📖 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

📖 Publication Day Book Review ~ In Little Stars by Linda Green

Quercus
6 September 2022 (ebook and audio)

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book

Two families divided by hate. A love that will not die.

Sylvie and Donna travel on the same train to work each day but have never spoken. Their families are on different sides of the bitter Brexit divide, although the tensions and arguments at home give them much in common.

What they don't know is that their eldest children, Rachid and Jodie, are about to meet for the first time and fall in love. Aware that neither family will approve, the teenagers vow to keep their romance a secret.

But as Sylvie's family feel increasingly unwelcome in England, a desire for a better life threatens Rachid and Jodie's relationship. Can their love unite their families - or will it end in tragedy?

📖 My Review..

Rachid and Jodie are about to meet for the first time when they are both travelling to Leeds on the same train. Their lives are about to implode as the attraction between them is instant and real. However, regardless of how powerful the attraction, the impact that their relationship will have on their individual families will have far reaching consequences.

In a fractured North of England, reeling from years of political neglect, there is an undercurrent of discontent. Brexit has split families apart but there is also strong racial tension which rears its ugly head and which becomes such a strong theme throughout the story. In Little Stars brings these divisions in our once united nation into sharp focus and there is much to ponder over with characters and situations which feel scarily authentic, and which are so realistically portrayed that the sense of unease and creeping disquiet, from both sides of the divide, makes for uncomfortable reading. 

There is very quickly an emotional connection made with Rachid and Jodie, both are lovely young people who just want to make their way in the world and whose shared hopes, dreams and love for the music of Prince really resonate, but as is the way with star crossed lovers, life has a nasty habit of biting back and, without revealing any spoilers, Linda Green doesn't pull her punches when it comes to what happens next.

I was both visibly shaken and emotionally drained by the conclusion of In Little Stars. Without doubt  this powerful family drama will stay with me for a long time to come.

🍷Best Read with..a mug of tea and a Bakewell slice

About the Author

Linda Green is the bestselling author of eleven novels. She is an award-winning journalist and has written for The Guardian, the Independent on Sunday and the Big Issue. Linda lives in West Yorkshire. 

Website

Twitter @LindaGreenisms #OneMoment

@QuercusBooks

@MillsReid11

📖 Book Review ~ Trapped by Anna Smith

Quercus
March 2021

Kerry Casey #4

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book

Kerry Casey is still reeling from the bombshell that her lover, undercover cop Vinny Burns, has gone missing in Spain. She's pregnant with his baby and will do anything to find him.

One night, driving along a country road, Kerry and her Uncle Danny are ambushed by gunmen. In the confusion that follows, shots are fired and two men are murdered. Kerry and Danny can only look on as the bodies are dragged from their assailant's car and placed in their own.

The police arrive in minutes. With cocaine, dead bodies and guns in the car, it looks like an open-and-shut case.

Kerry's been framed. She is forced to wait out her fate inside a women's prison, still not knowing what has happened to Vinnie. On the outside the Casey gang are hunting down the men who did this to her and they will stop at nothing to find them.

📖 My thoughts..

When crime boss, Kerry Casey and her Uncle Danny are waylaid on a quiet stretch of road, it can only mean trouble especially when Kerry and Danny are framed for a crime they didn't have anything to do with, but in this latest novel it would seem that old grudges run deep and pretty soon it becomes a race against time to see who can outwit the faster in order to get those who are targeting the Casey family.

As always this gritty crime series hits the ground running with two stories running concurrently both of which have particular relevance if you have followed the series from the beginning. Not only do we follow Kerry as she languishes, on remand, in a tough women's prison, but we also catch up with the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Kasey's boyfriend, Vinny Burns, an undercover police officer who has gone missing in Spain.

It is possible to read Trapped as a standalone story but as this is book four in the series, and quite possibly the last, there is a definite sense of tying up a few loose ends. As always the action is hard hitting and moves along at such a great pace that it's possible to lose complete track of time as you become immersed in the gritty world of gangland crime, a world which has terrible repercussions for those who get on the wrong side of each other. The author certainly knows how to keep the tension racked up to high and brings both place and people alive, even though, most of them aren't the sort of people you would like to meet there is a believability to them and you can't help but hope that Kerry Casey comes out on the winning side 😊

About the Author

Anna Smith has been a journalist for over twenty years and is a former chief reporter for the Daily Herald in Glasgow. She has covered wars across the world as major news investigations and news stories for Dunblane to Kosovo to 9/11. Anna spends her time between Lanarkshire and Dingle in the West of Ireland as well as in Spain to escape the British weather.

Twitter @annasmithauthor

@QuercusBooks

📖 Blog Tour ~ The Murder Box by Olivia Kiernan

 

Delighted to take part in this Blog Tour on Publication Day

Riverrun
22 July 2021

Frankie Sheehan #4

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book
and the invitation to be part of this Blog Blast

Some games can be deadly. At first, Detective Chief Superintendent Frankie Sheehan believes the murder mystery game sent to her office is a birthday gift from one of her colleagues. But when Frankie studies the game's contents, she notices a striking resemblance between the 'murder victim' and missing twenty-twoyear-old Lydia Callin. As Frankie and her team investigate, a series of grisly crimes connected to the game are discovered across Dublin city and Lydia's involvement with a shadowy network of murder mystery players becomes clear. On the hunt for Lydia's murderer, Frankie is drawn more deeply into the game. Every successful move brings her closer to the killer. But the real question is not what happens should she lose – but what happens if she wins.

📖 My thoughts..

When a cleverly put together Murder Box game is delivered to the police incident room at the Irish Gardaí’s Bureau for Serious Crime, Detective Chief Superintendent Frankie Sheehan is under the impression that it is a gift for her birthday. Baffled by a real life investigation into the disappearance of a local celebrity, which doesn't appear to be leading anywhere, Frankie is eager for distraction but when a young woman is reported missing, suddenly the contents of the Murder Box take on a rather sinister meaning.

I thought the idea of the Murder Box was an intriguing way to open the story and pretty soon Frankie and her team find that this sinister box offers much more than they could ever have imagined. Before long, it's a race against time to discover more about those who are involved in this dangerous murder game before something happens and another person disappears from the city of Dublin.

I've met DCS Frankie Sheehan before and I am always impressed with the way she throws herself into the investigation, often putting herself, and her team, in grave danger, but as always, her grit and tenacity to get the case solved is to her credit. Frankie's relationship with her police partner, Baz Harwood, is an interesting one, they each have each others backs and yet in The Murder Box, Baz seems to be preoccupied and isn't always on top form, so the different dynamic between them is interesting to observe.

This clever author has now given us four thrilling adventures in which Frankie Sheehan and her team get to solve some really challenging crimes and whilst The Murder Box can be read comfortably as a standalone, as with all series it's best if you follow from the start and enjoy this talented author's intricately plotted crime novels.

About the Author

Olivia Kiernan is an Irish writer living in the UK. She was born and raised in County Meath, near the famed heritage town of Kells and holds an MA in Creative Writing awarded by the University of Sussex.

Twitter @livkiernan #TheMurderBox

@quercusbooks @riverrunbooks

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

📖 Book Review ~ The Perfect Lie by Jo Spain

Quercus
13 May 2021

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book

He jumped to his death in front of witnesses. Now his wife is charged with murder.

Five years ago, Erin Kennedy moved to New York following a family tragedy. She now lives happily with her detective husband in the scenic seaside town of Newport, Long Island. When Erin answers the door to Danny's police colleagues one morning, it's the start of an ordinary day. But behind her, Danny walks to the window of their fourth-floor apartment and jumps to his death.

Eighteen months later, Erin is in court, charged with her husband's murder. Over that year and a half, Erin has learned things about Danny she could never have imagined. She thought he was perfect. She thought their life was perfect.

But it was all built on the perfect lie..

📖 My Thoughts..

Erin Kennedy thinks she knows all there is to know about her police detective husband but early one morning everything goes horribly wrong when Danny jumps to his death from their fourth floor apartment window. To say the story gets off to a dramatic start is an understatement and right from the opening chapter there is a definite sense of unease and an understanding that Danny's life was far from perfect. Determined to find out the truth, Erin not only has to contend with a police department who have closed ranks, ostensibly shutting her out, but also one of her husband’s colleagues seems to be determined to bring her down.

The American setting between New York and Long Island adds an an interesting dimension to this action packed thriller which, very cleverly, weaves in an unconnected story set in 2016 with that of Erin's search for the truth about Danny in 2019/2020. However, as with all this talented author's thrillers, nothing is ever as it first appears! Her characteriation is, as ever, absolutely spot on, there are people who you love from the start and, equally, there are also those who are just a little bit creepy, and who, once you discover more about them, make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. 

With tension aplenty and with an intriguing twist I really didn't see coming, I read The Perfect Lie in short sharp bursts, enthralled in this author’s ability to keep me turning the pages faster and faster to find out just what was, in the end, the perfect lie.

About the Author

Jo Spain is a full-time writer and screenwriter. Her first novel, With Our Blessing, was one of seven books shortlisted in the Richard and Judy Search for a Bestseller competition and her first psychological thriller, The Confession, was a number one bestseller in Ireland. Jo co-wrote the ground-breaking television series Taken Down, which first broadcast in Ireland in 2018. She's now working on multiple European television projects. Jo lives in Dublin with her husband and their four young children.

Twitter @spainjoanne #ThePerfectLie

@QuercusBooks

@millsreid11

Hist Fic Saturday ~ The House of Lamentations by S G MacLean

Quercus
July 2020

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book

Summer, 1658, and the Republic may finally be safe: the combined Stuart and Spanish forces have been heavily defeated by the English and French armies on the coast of Flanders, and the King's cause appears finished.

Yet one final, desperate throw of the dice is planned. And who can stop them if not Captain Damian Seeker?

The final gripping book in this acclaimed and award-winning series of historical thrillers. Will Seeker's legacy endure?

What did I think about it..

I’m rather late to the party with this series having read the first book, The Seeker, and now this final book in the series, having somehow completely missed the three books in the middle. However, as soon as I started to read The House of Lamentations I was immediately taken to the Flemish city of Bruges, a charming place I have visited a couple of times, and yet the Bruges I remember is nothing like as dangerous as its sixteenth century self. 

Set in the very final days of the Protectorate, Oliver Cromwell’s tight grip on England is failing and both sides of the political divide are out to get what they can for the ruler of their choice. Intelligencer, Damian Seeker is now firmly ensconced in Bruges, and is able to go about his clandestine business of spying on those Royalists who seek to put Charles Stuart on the English throne.

This is a gripping historical adventure and whilst I know it would have been much better to have followed the series from the beginning I didn’t feel as though I was floundering as the author does a great job of explaining the more important aspects of the back story. Once the action starts there is no room to wonder what happened last time, I enjoyed being of the moment with Seeker as he gets drawn into a rather dark murder/ mystery which may have long term ramifications for English political security.

I enjoyed very much getting to know the other characters who make up the supporting cast, and I especially liked Sister Janet at the convent, whose, stern demeanour, reminded me very much of the actor, Miriam Margolyes! It was also intriguing to meet the enigmatic Longfellow who enjoys an interesting card game with a certain, John Carpenter!

The House of Lamentations certainly brings everything to an exciting conclusion and I won’t say too much about what happens but I think regular readers will be happy with the way things play out in the wider scheme of the series. 

Tense, exciting and with never a dull moment The House of Lamentations entertains from start to finish.

About the Author

Shona MacLean was born in Inverness and grew up in the Scottish highlands where her parents were hoteliers. She has an M.A. and Ph.D. in History from the University of Aberdeen. She lives on the Black Isle with her husband and four children.

Twitter @SGMacleanauthor #HouseofLamentations

@QuercusBooks

 

Publication Day Blog Tour ~ From Venice with Love by Rosanna Ley ☼

☼ Delighted to be one of the Blog Tour stops for this lovely book on its Publication Day☼ 

Quercus
25 June 2020

My thanks to the publishers for my ecopy of this book
and the opportunity to be part of the blog tour

The bestselling author of The Lemon Tree Hotel returns with an enchanting new holiday read about family bonds and following your heart, wherever it might take you…

With her marriage in danger of falling apart, Joanna returns home to the beautiful but dilapidated Mulberry Farm Cottage in rural Dorset, where her sister Harriet is struggling to keep the Farm afloat and cope with their eccentric mother.

