Tag: Five stars

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

BOOK REVIEW: After the Storm by G. D. Wright

Published August 1st, 2024 by Avon Books
Thriller, Mystery, Suspenseful, Psychological Fiction, Domestic Fiction, Police Procedural

Welcome to my review for this outstanding debut. Thank you to Avon Books for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

********

ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘So compelling and tightly plotted I couldn’t put it down’ CLAIRE DOUGLAS

‘Tense and emotional…A dark beating heart of a novel’ GILLIAN McALLISTER

‘Totally addictive. One of the most tense and gripping thrillers I’ve read in ages’ LISA JEWELL

––––––––––––––––––

Don’t miss the gripping debut crime novel in which a child’s tragic drowning rips a small community apart with devastating consequences…

––––––––––––––––––

TWO CHILDREN WENT INTO THE SEA.

When Andrew and Sophie take their daughter and her friend to the beach on a stormy day, they are momentarily distracted and both children are washed out to sea. Andrew dives in, but comes back ashore with only one child – Maria, his own daughter. Joe, the son of his best friend and local police officer, Chris, has drowned. But it was just a tragic accident…wasn’t it?

ONLY ONE CAME OUT ALIVE.

As Sergeant Mike Adams and DS Sue Willmott investigate what really happened in the water that afternoon, the ripple effects of the tragedy tear the community apart. The detectives must discover the truth before their colleague – bereaved and desperate father, Chris – takes the investigation into his own hands…

BUT WHO IS TO BLAME?

********

MY REVIEW:

Andrew and Sophie take their daughter, Maria, and her best friend, Joe, to the beach on a stormy day. The kids are happily playing when a moment of distraction changes everything and both kids are washed out to sea. Andrew dives into the water to find them, but only comes back with one child. 
When Joe’s parents, Chris and Linda, learn of his death, they want answers. Could his death be more than a tragic accident? As the police investigate, the community is torn apart by the ripple effects of the tragedy. Chris is out for vengeance. Can the police get answers before he takes matters into his own hands?

Heartbreaking, tense, atmospheric and consuming, After the Storm is a remarkable debut. Exquisitely written, deftly plotted and keenly observed, this is a story enmeshed in raw grief, utter devastation and white hot rage. G. D. Wright showcases himself as a talent to watch on the thriller scene, delivering heart-pounding tension and emotions that go straight to your soul in a story that wrecked havoc on my heart as well as my blood pressure. Losing a child is every parents’ worst nightmare and the scenes where they learn of their son’s death are some of the most heartbreakingly raw and evocative that I’ve ever read. I wiped tears from my eyes as their hearts shattered and he wrecked havoc on my heart as well as my blood pressure. I am in awe that this is a debut as it reads like the work of a veteran author. 

Before that tragic day it wasn’t just the kids who were friends, but the parents too, but afterwards they find themselves on opposite sides of the tragedy. While Chris and Linda try to wrap their heads around their life-shattering loss, a cloud of suspicion over Andrew. He fights to prove his innocence but he’s an unreliable narrator and is clearly hiding something. As time goes on, Chris is fueled by the fire of revenge and determined to see Andrew pay for what happened. As the reader, you feel for both sides and also don’t know what to believe as Wright keeps the truth close to the vest. 

For any book to be truly great, you need good characters and Wright has created a cast of brilliant characters who are richly drawn, relatable, made me care about them and made me feel invested in their lives. He makes us feel their emotions and allows us to step into each of their shoes. You can feel the love he put into each of these characters on every page and they are people that will stay with me.

Powerful, moving, unsparing and unforgettable, After the Storm is an absolute triumph. And that ending! Gaz, you totally broke me😭 Both this, and the follow-up Into the Fire, are must-reads for any thriller fans. 

Rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

*I listented to this on Bookbeat. Click here to get 60 days of listening free*

********

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

From Amazon:
My name is Gary (pen name G.D. Wright) and I live on the south east coast of England with my wife and two young children.

I joined Kent Police at the age of 18, working on the front line in a variety of uniformed roles until the age of 29 when, completely out of the blue, I suffered two cardiac ‘events’, and was subsequently diagnosed with a hereditary and incurable disease of the heart (arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy if you’re being fussy!). As a result, I had an internal defibrillator implanted in me, and I had to retire from the police aged 30.

One door closed, but another opened, and my wife and I bought a coffee shop in Ramsgate Harbour. We spent eight of the happiest years of our lives there but, when the kiddies came along, it just wasn’t sustainable. Family comes first, every single time (a theme in my books…), and the simple fact was that we knew our summers should be spent with the kids, not working seven days a week. In 2022, we sold our ‘third baby’ (the coffee shop, not an actual baby – although… what a plot line for the future… making a mental note…), and I took to writing full time.

Fast forward to now. I’ve signed a two book deal with Avon UK (part of the Harper Collins family), and my debut was released in August 2024. It’s called AFTER THE STORM, and it’s a police procedural with a twisty, emotional hook. My second novel, INTO THE FIRE, is coming in the summer of 2025.

********

BUY THE BOOK:

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

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: The Dead Husband Cookbook by Danielle Valentine

Published August 7th, 2025 by Viper Books
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Horror Ficiton, Ghost Story

Today is my stop on the blog tour for this moreish thriller. Thank you to Viper for the invitation to take part and for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

********

ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘A sizzling read sauced with scares galore’ – ORLANDO MURRIN
‘Forget five stars, this deserves a Michelin star’ – J.M. HEWITT
‘A deliciously dark tale with a mouth-watering mystery at its heart’ – T.M. LOGAN

She has the recipe for the perfect murder…

Maria Capello is a celebrity chef like no other. A household name with dozens of cookbooks and a weekly television show, not to mention her line of bestselling supermarket sauces. Once just the timid wife of famous chef Damien Capello, she stepped into the spotlight after his mysterious disappearance, an event she’s never spoken about publicly… until now.

Why is Maria willing to break her silence? When editor Thea Woods is invited to Maria’s remote farmhouse to work on the manuscript of her tell-all memoir, Thea spots an opportunity. She could be the one to finally learn whether the rumours are true. Did Maria kill Damien for his recipes and the legendary ‘secret ingredient’? Or is the truth even darker?

A deliciously rich thriller, perfect for readers of Bella Mackie’s How To Kill Your Family and Alexia Casale’s The Best Way to Bury Your Husband.

********

MY REVIEW:

“I’ve always said recipes are like family. Even the best ones are hiding something.”

When Celebrity Chef Damien Capello disappeared suspicion immediately surrounded his wife, Maria. Rumours of murder, cannibalism and meatballs made of human meat soon followed. And, despite spending the last thirty years building up a culinary empire, she hasn’t been able to shake them since. Not even his suicide note being leaked could silence them. Now, Maria has decided it is time to finally reveal the truth of what happened the night her husband died in a new memoir. 

Thea Woods has no idea why Maria has chosen her to edit her memoir, but as a life-long fan she is thrilled, especially as it is the boost her career needs after a recent catastrophe that saw her job in jeopardy. Maria is incredibly secretive about her memoir, insisting that Thea can only read the manuscript in her house and in her presence, so Thea agrees to the strange demand and heads to their secluded farm. When she gets there things get weirder as Maria doles out the book chapter by chapter and even takes Thea’s phone and turns off the WiFi, leaving her totally isolated from the outside world.  As she begins to unravel the truth, Thea begins to wonder if the reason Damien’s body was never recovered has something to do with Maria’s mysterious secret ingredient. And, just maybe the rumours are true after all…

Darkly atmospheric, nail-bitingly suspenseful and mouthwateringly macabre, The Dead Husband Cookbook is a buffet of dark delights that consumed me. Danielle Valentine is a masterful sinister storyteller, toying with her reader and utilising an array of classic horror tropes to make her narrative drip with dread. Psychologically rich, unbearably tense, claustrophobic and darkly funny, she had me in her thrall. Valentine is also a master of misdirection. Every time I thought it was over or I knew where it was going she would deliver another twist that hit you like a bolt out of the blue. I fell for so many of her red herrings and she kept me turning the pages long after I should have turned out the light. And then there’s the recipes. Make sure you’ve eaten before you start this one as those recipes made me so hungry.

The story is told in three parts: Antipasto, Meat and Just Desserts and in a combination of traditional narration and mixed media. For part two – which is the largest chunk of the book – the story is told through a combination of Thea’s narration, a chapter from the memoir and then a recipe that comes at the end of that chapter. The memoir offers us a glimpse behind the curtain and a chance to finally discover the truth about not only Damien’s disappearance, but who this picture-perfect celebrity family really are. And that truth probably doesn’t look the way that you imagined. The story gets curiouser and curiouser, tension increasing as Valentine drops breadcrumbs of clues, drip-feeds truths and ends each chapter with a cliffhanger that keeps us turning the pages. I liked that Valentine wrote the book in this way – telling the family’s story from Thea’s point of view and through the memoir – because it added to the sense of mystery that surrounds the Capellos and puts the reader in the same position as Thea where we don’t know who or what we can trust.

Eerie, outrageous, moreish and heart-stoppingly tense, this is a must for anyone who likes their thrillers as dark as night. 

Rating: 🥩🥩🥩🥩🥩

********

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Danielle Valentine is the New York Times bestselling author of Two Sides to Every Murder, How to Survive Your Murder, and Delicate Condition, which was recently adapted into the twelfth season of American Horror Story, starring Emma Roberts and Kim Kardashian. Danielle lives in a haunted house outside of New York City with her husband, daughter, and two cats.

********

BUY THE BOOK:

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

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: The Mercy Step by Marcia Hutchinson

Published July 22nd, 2025 by Cassava Republic Press
Literary Fiction, Contemporary Ficiton

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this unmissable and unforgettable novel. Thank you to FMCM for inviting me to take part in the tour and to Cassava Republic Press for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

********

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Named one of the best New Novelists for 2025 by The Observer.

Bradford, December 1962.

A precocious Mercy makes her reluctant entrance into the world, torn from the warm embrace of her mother’s womb, to a chaotic household that seems to have no place for her. Her siblings do not understand her, her mother’s attention is given to the Church, and the entire family lives at the whims of her father’s quick temper. 

Left to herself, Mercy finds solace in books, her imagination, and the quiet comfort of her faithful toy, Dolly. But escapism has its limits, and as the grip of family, faith and fear threatens to close in, Mercy learns she must act if she wants a different future; one where she is seen, heard, and her family set free. 

The Mercy Step is a sharply-witted and tender portrait of a young girl’s quiet rebellion, and her refusal to be broken.

********

MY REVIEW:

Powerful, heart-wrenching, tender and witty, The Mercy Step is an outstanding tear-jerker of a novel. 

Bradford, December 1962. It’s a freezing, snowy Winter’s day when Mercy makes her dramatic entrance into the world; leaving the calm solace of her mother’s womb for life with a large, chaotic family where she never feels like she fits in. As the thread that binds mother and daughter stretches ever thinner, Mercy struggles to be seen and heard in a house where her siblings don’t understand her, her mother is wrapped up in the church, and they all live in fear of her father’s violent outbursts. Searching for belonging, Mercy eventually discovers the magical escape of books. She finds solace in their pages, in her vivid imagination and conversations with her toy, Dolly. But books and imagination can only take you so far, and as life at home becomes increasingly dangerous, Mercy realises she must make a stand and finally make herself heard to give herself the chance of a better future. 

Marcia Hutchinson has been named one of the best new novelists for 2025 by The Observer, and after reading this book I understand why. With this magnificent debut Hutchinson has proven herself to be a born storyteller, writing with wit, wisdom, humanity and heart. Acutely observed, authentic and uncompromising, it is a story that feels achingly raw, righteously angry, deeply human and evokes every emotion. IThis layered story explores themes such as toxic family, poverty, domestic abuse, racism, loss and immigration. And while it is one young girl’s story, it is also a story about the realities of life as a Black person in northern England in the 60s and 70s.

Precocious, feisty, bold and determined, Mercy is an unforgettable heroine. It is impossible not to love her and she has a permanent place in my heart. Her love of literature and learning made me feel connected to her and I smiled as she found an escape in books and her imagination. She and the other characters are richly drawn and real, making you care about them and feel invested in their lives. Mercy’s family is dysfunctional and toxic, her abusive father a constant malevolent presence and Mercy doesn’t understand why her mother stays with such a monster. Mummy is Mercy’s balm but she’s also a worry and Mercy feels like it is her job to look after Mummy, though she aches for a mother who looks after her needs instead. So many times I wanted to reach into this book and hold this young girl. Although her mother seems to try to do her best, Mercy deserved so much better I desperately wanted to save her.

A magnificent debut full of drama, humour, headache and hope, Mercy and her story will linger long after you close the final page. Unmissable.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

********

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

After attending Oxford Univesity Marcia worked as a lawyer before founding educational publishing company Primary Colours, which she ran until 2014. She was awarded an MBE in 2011 for services to Cultural Diversity. When not writing Marcia teaches Zumba, Spin, and yoga. And when not doing any of the above she can be found despairing about the state of her garden.

The Mercy Step, her solo literary debut which will be pubilshed by CassavaRepublic on 22nd July 2025. She is also co-author with Kate Griffin  of the historical fiction novel The Blackbirds of St Giles.

********

BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

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

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

SQUADPOD BOOK CLUB: The Mourning Necklace by Kate Foster

Published May 29th, 2025 by Mantle
Historical Fiction

Welcome to my review for this mesmerising novel which was the July SquadPod Book Club pick. Thank you to Mantle for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

********

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Inspired by an infamous real-life case, The Mourning Necklace is the unforgettable feminist historical novel from the Women’s Prize-longlisted author of The Maiden, Kate Foster.

They said I would swing for the crime, and I did . . .

1724. In a tavern just outside Edinburgh, Maggie Dickson’s family drown their sorrows, mourning her death yet relieved she is gone. Shame haunts them. Hanged for the murder of her newborn child, passers-by avert their eyes from her cheap coffin on its rickety cart.

But as her family pray her soul rests in peace, a figure appears at the door.

It is Maggie. She is alive.

Bruised and dazed, Maggie has little time for her family’s questions. All that matters to her is answering this one: will they hang her twice?

********

MY REVIEW:

“They said I would swing for the crime, and I did. Now I wear the rope-mark like a mourning necklace .”

Kate Foster once again proves fact is stranger than fiction with this astonishing and unforgettable novel. Based on the true story of Maggie Dickson, a Scottish woman who was charged with the murder of her baby and sentenced to hang for the crime. But that isn’t what makes her famous. Maggie is remembered because she survived her hanging. The Mourning Necklace is a fictionalised account of what happened, weaving fact with fiction to tell the story of her life and imagine how she escaped death. 

Maggie is a fascinating character. Strong, determined but naive, she has big dreams but actually knows very little about life and the world. When the story opens, all we know is that she miraculously survived her hanging, that she claims she didn’t murder her child, and that she’s hiding a secret. We then jump back a year and follow her as a series of unfortunate events lead up to her arrest. Despite not knowing what had happened that fateful night for a lot of the book, I liked Maggie and had a lot of empathy for her as she went through so many tragic events that highlighted how hard life was for a woman at that time. But was she guilty of murder? And how did she survive her hanging? I wasn’t sure and you will have to read the book to find out.

Kate Foster can do no wrong. I’ve read all three of her books and each one is sheer perfection. Just like her previous books, this story is exquisitely told, richly imagined and meticulously researched, transporting us to 18th Century Scotland. Ablaze with tension, we are kept on the edge of our seats for more than half the book, wondering if Maggie murdered her baby and how she survived hanging. But even when those questions are answered the tension doesn’t ease. More questions come to the forefront to keep us turning the pages, making this a book that is impossible to put down. And while Maggie’s conviction and escape from death grab our attention, there is so much more to her and her story that is compelling. In this book Foster explores themes such as reproductive and women’s rights, poverty, poor working conditions, patriarchy, motherhood, domestic abuse, grief and heartache, making it a story that feels as relevant today as it did hundreds of years ago. 

Outrageous, riveting and utterly magnificent, The Mourning Necklace had me enrapt from start to finish.  And that ending  😭😭😭

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

********

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kate Foster has been a national newspaper journalist for over twenty years. Growing up in Edinburgh, she became fascinated by its history and often uses it as inspiration for her stories. The Maiden won the Bloody Scotland Pitch Perfect 2020 prize for new writers. She lives in Edinburgh with her two children.

********

BUY THE BOOK:

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

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2024

BLOG TOUR: The Betrayal of Thomas True by A. J. West

Published July 3rd, 2025 by Orenda Books
Historical Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Romance Novel, Historical Mystery, Gothic Ficiton, Adventure Fiction, Gay Fiction

Today is my stop on the blog tour for this mesmerising and unforgettable novel. Thank you to Anne for the offer to take part and to Orenda Books for sending me a proof copy in exchange for my honest review.

********

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Set in the buried streets of Georgian London and the outrageous underworld of the molly houses, a carpenter hiding a double life searches for a traitor who is betraying the secrets of the mollies. The devastatingly beautiful, brutal, raucous and tender historical thriller – a Top Ten Sunday Times bestseller!

‘Heartbreaking, beautiful, lyrical. I was captivated … you won’t want to put it down’ Catriona Ward
 
‘Utterly thrilling’ Elizabeth MacNeal
 
‘An immersive, illuminating and exceptionally entertaining novel’ Matt Cain
 
‘Stunning and powerful … You’ll never forget Thomas True’ Janice Hallett
 
‘A clever mystery, a powerful love story … affected me more than anything I’ve read in a long time’ Gareth Brown

**WINNER OF THE HWA DEBUT CROWN**
**THE TOP TEN Sunday Times BESTSELLER**
**SHORTLISTED for Booksellers Association Author of the Year**

_________________
 
The only sin is betrayal…
 
It is the year 1715, and Thomas True has arrived on old London Bridge with a dangerous secret. One night, lost amongst the squalor of London’s hidden back streets, he finds himself drawn into the outrageous underworld of the molly houses.
 
Meanwhile, carpenter Gabriel Griffin struggles to hide his double life as Lotty, the molly’s stoic guard. When a young man is found murdered, he realises there is a rat amongst them, betraying their secrets to a pair of murderous Justices.
 
Can Gabriel unmask the traitor before they hang? Can he save hapless Thomas from peril, and their own forbidden love?
 
Set amidst the buried streets of Georgian London, The Betrayal of Thomas True is a brutal and devastating thriller, where love must overcome evil, and the only true sin is betrayal…

********

MY REVIEW:

Brave, powerful, visceral, and outrageous, this book is a masterpiece. Intertwining gothic fiction, historical fiction, romance and bawdy romp, this book broke me into pieces and then put me back together.  And that finale! I was lost for words, left feeling wrung-out, devastated, and uplifted all the same time. 

The Betrayal of Thomas True transports us to Georgian London, exploring the scandalous underbelly of the molly houses. Thomas True has arrived in London in search of a new life. But he’s harbouring a dangerous secret. A secret that leads him to be drawn into this bizarre underworld and its vibrant characters. The men who frequent them are forced to live double lives for fear of recrimination and risk everything to live as their true selves for a few short hours. But there is a rat amongst them who is betraying their secrets to a pair of cruel Justices. As Thomas and Gabriel, the molly’s guard, try to resist their forbidden love, can they unmask the rat before more lives are lost?

A. J. West is a master storyteller. This was my first time reading one of his books and he has immediately secured a spot on my auto-buy list. Expertly choreographed and sublimely written, West weaves gossamer layers of compelling storylines and a chorus of detailed characters together to create a world that leaps from the pages. It was so vivid that I could see the cobbled streets, smell the squalid air, and hear the raucous laughter of the mollies. West’s meticulous research was evident in the plethora of historic details but these never intruded on his storytelling, creating a story that was  both entertaining and educational as West shined a light on those who were forced to hide in the shadows. It felt welcoming, lively and enthralling from the opening pages and I felt like I’d stepped back in time as I lived every moment alongside the characters. This book captured my heart and soul, taking me through a rainbow of emotions. And that finale! I was lost for words, left feeling wrung-out, devastated, and uplifted all st the same time. 

Mr. West has filled this book with a motley crew of sassy, colourful, and captivating characters. The eponymous Thomas True is a fascinating, complicated protagonist who is on a journey of self-discovery. But does the title refer to him being betrayed, or is he the betrayer? I liked that we didn’t know, adding to the tension as I tried to decide if the things he was saying were true or a clever ruse to cover his tracks. Thomas finds what seems to be an authentic friendship with Gabe, a stoic, burly, bear of a man who is an absolute sweetheart underneath. His backstory broke my heart – I’m tearing up just thinking about it – and I liked him right away. He was easy to root for, I loved his friendship with Thomas, and I got really invested in their blossoming romance, even if I was worried about them being discovered. Gabe was probably my favourite character but I also had a real soft spot for Frump, the Queen of innuendo and a total riot who made me laugh out loud many times. I could happily read a whole book with him at the centre (possible future book idea, A.J.?). 

One of the things I think West does particularly well is portraying how treacherous life was for the mollies. Secrecy and a double life are a matter of life and death for these men, and the rat in their midst makes their lives even more hazardous. This brings me to Justices Grimp and Myre, an odious, vile and murderous pair who travelled the country in search of mollies to ‘bring to justice’, and the rat was giving them names. These evil men used religion and the pursuit of law and justice to sanction cruelty and persecution of others and I wished I could wipe the crooked smiles from their faces. Then there is the rat. I loved that West wrote this book so skillfully that it was hard to land on a suspect. Almost every single character had the potential to be the rat and I went back and forth through a number of suspects. This escalated the tension and kept me guessing, my heart racing as I tried to figure it out. 

Poignant, bold, mesmerising, and spectacular, The Betrayal of Thomas True is storytelling at its finest. Unmissable and unforgettable, this phenomenal tale is a must-read that I can’t recommend highly enough. 

Rating: 🦚🦚🦚🦚🦚

********

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A.J. West’s bestselling debut novel The Spirit Engineer won the Historical Writers’ Association Debut Crown Award, gaining international praise for its telling of a long-forgotten true story. 

An award winning BBC newsreader and reporter, he has written for national newspapers and regularly appears on network television discussing his writing and the historical context of contemporary events. 

A passionate historical researcher, he writes at The London Library and museum archives around the world. 

********

BUY THE BOOK:

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

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: Getting Away by Kate Sawyer

Published July 3rd, 2025 by Zaffre
Contemporary Fiction, Literary Fiction

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this absolute gem of a book. Thank you to Tracy for the invitation to take part, and to Zaffre for sending me a proof copy in exchange for my honest review.

********

ABOUT THE BOOK:

“Gripping – and profound… Kate Sawyer has a great gift for capturing the tiny details that tell us everything about a person or dynamic.” — Marian Keyes

“From its brilliant, ambitious premise (a story told through family holidays) to its complex and wholly absorbing characters, Getting Away is a moving insight into the beautiful complexity of ordinary lives.” — Jennie Godfrey

Margaret Smith is at the beach.
It is a summer day unlike any other Margaret has ever known.
The Smith family have left the town where they live and work and go to school and come to a place where the sky is blue, the sand is white, and the sound of the sea surrounds them. An ordinary family discovering the joy of getting away for the first time.
Over the course of the coming decades, they will be transformed through their holiday experiences, each new destination a backdrop as the family grows and changes, love stories begin and end — and secrets are revealed.
Coming this summer, Getting Away is a dazzlingly ambitious new novel from the author of Waterstones’ Fiction Book of the Month, This Family, and the Costa shortlisted The Stranding.

********

MY REVIEW:

Beautiful, moving, profound and original, Getting Away is a gorgeous multi-generational family saga that is perfect for summer. A story of family, love, secrets and trauma that follows multiple generations of one family, telling the story through the lens of their family holidays over 90 years. This book consumed me. Once I started reading it was impossible to put down and I devoured it in almost one sitting, stopping only because I had to eat. And when it finished I was bereft, unwilling to say goodbye to this family that I’d followed through so many decades.

Kate Sawyer is a masterful storyteller. I fell in love with her writing the moment I read her debut, The Stranding, in 2021 and she just gets better with each book. Exquisitely written, complex and deeply human, this is a masterpiece. Filled with sun, sand and sea, this is the perfect summer read whether you’re reading on a beach or at home, transporting you to the various destinations over the years. Those settings are a huge part of the story and this is where Sawyer’s evocative storytelling shines, bringing them to life so vividly that it was like I was there. I found it interesting to see how their holidays changed over the decades and enjoyed watching them experience new things such as their first time abroad, eating new foods and their first plane rides. It made me think about how many aspects of modern life we take for granted and the privileges we enjoy when it comes to travelling. But this book is much more than a fluffy summer read. It is also honest, deep and raw. This is a family filled with secrets from the start and Sawyer explores the ripple effects the secrets have on the whole family. She also explores topics such as generational trauma, domestic abuse, sexual assault, infertility and sexuality, never shying away from the uncomfortable and painful aspects of these issues, but also writing them with compassion.

For a character-driven story to work, you need great characters that you can connect with. And Sawyer knows how to do that perfectly, filling this book’s pages with characters who are achingly human and relatable. Sawyer knows how to forge a connection between her reader and her characters, making you feel everything with them at each step. And there are many emotional moments as we follow these characters through so many years, watching most of the characters go from childhood to adolescence and then adulthood, walking with them as they experience the highs, lows, trials and tribulations of life in a changing world. I also found it interesting to see how their holidays changed over the decades and enjoyed watching them experience new things such as their first time abroad, eating new foods and their first plane rides. It made me think about how many aspects of modern life we take for granted and the privileges we enjoy when it comes to travelling. 

An absolute gem of a book, Getting Away is a must have addition to your summer TBR. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

********

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kate Sawyer worked as an actor and producer, and wrote several short films before turning her hand to fiction. She is the author of three novels: the forthcoming Getting Away, Waterstones Fiction Book of The Month, This Family, and her debut novel, The Stranding, which was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award, won the East Anglian fiction prize, was adapted for BBC Radio 4 Book at Bedtime and is being developed for the screen by Fremantle and Afua Hirsch’s production company Born In Me.

When Kate isn’t writing, or talking to other authors about their writing practices for her podcast Novel Experience and as a chair for author events, she works as the Programme Curator for the annual Bury St Edmunds Literature Festival.  

After twenty years living in London, she recently returned to her native East Anglia, where she lives with her young daughter.

​

********

BUY THE BOOK:

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

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: Into the Fire by G. D. Wright

Published June 5th, 2025 by Avon Books
Crime Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Police Procedural, Legal Story

Welcome to my review for this heart-stopping thriller. Thank you to Avon Books for sending me a proof copy in exchange for my honest review.

********

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Don’t miss the gripping crime novel in which a heroic act ends up ripping a small town apart with devastating consequences…

––––––––––––––––––––––––

HE RUNS INTO THE FLAMES A HERO.

Steve thought he had left his troubled past behind. Living a quiet life with his wife and children, everything changes the night he rescues a baby from a burning house, becoming an unexpected national hero.

HE EMERGES FROM THE ASHES A SUSPECT.

But as the spotlight shines brighter, so does the scrutiny, and a shocking accusation is made – that Steve is the man responsible for an unsolved murder in Beachbrook years prior.

BUT WHICH ONE IS HE REALLY?

As his world unravels, public opinion is firmly divided. Steve pleads his innocence, but DS Sue Willmott is determined to get to the bottom of what really happened all those years ago.

After all, even heroes hide secrets of their own.

********

MY REVIEW:

Into the Fire has taken bookstagram by storm. And after reading it I can tell you that it deserves every bit of the hype. A story of heroism, secrets, reckoning and redemption, it begins when Steve runs into the flames to save a baby from a burning house. He is hailed a hero. But Steve has secrets that soon come to light, turning him from saviour to suspect in an unsolved murder years earlier. As his life falls apart, Steve pleads his innocence. Meanwhile, DS Sue Wilmott is determined to get to the truth. What really happened all those years ago? And is Steve a hero or a villain? 

Dark, suspenseful, gut-wrenching and consuming, I was not prepared for this magnificent thriller. Unbearably tense and psychologically rich, G. D. Wright’s storytelling is exquisite, holding me in the palm of his hands from the first page until the last. It was my first time reading this author and now I totally get the hype around his books. A talent to watch on the thriller scene, he’s knocked it out of the park with this first-class thriller and I can’t wait to go back and read his debut.

Told from multiple points of view, the characters are richly drawn, relatable and deeply human, pulling me into their lives and quickly making me invested in them as their stories unfurled. They are haunted by the ghosts of their past and marked by the pain of their trauma, which Wright makes you feel vividly. Enmeshed in heartache, you get the sense that no-one is going to come out of this unscathed. It’s powerful, moving, and a much deeper story than your average thriller. And the final line of the epilogue  😭😭😭 Oh, my heart. 

Heart-stopping, twisty, forbidding and unpredictable, this is a must-read. So run to the nearest bookshop or click on the link on that website and buy this book now.

Rating: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

********

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

From Amazon:
My name is Gary (pen name G.D. Wright) and I live on the south east coast of England with my wife and two young children.

I joined Kent Police at the age of 18, working on the front line in a variety of uniformed roles until the age of 29 when, completely out of the blue, I suffered two cardiac ‘events’, and was subsequently diagnosed with a hereditary and incurable disease of the heart (arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy if you’re being fussy!). As a result, I had an internal defibrillator implanted in me, and I had to retire from the police aged 30.

One door closed, but another opened, and my wife and I bought a coffee shop in Ramsgate Harbour. We spent eight of the happiest years of our lives there but, when the kiddies came along, it just wasn’t sustainable. Family comes first, every single time (a theme in my books…), and the simple fact was that we knew our summers should be spent with the kids, not working seven days a week. In 2022, we sold our ‘third baby’ (the coffee shop, not an actual baby – although… what a plot line for the future… making a mental note…), and I took to writing full time.

Fast forward to now. I’ve signed a two book deal with Avon UK (part of the Harper Collins family), and my debut was released in August 2024. It’s called AFTER THE STORM, and it’s a police procedural with a twisty, emotional hook. My second novel, INTO THE FIRE, is coming in the summer of 2025.

********

BUY THE BOOK:

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

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Categories
Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: The Sunshine Man by Emma Stonex

Published May 1st, 2025 by Picador
Thriller, Psychological Fiction, Coming-of-Age Story

Welcome to my review for this magnificent thriller. Thank you to Bookbreak and Picador for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

********

ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘The week I shot a man clean through the head began like any other . . .’

From Emma Stonex, the bestselling author of The Lamplighters, comes The Sunshine Man, a gripping revenge thriller that will leave you breathless.

‘A compelling tight thriller with heart’ *****
‘Hits you right between the eyes’ *****
‘Brilliantly written with twists and turns’ *****

In January 1989, Birdie wakes to the news she’s been waiting eighteen years to hear. Jimmy Maguire, the man who killed her sister, has been freed from jail. Birdie sends her kids to school and then leaves for London with a gun and a plan: to find Jimmy and make him pay.

But there’s another side to the story, and Birdie is about to enter a world of family lies, worn-out loyalties and long-buried betrayals . . .

A heart-stopping novel of shared pasts and a fury-fuelled present, The Sunshine Man is an addictive page-turner set against the sweeping hills of rural Devon, from bestselling author Emma Stonex.

********

MY REVIEW:

“The week I shot a man clean through the head began like any other…”

I don’t think it’s possible to read such a haunting opening line and not feel desperate to devour the rest of the book. I know I was powerless to resist, staying up until the wee hours in an anguished need to know the conclusion. Dark, unsettling, heart-stopping and thought-provoking, Emma Stonex had me in her thrall from the first page of this magnificent cat-and-mouse revenge thriller. 

The story opens with Bridget describing her ordinary morning with her family before she sets out to kill James Maguire, the man convicted of murdering her sister, Providence, eighteen years earlier. The juxtaposition between her mundane actions and her murderous plan is striking, creating an overwhelming sense of dread that increases with every step she takes. The story then moves between timelines and narrators, following James as he adjusts to life outside prison, and Bridget as she travels towards him…

Exquisitely written and expertly choreographed, Stonex shows no signs of the dreaded ‘sophomore syndrome’ with this superb story. An unforgettable tale of murder, vengeance, love, family and redemption, this isn’t for the faint heart.  Despite its sunny title, there are heavy topics on these pages, and while Stonex doesn’t shy away from their brutal truths, she also writes with compassion and sensitivity. It is powerful but also delicate, finding its strength in its layered gossamer threads. Stonex skillfully teases her reader by choosing not to reveal the full picture, exploring themes of memory, asking how much we can trust our recollections, and what we choose to forget; the truth lying in that space between what we know and what we think we do. 

It’s easy to root for Bridget. To feel her anger and understand her need for revenge, even if it isn’t something we would do ourselves. It is harder to root for James, and it is in him that Stonex forces us to confront the humanity and shades of grey that exist even in those we want to villainise. It would be easy if it was black and white, if he was evil and Bridget was good. But by hearing his story he becomes human, we gain compassion and it is hard to blindly hate him. Providence is brought to life in the flashbacks, making her feel as vivid and three-dimensional, allowing the reader to connect with her. It gives us an emotional response to her death, a desire to know the truth and a wish to see justice served. And as we finally approach the night of her murder, Stonex moves between flashbacks and current events, keeping me on the edge of my seat as I awaited the big reveal and Bridget’s moment of vengeance. There’s a rising sense of dread that gets under your skin and makes your heart race. I couldn’t have stopped reading at this point even if my house had been on fire. 

The Sunshine Man is a masterpiece. A moving, nerve-shredding and addictive thriller that is impossible to forget. Read it now!

Rating: ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to get 60 days of listening free with my affiliate link*

********

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Emma Stonex was born in 1983 and grew up in Northamptonshire. After working in publishing for several years, she quit to pursue her dream of writing fiction. The Lamplighters was a Sunday Times bestseller and has been translated into more than twenty-five languages. She lives in the Southwest with her family.

********

BUY THE BOOK:

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

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: The School Gates by A. A. Chaudhuri

Publised June 5th, 2025 by Hera Books
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Crime Ficiton, Noir Fiction, Urban Fiction, Domestic Fiction

Welcome to my review for this heart-stopping thriller. Thank you to Alex and Hera Books for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

********

ABOUT THE BOOK:

First comes gossip … then comes revenge

When single mum Lola Martinez’s son, Luca, starts school, she feels that she’ll never fit in with the yummy mummies in the playground. Confident, married to wealthy men, with ample free time, they are everything she isn’t.

However, Lola is invited into the inner circle, surrounded by seemingly friendly people, even if Lola’s silence about her child’s father puzzles them. Despite herself, Lola quickly becomes involved in playground politics, making as many enemies as friends.

But then Lola is brutally murdered, her death rocking the close-knit community. As the police investigate the case, they discover that Lola was hiding many secrets – as are the mums in her new social circle. But who had the most reason to kill her? And who else might unwittingly hold the answers to what happened that night?

An addictive psychological thriller with an end twist that will make you gasp, for fans of Lisa Jewell, T.M. Logan and Frieda McFadden. If you loved Big Little Lies, you’ll adore this.

********

MY REVIEW:

When her son, Luca, starts school, single mum, Lola, feels like she will never fit in with the other mums at the school gates. She’s nothing like these confident ‘yummy mummies’ with their perfect husbands, big houses and ample free time. Somehow, she’s invited into their inner circle, and at first they appear friendly.  But soon Lola finds herself embroiled in playground politics and her new friends become enemies. Then one night, on her way home from the annual parents Christmas party, Lola is brutally murdered and the police discover that Lola and her friends have been keeping secrets. Are these secrets the key to unmasking who killed Lola and why?

Anyone with kids knows the minefield that is the school gates, playground politics and mum friends. In her latest superb thriller, A. A. Chaudhuri takes that familiar everyday situation and turns it into a nightmare. Perfectly capturing the tricky dynamics of the playground and that group who rule the school, these women are instantly recognisable. And if you thought you disliked them before Lola died, that was nothing compared to how despicable and unlikeable they became after her death. I was raging at their attitudes and felt sure that at least one of them knew the truth about her murder. 

Masterfully written, psychologically rich and unbearably tense, this is a heart-stopping thriller. Alex just gets better with each book! I was in the palm of her hand as she spun the threads of this disturbing story to suspenseful perfection, cleverly concealing the truth in plain sight. The air was thick with secrets and a cloud of suspicion hung over everyone as the police tried to get to the truth about Lola’s murder. I held on for dear life, on the edge of my sea and turning the pages ferociously. And every time I thought I knew the full story…BAM! Another twist pulled the rug from under me and changed everything. And what twists they were! I don’t think I’ve ever felt so devastated and emotionally wrecked by a reveal as I did with this book. Alex, how could you do that to me?!

The story is told by two narrators in dual timelines. First we have Lola who narrates in the present on the night of her murder and then switches to telling  her story through flashbacks. A complicated character, Lola is a devoted single mum, has a lot of strength but she’s also a complete wreck. There’s a constant malevolent presence from the traumatic event in her past that’s left her living in fear and with a sense of isolation, even when she’s surrounded by people. She’s forced to keep what happened a secret in order to protect those she loves but is always looking over her shoulder. Her anxiety is palpable and the flashbacks are a ticking timebomb of sheer dread as they count down to her murder. Our other narrator, Detective Inspector John Banner, is a relatable and likeable character. You can feel the emotional toll the case is taking on him and his chapters are full of tension as he determinedly tries to solve the crime. 

Deliciously dark, jaw-droppingly tense and unputdownable, this is a must-read for any thriller fan.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

********

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A.A. Chaudhuri is a former City lawyer turned thriller writer, born and raised in Portsmouth, but who now lives in Surrey with her family. Once a highly ranked British junior tennis player, competing in the national championships and a member of the national squad, she went on to tour the women’s professional satellite circuit as a teenager and achieved a world ranking of 650.

THE SCRIBE and THE ABDUCTION, published by LUME BOOKS in July and December 2019, are her first crime book series, plunging readers into London’s glamorous legal world and featuring series’ heroine, Maddy Kramer, fiction’s first female City lawyer amateur sleuth, who teams up with charismatic DCI Jake Carver to solve a gruesome series of murders and a puzzling abduction. THE SCRIBE and THE ABDUCTION were published as audio books by Isis Audio on 1st January and 1st March 2021, both read by David Thorpe.

She has also contributed an original short story THE ENCOUNTER to crime anthology GIVEN IN EVIDENCE published by LUME BOOKS in May 2020, has written many articles and short stories for The Crime Writers’ Association.

Her first psychological thriller with HERA BOOKS, SHE’S MINE, was published in e-book, paperback and audio in August 2021, the second, THE LOYAL FRIEND, was published in all three formats in June 2022 and published in the USA by Canelo US on 20th June 2023. Her third, THE FINAL PARTY, was published on May 25th 2023. It was released in audiobook on 1st February 2024.

Her fourth psychological thriller – UNDER HER ROOF – was released in e-book, paperback and audio on 13th June 2024.

The Scribe, was re-published as THE LAWYER by Joffe Books on 7th October 2024 in e-book and paperback. The Abduction was re-published as THE PARTNER by Joffe Books on 24th February 2025 in e-book and paperback.

Alex’s fifth psychological thriller with Hera Books – THE SCHOOL GATES – will be released on 5th June 2025 in ebook and paperback.

Besides being an avid reader, she enjoys fitness, films, anything Italian and a good margarita!

All of Alex’s books have achieved bestseller status on Amazon UK, Amazon US, Amazon Australia and Amazon Canada.

********

BUY THE BOOK:

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

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: The Summer Guests by Tess Gerritsen

Published March 27th, 2025 by Bantam Press
Thriller, Mystery, Crime Fiction, Suspense, Crime Series, Cozy Mystery

I’m finally sharing my review for this fantastic thriller. Thank you to Alison at Bantam for sending me a copy of the book and a great event with the author back in March.

********

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The Summer Guests is the exhilarating and gripping new thriller from Sunday Times bestselling author of The Spy Coast.

‘I love this new series . . . The Summer Guests is a cracker of a mystery! I couldn’t put it down.’
SHARI LAPENA

‘What a ride – The Summer Guests hooked me from the first explosive chapter. . . Immersive, compelling, utterly addictive – a masterclass in storytelling.’ ANDREA MARA

THE MARTINI CLUB ISN’T OPEN TO EVERYONE . . .

Maggie Bird’s ‘book group’ is an unusual one – a group of retired spies living an anonymous life in the seaside town of Purity. And this summer they plan little more than ‘reading’ (whilst sipping martinis), and some gentle birdwatching.

But trouble is just around the corner as the summer guests arrive.

For acting Police Chief Jo Thibodeau, summer brings its own problems – packed streets, bar brawls, petty theft. And now, a missing teenager down by the lake.

When their good friend becomes a prime suspect in the girl’s disappearance, Maggie and her Martini Club must put down their binoculars and roll up their sleeves. Leaving Jo to deal with not only a powerful family desperate for answers, but a meddlesome group of retirees.

Can Jo and the Martini Club find a way to work together, as they uncover one of the deadliest scandals their small town has ever seen?

********

MY REVIEW:

It’s summertime in Purity and the summer guests have made their way to the seaside town to enjoy the peak season. One such summer guest is fifteen-year-old Zoe, who is visiting for the summer with her prominent family. When Zoe disappears the pressure is on for Police Jo Thibodeau to find Zoe and solve the crime quickly. But she isn’t the only one investigating. The Martini Club – a ‘book club’ of retired spies who live in the town – have been itching for another adventure. So when their good friend is arrested as the prime suspect, they start their own investigations, much to the annoyance of Ms. Thibodeau, who now must juggle the interfering pensioners alongside family pressure and her own investigation. And the stakes get even higher when evidence is found that seems to suggest Zoe’s disappearance could be linked to the most disturbing crime in Purity’s history. Can Jo and the Martini Club work together to find answers?

The Martini Club are back and I couldn’t be happier. I love this group of cocktail drinking former spies and couldn’t wait to follow them as they tried to solve another case. Entertaining, compulsive and suspenseful, Expertly written, cleverly choreographed, twisty and fast-paced, Tess Gerritsen knocked it out of the park once again with this sensational thriller. One of my favourite things about a series is returning to characters I know and love, and it was great to be back with Maggie, the Martini Club and other familiar characters. These characters are so much fun to read. And while The Martini Club may be pensioners, there’s no sign of them slowing down yet, and they jump at the chance for another case to solve. I enjoyed their banter with Jo and watching her trying to figure out a way to control these errant amateur sleuths. But they are a feisty and tenacious bunch, so the odds of stopping them weren’t in her favour. There is a great cast of supporting characters and some of them seem to be hiding dark secrets, including members of Zoe’s family. Her mother, Susan, is a prominent character and there were many heart-rending moments as we felt her heartache at her daughter’s disappearance. Then there is Reuben, the so-called ‘madman across the lake’. Why does he have a grudge against the family? And did he take Zoe in some twisted act of revenge?

Compulsive, suspenseful and totally entertaining, I loved being back with The Martini Club and can’t wait to see what they get up to next. A must-read for all thriller fans.

Rating: 🍸🍸🍸🍸🍸

********

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Internationally bestselling author Tess Gerritsen took an unusual route to a writing career. A graduate of Stanford University, Tess went on to medical school at the University of California, San Francisco, where she was awarded her M.D.

 While on maternity leave from her work as a physician, she began to write fiction and in 1987, her first novel, Call After Midnight, was published. It was just the first of 31 suspense novels that she’s written over a 36-year writing career.  She also wrote a screenplay, “Adrift,” which aired as a 1993 CBS Movie of the Week starring Kate Jackson.

Tess’s first medical thriller, Harvest, was released in hardcover in 1996, and it marked her debut on the New York Times bestseller list. Her novels have hit bestseller lists ever since.  Among her titles are Gravity, The Surgeon, Vanish, The Bone Garden, and The Spy Coast. Her books have been translated into 40 languages, and more than 40 million copies have been sold around the world.

 She has won both the Nero Wolfe Award (for Vanish) and the Rita Award (for The Surgeon). Critics around the world have praised her novels as “Pulse-pounding fun” (Philadelphia Inquirer), “Scary and brilliant” (Toronto Globe and Mail), and “Polished, riveting prose” (Chicago Tribune). Publishers Weekly has dubbed her the “medical suspense queen” and Time Magazine named her novel The Surgeon one of the best mystery/thriller novels ever written.

Her series of novels featuring homicide detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles inspired the hit TNT television series “Rizzoli & Isles,” starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander.  

She is also a filmmaker.  She and her son Josh produced a feature-length documentary, “Magnificent Beast,” about the ancient origins of the pig taboo. It aired on PBS channels around the country. Their previous film, “Island Zero”, was a feature-length horror movie that was released in 2018.

 She lives in Maine.

********

BUY THE BOOK:

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

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx