BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: The Burial Club - Claire Bamford

1864

Even though death is the greatest equaliser, only some can afford a luxurious send-off. Some can manage nothing but a hole in the ground, and some get only what they deserve.

Marianne Walker is nearly twenty-three, with no suitors and a dislike for impractical skirts. She sees and feels things before they happen, just like her mother, but it’s not always clear what her visions are trying to show her. She has to figure that out for herself.

But now she is seeing bloodied hands, and, for the first time, Marianne is scared – her visions always come to pass.

When one of the custodians of the local Friendly Society is found dead, the residents of Hazelbirch are in uproar amid rumours of fraud and dishonesty. With the help of the undertaker’s sister, Marianne begins to realise that not all is as it should be with the society known by the townsfolk as The Burial Club.

Marianne knows only she has been given all the clues to work out what is really going on and find out who has blood on their hands. But can she reveal everybody’s secrets without sacrificing everyone she holds dear?

 

What did I think?

Having loved Claire Bamford's debut novel, The Messenger, I was very excited to read her new book, The Burial Club, and I was not disappointed.  It's a very intriguing mystery with a wonderful paranormal element and a fantastic main character. 

I loved Marianne from the start.  Her mother died when she was young but Marianne is more like her than she realises as her visions can tell the future, she's just not sure how to interpret them.  Marianne knows someone is going to die but she doesn't know who, when or where.

The other mystery is what is happening to the funds that people are paying into 'The Burial Club'?  It's certainly a one-way street with people regularly paying in but not being able to withdraw anything when they need to arrange a funeral.  It's both intriguing and maddening as this is 1864 when people didn't have two pennies to rub together, yet someone is still managing to steal what little they have. 

There is so much mystery and intrigue that I couldn't put the book down and I wasn't going to bed until I had devoured every single word.  Beautifully written, mesmerising and captivating, The Burial Club is a stunning multi-genre novel that will appeal to all readers.  Claire Bamford is certainly one to watch and I'm looking forward to reading whatever she writes next.

I received a gifted ARC for the Novel Tours bookstagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Waterstones

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: Christmas at Honeycombe Bay - Lilac Mills

An uplifting, heartwarming seasonal romance set in a quintessential seaside village in Devon, perfect for fans of Holly Martin and Sarah Morgan.

Two Scrooges come together for a festive-free holiday season by the sea and find all their anti-Christmas plans going up in smoke when they decide to play Santa for a single mom and her child.

Eloise Garrett thinks Christmas is overpriced, overhyped, and overrated, and without any family to share it with, she feels sad, lonely and isolated. The “season for giving” is just a constant reminder that she's single, sixty(ish), and staring down retirement. But not this Christmas. Determined to avoid the most magical time of the year, Eloise decides to spend Christmas in Honeycombe Bay. Surely a seaside village in the middle of winter won't be too festive?

Ever since his wife passed away, Bartholomew Knott hasn't felt up to welcoming visitors to his guest house. With the prospect of another long, lonely winter, and having become more Scrooge than Santa over the years, Bart is dreading Christmas. However, when he's contacted by someone who dislikes decking the halls just as much as he does, Bart has the brilliant idea of opening the guest house to people who want to escape all things festive.

Christmas isn't easy to ignore, though, not even in off-season Honeycombe Bay. So when fate forces Bart to give shelter to a single mother and child whose holiday has been devastated by a terrible fire, Eloise finds herself playing Mrs. Claus to Bart's Santa-dragging the house's other guest, a heartbroken teacher looking for a break during the holidays, into the action as well. But holiday cheer isn't the only thing sparking under the mistletoe. Will the guests at Honeycombe Bay realize that, sometimes, the best way to escape Christmas is to let it into your heart?

PERFECT FOR FANS OF

- Small-town Christmas vibes

- Later-in-life romance

- Forced proximity

- Grumpy x sunshine

 

What did I think?

It's a little early for me to read something festive but when I saw that Lilac Mills had a new book out I just had to read it and I absolutely loved Christmas at Honeycombe Bay.

Enjoyment of Christmas is a bit of a bone of contention for me as there could be very good reasons why someone doesn't enjoy the festivities.  That's the case for Eloise who has no family to celebrate with so she decides to escape to the seaside village of Honeycombe Bay on its off-season.

Eloise has to persuade Guest house owner Bart to let her stay over Christmas as running the guest house.on his own after his wife died just isn't the same.  There's no messing with Eloise once she gets an idea into her head though as we sure find out throughout the book.  It's unusual to find an older protagonist in a book and I loved that Eloise and Bart are in their sixties but they still have a lot of living to do. 

As a few more rooms become occupied we are introduced to some unforgettable characters who worked their way into my heart and certainly defrosted Eloise's heart.  It is just so lovely to see friendships blossoming and an eclectic group of people becoming a family.  Consider my heart well and truly warmed!

Charming, heartwarming and uplifting, Christmas at Honeycombe Bay is an absolute delight to read.  I think it's perfect for both festive and pre-festive reading as it's obviously not too Christmassy at first with the characters wanting to avoid Christmas.  Put this one on your Christmas list!  A highly recommended read and an easy five stars.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon US

Amazon UK

About the author:

Lilac Mills lives on a Welsh mountain with her very patient husband and incredibly sweet dog, where she grows veggies (if the slugs don't get them), bakes (badly) and loves making things out of glitter and glue (a mess, usually). She's been an avid reader ever since she got her hands on a copy of Noddy Goes to Toytown when she was five, and she once tried to read everything in her local library starting with A and working her way through the alphabet. She loves long, hot summer days in the garden, and cold winter ones snuggled in front of the fire, but whatever the weather she's usually writing or thinking about writing, with heartwarming romance and happy-ever-afters always on her mind.

Lilac also writes under the pseudonyms Liz Davies and Etti Summers

Social Media Links – 

Instagram 

Website 

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BLOG TOUR: The Chase - Felix Francis

RACING IS AN ART WORTH KILLING FOR . . .

The brand new 2026 novel from the master of the racing thriller - now available in hardback and ebook.

Fabian Tulley is only trying to run his own art gallery in London's Mayfair in peace - but someone is determined to ruin his life.

Accused of selling a fake Sir Alfred Munnings painting, he is unable to prove his innocence because the police are holding the piece as evidence.

While running a retail stand at Cheltenham Racecourse, some of his other paintings are vandalised. Then, two men try to run him down in the racecourse car park.

To make matters even worse, his regular clients are threatening to keep away from his gallery and his landlords are trying to terminate his lease. Everything is against him, but with someone trying to destroy his life's work, Fabian resolves not to cave under the pressure.

Saving his business will prove to be the fight of his life - or his death . . .

 

What did I think?

The Chase is my first Felix Francis book and it won't be my last; I absolutely LOVED IT!  I wouldn't normally read a book set in the horse racing world. and I only chose to read it as my Nanna used to read Dick Francis novels, but I'm so glad that I gave it a try.

I really liked Fabian Tully; he's the son of a horse trainer and rather than follow in his father's father's footsteps he's made a name for himself as a reputable art dealer.  That is until he is accused of selling a fake painting and his art gallery starts to resemble a ghost town.

The plot is intricate but easy to follow and it is filled with shocks and surprises.  I learnt a lot about horse racing and art while I was reading and, despite not being subjects I've ever been drawn to, found it incredibly enjoyable. It's very easy to read and difficult to put down once you pick it up.  In fact, I only put it down once and read it in two sittings.

Combining art with horse racing, The Chase is an unputdownable, fast-paced thriller that entertained me from start to finish.  I will definitely be looking to read more books by Felix Francis on the strength of this one.  Very highly recommended.

I received a gifted 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: You Too (The Millingham Series book 3) - Katharine Light

Anna has finally got what she longed for.

After years of focusing on her career—ignoring the quiet, insistent need for a child—a chance encounter with Rob led to an arrangement that changed everything.

Now she’s pregnant.

But nothing about what comes next is simple. This was never meant to be a relationship. As her pregnancy becomes more difficult, Anna retreats, unwilling to face Rob, or the feelings she can no longer ignore.

Because wanting a baby was one thing. Letting someone in is something else entirely.

Rob always knew their arrangement had limits. He didn’t expect Anna would quickly become the one person he can’t walk away from.

Now, both must decide what they’re willing to fight for. Can they overcome the complications of their own backgrounds and truly build a family together?

Or was their connection never meant to last?

 

What did I think?

You Too is book three in the Millingham series but it can definitely be read as a standalone.  I read book one, Like Me and seem to have missed book two, Me Too but I didn't feel disadvantaged at all as each book focusses on a particular pair of characters.  This is Anna and Rob's story.

Anna has always longed to be a mother but events in her past have caused Anna to protect her frozen heart by not fully committing to relationships.  It might be a problem to get pregnant then!  Enter old schoolfriend Rob, who has always had a thing for Anna, and he agrees to grant Anna's wish.

You hear of women blooming when pregnant but Anna is an older mum and her morning sickness is vicious.  I really liked how Katharine Light wrote about Anna's condition as I think morning sickness isn't treated as anything other than a mild inconvenience so it's good for women to watch out for any warning signs that things might not be quite right.  It's not a spoiler about anything going wrong with Anna's pregnancy, but rather a reminder that women shouldn't suffer in silence.

At the heart of the story is a lovely romance between Anna and Rob.  Rob knew what he signed up for at the beginning but he wants more now and Anna is playing her cards very close to her chest; she doesn't want that frozen heart to melt, after all.  It just shows that you do need to take a risk sometimes and you can never really know what someone is thinking or feeling until you ask them.

Warm, poignant and heartwarming, You Too is a gentle read with thought-provoking issues that are very true to life.  It's easy to read and well worth picking up.

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

My rating:

Purchase link: Amazon

About the author:

Katharine Light was born in Glasgow and lived there until her family moved to Manchester when she was ten. While in her teens, she began writing stories for her younger sister Emma. These mostly centred around a naïve heroine and a 1980s pop star (some would say the hero was modelled on John Taylor of Duran Duran).

She did a degree in psychology at University College London, and after a year travelling, worked in corporate film production for several years, before taking a break to raise her children. 

For many years she wrote mainly during the holidays, around her busy work for a local church.

Her first novel Like Me, published in 2023, was shortlisted for The Selfies Book Awards 2024. Her short story My arms are empty which is based on an episode from her second novel Me Too recently won the City University competition City Writes. 

She is a director of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, with responsibility for organising their conferences, gatherings and awards ceremonies. 

Katharine lives in London with her husband and quite often at least one of their adult children. She loves singing, walking, painting, looking at art, and going to the theatre.

Social Media Links – 

Instagram/Threads – katharinelightwrites1 

Facebook – Katharinelightwrites 

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Lie To Me (Detective Karen Hart Book 12) - D. S. Butler

As soon as he picks up the phone, Arnie knows something is terribly wrong. ‘We’ve found him. Damon’s finally been found.’ For thirty-five years, DS Arnie Hodgson believed his childhood friend was dead. But he didn’t die back then. He was murdered yesterday.

DS Karen Hart’s heart breaks for her colleague as she joins the investigation, but soon the case takes a darker turn. Burned into Damon’s chest is a vivid scarlet mark—a Victorian branding iron shaped like a scythe. Why did Damon vanish that night? And why has someone killed him now?

As Karen and Arnie track down his old friends in the small coastal town of Humberston, they become sure answers lie buried in Arnie’s past; they were all together at the fairground that summer night thirty-five years ago when Damon disappeared. And when the detectives uncover another body, it’s clear someone will kill to keep their secrets buried.

Then another person close to Arnie is brutally murdered—with the same vivid scarlet mark seared into their skin. And when a driver tries to run Arnie down in a car, he must finally confront a terrifying question: is one of his old friends a killer? And if so, can he bring them to justice before they turn on him next?

 

What did I think?

Whether Lie To Me is your first or your twelfth Detective Karen Hart book, it's an absolute cracker!  You can definitely read it as a standalone but make space on your bookshelf as I can guarantee that you will want to read all of the earlier books too.

The story revolves around a group of old schoolfriends who are clearly hiding something about the night Finn died and Damon went missing.  Arnie is now in the police force but he has lived with the guilt of not knowing what happened that night 35 years ago because he was too drunk to stay awake.  When Damon's body turns up, this is Arnie's chance to put things right but he is too close to the case so DS Karen Hart joins forces with him.

The police investigation is a real page-turner and it is interspersed with chapters belonging to a chilling voice who knows exactly what happened that night.  As suspicion falls on all of Arnie's old friends, I didn't know who to believe or trust as one of them is clearly willing to kill to keep that secret well buried.  I was definitely pointing my finger at every single one of them at one point or another and I didn't work it out until very close to the big reveal.

Filled with tension, suspense and danger, Lie To Me is a gripping and fast-paced crime thriller.  I definitely want to read the earlier books in the series now and I can't wait for Karen Hart's story to continue.  A very highly recommend read.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: Paper Trails - Amelia Thorne

It’s 1989 in London, the Cold War between East and West is finally coming to an end, and thirteen-year-old Milly has a school project to find out about her family history. But all she knows is that her grandad was a doorman at the Savoy – and that, long ago, he was supposedly a Russian prince, back when Russia still had princes. Could that really be true?

So, when she discovers an old diary written in Russian, she enlists the help of her schoolfriend Ilya, whose family has fled the Soviet Union, to unravel Nicolai’s story.

As they piece together the unbelievable details of his escape from the Red Army, the adventures, the hardships and the love he encountered as he made his way across Europe, Milly sees an opportunity to heal the tragedies of the past – with unexpected consequences.

 

What did I think?

Paper Trails is a YA novel with a 13-year-old protagonist and, even though I'm 'slightly' older than the target audience, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

It hooked me from the start with Milly's interest in finding out more about her family history after being laughed at in school for claiming her grandad was a Russian prince.  Now this is 1989 so there's no world wide web on which to do her research so Milly does some digging around at home and finds an old diary written in Russian. 

Oh my goodness, the diary entries are heartbreaking but Amelia Thorne writes with sensitivity and respect so that younger readers will not be distressed by the events of the Russian civil war.  I loved that Milly asked a Russian schoolfriend to translate the diary and it was nice to see a platonic friendship, despite being at an age where hormones are starting to rage.

The family history story is very intriguing and it is like a jigsaw with pieces spread around the world.  It wasn't until I finished reading that i realised how clever the cover was with all the little facets of the story depicted in beautiful images.

Atmospheric, nostalgic and poignant, Paper Trails is a wonderful book that completely captivated and charmed me.  I couldn't put it down once I picked it up and read it in one sitting.  It's absolutely brilliant and I loved it!

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

BOOK TOUR: Crone - Keith Rosson

 

A haunting, fearsome story of a father searching for his missing daughter and finding darkness—both human and not—at every turn, from the author of the “exciting, suspenseful, horrifying” (Stephen King) Fever House. 

Eli Lamp is a broken man. An ex-detective, ex-addict, and long-grieving father whose daughter, Hannah, disappeared a decade before, Eli decimated his old life investigating her abduction and is now indebted to the Crooked Wheel, a local drug gang, as an enforcer. 

But when the son of the Crooked Wheel’s boss is viciously murdered, Eli is met with a simple demand: Find out who killed him and your debt to the Wheel is clear forever. You’re free. This pursuit brings him into the orbit of Avery Bryant, Hannah’s best friend and the last person to see her before she went missing. Soon, Eli and Avery are entwined in a hunt for answers that spans decades and brings churning to the surface a conspiracy linking not only these current tragedies, but the buried sorrows of Eli’s past. 

And though none of them dare say the word "witch," at least not out loud, something lurks in the woods, bent-backed and black-eyed, clawed and vengeful, looming ever closer. . . .

What did I think?

Crone is my first Keith Rosson book and it certainly won't be my last; it's absolutely fantastic!  It's a horror but it's also a crime thriller with a missing girl mystery at its heart.

Nobody knows what happened to Hannah Lamp after she got into a van and left her friend Avery out in the rain.  Avery has to live with the guilt and Hannah's ex-detective father Eli is haunted by the one case he couldn't solve.  I can understand why Eli turned to drugs as his life has crumbled to dust around him, first losing his wife in childbirth and then losing his only daughter, closely followed by his job.

With motorbike gangs and creepy creatures it's like a cross between Sons of Anarchy and Supernatural.  It's certainly dark and there's a bit of gore but it's not gorey for the sake of it; I did get a bit stomach clenchy at times but I loved it and there was no way I was tearing my eyes away from the page for a single second.

Crone is a book that is impossible to put down once you pick it up.  I was hooked from the very first page and raced through it in order to find out what happened to Hannah.  It was worse than I imagined though and I was both devastated and furious.

This is one OUTSTANDING book; it's dark, gritty and filled with fury.  I absolutely loved it and really can't recommend it highly enough.  This isn't just horror, this is Black Crow horror and it is simply magnificent.

I received a gifted hardback proof to read and review for the UK Book Tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Black Crow Books

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: Dead Man's Run (Ash Carter Near East Crime-Thriller Book 5) - Murray Bailey

The war may have ended, but the cover-ups never did.

Israel 1950. SIB Captain Ash Carter is called into the British 'embassy' to report on the death-in-service of a consular officer. Despite assurances that there is nothing suspicious, Carter begins a challenging investigation - one that the authorities disprove of. And the deeper he digs, the more complex it appears.

Meeting an Israeli private detective, investigating a linked crime, Carter forms an uneasy alliance. Together, they uncover something too shocking to be believed without hard proof. With the highest of political stakes, distrust at every turn, deceit, kidnapping and murder, Carter must find a balance between the law, justice and revenge.

Dead Man's Run is the fifth historical crime novel in the Ash Carter Near East series but can be read as a stand-alone

 

What did I think?

Dead Man's Run is book five in the Ash Carter Near East Crime Thriller series and, although I've read a number of books starring Ash Carter, this is the first one I have read in this particular series.  It can be read as a standalone as I enjoyed it but I do think I would have enjoyed it more if I'd read the earlier books in the series first.

I think of Ash Carter as kind of a James Bond character but without the cool gadgets.  He's not afraid to get his hands dirty and is always at the heart of the action.  There's certainly a lot of action packed into the book as Ash investigates an apparent suicide that takes him in a very dark and dangerous direction.  I didn't know who he could trust and even those who Ash has trusted in the past appear to have deceived him.

It's very atmospheric as it's set in 1950 and I loved the Israeli setting.  It did take me a while to get into the story but the pacing certainly ramps up in the second half of the book along with the danger levels.  I even learnt something I didn't know about post-war escape routes and I have been fascinated by my further reading about this.

Intriguing, atmospheric and action-packed, Dead Man's Run is another thrilling Ash Carter novel that entertained me from the start to the end.  It's well worth a 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

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BLOG TOUR: Murder at the Tower (DCI Viv Lee Mystery Series Book 1) - Stacey Murray

For seven hundred years, Yeoman Warders have guarded the Tower of London, where their homes are inside the walls and where the gates are locked at night.

One of them, Tony Warboys, is on night watch duty, patrolling the ancient grounds. But he won't live to see the sun rise. When his body is found on the cobbles by the peculiar figure of the Tower Ravenmaster, the Met quickly discover that Tony had no shortage of enemies.

As they navigate the intriguing world and hierarchy of the Tower, and public fascination with the case mounts, DCI Viv Lee uncovers shocking secrets which could rock the place to its foundations.

But can she catch the killer before she kills her career?

Murder At The Tower is a classic whodunnit set in the present-day Tower of London.

 

What did I think?

WOW!  Murder at the Tower is an absolutely cracking murder mystery and there is no better location for a locked room mystery than the fortress that is the Tower of London.

You don't need to be familiar with the Tower to enjoy the story as there is a map at the front of the book and I do love a map!  I did visit the Tower about 30 years ago and of course you can see images online but Stacey Murray really brings the location to life with her wonderful descriptions. 

I don't think anyone is that bothered about the victim as Tony Warboys ruffled more than the ravens' feathers.  It literally could have been any one of his colleagues as they all had motive through their dislike of him and means, being ex-military, but who had the opportunity?  

Enter DCI Viv Lee and what a fabulous character she is.  I am so excited that this is just the first book of hopefully many starring this sharp, witty and tenacious female detective.  I simply couldn't read it fast enough and raced through it in two sittings.  I didn't have a clue 'whodunnit' and I think I had every single character under suspicion at one point or another.

Filled with mystery and suspense, Murder at the Tower is a whodunnit that Agatha Christie would have been proud of.  A high bar has been set for book two and I can't wait to see how Stacey Murray follows this magnificent book.  It's an absolutely superb murder mystery and a very highly recommended read.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Hobeck Books

Amazon

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BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: The Lost Soldier / Arnie Eats an Ice Cream - Elizabeth Heapy

One man. Two lives. No clean escape.

A wry, haunting, mental and physical descent into a fractured heart, soul, and mind.

Presented in an unconventional tête‑bêche (head-to-tail; tail-to-head) format, The Lost Soldier / Arnie Eats an Ice Cream serves as more than just a novel; it introduces a unique reader experience: you do not simply read this book; you listen to it; you wrestle with it; you embrace it; you navigate it; physically turning the pages and then the entire volume to uncover the mirrored halves of a single, devastating truth.

Part I: The Lost Soldier

Narrated by renowned psychiatrist Dr Elizabeth Heapy, FRCPsych, this dispassionate account tracks Stephen's clinical descent. Born into the shadowed prestige of the British Special Forces, he faces a life that was expected but never arrives. The deaths of his father, mother, and best friend in quick succession anchor him in an unmanageable internal conflict. Burdened by grief, and despite mounting mental and physical challenges, Stephen becomes an unlikely, deeply unsettled vigilante. The Fatman rises.

Part II: Arnie Eats an Ice Cream

Written by Anonymous voice, the narrative pivots 180 degrees. The narrative shifts focus from the reasons behind Stephen's fall to the inevitable 'what', which represents the true purpose his life was always moving towards. Set against the volatile backdrop of 1970s-90s sectarianism, crime, and politics, Stephen's internal history propels him toward a real-world, high-profile, historical event that altered the course of history forever. The Fatman falls.

Why this book is different:

• The unique Tête‑Bêche Structure: A physical metaphor for a fractured heart and soul. The reader must flip the book itself to confront the next side of his life story
• Fractured Consciousness: Inspired by 'show your working out' in maths exams: Stylistic strike-throughs expose alternative thinking and suppressed truths Stephen cannot admit to, even to himself
• A Cinematic Experience: A curated pre-1996 soundtrack underscores mood and tension, borrowing the emotional language of film to deepen every chapter

But who is Claire? But who is Alyson?

Darkly humane and emotionally resonant, with humour and irony woven throughout, The Lost Soldier / Arnie Eats an Ice Cream examines how an ordinary life veers into extraordinary consequences. It asks not only how to read the book, but also how to judge the man at its centre and determine where his fiction ends, where his reality begins, and where it ends again.

 

What did I think?

I didn't know what a Tête‑Bêche book was before reading The Lost Soldier / Arnie Eats an Ice Cream and what an amazing experience this was.  I have to say it's a physically challenging book as it is large and heavy but well worth 'picking up', albeit in a metaphorical way rather than literal.

It is very unusual, not just the flip book style but the writing style with some words crossed out, but still visible to read, and other words redacted for security reasons.  This is Stephen Cooper's story and it's both heartbreaking and harrowing.

The Lost Soldier is the story of Stephen's life from childhood to a certain point in time that changed the course of his life.  In this part he meets Claire and it's very much a 'what might have been' had events not conspired against him. 

Arnie Eats an Ice Cream sounds like perhaps a fun story but wow it is dark.  Stephen's story interweaves with some real events that I actually found difficult to read about because it brought it all back into my mind.  Not that it's something I had forgotten, but seeing it written about from Stephen's point of view was quite upsetting, such is the power of the writing.  I don't want to say what the events were as it will spoil it for others but, as disturbing as it was, it really kept me turning the pages rapidly.

The chapters are quite long but once you get into the story, it's difficult to put down.  I felt totally invested in Stephen's life and there are many shocks and surprises along the way as his life isn't exactly smooth sailing.  The book also has a playlist with songs stated to accompany the events that have just taken place and they matched perfectly.

Perhaps one of the most unusual books I have ever read, The Lost Soldier / Arnie Eats an Ice Cream is certainly one of the most unforgettable too.  A highly recommended read.

I received a gifted hardback for the Love Books Tours readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Doghouse Press

Amazon

BLOG TOUR: Circle of Shadows - Marisa Linton

It's 1904, and being a detective - let alone an occult detective - is no profession for a woman. But that won't stop Evie Winstanley.

When her father, a collector of occult books, dies in strange circumstances, Evie is determined to investigate. Her only lead: a cryptic mention of the 'Circle of Shadows.' From a chilling séance on the lonely Yorkshire moors to the sinister, hedonistic halls of Oxford's elite, Evie hunts for answers, stalked by whispers of an ancient monster and an ever-shifting, ominous symbol.

But when a young woman's body surfaces in the Cherwell, bearing that same mark, Evie uncovers a truth far more terrifying than a single murder. Now, Evie isn't just seeking justice; she's fighting to save her sister, in a dark and twisted adventure where gilded boys unleash hell and defiant women must pick up the pieces. Nothing will stop her investigation, not outraging Edwardian notions of female propriety, and certainly not offers of romance.

Blending historical fantasy with Golden Age classic crime, Circle of Shadows is a dark and twisty adventure through an occult Edwardian England where wealthy boys toy with powers they don't understand, and a lone woman takes a stand against them. Perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes, The Frozen People and Rivers of London.

 

What did I think?

Circle of Shadows is Marisa Linton's debut adult fiction novel and it is a cracker.  I loved every single page of it and didn't want to end...it does actually end like it's the start of a series and I hope it isn't the last we've seen of Evie Winstanley.

It does have hints of Sherlock Holmes about it but with a very strong and tenacious female main character who I absolutely loved.  It's Edwardian England where women should be seen and not heard but Evie Winstanley is determined to break that mould.

Marisa Linton takes the reader on an atmospheric journey from the rugged landscape of the Yorkshire moors to the historic streets of Oxford.  The séance that Evie attends is one of the most vivid scenes I have ever read and I almost jumped out of my seat when I was reading.  I love how sceptical Evie is though and she is determined to investigate to find out the truth.

It's a fabulous mystery as well as a haunting historical fiction novel and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.  I read it in two sittings and would have easily read it in one if I didn't have to sleep!

Circle of Shadows is an evocative and compelling historical mystery that surprised and delighted me.  I really enjoyed it and hope to read more of Evie's adventures in the future.

I received a gifted hardback 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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BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: Shotley Bridge Revenge (Shotley Bridge Thrillers Book 2) - Bobby Cussens

Justice is slow. Revenge won't wait.

Built on ironstone and hemmed in by the swollen Derwent River, Shotley Bridge wears calm like a disguise. When Reya's body is discovered on Front Street, DC Heather Hudson is called to investigate a case that carves up the village and puts her children in the killer's path. She isn't just hunting someone determined to settle every score. She's also the prey. Through brutal retribution beneath the relentless rain, the closer Heather gets to the truth, the harder it becomes to know who deserves justice. Or revenge.

Get ready for a gritty British crime thriller with a complex female detective fighting for respect in a male-dominated force. Set in the atmospheric North East England, this book is perfect for fans of Val McDermid and Ann Cleeves. With multiple twists and a chilling epilogue that changes everything, this is a must-read for those who crave atmospheric detective fiction.

If you enjoyed books like LJ Ross's "Holy Island," you'll love this second instalment in the Shotley Bridge Thriller Series.

SHOTLEY BRIDGE REVENGE is Book 2 in the Shotley Bridge Thriller Series—continuing with a sleuth you'll want to follow through every dark twist.

 

What did I think?

Having absolutely LOVED Shotley Bridge Murders, I couldn't wait for the series to continue and not only was I not disappointed, it has somehow got even better!  I think you could read this second book as a standalone but it is sheer perfection when read as part of the series.

The village of Shotley Bridge is once again left reeling after a murder in their midst.  There's still a killer on the loose from the first book and it certainly looks like he's struck again.  It's another case for DC Heather Hudson to solve, if only that misogynist DS Roberts would leave her alone.

Whilst the murder is the main plotline, the ongoing battle between Hudson and Roberts adds another level to the story.  To say I was furious at Roberts is an understatement, if he would only get on with his job instead of trying to get Heather sacked they might catch the killer a lot quicker.  Roberts would be a great pantomime villain and Bobby Cussens has certainly created a character that all readers will love to hate.

Talk about fast-paced!  I had to check my hands for papercuts as I was turning the pages so quickly.  I would have read it in one sitting if I didn't have to sleep and that ending...now that's what I call a doof doof moment; Eastenders has got nothing on Bobby Cussens!  I hope Bobby is a fast writer as I'm on tenterhooks for book three!

Shotley Bridge Revenge is an outstanding sequel that has really raised the crime writing bar.  I think I'm safe to say that it's lining up to be one of my favourite crime/police procedural series of all time and it's only at book two.  WOW!  Don't miss this one, crime fans!

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

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