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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: You Killed Me First by John Marrs

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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MY REVIEW:

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

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

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

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

Rating: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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BOOK REVIEW: The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue

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

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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MY REVIEW:

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

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

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

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

Highly recommended. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Audio Books Beat the Backlist book reviews

BOOK REVIEW: A Tidy Ending by Joanna Cannon

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

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

MEET LINDA.

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

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

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

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MY REVIEW:

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

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

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

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

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

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Waterstones* | Amazon*
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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Gifted & Taleneted by Olivie Blake

Published April 3rd, 2025 by Tor
Fantasy Fiction, Contemporary Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Thriller, Adventure Fiction, Urban Fiction

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this spellbiding family saga. Thank you to Bookbreak and Tor 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:

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six, Succession meets magic in Gifted & Talented by Olivie Blake. This is the story of three siblings who, upon the death of their father, are forced to reckon with their long-festering rivalries, dangerous abilities and the crushing weight of all their unrealized adolescent potential.

Where there’s a will, there’s a war.

Thayer Wren, brilliant CEO of Wrenfare Magitech, is dead. As the ‘father of modern technology,’ he leaves an incredible legacy. But which of his three telepathically and electrokinetically gifted children could inherit the Wrenfare throne?

Meredith, head of her own profitable company, has recently cured mental illness. If only her journalist ex-boyfriend wasn’t set on exposing what she really is: a total fraud. Arthur, second-youngest congressman ever, wants to do everything right. Except his wife might be leaving, and he’s losing his re-election campaign. Heading Wrenfare could relaunch his sinking ship. Eilidh was a world-famous ballerina, until a life-altering injury. Gaining the company might finally validate her worth.

On the pipeline of gifted kid to clinically depressed adult, nobody wins. Yet as they gather to read his final words, which Wren will come out on top?

This is a compulsive contemporary fantasy of family, twisted love and dangerous secrets from a writer at the height of her powers.

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MY REVIEW:

Thayer Wren, CEO of Wrenfare Magitech, is dead and he has left behind an incredible legacy. But which of his three uniquely gifted children will inherit his throne? That’s the question at the heart of this original story of complex dysfunctional family, sibling rivalry, mysterious curses and magic.

I’ve read a few of Olivie Blake’s books now and love how each one is immediately identifiable as hers thanks to her singular writing style. You know when you pick up an Olivie Blake book that you’re getting an intriguing, original and entertaining story filled with fascinating characters, witty banter and magic. Gifted & Talented is all of that and more. The writing is poetic and enthralling but also sharp, snarky and feisty, keeping the reader entertained from beginning to end. 

There is a large cast of richly drawn, quirky and morally grey characters, but the ones at the heart of it all are the three Wren siblings: Meredith, Arthur and Eildih. Each of this spoiled sibset have magical abilities that are both a blessing and a curse. Told in the first person, we spend a lot of our time in the heads of these characters, and boy are they a mess. Money sure didn’t buy happiness for the Wren family. They are a cauldron of catastrophe, depression and woe. As the siblings come all together for the first time, all of their past bitterness, rivalry and insecurities come to the surface and create a battleground. It’s intense and emotional, Blake expertly putting us in their shoes but avoiding it feeling heavy thanks to the moments of humour that pepper the narrative.

Spellbinding, twisty and totally riveting, I think this is Ms. Blake’s best book yet. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Alexene Farol Follmuth, also known under the pen name Olivie Blake, is a lover and writer of stories, many of which involve the fantastic, the paranormal, or the supernatural, but not always. More often, her works revolve around the collective experience, what it means to be human (or not), and the endlessly interesting complexities of life and love.

Alexene tripped and fell into writing after abandoning her long-premeditated track for Optimum Life Achievement while attending law school, and now focuses primarily on the craft and occasional headache of creating fiction. Under her Olivie byline, New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling The Atlas Six released 2022 from Tor Books, followed by its sequel The Atlas Paradox and the re-release of her viral literary romance Alone With You in the Ether. She has also been published as well as the writer for the graphic series Clara and the Devil and a variety of other books. As Alexene, her debut YA novel My Mechanical Romance released May 2022 from Holiday House (US) and Macmillan Children’s (UK).

Alexene lives and works in Los Angeles with her husband and goblin prince/toddler, where she is generally tolerated by her rescue pit bull.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for readinng, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: From London with Love by Katie Fforde

Published February 13th, 2025 by Century
Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance, Urban Fiction

Welcome to my review for this delightful romcom. 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:

A beautiful Chelsea town house. A chance to fulfil her dreams. A life adventure awaits…

‘The queen of uplifting, feel good romance.’ AJ Pearce
‘A force to be reckoned with for her uplifting tales of romance’ Daily Express
‘Top-drawer romantic escapism.’ Daily Mail
‘Warm, brilliant and full of love.’ Heat
‘Warm, wise, witty and with a wonderful retro flavour, From London With Love is a trip to the city you won’t want to miss!’ Lancashire Telegraph
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It’s 1968 and it’s cold when Felicity arrives in London to stay with her mother, improve her English, do a secretarial course – and meet a suitable man.

She is already missing her home in Provence and her father and his new wife and their extended family. But it’s only for a year she tells herself – and then she can go back to France and do what she really wants and become a painter.

And then she bumps into Oliver who is quite the most interesting young man she has ever met. He lives on a barge for one thing and has a collection of jobs, but his passion is looking for hidden treasures along the shores of the river Thames.

In a word, he’s a mudlarker – and before long Felicity is mudlarking too. She is also pursuing her dreams and painting scenery for Oliver’s actor friends.

But is Oliver a Suitable Man of whom her mother will approve? Felicity knows she will not …

Love, tangled relationships, and a real life adventure lie at the heart of Katie Fforde’s heart-warming new novel.

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MY REVIEW:

London, 1968. Felicity has moved from Provence to London to live with her estranged mother for a year before she goes to Paris to study art. While here she plans to improve her English, take a secretarial course and meet a suitable man. She’s feeling homesick but things start to look up when she meets Violet, who has recently moved from the countryside, works in a bookshop and is living in her godmother’s flat, which happens to be in the old servants quarters of the house that Felicity’s mother rents.  The pair quickly become friends and help each other as they adjust to life in the city. And when Felicity meets Oliver, a man like no-one she’s ever met before who lives on a barge, works a number of jobs and enjoys mudlarking as his hobby, Violet is there for her to talk to. But is Oliver the suitable man that Felicity is searching for?

Katie Fforde can always be relied upon to deliver a heartwarming and uplifting romance and her latest novel, From London with Love, has all of that and more. Charming, witty, romantic and nostalgic, this is a story about family, friendship and falling in love that will take you back to when you were young and finally discovering the world for yourself. 

Well-written and enthralling, it is filled with compelling characters who I loved reading. Felicity and Violet were fantastic central characters and I adored their friendship.  Fforde also explored the complicated relationship that can exist in our families but also the great relationships, such as the sweet relationship that Felicity shared with her stepmother which proves not all of them are wicked. The romantic interests were superb and Fforde perfectly captured the pain, uncertainty and misunderstandings that can come with the joy of falling in love, which is made all the more complicated by the class element that surrounds these characters. But my favourite character was Mrs. Wynter, who was delightful comic relief and I loved reading. 

A gorgeous escapist romcom that will make you smile, add this to your TBR now.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

From Amazon:
Dear readers, thank you for visiting my Amazon Page.

I live in the beautiful Cotswold countryside with my family, and I’m a country girl at heart.

I first started writing when my mother gave me a writing kit for Christmas, and once I started I just couldn’t stop. Living Dangerously was my first novel and since then, I haven’t looked back.

Ideas for books are everywhere, and I’m constantly inspired by the people and places around me. From watching TV (yes, it is research) to overhearing conversations, I love how my writing gives me the chance to taste other people’s lives and try all the jobs I’ve never had.

Each of my books explores a different profession or background and my research has helped me bring these to life. I’ve been a porter in an auction house, tried my hand at pottery, refurbished furniture, delved behind the scenes of a dating website, and I’ve even been on a Ray Mears survival course.

I love being a writer; to me there isn’t a more satisfying and pleasing thing to do. I particularly enjoy writing love stories. I believe falling in love is the best thing in the world, and I want all my characters to experience it, and my readers to share their stories.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: The Lying Guest by Mahi Cheshire

Published March 20th, 2025 by Harvill Secker
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Medical Thriller

Welcome to my review for this gripping thriller. Thank you Harvill Secker for sending me a copy in exchange in for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

You don’t know her, but she’s watching you…

Hardworking and overworked, Anika is a talented surgeon at a London hospital. It’s been some time since she’s had a decent night’s sleep, let alone a holiday. Not ideal for someone with parasomnia – a rare, often stress-induced, condition that causes sleepwalking blackouts.

When a patient dies on her operating table, important people start asking questions and the media turns against her with zeal. She quickly becomes a pariah at work. Shafted to endless night shifts and then on suspended leave.

It seems her only respite is to escape on a conveniently all-expenses-paid housesitting gig in Sri Lanka and keep a low profile until the drama passes, and the verdict on her case – and career as a surgeon – is decided.

Despite everything, she’s excited to visit the place she used to summer as a child. But what should be a restorative beach break is really a trip back into a murky, haunted past, which has been waiting for her all along.

Will she finally wake up to face her troubles? Or is she cursed to sleepwalk through life?

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MY REVIEW:

Talented surgeon Anika is overworked and overtired. It’s been a while since she last had a decent night’s sleep and the last thing she needs is an extra surgery when her night shift should be over. But there’s no one else and it is only a quick, routine procedure. But when her patient dies on the operating table, his prominent family accuses Anika of negligence. As the storm surrounding what happens grows and the hospital suspends her until an inquiry can be conducted.

Utterly devastated, Anika longs for an escape. So when an email lands in her inbox advertising a job caretaking a house in Sri Lanka, it seems she’s found the perfect solution. She’s excited to visit the place she was born and take a break. But she’s also nervous. Because Anika hasn’t returned since the night something terrible happened that she can’t fully remember sixteen years ago. Maybe this will finally give her the chance to finally lay her ghosts to rest. But soon, the holiday that she hoped would heal her turns into another nightmare she’s trying to escape…

Wow! What a rollercoaster this book was! Mysterious, tense and twisty, The Lying Guest certainly kept me on my toes. And that finale! Talk about heart-pounding. Anika is a compelling and likeable protagonist who was easy to root for. She has a rare condition called parasomnia, that can cause sleepwalking, sleep terrors and sleep paralysis and is made worse by things such as stress and sleep deprivation. Anika’s condition has been well managed since she took an experimental medication following the mysterious event that still haunts her. Because of this, Anika and the reader are never sure how reliable she is, adding to the tension and making me question everything. And while her housesitting gig should have been an easy job at a luxury house, she instead finds a dilapidated place with an unsettling atmosphere. Locals say the house is cursed and haunted, which Anika initially shrugs off but soon begins to question when unexplained things begin to happen. But could they be her parasomnia returning?

Eerie, gripping and layered, this is a must for any thriller lover.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mahi Cheshire was born in Sri Lanka and grew up in London. She works as a GP and has a degree in Psychology. She loves travelling, kundalini yoga and boxing, all of which provide inspiration for her writing. She lives in London with her husband and daughter.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: The Cure by Eve Smith

Published April 10th, 2025 by Orenda Books
Speculative Thriller, Medical Thriller, Dystopian Fiction

Today I’m finally sharing my review for this magnificent but terrifying thriller. Thank you Orenda Books for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

The discovery of an injection that wards off ageing is hijacked by ruthless men who hunger for immortality, with catastrophic consequences. Two women race against time to stop them, before it’s too late … a chilling, prescient, high-stakes speculative thriller by the bestselling author of One.
 
‘Another triumph of speculative fiction by Eve Smith … a brilliant concept, skilfully executed and disturbingly believable’ Guy Morpuss
 
‘Had me hooked from the opening chapter, right through to the brilliantly shocking ending … We should all be reading Eve’s cautionary tales’ Philippa East
 
‘Eve Smith has done it again! Thrilling, provocative and downright scary, The Cure is a powerfully clever novel, and Smith an author at the top of her game’ Russ Thomas

‘With compulsive plotting, crackling dialogue and a third-act twist that took my breath away, it cements Smith’s position as the queen of the speculative crime thriller’ David Goodman
 
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Living forever can be lethal…
 
Ruth is a law-abiding elder, working out her national service, but she has secrets.
 
Her tireless research into the disease that killed her young daughter had an unexpected outcome: the discovery of a vaccine against old age. Just one jab a year reverses your biological clock, guaranteeing a long, healthy life.
 
But Ruth’s cure was hijacked by her colleague, Erik Grundleger, who hungers for immortality, and the SuperJuve – a premium upgrade – was created, driving human lifespan to a new high. The wealthy elite who take it are dubbed Supers, and the population begins to skyrocket.
 
Then, a perilous side-effect of the SuperJuve emerges, with catastrophic consequences, and as the planet is threatened, the population rebels, and laws are passed to restore order: life ends at 120. Supers are tracked down by Omnicide investigators like Mara, and executed…
 
Mara has her own reasons for hunting Supers, and she forms an unlikely alliance with Ruth to find Grundleger.
 
But Grundleger has been working on something even more radical and is one step ahead, with a deadly surprise in store for them both…

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MY REVIEW:

Imagine a world where we all live a long, healthy life free from the complications of ageing. No more dementia, heart diseases, chronic pain or other ageing related conditions. Just a long life in our prime. It sounds like paradise. But would it be?

An incredible discovery means that people now live to 120 thanks to an annual anti-ageing injection. In this dystopian future, 115-year-old Ruth is an elder quietly working her mandatory national service and anticipating her transition day. But behind the unassuming facade are dark secrets she has hidden for decades. Years ago while she was trying to find a cure for the devastating illness that killed her young daughter, Ruth made a discovery that changed the world and led to the creation of ReJuve, the annual anti-ageing injection now widely used. But Ruth’s research was hijacked by her partner Erik Grundleger, a ruthless man on a quest for immortality who used it to create SuperJuve, a once in a lifetime injection for the wealthy elite, nicknamed Supers, who want to live forever. But that injection was outlawed when it was discovered that it led to psychosis. 

Mara is an investigator with Omnicide, a team who track down Supers and try to contain the catastrophic consequences of the side-effects. Known as The Blade, Mara has her own reasons for hunting Supers. And when an arrest leads to discovery that Grundleger, who has long been believed dead, may be alive, Mara forms an unlikely alliance with Ruth that leads the pair on a dangerous race against the clock to try and track down the man who started it all. 

Eve Smith has done it again. It’s been two weeks since I finished this book and I’m still reeling. Outstanding, original, though-provoking and terrifying, The Cure, is a riveting thriller that also serves as a cautionary tale, showing how in the wrong hands, something wonderful can be turned into a nightmare. I’ve been a huge fan of Eve’s books ever since her fantastic debut and this is her best yet. Masterfully written, meticulously researched, fast-paced, and full of surprising twists, Eve spins a chillingly believable tale that wrenched me out of my own reality and into the one she created. She also makes you think, forcing me to ponder important questions that I’d never considered before as she examines the problems of an ageing population, dwindling resources, the dilemma of lifespan versus healthspan, social healthcare and privilege. 

The two women at the centre of this story are fascinating characters and I loved reading them. They are very different but also quite similar, both of them being fierce and strong in their own way. Moving between narrators and timelines, we see their heart-rending backstories unfold and I was inspired by the way they have taken their pain and turned it into what motivates them in their chosen field.  I enjoyed watching them learn to work together and get to know each other and would love to see them reprise their investigative duo in another book. And we can’t talk about the characters without talking about the villain, Erik Grundleger. Brilliantly written, this odious and reprehensible man made my skin crawl and made me angry every time he was on the page.

Addictive, clever, suspenseful and unsettling, Eve had me hooked from start to finish with this magnificent thriller. It’s one not to be missed and I can’t wait for whatever she writes next.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Eve Smith writes speculative thrillers, mainly about the things that scare her. She attributes her love of all things dark and dystopian to a childhood watching Tales of the Unexpected and Edgar Allen Poe double bills.

Longlisted for the Not the Booker Prize and described by Waterstones as ‘an exciting new voice in crime fiction’, Eve’s debut novel, The Waiting Rooms, set in the aftermath of an antibiotic resistance crisis, was shortlisted for the Bridport Prize First Novel Award and was selected as a Book of the Month by Eric Brown in the Guardian, who compared her writing to Michael Crichton’s. It was followed by Off-Target, about a world where genetic engineering of children is routine, which was a Book of the Month in The Times. Her last thriller, One, set in a UK where a one-child policy is enforced, was a New Scientist pick and was longlisted for the British Science Fiction Association’s Best Novel Award.

Eve’s previous job at an environmental charity took her to research projects across Asia, Africa and the Americas, and she has an ongoing passion for wild creatures, wild science and far-flung places.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: Dangerous by Essie Fox

Published April 24th, 2025 by Orenda
Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Historical Mystery

Welcome to my stopy on the blog tour for this mesmerising gothic tale. Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part and to Orenda for sending me a proof copy in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

When the disgraced Lord Byron is associated with the deaths of women in Venice, he turns detective to unveil the killer and clear his name. A dazzling, riveting historical mystery by the author of the Sunday Times bestseller, The Fascination.
 
‘Brooding and brilliant’ A.J. West
 
‘What could so easily have been a risible premise for a novel becomes, in Fox’s expert hands, the starting point for an atmospheric thriller’ Sunday Times
 
‘As mesmerising and charismatic as Byron himself can ever have been … a magnificent gothic tale of scandal, secrets and murder’ Janice Hallett
 
‘Evokes all the grimy charisma of eighteenth-century Venice … a mystery as sinuous as the city’s alleys and canals. I was enthralled’ Elizabeth Fremantle
 
‘A dark treat … splendidly gothic and impressively researched’ Andrew Taylor
 
‘Essie Fox breathes new life into the “mad, bad and dangerous to know” Lord Byron as the notorious poet turns detective … Rich with decadent imagery and dark, gothic atmosphere, Dangerous intricately blends historical fact and fiction’ Culturefly
 
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Fiction can be fatal…
 
Living in exile in Venice, the disgraced Lord Byron revels in the freedoms of the city.
 
SCANDAL
 
But when he is associated with the deaths of local women, found with wounds to their throats, and then a novel called The Vampyre is published under his name, rumours begin to spread that Byron may be the murderer…
 
MURDER
 
As events escalate and tensions rise – and his own life is endangered, as well as those he holds most dear – Byron is forced to play detective, to discover who is really behind these heinous crimes. Meanwhile, the scandals of his own infamous past come back to haunt him…
 
MYSTERY
 
Rich in gothic atmosphere and drawing on real events and characters from Byron’s life, Dangerous is a riveting, dazzling historical thriller, as decadent, dark and seductive as the poet himself…

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MY REVIEW:

“Oh, the power found in words! How the smallest drop of ink may fall like few upon a thought, which may reach the minds of thousands.”

Lord Byron is living in exile in Venice and enjoying all the delights the city has to offer. But his Venetian refuge is threatened when he becomes embroiled in a scandal, associated with the brutal deaths of two local women who had wounds to their throats. When a novel called The Vampyre is then published under his name, rumours quickly spread that Byron is the killer. Determined to clear his name, Byron begins his own investigation which soon puts his own life at risk. Can he find and expose the killer before they get to him? 

Darkly atmospheric, decadent, eerie, and alluring, Dangerous is a seductive slice of gothic Victoriana. Seamlessly weaving a rich tapestry of meticulously researched historical detail with evocative imagery and lyrical prose, Essie Fox has  created a labyrinthine mystery that is drenched with horror yet so compelling that you can’t turn away. A story of dark deeds, depravity and murder, Fox explores the dark underbelly of Victorian Venice and its literary scene, exposing the horrors lurking beneath the glamorous facade. 

Many of the story’s characters are real people from history, including Lord Byron himself, though Ms. Fox has fictionalised aspects of their lives and characters. Complicated, unreliable, unlikeable and libertine, but also charismatic, beguiling and magnetic, Byron is a fascinating protagonist. It’s easy to understand his charm yet also easy to believe he could be the murderer. I loved how that ambiguity ramped up the tension and kept me guessing. There is also a large cast of richly drawn background characters, many of whom are also possible suspects. 

Haunting, sinister and tantalising, I highly recommend this mesmerising gothic masterpiece. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Essie Fox was born and raised in rural Herefordshire, which inspires much of her writing. 

After studying English Literature at Sheffield University, she moved to London where she worked for the Telegraph Sunday Magazine, then the book publishers George Allen & Unwin – before becoming self-employed in the world of art and design. 

Always an avid reader, Essie now spends her time writing historical gothic novels. Her debut, The Somnambulist, was shortlisted for the National Book Awards, and featured on Channel 4’s TV Book Club. The Last Days of Leda Grey, set in the early years of silent film, was selected as The Times Historical Book of the Month. Her latest novel, The Fascination is based in Victorian country fairgrounds, the glamour of the London theatres, and an Oxford Street museum full of morbid curiosities.  

Essie is also the creator of the popular blog: The Virtual Victorian. She has lectured on this era at the V&A, and the National Gallery in London.

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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.

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2025 Squadpod Squadpod Book Club Squadpod Featured Books

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOKS: The Paris Dancer by Nicola Rayner

Published February 13th, 2025 by Aria
Historical Fiction

Welcome to my review for this heart-wrenching and moving story. Thanks to Aria for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘A sumptuous and gripping read… [Nicola] writes with humour, heart and humanity’ – Kate Thompson

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A heart-wrenching and unforgettable story of courage, friendship and resistance, inspired by the incredible true story of a Jewish ballroom dancer in Paris during WWII, perfect for fans of The Paris Library.

Paris, 1938. Annie Mayer arrives in France with dreams of becoming a ballerina. But when the war reaches Paris, she’s forced to keep her Jewish heritage a secret. Then a fellow dancer offers her a lifeline: a ballroom partnership that gives her a new identity. Together, Annie and her partner captivate audiences across occupied Europe, using her newfound fame and alias to aid the Resistance.

New York, 2012. Miriam, haunted by her past, travels from London to New York to settle her great-aunt Esther’s estate. Among Esther’s belongings, she discovers notebooks detailing a secret family history and the story of a brave dancer who risked everything to help Jewish families during the war.

As Miriam uncovers Esther’s life in Europe, she realises the story has been left for her to finish. Grappling with loss and the possibility of new love, Miriam must find the strength to reconcile her past and embrace her future.

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MY REVIEW:

Historical Fiction is my favourite genre, and I have always been drawn to stories about World War II, so when the SquadPod were offered the chance to read The Paris Dancer I didn’t hesitate to sign up. The story follows Mim, who has flown to New York to sort through her late Aunt Esther’s belongings, including notebooks that tell the long-hidden story of what happened to their family during World War II and of Annie, a brave Jewish dancer who risked everything to help other Jews during the war. Moving between timelines, we follow their stories as Esther navigates the brutality while Mim tries to come to terms with not only the heartbreaking revelations in the diaries, but also her own trauma. And when a Swing Dancer named Lucky offers her the chance at a new beginning, Mim must decide if she’s brave enough to take it. 

Beautiful, moving, heart-wrenching and hopeful, Nicola Rayner brought history to life with her skillful storytelling, meticulous research and evocative imagery. A story of love, loss, courage and resistance, Rayner also explored the importance of family and friendship, especially when we are at our lowest ebb. Trauma and grief are themes throughout the story, with Rayner examining how they can affect us differently and how trauma can sometimes impact those around us for generations. 

The characters were fascinating, likeable and easy to root for. Esther and Mim were great narrators who pulled you into their stories, making you invested in their lives and what happened to them. I loved the friendship between Esther and Annie and her sweet relationship with her youngest sister. In Mim’s timeline, my heart broke for her over the loss of her best friend and found her fear of what she’d possibly found with Lucky very relatable. I was rooting for her to heal and to take a chance at happiness. One of my favourite characters was Bibi, Esther’s neighbour, who was so wise and entertaining. I loved her story arc, which showed that the small background characters can often be some of the most interesting ones you will read.

Powerful, tender and immersive, I highly recommend this book. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nicola Rayner is the author of The Girl Before You, which was described as “the new Girl on the Train” by the Observer, picked by the same newspaper as a debut to look out for in 2019 and translated into multiple languages. Her second novel, You and Me, another psychological thriller, was published by Avon, HarperCollins in October 2020. A work of historical fiction, The Paris Dancer, will be published by Aria, Head of Zeus in February 2025. In her day job as a journalist, Nicola writes about dance and travel and her articles have appeared in a number of publications including the Guardian, The Telegraph, The Independent, The Stage, Dancing Times and easyJet Traveller.

Nicola is active on social media, where you can find her pondering important issues such as Strictly Come Dancing, musical theatre and her new favourite books. She promises she won’t talk about herself in the third person there.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

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

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

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

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

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

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

Forget what you think you know.

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

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MY REVIEW:

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

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

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

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

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

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiiles xxxx