What has caught my eye this week

This week I have been adding to my TBR shelf like it’s going out of fashion.  Some titles have come up on my Netgalley account and I have been extremely excited to be approved for, others I have been unsuccessful in my request and have been looking out avidly for them as publication dates have arrived. Last but not least are the ones which I have seen other bloggers talking about and I am really keen to read, purely for my own reading pleasure. Here are a few of the titles which have made my list (this is not a complete list, by all means as I am sure all of you will understand!)

Friend request by Laura Marshall (out now)

This had been on my radar for some time, with many reviewers saying what a good read it is. Nearly 30 years after their schooldays Louise receives a friend request on Facebook from someone she would rather stay in the past.  I find the idea of this intriguing and want to know all about the seemingly dark connection between Louise and Maria. After waiting seemingly ages for my library reservation to come in, I was delighted to discover this as a 99p promotion via kindle so downloaded it there and then.  A matter of hours later I received notification that my reservation had arrived at the library – TYPICAL!

When you disappeared by John Marrs (out 7 Sept 2017)

Having read John Marrs previous novel The One recently, I was delighted to receive approval for an advance copy of his new book When you disappeared which is due out early September.  Catherine wakes up one morning and finds her husband is missing from their home and assumes he has gone for an early morning run before going on to the office.  Things aren’t as they initially seem and Simon eventually returns 25 years later bringing a whole load of trouble back to Catherine’s door. Previously released under the title The Wronged Sons, this is exactly the kind of book I enjoy.

99 Red balloons by Elisabeth Carpenter (due out 24 Aug 2017)

My initial thought when I saw this one was that the cover looks good.  Then I read that it’s another missing child story, which seems a common theme at the moment following the success of I Let you go. But something about this kept niggling at me and I will be looking out for this soon.

The Choice by Samantha King (out now on kindle)
    

The concept of this book is truly scary:  Madeleine has 10 year old twins and is confronted at her front door by a someone who tells her she has to make a choice. One of her twins must die, and she is the one who must choose which one. 

How can any mother make that choice? I have downloaded this to kindle to find out what happens next.

Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh (due out 2018)

Last but by no means least on my list of stand out reads is the 4^th in a series from Steve Cavanagh that features Eddie Flynn.  I am actually pleased that this isn’t out til next year as it gives me plenty of time to catch up on the others in the series.  The cover and tagline grabbed me straight off the screen: “The serial killer isn’t on trial. He’s on the jury.”  What more could I possibly need to know about this book before I read it? I have this in my diary for next year already!

I think you will agree with me that there are some great reads out there and coming soon.  I hope I have given you some ideas of what to read – although looking back over them now I notice they are all of a similar genre.  I will try and find something lighter for you next time!

Let the dead speak by Jane Casey

Publication date: 24 August 2017

Book Description:

When eighteen-year-old Chloe Emery returns to her West London home she finds her mother missing, the house covered in blood. Everything points to murder, except for one thing: there’s no sign of the body.

London detective Maeve Kerrigan and the homicide team turn their attention to the neighbours. The ultra-religious Norrises are acting suspiciously; their teenage daughter and Chloe Emery definitely have something to hide. Then there’s William Turner, once accused of stabbing a schoolmate and the neighborhood’s favorite criminal. Is he merely a scapegoat, or is there more behind the charismatic façade?

As a body fails to materialize, Maeve must piece together a patchwork of testimonies and accusations. Who is lying, and who is not? And soon Maeve starts to realize that not only will the answer lead to Kate Emery, but more lives may hang in the balance.

With Let the Dead Speak, Jane Casey returns with another taut, richly drawn novel that will grip readers from the opening pages to the stunning conclusion.

My thoughts:

With hindsight, I am probably not best placed to be reviewing this book as I have found out since receiving it that it is book 7 in a series featuring detectives Kerrigan & Derwent and I am very late to the party.

The story in itself I thought was good, with a cast of characters not all that large but sufficient to provide several suspects, all with a credible motive for murder.  Although strictly speaking without a body we are subtly reminded throughout that it may not even be a murder enquiry.  The dynamic between Kerrigan and her colleagues is interesting but I did feel that I needed to read previous books to really understand why they interacted the way they did and why the new addition to the team was treated with little respect or trust at times.  This however is my failing and in no way a reflection of the writer’s ability.  I would recommend that anyone considering this book reads the previous titles in order to get the most out of it.

The plot weaves back and forth between suspects, drip feeding new information which made me change my opinion of each character in turn.  The Norris family start as good Samaritans, change to be prime suspects, then villains with their treatment of their neighbours which was far from neighbourly - although at times Eleanor Norris made me want to give her a good shake.  A couple of the characters I thought were rather stereotypical but not enough to spoil a good tale.  Nothing prepared me for some of the revelations towards the end of the story though and my predictions of “whodunnit” (and why) at the start of the book were way off track. Clever writing and plenty of red herrings made sure of that, and I will definitely be seeking out the previous books in the series so I can untangle the detectives’ back story.

My thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur books for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The House by Simon Lelic

Publication date 17th August 2017

What if your perfect home turned out to be the scene of the perfect crime?

Londoners Jack and Syd moved into the house a year ago. It seemed like their dream home: tons of space, the perfect location, and a friendly owner who wanted a young couple to have it.

So when they made a grisly discovery in the attic, Jack and Syd chose to ignore it. That was a mistake.

Because someone has just been murdered. Right outside their back door.

And now the police are watching them...

My Review:

Personally I am finding this book really difficult to review without totally spoiling the storyline for anyone. The author has woven such an intricate web of a plot throughout that even early events have huge influence in the overall tale. 

Jack and Sydney are amazed to be the winning bidders on a house which they never began to imagine they would be able to afford.  Syd loves the house, despite the fact that the reason it came so cheap is because the house comes with all the previous owner’s unwanted hoarded possessions.  Jack isn’t so sure and gets bad vibes when they move in, and one chapter in particular had my heart beating out of my chest and not wanting to turn off the bedroom light, wondering whether the book was maybe going to take a more supernatural turn.

From there on strange events start happening in Jack’s work life, and Syd makes an unlikely friendship with a young girl who lives nearby.  At this point in the story I felt like I had a jigsaw puzzle in my hands rather than a book, with lots of seemingly unrelated things happening which really didn’t make much sense.  This isn’t to say that it is badly written – completely the opposite in fact.  It is so cleverly brought together in the last quarter of the book that I realised just how much information had been drip-fed along the way, but in a way that as a reader you have completely mis-used the facts to try and work out where the author is leading you. 

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this tale which includes murder, corruption, abuse of position, safeguarding issues to list just a few. It leaves you thinking about whether justice was done for everyone involved and whether you are comfortable with the result.  I think the conclusion will divide opinion, which is why I would definitely recommend this as a book club choice as there are so many contentious issues to discuss.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Penguin UK for the advance copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

The Betrayals by Fiona Neill

Published 10^th August 2017

Book description:

When Rosie Rankin's best friend has an affair with her husband, the consequences reverberate down through the lives of two families.
Relationships are torn apart. Friendships shattered. And childish innocence destroyed.
Her daughter Daisy's fragile hold on reality begins to unravel when a letter arrives that opens up all the old wounds. Rosie's teenage son Max blames himself for everything which happened that long hot summer. And her brittle ex-husband Nick has his own version of events.
As long-repressed memories bubble to the surface, the past has never seemed more present and the truth more murky.
Sometimes there are four sides to every story.
Who do you believe?
Told through the eyes of four members of the same family, The Betrayals takes an unflinching look at contemporary family life, explores the nature of memory and desire and asks whether some things can ever be forgiven.  

My Review

The first thought that strikes me as I consider my thoughts about this book is the understanding the author has of psychological disorders. She has clearly spent a lot of time reading up on OCD and the effects the condition has on sufferers and those close to them. This is not a light read but in saying that I did not feel overwhelmed by its content. Each character gets to have their say in turn and I felt it was very well written. My feelings towards each character evolved as each person related events from their point of view. This book shows how there is always more than one version of 'The Truth' depending on how you look at the situation. The title is very well chosen as betrayal takes many forms over the course of the book. Overall, a very well researched and excellently written novel, but for me personally a bit too intense which is why I award it a 4 out of 5 rating.

My thanks to netgalley and Penguin Random House publishing for the review copy of this great title.

The art of hiding by Amanda Prowse

Published 18^th August 2017

Wow! Amanda Prowse has done it again.  An emotional story of one family's grief and fight to re-invent themselves, we are introduced to Nina and her boys Connor and Declan as they live a privileged life in a small village. Nina is a stay at home mum and the boys go to private school while dad Finn is the bread winner, the owner of a construction company.  Tragedy strikes when Finn loses his life in a car crash on his way to watch Connor play rugby. With no family nearby, friends and neighbours rally round to look after Nina and the boys in the run up to the funeral. Things change very quickly though when it becomes clear that the charmed life that they have been living is all about to come crashing down around them, with unpaid school fees and the accountant ringing constantly to demand an urgent meeting.  People they considered to be friends turn on them and treat them with contempt once they are aware that the family are penniless and soon to be homeless. In desperation Nina contacts her estranged sister, and arranges to move back to the rundown area of her childhood.  Memories of poverty and unhappiness come flooding back and Nina and sister Tiggy are forced to confront the issues which have driven them apart over the years. Step by step the family begins to rebuild itself, stronger and wiser than before and I have to admit to having a lump in my throat while reading one particular scene towards the end of the book. The children's characters are particularly well written and I am extremely impressed at the author's ability to evoke such a wide range of emotions so successfully.  My one and only criticism is that we didn’t see much of dad Finn at the beginning of the book and perhaps get some hints from his behaviour as to what state of mind he was in. 

This book is definitely going to be on the bestsellers list this summer. 

My thanks to Lake Union Publishing for a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Bed and Breakfast on the beach by Kat French

Published 13th July 2017

A fabulous summer time beach read, a proper feel good tale of 3 close friends who have hit some of life's bumps simultaneously and escape to a little known Greek island escape to lick their wounds. A matter of weeks later they are back on the island having somehow managed to buy a slightly shabby B and B during their vacation. We follow the trials and tribulations (and a few eye opening clauses in the contract which they had missed in the small print) of Winnie, Stella and Frankie as they settle in to the Greek lifestyle with barely a word of the language between them. A stroppy neighbour, a donkey named the Fonz and an ageing rock band in retreat come together with the girls in a fun tale of sun kissed enlightenment. I loved this book and will definitely be reading more of Kat French's work in future.

Thanks to Avon books for my review copy

Beware the cuckoo by Julie Newman

Published 1^st June 2017

Book description:

Two women. One man. A buried secret. They were reunited at his funeral, school friends with a shared past. A past that is anything but straightforward. A past that harbors secrets and untruths. Karen has a seemingly perfect life. An adoring husband, two wonderful children and a beautiful home. She has all she has ever wanted, living the dream. She also has a secret. Sandra's once perfect life is rapidly unravelling. The man who meant everything to her had a dark side and her business is failing. To get her life back on track she needs to reclaim what is rightfully hers. She knows the secret. As the past meets the present, truths are revealed—and both women understand the true cost of betrayal.

My review:

First of all I have to say what a gorgeous cover design! It was this stunning artwork which drew me to the book initially then once I had read the book I understood how the artwork very cleverly linked to the storyline. 

Secondly, I do think there should be a warning to readers who are sensitive to the subject of grooming and paedophilia as this is a strong component of the story.

The book centres around the friendship between 3 young girls who are thrown in to more of a friendship of convenience and circumstance rather than a close bonding.  The lives of them and their families are entwined throughout the girls' formative years as they are tested by peer pressures and the need to fit in with the crowd.  Their friendship finally hits a huge stumbling block when tragedy strikes, and the girls go their separate ways.  Years later, two of the three are once again forced to meet when events and secrets from their youth rear their ugly head.  Years of pent up jealousy and resentment come to a head and the story takes an even more sinister turn.

My only criticism of this book is that the conclusion could have been longer and more detailed to make for a more satisfying finish, hence I award this excellent book a strong 4 out of 5 stars

The One by John Marrs

Published 4th May 2017

Book description:

How far would you go to find THE ONE?
One simple mouth swab is all it takes. A quick DNA test to find your perfect partner – the one you’re genetically made for.
A decade after scientists discover everyone has a gene they share with just one other person, millions have taken the test, desperate to find true love. Now, five more people meet their Match. But even soul mates have secrets. And some are more shocking – and deadlier – than others...
A psychological thriller with a difference, this is a truly unique novel which is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat.

My Review:

I had passed over this book on a previous trip to the library as I don’t think I appreciated what it was about.  It’s definitely not a slushy love story about finding your happy ever after but a very interesting look at what could happen if there was a scientific test to check if your DNA matches with another person.

The author grabbed my attention in spectacular fashion right from the first (okay, second) chapter.  I sat with an open mouth at this point, having had a total curve ball delivered in print.  I was wondering where on earth the rest of the book was going to go having exposed such a big plotline so early on, but with such a bombshell delivered I was excited to know that there was so much more to tell.

The story follows 5 DNA matched couples, all from completely different backgrounds and locations as they decide whether to find their match and if so whether they do indeed find their forever partner.  Their stories are as diverse as their reasons for having taken the test in the first place and the author has a writing style which made me consider whether I would make the same decisions if that were me and if not, why?

I did wonder early on whether I would be able to keep track of all the characters but the chapters are headed with the name of the character from whose point of view we are seeing things from, and the situations are so diverse that even without the headings it is clear who the narrator is.  Every character has their flaws but this just serves to make them more relatable and each of them was well constructed and credible. Without giving anything away, there was only one person who I felt no sympathy towards; the others I could put myself in their shoes and maybe understand why they acted as they did, even if I wouldn’t necessarily agree with their actions. 

I love the concept of this book, and I think the author has handled a lot of sensitive issues extremely well.  As a book club read there are some very controversial subjects to cover which could lead to some interesting discussions. The message I have been left with at the end of this novel is that just because science tells you that something is perfect, we as humans are certainly not.

In my opinion, a 5 star read.