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

BOOK REVIEW: The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier

Published September 12th, 2024 by The Borough Press
Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Medical Ficiton, Domestic Ficiton, Coming-of-Age Story

Welcome to my review for this beautiful novel which I read with the Historical Fiction Book Club this month.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

FROM THE GLOBALLY ACCLAIMED AUTHOR OF GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING

Venice, 1486. Across the lagoon lies Murano. Time flows differently here – like the glass the island’s maestros spend their lives learning to handle.

Women are not meant to work with glass, but Orsola Rosso flouts convention to save her family from ruin. She works in secret, knowing her creations must be perfect to be accepted by men. But perfection may take a lifetime.

Skipping like a stone through the centuries, we follow Orsola as she hones her craft through war and plague, tragedy and triumph, love and loss.

The beads she creates will adorn the necks of empresses and courtesans from Paris to Vienna – but will she ever earn the respect of those closest to her?

Tracy Chevalier is a master of her own craft, and The Glassmaker is vivid, inventive, spellbinding: a virtuoso portrait of a woman, a family and a city that are as everlasting as their glass.

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MY REVIEW:

Venice in 1486. 14-year-old Orsola Rosso lives across the lagoon on Murano, a place where time flows differently – like the glass the island’s maestros spend their lives perfecting. But it is a man’s world, and after her father’s sudden death it is her brother, Marco, who takes his place. Meanwhile, Orsola learns to craft glass in secret, slowly penetrating glassmaking’s patriarchal world. The story then follows through the centuries, following Orsola and her family as they try to survive in an ever-changing world. 

Beautiful, immersive, moving and enthralling, The Glassmaker is a time-bending tour-de-force that sparkles as brightly as a Murano bead. Part historical fiction and part fable, Tracy Chevalier plays with the concept of time, bending all of the rules and creatively reshaping it to craft this imaginative story. Magnificently written, meticulously researched, cleverly choreographed, with evocative imagery and richly drawn characters, Chevalier showcases herself to be a maestra in her own field with this dazzling and unforgettable story. There is a strong sense of place, Chevalier capturing the beauty of Venice and Murano and the spirit of their inhabitants. Time moves differently on Murano – a hundred years can go by in the blink of an eye while the people who live here age only a few years. It’s a fascinating concept and I enjoyed how she used it to demonstrate how little life actually changes despite the passing of the years and discoveries that are made.

The story centres around the Rosso family, particularly Orsola Rosso, who is just a teenager when the story begins. Orsola is an unforgettable heroine. Talented, strong, resilient, determined and passionate, she challenges societal and gender norms to fulfil her dream of becoming a glassmaker and sustaining her family. But she is also a character who settles for less and endures hardships, often for the good of her family over her own desires, and I sometimes found it hard to understand why she would be so steadfast in some areas and capitulate in others. We follow the Rosso family through many years of historical and societal changes. They face wars, plagues, hunger, new technology and changes to the glass industry. We watch them fall in love, suffer heartbreak and grieve for people they’ve lost. I enjoyed  watching this family and witnessing how the individual members adapted to all of their challenges and changes. It created a strong bond, made me root for them and feel invested in their lives. And I was sad when I closed the book and left them behind.

A spectacular story that will stay with you long after reading, pick this up if you enjoyed How to Stop Time or The Time Traveler’s Wife.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tracy is the author of 11 novels, including the international bestseller GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING, which has sold over 5 million copies and been made into an Oscar-nominated film starring Scarlett Johansson and Colin Firth. American by birth, British by geography, she lives in London and Dorset. Her latest novel, THE GLASSMAKER, is set in Venice and follows a family of glass masters over the course of 5 centuries.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Squadpod Squadpod Book Club

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOKS: Deadline by Steph McGovern

Published July 3rd, 2025 by Pan Macmillan
Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Domestic Fiction

Welcome to my review for this sensational debut thriller. 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:

The debut crime thriller from award-winning broadcaster and journalist Steph McGovern.

‘Thrilling, captivating and full of heart’ – Giovanna Fletcher, author of Billy and Me

‘Brilliant! I love how it describes all the behind the scenes of TV and I had no idea where it was going. So clever. So good’ – Kimberley Walsh

Your child has been kidnapped.

You’re live on television.

Going live in 10, 9, 8 . . .
Today is a huge day for TV reporter Rose’s career. A live interview with one of the most powerful men in the country, on one of the nation’s biggest TV shows.

7, 6, 5 . . .
But, when she hears an unfamiliar voice in her ear, she knows something is very wrong.

4, 3, 2 . . .
Her earpiece has been hacked. She’s live on air in the middle of the interview. They tell her they have kidnapped her family.

1
And, in order to protect them, Rose must do exactly what the hijacker says. They are in control now.

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MY REVIEW:

TV reporter Rose is live on air for the most important interview of her career when she hears an unfamiliar voice in her ear, ‘Rose, I have your wife and son.’ Who is this mysterious person? Why have they taken her wife and son? And how can she get them back?

When a thriller starts with such nail-biting opening lines you know you’re in for a great ride. Tense, twisty, witty and addictive, Steph McGovern has crafted an unforgettable debut that every thriller fan should read. Expertly written, cleverly choreographed, intricately interwoven and pacy, this book thrums with suspense, drama, emotion, dread, and apprehension so sharp you could cut yourself. McGovern knows how to keep her reader on their toes, moving between timelines and narrators to keep us guessing and constantly building the tension up until the thrilling finale. And when you think it’s all over, along comes an epilogue that’s filled with even more shocking twists. 

McGovern’s experience in the world of TV reporting is evident throughout the story, making everything that is on the page feel authentic. I loved getting a glimpse into how everything works behind the scenes and stepping into an entirely new world. Another part of the authenticity is the characters. They come from all walks of life and each felt relatable, compelling and real. Rose is a brilliant protagonist who made me care about her from the start and I had a real soft spot for young Ollie. The politicians were suitably smarmy and gave me the ick every time they appeared on the page. 

As a proud northerner I was delighted to learn that this book was set in the North. I loved seeing this representation and appreciated that McGovern included familiar places, people and dialect.  I listened to this on Bookbeat and I loved that the narrator had the right accent, allowing me to completely immerse myself in the book and I flew through it in under a day.

An entertaining and unmissable debut, thriller fans should add this straight to their TBR. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to get 90 days of listening free without obligaion with my affiliate link*

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Steph McGovern is an award-winning broadcaster who currently presents The Rest Is Money podcast with Robert Peston. Steph has worked in journalism for over twenty years, eight of them as part of the BBC Breakfast family. She went on to present her own BAFTA-nominated live daily show, Steph’s Packed Lunch, on Channel 4 and is a regular Have I Got News for You panellist and host. Steph is an avid crime reader and has interviewed countless authors including Val McDermid, Ann Cleeves, Hillary Clinton, Harlan Coben, Lee Child and Don Winslow, as well as judging the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year award at the Harrogate Crime Festival since 2019. Deadline is her first novel.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

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

BOOK REVIEW: The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell

Published August 30th, 2022 by Tinder Press
Historical Fiction, Biographical Ficiton

Today I’m finally sharing my review for this magnificent novel. Thank you to Tinder Press and Netgalley for sending me an eBook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2023
A Reese’s Bookclub December Pick (2022)
An Instant Sunday Times, New York Times and Irish Times Bestseller (August 2022)
A Guardian and LitHub Book of the Year (December 2022)

‘Every bit as evocative and spellbinding as Hamnet. O’Farrell, thank God, just seems to be getting better and better’ i newspaper

‘Her narrative enchantment will wrest suspense and surprise out of a death foretold’ Financial Times

‘Ingenious, inventive, humane, wry, truthful . . . better than her last novel’ Scotsman

‘Finely written and vividly imagined’ Guardian

‘In O’Farrell’s hands, historical detail comes alive’ Spectator
Winter, 1561. Lucrezia, Duchess of Ferrara, is taken on an unexpected visit to a country villa by her husband, Alfonso. As they sit down to dinner it occurs to Lucrezia that Alfonso has a sinister purpose in bringing her here. He intends to kill her.
Lucrezia is sixteen years old, and has led a sheltered life locked away inside Florence’s grandest palazzo. Here, in this remote villa, she is entirely at the mercy of her increasingly erratic husband.

What is Lucrezia to do with this sudden knowledge? What chance does she have against Alfonso, ruler of a province, and a trained soldier? How can she ensure her survival.

The Marriage Portrait is an unforgettable reimagining of the life of a young woman whose proximity to power places her in mortal danger.

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MY REVIEW:

Italy, 1561. Lucrezia, Duchess of Ferrara, is unexpectedly taken to a remote country villa by her husband, Alfonso. As dinner is served Lucrezia begins to suspect that Alfonso has sinister intentions for bringing her here. She is sure he plans to kill her. Can this sheltered sixteen-year-old survive against her powerful, combat-trained husband?

Atmospheric, evocative, intriguing and beguiling, Maggie O’Farrell brings history to life with this mesmerising reimagining of the life of Lucrezia de’ Medici. The book opens with a historical note that Lucrezia died aged just sixteen of ‘putrid fever’, though there were rumours that her husband, Alfonso II de Este, Duke of Ferrara, had a hand in her death. The story then begins in 1561, at that meal in the remote fortress with her husband, then jumps back to her birth in 1544. It then moves between timelines, telling her story from childhood to adolescence and her ill-fated marriage to her untimely death. 

Exquisitely written and meticulously researched, this is a glorious tapestry of a novel. O’Farrell transports her reader to sixteenth-century Italy, where we are immersed in all of its opulence, art, luxury, political tension, strict social codes and expectations for women. I lost myself in its pages, savouring O’Farrell’s luscious prose. But always in the back of my mind was Lucrezia’s impending death, adding to the tension and creating a sense of dread that lingered over every page. I knew her fate, yet I couldn’t  help but hope that somehow there would be an escape, a different ending for her at the end of Ms. O’Farrell’s pen. 

Lucrezia de’ Medici is a tragic heroine, brought to life once more from the archives of history for modern readers. Lucrezia may appear to have had a charmed life since birth, with her title and upbringing in a palazzo, but there was much hardship alongside the wealth and luxury. Her conception was considered unfortunate and she was such a difficult infant that her mother removed her from the nursery and sent her to be cared for by a maid in the kitchen. There, she was placed in a laundry tub and watched over by the young daughter of the kitchen maid, her only contact with her mother being reports sent back to her mother each day. As we follow Lucrezia through her childhood sheltered in the palazzo and into adolescence, we see beyond the tragedy and it was easy to develop a fondness for this artistic, feisty and spirited girl who has always been an outsider, even in her own home. For women of Lucrezia’s era and class, their destiny was set, and she was married to Alfonso at just fifteen. But instead of a new beginning, her marriage is the beginning of the end, turning into a dark fairytale that concludes with her death less than a year later. 

Dark, alluring and suspenseful, this unforgettable novel is one that lingers long after reading. Highly recommended.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

From Maggie’s Web Page: Maggie O’Farrell, Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, is the author of HAMNET, Winner of the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2020, and the memoir I AM, I AM, I AM, both Sunday Times no. 1 bestsellers. Her novels include AFTER YOU’D GONE, MY LOVER’S LOVER, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US, which won a Somerset Maugham Award, THE VANISHING ACT OF ESME LENNOX, THE HAND THAT FIRST HELD MINE, which won the 2010 Costa Novel Award, INSTRUCTIONS FOR A HEATWAVE and THIS MUST BE THE PLACE., and THE MARRIAGE PORTRAIT. She is also the author of two books for children, WHERE SNOW ANGELS GO and THE BOY WHO LOST HIS SPARK. She lives in Edinburgh.

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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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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: The Sunshine Man by Emma Stonex

Published May 1st, 2025 by Picador
Thriller, Psychological Fiction, Coming-of-Age Story

Welcome to my review for this magnificent thriller. Thank you to Bookbreak and Picador for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘The week I shot a man clean through the head began like any other . . .’

From Emma Stonex, the bestselling author of The Lamplighters, comes The Sunshine Man, a gripping revenge thriller that will leave you breathless.

‘A compelling tight thriller with heart’ *****
‘Hits you right between the eyes’ *****
‘Brilliantly written with twists and turns’ *****

In January 1989, Birdie wakes to the news she’s been waiting eighteen years to hear. Jimmy Maguire, the man who killed her sister, has been freed from jail. Birdie sends her kids to school and then leaves for London with a gun and a plan: to find Jimmy and make him pay.

But there’s another side to the story, and Birdie is about to enter a world of family lies, worn-out loyalties and long-buried betrayals . . .

A heart-stopping novel of shared pasts and a fury-fuelled present, The Sunshine Man is an addictive page-turner set against the sweeping hills of rural Devon, from bestselling author Emma Stonex.

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MY REVIEW:

“The week I shot a man clean through the head began like any other…”

I don’t think it’s possible to read such a haunting opening line and not feel desperate to devour the rest of the book. I know I was powerless to resist, staying up until the wee hours in an anguished need to know the conclusion. Dark, unsettling, heart-stopping and thought-provoking, Emma Stonex had me in her thrall from the first page of this magnificent cat-and-mouse revenge thriller. 

The story opens with Bridget describing her ordinary morning with her family before she sets out to kill James Maguire, the man convicted of murdering her sister, Providence, eighteen years earlier. The juxtaposition between her mundane actions and her murderous plan is striking, creating an overwhelming sense of dread that increases with every step she takes. The story then moves between timelines and narrators, following James as he adjusts to life outside prison, and Bridget as she travels towards him…

Exquisitely written and expertly choreographed, Stonex shows no signs of the dreaded ‘sophomore syndrome’ with this superb story. An unforgettable tale of murder, vengeance, love, family and redemption, this isn’t for the faint heart.  Despite its sunny title, there are heavy topics on these pages, and while Stonex doesn’t shy away from their brutal truths, she also writes with compassion and sensitivity. It is powerful but also delicate, finding its strength in its layered gossamer threads. Stonex skillfully teases her reader by choosing not to reveal the full picture, exploring themes of memory, asking how much we can trust our recollections, and what we choose to forget; the truth lying in that space between what we know and what we think we do. 

It’s easy to root for Bridget. To feel her anger and understand her need for revenge, even if it isn’t something we would do ourselves. It is harder to root for James, and it is in him that Stonex forces us to confront the humanity and shades of grey that exist even in those we want to villainise. It would be easy if it was black and white, if he was evil and Bridget was good. But by hearing his story he becomes human, we gain compassion and it is hard to blindly hate him. Providence is brought to life in the flashbacks, making her feel as vivid and three-dimensional, allowing the reader to connect with her. It gives us an emotional response to her death, a desire to know the truth and a wish to see justice served. And as we finally approach the night of her murder, Stonex moves between flashbacks and current events, keeping me on the edge of my seat as I awaited the big reveal and Bridget’s moment of vengeance. There’s a rising sense of dread that gets under your skin and makes your heart race. I couldn’t have stopped reading at this point even if my house had been on fire. 

The Sunshine Man is a masterpiece. A moving, nerve-shredding and addictive thriller that is impossible to forget. Read it now!

Rating: ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Emma Stonex was born in 1983 and grew up in Northamptonshire. After working in publishing for several years, she quit to pursue her dream of writing fiction. The Lamplighters was a Sunday Times bestseller and has been translated into more than twenty-five languages. She lives in the Southwest with her family.

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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 REVIEW: The Butcher by Jennifer Hillier

Published July 15th, 2014 by Gallery Books
Thriller, Suspense, Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

In this “skillfully penned tale of murder and cover-up that will keep readers enthralled until the powerful finish” (Fresh Fiction), family secrets and a serial killer from the past converge in this electrifying thriller.

In 1985, Edward Shank famously gunned down the Beacon Hill Butcher, ending the serial killer’s reign of terror over the city of Seattle. But now in his eighties, Edward’s action-packed glory days are long behind him. The decorated former Seattle police chief has given up his high-maintenance Victorian home to his grandson Matt for a quiet life at the nearby Sweetbay Village Retirement Residence, where mac-n-cheese Wednesdays have become the highlight of his week.

Though it’s hard to watch his grandfather get older, Matt is thrilled to inherit the large house he grew up in. Already an accomplished chef with a popular restaurant and a TV show in the works, Matt’s dream life is finally within reach…until he discovers a crate buried in the backyard that holds a secret about his grandfather so terrible, it threatens to ruin all their lives if it ever gets out. Especially his girlfriend Sam’s, whose mother was killed when she was only two years old.

As Matt struggles with his dark family secret, Sam’s obsession with solving her mother’s murder continues to grow. A true crime writer now working on a book about the Butcher, Sam has always suspected her mother was one of his victims, even though she was killed two years after the Butcher was supposedly gunned down.

But when new victims begin to turn up, their murders eerily similar to the Butcher’s all those years ago, Sam realizes she might be right. The more she digs into the old murders, the more dangerous it gets…and the truth is closer to home than she ever could have imagined.

“A tense, suspenseful, thoroughly creepy thriller” (Booklist), The Butcher sinks its teeth in you from the very first page.

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MY REVIEW:

Retired Seattle Police Chief Edward Shank is famous for gunning down The Beacon Hill Butcher in 1985 and ending the serial killer’s reign over the city. Now in his eighties, Edward decides the time has come to move to a retirement home and leave his Victorian house to his grandson, Matt, who is thrilled to inherit the house, having been raised there by his beloved grandparents after the death of his mother. An accomplished chef with his own popular restaurant and a TV show in the works, with the addition of the house Matt feels his dream is finally in his reach. But all that falls apart when he discovers a crate buried in the back garden that holds a dark family secret so explosive that it will ruin many lives if it is discovered, leaving Matt unsure whether to tell the truth or try to keep it hidden. 

As Matt struggles with this conflict, his  girlfriend Sam’s obsession with solving her mother’s murder grows. Sam has always suspected that her mother was one of The Beacon Hill Butcher’s victims, even though she was killed two years after the Butcher was killed. And when new victims killed in the same way as the Butcher’s victims emerge, it looks like she could be right afterall. But as she delves deeper into her search for the truth, Sam puts herself in greater danger, unaware just how close the truth actually lies…

Unsettling, eerie and addictive, this nerve-shredding thriller had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Expertly written, defly plotted, fast-paced and packed with surprising twists, Jennifer Hiller showcases why she deserves her crown as the Queen of chilling thrillers. And this time she takes the traditional murder mystery format and turns it on its head, revealing some of the twists – including whodunnit – early on, but she keeps the tension taut and still packs in so much that keeps us guessing. She also explores a range of topics in the story, including the twisted mind of a killer, if behaviours can be inherited, and confronts the shades of grey that exist in all of us. 

Richly drawn and compelling, the characters leapt from the pages and pulled me into their stories. I may not have always liked them, but I was always fascinated by them and Hillier made them leap from the pages. I could feel  Matthew’s torment bleeding from the pages, Sam tugged at my heartstrings, while Edward was so dark, vile and unsettling that he made shivers run down my spine. 

A murderous, grisly and disturbing thriller, The Butcher is a must read for anyone who likes their thrillers dark and twisted. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jennifer Hillier imagines the worst about people and then writes about it. Born and raised in Toronto and a proud Canadian, she spent eight years in the Seattle area, which is where all her books are set.

She’s the USA Today, Globe and Mail, and Toronto Star bestselling author of THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK. Her six previous novels include LITTLE SECRETS, which was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the Anthony Award, and JAR OF HEARTS, which won the ITW Thriller Award for Best Hardcover Novel and was nominated for the Anthony and Macavity Awards.

Her latest book, THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK, is available now.

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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 REVIEW: You Killed Me First by John Marrs

Published March 4th, 2025 by Thomas and Mercer
Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Mystery, Suspense

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

“Electrifying and page-turning, John Marrs is not to be missed.”―#1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden

“This is trademark John Marrs and then some.”―Sunday Times bestselling author Andrea Mara

Three women. Three smouldering secrets. Who will make it out alive?

It’s 5 November, and a woman awakens to a nightmare. Bound and gagged, she lies trapped in the heart of a towering bonfire. As the smoke thickens, panic sets in – she’s moments away from being engulfed in flames. How did it come to this?

Rewind eleven months: Margot, a faded TV star, and her long-suffering friend Anna watch as glamorous Liv and her flawless family move into their street. The three women soon fabricate the perfect pretence of friendship, but each harbours her own deadly secret – and newcomer Liv senses something is terribly wrong beneath the polished exteriors.

As cracks widen in the veneer of perfection and lies escalate out of control, tension ignites. Bonfire Night is approaching and someone is set to burn…But who will it be?

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MY REVIEW:

You Killed Me First begins with what has to be the best opening of any thriller I’ve read: It’s November 5th and a woman wakes up in a cold, dark place. She’s bound and can barely see a thing. She hears the crackling of fire and slowly realises she’s in the centre of a huge bonfire. But who is in the bonfire? And will she escape? 

It’s no secret that I’m a huge John Marrs fan. His books are a must for any thriller fan and he just keeps getting better with each book. But he’s outdone himself with this thrilling masterpiece. Intense, twisty, psychologically rich and laugh-out-loud funny, this is an easy five-star read. Expertly written, densely plotted and complex, the story is told with Marrs’ trademark wit, sharpness and cleverly choreographed twists that just kept coming, even when I was sure it was all over. After the prologue, we go back a year and the chapters countdown to Bonfire Night, raising the heart-pounding tension as the date gets closer and we know someone will end up inside that bonfire. But who? And why? I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure it all out. And that final line! Sheer perfection. 

The story centres around three women: Margot, Anna and Liv, who all live on the same street. But I wouldn’t exactly call them friends. More like frenemies. These flawed women are bitchy and have secrets they are trying to keep hidden. But I loved reading them. They are the epitome of the bitchiness and cattiness that can happen in female friendships and it was so much fun to see John let his inner bitch fly through these characters. I couldn’t decide who I loved to hate most. But they aren’t one-dimensional and Marrs also explores their backstories, making us confront all the shades of grey behind who they are and the things they’ve done so that we understand their motivations. 

Suspenseful, complex, twisty and totally addictive, this is a must-have addition for your TBR. 

Rating: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

John Marrs is an author and former journalist based in London and Northamptonshire. After spending his career interviewing celebrities from the worlds of television, film and music for numerous national newspapers and magazines, he is now a full-time author. His books include No1 bestseller and Netflix series The One, The Passengers, award winning What Lies Between Us and The Good Samaritan.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

BOOK REVIEW: The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue

Published July 23rd, 2020 by Picador
Historical Fiction, Medical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Historical Romance, Lesbian Literature

Welcome to my review for this powerful and unforgettable story. Thanks to Picador for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Three days in a maternity ward at the height of the Great Flu. The Pull of the Stars is the Sunday Times Bestseller from the acclaimed author of The Wonder and Room.

‘An immersive, unforgettable fever-dream of a novel’ – The Times

The old world dying on its feet, a new one struggling to be born . . .

Dublin, 1918. In a country doubly ravaged by war and disease, Nurse Julia Power works at an understaffed hospital in the city centre, where expectant mothers who have come down with an unfamiliar flu are quarantined together. Into Julia’s regimented world step two outsiders: Doctor Kathleen Lynn, on the run from the police, and a young volunteer helper, Bridie Sweeney.

In the darkness and intensity of this tiny ward, over the course of three days, these women change each other’s lives in unexpected ways. They lose patients to this baffling pandemic, but they also shepherd new life into a fearful world. With tireless tenderness and humanity, carers and mothers alike somehow do their impossible work.

In The Pull of the Stars, Emma Donoghue tells an unforgettable and deeply moving story of love and loss.

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MY REVIEW:

Dublin, 1918. Ireland is a country ravaged by war and in the grip of a pandemic. At an understaffed hospital in the city centre, we follow Nurse Julia Power as she cares for expectant mothers who have contracted the flu. She is helped by Birdie Sweeney, an inexperienced volunteer helper, and Doctor Kathleen Lynn, an Irish Nationalist on the run from the police. Over the course of three days, we see them battle to give patients the best care, bring new life into the world, and tragically lose lives to this mysterious disease. 

Beautiful, moving, harrowing and immersive, The Pull of the Stars is an unforgettable piece of historical fiction. Exquisitely written and meticulously researched, Emma Donoghue had me hooked from the first pages, transporting me into Julia’s world and making me feel like I was in the room with her. Likeable and easy to root for, Julia was a great protagonist. I loved the care she had for all of her patients, her passion for nursing and that she was refusing to conform to society by staying unmarried as she turned 30. The other characters are equally as compelling. Birdie was naive  but enthusiastic and willing to learn. And my heart broke as we learned more about what she’d been through growing up in religious institutions. Dr Kathleen Lynn, who is based on a real person, was modern, visionary and unafraid to do whatever it takes to further her cause. Each of the women are strong in their own ways and I loved seeing the effect they had on Julia’s life in just three short days.

1918 was a dangerous time to be a woman, especially in a country like Ireland where religious beliefs meant there was an expectation to marry young, an aversion to contraception and a societal expectation to churn out babies back to back regardless of whether or not you wanted to or could afford them. Donoghue explores these issues along with others such as the horrific realities of the Magdalene laundries and religious institutions, and the terrible infant mortality rate, especially amongst poorer families. The characters represent different social groups and offer us an example of many different lives. There are victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence, impoverished and malnourished women struggling to give birth for a twelfth time and terrified teenage first-time mothers. Each of these women are fighting to survive at a time when the mortality rate was 15% and we see successful births and tragic losses of both mothers and babies.

One of the things I love about historical fiction is getting a glimpse of life at the time the book is set and as someone who has always been fascinated by medical history, I enjoyed learning about how different treatments and knowledge were at the start of the twentieth century, while also seeing how knowledge about hygiene and medicine were growing at the time and helped to save lives. I appreciated that Donoghue didn’t shy away from the more shocking and gruesome aspects of nursing and the complications that can arise in obstetrics, although it may be too intense for some readers. 

Highly recommended. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born in Dublin in 1969, Emma Donoghue is a writer of contemporary and historical fiction whose novels include the international bestseller “Room” (her screen adaptation was nominated for four Oscars), “Frog Music”, “Slammerkin,” “The Sealed Letter,” “Landing,” “Life Mask,” “Hood,” and “Stirfry.” Her story collections are “Astray”, “The Woman Who Gave Birth to Rabbits,” “Kissing the Witch,” and “Touchy Subjects.” She also writes literary history, and plays for stage and radio. She lives in London, Ontario, with her partner and their two children.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Categories
Audio Books Beat the Backlist book reviews

BOOK REVIEW: A Tidy Ending by Joanna Cannon

Published April 28th, 2022 by The Borough Press
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Fiction

Welcome to my review for this compelling black comedy. Thank you Borough Press for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

MEET LINDA.

Linda lives a nice, normal life, on a nice, normal street with Terry, her perfectly ordinary husband.

Linda’s not like everyone else, she keeps herself to herself. But she’s good at solving puzzles and there are times she sees things other people might have overlooked.

Because nothing on Cavendish Avenue is quite as it seems. People have started to go missing in the neighbourhood and Linda will soon discover that some secrets can’t stay buried forever…

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MY REVIEW:

In an ordinary English neighbourhood local girls are being murdered by someone the papers have dubbed The Hexford Stranger. As suspicions swirl and everyone is trying to figure out who could be responsible we follow Linda, a normal woman who is one of the residents. She lives with her husband, Terry, and those who know her would say she keeps to herself. But Linda also notices things that other people miss. And lately she’s been noticing strange things that she slowly begins to piece together….

Darkly funny, sinister and deeply human, A Tidy Ending is a captivating and atmospheric read that feels like  peeking out of your living room window. Deftly written, skillfully constructed and acutely observed, Joanna Cannon vividly transported me into Linda’s world. Cleverly concealed clues are dropped like breadcrumbs for us to follow, and I don’t mind admitting that I missed a lot of them. And that ending! My jaw dropped. As Linda says repeatedly, appearances can be deceptive.

Now, we need to talk about Linda. Quirky, cringey, sad, lonely and needy, she’s a memorable and compelling but not particularly likeable protagonist, though as I love an unreliable narrator I did find myself warming to her as the story went on. In a loveless marriage, ignored by her husband, put down by her mother and with no friends, you can’t help but feel for her, especially as her traumatic backstory is revealed. She is also socially unaware, cringey, and easy to take advantage of, often making me want to ride in and rescue her when others were mistreating her. 

Tense, twisty, complex and full of heart, this is an entertaining domestic noir with heaps of black humour and an appropriately tidy ending. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to get 60 days of listening for free*

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Joanna Cannon graduated from Leicester Medical School and worked as a hospital doctor, before specialising in psychiatry. Her novels, The Trouble With Goats and Sheep and Three Things About Elsie, were both Sunday Times bestsellers and Richard and Judy picks. Her new novel, A Tidy Ending, was published in April 2022. She lives in the Peak District with her dog, Lewis.

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Waterstones* | Amazon*
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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: The Other People by C. B. Everett

Published April 10th, 2025 by Simon & Schuster UK
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Pscyhological Thriller

Welcome to my review for this riveting locked-room mystery. Thank you to Black Crow PR and Simon and Schuster UK for sending me a proof copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

And Then There Were None  meets The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.

Ten strangers.
An old dark house.
A killer picking them off one by one.
And a missing girl who’s running out of time. . .

Ten strangers wake up inside an old, locked house. They have no recollection of how they got there.
In order to escape, they have to solve the disappearance of a young woman.
But a killer also stalks the halls of the house, and soon the body count starts to rise.
Who are these strangers? Why were they chosen? Why would someone want to kill them?
And who – or what – is the Beast in the Cellar?

Forget what you think you know.

Because while you can trust yourself, can you really trust THE OTHER PEOPLE?

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MY REVIEW:

Ten strangers wake up locked inside an old house with no recollection of how they got there. To escape, they must solve the disappearance of a young woman in the next 12 hours. And that’s not all. Someone wants them dead and soon they are picking them off one by one…

Dark, mysterious, funny and heart-poundingly tense, The Other People is a captivating locked-room murder mystery filled with comedy. C. B. Everett showcases himself as an author to watch with this sensational debut. It jumps straight into the action and then barely pauses to catch a breath, keeping me guessing as I read on tenterhooks. Masterfully written, fast-paced, cleverly plotted, complex and intricately interwoven, Everett had me in his thrall from the first page, totally pulling me in and making me fall for his red herrings. I loved how it addresses the reader throughout, making me feel part of the story and pulling me in so deep that I felt as trapped as one of the characters and unable to leave until all my questions had been answered. 

The story is narrated by a large cast of compelling, flawed and unreliable characters, giving the reader a glimpse inside their minds but leaving us unsure who or what we can trust. While all of them are well written, I have to say that, for me, it was the Beast in the Cellar who stole the show. Witty, sarcastic and candid, this cryptic character talks to the reader, taking us through the mystery, mocking familiar thriller tropes, philosophising, and warning us to be careful who and what we trust. I lived for their scenes and often found myself laughing out loud during them. 

Another thing I loved about this book is how unashamedly it is itself. It is proud of being a murder mystery and Everett reveled in using the familiar murder mystery tropes. I also liked how he explored some of the deeper questions surrounding the genre, such as whether or not we mourn unlikeable victims, and how we want more than ‘just a killer’, preferring someone with motives and inner turmoil to someone who simply wants to kill. 

Darkly funny, claustrophobic and suspenseful, this is a first-class thriller that is not to be missed. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

C.B. Everett is the pen name for author Martyn Waites. He trained at the Birmingham School of Speech and Drama and worked as an actor for many years before becoming a writer. His novels include the critically acclaimed Joe Donovan series, The Old Religion, and The White Room. In 2013, he was chosen to write Angel of Death, the official sequel to Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black, and in 2014 won the Grand Prix Roman Etranger for Born Under Punches. He has been nominated for every major British and French crime fiction award and has also enjoyed international commercial success with eight novels written under the name Tania Carver.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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

BOOK REVIEW: Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons

Published August 3rd, 2023 by Manilla Press
Historical Ficiton, Romance Novel, Retelling

Welcome to my review for this dark and irresistable retelling. Thank you to Manilla Press for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

One of the most anticipated novels of the year – the captivating and powerful untelling of Romeo & Juliet . . .

The first time Romeo Montague sees young Rosaline Capulet he falls instantly in love. Rosaline, headstrong and independent, is unsure of Romeo’s attentions but with her father determined that she join a convent, this handsome and charming stranger offers her the chance of a different life.

Soon though, Rosaline begins to doubt all that Romeo has told her. She breaks off the match, only for Romeo’s gaze to turn towards her cousin, thirteen-year-old Juliet. Gradually Rosaline realises that it is not only Juliet’s reputation at stake, but her life.

With only hours remaining before she will be banished behind the nunnery walls, will Rosaline save Juliet from her Romeo? Or can this story only ever end one way?

A subversive, powerful untelling of Shakespeare’s best-known tale, narrated by a fierce, forgotten voice: this is Rosaline’s story.

Hamnet meets My Dark Vanessa in this fierce, feminist, intensely gripping novel; captivating and chillingly relevant, FAIR ROSALINE takes everything you thought you knew about Romeo and Juliet and turns it on its head . . .

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MY REVIEW:

We all know the story of Romeo and Juliet. Or, at least we think we do. 

Spellbinding, poignant, dark and irresistible, Fair Rosaline is a feminist ‘untelling’ of the famous love story. And once you’ve read it you will never look at the much-loved classic the same way again. Told from the perspective of Rosaline, Juliet’s cousin and the girl who Romeo romanced before her, this version is a story of love, sex and coercion.

Beautifully written, Natasha Solomon’s poetic prose is filled with emotion whilst also setting the scene vividly. The streets of Italy come alive, the characters leap from the pages and you can feel the heartache of forbidden love on every page. Rosaline isn’t a character I’d given a lot of thought to before this book, but I loved hearing what Solomons imagined to be her story and connected with her quickly. Meanwhile, we meet a very different Romeo in this book to the one we’ve seen before. This Romeo is not a hero, but a predator, who love-bombs, gaslights and controls, while Rosaline and Juliet are his naive prey. It’s powerful and thought-provoking, making me question everything I thought I knew about a story I’d long loved. 

Fierce, bold, complex and compelling, this powerful retelling is a must-read.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to listen for 60 days free using my affiliate link*

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

From Natasha’s Amazon Author Page: I’ve always worked as a writer more or less. After University I completed an MPhil in Eighteenth century literature at the University of Glasgow and then began a doctorate researching Women’s Romantic Poetry and the Domestic Muse.

Unfortunately, I became un-stuck on a chapter on Verse Letters and so began writing my first novel as way of avoiding correcting the footnotes. My entire career to date has been an extremely elaborate form of avoiding that tricky chapter…

I still love research and writing immersive fiction and hate footnotes. I live in Dorset, in a thatched cottage with my husband — the award winning children’s writer David Solomons – and our children and Labrador, Mr Bingley. Sometimes David and I write screenplays together. Then we argue about them.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx