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BOOK REVIEW: Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash

Published February 5th, 2026 by Doubleday
Literary Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Think your family is dysfunctional? Meet the Flynns.

For the three Flynn daughters, it’s been disastrous since their parents opened up their marriage. Abigail, the eldest, is dating an ex-soldier several years her senior nicknamed ‘War Crimes Wes’. Louise, the middle child, maintains a secret correspondence with an online terrorist. And the brilliant youngest, Harper, is being sent to a wilderness reform camp due to her insistence that someone – or something – is monitoring the town’s citizens.


Casting a shadow across their lives is Paul Alabaster, a nefarious local billionaire. Rumours of corruption circulate, but no one dares dig too deep. No one except Harper, whose obsession with Alabaster’s machinations sends the family hurtling into a criminal conspiracy – one that may just, finally, bring them closer together.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE WATERSTONES DEBUT FICTION PRIZE 2026

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

When the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize shortlist was announced I decided to try and read as many of the books as possible before the winner was declared. I only managed two books, but one of them was this superbly original debut that had been on my TBR since last year.

A quirky, moving, immersive and darkly funny portrait of a dysfunctional family, Lost Lambs is an unforgettable debut. It follows the Flynn family: parents Bud and Catherine and their three daughters Abigail, Louise and Harper. The girls are strange and the parents miserable. Recently, Catherine and Bud agreed to open their marriage and it is the talk of the town. And their arrangement hasn’t made life easy for their daughters. Each of the girls are rebelling in their own way: Abigail is dating an ex-soldier who is quite a bit older than her, Louise is secretly corresponding with an online terrorist, and Harper has been expelled from school and is being sent to a wilderness reform camp. The family becomes embroiled in a conspiracy that involves nefarious local billionaire Paul Alabaster. But could this be what finally brings them back together?

Madeline Cash is a unique and exciting new voice in fiction. And if this is what she delivers for her debut, I can’t wait to read whatever comes next. Masterfully written, she expertly pulls the reader into the story and makes it impossible not to feel invested in the Flynn family’s lives. They are a dysfunctional and weird family, but they are also strangely compelling and I quickly became invested in their lives. However odd the girls are, it is impossible not to feel for teenagers whose parents’ open marriage is the talk of their town. They are also being neglected and lack emotional support, making an already difficult time in their lives even harder. It’s hardly surprising that each girl is rebellious. They are left to their own devices; starved of parental supervision and affection. Neither of the parents is particularly likeable but there were times I felt for Bud, who is clearly struggling with his mental health. 

An unmissable debut from a promising new author, I highly recommend this book. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thanks to Doubleday for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Madeline Cash is an American author and co-founder of Forever Magazine. Her debut novel Lost Lambs was published in 2026. She previously authored a collection of short stories published as a book in 2023 Earth Angel, op-eds and interviews with artists featured in publications like Nylon, Los Angeles Times, Highsnobiety, and short literary fiction in The Baffler and Granta.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: This Immortal Heart by Jennifer Saint

Published June 4th, 2026 by Viking
Historical Fiction, Greek Mythology, Fairy Tale, Historical Fantasy, Romantic Fantasy, Fantasy Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

From the #1 bestselling author comes an epic story of love and war as two opposing deities find themselves drawn to each other against all odds. Because when Aphrodite and Ares fall in love, sparks are bound to fly.

‘A LUSCIOUS RETELLING THAT HELD ME TIGHT BY THE HEARTSTRINGS’ SAARA EL-ARIFI, bestselling author of Cursebound
‘A TIMELESS LOVE STORY’ EMILIA HART, bestselling author of Sirens
‘TRULY GORGENOUS, WONDERFULLY FRESH ROMANTIC FANTASY’ ELODIE HARPER, bestselling author of Boudicca’s Daughter

This is the oldest love story of all time . . .

Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, wields unparalleled power over every divine and mortal heart. Though her world is one of beauty, she is the most dangerous god of all, ruled by passion regardless of the consequences.

Ares, God of War, is her perfect contradiction: feared, unwanted and relentless in his devotion to chaos. Where she breathes life into longing, he thrives in destruction.

And yet gods are no more immune to love and loss than anyone else, and soon their lives collide. But even divine love can’t protect them from the fates of Mount Olympus, and whilst the God of War may be capable of greater love than anyone else, so may the Goddess of Love be capable of the gravest mistakes . . .

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

Jennifer Saint has been an auto-buy author whose books are a highlight of my reading year ever since her spectacular debut, Ariadne. I love her commitment to illuminating ancient female voices to a modern audience and showing us a side to these women we might not have seen before. And how beautiful is that cover and the spredges.

Her latest book, This Immortal Heart, retells the story of the oldest love story of all time. Aphrodite may be the goddess of love, but her passionate nature makes her the most dangerous goddess of all. Fierce and relentless, Ares, god of war, is her perfect opposite. They shouldn’t be compatible, but love has its own rules and they are soon caught up in a volatile romance. And when they collide their chaotic love affair disrupts the status quo and threatens order on Mount Olympus. 

Illuminating, passionate, enthralling and timeless, Jennifer has crafted another unforgettable retelling that feels as hearty as an Olympian feast. Aphrodite is a goddess we’ve all heard of. And her love story with Ares is well-known, but I think this is the most moving and powerful telling of it that I’ve ever read. It is a story of desire, love and heartache set against a backdrop of the politics of Zeus’ kingdom. Drenched in love, lust and longing, Aphrodite’s passion for Ares leaped from the pages while the tempestuous atmosphere on Mount Olympus made my  heart race.  

Aphrodite is usually portrayed as vain and shallow, but this version is much more thoughtful and wants to spread happiness by bestowing her gifts on her followers. But mortals are fallible and she is left dismayed when her gifts lead to unexpected consequences. Her passion for Ares surprises her as much as anyone and it was fun to see her so out of sorts, consumed by a love that she knew was bad for her but also felt impossible to resist. I think we can all relate to the dangerous allure of a bad boy or someone we know is wrong for us but we feel a strong pull towards and I was rooting for them against the odds.

This gorgeous retelling is a must-read for anyone who loves Greek Mythology.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

Thanks to Viking and Libro.fm for my complimentary copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jennifer Saint grew up reading Greek mythology and was always drawn to the untold stories hidden within the myths. After thirteen years as a high school English teacher, she wrote Ariadne, which was shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year in 2021 and was a Waterstones Book of the Month, as well as being a Sunday Times bestseller.

Jennifer Saint is now a full-time author, living in Yorkshire, England, with her family. All of her novels have been Sunday Times bestsellers, with Elektra and Atalanta hitting the coveted number one slot.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK REVIEW: The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery by Jennifer Page

Published October 8th, 2026 by Aria
Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy, Cosy Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Louise Dearnley has spent her life editing perfectly neat love stories, where heartbreak leads to fresh starts, charming small businesses bloom, and happily-ever-afters are guaranteed.

But now in her forties, she’s quit her job – and no, she doesn’t want to talk about why – and returned home to Applethwaite, the small Yorkshire village where she grew up. Starting over doesn’t feel nearly so much fun in real life as it does in fiction.

It also doesn’t help that her mother is convinced she’s here to run the family bakery, especially as the locals can’t get enough of Louise’s legendary ginger cake and scrumptious scones. Between renovations, a quirky ex-stepdaughter (who’s unexpectedly come to stay) and a gorgeous Italian who seems too good to be true, Louise’s second chance begins to take shape.

After a lifetime spent polishing other people’s happy endings, will Louise finally have one of her own?

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Louise Dearnley has spent her life editing books where happy-ever-after is guaranteed. But real life doesn’t work that way. And after making a mistake so bad she quit her job, Louise escapes back to her small Yorkshire hometown to put herself back together. But there’s a problem: her mum thinks she’s come back to run the family bakery now that she’s retired. But Louise doesn’t want to run a bakery. She’s always dreamed of running a bookshop. Unfortunately, the locals want her to run the bakery too and can’t get enough of Louise’s ginger cake. Will she find the courage to go after her dream?

When I picked up this book I was in need of cheering up and it certainly did the trick. I mean, books and baked goods; what isn’t there to love? Funny, romantic and uplifting, this moreish read is a bibliophile and cake lover’s dream and feels like curling up by the fire with a good book and your favourite pastry. I’d heard great things about Jennifer Page’s books but this was my first time reading one myself. Now I’m wondering why I waited so long and totally understand why people sing her praises. I loved everything about this book: the writing, the charismatic characters, the dreamy love interest, the Yorkshire setting, the books and the cake. There is nothing not to love. I listened to the audiobook and it was brilliantly narrated by Caroline McNally-Smith. 

Louise is a wonderful protagonist. I felt for her as she beat herself  up over her big mistake and worried about how to tell her mum she didn’t want to run the bakery without upsetting her. But I was thrilled and cheering her on as she found her confidence, started standing up for herself and chased her dream. The will they/won’t they romance between her and Jack was perfect and I was rooting for them to get together. Louise’s relationship with her mother and her step-daughter were also great to read, and there was an array of fascinating background characters too. 

A gorgeous lighthearted read that is perfect for any time of year. I highly recommend this book. Just have some cake handy before you start. 

Rating: 🎂🎂🎂🎂

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jennifer Page wrote her first novel – a book about ponies – when she was eight. These days she prefers to write romance. When she isn’t writing, Jennifer can usually be found playing board games which are the inspiration for her first novel. She has worked as a television producer, a music teacher and has even run a children’s opera company. She now lives near Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire with her husband and his large collection of games.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: Serenity Falls by C. J. Tudor

Published September 10th, 2026 by Michael Joseph
Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Horror

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Welcome to Serenity Falls – the most idyllic, and safest, town in the US – a place to grow up, grow your family and grow old together. For Dan and his daughter, Sadie, it’s the perfect relocation option. A fresh start, thousands of miles from their troubled past in the UK.

But their idyll is shattered when they find a dead body in the swimming pool of their new house – a house Dan’s late mother kept secret from him all his life.

It’s just the start of a series of disturbing discoveries. Abandoned houses where people have seemingly just upped and left. The strange woman Sadie sees around town putting up ‘missing’ posters for a child who drowned almost thirty years ago. An ice cream van that drives around at night making sure residents are asleep…

As plans gear up to celebrate Serenity Falls’ fiftieth anniversary, something is stirring beneath the surface of the blissful façade. Is Serenity Falls really the perfect town or is it founded on something far darker? And is someone so desperate to keep its secrets that they’d resort to anything to preserve them?

Welcome to Serenity Falls.
Once you’re here, you’re here to stay.

Serenity Falls’ first readers have fallen in love with it…

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

Welcome to Serenity Falls. An idyllic, gated town that is known as the safest place to live in the US, it seems like the ideal place for Dan and his teenage daughter, Sadie, to make a fresh start. But when they arrive at their new home they are shocked to find a body floating face down in their pool. Especially as they were told there is no crime in Serenity Falls. But this place is not what it seems and as the days go by Dan and Sadie notice cracks in the friendly residents, bright smiles and perfect homes. They begin to realise that Serenity Falls is a place filled with dark secrets that some people will kill to keep hidden.

Ominous, dark, eerie and unsettling, C. J. Tudor has knocked it out of the park once again, holding me in a chokehold from the first page until the heart-stopping finale. Exquisitely written, shrewdly plotted and expertly paced, this book showcases why Will Dean has called C. J. ‘the maestro of macabre’. It’s claustrophobic, chilling and uncomfortable, this is a masterclass in malice. The suspense and dread are omnipresent, like there is danger lurking in every corner of this picture-perfect paradise. C. J is an expert at taking the ordinary and turning it into a nightmare. I know I’ll never look at an ice cream van the same way again after reading this book. As secrets are uncovered skeletons come out of the closet and tradies are discovered, changing everything we think we know about this town.

Serenity Falls is based on the real town of Celebration in Florida which used to be owned by Disney, which is the company that inspired the Winsome Corporation. I have been to Disney World twice and visited Celebration in 2016 and can see how both places could inspire a sinister, secretive story such as this one. C. J. perfectly captures the cookie-cutter perfection of the town and I can only begin to imagine how living in a place governed by so many strict rules could get stifling. Especially as in the fictional Serenity Falls there are no mobile phones allowed, people have to wear a special bracelet at all times and there is a strict curfew that everyone must adhere to. 

There is a huge cast of great characters and many of them are narrators, which can make it a little confusing at times. But I also really enjoyed those different perspectives as they allowed us glimpses into different lives and there were times where what I knew made me terrified for Dan or Sadie and I just wanted to jump into the book and help them. 

A deliciously unsettling thriller, add this to your spooky season TBR now.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

C. J. Tudor lives with her partner and young daughter. Her love of writing, especially the dark and macabre, started young. When her peers were reading Judy Blume, she was devouring Stephen King and James Herbert.

Over the years she has had a variety of jobs, including trainee reporter, radio scriptwriter, dog walker, voiceover artist, television presenter, copywriter and, now, author.

Her first novel, The Chalk Man, was a Sunday Times bestseller and sold in thirty-nine territories.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Squadpod Squadpod Book Club Squadpod Recommends

SQUADPOD BOOK CLUB REVIEW: The Treasures by Harriet Evans

Publised July 2nd, 2026 by Viking
Historical Fiction, Saga, Domestic Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

The unputdownable love story spanning continents, years and families, from the Sunday Times bestselling author – the perfect holiday read for fans of Eve Chase, Lucinda Riley, and Kate Morton.

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One golden summer. One missing treasure. And a secret that binds two lives together.

Every year, Alice’s father gives her a treasure. Then on the morning of her sixteenth birthday, her final gift vanishes – along with the fragile certainty of her world. Alice runs, towards New York City and away from the memories of that last summer at the orchard where she grew up.

Across the Atlantic, Tom has always felt that something is missing from his life. When he finds a long-forgotten letter, it leads him away from Sevenstones – the house at the heart of his family for generations – and towards a truth no one has ever fully told.

From post-war London to 1960s New York, Alice and Tom’s stories become entwined. But will the secrets of their past bring them together, or break them apart?

BOOK REVIEW

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MY REVIEW:

Poignant, immersive and compelling, The Treasures is a sweeping saga about family, love, loss, secrets, trauma and intertwining destinies. Spanning multiple countries and years, we go from post-war London to hippies living in 1960s New York, following Alice and Tom as they search for answers about their families that leads them back to one summer, a missing treasure and a long-buried secret that binds their lives and their families together. 

Beautifully written, deftly plotted and expertly interwoven, Harriet Evans has crafted an absolute masterpiece. She explores topics including grief, mental illness and the ripple/ricochet effects of trauma, writing in a way that manages to be both sensitive and real. In particular, her descriptions of grief are so evocative, raw and real that I was close to tears many times. My heart shattered for Alice and her mum. Harriet expertly puts us in the characters’ shoes and makes us feel everything they do at every step. 

The story is filled with characters who are messy and painfully human but also charismatic. They pull you into their world and make you care about their lives. Alice and Tom were great protagonists, but the character I found most fascinating was Teddy and I was so glad we got to learn more about her as the story went on. And her arc was certainly the one that surprised me most of all. Both families are steeped in dysfunction, which Harriet writes so skillfully, slowly peeling back the layers to reveal the darkest secrets they would rather keep hidden.

I enjoyed trying to predict what direction the story would take and how Alice and Tom’s lives would entwine. And would Alice find her final treasure? I was on the edge of my seat waiting to find out but at times I had no idea how Harriet was going to tie it all together. But, as we approached the finale she pulled it off with finesse. I loved the ending and am so glad this is the first in a series as I need more from this family. I need the second instalment now! 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Hello lovely readers. Thank you for stopping by. Here’s a bit more about me and my books:

I’m the author of fourteen novels.

I’ve been a Richard and Judy book club selection twice and have shaken both Richard and Judy’s hands. I have sold over a million copies and been a Top Ten bestseller and still can’t believe I am lucky enough to be a writer.

I used to work in publishing editing some wonderful authors including Penny Vincenzi, Marian Keyes and Sue Townsend but my proudest moment was reissuing LACE as a very junior editor at Penguin.

In June 2025 my novel THE TREASURES will be published by Penguin. It is the first in a trilogy about a family, the Ravens, over a fifty years, from their beginnings to the present day. I am so excited about people reading it and can’t wait to hear what you think. I am really proud of it. I’m currently writing the second in the trilogy- more soon.

My favourite writers write the kind of books you find on holiday home shelves with faded covers and I want my books to have the same effect: Daphne du Maurier, Elizabeth Jane Howard, Rosamunde Pilcher, Penny Vincenzi, Dorothy L Sayers, Susan Howatch, Sally Beauman, Georgette Heyer, all of the Brontes, and of course Jane Austen.

I love musicals, karaoke, long hilly walks in the countryside, hedgerows (also Bramley Hedge), old Laura Ashley catalogues, Cheers and Frasier, peppermint creams and reading.

I have a very large fluffy cat whom we adopted last year when he decided to move into our house without consulting anyone else. It is like living with Ken from the Barbie movie.

I have two daughters. They are embarrassed by everything I do. Girls i’m only getting started, sorry.

I live in Bath, home of Jane Austen and Bath buns (but full disclosure have never had a Bath bun).

Last year I published my first murder mystery under the name Harriet F Townson, D is for Death, set in 1935 and featuring detective Dora Wildwood who finds a body in a library. There will be more Dora books, I don’t know when, but I adored writing it and her.

I am on the management committee of the Society of Authors, fighting for better deals for authors, talking about the dangers of AI, ghostwriters, bad contracts, ghosting, royalties and other issues facing authors. I volunteer with Inspiring the Future, aiming to widen aspiration for all children, and am an ambassador for the London Library.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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BLOG TOUR: Watch Them Disappear by Carla Kovac (Detective Gina Harte, Book 19)

Publised September 21st, 2026 by Bookouture
Thriller, Mystery, Crime Fiction, Suspense, Police Procedural, Crime Series, Noir Fiction, Romance Novel

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

The house where she lives alone lies dark and empty, her bed still perfectly made. Her car waits in the carpark, her phone unanswered. Mindy Carson has vanished into thin air…

When Ursula leaves work for the evening, she’s shocked to see her friend’s car still parked nearby. Happy-go-lucky dog groomer Mindy left for home ages ago. Something is desperately wrong. On the window is an unmistakable smear of blood.

As police visit Mindy’s home on the outskirts of town, everything looks in order, until they notice the small red light in the corner of her bedroom. Then another, and another. There are cameras watching her every move…

Unpacking Mindy’s life piece by piece, police start to wonder whether Ursula knows more than she’s letting on. Had she found out about her husband’s secret messages to Mindy? Who was the person behind the cameras, watching Mindy’s most private moments? And was the local teenager making Mindy’s life hell really the last person to see her?

When the body of a young woman is found in a local park, police fear they are too late to save Mindy. And when another person is reported missing, it’s clear she isn’t the only one being watched. Does the killer have another victim in their sights? And can they catch them before another life disappears forever?

Prepare to be absolutely hooked by the latest nail-biting thriller from bestselling author Carla Kovach. Perfect for fans of Rachel Abbott, Angela Marsons and Karin Slaughter.

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

Mindy left work hours ago, so Ursula is surprised to find her car still parked nearby. And when she sees the smear of blood on the window, she knows something bad has happened to her friend. Detective Gina Harte and her team are called in to investigate. At Mindy’s house they notice cameras hidden in her fire alarms. Someone has been secretly watching Mindy. Does Ursula know more than she’s admitting? As they race to find Mindy, a woman’s body is found in the park. Are they too late? And when another person is reported missing, they are worried that the killer has their sights set on another victim. Can they catch them before they kill again?

Carla Kovach’s Gina Harte series has been one of my favourite police procedurals for years. She always delivers a first-class thriller filled with great characters, menacing crimes, important topics and recurring characters I love returning to time and again. And this latest installment is her best yet. Nail-biting, twisty and addictive, Carla had me in a chokehold from start to finish. And this time she’s exploring the damaging effect of revenge porn and the dangerous allure of the dark web. On the lighter side of things, I really enjoyed seeing Gina happy again in her new relationship. But that ending! Carla, how could you. You totally broke my heart and I don’t think I’ll get over what happened.

One of Carla’s skills is writing fantastic characters who are flawed and real. She has created some brilliant characters in this story, including Mindy, Ursula, Brian and Tabitha. I was rooting for Mindy to be found before it was too late, but as time ticked by I worried they wouldn’t find her in time. Teenage siblings Brian and Tabitha brought out my maternal side and I just wanted to reach into the book to protect them from themselves. But the most memorable character from this book has to be the man in the Morph mask. This man was utterly terrifying but I loved reading the chapters from his perspective. As I read his sinister thoughts and plans I was holding my breath wondering if Gina and her team could find him before he was able to complete his terrible scheme. 

Highly recommended.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you to Bookouture for the invitation to take part in the blog tour and for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Carla has been writing seriously since her mid-thirties. She started by writing stage plays which led to her producing and directing her own full length piece of theatre. After that, she decided to write films and books where she began by self-publishing. In the past, she has acted in a few indie films and has also co-owned a photography and video production company.

Right now, she is a full time crime and thriller author living in Worcester with her husband, Nigel and Poppy the cat.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: Pride, Prejudice and Peril by Jessica Bull

Publised September 17th, 2026 by Michael Joseph
Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Crime Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Cozy Mystery

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Jane Austen is preparing for the summer season.

As guests of their wealthy relatives Mr and Mrs Leigh-Perrot, Jane and her sister Cassandra will be holidaying in Bath Spa – the world-famous health resort, and more importantly, the epicentre of the marriage mart.

For many, the summer will be spent hunting husbands. But for Jane, when a series of murders breaks out across the city, she must chase down a killer instead.

With her beloved sister by her side, Jane is determined to bring the murderer to justice. Can she stop this villain from taking any more victims, before the summer ends? Or will her only dance of the season be with death…

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

October 1799. Jane and her sister Cassandra are staying with their wealthy aunt and uncle in Bath Spa – a place famous for healing health and the epicentre of the marriage mart. But Jane isn’t interested in either of those things. She is here to try and forge links to the literary world. However, things soon take a very different turn when her aunt is accused of theft and a gentleman’s body is pulled from the River Avon. There is a mystery waiting to be solved and Jane and Cassandra are on the case. Soon, they find links between the two cases and a mysterious man named Mr. Rex who is trying to blackmail them. Who is Mr. Rex? And how did he discover their secrets? Can they find him and stop him before he claims another victim?

Charming, witty and uplifting, we’re back with another delightful whodunnit featuring amateur detective Jane Austen. Exquisitely written, cleverly crafted and richly imagined, Jessica Bull transports us back in time and immerses us in Jane’s world, where there always seems to be a new mystery that needs to be solved. In this installment there are a number of different investigations at first, but it soon becomes clear there are links between them. The cases are cryptic and complex, with many threads to unravel and a multitude of suspects, but our intrepid heroine doesn’t give up and eventually puts all the pieces of the puzzle together. 

Jane is a fabulous protagonist. Intelligent and feisty, she knows exactly what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. I love how she rallies against societal norms, pursuing a career in literature instead of settling down and finding a husband. One of my favourite things about this series is Jane’s bonds with her siblings, particularly the close bond between Jane and her elder sister, Cassandra, who often helps Jane in her investigations. In this book their bond seems closer than ever and I loved watching them work together. They are very different, but those differences compliment one another and help them as they try to solve a case. 

So if you’re looking for a cosy mystery that is also an absolute riot, this is the book for you.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

Thanks to Vic at Insta Book Tours for the invitation to take part in the blog tour and Michael Joseph for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jessica Bull lives in South East London with her husband and two daughters. A former librarian and communications consultant, she studied English literature at Bristol University and information science at City, University of London. Miss Austen Investigates, her debut novel, was published in 2024. Pride, Prejudice and Peril is her fourth book.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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Audio Books Beat the Backlist book reviews

BOOK REVIEW: Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

Published March 18th, 2021 by Hodder
Historical Fiction, Romance Novel, Lesbian Literature, Young Adult Literature, Bildungsroman

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

WINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE; THE ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN AWARD FOR YOUTH LITERATURE; THE STONEWALL BOOK AWARD (YA); THE PRINTZ HONOR
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‘A gripping novel where historical fiction meets romance, Last Night at the Telegraph is a whirlwind read… Immersive and creative.’ – Gay Times

‘Lo’s writing . . . shimmers with the thrills of youthful desire. A lovely, memorable novel’ – Sarah Waters, author of Tipping the Velvet and The Night Watch.

From the award winning author of Ash comes a gripping story of love and duty set in San Francisco’s Chinatown during the 1950s.

Seventeen-year-old Lily Hu can’t remember exactly when the question took root, but the answer was in full bloom the moment she and Kathleen Miller walked under the flashing neon sign of a lesbian bar called the Telegraph Club.

America in 1954 is not a safe place for two girls to fall in love, especially not in Chinatown. Red-Scare paranoia threatens everyone, including Chinese Americans like Lily. With deportation looming over her father – despite his hard-won citizenship – Lily and Kath risk everything to let their love see the light of day.

BUY HERE

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MY REIVEW:

Chinatown, 1954. Seventeen-year-old Lily Hu can’t remember when she started questioning her sexuality, but she knew the answer as soon as she accompanied Kathleen to a lesbian bar called the Telegraph Club. But 1950s America – and especially Chinatown – is not a safe place for two girls to fall in love. Lily is torn. Deportation already looms over her family and she knows that if her relationship is discovered, it will only mean more trouble for them. But she can’t let Kath go and risks everything for love. 

Powerful, moving, immersive and compelling, Last Night at the Telegraph Club was a thought-provoking read. This book was not on my radar until I started researching banned historical fiction books for my Little Stack article and came across it. Malinda Lo’s writing is beautiful, raw and deeply human. It is clear she has done her research and I enjoyed the timeline sections that gave extra historical context to the story. Malinda also goes further into this in her author’s note, where she also shares that this book was inspired by her own family history. Unfortunately, the topics covered in this book have led to it becoming the fourth most banned book in the U.S  during the 2024-2025 school year. That is a tragedy to me as I believe many young people would benefit from reading this story. But it has also won awards which makes much more sense to me as it is a truly magnificent read.

The 1950s are not that long ago and it is always sobering to read a story that reminds us just how much has changed since that time. My heart broke for Lily, Kath and the other women as they were forced to hide who they are and who they love or face devastating consequences. And Lily had the extra pressure of being a Chinese immigrant at a time when people were threatened with deportation if they were suspected of being communists. I was shocked at some of the historic details about what they went through and can’t imagine how hard it must have been.

A heart-rending and unforgettable story of love, sexual awakening, identity, loyalty and prejudice, I highly recommend this book.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Malinda Lo is the New York Times bestselling author of seven novels, including most recently A Scatter of Light.

Her novel Last Night at the Telegraph Club won the National Book Award, the Stonewall Book Award, the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, a Michael L. Printz Honor, and was an LA Times Book Prize finalist.

Her books have received 15 starred reviews and have been finalists for multiple awards, including the Andre Norton Award and the Lambda Literary Award. Born in Guangzhou, China, Malinda immigrated to the United States as a child with her family, and grew up near Boulder, Colorado. She now lives in Massachusetts with her wife and their dog.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: One of the Family by Mark Edwards

Published June 18th, 2026 by Michael Joseph
Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

In this family, some secrets are worth killing for…

‘Ingenious and chilling in equal measure‘ M.J. ARLIDGE
‘Backstabbingly brilliant with twist after twist’ JOHN MARRS
‘Relatable yet nerve-shredding… a master of the page-turning twist’ CHRIS CHIBNALL


The outstanding new psychological thriller from Mark Edwards, the 5 million copy-bestselling author of The Wasp Trap, Here to Stay and The Magpies

*****
Holly seems like the perfect girlfriend. Clever, funny, beautiful – Patrick feels like he’s hit the jackpot.

Until he meets her family.

Her dad has a mysterious new girlfriend. Her sister is unwelcoming. Her brother is clearly lying about something. And Patrick gets the sense all of them share a dark secret – even Holly.

When he finds out about the body that was found nearby on their last family holiday, Patrick sets out to find the truth.

But as skeletons tumble out of the family’s closet, Patrick realises he needs to be careful. Because in this family, loyalty is everything – and at least one of them is willing to kill to keep their secrets…

BOOK REVIEW

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MY REVIEW:

Mark Edwards never fails to deliver a tense, twisty and totally gripping thriller where terrible things happen to ordinary people, this time taking the everyday ‘meeting the parents’ situation and turning it into a nightmare. Because if you think your family has problems, then just wait until you meet the Grant family…

Patrick and Holly are on their way to Scotland to spend Hogmanay with her family. It’s the first time he’s met her family but the tension between them is evident from the moment they arrive. Not only that, Holly’s father, Charles, has a new and much younger girlfriend who is a bizarre doppelganger of his late wife, her brother, Lewis, is lying about something, and Patrick is sure that the whole family are hiding a dark secret.  Then, Patrick learns about the body that was found nearby a year ago and sets out to discover what happened to him, truths are slowly revealed that seem to lead back to the Grant family. Patrick knows he must watch his back, because someone in this family is willing to kill to keep their secrets hidden…

I love a locked-room thriller, especially when people are trapped by a snow-storm. So this was right up my street. Add in that it’s written by one of my favourite thriller authors and you’ve got the perfect thriller. Expertly written, cleverly plotted and perfectly paced, there’s a dark, unnerving tension that permeates the pages and kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. And it’s not easy to predict, keeping me guessing until Mark made my jaw drop as the shocking truths were revealed.

I’ve seen this book described as Succession meets The Traitors and that is a perfect description. This family is backstabbing, dysfunctional and the perfect example of the adage “money doesn’t buy happiness”. This is a family teeming with secrets, lies and distrust. Patriarch Charles expects fierce loyalty but for Patrick their secrets are too terrible for him to agree to keep them, which puts him in danger. Other than Holly I didn’t like anyone in this family. They are all awful people who are only out for themselves and don’t care who gets hurt so long as they are protected but Mark writes them brilliantly, making their malice leap from the pages.

A nerve-shredding, first-class thriller, this is a must-read.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

Thank you Michael Joseph for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest reivew.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mark Edwards writes psychological thrillers about scary things happening to ordinary people. He has sold more than five million copies of his books and topped the bestseller lists numerous times since his first solo novel was published in 2013.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

BOOK REVIEW: How To Disappear by Gillian McAllister

Published July 9th, 2020 by Michael Joseph
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Fiction, Legal Fiction, Domestic Fiction, Political Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

The gripping Sunday Times bestseller that will have you on the edge of your seat until the very last page

‘Bravo! Gripping and emotional – a cracking read’ Clare Mackintosh

‘A relentless drumroll of suspense . . . ranks among the best psychological-suspense thrillers of recent years’ A. J. Finn

You can run, you can hide, but can you disappear for good?

Lauren’s daughter Zara witnessed a terrible crime. But speaking up comes with a price, and when Zara’s identity is revealed online, it puts a target on her back.

The only choice is to disappear.

To keep Zara safe, Lauren will give up everything and everyone she loves, even her husband.

There will be no goodbyes. Their pasts will be rewritten. New names, new home, new lives.

The rules are strict for a reason. They are being hunted. One mistake – a text, an Instagram like – could bring their old lives crashing into the new.

They can never assume someone isn’t watching, waiting.

As Lauren will learn, disappearing is easy. Staying hidden is harder . . .

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

After witnessing a group of young men stabbing a homeless man to death, Zara speaks up and testifies in court. The young men, who were promising footballers, are outraged that they have lost their careers and had their life ruined. Her identity is revealed online and Zara’s life is now in danger. There is only one solution: Zara and her mother, Lauren, must disappear…

Heart-stoppingly tense, twisty and addictive, I binged this book in under a day. Nobody goes heart-pounding tension and twists that make your jaw drop like Gillian McAllister, and this book is the perfect example of why she’s one of my favourite thriller authors. Masterfully written and skillfully choreographed, this is a story that held me tight by the heartstrings whilst keeping me on the edge of my seat. And make sure you clear your schedule before you start reading, because once you pick this one up you won’t be able to put it down. It’s emotional, hard to predict and so twisty it gave me book whiplash. And that ending! A round of applause Ms. McAllister for one of the best thriller endings I’ve ever read. It’s been a few weeks and I’m still not over it.

Before Zara witnesses the crime, she, Lauren, Aiden and Poppy are an ordinary blended family. But after Zara’s identity is revealed they are dropped into a nightmare. Lauren and Aiden have difficult decisions to make that could tear their family apart. It is so emotional as well as tense, and really made me think about what I would have done in their situation. My heart broke for them, but especially for Zara. Being a teenager is hard at the best of times, but being a teenager when you’re having to hide your identity, run from people trying to kill you and worry about everything you say and do, is impossible.

Thriller lovers, you don’t want to miss this book! 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

Thank you Michael Joseph and Netgaelly for provoding me with a proof copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gillian McAllister  is the Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of nine stand-alone novels. Her books have been selected for the Radio 2 Book Club, Reese’s Book Club and the Richard & Judy Book Club. Her previous novel, Wrong Place Wrong Time, was a Waterstones Thriller of the Month and was shortlisted for The British Book Awards Crime & Thriller Book of the Year and the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. Gillian’s books are published in thirty-eight languages.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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