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BLOG TOUR: My Husband’s Wife by Carla Kovach

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

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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MY REVIEW:

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

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

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

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

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

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

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Amazon* | Apple | Kobo | Google
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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

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

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

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Can you find the clues and solve the murder first?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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MY REVIEW:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

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

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

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

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: All Wrapped Up by Heidi Swain

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

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

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

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MY REVIEW:

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

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

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

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

Rating: 🍁🍁🍁🍁

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: The Transcendent Tide by Doug Johstone

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

Today is my stop on the blog tour for the epic conclusion to the Enceladon Trilogy. Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part and to Orenda Books for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

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

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


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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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MY REVIEW:

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

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

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

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

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Squadpod Squadpod Featured Books

SuqadPod Featured Book: Watching You by Helen Fields

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

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

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

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

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

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

Edinburgh’s police are desperate.

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

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

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

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MY REVIEW:

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

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

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

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

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

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliohiles xxxx

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Squadpod Featured Books

BOOK REVIEW: The Game is Murder by Hazell Ward

Published August 21st, 2025 by Michael Joseph
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Crime Ficiton, Historical Mystery

Welcome to my bookish thoughts about The Game is Murder. Thank you Michael Joseph for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

THIRTEEN GUESTS. THIRTEEN SUSPECTS. AN IMPOSSIBLE MURDER.
A MYSTERY YOU MUST SOLVE – OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES…

What if a Great Detective reinvestigated the most famous unsolved murder case of the century?
What if that Great Detective was you?

You have been invited to a very special murder mystery party.
Thirteen guests have been gathered – rather, thirteen suspects.
But only one of them is a murderer. And only you can find them.

Your task is simple. Listen to the witnesses, examine the evidence, and solve the case.
Be careful. Trust no one. In this story, all may not be as it seems.

The ultimate murder mystery is yours to solve.
A word of warning, though – catch the killer, or face the consequences…

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MY REVIEW:

You are invited to a murder mystery evening at a London home. But soon you realise that this night is not going to be your typical murder mystery evening. Because tonight you are being asked to solve a real murder – or face the consequences. There are thirteen guests and thirteen suspects. Can you unmask the killer?

YOU are the Reader and the Great Detective in this inventive murder mystery debut. Atmospheric, inventive and original, this isn’t your usual whodunnit. It starts out strong: full of mystery as you arrive at the home and take your seat at the table. You learn that the murder you will be solving is the murder of Sally Gardner, who was bludgeoned on November 7th, 1974 in this very house. The suspect in the crime, Lord John Verreman, vanished the next day. Now his son wants you to examine the evidence and decide if his father really did kill his nanny on that cold night all those years ago.

Debut author Hazell Ward has crafted a novel that feels unique. She grabs your attention from the start by talking directly to the reader, making you a part of the case and invested in solving it. And I felt even more invested as the crime in the story is based on the real life case of Lord Lucan, a case that has long fascinated me. There is a large cast of characters that I enjoyed reading for the most part, though it did sometimes get confusing. I liked how Ward captured the feeling of a 1970s dinner party with Babycham and cocktails, transporting me back fifty years to the night of the crime and adding an authenticity to the story.

The inspiration from classic detective fiction is evident throughout the book, with many references to the rules of these books and to titles and authors. Ward has taken these rules and added her own to create a new kind of narrative that puts the reader at its centre. It’s multi-layered, complex, full of red herrings and misdirection. You have to pay attention and I found it a bit confusing after a while.

The Game Is Murder is a creative and twisty debut that would be great for fans of books such as The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.

Rating: ✮✮✮✰✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Hazell Ward spent years as an adult education teacher, before completing an MA in Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University. She enjoyed it so much, that she is now working for a PhD. She was shortlisted for the Margery Allingham Short Story Competition in 2021, and won the CWA Short Story Dagger in 2023 for her story, Cast A Long Shadow, published by Honno Press.

She lives and works in Wrexham, Wales.

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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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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: The Burning Stones by Antti Tuomainen

Published August 14th, 2025 by Orenda
Thriller, Mystery, Dark Comedy, Humour, Translated Ficiton

Today is my stop on the blog tour for this addictive dark comedy. Thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part, and to Orenda Books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A top saleswoman at a Finnish sauna company must outwit the police and a murderer when her boss is found dead … in a sauna. A darkly funny, tense new thriller from ‘The funniest writer in Europe’ (The Times)
 
‘The best comic crime novel you’ll read this year’ Abir Mukherjee
 
‘Suspense is uppermost in this adroit mix of psychological thriller, whodunnit and middle-aged rom-com. Comedy is still pervasive … the novel’s glorious gallery of weirdos’ Sunday Times Book of the Month 
 
‘Finnish author Tuomainen has a talent for creating offbeat characters … [a] tense, pacy novel, laced with the author’s trademark laconic humour’ Guardian Book of the Month 
 
‘It may seem hard to find good comic crime-writers, but clearly we haven’t been looking in Finland … simultaneously thrilling and evocative of the mundanity of life, and also very funny indeed’ Telegraph
  
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Love, murder, middle age, and a sauna to die for…
 
A cold-blooded killer strikes at the hottest moment: the new head of a sauna-stove company is murdered … in the sauna. Who has turned up the temperature and burned him to death?
 
The evidence points in the direction of Anni Korpinen – top salesperson and the victim’s successor at Steam Devil.
 
And as if hitting middle-age, being in a marriage that has lost its purpose, and struggling with work weren’t enough, Anni realizes that she must be quicker than both the police and the murderer to uncover who is behind it all – before it’s too late…
 
From the international bestselling author of Little Siberia and The Rabbit Factor, comes a darkly funny, delightfully tense new thriller that showcases humanity at its most bare – in middle age, suspected of murder and, of course, in a sauna…

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MY REVIEW:

A new Antti Tuomainen book is always something I look forward to. The King of Comic Crime, his books are deliciously absurd, quirky, and darkly funny thrillers that have me hooked from beginning to end. 

In his latest offering, we return to Finland for another caper. This time there is a killer who strikes when their victims are at their most vulnerable: in the sauna.  It starts with the death of an executive of Steam Devil who is found burned to death, the temperature in his sauna raised until he expired. The police think the evidence points to one person: Anni Korpinen, a top salesperson at Steam Devil and the victim’s successor. But Anni says she’s innocent. And now she must prove it. Juggling her own investigation into the crime alongside her job, middle-age, and a marriage that’s falling apart. 

Antti’s books are best read pretty blind as the joy is in the discovery of his wild and thrilling stories, so I’ll not tell you much more about the plot. What I will tell you is that when you pick this up you’re in for a treat; a crazy, rollercoaster ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat, make you angry, make you laugh when you shouldn’t, and keep you guessing right up until the big reveal. Just make sure you don’t have anything planned when you start reading, because you’ll not be moving again until you’ve finished. 

Original, hilarious, tense and addictive, pick up The Burning Stones is the perfect thriller for anyone looking for something a bit different but totally brilliant. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Finnish Antti Tuomainen was an award-winning copywriter when we made his literary debut in 2007 as a suspense author. In 2011, Tuomainen’s third novel, The Healer, was awarded the Clue Award for Best Finnish Crime Novel and was shortlisted for the Glass Key Award. In 2013, the Finnish press crowned Tuomainen the ‘King of Helsinki Noir’ when Dark as My Heart was published. With a piercing and evocative style, Tuomainen was one of the first to challenge the Scandinavian crime-genre formula,and his poignant, dark and hilarious The Man Who Died became an international bestseller, shortlisting for the Petrona and Last Laugh Awards. Palm Beach, Finland (2018) was an immense success, with The Times calling Tuomainen ‘the funniest writer in Europe’, and Little Siberia (2019) was shortlisted for the Capital Crime/Amazon Publishing Readers Awards, the Last Laugh Award and the CWA International Dagger, and won the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel. The Rabbit Factor, the prequel to The Moose Paradox, will soon be a major motion picture starring Steve Carell for Amazon Studios.

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ABOUT THE TRANSLATOR:

David Hackston is a British translator of Finnish and Swedish literature and drama. Notable publications include The Dedalus Book of Finnish Fantasy, Maria Peura’s coming-of-age novel At the Edge of Light, Johanna Sinisalo’s eco-thriller Birdbrain, two crime novels by Matti Joensuu and Kati Hiekkapelto’s Anna Fekete series (which currently includes The Hummingbird, The Defenceless and The Exiled, all published by Orenda Books). He also translates Antti Tuomainen’s stories. In 2007 he was awarded the Finnish State Prize for Translation. David is also a professional countertenor and a founding member of the English Vocal Consort of Helsinki.

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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 Squadpod Featured Books

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOKS: The Nightingale Dilemma by Katy Moran

Published July 3rd, 2025 by Aria
Historical Romance

Welcome to my review for this bingeable historical romance. Thank you to Aria for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

1812

Following the drum in Spain, rebellious aristocrat Cressida Nightingale has put her tumultuous past far behind her, and with it her short-lived marriage to Lord Greville.

Having escaped the constraints of her previous life and now scorned by society, Cressida has spent years surviving as a spy for her government. Whilst this is a hard life, it’s hers and she will fight to keep it. Then her world comes crashing down when she is caught behind enemy lines by none other than her estranged husband.

Betrayed by those who have willingly taken the information she offered, Cressida is offered a deal. Entrap her childhood friend, Lord Byron, now the most famous man in England and one who is suspected of treason, or pay the ultimate price for her own treasonous acts.

Can this nightingale escape the shackles of her past, and what price will she pay for it is she can’t?

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MY REVIEW:

Cressida, a rebellious and disgraced aristocrat turned spy is forced back to the high society world she thought she’d left behind when she’s arrested by her estranged husband on suspicion of treason. There is only one way for her to regain her freedom: betray her friend, Lord Byron. But despite their acrimonious divorce, the old lovers soon discover that their spark still burns bright. Is it too late for them to reunite?

Sexy, smart and suspenseful, this book was regency heaven. But there’s something for every reader in this crazy and chaotic rollercoaster ride of mystery, intrigue, deception, lust, lies, secrets, history, scandal and romance. It’s action-packed and compelling, Katy Moran’s evocative storytelling, meticulous research and captivating characters transporting me to the world of politics and society she’d created. It was so vivid that I felt like I’d been picked up and placed in the halls of regency aristocracy with all the gossip, games and calculated manoeuvring. This was a treacherous place where every word and move must be carefully calculated and you’re never sure who might be secretly scheming to betray you. Convoluted and intricate, everyone has their hand in multiple pies and people you’d never suspect are caught up in plots to betray those close to them. The stakes are sky-high and you feel that radiating from the pages and keeping you on the edge of your seat. 

In a regency romance you obviously need great chemistry, and you can feel the desire between Cressida and Greville sizzling from the pages. You can feel their regret over giving up on their marriage and how they both still want each other. I couldn’t help but root for them despite all the odds that were stacked against them. I also really liked Cressida. She was a compelling character that was easy to root for and I loved that she was so feisty, determined and different to what was the norm for women in her era. 

Atmospheric, clever, witty and tense, The Nightingale Dilemma is a bingeable historical romance with a sassy heroine you’ll love rooting for. 

Rating: ✭✭✭✭✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Katy Moran writes romantic historical fiction filled with adventure, passion and political intrigue. Her books are set in an alternate history just a step away from our own. She lives in the Welsh borders with her family and four miniature sheep.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

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Uncategorised

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOKS: Seascraper by Benjamin Wood

Published July 17th, 2025 by Viking
Historical Fiction

Welcome to my review for this atmoshperic and evoacative novel. Thank you to Viking for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A mesmerising portrait of a young man confined in by his class and the ghosts of his family’s past, dreaming of artistic fulfilment. It confirms Benjamin Wood as an exceptional talent in British literature.

‘A huge talent’ Hilary Mantel

‘Benjamin Wood is a magnificent writer and I intend to read everything he has written’ Douglas Stuart

Thomas lives a slow, deliberate life with his mother in Longferry, working his grandpa’s trade as a shanker. He rises early to take his horse and cart to the grey, gloomy beach to scrape for shrimp; spending the rest of the day selling his wares, trying to wash away the salt and scum, pining for Joan Wyeth down the street and rehearsing songs on his guitar. At heart, he is a folk musician, but it remains a private dream.

When a striking visitor turns up, bringing the promise of Hollywood glamour, Thomas is shaken from the drudgery of his days and begins to see a different future. But how much of what the American claims is true, and how far can his inspiration carry Thomas?

Haunting and timeless, this is the story of a young man hemmed in by his circumstances, striving to achieve fulfilment far beyond the world he knows.

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MY REVIEW:

Atmospheric, evocative, poignant and poetic, Seascraper is a beautifully composed portrait of a young man confined by circumstance and dreaming of a brighter future. Set in the fictitious northern coastal town of Longberry, a young man named Thomas Fleet rises at dawn each day and traverses the bleak and grey beach with his horse and cart, shanking for shrimp to sell to eke out a meagre living. It’s a life of drudgery, hardship and poverty, and he dreams of more, trying to work up the courage to play the songs he writes in secret on the stage, and to muster up the nerve to ask out the girl he likes. But then a bright light appears on the horizon: a Hollywood film maker named Edgar who wants to make a movie on the beach and hires Thomas to be his local guide. Suddenly, his dreams don’t seem so out of reach. But can Thomas trust him? Or is what he’s promising too good to be true?

Benjamin Wood is a skilled storyteller. His prose is beautiful, haunting and moving, the story told with detailed finesse that feels delicate and precise. It’s achingly real, portraying the harsh realities of Thomas’s gloomy life and the dreary beach where he spends his days. He brings it all to life with cinematic precision, making me feel for the characters and lose myself in this affecting story. The characters are richly imagined and real, with Thomas and his mother perfectly portraying a life of poverty and Edgar being the embodiment of a Hollywood executive. I enjoyed the stark contrast between them and how they seemed to learn a lot from each other in the short time they were acquainted. But it was Thomas who my heart ached for and I was cheering him on, hoping he’d fulfil his dreams and get the girl. At 163 pages this is a short but powerful read, my only complaint being that I’d have liked it to be a bit longer and for Wood to give us more answers about Thomas’s future. But I feel like the unanswered questions are deliberate and make the story more true to life, where we don’t always get all the answers and things aren’t wrapped up in a neat bow.

A short but powerful read, it’s easy to see why this book made The Booker Prize longlist. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

​​Benjamin Wood was born in 1981 and grew up in Merseyside. He is the author of four acclaimed novels.

THE BELLWETHER REVIVALS (2012) was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award and the Commonwealth Book Prize, and won one of France’s foremost literary awards, Le Prix du Roman Fnac. THE ECLIPTIC (2015) was shortlisted for the Encore Award and the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award. A STATION ON THE PATH TO SOMEWHERE BETTER (2018), was shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger Award and the European Union Prize for Literature. THE YOUNG ACCOMPLICE (2022) was selected as one of the books of the year by The Times, Sunday Times, New Statesman, The Spectator, The Irish Times, and others. A serialised version of the novel was broadcast as a BBC Radio 4 Book at Bedtime.

His fifth novel, SEASCRAPER, will be published by Viking Penguin in July 2025.

He is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at King’s College London, where he teaches fiction modules and founded the PhD in Creative Writing programme. ​He lives in Surrey with his wife and sons.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

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

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

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

He’s the perfect man.

He says he loves you.

You think he might even be made for you.

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

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

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

DON’T LET HIM IN.

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MY REVIEW:

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

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

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

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

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lisa Jewell was born in London in 1968.

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

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

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Waterstones* | Bookshop.org* | Amazon*
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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx