Build Your Own Haunted House Challenge! #BookFun #NewBooks #BookChallenge #Tbr

Good morning everyone and happy Friday. I saw this challenge on the lovely @nothing.beats.a.good.book page and I knew I had to join in as I love doing these!

๐Ÿ•ถ๏ธ Who’s the main character? – Gatsby
๐Ÿ„๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ Where’s Haunted? – The Surf House
๐Ÿ‘ป Who’s The Ghost? – The Woman In The Wallpaper
๐ŸŒช๏ธ What’s The Superpower? – Immortal
๐Ÿ˜ฑ How Does It End? – We Cannot Be Saved

I’m off today and I’m meeting a friend for coffee this morning before going to my mum’s for lunch. I’m then hoping for some quiet reading time before school run and taking the kids to clubs tonight. My daughter is receiving her silver award at Brownies tonight which I’m excited to go watch and then I’m out at the theatre tonight! I’m off to see Pride & Prejudice (sort of) with my friend Francesca which I’m really looking forward to.

I’ve tagged a few people on Instagram who might want to take part and create their own Haunted House but, as always, no pressure.

Have you ever experienced anything supernatural?

#BookReview: Murder On The Marlow Belle by Robert Thorogood @HQstories @IndieThinking #MurderOnTheMarlowBelle #RobertThorogood #MarlowMurderClub #CosyCrime

Book Synopsis:

Verity Beresford is worried about her husband. Oliver didnโ€™t come home last night so of course Verity goes straight to Judith Potts, Marlowโ€™s resident amateur sleuth, for help. Oliver, founder of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, had hired The Marlow Belle, a private pleasure cruiser, for an exclusive party with the MADS committee but no one remembers seeing him disembark. And then Oliverโ€™s body washes up on the Thames with two bullet holes in him โ€“ itโ€™s time for the Marlow Murder Club to leap into action.

Oliver was a rather complicated chap and he wasnโ€™t short of enemies. Judith, Suzie, and Becks are convinced theyโ€™ll crack the case in no time. But things are not as they seem in the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, and the gang will need to keep their wits about them, otherwise a killer may sail away scot-free

My Review:

What a gripping, fun read this was! I absolutely raced through this in a couple of days as I was so enjoying it I couldnโ€™t stop reading.

This was actually the first book Iโ€™ve read in this series, so I enjoyed getting to know all the Marlow Murder Club members and finding out more about their lives.  I really liked the main character Judith who immediately endeared herself with me from the opening pages with her love of doing gardening with a glass of whiskey!  The three members make a great team, each bringing a different element to the investigation which made it very fun to follow them throughout the book.  They are obviously very fond of each other and their attempts to keep Judith safe were incredibly funny at times.

I thought this book was incredibly absorbing and I quickly found that I was unable to put the book down as there always seemed to be something happening to keep my interest.  The investigation involves lots of suspects and as the story continues, we find out more about the secrets each of them are hiding.  I really enjoyed unpicking the events alongside the characters and trying to work out which of them had done the murder.  Some of the events do have to be taken with a pinch of salt as they wouldnโ€™t happen in a real investigation but I think that added a bit of charm to the book and is what made the book so fun to read for me.  

Overall, as you can probably tell I really enjoyed this book and Iโ€™m looking forward to going back and reading the other books in the series.  There were lots of hilarious moments which made me laugh out loud as well as some moments that were incredibly gripping and meant I read far too late at night as I wanted to see what happened.  The ending was brilliant and I hadnโ€™t actually been able to guess who the murder was which I always love.  The book ends on a cliff hanger and Iโ€™m now very excited to read what happens next.

Huge thanks to Indie Thinking for my copy of this book. If youโ€™re looking for a fun, gripping cosy crime book then I highly recommend this one.  

About The Author:

I’m the author of THE MARLOW MURDER CLUB books, set in my hometown of Marlow in Buckinghamshire.The first book in the series has been made into a TV show and can be watched in the UK on the Freeview channel U&Drama and in the USA on PBS/Masterpiece. A second TV series is coming out in 2025 and is based on Death Comes to Marlow, but also includes some brand new murders as well.Before all of this, I created DEATH IN PARADISE for the BBC and have also written four standalone Richard Poole murder mystery novels. I’m really proud of them, and if you like Death in Paradise, I hope you’ll love the books as well.


#BookSpotlight: Human, Animal by Seth Insua @sethinsua @VERVE_Books #HumanAnimal #SethInsua #BBCRadioTwoBookclub #NewBook

Good morning everyone and happy Wednesday. I was very excited to receive a copy of Human, Animals by Seth Insua this week.

It sounds real good and it’s a book I’ve been hearing lots of great things about it from my fellow book lovers. As you probably know it has also just been chosen for the BBC Radio 2 bookclub which intrigues me as I’m always on the look out for potential book club books for the book club I lead.

I’m trying hard to resist the urge to start it straight away as I’ve already got three books on the go so adding a fourth might be too much- though I’ve got horrendous will power so I’ll probably give in!

Huge thanks to Lisa Gooding and Verve books for sending it’s really appreciated!

Human, Animal is out on the 20th February 2025 and you can find out more about the book below โฌ‡๏ธ

Will you be reading any of the books from the Radio Two Bookclub?

Book Synopsis:

A deeply moving debut about one family’s struggle to find connection in a rapidly changing world, Human, Animal is an ode to the wild, a journey of self-discovery and a hopeful path to common ground.

Since the death of his brother, dairy farmer George Calvert has fought to keep the family business afloat. Worried about the future but resistant to change, he refuses to face the reality of his failing farm, his elderly mother’s declining health and his troubled relationship with his youngest son, Tom.

Newly returned from university, Tom isolates himself in his childhood bedroom, guarding the truth of his burgeoning identity.

When animal rights activists break into the cowshed one morning, Tom appears to side with the protesters. As the Calverts begin to unravel, a decades-old secret surfaces โ€“ one that might rip them apart completely, or finally unite them.

Perfect for fans of Pity by Andrew McMillan, Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart, A Town Called Solace by Mary Lawson and The Discomfort of Evening by Lucas Rijneveld.

About The Author:

Seth Insua is an Anglo-Spanish writer & artist.
He was born in Kent in 1989.
โ€‹
After graduating from the University of Oxford
with a First in English Language and Literature,
he spent some time working at creative agencies
in London, before moving north to become a
freelance creative.
โ€‹
His comics have been serialised in magazines,
and his literary fiction is represented by Julie
Fergusson at The North Literary Agency. He has
been shortlisted for the Bridport Prize and The
London Magazine‘s Short Story Competition
and was a semi-finalist in the BlueCat Screenplay
Competition. His debut novel, Human, Animal,
will be published by VERVE Books on 20.02.2025.
Pre-order now.
โ€‹
He currently lives with his husband, David,
between Newcastle upon Tyne and Madrid.

Three For Tuesday: Currently Reading #NewBooks #CurrentlyReading #ThreeForTuesdsy

๐Ÿ“šThree For Tuesday: Currently Reading

Good morning everyone and happy Tuesday. Through carelessness and a bit of laziness I’ve ended up reading three books at once so I thought I’d feature them for Three For Tuesday today.

๐Ÿค Nephthys by Rachel Louise Driscoll
๐ŸงกSo Thrilled For You by Holly Bourne
๐Ÿ’™The Favourites by Layne Fargo

I managed to leave The Favourites at my mum’s as I was showing it to her and then forgot to put it in my bag. I started reading Nephthys but left it downstairs when I went to bed and I didn’t want to get up and so I started So Thrilled For You as it was on my bedside table. So I’ve ended up reading three! I’m actually enjoying all of them so it’s hard to split my time between them.

I’m working this morning which is always fun though I’ve hurt my leg somehow so standing up might be interesting and I’m then hoping for a quiet afternoon/ evening reading.

Q: Where’s the stupidest place you’ve left a book?
A: On The roof of my car! The rubber stopped it falling off so it was still there when I got home ๐Ÿคฃ

The Favourites by Layne Fargo

Everyone thinks Heath Rocha was my first love. He wasn’t. My first love was figure skating.

Katarina Shaw has always known sheโ€™s destined to become an Olympic skater. When she meets Heath Rocha, a lonely kid stuck in the foster care system, their instant connection makes them a formidable duo on the ice. Clinging to skating โ€“ and each other โ€“ to escape their turbulent lives, Kat and Heath go from childhood sweethearts to champion ice dancers, captivating fans with their scorching chemistry, rebellious style and rollercoaster relationship.

Until, at the Olympic Games, as the world holds its breath, a shocking incident instantly destroys their partnership.

Ten years later, an unauthorised tell-all documentary reignites the public obsession with Shaw and Rocha. If Kat wants to own her story, she must break her silence. As Katโ€™s account of her dramatic rise and fall alternates with scandalous interviews from the film,ย The Favouritesย spins into a dance between passion, ambition and what it truly means to win.

Sensational rumours have haunted Kat andย Heathโ€™s every step for years, but the truthย may be even more outrageous than the headlines.

So Thrilled For You by Holly Bourne


An intense heatwave. A high-stakes baby shower. Will it all end in tears?

Nicki, Lauren, Charlotte and Steffi have been friends since university. Now in their thirties, life is pulling them in different directions – but when Charlotte organises the baby shower of hell for pregnant Nicki, the girls are reunited.

Under a sweltering hot summer day, tensions rise – and by the end of the day, nothing will ever be the same. Someone started a fire at the house – and everyone’s a suspect…

Is it Steffi, happily child-free but feeling judged by her friends? Is it Charlotte, desperate to conceive and jealous of those who have? Is it Lauren, who is finding motherhood far, far harder than she imagined? Or is it Nicki herself, who never wanted a baby shower anyway?

In the aftermath, the police put together the facts – but the truth will shock everyone. Even you.

Nephthys by Rachel Louise Driscoll

Sister. Rival. Protector.

Quiet and reserved, Clemmie is happy in the background. Although her parents may overlook her talents, her ability to read hieroglyphs makes her invaluable at the Egyptian relic parties which have made her father the toast of Victorian society.

But at one such party, the words Clemmie interprets from an unusual amulet strike fear into her heart. The beautiful and dangerous glyphs she holds in her hands will change her life forever.

Five years later, Clemmie arrives in Egypt on a mission to save what remains of her family. The childhood game she used to play about the immortal sisters, Isis and Nephthys, has taken on a devastating resonance and it is only by following Nephthys’ story that she can undo the mistakes of the past.

On her journey up the Nile she will meet unexpected allies and enemies and, along with long-buried secrets and betrayals, Clemmie will be forced to step into the light.

Sunday Stack: New Books #Bookpost #NewBooks #tbr

Good morning everyone and happy Sunday. Here are some of the fantastic looking books I’ve received this week!

โค๏ธ While We’re Young by K.L Walther
๐ŸงกOf Thorn And Briar by Paul Lamb
๐Ÿ’› Sweetness In The Skin by Ishi Robinson
๐Ÿ’š Believe by S. M. Govett
๐Ÿ’™ Your Journey Your Way by Horatio Clare
๐Ÿฉต Felix And The Future Agency by Rachel Morrisroe
๐Ÿ’œ Wooing The Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis
๐Ÿ’ŸThe Romantic Tragedies Of A Drama King by Harry
Trevaldwyn
๐ŸฉทThe Darkening Globe by Naomi Kelsey
๐Ÿค Hope Street by Mike Gayle
๐ŸฉถLine Of Sight by Claire Askew

These all look amazing and I’m very excited to read them all soon. The Romantic Tragedies Of A Drama King and Hope Street are for blog tours so I’ll probably be ready then first though I’m very intrigued about a few of them.

I will be doing a few individual post for them next week as I’m hoping to start posting more again. Huge thanks to all the publishers for sending these to me it’s really appreciated.

I’m working today which is always fun as we tend to get a lot of tourists at the shop on a Sunday depending on the weather. It would have been my dad’s birthday today so we’re meeting my mum for a few drinks tonight to remember him.

What are your Sunday plans?

Special Edition Saturday: Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan @SuelynnTan @HarperVoyagerUK #Immortal #SueLynnTan #FantasyBook #SpecialEdition

Good morning everyone and happy Saturday. I don’t buy many special editions anymore as I’ve been trying to be good but I could resist this beautiful book.

I’m a huge fan of Sue Lynn Tan so I’ve been incredibly excited to read this new book from her. The spredges are absolutely beautiful and there’s a fabulous map at the front too which I always love.

Find out more about the book below โฌ‡๏ธ

What was the last special edition you bought?

Book Synopsis:

A deadly betrayalโ€ฆ

When Liyen ascends the throne of Tianxia she vows to end her kingdom’s obligation to the fickle immortals who once protected them.

A dangerous allianceโ€ฆ

She must learn their secrets to protect her people, but to do this she will have to forge a tenuous alliance with the one she should fear and mistrust the most: the ruthless God of War.

A fight for survivalโ€ฆ

A treacherous attraction ignites. But dark forces are closing in and to save her people from an unspeakable fate, Liyen must risk everythingโ€ฆeven her heart.

About The Author:

Sue Lynn Tan is the award-winning author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess and Heart of the Sun Warrior, a romantic fantasy duology inspired by the legend of Changโ€™e, the Chinese moon goddess. Her books will be translated into sixteen languages, and are USA Today and Sunday Times bestsellers.

Born in Malaysia, Sue Lynn studied in London and France, before moving to Hong Kong with her family. Her love for stories began with a gift from her father, her first compilation of fairytales from around the world. After devouring every fable she could find in the library, she discovered fantasy books, spending much of her childhood lost in magical worlds. When not writing or reading, she enjoys exploring the hills, lakes, and temples around her home.

Find her on Instagram or Twitter @SuelynnTan, or on her website http://www.suelynntan.com .

Books Out This Week! #NewBooks #OutNow

Good morning everyone and happy Friday. There are some fabulous books out this week so I thought I’d feature a few of them today.

Out of these I’ve read Water Moon and The Dragon Cafe both of which I really recommend. I reviewed it on my blog last week if you’d like to read my full review. I’m currently reading Murder On The Marlow Belle and So Thrilled For You both of which I’m really enjoying so far.

Thanks so much to all the lovely publishers for sending me these proof copies it’s really appreciated.

Find out more about the books below โฌ‡๏ธ

Have you read any of these? Are any on your radar?

An Ethical Guide To Murder by Jenny Morris


If you had the power between life and death, what would you do?
ย 
Thea has a secret.
She can tell how long someone has left to live just by touching them.
Not only that, but she can transfer life from one person to another โ€“ something she finds out the hard way when her best friend Ruth suffers a fatal head injury on a night out.
Desperate to save her, Thea touches the arm of the man responsible when he comes to check if Ruth is all right. As Ruth comes to, the man quietly slumps to the ground, dead.

Thea realises that she has a godlike power: but despite deciding to use her ability for good, she canโ€™t help but sometimes use it for her own benefit.
Boss annoying her at work? She can take some life from them and give it as a tip to her masseuse for a great job.
Creating an โ€˜Ethical Guide to Murderโ€™ helps Thea to focus her new-found skills.
But as she embarks on her mission to punish the wicked and give the deserving more time, she finds that it isnโ€™t as simple as she first thought.

How can she really know who deserves to die, and can she figure out her own rules before Ruthโ€™s borrowed time runs out?

So Thrilled For You by Holly Bourne

An intense heatwave. A high-stakes baby shower. Will it all end in tears?

Nicki, Lauren, Charlotte and Steffi have been friends since university. Now in their thirties, life is pulling them in different directions – but when Charlotte organises the baby shower of hell for pregnant Nicki, the girls are reunited.

Under a sweltering hot summer day, tensions rise – and by the end of the day, nothing will ever be the same. Someone started a fire at the house – and everyone’s a suspect…

Is it Steffi, happily child-free but feeling judged by her friends? Is it Charlotte, desperate to conceive and jealous of those who have? Is it Lauren, who is finding motherhood far, far harder than she imagined? Or is it Nicki herself, who never wanted a baby shower anyway?

In the aftermath, the police put together the facts – but the truth will shock everyone. Even you.

BIG LITTLE LIES meets EXPECTATION in the incredible new novel from Holly Bourne – it’s the book you’ll want to read three times, then give to every woman in your life.

A Serial Killer’s Guide To Marriage by Asia Mackay

Hazel and Fox are an ordinary married couple with a baby. Except for one small thing: they’re ex-serial killers.

They had it all. An enviable London lifestyle, five-star travels, and plenty of bad men to kill. Not many power couples know how to get away with murder.

Then Hazel fell pregnant and they gave it all up for life in the suburbs; dinner parties instead of body disposal.

But recently Hazel has started to feelย thatย itch again. When she kills someone behind Fox’s back and brings the police to their door, she must do anything she can to protect her family.

This could save their marriage – unless it kills them first.

The Baby Dragon Cafe by A.T Qureshi

When Saphira opens her cafe welcoming pet baby dragons, she isnโ€™t expecting it to be quite so hard to keep the fires burning. But her young dragon patrons keep incinerating her furniture, which means selling coffee isnโ€™t covering all her costs.

Local heart-throb Aiden is a gardener, though his disobedient baby dragon is a major distraction from his beloved plants. However, Saphiraโ€™s cafรฉ gives him an idea โ€“ heโ€™ll ask Saphira to train his dragon, and pay her enough to keep the cafe afloat.

They know theyโ€™re the answer to each otherโ€™s problems, but happy-go-lucky Saphira and gorgeous-but-grumpy Aiden couldnโ€™t be more different. Can they find a way to work together โ€“ and maybe even ignite some fire of their own?

The Favourites by Layne Fargo

BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick

Everyone thinks Heath Rocha was my first love. He wasn’t. My first love was figure skating.

Katarina Shaw has always known sheโ€™s destined to become an Olympic skater. When she meets Heath Rocha, a lonely kid stuck in the foster care system, their instant connection makes them a formidable duo on the ice. Clinging to skating โ€“ and each other โ€“ to escape their turbulent lives, Kat and Heath go from childhood sweethearts to champion ice dancers, captivating fans with their scorching chemistry, rebellious style and rollercoaster relationship.

Until, at the Olympic Games, as the world holds its breath, a shocking incident instantly destroys their partnership.

Ten years later, an unauthorised tell-all documentary reignites the public obsession with Shaw and Rocha. If Kat wants to own her story, she must break her silence. As Katโ€™s account of her dramatic rise and fall alternates with scandalous interviews from the film,ย The Favouritesย spins into a dance between passion, ambition and what it truly means to win.

Sensational rumours have haunted Kat andย Heathโ€™s every step for years, but the truthย may be even more outrageous than the headlines.

Murder On The Marlow Belle by Robert Thorogood

Verity Beresford is worried about her husband. Oliver didnโ€™t come home last night so of course Verity goes straight to Judith Potts, Marlowโ€™s resident amateur sleuth, for help. Oliver, founder of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, had hired The Marlow Belle, a private pleasure cruiser, for an exclusive party with the MADS committee but no one remembers seeing him disembark. And then Oliverโ€™s body washes up on the Thames with two bullet holes in him โ€“ itโ€™s time for the Marlow Murder Club to leap into action.

Oliver was a rather complicated chap and he wasnโ€™t short of enemies. Judith, Suzie, and Becks are convinced theyโ€™ll crack the case in no time. But things are not as they seem in the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, and the gang will need to keep their wits about them, otherwise a killer may sail away scot-free โ€ฆ

And He Shall Appear by Kate Van Der Borgh

In the hallowed halls of Cambridge, a dangerous obsession takes holdโ€ฆ

When a young man arrives in Cambridge as a first-year student, he finds himself an outsider. Thereโ€™s the punting and the politics, the wine and the waistcoats, all seemingly familiar to everyone but him. Then he falls under the spell of Bryn Cavendish.

A notorious party boy and skilled magician, Bryn is magnetic. To be in his circle is to revel in clouds of ecstasy, untouched by the rules. To be exiled is to haunt the peripheries of campus life like a ghost.

As the academic year intensifies and Brynโ€™s magic tricks become more sinister, one question lingers. Is Brynโ€™s charisma the source of his influence or does he wield a much darker and more dangerous power?

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao

Would you rewrite your destiny if it meant losing a part of your past?

On a backstreet in Tokyo lies a pawnshop, but not everyone can find it.

Most will see only a cosy ramen restaurant. And just the chosen ones โ€“ those who are lost โ€“ will find a place to pawn their life choices and deepest regrets.

Hana Ishikawa wakes on her first morning as the pawnshop’s new owner to find it ransacked, the shopโ€™s most precious acquisition stolen and her father missing. And then into the shop stumbles a charming stranger, quite unlike other customers. For he offers help, instead of seeking it.

Together, they must journey through a mystical world to find Hanaโ€™s father and the stolen choice โ€“ through rain puddles, hitching rides on paper cranes, across the bridge between midnight and morning and through a night market in the clouds.

But as they get closer to the truth, Hana must reveal a secret of her own โ€“ and risk making a choice she will never be able to take back.

Step into the captivating and romantic fantasy novel that will sweep you away on an unforgettable adventure – perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli, Erin Morgenstern andย Before the Coffee Gets Cold!

#BookReview: The Three Lives Of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan @BloomsburyBooks #TheThreeLivesOfCateKay #KateFagan

Book Synopsis:

Who is Cate Kay?

Cate Kay is the most famous author on the planet. But it’s just a name. Somehow, despite her bestselling novels and the record-breaking film franchise, the writer has remained completely anonymous.

Anne Marie Callahan is the name nobody knows. Only the people she left behind. And Annie knows there’s no one there anymore who could connect the dots between the girl who ran away all those years ago and the famous novelist.

If you asked, she’d say her name was Cass Ford. That’s what her barista shouts each morning. And it’s how she introduces herself to the woman she’ll eventually call the love of her life.

Three names, three lives. But Cate Kay is finally ready to tell you who she really is.

And when the truth is out, will everyone’s favourite novelist hold on to her place in our hearts or are some betrayals impossible to forgive?

Kate Fagan is the author of several New York Times bestselling non fiction books. Her debut novel is an astounding achievement. The Three Lives of Cate Kay explores the cost of ambition, the longings of first (and second and third) love, and how it’s never too late to go home.

My Review:

The Three Lives Of Cate Kay is an absorbing, intriguing read which Iโ€™ve continued to think aboutย and unpick long after Iโ€™ve finished reading. ย Itโ€™s going to be a difficult book to review as I donโ€™tย want to give anything away. ย 

The story is told from multiple points of view with each characterโ€™s name clearly stated at the top of each chapter.  Out of all the characters Annie was my favourite followed closely by Amanda as I loved reading about the wonderful friendship the two of them has.  I also had a soft spot for Ryan as she came across as a very sympathetic character who I often just wanted to reach into the book and hug as she seemed so lost.  

The book has a great pace to it making it easy for the reader to become absorbed into the story.  Each character describes a little bit more about Cateโ€™s life allowing the reader to slowly piece together what has happened to Cate throughout her life.   The slow reveal of what happened was tantalisingly done and helped create a lot of tension in the book as I was desperate to find out what was going to happen next.   As a reader I loved the book inside a book element of the story, particularly trying to unravel which parts of Cateโ€™s book were based on her life.  I actually loved the sound of The Very Last and wish that it actually existed as Iโ€™d love to read it as it sounded fascinating.

The ending was lovely and I was pleased that the author included the last chapter as it was nice to see what happened next for Annie.  

If youโ€™re after a gripping, thought provoking read that will stay with you then I highly recommend this one.  Iโ€™m hoping to do it as a book club read as I think there would be lots to discuss.

About The Author:

Kate Fagan is an Emmy Awardโ€“winning journalist and the #1 New York Times bestselling author of What Made Maddy Run, which was a semi-finalist for the PEN/ESPN Award for literary sports writing. She is also the author of three additional nonfiction titles, a former professional basketball player, and spent seven years as a journalist at ESPN. Kate currently lives in Charleston with her wife, Kathryn Budig, and their dog, Ragnar.

#BookReview: Death In The Arctic by Tom Hindle @TomHindle3 @PenguinUKBooks @IndiesAbout @centurybooksuk #DeathInTheArctic #TomHindle

Book Synopsis:

A frozen wilderness.


A killer in the skies.

When aspiring travel writer Chloรฉ Campbell is invited aboard a luxury airship flying to the North Pole, she thinks sheโ€™s bagged the opportunity of a lifetime.

But she hasnโ€™t had long to admire the dazzling icy views before a fellow passenger is found dead in their cabin.

Trapped at the top of the world, the group agrees a tragic accident has occurred. But as the hours tick by, fear turns to doubt.

It seems everyoneโ€™s a suspect.

And it isnโ€™t long before the passengers begin to turn on each other . . .

My Review:

Death In The Arctic is a gripping, locked room murder mystery which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Firstly I loved the unusual setting of an airship in this book which helped add a different element to the story.  I really enjoyed discovering more about this unusual form of transportation and finding out how it works.  I ended up spending hours on the internet searching it up and discovering, much to my delight, that it is actually making a come back and is every bit as decedent as described in the book.  I actually wondered if Iโ€™d fallen through a time loop whilst looking at one webpage as not only did it say flights were currently suspended but the head chief was also called Jasper which is one of the characters in the book.

The book is told through the point of view of multiple different characters which was really fascinating as everyone had something to hide.  It was very intriguing to follow them all on their flight as we find out more about them and all their secrets.  They are mainly a dislikeable bunch, though I did have a soft spot for Chloe and Ben who I thought made a great team together.  There were quite a few that I loved to hate and I kept reading, hoping that they would get their comeuppance in the end. I did struggle to keep all the characterโ€™s straight at the beginning as we are introduced a quite a few at once.  There is a passenger list at the front of the book to help but I wonder it would be better if the characterโ€™s job title or role was put onto it as well as I kept getting confused between a few of them.  

I thought the book was very gripping and I quickly found myself drawn into the story.  Iโ€™ve got a fascination with the arctic so I loved the vivid way the author described the views from the windows, especially the different colours the sky creates there which sounded so beautiful.  There were lots of twists that kept me guessing and I found myself reading faster towards the end as everything is revealed.  Unusually for me I didnโ€™t guess who the murder was which I always love.  I think I might be in the minority with this though as Iโ€™ve read a few reviews where people say they guessed it fairly early on , so maybe Iโ€™m losing my touch! The ending was brilliant and although I wish that some of the characters had a different outcome maybe that wouldnโ€™t have made it so realistic.  Itโ€™s a book Iโ€™ll be recommending to crime or mystery fans and one Iโ€™m hoping to do for our book club as I think theyโ€™d be lots to discuss.  

Huge thanks to our lovely penguin rep Phoebe for sending me a copy of this book. If you are after a gripping crime book in an unusual setting then I highly recommend this one .  


About The Author:

Tom Hindle hails from Leeds and lives in Oxfordshire with his wife, a cat and two surprisingly cunning tortoises. He is the author of A Fatal Crossing, The Murder Game and Murder on Lake Garda – which were inspired by masters of the crime genre such as Agatha Christie and Anthony Horowitz.

Tom is hard at work on his next murder mystery.

Reading Update: Last, Now, Next #CurrentlyReading #NewBooks

Good morning everyone and happy Monday. Here is a little reading update of what I’ve been reading recently!

โค๏ธLast – The Three Lives Of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan

I’ve just finished The Three Lives Of Cate Kay and I really enjoyed it. It was a little slow in the middle but I did enjoy seeing how everything worked out. Full review coming later this week.

๐ŸงกNow – The Favourites by Layne Fargo & A Language Of Dragons by SF Williamson

I’ve been impatient to read both of these as I’ve been hearing lots of great things about them. I think they’re different enough from each other that I’m going to attempt to read them together. I think I have A Language Of Dragons on audiobook so I might end up listening to it instead.

๐Ÿ’›Next – So Thrilled For You by Holly Bourne

I’m then hoping to read So Thrilled For You by Holly Bourne which is another book I’ve been hearing great things about. I’ve read a few of her YA books so I’m intrigued to read an adult fiction book from her

I’m off today which I’m looking forward to as I’m still feeling very tired. I need to sort some laundry and tidy up the kids rooms from the weekend but then I’m curling up with my blanket for some reading time.

What books are you hoping to read this week?