Coming to Find You by Jane Corry

Social tour: 15 June to 14 July 2023

Synopsis

You can run away from your life.
But you can’t run away from murder.

When her family tragedy is splashed across the newspapers, Nancy decides to disappear. Her grandmother’s beautiful Regency house in a quiet seaside village seems like the safest place to hide. But the old house has its own secrets and a chilling wartime legacy …

Now someone knows the truth about the night Nancy’s mother and stepfather were murdered. Someone knows where to find her. And they have nothing to lose …

So what really happened that night? And how far will she go to keep it hidden?

My review

I’m a big fan of Jane Corry’s books and my first ever blog tour was I Looked Away, so I was keen to be involved in the social tour for Coming to Find You! Set in two different time periods, it tells the stories of two women, Nancy Greenfield and Elizabeth Montague.

In the present day, after her stepbrother, Martin Greenfield (39), is found guilty of the murder of her mother, Violet, and stepfather, Duncan, in their Sussex farmhouse, Nancy (36) decides to get away from all the media attention (and her ex-fiancé, Alex), and head to their Devonshire family holiday home, Tall Chimneys. The beautiful three-storey white Regency house in the coastal town of Sidmouth was left to Nancy by her mother and it originally belonged to her grandmother, Adeline, who inherited it in the 1950s from her friend, Elizabeth.

Nancy gets to know a few of the other locals in town but isn’t really sure who she can trust and soon finds that she can’t escape the press, recent events or the past.

In the other strand of the story, it’s 1941 and Elizabeth and her husband, Henry, run Tall Chimneys as a boarding house. Their only son, Phillip (17), has enlisted to fight and he heads off to war as the novel begins. Elizabeth is desperately worried about him. Her best friend, Adeline, persuades her to take in a couple of evacuees, Maisie and Shirley, and their teacher, Mr Smith.

This is a fascinating novel and it was intriguing to see all the various strands of the story come together and discover how everything was connected and what had happened in the past. There were lots of shocks and revelations in both parts of the story and I had no idea how everything was going to work out!

There were several dysfunctional relationships and I felt anger at the rather unpleasant characters of Martin and Henry who were both abusive and had a hold over Nancy and Elizabeth, respectively, and were coercing them to do what they wanted. I also wasn’t sure about Nancy’s ex, Alex, who had secrets of his own and was behaving a bit strangely at times!

Coming to Find You is a well-written and cleverly plotted tale! Just when I thought I had things sussed out, there would be another twist that I hadn’t expected! The book had a great pace and intrigue to it and it kept my attention throughout, with never a dull moment. It cleverly switched between Nancy and Elizabeth’s stories, interspersed with flashbacks to the night of the murder, and it was an interesting look at relationships and made me really care about both women, especially Elizabeth who experienced a lot during the war years. It was interesting to get to know more about her, especially her work for Churchill’s Secret Army, and learn the secrets that she’d been hiding for decades.

The Regency house, Tall Chimneys, was like a character in its own right and it was fascinating to read about it in the two different time periods and hear about what had happened over the years. The house certainly had a few tales to tell!

Overall, I really enjoyed this gripping and entertaining domestic thriller and raced through it in a couple of days. I’ve read four of Jane Corry’s books now and enjoyed them all and I always look out for her next novel!

Buy the book

Coming to Find You by Jane Corry can be purchased from Amazon on Kindle and in paperback, and as an eBook from Kobo and iBooks. See also Ethical Book Search.

About the author

Jane Corry is a writer and journalist (Daily Telegraph and women’s magazines) who worked for three years as the writer-in-residence of a high-security male prison. This experience helped inspire her The Sunday Times Penguin bestsellers My Husband’s Wife, Blood Sisters, The Dead Ex, I Looked Away, I Made A Mistake, The Lies We Tell and We All Have Our Secrets. She has now sold over a million copies of her books worldwide.

Jane worked as an RLF Fellow at Exeter University and is a former creative writing tutor at Oxford University. She also writes short stories as well as a weekly digital column about being a granny for My Weekly. In addition, she is a regular contributor to The Daily Telegraph and speaks at literary festivals all over the world. Many of her ideas strike during morning dog-jogs along the beach followed by a dip in the sea – no matter how cold it is!

Twitter: @JaneCorryAuthor
Facebook: @authorjanecorry
Instagram: @janecorry
Website: https://www.janecorryauthor.com

Social tour

Thanks to Ellie Hudson from Penguin Books UK for my proof of Coming to Find You and for inviting me to join the social tour.

See the banner below for more stops on the #socialtour.

The Final Party by A.A. Chaudhuri

Book blitz: 16 to 24 May 2023

Synopsis

SIX FRIENDS.
In a luxury villa set high in the hills above the glamorous town of Sorrento, southern Italy, three couples gather for the perfect 40th birthday celebration.

ONE BODY.
Before the week is out, one of them is dead.

COUNTLESS LIES.
Their perfect reunion quickly becomes the holiday from hell when one of the group starts receiving anonymous messages, threatening to expose a dark secret from their university days.

As old friendships are tested to the limit, it’s clear that what happens in the dark past won’t stay buried …

My review

Set in early August 2019 in the gorgeous Italian location of Sorrento, The Final Party tells the story of six friends (three couples) who have known each other for years. They’ve gathered at a stunning villa to celebrate Vanessa’s upcoming 40th birthday.

Padma is married to Nick, Vanessa (Ness) is married to Marcus (who she met at work), and Lana is married to Johnny. Four of them were at the University of Oxford together: Johnny, Nick, Padma and Vanessa. Lana and Padma were at primary school together and Johnny and Vanessa are childhood friends. They’re all very connected and know each other well – Johnny is also Padma’s ex! Two of the three couples have children.

In their final year of university, in 2001, something bad happened to Padma and it still affects her now. This period of time has particular significance in the story and there are regular flashbacks to the events that took place. The story is told from the points of view of each of the six characters, which gives the reader a great insight into what each of them has been up to and their deepest, darkest thoughts and fears.

Right from the start, the atmosphere was awkward and unpleasant and the holiday seemed destined for disaster. I was surprised that everyone was still friends – most of them didn’t seem to like each other particularly, even the couples! They were all hiding secrets, with varying degrees of severity, from each other and, over the course of a few days, the tension rose and things reached boiling point very quickly! The majority of them had spent the last 18 years beholden to each other, lying to/for the others and hiding secrets; such a stressful way to live.

I was a little confused by all the different characters at first but, once I’d worked out who they all were, I was transfixed. This was such a tense and gripping novel and so twisty – there were lots of shocking revelations; most of which I was totally surprised by!

Overall, this was a cleverly plotted and well-paced story and very engaging! All the characters were pretty horrible and there was so much tension, lots of seething emotions and so many unsaid words. I couldn’t put the book down as they all fascinated me and I was curious to put all the clues together and find out how everything was going to reach its dramatic climax and who was going to end up dead!

I’ve read and enjoyed A.A. Chaudhuri’s earlier legal thriller series (The Scribe and The Abduction) and can’t wait to read her two other psychological thrillers, She’s Mine and The Loyal Friend.

Buy the book

The Final Party by A.A. Chaudhuri is released on 25 May and can be purchased from Amazon on Kindle and in paperback, and as an eBook from Kobo and iBooks. See also Ethical Booksearch.

About the author

A.A. Chaudhuri is a former city lawyer. After gaining a degree in history at University College London, she later trained as a solicitor and worked for several major London law firms before leaving law to pursue her passion for writing.

She is the author of The Scribe and The Abduction, books 1 and 2 of her Kramer and Carver legal thriller series featuring the feisty Maddy Kramer, which is also published in audio.

Her first highly acclaimed psychological thriller with Hera Books, She’s Mine, was published on Kindle, paperback and audio in August 2021 and in April 2022 was named the LJ Ross Book Club pick of the month. The Loyal Friend was published on 23 June 2022 and has received widespread praise.

She lives in Surrey with her family, and loves films, all things Italian and a good margarita!

Twitter: @AAChaudhuri
Facebook: @AAChaudhuri
Instagram: @A.A.Chaudhuri
Website: aachaudhuri.com

Thanks

Thanks to The SquadPod Collective for my place on the book blitz.

After Paris by Nicole Kennedy

SquadPod review

Synopsis

Three best friends. A weekend away. And a whole lot of baggage.

Alice, Nina and Jules have been best friends for twenty years. They met in Paris and return there once a year, to relive their youth, leave the troubles of home behind, and indulge in each other’s friendship and warmth. But this year, aged thirty-nine, the cracks in their relationships are starting to show …

After their weekend together in Paris, the three women never speak again. Each claims the other two ghosted them. But is there more to the story?

My review

We first meet Alice, Julia and Nina in 1999, when they’re all aged 19, at the rather unusual occasion of a debutante ball in Paris! The trio end up being in the same toilets at the venue, Hôtel de Crillon, and become firm friends after the event. They decide to stay in touch and meet up every year in Paris.

We jump to 2019 and it’s been three years since the women last meet up. Much has happened over the last 20 years and we learn more, in flashbacks to past years, as the novel progresses. The story is told from the points of view of each of the women and it’s an excellent way of getting to know them better. Alice is now married to Teddy, who was her childhood friend and also at the ball, and they have three children. Alice has recently started her own interior design business. Jules and her husband, Paul, are both investment bankers. They’ve struggled to conceive for years and have undergone numerous rounds of IVF. Nina runs La City Pâtisserie with her close friend and flatmate, Luca, and his partner.

Alice, Jules and Nina meet up and travel by train to Paris and they’re looking forward to relaxing and catching up. Unfortunately, it’s an uncomfortable weekend as they’re all hiding significant secrets from each other and have been for years. They really need to get things into the open and listen to each other but too much has happened since they first met and the three of them struggle to talk honestly and frankly.

I thought this was going to be a light and funny book but it actually covers some serious themes. The women have each had a torrid time of it over the years and much has happened in their lives. This current trip to Paris is the culmination of everything and a crunch/peak moment for them all. A lack of talking and some miscommunication means that two of the women head home separately on the Eurostar and they don’t speak again for months. Is this the end of their friendship or will they manage to swallow their pride and get back in touch with each other?

Overall, this is a really thought-provoking and well-written read and I enjoyed getting to know Alice, Julia and Nina (and their significant others) and learning about all the key moments in their lives, in the beautiful setting of Paris with its delicious food and drink and stunning sights. The novel highlighted really well the complexities of women’s friendships and the highs and lows they have to navigate, both personally and collectively, in their private and work lives, as they grow older.

There were some intriguing and clever twists and I was rather surprised by events, some of which had been cleverly hinted at throughout! It was a heart-wrenching and emotional read at times and I was curious to see how everything would get resolved by the end of the novel.

I really enjoyed this compelling story and must read the author’s debut novel, Everything’s Perfect, soon!

Buy the book

After Paris by Nicole Kennedy can be purchased from Amazon on Kindle, hardback and in paperback, and as an eBook from Kobo and iBooks. See also Ethical Book Search.

About the author

Nicole Kennedy grew up in Essex and studied Law at Bristol University. She has always loved to write but her efforts were waylaid by work as a corporate lawyer in London, Paris and Dubai. During Nicole’s second maternity leave she began writing poems on motherhood and family life. She completed her first novel during her third maternity leave (by then it was easier than leaving the house) and her second during the pandemic (by then she wasn’t allowed to leave the house).

Nicole lives in Kent with her husband and three sons.

Twitter: @nicolekkennedy
Facebook: @nicolekennedywriter
Instagram: @nicole_k_kennedy
Website: nicolekennedy.com

Thanks

Thanks to Aria Fiction for my paperback copy of After Paris for the SquadPod celebrations.

The Little Board Game Café by Jennifer Page

SquadPod review

Synopsis

When Emily loses her job, house and boyfriend all within a matter of days, she’s determined to turn a negative into a positive and follow her dream of running a small café in the gorgeous Yorkshire village of Essendale.

But she quickly finds she’s bitten off more than she can chew when the ‘popular’ café she takes over turns out to secretly be a failing business. Emily desperately needs a way to turn things around, and help comes from the unlikeliest of places when she meets local board game-obsessed GP Ludek. But when a major chain coffee shop opens on the high street, Emily is forced to question if she’ll ever be able to compete.

Has she risked everything on something destined to fail? Or can a playful twist, a homely welcome, and a sprinkle of love make Emily’s café the destination she’s always dreamed of?

My review

The story opens with Emily going through the most stressful time – she’s been made redundant from the engineering firm where she works, she’s split up with her fiancé, Peter (who’s also her boss!), and has had to move out of their lovely house in Essendale in the West Yorkshire Pennines and into her best friend Kate’s house.

Emily spots a café up for sale in a nearby street and, with encouragement from Kate, she decides to buy it and open up her own café, which has always been an ambition of hers. Unfortunately, she’s been rather misled on the popularity of the café and things don’t go well initially, with only a handful of customers, including an older man called Stan Baranski and her ex-former-mother-in-law, Florence. It’s only after she gets closer to local board game fanatic and doctor, Ludek, that things start to improve but it’s not a smooth journey and there are several ups and downs along the way.

The book is full of brilliant characters who were all endearing and unique in their own way and helped to make the story so compelling. They’re all rather different but they work together to support each other and help Emily. Kate is always there looking out for her and she makes new friends in Ludek and Mr Baranski and gets back in touch with her former neighbour, Marjory.

The descriptions of food were mouthwatering and I loved imagining the café, the amazing cakes and all the different board games, especially as I take my children to a board games and breakfast club at a local church every Saturday morning!

It was lovely that Emily is a fan of books too and I liked the way the ‘books by Emily’s bedside’ (her charity shop purchases) changed to match her mood and fears as the story developed.

Overall, this was a well-written and engaging read. The story was heartfelt and touching and I was rooting for the main character, Emily. I really enjoyed reading her journey as she grows in confidence, finds herself and follows her childhood dreams. The café sounds brilliant and I wish I could actually visit and play a game, eat a delicious cake and meet all the characters! Emily is very kind and considerate and really looks after her customers.

The cover looks great too – very colourful, eye catching and appealing! I’ll definitely look out for the author’s next book as I really enjoyed this one.

Buy the book

The Little Board Game Café by Jennifer Page can be purchased from Amazon on Kindle and in paperback, and as an eBook from Kobo and iBooks. See also Ethical Book Search.

About the author

Jennifer Page wrote her first novel – a book about ponies – when she was eight. These days she prefers to write romance. When she isn’t writing, Jennifer can usually be found playing board games which are the inspiration for her first novel. She has worked as a television producer, a music teacher and has even run a children’s opera company. She now lives near Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire with her husband and his large collection of games.

Twitter: @jenpagewrites
Facebook: @jenniferpagewrites
Instagram: @jenniferpagewrites
Website: jenniferpage.co.uk

Thanks

Thanks to Aria Fiction for my paperback copy of The Little Board Game Café for the SquadPod celebrations.

Conviction by Jack Jordan

Spotlight tour: 24 to 30 April 2023

Synopsis

To steal a man’s freedom, all it takes is … CONVICTION

Wade Darling stands accused of killing his wife and teenage children as they slept and burning their house to the ground.

When the case lands on barrister Neve Harper’s desk, she knows it could make her career.

A matter of days before the case, as Neve is travelling home for the night, she is approached by a man. He tells her she must throw the case or the secret about her husband’s disappearance will be revealed. Failing that, he will kill everyone she cares about, until she does as she is told.

Neve must make a choice – go against every principle she has ever had, or the people she loves will die.

Spotlight

I really enjoyed Do No Harm and, from these early quotes, Conviction sounds like it’s going to be another brilliant read!

‘No one crafts a dilemma quite like Jack Jordan. Conviction is a tour de force of a legal thriller that will have you guessing at every turn and then gasping when the plot inevitably catches you unawares. His characters are beautifully and shockingly flawed yet so vividly drawn you just can’t help investing in them – and if you’re anything like I was, you’ll be swept away on a thrilling ride that starts from the very first page.’
Janice Hallett

‘A masterclass in misdirection. Smart, stylish, taut and twisting. Conviction is Jack Jordan’s best yet.’
Chris Whitaker

‘Jack Jordan goes from strength to strength with this expertly written tale of retribution and blackmail. Woven with Jack’s trademark moral dilemma, this is a book where the line between good and bad is never as obvious as it seems. Loved it!’
Sam Holland

‘Verdict is in – Jack Jordan is officially the king of the moral dilemma. Conviction is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that doesn’t relent until the very last sentence.’
Laure Van Rensburg

‘Raced through Conviction by the talented Jack Jordan. Tense and fast paced, this is a definite pre-order!’
Karen Hamilton

‘I loved every minute of this thrilling read. It combines the best of Sarah Vaughan and John Grisham: immersive, visual writing with twist after twist turning the screw tighter with ever page. Take a bow Jack “jeopardy” Jordan.’
Jo Callaghan

Conviction by Jack Jordan is published in hardback, eBook and audiobook by Simon and Schuster on 22 June 2023.

Preorder the book

A signed hardback copy of Conviction by Jack Jordan can be preordered from Waterstones.

Conviction can also be purchased from Amazon on Kindle and in hardback, and as an eBook from Kobo and iBooks. See also Ethical Book Search.

About the author

Jack Jordan is the global bestselling author of Do No Harm, Anything for Her, My Girl, A Woman Scorned, Before Her Eyes and Night by Night, an Amazon number one bestseller in the UK, Canada and Australia. Jack’s novel Do No Harm was a Saturday Times bestseller and was longlisted for a Dead Good Reader Award in 2022.

Twitter: @JackJordanBooks
Facebook: @JackJordanOfficial
Instagram: @jackjordan_author
Tiktok: @jackjordan_author

Spotlight tour

Thanks to Tracy Fenton at Compulsive Readers for my place on the spotlight tour.

See the banner below for more stops on the #blogtour.

Twin Truths by Jacqueline Sutherland

Blog tour: 6 to 21 April 2023

Synopsis

How well do your family really know you?

Belle can’t wait to finally have her twins all to herself after their first term at university. But when Kit unexpectedly brings back her boyfriend Ivo, Belle has to welcome him into their home. Charming and confident, Ivo soon wins over the family, but Belle can’t shake a strange feeling. And when Ivo reveals he knows a lot more about Belle than he first let on, she realises his intrusion into their lives could destroy everything she has built. How far is Belle willing to go to protect her family and herself?

My review

It’s the week before Christmas and Annabelle (Belle) and David Walker are looking forward to their twin daughters coming home from university after their first term. It’s been a long three months and they’ve really missed the girls. Jess is at Exeter studying English literature and Kit is doing a public relations degree at Bristol.

The day before they are due to arrive, Kit phones her mum to ask if her new boyfriend, Ivo, can join them. He’s a mature student studying photography at the other university in Bristol but the two met at Kit’s student union where he works. It’s Belle’s 50th birthday two days before Christmas and she would prefer it just to be the four of them, plus Dodge the dog, but can’t refuse Kit’s request.

When Ivo and the twins arrive the following day, David’s 70-year-old mum, Morag, rushes out to greet them. She lives in the self-contained two-bedroom basement flat below their house. Ivo is handsome and has quite a presence and has soon charmed Morag and David. Kit is smitten and can’t keep her hands off her boyfriend.

Belle, on the other hand, is unsure about Ivo as he seems quite intense and she’s worried about the influence he’s having over Kit, especially when she mentions that she’s not very keen on her degree course. Belle finds him unnerving and he makes her uneasy, especially when he calls her ‘Bella’ by mistake and seems to imply that he knows things about her past.

As we get closer to Christmas, the tension rises and bad things start to happen. Belle ends up living a nightmare as she realises that her life as she knows it could be about to implode. How far will she have to get to protect her family?

Living in East Anglia, I was excited to discover that Twin Truths is set in the Suffolk seaside town of Southwold, with its famous beach huts, a place that I’ve visited a few times over the years!

Belle is a keen sea swimmer and each chapter begins with her swim for that day and details of the sea and air temperatures. She’s cautious and always swims with someone else, usually her friend, Nancy, and makes sure that she only stays in the water for 10 minutes, setting an alarm on her watch. Swimming is Belle’s time to clear her mind and the cold temperature of the sea invigorates and revitalises her.

As well as descriptions of Belle’s daily swims, we also get flashbacks (in italicised text), before the twins were born, which revealed some interesting moments in her past.

The characters were well formed and provoked a range of emotions. Ivo is a very creepy character and I found him quite frightening and quietly menacing at times. His character was well written as I couldn’t really put my finger on what I didn’t like about him. He just made me feel uneasy, like he did Belle.

I liked Jess as she seemed the more sensible twin and kind and considerate, even when Kit was being dramatic and unkind. David was also a calming influence and I liked his steady demeanour. Morag was a great character and very shrewd! I was fond of Belle too, despite some of the daft decisions she made, both in the present and past.

Overall, I thought Twin Truths was an excellent book; I really enjoyed this well-written and gripping read! The storyline is very tense and intriguing with lots of twists and turns. I had several different theories as the novel progressed but the author cleverly outwitted me numerous times with some clever plot twists. It was compelling and I couldn’t put the book down and finished it in a couple of days. I had to try and stop myself from turning the pages too quickly so that I could savour all the details! The pacing was very good.

I was lucky enough to win a copy of the author’s debut novel, The Coffin Club, recently and will definitely be reading it soon! And I’m looking forward to her next book.

Buy the book

Twin Truths by Jacqueline Sutherland can be purchased from Amazon on Kindle and in paperback, and as an eBook from Kobo and iBooks. See also Ethical Book Search.

About the author

Jacqueline (Jack) Sutherland worked in corporate PR and marketing for over 20 years. She began her debut thriller, The Coffin Club (Point Blank, 2022) when she signed up for the 2020 Faber Academy Write Your Novel course, which she described as the best thing she’s ever done.

Jack lives in Guildford with her husband and their four sons.

Twitter: @writerjac

Blog tour

Thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for my digital copy of Twin Truths and for my place on the blog tour.

See the banner below for more stops on the #blogtour.

Second to Sin by Murray Bailey

Blog tour: 10 to 22 April 2023

Synopsis

‘It only takes a second to sin,’ Father Thomas said. He believes in saving souls, but Charles Balcombe is beyond saving. His control over his killer instinct appears to be weakening.

BlackJack has killed again and more questions are being asked of Detective Inspector Munro. He is under increasing pressure to solve the murders, especially when he picks up more cases from Kowloon rather than solving his own.

As Balcombe battles with his demon, he investigates the death of a young woman. Was it an accident or did she kill herself? At first Balcombe thinks it’s straightforward but as he digs, other cases reveal an evil in Hong Kong. One that could consume them all.

Set in 1954, this is book 2 of the series. It can be read as a standalone but the author recommends book 1 (Once a Killer) first.

My review

In the second book in this new series from Murray Bailey, it’s 1954 in Hong Kong and Charles Balcombe (not his real name) is again struggling to control the murderous urges from his alter ego, the mysterious BlackJack. It’s been a month since his last gruesome kill and he’s trying to distract himself with gambling, dangerous liaisons with married women and free climbing.

Balcombe moved to Hong Kong the previous year to escape his past, change his name and his life. He’s in his mid-twenties and a bit of a player. He used to be a member of the elite Special Investigations Branch of the Royal Military Police and, in this novel, he often pretends he’s a journalist rather than an investigator.

The rickshaw driver called Albert that Balcombe befriended in the first book is still working for him and is often sent on special undercover jobs. Albert is invisible and very useful, often getting close to people without them realising!

Balcombe attends Mass every Sunday at the local cathedral with his friend, Roy Faulls, who is concerned about Balcombe’s drinking. To keep him busy and to stop him boozing so much, he asks Balcombe to investigate the recent death of a young Catholic woman called Margaret Sotherland. Her death wasn’t registered as a suicide or murder but Faulls has his doubts and wants Balcombe to look into it.

Detective Inspector ‘Babyface’ Munro is working alongside Inspector Gordon Garrett, who is after his job, and has been tasked by Chief Carmichael to solve some of the numerous crimes that have taken place in the region recently. He ends up becoming more interested in the disappearance of a young girl called Karen Vaughn, the case which forced the retirement of his predecessor, Detective Inspector Bill Teags, after a breakdown.

When Munro learns that Balcombe is carrying out his own investigation, he’s keen to help keep him out of trouble, and keep BlackJack in check, and provides Balcombe with useful information from police and pathologist files.

These two strands of Margaret Sotherland’s death and Karen Vaughn’s disappearance from a cinema are separate but, as the two men investigate in their own way and question people, various clues and elements are revealed as the story progresses. I really enjoyed this police procedural element to the novel. There are some red herrings and clever misdirection along the way, before we come to the conclusion of both cases. With a Murray Bailey book, you know there’s going to be a cleverly plotted ending that catches you by surprise!

Overall, Second to Sin is a well-written, action-packed and gripping read! It’s fast paced with lots of tension and some shocking twists and turns but I found it easy to keep track of everything and everyone. There are startling revelations and some violent and disturbing scenes, but all in keeping with the story. The characters are well drawn and both main protagonists are intelligent but also rather reckless at times, which adds to the excitement as you never know what they’re going to do next!

I enjoyed getting to know Balcombe again and seeing the other side to his BlackJack character, especially having read other books in the Ash Carter thriller series in which he played an intriguing role! There’s definitely more to him than meets the eye! Munro is a great character too.

As with other books from the author, the story is set in a rather tense and volatile area. Various gangs add a sense of menace and danger and there are also military and police tensions and elements of corruption and abuse. It’s a clear case of trust no one and I was suspicious of all as I was reading – everyone seems to have their own agenda and is looking out for themselves and can’t be trusted.

Hong Kong, its culture and its various suburbs and areas are richly described and I could really picture the location and the contrast between the richer and poorer areas.

I really enjoyed the original Ash Carter thrillers and this follow-on series is gripping and entertaining but also a slightly different style to the others. It’s an excellent addition to the author’s list and I look forward to the next book in the series, A Third is Darkness, soon!

Buy the book

Second to Sin by Murray Bailey is available on Kindle and can also be bought in paperback from Amazon.

The first book in the series, Once a Killer, is currently free on Kindle.

About the author

Murray Bailey got his first taste of success when he was published in The Times at 18 and in his local newspaper. Although he went on to pursue a different career, he continued to write and edit and became the editor of an international magazine and editor of four technical books.

I Dare You was the first of his books to be published in 2016. It was followed by Map of the Dead, the first of the series based on his interest in Egyptology. His main series, however, is the Ash Carter thrillers, inspired by his father’s experience in the Royal Military Police in Singapore in the early 1950s.

Murray was born in Greater Manchester, England and has been moving south ever since. He now lives on the beautiful Dorset coast with his wife and family.

Twitter: @MurrayBaileybks
Facebook: @MurrayBaileyAuthor
Instagram: @murraybaileyauthor
Website: https://murraybaileybooks.com/

Blog tour

Thanks to Murray Bailey for my digital copy of Second to Sin and for my place on the blog tour.

See the banner below for more stops on the #blogtour.

The Holiday Home by Daniel Hurst

Blog tour: 1 to 6 March 2023

Synopsis

The perfect holiday or the perfect nightmare …

I sit sipping champagne in the warm water, bubbles frothing around me as I admire the breathtaking view of gorgeous blue skies and mountains. I can’t believe I’m here, at this stunning holiday home. It’s to die for …

My best friend and her husband have invited me and my family to their lakeside property for the weekend, to experience their luxury lifestyle. I’m not envious of their wealth, although I know my husband Ryan is. All I want is to escape from our recent troubles and get my marriage back on track.

Then I overhear Ryan having a whispered conversation late one evening, and he says something that sends a shiver down my spine. In this beautiful paradise, my whole world is turned upside down.

Just when I think things can’t get any worse, I discover a second secret. The truth is even more shocking than I imagine, and now I have no idea who to trust.

This was meant to be the perfect holiday, but someone isn’t going to survive it …

A twist-filled psychological thriller that will keep your heart pounding until the very last page. If you love Behind Closed Doors, Gone Girl and The Housemaid, you’ll be gripped by The Holiday Home.

My review

I’ve been a fan of Daniel Hurst’s writing since his debut novella, 20 Minutes on the Tube, which I found a fascinating read, and I was hooked by his books and have been keeping an eye out for this prolific writer ever since! I love the 20 Minute series and his psychological thrillers, and the Influencing trilogy is great too. When I found out he’d signed with Bookouture, I was keen to read The Holiday Home and take part in the blog tour.

With a dramatic prologue involving gunfire, you’re flung straight into the action in this tense and gripping book, and I couldn’t wait to discover what on earth was happening!

Nicola and her husband, Ryan, and their 11-year-old daughter, Emily, have been invited to stay for the weekend with their best friends, Kim, Lewis and their 15-year-old son, Cole, in their recently purchased four-bedroom luxury holiday home in the Scottish Highlands.

It sounds idyllic – beautiful scenery, a luxurious wooden log cabin with hot tub, peace and quiet – but the two men are irritable, jealous and competitive with each other, teenager Cole is ignoring everyone and even Nicola and Kim, who have been friends since sixth form college, end up sniping at each other after a couple of fractious incidents.

When Nicola overhears a conversation that reveals a shocking secret, the simmering tension in this claustrophobic and uncomfortable environment threatens to overboil in a most dramatic fashion.

It’s a tried and tested trope – a cabin in the middle of nowhere, bad weather, no internet or phone signal and no way to call for help – but the story works well and is very engaging and full of suspense.

Overall, I really enjoyed this well-plotted and tense thriller. There were lots of twists and turns and just when I thought I’d sussed things out, there’d be another revelation and then another one! The intriguing story is fast paced and gripping and, with the short chapters, told from multiple points of view, I sped through the book in a couple of sittings, desperate to find out if anyone would survive.

As ever, I’m keen to see what Daniel Hurst writes next. He’s a very speedy writer and I’m still working my way through the 20 Minute series and have a couple of his other thrillers to read too!

Buy the book

The Holiday Home by Daniel Hurst can be purchased from Amazon on Kindle and in paperback.

About the author

Daniel Hurst writes psychological thrillers and loves to tell tales about unusual things happening to normal people. He has written all his life, making the progression from handing scribbled stories to his parents as a boy to writing full-length novels in his thirties. He lives in the north west of England, returning to his roots after several years away exploring the world and garnering plenty of ideas for future books!

Twitter: @dhurstbooks
Facebook: @danielhurstbooks
Instagram: @danielhurstbooks
Website: https://www.danielhurstbooks.com
Newsletter sign up: https://bookouture.com/daniel-hurst

Blog tour

Thanks to Sarah Hardy for my digital copy of The Holiday Home and for my place on the blog tour.

See the banner below for more stops on the #blogtour.

Nobody But Us by Laure Van Rensburg

Blog tour: 10 November to 12 December 2022

Synopsis

One couple. Two liars.

You’re a handsome, well-respected professor.

This weekend, you’re heading out of the city with your latest conquest. She’s young and eager to please. Just how you like them. But there’s something about this girl that’s different. You just can’t put your finger on it yet …

You’re a smart, hard-working student.

You’re excited to be whisked away by this experienced man to an isolated cabin. Far from disapproving eyes, you’re crossing boundaries. Which can be dangerous. But you know what you’re doing. Right?

Two lives. One twisted path. A game of cat and mouse.

But who is the hunter? And who is the prey?

My review

When Ellie Masterson and Steven Harding escape New York for a romantic getaway in Chesapeake Bay to celebrate their six-month anniversary, it sounds like the perfect weekend. It’s a chance for them to relax, spend some time together and get to know each other better. Ellie is a 23-year-old student and Steven is a college professor and 15 years her senior.

After a shocking and bloody prologue, the story is told from the perspectives of the couple, interspersed with flashback chapters in which we hear from another person who appears to know Steven and has had a relationship with him in the past.

The house they’re staying at is very modern with big windows but located in a forest and close to the ocean. It’s rather creepy and both Ellie and Steven are unnerved by the darkness and remoteness of the location and there’s a strong sense of foreboding and unease, right from the start. No phone signal – what could possibly go wrong?!

This is no ordinary short break and, before long, Ellie and Steven are both in danger, discovering things they didn’t know about each other and experiencing the weekend from hell! They’re hiding secrets and, as the truths come out, they’re left reeling and confused by the shocking discoveries.

Told over three days, the story is intense, intriguing and cleverly plotted, and the isolated cabin setting is atmospheric and perfect for the situation that unfolds, especially when the temperature drops and the snow begins to fall. The main protagonists are well described too – they’re rather unpleasant and I hated them both at times.

Nobody But Us is a twisted, torrid tale that had me gripped! Full of twists and turns and numerous revelations, it’s a tense, claustrophobic and terrifying read. I was constantly on edge as I frantically turned the pages, racing through the short chapters, never knowing what was going to happen next! What exactly is going on? Are either of them going to get out alive?

Overall, I really enjoyed this one and it had some important themes and definitely stayed in my mind after I’d finished it! I’m looking forward to reading the author’s next book.

Buy the book

Nobody But Us by Laure Van Rensburg can be purchased from Amazon on Kindle and in paperback, and as an eBook from Kobo and iBooks. See also Ethical Book Search.

About the author

Laure Van Rensburg is a French writer living in the UK and an Ink Academy alumna. Her stories have appeared in online magazines and anthologies such as Litro Magazine, Storgy Magazine, The Real Jazz Baby (2020 Best Anthology, Saboteur Awards 2020), and FIVE:2:ONE. She has also placed in competitions including 2018 and 2019 Bath Short Story Award.

Her debut novel, Nobody But Us (originally titled The Downfall) was shortlisted for the 2019 First Novel Prize, 2019 Novel London Competition and 2019 Flash 500 Novel Opening. It was published by Michael Joseph in April 2022 and has sold in 14 territories, including Germany, Italy, Norway and the United States.

Laure’s current work in progress, Eden Lost, was longlisted in 2019 Exeter Novel Prize and more recently shortlisted in the 2020 Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize.

Twitter: @Laure0901
Facebook: @LaureVanRensburgAuthor
Instagram: @laurevanrensburg
Website: www.laurevanrensburg.com

Blog tour

Thanks to Sriya Varadharajan at Michael Joseph Books for my copy of Nobody But Us and for my place on the blog tour.

See the banner below for more stops on the #blogtour.

Don’t Talk by Ian Ridley

Blog tour: 15 to 25 November 2022

Synopsis

When catching a killer means betraying a code.

When investigative reporter Jan Mason discovers that a young woman found strangled to death in her Chelsea flat is the daughter of a prominent politician, she knows she has a big story on her hands.

What she doesn’t know yet is that a mystery man has just told a stunned Alcoholics Anonymous meeting nearby that he might have killed his partner in a drunken blackout. And that Jan’s old flame, Frank Phillips, the Metropolitan Police’s deputy head of counter terrorism and a recovering alcoholic himself, was in that meeting – bound by its confidentiality. Soon, a member of the AA meeting will also be found dead, strangled with the same scarf.

Resourceful, well-connected, and always one step ahead of the police, Jan is willing to put herself in harm’s way if it means catching a killer. And landing a front page exclusive.

My review

Set in London, Don’t Talk is the second book in the Jan Mason series and, right from the start, it’s a gripping read as we meet the two main characters – Jan Mason, chief reporter at large at a national newspaper, and her former flame, Frank Phillips, deputy head of counter terrorism at the Metropolitan Police and a recovering alcoholic of 15 years.

When Camilla Carew (38), the daughter of a well-known politician, Peter Carew, is found strangled in her Chelsea flat, Jan Mason receives a tip off from police and begins investigating her death, hoping to be able to break the news about key developments. She’s a great character – fearless, intelligent and never afraid to ask difficult questions and think outside the box. She leaves no angle uncovered and her calm, sympathetic and encouraging manner helps her to coax information from witnesses, sources and suspects alike.

Frank Phillips worked with Jan in the past and they had a short relationship but they haven’t been in touch for many years. Working in counter terrorism, he shouldn’t have any connection with the murder case but while attending an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, his group is shocked when a new member bursts into their meeting late and confesses he may have killed his girlfriend while suffering from an alcoholic blackout. Frank is bound by the anonymity and confidentiality of the AA meetings and their discussions and feels torn about telling police colleagues what happened that evening, despite the possible link to Camilla Carew’s murder. He really regrets this when another shocking murder is committed and the victim is a member of the AA group and has also been strangled.

As the investigation unfolds, we switch between Jan and Frank’s viewpoints and we also meet DS Deena Campbell, who seems very competent and good at her job. All three are good at bartering and exchanging key information.

I really liked Jan – she’s very relatable: passionate, determined and hard working but stretched in several different directions. She’s trying to date but her work takes up all her time; her mum is deteriorating quickly in a nursing home. It feels like she’s always trying to prove herself, despite past successes, and the threat of redundancy is now rearing its ugly head. She seems rather unlucky in love – not as discerning and switched on in her private life as she is with her work.

Deena was another interesting character and it feels like she is someone to watch in the future and could have a larger role to play in any subsequent novels.

Overall, I really enjoyed this cleverly plotted, engaging and well-written story. The different strands worked really well as we followed the investigation from different angles and Jan, Frank and the police grew closer to the truth, though not always coordinating in the best fashion! I’m sure they could have solved things quicker if they hadn’t been so cagey but that’s the nature of their jobs!

Don’t Talk was a fast-paced and entertaining read and I raced through it in a couple of days, eager to find out how everything was resolved.

With the victim having several past and current partners, there were plenty of motives for murder. I had a few theories about the identity of the killer but was never convinced that I’d sussed things out properly. There were some fascinating twists and turns as we got closer to the end and I was shocked by some of the revelations!

I haven’t read Ian Ridley’s first Jan Mason book, Outer Circle, but I’ve now bought it and I’m looking forward to checking it out! I really enjoyed Don’t Talk and I hope there will be another book in the series soon!

Buy the book

Don’t Talk by Ian Ridley can be purchased from Amazon on Kindle and in paperback. See also Ethical Book Search.

About the author

Ian Ridley is the author of 12 sports books, including the number one bestselling Addicted, with the former Arsenal and England captain Tony Adams, which was shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year award. The follow-up book Sober was published in 2017, 20 years on. Three of his other books have also been nominated in the British Sports Book Awards. His latest is The Breath of Sadness: On love, grief and cricket, which is a poignant account of coping with the death of his wife Vikki Orvice, a trailblazing sports journalist.

Over a 40-year career, Ian has been a sports writer for The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, The Observer and the Mail on Sunday, for whom he was Chief Football Writer. He was named Sports Journalist of the Year in the 2007 British Press Awards and nominated on two other occasions.

Ian has also written for television, including more than 20 episodes of the Sky One drama series Dream Team, and currently has a film script optioned on the life story of the world champion boxer Darren Barker, based on the autobiography on which the two collaborated, A Dazzling Darkness.

His first novel, The Outer Circle, was published in 2018 and reissued in 2022 as Outer Circle, the first in the series of Jan Mason investigative journalist books.

Twitter: @IanRidley1
Twitter: @JanMasonJourno

Thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for my copy of Don’t Talk and for my place on the blog tour.