Published November 6th, 2025 by Faber & Faber Mystery, Paranormal Fiction, Myths, Young Adult Fiction
********
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The ghost of Bluebeard. A handsome count. A con artist in over her head.
Mallory Fontaine is a fraud. She’s descended from witches, and pretends to be one, although her only magic is the ability to see ghosts. She can barely make a living – but Count Armand Saphir will pay a fortune if she can rid him of his murderous ancestor’s ghost.
Now death has returned to the House Saphir, and Mallory is almost certain the killer is mortal. To have any hope of Armand’s payment, she’ll need to solve the murder, banish the ghost and keep passing as a witch.
Still, that’s easy compared to her biggest challenge: trusting her heart. Especially when her heart’s desire could be the murderer himself.
Mallory Fontaine is a fraud. Though she descends from witches, she doesn’t have powers, although she pretends she does. The only thing she can do is see ghosts. And that isn’t going to help her make a living. Until Count Armand Saphir learns of her ability and offers to pay her a fortune if she can rid his house of the ghost of his murderous ancestor, Count Bastien Saphir. But as Mallory tries to rid House Saphir of Bastien’s ghost, death returns. And Mallory is almost certain the killer is mortal. Now, in order to receive the money she was promised, Mallory must solve the murder as well as banishing the ghost and keeping up the pretence that she is a witch. And there is another complication: Mallory is falling for Armand.
Gothic, dark, suspenseful and forbidding, The House Saphir is an alluring cocktail of ghosts, witches, folklore, love and murder. Marissa Meyer is a name I’ve heard, but I was intrigued by the idea of a romantasy that is merged with traditional French folklore. And who could resist those gorgeous spredges? Evocatively written, meticulously researched, cleverly choreographed and filled with dark humour, Meyer held me in her thrall from start to finish. Before I read this book I only vaguely knew of Bluebeard, a nobleman who murdered his wives. Meyer brought his story to life in vivid technicolour, making this malevolent character feel utterly real and terrifying even though he is a spectre. His ominous presence looms over every page, as even the Ghost Wives are terrified of encountering him again.
Sassy, sarcastic, likeable and easy to root for, Mallory is a great protagonist, even if she isn’t always truthful. Charming, wealthy and mysterious, Armand is a compelling character and love interest. I was suspicious of his motives from the start but could see how Mallory began to fall for his allure. But would this turn out to be a mistake? I couldn’t decide and was on tenterhooks as I waited to discover the truth. But by far my favourite characters were the mischievous Ghost Wives – the Count’s victims who now also haunt House Saphir. They were so fun to read while also inspiring real fear at the thought of coming into contact with their murderer once more.
An entertaining retelling that will have you hooked, I highly recommend this book.
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰
Thank you to Libro.fm for providing me with a complimentary audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
********
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Marissa Meyer is the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Lunar Chronicles, Heartless, The Renegades Trilogy, and Instant Karma, as well as the graphic novel duology Wires and Nerve. She holds a BA in Creative Writing from Pacific Lutheran University and a MA in Publishing from Pace University. In addition to writing, Marissa hosts The Happy Writer podcast. She lives near Tacoma, Washington, with her husband and twin daughters.
Published January 20th, 2026 by Thomas & Mercer Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller
********
ABOUT THE BOOK:
From the multi-million copy bestselling author comes a chilling tale about life flashing before your eyes―including terrifying scenes you don’t remember.
When Damon survives a near-drowning, his life flashes before his eyes. Every memory is crystal clear―except one. A dead boy. A face he can’t place. A moment he doesn’t remember living. At first he tells himself it’s a trick of the mind. But everything else he saw was real. So why not this?
With his waking life stalked by the disturbing scene, confusion quickly turns to obsession. Desperate for answers, Damon digs into his fractured past, and becomes convinced that the only way to remember…is to die again. And again. And again. When he meets a perfect stranger who’s all too willing to help, the stage is set for his dice with death.
But if this is what it takes to uncover the truth, maybe some memories are better left buried…
John Marrs has been one of my favourite thriller authors ever since I read The One in 2018. I’ve read almost all of his books and each one is a riveting rollercoaster ride that keeps me on the edge of my seat. His latest offering, Dead in the Water, continues his perfect run, showcasing why he’s a thriller author I’ll always recommend.
When Damon survives almost drowning his life flashes before his eyes. One of the things he sees is a dead boy he doesn’t recognise but for some reason he thinks he killed him. He tells himself it was just a trick of the mind. But as he struggles to move past his near-death experience, he is haunted by what he saw. He doesn’t know if what he’s seeing is real or a fabrication of his imagination, and he worries he’s going mad.
Damon begins to delve intohis fractured past, sure that it is the only way to find out the truth. But the only way he can get there is to die again. So he enlists the help of a stranger who is willing to help. But is the stranger telling the truth about their motives? As he dies again and again, long-buried memories begin to resurface. But as more of those memories haunt him, Damon begins to wonder if some things are better left buried after all…
I love dark, twisty, nerve-shredding thrillers that you can’t put down. And John Marrs delivers again with this bingeable book. Starting out with a trademark chilling prologue that sets the scene for what is to come, John had me in his thrall from start to finish and I devoured it in under a day. The writing is razor sharp, the plot expertly choreographed and intricately woven, the twists surprising, and the characters richly drawn and fun to read. Damon is a likeable protagonist who is easy to root for, but there’s a sense of unreliability because of his hidden memories that adds to the suspense. I loved seeing the return of one of my favourite characters from one of John’s previous books. Don’t worry, I don’t give spoilers. But I will say that readers of his backlist are in for a real treat.
Thriller lovers, order this one now because it’s going to be one of your 2026 highlights.
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮
Thank you to John Marrs and Netgalley for sending me a copy of the audiobook, and to Tandem for my physical copy in exchange for my honest review.
********
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
John Marrs is an author and former journalist based in London and Northamptonshire. After spending his career interviewing celebrities from the worlds of television, film and music for numerous national newspapers and magazines, he is now a full-time author. His books include No1 bestseller and Netflix series The One, The Passengers, award winning What Lies Between Us and The Good Samaritan.
Published January 27th, 2026 by Pan Macmillan Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Suspense
My Husband’s Wife was one of our SquadPod Featured Books in February.
********
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The Sunday Times bestselling author of Beautiful Ugly is back with a psychological masterpiece that will leave you questioning everything you know about love, identity and revenge.
Eden Fox, an artist on the brink of her big break, sets off for a run before her first exhibition. When she returns to the home she recently moved into – Spyglass, an enchanting old house in the pretty seaside village of Hope Falls – nothing is as it should be. Her key doesn’t fit. A woman, eerily similar to her, answers the door. And her husband insists that this stranger is his wife.
One house. One husband. Two women. Someone is lying.
Six months earlier, a reclusive Londoner named Birdy, reeling from a life-changing diagnosis, inherits Spyglass. This unexpected gift from a long-lost grandmother brings her to Hope Falls. But then Birdy stumbles upon a shadowy London clinic that claims to be able to predict a person’s date of death, including her own. Secrets start to unravel and, as the line between truth and lies blurs, Birdy feels compelled to right some old wrongs.
My Husband’s Wife weaves a tangled web of deception, obsession and mystery that will keep you guessing until the last page. Prepare yourself for the ultimate mind-bending marriage thriller and step inside Spyglass – if you dare – to experience a story where nothing is as it seems.
Alice Feeney has done it again! Heartsoppingly tense, unsettling, cryptic and immersive, My Husband’s Wife is an outstanding thriller and possibly her best book yet.
It follows Eden Fox, who has recently moved to Spyglass, an enhancing old house in Hope Falls, Cornwall, with her husband, Harrison Woolf. They are hoping their move will be the fresh start they both need and it seems like life is starting to look up. But when she returns after her usual evening run nothing is as it should be. Her key doesn’t work and a woman who is eerily similar to her answers the door saying she lives there. Harrison insists the stranger is his wife and claims to have never seen Eden before. Eden desperately tries to prove her identity, sparking a chain of events that uncover long-buried secrets, deception and betrayal.
I always know when I pick up one of Alice’s books that I’m in for a treat. A thriller powerhouse, I know I’ll get an exquisitely written, twisty, layered and pacy thriller that will keep me on the edge of my seat. This was all that and more. It’s like Spaghetti Junction – the different storylines and threads interweave in unexpected ways, and it’s brimming with suspense, twists and turns. The narrative is told from multiple perspectives and moves seamlessly between timelines as Alice drops clues like breadcrumbs for us to follow. But nothing is what it seems in this book and everyone is possibly an unreliable narrator – keeping me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. And that final line! I can’t get it out of my head.
One of the things that Alice always does well is writing charismatic, flawed and relatable characters who are fun to read whether we like them or not. The abundance of unreliable narrators means there are no clear heroes or villains, ramping up the tension and making me second guess everything they said and did. My favourite character was Birdy, a reclusive woman from London who returns to Hope Falls following life-changing diagnosis and unexpected inheritance. Birdy was the comedic relief in the book and although we know there are things she’s hiding, I did feel like I could trust her more than a lot of the other characters.
A must read for anyone who loves clever and riveting thrillers.
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮
Thanks to Pan Macmillan and Bookbreak for sending me a proof copy of the book and to Libro.fm for providing me with a complimentary audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
********
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Alice Feeney is a New York Times million-copy bestselling author of novels including His & Hers, Sometimes I Lie, Rock Paper Scissors and Daisy Darker. Her books have been translated into over thirty-five languages, and have been optioned for major screen adaptations, with His & Hers currently in production for Netflix, produced by Jessica Chastain, and starring Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal.
Alice was a BBC journalist for fifteen years. Her seventh novel, Beautiful Ugly, will be published around the world in January 2025.
Published January 29th, 2026 by Pan Macmillan Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance, Adventure Fiction, Domestic Fiction
********
ABOUT THE BOOK:
So, I Met This Guy . . .
Well, isn’t that how every love story starts? But how does it end – a happily ever after? Or with the discovery that the supposed love-of-your-life has stolen your life savings and your home, trashed your heart and demolished your self-esteem?
Maggie is barely fifty years-old, and she’s not one to give up on herself. So when she meets Flick, a young reporter who realizes this story could be the big break she’s been looking for, they set off to catch him as he goes on the run across Europe. After all, she’s got nothing left to lose, right?
But as the pair embark on the road trip of their lives, unexpected twists, hidden secrets and hard truths are revealed. And as an unlikely friendship begins to blossom, they realize it’s not just about finding the guy, it’s about finding themselves . . .
From the author of the mega bestseller Confessions of a Fortysomething F##k Up comes another laugh-out-loud novel full of wit, wisdom . . . and women who have had ENOUGH.
‘So, I met this guy…’ The phrase that is the start of love stories. Of someone’s happily ever after or biggest regret. When Maggie met Theo C. Stratin she thought she’d found ‘the one’, but it soon became a nightmare when he wiped out her life savings, her home, her trust and self-esteem. When journalist Flick hears Maggie’s story she realises that this could be her big break and convinces a reluctant Maggie to speak about her experience and track down Theo, the pair embarking on a trip across Europe to catch the con man before he can find another victim.
Warm, witty and full of heart, this was a joy to read from start to finish. A comfort read with action, emotion, comedy and drama thrown in. I’m ashamed to say that this is my first time reading one of Alexandra Potter’s books, but it certainly won’t be my last. Her writing enveloped me, the characters leapt from the pages and I was rooting for Maggie and Flick at every step. The locations come alive in vivid detail, making me feel like I was walking the streets of Rome, partying in Ibiza or hiking in Spain. Potter is also skilled at writing emotion that cuts like a knife and goes straight to your soul, making me feel everything alongside the characters. I was all-in and lost myself in this enthralling cat and mouse chase across the continent. And amongst all of that Ms. Potter has also woven important issues into the narrative, highlighting not only romance fraud, but topics such as coercive control and poverty.
I can’t write this review without mentioning the characters. Charismatic, relatable and real, they could be any one of us, which is part of this book’s charm and what makes it resonate so strongly. Maggie could be any one of us. When we meet her she’s lost everything and had her life and soul destroyed by Theo and I loved watching her rediscover not only her strength, but her self-belief. Something she might not have found again without Flick. I loved their friendship. I loved that it was mutli-genterational and how much they learned from one another. And I can’t talk about this book without mentioning Birdy, a wealthy older lady they meet on their travels. Birdy was my favourite character and I am going to need a book all about her. I am not going to spoil anything, but after reading this you’ll understand why.
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰
Thank you to Pan Macmillan and Bookbreak for the invitation to take part in the Readalong and for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
********
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Alexandra Potter is the bestselling author of numerous bestselling novels, including CONFESSIONS OF A FORTY-SOMETHING F**K UP which is now the basis of a major TV series. These titles have sold in twenty-five territories and achieved worldwide sales of more than one million copies, making the bestseller charts across the world.
Born and raised in Yorkshire, Alexandra lived for several years in LA before settling back in the UK. She currently lives in London with her Californian husband and their Bosnian rescue dog.
Published January 15th, 2026 by Pan Macmillan Historical Fiction, Domestic Fiction, Gay Fiction, Literary Fiction
********
ABOUT THE BOOK:
You’ve seen the show. Now meet the woman behind the scenes . . .
From No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author Jennifer Niven, a novel about America’s favorite TV family, whose perfect façade starts to crack, for fans of Lessons in Chemistry and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
Los Angeles, 1964.
For two decades, Del and Dinah Newman and their sons, Guy and Shep, have ruled television as America’s Favourite Family. Millions of viewers tune in every week to watch them play flawless, black-and-white versions of themselves. But now the Sixties are in full swing, and the Newmans’ perfection suddenly feels woefully out of touch.
Ratings are in free fall, as are the Newmans themselves. Del is keeping an explosive secret from his wife, and Dinah is slowly going numb. Steady, stable Guy is hiding the truth about his love life, and rock ‘n’ roll idol Shep may finally be in real trouble.
When Del is in a mysterious car accident, Dinah decides to take matters into her own hands. She hires Juliet Dunne, an outspoken young reporter, to help her write the final episode. But Dinah and Juliet have wildly different perspectives about what it means to be a woman, and a family, in 1964 America.
Can Dinah Newman bring her family together to change television history?
Or will she be cancelled before she ever had the chance?
Maybe it’s time for perfection to fall out of style . . .
Los Angeles, 1964, a time when the States is still reeling from the death of JFK, in the midst of the fight for Civil Rights, and being gripped by Beatlemania, there is a family they can always rely on to be perfect and make the world feel right for half an hour each week. It’s time to Meet the Newmans.
Nostalgic, moving, powerful and addictive, I couldn’t get enough of this charming and stirring story. It follows the Newmans, a real family who have played idealised versions of themselves on TV for the last twelve years. They are America’s favourite family. But behind the perfect facade, cracks have appeared and not all is what it seems. When patriarch Del is in a car accident, his wife, Dinah, must take the reins to ensure that their season finale goes ahead. She hires journalist Juliet Dunn but the two soon clash over what it means to be a woman in 1960s America. Truths are slowly revealed and we wonder if the Newmans will survive the fallout and pull off one last show.
Jennifer Niven’s writing is vibrant and achingly human, the story is cleverly choreographed and filled with an eclectic cast of dynamic and memorable characters. I loved the nostalgic vibe that permeates every page, making me feel like I’d been transported back to 1960s America. But while the story is a sheer delight, it is also a sobering reminder of how different life was in the 60s, exploring some heavy and emotional topics including the Civil Rights Movement, LGBTQ rights, sexism, female rage, female empowerment and reproductive rights. The world may be a mess right now, but at least in most of the world we have the right to love whoever we want and women have the right to simple things like a bank account and contraception.
Told from different perspectives, the characters felt authentic and believable, immersing me in every facet of their lives as they slowly unraveled. But all that glitters isn’t gold, and through the Newmans Niven examines the darker side of fame, showing us that perfection isn’t real and reminding us that even those who seem to have it all are going through things behind closed doors. I particularly enjoyed reading Dinah, Juliet and Guy, and loved watching and Dinah and Juliet learned so much from one another.
A thought-provoking and affirming read that will simultaneously lift your spirits and outrage you, Meet The Newmans is a must-read. Perfect for anyone who enjoyed Lessons in Chemistry.
Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5
Thank you to Bookbeat and llbro.fm for my early copies of the book in exchange for my honest review.
********
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jennifer Niven is the #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling author of All the Bright Places, Holding Up the Universe and Breathless. Her books have been translated in over 75 languages and have won literary awards around the world. An Emmy-award winning screenwriter, she co-wrote the script for the All the Bright Places movie— currently streaming on Netflix and starring Elle Fanning and Justice Smith. She is also the author of several narrative nonfiction titles and the Velva Jean historical fiction series. Jennifer divides her time between coastal Georgia and Los Angeles with her husband and literary cats.
Published November 20th, 2025 by Orenda Books Mystery, Thriller, Cozy Mystery, Humorous Fiction
********
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Eleven-year-old Tippy’s uncle and his boyfriend turn up in her small New Zealand town to look after her when his mother is away over Christmas, but when her schoolteacher is found dead and her best friend has a near-fatal accident, the trio turns detective, dubbing themselves The Nancys, and launching a chaotic, hilarious investigation.
‘Heartfelt and hilarious, this mystery is packed with vivid, beautifully written characters … highly recommended’ A.J. West
‘Wonderful … A book of great heart, humour and originality. I loved it’ Chris Hammer
‘A wonderfully smart, funny, intriguing and joyously camp mystery. I loved it!’ William Hussey
‘Entertaining and satisfying, with a cast of characters I loved and genuinely cared about … unsettling, captivating and uplifting‘Vanda Symon
*** WINNER of the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best First Novel***
_____________
Meet the Nancys…
Tippy Chan is eleven years old, and she lives in a small town in a very quiet part of New Zealand – the town her Uncle Pike escaped as a teenager, the moment he got a chance. Now Pike is back with his new boyfriend Devon to look after Tippy while her mum is on a Christmas cruise.
Tippy can’t get enough of her uncle’s old Nancy Drew books. She wants to be Nancy and is desperate to solve a real mystery. So, when her teacher’s body is found beside Riverstone’s only traffic light, it looks like Tippy’s moment has arrived. She and her minders form The Nancys, a secret detective club.
But what starts as a bonding and sightseeing adventure quickly morphs into something far more dangerous. A wrongful arrest, a close call with the murderer, and an intervention from Tippy’s mum all conspire against The Nancys. But regardless of their own safety, and despite the constant distraction of questionable fashion choices in the town that style forgot, The Nancys know only they can stop the killer from striking again. Whatever the cost…
Gripping, glorious and glittering with suspense, The Nancy’s is also a heartwarming, hilarious novel for anyone who’s ever felt like they were on the outside, looking in, with a simmering mystery at its heart and characters you will never forget.
A hilarious, and heartfelt twist on Nancy Drew – with murder, mayhem and makeovers in small-town New Zealand.
Heartwarming, witty, chaotic and flamboyant, this delightfully original debut had me hooked from start to finish.
11-year-old Tippy Chan lives in a small, quiet town in New Zealand with her mum, Helen. She is obsessed with her Uncle Pike’s old Nancy Drew books and longs to solve a real mystery just like her hero. So, when the body of her teacher is discovered one morning, it looks like Tippy’s moment is finally here. Together with her Uncle Pike and his boyfriend, Devon, she forms The Nancys, a secret detective club, and they begin their investigation. It all starts as a fun adventure, but things quickly morph into something more dangerous and they face mounting obstacles as they search for the truth. But The Nancys are sure they are the only ones who can find the killer and stop them before they strike again.
This book is the hilarious and uplifting mystery I didn’t know I needed. I’m a big fan of cosy crime stories and love an amateur detective, so I was excited to read this. And in The Nancys I’ve found my new favourite crime-solving trio. It’s a story of family, friendship, murder and makeovers. A story for the outsiders. And I loved every word. R. W. R. McDonald writes with heart and humour, creating a compelling mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat but also makes you feel all the feelings, adding depth to the story as he addresses topics such as grief, trauma and identity.
The first rule of The Nancys is that everyone is a suspect. And they take that to heart; unafraid to suspect everyone they know in this tiny town as they search for the killer. This created a sense of unease and distrust, as we couldn’t be sure about anyone or anything. I had my own suspicions and theories, but the author did an excellent job of making me feel unsure about them, keeping me guessing and delivering red herrings that shook me along the way.
There is a motley crew of captivating richly drawn characters on these pages who pull you into their world and take you along with them for the ride. I loved that this story was told from Tippy’s perspective, and that she is such a likeable character who is easy to root for. In many ways she’s a typical 11-year-old girl who just wants the latest smartphone, but she’s also dealing with a lot after the sudden death of her father earlier in the year. When we meet her, she’s on the cusp of both her first Christmas without her dad and her first time apart from her mum, who is off on a cruise she won. And that’s where the fabulousUncle Pike and his boyfriend, Devon, step in. I loved these delightfully campy characters and they never failed to make me laugh. I also enjoyed their untraditional approach to babysitting and that they quickly decided to makeover the girl next door and enter her in a local beauty pageant. This was a fun side story that added lots of levity alongside the darker search for a killer.
Hilarious, mysterious, quirky and heartfelt, this glorious debut is not to be missed. And I am really hoping that it is the first in a series as I need to return to these wonderful characters again.
Rating: 🔎🔎🔎🔎
Thank you Orenda Books for the invitation to take part in this readalong and for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
********
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.
Published November 20th, 2025 by Orenda Books Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Historical Mystery, Psychological Fiction, Hardboiled, Police Procedural, Crime Fiction, Crime Series
********
ABOUT THE BOOK:
When two teenagers are found brutally murdered on the island of Lidingö, dressed in white tunics and wearing crowns of candles, former French police officer Maïa Rehn joins local Commissioner Aleksander Storm to unravel a mystery with a shockingly dark heart. The highly anticipated sequel to the international bestselling gothic mystery, Yule Island.
‘A horrific, baffling crime startles a small Swedish community. This is perfect Scandi Noir, dripping with atmosphere. The writing shines, and the story is impossible to resist. Gustawsson is a master’ Shari Lapena
‘A gripping mystery simmering with social outrage – this is what crime fiction should be’ Alexandra Sokoloff
‘Johana Gustawsson is an extraordinarily talented storyteller, with a beautiful, eloquent writing style. Scars of Silence unfolds at a breathless pace, and the climax is devastating’ Kate Rhodes
___________
Twenty-three years ago, a young woman was murdered on the Swedish island of Lidingö. The island has kept its silence.
Until now…
As autumn deepens into darkness in Lidingö, on the Stockholm archipelago, the island is plunged into chaos: in the space of a week, two teenaged boys are murdered. Their bodies are left deep in the forest, dressed in white tunics with crowns of candles on their heads, like offerings to Saint Lucia.
Maïa Rehn has fled Paris for Lidingö after a family tragedy. But when the murders shake the island community, the former police commissioner is drawn into the heart of the investigation, joining Commissioner Aleksander Storm to unravel a mystery as chilling as the Nordic winter.
As they dig deeper, it becomes clear that a wind of vengeance is blowing through the archipelago, unearthing secrets that are as scandalous as they are inhuman.
But what if the victims weren’t who they seemed? What if those long silenced have finally found a way to strike back?
How far would they go to make their tormentors pay?
Happy book birthday to this heart-pounding slice of Scandi-Noir!
The small Swedish community of Lidingo is left reeling when the body of a boy who has been brutally murdered is discovered. He is found dressed as St Lucia: wearing a white tunic with a crown of candles on his damaged skull. Parallels are immediately drawn with another brutal murder 24 years earlier. Aleksander Storm and Maia Rehn work together to try and solve the crime and search for links to the historic murder. When another boy is found killed and dressed in the same way, they start to wonder if they have a serial killer on their hands. And, as they dig deeper, they unearth scandalous secrets that point towards a killer out for revenge after being silenced for too long…
Dark, powerful, atmospheric and heart-poundingly tense, the second book in the Lidingo mysteries packs a punch from the start. Johana Gustawsson has become one of my favourite thriller writers in recent years. A sinister storytelling powerhouse, she gets better with each book and has delivered another nerve-shredding whodunnit that simmers with horror whilst also exploring timely and relevant social issues such as consent. Exquisitely written, cleverly choreographed, fast-paced and filled with surprising twists, Gustawsson had me on the edge of my seat from its shocking opening to its devastating conclusion. And that reveal? I never saw it coming! Bravo, Ms. Gustawsson, bravo.
One of the things I love about a series is coming back to the characters, and it was great to be back with Aleks and Maia. They are compelling characters who I enjoy reading, and this time around both of them are going through their share of turmoil alongside their search for a killer. Gustawsson strikes the balance between their stories and the plot perfectly, never allowing the pace to drop for even a moment as she also helps us develop an even stronger bond with our protagonists. I can’t wait to return for book three!
A darkly chilling and addictive Scandi Noir that you don’t want to miss, I highly recommend this book and series.
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮
Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part in this blog tour and Orenda Books for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
********
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Born in Marseille, France, and with a degree in Political Science, Johana Gustawsson has worked as a journalist for the French and Spanish press and Her critically acclaimed Roy & Castells series, including Block 46, Keeper and Blood Song, has won the Plume d’Argent, Balai de la découverte, Balai d’Or and Prix Marseillais du Polar awards, and is now published in nineteen countries. A TV adaptation is currently under way in a French, Swedish and UK co-production. The Bleeding was a number-one bestseller in France and is the first in a new series. Johana lives in Sweden with her Swedish husband and their three sons.
David Warriner translates from French and nurtures a healthy passion for Franco, Nordic and British crime fiction. Growing up in deepest Yorkshire, he developed incurable Francophilia at an early age. Emerging from Oxford with a Modern Languages degree he narrowly escaped the graduate rat race by hopping on a plane to Canada – and never looked back. More than a decade into a high-powered commercial translation career, he listened to his heart and turned his hand to the delicate art of literary translation. David has lived in France and Quebec, and now calls beautiful British Columbia home.
Published February 20th, 2025 by Sphere Historical Fiction, Psychological Fiction
********
ABOUT THE BOOK:
‘Spellbinding’ SUSAN STOKES-CHAPMAN ‘Enthralling’ HESTER MUSSON ‘Astonishingly accomplished’ CARI THOMAS ‘Beautifully woven’ HARRIET CONSTABLE ‘Exquisite’ ANNA MAZZOLA ‘Expertly plotted’ JOANNE BURN ___________________
Paris, 1789. The Oberst Factory, which crafts exquisite wallpaper for the most fashionable French homes, is a place shrouded in mystery. Most enigmatic is the woman pictured in each of its prints, rumoured to be the late Mrs Oberst, who died in peculiar circumstances.
When sisters Lara and Sofi arrive there for work, they quickly form a friendship with Josef Oberst, the motherless heir to the factory. Whilst Sofi’s political fervour intensifies, Lara is disturbed by the uncanny way her life appears mirrored in the wallpaper. Meanwhile Hortense, Josef’s spoilt aristocratic wife, is similarly unnerved by the scenes that line the walls of her new home. With the mobs growing ever more violent, is she in danger of meeting the same untimely end as the last Mrs Oberst?
As revolution blazes across France, the lives of Sofi, Lara and Hortense are set to collide in unimaginable and irrevocable ways. Can they change what lies ahead, or are some patterns destined to be repeated?
Eerie, unnerving, mysterious and spellbinding, The Woman in the Wallpaper is a haunting debut steeped in gothic allure that transports us to eighteenth century France and the French Revolution.
After the death of their father, sisters Sofi and Lara arrive at The Oberst Factory in Paris, which crafts exquisite and particular toile de Jouy wallpaper for the country’s most fashionable and elite homes. But the factory is a place that has been shrouded in mystery ever since the death of Madame Oberst in strangecircumstances five years earlier. There are whispers she haunts the grounds and that it is her image that is featured on all of the factory’s prints. The sisters soon form a friendship with Josef Oberst, a motherless loner who is heir to the factory.
Meanwhile, Hortense, a spoiled aristocrat’s daughter who lives in the palace of Versailles, is forced into an arranged marriage with Josef and sent to live in the family’s mansion by the factory. Lara is set to work as her lady’s maid and is shocked to find that her new bedchamber is covered in violet wallpaper patterned with vignetted scenes from a woman’s life. Unnervingly, the woman looks exactly like her and scenes from her own life are mirrored on the paper.
As the worker’s grievances increase, the mob becomes more violent, political unrest takes a greater hold, and revolution rages throughout France, the lives of the three women are set to collide in unthinkable ways and with deadly and explosive consequences.
A gorgeous tapestry of a novel that is rich in sumptuous historical detail, Lora Jones had me in her thrall from the first page to the very last. Expertly choreographed and beautifully interwoven, Jone’s beautiful prose tells this an intoxicating story of love, loss, mystery, hostility and conviction, all set against the volatilebackdrop of the French revolution. Her meticulous research is evident on every page and I loved learning the intricacies of working in a wallpaper factory, the contrast between the lives of the workers and aristocracy, and more about the revolution, which is all brought to life in full, terrible detail thanks to Jones’ spectacular and vivid imagery. The story is atmospheric, forbidding and has hints of the supernatural from the start. But soon terror began to bleed into the pages, the words gleamed with a chilling malice and shivers ran down my spine.
All of the characters in this story, whether they are the narrators or background characters, are richly drawn and compelling. The three women who narrate the story – Sofi, Lara and Hortense – are very different people with their own interests and concerns. But as life at the factory, and in all of France, becomes more dangerous, they find that their fates are interwoven in unexpected ways. I enjoyed reaching each of their narratives but admit that it was Lara I found most enthralling. I was mesmerised by her story; the idea of seeing yourself and your life depicted in the wallpaper that is pasted in a place you’ve never been before and fear consuming you as you feel sure someone is watching you and you think you see the woman in the wallpaper move. It was so haunting that even eight months after reading it the memory still gives me chills. And I must mention Hortense, who was a wonderful villain filled with arrogance and snobbiness. She was fun to read and I loved to hate her, but I admit that I did feel some sympathy as time went on.
A magnificent and unsettling gothic mystery, I highly recommend this haunting debut.
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮
Thank you Sphere for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
********
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
After studying English Literature at the University of Durham, Lora began her career working in the TV industry in London, reading scripts for ITV’s Drama Department, and writing factual programme content and comedy material for the BBC, Channel 4 and others. She also spent over a decade assisting professional TV and stage magicians, and gathering up their secrets.
Lora now lives amongst the rugged hills of North Wales where she is currently rewilding an 18th century sheep farm. In her spare time she paints wildlife and sells her work in aid of wildlife conservation charities.
Passionate about creating and writing original stories, The Woman in the Wallpaper is Lora’s first novel. She is also the co-creator/host of The Magician’s Wife podcast.
Published October 23rd, 2025 by Orenda Books Mystery, Thriller, Noir Fiction, Hardboiled, Nordic Noir, Translated Ficiton
********
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A final reckoning…
With the fate of her missing sister, Ísafold, finally uncovered, Áróra feels a fragile relief as the search that consumed her life draws to a close. But when Ísafold’s boyfriend – the prime suspect in her disappearance – is found dead at the same site where Ísafold’s body was discovered, Áróra’s grip on reality starts to unravel … and the mystery remains far from solved.
To distract herself, she dives headfirst into a money-laundering case that her friend Daníel is investigating. But she soon finds that there is more than meets the eye and, once again, all leads point towards Engihjalli, the street where Ísafold lived and died, and a series of shocking secrets that could both explain and endanger everything…
Atmospheric, dark and chilling, Black as Death is the breathtaking finale to the twisty, immersive An Áróra Investigation series, as Áróra and her friends search for answers that may take them to places even darker than death…
Perfect for readers of Camilla Läckberg, Karin Slaughter, Eva Björg Ægisdóttir and Jo Nesbø.
Breathtaking, emotional, shocking and twisty, Black As Death is the fifth installment and the unforgettable finale in the Árora Investigation series. Set in Iceland, a landscape with a bleak, mournful, sinister and forbidding atmosphere that is echoed in the emotions evoked by this story of love, loss, abuse, fear and murder.
The book opens with Ísafold hiding in the bathroom after another round of abuse from her drug-dealing husband, Bjorn. She considers calling her sister, Árora, but knows she’ll tell her to leave or that there’s nothing she can do as Ísafold always goes back to him. So despite her desperation and loneliness, she decides it isn’t right to bother her sister. Not even as she whispers to herself that she thinks Bjorn will kill her soon.
We then jump forward, to Árora’s point of view. It’s now four years since Ísafold went missing and suspicion fell on Bjorn, the theory being that he killed her and then fled to Canada. But this past spring Ísafold’s body was found in a suitcase deep within a volcanic fissure in a lava field and Bjorn’s body was also located in another suitcase in that same lava field. If Bjorn didn’t kill her sister then who did? Árora’s partner, Daniel, a detective, and his work colleague, Helena, are investigating the murders, but answers aren’t coming quickly enough for Árora.
Running parallel to this, Daniel has discovered a possible money laundering operation that involves a local coffee chain. The shops aren’t busy enough for the amount of money they are taking and the owners have filed numerous complaints of criminal damage and violent acts against them that they later decline to pursue, making Daniel even more suspicious. This is just the kind of case that would benefit from Á́rora’s skills as an investigator and also prove a good distraction for her, so Daniel asks her to help. Arora happily throws herself into the case, it is soon clear that there is more to this case than first thought. And it is dragging her right back to that same street where her sister lived and died…
Darkly atmospheric, tense and heartrending, this was an addictive piece of Nordic noir. And what a finale! Lilja Sigurðardóttir had me in her thrall from start to finish. The story moves between timelines and narrators, the tension rising and the atmosphere getting tauter as the timelines converged and we raced towards an explosive conclusion. There is a lot going on in this book but it is never confusing, even when like me you’ve fallen behind on the series. Sigurðardóttir catches us up with past events and skillfully makes the different voices easily identifiable so that you never lose track of what’s happening. However, it isn’t always clear what timeline some of the characters and scenes are taking place in, but that felt deliberate and it heightened the mystery and suspense. I listened to this on audiobook, Sigurðardóttir’s expert storytelling and choreography merging with Lorenza Garcia’s fantastic translation and the compelling narration of Colleen Prendergast to create an utterly riveting and emotional thriller. I was on tenterhooks right up until its conclusion, which doesn’t leave you with the usual feeling of satisfaction you get when a killer is unmasked and the truth is finally revealed. Instead, there was a profound sadness at lives lost and other lives changed forever.
Árora, Daniel and Helen are likeable characters who it was easy to support. They each have different characteristics and skills that merge together to create a formidable crime-fighting team. While they, and all of the characters, are fascinating and layered, it is Árora and Ísafold who stood out as the most complex and memorable characters. Árora’s grief is palpable, as is her guilt at not being able to save her sister, her anger at her killer, and her desperation to find answers and justice. I was rooting for her at every step, praying that she would finally get the answers after years of torment. But I think the character who had the biggest emotional impact on me was Ísafold, and not only because I myself have been in an abusive relationship. Ísafold’s vulnerability, fear and turmoil radiate from the pages. We feel her inner conflict as she is torn between love for Bjorn and knowing she needs to leave, made even harder for her as he uses the classic abusive tactic of lovebombing her after each incident so that she forgives him again. Not only that, but having already isolated her from almost everyone, he cleverly manipulates her into giving up the job she loves to take a job as a carer and then coercing her into stealing pills he can then sell on. The biggest villains, Bjorn and his fearsome boss, Stuler, were skillfully written, made my blood boil and chills run down my spine. I spent the whole book longing for them to get their comeuppance and hoping justice would be served.
If you haven’t read this series, then add it to your TBR now. A must-read for all thriller fans.
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰
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.
********
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Icelandic crime-writer Lilja Sigurðardóttir was born in the town of Akranes in 1972 and raised in Mexico, Sweden, Spain and Iceland. An award-winning playwright, Lilja has written ten crime novels, including Snare, Trap and Cage, making up the Reykjavík Noir trilogy, and her standalone thriller Betrayal, all of which have hit bestseller lists worldwide. Snare was longlisted for the CWA International Dagger, Cage won Best Icelandic Crime Novel of the Year and was a Guardian Book of the Year, and Betrayal was shortlisted for the prestigious Glass Key Award and won Icelandic Crime Novel of the Year. The film rights for the Reykjavík Noir trilogy have been bought by Palomar Pictures in California. Cold as Hell, the first book in the An Áróra Investigation series, was published in the UK in 2021. She lives in Reykjavík with her partner.
Lorenza Garcia spent her early adulthood living and working in Iceland, Spain and France. She has been a full-time literary translator since 2008 and has translated and co-translated over forty novels and works of non-fiction from French, Spanish and Icelandic. She currently lives in South London with her Tibetan Terrier.
********
Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx
Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in the blog tour.
*The purchase link in this review is an affiliate links
Published October 23rd, 2025 by Sphere Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Crime Series
********
ABOUT THE BOOK:THE POWERFUL NEW THRILLER IN THE KAREN PIRIE SERIES, NOW A MAJOR TV SERIES
‘Beautifully structured, witty and twisty’ ANN CLEEVES ‘A perfect crime novel’ KATE MOSSE ‘Powerful, moving and wise’ HARLAN COBEN ‘Full of humour, heart and trademark twists’ CHRIS WHITAKER ____________
The truth is buried just beneath the surface . . .
When torrential rain causes a landslide on a motorway in Scotland, it reveals a crime scene: someone hid a body in the tarmac eleven years before. Journalist Sam Nimmo had been the prime suspect in the murder of his fiancée when he disappeared, and now DCI Karen Pirie and her Historic Cases Unit must find out who buried him, and why.
Meanwhile, in Edinburgh, new evidence reopens a closed case and the accidental death of a hotel manager starts to look like murder. But what did Tom Jamieson’s book club have to do with his demise – and what will they do to keep their secrets?
Karen and her team begin to untangle a web of lies, one that connects their murder cases with Scotland’s rich and powerful. They will be tested to their limits – and possibly beyond . . .
When torrential rain causes a landslide on a Scottish motorway it uncovers human remains that are soon identified as belonging to journalist Sam Nimmo, who disappeared eleven years earlier after the murder of his pregnant fiancée. He was the prime suspect, but now Karen Pirie and her Historic Cases Unit must discover how and why he was buried beneath the tarmac.
Meanwhile, the team are reopening the investigation into the accidental death of hotel manager Tom Jamieson after his brother comes in with new evidence that seems to point to foul play. Soon, the evidence leads them to the elite book club Tom had joined shortly before his death. What are they hiding and just how far will they go to keep their secrets?
The SquadPod’s Book Club pick for October was the eighth instalment in the Karen Pirie series. Intriguing, mysterious and suspenseful, this enthralling thriller had me glued to its pages. Val McDermid is a crime fiction powerhouse so I jumped at the chance to read this book, even though it had been a while since I’d read this series. But I never felt lost or confused as McDermid succinctly catches the reader up with past events and the lives of Karen and her team. I was quickly immersed in this twisted web of power, corruption, secrets, lies, deceit and murder.
Expertly written, shrewdly choreographed, perfectly paced and full of heart and humour, McDermid’s crime-writing credentials are evident on every page. The book is filled with a cast of compelling characters that I loved reading. I loved the camaraderie and banter of Karen and her team, and how deftly they solve these old crimes. I liked that McDermid includes just the right amount of their personal lives to help us develop a connection with them that will keep you coming back for another instalment. The background characters are also fascinating to read and there were some unscrupulous characters that I couldn’t wait to see punished for their crimes. My heart raced and I was on the edge of my seat as Karen and her team untangled the intricate web to find the truth and finally get justice for these victims.
A must-read for anyone who enjoys a tense and twisty police procedural.
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰
Thank you to Sphere for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
********
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Val McDermid is a number one bestseller whose novels have been translated into more than forty languages, and have sold over eighteen million copies. She has won many awards internationally, including the CWA Gold Dagger for best crime novel of the year and the LA Times Book of the Year Award. She was inducted into the ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards Hall of Fame in 2009, was the recipient of the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger in 2010 and received the Lambda Literary Foundation Pioneer Award in 2011. In 2016, Val received the Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award at the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival and in 2017 received the DIVA Literary Prize for Crime, and was elected a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Literature and the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Val has served as a judge for the Women’s Prize for Fiction and the Man Booker Prize, and was Chair of the Wellcome Book Prize in 2017. She is the recipient of six honorary doctorates and is an Honorary Fellow of St Hilda’s College, Oxford. She writes full-time and divides her time between Edinburgh and East Neuk of Fife.
Emma's Biblio Treasures 