Emma by Jane Austen

 

Emma by Jane Austern

This edition published 1st October 2009 by Penguin Classics. 

Originally published 1815.

From the cover of the book:

Beautiful, clever, rich - and single - Emma Woodhouse is perfectly content with her life and sees no need for either love or marriage.

Nothing, however, delights her more than interfering in the romantic lives of others. But when she ignores the warnings of her good friend Mr Knightley and attempts to arrange a suitable match for her protégée Harriet Smith, her carefully laid plans soon unravel and have consequences that she never expected.

With its imperfect but charming heroine and its witty and subtle exploration of relationships, Emma is often seen as Jane Austen's most flawless work.

***********

Emma was published in 1815, and is a comedy of manners set in the fictional village of Highbury. Emma Woodhouse, the eponymous heroine of the novel, is the mistress of Hartfield (seat of the principal family), where she lives with her widowed father. With her governess just married to neighbour Mr Weston (a happening Emma likes to take credit for), Emma is lonely. Her beloved father, a terrible hypochondriac, is not good company for her, so she decides to take an interest in one Harriet Smith, a young lady of doubtful parentage who lives as a border at the local school for girls - against the advice of her brother-in-law, Mr Knightley.

Convinced her powers as matchmaker can bring about the marriage of Harriet with local clergyman, Mr Elton, Emma does her utmost to bring them together. Meanwhile, Frank Churchill, the prodigal son of Mr Weston who the whole village are preoccupied with (despite not having seen him) is expected any moment. Independent minded, and independently fortuned, Emma, has sworn off marriage herself, but feels the prospect of romance appoaching - especially since many in Highbury expect them to wed.

In a tangle of misconceptions, and dawning realisations, this tale involves just about every genteel family in the village to great comic effect, and the characters are delicious. Emma herself divides the crowd, as she is a bit full of herself, and has a tendency to meddle where she really should not - especially in empty-headed Harriet's affairs. I rather like her though, she is far from obnoxious, learns some lessons about herself, and has a good heart. 

Talking of obnoxious... smarmy Elton and his social climbing wife are definitely awful; and as for that player, Frank Churchill, I never can abide him... 🤣

I really enjoyed my revisit to Emma. It truly is comedy gold, with a lovely slow-burn friends-to-lovers romance. It has some really thought provoking reflections on class, and the dependency of women in Regency England too.

Emma is available to by now in multiple formats.

About the author:

Jane Austen, the daughter of a clergyman, was born in Hampshire in 1775, and later lived in Bath and the village of Chawton. As a child and teenager, she wrote brilliantly witty stories for her family's amusement, as well as a novella, Lady Susan.

Her first published novel was Sense and Sensibility, which appeared in 1811 and was soon followed by Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park and Emma.

Austen died in 1817, and Persuasion and Northanger Abbey were published posthumously in 1818.

The Nightingale Dilemma by Katy Moran

 

The Nightingale Dilemma by Katy Moran.

Published 3rd July 2025 by Apollo, Head of Zeus.

From the cover of the book:

**PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AS MY LADY'S SECRETS**

1812...

Following the drum in Spain, rebellious aristocrat Cressida Nightingale has put her tumultuous past far behind her, and with it her short-lived marriage to Lord Greville.

Having escaped the constraints of her previous life and now scorned by society, Cressida has spent years surviving as a spy for her government. Whilst this is a hard life, it's hers and she will fight to keep it. Then her world comes crashing down when she is caught behind enemy lines by none other than her estranged husband.

Betrayed by those who have willingly taken the information she offered, Cressida is offered a deal. Entrap her childhood friend, Lord Byron, now the most famous man in England and one who is suspected of treason, or pay the ultimate price for her own treasonous acts.

Can this nightingale escape the shackles of her past, and what price will she pay for it is she can't?

***********

1812. Aristocrat Lady Cressida Nightingale has spent years following the drum in Spain, in the heat of battle of the Peninsular War. Secretly, she has spent much of her time spying for the government, but now she has been caught behind enemy lines by her estranged husband, Lord Greville, an officer in the Rifles - the man she has been pointedly avoiding since the collapse of her high society marriage in a flurry of scandal.

Arrested as a traitor, and brought back home in disgrace, Cressida has been betrayed by those who have made use of the information she has supplied. The only way she can save her skin is by taking on a another delicate mission - entrapping her friend Lord Byron, who is suspected of treasonous acts on British soil...

I am a big fan of Katy Moran's writing, having loved her Lamorna Family trilogy, and could not wait to get stuck into The Nightingale Dilemma for more of her gorgeous settings, compelling characters, and slow-burn story-telling rich with luscious detail of time and place.

This stand-alone novel is told from the perspectives of rebellious Cressida and her estranged husband Greville. Driving the story, Cressida's fight for survival gets her into a number of sticky situations that keep you firmly on your satin-slippered toes as she is required to reconcile with family and friends post-scandalous exit from the haut ton, and fight her way out of danger, not to mention negotiate a relationship with Greville that veers wildly between fiery sexual attraction and seething hate. Meanwhile, Greville has to wade through pretty much the same level of family difficulties, scandal, and attempts to decide out how he feels about seeing Cressida again too.

There is a fair amount of backstory to take-on-board about complicated family situations on both sides; their short tempestuous marriage; political unrest; and significant moments from the war, before you can understand quite what is happening in the book - but hold onto your fine-linen shifts and tattered shakos, because all this detail pays dividends once the action really gets going in Scotland. It does help if you know a little about the Peninsular War before embarking on the story as this has major bearing on Cressida and Greville's motives and relationship.

Lush plotlines revolve around political scheming, rebellion, betrayal, blackmail, smuggling, slavery, and the gulf between rich and poor, which show off Moran's skill when it comes to filling out her books with historical context and oodles of social history, and she also knows how to weave in romantic suspense and red-hot passion to stir your emotions. The resulting novel sits nicely somewhere between Bernard Cornwell's excellent Sharpe series (with a lovely nod to the green-jacketed Rifles through swoon-worthy Greville), Regency society yarn, and atmospheric Du Maurier mystery, which makes for a delicious combination. The inclusion of mad, bad, and dangerous to know Lord Byron also provides a lot of salacious fun, and touches on aspects of sexuality in Regency Britain that are quite thought provoking.

Just my kind of spellbinding historical adventure, with a love story between Cressida and Greville that is enemies-to-lovers gold. Another winner from Katy Moran!

The Nightingale Dilemma is available to buy now in paperback, and ebook formats.

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

About the author:

Katy Moran writes romantic historical fiction filled with adventure, passion and political intrigue. Her books are set in an alternate history just a step away from our own. She lives in the Welsh borders with her family and four miniature sheep.

All Wrapped Up by Heidi Swain

All Wrapped Up by Heidi Swain.

Published 11th September 2025 by Simon and Schuster.

From the cover of the book:

In Wynbridge, the scent of autumn is on the breeze and love is in the air…

Clemmie Bennett has been renovating beautiful Rowan Cottage on the outskirts of the small town of Wynbridge, for eighteen months following a very public heartbreak back in her childhood hometown. The popular Instagram influencer, lost her husband, sold their home, and has been cosied up the Fens and living a very private life, but now she feels it’s time for a change.

A chance encounter with co-owner of The Cherry Tree Café, the bubbly Lizzie Dixon, pulls her into organizing Wynbridge’s first-ever Autumn Festival, and her once quiet life is soon a distant memory. With the whole town rallying behind the event, she discovers a new sense of purpose.

And when local vet Ash falls hard for Clemmie, she begins to wonder if she’s ready to move even further on from her past and fall in love again…

This autumn, cosy up with Heidi and this perfect seasonal romance.

***********

Three years ago Clemmie Bennet's life fell apart when her husband, Callum, died in a tragic accident. Broken-hearted she sold the house they had been doing-up together, closed the popular Instagram account where they had been posting about their renovation project, and moved to the Fenland town of Wynbridge for a new start.

For the last eighteen months Clemmie has kept herself to herself, anonymously sharing pictures of her autumnal colour schemes and designs on Instagram, as she transforms Rowan Cottage into a cosy haven where she can deal with her grief in her own quiet way. She now feels ready to dip her toe in Wynbridge life for the first time.

Lizzie Dixon, co-owner of The Cherry Tree Café, and handsome vet Ash become her first tentative friends. Encouraged by Lizzie, who recognises her talents, Clemmie agrees to organise Wynbridge's first Autumn Festival with Ash's help, despite her reservations. She and Ash are soon the best of pals, especially once he persuades her to adopt Pixie, a little dog who is suffering from the loss of her elderly owner.

Clemmie settles in to make this a festival to remember, but her confidence is knocked when some in the community are loudly unhappy about an outsider heading up the project. Her anxiety rises when she begins to suspect that Ash might want to be more than good friends. Can Clemmie overcome the challenges she faces, and open up her heart to love once more?

Heidi Swain's first Autumn book, All Wrapped Up, is set in her thriving community of Wynbridge, and follows the heart-warming tale of new character Clemmie. More than a few familiar faces make an appearance too, giving you a chance to catch up with the lives of the Wynbridge residents you have come to know and love.

Clemmie is a young widow, having undergone the tragic loss of her husband. Overwhelmed by grief, Clemmie has sworn off love and hidden herself away while renovating Rowan Cottage. She now feels ready to slowly discover the delights of Wynbridge, but this little Fenland community has other ideas... soon she has a lot more on her plate that she anticipated as she organises a festival, negotiates new friendships, and welcomes a special canine companion into her home.

The festival arrangements turn out to be problematic, but the fabulous community pulls together to save the day - and Clemmie eventually makes unexpected friends from the nay-sayers as well. Along the way, Swain weaves a gorgeous, gentle romance between Clemmie and Ash, with lots of will-they-won't-they suspense and Pixie playing cupid. Ahh!

With lashings of seasonal content, crisp forest walks, and super cosy settings, Swain makes the most of the atmospheric autumnal vibes. Her favourite themes of friendship, family, and community run through the story, and she touches deftly on relationships, loneliness, and dealing with loss in the heartfelt way she has.

I loved it. Perfect reading now we are into the season of mist and mellow fruitfulness! 

All Wrapped Up is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review, and for inviting me to take part in this Books and the City blog tour.

About the author:

Heidi Swain is a Sunday Times Top Ten best-selling author who writes feel good fiction for Simon & Schuster. She releases two books a year, and the stories all have a strong sense of community, family and friendship. She is currently writing books set in three locations - the Fenland town of Wynbridge, Nightingale Square in Norwich and Wynmouth on the Norfolk coast, as well as summer standalone titles. 

Heidi lives in beautiful west Norfolk. She is passionate about gardening, the countryside, collecting vintage paraphernalia and reading. Her tbr pile is always out of control!

 

 August 2025 Reading Round-Up

I managed to squeeze in a very healthy fourteen books in August, and there are at least two contenders here for my book of the year! You can find my reviews of these gems by clicking on the pictures below...

The Mercy Step by Marcia Hutchinson

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

We Live Here Now by C.D. Rose

Home Before Dark by Eva Bjorg Aegisdottir

The House At Devil's Neck by Tom Mead

The Transcendent Tide by Doug Johnstone

Watching You by Helen Fields

The Cut by Richard Armitage

One, Two, Buckle My Shoe by Agatha Christie

Second Act At Appleton Green by Kate Forster

The Forest Hideaway by Sharon Gosling

Yours For The Season by Emily Stone

L.A. Women by Ella Berman

Heroes by Stephen Fry

September is off with a book to get you in the autumn mood,,, watch this space for more!

Heroes by Stephen Fry

 

Heroes: The myths of the Ancient Greek heroes retold: 2 (Stephen Fry’s Greek Myths, 2).

Published 1st November 2018 by Michael Joseph.

From the cover of the book:

Few mere mortals have ever embarked on such bold and heart-stirring adventures, overcome myriad monstrous perils, or outwitted scheming vengeful gods, quite as stylishly and triumphantly as Greek heroes.

In this companion to his bestselling Mythos, Stephen Fry brilliantly retells these dramatic, funny, tragic and timeless tales.

Join Jason aboard the Argo as he quests for the Golden Fleece. See Atalanta - who was raised by bears - outrun any man before being tricked with golden apples. Witness wily Oedipus solve the riddle of the Sphinx and discover how Bellerophon captures the winged horse Pegasus to help him slay the monster Chimera.

Filled with white-knuckle chases and battles, impossible puzzles and riddles, acts of base cowardice and real bravery, not to mention murders and selfless sacrifices, Heroes is the story of what we mortals are truly capable of - at our worst and our very best.

***********

I absolutely loved Stephen Fry's first foray into the world of Greek mythology, Mythos, and have been dipping into this second volume, Heroes, on and off for quite some time. However, no book by Fry is complete without taking in his expressive dulcet tones in the audio book version too - which I had the pleasure to listen to last month.

In this second volume, Fry concentrates on the fascinating adventures of a number of mythical Greek heroes, bringing alive the tales of Perseus, Heracles, Jason, Oedipus, Bellerophon, and Theseus, with the pleasing addition of Atalanta... and a few asides to related stories.

I thought I knew many of these myths well, but Fry proved that there was a lot more to discover about these famous characters, as he delves into their death defying feats of bravery, their monstrous foes, their loves, their motivations, and their tragic missteps. I have also never realised before quite how much the stories of the different heroes overlap and connect with each other, which was a bit of a revelation. Alongside the stories, Fry adds lovely snippets about language, repeating themes, motifs that echo through history, and how the significance of the acts of the heroes on how the modern world came into being.

This was just as entertaining as I was expecting, and a fabulous vehicle for Fry's prodigious wit, warmth, and accomplished storytelling talents. I cannot wait to devour book three next, Troy, which has been sitting on the shelf for far too long.

Heroes is available to buy now in hardcover, paperback, ebook and audio formats.

About the author:

Stephen Fry is an award-winning comedian, actor, presenter and director. He rose to fame alongside Hugh Laurie in A Bit of Fry and Laurie (which he co-wrote with Laurie) and Jeeves and Wooster and was unforgettable as General Melchett in Blackadder.

He has hosted over 180 episodes of QI and has narrated all seven of the Harry Potter novels for the audiobook recordings. He is the bestselling author of four novels - The Liar, The Hippopotamus, Making History and The Stars' Tennis Balls - as well as three volumes of autobiography - Moab is My Washpot, The Fry Chronicles and More Fool Me. Mythos, Heroes, Troy, and Odyssey, his retelling of the Greek myths, are all Sunday Times bestsellers.

L.A. Women by Ella Berman

 

L.A. Women by Ella Berman.

Published 5th August 2025 by Aria.

From the cover of the book:

After a steady descent from literary stardom, Lane Warren is back. She's secured a new book deal based off the life of her sometime friend and, more often, rival Gala Margolis. Lane's only problem is that notorious free spirit Gala has been missing for months.

Ten years earlier, Gala was a charming socialite and Lane was a Hollywood outsider amidst the glittering 1960s L.A. party scene. Though they were never best friends, Lane found Gala sharp and compelling. Gala liked that Lane took her seriously. They were both writers. They were drawn to each other.

That was until Gala's star began to rise, and Lane grew envious. Then Lane did something that she wouldn't ever be able to take back, changing the trajectories of both their lives.

Bold, dazzling, and crackling with tension, L.A. Women plunges readers into the legendary parties and unparalleled creativity of iconic Laurel Canyon, while exploring the impossible choices women face when ambition collides with intimacy. At what cost does great art emerge? And who pays the price?

***********

New Year's Eve, 1965/66. Journalist Lane is introduced to sparkling socialite Gala Margolis at an L.A. party. Outsider Lane is drawn to Gala, and although they never become quite what either would describe as friends, their lives touch time and time again over the years. Lane eventually makes the big time as a novelist, and when she discovers Gala has a talent for writing too, she decides to help her career along. But as her own star begins to wane, and Gala's rises, Lane's jealousy makes her do something that changes the direction of both of their lives.

1975, Los Angeles. Former literary icon Lane Warren's life has taken a downward turn. Struggling with the demands of motherhood, and marriage to a man who has failed to provide the stability he promised her, she hopes to pull herself out of a rut with a brand new book about her friend (and sometimes rival) Gala Margolis, whose life has been derailed following the death of her rock star boyfriend. But when Gala disappears, Lane is paralysed with writer's block, plagued with guilt about her possible part in Gala's decision to walk away from her life. She becomes consumed by the need to find out what has happened to Gala.

I absolutely loved Ella Berman's previous novel, The Comeback, which rings with delicious echoes of the late great Eve Babitz, so I was delighted when the Babitz vibe sparked again with the title of her new novel, L.A. Women! This time, my love affair with Berman's writing continues with a sharp and punchy novel set in L.A. of the 1960s and '70s.

The story unfurls via narratives from Lane and Gala in sections of Then story, exploring the history of their spiky relationship; and from the perspective of Lane in the Now, as she struggles with many aspects of her life in the wake of Gala's disappearance. From their fateful meeting, the two women develop an unconventional friendship that swings between moments of intimacy and disharmony, until it descends into bitterness when their careers as writers tip them into fierce rivalry.

Berman does an incredible job delving into the complexities of Lane and Gala's relationship, examining the legacy of the trauma Lane carries from her dysfunctional childhood, and how Gala's tragic love affair with a young rock star pulls her in and sends her off the rails. Both characters learn hard lessons about themselves, and the things expected of them, especially when it comes to how 'difficult' women are perceived. On the side-lines, Lane's friendship with music producer Charlie, a man who feels the need to keep his homosexuality under wraps in a city where his choices would destroy him, is intense too.

This book thrums with fabulous vibes of time and place, immersing you in the schizophrenic nature of L.A. of the era, veering between its heady permissive side, and the cynicism beneath the glamour. Berman hits her stride in an addictive story that reveals its secrets slowly, before gut-punching you with shocking twists and turns about the sad history of the rise and fall of Lane and Gala, and she still manages to finish this novel on a hopeful note. 

Fabulous from start to finish, with lashings of story that will appeal to fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid. Easily one of my novels of the year. 

L.A. Women is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.

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

About the author:

Ella Berman grew up in both London and Los Angeles and worked at Sony Music before starting the clothing brand London Loves LA. She lives in London with her husband, James, and their dog, Rocky. He previous novels are Before We Were Innocent and The Comeback.

Yours For The Season by Emily Stone

Yours for the Season by Emily Stone.

Published 1st August 2025 by Headline in ebook and audio formats. Paperback coming 9th October 2025.

From the cover of the book:

Escape with the BRAND-NEW unmissable festive holiday romance, perfect for fans of The Holidate and Anyone But You.

Christmas with your ex and his family in a cosy cottage in the snowy Scottish Highlands?

It's the last place Mel imagined spending the holidays.

But when her ex-boyfriend Finn shows up on her doorstep, only months after inexplicably dumping her at his sister's engagement party, asking her to pretend to his family they're back together, she agrees - on one condition. Mel can publicly dump Finn at the end of the week and show him just how it feels.

But with Finn's mother set on making this Christmas picture-perfect, can Mel and Finn keep up the act without falling back into old feelings? As their white lie snowballs out of control, and the ice between them starts to thaw, Mel must decide if she really wants their romance to be just for the season - or something more...

***********

With her parents travelling the world, and her best friend in Australia, Mel is facing her first Christmas alone since breaking up with Finn. Heartsore, and lonely, she plans to work through the holiday, preparing to entice celebrity Lillian Hart to promote her artisan jewellery business.

But then Finn shows up on her doorstep. Apparently unapologetic about the way he dumped Mel months ago at his sister's engagement party, Finn has an unusual proposal for his ex-girlfriend - he needs her to pretend they are still together and spend Christmas with his family in the Scottish Highlands. Mel agrees, but under the condition that she can publicly give him his marching orders on Boxing Day.

Mel arrives in Scotland looking forward to getting her revenge, but being back among Finn's family makes her realise just how much she has missed them all. Finn's mum is determined to make this the best Christmas ever, and as old feelings stir Mel is not sure whether she can keep up her side of the agreement...

This lovely festive tale from Emily Stone unfurls from the perspectives of Mel and Finn, with flashbacks to significant moments in their relationship, and thrums with entertaining romantic tropes of the fake dating, forced proximity, second chances, and exes to lovers kind. What's not to like?!

Immersed in a family holiday dominated with Christmas activities in a snowy location, Mel's plan to get her revenge on Finn is thrown into disarray when she not only feels old feelings for him resurfacing, but she is also reminded how much she loves his close-knit family. 

Themes of real love and expectation dominate, especially when it comes to how the marriages of our parents colour our own ideas of healthy relationships. Mel and Finn are the main focus of the story as they reassess their feelings for each other, but Stone also delves into the relationship issues of other members of Finn's family too, which I really enjoyed.

Running through the romantic plotlines, in present and past, Stone also explores Mel's dilemma about the direction of her jewellery business, which has separated her from the creative side of the operation (and from the closeness she used to share with Finn). As her feelings for Finn (and his family) resolve themselves, Mel also realises she has lost touch with the person she used to be and needs to make some professional changes is she is to find her happy place again.

This was a light and heart-warming read, full of love, laughter, family bonds, and friendship, which ticked many boxes on my festive story wish-list. A great way to head into the festive book season, now the days are growing shorter.

Yours for the Season is available to buy now in paperback (from October), ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Headline and Random Things Tours for sending me an ecopy of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Emily Stone is the author of Always, in December, One Last Gift, Love, Holly, and A Winter Wish. She lives and works in the UK and wrote her first novel in an old Victorian manor house with an impressive literary heritage. 

The Forest Hideaway by Sharon Gosling

 

The Forest Hideaway by Sharon Gosling.

Published 28th August 2025 by Simon and Schuster.

From the cover of the book:

Saskia is building a home for herself out of the ruins of an old castle. Surrounded by forest, hidden away from everyone and everything, the place is special - it’s the only connection she has left to her father and it’s a hard-won chance to escape from her difficult past and create a new future. She’s spent her whole life trying to find a way to make this project work and finding someone to help her realise her dream has been almost impossible.

When local builder Owen finally signs up to manage the construction, things get off to a very bad start. But forced to find a way to work together, both realise that first impressions aren’t always the right ones, and when Owen discovers the forest is hiding a secret that could bring work to a halt, he realises he’s much more invested in the project – and Saskia – than he thought . . .

***********

Saskia has spent her whole life laying plans to transform the ruins of Gair Castle into her dream home. The time has finally come for them to be realised, but all her heartbreak will only be worth it if she can find a builder who will agree to work with her - and so far, she has been out of luck.

Local builder Owen is going through hard times on the personal and professional fronts, and needs a cash injection fast, so when Saskia comes to him as a final resort he agrees to take on her project - even though he realises it will be something of a challenge given the remoteness of the site in Gair Forest, the perilous state of the castle, and the presence of a huge, ancient oak tree slap bang in the centre of the courtyard.

Saskia and Owen bump heads from the start. His opinion of her as an entitled, wealthy developer does not make for good working relations, and Saskia's preoccupation with her personal struggles means she is determined to keep him at arm's length. But as Owen begins to understand Saskia and her vision, he realises he has been wrong about so many things. As the forest gives up its secrets, he becomes just as invested in the project as she is. Can they work together to succeed in their aims in the face of considerable obstacles...?

Sharon Gosling's latest lovely novel is set in beautifully atmospheric Cumbrian forest land, where Saskia longs to convert a ruined castle into an unconventional home, for very personal reasons. Saskia is carrying the burden of a whopping amount of trauma, and in somewhat of a dark fairy tale Gosling gives her many trials and tribulations to work through in pursuit of her happy ending. Enter stage right grumpy Owen, who is more than a little judgemental at the beginning of this tale, but he gradually earns his spurs as he gets to know Saskia, casts aside his misconceptions, and comes to see what she is trying to achieve at Gair.

The story unfurls from the perspectives of Saskia and Owen, and is full of luscious content about the gorgeous wild setting, the building project, and the hurdles thrown in the way by those with agendas of their own. Family (both good and seriously dysfunctional), friendship, and loss are themes that run throughout the book, and Gosling does a marvellous job of shedding light on the importance of conservation and custodianship of our natural and manmade history. Gair Forest, and the giant grandfather oak that is so important to Saskia, stand out as characters all of their own in this story, and they make a wonderful backdrop for the gentle romance that develops between Saskia and Owen (much to my delight).

I was completely immersed in this wonderful story of heartache, healing, and heritage from the first page to the last. The perfect pick to take you into a golden autumn.

The Forest Hideaway is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review, and for inviting me to be part of this Books and the City blog tour.

About the author:

Sharon started her career as an entertainment journalist, writing non-fiction books about film and television. She is also the author of multiple children's books. Sharon and her husband live in a small village in northern Cumbria.

Second Act At Appleton Green by Kate Forster

 

Second Act At Appleton Green by Kate Forster.

Published 7th August 2025 by Aria.

From the cover of the book:

After losing her voice before the audition of a lifetime, West End hopeful Lily Baxter flees to the one place that’s always felt like home: her grandmother Violet’s cosy cottage in the heart of Appleton Green.

Violet is overjoyed to have Lily back under her roof, even if it’s not under the happiest of circumstances. As Lily muddles through lost dreams and what-ifs, Violet is quietly nursing her own worries—and hoping this unexpected visit might help them both them heal.

When charming local nurse Nick encourages Lily to join the village’s amateur dramatics group, she reluctantly agrees — and soon finds herself swept up in script readings, prop-painting parties, and something that feels a lot like falling in love.

As opening night draws near, Lily must decide where her heart truly lies: back in the bright lights of London, or centre stage in Appleton Green.

***********

Lily Baxter finally gets the big break she has been yearning for, when the chance of a part in a West End musical comes her way, but on the day of the audition her voice disappears. Fearing she will never be able to sing again, Lily then gets the news that her beloved ninety-seven-year-old grandmother, Violet, is in hospital after a fall. Full of self-doubt, Lily heads home to Appleton Green to care for Violet, and ponder some big decisions.

Pippin Cottage is just the place for some rest and recuperation for both Lily and Violet, who has concerns of her own about making sure she leaves her family in a good place when she passes away. Then Violet's handsome nurse, Nick, appears on the scene. A budding friendship develops between Lily and Nick with the promise of something more... at least if Violet has anything to do with it.

When Nick encourages Lily to audition for a part in the local amateur production of My Fair Lady, she is worried her voice will fail her once again, but she soon gets caught up in the excitement of being on the stage that she thought she had lost. Does this mean she should return to London to pursue her stage career, or is Appleton Green where her future lies?

A Kate Forster book is always a treat, and this little interlude in the community of Appleton Green is full of lovely storylines about family, friendship, finding your path, and heart-warming romance - with lashings of musical theatre content too.

The story unfurls from the perspectives of Lily, and Violet. Letters Violet has written to her granddaughter over the years also pop up throughout the book, which help you to understand the strong bond that has been forged between them. Lily is at a crossroads, caught between the expectations of her mother, and her uncertainty about a stage career, but her time in Appleton Green helps her to rediscover herself - after all the misunderstandings and mishaps of scheming ex-girlfriends, stage dramas, health issues, confidence doubts, and family trials have been negotiated, of course. 

New beginnings, gentle romance, and the guiding strength of Violet's wisdom drive the story, and Forster touches on loneliness, and the pitfalls of a life in the entertainment industry too. She uses the story well to make you laugh and cry, especially when it comes to the emotional ending, which left me with a full heart, tears in my eyes... and some cracking tunes from My Fair Lady in my head. Just the ticket for a wholesome summer read.

Second Act at Appleton Green is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.

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

About the author:

Kate Forster writes books filled with love, laughter, and the enchantment of everyday life.

Kate, a Melbourne-based author, crafts realistic characters and touching stories that feel like you're catching up with old friends. When she is not writing, you can find her sharing glimpses of her creative life on social media, soaking up inspiration from her dynamic online community, or spending time with her loving dogs, who are constantly by her side (and occasionally steal the spotlight).

Kate, who is tea-fueled and daydreaming on the beach, is all about finding joy in the little things and sharing them through her writing.

One, Two, Buckle My Shoe by Agatha Christie

 

One, Two, Buckle My Shoe by Agatha Christie.

This edition published 22nd March 2018 by Harper Collins.

Originally published 1940.

From the cover of the book:

A dentist lies murdered at his Harley Street practice…

The dentist was found with a blackened hole below his right temple. A pistol lay on the floor near his outflung right hand. Later, one of his patients was found dead from a lethal dose of local anaesthetic. A clear case of murder and suicide. But why would a dentist commit a crime in the middle of a busy day of appointments?

A shoe buckle holds the key to the mystery.

Now – in the words of the rhyme – can Poirot pick up the sticks and lay them straight?

***********

Poirot reluctantly has to attend a check-up with his dentist, Dr Morley. After an anxious visit, during which he observes several other patients, including the famous financier Alistair Blunt, Poirot makes his way home - bumping into a middle-aged woman called Mabelle Sainsbury Seale, who catches her shoe buckle as she exits a taxi.

Later, Poirot receives a call from Inspector Japp of Scotland Yard, informing him that Dr Morley appears to have committed suicide. Poirot refuses to believe that a man who appeared totally normal to him earlier in the day could possibly have killed himself. 

Poirot sets about investigating the strange circumstances surrounding the death, unconvinced by Japp's theory that Morley took his own life in a fit of guilt over the death of a patient who seems to have died of an overdose. The plot thickens when Mabelle Sainsbury Seale disappears, and Poirot begins to wonder if Dr Morley was the unintended victim of a political conspiracy...

On the face of it, this slow-burn Agatha Christie mystery plods along as Poirot upsets the investigation of Inspector Japp (in his first appearance) by refusing to believe that his dentist has committed suicide. The plots twists and turns in chapters entitled with progressive lines of the nursery rhyme, One, Two, Buckle My Shoe, which connect nicely with the 'lost buckle' incident at the beginning of the story - an episode that proves crucial in unpicking the mystery around Dr Morley's death.

Christie floods this story with red herrings, muddying the waters with luscious threads about blackmail, espionage, and false identities, which Poirot casts meticulously aside by looking into the movements and motives of a number of people present on the day of the suicide/murder. He eventually confronts the guilty party in an enlightening face-to-face interview that is fraught with moral dilemmas that feed into the themes that makes this book so interesting - the backdrop of political and financial instability in wartime, which Christie invites you to explore through the secret intentions of the characters and their ideological positions when it comes to conservatism vs fascism.

A bit on the gloomy side, without many laughs, and a few too many characters to make it really gripping, but this is on of those Poirot mysteries that is genuinely thought-provoking when it comes to time and place.

This is my August pick for #ReadChrisite2025 exploring the prompt of Medics, which I enjoyed via the voice talents of my favourite Hugh Fraser.

One, Two, Buckle My Shoe 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 Cut by Richard Armitage (Print Publication)

 

The Cut by Richard Armitage.

Publishing 28th August 2025 from Faber & Faber.

From the cover of the book:

You saw her die.

Thirty years ago, one of Ben Knott's schoolfriends was murdered. Another went to prison. The story ended. The village of Barton Mallett tried to move on.

Now her killer is back.

As the murderer's sentence ends, the village is chosen as the unlikely location for a feature film by a Hollywood producer, with Ben's son Nathan cast in the leading role.

Can you keep hiding the truth?

As the film takes shape, Ben begins to recognise the storyline - from his own past. As his son becomes immersed in a tale of bullying and retribution, things turn dangerous, and an uncomfortable truth begins to emerge. Ben must choose between the safety of his children and reopening the wounds of the past. How much is he willing to risk to protect his family - and himself?

***********

1994. For Ben Knott and his friends, in sleepy Barton Mallet, the end of their last year at school is a time for celebration. A final summer of freedom in the shadow of Backstone Mill beckons, but the fun turns to tragedy when long-held resentments 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, the news that the person found guilty of the murder in 1994 is about to be released from prison sends him into freefall.

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...

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 absorb his follow-up thriller, The Cut. As before, this was first released in audio format by Audible Originals (narrated impeccably by the man himself and Jacob Dudman), and is now being published by Faber & Faber (in hardback and ebook formats).

This is a strikingly different kind of beast to Geneva, both in terms of subject matter and structure, which shows how versatile Armitage can be. With just a hint of international conspiracy, the story 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 has come home, 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 - suffice to say that as the story weaves between the past and the present, your perception of Ben and the events of 1994 change quite spectacularly.

Perhaps the ending lacks the exquisite moment of clarity that Geneva's does, but there are layers upon layers that are brutally stripped back to the bone in this gritty, affecting tale. My heart was lodged firmly in my mouth from slow-burn beginning to action packed ending, and the journey was deeply unsettling.

I tip my hat to Armitage for fully committing to a dual timeline story as intricately crafted as this one. Sitting nicely on the crossover between coming-of-age chiller and crime thriller, this thrums with echoed scenes and themes, and the way Armitage pivots around different shades of meaning behind the title is impressive.

This story is wonderfully cinematic, reflecting Armitage's visually-centred creative process, and it works just as well in print form as it does as an audio experience (I highly recommend taking in both for the ultimate Armitage experience). An absolute must if you like your thrillers sharp and visceral!

The Cut is available to buy in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Faber & Faber for sending me a proof of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Richard Armitage is a multi-award winning stage and screen actor. Armitage is best known for his role of Thorin Oakenshield in Peter Jackson’s trilogy of ‘The Hobbit’. On Film Armitage starred in ‘Into the Storm’ ‘Alice Through The Looking Glass’ ‘Captain America, the First Avenger’ ‘Oceans 8’. Independent features include ‘The Lodge’ ‘My Zoe’ ‘Brain on Fire’ and ‘Pilgrimage’. On TV, Guy of Gisborne in ‘Robin Hood’, Daniel Miller in Epix ‘Berlin Station’, ‘John Porter’ in Sky’s Strike Back, Francis Dolerhyde in NBC’s Hannibal, Lucas North in ‘Spooks’ and John Thornton in ‘North and South’ both for the BBC. He also voices Trevor Belmont in the Netflix series ‘Castlevania’, Devereaux in their upcoming animated ‘Tomb Raider’ and Logan in Marvel’s ‘Wolverine’ podcast.

Recent TV adaptations for Netflix include Ray Levine in ‘Stay Close' and Adam Price in ‘The Stranger’ both written by Harlan Coben. He recently played William Farrow in "Obsession" also for Netflix based on the novel 'Damage' by Josephine Hart.

The 'Jackman and Evans' crime series by Joy Ellis and 'The Taking of Annie Thorne' by CJ Tudor both available on Audible, are currently in development for TV adaptation from his production company White Boar Films alongside The Imaginarium and Sprout Productions/ Night Train.

In 2022 he penned his debut crime thriller 'Geneva'. It was an instant #1 bestseller for Audible and will be published by Faber & Faber (UK) and Pegasus (US).

Watching You by Helen Fields

 

Watching You by Helen Fields.

Published 28th August 2025 by Avon.

From the cover of the book:

On the dark streets of Edinburgh, a killer is waiting.

When a body is found, it is only the beginning. Soon there will be seven more.

In the city’s hospital, renowned surgeon Beth Waterfall is grieving.

Her beloved only daughter fell prey to a vicious stalker a year previously – and now he’s coming for her too.

Edinburgh’s police are desperate.

After one body comes another, and then another. The brutal deaths are all seemingly unconnected, yet DS Lively and forensic profiler Dr Connie Woolwine know they are dealing with a serial killer – they just need to prove it.

But time is running out, and Beth Waterfall already looks set to be the next victim…

***********

A body is found in Edinburgh, and more follow in close order. The fact that there is nothing to connect the victims has the police baffled, and they are under pressure to get the situation under control before panic ensues. When forensic profiler Dr Connie Woolvine is called in to consult on the cases she and DS Lively begin to believe that a random serial killer is at work on Edinburgh's streets.

Meanwhile, surgeon Beth Waterfall is grieving the loss of her daughter, and trying to piece together the scraps of her life, while a stalker watches her from the shadows. Can Lively and Woolvine prevent Waterfall from becoming the next victim...?

This cracking thriller unfurls in Helen Fields' excellent crime universe, with enjoyable appearances from some of her recurring characters. Multiple perspectives drive the action, focusing mainly on gripping police procedural elements via DS Lively and team; the unconventional forensic methods of Dr Woolvine (and her burly sidekick, Brodie Baarda); the professional and personal trials of surgeon Beth Waterfall; and the seriously creepy shenanigans of a stalker named 'The Watcher'.

Jumping back and forth in time Fields masterfully wields multiple threads like spinning plates, full of gritty Scottish noir crime content and lashings of psychological depth, that keep you guessing as they draw together in a gut-wrenching climax. Waterfall's backstory comes through flashbacks to the toll the stalker has taken on her family, which add atmospheric vibes of dread when it comes to the things you fear are going to happen if our team of sleuths cannot crack the case in time - especially given the budding romance that Fields conjures between Lively and the surgeon. And just when you think you know where the story is heading, Fields drops the slickest of twists that has you questioning everything you thought you knew! 

Plus, if a suspenseful treat was not enough to keep you interested, Fields explores some meaty themes along the way too, particularly around toxic masculinity, stalking, and trauma, which will really provoke your thoughts.

It has been an age since I read a Helen Fields thriller, but Watching You has reminded me how good they are. I will be sure to catch up with the ones I have missed very soon!

Watching You is available to buy in paperback, ebook and audio formats.

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

About the author:

A Sunday Times and million copy best-selling author, Helen is a former criminal and family law barrister.

Every book in the Callanach series has claimed an Amazon #1 bestseller flag. 'Perfect Kill' was longlisted for the Crime Writers Association Ian Fleming Steel Dagger in 2020, and others have been longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize, Scottish crime novel of the year. Helen also writes as HS Chandler, and has released legal thriller 'Degrees of Guilt'. In 2020 Perfect Remains was shortlisted for the Bronze Bat, Dutch debut crime novel of the year. In 2022, Helen was nominated for Best Crime Novel and Best Author in the Netherlands. 

Now translated into more than 20 languages, and also selling in the USA, Canada & Australasia, Helen's books have won global recognition.

She has written standalone novels, The Institution, The Last Girl To Die, These Lost & Broken Things and The Shadow Man.

She regularly commutes between West Sussex, USA and Scotland.

The Burning Stones by Antti Tuomainen (Paperback Release)

 

The Burning Stones by Antti Tuomainen.

Published in paperback 14th August 2025 by Orenda Books.

From the cover of the book:

Love, murder, middle age, and a sauna to die for…

A cold-blooded killer strikes at the hottest moment: the new head of a sauna-stove company is murdered … in the sauna. Who has turned up the temperature and burned him to death?

The evidence points in the direction of Anni Korpinen – top salesperson and the victim’s successor at Steam Devil.

And as if hitting middle-age, being in a marriage that has lost its purpose, and struggling with work weren’t enough, Anni realizes that she must be quicker than both the police and the murderer to uncover who is behind it all – before it’s too late…

From the international bestselling author of Little Siberia and The Rabbit Factor, comes a darkly funny, delightfully tense new thriller that showcases humanity at its most bare – in middle age, suspected of murder and, of course, in a sauna…

***********

When Ilmo Rӓty (heir apparent at the illustrious Steam Devil sauna company) is burned to a crisp in his home sauna, top salesperson (and next in line for promotion) Anni Korpinen falls under suspicion as the cold-blooded murderer. But Anni is innocent, despite the damning evidence stacking up against her. She acknowledges she is not cut out to be a sleuth, but if she does not find out who really killed the unfortunate Ilmo from among her rivals fast, then she is in big trouble...

An Antti Tuomainen novel is always a breath of fresh Finnish air, beautifully combining a cracking crime story with dark humour and heart-felt emotion - and this is no exception. The story unfurls from the point of view of fifty-something Anni, who has spent the last twenty years working her way to the top by selling quality steam-stoves for the world's best saunas. And her job is a welcome respite from the cares of a marriage to a Formula One obsessed husband that is long past its sell-by date.

Finding herself in the spotlight as number one suspect in a very odd murder, as the likely successor to her boss, Erkki 'Stove King' Ruusula, Anni is up against it - but she is more of a Sherlock Holmes than she thinks herself to be. Digging into the shenanigans of her fellow employees at Stove Devil, she comes across some intriguing clues that might put her on the trail of the real killer... if she can stay alive long enough, of course.

All the delightfully absurd situations and characters I have come to expect in one of Tuomainen's books are here, cleverly sprinkled throughout the story to provide Anni with perplexing trials to overcome - cringe-worthy conversations; ridiculous planted evidence (I give you enchantingly named 'bumlets', and sauna ladles in places they were never intended to be); a steam-stove client fixated on true crime; awkwardly amorous, mambo-loving Erkki; and a police detective unable to let an old grudge about an enormous elk go... such fun!

There is so much poignancy in many of these situations and relationships, that Tuomainen touches on with tenderness in that gentle way he has - particularly around marital troubles, dementia, and second-chance love. And, as always, there is a delicious, quirky mystery that keeps you guessing right until the end. Excellent translation work from David Hackston once again too!

The way Anni transforms herself in this story is so heart-warming, reigniting the fire in her belly to forge her way out of the middle-aged rut she has fallen into. It was lovely to be at her side as she battled the odds to banish her ghosts, and found the happiness she deserved.

Nordic noir the Antti Tuomainen way is an absolute joy, and I am already looking forward to his next book!

*A version of this review was previously published in Ocotber 2024 for the hardback release.

The Burning Stones is available to buy now in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audio formats. Toy can support indie publishing by buying direct from Orenda Books HERE.

Thank you to Orenda Books for previously 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:

Antti Tuomainen was an award-winning copywriter when he made his literary debut in 2007 as a suspense author.

In 2011, Tuomainen’s third novel, The Healer, was awarded the Clue Award for Best Finnish Crime Novel and was shortlisted for the Glass Key Award. In 2013, the Finnish press crowned Tuomainen the ‘King of Helsinki Noir’ when Dark as My Heart was published.

With a piercing and evocative style, Tuomainen was one of the first to challenge the Scandinavian crime-genre formula, and his poignant, dark and hilarious The Man Who Died became an international bestseller and has been released as a TV series, shortlisting for the Petrona and Last Laugh Awards. Palm Beach Finland (2018) was an immense success, with The Times calling Tuomainen ‘the funniest writer in Europe’, and Little Siberia (2019) was shortlisted for the Capital Crime/Amazon Publishing Readers Awards, the Last Laugh Award and the CWA International Dagger, and won the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel. The Rabbit Factor, the prequel to The Moose Paradox and The Beaver Theory, will soon be a major motion picture starring Steve Carell for Amazon Studios.

About the translator:

David Hackston is a British Translator of Finnish and Swedish literature and drama. Notable publications include The Dedalus Book of Finnish Fantasy, Maria Peura’s coming-of-age novel At the Edge of Light, Johanna Sinisalo’s eco-thriller Birdbrain, two crime novels by Matti Joensuu and Kati Hiekkapelto’s Anna Fekete series (which currently includes The Hummingbird, The Defenceless and The Exiled, all published by Orenda Books). He also translates Antti Tuomainen’s stories.


In 2007 he was awarded the Finnish State Prize for Translation. David is also a professional countertenor and a founding member of the English Vocal Consort of Helsinki.

The Transcendent Tide (The Enceladons Book Three) by Doug Johnstone

 

The Transcendent Tide (The Enceladons Book Three) by Doug Johnstone.

Published 14th August 2025 by Orenda Books.

From the cover of the book:

 It’s been eighteen months since the Enceladons escaped the clutches of an American military determined to exterminate the peaceful alien creatures.

Lennox and Vonnie have been lying low in the Scottish Highlands, Ava has been caring for her young daughter Chloe, and Heather is adjusting to her new life with Sandy and the other Enceladons in the Arctic Ocean, off the coast of Greenland. But fate is about to bring them together again for one last battle.

When Lennox and Vonnie are visited by Karl Jensen, a Norwegian billionaire intent on making contact with the Encedalons again, they are wary of subjecting the aliens to further dangers. But when word arrives that Ava’s daughter has suffered an attack and might die without urgent help, they reluctantly make the trip to Greenland, where they enlist the vital help of local woman Niviaq.

It's not long before they’re drawn into a complex web of lies, deceit and death. What is Karl’s company really up to? Why are sea creatures attacking boats? Why is Sandy acting so strangely, and why are polar bears getting involved?

Profound, ambitious and immensely moving, The Transcendent Tide is the epic conclusion to the Encedalons Trilogy – a final showdown between the best and worst of humanity, the animal kingdom and the Encedalons. The future of life on earth will be changed forever, but not everyone will survive to see it…

***********

Eighteen months have passed since the devastating events at the secret American military base, New Broom. The Enceladons have now fled Scottish waters in favour of a peaceful existence in the Arctic Ocean, off the coast of Greenland, and the humans that chose to go with them are adjusting to a new kind of life as part of Sandy's alien community - including Heather.

Ava yearns for some normality for herself and her daughter Chloe, while Lennox and Vonnie are hiding out in the highlands, keen to avoid any further attention. But their hopes for a quiet life are disrupted when Chloe suddenly becomes ill; and Lennox and Vonnie are approached by Karl Jensen, a Norwegian billionaire who knows far too much about their secrets.

The friends head to Greenland for a reunion with the Enceladons, where Heather has been questioning what is going on between the formerly peaceful aliens and the Arctic wildlife in the wake of strange animal attacks - something local woman, Niviaq, has also been wondering about.

Will the Enceladons be able to help Chloe? Can they trust the motives of a man who has made his fortune from exploiting others? Or are they just walking into another trap...?

Welcome to The Transcendent Tide, the blistering conclusion of Doug Johnstone's epic speculative trilogy, The Enceladons, which builds upon all the twists and turns of The Space Between Us, and The Collapsing Wave, to make a third instalment packed with all the action, excitement, and riveting themes that I was hoping for.

Fate brings humans and aliens face-to-face once more in Arctic waters, and Johnstone keeps the thrill level at max through the introduction of a new character, billionaire Karl Jensen, whose motives are unsettlingly murky... and by doubling down on the 'who can you really trust' factor, he takes the Enceladons in a more confrontational direction (hardly surprising given past events) which raises questions about their intentions too.

Through the combined perspectives of Heather, Ava, Lennox, Vonnie, and the fabulous Niviaq, Johnstone steers the plot through many shades of suspicion as the consequences of lies, deception, and starkly different philosophies propel the characters towards a final, violent showdown - with the people of Greenland slap bang in the centre of the battlefield. 

Against the Arctic backdrop, a suitably stormy blizzard of themes about the environment, friendship and community juxtapose those around the short-sighted interest of greedy corporations, and I loved how Johnstone has a ball with notions of 'the enemy of my enemy' and 'it's just business' throughout. Prepare to have your emotions get a through work-out, and have you thoughts provoked...

I am bereft that this is the final book of the series, but applaud Johnstone for leaving these characters on a hopeful note. He has certainly showed his hand when it comes to speculative fiction that does exactly what it should, and I very much hope he will decide to write more novels like this. Every scene, whether quiet and tender, or brutally visceral, has its place in making for a story that is so beautifully cinematic that if this series does not get an adaptation, it will surely be a crime against humanity (which certainly needs to learn the lessons Johnstone aims to teach his readers). 

The Transcendent Tide 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 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 Fourteen novels, including The Great Silence, the third in the Skelfs series, which has been optioned for In 2021, The Big Chill, the second in the series, was longlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. In 2020, A Dark Matter, the first in the series, was shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year and the Capital Crime Amazon Publishing Independent Voice Book of the Year award. Black Hearts (Book four), was published in 2022, with The Opposite of Lonely (book five) out in 2023.

Several of his books have been bestsellers and award winners, and his first science fiction novel, The Space Between Us, was a BBC2 Between the Covers pick. He’s taught creative writing, been writer in residence at various institutions, and has been an arts journalist for twenty years.

Doug is a songwriter and musician with five albums and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers.

He lives in Edinburgh.