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BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Under the Blazing Sun by Jenny Lund Masden

Published May 21st, 2026 by Orenda
Mystery, Thriller, Crime Fiction, Nordic Noir

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Hannah’s love life is in ruins, writer’s block hits, and her agent sends her to Sicily to finish her sequel. But when murder strikes, Hannah’s life turns into the crime novel she’s meant to write. Darkly funny, atmospheric, and full of twists, the second instalment in an addictive new series.

‘Jenny Lund Madsen’s spoof destination thriller is a brilliant follow-up to her meta-mystery Thirty Days of Darkness… It cunningly fulfils Hannah’s promise to her agent that her second crime novel will be “bloodier and more dangerous. Just the way you like it, with lots of twists and turns’ The Times

‘Hilarious, dark and whip-smart, Under the Blazing Sun confirms Madsen as a wonderful literary talent’ Doug Johnstone

‘This flight from Denmark to Sicily will offer plenty of wry smiles for fans of the genre in a clever, double-pronged approach’ Nordic Watchlist

‘The quintessential holiday read, funny and atmospheric. Hannah is the kind of heroine we’d all love as a friend, and it’s also a brilliant evocation of the stunning island landscape of Sicily. My favourite read of the year so far!’ Kate Rhodes

‘A wild ride of murder and humour. The most fun I’ve had reading a crime novel this year’ Will Carver

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Hannah is miserable. Her love life is in ruins, her contract demands a sequel to her bestselling crime debut―and she’s out of ideas. After a mortifying TV interview, her agent ships her off to a sun-drenched Sicilian villa with a simple order: finish the book. No distractions. No excuses.

But inspiration doesn’t strike―murder does.

When a night out ends in murder, Hannah finds herself at the centre of a murder investigation… again. The police want her out of the way, and the only person who seems to believe her is a young but charming Italian police officer. That is, until she doesn’t.

Soon Hannah is chasing suspects, fleeing crime scenes, and doing whatever it takes to avoid becoming the next victim. She came to write a crime novel. Now she’s trapped inside one.

Dark, sly and deliciously atmospheric, Under the Blazing Sun is the second novel in the award-winning series featuring accidental sleuth and disgruntled literary author Hannah, whose pursuit of plot twists keeps turning dangerously real.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Hannah’s life isn’t going well. Her love life is in ruins, she’s struggling with writer’s block, and she owes her agent a sequel to her bestselling crime debut. Her agent has an idea and sends her off to Sicily to finish the book free of distractions. But instead of inspiration, Hannah once again finds herself caught up in a murder and now instead of writing a crime novel she is trapped inside one. She’s fleeing crime scenes, dodging the police, hunting down suspects and searching for clues. Can Hannah solve the crime before she becomes the next victim?

Sinister, twisty, devious and darkly funny, Under the Blazing Sun is the second book in Jenny Lund Marsden’s Murder by the Book series. I loved Jenny’s debut, Thirty Days of Darkness, so I was excited to see what was next for writer-turned-accidental sleuth Hannah. And it turns out she is either the unluckiest or luckiest person in the world as she’s once again caught up in a murder while trying to write a crime novel. I love this premise and enjoyed seeing Hannah even more out of her depth this time around. And I enjoyed every second of the ride as she searched for clues, hunted down and questioned suspects and seemed oblivious to the dangerous situations she kept putting herself in.

Well-written, cleverly plotted and full twists, this slow-burn thriller took me a little while to get into but soon had me hooked. The tension ramped up as we approached the finale and I was on the edge of my seat with my heart racing as I impatiently waited to learn Hannah’s fate.

Adding to the tension was the setting itself. The foreignness of Sicily compounds Hannah’s feelings of isolation and everyone and everything feel ominous as she tries to figure out who is friend and who is foe. Jenny draws upon the good and bad of Sicily, nodding to the Mafia history of the island while showcasing the kindness of the locals that could be genuine, or could be a ploy to make Hannah drop her guard. Like Hannah, I struggled to decide which it was. I also couldn’t decide between the array of suspects and found it impossible to predict who the killer was before the big reveal, which wraps the story up nicely whilst perfectly setting things up for a third instalment.

Hannah is a great protagonist. She’s flawed and moody but there’s something about her you can’t help but like and I loved being back with her. The supporting characters were just as richly drawn and added to the intrigue. I also enjoyed the added complications that characters such as her girlfriend Margrét and local police officer, Carlotta, added to Hannah’s life.

A compelling escapade that will have you hooked, I recommend this to all thriller fans.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jenny Lund Madsen is one of Denmark’s most acclaimed scriptwriters (including the international hits Rita and Follow the Money) and is known as an advocate for better representation for sexual and ethnic minorities in Danish TV and film. She recently made her debut as a playwright with the critically acclaimed Audition (Aarhus Teater) and her debut literary thriller, Thirty Days of Darkness, first in an addictive new series, won the Harald Mogensen Prize for Best Danish Crime Novel of the year and was shortlisted for the coveted Glass Key Award. She lives in Denmark with her young family.

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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 REVIEW: The Repentants by Kate Foster

Published May 28th, 2026 by Mantle
Historical Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Her scandal. His revenge. The unforgettable new historical novel from award-winning author, Kate Foster.

St Monans, Fife, Scotland 1790. Two women are forced to publicly repent in church, one for adultery the other for breaching the sabbath. Wealthy housewife, Florrie, and salt serf, Eliza, form a quick and unusual bond over their mutual humiliation. So when Florrie’s husband decides she must accompany him on a trade venture to Iceland, she insists Eliza comes as her maid.

Far from home, isolated and fearful, the two women grow ever closer. Then Florrie’s husband reveals his sinister plan: he will leave her in Iceland, banished for the shame she has cast upon him. Florrie must escape, but when she turns to Eliza for help she realizes nothing is quite as it seems . . .

Inspired by an attempt by Scottish merchants to annex Iceland as a remote prison for the British Empire, The Repentants is a chilling tale of betrayal, exile and survival from the Women’s Prize long-listed author of The Maiden, Kate Foster.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

St Monans, Fife, Scotland, 1790. Wealthy housewife Florrie and salt serf Eliza meet at church one Sunday when they are forced to publicly repent for their sins: Florrie for adultery and Eliza for breaching the sabbath. The pair quickly bond. So when Florrie is to accompany her husband, Jonny, on a business venture to Iceland, she insists that Eliza accompany them as her maid. Isolated, fearful and far from their home, the two women struggle to adjust. They meet housewife Hallgerd, who has been asked to help Florrie settle in but is busy with her own problems and reluctant to welcome the new foreigners. Then, Jonny reveals his sinister plan to have Florrie declared insane and leave her in Iceland as revenge for the shame she caused him. She turns to Eliza for help but soon discovers things are not quite what they seem…

Kate Foster has quickly become one of my favourite historical novelists. Her novels are not only exquisitely written, they also feature unforgettable strong women and incite incredible rage for the injustices they have faced. The Repentants continues that female-centred take on history, holding me in a chokehold from the first page, making me feel totally invested in the lives of these women and angry for what they endured. Kate elicits these emotions with finesse, her writing never feeling overbearing or preachy despite the heavy topics it covers but simply putting her reader in the characters’ shoes to make them understand how it would feel. 

Another thing I love about Kate’s books is how she draws inspiration from real life and creates an unforgettable story around it. This time she was inspired by some Scottish merchants in the 18th Century who hatched a plan to annex Iceland and turn it into a remote penal colony to house British criminals. Meticulously researched, Kate includes small details that bring the era to life, transporting us back to the 18th Century in vivid detail. We see what life was like for the wealthy and for the poor, the power that the church held over the community, the shocking realities of serfdom and the total authority of a husband over a wife. 

At the centre of it all are a trio of relatable, strong but flawed women. They each have their own distinct voice that I loved reading, liked and was rooting for despite their flaws. I did initially expect the relationship between Florrie and Eliza to play out a little differently but actually enjoyed how it was written as it felt more authentic and true to how it would have been. The background characters are also richly drawn and compelling, with some of the men being so vile and misogynistic that I was raging whenever they appeared on the page.

Authentic, intricate and totally magnificent, this is one not to be missed.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kate Foster worked as a national newspaper journalist for more than twenty years before becoming an author. Growing up in Edinburgh, she became fascinated by its history and often uses it as inspiration for her stories. Her previous novels include The Maiden, which won the Bloody Scotland Crime Debut of the Year and was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, and The King’s Witches. The Mourning Necklace is her third novel. She lives in Edinburgh with her two children.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxxx

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

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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK REVIEW: Waiting on a Friend by Natalie Adler

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Published May 26, 2026 by Riverrun
Literary Fiction, Coming-of-Age Story, Lesbian Fiction, LGBTQ Litertature

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

East Village, summer of 1984. Renata is a young dyke-about-town who has the ability to see ghosts, which has been happening more and more frequently as her friends have started dying of what has recently been named AIDS.

So, when her best friend Mark dies, she assumes she’ll see him again. There’s no way Mark wouldn’t give her a chance to say goodbye, would he? But to her disappointment – and increasingly, her concern – Mark doesn’t appear.

Renata has other problems, too. A mysterious, police-like force has begun ridding their East Village neighbourhood of anything abnormal or inexplicable. At first, she’s sure they’re scam artists, but it becomes clear they’re actually trapping ghosts. With her band of lovably eccentric pals and lovers, Renata is determined to fight back against the erasure of her friends’ memories and the sanitizing of her beloved New York.

Both heartbreaking and healing, tragic and triumphant, Waiting on a Friend is a magical retelling of queer history and a celebration of youth and camaraderie. With pathos and humour, empathy and an edge, Natalie Adler freshly reimagines the past for a new generation, reclaiming the spirit of resistance and determination that would become one of the era’s defining legacies.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

East Village, New York, summer of 1984. Young lesbian Renata has an unusual ability – she can see ghosts. And with her friends dying of AIDS it has been happening more frequently. And it’s been happening more and more frequently lately as her friends have died from AIDS. So, when her best friend Mark dies, she assumes she’ll see him again. But he doesn’t appear. And a missing ghost isn’t Renata’s only problem. There is a mysterious, police-like force trying to rid the neighbourhood of anything inexplicable. At first, she is sure they are con artists, but it’s soon clear they are trapping ghosts. So, Renata and her motley crew of friends and lovers all band together to fight back against them. 

Sometimes you just know you’re going to love a book from the first page. This was one of those books for me. Heartfelt, moving, funny and deeply human, this innovative debut is one you won’t forget. A story of tragedy, grief, youth and friendship, Natalie Adler had me in the palm of her hand from start to finish. Skillfully written and original, Adler reimagines a dark time in queer history and the bleak reality of the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s, giving it a supernatural twist and showcasing the community’s strength to overcome seemingly insurmountable prejudice and odds. She also transports us to New York, bringing it to life so vividly that I could see the gritty streets, smell the car exhausts and hear the cacophony of people and traffic. I was totally hooked and read the whole book in just two sittings. 

Renata and the motley crew of other characters are richly drawn, relatable and real. I liked these people and was drawn into their world. I believed in these friendships, romances and dalliances. The 1980s were a terrifying time for the queer community. So little was known and it was a game of Russian Roulette that so many people lost. Adler does a great job of threading that undercurrent of fear into every facet of their lives whilst also making them feel normal. Unfortunately I know the pain of losing friends and could relate to the heartbreak they were feeling. I also thought how comforting it could have been for Renata to see some of those friends again as ghosts. I loved how the supernatural aspect never felt unreal and I was rooting for the ghosts as much as the other characters. 

Quirky, emotional and enthralling, this remarkable debut is one I’ll think about for years to come. I can’t wait to see what’s next from Ms. Adler. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you Rivverun for sending me a proof copy of the book in exchange for my honest reivew.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Natalie Adler has an MFA in Fiction from Brooklyn College and a PhD in Comparative Literature from Brown University. She was a Susan Kamil Emerging Writer Fellow at the Center for Fiction. She is an editor at Lux magazine and an instructor at Sackett Street Writers. She is from New Jersey and lives in New York City.

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

BOOK REVIEW: The Palace of Eros by Caro De Robertis

Published August 15th, 2024 by The Borough Press
Greek Mythology, Historical Fiction, LGBT Literature

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to listen free for 45 days*

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

WINNER OF THE 2024 GOLDEN POPPY OCTAVIA E. BUTLER AWARD

‘A brilliant and luminous writer’ Madeline Miller, author of The Song of Achilles and Circe

‘Riveting, sublime, magical, and wildly subversive’ Cristina García, author of Dreaming in Cuban

‘A natural storyteller’ Washington Post

Theirs was a love that defied the gods…

Young, headstrong Psyche has captured the eye of every suitor with her beauty – but also, unfortunately, the jealous gaze of the goddess Aphrodite. As punishment, Psyche is tied to a rock to be sacrificed to a ‘monstrous husband’. And yet, no monster arrives: instead, she is spirited away by Aphrodite’s daughter Eros.

Eros, goddess of desire, can change gender at will. And in her hidden palace, she visits her bride under the cloak of darkness: Psyche is forbidden to gaze upon the face of her lover. But as they explore each other’s bodies and discover new pleasures, Psyche is tempted to break her vow… even if it brings down the wrath of the gods.

A gloriously anarchic and seductive retelling of the myth of Psyche and Eros, groundbreaking, gender-fluid and hugely enjoyable, this is a masterpiece from Caro De Robertis, a writer described by Madeline Miller as ‘brilliant and luminous’.

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

“Theirs was a love that defied the gods…”

Psyche, the headstrong mortal princess, has a beauty that has captured the attention of every suitor. But it has also captured the jealous gaze of the goddess Aphrodite who orders Psyche be tied to a rock and sacrificed to a ‘monstrous husband’. But no monster arrives. Instead she is taken away by Eros, Aphrodite’s daughter and goddess of desire, who has also fallen head over heels for Psyche’s beauty. She secretes Psyche in her hidden palace and visits her under a veil of darkness, forbidding Psyche to gaze on her face. But as their passion grows, so does Psyche’s curiosity, and she is tempted to look upon her lover’s face, even if it means facing the wrath of the gods…

Sensuous, seductive, emotional and chaotic, The Palace of Eros is a beautiful retelling of the myth of Psyche and Eros. In her mesmerising debut, Caro Di Robertis writes with poetic prose, holding her reader captive as she spins her ancient tale. I’ve read a number of Greek mythology retellings over the last few years and this was one of the best. The characters felt real and I lived every moment alongside them, losing myself in their worlds of gods and mortals. Then there is the heart-pounding romance and sizzling chemistry that made me root for their love to defy the gods and succeed. I was utterly entranced and listened to this in just two sittings. 

A must-read for anyone who enjoys mythology.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A writer of Uruguayan origins, Caro De Robertis is the author of So Many Stars: an Oral History of Trans, Nonbinary, Genderqueer, and Two-Spirit People of Color, as well as The Palace of Eros, which won the Golden Poppy Octavia E. Butler Award; The President and the Frog, a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award and the PEN/Jean Stein Book Award; Cantoras, winner of a Stonewall Book Award and a Reading Women Award, a finalist for the Kirkus Prize and a Lambda Literary Award, and a New York Times Editors’ Choice; The Gods of Tango, winner of a Stonewall Book Award; Perla; and the international bestseller The Invisible Mountain, which received Italy’s Rhegium Julii Prize. They are also an award-winning translator of Latin American literature, and editor of the anthology Radical Hope: Letters of Love and Dissent in Dangerous Times.

Their books have been translated into seventeen languages and have received numerous other honors, including a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts and the John Dos Passos Prize for Literature, which they were the first openly nonbinary person to receive.

De Robertis is also co-curator, with Tina V. Aguirre, of “Conjuring Power: Roots & Futures of Queer & Trans Movements,” an exhibition on view at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts from March to August, 2026. A professor at San Francisco State University, they live in Oakland, California with their two children.

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Thanks for reading, Bilbliophiles xxxxx

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Blog Tours book reviews

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Stop Dead (Iceland Mysteries, Book 2) by Katrín Júlíusdóttir

Published May 21st 2026 by Orenda
Mystery, Thriller, Police Procedural, Hardboiled, Noir Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

When detective-in-training Sigurdís interrupts her studies in the US to return to Iceland, after discovering that the investigation into her abusive father’s death has been dropped, she’s plunged into a completely new case when a controversial TV personality is murdered during the Reykjavík Marathon.

Icelandic detective-in-training Sigurdís is studying criminal psychology in the US, but her plans are thrown into disarray when she discovers that her boss and mentor, Garðar, has been fired from Reykjavík CID over his investigation into Sigurdís’s father’s death. 

Returning to Iceland to deal with the fallout, Sigurdís finds herself pulled into a disturbing case: controversial TV personality Olga Einars has been stabbed to death during the Reykjavík Marathon. Struggling to locate a runner waring the number 1407, who was seen near the murdered woman during the race, the police soon discover that several masked runners were wearing the same number.  

As the mystery deepens, Sigurdís and her fellow detective Unnar soon learn exactly how unpopular Olga was – not just with the interviewees she humiliated on live TV, but with her own son, her business partner, a widower who insists that she had a hand in his wife’s death, and her ex-husband, who died in suspicious circumstances thirty years ago…

As her exploration into Olga’s past becomes ever darker and more harrowing, Sigurdís must also face the truth about her own father, while searching for an attacker who will go to any lengths to cover up their crimes…

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Sigurdis is studying criminal psychology in the US when she receives a call informing her old boss and mentor, Garðar, has been put on leave from the Reykjavík CID after a standard review called his work into her violent father’s death into question. Sigurdis immediately returns to Iceland and begins to ask questions she’s never considered before about the night her father died. And she is soon pulled into the investigation into the disturbing murder of controversial TV personality Olga Einarsdóttir, who was stabbed to death during the Reykjavik Marathon. It is soon clear that Olga was unpopular with many people, including her business partner and her own son. And questions are being asked about her ex-husband’s death that make Sigurdis and fellow detective, Unnar, wonder if Olga was involved. 

Propulsive, tense, twisty and totally addictive, the second instalment in Katrín Júlíusdóttir’s Iceland Mysteries is Nordic noir at its best. Skillfully written, acutely observed, cleverly plotted and fast-paced, Katrín shows that her sensational debut was not a fluke with this thrilling follow up. I was in her thrall and unable to stop reading once I’d started and was again taken on a turbulent ride filled with dark secrets and traumatic pasts that come back to haunt you. With  multiple timelines, two different crime investigations, a vast array of characters and numerous suspects, it is a testament to Katrín’s skill that none of this ever feels confusing. I had so many predictions and loved that I was never sure which were right and which were wrong, keeping me on a knife-edge of suspense and anticipation right up until the last page.

The book is filled with a cast of characters who are richly drawn, relatable and real. Sigurdis is a great protagonist and I loved being back with her. She’s likeable and easy to root for, but also flawed and complex, her dark and traumatic past causing CPTSD. That past plagues her this time around as questions are asked about her violent father’s death. Could her mother have killed him or did he take his own life as Sigurdis has always believed? Katrín writes about these topics with authenticity, honesty and sensitivity, really making you feel the characters’ emotions at every step. But it isn’t all dark, and one aspect of the story that provided some light was Sigurdis’ relationship with fellow detective, Unnar. The chemistry sizzles between them from the start and I was rooting for them to give into it and finally get together. But did they? You’ll have to read to find out.

An addictive thriller that keeps you on your toes, I highly recommend this one.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you Orenda for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Katrín is a Policy advisor and author. She received the Blackbird Award, an Icelandic crime-writing prize, for her first novel, Sykur (en: Sugar) in 2020. Her debut novel was reviewed well by critics and hit the best-selling lists in the first weeks after publication.

She was the Managing Director of Finance Iceland from 2016-2022. She has a political background and was a member of Parliament from 2003 until 2016. The Minister of industry, energy and tourism from 2009-2012 and Minister of finance and economy from 2012-2013. She served as the Social Democratic Alliance’s vice-chair from 2013-2016.

Before she was elected to Parliament, Katrín was an advisor and project manager at a tech company and a senior buyer and CEO in the retail sector, as well as the Managing Director of a student union during her uni years. She worked from a young age in the fishing industry, as a store clerk and took nighttime shifts at a pizza place. She studied Anthropology and has an MBA from Reykjavík University.

She was raised in Kópavogur, about 15 minutes’ drive from downtown Reykjavík. She now lives in the neighbouring town of Garðabær with her family. She is married to author Bjarni M. Bjarnason, who encouraged her to start writing. They have four boys.

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ABOUT THE TRANSLATOR:

Larissa Kyzer is a writer and Icelandic to English literary translator. In 2019, she was awarded the American Scandinavian Foundation’s translation prize. That same year, she was one of Princeton University’s Translators in Residence. Larissa has received grant funding and support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the European Union Prize for Literature, the Fulbright Commission, the Icelandic Ministry of Education and Culture, the Icelandic Literature Center, and Finland’s Kone Foundation. She is an at-large board member of the American Literary Translators Association, a member of the Translators Organizing Committee, and runs the virtual Women+ in Translation reading series Jill!

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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

Categories
Audio Books Beat the Backlist book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2023

BOOK REVIEW: A Lady’s Guide to Scandal by Sophie Irwin

Published August 31st, 2023 by Harper Fiction
Historial Fiction, Romance Novel, Regency Romance

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to listen free for 45 days*

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A lifetime of duty

Widowed at just seven-and-twenty from her marriage of convenience, Eliza, now Countess of Somerset, is bequeathed a fortune, hers to keep – provided she can steer clear of scandal.

The promise of love

The last thing she expects is to be torn between two very different men – a face from the past, whose loss she’s always mourned, and a roguish poet, who scorns convention.

A taste of freedom

But a lady’s reputation is fragile and with jealous eyes on Eliza’s fortune, it will only take one whisper of gossip for her to lose it all…

Escape with the most delightful, historical romance of the year from the Sunday Times bestselling author Sophie Irwin!

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

“Isn’t now the time to break the rules “

Eliza, Countess of Somerset, is newly widowed at just seven and twenty. To her surprise, her late husband has bequeathed her a fortune – offering her the chance to finally grasp the freedom she’s longed for. But there is one condition: she must steer clear of scandal. So, she heads off to Bath to begin her new life, only to find herself caught between two very different suitors – a past love who she’s always carried a torch for, and a roguish poet who spurns convention. But as jealous eyes have their eyes on Eliza’s fortune, it only takes a little gossip to ruin a lady’s reputation…

Scandal. Gossip. Art. Romance. Breaking the rules. This rousing regency romp had all this and more. Witty, warm, flirty, fun, uplifting and unpredictable, it was a delight from beginning to end. I adored Sophie Irwin’s debut novel, A Lady’s Guide to a Fortune, so I had no doubt I’d also love her sophomore novel. Beautifully written, richly drawn and full of yet more ebullient and colourful characters, I lost myself in the story. 

Likeable and easy to root for, Eliza is a fabulous heroine. When we meet her she’s compliant and scared to break the rules and I loved watching as she became more daring, bold and spirited/plucky. Her relationship with her cousin/companion, Margaret, was fun to read and I liked how Margaret encouraged her to live life more fully. Oliver and Melville, Eliza’s suitors, were well written and often very frustrating to read. Oliver is quite pompous and particular while Melville is free-spirited and mischievous. Melville’s feelings for Eliza were obvious from the start but she was clueless and totally caught up on Oliver, which made me want to scream at her. Despite his shortcomings, I was team Melville all the way. You’ll need to read the book to find out who won Eliza’s affections in the end.

A delicious and zesty romp that will lift your spirits, this is perfect for fans of historical romance, especially fans of Bridgerton.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sophie Irwin grew up in Dorset. She spent years immersed in historical fiction, first as a student when she wrote her undergraduate thesis on Georgette Heyer, and then as an editor, before she began writing her own. Her debut novel, A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting, was a Sunday Times bestseller, and has been translated into twenty languages worldwide.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2026

BOOK REVIEW: Land by Maggie O’Farrell

Published June 2nd, 2026 by Tinder Press
Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘You will never understand how the land remembers, how deep the roots grow’

On a windswept peninsula stretching out into the Atlantic, Tomás and his reluctant son, Liam, are working for the great Ordnance Survey project to map the whole of Ireland. The year is 1865, and in a country not long since ravaged and emptied by the Great Hunger, the task is not an easy one. Tomás, however, is determined that his maps will be a record of the disaster.

The British soldiers in charge are due to arrive any day, expecting the work to be completed, but Tomás is sent off course by an unsettling encounter in a copse. His life, and those of his family, will never be the same again. Liam is terrified by the sudden change in his taciturn father. What was it that caused such cracks to open in Tomás and how is Liam, aged only ten, going to finish the mapping, and get them both home?

Land is a story of buried treasure, overlapping lives, ancient woodland, persistent ghosts, a particularly loyal dog, and how, when it comes to both land and history, nothing ever goes away.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

“You will never understand how the land remembers, how deep the roots grow.”

There is nothing better than a book that hits all the right notes, and Land does just that. Haunting, heartrending, visceral, mesmerising and deeply human, this breathtaking mult-generational saga is an epic tale of separation, longing, resilience, hope and love.

Ireland, 1865. On a windswept peninsula 10-year-old Liam and his father, Tomas, are mapping the land as part of the great Ordnance Survey project to map the whole of Ireland. Tomas takes pride in his work, determined that his maps will not only map the land, but also the effects of the Great Hunger which not long since ravaged his country. But everything changes when Tomas comes across a copse where he has an unusual and unsettling encounter. It changes him completely, terrifying young Liam, who must now finish the maps so they can be paid and go home. But the father he is returning home with isn’t the same one who left, Tomas’ encounter setting his whole life off course and having ripple effects for his entire family.

A treasure trove of a story written by an exceptional storyteller, Land showcases why Maggie O’Farrell is one of my favourite authors and a force to be reckoned with. An ancient story with a hint of the supernatural, reading this book felt like stepping inside a dark, forgotten fairytale. Maggie’s exquisite storytelling is lyrical and evocative, bringing the past to live in vivid detail and transporting us into their world. It deals with some heavy topics but manages to avoid feeling mired in misery and feels powerful but delicate, whispering its truths in our ear instead of shouting them at us. My only complaint is that there are no chapters, which does make it a little hard to follow at times or know when to pause reading.

One of the reasons I love reading historical fiction so much is the chance to experience and discover people, times and places that I would otherwise never experience. And this book offers that window into something I never even considered before: the mapping of Ireland for the Ordnance Survey. Spanning decades and told from multiple perspectives, Maggie has drawn from real people and events to create this story. It is filled with strong, fascinating, flawed and memorable characters and I loved how it never took the moral high ground, instead allowing the characters to live in the grey area where humanity naturally resides most of the time. I loved these characters and was completely invested in their lives.

An extraordinary and moving portrait of a family and its trials and tribulations, this is a must-read.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Thank you Tinder Press and Emma Knight for sending me a proof copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

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SQUADPOD BOOK CLUB REVIEW: Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray

Published May 7th, 2026 by Pan Macmillan
Legal Thriller, Crime Fiction, Courtroom Drama

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Breathlessly compulsive courtroom drama with expertly-crafted twists that you won’t see coming, Dissection of a Murder is the razor-sharp debut novel from Jo Murray.

A dead judge. A silent defendant. And a courtroom full of liars.

When Leila Reynolds is handed her first murder case, she’s shocked at how high-profile it is: the murder of a well-respected, well-known judge. This shouldn’t be the kind of case she’s leading; it’s way beyond her expertise. But the defendant, Jack Millman, is clear. He wants her, and only her.

To make things worse, he’s refusing to talk. How is she supposed to prove herself on what appears to be an unwinnable case?

Losing is not an option. She must find the most persuasive argument. Trials aren’t won by convincing judges or fellow barristers – they’re all about convincing a jury.

Suddenly, Leila finds herself fighting not only to keep Jack out of prison, but also to keep her own secrets buried.

It’s true what they say – there are two sides to every story.

Guilty or not guilty?

You decide . . .

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MY REIVEW:

Guilty or not guilty? You decide…

That is the question asked by this outstanding debut thriller And days after finishing it, I’m still reeling. 

The story follows lawyer Leila Reynolds who is defending her first murder case. She was shocked to be chosen because a judge has been murdered and this is a high profile case. But the defendant, Jack Millman, makes it clear he wants her to defend him. Things are made even harder because Jack is refusing to talk and says he’ll only reveal what really happened on the stand. How can she win the case without knowing his defence? But losing isn’t an option. Especially with her husband prosecuting the case. She just needs to find an argument that will convince the jury there’s reasonable doubt. But as the case goes on, Leila’s own secrets threaten to surface, and suddenly she’s fighting not only for Jack’s freedom, but to keep her life from falling apart.

Holy freaking twists! I was not prepared for how much of a nail-biting rollercoaster ride this was going to be. Atmospheric, urgent, compulsive, and heart-poundingly tense, this had me on a knife-edge from start to finish. It is a story of secrets, lies, revenge and murder. A sophisticated and twisty Courtroom drama that you will find impossible to put down once you’ve started. Jo Murray showcases herself as an author to watch with this exquisitely written and expertly crafted debut, delivering an intoxicating combination of malice-ridden prose, red herrings and clever twists. As she drip-fed the clues I was hoodwinked by her misdirections multiple times, and my jaw hit the floor when she delivered that triple-bluff ending that I still can’t get over. I listened to the audiobook and Joanne Froggart’s superb narration elevated the story to another level, pulling me into the story and making me feel like I living every moment alongside the characters.

The story is filled with a cast of deeply flawed but compelling characters who were so much fun to read. Protagonist Leila was easy to like and root for but also feels like an enigma as there are hints of secrets and a hidden past. There is a lot of focus on Leila’s marriage as her husband, Julian, is the prosecutor in the case. I couldn’t stand Julian and had no idea why Leila was with him. All the same, I enjoyed the added tension that having a married couple on opposing sides of the same case brought to the story. But my favourite character was the enigmatic Witness X. This character narrates regular chapters where they take us through their rules for life and terrible backstory. I had a few candidates for who this character might be and loved that Jo kept me guessing who they were right up until the big reveal. 

This phenomenal thriller is a must-read for all thriller thriller lovers.

Rating: 👩🏼‍⚖️👩🏼‍⚖️👩🏼‍⚖️👩🏼‍⚖️👩🏼‍⚖️

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jo Murray grew up in Teesside during the 1990s when working-class girls were told they probably shouldn’t try to become barristers. Thankfully, she ignored everyone. After studying Classics at Newcastle University, she went to law school and was a criminal barrister before leaving the profession to look after her two children.

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BOOK REVIEW: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Published May 3rd, 2022 by Bloomsbury
Contemporary Fiction, Domestic Fiction, Romance Novel, Psychological Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night cleaner shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. Ever since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat over thirty years ago keeping busy has helped her cope. One night she meets Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium who sees everything, but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors – until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.

Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late…

Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Tova Sullivan is the night cleaner and oldest employee at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. The job has been a welcome distraction ever since her son, Erik, died at just eighteen and she loves her evenings surrounded by the sea creatures. One of the creatures is Marcellus, a Giant Pacific Octopus who has been in captivity for 1299 days. Marcellus is bright and sees everything, including Tova’s loneliness. The pair strike up an unlikely friendship and Marcellus decides he must help heal the hole in Tova’s heart. So he turns detective, determined to find out what happened the night Erik disappeared. But he’s running out of time. Octopus’ only live for around four years, which gives him 160 days to get to the truth.

What an absolute joy! Gorgeous, moving, funny and full of heart, reading Remarkably Bright Creatures feels like being wrapped in a warm hug. I had heard all of the praise and it had been on my TBR for years, but when I learned that the adaptation was being released this week, I knew I had to finally read it. And I am so glad I did. Beautifully told, tender and evocative, Shelby Van Pelt has crafted a truly unforgettable debut. It did take me a bit of time to get into the story but it soon wrapped me in its tentacles. I lived every moment alongside these characters and inhaled the book in a day.

While the writing and story are fantastic, it is the characters who shine brightest in this book. I never imagined that an Octopus would become one of my favourite characters of all time, but here we are. Marcellus is intelligent, heartwarming and ebullient, lighting up every page he’s on. I loved this creature and I was rooting for him at every step. I also loved Tova immediately and would smile when reading whenever she was going through her cleaning routines. I loved the connection between Marcellus and Tova, which proved you don’t have to be human to make a connection or find friendship. There is also a great cast of background characters that I can’t wait to see come to life on the screen alongside our dynamic duo. 

Heartwarming, addictive and unputdownable, this marvellous debut is the ultimate feel-good read. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

When Shelby Van Pelt isn’t feeding her flash-fiction addiction, she’s juggling cats while wrangling children. Her debut novel, REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES, will be published by HarperCollins in May 2022. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, she’s currently missing the mountains in the suburbs of Chicago.

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AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Weavingshaw by Heba Al-Wasity

Published February 26th, 2026 by Bantam Press
Gothic Fiction, Fantasy Fiction, Romantic Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Ghost Story, Debut Novel

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A dark, gothic slow-burn fantasy romance, Weavingshaw follows a young woman haunted by the ghosts of her past and the Saint of Silence who promises her greatest desire in return for her darkest secret…

‘LEENA DIDN’T BELIEVE IN MONSTERS UNTIL SHE SAW WEAVINGSHAW.’

The Saint of Silence trades coins for every sordid divulgence uttered to him. The darker the secret, the higher the price.

Leena has a secret, one that has haunted her since she was seventeen – she can see the dead. When her brother falls ill, she knows what she must do: seek the Saint.

But Leena’s secret is more valuable to him that she could have imagined. To save her brother, she must make a deal with him to find the ghost he’s searching for.

All paths lead to Weavingshaw, a cursed estate on the moors. As Leena grows closer to the Saint, and is plunged into his world of danger, deceit and desire, she learns that he is hiding his own secrets – ones that have the power to destroy them all.

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

Leena can see the dead. It’s a secret she’s kept since she was seventeen. But now she’s going to trade that secret for the money to save her sick brother. So, she seeks out the Saint of Silence, who says that in order to save her brother she must agree to help him find the ghost he’s looking for. She reluctantly agrees. But Leena isn’t the only one hiding a secret. So is the Saint, and as their search leads them to the cursed estate of Weavingshaw, Leena learns his secret could destroy them all…

Darkly atmospheric, gothic and spellbinding this slow-burn fantasy debut that is so much more than a ghost story. It feels cinematic and epic: a story of deadly secrets, demons and haunted houses that has themes of power and debt at its core. Filled with tension, twists and surprises, the story unfolds piece by piece, giving us just enough  information to think about while keeping us guessing about the full picture. It kept me on tenterhooks, eager to learn more and discover what other secrets were lurking beneath the surface. Heba Al Wasity’s storytelling is gorgeous, her imagery evocative and her world building rich and detailed. I loved the dark, supernatural elements, the magic and how the political unrest added to the tense atmosphere. Meanwhile, Weavingshaw itself looms large over the entire story, feeling like a character in its own right. There are beautiful, haunting descriptions of this eerie house and the dark undercurrent that runs through it. It’s shadowy, gothic and unnerving. Exactly what I wanted in a gothic fantasy. 

The characters are morally complex and compelling, pulling you into their world and their stories. I thought Leena and Silas were great protagonists. She’s a heroine who is haunted by ghosts and he’s a tortured saint who is more sinful than good. I enjoyed learning their histories, what makes them tick and what motivates them. Leena’s experiences as a WOC and a refugee are central to who she is and I loved how they were woven into the narrative. Silas keeps his cards much closer to the vest but I was keen to unlock what secrets he was hiding. The romance between them was slow-burn which I enjoyed as bonding slowly and being reluctant to admit their feelings felt more realistic than if they’d instantly fallen in love.

A fantastic beginning to what promises to be an epic new series, this is a must for fantasy lovers. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you Bantam Press and Libro.fm for sending my proof copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Heba Al-Wasity was inspired to write by her own experiences of being born an Iraqi-refugee in Libya, growing up in Canada, and attending medical school in the UK. She has worked in emergency care and several psychiatric inpatient units, allowing her to gain first-hand insight in the ways that poverty and deprivation can lead to social inequalities. She currently lives with her husband near Manchester, just close enough to the moors to set her imagination alight.

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