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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: The Austen Christmas Murders by Jessica Bull

Published November 13th, 2025 by Michael Joseph
Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Crime Fiction, Book Series, Holiday Fiction, Festive Fiction, Regency Romance

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

TIS THE SEASON FOR MERRIMENT AND MYSTERIES…MISS AUSTEN INVESTIGATES A MURDER AT CHRISTMAS!

A witty, heartwarming Christmas mystery – perfect for fans of Jane Austen and classic whodunnits

‘So sharply observed, yet fresh, funny and a joy to read’ Jennie Godfrey

‘Comforting and cosy… the perfect book to read for Jane Austen’s upcoming 250th birthday’ 5***** reader review

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I sincerely hope your Christmas may abound in the mysteries which the season generally brings…

The festive season is fast approaching.

Jane Austen fears that without her lively siblings at home, there won’t be much Christmas cheer in the Austen household this year.

But when she uncovers a skeleton in the cellar of Deane Parsonage, Jane soon forgets her woes. For who needs merriment, when there’s a mystery to solve?

Jane quickly learns of a missing young bride, who after fleeing her wedding breakfast, was never seen again. Locals have long believed she haunts the woods nearby. Could Jane have found her at last?

Or does the truth of this mystery lie closer to home?

Over the twelve days of Christmas, Jane will embark upon festive delights, making merry, and solving murders…

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Today marks the 250th birthday of arguably one of England’s greatest authors: Jane Austen. I’ve long been a fan of Jane’s books, so, to celebrate her momentous birthday, I’m sharing my review of The Austen Christmas Murders, the Christmas Novella in the Miss Austen Investigates series.

Hampshire, 1798.  Jane is worried how jolly this Christmas will be without most of her siblings at home for the festivities this year. But her worries about Christmas are  pushed aside when a partially mummified body is found in the cellar of Deane Parsonage. Jane sets out to uncover their identity, believing it could be the body of Mary Ellen Portal, known locally as ‘the runaway bride’ after she vanished shortly after her wedding sixteen years earlier. But others, including Mary Ellen’s own family, aren’t convinced. And Jane knows she will need real evidence to prove the body’s identity one and for all. 

I’m loving the recent trend of re-imagining famous authors of the past as amateur sleuths, and this year I’ve loved discovering the Miss Austen Investigates series. Jane is one of my favourite amateur sleuths, and I have a hard time believing that these books are anything but an accurate representation of Jane’s life. It just has to be true! All jokes aside, Jessica Bull has crafted a series and a heroine that is richly imagined, expertly written, skillfully choreographed and perfectly paced. The research is detailed and the stories are sharply observed. Meanwhile, Jane is a witty, intelligent, determined feminist icon who is now one of my favourite characters to read. 

Comforting, cosy, mysterious and full of heart, this festive whodunnit is the perfect addition to your Christmas TBR.

Rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

Her debut novel, MISS AUSTEN INVESTIGATES, sold to Penguin Michael Joseph at auction for six figures, is published in 18 territories worldwide and was shortlisted for the Crime Writer’s Association ILP John Creasey First Novel Dagger. The second book in her Jane Austen murder mystery series, second A FORTUNE MOST FATAL, was published in March 2025 and the third, THE AUSTEN CHRISTMAS MURDERS, will be published in November 2025.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG BLAST: Night By Night by Jack Jordan

Published December 4th, 2025 by Simon & Schuster UK
Thriller, Mystery

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

If you’re reading this, I’m dead . . . A heart-stopping thriller from the master of the moral dilemma and Sunday Times bestselling author.

‘Grabs you in the gut and doesn’t let go’ Jo Spain, author of The Confession
‘You won’t sleep a wink’ Lesley Kara, author of The Rumour
‘A heart-breaking, heart-stopping read’ Lauren North, author of The Perfect Betrayal

Rejected by her family and plagued by insomnia, Rose Shaw is unravelling day by day.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Rose Shaw has been suffering from crippling insomnia for a decade. She lives her life in a haze of exhaustion that leaves her feeling like a failure as a wife and mother. So, when she decides to drive her daughters to their football match and try to watch from the sidelines, her intention is to make up for all the times she’s stayed at home trying to sleep instead. But, her well intentioned decision turns out to be the biggest mistake of her life, resulting in the death of one of her twin daughters and rejection by her family. Her life has fallen apart and she’s unravelling more each day.

Then, on another seemingly ordinary night, a hooded stranger crashes into her and drops a journal. Unable to resist temptation, Rose reads the diary and is unprepared for what is inside: a detailed account of how author Finn Matthews was stalked and is in fear for his life. Even though Finn is missing, the police refuse to investigate, so Rose takes matters into her own hands. Her search leads her to a string of missing and dead men and police failures and corruption. And it brings back memories of a time she would rather forget. Tarnished with the brush of insanity to try and silence her, Rose worries her investigation will be in vain. Will she finally be able to reveal the truth and stop the stalker before another man is taken?

Jack Jordan has done it again! Gripping, twisted, dark and haunting, this was another unputdownable thriller from the King of the bingeable thriller. Well written, multilayered and emotive, it was brimming with foreboding and suspense but also tugged on my heartstrings. Jack made me feel like I was living the experience alongside Rose and had my heart racing so intensely that I thought I was having a panic attack at one point! I couldn’t put it down, and when I read it in 2019 it solidified Jack’s place on my auto-buy list.

Rose was a great protagonist who I instantly connected with. She is flawed, broken, isolated, lost, and a shell of her former self. She’s also desperate to win back the love and forgiveness of her husband and child, but has run out of ideas to make that happen. I understood why they, and some others, hated her for what she did, but I had a lot of sympathy for her and was rooting for her to succeed.  I found her internal monologue at the start of the book amusing and could relate to a lot of the thoughts she had while plagued with insomnia. When Rose finds Finn’s diary it gives her a purpose and she finally has something to hope and fight for after so many years in the wilderness of her grief. We see another side to her: someone tenacious and determined who won’t be intimidated. Another fantastic character was the mysterious stalker. He felt almost ghostly in his elusiveness and part of the fear he struck in me was not knowing who he was. I loved that Jack disguised his identity so well that I only figured out who he was moments before it was revealed in a heart-stopping and terrifying turn of events that had me holding my breath in anticipation. Bravo, Mr. Jordan. 

Riveting, tense and unforgettable, this is a must-read for thriller fans.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers Tours for the invitation to take part in this blog blast and to Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jack Jordan is the global number one bestselling author of Anything for Her (2015), My Girl (2016), A Woman Scorned (2018), Before Her Eyes (2018) and Night by Night (2019).

His latest thriller, Do No Harm, was an instant Times bestseller and shortlisted for the Most Recommended Book in the DeadGood Reader Awards. Coined the thriller of the summer for 2022, it was described as “relentlessly tense” by Sunday Times Bestseller Lesley Kara, and “Chilling and perfectly paced” by New York Times Bestseller Sarah Pearse.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: The Household by Stacey Halls

Published: April 11th, 2024 by Manilla Press
Historical Fiction, Romance Novel, Thriller, Historical Thriller

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

THE CAPTIVATING NEW NOVEL, SET AGAINST CHARLES DICKENS’ HOME FOR FALLEN WOMEN

‘Absorbing . . . Halls weaves together the elements of her story with great skill’ Sunday Times
‘Compelling and richly detailed’ Good Housekeeping
‘Captivating’ Woman
‘Meticulously researched and compelling’ Red
‘Keeps the reader enthralled’ Prima
‘Exquisitely written . . . full of heart and hope’ Fabulous

NOT ALL WHO ARE FALLEN WANT TO BE SAVED

London, 1847. In a quiet house in the countryside outside London, the finishing touches are being made to welcome a group of young women. The house and its location are top secret, its residents unknown to one another, but the girls have one thing in common: they are fallen. Offering refuge for prostitutes, petty thieves and the destitute, Urania Cottage is a second chance at life – but how badly do they want it?

Meanwhile, a few miles away in a Piccadilly mansion, millionairess Angela Burdett-Coutts, one of the benefactors of Urania Cottage, makes a discovery that leaves her cold. Her stalker of ten years has been released from prison, and she knows it’s only a matter of time before their nightmarish game resumes once more.

As the women’s worlds collide in ways they could never have expected, they will discover that freedom always comes at a price . . .

The Household is the new novel from the award-winning, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Familiars, The Foundling and Mrs England. Set against Charles Dickens’ home for fallen women and inspired by real figures from history, it is Stacey Halls’ most ambitious and captivating novel yet.

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

The house she was promised, is the first clean page in a new book for girls like her . . .

London, 1847. Martha arrives at Urania House, a house that she has been promised is a new start for girls like her. Martha is the first resident at Charles Dickens’ new house for fallen women and is soon joined by other girls hoping for a fresh start. A place of refuge and reformation, the project and its location are a closely guarded secret and the girls are forbidden from discussing their lives before they arrived at the house. 

On the board of governors is Angela  Burdett Coutts, London’s richest woman. But as the house opens Angela’s world is upended when Richard Dunn, the man who has stalked her for a decade, is released early from prison. Angela knows it won’t be long before his nightmarish games begin again and she’s terrified. Trying to put her worries aside, Anglea becomes increasingly invested in the lives of the girls at Urania, especially Martha. And soon, their lives collide in unexpected ways. Are they prepared for the price they must pay for freedom?

Atmospheric, immersive and beguiling, The Household is another masterpiece from the pen of storyteller extraordinaire Stacey Halls. It’s no secret that Stacey is one of my favourite authors ever, and one of the nicest, too, so I am always excited when she releases another book. She just gets better every time and this one was close to knocking her debut from its spot as my favourite of her books.

I love books based on real events and real people so this was right up my street. Although, before this book I had no idea that Charles Dickens opened a house for fallen women. Expertly written, perfectly paced and acutely observed, this evocative story leaped from the pages  Stacey’s meticulous research is evident on every page, bringing Victorian London to life through every word and the smallest of details. I truly felt like I’d stepped into a time machine and emerged in my favourite era. And then there’s the characters. Every one, however big or small, is richly drawn, charismatic and memorable and I was completely invested in their lives. I had a real soft spot for Martha, Angela and Josephine, and Richard was a deliciously creepy villain who sent chills down my spine. Stacey had me completely in her thrall and I devoured this book in under a day.

This is a story about women. About the hardships they have endured and the ways in which they have learned to survive. These aren’t the meek and weak women that Victorian society would like them to be. Nor do they suffer in silence. These women are strong, determined and courageous. I loved these women, especially Martha, Josephine and Anglea, who are three of our narrators. They put me through the emotional wringer but I loved their stories and the sisterhood they shared. And knowing that Angela is based on a real person also made her even more fascinating to me, and I really enjoyed the conversation between Stacey and Sophia Money-Coutts, who is one of Angela’s descendants, at the end of the audiobook. 

Absorbing, accomplished and utterly mesmerising, this is a must-read for anyone who loves well-written historical fiction.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Stacey Halls was born in 1989 and grew up in Rossendale, Lancashire. She studied journalism at the University of Central Lancashire and has written for publications including the Guardian, Stylist, Psychologies, The Independent, The Sun and Fabulous.

Her debut novel, The Familiars, was published in 2019 and was the bestselling debut hardback novel of that year, won a Betty Trask Award and was shortlisted for the British Book Awards’ Debut Book of the Year. Her subsequent novels, The Foundling and Mrs England, were also Sunday Times bestsellers. The Household is her fourth novel.

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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

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister

Published January 30th, 2025 by Michael Joseph
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Psycological Thriller, Domestic Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

It’s Camilla’s first day back at work, her daughter’s first day at nursery.
But husband Luke is nowhere to be seen. The only trace of him is an unfinished note. Camilla tries to put it out of her mind; there must be a rational explanation.
At work, there are welcomes back, and too many distractions.
Then it starts.
Breaking news: there’s a hostage situation developing in London.
The police arrive: Luke is caught up in it.
But he isn’t a hostage. Luke – doting father, successful writer, enthusiastic runner and eternal optimist – is the gunman.
What Camilla does next is crucial. Because only she knows what the note he left behind says, and the clues it might hold . . .

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

It’s Cam’s first day back at work after nine months of maternity leave and her daughter Polly’s first day at nursery. She is frustrated to find her husband, Luke, has left her to do it all alone. Then she finds a note from Luke that reads, “It’s been so lovely with you both”.  She’s confused but drops Polly off and heads to work, trying to distract herself from the uneasy feeling in her stomach. A few hours later there is a breaking news story about a siege where a man has taken three people hostage. The police arrive and tell her that the man responsible is Luke. A hostage negotiator, Niall, is called and they desperately try to stop the siege, but things soon take an even darker turn…

Gillian McAllister is the Queen of the moral dilemma thriller. Her books always make you think about what you would do in the character’s shoes and she has a flair for writing character-driven stories that pack a suspenseful punch. Gillian’s skillful storytelling and expert choreography had me in her thrall. This book is a masterclass in suspense; beautifully written but with a sharp edge and a sense of dread that keeps you on tenterhooks as you read. But what really sets this, and all of Gillian’s books apart is their emotional depth. This isn’t just a thriller, it’s a story that asks if we can ever truly know someone and an exploration of love, family and loss.

The story is told by Cam and Niall, who offer us two very different perspectives. Cam’s narration is an emotionally-fraught rollercoaster ride where her fear, devastation, grief and confusion leap from the pages. She’s got so many questions and no answers, making it even harder to move on from that day. Meanwhile, Niall is haunted by the events of that day. He’s an expert at talking down hostage-takers but he has so many questions about what happened. I had the same questions: what was the catalyst for the siege? What secrets was Luke hiding? And who were the bad guys in this story? But Gillian kept her cards to her vest, revealing very little until the finale, which made the payoff that much sweeter when the truth was finally unveiled.

Intriguing, tense, complex, emotional and twisty, Famous Last Words is a must-read for any thriller lover.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

From Amazon:
Hello there!

As you find me, it’s winter 2025 and my new novel is Famous Last Words, a thriller with a marriage at its centre. It asks the question: what would you do if your husband is caught up in a siege in central London? Only, the police tell you he isn’t one of the hostages: he is the gunman… I hope you like the answer!

As to me, otherwise, I am the author of these novels:

Everything But The Truth (2017)

Anything You Do Say (2018) called The Choice in America

No Further Questions (2018) called The Good Sister in America

The Evidence Against You (2019)

How To Disappear (2020)

That Night (2021)

Wrong Place Wrong Time (2022)

Just Another Missing Person (2023)

Famous Last Words (2025)

My most popular novel is probably Wrong Place Wrong Time, which was selected for the Radio 2 book club and was the Reese’s Book Club August ’22 pick. It debuted at number 4 on the Sunday Times Bestseller List and number 2 on the New York Times Bestseller List.

When not writing (which is basically never), I can be found walking my dog Wendy and parenting my small toddler. The best moments of my day always are the first sip of my coffee, the moment I step into the bath at night, and my son telling me he loves me. And that rare thing that happens only once a year – a novel idea.

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Tbanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: Scars of Silence (Lidingo Mysteries, 2) by Johana Gustawsson

Published November 20th, 2025 by Orenda Books
Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Historical Mystery, Psychological Fiction, Hardboiled, Police Procedural, Crime Fiction, Crime Series

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

When two teenagers are found brutally murdered on the island of Lidingö, dressed in white tunics and wearing crowns of candles, former French police officer Maïa Rehn joins local Commissioner Aleksander Storm to unravel a mystery with a shockingly dark heart. The highly anticipated sequel to the international bestselling gothic mystery, Yule Island.

‘A horrific, baffling crime startles a small Swedish community. This is perfect Scandi Noir, dripping with atmosphere. The writing shines, and the story is impossible to resist. Gustawsson is a master’ Shari Lapena

‘A gripping mystery simmering with social outrage – this is what crime fiction should be’ Alexandra Sokoloff

‘Johana Gustawsson is an extraordinarily talented storyteller, with a beautiful, eloquent writing style. Scars of Silence unfolds at a breathless pace, and the climax is devastating’ Kate Rhodes

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Twenty-three years ago, a young woman was murdered on the Swedish island of Lidingö. 
The island has kept its silence. 


Until now…

As autumn deepens into darkness in Lidingö, on the Stockholm archipelago, the island is plunged into chaos: in the space of a week, two teenaged boys are murdered. Their bodies are left deep in the forest, dressed in white tunics with crowns of candles on their heads, like offerings to Saint Lucia.


Maïa Rehn has fled Paris for Lidingö after a family tragedy. But when the murders shake the island community, the former police commissioner is drawn into the heart of the investigation, joining Commissioner Aleksander Storm to unravel a mystery as chilling as the Nordic winter.

As they dig deeper, it becomes clear that a wind of vengeance is blowing through the archipelago, unearthing secrets that are as scandalous as they are inhuman.

But what if the victims weren’t who they seemed? What if those long silenced have finally found a way to strike back?

How far would they go to make their tormentors pay?

And you – how far would you go?

BUY THE BOOK

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MY REVIEW:

Happy book birthday to this heart-pounding slice of Scandi-Noir!

The small Swedish community of Lidingo is left reeling when the body of a boy who has been brutally murdered is discovered. He is found dressed as St Lucia: wearing a white tunic with a crown of candles on his damaged skull. Parallels are immediately drawn with another brutal murder 24 years earlier. Aleksander Storm and Maia Rehn work together to try and solve the crime and search for links to the historic murder. When another boy is found killed and dressed in the same way, they start to wonder if they have a serial killer on their hands. And, as they dig deeper, they unearth scandalous secrets that point towards a killer out for revenge after being silenced for too long…

Dark, powerful, atmospheric and heart-poundingly tense, the second book in the Lidingo mysteries packs a punch from the start. Johana Gustawsson has become one of my favourite thriller writers in recent years. A sinister storytelling powerhouse, she gets better with each book and has delivered another nerve-shredding whodunnit that simmers with horror whilst also exploring timely and relevant social issues such as consent. Exquisitely written, cleverly choreographed, fast-paced and filled with surprising twists, Gustawsson had me on the edge of my seat from its shocking opening to its devastating conclusion. And that reveal? I never saw it coming! Bravo, Ms. Gustawsson, bravo. 

One of the things I love about a series is coming back to the characters, and it was great to be back with Aleks and Maia. They are compelling characters who I enjoy reading, and this time around both of them are going through their share of turmoil alongside their search for a killer. Gustawsson strikes the balance between their stories and the plot perfectly, never allowing the pace to drop for even a moment as she also helps us develop an even stronger bond with our protagonists. I can’t wait to return for book three!

A darkly chilling and addictive Scandi Noir that you don’t want to miss, I highly recommend this book and series.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part in this blog tour and Orenda Books for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born in Marseille, France, and with a degree in Political Science, Johana Gustawsson has worked as a journalist for the French and Spanish press and Her critically acclaimed Roy & Castells series, including Block 46, Keeper and Blood Song, has won the Plume d’Argent, Balai de la découverte, Balai d’Or and Prix Marseillais du Polar awards, and is now published in nineteen countries. A TV adaptation is currently under way in a French, Swedish and UK co-production. The Bleeding was a number-one bestseller in France and is the first in a new series. Johana lives in Sweden with her Swedish husband and their three sons.

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ABOUT THE TRASLATOR:

David Warriner translates from French and nurtures a healthy passion for Franco, Nordic and British crime fiction. Growing up in deepest Yorkshire, he developed incurable Francophilia at an early age. Emerging from Oxford with a Modern Languages degree he narrowly escaped the graduate rat race by hopping on a plane to Canada – and never looked back. More than a decade into a high-powered commercial translation career, he listened to his heart and turned his hand to the delicate art of literary translation. David has lived in France and Quebec, and now calls beautiful British Columbia home.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

*The purchase link in this review is an affiliate link

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2025

BOOK REVIEW: The Woman in the Wallpaper by Lora Jones

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

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

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

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

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

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

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Blog Tours book reviews

BLOG BLAST: Before Her Eyes by Jack Jordan

Re-issued June 5th, 2025 by Simon & Schuster UK
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

She can’t see the killer. But the killer can see her. An unputdownable thriller from the master of the moral dilemma and Sunday Times bestselling author.

‘A smart, claustrophobic thriller with a twist that left me reeling. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough’ Claire Douglas, bestselling author of The New Neighbours
‘A first-rate psychological thriller’ John Marrs, bestselling author of When You Disappeared 

Naomi Hannah has been blind since birth, living her life in darkness. Trapped in her claustrophobic hometown, she’s finally reached her breaking point.

But everything changes when she stumbles across the body of a young woman who has been brutally murdered. Not only that, but Naomi senses she isn’t alone at the scene… Someone is there with her. The killer is watching.

Naomi may not be able to see their face, but she is the only person who can identify them.

As the police begin their hunt and more victims are discovered, Naomi is forced to answer the question on which her fate hangs: why did the killer let her live?

And in a town this small, the murderer may still be close. Perhaps even before her very eyes…

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

She can’t see the killer.  But the killer can see her….

Blind since birth, Naomi Hannah is struggling with living in a small, claustrophobic town and has considered ending her life but everything changes when she stumbles across the body of a young woman who has been brutally murdered. And Naomi’s heightened senses tell her she’s not alone. There is someone else at the scene who is watching her. She hasn’t seen their face, but she is still a witness and the only person who can identify them. Why did they let her live? And, more importantly, who are they? After all, in a town this small they could be right before her eyes…

Darkly atmospheric, tense and addictive, Before Her Eyes was the book that started my love of Jack Jordan and his edge-of-your-seat thrillers. I read it back in the Autumn of 2018 and it has stayed with me. Jordan’s flair for sinister storytelling is showcased on every page and he had me in his thrall from the first page to the last. He knows how to keep his reader on their toes, and while I had suspicions about who the killer might be,  I was never sure and didn’t know who to trust or what would happen next. And when all was revealed I sat back in a state of amazement and awe at the shocking truth of the culprit’s identity.

The decision to make Naomi blind is something that affects every facet of this story and adds to the sense of ominous tension that lingers on every page. It felt like an inspired but tricky choice, undoubtedly presenting Jordan with extra challenges when he was writing the book. But Jordan rose to the challenge, expertly conveying the trials and tribulations it brings to Naomi’s life and I found it fascinating learning more about how she navigated the world. Her blindness also adds a sense of fear and anxiety into situations where it would be missing for a sighted person, such as the killer being able to recognise Naomi from the scene of the crime and then stalk her without her being able to prove it. It didn’t matter she could sense them watching her as there was no proof. And it was terrifying. Naomi’s loneliness and dread radiated from the pages and my heart broke for her as she slowly found herself unable to trust anyone and became increasingly isolated. The killer taunted this already vulnerable woman, relishing the fact they could stalk her and others would just think she was being paranoid. I was so angry and frustrated, totally glued to the pages as I waited for the killer to be unmasked and justice to be served. I couldn’t wait for Naomi to be safe and vindicated at last.

Sensational and suspenseful, Before Her Eyes is an unforgettable thriller and a must-read for thriller fans. Just make sure to clear your schedule before you start reading.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers Tours for the invitation to take part in this blog blast, and to Simon & Schuster UK for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jack Jordan is the global number one bestselling author of Anything for Her (2015), My Girl (2016), A Woman Scorned (2018), Before Her Eyes (2018) and Night by Night (2019).

His latest thriller, Do No Harm, was an instant Times bestseller and shortlisted for the Most Recommended Book in the DeadGood Reader Awards. Coined the thriller of the summer for 2022, it was described as “relentlessly tense” by Sunday Times Bestseller Lesley Kara, and “Chilling and perfectly paced” by New York Times Bestseller Sarah Pearse.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: Black As Death (An Arora Investigation, 5) by Lilja Sigurdardottir

Published October 23rd, 2025 by Orenda Books
Mystery, Thriller, Noir Fiction, Hardboiled, Nordic Noir, Translated Ficiton

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A final reckoning…

With the fate of her missing sister, Ísafold, finally uncovered, Áróra feels a fragile relief as the search that consumed her life draws to a close. But when Ísafold’s boyfriend – the prime suspect in her disappearance – is found dead at the same site where Ísafold’s body was discovered, Áróra’s grip on reality starts to unravel … and the mystery remains far from solved.

To distract herself, she dives headfirst into a money-laundering case that her friend Daníel is investigating. But she soon finds that there is more than meets the eye and, once again, all leads point towards Engihjalli, the street where Ísafold lived and died, and a series of shocking secrets that could both explain and endanger everything…

Atmospheric, dark and chilling, Black as Death is the breathtaking finale to the twisty, immersive An Áróra Investigation series, as Áróra and her friends search for answers that may take them to places even darker than death…

Perfect for readers of Camilla Läckberg, Karin Slaughter, Eva Björg Ægisdóttir and Jo Nesbø.

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

Breathtaking, emotional, shocking and twisty, Black As Death is the fifth installment and the unforgettable finale in the Árora Investigation series. Set in Iceland, a landscape with a bleak, mournful, sinister and forbidding atmosphere that is echoed in the emotions evoked by this story of love, loss, abuse, fear and murder. 

The book opens with Ísafold hiding in the bathroom after another round of abuse from her drug-dealing husband, Bjorn. She considers calling her sister, Árora, but knows she’ll tell her to leave or that there’s nothing she can do as Ísafold always goes back to him. So despite her desperation and loneliness, she decides it isn’t right to bother her sister. Not even as she whispers to herself that she thinks Bjorn will kill her soon.

We then jump forward, to Árora’s point of view. It’s now four years since Ísafold went missing and suspicion fell on Bjorn, the theory being that he killed her and then fled to Canada. But this past spring Ísafold’s body was found in a suitcase deep within a volcanic fissure in a lava field and Bjorn’s body was also located in another suitcase in that same lava field. If Bjorn didn’t kill her sister then who did? Árora’s partner, Daniel, a detective, and his work colleague, Helena, are investigating the murders, but answers aren’t coming quickly enough for Árora.

Running parallel to this, Daniel has discovered a possible money laundering operation that involves a local coffee chain. The shops aren’t busy enough for the amount of money they are taking and the owners have filed numerous complaints of criminal damage and violent acts against them that they later decline to pursue, making Daniel even more suspicious. This is just the kind of case that would benefit from Á́rora’s skills as an investigator and also prove a good distraction for her, so Daniel asks her to help. Arora happily throws herself into the case, it is soon clear that there is more to this case than first thought. And it is dragging her right back to that same street where her sister lived and died…

Darkly atmospheric, tense and heartrending, this was an addictive piece of Nordic noir. And what a finale! Lilja Sigurðardóttir had me in her thrall from start to finish. The story moves between timelines and narrators, the tension rising and the atmosphere getting tauter as the timelines converged and we raced towards an explosive conclusion. There is a lot going on in this book but it is never confusing, even when like me you’ve fallen behind on the series. Sigurðardóttir catches us up with past events and skillfully makes the different voices easily identifiable so that you never lose track of what’s happening. However, it isn’t always clear what timeline some of the characters and scenes are taking place in, but that felt deliberate and it heightened the mystery and suspense. I listened to this on audiobook, Sigurðardóttir’s expert storytelling and choreography merging with Lorenza Garcia’s fantastic translation and the compelling narration of Colleen Prendergast to create an utterly riveting and emotional thriller. I was on tenterhooks right up until its conclusion, which doesn’t leave you with the usual feeling of satisfaction you get when a killer is unmasked and the truth is finally revealed. Instead, there was a profound sadness at lives lost and other lives changed forever.

Árora, Daniel and Helen are likeable characters who it was easy to support. They each have different characteristics and skills that merge together to create a formidable crime-fighting team. While they, and all of the characters, are fascinating and layered, it is Árora and Ísafold who stood out as the most complex and memorable characters. Árora’s grief is palpable, as is her guilt at not being able to save her sister, her anger at her killer, and her desperation to find answers and justice. I was rooting for her at every step, praying that she would finally get the answers after years of torment. But I think the character who had the biggest emotional impact on me was Ísafold, and not only because I myself have been in an abusive relationship. Ísafold’s vulnerability, fear and turmoil radiate from the pages. We feel her inner conflict as she is torn between love for Bjorn and knowing she needs to leave, made even harder for her as he uses the classic abusive tactic of lovebombing her after each incident so that she forgives him again. Not only that, but having already isolated her from almost everyone, he cleverly manipulates her into giving up the job she loves to take a job as a carer and then coercing her into stealing pills he can then sell on. The biggest villains, Bjorn and his fearsome boss, Stuler, were skillfully written, made my blood boil and chills run down my spine. I spent the whole book longing for them to get their comeuppance and hoping justice would be served.

If you haven’t read this series, then add it to your TBR now. A must-read for all thriller fans.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part and to Orenda Books for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Icelandic crime-writer Lilja Sigurðardóttir was born in the town of Akranes in 1972 and raised in Mexico, Sweden, Spain and Iceland. An award-winning playwright, Lilja has written ten crime novels, including Snare, Trap and Cage, making up the Reykjavík Noir trilogy, and her standalone thriller Betrayal, all of which have hit bestseller lists worldwide. Snare was longlisted for the CWA International Dagger, Cage won Best Icelandic Crime Novel of the Year and was a Guardian Book of the Year, and Betrayal was shortlisted for the prestigious Glass Key Award and won Icelandic Crime Novel of the Year. The film rights for the Reykjavík Noir trilogy have been bought by Palomar Pictures in California. Cold as Hell, the first book in the An Áróra Investigation series, was published in the UK in 2021. She lives in Reykjavík with her partner.

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ABOUT THE TRANSLATOR:

Lorenza Garcia spent her early adulthood living and working in Iceland, Spain and France. She has been a full-time literary translator since 2008 and has translated and co-translated over forty novels and works of non-fiction from French, Spanish and Icelandic. She currently lives in South London with her Tibetan Terrier.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: The Last Witch by C. J. Cooke

Published October 9th, 2025 by Harper Collins
Historical Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Thriller, Horror Fiction, Supernatural Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Will she be damned by flame… or cursed by magic?

Innsbruck 1485

Helena should be doing what every other wealthy young wife is doing: keeping her husband’s house, bearing his children. But when their footman is found dead, Helena is accused of killing him. Worse, she is accused of being a witch.

Imprisoned with six other women, Helena is plunged into a world of terror. When a cursed witch totem is smuggled into the prison, the prisoners attempt to use it to escape only to unleash a malevolent spirit which places all their lives in danger.

Does Helena risk her life and the lives of others by standing up to the terrifying witchfinder and risk death at the stake if found guilty? Or is the real threat the world beyond this one…?

buy the book

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MY REVIEW:

“He calls us witches but he does not know what a witch is. He believes a witch is a woman and that women are inherently evil.”

Gorgeously gothic, haunting, harrowing and powerful, The Last Witch is a bewitching story about witch trials, sisterhood, female rage, courage, justice and misogyny.

Innsbruck, Austria, 1485. After the death of their footman, Helena finds herself on the radar of a witchfinder who has come to town. Whisked out of her comfortable life and into a world of terror, she is imprisoned in the dungeon with six other women. They are tortured to try and coerce their confessions, but stand firm in their innocence. The witchfinder and the town are determined to see them burn, but can they escape the stake?

Spooky season wouldn’t be the same without a new C. J. Cooke book and The Last Witch could be my favourite yet. It maintains Cooke’s reputation as the Queen of the Gothic Thriller and showcases why she counts the legendary Stephen King among her fans. Seamlessly blending folklore, fact and fiction, Cooke creates a spellbinding concoction of gothic, historical, mystery and the supernatural. The tension and horror are balanced with warmth and tenderness, creating a story that keeps you guessing, sends chills down your spine and touches your heart. It’s exquisitely written, pacy, evocative, and her meticulous research is evident in the minute details and the author’s note at the end of the book. I learned so much but what struck me most of all was how terrifyingly quickly friends and family turned on the accused and supported the witchfinder. A totally mesmerising and immersive tale, I lost myself in these pages and haven’t found my way out since. Not even after finishing the book.

Strong female characters who stand courageous in the face of adversity is a theme throughout Ms. Cooke’s books and the women in this book are some of the bravest I’ve read. While even the most minor characters are interesting, well written and compelling, her central characters really shine. They are richly drawn, fascinating and flawed women that felt as relevant and real today as in the fifteenth century. Finding out that Helena is based on a real woman just made me love this bold, brave, formidable and empathetic woman even more. And if you’re looking for a villain you can really hate, look no further than brutal witchfinder Father Kramer. Ruthless, vile and malevolent, he has a warped view of women and enjoys inflicting pain on them. This man is a prime example of the danger of power in the wrong hands and it seemed there was no escape once he had you on his radar. I was desperately rooting for his downfall and hoping justice would prevail for Helena and the others.

Eerily atmospheric, dark and menacing, this is the perfect witchy read to lose yourself in this autumn. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Thank you Netgalley for my proof copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

CJ Cooke, also known as Carolyn Jess-Cooke, grew up on a council estate in Belfast, Northern Ireland, at the height of the Troubles. She started writing at the age of 7 and pestered publishers for many years with manuscripts typed on her grandparents’ old typewriter and cover notes written on pages ripped from school jotters. 

Since then, she has published 16 books in 23 languages and won numerous awards, including an Eric Gregory Award from the Society of Authors, a Tyrone Guthrie Prize, a K Blundell Award, and she has won a Northern Writer’s Award three times. Her sixth novel, The Lighthouse Witches, was published in October 2021, and was an Indigo Book of the Month, an international bestseller, a New York Public Library Book of the Year and nominated for both an Edgar Award by Mystery Writers of America and an ITW Thriller Award in 2022. It is soon to be a major TV series produced by StudioCanal and The Picture Company. A Haunting in the Arctic is her latest novel and is published in October 2023.

CJ holds a BA (Hons), MA, and PhD from Queen’s University, Belfast, and commenced her academic career in 2005 as a Lecturer in Film Studies at the University of Sunderland. Shortly thereafter, she published four academic works in swift succession on Shakespearean Cinema and Film Sequels, before establishing her career as a poet, editor, and novelist.

Now Reader in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow, CJ convenes the prestigious MLitt Creative Writing and researches ways that creative writing can help with trauma and mental health. Throughout 2013-18 she directed the Writing Motherhood project, which explored the impact of motherhood on women’s writing. She is also the founder and director of the Stay-at-Home! Literary Festival, which is dedicated to providing people with accessible, inclusive, and eco-friendly ways to access literature.

CJ has four children and lives with her family in Glasgow, Scotland.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx