When intruders enter a radio station and kill a famed presenter it sets in motion a chain of events that will push the Metropolitan Police to their limits.
Officers Hayes and Miller are on the trail of a suspect and when Eric Helsey is detained, the police realise they have arrested the wrong man.
As the case grows more complicated with each revelation, and the body count rises, they find themselves investigating a series of crimes, all of which may be linked.
But what ties the murder of the radio host with a Turkish casino owner and the killing of two employees at a valve factory?
Hayes and Miller find themselves in a race against time to get to the truth before more people are hurt…
The Hard Way is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the links below.
The Hard Way is a very fast paced, gripping crime novel from a new author for me. Its going to be a hard one to review as I really don’t want to give anything away.
Firstly i always love books that feature believable characters that you can get behind and believe in. So I loved this book as it did just that and included some brilliant back story for them which I always enjoy!
The plot line was really fast paced and fantastically written with lots going on so the book was hard to put down. There were lots of different threads going on at once which just added to my enjoyment as it was interesting to see how everything came together. The many twists and turns kept me guessing until the end and I was taken by surprise with the ending which I always like. I’d definitely like to read more from this author in the future.
Huge thanks to Zoe from Zooloo tours for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Duncan Brockwell is a full time dental technician from West Sussex, an avid gardener and part-time mixologist, meaning he loves mixing cocktails of an evening for his wife, Beks. He writes crime thrillers, horrors and romantic dramas. His first book, The Southern Belles was self-published under his pseudonym, Katie Simpkins, in July 2019, and has received positive feedback. Since then, he has signed a 3 book deal with Bloodhound Books for his Nasreen Maqsood series, the first of which will be released on Wednesday 8th July 2020, called No Way Out. Subsequent instalments, Bird of Prey and Bad Blood will be released on September 1st and November 9th respectively. On January 4th, his birthday, and the day the story starts on, Mr Invisible will be released by Bloodhound, and will be his first standalone novel. On the 19th April 2021, Bloodhound Books will be publishing his fifth novel, The Hard Way, a crime thriller set in London about two female detectives investigating a triple murder. The case takes them somewhere they never dreamed possible. On July 1st 2021, Spellbound Books are publishing Duncan’s first contemporary supernatural fantasy novel, Oakwood Falls, followed by his first horror, Hellingly in October. Follow him at: Facebook: DC Brockwell Author Instagram: @dcbrockwell Twitter: @dcbrockwell1
Dressed in pajamas covered with stars, the little girl’s body is perfectly still, her arms folded neatly over her chest. The wildflowers decorating her hair scatter across the grass in the sharp breeze. Her lips are parted slightly, as if to whisper goodnight for the very last time…
When twelve-year-old Holly Mitchell’s fragile little body is found on the steps of a mountainside church in the small town of Denton, a doll made from pine cones clasped tightly to her chest, Detective Josie Quinn rushes to attend the scene. She knows this little girl’s angelic face, her mother had offered Josie help when she’d needed it most.
Searching the girl’s house, Josie is devastated to find that Holly’s mother is dead too, and her little sister is missing. But why has this family home been stripped of all sharp objects? Re-tracing her steps, Josie finally finds a secret hiding place with Holly’s sister inside, terrified, but alive. Moments later, anotherdoll made of twigs turns up.
Certain the killer is close by, Josie holds the little girl tight and tries to coax answers from her, but it’s clear the pile of burnt photographs and letters found in the greenhouse is her only lead. No one is safe until Josie can figure out the dangerous secret that has escaped this remote family home.
Just when Josie is finally closing in on the killer, the unthinkable happens, a tragedy that shakes her to her very core. And on the windshield of her car: a third wooden doll. Could stopping this twisted monster from taking more innocent lives come at the ultimate price for Josie?
An absolutely gripping rollercoaster ride of a crime thriller from an Amazon, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine.
Hush Little Girl is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using one of the links below.
I’ve been a big fan of this author since her first book and in my opinion she keeps getting better and better.
This book was no exception and I quickly found myself absorbed into the story. I always love how the author gives the reader access to the investigation so that I often felt like I was working alongside them. The pace was very fast as I’ve come to expect with these books and I found the book very hard to put down at times as there always seemed to be something happening to keep me very intrigued.
I think I went through every emotion possible whilst reading and there were definitely some heartbreaking moments which I found very hard to read at times. There are some interesting themes discussed in this book which I found very interesting, especially as I hadn’t known much about them before. I hope that this book helps spread some awareness in real life.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the next in the series. Josie has to be one of my favourite police characters and I really felt for her in this book as she seemed very changed by the end. It will definitely be interesting to see what happens next.
Huge thanks to Noelle from Bookouture for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book via netgalley. If you’re looking for a new crime thriller series I’d definitely recommend this one!
About The Author:
Lisa Regan is an Amazon bestselling suspense novelist. Her titles include Finding Claire Fletcher, Losing Leah Holloway, Hold Still, Cold-Blooded, Kill For You, and Vanishing Girls. Lisa is a member of Sisters In Crime, International Thriller Writers, and Mystery Writers of America. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Master of Education Degree from Bloomsburg University. She lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the U.S. with her husband, daughter, and Boston Terrier named Mr. Phillip.
Good morning everyone I’m very excited to be sharing a Guest Post from one if my favourite authors Leigh Russell today. Leigh’s new book is slightly different from her previous ones as it is dystopian fiction rather than a crime book. It sounds really interesting and I can’t wait to read it in the near future.
Before I share my guest post with you, here is a little bit about the book.
Book Synopsis:
In a world where food is scarce, the government rules and ordinary people only exist to serve, can there ever be happiness?
As a child, living in a post-apocalyptic world, the only person Rachel can rely on is her mother. But when her mother is killed, Rachel is initiated into The Programme where selected young girls are medicated to make them fertile.
Fearing for her future, Rachel escapes. But freedom comes at a price and Rachel must navigate through a terrifying landscape of persecution to survive.
What is on the other side of the city wall?
Will the repressive government hunt her down?
One thing is certain. Rachel’s world will never be the same again…
Rachel’s Story is available in ebook and paperback now. The ebook is currently the fantastic price of 99p. You can purchase your copy of this book via the links below.
Just over a year ago, few of us foresaw a pandemic that would effectively bring the world to a standstill. Perhaps if we had worried more about the possibility of such a calamity we might have been able to avoid it, or at least limited the devastation, but we were preoccupied with other issues.Â
When the virus struck, with such deadly effect, there was discussion among members of the writing community about how to deal with it in our books. Some writers felt they couldn’t pretend it didn’t exist. Along with many others, I made a conscious decision to completely ignore coronavirus in my crime novels.
Fiction for me is an escape from reality, and the pandemic was the last thing I wanted to be thinking about when writing. So my detective, Geraldine Steel, continues to investigate murders without any need for social distancing, masks, or singing happy birthday while washing her hands. She lives in a parallel pandemic-free universe, which was the right decision for her. Readers of my crime novels want to read about fictional murder investigations, not about sickness in the real world. In the words of TS Eliot, ‘Humankind cannot bear very much reality.’
But writers find inspiration all sorts of unlikely places and the pandemic started me thinking, in spite of my decision to ignore it in my writing, What might happen if this new virus evolved to attack not just humans but all life forms? Of course that would ultimately prove self destructive for the virus, if it killed off all possible hosts, but the idea was sufficiently disturbing to capture my imagination.
So a vision of a dystopian future emerged in my mind, a post-apocalyptic world where food is scarce, and the government use fear and deprivation to maintain absolute power over the people. This is the world in which Rachel grows up. As a child, she is initiated into The Programme where selected young girls are medicated to make them fertile, and conditioned to obey. Fearing for her future, Rachel escapes, only to discover that freedom comes at a price and she must navigate her way through a terrifying landscape of persecution if she is to survive.
Dystopian literature offers us more than fantasies about possible future worlds. As with other novels in the genre, Rachel’s Story invites the reader to think about our own world today, and the direction in which we could be heading, as individuals, as a society, and as a species. In so doing, Rachel’s Story also looks at issues including women’s role in society, the exercise and abuse of power, love and betrayal, and addiction.
I found the idea for Rachel’s Story captivating, but launching a dystopian novel was challenging for someone known as a crime writer. Having written twenty-three crime novels, I was afraid my readers might be disappointed by my decision to try something new. So far I am absolutely thrilled that reviews have been very positive. I can only hope that when the devastation caused by coronavirus slides into history, people will continue to read all my books, including dystopian story that was in part inspired by the real twenty-first century pandemic.Â
Thanks for the interesting guest post Leigh. I can’t wait to read the book now.
About The Author:
Leigh Russell has sold over a million crime fiction novels, and writes full time. Published in English and in translation throughout Europe and in China, her Geraldine Steel and Ian Peterson titles have appeared on many bestseller lists, and reached #1 on kindle. Leigh’s work has been nominated for several major awards, including the CWA New Blood Dagger and CWA Dagger in the Library, and her books have been optioned by major television production company Avalon Television. She chairs the CWA Debut Dagger Award, and is a Royal Literary Fellow. Leigh writes the Lucy Hall mystery series published by Thomas and Mercer. Find out more about Leigh on her website http://www.leighrussell.co.uk where news, reviews and interviews are posted, with a schedule of Leigh’s appearances. You can contact Leigh via her website, where you can subscribe to her newsletter and follow her on Twitter and facebook.
Good morning everyone and welcome to another Music Monday. Firstly huge apologies for not doing this feature for a couple of weeks I’ve had the kids off school and things have been rather hectic.
Today I’m featuring the lovely Bethan Le Mas and her new album One Man’s Crust Is Another Good Woman’s Seed. I met Bethan through, you’ve guessed it, twitch and she quickly became one of the regular streams I visit. Her streams are always great fun as they often end up with us talking about Harry Potter or books as Bethan is an avid reader.
If you would like to follow Bethan on twitch or on social media, including the book review account she’s started on Instagram, then please click on of the buttons below!
Bethan can play guitar, piano, cello and harp which she plays regularly on stream as well as in her music. Her music is really chilled folk music which is really relaxing to listen to. Her lyrics are always very clever and I always enjoy listening to them.
Below are two of my favourite songs from her new album but you can listen to the whole album via the links below.
Bethan’s new music and all the artists previously featured on Music Monday are all available on a special playlist I have created. You can listen to it via the link below and if you like it why not give it a follow!
Good morning everyone and happy Sunday. I recently had a birthday, my second in lockdown and I received lots of book vouchers from friends and families. I thought I’d share today what books I had decided to buy. Many thanks to all the lovely people who gave me vouchers it was much appreciated!
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
As frequent visitors to my blog will know I’m a big fan of historical fiction that’s set in the second world war especially if it involves a dual timeline mystery so this book instantly appealed to me. I was a big fan of this author’s Empress of Rome books but I’ve not read any of her more recent books so I’m very excited to read.
Book Synopsis:
1940, Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire.
Three very different women are recruited to the mysterious Bletchley Park, where the best minds in Britain train to break German military codes.
Vivacious debutante Osla has the dashing Prince Philip of Greece sending her roses – but she burns to prove herself as more than a society girl, working to translate decoded enemy secrets. Self-made Mab masters the legendary codebreaking machines as she conceals old wounds and the poverty of her East-End London upbringing. And shy local girl Beth is the outsider who trains as one of the Park’s few female cryptanalysts.
1947, London.
Seven years after they first meet, on the eve of the royal wedding between Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, disaster threatens. Osla, Mab and Beth are estranged, their friendship torn apart by secrets and betrayal. Yet now they must race against the clock to crack one final code together, before it’s too late, for them and for their country.
If you loved The Crown, don’t miss this riveting historical novel!
I’ve always loved books that involve creepy old houses and spirits so this book really intrigued me. I had read some amazing reviews from fellow bloggers too which was enough for me to buy myself a copy (I’m easily lead). I love the pretty blue and gold on the cover of this book it’s really beautiful.
Book Synopsis:
She doesn’t exist. She can’t exist.
‘A uniquely gothic tale about grief, belonging and hiding in plain sight’ Jess Kidd, author of Things in Jars
’Those who live in the walls must adjust, must twist themselves around in their home, stretching themselves until they’re as thin as air. Not everyone can do what they can. But soon enough, they can’t help themselves. Signs of their presence remain in a house. Eventually, every hidden thing is found.’
Elise knows every inch of the house. She knows which boards will creak. She knows where the gaps are in the walls. She knows which parts can take her in, hide her away. It’s home, after all. The home her parents made for her. And home is where you stay, no matter what.
Eddie calls the same house his home. Eddie is almost a teenager now. He must no longer believe in the girl he sometimes sees from the corner of his eye. He needs her to disappear. But when his older brother senses her, too, they are faced with a question: how do they get rid of someone they aren’t sure even exists?
And, if they cast her out, what other threats might they invite in?
This is another book I’ve been hearing lots about on twitter. I was drawn to the storyline by the historical setting in a lighthouse which always intrigues me and the locked room scenario hinted at in the synopsis. This was another stunning cover with the striking colours and the gold.
Book Synopsis:
Cornwall, 1972. Three keepers vanish from a remote lighthouse, miles from the shore. The entrance door is locked from the inside. The clocks have stopped. The Principal Keeper’s weather log describes a mighty storm, but the skies have been clear all week.
What happened to those three men, out on the tower? The heavy sea whispers their names. The tide shifts beneath the swell, drowning ghosts. Can their secrets ever be recovered from the waves?
Twenty years later, the women they left behind are still struggling to move on. Helen, Jenny and Michelle should have been united by the tragedy, but instead it drove them apart. And then a writer approaches them. He wants to give them a chance to tell their side of the story. But only in confronting their darkest fears can the truth begin to surface . . .
Inspired by real events, The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex is an intoxicating and suspenseful mystery, an unforgettable story of love and grief that explores the way our fears blur the line between the real and the imagined.
I do love a good crime thriller and one of my favourite reading friends kept going on about how good this book was. I like to mix up the books I read so will probably slot this on in-between one of the historical ones for a change in pace.
Book Synopsis:
There’s a serial killer on the loose.
When bodies start washing up along the banks of the River Thames, DI Henley fears it is the work of Peter Olivier, the notorious Jigsaw Killer. But it can’t be him; Olivier is already behind bars, and Henley was the one who put him there.
The race is on before more bodies are found.
She’d hoped she’d never have to see his face again, but Henley knows Olivier might be the best chance they have at stopping the copycat killer. But when Olivier learns of the new murders, helping Henley is the last thing on his mind . . .
Will it take a killer to catch the killer?
Now all bets are off, and the race is on to catch the killer before the body count rises. But who will get there first – Henley, or the Jigsaw Killer?
I’ve been a huge fan of this author since she was first featured in the Richard and Judy Book Club. Her books are always amazing, absorbing reads which I end up thinking about long after I have finished reading. I’m hoping to read this when the kids go back to school and I have some quiet time.
Book Synopsis:
The Four Winds is a deeply moving, powerful story about the strength and resilience of women and the bond between mother and daughter, by the multi-million copy number one bestselling author of The Nightingale, Kristin Hannah.
She will discover the best of herself in the worst of times . . .
Texas, 1934. Elsa Martinelli had finally found the life she’d yearned for. A family, a home and a livelihood on a farm on the Great Plains. But when drought threatens all she and her community hold dear, Elsa’s world is shattered to the winds.
Fearful of the future, when Elsa wakes to find her husband has fled, she is forced to make the most agonizing decision of her life. Fight for the land she loves or take her beloved children, Loreda and Ant, west to California in search of a better life. Will it be the land of milk and honey? Or will their experience challenge every ounce of strength they possess?
From the overriding love of a mother for her child, the value of female friendship and the ability to love again – against all odds, Elsa’s incredible journey is a story of survival, hope and what we do for the ones we love.
So those were the books I decided to buy for my birthday. What did you think of my selection? If anyone read any of these books or has any other recommendations please do comment below!
Good afternoon everyone I have a very exciting cover reveal to share with you today. I’m so excited to read the book and I will be bumping it up my reading list as soon as possible!
There is a great trailer for this book that you will be able to view on my Instagram and Twitter accounts.
Book Synopsis:
EVERYONE IN THE WORLD KNOWS HIS NAME. BUT IT’S YOU HE WANTS.
At thirty-nine, Solène Marchand is a devoted mother, a dedicated colleague and a considerate ex-wife.
But it’s a long time since she’s felt like herself.
So when someone comes along who seems to see her – to want her – for who she really is, the attraction is instant. And so begins a jet-setting, earth-shattering secret love affair.
But what if that someone is world-famous sex symbol Hayes Campbell? Captivating frontman of boy band of the moment August Moon – whose face is everywhere. Including Solène’s teenage daughter’s bedroom wall.
Can Solène allow herself to fall for the boy the whole world wants?
OR WILL SHE HAVE TO MAKE A DEVASTATING CHOICE..?
The Idea Of You is available in ebook now for the amazing price of £2.99 and will be published in paperback on the 8th July 2021. You can purchase your copy using the link below or by ordering through your local indie bookstore.
Advance Praise:
About The Author:
Robinne Lee is an actor, writer, and producer. A graduate of Yale University and Columbia Law School, she was born and raised in Westchester County, New York. Robinne has numerous acting credits in both television and film, most notably opposite Will Smith in both Hitch and Seven Pounds.
When everything you love is in danger, how long can you keep running to survive?
Life can be brutal Winter in Idaho. The sky is dark. It is cold enough to crack bones.
Jack knew it Jack Dahl has nothing left. Except his younger brother, Matty, who he’d die for. Their mother is gone, and their funds are quickly dwindling, Jack needs to make a choice: lose his brother to foster care, or find the drug money that sent his father to prison.
So did I Ava lives in isolation, a life of silence. For seventeen years her father, a merciless man, has controlled her fate. He has taught her to love no one.
Did I feel the flutter of wings when Jack and I met? Did I sense the coming tornado? But now Ava wants to break the rules – to let Jack in and open her heart. Then she discovers that Jack and her father are stalking the same money, and suddenly Ava is faced with a terrible choice: remain silent or speak out and help the brothers survive.
Looking back, I think I did . . .
Perfect for fans of Patrick Ness, Meg Rosoff and Daniel Woodrell, What Beauty There Is an unforgettable debut novel that is as compulsive as it is beautiful, and unflinchingly explores the power of determination, survival and love.
What Beauty There Is will be published on the 8th April 2021. You can pre-order your copy using the link below or through your local indie bookstore.
My Review:
I thought What Beauty There Is was an intense, gripping read which definitely packs an emotional punch and kept me reading far too late at night.
Firstly wow what an incredible story this was, I don’t think I’ve read many books which manage to be so gripping but also so emotional at the same time. It was very poignant to meet Jack and to follow him on his mission to try to make things better for his brother. It’s hard not to like Jack and I found myself wishing I could somehow go into the book to help him. His adventures often meant he put himself in a life threatening situation which made me feel very nervous for him. I found I wanted to keep reading as I wanted to ensure he’d be ok.
This story is told from the point of view of Jack, Matty, Ada and Sheriff Doyle who were all characters I grew to love. Jack and Matty are lovely main characters who I loved to read about, especially when the reader sees how much love there is between them. I wasn’t sure about Ava to begin with as I wasn’t convinced I could trust her but she grew on me as the story progressed.
The descriptions of the beautiful, harsh landscape of Idaho helped make the story more unique and created more atmosphere in the story. The unique quietness of the wilderness made me feel it was hiding something and I sometimes felt like it was holding its breath waiting to see what would be discovered. It sometimes felt like a rather volatile character itself as it appeared to be helping Jack on his journey sometimes but hindering him at other points too.
Overall I really enjoyed this gripping read that was very hard to put down. I was quickly drawn into the story and into the predicament Jack finds himself in. As a parent I found some of the scenes very hard to read and couldn’t believe the brothers had been out in such a perilous position. This made me feel more involved in what was happening as I felt almost responsible for making sure they were ok. This is unbelievably the author’s debut novel and I’m very excited to read more from her soon.
Huge thanks to The Write Reads for inviting me onto the blog tour and to penguin for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Cory Anderson is a winner of the League of Utah Writers Young Adult Novel Award and Grand Prize in the Storymakers Conference First Chapter Contest. She lives in Utah with her family. What Beauty There Is is her debut novel.
Have you ever imagined running away from your life?
Well Birdy Finch didn’t just imagine it. She did it. Which might’ve been an error. And the life she’s run into? Her best friend, Heather’s.
The only problem is, she hasn’t told Heather. Actually there are a few other problems…
Can Birdy carry off a summer at a luxury Scottish hotel pretending to be her best friend (who incidentally is a world-class wine expert)?
And can she stop herself from falling for the first man she’s ever actually liked (but who thinks she’s someone else)
The Summer Job is a fresh, fun, feel-good romcom for fans of The Flatshare, Bridget Jones and Bridesmaids. WANT TO ESCAPE REAL LIFE FOR A WHILE? RUN AWAY WITH BIRDY FINCH, A MESSY HEROINE WITH A HEART OF GOLD. THE SUMMER JOB IS THE HOTTEST DEBUT TO LOSE YOURSELF IN THIS YEAR.
The Summer Job is published in ebook and hardback on the 15th April 2021. You can purchase your copy using the link below or through your local indie bookstore.
My Review:
The Summer Job is a heart warming, escapist and funny read that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was just what I needed to get lost in after a few hectic days over Easter.
I always love books that make me feel like I’m actually there so much so that I start to wish I can experience exactly what the characters in the book are. This book was no exception and I soon found myself wishing I was able to work in a remote Scottish hotel, working alongside the lovely team Birdy meets there. The beautiful descriptions of the rugged Scottish landscape surrounding the hotel were very vivid which further helped draw me into the story as it was easy to visualise the hotel and it’s surroundings.
The thing I most liked about this book were the wonderful characters and the descriptions of the amazing team they made which was heartwarming to read about. I really liked the way they welcomed Birdy and helped her settle into her new job. My favourite character had to be the lovely Birdy who was such a real, down to earth character who I absolutely fell in love with. I was routing for her from the start and found I wanted her to be successful at the hotel.
Overall I found this a fantastic read that was hugely enjoyable. Birdy’s antics often me laugh out loud and while her often self debasing attitude ensured I was firmly on her side. While I did guess that the book would end the way it did I liked the subtle way the book ended and I especially liked that the book continued for a little bit after so we could see how the characters were doing. I really hope this isn’t the last we hear from Birdy and her friends!
Huge thanks to Ellie Hudson from Viking for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Lizzy Dent (mis)spent her early twenties working in Scotland in hospitality, in a hotel not unlike the one in this novel. She somehow ended up in a glamorous job travelling the world creating content for various TV companies, including MTV, Channel 4, Cartoon Network, the BBC and ITV. But she always knew that writing was the thing she wanted to do, if only she could find the confidence. After publishing three young adult novels, she decided to write a novel that reflected the real women she knew, who don’t always know where they’re going in life, but who always have fun doing it. The Summer Job is that novel.
Swan Lake is divided into the black acts and the white acts. The Prince is on stage for most of the ballet, but it’s the swans audiences flock to see. In early productions, Odette and Odile were performed by two different dancers. These days, it is usual for the same dancer to play both roles. Because of the faultless ballet technique required to master the steps, and the emotional range needed to perform both the virginal Odette and the dark, seductive Odile, this challenging dual role is one of the most coveted in all ballet. Dancers would kill for the part.Â
Ava Kirilova has reached the very top of her profession. After years and years of hard graft, pain and sacrifice as part of the London Russian Ballet Company, allowing nothing else to distract her, she is finally the poster girl for Swan Lake. Even Mr K – her father, and the intense, terrifying director of the company – can find no fault. Ava has pushed herself ahead of countless other talented, hardworking girls, and they are all watching her now.
But there is someone who really wants to see Ava fall . . .
Watch Her Fall is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below of through your local indie book store.
My Review:
Watch Her Fall is an incredibly addictive, gripping thriller that I really enjoyed. I read this book over a couple of days which is no mean feat for a mother of three. It’s going to be hard to review this book as I don’t want to give anything away.
I was quickly drawn into the book and into the competitive world of ballet which is something that has always intrigued me. I loved learning more about how a ballet company is run and to learn about the interesting relationships that exist there despite being tainted by underlying competitiveness. Its definitely a world that I’m glad I don’t inhabit so I was happy to be able to experience it through the characters. The book isn’t just set in this world though and I enjoyed the other setting that the author describes throughout the book too.
The characters were very interesting creations that kept surprising me. The author has a clever way of letting the reader understand them and their background so that you start to feel that you know them well. I don’t think I particularly warmed to any of the main characters which meant I didn’t take anyones side so I could try to work out what was going on without any bias. There were some character’s I loved to hate and would have loved to meet in real life so I could give them a piece of my mind and others who I’m very glad I haven’t come into contact with yet.
The story goes back and forth in time as we visit different characters to learn about what happened from their point of view. The author slowly reveals the truth of what happened, gradually chipping away at what the reader believes to be true until the whole story is revealed. I have to confess to being a little confused when this first happened as it meant that the story went in a completely different direction then it had been but I soon got used to the changes.
I found this story to be completely addictive and often found myself trying to fit a few more pages in when the kids were occupied or sneaking to the toilet so I could read some more. I really wanted to find out what would happen next and often found myself completely wrong footed when a new twist was revealed as I never saw them coming.
I’ve read all of this author’s previous books and I’d definitely be recommending this to everyone to read. In fact I have already purchased copies for my sister and my mum as I think they would enjoy it. I think it would make a good book club read as there would be lots to discuss.
Huge thanks to Eleni from Hodder and Stoughton for my copy of this book and for inviting me onto the blog tour.
About The Author:
Erin Kelly is the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Poison Tree, The Sick Rose, The Burning Air, The Ties That Bind, He Said/She Said, Stone Mothers and Broadchurch: The Novel, inspired by the mega-hit TV series. In 2013, The Poison Tree became a major ITV drama and was a Richard & Judy Summer Read in 2011. He Said/She Said spent six weeks in the top ten in both hardback and paperback, was longlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculier crime novel of the year award, and selected for both the Simon Mayo Radio 2 and Richard & Judy Book Clubs. She has worked as a freelance journalist since 1998 and written for the Guardian, The Sunday Times, Daily Mail, New Statesman, Red, Elle, Cosmopolitan and The Pool. Born in London in 1976, she lives in north London with her husband and daughters. erinkelly.co.uk twitter.com/mserinkelly.
A secret family history of love, anguish and betrayal.
After her beloved grandmother Rozenn’s death, Morane is heartbroken to learn that her sister is the sole inheritor of the family home in Cornwall—while she herself has been written out of the will. With both her business and her relationship with her sister on the rocks, Morane becomes consumed by one question: what made Rozenn turn her back on her?
When she finds an old letter linking her grandmother to Brittany under German occupation, Morane escapes on the trail of her family’s past. In the coastal village where Rozenn lived in 1941, she uncovers a web of shameful secrets that haunted Rozenn to the end of her days. Was it to protect those she loved that a desperate Rozenn made a heartbreaking decision and changed the course of all their lives forever?
Morane goes in search of the truth but the truth can be painful. Can she make her peace with the past and repair her relationship with her sister?
You Let Me Go is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below or through your local indie bookstore.
My Review:
This was a very absorbing and well written story that I thoroughly enjoyed.
As frequent readers of my blog will know I’m a huge fan of dual historical fiction especially if it is set during the second world war so this book really appealed to me from the start. I would love to have a relative who I could investigate from this period so I loved living through Morane as she tried to find out more about her grandmother.
Normally in a dual timeline story I find I like the historical side of the story the best but in this book I actually found both storylines very intriguing. It was very interesting to follow Rozenn through her war time experiences and learn more about what life was like under the German occupation but it was also fascinating to follow Morane in her investigations. There are perhaps a few lucky discoveries in her investigation but I liked seeing the two stories come together and to start to understand more about Rozenn’s past and why she made the decisions she did.
Overall I really enjoyed reading this book and will definitely be recommending it to other fans of historical fiction. The ending was very interesting and I liked finding out the truth about Morane’s grandmothers and making some surprising discoveries about her life. The ending was very interesting and I liked the way the author came to a neat, satisfying conclusion.
Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for my copy of this book and to Amazon Publishing for my copy of this book through Netgalley.
About The Author:
Eliza Graham’s novels have been long-listed for the UK’s Richard & Judy Summer Book Club in the UK, and short-listed for World Book Day’s ‘Hidden Gem’ competition. She has also been nominated for the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction and the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction.
Her books have been bestsellers both in Europe and the US.
She is fascinated by the world of the 1930s and 1940s: the Second World War and its immediate aftermath and the trickle-down effect on future generations. Consequently she’s made trips to visit bunkers in Brittany, decoy harbours in Cornwall, wartime radio studios in Bedfordshire and cemeteries in Szczecin, Poland. And those are the less obscure research trips.
It was probably inevitable that Eliza would pursue a life of writing. She spent biology lessons reading Jean Plaidy novels behind the textbooks, sitting at the back of the classroom. In English and history lessons she sat right at the front, hanging on to every word. At home she read books while getting dressed and cleaning her teeth. During school holidays she visited the public library multiple times a day.
At Oxford University she studied English Literature, which didn’t teach her much about writing a modern novel, but expanded her knowledge of the literary canon and how people have used books and words to communicate with one another since Saxon times.
She has worked as a ‘Saturday’ girl in Marks & Spencer, an entrance-hall cleaner, a trainee banker and as a PR consultant and business writer, covering subjects from long-tail insurance risks to jumbo factory loo rolls.
Eliza lives in an ancient village in the Oxfordshire countryside with her family. Not far from her house there is a large perforated sarsen stone that can apparently summon King Alfred if you blow into it correctly. Eliza has never managed to summon him. Her interests still mainly revolve around reading, but she also enjoys walking in the downland country around her home and travelling around the world to research her novels.
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