Tag: mystery

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Beat the Backlist book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: Fyneshade by Kate Griffin

Published May 18th, 2023 by Viper Books
Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Supernatural Fiction, Mystery, Suspsense

Today I’m sharing my review for this gorgeous gothic novel. Thank you Viper Books for the proof.

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SYNOPSIS:

*A SUNDAY TIMES HISTORICAL FICTION BOOK OF 2023*

‘A dark, inventive story’ – SUNDAY TIMES
‘A gloriously foreboding Gothic tale’ – HEAT

Many would find much to fear in Fyneshade’s dark and crumbling corridors, its unseen master and silent servants. But not I. For they have far more to fear from me…

On the day of her beloved grandmother’s funeral, Marta discovers that she is to become governess to the young daughter of Sir William Pritchard. Separated from her lover and discarded by her family, Marta has no choice but to journey to Pritchard’s ancient and crumbling house, Fyneshade, in the wilds of Derbyshire.

All is not well at Fyneshade. Marta’s pupil, little Grace, can be taught nothing, and Marta takes no comfort from the silent servants who will not meet her eye. More intriguing is that Sir William is mysteriously absent, and his son and heir Vaughan is forbidden to enter the house. Marta finds herself drawn to Vaughan, despite the warnings of the housekeeper that he is a danger to all around him. But Marta is no innocent to be preyed upon. Guided by the dark gift taught to her by her grandmother, she has made her own plans. And it will take more than a family riven by murderous secrets to stop her…

Perfect for readers of Laura Purcell, Jessie Burton and Stacey Halls, Fyneshade is a dark and twisted gothic novel unlike any you’ve read before…

‘A thrillingly dark page-turner’ – MAIL ON SUNDAY
‘Marta is Jane Eyre’s black-hearted alter ego’ – THE TIMES

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MY REVIEW:

“Many would find much to fear in Fyneshade’s dark and crumbling corridors, its unseen master and silent servants. But not I. For they have far more to fear from me.”

Atmospheric, haunting and disquieting, Fyneshade is, quite simply, one of the best gothic novels I’ve ever read. 

This is a story of dark secrets, betrayal, temptation, and the supernatural. It’s a game of smoke and mirrors; a cryptic maze where the monsters don’t only lurk in the shadows, but inside our own minds as others try desperately to keep the truth hidden. This was my first time reading a book by Kate Griffin and I am in awe of her talent. She is an exceptional storyteller who weaves together darkly poetic prose, evocative imagery, compelling characters and a chilling atmosphere to cast a spell on her reader. I was transfixed and would have devoured it in just one sitting if exhaustion hadn’t forced me to tear myself away. 

Marta is a fascinating protagonist and I loved reading her. Intelligent, determined, wiley and sensual, this complex character is the antithesis of the innocent, meek and trusting protagonist we often see in gothic fiction. She knows how to play the game and isn’t afraid of using her dark craft to do so, making her more than a match for the untrustworthy staff and residents of Fyneshade. We understand that it is these parts of her personality combined with the suspicion, desire and secrecy surrounding her that motivate her actions and allow us to keep rooting for Marta even as she plotted deeds that were increasingly dark. 

Fyneshade is an ancient, bleak and decaying house located in the wilds of Derbyshire. Isolated and eerie, it is the kind of place where the walls bleed malice and the air is thick for foreboding. It feels alive, chilling your bones and sending fear up your spine. I would have been out of there before the first night fell. And the unsettling atmosphere that surrounds Fyneshade only increases with the mystery that surrounds the house, its history, and those who live there, creating a heart-pounding, edge-of-your seat read that I was powerless to put down. 

Bewitching, claustrophobic and deliciously diabolical, Fyneshade is a literary gothic masterpiece that will linger long after reading. Perfect for Halloween, this needs to be on your TBR! 

Rating: 🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Kate Griffin was born within the sound of Bow bells, making her a true-born cockney. She has worked as an assistant to an antiques dealer, a journalist for local newspapers and now works for The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. Kitty Peck and the Music Hall Murders, Kate’s first book, won the Stylist/Faber crime writing competition. Kate lives in St Albans.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Bookshop.org* | Amazon*

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Thanks for reading Bibliohpiles xxxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Paperback Publication Day

BOOK REVIEW: Sweetpea (Sweetpea Book 1) by C. J. Skuse

Published: October 26th, 2023 by HQ
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Dark Comedy, Psychological Fiction, Crime Fiction, Parodies, Book Series, Serial Killers

Sweetpea is re-released today with a gorgeous new cover so I’ve updated my review for this crazy and hilarious rollercoaster ride.

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SYNOPSIS:

‘If you like your thrillers darkly comic and outrageous this ticks all the boxes’ The Sun

The last person who called me ‘Sweetpea’ ended up dead…

Rhiannon is your average girl next door, settled with her boyfriend and little dog…but she’s got a killer secret.

By day her job as an editorial assistant is demeaning and unsatisfying. By evening she dutifully listens to her friend’s plans for marriage and babies whilst secretly making a list.

A kill list.

From the man on the checkout who always mishandles her apples, to the driver who cuts her off on her way to work, to the people who have got it coming, Rhiannon’s ready to get her revenge.

Because the girl everyone overlooks might be able to get away with murder…

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MY REVIEW:

“If only they knew what this quiet little sweetpea could do.”

Rhiannon Lewis is the girl you don’t notice. The girl who fades into the background. She’s not beautiful or skinny, works a boring job, and lives in a flat with her boyfriend and their dog. And though she was famous once after surviving a crime that seems to have cursed her entire life, her life now is dull and ordinary. Or so people think. But people have a tendency to underestimate Rhiannon. They have no idea she actually spends her time dreaming up gruesome ways to kill those who annoy, cross and betray her and then carries them out. And they certainly don’t suspect that Rhiannon is a serial killer. 

Scathing, twisted, darkly funny, and completely outrageous, Sweetpea is my idea of book heaven. I first read it back in 2019 after rave reviews from fellow blogger Zuky and devoured it quickly, wondering where this book had been all my life. And I haven’t stopped thinking about it since; making it a rare book that I can vividly recall even after four years and hundreds of other books. Not only did this book become an instant favourite, but so did the series, and it’s become a go-to thriller recommendation for me. Today it is re-issued with a gorgeous, bright new cover – which obviously I had to buy even though I own the books already – so I thought it was the perfect excuse to update my review and share it with you all again.

Rhiannon is my favourite anti-hero. A snarky, feisty, short-tempered and hilarious  murderess, she thinks, says and does everything you aren’t supposed to. I love her jet-black, dirty sense of humour, her warped outlook, and how she doesn’t take crap from anyone. Her scathing and raw inner monologue is so entertaining and it’s impossible not to root for her despite her deadly hobby. Let’s be honest, we’ve all thought of ways we’d like to hurt back those who’ve hurt us in our heads before. The difference is Rhiannon not only thinks things, she plots them and carries them out. She may be scary, but she’s bloody brilliant at the same time, something I think is a testament to the talent of C. J. Skuse. Her writing is sharply observed, dark, witty and addictive, always leaving me yearning for more at the end of a book. And I’m delighted to learn there will be more, because Rhiannon isn’t just getting a new look, she’s also getting a new story; book four, Thorn in My Side, is out at the end of this year (January 2024 in paperback). Not only that, but we are apparently getting news about an adaptation soon! I’m giddy with excitement!

A crazy rollercoaster ride with an anti-hero you’ll love, I can’t recommend this one enough. So if you like your thrillers brimming with bloody, murderous vengeance and ink-black humour that will make you laugh out  loud, pick up Sweetpea now. 

Rating:  🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Born in Weston-super-Mare in 1980, C.J. (Claire) is the author of eleven novels including the Young Adult novels Pretty Bad Things, Rockoholic, Dead Romantic, Monster and The Deviants and adult crime thrillers The Alibi Girl and the Sweetpea quintet  (Sweetpea, In Bloom, Dead Head, Thorn in my Side and The Bad Seeds). She has a First Class BA degree in Creative Studies in English and an MA in Writing for Young People with Distinction, both from Bath Spa University. C.J. worked in publishing from 2008-2017 both in editorial and as a professional reader, and now works as a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing. Sweetpea has been optioned by See Saw Films and is in production with Sky Atlantic. Books four and five in the Sweetpea series will be published in summer 2023 and spring 2024.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Bookshop.org* | Amazon*

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2022

BOOK REVIEW: The Bleeding by Johana Gustwasson

Published September 15th, 2022 by Orenda
Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical Thriller, Mystery, Noir Fiction, Hardboiled Mystery, Horror Fiction, Occult Horror, Translated Fiction

Today I’m sharing a review for a magnificent gothic thriller that’s perfect for spooky season.

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SYNOPSIS:

Queen of French Noir, Johana Gustawsson returns with a spell-binding, dazzlingly dark gothic thriller that swings from Belle Époque France to 21st-century Quebec, with an extraordinary mystery at its heart … FIRST in a bewitching new series
 
**Shortlisted for the CWA Crime in Translation Dagger**
 
`A wonderfully dark, intricately woven historical thriller spanning three generations … it will have you hooked from the very first page’ B A Paris
 
`A gripping story of murder and black magic …Gustawsson slowly weaves together three seemingly disparate strands of her narrative with a skill that shows why she is such an admired crime writer in her native France´ The Times BOOK OF THE MONTH
 
`Intriguingly dark and vivid, and so cleverly told through three different time frames´ Essie Fox
 
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Three women
Three eras
One extraordinary mystery…
1899, Belle Époque Paris. Lucienne’s two daughters are believed dead when her mansion burns to the ground, but she is certain that her girls are still alive and embarks on a journey into the depths of the spiritualist community to find them.
 
1949, Post-War Québec. Teenager Lina’s father has died in the French Resistance, and as she struggles to fit in at school, her mother introduces her to an elderly woman at the asylum where she works, changing Lina’s life in the darkest way imaginable.
 
2002, Quebec. A former schoolteacher is accused of brutally stabbing her husband – a famous university professor – to death. Detective Maxine Grant, who has recently lost her own husband and is parenting a teenager and a new baby single-handedly, takes on the investigation.
 
Under enormous personal pressure, Maxine makes a series of macabre discoveries that link directly to historical cases involving black magic and murder, secret societies and spiritism … and women at breaking point, who will stop at nothing to protect the ones they love…

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MY REVIEW:

“It’s like in Macbeth. Everything begins with an encounter, a prophetic encounter with a witch. If Macbeth’s path had never crossed that of the three witches, he would have never killed King Duncan. Lady Macbeth or no Lady Macbeth.”

Halloween is almost upon us and we’re almost at the end of Orentober, so I thought this was the perfect time to finally read The Bleeding, which I’ve been highly anticipating for a long time. I mean, just look at that cover. How was I supposed to resist such beauty? And those spredges! Absolute heaven. But it wasn’t just the outside of this book that drew me to it. The synopsis immediately grabbed me and I’ve been even more excited to read it since having the pleasure of author Johana Gustawasson talking about the book at an event last year. And what a book! Reading anything published by Orenda is always a joy, but this is an absolute masterpiece. Unnerving, haunting, and macabre, it is one of my favourite books this year. 

This is a story of three women in three different timelines who are all connected by a single thread. Paris, 1899, Lucienne is devastated when her two young daughters are believed dead after a fire burns her mansion to the ground. Searching for certainly, she is introduced to Spiritualism by one of her society friends. Then in post-war Quebec, teenager Lina is an outcast at school who strikes up a friendship with an elderly resident at the rest home where her single mother works that will have life-changing consequences. In 2002, a famous Quebec university professor was found brutally murdered and his wife, a former schoolteacher, is the only suspect. Detective Maxine Grant is called in to investigate the baffling and bizarre crime, making a series of gruesome discoveries that raise more questions than answers. 

“Don’t be expecting to unearth a logical reason for their barbaric acts. This quest sheds light on just one aspect of their psychopathy… a psychopath’s logic is theirs and theirs alone. And it defies all other logic.”

Though I own many of Ms. Gustawasson’s books, I’m ashamed to say that this was my first time reading one of them, and I’m so mad at myself for sleeping on this author for so long. She is a master sinister storyteller, living up to her title of the Queen of French Noir as she weaves a cunningly crafted gothic thriller laced with emotion, drama, secrets, and the supernatural. Gustawasson pulled no punches as she dived head-first into the action and I was enrapt from start to finish. The characters are memorable and compelling, and I loved the unique voices of each narrator. They were a trio of troubled, fractured women who draw the reader into their stories and make you care what happens to them. I also loved Pauline’s character who is an enigma. To Maxine she’s her kind, former teacher, but there are horrific discoveries made at her home that she may have been part of. Her refusal to talk only adds to the mystery and I could never be sure if I sensed a darkness about her or if she was in shock. I had my suspicions, but for most of the book I had no idea if they were correct, adding to the tension and making Pauline a stand-out character even though she barely utters a word. 

This is definitely one of those books you need to read with the lights on. Darkly atmospheric, ominous and forbidding, fear snaked its way up my spine as I searched the pages for clues that would connect the women and timelines. But I was stumped for the most part, Ms. Gustawasson proves herself to be a master of misdirection and disguise as she slowly weaves her intricate, tangled web. The story is shrewdly choreographed and only gives up its secrets when Gustawasoon decides the time is right, delivering jaw-dropping revelations that hit me out of the blue. Of the many scenarios I had in my head I never came close to guessing the truth and I’m still reeling.

Bewitching, eerie, unsettling and sinister, The Bleeding is a phenomenal gothic thriller that I can’t recommend highly enough. So if you’re looking for a witchy or supernatural read that’s perfect for the spooky season, read this book! 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Born in Marseille, France, and with a degree in Political Science, Johana Gustawsson has worked as a journalist for the French and Spanish press and television. Her critically acclaimed Roy & Castells series (Block 46, Keeper and Blood Song) has won the Plume d’Argent, Balai de la découverte, Balai d’Or and Prix Marseillais du Polar awards, and is now published in twenty-three countries. The third in the series, Blood Song, was longlisted for the CWA International Dagger. A TV adaptation is currently underway in a French, Swedish and UK co-production. Johana lives in London with her Swedish husband, and three young sons, and is currently working on the book four in the Roy & Castells series. 

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MEET THE TRANSLATOR:

David Warriner translates from French and nurtures a healthy passion for Franco, Nordic and British crime fiction. Growing up in deepest Yorkshire, he developed incurable Francophilia at an early age. Emerging from Oxford with a Modern Languages degree he narrowly escaped the graduate rat race by hopping on a plane to Canada – and never looked back. More than a decade into a high-powered commercial translation career, he listened to his heart and turned his hand to the delicate art of literary translation. David has lived in France and Quebec, and now calls beautiful British Columbia home.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Orenda Books | Waterstones* | Bookshop.org* | Amazon*

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxxx

*These purhcase links are affiliate links
 

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Blog Tours book reviews

BLOG TOUR: Please Take My Baby by Emma Robinson

Published October 17th, 2023 by Bookouture
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Literary Fiction, Saga

Today is my stop on the blog tour for this gut-wrenchingly emotional story. Thank you to Bookouture for the invitation to take part and eBook ARC.

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SYNOPSIS:

As I hand my newborn baby to my mother, I see the softness in her face as she gazes down at the tiny, helpless girl in her arms. And I feel my heart shatter as I say the words that will change all our lives… ‘Please, take my baby.’

I know she will be better off without me.But as I leave her behind that dark night, I wonder, will I ever see my baby again?

Will I have the chance to explain to little Erin why I had to go? Even if I do find the strength to return, what will my mother have told her?

Only one person really knows what happened, and why I had to do what I did.

I know the truth will come out some day. I don’t expect forgiveness. The only thing I hope is that my family can survive the fallout…

A heartbreaking and ultimately uplifting tale about the sacrifices mothers make for their children, this story will make you hold your loved ones tight. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Jojo Moyes and Kate Hewitt.

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MY REVIEW:

“When you’re told a mother makes sacrifices, you think of the sleepless nights and the wrecking of your body and the nights you’ll have to stay home. But they are easy when compared with the biggest sacrifice. The one where you have to let them go. Worse, you have to make them feel as if they can walk away and not look back. Freedom without strings.”

My heart was not ready for this book. A story about identity and the relationship between a mother and her children that explores the sacrifices mothers make and what it means to really put your child first. Gut-wrenchingly emotional and moving, it broke my heart into pieces before putting them back together again. 

A story about four generations of women, a family secret that has been hidden for decades, and life-changing decisions, it centres around Erin, a forty-something divorcee who has recently moved back into her mother Ava’s home to help care for her as she battles dementia. The pair have always had a strained relationship and there is added tension in the home as Erin’s fifteen-year-old daughter, Harriet, is far from happy with the move as it meant leaving her school and friends behind. But it’is when Erin finds a photograph of her mother holding a baby she’s never seen before that things really begin to unravel, leading Erin to a shocking discovery that makes her question everything about herself and her life. 

“Layer upon layer of lies. Her whole childhood covered and hidden and papered over. Now those layers were peeling and tearing apart and what was she going to find underneath?”

Emma Robinson has created a beautifully and sensitively written story filled with compelling and real characters that make you feel everything they do. I felt like I walked in Erin’s shoes at every step and there were times I had to put the book down to compose myself before picking it up again. Themes of maternal sacrifice that run through every facet of the story but it was Erin’s agony over Harriet possibly moving away to live with her father that resonated most with me. Having recently sent my eldest off to university in another city I felt her pain in my soul but loved that she chose to put her daughter’s best interests above her own again and again.  

“Hang on in there. That’s how she felt, like she was hanging on by her fingernails to both her mother’s past and her daughter’s future. What would happen if she let go?”

Dementia is not an easy subject to write about but Robinson deals with it brilliantly, her skill for writing difficult subjects in a candid but sensitive way evident once again. She provides a raw, honest, emotional, and detailed exploration of dementia, the emotions it stirs up, and the repercussions for the patient’s whole family. I felt Ava’s confusion and fear as she moved between lucidity and forgetting simple things like how to make a cup of tea and Erin’s heartache and devastation was palpable, reminding me of how I felt watching my own grandmother descend deeper into dementia. 

Heartfelt, poignant and affirming, Please Take My Baby is a powerful and thought-provoking read that I highly recommend. Just make sure you have a box full of tissues handy.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Emma Robinson is a USA Today Bestseller with a passion for stories which explore the power of family and friendship in the most challenging circumstances. Whilst her early novels are humorous; her recent work focuses on emotional themes and these novels are both heart-breaking and life affirming.

​Emma currently lives in Essex, England with a husband, two children and a small black dog.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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.

*These links are affiliate links

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2023

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

Published October 12th, 2023 by Orenda
Thriller, Mystery, Dark Comdey, Noir Fiction, Book Series, Horror Fiction

I’m a little late due to illness, but here’s my review for the laugh-out-loud funny The Beaver Theory, which was also my first Orentober read. Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for my invitation to take part and to Orenda for my proof copy of the book.

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SYNOPSIS:

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.
 
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…

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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.

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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 tour.

*These puchase links are affiliate links

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: The Takedown by Carlie Walker

Published October 3rd, 2023 by Orion
Romance Novel, Mystery, Romantic Comedy, Holiday Fiction

Today is my stop on the blog tour for this funny, sexy and addictive debut. Thank you to Becca at Orion for the invitation to take part and my copy of the book.

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SYNOPSIS:

MISS CONGENIALITY meets Emily Henry with the spice of MR AND MRS SMITH in this fun, sexy and absolutely irresistible romcom.

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‘Fun, flirty, and fabulous!’ LAURA JANE WILLIAMS
‘A hilarious, smart and swoony joy of a romcom’ CRESSIDA MCLAUGHLIN
‘The heat between Sydney and Nick is a literal inferno right off the bat’ LIZZY DENT

He wants to take her out. She wants to take him down…

Sydney’s mission is simple:

1. Stop her little sister from marrying a notorious criminal
2. Seduce his bodyguard to gather intel for the FBI
3. Definitely do not fall in love…

Agent Sydney Swift is going home for the holidays. She’s just discovered that her younger sister, Calla, is engaged to Johnny Jones – the heir to the nation’s most notorious crime dynasty – and she’s determined to stop their perfect winter wedding at any cost.

But gathering incriminating evidence on Johnny isn’t as easy as she’d hoped, especially as her biggest obstacle is Nick, his infuriatingly handsome and charming bodyguard!

As Sydney spends more time with Nick, lines begin to blur, and while seducing him to gather intel was bad enough, falling for him is even worse.

Soon Sydney is faced with a difficult decision – one that certainly wasn’t covered in her training . . .

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MY REVIEW:

A female spy on a mission to gather intel on the notorious crime lord engaged to her younger sister by seducing his bodyguard. What could go wrong?

The Takedown is one of the best romcoms I’ve read in a while. Addictive, fun, witty, mysterious, and red-hot, Carlie Walker gives us a masterclass in romcom storytelling with her swoon-worthy debut. It had me hooked from the first page, the tension indisputable as the family gathered together the night before Calla and Johnny’s wedding. It then jumps back to a few days earlier when Sydney first learned about her sister’s engagement and then follows on as she attempts to carry out her mission.

Romcoms generally take a predictable route that we all love and while this one did to some degree, it was also an original take on the stories and tropes we’re familiar with. Firstly, we have a female spy as the central character, and secondly, she has to spy on her own family. It is also filled with surprising twists along the way that keep the reader on their toes and make it all the more entertaining to read. I also enjoyed that although this is technically a holiday read, the Christmas side of things isn’t overbearing. I love a Chrismassy read, but sometimes you aren’t in that mood, and I liked that this one could be read whatever mood you’re in or at any time of year.

What isn’t there to love about a bad-ass female CIA Agent who can take down (like what I did there?😉) criminals with ease? Sydney is a great protagonist. But inside that hard shell is a woman who is a hot mess. Her job is a way to run from her past family traumas and prevent anyone from getting close to her. She’s barely been in touch with her Grandmother or her sister in the last three years and while on this mission she finds it increasingly difficult to balance her past and present colliding. She’s having an internal crisis while trying to save her sister and bring down a crime lord. It’s a lot. But it all helps to make her relatable to the reader and I really liked her and was rooting for her. The background characters were also brilliantly written and I had a real soft spot for Grandma Ruby. What a woman she is! But for a romcom to work you need a believable love interest and Nick is a dreamboat. The chemistry between him and Sydney is undeniable from the start, just like his charm. It was so hot in places that I needed suntan lotion and I loved their effortless banter. You can tell where this one is going for sure. Or so you think…

So if you’re looking for a different kind of romcom and holiday read, then The Takedown is for you. Hilarious, sexy and suspenseful, you won’t be able to put this one down.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Carlie is a big fan of rescue dogs, 90’s rom-coms, and books with happy endings. She lives and works in Atlanta, Georgia. The Takedown is her first novel for adults.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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 tour.

*These links are affiliate links

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Blog Tours book reviews

BLOG TOUR: Her No.1 Fan by Abby Davies

Published September 28th, 2023 by Apple Loft Press
Psychological Thriller, Mystery, Crime Fiction

Today is my stop on the blog tour for this chilling thriller. Thank you to Victoria at Insta Book Tours for the invitation to take part and to Apple Loft Press for the eBook ARC.

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SYNOPSIS:

Rachel Brown plays Doctor Elouise Sparks in the popular TV series ‘Emergency’. Though successful in her career, Rachel has just learned that her chance of conception is small, and she is devastated by the information.

That’s when Mikey Bell takes Rachel from her home to a remote mountain cottage. But Mikey’s motive isn’t ‘normal’. He has a strange request. The good news is that if Rachel can deliver by Christmas Day, he’ll let her go.

But someone else in the cottage is not on the same page as Mikey. This person has different designs for Rachel, and the bad news is that this No.1 Fan has no intention of ever letting her leave.

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MY REVIEW:

“I left the bathroom and hovered at the top of the stairs. 
It was the pathway to Hell. The staircase was unit, but the bottom glowed like fire. Behind me stood the devil.”

Rachel wakes up in a strange room handcuffed to a double bed. How did she get here? And where is her husband, Jacob? She soon learns that the captor who took her from her home is Mikey James Bell, a super fan of  Emergency, the TV show on which Rachel plays Dr Elouise Sparks. He’s been planning and stalking her for a long time and has a very unusual/abnormal request. But Mikey isn’t the only person in the remote cottage with plans for Rachel that are even more sinister. But just like her No.1 fan, they have no intention of letting Rachel leave…

Unnerving, ominous, and claustrophobic, No.1 Fan is an addictive thriller that had me hooked from its opening pages. I was a big fan of Abby Davies’ debut – though not so much that I’d kidnap her – so I was thrilled to discover that this one was every bit as good. Inspired by the Stephen King classic Misery, there is an odious presence and sinister tension that hovers over every page and I was on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. The story gets increasingly psychotic and twisted as it goes on, making me feel like I was watching a horror film. I couldn’t stop reading and devoured it in just a few hours. 

“It was clear he had an evil spirit inside him, one that he fought to suppress every day. I couldn’t help fearing there would come a time when he fought and failed.”

The story is told from Rachel’s perspective and the sense of isolation, bewilderment, distress, and heart-pounding fear, is palpable. You can feel her desperation as she tries to find an escape and I could feel the adrenaline running as much through my own veins as it was hers. And seeing the other characters through her eyes doesn’t make them any less vivid or compelling. Her abductor, Mikey, is full of complexities and contradictions. While he starts out quite eerie it is soon apparent that he isn’t the real monster in this house. That title belongs to someone else. I won’t name them to avoid spoilers, but this person is a truly heinous and vile character. They know their actions are wicked and relish in it. All they care about is getting what they want and they are prepared to resort to the cruellest, darkest deeds to make it happen. It was chilling. And gave me so much sympathy for Mikey, though he obviously wasn’t entirely innocent. 

So if you’re looking for an eerie thriller to read this spooky season then look no further than this menacing and forbidding read. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Abby Davies was born in Macclesfield in 1984. She grew up in Bedfordshire in a seventeenth century cottage near Flitton Moor and started writing ‘thrillers’ when she was seven years old.

After reading English Literature at Sheffield University and training to be an English teacher, she competed in national Modern Jive competitions (featuring on the podium several times), and wrote novels in her free time.

In 2012 she took a break from teaching and gained a Creative Writing MA from Nottingham Trent University. She has taught at both state and independent schools, including Jilly Cooper’s and Minnette Walter’s old school in Salisbury. She was shortlisted for the Mslexia Novel Competition in 2018 and longlisted for the Blue Pencil Agency First Novel Award in 2019. Her interest in the human mind inspired her to write Mother Loves Me which was published by HarperCollins in 2020.

She lives in Wiltshire with her husband, daughter and two cocker spaniels.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Amazon*

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxxx

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

*These purchase links are affiliate links

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2023

BLOG TOUR: The Murmurs (The Annie Jackson Mysteries Volume 1) by Michael J. Malone

Published September 14th, 2023 by Orenda Books
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Gothic Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Horror Fiction, Religious Ficiton, Book Series

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this beguiling gothic thriller. Thank you to Anne at Random Things for the invitation to take part and to Orenda for the proof copy of the book.

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SYNOPSIS:

A young woman starts experiencing terrifying premonitions of people dying, as it becomes clear that a family curse known only as The Murmurs has begun, and a long-forgotten crime is about to be unearthed…
 
On the first morning of her new job at Heartfield House, a care home for the elderly, Annie Jackson wakens from a terrifying dream. And when she arrives at the home, she knows that the first old man she meets is going to die.
 
How she knows this is a terrifying mystery, but it is the start of horrifying premonitions … a rekindling of the curse that has trickled through generations of women in her family – a wicked gift known only as ‘the murmurs’…
 
With its reappearance comes an old, forgotten fear that is about to grip Annie Jackson.
 
And this time, it will never let go…
 
A compulsive gothic thriller and a spellbinding supernatural mystery about secrets and small communities, about faith, courage and self-preservation, The Murmurs is a startling and compulsive read from one of Scotland’s finest authors.

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MY REVIEW:

“Who are they? 
They are every woman, burned, every man flayed and skinned, they’re every trauma visited upon every human—they’re pain they’re torture, they are the scream echoing in the distant dark, the whispered taunt in your ear.
They’re the baited breath, the hammering pulse, the cold beaded sweat, dry mouth, and the bunched yet frozen muscle ignoring the command to run, run, RUN.
They are vengeance and they will never stop.”

A family curse, long-forgotten crimes, repressed memories, and decades-old secrets all come together in this beguiling gothic thriller that is perfect for spooky season. 

Annie Jackson is a young woman whose life has been marred by tragedy. She survived the accident that killed her mother but it took her memories, leaving her with only a nightmare that returns just as she’s about to start a new job at a care home. And on her first day it gets worse as a disturbing vision and murmuring voices tell her one of the residents is about to die. From that day on she is plagued by foreshadowings of the fates of those on the margins of life and death. The eponymous murmurs come unwelcome and unbidden, leaving her frightened, bewildered and scared to look people in the eye. Annie soon discovers the murmurs are part of a curse that has cascaded through the generations of women in her family. Desperate to know more and understand what is happening to her, she and her twin brother, Lewis, begin to explore their family history. But what they discover is much darker than they ever imagined and they find themselves embroiled in old mysteries that are far more dangerous than they realise…

He’s done it again! Michael J. Malone is a masterful gothic storyteller and he had me spellbound as I read. Evocatively told, it oozes a sinister atmosphere as he weaves elements of folklore and the supernatural into the narrative, blurring the lines between what is real and what is in our imagination. Ghostly fingers of the past tighten their grip on Annie and rekindle ashes of memory that slowly reveal horrifying secrets that have been buried for decades. It is chilling, twisty, and there’s a creeping sense of dread that permeates the pages. There are elements of the unknown, the inexplicable, and the unexpected alongside complex family dynamics, dark secrets, and lots of emotion. The story is steadily paced and slowed down a little in the middle before picking up pace again during the last third of the book. This is where I couldn’t put it down, pushing aside my sleepiness in the early hours and flying through the pages as the tension escalated at breakneck speed and we hurtled towards the heart-pounding and shocking finale. 

Malone tells the story in multiple vividly drawn timelines by multiple compelling narrators. But it is Annie who is at the heart of this book. She’s is a bit of a lost soul and we can feel her confusion, fear, and isolation as she tries to figure out what on earth is happening to her. I liked her relationship with her twin brother, Lewis, which felt authentic and grounding in a story that generally feels quite bizarre. I also really enjoyed reading the historical family members and loved the addition of Moira McLean’s memoir. 

Haunting, ominous, darkly atmospheric, and captivating, this is the best I’ve read yet from this author. Add it to your TBR now. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Michael Malone is a prize-winning poet and author who was born and brought up in the heart of Burns’ country. He has published over 200 poems in literary magazines throughout the UK, including New Writing Scotland, Poetry Scotland and Markings. Blood Tears, his bestselling debut novel won the Pitlochry Prize from the Scottish Association of Writers. Other published work includes: Carnegie’s Call; A Taste for Malice; The Guillotine Choice; Beyond the Rage; The Bad Samaritan; and Dog Fight. His psychological thriller, A Suitable Lie, was a number-one bestseller, and the critically acclaimed House of Spines and After He Died soon followed suit. Since then, he’s written two further thought-provoking, exquisitely written psychological thrillers In the Absence of Miracles and A Song of Isolation, cementing his position as a key proponent of Tartan Noir and an undeniable talent. A former Regional Sales Manager (Faber & Faber) he has also worked as an IFA and a bookseller. Michael lives in Ayr.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Orenda Books | Waterstones* | Amazon* | Bookshop.org*

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxxx

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

*These purchase links are affiliate links

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: You’d Look Better as a Ghost by Joanna Wallace

Published September 21st, 2023 by Viper Books
Thriller, Mystery, Dark Comedy, Ghost Story, Satire

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this darkly funny debut. Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part, and to Viper Books for the finished copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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SYNOPSIS:

‘Refreshingly original and laugh-out-loud funny’ – CLARE MACKINTOSH
‘Delightfully shocking and irreverently funny’ – JANICE HALLETT

I have a gift. I see people as ghosts before they die.
Of course, it helps that I’m the one killing them.

The night after her father’s funeral, Claire meets Lucas in a bar. Lucas doesn’t know it, but it’s not a chance meeting. One thoughtless mistyped email has put him in the crosshairs of an extremely put-out serial killer. But even before they make eye contact, before Claire lets him buy her a drink, before she takes him home and carves him up into little pieces, something about that night is very wrong. Because someone is watching Claire. Someone who is about to discover her murderous little hobby.

The thing is, it’s not sensible to tangle with a part-time serial killer, even one who is distracted by attending a weekly bereavement support group and trying to get her art career off the ground. Claire will do anything to keep her secret hidden – not to mention the bodies buried in her garden. Let the games begin…

Dexter meets Killing Eve in this superb thriller, perfect for fans of How To Kill Your Family and My Sister, the Serial Killer.

‘I doubt I’ll read a more original thriller this year’ – JACK JORDAN
‘If Bret Easton Ellis ever went to grief counselling, this would be just the kind of brilliant book he’d write’ – PHILIPPA EAST

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MY REVIEW:

“I have a gift. I see people as ghosts before they die.
Of course, it helps that I’m the one killing them.”

Have you ever heard a better tagline? I don’t think I have. And that title is probably my favourite of all time. Whoever came up with it deserves a raise as even without reading the synopsis I was desperate to read it. Add the striking purple and red cover, sinister tagline, and a hammer-wielding murderess, and I was all in. But be warned; this isn’t for the faint of heart. 

I’ve been in a very murdery mood lately, and this darkly funny, deliciously unhinged, and devilishly addictive debut was just what I was craving. Joanna Wallace’s storytelling is scalpel-sharp, funny, and compelling, and the plot is mysterious, vengeful and macabre. It’s my idea of book heaven and I couldn’t get enough of Claire’s deadly deeds. I haven’t loved a serial killer so much since Rhiannon and the Sweetpea series and never wanted the book to end.

“… I smile, enjoying my favourite part of the process. The part when I know they’re going to die soon. The part when I can anticipate every moment of their deaths. The part when I already see them as ghosts.”

I love an anti-hero, and with her murderous rage, bloody hammer, and body parts hidden in her garden, Claire certainly fits that bill. She’s feisty, sassy, sarcastic, witty, intelligent, doesn’t take anyone’s crap, and I loved her. Murder is her coping mechanism. Her way of chasing away the pain and finding peace among the chaos. And she’s totally blase about it. Unapologetically herself as she revels in being a predator and feeding on the fear of her victims as she slowly tortures and kills them. Wallace has written her brilliantly, refusing to create a caricature of a killer, instead writing a morally complex, nuanced and deeply human character you won’t be able to forget. The flashbacks are a vital part of this as they give us a glimpse into how she became the killer she is today. We learn that her father was her only real parent and that her mother should never have had children. I loathed that woman and really wanted to slap her! Another aspect I liked was the humanity we see in her grief after her father’s death. After all, we expect serial killers to be emotionless psychopaths not struggling to focus and attending bereavement groups.

Dark, chilling, gruesome, and laugh-out-loud funny, You’d Look Better As A Ghost is easily one of my favourite books of the year. Perfect for fans of books such as Sweetpea, My Lovely Wife, and Death of a Bookseller, this is an absolute must read. 

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*

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxxx

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

*All purchase links are affiliate links

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: Her Hidden Shadow by Carla Kovach (Detective Gina Harte Book 14)

Published September 20th, 2023 by Bookouture
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Noir Fiction, Crime Fiction, Police Procedural, Crime Series

Today is my stop on the blog tour for this first-class thriller. Thank you to Bookouture for the invitation to take part and the eBook ARC.

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SYNOPISIS:

Her perfect night out just became her worst nightmare…

Lauren returns home from celebrating her engagement with friends and stumbles as she gets out of the taxi. So what if her best friend Sienna didn’t show up? Lauren had a good night anyway. As she walks towards the small house she shares with her fiancé, Robbie, she’s surprised to see every window in total darkness. And when she calls his name, the house remains silent. Where is Robbie?

Kicking off her red heels, Lauren heads towards her bedroom, feeling more nervous with every step. And when she opens the door, she immediately knows something is very wrong. The sickly metallic smell sobers her up instantly. And there is someone in her bed…

Moving closer, her heart races in her chest. Instead of her fiancé, in the bed lies the lifeless body of a young woman, and although long dark hair covers her face, Lauren can already see who it is… her best friend, Sienna.

As Lauren’s scream breaks the silence, someone stands outside the bedroom, tracking her every move. Did Lauren’s perfect little home just become the most dangerous place she could be?

Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Cara Hunter and Clare Mackintosh, Her Hidden Shadow will have you hooked from the very first page.

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MY REVIEW:

Lauren stumbles out of the taxi after a great night out with friends celebrating her engagement. The only thing missing was her best friend, Sienna, but she had fun anyway. Life is great and she couldn’t be happier to finally be engaged to Robbie. As she enters her small house all is dark and quiet, so she undresses and crawls into bed next to her fiance. But something isn’t right. He feels cold. And why can she feel something wet? She turns on the light to see the body of her best friend covered in blood. Why is Sienna in her bed? And what has happened to Robbie? Lauren’s scream pierces the air and as she picks up her phone to call the police she hears a thud from another room. The killer is still in the house…

Her Hidden Shadow is another first-class thriller from Carla Kovach. It had everything I’ve come to expect from one of her books and she pulled me in with her compelling characters, intriguing plots, and heart-stopping suspense. I like how she always tackles a deeper topic in her books, this time exploring the effects of trauma with honesty, sensitivity and compassion. Her stories are always hard to predict and I was on tenterhooks as she built up to the big reveal. 

This is the fourteenth book in the Detective Gina Harte series and at this point Gina and her team feel like old friends. So despite the dark and difficult topics these books always feel like comfort reads to me. I’m emotionally attached to these characters, something Kovach uses to her advantage by adding in storylines featuring Gina and her team that threaten everything you think you know. It heightens the tension and makes it impossible to put the book down. And boy did she put me through it with this book, though I’ll not say more as I don’t want to ruin the surprise. 

Action-packed, tense, addictive, and full of twists and turns, Carla Kovach has knocked it out of the park once again. I can’t wait for book fifteen!

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Carla Kovach is a USA Today bestselling author from the UK and is published by Bookouture, Sphere and Boekerij. Her DI Gina Harte series has been translated into Dutch.

As well as novels, she has also written stage and screenplays.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Amazon*

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxxx

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

*These purchase links are affiliate links