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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOKS: The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

Published May 22nd, 2025 by Pan Macmillan
Historical Fiction, Domestic Fiction, Historical Romance, Literary Fiction

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘I have loved Kate Morton’s spellbinding novels since I was a teenager’ – Emilia Hart, bestselling author of Weyward

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 . . .

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MY REVIEW:

A nameless little girl is found alone after the long sea voyage from England to Australia. The port master finds her, he and his wife take her in and raise her as their own. Years later, that little girl is now grown and wants to know the truth about her identity, so she travels to England. Her only clues are a volume of fairy tales she carried in her suitcase all those years ago and her memories of a woman she knows only as the Authoress. They lead her to Blackhurst Manor on the Cornish coast, a ramshackle cottage, and a forgotten garden full of secrets. But she never finds answers. And when her granddaughter learns of her surprise inheritance after her grandmother’s death, she embarks on a journey to England, determined to solve the puzzle that has haunted her family for all these years. 

Kate Morton is an author whose books have been languishing on my shelves for far too many years. So when the SquadPod were offered the chance to read the beautiful reissued edition of The Forgotten Garden it was the perfect excuse to finally pick up one of her books and discover an author I was sure I’d love. And I did. Beautifully written, intricately interwoven, gorgeously evocative and with a strong sense of place, Morton brings the world she has created to life in exquisite detail. She knows exactly how to pique the interest of her readers, using little details to keep us reading such as the slightly sinister elements, subtle nods to Gothic and Victoriana, and ending each chapter with a revelation and then switching to another timeline. But my favourite detail was how Morton wove dark fairytales written by the Authoress into the narrative. Not only were they brilliantly written, they also served as clues and foreshadowing for the secrets hidden for a century that were being slowly unveiled.

The story is told by a cast of compelling and richly drawn narrators, but it is Nell who is at the centre of this entire story. She narrates at different stages of her life: a child, a young woman, and elderly lady. I enjoyed seeing how she’d changed and how she’d remained the same at all these points in her life, and admit to having a real soft spot for little Nell. The other narrators – Authoress Eliza and her cousin Rose, and Cassandra, Nell’s granddaughter – are all equally as fascinating to read, pulling me into their lives, immersing me in their stories and making me feel invested in the outcome. Moving seamlessly between timelines and continents, Morton took me along for the ride as these women embarked on journeys of self discovery and tried to unravel the mystery that surrounds them.

Hypnotic, immersive and enthralling, don’t miss this magnificent book.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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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.

“I fell deeply in love with books as a child and believe that reading is freedom; that to read is to live a thousand lives in one; that fiction is a magical conversation between two people – you and me – in which our minds meet across time and space. I love books that conjure a world around me, bringing their characters and settings to life, so that the real world disappears and all that matters, from beginning to end, is turning one more page.”

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOKS: The Children of Eve (Charlie Parker,22) by John Connolly

Published May 8th, 2025 by Hodder & Stoughton
Thriller, Mystery, Crime Fiction, Suspense, Horror Fiction, Ghost Story, Hardboiled, Crime Series, Supernatural Fiction

Welcome to my review for this taut and twisty thriller. Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘Connolly grips like a vice and he’s an extraordinary storyteller’ Crime Time
‘One of the best thriller writers we have’ Harlan Coben

Wyatt Riggins, the boyfriend of rising Maine artist Zetta Nadeau, has gone missing, leaving behind a cell phone containing a single-word message: RUN.

Private investigator Charlie Parker is hired to find out why Riggins has fled, and from whom.

Parker discovers that Riggins, an ex-soldier, has been involved in the abduction of four children from Mexico: three girls and a boy, all belonging to the cartel boss Blas Urrea – except Urrea’s family is safe and well in Mexico, which means the abductees cannot be his children. Yet whoever they are, Urrea wants them back, and has dispatched his agents to secure them, even if it means butchering everyone who stands in their way.

One of those agents is Eugene Seeley, a clever, ruthless solver of other men’s problems. The other is an unknown woman.

Every child has a mother. Now Charlie Parker will face one unlike any other, and learn the terrifying truth about the Children of Eve.

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MY REVIEW:

Crime thriller meets supernatural fiction with a side of Inca mythology in the latest Charlie Parker thriller. Parker is investigating the disappearance of Wyatt Riggins, the boyfriend of rising Maine artist Zetta Nadeau. Meanwhile, someone is torturing and murdering those involved in the illegal trade of goods from Mexico. When Parker finds links between the two, the race is on to find Riggins before it’s too late.

John Connolly is pretty much the only author my husband reads, so when the SquadPod were offered the chance to read the latest in his Charlie Parker series, The Children of Eve, I jumped at the chance. I was excited but also nervous. Would I feel lost starting a series so far in? And would I love this series as much as Mr. Bibliotreasures?

Exquisitely written, cleverly choreographed and filled with a large cast of richly drawn characters, it’s easy to see why John Connolly and the Parker series are so popular. He certainly has a new fan in this reader. Jumping into a series on book 22 isn’t ideal and, as expected, I didn’t really know what was going on to begin with. It took me a little bit of time to get into the book as I had to learn who the recurring characters were and forge a connection with them. But before long I was completely hooked. I particularly loved how Connolly merged supernatural and mythological elements with a complex and layered thriller. And that ending! Talk about making me want to come back for more!

Taut, tense and twisty, I highly recommend this one. Now I just need to find time to go back and read this series from the beginning.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1968 and have, at various points in his life, worked as a journalist, a barman, a local government official, a waiter and a “gofer” at Harrods department store in London. I studied English in Trinity College, Dublin and journalism at Dublin City University, subsequently spending five years working as a freelance journalist for The Irish Times newspaper, to which I continue to contribute, although not as often as I would like. I still try to interview a few authors every year, mainly writers whose work I like, although I’ve occasionally interviewed people for the paper simply because I thought they might be quirky or interesting. All of those interviews have been posted to my website, http://www.johnconnollybooks.com.

I was working as a journalist when I began work on my first novel. Like a lot of journalists, I think I entered the trade because I loved to write, and it was one of the few ways I thought I could be paid to do what I loved. But there is a difference between being a writer and a journalist, and I was certainly a poorer journalist than I am a writer (and I make no great claims for myself in either field.) I got quite frustrated with journalism, which probably gave me the impetus to start work on the novel. That book, Every Dead Thing, took about five years to write and was eventually published in 1999. It introduced the character of Charlie Parker, a former policeman hunting the killer of his wife and daughter. Dark Hollow, the second Parker novel, followed in 2000. The third Parker novel, The Killing Kind, was published in 2001, with The White Road following in 2002. In 2003, I published my fifth novel – and first stand-alone book – Bad Men. In 2004, Nocturnes, a collection of novellas and short stories, was added to the list, and 2005 marked the publication of the fifth Charlie Parker novel, The Black Angel. In 2006, The Book of Lost Things, my first non-mystery novel, was published.

Charlie Parker has since appeared in five additional novels: The Unquiet, The Reapers (where he plays a secondary role to his associates, Louis and Angel), The Lovers, The Whisperers, and The Burning Soul. The eleventh Charlie Parker novel, The Wrath of Angels, will be available in the UK in August 2012 and in the US in January 2013.

The Gates launched the Samuel Johnson series for younger readers in 2009, followed by Hell’s Bells (UK)/The Infernals (US) in 2011. A third Samuel Johnson novel should be finished in 2013.

I am also the co-editor, with fellow author Declan Burke, of Books to Die For, an anthology of essays from the world’s top crime writers in response to the question, “Which book should all lovers of crime fiction read before they die?” Books to Die For is available in the UK as of August 2012, and will be available in the US in October 2012.

I am based in Dublin but divide my time between my native city and the United States, where each of my novels has been set.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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Thanks for reading, Bibliohphiles 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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BUY THE BOOK:

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: Mrs Spy by M. J. Robotham

Published May 15th, 2025 by Aria
Mystery, Historical Fiction, Humorous Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘Dark, twisty, and thoroughly entertaining, Mrs Spy is a Thursday Murder Club for spies. You won’t be able to put it down’ – Ava Glass

Get ready for a pulse-pounding, laugh-out-loud ride through 1960s London as Maggie Flynn, unexpected MI5 operative and single mum, unravels the intelligence agency’s most treacherous secrets.

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Maggie Flynn isn’t your typical 1960s mum.

She’s a spy, an unsuspecting operative for MI5, stalking London’s streets in myriad disguises.

Widowed and balancing her clandestine career with raising a Beatles-mad teenage daughter, Maggie finds comfort and purpose in her profession – providing a connection to her late husband, whose own covert past only surfaced after his death.

But Maggie’s world spins out of control when a chance encounter with a mysterious Russian agent triggers a chilling revelation: he knew her husband. And what’s worse, the agent suspects someone on home soil betrayed him.

As Maggie searches for answers, she’ll question everyone – and everything – she thought she could trust. In the murky and perilous world of espionage, can she outsmart those determined to keep her silenced?

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MY REVIEW:

London, 1965. Maggie Flynn is anything but the typical 1960s mum. Because Maggie is a spy working for MI5 who stalks the streets of London in her many disguises and struggling to balance her clandestine career with single motherhood now she is widowed. But when Maggie makes a surprising discovery about her late husband, things get even more out of control as she is drawn deeper into the dangerous and murky side of espionage.

Intelligent, suspenseful, witty, intriguing and thrilling, this was such a treat! A nostalgic trip to the 60s that is rich in historic detail, M. J. Robotham has created a story that is evocatively told, cleverly plotted, intricately interwoven and twisty, pulling you into the story and holding you captive until the very last page. One of my favourite parts of the writing was the gorgeous imagery and metaphors that Robotham used, bringing the story to life around me. A story filled with treachery, secrets, subterfuge, lies and grief, chapter by chapter the plot unfolds, themes of family, loss and grief are delicately woven into the narrative, allowing the reader to empathise with the characters and the situations they find themselves in. I loved the lighthearted and upbeat vibe the story had and often found myself laughing out loud. Robotham expertly merged this with the stories darker and more suspenseful moments, keeping the lighthearted vibe whilst also keeping me on tenterhooks and making my heart race.

I loved Maggie. She has an unusual job but she’s relatable and easy to root for, mixing the ordinary and extraordinary of her life as a spy and role as a mother. I loved how fierce, upbeat and light-hearted she was, her narration was so entertaining and funny, keeping me totally immersed in the story and Maggie’s world. Maggie’s mum, Gilda, was a fantastic and ebullient character, and I loved Maggie’s banter with fellow spy Frank. The background characters were also richly drawn and there was an abundance of unsavory and unlikeable characters that I loved to hate.

A dark yet delightful historical mystery, Mrs Spy is perfect for fans of Dear Mrs Bird and Lessons in Chemistry.

Rating: 🔍🔍🔍🔍

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

M J Robotham saw herself as an aspiring author from childhood, but was waylaid by journalism, birth, children and life. After twenty years as a midwife and a Creative Writing MA, she is a full-time author, writing historical fiction as Mandy Robotham. She lives in Gloucestershire with her partner.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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SQUADPOD BOOK CLUB: Cat Fight by Kit Conway

Published May 15th, 2025 by Bantam
Mystery, Suspense, Thriller

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A gripping and suspenseful debut, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Jane Fallon and Tiger King!

‘Original, sharp, clever, and wonderfully observed’ Andrea Mara, bestselling author of No One Saw a Thing
‘Twisty, sharp (clawed) and deliciously unhinged‘ Catherine Ryan Howard, bestselling author of 56 Days
‘FABULOUS . . . Desperate Housewives meets Tiger King meets Motherland‘ Sarah Turner, bestselling author of Stepping Up

When the peace shatters in suburbia, the claws come out . . .

Coralie King, Emma Brooks and Twig Dorsett are friends. Sort of. They’re neighbours on an exclusive Sevenoaks estate who get along. It’s convenient.

But one May bank holiday, Coralie’s husband insists he saw a panther on the bonnet of his car. And cracks between the elite of the Briar Heart Estate begin to emerge.

As the summer wears on and there are more sightings, the big cat frenzy reaches a fever pitch. Tensions between neighbours threaten to boil over. Everyone is watching their back. But is the real predator a seventy-kilo cat with razor-sharp claws? Or is the actual danger of a much more domestic variety?

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MY REVIEW:

As soon as this stunning proof landed on my doorstep I couldn’t wait to read it. I mean, that cover just screams ‘read me’. Now, as Cat Fight is the SquadPod Book Club pick this month, it was finally time to dive in. And the claws are out in this suspenseful, twisty and humorous debut that follows the trials and tribulations of a suburban neighbourhood one summer. 

On a warm bank holiday evening, Emma, Twig, Coralie and their families are enjoying a get together in Coralie’s garden when the peace is shattered by a scream. Coralie’s husband, Adam, insists he saw a panther on the bonnet of his car. But no one else saw it. Rumours soon fly around their exclusive estate that there’s a panther stalking the neighbourhood. Further sightings are reported, turning the big cat mystery into a frenzy and tensions rise between the neighbours. But is the danger they face really coming from a big, wild cat? Or somewhere closer to home?

THIS is how you write a gripping summer read! It’s a story filled with drama, heartache, love, lust, grief, secrets, fights and (possibly) a big cat. Kit Conway’s writing and plotting is every bit as sharp as a panther’s claws, keeping me glued to the pages as I ferociously turned them. Drenched with the heat of summer and artfully foreshadowed, Conway dropped clues like breadcrumbs, keeping me guessing as I tried to predict what had really happened that crazy summer. But Conway shrewdly planted red herrings, making the book unpredictable, and almost all of my guesses were wrong. I didn’t see most of the twists coming and that jaw-dropping finale hit me like a bolt out of the blue. 

Emma, Twig and Coralie narrate the story, taking turns to share the events of that summer from their point of view. They are familiar but unlikeable and delightfully deranged characters, though my heart did go out to them at times, especially Twig. The women claim to be friends but frenemies would be more appropriate. And they were so much fun to read. The background characters were also richly drawn and I had a real soft spot for Twig’s son, Elwood.

A superb summer read that needs to be on everyone’s TBR.

Rating: 🐱🐱🐱🐱

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kit Conway lives in Kent with her husband and three sons. Prior to writing she worked as a corporate lawyer in London.
Cat Fight, her debut book club suspense novel, will be published by Transworld (UK) and Atria (US) in Summer 2025.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: From London with Love by Katie Fforde

Published February 13th, 2025 by Century
Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance, Urban Fiction

Welcome to my review for this delightful romcom. 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:

A beautiful Chelsea town house. A chance to fulfil her dreams. A life adventure awaits…

‘The queen of uplifting, feel good romance.’ AJ Pearce
‘A force to be reckoned with for her uplifting tales of romance’ Daily Express
‘Top-drawer romantic escapism.’ Daily Mail
‘Warm, brilliant and full of love.’ Heat
‘Warm, wise, witty and with a wonderful retro flavour, From London With Love is a trip to the city you won’t want to miss!’ Lancashire Telegraph
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It’s 1968 and it’s cold when Felicity arrives in London to stay with her mother, improve her English, do a secretarial course – and meet a suitable man.

She is already missing her home in Provence and her father and his new wife and their extended family. But it’s only for a year she tells herself – and then she can go back to France and do what she really wants and become a painter.

And then she bumps into Oliver who is quite the most interesting young man she has ever met. He lives on a barge for one thing and has a collection of jobs, but his passion is looking for hidden treasures along the shores of the river Thames.

In a word, he’s a mudlarker – and before long Felicity is mudlarking too. She is also pursuing her dreams and painting scenery for Oliver’s actor friends.

But is Oliver a Suitable Man of whom her mother will approve? Felicity knows she will not …

Love, tangled relationships, and a real life adventure lie at the heart of Katie Fforde’s heart-warming new novel.

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MY REVIEW:

London, 1968. Felicity has moved from Provence to London to live with her estranged mother for a year before she goes to Paris to study art. While here she plans to improve her English, take a secretarial course and meet a suitable man. She’s feeling homesick but things start to look up when she meets Violet, who has recently moved from the countryside, works in a bookshop and is living in her godmother’s flat, which happens to be in the old servants quarters of the house that Felicity’s mother rents.  The pair quickly become friends and help each other as they adjust to life in the city. And when Felicity meets Oliver, a man like no-one she’s ever met before who lives on a barge, works a number of jobs and enjoys mudlarking as his hobby, Violet is there for her to talk to. But is Oliver the suitable man that Felicity is searching for?

Katie Fforde can always be relied upon to deliver a heartwarming and uplifting romance and her latest novel, From London with Love, has all of that and more. Charming, witty, romantic and nostalgic, this is a story about family, friendship and falling in love that will take you back to when you were young and finally discovering the world for yourself. 

Well-written and enthralling, it is filled with compelling characters who I loved reading. Felicity and Violet were fantastic central characters and I adored their friendship.  Fforde also explored the complicated relationship that can exist in our families but also the great relationships, such as the sweet relationship that Felicity shared with her stepmother which proves not all of them are wicked. The romantic interests were superb and Fforde perfectly captured the pain, uncertainty and misunderstandings that can come with the joy of falling in love, which is made all the more complicated by the class element that surrounds these characters. But my favourite character was Mrs. Wynter, who was delightful comic relief and I loved reading. 

A gorgeous escapist romcom that will make you smile, add this to your TBR now.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

From Amazon:
Dear readers, thank you for visiting my Amazon Page.

I live in the beautiful Cotswold countryside with my family, and I’m a country girl at heart.

I first started writing when my mother gave me a writing kit for Christmas, and once I started I just couldn’t stop. Living Dangerously was my first novel and since then, I haven’t looked back.

Ideas for books are everywhere, and I’m constantly inspired by the people and places around me. From watching TV (yes, it is research) to overhearing conversations, I love how my writing gives me the chance to taste other people’s lives and try all the jobs I’ve never had.

Each of my books explores a different profession or background and my research has helped me bring these to life. I’ve been a porter in an auction house, tried my hand at pottery, refurbished furniture, delved behind the scenes of a dating website, and I’ve even been on a Ray Mears survival course.

I love being a writer; to me there isn’t a more satisfying and pleasing thing to do. I particularly enjoy writing love stories. I believe falling in love is the best thing in the world, and I want all my characters to experience it, and my readers to share their stories.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: The Lying Guest by Mahi Cheshire

Published March 20th, 2025 by Harvill Secker
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Medical Thriller

Welcome to my review for this gripping thriller. Thank you Harvill Secker for sending me a copy in exchange in for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

You don’t know her, but she’s watching you…

Hardworking and overworked, Anika is a talented surgeon at a London hospital. It’s been some time since she’s had a decent night’s sleep, let alone a holiday. Not ideal for someone with parasomnia – a rare, often stress-induced, condition that causes sleepwalking blackouts.

When a patient dies on her operating table, important people start asking questions and the media turns against her with zeal. She quickly becomes a pariah at work. Shafted to endless night shifts and then on suspended leave.

It seems her only respite is to escape on a conveniently all-expenses-paid housesitting gig in Sri Lanka and keep a low profile until the drama passes, and the verdict on her case – and career as a surgeon – is decided.

Despite everything, she’s excited to visit the place she used to summer as a child. But what should be a restorative beach break is really a trip back into a murky, haunted past, which has been waiting for her all along.

Will she finally wake up to face her troubles? Or is she cursed to sleepwalk through life?

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MY REVIEW:

Talented surgeon Anika is overworked and overtired. It’s been a while since she last had a decent night’s sleep and the last thing she needs is an extra surgery when her night shift should be over. But there’s no one else and it is only a quick, routine procedure. But when her patient dies on the operating table, his prominent family accuses Anika of negligence. As the storm surrounding what happens grows and the hospital suspends her until an inquiry can be conducted.

Utterly devastated, Anika longs for an escape. So when an email lands in her inbox advertising a job caretaking a house in Sri Lanka, it seems she’s found the perfect solution. She’s excited to visit the place she was born and take a break. But she’s also nervous. Because Anika hasn’t returned since the night something terrible happened that she can’t fully remember sixteen years ago. Maybe this will finally give her the chance to finally lay her ghosts to rest. But soon, the holiday that she hoped would heal her turns into another nightmare she’s trying to escape…

Wow! What a rollercoaster this book was! Mysterious, tense and twisty, The Lying Guest certainly kept me on my toes. And that finale! Talk about heart-pounding. Anika is a compelling and likeable protagonist who was easy to root for. She has a rare condition called parasomnia, that can cause sleepwalking, sleep terrors and sleep paralysis and is made worse by things such as stress and sleep deprivation. Anika’s condition has been well managed since she took an experimental medication following the mysterious event that still haunts her. Because of this, Anika and the reader are never sure how reliable she is, adding to the tension and making me question everything. And while her housesitting gig should have been an easy job at a luxury house, she instead finds a dilapidated place with an unsettling atmosphere. Locals say the house is cursed and haunted, which Anika initially shrugs off but soon begins to question when unexplained things begin to happen. But could they be her parasomnia returning?

Eerie, gripping and layered, this is a must for any thriller lover.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mahi Cheshire was born in Sri Lanka and grew up in London. She works as a GP and has a degree in Psychology. She loves travelling, kundalini yoga and boxing, all of which provide inspiration for her writing. She lives in London with her husband and daughter.

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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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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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********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx