Book Synopsis:

A harmless game of Murder in the Dark? Or an invitation to die for?

The brand new, festive murder mystery for 2023 from ‘modern rival to Agatha Christie’ Ada Moncrieff

It’s Christmas 1936 and an eclectic list of guests and staff have gathered for the grand reopening of Maybridge castle, a newly renovated yet still crumbling hotel deep in the Cumbrian countryside.

Amongst them are a doctor and his new wife, tarot readers, a journalist, an elderly amateur sleuth and her cat. By the time the first sherries have been drunk a person will be dead. An innocent game of murder-in-the-dark turns into a real game of life and death. Someone has changed the rules…but who?

My Review:

Murder At Maybridge Castle is a fun, absorbing mystery from a new author for me.

Firstly I really loved Daphne and enjoyed following her throughout the book. She was definitely a force to be reckoned with and I loved her ability to stand up up for herself when needed. She has some great sleuthing skills but also seemed very human at times as she got flustered in more difficult moments of the investigation. Her partnership with the fantastic Mrs Thewley was wonderful to read about and I often found myself laughing out loud at their exploits together. I really hope this isn’t the last we see of Mrs Thewley as I’d love to see the two of them together again.

The setting of Maybridge Castle was an interesting one and I enjoyed exploring it alongside the guests. It’s definitely a castle with a tragic history which is alluded to throughout the book but I’d love to have explored a bit more. The features in the grounds seemed very interesting and, murders aside, somewhere I’d love to explore in real life.

I thought this book had a great pace to it and there always seemed to be something happening to keep me reading. I did guess who the murderer was fairly early on but wanted to keep reading as I was so enjoying hanging out with the characters and I wanted to check that I was right (i was). This book is being called a Christmas Mystery but I’d say it could be enjoyed at other times as Christmas doesn’t really feature in the story. If you like cosy, fun crime books then you’ll love this book.

About The Author:

Ada Moncrieff was born in London and has lived in Madrid and Paris. She studied English at Cambridge University, and has worked in theatre, publishing and as a teacher. Murder Most Festive is her first novel.

Good morning everyone and happy Thursday.
It’s unbelievably only four days until Christmas and two until my youngest son’s 6th birthday- it’s a hectic time in our family!

I’m sharing a Christmas Tree Stack today which took me a little while to figure out how to do. All of these are tbr apart from The Maid which I read a while ago.

I’m not working until 11 today so I’m meeting two of my oldest friends for coffee first thing which I’m really looking forward to. We’re exchanging presents too which I forgot about so I need to quickly wrap them this morning.

Are you ready for Christmas?

Good evening everyone I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this fantastic sounding book through the post today. It sounds absolutely amazing, a dual timeline sci-fi adventure ? Yes please!

Huge thanks to Gollancz for my copy of this book. I can’t wait to read it soon.

Out 18th January 2024!

Book Synopsis:

6066: In Emperor Thracin’s brave new galaxy, humans are not citizens but indentured labourers, working to repay the debt they unwittingly incurred when they settled on Gahraan – a desert planet already owned by the emperor himself. Asha Akindele knows she’s just another voiceless cog working the assembly lines that fuel his vast imperial war machine. Her only rebellion: studying stolen aeronautics manuals in the dead of night. But then a cloaked stranger arrives to deliver an impossible message, and her life changes in an instant.

1812: Obi Amadi is done with time-travelling. Never mind the fact he doesn’t know how to cure himself of the temporal sickness he caught whilst anchoring his soul to Regency London, the one that unmakes him further with every jump. Or if the prince he loves will ever love him back. Or why his father disappeared. He is done. Until he hears about the ghost of a girl in the British Museum. A girl from another time.

When Obi’s path tangles with Asha’s and a prophecy awakens in the cold darkness of space, they must voyage through the stars, racing against time, tyranny, and the legacy of three heroes from an ancient religion who may be awakening, reincarnated in ways beyond comprehension.

A love letter to Black readers of science-fantasy, The Principle of Moments is a symphonic, centuries-spanning adventure – unmissable for fans of the spacefaring found family of Becky Chambers, the alternate London of V. E. Schwab, and the virtuosic climate-craft of N. K. Jemisin.

About The Author:

Esmie is a science-fantasy writer, who spent much of her childhood reading on sunny Australian beaches, before moving to London, where she swapped the sunshine for grey skies, and the beach for the window seat of her grandmother’s creaky old house.

Esmie was the inaugural winner of the Future World’s Prize in 2020, winning with the manuscript for The Principle of Moments, which is now her debut novel. The same manuscript was also shortlisted for the 2018 Penguin WriteNow scheme.

Esmie is also co-founder of Impact of Omission, an organisation dedicated to decolonising the UK’s compulsory curriculum, that has been featured in publications such as The Guardian, The Times and The Huffington Post, as well as discussed live on ITV news. She also appeared in the Channel 4 documentary “Where’s My History?” created by Premier-League footballer Troy Deeney.

She also holds a BA in English Literature and Classical Studies—a degree that allowed her to write essays on Disney villains, read ridiculous amounts of Ancient Greek Lyric poetry, and argue about postcolonial readings of canonical texts all in the same week.

When she isn’t writing about Black kids dismantling space empires or travelling through time, she can probably be found re-watching Treasure Planet, or campaigning for a copy of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse to replace the Mona Lisa in the Louvre.

Good morning everyone today on Two For Tuesday I’m featuring two books by Nita Prose.

I was a huge fan of The Maid so I’m excited to read The Mystery Guest and spend more time with Molly. The second book is out on the 18th January 2024 and I’m hoping to read it after Christmas.

I’m working a full day at work today for the first time which I’m excited about, not least because I get a lunch break and therefore can sneak in some reading or some Christmas shopping. I’m working pretty much full time this week but it will be worth it as I’m hoping to use the extra money towards finally getting a Google Chromebook!

Have you finished all your Christmas shopping yet?

The Maid

It begins like any other day for Molly Gray, silently dusting her way through the luxury rooms at the Regency Grand Hotel.

But when she enters suite 401 and discovers an infamous guest dead in his bed, a very messy mystery begins to unfold. And Molly’s at the heart of it – because if anyone can uncover the secrets beneath the surface, the fingerprints amongst the filth – it’s the maid . . .

The Mystery Guest

A new mess.
A new mystery.
Molly the maid returns . . .

Molly Gray wears her Head Maid badge proudly for every shift at the Regency Grand Hotel, plumping pillows, sweeping up the guests’ secrets, silently restoring rooms to a state of perfection.

But when a renowned guest – a famous mystery writer – drops very dead in the grand tea room, Molly has an unusual clean-up on her hands.

As rumours and suspicion swirl in the hotel corridors, it’s clear there’s grime lurking beneath the gilt. And Molly knows that she alone holds the key to the mystery. But unlocking it means thinking about the past, about Gran, and everything else she’s kept tidied away in her memory for so long.

Because Molly knew the dead guest once upon a time – and he knew her . . .

About The Author:

Nita Prose is the author of THE MAID, which has sold more than 1 million copies worldwide and was published in over forty countries. A #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestseller and a Good Morning America Book Club pick, THE MAID won the Ned Kelly Award for International Crime Fiction and was an Edgar Award finalist. Her second novel, THE MYSTERY GUEST, publishes in November 2023 in North America (January 2024 in the UK). Prose lives in Toronto, Canada, in a house that is moderately clean.

Good morning everyone, I hope you all had a great weekend! I thought I’d do a little reading update today:

❤️Last- The Christmas Jigsaw Murders by Alexandra Benedict

💛Now- Hagstone by Sinéad Gleeson

💚Now- The Christmas Wish by Lindsey Kelk

💙Next- The Book Of Doors by Gareth Brown

💜Next – One Of The Good Guys by Araminta Hall

I’ve just finished The Christmas Jigsaw Murders which I really enjoyed! You can find my review on my grid. I’m currently reading Hagstone by Sinéad Gleeson as a buddy read with @somethingbyjane which I’m really enjoying so far. I’m a bit behind with our pages but hoping to catch up today. I’m also reading The Christmas Wish by Lindsey Kelk which is another fab festive read. I’m then hoping to read The Book Of Doors by Gareth Brown and One Of The Good Guys by Araminta Hall which I’m excited about as I’ve heard great things about both of these.

It’s my only day off today as I’m doing lots of overtime due to Christmas and I’m planning on wrapping presents whilst watching Love Actually ! I’m also hoping to fit in a couple more pages of my book.

What are you currently reading?

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

❤️The Longest Goodbye by Mari Hannah
🧡The Sisterhood by Katherine Bradley
💛The Lover Of No Fixed Abode by Carlo Fruttero
& Franco Lucentini
💚The Burial Plot by Elizabeth Macneal
💙 Normal Rules Don’t Apply by Kate Atkinson
🩵All The Blood We Share by Camilla Bruce
💜The House Of Mirrors by Erin Kelly
🩷Lost And Never Find by Simon Mason
🤍The Puzzlewood by Rosie Andrews
🩶The Search Party by Hannah Richell

These all sound brilliant and I can’t wait to read them soon! Out of these I’ll probably read The Search Party next as I’ve heard great things about it.  Thanks so much to all the publisher and book friends for sending these to me.

We had a busy day yesterday as it was my husband’s birthday.  We went for a walk and then took the kids out for their first meal at a proper restaurant. They behaved so well and I was really proud of them.

I’m working today which I’m looking forward to and then I’m looking forward to reading more of my fantastic book.  I’m currently reading Hagstone by Sinéad Gleeson as a buddy read with @somethingbyjane which I’m really enjoying so far.

What are your Sunday plans?

Book Synopsis:

THIS CHRISTMAS, A KILLER TAKES FAMILY GAMES TO A MURDEROUS NEW LEVEL.

On 19th of December, renowned puzzle setter, loner and Christmas sceptic Edie O’Sullivan finds a hand-delivered present on her doorstep. Unwrapping it, she finds a jigsaw box and, inside, six jigsaw pieces. When fitted together, the pieces show part of a crime scene – blood-spattered black and white tiles and part of an outlined body. Included in the parcel is a message: ‘Four, maybe more, people will be dead by midnight on Christmas Eve, unless you can put all the pieces together and stop me.’ It’s signed, Rest In Pieces.

Edie contacts her nephew, DI Sean Brand-O’Sullivan, and together they work to solve the clues. But when a man is found near death with a jigsaw piece in his hand, Sean fears that Edie might be in danger and shuts her out of the investigation. As the body count rises, however, Edie knows that only she has the knowledge to put together the killer’s murderous puzzle.

Only by fitting all the pieces together will Edie be able to stop a killer – and finally lay her past to rest.

My Review:

The Christmas Jigsaw Murders is an intriguing, gripping read that is perfect for curling up with this Christmas.

Firstly I absolutely loved Edie and enjoyed following her throughout the book. She’s such a confident, vivacious lady who doesn’t care about other people’s opinions of her. I loved that she was still so able at eighty and the descriptions of her fabulous clothes made me smile. It was great to see how many people look up to her for setting the crosswords and some of her meetings with her fans made me laugh out loud.

The mystery surrounding the jigsaw murders was very interesting and I enjoyed trying to solve the mystery alongside the characters. The reader is thrown immediately into the story and things soon become very murky indeed as more people are drawn into the mystery as suspects. I think I suspected everyone at some point and it was very interesting to see how they were all connected. It soon becomes obvious that the mystery is connected to things on Edie’s past and I loved trying to figure out what the connection was.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more books from this author in the future. I thought the book had a great pace to it and there always seemed to be something happening to keep my interest. The story follows both Edie and the police as they try to solve the mystery with both taking different approaches which was very amusing at times. There were lots of twists that kept me guessing, including a big one towards the end which took me completely by surprise.

If you are looking for a festive murder mystery then I highly recommend this one.

About The Author:

Alexandra Benedict has been a composer, singer-songwriter, actor, and lecturer in crime fiction, and is now an award-winning writer of novels, short stories and scripts. As AK Benedict, she writes high-concept novels, speculative short stories and scripts. Her first novel, the critically-acclaimed THE BEAUTY OF MURDER, was nominated for the eDunnit Award; her short stories have featured in many anthologies; and her audio drama has been shortlisted for multiple awards including the BBC Audio Drama Award 2020, and, twice, for the Scribe Award, winning it in 2019. As Alexandra Benedict, she writes contemporary tributes and takes on Golden Age crime fiction. THE CHRISTMAS MURDER GAME was an Amazon Fiction Bestseller and was long-listed for the CWA Gold Dagger Award. Her latest novel, MURDER ON THE CHRISTMAS EXPRESS, arrives on November 10th. She lives on the south coast of England with her fiancé, writer Guy Adams, their daughter, and their dog, Dame Margaret Rutherford.

Good morning everyone and happy Friday. I’m featuring these three fantastic how to draw books by Erin Hunting today.

Book Synopsis:

Unleash your child’s creative side with this super-cool drawing activity book. 

Inside you’ll find over 100 pages of step-by-step drawing lessons, perfect for ages 4 years and up, each one featuring a very cool thing. New lines are added at each step, so a child can gradually build up an impressive sketch, and all the drawing is done on separate paper, meaning the book can be kept for years to come. Featuring awesome illustrations and invaluable tips from professional artist Erin Hunting, this book is the perfect starting point for a child’s journey into art.

The child will learn to add up simple shapes and lines to create something recognizable and most importantly, super cool. Children’s love for art will be sparked and their confidence boosted as they realise they can make marks on a page that mean something, and start to imagine their own cool creations. The only tools they will need are pens or pencils, paper, and this book.

My Review:

My two youngest kids (age 6 and 8) received these through school along with everyone in reception to Year 4. This made their day and they were so excited to come out with them. I’m not joking when I say that the books have not left their sides as they have been carrying them everywhere with them.

The books feature simple step by step instructions on how to draw a variety of different things from animals, rainbow and animated burgers. My 6 year old followed them with ease and they have helped provide me with some quiet moments while all three of my kids have been occupied trying out the drawings in the book. 

As most people know as well as being lots of fun, drawing can help with pen control which can help with writing. My youngest is struggling to learn to write and I’m pleased to see him being enthusiastic with doing these drawings as they could him with his school work.

My only slight niggle is that I wish there was space in the book for the kids to practice the drawings. We didn’t have any paper so I had to buy some for them but the enjoyment they’ve had from them has made it well worth it.

If you’re looking for a great Christmas present idea for your kids then I highly recommend this book and who knows you might get a few quiet moments on Christmas Day!

Huge thanks to the author for kindly gifting these books to my kids and the other kids at their primary school.

About The Author:

Good evening everyone I was lucky enough to be sent a copy of this fabulous sounding book.

I love books set in isolated Islands that have an air of mystery about them so this sounds very intriguing. I’m really excited to read it soon.

Huge thanks to Indie Thinking and 4th Estate for my copy of this book.

Out 11th April 2024. 

Book Synopsis:

The haunting debut novel from beloved, Irish no. 1 bestselling author, Sinéad Gleeson.

‘Wild, elemental… I adored it’ LOUISE KENNEDY

The sea is steady for now. The land readies itself. What can be done with the woman on the cliff?

On a wild and rugged island cut off and isolated to some, artist Nell feels the island is her home. It is the source of inspiration for her art, rooted in landscape, folklore and the feminine. The mysterious Inions, a commune of women who have travelled there from all over the world, consider it a place of refuge and safety, of solace in nature.

All the islanders live alongside the strange murmurings that seem to emanate from within the depths of the island, a sound that is almost supernatural – a Summoning as the Inions call it. One day, a letter arrives at Nell’s door from the reclusive Inions who invite Nell into the commune for a commission to produce a magnificent art piece to celebrate their long history. In its creation, Nell will discover things about the community and about herself that will challenge everything she thought she knew.

Beautifully written, prescient and eerily haunting, Sinéad Gleeon’s fiction debut takes in the darker side of human nature and the mysteries of faith and the natural world. A novel from one of our most beloved literary voices, this is perfect for fans of Margaret Atwood and Sarah Moss.

About The Author:

Sinéad Gleeson’s essay collection Constellations: Reflections from Life won Non-Fiction Book of the Year at the Irish Book Awards, the Dalkey Literary Award for Emerging Writer and was shortlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize, the James Tait Black Memorial Prize and the Michel Déon Prize. She is the editor of the award-winning anthologies The Long Gaze Back: An Anthology of Irish Women Writers and The Glass Shore, as well as The Art of The Glimpse: 100 Irish Short Stories. In 2022, she co-edited This Woman’s Work: Essays on Music with Kim Gordon. Sinéad also collaborates with artists and musicians on performance and sound installations. Her work has been translated into several languages and her debut novel Hagstone will be published in 2024 by 4^th Estate.