The Case of the Hydegild Sacrifice (Major Gask & Erroll Rait Mysteries Book 4) - David Cairns of Finavon

Uncover the secrets history tried to bury…

The Case of the Hydegild Sacrifice thrusts readers into the shadowy aftermath of one of America’s darkest moments—the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865.

Perfect for fans of historical fiction, political thrillers, and courtroom drama, this gripping tale blends high-stakes intrigue with razor-sharp suspense. Meticulously researched and brimming with unexpected twists, unforgettable characters, and haunting questions of justice and morality, this is a story that lingers long after the final page.

Join Major Gask and Erroll Rait as they unite with the Pinkertons to unravel the sinister secrets of the Hydegild Sacrifice—a case that threatens to shake the foundations of a nation still reeling from war.

History holds its breath. Will the truth finally be revealed?

The Major Gask Mysteries return in this fourth, pulse-pounding installment—a series already showered with 5-star acclaim from the Readers’ Choice Book Awards, the Historical Novel Society, and more. Praised by Aspects of History as “bursting with mystery, action, and adventure … a gripping, fast-paced read,” and hailed by Reader’s Favourite as “a thrilling mix of mystery, adventure, and conspiracy that keeps readers guessing until the very end,” these novels have become essential reading for fans of historical intrigue.

Cairns delivers a journey through history that grips from the first page to the last.

Dare you journey back in time and step into the mystery? 

What did I think?

If you like historical fiction you will love The Case of the Hydegild Sacrifice.  I don't know a great deal about American history so it was really interesting to read historical fiction set during the Abraham Lincoln era.  You think you know what happened to Lincoln?  Think again...

I have to admit that it took me a little while to get into the book because of all of the footnotes.  Some of the footnotes clearly show the depth of research that has gone into writing this novel but it was the footnotes that reference earlier books in the series that I found a little irrelevant to me (as I hadn't read those books).  You don't need to have read the earlier books in the series to enjoy this one though as it's my introduction to the series and I think it's brilliant.

I thoroughly enjoyed the telling of the story and even though I knew what was going to happen (as it is based on real events) I was completely riveted.  I found myself inspired to learn more about the events in the book and asking myself questions about things that I had never even considered before.

I must also mention Major Gask and Erroll Rait, who are a kind of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson and happen to be in America when Lincoln is assassinated.  Together with a Pinkerton agent that they met on their voyage over, they help to investigate first the assassination plot and then the assassination itself.  What they find is most unexpected and questions everything I thought I knew about this event.

Impeccably researched and incredibly entertaining, The Case of the Hydegild Sacrifice is a fantastic historical fiction novel based on real life events.  David Cairns of Finavon brings the period and the characters to life in this compelling, informative and fascinating novel.  A very highly recommended read.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: Practical Regeneration - Professor Paul Lee

Practical Regeneration is a clear and accessible guide to living longer, moving better and taking control of your health. Professor Lee introduces his Four Pillars of Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Time, showing how small, intelligent choices can transform the way the body heals and adapts. He explains how tiny misalignments build into bigger issues, how movement patterns shape long-term strength and how simple changes can shift the future of your joints, muscles and nervous system. 

The book also presents tools developed directly from his clinical work, including:

• MAI-Motion, a breakthrough movement analysis system that helps readers see what the eye cannot.

• The Regen PhD Pod, an integrated regenerative model used in clinical practice to support recovery and resilience. 

This is not a book about hacks. It is a book about systems, science and results.

“No hacks. Just science, systems and results.”

 

What did I think?

Professor Paul Lee's new book Practical Regeneration makes a lot of sense.  It is very easy to read and understand but most importantly it is filled with invaluable hints and tips to improve your health and wellbeing.

The book is set out in four parts representing four pillars: Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Time.  Starting with Physics, the book resonated with me from the start as I have lived with back pain for most of my life.  There are SO many useful tips and ideas to improve your body and mind so it is worth having a notepad beside you as you read, although there are summaries and invaluable practical sections at the end of each chapter.

It is very refreshing to read about a surgeon who doesn't automatically reach for their scalpel but instead uses their scientific knowledge to find a non-invasive solution.  Professor Lee has designed some helpful digital tools (MAI-Motion and Regen PhD Pod) for further improvement but the reader isn't pushed into parting with their hard-earned cash; it's just good to know there is further help if you need it.

I have poor posture and alignment from spinal surgery in 2003.  I also had a wide excision on my right leg a few years later, which left me further listing to the left to take the weight off my right leg.  Using some tips in the book, I can now balance on my right leg whilst brushing my teeth, something that would have previously made me fall over the moment I lifted my left leg off the floor.  I was amazed that I saw a noticeable improvement in just a few days and within a week I wasn't wobbling at all.

Written clearly and informatively, you will be surprised how quickly you get results from this life-changing book.  You do need to invest some time and effort as it's called Practical Regeneration for a reason but it's well worth it.  I can't recommend this book highly enough and I want to thank Professor Lee for sharing his knowledge to give me the tools to improve my posture, balance and alignment (among other things).

I received a gifted paperback for the Love Books Tours bookstagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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About the author:

Professor Paul Lee, "The Regeneration Man," is a double professor and double Board-certified surgeon with a PhD in medical engineering. With a long history in sports medicine, bioscience ad regeneration, he seamlessly blends his expertise as a Surgeon, Scientist, and Engineer. His revolutionary approach to regenerative medicine empowers you to stay young, be strong, and live forever. Discover how cutting-edge science and innovative engineering can transform your health and vitality, helping you achieve superhuman strength and longevity. Embrace a vibrant, pain-free future with his groundbreaking strategies.

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The Shrine (The Detective's Daughter book 10) - Lesley Thomson

A decades-old murder. A haunting legacy. A plot for revenge.

Stella Darnell knows her partner Jack is hiding something. After following him one evening, she discovers he's been consulting a psychic in a desperate attempt to reach his dead mother. A sceptic by nature, and feeling betrayed by his lies, Stella fears what this means for their relationship.

Seeking distraction, she accepts DI Toni Kemp's invitation to join her for a holiday in a small village in Gloucestershire. But the visit is derailed when a body is discovered at a shrine where a woman died decades earlier.

Drawn into the investigation, Stella must confront the legacy of a once-famous psychic whose shadow still hangs over Prestbury – while in the darkness, someone bent on revenge waits patiently for the perfect moment to strike...

Perfect for fans of LJ Ross and Kate Rhodes, this is the tenth gripping mystery in this must-read series that can be enjoyed in any order.

What did I think?

The Shrine is book 10 in The Detective's Daughter series but don't be put off if you haven't read any of the earlier books as it works brilliantly as a standalone.  I joined the series at book 8 so it was great to catch up with Stella again but there's enough information about her personal history for new readers to not feel lost.

This story is told from a dual point of view as we follow Stella's investigation and learn Jane's heartbreaking story.  The way that the stories interweave is breathtaking and I was completely riveted from start to finish.  It's like a double hook with the mystery of the present day murder and the avenging of an older tragedy.  Add in the story of the famous village psychic and the book becomes impossible to put down.

The beauty of The Detective's Daughter books, thanks to Lesley Thomson including concise recaps where necessary, is that you can pick each one up and enjoy the self-contained mystery without having to know Stella's history.  It does, however, make you want to find out and I definitely want to read the earlier books in the near future.

Compelling, intriguing and incredibly atmospheric, The Shrine is an entertaining and enthralling mystery with a fantastic female main character who virtually pops out of the page.  Another cracker from Lesley Thomson and a highly recommended read.

I received a gifted hardback to read and review for the Rachel's Random Resources blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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About the author:

©Michael White

Lesley Thomson is the bestselling author of The Detective’s Daughter series, which has sold over 850,000 copies worldwide. The tenth instalment, The Shrine, marks a major milestone in the acclaimed series. Renowned for her atmospheric, character-driven mysteries, Thomson’s writing has been likened to Barbara Pym for its keen psychological insight and wit. Her debut, A Kind of Vanishing, won the People’s Book Prize, cementing her reputation as a distinctive voice in crime fiction. She lives in Sussex with her partner and their dog. 

Visit her website at www.lesleythomson.co.uk

Social Media Links:

Instagram: @lesleythomson

Twitter: @LesleyjmThomson

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BLOG TOUR: Death at the Altar (Mary Shelley Investigations book 3) - Donna Gowland

The Shelleys are back with a new murder case! For fans of Mary Shelley, Daphne Du Maurier, Diane Setterfield and Laura Purcell.

With Percy under suspicion, can Mary find the real murderer in time…?

1815, London

When her infant daughter dies, Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin is plunged into a deep depression.

And it doesn’t help that the father, and man who she loves, Percy Shelley, cannot commit to her as he already has an estranged wife.

When Mary receives an invitation to a wedding from a beloved school friend from her Dundee days, Percy thinks it would provide the perfect distraction.

But even away from London, they cannot escape people talking about their relationship.

And when the curate is shot dead at the end of the wedding, the locals turn on Percy.

Mary must find the true killer before their misguided suspicions become a witch hunt.

And as Mary has murder on the mind, her stepsister Claire sets her targets on someone else — Lord Byron…

DEATH AT THE ALTAR is the third book in the Mary Shelley Investigation series: thrilling Gothic murder mysteries with a tenacious literary heroine working as a female sleuth.

What did I think?

I am absolutely loving the Mary Shelley Investigations series, of which Death at the Altar is book three.  You can read each book as a standalone as there is a new mystery to solve but they are well worth reading in order to learn about Mary Shelley's life.

The mystery in this instalment is very intriguing and it becomes even more critical for Mary to solve the murder when Percy becomes one of the suspects.  As it says in the blurb, Mary is is devastated by the loss of her baby daughter and my heart really went out to her as Mary is still a teenager and Percy isn't much support with his flighty poetic nature.

There's quite a lot going on in the book to keep the reader entertained and I enjoyed the spotlight falling on Claire for a while.  I wasn't a big fan of Claire in the first two books as she seemed to set her sights on Percy but now she is obsessed with Lord Byron and she comes up with a cunning plan to capture the (already married) poet's heart.

Donna Gowland's writing is very evocative, atmospheric and immersive so I felt as if I was part of the story myself and the characters, being based on real people, are vividly brought to life.  I have really come to care about Mary Shelley (and Percy and Claire) and I have found myself reading more online about her life, although not too much as I don't want to spoil the story in any future books.

Entertaining, compelling and enlightening, Death at the Altar is both a gripping murder mystery and a fascinating glimpse into the life of Mary Shelley.  A highly recommended read in an extraordinary series.

I received a gifted paperback for the Love Books Tours bookstagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: The Commune - Danny Dagan

Escape the rat race. Join our commune. Don't worry, it will be fine…  

Luke Stonebride flees London for a fresh start in a remote, off-grid commune. Nine days later, he is found in a coma. His fellow commune members lie lifeless in the forest.

Was it the work of a brutal intruder or something darker lurking within?

To find out, we need to go back to the beginning: a rainy day in July, a clearing in the forest, thatched cabins and woodsmoke – and the ominous signs of the dangers to come.

 

What did I think?

Whoosh!  That's the sound of me being blown away by Danny Dagan's fantastic novel The Commune.  Danny Dagan is a local author based in Northumberland and I totally missed his debut novel The Game but I will definitely be adding it to my TBR after reading this outstanding book.

I was riveted by the dual timeline of before and after the tragic events in the Northumbrian countryside.  There's a continual sense of unease and life in the commune is not as idyllic or simple as new resident Luke expects.  Luke is also running away from something and he's not the only character with secrets to hide.

Sandra Saint-John, the sister of the commune leader is quite a character and I don't mean that in a good way.  She's more bothered about her inheritance than the death of her sister Dorothy and nephew Joel.  Dorothy's will leaves the commune to the fellow members and with one of them still alive Sandra hires a private investigator to prove that that Luke killed the others and therefore can't profit from a bequest.

I really liked Alex Czerniak who Sandra hires to investigate the deaths at the commune.  His wife Mary is a Detective Chief Inspector and there seems to be a decent amount of pillow talk going on regarding this case.  Alex and Mary do work well together off the books, whilst keeping it professional in the public eye. 

The rugged Northumbrian countryside is almost a character in its own right and it is very easy to imagine living off grid up in the sticks. Without giving away any spoilers, I loved the nod to a local landmark in such an unusual way that it made me smile. Simply brilliant!

Unputdownable, unpredictable and unmissable, clear your schedule when you pick up The Commune as you won’t be able to put it down until you’ve devoured every single word.  Danny Dagan is clearly a very talented writer and he’s certainly one to watch.  Very highly recommended.

I received a gifted paperback to read for the Love Books Tours bookstagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: The Mark of Eternity (The Egyptian Stones Book 2) - Murray Bailey

An ancient code. A deadly killer. A truth buried beneath the sands of time.

FBI Special Agent Charlie Rebb thought the Surgeon - a notorious serial killer - was a ghost from the past. But when a new series of murders erupts, each marked with strange, arcane symbols, the trail leads Rebb across continents to Egypt... and to a chilling revelation: the Surgeon has returned, and this time, his killings follow a pattern—one tied to a purpose more terrifying than anyone imagined.

Meanwhile, in Egypt, Alex MacLure has uncovered more encoded messages in ancient tablets. An ancient Egyptian was searching for a forgotten symbol. His name appears in a programme written by a brilliant AI student. The student reaches out with a wild theory - but before MacLure discovers the truth, he’s arrested for a murder he didn’t commit.

Thrown together by fate and hunted by forces beyond their understanding, Rebb and MacLure must unlock an ancient secret. They must stop the Surgeon before he unleashes a plan, millennia in the making.

 

What did I think?

Murray Bailey is really giving Dan Brown a run for his money with this fantastic Egyptian Stones series and having read The Heretic Cypher, I couldn't wait to read The Mark of Eternity.  You could definitely read it as a standalone as it has its own contained storyline featuring Egyptologist Alex MacLure.

Now I have to say that I thought I had opened the wrong book on my Kindle when I started reading as the story starts with what looks like religious murders in Atlanta, Georgia.  Well this isn't Egypt, I thought...but it's not my first Murray Bailey book so I knew that everything I was reading would fit together somehow and wow it sure does.

The pacing is blistering as the case in Atlanta moves to Cairo and there's always that magical element of mystery and buried secrets where the ancient Egyptians are involved.  I had my heart in my mouth at the end and couldn't read fast enough to get to the breathtaking conclusion.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that I am enjoying The Egyptian Series more than The Robert Langdon series.  Yep, Bailey is better than Brown!  It almost feels unfair to compare them but with codebreaking and ancient mysteries they do have similarities.  I am completely invested in Alex MacLure's story and Murray Bailey is such a skilful writer that every word is there for a reason and there's no padding required.

Riveting, action-packed and mysterious, The Mark of Eternity is an absolutely cracking thriller and I can't wait for the next book in the series.  Very highly recommended.

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: Lady of Lincoln (The Nicola de la Haye series book 1) - Rachel Elwiss Joyce

A true story. A forgotten heroine. In a time when women were told to stay silent, could she become the saviour her people need?

12th-century England. Nicola de la Haye wants to do her duty. But though she’s taught a female cannot lead alone, the young noblewoman bristles at the marriage her father has arranged to secure her inheritance. And when an unexpected death leaves her unguided, the impetuous girl shuns the king’ s blessing and weds a handsome-but-landless knight.

Harshly fined by Henry II for her unsanctioned union, Nicola struggles to salvage her estates while dealing with devastating betrayals from her husband… and his choice to join rebels in a brewing civil war. Yet after averting a tragedy and gaining the castle garrison’s respect, she still must face the might of powerful men determined to crush her under their will.

Can she survive love, threats, and violent ambition to prove she’s worthy of authority?

In this carefully researched and vividly human series debut, Rachel Elwiss Joyce showcases the complex themes of honour, responsibility, and freedom in the story of a remarkable heroine who men tried to erase from history. And as readers dive into a world defined by violence and turmoil, they’ll be stunned by this courageous young woman’s journey toward greatness.

 

Lady of Lincoln is the gritty first book in the Nicola de la Haye Series historical fiction saga. If you like richly textured female heroes, courtly drama, and fast-paced intrigue, then you’ll adore Rachel Elwiss Joyce’s gripping true-life tale. 

What did I think?

I am so pleased that I decided to read Lady of Lincoln as it is an exceptional piece of historical fiction and I absolutely loved it.

I have never heard of Nicola de la Haye and I won't be alone in that but we really should know about this strong and resolute woman from English history.  When her father died without any sons, Nicola inherited the post of constable of Lincoln Castle.  Of course she is only a woman so any husband she acquires will expect to take over the role.  Not if Nicola has any say it in, they won't!

Nicola is such a feisty and strong-willed character and I loved the way that Rachel Elwiss Joyce has not only brought her to life but brought her to the attention of a multitude of readers.  Lady of Lincoln is just the start of Nicola de la Haye's story and I have been inspired to do my own research so I could read more about Nicola while I wait for the next book in the series.

So beautifully written, vivid and immersive, you won't read a finer historical fiction novel than Lady of Lincoln and I really can't recommend it highly enough.  It's one not to be missed by readers of historical fiction and readers of various other genres will love it too.

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the Love Books Tours bookstagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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