BLOG TOUR: The Howling: Volume 3 (The Annie Jackson Mysteries) - Michael J Malone

Two men, centuries apart, dream of being a wolf. 

One is burned at the stake.

Another is locked in a psychiatric hospital for most of his life.

And Annie Jackson is about to find out why…

Vowing once again to remove herself from society, Annie is back living alone in her little cottage by the shores of a loch. But when an old enemy – now locked up in a high security hospital – comes calling, begging her to find the son that she was forced to give up at the age of seventeen, Annie is tempted out of seclusion. The missing boy holds the key to ending Annie’s curse, and he may be the only chance that both she and Lewis have of real happiness.

Annie and Lewis begin an investigation that takes them back to the past, a time etched in Scottish folklore, a period of history that may just be repeating itself. And what they uncover could destroy not just some of the most powerful people in the country, who will stop at nothing to protect their wealth and their secrets, but also Annie’s life, and everything she holds dear…

Dark, immersive, and utterly compelling, The Howling is a story of deception, betrayal, and misplaced power, and a reminder that the most public of faces can hide the darkest of hearts…

 

What did I think?

The Howling is the third book in the Annie Jackson Mysteries series and although you could enjoy it as a standalone, it is absolutely brilliant when read as part of the series.  If you thought the first two books were dark, just wait until you read The Howling.

Annie Jackson has a curse that gives her a vision of the impending death of someone with whom she has come into contact.  There is nothing she can do to prevent the death so she has chosen to isolate herself in a remote cottage to keep her murmurs quiet.  Annie is drawn out of isolation when an old adversary dangles a carrot in front of her that is too impossible to resist: find her son and the curse will be broken.

Interspersed with chapters from a dark and dangerous past, I was completely hooked from the start and the historic storyline is both horrifying and heartbreaking.  I could very easily visualise every scene in the book as it played out in my head as I was reading.

I just can't get enough of Michael J Malone's writing; he immediately draws you into the story and I dived in headfirst to submerge myself in the vivid and haunting words.  As much as I wanted Annie and her twin Lewis to succeed in their mission to break the curse, I also don't want the series to end so what a quandary that puts the reader in as we race to the dramatic conclusion.

Deliciously dark and incredibly haunting, The Howling is a fast-paced and completely unmissable novel.  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:

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BLOG TOUR: The Torments (The Annie Jackson Mysteries book 2) - Michael J Malone

Hiding from the world in her little white cottage on the shores of a loch,  Annie Jackson is fighting to come to terms with the world of the murmurs,  a curse that has haunted female members of her family for centuries. 

While she is within the ancient, heavy stone of the old dwelling, the voices  merely buzz, but the moment she steps outside the door they clamour to torment her all over again, bringing with them shocking visions of imminent deaths. 

Into this oasis comes her adoptive mother, Mandy McEvoy, begging for  Annie’s help. Mandy’s nephew Damien has gone missing, after dropping  off his four-year old son at his mother’s home. 

Unable to refuse, but terrified to leave her sanctuary, Annie, with the help of her brother Lewis, is drawn in to a secretive, seductive world that will have her question everything she holds dear, while Lewis’ life may be changed forever… 

 

What did I think?

I loved The Murmurs, the first book in the Annie Jackson Mysteries series, so I couldn't wait to read the sequel, The Torments, and I was not disappointed.  Although you could read The Torments as a standalone, I think it's beneficial to have read The Murmurs first to really get to know the characters of Annie Jackson and her brother Lewis and to understand Annie's curse.

Annie finally has her curse under control, at least when she's at home in her isolated cottage.  If only she could stay behind closed doors, she wouldn't be plagued by the murmurs and the death visions. When her cousin Damien goes missing, Annie and her brother Lewis are called upon to help find him but the world outside Annie's four walls is filled with danger for someone like Annie.

I really enjoyed reading about Annie Jackson again and it was like meeting up with an old friend so I was very invested in her story.  I was on the edge of my seat as the danger level ramped up and I was suspicious of everyone linked with Damien's disappearance.  With Hallowe'en approaching, the clock is ticking for Annie and Lewis to uncover the truth behind Damien's disappearance, and a whole lot more than they bargained for.

Spooky, chilling and compelling, The Torments is a book that will keep you up at night, both when you're reading it and after you've finished it.  It's the perfect book to read on Hallowe'en and I most definitely recommend it.

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

My rating:

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About the author:

Michael Malone is a prize-winning poet and author who was born and brought up in the heart of Burns’ country. He has published over 200 poems in literary magazines  throughout the UK, including New Writing Scotland, Poetry Scotland and Markings. Blood  Tears, his bestselling debut novel won the Pitlochry Prize from the Scottish Association of Writers. His dark psychological thriller, A Suitable Lie, was a number-one bestseller, and  is currently in production for the screen, and five powerful standalone thrillers followed  suit. The Murmurs, first in the Annie Jackson Mysteries series, was published to critical  acclaim in 2023. A former Regional Sales Manager (Faber & Faber) he has also worked as  an IFA and a bookseller. Michael lives in Ayr, where he also works as a hypnotherapist. 

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