📖 Publication Day Book review ~ The Lies She Told by Lynda Renham

Bloodhound Books
5 July 2023

My thanks to the author for my copy of this book

A brutal attack in a quiet English village sets one police detective against another, in this thriller by the bestselling author of Remember Me.

In the quiet Cotswold village where DS Beth Harper has lived for most of her life, the crime rate is extremely low, and that’s how everyone likes it. Then, soon after her new boss, DI Tom Miller, arrives from London, a local schoolteacher is brutally attacked and left for dead in her home. The victim—a friend of Beth’s—remembers nothing.

Beth finds herself clashing with Tom and worrying that a recent tragedy will affect his judgement as a police officer. But there may be an even bigger question: Is it a burglary gone wrong that’s turned the village upside down—or could the violence be connected to something far more deadly?

📖 My Review.

It seems that nothing much happens in the sleepy Oxfordshire village of Stonesend until DI Tom Miller is transferred there and then, suddenly, things seem to go sharply wrong when Kate Marshal, a local school teacher is brutally attacked in her home. DS Beth Harper is at first resentful of the arrival of Tom Miller because as her senior officer he encroaches on what Beth considers to be her patch, especially as the Stonesend villagers are well known to her and the woman now fighting for her life is Beth's best friend.

Intelligently woven within the police investigation into Kate Marshall's attack is the story of Mae and Blanche Lethbridge, a mother and daughter who also live in Stonesend and who seem to have more than their share of troubles. Their individual stories become more and more fascinating as the mystery continues. 

Beautifully written, with fascinating characters who all seem to have something to hide, I raced through the story in quick time, eager to put together all the jigsaw puzzle pieces of this clever crime thriller. By the end of the story, I could quite easily see this developed into a crime series as I am sure there is more to explore in the relationship between DI Tom Miller and DS Beth Harper.

The cleverness of the plot, and the tense, and at times, quite shocking revelations certainly make The Lies She Told into an intriguing and tightly plotted mystery.

About the Author

Lynda Renham is author to many popular romantic comedy and gripping psychological thriller novels. She lives in Oxford, UK. She has appeared on BBC radio discussion programs and is a prolific blogger, Twitter and when not writing can usually be found wasting her time on Facebook.

Twitter @Lyndarenham #TheLiesSheTold

Blog

Amazon UK

@Bloodhoundbooks

 

📖 Blog Tour ~ A Courtesan's Worth by Felicity George

 

Orion Dash
6 July
Book #2 Gentlemen of London series.


My thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for the invitation to be part of this blog tour

A mistress cannot marry for love...

As one of the famous Preece sisters, Kitty is the most sought-after courtesan in London. But with the vicious Duke of Gillingham scaring away any man who looks her way, securing a new arrangement with a wealthy gentleman will be no easy feat. Kitty's only hope to find someone suitable is through her loyal and cherished friend, the Reverend Sidney Wakefield.

Sidney has devoted his life to the church, but it was never by choice. He is a writer and Kitty his muse. As he is roped into Kitty's plotting, he begins to realise that protecting her from the malevolent Duke comes at a price - and it might mean losing Kitty to someone else entirely.

As Kitty and Sidney try to find a way out, it becomes clear that years of friendship have developed into something deeper. Except that they are from different worlds and Kitty's heart has never been hers to give away...

📖 My Review..

The beautiful courtesan Kitty Preece searches furiously for another man to take over her protection rather than be the mistress of the vile Duke of Gillingham whose cruelty is well known. However, Kitty's friend, and confident, the Reverend Sydney Wakefield is determined to free Kitty from having to rely on  the whims of her rich protectors and yet in helping Kitty Sydney realises some important things about himself.

You can't read a Regency romance about a celebrated courtesan without there being steamy content and A Courtesan's Worth literally sizzles on the page as the author brings the vagaries of Regency romance alive. I enjoyed getting to know Kitty, she's an interesting character with a lovely personality but the shadows surrounding her way of life are quite dark  so that as you read on you can't help but want the best for her. The family dynamics of Kitty's place in the Preece family circumstances add an altogether different dimension to the story, and the eldest sister, Matilda Preece, is especially difficult to like but you can sort of understand why she behaves as she does. I took a while to warm to Sydney, he comes across as quite a hapless character and yet there is far more depth, as we discover, to this mild mannered reverend.

Dark and sinister in places and yet also wonderfully passionate with some sizzling sexual content A Courtesan's Worth is a lively romp through Regency England and even though it's the second book in the Gentlemen of London series, it is perfectly possible to read as a standalone.

About the Author

Felicity George is a writer and teacher from Toronto, where she lives with her husband,her two teenage children, a large cat, and a tiny dog. A lifelong devotee of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer, Felicity adores a happily-ever-after. A Courtesan’s Worth is book two in the Gentlemen of London series.

Twitter@ElizabethWelke

Facebook

Purchase Link

@rararesources

📖 Featured Book of the Month ~ The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd-Robinson

 

Mantle
22 June 2023

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

‘My father had spelt it out to me. Choice was a luxury I couldn’t afford. This is your story, Red. You must tell it well . . .’

A girl known only as Red, the daughter of a Cornish fortune-teller, travels with her father making a living predicting fortunes using the ancient method: the Square of Sevens. When her father suddenly dies, Red becomes the ward of a gentleman scholar.

Now raised as a lady amidst the Georgian splendour of Bath, her fortune-telling is a delight to high society. But she cannot ignore the questions that gnaw at her soul: who was her mother? How did she die? And who are the mysterious enemies her father was always terrified would find him?

The pursuit of these mysteries takes her from Cornwall and Bath to London and Devon, from the rough ribaldry of the Bartholomew Fair to the grand houses of two of the most powerful families in England. And while Red's quest brings her the possibility of great reward, it also leads into her grave danger..,

📖 My Review..

A child, known only as Red, travels the country fairs with her father, together they tell fortunes using the ancient method of the Square of Sevens. They've each known hard times and sad times and their familial bond is precious so when Red's father becomes dangerously ill there is no-one, other than a casual acquaintance, who can take responsibility for this precociously talented child.

Moving seamlessly into the world of the Georgian middle classes we follow Red's journey as she learns how to be a lady amongst the elite of Bath society. From the inside of matronly salons, to the gossip of the Pump Room, Red absorbs everything around her whilst at the same time continues to share her prodigious talent for fortune telling. However, even as the lure of the Square of Sevens continues to entrance and delight, so the news of the resurgence of this ancient method of fortune telling disturbs those who know its history only too well and who would rather the secret of the cards remain hidden.

Long buried family secrets, deadly lies and scurrilous gossip abound in this wonderful Dickensian-like tale of Georgian England. It's mean, it's moody, it creates such an ambiance that at times I forgot where I was and it was only on looking up I realised that I wasn't  actually in Georgian London, watching the viciousness of bear baiting, fighting my corner in the Magpie or strolling amongst the crowds at the Bartholomew Fair.

To say this author brings history alive is an understatement, the story zings with anticipation, gloriously detailing a long standing family feud and controlling all the many players with a skillful eye for even the smallest detail and at centre stage stands Red, a feisty and all-consuming heroine, it is her story.

Beautifully written from start to finish I have no hesitation in making The Square of Sevens my Featured book of the Month for July.

About the Author

Laura Shepherd-Robinson was born in Bristol in 1976. She has a BSc in Politics from the University of Bristol and an MSc in Political Theory from the London School of Economics. Laura worked in politics for nearly twenty years before re-entering normal life to complete an MA in Creative Writing at City University. She lives in London with her husband.

Twitter @laurasrobinson

Website

@mantlebooks

📖 Six in Six ~ Here is my half year round up 📖

 

Here's a round up of the books which have made an impact 

on my first six months of my reading year

📖

📖 Six authors who are new to me:

1. Lee Geum-yi -The Picture Bride
2. Georgina Moore - The Garnett Girls
3. Disha Bose - Dirty Laundry
4. Katie Bishop - The Girls of Summer 
5. Bonnie Garmus - Letters in Chemistry
6. Kate Griffin - Fyneshade 

📖 Six authors I have read before:

1. John Marrs - The Marriage Act
2. Elaine Everest - The Woolworth Girl's Promise
3. Liz Nugent - Strange Sally Diamond
4. Sebastian Barry - Old God's Time
5. Sharon Gosling - The Forgotten Garden
6. Sue Moorcroft  - An Italian Island Summer 
7. 
   

📖 Six books from authors I know will never let me down:

1. Stardust in Nuala - Harriet Steel
2. Nobody Puts Romcoms in the Corner - Kathryn Freeman 
3. The Hidden Letters - Lorna Cook
4. The Night She Met the Duke - Sarah Mallory
5. New Beginnings for the Surplus Girls - Polly Heron
6. The Shell House Detectives - Emylia Hall

📖 Six books that led me into a life of crime:

1. The Alperton Angels - Janice Hallett
2. 1989 - Val McDermid 
3. The Only Suspect - Louise Candlish
4. Exiles - Jane Harper
5. The Last Dance - Mark Billingham
6.  The Vanishing of Class 3B - Jackie Kabler

📖 Six books that took me by the hand and led me into the past:

1. Mrs Van Gogh - Caroline Cauchi
2. Weyward - Emilia Hart
3. The Marriage Season - Jane Dunn
4. Go As a River -  Shelley Read
5. Henry VIII: The Heart and the Crown - Alison Weir
6. The Fascination - Essie Fox

📖 Six books on my tbr pile that I am looking forward to reading:

