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.

The House At Devil's Neck (Spector Locked-Room Mysteries Book Four) by Tom Mead

 

The House At Devil's Neck (Spector Locked-Room Mysteries Book Four) by Tom Mead.

Published 14th August 2025 by Aries.

From the cover of the book:

This gripping locked-room mystery sees Joseph Spector investigate his most sinister case yet: murderous machinations at a haunted manor house.

A former First World War field hospital, the spooky old mansion at Devil's Neck attracts spirit-seekers from far and wide.

Illusionist-turned-sleuth Joseph Spector knows the house of old. With stories spreading of a phantom soldier making mischief, he joins a party of visitors in search of the truth.

But the house, located on a lonely causeway, is quickly cut off by floods. The stranded visitors are soon being killed off one by one.

With old ally Inspector Flint working on a complex case that has links to Spector's investigation, the two men must connect the dots before Devil's Neck claims Spector himself as its next victim.

***********

August, 1939. A group of unlikely 'tourists', including illusionist-turned-sleuth Joseph Spector, travel to a creepy manor house once used as a Great War hospital - each with their own reason for wishing to commune with the ghosts that haunt Devil's Neck. Little do they know that they are about to become involved in a locked-room murder mystery, as the weather closes around them.

Meanwhile, Spector's old ally Inspector Flint is involved in a locked-room puzzle of his own, when a bizarre suicide bears all the marks of a clever murder. As his investigation proceeds, an unsolved case from Flint's past connected to the dead man rears its ugly head... with a trail that also leads to Devil's Neck.

Charismatic illusionist Joseph Spector is back in a brand new mystery that will test his sharp insight to its limits. The story unfurls though two twisty threads - one for Spector and his fellow visitors to the infamous house at Devil's Neck, and the other via Inspector Flint. In typical Mead style, the threads twist and turn as murder, mayhem, and knotty posers come at you in close order, until the threads clash together in the kind of glorious tangle that only Spector can unravel - which he does with theatrical flair (of course).

Mead channels his love of Golden Age posers into every single aspect of this delicious novel, working in so many elements from my list of classic crime wants that I absorbed the whole story in a state of utmost glee - particularly when it comes to the pinnacle of locked-room settings, a manor house with a dark history, cut-off by location and inclement weather. It is so beautifully eerie and atmospheric, and uses every unsettling ounce of a seductive double-whammy premise of supernatural legend and gritty WWI horrors. 

And if the terrifying manor house aspect was not enough, weaving through the bloody footprints of spiritual subject matter, Flint's investigation blurs ghosts of his own on the personal and professional fronts. Using all the lessons he has learned from Spector, his entertaining storyline takes him to Devil's Neck for enlightening reckonings as the exciting climax plays out.

Mead layers theme upon luscious theme in this mystery, using meticulous research to craft a tale that is just as thought provoking as it is gripping. His characters are inspired by real life stories of ghost hunters, witch-finders, spiritualists, charlatans, illusionists, automatons, and performers, exploring themes of the power of suggestion, sleight of hand, and deception. And there is so much fascinating (and sad) history about the young men disfigured by war, and early attempts at designing prosthetics that aimed to rebuild their faces.

Mead's books are a sophisticated joy. I love everything about the way this series captivates you with intelligent classic crime whodunits, and invites you to pit your wits against Spector to solve them by examining the pertinent clues. I have not managed to solve one yet, but I have adored having a crack at the sleuthing game each time. I cannot wait for the next one!

The House at Devil's Neck is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats. 

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

About the author:

Tom Mead is a Derbyshire author and Golden Age crime afficionado.

His short stories have appear in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine and Best Crime Stories of the Year (edited by Lee Child). His novels have been nominated for the Capital Crime Award for Debut Novel of the Year, shortlisted for the Historical Writers' Association Debut Crown and long listed for the CWA Historical Dagger Award.

His books have also been named as crime novels of the year by The Guardian, Telegraph and Publishers Weekly. The series has been translated into ten languages (and counting) and is currently in development for screen adaptation.

Home Before Dark by Eva Bjorg Aegisdottir

 

Home Before Dark by Eva Bjorg Aegisdottir.

Transalted by Victoria Cribb.

Published 27th July 2025 by Orenda Books.

From the cover of the book:

November, 1967, Iceland. Fourteen-year-old Marsí has a secret penpal – a boy who lives on the other side of the country – but she has been writing to him in her older sister’s name. Now she is excited to meet him for the first time.

But when the date arrives, Marsí is prevented from going, and during the night her sister Stína goes missing – her bloodstained anorak later found at the place where Marsí and her penpal had agreed to meet.

November, 1977. Stína’s disappearance remains unsolved. Then an unexpected letter arrives for Marsí It’s from her penpal, and he’s still out there…

Desperate for news of her missing sister, but terrified that he might coming after her next, Marsí returns to her hometown and embarks on an investigation of her own.

But Marsí has always had trouble distinguishing her vivid dreams from reality, and as insomnia threatens her sanity, it seems she can’t even trust her own memories.

And her sister’s killer is still on the loose…

***********

Iceland, November 1967. Marsi strikes up a correspondence with a secret penpal, a boy she is now planning to meet, but when the time comes she is unable to make it to their assignation. That same night her older sister Stina goes missing, leaving behind a bloodstained anorak on the roadside. She is never seen again. Marsi is consumed by the notion that Stina's disappearance is somehow related to her penpal - she can never reveal that she had been using Stina's identity to write to him instead of her own...

Ten years later, the mystery of Stina's disappearance remains unsolved. Plagued with insomnia, and feelings of guilt, Marsi returns home to her broken family for the anniversary of that fateful night. But this year something is different - her penpal has contacted her once again, and she is frightened he might be coming for her next. The time has come for her to find out once and for all what happened to her sister.

Every time I read one of Aegisdottir's cracking Nordic noir mysteries I am struck with the well-deserved comparisons between her work and that of the eminent Agatha Christie. I think this book, more than any of hers I have read before, shows every ounce of the talent that has earned her this reputation.

The story unfurls in two deliciously twisted timelines, through the narratives of Marsi in 1977, and Stina in 1967. In classic Aegisdottir style, she begins from the outset to lay plenty of false trails as the two timelines weave back and forth, delving into the tragic consequences of family dramas, friendship clashes, and coming of age struggles. 

Marsi's desperate quest for the truth drives the story, and she makes for a complicated protagonist as her chronic insomnia, the toll of the guilty feelings that haunt her, and half-remembered memories (that may of may not be true) warp her perception of events in past and present. As she delves into matters others would prefer she left alone, suspicion of those she thought she could trust only clouds her judgement further. 

The plot is devilishly clever. Aegisdottir deftly spins multiple threads of mystery about Stina's disappearance, shocking secrets, and Iceland's uncomfortable post-WWII history. She misleads, misdirects, and springs her carefully concealed traps like never before, all while immersing you in the gritty reality of a family torn apart by loss, and things that remain unsaid. And the atmosphere! It is thick with all the edgy suspense that comes from unsettled weather, brooding landscape, capricious characters with murky motivations, and unsettling locations you are bound to revisit in your nightmares.

I could not put this book down. Victoria Cribb's translation is crisp and viscerally gut-wrenching, doing full justice to the imagination of one of Iceland's most accomplished crime writers, and this book makes the perfect choice to celebrate Women in Translation month this August. Simply superb!

Home Before Dark is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats. You can support the very best of indie publishing by buying direct from Orenda Books HERE

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

About the author:

Born in Akranes in 1988, Eva moved to Trondheim, Norway to study her MSc in Globalisation when she was 25. 

After moving back home having completed her MSc, she knew it was time to start working on her novel. Eva has wanted to write books since she was 15 years old, having won a short story contest in Iceland. Eva worked as a stewardess to make ends meet while she wrote her first novel, The Creak on the Stairs. The book went on to win the CWA Debut Dagger, the Blackbird Award, was shortlisted (twice) for the Capital Crime Readers' Awards, and became a number one bestseller in Iceland. The critically acclaimed Girls Who Lie (book two in the Forbidden Iceland series) soon followed, with Night Shadows (book three) following suit in July 2022. You Can’t See Me (book four) was released in 2023, with Boys Who Hurt out in 2024.

Eva lives with her husband and three children in Reykjavík.

We Live Here Now by C.D. Rose

 

We Live Here Now by C. D. Rose.

Published 7th August 2025 by Melville House.

From the cover of the book:

When a famous conceptual artist's installation project suddenly vanishes, the sinister aftershocks radiate outwards through twelve people who were involved in the project, changing all of their lives, and launching them on a crazy-quilt trajectory that will end with them all together at one final, apocalyptic bacchanal.

Mixing illusion and reality, simulacra and replicants, sound artists and death artists, performers and filmmakers and gallerists and journalists, We Live Here Now ranges across the world of weapons dealers and international shipping to the galleries and studios on the cutting edge of hyper-contemporary art.

Rose's characters are, as one of the puts it, in search of 'a gateway to the Un, the Ex, the Outer, the Under, the Anti, the Non, the Other Place, the Not,' and it is those mysterious Other Places where C. D. Rose weaves his surreal magic. We Live Here Now spins a dazzling web that conveys, with eerie precision, the sheer strangeness of what it is like to be alive today.

***********

Welcome to the world of art through the intriguing perspective of C.D. Rose, who explores a myriad of facets around the work, artists, and the sphere that surrounds them, via fourteen linked short stories to push your metaphysical boundaries.

Connecting them all is the enigmatic artist Sigismunda Conrad, her peculiar art installation We Live Here Now, and the twelve people who were involved in the project. From critics, to fellow artists, agents, fixers, and a selection of others on the fringes of the art world, Rose spins a tale about the almost mythical Conrad, rumours of strange disappearances, and the fact that the exhibition piece itself has subsequently vanished.

Between literary bookends from the perspective of an art critic, which brings everything full circle, each chapter explores the uncanny experiences of the characters. Through them Rose probes different artistic media, performance, perception, memory, illusion, corporate machines, murky investments, and even the fabric of space and time, in pursuit of answers to some pretty big questions... What is art, and what does it tell us about ourselves and the world around us?

For those of you that consider art to be a subject as dry as dust, then this the book to shatter your illusions. Rose pitches this somewhere between fever dream and philosophical investigation. He strikes out in a number of thought-provoking directions, blurring the line between speculative fiction and horror, to take you on an eerie existential journey.

It has been a good while since I read anything as wonderfully weird as this mind-bending odyssey, and I enjoyed every bizarre moment. Perfect for fans of Black Mirror.

We Live Here Now is available to buy now in paperback and ebook formats.

Thank you to Melville House 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:

C. D. Rose is the author of four previous books, including The Blind Accordionist and Walter Benjamin Stares at the Sea. His short stories have appeared in Gorse, 3AM, The Quietus, and Best British Short Stories. He currently lives in the north of England.

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

 

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton.

This edition published 22nd May 2025 by Pan Macmillan.

Originally published 4th September 2008.

From the cover of the book:

Rediscover The Forgotten Garden, the breathtaking intergenerational mystery from the multimillion-copy bestseller, Kate Morton.

Three women. Three generations. One spellbinding mystery . . .

Once upon a time, a little girl was found abandoned after a gruelling sea voyage from England to Australia. She carried nothing with her but a small suitcase of clothes, an exquisite volume of fairy tales and the memory of a mysterious woman called the Authoress, who promised to look after her but then vanished.

Years later, Nell returns to England to uncover the truth about her identity. Her quest leads her to the strange and beautiful Blackhurst Manor on the Cornish coast, but its long-forgotten gardens hide secrets of their own.

Now, upon Nell’s death, her granddaughter, Cassandra, comes into a surprise inheritance: an old book of dark fairy tales and a ramshackle cottage in Cornwall. It is here that she must finally solve the puzzle that has haunted her family for a century, embarking on a journey that blends past and present, myth and mystery, fact and fable . . .

***********

Brisbane, 2005. When Cassandra's beloved grandmother passes away, leaving her a surprise inheritance, she discovers that there are many secrets that Nell kept from her. With only an old suitcase, a mysterious book of dark fairy tales, and the deed of a cottage in the grounds of Blackhurst Manor in Cornwall, Cassandra sets off on a quest to unravel the puzzle of her family's past.

Kate's Morton's beloved bestseller, The Forgotten Garden, is now available with a gorgeous new paperback cover design. Essentially, this is a tale of three women from the same family (spanning four generations), from the turn of the twentieth century onwards. The many layered story unravels through three narratives, Eliza, Nell and Cassandra, shifting in time and place between Australia and England, to reveal secrets, tragedies, and complex family history.

The pace of the novel is gentle and meandering (though not without its dramas), with a sprawling cast of characters, and little pieces of the mystery that connects the women coming together across all three timelines. Morton spins her threads to encompass Cassandra's adventures in the present, alongside Nell's research into her foundling origins (having arrived on the shores of Australia with only a few possessions and no memory of how she came to there); and (eventually) the sad history of authoress Eliza's connection to the Mountrachet family of Blackhurst Manor in Cornwall. 

A lot happens over the course of the story, but this is really a character-led piece that delves into identity, and the way the consequences of the women's decisions ripple through time (particularly when it comes to the Victorian melodrama of Eliza's tale). Sacrifice, self-destruction, loss, betrayal, and abandonment are the focus, which means your emotions get a battering, but Morton does craft a lovely uplifting ending around the significance of the 'forgotten garden', with a heart-warming romance for Cassandra as the threads draw together - and I loved the magical realism aspect of the novel, which uses Eliza's fables to great effect.

As my first venture into Morton's novels, I was intrigued about the delights its whopping 650+ pages would hold, and can now see what it is that attracts millions to her storytelling. Perhaps a little on the slow side to get going, but definitely one to immerse yourself in. 

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.

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

About the author:

KATE MORTON is an award-winning, Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author. Her novels - The House at Riverton, The Forgotten Garden, The Distant Hours, The Secret Keeper, The Lake House, The Clockmaker's Daughter and Homecoming - are published in over 45 countries, in 38 languages, and have all been number one bestsellers around the world.

Kate Morton grew up in the mountains of southeast Queensland and now lives with her family in London and Australia. She has degrees in dramatic art and English literature, and harboured dreams of joining the Royal Shakespeare Company until she realised that it was words she loved more than performing. Kate still feels a pang of longing each time she goes to the theatre and the house lights dim.

The Mercy Step by Marcia Hutchinson

 

The Mercy Step by Marcia Hutchinson.

Published 22nd July 2025 by Cassava Republic Press.

From the cover of the book:

Bradford, December 1962.

A precocious Mercy makes her reluctant entrance into the world, torn from the warm embrace of her mother’s womb, to a chaotic household that seems to have no place for her. Her siblings do not understand her, her mother’s attention is given to the Church, and the entire family lives at the whims of her father’s quick temper.

Left to herself, Mercy finds solace in books, her imagination, and the quiet comfort of her faithful toy, Dolly. But escapism has its limits, and as the grip of family, faith and fear threatens to close in, Mercy learns she must act if she wants a different future; one where she is seen, heard, and her family set free.

The Mercy Step is a sharply-witted and tender portrait of a young girl’s quiet rebellion, and her refusal to be broken.

***********

Bradford, 1962. Mercy bursts forth on the world on a cold December day, swapping the peaceful warmth, and safety, of her mother's womb for the unwelcome shock of chaotic family life. Her ever-growing number of siblings seem to have nothing in common with her, her busy mother has little time for one daughter among many, and the household is dominated by the tempestuous moods of a father quick to violence.

Despite the fierce love she feels for her mother, quick witted Mercy learns she cannot rely on her for comfort. Instead she finds solace in books, daydreams, and the presence of her faithful plastic friend, Dolly, and sets herself apart by whiling away the hours in solitude on her favourite step of their damp, draughty Victorian home.

As Mercy grows, her family begins to disintegrate in a blur of abuse, dogma, and fear. If they are to have any kind of chance of real salvation, then she must be the one to 'fix-up' and take it upon herself to find a brighter future.

The Mercy Step is one of those irresistible coming of age stories that sucks you in heart and soul, which makes it very difficult to do justice to in a review. Mercy's voice rings out loud and clear, and it is the sheer strength of her mighty will that leads you through the story, from the days before her birth to the moment she realises she must be the one to dictate her own path... 

Mercy is born one freezing cold winter day, to Windrush generation parents whose vision of a Britain welcoming them with open arms is very quickly dispelled in a perfect storm of shattered illusions and grinding manual labour. The harsh realities of life exacerbate the strain of a dysfunctional marriage over-shadowed by domestic violence, cultural norms, loss, and religious strife, leaving the household constantly on edge. Every heart-rending moment is laid bare through the eyes of wise-beyond-her-years Mercy, as she tries to understand a bewildering world in which the adults around her do not seem to follow the rules of right and wrong. It is a lot for a child to deal with, especially on top of the complicated feelings that come with being a middle child in a family where her mother barely has time to give her the attention she craves.

Hutchinson spares nothing in describing every hard knock Mercy experiences. I shed many tears for her through her weighty trials and tribulations, but she has soul-stirring triumphs too. Mercy's determination not to be defeated by the weight of burdens much too heavy for her small shoulders, and her humorous inner dialogue, make her a force to be reckoned with. I completely adored her.

Mercy stands front and centre of this book, with a story as compelling as any you could wish for in a literary novel. With this comes the obvious talent of a writer who knows how to craft layers of substance around the fictional tale of a small Black girl in 1960's Bradford. Hutchinson allows you to look beyond Mercy's level of understanding to consider a wealth of subject matter connected to time, place, and the issues that faced Windrush families like Mercy's - particularly when it comes to the impact of poverty, racism, and expectation. She skilfully stiches in references to popular culture, the political landscape, and social change throughout, and makes this a heart-felt love letter to libraries too.

This book is mesmerising, holding you entranced from the very first, beautifully descriptive, words to the last. Without a doubt, this is one of my favourite books of 2025.

The Mercy Step is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.

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

About the author:

MARCIA HUTCHINSON was born to Windrush generation Jamaican parents in the UK in 1962. She was the first pupil from her comprehensive school to go to Oxford, where she gained an MA in Law. She worked as a lawyer before founding the educational publishing company Primary Colours, which she ran until 2014.

She was awarded an MBE in 2011 for services to Cultural Diversity. Moving to Manchester in 2012, she became a community activist and was eventually elected as a Labour Councillor in 2021. She is now a full-time writer and an active member of the Black Writers' Guild.

She is the co-author with Kate Griffin (under the pseudonym Lila Cain) of the historical fiction novel The Blackbirds of St Giles, which will be published by Simon and Schuster in 2025. The Mercy Step is her literary debut as a solo writer.

 July 2025 Reading Round-Up

A very creditable fourteen books read and reviewed in July, and there are some absolute stunners among them. Click on the photos below to find out what I thought about them!

Getting Away by Kate Sawyer

Hard Copy by Fien Veldman

Seascraper by Benjamin Wood

Come, Tell Me How You Live by Agatha Christie

The Village Cafe In The Loire by Gillian Harvey

Divinity Games by Lou Gilmond

The Heretic Cypher by Murray Bailey

The Jane Austen Insult Guide by Emily Reed

Murder In Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie

Havoc by Rebecca Wait

Seven Recipes For Revolution by Ryan Rose

The Secrets Of Dragonfly Lodge by Rachel Hore

The Mourning Necklace by Kate Foster

Edenglassie by Melissa Lucashenko

More great books coming in August!