BLOG TOUR: The Boy in the Photo - Hilly Barmby

This unbelievably twisty read will have you glued to the pages late into the night. Anyone who loves Freida McFadden and Gillian Flynn won’t be able to put down The Boy in the Photo!

Kaz Emmerson, brother Mark and sister Livy are devastated after the death of their parents in a car crash. Surely it was just a terrible accident, wasn’t it?

After the funeral, the three try to rebuild their lives as best they can. Livy turns her focus on her husband and young son. Mark immerses himself in work and rebuilding his social life. Kaz escapes the pain with bestie Elise, taking off to Spain for a couple of weeks for sun, sand and sangria.

While on holiday, Kaz and Elise chance upon the mysterious and handsome Ryan. They both like him. As it turns out, he lives rather close to home and when they return to the UK they meet up. But who will he pick?

The three siblings gather with their family lawyer who leaves them with a deep sense of unease. What is he not telling them? Curious, Kaz ploughs into the family paperwork stored in the attic of their parents’ grand country home. After a shocking discovery, she is embroiled in a family mystery that threatens to unravel everything. Who exactly is the boy in the photo with their father? Why is there a man sneaking around their garden taking photos? When more horrifying things happen, who can they trust? Is there someone who will stop at nothing to destroy them?

 

What did I think?

Hilly Barmby is one of the authors whose books I read without looking at the blurb as I know I will enjoy the book and The Boy in the Photo is no exception.  It is so mysterious and intriguing that I couldn't put it down until all the secrets had been revealed.

After a devastating car crash in which their parents lost their lives, the three Emmerson siblings are dealing with their grief in their own way.  Kaz is more of a main character and a holiday with her best friend is just what she needed, especially when a handsome man catches her eye.  Kaz isn't sure whether Ryan likes her or her friend Elise and I wasn't sure about him at all, but then I'm naturally suspicious in books, especially those written by Hilly Barmby,

The will should be straightforward as there are only the three siblings...aren't there?  This is where the mystery surrounding the boy in the photo comes in and it's a great hook.  I was very intrigued and had to put on my virtual running shoes so I could race through the book as fast as possible to the breathtaking conclusion.

There are so many twists and turns in the book but it's not confusing or difficult to keep track of.  It's tense, suspenseful and twisty, which are all the hallmarks of a cracking psychological thriller.  Highly recommended.

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

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BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: Little Grey Cells (The Jessica Sinclair Mysteries Book 2) - Faye Brann

From Comedy Women in Print Prize winner Faye Brann, the gloriously twisty sequel to Kiss, Marry, Murder.

Jessica Sinclair is enjoying a blissfully uneventful summer.

No crime scenes.

No threatening notes.

No murder.

Just a celebratory dinner party for 12 in the picture-perfect Surrey enclave of Chitworth, where manicured lawns, designer kitchens and discreet security gates keep everything – and everyone – neatly in place.

When a dead body is discovered, it quickly becomes clear there is a killer amongst the guests. Celebrity scandal simmers beneath the surface and Jessica is faced with a choice: call in the authorities and risk another media frenzy or quietly investigate before gossip turns to headlines. With loyal sidekicks Darcy and Della by her side, she begins to untangle a web of rivalries, secrets and lies, exposing bruised egos, broken friendships… and several very good reasons for murder.

Witty, fast-paced and deliciously sharp, Little Grey Cells proves that even at the most civilised of dinners, revenge is a dish best served cold.

 

What did I think?

Having recently read the first book in the Jessica Sinclair Mysteries series, Kiss, Marry, Murder, I enjoyed catching up with Jessica, Darcy and Della again in the second book, Little Grey Cells.

I think you could read it as a standalone if you haven't read the first book but there are a lot of characters to get to grips with and I was pleased that I was already familiar with some of them.  I still got a little confused about who was who but that's just my fuzzy brain and not a criticism of the book.

The murder is very intriguing though and it's a bit of a locked room mystery as you know that one of the dinner guests must have done it.  As Jessica and her team start to investigate they find that a few of the guests had the motive for murder but it's not so clear which one had the opportunity to commit the crime.

There are some great additions to the story in the form of handwritten timelines and excerpts from the coroner's report that made me feel part of the investigation.  They did test my eyesight a bit though as they were written in a smaller font to the main prose.  Thank goodness there's an option to enlarge text on Kindle.

Mysterious, intriguing and captivating, Little Grey Cells is a great addition to this witty and fun murder mystery series and I can't wait to read more.

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

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BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: Kiss, Marry, Murder (The Jessica Sinclair Mysteries) - Faye Brann

TV reality show host and former journalist Jessica Sinclair quits her job after receiving a death threat and is scratching a living as a private investigator when she discovers the body of her former best friend, Marianne Hughes. Accused of her murder by a police chief with a grudge and devastated that she never got to put her relationship right with Marianne, Jessica sets out to find her killer.

Smelling D-list celebrity blood, the press set up shop outside her front door after news of her involvement with the case is conveniently leaked. Jessica begins to suspect the answer is close to home - perhaps literally. With the help of her two new recruits – bitter divorcee Darcy, and Della, a frozen fish truck driver – Jessica investigates the most likely suspects and ends up revealing uncomfortable secrets.

When more threatening notes arrive, Jessica realises that she really does have a target on her back. Time is running out... Can she find the murderer before they kill her, too?

Set in the leafy environs of Barnes in southwest London, Kiss, Marry, Murder is a fast-paced, suspenseful murder mystery with a humorous twist; a combination of action, sleuthing, wit and heart.

 

What did I think?

Kiss, Marry, Murder is a fantastic start to a new series and it's such good fun to read.  I can't wait to read the sequel, Little Grey Cells, to catch up with Jessica and her quirky team again.

It's a really intriguing mystery as Jessica received a death threat that made her leave her job in TV.  As if that wasn't bad enough, Jessica then discovers the body of her estranged friend and ends up being accused of her murder.  With a little help from her new friends, Della and Darcy, Jessica starts to her own investigation to both clear her name and find out who is threatening her.

Jessica, Della and Darcy are larger than life characters and it is their banter and escapades that had me giggling surprisingly frequently.  It's so refreshing to have a murder mystery with added humour as it lightens what would otherwise be a dark storyline.

Captivating, witty and entertaining, Kiss, Marry, Murder is an unpredictable and unforgettable murder mystery.  I am already hooked on the series at book one, which gives you some indication just how good this book is.  A very highly recommended read.

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

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BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: The Mini Breakers - Lucy Kennedy

Five women.

Twenty-two years of friendship.

One annual holiday that promises escape, connection and chaos in equal measure.

No matter how hectic their careers, relationships or family lives become, they keep their tradition alive: one week away together EVERY year. This time, the Mini Breakers are heading to Portugal.

But as the sun comes out, so do the secrets.

Between complicated love lives and the messy realities of middle age, this getaway might just be their most dramatic yet.

Scandals, revelations and questionable decisions are guaranteed when this group of gloriously imperfect, perimenopausal and fun-loving friends reunite.

THE MINI BREAKERS is a warm, sharp, wickedly funny story about the friendships that shape us.

 

What did I think?

I really enjoyed my virtual mini break to Portugal with The Mini Breakers and it was a pleasure to meet Kate, Georgie, Beth, Sam and Dee.  This is Lucy Kennedy's debut adult novel and it's an absolute cracker. 

This group of five women have been friends since their school days and, although they may now live miles apart, they all gather together for a holiday every year.  It's so lovely that they have remained firm friends, although it is sometimes challenging with Diva Dee in the mix.

They each have something going on in their lives and, whilst their problems may be quite heavy, Lucy Kennedy's natural Irish wit adds a lightness to the storyline.  Prepare for lots of laughs when you pick up The Mini Breakers as there are some hilarious scenes in store for the reader.

Filled with Irish charm, The Mini Breakers is a witty and entertaining novel that would be a fantastic holiday read, although you might get some funny looks from people around the pool when you laugh out loud.  A highly recommended read.

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

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BLOG TOUR: Love, Grief & More Sex Than Pinot (Soho Summers Series Book 1) - Sacha Hughes

Soho’s life was perfect, until it wasn’t.

The youngest of three girls, growing up on the Essex coast, she had love and laughter… until her mum lost her battle with cancer.

At 24, grief hit hard. With pinot grigio as her go-to painkiller and the belief that only Mr Right can fix her broken heart, Soho dives headfirst into love’s messiest lessons.

With her recruitment career in London a comical shit-show, Soho’s nights with her five best friends, the Wino Worms, are fuelled by cocaine, cocktails, and chaos. Hundreds of men later, hope never lasts past hangovers and sunrise.

That is, until a disastrous bedroom incident sparks a painful journey of healing she’s been running from. But not for long! Enter Warren Williams: the irresistible Aussie with endless champagne and sweet nothings. Could he be the Mr Right she’s been chasing all along? She’s not ready… Or is she?

Full of heartbreak, hilarity, and a hint of redemption, Love, Grief & More Sex Than Pinot is a gloriously human, raw, and riotous journey through love, loss, and learning that the only person who can save you… is you.

 

What did I think?

Wow!  What an amazing debut novel from Sacha Hughes!  I expected to like Love, Grief & More Sex Than Pinot, which is why I chose to read it, but I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVED IT!!!

Soho Summers is such a realistic and relatable character.  The 28-year-old has been searching for her very own Mr Right but every one she picks turns out to be Mr Very Wrong.  Summer may laugh off all of her dating nightmares in front of her friends but it really stings when her friends return to their partners and Soho goes home alone to her cute cat Pickle.

When Soho's mother dies she spirals dangerously out of control with a cocktail of drink, drugs and sex but she continues to tell her friends and family that she's 'fine'.  Isn't that so true?  We use 'I'm fine' so often that it almost has the opposite meaning to what it should convey.  Now, I would like to say that I couldn't put this book down but I had to at the end of a couple of chapters to gather my emotions as it is heartbreaking reading at times.  Soho's grief is palpable and I just wanted to reach into the book and give her a massive hug.

I've seen readers talking about book hangovers before but I had never had one...until now.  I didn't want the book to end and I'm already looking forward to the next one.  There's a sneaky peak of book two in the back of the book and I don't usually read these excerpts but I just had to see what was next in store for Soho.  I can't wait for more!!

Entertaining, laugh out loud hilarious and incredibly poignant, Love, Grief & More Sex Than Pinot made me laugh and cry so have your hankies at the ready when you read it.  It's an unmissable and unforgettable emotional rollercoaster of a rom-com and an easy five stars.

I received a gifted paperback to read and review for the Online Book Review Tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: Festival Days (The Clapham Trilogy book 3) - Julie Anderson

May 1951

Celebration is in the air with the Festival of Britain and for the first time in years the mood is one of hope rather than hurt.

For Detective Constable Faye Smith, London is not as safe as it seems. The criminal underworld is gaining strength, enjoying a lively existence below the surface. Then two bodies are found in the war-time shelters, a man and a woman. Who are they?

What’s their story? Why were they murdered and how did they end up in the shelters?

Meanwhile, Ellie Peveril is busy with a celebration of a different kind. Ellie does all she can to support her friend but has her own worries, with ex-fiancé Patrick Havistock looming in the shadows. Faye, keen to unravel the mystery of the double murder, finds herself tangled up in crimes that stretch far beyond a simple killing.

Faye and Ellie must face their toughest case yet as their lives change, irrevocably, for the future.

What did I think?

Festival Days is the third and final book in The Clapham Trilogy and it's a real firecracker.  I only joined the series at book two so I enjoyed catching up with DC Faye Smith again but you can definitely read it as a standalone and still enjoy it.

Set in 1951, Faye is a woman in a man's world and it's unheard of to have a woman on the force in the 1950s but her colleagues are more accepting of her now.  Faye's latest case that this book centres around is quite tricky as it looks like a gangland execution so she needs all the help she can get.  

Faye's friend Ellie should be looking forward to her wedding day but she is convinced her ex-fiancé will turn up to ruin her day.  Even with all her own worries, she finds a way to help Faye but it puts her in grave danger.  What a wonderful friendship they have!  It makes me quite sad that this is a trilogy and not a long-running series as I could read more about these amazing characters.

Incredibly atmospheric, gripping and tense, Festival Days is a fantastic conclusion to an outstanding trilogy.  Whilst I'm sad it has come to an end, it does give me the opportunity to read book one for the first time and experience the trilogy in its entirety.  This is a highly recommended read that is sure to pick up new fans to the series.

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

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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.

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Sleep No More (The Shakespeare Murders Book 4) - Guy Hale

Act IV: The Way To Dusty Death

Sir Morris Oxford lies critically wounded in Stratford Hospital. Oliver Lawrence, whose cunning plan put him there, thought his revenge was complete but it takes a lot to kill a King

Boundless ambition collides headlong with the cold fury of revenge as we enter the final scene of this tragedy. There can be no hiding place for those that harbour secrets. As Toby Marlowe and Fred Williams try desperately to catch their killer, a huge storm surges into Stratford and drowns all hope of a happy resolution.

On the dark streets of Stratford, something wicked this way comes! 

What did I think?

After the huge cliffhanger in Act III of The Shakespeare Murders I couldn't wait for Act IV and it not only did not disappoint, it completely exceeded my expectations.  Sleep No More is possibly the last book in the series and what a thrilling ending to a fabulous series.

Oliver Lawrence is still eluding the police as he takes revenge on the people he sees as responsible for ruining his acting career.  He is picking them off one by one as he re-enacts his own versions of Shakespeare's famous plays.  Sleep No More is Oliver's version of Macbeth and we all know you've got to watch out for Lady Macbeth.  I'm saying no more about the plot as it would spoil it, but it is absolutely breathtaking.

It's impossible to put this book down once you pick it up and it just gets more gripping as the story progresses.  The weather even plays a big part and my heart was pounding as the storm raged overhead, which just goes to show the talent of Guy Hale for evoking such a response from his carefully crafted words.

Whilst I'm sad that this may be the last book in the series, I am actually looking forward to reading all of the books again.  Sleep No More is without doubt a five star read in a five star series.  Very highly recommended and completely unmissable.

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

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The Ten Year Affair - Erin Somers

Two parents. Happily married. Just not to each other.

When Cora meets Sam at a baby group in their small town, the chemistry between them is instant and undeniable. But both are happily married, and neither is the type to cheat. So as their lives intertwine and the romantic tension between them heightens, Cora turns to her imagination: in her head, she and Sam pursue their feelings; in reality, they resist.

Yet as the fantasy affair grows ever more intoxicating, it can't help but cast Cora's everyday life - the mushroom problem in the bathroom, her daughter's new fascination with the afterlife, her husband's obsession with podcasts about the history of rope - in a new light. And when the boundaries grow increasingly blurred, she must decide what truly matters.

Razor-sharp, exhilaratingly honest and salted with an irresistible acerbic wit, The Ten Year Affair explores family life, fidelity and the roads not taken, and ultimately asks: do we really want our fantasies to come true?

 

What did I think?

The Ten Year Affair isn't perhaps the type of book I would usually pick up but I rather enjoyed it.  It's brutally honest and surprisingly witty so I found myself laughing out loud on a number of occasions but it has a serious subject at its heart: infidelity.

Although I didn't particularly like any of the characters I think I could understand them.  Cora escapes her mundane life as a wife and mother to a fantasy world where she's having an affair with Sam, a father she met at baby group.  It really made me think about what cheating is.  Are thoughts as bad as actions?

As the story progresses the affair doesn't just continue in Cora's head, it happens in real life but Cora finds that reality isn't a patch on fantasy.  You have to apportion some of the blame to Cora's husband Eliot, who pays very little attention to Cora, and Sam's wife Jules, who is having an affair of her own.  Both couples seem to conveniently forget that they have children though.

I did struggle at times with the 'in the fantasy world' and 'in reality' storyline as I couldn't remember what was happening in each one and it seemed to flick back and forth frequently.  I enjoyed the chapters set during the Covid-19 pandemic as it really highlighted the challenges people faced while forced to spend time with each other.  It is funny reading about people getting used to working from home and I'm sure a lot of people have many funny Zoom stories.

Witty, honest and thought-provoking, The Ten Year Affair is an interesting and entertaining read that is well worth picking up, even if it's just to feel smug about your own relationship.

 

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

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Christmas at Tillingford Hall (Tillingford Hall book 2) - Flora Dunn

Charlotte Patcham’s dream job running the Bath Physick Garden has turned into a nightmare: the underfunded garden has become a target for vandals, and her career and her social life are succumbing to mildew.

So why does she hesitate to take the job of Head Gardener at Hampshire’s famous Tillingford Hall? Could it be because her lying, thieving, cheating ex, Sebastian Seaton-Smyth, has also returned to work there after he left Tillingford Hall in disgrace?

But when fate pushes Charlie towards Tillingford Hall can she learn to work alongside Seb so they can get everything ready for the public in time for the opening Christmas concert?

And could Steve Silver, the foxy tree surgeon, be the kind of steady man Charlie could take to spend Christmas with her parents, or might Charlie and Seb reignite their sparkle in time?

 

What did I think?

Christmas at Tillingford Hall is the second book in the Tillingford Hall series but it is the first one that I have read.  Whilst I would have benefited from reading the first book, it works perfectly well as a standalone.  I think even though events from the first book are mentioned, I would still like to read Summer at Tillingford Hall to discover Alice and Guy's story.

Charlotte is nursing a broken heart after discovering her boyfriend Seb has been cheating on her so the last thing she needs is to keep running into him every day.  Charlotte really values her friends though and she returns to Tillingford Hall to help Alice and Guy bring life back to the walled garden.  Unfortunately for Charlie, Seb has also returned to Tillingford Hall as Guy has forgiven him for what he did in the summer but Charlie can't do the same.

I loved Charlie and her enthusiasm for gardening.  I can totally understand that she wants nothing to do with Seb but as times goes on she learns more of his story and the ice around her heart starts to thaw.  I really didn't like Steve the tree surgeon though; he's the type of guy who calls his girlfriend 'Princess' because he can't remember her name.  Charlie likes the attention at first but there's a dark and dangerous side to Steve...

Although Christmas at Tillingford Hall is a Christmas story, there are some serious and powerful topics covered including abusive relationships, addiction and forgiveness.  Flora Dunn covers these issues with sensitivity and respect and it makes the characters more realistic and relatable.

Heartwarming, uplifting and entertaining, Christmas at Tillingford Hall is a fun and thought-provoking festive romcom.  Any reader would be delighted to find this under their tree.

I received a gifted paperback from the author and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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Weave Your Magic (Molland Sisters Book 1) - Caroline Hogg

Temperance Molland doesn’t want much. Just true love. Fed up with rubbish first dates, she drunkenly dreams up the perfect love story – unaware that combining moonlight, expired rum and her witchy DNA will start all kinds of trouble…

The next day Temperance wakes up to a stinking hangover and a worse premonition: something dangerous is headed to their village. When she runs into Abel Gulliver, she can’t believe her eyes: her childhood best friend, her first love, the boy who broke her heart 12 years ago. Whatever curse she's triggered has dragged Abel back home against his will and she’s going to have to keep him there until she figures it all out.

And it’s not enough to be plagued by visions of purple lightning and burning wildflowers, now property developers are after their cosy corner of the South Coast. With her sister Suse using magic to see off the fat cats, it’s up to Temperance to keep Abel safe. If only she could work out what was so terrible about their first kiss, all those years ago, that means he can’t look her in the eye. To her, it was spellbinding…

A gorgeous and spicy romantic comedy with a witchy twist, perfect for fans of Uncharmed by Lucy Jane Wood, The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling and the movie Practical Magic.

 

What did I think?

It was an absolute pleasure to read Weave Your Magic and, as it's the first book in the series, I am delighted that it's not the last we will hear from the Molland sisters.

Temperence and Susie run a second-hand shop in Devon and they have a magical gift that enables them to read the memories attached to clothes.  This is such a lovely idea but it also has a dark side as not all memories are happy.  Temperence knows all about that because she picked up her best friend's hoodie after their teenage kiss and experienced Abel's hurtful feelings.

Abel is definitely the one that got away for Temperence and now he's back.  The sexual chemistry between them sizzles off the page but Temperence knows how Abel really feels and his actions confirm that.   It's a brilliant will they/won't they hook and there's certainly magic (and a dangerous curse) in the air.

I really loved this book; it's funny, magical and filled with danger.  My eyes were glued to the page from start to finish and I couldn't read fast enough to find out how it would all end but I also didn't want the book to finish as I was loving it so much.  What a great dilemma to have when reading!

Weave Your Magic is a fabulous magical romcom novel from Caroline Hogg.  I can't wait to read more and will definitely be adding Find Your Magic to my TBR. 

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

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The Green Feathers (Mike Kingdom Thrillers book 5) - David Jarvis

When a butterfly flaps its wings in the Caribbean, it causes storms in Europe.

The British King and Prime Minister have arrived in Georgetown, Guyana, along with the leaders of the other fifty-five countries in the Commonwealth, for its biennial meeting. Two shots ring out causing panic on the steps of the Mahaica Convention Centre.

The previous month, Tina Persad, an MI6 agent with Caribbean experience, had been sent to find out whether rumoured threats to the meeting were real or not. Then days before it was due to start, she had disappeared without trace.

Michaela 'Mike' Kingdom, a CIA analyst in London, may have been the last person to see her alive when they had a drink together in The Green Feathers. With Tina missing, Mike makes it her mission to find her friend, despite warnings not to get involved.

The butterfly may have already flapped its wings, but can Mike find Tina before the Heavens open?

 

What did I think?

The Green Feathers is book 5 in the Mike Kingdom Thrillers series but it's the first one that I have read and I am HOOKED!!!  I was a little concerned about jumping into such a well-established series at such a late point but I needn't have worried as I couldn't put it down.

The first thing that surprised me is that Mike is female (it's short for Michaela) and she is such an intriguing and fiery character; she's like a stick of dynamite and you really don't want to light her fuse!  I really want to read more of her back story so I will definitely be adding the earlier books to my TBR tower.

The prologue is an absolutely brilliant hook and the shooting is mentioned in the blurb so it's not a spoiler to say that I couldn't read fast enough to discover who had got shot.  Like a boxer on the ropes, the hooks just keep on coming when Mike's friend Tina goes missing.  What did Tina discover and why don't the security services want Mike to look for her?

I'm surprised I didn't get blisters on my fingers I was turning the pages so fast.  The Green Feathers has all the adjectives that thriller readers devour: it's intriguing, gripping, thrilling, fast-paced, compelling, tense and suspenseful to name but a few.  I'm so pleased that I wasn't put off about starting the series so late and I will definitely be reading the earlier books and looking out for future instalments.

The Green Feathers is an outstanding spy thriller that has a razor-sharp plot, a blisteringly fast pace and is exquisitely written by David Jarvis.  An easy five stars and a very highly recommended read.

I received a gifted paperback from the author that I chose to read; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: No Oil Painting - Genevieve Marenghi

A respectable septuagenarian steals a valuable painting and later tries to return it, with a little help from her friends.

Bored National Trust volunteer, Maureen, steals an obscure still life as a giant up-yours to all those who’ve discounted her. The novice fine art thief is rumbled by some fellow room guides, but snitches get stitches, camaraderie wins out and instead of grassing her up, they decide to help.

Often written off as an insipid old fart, Maureen has a darker side, challenging ingrained ideas of how senior citizens should behave. Her new set of friends make her feel alive again. No longer quite so invisible, can this unlikely pensioner gang return the now infamous painting without being caught by the Feds?

I wrote this after hearing a radio interview in which an art detective revealed how a stolen Titian was dumped at a bus stop outside Richmond station. In a red, white and blue plastic bag! I just couldn’t shake such a compelling image. I volunteered at Ham House for many years, and my passion for this Jacobean gem, together with the volunteers’ indomitable spirit, gave birth to my unlikely anti-hero.

With over five million members, the National Trust is a huge British institution. Yet, next to nothing has been written about it in terms of contemporary fiction. Until now.

While No Oil Painting explores themes of insignificance and loneliness in older age, particularly for women, it is mainly intended to entertain and offer a small haven in dark, uncertain times.

What did I think?

No Oil Painting is a fun and heartfelt book that is very entertaining.  I loved the floor plans at the start of the book; it felt like I was actually visiting Ham House and it inspired me to look it up online to make it a more interactive reading experience.

I really liked Maureen and it's heartbreaking how invisible she is to others.  It's good to have an older protagonist for a change and I think Genevieve Marenghi has highlighted an important issue of feeling lonely and worthless as you get older; just because your hair goes grey, it doesn't mean you should fade out of existence.  I really empathised with Maureen, especially when she hears people talking about her as that is never a pleasant experience.

Maureen has a plan to alleviate her boredom as a National Trust volunteer; she will steal her favourite artwork while Ham House is being used as a film set.  When the theft gets discovered quicker than she expected, Maureen finds out that she isn't as invisible as she thought.

Atmospheric, entertaining and authentic, No Oil Painting is a really fun read that reminded me a little of a Carry-On caper mixed with the Scooby Gang but with real issues in a real setting.  Even the painting that Maureen steals is really hanging on the wall in Ham House.  I enjoyed this one and think it's well worth a read.

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

My rating:

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About the author:

With a BA in English and Philosophy, Genevieve worked for eleven years at the Weekend FT, where she helped create and launch How To Spend It magazine.

She volunteered for years as a National Trust guide at Ham House. This became the setting for her debut art heist novel, No Oil Painting, which was listed for the inaugural Women’s Prize Trust and Curtis Brown Discoveries, and was published by Burton Mayers Books on 10th October 2025.

Her writing uses dark humour to probe the difference between our perception of people and their true selves. The gulf between what is said and what is meant. She considers people watching an essential skill for any writer; overheard snippets of conversation or a bonkers exchange at a bus stop are like gold nuggets. She’s been known to follow people to catch the end of a juicy conversation or argument. Women aged over fifty are essentially invisible anyhow and she views this as a kind of superpower.

Unlike her protagonist Maureen, she hasn’t used this to commit art theft. Yet.

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Giveaway

Giveaway to Win National Trust chocolate, and a Ham House towel and fridge magnet (Open to UK Only)

*Terms and Conditions –UK 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 National Trust chocolate, and a Ham House towel and fridge magnet (Open to UK Only)

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