When Joanna discovers a bundle of love letters in the attic, written by a watercolourist named Emmy, she is intrigued and sets out to discover Emmy’s true story. Emmy’s letters take Joanna to the picturesque alleyways and bridges of Lisbon, Prague, and the most romantic place of all: Venice – where a whole new magical world seems to unfold in front of her.

Meanwhile, back at Mulberry Farm Cottage, a mysterious prowler adds to Harriet’s problems and interrupts her search for a perfect partner. Will she ever find true love? Where will Emmy’s mesmerising pathway lead? And more importantly, will Joanna and Harriet be able to rescue the cottage and finally be able to re-discover their sisterly bond?

What did I think about it..

Joanna returns home to rural Dorset where at Mulberry Tree Farm Cottage she hopes to come to terms with what's been happening in her broken marriage. Her arrival at the cottage is viewed with apprehension by Joanna's sister, Harriet who has been coping alone, running the farm, as well as caring for their elderly mother who seems traps in a world of her own.

What then follows is  delightful family drama, which this talented author does so well.  There are some really lovely moments, I especially enjoyed the rather fraught relationship, Joanna has with her sister, both of them have resentments, but Harriet particularly feels aggrieved and envious of Joanna's more successful life style. 

However, From Venice with Love isn't just about family angst, it's also a wonderful travelogue, the descriptions of which really bring the story to life. I especially enjoyed travelling to Venice, Lisbon and Prague with Joanna as she seeks to find answers to a tantalising family mystery, there's even a little bit of magical realism thrown in for good measure, which was an absolute joy to read.

Whenever I pick up a Rosanna Ley story I know that I am in for a very good read and From Venice with Love is no exception, in fact, I rather think that this is one of my favourite of her novels to date. It had everything I wanted, and so much more, from a summer story, sibling rivalry, friendship, family secrets, travel and a hint of romance, all are at the heart of this lovely family story which entertained me from beginning to end. I was even a little bit sad when the story ended as I didn't want to say goodbye to any of the characters 😊  

About the Author

Rosanna Ley works as a creative tutor and has written many articles and stories for national magazines. Her writing holidays and retreats take place in stunning locations in Spain and Italy. When she is not travelling, Rosanna lives in West Dorset by the sea.

Website

Twitter @Rosannaley #FromVeniceWithLove

@QuercusBooks

Amazon UK

Social Media Blast~ A Body in the Bookshop by Helen Cox

Delighted to be part of this  Social Media Blast

Quercus
19 March 2020

Kitt Hartley #2

My thanks to the publisher for my cop of this book
and the invitation to be part of this social media blast

Librarian Kitt Hartley and her friend Evie Bowes thought their life had gone back to normal after the shocking events of Murder by the Minster. Then DI Malcolm Halloran breaks some bad news: DS Charlotte Banks has been suspended from duty, on suspicion of assaulting the suspect in the burglary of a local bookshop.

Evie wants justice for Charlotte, who she is sure was not the attacker, and how could any self-respecting librarian turn down the chance to find missing rare books? The two friends team up once again to investigate the rarefied world of York's bookshops and antiques dealers and find out just who has framed their friend.

But Kitt and Evie will soon learn that there are some books people will kill for - will this story have a happy ending?

What did I think about it..

Kitt Hartley is most usually found tucked away in the library but occasionally her sleuthing skills are needed and never more so than in this second book in the series which sees Kitt, and her friend, Evie drawn, into a dark mystery which involves none other that DS Charlotte Banks, a police officer who we met in book number one in this cosy crime series. That the same characters are evident in this second book makes this a real coming together of old friends, and I especially enjoy how the author brings them all to life in such a realistic way.

In this latest novel, DS Banks is suspected of the assault of a suspect, and has been arrested and reported to the Professional Standards Department. It is now up to Kitt, Evie, and their old friend DI Malcolm Holloran, to prove Charlotte's innocence. This is easier said than done and, of course, as with all crime fiction, the investigation is never going to be straightforward however, this intrepid group of people are determined to do all they can to prove Charlotte's innocence. It's interesting to see more of Evie and Charlotte's friendship developing alongside that of Kitt and Malcolm Holloran.

The story moves along at an interesting pace and it is entertaining to see that, as in the first book, there is never a dull moment for any of the characters. A Body in the Bookshop is fun, light hearted, cosy crime mystery, and is one of those entertaining crime series which would lend itself perfectly to a Sunday night TV drama.

About the Author

Helen Cox is a Yorkshire-born novelist and poet. After completing her MA in creative writing at the University of York St. John Helen wrote for a range of magazines and websites as well as for TV and radio news. Helen has edited her own independent film magazine and penned three non-fiction books. Her first two novels were published by HarperCollins in 2016. She currently hosts The Poetrygram podcast and works for City Lit, London. Helen’s new series of cosy mysteries stars librarian-turned-sleuth Kitt Hartley, and is set in York. Helen’s Mastermind specialism would be Grease 2 and to this day she adheres to the Pink Lady pledge.

Twitter @Helenography #ABodyintheBookshop

@QuercusBooks

Social Media Blast ~ The Man on the Street by Trevor Wood

Thrilled to be hosting a stop on this social media blast

Quercus
19 March 2020

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

Introducing the most unforgettable investigator of 2020. Gritty, Newcastle-set crime for fans of Ian Rankin and Val McDermid.

It started with a splash. Jimmy, a homeless veteran grappling with PTSD, did his best to pretend he hadn't heard it - the sound of something heavy falling into the Tyne at the height of an argument between two men on the riverbank. Not his fight.

Then he sees the headline: GIRL IN MISSING DAD PLEA. The girl, Carrie, reminds him of someone he lost, and this makes his mind up: it's time to stop hiding from his past. But telling Carrie, what he heard - or thought he heard - turns out to be just the beginning of the story.

The police don't believe him, but Carrie is adamant that something awful has happened to her dad and Jimmy agrees to help her, putting himself at risk from enemies old and new.

But Jimmy has one big advantage: when you've got nothing, you've got nothing to lose.

What did I think about it..

Jimmy Mullen lives on the streets of Newcastle with his four-legged companion, who is aptly named, Dog. That the streets are often a dangerous place to live goes without saying, but amongst some of his more deadly neighbours, Jimmy finds that there are a few that he can trust. Jimmy ticks along, living from moment to moment, but luckier than most because, although homeless, Jimmy has a small army pension to help him survive. A veteran of the Falklands conflict, Jimmy is no shrinking violet, however, the trauma of his wartime experience has left him with PTSD which has wrecked his life in more ways than one. When, late one night, Jimmy witnesses a crime taking place, it opens up a set of frightening circumstances which will see this unusual protagonist become drawn into a dark and deadly game of catch me , before I catch you.

Well paced, with a decidedly dark edge, this gritty crime debut gets off to a cracking good start as it introduces us to people who very quickly become people we care about. Jimmy is an interesting character, quietly observant one minute, and then helpless in his struggle against the demons which so often threaten to engulf him, that society is less than sympathetic to his plight is particularly heartbreaking.

The crime/mystery at the heart of the novel is an interesting one and the author keeps the tension cranked up to high from the very first page and shows the plight of the homeless in our cities in a scarily realistic way. If you like gritty crime novels with a protagonist who very quickly gets under your skin, so that you start to care what happens to him, then The Man on the Street is a great example of crime fiction at its best.

The Man on the Street is a commendable debut novel. I look forward to seeing what this talented writer comes up with next.

About the Author

Trevor Wood has lived in Newcastle for twenty-five years and considers himself an adopted Geordie. He’s a successful playwright who has also worked as a journalist and spin-doctor for the City Council. Prior to that he served in the Royal Navy for sixteen years. Trevor holds an MA in Creative Writing (Crime Fiction) from UEA. The Man on the Street is his first novel.

Twitter@TrevorWoodWrite #TheManOnTheStreet

@QuercusBooks

Facebook

Blog Tour ~ One Moment by Linda Green

Delighted to be sharing my review on this Blog Tour
and Social Media Blast

Quercus
5 March 2020

My thanks to the publishers for my ecopy of this book and the opportunity to be part of this book blast

Finn and Kaz are about to meet for the first time.

Ten-year-old Finn, a quirky, sensitive boy who talks a lot and only eats at cafes with a 5-star hygiene rating, is having a tough time at school and home.

Outspoken Kaz, 59, who has an acerbic sense of humour and a heart of gold, is working at the café when Finn and his mum come in.

They don't know it yet, but the second time they meet will be a moment which changes both of their lives forever...

What did I think about it..

Quiet, sensitive Finn, and outspoken Kaz shouldn't really have anything in common and yet, the fickle finger of fate has a habit of pairing people together who under ordinary circumstances would never have met.

I think what's so beautiful about this story is the way the author gets right into the heart and mind of ten year old Finn, and describes his life in such precise detail that you feel like you are immersed right at the epicenter of all he is experiencing. I heard Finn's voice so clearly that there were times when I looked up from reading only to expect him to be in the room alongside me. Finn's a real character, brave and strong, and despite some pretty tough issues to deal with he was always true to himself.

Kaz's character is no less compelling, she's a bluff 59 year old Yorkshire woman with no airs or graces and despite the rotten hand that life has dealt her she keeps on going with that air of true grit which is so reminiscent of Northern women. So many times I found myself cheering her on, hoping that her circumstances would improve,

Told in alternate chapters the story is revealed so beautifully that my heart quite literally broke into pieces. I wanted to reach into the very fabric of the pages and wrap both Finn and Kaz in a warm comfort blanket so I could keep them safe and became so completely invested in both their characters that I actually miss them now that their story is completed, but oh, what a story it is.

Covering a whole range of tangible emotions, from grief and loss, to mental health and bullying there is never a moment when this story doesn't ring absolutely true. From the sheer unreasonableness of our benefits system, through the complicated minefield of mental health care, and into schools who sometimes don't listen when evidence of bullying is ignored for fear of offending the wrong people. It's a salutary warning that there are people like Finn and Kaz in all our modern villages, towns and cities, and we should begin to take more notice of what's going on around us.

I can't heap enough praise on One Moment, it captivated me by the strength of the writing, such a perceptive author, I'm in awe of her ability to weave a tale that has you crying big sobby tears one minute, ranting about bureaucracy the next, and then laughing out loud at the image of a life size, cardboard, Alan Titchmarsh.

If you only read one book in 2020, let it be this one as despise the tough nature of the story I know that both Finn and Kaz's story will stay with you for a very long time.

About the Author

Linda Green is the bestselling author of eight novels. She is an award-winning journalist and has written for The Guardian, the Independent on Sunday and the Big Issue. Linda lives in West Yorkshire. 

Website

Twitter @LindaGreenisms #OneMoment

@QuercusBooks

@MillsReid11

Social Media Blast ~ The Lantern Men by Elly Griffiths

Quercus
6 February 2020

Ruth Galloway #12

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book

Everything has changed for Dr Ruth Galloway.

She has a new job, home and partner, and is no longer North Norfolk police's resident forensic archaeologist. That is, until convicted murderer Ivor March offers to make DCI Nelson a deal. Nelson was always sure that March killed more women than he was charged with. Now March confirms this, and offers to show Nelson where the other bodies are buried - but only if Ruth will do the digging.

Curious, but wary, Ruth agrees. March tells Ruth that he killed four more women and that their bodies are buried near a village bordering the fens, said to be haunted by the Lantern Men, mysterious figures holding lights that lure travellers to their deaths.

Is Ivor March himself a lantern man, luring Ruth back to Norfolk? What is his plan, and why is she so crucial to it? And are the killings really over?

What did I think about it..

I'm always beyond excited when a new Ruth Galloway is published and in this #12 book in the series it's been a real pleasure to meet up again with forensic archaeologist Ruth and DCI Harry Nelson as they, once again, try to piece together a complicated mystery which draws on local folklore about the eponymous Lantern Men, whilst at the same trying to bring closure to a mystifying case of a clutch of young women who are missing in suspicious circumstances.

At the start of the novel much has changed for Ruth and her daughter Kate, and I won't spoil the story by revealing too much, but for a time I was a little concerned that this rather big change would mean that the dynamic between Ruth and Harry would be diminished but I needn't have worried as their connection is as strong as ever and, if anything, these changes only add to the undeniable attraction they share. The atmospheric mystery at the heart of the novel is as complex as ever and there are some interesting developments which all add up to a fascinating murder/mystery invest.

The plot is as tight as ever with more than enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the final reveal. However, I think that the overall strength of this series undoubtedly lies in the way the established characters come to life and those who have followed the series from the beginning will be delighted to see all the old friends returning to do what they do best with their usual fine attention to professional detail.

The Lantern Men is a great read from start to finish. The narrative flows seamlessly and I was so engrossed with the place, the plot and the people I didn’t notice time passing.

Recommended ✅ Definitely, it's a big yes from me, but my advice is to invest in the time to read  this series from the beginning. You won’t be disappointed.

About the Author

Elly Griffiths was born in London. She worked in publishing for many years. Her bestselling series of Dr Ruth Galloway novels, featuring a forensic archaeologist are set in Norfolk.The series has won the CWA Dagger in the library, and has been shortlisted three times for the Theakston's Old Peculiar Crime Novel of theYear. Her Stephens and Mephisto series is based in 1950s Brighton. She lives near Brighton with her husband and their two children.

Website

Twitter @ellygriffiths #TheLanternMen

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Blog Tour ~ Six Wicked Reasons by Jo Spain

Delighted to be hosting today's stop on this Blog Tour

Quercus
16 January 2020

My thanks to the publishers for me ecopy of this book

With its Agatha Christie-esque setting in a countryside house in Ireland, this is a classic revenge novel brimming with family secrets, stand out characters, originality, and a stellar twist turning the story upside down.

It's June 2008 and twenty-one-year-old Adam Lattimer vanishes, presumed dead. The strain of his disappearance breaks his already fragile family.

Ten years later, with his mother deceased and siblings scattered across the globe, Adam turns up unannounced at the family home. His siblings return reluctantly to Spanish Cove, but Adam's reappearance poses more questions than answers. The past is a tangled web of deceit.

And, as tension builds, it's apparent somebody has planned murderous revenge for the events of ten years ago.

What did I think about it..

Adam Lattimer returns home after a long absence which alters the family dynamic considerably as all is really not well in the Lattimer family. Each of the six siblings have reasons to be distrustful and as the story progresses we learn just where this dysfunctional family keeps its secrets.

Set mostly in Wexford in Ireland, in the gloriously named Spanish Cove, the hidden dangers and dangerous shadows of the Lattimers proves  to be addictive reading. There is much to take in, both in terms of plot and malice, and the author does a great job of moving forward and backwards in time so that we get an indication into what makes each of the siblings tick, and yet there are other game players to to be considered, particularly that of Frazer Lattimer, the family patriarch, who rules the family with manipulative ease, and whose narcissistic personality creeps and crawls throughout the whole of this complex crime story.

It would be far too easy to reveal something inadvertently and this suspenseful plot is much too clever to be spoiled. I was intrigued throughout the whole of the story and enjoyed putting together all the puzzle pieces. Six Wicked Reasons is another clever psychological suspense thriller by an author who really knows how to bring this genre alive in the imagination.

About the Author

Jo Spain is a full-time writer and screenwriter. Her first novel, With Our Blessing, was one of seven books shortlisted in the Richard and Judy Search for a Bestseller competition and her first psychological thriller, The Confession, was a number one bestseller in Ireland. Jo co-wrote the ground-breaking RTE television series Taken Down, which first broadcast in Ireland in 2018. She's now working on multiple European television projects. Jo lives in Dublin with her husband and their four young children.

Twitter @SpainJoanne #SixWickedReasons

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Publication Day Giveaway ~ Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts

Quercus
9 January 2020

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book and the opportunity to be offer this giveaway copy

Hollywood, 1938: As soon as she learns that M-G-M is adapting her late husband’s masterpiece for the screen, seventy-seven-year-old Maud Gage Baum sets about trying to finagle her way onto the set. Nineteen years after Frank’s passing, Maud is the only person who can help the producers stay true to the spirit of the book—because she’s the only one left who knows its secrets.

But the moment she hears Judy Garland rehearsing the first notes of “Over the Rainbow,” Maud recognizes the yearning that defined her own life story, from her youth as a suffragette’s daughter to her coming of age as one of the first women in the Ivy League, from her blossoming romance with Frank to the hardscrabble prairie years that inspired The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Judy reminds Maud of a young girl she cared for and tried to help in South Dakota, a dreamer who never got her happy ending. Now, with the young actress under pressure from the studio as well as her ambitious stage mother, Maud resolves to protect her—the way she tried so hard to protect the real Dorothy.

My thoughts..

There's something special about The Wizard of Oz and whilst I remember being really scared of the wicked witch of the west and her flying monkeys in the MGM movie, I can still recall that magical feeling as Dorothy and her three companions travel along the yellow brick road towards the Land of Oz.

In Finding Dorothy we learn not just about the way the movie evolved some twenty years after the author L.Frank Baum's death, when as an author he was largely forgotten, but also about the relationship between Frank and his wife Maud during their life together. Narrated by Maud Baum we learn of the back story to the author's inspiration for his series of Oz novels and we are also given an all access pass to the 1938 Hollywood set of the movie as Maud goes behind the scenes, desperate to make sure that Dorothy's character is brought to life by the young actress who has the huge responsibility of creating an authentic Dorothy who is true to her husband's vision.

The author has captured time and place perfectly and even if you aren't a fan of the movie the story reads like a wonderfully detailed historical novel. Travelling from the mid-1800s in an America that was on the cusp of great change, to the golden age of the Hollywood movie industry in the late 1930's, when all was not as glittery gold as it seemed on the big screen.

A clever blending of fact and fiction brings Finding Dorothy to life in such a special way that it's difficult to now imagine the movie without the snippets of information I have discovered by reading this lovely story. The yellow brick road was a bumpy ride in many respects but there's no doubt that the Wizard of Oz's lasting legacy of hope and magic will be with us forever.

About the Author

Elizabeth Letts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Eighty-Dollar Champion and The Perfect Horse, which won the PEN Center USA Literary Award for research nonfiction, as well as two previous novels, Quality of Care and Family Planning. She lives in Southern California.

Twitter@ElizabethLetts #FindingDorothy

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Social Media Blast ~ Murder by the Minster by Helen Cox

✨✨ Delighted to be part of this Social Media Blast ✨✨

Quercus Books
31 October 2019

#1 The Kitt Hartley Yorkshire Mysteries

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book and the invitation to this Social Media Blast

Kitt’s quiet life at the Vale of York University library quickly turns upside down when she begins an investigation (armed with detective knowledge absorbed over years of reading Agatha Christie and Ian Rankin) to clear her best friend Evie’s name when she is wrongfully accused of murdering her ex-boyfriend. Kitt soon discovers that the quaint streets of York hold darker secrets than she’d ever dreamed, but what she doesn’t know is that the true murderer is watching her every step.

What did I think about it...

When Kitt's friend, Evie, is arrested for murder it creates a situation in both of their lives which pretty much alters everything they think they know about each other, but one thing Kitt is sure about is that her friend Evie couldn't possibly be a murderer. 

What then follows is Kitt's attempt to exonerate her friend whilst at the same time searching for clues to the real culprit, and that's where Kitt put her detective skills to good years. Years as a librarian, and reading detective fiction, shows Kitt to be more competent than two hapless detectives who are also on the hunt for a killer.

Murder by the Minster is a gentle cozy crime mystery which has some interesting investigative detail but without any gloomy or gory details, although the MO of the killer is pretty grim. I raced through the story, warming to all of the characters, especially Kitt, and her assistant, Grace, and laughed out loud at their interaction with the local psychic, Ruby.

Setting the story in the beautiful historic city of York gave the story a quirky atmosphere and thanks to the author's lovely descriptions I could picture the narrow streets of the city really well. There's a nice old fashioned feel to the novel and whilst there were times when I had to suspend belief at some of Kitt's actions, overall, I thought this was an interesting start to a new cozy crime series and I look forward to meeting up with Kitt Hartley again in future Yorkshire mysteries. 

About the Author

Helen Cox is a Yorkshire-born novelist and poet. After completing her MA in creative writing at the University of York St. John Helen wrote for a range of magazines and websites as well as for TV and radio news Helen has edited her own independent film magazine and penned three non-fiction books as well as two romance novels published by Harper Collins.  She currently hosts The Poetrygram podcast and works for City Lit, London. Helen’s new series of cosy mysteries stars librarian-turned-sleuth Kitt Hartley, and is set in York.

Website

Twitter @helenography #MurderbytheMinster

@QuercusBooks

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