Book Description:

Some three thousand years ago, in a time before history, the warriors of Greece journeyed to the ends of the earth in the greatest expedition the world had ever seen.

One woman fought alongside them.

Abandoned at birth on the slopes of Mount Pelion, Atalanta is determined to prove her worth to the father who cast her aside. Having taught herself to hunt and fight, and disguised as a man, she wins a place on the greatest voyage of that heroic age: with Jason and his band of Argonauts in search of the legendary Golden Fleece.

And it is here, in the company of men who will go down in history as heroes, that Atalanta must battle against the odds – and the will of the gods – to take control of her destiny and change her life forever.

With her unrivalled knowledge and captivating storytelling, Emily Hauser brings alive an ancient world where the gods can transform a mortal’s life on a whim, where warriors carve out names that will echo down the ages . . . and where one woman fights to determine her own fate.

My Review:

In For The Winner Emily Hauser has truly written a superb novel.  History really comes to life within it’s pages and is fun, fascinating and very exciting.  The book is quite fast paced with not much of a lull in the action, so once you start reading you are hooked and you want to read more to find out what will happen next.

The contrast between the two main characters was brilliant! I !loved Atalanta, I loved how strong she was and how she didn’t let her being a women hold her back from what she wanted to do, especially at a time when women weren’t considered equal to men.  She is very brave and stands up for herself, not taking any nonsense from anyone, even those who are meant to be above her.  She is also very loyal, she looks after her friends and makes sure they have everything they need.  As much as I liked Atalanta, I loathed Jason.  He is so cold and cruel and I found that I really didn’t want him to succeed.  His attitude towards others is vile and, because of this, he clashes with everyone during the voyage.  He tries to assert his authority through fear which does lead to a few unsettling scenes, though I was always pleased to see him get his comeuppance when Atalanta stood up against him.  It made for such an enjoyable reading experience having such an obvious hero to cheer and a villain to hate. It made me much more involved in the story and i wanted to continue reading to discover who wins!

This book mostly follows Atalanta’s story as she tries to discover who she is and prove herself, however there are bits throughout the book that describes more about the Gods and how they are viewing the voyage.  This was very interesting to read about and helped to provide some comic moments as they argue amongst themselves and disagree about who they should support.

Emily Hauser brings the setting of ancient Greece alive throughout this book.  I felt like I was there, walking alongside Atalanta as the images she describes are so vivid.  I enjoyed learning a bit more about the Roman’s way of life and their culture.  The description of how the slaves were treated was very galling to read about, and did make for some upsetting parts.

This is Emily Hauser’s second book, though it is the first one I have read and I will definitely be reading more of her books in the future.  If you enjoyed The Song Of Achilles by Madeline Miller or The Empress of Rome trilogy by Kate Quinn I think you will enjoy this book as I felt they were similar in style.  If you are a fan of good historical fiction you must read this book! It’s definitely one of my top books this year.

Huge thanks to Hannah Bright and Doubleday publishers for my copy of this book.

Rating: 5/5 Though I would give more if I could! 

 

About the author:

Emily Hauser is an author, classicist and academic with a Ph.D. in Classics from Yale, and is an incoming Junior Fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows. She studied at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge (BA Hons in Classics, 2009; MA Hons 2012), and at Harvard University as a Fulbright Scholar from 2010-2011. Emily received a double first with distinction at Cambridge and was awarded the University of Cambridge Chancellor’s Medal for Proficiency in Classical Learning. She has received numerous awards, including the Battie Scholarship and Hallam Prize at Cambridge, and the Alice Derby Lang Prize at Yale. Her research focuses on women in antiquity, gender studies, Greek and Latin poetry, and the theory and practice of classical reception, particularly in contemporary fiction. Her first book, a fictional reworking of the Iliad, is published by Transworld (Penguin Random House) and is available now on Amazon and in bookstores; her second, For the Winner, has just been released in the UK.

 

 

 

I’m delighted to be kicking off the blog tour for the fantastic The Things We Thought We Knew, which is out in eBook and hardback today!

Book Description:

Ravine and Marianne were best friends. They practised handstands together, raced slugs and went into the woods to play.

But now everything has changed.

Ten years later, Ravine lies in a bed plagued by chronic pain syndrome. And her best friend Marianne is gone.

How did their last adventure go so wrong? Who is to blame? And where is Marianne?

My Review:

The things we thought we knew is a fascinating, honest but poignant coming of age story.  The book is set mainly in the present day, with Ravine bed bound after suffering from chronic pain syndrome.   However memories and events from her childhood are interweaved within this as Ravine remembers more about her friendship with Marianne.  The childhood memories made me quite nostalgic for my own childhood as I remember doing some of the same things they did.  We also used to make up stories about our neighbours being spies, pretended there were monsters in the woods and raced snails (though it’s slugs in the book), so these memories made me smile.

The main character Ravine is a very interesting one and it was fascinating to learn more about chronic pain syndrome.  I had a lot of sympathy for her and the life she has been forced to lead but some if her actions, particularly those towards her mother, made her seem quite selfish.  From the beginning the author subtly hints that there is more to her current situation than her just having chronic pain syndrome.  This becomes more and more apparent as the book goes on and it is this, along with the mystery or what happened to Marianne, that pulls the reader in and makes you want to continue reading. My favourite character was Amma, Ravine’s mum.  I loved how strong, confident and sassy she was despite having had quite a tough life.  Her love for Ravine is evident throughout the book and it was really touching to read about her efforts to try and help her daughter get better.  I found it so poignant to see her efforts rebuffed by Ravine. Her attempts to try and get on with her life were also very sweet, as was the fact she put her plans immediately on hold when Ravine needed her.

Their setting of the novel, a council estate, was really well described. I felt like I could imagine the area Ravine lived in vividly.  The descriptions of the multicultural environment that probably exists in most inner city council estates and the characters that lived on it made the setting seem really real as everybody would have come across such characters in their lives or heard stories about them.  This setting also helped create a sense of claustrophobia as you get the sense that everybody knows everyone else and their business. I felt that this added to the tension throughout the book as you wait for something to happen or be revealed.

This is the author’s debut novel and I really look forward to reading more from her.  If you like books like Elizabeth is missing I think you will like this book as I think the styles are similar.

Huge thanks to Thomas Hill and Transworld publisher for providing me with a copy of this book, I really enjoyed it!

About the author:

Mahsuda Snaith is the winner of the SI Leeds Literary Prize 2014 and Bristol Short Story Prize 2014, and s finalist in the Myslexia Novel Writing Competition 2013. She lives in Leicester where she leads writing workshops and teaches part time in primary schools.  Mahsuda is a fan of reading (obviously) and crochet (not so obviously).  This is her first novel.

Follow the tour:

If you liked this review please follow the blog tour and check out some of the other brilliant bloggers and their reviews!

 

 

 

 

Book Description:

YOU TRUSTED YOUR BEST FRIEND . . . YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE.

Vicky Seagrave is blessed: three beautiful children, a successful, doting husband, great friends and a job she loves. She should be perfectly happy.

When she makes a split-second decision that risks everything she holds dear, there’s only person she trusts enough to turn to.

But Vicky is about to learn that one mistake is all it takes; that if you’re careless with those you love, you don’t deserve to keep them . . .

My Review:

Highly addictive and absorbing this is a book that you shouldn’t start if you have any plans! I was instantly hooked and had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. As the story progressed I found myself reading faster and faster, attempting to hide in the kitchen so I could read more. The dual story line helps to add to the intrigue as you realise that the past storyline must have some relevance on the present. I did guess the connection quite early on but I think this was meant and it didn’t detract from the story as you want to keep reading to find out if you are right.

Although the tension/twists do keep you reading, for me it was Vicky & Ambers friendship and the slow unraveling of it that most fascinated me. I kept reading with a sort of horrified fascination as the secrets of their seemingly perfect friendship are discovered. Some of the manipulation/ vindictiveness is horrifying at times and insures you keep reading to find out the outcome. The other thing that really struck me about this book is how real it seemed. As a parent I know how tired you can feel and how easy it is to make a split second decision that turns out to be wrong. Thankfully none of these have been serious but I understand how such a situation can arise. Parents really have had children taken off them in similar circumstances and the parts describing this made my blood run cold. I had great empathy with Vicky at these moments as I understood the fear she felt.

This would make a great bookclub book as there is so much to discuss. It really gets under your skin and makes you want to talk to others about it. I actually read this alongside a blogger friend so know first hand how enjoyable it was and how it enhanced my reading experience. I would recommend this book to absolutely everyone as it is a fantastic book that everyone should read. Fans of Lianne Moriarty would especially like this book as I feel they are similar.

Huge thanks to Rosie from Transworld publishers for my copy of this book. I really look forward to reading her next book!

About the author:

Emma Curtis was born in Brighton and brought up in London.  Her fascination with the darker side of domestic life inspired her to write One Little Mistake, her first psychological suspense.  She has two children and lives in Richmond with her husband.  Find her on Twitter: @emmacurtisbooks

One Little Mistake is out now in eBook, only £1.99 on Amazon and in paperback on 15th June 2017! 

 

Book description:

Lincoln is a good boy. At the age of four, he is curious, clever and well behaved. He does as his mum says and knows what the rules are.

‘The rules are different today. The rules are that we hide and do not let the man with the gun find us.’

When an ordinary day at the zoo turns into a nightmare, Joan finds herself trapped with her beloved son. She must summon all her strength, find unexpected courage and protect Lincoln at all costs – even if it means crossing the line between right and wrong; between humanity and animal instinct.

It’s a line none of us would ever normally dream of crossing.

But sometimes the rules are different.

************
‘Fierce Kingdom is a bold exploration of the ferocity of a mother’s love – riveting and beautiful, and all too real. You’ll find yourself asking, what would I do? It’s brilliant.’ Shari Lapena, author of The Couple Next Door

‘Unbearably tense and yet beautifully written, Fierce Kingdom demands to be read in one sitting. After finishing, I pulled my loved ones a little closer.’ Paula Daly, author of The Mistake I Made

‘I was absolutely captivated by this book. So, so tense, but wonderfully written. The perfect book.’ Gillian McAllister, author of Everything But The 

 

My Review:

Fast paced, realistic and at times terrifying Fierce Kingdom is a real roller coaster of a read!

The first remarkable thing about this book is how intense the tension is.  I’ve never read anything quite like it before.  There were times, whilst reading, that I felt like I couldn’t breath for fear over what might happen next.  The author cleverly manages to achieve this not by describing what is happening but rather what is not happening which often left me in agitated anticipates as I imagined what on earth could happen next.  I did find this tensions a little too much at times and had to skip ahead to find pout what happens before resuming reading.  There were a few incidents that were a little difficult to read and that have stayed with me since.

The other thing that makes this book really stand out is how real it feels.  Unfortunately, as we know from recent events, incidents like this can happen.  The author never pushes the action or the dialogue, letting the story unfold seemingly naturally, gradually increasing the pace and the tension. It would have been easy to go for a more action packed book but that wouldn’t have seemed as realistic and therefore not as hard hitting.

I couldn’t decide whether I liked the main character Joan or not. On one hand it was touching to see the love she had for her soon and her willingness to fight for him.  However I didn’t like some of the choices or decisions she made.  Granted she was in a very difficult and stressful situation and none of us know how we’d react in a similar situation, but I just found her to be a bit cold and unfeeling towards the others housing in the zoo. Maybe this is what happens when human instinct kicks in, that you go very insular and only protect those you love but it did make four uncomfortable reading at times.

The story is told from the points if view of each of the people trapped in the zoo, including the gunman which I found fascinating as you got to learn a little more about them, what makes them tick and their motivation for doing what they are doing.

This is definitely a book everyone should read as it’s very topical and does raise a lot of interesting discussion points.  It really makes you think about how you would react in a similar situation.  It also makes you realise what is important to you and what you would fight to protect.  I hugged my sleeping kids every night after reading this book which is surely a sign if powerful storytelling! It would make a brilliant bookclub book as there would be lots to discuss.

Fierce Kingdom is Gin Phillips debut thriller and I look forward to reading more from her.  If you like hard hitting, tension filled books that make you think then you’ll love this book!

Rating: 4/5 stars

 

About the author: 

Gin Phillips grew up in Montgomery, Alabama.  After earning a degree in political journalism, Gin worked as a freelance magazine writer for nearly a decade.  She’s lived in Ireland, Thailand, New York and Washington DC.  Fierce kingdom is her debut thriller.

‘As the mother of a five year old, I realised that every story I considered writing seemed to lead back to motherhood.  No other subject seemed quite so compelling or complex.  No other subject had the power to move me, terrify me or make me laugh quite as much.  Four me, the novel is ultimately about what it means to be a parent.  More than that, it’s a look at the ways we are bound together, whether we are strangers or family.’

Fierce Kingdom is out in eBook and hardback on the 15th June 2017.

 

Book synopsis:

How far must you run to leave the past behind you?

It is 1919 and the end of the war has not brought peace for Emeline Vane. Lost in grief, she is suddenly alone at the heart of a depleted family. She can no longer cope. And as everything seems to be slipping beyond her control, in a moment of desperation, she boards a train and runs away.

Fifty years later, a young solicitor on his first case finds Emeline’s diary. What Bill Perch finds in the tattered pages of neat script goes against everything he has been told. He begins to trace an anguished story of love and betrayal that will send him on a journey to discover the truth.

I closed my eyes as I tried to pick apart every flavour, because nothing had ever tasted so good before. It was love and it could not be hidden.

What really happened to Emeline all those years ago?

 

My Review:

Where the Wild Cherries Grow is a beautifully vivid and delicious story, and one that will definitely stay with me. The story is divided into two storyline told in alternating chapters. Emmeline’s from 1919 & Bill Perch’s from 1969. Unusually for me I found both storylines interesting and wanted to continue reading to find out what happened in both of them. I think this was helped hugely by the amazing characters the author has created. I liked how real they felt and how both go through such a huge journey throughout the book. It’s lovely how both of their stories are quite similar and that both of them end up finding themselves in one way or another. I found I cared about both of them and wanted to see them succeed and find happiness.

The author’s descriptions are so vivid that you can really imagine the scenery and places in your mind. She is especially good Shen it comes to describing food- warning do not read this book when hungry! The descriptions of the food Emmeline helps cook was so vivid I felt that I could almost smell of cooking! I ended up having to look up quite a few of the dishes as I wanted to try them for myself they sounded so delicious.

The story was quite realistic, with the events/ action seeming real and never forced. There wasn’t a lot of huge leaps to make the two stories fit together which was great and neither Emmeline or Bill had an easy journey. This was well done and often left me guessing as to what was going to happen next. The book was quite difficult to put down because if this as there always seemed to be new twists and turns that kept me intrigued and wanting to read more!

I really didn’t want this book to end and was quite sad when it did. I wish that the boom had continued for linger as I would have loved to have read more about Emmeline and Bill’s lives.

This is the second book I have read by this author and it definitely won’t be my last. I didn’t think it would be possible for her to top her debut but she had as I think this book is even better! This book would be perfect for fans of Kate Morton & Victoria Hislop as they are similar in style.

Huge thanks to Hannah Bright and Transworld Publishers for giving me a proof copy of this book. I loved it!

Rating: 5/5 stars!

About the author:

After a childhood spent acting professionally and training at a theatre school, Laura Madeleine changed her mind, and went to study English Literature at Newnham College, Cambridge. She now writes fiction, as well as recipes, and was formerly the resident cake baker for Domestic Sluttery. She lives in Bristol, but can often be found visiting her family in Devon, eating cheese and getting up to mischief with her sister, fantasy author Lucy Hounsom. You can find her on twitter @esthercrumpet.

Where The Wild Cherries Grow is available in eBook now and paperback on the 15th June 2017

 

 

Book description:

Meet Simon Haines.  For a decade he’s been chasing his dream: partnership at the legendary, family-run law firm of Fiennes & Plunkett. The gruelling hours and manic intensity of his job have come close to breaking him, but he has made it through the years and is now within a whisker of his millions: in less than two weeks, he will know the outcome of the partnership vote. He decides to spend the wait in Cuba in an attempt to rediscover his youthful enthusiasm and curiosity, and to clear his mind before the arrival of the news that might change his life forever. But alone in Havana he becomes lost in nostalgia and begins to relive his past…

Set against the backdrop of an uncertain world, and charged with emotion, Being Simon Haines is a searching story about contemporary London and aspiration, values and love. Painting a picture of a generation of young professionals, it asks the most universal of questions: are we strong enough to know who we are?

My review:

Being Simon Haines is an interesting journey through a man’s life, the choices he makes and his quest to accept who he is.

Simon is a very interesting and complex character.  I started off not liking him much as he came across as quite arrogant but as the book goes on and I learnt more about his life I grew to like him.  He seemed a very realistic character as he makes quite a few mistakes in his life and a few wrong decisions.  He also suffers from paranoia and often has to reassure himself that everything is OK.  The internal struggle that I’d described in the book was very interesting to read about and often provided some rather comic moments. His boss at the London law firm he works at was another interesting character with someone unusual character traits such as whispering all the time and finding excuses not to go home all the time which were quite amusing!

I enjoyed reading about the different parts of his life but I especially liked the description of his trip to Havana as Cuba is a country I have always wanted to visit.  It was fascinating to learn a little more about the country’s history, specifically what it was like under Castro.  The author describes the ways in which the citizens survived and made money to live on when so much was outlawed.  It was interesting to read about some of his experiences at university and some of the traditions and secret clubs there were there.  It was nice to read a book where being clever was described as being cool and celebrated instead of being dismissed as geeky.  His work at the London law firm was a bit of an eye opener as it’s hard to believe that people work like that and that it’s considered legal.  Unfortunately I do know this to be true as my sister used to be a lawyer in London and had a similar experience.  As the author used to be a lawyer himself I do wonder if this part was based on his own experiences.

This book does read like a memoir, like other reviewers have stated and the author manages to keep the readers interest with interesting antidotes, and humor.  There were a few bits which, to me, were a little descriptive and I felt deviated from the plot a bit though this didn’t stop my overall enjoyment of this book.

I really liked the ending as it was lovely to see how much Simon had grown and the type of person he had developed into.  There wasa part of the ending that I wish had ended differently but that would probably have made it too perfect and not so realistic.

This is Tom Vaughan MacAulay’s debut novel and i look forward to reading more from him. It reminded me a bit of Any Human Heart by William Boyd so if you liked that book I think you’ll probably like this one.

Thank you to Red Door Publishers for my copy of this book and the chance to be on the blog tour.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Being Simon Haines is out in eBook and paperback on the 22nd June 2017.

About the author:

Thomas Vaughan MacAulay was born in Chester in 1980.  Tom is a solicitor and has worked both in London and Milan during his career.  He currently lives in North London and is in the process of completing his second novel.

Follow the Blog Tour:

 

 

 

Book description:

Four friends. Two decades. One unforgettable journey…

Inseparable through university, Eva, Benedict, Sylvie and Lucien graduate into an exhilarating world on the brink of the new millennium.  Eager to struggle off the hardships of childhood, Eva breaks away to work in the City.  Benedict stays behind to complete his PhD in Physics and pine for Eva, while siblings Sylvie and Lucien seek a more bohemian life of art travel and adventurtold

As their twenties give way to their thirties, the four friends find their paths diverging as they struggle to navigate broken hearts and thwarted dreams.  With every summer that passes, they try to remain as close as they once were- but this is far from easy.  One friend’s triumph coincides with another’s disaster, one finds love as another loses it, one comes to their senses as another is changing their mind…And who knows where any of us will be in twenty summers’ time.

My Review:

I so enjoyed this fantastic book! It was simultaneously funny, heart breaking and uplifting, and takes the reader on quite a journey.  The book is told from the point of view of each of the characters in turn, though Eva’s story is the more dominate one.  Due to the style of the book you feel as if you are right there watching all the action unfold.  The reader gets to know the characters very well and you end up feeling that you know them personally.  I certainly would like to be in their friendship group!

My favourite character was Eva.  I liked that she managed to put her traumatic experiences at school behind her and become so successful.  She stands up for what she believes in, though sometimes she doesn’t do this in the best way.  She tries her best to keep in contact with the others and be there for them when they need her despite having a busy life.  I also quite liked Benedict who seemed quite a sweet, bumbling guy, who always tries to do the best for other people even if it puts him out.  He makes mistakes throughout his life but he works hard to correct them.

It was very interesting to see how their group and their roles within it changed throughout the years.  The friends all go through some hard times which they don’t always handle very well.  This always seemed realistic and never forced in any way, as the problems seemed very true to their characters.  The author cleverly includes some of the real life events that have happened in the last twenty years.  The banking crisis, the election and the finding of the Higg’s particle are all mentioned and have an impact on the characters in some way.  This, again, helped the story seem very real.

It was quite poignant to realise how differently life had turned out for the four friends then they’d planned.  Each of them ends up on a different path then they expected and it is heartwarming to see how they deal with each situation that is thrown at them.  As a reader you feel that you are going through all the hard times with them and experiencing all the highs and lows that they do.

The ending was lovely, though a tad poignant.  The last few pages brought a tear to my eye as you realise how much the four friends have been through and how much they have changed.  There are a few things that I wish had ended differently but I think that would have made the ending too perfect.

This is Alice Adams debut novel and I really look forward to reading more from her.  If you like coming of age stories that are a perfect mix of poignant and heartbreaking you will love this book.

Huge thanks to Alice May Dewing, Picador Books and Pan MacMillan publisher for my copy of this book.

Rating: 4.5 stars

About the author: 

Alice Adams studied philosophy in Bristol and creative writing in Manchester and now lives in London, though escapes into the wilderness as often as possible.  She has done a variety of jobs from waitressing to a stint as an analyst in the city.  Invincible Summer is her first novel.

 

 

 

Book description:

Scotland,1893. Nineteen-year-old Evelyn Ballantyre, the daughter of a wealthy landowner, has rarely strayed from her family’s estate in the Scottish Borders. She was once close to her philanthropist father, but his silence over what really happened on the day a poacher was shot on estate land has come between them.

An invitation to accompany her father to Canada is a chance for Evelyn to escape her limited existence. But once there, on the wild and turbulent Nipigon river, she is shocked to discover that their guide is James Douglas, Ballantyre’s former stable hand, and once her friend. He disappeared the night of the murder, charged with the shooting.

Evelyn never believed that James was guilty – and her father’s role in the killing has always been mysterious. What does he have to hide? In the wild landscape of a new world, far from the constraints of polite society, the secrets and lies surrounding that night are finally stripped away, with dramatic consequences.

My Review:

This is a fantastic piece of historical fiction and one that I really didn’t want to end! The author’s beautiful descriptions really draw the reader in and helps give you a sense of time and place. The descriptions of the fishing trip were brilliant and made me feel like I was right there, in the canoe, watching all the events unfold. It was fascinating to learn more about how people used to travel, what it involved and what type of stuff they were expected to bring. The inclusion of a water closet for the ladies would be unthinkable now! It was also very interesting to learn more about the world fair and what types of exhibits they had.

The characters were all brilliantly evoked and very likable. The stand out character for me was James. I immediately liked him and felt strong sympathy towards him. He has strong principles and stands by them no matter what is thrown at him, which made me admire him. The relationship he has with Evelyn was lovely to read about too. He is so sweet, gentle and kind to her that I fell a little in love with him! I also ended up liking Ballantyre, though I initially didn’t. He is a very clever and ruthless character but he stands up for justice despite what it might cost him and is quite fair in his dealing with everyone.

I thought the ending was great. The reader is kept guessing until pretty much the last few pages as to how it will end and who will win. The tension was almost unbearable as I waited to see how it would play out and I was very pleased by the outcome. I didn’t want the book to end where it did as I would have loved to have found out what happened next. I’m hopeful that the author might write a sequel though!

This is Sarah Maine’s second book though the first book of hers that i have read. I will definitely be reading more of her books in future.

Thank you Emily Kitchin and Hodder and Stoughton for my copy of this book. If you like beautiful historical fiction, rich in historical detail with a bit of a mystery you’ll love this book!

About the author:

Sarah Maine was born in England but grew up partly in Canada before returning to England for university. She studied archaeology and for many years worked in the profession but is now a freelance writer and researcher. She lives in York with her family. Sarah’s debut novel was published as Bhalla Strand in the UK and as The House Between Tides in the US. Beyond the Wild River is her second novel.

 

A society divided by the Zodiac.

A series of murders.

Every murder is a sign.

Bodies are being found.  Murder victims from totally different walks of life.

In a society divided according to Zodiac signs – where status is cast at birth and binding for life – it could be a misguided revolution…. or the work of a serial killer.

All eyes are on detective Jerome Burton  and astrological profiler Lindi Childs, as they work to solve the case.  But they are divided in their beliefs over whether the answer is written in the stars.

Together, they will unravel a dark tale of betrayal, lost love, broken promises and a devastating truth with the power to tear their world apart….

My review:

In Zodiac, Sam Wilson has created the most amazingly realistic and frightening world. It was scary to imagine a world were something like star signs could determine your whole life.  Especially if you are an Aries, like me, so would be one of the criminal underclass in this world.  The author does a great job in describing the world and the reader quickly gets immersed into it.  I liked that the author had even created unique words like ‘signist’, meaning someone who is prejudice against the lower signs.

There is a lot of unfairness throughout this book which, at times, made my blood boil.  Some of the inequality described towards the lower signs was astounding.  I couldn’t believe that there were laws that allowed the police to deal with out of control Aries whatever way they wanted without fear of repercussions.  It reminded me a bit of apartheid in South Africa where I believe the police had similar powers, although I’m not sure that’s what the author intended.

The book tackles a lot of interesting theories which have led to great debates between my family and friends.  Does your star sign determine your personality and would the same person turn out differently if they were given different opportunities or chances.  This is something that is touched upon a lot throughout the book, especially when one character discovers he’s a lower sign then he had thought.  He had grown up with a great education, childhood, lots of friends and had ended up with a great career which he wouldn’t have had his true sign been known.  It made me wonder if this is true in our world.

The story is told from two points of view.  The first is detective Burton, the lead detective in the murder investigation.  The second is Daniel Lapton, a business man looking for his missing daughter and for a way to make the world more equal for everyone.  I liked both characters and enjoyed reading both parts of the story.  They both go through a huge journey throughout the book as they discover more about themselves and the unfairness of the world they live in.  I found that I cared for them both and kept reading to find out what would happen next.  They way their two stories comes together was very exciting and unexpected.  It was one of those moments that made me sit up and read faster as I absorbed what was happening!

The murder investigation, although part of the book, isn’t always the main focus of the story.  Instead the story sometimes moves other ways, which gives the reader more insight into the characters and the world they inhabit.

There is a lot of astrology mentioned in the book which was very interesting to learn more about though some parts, I’ll admit, were a little complicated for me to follow.

The ending was brilliant! So action packed that I couldn’t put it down and read long into the night.  I don’t think I remember a better ending for a book, as most of the time the action tends to stop towards the end but this one was action packed right to the end.  There were a few characters that I would have like to have seen get their comeuppance but that might have made the ending too perfect.

This is Sam Wilson’s debut novel and I will definitely be reading more of his books.  In fact I believe there is a sequel planned set in the same world which I will look forward to! If you like action packed, dystopian novels you’ll love this book.  It might also suit people who like fantasy or science fiction as the author has really created a fascinating world.

Huge thanks to Sarah Harwood and Michael St Joseph publishers for my copy of this book. I absolutely loved it and its definitely one of my top books ever!

Rating: 5/5 stars

About the author:

Sam Wilson, born in London and now residing in South African, has written, developed and directed a number of television programmes and documentaries.  In 2011, he was listed as one of the ‘Top 200 young South Africans’.  Zodiac is his debut novel.  You can follow him on Twitter: @WombatSam

Book description:

A shocking discovery starts a trail of mayhem on the Cornish coast.

Alice Green is a beekeeper in the small Cornish village of Polgarrow. She lives with her pet jackdaw in a beautiful cottage not far from the sea. One evening, Alice finds something strange under the hollyhock bush in her garden. The gruesome discovery will change everyone’s lives. And then Alice’s best friend Milly disappears . . .

Detective Harriet Taylor has just transferred to the area from Edinburgh. As she investigates a series of shocking crimes, she grows close to the old beekeeper and is determined to bring the criminals to justice. But who is really what they seem and who can she trust?

A crime mystery with a touch of black humour. You’ll enjoy this fast-paced and dark unearthing of the secrets of a sleepy Cornish village.

Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, LJ Ross, or TE Kinsey.

My Review:

The Beekeeper is an interesting mystery that is quite easy to read as it is fast flowing and there is always something happening or being discovered which makes the book difficult to put down.

I really liked the main character Alice, the Beekeeper, who is a fantastic character really kookie and entertaining.  I enjoyed reading about her exploits throughout the book and discovering more about her.  Her hobby of beekeeping was fascinating and I enjoyed learning more about what it involved.  I also liked Harriet Taylor who seemed quite a strong woman, despite her sad background.  It was lovely to see her grow in confidence throughout the book and settle into her new job. I especially liked her determination to do her job to the best of her abilities and that she fought to ensure she got the right results.

It was great to be able to follow an investigation from the start to its conclusion and be able to see the ins and outs of a police investigation.  The author includes descriptions of how the police get to their conclusions and how they conduct their investigations which was fascinating to read about.

The internal politics of a police station and how important or necessary each person is considered by others was very interesting.  The conversations between the police officers was very telling and could get quite personal at times leading to some funny moments.

There are some gory bits in the book, where the author goes into quite a lot of vivid detail about how a corpse looks.  If you are squeamish you might be better avoiding this book. Some of the descriptions made me feel quite sick at times.

I did unfortunately guess early on who the murderer was.  I read a lot of mysteries and thrillers and I think that was why I was able to guess rather than anything being wrong with the book.  Even though I had guessed I enjoyed reading the rest of the book while I waited to discover if I was right.

This is Stewart Giles’s debut novel and I would be interested in reading more of his books as I did enjoy most of the book its just a shame I worked it out.

Huge thank you to Joffe Books and Jill Burkinshaw for my copy of this book.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

More about the author:

After reading English & Drama at three different English Universities and graduating from none of them, I set off travelling and finally ended up in South Africa, where I still live. I enjoy the serene life running a boat shop on the banks of the Vaal Dam. I came up with the DS Jason Smith idea after my wife dropped a rather large speaker on my head. Whether it was intentional still remains a mystery. Smith, the first in the series was finished in September 2013 and was closely followed by Boomerang and Ladybird. Occam’s Razor, Harlequin and Phobia (a series of short stories detailing Smith’s early life) were all completed in one hazy 365 days and Selene was done and dusted a few months later. Horsemen, the seventh in the DS Smith thriller series is out now. The Beekeeper, a departure from the DS Smith series will be released through Joffe Books on 22 May.

Follow the tour!