Tag: Book Recommendations

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab

Published June 10th, 2025 by Tor
Fantasy Fiction, Dark Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, Lesbian Literature, Contemporary Fantasy

Welcome to my bookish thoughts for this magnificent gothic chiller.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

The Heart-Stopping International Sensation!

Instant No. 1 Sunday Times Bestseller
No. 1 New York Times Bestseller
The Radio 2 Book Club Pick

From V. E. Schwab, a genre-defying, unforgettable novel to sink your teeth into . . .

This is a story about hunger.

1532. Santo Domingo de la Calzada. A young girl grows up wild and wily – her beauty is only outmatched by her dreams of escape. But María knows she can only ever be a prize, or a pawn, in the games played by men. When an alluring stranger offers an alternate path, María makes a desperate choice. She vows to have no regrets.

This is a story about love.

1827. London. A young woman lives an idyllic but cloistered life on her family’s estate, until a moment of forbidden intimacy sees her shipped off to London. Charlotte’s tender heart and seemingly impossible wishes are swept away by an invitation from a beautiful widow – but the price of freedom is higher than she could have imagined.

This is a story about rage.

2019. Boston. College was supposed to be her chance to be someone new. That’s why Alice moved halfway across the world, leaving her old life behind. But after an out-of-character one-night stand leaves her questioning her past, her present, and her future, Alice throws herself into the hunt for answers . . . and revenge.

This is a story about life . . .
how it ends, and how it starts again.

Utterly unmissable, this is a twisting, gothic tale of immortality and hunger. From the bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.

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MY REVIEW:

“Bury my bones in the midnight soil, plant them shallow and water them deep, and in my place will grow a feral rose, soft red petals hiding sharp white teeth.”

Achingly beautiful, deliciously gothic, haunting and consuming, this dark and twisted treasure is one of the most magnificent books I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. I knew quickly that this would be a five star read and one of my favourite books this year. I was obsessed, beguiled from the first pages by this story that feels both ancient and modern, and felt utterly bereft when it was all over.

V. E. Schwab is an author I’ve heard so many great things about but her books sat on my shelves unread for years. But after hearing how passionate she was about her writing at an event this summer, I knew I had to finally pick up one of her books. And where better to start that with a vampire story during spooky season. Lyrical, poetic and descriptive, Schwab’s writing is sheer perfection. You can feel the love and attention that has gone into every word on the page. I get the hype. She is a phenomenal talent and after just one book I think I’d read her shopping list. 

And while it’s undoubtedly beautiful, buried within it is something dark and filled with malevolence, heartache, longing, rage and fear. This is a story about hunger. A story about desire. A story about women. And a story about vampires. It’s a story about dark secrets, depravity, fractured people, complex love, trauma, obsession and violence against women all wrapped up in a hypnotic bow. The trio of women at the heart of this story are richly drawn, vivacious, charismatic and deeply flawed characters that I loved reading. I was enthralled as Schwab slowly but expertly wove their stories together, revealing how their destinies tragically interlaced. And while I loved reading them all, I particularly enjoyed Marie as there is just something about a really dark character that I find captivating and she had me in her thrall as she took me to the darkest depths of inhumanity.

Seductive, sapphic, ferocious and menacing, this is a must for your spooky season TBR. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

VICTORIA ‘V. E.’ SCHWAB is the No. 1 Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty books, including the international sensation The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, the acclaimed Shades of Magic universe, the Villains series, the City of Ghosts trilogy, Gallant, and The Fragile Threads of Power. When not haunting Paris streets or trudging up English hillsides, she lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, and is usually tucked in the corner of a coffee shop, dreaming up monsters.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: The Howling (Annie Jackson Mysteries, Book 3) by Michael J. Malone

Published September 11th, 2025 by Orenda Books
Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Crime Series, Gothic Ficiton, Contemporary Horror

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this nerve-shredding gothic mystery. 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 BOOK:

Annie and Lewis search for the son of an old enemy, who may hold the key to ending Annie’s curse. Their investigations lead back to the past, uncovering something that could destroy the most powerful people in the country. The compelling, chilling next instalment in the Annie Jackson Mysteries series…

‘A tense, creepy page-turner’ Ian Rankin

‘Spine-tinglingly thrilling with an extraordinary sense of place’ Caro Ramsay

‘A master storyteller at the very top of his game … mesmeric and suspenseful’ Marion Todd

‘The past echoing in the present. A whisper of the supernatural. Strong characters. Evocative prose … What is there not to like? Impressive’ Douglas Skelton

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Two men, centuries apart, dream of being a wolf. 

One is burned at the stake.

Another is locked in a psychiatric hospital for most of his life.

And Annie Jackson is about to find out why…

Vowing once again to remove herself from society, Annie is back living alone in her little cottage by the shores of a loch. But when an old enemy – now locked up in a high security hospital – comes calling, begging her to find the son that she was forced to give up at the age of seventeen, Annie is tempted out of seclusion. The missing boy holds the key to ending Annie’s curse, and he may be the only chance that both she and Lewis have of real happiness.

Annie and Lewis begin an investigation that takes them back to the past, a time etched in Scottish folklore, a period of history that may just be repeating itself. And what they uncover could destroy not just some of the most powerful people in the country, who will stop at nothing to protect their wealth and their secrets, but also Annie’s life, and everything she holds dear…

Dark, immersive, and utterly compelling, The Howling is a story of deception, betrayal, and misplaced power, and a reminder that the most public of faces can hide the darkest of hearts…

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MY REVIEW:

Michael J. Malone has knocked it out of the park yet again with this darkly atmospheric and nerve-shredding thriller where ghosts of the past echo in the present and dark secrets threaten to destroy some of the country’s most powerful men. Two men separated by centuries dream of being a wolf. One of them is burned at the stake. Whilst the other is locked in a psychiatric hospital. And Annie Jackson is about to find out why as she searches for the son of her enemy in this gripping gothic mystery. 

The Annie Jackson Mysteries have quickly become one of the highlights of my reading year. I know as the leaves start to turn and the cardigans get chunkier that I will be reading a chilling and sinister story that will have me on the edge of my seat. The Howling lives up to that reputation and Malone has delivered another first-rate thriller. Told by multiple narrators in multiple timelines, the story transports us between 1709, 1979 and 2024, bringing both past and present to life in vivid detail. It’s a complex, intricate and urgent mystery, full of curses, sinister suspense and whispers of the paranormal that is woven into every facet of the story and we get a real sense of the loneliness, isolation, fear and torment that those affected by them endure. As always, Malone’s storytelling is outstanding, while a strong sense of place draws you in as he expertly intertwines the multiple timelines, dropping clues like breadcrumbs throughout the narrative for us to follow. I had some predictions but my jaw dropped when the truth was finally revealed. 

One of my favourite things about a series is revisiting characters I love, and Annie and Lewis are two of my favourite, and probably most original, protagonists. I love their strong bond and the way they work together to solve the crimes. They are strong, memorable and richly drawn, as are all of the characters in this book. It is easy to like and root for them while Malone also delivers villains, like the chilling Sylvia, who will make your skin crawl.

So, if you’re looking for an unsettling, heart-stopping and immersive mystery this spooky season, pick up this book. It could be read as a standalone, however I highly recommend reading the others in the series as not only is what happens woven into this story, but they are magnificent reads.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

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BLOG TOUR: Deadman’s Pool by Kate Rhodes

Published September 25th, 2025 by Orenda Books
Mystery, Crime Series, Hardboiled, Noir Fiction, Police Procedural

Welcome to my bookish thoughts on this nerve-shredding thriller. Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part and to Orenda for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

When Ben Kitto discovers the body of a young woman, buried near the ruins of an old isolation hospital on the island of St Helen’s, he is convinced the killer is hiding in plain sight … and determined to take more lives. The breathtaking, gripping new instalment in the Isles of Scilly Mysteries series…

‘A classy, edge-of-the-seat thriller which will keep you guessing throughout!’ B.A. PARIS

‘An absolute master of pace, plotting and character’ ELLY GRIFFITHS

‘Rhodes does a superb job of balancing a portrayal of a tiny community oppressed by secrets with an uplifting evocation of setting’ Sunday Express 

‘Dark, intense, and expertly crafted’ RACHEL ABBOTT

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DI BEN KITTO RETURNS…

A SACRED ISLAND

Winter storms lash the Isles of Scilly, when DI Ben Kitto ferries the islands’ priest to St Helen’s. Father Michael intends to live as a pilgrim in the ruins of an ancient church on the uninhabited island, but an ugly secret is buried among the rocks. Digging frantically in the sand, Ben’s dog, Shadow, unearths the emaciated remains of a young woman.


A SHOCKING MURDER


The discovery chills Ben to the core. The victim is Vietnamese, with no clear link to the community – and her killer has made sure that no one will find her easily.

A KILLER ON THE LOOSE

The storm intensifies as the investigation gathers pace. Soon Scilly is cut off by bad weather, with no help available from the mainland. Ben is certain the killer is hiding in plain sight. He knows they are waiting to kill again – and at unimaginable cost.

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MY REVIEW:

Jumping into a series on the eighth book isn’t something I’d usually do. But – full admission here – I didn’t realise that this book was part of a series when I asked to join the blog tour. I was nervous about starting a series so late and worried I’d feel lost or find it hard to connect with the characters. But Kate Rhodes made it easy by crafting a story that is expertly paced and plotted and richly drawn characters that she brings the reader up to speed on the backstories of so that we never feel out of the loop. 

A winter storm rages on the Isles of Scilly and DI Ben Kitto makes a shocking discovery: a child’s body wrapped in a shroud and buried in the sand. Evidence shows that the victim was kept in a dark place for years. Things take another chilling turn when a newborn baby is left in a box outside the police station. How could a child be kept captive and a pregnancy hidden in such a small, close-knit community? As links between the two cases are confirmed, Ben and his team must battle the elements to find the baby’s mother and to stop a killer before they have the chance to kill again.

Atmospheric, dark, intense and unpredictable, this had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. A vivid sense of place and character makes the islands and their inhabitants come alive and made me lose myself in this small community and the hunt for a depraved killer and vulnerable new mother. DI Ben Kitto is a likeable protagonist who obviously cares a lot about his job and his home and I was behind him at every step. The inclusion of Mai’s story added an extra layer of tension that made the stakes even higher and her emotions were palpable. I was on tenterhooks with my heart racing, unable to put the book down as I desperately needed to know if they would find her before it’s too late. Rhodes provided multiple possible culprits, planting seeds of doubt that could have been clues or read herrings that kept me guessing right up until the shocking truth was unveiled. 

Nerve-shredding and totally superb, I’m so glad that I finally discovered this series and can’t wait to read the backlist. Highly recommended.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kate Rhodes is an acclaimed crime novelist and an award-winning poet, selected by Val McDermid’s New Blood panel at Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival for her debut, Crossbones Yard. She has been nominated twice for the prestigious CWA Dagger in the Library award, and is one of the founders of the Killer Women writing group. She lives in Cambridge with her husband, the writer and film-maker Dave Pescod, and visited the Scilly Isles every year as a child, which gave her the idea for the critically acclaimed Isles of Scilly Mysteries series

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

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Blog Tours book reviews

BLOG BLAST: Anything For Her by Jack Jordan

Published June 5th, 2025 by Simon & Schuster UK
Thriller, Suspense

Welcome to my review for this nail-biting debut . Thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers for the invitation to take part and to Simon and Schuster UK for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

The unputdownable debut from bestselling author Jack Jordan.

Sometimes the past comes back to haunt you.

Louise Leighton’s life has fallen apart, all because of one fateful night. Her husband is an adulterer, her sister is his mistress, and soon, Louise will lose everything she owns. But she never imagined she would lose her daughter.

Eighteen-year-old Brooke Leighton is missing. It’s up to Louise and the Metropolitan Police to find her. Has Brooke run away? Or has she been taken against her will? And can Louise aid the investigation without mentioning the night where all of her troubles began?

If she mentions that night, she will incriminate her daughter for heinous crimes. But if she doesn’t, she may never find Brooke; and if she has been abducted, the person who took her may come for Louise, too.

Sometimes the past comes back to kill you.

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MY REVIEW:

Louise’s world shatters when her husband, Michael, tells her he’s been having an affair with her sister. It’s the last straw for Louise who is already facing losing her home and financial security after Michael lost it all. In need of an escape, Lousie goes to their country house in the Cotswolds. However, Louise can trace the beginning of the end of their marriage back to a night one year earlier. A night that she and her daughter, Brooke, have vowed never to reveal the truth of. But when strange things begin to happen at the country house and Brooke goes missing, Louise fears that someone else knows what they did…

As soon as I read Before Her Eyes in 2018 I became a fan of Jack Jordan and his nail-biting thrillers. And though I’ve read everything he’s published since, I had never actually gone back and read his debut or self-published books. So, when Compulsive Readers Tours sent out an email asking for people to take part in a blog blast of Jack’s books, including his early releases that are being re-released, I jumped at the chance to finally go back to the beginning of one of my favourite thriller authors. 

Ominous, tense and forbidding, Anything For Her is a nerve-shredding debut. Well written, tightly plotted and cleverly choreographed, it showcases that from the very beginning Jack was a thriller writer extraordinaire. The story is intricately interwoven, steeped in sinister foreboding and filled with the sense that nobody will come out of this unscathed. As he explores just how far a parent would go for their child, Jordan also examines dark secrets, fractured people, trauma and fear. The characters are compelling, relatable and deeply flawed and Jordan makes us feel every bit of their devastation, heartache, guilt and terror. Heart-stopping and gut-wrenching, it kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat right up until the shocking finale. 

A must-read for any thriller fan.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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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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BUY THE BOOK:

Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Biblophiles xxxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part

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Blog Tours book reviews

BLOG TOUR: My Husband’s Wife by Carla Kovach

Published September 8th, 2025 by Bookouture
Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this crazy and complex thriller. Thank you to Bookouture for the invitation to take part and for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Five years ago I buried my husband. Today I saw him with his new wife.

‘Thank you for agreeing to be our wedding planner. Theo is on his way,’ Madison says as we meet to plan her dream wedding. The moment her fiancé enters the room, a newborn baby in his arms, my whole world shifts and I grab hold of my desk to stop myself from falling.

Theo shakes my hand as he introduces himself, but I already know who he is. He’s my husband. The man I thought had died five years ago.

‘Lovely to meet you, Eva,’ he says, carefully avoiding my frozen stare. I’d recognise his smooth voice anywhere.

I want to scream, ask him why he’s doing this to me. But I know just how good a liar my husband is. And he knows my darkest secret. I can’t risk him destroying everything I’ve worked so hard for.

At the end of the meeting, I watch the happy little family walk away, and I don’t miss Theo’s eyes staring at me just a second too long. He knows I’m onto him. But only I know what I’m going to do next…

Readers who loved The Housemaid, The Perfect Marriage and Gone Girl will love the jaw-dropping twist in this absolutely gripping psychological thriller.

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MY REVIEW:

Eva and her son Caiden are moving to Devon to live with her new husband, Zach. It’s a much-needed fresh start for them after the tragic death of Caiden’s father, Hugo, five years earlier. But that new beginning quickly starts coming apart when wedding planner Eva meets with new clients Madison and Theo and finds herself looking into the eyes of her dead husband. How is this possible when the police confirmed his death via DNA? And why is he acting like he’s never met her before? When  she catches Theo’s cold eyes staring at her as the couple leave, she is sure she’s right and he knows she’s onto him. Her head spinning, she knows she needs to get to the bottom of this. But is she prepared for what she’s about to uncover?

This book is exactly why I’m such a huge fan of Carla Kovach’s thrillers. Suspenseful, sinister and totally addictive, My Husband’s Wife is a crazy and labyrinthine thriller that blew me away. Expertly written, unbearably tense and psychologically rich, this is a twisted and tangled web so intricate that I’ve no idea how the author kept everything straight. As the story unfolds chapter by chapter, the shocking twists begin to rock the foundations of both the characters and the readers.  And once I started reading I couldn’t put this down,  reading with baited breath and devouring it all in one swift sitting.

The book is filled with vibrant and compelling characters who I loved reading. The protagonist, Eva, is a flawed and fractured character who was easy to like and root for. HFrom the start she hints at there being a dark secret that only Hugo knew, but it is only when Theo comes into her life that we see a shift in her character and realise she is an unreliable narrator who doesn’t even know if she can trust her own mind. And as the story goes on we begin to wonder if this is a book filled to the brim with secrets and unreliable narrators or if it was all in Eva’s mind. I had no idea who or what I could trust, though I did have a few theories that felt crazy even to me.

A sensational thriller that hits all the right notes, I highly recommend this book. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Carla Kovach is a USA Today bestselling author from the UK and is published by Bookouture, Sphere, Boekerij and Virtualo. Her DI Gina Harte series has been translated into Dutch, German, Icelandic and Polish.

As well as novels, she has also written stage and screenplays.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Amazon* | Apple | Kobo | Google
*These are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife by Martin Edwards

Published September 11th, 2025 by Head of Zeus
Mystery, Suspense, Crime Fiction, Holiday Fiction, Puzzle

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this cryptic whodunnit. Thank you to Head of Zeus for sending me a proof copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Can you find the clues and solve the murder first?

Six people with links to the world of crime writing have been invited to play a game this Christmas by the mysterious Midwinter Trust.

Solve the murder of a fictional crime writer in a remote village in north Yorkshire and win a life-changing prize.

Each guest has been meticulously vetted by the shadowy Trust, which has staff on-hand to make sure everyone plays fair. But with the village about to be cut off by a snow storm, they must be extra vigilant.

The game is set – but playing fair isn’t on everyone’s Christmas list.

And when the prize is to die for, it’s so tempting to inject a little murder into the mystery…

With clues for you to find along the way, this is a traditional murder mystery with a delightful twist by a master of the crime genre, perfect for fans of Janice Hallett, Alexandra Benedict and Alex Pavesi.

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MY REVIEW:

Six strangers with links to the crime writing world have been invited to the remote village of Midwinter, North Yorkshire to play a game. They must follow the clues and solve the murder mystery that has been set for them by the enigmatic Midwinter Trust for the chance to win a life-changing prize. As the players arrive a storm moves in and they soon find themselves isolated and cut off. But then people start to die and they begin to wonder if they are trapped with a real-life murderer…

Cryptic, clever, tense and twisty, Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife is a gripping whodunnit that keeps you guessing until the last page. Skillfully written and cunningly choreographed, Martin Edwards’ masterful storytelling is evident from start to finish. He knows how to craft an unpredictable mystery, keeping the reader on their toes with red herrings and misdirection. I’ll admit, I didn’t manage to predict or solve most of the clues, but I thoroughly enjoyed every twist and turn that came my way. I was hooked, eager to figure out what was really going on in Midwinter. Somehow, despite his illustrious crime writing career, this is my first time reading a book by this author. I can’t believe it’s taken me so long! But on the bright side that means I now have all of his backlist books to add to my TBR. 

Two of my favourite tropes are locked-room mystery and unreliable narrators, both of which this book has in abundance. Not only is the book set in a tiny and remote fictional village, but a huge snow storm leaves everyone trapped. It’s a tense situation to begin with that is heightened when the bodies start turning up. Are they accidents and unlucky coincidences, or is something more sinister afoot? 

From the first page we are told that we shouldn’t trust anyone or anything, leaving us with a whole book full of possibly unreliable narrators. I loved trying to figure out who or what we could trust and how it added another layer of mystery and suspense to the story.

The story is told by multiple characters and narrators using traditional narration, extracts from the diaries of two of the players, and clues to help both us and them solve the game. The characters are motley crew of strangers that were flawed, fallible, entertaining and richly drawn. The staff working for the Midwinter Trust hint at tragic events five years earlier that they are keen to forget, hinting at dark secrets and giving an air of foreboding. Meanwhile, the six game players all have links to the crime writing world and have suffered a blip in their careers lately. They also seem to have their share of secrets, have little to no family and are eager for the chance at a fresh start, making them the perfect candidates for the game. I loved reading all the characters but it was the self-depreciating Harry Crystal that really stood out.

Immersive, surprising and unpredictable, this captivating whodunnit offers you the chance to solve two mysteries in one book. Perfect for anyone who enjoys a well-written mystery. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Martin Edwards has received the CWA Diamond Dagger, the highest honour in British crime writing, given for the sustained excellence of his contribution to the genre. His latest novels are the stand-alone puzzle mystery Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife and the Rachel Savernake books, most recently Hemlock Bay. The Rachel Savernake series has received two nominations for the CWA Historical Dagger and three shortlistings for the eDunnit award for best crime novel. British librarians awarded him the CWA Dagger in the Library in 2018 in recognition of his body of work. His eighth and latest Lake District Mystery is The Crooked Shore and earlier books in the series include The Coffin Trail, short-listed for the Theakston’s prize for best British crime novel. Seven books in his first series, featuring Liverpool lawyer Harry Devlin, starting with the CWA John Creasey Dagger-nominated All the Lonely People, have been reissued by Acorn in new editions with introductions by leading writers including Ann Cleeves and Val McDermid.

Martin is a well-known crime fiction critic, and series consultant to the British Library’s Crime Classics. His ground-breaking study of the genre between the wars, The Golden Age of Murder won the Edgar, Agatha, H.R.F. Keating and Macavity awards. The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books won the Macavity and was nominated for four other awards, while Howdunit, a masterclass in crime writing by members of the Detection Club, won the H.R.F. Keating prize and was nominated for five other awards. His ground-breaking history of the genre, The Life of Crime, won the Edgar, H.R.F. Keating, Macavity, and Anthony awards.

In addition, Martin has won lifetime achievement awards for his short fiction (the Golden Derringer), his non-fiction (the Poirot award) and his scholarship (the George N. Dove award). He has written a stand-alone novel of psychological suspense, Take My Breath Away, and a much acclaimed novel featuring Dr Crippen, Dancing for the Hangman. He also completed Bill Knox’s last book, The Lazarus Widow. He has published many short stories, including the ebooks The New Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes and Acknowledgments and other stories. ‘The Bookbinder’s Apprentice’ won the CWA Short Story Dagger, for which he has been nominated for three other stories.

He has edited over 50 anthologies, which have yielded many award-winning stories, and published diverse non-fiction books, including a study of homicide investigation, Urge to Kill. An expert on crime fiction history, he is archivist of both the Crime Writers’ Association and the Detection Club. He was elected eighth President of the Detection Club in 2015, spent two years as Chair of the CWA, and posts regularly to his blog, ‘Do You Write Under Your Own Name?’ He is consultant to the bestselling British Library Crime Classics.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: All Wrapped Up by Heidi Swain

Published September 11th, 2025 by Simon & Schuster UK
Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance, Holiday Ficiton

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this delightful autumnal romcom. Thank you to SJV and BATC for the invitation to take part and for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

In Wynbridge, the scent of autumn is on the breeze and love is in the air…
 
Clemmie Bennett has been renovating beautiful Rowan Cottage on the outskirts of the small town of Wynbridge, for eighteen months following a very public heartbreak back in her childhood hometown. The popular Instagram influencer, lost her husband, sold their home, and has been cosied up the Fens and living a very private life, but now she feels it’s time for a change.
 
A chance encounter with co-owner of The Cherry Tree Café, the bubbly Lizzie Dixon, pulls her into organizing Wynbridge’s first-ever Autumn Festival, and her once quiet life is soon a distant memory. With the whole town rallying behind the event, she discovers a new sense of purpose.
 
And when local vet Ash falls hard for Clemmie, she begins to wonder if she’s ready to move even further on from her past and fall in love again…
 
This autumn, cosy up with Heidi and this perfect seasonal romance.

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MY REVIEW:

Clemmie Bennett has spent the last year and a half in solitude while renovating Rowan Cottage. It’s been the best way she could think of to help her work through her grief after the death of her husband, Callum, in a tragic accident. But now Clemmie is ready to rejoin the world and decides it is time to explore her new town. But then, a chance encounter with Lizzie, the co-owner of The Cherry Tree Cafe, sees Clemmie agreeing to organise the first Wynbridge Autumn Festival, with help from local vet, Ash. And as their friendship starts to feel like more, Clemmie has to ask herself if she is ready to fall in love again…

Heidi Swain can always be relied upon to deliver heartwarming and uplifting romance that warms you from the inside like porridge on a cold day. And with her latest book, All Wrapped Up, she delivers all that and more. This is autumn in book form. Heidi has crafted the perfect autumnal romcom to read while snuggled up under a blanket drinking a pumpkin spice latte. 

This story is friend-to-lovers perfection and I was here for it at every step. Clemmie and Ash were both likeable and charming characters that were fun to read. Clemmie is also trying to navigate a devastating loss and I was cheering her on as she began living life again. I loved Ash and Clemmie’s friendship, though I was rooting for them to be a couple. It was obvious that they were made for each other. I’m a sucker for a dog sidekick and loved Pixie, the adorable pooch that Clemmie adopted, and loved seeing them help to heal one another’s grief. I also enjoyed seeing the familiar characters from Heidi’s other Wynbridge books make an appearance, but appreciated that this book could also be read as a standalone.

Delightful, warm and full of heart, this was a joy to read from start to finish. All Wrapped Up is the perfect book for your TBR this autumn. Read it now.

Rating: 🍁🍁🍁🍁

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Heidi Swain is a Sunday Times Bestselling Author who writes commercial fiction for Simon and Schuster.

She has three series set in fictitious Wynbridge, Nightingale Square and Wynmouth and writes two titles a year – a summer and a Christmas book.

She also writes short stories and non-fiction for magazines and is represented by Amanda Preston.

Heidi always wanted to be a published author and her big writing break came in 2014 when she submitted The Cherry Tree Café to Books and The City (the digital first imprint of Simon and Schuster). The book was published a year later and she hasn’t stopped writing since.

Her books are available in paperback, E-book and audio and have been published in Italy, France and Germany as well as the UK.

She lives in the east of England, is a member of the RNA and the Society of Authors and has a TBR pile which is always out of control.

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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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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: The Transcendent Tide by Doug Johstone

Published August 14th, 2025 by Orenda Books
Science Fiction, Metaphyscial Fiction, Book Series

Today is my stop on the blog tour for the epic conclusion to the Enceladon Trilogy. 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 BOOK:

Lennox, Vonnie and Ava head to Greenland to meet up with Heather, Sandy and the Enceladons, commencing an epic showdown that will change everything … The emotive, devastating yet ultimately life-affirming conclusion to the bestselling Enceladons Trilogy, as seen on BBC2’s Between the Covers…

‘An affecting and thought-provoking read. Johnstone’s worldbuilding is top notch in this pacy eco-alien tale of peril and hope’ Tendai Huchu


‘Doug Johnstone has emerged as the unholy, octopoid lovechild of David Attenborough and Michael Crichton … a thrilling, action-packed adventure’ Callum McSorley

‘Surprising, compelling and out of this world’ Ann Morgan

‘A delight! We need more novels that take on human exceptionalism with such gusto’ Ever Dundas


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It’s been eighteen months since the Enceladons escaped the clutches of an American military determined to exterminate the peaceful alien creatures.

Lennox and Vonnie have been lying low in the Scottish Highlands, Ava has been caring for her young daughter Chloe, and Heather is adjusting to her new life with Sandy and the other Enceladons in the Arctic Ocean, off the coast of Greenland. But fate is about to bring them together again for one last battle.

When Lennox and Vonnie are visited by Karl Jensen, a Norwegian billionaire intent on making contact with the Encedalons again, they are wary of subjecting the aliens to further dangers. But when word arrives that Ava’s daughter has suffered an attack and might die without urgent help, they reluctantly make the trip to Greenland, where they enlist the vital help of local woman Niviaq. 

It’s not long before they’re drawn into a complex web of lies, deceit and death. What is Karl’s company really up to? Why are sea creatures attacking boats? Why is Sandy acting so strangely, and why are polar bears getting involved? 

Profound, ambitious and immensely moving, The Transcendent Tide is the epic conclusion to the Encedalons Trilogy – a final showdown between the best and worst of humanity, the animal kingdom and the Encedalons. The future of life on earth will be changed forever, but not everyone will survive to see it…

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MY REVIEW:

Doug Johnstone and the Enceladon’s are back for their final adventure in the epic conclusion to the Enceladon Trilogy. This is a difficult book to review because it is best discovered for yourself by going along for the ride. But I can tell you that the story sees Lennox, Vonnie and Ava head to Greenland to meet up with Heather, Sandy and the Enceladons. They hope to forge a positive connection between extra-terrestrials and humans, but humanity is predictable in its cruelty, resulting in a monumental showdown that changes everything.

Immersive, suspenseful and compelling, Johnstone has knocked it out of the park once again with this spectacular finale. I’m not usually a Sci-Fi girl, but I knew how good of a storyteller Johnstone is so I took a chance on this series. I’m so glad I did because it’s a series I’ve become very fond of and I’m really going to miss so many of these wonderful characters. I knew reading the final book was going to be hard, but I was unprepared for the emotional rollercoaster that this book took me on and the things that Johnstone put the characters through this time around. 

Johnstone explores a variety of real life issues in this book such as politics, capitalism, environmental issues, humanity and refugees. Yes, these particular refugees come from another planet but the parallels between them and the current political landscape rhetoric towards refugees is unmistakable. And there are huge lessons we need to learn from what happens to Sandy and the Enceladons. We need to be more like the  humans who fight for their extra-terrestrial friends and not like the ones who persecute and fear those who are different and seeking sanctuary in our borders. And it is here where we see that this is also a story about friendship, love, compassion and fighting for the rights of others.

A magnificent end to an extraordinary series, I highly recommend this book and the whole Enceladon Trilogy.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Doug Johnstone is the author of Fourteen novels, including The Great Silence, the third in the Skelfs series, which has been optioned for TV. In 2021, The Big Chill, the second in the series, was longlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. In 2020, A Dark Matter, the first in the series, was shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year and the Capital Crime Amazon Publishing Independent Voice Book of the Year award. Black Hearts (Book four), was published in 2022, with The Opposite of Lonely (book five) out in 2023. Several of his books have been bestsellers and award winners, and his first science fiction novel, The Space Between Us, was a BBC2 Between the Covers pick. He’s taught creative writing, been writer in residence at various institutions, and has been an arts journalist for twenty years. Doug is a songwriter and musician with five albums and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers. He lives in Edinburgh.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Squadpod Squadpod Featured Books

SuqadPod Featured Book: Watching You by Helen Fields

Published August 28th, 2025 by Avon Books
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A face in the crowd. A killer in the shadows…

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On the dark streets of Edinburgh, a killer is waiting.

When a body is found, it is only the beginning. Soon there will be seven more.

In the city’s hospital, renowned surgeon Beth Waterfall is grieving.

Her beloved only daughter fell prey to a vicious stalker a year previously – and now he’s coming for her too.

Edinburgh’s police are desperate.

After one body comes another, and then another. The brutal deaths are all seemingly unconnected, yet DS Lively and forensic profiler Dr Connie Woolwine know they are dealing with a serial killer – they just need to prove it.

But time is running out, and Beth Waterfall already looks set to be the next victim…

The million-copy international bestseller returns with a gripping serial killer thriller that will have you hooked from the first page to the very last.

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MY REVIEW:

In Edinburgh, a killer is watching. Waiting for the right time to strike. A body is found but there will be seven more that soon follow. The brutal murders seem unconnected, but DS Lively and Dr Connie Woolwine are sure they are dealing with a serial killer. 

A new Helen Fields book is always an event. A crime fiction powerhouse, Helen always delivers books that are sinister, suspenseful, twisty, menacing and addictive. Her latest novel, Watching You, delivers all that and more. Dark and gritty, there’s an oppressive sense of foreboding from the start and a chilling unease as we become aware of the killer hunting and watching his prey. It’s expertly written, skillfully plotted, full of red herrings, shocking twists and nerve-shredding moments that have you on the edge of your seat.

Fields’ books are always filled with richly drawn and compelling characters but this time she’s gone one better and packed it to the brim with characters that regular readers will recognise from both of her series. Not only are profiler Connie Woolwine and Brodie Barda back, but DS Sam Lively and DS Christie Salter from the DI Callanach series returns and there are mentions of other familiar characters. Dare I hope that soon we might get a book where Luc, Ava, Connie and Brodie all appear together? PLEASE make that happen, Helen! 

The return of Connie Woolwine means more strange moments with corpses and a crime that explores another rare brain condition. I love these aspects of this series and always particularly look forward to learning about another obscure condition thanks to Ms. Fields. Another thing I love about her books is how she humanises the victims, making us care about them and see them as real people before they are then brutally murdered. I also like that she also includes the perspective of the villain, this time making my skin crawl as I witnessed him stalking his victims, all while they are completely unaware he is watching. 

A heart-stopping thriller that is scalpel-sharp, dark and devious, Watching You is a must for any thriller lover. And though it is technically part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. However, I highly recommend all of Helen’s books as they are first-class thrillers you don’t want to miss.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A Sunday Times and million copy best-selling author, Helen is a former criminal and family law barrister. Every book in the Callanach series has claimed an Amazon #1 bestseller flag. ‘Perfect Kill’ was longlisted for the Crime Writers Association Ian Fleming Steel Dagger in 2020, and others have been longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize, Scottish crime novel of the year. Helen also writes as HS Chandler, and has released legal thriller ‘Degrees of Guilt’. In 2020 Perfect Remains was shortlisted for the Bronze Bat, Dutch debut crime novel of the year. In 2022, Helen was nominated for Best Crime Novel and Best Author in the Netherlands. Now translated into more than 20 languages, and also selling in the USA, Canada & Australasia, Helen’s books have won global recognition. She has written standalone novels, The Institution, The Last Girl To Die, These Lost & Broken Things and The Shadow Man. She regularly commutes between West Sussex, USA and Scotland.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliohiles xxxx

Categories
Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell

Published July 3rd, 2025 by Century
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Crime Ficiton, Psychological Fiction, Domestic Ficiton

Welcome to my review for this nerve-shredding thriller, Thank you to Century for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

He’s the perfect man.

He says he loves you.

You think he might even be made for you.

Before long he’s moved into your house – and into your heart.

And then he leaves for days at a time. You don’t know where he’s gone or who he’s with.

And you realise – if you looked back – you’d say to yourself:

DON’T LET HIM IN.

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MY REVIEW:

Nick seems like the perfect man. He’s charming, sweet, thoughtful, says all the right things and buys you gifts. So what if things are going faster than you’d usually like. When it’s right, it’s right. Except when it’s not. Because behind the charming veneer Nick is a conman who exploits women for his own gain. And you are his next victim. 

The Queen of the psychological thriller has done it again! Lisa Jewell is back with a nerve-shredding story that blew me away. I was completely in her thrall and inhaled this book in under a day; desperate to untangle the twisted web she had woven. Psychologically rich, keenly observed and cleverly choreographed, this book showcases Jewell as a master of her craft. Jewell has mentioned being a fan of true crime documentaries and this book certainly has that vibe, which I loved. And, that ending! Omg! I fell for it again, another trick pulled out of the hat right when I was sure it was all over, changing everything with a single line. Now I understand why people have told her they threw the book across the room after finishing. It’s sneaky and I’m totally here for it. I’ll happily keep falling for your tricks Ms. Jewell. 

The story is populated by a large cast of impeccably developed and dynamic characters who feel relatable, mostly likeable, and had me invested in their lives. At the centre of it all is Nick, the charming conman who will smile at your face and tell you pretty lies, all while he’s actually thinking about the fact he loathes you. This toxic, cold and calculating man has zero redeeming qualities and is one of the most odious and dangerous characters I’ve ever read. Every time you think he can’t sink any lower, this guy goes down another five floors. Jewell perfectly balances the charm he would need to be successful at his con while allowing the reader a glimpse inside his twisted mind. It’s chilling and I hated him with a passion. I felt deeply for the women caught up in his web and desperately wished I could save them. 

Heart-poundingly tense, sinister, twisty and unsettling, Don’t Let Him In is an addictive thriller that has me bowing at Ms. Jewell’s throne. Not to be missed! And remember: if something seems too good to be true, then it probably is.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lisa Jewell was born in London in 1968.

Her first novel, Ralph’s Party, was the best- selling debut novel of 1999. Since then she has written another twenty novels, most recently a number of dark psychological thrillers, including The Girls, Then She Was Gone, The Family Upstairs, The Family Remains and The Night She Disappeared, all of which were Richard & Judy Book Club picks.

Lisa is a New York Times and Sunday Times number one bestselling author who has been published worldwide in over thirty languages. She lives in north London with her husband and two daughters.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx