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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK REVIEW: The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead

Published January 22nd, 2026 by Aria
Domestic Fiction, Romance Novel, Dark Romance, Gothic Romance

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

THE NEW ROMANCE NOVEL FROM TIKTOK SENSATION ASHLEY WINSTEAD.

‘The Future Saints is not to be missed.’ Annabel Monaghan, author of Nora Goes Off Script

A band on the brink. A love worth playing for.

When record executive Theo meets the Future Saints, they’re bombing at a dive bar in their hometown. Since the tragic death of their manager, the band has been in a downward spiral and Theo has been dispatched to coax a new – and successful – album out of them, or else let them go.

Theo is struck right away by Hannah, the group’s impetuous lead singer, who has gone off script in debuting a new song-and, in fact, a whole new sound. Theo’s supposed to get the band back on track, but when their new music garners an even wider fan base than before, the plans begin to change-new tour, new record, new start.

But Hannah’s descent into grief has larger consequences for the group, and she’s not willing to let go yet. not for fame or love.

For fans of Daisy Jones and the Six and In Five Years, this is a love story – just not the one you’re expecting.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

The Future Saints is a band in freefall. They have been struggling since the death of their manager almost a year earlier. The night that record executive Theo Ford meets them they are playing a gig at a dive bar in their hometown and bombing. The record label doesn’t hold out much hope and has sent Theo to ensure the band deliver their obligated next album and then cut them loose. Theo is immediately captivated by lead singer Hannah Cortland, the impetuous broken beauty who is falling apart both behind the scenes and on stage. But that brokenness turns out to be a secret weapon when the band goes off script and debuts not only a new song, but a whole new sound. It goes viral and suddenly the band are thrust into the spotlight. The pressure is on to cash in on their new fame and make that new album a runaway hit. Will Hannah’s grief derail their dreams? Or will she find a way to let go?

This book was nothing like I expected but it was also everything I didn’t know I wanted. Ashley Winstead is a magnificent storyteller who has crafted a mesmerising, raw and poignant story about grief, sisterhood, friendship and love that also gives us a glimpse into the crazy truth of the music industry.

There is a dynamic cast of characters who are fun to read and easy to root for. It didn’t matter that their lives were a million miles away from anything I know, they still felt familiar and deeply human. However, my greatest takeaway from this story is the emotions that bleed from every page. I went through all the feelings my heart has still not recovered. It’s moving, heartbreakingly raw, compassionate and messy. And I couldn’t get enough.

A glorious and stirring story that will linger long after reading, I highly recommend this book.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you Aria for sending me a proof copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ashley Winstead is an academic turned bestselling novelist with a Ph.D. in contemporary American literature. She lives in Houston with her husband, three cats, and beloved wine fridge.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2026 Squadpod Squadpod Book Club Squadpod Featured Books Squadpod Recommends

SQUADPOD BOOK CLUB: Room 706 by Ellie Levenson

Published January 15th, 2026 by Headline
Suspense, Thriller, Mystery, Literary Fiction, Contemporary Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Nobody knows she’s checked into Room 706.

Caught in the wrong place at precisely the worst time, Kate must face the most confronting situation of her life – and discover what matters most – in this deeply suspenseful and thought-provoking novel.

If she knew it would end this way, would it ever have begun?

‘I devoured it… I haven’t stopped thinking about it’ Jennie Godfrey
‘An ending that demands to be talked about’ Erin Kelly
‘Poignant, heart-breaking and utterly human’ Joanna Cannon

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Kate stretches her legs and turns on the TV while James washes away the traces of their morning. She watches in horror at the unfolding news: the hotel they are staying in has been taken under siege.

She should be making her way home, working on appearing normal, getting ready to re-enter family life with her loving husband Vic and their two adored children. Instead, she is trapped somewhere she shouldn’t be, with a man she definitely doesn’t love.

How will she begin to tell Vic what she is doing here? If her body is found, will it give up the secret of what she’s been up to? She’s been so careful hiding the evidence of her affair: write nothing down, leave no trace. Will he begin to understand why?

For now, Kate can only hide, take a deep breath, and reflect on the series of choices she’s made that have brought her to this moment.

What will her marriage and her life look like, if she makes it out?

Discover the most gripping and original novel you’ll read this year, from an incredible new talent in fiction.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Multi-layered, tender, tense and claustrophobic, Room 706 is an explosive debut. Morally ambiguous and thought provoking it follows Kate, who has just enjoyed a day of illicit love-making with her lover, James. As he showers she turns on the TV in the hotel room and the news is reporting a story about a siege under way at a hotel. Horrorstruck, Kate realises it is their hotel. Now, instead of making her way home and collecting her children from school, she’s stuck in a hotel room with her lover. How will she explain this to her husband? And will they make it out of there alive?

How on earth is this a debut? Ellie Levenson writes like a seasoned veteran. Her storytelling is nuanced, raw and sensitive, her characters achingly human and flawed, her plot cleverly choreographed and tightly paced, and her twists surprising. I’ll admit that I went into this expecting a thriller, but while it is full of fear and tension, it isn’t a thriller. Levenson describes it as ‘fiction for the clever but tired woman’, which is the perfect description. I was in Ellie’s thrall, glued to the pages as we moved between events in the hotel room and flashbacks that tell the story of both of Kate’s relationships. And that ending! I almost threw the book across the room and can see why so many people are talking about it.

The moral ambiguity of this story is at the heart of its charm. Kate loves her husband and her affair is simply self-care for her. An escape from the monotony of marriage and motherhood. She recognises how wrong it is but also isn’t willing to give it up. And whatever your thoughts on the morality of her choices, it’s impossible not to like and root for this lady and feel sad for her as she’s trapped in a terrifying situation totally unsupported. Something I loved about Kate was how even when she’s fearing for her life she still worries  about things like the food shopping, buying her son a costume for school and uploading family photos to the cloud. It’s definitely what I could imagine myself doing in her situation. 

A riveting and unforgettable debut by an author who is one to watch, Room 706 is a must for your TBR. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank to Headline for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ellie Levenson has worked as a journalist, writer and lecturer for many years. 

Her freelance work as a feature writer and columnist saw articles published across national newspapers, consumer magazines and specialist publications, with a special focus on writing accessibly about politics, language and social issues. 

Ellie has extensive experience as a lecturer in journalism at Goldsmiths College, University of London, and has been a guest lecturer at many other institutions. She has also worked as an Adjunct Professor at the London programmes of Boston University and Syracuse University. She is completing a PGCHE and is interested to hear about any guest lecturing opportunities in journalism, ideas generation and creative writing. 

Before becoming a novelist, Ellie wrote non-fiction books for adults and non-fiction and picture books for children. These include Politics in 100 words (Quarto, 2020), Creativity and Feature Writing: How to get hundreds of new ideas every day (Routledge, 2015), The Election (Fisherton Press, 2015) and The Noughtie Girl’s Guide to Feminism (Oneworld, 2009).

Ellie lives with her husband and children in East London. (Up the O’s!)

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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SQUADPOD BOOK CLUB: The Christmas Book Club by Sarah Morgan

Published October 23rd, 2023 by HQ
Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance, Domestic Fiction, Festive Fiction, Christmas Story

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Could this Christmas be the start of a whole new chapter?

A long-lasting friendship

Every year, Erica, Claudia, and Anna reunite for their book club holiday. They’re bonded by years of friendship and a deep love of books, but there is still so much they keep from each other…

A perfect Christmas escape

At the cosy Maple Sugar Inn, Hattie specialises in making her guests’ dreams come true, but this Christmas all she wants is to survive the festive season. Between running the inn and being a single mother, Hattie is close to breaking point.

The start of a brand-new story…?

Over the course of an eventful week, Hattie sees that the friends are each carrying around unspoken truths, but nothing prepares her for how deeply her story will become entwined in theirs. Will this Christmas be the end of the book club’s story or the start of a whole new chapter?

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Every year, best friends Erica, Anna and Claudia reunite for their book club holiday. This year they are getting together near Christmas, and Erica has chosen the cosy Maple Sugar Inn in Vermont for their getaway. The Inn is run by Hattie, a widowed single mother who specialises in making her guests’ dreams come true. But between motherhood and running the inn, there is little time to do anything than simply try to survive the festive season. The friends arrive at the Inn, and over the course of the next week secrets are revealed and all of their stories will become entwined in unexpected ways…

I love a cosy Christmas story, so when the SquadPod voted for The Christmas Book Club as our December Book Club pick I was thrilled. I’ve heard so many good things about Sarah Morgan’s books and have many of them on my TBR, so this was the ideal excuse to finally read one of them. And now I’m wondering why I waited so long. A delightful and uplifting story of love, friendship, family, grief and the changes that life throws our way, The Christmas Book Club is festive perfection. Sarah Morgan knows how to keep her readers turning the pages, delivering a story that is funny and entertaining but also has moving and emotional stories woven into every facet. 

One of the highlights of this book for me were the compelling characters and the depictions of family, love and friendship between them. I especially loved Hattie, the Inn’s proprietor, and her young daughter Delphi, but each of the characters had me enthralled and I was rooting for each of them. The will they/won’t they romance between Hattie and Noah was also gripping and I was cheering them on throughout. 

So if you’re looking for a warming festive story to read whilst snuggled under a blanket with a hot chocolate this year, this is the book for you.

Rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Sarah Morgan is a USA Today and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of romance and women’s fiction. She has sold over 25 million copies of her books and her trademark humour and warmth have gained her fans across the globe.

Sarah lives near London, England and when she isn’t writing or reading, she likes to spend time outdoors hiking or riding her mountain bike.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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SQUADPOD BOOK CLUB: Silent Bones by Val McDermid

Published October 23rd, 2025 by Sphere
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Crime Series

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ABOUT THE BOOK:THE POWERFUL NEW THRILLER IN THE KAREN PIRIE SERIES, NOW A MAJOR TV SERIES

‘Beautifully structured, witty and twisty’ ANN CLEEVES
‘A perfect crime novel’ KATE MOSSE
‘Powerful, moving and wise’ HARLAN COBEN
‘Full of humour, heart and trademark twists’ CHRIS WHITAKER
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The truth is buried just beneath the surface . . .

When torrential rain causes a landslide on a motorway in Scotland, it reveals a crime scene: someone hid a body in the tarmac eleven years before. Journalist Sam Nimmo had been the prime suspect in the murder of his fiancée when he disappeared, and now DCI Karen Pirie and her Historic Cases Unit must find out who buried him, and why.

Meanwhile, in Edinburgh, new evidence reopens a closed case and the accidental death of a hotel manager starts to look like murder. But what did Tom Jamieson’s book club have to do with his demise – and what will they do to keep their secrets?

Karen and her team begin to untangle a web of lies, one that connects their murder cases with Scotland’s rich and powerful. They will be tested to their limits – and possibly beyond . . .

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

When torrential rain causes a landslide on a Scottish motorway it uncovers human remains that are soon identified as belonging to journalist Sam Nimmo, who disappeared eleven years earlier after the murder of his pregnant fiancée. He was the prime suspect, but now Karen Pirie and her Historic Cases Unit must discover how and why he was buried beneath the tarmac. 

Meanwhile, the team are reopening the investigation into the accidental death of hotel manager Tom Jamieson after his brother comes in with new evidence that seems to point to foul play. Soon, the evidence leads them to the elite book club Tom had joined shortly before his death. What are they hiding and just how far will they go to keep their secrets?

The SquadPod’s Book Club pick for October was the eighth instalment in the Karen Pirie series. Intriguing, mysterious and suspenseful, this enthralling thriller had me glued to its pages. Val McDermid is a crime fiction powerhouse so I jumped at the chance to read this book, even though it had been a while since I’d read this series. But I never felt lost or confused as McDermid succinctly catches the reader up with past events and the lives of Karen and her team. I was quickly immersed in this twisted web of power, corruption, secrets, lies, deceit and murder.

Expertly written, shrewdly choreographed, perfectly paced and full of heart and humour, McDermid’s crime-writing credentials are evident on every page. The book is filled with a cast of compelling characters that I loved reading. I loved the camaraderie and banter of Karen and her team, and how deftly they solve these old crimes. I liked that McDermid includes just the right amount of their personal lives to help us develop a connection with them that will keep you coming back for another instalment. The background characters are also fascinating to read and there were some unscrupulous characters that I couldn’t wait to see punished for their crimes. My heart raced and I was on the edge of my seat as Karen and her team untangled the intricate web to find the truth and finally get justice for these victims.

A must-read for anyone who enjoys a tense and twisty police procedural.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰ 

Thank you to Sphere for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Val McDermid is a number one bestseller whose novels have been translated into more than forty languages, and have sold over eighteen million copies. She has won many awards internationally, including the CWA Gold Dagger for best crime novel of the year and the LA Times Book of the Year Award. She was inducted into the ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards Hall of Fame in 2009, was the recipient of the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger in 2010 and received the Lambda Literary Foundation Pioneer Award in 2011. In 2016, Val received the Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award at the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival and in 2017 received the DIVA Literary Prize for Crime, and was elected a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Literature and the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Val has served as a judge for the Women’s Prize for Fiction and the Man Booker Prize, and was Chair of the Wellcome Book Prize in 2017. She is the recipient of six honorary doctorates and is an Honorary Fellow of St Hilda’s College, Oxford. She writes full-time and divides her time between Edinburgh and East Neuk of Fife.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

*The puchase link in this review is an affiliate link

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BOOK REVIEW: The Time Hop Coffee Shop by Phaedra Patrick

Published September 25th, 2025 by Aria
Magical Realism, Domestic Fiction, Coming-of-Age Story

Welcome to my review of this cosy and charming story. Thank you to Aria for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Welcome to the Time Hop Coffee Shop, where wishes can come true . . .

Greta Perks was once the shining star of the iconic Maple Gold coffee commercials, the quintessential TV wife and mom. Now, fame has faded, her marriage is on the rocks, her teenage daughter has become distant, and Greta’s once-glittering career feels like a distant memory.

So when Greta stumbles upon a mysterious coffee shop, serving a magical brew, she wishes for the perfect life in those past Maple Gold commercials. Next thing she knows, Greta wakes in the idyllic, make-believe town of Mapleville, where the sun always shines and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and second chances fill the air. Given the opportunity to live the life she dreamed, Greta is determined to rewrite her own script. But can life ever be like a coffee commercial? And what will happen when Greta has to choose – between perfection and real life, with no turning back?

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MY REVIEW:

Greta Perks was once the star of the iconic Maple Gold coffee commercials with her husband Jim and daughter, Lottie. But now her marriage is on the rocks, her teenage daughter who is becoming more distant by the day and a career in freefall, Greta finds herself daydreaming wistfully of the time her life was perfect and longing for the past. Then one day, she comes across a mysterious coffee shop that advertises your ‘perfect blend’ and is offered the chance to drink a magical brew that will make her wishes come true. The next thing she knows, Greta finds herself in Mapleville, the perfect fictional town from the coffee commercials, and is charmed by its friendly faces, shiny smiles and eternal optimism. When she returns to real life, Greta struggles to adjust and can only think of when she can next visit Mapleville. But as she begins to notice cracks in Mapleville’s perfect facade, Greta starts to wonder if life can really be as perfect as a coffee commercial? And if offered the chance to stay there forever, would Greta leave her real life behind for a second chance at perfection?

Like a hot cup of coffee on a cold autumn day, The Time Hop Coffee shop is a charming, cosy and uplifting story that warms you from the inside out. Phaedra Patrick has long been one of my favourite authors of uplifting fiction, so when the Squadpod were offered the chance to read her latest book I didn’t hesitate. And in a change from her other stories, this time Phaedra has added a dash of magical realism, giving a whimsical, Alice in Wonderland-style vibe to this delightful story of love, yearning, self-discovery and hope. 

The characters in this book are relatable and real, with Greta being a protagonist who felt easy to root for. I think we’ve all had times in life where we long for happier times or when we wonder when our life went wrong. At those times, the allure of perfection and the chance to rewrite the narrative of our lives would be strong. Other characters I really enjoyed reading were Iris, the cantankerous coffee shop owner, and Millie, the friend Greta makes in Mapleville who had a fascinating arc. 

A feel-good story full of heart, this is the perfect book to read while snuggled up under a blanket on an autumn day. Preferably whilst drinking a hot cup of coffee.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

From Amazon: I’ve always wanted to write books but came to it the long way around. I originally studied art and marketing and then worked as a stained glass artist, film festival organiser and communications manager. I won several awards for my short stories and have now written six novels, four of which became USA Today bestsellers. I live with my family in Saddleworth, UK, where I write full time.

My debut novel, The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, was translated into twenty five languages worldwide and was optioned by a major Hollywood film studio.

My second novel, Rise and Shine, Benedict Stone (named Wishes Under the Willow Tree in the UK), was made into a Hallmark movie in 2021.

My third novel, inspired by my love of stories, is The Library of Lost and Found. It was selected as ’The Great North West Read,’ to be read across 300 libraries in the UK in 2019.

My fourth is titled The Secrets of Love Story Bridge (The Secrets of Sunshine in the UK) and my fifth, The Messy Lives of Book People (titled The Book Share in the UK) was the Barnes & Noble fiction pick for June 2022 in the USA.

I hope you enjoy my sixth novel, The Little Italian Hotel, a warm, uplifting escape about the power of love, friendship and following your dreams.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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SuqadPod Featured Book: Watching You by Helen Fields

Published August 28th, 2025 by Avon Books
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A face in the crowd. A killer in the shadows…

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On the dark streets of Edinburgh, a killer is waiting.

When a body is found, it is only the beginning. Soon there will be seven more.

In the city’s hospital, renowned surgeon Beth Waterfall is grieving.

Her beloved only daughter fell prey to a vicious stalker a year previously – and now he’s coming for her too.

Edinburgh’s police are desperate.

After one body comes another, and then another. The brutal deaths are all seemingly unconnected, yet DS Lively and forensic profiler Dr Connie Woolwine know they are dealing with a serial killer – they just need to prove it.

But time is running out, and Beth Waterfall already looks set to be the next victim…

The million-copy international bestseller returns with a gripping serial killer thriller that will have you hooked from the first page to the very last.

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MY REVIEW:

In Edinburgh, a killer is watching. Waiting for the right time to strike. A body is found but there will be seven more that soon follow. The brutal murders seem unconnected, but DS Lively and Dr Connie Woolwine are sure they are dealing with a serial killer. 

A new Helen Fields book is always an event. A crime fiction powerhouse, Helen always delivers books that are sinister, suspenseful, twisty, menacing and addictive. Her latest novel, Watching You, delivers all that and more. Dark and gritty, there’s an oppressive sense of foreboding from the start and a chilling unease as we become aware of the killer hunting and watching his prey. It’s expertly written, skillfully plotted, full of red herrings, shocking twists and nerve-shredding moments that have you on the edge of your seat.

Fields’ books are always filled with richly drawn and compelling characters but this time she’s gone one better and packed it to the brim with characters that regular readers will recognise from both of her series. Not only are profiler Connie Woolwine and Brodie Barda back, but DS Sam Lively and DS Christie Salter from the DI Callanach series returns and there are mentions of other familiar characters. Dare I hope that soon we might get a book where Luc, Ava, Connie and Brodie all appear together? PLEASE make that happen, Helen! 

The return of Connie Woolwine means more strange moments with corpses and a crime that explores another rare brain condition. I love these aspects of this series and always particularly look forward to learning about another obscure condition thanks to Ms. Fields. Another thing I love about her books is how she humanises the victims, making us care about them and see them as real people before they are then brutally murdered. I also like that she also includes the perspective of the villain, this time making my skin crawl as I witnessed him stalking his victims, all while they are completely unaware he is watching. 

A heart-stopping thriller that is scalpel-sharp, dark and devious, Watching You is a must for any thriller lover. And though it is technically part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. However, I highly recommend all of Helen’s books as they are first-class thrillers you don’t want to miss.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A Sunday Times and million copy best-selling author, Helen is a former criminal and family law barrister. Every book in the Callanach series has claimed an Amazon #1 bestseller flag. ‘Perfect Kill’ was longlisted for the Crime Writers Association Ian Fleming Steel Dagger in 2020, and others have been longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize, Scottish crime novel of the year. Helen also writes as HS Chandler, and has released legal thriller ‘Degrees of Guilt’. In 2020 Perfect Remains was shortlisted for the Bronze Bat, Dutch debut crime novel of the year. In 2022, Helen was nominated for Best Crime Novel and Best Author in the Netherlands. Now translated into more than 20 languages, and also selling in the USA, Canada & Australasia, Helen’s books have won global recognition. She has written standalone novels, The Institution, The Last Girl To Die, These Lost & Broken Things and The Shadow Man. She regularly commutes between West Sussex, USA and Scotland.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliohiles xxxx

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BOOK REVIEW: The Game is Murder by Hazell Ward

Published August 21st, 2025 by Michael Joseph
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Crime Ficiton, Historical Mystery

Welcome to my bookish thoughts about The Game is Murder. Thank you Michael Joseph for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

THIRTEEN GUESTS. THIRTEEN SUSPECTS. AN IMPOSSIBLE MURDER.
A MYSTERY YOU MUST SOLVE – OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES…

What if a Great Detective reinvestigated the most famous unsolved murder case of the century?
What if that Great Detective was you?

You have been invited to a very special murder mystery party.
Thirteen guests have been gathered – rather, thirteen suspects.
But only one of them is a murderer. And only you can find them.

Your task is simple. Listen to the witnesses, examine the evidence, and solve the case.
Be careful. Trust no one. In this story, all may not be as it seems.

The ultimate murder mystery is yours to solve.
A word of warning, though – catch the killer, or face the consequences…

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MY REVIEW:

You are invited to a murder mystery evening at a London home. But soon you realise that this night is not going to be your typical murder mystery evening. Because tonight you are being asked to solve a real murder – or face the consequences. There are thirteen guests and thirteen suspects. Can you unmask the killer?

YOU are the Reader and the Great Detective in this inventive murder mystery debut. Atmospheric, inventive and original, this isn’t your usual whodunnit. It starts out strong: full of mystery as you arrive at the home and take your seat at the table. You learn that the murder you will be solving is the murder of Sally Gardner, who was bludgeoned on November 7th, 1974 in this very house. The suspect in the crime, Lord John Verreman, vanished the next day. Now his son wants you to examine the evidence and decide if his father really did kill his nanny on that cold night all those years ago.

Debut author Hazell Ward has crafted a novel that feels unique. She grabs your attention from the start by talking directly to the reader, making you a part of the case and invested in solving it. And I felt even more invested as the crime in the story is based on the real life case of Lord Lucan, a case that has long fascinated me. There is a large cast of characters that I enjoyed reading for the most part, though it did sometimes get confusing. I liked how Ward captured the feeling of a 1970s dinner party with Babycham and cocktails, transporting me back fifty years to the night of the crime and adding an authenticity to the story.

The inspiration from classic detective fiction is evident throughout the book, with many references to the rules of these books and to titles and authors. Ward has taken these rules and added her own to create a new kind of narrative that puts the reader at its centre. It’s multi-layered, complex, full of red herrings and misdirection. You have to pay attention and I found it a bit confusing after a while.

The Game Is Murder is a creative and twisty debut that would be great for fans of books such as The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.

Rating: ✮✮✮✰✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Hazell Ward spent years as an adult education teacher, before completing an MA in Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University. She enjoyed it so much, that she is now working for a PhD. She was shortlisted for the Margery Allingham Short Story Competition in 2021, and won the CWA Short Story Dagger in 2023 for her story, Cast A Long Shadow, published by Honno Press.

She lives and works in Wrexham, Wales.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOKS: The Nightingale Dilemma by Katy Moran

Published July 3rd, 2025 by Aria
Historical Romance

Welcome to my review for this bingeable historical romance. Thank you to Aria for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

1812

Following the drum in Spain, rebellious aristocrat Cressida Nightingale has put her tumultuous past far behind her, and with it her short-lived marriage to Lord Greville.

Having escaped the constraints of her previous life and now scorned by society, Cressida has spent years surviving as a spy for her government. Whilst this is a hard life, it’s hers and she will fight to keep it. Then her world comes crashing down when she is caught behind enemy lines by none other than her estranged husband.

Betrayed by those who have willingly taken the information she offered, Cressida is offered a deal. Entrap her childhood friend, Lord Byron, now the most famous man in England and one who is suspected of treason, or pay the ultimate price for her own treasonous acts.

Can this nightingale escape the shackles of her past, and what price will she pay for it is she can’t?

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MY REVIEW:

Cressida, a rebellious and disgraced aristocrat turned spy is forced back to the high society world she thought she’d left behind when she’s arrested by her estranged husband on suspicion of treason. There is only one way for her to regain her freedom: betray her friend, Lord Byron. But despite their acrimonious divorce, the old lovers soon discover that their spark still burns bright. Is it too late for them to reunite?

Sexy, smart and suspenseful, this book was regency heaven. But there’s something for every reader in this crazy and chaotic rollercoaster ride of mystery, intrigue, deception, lust, lies, secrets, history, scandal and romance. It’s action-packed and compelling, Katy Moran’s evocative storytelling, meticulous research and captivating characters transporting me to the world of politics and society she’d created. It was so vivid that I felt like I’d been picked up and placed in the halls of regency aristocracy with all the gossip, games and calculated manoeuvring. This was a treacherous place where every word and move must be carefully calculated and you’re never sure who might be secretly scheming to betray you. Convoluted and intricate, everyone has their hand in multiple pies and people you’d never suspect are caught up in plots to betray those close to them. The stakes are sky-high and you feel that radiating from the pages and keeping you on the edge of your seat. 

In a regency romance you obviously need great chemistry, and you can feel the desire between Cressida and Greville sizzling from the pages. You can feel their regret over giving up on their marriage and how they both still want each other. I couldn’t help but root for them despite all the odds that were stacked against them. I also really liked Cressida. She was a compelling character that was easy to root for and I loved that she was so feisty, determined and different to what was the norm for women in her era. 

Atmospheric, clever, witty and tense, The Nightingale Dilemma is a bingeable historical romance with a sassy heroine you’ll love rooting for. 

Rating: ✭✭✭✭✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Katy Moran writes romantic historical fiction filled with adventure, passion and political intrigue. Her books are set in an alternate history just a step away from our own. She lives in the Welsh borders with her family and four miniature sheep.

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Categories
Uncategorised

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOKS: Seascraper by Benjamin Wood

Published July 17th, 2025 by Viking
Historical Fiction

Welcome to my review for this atmoshperic and evoacative novel. Thank you to Viking for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A mesmerising portrait of a young man confined in by his class and the ghosts of his family’s past, dreaming of artistic fulfilment. It confirms Benjamin Wood as an exceptional talent in British literature.

‘A huge talent’ Hilary Mantel

‘Benjamin Wood is a magnificent writer and I intend to read everything he has written’ Douglas Stuart

Thomas lives a slow, deliberate life with his mother in Longferry, working his grandpa’s trade as a shanker. He rises early to take his horse and cart to the grey, gloomy beach to scrape for shrimp; spending the rest of the day selling his wares, trying to wash away the salt and scum, pining for Joan Wyeth down the street and rehearsing songs on his guitar. At heart, he is a folk musician, but it remains a private dream.

When a striking visitor turns up, bringing the promise of Hollywood glamour, Thomas is shaken from the drudgery of his days and begins to see a different future. But how much of what the American claims is true, and how far can his inspiration carry Thomas?

Haunting and timeless, this is the story of a young man hemmed in by his circumstances, striving to achieve fulfilment far beyond the world he knows.

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MY REVIEW:

Atmospheric, evocative, poignant and poetic, Seascraper is a beautifully composed portrait of a young man confined by circumstance and dreaming of a brighter future. Set in the fictitious northern coastal town of Longberry, a young man named Thomas Fleet rises at dawn each day and traverses the bleak and grey beach with his horse and cart, shanking for shrimp to sell to eke out a meagre living. It’s a life of drudgery, hardship and poverty, and he dreams of more, trying to work up the courage to play the songs he writes in secret on the stage, and to muster up the nerve to ask out the girl he likes. But then a bright light appears on the horizon: a Hollywood film maker named Edgar who wants to make a movie on the beach and hires Thomas to be his local guide. Suddenly, his dreams don’t seem so out of reach. But can Thomas trust him? Or is what he’s promising too good to be true?

Benjamin Wood is a skilled storyteller. His prose is beautiful, haunting and moving, the story told with detailed finesse that feels delicate and precise. It’s achingly real, portraying the harsh realities of Thomas’s gloomy life and the dreary beach where he spends his days. He brings it all to life with cinematic precision, making me feel for the characters and lose myself in this affecting story. The characters are richly imagined and real, with Thomas and his mother perfectly portraying a life of poverty and Edgar being the embodiment of a Hollywood executive. I enjoyed the stark contrast between them and how they seemed to learn a lot from each other in the short time they were acquainted. But it was Thomas who my heart ached for and I was cheering him on, hoping he’d fulfil his dreams and get the girl. At 163 pages this is a short but powerful read, my only complaint being that I’d have liked it to be a bit longer and for Wood to give us more answers about Thomas’s future. But I feel like the unanswered questions are deliberate and make the story more true to life, where we don’t always get all the answers and things aren’t wrapped up in a neat bow.

A short but powerful read, it’s easy to see why this book made The Booker Prize longlist. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

​​Benjamin Wood was born in 1981 and grew up in Merseyside. He is the author of four acclaimed novels.

THE BELLWETHER REVIVALS (2012) was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award and the Commonwealth Book Prize, and won one of France’s foremost literary awards, Le Prix du Roman Fnac. THE ECLIPTIC (2015) was shortlisted for the Encore Award and the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award. A STATION ON THE PATH TO SOMEWHERE BETTER (2018), was shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger Award and the European Union Prize for Literature. THE YOUNG ACCOMPLICE (2022) was selected as one of the books of the year by The Times, Sunday Times, New Statesman, The Spectator, The Irish Times, and others. A serialised version of the novel was broadcast as a BBC Radio 4 Book at Bedtime.

His fifth novel, SEASCRAPER, will be published by Viking Penguin in July 2025.

He is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at King’s College London, where he teaches fiction modules and founded the PhD in Creative Writing programme. ​He lives in Surrey with his wife and sons.

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

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: Havoc by Rebecca Wait

Published July 3rd, 2025 by Riverrun
Literary Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Tragicomedy

Welcome to my review for this atmospheric tragicomedy. Thank you to Riverrun for sending me a proof copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘Tragedy and comedy fuse together perfectly in a labyrinthine mystery of emotional and psychological complexity’ Jo Brand

Fleeing Scotland in the wake of family disgrace, 16-year-old Ida Campbell secures a scholarship at a failing girls’ boarding school on a remote part of the south English coast. Despite the eccentricities of her new Headmistress, who warns her of the dangers of the Cold War and the ever-present threat of the bomb, St Anne’s seems like a refuge to Ida. But all this is about to change. For a start, her new room-mate is the infamous Louise Adler, potential arsonist and hardened outcast.

Meanwhile, the geography teacher Eleanor Alston, in her late thirties, a disastrous love affair in her wake, faces the new term with weary resignation. But the fragile ecosystem of the school is disrupted by the arrival of a new teacher, Matthew Langfield. Eleanor has an uneasy feeling he is not who he says he is.

And things only get worse when a mysterious sickness starts to spread throughout the school, causing strange limb jerks and seizures among the pupils. What is happening to the girls of St Anne’s? Could there be a poisoner among them? Is Ida’s scholarship really an escape, or is it instead a new nightmare?

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MY REVIEW:

A girl’s boarding school is a situation ripe for a sinister story and Rebecca Wait has created the perfect recipe for just that with her latest book. She starts with  a compelling protagonist – 16-year-old Ida – who is coming to the English coast after getting a scholarship to St Anne’s. Next is the secret Ida is trying to escape: a scandal involving her family that brought shame and suspicion into her life. Next is the school building: an old, dilapidated manor house that looks like it could fall down at any moment.. Then is the angry and confrontational roommate who promises to make Ida’s life miserable. You can’t have a boarding school without teachers, so she adds in a Headmistress preparing them for the Cold War, a long-serving geography teacher, and a mysterious new history teacher who seems to be hiding something. Then she adds the piece-de-resistance, a mysterious illness that quickly spreads through the school. Sprinkle in some dark comedy, emotional moments and fascinating characters and you’ve got the recipe for a book that you won’t be able to put down. 

Atmospheric, labyrinthine, witty and dark, Havoc is an unforgettable tragicomedy. While I have most of Wait’s books, this was my first time reading one of them and I am so mad at myself for sleeping on her for so long. Magnificently written, cleverly choreographed, multi-layered and complex, this haunting story had me enrapt from start to finish. Wait had me completely immersed, transporting me to the nostalgia of the 80s and reminding me what it was like to be an angst-ridden 16-year-old girl again. The characters are richly drawn and relatable, allowing me to step inside the story and feel invested in the outcome. A sense of dread permeates the pages and the whole story thrums with helplessness and fear. As the illness spreads the story feels increasingly chaotic and unpredictable, which sometimes makes things feel a little confusing. There were times I felt certain I knew where the story was headed while at others I had no idea, but Wait played me for a fool at every step, taking it in completely unexpected directions and making me fall for her expertly-placed red herrings. 

Ida is a great protagonist. She’s complicated, flawed and fierce, but also insecure and vulnerable. It really did feel like stepping back into my 16-year-old self’s shoes and I couldn’t wait to leave. Louise was my favourite character. She’s delightfully unhinged, kind of scary and maybe a psychopath. But then she peels back the mask she wears and allows Ida and the reader to see who she really is. I noticed that Ms. Wait seems to have created a cast of outcasts for this book. Ida and Louise are both outcasts, and so were the other two characters that really stood out to me: Eleanor, the sad geography teacher who has taught at the school for twenty years, and Matthew, the new teacher who screamed ‘dodgy’. I always find these kinds of characters more fascinating than the perfect or popular crowd, and I loved that Wait made all of her characters feel so nuanced. 

Haunting, thought-provoking and thoroughly entertaining, this is a must-read.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rebecca Wait is the author of five novels. I’m Sorry You Feel That Way was a book of the year for The Times, Guardian, Express, Good Housekeeping and BBC Culture, and was shortlisted for the Nota Bene Prize.

Our Fathers, received widespread acclaim and was a Guardian book of the year and a thriller of the month for Waterstones.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx