The Secret Library by Oliver Tearle

 

The Secret Library by Oliver Tearle.

Published 29th September 2016 by Michael O'Mara.

From the cover of the book:

How much do you know about the Victorian novelist who outsold Dickens? Or the woman who became the first published poet in America? Do you know what connects Homer’s Iliad to Aesop’s Fables?

The Secret Library explores these intriguing morsels of lesser-known history, along with the familiar literary heavyweights we know and love. Bringing together an eclectic literary mix of novels, plays, travel books, science books and joke books, author Oliver Tearle explores how the history of the Western World has intersected with all kinds of books over the last 3,000 years.

Delve into this treasure trove of curious literary examples to learn how our history and books are inextricably linked.

***********

Do you enjoy books about books? I love them. So when I came across The Secret Library by Oliver Tearle, which promised a journey through the curiosities of literature for the book lover, I was intrigued. 

Within these pages, Tearle takes you through the history of the book and its importance in Western Civilisation, beginning with a witty introduction and sweeping through different ages from the Classical World to Modern times. For each era. he picks out fascinating examples of both famous, and lesser known, authors and their works, and talks about their significance in shaping books into the form we are familiar with today - and busts some pretty big myths about literature (and literature adjacent subjects) too.

This might sound a bit dry, but Tearle's writing style makes this a highly engaging non-fiction glimpse into literary history, as it is packed to the gills with the kind of humour that makes you laugh out loud, and is a veritable treasure trove of book themed trivia. You will find yourself constantly saying 'did you know that...?' to whoever is within listening distance while you lap up the information in this book. It proved to be a great conversation starter in my family, and sent us all down a warren full of rabbit holes about some of the things that Tearle reveals - frequently accompanied by much hilarity!

I thoroughly enjoyed dipping into this enlightening little gem. It would make a lovely gift for the book (and trivia) lovers in your life too!

The Secret Library is available to buy now in paperback, ebook, and audio formats.

Thank you to Michael O'Mara and Rachel Quinn Marketing for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Oliver Tearle is a lecturer in English at Loughborough University (UK), where he completed a PhD (in 2010) and has taught for the last seven years, having also taught at the University of Warwick.

He runs the blog Interesting Literature: A Library of Literary Interestingness, which gets 1.5 million views a month and has a weekly feature where he reveals a little-known work of literature. The blog also has an accompanying Facebook page and Twitter feed, the latter of which is followed by, among many others, the makers of the television series QI, the Oxford English Dictionary, the British Library, the British Museum, the Times Literary Supplement, and numerous comedians, writers, academics, journalists, politicians, and celebrities.

Oliver is the author of two academic books, Bewilderments of Vision: Hallucination and Literature, 1880–1914 (Sussex, 2013) and T. E. Hulme and Modernism (Bloomsbury, paperback edition 2015), as well as the co-editor of an experimental volume of critical and creative pieces, Crrritic! (Sussex, 2011). His proudest achievement is coining the word 'bibliosmia' to describe the smell of old books.

Third Girl (Hercule Poirot) by Agatha Christie

 

Third Girl by Agatha Christie.

This edition published 24th September 2015 by Harper Collins. 

Originally published in 1967.

From the cover of the book:

A perplexed girl thinks she might have killed someone…

Three single girls shared the same London flat. The first worked as a secretary; the second was an artist; the third who came to Poirot for help, disappeared convinced she was a murderer.

Now there were rumours of revolvers, flick-knives and blood stains. But, without hard evidence, it would take all Poirot’s tenacity to establish whether the third girl was guilty innocent or insane…

***********

Hercule Poirot's morning routine of a cup of steaming chocolate and a brioche is disturbed by the arrival of a confused young woman who announces that she believes she may have committed a murder. When he tries to elicit some information from her, she flees his apartment, with the parting shot that he is simply "too old" to help her. His delicate feelings hurt by the early morning intrusion, and verbal assault, Poirot is at a loss, until his friend, the famous author, Ariadne Oliver, sheds some light on the matter.

Poirot and Ariadne discover that this troubled young woman, one Norma Restarick, has subsequently gone missing from the flat where she is the 'third girl'. Her flatmates, and family seem to have no idea where she has disappeared to, and Poirot is concerned for her safety. Ariadne is certain the whole affair has something to do with Norma's dubious artist boyfriend, who she has dubbed 'the peacock', but Poirot is not so sure...

This story is incredibly complex, with many conflicting storylines that Christie does her best to weave about Norma for some misdirecting red herrings, but at many points I actually found myself just as confused as Poirot in the presence of so many characters whose motivations were so wildly disparate - even with the best efforts of the lovely Hugh Fraser to keep me on track with his narration of the audio book. 

Essentially, the story revolves around whether or not Norma has killed someone, as she believes, and it takes Poirot and Ariadne, working in tandem, a long time to get to the bottom of the mystery. At several points, Poirot himself declares that there is simply no pattern to it all, with everything that is going on, and so many people acting strangely around Norma - who may or not be insane. He is not wrong. In fact, quite how he manages to pull this one off is a miracle. Dodgy boyfriends, modern young things, and dysfunctional families add to the bizarre mix, and, ultimately, for me, it is all too busy to bring about that magical moment where everything falls into place. 

However, there are still nuggets of gold that make it worthwhile. The 1960s setting is very atmospheric and Christie does an excellent job of showing quite how much times are changing on the social history front. This makes for a fascinating contrast between the behaviour and attitudes of the older characters, and the modern young things breaking away from the traditions of the past. I particularly loved Ariadne in this book, who carries the story with her eccentricities, and her fine line in quips about the 'youngsters of today' (such as their penchant for 'tight exotic trousers'). Her chaotic hairstyle is almost a character in itself too - especially since it proves to be the inspiration Poirot needs to crack the case!

This was my November pick for #ReadChristie2024, as one of Christie's books from the 1960s/70s, and the penultimate one on the trail through the decades with the Queen of Crime. I am looking forward to polishing off a fascinating year with Miss Marple in Nemesis, which was written in 1971 - it promises to be interesting!

Third Girl is available to buy now in multiple formats.

About the author:

Agatha Christie is known throughout the world as the Queen of Crime. Her books have sold over a billion copies in English with another billion in over 70 foreign languages. She is the most widely published author of all time and in any language, outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare. She is the author of 80 crime novels and short story collections, 20 plays, and six novels written under the name of Mary Westmacott.

The Secret Photographs by Jacquie Bloese (Extract)

 

The Secret Photographs by Jacquie Bloese.

Published in paperback 3rd October 2024 by Hodder,

From the cover of the book:

England, 1895: In the bustling seaside town of Brighton, photography is all the rage. Ellen Harper assists her twin brother running one of the city's seafront studios, where fashionable ladies and gentlemen pose in their finery to have their likeness captured forever in a silver frame.

But behind the façade of a respectable business, the siblings have something to hide. After the studio closes for the day, secret photographs are taken in the back room. There is money to be made from this underground trade, but if exposed to the light of day, these photographs would destroy them...

When newly married Clementine comes to sit for a portrait, Ellen learns she is looking for a lady's companion. Longing for a life of her own choosing and freedom from the deals her brother has made, Ellen accepts the post. The new position transports her to a sweeping white-fronted townhouse on one of Brighton's most prestigious crescents, full of every luxury imaginable.

But Clementine's gilded world hides as much darkness as Ellen hoped to escape... What will happen when the secrets Ellen has left behind finally catch up to her?

Don't miss this richly atmospheric and gripping historical fiction shining a light on the role of women in a world dominated by men.

***********

In order to mark the publication of the wonderful new novel by Jacquie Bloese, The Secret Photographs, it is my pleasure to bring you an extract from the story as part of the influencer tour...

Extract from The Secret Photographs:

‘If she’s not here soon, the best of the light will be gone.’ 

Reynold Harper emerges from underneath the camera and

claps his hands at the tabby cat, flexing its claws with enthu-
siasm on the worn velvet nap of the chaise longue. ‘Stop 
that, Floss, you little pest.’ Scooping the purring cat into his
arms, he joins his sister at the window. ‘Remind me where
you found this one again?’
‘The pier.’ Ellen tries to keep her voice level, as she scours
the terraced street for signs of Lily March. At this hour,
soft syrupy sunlight turns the crooked houses of Booth
Lane the colour of melted butterscotch, and one might
almost turn a blind eye to the peeling paint and rusting
windows, the gutters choked with filth. She turns and
removes a coil of dark-brown hair from the chaise, and then
another, fairer and straight: they’d had the tableaux girls
from the Empire in earlier and they were worse than Floss
for moulting.
The faintest of taps at the front door draws her back to the
window, and yes, there is Lily, in her straw hat with the dent
in it, looking anxiously up and down the street, pulling her
coat to her as if the day is a cold one – and the burst of
happiness Ellen feels startles her and she has to turn away
from her brother so he cannot see it in her eyes.
‘She’s jumpy as a box of frogs,’ Reynold grumbles. ‘You
did tell her she’ll have to show her face?’
Of course, Ellen calls out, halfway down the narrow stair-
case to the front door now, smoothing down her hair as she
draws back the bolt.
‘Miss March. A pleasure to see you again.’
Ellen believes herself to be smiling, so why is Lily looking
back at her as if she is about to have a tooth pulled? She
ushers her inside and they stand in the cramped space at the
foot of the stairs, Lily’s hands twisting inside her stained
blue gloves.
‘How about a drop of something warming, before we
start?’ Ellen tries to be brisk as she leads Lily upstairs to the
dressing room, feeling somewhat in need of a tot of some-
thing herself, as if she too is about to be exposed. She pours
a measure of rum, then takes the chipped walnut music box
from the sideboard, counting out a handful of coins to a few
wheezing bars of ‘Greensleeves’.
‘Three shillings, as agreed.’
She and Reynold are usually strict on this point: no
payment until the work is done, but there is nothing like the
weight of a few coins in a purse to lift a young lady’s spirits,
and sure enough, Lily’s colour seems to return as she takes
the money, and screwing up her face, she gamely drinks
down the rum.
‘No one will ever know about this, will they?’ she says,
taking off her hat and gloves with caution. ‘Not those ladies
with the boards?’
‘The vigilants? The prudes on the prowl?!’
But Lily doesn’t smile.
‘Of course not.’ Ellen passes her the scarlet robe from the
back of the door. ‘You haven’t told anyone, have you, about
today?’
‘No.’
‘Then there’s no need at all to worry. And the photographs
themselves will be sent far away to the continent.’
‘To France?’
‘Yes.’
‘So I suppose I will go there after all,’ Lily murmurs, chew-
ing at a ravaged fingernail, and Ellen says that’s one way of
thinking about it, and then Lily looks at her and for a brief
moment they are back on the pier, under the shelters with
the chocolate ice melting and the sun in their eyes. Lily
offers up a smile.
‘It’s a strange enough world, ain’t it, Miss Harper?’ She
takes the robe and disappears behind the Chinese screen in
the corner, a forced bravado in her tone. ‘Everything off ,
like I was taking a bath?’
‘That’s right.’
And Ellen waits as hooks are unfastened, and buttons
fumbled over, until the entire mille-feuille of petticoats and
stockings and stays are unpeeled, and Lily re-appears in
the robe, which trails on the floor behind her as Ellen asks
her to sit at the mirror. Such an elegant neck she has, Ellen
thinks, as milky and pale as the poor girl’s hands are rough
and red, hands which are trembling slightly in the dip of
her lap.
‘Remember,’ Ellen says, teasing strands of hair from the
pins, ‘once you’re in front of the camera, you become some-
one else entirely.’
Lily stares at her. ‘Who?’
‘Whoever you please! Lily March from the laundry stays
here – with your skirts and petticoats.’ Ellen waves towards
Lily’s pile of clothes, that lie neatly folded on a packing
crate. ‘Ready?’
And together, they go into the studio next door.
As Reynold greets her, Lily keeps her eyes planted to the
floor, and he looks askance at Ellen, and she knows what
he’s thinking – what a waste of plates, and developing fluid,
and time spent over the press – the girl’s as wooden as
Punch! But then Flossy jumps from the windowsill, wrap-
ping herself around Lily’s legs, as if summoned to do so,
and Lily bends to pet her.
‘She’s a sweet little thing.’
‘And she’ll ruin the exposure, given half a chance. Out
you go, Floss.’ Reynold shoos the cat from the room. ‘On
the chaise, if you will, Miss March. On your side. Turned
towards the camera.’
Her brother is too brusque, too businesslike, that is the
problem, Ellen thinks, as Lily perches on the chaise and
fumbles with the knotted sash of her robe. This is not one of
the tableaux girls who stand on a plinth in nothing but a
body stocking, night after night, or an artist’s model, so
accustomed to shrugging her clothes off that she doesn’t
bother with stays.
‘Let me help you.’ Ellen crouches next to Lily, and
deftly works the knot loose. ‘Let’s keep the robe on to
begin with. Turn on your side and stretch out, that’s right.
Lean your head on your hand – and bend your knees a
touch.’
Lily relaxes a little and Ellen slips the robe from her shoul-
ders. She smells of lye soap and milk; her breasts are fuller,
altogether larger, than Ellen had imagined. And with this
observation runs a current of shame, and she wishes then
that the girls from the theatre were back, joking and fidget-
ing and asking for more drink.
A plum-coloured bruise at the top of Lily’s left thigh
provides an unwelcome distraction, bringing with it unvoiced
questions of who and how often; Ellen frowns and reaches
for the powder pot.
‘That looks sore.’
Lily flushes the colour of a sunset. ‘I tripped, carrying the
coal upstairs.’
‘Won’t be too long before you’re married and in your own
home, I expect,’ Ellen says, torturing herself. ‘Somewhere
the stairs aren’t so slippery.’
‘Ma says no one will have me,’ the girl says with a humour-
less laugh.
‘I’m sure she’s wrong about that. May I?’ Ellen reaches for
the robe, which is now more off than on, but Lily stiffens;
and Ellen hesitates. Ignoring her brother’s laboured sigh,
she goes next door to fetch a drape: Reynold will gripe about
the photographs fetching less, but it’s that or lose Lily
altogether.
‘We’ll use this,’ she tells her, and trying to treat her naked-
ness with the same dispassionate regard with which she might
appraise a statue in the gallery of a fine museum, Ellen
arranges the drape so that it falls from the hips, covering Lily’s
most intimate parts. ‘Now it won’t feel so strange.’ She scoops
up the robe. ‘And when you’re dressed again, we’ll take
another photograph just for you, if you like – with Floss.’
‘Thank you, Miss Harper.’ Lily looks down at herself,
letting out a sigh which speaks of inevitability, and Reynold
instructs her rather tersely to hold still and look at the
camera, and to think of her sweetheart if she has one, or a
lad she’s soft on if not.
As the first plate is exposed, Ellen returns to the window.
In the distance, the sea winks at her, a quivering mass of
starlings flitting in and out of view to the beat of her broth-
er’s instructions.
‘Stand up for me, would you? . . . Drop the drape, there’s
a dear . . .’ She won’t, Ellen thinks, but oh, she must have, for
now he is telling Lily to turn to the side, to clasp her hands
behind her back. ‘Just so. All right, lower your head, if you
must. And hold for three.’
The plateholder slides from the camera; the cat scratches
on the studio door, and bidding Lily a cool good day,
Reynold disappears upstairs to the attic.
Lily looks after him with a thoughtful expression as she
wraps the drape about her. ‘What happens now?’
‘You get dressed and I’ll set up the camera.’ Ellen opens
the door and lets in Flossy. ‘By the window will be best.’
Lily returns, neat in her cotton skirt and shirtwaist. She
stares at the array of photographs tiling the wall above the
fireplace as if noticing them for the first time, then lets out a
little squeal.
‘That’s Harry Smart! Ain’t it?’
‘That’s right.’ If Ellen had her way, there would be no
picture of the Empire’s most talked-about performer, twirl-
ing her cane in her pinstripe trousers and tailcoat – she
doesn’t care for the woman, who, in her opinion, gets quite
enough attention already. Reynold, however, insists it’s good
for business.
‘Is she a friend of yours, Miss Harper?’ Lily sits in the easy
chair by the window, and coaxes Floss onto her lap.
‘An acquaintance, certainly.’
As Ellen stoops under the camera and looks at Lily, now
without so much as the nub of a wrist on display, she tries to
forget the nakedness that lies underneath. But the dips and
curves and puckerings all conspire against her, hammering
the image further into her consciousness – the diamond-
shaped mole just below Lily’s right nipple; even that awful
bruise.
She stifles a sigh and re-emerges. Lily’s face is washed
clean with a smile, and even if this must in part be attributed
to Harriet Smart, Ellen is glad of it and hopes that the
awkwardness from earlier is behind them.
‘I’m sure Miss Smart would sign a photograph for you, if
I asked,’ she says, taking the cloth from the lens and Lily
beams and the tableau is perfect: a ray of sun splintering the
clump of cloud through the window, the dozing cat, the
young woman whose beauty is a secret which the world has
kept from her. As Ellen removes the plate, it strikes her that
she has a better eye than her brother gives her credit for.
‘I’ll develop the photograph this evening.’ Ellen glances at
Lily and works very hard to sound casual. ‘Perhaps I could
bring it to the pier on Sunday? With the picture of Miss
Smart. We could take tea at the Refreshments Room?’
She has gone too far. Lily looks anywhere but at Ellen,
scrabbling to put on her coat and gloves, as if she were
suddenly in the most tearing hurry.
‘Yes, all right,’ she says, and Ellen tells herself it’s just
shyness and tries not to mind.
Once Lily has gone, Ellen returns to the studio. She kneels
and buries her face in the musty velvet of the chaise longue,
breathing in what Lily has left behind, as, up and down the
terraced street, wheeling seagulls caw and mock her.

***********

The Secret Photographs (previously published as The Golden Hour) is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Graeme Williams Marketing for inviting me to join this influencer tour.

About the author:

Jacquie is a writer of historical book group fiction, originally from the Channel Island of Guernsey. She draws her inspiration from atmospheric locations with intriguing histories, and people - both real and imaginary - whose stories are calling out to be told.

Her first novel THE FRENCH HOUSE, set during the German Occupation of Guernsey in the second World War, was a Richard and Judy Winter 2022 book club pick, and a finalist in the Mslexia Novel Award. Her second novel THE GOLDEN HOUR is inspired by the seaside town of Brighton, where Jacquie currently lives, and tells the story of three women from different classes who become caught up in the underground world of erotic photography in 1890s Victorian England.

Jacquie began her professional life teaching English, in Turkey and Spain, before returning to the UK to work in ELT publishing for a number of publishers, including Scholastic, Oxford University Press and Penguin Random House. She now works freelance as an educational consultant, writer and editor.

In her spare time, Jacquie loves reading, walking, socialising with old friends and new, exploring new places & re-visiting old favourites, theatre, cinema, spending time in London, travel and daydreaming!

The Island Of Lies (Citizen Detective Book Two) by O. Huldumann

 

The Island Of Lies (Citizen Detective Book Two) by O. Huldumann.

Translated by Chris Ould.

Published 5th September 2024 by The Huldumann Project.

From the cover of the book:

In the midst of Capital City's November crime wave Citizen Detective (Grade III) Arne Blöm finds himself appointed as a Konstable of the State Court and tasked with the arrest and detention of a man he's pretty sure is actually dead.

However, being the Detective he is, Blöm quickly discovers that his assignment to the island of Huish has more sinister undertones. Faced with a series of strange and similar deaths, Blöm dispenses with traditional methods for solving the crimes and begins to suspect that certain sections of the island's population are not what they seem, nor as harmless as they might appear…

O. Huldumann's second novel featuring Citizen Detective Blöm firmly establishes the detective as a force to be reckoned with, albeit with damp brogues and missing a glove.

***********

Capital City's Citizen Detective (Grade III) Arne Blöm is faced with a peculiar case when two intriguing arrest warrants arrive on his desk. Appointed as a Konstable of the State Court, he has little choice but to action the these bizarre orders, even though it appears at least one of the people named is actually dead. 

Much to the consternation of his boss, who is very unhappy about losing a good detective amidst the heavy workload thrown up by the November crime wave, Blöm heads for the island of Huish to perform his court-appointed duty. However, it is not long before he realises that his assignment here will be much more than a brief affair, and begins to understand why Huish is also referred to as the island of lies. Presented with a series of strange deaths that he suspects might actually be murders, Blöm is hard-pushed to get to the bottom of exactly what is going on in this weird island community, all while trying to keep his beloved brogues dry...

This is my first introduction to Huldumann's writing, and I do not think I have ever read a Nordic noir crime story quite like it. Its setting, of an unnamed, post-revolution, communist-esque state is highly unusual, but somehow this works beautifully as a backdrop for a mystery that thrums with authentic noir atmosphere, albeit with undercurrents of dystopia and political malaise.

The story picks up the threads of the first book featuring Blöm, Citizen Detective, which I gather introduces the metropolis of Capital City, and has a secret service twist. This second book concerns itself with small community weirdness on the remote island of Huish, far removed from the administrative centre (but not its history), making it self-contained. Everything you need to fully commit to the story as a standalone is here, but I guarantee you will be searching out more Huldumann when you are done. 

I do not want to give away too much about the plot, because it was an absolute delight to follow the twists and turns of a mystery that nicely incorporates noir grit, gentle humour, shady shenanigans, murky motivations, political ideology, and a dollop of folklore. But suffice to say, Blöm's quick little jaunt out of the city explodes into a complex case about multiple murders fuelled by the kind of revenge that only a detective of his calibre could solve, and he does it all while being totally bemused by the odd traditions of the islanders; mentoring keen, but wet-behind-the-ears rookie cop, Tore Tolker; worrying about the suitability of his city clothing for the snowy conditions; and being bowled over by his first experience of a tasty crab supper. There is even a little hint of a romance too.

I thoroughly enjoyed the quirky flavour of Huldumann's writing, setting and characters. Blöm is a protagonist that makes himself at home in your affections from the first chapter - especially if you are a cat person. There is an undoubtable bumbling quality to him that is very endearing, but he is also no fool, and even though circumstances constantly conspire to throw sizeable obstacles in the way of his investigation, he proves himself eminently resourceful, and genuinely caring.

Translator Chris Ould makes this book sparkle, and you can feel the love he has for Huldumann's genius. His use of colourful idiom is a delight (particularly when it comes to Blöm's boss), and the explanatory notes sprinkled throughout the text are very helpful. Pace and tone are judged perfectly too, making this is a book so engaging that you can easily consume it in one tasty bite - which I most certainly did! 

Forget what you think you know about Nordic noir... Huldumann  throws out the rule book and captures something very special in these pages. I cannot wait to go back and read the first book!

The Island of Lies is available to buy now in hardback, paperback and ebook formats.

Thank you to The Huldumann Project for providing me with an ecopy of this book in return for an honest review, and to Ewa Sherman for inviting me to be part tis blog tour.

About the author:

O. Huldumann is a bit of an enigma, and it has been impossible to establish the true identity of the author. However, due to the painstaking dedication of translator Chris Ould and Project Huldumann, Huldumann's writing, which is widely held to be some of the best of what has later become known as Nordic noir, is now available to enjoy in English.

The Ice Retreat by Ruth Kelly

 

The Ice Retreat by Ruth Kelly.

Published 21st November 2024 by Pan Macmillan.

From the cover of the book:

HEALER?

Meet Hollie Jenson, presenter of the smash-hit docu-series Bad Medicine, which exposes the perils of extreme therapies. Her next target: a new retreat run by wellness guru Ariel Rose, who claims to have discovered the secret to healing pain through her three-day ice rebirth treatment.

LIAR?

Acting on a mother's plea to find her son, who vanished soon after his stay, Hollie ventures into the Swiss mountains where the retreat occupies a former observatory. There she will search for the boy, and hopes to expose Ariel as the charlatan she believes her to be.

KILLER?

As the isolation of the valley sets in, Hollie finds herself in an increasingly dangerous situation. There is much more to the retreat than meets the eye, and she must confront explosive secrets from her own past if she is to ever make it out alive . . .

***********

Hollie Jenson, presenter of the hard hitting documentary series, Bad Medicine, has made it her mission to track down and expose those who offer extreme therapies to the vulnerable. Next in her sights is Ariel Rose, a wellness guru offering a radical ice rebirth treatment that promises to cure people of their painful conditions in only three days.

When Hollie is contacted by a mother who claims her son went missing after being treated at the remote ice retreat in the Swiss Alps, she is sure this will be the key to proving Ariel is not just a charlatan, but something much worse. An invitation to tour the clinic and finally meet Ariel face to face is just the chance she needs, but the isolation of the mountain top retreat brings the ghosts of Hollie's own past to the surface. With the weather closing in, Hollie does not know what to believe, who to trust, or whether she will make it out of here alive.

Much to my delight, the season of icy thrillers is upon us once more, and I am kicking off the fun with the appropriately named The Ice Retreat by Ruth Kelly, which ticks all my boxes when it comes to location, atmosphere, and tonnes of snow!

The action begins with troubled former-scientist-turned-journalist Hollie on a mission to bring down Ariel Rose, whose outlandish claims make her ideal subject matter for Bad Medicine. With slow-burn tension, the story then unfurls through the narratives of Hollie as she tries to uncover the truth about Ariel, and those of two patients who have undergone the ice treatment - one the missing young man Hollie is here to find, and the other the badly burned, mysterious young woman he befriends. 

The creep factor settles icily into your veins from almost the very first page, when it becomes clear that there are people who are not keen for Hollie to succeed, and the thrill factor jumps in leaps and bounds once Hollie, and her camera man Rez, enter the remote enclave of Ariel's lair, high in the mountains - via a perilous journey that heightens the aura of isolation to perfection.

Gradually, you discover that Hollie has more axes to grind with Ariel that just outing her as a fake and finding a missing lad; that there is something very odd going on when it comes to the history of and therapeutic treatments offered in this eerie place; and that knowing who to trust is easier said than done. Suddenly, the slow-burn tempo takes a turn into nightmare country, before careering headlong into a twist and twist again affair that uses past horrors to up the unsettling ante. All bets are off from this point onwards, with barely a moment for you to catch your breath, as the pace is fast and frenzied all the way to the end.

Kelly does a stellar job building atmosphere with a backdrop that is, quite literally, to die for, and I really enjoyed the injection of Nordic noir vibes through the clever use of Norse myth. There are some interesting reflections on memory and living with chronic pain, and a really thought-provoking speculative edge to this story that I was not expecting too. Just the ticket to ease me into snowy thriller season. Buckle up and enjoy the vertiginous ride...

The Ice Retreat is available to buy 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:

Ruth Kelly is an award-winning journalist who has ghosted a string of Sunday Times top ten bestsellers – most recently THE PRISON DOCTOR, which sold over 250,000 copies, and THE GOVERNOR, which went straight in at number one on the Amazon charts and number five in the Sunday Times bestseller list.

Fear In The Sunlight (Josephine Tey Book Four) by Nicola Upson

 

Fear in the Sunlight (Josephine Tey Book Four) by Nicola Upson.

Audio book narrated by Sandra Duncan.

This edition published 4th February 2021 by Faber and Faber (originally published April 2012).

From the cover of the book:

Summer, 1936. The writer, Josephine Tey, joins her friends in the holiday village of Portmeirion to celebrate her fortieth birthday. Alfred Hitchcock and his wife, Alma Reville, are there to sign a deal to film Josephine's novel, A Shilling for Candles, and Hitchcock has one or two tricks up his sleeve to keep the holiday party entertained - and expose their deepest fears.

But things get out of hand when one of Hollywood's leading actresses is brutally slashed to death in a cemetery near the village. The following day, as fear and suspicion take over in a setting where nothing - and no one - is quite what it seems, Chief Inspector Archie Penrose becomes increasingly unsatisfied with the way the investigation is ultimately resolved. Several years later, another horrific murder, again linked to a Hitchcock movie, drives Penrose back to the scene of the original crime to uncover the shocking truth.

***********

Summer, 1936. Josephine Tey arrives in the holiday village of Portmeirion for a get together with her friends in celebration of her fortieth birthday. It will also be a chance for Josephine to meet with Alfred Hitchcock, and his wife Alma Reville, to discuss the film rights of her novel, A Shilling for Candles, something that she is more than a little apprehensive about.

Although Josephine is delighted to be back in company with Inspector Archie Penrose and her other close friends, and more particularly, Marta (who Josephine now acknowledges she is in love with), it is clear that the presence of the Hitchcock couple and their retinue will mean this is rather less of a relaxing break than planned.  Before long, the toll of Hitchcock's famous psychological games start to tell on the holiday guests, with grisly results: one of Hollywood's famous actresses is found murdered near the village, and other deaths soon follow...

Eighteen years later, Archie receives information about another murder that draws him back to Portmeirion, even though he is now retired. He was always dissatisfied with the direction of the murder investigation all those years ago, and believes it is now time for the truth to be uncovered...

I am back on the reread trail of one of my favourite book series, with book four of the Josephine Tey Mysteries by Nicola Upson, Fear in the Sunlight. This is the first book in the series where Upson ramps up the complexity of her story-telling game to weave a tale that is, for the greater part, a retrospective - and for this reason it is tinged with sadness. 

The action begins in 1954, with Archie feeling at a bit of a loss now he is retired. Following an unexpected visit, he is thrown back in time to the shocking events surrounding Josephine's fortieth birthday celebrations, and the murders that he feels were never investigated properly. Josephine herself has now been dead two years, taken too soon at only fifty-five, so revisiting the scene of the crimes is especially hard for Archie - and he is not the only one suffering from the weight of ghosts of the past.

The story then unfurls in classic Upson style, taking you through the heady summer visit of Josephine and co to Portmeirion, a setting that makes the perfect backdrop for the Hitchcock-esque shenanigans that play out. Upson beautifully blends the more intimate sides of the story, following the developments in Josephine's relationship with Marta and the lovely meanderings in her friendship with Archie, with the dramatic twists and turns of characters hell-bent on twisting the knife both metaphorically and quite literally. This is all gorgeous stuff, wreathed in suspense, psychologically fascinating, and as tense as you like, but the elusive truth of what really happened that summer is only finally revealed when Archie finds himself back in Portmeirion in 1954 - here Upson ties up the threads of the story with lashings of emotion, and bitter scenes that cut right to the quick.

There is a lovely Hollywood flavour to it all that delves into Hitchcock's character and working methods behind the scenes, as well as his relationship with Alma, the acting talent, and the direction of his career. Upson has a great time getting into the nitty gritty of the lives of actors, film production staff, and the acting profession of the era - particularly when it comes to the secrets they keep, simmering rivalries, ambition, and the hatred that lies deep within their hearts. Of course, Upson being Upson, she also knows how to expose the rawness of feelings that relate to the location where her story is set. Complex family relationships, and the long shadows of sins that colour the lives of those tied to this small community provide rich, and deliciously dark themes, which weave into the stories of all the characters - both locals and outsiders. 

Anyone who has read Upson's latest glorious book in this series, Shot with Crimson (book eleven), which revisits Josephine's bumpy track record with Hitchcock, should certainly read this one. It charts exactly why Josephine was wary of having her work adapted given the treatment A Shilling for Candles received at Hitchock's hands, resulting in a film called Young and Innocent, which bore little resemblance to the original book. This is a storyline that resonates well with both authors and book lovers alike, and I thoroughly enjoyed the way Upson uses pathos and humour in exploring it. 

Another fine Josephine Tey story, consumed through the accomplished voice talents of Sandra Duncan, confirms exactly why this series has a place in my heart. Onwards to some self-indulgence with a revisit to book five, The Death of Lucy Kite. I cannot wait.

Fear in the Sunlight is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.

About the author:

Nicola Upson is the author of three previous 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.

Palisade (Kanha and Colbey Book Two) by Lou Gilmond

 

Palisade (Kanha and Colbey Book Two) by Lou Gilmond.

Published 21st November 2024 by Armillary Books.

From the cover of the book:

WHAT CAN SEE WATCHES, WHAT CAN HEAR LISTENS, WHAT CAN BE FOLLOWED IS TRACKED…

When opposition Chief Whip Esme Kanha is handed a secret dossier containing evidence of government corruption, she suspects its original owner, a top journalist, was murdered for gathering it. Despite the danger, she feels she must investigate. Meanwhile, lowly backbencher Harry Colbey is working his own leads. A known campaigner against big tech, he is often sent data from anonymous sources and this time round he has something truly alarming.

But both Colbey and Kanha must tread carefully in a world dominated by AI, where 'what can see watches, what can hear listens, and what can be followed is tracked'.

As Kanha and Colbey again join forces, they are locked into a deadly race against political corruption, no matter what the cost. But when an old enemy returns, it may already be too late…

***********

Harry Colbey MP is on the back benches once more, this time with his party in opposition, but his well-earned reputation as a campaigner for privacy often means interesting whispers still come his way. This time, a really shocking piece of information has dropped into his lap about the intentions of the new government from an anonymous source.

Meanwhile, opposition chief whip, Esme Kanha has recently come into the possession of a secret dossier that tells of the deeply sinister influence of an elitist organisation pulling strings in the corridors of power - an organisation that is not beyond murdering to keep its secrets from getting out.

In a world where AI watches over every move people make, Colbey and Kanha must join forces once more to fight back against, not just, corruption and the terrifying plans of those who prize security above all things, but the re-emergence of an old enemy they thought had been thwarted...

Lou Gilmond returns with the second part of her gripping near-future, political thriller series featuring Harry Colbey and Esme Kanha, Palisade. The first book in the series, Dirty Geese, absolutely blew me away last year, easily earning itself a place among my books of 2023, so I could not wait to dive into this book.

Continuing the ever-more topical theme of the conflicting arguments for privacy vs security, Gilmond weaves an intricate, and supremely slick novel that has Colbey and Kanha racing against time to stop the nefarious plans of a new political opponent on one hand, and an old adversary on the other, all while trying to avoid the surveillance that pervades a near-future world so scarily prophetic that you can taste it.

Gilmond leans heavily into the thriller genre for this second book, building on the thought-provoking tenets of Dirty Geese (which you really do need to read first) to up the ante in every aspect of her tightly woven plot. She brings the worlds of politics and the super-rich players who tip the balance of power through fair means or foul (mostly foul) vividly alive, and evokes real fear in the pit of your stomach about what the seemingly unstoppable march of AI into every aspect of our lives could mean for the freedoms we hold so dear.

This is serious stuff, but Gilmond presents it in such an engaging way, incorporating her message into the fabric of a utterly consuming story, tying you to the fates of characters to both love and loath, and using humour to lighten the book at just the right moments. I adore the relationship that has blossomed between Colbey and Kanha, with a budding romance that has grown out of mutual respect and the recognition that they both stand for good in an environment not always known for integrity - and there is a stellar supporting cast for you to take to heart too. It was great to see tech wizz Mani making an appearance once more, and how I loved Kanha's little group of aristocratic help-mates working under the auspices of her godfather, Lord Silverman. An interesting little development of the front of Colbey's ex-wife too - go Clarissa!

Twist, turns, a cracking plot, truly fabulous characters, and themes to ponder make this another winner from Lou Gilmond, and yet again a book that makes my books of the year list. And if cliff-hangers to die for are your bag, then this is something pretty special... I cannot wait for book three, The Divinity Games, which is coming in 2025!

Palisade is available to buy now in paperback and ebook. Thank you to Armillary Books for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review, and to M8das PR for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.

About the author:

Based in Oxford, UK, Lou Gilmond is an author of mystery and thriller fiction, screenplays and travel books. www.lougilmond.com

Victim (Blix and Ramm Book Five) by Jorn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger

 

Victim (Blix and Ramm Book Five) by Jørn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger.

Translated by Megan E. Turney.

Published 7th November 2024 by Orenda Books.

From the cover of the book:

Buried sins
Brutal revenge…

Two years ago, Alexander Blix was the lead investigator in a missing person’s case where a young mother, Elisabeth Eie, was kidnapped. The case was never solved.

Blix’s career in law enforcement is now over, but her kidnapper is back, leaving evidence of Elisabeth's murder in Blix’s mailbox, as well as hints that there are other victims.

At the same time, Emma Ramm has been contacted by a teenage girl, whose stepfather has been arrested on suspicion of killing a childhood friend. But there is no body. Nor are there any other suspects…

Blix and Ramm can rely only on each other, and when Blix’s fingerprints are found on a child’s drawing at a crime scene, the present comes uncomfortably close to the past.

A past where a victim has found their own, shocking form of therapy.

And someone is watching…

Shocking, relentless and unbearably tense, Victim marks the return of the international bestselling, blockbuster Blix & Ramm series from two of Norway's finest crime writers.

***********

Former police detective, Alexander Blix, is struggling to move on with his life, even though he has been exonerated from murdering the man who killed his daughter. Unable to reconcile the feelings of guilt he carries with him, he feels consumed by darkness, and without direction now his police career has ended. 

But his investigative days are far from over. Out of the blue, he receives a chilling letter in his mail box, connected to the unsolved case of a young mother who was abducted two years ago. His ex police colleagues seem uninterested in this new lead, despite the fact that her body was never found, and that the letter writer gives a chilling hint about the existence of other victims. Blix is sure this might be the chance to finally find some answers, and he cannot let matters lie.

Meanwhile, Blix's friend and some-time sleuthing partner, Emma Ramm, is looking for a way to pick up the threads of her journalistic career. When she is contacted by a teenager needing help to clear the name of her step-father in a murder investigation, she find herself digging into a case which the police consider open-and-closed, but which is actually far more complicated.

The quite brilliant Jørn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger writing partnership is back in business with instalment five of  the sublime Blix and Ramm series - a couple of characters who make a formidable partnership all of their own. Picking up from one of the best-selling duo's classic cliff-hangers at the end of book four, Stigma, Blix is a free man, but feeling there is little light at the end of the tunnel now his police days are over. In many ways, his young friend Emma Ramm is also at a crossroads in her life. Both of them are about to find a new sense of purpose.

The story unfurls beautifully in two threads around the crimes they are investigating, with Blix and Ramm going their own way, and coming back together to help each other work through knotty problems in the highly enjoyable way they can - which has not always been the case in the course of the series. This is peak Blix and Ramm, where their special talents complement each other to solve a tricky current investigation, and a series of shocking cold case abductions/murders which you gradually learn are related to tragedies in Blix's own life. 

Fascinating themes of family, motherhood, the impact of dysfunctional parental relationships, and unresolved trauma echo through both sides of the story, and there is a lovely character-led element for delicious depth. Blix has always remained a bit of a puzzle, largely on a path to self-destruction: for the first time, our novelist duo delve into the things that have shaped him into the man he is, and I found that very emotional - especially when you discover he is still capable of redemption. I was unable to look away until all the twists and turns had worked out. The tension is pitch perfect, the clever red herrings are nicely misdirecting, and the climax is edge-of-your-seat heaven. Superb translation work from Megan Turney too. 

Whenever I read a new Blix and Ramm I think Jørn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger cannot possibly ramp up the atmospheric, Nordic noir thrills another notch, and each time I am proved wrong. Absolutely my favourite one yet (yes, I know I am always saying that), and this time I am in love with the little cliff-hanger guys... roll on book six.

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

Thank you to Orenda Books for providing me with an ecopy in return for an honest review, and to Random Things for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.

About the authors: 

Jørn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger are both internationally bestselling Norwegian authors.

Jørn Lier Horst first rose to literary fame with his no. 1 bestselling William Wisting series.

A former Detective Chief Investigator in the Norwegian police, Horst imbues all his works with an unparalleled realism and suspense. 

Thomas Enger is the journalist-turned-author behind the acclaimed Henning Juul series. Enger’s trademark is his dark, gritty voice paired with key social messages and tight plotting. 

Besides writing fiction for both adults and young adults, Enger also works as a music composer. 

Death Deserved, the first book in the Blix & Ramm series, was Jørn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger’s first co-written thriller, and all five books in the series series have hit no. one on bestseller lists worldwide.

The Cut by Richard Armitage (Audio Book)

 

The Cut by Richard Armitage.

Released 22nd August 2024 by Audible Originals.

Narrated by Richard Armitage and Jacob Dudman.

From the cover:

You can’t escape your past. The cut always reopens.

In the sleepy village of Barton Mallet, the old ruins of Blackstone Mill watch over the residents as they go about their quiet lives. Ben Knot and his friends are looking forward to a summer of fun and freedom once their last year of school is over. The class of 1994 have been through a lot together, good and bad, but teasing turns to bullying when the Knot gang target younger boy Mark Cherry. As tensions rise and violence escalates, the group fractures and tragedy strikes. Before the summer is over, one of them will be killed. Murdered by someone they called a friend.

Thirty years on, Ben is an award-winning architect who has moved his family back to the village where he grew up. His girlfriend Dani is a hands-on step mum to his kids, budding actor Nate and star footballer Lily, but even though the family seem happy, Ben has never been able to forget the tragedy of the past. And it’s a past that is coming back to haunt him with the murderer’s imminent release from prison. Ben’s glittering career is also starting tarnish as some shady business deals have put him on the path to bankruptcy. With the killer’s parole date approaching and the banks calling in their loans, Ben struggles to keep a grip on the perfect life he has built.

When Nate lands the leading role in a new horror movie, Dani jumps at the chance to propel him towards stardom, despite Ben’s concerns that it will complicate their lives. Ben is persuaded to support his son’s dreams, but when the film crew descend on the village to start shooting, the dream starts to turn into a nightmare. The film is not quite what it seems. His kids are being pushed to the limit and Ben’s paranoia makes him question the film makers’ motives. Ben is desperate for answers and will stop at nothing to keep his family safe.

If the first cut is the deepest, then the last cut is going to end it all.

***********

1994. For Ben Knott and his friends in sleepy Barton Mallet the end of their last year at school is a time for celebration. They intend to make the most of a summer of freedom in the shadow of Backstone Mill, but the pent up emotions released result in murder.

Thirty years later, Ben's glittering architectural career has allowed him to return to live in style in Barton Mallet with his girlfriend Dani, and his two children, Nate and Lily. But their comfortable existence is about to be threatened. Ben's shady business dealings have led him to the brink of bankruptcy, something he is desperately keeping from his family. Under intense strain from his financial woes, he feels himself heading for breaking point when he hears that the person found guilty of the murder in 1994 is about to be released from prison.

 
Barely keeping it together, Ben is persuaded by Dani to back Nate's dream to be an actor, when he is cast in a central role in a horror movie being filmed in the village. Absorbed by his own problems, and the ghosts that haunt him, Ben only slowly becomes aware that there is something odd about the direction of this film project. He needs answers...

 
Having been wowed by Richard Armitage's debut, Geneva, in both its original audio book and subsequent physical book forms, I could not wait to get my ears around this follow-up thriller, The Cut. As before, this is first being released in audio format by Audible Originals, and is narrated impeccably by the man himself and Jacob Dudman, before then being published by Faber and Faber (coming in hardback and ebook August 2025).

The first thing that strikes me is how much of a different kind of beast this is to Geneva, both in terms of subject matter and structure, which gives an indication of quite how versatile Armitage's writing is. Although there is a hint of international conspiracy in this story, it almost exclusively takes place in a small English village, which has never quite recovered from a shocking murder in 1994. Thirty years later, troubled central character, Ben, who was closely tied to the tragedy, has returned to his childhood village, and Armitage uses this to spin a dual timeline thriller that really gets its claws into you.

I do not want to say too much about the plot itself, as so much of the charm of Armitage's books involves the way the twists and turns of the story gradually reveal themselves. However, suffice to say that as he weaves back and forth between the past and the present (cleverly narrated by Dudman's voice in the former, and his own in the latter), your perception of the events of 1994, and of Ben himself, changes quite spectacularly.

I do not think the ending hits with that exquisite moment of clarity that Geneva's does, and there is a 'happy ending' of sorts that does not quite fit for me, given the the fact that ultimately more than one character here should be taking responsibility for their parts in the 1994 tragedy. However, this is certainly a gritty, and viscerally affecting tale that sits nicely on the crossover between thriller and crime story. I found myself listening with my heart in my mouth as it flips back and forth between the narrators. It is not a comfortable journey from slow-burn beginning to action packed ending by any stretch of the imagination (especially as a parent), but my goodness, it is captivating. I tip my hat to Armitage for stepping up and fully committing to a dual timeline story as intricately crafted as this one, with echoed scenes, and themes, and the way he pivots around different shades of meaning behind the title is impressive.

As someone who was very fortunate to be able to meet and chat with Richard Armitage at Faber Books a few weeks ago, it was a fascinating experience to listen to his work with an insider's view about his creative process. You can really feel his 'visually' centred brain at work here. This is every bit a cinematic experience, which is fitting given aspects of the story, as much as it is an auditory one - there are some lovely, atmospheric touches on the soundtrack too.

I will definitely be revisiting this one when the book hits next year, and I am very much looking forward to what comes next from Richard Armitage.

The Cut is available now in audio format from Audible, and will be published in ebook and paperback by Faber Books in August 2025.

P

About the author:

Richard Armitage is a multi-award winning stage, screen and voice actor best known for his roles in Peter Jackson's trilogy of The Hobbit, Captain America, Alice through the Looking Glass and Oceans 8. 

The Cut is his second novel, following his debut, Geneva. 

The Viscount And The Thief by Emma Orchard

 

The Viscount and the Thief by Emma Orchard.

Published 11th November 2024 by Boldwood Books.

From the cover of the book:

Spring, 1811... A stranger arrives at Wyverne Hall

Sophie Delavallois is the new companion to the ageing Dowager Marchioness, but she also has another reason for coming to the infamous Wyverne mansion, one that will shake the family to their core.

Lord Drake left his childhood home many years ago, and only returns now to see his beloved grandmother. He takes little interest in the goings on of the house, until the arrival of Mademoiselle Delavallois. There’s something about her that he can’t put his finger on; it's as if he’s seen her before, but surely, that is not possible…

Sophie is also drawn to Drake, but he is a Wyverne, and she cannot allow herself to fall for him, because her intentions towards the family are resolute – revenge. But inside the walls of Wyverne Hall, she discovers the rumours about the family barely scratch the surface, and she can’t escape the dangerous allure of the Viscount.

Once her plans are set in motion, will he be her saviour or her ruin?

***********

1811. Sophie Delavallois is employed at Wyverne Hall as a companion to the elderly Dowager Marchioness, a job which pays very well for duties which include little more than reading the old lady racy French novels - mainly due to the scandalous reputation of the Wyverne family.

Lord Drake, heir to the Wyverne title, no longer lives at the family seat, having distanced himself from his infamous father, the Marquess, and disreputable step-mother, but he still visits the house to see his beloved grandmother. He generally takes little account of his grandmother's middle-aged companions, but Mademoiselle Delavallois is something quite different. He becomes captivated by her, and is sure he has met her before somewhere... if only he could remember where?

Sophie cares little that working for the Wyverne family will reflect badly upon her own reputation, for she is not quite what she appears to be. However, she cannot allow herself to fall for the young Viscount and become distracted from her purpose. For Sophie's quest is not for love, but for revenge... 

Welcome to more Regency gorgeousness from the pen of Emma Orchard, with a story that takes place outside the strict codes of the haut ton, in a family steeped in scandal. She pulls out all the stops in her latest escapist novel to conjure a tale which is a delicious concoction of riotous revenge scheme, helter-skelter heist plot, and risque romance. And I was here for it all!

Sprawling Wyverne Hall makes a wonderfully atmospheric backdrop for this tale, with a lovely contrast between its opulent public rooms and the hidden, forgotten passageways that ooze Gothic vibes. Against this imagination stirring backdrop, the threads of the story around Sophie's plans for retribution unfurl, revealing her reasons for being here, and showcasing the very particular skills that have kept her alive against the odds.

Orchard has a lot of fun going overboard in the den of iniquity vein, indulging in scenes on a grand scale that paint Marquess Wyverne as morally corrupt as they come, with a wife to match. Weaving in and out of the salacious, show-stopper vignettes, the more intimate side of the story emerges as Sophie's turbulent emotions threaten to derail her carefully laid plans. Unexpectedly, she becomes fond of the elderly Dowager Marchioness, and an all-consuming, passionate affair blossoms between her and Lord Drake, a man very different from his father. I absolutely loved the astute and unapologetic old Dowager, who has lived life to the full; and the bumpy road to happiness of Sophie and Lord Drake was just the ticket for hitting the romantic hot spot in more ways than one - oh my, those steamy, roof-top trysts!

This was a lot of fun, and so much more than a light romantic dalliance. The highly enjoyable crime caper to adds pace with its slick twists and turns, and there are cracking characters to love and loath too. Emma Orchard is rapidly becoming a bit of a favourite with me for an entertaining literary romp. I cannot wait to read more of her page-turning Regency delights. 

The Viscount and the Thief is available to but now in paperback, ebook and audio formate.

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:

Emma was born in Salford and studied English Literature at the universities of Edinburgh and York.

She was a copy editor at Mills & Boon, where she met her husband in a classic enemies-to-lovers romance.

Emma has worked in television and as a Literary Agent, and started writing in 2020.

The Enigma Girl by Henry Porter

 

The Enigma Girl by Henry Porter.

Published 7th November 2024 by Quercus.

From the cover of the book:

Slim Parsons is all but burned.

Her last deep cover job for MI5 ended with a life-and-death struggle on a private jet that caused her to go on the run from both the deadly target and her angry bosses in the Security Service. They say that violence comes too easily to her; that she's bordering on delinquent and unsuitable for the role of an MI5 operative.

Yet she is recalled and asked to infiltrate a news website that's causing alarm in the highest circles. It is staffed by a group descended from wartime codebreakers operating from an unassuming office block near Bletchley Park. Operation Linesman looks like a come down, the curtain on a brilliant career in the shadows. However, she accepts the assignment on condition that the Security Service searches for her missing brother.

Linesman turns out to be anything but simple. Her personal loss, her previous deep cover role, and a threat to MI5 itself from her original target come together in a three-way collision.

And all the while she is watched by someone even deeper in the shadows than she is.

***********

Alice 'Slim' Parsons has been keeping a low profile, caring for the elderly mother who is drinking herself to death from grief, since her last mission as an MI5 agent went horribly awry. Convinced she has blotted her copybook by going completely off the mission play-book, and by causing all kinds of headaches for her spy masters by going on the run across Europe, Slim is certain she will not be called back to active duty any time soon - no matter how justified her actions were.

Slim is astonished when she is recalled to work on a new mission rather sooner than expected, Operation Linesman. Her task is to infiltrate a news website called Middle Kingdom, run by descendants of Bletchley Park's war-time finest, that is causing concern among the powers that be. She agrees, on the understanding that MI5 put their resources to use in finding her missing brother.

To Slim's surprise, Operation Linesman proves to be a lot more complicated that it first appears, and it brings with it dangers connected to her last mission that she did not see coming...

The story unfurls in three cleverly wielded storylines around the dangerous legacy of Slim's last mission; her current operation into the goings on at Middle Kingdom; and the fate of her missing brother Matt, which is closely tied to the the dysfunction that runs through her relationship with her mother. In a masterclass of plotting, the storylines touch and gradually weave together as the pertinent details of each one are revealed in parallel, until they clash gloriously together in the kind of way only a consummate storyteller can pull off.

Porter's style is deliciously old school espionage fare, punctuating the slow-burn rise in tension with perfectly timed bursts of action to keep the pace going nicely, and inserting tenderness and humour where required. He beautifully combines timeless spy-story themes of sacrifice, secrets, and a renegade agent, with a particular sense of right and wrong; fascinating historical titbits about remarkable war-time deeds; and current topics to keep the novel fresh for a modern audience, especially when it comes to investigative journalism, corruption at the highest levels, modern slavery, people trafficking - and Slim's personal life. It is an addictive blend, and the journey from emotional opener to an ending that had me punching the air with glee is immensely satisfying. 

I absolutely loved Slim. She is gutsy, unapologetic, and resourceful, but she is also just the right side of vulnerable. This story brings her plenty of trouble and heartache, but everything that happens here forges her character into the kind of person you are sorry to let go of at the end of a novel. I really hope Porter uses this book as a launching pad for a new series with her at the helm, because I want to read about more of her adventures - and there is a brilliant supporting cast for her to bounce off too. Superb!

The Enigma Girl is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Quercus for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review, and to Ransom PR for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.

About the author:

Henry Porter was a regular columnist for the Observer and now writes about European power and politics for The Hive website in the US. He has written several bestselling thrillers, including Brandenburg, which won the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger, A Spy’s Life and Empire State, which were both nominated for the same award. He is also the author of the Paul Samson spy thrillers: Firefly, which won the 2019 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize, and White Hot Silence.

Henry Porter is frequently described as the heir to John le Carré. He lives in London.

Yule Island by Johana Gustawsson (Paperback Release)

 

Yule Island by Johana Gustawsson.

Translated by David Warriner.

Published in paperback 7th November 2024 by Orenda Books.

From the cover of the book:

Don’t...

Art expert Emma Lindahl is anxious when she’s asked to appraise the antiques and artefacts in the infamous manor house of one of Sweden’s wealthiest families, on the island of Storholmen, where a young woman was murdered nine years earlier, her killer never found.

Emma must work alone, and with the Gussman family apparently avoiding her, she sees virtually no one in the house. Do they have something to hide?

Trust...

As she goes about her painstaking work and one shocking discovery yields clues that lead to another, Emma becomes determined to uncover the secrets of the house and its occupants.

When the lifeless body of another young woman is found in the icy waters surrounding the island, Detective Karl Rosén arrives to investigate, and memories of his failure to solve the first case come rushing back. Could this young woman’s tragic death somehow hold the key?

Anyone...

Battling her own demons, Emma joins forces with Karl to embark upon a chilling investigation, plunging them into horrifying secrets from the past – Viking rites and tainted love – and Scandinavia’s deepest, darkest winter…

***********

Art appraiser Emma Lindahl is sent by a prestigious auction house to value the rumoured treasure trove of antiques at the manor house of one of Sweden's wealthiest families, the Gussmans. She is anxious to live up to the responsibility placed upon her, but the location of the manor house on the island of Storholmen makes her feel uneasy, given the island's connection to the brutal murder of a young girl nine years ago.

When Emma arrives at the house, the sheer scale of the job ahead of her does nothing to alleviate her nerves, especially as the Gussman family seem almost hostile to her presence. Moving from room to room on the ridiculously strict timetable dictated by the family, the days begin to blur into one, despite the remarkable array of artefacts within them... until she makes a shocking discovery that could be a piece of the puzzle to the mystery of the murder that has made this island infamous.

Detective Karl Rosén is tortured by his inability to solve the murder of 'the hanging girl' on the island of Storholmen nine years ago. When the body of another young girl is found in the freezing waters off the island, bearing similar marks, he is hopeful that her death may unlock the answers to these bizarre ritualised killings. Emma's discovery brings her and Karl together, and they unexpectedly find themselves teaming up in an attempt to finally bring a murderer to justice, but they are unprepared for the secrets from the past that they uncover - secrets of Viking rites and dark deeds that touch upon their own tragedies...

Johana Gustawsson is the queen of the a gritty noir crime story threaded with the icy chill of horrors from your darkest nightmares, and in Yule Island she proves once again that she can do this with consummate skill. This novel is packed with troubled characters hiding secrets, including Emma and Karl our unlikely crime-busting pair, and the deeply unsettling location of Storholmen makes the ideal backdrop for Gustawsson to weave her spell-binding magic against.

In a masterclass of plotting and misdirection, the story unfurls in the past and present with elements of fast-paced, macabre treasure hunt, and slow-burn Gothic hair-raiser, which come together in a delicious whole. Gustawsson subtly seduces you into falling into all her well-laid traps, before flooring you with oh so beautifully contrived twists and turns - which I promise, you will not see coming - and to top it all, in a spark of absolute genius, she drops in a moment of exquisite clarity that only the very best writers can pull off.

Bursting with echoing themes of motherhood and madness, Viking rituals and intense relationships, this is a novel which completely consumes you and scares you witless. The unbearable tension, the claustrophobic atmosphere, the visceral chills, and the images Gustawsson conjures in your imagination... all this will linger long after you have closed the cover on this stonking thriller. I am so impressed with the work of translator David Warrinder here too, maintaining pace and spot on tone throughout.

Yule Island easily made it on to the list of my books of 2023, when it came out in hardback - and you can now discover its creepy delights in paperback. It is, quite simply, sublime.

**Review originally published for release of the hardback edition in November 2023.

Yule Island is available to buy now in hardcover, paperback, ebook and audio formats. You can support indie publishing by buying direct from Orenda Books HERE;

About the author:

Born in Marseille, France, and with a degree in Political Science, Johana Gustawsson has worked as a journalist for the French and Spanish press and television. Her critically acclaimed Roy & Castells series, including Block 46, Keeper and Blood Song, has won the Plume d’Argent, Balai de la découverte, Balai d’Or and Prix Marseillais du Polar awards, and is now published in nineteen countries. A TV adaptation is currently underway in a French, Swedish and UK co-production. The Bleeding – a number one bestseller in France and the first in a new series – will be published in 2022. Johana lives in London with her Swedish husband and their three sons.

About the translator:

David Warner translates from French and nurtures a healthy passion for Franco, Nordic and British crime fiction. Growing up in deepest Yorkshire, he developed incurable Francophilia at an early age. Emerging from Oxford with a Modern Languages degree he narrowly escaped the graduate rat race by hopping on a plane to Canada – and never looked back. More than a decade into a high-powered commercial translation career, he listened to his heart and turned his hand to the delicate art of literary translation. David has lived in France and Quebec, and now calls beautiful British Columbia home.