Recent BIG publication day - do you fancy any of these as your next read?

 

Thursday 19th June saw a load of new releases on the shelves of our bookstores. All sorts of subjects, well known authors and new names for us to explore. Here's just a taster with some of the ones which have pinged my radar. Do you see anything you fancy picking up?

First up, a trusty favourite author of mine, Kia Abdullah with her latest book 

What Happens in the Dark.

Description:

Lily and Safa were best friends growing up. Now, Lily is the nation’s favourite breakfast TV presenter and Safa, once a renowned journalist, is reeling from a recent fall from grace.

When news breaks about suspicious bruises on Lily’s body, Safa attempts to rekindle their old friendship. But Lily claims the bruises are nothing to worry about.

And then one night the police are called to Lily’s home. Lily is strangely calm – and a body lies dead at her feet.

Lily pleads not guilty, and then says nothing more. Driven by her desire to give a voice to all victims, Safa begins her own investigation into what happened that night.

But Safa is not prepared for what her quest for justice will uncover.

Next up, another personal favourite, the third of Rob Rinder's series of books set in the world of law and barristers 

The Protest

A world-famous artist. A fatal brush with death.

At a star-studded opening night for the Royal Academy’s celebration of renowned artist Max Bruce, someone is hiding a dark secret.

As the night reaches its climax and Max addresses his admirers, the occasion takes a shocking turn when a protester runs from the crowd and sprays the artist with blue paint.

Max collapses and it soon turns out that the paint was laced with cyanide. Someone has been plotting to kill him.

All evidence points to the protestor – and newly qualified barrister Adam Green is assigned the impossible task of their defence.

But could there be others who wanted Max dead?

Emily Edwards is back with another thought-provoking story which sounds perfect for book clubs

Private Lives

In the sleepy seaside sleepy town of Waverly, Rosie and Seb Kent are happily married. Now that Seb has achieved his dream of becoming headmaster of the local school, their lives couldn't be any better.

Then Abi arrives.

Abi, a young, single mother, has come to Waverly for a fresh start. She plans to reinvent herself and give her children a new life.

Then she sees Seb.

As their complicated hidden past threatens to destroy them both, they try their hardest to keep it contained. But in a small town, secrets don’t stay hidden for long and soon, what should be their private business becomes a very public scandal. How far will everyone – them, their families and the whole community – go to protect everything they hold dearest?

This debut from SM Govett brings us a psychological thriller which has grabbed my attention:

Believe

Natalie has spent ten years trying to get over the twin set of events which changed her life forever.

The first: the moment her boss assaulted her. The second: the moment the jury declared him innocent - and her, a liar.

The memories continue to haunt Natalie, and in her attempts to block out the past, she often wakes up with no recollection of where she’s been – or what she’s done.

So when her husband, Ryan, gets accused of the same crime, Natalie comes perilously close to the edge.

Natalie wants to believe him. But when the body of the young woman who made the accusation is found in the woods near their house, Ryan becomes a prime suspect, and Natalie realises she can't trust anyone - herself included...

Love at First Sight by Laura Jane Williams @penguinrandom #bookreview #loveatfirstsight

 Love At First Sight by Laura Jane Williams

Published by Penguin Random House

Publication Date:19th June 2025

My thanks to Aoifke McGuire-France at Penguin Random House for the invitation to read an early copy of this book in exchange for my thoughts

Book Description:

She’s found the one. He’s just not the one for her.

Jessie doesn’t believe in love at first sight. Until one sunny Saturday in London, a fire alarm in Whole Foods throws her into a stranger's arms. Cal is charming and funny: their chemistry is instant.

Quick-fire flirting turns into the most romantic day of Jessie’s life. But that evening they're forced apart before swapping numbers. Jessie is devastated – has she just lost the one?

After weeks of searching, Cal turns up on her doorstop holding two dozen red roses. It feels like fate.

The only thing is, they’re not for her…

My Thoughts:

Despite having a few of Laura Jane's books on my physical TBR, I have yet to dive into one - the mood reader that I am.  Fortunately the email offer from Aoifke at Penguin Random House came just at the right moment as I was wanting a palette cleansing lighter read in between my darker thriller reads. And what a refreshing read it was too!

Jessie is nanny to Henry, the son of a TV actress Ali. Despite Ali's demanding and slightly diva-ish attitude towards Jessie they get on very well and Jessie loves her job. Looking after Henry barely feels like a job at all as they love each other to bits, spending as much time as they can in each other's company when Ali's work schedule means she can't be around. The unpredictability of Ali's work means that Jessie needs to be pretty much on-call, often changing her own plans to meet Ali's demands. But it's on one of her Henry-free days that Ali has a life-changing moment in her local Whole Foods supermarket. She locks eyes across the aisles with a guy who makes her weak at the knees - a proper Love At First Sight moment, and when the fire alarm sounds it seems that her feelings are reciprocated as the two end up spending the rest of the day together, all thoughts of grocery shopping dismissed. But Fate steps in, meaning that Cal is swept off in a black cab before they can exchange contact details.

The story could be so predictable from here on in, and I suppose to a point it could be considered so. But Jessie and Cal's story is not the only thread to the tale. There are some fabulous characters woven into the story of whether the two ever find each other again. Henry is an absolute delight and I loved hearing him regale his experiences of school days and how Jessie helps him process his feelings about his parents' divorce and other significant events in his young life. The school gate mums figure quite strongly in Jessie's professional life as she decides to bite the bullet and follow her dreams - ones which shouldn't involve Cal but somehow he manages to gatecrash those too!

My favourite character overall though is cheeky chappy local butcher and renowned lothario Leo. He's always there with a compliment and a wink to brighten Jessie's day - and is willing to go above and beyond to help her realise her dreams. Best friend India, and Jessie's dad also add plenty of interest to this book, which proved to be so much more than just a meet cute novel. Family and friendship vibes are strong throughout the book and help Jessie work her way through some challenging feelings and thought processes - she frustrated me greatly at some stages in the book, and could have done with taking some of the advice she regularly gave Henry to help deal with situations which throw multiple emotions into the melting pot of life.

I very much enjoyed this book but felt it just lacked detail in places and could have delved deeper into  the lives of a few characters to make it feel that little bit more satisfying.

About the Author:

Known as the queen of the meet-cute, Laura Jane Williams is the author of fourteen books. Her romantic comedies for adults include Our Stop, The Lucky Escape and Enemies to Lovers, and she has written several non-fiction and teen titles. Laura's work has been translated into multiple languages all over the world. 

Burn After Reading by Catherine Ryan Howard @TransworldBooks @cathryanhoward #NetGalley #BurnAfterReading

 

Burn After Reading by Catherine Ryan Howard

Published by Bantam Books, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers

Publication Date: 10th April 2025

My thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read this book via the NetGalley platform

Book Description:

The night Jack Smyth ran into flames in a desperate attempt to save his wife from their burning home, he was, tragically, too late - but hailed a hero.

Until it emerged that Kate was dead long before the fire began.

Suspicion has stalked him ever since. After all, there's no smoke without fire.

A year on, he's signed a book deal. He wants to tell his side of the story, to prove his own innocence in print. He just needs someone to help him write it.

Emily has never ghostwritten anything before, but she knows what it’s like to live with a guilty secret.

And she's about to learn that some stories should never be told . . .

My Thoughts:

I have enjoyed every one of Catherine Ryan Howard's books that I've read so far. I've just discovered that one of my personal favourites, 56 days, is being adapted for TV ready for 2026 which makes me very happy. I read an ARC of that book and had to wait ages to discuss it with anyone! I still have a couple of her backlist waiting on my shelf to enjoy which, while I want to read them, I don't want to be left without something I know I'm going to enjoy (first-world reader issues!).

I've left writing this review a week or so to allow me time to order my thoughts and I'm still not sure I have done. I did enjoy the book however not quite as much as I have done with the books I've previously read by this author. I've been left feeling like I have a jigsaw piece missing but I can't say why. 

Former world class cyclist Jack Smyth is looking for a ghostwriter to put into words the events which have significantly affected his life. Emily has been approached by her publishers with the task of talking through with Jack what he needs to put on paper, and writing for him in a way which will form a best selling book. She's never ghost written before, but has a two book deal with the publishers which she still needs to complete the final fifty per cent of, else she will have to return half of the advance which she was paid. So basically, write Jack's book for him or pay back thousands of euros to her publisher. Sadly, Emily can see no other options as she does not have the money available to be able to choose. 

The place Emily finds herself in to meet with Jack and work on the book is deserted. It's a whole new town still under construction, but apparently the place they are staying is owned by Jack's best friend and former cycling team mate, Ben. Emily feels there's something very "off" about the whole place and she's pretty sure there was a woman on her flight to the US that she's seen again since she got here. Is she being followed? A feeling which recurs as she takes a walk around the area surrounding the complex they are staying in. Surely she's imagining things, way out here?

The whole vibe of something being off seemed to rub off onto me as a reader - the reasons for Jack wanting to write this book in the first place make for a feeling of mistrust among the characters and in what Jack is reporting as "his side of the story". He feels very much like an unreliable narrator, but why would that be if the whole point of the book is to put the record straight? Catherine Ryan Howard's writing skills certainly portray the discomfort being felt by Emily so in that respect this is a successful novel but whether I can use the word "enjoyable" I'm not sure. I found it to be quite a strange reading experience from start to finish. That said, I didn't dislike the book although I did feel like I blinked and missed a bit near the end and had to go back and reread a section in case I had flicked over a couple of pages by mistake. I hadn't. 

I personally found this to be my least favourite of this author's books, but I won't let that put me off reading the rest of her back list. 3.5 stars out of 5 for this one.

About the Author:

Catherine Ryan Howard is an award-winning, no. 1 bestselling thriller writer from Cork, Ireland. Her novels have been included in the New York Times Best Thrillers of the Year, the Washington Post’s Best Mysteries and Thrillers of the Year and the Sunday Times Best Thrillers of the Year. Her work has been shortlisted for the Edgar Award for Best Novel, the CWA New Blood and Ian Fleming Steel Daggers, and the Irish Crime Fiction Book of the Year multiple times. She is published in 20 languages and a number of titles are being developed for screen. An adaptation of her lockdown thriller, 56 DAYS, starring Dove Cameron and Avan Jogia, will debut exclusively on Amazon Prime Video in early 2026. She lives in Dublin.

What a great reading month May was!

 

So in my last blog post, I reported that May was going well with the quality of books I chose:

Jack Jordan's Redemption had my heart pounding out of my chest, then Jo Callaghan kept me entertained with the latest instalment of her Kat & Lock series, Human Remains. Both of these were firmly in my 5 star rating zone. I was going to say that sadly the rest of the month didn't match up to the same standard, but that would be a misrepresentation of the remaining books as they all came in with strong 4 star ratings. So what were the books which made up the rest of an absolutely great reading month? 

As I left you before, I was battling technology with a BorrowBox version of Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney. 

This was a buddy read and a well-chosen one at that. Plenty to discuss both where the characters were concerned and content-wise, my only regret is that I wasn't able to get a physical copy to read. I think I would have become far more engrossed in the plot of this one, had that been the case. Don't get me wrong, I was absorbed into the world of author Grady Green as he struggled to come to terms with life without his wife. The book begins with Grady celebrating the success of his book. His wife is fetching fish and chips from the local takeaway and is on the phone to Grady when down the phone he hears the screech of brakes, his wife exiting the car...then disappears. The rest of the book moves on twelve months, Grady has writer's block and moves to a remote island to try to get his writing mojo back. But why is it he keeps seeing his wife everywhere? How can this be possible in such a remote location? I enjoyed trying to work out what was going on in the strange community Grady found himself in, and the ending certainly gave up a lot of the answers to questions I had collected throughout the chapters. Was I shocked? A little, but not enough to earn the book a fifth star, and I certainly enjoyed this book far more than the author's previous book Rock Paper Scissors. 

So, what to read after that? What was going to keep the momentum going? Another Jack Jordan book, of course! Just a short story this time, but one that packed a punch. Then another. Then a nice little bombshell to finish off with. A Woman Scorned is one of the author's earlier works - I am working my way through his backlist and have yet to be disappointed. 

It's difficult to say too much about this one without giving too much away, but suffice to say there are 3 main characters and all of them have their own agenda. There's also another character who is very much collateral damage in the overall plan - their role is the common denominator in the whole story. To say much more would definitely spoil the book for future readers, so I'm going to leave it there. I just know you'll feel all the emotions along the way through the story - and I wouldn't mind a follow up instalment please, Mr Jordan. Just to know what happens to people in the future...could be a fun story to return to from a writer's perspective?

To finish the month out, I needed a kindle book I could take on my trip to London. I didn't have space in my bag for a book, so it was time to scroll through and see what took my fancy on my kindle. An author who has made a strong mark on my reading journey over the years since lockdown has been Catherine Ryan Howard. Her books 56 days and The Nothing Man both registered strongly, as well as her book prior to the pandemic, Rewind. I'm comforted to know I still have a few books from her backlist left to enjoy, as I love her writing and will be gutted when I've read them all. My book of choice for my journey was Burn After Reading, the plot of which was very different to anything I've ever read before. All her books have diverse plotlines and this one kept that theme going.  

The background of this story is set in the world of professional cycling. The competitive nature and structure of how the teams work form the foundation of the story but don't overwhelm it. Our main character is Jack Smyth, a name well-known in the cycling world, alongside his team mate Ben who has also been his best friend for many years. After a big crash ended the two men's careers, Jack moved house with his wife to a remote home away from the hustle and bustle. Sadly this home was engulfed in flames, with Jack bursting into the inferno in a vain attempt to save his wife. All is not as it first appears though, and reports soon come out saying that it wasn't the fire that took his wife's life. A year on from the tragedy and Jack feels it's the right time to put his side of the story out there and calls upon a publishing house to provide a ghost writer to help him do this in book form. But will the writer of choice really be the right person to shoulder such responsibility? There's mystery and intrigue all the way as the story unfolds and in Catherine Ryan Howard's signature style, things certainly don't go the way the reader expects. Another strong 4 stars for this one.

As you can probably tell, I have thoroughly enjoyed my books this month. I've covered some quite diverse subjects which is the order of the day at the moment. I'm definitely needing to mood read this year and the benefits seem to be paying off. My days of "reading to order" to hit deadlines are pretty much over I think, so if you're wanting to read publication day reviews every time then I'm afraid I'm probably not going to be the best blogger to follow. There will be the occasional ones thrown in, but only if they hit the right spot at the time. I'll still try to recommend you some decent books though and keep my ear to the ground as to what is coming up soon, mixed in with some older titles which are waiting patiently on my shelves already.

Let's hope June is just as successful!

It "May" be a good month after all...

 After a fifty/fifty reading success rate in April, this month started slowly with a book based in the US - which as regular readers of my blog will know, I tend to struggle with. True to form, Lisa Scottoline's book The Truth About the Devlins was a bit of a battle for me but I didn't hate it. I just find the American police hierarchy more complex than the British one (probably only because I am unfamiliar with it) and some of the terminology surrounding the law firm owned and run by the Devlins was out of my knowledge base too. Otherwise an averagely good read which kept me engaged and trying to work out who was responsible for what in the storyline.

Overall, I gave it a 3.5 star rating compared to the Amazon reviewers rating of 4.3 stars.

Since then though, my reading choices have picked up considerably and I've enjoyed the next two books I've opted to read. You can't go wrong with Jack Jordan now can you? So I finally dived in to a book I've been nudging down the order for a few months: Redemption. Wow. What a tension-filled, action packed ride this was. 

The premise of the story is that eleven years previously, a young boy was the victim of a hit and run road traffic accident out in the desert in America (yes, I know I said I don't like books set in America but allow me a bit of reader's wriggle room on this one!). The perpetrator was arrested, charged and has served his sentence and kept his nose clean ever since. But this isn't justice enough for the young lad's mum, who is hell-bent on making him pay the ultimate price: a life for a life. I was on the edge of my seat throughout this book and even managed to dream up my own idea of where the story was going to go (I was totally wrong!). All the emotions played out throughout the pages of this one, and I gave it a shiny 5 stars at the end (despite having misled myself regarding a plot twist which never came, but I felt could have really worked!).

On a high from this one, I needed a book which was going to match the quality of Jack Jordan's writing and lo and behold, my library reservation of Jo Callaghan's latest novel Human Remains arrived in perfect time. Book 3 of the AI detective series starring Kat and Lock, this is probably one of my most anticipated reads of the year so far. I was just hoping it's as strong as the first two, In the Blink of an Eye and Leave No Trace which I loved.

Suffice to say that author Jo Callaghan has knocked it out of the park once again, with a nice little hint of perhaps a darker side to book 4 right at the end. (No spoilers here, but it's such a tantalising taster of things to come, I think). The only problem now is that I will have to wait such a long time for the next instalment as this one isn't even out in paperback yet! Another 5 star read for May.

So, how to follow two amazing books in a row? Well, my favourite buddy reader and I both found ourselves at the end of our reads at the same time, which so very rarely happens these days. Off to the buddy read list of potential books we went, and found Alice Feeney's Beautiful Ugly to be our favoured choice. 

Now, this has proved to be quite a difficult one for me to read as I am tackling my very first loan from my local library's digital e-reader service. There were zero copies available for me to borrow in the physical book service so digital it must be - but I can't download these to my kindle. Reading on my tablet has proven to be uncomfortable for my eyes and my wrists, and it's distracting from my enjoyment of the book. The story itself is intriguingly mysterious and just my cup of tea but I'm struggling to stay engaged due the format in which I'm reading, which is really disappointing. I have spent this morning (Saturday) trying to locate a physical copy of the book but have failed miserably so onward we battle for now. I'm hoping to access the library copy via my laptop this evening to see if that makes the reading experience any easier. Wish me luck as I'm a bit of a dummy when it comes to using technology! I'll give you more feedback regarding the content of the book itself once I'm further on through - but so far it's reeled me in and is looking promising for a high star rating.

Right, enough waffling from me for now. 

I hope you're enjoying some excellent books to go with the beautiful weather we've had lately and maybe one of the titles I've touched on today might tempt you into your next reading choice.

MIA ... Missing In April

 You may well have been wondering where I was in April (or maybe you didn't miss my ramblings at all!). Unfortunately my health took a hit at the end of March and it's taken a while for me to feel properly back up to speed. And while I have been reading (see my Bookmory calendar below) the post- viral fatigue meant that something had to give, and sadly it was the reviews which fell victim.

Disappointingly, a few of my book choices in April failed to live up to expectations which made my decision to give myself a blog break slightly easier - but the month did end strongly with TM Logan's book The Daughter. So despite the fact that there won't be any reviews of the books which appear on my April calendar, I will summarise the month by saying that if you are wondering which of these is worth picking up it would definitely be The Daughter, a story of a university fresher who is discovered to have gone missing when her mum goes to collect her for the Christmas break. Packed with tension and a twist that I didn't see coming, I gave it a strong 4 star rating.  

Closely following this in the recommendation stakes would be The Search Party by Hannah Richell. It's not a new concept storyline-wise but is packed with tension and suspense and has some interesting character studies. A group of former uni friends get together to celebrate the upcoming opening of one of the couples' glamping business in Cornwall. A shift in their priorities has seen them move away from the capital for a more wholesome life and career path. A violent storm and a disagreement between the friends' children leads to a missing person search and the revelation of a few home truths, amongst other things. Again, a good 4 stars out of 5.

Apart from these two standout books, all the others were pretty mundane 3 star reads for me. Let's hope next month throws up a decent 5 star read. I'll keep you posted!

Books read:    The Last Days of Kira Mullan by Nicci French

                        Sweat by Emma Healey

                        The Search Party by Hannah Richell

                        She's Not Sorry by Mary Kubica

                        The Daughter by TM Logan

Bad Blood by Sarah Hornsley #BadBlood @HodderBooks #NetGalley

 

Bad Blood by Sarah Hornsley

Published by Hodder & Stoughton

Publication Date: 27th March 2025

My thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read an early copy of this book via Netgalley

Book Description:

A FAMILY FULL OF SECRETS

Justine Stone left her small, claustrophobic hometown in Essex eighteen years ago, turning her back on her family and what happened that terrible night.

A HOUSE FULL OF LIES

But when her childhood sweetheart, Jake, is accused of a horrific double murder, Justine's world begins to crumble. And when her brother disappears in the wake of the deaths, Justine is forced to open the door to the past again - a door that she's kept shut for years.

A NIGHT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

What has her mother been hiding all this time? Why does nobody ever talk about the death of her father? And what did her brother know about the couple Jake is accused of killing?

WHEN EVERYONE HAS A REASON TO LIE, HOW DO YOU UNCOVER THE TRUTH?

My Thoughts:

My feelings about this book are quite mixed. As the main character, Justine Stone, is a barrister and the whole storyline is based on a double murder, I was expecting more of a legal thriller. However the plot follows far more of Justine's personal life and events that have led her to the point she is forced to pass over the opportunity to really make a name for herself professionally.

Justine and her mum have an almost non-existent relationship following the events of "that night" - details of which were not disclosed until a substantial way through the book. The mid-section of the story felt quite repetitive regarding this - a bit like "the fishing trip" on the TV program Gavin & Stacey - it's notoriety held in the fact that nobody actually knows what happened - but without the humour. I'll be honest, I was close to the point of not wanting to continue reading but then the book sparked into life once the facts of who was involved (far more wide-reaching than I'd expected) and why came tumbling out of the wardrobe.

Very few characters in this book are likeable. I usually enjoy loving to hate characters, but something this time didn't quite hit the spot. I understood them all by the end of the book, and the loose ends all tied up neatly but I can't go so far as to say I enjoyed the read. I felt I'd gone round the houses multiple times before finally getting to the crux of the story. The second half is far stronger than the first and I wouldn't shy away from reading more of this author's work in future but sadly this one was missing the buzz that keeps me turning pages later than I should. 

About the Author:

Sarah Hornsley works as a literary agent at PFD. After graduating from Durham University with a First Class Honours in History, Sarah worked at a publishing house followed by a short stint in script development before becoming a Literary Agent in 2015. She was named a Rising Star in The Bookseller in 2019. She lives in Essex with her husband and daughters.

Eleven Liars by Robert Gold @BooksSphere @books_gold #ElevenLiars #paperbackbooks

 Eleven Liars by Robert Gold

Published by Sphere

Publication Date: 23rd November 2023

Book Description:

Journalist Ben Harper is on his way home when he sees the flames in the churchyard. The derelict community centre is on fire. And somebody is trapped inside.

With Ben's help the person escapes, only to flee the scene before they can be identified. Now the small town of Haddley is abuzz with rumours. Was this an accident, or arson?

Then a skeleton is found in the burnt-out foundations.

And when the identity of the victim is revealed, Ben is confronted with a crime that is terrifyingly close to home. As he uncovers a web of deceit and destruction that goes back decades, Ben quickly learns that in this small town, everybody has something to hide.

My Thoughts:

Just a few short weeks after finishing the first book in the Ben Harper series, and I'm back in the small town of Haddley with the second book, Eleven Liars. The book begins with our main character forced to abandon his Uber journey due to heavy traffic, walking the final part of his trip home and allowing his mind to wander. This is an excellent chance for the author to recap the previous book but without too much detail - a great scene setter if you happen to pick up this book without having read the first one.  Ben is brought abruptly back to the present moment when he spots the local community centre ablaze, and realises that there is a person inside. Amazingly, this sets up the entire foundation for the whole book - you will understand just how well plotted this is when you turn the final pages.

As with the first book there's plenty going on here, but instead of Ben being the character hit hard by the revelations, it's another prominent character from that first book, police officer and close friend of Ben's, Dani Cash.

The intricate layering of the plot is equally as impressive as that in Twelve Secrets - you know certain people are involved in events but the reveals will have your jaw dropping and the pages turning faster and faster. Forget your planned bedtime - you're going to want answers! Reading this book so soon after its predecessor made the whole experience even more enjoyable as the characters and their back stories were still fresh in my mind and made for shocking reading at some points.

I am so excited to continue this series - instalment 3, Ten Seconds, awaits me among my "soon to be read" pile and I am safe in the knowledge that book 4, Nine Hidden Lives, is waiting in the wings ready for release in April too.

Please join me in reading this series - I promise, if you like a gripping, tense thriller book, you will absolutely LOVE this one!

About the Author:

Robert Gold is the Sunday Times bestselling author of Twelve Secrets and Eleven Liars. Originally from Harrogate in North Yorkshire, Robert Gold began his career as an intern at the American broadcaster CNN, based in Washington DC. He returned to Yorkshire to work for the retailer ASDA, becoming the chain's nationwide book buyer. He now works in sales for a UK publishing company.

Robert lives in Putney and his new hometown served as the inspiration for the fictional town of Haddley in his thrillers.

Twelve Secrets by Robert Gold @BooksSphere @books_gold #TwelveSecrets #paperbackbooks

 

Twelve Secrets by Robert Gold

Published by Sphere

Publication Date: 8th December 2022

Book Description:

A SMALL TOWN. A SHOCKING CRIME.
YOU'LL SUSPECT EVERY CHARACTER. BUT YOU'LL NEVER GUESS THE ENDING.

Ben Harper's life changed for ever the day his older brother Nick was murdered by two classmates. It was a crime that shocked the nation and catapulted Ben's family and their idyllic hometown, Haddley, into the spotlight.

Twenty years on, Ben is one of the best investigative journalists in the country and settled back in Haddley, thanks to the support of its close-knit community. But then a fresh murder case shines new light on his brother's death and throws suspicion on those closest to him.

Ben is about to discover that in Haddley no one is as they seem. Everyone has something to hide.

And someone will do anything to keep the truth buried . . .

My Thoughts:

If you're looking for a new series to lose yourself in, but which hasn't accelerated too far in that you feel like you'll never catch up, then the Ben Harper series from Robert Gold is a strong candidate.  (I use the term "new series" loosely here - it's been out for a while, I just somehow managed to leave it 2 years before diving in! Please don't judge me!). There are 3 books so far, with the fourth due out in April this year so not too huge a mountain to climb, but enough to get engrossed in. And believe me, there's plenty going on here! 

Ben Harper is a local journalist living in his hometown of Haddley, the tragic loss of his teenage brother twenty years ago being the fact that everyone knows about him. Then the more recent loss of his mum brought his family back into the spotlight. Ben is convinced his method of coping with his losses is the best way - boxing all the emotions up in his heart and mind so he can just get on with his life. But sometimes outside influences force you to open these Pandora's boxes, which is when the twelve secrets (as featured in the title) begin to unfurl. There's a lot going on in this book, so you'll need to concentrate on who's who and how they fit in. But I promise it's definitely worth your brain space - especially if you get the opportunity to read the book in larger chunks so you can truly absorb the plot. Please don't let this put you off in any way!

There are plot twists and shock reveals dotted throughout, some excellent cliff hangers and tantalising titbits of information which you don't realise will come in handy to know later. I was totally absorbed while reading this book, the description of the small town drew a vivid picture in my mind so it wasn't just the people but also the sense of place which held my attention.

Book two in the series is already calling to me as I put down this novel - and the knowledge that there are further instalments of Ben's life to read about has me champing to continue Robert Gold's exceptional writing.

About the Author:

Originally from Harrogate in North Yorkshire, Robert Gold began his career as an intern at the American broadcaster CNN, based in Washington DC. He returned to Yorkshire to work for the retailer ASDA, becoming the chain’s nationwide book buyer. He now works in sales for a UK publishing company. Robert now lives in Putney and his new hometown served as the inspiration for the fictional town of Haddley in Twelve Secrets. In 2016, he co-authored three titles in James Patterson’s Bookshots series.

The Quiet Tenant by Clemence Michallon #libraryloan @Clemence_Mcl @AbacusBooks #paperbackbooks #bookreview

 

The Quiet Tenant by Clemence Michallon

Published by Abacus

Publication Date: 11th April 2024

Book Description:

Aidan Thomas is a hardworking family man respected by his local town. He's the kind of man who always has a good word for everyone. He's also a kidnapper and serial killer who has murdered eight women. And there's a ninth, a woman he calls Rachel, imprisoned in a backyard shed.

When Aidan's wife dies, he's forced to move and has no choice but to bring Rachel too. He knows that after five years of captivity, Rachel is too frightened of the consequences to attempt to escape. But Rachel is a fighter and a survivor. And when Emily, a local restaurant owner, develops a crush on the handsome widower, she finds herself coming dangerously close to discovering Aidan's secret.

My Thoughts:

Wow, what a book! My daughter pushed me to pick this one up again - I'd borrowed it from the library but didn't get to read it before the loan period ran out and I had to return it. Then my daughter read it and insisted I find a copy ASAP and dive in straightaway so we could compare notes. (The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!). 

The protagonist is a young woman named Rachel. That's not her real name but the one given to her by her kidnapper, Aidan. He's a well-respected widower and single dad who lives in a small American town. He's also a serial killer.

By the time we meet Rachel she's already been locked in his outbuilding for a number of years, broken and subservient after such a long time under his control. The mood changes though when Aidan is forced to move house, the rules and routines he has enforced for so long are no longer possible. Something stirs in Rachel when she realises at least one other person is going to know she exists. At last there is hope! Can she really find a way to escape his clutches?

The tension and suspense that build throughout this novel are incredible and I found myself thinking about the scenarios playing out in the pages even while I wasn't able to read the book. How would Rachel cope with her new situation? How could Aidan possibly hope to keep her for himself? How he could credibly explain her presence in his home? All were questions lurking in my mind. As much as I was focused on Rachel though, she wasn't my favourite character. That honour goes to Aidan's daughter Cecilia. Each of the main characters in this book has depth but she stands out the most. The naivety of her youth is obvious, however life has already shown her that she will face some tough challenges along the way. She can sense there is something unusual about Rachel; the story her dad has told her as to why she's joined them in their new home doesn't sit right with her, but he's her dad and she knows better than to ask too many questions. The big question for the reader is whether those doubts would be enough to help Rachel escape. Would she realise what the consequences could be? To say this is a nail-biter would be a serious understatement, and I totally understand why I was recommended this book so strongly. It took a while for my heart rate to return to normal at the end! I award as many twinkly gorgeous stars as is physically possible.

To think that this is not only a debut novel, but also it is written in English which is not the author's first language - both facts are mind-blowing! I am so excited for Clemence's next book, Our Last Resort which is due for release in July this year. I'm feeling a pre-order coming on! 

About the Author:

Clémence Michallon was born and raised near Paris. She studied journalism at City University of London, received a master's in Journalism from Columbia University, and has written for The Independent since 2018. Her essays and features have covered true-crime, celebrity culture, and literature. She moved to New York City in 2014 and recently became a US citizen. She now divides her time between New York City and Rhinebeck, NY.

Hope Street by Mike Gayle @HodderBooks @mikegayle #HopeStreet #Netgalley

 

Hope Street by Mike Gayle

Published by Hodder & Stoughton

Publication Date: 6th February 2025

My thanks to the publisher for allowing me access to this title in exchange for my unbiased thoughts

Book Description:

The greatest adventure is coming back home.

Lila Metcalfe is a trainee journalist in Derby and she's very used to being given the stories that no one else wants. So, when her editor tells her that the city's Cossington Park development is being held up by a solitary resident on Hope Street who is refusing to leave, she knows she is going to be the one sent to find out more. And that's how she meets Connor.

Twenty-something Connor is the sole resident of Hope Street and he is not at all what Lila is expecting. And he has a very clear reason not to move: he is waiting for his mum to come home.

My Thoughts:

If there was only one way to describe Mike Gayle's writing it would be a warm hug from the pages of a novel. Every one of his books I've read have caused me tears of happiness whilst being a realistic representation of life in the 21st century.

At the start of this novel we are introduced to Lila, a local newspaper reporter just like her dad before her, but with dreams of bigger things. Her boyfriend lives in London but she's starting to feel a bit adrift from him as their long-distance relationship takes its toll. Perhaps it's time to for her be brave and apply for an opportunity to be a journalist in the capital?

Then Lila's boss tasks her with writing a piece for the local newspaper about the council's plans for redevelopment of an area of social housing, however one stubborn resident is refusing to move. A young man named Connor whose mum Bernie left home one day and failed to return. Despite extensive searches by the police and Bernie's best friend, she's never been located. Connor's reason for staying put: what happens when Bernie comes home and the house - and Connor - have both gone? In his mind, he can't possibly leave.

Lila quickly establishes that Connor has learning difficulties, so she is going to have to build a rapport with him if she's going to be able to research his story properly. Luckily, they take a shine to one another and it's not long before Lila has made him a promise she's not sure she will be able to keep. She's going to find his mum. But can she persuade her editor that this is a story worthy of the pages of the local paper? And how will she explain to Connor if she can't keep her promise?

The book follows Lila as she pulls in favours from all the contacts she can think of in order to locate Bernie. The diversity throughout this book is truly representative of life in the UK - the good, the bad and the downright ugly sides of modern life. Each character is written to perfection, one of the author's absolute strengths.

I can guarantee you'll have tears as you follow Connor's story, but whether they're the ones you'll be expecting will depend on the individual. Some readers may find the story a bit predictable in places, but for me the  storytelling ability of the author cancels out that argument 100%.

Another resounding success from Mr Gayle in my humble opinion.

About the Author:

Mike Gayle was born and raised in Birmingham. After graduating from Salford University with a degree in Sociology, he moved to London to pursue a career in journalism and worked as a Features Editor and agony uncle. He has written for a variety of publications including The Sunday Times, the Guardian and Cosmopolitan.

Mike became a full time novelist in 1997 following the publication of his Sunday Times top ten bestseller My Legendary Girlfriend, which was hailed by the Independent as 'Full of belly laughs and painfully acute observations,' and by The Times as 'A funny, frank account of a hopeless romantic'. Since then he has written thirteen novels including Mr Commitment, Turning Thirty and The Man I Think I Know. His books have been translated into more than thirty languages.

You can find him online at mikegayle.co.uk and on Twitter @mikegayle.

Mr Lucky by Lee Wood #kindlebooks @LeeWoodAuthor #MrLuckyBook #bookreview

 

Mr Lucky by Lee Wood

Published by Nielsen

Publication Date: 3rd May 2023

Book Description:

Detective James Sheldon had it all—a loving family and a solid career—but when tragedy strikes, his life spirals into a dark abyss, leaving him homeless. Just as he hits rock bottom, an astonishing £168 million Lotto win seems like his salvation. But money can’t buy safety, and soon, James finds himself facing threats far deadlier than his own demons.

With danger lurking around every corner, every time James thinks he’s seen the worst, a new nightmare begins. As he fights to pull himself back from the edge, he’s forced to confront his darkest fears and rediscover his strength—or risk losing everything again.

Will he survive the greatest challenge of his life, or will his victory turn into his ultimate downfall?

My Thoughts:

This book fell into my kindle one lunchtime at work. One of those perfect mood reads which just happens to be on a 99p kindle deal just when you're "between books" and have "nothing else to read". (Let's just ignore for now the other gazillion books on my kindle and my shelves at home which are groaning under the strain of unread novels. They don't exist when out of reach and there's an interesting kindle deal going on...).

So, the concept of this book piqued my interest. How could a lottery win of £168 million when you're homeless and down to your last couple of quid possibly make life worse for someone? Enter James Sheldon and his nemesis Dave Rex to tell us more. The opening chapter of this book very much reminded me of the opening scenes in the TV series Gangs of London. Not exactly the same, but giving off very similar vibes. Some really not nice people exacting their own brand of vengeance on those they believe have crossed them. The book tracks James's speedy slide from successful police detective to homeless, jobless loser and the person responsible for this turn of events.

Without sounding callous, I enjoyed reading how the two men interlinked with each other - not even 6 degrees of separation at some points - and the story certainly points at how quickly a person's fortunes can change depending on outside influences and the desires of others. Food for thought when I was sitting in a traffic jam on my way home from work. There but for the grace of God we all go. Scary if you choose to overthink things! Thank goodness there are a few good souls left in this world, and their light shone through during James's misfortunes.

I found the early chapters of the book to be a little clunky in their writing style; a bit "tell" instead of "show", and I felt as if I could distinguish what the author had written in one of their writing sessions before breaking off and starting the next chapter with a new vibe later on. This eased at around the halfway point, and the writing seemed to flow far better from there on in, as if the author had found his rhythm and the story just poured out of him once he'd put all the building blocks into place.

A thought-provoking read which overall I enjoyed - it's difficult to say too much without hinting at where the book ends, and I don't wish to spoil anyone's journey of discovery through the pages. I can quite positively say that I had my money's worth from this kindle deal. A decent story for under a quid, and another author to add to my ever-growing list of ones to watch (he has a further 9 books for me to choose from, so I know where to go when I'm between reads another time!).

About the Author:

Before turning to writing crime novels, Lee enjoyed a long and dynamic career in the music industry. From playing in bands as a teenager to running an indie record label and record shop during the punk rock era, Lee has always been close to the action. He also launched a music collector’s magazine, building it from the ground up to reach a circulation of 14,000 copies a month. Over the years, he’s crossed paths with almost every major ‘pop star’ and fulfilled a lifelong dream by managing The Troggs, one of his all-time favourite bands.

His passion for storytelling began early, with Sherlock Holmes sparking his imagination at just eight years old—and by eleven, he’d already helped the police solve a local crime.

Lee lives in Cambridge and approaches writing as a thrilling new adventure.

The Lollipop Man by Daniel Sellers @AllisonandBusby @DJSellersAuthor #TheLollipopMan #booktwt #bookreview

 

The Lollipop Man by Daniel Sellers

Published by Allison & Busby

Publication Date: 20th February 2025

My thanks to Josie at Allison & Busby publishing team for the very early invitation to read this book ahead of publication. My thoughts and opinions are my own and unbiased.

Book Description:

When a young girl is snatched from a West Yorkshire town there are eerie similarities with a cold case from many years earlier. It can't be the same killer, can it?

Yorkshire, 1994. Eighteen-year-old Adrian spends his days working at the local newspaper, and his evenings in his local pub. But under this ordinary surface lies a haunting story. Aged ten, Adrian was kidnapped by a shadowy figure known as The Lollipop Man, who had abducted three children before. Adrian was the only one to escape.

The Lollipop Man might well have returned when another missing child whips up a media frenzy. Journalist Sheila Hargreaves, troubled with memories of her own involvement in the reporting of the previous abductions, is determined to dig deeper, atone for what she did nearly a decade ago and bring the Lollipop Man to justice.

My Thoughts:

Daniel Sellers has just earned his way on to my 'ones to watch' list with his new book The Lollipop Man. It's an intriguing story of what happened to 'the one who got away' from a kidnapper of young children some 8 years previously. 

Adrian Brown is finding his feet as the newbie in the office of local newspaper. He's basically a dogsbody, watching and learning from the reporters and photographer who he's tasked with ferrying around. But a job comes in that takes him back to the worst time of his life, when everything changed including his name. A young girl has been taken from the garden of a house - surely the Lollipop Man can't be back? The local news team are despatched to find out what is going on. 

Within hours Adrian finds himself to be the centre of a attention, not least from journalists digging into the past, the local constabulary and a random "crazy lady" named Edna Wormley who herself becomes headline news for all the wrong reasons.

Daniel Sellers has created some great characters in this book, with unlikely allegiances made and friendships tested to breaking point. I had all sorts of possibilities running through my head as the plot developed - even asking myself whether Adrian was closer to the Lollipop Man than could possibly be true.

Vivid descriptions of places and characters make this an engaging read, which earns itself a very strong 4 star rating from me.

About the Author:

Daniel Sellers is the author of the Kindle-bestselling Lola Harris Mysteries and is an obsessive fan of Agatha Christie. His crime thrillers are pacy and dark, with as much interest in whydunnit as who. He grew up in Yorkshire, and has lived and worked in Liverpool, Glasgow, Ireland and Finland. Sellers now lives in Argyll in Scotland.

Making A Killing by Cara Hunter #NetGalley @CaraHunterBooks #MakingAKilling #bookreview @Hemlock_Press @HarperFiction #DCIFawley

Making A Killing by Cara Hunter

Published by Harper Fiction/Hemlock Press

Publication Date: 13th February 2025

Huge thanks to the publisher for allowing me early access to this fabulous book via NetGalley.

Book Description:

In 2016, eight-year-old Daisy Mason vanished from her Oxford home.

Her disappearance made the national press and the final culprit shocked everyone. DCI Adam Fawley remembers the case well, he arrested Daisy’s mother for murder himself.

But her body was never found.

Now, forensic evidence at a current murder scene calls the whole case into question. DCI Adam Fawley and the team are brought back in to investigate. And they all have one question on their minds.

What really happened to Daisy Mason?

My Thoughts:

To say there was one overly excited reader here when I opened the notification from Netgalley with the approval for this book is possibly the biggest understatement of 2024! I have followed the Adam Fawley series from book 1, Close to Home, and have pushed it into the hands of many a reader seeking a guaranteed page turner since 2017. But, that said, as it was some 7 years plus since I read that first instalment, I decided a refresher read was necessary before I dived in to book 7. A decision well-made as it brought all the details of the Daisy Mason disappearance back ready for reference as Adam and the team were forced to revisit the case that put both her parents behind bars. There's a handy introduction to the significant characters at the start of the book which, if you have bought the book not realising its background, is really useful. 

The story begins, as with many discoveries of murder victims, with a dog walker stumbling across a shallow grave - but the can of worms the discovery opens isn't immediately obvious. There's a missing uni student in the locality, so it makes sense that first guesses to the identity of the victim point in her direction. Forensic tests on the body and associated evidence soon shift the focus - but what they're saying seems impossible, as the DNA they've found belongs to someone who couldn't possibly have been there: Daisy.

Cara Hunter has used her signature method of including photos, social media posts, newspaper clippings, and emails along the way to portray the public mood toward the case and information being fed between the investigators. I love this method as the reader can put the pieces together themselves alongside the detectives as the story progresses.

OK so it would be most unlikely for the detectives who got things so spectacularly wrong first time around to be quite involved in this new case, but if you can ignore that (which I found extremely easy to do) you will love the journey this book takes you on. It explores not just what happened 8 years ago, but the effects that whole experience had on everyone involved. Which would infuriate Daisy because - as always - it's not all about her!

The ending is fantastic but will annoy some readers as the remaining loose ends dangle some tantalising tasters for possible further instalments in this series. Which makes me very happy - I just hope we don't have to wait another 8 years for the answers!

About the Author:

Cara Hunter is the author of instant New York Times bestselling thriller Murder in the Family as well as the Sunday Times bestselling crime novels featuring DI Adam Fawley and his Oxford-based police team. Of those novels, Close to Home was shortlisted for Crime Book of the Year in the British Book Awards 2019 and No Way Out was selected by the Sunday Times as one of the 100 best crime novels since 1945. Cara’s books have sold more than a million copies worldwide. She lives in Oxford, on a street not unlike those featured in her books. 

Find out more at cara-hunter.com