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BOOK REVIEW: The Lost Passenger by Frances Quinn

Published February 27th, 2025 by Simon & Schuster UK
Hisotrical Fiction, Saga

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

In the chaos of that terrible night, her secret went down with the Titanic. But secrets have a way of floating to the surface… 

Trapped in an unhappy aristocratic marriage, Elinor Coombes sees only lonely days ahead of her. So a present from her father – tickets for the maiden voyage of a huge, luxurious new ship called the Titanic – offers a welcome escape from the cold, controlling atmosphere of her husband’s ancestral home, and some precious time with her little son, Teddy. 

When the ship goes down, Elinor realises the disaster has given her a chance to take Teddy and start a new life – but only if they can disappear completely, listed as among the dead. Penniless and using another woman’s name, she has to learn to survive in a world that couldn’t be more different from her own, and keep their secret safe.  

An uplifting story about grabbing your chances with both hands, and being brave enough to find out who you really are. 

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

England, 1910. 19-year-old Elinor, the daughter of a wealthy Manchester mill owner known as ‘the cotton king’, marries aristocrat Frederick after a whirlwind romance. But she soon discovers that their whole relationship was carefully planned to prop up the family’s finances. Heartbroken, powerless and disillusioned, Elinor finds herself trapped in a loveless marriage and living with a cold family where she is criticised and sneered at each day. And after the birth of her dear son, Teddy, the situation only becomes bleaker. She is isolated from her son for all but a short time each day and Frederick changes his will so that if he should die it is his parents, and not Elinor, who become Teddy’s legal guardians. So, when her father gifts them tickets on the maiden voyage of the Titanic, Elinor sees it as a welcome escape and the chance to finally spend real time with Teddy.

When the iceberg hits, Elinor and Teddy make it into a lifeboat. But her father, Frederick and their maid, Molly, don’t make it out alive. Faced with the cruel conditions of Frederick’s will, Elinor seizes the chance the disaster has brought to start a new life in America. But she will have to disappear completely, take on a dead woman’s persona and learn to survive while penniless in a place that couldn’t be more different from all she is used to. 

Atmospheric, heartrending, evocative and alluring, The Lost Passenger is a mesmerising piece of historical fiction. It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Frances Quinn and have loved both of her previous books, and I’ve always had a fascination with the Titanic, so this book had my name written all over it. Exquisitely written and skilfully plotted, this was impossible to put down once I’d started reading. Frances’ meticulous research is evident in the smallest details on every page, especially her vivid descriptions of life on board the Titanic, adding an air of authenticity to the story that helped me lose myself in it completely. Ms. Quinn gets better with each book and this is undoubtedly her best one yet. 

This is a story about taking chances, survival, courage, resilience, emancipation, starting again, and having the bravery to discover who you really are. And as it moves between early 20th century England and New York, the story explores a number of topics including the complexities of marriage, the class system, familial obligations, patriarchy, immigration and working class life. In England everything feels subdued, quiet, cold and rigid, while New York is a cacophony of street vendors, crowds and different languages. The contrast is stark and both places seem to mirror what is going on inside Elinor; in England she is isolated, silenced and alone, while in New York she’s cramped, overwhelmed and traumatised. But what I loved most was the exploration of motherhood and how far a mother is prepared to go for the sake of her child. 

Elinor is a fantastic protagonist. She’s likeable, sympathetic and easy to root for at every step. I felt every emotion alongside her, breaking my heart in two many times, but also filling me with hope as Elinor bravely embarked on trying to create a new life for herself and her child. But taking on the persona of a dead woman isn’t something she did lightly. She’s haunted by guilt, fearful of discovery, and must overcome many hurdles both to create her new life and avoid her true identity being exposed. The supporting characters are equally as compelling and richly drawn. I particularly enjoyed reading Elinor’s father and Molly, but it was the New York family that I loved most of all. These were charismatic characters who radiated kindness and explored what it is that makes a true family. 

Powerful, immersive and uplifting, this is one of my favourite books this year and a must-have addition to your TBR. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Thank you to Simon & Schuster UK for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Frances Quinn grew up in London and read English at King’s College, Cambridge, realising too late that the course would require more than lying around reading novels for three years. After snatching a degree from the jaws of laziness, she became a journalist, writing for magazines including Prima, Good Housekeeping, She, Woman’s Weekly and Ideal Home, and later branched out into copywriting, producing words for everything from Waitrose pizza packaging to the EasyJet in-flight brochure. 

In 2013, she won a place on the Curtis Brown Creative novel writing course, and started work on her first novel. The Smallest Man was published in 2021 by Simon & Schuster with her follow up, That Bonesetter Woman, published in 2022. 

She lives in Brighton, with her husband and two Tonkinese cats.

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BOOK REVIEW: The Woman in the Wallpaper by Lora Jones

Published February 20th, 2025 by Sphere
Historical Fiction, Psychological Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘Spellbinding’ SUSAN STOKES-CHAPMAN
‘Enthralling’ HESTER MUSSON
‘Astonishingly accomplished’ CARI THOMAS
‘Beautifully woven’ HARRIET CONSTABLE
‘Exquisite’ ANNA MAZZOLA
‘Expertly plotted’ JOANNE BURN
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Paris, 1789. The Oberst Factory, which crafts exquisite wallpaper for the most fashionable French homes, is a place shrouded in mystery. Most enigmatic is the woman pictured in each of its prints, rumoured to be the late Mrs Oberst, who died in peculiar circumstances.

When sisters Lara and Sofi arrive there for work, they quickly form a friendship with Josef Oberst, the motherless heir to the factory. Whilst Sofi’s political fervour intensifies, Lara is disturbed by the uncanny way her life appears mirrored in the wallpaper. Meanwhile Hortense, Josef’s spoilt aristocratic wife, is similarly unnerved by the scenes that line the walls of her new home. With the mobs growing ever more violent, is she in danger of meeting the same untimely end as the last Mrs Oberst?

As revolution blazes across France, the lives of Sofi, Lara and Hortense are set to collide in unimaginable and irrevocable ways. Can they change what lies ahead, or are some patterns destined to be repeated?

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

Eerie, unnerving, mysterious and spellbinding, The Woman in the Wallpaper is a haunting debut steeped in gothic allure that transports us to eighteenth century France and the French Revolution. 

After the death of their father, sisters Sofi and Lara arrive at The Oberst Factory in Paris, which crafts exquisite and particular toile de Jouy wallpaper for the country’s most fashionable and elite homes. But the factory is a place that has been shrouded in mystery ever since the death of Madame Oberst in strange circumstances five years earlier. There are whispers she haunts the grounds and that it is her image that is featured on all of the factory’s prints. The sisters soon form a friendship with Josef Oberst, a motherless loner who is heir to the factory. 

Meanwhile, Hortense, a spoiled aristocrat’s daughter who lives in the palace of Versailles, is forced into an arranged marriage with Josef and sent to live in the family’s mansion by the factory. Lara is set to work as her lady’s maid and is shocked to find that her new bedchamber is covered in violet wallpaper patterned with vignetted scenes from a woman’s life. Unnervingly, the woman looks exactly like her and scenes from her own life are mirrored on the paper. 

As the worker’s grievances increase, the mob becomes more violent, political unrest takes a greater hold, and revolution rages throughout France, the lives of the three women are set to collide in unthinkable ways and with deadly and explosive consequences.

A gorgeous tapestry of a novel that is rich in sumptuous historical detail, Lora Jones had me in her thrall from the first page to the very last. Expertly choreographed and beautifully interwoven, Jone’s beautiful prose tells this an intoxicating story of love, loss, mystery, hostility and conviction, all set against the volatile backdrop of the French revolution. Her meticulous research is evident on every page and I loved learning the intricacies of working in a wallpaper factory, the contrast between the lives of the workers and aristocracy, and more about the revolution, which is all brought to life in full, terrible detail thanks to Jones’ spectacular and vivid imagery. The story is atmospheric, forbidding and has hints of the supernatural from the start. But soon terror began to bleed into the pages, the words gleamed with a chilling malice and shivers ran down my spine.

All of the characters in this story, whether they are the narrators or background characters, are richly drawn and compelling. The three women who narrate the story – Sofi, Lara and Hortense – are very different people with their own interests and concerns. But as life at the factory, and in all of France, becomes more dangerous, they find that their fates are interwoven in unexpected ways. I enjoyed reaching each of their narratives but admit that it was Lara I found most enthralling. I was mesmerised by her story; the idea of seeing yourself and your life depicted in the wallpaper that is pasted in a place you’ve never been before and fear consuming you as you feel sure someone is watching you and you think you see the woman in the wallpaper move. It was so haunting that even eight months after reading it the memory still gives me chills. And I must mention Hortense, who was a wonderful villain filled with  arrogance and snobbiness. She was fun to read and I loved to hate her, but I admit that I did feel some sympathy as time went on.

A magnificent and unsettling gothic mystery, I highly recommend this haunting debut.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Thank you Sphere for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

After studying English Literature at the University of Durham, Lora began her career working in the TV industry in London, reading scripts for ITV’s Drama Department, and writing factual programme content and comedy material for the BBC, Channel 4 and others. She also spent over a decade assisting professional TV and stage magicians, and gathering up their secrets.

Lora now lives amongst the rugged hills of North Wales where she is currently rewilding an 18th century sheep farm. In her spare time she paints wildlife and sells her work in aid of wildlife conservation charities.

Passionate about creating and writing original stories, The Woman in the Wallpaper is Lora’s first novel. She is also the co-creator/host of The Magician’s Wife podcast.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOKS: A Beautiful Family by Jennifer Trevelyan

Published June 19th, 2025 by Mantle
Suspense, Thriller, Domestic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Coming-of-Age Story

Welcome to my review for this magnificent debut. Thank you to Mantle for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘Extraordinary . . . I absolutely loved this page-turning family mystery’ – Liane Moriarty, bestselling author of Here One Moment

‘Riveting . . . [It] held me captive from the first page to the last’ – Hannah Kent, bestselling author of Devotion

Discover this breathtaking debut novel of family secrets and searing atmosphere set over one long, hot summer on the New Zealand coast.

In the past, we had always spent our summer holidays in remote places. That had always been my mother’s preference. This year was different . . .

As the long summer holiday stretches ahead, ten-year-old Alix wants to spend every second on the beach and in the water. But, with her parents unusually distracted and her older sister now more interested in boys, she finds herself alone.

Then she meets Kahu at the beach and he tells her about The Mystery. Two years ago, a girl went missing and none of the adults could find her. So the new friends decide to investigate – because people don’t just disappear.

But, as Alex and Kahu search for clues, they stumble upon secrets they wish they’d left uncovered. Is Alix’s holiday house as safe as it seems? And is her sister putting her trust in the wrong people?

Brilliantly page-turning and tensely atmospheric, A Beautiful Family will leave a lump in your throat and a hole in your heart.

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MY REVIEW:

“We were not a proper family, I thought, hugging my knees. There was something wrong with us.”

New Zealand, 1985. The summer sun sizzles as Alix and her family arrive at the beach for their annual holiday. But this year is different from the others, and not only because this year her mum wanted to go somewhere where there are a lot of people. This year ten-year-old Alix feels alone. Her older sister, Vanessa, is a teenager who  is more interested in boys than her little sister, and her parents are distracted. If it wasn’t for her new friend, Kahu, she’d have no-one to hang out with this summer. And it is Kahu who tells Alix about The Mystery. Two years ago a girl named Charlotte went missing and has never been found. They decide to investigate and begin to look for clues. But they will soon uncover secrets that they wish they’d never found…

Atmospheric, immersive and intriguing, A Beautiful Family is a riveting debut. Blending historical fiction, mystery, family saga and coming-of-age story, Jennifer Trevelyan has crafted a gorgeous slice of life novel that delivers a strong emotional punch. Trevelyan’s storytelling is exquisite, achingly human, and so evocative that you can feel the heat of the sun on your skin, feel the sand in between your toes and smell the suncream. A nostalgic tale, there is an air of simpler times that I remember from my own childhood in that era. But there is also an unbearable sense of dread that lingers over every page, Trevelyan holding her reader captive by rationing the reveals and drip-feeding information piece by piece. I was in her thrall, on the edge of my seat and terrified for Alix. 

For such an emotional story you need a great protagonist. And Alix was just that. Likeable and easy to root for, she’s a typical kid of the 80s who enjoys listening to music on her walkman, playing outside with friends, and is excited about her annual summer holiday. Trevelyan expertly puts the reader in Alix’ shoes, conveying that sense of naivety and innocence that was more common back then.

While Alix may not understand a lot of what is happening around her, the reader does. And that sense of tragedy and danger that comes from the things we understand only adds to the tension. And whenever Alix felt those emotions she didn’t quite understand I wished I could reach into the book and explain what was going on and help her. But I was helpless, only able to read on tenterhooks as I waited to see what would happen. 

A magnificent debut that will leave you wanting more, this is the perfect summer read. Add it to your TBR now.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jennifer first worked as a wedding photographer and photographic printer before studying English Literature at Victoria University and travelling to London, where she worked in children’s publishing. After returning to her native New Zealand to raise a family and hone her DIY skills, Jennifer undertook an MA in Creative Writing at the International Institute of Modern Letters in 2022. Her debut novel, A Beautiful Family, is coming in 2025: 

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2025

BOOK REVIEW: Nephthys by Rachel Louise Driscoll

Published February 6th, 2025 by Harvill Secker
Historical Fiction, Fairy Tales, Mythology

Welcome to my review for this atmospheric and mesmerising debut. Thank you to Harvill Secker for sending me a proof copy in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘Brilliant and meticulously researched… I loved it.’ Santa Montefiore

Sister. Rival. Protector.

Quiet and reserved, Clemmie is happy in the background. Although her parents may overlook her talents, her ability to read hieroglyphs makes her invaluable at the Egyptian relic parties which have made her father the toast of Victorian society.

But at one such party, the words Clemmie interprets from an unusual amulet strike fear into her heart. The beautiful and dangerous glyphs she holds in her hands will change her life forever.

Five years later, Clemmie arrives in Egypt on a mission to save what remains of her family. The childhood game she used to play about the immortal sisters, Isis and Nephthys, has taken on a devastating resonance and it is only by following Nephthys’ story that she can undo the mistakes of the past.

On her journey up the Nile she will meet unexpected allies and enemies and, along with long-buried secrets and betrayals, Clemmie will be forced to step into the light.

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MY REVIEW:

“This place is alive with people, but it’s also heaving with the dead.” 

Clemmie is a gifted Egyptologist but her talents have torn her family apart. When she was a child, she and her sister, Rosetta, loved to play a game about the immortal sisters Isis and Nephthys. Now, years later, she is about to follow in Nephthys footsteps to try and atone for the damage she has done, unaware of the dangers she’s about to face…

Atmospheric, haunting, forbidding and suspenseful, it is an astonishing debut. I’m a huge fan of Victoriana and have always had an interest in Ancient Egypt, so this book had my name written all over it. A story of obsession, secrets, myths and legends, I read this with a couple of book buddies earlier this year and haven’t stopped thinking about it since. A gifted wordsmith, Rachel Louise Driscoll’s poetic and evocative prose crafted a narrative that wrenched me out of my own reality and into the one she created.  The rich tapestry of meticulously researched historic detail enhanced the story, bringing everything to life in vivid technicolour, and I found myself journeying on the Nile along with the characters, navigating its dangers, twists and turns. As the mystery unfolds, the dark underbelly of Egypts Victorian artefacts trade is laid bare, duplicitous characters are unmasked, and friends become like family. I was transfixed, unable to stop reading until I reached its conclusion. 

Clemmie is not your typical Victorian lady. Feisty and intelligent, she’s a bad-ass heroine who is likeable and easy to root for. The daughter of a famous Egyptlogist, she’s been raised surrounded by the subject and it has been in her bones ever since she held a mummified cat as a child and I could feel her awe as she finally stepped foot on Egyptian soil. She travels the Nile with Oswald, Celia and Rowland, characters I enjoyed reading and trying to figure out – especially the 

mysterious Rowland. I also loved the friendships Clemmie built with Celia and Mariam – the daughter of the dahabeeyah owner – as she’d never had a friend who wasn’t family before.

A dark, gothic and glittering story, Nephthys is an astonishing debut. I can’t wait to see what Ms. Driscoll writes next. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rachel Louise Driscoll won the Curtis Brown Creative scholarship in 2020. Originally from the South West, she lives in the North East with her husband and cat, Cleopatra. Nephthys is her debut novel. She was inspired to write Clemmie’s story by an experience she had at a local museum as a child where she was allowed to hold a mummified ancient Egyptian cat. Enjoying the hours of avid research required, Rachel even wrote some of the book wearing a corset in order to capture Clemmie’s experience more accurately!

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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: The Cure by Eve Smith

Published April 10th, 2025 by Orenda Books
Speculative Thriller, Medical Thriller, Dystopian Fiction

Today I’m finally sharing my review for this magnificent but terrifying thriller. Thank you Orenda Books for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

The discovery of an injection that wards off ageing is hijacked by ruthless men who hunger for immortality, with catastrophic consequences. Two women race against time to stop them, before it’s too late … a chilling, prescient, high-stakes speculative thriller by the bestselling author of One.
 
‘Another triumph of speculative fiction by Eve Smith … a brilliant concept, skilfully executed and disturbingly believable’ Guy Morpuss
 
‘Had me hooked from the opening chapter, right through to the brilliantly shocking ending … We should all be reading Eve’s cautionary tales’ Philippa East
 
‘Eve Smith has done it again! Thrilling, provocative and downright scary, The Cure is a powerfully clever novel, and Smith an author at the top of her game’ Russ Thomas

‘With compulsive plotting, crackling dialogue and a third-act twist that took my breath away, it cements Smith’s position as the queen of the speculative crime thriller’ David Goodman
 
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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…

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MY REVIEW:

Imagine a world where we all live a long, healthy life free from the complications of ageing. No more dementia, heart diseases, chronic pain or other ageing related conditions. Just a long life in our prime. It sounds like paradise. But would it be?

An incredible discovery means that people now live to 120 thanks to an annual anti-ageing injection. In this dystopian future, 115-year-old Ruth is an elder quietly working her mandatory national service and anticipating her transition day. But behind the unassuming facade are dark secrets she has hidden for decades. Years ago while she was trying to find a cure for the devastating illness that killed her young daughter, Ruth made a discovery that changed the world and led to the creation of ReJuve, the annual anti-ageing injection now widely used. But Ruth’s research was hijacked by her partner Erik Grundleger, a ruthless man on a quest for immortality who used it to create SuperJuve, a once in a lifetime injection for the wealthy elite, nicknamed Supers, who want to live forever. But that injection was outlawed when it was discovered that it led to psychosis. 

Mara is an investigator with Omnicide, a team who track down Supers and try to contain the catastrophic consequences of the side-effects. Known as The Blade, Mara has her own reasons for hunting Supers. And when an arrest leads to discovery that Grundleger, who has long been believed dead, may be alive, Mara forms an unlikely alliance with Ruth that leads the pair on a dangerous race against the clock to try and track down the man who started it all. 

Eve Smith has done it again. It’s been two weeks since I finished this book and I’m still reeling. Outstanding, original, though-provoking and terrifying, The Cure, is a riveting thriller that also serves as a cautionary tale, showing how in the wrong hands, something wonderful can be turned into a nightmare. I’ve been a huge fan of Eve’s books ever since her fantastic debut and this is her best yet. Masterfully written, meticulously researched, fast-paced, and full of surprising twists, Eve spins a chillingly believable tale that wrenched me out of my own reality and into the one she created. She also makes you think, forcing me to ponder important questions that I’d never considered before as she examines the problems of an ageing population, dwindling resources, the dilemma of lifespan versus healthspan, social healthcare and privilege. 

The two women at the centre of this story are fascinating characters and I loved reading them. They are very different but also quite similar, both of them being fierce and strong in their own way. Moving between narrators and timelines, we see their heart-rending backstories unfold and I was inspired by the way they have taken their pain and turned it into what motivates them in their chosen field.  I enjoyed watching them learn to work together and get to know each other and would love to see them reprise their investigative duo in another book. And we can’t talk about the characters without talking about the villain, Erik Grundleger. Brilliantly written, this odious and reprehensible man made my skin crawl and made me angry every time he was on the page.

Addictive, clever, suspenseful and unsettling, Eve had me hooked from start to finish with this magnificent thriller. It’s one not to be missed and I can’t wait for whatever she writes next.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Eve Smith writes speculative thrillers, 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 Edgar Allen Poe double bills.

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. It was followed by Off-Target, about a world where genetic engineering of children is routine, which was a Book of the Month in The Times. Her last thriller, One, set in a UK where a one-child policy is enforced, was a New Scientist pick and was longlisted for the British Science Fiction Association’s Best Novel Award.

Eve’s previous job at 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.

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SQUADPOD BOOK CLUB: This Is Not A Game by Kelly Mullen

Published April 10th, 2025 by Century
Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Crime Ficiton, Humorous Fiction

Welcome to my review for this compelling cosy crime debut. Thank you to Century for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Prepare to be hooked by this deliciously smart locked-room mystery featuring an irresistible grandmother and granddaughter sleuthing duo.

‘Miss Marple meets Only Murders in the Building. Entertaining from start to finish‘ Jennie Godfrey

‘Agatha Christie brought bang up to date‘ Clare Mackintosh

‘Wickedly sharp‘ Lucy Clarke

‘So gripping and atmospheric, I barely made it out alive‘ Steve Jones

‘Slick and witty‘ Daily Mail
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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…

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MY REVIEW:

Witty, whip-smart, glamorous and claustrophobic, This Is Not A Game is a dazzling locked-room whodunit. The story is set in a luxury mansion on Michigan’s Mackinac Island, where 77-year-old Mim has been blackmailed into attending a charity auction. She has taken her granddaughter Addie – who is trying to escape her own heartache – along for moral support. But everyone gets more than they bargained for when the host, Jane, is murdered. And Mim is the prime suspect. Then, as another person turns up dead, the mansion’s drawbridge door is stuck raised, and a storm prevents help from reaching them, Mim and Addie decide to try and find the killer. But as they search the house’s labyrinthine halls, all they seem to find is secrets. Can they unravel the clues and find the killer and clear Mim’s name?

This was a treat from beginning to end. Skillfully written, cunningly crafted, and steeped in the trademark twists and turns we expect from the genre, Kelly Mullen has created a sensational debut that feels both nostalgic and totally modern. Atmospheric and wonderfully descriptive, the story came alive around me and I felt totally immersed in its pages. It feels ideal for the big screen and that finale was one that Ms. Christie herself would have been proud of. 

In protagonists Mim and Addie, Mullen introduces us to a brilliant new crime-fighting duo that I absolutely adored. Mim is a sassy and sarcastic septuagenarian who loves a Gibson martini and crossword puzzle, while Addie is a feisty and savvy game creator who draws on her game plotting know-how to help her solve the murders. The background characters are the perfect mix of likeable and loathsome, helping to create a number of plausible suspects. As in any good locked-room mystery, the house is like a character in its own right, and this one is an eerie, claustrophobic and oppressive place with a maze of rooms. 

Suspenseful, slick, classy and funny, this compelling cosy crime is not to be missed. I’m hoping that this isn’t the last we’ve seen of these delightful amateur sleuths as I need more from this entertaining duo. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kelly Mullen has worked as a producer in Hollywood and as 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. Her debut novel, This Is Not A Game, publishes in April 2025.

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 UK and US. She lives in London with her husband and their rescue cats.

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Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2025 Squadpod Squadpod Book Club Squadpod Featured Books

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOKS: The Paris Dancer by Nicola Rayner

Published February 13th, 2025 by Aria
Historical Fiction

Welcome to my review for this heart-wrenching and moving story. Thanks to Aria for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘A sumptuous and gripping read… [Nicola] writes with humour, heart and humanity’ – Kate Thompson

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A heart-wrenching and unforgettable story of courage, friendship and resistance, inspired by the incredible true story of a Jewish ballroom dancer in Paris during WWII, perfect for fans of The Paris Library.

Paris, 1938. Annie Mayer arrives in France with dreams of becoming a ballerina. But when the war reaches Paris, she’s forced to keep her Jewish heritage a secret. Then a fellow dancer offers her a lifeline: a ballroom partnership that gives her a new identity. Together, Annie and her partner captivate audiences across occupied Europe, using her newfound fame and alias to aid the Resistance.

New York, 2012. Miriam, haunted by her past, travels from London to New York to settle her great-aunt Esther’s estate. Among Esther’s belongings, she discovers notebooks detailing a secret family history and the story of a brave dancer who risked everything to help Jewish families during the war.

As Miriam uncovers Esther’s life in Europe, she realises the story has been left for her to finish. Grappling with loss and the possibility of new love, Miriam must find the strength to reconcile her past and embrace her future.

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MY REVIEW:

Historical Fiction is my favourite genre, and I have always been drawn to stories about World War II, so when the SquadPod were offered the chance to read The Paris Dancer I didn’t hesitate to sign up. The story follows Mim, who has flown to New York to sort through her late Aunt Esther’s belongings, including notebooks that tell the long-hidden story of what happened to their family during World War II and of Annie, a brave Jewish dancer who risked everything to help other Jews during the war. Moving between timelines, we follow their stories as Esther navigates the brutality while Mim tries to come to terms with not only the heartbreaking revelations in the diaries, but also her own trauma. And when a Swing Dancer named Lucky offers her the chance at a new beginning, Mim must decide if she’s brave enough to take it. 

Beautiful, moving, heart-wrenching and hopeful, Nicola Rayner brought history to life with her skillful storytelling, meticulous research and evocative imagery. A story of love, loss, courage and resistance, Rayner also explored the importance of family and friendship, especially when we are at our lowest ebb. Trauma and grief are themes throughout the story, with Rayner examining how they can affect us differently and how trauma can sometimes impact those around us for generations. 

The characters were fascinating, likeable and easy to root for. Esther and Mim were great narrators who pulled you into their stories, making you invested in their lives and what happened to them. I loved the friendship between Esther and Annie and her sweet relationship with her youngest sister. In Mim’s timeline, my heart broke for her over the loss of her best friend and found her fear of what she’d possibly found with Lucky very relatable. I was rooting for her to heal and to take a chance at happiness. One of my favourite characters was Bibi, Esther’s neighbour, who was so wise and entertaining. I loved her story arc, which showed that the small background characters can often be some of the most interesting ones you will read.

Powerful, tender and immersive, I highly recommend this book. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nicola Rayner is the author of The Girl Before You, which was described as “the new Girl on the Train” by the Observer, picked by the same newspaper as a debut to look out for in 2019 and translated into multiple languages. Her second novel, You and Me, another psychological thriller, was published by Avon, HarperCollins in October 2020. A work of historical fiction, The Paris Dancer, will be published by Aria, Head of Zeus in February 2025. In her day job as a journalist, Nicola writes about dance and travel and her articles have appeared in a number of publications including the Guardian, The Telegraph, The Independent, The Stage, Dancing Times and easyJet Traveller.

Nicola is active on social media, where you can find her pondering important issues such as Strictly Come Dancing, musical theatre and her new favourite books. She promises she won’t talk about herself in the third person there.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*these are affiliate links

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2025 Readalong

READALONG REVIEW: A Fortune Most Fatal (Miss Austen Investigates, Book 2) by Jessica Bull

Published March 27th, 2025 by Michael Joseph
Mystery, Historical Ficiton, Historical Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Crime Fiction, Thriller, Regency Romance

Welcome to my review for this delightful cosy mystery. Thank you to Insta Book Tours for my spot on the readalong and Micheal Joseph for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A Mysterious Stranger, a Fortune at Stake, and a Race Against Time to Save Austen’s Family – perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Bridgerton!


‘Exceptional – the Austen whodunnit I feel like I’ve been waiting my whole life for! I loved it’ SOPHIE IRWIN

–

‘Who are you, Miss Austen, but a young lady of little experience and no consequence?’

Welcome to Godmersham Park, 1797.

Following many years apart, Jane Austen is set to spend the summer with her estranged brother, Neddy.

As heir to wealthy widow Mrs Knight’s fortune, it is imperative that Neddy stays in his benefactor’s good graces.

But upon arrival in Kent, Jane quickly realises Neddy is in dire need of her help.

For a mysterious young woman named Eleanor currently resides with Mrs Knight – a stranger who threatens to swindle the inheritance for herself.

Jane must uncover who Mrs Knight’s guest really is, to protect the fate of her entire family. When she discovers a series of threatening letters meant for Eleanor, her investigation takes an unexpected turn.

Because the dangers aren’t just within the walls of Godmersham Park. Jane knows someone else is out there watching, waiting – but for what?

Is this curious Eleanor friend, or foe? And can Jane solve the mystery, before danger comes for them all?

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MY REVIEW:

“I’m not sure one can be brave without being reckless.”

June, 1797. Jane Austen travels to Kent to be with her sister-in-law, Elizabeth, at the birth of her fourth child and to help with her other three children. Elizabeth is married to Neddy, Jane’s older brother who was adopted as a child and is heir to the fortune of Mrs. Knight. But that fortune hangs in the balance after the arrival of a mysterious and strange young woman, Eleanor, who claims to be a kidnapped Spanish Princess. Jane sets out to uncover Eleanor’s identity and track down the man penning threatening letters that keep arriving for Eleanor at Godmersham Park. Can Jane solve the mystery before it’s too late?

Atmospheric, enthralling and uplifting, this Regency cosy mystery is everything I wanted and more. The second book in the Miss Austen Investigates series, A Fortune Most Fatal is the famous author as you’ve never seen her before: a wannabe author pre-literary success rallying against societal norms that would see the 21 year old married. Not only that, but this version of Miss Austen sees her taking up as an amateur detective. Expertly written, meticulously researched, evocative and compelling, Jessica Bull transports you back to the 18th century so vividly I got lost there. And it’s so authentic I kept forgetting it was a work of fiction.

The characters leap from the pages and Jane was such a protagonist I can get behind. Intelligent, feisty and determined, I loved her loyalty to her family, how she spoke her mind, and that her writing was clearly her beating heart. Predictably, she came up against the prejudices against women that were rife at the time, but Jane wasn’t afraid to challenge them in her quest for the truth. Eleanor was strange, mysterious and intriguing. I couldn’t decide if she was mentally unwell or a complete charlatan, and enjoyed the extra tension that added to the story. Jane is suspicious of almost everyone so there’s a real sense that you can’t trust a soul, making it feel like it’s Jane against the world and I was rooting for her to save everyone.

Delightful, entertaining and addictive, this is a must for your TBR.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jessica Bull grew up in South East London, where she still lives with her husband, two daughters, and far too many pets. She’s addicted to stories and studied English Literature at Bristol University, and Information Science at City University, London. She began work as a librarian (under the false impression she could sit and read all day), before becoming a communications consultant.

Her debut novel, Miss Austen Investigates, has sold in eighteen territories and counting. A Fortune Most Fatal is the highly-anticipated second book in the series.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2025 Squadpod Squadpod Book Club Squadpod Featured Books Squadpod Reviews

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: Son by Johana Gustawsson and Thomas Enger

Published March 27th, 2025 by Orenda
Thriller, Mystery, Crime Fiction, Nordic Noir, Hardboiled Mystery, Women Sleuths, Crime Series, Police Procedurals

Welcome to my review for this sensational first installment in an exciting new series. Thank you to Orenda Books for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Psychologist and expert on body language and memory, Kari Voss investigates the murder of two teenaged girls in the small Norwegian town of Son, as suspicion is cast on multiple suspects. A mesmerisingly dark, twisty start to a nerve-shattering new series by two of the world’s finest crime writers…
 
‘Blown away by this cracking thriller and I was already loving it before they hit me with THAT ending. Bravo!’  Trevor Wood 
 
‘I absolutely loved this. A body language expert with grief of her own, a devastated community full of secrets, and a final sentence that leaves you reeling. Can’t wait for the next in the series’ Sam Holland
 
‘This is the perfect thriller’ Michael Wood
 
_______________________
 
Everyone here is lying…
 
Expert on body language and memory, and consultant to the Oslo Police, psychologist Kari Voss sleepwalks through her days, and, by night, continues the devastating search for her young son, who disappeared on his birthday, seven years earlier.
 
Still grieving for her dead husband, and trying to pull together the pieces of her life, she is thrust into a shocking local investigation, when two teenage girls are violently murdered in a family summer home in the nearby village of Son.
 
When a friend of the victims is charged with the barbaric killings, it seems the case is closed, but Kari is not convinced. Using her skills and working on instinct, she conducts her own enquiries, leading her to multiple suspects, including people who knew the dead girls well…
 
With the help of Chief Constable Ramona Norum, she discovers that no one – including the victims – are what they seem. And that there is a dark secret at the heart of Son village that could have implications not just for her own son’s disappearance, but Kari’s own life, too…
 
For fans of Harlan Coben, Lars Kepler, Jo Nesbo and Jorn Lier Horst … and The Mentalist

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MY REVIEW:

The first in an exciting new series, Son is a nerve-shredding thriller that had me on the edge of my seat. It introduces us to Kari Voss, a psychologist and expert in language and memory who is often referred to as a ‘human lie detector’. By day, Kari consults with the Oslo Police on cases, and by night, she searches for her son who disappeared on his 9th birthday seven years ago. When two teenage girls are brutally murdered and one of their friends is charged with the crime, Kari is pulled into the investigation. And while the police believe the case is closed, Kari believes the boy could be innocent. So, she starts her own investigation, leading her down a dangerous path that ultimately sees her past and present collide in unexpected ways. 

Johana Gustawsson and Thomas Enger are the writing duo I didn’t know I needed. A sinister storytelling dream team, together they have crafted a masterfully written thriller that is psychologically rich, unbearably tense, intricately interwoven and densely plotted. The story explores a number of topics: grief, trauma, secrets, lies, truth, suspicion, memory and true crime.  It is meticulously researched and I enjoyed learning more about how our bodies tell the truth even when we don’t, how our memory isn’t as reliable as we’d like to think and the double edged sword that our true crime fascination can be. It’s thought-provoking, action-packed and left me breathless. 

Nothing and no-one is what they seem in this book. Everyone has multiple layers and different sides to them and they choose which parts they show to whom. Gustawsson and Enger use this expertly, creating a layered narrative and characters by carefully showing the reader what they want them to see before slowly unveiling the truth piece by piece. It created heart-pounding tension that had me second guessing myself at every step. Even the book’s title has hidden meaning as it relates to both the disappearance of Kari’s son, and is also the name of the town where the teenagers are murdered.

Kari Voss is a compelling new protagonist who I loved reading. She’s intelligent, determined and strong, but also vulnerable, broken and flawed. My heart broke for her losing her husband, and I can’t imagine the pain of not knowing what happened to your child. I had so much admiration for how she got through each day and appreciated that the authors showed us her flaws too, allowing me to connect with her on a human level. The other characters were equally as well-written and I liked that we could never be completely sure who the bad guy was and there were many suspects for the crime. It kept the tension high while also keeping you guessing right up until the big reveal, which I was NOT ready for. 

Dark, suspenseful, hard-hitting  and totally addictive, this is a sensational start to a series that every thriller lover should have on their shelves. And that ending! I’m going to need book two ASAP.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

French Johana Gustawsson and Norwegian Thomas Enger are the international bestselling authors of the Roy & Castells and Henning Juul crime series respectively, published in more than 50 countries worldwide. SON, which kickstarts their new series set in Norway, is the first collaboration of the two former journalists. It stars social psychologist Dr. Kari Voss, a world-renowned expert in memory and body language, commonly known as ‘The human lie detector’. 

Johana Gustawsson:

Thomas Enger:

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BUY THE BOOK:

Orenda Books | Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These links are affiliate links

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2025

BLOG TOUR: The Grapevine by Kate Kemp

Published March 13th, 2025 by Phoenix
Mystery, Thriller, Domestic Fiction

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this captivating slice of suburban drama. Thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers tours for the invitation to take part, and to Phoenix for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Australia, 1979.

It’s the height of summer and on a quiet suburban cul-de-sac a housewife is scrubbing the yellow and white chequered tiles of her bathroom floor. But all is not as it seems. For one thing, it’s 3 a.m. For another, she is trying desperately to remove all traces of blood before they stain. Her husband seems remarkably calm, considering their neighbour has just been murdered.

As the sun rises on Warrah Place, news of Antonio Marietti’s death spreads like wildfire, gossip is exchanged in whispers and suspicion mounts. Twelve-year-old Tammy launches her own investigation, determined to find out what happened, but she is not the only one whose well-meaning efforts uncover more mysteries than they solve. There are secrets behind every closed door in the neighbourhood – and the identity of the murderer is only one of them . . .

Richly atmospheric and simmering with tension, The Grapevine is an acutely observed debut novel about prejudice and suspicion, the hidden lives of women, and how the ties that bind a community can also threaten to break it.

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MY REVIEW:

Australia, 1979. The residents of Warrah Place are rocked by the news of Antonio Marietti’s death. It spreads like wildfire, the gossip between neighbours on this quiet cul-de-sac fanning the flames of rumour and suspicion. While the adults whisper accusations, twelve-year-old Tammy decides to launch her own investigation but is unprepared for what she discovers…

A community full of secrets, lies and prejudices, a captivating murder mystery, and an explosive finale, Kate Kemp’s debut has all of this and so much more. Wonderfully written, acutely observed and deeply human, I loved this fantastic debut. There’s a strong sense of community from the start, but it is soon evident that not everyone is who they seem on this  claustrophobic cul-de-sac and secrets, lies and prejudices lurk in the homes on Warrah Place. There is a huge cast of characters which did make it hard for me to get into the story at first. But I found that once I had a chunk of time to really immerse myself in the story I was in its thrall. Part psychological suspense, part domestic fiction, the tension sizzled like the summer sun that was beating down, keeping me guessing right up until that devastating final twist. 

But what really had me hooked was the relationships between the neighbours.  Richly drawn, authentic and relatable, they leaped from the pages and pulled me into their world, slowly unveiling the secrets they were trying to hide. I loved delving into their lives and discovering what they were hiding while trying to guess what happened to Antonio the night he was murdered. Much of the story is narrated by Tammy, a precocious, quirky and curious twelve-year-old who is emotionally neglected by her mother. Tammy decides to solve the crime, and it was fun to see the story through her naive eyes. The adults are flawed and preoccupied, allowing Tammy to overhear much of her investigation as they forgot she was listening. There are some very unlikeable characters on Warrah Place, but there were also some strong female characters that I loved reading. 

Atmospheric, revealing, and utterly compelling, The Grapevine is a delicious slice of suburban drama not to be missed. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kate Kemp is an Australian writer living in the UK. She trained as an occupational therapist and then as a systemic psychotherapist, and has worked with families and individuals in mental health services in both Australia and the UK. In 2021, she won the Stylist Prize for Feminist Fiction and the Yeovil Literary Prize. The Grapevine is her first novel.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*these are affiliate links

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in the blog tour.