Book Synopsis:

Lady Evelyn Carlisle has barely arrived in London when familial duty calls her away again. Her cousin Gemma is desperate for help with her ailing mother before her imminent wedding, which Evelyn knew nothing about! Aunt Agnes in tow, she journeys to Scotland, expecting to find Malmo Manor in turmoil. To her surprise, her Scottish family has been keeping far more secrets than the troubled state of their matriarch. Adding to the tension in the house a neighbor has opened his home, Elderbrooke Park, as a retreat for artistic veterans of the Great War. This development does not sit well with everyone in the community. Is the suspicion towards the residents a catalyst for murder? A tragedy at Elderbrooke Park’s May Day celebration awakens Evelyn’s sleuthing instinct, which is strengthened when the story of another unsolved death emerges, connected to her own family. What she uncovers on her quest to expose the truth will change several lives forever, including her own. 
With the shadow of history looming over her, Evelyn must trust in her instinct and ability to comb through the past to understand the present, before the murderer can stop her and tragedy strikes again.

The Golden Hour is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy of both using the link below.

My Review:

The Golden Hour is a gentle cosy mystery with a fantastic female detective who I really enjoyed reading about. She’s very intelligent, independence and quite fiesty as she’s not afraid to speak her own mind. I thought she was quite a modern woman for the time as she isn’t interested in getting married and not worried about causing a scandal by living with her boyfriend when they’re not married.

There are some great smaller characters in this book too which I couldn’t help but like especially her aunty who I grew to like as the story developed. Initially she seemed quite old fashioned and didn’t seem to like Evelyn, however she actually turned out to be quite like Evelyn in that she was also quite modern and clever. She was also incredibly entertaining and had me laugh out loud at times.

The beauty Scottish setting is vividly described and has made me want to visit Scotland again very soon as I’d forgotten how much I adored the rugged landscape. The small town village is a great setting for a murder mystery with lots of great suspects to choose from. The claustrophobic feel to the village helps add to the tension in the book too as I was never sure what was hiding around the corner.

The pace of this book is quite gentle but there is lots to keep the reader fully engrossed as there are some great characters and sub plots to keep things interesting. Although it’s the fourth book in the series it could easily be read as a standalone, as I have done, as anything that you need to know is explained.

Huge thanks to Emma from Damp pebble tours for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Malia Zaidi is the author of The Lady Evelyn Mysteries. She studied at the University of Pittsburgh and at the University of Oxford. Having grown up in Germany, she currently lives in Washington DC, though through her love of reading, she resides vicariously (if temporarily) in countries around the world.

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to my spot on the blog tour for Second Lives by P. D Cacek today.

I have a great extract to share with you all but first here is a little bit about the book.

Book Synopsis:

When four patients unexpectedly wake after being declared dead, their families are ecstatic and the word “miracle” begins to be whispered throughout the hospital. But the jubilation is short lived when the patients don’t respond to their names and insist they are different people. It is suggested all four are suffering from fugue states until one of the doctors recognizes a name and verifies that he not only knew the girl but was there when she died in 1992. It soon becomes obvious that the bodies of the four patients are now inhabited by the souls of people long dead.

Second Lives is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

Extract:

CHAPTER 18

Dr. Palmer cleared his throat. “Time of death 15:30. She’s gone, Danny, I’m sorry.”
Danny squeezed her hand and wondered if he was.
“I love you,” he whispered.
And it squeezed back.
Danny felt every muscle in his body tighten, trapping him inside his own skin as his throat struggled to expel an involuntary gasp. If he’d been able to move, he would have grabbed the closest doctor or nurse by the front of their scrubs and shouted, “She just moved. Did you see that? She just moved.”

But he knew that was impossible. Sara was dead, had been dead long before they turned off the machines. He knew that, so all he could do was stand there and watch her hand squeeze
his again.
It wasn’t possible, but this time one of the nurses saw it too.
“Oh my God. Doctor? I— She moved.”
[…]
Her mouth opened and a sound like sandpaper against tile came out. She touched the base of her throat and looked at the doctor. Hurts, she mouthed.
“I bet it does, you’ve been on a respirator for…quite some time. Nurse, could you give her a little water on a sponge, please?” The
nurse took something that looked like a small foam paintbrush from a cup of water and held it to Sara’s lips. She sucked greedily but still
winced when she swallowed. “Your throat will be sore for a couple of days, but we can give you an anesthetic spray to use. Would you
like more?”
Sara nodded and the nurse dipped the sponge brush again and held it until Sara finished. There seemed to be less pain when she swallowed.
“I’m so sorry, baby,” he told her. “I never wanted any of this to happen.”
She looked at him without recognition, the room’s overhead light turning her clear green eyes hazel.
“Sara?”
Her eyes shifted from him to Dr. Palmer.
“How do you feel?”
“B-better,” she whispered and another cheer went up.
Dr. Palmer turned toward the door. “Okay, everyone, thank you for your support, but I think it’s time we let the new mother
get some rest.”
There was a low undertone of grumbling as the hallway slowly cleared of Sara’s admiring public.
“I…I don’t understand.” She spoke slowly, her voice so thick and husky Danny didn’t recognize it. “I’m…not a…mother.”
The room got very, very quiet.
“Ah,” Dr. Palmer said, “no, you probably wouldn’t remember that. You’ve been very sick for a very long time, Sara, but let me assure you, you are a mother and your little girl is perfect.”
Sara tried to sit up and cried out in pain. Danny forgot and touched her arm.
“No, honey, don’t, you’ll hurt yourself.”
She drew back in terror. “Don’t touch me! I don’t know you!”
“Sara?”
“Why do you keep calling me that?” Her voice was little more than a raspy whisper, but there was something else in it.
Something Danny didn’t recognize. “My name is not Sara.”
Dr. Carter stepped closer to the bed. “What is your name?”
Sara looked at him and pulled the sheet and blanket higher against her chest. “What kind of doctor are you that you admit a patient and not know her name?”
“It’s hard to explain. Please, Mrs…?”
She lifted her chin with rigid dignity and narrowed her eyes in a way that Danny had never seen before.
“My name is Miss Elisabeth Regina Wyman and I reside at Number 10 Gramercy Place. If you would be so kind as to notify my mother of my whereabouts, I’m sure she is desperately worried.”
Sara’s mother pushed the doctor aside and reached for her hand. Sara pulled back the same way she had with Danny.
“Sara! I’m your mother.”
Sara looked at her mother with a mixture of horror and suspicion. “You most certainly are not my mother! What sort of hospital is this?”
“Honey, please,” Danny said, “don’t get excited, you’ll hurt yourself.”
“How dare you address me in such a manner? I do not know you, sir, and I do not wish to. Doctor, if doctor you are, please send these people away.”
Dr. Palmer looked as startled as the rest of them, but turned and motioned toward the door. “Perhaps it would be better if you
…gave us a few minutes alone?”
Sara’s mother was sobbing against her husband as they left the room. Danny’s parents left without saying a word.
Danny looked at the woman in the bed one more time and left.
It wasn’t Sara.

About The Author:

P.D. Cacek has published over a hundred short stories and five published novels. A past Guest Lecturer at the Odyssey Writing Camp, Cacek’s horror, fantasy and science fiction stories have appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies since going professional in the late 90’s. She is also proud of the book she recently co-edited, with Laura J. Hickman, the charity anthology, Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, with all proceeds going to The Jimmy Fund of the DANA-BARBER Cancer Institute.Cacek holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English/Creative Writing Option from the University of California at Long Beach and is a certified Wilderness Survival Instructor. A native Westerner, Cacek divides her time between Arvada, CO – which looks own on the Mile High city – and Phoenixville, PA – only a short walk from the Colonial Theater where the famous “Run Screaming From Theatre” scene in THE BLOB was filmed. When not writing, she can often been found with THE PATIENT CREATURES (www.creatureseast.com), a group of costumed storytellers.AWARDS:Bram Stoker Award for Short Fiction 1996 (Metalica)World Fantasy Award for Short Fiction 1998 (Dust Motes)

Book Synopsis:

Pregnant Victoria Valbon was brutally murdered in an alley three weeks ago – and her killer hasn’t been caught.

Tonight is Stella McKeever’s final radio show. The theme is secrets. You tell her yours, and she’ll share some of hers.

Stella might tell you about Tom, a boyfriend who likes to play games, about the mother who abandoned her, now back after fourteen years. She might tell you about the perfume bottle with the star-shaped stopper, or about her father …

What Stella really wants to know is more about the mysterious man calling the station … who says he knows who killed Victoria, and has proof.

Tonight is the night for secrets, and Stella wants to know everything…

With echoes of the Play Misty for Me, Call Me Star Girlis a taut, emotive and all-consuming psychological thriller that plays on our deepest fears, providing a stark reminder that stirring up dark secrets from the past can be deadly…

Call Me Star Girl is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy of both using the link below.

My Review:

Louise Beech is one of my all time favourite authors so I’m always very excited to read a new books from her. Call Me Star Girl is her first thriller so I was a little nervous to start reading it. I needn’t have worried however as this book is every bit as wonderful as her previous books!

Once again the author has created an fabulously written, emotional and compelling read that quickly drew me into the story. The setting of the radio station seems so ordinary at first but it soon becomes an intimate place where secrets and emotions can be easily revealed. There aren’t many characters in this book which makes it easy to keep track of who is who and they are so vividly described that it’s easy to imagine them. I enjoyed learning more about them and trying to work out who the murder could be.

As with her previous books the author has again managed to write a highly emotional read about relationships and the effect they can have on people. Stella has clearly never gotten over her mother abandoning her and uses her other relationships to try to make up for what she lost. It was hard to read about her journey and to learn more about her life.

The slow unravelling of secrets and build up of tension makes for a truly gripping read which had me jumping at sudden noises whilst reading. The ending was very surprising and not at all how I thought it would end. I loved that the author managed to shock and surprise me, it was a great way to end the book!

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Orenda books for my copy of this book which is going on my keep forever shelf. If you like gripping and emotional thrillers then you’ll love this book!

About The Author:

Louise’s short stories have won the Glass Woman Prize, the Eric Hoffer Award for Prose, and the Aesthetica Creative Works competition, as well as shortlisting twice for the Bridport Prize and being published in a variety of UK magazines. Her first play, Afloat, was performed at Hull Truck Theatre in 2012. She also wrote a ten-year newspaper column for the Hull Daily Mail. 

Her debut novel, How to be Brave, was a Guardian Readers’ pick in 2015. The Sunday Mirror called Maria in the Moon quirky, darkly comic, original and heartfelt, and The Lion Tamer Who Lost was described as ‘engrossing and captivating’ by the Daily Express.

Link to her website – http://louisebeech.co.uk/

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.