Tag: March 2024

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2024

BOOK REVIEW: How To Solve Your Own Murder (The Castle Knoll Files, 1) by Kristen Perrin

Published March 26th, 2024 by Quercus
Mystery, Thriller, Cozy Mystery, Crime Fiction, Crime Series, Women Sleuths

Welcome to my review of this captivating cosy whodunnit. Thank you to Quercus for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

FRANCES ALWAYS SAID SHE’D BE MURDERED.
SHE WAS RIGHT.

In 1965, Frances Adams was told by a fortune teller that one day she’d be murdered. Frances spent the next sixty years trying to prevent the crime that would be her eventual demise. Of course, no one took her seriously – until she was dead.

For Frances, being the village busybody was a form of insurance. She’d spent a lifetime compiling dirt on every person she met, just in case they might turn out to be her killer. In the heart of her sprawling country estate lies an eccentric library of detective work, where the right person could step in and use her findings to solve her murder.

When her great-niece Annie arrives from London and discovers that Frances’ worst fear has come true, Annie is thrust into her great-aunt’s last act of revenge against her sceptical friends and family. Frances’ will stipulates that the person who solves her murder will inherit her millions.

Can Annie unravel the mystery and find justice for Frances, or will digging up the past lead her into the path of the killer?

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MY REVIEW:

Frances always said she’d be murdered.

She was right.

In 1965, Frances Adams is told by a fortune teller that one day she will be murdered. She spends the next sixty years trying to prevent it. No one took her seriously and she spent her life ridiculed by everyone else living in the small village of Castle Knoll. 

Now, Frances is dead. Murdered. And her great-niece, Annie, finds herself pulled into her Aunts’ final act of revenge against the people who refused to believe her; a hunt for her killer that sees the person who solves the crime inherit Frances’ millions. Can she solve the crime? Or will the killer silence her first?

Fun, heartwarming, suspenseful and original, How To Solve Your Own Murder is a superb debut that radiates Christie vibes. I’m a big fan of the amateur sleuth, so a book with two of them sounded right up my street. Skillfully written, sharply observed, cleverly plotted, full of surprising twists, and inhabited by fascinating characters, Kristen Perrin’s first installment in the Castle Knoll series was impossible to put down. The story is told in dual timelines, the flashbacks being revealed through Frances’ diaries, and moves seamlessly between past and present to intricately weave this tangled web of secrets, lies, paranoia and murder. 

Set in the fictional village of Castle Knoll, which is inspired by the real village of Corfe, Dorset, which is one of my favourite places, the village and its fascinating characters are brought to life by Perrin’s evocative imagery and descriptions. Castle Knoll has that charming but claustrophobic vibe that is unique to small towns where everyone knows everyone. France’s place as the village’s crazy lady was set when she received the chilling fortune in her teens. Her obsession with solving and preventing the crime, and her habit of seeing clues everywhere, only solidified her strangeness in the minds of the other residents. 

Cosy, clever, witty and totally addictive, How To Solve Your Own Murder is an inventive whodunnit you don’t want to miss. I can’t wait to return to these characters in book two. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kristen Perrin is originally from Seattle, Washington, where she spent several years working as a bookseller before immigrating to the UK to do a Masters and PhD.

She loves working on projects that have a mystery at their heart, and splits her time writing cosy crime for adults and working on middle grade books that mix magic and adventure. Her children’s series, Attie and the Worldbreakers, is currently available in Dutch, German, and Polish.

She lives with her family in Surrey, where she can be found stomping in the mud with her two kids, collecting too many plants, and painting and sketching in her spare time.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2024 Squadpod Book Club Squadpod Reviews

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: Every Move You Make by C. L. Taylor

Published September 12th, 2024 by Avon Books
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Crime Fiction

Welcome to my bookish thoughts on Every Move You Make. Thanks to Avon Books for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘I absolutely loved it!’ Lisa Jewell

‘A compulsive page-turner you won’t be able to put down.’ Clare Mackintosh

‘Wow this was exceptional! Clever, original and filled with tension, this is a story I won’t ever forget. C.L. Taylor’s best yet.’ Claire Douglas

‘Clever, tense and satisfying.’ Andrea Mara

‘Spine-chilling at every turn! One of the best thrillers of the year.’ Jeffery Deaver

‘A tense, twisty thrill-ride of stalking, obsession and revenge.’ TM Logan

‘I absolutely love C.L. Taylor’s writing.’ Liz Nugent

‘I absolutely loved this book and finished it in one sitting…In true C.L. Taylor style, it’s delightfully twisty.’ Katy Brent

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Keep your friends close and your enemies closer…

Alexandra, Lucy, Bridget, River and Natalie. Five friends who wish they’d never met. Because the one thing they have in common is the worst thing in their lives: they are all being stalked.

When one of their group is murdered, days after their stalker is released from prison, time stands still for them all. They know their lives could end just as brutally at any moment – all it takes is for the people they fear the most to catch up with them.

When the group receive a threat that one of them will die in ten days’ time, the terror that stalks their daily lives becomes all-consuming. But they know they don’t want to be victims anymore – it’s time to turn the tables and finally get their revenge.

Because the only way to stop a stalker is to become one yourself…

The multimillion bestseller returns with her most propulsive and addictive book yet. A chilling and terrifyingly real thriller that will keep you up all night – and looking over your shoulder for days to come…

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MY REVIEW:

Alexandra, Lucy, Bridget, River and Natalie are five friends that wish they had never met. Because they met at a support group for people who are being stalked. And when one of their group is murdered just days after their stalker is released from prison, the others are left remembering that it could be them at any moment. 

When I pick up a C. L. Taylor book I know I’m getting a well-written, fast-paced and absorbing thriller. And that is exactly what I got with her latest book, Every Move You Make, which is one of our SquadPod Featured Books this month. Enthralling, sinister and suspenseful, Taylor held me in her thrall from the opening pages. Taylor has talked about this being a very personal book for her as she was stalked by an ex a number of years ago, and you really get the sense of that personal experience of how it feels to be stalked merging with her storytelling talents to create the palpable sense of terror that consumes the characters and radiates from the pages and keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Alexandra, Lucy, Bridget, River and Natalie are part of a group on WhatsApp that is brilliantly named FYST (f*** you stalker t***s). The story is told through each of their eyes through their communications on the app and traditional narrative. These characters are recognisable, relatable and easy to root for, immediately gaining our sympathy as we know they have been subjected to a harrowing experience. But as we learn more, it seems like one of the group may not be who they claim to be, adding to the tension and making everyone a suspect. I love an unreliable narrator, so I particularly enjoyed this aspect of the book and went through a number of theories before the jaw-dropping truth was finally revealed.

Atmospheric, harrowing and unexpected, this heart-pounding thriller is a must-read. And don’t miss the heart-rending author’s note at the end.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

C.L. Taylor is an award winning Sunday Times bestselling author of ten gripping psychological thrillers including THE GUILTY COUPLE, a Richard and Judy Book Club pick for summer 2023 and SLEEP, a Richard and Judy Book Club pick for autumn 2019.

C.L. Taylor’s books have sold over two million copies in the UK alone, hit number one on Amazon Kindle, Audible, Kobo, iBooks and Google Play, and have been translated into over 30 languages and optioned for TV.

Her books are not a series and can be read in any order:
2014 – THE ACCIDENT / Before I Wake (U.S. title)
2015 – THE LIE
2016 – THE MISSING
2017 – THE ESCAPE
2018 – THE FEAR
2019 – SLEEP
2020 – STRANGERS
2021 – HER LAST HOLIDAY
2022 – THE GUILTY COUPLE
2024 – EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE

She has also written two Young Adult thrillers: THE TREATMENT and THE ISLAND.

Her crime short story collection, TELL THEM NO LIES, is published as Cally Taylor. She also has a women’s fiction story collection, SECRETS AND RAIN, under the same name.*

C.L. Taylor lives in Bristol in the UK with her partner and son.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

REVIEW: The Serial Killer’s Wife by Alice Hunter

Published May 27th, 2021 by Avon Books
Psychological Thriller, Noir Fiction, Serial Killer Books

Welcome to my review for this chilling debut. Thank you to Avon Books for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. I read this as part of my Beat the Backlist 24 Challenge.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

*Read it before you watch it – now a major TV series for Paramount+*

‘The final double twist is well worth waiting for’My Weekly

‘Hooks you in to the drama straight away’ The Sun

Every marriage has its secrets…

Beth and Tom Hardcastle are the envy of their neighbourhood – they have the perfect marriage, the perfect house, the perfect family.

When the police knock on their door one evening, Beth panics. Tom should be back from work by now – what if he’s crashed his car? She fears the worst.

But the worst is beyond imagining.

As the interrogation begins, Beth will find herself questioning everything she believed about her husband.

They’re saying he’s a monster. And they’re saying she knew.

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MY REVIEW:

Tom and Beth have the picture-perfect house, the perfect child, perfect marriage. Or that’s what everyone thinks. Every marriage has its secrets, and theirs are about to be revealed…

One of the things I can’t help but think about whenever a killer is reported upon is what about their family. Do they have a partner? Children? Did those close to them notice anything untoward? Were they scared of them? Or were they blissfully unaware that anything was amiss and left with their whole world turned upside down when they were arrested? Those are the kinds of questions that Alice Hunter explores in her sensational debut, The Serial Killer’s Wife. This book had been on my shelf since before publication so I decided to listen to the audiobook as part of my attempt to beat my backlist this year. And I am so glad I did. What. A. Book! Nail-bitingly tense, unsettling and twisty, I was not prepared for what was on these pages and could only hold on tight as Alice Hunter took me on an insane ride. 

The story opens when the police arrive at Beth and Tom’s house to question him about a murder. It then moves between narrators and timelines, following the couple as it moves between the aftermath of his shocking arrest and events leading up to that day. Tom is protesting his innocence while Beth is in total disbelief that the man she shared her life with could have killed someone. Tom gave me bad vibes in many ways but I couldn’t decide if he was innocent or guilty. Meanwhile, my heart went out to Beth as she tried to make sense of it all. I was on the edge of my seat as Hunter deftly unpicked the intricate tangled web of secrets and lies, taking my breath away with each new revelation. This book is a masterclass in misdirection and my notes were full of annotations such as  ‘OMG’, ‘WTF is happening’, and ‘I can’t believe the twists that keep coming’. This has now been adapted for TV and I’m excited to watch soon as it is perfect for adaptation. 

Atmospheric, chilling, twist and surprising, this one is a must for all thriller fans. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to get 2 months of listening free with my affiliate link*

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

After completing a psychology degree, Alice Hunter became an interventions facilitator in a prison. There, she was part of a team offering rehabilitation programmes to men serving sentences for a wide range of offences, often working with prisoners who’d committed serious violent crimes. Previously, Alice had been a nurse, working in the NHS. She now puts her experiences to good use in fiction. THE SERIAL KILLER’S WIFE draws heavily on her knowledge of psychology and the criminal mind.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Categories
Audio Books Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Leave No Trace (Kat and Lock, Book 2) by Jo Callaghan

Published March 28th, 2024 by Simon & Schuster UK
Psychological Thriller, Science Fiction, Book Series

Today is my stop on the blog tour for this riveting and nerve-shredding thriller. Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part, and to Simon and Schuster UK for the proof copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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SYNOPSIS:

DCS Kat Frank and AIDE Lock return in the provocative new thriller from the author of In the Blink of an Eye.

‘A smart, agile, immaculately plotted and moving thriller that is unswervingly gripping and scary, and at the same time beautifully tender and humane’ NICCI FRENCH 
‘Chilled me to the bone and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Callaghan writes with such intelligence; interspersing humour with moments of utter heartbreak’ NIKKI SMITH
 
One detective driven by instinct, the other by logic.
It will take both to find a killer who knows the true meaning of fear . . .
 
When the body of a man is found crucified at the top of Mount Judd, AIDE Lock – the world’s first AI Detective – and DCS Kat Frank are thrust into the spotlight as they are given their first live case.
 
But with the discovery of another man’s body – also crucified – it appears that their killer is only just getting started. With the police warning local men to be vigilant, the Future Policing Unit is thrust into a hostile media frenzy as they desperately search for connections between the victims. But time is running out for them to join the dots and prevent another death.
 
For if Kat and Lock know anything, it’s that killers rarely stop – until they are made to.

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MY REVIEW:

DCS Kat Frank and AIDE Lock are back thrust into the spotlight when they finally get to investigate their first live case in the second instalment of this gripping crime series. The pair are called to an unusual crime scene where a man has been found crucified at the top of Mount Judd. And when the body of a second man is found crucified it seems that their killer is just beginning. Local men are warned to stay vigilant as the Future Policing Unit face a race against the clock to find and stop the culprit before they kill again. 

Compelling, tense and surprising, I couldn’t put this one down. This time around the duo find themselves embroiled in a case that makes national headlines, putting them under even greater pressure. While the first book focused more on the sci-fi aspect of an AI detective, this time around there is less sci-fi and more crime, allowing Jo Callaghan to showcase herself as a crime writer to watch. I enjoyed the darker tone she took this time around and this is exactly the kind of twisted thriller that sings to me. After enjoying the audiobook last time I decided to listen again and loved it. I particularly enjoyed how the killer’s pov is told in an echoey way that is so eerie it sent chills down my spine every time I heard it. Even just thinking about it is making me shiver. 

I loved being back with the Future Policing Unit. Kat and Lock are a unique and fascinating detective team and I loved their banter and camaraderie, which has grown since their rocky start in the first book. But it is only their second case and they are still learning how to work together, something that can be tricky when one of them is driven by instinct and the other by logic. I like how well they balance each other out; one’s weaknesses being the other’s strengths, and how they both were learning to be better officers by including some of each other’s methods. I also really liked that Lock is no longer treated as a perfect detective. We see some of his limitations and flaws, which kind of humanises the AI detective a little. It certainly made me warm to him more this time around. 

Riveting, pacy, and filled with nerve-shredding tension, Leave No Trace is an action-packed thriller that will keep you on your toes. Now I just have to wait impatiently for book three. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. You can listen, too, with 2 months free listening with my affiliate link. Click here*

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Jo Callaghan works fulltime as a senior strategist, where she has carried out research into the future impact of AI and genomics on the workforce.She was a student of the Writers’ Academy Course (Penguin Random House), was long listed for the Myslexia Novel Writing Competition and Bath Novel Competition. After losing her husband to cancer in 2019 when she was just forty-nine, she started writing IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE, her debut crime novel. Published to critical-acclaim, it selected by Val McDermid for her New Blood panel of the best debuts of 2023 and for BBC Two’s Between the Covers Book Club. TV rights were sold in a major acquisition.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Squadpod Squadpod Reviews

SQUADPOD REIVEWS: Prima Facie by Suzie Miller

Published March 14th, 2024 by Hutchinson Heinmann
Literary Fiction, Political Fiction, Contemporary Fiction

Prima Facie is one of our SquadPod Featured Books. Thank you Hutchinson Heinmann for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

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SYNOPSIS:

‘Bold, fearless and heartbreaking’ Elle Magazine

‘It has been an absolute joy to return to Tessa’s story . . . My hope is that it will reach the widest number of people . . . I’ve personally enjoyed delving into her story again’ Jodie Comer

‘Bold, fearless, heartbreakingly timeless. Written with skill, humour, despair and hope, Prima Facie is a deeply rewarding, absolute must read’ Chris Whitaker

‘Enthralling and sharp-witted . . . Highly recommended’ Karin Slaughter

‘Miller’s star shines as brightly as a novelist as it does as a playwright. Prima Facie the novel gives us what novels do: the intimacy of interior life. A great read’ Anna Funder

From the Olivier award-winning playwright of Prima Facie Suzie Miller comes her first novel, where power, patriarchy and morality diverge.

‘This is not life. This is law.’

Tessa Ensler is a brilliant barrister who’s forged her career in criminal defence through sheer determination. Since her days at Cambridge, she’s carefully disguised her working class roots in a male-dominated world where who you know is just as important as what you know. Driven by her belief in the right to a fair trial and a taste for victory, there’s nothing Tessa loves more than the thrill of getting her clients acquitted.

It seems like Tessa has it made when she is approached for a new job and nominated for the most prestigious award in her field. But when a date with a charismatic colleague goes horribly wrong, Tessa finds that the rules she’s always played by might not protect her, forcing her to question everything she’s ever believed in . . .

AS SEEN IN ROISIN KATE KELLY, SUNDAY TIMES, ROUND-UP OF BEST BOOKS COMING IN 2024

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MY REVIEW:

“It’s not emotional for me, it’s simply the game of law.”

Fearless, impassioned, bold, and affecting, Prima Facie is a piercing novel that explores patriarchy, power, justice and fem. Debut novelist Suzie Miller draws back the curtain on the mysterious world of the law and criminal defence, exposing the flaws of a system ruled by men, and influenced by who you know.

The story is told by Tessa, a successful criminal defence barrister who is passionate about the law and justice. But everything changes the night she is assaulted by a colleague after a date. Tessa discovers that the rules might not help her find justice after all, forcing her to reconsider everything she holds true…

“Am I going to let him get away with it? That’s not who I am. Is this what I think should happen to women? That they should stay silent? No…What about justice? What about believing in the law to get it right?”

Told in multiple timelines we start by getting to know our protagonist, Tessa, who has worked her way up from her working class roots to read law at Cambridge and established herself as a brilliant barrister through sheer grit. She’s caught between these two worlds and never quite feels like she fits into either of them. Fierce, strong and steadfast, Tessa is a force to be reckoned with in the courtroom, and you can feel her passion and belief in the system she loves leaping from the pages. Then, that terrible night causes a seismic shift and you can feel her coming undone; her heart cleaved in two and filled with despair as her whole world unravels. But what stands out even more is the fire it ignites inside her and I was rooting for her at every step as she fought against the odds in the hope of finding justice.

“I don’t want to be a victim. I want to be a survivor.”

From the first pages of this book, you feel yourself in the hands of a master storyteller, and the level of literary fiction, drama, and psychological suspense is perfectly balanced, creating an unforgettable novel that is emotionally wrought, heart-pounding, tense, and enraging. Miller starts the book with a dedication that reads, “For all the women who compromise the ‘one in three’” and, as one of those women, I was deeply touched by how she keeps us at the forefront of the readers’ consciousness throughout. Complex, layered, raw, and emotionally resonant, Miller raises thought-provoking questions and moral dilemmas while also reminding us that anyone can become a victim of sexual assault and the flawed and broken legal system, even someone who has dedicated years to defending it.

Though I have a physical copy, I listened to this one on audiobook after it was recommended to me by a few people and I am so glad that I did. Jodie Cromer is a compelling and evocative narrator. She brings the story and characters to life and I was totally invested at every step. The veins of anger and devastation that were threaded through her voice during the aftermath of the assault were particularly powerful and will stay with me long after reading.

UCourageous, challenging, compelling and outstanding, Prima Facie is a story that demands to be read. Highly recommended.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

TW: Sexual assault, rape

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Suzie Miller is an Australian-British playwright, librettist and screenwriter. Her plays include Prima Facie, which was premiered in Australia in 2019, and had its UK premiere in the West End in 2022.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These links are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxxx

Categories
book reviews Squadpod Squadpod Reviews

SQUADPOD REVIEWS: Island in the Sun by Katie Fforde

Published February 15th, 2024 by Century
Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance, Adventure Fiction

I’m finally sharing my review for the charming and uplifting Island in the Sun, which was a SquadPod Book Feature in February. Thank you EdPR and Century for the proof copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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SYNOPSIS:

A tale of friendship, courage and romance, the latest novel from bestselling author Katie Fforde is here.

‘The queen of uplifting, feel good romance’ AJ PEARCE
‘Top-drawer romantic escapism’ DAILY MAIL
‘Warm, brilliant and full of love’ HEAT
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When Cass is asked by her father to take on an unusual photography project in the Caribbean Island of Dominica, she really can’t see a reason to say no.

But the remote island has just been hit be a severe hurricane, leaving destruction in its wake. Cass is travelling with Ranulph who is searching for the rare stone carvings her father wants her to photograph.

Their hunt leads Cass down a path of bravery and self-discovery, and she soon falls for Ranulph, who has been by her side every step of the way.

But does he feel the same way about her?

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MY REVIEW:

Twenty-five-year-old Cass is about to enjoy her last summer of freedom before embarking on her teacher training course when her father, a famous wildlife photographer, asks her for a favour. He wants Cass to go to the Caribbean island of Dominica to take a fragile and faded hand-drawn map to help his friend’s son, Bastian, find a rare petroglyph and photograph it. Ranulph, a well-travelled journalist, offers to accompany Cass. She knows she mustn’t fall in love with him but can’t shake her growing feelings for her handsome travel companion even though she knows he can’t possibly feel the same way. Can he?

Uplifting, feel-good fiction and a dose of pure escapism, Island in the Sun was the ideal read to pick up on a cold, rainy March day in England. Katie Fjorde transports us to the sun-drenched shores of Dominica, a mountainous island populated by natural hot springs and rainforests where the Atlantic and the Caribbean meet, for a story filled with friendship, love, adventure and self-discovery.

Cass is a likeable yet sometimes frustrating protagonist and there were moments I wanted to give her a good shake. She’s the youngest in a family of high achievers and has always struggled to voice what she really wants in life rather than allowing her father to decide her path. Throughout the book we see her confidence slowly grow in all areas of her life, but I think her lack of confidence regarding her relationship with Ranulph made it hard to feel invested in their will they/won’t they romance at times. The escapades surrounding the petroglyph provided something a bit different for a romance novel that I really enjoyed. I found myself caught up in the race against the clock to find and document the petroglyph so that Bastian could finish his research paper and submit it for the prize that meant much-needed money for the island. I was rooting for him at every step, particularly as Austin, the loathsome villain of the story, meddled at every step to try and win the prize for himself. I hated this man! He is brilliantly written and my blood would boil every time he was on the page, Fforde expertly using him to raise the tension and keep the reader on guessing.

The island itself plays a key role in this story and Cass’s visit in the wake of a devastating hurricane included a lot of helping the community as they tried to recover from the destruction. Fforde gives the reader a real sense of the way of life on the island and how it feels to see your home torn apart in this way, the hard reality of life after a natural disaster, and the fear that lingers in its wake. But despite all of this the beauty of Dominica and its people shines through and I could understand why Cass fell in love with this place. The people who populated Dominica were some of my favourite characters, with Bastian and Delphine finding a special place in my heart. They played a big part in helping Cass to find her confidence and inner strength, and I found their spirits infectious and inspiring, especially in the face of such hardship.

Charming, fun, adventurous and immersive, Island in the Sun is another winner from Ms. Fforde.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

From Amazon:

Dear readers, thank you for visiting my Amazon Page.

I live in the beautiful Cotswold countryside with my family, and I’m a country girl at heart.

I first started writing when my mother gave me a writing kit for Christmas, and once I started I just couldn’t stop. Living Dangerously was my first novel and since then, I haven’t looked back.

Ideas for books are everywhere, and I’m constantly inspired by the people and places around me. From watching TV (yes, it is research) to overhearing conversations, I love how my writing gives me the chance to taste other people’s lives and try all the jobs I’ve never had.

Each of my books explores a different profession or background and my research has helped me bring these to life. I’ve been a porter in an auction house, tried my hand at pottery, refurbished furniture, delved behind the scenes of a dating website, and I’ve even been on a Ray Mears survival course.

I love being a writer; to me there isn’t a more satisfying and pleasing thing to do. I particularly enjoy writing love stories. I believe falling in love is the best thing in the world, and I want all my characters to experience it, and my readers to share their stories.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Bookshop.org* | Amazon*

*these are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxxx

*These links are affiliate links

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Blog Tours book reviews

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: The Playgroup by Leah Mercer

Published March 21st, 2024 by Bookouture
Thriller, Suspense, Psychologial Thriller, Mystery

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this gripping psychological thriller. Thank you to Bookouture for the invitation to take part and gifted proof copy.

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SYNOPSIS:

Breath catches in my throat and terror grips me as my daughter’s favourite jumper slides into focus. Time slows. Helpless, I watch my precious little girl run into the road. Screeching tyres slice through the quiet afternoon. Days from now, my friends will say the worst day of my life was all my fault…

A bright and welcoming haven, the playgroup sits at the heart of the town, tucked away inside a red-brick building. The Nest should have been the safest place for my rosy-cheeked, pink-obsessed daughter, Florence. Run by mothers like me, I trusted my newfound friends – Alice, Beth and Georgie – to take care of my child. But now my choice has left Florence fighting for her life.

My heart pounds thinking about what I will tell my husband, James. He stayed with me through the darkest times, and I thought some space would bring us closer. But as I watch our little girl sleeping in a hospital bed, I know our relationship may never recover from this.

How can I tell James what really happened if I don’t know myself? I can’t shake the feeling the other mothers are lying to me; they know I’d never let Florence leave the nursery by herself. We’ve all got dangerous secrets we want to protect, but if they expose mine, will anyone, including my husband, believe me when I say I didn’t harm my daughter?

A completely gripping psychological suspense about the dark price of protecting your family, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Adele Parks and Sally Hepworth.

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MY REVIEW:

Lenore is finally starting to feel more herself after months of crippling postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter, Florence. But her husband, James, still doesn’t seem to trust her with their child, so she decides to take some time away by herself with Florence so they can both learn to trust her as a mother again so she moves to a house in Mappelstow, just outside London. In the heart of this town sits The Nest, a playgroup run by a co-operative of the town’s parents which seems like the ideal place for not only her daughter to socialise, but for Lenore to begin working again. Lenore soon settles in and begins to see the other women working there as her friends. Until that terrible day.

Lenore stands helpless, paralysed by horror as her little girl runs into the road. Tyres screech and Lenore’s scream pierces the air as she races to her daughter’s side. Little Florence is alive, but only just, and is rushed into hospital. Lenore and her husband, James, begin a vigil by the unconscious little girl’s bedside hoping for a miracle. But their nightmare gets even darker when the other women tell Lenore the accident was her fault. Could they be right? Could her PPD have clouded her mind and she really put her child in danger? Lenore is sure it wasn’t her fault. But why would her friends lie? What might they be hiding?

Tense, twisty and surprising, Leah Mercer had me in the palm of her hand as I devoured this book in just 24 hours. Narrated by Lenore, Alice, Georgie, and Beth, this is a story where everyone has something to hide. It explores topics such as postpartum depression, drug addiction, chronic illness, and coercive control, spinning a twisted web of secrets and lies that is cleverly woven together. Fast-paced and addictive, I could never be sure of the truth and when the truth was revealed it left me speechless. I did not see that coming! 

A suspenseful and surprising thriller, I’d highly recommend The Playgroup to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Leah can’t remember a time when she didn’t love writing. From creating fake newspapers to writing letters to the editor, scribbling something was always on the agenda. Even the rejections she received after completing her first novel at age 13 didn’t dent her enthusiasm.

So it makes sense, then, that she pursued a career in anything but writing. Public relations, teaching, recruitment, editing medical journals — even a stint painting houses — until she finally succumbed once more to the lure of the blank page. 

Whe she’s not being jumped on by her young son or burning supper while thinking of plotlines, Leah can be found furiously tapping away on her laptop, trying not to check Twitter or Facebook. 

Leah also writes romantic comedies under the name Talli Roland.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

Categories
Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2024

BOOK REVIEW: Song of the Huntress by Lucy Holland

Published March 21st, 2024 by Pan Macmillan
Historical Fiction, Historical Fantasy, Fantasy Fiction, Fairy Tale, Norse & Viking Mythology

Happy Publication Day to Song of the Huntress, the dark and fierce feminist historical fantasy by Lucy Holland. Thank you to Bookbreak, Pan Macmillan, and NetGalley for my proof copies.

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SYNOPSIS:

FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF SISTERSONG

‘Lucy Holland’s lyrical prose and powerful storytelling will lure you in’ – Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne

A must-read for fans of Circe, Song of the Huntress recasts the folklore behind the Wild Hunt into a dark, feminist fantasy set amidst the legends and beauty of ancient Britain.

Britain, 60 AD. Hoping to save her lover and her land from the Romans, Herla makes a desperate pact with the Otherworld King. She becomes Lord of the Hunt and for centuries she rides, reaping wanderers’ souls. Until the night she meets a woman on a bloody battlefield – a Saxon queen with ice-blue eyes.

Queen Æthelburg of Wessex is a proven fighter, but after a battlefield defeat she finds her husband’s court turning against her. Yet King Ine needs Æthel more than ever: the dead kings of Wessex are waking, and Ine must master his bloodline’s ancient magic if they are to survive.

When their paths cross, Herla knows it’s no coincidence. Something dark and dangerous is at work in the Wessex court. As she and Æthel grow closer, Herla must find her humanity – and a way to break the curse – before it’s too late.

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MY REVIEW:

“Tonight, Herla will give them a monster.”

Happy Publication Day to Song of the Huntress, the dark, fierce, feminist historical fantasy retelling of the folklore behind the Wild Hunt. This propulsive fantasy novel transports us to ancient Britain and introduces us to Herla, who has been cursed to be Lord of the Wild Hunt after making a desperate deal with the Otherworld King. For centuries she has ridden, reaping the souls of those she has slain in battle. When she meets Queen Æthelburg of Wessex on a bloody battlefield, Herla knows that her meeting with this fierce warrior Queen is no accident as there is danger lurking,, whispers about Æthel are louder than ever in court, the King is fighting his own brother, tensions between Christians and Pagans are at an all time high, people are dying strange deaths, and the Otherworld is getting ready to strike. Can Herla find a way to break her curse and help the Queen?

This was a gorgeously woven tapestry of history, folklore, fantasy and magic. I listened to this on audiobook, and was immediately captivated by the riveting narration. And, despite the fact it was quite a long story, the quality of both the storytelling and the narration never faltered, keeping me completely immersed in its pages from beginning to end. It is expertly written, richly drawn, and meticulously researched, Lucy Holland’s knowledge and passion for the myth evident in every word. Her evocative characters leaped from the pages and I was caught up in the emotions of these ferocious women and their unique love story.

Powerful, savage and striking, Song of the Huntress is a must read for anyone who enjoys stories filled with history, myth and magic. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

*You can listen to this book on Bookbeat as part of your free 60-day trial via this affiliate link*

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

I’m a writer living in south-west England on the red shores of the Jurassic Coast. It’s a beautiful, mysterious part of the country, steeped in myth and folklore. And so unsurprisingly, it’s a perfect place in which to make up stories.

In the vein of most writers, I’ve been making up stories for a long time. Despite attending theatre school for six years, books were my first love. My parents read a lot to us as children – I guess it’s their fault my sister and I both turned out as authors!

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BUY THE BOOK:

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*These links are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: The Saturday Place by Alice Peterson

Published March 14th, 2024 by Bedford Square Publishers
Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for the delightful The Saturday Place. Thank you Bedford Square Publishers for the invitation to take part in the blog tour and the gifted copy of the book.

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SYNOPSIS:

‘Uplifting, heartwarming and mouth-watering, The Saturday Place is the kind of book we all need now. A tale of friendship and food, it’s bursting with optimism and love. Charming.’ Veronica Henry, author of The Secret Beach

‘A tender story of hope, friendship and the power of community.’ – Emily Houghton, author of Before I Saw You

‘A warm, wise and really special book… I absolutely loved it.’ – Katy Regan, author of Little Big Love

Three perfect strangers who help each other to believe in love again

Holly’s husband died, and she’s lonely. She needs to do something to save herself, quickly. Next thing she knows she’s interviewing for a voluntary cooking job, surprised to be ambushed by a scruffy man who looks like he has a past.

Angus has messed up. He’s lost the respect of his family and has none for himself. If it weren’t for his brother and friend who run the café, he’d be sleeping on the streets. Angus is about ready to give up – until he meets Holly, who sparks something in him.

Then Lauren arrives from the homeless shelter. She came to London with nothing but an old train ticket, a teddy bear, and the clothes on her back. With no family, no home, no friends, she doesn’t know what love is. People scare her. She’s terrified of Angus and Holly. At first.

Each of them finds themselves in the Saturday café at a time when they need something to grab hold of. It might have to be each other…

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MY REVIEW:

“I didn’t appreciate fully, back then, that we can make plans, we can map out our lives, but often fate has other ideas.”

Holly has been adrift ever since the death of her beloved husband, Jamie. She is lonely and needs to find herself again, so she volunteers at Soul Food, a Saturday cafe that caters to those in need. It is there that she meets Angus and Lauren, two other lost souls looking to rebuild their lives again. The three of them become close and form an unlikely trio, helping each other learn to live and believe in love again. 

The Saturday Place is a gorgeous slice of life book full of heart, hope and healing. A story about how we may make plans but life has plans of its own that we can’t control. A story that reminds us of the importance of purpose, belonging, community and friendship. Alice Peterson explores topics such as grief, trauma and mental health with sensitivity and there’s a tender and compelling atmosphere that lingers over the pages. I lost myself in the story and didn’t want to put it down. 

“Sometimes it’s important to remind myself how lucky I am”

I think a big part of what makes this book so special is the characters. Peterson has created a cast of realistic and relatable characters who it is impossible not to love. You will cry, laugh and rage with them. But most of all you will be rooting for them as they rebuild themselves and their lives among their heartache. It was inspiring and really makes you appreciate the things you have in life. 

Uplifting, emotional, endearing and delightful, The Saturday Place is a comforting story that will stay with me. Highly recommended. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

From Amazon:
I have published two non-fiction books, and ten novels, including the critically acclaimed A Song for Tomorrow, and my bestselling title, Monday to Friday Man. My latest novel, The Saturday Place, will be published by Bedford Square Publishers in March, 2024.

My writing is romantic, powerful and emotional, and my storylines always include hard-hitting and thought-provoking themes, such as addiction and disability. My next novel touches on homelessness. My protagonists often have to overcome adversity, based on my own experience of a professional tennis career cut short at the age of 18 when I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. I have never played tennis again, a sadness that will always be with me, but I have very much filled that void with writing. I am drawn to true stories and aim to write with deep compassion, empathy and humour about issues that resonate with my growing readership and that I believe have the potential of reaching and touching millions more.

I live in west London where I am currently training to be a psychotherapist. My most favourite thing is walking my best buddy, my handsome Lucas Terrier, Mr Darcy, in the park.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2024 Squadpod Squadpod Recommends Squadpod Reviews Uncategorised

SQUADPOD REVIEWS: Small Hours by Bobby Palmer

Published March 14th, 2024 by Headline
Literary Fiction, Contemporary Fantasy, Contemporary Fiction

Today I’m sharing my review for the mesmerising Small Hours, which is one of this month’s SquadPod Featured Books. Thank you to Headline for sending me a proof in exchange for an honest review.

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SYNOPSIS:

‘Powerful’ JOANNA GLEN
‘Beautiful’ KATE SAWYER
‘A triumph’ JENNIE GODFREY

The eagerly awaited new novel from Bobby Palmer, author of the critically acclaimed debut Isaac and the Egg.

If you stood before sunrise in this wild old place, looking through the trees into the garden, here’s what you’d see:

A father and son, a fox standing between them.

Jack, home for the first time in years, still determined to be the opposite of his father.

Gerry, who would rather talk to animals than the angry man back under his roof.

Everything that follows is because of the fox, and because Jack’s mother is missing. It spans generations of big dreams and lost time, unexpected connections and things falling apart, great wide worlds and the moments that define us.

If you met them in the small hours, you’d begin to piece together their story.

‘A magical, comforting read that touches on father-son relationships, male mental health and the healing power of nature’ GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

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MY REVIEW:

“Things aren’t set in stone. The smallest creatures undergo the greatest transformations. We are all of us, always, in flux.”

He’s done it again! Just like Bobby Palmer’s extraordinary debut, Isaac and the Egg, Small Hours is a literary masterpiece.  Mesmerising and poignant, this book was like a balm for the soul that wrapped me up in a warm hug as I read. Told in lyrical, melodic prose, I was transfixed and lost myself in its pages. I never wanted it to end but also didn’t want to put it down. 

Small Hours is a story about a father, a son, and a fox. A story about family, estrangement, loss, grief, mental health, disillusionment, and new beginnings. Through Jack and Gerry’s strained relationship Palmer explores the father/son relationship from both sides. These characters are like chalk and cheese, and while I loved reading them both, I will admit that it was Gerry I had the softest spot for. Gerry is struggling with a memory problem that is never identified, but seemed to me to be like dementia and it was heartbreaking to read as he tried to grasp at disappearing memories or wandered through the world with no idea where he was or what was going on. Palmer’s research is clear in Gerry’s behaviours and thoughts. 

“Did other people find it easy? To ask things, to say things out loud? To grab the stalks of the thoughts in your head and to pull up their roots, to bring them out of the soil and into her sunlight?” 

Seamlessly blending literary fiction with fantasy, Palmer has taken the world we know and sprinkled in a little magic in order to help us understand ourselves and those around us a little better. It is so well done that I never once questioned that there was a talking fox or that the story was set in reality. I loved how Jack found a friend and confidant in the fox, and reading their scenes were some of my favourite parts of the story. Palmer’s decision to write the inner monologues of the humans and the fox in disjointed, poetic verses that mirror the way our own thoughts take shape was a stroke of genius. It added to the feeling of authenticity and made me feel like I was really getting a glimpse into their thoughts.

Soulful, uplifting, moving, and original, Small Hours is one of the most beautiful stories I have ever read and it will stay with me long after turning the final page. This is one of those books that you have to experience for yourself and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

BOBBY PALMER is an author and journalist whose writing has appeared in GQ, Esquire, Men’s Health, Cosmopolitan and more. He is co-host of the literary podcast BOOK CHAT with Pandora Sykes.

His debut novel, ISAAC AND THE EGG, was an instant Saturday Times bestseller, selling 50,000 copies in its first year of publication. A Prima and Woman & Home ‘Best Book of 2022’, the novel appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Open Book, featured as Guardian ‘Audiobook of the Week’, and was chosen by Dawn O’Porter as part of her ‘Dawn Loves’ book club with WHSmith.

Bobby’s second novel, SMALL HOURS, will publish in March 2024.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxx