📖 Book Review ~ The Washashore by Marshall Highet and Bird Jones

Koehler Books
10 June 2025

Thanks to the authors for the copy of this book

Martha's Vineyard, 1929. 

Prohibition is in full swing, and Emily, a Midwest transplant, has never met her wealthy Aunt Isabel. That is until, after her mother's death, the courts declare Isabel her guardian. Their first meeting is a disaster. Emily's clumsy curtsy earns her only a frosty glare, and she quickly realizes she's in for a crash course in East Coast high society. But manners take a back seat to mystery when Isabel's dear friend, an accomplished sailor, vanishes at sea. Convinced it's murder, Isabel recruits her niece to catch the killer, pointing the finger at two dangerous a ruthless Mob boss and the fastest rumrunner in the harbor. While Emily crosses paths with gangsters on the island, she may just find home on its miles of coastline and among its quirky inhabitants - her stoic Aunt Isabel included.

📖My Review…

After the death of her mother, sixteen year old year old Emily Cartwright arrives at Martha’s Vineyard to live with her aunt Isabel. Her initial introduction to Hydrangea House is far from welcoming and living with her aunt is very different from her farm upbringing in Nebraska, but gradually Emily starts to settle into her new life and her relationship with her aunt becomes more congenial. When her aunt enlists Emily’s help in investigating the mysterious death of one of Isobel’s closest friends she is inadvertently drawn into a mystery which is as complicated as it is daunting. Set against the backdrop of the prohibition years we begin to learn more about those individuals know as rumrunners who were responsible for bringing in illicit liquor and of the organised crime gangs who were behind these illegal endeavours.

Emily is a feisty protagonist who is quick to involve herself in adventures and yet her willingness to cooperate with her aunt makes her an endearing character who you can’t help but admire. There is a good amount of intrigue and mystery which kept me guessing, and although I knew nothing of rumrunning or indeed much about Martha’s Vineyard, thanks to impeccable research and real sense of time and place I now feel I know more about both. The characters come alive, be it Bridget in her kitchen conjuring culinary delights, John Patrick teaching Emily to drive or Fiona instructing Emily on which dress to wear, there is something special about them all and collectively they give the book a cosy, warm glow.

The prohibition era is an important period in American history and the author explains this time well, including describing those who continued to flaunt the prohibition law. The Washashore is a well written coming-of-age murder/mystery, with an endearing heroine and a real sense of history. I enjoyed reading it.

About the Authors

In this author duo, Marshall Highet is the fiction-writing half, and Bird Jones is the researcher; together, they craft unusual stories that blend history and fiction. Marshall graduated from the BLSE and works as a copywriter, writer, and professor. Bird Jones is a professor emeritus at Elon University and has spent her professional life as a teacher, researcher, and ethnographer unearthing lost tales.

X@MarshallHighet

X @KoehlerBooks

📖 Book Review ~ The Devil’s Draper by Donna Moore

Fly on the Wall Press
1 May 2025
Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read this book 

When whispers of abuse at Arrol's department store reach Mabel, a determined policewoman, she knows she must act. Enlisting the help of Johnnie, a cunning thief, and Beatrice, a savvy businesswoman, they embark on a perilous journey to uncover the truth.

Set against the backdrop of 1920s Glasgow, where women's voices are often silenced, this thrilling tale weaves together crime, justice, and the fight for equality. As the trio inches closer to exposing the scandal, they realize that in a world where women are rarely believed, their very lives may be at stake.

📖 My Review..

After reading The Unpicking in 2023 I was delighted to be given the opportunity of reading this second book in the series which takes us into the heart of Glasgow and to a department store which is abusing its female employees.

The 1920s was very much a period of social change particularly in the aftermath of The Great War when women were pretty much sidelined in favour of men especially in the work place and even Mabel Adair in her role as a policewoman is very much relegated to a minor role, so when an opportunity presents itself to get to the bottom of what is going on at Arrol’s department store in Glasgow Mabel is determined to do her very best. With the help of a skilful thief and a methodical business woman they start to uncover a web of deceit and violence against vulnerable women and are determined to bring the perpetrator to face justice.

Beautifully written, the story flows well and I was soon caught up with the intrigue and immersed in the Glasgow scene of the 1920s. I enjoyed meeting up again with some of the characters from The Unpicking and thought that Beatrice and Johnnie were worthy additions to this story about strong women doing what they can to fight for those women who are all too easy prey for unscrupulous individuals.

About the Author

Donna Moore is the author of crime fiction and historical fiction. Her first novel, a Private Eye spoof called Go To Helena Handbasket, won the Lefty Award for most humorous crime fiction novel and her second novel, Old Dogs, was shortlisted for both the Lefty and Last Laugh Awards. Her short stories have been published in various anthologies. In her day job she works as an adult literacy tutor for marginalised and vulnerable women, facilitates creative writing workshops and has a PhD in creative writing around women’s history and gender-based violence.

X @BadsvilleBroad

X @fly_press

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📖 Book Review ~ Dead in the Water by Simon McCleave

Avon
June 2024

Anglesey #5

Thanks to the publisher for the copy of the book 

When a seventeen-year-old girl vanishes from her home overnight, DI Laura Hart knows that time is of the essence.

Then, an inmate at the local prison is murdered in her cell and suddenly Beaumaris CID is juggling two major investigations.

With inmates refusing to talk to the police, Laura is forced to take drastic going undercover behind bars.

With everyone under suspicion, Laura’s true identity must be kept a secret, meaning no one can protect her.

Locked in with a killer, it’s a race against time – can Laura find a lead… before she’s found out?

📖 My Review..

Another exciting Anglesey mystery awaits in this fifth book in the series which sees DI Laura Hart and DI Gareth Williams once again involved in complex crime investigations. Gareth, and his team, investigate the mysterious disappearance of seventeen year old Abby Wright from her home whilst Laura goes under cover in a women’s prison to discover more about the violent death of one of the inmates.

As always the tension starts pretty much from the start and doesn’t let up pace until the very end and in between there are so many twists, turns and red herrings that you really need to keep your wits about you as the story gets more and more complex. I thoroughly enjoyed both investigations especially as everything evolves in real time. The prison scenes were particularly strong, with Laura using her customary wit and skill to find out just what was going on behind the locked doors of HMP Tonsgrove.

The beautiful island of Anglesey is described in such imaginative detail that I could easily picture the small town of Menai and the isolated Pentraeth Forest, whilst at the same time keeping pace with a storyline which kept my attention from its thrilling beginning, to its satisfying conclusion. Whilst it is possible to read this as a standalone story, it does make sense to enjoy this series from the beginning as that way you get to know, and care, about the characters especially Laura and Gareth who are fast becoming two of my favourite fictional Detective Inspectors. I look forward to reading more crime adventures in future books.

About the Author

Simon McCleave is a million-selling crime novelist who lives in North Wales with his wife and two children.

Website

X @simon_mccleave 

@AvonBooksUK

📖 Book Review ~ Collision by J M Monaco

Luminosa Books
14 August 2024

My thanks to the author for the copy of this book

Four People. Their Secrets. One Tragic Day.

Tragedy strikes when a teenage boy is killed in a hit and run. Why didn’t the driver stop? Why did the boy run into the street?

2018, Bristol. On his way to a boxing session, fifteen-year-old Kieran runs into the street and is knocked down by a speeding Mercedes. High on cocaine, rich-girl driver Rachel flees the scene. Days later she’s found in a deserted barn and charged with the teen’s death. Over the four months she is held in remand prison awaiting sentencing, Rachel battles with the demons that pushed her over the edge that lethal afternoon.

Rachel’s story and the voices of three others slowly unravel the events and secrets that lay behind what happened that day. Kieran’s mother, Noreen, a cleaner at the university, Kieran’s close friend - girl-boxer, Jess, and Rachel’s cardiologist father, Leo, all wish they could turn back the clock. In their grief and driven by guilt, their worlds collide as they face the truth of the roles they played in the tragedy.

📖 My Review..

All too often we hear of fatal road traffic accidents and whilst we stop to consider the sadness and tragedy of it there are also wider implications which are not always considered. It’s not just about the victims or their family and friends but also about the perpetrators of the crime and the effect that the tragedy could have on so many other people who are both directly and indirectly involved. Told in four distinct voices Collision looks at the events following the hit and run accident of a fifteen year old boy. We get the thoughts and emotions of Kieran’s mother, Noreen, his friend Jess, alongside the devastation of Leo, who is the father of Rachel, the twenty-one year old driver of the vehicle involved in the hit and run.

There are real emotions at play here and as we get drawn further into the story so the tragic events start to unfold. Identifying with each of the characters is where the strength of the novel lies and all credit to the author for giving each viewpoint so successfully. I felt emotionally connected with each of them, particularly the parents whose shock and sadness is tangible and their heartfelt bewilderment at the loss of a young life. Emotional and heart wrenching in places, this a powerful story about loss and grief, about the repercussions of what happens when things spiral of control, of how lives can change in a heartbeat and finally, whether in the face of great hurt there can ever be the chance of forgiveness.

Collision is one of those quietly, strong stories, beautifully written and acutely observed, I really enjoyed reading it and look forward to more from this talented writer.

About the Author

JM Monaco grew up in the Boston area, USA. She studied English and Creative Writing as an undergraduate at Tufts University. After working in a variety of areas, including desk-top publishing and as a secondary school teacher, she took up graduate studies. Her PhD from the University of Bristol examined quality television drama and its internet fandom. She has lived in Bristol since 1996.

Collision is her second novel. Her first novel is How We Remember (2018).

Twitter / X @jm_monaco2

#Collison

📖 Publication Day Review ~ The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett

 

Viper/Serpent's Tail
Hardback 26 October 2023

The Appeal #1.5

My thanks to the publisher for my ecopy of this book

One dead Santa. A town full of suspects. Will you discover the truth?

Christmas in Lower Lockwood, and the Fairway Players are busy rehearsing their festive pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, to raise money for the church roof appeal. But despite the season, goodwill is distinctly lacking amongst the amateur dramatics enthusiasts. Sarah-Jane is fending off threats to her new position as Chair, the fibreglass beanstalk might be full of asbestos, and a someone is intent on ruining the panto even before the curtain goes up.

Of course there's also the matter of the dead body. Who could possibly have had the victim on their naughty list? Join lawyers Femi and Charlotte as they read the round robins, examine the emails and pore over the police transcripts. Will the show go on?

📖 My Review..

When I was approached by the publisher to read The Christmas Appeal I immediately said yes as I loved reading this author's fabulous debut, The Appeal, which fired my imagination , and so it is with great delight that I return to the company of the Fairway Players as they countdown to their annual Christmas Pantomime.

With her usual flair, the author plunges us deep into the frantic preparations for Jack and the Beanstalk and as emails, and messages, fly to and fro between the actors, we soon start to understand that all is not well with this group of amateur thespians. The epistolary theme gives the story its quirkiness and as  the banter and cutting comments start to flow, so we start to build up a picture of what happened, where, when and to whom.

It can take a little while to become comfortable with this style of narrative but I enjoy the way the story unfolds and I pretty soon became immersed in trying to piece together the clues which are so carefully presented.  Overall, The Christmas Appeal is great fun to read, laugh out loud funny in places, and entering into the ‘acting’ world which this talented author creates so beautifully is a real joy as not only does she give us all the back room shenanigans, and believe me there is a lot going on behind the scenes, but there’s also a rather interesting murder mystery to solve.

Cleverly created to be a shortish novella, The Christmas Appeal sits comfortably alongside The Appeal bringing together the company of players we recognise from the first story whilst at the same time introducing new people who add their own special charm to this intriguing murder mystery. I absolutely loved it and read in one sitting as, like all this author’s books, I simply couldn’t put it down.

About the Author

Janice Hallett studied English at UCL, and spent several years as a magazine editor, winning two awards for journalism. After gaining an MA in Screenwriting at Royal Holloway, she co-wrote the feature film Retreat. The Appeal is inspired by her lifelong interest in amateur dramatics. Her second novel, The Twyford Code, is published by Viper in 2022. When not indulging her passion for global adventure travel, she is based in West London.

Twitter @JaniceHallett #TheChristmas Appeal

@ViperBooks

📖 Book Review ~ The Last Remains by Elly Griffiths

 

Quercus
2023

Ruth Galloway #15

The discovery of a missing woman's bones forces Ruth and Nelson to finally confront their feelings for each other as they desperately work to exonerate one of their own.

When builders discover a human skeleton while renovating a café, they call in archaeologist Dr. Ruth Galloway, who is preoccupied with the threatened closure of her department and by her ever-complicated relationship with DCI Nelson. The bones turn out to be modern--the remains of Emily Pickering, a young archaeology student who went missing in 2002. Suspicion soon falls on Emily's Cambridge tutor and also on another archeology enthusiast who was part of the group gathered the weekend before she disappeared--Ruth's friend Cathbad.

As they investigate, Nelson and his team uncover a tangled web of relationships within the archaeology group and look for a link between them and the café where Emily's bones were found. Then, just when the team seem to be making progress, Cathbad disappears. The trail leads Ruth a to the Neolithic flint mines in Grimes Graves. The race is on, first to find Cathbad and then to exonerate him, but will Ruth and Nelson uncover the truth in time to save their friend?

📖 My Review...

I've followed this excellent crime series since the beginning and so it was with some sadness that I started The Last Remains as I knew it was the last book and even though the plot is as tight and sharp as ever there is an inevitable sense of closure.  Ruth Galloway is called in to investigate human remains which have been found during renovations to a local cafe. This discovery inevitably involves the police and once again Ruth and DCI Harry Nelson must work closely together but when the clues to the perpetrator lead to someone they know their loyalties are stretched to the limit.

There has been so much to enjoy in this series, not just the archaeological and police mysteries which have been brought to life with so much attention to detail but it is also in the character progression where the emotional involvement in the story really works. I've loved every one of the characters particularly Ruth, Nelson and Cathbad so it was lovely to have this trio feature so strongly in the last book, almost like we have come full circle. The loose ends which were finally tied off felt absolutely right and I finished the book with a real sense of satisfaction of a good story, well told.

I chose to listen to The Last Remains which was excellently narrated by Jane McDowell who has been the narrator for most of the series. 

About the Author

Elly Griffiths is the bestselling author of the Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries and the Brighton Mysteries. She has won the CWA Dagger in the Library, has been shortlisted five times for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year, and longlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger for The Lantern Men. Her new series featuring Detective Harbinder Kaur began with The Stranger Diaries, which was a Richard and Judy book club pick and won the Edgar Award for Best Novel in the USA. It was followed by The Postscript Murders, shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger and Bleeding Heart Yard. Elly has two grown-up children and lives near Brighton with her archaeologist husband.

@ellygriffiths #TheLastRemains

@QuercusBooks

📖Book Review ~ The Housekeepers by Alex Hay

Headline Review
4 July 2023

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

Mrs. King is no ordinary housekeeper. Born into a world of con artists and thieves, she’s made herself respectable, running the grandest home in Mayfair. The place is packed with treasures, a glittering symbol of wealth and power, but dark secrets lurk in the shadows.

When Mrs. King is suddenly dismissed from her position, she recruits an eclectic group of women to join her in revenge: A black market queen out to settle her scores. An actress desperate for a magnificent part. A seamstress dreaming of a better life. And Mrs. King’s predecessor, with her own desire for vengeance.

Their plan? On the night of the house’s highly anticipated costume ball—set to be the most illustrious of the year—they will rob it of its every possession, right under the noses of the distinguished guests and their elusive heiress host. But there’s one thing Mrs. King wants even more than money: the truth. And she’ll run any risk to get it.

📖 My Review

The impressive House of deVries is about to hold a costumed ball which is in itself something of an scandalous oddity especially as the house is in deep mourning. With only weeks to go before the most unusual ball of the season, Mrs King, the housekeeper, is summarily dismissed for a misdemeanor which gives her the perfect opportunity to wreak her own very special brand of revenge on this dark house of secrets. With one foot firmly placed in the underbelly of society Mrs King gathers together an eclectic band of followers who, with meticulous planning, will pull off the most audacious heist of 1905. 

With a wonderful cast of eccentric characters The Housekeepers leads us on an impressive chase through the vagaries of Edwardian society. Some of the characters are truly delicious, far too many to mention individually, however, they all bring something totally unique and leave their own distinct mark on the story. From the minute I stepped inside the grand salon of this deliciously, dark Mayfair mansion, to the creeping darkness of Mrs Bone's pawn shop, there was never a moment when I lost my way as the description of life above and below stairs is done with a wonderful flair for Edwardian detail. 

The Housekeepers moves along at a cracking pace and all credit to the author for controlling such an intricate story-line which never fails to entertain in this glorious story of family secrets, retribution and the ultimate revenge. I loved it 😉

About the Author

Alex Hay grew up in Cambridge and Cardiff and has been writing as long as he can remember. He studied History at the University of York, and wrote his dissertation on female power at royal courts, combing the archives for every scrap of drama and skulduggery he could find. He has worked in magazine publishing and the charity sector, and is a graduate of the Curtis Brown Write Your Novel course. The Housekeepers is his debut novel and won the Caledonia Novel Award 2022. 

Twitter @AlexHayBooks #TheHousekeepers

@Headlinepg

📖 Book Review ~ 1989 by Val McDermid

 

Sphere
August 2022

#AllieBurns #2

My thanks to the publisher and Laura Sherlock PR for my copy of this book

It's 1989 and Allie Burns is back.

Older and maybe wiser, she's running the northern news operation of the Sunday Globe, chafing at losing her role in investigative journalism and at the descent into the gutter of the UK tabloid media.

But there's plenty to keep her occupied. The year begins with the memorial service to the victims of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, but Allie has barely filed her copy when she stumbles over a story about HIV/AIDS that will shock her into a major change of direction.

The world of newspapers is undergoing a revolution, there's skulduggery in the medical research labs and there are seismic rumblings behind the Iron Curtain. When kidnap and murder are added to this potent mix, Allie is forced to question all her old certainties.

📖 My Review...

Ten years on we meet again with journalist Allie Burns as she heads up the northern operation of the Sunday Globe, however, all is not well with the global news empire run by media tycoon Ace Lockhart and Allie is about to discover just what deadly secrets are lurking in the shadows

The background of the novel brings into focus the historical events of 1989 where there is not only a downturn in tabloid journalism but there is also the deadly spectre of HIV/AIDS which is threatening the most vulnerable in society. Allie soon discovers that there is more going on in the cut throat world of pharmaceuticals than she could ever have imagined.

With this author’s fine eye for detail and her unquestioned ability to bring people and places alive, a complicated story emerges which is as sharp as ever and so beautifully detailed, that 1989 comes to life so clearly you can hear the soundtrack of the late eighties running in the background. All the strands of this complicated story are woven tightly together and the multi-layers of the plot, which I’m not going to spoil, kept me guessing and which tell an altogether sinister tale.

I have really enjoyed following Allie’s exploits as she chases down the bad guys, getting to know how she operates has been fascinating. I like her maverick nature which is altogether softened by her relationship with her long term partner, Rona, who brings out the best in her. Whilst it is perfectly possible to read 1989 as a standalone those who have read 1979 will be familiar with Allie Burns and will, no doubt, enjoy seeing just what she has achieved in the intervening years, she’s older, and maybe just a little wiser, but no less courageous in the face of adversity.

About the Author

Val McDermid is a No. 1 bestseller whose novels have been translated into more than thirty languages, and have sold over eleven 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 and was the recipient of the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger for 2010. In 2011 she received the Lambda Literary Foundation Pioneer Award.

She writes full time and divides her time between Cheshire and Edinburgh.

Twitter @valmcdermid 

@LittleBrownUK

📖 Featured Book of the Month ~ The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett

 

Viper Books
19 January 2023

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book

Open the safe deposit box. Inside you will find research material for a true crime book. You must read the documents, then make a decision. Will you destroy them? Or will you take them to the police?

Everyone knows the story of the Alperton Angels: the cult-like group who were convinced one of their member's babies was the anti-Christ, and they had a divine mission to kill it - until the baby's mother, Holly, came to her senses and called the police. The Angels committed suicide rather than go to prison, and Holly - and the baby - disappeared into the care system.

Nearly two decades later, true-crime author Amanda Bailey is writing a book on the Angels. The Alperton baby has turned eighteen and can finally be interviewed - if Amanda can find them, it will be the true-crime scoop of the year, and will save her flagging career. But rival author Oliver Menzies is just as smart, better connected, and is also on the baby's trail.

As Amanda and Oliver are forced to collaborate, they realise that what everyone thinks they know about the Angels is wrong, and the truth is something much darker and stranger than they'd ever imagined.

This story is far from over - and it won't have a happy ending.

📖 My Review..

As always this clever author draws the reader right into the mystery of the Alperton Angels with this intriguing opening message...

"Open the safe deposit box. Inside you will find research material for a true crime book. You must read the documents, then make a decision. Will you destroy them? Or will you take them to the police?"

Bringing the epistolary novel right up to date, the story of the mysterious Alperton Angels comes to light in a series of clever communications between the main protagonists, as they seek to discover more about a series of killings which took place eighteen years previously and of the baby who mysteriously disappeared at the time and who is now about to come of age. The menacing atmosphere of this cult like group is revealed ever so slowly in a series of emails, text messages, conversation transcripts, and for Amanda Bailey, an author who has been commissioned to write a true exposé of the events, there are far more questions about this sinister group of people than she could ever have imagined.

Absolutely believable from the outset and with all the trademarks we have come to expect from this talented author The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels brings to life the secret and shadowy world of a charismatic and dangerous cult leader who manipulated everyone into believing he was the Archangel Gabriel and of the deadly consequences of vulnerable people who were sucked in by his twisted theology.

Thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish I have no hesitation in making The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels my Featured Book of the Month in February.

About the Author

Janice Hallett studied English at UCL, and spent several years as a magazine editor, winning two awards for journalism. After gaining an MA in Screenwriting at Royal Holloway, she co-wrote the feature film Retreat. The Appeal is inspired by her lifelong interest in amateur dramatics. Her second novel, The Twyford Code, is published by Viper in 2022. When not indulging her passion for global adventure travel, she is based in West London.

Twitter @JaniceHallett #TheAlpertonAngels

@ViperBooks

📖 Publication Day Book Review ~ Swindled by S E Shepherd

 

Hobeck Books
7 September 2021

Sandlin PI  series #1

My thanks to Rebecca at Hobeck Books for my copy of this book

Lottie

Beautiful, but a little spoilt, Lottie Thorogood leads a charmed life. Returning home from horse riding one day, she finds a stranger, drinking tea in the family drawing room – a stranger who will change her life, forever.

Hannah

After a bad decision cut short her police career, Hannah Sandlin is desperate to make her mark as a private investigator. She knows she has the skills, but why won’t anyone take her seriously? She’s about to become embroiled in a mystery that will finally put those skills to the test and prove her doubters wrong. It will also bring her a friend for life.

Vincent

Vincent Rocchino has spent his life charming the ladies, fleecing them and fleeing when things turn sour. How long can he keep running before his past catches up with him?

📖 My Thoughts..

Swindled is the first in a new series of crime fiction which features Hannah Sandlin, an ex-rookie police officer, now turned private investigator. In Hannah's first big case she meets with Lottie Thorogood who, after a privileged and wealthy upbringing, is now pretty much at rock bottom and is determined to find the man who brought her family down. Sandwiched between the story of what brings these two women together is the story of Vincent Rocchino, a complicated man who, it must be said, is an out and out bad 'un, and whose who escapades and antics make for enjoyable reading.

The story moves around in time, gradually revealing different perspectives and shows why these three very different people are bound together, and it does so with lively dialogue and a good sense of mystery. Everything worked well, the characterisation is great, the plot is well thought out and maintains its credibility from the start, and there are nice touches of humour amongst the twists and turns. I especially liked the unfurling of the relationship between Hannah and Lottie, each have had their share of difficulties but it was good to see them support each other through some difficult experiences. Vincent should have been unlikable, but for all his faults, he has a certain Italian charm which made me smile whenever he appeared on the page.

The author writes this cosy crime genre well, and I sense that the crime series is going to go from strength to strength in future adventures for Sandlin PI.

About the Author

Twitter @thatsueshepherd #Swindled

@HobeckBooks

Book Review ~ The Trawlerman by William Shaw

 

Quercus/Riverrun
13 May 2021

DS Alexandra Cupidi #4

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book

A DOUBLE MURDER The naked corpses of Aylmer and Mary Younis are discovered in their home. The only clues are a note written in blood and an eerie report of two spectral figures departing the crime scene. Officer Jill Ferriter is charged with investigating the murders while her colleague Alex Cupidi is on leave, recovering from post-traumatic stress. 

AN ELABORATE SCAM The dead couple had made investments in a green reforestry scheme in Guatemala, resulting in the loss of all their savings. What is more disturbing is that Cupidi and Ferriter's disgraced former colleague and friend Bill South is also on the list of investors and the Younis's were not the only losers. 

AN UNLIKELY KILLER Despite being in counselling and receiving official warnings to stay away from police work Cupidi finds herself dragged into the case and begins to trawl among the secrets and lies that are held in the fishing community of Folkestone. Desperate to exonerate South she finds herself murderously compromised when personal relationships cloud her judgement.

My Thoughts..

DS Alex Cupidi is finding it difficult to be on sick leave especially when two serious crimes occurs almost on her doorstep. Bored, and with nothing better to do than see a counsellor to talk about her PTSD, Alex soon discovers that once a crime detective, always a crime detective, and she just can't stop herself from getting involved in a rather gruesome, crime scene.

Both crimes, one which happened in the past, and one very much placed in the future, are well plotted and explained and all the details are nicely woven together to form a complicated crime drama. The story flows really well and once I started to get involved with the story, and the characters, I found that I couldn't put the book down and that's unusual for me with a new series where I haven't read any of the previous books. The author gives enough of the back story to understand what makes Alexandra Cupidi tick, and there are interesting snippets of her somewhat fractious life with her seventeen year old daughter, Zӧe.

The Trawlerman is a well put together crime drama, which I could easily see translate well to a television series. I enjoyed how the author brought to life both the wildness of Dungeness and the closeness of a small community who suddenly find themselves under police scrutiny.

As with all series it is better to start at the beginning but The Trawlerman, as I found out, also works well as a standalone police drama.

About the Author

WILLIAM SHAW was born in Newton Abbot, Devon, grew up in Nigeria and lived for sixteen years in Hackney. He has been shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger, longlisted for the Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year and nominated for a Barry Award. A regular at festivals, he organises panel talks and CWA events across the country. He is the author of the Breen & Tozer crime series set in sixties London: A Song from Dead Lips, A House of Knives and A Book of Scars; and the standalone The Birdwatcher. Salt Lane and Deadland are spin-offs to The Birdwatcher. For over twenty years he has written on popular culture and sub-culture for various publications including the Observer and the New York Times. He lives in Brighton with his family.

Twitter @william1shaw #TheTrawlerman

Website

@riverrunbooks @QuercusBooks

📖 The Coffin Makers Garden by Stuart MacBride

 

Harper Collins
7 January 2021
Ash Henderson #3

My thanks to the publishers for my e-copy of this book

A village on the edge…

As a massive storm batters the Scottish coast, Gordon Smith’s home is falling into the North Sea. But the crumbling headland has revealed what he’s got buried in his garden: human remains.

A house full of secrets…

With the storm still raging, it’s too dangerous to retrieve the bodies and waves are devouring the evidence. Which means no one knows how many people Smith’s already killed and how many more he’ll kill if he can’t be found and stopped.

An investigator with nothing to lose…

The media are baying for blood, the top brass are after a scapegoat, and ex-Detective Inspector Ash Henderson is done playing nice. He’s got a killer to catch, and God help anyone who gets in his way.

My Thoughts...

The Coffinmakers’s Garden sees the return of Ash Henderson, the ex-Detective Inspector who is now working as part of the Lateral Investigative Review Unit alongside Police Scotland.

When coastal erosion and a storm of mammoth proportions threatens the Scottish coast, the damage uncovers human remains close to the home of local man, Gordon Smith. With no sign of Gordon and with his home threatening to fall into the sea at any minute, Henderson is brave, or foolhardy, enough to go into Gordon’s abandoned house only to discover a truly horrific secret in the basement. What then follows is a convoluted crime mystery which looks for reasons behind the horrific discovery and seeks justice for the victims of crimes which have gone unnoticed for far too long.

This is my first time at reading crime investigation in the company of Ash Henderson and I have to say that it took me a little while to understand and warm to his character. He’s a bit of a maverick, easily rubs people up the wrong way, and yet for all his taciturn investigative skills he seems to get things done unlike the police who seem to be bumbling around in this investigation. The story moves along at a cracking pace and there’s a definite sense of chill as the story progresses. There are twists and turns aplenty and more than enough red herrings to keep you guessing and after my initial reservations I found that I was definitely gripped by the direction of the story, and grew to like Henderson more and more as this challenging investigation continued.

I am sure that fans of this author’s writing, and of the Ash Henderson series in particular, will be well pleased with this story, as, I believe, it’s been seven years in the waiting.

📖  About the Author 📖  

Twitter @HarperFiction

#TheCoffinmakersGarden

Blog Tour ~ The Silent House by Nell Pattison

Delighted to be hosting today's Blog Tour stop

Avon Books
5 March 2020

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book
and the invitation to the blog tour

If someone was in your house, you’d know … Wouldn’t you?

But the Hunter family are deaf, and don’t hear a thing when a shocking crime takes place in the middle of the night. Instead, they wake up to their worst nightmare: the murder of their daughter.

The police call Paige Northwood to the scene to interpret for the witnesses. They’re in shock, but Paige senses the Hunters are hiding something.

One by one, people from Paige’s community start to fall under suspicion. But who would kill a little girl? Was it an intruder? Or was the murderer closer to home?


What did I think about it..

Paige Northwood is a British Sign Language interpreter who is called by the police to help in a situation where a horrendous crime has taken place. A child has been found dead  in the family home and the parents, due to their lack of hearing, didn't hear anyone enter the house. Paige's skill with sign language is needed to help the family communicate but, as we discover throughout the story, there are added complexities which need to be unraveled. And as Paige gets drawn deeper and deeper into the investigation, so more and more secrets about the family are uncovered.

The story is rather a slow burner and takes a while to get going but I feel this is rather deliberate as communicating with people who live largely in a silent world is both challenging and complex and I think that the author has brought this closeted feeling to life in a meaningful way. The complex mystery at the heart of the novel is handled well and the twists and turns are all explored in interesting detail.

The Silent House is the author's debut novel and for a first foray into the psychological suspense genre it is a creditable start. I enjoyed getting to know Paige Northwood, she's an intriguing protagonist with her own hidden secrets, and uncovering these flaws alongside her involvement in this complicated case makes for interesting reading.

The ending certainly lends itself to more stories involving Paige Northwood, and as there is another book promised it will be interesting to see just what this intriguing character does next.

About the Author

After studying English at university, Nell Pattison became a teacher and specialised in Deaf education. She has been teaching in the Deaf community for 12 years in both England and Scotland, working with students who use BSL. Nell began losing her hearing in her twenties, but still refuses to wear her hearing aids. She lives in North Lincolnshire with her husband and child. The Silent House is her debut novel.

Twitter @Writer_Nell #TheSilentHouse

@AvonBooksUK

Review ~ The July Girls by Phoebe Locke

Wildfire
25 July 2019

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book

Every year, on the same night in July, a woman is taken from the streets of London; snatched by a killer who moves through the city like a ghost. 

Addie has a secret. On the morning of her tenth birthday, four bombs were detonated across the capital. That night her dad came home covered in blood. She thought he was hurt in the attacks - but then her sister Jessie found a missing woman's purse hidden in his room. Jessie says they mustn't tell. She says there's nothing to worry about. But when she takes a job looking after the woman's baby daughter, Addie starts to realise that her big sister doesn't always tell her the whole story. And that the secrets they're keeping may start costing lives.

What did I think about it..

July is not a safe month in the city of London because for several years on the same date a woman has been taken by a perpetrator who leaves no clues and who despite the best efforts of the police has never been found.

Since her mum left home, Addie has been brought up by her dad and older sister, Jessie. Addie and Jessie are particularly close knit, as Jessie, in the absence of their mum has done everything for Addie, from making sure that she was clothed and fed, to arriving at school on time, however, everything changes when, on Addie's tenth birthday, their dad comes home covered in blood.

What then follows is a particularly tense thriller which grips from the very beginning and which leads you into some very dark places. It's not really about what is happening with the investigation into the missing girls, but of course, that's always there in the background, it's rather more about how living under an air of suspicion affects both Jessie and Addie as they try to move forward.

I remember being really impressed with this author's debut novel, The Tall Man which was published in 2018 and which captured my imagination, the story's delicious creepiness made me jump at shadows, so I was really excited to read this, her second novel. In my opinion, The July Girls feels an altogether different read, it's very, very polished, and is written with such confidence, that I was absolutely bowled over, not just by the strength of the story, but of the author's uncanny ability to get right into the heart of such a deeply complex mystery, and by allowing everything to feel so beautifully authentic.

I'm not going to spoil it by recounting much about the nitty-gritty of the story but if you like unputdownable mysteries which capture your attention from the very beginning then I'm sure you'll love it as much as I did.  I started reading The July Girls early on a sunny day in the garden and didn't look up, except for restorative cups of tea, until I had finished the story in one sitting. It's definitely one of my best reads of the summer, so far 💮

The July Girls is published by Wildfire Books on the 25th September 2019

About the Author

Phoebe Locke is the pseudonym of full-time writer Nicci Cloke. She previously worked at the Faber Academy, and hosted London literary salon Speakeasy. She lives and writes in Cambridgeshire. Phoebe Locke is the author of two psychological thrillers, THE TALL MAN, published 2018, and THE JULY GIRLS, out now.

Twitter @phoebe_locke #TheJulyGirls

@headlinepg

@Wildfirebks

Review ~ #Taken by Tony Parsons

Century
18 April 2019

Max Wolfe #6

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

#taken in the night 

They thought they were kidnapping the mistress of one of London’s most powerful gangsters. But they’ve taken the wrong woman. And crossed the wrong detective.

#taken underground 

Detective Max Wolfe's hunt for the missing woman takes him from New Scotland Yard’s legendary Black Museum to the glittering mansions of career criminals, from sleazy strip joints to secret sex dungeons – and to unspeakably dark deeds committed decades ago.

#taken to the limit 

It’s a world of family secrets, sexual jealousy, and a lust for revenge – which might also become Wolfe’s grave

My thoughts..

#Taken is a complex crime thriller which starts off in a dramatic way when a young woman is abducted just as she reaches home. With no obvious reason for the abduction, the police start to investigate the case, however, the more they uncover and the more they realise that, perhaps, the wrong woman has been taken.

What then follows is a fast and furious investigation which involves DC Max Wolfe and DCI Pat Whitestone in a complicated case which is constantly outmanoeuvered by those who keep their secrets close. The story moves between the criminal underworld and the glittering wealth of an old-time gang boss, bringing a gritty realism to a story which is riddled with twists, turns and numerous false leads.

The workings of the police investigative team is focused mostly on the way Max Wolfe operates and of his, somewhat, unconventional approach to policing which works well as we get to know more about him both on, and off, duty. Those who have followed this series from the beginning will be more in tune with the finer nuances of the central characters, but even if you are new to the series, as I am, you can soon follow the plot, as nothing detracts from the complexity of the case.

#Taken is a well written and exciting crime thriller which takes the reader on a roller coaster of a ride through the seedier side of London. It's filled with dark and gritty moments and with a constant sensation of trouble brewing just around the corner.

About the Author

Tony Parsons left school at sixteen and his first job in journalism was at the New Musical Express. His first journalism after leaving the NME was when he was embedded with the Vice Squad at 27 Savile Row, West End Central. The roots of the DC Max Wolfe series started here.

Since then he has become an award winning journalist and bestselling novelist whose books have been translated into more than 40 languages. The Murder Bag, the first novel in the DC Max Wolfe series, went on to number one on first publication in the UK. All of the DC Max Wolfe novels have been Sunday Times top five bestsellers.

Tony lives in London with his wife, his daughter and their dog.

Website

Twitter @TonyParsonsUK #Taken