1. Murder in the Family - Cara Hunter ( July 2023)
2. Zero days - Ruth Ware ( August 2023)
3. From Now Until Forever - Rowan Coleman ( August 2023)
4. Life and Otter Miracles - Hazel Prior ( September 2023)
5. The Stargazers - Harriet Evans ( September 2023)
6. The Hidden Years - Rachel Hore ( December 2023)

Huge thanks to these fabulous authors for sharing the gift of your imagination with Jaffareadstoo

📚We couldn't do this without you 📚

😻😻😻

📖 Blog Tour ~ The Shell House Detectives by Emylia Hall

Delighted to open the blog tour today

Thomas and Mercer
1 July 2023

Shell House Detectives #1

My thanks to the publishers, author and FMcM Associates for my copy of the book
and the invitation to take part in the blog tour

Welcome to the coastal paradise of Porthpella, where murder lurks among the dunes…

Late one night, a distraught young man knocks on the door of Ally Bright’s remote home on the Cornish coast. But before she can make sense of his confused words, he’s gone—not to be seen again until he’s found the next morning at the foot of the nearby cliffs.

In an instant, the peace of Ally’s beachcombing life is shattered. Feeling responsible for the young man’s fate, she wants to help find answers¬—as does ex-cop Jayden Weston, whom Ally meets at the scene. He shares her certainty that there’s more to the story than attempted suicide. When it emerges that the man is newly released ex-convict Lewis Pascoe, and that Helena, the wealthy new owner of his grandmother’s home, has subsequently disappeared, the tight-knit community of Porthpella is thrown into turmoil.

Driven by their need to know more, the duo decide to investigate the mystery together. Is there a connection between the Pascoe family’s tragic history and Helena’s disappearance? And if there is a killer stalking Porthpella, do Ally and Jayden have what it takes to catch them?

 📖 My Review..

The Shell House Detectives is this author's first foray into the world of cosy crime and I have rather enjoyed getting to know the quirky characters who call this imaginary corner of Cornwall home. 

Ally Bright lives a solitary life in her coastal cottage, aptly named The Shell House. She enjoys her time beach-combing and creating pieces of artwork but since her husband's untimely death Ally's life has lacked purpose. Late one night her peace is shattered by the arrival of an agitated young man asking to see her husband however, wary of strangers, Ally sends him on his way only to discover that, the following morning, the young man has been found at the foot of the nearby cliffs. Drawn into the mystery surrounding this young man, Ally and ex-police officer Jayden Weston start to try to put together several layers of an intricate puzzle which opens up the pretty Cornish town of Porthpella to intense scrutiny.

As with any new series there is a certain amount of scene setting and certainly Porthpella and its inhabitants come to life quite beautifully, so that it quickly becomes a real pleasure to get to know just what makes them call this picturesque place home. The mystery at the heart of the story is cleverly controlled and there were lots of red herrings, and interesting twists and turns, which kept me guessing. The series has the potential to run and run as the partnership between Ally Bright and Jayden Weston has only just begun but I can already imagine them becoming embroiled in further cosy mysteries as the series progresses.

Not only is The Shell House Detectives a cleverly controlled mystery drama, it is also a really lovely depiction of Cornwall and everything that makes this stunning area such a magnet for tourists, artists, and writers. The slightly slow pace of Cornish life is beautifully detailed and both Ally and Jayden fit so seamlessly into the story it feels as though I had been reading of their investigations forever.  I look forward to reading more from this talented author as The Shell House Detectives series continues.

About the Author

Twitter @emyliahall #TheShellHouseDetectives

@AmazonPub

@FMcMAssociates

📖 🎧 Blog Tour ~ The Only Truly Dead by Rob Parker

Audible Original
18 May 2023

My thanks to the Audible UK and Midas for my copy of this book
and the invitation to the blog tour.

The Only Truly Dead marks the thrilling conclusion to the Thirty Miles Trilogy as worlds collide.

The Only Truly Dead is the ultimate fight against corruption from one of the greatest Northern crime authors. The criminal underworld’s power has been gathering, with gangs from two cities that threaten to compromise everything Foley and Madison have fought for. Can these two detective masterminds take on the best of the best? Facing a highly illegal transport plan called The Twilight Express, our partners-in-arms must perform as never before.

The stakes become higher when Foley’s son is kidnapped, and he realises that his corrupt brother is involved. Along with their old colleague, Salix, and an IT whizz kid, they set out to crack this final case against the world’s most vulnerable. Everyone’s careers and families are on the line, after all. But it’s more than that – this is an ultimate fight for justice, played out between Manchester and Liverpool, that will have unpredictable and tragic consequences.

📖 🎧My Review

I was a little worried before starting to listen to The Only Truly Dead as it's the final book in the Thirty Miles Trilogy and as I hadn't listened to the previous two stories I wondered if I would be able to pick up from where books one and two left off. I needn't have worried as thanks to the author's gift for story telling I was soon immersed in this gritty northern crime drama. Placing the story slap bang in the middle of the north west of England has been an absolute treat for me as I know the area well and can picture the locations with an ease which more than does justice to the author's imaginative recreation of Warrington and surrounding districts.

Primarily this is a story of  family corruption at the highest level and those law enforcers who are hell bent on bringing to justice the perpetrators of some truly heinous crimes. The plot never falters or fails to bring to life characters who are on the edge of desperation and for whom there is no moral compass or limit to the depths they will go to to satisfy their thirst for greed, revenge and ultimately retribution. The plot moves along at a cracking pace and the introduction into the story of well loved characters gives the book an emotional edginess as they all know just what's at stake in the quest to rid the north of those who seek to profit from illegal means.

I've really enjoyed listening to The Only Truly Dead and the 7 hours and 3 minutes passed by really quickly, mainly down to the lure of the story but also to the narration which is beautifully brought to life by Warren Brown, whose northern accent sits very comfortably with the story.  The pace is fast and furious, there is much to take in both in terms of plot and malice, and there are some really good baddies who you hope will get their comeuppance. I am sure those who have followed this trilogy from the start will be delighted with this conclusion as there is a definite sense of the tying up of loose ends. The story is believable and I can well imagine the subterranean criminal underworld which is described in such detail that it really brought the places and people to vibrant life.

The Only Truly Dead is fast, furious, gritty and thought provoking, I loved it 😊

About the Author

Rob Parker is a married father of three, who lives in Warrington, UK. The author of the Ben Bracken thrillers, Crook’s Hollow and the Audible bestseller Far From The Tree, he enjoys a rural life, writing horrible things between school runs. Rob writes full time, attends various author events across the UK, and boxes regularly for charity.

He spends a lot of time in schools across the North, encouraging literacy, story-telling and creative-writing, and somehow squeezes in time to co-host the For Your Reconsideration film podcast, appear regularly on The Blood Brothers Crime Podcast, and is a member of the Northern Crime Syndicate.

Twitter @robparkerauthor #TheOnlyTrulyDead

@audibleuk

@midascampaigns

 

📖 Book Review ~ Mr Stoker and the Vampires of the Museum by Matthew Gibson

 

Book Guild
2023

Thanks to Cameron Marketing and Publicity for my copy of the book

London, September 1888. Jack the Ripper roams the streets. A scream rings out from beneath the stage of the Lyceum Theatre…

A young ‘actress’ has been attacked, suffering peculiar bite wounds to her neck; an event that announces a series of strange, vampiric happenings, and thrusts an unwitting Bram Stoker – acting manager of the Lyceum and aspiring author – into the limelight, and the action.

Increasingly perplexed by the unsettling behaviour of his 'Guv’nor’, the brilliant but mercurial actor, Henry Irving, and Irving’s acclaimed leading lady, Ellen Terry, Stoker soon starts suspecting the worst. And then, another attack reveals a vicious Prussian baron, returned to London as a vampire seeking revenge...

📖 My Review..

There's nothing more gothic than the myths and legends which surround Jack the Ripper and Vampires and the author combines both in this imaginative story of Mr Stoker and the Vampires of the Lyceum. When a young actress is found in mysterious circumstances and with bite marks on her neck it heralds the start of some unusual happenings at the Lyceum Theatre, in London, where Bram Stoker is the acting manager.

Moving between locations and with a skilful eye for details Mr Stoker and the Vampires of the Lyceum is an interesting character driven novel which brings to life the theatrical aspects of the story along with a deepening mystery which surrounds Jack the Ripper and the gothic nature of the Victorian era's  fascination for all things macabre.

Mr Stoker and the Vampires of the Lyceum is an intricately written and atmospheric story and whilst it is undoubtedly fiction, the author has used his considerable knowledge of Bram Stoker to bring this fascinating era to life along with the intrigue of a complex historical mystery in an entertaining story filled with intrigue and danger.

About the Author

Matthew Gibson is one of the world's leading scholars on Bram Stoker- the author of Dracula- and the Gothic. Born and educated in the UK, he is now Professor of English Literature at the University of Macau. Prior to this he worked in a number of universities in the UK, including the Universities of Surrey and Hull, as well as the university of Lódź in Poland and the American University in Bulgaria, Matthew is a former visiting fellow at Clare Hall, Cambridge. Currently responsible for curating and annotating material on Stoker for cutting-edge online research resource, Oxford Bibliographies, Matthew is the author of Dracula and the Eastern Question, co-editor of Bram Stoker and the Late Victorian World, and a contributor to The Cambridge Companion to Dracula. Mr Stoker is his first work of fiction. 

Twitter @mattgibsonyeats

@camerontweets