Book)

 

Deliverance by James Dickey.

Narrated by Will Paton.

Audio book released 31st October 2011 by Audible Studios.

From the cover: 

The 1970 smash-hit best seller that inspired the acclaimed 1972 film starring Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, and Ronny Cox is now available in unabridged audio for the very first time.

The setting is the Georgia wilderness, where the state's most remote white-water river awaits. In the thundering froth of that river, in its echoing stone canyons, four men on a canoe trip discover a freedom and exhilaration beyond compare. And then, in a moment of horror, the adventure turns into a struggle for survival as one man becomes a human hunter who is offered his own harrowing deliverance.

This classic tale is vividly read by movie and TV star and Audie Award-winning narrator Will Patton.

***********

Deliverance by James Dickey is a novel that has long been on my list of books to read, since seeing the 1972 film adaptation directed by John Boorman (screenplay written by Dickey and Boorman). It is a film that tends to linger in the imagination for a number of reasons, not least the beautifully conjured atmosphere, the iconic 'duelling banjos' sequence, and the shocking 'piggy' scene.

I have finally got around to this one via the awesome voice talents of actor Will Paton through the unabridged Audible Studios audio book, which is an incredible listen - and better in every way than the film (of course), which is saying a lot.

The story follows a group of four city dwelling friends, who decide to take a canoeing trip down the Cahualawasee River valley in Northern Georgia, before the valley is dammed and turned into a lake. Alpha male Lewis persuades his bestie Ed and two other pals Bobby and Drew that they can reconnect with their lost inner male essence by pitting themselves against nature for a weekend in the wilderness. However, despite Lewis' reassurance that he knows the area well and admires the grit of the 'friendly' locals, having hunted and fished along the Cahualawasee, they are soon out of their depth in more ways that one.

The run up to the weekend, the fateful trip itself, and the aftermath of the terrifying events that mark them for ever, are all narrated from the point of view of Ed. His story is one filled with fear and menace, as events go steadily awry and tip them into a battle for survival that not all of them will make it through, but it is also a beautifully written account of raw emotion, as he voices his thoughts about experiences they have never been confronted by before... or ever wish to be part of again. This is the kind of story that grips you tight, holding you in the moment as the characters face life and death decisions, and although I have not read any of the poetry for which Dickey is better known, you can really feel the skill of a poet in his writing.

This is only a short book, at 252 pages (7 hours and 31 minutes of utterly compelling moments in audio), but it is brutal, haunting, and intense. There is something very powerful about the way Dickey uses a wild valley, soon to be lost for ever under a deluge by water, as a metaphor to represent the four men overwhelmed by the creep of middle age, and how he plays off their mid-life crisis worries against actual danger. At times, this reminded me of Conrad's Heart of Darkness, and it is a shame that Dickey's career as a novelist did not really take off after this, his first and most successful, book. 

Highly recommended if you love a story that has you on a knife edge, and deftly explores the group dynamics between the four men pushed to their very limits... and beyond.

Deliverance is available to buy now in paperback and audio formats.

About the author:

James Dickey was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1923 and published his first book of poetry, Into the Stone, in 1960. In 1966 his Buckdancer's Choice won the National Book Award. His first novel, Deliverance, appeared in 1970. Dickey's magnificent poetry, criticism and fiction rank him among the seminal authors of our time.

A Clash Of Kings (A Song Of Ice And Fire Book Two) by George R.R. Martin (Audio Book)

 

A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice And Fire Book Two) by George R.R. Martin. 

Audio book narrated by Roy Dotrice.

Released 3rd November 2015 by Harper Collins.

From the cover:

The complete, unabridged audiobook of A Clash of Kings.

Throughout Westeros, the cold winds are rising.

From the ancient citadel of Dragonstone to the forbidding lands of Winterfell, chaos reigns as pretenders to the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms stake their claims through tempest, turmoil and war.

As a prophecy of doom cuts across the sky - a comet the colour of blood and flame - five factions struggle for control of a divided land. Brother plots against brother and the dead rise to walk in the night.

Against a backdrop of incest, fratricide, alchemy and murder, the price of glory is measured in blood.

HBO’s hit series A Game of Thrones is based on George R. R. Martin’s internationally best-selling series A Song of Ice and Fire, the greatest fantasy epic of the modern age. A Clash of Kings is the second volume in the series.

***********

A Clash of Kings is the second instalment on my journey through the currently published, hefty volumes of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, and it is even more chunky than book one, weighing in at a sizeable 913 pages all told (including the many helpful appendices).

As for the first part of the series, I opted experience this second book through the audio book narrated by Roy Dotrice (more on that later), who guided me through the many significant happenings in the lives of the people of the seven kingdoms... and beyond.

A Clash of Kings picks up the story in short order after significant happenings at the end of book one, presided over by the blood red comet that heralds any number of omens depending upon who is looking at it. In Essos, widowed Daenerys Targaryen, now adding the title of Mother of Dragons to her growing number of epithets, has followed the comet to an exotic city in search of supporters for her bid to win the Iron Throne. Meanwhile, with Robert Baratheon having shuffled off this mortal coil (with a bit of help from strong wine, an angry boar, and the hatred of his wife), war reigns in Westeros. A number of factions are fighting for the right to take the throne; the Starks battle to hold the North, leaving Winterfell at the mercy of an unexpected enemy; Joffrey is proving to be a cruel and feckless king (what a surprise); and trouble is brewing beyond the Wall where Jon Snow must now venture...

Far too much happens to cover the details here, but the plot now pits brother against brother; magic is stirring with the return of dragons; and the game of thrones brings mayhem and misfortune, and reveals both friends and enemies in unexpected places. As previously, the story flips between members of the Stark family (minus the beheaded patriarch Eddard), Tyrion Lannister, and Jon Snow. Their voices are now joined by Theon Greyjoy on his misguided mission to prove himself a worthy son, and Davos Seaworth, who weaves in a new thread to the tapestry by introducing Stannis Baratheon's contribution to the clashing kings element, with all that entails. Suffice to say that not everyone is going to get out of this alive, including all of the clashing kings...

This is the book where things begin to diverge from the Game of Thrones TV adaptation, sometimes quite markedly, so I had to really concentrate to keep up. However, I loved the surprises this threw into the mix as it kept things interesting, and Martin's original text towers above the adaptation in every respect. The twists, turns, growing cast of characters, and ever more expansive plotlines give rise to an absolutely gripping tale on every front - the battles are especially exciting, and each separate part of the whole packs an emotional punch alongside the action. So, if you are thinking of taking up the chunky originals, I say go for it, because I am loving them.

My complicated relationship with Roy Dotrice's narration has not abated, but I think this mostly stems from the fact that the cast of this story is so darned huge, which is a big ask for a single voice artist. A few of his pronunciations and accent choices continue to baffle me (is Tyrion supposed to be Welsh?), and the halting style he chooses for some is still a little disconcerting (even at my habitual listening speed of x1.5), but I will admit he does a great job of pulling you into the story, and at times I was hanging on his every word, which is deserving of praise. However, I do think that, should Harper Collins choose to revisit these books, making this a multi-voice narration would really add the the enjoyment of the story. 

Audio quibbles aside, I am firmly invested in A Song of Ice and Fire now, and in awe of Martin's skill at weaving complex and gripping, multiple threads and filling them with excellent characters for you to love and loathe. I cannot wait to continue my journey with book three, A Storm of Swords.

A Clash of Kings is available to buy now in various formats.

About the author:

George R.R. Martin is the globally bestselling author of many fine novels, including A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, and A Dance with Dragons, which together make up the series A Song of Ice and Fire, on which HBO based the world’s most-watched television series, Game of Thrones. 

Other works set in or about Westeros include The World of Ice and Fire, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. 

His science fiction novella Nightflyers has also been adapted as a television series; and he is the creator of the shared-world Wild Cards universe, working with the finest writers in the genre. 

He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The Bordeaux Book Club by Gillian Harvey

 

The Bordeaux Book Club by Gillian Harvey.

Published 15th March 2024 by Boldwood Books.

From the cover of the book:

Love books? The Bordeaux Book Club is seeking new members!

When Leah and her husband moved to France, it was with the dream of becoming self-sufficient. But in truth, it’s not the ‘good life’ she’d imagined, as three hours of digging barely yield a single straggly carrot. Worse, her teenage daughter is acting up, and her husband seems to find every strange excuse under the hot French sun to disappear.

So when her friend entreats her to join the new bookclub she’s forming, Leah decides it’s something she will do for herself. The chance to make new friends, to drink a few glasses of wine, and to escape into stories that take her miles away from the life she’d thought would be her own happy-ever-after.

But the book club is a strange group of misfits. There’s prickly Grace, who lives alone and seems to know everybody and like no-one. Buttoned-up Monica, who says her husband is away and appears to be parenting her baby all alone. Handsome builder George, who has barely read a book before. And Alfie – who is a full two decades younger than everyone else, and is hiding a devastating secret…

As the stories they read begin to bring the new friends closer together, Leah is about to discover that happy-ever-afters don’t always look how you expect them to…

***********

Leah and her husband Nathan moved to rural France for a piece of the 'Good Life', but recreating themselves as Tom and Barbara Good from the 1970s sitcom has proved to be anything but the self-sufficient idyll they thought it would be. Afraid to tell Nathan that she hates this constant uphill struggle to coax their allotment into plenty, fearing it would shatter his dreams, Leah is feeling dissatisfied with her lot. It does not help that Nathan suddenly seems to be acting strangely and spending more time away from the garden that working it, or that their once delightful daughter Scarlett has hit the tempestuous teenage years.

Feeling the need for some time away from her own life, Leah reluctantly joins the new book club her friend Grace has formed, even though she is not sure she really likes Grace's propensity to involve herself in everyone's lives while revealing very little of herself in return. But it cannot hurt to lose herself in some good books for a while, can it?

Leah finds herself discussing literature with an eclectic mix of fellow book clubbers, who seem to have very little in common, other than the ability to speak English. Alongside bossy Grace, there is handsome, rough-and-ready builder George, who has not picked up a book in years; new mum Monica, whose husband is away a lot, leaving her alone in their beautiful apartment with just a tiny baby for company; and painfully shy student Alfie, years younger than the others, but with a lot on his shoulders. Their ideas about the characters in the books they read differ wildly, but as they come together to talk about them they begin to reveal parts of themselves, and their troubles, to each other. As real friendship blooms over books and wine, the members of the Bordeaux Book Club discover ways to get to grips with their own lives too - and Leah realises that the happily-ever-after she was hoping for might actually look rather different to the one she pictured.

I love settling down with a Gillian Harvey as she has such a talent for combining escapist storylines with emotional themes around love, marriage, family, and rediscovering yourself, by examining the trials and tribulations of characters taking on the expat lifestyle in France - and this brand new gem does that in style. 

Having read all of Harvey's lovely books published by Boldwood, which address different aspects of the hopes and dreams people aim to achieve by packing up their lives and heading for the French countryside, The Bordeaux Book Club brings with it a cast of characters who all need support with many different challenges right across the age spectrum, which makes this one particularly relatable. Beyond the usual ex-pat bumps in the road thrown up by language problems and culture-shock, which Harvey's own expat experiences make so real, these characters also need help with recovering from heart-ache, dealing with loneliness, loss, and in making themselves heard.

I found Nathan a bit of trial, but the interweaving storylines of the characters gradually drew me in, and before long I was completely tied to the fates of Leah, Grace, George, Monica, and Alfie, and their loved ones - and entertained by their discussions about some very well-known classics. As expected, Harvey packs this with emotion fit to make your heart burst, as the barriers between the group are broken down, opening them up to new possibilities. There are a gentle romantic threads for the 'ahh' factor; and a few humorous moments, which are tied up so much with the poignancy of the characters' stories that this is definitely more of a weeper than a chuckler, so keep the tissues handy - I definitely needed them at several points along the way, and at the lovely ending.

This really is a book that works its way into your heart, and in many ways I think it might be Harvey's most complex, and emotionally charged story to date - and that is saying a lot! I loved it, and became very fond of those Bordeaux Book Clubbers... I know you will too. 

The Bordeaux Book Club is available to buy now in hard cover, paperback, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Boldwood Books for sending me an ecopy of this book in return for an honest review, and to Rare Resources Tours for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.

About the author:

Gillian Harvey is a freelance writer and bestselling author who lives in France. She writes escapist fiction set in France, including bestsellers A Year at the French Farmhouse and A Month in Provence.

The Big Four by Agatha Christie

 

The Big Four by Agatha Christie.

This edition published 3rd March 2008 by Harper Collins. Originally published in 1927.

From the cover of the book:

A ruthless international cartel seeks world domination…

Framed in the doorway of Poirot’s bedroom stood an uninvited guest, coated from head to foot in dust. The man’s gaunt face stared for a moment, then he swayed and fell.

Who was he? Was he suffering from shock or just exhaustion? Above all, what was the significance of the figure 4, scribbled over and over again on a sheet of paper? 

Poirot finds himself plunged into a world of international intrigue, risking his life to uncover the truth about ‘Number Four’

***********

The Big Four is something of a strange beast when it comes to an Poirot mystery. The novel is made up of a series of previously published short stories Christie adapted into an expansive plot that pits her little Belgian detective against a secretive organisation hell-bent on world domination.

The novel begins with the arrival of Captain Hastings at Poirot's door. Hastings is back for a visit from the Argentine, where he now lives with his wife 'Cinderella' (of The Murder on the Links fame), and hopes to surprise his old friend. Overjoyed, and certainly startled, Poirot explains that coincidentally, he is just about to set off on a visit to South America, after being tempted by an enormous fee to undertake a case there. Their conversation is brought to an abrupt end by the appearance of a mysterious figure in Poirot's bedroom doorway, who collapses at their feet. They manage to elicit from the desperate man that he is on the run from an international crime cartel run by four powerful figures - Number 1, a shady Chinese character called Li Chan Yen, and his three unknown accomplices, Number 2, an American; Number 3, a Frenchwoman; and Number 3, a dangerous figure known as 'The Destroyer'.

Shortly afterwards, the desperate man is killed, and Poirot, realising the South American case was a ruse to get him out of the way, decides to put his efforts into finding out all he can about the Big Four and what they are up to. As the months tick by, much to Hastings' frustration, the pieces of the mystery about the dastardly aims of the organisation come together slowly, via enigmatic clues left behind at the scenes of seemingly unconnected cases in which Poirot can detect their interference. As the bodies pile up, and they find themselves in many a sticky situation, the identities of the Big Four are eventually established, and Christie engineers a quite brilliant, and very ambitious climax, involving some stunning subterfuge on Poirot's part... and the appearance of a face from Poirot's past, the charismatic Russian, Countess Vera Rossakoff.

There are lots of really interesting features about this unusual, and highly enjoyable mystery. I really have not read anything quite like it out of all the Poirot novels I have consumed in terms of structure, scope, and surprises. It combines individual cases of the kind Poirot can solve at the drop of the hat, via his knowledge of the 'psychologies', with an over-arching, international espionage story that he really has to tax himself to solve, and which is the usual province of Christie's fast paced, stand-alone adventures - and there is more than a little of the Sherlock Holmes here around some of the gripping happenings, duplicity, and locations.

This is a Christie I have not read before, and it is very different from the David Suchet adaptation which was my only prior knowledge of the story. I thoroughly enjoyed all the fun and games, and the way Hasting's openly expresses mystification and heartfelt feelings in the way only he can, through the cracking audio book narrated by Captain Hastings himself, Hugh Fraser. 

The Big Four is my March pick for #ReadChristie2024 as a book written by Agatha Christie in the 1920s. Onwards to the 1930s next!

The Big Four is available to buy now in various formats.

About the author:

Agatha Christie was born in Torquay in 1890 and became, quite simply, the best-selling novelist in history. Her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, written towards the end of the First World War, introduced us to Hercule Poirot, who was to become the most popular detective in crime fiction since Sherlock Holmes. She is known throughout the world as the Queen of Crime. Her books have sold over a billion copies in the English language and another billion in over 100 foreign languages. She is the author of 80 crime novels and short story collections, 19 plays, and six novels under the name of Mary Westmacott.

The Mystery Of Haverford House by Rachel Burton

 

The Mystery of Haverford House by Rachel Burton.

Published 14th March 2024 by Aria.

From the cover of the book: 

A captivating and moving tale of love, the true meaning of home, and the haunting secrets that can bind generations.

1933. Annie Bishop is sixteen years old when she first climbs the steps of Haverford House ready to take service as a maid. She knows her place until, during a summer of high society, she crosses paths with wealthy America heir, Thomas Everard. In his arms, Annie dares to dream of a different life.

Until she vanishes without a trace.

2003. Viola Hendricks knows what it's like to dream big. So when she reads about Annie's disappearance shortly before she sees an advert for a job at Haverford House, it seems fate is at work. Five years later, when the house faces closure, Viola is determined to do everything she can to keep it open. What's not in her plans is enigmatic American Chase Matthews, with an agenda of his own…

If they want to save Haverford House, they must look for answers together - but are they prepared for the truth about what really happened to Annie Bishop?

***********

1933. Annie Bishop entered service at Haverford House to become a maid when she was just sixteen. Five years later she has learned to 'know her place' and keep her dreams small, but inside she longs to become a writer. Then one summer, wealthy actor, Thomas Everard arrives. Lord Haverford has an eye on Thomas marrying one of his daughters to revive the family fortunes, but as an American, Thomas is not particularly enamoured with the strictures of English society. When the idea of putting on a production of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night takes hold with the younger members of the country house set, Thomas finds himself growing close to lady's maid Annie through their shared love of the Bard. Suddenly, the prospect of another life opens up to Annie, but that fateful summer, she disappears without a trace...

2003. Australian, Viola Hendricks was drawn to Haverford House by the mystery of Annie's disappearance, and the hope of a new start. For the last five years, she has worked hard as an events manager for the Dowager Seraphina to keep the house and grounds open to the public, but now the prospect of closure cannot be ignored in the face of mounting costs. Viola hopes that this summer's Shakespeare festival will give some breathing space for her to finally source the funds they need to stave off the current Lord Haverford's plans - especially with her own brother, famous Hollywood star Sebastian, headlining a production of Twelfth Night in the grounds. However, she does not plan on the appearance of distracting American, Chase Matthews, or the interference of his secretive motives. But perhaps they can still work together to save historic Haverford, and solve the mystery of Annie's disappearance too?

Flipping back and forth between these two beautifully written timelines, Rachel Burton pulls you into a sweeping mystery about the past, present, and future, of Yorkshire country estate, Haverford House, through the voices of two women separated by time. Annie's story unfurls in 1933, with atmospheric between-the-wars vibes, while Viola battles to find a way to keep Haverford House out of the hands of developers, and save the home she has grown to love, in the present. 

The secrets of Haverford House, and the way the mystery of Annie Bishop's disappearance in 1933 causes ripples through time, are the spine of the story. Burton keeps you turning the pages, weaving lovely storylines for her characters around dreams, belonging, romance, and family which tug on your heart strings, and I became completely immersed in the interconnected threads. 

I loved how Burton floods this book with themes that link Annie and Viola's stories, not least the way she connects them through my favourite Shakespeare play, Twelfth Night. She delves nicely into the gulf that separates the society family above stairs from the below stairs staff who serve them, exploring so many issues around the social changes at play in the 1930s (also one of my favourite eras), and in a stroke of genius she echoes many these themes in Viola's storyline too - especially when it comes to generational conflict, siblings, found family, love that spans an ocean-divide, and the problems of maintaining a grand country estate on dwindling funds.

This one kept me guessing, pulled on by the perfectly judged nudges in the story, until all the secrets of the past are finally revealed in the present - which Burton uses cleverly to bring this compelling tale full-circle in a conclusion that warmed the cockles of my heart. The Mystery of Haverford House is just the kind of historical fiction I like best, evocative, emotional, well-researched, and with relatable women front and centre. I adored it. My favourite Rachel Burton yet.

The Mystery of Haverford House is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Head of Zeus for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Rachel Burton has been making up stories for as long as she can remember and always dreamed of being a writer until life somehow got in the way. After reading for a degree in Classics and another in English Literature she accidentally fell into a career in law, but eventually managed to write her first book on her lunch breaks. 

She loves words, Shakespeare, tea, The Beatles, dresses with pockets and very tall romantic heroes (not necessarily in that order) and lives with her husband in Yorkshire.

No Life For A Lady by Hannah Dolby (Paperback Release)

 

No Life for a Lady by Hannah Dolby.

Published in paperback 14th March 2024 by Aria.

From the cover of the book:

Violet Hamilton is a woman who knows her own mind. Which, in Victorian Hastings, can make things a little complicated...

At 28, Violet's father is beginning to worry she will never find a husband. But every suitor he presents, Violet finds a new and inventive means of rebuffing.

Because Violet does not want to marry. She wants to work, and make her own way in the world. But more than anything, she wants to find her mother Lily, who disappeared from Hastings Pier 10 years earlier.

Finding the missing is no job for a lady, but when Violet hires a seaside detective to help, she sets off a chain of events that will put more than just her reputation at risk.

Can Violet solve the mystery of Lily Hamilton's vanishing before it's too late?

A delightfully joyful, funny and gripping historical novel, perfect for fans of The Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting and The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels.

***********

BLIND DATE WITH A BOOK:

- Misbehaving ladies!

- Historical mysteries!

- Quirky seaside setting!

- Gentlemen who hide behind wild beards!

Welcome to

No Life for a Lady

By Hannah Dolby

Hastings, 1898. Twenty-eight-year-old Violet Hamilton is a young woman ahead of her time. Although sheltered and naive, in many respects Violet has been forced to grow-up quickly by having to take on the role as housekeeper to her father after the mysterious disappearance of her mother nearly ten years ago, and it is a job she she ill-suited to. Violet longs to be free to decide her own future, and be rid of the string of increasingly unsuitable suitors her frustrated father keeps presenting her with, but the options available to a respectable young woman are limited and they have little appeal to someone as independent-minded as she is.

However, before she can really get on with the business of deciding how to spend her life, she needs to discover what happened to her mother. Not knowing where to start, she secretly hires a private detective, only to find that the dubious Mr Knight has some very unsavoury ideas about the mystery, and is not too concerned about destroying her and her mother's reputations in pursuit of a perverse agenda of his own. This state of affairs cannot be allowed to continue...

Violet decides to try her luck at being a lady detective to see if she can locate her mother before Mr Knight, with the reluctant help of the handsome furniture seller Mr Blackthorn (also a former private detective). This unexpectedly takes her on a voyage of discovery about life for a woman in late Victorian society. Can Violet become mistress of her own fate, and solve the mystery of her missing mother before matters get out of hand?

No Life for a Lady is an absolute joy of a late Victorian caper, set within the quiet streets of Hastings. Violet has all the makings of a heroine right from the start, if only she can acquire the means to escape the determination of her boorish father to get her married off.  When she decides to get to the truth about her mother's disappearance, she sets in motion a bizarre series of events that lead her into danger, and help her get to grips with relationships, sexual attraction and the mysteries of the marital bed. She finds out some uncomfortable things about her mother, and the state of her parents' marriage in the process.

This is a light and easily consumed read, packed with humorous moments that have you laughing out loud, but its genius lies is the clever way it also touches on so many intriguing themes about the lives of  Victorian women. The expectation that respectable young ladies should confine their interests to becoming dutiful wives, with all that entails, is central to the story, and there are many laughs to be had at Violet's expense in the delicious scenes Dolby contrives. The double standards between the sexual freedoms enjoyed by men and women is explored beautifully, with a foray into the hidden sex trade in outwardly respectable Hastings, and Dolby brings in many aspects of sexuality and desire too.

I thoroughly enjoyed how Dolby uses the historical setting of this story to bust open some of the myths about sex in the Victorian world, and the characters are an absolute delight - particularly the women, who are the focus throughout. The mystery of Violet's mother's disappearance allows Dolby to bring in a few dastardly cads to boo and hiss at, and the melodramatic ending has you punching the air with glee. There is a quirky romantic thread for Violet too, that is pretty darned heart-warming. I loved it and cannot wait for the follow-up, How to Solve Murders Like a Lady, which is out on 6th June 2024!

No Life for a Lady is out now in hardcover, paperback, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Head of Zeus for sending me a copy of this book as part of their 'Blind Date With A Book' feature, in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Hannah Dolby's first job was in the circus and she is keen to keep life as interesting. She trained as a journalist in Hastings and has worked in PR for many years, promoting museums, galleries, palaces, gardens and even Dolly the sheep. She completed the Curtis Brown selective three-month novel writing course, and she won runner-up in the Comedy Women in Print Awards for this novel with the prize of a place on an MA in Comedy Writing at the University of Falmouth. She currently lives in London.

The Collapsing Wave (The Enceladons Trilogy: Book Two) by Doug Johnstone

 

The Collapsing Wave (The Enceladons Trilogy: Book Two) by Doug Johnstone.

Published 14th March 2024 by Orenda Books.

From the cover of the book:

Six months since the earth-shattering events of The Space Between Us, the revelatory hope of the aliens' visit has turned to dust and the creatures have disappeared into the water off Scotland's west coast.

Teenager Lennox and grieving mother Heather are being held in New Broom, a makeshift US military base, the subject of experiments, alongside the Enceladons who have been captured by the authorities.

Ava, who has given birth, is awaiting the jury verdict at her trial for the murder of her husband. And MI7 agent Oscar Fellowes, who has been sidelined by the US military, is beginning to think he might be on the wrong side of history.

When alien Sandy makes contact, Lennox and Heather make a plan to escape with Ava. All three of them are heading for a profound confrontation between the worst of humanity and a possible brighter future, as the stakes get higher for the alien Enceladons and the entire human race…

Sequel to the bestselling The Space Between Us, The Collapsing Wave is an exquisite, epic first-contact novel, laced with peril and populated by unforgettable characters, and the awe-inspiring book we all need right now…

***********

Six months on from the incredible events of The Space Between Us, things are looking bleak for the Enceladons and the humans who made first contact with them. Desperate to hush up the arrival of an alien species, the USA military has taken charge, establishing a secretive base on Scotland's west coast, called New Broom - where middle-aged Heather, teenager Lennox, and captured Enceladons, are being subjected to brutal experiments. Meanwhile, Ava is on trial for the murder of her husband, and faces being separated from her baby.

The Enceladons themselves have disappeared into Loch Broom, and seem oblivious to the threat of danger, but all hope is not lost. Attracted to the shores of the loch, a community of humans has sprung up at Camp Outwith, in response to a mysterious 'call', and MI7 agent Oscar Fellowes is beginning to believe his faith in the powers-that-be has been misplaced. 

When Sandy, the alien that started the whole story, makes contact with Lennox, the chance of escape for him, Heather, Ava, and baby Chloe arises, bringing with it the prospect of a battle with the military might of those driven by hatred and fear... one they may not survive.

Doug Johnstone picks up this story a few months after the gripping climax of The Space Between Us, the first instalment in this cracking speculative trilogy, which left hanging many questions about how humanity would deal with the reality of first contact with an alien species. You must read the first book before embarking on The Collapsing Wave - it is an incredible read, and lays all the groundwork you need to tip you straight into this tense and atmospheric follow-up novel, as our intrepid band of human survivors from the mission to aid Sandy, and the other Enceladons, find themselves the subject of very unwelcome attention from the worst elements of Earth's authorities. 

With beautifully wrought, and all too authentic, threads of sinister cover-ups, egotistical power moves, xenophobia, and disturbing agendas driven by fear of the unknown, Johnstone takes you on an absolute thrill ride in this novel, through the narratives of returning characters, Heather, Lennox, Ava and Fellowes. The complete disregard for any kind of rights, be they human or alien, allows him to spin a plot that is worthy of a block-busting science fiction adventure, with full-on, cinematic scenes to get the blood thumping, as our heroes carry the brand for the good of humanity, and Enceladon, against despicable foes. And like the very best novels of the genre, he off-sets the action with character-led, poignant elements about the bonds of love, family, community, connection, and the sense of belonging, to stir you to the very depth of your emotions. 

"Reality is not things, it's the connection between things..."

My heart was in my mouth for the entire length of this novel. Johnstone takes you to the very edge of your capacity to cope with intense feelings of anger and despair, with a relentlessness that can only be assuaged by the eventual triumph of decency and hope over injustice, cruelty and closed-minds. He has such an ability to examine the darkness that lies in the human heart, and yet, his stories unfailingly manage to balance this beautifully against the yearning for connection that offers us salvation. There is something very striking about how he uses this story to address attitudes to 'refugees', exploring a willingness to accept and embrace 'difference' as a way to become something more, which provides a thought-provoking allegory for modern times too.  

I love everything about this series, right down to the supremely clever titles suffused with meaning, and am excited to see the direction Johnstone will take in the final instalment. It still amazes me that this is his first foray into science fiction writing, because this is powerful and accomplished story-telling, that stands up right beside the very best authors of the genre. 

The Collapsing Wave is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats now. You can support the best of indie publishing by buying direct from Orenda Books HERE.

Thank you to Orenda Books for sending me a proof of this book in return for an honest review, and to Random Things Tours for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.

About the author:

Doug Johnstone is the author of 16 previous novels, most recently The Opposite of Lonely (2023) and The Space Between Us (2023). The Big Chill (2020) was longlisted for Theakston Crime Novel of the Year, and Black Hearts was shortlisted for the same award. Three of his books, Dark Matter (2020), Breakers (2019) and The Jump (2015), have been shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for ScottishCrime Novel of the Year.

He has taught creative writing and been writer in residence at various institutions over the last decade, and has been an arts journalist for over twenty years. Doug is a songwriter and musician with six albums, and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin' Crime Writers. He's also co-founder of the Scottish Writers Football Club, and has a PhD in nuclear physics.

Angel With Two Faces (Josephine Tey Book Two) by Nicola Upson

 

Angel with Two Faces (Josephine Tey Book Two) by Nicola Upson.

Published 14th November 2009 by Faber and Faber.

From the cover of the book:

Inspector Archie Penrose invites Josephine Tey down to his family home in Cornwall so she can recover from the traumatic events depicted in "An Expert in Murder".

Josephine welcomes the opportunity, especially since Archie's home is near the famous Minack open-air theatre perched on the cliffs overlooking the sea. However, Josephine's hopes of experiencing a period of rest are dashed when her arrival coincides with the funeral of a young man from the village who had drowned when his horse inexplicably leapt into the nearby lake. 

When another young man disappears and the village's curate falls from the cliffs of the Minack Theatre onto the rocks below, Josephine and Archie begin to suspect the involvement a cold-blooded murderer. 

As Josephine and Archie try to unravel the mystery, they begin to see death as an angel with two faces - one gazing at the violence in the present, the other looking back to the crimes hidden in the past.

***********

London detective, DI Archie Penrose is back in Cornwall for a break at his family home on the Loe Estate, looking forward to the arrival of his friend, author Josephine Tey. It is a chance to recover from the strains of the last year, which involved them both in the hunt for a killer, after a series of murders connected with Josephine's play Richard of Bordeaux. Josephine is equally excited to get away for some rest and relaxation, intrigued about the chance to see a different side of Archie in his childhood stomping ground, and to get to grips with writing her next book.

Archie's holiday gets off to an inauspicious start when he finds himself a pall-bearer at the funeral of estate worker Harry Pinching, whose horse mysteriously plunged into the depths of a nearby lake... and the tragedies do not stop there. When a young lad from the village disappears, and the local curate dramatically falls to his death during an amateur performance at the stunning Minack Theatre, Archie's holiday comes to an abrupt end. He must now head up a muder investigation, and his connection to this small community is both a blessing and a curse. With Josephine's help, the pair discover that all is not quite as peaceful at the heart of Loe estate as it seems. Can they get to the bottom of the mystery before more victims fall prey to the legacy of a web of secrets and lies?

My reread of Nicola Upson's brilliant Josephine Tey mysteries continues with book two, Angel with Two Faces...

Death is an angel with two faces -

To us he turns

A face of terrors, blighting all things fair.

The other burns

With glory of the stars, a love is there.

T.C. Williams

Following on from the shocking events of An Expert in Murder, which had Archie and Josephine pairing up to find a killer stalking London's theatre-land, Nicola Upson settles upon a very different setting for their next adventure together - beautiful, rural Cornwall, where Archie grew up. However, she does not abandon the theatre theme completely, because this mystery also revolves partly around a play set at the stunning, cliff-edge, Minack Theatre (which is almost a full-blown character in itself), and to my delight, there are a few familiar faces from the first book too, in Archie's theatrical designer cousins, Ronnie and Lettice Morley, and their housekeeper Mrs Snipe!

With delicious, spot-on between-the-war vibes, this is a complex story set on a Cornish country estate still reeling from the First world War and casting troubled eyes towards an uncertain future, and yet the threads of the mystery Archie and Josephine must untangle are very much about the personal relationships of a tight-knit community that holds itself apart from the world outside - so much so that Archie himself struggles with being viewed as an 'outsider' despite growing up here.

It is nigh on impossible to delve into this plot too much without spoilers, but Upson does an incredible job of peeling away the carefully contrived layers of both story and characters to reveal the rawness of emotions that have become a terrible burden for the older members of the community, and have led to the breaking of taboos in the younger ones. Good and bad intentions, abuse, yearning, sibling rivalry, forbidden love, and curiously for a story steeped in violence and recriminations, innocence too, all play a part here - and Upson wrings every ounce of emotion from the tapestry she weaves to profound effect... right the way to Archie's own door.

As usual, the close relationship between Archie and Josephine is the spine of the novel. Having moved past the weight of things unsaid in the previous book, their friendship becomes deeper in this story through the threads that touch Archie's family - and they even have a little bit of fun at the expense of those around them who are constantly trying to match-make. I adore the way Upson writes them, with a masterclass in portraying the kind of friendship built on years of journeying together through the highs and lows of life. 

The Cornwall Tey loved (in her real life persona as Elizabeth MacKintosh) comes alive in this story, showing all its picturesque, myth-laden, and menacing guises, and Upson plays exquisitely with notions of faith and how death is viewed as 'an angel with two faces', looking backwards to sins of the past and forward to the violence they have given birth to. Upson's own attachment to Cornwall shines through these pages too.

I had forgotten quite how much the twists in this tale keep you guessing, and thoroughly enjoyed being fooled by them all again, second time around, via the accomplished voice talents of Sandra Duncan in the audio book edition. Onwards to my revisit of book three, Two for Sorrow!

Angel with Two Faces is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.

About the author:

Nicola Upson is the author the Josephine Tey mysteries, including An Expert in Murder, and two works of nonfiction. She has worked in theatre and as a freelance journalist. A recipient of an Escalator Award from the Arts Council England, she splits her time between Cambridge and Cornwall.

Original Sins (Riley Fisher Book Two) by Erin Young

 

Original Sins (Riley Fisher Book Two) by Erin Young.

Published 7th March 2024 by Hodder and Stoughton.

From the cover of the book:

It's a brutal winter in Des Moines, Iowa, and the city is gripped by fear. A serial attacker known as the Sin Eater is stalking women and has just struck again. It's a tough time and a tough place for Riley Fisher, a former small-town sergeant, to be reporting for duty as an FBI agent on her first assignment.

Teamed with a man she's not sure she can trust and struggling to prove herself - while fighting the pull of her old life and family dramas - Riley is tasked with investigating a vicious death threat against the newly elected female state governor. Gradually, she traces a disturbing connection between this case and the hunt for the Sin Eater. Through snow, ice, violence and lies, Riley Fisher is drawn towards a terrifying revelation.

Erin Young follows up her acclaimed crime debut, The Fields, which has drawn comparisons with Mare of Easttown, Silence of the Lambs and True Detective, with another stunning thriller full of dark menace and suspense.

***********

Riley Fisher, small town sergeant transformed into rookie FBI agent, leaves home and family behind to relocate in Des Moines, Iowa, for her first posting. With no time to settle, she is thrown head first into two tough investigations, alongside a partner she neither knows, nor trusts.

A serial attacker, known as the Sin Eater, has resurfaced and recommenced his reign of terror stalking women on the wintry streets of Des Moines. His crimes bear the hallmarks of a deep hatred of women and religious fundamentalist views, but so far his identity remains elusive, despite the 'snake' tag he leaves behind. Meanwhile, the state's newly elected female governor has received a chilling death threat, and is living in fear that someone will harm her family, while she tries to push through her plans to help even the playing field for Iowa's women.

As Riley battles her own demons, she hunts down clues in both cases, and gradually uncovers a connection between them. Secrets, lies, and violence pave the way to what motivates the guilty - but not even Riley can imagine quite how dark their designs really are, or how far they spread.

In an absolutely cracking thriller that deliciously channels True Detective by way of The Silence of the Lambs, Erin Young knocks the ball out of the addictive novel park in Original Sins, the follow-up to her acclaimed debut The Fields.

Riley Fisher is a great protagonist to get your teeth into: strong and vulnerable in just the right measure, Young plays nicely on the past that haunts her to build in all the little emotional tugs you need to tie your colours firmly to her cause. Her desperation to prove herself drives her through all the beautifully crafted twists and turns in a thriller that thrums with everything I love about a page-turning cop story, while also incorporating a veritable feast of timely themes.

Brutal violence against women lies at the heart of the plot, but Young also touches on so much more about women's rights at home and in the workplace; family ties; the legacy of the Covid-19 pandemic; and false promises that fan the flames of male disaffection into hatred and fear. And there is a lovely thread about fatherhood that runs through the book. So much of this novel rings disturbingly true, and Young uses this to blend authenticity into her gritty, atmospheric plot. Superb!

I consumed this book, totally absorbed from cover to cover. It is one of the best thrillers I have read in ages, and I cannot wait for the next one! 

Original Sins is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Erin Young’s debut thriller, THE FIELDS, was inspired by an article about the menacing power of Big Agriculture. A decision to set the novel in Iowa, corn-capital of the world, led her to make a fascinating journey across the state, from chance encounters with cops and farmers to an audience with a local mayor, shooting Glocks and getting caught in supercell storms, from the state capitol to the state fair. Having grown up in a fishing village in Devon, she is drawn to the claustrophobic dramas of rural small-towns and the secrets they hide.

Erin Young is the pseudonym of acclaimed historical novelist, Robyn Young, author of eight internationally bestselling novels. She has been published in 19 languages in 22 countries, selling two million books worldwide. THE FIELDS is her first contemporary thriller. She lives and writes in Brighton, England.

The Murder After The Night Before by Katy Brent

 

The Murder After the Night Before by Katy Brent.

Published 1st February 2024 by HQ.

From the cover of the book:

Something bad happened last night. My best friend Posey is dead. The police think it was a tragic accident. I know she was murdered.

I’ve woken up with the hangover from hell, a stranger in my bed, and I’ve gone viral for the worst reasons.

There’s only one thing stopping me from dying of shame. I need to find a killer.

But after last night, I can’t remember a thing…

***********

Molly Monroe wakes up with the mother of all hangovers the night after her work Christmas party to find a strange man in her bed... and to the news that she has gone viral as the star of a horrific, x-rated Tik-Tok Live video. The day only gets worse when she discovers that the reason she has been unable to contact her flatmate and best friend Posey, is because she has been lying dead in the bath only feet from where Molly has been hiding out in shame. 

The police believe that investigative journalist, Posey, died as the result of a tragic accident, but Molly is not convinced - especially when she finds out that her friend was digging into the murky case of a missing teenager that nobody seems to want to talk about. It is time for Molly to cast aside her own troubles and find a killer...  

The Murder After the Night Before is a fast-paced, murder mystery that touches on a host of very timely themes. Curiously, the story almost begins in rom-com country, with Molly waking to find a handsome stranger in her bed and no memory of the night before, but even though there are well-played elements of dark humour and love, this is actually a very different kind of beast.

The novel unfurls in two threads - one following the fall-out of the events of the 'night before' that have made Molly a target on social media; and the other, her quest to complete Posey's investigation and find her killer. They soon become enmeshed in a way that sends a chill up your spine, careering towards a multiple twist conclusion with more than a few surprises.

This is just the kind of story that keeps the suspense going nicely, and has you looking at all the characters with a suspicious eye, and I loved that Brent leaves you with an unsettling ending that leaves potential for an interesting sequel - even if there is perhaps a twist or two too far on the way there.

I really enjoyed the way Molly finds a sense of purpose by taking up the brand Posey leaves behind, and uses this as a way to not only deal with her long term problems, but also the impact of the way she has been taken advantage of in the present - especially the way she channels her inner journalist after too long dulling her edge with fluffy stories at pre-teen mag Girl Chat.

But what Brent does in absolute style here is to flood her story with themes about how women are treated in relationships and the workplace, and the shocking way they are pilloried on social media - delving into abuse, control, and consent to thought-provoking effect.

An entertaining read that will leave you with lots to ponder upon...

The Murder After the Night Before is available to buy now in paperback, ebook, and audio formats.

Thank you to HQ for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Katy is an author and award-winning journalist from the UK. She has worked on newspapers, magazines and websites since 2005, writing about popular culture. How To Kill Men and Get Away With It was her first novel.