Book Synopsis:

Nightingale House, 1919. Liddy Horner discovers her husband, the world-famous artist Sir Edward Horner, burning his best-known painting The Garden of Lost and Found days before his sudden death.

Nightingale House was the Horner family’s beloved home – a gem of design created to inspire happiness – and it was here Ned painted TheGarden of Lost and Found, capturing his children on a perfect day, playing in the rambling Eden he and Liddy made for them.

One magical moment. Before it all came tumbling down…

When Ned and Liddy’s great-granddaughter Juliet is sent the key to Nightingale House, she opens the door onto a forgotten world. The house holds its mysteries close but she is in search of answers. For who would choose to destroy what they love most? Whether Ned’s masterpiece – or, in Juliet’s case, her own children’s happiness.

Something shattered this corner of paradise. But what?

The Garden Of Lost And Found is published in ebook and hardback on the 18th April 2019. Pre-order your copy using the link below.

My Review:

I’m a huge fan of Harriet’s books so was super excited to get invited onto the blog tour for her latest book The Garden Of Lost And Found. The synopsis of this book instantly appealed to me as I’ve always loved dual timeline mysteries set in old houses.

The story is told from the point of view of both Libby, the wife of a famous Victorian painter and her great granddaughter Juliet who goes to stay at the house after her marriage breaks down. I liked both of these characters and was soon completely absorbed in their lives. There was a lot of interesting information about the art world and art history which I didn’t know much about before so I found fascinating.

The mystery surrounding her great grandfather is slowly revealed and I really enjoyed trying to solve the mystery with Juliet. The story is quite a gripping one with lots of surprising twists and plenty of intrigue that keeps the reader firmly absorbed in the story. Even if it is a fairly long book I read this quickly as I wanted to see how everything would work out.

The author really knows how to create some fabulous characters that are always interesting to read about. In this book there are some great smaller character that I loved to hate which helped increase my enjoyment of the book. From the evil nurse to the spineless, weak father there is lots to keep the reader thoroughly entertained.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Headline for my copy of this book. If you like compelling dual timeline mysteries then you’ll love this book!

About The Author:

I have written ten books and am currently working on my 11th. This is really scary as it means I must be a proper author now and I have to pinch myself often as I feel so lucky to be doing this.

I live in London with my partner and our two daughters. I love books. We all love books in fact. My favourite authors are Elizabeth Jane Howard, Rosamunde Pilcher, Dorothy Whipple, Nancy Mitford and of course Georgette Heyer. OF COURSE. His favourite books are non-fiction ones about the Second World War and obscure medicine, Ursula Le Guin, Richard Feynmann, Brian Aldiss. The 6 year old likes Tom Gates, Clarice Bean, Katie Morag, and Daisy and the Trouble with… The one-nearly-two year old likes Each Peach Pear Plum, Alfie, Mog, and Maisie, and also lying down on the floor screaming if you hand her a spoon the wrong way or if her cup isn’t blue, etc. 

The books I love are ones that take you into a different world and wholly absorb you, about families and secrets and magical places. I write the books I want to read, that’s the most important thing of all. I LOVED writing The Wildflowers as it is mostly set in Dorset by the sea, one of my favourite places in the world. I really hope you enjoy it if you get the chance to read it. If you’d like to get in touch I’d love to hear from you. Please visit my website: http://www.harriet-evans.com/

Or follow me on Twitter @HarrietEvans

Or (this is the last one I promise) check out ma rockin Facebook page which I absolutely love: https://www.facebook.com/harrietevansbooks

Book Synopsis:

Alexanor is a man who has seen too much blood. He has left the sword behind him to become a healer in the greatest sanctuary in Greece, turning his back on war.

But war has followed him to his refuge at Epidauros, and now a battle to end the freedom of Greece is all around him. The Mediterranean superpowers of Rome, Egypt and Macedon are waging their proxy wars on Hellenic soil, turning Greek farmers into slaves and mercenaries.

When wounded soldier Philopoemen is carried into his temple, Alexanor believes the man’s wounds are mortal but that he is not destined to die. Because he knows Philopoemen will become Greece’s champion. Its last hero. The new Achilles.

In Christian Cameron’s latest historical novel the old orders of the world begin to fall apart as Rome rises to supremacy – and Greece struggles to survive. Perfect for readers of Conn Iggulden, Ben Kane, Harry Sidebottom and Simon Turney.

The New Achilles is put in ebook and hardback on the 18th April 2019. You can pre-order your copy of both using the link below.

My Review:

The New Achilles is an absorbing, thrilling read which really brings history to life. I’m a huge fan of Greek history but hadn’t read anything about this particular part of their history before. It’s definitely an exciting and intriguing period with lots of political changes which cause allegiances to change continually which helps make the read very gripping.

Philopoemen is a fascinating main character who I couldn’t help but like. I so enjoyed learning more about him and his brave exploits on the battlefield which were very admirable. He has surprisingly modern ideas for the time believing that women should have citizen rights like men and that slaves should be freed. He was a great character to get behind and I found his journey very interesting. I found that I wanted him to succeed and wanted to keep reading to find out what happens.

The historical detail is amazing and helps bring the period to life very vividly. I felt that I was right there next to the characters watching everything unfold . This was especially true of the battlefield scenes which were incredibly gripping and detailed so that the reader can almost smell the sweat and the blood of the soldiers. Some of the action had me on the edge of my seat, anxiously awaiting the outcome of the fighting which just shows how well the scenes are described.

Think is an incredibly gripping and absorbing book which I thought was just brilliantly written. It’s a must read for any historical fiction fan especially if Ancient Greek history interests you. The author definitely knows how to bring history to life and make if very interesting.

Huge thanks to Tracy Fenton for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Orion for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

About The Author:

Christian Cameron (Also Miles Cameron, author of the ‘Red Knight’ and ‘Fell Sword’) was born in the US, in Pittsburg PA, in 1962 and grew up in Rochester, NY and Iowa City, Iowa, as well as Rockport MA. He attended high school at McQuaid Jesuit High School in Rochester NY and got an honors BA in Medieval History at the University of Rochester. After University, Mr. Cameron joined the United States Navy as an Ensign, serving in VS 31 as an air intelligence officer and gaining his Air Observer wings before going to spend the rest of his military career as a humint officer, first with NCIS and later with DHS, serving in the first Gulf War, Somalia, and central Africa on numerous occasions. Mr. Cameron left the US military in 2000 as a Lieutenant Commander.

While still serving in the Navy, Mr. Cameron proposed his first novel with his father (Kenneth Cameron, American novelist and playwright) to Harper Collins UK, which was published in 1996 as ‘Night Trap” in the UK and “Rules of Engagement” in the United States. In 2002, Mr. Cameron wrote his first solo novel, “Washington and Caesar,” published by Harper Collins in the UK and Random House in the US. Also in 2002, Mr. Cameron moved to Canada and married his wife, Sarah. They have one child, Beatrice. They live in Toronto.

Mr. Cameron is a passionate historical reenactor, with interests in the American Revolution (www.csmid.com) and the Persian wars (www.plataians.org) and the Middle Ages. His author website is http://www.hippeis.com. His author website at Miles Cameron is http://www.traitorson.com

Book Synopsis:

1943: The world is at war, and the villagers of Tyneham are being asked to make one more sacrifice: to give their homes over to the British army. But on the eve of their departure, a terrible act will cause three of them to disappear forever.

2018: Melissa had hoped a break on the coast of Dorset would rekindle her stagnant relationship, but despite the idyllic scenery, it’s pushing her and Liam to the brink. When Melissa discovers a strange photograph of a woman who once lived in the forgotten local village of Tyneham, she becomes determined to find out more about her story. But Tyneham hides a terrible secret, and Melissa’s search for the truth will change her life in ways she never imagined possible.

The Forgotten Village is available in ebook and paperback now. The ebook is currently only 99p! Purchase a copy of both using the link below.

My Review:

I really loved reading this fascinating, enthralling book and am excited to have discovered this new author!

I read a lot of books based in world war two but had never heard of Tyneham, The Forgotten Village before so found it utterly fascinating to learn about it. This is actually based on a true story which meant I wasted lots of time looking it up on the internet. The idea that parts of the village are still as they were when the village was evacuated intrigued me and it’s definitely a place I’d love to visit in the future!

The two timelines were very interesting and I found I enjoyed them both equally which is unusual for me. Melissa is someone I found I immediately liked as she seemed so normal. She’s impulsive, makes mistakes and is slightly ditzy at times which made her very loveable in my eyes. She’s also a lady who loves her food which made for a refreshing change! When we first meet her she is going through a hard time and lacking a bit in self confidence so I found myself thrilled about her budding romance with the very handsome Guy. I enjoyed watching their romance develop and found myself hoping that there would be a happy ending for the two of them.

Veronica’s story is also interesting as it focuses on the events and feelings in the village up to the forced evacuation. However it had a bit of a serious note to it due to the sad occasion and dealt with a serious subject which combined made for a sober read. I did feel a lot of sympathy for Veronica as her situation becomes more apparent and I found I wanted to keep reading to find out what happens to her.

This is a very absorbing story which is easy to lose yourself in for hours at a time. I ended up reading this far too late into the night as I was so caught up in this wonderful story. The two timelines are well plotted and engaging which makes for a very intriguing read. The mystery and unravelling of old secrets was superbly done with the two timelines coming together in a shocking but thoroughly satisfyingly way.

This unbelievable is the author’s debut novel and I can’t wait to read more from her in the future. I’m normally a bit skeptical of comparisons to Kate Morton as she’s one of my all time favourites but I think it is justified in this case as I thought this book was, dare I say it, even better!

Huge thanks to Sabah from Avon for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book which is going on my keep forever shelf!

About The Author:

Lorna Cook writes dual-timeline stories that blend secrets of the past with the present. 

Her first novel, The Forgotten Village, is set in the real village of Tyneham in Dorset, requisitioned in entirety in World War Two and never returned. The story moves between 1943 and present day as secrets about what happened on requisition day are finally revealed. 

Lorna lives by the sea with her husband, two small daughters and a demanding dog called Socks.

Keep up with all her news and bookish chat at:
http://www.lornacookauthor.com (Sign up to her mailing list to be first in line for exclusive chapters and news)
http://www.facebook.com/LornaCookWriter
http://www.instagram.com/lornacookauthor
http://www.twitter.com/LornaCookAuthor

Book Synopsis:

There’s a killer on the island – and someone knows who…

When human bones are found in a remote bay in the Channel Islands, DCI Michael Gilbert is plunged into an investigation to find out who they belong to. The remains are decades old – but after another body is discovered, the police realise they could be dealing with a serial killer.

Journalist Jennifer Dorey is desperate for answers, driven by a secret of her own – but it soon becomes clear that nobody on the island is quite what they seem. Will anyone tell the truth before it’s too late? Or will the killer on the island strike again…?

A gripping thriller, perfect for fans of Ann Cleeves and Peter May.

Dark Sky Island is published in ebook and paperback on the 18th April 2019. You can pre-order your copy of both using the link below.

My Review:

Dark Sky Island is a thrilling, absorbing crime novel with a wonderful female detective as the main character.

It was great to read more about Jennifer again, especially as she pairs up with DCI Michael Gilbert again to try and solve the murders as I’ve always loved that partnership. This time Jennifer is actually conducting two investigations, the murders and a more personal investigation which allows the reader to learn more about her. I found this really interesting as she comes across as a bit of a closed book normally so this enabled me to understand her much better. The two investigations are very intriguing and makes the book hard to put down, especially when they finally join up in a very dramatic plot twist.

The channel Islands are again beautiful described so that the reader can fully imagine them in their mind. Their remoteness is used to help add a bit of tension and darkness to the story as it gave me the impression anything could be hiding there. It also means that there aren’t many people who could be the murderer, though there were quite a few shady characters to choose from. I had lots of theories all of which proved to be wrong and the final twist took me completely by surprise which I always really enjoy!

This was a fast paced, absorbing book that I flew through as I was really enjoying it. It is very atmospheric and gripping which makes for an easy read as there is always lots going on. I hope this isn’t the last we hear of Jennifer as I like reading about her and have grown quite fond of her.

Huge thanks to Tracy Fenton for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Trapeze books for my copy of this book via Netgalley. If you’re looking for a fantastic new crime series then you need to read this book!

About The Author:

Lara was born and raised on the beautiful Channel Island of Guernsey. She moved to the UK to study International Relations and French at the University of Sussex, after which she endured a brief career in finance before giving it up to be a stay at home mum to her three children. A short course in Creative Writing at Richmond Adult Community College led to Lara studying for a Masters in Creative Writing at St Mary’s University, London. She graduated in 2016 with a distinction. Having moved from Guernsey to Brighton to London to Paris to Singapore and back to London over the last fifteen years, she has now settled in Westchester, New York, with her family. The Devil’s Claw is her first novel and combines her love of Guernsey, myths and folklore with her obsession with crime fiction and serial killers…

Book Synopsis:

‘They say I must be put to death for what happened to Madame, and they want me to confess. But how can I confess what I don’t believe I’ve done?’

1826, and all of London is in a frenzy. Crowds gather at the gates of the Old Bailey to watch as Frannie Langton, maid to Mr and Mrs Benham, goes on trial for their murder. The testimonies against her are damning – slave, whore, seductress. And they may be the truth. But they are not the whole truth.

For the first time Frannie must tell her story. It begins with a girl learning to read on a plantation in Jamaica, and it ends in a grand house in London, where a beautiful woman waits to be freed.

But through her fevered confessions, one burning question haunts Frannie Langton: could she have murdered the only person she ever loved?

A beautiful and haunting tale about one woman’s fight to tell her story, The Confessions of Frannie Langton leads you through laudanum-laced dressing rooms and dark-as-night back alleys, into the enthralling heart of Georgian London.

The Confessions Of Frannie Langton is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase a copy of both using the link below.

My Review:

The Confessions Of Frannie Langton is a beautifully written, absorbing but haunting debut novel that will stay with me for a long time.

Firstly the historical detail in this book is amazing! The author has clearly done a lot of research for this book which helps to transport the reader to the era and imagine it in their minds. I liked reading about all the scientific discoveries and ideas at the time, some of which I didn’t know about. It was especially interesting to see more about the attitudes towards women who were very much controlled by the strict standards for the time regardless of what they were rich or poor. This helped make the story a fascinating read for me and the attention to detail made the story come alive and feel very real.

Frannie was a very interesting and well developed character that I felt a lot of sympathy for. Her life as a slave is a hard, uncertain life where no one particularly cares about her. I often found myself getting a little teary whilst reading these parts as it’s hard to imagine people being treated that way. What I liked most about her is how honest and matter of fact she is about everything. She knows she’s not perfect as she’s made a few mistakes and it’s this honesty that made me like her even more. I felt quite protective of her at times and wished that I was able to help her.

The court case itself was also quite fascinating to read about as it seemed both quite similar to how things are done now but also quite different. It seemed to be more about putting on a show for the audience and the drama of the occasion then the actual case which I’ve heard mentioned before but not in so much detail. It was very interesting to see the case develop and all the evidence put forward.

If I had one criticism of this book it would be that I wish the pace was slightly faster. I enjoyed getting absorbed in the story and learning more about Frannie, but I worry it will put some people off reading this fabulous book. Do keep going as it is a great book which gets very interesting!

Huge thanks to Charlotte from Love Reading for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Viking for my copy of this book which I received in exchange for an honest review. If you like absorbing historical fiction then you’ll love this book!

About The Author:

Sara Collins studied law at the London School of Economics and worked as a lawyer for seventeen years. In 2014 she embarked upon the Creative Writing Masters at Cambridge University, where she won the 2015 Michael Holroyd Prize of Re-creative Writing and was shortlisted for the 2016 Lucy Cavendish Prize for a book inspired by her love of gothic fiction. This turned into her first novel, The Confessions of Frannie Langton.

Book Synopsis:

‘It wasn’t an extensive library. In fact, it consisted of eight books and some of them were in poor condition. But they were books. In this incredibly dark place, they were a reminder of less sombre times, when words rang out more loudly than machine guns…’

Fourteen-year-old Dita is one of the many imprisoned by the Nazis at Auschwitz. Taken, along with her mother and father, from the Terezín ghetto in Prague, Dita is adjusting to the constant terror that is life in the camp. When Jewish leader Freddy Hirsch asks Dita to take charge of the eight precious books the prisoners have managed to smuggle past the guards, she agrees. And so Dita becomes the secret librarian of Auschwitz, responsible for the safekeeping of the small collection of titles, as well as the ‘living books’ – prisoners of Auschwitz who know certain books so well, they too can be ‘borrowed’ to educate the children in the camp. 

But books are extremely dangerous. They make people think. And nowhere are they more dangerous than in Block 31 of Auschwitz, the children’s block, where the slightest transgression can result in execution, no matter how young the transgressor…

The Librarian Of Auschwitz is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase a copy of both using the link below.

My Review:

The Librarian Of Auschwitz is an emotion though fascinating glimpse at life in the notorious concentration camp of Auschwitz. I’ve read a lot of fiction regarding the Holocaust but I’ve not heard of the library there before so found it very interesting to read about it’s existence and how it helped some of the inmates there. The descriptions of the ‘human book’, people who know books so well they know them off by heart were particular interesting to me and I liked how they could be loaned out too!

Dita was a wonderful main character that I grew very fond. Her bravery and her attempts to help others were great to read about, especially as the reader knows the events to be true. Woven in between her story are stories of other inmates in the camp which gives the reader more of an understanding of how terrifying and horrendous life was there. The bits that have stick in my mind were the stories of the awful twin experiments that Mengel performed in the camp, which must have been heartbreaking for their parents to witness.

As is probably expected with a book about the Holocaust this is a highly emotional and heart breaking read with some of the events being very hard to read about. It’s also a surprising gripping story as the reader soon gets to know the different characters that are imprisoned in the camp and quickly becomes aware of what is at stake. This makes the book hard to put down as you want to keep reading to find out what happens to everyone.

Huge thanks to Tracy Fenton for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Tess from Ebury Publishers for my copy of this book which I received in exchange for an honest review.

About The Author:

Antonio Iturbe lives in Spain, where he is both a novelist and a journalist. In researching The Librarian of Auschwitz, he interviewed Dita Kraus, the real-life librarian of Auschwitz.

Book Synopsis:

Death is stalking the South Island of New Zealand

Marginalised by previous antics, Sam Shephard, is on the bottom rung of detective training in Dunedin, and her boss makes sure she knows it. She gets involved in her first homicide investigation, when a university student is murdered in the Botanic Gardens, and Sam soon discovers this is not an isolated incident. There is a chilling prospect of a predator loose in Dunedin, and a very strong possibility that the deaths are linked to a visiting circus…

Determined to find out who’s running the show, and to prove herself, Sam throws herself into an investigation that can have only one ending…

Rich with atmosphere, humour and a dark, shocking plot, The Ringmaster marks the return of passionate, headstrong police officer, Sam Shephard, in the next instalment of Vanda Symon’s bestselling series.

The Ringmaster is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase a copy of both using the link below.

My Review:

The Ringmaster is another fantastic installment in the Sam Shepherd series and was a hugely enjoyable read. From the chilling, intriguing prologue I found myself firmly absorbed in the story and wanting to keep reading to find out what would happen next.

Sam Shepherd once again proves to be a fantastic character that was very easy to get behind and feel sympathy with. Yes she is very capable, independent and headstrong but she’s also a very real character that’s likely to make mistakes and wears her heart on her sleeve which makes it very easy to like her. We get to see more of Sam’s work outside of her detective role in this book which helps the reader get to know Sam a little better and understand what makes her tick.

The setting for this book is very vivid and the author describes it very vividly so it’s easy to picture in your mind. The author also cleverly uses it to help increase the tension and suspense in the book as the small town has a slightly dark, lawless edge to it which makes the reader feel that anything could be hiding just around the corner.

The ending was very shocking and completely unexpected! I had lots of theories about who the murderer was and what was happening but none of them proved to be corrected. I’m not sure I would have guessed even if I tried which is always a sign of a great read. My only slight niggle is I felt that the book ended a little abruptly after the suspect is revealed but hopefully this is just paving the way for another fantastic sequel!

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to the lovely Karen from Orenda books for my copy of this book which I received in exchange for an honest review. If you like dark, twisty thrillers then you’ll enjoy this book!

About The Author:

Vanda Symon is a crime writer, TV presenter, and radio host, and the chair of the Otago Southland branch of the New Zealand Society of Authors. The Sam Shephard series has been shortlisted for the Ngaio Marsh Award for best crime novel.

Book Synopsis:

A thriller with a killer hook, and an ending that will make you gasp!

Wilbrook in Western Australia is a sleepy, remote town that sits on the edge of miles and miles of unexplored wilderness. It is home to Police Sergeant Chandler Jenkins, who is proud to run the town’s small police station, a place used to dealing with domestic disputes and noise complaints.

All that changes on a scorching day when an injured man stumbles into Chandler’s station. He’s covered in dried blood. His name is Gabriel. He tells Chandler what he remembers.
He was drugged and driven to a cabin in the mountains and tied up in iron chains. The man who took him was called Heath. Heath told Gabriel he was going to be number 55. His 55th victim. 

Heath is a serial killer.

As a manhunt is launched, a man who says he is Heath walks into the same station. He tells Chandler he was taken by a man named Gabriel. Gabriel told Heath he was going to be victim 55.

Gabriel is the serial killer.

Two suspects. Two identical stories. Which one is the truth?

55 is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase a copy of both using the link below.

My Review:

55 is a fantastic, twisty and gripping story that I really enjoyed! I’ve always been a fan of stories set in Australia. There is something about the extremely hot oppressive heat that adds an air of danger and unpredictability to the story which really adds to the atmosphere.

55 is a very intriguing, gripping story that I managed to read in two days which is no easy feat with three children. The reader is taken on a fantastic twisty journey whilst trying to put together all the clues to work out who is telling the truth. This is superbly plotted and the author slowly builds the suspense in the book until it is almost impossible to put down as I wanted to find out what had really happened.

Alongside the serial killer mystery is the equally interesting mystery of what happened between Chandler and Mitchell two of the cops investigating the case. The story is told in two timelines to uncover this mystery one dating from when they were both new police officers and the other on the present day as they try to solve the serial killer case. Out of the two of them I much preferred Chandler who seems very dedicated and hard working, compared to Mitchell who is an extremely unlikeable, arrogant person only interested in getting the praise for solving the case.

The story builds to a brilliant, shocking and just unbelievable ending which took me completely by surprise. All the theories I had built up proved to be untrue and the truth was something I hadn’t even considered. I think I would like to re re-read the book now I know the ending to see if I should have guessed earlier!

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Simon & Schuster for my copy of this book whowh I received in exchange for an honest review. If you like gripping, twisty crime thrillers set in Australia then you’ll love this book?

About The Author:

James Delargy was born and raised in Ireland and lived in South Africa, Australia and Scotland, before ending up in semi-rural England where he now lives. He incorporates this diverse knowledge of towns, cities, landscape and culture picked up on his travels into his writing. 55 is his first novel.

Good morning everyone I’m on the blog tour for A Dangerous Act Of Kindness by L. P Fergusson today and I have a great extract to share with you all.

A Dangerous Act Of Kindness is available in ebook now for the fantastic price of £1.99. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

Before I share my extract with you here is a little bit about the book.

Book Synopsis:

What would you risk for a complete stranger?

When widow Millie Sanger finds injured enemy pilot Lukas Schiller on her farm, the distant war is suddenly at her doorstep. Compassionate Millie knows he’ll be killed if discovered, and makes the dangerous decision to offer him shelter from the storm.

On opposite sides of the inescapable conflict, the two strangers forge an unexpected and passionate bond. But as the snow thaws, the relentless fury of World War Two forces them apart, leaving only the haunting memories of what they shared, and an understanding that their secret must never see light.

As Millie’s dangerous act of kindness sets them on paths they never could have expected, those closest to them become their greatest threats, and the consequences of compassion prove deadly…

A Dangerous Act of Kindness is a beautiful, harrowing love story, perfect for fans of Rachel Hore and Santa Montefiore.

Extract:

‘She’s a hard worker,’ Hugh said when they got inside, ‘We’re lucky to have her.’ He stripped off his coat and threw it over the back of a kitchen chair. ‘So, how are you getting on? Were you all right last night? A plane came down over Norrington.’
‘I heard.’
‘I thought about you.’
‘I was fine.’
The kettle began to crack and pop as the water heated.
‘I think about you a lot,’ he said.
Millie, who was watching the kettle with her back to him, rolled her eyes. She wished he wouldn’t do that. She was always pleased to see him, genuinely liked having him around but ever since Jack died, he was like a dog starved of affection. She knew if she patted him, he’d be all over her.
She turned and leaned against the towel bar along the edge of the chipped range. He was sitting forward, his elbows resting on his knees, his hands linked beneath his chin, looking up at her. Compared to the service men, his hair was long, dark as a gypsy’s, messed up from where he’d pulled off his hat.
‘You mustn’t worry about me,’ she said.
He laughed lightly and sat back in his chair.
‘Did you hear? Bristol got it again last night,’ he said.
‘I thought I heard the bombers coming over.’
‘Coventry, Southampton, Bristol – when will it ever stop?’
‘When Britain surrenders?’
‘Then it’ll never stop,’ Hugh looked up at her. His eyes were so deep-set, the pupils so dark, they seemed all of a piece with his eyebrows when he frowned hard.
‘Do you think we’re in danger here?’ she said.
‘Coltenham maybe. They might target the munitions factory but we’re pretty safe up here.’
‘What about the plane that came down?’
‘It wasn’t a bomber; it was a fighter. I suppose it went off course. It was flying low and the gunners at Shawstoke hit it.’
‘Take me over to Norrington today. I’d like to see the wreckage.’
Hugh looked at her and his expression changed.
‘I most certainly will not. Women shouldn’t see things like that.’
‘Really, Hugh?’
‘It’s not just a plane, Millie. It’s a man.’
‘Brigsie said there wasn’t a body.’
‘Not as such.’
‘Meaning?’
Hugh got to his feet, his movement sudden and impatient.
‘For goodness sake, Millie. What’s got into you?’ She stared at him, knew he would blunder on. ‘All right,’ he said. ‘The front half of the plane was blown to smithereens and that wretched pilot would have gone the same way. What are you hoping to see? A hand hanging in a tree? A foot under a hedge.’
‘I suppose,’ she said, ‘I’d quite like to see the body of a man who’d been killed in action.’
‘Why?’
Millie gave a laugh.
‘It would make a change.’
‘Oh, stop it, Millie,’ and Hugh paced away from her, picked up his coat, paused and flung it back down. He swung round and said, ‘You need to put it behind you, move on.’
How many times had she heard that bloody mantra during the past six months? She wanted to mock him for his lack of imagination but she felt an infuriating stinging behind her eyes, saw the room distort as tears oozed into her eyes.
‘Oh no – come on, don’t cry,’ he said, irritated or maybe embarrassed. He stepped towards her, jerking her against his chest, the wool of his jumper prickling her cheek.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said, her voice muffled against his jumper, ‘I didn’t mean to bait you.’
She pushed away from him.
He reached behind her and snatched a dishcloth off the rail, offering it to her as a handkerchief.
‘Don’t blow your nose on it,’ he said; his little joke, but Millie wasn’t ready for that yet.
‘I’m too angry to move on, Hugh. I can’t forgive him. I can’t forgive myself.’
She’d suffered grief before, losing a mother and a father within a year of each other. The sorrow she felt then was pure, like a sharp knife cutting deep and clean. Jack’s death had left a different wound, torn and muddied by guilt. She wondered if it could ever heal.
‘Yes, yes,’ Hugh said. ‘That’s enough of all that.’ He moved a strand of hair from across her forehead and tried to poke it back underneath her headscarf, his fingertip rough, then he glanced towards the window. Looking for escape, she thought.
‘You’ve had a stinking run of bad luck,’ he said. ‘It’s enough to knock the stuffing out of anyone but it’s best not to dwell.’

About The Author:

LP Fergusson was awarded an MA in Creative Writing with Distinction from Oxford Brookes University and won the Blackwell’s Prize for MA Creative Writing. Her stories have made a number of shortlists for competitions run by the Orwell Society, Oxfordshire Libraries, Flash500 and NYC Midnight. Her psychological thriller reached the final three of a Quercus/Psychologies Thriller competition and her wartime novel A Dangerous Act of Kindness was Highly Commended in the Caledonia Novel Award 2018. 

She spent a number of years working at Blenheim Palace, which inspired the Duntisbourne Hall series of cosy mystery novels. She is in the process of completed the third book in that series. 

She also edits the historical blog With Love from Graz which was featured on BBC Radio Wales, Radio 2 and BBC4’s A Very British Romance with Lucy Worsley. She now lives in an Oxfordshire village beneath the chalk downs where her Second World War novel A Dangerous Act of Kindness is set.

She is represented by Giles Milburn at Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV & Film Agency.

Book Synopsis:

When you can’t remember your crime…
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU’RE GUILTY?

Charlotte wants a fresh start. She wants to forget her past, forget her childhood crime – and, most of all, forget that one terrible moment.

It’s the reason she’s been given a new name, a new life. The reason she spent years in prison.

But even on the outside, with an ankle monitor and court-mandated therapy, she can’t escape the devastating memory of the night that turned her and her only friend into national hate figures.

But now her friend has found her.

And despite the lies she tells to survive, she soon finds herself being dragged deeper and deeper into a past she cannot confront.

Even if it’s going to cost Charlotte her life…

One More Lie is available in ebook and hardback now. The ebook is currently only 99p. You can see a copy of both using the link below.

My Review:

One more Lie is an intelligent and absorbingly thriller. The story is similar to a really well know story that most people will have heard of and I found it fascinating to get behind the story to learn more about the person who would commit such a crime.

The story is told from Charlotte’s point of view which alternates between the past, when she committed an awful crime and the present after her release. This is very cleverly done as it lets the reader learn more about Charlotte though my opinions on whether I hated her or felt sympathy for her changed continuously. As the story unfolds I started to feel that everything might not be as it seems and there might be more to the story then it first appears.

The tension in this book is slowly increased as the layers of the story are peeled back and more information comes to light. There are lots of revelations and twists that keep the reader on their toes, making the book hard to put down. I had to keep reading as I desperately wanted to get to the bottom of what happened. This builds and builds until we get to the shocking ending which took me completely by surprise. I found myself flipping back through the book to re-read certain bits now I knew the ending.

Huge thanks to Rachel Kennedy from Penguin Random House for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book which I received in exchange for an honest review.

About The Author:

I am the author of two novels: the first is The Innocent Wife, which became a top 10 bestseller and a Richard and Judy Book Club pick in 2018. The second is my new novel One More Lie, which will be available in hardback from April 4th.

Both my books are inspired by true crime. By crimes themselves but also, and perhaps more importantly, by our reactions to crime. In The Innocent Wife I wanted to explore our interest in true crime itself, such as our obsession with podcasts like Serial and blockbuster Netflix series like Making a Murderer.

My second novel, One More Lie, is about a woman named Charlotte who has just been released from a secure institution for a crime she committed when she was a child. These cases seem to fascinate and horrify society in a way no other crime does. What is it about the idea of a child being capable of something so awful that stirs up such levels of emotion? And can a child really understand the gravity of such an act as murder?

Writing this book was an attempt to understand how something like this could happen and what it might be like to live with the burden of being infamous, branded as evil and not knowing whether you are a bad person or simply a person who did a bad thing.

It isn’t based on a particular example of a true crime and all the characters and situations are entirely fictional but people will naturally draw comparisons with some of the infamous cases involving children who hurt or killed other children because these stories remain so vivid in our memories. Instead, I wanted to evoke the atmosphere those crimes created and the stain they left on our collective consciousness.

While writing the book, I tried hard to empathise with my characters who have done things which aren’t easy to empathise with. I hoped that readers would be able to do the same and so I wrote them as vividly as I could imagine, in all their good and their bad. I wanted them to be human, believable and flawed.

I hope that One More Lie will offer a different perspective on a subject which has been much-explored and that people will enjoy it the way they enjoyed The Innocent Wife.

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