BLOG TOUR: Realm of Fear (Mirror Wars Book 3) - Alan Bayles

After cheating death with the aid from a mysterious cosmic entity, Dave Barnes and Claire Tulley find themselves on the parallel world of Terra, where the sudden appearance of Claire’s supposedly deceased twin sister, a revered Terran resistance leader throws them off balance.

A former enemy, now potential ally, may hold the key to returning home and continuing their battle against the sentient AI, Oracle.

New threats emerge, forcing Claire and Dave to make an impossible choice: keep the portal sealed, stranding them on Terra with a hostile inhuman presence, or do they jeopardise the whole multiverse just to get home?

GRAB YOUR COPY OF REALM OF FEAR NOW TO DISCOVER THEIR FATE!

 

What did I think?

Even though I don't usually read science fiction, I am really enjoying the Mirror Wars series and Realm of Fear is the thrilling third book in this gripping series.  It's a book I wouldn't advise reading as a standalone as you need to have read the earlier books to understand the various worlds and how they and the characters link together.

What links all of the worlds is Oracle, a scary AI that sends chills down my spine.  When you take emotions out of the equation, you really can't predict what Oracle will do next.  I loved how the Tulley sisters are reunited in this book but they have some unfinished business to deal with first to do with the last time they saw each other.

It's quite thought-provoking to see different versions of people in each world and it is surprising how similar they actually are.  I like to think that would be the case if I ever did run into another version of me from another world.

The pacing really ramps up in this instalment and especially so at the end where the reader is left right on the edge of the cliff with a beady eye out for book four.  I can't wait to read the conclusion. 

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: Shotley Bridge Murders (Shotley Bridge Thrillers Book 1) - Bobby Cussens

Four bodies. Two weeks. One secret that's waited forty years to surface.

This is the case that could cost Detective Heather Hudson everything.

When DC Heather Hudson finds Boz's throat-slashed body on a frozen riverbank, she's plunged into a chilling murder case. As the body count rises and winter storms batter County Durham, Heather spots a pattern nobody else can see.

With DS Roberts undermining her at every turn and a team of sceptical detectives dismissing her theory, Heather must race against time to uncover the truth before the killer strikes again.

The case seems solved—until it spectacularly unravels.

In a violent final confrontation, Heather risks everything to stop a serial killer seeking revenge.

A gripping British detective series powered by a female sleuth, filled with authentic Geordie voices, workplace drama, and cold cases that refuse to stay buried.

Perfect for fans of Val McDermid, Ann Cleeves, and LJ Ross who love police procedurals with complex female protagonists and the atmospheric beauty of England's North East.

SHOTLEY BRIDGE MURDERS is Book 1 in the Detective Heather Hudson series. One killer is caught—but in the chilling epilogue, another threat emerges...

What did I think?

I absolutely loved this fantastic debut novel by Bobby Cussens.  Shotley Bridge Murders is such a good read and it is set in my local area, although I have to say that I have never actually been to Shotley Bridge but I really enjoyed my virtual visit (despite all the murders).

This is an outstanding police procedural that hooked me from the start and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.  The chapters are date and time stamped so I really felt as if I was part of the police investigation, although I would have been suspended for giving DS Roberts a piece of my mind.

DC Heather Hudson is the real star though, both in terms of being the main protagonist and the brains behind the police investigation.  DS Roberts seems more interested in putting Heather down and bigging himself up than solving the murders.  He's a character that I loved to hate and it just goes to show the author's talent when such feelings are evoked in the reader.

The village of Shotley Bridge is beautifully depicted through Bobby Cussen's vivid writing and it is easy to imagine the scenery, even if you've never been there.  I was completely gripped by the hunt for the murderer and I enjoyed virtually meeting all (well, most) of the villagers.  I am so pleased that there are more books planned as there is some unfinished business in this book and I am keen to see how it plays out.

Gripping, authentic and atmospheric, Shotley Bridge Murders is an amazing debut novel and a very impressive start to an exciting new series.  I can't wait to read more and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for the release of Shotley Bridge Revenge.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Waterstones

Amazon

About the author:

Bobby Cussens lives in County Durham with her husband and Stan, their labrador. When she’s not dreaming up ways to despatch characters in her novels, she’s hiking or cycling across Muggleswick Moor and around Derwent Reservoir.

Bobby has been an aspiring crime writer for decades, but this is her first novel. She's also written an anthology of poetry and two other books, which will be available soon. The next instalment of Heather Hudson’s adventures is nearly complete and scheduled for publication in the summer of 2026.

Website: https://www.bobbycussens.com/

Instagram: @bobbycussens

Facebook: BobbyCussens

TikTok: @bobbycussensauthor

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: The Lost Girls (Mary Shelley Investigations book 2) - Donna Gowland

Don’t miss this page-turning historical mystery! For fans of Mary Shelley, Daphne Du Maurier, Diane Setterfield and Laura Purcell.

Is someone snatching dead bodies…?

1814, London

After triumphantly solving a murder case in Paris, Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin and Percy Shelley return to London penniless.

As Percy is still married to his estranged wife, he and Mary are shunned from polite society for living together out of wedlock.

Isolated and trapped in squalid lodgings, Mary finds herself alone while Percy escapes to the tavern. And one evening when she goes looking for him, a dead body is found.

But when Percy and Mary arrive at the scene the dead girl is gone…

When she receives a note from an old friend and discovers another girl is missing, Mary wonders if the crimes are connected.

What happened to the body? Was it taken by the murderer?

Can Mary and Percy come together to solve another tricky case…?

THE MARY SHELLEY INVESTIGATIONS SERIES:

Book One: The Missing Wife

Book Two: The Lost Girls

Book Three: Death at the Altar

What did I think?

I absolutely loved The Missing Wife, the first book in the Mary Shelley Investigations series, so I couldn't wait to read The Lost Girls and I was not disappointed.  You can definitely read it as a standalone if you have just discovered this fascinating series.

Mary and Percy have returned from their elopement to France but the scandal has followed them back to London.  Now Mary is pregnant, ignored by her family and living well below the standard to which she had become accustomed.  Whilst they have little money for food, Percy certainly seems to find money for drink.

I love the way that Donna Gowland brings these historical characters to life and weaves fact with fiction so that the reader learns about Mary and Percy Shelley in a very entertaining way.  I have new respect for Mary as Percy is so exasperating and I couldn't live with him.  Mary's stepsister Claire is a strange one; it's good that she provides support to Mary but she is clearly enamoured with Percy so I worry that Claire's motives are entirely selfish.

The missing girls storyline is incredibly intriguing and atmospheric as the dark underbelly of Georgian London is described.  I felt as if I was there following in their footsteps as Mary, Percy and Claire investigate this puzzling case.

Entertaining, captivating and authentic, The Lost Girls is a thrilling instalment in this completely unmissable series.  I can't wait to read more so look out for my review of book three, Death at the Altar, very soon.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Waterstones

Amazon

Follow the tour:

A Stranger in Corfu - Alex Preston

On the Greek island of Vidos the past lingers like salt in the air. The inhabitants - former members of MI6 - are sent here to be forgotten. Exiled. Either too damaged or too compromised to be allowed to live freely.

For years, residents make the best of their fate - old enemies reconcile, long-lost friends swim together in the warm sea and estranged lovers share a bed once more. But secrets bind tightly. And when one of their own washes up dead, alliances fracture and a tide of suspicion begins to rise.

A vivid reimagining of a real, hidden slice of the British Intelligence Service's history, A Stranger in Corfu is an exquisitely tense and masterfully spun novel about shadowy morality, unravelled secrets and the futility of trying to outrun the past.

 

What did I think?

It was really interesting to read A Stranger in Corfu because although it is fiction it did make me wonder what happens to spies when they are no longer active.  Are they trusted to they keep their secrets or are they too much of a risk?

These former spies are exiled on the island of Vidos in Corfu and they live together rather like a dysfunctional family.  The Greek police have their work cut out when one of the ex-spies is found dead.  Is it an accident or was it murder?  The spies know better than most that it's a dangerous world out there and you don't know who you can trust.

The timeline flips back and forth between the current setting and previous assignments and although the pacing is quite slow I was mesmerised by the eloquence of Alex Preston's writing. 

Atmospheric, poignant and intriguing, A Stranger in Corfu is an enthralling literary thriller that I really enjoyed reading.  It's well worth a read if you enjoy spy thrillers as it's something a bit different from the norm.

I received a gifted hardback for the Adventures With Words readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK

Amazon

BLOG TOUR: The General's Wife - Suzanne Dana

 

Some secrets don't stay buried, even beneath military honors

Margaret Stone appears to be the perfect military spouse—supportive, resilient, and respected as the wife of Brigadier General George "Rocky" Stone. But beneath her carefully composed exterior lies a past shadowed by tragedy and one fateful night that could destroy everything she's built.

When a blackmail letter signed "Swimbuddy1980" arrives, Margaret is forced to confront the truth about what really happened during a late-night swim at Coronado Beach nearly thirty years ago. As the threats escalate and her husband faces a career-defining deployment to Afghanistan, Margaret must navigate the complex loyalties of military life while fighting to protect the life she's crafted from the ashes of her troubled youth.

From a San Diego tattoo parlor to the formality of Marine Corps ceremonies, Margaret's journey reveals the resilience of the human spirit and the unique bonds forged through shared sacrifice in the military community.

In this compelling narrative of love, betrayal, and redemption, one woman discovers that while the past shapes us, it need not define us—and that true strength comes from facing the most painful truths of all.

What did I think?

The General's Wife is a wonderful debut novel that gives the reader a glance into US military life from a side you don't often see: that of the wives and partners.  The armed forces have such an important and difficult job but so do those they leave behind when they're deployed.

With reference to a secret in chapter one, I was immediately drawn into the story and just had to find out what was haunting Maggie from her past.  Maggie is a Brigadier General's wife and any scandal would be a detriment to his career progression.  That's why Maggie agrees to pay a blackmailer to keep her secret hidden but this means that she is hiding something else from her husband.

The secret is revealed to the reader through flashbacks to Maggie's youth and it broke my heart to see Maggie carrying this burden for so many years.  Secrets can fester if you try to bury them and it's true what they say about a problem shared but Maggie is terrified of the consequences and she doesn't know who she can trust.

I love secrets in a novel so I was hooked from the start and as much as I wanted to know what the secret was I was enjoying the whole story of Maggie's life, both past and present, just as much.  Maggie is such a strong character that I really came to care about her and she would definitely give us Brits a run for our money in the stiff upper lip stakes.

Completely captivating and incredibly intriguing, The General's Wife is filled with love, honour and respect.  It's a riveting story and it's so beautifully written that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the author:

Suzanne Dana is both a general’s daughter and a general’s wife. She graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in journalism and a secondary education credential in English. As a general’s wife, she moved nineteen times and supported her husband through eight deployments, including those to Iraq and Afghanistan. She currently sits on the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation board as an Adjunct Director. She enjoys photography, travel, water sports, and volunteering at a local women’s shelter. She resides in Arizona with her husband. 

The General’s Wife is her debut novel.

Social Media Links – 

Website: http://suzannemdana.com/

Facebook: suzannemdana

Instagram: @authorsuzannedana

Giveaway:

Giveaway to Win 10 x signed copies of The General’s Wife (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Gleam box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

Win 10 x signed copies of The General’s Wife (Open INT)

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: The Lost Detective - Elspeth Latimer

On a summer's day, a baby vanishes. The mystery is never solved, leaving a young mother lost in grief.

Twenty-one years later, ex-police detective Dan Hennessy is struggling with his own tragic loss, and when a neighbour disappears and a body turns up at the solar farm, he is desperate for answers.

The haunted landscape is keeping secrets, and there are dangers lurking in the Brecks.

Dan must find the truth.

Can he offer hope to the grieving mother, and also save himself? 

What did I think?

Wow!  The Lost Detective is one of the best debut novels I have ever read.  Do not miss this book, crime fiction fans!  

I had to double check that The Lost Detective is Elspeth Latimer's debut as her writing is so accomplished and the plot is so compelling that I read all but the last few chapters of this fantastic book in one sitting.  I only put it down to go to sleep and I couldn't wait to pick it up the next morning to read the stunning conclusion.

The prologue is haunting and heartbreaking; it is every mother's nightmare to lose their child and Alice has had to live for 21 years without knowing what happened to her six-week-old baby Felix. Dan Hennessy knows all about loss as his fiancée was tragically killed by one of his police colleagues and he lost his future as well as his career that day. 

There's a lot of mystery and intrigue as we read about various events and different characters but they all tie together perfectly into a satisfying and incredibly emotional conclusion.  I may have had something in my eye at the end...

Poignant, evocative and captivating, The Lost Detective is a breathtaking debut novel that is unpredictable and unmissable.  Elspeth Latimer is certainly one to watch based on the strength of this very highly recommended read.

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

My rating:

Purchase link: https://mybook.to/lostdetective-zbt

About the author:

Elspeth Latimer is an associate tutor on the prestigious University of East Anglia MA in Creative Writing Crime Fiction, and also the author of Writing the Detectives, an academic study of the protagonist in the contemporary crime fiction series, published by Cambridge University Press.

Connect with Elspeth:

Facebook: elspeth.latimer.7

Instagram: elspethlatimer16

Threads: @elspethlatimer16

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: Love Ahoy! - Jo Lyons

Maddie Summers has never been the impulsive type. So taking a new job as a holiday rep in Turkey is way out of her comfort zone. Will embarking on a boat trip with a host of demanding passengers see her all at sea - literally?

But then there’s Jackson, the sexy Australian rep who she’s falling for, hook, line and sinker. Though any chance of romance is complicated by Maddie’s gift for chaos, the powerful family onboard ship (including their light-fingered five-year-old), and a supervisor with secrets he’ll do anything to keep hidden.

Amid the rough waves of jealous crewmates, missing jewellery and even a potential man overboard, Maddie must be brave and throw logic to the wind. Can she take a risk and set a course for love? 

What did I think?

I love Jo Lyons' books and her new novel, Love Ahoy! is a real breath of fresh air in the romcom genre.  Take note doctors, Love Ahoy! should come on prescription; it made me laugh and smile all the way through.

Maddie needs a change of scenery after a recent break up so she hops on a plane and flies to Turkey to work in the head office of a holiday company.  Of course things don't go to plan from the moment she steps on the plane but give the girl her due, she stuck by her decision.  Maddie thought she would be sitting behind a desk at head office but instead she's working on a gulet to give a rich family a holiday to remember.

The family on the boat is hilarious and I absolutely adored five year old Emir - he is so cute and precocious that he was definitely my favourite character (and that's saying something as I'm not a huge fan of kids!).  The romance part of the storyline is absolutely sizzling as the chemistry between Maddie and Jackson almost left scorch marks on the page.  Be careful you don't get your fingers burnt, Maddie (and readers!).  There's also a bit of a mystery element with more than one character hiding something (and I'm not talking about Emir's stash of pilfered goods).

Cute, flirty and fun, Love Ahoy! is a hugely entertaining read packed with sun, sea and secrets (you thought I was going to say something else there, didn't you?).  It's a sunny smile of a book and one I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon

Follow the tour:

The Perfect Lie - A. Barker

For years, Anna chased hope, desperate to outrun the lies she'd told herself.

Convinced her future can only be found in the past, she returns back to Brighton, where it all began.

She's older. Wiser. More determined.

Then she meets Patrick.

The man she should never have met.

The son of the only man she ever loved.

The son of the man she murdered over twenty years ago.

This fast-paced, twisted psychological novel will keep you hooked until the final, jaw-dropping twist.

Be prepared for a thrilling descent into the dark side of love with a story so unbelievable you will think it's actually true.

Perfect for fans of books by Freida McFadden, Claire Douglas and Lisa Jewell.

 

What did I think?

Well this book certainly kept me on my toes and on the edge of my seat!  The Perfect Lie is filled with so many lies and twists that I really didn't know what was going to happen next.

Anna is a character I loved to hate; she is completely deluded and she literally got away with murder.  When Anna returns to the scene of the crime many years later, she meets Patrick, the son of the man she killed, and it's not long before he is drawn into her dangerous web.  Is history about to repeat itself?

Eeeeeek!  I couldn't read this book fast enough to discover all of the secrets and lies buried within.  I'm keeping my review brief as I don't want to inadvertently release any spoilers but I will say that the plot is super-sharp and the pacing is blisteringly fast.

Impossible to put down and even more difficult to predict, The Perfect Lie is perhaps one of the most twisty books I have read for quite some time.  A very highly recommended and completely thrilling read. 

I received a digital ARC from the author and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon

BLOG TOUR: The Witch Finder (The Accidental Medium Book 5) - Tracy Whitwell

History is revealing itself, and the lines between past and present are becoming hauntingly blurred . . .

This is the fifth and final installment in the hilarious Accidental Medium series featuring Tanz, who with the help of the dead, has become an unwilling crime-solver.

When Tanz returns to her hometown in Newcastle, she comes face-to-face with dark, ancestral secrets lurking in its shadows. Haunted by chilling visions of the witch-trials, a voice from the past warns her, You’re the one. Burn it, chosen one. As a sinister figure threatens to ruin everything she’s built for herself, Tanz must embrace her connection to the dead to uncover her destiny.

With everything on the line, Tanz finds herself entangled in a web of folklore, mystery and imminent danger. Elements collide as the echoes of history demand intervention and new relationships entwine in her mystical journey. Tanz must wield courage against paranormal forces and listen to old and new allies in order to prevent ominous threats from consuming her world.

Will Tanz unravel the mysteries surrounding the witch pricker and her own lineage in time, or will she fall prey to the darkness that stalks her?

 

What did I think?

I love The Accidental Medium series and although I've missed a couple of the books it really doesn't matter as you can read each one as a standalone.  The Witch Finder is the fifth book in the series and it's an absolute belter.

Gateshead lass Tanz is back home but with both her and her little mam having weird dreams, Tanz decides to move into a hotel in Newcastle.  The dreams and visions that Tanz is having relate to the 15 women and 1 man that were convicted of witchcraft and hanged on the Town Moor in Newcastle (this did actually happen in real life).  It gets a bit scary as Tanz researches this dark period of our history and the past refuses to stay buried.

Tracy Whitwell writes with such warmth and wit (no pun intended) that the characters virtually pop out from the page and the storyline entertains from start to finish.  It's also like a mini virtual tour of Newcastle as Tanz visits the Lit & Phil, St. Andrew's church and the Town Moor, to name but a few.  The descriptions are so vivid that even if you don't know the area you will be able to visualise it.

Blending fact with fiction, The Witch Finder is a compulsive, gripping and surprisingly poignant read.  The 17th century witch trials are a shocking and disturbing part of history that we may wish had never happened but it should never be forgotten.  A very highly recommended read.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: The Overthinking Cure - Dr Jessamy Hibberd

Do you get caught up in anxious thoughts?

Do you replay over your mistakes and failures in your mind?

Do you lie awake at night because you can't stop thinking about what happened earlier that day?

If so, you're suffering from overthinking.

But you are not alone.

Thinking about your life is a normal part of being human; it's often helpful to analyze a situation or revisit a problem in your mind, but if you find yourself constantly dwelling on your thoughts - with no sign of resolution - then it becomes a problem.

Overthinking is the problem that disguises itself as the solution.

In this life-changing book, trusted psychologist Dr Jessamy Hibberd shows how to break free from overthinking. Through expert advice, and real-life examples from her clinic, you will become more aware of your overthinking habits - and learn why we get stuck in unhelpful thinking patterns. Dr Jessamy offers personalized prompts and practical tips to identify your doom spirals and help you find healthier coping strategies that redirect your thoughts.

The cure is simple: break the cycle of overthinking.

In this book, you will learn how to:

- Notice your thoughts

- Choose your response

- Challenge your thinking

- Accept the reality of how life is

- Face your fears

The Overthinking Cure is the essential guide to break free from overthinking - so you can live a better life and focus on what really matters.

 

What did I think?

I am a massive overthinker and once I get on the hamster wheel I can't get off it.  I didn't even know it was a solvable problem, I just thought it was the way that I am but now I know better thanks to Dr Jessamy Hibberd's amazing life-changing book, The Overthinking Cure.

By the time I had finished reading chapter one, I had started to recognise when I was overthinking and by the end of chapter two I realised I wasn't alone and it's not my fault.  Our brains are wired to solve problems and part of that is going through every possible outcome, but sometimes this overthinking can affect our life and become a negative habit.

The book is set out in three parts: Understanding the problem, Why we overthink and The cure.  It is written in a very accessible way that is easy to understand and there are diagrams, tables and exercises to aid further understanding.  The chapters are concise and informative as well as being interesting and thought-provoking.  There are some memorable analogies too and I particularly liked one about our emotions being like where to seat children in a car: you don't want them driving it but neither do you want them hidden away in the boot!

Whilst I think it's a long road to cure my overthinking, I feel like I'm heading in the right direction with my emotions firmly strapped in to the back seat.  I think it's fair to say that The Overthinking Cure could change your life as it has already made a difference to mine.  Don't overthink it - just order a copy now!

I received a gifted paperback copy for the Novel Tours Bookstagram Tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: Catherine - Essie Fox

With a nature as wild as the moors she loves to roam, Catherine Earnshaw grows up alongside Heathcliff, a foundling her father rescued from the streets of Liverpool. Their fierce, untamed bond deepens as they grow – until Mr Earnshaw’s death leaves Hindley, Catherine’s brutal brother, in control and Heathcliff reduced to servitude.

Desperate to protect him, Catherine turns to Edgar Linton, the handsome heir to Thrushcross Grange. She believes his wealth might free Heathcliff from cruelty – but her choice is fatally misunderstood, and their lives spiral into a storm of passion, jealousy and revenge.

Now, eighteen years later, Catherine rises from her grave to tell her story – and to seek redemption.

Essie Fox’s Catherine reimagines Wuthering Heights with beauty and intensity – a haunting, atmospheric retelling that brings new life to a timeless classic and lays bare the dark heart of an immortal love.

 

What did I think?

It's been a number of years since I last read Wuthering Heights and I want to read it again after reading Catherine by Essie Fox, although I'm worried that the original won't be as good as this fantastic retelling.  Yes, it's THAT good.

This is Catherine and Heathcliff's story like you've never read it before.  Essie Fox has taken Emily Brontë's original story and somehow made it more authentic, emotional and memorable, whilst remaining true to the original.  I love how references to some of the most well-known lines are included too without them being a word for word regurgitation.

I think it's very brave of Essie Fox to write a retelling of such a classic novel but her beautiful writing and powerful storytelling do more than justice to the original.  I have wanted to read an Essie Fox book for a while and now that I have read Catherine I want to read everything else that she has written both past and future.

Bold, impressive and breathtakingly exquisite, Catherine is one of the best retellings I have ever read.  Five stars are not enough to indicate the sheer brilliance of this book; it's completely unmissable and very highly recommended.

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:

Orenda Books

Amazon

About the author:

Essie Fox is the Sunday Times bestselling author of seven historical novels, including The Somnambulist, shortlisted for the National Book Awards, and The Fascination, an instant Sunday Times bestseller. Her work has twice been selected as The Times Historical Book of the Month, most recently for her gothic mystery Dangerous. She appears regularly at literary festivals and cultural institutions and is the host of the podcast Talking the Gothic. She lives in Windsor.

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: Oracle's Vision (Mirror Wars Book 2) - Alan Bayles

The battle for the fate of Earth has only begun as Detective Inspector Dave Barnes and his team must fight against a malevolent AI hell-bent on dominating multiple worlds.

With Terra, a counter-Earth in a parallel dimension, under its control, the tyrannical AI known as Oracle continues her relentless march across the multiverse‚ and now she holds Earth Prime in her sights.

While Dave Barnes and members of The Castle battle to stop the dangerous AI from succeeding in her invasion, all is not lost on Terra where a group of resistance fighters are marshalling their forces to free those who have been assimilated as mindless foot soldiers.

With conflict waging on both worlds, and Oracle tightening her grip, hope comes from an unlikely source when the duplicitous Colonel David Barnes offers information that could prove vital. But can this master of deception be trusted to aid in the fight for two worlds?

As Oracle becomes increasingly unhinged, and with the fate of humanity at stake, it becomes clear to those who resist that the AI will stop at nothing to rule the multiverse. In a desperate struggle to survive, can those on opposite sides unite in a mission to save two worlds? And, with the stakes so high, will all who fight live to see freedom from Oracle's reign of terror?

 

What did I think?

After reading Double Jeopardy, the first book in the Mirror Wars series, I raced on to book 2, Oracle's Vision and it's a fantastic sequel.  

The story has taken a dark turn now that Oracle has arrived to take control of our world and whilst it sometimes is a bit techy (and Trekkie) for me, I was completely invested in the story.  You can tell that Alan Bayles is a big Star Trek fan so this book will definitely appeal to Trekkies and sci-fi fans alike.  There are also some movie references to look out for and although I haven't seen any Star Trek, I did notice the Back to the Future ones.

As it's the second book in the series, I think you do need to have read the first book to fully understand the different dimensions and the story behind some of the characters,  I think I would have been completely lost if I'd tried to read it as a standalone.

The pacing is fast and the plot is gripping so, even though it's quite a chunky book, I read it a lot quicker than I expected.  I can't wait to find out what happens next and I will be reading book 3, Realm of Fear very soon.

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:

Amazon

Follow the tour: