Tag: suspense

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: The Torments (The Annie Jackson Mysteries, Volume 2) by Michael J. Malone

Published September 12th, 2024 by Orenda
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Gothic Fiction, Horror Fiction, Contemporary Horror, Hardboiled, Book Series

Happy publication day to this chilling gothic thriller and welcome to my stop on the blog tour. Thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part and Orenda for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘A tense, creepy page-turner’ Ian Rankin, New Statesman
 
`Malone is the master of twists, turns and the unexpected´ Herald Scotland
 
_______
 
Annie surged forward, but she was too slow, too late.
A hand came over and down, and she felt a sharp pain at the back of her neck.
Then all became smoke, and silence.
 
Hiding from the world in her little white cottage on the shores of a loch, Annie Jackson is fighting to come to terms with the world of the murmurs, a curse that has haunted female members of her family for centuries.
 
While she is within the ancient, heavy stone of the old dwelling, the voices merely buzz, but the moment she steps outside the door they clamour to torment her all over again, bringing with them shocking visions of imminent deaths.
 
Into this oasis comes her adoptive mother, Mandy McEvoy, begging for Annie’s help. Mandy’s nephew Damien has gone missing, after dropping off his four-year old son at his mother’s home.
 
Unable to refuse, but terrified to leave her sanctuary, Annie, with the help of her brother Lewis, is drawn in to a secretive, seductive world that will have her question everything she holds dear, while Lewis’ life may be changed forever…
 
The second book in the critically acclaimed Annie Jackson Mysteries series, The Torments is both a contemporary gothic thriller and a spellbinding mystery that deeps deep into a past that should, perhaps, remain undisturbed…
 

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MY REVIEW:

He’s done it again. The second book in Michael J. Malone’s Annie Jackson mysteries is another eerie, haunting and compulsive journey into the unknown. This time Annie and her twin brother, Lewis, are drawn into investigating the disappearance of a family friend, leading them to a darker mystery and long-held secrets that are better left undisturbed….

This is a stay up all night and feel knackered the next day, but it’s totally worth it kind of a book. Malone is a masterful gothic storyteller and this one is deliciously dark, merging folklore and mystery with an unsettling but hypnotic atmosphere that kept me glued to the pages. Exquisitely written, intricately woven and cleverly choreographed, Malone toys with the reader, taking us down a road of misdirection and shocking twists. Other than a theme of the characters being tormented by forces that feel beyond their control, I had no idea how the two timelines or characters were connected or what would happen next and I devoured the book in one sitting, forcing myself to stay awake long into the early hours in my desperate need for answers.

The story is told in dual timelines: then and now. Both narratives are dripping with menace, foreboding, disquiet, mystery and intrigue, chilling me to the bone while keeping me on the edge of my seat. Annie narrates the present and follows as she and Lewis begin their hunt for their missing family friend. Annie is still trying to adjust to life with the murmurs, which remain unpredictable. All she can predict is for some reason they leave her alone when she’s home at her cottage, leading her to isolate herself a lot. I loved Annie’s relationship with her twin brother, Lewis, and think they make a great investigative duo. Meanwhile, the past timeline is narrated by Ben and Sylvia, two lost souls tormented by darkness and found by the wrong kind of people. They are children when their story begins, and I felt sorry for them at the start, but they made my skin crawl when they were adults. Malone has witten them cleverly, surprising me many times with their character arc, particularly  when all was finally revealed. 

Nerve-shredding, dark, twisting and unputdownable, this is a must for your spooky-season TBR. So, if like me you enjoy your thrillers with a slice of gothic, then this book and series is for you.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Michael Malone is a prize-winning poet and author who was born and brought upin the heart of Burns’ 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 | Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These links are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

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Beat the Backlist Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG BLAST: The First Day of Spring by Nancy Tucker

Published June 24th, 2021 by Hutchinson Heinmann
Thriller, Suspense, Crime Fiction, Mystery, Psychological Fiction

Welcome to my review for this extraordinary debut. Thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers Tours for the invitation to take part in the blog blast and to Hutchinson Heinmann for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘So that was all it took,’ I thought. ‘That was all it took for me to feel like I had all the power in the world. One morning, one moment, one yellow-haired boy. It wasn’t so much after all.’

Chrissie knows how to steal sweets from the shop without getting caught, the best hiding place for hide-and-seek, the perfect wall for handstands.

Now she has a new secret. It gives her a fizzing, sherbet feeling in her belly. She doesn’t get to feel power like this at home, where food is scarce and attention scarcer.

Fifteen years later, Julia is trying to mother her five-year-old daughter, Molly. She is always worried – about affording food and school shoes, about what the other mothers think of her. Most of all she worries that the social services are about to take Molly away.

That’s when the phone calls begin, which Julia is too afraid to answer, because it’s clear the caller knows the truth about what happened all those years ago.

And it’s time to face the truth: is forgiveness and redemption ever possible for someone who has killed?

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MY REVIEW:

‘So that was all it took,’ I thought. ‘That was all it took for me to feel like I had all the power in the world. One morning, one moment, one yellow-haired boy. It wasn’t so much after all.’

Eight-year-old Chrissie knows she’s a bad seed. After all, everyone is always telling her so. But now she has a secret no one else knows. Something that makes her feel powerful and gives her a fizzing, sherbert feeling in her belly: she’s the one who killed two-year-old Steven. 
Fifteen years later, Julia is trying to be the best mother she can be to five-year-old Molly. Julia worries about everything. But most of all she worries that her past will return to haunt her and social services will take her daughter away. 

“I killed a little boy today.”

When a book starts with a sentence like that it grabs your attention from the start. And this one never let me go. Profoundly dark, unsettling, harrowing and moving, The First Day of Spring is an extraordinary debut. Based on the real-life crimes of Mary Bell, a child convicted of killing two children in the sixties and was later released from prison with a new identity, Nancy Tucker skillfully explores the disturbing psyche of a child killer, asking if some people are born evil, and if forgiveness and redemption are ever possible for someone who kills. This deeply uncomfortable read is a story of murder, toxic families, neglect, poverty, trauma, and the shades of grey that exist between the black and white of morality. Tucker is an exceptional storyteller whose writing is compelling, perceptive, compassionate and menacing. Every word oozes darkness, malice, suffering, pain, and pent-up rage. But there is also helplessness, fragility, sadness and desperation woven in, creating a jarring contrast of emotions that will simultaneously send shivers down your spine and tug on your heart strings. This book broke me. I haven’t stopped thinking about it and I know it will stay with me forever. 

“I liked it that way. It meant I got to be a killer but I also got days off from being a killer. Because being a killer was quite a tiring thing to be.”

Tucker has created a cast of seriously complex characters for this book. They are damaged people trying to survive their hard lives, often resorting to desperate measures, and remind us that no-one is ever all good or all bad. Chrissie is a character I will never forget. She has never known love or affection, she’s always hungry, her clothes are dirty and tatty, and no-one ever wants her around. She is all-too aware that her life is unfair and she’s seething about it. It makes her vindictive and she lashes out at other children, bullying them in an attempt to seize back some power and control. It was devastating to read and my heart broke for her. But, equally, being immersed inside young Chrissie’s mind was a chilling and disturbing experience, something which was enhanced by the juxtaposition of her angry, sinister thoughts and her childish innocence. To me, it felt obvious that her terrible actions were those of a desperate, lost and mixed-up child crying out for love and attention rather than someone who was evil. Though that doesn’t mean I don’t condemn her actions, because I do.

“Because any kid who stayed with me would grow up a jigsaw of rotted, crumbling parts.”

Julia is a very different character.  Anxious, anguished and emotionally scarred, she’s haunted by guilt and feels undeserving of happiness. But, first and foremost, Julia is a mother who loves her daughter, Molly, so much that she hates being separated from her even while she’s at school. She’s determined to be a good mother even though she has no example from her own mother, who was neglectful, uninterested and abusive. I was proud of Julia for refusing to continue this cycle, as it would have been easy to be a bad mother and make excuses. Julia is a bundle of nerves and worries about everything from how she will afford tonight’s tea to if the school mums like her. But the thing she worries about most is losing custody of her daughter. My heart broke for her and I was rooting for her as she really was remorseful and trying her best.

“People kept forgetting me. It wasn’t good enough.”

Darkly atmospheric, intense, haunting, affecting and thought-provoking, this book left me speechless. I loved it but felt totally hollowed out once it was over. This is an easy five stars from me and I’m sure it will be in my top reads of the year. Highly recommended. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nancy Tucker was born and raised in West London. She spent most of her adolescence in and out of hospital suffering from anorexia nervosa. On leaving school, she wrote her first book, THE TIME IN BETWEEN (Icon, 2015) which explored her experience of eating disorders and recovery. Her second book, THAT WAS WHEN PEOPLE STARTED TO WORRY (Icon, 2018), looked more broadly at mental illness in young women.

Nancy recently graduated from Oxford University with a degree in Experimental Psychology. Since then she has worked in an inpatient psychiatric unit for children and adolescents and in adult mental health services. She now works as an assistant psychologist in an adult eating disorders service. The First Day of Spring is her first work of fiction.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK BLITZ: The Murmurs (The Annie Jackson Mysteries, Volume 1) by Michael J. Malone

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

With the second instalment in the Annie Jackson Mysteries out next week, today I’m resharing my review for the beguiling first book, The Murmurs. Thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part and to Orenda Books for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A 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…
 
‘His biggest smash hit yet, an assured paranormal thriller in which the paranormal isn’t even the scariest part … A tale that leaves our interest piqued throughout, with the tension and foreboding reaching fever pitch’ Herald Scotland
 
`A tense, creepy page-turner´ Ian Rankin
 
`A master storyteller at the very top of his game, Michael J. Malone weaves the most exquisite tale … mesmeric and suspenseful´ Marion Todd
 
________________
 
In the beginning there was fear.
White-hot, nerve-shredding fear.
Terrifying premonitions of deaths.
And then they started…
The Murmurs…
 
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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ABOUT 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 | Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These links are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliphiles xxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

SKELF SUMMER: The Opposite of Lonely (The Skelfs, 5) by Doug Johnstone

Published September 14th, 2023 by Orenda Books
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Dark Comedy, Domestic Noir, Noir Fiction, Urban Fiction, Romance Novel

Welcome to the fifth instalment in Skelf Summer. Thank you to Orenda Books for the invitation to take part and for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A body lost at sea, arson, murder, astronauts, wind phones, communal funerals, stalking and conspiracy theories … This can ONLY mean one thing! The Skelfs are back, and things are as tense, unnerving and warmly funny as ever!
 
‘A terrific read with all of Johnston’s trademark warmth and wicked wit in the latest gripping outing for this beguiling family’ A K Turner 
 
‘Some of the best female characters in crime fiction. Pitch-perfect balance of dark and light … disturbing, compassionate and brilliantly funny’ Sarah Hilary
 
‘The Skelfs series just gets better and better! Outstanding characters and a gripping plot … Doug Johnstone is one of the greats of Scottish crime fiction’ Luca Veste
 
____________
 
Even death needs company…
 
The Skelf women are recovering from the cataclysmic events that nearly claimed their lives. Their funeral-director and private-investigation businesses are back on track, and their cases are as perplexing as ever.
 
Matriarch Dorothy looks into a suspicious fire at an illegal campsite and takes a grieving, homeless man under her wing. Daughter Jenny is searching for her missing sister-in-law, who disappeared in tragic circumstances, while grand-daughter Hannah is asked to investigate increasingly dangerous conspiracy theorists, who are targeting a retired female astronaut … putting her own life at risk.
 
With a body lost at sea, funerals for those with no one to mourn them, reports of strange happenings in outer space, a funeral crasher with a painful secret, and a violent attack on one of the family, The Skelfs face their most personal – and perilous – cases yet. Doing things their way may cost them everything…
 
Tense, unnerving and warmly funny, The Opposite of Lonely is the hugely anticipated fifth instalment in the unforgettable Skelfs series, and this time, danger comes from everywhere…

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MY REVIEW:

We’re back in Scotland with the Skelf women for week five of Skelf Summer. I can’t believe that next week I’ll be up to date on this series and will face the long wait for another instalment.

The Opposite of Lonely is another outstanding instalment in this addictive series. There’s arson, stalking, arson, murder, theories, secrets, family drama, green funerals, community funerals, astronauts, and more. This is suspense writing at its finest and it’s easy to see why this book was included in The Times’ list of Best New Crime Fiction for September 2023.

Dorothy, Jenny and Hannah Skelf work together running their family funeral home and private investigation company. Intelligent, fierce, funny, sassy and no-nonsense, the trio are likeable, flawed and real, and they feel like people I could meet in everyday life—just with unorthodox jobs. It’s no secret that I have a particular soft spot for Dorothy, the matriarch of her family. Dorothy is in her seventies but has lost none of her character or sass. Not only does she still run and actively participate in both businesses but she also has a younger boyfriend, active sex life, and plays in a band. She is the kind of older female character we need more of as life is far from over when you hit middle age and I love reading about women who are thriving in their twilight years. 

Doug Johnstone is a masterful storyteller who just keeps getting better. He writes with an intoxicating mix of apprehension, sensitivity, and humour, which he combines with a multilayered plot, authentic characters, and short, striking chapters to create a first-rate thriller. The intricately woven plot explores topics such as prejudice, the environment, and grief, and I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of the Japanese wind phone that people use to call their lost loved ones. I devoured this book in almost one sitting, reading in breathless anticipation as it built to its heart-pounding crescendo.

A sensational thriller that is also darkly funny, moving, and crackles with tension, this is a must read. Perfect whether read as part of the series or as a standalone. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOGATHON: Nighthawking by Russ Thomas

Published April 29th, 2021 by Simon & Schuster UK
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Fiction, Crime Fiction, Police Procedural, Hardboiled, Gay Fiction, Crime Series

Today I’m delighted to resharing my review for Nighthawking, the second book in the DS Adam Tyler Series as part of the Russ Thomas Blogathon. Thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers Tours for the invitation to take part and to Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘Hard-hitting’ SUNDAY TIMES, CRIME BOOK OF THE MONTH

‘A riveting follow-up to Firewatching‘ HEAT

‘Comparable with the best of Michael Connelly’s Bosch books and James Lee Burke’s Robicheaux novels, and – naturally – Ian Rankin’ AJ FINN
The new must-read novel from the bestselling and highly acclaimed author of FIREWATCHING

Sheffield’s beautiful Botanical Gardens – an oasis of peace in a world filled with sorrow, confusion and pain. And then, one morning, a body is found in the Gardens. A young woman, dead from a stab wound, buried in a quiet corner. Police quickly determine that the body’s been there for months. It would have gone undiscovered for years – but someone just sneaked into the Gardens and dug it up.

Who is the victim? Who killed her and hid her body? Who dug her up? And who left a macabre marker on the body?

In his quest to find her murderer, DS Adam Tyler will find himself drawn into the secretive world of nighthawkers: treasure-hunters who operate under cover of darkness, seeking the lost and valuable . . . and willing to kill to keep what they find.

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MY REVIEW:

“He can’t bear to think of her that way, all cold and dead and wasting away in her grave beneath the rose bushes. He’d always pictured her whole, whenever he thought about her. All peaceful and sleeping. The way she’d looked when he buried her.” 

On a cold winter night, a nighthawker – a treasure hunter who operates under the cloak of darkness – breaks into Sheffield’s Botanical Gardens to search for treasures buried beneath the flower beds and instead uncovers the arm of a murdered young woman. DS Adam Tyler is called in to investigate, drawing him and his team into the mysterious, tangled web of nighthawkers, hidden treasure, secrets and murder. 

Russ Thomas’ debut thriller, Firewatching, was one of my favourite books of 2020, leaving me eagerly awaiting its follow up. But with such excitement comes trepidation. Would Nighthawking live up to the brilliance of Firewatching? The answer is, yes. Like its predecessor, Nighthawking is a heart-pounding thriller that had me on the edge of my seat. 

Being set in my hometown gives this series a special place in my heart, but that isn’t the only reason I love these books. They are exquisitely written, intricate and action-packed, bringing Sheffield to life not only in terms of the vivid imagery, but the atmosphere. When I first heard that this book would be set in the Botanical Gardens I was delighted as it is probably my favourite place in the city. I even went there just last week and loved how clearly I could picture every moment that happened there. It was a fabulous setting that the author has clearly researched extensively and I know that the Gardens will forever be synonymous with this book for me. 

The author has filled this book with a cast of richly drawn, compelling and nuanced characters. The multiple narrators allow him to weave in the human elements of the story and offer us greater insight into their nature, behaviour and motivations, and drawing more empathy from us for certain characters by showing us the trauma and pain they have suffered. I loved being back with Tyler and his team, a realistic bunch who bicker and don’t always work together well. I like that Tyler isn’t your usual affable and charming protagonist. He is someone you warm up to and I think his spiky, zealous nature gives the books a bit of an edge over the ones with a more likeable central character. I was glad to see Mina Rabbani back as she is probably my favourite character. It was great to see her  grow in confidence and come into her own over the course of this book and I’m looking forward to seeing what is in store for her next. 

Complex, twisty, dark and exhilarating, Nighthawking is an addictive page-turner that keeps you guessing. This can be read as a standalone, but I would highly recommend reading them in order because they are simply fantastic thrillers. A must read for all thriller lovers.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Squadpod Squadpod Featured Books

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: The Liars by Katherine Fleet

Published August 15th, 2024 by Michael Joseph
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Crime Fiction

Welcome to my review for the The Liars, the unnerving thriller by Katherine Fleet, which was one of the SquadPod Featured Books in August. Thank you to Michael Joseph for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

EAD THE INTENSE, EVOCATIVE DESTINATION THRILLER FOR FANS OF LUCY CLARKE AND WILL DEAN


Two sisters. One missing girl. An island full of secrets . . .

‘Compelling and utterly transportive, a scorching summer read’ LUCY CLARKE

‘Beautiful writing and characterisation and a gripping plot. Such an atmospheric read ‘ SARAH PEARSE

—-
I thought I saw her today. Down by the water. It was her hair I noticed. Do you ever see her, Lex? Does she haunt you too?

I haven’t been back to Eos since I first met my step-sister, Lex.
It’s been twenty-five years since that summer.
Since we went from strangers to sisters.
Since Abigail went missing.

Since we told the first lie.

Now we’re back together on the island.
So much has changed since we were teenagers.
We’ve both tried to move on from the past – from each other.
But the island won’t let us escape our secrets.

Only me and Lex know the truth about Abigail.
We’ve been living a lie for so long.
And if the truth comes out – neither of us will survive it . . .

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MY REVIEW:

A cold case that has never been solved. Teenage friendship and insecurities. A sun-soaked summer of memories and secrets. A missing girl. The Liars has all this and more, making it the perfect scorching summer thriller.

Still haunted by memories of the sun-soaked summer she met Lex, Zoe hasn’t returned to Eos for twenty-five years. That summer wasn’t just one of teenage fun, friendship and insecurities, it was also when a girl went missing and her two friends swore to keep a dark secret forever. But now, Zoe is back for her step-father’s funeral and finds that the ghosts of that summer never left the island. And they’ve been waiting for her to return…

Atmospheric, intense, unnerving and addictive, this escapist thriller is not to be missed. Told in dual timelines, Katherine Fleet has packed a lot into these pages: heartbreak, grief, friendship, insecurity, anxiety, envy, secrets, lies, romance, and self-discovery. Her writing is skillful and captivating,  a sense of uneasiness and foreboding woven through the story while darkness simmers beneath the surface. There is also a strong sense of place, Fleet transporting me to the island of Eos so evocatively that I  could feel the sun rays hitting my skin, hear the waves and smell the suncream. From the start we know that something bad happened twenty-five years ago. A secret that Zoe and Lex had vowed to always hide and was so terrible it tore them apart. Chills ran down my spine and I was on the edge of my seat as I tried to guess what had happened to Abigail. 

Zoe narrates the story in both timelines, offering the reader a glimpse into her psyche and showing us the other characters through her lens. This obviously makes it a biased account of events, but you get the sense that Zoe is a reliable narrator. Fleet’s characterisation is spot on, perfectly capturing the bittersweet teenage years with all their rebellion, angst, confusion and insecurity. She also perfectly captures the dynamics of teenage female friendships with all their drama, rivalry and jealousy. 

So if you’re looking for a suspenseful and intriguing read you can escape with this summer, The Liars is for you. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Katherine Fleet is a writer and author coach for The Novelry. As a journalist, she wrote for The Guardian, Sunday Times, Red, Stella and Grazia. She lives in a Cotswold valley with her two rescue dogs, where she writes and coaches full-time. A trip to the small Greek island of Paxos was the inspiration for The Liars.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

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

SKELF SUMMER: Black Hearts (The Skelfs, 4) by Doug Johnstone

Published September 22nd, 2022 by Orenda
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Crime Ficiton, Urban Fiction, Crime Series, Religious Fiction, Lesbian Literature

Welcome to my review of the outrageous and addictive Black Hearts which I’m sharing as part of Skelf Summer. Thanks to Orenda Books for the invitation to take part and sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A faked death, an obsessive stalker, an old man claiming he’s being abused by the ghost of his late wife, and a devastating spectre from the past. The Skelfs are back in another warmly funny, explosive thriller, and this time things are more than personal…
 
**SHORTLISTED for Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year**

‘A new outing for the Skelfs deserves dancing in the streets of Edinburgh’ Val McDermid
 
‘Tense, funny and deeply moving’ Mark Billingham
 
‘An engrossing and beautifully written tale that bears all the Doug Johnstone hallmarks in its warmth and darkly comic undertones’ Herald Scotland

‘A total delight to be returned to the dark, funny, compulsive world of the Skelfs … Johnstone never fails to entertain whilst packing a serious emotional punch. Brilliant!’ Gytha Lodge

_________________________________________

Death is just the beginning…

The Skelf women live in the shadow of death every day, running the family funeral directors and private investigator business in Edinburgh. But now their own grief interwines with that of their clients, as they are left reeling by shocking past events.

A fist-fight by an open grave leads Dorothy to investigate the possibility of a faked death, while a young woman’s obsession with Hannah threatens her relationship with Indy and puts them both in mortal danger. An elderly man claims he’s being abused by the ghost of his late wife, while ghosts of another kind come back to haunt Jenny from the grave … pushing her to breaking point.

As the Skelfs struggle with increasingly unnerving cases and chilling danger lurks close to home, it becomes clear that grief, in all its forms, can be deadly…

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MY REVIEW:

Skelf Summer continues with the fourth instalment in the series, and its the tensest one yet with a fist fight by an open grave, an investigation into a possible faked death, a widow who claims his late wife’s ghost is physically harming him, Hannah is being stalked and Jenny is pushed to breaking point by a ghost from her past. 

Chaotic, taut, immersive, and darkly funny, Black Heart packs a punch. Doug Johnstone gets better with each book and this was my favourite of the series so far. This is domestic noir at its finest, but with a scientific slant. Johnstone’s expert writing is filled with humanity, insightfulness, suspense and black humour that feels magnetic, drawing us into the strange and crazy world of the Skelf women. And, this time around, life for Dorothy, Jenny and Hannah is more turbulent than ever. I love reading about these extraordinary women and their unorthodox careers and how their jobs get more dangerous and bizarre with each book, keeping me glued to the pages and on tenterhooks as I read. But one of my favourite things about this series is the depth and introspection that is woven into the stories, adding a more serious and emotional layer that I love.

Atmospheric, entertaining and outrageous, Black Hearts is a must-read for all thriller lovers. And while it can be read as a standalone, I’d highly recommend reading the whole series. After all, who doesn’t want to read gripping thrillers about three compelling and brave women running a funeral business while also working as PIs. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to get 60 days of listening for free*

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

BLOG TOUR: The Examiner by Janice Hallett

Published August 29th, 2024 by Viper Books
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Crime Fiction

Today is my stop on the blog tour for this innovative, perplexing and addictive whodunnit. Thank you to Viper Books for the invitation to take part and for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

*** FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE APPEAL, THE TWYFORD CODE, THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF THE ALPERTON ANGELS AND THE CHRISTMAS APPEAL ***

‘An absolute original’ – MICK HERRON
‘Hallett at her very best’ – ELLY GRIFFITHS
‘A slice of genius’ – LOUISE CANDLISH

Six Students. One Murder. Your Time Starts Now…

The mature students of Royal Hastings University’s new art course have been trouble from day one. From acclaimed artist Alyson who seems oddly overqualified, to hapless Patrick who can barely operate design software, and city boy Cameron who blusters his way through assignments. Not to mention Jem, who’s a gifted young sculptor… but cross her at your peril.

The year-long course is blighted by students setting fire to one another’s artwork, a rumoured extra-marital affair and a disastrous road trip. But finally they are given their last assignment: to build an art installation for a local manufacturer. With six students who have nothing in common except their clashing personal agendas, what could possibly go wrong?

The answer is: murder. When the external examiner arrives to assess the students’ coursework, he becomes convinced that a student was killed on the course and that the others covered it up. But is he right? Only a close examination of the evidence will reveal the truth. Your time starts now…

‘Witty, creepy and oh-so-clever’ – TOM HINDLE
‘Fresh and infinitely intriguing’ – J.M. HALL
‘Witty, devious and outrageously brilliant’ – IAN MOORE

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MY REVIEW:

“What could have possibly gone wrong on an art course”

Original, ambitious, devilishly clever and addictive, the Queen of the epistolary novel is back with her twistiest and most perplexing whodunnit yet. 

The new art course at Royal Hastings University has been plagued with problems since day one. The six mature students on the course have clashed from the beginning, there’s rumours of an extra-marital affair, students setting fire to each other’s artwork, and a disastrous road trip. But they must somehow work together to create their final assignment: building an art installation for a local manufacturer. Surely they can overcome their differences and personal agendas to get the job done. After all, what could go wrong on an art course? The external examiner is convinced the answer is murder. He believes that one of the students was killed on the course and the others have covered it up. Surely he must be wrong? It’s time to examine the evidence and find out the truth…

A new Janice Hallet book always feels like an event so I was very excited to be invited on the blog tour and start reading. Expertly written, intricately plotted and acutely observed, this isn’t a book you read, but one you step into, inviting you to be part of it from the beginning by challenging the reader to solve the mystery alongside the examiner. The characters are richly drawn and fascinating, drawing you into the drama and conflict of the art course. I was completely immersed, living and breathing every moment alongside these characters and losing myself in the story so much that the world around me ceased to exist. I was ready to find a killer. Or so I thought…

Hallett is a master storyteller. When you pick up one of her books you know you are about to read an innovative, complex and sophisticated page-turner that will keep you guessing. She takes her readers on a labyrinthian journey that is impossible to predict, teasing us with misdirection and embedding clues into the story like breadcrumbs to follow. But they are hidden and we don’t see them until later when she hits us with a shocking twist, revealing the truth so that those little, innocuous things now suddenly have a greater meaning and things make sense. The puzzle begins to come together. I was in her thrall, on the edge of my seat from start to finish and so transfixed that I inhaled it in just two sittings. How on earth does she do it? I’d love to peek inside her brain and get a glimpse of her genius because I have no idea how she even begins creating something so clever and convoluted. I’m in awe. This is without a doubt my favourite of her books I’ve read so far and one of my top books this year. 

Creative, unique and immersive, The Examiner is an outstanding mystery that will make your head spin. Definitely one not to be missed. 

Rating: 🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Janice Hallett is the author of three best-selling novels. Her debut, The Appeal, was awarded the CWA Debut Dagger of 2021 and was a Sunday Times’ Bestseller, Waterstones’ Thriller of the Month and Sunday Times’ Crime Book of the Month. Her second novel The Twyford Code was named Crime & Thriller Book of the Year in the British Book Awards 2023. It was also a Sunday Times’ Bestseller and a Financial Times book of the year. The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels was an instant Times and Sunday Times bestseller on its launch in January 2023 and a Richard & Judy Book Club pick.

The Christmas Appeal, a fast, fun and festive novella, was launched in October 2023. It was a Times and Sunday Times bestseller.

Her next novel is The Examiner, released on 29 August 2024.

Her first novel for children aged 8-12 is A Box Full of Murders, released in March 2025.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

Categories
book reviews Squadpod Squadpod Featured Books

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: The Wrong Hands (Detective Miller Book 2) by Mark Billingham

Published June 20th, 2024 by Sphere
Mystery, Thriller, Crime Fiction, Suspense, Police Procedural

Today I’m finally sharing my review for the bat-shit crazy and totally brilliant, The Wrong Hands, which was one of the SquadPod Featured Books in July. Thank you to Sphere for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘Had me laughing out loud one minute and emotional the next. I’m excited to have found a new favourite detective’ — CLAIRE DOUGLAS

This is one case Miller won’t want to open . . .

Unconventional Detective Declan Miller has a problem. Still desperate to solve the murder of his wife, a young man has just appeared on his doorstep with a briefcase . . . containing a pair of severed hands.

Miller knows this case is proof of a contract killing commissioned by local ne’er do well Wayne Cutler – a man he suspects might also be responsible for his wife’s death. Now Miller has leverage, but unfortunately he also has something that both Cutler and a villainous fast-food kingpin are desperate to get hold of.

Chuck in a Midsomer Murders-obsessed hitman, a psychotic welder and a woman driven over the edge by a wayward Crème Egg, and Miller is in a mess that even he might not be able to dance his way out of.

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MY REVIEW:

The Wrong Hands was one of our SquadPod featured books in July and I’m finally getting around to sharing my review. I dived straight into this one after book one as I was so hooked that I couldn’t wait to read more.

Detective Declan Miller is shocked when a young man turns up on his doorstep with a briefcase containing a pair of severed hands. Miller immediately recognises the case as proof of a contract killing commissioned by local gangster Wayne Cutler – the man he suspects could also be responsible for his wife’s death. The case gives Miller leverage. But unfortunately Culter isn’t the only one who wants to get hold of this case…

I’m starting to realise that Mark Billingham writes books that are bat-shit crazy but totally brilliant. This time there are gangsters, a murderer obsessed with Midsomer Murders, a psychotic welder, a woman who is driven over the edge by a wayward Creme Egg, and Miller is still trying to identify his wife’s killer. But it totally works.. The writing is fantastic with Billingham seamlessly merging very British humour with heartstopping tension while also exploring topics such as grief, loss and morality, bringing them all together to create a captivating thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. 

My love for Detective Miller has only been cemented with this book. He is just as unfiltered, sarcastic, cynical and dismissive of authority as he was before and still converses with his deceased wife, Alex, as a way to try and cope with his grief. It is through Miller that many of the difficult topics are explored, particularly grief, loss and acceptance. One particularly heartrending moment was Miller’s imagined goodbye to Alex, where Bingham explores the pain of the things we never got to say and how hard it can be to let those we love go. In terms of the other characters, I enjoyed how well Miller and his partner, Sara Xiu, worked together in this book. I also really enjoyed the greater insight into the criminal underworld this time around. We spend more time with the bad guys, getting a glimpse inside their minds, learning their motivations for a life of crime and how they rationalise their wrongdoings. We also saw the shades of grey that exist in all of us and how morality isn’t always a simple, black and white issue. 

Tense, twisty and addictive, devoured this one quickly. Now I have to impatiently wait for book three. Highly recommended. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Mark Billingham was born and brought up in Birmingham. Having worked for some years as an actor and more recently as a TV writer and stand-up comedian his first crime novel was published in 2001.

Sleepyhead was an instant bestseller in the UK. It has been sold widely throughout the world and was published in the USA in the summer of 2002.

The series of crime novels featuring London-based detective Tom Thorne continued with Scaredy Cat and was followed by Lazybones, The Burning Girl, Lifeless, Buried, Death Message, Bloodline, From The Dead, Good As Dead, The Dying Hours, The Bones Beneath, Time Of Death, Love Like Blood, The Killing Habit, Their Little Secret, Cry Baby and the most recent The Murder Book. Mark is also the author of the standalone novels In The Dark, Rush Of Blood, Die Of Shame and his latest, Rabbit Hole.

A new series featuring DS Declan Miller began in 2023 with The Last Dance. The second in the series – The Wrong Hands – will be published in 2024.

Mark is also a regular contributor to radio and TV and is a member of the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers, a combo of bestselling crime and thriller writers who performed at the Glastonbury Festival in 2019.

An acclaimed television series based on the Thorne novels was screened on Sky One in Autumn 2010, starring David Morrissey as Tom Thorne. A series based on the novels In The Dark and Time Of Death was screened on BBC1 in 2017.

Mark lives in London with his wife and two children. He is currently writing his next novel.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

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

SKELF SUMMER: The Great Silence (The Skelfs, 3) by Doug Johnstone

Published August 19th, 2021 by Orenda
Thriller, Mystery, Crime Fiction, Suspense, Noir Fiction, Crime Series, Romance Novel, Urban Fiction

Welcome to my review for the witty, riveting and suspenseful, The Great Silence, which is the third book in the Skelfs series and my third Skelf Summer Post. Thank yout to Orenda for the invitation to take part and for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

The discovery of a human foot in an Edinburgh park, the inexplicable circumstances of a dying woman, and the missing daughter of Jenny’s violent ex-husband present the Skelf women with their most challenging – and deadly – cases yet… Book THREE in the addictive The Skelfs series!

‘Simply stunning. Tense, funny and deeply moving’ Mark Billingham

‘If you loved Iain Banks, you’ll devour the Skelfs series’ Erin Kelly

‘Nobody portrays modern Edinburgh better than Doug Johnstone. The Great Silence speaks volumes about the power of story’ Val McDermid

______________

Keeping on top of the family funeral directors’ and private-investigation businesses is no easy task for the Skelf women, and when matriarch Dorothy discovers a human foot while walking the dog, a perplexing case presents itself … with potentially deadly results.

Daughter Jenny and grand-daughter Hannah have their hands full too: The mysterious circumstances of a dying woman lead them into an unexpected family drama, Hannah’s new astrophysicist colleague claims he’s receiving messages from outer space, and the Skelfs’ teenaged lodger has yet another devastating experience.

Nothing is clear as the women are immersed ever deeper in their most challenging cases yet. But when the daughter of Jenny’s violent and fugitive ex-husband goes missing without trace and a wild animal is spotted roaming Edinburgh’s parks, real danger presents itself, and all three Skelfs are in peril.

Taut, dark, warmly funny and unafraid to ask big questions – of us all – The Great Silence is the much-anticipated third instalment in the addictive, unforgettable Skelfs series, and the stakes are higher than ever.

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MY REVIEW:

“The monsters in our lives don’t look like monsters, horns and slavering fangs. The worst deeds in the world are done by people who look like any of us.”

In the third instalment of the outstanding Skelfs Series, they face their most challenging and unusual cases yet: a human foot is discovered in a park, a dying woman whose children are convinced she’s being poisoned by her lover, alien messages, a wild animal roaming Edinburgh’s parks, and the disappearance of the daughter of Jenny’s violent ex-husband. 

Suspenseful, twisting and completely addictive, The Great Silence is another outstanding return to Edinburgh and the Skefl women. I’ve never read a series back-to-back like this so I was a bit concerned about getting fatigued from reading the same characters, but I needn’t have worried because Doug Johnstone ups his game with each book, creating a novel that is even better than the last with each instalment. I can’t get enough of this series and my new concern is what I’m going to do when I’ve read book six and I’ve got a long wait for the next one!

One of my favourite things about this series is that it has a bit of everything: family drama with a twist of science, a dash of romance, lots of emotion, and an abundance of suspense. Johnstone also explores more serious issues such as prejudice, domestic abuse, alcoholism and climate control, seamlessly weaving them into the narrative alongside the heart-stopping tension and mystery. This time around the cases are a bit more unusual and bizarre, and the tension has been dialled all the way up to ten, keeping me glued to the pages and on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I also loved that now I’m three books in, I’ve got to know the Skelf women, so reading these books  is like catching up with old friends – albeit friends with very turbulent lives and unconventional jobs. 

Dark, witty, suspenseful and totally riveting, The Great Silence, and all of the Skelfs Series, are a must-read. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to get 60 days of listening free with my affiliate link*

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

********

BUY THE BOOK:

Orenda Books | Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate lnks

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx