Tag: mystery

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

SKELF SUMMER: The Big Chill (The Skelfs, 2) by Doug Johnstone

Published August 20th, 2020 by Orenda Books
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Dark Comedy, Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Noir Fiction, Crime Series, Domestic Fiction, Urban Fiction

Today I’m sharing my review for The Big Chill, the second book in Skelf Summer. 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:

Running private-investigator and funeral-home businesses means trouble is never far away, and the Skelf women take on their most perplexing, chilling cases yet in Book Two of the darkly funny, devastatingly tense and addictive Skelfs series!

***Longlisted for Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year***

‘Compelling, compassionate … just brilliant. This series gets better with every book. I cannot get enough of the Skelfs’ Mark Billingham

‘Brilliantly drawn and blackly comic’ Herald Scotland

‘Confirms the Skelfs as a classic crime clan. I can’t wait for the next one’ Erin Kelly

‘I LOVE the Skelfs … The only problem with The Big Chill is that you’ll devour it so fast you’ll feel as bereft as one of the Skelfs’ clients. Doug Johnstone has murdered sleep’ Val McDermid

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Haunted by their past, the Skelf women are hoping for a quieter life. But running both a funeral directors’ and a private investigation business means trouble is never far away, and when a car crashes into the open grave at a funeral that matriarch Dorothy is conducting, she can’t help looking into the dead driver’s shadowy life. 

While Dorothy uncovers a dark truth at the heart of Edinburgh society, her daughter Jenny and granddaughter Hannah have their own struggles. Jenny’s ex-husband Craig is making plans that could shatter the Skelf women’s lives, and the increasingly obsessive Hannah has formed a friendship with an elderly professor that is fast turning deadly.

But something even more sinister emerges when a drumming student of Dorothy’s disappears and suspicion falls on her parents. The Skelf women find themselves sucked into an unbearable darkness – but could the real threat be to themselves?

Following three women as they deal with the dead, help the living and find out who they are in the process, The Big Chill follows A Dark Matter, book one in the Skelfs series, which reboots the classic PI novel while asking the big existential questions, all with a big dose of pitch-black humour.

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MY REVIEW:

The Big Chill is the second book in Doug Johnstone’s sensational Skelfs Series, which follows Dorothy, Jenny and Hannah Skelf, three generations of one family who work together running the family’s two businesses: a funeral home and private investigation company. I decide to re-read this book, almost four years to the day after my first read, as I am reading the rest of the series for Skelf Summer – six weeks of reading the series in order leading up to the publication of book six in September. It jumps straight into the action, with a car chase interrupting a funeral that leaves the unidentified driver dead. The family matriarch, Dorothy, can’t let it go and is determined to find out who he was and lay him to rest. But this isn’t their only investigation, with others running simultaneously, as well as the funeral business always keeping them busy. 

Complex, layered and sizzling with drama, tension and ominous rumblings under the surface, The Big Chill is another outstanding return to Edinburgh with the Skelfs. While I recommend reading the first book in the series, this can be read as a standalone as Doug Johnstone quickly catches you up on the traumatic and life-changing events that occurred. In fact, this was the first book in the series I ever read and I never found myself confused about what I was reading.  I enjoyed this one even more the second time around, maybe because I listened to this on audiobook and the narrator does such a brilliant job of bringing the story and characters to life. Once again I was hooked from the opening pages and on tenterhooks as I tried to predict where this twisty tale would go next.

I loved the fascinating mix of three generations working together in dual roles that is an unusual pairing. It’s a brilliant basis for a series, so different from anything else I’ve read. The characters are well-written, compelling and full of depth. They are each trying to come to terms with the distressing and painful events of book one, and are still haunted and trying to make sense of it all. In the three women, the author shows how trauma and PTSD can affect people in different ways in a very real and relatable way that hit home with me a number of times. The background characters were also fully drawn with interesting storylines and back stories of their own. I’m very eager to read more about Archie and his unusual condition. 

Suspenseful, pacy and addictive, The Big Chill is perfect for anyone looking for a thriller that’s a little bit different. 

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

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Beat the Backlist book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

SKELF SUMMER: A Dark Matter (The Skelfs, 1) by Doug Johnstone

Published January 23rd, 2020 by Orenda Books
Thriller, Mystery, Crime Fiction, Suspense, Urban Ficiton, Lesbian Literature, Crime Series

Today I’m sharing my first review for Skelf Summer. Thank you to Danielle at Orenda for the invitation to take part.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Three generations of women from the Skelfs family take over the family funeral home and PI businesses in the first book of a taut, gripping page-turning and darkly funny new series.

***Shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Best Scottish Crime Book of the Year*** 
***Shortlisted for the Amazon Publishing Capital Crime Awards***

‘An engrossing and beautifully written tale that bears all the Doug Johnstone hallmarks in its warmth and darkly comic undertones’ Herald Scotland

‘Gripping and blackly humorous’ Observer

‘I was addicted from the first page; gripping, gritty and darkly funny as hell’ Erin Kelly

‘A Dark Matter showcases a writer at the peak of his powers, except that with every book, Doug Johnstone just gets better’ Val McDermid

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Meet the Skelfs: well-known Edinburgh family, proprietors of a long-established funeral-home business, and private investigators…

When patriarch Jim dies, it’s left to his wife Dorothy, daughter Jenny and granddaughter Hannah to take charge of both businesses, kicking off an unexpected series of events.

Dorothy discovers mysterious payments to another woman, suggesting that Jim wasn’t the husband she thought he was. Hannah’s best friend Mel has vanished from university, and the simple adultery case that Jenny takes on leads to something stranger and far darker than any of them could have imagined.

As the women struggle to come to terms with their grief, and the demands of the business threaten to overwhelm them, secrets from the past emerge, which change everything…

A compelling, tense and shocking thriller and a darkly funny and warm portrait of a family in turmoil, A Dark Matter introduces a cast of unforgettable characters, marking the start of an addictive new series.

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MY REVIEW:

“If they didn’t solve these mysteries, who would?”

I’m a big fan of Doug Johnstone’s Skelfs Series but I started it by reading the second instalment, and then somehow skipped a couple of others. So when I received an email from Orenda Books asking if I would like to take part in Skelf Summer – six weeks of reading the series in order leading up to the publication of book six in September – I jumped at the chance. 

First up is A Dark Matter, in which we are introduced to Dorothy, Jenny and Hannah Skelf, three generations of a well-known Edinburgh family that own a long-established funeral home and private investigation business. At the start of the book, they are mourning the death of patriarch Jim while also trying to get on with the day-to-day task of running their businesses. When Dorothy discovers mysterious payments being made to another woman each month going back years, she realises that Jim had been keeping secrets. Meanwhile, Hannah’s best friend Mel has disappeared and the police aren’t interested in investigating, leaving her to take on that challenge herself, and a simple adultery investigation leads Jenny onto an unexpected path. But they are unprepared for the dark and shocking revelations they are about to unveil…

Suspenseful, twisting, darkly funny and addictive, this is a fantastic start to Doug Johnstone’s original series. I have no idea how he came up with the idea of three generations of women running a funeral home and private investigators, but it is a brilliant concept that I can’t get enough of.  The three women at its heart are intelligent, fierce, warm, wickedly funny, likeable but flawed, and easy to root for. Matirach Dorothy may be in her seventies, but has lost none of her zeal and is determined to get to the bottom of the secret payments Jim had been making. Her daughter and granddaughter are equally tenacious and they all have a quiet fortitude that they must draw on as their investigations intersect in unexpected ways, leading to shocking revelations that will change their lives forever.

Doug Johnstone never misses. His writing is atmospheric, tense, propulsive, witty and full of complex emotions that keep the reader hooked. He explores difficult subjects such as predatory men, the danger they pose and how blase so many have become about the issue. Another big topic in this book is grief and how differently we are all affected, portraying it in ways that are relatable, touching and full of black humour. But it is how intricately he intertwined  the storylines in unexpected ways, throwing in red herrings and unforeseen twists, that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. 

This is a must read for any thriller fan.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to get 90 days free with my affiliate link*

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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 xxx

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOGATHON: Firewatching by Russ Thomas

Published February 20th, 2020 by Simon & Schuster UK
Mystery, Thriller, Police Procedural, Crime Fiction, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, LGBT Fiction, Gay Fiction, Crime Series

Today I’m delighted to be taking part in the first of four Russ Thomas Blogathon posts and am sharing my review for his outstanding debut thriller, Firewatching, which was one of my favourite reads of 2020. 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:

ONE WRONG MOVE
A body is found bricked into the walls of a house. From the state of the hands, it’s clear the dead man was buried alive. Soon, the victim is linked to an old missing person’s case and DS Adam Tyler is called.

WILL IGNITE
As the sole representative of South Yorkshire’s Cold Case Review Unit, Tyler recognises his role for what it is – a means of keeping him out of the way following an ‘incident’. When this case falls in his lap, he grabs the opportunity to fix his stagnating career.

THE CITY
And then Tyler discovers he has a connection to the case that hopelessly compromises him. He makes the snap decision not to tell his superiors, certain that he and only he can solve the crime. But now Tyler must move carefully to find out the truth, without destroying the case or himself.

Meanwhile, someone in the city knows exactly what happened to the body. Someone who is watching Adam closely. Someone with an unhealthy affinity with fire . . .

A taut investigative thriller bursting with character and tension, introducing an enigmatic, fresh lead detective unlike any you have met before – Detective Sergeant Adam Tyler – for fans of Adrian McKinty, Tana French, Steve Cavanagh and Sharon Bolton. 

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MY REVIEW:

DS Adam Tyler is called to the discovery of a body that was buried alive by being bricked into the wall of a house. The house’s owner, Graham Cartwright, had vanished six years ago amid high-profile scandals. Solving this case could be Adam’s way to salvage his career so he’s determined to be on the case. But he doesn’t work well with others, so this also becomes his chance to prove to his boss that he can be a team player. As he investigates alongside old-school copper DI Jim Doggett, the original investigator in the disappearance, and Amina Rabbani, a young police officer who sees the case as her chance to finally make it into CID, it soon becomes clear that there are people who’ve been keeping secrets that they want to remain hidden and that this will be a more complex case than they first thought. And as his professional and private life seep together, Adam finds himself in a fight not only for his career, but also his life. 

Heart-pounding, intense, and addictive, this debut left me trying to catch my breath when I read upon its release in February 2020. I love a good crime series and don’t get to read many books set in my hometown, so seeing that this new series was set in Sheffield was definitely part of the attraction for me. But while reading about familiar places was fun and helped me feel a greater connection to the story, it was Russ Thomas’ magnificent storytelling that made this series become one of my favourites, just as I predicted it would be at the time. I was hooked from the first page and putty in the palm of his hands as he spun his intricate and twisted tale. I read every spare minute, unable to put it down as I tried in vain to predict what would happen next. 

Part of the genius of this book is that everyone is a suspect. I literally had all but about three characters on my suspect list at one point or another, including the protagonist. You don’t know what to think, who to trust and where it is going next, leaving you on the edge of your seat as your mind fizzes with questions and suspicion. The vast array of characters are all fleshed out and vivid, each illuminating the story in their own unique way. I liked that Tyler wasn’t beloved by everyone or a team player. His battle to be treated like the other male officers because of his sexuality and the trauma of his father’s suicide gives him not only the spikiness that was fun to read, but also made me feel warmth towards him for those struggles. I enjoyed his banter with the other officers and how they reluctantly worked together to solve the case. Real life means having to work with people you can’t stand sometimes and the author certainly used that to his advantage in this book. 

One of my favourite parts of this book was the inclusion of the blog posts by the arsonist. They were mysterious, bizarre, creepy and fascinating. You got a real sense of how twisted and traumatised this person was and they increased the foreboding atmosphere that hung in the air. In the beginning they read like stories but slowly the readers see that there is more to them and realise how sick and twisted the writer is. But their identity remains a mystery, known only by the name The Firewatcher, remaining in the shadows until the tense finale. I loved being in the dark as much as the investigating officers and honestly couldn’t pinpoint a clear suspect. I was completely blindsided by the big reveal.

Firewatching is an outstanding, atmospheric, claustrophobic and surprising debut. It has everything you want in a great thriller and leaves you wanting more, just as a good series should. It is a must-read for anyone who enjoys this genre. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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. Firewatching is his debut novel.

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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 and keep an eye out for more reviews coming next month.

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Squadpod Squadpod Featured Books Squadpod Reviews

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: The Long Water by Stef Penney

Published July 4th, 2024 by Quercus
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Crime Ficiton

Welcome to my review for this darkly atmoshperic, cryptic and compelling story. Thank you to Quercus for sending me a proof copy in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Author of the Costa-prizewinning, world-wide bestseller The Tenderness of Wolves, Stef Penney, returns to her snow-covered heartland in this tense mystery set in a small Scandinavian town.

Nordland. A region in the Norwegian Arctic; a remote valley that stretches from the sea up to the mountains and glaciers.

It is May in what was once a prosperous mining community. The snows are nearly gone and it’s a time of spring and school-leavers’ celebrations – until Daniel, a popular teenage boy, goes missing. Conflicting stories circulate among his friends, of parties and wild behaviour.

As the search for Daniel widens, the police open a disused mine in the mountains. They find human remains, but this body has been there for decades, its identity a mystery.

Everyone in this tight knit, isolated community is touched by these events: misanthropic Svea, whose long life in the area stretches back to the heyday of the mines, and beyond. She has cut all ties with her family, except for her granddaughter, Elin, an outsider like her grandmother. Elin and her friend Benny, both impacted by Daniel while he was alive, become entangled in the hunt for answers, while Svea has deep, dark secrets of her own.

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MY REVIEW:

Due to the craziness of our house move I’m a bit behind with this month’s book reviews, but I’m finally getting around to posting my review of The Long Water, which was one of this month’s SquadPod Featured books.

I adored The Tenderness of Wolves when I read it years ago, so I was excited when the SquadPod were offered the chance to read Stef Penney’s latest novel as one of our featured books. Set in Nordland, a valley in the Norwegian Arctic, the story centres around the disappearance of Daniel, a popular teenager in this remote valley. The story opens in May, when the snow has almost melted and school is ending for the year. The school-leavers celebrations are traditionally a time for parties, pranks and wild behaviour. Daniel is one of the popular kids and his disappearance touches everyone in this small town. It’s the talk of the village and different stories and theories quickly circulate. The police widen their search, eventually leading them to disused mine in the mountains. Human remains are discovered but they are not Daniel. This body has lain there for decades. Daniel’s disappearance soon fades into the background as the police try to decipher the identity of the body and what happened to them. In this small town where everybody knows everybody and secrets don’t stay hidden for long, how is it possible a body has lain in the mine for decades? And where is Daniel?

Cryptic, intriguing and compelling, this is a story you get lost in. Part crime fiction and part family saga, this beautifully written story showcases Ms. Penny’s masterful storytelling to perfection. She sets the scene through evocative imagery, transporting her reader to the remote Norwegian Arctic. Through the lens of these tragic events we are introduced to the inhabitants of this small, close-knit mining town. There’s a strong sense of community and everyone is embroiled in the search for answers. As events  unfold, shockwaves are felt throughout the town with family dramas, prejudices and long-buried secrets finally being revealed. 

Atmospheric, tense, moving and mysterious, this is one not to be missed. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Stef Penney is a screenwriter and the author of three novels: The Tenderness of Wolves (2006), The Invisible Ones (2011), and Under a Pole Star (2016). She has also written extensively for radio, including adaptations of Moby Dick, The Worst Journey in the World, and, mostly recently, a third installment of Peter O’Donnell’s Modesty Blaise series.

The Tenderness of Wolves won Costa Book of the Year, Theakston’s Crime Novel of the Year, and was translated into thirty languages. It has just been re-issued in a 10th anniversary edition.

Five facts about SP:

1. I like snow. There is a magic in cold landscapes that compels me more than any other. I’m the ultimate armchair explorer. In my mind this is linked to my former agoraphobia. Wide open, hostile places produce in me a visceral reaction; perhaps that’s why I can’t stop writing, or reading, about them. I’m drawn to what scares me – treeless wilderness, the open sea, Space…

2. I do zero-carbon research. Unlike the protagonist of Under A Pole Star, I haven’t been to the North Pole. I have been to the Scandinavian Arctic – which is totally different – but am unconvinced that being there has made my writing about landscape any stronger (I hadn’t been before The Tenderness of Wolves). Being there normalises a place; you are struck by differences, but even more by similarities: wherever there are people, there be dentists. Still, I have great memories of Lapland: picking sour blueberries from the banks of a mountain stream; cross-country skiing and realising that I could still fall over as safely as when I was a child; watching a Japanese contestant in the Air Guitar World Championships channel Star Wars; visiting Santa’s village and meeting the man himself – and sitting on his knee – in August…

3. I’m Scottish. I have a love-hate relationship with Scotland that is shared by many Scottish exiles. Elements of this: pride in its Enlightenment thinkers, its inventiveness and internationalism; love and awe of the landscape; nostalgia for chilly Highland summers; a sneaking pride in having endured games on frozen fields, in shorts, and endless walks in scenery obscured by drizzle. Then there’s the food: deep-fried Mars bar – delicious. Deep-fried frozen pizza, on the other hand… Scotland’s a great place. I’d probably want to live in it, if I hadn’t grown up there.

4. I’m a feminist. Doesn’t need saying these days, right? Or maybe it does. Writing about a female explorer at the end of the 19th Century, I’ve been more aware of it than ever. The protagonist struggles to be taken seriously with her ambition, of course, but something else happened in the writing process I didn’t expect: it became a deeply explicit love story. This felt like a political as well as a narrative necessity; there have been far too many vague, unconvincing and plain misleading sex scenes in books and films, and it felt vital to tell the truth – and for that, “Dot, dot, dot. Afterwards” was not going to cut it.

5. I have a degree in Philosophy and Theology. It made me unemployable. In my final year, I was browsing through the job pages when I came across my perfect job – Officer for Comparative Religions in a local authority. Hurray, I thought, finally, something that suits my skill set. Then I noticed that the advert next to it was for a Senior Carrot Inspector. I looked at the date – it was April 1st. Obviously, I had to become a writer.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophile xxxx

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: Cabaret Macabre by Tom Mead

Published August 1st, 2024 by Head of Zeus
Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this nostalgic and riveting locked-room mystery. Thank you to Poppy and Sophie at Ransom PR for the invitation to take part, and to Head of Zeus for the gifted copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘Cabaret Macabre really had it all… [Mead’s] characters are so well ‘fleshed out’ that you can picture them with ease. The twisted and complex puzzle totally foxed me, and although I hate to admit it, I really didn’t have a clue whodunnit! Entertaining and fiendishly clever.’ Joy Ellis, #1 bestselling author

Sleuth and illusionist Joseph Spector investigates his most complex case yet in this gripping new locked-room murder mystery from Tom Mead, set in an English country house just before the Second World War.

Hampshire, 1938. Victor Silvius is confined in a private sanatorium after attacking prominent judge Sir Giles Drury. When Sir Giles starts receiving sinister threatening letters, his wife suspects Silvius. Meanwhile, Silvius’ sister Caroline is convinced her brother is about to be murdered… by none other than his old nemesis Sir Giles.

Caroline seeks the advice of Scotland Yard’s Inspector Flint, while the Drurys, eager to avoid a scandal, turn to Joseph Spector. Spector, renowned magician turned sleuth, has an uncanny knack for solving complicated crimes – but this case will test his powers of deduction to their limits.

At a snowbound English country house, a body is found is impossible circumstances, and a killer’s bullet is fired through a locked window without breaking the glass. Spector and Flint’s investigations soon collide as they find themselves trapped by the snowstorm where anyone could be the next victim – or the killer…

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MY REVIEW:

“Closing the doors again, Spector looked up at the exterior of Marchbanks. It was a place of secrets, he thought. Secrets and death.” 

Clever, twisty and addictive, Cabaret Macabre sees the return of sleuth and illusionist Joseph Spector in his most intricate mystery to date. 

Hampshire, 1938. Spector is asked to investigate after Sir Giles Drury, a prominent judge, begins receiving sinister letters that his wife thinks are being sent by Victor Silvius, a man who was sent to a sanatorium after attacking Sir Giles nine years ago. Meanwhile, Victor’s sister, Caroline, fears for her brother’s safety and is convinced that Sir Giles is plotting to kill Victor and turns to Inspector Flint for help. Their and their investigations collide after the discovery of a body at the Drury’s country house. As they investigate a snowstorm hits, trapping potential victims with the killer and the race is on to identify the culprit before they kill again.

Locked-room mysteries are my favourite sub-genre of thrillers, so I was very excited to finally read a book from this series. Tom Mead drew me in immediately, transporting me back to pre-war England with the books’ old-fashioned mystery vibes. This was my first time reading this author and this series, and while it is a great standalone, I will definitely be going back and reading the other books in the series as I enjoyed it so much. Well-written, sharply plotted and pacy, this complex web had so many different threads that I have no idea how the author came up with this or kept things straight in his head. I’m usually quite good at figuring out culprits and predicting what will happen next, but this one had me completely stumped. And when the truth was finally revealed my jaw hit the floor, astounded at the small, detailed clues I’d missed that unveiled the killer. 

“It’s like a jigsaw, but with all the wrong pieces.” 

The story is filled with a large cast of colourful, fascinating and memorable characters that leaped from the pages. Joseph Spector is a compelling protagonist and I think that having an investigator who used to be an illusionist is such an original concept that allows for some really fun and intriguing moments. There is no obvious villain and everyone has a possible motive, which I liked as it made it impossible to unravel the mystery and I got to simply enjoy the wild ride. 

Nostalgic, riveting and inventive, Cabaret Macabre is a must-read for anyone who enjoys an entertaining cosy mystery.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Tom Mead is a Derbyshire mystery writer and aficionado of Golden Age Crime Fiction. His debut novel, DEATH AND THE CONJUROR, was an international bestseller, nominated for several awards, and named one of the best mysteries of the year by The Guardian and Publishers Weekly. Its sequel, THE MURDER WHEEL, was described as “pure nostalgic pleasure” by the Wall Street Journal and “a delight” by the Daily Mail. It was also named one of the Best Traditional Mysteries of 2023 by Crimereads. His third novel, CABARET MACABRE, will be published in 2024.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2023

PAPERBACK BLOG TOUR: The Beaver Theory (The Rabbit Factor Trilogy, Book 3) by Antti Tuomainen

Published July 18th, 2024 by Orenda
Mystery, Thriller, Horror Fiction, Hard-boiled, Humourous Fiction, Translated Fiction

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for the kooky and original The Beaver Theory, which is the final book in the brilliant The Rabbit Factor Trilogy. Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours and to Karen at Orenda for the copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Can everyone’s favourite insurance mathematician, Henri, combine the increasingly dangerous world of adventure parks with the unpredictability of blended-family life? He’s about to find out in the final instalment of the hilarious, nail-biting Rabbit Factor Trilogy.

‘A joyous, triumphant conclusion to Tuomainen’s trilogy … the comic thriller of the year’ Sunday Times THRILLER OF THE YEAR

‘Quirky crime capers don’t come more left field than the Rabbit trilogy … extremely funny, with a wicked line in social satire’ Daily Mail

‘One of those rare writers who manages to deftly balance intrigue, noir and a deliciously ironic sense of humour’ Vaseem Khan

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Henri Koskinen, intrepid insurance mathematician and adventure-park entrepreneur, firmly believes in the power of common sense and order. That is until he moves in with painter Laura Helanto and her daughter…

As Henri realises he has inadvertently become part of a group of local dads, a competing adventure park is seeking to expand their operations, not always sticking to the law in the process…

Is it possible to combine the increasingly dangerous world of the adventure-park business with the unpredictability of life in a blended family? At first glance, the two appear to have only one thing in common: neither deals particularly well with a mounting body count.

In order to solve this seemingly impossible conundrum, Henri is forced to step far beyond the mathematical precision of his comfort zone … and the stakes have never been higher…

Warmly funny, quirky, touching, and a nail-biting triumph of a thriller, The Beaver Theory is the final instalment in the award-winning Rabbit Factor Trilogy, as Henri encounters the biggest challenge of his career, with hair-raising results…

Soon to be a major motion picture starring Steve Carell

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MY REVIEW:

We’re back with Henri and the others at the YouMeFun Adventure Park for the last book in the Rabbit Factor Trilogy. In his final adventure, the actuary and adventure-park entrepreneur is trying to balance his new family commitments with saving his park, preventing his staff becoming embroiled in an adventure-park war, and solving a murder. And time is running out. But Henri believes that order and mathematics will win the day as they always have, even if he’s forced further out of his comfort zone than ever as he faces his biggest challenges to date.

Laugh-out-loud funny, wacky, touching and unpredictable, The Beaver Theory is a glorious finale for this offbeat trilogy. In this instalment Henri is a real fish out of water as he embraces the chaos of family life, school runs and bake sales alongside the running of his adventure-park, a job that is far more dangerous than you’d imagine. Written with Antti Tuomainen’s signature kooky comic genius, warmth and tension, he kept me guessing as the madness unfolded right up to the spectacular finale. But this witty caper was also bittersweet as I never wanted the trilogy to end and I’m glad I’ve got the TV adaptation to look forward to. 

Henri remains one of my favourite characters ever written. Sensible, ordered, meticulous and very quirky, there is no one else like him. I adore this character and love the way he finds respite in logic, order and mathematics even when he’s a suspected murderer. He’s such a refreshing character to read and you can’t help but root for him every step of the way. I loved seeing him happy and taking on the challenge of family life and all its craziness in this book, especially when he’s pulled into being part of the ‘Dads Gang’. The latter paved the way for many hilarious moments and I enjoyed seeing his softer side in his interactions with Laura and her daughter. 

Kooky, original and entertaining, The Beaver Theory is another must-read from Tuomainen and Orenda. While it could be read as a standalone, I’d recommend reading the whole series to avoid missing out on some of the best fiction you’ll ever read. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Finnish Antti Tuomainen was an award-winning copywriter when he 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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MEET 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 | Waterstones* | Bookshop.org* | Amazon*
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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 Dead Friend Project by Joanna Wallace

Published July 11th, 2024 by Viper Books
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Domestic Fiction, Women Sleuths

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘A fresh new voice in crime fiction’ – JANICE HALLETT
‘Funny, sad, witty and very engaging’ – EMMA CURTIS
‘Darkly funny and deftly plotted’ – ALICE CLARK-PLATTS

Everyone needs a hobby…

Things haven’t been going well for Beth. Her husband has left her for one of her friends. Her fellow school mums judge her for swearing too much and not shifting the baby weight. And now she’s stuck in A&E after her son fell off the climbing wall on the first day of school.

In fact, things haven’t been going well for Beth since Charlotte died – her best friend, a favourite at the school pick-ups and the only person to ever run an interesting PTA meeting. But after being hit by a car while on an ill-timed evening jog, Charlotte is no longer there to help Beth pick up the pieces of her increasingly difficult life.

That is, until Beth discovers that Charlotte left her toddler alone in the house during that fatal run. The Charlotte she knew would never do something so irresponsible, and suddenly Beth is questioning whether Charlotte’s death was really an accident. With a newfound purpose and a glass of wine in hand, it’s time for Beth to uncover what really happened to her best friend. And what better place to start than the circle of chatty school mums, who can’t be as perfect as they pretend. But which of them is hiding something? Beth’s determined to find out. Once she’s put the kids to bed, of course…

‘Riotously funny and searingly observed’ – KATE SIMANTS
‘A twisty-turny mystery that drew me in from the opening lines’ – PHILIPPA EAST

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MY REVIEW:

Dark, laugh-out-loud funny, messy, vibrant, and addictive, this was an absolute riot. I loved Joanna Wallace’s debut and couldn’t wait to pick this one up. And when I did I devoured it in under a day, unable to put it down once I’d started. 

It follows Beth, a woman who is teetering on the edge. Nothing has gone right for her since her husband left her for her friend. She’s struggling with single parenthood, the other mum’s judge her for swearing too much, and her drinking is becoming a problem. She’s a hot mess. And to make things even worse, the only person she can turn to, her best friend Charlotte, was killed the same night her husband left. But when Beth discovers that Charlotte left her young son home alone that night she immediately becomes suspicious. The Charlotte she knew would never be so irresponsible, and she begins to question if her friend’s death really was an accident. With a new found sense of purpose, Beth sets out to uncover the truth about that night….

Joanna Wallace is proving herself to be a must-read author for anyone who loves a darkly comic thriller. Deftly plotted, acutely observed and charged with adrenaline, she manages to walk that fine line of being both absolutely hilarious and deeply moving. A story of friendship, loss, grief and obsession, there are some difficult topics woven into the narrative. Dark secrets, fractured people, and complex relationships inhabit the pages, creating a melting pot of disaster ripe for boiling over. And when it does, no one will come out unscathed. Everyone is a suspect and, like Beth, I didn’t trust anyone. I loved that Wallace used certain details to make the reader suspect characters, adding to the suspicion, mistrust and unease. I was on the edge of my seat, my heart thumping, as the tension sizzled on the pages. 

Beth was a great protagonist. It’s not just her life that‘s a disaster, she is too, and it’s like she’s determined to self-destruct. I liked that she wasn’t a picture-perfect mum and had a lot of empathy for all she was going through, but I also really wanted to give her a shake. She becomes increasingly obsessed with discovering what happened to Charlotte but she is an unreliable narrator, so it was hard to know if we could trust her recollections, discoveries and suspicions. Were the pieces she’s putting together real or the overactive imaginings of a grieving woman? As the story went on she became increasingly unstable, something that seemed inevitable with her alcohol consumption and being surrounded by people she suspects of murder. The other mums and playground politics are perfectly written and I think all parents have met mothers like the ones on these pages. It certainly took me back to the days I used to do the school run and all the clique-filled drama that was part of it. 

Propulsive, tense and twisting, The Dead Friend Project is a riveting ink-black comedy not to be missed.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Joanna Wallace worked as a solicitor until an autoimmune condition took away some of her sight. She now volunteers at a charity helpline and runs a family business with her husband. She was partly inspired to write You’d Look Better as A Ghost following her father’s diagnosis of early onset dementia. Joanna lives near London with her husband, four children and two dogs.

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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.

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Squadpod Squadpod Featured Books Squadpod Reviews

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby by Ellery Lloyd

Published June 20th, 2024 by Pan Macmillan
Thriller, Suspense, Crime Fiction, Mystery

Welcome to my review for this compelling thriller. Thank you Chloe at Pan Macmillan sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘Intoxicating, enthralling, compelling’ Harriet Tyce

‘Bold and ambitious and consuming from start to finish’ Louise Candlish

A stunning, intricately plotted and clever mystery’ Claire Douglas

‘Think The Secret History meets Saltburn’ Holly Watt

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Some women can’t be erased from history . . .

A story of love and madness, of obsession and revenge.

Paris, 1938: Runaway heiress Juliette Willoughby perishes, with her married lover, in an accidental studio fire alongside her Surrealist masterpiece, Self-Portrait as Sphinx.

Cambridge, 1991: Two art history students stumble across proof something sinister was at play in Juliette’s death, threatening to expose the long-buried secrets of the artist’s aristocratic family.

Dubai, now: An art dealer is accused of the brutal murder of his oldest friend – the last surviving member of the Willoughby dynasty.

Three suspicious deaths over the course of a century.

Is the key to unlocking them all hidden in Juliette Willoughby’s lost painting?

From the author of The Club, a Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick, The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby is Ellery Lloyd’s compulsive multiple – timeline mystery – a story of love and madness, of obsession and revenge.

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MY REVIEW:

Glamorous, bold, ambitious and intelligent, The Final Act of Juliette Willougby is a captivating story of love, madness, scandal, revenge, and justice. 

Juliette Willoughby is famous in the art world for her surrealist masterpiece, Self Portrait as Sphinx. The heiress fled her ancestral home to live in Paris with her married lover and the pair were tragically killed in an accidental studio fire in 1938. Her portrait was also destroyed. 53 years later two art history students at Cambridge discover proof that her death may not have been accidental after all. A discovery that could be disastrous for her aristocratic family as it threatens to expose their long-buried secrets. In the present day, an art dealer in Dubai is accused of murdering his oldest friend who just happened to be the last surviving member of the Willoughby dynasty. Could Juliette’s lost painting hold the key to unlocking these mysteries? 

This was one of our SquadPod featured books last month and I was even more excited to read it after watching Vik’s Instagram Live with the authors. I’ve also seen many other bloggers sing Ellery Lloyd’s praises, but I’m ashamed to say that despite owning all of their books, this was my first time reading one of them. The hype is real my friends and I’m kicking myself for waiting so long. Skillfully written, cleverly plotted,  intricately woven and filled with twists and red herrings I was on the edge of my seat trying to unravel this complex mystery. A vast array of compelling characters drew me into their world as the story moved seamlessly between timelines and narrators. I was hooked and only solved the puzzle  moments before the big reveal and the surprising but satisfying conclusion.

Heart-stopping, immersive, and gripping, The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby is a riveting thriller and a must-read for fans of the genre. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Collette Lyons is a journalist and editor, the former content director of Elle (UK) and editorial director at Soho House. She has written for The Guardian, The Telegraph, and the Sunday Times. 

Paul Vlitos is the author of two previous novels, Welcome to the Working Week and Every Day is Like Sunday. He is the program director for English Literature with Creative Writing at the University of Surrey.

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

BLOG TOUR: Murder Ballad by Lucy Ribchester

Published June 20th, 2024 by Black & White Publishing
Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Historical Mystery, Historical Romance, Alternative History

Today is my stop on the blog tour for this hauting and alluring lullaby of historical fiction. Thank you to Black & White Publishing 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:

‘A beautiful sensory overload . . . I didn’t want it to end.’ – Kirstin Innes, bestselling author of Scabby Queen

Three women. A deadly score to settle.

EDINBURGH, 1791. Isobel Duguid and her friend, the famous castrato Clessidro, are stars of the Edinburgh Musical Society. Despite her cavalier attitude towards holding a tune, Clessidro’s friendship and her own shocking murder ballads keep Isobel on stage and enjoying an opulent lifestyle in Auld Reekie.

Yet one night a note arrives from the mysterious Mrs Abercorn, regarding Isobel’s most notorious song, The Fiddler’s Wrath. It’s the tale of a prima donna who died of heartbreak after her husband committed murder and
was sent to the gallows. Isobel is intrigued.

But Mrs Abercorn’s curiosity is far more than a fickle interest and the truth is more complicated than anyone could have imagined. As Isobel recounts rising through the social classes, her role in this ill-fated tune is brought to light, awakening the chilling retribution of a once buried secret.

A story of betrayal, mystery, and the secrets some would die to protect. Perfect for fans of Patrick Süskind Perfume and Kate Foster’s The Maiden.

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MY REVIEW:

“Come all false-hearted women and your jealous husbands near, 
For in my song about a foul murder you shall hear.”

Edinburgh, 1791. Isobel Duguid, is famous for singing macabre murder ballads. She and her friend, Clessidro, are stars of the Edinburgh Musical Society and in high demand. One evening, Isobel receives a note from the mysterious Mrs. Abercorn, saying that her husband, Percy, is  creating a collection of Scotland’s finest ballads and would like to include Isobels’s most notorious ballad, The Fiddler’s Wrath. Isobel is intrigued by their interest in the tale of a prima donna who died of heartbreak following her husband committing murder and being sent to the gallows. But when the full story of Mrs. Abercorn’s curiosity is revealed, it brings long-buried secrets to light. 

Murder Ballad is a gloriously gothic, bloody and alluring serenade. A tale of friendship, love, secrets, betrayal and murder that I got lost in. With dark, atmospheric prose Lucy Ribchester crafted a gorgeous lullaby that transported me to the cobbled streets of 18th-Century Auld Reekie as she tells a tale rich with the fascinating history of Edinburgh, its theatres and the ballads themselves. She makes the music of its time leap from the pages and the audiobook was a treat for the ears as the narrator sang the ballads, immersing me completely in this melodic world. But there is a danger here, too, as peril lurks in the shadows and murder is scattered throughout the story. 

“We are the hidden architects, the secret sulphurous sounds that weave their way into your thoughts. We build morals, climb into your bones through your ears and hand you your history and yet you will never know our names.”

The plot is convoluted and labyrinthine, a cleverly choreographed trail of music, secrets and death strewn through the streets of Edinburgh that is filled with fascinating and vivid characters. It is a journey that spans the  entirety of Isobel’s career, starting with her humble  beginnings as an orange seller and following as she recounts her rise to fame and the origin of the famous ballad that is woven intricately into every facet of this tale. It kept me guessing and I was on tenterhooks as I searched the story for clues and tried to predict where this curious tale would lead. But I was unprepared for the shocking truths that were finally revealed as the full picture emerged.

Evocative, original and surprising, Murder Ballad is a haunting piece of historical fiction that is not to be missed. 

Rating: 🎭🎭🎭🎭

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

I was born in Edinburgh and have a first-class degree in English from the University of St Andrews. After gaining a Masters in Shakespeare Studies from Kings College London, I worked in various jobs, and lived in Spain for a short while, before settling in Edinburgh and beginning to write full time.

I’ve been awarded a Scottish Book Trust New Writers’ Award (2013), a Robert Louis Stevenson Fellowship (2016) and a Creative Scotland Open Project Award (2017). My short stories have been shortlisted for the Costa Short Story Award (2014) and Manchester Fiction Prize (2016) and broadcast on BBC Radio 4 (2018). The Hourglass Factory was also longlisted for the Historical Writers Association Debut Crown (2015).

As a tutor and workshop leader, I’ve worked in schools, prisons and community groups. My particular area of interest is developing the confidence and skills of emerging readers and writers.

I also write contemporary thrillers under the name Elle Connel. Down by the Water, and You Can Stay are both published by Wildfire.

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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

READALONG REVIEW: Redemption by Jack Jordan

Published June 20th, 2024 by Simon & Schuster UK
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Crime Fiction, Domestic Fiction, Gay Fiction, Adventure Fiction

Happy Publication Day to Redemption, the new bingeable, five-star thriller from the King of the moral dilemma. Thank you to The Likely Suspects for the invitation to take part in the readalong and the gifted copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘Thrilling, heartfelt, and hugely evocative, Redemption manages to be both intensely exciting and deeply moving. A brilliant achievement’ Alex Michaelides

‘Tense, dark, emotional, and beautifully written, this action-packed gut-punch of a novel is flawless, and one of the best books I’ve read this year’ Andrea Mara 

THE LATEST PULSE-POUNDING THRILLER FROM THE MASTER OF THE MORAL DILEMMA AND SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, JACK JORDAN.

Aaron Alexander has just been released from jail after serving eleven years for causing the death of Joshua Moore in a hit-and-run. Now a free man, all he wants to do is stay on the straight and narrow and leave his troubled past behind him.
But for Joshua’s mother Evelyn, eleven years in jail isn’t nearly enough. Consumed by grief and rage, she has been waiting for Aaron’s release, counting down the days until she can exact the revenge he deserves. And now that time has come.
But as Evelyn and her husband Tobias embark on a road trip to track Aaron down, they find themselves caught on two different sides of a gripping game of cat-and-mouse. Because Tobias knows what Evelyn is planning, and he will do anything to save her from herself.
Even if it means protecting the man who killed their son.

Locked in a collision course set in motion eleven years ago, Aaron, Evelyn and Tobias are about to find out whether the road they have chosen leads to redemption . . . or to retribution.

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MY REVIEW:

“Maybe I am a monster, but I can’t stop now. Not now I’m so close. I could never live with myself if he walked free.”

Evelyn and Tobias Moore’s world is shattered when their son, Joshua, is killed in a hit and run. Now, Aaron Alexander – the man responsible – is being released after serving 11 years but for Joshua’s mother that isn’t justice. She wants revenge; and she’s been counting down the days until she can make that happen. Now, that time has finally come. But as Evelyn and Tobias embark on their journey, they are on two opposing sides: Evelyn dead set on revenge, while Tobias wants to save his wife from herself. Their road trip towards vengeance and murder quickly becomes a nail-biting game of cat and mouse. Can there be redemption?

“I’ve got to do what I was afraid to do before. I’ve got to try and stop her.” 

He’s done it again! Unbearably tense, twisty, unpredictable and heartfelt, Redemption is another five-star read from the King of dilemma thriller, Jack Jordan. A master-class in thriller writing, this book has it all: action, suspense, foreboding and violence, but also heart, grief, rage, bitterness and hope. The story is told in five parts that begin with flashbacks to Evelyn and Tobias’ life in happier times. These sections were so emotional, emphasising the magnitude of their loss and how much their lives have changed since Joshua’s death. There is such a stark contrast that I’d have believed you if you’d told me I was reading about two different couples. Jordan makes you feel ALL the feelings, expertly conveying the nuances of grief and how that can look different for everyone. I got book whiplash as I would be close to crying one moment and on the edge of my seat the next, holding on tight with the breakneck speed of the chase.

“I didn’t realise how all-encompassing grief could be. How tyrannical the rage against injustice would be on my thinking…”

Jordan’s characters are always nuanced, relatable and deeply human. One of the things I love most about his book is his expertise at writing anti-heroes you can’t help but root for. He weaves their anguish, pain, dilemmas and humanity into the narrative, highlighting all the shades of grey and making it possible to see yourself in their shoes. Evelyn and Aaron are perfect examples of this. Evelyn’s every word, thought and action is raw, sizzling with white-hot rage, resentment, hatred, bitterness, pain and grief.  She can’t see straight for the need for vengeance and her need to exact what she determines to be justice overwhelms everything else. And as a mother I could understand it. I’m not a vengeful person but I can’t imagine how I would cope in her position and I had a lot of empathy for her, even if I was rooting for Tobias to stop her before she went too far. Meanwhile, Aaron seems like the obvious villain of the story, yet Jordan makes him human with his tragic backstory and deep remorse. I ended up really liking him and rooting for him to survive. Then there is Tobias. Tobias is a broken man who not only lost his only child, but also his wife the night Joshua died. Jordan really makes you feel his heartache and loneliness. His dilemma is palpable as he is torn between helping Evelyn and saving her from herself, even if it means helping the man who killed his child. It was an impossible situation and I felt for him even more as he is thrown into becoming someone he doesn’t recognise in his quest to stop Evelyn. 

“Maybe I am a monster, but I can’t stop now. Not now I’m so close. I could never live with myself if he walked free.”

Intense, heart-rending and bingeable, Redemption is another unmissable thriller from Mr. Jordan. Read it now!

Rating: 🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂

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MEET 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 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. The idea for Do No Harm came to Jack after undergoing a minor medical procedure where he had to be sedated and trust strangers with his welfare. After the anaesthesia wore off, Jack began scribbling his notes, wondering to himself just how iron-clad a surgeon’s oath is, and what it would take to break it…

Jack’s latest book, Conviction, was published in June 2023 and featured in Cosmopolitan’s ‘best new books out in June’ round-up, it was also chosen as one of the June featured books by Magic Radio’s Book Club and the audiobook was selected for Fingerprint Award at Capital Crime 2024.

His next book, Redemption, publishes this June.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for readign, Bibliophiles xxxx