#BookReview: The Watson Letters Vol 6 by Colin Garrow @colingarrow @rararesources #TheWatsonLetters #ColonGarrow

Book Synopsis:

An invitation. A ghostly spectre. A criminal mastermind.

When Sherlock Holmes is invited to visit an old school friend, he and Doctor Watson are plunged into the first of three adventures involving the Dark Arts and the supernatural. From the ghostly spectre of a dead sister to the search for an ancient book of spells, the detecting duo learn that each case is connected, leading them into a final showdown with their deadliest adversary yet.

My Review:

The Watson Letters is a funny, entertaining read which I think is a very clever take on the original story.

Firstly I absolutely loved the characters in this book and enjoyed following them throughout the story. They were all very different to each other and brought different things to the investigation. The book is told mainly through diary extracts and I thought it was very clever how each character had their own voice.

This book is actually three stories in one and it was great fun trying to solve the investigations alongside the characters. The different stories gradually combined to make a thrilling ending in a realistic and satisfying way which I always enjoy.

Overall I liked this book and look forward to reading more from this author soon. This is actually the sixth book in the series but can easily be read as a standalone. There is lots of adult humour included and a few pop cultural references which I loved.

Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book. I’m looking forward to going back and reading the rest of the books in the series.

About The Author:

Colin Garrow grew up in a former mining town in Northumberland. He has worked in a plethora of professions including: taxi driver, antiques dealer, drama facilitator, theatre director and fish processor, and has occasionally masqueraded as a pirate. All Colin’s books are available as eBooks and most are also out in paperback, too.

His short stories have appeared in several literary mags, including: SN Review, Flash Fiction Magazine, Word Bohemia, Every Day Fiction, The Grind, A3 Review, 1,000 Words, Inkapture and Scribble Magazine. He currently lives in a humble cottage in North East Scotland where he writes novels, stories, poems and the occasional song.

He also makes rather nice cakes.

#BlogTour: A Child For The Reich by Andie Newton @AndieNewton @0neMoreChapter_ @rararesources #AChildForTheReich #AndieNewton

Book Synopsis:

Rumours of the Nazis coming for Czech children swept through the villages like a breeze through the trees, and the story was always the same…They wanted our children to raise as their own.

Since her husband, Josef, joined the Czech resistance three years ago, Anna Dankova has done everything possible to keep her daughter, Ema, safe. But when blonde haired, blue-eyed Ema is ripped from her mother’s arms in the local marketplace by the dreaded Brown Sisters, nurses who were dedicated to Hitler’s cause, Anna is forced to go to new extremes to take back what the Nazis have stolen from her.

Going undercover as a devoted German subject eager to prove her worth to the Reich, the former actress takes on a role of a lifetime to find and save her daughter. But getting close to Ema is one thing. Convincing her that the Germans are lying when they claim Anna stole her from her true parents is another…

My Review:

Wow this was an amazing book! It was very emotional and super gripping that it was hard to put down.

Firstly as a parent myself I found this book incredibly heartbreaking to read at times. I have no idea how I’d cope or what I’d do in a similar situation so I read this with a fair degree of trepidation and dread. How people could treat children like that is beyond me and I often found myself wishing I could somehow get into the book to give them all a huge hug .

The author has clearly done her research and I soon found myself drawn into the story, experiencing everything alongside the characters. I found it fascinating to learn more about the Brown Sister’s and their twisted cause. It was also interesting to find out more about the inner workings of the third Reich from a new recruits point of view.

Overall I really liked this book and look forward to reading more from this author in future. The story gripped me from the start and I found it very hard to put down as I needed to find out what happens next.

Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and to the publisher for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Andie Newton is the USA Today bestselling author of The Girls from the Beach, The Girl from Vichy, and The Girl I Left Behind.

She writes gritty and emotional war stories about strong women. Andie holds a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s in teaching. She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, her two boys, and one very lazy cat.

#Extract: Not Mushroom For Death by Helen Golden @rararesources #NotMushroomForDeath #HelenGolden

Book Synopsis:

TV Chef Luca Mazza Dies After Collapse at Food Show on the King’s Private Estate

Luca Mazza (38), who was taken ill during a food demonstration at the Fenn House Food and Wine Festival two days ago, is now known to have ingested poison. Lady Beatrice (36), the king’s niece, who is working on a refurbishment project at Fenn House with her business partner Perry Juke (34), is believed to be comforting Luca’s boss and close friend Sebastiano Marchetti (38), who she began dating last month.

Is he crazy? Why else would Detective Chief Inspector Richard Fitzwilliam suggest that Sebastiano poisoned Luca without any evidence? So now, with the help of her little dog Daisy and her best friends Perry and Simon, Lady Beatrice will have to prove to Mr Know-it-all Fitzwilliam that Seb is innocent. But with so many people having access to the food preparation area at the show how will she find out who did murder Luca before Fitzwilliam lets his personal dislike get the better of him and arrests Seb?

Extract:

Intro

Lady Beatrice and her business partner Perry Juke are at Fenn House, the private country estate of Lady Beatrice’s uncle, King James, to manage the redesign and refurbishment of ten guest suites and four sitting rooms. At the same time the Fenn House Food and Wine Festival is taking place in the grounds of the estate organised by Lady Beatrice’s new beau Sebastiano Marchetti, known to his legion of fans as Chef Seb. Perry’s crime writer partner, Simon Lattimore, who was last year’s winner of Celebrity Elitechef, is also on-site hosting cooking demonstrations.

One of the other big names from the world of food attending is Chef Seb’s very good friend Luca Mazza, the television star of Get Your Cook On. Luca was taken ill a few days ago with a stomach upset but had then seemed to recover. However while hosting the opening demonstration of the festival Luca had collapsed and had been taken to the hospital with suspected dehydration. But now he’s not responding to treatment and everyone is concerned…

Extract

“Isn’t that Detective Inspector Mike Ainsley coming our way?” Perry Juke asked Lady Beatrice as they walked out of the side entrance of Fenn House. “He doesn’t look like he’s dressed for a day of exploring a food and wine show.”  

“Plus, he’s in completely the wrong place if he wanted to,” Lady Beatrice pointed out. “And anyway, isn’t that Detective Sergeant Hines with him?”

Perry nodded. “Do you think maybe the police have a watching brief when there’s an event on at Fenn House?”

She shrugged. “That must be it. I can’t think why else they would be here.”

“Mike.” Lady Beatrice smiled at the sturdily built grey-haired man in a blue suit walking towards her and held out her hand. “Good to see you. Are you on-site to pick up some delicious food to take back to Fenshire CID HQ? If so, Perry here can recommend an excellent cake stall.”

Mike Ainsley laughed as the two men came to a standstill in front of her. Shaking Lady Beatrice’s hand and nodding at Perry, he said, “Well, thank you for the offer, my lady. I do have a sweet tooth, so I may take Mr Juke up on that a bit later. But for the moment, we’re here in an official capacity investigating the poisoning of Luca Mazza.”

“Poisoning?” Lady Beatrice and Perry cried together.

“Yes. Unfortunately, it would appear Mr Mazza has potentially ingested some death cap mushrooms and is very ill as a result. We need to find out when and where he could have eaten them so we can establish if it was through someone else’s gross incompetence or if he accidentally ate them himself.”

Death cap mushrooms? A heavy feeling settled in her stomach. But he’s a professional chef. How did he not know?

“Aren’t they fatal?” Perry asked, his eyes wide as he gazed at the inspector.

Mike nodded. “They can be if the eater doesn’t get help quick enough. Fortunately, a doctor on call when Mr Mazza arrived at the hospital knew he was a chef and recognised the symptoms of death cap mushroom poisoning, so acted quickly to get him treated. They are doing everything they can, but it’s not looking good.”

Oh my gosh, poor Luca. Lady Beatrice ran her fingers through her long hair. Seb must be beside himself with worry. That’s if he even knows. She glanced at her watch. He would have only just finished his show.

“So what exactly are you investigating, Mike?”

“Well, the Environmental and Health Authority are up at the hotel where he’s been staying. Luca’s girlfriend told us he thought it was something he’d eaten on Monday night at dinner that made him ill. They’re checking to see if anyone else who was having dinner at the hotel that night has become unwell. And in the meantime, Hines and I are meeting with the show’s organisers to find out if it’s possible he could’ve eaten the mushrooms here and to see if anyone else has been ill.”

“Can’t you just ask Luca what happened?” Perry asked.

Mike grimaced. “Mr Mazza has been unconscious since he arrived at the hospital yesterday. I’m afraid he can’t help us.”

How could Luca have been well enough to even start his show yesterday? Rubbing her forehead, Lady Beatrice said, “But he appeared so much better yesterday until he collapsed. It seems unbelievable that it could be something he ate as long ago as Monday night. And how could a chef not know he was eating death caps?”

DS Hines, his grey suit hanging off his skinny frame, stepped forward. “That’s the problem with death caps, my lady. You’re ill for a couple of days, then you seem to be getting better, and suddenly, you go downhill rapidly. And even experienced mushroom pickers sometimes get it wrong as death caps look similar to puffballs when in the button stage. Once cooked and hidden in a sauce, they would be nearly impossible to identify.”

Mike nodded in the sergeant’s direction. “Eamon here is a bit of an expert on death cap mushroom poisoning. He was recently on a case where a whole family died after eating mushrooms the father had picked in the woods behind where they lived.”

“Why didn’t they go to the hospital if they felt that ill?” Perry asked.

Lady Beatrice raised her hand to her mouth. Hadn’t Seb told her he’d tried to persuade Luca to go to the hospital, but Luca had refused? Poor Seb. He’ll be mad at himself for not insisting.

“Unfortunately, for most people, there are no symptoms for the first six to twelve hours. Then they get stomach pains with sickness and diarrhoea and think they’ve got a bug or mild food poisoning,” Hines told them. “So they don’t go to see anyone about it, and that’s when the damage is done. By then, the internal organs are being severely, sometimes irreparably, damaged.” He shook his head.

Perry gasped. “Does that mean he’ll die?”

Hines frowned. “It’s a real possibility.”

About The Author:

Hello. I’m Helen Golden. I write British contemporary cozy whodunnits with a hint of humour. I live in small village in Lincolnshire in the UK with my husband, my step-daughter, her two cats, our two dogs, sometimes my step-son, and our tortoise.I used to work in senior management, but after my recent job came to a natural end I had the opportunity to follow my dreams and start writing. It’s very early in my life as an author, but so far I’m loving it.It’s crazy busy at our house, so when I’m writing I retreat to our caravan (an impulsive lockdown purchase) which is mostly parked on our drive. When I really need total peace and quiet, I take it to a lovely site about 15 minutes away and hide there until my family runs out of food or clean clothes.

My Favourite Signed Book: A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier #ASingleThread #TracyChevalier #Signedbooks #Favourites @Tracy_Chevalier @BloomsburyBooks

Good morning everyone I hope you had a great New Year. Today I thought I’d share my favourite signed book with you. This is something I’ve seen on Instagram but thought might be fun to show here too.

I was lucky enough to hear Tracy talk about this book at The Cheltenham Literary Festival a few years ago and then meet her afterwards. I was so excited and turned into a bit of a fan girl when I actually met her but she was so lovely and made me feel at ease. I absolutely loved this book too and highly recommend it to everyone who likes historical fiction. I’m impatiently waiting for her next book to come out soon!

What signed books do you own?

Book Synopsis:

Violet is 38.

The First World War took everything from her. Her brother, her fiancé – and her future. She is now considered a ‘surplus woman’.

But Violet is also fiercely independent and determined. Escaping her suffocating mother, she moves to Winchester to start a new life –a change that will require courage, resilience and acts of quiet rebellion. And when whispers of another world war surface, she must live with a secret that could change everything…

About The Author:

Tracy is the author of 10 novels, including the international bestseller GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING, which has sold over 5 million copies and been made into an Oscar-nominated film starring Scarlett Johansson and Colin Firth. American by birth, British by geography, she lives in London with her husband and son. Her latest novel, A SINGLE THREAD, tells the story of an English woman between the Wars who forges an independent life in Winchester. Tracy is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and has honorary doctorates from her alma maters Oberlin College and the University of East Anglia. Her website http://www.tchevalier.com will tell you more about her and her books.

New Year, New Music: JoJo Recommends Recap! @__Spaceman__ @Ccampbellmusic @joeycollinsuk @ryanleafmusic @Tyler_Levs @cmillermusic_au @mattsuarezmusic @jacksonharden21 @lunakellermusic @Lucymaywalker @JoshuaWooMusic #NewMusic #TwitchStreamers

Good morning everyone and Happy New Year! I wish you all the best for 2023.

Some of you might also know that I do a feature on my blog called JoJo Recommends where I feature a twitch streamer and their music every week. Twitch was something I turned to during lockdown when I was very lonely homeschooling three kids and has continued to be a positive feature in my life. I’ve met lots of great friends across the globe, become part of some great communities and discovered some truly amazing music.

I have since moved on to do a regular feature on a podcast on twitch called Island Vibing Presents where I film myself talking about the twitch streamers I feature.

Here is a recap of some of the artist’s I’ve featured. They are stream on Twitch and have music on Spotify or to buy on Bandcamp.

Joshua Woo

Josh is a singer songwriter from Essex in the UK. His music has been featured on BBC news and has gone viral on Tik Tok. He recently released his debut EP called Beyond The Glass.

Annie Bonsignore

Annie is a singer songwriter originally from South Africa but now settled in Canada where she lives with her two adorable children and equally talented pianist husband. Annie has three albums of original music and is looking to release more soon.

Ryan Leaf Music

Ryan is a singer songwriter from the UK who is a huge part of the twitch community. He originally started streaming games but has since moved onto streaming music. Therapy is his debut single.

Tyler Levs

Tyler is a singer songwriter from Maine in the US. His streams are always great fun to be on and Tyler is always really friendly. He has lots of music on Spotify and there’s lots of new music coming soon!

Matt Suarez

Matt is a singer songwriter from California who streams regularly on twitch and does lots of live gigs in his home town. Matt has some amazing originals and some fascinating stories to tell which make his streams great to watch.

Charlotte Campbell

Charlotte Campbell is a singer songwriter and London busker from London. You can often find her singing a variety of covers and originals on the Southbank in London just below the London Eye. She recently competed in a busking competition in South Korea.

Spaceman

Spaceman is a singer songwriter from Ukraine whose identify remains a mystery thanks to a helmet he always wears whilst performing. He has continued to stream throughout the conflict when possible and often raises money for the Ukrainian army through his streams.

Samuel Alexander

Samuel Alexander is a singer songwriter from Melbourne in Australia. He has composed some beautiful piano pieces and recently wrote his first guitar track in stream.

Jackson Harden

Jackson is a singer songwriter from Utah in the United States. He sadly doesn’t stream as much these days but does lots of love gigs around his town. He writes beautiful indie folk songs which always send a chill down my spine whilst listening. He is also a member of four piece indie band Sea Elephant Band

Joey Collins

Joey is a singer songwriter from Nottingham whose debut album is being released this year. He does lots of love gigs around his local area and recently did a stint working on a cruise ship.

Lucy May Walker

Lucy is a singer songwriter and busker from London who can often be found busking outside Wembley Stadium. She’s supported Texas on tour and has her debut album out in March this year. She recently released a single for baby loss charity Tommy which is a cause very close to my heart after losing my son Christopher six years ago.

Chris Miller

Chris is a singer songwriter from Australia who regularly streams with his wife and three children who sometimes help him with the singing. He has a great back catalogue of music to listen ranging from rock to more acoustic numbers.

Luna Keller

Luna Keller is a singer songwriter from Germany who has one of the most amazing voices I’ve ever heard. Her streams are always great fun to be on and her community is very welcoming. Luna released her debut album, Prophecies and Silver Linings, earlier this year.

The Waxbirds

The Waxbirds are a singer songwriter duo from New Zealand who consist of married couple Jo and Pete. Their original music is beautiful and I highly recommend it. They don’t tend to stream much during their summer months and do lots of live gigs instead.

LJPMUSIC

Luke of LJPMusic is a singer songwriter originally from Poland but now living in Canada. He’s played guitar since he was small and has been in.a variety of different bands throughout his musical career. His latest release In this together is a Collab with other twitch streamers.

There are many more twitch artists for you to listen to but these are my favourites who also have music released! Honourable mentions to the lovely Phil Smyth and Theodore Elfing who I’m impatiently waiting music from.

JoJo Recommends Playlist:

If you would like to listen to any of the above mentioned artists or other artists I’ve featured you can do so via a special playlist I’ve created on Spotify.

JoJo Recommends on Island Vibing Presents:

As mentioned above I now have a feature on the Island Vibing Presents twitch stress where I talk about the artist I’m featuring and Island Vibing plays the song for you to listen to. If you’d like to catch it live or watch the past episodes you can do so via the link below.

Favourite Books Of 2022. #FavouriteBooks2022 #HighlyRecommended @OlesyaAuthor @alicewriterland @thebobpalmer @markhillwriter @KarenSwan1 @JackJordanBooks @NicolaCornick @catherinecooper @cathbennetto @ElodieITV @colleenhoover @clarkegeorgina1 @MWCravenUK @katethompson380

Good morning everyone and Happy New Year for later. I’ve been very lucky and have managed to read some fantastic books this year. I was hoping to narrow it down to 10 but it’s been impossible to choose so I’ve just decided to feature the books that I’ve continued to think about and recommended to people long after I’ve finished reading.

Id like to also take this opportunity to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported me this year. All my lovely blogger friends, publisher’s for all my review copies, anyone who subscribes to my blog or follows me on social media thanks so so much! I really enjoy doing my blog and thinking of new content for you all.

So in no particular order here are my favourite books of 2022. I highly recommend them all!

Have you read any of these?

#Bookspotlight: Unraveller by Frances Hardinge @FrancesHardinge @panmacmillan #Unraveller #FrancesHardinge #NewBook

Good morning everyone I hope you all had a great Christmas.

Today I thought I’d show you this beautiful book that I bought just before Christmas. I have to admit I saw it recommended on Instagram and just fell in love with the beautiful cover. Despite multiple attempts I don’t think my photo does it justice but it is simply stunning in my opinion. I love all the illustrations and the gold thread! Plus I think it’s a book I might be able to share with my eldest but I’m going to read it first just in case there’s anything too scary for him.

Have you ever bought a book for it’s cover?

Book Synopsis:

For fans of Natalie Haynes, Kiran Millwood-Hargrave and Neil Gaiman comes Frances Hardinge’s spectacular new novel Unraveller. Called her ‘best yet’ by the Guardian, and ‘sheer perfection’ and ‘a masterpiece’ by reviewers, Hardinge expertly weaves together mythology and mystery in a meticulously-detailed world besieged by curses.

If you must travel to the country of Raddith, then be prepared. Bring a mosquito net for the lowlands, and a warm coat for the hills or mountains. If you mean to visit the misty marsh-woods known as the Wilds, you will need stout, waterproof boots. (You will also needs wits, courage and luck, but some things cannot be packed.)

You have of course heard that some people in Raddith are able to curse their enemies. It sounded so picturesque when you were reading about it at home, like a fairytale.

Perhaps you will decide that all the stories of the Wilds and the Raddith cursers were invented to entertain tourists. And at night, when you see a many-legged shape scuttle across the ceiling of your bedchamber, you will tell yourself that it is a spider, and only a spider . . .

. . . It is not.

In a world where anyone can create life-destroying curses, only one person has the power to unravel them. Kellen does not fully understand his talent, but uses it to help those who have been cursed, including his ally and closest friend, Nettle. But Kellen himself is cursed, and unless he and Nettle can release him, he is in danger of unravelling everything – and everyone – around him.

About The Author:

Frances Hardinge spent a large part of her childhood in a huge old house that inspired her to write strange stories from an early age. She read English at Oxford University, then got a job at a software company. However, a few years later a persistent friend finally managed to bully Frances into sending a few chapters of Fly By Night, her first children’s novel, to a publisher. Macmillan made her an immediate offer. The book went on to publish to huge critical acclaim and win the Branford Boase First Novel Award. She has since written many highly acclaimed children’s novels including, Fly By Night’s sequel, Twilight Robbery, as well as the Carnegie shortlisted Cuckoo Song and the Costa Book of the Year winner, The Lie Tree.

#BookReview: The Sh!te Before Christmas by Serena Terry @MammyBanter @HarperCollinsUK @fictionpubteam #TheSh!teBeforeChristmas #SerenaTerry #MammyBanter

Book Synopsis:

One month to go. One stressed mum. Can she pull off the perfect family Christmas?

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…

Like every mum, Tara wants a perfect Christmas for her family – but no-one else is lifting a finger and she’s losing her elf-ing mind.

From a vaping teen, explosive potty training and a disastrous Nativity, to a distracted husband acting very out of character, the final straw is Tara’s glamorous, feckless mother moving herself back in for the holidays.

Can Tara pull off the holly jolly Christmas of her dreams? Will she deck the halls and not her family? Or is this a Christmas catastrophe waiting to happen…

Hilarious, heartwarming and festive as f*ck – the new novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Mammy Banter: The Secret Life of an Uncool Mum.

My Review:

This was an hilarious, heart warming read that was just what I needed in the run up to Christmas.

Firstly as a mum of three I definitely related to Tara as I know how wonderful but exhausting it can be having three kids. It seems to be a constant whirl of mess, arguments and guilt which is perfectly captured in this book. Some of the events in this book had be laughing out loud whilst being glad that these things don’t just happen to me.

There was lots of action in this book, some more emotional then I expected. I enjoyed following the different story lines and seeing how they developed. As you can probably imagine things don’t run smoothly, with lots of curve balls and surprising twists to the story. Some of these played out differently to how I expected which I always enjoy.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend this to stressed out mums on the run up to Christmas as it’s very relatable. This was the first book I’ve read by this author and I’ll definitely read more from her in the future.

About The Author:

Up and coming comedy content creator, writer, actress and public speaker, Serena Terry, known as Mammy Banter, has taken the social media world by storm after her hilarious videos started going viral across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Serena’s down-to-earth, ‘tell it like it is’ realness has resonated with fans around the world. She now has over 650,000 followers on TikTok, 135,000 on Instagram and 100k on Facebook, with more than 20 million views across all platforms.

She lives in Derry with her husband (@daddy_banter) and two kids. She’d love a nap, too.

#BookSpotlight: Dashboard Elvis Is Dead by David F. Ross @dfr10 @OrendaBooks @bertsbooks #DashboardElvisIsDead #DavidFRoss #TeamOrenda #BertsBooks

Eek it finally arrived! I always enjoy receiving my Orenda Subscription from Bert’s books and seeing what fabulous book I’ve got this month. I was particularly excited to discover it was this book as I’ve loved this author’s previous books and have heard great things about this one! I can’t wait to read this soon!

Do you have any book subscriptions?

Book Synopsis:

Renowned photo-journalist Jude Montgomery arrives in Glasgow in 2014, in the wake of the failed Scottish independence referendum, and it’s clear that she’s searching for someone.

Is it Anna Mason, who will go on to lead the country as First Minister? Jamie Hewitt, guitarist from eighties one-hit wonders The Hyptones? Or is it Rabbit – Jude’s estranged foster sister, now a world-famous artist?

Three apparently unconnected people, who share a devastating secret, whose lives were forever changed by one traumatic night in Phoenix, forty years earlier.

Taking us back to a school shooting in her Texas hometown, and a 1980s road trip across the American West – to San Francisco and on to New York – Jude’s search ends in Glasgow, and a final, shocking event that only one person can fully explain…

An extraordinary, gritty and tender novel about fate and destiny, regret and absolution – and a road trip that changes everything…

About The Author:

David F. Ross was born in Glasgow in 1964. His critically acclaimed debut novel, The Last Days of Disco, was long-listed for the Best First Novel Award by the Author’s Club of London. National Theatre Scotland acquired dramatic rights for the book in 2015.He completed a trilogy of Ayrshire-based books with The Rise & Fall of the Miraculous Vespas and The Man Who Loved Islands. All three novels have been translated into German, published by Heyne Hardcore (Random House). Welcome to The Heady Heights – His fourth for Orenda Books – was published in March 2019.There’s Only One Danny Garvey was shortlisted for Scottish Fiction Book of the Year 2021. It has been called ‘a brilliant, bittersweet story that captures the rawness of strained relationships.’David F. Ross is a regular contributor to Nutmeg and Razur Cuts magazines, and in December 2018 was chosen to contribute a poem commemorating the 16th anniversary of the death of Joe Strummer for the publication Ashes to Activists. In 2020 he wrote the screenplay for the film ‘Miraculous’, based on his own novel.His sixth novel – Dashboard Elvis Is Dead – will be published by Orenda Books in December 2022Follow David on Twitter @dfr10, on Instagram

Holiday Reading: Books I’m hoping to read over my Christmas Holidays! #HolidayReading #Tbr

Good morning everyone! I’m on holiday for two weeks over the Christmas period which I’m really looking forward to. My kids are super hyper about Christmas and my youngest’s birthday on the 23rd so it’s a bit hectic at the moment.

Here are 5 books I’m hoping to read over the holidays. We’re off to visit relatives so not sure if I’ve overstretched myself but fingers crossed I get to read them all!

There are some that I’ve mentioned before but I didn’t get a chance to read them so I’d like to finally read them over Christmas.

What are you hoping to read over Christmas?

A Terrible Kindness by Jo Browning Wroe


When we go through something impossible, someone, or something, will help us, if we let them . . .

It is October 1966 and William Lavery is having the night of his life at his first black-tie do. But, as the evening unfolds, news hits of a landslide at a coal mine. It has buried a school: Aberfan.

William decides he must act, so he stands and volunteers to attend. It will be his first job as an embalmer, and it will be one he never forgets.

His work that night will force him to think about the little boy he was, and the losses he has worked so hard to forget. But compassion can have surprising consequences, because – as William discovers – giving so much to others can sometimes help us heal ourselves.

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

The instant SUNDAY TIMES and NEW YORK TIMES bestseller that Stephen King calls ‘Impossible to put down’.

Galaxy ‘Alex’ Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. A dropout and the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved crime, Alex was hoping for a fresh start. But a free ride to one of the world’s most prestigious universities was bound to come with a catch.

Alex has been tasked with monitoring the mysterious activities of Yale’s secret societies – well-known haunts of the rich and powerful. Now there’s a dead girl on campus and Alex seems to be the only person who won’t accept the neat answer the police and campus administration have come up with for her murder.

Because Alex knows the secret societies are far more sinister and extraordinary than anyone ever imagined. They tamper with forbidden magic. They raise the dead. And sometimes they prey on the living . . .

The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood

To solve an impossible murder, you need an impossible hero…

Seventy-seven-year-old Judith Potts is blissfully happy. She lives alone in a faded mansion in Marlow, sets crosswords for The Times, and there’s no man in her life to tell her what to do or how much whisky to drink.

One evening, while out swimming in the Thames, Judith witnesses a brutal murder. When the local police don’t believe her story, Judith and two unlikely friends decide to investigate for themselves. Together, they are the Marlow Murder Club.

But soon another body turns up, and it seems they have a real-life serial killer on their hands. Now the puzzle they set out to solve has become a trap from which they might never escape…

The Secrets Of Rochester Place by Iris Costello

A LOST CHILD. A LONG-KEPT SECRET. THE HOUSE THAT HOLDS THE KEY

Spring 1937: Teresa is evacuated to London in the wake of the Guernica bombing. She thinks she’s found safety in the soothing arms of Mary Davidson and the lofty halls of Rochester Place, but trouble pursues her wherever she goes.

Autumn 2020: Corrine, an emergency dispatcher, receives a call from a distressed woman named Mary. But when the ambulance arrives at the address, Mary is nowhere to be found. Intrigued, Corinne investigates and, in doing so, disturbs secrets that have long-dwelt in Rochester Place’s crumbling walls. Secrets that, once revealed, will change her life for ever . . .

Who is Mary Davidson? And what happened at Rochester Place all those years ago?

Set between the dusty halls of Rochester Place and the bustling streets of modern-day Tooting, this emotive, intricately layered mystery tells the spellbinding story of two people, separated by time, yet mysteriously connected through an enchanting Georgian house and the secrets within its walls. For fans of Sally Page’s The Keeper of Stories.

They Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera

On September 5th, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them some bad news: they’re going to die today. Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they’re both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news: there’s an app for that. It’s called the Last Friend, and through it, Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last great adventure – to live a lifetime in a single day. 

Another beautiful, heartbreaking and life-affirming book from the brilliant Adam Silvera, author of More Happy Than Not, History Is All You Left MeWhat If It’s Us, Here’s To Us and the Infinity Cycle series.