Tag: 4.5 stars

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Audio Books Beat the Backlist book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: The House in the Cerulean Sea (Cerulean Chronicles, 1) by TJ Klune

Published September 16th, 2021 by Tor
Fantasy Fiction, Contemporary Fantasy, Romantic Fantasy, Fantasy Comedy, Paranormal Fiction, Gay Fiction, Book Series

Welcome to my thoughts on this quirky and mesmerising fantasy. Thank you to Tor UK for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A cosy, enchanting story about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place – and realizing that family could be yours. The House in the Cerulean Sea is an uplifting, heart-warming queer fantasy from TJ Klune.

‘I loved it. It is like being wrapped up in a big gay blanket. Simply perfect’ – V. E. Schwab, author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

Linus Baker leads a quiet life. At forty, he has a tiny house with a devious cat and his beloved records for company. And at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, he’s spent many dull years monitoring their orphanages.

Then one day, Linus is summoned by Extremely Upper Management and given a highly classified assignment. He must travel to an orphanage where six dangerous children reside – including the Antichrist.

At the orphanage, Linus must somehow determine if these children could bring about the end of days. But their guardian, the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, will do anything to protect his wards. And, as Arthur and Linus grow ever closer, Linus must choose: his duty, or his dreams . . .

A New York Times, USA Today and Washington Post bestseller.

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MY REVIEW:

“A home isn’t always the house we live in. It’s also the people we choose to surround ourselves with.”

A ray of sunshine. A feast for the imagination. A balm for the soul. These are just some of the descriptions that come to mind when I think about The House in the Cerulean Sea. A warm hug in book form, this is a gorgeous and quirky story about found family, the lasting footprints we leave in each other’s lives, and finding the magic in the ordinary. And it captured my heart and soul completely. 

It follows Linus Baker, 40, who lives a solitary life in his small house with only his cat, Calliope, for company. Linus works as a Case Worker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, overseeing the well-being of children who live in government-sanctioned orphanages. One morning, Linus is unexpectedly summoned to a meeting by Extremely Upper Management and given a highly classified assignment: travel to and assess Marsyas Island Orphanage to discover if the six dangerous children who live there are going to bring about Armageddon. But these curious children aren’t the only secret being kept on the island and Linus is unprepared for what he is about to discover.

Last month, when I realised that I was about to listen to my 50th audiobook of the year, I knew it had to be something special. So, I decided to continue my journey into TJ Klune’s backlist, choosing this one in anticipation of reading the follow up later this month. I was apprehensive about all the hype, but this extraordinary story did not disappoint. I became an instant fan of Klune when I read Under the Whispering Door earlier this year and this extraordinary story has solidified his status as one of my favourite authors. Klune is a master storyteller and he brought every word and character to life with his beautiful storytelling and richly imagined and evocative descriptions. His stories are guaranteed to brighten your day and this one is a glorious burst of vivid technicolour. But among the brightness and cheer, Klune also weaves more serious topics into the narrative, this time tackling prejudice in its many forms. 

Then there are the characters. What a unique and entertaining motley crew they were. I loved Linus, the honest and sweet protagonist who goes through life mostly unnoticed. Linus is human, but his job involves magical creatures, including the children at the orphanage. Living at Marsyas Island Orphanage are a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. These children are dangerous and have some frightening quirks, but what I loved about them is that they are like any other children at heart. I even found myself having a real soft spot for Lucy, the twisted but undeniably childlike son of the devil himself. Then there is Arthur, the orphan’s caretaker. Arthur is very mysterious and we can tell he’s hiding something which makes it hard to know if we really can trust this charming man. But what we do know is that there is chemistry sizzling between Arthur and Linus, which I loved and I was willing Linus to give into his feelings. Marysasy Island Orphanage and its inhabitants have a profound impact on Linus and change his life for the better. I loved watching Linus blossom from a wallflower into who he was by the end of the book and the beautiful relationships he formed with the other characters. 

Charming, witty, whimsical, heartfelt and uplifting, this mesmerising fantasy is a clear-your-schedule, lock out the world and read in one sitting affair. And that final line! Oh, my heart. I am so glad I only have a few more days until book two. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

*I listened to this audiobook on Bookbeat. Click here to get 60 days of listening free with my affiliate link.*

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

TJ KLUNE is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of The House in the Cerulean Sea, The Extraordinaries, and more. Being queer himself, Klune believes it’s important—now more than ever—to have accurate, positive queer representation in stories.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK BLITZ: The Murmurs (The Annie Jackson Mysteries, Volume 1) by Michael J. Malone

Published September 14th, 2023 by Orenda
Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Gothic Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Horror Fiction, Religious Fiction, Book Series

With the second instalment in the Annie Jackson Mysteries out next week, today I’m resharing my review for the beguiling first book, The Murmurs. Thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part and to Orenda Books for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A young woman starts experiencing terrifying premonitions of people dying, as it becomes clear that a family curse known only as The Murmurs has begun, and a long-forgotten crime is about to be unearthed…
 
‘His biggest smash hit yet, an assured paranormal thriller in which the paranormal isn’t even the scariest part … A tale that leaves our interest piqued throughout, with the tension and foreboding reaching fever pitch’ Herald Scotland
 
`A tense, creepy page-turner´ Ian Rankin
 
`A master storyteller at the very top of his game, Michael J. Malone weaves the most exquisite tale … mesmeric and suspenseful´ Marion Todd
 
________________
 
In the beginning there was fear.
White-hot, nerve-shredding fear.
Terrifying premonitions of deaths.
And then they started…
The Murmurs…
 
On the first morning of her new job at Heartfield House, a care home for the elderly, Annie Jackson wakens from a terrifying dream. And when she arrives at the home, she knows that the first old man she meets is going to die.
 
How she knows this is a terrifying mystery, but it is the start of horrifying premonitions … a rekindling of the curse that has trickled through generations of women in her family – a wicked gift known only as ‘the murmurs’…
 
With its reappearance comes an old, forgotten fear that is about to grip Annie Jackson.
 
And this time, it will never let go…
 
A compulsive gothic thriller and a spellbinding supernatural mystery about secrets and small communities, about faith, courage and self-preservation, The Murmurs is a startling and compulsive read from one of Scotland’s finest authors…

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MY REVIEW:

“Who are they? 
They are every woman, burned, every man flayed and skinned, they’re every trauma visited upon every human—they’re pain they’re torture, they are the scream echoing in the distant dark, the whispered taunt in your ear.
They’re the baited breath, the hammering pulse, the cold beaded sweat, dry mouth, and the bunched yet frozen muscle ignoring the command to run, run, RUN.
They are vengeance and they will never stop.”

A family curse, long-forgotten crimes, repressed memories, and decades-old secrets all come together in this beguiling gothic thriller that is perfect for spooky season. 

Annie Jackson is a young woman whose life has been marred by tragedy. She survived the accident that killed her mother but it took her memories, leaving her with only a nightmare that returns just as she’s about to start a new job at a care home. And on her first day it gets worse as a disturbing vision and murmuring voices tell her one of the residents is about to die. From that day on she is plagued by foreshadowings of the fates of those on the margins of life and death. The eponymous murmurs come unwelcome and unbidden, leaving her frightened, bewildered and scared to look people in the eye. Annie soon discovers the murmurs are part of a curse that has cascaded through the generations of women in her family. Desperate to know more and understand what is happening to her, she and her twin brother, Lewis, begin to explore their family history. But what they discover is much darker than they ever imagined and they find themselves embroiled in old mysteries that are far more dangerous than they realise…

He’s done it again! Michael J. Malone is a masterful gothic storyteller and he had me spellbound as I read. Evocatively told, it oozes a sinister atmosphere as he weaves elements of folklore and the supernatural into the narrative, blurring the lines between what is real and what is in our imagination. Ghostly fingers of the past tighten their grip on Annie and rekindle ashes of memory that slowly reveal horrifying secrets that have been buried for decades. It is chilling, twisty, and there’s a creeping sense of dread that permeates the pages. There are elements of the unknown, the inexplicable, and the unexpected alongside complex family dynamics, dark secrets, and lots of emotion. The story is steadily paced and slowed down a little in the middle before picking up pace again during the last third of the book. This is where I couldn’t put it down, pushing aside my sleepiness in the early hours and flying through the pages as the tension escalated at breakneck speed and we hurtled towards the heart-pounding and shocking finale. 

Malone tells the story in multiple vividly drawn timelines by multiple compelling narrators. But it is Annie who is at the heart of this book. She’s is a bit of a lost soul and we can feel her confusion, fear, and isolation as she tries to figure out what on earth is happening to her. I liked her relationship with her twin brother, Lewis, which felt authentic and grounding in a story that generally feels quite bizarre. I also really enjoyed reading the historical family members and loved the addition of Moira McLean’s memoir. 

Haunting, ominous, darkly atmospheric, and captivating, this is the best I’ve read yet from this author. Add it to your TBR now. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Michael Malone is a prize-winning poet and author who was born and brought up in the heart of Burns’ country. He has published over 200 poems in literary magazines throughout the UK, including New Writing Scotland, Poetry Scotland and Markings. Blood Tears, his bestselling debut novel won the Pitlochry Prize from the Scottish Association of Writers. Other published work includes: Carnegie’s Call; A Taste for Malice; The Guillotine Choice; Beyond the Rage; The Bad Samaritan; and Dog Fight. His psychological thriller, A Suitable Lie, was a number-one bestseller, and the critically acclaimed House of Spines and After He Died soon followed suit. Since then, he’s written two further thought-provoking, exquisitely written psychological thrillers In the Absence of Miracles and A Song of Isolation, cementing his position as a key proponent of Tartan Noir and an undeniable talent. A former Regional Sales Manager (Faber & Faber) he has also worked as an IFA and a bookseller. Michael lives in Ayr.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliphiles xxx

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: Eddie Winston is Looking for Love by Marianne Cronin

Published August 15th, 2024 by Doubleday
Romance Novel, Literary Ficiton, Humorous Ficiton

Today is my stop on the blog tour for this heartwarming and unforgettable novel. Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part and to Doubleday for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Funny, feelgood, heartlifting story about the power of intergenerational friendship and finding love in unexpected places – perfect for fans of The One Hundred Year-Old Man Who Climbed Through the Windowand The Rosie Project

‘Marianne Cronin creates such complete and lovable characters. Brimming over with kindness and hope. Sublimely enjoyable’ Hazel Prior, author of Away with the Penguins

‘Lives up to the brilliance of The One Hundred Years of Lenni & Margot and, dare I say it… surpasses it. Funny, captivating, faultless‘ Julietta Henderson
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Eddie Winston is ninety years old. He has lived and he has loved, but he has never been kissed.

A true gentleman and incurable romantic, Eddie spends his days volunteering at a charity shop, where he sorts through the donations of the living and the dead, preserving letters and tokens of love along the way. It is here that he meets Bella, a troubled young woman who, aged twenty-four, has just lost the love of her life.

When Bella learns that Eddie is yet to have his first kiss, she resolves to help him finally find love, sparking an adventure that will take them to unexpected places and, they hope, bring Eddie to the moment he has waited for all his life.

As Bella helps Eddie and Eddie helps, well, everyone, a soul-stirring story of friendship and kindness unfolds as we see how those we love are never forgotten and it is never too late to try again.

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MY REVIEW:

“Love is really just two people who can’t keep away from each other.”

Heartwarming, poignant, vibrant and uplifting, Eddie Winston is Looking For Love is sunshine in book form. It follows the eponymous Eddie Winston, a nonagenarian who spends his days volunteering at a charity shop where he sorts through donations. Sometimes Eddie will find an item that is valuable only to the heart, so he puts it  aside and preserves it in his collection of treasures, just in case the owner misses it and comes looking for it. And it is his collection that leads him to Bella, a troubled young woman who is grieving the love of her life. Bella donates some of her late boyfriend’s things only to return later hoping to get some of them back. Thankfully, they are in Eddie’s collection and the two begin an unlikely friendship. When Eddie reveals that he has loved but he has never been kissed, Bella resolves to help him find love, taking them on a journey where they meet new friends and, hopefully, the love Eddie has long waited for. 

Oh, my heart. A charming story of friendship, kindness, love and hope, this book is a balm for the soul. I adored Marianne Cronin’s debut novel, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot, so I was eagerly anticipating this follow-up. And she shows us that her debut was no fluke. She is a masterful storyteller who creates beautifully written stories and wonderful characters.  I enjoyed how the flashbacks slowly revealed the story of Eddie’s first and only love while he was searching for his last love in the present and was rooting for him at every step.  The joy radiates from the pages of this book and I spent most of my time reading it with a smile on my face. And that ending! It nearly broke me before warming me from the inside once again and I hugged it close when I was finished. 

“It is so fragile, the notion that there might be someone out there for everyone.”

What makes this book so exceptional is the unforgettable characters. I adored Eddie. He’s one of those characters everyone will love and wins you over from the first pages. Kindhearted, compassionate, vibrant and witty, he’s the consummate gentleman, a hopeless romantic and impossible not to like. I loved his eye for snazzy clothing how he saw the value in seemingly mundane items that others would have thrown away.  I love a multi-generational friendship, and the bond between Eddie and Bella was one of the most wholesome I’ve ever read. I loved the ways they helped and encouraged one another, bringing out the best in each other. I loved joining them on their adventures and meeting all the different characters along the way, with Bridie and Emmeline standing out as two of my favourites. 

Warm, heartfelt, funny and irresistible, Eddie Winston is Looking For Love reminds us it is never too late to start again and that no matter our age, some of our greatest moments are still to come. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Hello, I’m Marianne Cronin, author of ‘The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot’.

My second novel, ‘Eddie Winston is Looking for Love’ will be released in 2024 and I can’t wait to share Eddie’s story with you.

When I’m not writing, I can be found trying to be funny in various improv groups and taking way too many photos of my cat, Puffin.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: Joe Nuthin’s Guide to Life by Helen Fisher

Published July 18th, 2024 by Simon & Schuster UK
Humorous Fiction, Disability Fiction

Today is my stop on the blog tour for this heartfelt and mesmerising story. Thank you to Sara-Jade at Books and the City for the invitation to take part and for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘Extraordinary’ Heidi Swain
‘Life-affirming’ Hazel Prior
‘Big-hearted’ Caroline Day
‘Beautiful’ Julietta Henderson
‘Heartwarming’ Daily Mail
‘Unputdownable’ My Weekly
‘A joy’ Good Housekeeping
 
Joe loves predictability. But his life is about to become a surprising adventure.

Joe-Nathan likes the two parts of his name separate, just like his dinner and dessert. Mean Charlie at work sometimes calls him Joe-Nuthin. But Joe is far from nothing. Joe is a good friend, he’s good at his job, good at making things and good at following the rules, and he’s learning how to do lots of things by himself.

Joe’s mother knows there are a million things in life he isn’t prepared for. While she helps guide him every day, she’s also writing notebooks full of advice about the things she hasn’t told Joe yet, things he might forget and answers to questions he hasn’t yet asked.

Following her wisdom – applying it in his own unique way – this next part of Joe’s life is more of a surprise than he expects. Because he’s about to learn that remarkable things can happen when you leave your comfort zone, and that you can do even the hardest things with a little help from your friends.

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MY REVIEW:

Oh, my heart was not ready for this book. Tender, moving, funny and uplifting, this is one of those books that will strike a resonant chord in the heart of every reader. Exquisitely written and emotionally astute, Helen Fisher has crafted a delightful story filled with joy, humour, heartbreak and hope in equal measure. 

Joe Nuthin’s Guide To Life is a story about love, life, friendship, community, and self-discovery. It follows Joe-Nathan, who lives at home with his mum, Janet, and works at The Compass Store. He has OCD, and lives his life governed by his routines such as going to the pub every Friday evening, and getting a takeaway on Saturday nights. To help Joe live an independent life, Janet has put together a blue notebook that is filled with all the things Joe might need to know and any time he doesn’t know what to do in a situation, he consults the book. But the most important thing to know about Joe is that he doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. Unfortunately, others do. Mean Charlie at work has nicknamed him Joe Nuthin while Owen is even nastier. Thankfully he has some good friends, such as Chloe and Hugo Boss, who always have his back. 

Joe is a special character unlike any other you have read. He stole my heart and I loved living every moment of this story alongside him. One of the things I liked about Joe is that although he lives a simple life according to strict rules, he is actually a very nuanced character whose black and white view of the world offers gems of wisdom that many of us could learn from. I loved his relationship with his mum, Janet. She’s a fantastic mum and I loved that she created this beautifully written manual to help him through life. She wants her son to embrace life and enjoy independence, and although it is Joe and Janet against the world at the start of the book, we soon discover he has so many others in his life to also encourage him as he bravely stepped outside of his comfort zone to experience new things. The love and camaraderie radiated from the pages and the characters were so much fun to read. I had a real soft spot for Chloe, his fiery and loyal work colleague. But it was his relationship with Charlie that I found most touching as Joe discovers Charlie is hiding dark secrets, showing incredible kindness as he tries to help him in his own unique way.

Thoughtful, heartfelt, mesmerising, and achingly human, Joe Nuthin’s Guide To Life is a must read that will warm you from the inside and restore your faith in others. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Helen Fisher spent her early life in America, but grew up mainly in Suffolk where she now lives with her two children. She studied Psychology at Westminster University and Ergonomics at UCL and worked as a senior evaluator in research at RNIB. She is now a full-time author.

Helen’s debut novel, SPACE HOPPER, was published by Simon & Schuster UK in Feb 2021. Her upcoming novel, JOE NUTHIN’S GUIDE TO LIFE (Simon & Schuster) was published in 2023.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

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Audio Books Beat the Backlist book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

REVIEW: The Serial Killer’s Wife by Alice Hunter

Published May 27th, 2021 by Avon Books
Psychological Thriller, Noir Fiction, Serial Killer Books

Welcome to my review for this chilling debut. Thank you to Avon Books for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. I read this as part of my Beat the Backlist 24 Challenge.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

*Read it before you watch it – now a major TV series for Paramount+*

‘The final double twist is well worth waiting for’My Weekly

‘Hooks you in to the drama straight away’ The Sun

Every marriage has its secrets…

Beth and Tom Hardcastle are the envy of their neighbourhood – they have the perfect marriage, the perfect house, the perfect family.

When the police knock on their door one evening, Beth panics. Tom should be back from work by now – what if he’s crashed his car? She fears the worst.

But the worst is beyond imagining.

As the interrogation begins, Beth will find herself questioning everything she believed about her husband.

They’re saying he’s a monster. And they’re saying she knew.

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MY REVIEW:

Tom and Beth have the picture-perfect house, the perfect child, perfect marriage. Or that’s what everyone thinks. Every marriage has its secrets, and theirs are about to be revealed…

One of the things I can’t help but think about whenever a killer is reported upon is what about their family. Do they have a partner? Children? Did those close to them notice anything untoward? Were they scared of them? Or were they blissfully unaware that anything was amiss and left with their whole world turned upside down when they were arrested? Those are the kinds of questions that Alice Hunter explores in her sensational debut, The Serial Killer’s Wife. This book had been on my shelf since before publication so I decided to listen to the audiobook as part of my attempt to beat my backlist this year. And I am so glad I did. What. A. Book! Nail-bitingly tense, unsettling and twisty, I was not prepared for what was on these pages and could only hold on tight as Alice Hunter took me on an insane ride. 

The story opens when the police arrive at Beth and Tom’s house to question him about a murder. It then moves between narrators and timelines, following the couple as it moves between the aftermath of his shocking arrest and events leading up to that day. Tom is protesting his innocence while Beth is in total disbelief that the man she shared her life with could have killed someone. Tom gave me bad vibes in many ways but I couldn’t decide if he was innocent or guilty. Meanwhile, my heart went out to Beth as she tried to make sense of it all. I was on the edge of my seat as Hunter deftly unpicked the intricate tangled web of secrets and lies, taking my breath away with each new revelation. This book is a masterclass in misdirection and my notes were full of annotations such as  ‘OMG’, ‘WTF is happening’, and ‘I can’t believe the twists that keep coming’. This has now been adapted for TV and I’m excited to watch soon as it is perfect for adaptation. 

Atmospheric, chilling, twist and surprising, this one is a must for all thriller fans. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to get 2 months of listening free with my affiliate link*

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

After completing a psychology degree, Alice Hunter became an interventions facilitator in a prison. There, she was part of a team offering rehabilitation programmes to men serving sentences for a wide range of offences, often working with prisoners who’d committed serious violent crimes. Previously, Alice had been a nurse, working in the NHS. She now puts her experiences to good use in fiction. THE SERIAL KILLER’S WIFE draws heavily on her knowledge of psychology and the criminal mind.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2024 Squadpod Squadpod Featured Books Squadpod Recommends

SQUADPOD BLOG BLAST: Under Her Roof by A. A. Chaudhuri

Published June 13th, 2024 by Hera
Thriller, Psychological Fiction, Suspense

Happy Publication Day to A. A. Chaudhuri and welcome to my stop on the SquadPod Collective Book Blast for Under Her Roof. Thank you to Hera for my proof copy in exchange for an honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘Intense, intricate and packed with intrigue…a thrilling and addictive read.’ B.A. Paris

It seems too good to be true…

When struggling writer Sebastian finds a room to let in a palatial Hampstead residence he cannot believe his luck. The rent is ridiculously cheap and he immediately feels a connection with his beautiful widowed landlady, Adriana.

It is.

Things take a dark turn when he finds out what happened to the last lodger. Could this be why the house is a fortress of security, and why Adriana seems so fragile? Adriana doesn’t want to talk about the death and sadness that seem to follow her wherever she goes and Sebastian has secrets of his own.

Now someone is watching their every move and there is nowhere to hide.

This house of light becomes a dark nightmare as the threat ramps up – what does the watcher want? And how far will they go to get it?

A gripping, twisty thriller perfect for fans of B.A. Paris, Shari Lapena and Lucy Foley. If you were hooked by Netflix series You or The Watcher then you will love this.

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MY REVIEW:

When struggling writer, Seb, finds a cheap room for rent in a luxurious Hampstead house he worries it is too good to be true. His misgivings aren’t eased by the house’s fortress-like security or the dark circumstances of her last lodger’s tragic ending, but when he meets the mysterious widowed landlady, Adriana, he is put at ease and struck by an instant connection with her. But, what neither of them know is that there is someone watching their every move. What does this watcher want? And do the dark secrets they are both hiding have anything to do with it? 

Intense, cryptic and suspenseful, Under Her Roof is another jaw-dropping thriller from A. A. Chaudhuri. Sizzling with dark secrets, suspicion and intrigue, I couldn’t put this down and devoured the book quickly. Chaudhuri is a must-read author for me and she gets better with every book. Expertly written and cleverly plotted, this was impossible to predict. My mind raced with theories and suspicions, but I couldn’t see how the many different threads of the story would connect until Chaudhuri skillfully intertwined them, delivering shocking twists that changed everything I thought I knew. Looking back, I can see the breadcrumbs she’d subtly sprinkled throughout the story, but I couldn’t see the full picture until she revealed it. Brava, Ms. Chaudhuri.

The story is told by multiple narrators in multiple timelines and all of the characters are richly drawn, complex and fractured. Adriana and Seb are two of the narrators and while both of them are likeable, we have no idea if they are reliable as they admit they are hiding dark secrets they are terrified of being revealed. No one in this story is completely innocent and an air of suspicion surrounds all of them and the tension radiates from the pages, keeping you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The story’s other narrators’ identities are a mystery that isn’t revealed until the dramatic finale. One of these is the ‘villain’ of the story. The mysterious person watching Adriana and Seb under the cover of looking out for her. This is a dark, sinister and dangerous character who will go to any lengths to ‘help’ Adriana and while there were a number of suspects I had in mind, my mind was blown when their true identity was revealed. 

Dark, devious, twisty and unpredictable, Under Her Roof is a high-octane psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the last page. Once again Ms. Chaudhuri has shown why she is one of the best thriller writers you will read. Highly recommended. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

A.A. Chaudhuri is a former City lawyer turned thriller writer, born and raised in Portsmouth, but who now lives in Surrey with her family. Once a highly ranked British junior tennis player, competing in the national championships and a member of the national squad, she went on to tour the women’s professional satellite circuit as a teenager and achieved a world ranking of 650.

THE SCRIBE and THE ABDUCTION, published by LUME BOOKS in July and December 2019, are her first crime book series, plunging readers into London’s glamorous legal world and featuring series’ heroine, Maddy Kramer, fiction’s first female City lawyer amateur sleuth, who teams up with charismatic DCI Jake Carver to solve a gruesome series of murders and a puzzling abduction. THE SCRIBE and THE ABDUCTION were published as audio books by Isis Audio on 1st January and 1st March 2021, both read by David Thorpe.

She has also contributed an original short story THE ENCOUNTER to crime anthology GIVEN IN EVIDENCE published by LUME BOOKS in May 2020, has written many articles and short stories for The Crime Writers’ Association.

Her first psychological thriller with HERA BOOKS, SHE’S MINE, was published in e-book, paperback and audio in August 2021, the second, THE LOYAL FRIEND, was published in all three formats in June 2022 and published in the USA by Canelo US on 20th June 2023. Her third, THE FINAL PARTY, was published on May 25th 2023. It will be released in audiobook on 1st February 2024.

Her fourth psychological thriller – UNDER HER ROOF – will be released on 13th June 2024.

Besides being an avid reader, she enjoys fitness, films, anything Italian and a good margarita!

All of Alex’s books have achieved bestseller status on Amazon UK, Amazon US, Amazon Australia and Amazon Canada.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

Categories
Audio Books Beat the Backlist book reviews

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

Published October 28th, 2021 by Tor
Fantasy Fiction, Contemporary Fantasy, Fantasy Comedy, Romance Novel, Gay Fiction, Ghost Story, Horror Fantasy

Thank you Tor and BookBreak for the sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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SYNOPSIS:

Witty, haunting, and kind, Under the Whispering Door is a gift for troubled times. TJ Klune brings us a warm hug of a story about a man who spent his life at the office – and his afterlife building a home.

From the author of joyous New York Times bestseller The House in the Cerulean Sea.

Welcome to Charon’s Crossing.
The tea is hot, the scones are fresh and the dead are just passing through.

When a reaper comes to collect Wallace from his own sparsely-attended funeral, Wallace is outraged. But he begins to suspect she’s right, and he is in fact dead. Then when Hugo, owner of a most peculiar tea shop, promises to help him cross over, Wallace reluctantly accepts the truth.

Yet even in death, he refuses to abandon his life – even though Wallace spent all of it working, correcting colleagues and hectoring employees. He’d had no time for frivolities like fun and friends. But as Wallace drinks tea with Hugo and talks to his customers, he wonders if he was missing something.

The feeling grows as he shares jokes with the resident ghost, manifests embarrassing footwear and notices the stars. So when he’s given one week to pass through the door to the other side, Wallace sets about living a lifetime in just seven days.

Fans of A Man Called Ove and The Good Place will fall for this queer love story by TJ Klune.

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MY REVIEW:

“It’s never enough is it? Time. We always think we have so much of it, but when it really counts we don’t have enough at all.”

When a reaper comes to collect Wallace from his sparsely-attended funeral he is outraged and refuses to accept that he’s dead. But, he begins to believe her when she takes him to Charon’s Crossing, a quirky tea shop run by Hugo, a man who promises to help him cross over. Despite his life being one of all work and  no play, Wallace is reluctant to leave his life behind and sets out to try and live a lifetime in the week he’s been given to pass through the door to the other side.

Witty, moving, cosy and unique, Under the Whispering Door is a book that warms you from the inside like a warm drink on a cold day. This was my tenth backlist book of the year and my introduction to T. J. Klune, an author I’ve been meaning to read for a long time. I now completely get the hype surrounding him and his books and will be prioritising reading his other books on my TBR. An exploration of life, love, death, grief and redemption, this broke my heart into a million pieces and then glued them back together. I appreciated how Klune examined the many stages of grief; how the pain of losing those we love never leaves us but leaves a permanent mark on our heart and soul. Beautifully written, richly imagined and evocative, the storytelling merged with the spectacular narration to make the story come to life around me so vividly that I felt like I’d flown through a hurricane and landed in Oz like Dorothy, opening the door to a magical and colourful new world I never imagined. 

Whimsical, escapist, colourful and deeply poignant, this gorgeous fantasy is one that will stay with me long after reading. Highly recommended.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Follow this link to get your first 60 days of listening for free.*

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

TJ KLUNE is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of The House in the Cerulean Sea, The Extraordinaries, and more. Being queer himself, Klune believes it’s important—now more than ever—to have accurate, positive queer representation in stories.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Squadpod Squadpod Book Club

SQUADPOD BOOK CLUB REVIEW: Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

Published April 25th, 2024 by Pan Macmillan
Thriller, Mystery, Crime Fiction, Women Sleuths, Literary Fiction

Welcome to my review for the unnerving and addictive Darling Girls, which is the SquadPod Book Club pick for April. Thanks to Chloe at Pan MacMillan for the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A thrilling page-turner about sisterhood, secrets, love and murder by Sally Hepworth, the New York Times bestselling author of The Soulmate and The Mother-in-Law.

It’s not just secrets buried at Wild Meadows.

For as long as they can remember, Jessica, Norah and Alicia have been told how lucky they are. Rescued from their own family tragedies, they were raised by a loving foster mother on an idyllic farming estate and given an elusive second chance for a happy family life.

But the girls’ childhood wasn’t quite the fairy tale everyone thinks it was. And when a body is discovered under the home they grew up in, the three foster sisters find themselves thrust into the spotlight as key witnesses.

It’s time for them to return home as adults. The only question is are they innocent victims or the prime suspects for murder?

With darkly comic timing and insidiously twisting plots, Sally Hepworth’s novels are guaranteed to keep you turning the pages . . .

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MY REVIEW:

“These days everyone is familiar with Wild Meadows. The media love the juxtaposition of the whimsical country estate and the atrocities that happened there.”

This month’s SquadPod Book Club pick – and this month’s 12 months, 12 countries challenge – transports us to Australia for a compelling and suspenseful story of found family, trauma, secrets and murder.

Jessica, Norah and Alicia are sisters not by blood, but by a bond forged by their shared experience living as foster sisters at Wild Meadows. They have spent their lives being told how lucky they were to be rescued from their tragic situations and raised by a loving foster mother. But nothing was as it seemed and there are more than secrets buried at Wild Meadows. And when a body is discovered buried beneath their former home, the sisters are drawn back into their murky past and the secrets they have long tried to forget…

“It was almost as if the clock had wound back twenty-five years. They were all young girls, begging to be believed. Except this time they weren’t children. This time they were going to demand to be heard.” 

Darling Girls was my introduction to Sally Hepworth. And what an introduction! The bright cover of this book hides the dark, sinister and unnerving story between its covers. Hepworth explores topics such as abuse, trauma, and unhinged psyches, permeating the story with heartrending moments alongside the heart-stopping tension and shocking twists that keep you on your toes until the very last page. I was in her thrall. Unable to shake the story from my mind and when I wasn’t reading it I was thinking about it. I needed answers. I needed to know what secrets were buried at Wild Meadows. And I was sure I had it all figured out, only for my jaw to hit the floor as Hepworth sucker-punched me at the eleventh hour for a truly spectacular finale. 

“Disturbing vignettes from her childhood circled in her brain—swimming pools and basements, birthday parties and horses. And fear, of course. Lots and lots of fear.”

The story is narrated by the sisters, who each have rich backstories. They came to live at Wild Meadows due to tragic family circumstances, only to find that what was supposed to be a new beginning in a home filled with love was the beginning of a nightmare. Their foster mother, Miss Fairchild, is a sadistic and cruel monster who made my blood boil and my heart broke as I read of their torment under her so-called care. Miss Fairchild is one of the best villains of this kind that I’ve read, perfectly at odds with what a loving mother is supposed to be and sending chills down my spine when she was on the page. The sisters are each very different but share a close bond that I loved. And while they are flawed in their own ways, they are sympathetically written. But the mystery of the body buried under the house lingers ominously over every page, and while I was rooting for them, I was also aware that they were hiding something. I had various predictions over the course of the book, and, I’ll be honest, I was disappointed that it wasn’t Miss Fairchild they had done in and buried under the house.

Dark, menacing and affecting, I’d highly recommend this addictive thriller. Now I need to buy this author’s backlist ASAP.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

TW: Child neglect, abuse, trauma, drug addiction

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Sally Hepworth is the New York Times bestselling author of nine novels, most recently Darling Girls. She is also the author of Uncharted Waters, published by Amazon Original stories in 2022. Several of Sally’s novels have been optioned for TV and film.  

Sally’s novels are available around the globe in English and have been translated into over 20 languages. She has sold over one million books worldwide.

Sally lives in Melbourne, Australia with her family.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

Categories
Audio Books Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Leave No Trace (Kat and Lock, Book 2) by Jo Callaghan

Published March 28th, 2024 by Simon & Schuster UK
Psychological Thriller, Science Fiction, Book Series

Today is my stop on the blog tour for this riveting and nerve-shredding thriller. Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part, and to Simon and Schuster UK for the proof copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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SYNOPSIS:

DCS Kat Frank and AIDE Lock return in the provocative new thriller from the author of In the Blink of an Eye.

‘A smart, agile, immaculately plotted and moving thriller that is unswervingly gripping and scary, and at the same time beautifully tender and humane’ NICCI FRENCH 
‘Chilled me to the bone and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Callaghan writes with such intelligence; interspersing humour with moments of utter heartbreak’ NIKKI SMITH
 
One detective driven by instinct, the other by logic.
It will take both to find a killer who knows the true meaning of fear . . .
 
When the body of a man is found crucified at the top of Mount Judd, AIDE Lock – the world’s first AI Detective – and DCS Kat Frank are thrust into the spotlight as they are given their first live case.
 
But with the discovery of another man’s body – also crucified – it appears that their killer is only just getting started. With the police warning local men to be vigilant, the Future Policing Unit is thrust into a hostile media frenzy as they desperately search for connections between the victims. But time is running out for them to join the dots and prevent another death.
 
For if Kat and Lock know anything, it’s that killers rarely stop – until they are made to.

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MY REVIEW:

DCS Kat Frank and AIDE Lock are back thrust into the spotlight when they finally get to investigate their first live case in the second instalment of this gripping crime series. The pair are called to an unusual crime scene where a man has been found crucified at the top of Mount Judd. And when the body of a second man is found crucified it seems that their killer is just beginning. Local men are warned to stay vigilant as the Future Policing Unit face a race against the clock to find and stop the culprit before they kill again. 

Compelling, tense and surprising, I couldn’t put this one down. This time around the duo find themselves embroiled in a case that makes national headlines, putting them under even greater pressure. While the first book focused more on the sci-fi aspect of an AI detective, this time around there is less sci-fi and more crime, allowing Jo Callaghan to showcase herself as a crime writer to watch. I enjoyed the darker tone she took this time around and this is exactly the kind of twisted thriller that sings to me. After enjoying the audiobook last time I decided to listen again and loved it. I particularly enjoyed how the killer’s pov is told in an echoey way that is so eerie it sent chills down my spine every time I heard it. Even just thinking about it is making me shiver. 

I loved being back with the Future Policing Unit. Kat and Lock are a unique and fascinating detective team and I loved their banter and camaraderie, which has grown since their rocky start in the first book. But it is only their second case and they are still learning how to work together, something that can be tricky when one of them is driven by instinct and the other by logic. I like how well they balance each other out; one’s weaknesses being the other’s strengths, and how they both were learning to be better officers by including some of each other’s methods. I also really liked that Lock is no longer treated as a perfect detective. We see some of his limitations and flaws, which kind of humanises the AI detective a little. It certainly made me warm to him more this time around. 

Riveting, pacy, and filled with nerve-shredding tension, Leave No Trace is an action-packed thriller that will keep you on your toes. Now I just have to wait impatiently for book three. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. You can listen, too, with 2 months free listening with my affiliate link. Click here*

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Jo Callaghan works fulltime as a senior strategist, where she has carried out research into the future impact of AI and genomics on the workforce.She was a student of the Writers’ Academy Course (Penguin Random House), was long listed for the Myslexia Novel Writing Competition and Bath Novel Competition. After losing her husband to cancer in 2019 when she was just forty-nine, she started writing IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE, her debut crime novel. Published to critical-acclaim, it selected by Val McDermid for her New Blood panel of the best debuts of 2023 and for BBC Two’s Between the Covers Book Club. TV rights were sold in a major acquisition.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2024

PUBLICATION DAY REVIEW: The Darkest Hour by Mark Edwards

Published April 16th, 2024 by Thomas & Mercer
Suspense, Psychological Fiction, Police Procedural, Mystery, Thriller, Crime Fiction

Happy publication day to this dark and sinister thriller. Thank you Mark Edwards for the gifted copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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BOOK DESCRIPTION:

In this chilling thriller from the bestselling author of Keep Her Secret, if you don’t take your dark secrets to the grave, maybe they’ll take you there first…

Calvin finally owns the bakery of his dreams, in an idyllic village in the Lake District. After reluctantly following his wife Vicky’s advice to promote it on social media, he’s thrilled when a viral clip makes him a legend overnight. But then the creepy DMs start flooding in―all from a stranger who claims she’s his biggest fan.

Meanwhile, a local recluse is found on a nearby beach, buried to his neck and left to drown, and the community goes into shock. Why would anyone want him dead? And who exactly was he? Detective Imogen Evans, new to the Lake District, is under pressure to find out before the killer strikes again.

As the murder hunt gathers pace, Calvin’s obsessive admirer turns up right on cue after his assistant is injured in an accident, and to Vicky’s horror she’s here to stay. As events begin spiralling into darkness, is there anyone in this quiet backwater Calvin can trust―or have his mistakes already put him, and everyone he loves, in terrible danger?

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MY REVIEW:

He’s done it again! The King of domestic horror is back with another sinister story fueled with adrenaline. Just make sure you don’t have other plans, because you’ll be cancelling them to read this once you’ve started. I inhaled it in one sitting; shackled to the pages by the scalpel-sharp tension and my desperate need for answers. 

The body of local recluse Leo James is found on a beach in the Lake District buried up to his neck and left to drown. The shocking murder rocks this small, idyllic village to its core and puts its new detective, Imogen Evans, under pressure to find the culprit quickly. It is soon clear that some of Elderbridge’s residents are hiding dark secrets. But which of them will kill to keep it that way?

Mark Edwards never misses and The Darkest Water showcases why his books are a highlight of my reading year. Expertly written, shrewdly choreographed, and darkly atmospheric, this was a masterclass in misdirection. As part one came to a close I was sure I had it all figured out. But I was wrong. Moving between the dual timelines, dark secrets and surprising connections were unveiled piece by piece until the full, shocking picture emerged. 

The story is told by multiple narrators, one of whom is a blast from the past for fans of this author. Detective Imogen Evans, first seen in Edwards’ book The Lucky Ones, is the detective charged with solving Leo James’ murder. I loved revisiting a loved character in a new world as it felt like the ideal mix of standalone and series; some familiarity for fans but also not excluding new readers. The characters are all compelling and richly drawn, however briefly they appear on the pages, and you get a real sense of community in this picturesque village, which was the ideal backdrop for this story. Idyllic but also isolated and bleak, Elderbridge has a sense of danger simmering under its surface, while foreboding hangs in the air. Its idyll is fractured by the crime and the horror is compounded by the reminder that these things can happen anywhere, even in the most beautiful and seemingly safe places. 

A dark and brooding thriller filled with breath-sucking tension, The Darkest Water is a must-read for fans of this genre. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

From Amazon:
Welcome to my Amazon Author Page! I write books in which scary things happen to ordinary people, the best known of which are Follow You Home, The Magpies, Here To Stay and The Retreat. My novels have sold over 4 million copies and topped the bestseller lists numerous times. I pride myself on writing fast-paced page-turners with lots of twists and turns, relatable characters and dark humour

I live in the West Midlands, England, with my wife, our three children, two cats and a golden retriever.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx