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BOOK REVIEW: In the Family Way by Laney Katz Becker

Published June 3rd, 2025 by HQ
Historical Fiction, Domestic Ficiton, Coming-of-Age Story

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A warm, uplifting and empowering novel following a group of suburban housewives and the pregnant teenager they welcome into their fold as they find their place on the cusp of liberation. For fans of Lessons in Chemistry or The Help.

*****

Ohio, 1965. Every week a group of suburban housewives meet for their Tuesday card game, sharing gossip, advice and confidences.

Lily Berg has the perfect life. She’s married to a doctor, with an infant daughter and another on the way. She can’t let her husband know she’s struggling but she knows she can trust her friends.

Becca, Lily’s best friend and next-door neighbour, is everything Lily isn’t. She’s messy and brash and never on time for anything. When she falls pregnant with a fourth child she desperately can’t afford, she turns to Lily.

Although Lily’s little sister, Rose, got married last year, she’s not ready to give up her independence. Her modern marriage appears to be perfect, but behind closed doors things are very different.

And Betsy is fifteen, pregnant and frightened. When Lily takes her in, from the local home for unwed mothers, she has no idea how much it will shake up all of their lives.

Over six months, the group will be put to the test by secrets, forced to make impossible decisions and face up to a society that isn’t ready for women to have their own dreams and ambitions.

Set against the backdrop of 1960s America, In the Family Way is a timely novel that captures the experiences of women on the cusp of liberation as they grapple with timeless questions of womanhood and the role we play as wives, mothers, and people in our own right.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

A poignant, powerful, uplifting and thought-provoking read, this consuming debut follows a group of suburban housewives and a pregnant unwed teenager they welcome into their fold. Set in 1965, this is an America where women were seen as wives and mothers with little thought given to who they were as people in their own right. They are still at the mercy of men, have no rights and no control over their bodies. On the cusp of those rights finally being made law, Lainey Katz Becker explores the harrowing reality of marriage, pregnancy and motherhood when the men make all the rules.

Beautifully written, Ms. Katz Becker expertly combines raw honesty, emotion and hope, creating a story that may be hard to read at times but also makes you laugh and lifts your spirits. I was enthralled from the start and couldn’t put the book down once I’d started, reading it in under a day. I was completely invested in the lives of these women and needed to know how things turned out for them.

The characters are charismatic and likeable, pulling me into their world and making me care about what happens to them. I loved the relationships between the women and how they made such a positive difference in each other’s lives, especially Lily and Betsy. 

It was devastating how little Betsy knew about her own body and pregnancy, and I was so thankful she had Lily there to support and educate her. 

Exploring sensitive topics such as pregnancy, miscarriage, abortion, rape and domestic abuse, and the wider issues of women’s rights, body autonomy, misogyny and patriarchal society, the story serves as a reminder of why it is so vital to hold onto these rights and how dangerous life was for women without them. Without access to contraception or safe abortions women were dying. And without easy divorces women were trapped in abusive marriages and more likely to be murdered by their husbands. It is terrifying both how recently the book is set and how timely the story is in our current climate.

A touching and heartwarming read that will linger long after you turn that final page, this is a must-read.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Laney Katz Becker is an award-winning author and writer. Her debut novel, Dear Stranger, Dearest Friend was a Literary Guild alternate selection, recommended by Library Journal and featured on CBS’ Saturday Early Show, among other media outlets.

Laney is also the author of the non-fiction anthology, Three Times Chai, a collection of rabbis favorite stories. Her writing career also includes working as an award-winning advertising copywriter, freelance journalist and, most recently, for more than a decade, as a literary agent.

When she’s not writing, Laney enjoys drawing, sewing, reading, playing tennis, long walks (while listening to podcasts or audio books) and playing canasta. A native Ohioan, Laney is a graduate of Northwestern University. Although she lived in Westchester County, NY for most of her adult life, she currently resides on the east coast of South Florida where she lives with her husband and their Havanese. She has two married children and two grandchildren.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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

BOOK REVIEW: A Poisoner’s Tale by Cathryn Kemp

Published July 11th, 2024 by Bantam
Historical Fiction, Historical Thriller, Gothic Fiction, Fairy Tale, Adventure Fiction, Supernatural Fiction, Biographical Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A dark and powerful feminist retelling of the best serial killer you’ve never heard of . Inspired by the true story of Giulia Tofana.

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Rome, 1656

In Rome’s shadowy backstreets lies an apothecary’s shop – a place for women to take their heartbreaks and troubles. Herbs for childbirth. Tarot readings to tell their fortunes. An undetectable poison that can kill in four drops.

Alongside her circle of female poisoners, Giulia Tofana dispenses her deadly potion to free the downtrodden women of the city from their abusive husbands. A path she’s determined to follow after a harrowing childhood in Palermo.

But even in a time of plague, it does not go unnoticed when the men begin to fall like flies.

With the Holy Office of the Inquisition on her tail, Giulia is in more danger than ever. . How far will she go for the women who need her help?

MURDERER OR SAVIOUR? YOU DECIDE.

A POISONER’S TALE explores the realities of what it is like to be a woman who rebels against society and takes the reader on a tense, challenging but spellbinding journey.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Rome, 1656. Five women stand on a scaffold about to be executed. They are accused of selling poison to the women of Rome so that they could poison their husbands, killing hundreds, maybe even thousands. One of those women is Giulia Tofana. And this is her story.

Giulia Tofana. The first female serial killer. I’d never heard of her and I imagine not many of you have either. But you’ll not forget her after reading this magnificent debut. Atmospheric, dark, powerful and immersive, this captivating story is brimming with female rage, power and revenge. Cathryn Kemp showcases herself as an author to watch with this skillfully written tale and I’m now even more excited to read her second book soon. Exquisitely researched, it is rich in historic detail, transporting you to the 17th Century so vividly you can smell the stench of the jail and feel yourself walking Rome’s cobbled streets. I was hooked, on the edge of my seat and unable to put this one down once I’d started reading. 

I consider myself a true crime and history buff, but somehow Giulia’s story had escaped me until I read this book. Now I want to know more! Feisty and independent, she is a strong woman who went through some terrible things and had to fend for herself from a young age. Giulia came from a long line of healers and poison makers, the recipe for her deadly cocktail passed down through the generations in order to help women escape their abusive or cruel husbands. This was a time where women had no rights and were the property of men, so murder was seen as their only way to escape abuse and women like Giulia, who lived free of the ownership of any man, were looked upon with suspicion and hatred. Despite her deadly deeds, I linked Giulia and her circle of poisoners. And I didn’t blame the women who came to her for desperately trying to escape a life of hell. I’ve been there and am so thankful I could leave without having to resort to murderous measures. 

I think this is a book that is best discovered for yourself, so I won’t say more about the plot. But I will say that this is an absolute must-read for anyone with an interest in history, true crime or feminist stories. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

Thank you Bantam for sending me a proof copy of this book in exchange for my hoenst reivew.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Cathryn Kemp’s first novel, bestselling  A Poisoner’s Tale, won the HWA Debut Crown Award 2025 and has been published internationally in the U.S., Canada, Italy, France, Brazil and Portuguese speaking territories, Vietnam and globally.

Cathryn’s second novel, They Can’t Burn Us All, is published with Penguin Random House in August 2026.

Her personal memoir, Coming Clean (2012), won the Big Red Read Prize for Non-Fiction. Cathryn co-founded charity, The Painkiller Addiction Information Network (PAIN), which has successfully lobbied Government, including the House of Lords and the APPG for dependency on prescribed medicines. 

Cathryn is a Sunday Times and Amazon Number 1 (in four categories) bestselling ghostwriter, with a prolific career writing celebrity, inspirational, true crime, addiction and nostalgia titles.

She has written across the full spectrum of the British and international press, and has appeared on television and radio, including ITV’s This Morning, Lorraine and Panorama, BBC’s Women’s Hour and regional BBC radio stations across the UK.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

BOOK REVIEW: Prize Women by Caroline Lea

Published April 27th, 2023 by Michael Joseph
Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Thriller, Domestic Fiction, Romance Novel

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Based on the incredible true story of The Great Stork Derby, Prize Women is the profoundly moving novel that sheds light on a scandalous moment in history just as relevant today
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Toronto, 1926.

A childless millionaire leaves behind an astonishing will: the recipient of his fortune will be decided in a contest known as ‘The Great Stork Derby’. His money will go to the winner: the woman who bears the most children in the ten years after his death.

Lily di Marco is young, pregnant, and terrified of her husband. Fleeing to Toronto, she arrives on the doorstep of glamorous free spirit Mae Thebault. At a time when men hold all the power, Lily and Mae look out for each other. But as their friendship grows, Lily wonders if there’s more to Mae – and her past – than she has been told . . .

And as the Great Depression bites, the Stork Derby contest – with its alluring prize – proves too good to ignore for Lily and Mae, each living hand to mouth.

These best friends are now fierce rivals. But if only one woman can win, what will the contest cost the other?

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

Toronto, 1926. When eccentric millionaire Charles Vance Miller dies aged 82, he plays a final joke in his will and leaves his fortune to the woman who has the most babies over the next ten years. It was known as ‘The Great Stalk Derby’. The story follows two women – Lily and Mae – who take part in the derby, following their lives over the decade of the race through all of their trials, tribulations and celebrations. 

Caroline Lea has been one of my favourite historical fiction authors ever since I read her debut and I will buy anything she writes. This book has languished on my shelves unread for a while but I’m glad I finally read it. Exquisitely written, cleverly crafted and meticulously researched, Caroline held me in her thrall and I lost myself in the story. I love a book based on real events but had never heard of The Great Stalk Derby before reading this and admit I found the idea quite horrifying. But this story peels back the complex layers of the lives of the women who took part, revealing an evocative, poignant, scandalous and unforgettable story of sisterhood, strength and survival. Caroline also explores misogyny, abuse, lack of bodily autonomy and poverty, showing how they inform the women’s lives and the number of children they had. It’s hard to read at times but Caroline created the perfect balance of honesty and sensitivity, making everything included feel crucial to understanding these women.

The story is told by Lily and Mae, two women who take part in the derby that were based on real women. I loved these ladies and their friendship, which is as real and raw as the rest of their story. Lily is an Italian immigrant who arrives in Toronto with her young son, Matteo, after fleeing her abusive husband. She is also pregnant. Through a family she meets on her journey she is introduced to Mae, a wealthy woman with five children and another on the way. Mae hires Lily as a nanny and we watch as they develop first a friendship and then something more. The story is told in dual timelines and when we meet them in court in 1937 they talk of a falling out and betrayal, leaving us wondering what shattered their strong bond. The truth unfolds slowly with the court scenes adding an extra layer of tension and keeping me guessing about past events. I was rooting for them at every step. It also made me thankful to live in this era and with a stronger sense of how important women’s rights, bodily autonomy and access to contraception reproductive healthcare really is. Lily and Mae had none of those resources and the result is devastating.

A gorgeous story that will stay with you long after reading, add this to your TBR now. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Caroline Lea grew up in Jersey and gained a First in English Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Warwick, where she has also taught on the Creative Writing degree. Her fiction and poetry have been longlisted for the BBC Short Story Prize and Sunday Times Short Story Award, and shortlisted for the Bridport Prize, the Fish Short Story Competition and various flash fiction prizes. Her novel, THE GLASS WOMAN, was published to critical acclaim and shortlisted for the HWA Debut Crown. Her next novel, THE METAL HEART, was Scottish Waterstones Book of the Month. Her most recent novel, PRIZE WOMEN was featured and acclaimed on BBC Women’s Hour. Caroline is passionate about helping other writers to grow and succeed: she teaches creative writing both privately and, currently, for Writing West Midlands and is often recruited to give talks at literary festivals and events. She currently lives in Warwick with her partner and children and is working on her next novel about Mary Shelley writing Frankenstein. Her books often feature ordinary women in extraordinary circumstances.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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

BOOK REVIEW: Butter by Asako Yuzuki

Published February 29th, 2024 by 4th Estate
Crime Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Fiction, Translated Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

WINNER OF WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024

SHORTLISTED FOR THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS DEBUT NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2025

THE NUMBER 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

A BBC BETWEEN THE COVERS BOOK CLUB PICK

‘A full-fat, Michelin-starred treat’ THE SUNDAY TIMES

‘I have been glued to Asako Yuzuki’s new novel Butter’ NIGEL SLATER

The cult Japanese bestseller about a female gourmet cook and serial killer and the journalist intent on cracking her case, inspired by a true story, and translated by Polly Barton.

There are two things that I can simply not tolerate: feminists and margarine.

Gourmet cook Manako Kajii sits in Tokyo Detention Centre convicted of the serial murders of lonely businessmen, who she is said to have seduced with her delicious home cooking. The case has captured the nation’s imagination but Kajii refuses to speak with the press, entertaining no visitors. That is, until journalist Rika Machida writes a letter asking for her recipe for beef stew and Kajii can’t resist writing back.

Rika, the only woman in her news office, works late each night, rarely cooking more than ramen. As the visits unfold between her and the steely Kajii, they are closer to a masterclass in food than journalistic research. Rika hopes this gastronomic exchange will help her soften Kajii but it seems that she might be the one changing. With each meal she eats, something is awakening in her body, might she and Kaji have more in common than she once thought?

Inspired by the real case of the convicted con woman and serial killer, “The Konkatsu Killer”, Asako Yuzuki’s Butter is a vivid, unsettling exploration of misogyny, obsession, romance and the transgressive pleasures of food in Japan.

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

Food and murder. The perfect recipe for a great read.

Manako Kaji is a convicted serial killer who used a dating service to pick her victims, who she seduced with her delicious home cooking. Her case captured the nation’s imagination but she has always refused to speak to the press. Until journalist Rika Machida sent her a letter asking for her recipe for beef stew. After all, she may not want to talk about her case, but Manako will always talk about food. What follows is a mesmerising story about food, sex, murder, misogyny and obsession that is impossible to forget. 

Captivating, mysterious, sensuous, quirky and uncompromising, Butter is a magnificent debut. This cult Japanese bestseller was a highly  anticipated read for me. I finally read it with my book club last year and seeing all the hype on bookstagram had me even more excited to finally experience it for myself. I wasn’t disappointed. Asako Yuzuki is a masterful storyteller who has created a love letter to good food mixed with mystery, wit, tension, murder and feminist rage. A feast for your senses, food plays a huge role and there are an array of mouthwatering descriptions of food that made my stomach rumble. Asako also looks at the role food plays in sensuality and pleasure, exploring how eating can be a sensual experience or used to seduce, as Manako did with her victims. But it also explores Japan’s beauty culture and obsession with being slim, leading to lots of criticism of Manako’s curvier appearance and Asako explores the societal expectations and sexism that accompany it. 

The characters in this book are richly drawn and unforgettable. The two main characters are strong and formidable women who I loved reading. Rika was likeable and easy to root for, and her hunger to interview Manako and fascination with the case was relatable to this true crime aficionado. Meanwhile Manako herself is an unsettling character that lingers in your mind. And knowing she’s based on the real serial killer, ‘The Konkatsu Killer’, only makes her all the more terrifying. 

I devoured this darkly delicious thriller hungrily, reading it in under a day. It’s easy to see why it took  the literary world and bookstagram by storm and has received numerous awards. I can’t wait to read more from Asako.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

Thank you to 4th Estate for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Asako Yuzuki (柚木 麻子, Yuzuki Asako) is a Japanese writer. She won the All Yomimono Prize for New Writers and the Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize. Asako has been nominated multiple times for the Naoki Prize, and her novels have been adapted for television, radio, and film.

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ABOUT THE TRANSLATOR:

Polly Barton is a writer and Japanese translator based in Bristol. In 2019, she won the Fitzcarraldo Editions Essay Prize, and her debut book Fifty Sounds , a personal dictionary of the Japanese language, was published in the UK by Fitzcarraldo Editions in April 2021. In 2022, Fifty Sounds was shortlisted for the 2022 Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year.

Her translations have featured in Granta, Catapult, The White Review and Words Without Borders and her full length translations include Spring Garden by Tomoka Shibasaki (Pushkin Press), Where the Wild Ladies Are by Aoko Matsuda (Tilted Axis Press/Soft Skull), which was shortlisted for the Ray Bradbury Prize, and There’s No Such Thing as an Easy Job by Kikuko Tsumura (Bloomsbury).

Her new book, Porn: An Oral History , will be published by Fitzcarraldo Editions (UK) in March 2023 and La Nave di Teseo (Italy).

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2026

BOOK REVIEW: Dead in the Water by John Marrs

Published January 20th, 2026 by Thomas & Mercer
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

From the multi-million copy bestselling author comes a chilling tale about life flashing before your eyes―including terrifying scenes you don’t remember.

When Damon survives a near-drowning, his life flashes before his eyes. Every memory is crystal clear―except one. A dead boy. A face he can’t place. A moment he doesn’t remember living. At first he tells himself it’s a trick of the mind. But everything else he saw was real. So why not this?

With his waking life stalked by the disturbing scene, confusion quickly turns to obsession. Desperate for answers, Damon digs into his fractured past, and becomes convinced that the only way to remember…is to die again. And again. And again. When he meets a perfect stranger who’s all too willing to help, the stage is set for his dice with death.

But if this is what it takes to uncover the truth, maybe some memories are better left buried…

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

John Marrs has been one of my favourite thriller authors ever since I read The One in 2018. I’ve read almost all of his books and each one is a riveting rollercoaster ride that keeps me on the edge of my seat. His latest offering, Dead in the Water, continues his perfect run, showcasing why he’s a thriller author I’ll always recommend.

When Damon survives almost drowning his life flashes before his eyes. One of the things he sees is a dead boy he doesn’t recognise but for some reason he thinks he killed him. He tells himself it was just a trick of the mind. But as he struggles to move past his near-death experience, he is haunted by what he saw. He doesn’t know if what he’s seeing is real or a fabrication of his imagination, and he worries he’s going mad. 

Damon begins to delve into his fractured past, sure that it is the only way to find out the truth. But the only way he can get there is to die again. So he enlists the help of a stranger who is willing to help. But is the stranger telling the truth about their motives? As he dies again and again, long-buried memories begin to resurface. But as more of those memories haunt him, Damon begins to wonder if some things are better left buried after all…

I love dark, twisty, nerve-shredding thrillers that you can’t put down. And John Marrs delivers again with this bingeable book. Starting out with a trademark chilling prologue that sets the scene for what is to come, John had me in his thrall from start to finish and I devoured it in under a day. The writing is razor sharp, the plot expertly choreographed and intricately woven, the twists surprising, and the characters richly drawn and fun to read. Damon is a likeable protagonist who is easy to root for, but there’s a sense of unreliability because of his hidden memories that adds to the suspense. I loved seeing the return of one of my favourite characters from one of John’s previous books. Don’t worry, I don’t give spoilers. But I will say that readers of his backlist are in for a real treat.

Thriller lovers, order this one now because it’s going to be one of your 2026 highlights. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Thank you to John Marrs and Netgalley for sending me a copy of the audiobook, and to Tandem for my physical copy in exchange for my honest review.

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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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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

REVIEW: The Confession by Jessie Burton

Published September 19th, 2019 by Picador
Historical Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Lesbian Literature

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BOOK DESCRIPTION:

A Sunday Times bestseller and Richard and Judy Bookclub pick, The Confession is an absorbing tale of secrets and self-discovery from Jessie Burton, the million-copy bestselling author of The Miniaturist and The Muse.

When Elise Morceau meets the writer Constance Holden, she quickly falls under her spell. Connie is sophisticated, bold and alluring – everything Elise feels she is not. She follows Connie to LA, but in this city of strange dreams and 1980s razzle-dazzle, Elise feels even more out of her depth and makes an impulsive decision that will change her life forever.

Three decades later in London, Rose Simmons is trying to uncover the story of her mother, who disappeared when she was a baby. Having learned that the last person to see her was a now reclusive novelist, Rose finds herself at the door of Constance Holden’s house in search of a confession . . .

‘Without doubt one of the best novels of recent years’ – Elizabeth Day, author of How to Fail.

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

Elise Morceau meets Constance Holden on a winter’s afternoon on Hampstead Heath in 1980 and quickly falls under her spell. Connie is a successful writer and when she relocates to LA while her novel is made into a movie, Elise follows her there. And while LA is the city of dreams, Elise feels out of place and makes a life-changing impulsive decision.

Three decades later, Rose Simmons is trying to finally unveil the story of her mother, who disappeared when she was a baby. She learns that the last person to see her was Constance Holden, who is now a reclusive novelist. So, Rose travels to her house and knocks at her door in search of a confession…

A beautiful journey of self discovery, a timely exploration of motherhood, an enthralling love story and an ode to storytelling, The Confession is tender, moving and achingly real. This one had been on my shelves ever since I received a proof in 2019 and I’d picked it up a few times. But the time wasn’t right until January this year when the stars aligned and I finally got to enjoy this riveting tale. Jessie Burton is a masterful storyteller and it is no secret that I’m a huge fan. Once again she has crafted a story written with lyrical prose, evocative imagery and a plot that is intricately interwoven. I was quickly pulled into the story and lost myself in the world Ms. Burton had created. 

The story moves seamlessly between Rosie in 2017 and Elise in 1980, the mystery slowly unfurling as decades-old secrets are finally revealed. The characters are richly drawn, complex and compelling, with Rose having a special place in my heart. I adored the love story between Elise and Constance, even if it did lead Elise to make some questionable decisions. But I liked that nuance. That Elise was neither angel nor sinner, but a flawed person who lived in the shades of grey that each of us spend most of our lives. It made the story feel all the more relatable and real whilst also enabling Burton to explore topics such as the devastation caused by deception and the consequences of the choices we make. 

A powerful and tender story from an exquisite storyteller, I highly recommend this book.

Rating: ✮✮✮✰

Thank you to Picador for sending me a proof copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Jessie Burton is the author of four novels, The Miniaturist, The Muse, The Confession, and The House of Fortune.

The Miniaturist and The Muse were Sunday Times no.1 bestsellers in both hardback and paperback, New York Times bestsellers, and Radio 4’s Book at Bedtime. The Miniaturist went on to sell over a million copies in its year of publication, was Christmas no.1 in the UK, National Book Awards Book of the Year, and Waterstones Book of the Year 2014.  In 2017 it was adapted as a two-part miniseries on BBC One, starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Alex Hassell and Romola Garai, screened over Christmas, and now available on DVD and streaming services. The Confession was an instant Sunday Times bestseller, and Radio 4 Book at Bedtime​. The House of Fortune was a Sunday Times no.1 bestseller in hardback, and the paperback was released in July 2023.

Her novels have been published in 40 languages.

Jessie’s first book for children, The Restless Girls, was published in September 2018, and Medusa, her second, in October 2021. Medusa was shortlisted for the 2023 Carnegie Medal for Children’s Writing. ​Her story ‘Daphne and the Doughnuts’ appeared in The Book of Hopes, a collection of children’s stories published in 2020, from which all profits go to the NHS. 

As a non-fiction writer, she has written essays and reviews for The New York Times, Harpers Bazaar UK, The Wall Street Journal, The Independent, Vogue, Elle, Red, Grazia, Lonely Planet Traveller and The Spectator. Harpers Bazaar US and Stylist have published her short stories. You can read her answers to the TLS’ 20 Questions on books and writing here.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

BOOK REVIEW: The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn

Published March 22nd, 2022 by Harper Collins UK
Historical Fiction, Thriller, War Story, Drama, Biographical Fiction, Spy Fiction, Holiday Ficiton

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

The brand-new historical novel based on a true story from the bestselling author of The Rose Code and The Alice Network

*Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee: Best Historical Fiction 2022*

In the snowbound city of Kiev, aspiring historian Mila Pavlichenko’s life revolves around her young son – until Hitler’s invasion of Russia changes everything. Suddenly, she and her friends must take up arms to save their country from the Fuhrer’s destruction.

Handed a rifle, Mila discovers a gift – and months of blood, sweat and tears turn the young woman into a deadly sniper: the most lethal hunter of Nazis.

Yet success is bittersweet. Mila is torn from the battlefields of the eastern front and sent to America while the war still rages. There, she finds an unexpected ally in First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, and an unexpected promise of a different future.

But when an old enemy from Mila’s past joins forces with a terrifying new foe, she finds herself in the deadliest duel of her life.

The Diamond Eye is a haunting novel of heroism born of desperation, of a mother who became a soldier, of a woman who found her place in the world and changed the course of history forever.

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

Powerful, atmospheric, immersive and intense, , The Diamond Eye is the remarkable story  of Lyudmila ‘Mila’ Pavlichenko, a Russian sniper during the Second World War who went on to become the deadliest sniper in history. It opens on  August 27th, 1942, when Mila is a Russian Envoy at the White House, before jumping back to November 1937, when she was an ordinary citizen in Kiev. Told by Mila, the Marksman, and in extracts from the diary of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, it then moves between timelines and narrators, blending fact with fiction as Kate Quinn tells the story in cinematic detail. 

Mila was a history maker and her story is one of an extraordinary life. But it didn’t start out that way. In 1937 she was 21 years old, an ordinary Russian citizen and a single mother to a five-year-old son. Vowing to be both mother and father to her son, she became an expert shooter to prove to him she could take on the male role he needed, and by the time Russia was invaded in 1941 she was an experienced marksman. Determined to defend her country, Mila joined the Red Army. And with no limits on what roles a woman can take in Russia, unlike the UK and USA, she becomes a sniper. Known to her enemies as ‘Lady Death’, Mila went on to become the deadliest female sniper in history, with 309 confirmed kills recorded. She was also the first Soviet citizen welcomed in the US when she travelled there on a goodwill tour, talking about her experiences as a female soldier and to advocate for their help opening a second front in Europe.

I loved this woman. Feisty, strong, intelligent, determined, ambitious and accomplished, she is someone I’d want on my side. She was also straightforward, with a bluntness that could sometimes come across as brusque to Americans. A staunch advocate of women’s rights, Mila was intent on demonstrating that girls can do anything boys can, demanding respect from her male peers instead of trying to impress them or being intimidated by them. She was an inspiration and a symbol of a strong woman, all whilst hiding her own heartache and trauma underneath. 

Books based on true stories are some of my favourites and I won’t forget this story of heroism, heartache, love, loss, feminism, war and self-discovery is one I won’t forget. Expertly written, meticulously researched, full of evocative imagery and richly drawn characters, Kate Quinn had me in her thrall from start to finish. And that ending! I was on tenterhooks, my heart racing, and then just when I thought it was all over…Bam! She delivers a jaw-dropping curveball that I didn’t see coming and I’m still trying to recover from. 

Action-packed, moving, suspenseful and haunting, The Diamond Eye is a breathtaking story that would be perfect on the big screen or adapted for Netflix and is a must for your TBR.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kate Quinn is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction. A native of southern California, she attended Boston University where she earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Classical Voice. She has written four novels in the Empress of Rome Saga, and two books in the Italian Renaissance, before turning to the 20th century with “The Alice Network”, “The Huntress,” “The Rose Code,” “The Diamond Eye,” and “The Briar Club.” She is also a co-author in several collaborative novels including “The Phoenix Crown” with Janie Chang and “Ribbons of Scarlet” with Stephanie Dray, Laura Kamoie, Eliza Knight, Sophie Perinot, and Heather Webb. “The Astral Library,” releasing in 2025, is her first foray into magical realism. Kate and her husband now live in Maryland with their two rescue dogs.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

*The purchase link in this post is an affiliate link

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

BOOK REVIEW: After the Storm by G. D. Wright

Published August 1st, 2024 by Avon Books
Thriller, Mystery, Suspenseful, Psychological Fiction, Domestic Fiction, Police Procedural

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘So compelling and tightly plotted I couldn’t put it down’ CLAIRE DOUGLAS

‘Tense and emotional…A dark beating heart of a novel’ GILLIAN McALLISTER

‘Totally addictive. One of the most tense and gripping thrillers I’ve read in ages’ LISA JEWELL

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Don’t miss the gripping debut crime novel in which a child’s tragic drowning rips a small community apart with devastating consequences…

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TWO CHILDREN WENT INTO THE SEA.

When Andrew and Sophie take their daughter and her friend to the beach on a stormy day, they are momentarily distracted and both children are washed out to sea. Andrew dives in, but comes back ashore with only one child – Maria, his own daughter. Joe, the son of his best friend and local police officer, Chris, has drowned. But it was just a tragic accident…wasn’t it?

ONLY ONE CAME OUT ALIVE.

As Sergeant Mike Adams and DS Sue Willmott investigate what really happened in the water that afternoon, the ripple effects of the tragedy tear the community apart. The detectives must discover the truth before their colleague – bereaved and desperate father, Chris – takes the investigation into his own hands…

BUT WHO IS TO BLAME?

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MY REVIEW:

Andrew and Sophie take their daughter, Maria, and her best friend, Joe, to the beach on a stormy day. The kids are happily playing when a moment of distraction changes everything and both kids are washed out to sea. Andrew dives into the water to find them, but only comes back with one child. 
When Joe’s parents, Chris and Linda, learn of his death, they want answers. Could his death be more than a tragic accident? As the police investigate, the community is torn apart by the ripple effects of the tragedy. Chris is out for vengeance. Can the police get answers before he takes matters into his own hands?

Heartbreaking, tense, atmospheric and consuming, After the Storm is a remarkable debut. Exquisitely written, deftly plotted and keenly observed, this is a story enmeshed in raw grief, utter devastation and white hot rage. G. D. Wright showcases himself as a talent to watch on the thriller scene, delivering heart-pounding tension and emotions that go straight to your soul in a story that wrecked havoc on my heart as well as my blood pressure. Losing a child is every parents’ worst nightmare and the scenes where they learn of their son’s death are some of the most heartbreakingly raw and evocative that I’ve ever read. I wiped tears from my eyes as their hearts shattered and he wrecked havoc on my heart as well as my blood pressure. I am in awe that this is a debut as it reads like the work of a veteran author. 

Before that tragic day it wasn’t just the kids who were friends, but the parents too, but afterwards they find themselves on opposite sides of the tragedy. While Chris and Linda try to wrap their heads around their life-shattering loss, a cloud of suspicion over Andrew. He fights to prove his innocence but he’s an unreliable narrator and is clearly hiding something. As time goes on, Chris is fueled by the fire of revenge and determined to see Andrew pay for what happened. As the reader, you feel for both sides and also don’t know what to believe as Wright keeps the truth close to the vest. 

For any book to be truly great, you need good characters and Wright has created a cast of brilliant characters who are richly drawn, relatable, made me care about them and made me feel invested in their lives. He makes us feel their emotions and allows us to step into each of their shoes. You can feel the love he put into each of these characters on every page and they are people that will stay with me.

Powerful, moving, unsparing and unforgettable, After the Storm is an absolute triumph. And that ending! Gaz, you totally broke me😭 Both this, and the follow-up Into the Fire, are must-reads for any thriller fans. 

Rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

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

********

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

From Amazon:
My name is Gary (pen name G.D. Wright) and I live on the south east coast of England with my wife and two young children.

I joined Kent Police at the age of 18, working on the front line in a variety of uniformed roles until the age of 29 when, completely out of the blue, I suffered two cardiac ‘events’, and was subsequently diagnosed with a hereditary and incurable disease of the heart (arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy if you’re being fussy!). As a result, I had an internal defibrillator implanted in me, and I had to retire from the police aged 30.

One door closed, but another opened, and my wife and I bought a coffee shop in Ramsgate Harbour. We spent eight of the happiest years of our lives there but, when the kiddies came along, it just wasn’t sustainable. Family comes first, every single time (a theme in my books…), and the simple fact was that we knew our summers should be spent with the kids, not working seven days a week. In 2022, we sold our ‘third baby’ (the coffee shop, not an actual baby – although… what a plot line for the future… making a mental note…), and I took to writing full time.

Fast forward to now. I’ve signed a two book deal with Avon UK (part of the Harper Collins family), and my debut was released in August 2024. It’s called AFTER THE STORM, and it’s a police procedural with a twisty, emotional hook. My second novel, INTO THE FIRE, is coming in the summer of 2025.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: The Golden Hour by Kate Lord Brown

Published April 10th, 2025 by Simon & Schuster UK
Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Romance Novel, Military Novel

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

The Golden Hour is an epic dual timeline story which interweaves glory-seeking desert archaeologists, priceless treasures, Nefertiti’s tomb and the decadent cabarets of WW2 Cairo with restless expat lives in bohemian Beirut. 
 
Archaeologist Lucie Fitzgerald’s mother is dying – she’s also been lying. As her home, the ‘Paris of the East’, Beirut, teeters on the brink of war in the ‘70s, Polly Fitzgerald has one last story to tell from her deathbed.  It’s the story of her childhood best friend Juno and their life in ’30s Cairo. Lucie travels home to be with her dying mother and discovers the truth about her family, Juno’s work and their shared search for the greatest undiscovered tomb of all – Nefertiti’s. 
 
From the cities to the deserts, this transporting and moving story of a lost generation transformed by war is a study of great love and sacrifice in all its forms, the perfect novel for fans of Santa Montefiore, Lucinda Riley and Victoria Hislop.

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MY REVIEW:

Polly Fitzgerald is dying. So her daughter, Lucie, travels home to be by her side. But as she sits by her mother’s deathbed, Lucie is unprepared for the final story that she will tell her. Transporting us to Cairo on the brink of World War 2, Polly tells Lucie the story of her childhood best friend, Juno, and what happened in Cairo in the 30s. It is a story of the unbreakable bonds of friendship, of forbidden love, long-held secrets, and unspeakable tragedy. 

I’ve always been fascinated by Ancient Egypt so I knew that a story about Archaeologists, priceless artifacts and the search for Nefertiti’s tomb would be one that captivated my attention. Beautiful, immersive, fascinating and transportive, I was pulled in from the opening pages. Exquisitely written, skillfully interwoven and full of evocative imagery, Kate Lord Brown had me in her thrall from beginning to end. She expertly kept me in the palm of her hand by rationing the reveals as she moves between timelines and narrators. I was on a knife-edge of suspense and couldn’t stop reading. 

At the centre of this story are three compelling women who were a joy to read. They and the other characters were richly drawn, making you care about them and I quickly felt invested in their lives. I was even rooting for the forbidden romance between two of the characters. But there were so many questions I needed the answer to, and I was powerless, unable to stop listening until all was revealed. But when they were I was unprepared for just how much they would break me. 

So, if you’re looking for a summer read full of exotic escapism, this is the book for you.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to get 90 days listening free (ends 28 July)*

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kate Lord Brown graduated from the Courtauld Institute of Art and KLC Design School. She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and gained a MA in creative writing from the Manchester Writing School, MMU.

Kate has written six novels including The Perfume Garden which was shortlisted for UK Romantic Novel of the Year. Kate’s other novels, including The Beauty Chorus and The House of Dreams, are twentieth century historical fiction with heart and she is always looking for those gems of forgotten history which make you think ‘why doesn’t everyone know about this …?’ Her books have been translated into numerous languages and have been top ten bestsellers in the US/Canada, UK, Germany, Norway and Spain. Kate lives in Somerset 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 xxx

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: Into the Fire by G. D. Wright

Published June 5th, 2025 by Avon Books
Crime Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Police Procedural, Legal Story

Welcome to my review for this heart-stopping thriller. Thank you to Avon Books for sending me a proof copy in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Don’t miss the gripping crime novel in which a heroic act ends up ripping a small town apart with devastating consequences…

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HE RUNS INTO THE FLAMES A HERO.

Steve thought he had left his troubled past behind. Living a quiet life with his wife and children, everything changes the night he rescues a baby from a burning house, becoming an unexpected national hero.

HE EMERGES FROM THE ASHES A SUSPECT.

But as the spotlight shines brighter, so does the scrutiny, and a shocking accusation is made – that Steve is the man responsible for an unsolved murder in Beachbrook years prior.

BUT WHICH ONE IS HE REALLY?

As his world unravels, public opinion is firmly divided. Steve pleads his innocence, but DS Sue Willmott is determined to get to the bottom of what really happened all those years ago.

After all, even heroes hide secrets of their own.

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MY REVIEW:

Into the Fire has taken bookstagram by storm. And after reading it I can tell you that it deserves every bit of the hype. A story of heroism, secrets, reckoning and redemption, it begins when Steve runs into the flames to save a baby from a burning house. He is hailed a hero. But Steve has secrets that soon come to light, turning him from saviour to suspect in an unsolved murder years earlier. As his life falls apart, Steve pleads his innocence. Meanwhile, DS Sue Wilmott is determined to get to the truth. What really happened all those years ago? And is Steve a hero or a villain? 

Dark, suspenseful, gut-wrenching and consuming, I was not prepared for this magnificent thriller. Unbearably tense and psychologically rich, G. D. Wright’s storytelling is exquisite, holding me in the palm of his hands from the first page until the last. It was my first time reading this author and now I totally get the hype around his books. A talent to watch on the thriller scene, he’s knocked it out of the park with this first-class thriller and I can’t wait to go back and read his debut.

Told from multiple points of view, the characters are richly drawn, relatable and deeply human, pulling me into their lives and quickly making me invested in them as their stories unfurled. They are haunted by the ghosts of their past and marked by the pain of their trauma, which Wright makes you feel vividly. Enmeshed in heartache, you get the sense that no-one is going to come out of this unscathed. It’s powerful, moving, and a much deeper story than your average thriller. And the final line of the epilogue  😭😭😭 Oh, my heart. 

Heart-stopping, twisty, forbidding and unpredictable, this is a must-read. So run to the nearest bookshop or click on the link on that website and buy this book now.

Rating: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

********

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

From Amazon:
My name is Gary (pen name G.D. Wright) and I live on the south east coast of England with my wife and two young children.

I joined Kent Police at the age of 18, working on the front line in a variety of uniformed roles until the age of 29 when, completely out of the blue, I suffered two cardiac ‘events’, and was subsequently diagnosed with a hereditary and incurable disease of the heart (arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy if you’re being fussy!). As a result, I had an internal defibrillator implanted in me, and I had to retire from the police aged 30.

One door closed, but another opened, and my wife and I bought a coffee shop in Ramsgate Harbour. We spent eight of the happiest years of our lives there but, when the kiddies came along, it just wasn’t sustainable. Family comes first, every single time (a theme in my books…), and the simple fact was that we knew our summers should be spent with the kids, not working seven days a week. In 2022, we sold our ‘third baby’ (the coffee shop, not an actual baby – although… what a plot line for the future… making a mental note…), and I took to writing full time.

Fast forward to now. I’ve signed a two book deal with Avon UK (part of the Harper Collins family), and my debut was released in August 2024. It’s called AFTER THE STORM, and it’s a police procedural with a twisty, emotional hook. My second novel, INTO THE FIRE, is coming in the summer of 2025.

********

BUY THE BOOK:

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

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx