BLOG TOUR: A Death in the Afternoon (The Clapham Trilogy Book 2) - Julie Anderson

Summer 1948

London swelters amid post-war reconstruction, while continued rationing and the black-market fuel the rising crime wave. The empires of gangland bosses grow and thrive, protected by corruption and bribery.

During a party in Clapham a student nurse from the South London Hospital for Women and Children dies in a fall from a balcony. Is it an unfortunate accident as the local police believe? Or something more sinister?

The nurse’s friends ask a newly qualified female detective constable to investigate, a woman who is facing difficulties of her own. Before long all are drawn into the criminals’ deadly games, as gangsters jostle for territory and power. With the solution almost within grasp, their lives are threatened and one of them faces a dreadful fate.

Can the others find her before it’s too late?

And what is the truth about...

A Death in the Afternoon?

 

What did I think?

A Death in the Afternoon is the second book in The Clapham Trilogy but it is the first one I have read and I loved it so I can confidently say that it can definitely be read as a standalone.

Constable Faye Smith has just been promoted to detective and in a 1940s police station she epitomises a woman in a man's world.  Faye can take care of herself though, despite any obstacles that are thrown in her way.  Faye used to work in the hospital so she is determined to get to the bottom of a nurse's death - did she fall or was she pushed?

I absolutely loved Faye and when the plot takes a dangerous turn I simply couldn't read fast enough.  My heart was in my mouth as my eyes raced down the page and the clock kept ticking down.  It just shows the immense talent of the writer when a reader cares so much about an already established character that they have only just met.

Gripping, blisteringly fast-paced and incredibly atmospheric, A Death in the Afternoon is unpredictable and unputdownable.  I will definitely be picking up a copy of The Midnight Man to read more of Faye's backstory and I can't wait for book three.  Julie Anderson has certainly picked up a new fan right here!

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

My rating:

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Hobeck Books

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: Eerie Exhibits - Victorial Williamson

Five unnerving tales of the weird and uncanny from award-winning author Victoria Williamson.

A room full of screaming butterflies.

An unsettling smile on the face of a carved sarcophagus.

A painting that draws its viewer into the disturbing past.

A stuffed bear that growls in the dead of night.

And a shell that whispers more sinister sounds than the sigh of the sea…

Dare you cross the threshold of the old Museum and view its eerie exhibits?

 

What did I think?

I do like to read spooky tales now and again so I thoroughly enjoyed Eerie Exhibits by Victoria Williamson.  

There are five stories in the book based on museum exhibits and although they are separate stories, some of the characters reappear.  They are very creepy tales and it reminded me a little of early Stephen King books where anything out of the ordinary could happen.  So prepare for the unexpected when you pick up this book but you will still be surprised by these eerie exhibits.

It's quite a short book at 225 pages and it's very easy to read so you could dip in and out of it or read it cover to cover.  It's almost like a virtual museum visit to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow as Victoria Williamson guides the reader through each gallery and tells her imagined story behind some very interesting exhibits.

Chilling, weird and entertaining, Eerie Exhibits is a creepy collection of spine-tingling short stories that will chill you to the bone.  A recommended read, especially for a dark and chilly night.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon UK

Amazon USA

Amazon Canada

About the author:

A lifelong storyteller and daydreamer, Victoria Williamson is an author and teacher who has lived and worked in Africa, China, America and the UK.

Victoria grew up in Kirkintilloch, north Glasgow, surrounded by hills on the edge of a forest estate where many of her early ghost stories and fantasy tales were born amid the magical trees and spooky old ruined buildings.

After studying Physics at the University of Glasgow, she set out on her own real life adventures, which included teaching Maths and Science in Cameroon, training teachers in Malawi, teaching English in China and working with children with special needs in the UK.

A qualified primary school teacher with a degree in Mandarin Chinese from Yunnan University and a Master’s degree in Special Needs Education, Victoria is passionate about creating inclusive worlds in her novels where all children can see a reflection of themselves in a heroic role.

Victoria’s experiences of teaching young children in a deprived area of Glasgow, many of whom were asylum seekers, inspired her debut novel, The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, an uplifting tale of friendship between Glasgow girl Caylin and Syrian refugee Reema.

Victoria writes fantasy, adventure, science fiction and contemporary issue novels for Middle Grade (9-12), Teen, and Young Adult readers. Many of her books have been inspired by children she has met on her travels, both abroad and in the UK. She is currently working on a Middle Grade novel exploring the issues faced by a boy with ADHD who is struggling to fit in with his new step-family, and a spooky adventure novel for Teens, centred around a cast of characters with special needs including deafness, Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy.

Twenty percent of her author royalties for The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle are donated to the Scottish Refugee Council.

You can find out more about Victoria's books, school visits and upcoming events on her website: www.strangelymagical.com 

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BLOG TOUR: Best Summer Ever - Heidi Swain

Summer is in full swing when Daisy drives back into Wynmouth in her almost-clapped-out car, having left both her most recent job and the man her parents thought she was going to marry. Coming home could be just what she needs to move her life on.

At Wynbrook Manor, things are in disarray. Owner Algy isn’t getting any younger, and Daisy’s mum Janet, housekeeper at the manor, spends her days running around after him, while Daisy’s dad Robin, the gardener, has been let down by the person he had lined up to take care of the new cut-flower garden.

As Daisy tries to find her place at Wynbrook and in the village, she’s drawn to summer visitor Josh. But when he turns out to be not the person he appears to be, will the spark between them fizzle out? And with it, the chances of this turning into the best summer ever?

 

What did I think?

It wouldn't be Autumn, Winter, Spring or Summer without a Heidi Swain book and the Best Summer Ever is her latest novel that is jam-packed with sunshine and romance.  I'm a huge fan of Heidi Swain books so it will come as no surprise to say that I loved Best Summer Ever.  I'm planning to read it again already - that's how much I loved it!

Daisy is well-named as her dad is a gardener and Daisy has a love of flowers too.  Daisy's life hasn't exactly gone to plan as she sets off home to Norfolk after breaking up with her boyfriend Laurence.  What makes it even worse is that Daisy's parents loved Laurence but what Daisy seems to forget is that they love her more.

To lessen the blow of her surprise return to the parental abode, Daisy decides to pop into the local pub to ask for work but also to calm her nerves after almost running over an American tourist.  The tourist, Josh, provides the love interest but with secrets and misunderstandings aplenty there's very much a will they/won't they about this blossoming romance.

I absolutely adored this gorgeous book from start to finish.  Just looking at the beautiful cover brings a smile to my face as I recollect my virtual visit to the fictional seaside town of Wynmouth.  I love how Heidi Swain's books are all standalones but often see a return to some of her fictional towns and villages so fans of her books really feel as if they're visiting a favourite destination.

Best Summer Ever is the perfect feel-good book to warm your heart and banish the winter blues.  Make sure you don't miss this fabulous heartwarming romance that is worth every single one of the five stars I have awarded it.  Very highly recommended.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: The Secret Collector - Abigail Johnson

When an elderly eccentric collector and a troubled teen become each other's only hope of getting their lives back on track, what can possibly go wrong?

Alfred is an elderly widower who uses antiques and collectibles to fill the hole in his heart left by his late wife. Kian is a lost teen who has been let down by the care system and finds it difficult staying on the straight and narrow.

After Kian throws a brick through Alfred's window, the shock sends Alfred to hospital and a social worker to his home, where his hoarding becomes impossible to ignore.

Begrudgingly, and at the request of the authorities, they both agree to enrol Kian on a restorative justice programme, helping to make Alfred’s home liveable again. The only problem: Alfred doesn't want to throw any of his treasures away, and he certainly doesn’t want Kian for company.

What unfolds is a surprising and delightful journey of two characters who help each other more than they ever could have anticipated and, along the way, form the unlikeliest of friendships.

An uplifting and warm story about friendship across generations, the power of community and finding hope where it had been lost. Perfect for fans of Sally Page’s The Keeper of Stories and Evie Woods's The Lost Bookshop.

 

What did I think?

Abigail Johnson stole my weekend and her wonderful characters stole my heart; once I picked up The Secret Collector I couldn't put it down and I will never forget Alfred and Kian.

Although he could easily be mistaken for a hoarder, Alfred is quick to point out that he is a collector and he keeps an inventory of all the weird and wonderful items that he has collected over the years.  Alfred lives alone after he lost his wife and his collecting drove a wedge between him and his daughter.  When Alfred's house is attacked by Kian, a troubled young man, social services get involved and arrange for Kian to tidy Alfred's house as his punishment.

Oh Alfred!  As if he hasn't suffered enough!  Who's to say how Alfred is living is wrong?  He's just trying to cope with his grief and he's not hurting anyone.  Having his house invaded is as much a punishment for Alfred as it is for Kian...or at least it starts out that way.  As Alfred gets to know Kian an unlikely friendship forms and what a charming and heartwarming story this is.

The Secret Collector really made me stop and think about how quickly we label and judge people.  I admit to thinking Alfred was a hoarder and Kian was a wrong 'un at the start of the book but I was proved wrong so it just shows that you should never judge a book by its cover.  

Completely unforgettable and incredibly uplifting, The Secret Collector is an unmissable book that I will be reading again whenever I need a pick-me-up.  It's an outstanding debut novel that I really can't recommend highly enough and I would give it more than five stars if I could.  I loved it! 

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: Cheddar Luck Next Time - Beth Cato

A cozy cheese-scented mystery with delightful characters, a dash of murder and tons of intrigue, perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club and The Maid.

Cheese-obsessed Bird Nichols has just inherited her grandmother’s estate in a quiet, quirky Californian town. But when a body is found on her property, her life begins to get rather loud…

Bird Nichols is ready to make a fresh start in a familiar place. Last year, her parents died together in a car crash and her beloved grandmother is presumed dead from an ocean drowning. Bird is now moving onto her grandmother's California coastal property, and finally living out her dream. Bird loves cheese like nothing else. It's her autistic special interest, and she designs her boards along her sensory needs, and other people love them, too.

But just when everything seems to be going right, the local troublemaker ends up dead on her rural road. Grizz, the closest thing Bird has to family, is the sheriff department's favourite suspect, but she is determined to prove Grizz’s innocence. So now, Bird needs to unpack her possessions, assemble her pretty cheese boards, and find the true murderer before they strike again.

 

What did I think?

Oh wow, I loved this fun and slightly bonkers book!  I mean a cosy mystery with cheese and a cat that makes Garfield look slim, not to mention a lovable and inspirational main character who is autistic - what's not to love?  

Bird loves cheese and, as a cheeselover myself, I was positively salivating at some of the vivid descriptions of the smell and taste of her cheese boards.  Bird has suddenly found herself alone in the world after the devastating death of her parents followed by the disappearance of her grandmother.  Bird inherits her grandmother's estate and moves to Foghorn, which despite its name used to be a quiet town until trouble followed Bird into town.

You really can't help but love Bird and her unusual name.  I think the fact that she is autistic is great for diversity in literature and it really made me think about our own character quirks and how difficult it must be when they are amplified to such a debilitating degree.  Bird shows that she can live and thrive with autism and she turns her fixation with cheese into her livelihood.

Just like her Grandma, Bird can't help investigating crime and she finds herself drawn into a web of danger and deceit when a murderer strikes in Foghorn.  During her investigation, Bird rescues the victim's cat Bowser and just thinking of this big orange furball puts a smile on my face.  What a great character he is - I could almost feel his purrs reverberating through the book!

Whilst the storyine has its own contained plot, there are some tantalising threads of the story left unfinished so I hope that this is the start of a new series.  I really enjoyed my virtual visit to Foghorn and would love to return.  If you love cosy mysteries (and cheese and cats) then please do not miss this book; I absolutely loved it and would highly recommend it.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: The Golden Hour - Kate Lord Brown

The Golden Hour is an epic dual timeline story which interweaves glory-seeking desert archaeologists, priceless treasures, Nefertiti’s tomb and the decadent cabarets of WW2 Cairo with restless expat lives in bohemian Beirut. 

 

Archaeologist Lucie Fitzgerald's mother is dying – she's also been lying. As her home, the 'Paris of the East', Beirut, teeters on the brink of war in the ‘70s, Polly Fitzgerald has one last story to tell from her deathbed.  It’s the story of her childhood best friend Juno and their life in 30s Cairo. Lucie travels home to be with her dying mother and discovers the truth about her family, Juno's work and their shared search for the greatest undiscovered tomb of all - Nefertiti's. 

 

From the cities to the deserts, this transporting and moving story of a lost generation transformed by war is a study of great love and sacrifice in all its forms, the perfect novel for fans of Santa Montefiore, Lucinda Riley and Victoria Hislop.

 

What did I think?

I love ancient Egyptian history so The Golden Hour was an absolute must-read for me and it completely exceeded my expectations, absolutely blowing me away with its amazing setting and its intriguing storyline.

With a dual timeline set in Egypt 1939 and Lebanon 1975, Kate Lord Brown sweeps the reader away to distant shores and introduces us to an unforgettable cast of characters.  Juno and Polly have been friends since their childhood in England and the pair are reunited as married women in 1939 in Egypt.  Now that Polly is terminally ill, it is time to tell her daughter Lucie about the past and the story is quite emotional and shocking but it is also courageous and empowering.

The characters are so well developed and I adored Juno who refused to take no for an answer as she forced her way into the male-dominated world of archaeology.  It is Juno's dream to discover Nefertiti's tomb and I loved the portrayal of Nefertiti as a strong woman in her own right rather than the wife of Akhenaten and stepmother/mother-in-law of Tutankhamun.  

I thoroughly enjoyed the archaelogical part of the story but it is Juno and Polly's history that kept me completely riveted to the pages.  I was devastated more than once by this moving tale but I also felt uplifted and empowered by the strong female characters.

Poignant and powerful, The Golden Hour is a sweeping story that took my breath away with its exotic setting and rendered me speechless with its stunning plot.  It is giving me goose bumps just thinking about it now and I will be recommending it and reading it many many times.  Unmissable and unputdownable; an easy five stars.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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Three Bags Full - Leonie Swann

On a hillside near the quaint Irish village of Glennkill, the flock gathers around the dead body of their shepherd, George, who lies pinned to the ground with a spade. George cared deeply for the sheep, reading to them daily, and as a result they are far smarter than your average flock.

Led by Miss Maple, the sharpest sheep in Glennkill (and possibly the world), they set out to find George's killer. With an assortment of woolly investigators on the case, there are furtive missions into the village and a collection of two-legged suspects to chew over.

Dazzingly original, Three Bags Full introduces a band of detectives who are a breed apart.

What did I think?

As soon as I heard that Hugh Jackman was starring in Three Bags Full, a movie about sheep detectives, I just had to read the book that the film is based on and it is every bit as fun and unique as I thought it would be.

I do love a cast of characters in a book and Three Bags Full starts with a 'dramatis oves' to introduce the reader to all of the sheep characters in the book.  I loved this - it adds an element of fun to the book but also reminds us that animals have their own quirks and characteristics too.

The flock love George their shepherd, who reads to them every night and has promised them a trip to Europe, so they are completely distraught to find him dead one day.  There are lots of clues for them to follow to identify the murderer, starting with the spade that has been stuck in him and the hoofprint on his chest.  When the villagers gather round, they don't realise that the sheep are listening...

Oh I did enjoy this book, it is so much fun and I loved all of the sheep characters.  The sheep don't think like humans so I did sometimes struggle with what on earth they were talking about and I still don't know what 'the thing' is but I've had fun trying to work it out.  The mystery of George's death is very well plotted and I would never have worked it out in a million years, so well played Leonie Swann, well played indeed.

Highly original and impossible to predict, Three Bags Full is an unusual, fun and surprising murder mystery.  If you love cosy mysteries and you're looking for something different to read then I would highly recommend Three Bags Full.  I can't wait to see the movie now, even though I know whodunnit.

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

My rating:

Read the book before you see the film and buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

BLOGATHON: Crucified (DC Jack Warr book 5) - Lynda La Plante

Detective Jack Warr should be resting on his laurels. He's just put sadistic serial killer Rodney Middleton behind bars and he's ready to enjoy some time at home with his young family.

Instead, Jack is having violent nightmares that leave his wife Maggie terrified.

What Jack needs is a break, but instead he finds himself sucked into another grisly case as a man is found horrifically murdered in an art-framer's shop. Jack becomes fascinated by the elaborately staged killing - especially coming straight after the surprise reappearance of charismatic forger Adam Border.

Could Adam be the victim?

Or the murderer?

Finding the truth will unveil a shocking portrait of a corrupt art world - but will it also expose the secrets Jack is so desperately trying to keep hidden?

 

What did I think?

Crucified is the fifth book in the fantastic Jack Warr series and I absolutely loved it.  It can be read and enjoyed as a standalone but I loved the references to previous cases so I think it is outstanding when read as part of the series.

If I thought Jack Warr couldn't be more flawed in the previous books then I was wrong.  He is at breaking point and there is so much going on at home and at work that's it no wonder he is having nightmares.  It's great to have a less than perfect main character as it's much more realistic and it only makes me love Jack more.  I think if I hadn't read the earlier books though I would think Jack was well dodgy.

I loved the art forgery storyline and the highly imaginative crime that made me feel a little queasy.  Even just thinking about it now is making me grimace!  As it says in the synopsis, Jack isn't sure whether his old nemesis/acquaintance Adam Border is the victim or the murderer, so that gives you a clue as to the state in which the body is found.  Yikes!

As with all of the books in the series, Jack's personal life drives a large part of the narrative and I almost feel like part of the family as I'm so eager to see how they're all getting on.  They certainly have a lot of challenges to face in this instalment and Maggie's patience is severely tested but, as the saying goes, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

Incredibly compelling and impossible to put down, Crucified is gripping from start to finish and after his surprising announcement I can't wait to read what Lynda La Plante has in store for Jack.  I loved this book (even the grisly parts) and would highly recommend it.

I received a gifted ARC to read and review as part of the Compulsive Readers blogathon and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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Damaged Beauty: Joey Superstar - Margaret Gardiner

Welcome to the world of model Joey Superstar - a whirlwind of cocaine, sex, and money.

Josaphina Brinkley seems to have it all: she’s a superstar model in 1980s America, a cover girl plastered naked on fashion billboards above Sunset Blvd. Women want to be her. Men simply want her.

But underneath the glossy veneer she hides a traumatic past. The end of her marriage to Italian Aristocracy led to a stint in rehab. As she returns to parties, premiers and modeling, she’s hoping a life of designer clothes and beautiful people won’t take her back to blow. If only she could be truly seen, heard and understood, perhaps she wouldn't self-destruct again?

Joey sets out to confront the roots of her wildness – but must admit to a youthful act that haunts her. As Joey fights from addiction to redemption, can she change the course of her life, deal with her dark past and become the superstar she was always destined to be? 

Former Miss Universe Margaret Gardiner gives readers the key to a secret world of supermodels, sex, style and scandal in her deliciously intoxicating debut, Joey Superstar, the first in an exciting Damaged Beauty series.

 

What did I think?

The world of fashion and modelling is not a subject I would usually read about but one of the great things about book blogging is that my attention is drawn to fabulous books that I might have otherwise missed.  Although it's often dark and disturbing, I really enjoyed my glimpse into the world of a supermodel in Damaged Beauty: Joey Superstar. 

Joey is not a character I instantly warmed to as she seems to care little about other people's feelings (including her own), but there is a very good reason for that.  I have to admit that I actually disliked her at first but that soon changed as her story progressed and I could see that Joey has been shaped, and continues to be haunted, by past events that understandably dulled her emotions and taught her that it's better to feel nothing at all than hurt and pain.

There are a lot of dark and disturbing elements to the story but Margaret Gardiner portrays these delicately and sensitively.  I think it goes a long way to describe character development when my dislike for Joey at the start turned into admiration and respect at the end.  It also reminded me to never judge a book by its cover as those of us who are aesthetically challenged may envy beautiful people but what is perceived as a blessing may actually be a curse.

Honest, raw and powerful, Damaged Beauty: Joey Superstar is an eyeopening glimpse into the world of beauty and it's an important and courageous book in the #MeToo movement.

Many thanks to Hannah Hargrave for the gifted ARC.  I chose to read Damaged Beauty: Joey Superstar and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

About the author:

Margaret Gardiner became an international cover girl at 16, Miss Universe at 18, and ultimately, the fashion editor at GoldenGlobes.com. She’s worked with A-list stars from Angelina Jolie to Zendaya. She knows what it is like to be on the red carpet, in the spotlight - and what goes on behind the scenes. With a degree in psychology, and a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, her debut novel is for every woman who has ever been made to feel less.

Social Media Links

Website: https://www.margaretgardiner.com/

Instagram: @margaret_gardiner

Facebook: @MargaretGardinerOfficial