A Line You Have Traced by Roisin Dunnett

A Line You Have Traced by Roisin Dunnett.

Published 10th April 2025 by Magpie.

From the cover of the book:

‘We can fix what we have done. We can undo the mistakes our ancestors made. We can set right what has been done wrong... You are the first step.’

In a silverware shop, a young wife works alongside her husband. Amid growing political turmoil, Bea finds solace in the local marsh, where she is visited recurrently by a mysterious presence, logging each appearance carefully in a scarlet journal.

In a time like now, Kay navigates friendship, queerness and the temporary job market, whilst contemplating the significance of her life in a world with such an uncertain future. At her grandmother’s house she finds an intriguing record of an angel’s visits.

A hundred years into the future, outsiders have banded together to live off-grid away from a corrupt government and a city wracked by oppression and climate change. When Ess is chosen for a virgin mission, a journey into the past to save the present, she is guided only by a well-thumbed red notebook…

Set against the shifting landscape of East London marshes and expanding over three centuries, this is the breathtaking, urgent story of three women separated by history but threaded together by unknown forces.

 ***********

Early twentieth century, Bea, a young Jewish wife works with her husband, Ade, in a silverware shop. As the political landscape shifts around them, the couple prosper financially and move out to the countryside fringing the marshes east of London. Bea is lonely and confused about the presence of Haich, who has inserted himself into their marriage, and claims to be writing a novel about them. She finds solace in the marshes, and writing about the comforting presence of a being she believes to be an angel in her little red journal.

In a time like now, Kay is finding her place in a world troubled with political unrest. She distracts herself from an uncertain future, and a stream of temporary jobs, by pursuing a vibrant (if unfulfilling) night-life with her friends, and exploring her sexuality. One day at her grandmother's house she discovers an old red journal and is intrigued by its stories of a visiting angel...

A hundred years into the future, Ess lives in a world brought it its knees by greed, political turmoil, and climate change. She believes that the days of humankind are numbered. But then she is offered the chance to travel back in time to try to set things right - a journey tied to an old red journal she has discovered...

Essentially, this slow-burn debut is a literary adventure story, dropping in on the lives of three women separated in time, who are connected through the presence of Bea's little red book . Their narratives weave and blend together, slowly drawing you into their experiences, and I am so impressed with Dunnett's ambition and the scope of her imagination. 

Through time, Dunnett returns to the marshes, the relationship of the women with this environment, and the significance of Bea's writings about the 'angel'. In many ways, it is not apparent that this will be a speculative novel, until the surprise twists come via Ess' part in the story, as so much of this book is about the domestic, friendship, romantic, and family dramas of the three women (which Dunnett writes about with skill). I really enjoyed that although different, they each face quite similar dilemmas when it comes to them finding their space in an increasingly troubled world, and making their voices heard. Beautifully explored themes of legacy, and motherhood abound.

However, a speculative story this is, and a very clever one at that. It conspires that Ess and Bea are two ends of a timeline that has gone seriously wrong somewhere, and it is down to Ess to try to put things right. It is not immediately obvious where Kay fits into the big picture of this time travelling rescue mission, but eventually you realise she is important pivot-point in the story. 

This book was something of a feminist odyssey through times of turmoil, with lovely reflections of tracing the line that connects the trials, tribulations and triumphs of Bea, Kay and Ess. It is very hard to explain quite how much the novel gets under your skin, but I came to love all three as the meanderings of Dunnett's tale developed, and the moment when the three meet is emotional dynamite.

I highly recommend this stunning debut if you feel like losing yourself in a Cloud Atlas type tale that provokes your thoughts - especially when it comes to tricky time loops! It manages to span nicely pitched historical fiction, contemporary drama, and dystopian invention all in one fascinating package - and makes room for some welcome kitty characters too! 

A Line You Have Traced is available to by now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.

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

About the author:

Roisin Dunnett is a writer from London. Her fiction pamphlet Animal, Vegetable was published in 2021 by Broken Sleep Books. Her short fiction has been published in Prototype, Hotel, Ambit, Vittles and elsewhere. She has an MA in Creative and Life Writing from Goldsmiths where she was taught by Chris Power and Francis Spufford, and where she was longlisted for the Pat Kavanagh Prize in 2022.

Hail Mary by Funmi Fetto

 

Hail Mary by Funmi Fetto.

Published 24th April 2025 by Magpie.

From the cover of the book:

A stunning collection of short stories capturing the lives of nine Nigerian women, each very different, each determined to fight for themselves.

Meet Ifeoma. She's been ready to leave her violent husband for some time, but her plans for a quiet departure take an unexpectedly gruesome turn...

Nkechi, a housemaid for a rich Lagos family, bears the weight of her Madam's wrath when she discovers her husband's dark secret.

In London, Riliwa meets Mary, a guardian angel full of advice, wisdom and practical support as she navigates her unfamiliar new home. But it soon becomes clear that Mary's kindness comes at a price.

Passionate, raw, full of heart and humour, these are stories about women who will not be broken by the challenges life puts in their way.

***********

Hail Mary is the stunning debut short story collection from British-Nigerian journalist Funmi Fetto, and it packs a whopping punch on the emotional front. The nine stories are set in Nigeria and Britain, and offer compelling vignettes on the lives of nine very different black women - most are standalones, but some are also linked, which I was delighted to discover. 

For a debut fiction writer, Fetto does an incredible job exploring a wealth of themes in this collection, particularly when it comes to race, identity, prejudice, religion, expectation, love, images of beauty, and legacy. And, my goodness, does she have the ability to make you feel every ounce of the complex emotions that these stories elicit, through the trials, tribulations, triumphs, and tragedies of her sharply observed characters.

Some of these tales filled me with despair, especially the haunting House Girl about the abuses vulnerable Nkechi suffers at the hands of her callous employers. Others thrum with sentiments of hope as new light dawns for women forced to hide their real selves in order to survive. My absolute favourite was Dodo is Yoruba for Fried Plantain, about Morayo's reawakening as feels her way back to her long-suppressed cultural roots through her rediscovery of Nigerian food after the death of her white, middle-class husband... closely followed by the deliciously dark, 2 Samuel 6:14, about Ifeoma's plans to rid herself of her controlling husband. All are wonderfully immersive, despite their brevity.

I absolutely loved this bold and beautiful collection, revelling in the way it sent me spiralling down a myriad of thought provoking paths about the complicated cultural, spiritual, and societal issues that shaped the lives of these women - their strength, spirit, humour, and resilience will linger long in my heart. What a debut!

Hail Mary is available to buy now in hardcover and ebook formats.

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

About the author:

Funmi Fetto is a London-based journalist and editor, and is currently the Style Editor at British Vogue. As a digital and print journalist, she has worked and written for numerous publications and organizations including Glamour.com, Vanity Fair, InStyle, Sunday Times Style, Guardian and Tatler.

Funmi is the author of the bestselling book Palette: A Black Beauty Bible for Women of Colour and a columnist at the Observer. Her work largely intersects across art, beauty, culture, race and identity.

Best Summer Ever by Heidi Swain

 

Best Summer Ever by Heidi Swain.

Published 24th April 2025 by Simon and Schuster.

From the cover of the book:

Summer is in full swing when Daisy drives back into Wynmouth in her almost-clapped-out car, having left both her most recent job and the man her parents thought she was going to marry. Coming home could be just what she needs to move her life on.

At Wynbrook Manor, things are in disarray. Owner Algy isn’t getting any younger, and Daisy’s mum Janet, housekeeper at the manor, spends her days running around after him, while Daisy’s dad Robin, the gardener, has been let down by the person he had lined up to take care of the new cut-flower garden.

As Daisy tries to find her place at Wynbrook and in the village, she’s drawn to summer visitor Josh. But when he turns out to be not the person he appears to be, will the spark between them fizzle out? And with it, the chances of this turning into the best summer ever?

***********

Daisy heads back home to Wynmouth having ditched another job, and her cheating boyfriend, both of which have proved not to be for her after all. She is looking forward to a summer away from the pressures of life, and some time to clear her head before deciding where she goes from here.

But when she arrives, she discovers that all is not rosy at Wynbrook Manor, where her mother works as housekeeper, and her father as the gardener. Estate owner Algy is feeling his age, and her parents are struggling to keep up with their separate workloads while worrying about him. The added load of anxiety over Daisy giving up on another career and a future with the man they thought she was going to marry is the last thing they need.

Trying to settle back into Wynmouth life while bumping heads with her parents is taking the shine off the summer Daisy had planned, but a little seasonal fling with handsome American tourist Josh is a welcome distraction - until Daisy finds that Josh has a pretty big secret he has kept from her...

In Best Summer Ever we travel back to Swain's fabulous sea-side town of Wynmouth, where Daisy hopes for a few weeks of sun, swimming, and perhaps a little steamy romance, before she has to tackle the big questions she is constantly putting off.

Returning to Wynmouth after years away throws up a lot of unfinished business with her parents, who are beginning to despair that she will never settle down, but it also brings a chance to finally address the emotional baggage that litters their relationship - especially when Daisy realises that dear old Algy and Wynbrook Manor have taken a turn for the worst in her absence.

This enchanting tale is split evenly between the sea-side delights of Wynmouth, and the country charm of Wynbrook Manor. It is full of meandering threads about Daisy finally getting to grips with the issues that have stopped her fulfilling her dreams as she realises her true calling lies back home after all this time, and there is plenty going on for the lovely supporting cast as well. Swain's favourite themes of love, friendship, family and community flood every part of the story, and there is a cracking romance for Daisy with adorable Josh that has more significance for their future than either of them anticipate when they meet. There are delightful moments of reconciliation and forgiveness too, which really brought a lump to my throat.

Twenty books in and Heidi Swain still ticks every box on the heart-warming front. I loved everything about this gem. I do not know about Best Summer Ever, but this really is Swain's best book ever by my reckoning!

Best Summer Ever is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for sending me a proof of this book in return for an honest review, and for inviting me to join this 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 (early summer and winter) 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!

Heidi loves to chat with her readers and you can get in touch via her website or on social media.

Mapp And Lucia (Mapp And Lucia Book Four) by E.F. Benson

 

Mapp And Lucia (Mapp and Lucia Book Four) by E.F. Benson.

This edition published 6th January 2011 by Vintage.

Originally published 1931.

Audio book narrated by Miriam Margolyes.

From the cover of the book:

Mapp and Lucia is the centrepiece of E. F. Benson's series of Lucia novels - bringing together for the first time the eponymous middle-aged doyennes of polite 1930s society Miss Elizabeth Mapp and Emmeline Lucas (Lucia to her friends).

Lucia, recently widowed, is the newcomer to the village of Tilling and eager to wrest the reins of social supremacy from the incumbant Miss Mapp and install herself as its benevolent dictator. In their polite acts of sabotage and ruthless jockeying for the position of cultural arbiter Mapp and Lucia tear up the conventions of drawing-room bridge evenings as their deadly weapons.

Things finally come to a head with Miss Mapp's audacious attempt to steal her rival's celebrated Lobster a la Riseholme. E.F. Benson's charming satirical bent turns the pretensions and snobberies of English village life into a vicious comedy.

***********

Nearly a year since the death of her husband, Emmeline Lucas (Lucia to her friends) is contemplating emerging from deep mourning and dipping her toe back in the social pool. Somewhat bored with the village of Riseholme, where she has been used to reigning supreme, she decides to rent a house in the neighbouring village of Tilling for the summer - persuading her faithful old friend Georgie to also rent himself a home there for the season.

Settling down in the Queen Anne splendour of Mallards, Lucia launches herself on the Tillingites, assured that she will soon be the leading light of a new neighbourhood, but she has not counted on the determination of Miss Elizabeth Mapp. Miss Mapp may be letting her house to Lucia, but she has no intention of abdicating her position as queen of Tilling.

What follows is a charming comic novel, but not without bite, as Lucia and Miss Mapp tussle for position as top dog in Tilling - all while being supremely polite to each other in public. The rivalry between them is fierce, and battle lines are drawn in Tilling's parlours as they vie for the loyalty of their neighbours through competing bridge afternoons, musical soirees, elegant supper parties, and the like.

This slice of 1930's English village life rings with P.G. Wodehouse vibes, and there are plenty of guffaws to be had at the expense of both Lucia and Mapp via their terrible spoken Italian asides, and sabotage laden shenanigans, especially in Mapp's attempt to acquire Lucia's recipe for the enviable Lobster a la Riseholme, Lucia's plan to avail herself of Mapp's garden produce, and an unfortunate incident with a kitchen table on the high seas.

Unlike a P.G. Wodehouse novel, I do not think that these are characters that easily make themselves at home in your affections - except perhaps for gentle Georgie (who is convivial to all), and the deliciously dotty Irene with her audacious paintings. It is possible that you do find yourself picking sides if you have read all the novels in the series though, and this is the only one I have ventured into as the most well-known of the collection.

I thoroughly enjoyed this nostalgic gem through the voice talents of the wonderful Miriam Margolyes, and would definitely be tempted to read more E.F. Benson. Thank you to the lovely #QuietClassics2025 gang for suggesting this as the pick for April!

Mapp and Lucia is available to buy now in multiple formats.

About the author:

Edward Frederic Benson was born on July 24, 1867 in Berkshire, the son of a future Archbishop of Canterbury, and one of six children. He studied at Kings College, Cambridge and at the British School of Archaeology in Athens.

Benson's first book, Dodo, was published to popular acclaim in 1893 and was followed by over a hundred books, including novels, histories, biographies and ghost stories. In 1920 Benson became a full-time tenant of Lamb House in Rye, which had once been home to the novelist Henry James. Rye provided the setting for the Mapp and Lucia stories and their author served three terms as mayor of Rye in the late 1930s.

E.F. Benson died on February 29, 1940.

Strangers In Time by David Baldacci

 

Strangers In Time by David Baldacci.

Published 10th April 2025 by Pan Macmillan.

From the cover of the book:

EVERY SECOND COUNTS

Orphaned with no prospects, Charlie Matters’ life has always been a fight for survival. He miraculously emerges unscathed from the Blitz, but there’s no telling when the next bomb will fall, and whether it will be the one to end his life.

Molly Wakefield’s dreams of a joyful homecoming are all she’s had to hold on to after being evacuated to the countryside five years before. But when she finally returns, Molly faces a London changed beyond recognition, and the devastating news that neither of her parents are there.

Charlie and Molly’s paths converge at ‘The Book Keep’, where they find an unexpected ally and protector in the bookshop’s owner, widower Ignatius Oliver. But the trio’s newfound peace is jeopardized as past secrets catch up with them. Can they help one another survive this turbulent time? Or will they be ripped apart from the last people they hold dear?

***********

Orphaned, thirteen-year-old Charlie sifts through the rubble of a Blitz-ravaged London, facing peril to find a way for him and his grandmother to survive the war. Molly is a well-to-do young woman returning from years away as an evacuee, only to find that her parents are missing, presumed dead. In peacetime, there is no reason Charlie and Molly's paths would ever cross, but the chaos of wartime brings them together.

Homeless and alone, Charlie and Molly are befriended by mysterious bookstore owner Ignatius Oliver, and a bond is formed that will help all three face the future...

In a change from his usual type of thriller, David Baldacci turns his attention to WWII London, for a stand-alone novel that is a very different sort of beast from the usual fare of this accomplished author. Instead, this is an emotional and sinuous tale that is essentially a character-led piece.

I must admit that I did not really gel with Baldacci's writing style in this novel, and there are elements of the story that I found problematic for a number of reasons, particularly how long it takes for the plot to get going, and the stilted nature of the perspectives of the younger characters (Baldacci writes his adults much better).

However, there are many things about Strangers in Time that do deserve high praise, so let me concentrate on these instead... 

• At the heart, and the best thing about this story, is the relationship between Charlie, Molly and Ignatius, which is wreathed in lovely themes about three unlikely characters navigating terrible losses finding solace in each other. You really feel they would not have survived the events of this book on their own, which I very much enjoyed.
• Baldacci makes a good stab at describing the reality of living in war-time London too, taking in a good section of how this environment affects a varied slice of the population through the social differences between his characters. Expect tears from the way he delves into grief, and grinding privations. 
• There is an excellent mystery that eventually takes hold, weaving through the character-led framework, which is actually rather exciting once the twists and turns get going. 

I am still on the fence about this novel, despite the weight of its good points. I think that it would have been much better if I had come to it via the audio book (which I note has received a lot of praise). It really is a book that you need to feel through the voices of Charlie, Molly and Ignatius, and I struggled with how long it takes then to come alive in text form.

If nicely woven, slow-burn, war-time stories are your bag then I do recommend giving this intriguing stand-alone a shot - especially if you are a Baldacci fan... maybe go the audio route though.

Strangers in Time is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.

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

About the author:

David Baldacci has been writing since childhood, when his mother gave him a lined notebook in which to write down his stories. (Much later, when David thanked her for being the spark that ignited his writing career, she revealed that she'd given him the notebook to keep him quiet, "because every mom needs a break now and then.")


David published his first novel, ABSOLUTE POWER, in 1996. The feature film adaptation followed, with Clint Eastwood as its director and star. In total, David has published 50 novels for adults; all have been national and international bestsellers and several have been adapted for film and television. His novels have been translated into over 45 languages and sold in more than 80 countries, with 150 million copies sold worldwide. David has also published seven novels for younger readers.


David is also the cofounder, along with his wife, of the Wish You Well Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting literacy programs across the United States.

Work Trip by Chloe Ford

 

Work Trip by Chloe Ford.

Published 3rd April 2025 by Aria.

From the cover of the book:

They say you should keep your enemies closer.

For Fliss, the prospect of a team building work trip fills her with dread. Mostly because she cannot stand her pushy colleague James, who often attempts to derail her brilliant plans. But when the two arrive in the Scottish Highlands, they find themselves facing a unique challenge: their boss has abandoned them in the middle of nowhere with only one tent, two sleeping bags and a few protein bars.

Cut off from the outside world, the pair are forced to put aside their differences to weather the unpredictable elements of the Highlands and get home. As they set out on a journey across miles of rugged wilderness - pushing each other to survive and testing their physical and emotional limits - they remain fully aware of their boss's manipulative plan to orchestrate a hook up between them.

But even with only each other for company, Fliss and James stand firm in their resolve: they won't give in to any romantic notions. Or will they?

***********

A team building exercise with office colleagues at a really busy time is an unattractive prospect for Marketing Manager Fliss, especially when it means spending time away with work nemesis James from Sales. But it is so much worse when Fliss arrives in the Scottish Highlands to discover that their smug boss Michael has made this a trip for her and James alone, in the hope they will stop bickering and hook up with each other.

Abandoned in the wilds with a tent, two sleeping bags, very few clothes, the odd protein bar, 180 tampons, twenty-something condoms and some lube fails to bring a smile to either Fliss or James' faces, but their anger at Michael is something to unite them. It is clear they will have to find a way to move past their differences in order to make their way back to civilisation... but can they also manage to hide the fact that they are attracted to each other.

This is a delicious debut rom-com, following the enemies-to-lovers route, and it was just the tonic I needed. With lashings of humour and heart, the story unfurls with fierce rivals Fliss and James thrown together in the Scottish wilds, having to tramp through fields and forests, ford raging torrents, and sleep in a chilly tent. Determined to get through the experience and prove their worth to their boss, the over-worked pair are both pretty unlikeable to begin with. However, pitting themselves against inhospitable surroundings means teamwork of a sort - in no time the atmosphere is thawing between them as they have to navigate absurdly hilarious issues, cuddle up to keep warm, and help each other out of sticky situations of the hardcore outdoorsy kind.

Before long, that good old forced proximity magic is sparking, and heart-to-heart conversations bring those workplace barriers tumbling down as vulnerable sides are revealed. The romantic tension sizzles nicely between Fliss and James, and Ford throws in a few steamy scenes to get the temperatures rising under the canvas.

Of course, and rom-com worth its salt has to have its fair share of bumps on the road to happiness, and Ford uses the return to reality after this Scottish adventure to provide the twists and turns that make a beautifully pitched rom-com ending all the better.

This was absolutely lovely, and so much fun. Chloe Ford, you made me laugh, you made me cry, and you hit the romantic soft-spot to perfection! I cannot wait for the next one.

Work Trip is available to buy now in paperback, 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:

Chloe Ford grew up in rural Sussex but is now based in South Gloucestershire. She has an affinity with all things country, from riding horses to muddy walks. Her love for writing began at secondary school when her English teacher would set a writing task for the whole hour. An avid reader, she started sneaking Mills & Boon books out from under her mum’s bed as a teenager and hasn’t stopped devouring romance books ever since.

This Is Not A Game by Kelly Mullen

 

This Is Not A Game by Kelly Mullen.

Published 10th April 2025 from Century.

From the cover of the book:

Two unlikely detectives. A killer cocktail of suspects.

A Gibson martini garnished with three silverskin onions is 77-year-old Mimi’s favourite cocktail. It is best served with a crossword puzzle, not as an apéritif at Jane Ireland's extravagant auction party.

But given Mimi has been blackmailed into attending Jane's event, at a grand old mansion on Mackinac Island (Michigan’s answer to The Hamptons), there are worse drinks she could spend an evening sinking.

Thankfully for her, she's roped her granddaughter, Addie – who is escaping the heartache caused by her manipulative ex-fiancé – into accompanying her. While Addie spots celebrities and socialites in the manor's labyrinth of dark rooms and Mimi wonders how to confess the real reason for her presence at the soiree, a scream pierces the air.

Jane is dead. And when a second body turns up, Mimi and Addie soon become the unlikeliest of sleuths in a race to narrow down the suspects.

In a house that contains as many secrets as the people within it, it’s going to take more than a Gibson to survive the night…

***********

Crossword loving, seventy-seven year old Mimi's reputation as a self resilient, respectable member of the swanky Mackinac Island community is in danger. She has been blackmailed into attending an impromptu auction at celebrity Jane Ireland's grand mansion, and will reluctantly have to attend or risk her secret getting out. For moral support, she calls on a Gibson cocktail or two, and the aid of her game-designer granddaughter Addie, despite their falling out over Addie's scum-bag ex-fiancé, Brian.

The event has attracted a rag-tag selection of celebrities and socialites, but Mimi cannot help feeling there is something odd about this gathering. Her suspicions are proved correct when Jane is murdered during the evening. As the snow falls around them, cutting the mansion off from the help of the police, it is very handy that murder-mystery obsessed Addie is on hand to look into the affair - especially since someone seems keen to frame Mimi for Jane's demise...

In a delicious mash-up of Knives Out by way of Murder She Wrote Kelly Mullen's locked room murder mystery is so much fun. Forced into attending an evening of blackmail and dirty deeds, the fabulous Mimi and her troubled granddaughter Addie turn sleuths to discover who has killed Jane, and this is far from easy in a house full of likely suspects.

There is a lovely cosy feel to this novel as it is wreathed in nostalgic popular culture references to crime stories and detectives, and elicits the atmosphere of the kind of tv crime shows of my youth - particularly dear old Jessica Fletcher (who gets a worthy mention). The cast is very much drawn from the kinds of characters you might meet in a knotty mystery for Mrs Fletcher to solve too, with dysfunctional family members, business associates, shady love interests, and suspicious staff members. But Mullen also includes plenty to a modern audience too, especially through her very clever thread about game-play, and the way the Addie and Mimi make slick little jumps forward in their investigation, very much like levels in a game.

Mimi and Addie make an unlikely, but charming pair of sleuths, and the way they work through their own personal issues at the same time as solving this red herring stuffed mystery is very entertaining. I loved how their relationship warmed over the course of the story as the iciness melted and true feelings were revealed, and even shed a tear or two at the conclusion of the tale when they had reached a new level of understanding - and Addie had found the courage to take charge of her issues with rotten Brian.

I thoroughly enjoyed this gem. It is filled with enjoyable twists and turns, and lashings of well-judged humour that raised more than a few chuckles. I am very much up for more crime solving adventures for Mimi and Addie, should Kelly Mullen be so inclined!

This is Not a Game is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.

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

About the author:

Kelly Mullen has worked as a producer in Hollywood and a marketing executive in New York and London. During the pandemic she took online writing courses through Curtis Brown Creative and The Novelry, which reignited her childhood passion for writing. This Is Not A Game is her first novel and was inspired by a two-week stay at her grandmother’s house in 2021.

As an executive producer, her credits include Academy Award-nominated Trumbo starring Bryan Cranston and Helen Mirren, and AppleTV+’s Dads produced with Ron Howard. Her creative work for brands has won over 50 awards, including Cannes Lions and Clios.

Born and raised in Iowa, Kelly is now a dual citizen of the US and UK. She lives in London with her husband and their rescue cats.

The Cure by Eve Smith

The Cure by Eve Smith.

Published 10th April 2025 from Orenda Books.

From the cover of the book:

Living forever can be lethal…

Ruth is a law-abiding elder, working out her national service, but she has secrets.

Her tireless research into the disease that killed her young daughter had an unexpected outcome: the discovery of a vaccine against old age. Just one jab a year reverses your biological clock, guaranteeing a long, healthy life.

But Ruth's cure was hijacked by her colleague, Erik Grundleger, who hungers for immortality, and the SuperJuve – a premium upgrade – was created, driving human lifespan to a new high. The wealthy elite who take it are dubbed Supers, and the population begins to skyrocket.

Then, a perilous side-effect of the SuperJuve emerges, with catastrophic consequences, and as the planet is threatened, the population rebels, and laws are passed to restore order: life ends at 120. Supers are tracked down by Omnicide investigators like Mara, and executed…

Mara has her own reasons for hunting Supers, and she forms an unlikely alliance with Ruth to find Grundleger.

But Grundleger has been working on something even more radical and is one step ahead, with a deadly surprise in store for them both…
 

***********

Ruth is quietly living out the last years of her life doing national service, until the time comes for her Transcendence on her 120th birthday. Her friends and colleagues have no idea of the secret she is keeping - that many years ago, her research into the cruel disease that killed her daughter was the spark for the discovery of the anti-aging vaccine that has become part of their lives. One jab a year is now all it takes to reverse the aging process, guaranteeing a long and healthy life.

Ruth has good reason to hide her past, as her former partner Erik Grundleger subverted her research by creating a controversial premium upgrade for the wealthy elite, SuperJuve, offering immortality to those who could afford it. With a growing population and dwindling resources, the world rebelled against the rich Supers taking advantage of the poor and vulnerable in an effort to live for ever. 

When it was discovered that SuperJuve also came with the less desireable side effect of psychosis, new laws were passed to ban its use, and limit the human life span. Omnicide detectives like Mara Black, with reasons of her own to hate Supers, now spend their time tracking them down and bringing them to justice. When an arrest brings with it the shocking news that Grundleger, once believed dead, is still alive and embarking on an even more extreme project, Mara teams up with Ruth to track him down. Can they stop him before a fresh horror is unleashed upon the world?

A new Eve Smith novel is always an exciting prospect, as she has an uncanny knack of looking at the direction we are all heading and spinning the kind of near future 'what if' story so believable you can taste its disturbingly bitter edge.

In The Cure, Smith brings a little bit of every one of her previous novels to craft a cautionary tale that makes a particularly apt companion piece to her last book, One, with its emphasis on population control policies. Switching her sharp and insightful focus from the cradle to the grave, she speculates how the development of anti-aging gene therapies could cause havoc for a world ravaged by climate change - adding extra bite by mixing in a storyline about unregulated treatments that offer immortality to the wealthy elite, with a side order of psychosis that is particularly dangerous given the political and financial heft of the target audience.

The story moves back and forth in time, from the perspectives of Ruth and Mara: one involved in the discovery of the anti-aging therapy (and its legacy), and the other tasked with tracking down errant Supers for emotional reasons of her own. Smith leans even more heavily into the thriller genre, weaving her speculative genius into a tale that thrums with suspense, drama, and superb tension. The comparison of her writing to the late, great Michael Crichton is more justified than ever before, with a cracking plot clearly based on in-depth research, and with all the thrills and spills of a first-class page-turner. Lovely echoes of the master of the unsettling concept, Ira Levin, pleasingly abound here too.

Smith's favourite themes run through the story adding substance in the way she does so well. Climate change, over-population, waning resources, migration, poverty, power, profiteering, exploitation of the vulnerable, public opinion, and the subversion of therapies designed to benefit humankind (in a classic 'on the shoulders of giants' way) serve to provoke your thoughts. There are some fascinating new angles here for you to ponder as well in the idea that an aging population no longer plagued with cancer and geriatric conditions will bring about a shift in the treatments that are readily available, and how this might affect those who are left behind in the widening gulf between the haves and the have-nots.

I adored this book from the compelling first page to the discomfiting last, totally caught up in the twists and turns of the best story yet by one of my favourite speculative authors. Where will Eve Smith turn her prescient attention next? I cannot wait to find out.

And if any TV/film producers are listening: this book is ripe for a blockbuster adaptation, please and thank you...

The Cure 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:

Eve Smith writes speculative fiction, mainly about the things that scare her. She attributes her love of all things dark and dystopian to a childhood watching Tales of the Unexpected and black-and-white Edgar Allen Poe double bills. In this world of questionable facts, stats and news, she believes storytelling is more important than ever to engage people in real life issues.

Longlisted for the Not the Booker Prize and described by Waterstones as "an exciting new voice in crime fiction", Eve’s debut novel The Waiting Rooms, set in the aftermath of an antibiotic resistance crisis, was shortlisted for the Bridport Prize First Novel Award and was selected as a Book of the Month by Eric Brown in The Guardian who compared her writing to Michael Crichton’s.

Eve’s previous job as COO of an environmental charity took her to research projects across Asia, Africa and the Americas, and she has an ongoing passion for wild creatures, wild science and far-flung places. When she’s not writing she’s racing across fields after her dog, trying to organise herself and her family, or off exploring somewhere new.

The Voyage Home (Women Of Troy Book Three) by Pat Barker

 

The Voyage Home (Women Of Troy Book Three) by Pat Barker.

Published 22nd August 2024 by Hamish Hamilton.

From the cover of the book:

After ten blood-filled years, the war is over. Troy lies in smoking ruins as the victorious Greeks fill their ships with the spoils of battle.

Alongside the treasures looted are the many Trojan women captured by the Greeks – among them the legendary prophetess Cassandra, and her watchful maid, Ritsa. Enslaved as concubine – war-wife – to King Agamemnon, Cassandra is plagued by visions of his death – and her own – while Ritsa is forced to bear witness to both Cassandra’s frenzies and the horrors to come.

Meanwhile, awaiting the fleet’s return is Queen Clytemnestra, vengeful wife of Agamemnon. Heart-shattered by her husband’s choice to sacrifice their eldest daughter to the gods in exchange for a fair wind to Troy, she has spent this long decade plotting retribution, in a palace haunted by child-ghosts.

As one wife journeys toward the other, united by the vision of Agamemnon’s death, one thing is certain: this long-awaited homecoming will change everyone’s fates forever.

***********

After ten long and bloody years, the Trojan war is over. Troy is in ruins and its people vanquished, and it is time for the Greek victors to go home with their spoils. King Agamemnon is returning to Mycenae with his prize, his 'bride' the legendary prophetess Cassandra. Accompanying Cassandra is the long-suffering Ritsa - once a healer, but now reduced to acting as the slave-maid to the woman plagued with visions of death.

Meanwhile, King Agamemnon's wife Clytemnestra has spent ten years ruling in Mycenae in her husband's absence, in a palace full of ghosts. This entire time she has been plotting her revenge for Agamemnon's cruel sacrifice of their eldest daughter, Iphigenia, to the gods in exchange for a fair wind to Troy... 

And so we come to the third, and final, part of Pat Barker's epic Women of Troy series. In a change to the first two books, The Silence of the Girls and The Women of Troy, the action moves away from Troy, and the account of Briseis, to follow the journey of King Agamemnon home to Mycenae. I was a little unsure how I would feel about the absence of Briseis after being totally absorbed by her trials and tribulations, however, Barker knows what she is about in giving voice to Briseis' friend Ritsa, cursed Cassandra, and vengeful Clytemnestra instead to bring her retelling full circle.

Ritsa's narrative provides the perspective of on-looker to the fateful story that plays out as Cassandra's prophecy comes to fruition, resulting in her death and that of the hateful Agamemnon at the hands of Clytemnestra. There are no surprises on the horizon in this part of the tale, but Barker still manages to constantly weave delicious tension as she moves between the perspectives of the wonderful Ritsa, her capricious charge Cassandra, and grieving mother Clytemnestra as she spins her revenge plot. She also does an incredible job of getting into the nitty gritty of the motivations and complex emotions of Cassandra and Clytemnestra as they circle each other - each tied together in an outcomes dictated by the Fates, wanting the same thing, but enemies to the end.

The setting is perfection itself - an eerie palace haunted by the ghosts of children murdered in pursuit of the power games of men, and you feel their malicious presence throughout, which adds beautifully to the powerful themes of love, loss, vengeance, and justice that flood the story. As Barker has done throughout the series, this retelling very much shines a light on the glossed over parts the women have to play in this myth, and this gives you a lot of thought-provoking threads to really get your teeth into. I particularly enjoyed how Barker gives more depth to Clytemnestra's character, exploring her feelings at being relegated back to the position of subservient wife after keeping the kingdom together under the strain of such a long war (as well as the more well-travelled revenge plot that she is know for). The looming presence of the Furies is used very cleverly too, leaving you in no doubt that more horror will be wreaked among her fractured family before the end is nigh.

To my surprise, this turned out to be my favourite of the books from the trilogy by some way (which is saying a lot). Ritsa was such a fabulous character. I adored her and her capacity to see all sides of the charismatic women she was caught between, and was desperate for her ending to be a happy one (no spoilers!). I shed more than a few tears when it was time for me to say goodbye to her. 

I cannot recommend this superb trilogy high enough. By the way, if audio is your bag, the audio books narrated by Kristin Atherton are not to be missed!

The Voyage Home is available to buy now in hardcover, paperback, ebook and audio formats.

About the author:

Pat Barker, CBE, FRSL was born in Thornaby-on-Tees in 1943. She was educated at the London School of Economics and has been a teacher of history and politics.

Her books include the highly acclaimed Regeneration trilogy, Regeneration; The Eye in the Door, winner of the Guardian Fiction Prize; and The Ghost Road, winner of the Booker Prize; as well as several other novels. She's married and lives in Durham, England

The Seven Dials Mystery (Superintendent Battle Book 2) by Agatha Christie

 

The Seven Dials Mystery (Superintendent Battle Book 2) by Agatha Christie.

This edition published 18th July 2019 by Harper Collins. 

Originally published 1929.

From the cover of the book:

A healthy young man dies in his sleep, despite the ringing of seven separate alarm clocks…

Gerry Wade had proved himself to be a champion sleeper; so the other house guests decided to play a practical joke on him. Eight alarm clocks were set to go off, one after the other, starting at 6.30 a.m.

But when morning arrived, one clock was missing and the prank had backfired with tragic consequences.

For Jimmy Thesiger in particular, the words ‘Seven Dials’ were to take on a new and chilling significance…

***********

Industrial big-wig Sir Oswald Coote, and his wife Lady Coote, host a party at the grand house they have rented for the season, Chimneys. One of the guests, Gerry Wade, is in the habit of sleeping in (much to the distress of Lady Coote), so the other young members of the party decide to play a practical joke on him.

Jimmy Thesiger, Ronny Devereux, Bill Eversleigh, Rupert "Pongo" Bateman, and a bevy of assorted high-spirited gals place eight alarm clocks in Jerry's room, hoping to shock him awake. However, the jolly jape fails to hit its mark, as Jerry is discovered dead in his bed the next morning - apparently having overdosed on sleeping medication.

Lord Caterham and his daughter Lady Eileen “Bundle” Brent subsequently move back to Chimneys after Lord and Lady Coote have vacated, and speculate on the odds of another mysterious death related to the house (after the events of The Secret of Chimneys). Driving up to London a while later, Ronny Devereaux jumps in front of Bundle's car. Fearing she has run him over, she discovers he has actually been shot. He proceeds to die, muttering the words "Seven Dials..." and "Tell...Jimmy Thesiger.".

Bundle realises Jerry's death must have been suspicious as the Seven Dials' reference seems related to why one of the eight alarm clocks was thrown out of the window - the other seven having been lined up on the mantle piece. A new investigation with Superintendent Battle beckons...

I have to admit that I have not read The Secret of Chimneys (yet), which I regret if it is anywhere near as delightful as its follow-up, The Seven Dials Mystery, which brings some of the characters back together for a brand new investigation.

At the centre of the story, plucky Lady Eileen “Bundle” Brent gets caught up in a cracking mystery following an unfortunate country house party hosted by Lord and Lady Coote in her ancestral home, Chimneys. What follows is an absolute riot of an adventure making the most of a devilishly convoluted plot around a rumoured crime gang called the Seven Dials.

Christie really keeps you guessing about who the deceitful rotters are in this story, and I did not suspect where this was going until the delightful ending where the lovely Superintendent Battle explains everything in a very Poirot-like way. But the best thing about it is the characters with all the delicious P.G. Wodehouse-esque laughs that result from their shenanigans and comic conversations. I have not guffawed so much at any Christie mystery before, which made this such a treat. Special mentions for Bundle (who I adored), the hapless Bill (an unlikely hero), the loveably morose Lady Coote (always looking on the dark side of life), golf-obsessed Lord Caterham (who yearns for a quiet life), and the ridiculous 'Socks' (subtly confusing amphibious with ambidextrous).

What a perfect pick to celebrate this month's prompt of Butlers for the theme of Characters and Careers too, through the eminently capable Tredwell, the butler at Chimneys (also Jimmy's manservant, Stevens, with his ability to turn his hand to many requests without comment). The Butlers theme seems particularly pertinent to this book given the P.G. Wodehouse vibe.

By the way, Emilia Fox is in tip-top form as the narrator of the audio book - how I loved her Lady Coote!

The Seven Dials Mystery 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.

Dangerous (A Lord Byron Mystery) by Essie Fox

 

Dangerous (A Lord Byron Mystery) by Essie Fox.

Published 24th April 2025 by Orenda Books.

From the cover of the book:

Fiction can be fatal…

Living in exile in Venice, the disgraced Lord Byron revels in the freedoms of the city. But when he is associated with the deaths of local women, found with wounds to their throats, and then a novel called The Vampyre is published under his name, rumours begin to spread that Byron may be the murderer…

As events escalate and tensions rise – and his own life is endangered, as well as those he holds most dear – Byron is forced to play detective, to discover who is really behind these heinous crimes. Meanwhile, the scandals of his own infamous past come back to haunt him…

Rich in gothic atmosphere and drawing on real events and characters from Byron's life, Dangerous is a riveting, dazzling historical thriller, as decadent, dark and seductive as the poet himself…

***********

Exiled from London society, Lord Byron has relocated to Venice, where he continues to indulge his passions and engage in every vice that has made him infamous. But his freedoms are reined in when he becomes a person of interest in the deaths of local women associated with him - each body discovered with mysterious wounds to the neck.

With the recent publication of a novel called The Vampyre, which has erroneously been issued under his name, gossip is rife about Byron's guilt. If he wants to prove his innocence, he must turn detective to establish who means him, and his loved ones, harm...

Mad, bad, and dangerous Lord Byron is a seductive character to conjure with, and this glorious retelling by Essie Fox makes the most of the mystique and romance associated with his disreputable antics. Beginning with an eerie opening of Byron's tomb, during which secret manuscripts are discovered, Fox proceeds to blend fact and fiction to create a very clever Gothic murder mystery that embroiders what we know of the man with supernatural whispers.

Quite brilliantly, Fox takes the very real furore about the publication of The Vampyre under his name (a book which was actually penned by his former associate, Dr John Polidori), and speculates which might have happened had Byron been connected to suspiciously vampiric murders during his residence in Venice. Given his tendency to make his own writings semi-autobiographical, a story about vampires from his pen provides rich fodder for gossip, insinuation, and the destruction of the last vestiges of his reputation - not to mention the risk of physical harm for himself and his household.

Of course, the Byron of this tale is not the guilty party, or a vampire (or is he?), and he becomes a delightfully quirky detective, straying off the path in his debauched way as he ferrets out the truth behind the murders. In the telling, Fox litters his progress with obstacles put in his way by the manipulations of those out for revenge, as well of those of his own making - mostly when it comes to the psychological effects the ghosts that haunt him. 

Venice is a fabulous backdrop for the story, standing as a character in its own right, as the action oozes unsettlingly through its moody, mysterious back alleys, palazzos, and sinuous waterways. It is so atmospheric that you can feel menace round every corner, and find yourself doubting the intentions of the entire vivid cast - with good cause. The twists and turns are drop dead gorgeous, inextricably tied to luscious themes of obsession and dark deeds (inevitable given Byron's lifestyle and innumerable affairs). There are lovely links to the fateful summer Byron spent at Lake Geneva with the Shelleys, Claire Clairmont, and Polidari too. I even applaud Fox's best attempts to show different sides to Byron, particularly around his daughters, and his menagerie, which is far from easy given the fact that his propensity for degeneracy still lives so large in our minds some two hundred years after his death.

Fox's talent for immersing you up to the gills in all things Gothic is a thing of dark beauty, and I enjoyed this immensely. I am intrigued that this is sub-titled 'A Lord Byron Mystery' - will there be more? I sincerely hope so!

Dangerous is available to buy now in hardcover, 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:

Essie Fox was born and raised in rural Herefordshire, which inspires much of her writing. After studying English Literature at Sheffield University, she moved to London where she worked for the Telegraph Sunday Magazine, then the book publishers George Allen & Unwin – before becoming self-employed in the world of art and design. 

 Always an avid reader, Essie now spends her time writing historical gothic novels. Her debut, The Somnambulist, was shortlisted for the National Book Awards, and featured on Channel 4's TV Book Club. The Last Days of Leda Grey, set in the early years of silent film, was selected as The Times Historical Book of the Month. Her novel, The Fascination is based in Victorian country fairgrounds, the glamour of the London theatres, and an Oxford Street museum full of morbid curiosities.

Essie is also the creator of the popular blog: The Virtual Victorian She has lectured on this era at the V&A, and the National Gallery in London. 

All That We Are (Wyndham Beach Book Three) by Mariah Stewart

 

All That You Are (Wyndham Beach Book Three) by Mariah Stewart.

Published 13th December 2022 by Montlake.

Audio book narrated by Linda Jones.

From the cover of the book:

In the decade since Emma Dean’s husband died, she’s maintained a peaceful and organized life in her hometown of Wyndham Beach—until she finds evidence of her husband’s longtime affair. How, Emma wonders, can a man who’s been gone for ten years still break her heart?

Still reeling from the betrayal, Emma must focus on the group of artists she’s invited to take up residence at the art center she founded, one of whom is secretly seeking refuge from her abusive ex. Toss in a charming businessman who’s returned to town with eyes for only Emma, and it’s becoming a most interesting summer.

And the biggest surprise of all is about to ring Emma’s doorbell and turn her life completely upside down yet again.

As Emma struggles between what was and what is, she discovers that the life she really wants—however unexpected—is just within reach, if she’s willing to fight for it.

***********

This is the third, and final, book in the Wyndham Beach series following the lives of three old friends (Maggie, Liddy and Emma) in this quiet town on the coast of Masschusetts - which focuses on each of them in turn as they negotiate their triumphs, tragedies, second chance love stories, and find strength in the close bonds of their long friendship. 

I thoroughly enjoyed Maggie and Liddy's stories (bookstore proprietor Liddy is my favourite), but I have actually been putting off this final book about Emma for some while, because I have never connected with her like the other two women.

The time finally came to bite the bullet, and give Emma a chance to change my mind... but this book proved to be a mixed bag, perhaps as expected. There are problematic plotlines here, mostly when it comes to some of the decisions deeply religious pastor's daughter Emma makes around the curve balls Stewart throws her about the shock discovery that her late husband had had a longterm affair she knew nothing about, and the twist relating to a possible love child of her rock star son, Chris. There was way too much turning the other cheek and misplaced guilt when it came to the affair, and an odd acceptance of the second situation (let's not even get started on the Chris issues around this, or the change in personality of his girlfriend, Maggie's daughter, Natalie).

However, there are lovely things as well. It was a joy to be back in Wyndham Beach among old friends connected with Maggie and Liddy's stories, catching up with the latest developments in their lives, and Stewart continues to excel when she writes about enduring female friendships, small communities, and being brave enough to give love a second chance. There is an interesting thread about domestic violence and controlling relationships too.

Overall, I have loved this gentle, warmhearted trilogy, and am sorry to say goodbye to (most of) the characters. It seems Stewart has no plans to return to Wyndham Beach, but I would love to be back wandering its streets, visiting the bookstore, and ambling along the beach again in the future... fingerscrossed I will get the chance! 😁

All That We Are is available to but now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.

About the author:

Mariah Stewart is the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today bestselling author of several series, including Wyndham Beach, the Chesapeake Diaries, and the Hudson Sisters, as well as stand-alone novels, novellas, and short stories.

A native of Hightstown, New Jersey, she lives with her husband and two rambunctious rescue dogs amid the rolling hills of Chester County, Pennsylvania, where she savors country life, tends her gardens, and works on her next novel.

She’s the proud mama of two fabulous daughters, who—along with her equally fabulous sons-in-law—have gifted her with six adorable (and, yes, fabulous) granddarlings. 

The Golden Hour by Kate Lord Brown

 

The Golden Hour by Kate Lord Brown.

Published 10th April 2025 by Simon and Schuster.

From the cover of the book:

The Golden Hour is an epic dual timeline story which interweaves glory-seeking desert archaeologists, priceless treasures, Nefertiti’s tomb and the decadent cabarets of WW2 Cairo with restless expat lives in bohemian Beirut. 

Archaeologist Lucie Fitzgerald's mother is dying – she's also been lying. As her home, the 'Paris of the East', Beirut, teeters on the brink of war in the ‘70s, Polly Fitzgerald has one last story to tell from her deathbed.  It’s the story of her childhood best friend Juno and their life in 30s Cairo. Lucie travels home to be with her dying mother and discovers the truth about her family, Juno's work and their shared search for the greatest undiscovered tomb of all - Nefertiti's. 

From the cities to the deserts, this transporting and moving story of a lost generation transformed by war is a study of great love and sacrifice in all its forms, the perfect novel for fans of Santa Montefiore, Lucinda Riley and Victoria Hislop.

***********

Beirut, 1975. Archaeologist Lucie Fitzgerald is called home from London to be with her dying mother, Polly. Lebanon is on the brink of civil war, but it is not this that is preying on Polly's mind. Instead, Polly knows it is finally time to share the truth about her childhood friend Juno with her daughter, before it is too late.

From her death bed, Polly has secrets to share with Lucie about what happened to beautiful, driven Juno, and the dream she has passed on to Lucie to discover the tomb of Nefertiti.

Kate Lord Brown's beautiful novel unfurls in two evocative timelines - Beirut in 1975, when Lucie travels home to be with her dying mother, and 1939, through the story that Polly shares with Lucie about the heady days she and Juno spent together in Cairo. Brown does an incredible job bringing time and place alive in both storylines, so you feel the political climate, the heat, the dust, the chaos, and the quiet moments of calm - particularly when it comes to the intoxicating atmosphere of ex-pats negotiating the ending of eras.

Moving back and forth between the two timelines, Brown spins stories that pound your emotions in more ways than one through meandering threads of enduring love, unbearable loss, sacrifice, passion, and sisterhood - finally revealing the secret that begins to emerge in only the way a truly accomplished storyteller can manage. In the telling, she immerses you completely in oodles of compelling Egyptian mythology and archaeological wonder, entwining Juno's ambition to find the tomb of Nefertiti with her struggle to have the accomplishments of female archaeologists recognised alongside their male counterparts - a theme which flows gloriously into Lucie's life too. If horses are your bag, then you will also find much in this novel to please.

I was totally consumed by this book, completely transported into the lives of the characters, and I shed more than a few tears as I travelled alongside them through their triumphs and tragedies. Sweeping and intensely moving, this is easily one of my books of 2025. 

The Golden Hour is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook, and audio formats.

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

About the author:

KATE LORD BROWN was a finalist in ITV's The People's Author contest, and her novel The Perfume Garden, which has been published in nine languages, was shortlisted for the Romantic Novel of the Year 2014. Her books have been top ten bestsellers in the UK, Canada, and several European countries. In 2020 she was highly commended in the RNA Elizabeth Goudge Trophy. Kate has also written editorial, reviews and regular columns for Traveller, Conde Nast, Good Housekeeping, the Daily Telegraph, Sunday Express and others. She wrote the first book club column in the Middle East, introducing a host of writers to the region through the pages of Ahlan! After many years living overseas, she has returned to the wild and beautiful south-west of England, where she grew up.

The Drownings by Hazel Barkworth (Paperback Release)

 

The Drownings by Hazel Barkworth (Paperback Release).

Published 10th April 2025 by Headline Review.

From the cover of the book:

SOMETIMES YOU MUST CHOOSE TO PLAY WITH FIRE...

On a remote university campus in the north of England, famed for the wild waters that surround it, two cousins arrive for the new term.

Zara wants to be at the centre of everything Leysham has to offer.

Serena, an ex-champion swimmer, struggles to find her place.

When they meet Jane, a beguiling and ambitious postgrad obsessed with historic local witch trials, both are drawn in by her desire to expose Leysham's dark legacy - a centuries-old culture of violence among the privileged elite.

As protests flare across the campus, a simmering rivalry takes hold between the cousins. But when cracks start to appear in Jane's stories, everything spirals out of control...

***********

Reeling from the accident that finished her career as a championship swimmer, Serena arrives at the prestigious university of Leysham to study history. Used to total dedication to the world of swimming, Serena does not know how to fit in to the student scene, especially as she is two years older than her colleagues. Her awkwardness makes her feel like an outsider.

One night, while drawn to the treacherous waters of the Leysham river that runs through the grounds, an incident brings her into close contact with enigmatic tutor, Jane. A bond is formed in that frozen darkness, and Serena becomes consumed by Jane's obsession with the stories of the women drowned in the water as part of vengeful, historic witch trials.

When stories of young women being assaulted at Leysham begin to spread, Serena gets caught up in the campaign for the university authorities to take female safety seriously, spearheaded by her popular cousin Zara, a body positive influencer who is also studying at Leysham. Urged on by Jane's passionate drive for justice, anger amongst the female students rises to fever pitch, and in response, Serena feels a stirring of dark power. A sacrifice is demanded, and Serena knows just what to do...

The Drownings is an ambitious novel, and I have to tip my hat at Hazel Barkworth for the way she incorporates so many luscious storylines about patriarchal control, violence against women, consent, privilege, and the power of female rage - particularly in the way she blends age-old themes with bang-up-to date topics.

Against an atmospheric dark academia setting, Barkworth weaves an eerie tale with roots in the history of women drowned as witches in the river that runs through the campus. Leysham is an ancient university that honours the gods of money and tradition more than it does the well-being of its female students and colleagues. When concerns about safety are brushed under the carpet something sparks between the trio of characters that make up the author's modern 'witches, Serena, Jane and Zara - setting in motion a course of events that ends in tragedy.

The story unfurls in the present, through Serena's eyes, and in the past, as she relives moments from the gruelling high pressure world of competitive swimming. Barkworth goes on to use the motif of water throughout the story to explore all manner of themes around transformation and power remarkably effectively. She also links the past and present through the stories and experiences of Serena, Jane and Zara, who stand centre stage in a twist on the 'power of three'.

This works beautifully, with storylines that are as compelling as they are tragically heart-breaking, and you find yourself torn between outrage at the timeless exploration of violence and injustice against women, and exhilaration at the way the female students find power in joining together to make their voices heard. Serena's coming-of-age, supernatural awakening is absolutely gripping too, subverting the academia trope into one with elements of magical realism.

Popping up in what is essentially a darned good revenge story, Barkworth takes sideways snipes at the dubious delights of social media through Zara's storyline. Zara's self-absorbed, attention seeking ways make her somewhat of a less sympathetic character, but it certainly keeps things interesting.

This was a fascinating piece of literary fiction, and I have really only touched the surface of the depths Hazel Barkworth plunges in her story - pun intended. This is a gem of a book that you can get your teeth into, full of thought-provoking themes that beg to be discussed!

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

Thank you to FMcM Associates for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review, and for inviting me to join this blog tour.

About the author:

Hazel grew up in Stirlingshire and North Yorkshire before studying English at Oxford. She then moved to London where she spent her days working as a cultural consultant, and her nights dancing in a pop band at glam rock clubs.

Hazel is a graduate of both the Oxford University MSt in Creative Writing and the Curtis Brown Creative Novel-Writing course. She now works in Oxford, where she lives with her partner. Heatstroke was her first novel.

Death And Other Occupational Hazards by Veronika Dapunt

 

Death and Other Occupational Hazards by Veronika Dapunt.

Published 10th April 2025 by Bantam.

From the cover of the book:

Her job is to die for. Literally.

Most people think that when they meet Death, it’ll be a skeleton in a black potato sack. Maybe with a scythe. Truth is, she’s just a woman doing a job, and she’s very good at it.

But when Death takes a much-needed break to live on earth, things start to go terribly wrong.

Someone’s killing people not on her list (well, not yet anyway) and it's down to her to find the culprit before it’s too late.

To make matters worse, her sanctimonious sister, Life – whom Death hasn’t got on with in millennia – won’t stop blaming her . . . And then there’s the slight problem of the charming (sexy) parasitologist she’s suspicious of.

But she’ll be fine, right?

After all, who better to investigate a murder than Death herself?

***********

Death is very good at her job, but she is a little fed up with traipsing around the globe outfitted by a Boss who feels the expectations of dying creatures are more important that her wardrobe choices. It is time for a break from the baggily-clothed, scythe-wielding, skeleton persona for a little sabbatical among the humans to try to connect with them on a more personal level.

Set up in human form as Dalara Dunn, in a grotty little flat in London (which she is sure is some kind of revenge on the part of her hollier-than-thou sister, Life), Death ditches the drab outfits for brightly coloured, sartorial splendour, and is looking forward to a fun time as a paralegal for a less than salubrious city law firm. 

However, her adventure gets off to a dodgy start when her first case involves a death that was most certainly not on the approved list - and she should know. Rather than the rest she was anticipating, Death is going to have to try to get to the bottom of this unplanned death, and she is going to need some helpers, starting with the very attractive parasitologist, Marco - even if she is not sure he can be trusted...

What a delightful comic escapade this debut turned out to be! With lashings of delicious Terry Pratchett-esque vibes, Dapunt's Death discovers that assuming a new identity as the fabulously attired Dalara brings with it quite the learning experience, especially when it comes to negotiating human emotions.

The story beautifully clashes together the reality of humankind with a quirky spiritual/mythological set-up in which sisters Life and Death have to work through eons of feud-laden baggage to solve a very cleverly contrived mystery. In a Good Omens kind of way, the less than convivial duo find themselves battling insidious arch-enemies with a dastardly plan, wading through mafia-revenge plots, connecting with a glossy-haired old friend, and rubbing shoulders with a delightful human supporting cast (including gorgeous doggy side-kicks, and a super helpful rodent brigade) to save the world from catastrophe - and the big 'Boss' is just as ineffable as expected.

There are laugh-out-loud moments galore, slick twists and turns that really keep you guessing, and bags of unexpected emotional (and profound) content too (tears were shed, and thoughts provoked). Dapunt portrays sisterly relationships perfectly, with all their messy, tangled emotions, and the finely judged romantic suspense between Death and Marco hits the sentimental soft spot magnificently.

I thoroughly enjoyed this literary tonic, and cannot wait to see what comes next from Veronika Dapunt!

Death and Other Occupational Hazards is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Transworld for sending me a proof of this book in return for an honest review and for inviting me to take part in this blog tour.

About the author:

Veronika Dapunt is a British-Austrian writer. Her debut novel, Death and Other Occupational Hazards, was a runner-up for the 2023 Comedy Women in Print Prize. She has always had a love of the darkly comic and the absurd, quite possibly the reason why her first career was in law. Veronika holds a degree from the University of Oxford and currently lives in London.