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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: The Burning Stones by Antti Tuomainen

Published October 24th, 2024 by Orenda
Thriller, Dark Comedy, Mystery, Noir Fiction, Translated Fiction

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for the tense, addictive, hilarious and absurd The Burning Stones. Thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part and to Orenda Books for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A top saleswoman at a Finnish sauna company must outwit the police and a murderer when her boss is found dead … in a sauna. A darkly funny, tense new thriller from ‘The funniest writer in Europe’ (The Times)
 
‘The best comic crime novel you’ll read this year’ Abir Mukherjee
 
‘Showcases Antti’s trademark deadpan humour and crime plots focused on intriguingly quirky individuals. An utter delight’ Vaseem Khan
 
‘Just what you want from Antti Tuomainen, the brilliant moulding of apparent mundanity into a which-way-now thrill ride, with humour drier than a desert snake’s belly’ Ian Moore 
 
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Saunas, love and a ladleful of murder…
 
A cold-blooded killer strikes at the hottest moment: the new head of a sauna-stove company is murdered … in the sauna. Who has turned up the temperature and burned him to death?
 
The evidence points in the direction of Anni Korpinen – top salesperson and the victim’s successor at Steam Devil.
 
And as if hitting middle-age, being in a marriage that has lost its purpose, and struggling with work weren’t enough, Anni realizes that she must be quicker than both the police and the murderer to uncover who is behind it all – before it’s too late…
 
From the international bestselling author of The Man Who Died and The Rabbit Factor, comes a darkly funny, delightfully tense new thriller that showcases humanity at its most bare – in middle age, suspected of murder and, of course, in a sauna…

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MY REVIEW:

A new Antti Tuomainen book is always something I look forward to. The King of Comic Crime, his books are deliciously absurd, quirky, and darkly funny thrillers that have me hooked from beginning to end. 

In his latest offering, we return to Finland for another caper. This time there is a killer who strikes when their victims are at their most vulnerable: in the sauna.  It starts with the death of an executive of Steam Devil who is found burned to death, the temperature in his sauna raised until he expired. The police think the evidence points to one person: Anni Korpinen, a top salesperson at Steam Devil and the victim’s successor. But Anni says she’s innocent. And now she must prove it. Juggling her own investigation into the crime alongside her job, middle-age, and a marriage that’s falling apart. 

Antti’s books are best read pretty blind as the joy is in the discovery of his wild and thrilling stories, so I’ll not tell you much more about the plot. What I will tell you is that when you pick this up you’re in for a treat; a crazy, rollercoaster ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat, make you angry, make you laugh when you shouldn’t, and keep you guessing right up until the big reveal. Just make sure you don’t have anything planned when you start reading, because you’ll not be moving again until you’ve finished. 

Original, hilarious, tense and addictive, pick up The Burning Stones is the perfect thriller for anyone looking for something a bit different but totally brilliant. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Finnish Antti Tuomainen was an award-winning copywriter when we made his literary debut in 2007 as a suspense author. In 2011, Tuomainen’s third novel, The Healer, was awarded the Clue Award for Best Finnish Crime Novel and was shortlisted for the Glass Key Award. In 2013, the Finnish press crowned Tuomainen the ‘King of Helsinki Noir’ when Dark as My Heart was published. With a piercing and evocative style, Tuomainen was one of the first to challenge the Scandinavian crime-genre formula,and his poignant, dark and hilarious The Man Who Died became an international bestseller, shortlisting for the Petrona and Last Laugh Awards. Palm Beach, Finland (2018) was an immense success, with The Times calling Tuomainen ‘the funniest writer in Europe’, and Little Siberia (2019) was shortlisted for the Capital Crime/Amazon Publishing Readers Awards, the Last Laugh Award and the CWA International Dagger, and won the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel. The Rabbit Factor, the prequel to The Moose Paradox, will soon be a major motion picture starring Steve Carell for Amazon Studios.

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ABOUT THE TRANSLATOR:

David Hackston is a British translator of Finnish and Swedish literature and drama. Notable publications include The Dedalus Book of Finnish Fantasy, Maria Peura’s coming-of-age novel At the Edge of Light, Johanna Sinisalo’s eco-thriller Birdbrain, two crime novels by Matti Joensuu and Kati Hiekkapelto’s Anna Fekete series (which currently includes The Hummingbird, The Defenceless and The Exiled, all published by Orenda Books). He also translates Antti Tuomainen’s stories. In 2007 he was awarded the Finnish State Prize for Translation. David is also a professional countertenor and a founding member of the English Vocal Consort of Helsinki.

BUY THE BOOK:

Orenda Books | Bookshop.org* | 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.

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins

Published October 10th, 2024 by Doubleday UK
Crime Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Contemporary Fiction, Literary Fiction

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this atmospheric and suspenseful thriller. Thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part and to Doubleday UK for the gifted proof in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

AS FEATURED ON BBC RADIO 4 FRONT ROW

‘Utterly compelling. Could not put it down.’ LIZ NUGENT

‘Really, really, REALLY good. Highly recommended!’ MARIAN KEYES

‘I LOVED this art-world-set thriller with its stately-home Saltburn vibe.’ DAILY MAIL

THE CHILLING AND ADDICTIVE NEW THRILLER FROM THE MULTI-MILLION-COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR.

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WELCOME TO ERIS – A SCOTTISH TIDAL ISLAND WITH ONLY ONE HOUSE, ONE INHABITANT,
ONE WAY OUT. . .

A place that is unreachable from the Scottish mainland for twelve hours each day. Once the hideaway of Vanessa, a famous artist whose notoriously unfaithful husband disappeared twenty years ago.

Now home to Grace. A solitary creature of the tides, content in her own isolation.

But when a shocking discovery is made in an art gallery far away in London, Grace receives an unexpected visitor.

And the secrets of Eris threaten to emerge . . .

‘A gripping, ambitious, big-skied novel about women who refuse to surrender to the tide.’ ERIN KELLY

‘Extremely hard to put down.’ MICK HERRON

‘A masterpiece! Gorgeous and chilling.’ SHARI LAPENA

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MY REVIEW:

Eris Island is a secluded island off the coast of Scotland that has just one house, one inhabitant, and is cut off from the mainland for twelve hours each day. This made it the ideal sanctuary for Vanessa Chapman, an eccentric and reclusive artist, who lived and created much of her work there until her death five years ago. Upon her death Vanessa bequeathed her home to her companion, Grace, but her work to gallery owner, Doug Lennox. But there are works rumoured to be missing, and when a human bone is discovered in one of her sculptures, Janes Becker is sent to Eris Island by the Lennox family to investigate. Will he finally reveal the secrets Eris has kept hidden for decades…

It’s been a while since I’ve read anything by Paula Hawkins, but I loved The Girl on the Train and knew I needed to read this one as soon as I read the synopsis. It started strong: the beautiful and compelling prologue pulling me in and telling me that this was going to live up to the hype. And it did. Atmospheric, claustrophobic, tense and alluring, The Blue Hour is a story about dark secrets, fractured people, male violence, and women who refuse to conform. Skillfully written, tightly plotted and twisty, there’s a dark, haunting and mysterious atmosphere that permeates the pages from start to finish. It’s a darkness that feels seductive, luring you to Eris Island and its long-held secrets and holding you in its thrall. The island’s harsh, unforgiving and isolated landscape only heightened these feelings. Eris seems like the perfect place when you want peace or solitude, but it’s frightening when things go wrong. And while I had my theories about what had gone wrong, I didn’t predict even a slither of the many twists and turns. Hawkins steadily builds the tension to its heart-pounding crescendo, leaving me breathless when all was finally unveiled.

The story is told by dual narrators: Vanessa’s companion, Grace, and James, who works for the Lennox family. While James seems reliable, steadfast and someone who is what he appears – a fanboy of Vanessa’s who now works for the family who sold her artwork – Grace is more of an enigma. We know Grace is keeping secrets and are never sure if we can trust her. Is she just protective of her dear friend and her legacy or is there something darker to what she’s hiding? This mystery added to the tension and kept me on tenterhooks. Meanwhile, Vanessa may have passed five years before, but she is kept very much alive by the inclusion of extracts from her diary before each chapter. These were often my favourite parts; the author dropping breadcrumbs of clues for us to piece together as we try to unravel the mystery of what really happened on Eris Island.

Eerie, suspenseful and totally riveting, The Blue Hour is a thriller not to be missed.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

PAULA HAWKINS worked as a journalist for fifteen years before writing her first novel. Born and brought up in Zimbabwe, she moved to London in 1989. Her first thriller The Girl on the Train became a global phenomenon, selling over 23 million copies. Published in over fifty languages, it was a No.1 bestseller around the world and a box-office-hit film starring Emily Blunt. Paula’s most recent thrillers, Into the Water and A Slow Fire Burning, were also instant No.1 bestsellers. In 2021 A Slow Fire Burning was nominated for Thriller of the Year at the British Book Awards. Her upcoming thriller, The Blue Hour, will be published around the world in October 2024.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliopihles xxxxx

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

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOGATHON: Sleeping Dogs by Russ Thomas

Published October 24th, 2024 by Simon & Schuster UK
Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Crime Fiction, Psychological Ficiton, Noir Fiction, Police Procedural, Gay Fiction, Crime Series

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Happy Paperback Publication Day to Russ Thomas! Sleeping Dogs, the fourth book in the DS Adam Tyler Series is out today, so what better day for the fourth and final instalment in the Russ Thomas Blogathon.

Thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers Tours for the invitation to take part and to Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

THE NEWEST THRILLER IN THE DS ADAM TYLER SERIES, FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF FIREWATCHING 

‘I was hooked on DS Adam Tyler from the first page . . . Spot on’ SAM HOLLAND
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THE LIES OF THE PAST . . .
 
When an anonymous tip lands on his desk, DS Adam Tyler is intrigued in spite of himself. The disappearance of a young mother twenty-four years ago was big news, but the case was never solved – this tantalizing new lead is something he simply can’t ignore. But the letter has set in motion a dangerous chain of events, and Tyler’s search for the truth soon leaves him fighting for his life.
 
. . . LIVE IN THE PRESENT
 
With Tyler out of action, DC Mina Rabbani must step up to lead the Cold Case Review Unit in his absence, retracing Tyler’s steps and uncovering his secrets to figure out what he was working on. But as she begins to put the pieces together, the case starts to hit frighteningly close to home. Without DS Tyler to protect her, Mina realises that now she’s the one with hard choices to make.

And this time she’s on her own.

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BOOK REVIEW:

DS Adam Tyler receives an anonymous tip regarding the disappearance of a young mother twenty-four years ago. Adam follows the tip to an abandoned cinema where he is later found fighting for his life. But was it an accident or did someone attack him? With his colleagues in the dark about what he was working on,  DC Mina Rabbani must retrace his steps to find answers while also taking charge of the Cold Case Unit. But she is unprepared for what she finds as the clues lead her uncomfortably close to home. How far is she willing to go to learn the truth?

The fourth instalment in the Adam Tyler series is one of the best yet. Skilfully written, cleverly plotted and filled with vivid imagery, Russ Thomas masterfully sets the tone and I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Thomas is an expert at intricately weaving together storylines that seem completely unrelated, and this time he left my jaw on the floor as he moved seamlessly between multiple timelines and narrators to reveal the shocking truth. 

Adam Tyler is a great protagonist but I must admit I really enjoyed seeing more of Mina Rabbani this time around. Although we’ve learned a lot about Adam over the last three books, Mina has remained quite elusive, and it was good to see her get her time to shine. I also enjoyed seeing how she worked with Doggett as we’ve not really seen them work together much before. There were some particularly compelling background characters this time, with Ruth really standing out for me. When we meet Ruth she’s downtrodden after being controlled her whole life, and  as more of her story was revealed I felt even more sorry for her. But there was also something about her that felt unnerving. Was that because she’s strange, or was there something more? This enigma only made her all the more compelling to me, as I love a character I’m unsure about. 

Fast-paced, chilling, suspenseful and addictive, this riveting thriller is another must-read from Mr. Thomas. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Russ Thomas was born in Essex, raised in Berkshire and now lives in Sheffield. After a few ‘proper’ jobs (among them: pot-washer, optician’s receptionist, supermarket warehouse operative, call-centre telephonist, and storage salesman) he discovered the joys of bookselling, where he could talk to people about books all day. He released his debut novel, Firewatching, in 2020. Sleeping Dogs is his fourth novel.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

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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

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Blog Tours book reviews

BLOG TOUR: One Last Prayer (Detective Gina Harte 16) by Carla Kovach

Published October 16th, 2024 by Bookouture
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Police Procedural, Crime Fiction, Noir Fiction, Crime Series

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for the dark and addictive One Last Prayer. Thanks to Bookouture for the invitation to take part and for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

She races home, her young son clasped tightly to her chest, glancing over her shoulder at every face she passes. She reaches the safety of her home, closing the door behind her. Little does she know the danger that awaits her inside…

When local vicar, Sally, packs away the brightly coloured toys and dog-eared books left over from a morning parent and toddler group, her heart pounds as she discovers a note left behind:

‘Help me.’

Sally knows the mother who sat in that spot. Rushing to Nell‘s small house nearby, her feeling of dread grows. Her frantic knock goes unanswered. Inside, she hears Nell’s one-year-old son Alfie crying, but still Nell doesn’t come.

Running to the back of the house, Sally’s breath catches at the sight of Nell’s lifeless body laid out in the garden.

When police investigate the young mother’s tragic death, rumours start to spread. Some say Nell had enemies. Some say she wasn’t telling the truth about who she really was. And some say she was running from a dark past.

With reports of a mysterious figure seen watching Nell’s house, it’s clear whoever took her life is close by. And when a break-in at the church ends with a brutal attack on Sally, the vicar who found Nell’s body, it’s clear that this killer isn’t finished yet…

Fans of Angela Marsons, Cara Hunter and Clare Mackintosh will absolutely love this gripping new thriller from Carla Kovach. Addictive from the first page, and with a jaw-dropping twist, you won’t be able to put this down!

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MY REVIEW:

Detective Gina Harte and her team are back and this time they are investigating the gruesome murder of young mum, Nell, who was discovered slain in her back garden by the local vicar, Sally. Sally had come to check on Nell and her son, Alfie, after the young woman fled the mother and left behind a note asking for help. Rumours quickly circulate that Nell was hiding something. Could her secrets be the key to her murder? As the team investigates things take a distressing turn when Sally is also attacked. It’s clear that this is someone who will go to extreme lengths to keep their secrets. Can Gina and her team find them before they kill again?

The Detective Gina Harte series is one of my favourite series, and every book goes straight onto my must-read list. I discovered this series the same month I joined Bookstagram so it holds a special place in my heart and it is crazy to me that I just read its sixteenth instalment. But the best thing is, this series isn’t slowing down and Carla Kovach has once again delivered a story every bit as gritty, tense, and compelling as its predecessors. The crime is especially intricate, complex and dark this time around and I went through so many different theories and suspects while reading. And that ending. How could you do that to me?

Carla’s skillful storytelling is a big part of what makes these books so special. It is fast-paced, thrilling, and morally complex, with lots of twists and turns keeping you on your toes from start to finish. You can also rely on her to write compelling characters, such as Gina, who is a fantastic protagonist. And while I love returning to Gina and the team, I also love how well-written the background characters are every time. In this book I really enjoyed getting to know Sally more in this book. I hope we see more from her point of view in the future, but not because she’s attacked!

Dark, nail-bitingly tense and addictive, this is a must-read for all thriller fans.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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BUY THE BOOK:

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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 Featured Books

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: Breaking the Dark by Lisa Jewell

Published July 4th, 2024 by Century
Thriller, Mystery, Superhero Fiction

Welcome to my review for the addictive Breaking the Dark. Thanks to Century for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Breaking the Dark, the first book in the brand-new Marvel Crime series, introduces fans to a grittier, street-level side of the Marvel Universe, and will continue with original novels featuring fan-favorite characters like Luke Cage, written by S.A. Cosby, and Daredevil, written by Alex Segura.
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‘Never has a novelist captured me so consistently every single year for so long’ Gillian McAllister
‘Absolutely perfect’ Booklist
‘A fun, entertaining read that really packs a punch!’ Shari Lapena
‘An exciting, riveting, adrenaline-pumping story’ Liz Nugent
‘Immersive, page-turning, addictive, fresh and fun.’ Andrea Mara
‘Exhilarating, twisty and original. Agatha Christie meets Black Mirror!’ Claire Douglas
‘I was hooked from the start and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Original, clever and cinematic.’ Alice Feeney
‘Absolutely compulsive, complex and gripping. A classic mystery weaved seamlessly into the Marvel Universe. I loved it.’ Nadine Matheson
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Meet Jessica Jones: a private investigator and retired super hero based out of Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan, who goes from job to job as a hard living, rough talking, loner.

And then a wealthy Upper East Side woman pays her a visit. Amber Randall is concerned about her twin sixteen-year-olds, Lark and Fox, who have acted and looked very different since they returned from spending the summer with their British father in the UK. She tells Jessica that her children have unnaturally perfect skin for teenagers and have lost all the tics and habits that made them who they were. They are not Lark and Fox, she tells Jessica. Something has happened to them.

To find out more, Jessica travels to Essex to talk to their father and once there meets Belle who is living a curiously isolated existence in a run-down farmhouse with her guardian Debra. Jessica knows that Lark and Fox had spent the summer with Belle―but can this unworldly teenager really be responsible for Lark and Fox’s new personas?

Jessica soon discovers that, behind Belle and Debra, evil geniuses are playing a dangerous game with technology in order to make the world a “better place”, not caring who gets hurt, maimed or even killed in the process. Can Jessica stop them from wreaking destruction on a whole generation of young people?

Nothing is certain in Lisa Jewell’s gripping and most imaginative novel yet.

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MY REVIEW:

Hell’s Kitchen, New York. Jessica Jones is a retired superhero who now works as a private investigator. She’s hired by Upper East Side resident Amber Rangall who is concerned about her sixteen-year-old twins, Lark and Fox. She says they spent the summer with their father and haven’t been themselves since they returned. That they have unnaturally perfect skin, never pick up their phones, and seem to have lost all the characteristics that made them who they were. Amber is convinced these are not her children and begs Amber to look into what happened to them. 

Lisa Jewell can write anything and it will be brilliant. I’m a huge fan of her books but wasn’t sure I’d enjoy this one as I’ve never been interested in reading anything Marvel related. But when the SquadPod were offered the chance to feature it as one of our summer reads, I knew I had to give it a try. And I loved it! Breathtaking, intelligent, supercharged and twisty, this was a jaw-dropping thriller. The case Jessica is exploring sounded really far-fetched to me at first and I also had no idea how it would be connected to the second storyline that we see in flashbacks. But as things got more curious and strange I got more invested. As the case got increasingly weird and intriguing I liked it even more and was on the edge of my seat as Jewell intricately wove the two storylines together. 

Jessica is a great character. Flawed, fractured, sassy and gutsy, her spiky personality took a little getting used to but she was a great protagonist. I liked that she was a hot mess and didn’t have things figured out. Honestly, I kept forgetting she was a former superhero as Jewell really plays down her powers and chooses to instead explore Jones’ nuances and complexities, making her so very human and relatable. One aspect I really enjoyed was her banter with Malcolm, the teenage fan-boy who she hires as an assistant. I also liked her situationship with Luke and the vulnerable side of her that explored.

Action-packed, intriguing and addictive, this thriller packs a punch. Miss Jewell has converted me to a Marvel thriller reader so I’m really hoping that she will write more of these books. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

LISA JEWELL was born in London in 1968.

Her first novel, Ralph’s Party, was the best- selling debut novel of 1999. Since then she has written another twenty novels, most recently a number of dark psychological thrillers, including The Girls, Then She Was Gone, The Family Upstairs, The Family Remains and The Night She Disappeared, all of which were Richard & Judy Book Club picks.

Lisa is a New York Times and Sunday Times number one bestselling author who has been published worldwide in over thirty languages. She lives in north London with her husband and two daughters.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2022

BLOGATHON: Cold Reckoning by Russ Thomas

Published May 12th, 2022 by Simon & Schuster UK
Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Crime Fiction, Noir Fiction, Domestic Fiction, Gay Fiction, Crime Series

Today is the third instalment of the Russ Thomas Blogathon and I’m thriller to be sharing my review for Cold Reckoning. Thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers Tours for the invitation to take part and to Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘A rollercoaster ride of a thriller . . . will keep you hanging on by your fingertips until the tense final moments’ PETER ROBINSON
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THE DARKNESS FROM HIS PAST WILL FINALLY COME TO LIGHT

The death of DS Tyler’s father irrevocably changed his life. As a child, he believed Richard had killed himself but, as the years have passed, Tyler has grown convinced he was murdered.   

When a cold case lands on Tyler’s desk, there’s nothing immediately notable about it, apart from the link it has to his father. Richard was investigating the same case shortly before he died.
 
Finally, Tyler has a tangible link to the past, one that could give him the answers he has been looking for. And while there are dangerous people who will do anything to keep him quiet, he knows he has to keep digging.

Because you’d risk anything for your family – even your life.

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MY REVIEW:

A gunshot rings out at Damflask Reservoir on a cold winter morning. It leads to the discovery of a body that has a connection to the case Tyler’s father, Richard, was investigating before his death. Could this finally lead Tyler to the answers about his father’s death he’s been searching for all these years? As he digs deeper he must face those who will do anything to stop the truth from being revealed. But with all the clues seeming to say he’s on the right path, Tyler is determined nothing will stop him from finally learning what happened that day.

Gripping, tense and twisty, Russ Thomas has delivered another fantastic instalment in the DS Adam Tyler Series. Events pick up right after the cliffhanger at the end of book two, so I’d highly recommend you pick that one up first. This book felt more personal than ever with the search for Tyler’s godmother and mentor, DCI Diane Jordan, and a case that seems to be connected to Tyler’s father’s death. Since the start of this series there’s been a sense that his father’s death has overshadowed every facet of Tyler’s life so I was really rooting for him to find answers so he can finally move forward. But things obviously won’t be straight forward. Tyler is left not knowing who he can trust and there are some intense scenes as he tries to get to the truth. Meanwhile, the deeper he gets into the investigation, the more danger there is as those who know the truth try to stop it from coming to light. 

Fast-paced and intricately woven, the high-octane tension never drops for a moment, Thomas keeping you on the edge of your seat as he intricately weaves the threads together to a heart-pounding finale. A must for all thriller fans. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

RUSS THOMAS was born in Essex, raised in Berkshire and now lives in Sheffield. After a few ‘proper’ jobs (among them: pot-washer, optician’s receptionist, supermarket warehouse operative, call-centre telephonist, and storage salesman) he discovered the joys of bookselling, where he could talk to people about books all day. He released his debut novel, Firewatching, in 2020. Cold Reckoning is his third novel.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Uncategorised

BLOGATHON: Do No Harm by Jack Jordan

Published May 26th, 2022 by Simon & Schuster UK
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Medical Thriller, Medical Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Domestic Fiction, Police Procedural

Today is the first instalment of the Jack Jordan Blogathon and I’m re-sharing my review for Do No Harm.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER AND WATERSTONES THRILLER OF THE MONTH

‘Chilling and perfectly paced, one to put on the very top of your TBR!’ Sarah Pearse
‘Thriller fans will be in heaven’ Louise Candlish

MY CHILD HAS BEEN TAKEN.
AND I’VE BEEN GIVEN A CHOICE . . .
KILL A PATIENT ON THE OPERATING TABLE
OR LOSE MY SON FOREVER.

The man lies on the table in front of me.
As a surgeon, it’s my job to save him.
As a mother, I know I must kill him.
You might think that I’m a monster.
But there really is only one choice.
I must get away with murder.
Or I will never see my son again.

I’VE SAVED MANY LIVES.
WOULD YOU TRUST ME WITH YOURS?

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MY REVIEW:

“Either I abide by my oath, and kill my son. 
Or I save Zack, and kill an innocent man.” 

Renowned cardiothoracic surgeon Anna Jones is being forced to make a horrendous choice: the life of her patient or the life of her son.  Eight-year-old Zack has been abducted and the kidnappers will only give him back if she kills a prestigious patient on the operating table and gets away with it.  As parents we always say we’d do anything for our children.  But does that include murder?

“We are all so blind, thinking that we know who we truly are. It is only pain like this that reveals what we are really capable of.” 

Do No Harm is a book that just screams ‘read me’. I mean, look at that cover!  And this nerve-shredding thriller was everything I hoped and more.  The premise is every parent’s worst nightmare, blurring the lines of morality as the author examines the question of just how far a parent would go to save their child.  It is an impossible dilemma, where whatever you choose you will lose, and the paralysing suspense and outright dread is omnipresent, making you feel everything Anna does.  It is unbearably tense at times, particularly in the operating room, as you are kept on a knife-edge, waiting to see what Anna will do and if Zack can be saved.  

I have long been a fan of Jack Jordan and will automatically read and buy anything he writes.  His magnificent storytelling, perfect plotting and sizzling suspense always blow me away, and he is a must-read author for any thriller lover.  But with Do No Harm Jordan has taken things to another level, crafting a dynamic thriller that is now one of my favourites of all time. It would make a fantastic movie or TV show so I hope someone snaps it up soon.  The hype is real and this is going to be huge.

“I never used to think of myself as an angry person, but these men have clawed a rabid animal out of me. I want to kill them, slowly, painstakingly, until they are begging for their mothers.” 

One of my favourite things about this book is that it’s so intricate and multilayered.  As well as the moral dilemma there is a strong theme of motherhood woven into this book.  Through each of the three narrators we explore different stages of motherhood and opposing arguments to the dilemma, making you confront the many shades of grey and exposing the motivations and biases of each of the characters.  Each of them are deeply flawed and I liked that Jordan wasn’t scared to make even Anna unlikeable at times, instead focusing on making the characters complex, nuanced and layered.  And while they are all richly drawn and compelling, Anna is the one that stood out strongest to me.  I loved the dichotomy of her character: a Doctor who has taken the Hippocratic Oath and vowed to do no harm but also a mother who will do anything to keep her child safe.  It is the kind of agonising choice that you would never want to be faced with but is so fascinating to read.  

Nail-bitingly intense, and bingeable, Do No Harm is an absolute must-read.  Just make sure that when you pick it up you’ve got nothing else to do as it will hold you captive from the first page until the last. 

READ IT NOW. 

Rating: 💉💉💉💉💉

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jack Jordan is the global number one bestselling author of Anything for Her (2015), My Girl (2016), A Woman Scorned (2018), Before Her Eyes (2018) and Night by Night (2019).

His latest thriller, Do No Harm, was an instant Times bestseller and shortlisted for the Most Recommended Book in the DeadGood Reader Awards. Coined the thriller of the summer for 2022, it was described as “relentlessly tense” by Sunday Times Bestseller Lesley Kara, and “Chilling and perfectly paced” by New York Times Bestseller Sarah Pearse.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

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

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews

BLOG TOUR: Cougar Point (Detective Megan Carpenter Book 5) by Gregg Olsen

Published September 24th, 2024 by Bookouture
Mystery, Thriller, Police Procedural, Crime Fiction, Crime Series

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this dark, tense and addictive thriller. Thank you to Bookouture for the invitation to take part and for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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BOOK DESCRIPTION:

She wakes to find herself alone in complete darkness. Fearing for her life, in that moment her only thought is for her beloved daughters. What will they think when they find out she’s missing? Then it hits her. She’s kept a secret hidden from her family for years. Is she about to pay for it with her life?

When Victoria Marsh disappears from her family’s exclusive resort in Cougar Point, Washington, her family is devastated. A charity worker and pillar of the local community, how could she just vanish without a trace?

Though not officially her case, Detective Megan Carpenter races to the scene for a very personal reason. Victoria is Ronnie’s mother and Megan will do anything to help her when she has sacrificed so much.

Together they build up a picture of the days before the disappearance but the only clue is a note with the words, “You promised” scrawled on it. It soon emerges that Victoria’s marriage was far from perfect and she had spent years running from a deadbeat brother. Could someone in Victoria’s family want her dead?

But when the body of another woman is found, Megan starts to link the cases. Both women had huge ransoms placed on them. Both families received chilling threats in the mail. And with one victim already dead, time is running out to find Victoria alive.

Local law enforcement warns Megan off the case but she’s certain that the disappearance is more than just bad blood. But with a potential serial killer on the loose, how much is Megan willing to risk? Worse still, could they be closer to her than she had ever imagined?

A completely gripping mystery thriller that will have you hooked to the very last page, from a number one, New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author. Perfect for fans of Robert Dugoni, Michael Connelly and James Patterson.

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MY REVIEW:

“If I’ve learned anything by being here, where secrets are abundant, it’s that secrets are deadly. Secrets can kill.” 

Dark, tense and twisty, Cougar Point is another gripping instalment in the Detective Megan Carpenter series. The stakes are higher than ever as Megan and her partner, Ronnie, investigate a very personal crime. Ronnie’is mother, Victoria, has disappeared from the family’s exclusive resort in Cougar Point, Washington, and they are unofficially on the case. But who could have taken her? As the pieces of the puzzle emerge, family secrets are revealed and it seems to lead to more questions than answers. And could there be a link to an old murder that happened in the area? The race is on to find out before it’s too late…

Gregg Olsen never disappoints and the fifth instalment in this series is every bit as fast-paced, grisly, and nail-bitingly tense as the previous books. Olsen holds his reader captive as he tells his story, moving seamlessly between current events, flashbacks to another crime, and narration from the victim. At first it wasn’t obvious how the flashbacks would merge with current events, but he slowly sprinkles breadcrumbs that lead you to the surprising answers. And while I enjoyed all three threads, it was the narration by Victoria as she’s being held by the kidnappers that captivated me most, her fear palpable and making my heart race. 

The characters are compelling and I enjoyed learning more about Ronnie’s family and background in this instalment. I love her and Megan as a team as they really compliment one another and I enjoyed seeing how they worked outside of their usual community and while juggling tricky family dynamics. And, speaking of families, a key theme of the book is dysfunctional families, which are explored not only in Megan’s murky past but also Ronnie’s estranged family. Olsen also explores how secrets can damage lives and relationships as the truths about the Marsh family are revealed. It heightened the tension in the story and kept me on my toes as I wondered what would be revealed next.

Suspenseful, addictive and hard-hitting, Cougar Point is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a darker thriller. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Gregg lives in rural Washington State (about a mile as the crow flies from Dr. Linda Burfield Hazzard’s infamous Starvation Heights sanitarium). His thriller, THE LAST THING SHE EVER DID was an Amazon Charts bestseller. LYING NEXT TO ME was a reader favorite, charting at No. 1 in the Kindle store and the bestseller’s list at the Washington Post. Gregg’s true crime book, IF YOU TELL, found a home on Amazon Charts for more than 140 weeks. In fact, it was the bestselling Kindle ebook of 2020 (and the second-bestselling of 2021). He’s been a guest on Dateline NBC, NPR, Good Morning America, The Early Show, FOX News, CNN, Anderson Cooper, Entertainment Tonight, Inside Edition, Extra, Access Hollywood, 20/20, Snapped, Deadly Women, William Shatner’s Aftermath, and A&E’s Biography. 

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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

SKELF SUMMER: Living is a Problem (The Skelfs, 6) by Doug Johnstone

Published September 12th, 2024 by Orenda Books
Mystery, Suspense, Crime Fiction, Noir Ficiton, Crime Series, Women Sleuths

It’s the final week of Skelf Summer and I’m sharing my review for Living is a Problem, the latest brilliant instalment in the series. Thank you to Orenda books for the invitation to take part and for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Drones, gangland vendettas, a missing choir singer, disturbances in the cemetery, PTSD, panpsychism, and secrets from the past … This can ONLY mean one thing! The Skelfs are back, and things are as nail-biting, tense and warmly funny as ever!
 
‘Hurroo! The Skelfs — Edinburgh funeral directors and part-time private eyes — are back … the persistence of love in the Skelf household, no matter what fate flings at it, is reassuring and life-affirming’ The Times Book of the Month
 
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The Skelf women are back on an even keel after everything they’ve been through. But when a funeral they’re conducting is attacked by a drone, Jenny fears they’re in the middle of an Edinburgh gangland vendetta.
 
At the same time, Yana, a Ukrainian member of the refugee choir that plays with Dorothy’s band, has gone missing. Searching for her leads Dorothy into strange and ominous territory.
 
And Brodie, the newest member of the extended Skelf family, comes to Hannah with a case: Something or someone has been disturbing the grave of his stillborn son.
 
Everything is changing for the Skelfs … Dorothy’s boyfriend Thomas is suffering PTSD after previous violent trauma, Jenny and Archie are becoming close, and Hannah’s case leads her to consider the curious concept of panpsychism, which brings new danger … while ghosts from the family’s past return to threaten their very lives.
 
Funny, shocking and profound, Living Is A Problem is the highly anticipated sixth instalment of the unforgettable Skelfs series – shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Best Scottish Crime Novel and Theakston Old Peculier Crime Book of the Year – where life and death become intertwined more than ever before…

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MY REVIEW:

Skelf Summer has come to end so I’m sharing my review for the sixth and latest book in the series, Living is a Problem, which was released last week. As always, it starts with a bang, and this time there’s a drone attack on a funeral that has all the mourners running for cover. And there’s little time to catch your breath as the action keeps going with gangland vendettas, strange disturbances at a grave and a missing mum. 

The Skelf women are back for another witty, tense and twisty instalment in what has become one of my favourite series. What’s impressed me so much about reading these back-to-back is how the quality has remained consistently high with its nail-biting tension and dark wit. These books are complex, layered, chaotic, outrageous and entertaining, keeping me hooked from beginning to end then leaving me wanting more when it’s over. Doug Johnstone’s writing is always exquisite, deeply human and insightful, exploring some serious topics in ways that are relatable, moving and uplifting all at the same time. This time around he explores PTSD, panpsychism (the belief that all things have a mind or mind-like quality), refugees and the loss of a child alongside the usual family drama. Johnstone also examines environmental concerns as we see the Skelf women becoming natural undertakers and holding eco-friendly burials. I found these parts really interesting as I’d never thought about the economic impact of a funeral and it was interesting to hear about the more environmentally friendly ways we can bury or cremate our loved ones. 

But the best part of these books is the characters, particularly the Skelf women themselves. Compelling, full of depth and relatable, I love these women. They feel like old friends at this point and it’s been a joy to follow them on their highs and lows over the past six books. And I still have a soft spot for Dorothy, the matriarch of her family. If only I could be like her now, let alone in my eighth decade. I also love the community surrounding them who I have got to know really well at this point. I think building that connection and familiarity with the characters is my favourite part about reading a series. But what am I going to do now that I face the long wait for a new Skelf book? I will miss these characters so much. 

I can’t recommend this amazing series enough. While you could read this or the others as standalones, I would recommend reading from the beginning. You won’t regret it. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Doug Johnstone is the author of Fourteen novels, includingThe Great Silence, the third in the Skelfs series, which has been optioned for  In 2021, The Big Chill, the second in the series, was longlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. In 2020, A Dark Matter, the first in the series, was shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year and the Capital Crime Amazon Publishing Independent Voice Book of the Year award. Black Hearts (Book four), was published in 2022, with The Opposite of Lonely (book five) out in 2023. Several of his books have been bestsellers and award winners, and his first science fiction novel, The Space Between Us, was a BBC2 Between the Covers pick. He’s taught creative writing, been writer in residence at various institutions, and has been an arts journalist for twenty years. Doug is a songwriter and musician with five albums and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers. He lives in Edinburgh.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx