BLOG TOUR: Kill Creatures - Rory Power

Last summer, Nan's three best friends disappeared into Saltcedar Canyon.

She's spent the year since grieving their loss and avoiding questions about what happened that night. Now, on the anniversary, she's ready to say goodbye, and so are the girls' families, who have reconvened to hold a memorial. But their vigil is interrupted by the shocking return of one of the missing girls alive. Everybody is overjoyed. Everybody, that is, except Nan, who was pretty sure they were dead.

After all, she's the one who killed them.

• Atmospheric, fast-paced and vividly realised, Kill Creatures is a book about secrets, jealousy, violence and revenge.

• Perfect for fans of A Good Girls Guide to Murder and Gone Girl.

 

What did I think?

I am so pleased that I have added YA to the list of genres that I read as Kill Creatures by Rory Power is a little gem of a thriller.  It's quite a short book at 269 pages but it is packed with thrills, secrets and danger.

I spent the first couple of pages feeling sorry for Nan as the family and friends of three missing girls gather to remember them on the one year anniversary of their disappearance.  Their bodies have never been found and nobody knows what happened to them, except Nan.  Nan knows exactly what happened that day so she is shocked when one of the girls returns alive.  

It's such a good twist to the story that throws Nan into turmoil as she thought she had got away with murder but now someone else knows what happened too.  As the story flicks back and forth between then and now a multicoloured picture starts to take shape as all of the pieces of this fantastic jigsaw gradually slot into place.

Gripping, addictive and twisty, Kill Creatures is a book that is impossible to put down once you pick it up.  YA is shaping up to be a genre not to be missed with cracking thrillers like Kill Creatures just waiting to be discovered and devoured.  A highly recommended read.

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

About the author:

Rory Power grew up in New England, where she lives and works as a story consultant for TV adaptation. She received a Masters in Prose Fiction  from the University of East Anglia, and is the New York Times bestselling author of Wilder Girls, Burn Our Bodies Down, and In a Garden Burning Gold. 

• https://itsrorypower.com/ 

• instagram.com/itsrorypower/ 

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BLOG TOUR: Slipstream - Madge Maril

“Are you challenging me to win the Grand Prix for your hand, Graywood?”

“If you think winning would be a challenge, I guess not.”

He points at me, a real scowl on his lips. “Put your headphones on and sit where I can find you later, micetta. You’re about to watch the best race of your life.”

 

Lilah never imagined she’d be trading hard-hitting political documentaries for the roar of Formula One engines. Thanks to her boyfriend and co-owner of their film-making business, Max, she’s suddenly thrust into a world she can’t stand.

 

Her hopes sink even lower when she meets Arthur Bianco, an enigmatic reserve driver who flirts his way out of every media crisis. But when Max blindsides her by ending their relationship and stealing the company she built, the last person she expects to help her pick up the pieces is Arthur.

 

Reluctantly, they strike a truce: he’ll help her regain control of her documentary, and in return, she’ll film his epic racing comeback and earn him a spot with his former racing team.

 

The enemy of her enemy is a Formula One driver desperate to break free from his contract. But an unexpected speed bump forces Lilah and Arthur’s partnership to evolve into a fake relationship that feels all too real with sparks flying both on and off the track. Now it seems like her next big story might be more personal than she thought…

 

What did I think?

There are not enough romance books set in the world of Formula One so good on Madge Maril for writing such a fast-paced and pulse-pounding novel filled with action and romance.

Lilah Graywood's neurodiversity means that she prefers to stay hidden behind her camera while she films her subject.  That suits Max, her partner (both business and romantic), just fine as he pushes himself into the limelight as the face of Black & Graywood.  I loved Lilah immediately and at the same time detested Max with a passion.   That dirty rotten snake!

When Max ends their professional and private relationships, Arthur Bianco, the moody and flirty F1 driver who Lilah was filming, decides to keep the cameras rolling on one condition...Lilah is the one behind them.  Take that Max, you sneaky little cheater!  Which coincidentally is something I say when watching F1 in real life!

The romance between Lilah and Arthur starts out as fake in an attempt to release Arthur from his contract but it soon feels pretty real and it doesn't just get hot underneath Arthur's race suit.  There's a bit of steam but nothing cringeworthy and the up close and personal scenes are as well-written as the rest of the book.

Thrilling, entertaining and romantic, buckle up for the ride of your life in Slipstream.  It's a must-read for romance readers who are fans of F1.  I enjoyed every millisecond of it and 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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They Both Die at the End - Adam Silvera

 

A love story with a difference - an unforgettable tale of life, loss and making each day count.

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

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

What did I think?

I've had my eye on They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera for quite a while so I was delighted to be invited to take part in the Tandem Collective readalong.  

It's such an original idea for a world where each person who is going to die that day gets a call from Death-Cast to let them know today is the day.  With one day left to live there are things to do and people to see but simply not enough time to do everything you haven't done, especially if you're teenagers like Mateo and Rufus.

Mateo and Rufus don't know each other at the start of the book but they find each other through the Last Friend app and together they cram as much into their last day as they possibly can.  As well as chapters about Mateo and Rufus, there are a lot of chapters about other characters who either did or didn't get the call from Death-Cast and I loved how they all linked together like a finely woven fabric.

Whilst it is sad, it wasn't as heartbreaking as I expected as I had the whole book to come to terms with the two main characters both dying at the end...it says so in the very title.  It's their last day of living that the book is all about and it's really thought-provoking and strangely uplifting.  Why is it that we only decide to really live when we're told we are about to die?

The book also had me questioning how I would feel about getting a call from Death-Cast and whilst it would be devastating and scary it also made me think about the days where I didn't get a call.  As someone who worries about her loved ones dying, it takes the worry out of every day if you know they will get a call on the day it will inevitably happen.

Highly original and incredibly thought-provoking, They Both Die at the End is a massive wake-up call to live your best day every day.  It feels strange to say I enjoyed it but I really did and I will be most surprised if it doesn't end up being made into a film or miniseries.  An unforgettable and highly recommended read.

I received a gifted copy to read for the Tandem Collective readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

BLOG TOUR: Happy is the One - Katie Allen

What if halfway through your life was just the beginning?

Robin Edmund Blake is halfway through his life.

 

Born in 1986, when Halley’s Comet crossed the sky, he is destined to go out with it, when it returns in 2061. Until that day, he can’t die. He has proof.

 

With his future mapped out in minute detail, a lucrative but increasingly dull job in the City of London, and Gemma to share his life with, Robin has a plan to be remembered forever.

 

But when Robin’s sick father has one accident too many, the plan starts to unravel. Robin must return home to the tiny seaside town of Eastgate, learn to care for the man who never really cared for him, and face the childhood ghosts he fled decades ago.

 

Desperate to get his life back on schedule, he connects with fellow outsider Astrid. Brutally direct, sharp-witted and a professor at a nearby university, she’s unlike anyone he’s ever met. But Astrid is hiding something and someone from Robin.

And he’s hiding even more from her…

 

What did I think?

Oh my goodness, Katie Allen's new book, Happy is the One, is simply stunning.  I loved it from the very first page and my feelings continued to grow the more I read.

Robin knows when he's going to die as he was born during the appearance of Halley's Comet and he is destined to die when the comet returns, just like Mark Twain correctly predicted for his own death.  Now you would think that Robin would be able to live a full and happy life, knowing that his number is not coming up until he's 75, but instead he seems to be obsessed with planning every minute of his life until his death....whilst life passes him by.

It's a bit of a culture shock when Robin returns to his home town to live with his elderly dad and it is heartbreaking that his dad can't communicate verbally any more.  Robin's mum died when he was young and it seems that he was never close to his dad so it's a difficult time for both of them.  As they get to know each other again, things that Robin thought he knew are brought into question, including his inability to die until 2061.

The story is incredibly poignant and my heart ached at certain points as Katie Allen put me through the emotional wringer.  I love being so invested in a book that events make me gasp out loud and struggle to hold back my tears.  The writing is so warm and witty that there's sure to be something to smile or laugh about on the next page whilst my tears are drying.

Breathtaking, stunning and memorable, Happy is the One is a book with the biggest heart; it made me laugh, cry and everything in between and I simply can't recommend it highly enough.

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

About the author:

Katie Allen was a journalist and columnist at Guardian and Observer, starting her career as a Reuters correspondent in Berlin and London. Her warmly funny, immensely moving literary debut novel, Everything Happens for a Reason, was based on her own devastating experience of stillbirth and was a number-one digital bestseller, with wide critical acclaim. Katie grew up in Warwickshire and now lives in South London with her family.

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COVER REVEAL: Snowblind 10th anniversary edition - Ragnar Jónasson

I'm absolutely thrilled to join in the cover reveal for the 10th anniversary edition of Snowblind by Ragnar Jónasson, publishing on 10th October 2025 by Orenda Books.  It's not just a republishing of Snowblind, it also includes a novella prequel Fadeout.  I can't wait to read it but let's have a look at the new cover, shall we?

Isn't that just breathtaking?  The new cover is amazing and the hardback has spredges!

Here's a little bit about the book:

Siglufjörður: an idyllically quiet fishing village in Northern Iceland, where no one locks their doors – accessible only via a small mountain tunnel. Ari Thór Arason: a rookie policeman on his first posting, far from his girlfriend in Reykjavik – with a past that he's unable to leave behind. When a young woman is found lying half-naked in the snow, bleeding and unconscious, and a highly esteemed, elderly writer falls to his death in the local theatre, Ari is dragged straight into the heart of a community where he can trust no one, and secrets and lies are a way of life.

An avalanche and unremitting snowstorms close the mountain pass, and the 24-hour darkness threatens to push Ari over the edge, as curtains begin to twitch, and his investigation becomes increasingly complex, chilling and personal. Past plays tag with the present and the claustrophobic tension mounts, while Ari is thrust ever deeper into his own darkness – blinded by snow, and with a killer on the loose.

Taut and terrifying, Snowblind is a startling debut from an extraordinary new talent, taking Nordic Noir to soaring new heights.

Preorder link:

https://geni.us/a0tqMI

COVER REVEAL: Love Forever Lindisfarne - Kimberley Adams

I'm delighted to be helping with the cover reveal for Kimberley Adams' new novel, Love Forever Lindisfarne, publishing next month on 26th June 2025.  The covers of these Lindisfarne novels are like works of art so let's take a look at the new one... 

Isn't it stunning?  It looks so warm and inviting and I can't wait to visit Lindisfarne once again.

Here's a little bit about the book:

Take a summer break to stunning Northumberland via the pages of this feel-good romantic comedy by award winning writer Kimberley Adams. Full of love and laughter, it will leave you yearning to visit this iconic location in person!

When a stranger appears in the middle of a very important celebration, no one can foresee the island connections that will later come to light. Kittiwake Penaluna is drawn to the island at a sad time in her life; she’s broken, but it doesn’t take long for the islanders to rally round and take her under their wing.

Ellie and Zen are busier than they’ve ever been, jumping from task to task with little time for themselves. Will they ever find a moment together away from all the drama that constantly follows them around the island?

The forthcoming arrival of nine new mini animals puts even more pressure on the islanders, but Bert is resolute, and it’s all hands to the pump to prepare for their arrival. The Mini-Fest fundraiser gets off to a great start, until a despised face from the past appears and throws everything into chaos.

Full of heart, Love Forever Lindisfarne is a story steeped in love and community. You'll reunite with beloved characters who feel like old friends and meet a few lively newcomers with big personalities! Each page will pull you deeper into island life and leave you with a wide smile and a warm glow!

Preorder links:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the author:

Kim writes heartwarming romantic comedies which are set in glorious Northumberland on the iconic Holy Island of Lindisfarne. Kim is an award-winning writer and her books are amongst the highest rated romcoms on Amazon. Kim’s beautiful book covers are bespoke artwork by a Northumbrian artist and a representation of a scene within the book!

Social media links: 

Facebook: Kimberley Adams-Writer or Love Lindisfarne

X: kim_adamsWriter

Instagram: love_lindisfarne

The Hero Virus - Russell Dumper

‘The Hero Virus’ tells the thrilling story of Chris Taylor, who is hanging on to life by a thread.

Recently widowed, his only reason to carry on is his faithful Labrador, but even that doesn’t stop his willingness to gamble with death every day. When his companion suffers a violent demise, Taylor thinks he has nothing left to live for, until he discovers he has chanced upon a precious gift… he has become very ill.

The illness gives him special powers and, fairly soon, the authorities are swooping on to the ever-increasing list of cases. The Hero Virus might be different to other illnesses, but it’s no less dangerous. The effect it has on the world, though, is wildly different to any other virus that has come before. The unique reaction of the human body to infection means that everyone wants it. And some will do anything to get it.

How do you stop a pandemic when there are people who will kill for the virus? How do you stop people getting infected when they’re willing to die for it? How do you stop the infected when they have abilities nobody has ever seen before?

What did I think?

I was drawn to The Hero Virus as I do like my superhero films and this is like X-Men on steroids with mutations resulting from a viral infection.  It's a really interesting premise and you can't help but draw comparisons with the coronavirus pandemic with one huge difference: the hero virus is something that everyone wants to be infected with.

Widower Chris Taylor has suicidal thoughts every day as he puts a gun loaded with a single bullet to his mouth and presses the trigger.  The resulting click means he's not dying today and must get on with his empty life with just his dog for company.  When his dog dies from a mystery infection, Chris also becomes ill but rather than wake up weaker, he wakes up a LOT stronger.

As the virus spreads, the authorities try to contain the infection but the population want to get superpowers too and they will do anything to get infected.  It's gorey at times and the writing is very vivid so I did find my stomach clenching at some of the scenes.  It would be a fantastic film and it was almost like a film was playing in my head whilst I was reading the book.

Vividly written with an imaginative and original plot, The Hero Virus is a high-octane thriller that is packed with action.  It's a real page-turner with a jaw-dropping ending that made me actually gasp out loud.  I can't imagine anyone not enjoying this book, even if you think it's not your usual genre - give it a go!  Very highly recommended.

Many thanks to Russell Dumper for sending me a gifted paperback to read and review; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

BLOG TOUR: Booked for Summer - Kathryn Freeman

A love story she didn't see coming…

When book lover Jade Taylor applies to manage the Little Bay Book Shack on Nantucket Island over the summer, the last thing she needs is the distraction of billionaire resort owner, Liam Haven.

But things take an unexpected turn when Liam becomes Jade’s boss – a man who only reads contracts for pleasure…

In a bid to save the bookshop from being absorbed into the Haven resort, Jade is determined to teach Liam that there’s more to life than acquiring real estate. And if she can make him realise happily ever afters do exist, might she be able to save the island’s bookshop in the process?

 

What did I think?

Booked for Summer is Kathryn Freeman's latest romcom and it is filled with romance and books.  A book with books in it is always going to pique my interest and I enjoyed my virtual trip to Nantucket Island.

I loved the main characters of Jade and Liam, although not at first I have to say.  Jade's enthusiasm for running the bookshop is infectious so it's no wonder that she quickly makes friends as soon as she sets foot in Nantucket.  After a misunderstanding at the ferry crossing, Jade meets Liam and their attraction to each other is plain to see.  Of course, they both have their own hangups and neither of them are looking for anything long term...

The wonderfully drawn colourful characters pull this story along perfectly as well as the plot to close the bookshop.  What???  Close the bookshop?  I thought Kathryn Freeman wrote romcoms not horror stories!  I just loved how the whole community came together to fight for a common cause, which also happened to be them all ganging up on Liam as he owns the resort.  I really felt for him as there's a good reason why he wants make his resort the most exclusive on the island but he is a little blinkered because of it.

Flirty, charming and fun, Booked for Summer is an entertaining and enjoyable book that transports the reader across the Atlantic to the picturesque island of Nantucket.  It's a fabulous summer read.

I received a digital 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 US

About the author:

A former pharmacist, Kathryn now writes romantic comedies. Feel good books that are sexy and sweet, funny yet heart-warming. Mr Right Across the Street won the RNA Award for Romantic Comedy in 2022. 

With a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to buy a card (yes, he does), the romance in her own life is all in her head. Then again, his unstinting support of her career change proves love isn't always about hearts and flowers - and heroes come in many disguises.

Social Media Links 

Twitter: @kathrynfreeman1

Facebook: facebook.com/kathrynfreeman

Instagram: kathryn.freeman_author

Website: http://kathrynfreeman.co.uk 

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BLOG TOUR: Sun Trap - Rachel Wolf

BE CAREFUL

Ellie has wanted to be an actor since she was a child so, when a role in a blockbuster film presents itself, she grabs it.

WHAT YOU

On the plane to Abu Dhabi to begin filming, Ellie overhears something she shouldn't - two people discussing plans for murder.

WISH FOR

Unsure if it's a misunderstanding, and not wanting to ruin her big break, Ellie remains quiet. Then ten members of the cast become nine...

Ellie needs to be careful - it's more than just her career on the line.

Because she isn't who she says she is.

And liars are always the prime suspect.

 

What did I think?

Sun Trap is a very addictive book set in the stifling desert heat of Abu Dhabi, where a movie is being filmed.  With a group of actors as the main characters, you are never sure who is being sincere and who is hiding something and this book is filled with secrets and lies.

Ellie and Phoebe look so much alike that people mistake them for twins, although they are not actually related.  Is it pure chance that the pair meet at an acting class or is something more sinister going on?  That's the hook that kept me riveted throughout the book as I wanted to know why they looked so similar that one could step into the other one's life.

It's like all of Ellie's dreams have come true when Phoebe is too sick to travel to Abu Dhabi for her debut acting role and Phoebe asks Ellie to take her place.  My spidey sense was tingling at this fortuitous coincidence that Ellie happened to be in the right place at the right time.  Although how right that place might be is thrown into doubt when the bodies start piling up...

The shocks and surprises keep on coming as the pages turn as fast as you can read them.  I was completely hooked and incredibly entertained throughout this wild rollercoaster ride of a book. 

Gripping, addictive and surprising, Sun Trap is a page-turning thriller that is well worth a read.  

I chose to read a digital ARC 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: Manhattan Down - Michael Cordy

A propulsive rollercoaster high concept international thriller which dares to take the world to the edge of oblivion.

THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS JUST SAID GOODNIGHT.

On the anniversary eve of the 9/11 terror attack, New York swelters under a heat dome of record temperatures. Even the global leaders assembled at the UN HQ are forced to admit that the climate crisis has reached boiling point and the world’s time is running out.

That same day, at precisely 5:25 p.m., everyone on Manhattan Island – every man, woman and child, including all the world leaders at the UN – falls unconscious. Everyone that is, except for Samantha Rossi, a single mother reeling from devastating personal news and Nick Lockwood, a wounded NYPD detective who wakes from a coma just as the City That Never Sleeps falls into one.

Rossi’s first concern is her daughter. Lockwood’s is his city. As night draws in, they must work together to unravel the mystery of what has happened and why. Each must decide how far they will go and what lines they will cross to save what matters most to them.

Manhattan Down is a pulse-pounding contemporary thriller which dares to imagine the unimaginable, a leaderless world being held to ransom by forces unknown for reasons unknown. The questions it asks are terrifying – and so are some of the answers.

 

What did I think?

That chilling strapline really made me sit up and take notice of Michael Cordy's new thriller, Manhattan Down, and it delivered chills and thrills on every page.  It's an incredibly original and highly imaginative thriller that takes the reader to the real, and scarily empty, streets of Manhattan in a breathtaking race against time.

When Manhattan falls asleep on 10th September, only a handful of people are left walking the streets: a group of eco-terrorists, a wounded detective and a single mother.  Nick Lockwood has sworn to protect and serve so he only has one thing on his mind: save the city.  Samantha Rossi is like a lion with its cub as she trawls the streets of Manhattan to find her daughter.  It's only a matter of time before the pair cross paths with both each other and the people responsible for bringing Manhattan to its knees.

I have got goosebumps just thinking about the book and my thoughts have been well and truly provoked.  It's like a cross between Die Hard and 24 and it would be an absolute travesty if this amazing book is not picked up for the big screen.  There are so many interesting subjects running alongside the razor-sharp plot to provoke debate, which makes this book a great choice for book groups.

Chilling, gripping, blisteringly fast-paced and scarily realistic, Manhattan Down is a breathtaking cli-fi thriller that had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.  I couldn't put it down and would highly recommend this completely unmissable and unforgettable book.  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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BLOG TOUR: Wild About You - Sophie Loxton

She’s had enough of saying yes. But what if someone drives her wild enough to change her mind…?

 

Anna Whitlock is done being nice.  After a lifetime of saying yes to everything - work deadlines, sponsored runs, impromptu drinks and (especially) her fiancé Sean - everything Anna has worked so hard for falls apart in one terrible afternoon. With a broken heart she heads to the countryside to start again. 

 

The glorious Stonemore Estate in the wilderness of Northumberland holds more than enough distraction for a city girl.  There’s Callum, the gorgeous estate manager, and an enthusiastic beagle called Hugo.  And then there’s Jamie, Stonemore’s sexy but emotionally unavailable owner, who seems to be hell-bent on making Anna’s rewilding job as difficult as possible. 

 

But when romance with Callum begins to flourish is her newfound resolve to stop people-pleasing about to falter? And why can’t she stop thinking about Jamie? Can she really start to put herself first and let herself say yes to the thing which will make her happiest, falling truly madly wildly in love…?

 

What did I think?

I picked up Wild About You based solely on its eye-catching cover so it was a lovely surprise to find that it is based in my neighbouring county of Northumberland.  The rugged landscape provides a stunning backdrop to this heartwarming romance and I absolutely adored it.

Anna Whitlock certainly needs to invest in a big coat when she moves from London to Northumberland to start her new job and to heal her broken heart.  Anna really didn't want to fall in love, especially not with the lord of the manor, so she pushes Jamie away whenever they're in danger of getting too close.  Jamie has buried his feelings his whole life so he keeps his guard up too and there's a wonderful will they/won't they running through the story.

Anna and Jamie's burgeoning romance reminded me a little of my old favourite Cinderella story: The Slipper and the Rose.  It is clear that the pair have feelings for each other but Anna doesn't think she's the right woman for Jamie so she pushes him towards the awful Lucinda, who has her sights set on becoming the lady of the manor and is planning to announce her engagement to Jamie at the ball.

Oh I really wanted to knock Anna and Jamie's heads together!  The heart wants what the heart wants and they are miserable apart but I can understand Anna's reasoning for stepping back from Jamie, although it doesn't mean I have to like it!

Charming, heartwarming and incredibly romantic, Wild About You is a gorgeous novel that was an absolute pleasure to read.  I am adding this to my favourites shelf as I definitely want to virtually visit the beautiful Stonemore Estate again.

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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More Than Murder - Jayne Chard

TWO ESTRANGED SISTERS. ONE DISAPPEARING BODY.

A witty, cosy mystery packed with twists, turns and tea!

When her flamboyant and spirited half-sister, Frankie, returns to Little Clarsden to claim her share of Rose Cottage, left to them by their Aunt Lucy, she is met with a frosty reception from Julia, who still harbours an old grievance. In an attempt to mend their fractured relationship, the sisters attend a murder mystery weekend at the grand country house of the Medfield estate in the rolling hills of Somerset.

After the first evening’s supper, a “poisoned dart” “kills” one of the guests. In the classic whodunit style of a country house mystery, the game of tracking down the “killer” is afoot.

The playful intrigue takes a sinister turn when the sisters discover a real body hidden in a secret passage. When the body disappears before anyone else can see it, no one believes it ever existed.

As night falls, dark clouds are massing like a cloak of a thousand ravens. A fierce storm leaves the guests trapped in the mansion. With fallen trees and debris rendering the guest’s escape impossible, the killer strikes again.This time, everyone believes the sisters.

With the body count rising and two murders to solve, our sharp-witted, sleuthing sisters set aside their differences, determined to unravel the tangled clues of the murder mystery, track down the real killer, and uncover the truth.

Amid the glamour and intrigue of the other guests and the actors slipping in and out of character, it’s difficult to distinguish between fact and fiction. Nothing and no one is as they seem.

As the sisters get closer to the truth, someone wants them silenced—permanently. With laugh-out-loud banter, a hint of danger, and a twist even Agatha Christie would admire, can Julia and Frankie catch the culprit before the murder weekend becomes their last.

With witty and charming characters and a plot with more twists and turns than a country road, More Than Murder is a delightful blend of humour, mystery and the classic country house crime, perfect for fans of Richard Osman, M.C. Beaton and Benjamin Stevenson.

More Than Murder is the first book in this cosy crime series.

 

What did I think?

More Than Murder is a fun cosy mystery that I really enjoyed.  It is the first book in a new cosy crime series featuring two estranged sisters so I'm intrigued to see what Jayne Chard has in store for Julia and Frankie next.

Julia is hoping that her sister Frankie will never return to the quaint village of Little Clarsden so that she will inherit her aunt's cottage by default.  Unfortunately for Julia, Frankie turns up like the proverbial bad penny to claim her share of  Rose Cottage.  As the sisters attempt to get along as best they can, they are helped by Frankie winning a ticket for two to a murder mystery weekend.  Their relationship begins to repair ever so slowly when they have to work together to identify a killer who turns out to be more real than the murder mystery weekend organisers had planned. 

I loved the murder mystery weekend setting and with a lot of the characters being actors it's never been more true to say that some people aren't who they seem.  I enjoyed following the clues with Julia and Frankie and the competitiveness between them and the other participants was very amusing.

It remains to be seen whether the sisters can live together and share Rose Cottage so I am interested to see where the series is going next.  If I was one of the sisters, I would be worried that the next book was going to be called 'Murder in Rose Cottage'.

Witty, charming and twisty, More Than Murder is a great start to an intriguing new cosy mystery series and I can't wait to read more.

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

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon