BLOG TOUR: Bob & Shirley's Guide to Murder - Suzy K Quinn

Bob and Shirley run a lovely country pub. They also solve murders ...

A warmly funny, gloriously British cozy crime and murder mystery series that can be read as standalones or part of a series. Set in a village where the pub is the heart of country life and served with warmth, wit and a very good Sunday roast.

“Murder? In our quiet, little English village?

Great Oakley is a place of hanging baskets, tearooms and riverside walks. We’ve won ‘Britain’s safest village’ 10 years running. I keep three pound coins, a box of toffees and a bottle of Pepto-Bismol on my dashboard at all times, and I’ve never needed to lock my car.

Certainly, Bevvy Hogg was disliked. She ran the local Waist Watchers group, yet came to our pub for fish and chips, treacle tart and a bottle of Chardonnay every Friday. But I don’t think she was murdered …”

When Bevvy Hogg is found dead in the Goose and Gander pub garden, with an empty treacle tart plate beside her and several dress sizes slimmer than anyone remembers, Great Oakley’s winning streak as Britain’s safest village comes to an abrupt end.

 

What did I think?

Bob & Shirley's Guide to Murder is one of the funniest cosy crime books I have ever read; I honestly didn't expect to laugh out loud quite so much.  It's the first book in the Bob and Shirley's Cozy Mystery/Murder Mystery Series and I cannot wait to read more.

Husband and wife Bob and Shirley run the village pub and the chapters alternate between each one's point of view.  You'd think they'd be singing from the same hymn book but they are not even in the same choir.  It is SO funny seeing how wrong they are about each other.  There's a couple of chapters about how Shirley likes her tea and it's just as well I wasn't drinking a cuppa or I'd have spat it out as I could not contain my laughter.

Shirley is a speak now and probably not even think later kind of woman while Bob is a gather all the evidence before coming to a conclusion guy.  What better way to gather evidence than a spreadsheet?  Bob's love of spreadsheets mirrors my own and I never thought I'd see a reference to a pivot table in a book.  Hilarious!

I don't usually read digital books that quickly but the chapters are short and punchy, the mystery is very intriguing and the story is as moreish as John Boy's treacle tart so I positively devoured this cracking book in a couple of sittings.

Anyone with even half a sense of humour will love Bob & Shirley's Guide to Murder; it's incredibly entertaining and completely unmissable.  Without doubt a five star read and I really cannot recommend it highly enough.

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:

Suzy K Quinn (hello – it’s me!) is writing this bio in the third person. Which feels duplicitous and also a little egotistical. But here goes ... 

Suzy K Quinn writes book club books and murder mystery series, and has sold over 1 million copies worldwide. She's a bestselling author in the US, UK and Germany and will soon, very possibly, have written more books than she's read.

Suzy lives in Wivenhoe, Essex, with her husband and two daughters. She is a twin, an incompetent parent of two and now fully decaffeinated. Her twin sister, Cate Quinn, is also a bestseller author. When Suzy isn't writing in cafes, she is walking around woods dictating like a lunatic.

Suzy loves her readers and is ALWAYS happy to chat on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suzykquinn 

You can also get a free book at her website: http://www.suzykquinn.com

Social Media Links – 

Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/suzykquinn/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/suzykquinn

Tiktok @suzykquinn

Instagram @suzykquinn

Twitter @suzykquinn

Threads @suzykquinn

Giveaway:

Giveaway to Win an e-copy of  Bob and Shirley's Killer Cuppa Puzzle (Open INT)

One of Great Oakley’s five open gardens served poisoned tea. Can you work out which one before Bob does?

‘Like Murdle and a cozy mystery rolled into one.’

Murder mystery logic puzzle stories for fans of The Killer Isn’t Alice, Murdle and Can You Solve the Murder?

These are ‘Puzzlories’. Read them like stories, solve them like puzzles. Each one takes about an hour to read and solve.

It’s Open Gardens weekend in Great Oakley. Five gardeners have opened their gardens to the public, and each is offering a unique drink, cake, flower and interesting garden feature to their fellow villagers.

Unfortunately, one garden owner poured poisoned tea. Probably not on purpose. But you never know. There are more murders in Britain’s safest village than you might imagine.

Village pub landlady Shirley Duffy visited all five open gardens before returning to the Goose and Gander for a much-needed beer and a sit down. One of those five gardens was the scene of the crime.

The trouble is, Shirley’s memory is known to be … selective. She can remember every cake she’s eaten since 1987, but not necessarily when and where she ate it. And she can’t remember which garden served tea on Saturday afternoon.

Shirley’s husband, Bob, is frustrated that Shirley can’t remember one garden from another. But he finds many things about his wife frustrating, and loves her anyway.

As Bob presses Shirley for details, the clues pile up. Your job is to note them down and work out who served the tea before Bob does.

Twenty clues, one in every short chapter. Fill in your detective’s grid, cross off your suspects and name the poisoner.

Grab your notebook, put the kettle on (carefully) and see if you can beat Bob to the answer.

*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 an e-copy of Bob and Shirley's Killer Cuppa Puzzle (Open INT)

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BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: Dead Air - Freddie Pickard

BEING ON AIR CAN BE MURDER!

When a well know DJ is murdered at the radio station’s annual party there’s no shortage of suspects. Could it be his egotistical boss? Was it his fame obsessed co-presenter or their producer? Or had he crossed someone in his past who was now getting even?

For newly promoted DCI Joel Jennings and his team it feels like everyone has a motive and the race to catch the killer is on. When a second body is discovered the question is… do they have a serial killer on their hands?

With dead DJs, exploding sports cars and a drug dealer in a hole, Dead Air is a fun, easy to read irreverent murder mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. 

What did I think?

What a cracking start to a new series! I absolutely loved Dead Air and had to double check that it is Freddie Pickard's debut novel as it is simply outstanding.  It's virtually impossible to put Dead Air down once you pick it up and I didn't want it to finish so I can't wait to read more in the DCI Joel Jennings series.

I'm not sure I've read a book set in a radio station before so it was a very unusual setting and there were many suspects to keep me on my toes.  As with most stars, they have several different personas and Bobby Sligo might be a much loved radio show host but he's a nightmare to work with.  Even when he's found dead, nobody has a good word to say about him.

What a tricky case for DCI Joel Jennings and his team.  Any number of people had motive to kill Bobby but the second victim has them scratching their heads.  I didn't have a clue 'whodunnit' and to be honest, I didn't really try too hard to work it out as I was just thoroughly enjoying the story.

A magnificent debut novel and a very impressive murder mystery, Dead Air is a thrilling start to a new series and Freddie Pickard can consider me hooked.  Absolutely fantastic and very highly recommended.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: The Conservatory (The Aunt Lily Yorkshire Dales Mysteries Book 1) - Anthony Aberford

Some secrets are best left buried; others are better never planted!

In a restored Victorian conservatory, four grieving women from the local wellness centre discover that their friend's mysterious death, amongst her toxic plants, was not an accident.

When eccentric homoeopath Aunt Lily arrives on her tricycle, she seems just the person to help uncover answers. But who is she really, and why is she there?

A sixteenth-century journal hidden in the conservatory holds dark secrets that could change everything. And an enigmatic stranger will stop at nothing to find it – making false promises and real threats.

Can the friends resist his temptations and unlock the book's hidden secrets in time? Do they have the strength to make an impossible choice before it is too late?

A creepy tale of intrigue and suspense, full of witty and charming characters, this brand-new cosy mystery novel is perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Jill Johnson and Janice Hallett who like their tea with a twist of tension.

 

What did I think?

I have to start my review of The Conservatory by mentioning the amazing cover.  It is absolutely stunning and it entices the reader to discover the dark but enchanting story inside.

Aunt Lily is a wonderful character; she is so mysterious, quirky and vividly described that she virtually pops out from the page.  Aunt Lily reminded me of Mary Poppins the way she turns up in such an unusual and unforgettable way so I loved her the moment I met her.  She has arrived just in time to help a group of women investigate the death of their friend.  It looked like an accident but it was murder!

The story is interspersed with extracts from a mysterious 16th century book and I loved how Anthony Aberford weaves this into the story.  It does get quite dark with almost a good versus evil tussle to get hold of the book and I really enjoyed this imaginative and tense supernatural element.

Incredibly intriguing and completely captivating, The Conservatory is a fantastic introduction to a new series and I can't wait to meet up with Aunt Lily again.  This is pure escapism and I loved it.

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 Retired Assassin's Guide to Orchid Hunting (Retired Assassin's Guide, book 2) - Naomi Kuttner

 

Assassin. Gardener. Reluctant cat adoptee.

All Dante wants is to be left alone in the small New Zealand town no one’s heard of. No drama. No bodies. No questions.

But then, of course, the orchid convention comes to town, and Dante is knee deep in suspects, intrigue, and red herrings.

On top of all this, Dante must navigate a mysterious woman from his past, cat issues, and the terrifying prospect of a first date.

And he has to do it while fighting his instinct to solve problems the old-fashioned way: permanently.

The ‘Retired Assassin’s Guide to Orchid Hunting’ is a cosy paranormal mystery with found family, ghosts, a grumpy assassin and a sunshine gardener.

Come for the murder, stay for the cat, the gardens, and the chaos.

What did I think?

Well this was a fun read.  I didn't realise it was book two in the series when I picked it up but it can definitely be read as a standalone as I really enjoyed it.

Dante is the retired assassin and although he's moved to Te Kohe in New Zealand to get away from his past, he remains very alert to threats and isn't ready to hang up his weapons just yet.  I loved Dante and his lack of social skills - he's not good dealing with people as he has usually been sent to kill them.  It certainly makes dating very challenging (for Dante) and very amusing (for the reader).

I didn't feel lost at all, having not read the first book, as I quickly got to know Dante and his very small circle of friends.  They're a bit like the Scooby Gang as they investigate a murder with their own unique set of skills.  The plot thickens when the orchid convention comes to town and it is clear that collectors will do anything to get their hands on the rarest orchids.  

It's such an enjoyable read with an intriguing murder and a fantastic cast of characters that I want to read more about.  With a host of shady suspects, it's impossible to predict and I couldn't read fast enough to find out whodunnit.  I didn't guess right of course but I don't mind being wrong when there's such a breathtaking conclusion to experience.

Unusual, unpredictable and impossible to put down, The Retired Assassin's Guide to Orchid Hunting is an incredibly charming cosy mystery that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.  

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:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: Murder Most Foul (A Harvey Ross Coastal Mystery, Book 1) - Theo Harris

A hidden satchel. A long-buried murder. A seaside town with secrets worth killing for…

When Harvey Ross's terrier unearths an old leather satchel on Sheringham beach, the retired Detective Inspector discovers something the Norfolk waves should have claimed decades ago: evidence of an unreported 1950s murder—and a cryptic reference to treasure the locals swear doesn't exist.

Newly divorced and restless, Harvey can't resist pulling the thread. But as he navigates seaside gossip, forgotten grudges, and lies that have aged like the salt-worn groynes along the coast, he realizes someone is watching. Someone who's kept this secret for seventy years and won't let a meddling newcomer drag it into the light.

With Max at his side and allies among Sheringham's quirky residents, Harvey must solve the mystery before the next high tide washes away more than just footprints in the sand.

A delightful coastal cozy brimming with charm, twists, and dark currents beneath the surface. Perfect for fans of M.C. Beaton, Richard Osman, and Frances Evesham. 

What did I think?

I really enjoyed Murder Most Foul and I'm so glad that Theo Harris has more books planned in the Harvey Ross Coastal Mystery series.

I loved the coastal setting of Sheringham in Norfolk that I found really easy to visualise thanks to the vivid and descriptive writing.  I also loved Harvey Ross and his dog Max who are brought to life so well that they almost pop out from the page.

Harvey may have retired from the police force but he still has a copper's nose so when Max finds an old satchel on the beach there's a mystery for Harvey to solve.  There's an old arsenic bottle in the satchel that relates to a murder most foul indeed.  A murder that was never investigated at the time and one that someone in the town doesn't want Harvey to investigate.

This is a very intriguing story that hooked me from the start as I wanted to uncover the secrets that had been buried with the satchel.  I absolutely raced through the book as I couldn't put it down and I became very fond of Harvey (and Max) over the course of the book.  I can't wait to catch up with them again and I will definitely be reading more books in this fabulous series.

Mysterious, dangerous and captivating, Murder Most Foul is a fantastic start to an exciting new series.  It may be cosy crime but it has an intelligent and intricate plot that kept me riveted from start to finish.  A very highly recommended read.

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

About the author:

Theo Harris is an emerging author of crime action novels. He was born in London, raised in London, and became a cop in London. Having served as a police officer in the Metropolitan Police service for thirty years, he witnessed and experienced the underbelly of a capital city that you are never supposed to see. Theo was a specialist officer for twenty-seven of the thirty years and went on to work in departments that dealt with serious crimes of all types. His experience, knowledge and connections within the organisation have helped him with his storytelling, with a style of writing that readers can associate with. Theo has many stories to tell, starting with the ‘Summary Justice’ series featuring DC Kendra March, and the 'Harvey Ross Coastal Mystery' series, and will follow with many more innovative, interesting, and fast-paced stories for many years to come. 

For more information about upcoming books please visit theoharris.co.uk

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BLOG TOUR: Murder on the Menu (The Bad Girls Detective Agency book 3) - Katie Marsh

Since Amber started the Bad Girls’ Detective Agency, she’s been feeling the pressure. So – when she and her best friends win a trip to a new luxury castle retreat on a remote island – she hopes it will be a chance to relax in style.

The girls are all excited to experience world-famous chef Valerie la Fontaine’s tasting menu. 

But none of them expect there to be another dish being served that weekend: revenge. And when Valerie is found dead inside a locked room in a tower, the Bad Girls know this is a case that only they can solve…

Hilarious and gripping mystery – perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club, The Traitors, and How to Kill Men and Get Away With It.

 

What did I think?

Murder on the Menu is book 3 in The Bad Girls Detective Agency series and although you can read it as a standalone I think it is better if you have read one or more of the earlier books to fully understand the characters.

It's a fun murder mystery that almost reads like a game of Cluedo based in a castle with a handful of guests and lots of rooms for a killer to hide in.  Luckily for the guests left standing after a killer strikes, Amber and the Bad Girls are on the guest list and they're straight on the case.

I enjoyed catching up with the girls again and there are some interesting developments in Amber's personal life that really warmed my heart.  There are some interesting (and some shady) characters in the story that kept the plot moving along at a good pace and I couldn't wait to discover all of their hidden secrets.

With a remote and slightly sinister setting, Murder on the Menu is a fun murder mystery that is a great book to read on a dark and chilly winter's night.   

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

My rating:

Purchase here: https://mybook.to/OnTheMenu

About the author:

Katie Marsh wrote five bestselling, uplifting women’s fiction novels before turning to cosy crime for Boldwood. Previously published by Hodder, the first in her new crime series  How Not To Murder Your Ex, following the fortunes of the Bad Girls Detective Agency, was published in December 2023.

Social Media Links 

Facebook: @KatieMarshAuthor

Twitter:@marshisms

Instagram: @KatieMarshAuthor

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/KatieMarshNews

Bookbub profile: ​​@KatieMarsh

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BLOG TOUR: The Poison Pen Letters (The Village Detectives Book 2) - Fiona Walker

We regret to announce the tragic death of Phoebe Fredericks… 

When crime novelist Phoebe opens the post and receives an invitation to her own funeral, she’s horrified. Not least because the date of her death is marked as tomorrow. 

Deciding it’s nothing more than a prank from an enemy from her past, she determines to put it to the back of her mind. 

But the next morning, when her completely infuriating postman (who likes to think himself her no.1 literary critic) rings her doorbell, a parcel of poisoned pen-nibs explodes in his face. 

Forced to confront the fact her correspondence is more RIP than RSVP, Phoebe realises someone must want her dead. 

Together with the newly-formed Village Detectives – Juno, Mil and Felix – Phoebe resolves to find out who is behind the poison pen letters before they strike again and her fate is signed, sealed and delivered! 

A totally hilarious, modern cozy crime mystery, from million-copy bestselling author Fiona  Walker, perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Janet Evanovich and Janice Hallett. 

What did I think?

I didn't realise that The Poison Pen Letters is the second book in a series when I first started reading it, so you can totally read it as a standalone as I really enjoyed it.  It's a cosy mystery but it also has a bit of a comedy crime caper about it so be prepared to laugh a lot along the way.

I loved my virtual visit to the picturesque village of Inkbury and Fiona Walker's vivid writing drew a beautiful picture in my mind.  Of course the village may look lovely on the outside but something evil is lurking beneath the surface and one of the villagers ends up dead...but was that person the intended victim?

Author Phoebe Fredericks has been targeted with disturbing poison pen letters that would have had me running for the hills but her friends, the Village Detectives, are determined to find out who is writing them.  Phoebe has quite a list of people she has fallen out with in the past so the detectives, led by Juno, have their work cut out for them and a road trip is on the cards.

Juno is a fabulous character; it's so refreshing to have a middle-aged protagonist and she reminded me of an older Bridget Jones, especially when her mother tries to set her up with an eligible bachelor.  Juno did provide a lot of the laughs for me and I want to read the first book now just to see what she gets up to before this book.

As funny as it is cosy, The Poison Pen Letters is a witty and compelling mystery that entertained and surprised me.  I will definitely be picking up the first book in the series and I will be keeping an eye out for more visits to Inkbury.

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/poisonpensocial

About the author:

Fiona Walker is the million copy bestselling author of joyously funny romantic comedies. Most  recently published by Head of Zeus, she will be turning to cozy crime for Boldwood. The first in her new Village Detectives series, The Art of Murder, will be published in May 2024. 

Social Media Links – 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fionawalkeruk 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/fionawalkeruk 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fionawalkeruk/ 

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/FionaWalkerNews 

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/fiona-walker 

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BLOG TOUR: Curtain Call at the Seaview Hotel (A Helen Dexter Cosy Crime Mystery book 2) - Glenda Young

In the charming Yorkshire seaside town of Scarborough, the stage is set for murder . . .

Helen Dexter has started a new chapter in her life as sole proprietor of the Seaview Hotel.

But things take a dramatic turn when an acting troupe book into the hotel to rehearse a play they hope will save a much-loved theatre from being closed down. Helen immediately picks up on tension between the actors, but there is worse to come when the charismatic leading lady is found dead.

With so much at stake, it's clear the show must go on. Helen is roped into helping the troupe with their performance, giving her ample opportunity to discover who wanted their diva dead.

However, the murder is not the only thing on Helen's mind. She's receiving threatening phone calls, her car is vandalised - and she's just learned of an impending visit from a hotel inspector which could change the fortunes of the Seaview Hotel.

With her trusty greyhound Suki by her side, Helen is determined to uncover the identity of the killer - even if it means she has to give the performance of her life.

 

What did I think?

Glenda Young is such an amazing storyteller that I always get excited when she has a new book coming out, whether it's her family sagas or cosy crime series.  Curtain Call at the Seaview Hotel is the second book in the Helen Dexter Cosy Crime Mystery series set in Scarborough but it can totally be read as a standalone.

Helen Dexter runs a guesthouse in the picturesque seaside town of Scarborough and her latest booking is a group of actors who are performing in the town's theatre, in an attempt to save it from closure.  As Helen observes the actors at close quarters, they aren't as friendly towards each other as they first appeared and one of them is about to be murdered.  They all appear to have motive but Helen and her faithful greyhound Suki are determined to sniff out the murderer.

Add in a hotel inspector, a snooty neighbour, and a secretive new boyfriend and you've got a hugely entertaining tale.  There's more drama and entertainment in this one book than in a week's worth of Coronation Street episodes.  The setting is beautiful and Glenda's love of Scarborough shines through in her stunning, evocative writing.

Curtain Call at the Seaview Hotel is absolutely brilliant from start to finish.  There is so much drama and entertainment crammed into this fantastic book that it's impossible to put down.  I loved it and most definitely recommend it.

I received a digital ARC via NetGalley and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

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The Maid - Nita Prose

 

I am your maid.

I know about your secrets. Your dirty laundry.

But what do you know about me?

Molly the maid is all alone in the world. A nobody. She’s used to being invisible in her job at the Regency Grand Hotel, plumping pillows and wiping away the grime, dust and secrets of the guests passing through. She’s just a maid – why should anyone take notice?

 

But Molly is thrown into the spotlight when she discovers an infamous guest, Mr Black, very dead in his bed. This isn’t a mess that can be easily cleaned up. And as Molly becomes embroiled in the hunt for the truth, following the clues whispering in the hallways of the Regency Grand, she discovers a power she never knew was there. She’s just a maid – but what can she see that others overlook?

Escapist, charming and introducing a truly original heroine, The Maid is a story about how the truth isn’t always black and white – it’s found in the dirtier, grey areas in between . . .

What did I think?

What an amazing debut!  There has been a lot of buzz around The Maid on social media so I couldn't wait to read it and I was not disappointed; I absolutely loved it.  I'm really not surprised to learn that it is being made into a film and it's definitely one I will want to watch.

Molly is such a brilliant character; she is so literal and socially inept that you can't help but root for her, especially when she is mocked and taken advantage of.  After the death of her beloved gran, Molly is completely alone in the world - she has no family or friends, all she has is her job as a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel.  A job in which she takes great pride and excels at.  

When Molly discovers a dead body in the hotel one day, there's nothing in her mental rule book that tells her what to do so she inevitably does things that make the police take a closer look at her.  The police interviews with Molly are absolutely hilarious and this is where Molly's charm really comes through; she may be naive but she is totally honest...or is she?

The Maid is so easy to read that I would probably have read it in one sitting if I hadn't been participating in a Tandem readalong.  It's a charming cosy mystery but it also makes you think about people who are seemingly invisible.  I think this is possibly more apparent in the hospitality industry where hotel guests treat doormen, maids and cleaners etc as servants but they're all important cogs in the machine.

A delightful cosy mystery, The Maid is an outstanding debut from Nita Prose.  It's warm, funny, original and unforgettable; an absolute must read from an author who is definitely one to watch.

Many thanks to Tandem Collective and HarperCollins for sending me a copy to read and review for the readalong.  This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon