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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: Life Out of Order by Audrey Niffenegger

Published October 13th, 2026 by Vintage
Literary Fiction, Science Ficiton, Time-Travel Fiction, Magical Realism

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Two great loves. A world in chaos. And a life that never lands in order.

Alba DeTamble is a time traveler, slipping unpredictably through decades like her father before her. But the hardest thing she carries isn’t the burden of futures she can’t understand, or pasts she cannot change – it’s a secret: she is in love with two different people.

Each of them offers a different life. Zach lives in the present and can’t follow her when she disappears. Oliver can travel through time, just like she can.

As Alba careens from time to time, moving from the riot-torn Chicago streets of her present to the eerie, timeless Yellow House, and into the digital corridors of the Museum of Lost Souls and a flooded future London, she must face a question she can no longer avoid: how is it possible to love, and live a meaningful life, in an increasingly troubled, fractured world?

Intimate and expansive, Life Out of Order is a kaleidoscopic story of love, resilience and hope when time is running out.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

The Time Traveler’s Wife immediately became one of my favourite books when I read it back in my twenties. So when I heard that Audrey Niffenegger was releasing a sequel that would focus on Clare and Henry’s daughter, Alba, I knew I HAD to read it. It was time to step back in this strange world where time travel is real and, for some people, life isn’t linear.

When I started this book I thought I was going to get a coming-of-age story about Alba and a glimpse of how Clare was doing all these years later. Instead I got a story about politics, AI and the end of the world. While we do see Alba grow and learn how to live her unusual life, that isn’t the main focus of the book. The story opens in 2022, when Alba is 21, but it isn’t the 2022 we remember. The world is in even greater turmoil and Alba and her friends are part of a group of political rebels. From the beginning, this was a confusing and crazy story and I had a fair few ‘wtf’ moments. There are also a Dickensian-level number of characters and it was hard to keep them straight. I struggled to get into the book at first, but as we shifted backwards and forwards through the years alongside Alba, the truth began to unfold and things did make a little more sense. I formed a strong connection to Alba and couldn’t put the book down. I went from being massively behind in the readalong to racing ahead and finishing the book ahead of time.

Imaginative, intelligent and cryptic, this is a kaleidoscopic story of epic proportions. A story of love, life, family, resilience, hope and time, Niffenegger explores some of the most important topics in the world today on these pages. But it was also a let down in many ways. It remained confusing, felt like she was trying to do too much, and there were lots of things that made me deeply uncomfortable. But there are some great things that will remain with me, including how well written many of the characters were. I loved Alba, even if I didn’t always agree with her actions, and it was great to read about Claire as an individual rather than simply part of a relationship with Henry. There are also some great new characters and others who will stay with you for all the wrong reasons, such as Isadora who is so unsettling.

Rating: ✮✮✮.5

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Audrey Niffenegger is a visual artist and writer who lives mostly in Chicago and occasionally in London. She has published six books, including the novels The Time Traveler’s Wife and Her Fearful Symmetry. She helped to found the Columbia College Chicago Center for Book and Paper Arts. Her art has been exhibited by Printworks Gallery in Chicago since 1986. She is a Professor in the Fiction Department of Columbia College. Her recent projects include a ballet, Raven Girl, in collaboration with Wayne McGregor for the Royal Opera House Ballet.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Audio Books Beat the Backlist book reviews

BOOK REVIEW: Circe by Madeline Miller

Published April 19th, 2018 by Bloomsbury Publishing
Historical Fiction, Greek Mythology, Fantasy Fiction, Fairy Tale

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTION

The international Number One bestseller from the author of The Song of Achilles

Woman. Witch. Myth. Mortal. Outcast. Lover. Destroyer. Survivor. CIRCE.

In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. Circe is a strange child – not powerful and terrible, like her father, nor gorgeous and mercenary like her mother. Scorned and rejected, Circe grows up in the shadows, at home in neither the world of gods or mortals. But Circe has a dark power of her own: witchcraft. When her gift threatens the gods, she is banished to the island of Aiaia where she hones her occult craft, casting spells, gathering strange herbs and taming wild beasts. Yet a woman who stands alone will never be left in peace for long – and among her island’s guests is an unexpected visitor: the mortal Odysseus, for whom Circe will risk everything.

So Circe sets forth her tale, a vivid, mesmerizing epic of family rivalry, love and loss – the defiant, inextinguishable song of woman burning hot and bright through the darkness of a man’s world.

THE NUMBER ONE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Feisty, feminist, witchy and affecting, Circe is an ancient story that resonates in modern times. Daughter of the sun god Helios, Circe is a strange child. She doesn’t possess her father’s power or her mother’s beauty and is scorned and rejected, not feeling at home either with the gods or mortals. But Circe does have one gift: witchcraft. When she defies her father and turns her gift against her own kind, she is banished to the island of Aiaia where she continues to hone her craft. But though she is banished she isn’t alone for long, with guests making their way to her island, including the mortal Odysseus, the man who she will risk everything for.

This book has been languishing on my shelves for too many years. It was after seeing Circe’s brief appearance in the movie The Odyssey that made me finally pick this one up. I wanted to know her story. How she became that woman isolated on an island casting spells on the men who came ashore. What I discovered was a complex, layered and mesmerising story of a woman forging her own path in a man’s world. A story of female rage and revenge that is also so much more, exploring themes of identity, power, family, love, loss and survival.

Exquisitely and evocatively written, Madeline Miller has crafted a lyrical and atmospheric narrative that pulls you in and refuses to let go. She takes us into a world of gods and goddesses and of mortals, following Circe as she tries to find her place in one of these worlds. A dark story at times, it exudes a chilling sense of menace and foreboding. As a lover of Greek mythology, I loved seeing the vignettes of other myths throughout the novel, giving me a new perspective on stories I thought I knew.

Feisty, wayward, crafty, complex and often misunderstood, Circe is a compelling character who was likeable and easy to root for. My heart broke for her when she was a bullied and outcast child, but I loved how she turned that into strength, showcasing her endurance when she’s sent to live on the island. But she’s far from perfect, with an unreasonable and darker side that I still would find myself cheering on, understanding the fire that raged inside her.

A riveting piece of Greek Mythology that fans of the genre will love, I highly recommend this one.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Madeline Miller grew up in New York City and Philadelphia. She attended Brown University, where she earned her BA and MA in Classics. She has taught and tutored Latin, Greek, and Shakespeare to high school students for over fifteen years.

She has also studied at the University of Chicago’s Committee on Social Thought, and in the Dramaturgy department at Yale School of Drama, where she focused on the adaptation of classical texts to modern forms.

The Song of Achilles, her first novel, was awarded the 2012 Orange Prize for Fiction and was a New York Times Bestseller. Miller was also shortlisted for the 2012 Stonewall Writer of the Year. Her second novel, Circe, was an instant number 1 New York Times bestseller, and won the Indies Choice Best Adult Fiction of the Year Award and the Indies Choice Best Audiobook of the Year Award, as well as being shortlisted for the 2019 Women’s Prize for Fiction. Circe also won The Red Tentacle Award, an American Library Association Alex Award (adult books of special interest to teen readers), and the 2018 Elle Big Book Award.  It is currently being adapted for a series with HBO Max. Miller’s novels have been translated into over twenty-five languages including Dutch, Mandarin, Japanese, Turkish, Arabic and Greek, and her essays have appeared in a number of publications including the Guardian, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Telegraph, Lapham’s Quarterly and NPR.org. She currently lives outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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book reviews Squadpod Squadpod Book Club

SQUADPOD BOOK CLUB: Miss Bates by Catherine Cliff

Published October 22nd, 2026 by Pegasus Books
Historical Fiction, Reimagining, Literary Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Miss Bates, creepy, funny, and heartbreaking, is a daring reimagining of the world of Jane Austen’s Emma. But make no mistake, this is no marriage plot; it is a spinster plot. Or maybe, it is the spinster’s plot.

Henrietta Bates, the iconic bore of Emma, is the opposite of handsome, clever, and rich Emma: she is plain, ill-educated, and impoverished. An unmarried woman of quite a different order from that novel’s proudly single heroine, she is an object of scorn and pity, whose survival depends upon the generosity of her neighbors which she barters for with an unrelenting shower of banal and grateful chatter.

But what if the woman we see in Emma were actually deliberately assuming a role, donning a mask, as a means of managing an untenable situation? What if there was a world of difference between her inward and outward voice? What would the Woodhouses’s Highbury look like from herperspective?

Miss Bates by Catherine Cliff imagines answers to these questions as it chronicles Henrietta Bates’s unexpected and, at times, violent life, navigating a world with no ready-made opportunities, where the stakes are of the highest order. In a debut that is by turns comedic, tragic, startling, and altogether brilliant, Miss Bates turns Austen’s poignant and ridiculous side character into a feminist force who understands innately the life she has been dealt and how to slyly play it to her advantage.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Jane Austen’s Emma is a story we all know well. But how well do we really know that world and those characters? That is the starting point for Catherine Cliff’s debut, Miss Bates, which reimagines the world from the perspective of the iconic bore, Henrietta Bates. And unlike most books about that era, this isn’t a book about marriage but a book about spinsterhood, where the life of its heroine takes centre stage rather than a wedding.

Emotional, moving, witty and bold, this is a love letter to Jane Austen’s Emma. Catherine’s affection for the story is evident on every page and I finished this book wanting to reread the original. Well written, acutely observed and detailed, Catherine perfectly captures the atmosphere and dialogue of the era, transporting us back to Regency England in evocative detail. I could hear the gossip, see the luxurious gowns at the balls and feel the weight of people’s judgement.

I will confess, it has been a long time since I read Emma and I don’t remember a lot about Henrietta Bates. But I feel like I know her intimately after reading this book. Catherine has rescued her from the sidelines and given Henri a voice that demands to be heard. Plain, uneducated and impoverished, Henrie has spent her life invisible, overlooked and mocked. But from her scathing inner monologues we learn she is a strong, feisty and intelligent feminist who boils with an inner rage and knows how to play the cards she’s been dealt. And that endless chatter that makes her the object of Emma’s ridicule? We learn that this is her armor, a way for her to survive in a world that has no place for her. She isn’t always likeable but my heart broke for all she went through and I admired her resilience and how she learned to play the cards she was dealt. And I had a real soft spot for young Henri; a little girl struggling to make sense of the world who discovers that she can have contrasting inner and outer worlds, which is where a lot of the story’s humour is found. How I wished I could leap into the book and hug that little girl.

In Austen’s books we’ve come to expect a pretty, light and breezy world, but the one Cliff has created is dark, dangerous and achingly human. There is sexism, sexual assault, poverty, death, female rage and crippling societal expectations. Henri’s rage feels so relatable and I was cheering her on in many of the darker moments as she took back some of the autonomy she had been denied. And then there is Henri’s hatred of Emma Woodhouse, the spoiled, self-centred and obnoxious titular character from the original classic. I understood why Henri loathed her and couldn’t have stood being around her myself.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Catherine Cliff grew up in New York City. She has a BA in Classics and English from Harvard and a doctorate in English literature from Yale, specializing in English Renaissance poetry. She lived in London and Basel for many years and is now settled in western Massachusetts. This is her first novel.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Audio Books book reviews

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

Published October 31st, 2023 by Titan Books
Historical Fiction, Horror Fiction, Southern Gothic

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

“The Reformatory is one of those books you can’t put down. Tananarive Due hit it out of the park.” Stephen King

Winner of the Bram Stoker Award®, World Fantasy Award and Los Angeles Times Book Prize, this is a gloriously creepy Deep South horror story based on the infamous Dozier School for boys, perfect for fans of The Only Good Indians and Nothing But Blackened Teeth.

Jim Crow Florida, 1950.

Twelve-year-old Robert Stephens Jr., who for a trivial scuffle with a white boy is sent to The Gracetown School for Boys. But the segregated reformatory is a chamber of horrors, haunted by the boys that have died there.

In order to survive the school governor and his Funhouse, Robert must enlist the help of the school’s ghosts – only they have their own motivations…

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

Florida, 1950. After a trivial scuffle with a white boy from a prominent family, twelve-year-old Robert Stephens Jr is sent to The Gracetown School For Boys. But the reformatory is a chamber of horrors run by a cruel governor who enjoys inflicting pain. The ghosts of boys who died there haunt the grounds, and they won’t leave Robert Jr alone. But these annoying ghouls could be Robert’s only chance of making it out of there alive. But do they have their own motivations for helping him?

Set against the backdrop of a brutal reform school for boys in the Jim Crow era, The Reformatory is a haunting story of racial injustice, corruption, abuse, murder and the supernatural. Powerful, moving, savage, unsettling and consuming, I was hooked from the first page. The story is inspired by the author’s own Great Uncle, who died at a reformatory when he was seventeen. And she makes it clear this is a work of fiction, knowing it was inspired by a true story made it all the more horrifying.

Tanananrive Due is an exceptional storyteller who has crafted an evocative and layered narrative brimming with malice. This is a story where the past doesn’t just echo, it springs to life from the page in vivid detail. There is a quiet, creeping unease and a darker, more brutal savagery that is slowly uncovered, sending shivers down my spine. But despite my revulsion it was impossible to turn away and I found myself thinking about the book whenever I wasn’t reading. There is a strong sense of place and the reformatory feels like a character in its own right, looming menacingly over every page. I felt like I could see the school in front of me, hear the whispers from the ghosts and feel the chill in my bones. And while this is a horror story, at its core it is achingly human, wrecking my emotions again and again.

The characters in this story are richly drawn, complex, flawed and real. Some of them are wonderful, while others are deplorable. Narrators Robert Jr and his big sister, Gloria, quickly stole my heart, though my heart broke the suffering they’d endured already at such a young age. I could feel their fear as Robert Jr was sent to the reformatory and was with Gloria every step of the way as she tried to rescue her little brother from this hellish place. Another character I loved was Miss Lottie. Witty and no-nonsense, I loved her scenes and the way she was there for Gloria. On the flip side, Superintendent Haddock was a vile and evil man who turned my stomach every time he was on the page. Tananrive did a remarkable job of creating a truly disgusting villain who was all the more terrifying because we know there were real men like him at that time.

An eerie, dark and sinister southern gothic that is perfect for the ‘ber months.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

TANANARIVE DUE (tah-nah-nah-REEVE doo) is an award-winning author who teaches Black Horror and Afrofuturism at UCLA.

A leading voice in Black speculative fiction for more than 20 years, Due has won an American Book Award, an NAACP Image Award, and a British Fantasy Award, and her writing has been included in best-of-the-year anthologies. Her books include The Reformatory (October 31, 2023), The Wishing Pool and Other Stories, Ghost Summer: Stories, My Soul to Keep, and The Good House. She and her late mother, civil rights activist Patricia Stephens Due, co-authored Freedom in the Family: A Mother-Daughter Memoir of the Fight for Civil Rights.

She and her husband/collaborator, Steven Barnes, wrote the Black Horror graphic novel The Keeper, illustrated by Marco Finnegan. Due and Barnes co-host a podcast, “Lifewriting: Write for Your Life!”

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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Audio Books book reviews

BOOK REVIEW: The Bone Mother by Suzy Aspley

Published May 7th, 2026 by Orenda Books
Gothic Fiction, Crime Fiction, Mystery, Folklore, Horror Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

When reporter Martha Strangeways is summoned to investigate the discovery of body parts on a remote railway track, she’s drawn into a strange case, as her own past comes back to haunt her … The atmospheric, chilling series continues…

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Rituals
Secrets
A killer who will protect them at any cost…

Martha Strangeways has settled into a quiet life in Strathbran, after the horrific events that traumatised the village a year earlier. But all this is turned upside down when her friend at Glasgow CID, DI Derek Summers, calls on her to help with a disturbing case: a human ear, with an unusual Celtic earring, has been found next to a railway line in the Highlands.

And when the body of a young woman wearing matching jewellery turns up at a landmark church shortly after, the mystery deepens. Why has she been laid out in a ritualistic fashion? Does her trek along the little-known Cailleach Way have anything to do with her death? And who is running the Facebook Group where she posted details of her journey to the shrine of the Bone Mother goddess?

As Martha tries to unpick the threads, she finds herself entwined with a ghost from her own past, and in conflict with the owner of a project that threatens to destroy the goddess’s sacred land.

With Halloween approaching, and someone determined to protect the goddess at all costs, can Martha and Summers catch the killer before they strike again – and this time much closer to home…?

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Scotland, October 2019. Emma sets out to walk the Cailleach Way, a little-known trail that leads to the shrine of the Bone Mother, which is under threat from a developer who plans to build on the site. A few days later, part of a body is found on a railway line. Then the rest of the body is found laid out in ritualistic fashion at a landmark church wearing jewellery bearing the symbol of the Bone Mother. Journalist Martha Strangeways is called in to help investigate by her friend DI Derek Summers, and soon finds herself embroiled in a case that is much darker and dangerous than anyone suspended.

Unbearably tense, unsettling, ominous and totally addictive, The Bone Mother captured my attention from the first page and held it in a chokehold until the last. Steeped in folklore and legend, darkness runs through the pages of this story of rituals, secrets and murder. But be warned: once you start reading this one, make sure you have no other plans, including sleep, because you’ll not be putting this one down until you’re done. When I reviewed Suzy Aspley’s last book, her debut Crow Moon, I said there was a new queen of gothica in town and she has cemented that title with her spectacular sophomore offering. An exquisite sinister storyteller, she has crafted a story filled with emotion, dread and chilling, nail-biting tension. I was on the edge of my seat and devoured it in just one sitting, staying up until the early hours as I had to finish it before I could sleep.

The folklore of Cailleach – the Bone Mother goddess – is woven into every facet of this story. And Suzy’s meticulous research is evident in the details that are on these pages. Though she isn’t physically present the Bone Mother’s presence is felt at every turn. Many of the characters believe in her legend, and someone is clearly willing to go to murderous lengths to protect her sacred shrine. Suzy expertly weaves this myth with gothic horror and mystery to create an eerie tableau that keeps you guessing right up until the big reveal.

Martha is a plucky and likeable protagonist who is easy to root for, but she is also damaged and flawed. Martha has gone through a lot of trauma but it was great to see that she is dealing with it better this time around. Martha’s job as an investigative journalist makes her stand out from other crime protagonists. It also means that she can’t resist a mystery, gives her a unique lens through which to view each case and means she doesn’t technically have to adhere to the law. I’ll admit, I enjoyed watching her break the rules in order to get the answers she’s looking for.

Highly recommended.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Originally from the north-east of England, former journalist Suzy Aspley has lived in Scotland for almost thirty years. She writes crime and short stories, often inspired by the strange things she sees in the landscape around her. She won Bloody Scotland’s Pitch Perfect in 2019 with the original idea for her debut novel and was shortlisted for the London Capital Crime festival’s New Voices award. In 2020, she was mentored by Jo Dickinson as part of the Hachette future bookshelf initiative. Her novel, Crow Moon, was also longlisted for the Caledonia Novel Award, and shortlisted for the Val McDermid Debut Award and the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize. Herald Scotland said, “Crow Moon meets the definition of “eagerly awaited” more than most debuts’. The Bone Mother is the second book in the series featuring journalist Martha Strangeways.

When she’s not writing, she’s either got her nose buried in a book, or is outside with her dogs dreaming up more dark stories.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Molly is Missing by Samantha Hayes

Published October 26th, 2026 by Bookouture
Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Domestic Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

It’s every mother’s worst nightmare…

Kim arrives early at the school gates, bursting with excitement to see her daughter, Molly, after a week-long history trip. Shy and a little anxious, time away from her loving parents is a big deal for Molly – but the emoji-filled texts Kim’s been receiving all week prove her daughter has been having the time of her life. But when the bus pulls up, Molly’s seat is empty. Her teachers say she never went on the trip…

As the search for Molly begins, distraught Kim feels like the police are dragging their feet and the school is acting a little too defensive. And with each precious day that passes, the secrets binding Kim’s tight-knit community begin to unravel. Why isn’t Kim’s best friend by her side? And why is her husband being so shady?

Nothing matters to Kim but bringing Molly home safe. With nowhere to turn and no one left to trust, only Kim can find her. And she’s running out of time…

A totally unputdownable psychological thriller that will keep you up all night reading. Perfect for anyone who loves Freida McFadden, Andrea Mara and Jeneva Rose.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

16-year-old Molly has been in France on a school trip since Monday. It’s her first time abroad without her parents and her mother, Kim, has tried not to let her anxieties about it show. But she knows Molly is fine thanks to the regular updates she’s been sending by text. So, when Kim arrives at the school to collect Molly and she doesn’t get off the coach, Kim is confused. That confusion only grows when Molly’s headteacher tells her Molly didn’t go on the trip and he received an email from her on Monday morning saying Molly was poorly and couldn’t attend. Kim feels like the ground has fallen from under her feet. Where is her daughter?

Wow! This heart-pounding, twisty and bingeable thriller was one hell of a ride. Samantha Hayes never disappoints and this is one of the best I’ve read from her so far.  Skillfully written, deftly choreographed and intricately interwoven, it held me in a chokehold from the first page. As addictive as a can of pringles, once I started there was no way to stop and I devoured it in just two sittings, staying up well past my bedtime to finish it.

But while it is a first-class thriller, what also shines through in this book is the emotion as Samantha makes you feel everything alongside Kim and Molly. As a middle-aged mum I felt a strong connection with Kim and my heart broke as this ordinary mum was plunged into every mother’s worst nightmare. I felt every moment of her heartache and fear as she searched for her daughter and cheered her on as she went rogue by conducting her own searches. As a mother I don’t know if I could sit around waiting for the police either even though I know it is what you’re supposed to do.

Molly’s chapters perfectly captured her confusion, terror and determination, making me feel like I was right there with her in the dark. She doesn’t remember what happened or where she is, which ramps up the tension and puts the reader in the same position as everyone but the culprit. As Molly tried to piece it all together I was on the edge of my seat, incapable of putting the book down until I knew what happened.

There are a number of suspicious characters and we are never quite sure who we can trust. This made me question everything and there were a few people I thought might be behind Molly’s disappearance. But as I followed the clues that were dropped like breadcrumbs, I could never be completely sure and was kept guessing right up until the jaw-dropping moment when all was revealed.

A must-read for all thriller lovers.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you to Bookouture for seding me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Samantha Hayes grew up in Warwickshire, left school at sixteen, avoided university and took jobs ranging from private detective to barmaid to fruit picker and factory worker, and she lived in Australia and the USA before finally becoming a crime author (which was a relief, given she wrote her first work of fiction aged ten).

Sam’s books are family-based ‘domestic noir’ thrillers, with the emphasis being on ‘real life fiction’, and they’re published in many countries and languages – oh, and she’s pretty proud of getting the No 1 spot on Amazon with DATE NIGHT.

Her books focus on current issues and set out to make her readers ask, ‘What if this happened to me or my family?’ And you’ll always find a BIG twist at the end! HER HOUSEKEEPER is available for pre-order now (book twenty-something!).

GOOD HOUSEKEEPING said “We’re big fans of Samantha Hayes. Her believable psychological thrillers are completely gripping…” and THE INDEPENDENT called her writing ‘fantastically written and very tense’.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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Audio Books Beat the Backlist book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2026

BOOK REVIEW: A Bad, Bad Place by Frances Crawford

Published February 12th, 2026 by Bantam
Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Crime Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Police Procedural

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Don’t miss the award-winning crime debut of the year – perfect for fans of The List of Suspicious Things. A murder mystery unlike any other…

*WINNER: VAL McDERMID CRIME DEBUT AWARD*
*WINNER: McILVANNEY PRIZE FOR BEST SCOTTISH CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR*
*WINNER: BLOODY SCOTLAND DEBUT PRIZE*

What happened to the dog walker who found the body?

Glasgow, 1979.

Twelve-year-old Janey won’t take her dog, Sid Vicious, for a walk. Not anymore. It’s Sid’s fault she found the murdered woman.

Janey claims she can’t remember what she saw at the abandoned railway, but the police think she’s hiding something. And they’re not the only ones interested.

Fear and rumour rip through the tight-knit community of Possilpark. Janey and her nana, Maggie, are dragged into the hunt for a murderer. And Maggie’s struggle to keep her beloved granddaughter safe becomes ever more desperate.

Because Janey’s memories can’t stay hidden forever.

And neither can the killer…

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Glasgow, 1979. Twelve-year-old Janey won’t take her dog, Sid Vicious for a walk anymore. Not since she found the body. Janey claims not to remember what she saw that day at the abandoned railway, but the police don’t believe her. And they are right. Janey is haunted by the brutal images she saw that day but has vowed to herself she’ll never reveal what she really saw. And as rumours sweep through their tight-knit community, Janey’s nana, Maggie, tries to keep her granddaughter safe from a killer that is still on the loose. 

This sensational debut has won multiple crime awards here in the UK this year and it is easy to see why. Insightful, funny, gut-wrenching, original and addictive, it had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Exquisitely written, this first-class thriller is a masterclass in pace, plotting and tension. The story has a strong sense of place and a troubled, small-town vibe. This is a place where everybody knows everybody and they like to think there are no secrets. But when Sam is murdered they are forced to wrestle with the fact that one of them is keeping the darkest of secrets. But who? There are multiple suspects and unreliable narrators which kept me guessing right up until the final page. Frances Crawford had me in a chokehold, my heart racing through the twists and turns, right up until that final reveal. And I’m still not over that ending!

The characters feel achingly human. They are messy, flawed, vulnerable and real; ordinary people who have been plunged into a nightmare. The tragedy consumes and haunts them, their horror leaping from the pages as you walk every step beside them. Told in alternating chapters by Janey and Maggie, Janey’s chapters begin with however many days it has been since the murder, which I found heartbreaking. It is evident how much of an effect this has had on her and I can’t imagine seeing something so horrific at just twelve years old. Janey is haunted by what she saw and terrified to admit what she knows but also eager to see justice done for Sam, so she quietly starts her own investigation, which felt like a very real response. Maggie is also well written. Strong and fiercely protective, I loved the relationship she had with Janey and it is obvious she only does what she thinks is best for her granddaughter. I liked that we got to know Sam as a person, too, even though she’s already dead at the start of the book.

A tense, heart-rending and unmissable debut, this is a must-read for all thriller lovers. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

As a passionate advocate of lifelong learning, Frances Crawford graduated in 2022, age 60, with MLitt (Distinction) in Creative Writing from Glasgow University. In 2023, she won the Bloody Scotland/Glencairn Crime Short Story Competition, and the first chapters of her debut novel A Bad, Bad Place won Highly Commended in the Moniack Mhor Emerging Writer Award 2024. 

A Bad, Bad Place was published by Transworld in February 2026, and has since won the 2026 Theakston Old Peculier McDermid Debut Award at Harrogate Festival, the 2026 Bloody Scotland Debut Prize, and the 2026 McIlvanney Award for Best Scottish Crime Novel at Bloody Scotland: the first author to win both awards in one year. 

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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book reviews Squadpod Squadpod Featured Books Squadpod Reviews

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: A Lady’s Guide To Vampire Hunting by Michelle Maxstoke

Published October 22nd 2026 by One More Chapter
Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Gothic Ficiton, Romance Novel, Fantasy Fiction, Dark Fantasy, Romantic Fantasy, Vampire Literature

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

In the gaslit dark, love is never tender. It’s teeth at your throat. Blood on silk. It is the sweetest surrender – and the most exquisite damnation.

By day Lady Euphemia Butterworth is a dutiful daughter – corseted, perfumed, and groomed to marry a lecherous duke twice her age. By night, she dreams of freedom, the dangerous thrill of adventure and a life not dictated by men with money and cruel smiles. But when a vampire attack shatters her world, Effie is branded hysterical, locked away and desperate to escape and prove what really happened.

Liam Rafferty has ghosts of his own. Orphan, ex-boxer, ex-patient of the asylum, he stalks the shadows as a reluctant hunter, his body inked with sins and his soul fraying at the edges. He finds refuge in a travelling circus, but it cannot silence the devil whispering in his ear – or the fangs waiting in the dark.

When Effie’s gilded cage collides with Liam’s world, the sparks are as dangerous as the bite of the monsters they hunt…

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

After coming face to face with a vampire that kills her beloved brother, Lady Ephemia Butterworth knows she has one purpose: to find and kill the creature that took Cedric away from her. But her father won’t believe what she saw, locks her in her room and has her treated for hysteria. So Ephemia makes her escape. Her path soon crosses with Liam Rafferty, a circus performer by day who stalks the streets hunting vampires by night. She asks Liam to teach her how to hunt and the sparks soon fly between them. As they search for the vampire who took Cedric, Liam and Effie find themselves falling deeper into danger.

Darkly atmospheric, mysterious, transportive and witty, this was an addictive read. A swoonable forbidden romance merged with blood-sucking vampires, this was the perfect read for spooky season. Skillfully written and cleverly choreographed, Michelle Maxstone has crafted a love story with a bite that held me in her thrall. It’s quite the rollercoaster ride; there are emotional moments one minute, then shocking twists the next and I could never predict what crazy situation would happen next. Once I started reading I couldn’t stop and I devoured the book in under twenty-four hours.

The story is set in Yorkshire in an alternate 1800s and I was immediately transported back to the dark, gaslit streets. Evocative imagery brings the story to life and I never doubted for a moment that any of it was real. I felt like I was walking besides the characters at every step in this place drenched in nightmares, where sharp-fanged creatures stalk their prey. My heart was in my throat as I read, terrified of what horrors would happen next.

The story is told by Effie and Liam in alternating chapters. Likeable and easy to root for, I loved reading both these characters. They are such different people from very different walks of life, but they share similarities too. Both of them are determined and will do anything for those they love. There’s an undeniable chemistry between them from the start and I loved their forbidden upstairs/downstairs romance.

A gorgeous gothic vampire romance, add this to your spooky season TBR now.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you to One More Chapter for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Michelle Maxstoke was born in Solihull but has lived in Leeds for the past 15 years. She worked for the NHS before completing a PhD in nutritional epidemiology and working as a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Leeds. She has published over 25 articles in a number of scientific journals and magazines. Michelle started writing fiction after taking a creative writing course with the London School of Journalism. In 2017 she won the Rose Simmonds prize, the British Dietetic Association’s most prestigious award for an original research publication.

She lives with her husband, two sons, and a hyperactive Labrador. As a scientist and mum, her hobbies include mulling over the complexities of the universe, treading barefoot on Lego, and chipping dried Play-Doh from fabric surfaces.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: Thornby Manor by Stephanie Bramwell-Lawes

Published April 23rd, 2026 by Orenda Books
Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance Novel

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Penniless and newly orphaned Briar Monroe finds shelter at Thornby Manor, a brooding estate above a mist-shrouded lake. But whispers of a dead wife, an estranged son and locked-away secrets haunt its corridors … Atmospheric, intoxicating and laced with peril – a spellbinding historical mystery of love, betrayal, obsession and a house that will not forget…

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There – suddenly – was Thornby Manor.
I would never forget the first time I saw it…
A talisman of darkness, an emblem of death.

Warwickshire, 1891. Recently orphaned and left destitute, Briar Monroe accepts the protection of Lord Danville and the shadowed sanctuary of Thornby Manor. The great house looms above a mist-shrouded lake, its corridors heavy with secrets – not least the mysterious death of Lady Elizabeth Danville, and the unspoken tensions between her formidable widower and his magnetic son, Gabriel.

As Briar navigates the undercurrents of a household ruled by watchful servants and locked doors, she is drawn ever deeper into a web of suspicion, desire and fear. Whispers in the night, figures at windows, and a constant sense of being watched leave her questioning not only the truth about Thornby, but her own safety within its walls.

Atmospheric, intoxicating and laced with peril, Thornby Manor is a gothic tale of betrayal, obsession and a house that never forgets.

A simmering, haunting debut for readers who loved Jane Eyre, Rebecca, The Woman in White and The Silent Companions.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

1891. After the death of her parents, Briar Monore finds herself homeless and penniless. She accepts the protection of Lord Danville and takes shelter at Thornby Manor, his brooding Warwickshire estate above a mist-shrouded lake. But Briar soon learns that all is not what it seems at Thornby and it is haunted by whispers of a dead wife, estranged son, madness and long-buried secrets. As floorboards creek, windowpanes rattle, figures appear at windows and things go bump in the night, Briar finds herself fearing for her safety. 

Darkly atmospheric, menacing and unsettling. Thornby Manor is a gorgeous Gothic debut perfect for this time of year. A tale of grief, madness, mystery, secrets and suspicion, this is one you need to read by a warm fire with a light on. Skillfully and evocatively written, Stephanie Bramwell-Lawes showcases as a new star in Gothic Victoriana with this spellbinding tale. It’s Gothic fiction at its finest; oozing menace as a sense of unease permeates every page. Stephanie had me in her thrall and I devoured the book quickly. 

I love morally grey characters and this book is filled with them. Even protagonist Briar is someone we can’t be sure we can trust as she alludes to a secret from the start. But she is a great character. Likeable, determined and with a strong sense of justice, she was easy to root for at every step, even if I was intrigued by what she was hiding. Lord Danville on the other hand felt untrustworthy from the start and I had my suspicions about what happened to his wife. 

Thornby Manor also feels like a character in its own right thanks to the vivid descriptions of the house and its strange occurrences. What was really going on? Were there ghosts haunting its halls? It was so unsettling and the mystery only seemed to deepen as we learned more. I had so many questions and was on the edge of my seat as I waited for answers.

A dark, dramatic and disturbing gothic debut, this is perfect for reading on a dark night.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Stephanie Bramwell-Lawes grew up in the historic city of Bath and studied History and Ancient History at Exeter University. A lifelong love of literature led to a career in publishing in 2009, and her passion for books has only continued to grow ever since. Her favourite novels include Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Rebecca, and anything by Tracy Chevalier. She currently lives in Warwickshire with her husband and a small feline dictator named Ruby. Thornby Manor is her debut novel.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: The Nancys and the Secret of Tulip Farm by R. W. R. MacDonald

Published October 8th, 2026 by Orenda Books
Mystery, Crime Fiction, Thriller, Humorous Fiction, Cozy Mystery

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Tippy Chan, Uncle Pike and Devon are determined not to reform their secret detective club, The Nancys, but when an explosion kills three people and the investigation turns chaotic, dangerous and deeply personal, the club is back in business, in another riotous instalment of the award-winning series.

*** Finalist for the Ngaio Marsh Best Novel Award***
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The Nancys are back…

It’s four months after Christmas, and Tippy Chan, Uncle Pike and Devon are reunited in Riverstone for the first anniversary of Tippy’s father’s death. This time, the plan is simple: no mysteries, no crimes, and definitely no secret detective clubs.

Riverstone has other ideas…

When an early-morning explosion destroys the town hall and kills three people, the town is thrown into chaos. An arrest is made and everyone in Riverstone decides the case is closed … except for Tippy and the Nancys. Once again, it’s up to the Nancys to go against the flow … and police advice.

Their search draws them towards Tulip Farm and raises more questions than answers. Is the accused bomber really guilty? Was he working alone? And when everyone else is convinced they’re right, does that make you wrong?

With rumours spreading, tempers flaring and the threat of another attack hanging over the town, the Nancys must work out who to trust, who to ignore, and how to stop a killer before they strike again…

Funny, fearless and fizzing with heart, The Nancys and the Secret of Tulip Farm is a joyful, nerve-jangling mystery about belonging, loyalty and asking awkward questions, with a dark and dangerous secret at its core and characters you will never forget…

A hilarious, and heartfelt twist on Nancy Drew – perfect for readers who love The List of Suspicious Things.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Uncle Pike and Devon are back in town for the first anniversary of Tippy Chan’s father’s death. She’s thrilled to see them, but they are all determined that this time around they won’t be solving any crimes or reforming their secret detective club, the Nancys. But that all changes when an explosion rocks Riverstone. Three people are killed and the perpetrator is captured, but the Nancys aren’t so sure that the case is closed. So, they reform their club and start investigating…

The Nancys are back for more amateur detective exploits in this entertaining mystery. I loved everything about the first book in this series so I jumped at the chance to read its sequel. I’m a big fan of cosy crime and amateur detectives, so this series is a bit of me. This time around there is a police suspect but the Nancys aren’t sure they have got it right, so once again everyone is under suspicion as they investigate who really planted the bomb that killed three people. Mysterious, emotional, funny and uplifting, R. W. R McDonald has crafted a sequel that is even better than the brilliant first installment. Skillfully written and cleverly plotted, there were a number of suspects and it kept me guessing right up until the truth was revealed.

I adore this motley crew of fabulous characters and it was so much fun to be back with them. Once again, the story is told from Tippy Chan’s perspective, which McDonald has nailed perfectly. In this installment, Tippy really goes through it and I felt for her. Uncle Pike and Devon also go through a lot this time around, and while the deep emotion and serious topics are written with sensitivity, they are also perfectly balanced with humour and the whole book still has that refreshing, cosy crime vibe that I loved in book one.

A must-read for anyone who loves a crime caper.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

R.W.R. McDonald (Rob) is an award-winning author, a Kiwi and Queer dad living in Melbourne with his two daughters and one HarryCat. His debut novel, The Nancys, won Best First Novel in the 2020 Ngaio Marsh Awards, as well as being a finalist in the Best Novel category. It was shortlisted for Best First Novel in the 2020 Ned Kelly Awards, and Highly Commended for an Unpublished Manuscript in the 2017 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards. His second novel, Nancy Business, was a finalist for Best Novel in 2022 Ngaio Marsh Awards.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx