Tag: Five stars

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: The Colour of Home by Tammye Huf

Published July 2nd, 2026 by Bantam
Historical Fiction, Romance Novel, Southern Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A compelling and moving historical love story exploring the untold impact of segregation during WW2, for fans of The Women by Kristen Hannah and The Tattooist of Auschwitz.

‘You want to risk everything – for a country that’s never cared if you live or die?’

1941: In a segregated Florida town, three young Black men enlist to fight for a freedom they’ve never known at home.

Before they leave, Cora marries in haste to secure her future – but her heart remains divided between the man she wed and the man she truly loves.

1945: As war finally ends, everything shifts. The boys Cora knew return as men she barely recognises, carrying scars no one can see – and truths that threaten to unravel everything Cora has fought to hold together.

Set against the backdrop of war where Black men and women weren’t allowed to be heroes, comes a powerful, deeply moving novel about love, sacrifice and the epic resilience of the human spirit.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Florida, 1941. In the segregated south, three Black men sign up to fight for their country, determined to fight for the freedom they have never enjoyed. With her brother, secret sweetheart and friend all going to war, Cora is terrified. And when her brother, Benny, comes up with a solution to secure her future, she goes against her heart and agrees. But when the men return they are unrecognisable and carrying invisible scars that haunt their days and nights. And Cora must finally confront the reality of the decision she made before they went to war. 

Powerful, immersive, affecting, tense and enthralling, I lost myself in this book. Magnificently written, wonderfully descriptive and exquisitely crafted, Tammye Huf held me in her thrall. A story that packs a strong emotional punch, it is easily one of the best books I’ve read this year. Steeped in meticulously researched historic detail that has inspired characters drawn from the real-life stories of her own family, this is a story woven with love, grief, longing and rage that will stay with me. 

One of my favourite eras to read about is WW2 and I admit I know little about the realities of life for Black men and women in America during that time. So I was excited to read this book and learn more. The novel thrums with the tempestuous atmosphere of war and segregation; the darkness of prejudice like a cloak over every page. And Huf spares the reader nothing in her vivid descriptions of the brutal horror of prejudice, bringing home the harrowing and raw truth of what Black men and women endured at the hands of racists.

The story is filled with charismatic and unforgettable characters who I loved reading. As hate festered, they refused to accept the helplessness that was being forced upon them to stand up, be counted and evoke change. But I admit, Cora was my favourite. She is an inspirational woman and I loved watching as she found her moxie and began to fight and make a real difference in the world. We need more people like her and I am so glad Ms. Huf allowed me to get to know her through this story.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Thank you to Insta Book Tours for the invitaiton to take part in this blog tour and to Bantam for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Originally from the US, Tammye has lived in the UK with her husband and three kids for the last twenty years. Since earning her BA from Wellesly College, she has worked as a teacher, copywriter and translator. Her debut novel, A More Perfect Union, was published in 2020 and won the Diverse Book Award; it was also listed for The Times and The Sunday Times‘ Best Historical Fiction Novel, and selected as a BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2026

BOOK REVIEW: The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett

Published May 21st, 2026 by Fig Tree
Historical Fiction, Southern Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

“You give a girl a taste of fresh air and then you take it away―she’ll grow fierce and wild to get it back.”

Oxford, Mississippi, 1933.

Eleven-year-old Meg Lefleur has learned the hard way to rely on no one.

Ever since her beloved mother failed to come home last Christmas Eve, she’s been one of the ‘unadoptable’ girls at the town’s orphanage, where she fights each day to keep her wits sharp and her spirit unbowed.

When she meets Birdie, a young woman who has come to Oxford determined to remind her socialite sister of the impoverished family she left behind, for the first time in a long while it seems someone else might care about Meg’s future.

But as the Depression tightens its grip, Birdie begins to suspect her sister’s charmed life may be founded on a tapestry of lies. Then, Birdie encounters Charlie, a woman haunted by loss who has been pushed to the brink with nothing left to lose.

Drawn together by circumstance, they find unexpected kinship among a disreputable, determined band of women.

But in a town steeped in hypocrisy, even the smallest act of defiance can have dangerous consequences …

Bold, heartwarming, and riotously funny, The Calamity Club is an unforgettable story of resilience and friendship, and a sisterhood of underestimated women who risk everything to take back control of their fates.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

“All this noise inside us and we can’t make a sound.”

Atmospheric, immersive, witty, tender, heartbreaking and unforgettable, The Calamity Club is an absolute masterpiece. Oxford, Mississippi in 1933. Meg LeFleur spends her days shut up in the bleak office at Lafayette County Orphan Asylum for Young Girls but refuses to give in or give up. Birdie Calhoun has come to Oxford to ask her socialite sister for help for their impoverished family. While she waits for her decision, Bride joins her sister volunteering at the orphanage. When she meets Meg the two strike up a surprising bond that will change them both. This is one of those books where it’s best not to know too much about the plot and just enjoy it. So what I will tell you is that what follows is an ambitious story of found family, sisterhood, resilience, survival, sexism, prejudice and underestimated women that will break your heart and then piece it back together. 

Oh, my heart! I had heard great things about Kathryn Stockett’s writing but when I started reading this book I was totally unprepared for the complete emotional devastation she was about to wreak. This book totally destroyed me. Ms. Stockett is an exceptional storyteller who stitches emotion into every word she writes. Funny, wise, smart, joyful, devastating and maddening, the story deals with heavy topics but never feels weighed down by them. At times it is an ethical quagmire that has you torn between what you know is right and the things the women must do to survive. Stockett expertly portrays that moral ambiguity, making it easy to understand their actions and root for them instead of condemning them. A story that will make you laugh, cry, rage and rejoice, it held me by the heartstrings from the first pages and I knew early on that I had found my favourite book this year. 

“This slapped-together band of misfits made me feel, for the first time, that I truly belonged. How the hell, I wondered, did I ever get so lucky?” 

The book is filled with an eclectic but dynamic cast of characters who are richly drawn and memorable. Meg and Birdie are fantastic protagonists who give their chapters a unique voice that makes it easy to move between them. I loved Meg. She’s bright, spirited, perceptive and plucky, but also vulnerable. She longs to fit in and be loved and spends much of her time in the office daydreaming about her mother or how to get revenge on Mrs Garnett, the chairlady of the orphanage. I wanted to reach into the story and hug her so many times and was really hoping for a happy ending for this wonderful little girl. Birdie is fiercely intelligent and outspoken, which sometimes gets her in trouble, but she is also kind, loyal and a little naive. She has a strained relationship with her sister, Frances, who is selfish and frustrating. But the villain of this story is Garnett Pitman. I hated this woman and she seemed to not have any redeeming characters. It broke my heart how she treated Meg in particular and I was hoping she would get her comeuppance. And we can’t talk about the characters of this book without talking about the motley crew of fabulous and rowdy women who are part of the eponymous Calamity Club. I loved these women. They may not have been socially acceptable and a little rough around the edges, but they had so much heart and I loved the family and friendship that they found with each other and with Birdie.

Ambitious, magnificent and thought-provoking, this is an absolute must-read.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kathryn Stockett was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. After graduating from the University of Alabama with a degree in English and creative writing, she moved to New York City, where she worked in magazine publishing and marketing for sixteen years. Her first novel, The Help, has sold over 15 million copies worldwide. She currently lives in Atlanta with her husband and daughter.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Audio Books book reviews

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The Mad Wife by Meagan Church

Published October 30th, 2025 by Sourcebooks
Historical Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Fiction, Bildungsroman, Domestic Fiction

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to listen free for 45 days*

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

From bestselling author Meagan Church comes a haunting exploration of identity, motherhood, and the suffocating grip of societal expectations that will leave you questioning the lives we build―and the lies we live.

They called it hysteria. She called it survival.

Lulu Mayfield has spent the last five years molding herself into the perfect 1950s housewife. Despite the tragic memories that haunt her and the weight of exhausting expectations, she keeps her husband happy, her household running, and her gelatin salads the talk of the neighborhood. But after she gives birth to her second child, Lulu’s carefully crafted life begins to unravel.

When a new neighbor, Bitsy, moves in, Lulu suspects that something darker lurks behind the woman’s constant smile. As her fixation on Bitsy deepens, Lulu is drawn into a web of unsettling truths that threaten to expose the cracks in her own life. The more she uncovers about Bitsy, the more she questions everything she thought she knew―and soon, others begin questioning her sanity. But is Lulu truly losing her mind? Or is she on the verge of discovering a reality too terrifying to accept?

In the vein of The Bell Jar and The Hours, The Mad Wife weaves domestic drama with psychological suspense, so poignant and immersive, you won’t want to put it down.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Atmospheric, thought-provoking, moving and powerful, The Mad Wife is a haunting and mesmerising portrait of identity, motherhood, silenced voices and societal expectations. It follows Lulu, an ordinary suburban woman who has spent the last five years becoming the perfect 1950s housewife that everyone expects her to be. But she never quite feels like she fits in and it all seems so much easier for the other women on her street. Then, after the birth of her second child, her carefully curated life begins to unravel and she develops a fixation on her new neighbour, Bitsy, who she is sure is hiding something. People soon notice something isn’t right. The doctor diagnoses hysteria. Is Lulu really losing her mind? Or is there another explanation?

What an amazing read! An easy five stars from me. This was my first time reading a Meagan Church novel, but now I can’t wait to devour her backlist. Exquisitely written, cleverly choreographed, intricately woven and meticulously researched, I felt like I’d stepped back in time when reading this book. 1950s America is brought to life in vivid technicolour and I could see the perfectly manicured lawns and smell the cigarette smoke. The characters are richly drawn and compelling while Lulu is a great protagonist who was likeable and easy to root for. I felt for her being trapped in a world where she has so many expectations on her while she’s in the trenches of motherhood. Men at the time were completely unhelpful so she was basically doing it all alone and it was expected that she do so with a smile on her face and without complaining. In terms of other characters, I really enjoyed Nora, her neighbour and friend, who seemed like a light in her life.

A haunting story with warm humanity at its heart, Meagan shines a light on some important issues including the silencing of women’s voices, medical misdiagnosis, and the dangerous consequences of doctors dismissing women, something that is sadly still all-too prevalent today. But I loved the dark humour that is woven into the story from the start and how such a complex story that explores some dark topics manages to remain enjoyable. And that twist! I did not see it coming and my heart broke in two as it was revealed, pulling the rug from under me and changing everything I thought I knew. Then there is the epilogue. I was fighting back tears and I swear, Meagan, that you were trying to break me. 

A riveting and surprising story that will have you hooked, I highly recommend this book.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Meagan Church is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Mad Wife, The Girls We Sent Away, and The Last Carolina Girl. She writes emotionally-charged, thought-provoking, empathy-inducing stories that explore the complexity of human nature. Her historical fiction chronicles the plight and fight of unheard voices of the past. Meagan holds a B.A. in English from Indiana University and is an adjunct for Drexel University’s MFA in creative writing program. A Midwesterner by birth, she now lives in North Carolina with her high school sweetheart, three children, and a plethora of pets.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: Bad Influence by Will Carver

Published June 18th, 2026 by Orenda Books
Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Dark Comedy

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Two bored, obsessed teenagers break into and secretly live in influencers’ houses. But when they choose the wrong home, their twisted experiment turns deadly. A darkly funny, breathtakingly tense thriller from ‘one of the most original writers in Britain’ (Daily Express).

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Two bored teenagers.
One stupid game.
The wrong place to play…

Alyssa wants to be seen. Less wants to be someone. She takes two buses to class, posts pictures of her lunch, and pretends it’s all effortless. He hides his privilege beneath thrifted clothes and a sketchbook full of impossible designs. Together, they are inseparable – two outsiders constructing a version of themselves the world might finally applaud.

Then Alyssa stumbles upon the hidden world of phrogging – living unnoticed inside other people’s homes. She and Less slip through Los Angeles’ glossy veneer: influencers, producers, pop stars, all so busy performing their perfect lives they don’t notice the shadows in their attics, the scratching in their walls.

An act of rebellion. A harmless thrill. A social experiment.

Until they choose the wrong house.
Until the influencer they idolise catches them in the act.
Until the cameras, already rolling, capture everything.

What begins as a reckless adventure becomes a nightmare of lies, power … and murder…

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

All the stars for the latest, mind-blowing thriller from Will Carver! 

Alyssa and Less are two bored teenagers from opposite worlds. Alyssa’s family are poor, spends her spare time caring for her grandmother with dementia, and just wants to be seen. Less is from a rich family, is ignored by his parents and wants to make a name for himself. Despite their differences the pair are inseparable. And when Alyssa discovers phrogging – the act of secretly living in someone else’s home without their knowledge – she introduces it to Less and the pair embark on a dangerous game that spirals out of control…

Will Carver has done it again. Suspenseful, surprising, and totally unpredictable, this book blew me away. Exquisitely written, cleverly plotted and  intricately interwoven, Will had me in the palm of his hands from start to finish. He builds the story slowly, lulling you into a false sense of security before pulling the rug out from under you with a twist that will make your jaw hit the floor. I was literally sitting with my mouth hanging open wondering where on earth the story could go from here. I knew there was no chance of me sleeping now until I knew what happened and I devoured it in one sitting. It was a wild ride but I loved every second and it was totally worth losing sleep for.

I’ve been a proud member of the Carver Cult for many years and Will’s books are always a highlight in my reading year. He is one of the most unique voices in fiction today and I know I can always rely on him to deliver a story that is timely, entertaining, full of scathing social commentary and great characters. Bad Influence lives up to that reputation, taking us behind the curtain of the world of influencing. Everyone in this book is flawed and they commit some terrible acts, but some are more likeable than others. I liked Alyssa and Less and found them easy to root for despite their illegal deeds. Paige was likeable at first but when the twist hit at the end of chapter one it changed everything and she unsettled me from that moment on. 

A must-read for any thriller lover. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Thank you Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part in this tour and to Orenda Books for sending me a proof copy in exchage for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Will Carver is the international bestselling author of the January David series and the critically acclaimed, mind-blowingly original Detective Pace series, which includes Good Samaritans (2018), Nothing Important Happened Today (2019) and Hinton Hollow Death Trip (2020), all of which were ebook bestsellers and selected as books of the year in the mainstream international press. Nothing Important Happened Today was longlisted for both the Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award 2020 and the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award. Hinton Hollow Death Trip was longlisted for the Guardian’s Not the Booker Prize, and was followed by the literary thrillers, The Beresford, Psychopaths Anonymous, The Daves Next Door, Suicide Thursday and Upstairs at the Beresford. Will spent his early years in Germany, but returned to the UK at age eleven, when his sporting career took off. He and his partner run their own fitness and nutrition company, and live in Reading with five children and a tortoise.

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Thank you for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxxx

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

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

BOOK REVIEW: The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson

Published July 10th, 2025 by Mantle
Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Historical Mystery, Suspense, Historical Romance

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to listen free for 45 days*

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

One of The Telegraph‘s greatest books of 2025

London, 1749

Hannah Cole’s world shatters following her husband’s brutal murder. Her confectionary shop, the Punchbowl and Pineapple, teeters on the brink of ruin. Just as she uncovers a hidden fortune―money her husband secretly possessed―a new nightmare begins.

Magistrate Henry Fielding, the renowned author, suspects illicit gains. To save her inheritance, her shop, and her very reputation, Hannah must delve into her late husband’s secret life. But as she unearths a labyrinth of lies and deceit, she finds herself entangled in a battle of wits far more dangerous than she could ever have imagined.

From Sunday Times bestselling author Laura Shepherd-Robinson comes a twisty, immersive thriller where the truth is a luxury Hannah Cole can’t afford, and every secret is a step closer to her own undoing.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

London, 1749. Following her husband’s brutal murder, Hannah Cole is left to run their confectionery  shop, the Punchbowl and Pineapple, alone but she is teetering on the brink of ruin. Then she discovers her husband, Jonas, had a secret hidden fortune and she thinks that finally her problems could be over. But they are in fact just beginning. Magistrate Henry Fielding has questions about how Jonas died and suspects the fortune was gained by illicit means forcing Hannah to delve into her husband’s secret life and step into a dangerous world in order to save her shop, her inheritance and her reputation. 

Darkly atmospheric, mysterious, seductive, tense and addictive, The Art of a Lie is a mesmerising tale you’ll not be able to put down. Set to a backdrop of the blazing summer sun, this labyrinthine tale of skullduggery, deception, lies and murder will have you glued to the pages. Exquisitely written, cleverly choreographed and full of shocking twists, it showcases why Laura Shepherd-Robinson is one of my auto-buy authors. She gets better with each book and this one is without a doubt her best yet. Laura’s meticulous research is evident on every page, taking me back to her event about the book last year when she talked about all the research she’d done for the book, including the Georgian art of ice-cream making as Hannah introduces the British public to this tasty dessert. Just be prepared to crave some yourself when reading. 

And though this is a Georgian murder-mystery, it is also much more nuanced and complex. We learn the truth about Jonas’ murder early on and you will find yourself rooting for the crime not to be solved. It has some elements of an unhealthy love story but most of all this is a story about the art of telling lies; lies for survival, lies for profit and lies for love. The characters are flawed but likeable and compelling, and you will root for them despite all their schemes and deception. I didn’t want them to be brought to justice and behind them every step of the way.

A must-read for anyone who loves historical mysteries. Just make sure you’ve got some ice-cream in the freezer!

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Thanks to Bookbeat and Mantle for sending me a proof copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Laura Shepherd-Robinson is the award-winning, Sunday Times and USA Today bestselling author of four historical novels. Her books have been featured on BBC 2’s Between the Covers and Radio 4’s Front Row and Open Book. Her fourth novel, The Art of a Lie, will be published in Summer 2025.

Laura was born in Bristol in 1976. She has a BSc in Politics from the University of Bristol and an MSc in Political Theory from the London School of Economics. She worked in politics for nearly twenty years before re-entering normal life to complete an MA in Creative Writing at City University. She lives in London with her husband, Adrian.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: Darling Bud by C. J. Skuse

Published June 4th, 2026 by HQ
Dark Comdey, Suspense, Mystery, Crime Fiction, Psychological Thriller

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to listen free for 45 days*

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

The brand-new gripping dark comedy thriller from the world of the Sweetpea series – Now a major TV series on Sky Atlantic, starring Ella Purnell!

Murder can be a family business …

Even wallflowers have to bloom.

Sixteen-year-old Ivy is your average teenager. She’s annoyed by the scratchy labels on her school uniform, old men who wolf-whistle, and her mother the serial killer.

But is murder in her roots?

Ivy was raised far away from the shadows of Rhiannon Lewis, the Sweetpea killer, but when the local predator – better known as Ivy’s football coach – is found dead, could it be that she has discovered a taste for blood?

As suspicion grows deeper, Ivy’s only way out is to get some motherly advice. But when the internet’s unlikeliest vigilantes determine that Ivy must be punished for her mother’s crimes, she must decide whether to control the rage burning inside her.

Or to unleash her thorns…

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Move over Sweetpea; there’s a new flower in bloom and she’s ready to take centre stage.

It’s no secret that Sweetpea is my favourite series of all time and I was bereft when it was over. But C. J. Skuse did hint that she *might* write a book from the perspective of Ivy, Rhiannon’s daughter. I’m thrilled to say not only has she done it, but it’s bloody brilliant. I finished this book a few days ago and I haven’t been able to pick up anything else as I’m still reeling. That ending!! How could you end the book there?! My jaw is still on the floor and I need the rest of the story right now! 

Darkly funny, sassy, compelling and emotional, this book had me in a chokehold from the first page to the last. As the story is from a new character’s perspective, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But thankfully this book has everything I’ve come to love about the Sweetpea series and more: the humour is black as ink, there is bloody murder, complex characters and heaps of emotion. Expertly written, intricately interwoven and perfectly plotted, it showcases why C.J. is one of my favourite authors.  It’s also a masterclass in ambiguity, making you torn between rooting for wickedness and knowing murder is wrong. 

When we meet Ivy things aren’t going well. Not only is she an angst-ridden sixteen-year-old, but her adoptive mum is dying and she’s under suspicion after the pervy football coach at her school was found murdered. Everyone seems to think murder runs in the blood and she’s just like her biological mother – serial killer Rhiannon Lewis. But Ivy maintains her innocence. So, with nowhere else to turn, she reaches out to Rhiannon for advice and goes down the rabbit hole of her mother’s crimes. Meanwhile, there is a creepy man who follows her everywhere, she’s arguing with her girlfriend, and she’s facing being left with no-one once her adoptive mother dies. It’s an emotional rollercoaster and C.J. took me along for every bump of the ride. 

I loved Ivy. She is such a great character who was easy to like and root for despite and I was with her on every step of her escapades. She might have spiky edges, but at heart Ivy is a vulnerable teenager who is trying to find her place in the world. She acts out but all she wants is a family and a place to belong. She’s also trying to escape the shadow that her birth mother has cast over her life, no mean feat when everyone knows who she is, what she did, and she’s about to give a live TV interview from jail about her crimes. I also loved being back with Rhiannon and seeing some new sides to her in addition to the ones we know and love. No one writes a complex anti-hero like C. J.

Read it now!

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

C.J. Skuse is the bestselling author of the Sweetpea series (2017–2024), along with six other novels spanning both young adult and adult crime fiction. She holds First-Class degrees in Creative Writing and Writing for Young People and earned a PhD by Publication from the University of Gloucestershire in 2025. Her work has received multiple accolades, including the Dumfries and Burgh Book Award and the Jean Monnet University Student Literary Prize in France. She has also been shortlisted for the Lancashire Book of the Year, the BookTrust Best Book Award, and longlisted for the Branford Boase.  Skuse was credited by The Guardian with pioneering the ‘YA antiheroine’ trend following the publication of her debut novel Pretty Bad Things. Her adult debut Sweetpea was a flagship title in the rise of ‘Sassy Noir’ – a crime fiction subgenre defined by confident, darkly complex female protagonists, often serial killers, and infused with biting social satire.

Sweetpea was optioned for television by See-Saw Films in 2017 and premiered on Sky Atlantic on October 10, 2024 starring Ella Purnell. A second series is currently in production.

Skuse now writes full-time and lives in South West England.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2026

BOOK REVIEW: Deception by Jack Jordan

Published June 4th, 2026 by Simon & Schuster UK
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A deadly game. The ultimate price. The Chain meets Squid Game meets Emily the Criminal in this pulse-pounding new thriller from the master of the moral dilemma, Jack Jordan. 

SOON TO BE ADAPTED FOR TV!

‘The most tense book I’ve ever read. Instantly gripping, utterly addictive’ ANDREA MARA
‘A blistering, nerve shredding thriller … Electrifying’ JOHN MARRS
‘A top-tier thriller. High-concept and brilliantly written … I could not stop turning the pages!’ C. M. EWAN
‘A thriller that reads like the plot of an action movie but with a thumping emotional heart’ NIKKI SMITH

Emma and Miles are out of options. Their son needs life-saving transplant surgery, but in a world of privatised healthcare and impossible costs, they can’t afford it.

Then comes the offer: a shadowy syndicate known only as The Levels promises them the exact amount of money they need. All they must do is complete a series of tasks.

The catch? Each task is a crime. With every level the stakes rise, the payout grows and the line between right and wrong blurs.

But Emma and Miles aren’t the only ones playing this deadly game. As the competition intensifies and they struggle under the weight of their choices, they’re faced with the ultimate question:

How far would you go to save the one you love?

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

The king of the moral-dilemma thriller is back with another hit to keep you on the edge of your seat. 

Emma and Miles’ nine-year-old son, Ryan, needs a heart and lung transplant to save his life. But they live in the USA, where the cost of his healthcare is financially crippling. They are out of options and have no way to pay for the surgery he needs. But hope then comes in the form of an offer from a shadowy syndicate known as The Levels. They say they will give them the exact amount of money they need in return for them completing a series of tasks. The catch? The tasks are all crimes. With no other option, Emma and Miles decide they have no choice but to play. As they move up the levels the stakes increase, as does the payout. and they quickly find that the line between what’s right and wrong blurs. Then they find themselves faced with the ultimate question: how far will they go to save their son’s life?

Jack Jordan has done it again! This man seriously never misses and I feel like his books just get better and better. Jaw-dropping, propulsive and unbelievably tense, Deception is an action-packed thriller with an emotional heartbeat. It’s an impossible dilemma. And that’s what makes it so addictive. It will shatter your nerves, have your jaw on the floor and break your heart all at the same time. And I loved every minute, binging it in just two sittings.

Exquisitely written, expertly choreographed and perfectly paced, Jack had me in his thrall from start to finish. Emma and Miles are great protagonists. They are the everyman and woman, people we can see ourselves in and relate to.  My heart shattered as Emma sat by Ryan’s bedside trying to find ways to save his life and for Miles as he worked to breaking point to try and pay for it all. Jack asks the questions I was thinking about private healthcare, exploring how a civilised country can treat their most vulnerable that way and prioritise profit over human life. By the time the offer from The Levels comes, you’re as beaten down and desperate as Emma and Miles and totally understand why they are considering it. After all, what parent wouldn’t do whatever it took to save their child? These are good people in a dire situation and it is easy to understand how they end up doing bad things. It is a reminder that things aren’t always black and white and that so much of life lives in the grey.

An astonishing masterpiece that will leave you breathless, this is a must-read for all thriller lovers.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Thank you to The Likely Suspects for sending me a proof copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jack Jordan is the global number one bestselling author of Anything for Her (2015), My Girl (2016), A Woman Scorned (2018), Before Her Eyes (2018), Night by Night (2019), Do No Harm (2022), Conviction (2023), and Redemption (2024).

His thriller, Do No Harm, was an instant Times bestseller and shortlisted for the Most Recommended Book in the DeadGood Reader Awards, coined the thriller of the summer for 2022.  The idea for Do No Harm came to Jack after undergoing a minor medical procedure where he had to be sedated and trust strangers with his welfare. After the anaesthesia wore off, Jack began scribbling his notes, wondering to himself just how iron-clad a surgeon’s oath is, and what it would take to break it…

Jack’s book Redemption, was longlisted for Theakston’s Crime Novel of the Year in 2024 and 2025, and shortlisted for the 2025 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize, both Thriller of the Year and Crime Audiobook of the Year at London’s Capital Crime Fingerprint Awards, and the Most Recommended Book in the De.ad Good Reader Awards.

Jack’s upcoming thriller Deception is publishing with Simon & Schuster in June 2026

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BOOK REVIEW: The Wonder by Emma Donoghue

Published Steptember 22nd, 2016 by Picodor
Historical Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Religious Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Eleven-year-old Anna O’Donnell stops eating, but remains miraculously alive and well. A nurse, sent to investigate whether she is a fraud, meets a journalist hungry for a story . . .

Set in the Irish Midlands in the 1850s, Emma Donoghue’s The Wonder is inspired by numerous European and North American cases of ‘fasting girls’ between the sixteenth century and the twentieth. A psychological thriller about a child’s murder threatening to happen in slow motion before our eyes.

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MY REVIEW:

Atmospheric, intense, heartbreaking, intriguing and transcendent, The Wonder is a powerful gothic tale that will linger long after reading. The story is told by Lib Wright, who travels to Ireland to work as a private nurse for the O’Donnell family for two weeks. She is there to observe their eleven-year-old daughter, Anna, who claims not to have eaten a morsel of food for four months. But the girl isn’t emaciated or bed-ridden. She’s a little thin but otherwise healthy and seems full of energy. Anna’s family is certain she’s been blessed by God. A wonder. Lib is sure it’s all a hoax. As is the journalist she meets who has been sent to report on the strange case. But who is right?

A story steeped in folklore, religion, trauma and suspicion, this one will keep you guessing. Try as I might, I just couldn’t figure this one out. Emma Donoghue has been one of my favourite authors ever since I read Room many years ago. This book had languished on my shelf for years. And now that I’ve read it I’m kicking myself for waiting so long. Exquisitely written, skillfully plotted and intricately interwoven, Ms. Donoghue hides her clues in plain sight, weaving them into the narrative so expertly that we never notice they are there. When the shocking truth was revealed I was left looking back at the story in awe of how cleverly she’d disguised her clues so that I never even noticed they were there. And the story’s bleak and remote setting adds to the isolated, claustrophobic and suspenseful atmosphere. It is a  masterpiece and one of my favourite books by this author to date. It is a  masterpiece and one of my favourite books by this author to date.

Lib, a nurse from England who trained under Florence Nightingale and served in the Crimean War is our narrator. She is a great character who was likeable and easy to root for. I loved her skeptical and scathing internal monologue and how she put her patient’s care above anything else, even the orders of the church and other powerful people who had hired her to decide if this whole affair is a hoax or truly heaven-sent.  One of the things I loved was the bond that slowly developed between Lib and Anna. I was so thankful for it and happy that the little girl had someone in her corner who wasn’t influenced by religious fervour, especially as the story went on. Anna was a difficult character to figure out but I did get the impression that she truly believed what she was saying, which made the situation even stranger and more perplexing. I was unprepared for the truth, though, and was left reeling when it was finally revealed. 

A mesmerising and unforgettable page-turner, this is a must-read.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

From Emma’s Website: Born in Dublin, Ireland, in October 1969, I am the youngest of eight children of Frances and Denis Donoghue (the literary critic). I attended Catholic convent schools in Dublin, apart from one eye-opening year in New York at the age of ten. In 1990 I earned a first-class honours BA in English and French from University College Dublin (unfortunately, without learning to actually speak French). I moved to England, and in 1997 received my PhD (on the concept of friendship between men and women in eighteenth-century English fiction) from the University of Cambridge. From the age of 23, I have earned my living as a writer, and have been lucky enough to never have an ‘honest job’ since I was sacked after a single summer month as a chambermaid. After years of commuting between England, Ireland, and Canada, in 1998 I settled in London, Ontario, where I live with Chris Roulston and our son Finn and daughter Una.

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SQUADPOD BOOK CLUB REVIEW: Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray

Published May 7th, 2026 by Pan Macmillan
Legal Thriller, Crime Fiction, Courtroom Drama

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Breathlessly compulsive courtroom drama with expertly-crafted twists that you won’t see coming, Dissection of a Murder is the razor-sharp debut novel from Jo Murray.

A dead judge. A silent defendant. And a courtroom full of liars.

When Leila Reynolds is handed her first murder case, she’s shocked at how high-profile it is: the murder of a well-respected, well-known judge. This shouldn’t be the kind of case she’s leading; it’s way beyond her expertise. But the defendant, Jack Millman, is clear. He wants her, and only her.

To make things worse, he’s refusing to talk. How is she supposed to prove herself on what appears to be an unwinnable case?

Losing is not an option. She must find the most persuasive argument. Trials aren’t won by convincing judges or fellow barristers – they’re all about convincing a jury.

Suddenly, Leila finds herself fighting not only to keep Jack out of prison, but also to keep her own secrets buried.

It’s true what they say – there are two sides to every story.

Guilty or not guilty?

You decide . . .

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MY REIVEW:

Guilty or not guilty? You decide…

That is the question asked by this outstanding debut thriller And days after finishing it, I’m still reeling. 

The story follows lawyer Leila Reynolds who is defending her first murder case. She was shocked to be chosen because a judge has been murdered and this is a high profile case. But the defendant, Jack Millman, makes it clear he wants her to defend him. Things are made even harder because Jack is refusing to talk and says he’ll only reveal what really happened on the stand. How can she win the case without knowing his defence? But losing isn’t an option. Especially with her husband prosecuting the case. She just needs to find an argument that will convince the jury there’s reasonable doubt. But as the case goes on, Leila’s own secrets threaten to surface, and suddenly she’s fighting not only for Jack’s freedom, but to keep her life from falling apart.

Holy freaking twists! I was not prepared for how much of a nail-biting rollercoaster ride this was going to be. Atmospheric, urgent, compulsive, and heart-poundingly tense, this had me on a knife-edge from start to finish. It is a story of secrets, lies, revenge and murder. A sophisticated and twisty Courtroom drama that you will find impossible to put down once you’ve started. Jo Murray showcases herself as an author to watch with this exquisitely written and expertly crafted debut, delivering an intoxicating combination of malice-ridden prose, red herrings and clever twists. As she drip-fed the clues I was hoodwinked by her misdirections multiple times, and my jaw hit the floor when she delivered that triple-bluff ending that I still can’t get over. I listened to the audiobook and Joanne Froggart’s superb narration elevated the story to another level, pulling me into the story and making me feel like I living every moment alongside the characters.

The story is filled with a cast of deeply flawed but compelling characters who were so much fun to read. Protagonist Leila was easy to like and root for but also feels like an enigma as there are hints of secrets and a hidden past. There is a lot of focus on Leila’s marriage as her husband, Julian, is the prosecutor in the case. I couldn’t stand Julian and had no idea why Leila was with him. All the same, I enjoyed the added tension that having a married couple on opposing sides of the same case brought to the story. But my favourite character was the enigmatic Witness X. This character narrates regular chapters where they take us through their rules for life and terrible backstory. I had a few candidates for who this character might be and loved that Jo kept me guessing who they were right up until the big reveal. 

This phenomenal thriller is a must-read for all thriller thriller lovers.

Rating: 👩🏼‍⚖️👩🏼‍⚖️👩🏼‍⚖️👩🏼‍⚖️👩🏼‍⚖️

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jo Murray grew up in Teesside during the 1990s when working-class girls were told they probably shouldn’t try to become barristers. Thankfully, she ignored everyone. After studying Classics at Newcastle University, she went to law school and was a criminal barrister before leaving the profession to look after her two children.

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BOOK REVIEW: The Midnight Train by Matt Haig

Published May 21st, 2026 by Canongate
Fantasy Fiction, Magical Realism, Time Travel Fiction, Domestic Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

When your life flashes before your eyes, what will matter most?

For Wilbur it was his time with Maggie, the love of his life. Their honeymoon in Venice. Before he threw it all away.

Years later, on the brink of his own death, a train arrives. It can take Wilbur back in time. To relive his most important moments. Soon he realises just how much he would have changed.

An adventure through time, The Midnight Train is a story of love and second chances, from the world of The Midnight Library.

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MY REVIEW:

A love letter to books, bookshops and the joy of reading, this is the perfect read for any bibliophile. And this highly anticipated follow-up to The Midnight Library is also full of a tsunami of emotions. Atmospheric, poignant, powerful and achingly human, this is a story about love, life, grief and second-chances A true gem of a book, I never wanted it to end. But when it did it left me with my heart full and the biggest smile on my face.

The story follows Wilbur, who after his death finds himself on a train platform. At a minute after midnight a train arrives: the Midnight Train. Wilbur gets on board and finds himself on a journey through his entire life: from his impoverished childhood where he found an escape in books to awkward first dates with the love of his life, Maggie, to their honeymoon in Venice and him throwing it all away. He relives all his most important moments and realises how much of his life he wished he could change. 

Matt Haig is one of my favourite authors. An exceptional storyteller, he has a style all his own and both are showcased in this book. Exquisitely told, skillfully crafted and full of evocative imagery that brings the whole book to life, I was in his thrall from start to finish. Matt is also skilled at writing about a wide range of difficult subjects with honesty, depth, nuance and sensitivity while also never feeling triggering and that combination of real life and magical realism lends the story a dreamlike vibe that I adored. 

I loved Wilbur. He’s likeable but also deeply flawed, and I think we can all relate to wishing we’d done something differently in our lives. I loved his love of books and the big role they play throughout his life. The other characters are as richly drawn, compelling and real and I particularly enjoyed reading Agnes, former bookshop owner and his guide on his journey. And I want to say a big thank you to Matt for all of the Sheffield representation in this book. As a life-long Sheffielder myself, this was so great to see. Thank you.

A truly mesmerising story that will linger long after you close that final page, this is a must-read.

Rating: 🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Matt Haig is the internationally bestselling author of the novels The Midnight Library, The Life Impossible,  How to Stop Time, The Humans and The Radleys. His work has been translated into over fifty languages.

The Midnight Library was an instant bestseller and winner of the Goodreads Choice Award for Fiction. It has become a worldwide phenomenon and sold over ten million copies worldwide spending 52 weeks in the New York Times bestseller list. The audiobook is read by Carey Mulligan. 

His memoir Reasons to Stay Alive was a number one bestseller, staying in the British top ten for 46 weeks. His award-winning children’s book A Boy Called Christmas was a runaway hit and is translated in over 40 languages. It was made into a film starring Maggie Smith, Sally Hawkins and Jim Broadbent and The Guardian called it an ‘instant classic’. 

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