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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BLOG TOUR: Paper Over It - Ruth Gresty

Jennifer Jones is in control.

Jen is confident she has complete control over the things that are trying to control her. Until she isn’t. Until she hasn’t. Until she realises she has never been in control at all. She’s been papering over it for years.

It's the start of the year 2000. A new millennium has arrived. For Jen and her three friends, university life in Manchester is full of possibility and endless fun. Sassiness, spontaneity, marvellous mayhem and youthful optimism reign in the Manchester rain.

But beneath the sometimes brash bravado sometimes even the most resilient, carefree, fun-loving characters who, on the surface look like they are living their best lives, are perilously close to falling apart. Over the course of one unforgettable year, the young women confront their own realities and truths. Some make foolish mistakes and others life changing choices.

Sometimes heartwarming and other times heartbreaking, but always brutally honest. This is a story of friendship, mistakes, self-discovery and acceptance; identity, love and the messy reality of becoming an adult. It's about the masks we wear, the mistakes and choices we make, and the courage it takes to stop papering over it and face ourselves when everything feels like it's falling apart.

It’s real, raw, raunchy, sometimes random and frankly rude at times. Just like Jen and her friends.

 

What did I think?

Paper Over It is a year in the life of four friends at the start of the new millennium.  Jen met Em, Lou and Kate at university in Manchester and although they are from different parts of the country and different walks of life, they have remained firm friends.

The book almost has its own playlist as each chapter lists a song that is relevant to what we have just read.  I loved seeing the theme song of each chapter and I found myself singing along (in my head) to some cracking tunes.  There are also some lovely excerpts from Winnie the Pooh that really demonstrates the ethos of friendship.

Although I'm a little older than Jen and her friends, it really took me back to my own experiences of the millennium year and stepping foot into working life for the first time.  It was both fun and scary and I think Ruth Gresty perfectly portrays this with the things that happen to Jen over the year.  Yes she makes mistakes, but some things that happened weren't her fault and I was so angry (with the other party) when her naivety allowed her to be taken advantage of.  It was just one more thing to paper over and forget it ever happened...but I hope things would be different nowadays.

It's a fantastic debut novel that is incredibly well written and the characters are so well developed I felt as if they were my own friends.  There are some serious subjects covered but they are handled sensitively and lightened somewhat by Ruth Gresty's sparkling wit.  I could totally see Paper Over It being made into a sitcom or mini series and I would certainly be adding it to my watchlist.

Incredibly nostalgic, entertaining and amusing, Paper Over It is a sharp and witty novel that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to readers of all genres.  It's a fabulous read and a stunning debut novel; Ruth Gresty is certainly one to watch and I'm looking forward to seeing what she writes next.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon - paperback

Amazon - ebook

About the author: 

Ruth has worked in Marketing for twenty-seven years and has always loved writing and storytelling. Understanding people and their behaviour, creating stories that resonate and developing engaging and enduring narratives have all been key to success in her professional background.

From a personal perspective, Ruth is a Manchester born, bred and based menopausal mum of three boys (twelve, fifteen and twenty seven). She spends most of her weekends trying to manage the family mayhem with her partner Simon and watching their younger boys on the sideline of various sports pitches hunting for a loo (occasionally having to resort to a wild wee), a sausage sandwich and a brew while trying to keep warm in doubled-up big socks (mainly stolen from the males in her house) and multiple layers (having had it drilled into her since childhood that it is the number of layers that count, not the thickness of each layer - the complete opposite of friendships).

A nasty accident on Good (Bad) Friday in 2024 meant she spent several months sat on her arse with one leg having to be perpetually higher than said arse. As an energetic, self-confessed curator of chaos, she needed something to focus on and keep her from going frankly crazy. And keep her family from going crazy too. She found that you can’t do much when you're in acute pain with one leg in the air (including the jigsaws and ‘paint by numbers’ well-wishers had kindly gifted her). But you can read, reflect, think and you can definitely reminisce and daydream. And you can write. Which is what she did.

Her debut novel, Paper Over It, combines her sometimes over-enthusiastic imagination with insights gained from growing up in the 80s and becoming a young mum in the late 90s, her silent struggle with eating disorders in her earlier years, the power of some relationships and the destructive nature of others, and the joy of family, friendship, loyalty, hope and laughter.

Social Media Links – 

https://www.facebook.com/ruth.gresty

www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-gresty-6a336b9

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Outside - Charlotte Levin

She’s locked the door to the world.

Is love strong enough to open it?

Following a tragic incident, rising-star Beatrice is struggling. Having retreated from life entirely, she finds herself unable to leave the house. With her acting career now over, (Though don’t tell her agent), and discovering who her real friends aren’t, her world has shrunk—its only inhabitants, an elderly Polish neighbour, the world’s most boring postman, her therapist with issues of her own, and Piano Bitch from across the road. Thank God for Matisse, her beloved, foul-mouthed parakeet.

When she hires Irish gardener, Finn, to tame the overgrown garden that she cannot even enter, things take an unexpected turn. Their connection blossoms, and she’s no longer isolated and alone. But can a relationship survive the restrictions that control her, or will love enable Beatrice to confront her fears and step outside again?

Your next reading obsession, the poignant and darkly funny new novel from the bestselling author of If I Can’t Have You, perfect for fans of Sorrow and Bliss and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.

 

What did I think?

Oh my goodness, what an absolutely stunning book!  It's my first Charlotte Levin book but I will definitely be picking up her earlier novels after being completely blown away by Outside.

It's a dual timeline novel with 'Before' and 'Now' chapters that are separated into parts that correspond with the four seasons.  Whatever the weather outside, it doesn't affect Beatrice as she is cocooned from the world behind her locked door and closed curtains, with only her foul-mouthed parakeet for company.   

Beatrice is agoraphobic and being unable to see a physical ailment makes it hard for people to empathise with her.  Surely, you just need to open your door and walk outside?   Oh if only it was that easy.  You cannot help but take Beatrice into your heart as the reason behind her condition is revealed and I struggled to hold in my tears on more than one occasion.

It is quite a heavy subject but Charlotte Levin perfectly balances this darkness with a bright shining light in the form of parakeet Matisse and Irish gardener/love interest Finn.  Charlotte Levin writes from the heart, delving into her own experience with anxiety and agoraphobia, to give the reader a true, honest and raw insight into this debilitating disorder.

Candid, poignant and surprising uplifting, Outside is an incredibly emotional book with an unforgettable protagonist who I completely adored.  So beautifully written, this is an unmissable book that is going on my favourites shelf.  An easy five stars for this very highly recommended read. 

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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REVIEW TOUR: Ride - Or Die Trying - Paul Drayton

 

A brutally honest and hilarious memoir about addiction recovery, fame-adjacent life and learning how to start again.

When Paul Drayton briefly finds himself in prison in 2022 after a dangerous driving conviction, he is forced to confront the truth about the life he has been living. What follows is a candid and deeply personal journey through addiction, relationships, identity and recovery.

From growing up in Sunderland to navigating London’s nightlife scene, falling in love with Alan Carr to discovering what it feels like to live beside fame without sharing the spotlight, Paul reflects on the highs, the chaos and the mistakes that shaped his life.

A late ADHD diagnosis at fifty and determined to rebuild his future, he begins the difficult process of understanding himself and creating a new chapter.

Honest, self-aware and funny, this is a memoir about accountability, resilience and the courage to start again.

What did I think?

I didn't realise that Paul Drayton is Alan Carr's ex-husband when I first heard about Ride - Or Die Trying; I wanted to read it as Paul is a local lad from Sunderland and I'm so pleased that he's a Mackem otherwise I might have missed this fabulous book.

Paul Drayton is very brave to put his story out there, especially after all of the negative press he experienced when he was struggling with his addictions.  In his raw and brutally honest memoir, he gives the reader a glimpse into the showbiz lifestyle and the effects of living in the shadow of a famous other half. 

Paul has an amazing sense of humour and that shines through every page.  It's not a laugh on every page kind of book as Paul touches on some tough and poignant subjects but each chapter is filled with honesty, emotion and a lot of inner strength.  I don't know Paul but I feel very proud of him for sharing his story with the world.

As you would expect from someone who was married to the Chatty Man, it's a very chatty book and Paul's natural dry north-eastern wit adds a very entertaining and funny slant to the stories.  There are several personal photographs included that accompany the prose and give the reader further insight into Paul's life.  It's not an exposé on Alan Carr, it's very much Paul's own story and I loved it.

Honest, poignant and entertaining, Ride - Or Die Trying is a cracking memoir that had me laughing one minute and crying the next.  It's bold, inspirational and well worth a read.

I received a gifted paperback for the Literally PR Online Book Review Tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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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.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Waterstones

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: Love Always Lindisfarne - Kimberley Adams

Return to Northumberland where happy ever afters await…

Take a magical trip to stunning Northumberland via the pages of this feel-good romantic comedy by award winning writer Kimberley Adams. Full of warmth and joy, it will leave you with a wide smile and a yearning to visit this iconic location in person.

When the almost unbelievable truth about Kittiwake Penaluna’s heritage comes to light, the residents are shocked, but in true island fashion they rally together to protect their fledgling chick as she faces life-changing revelations.

Meanwhile, the island mourns the loss of its beloved village butcher, and the closure of the shop on Main Street leaves a hole at the heart of the community. Then, when other businesses unexpectedly close, rumours begin to circulate about who might be behind the unsettling changes.

As familiar faces depart, new ones arrive, but not everything is as it seems. And when a despised figure from the past returns, old tensions resurface and the island is thrown into further turmoil.

Amid the chaos, Ellie and Zen finally begin preparing for their long-awaited wedding, but as always on the island, nothing goes quite according to plan. With difficult decisions to make and obstacles to overcome, they soon discover that they can weather any storm, because love always endures on Lindisfarne…

 

What did I think?

I absolutely adored my fourth virtual visit to Lindisfarne, a beautiful island that I have been fortunate to visit in real life, in Love Always Lindisfarne.  Although this is book four, each book can be read as a standalone but you will definitely want to read them all (and visit the island) when you discover this outstanding series.

Ellie and Zen are preparing for their wedding but this is Kimberley Adams' Lindisfarne so there's lots going on to keep the reader entertained until the big day.  I absolutely adore Ellie and Zen's love story and the fact that the whole island is involved in it.  If you've ever been to Lindisfarne (aka Holy Island) you will realise that this is very easy to imagine as the community is very tight-knit on this very small and picturesque tidal island.

This is like a soap opera in a book and it's impossible to put down but, unlike your favourite soap, you don't have to wait until the next episode as you can just keep on reading.  I was completely enthralled by the captivating story that was unfolding before my eyes.

There's romance, drama, community spirit and family at its heart to keep the reader entertained from start to finish, with a few villains thrown in for extra amusement.  The beautiful island of Lindisfarne is a character in its own right and Kimberley Adams wonderfully captures and portrays its unique personality through her warm and effusive words. 

Warm, witty and wonderful, I really can't recommend Love Always Lindisfarne highly enough.  There aren't enough stars in the dark skies of Northumberland to award this fabulous book; an easy five stars.  Keep 'em coming, Kim!

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:

Kim was born in Corbridge in Northumberland and still lives in this gorgeous corner of the world. Passionate about the area, Kim tends to set her work in the northeast, and why not considering the wealth of stunning scenery and the warm-hearted locals, both of which constantly give her ideas for future writing endeavours.

Kim’s debut Love Lindisfarne was released October 2023 and from its first cover release on social media gained momentum, taking Kim totally by surprise. Kim had never envisaged writing more than one book, but here we now are at number four, three Lindisfarne book and a Christmas novella called the Christmas Angel of the North which is about a nana and her granddaughter and set in Newcastle.

Kim finds most of her inspiration mooching around cafes across the Northeast where she ‘overhears’ some of the funniest and warmest things that are stored away for future use (anonymously of course!) If you see her, buy her some cake, then she promises never to write about you – unless you want her to of course!

Kim is very proud of her ratings on Amazon and if you want to read reviews for her previous books just pop on and you will be able to see just why Kim gets quite emotional over some of the lovely things that have been said about the books! If you do enjoy the books, please try and leave a rating or review, you don’t even have to have bought the book from Amazon, but each rating helps towards getting the system to recognise Kim and her books.

Social Media Links – 

X Twitter - @kim_adamsWriter

Facebook – Kimberley Adams-Writer

FB Page – Love Lindisfarne

Instagram – love_lindisfarne

Or follow her on Amazon.

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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.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Waterstones

Amazon

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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.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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The Undead: The First Seven Days (The Undead series Book 1) - RR Haywood

The Undead: The First Seven Days is Season One of one of the UK’s most successful horror-comedy series.

THE ICONIC BRITISH SERIES THAT HAS REDEFINED A GENRE AND BECOME FAR MORE THAN A ZOMBIE STORY.

First published in 2012, now fully rewritten in 2025.

When a deadly infection spreads across Europe, Howie’s ordinary life is thrown into chaos. As the world crumbles around him, he teams up with his autistic best mate, Dave, and a ragtag bunch of misfits to face an enemy unlike any other, the undead. But this isn’t just any infection. It evolves. It learns. And it’s getting smarter every day. Howie soon discovers nothing is quite what it seems, and neither is he. With blistering action, horror, heart, and the occasional terrible decision, The Undead follows Howie and Dave as they become the last unlikely heroes to stop the infection before it becomes cleverer than them.

Which, honestly, wouldn’t be that hard.

"My name is Howie. I was named after my father, Howard, but having two Howards was confusing, so I became Howie. I am a supermarket night manager. This is my account."

The Undead. The First Seven Days Compilation Edition. Days One to Seven.

Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Amazon & Audible bestselling author, RR Haywood. One of the top ten most downloaded indie authors in the UK with over four million books sold and nearly 40 Kindle bestsellers

*WINNER OF DISCOVER SCI-FI BEST RELEASE OF 2023*

 

What did I think?

WOW!!! This book is OUTSTANDING!  I have just read 720 pages of non-stop action yet still want more, although I'm not sure my arm muscles could take much more as this is one very chunky book. 

I'm not averse to horror but I don't normally read it, however, this is more of a multi-genre novel filled with action, adventure, suspense, humour and of course gore.  As the night manager of a Tesco store, Howie is a very unlikely hero but he is fighting for his life and that of his family when a deadly virus turns people into ‘zombies not zombies’.  Luckily, he runs into one of his colleagues, Dave who is a one man killing machine when faced with danger.

Vividly written, the whole book reads like a TV show and it is incredibly bingeworthy.  It is quite gorey at times but I was completely invested in Howie and Dave's stories so I didn't feel the need to hide behind my virtual sofa at all.  I felt like my eyes were on stalks at times as the infected closed in but I loved every second of the non-stop action.

Whilst reading, I discovered that my sense of humour is very partial to a poo joke, of which there are plenty.  You can't beat a bit of toilet humour during a zombie apocalypse and the humour perfectly balanced the fighting and killing action.

Gripping, fast-paced and highly addictive, The Undead: The First Seven Days is an incredible novel that I wouldn't have put down if it wasn't so heavy!  Do not be put off by the size of this book, it is absolutely fantastic and completely unmissable.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon

BLOG TOUR: Castles, Crime & Cake: A Policeman's Accidental Guide to History - John Donoghue

From Police Officer to Medieval Castle Guide… via Britain’s Most Curious Crimes

It started with cake—as most good stories do. Then came the discovery that it’s illegal to chat to the postman for too long, and a spark was ignited.

What followed was a mad quest to break Britain’s strangest laws, spiralling out of control until I hit rock bottom: telling the woman from British Gas I got my energy from bananas.

Dejected, I wandered into a castle, was offered a job, and soon found myself learning that the ideal position in the Middle Ages involved doing a jump, a fart, and a whistle every Christmas. Then, amongst other things, came a monkey ghost, two-fingered gestures, and a knight to remember.

Eventually, I was leading unsuspecting visitors on my own irreverent guided tour of a magnificent medieval castle… and now you can come too!

The past was never this much fun—or this illegal.

 

What did I think?

Castles, Crime & Cake is one of the funniest books I have ever read and I say 'one of' on purpose as the last time I read a book this funny it was written by none other than John Donoghue.  

In this book, John has left the police force and moved down south but he's at a bit of a loose end.  After giving a talk to the local WI about what he learned in the police, John decides to see how many archaic laws he can break.  I know we have some bonkers laws still in place and it was fascinating to read a fantastic selection of them.  To be fair, John could have probably written a whole book about them but the best is yet to come in this hilarious book as the reader is taken on a whistlestop British history tour.

Why history? I hear you ask.  Well John has been successful in his application to become a caste guide - it was the unique CV that did it, I'm sure!  I do love history (not so much at school as there's only so many hours you can study the Industrial Revolution and the Spinning Jenny) so I positively gobbled up these chapters, only stopping to wipe my eyes from the tears of laughter running down my face. 

I defy anyone not to chuckle, laugh or guffaw whilst reading Castles, Crime & Cake; I made the mistake of reading in bed and I had the bed shaking as I tried (unsuccessfully, I might add) to contain my laughter so I didn't wake up my other half.  I'm so glad I didn't drink a cuppa whilst reading as I would've been showered in tea.

Hilarious, entertaining and informative, Castles, Crime & Cake is a fantastic memoir that I will be recommending for a very long time (along with John's other books).  The book should come with a warning that it is likely to cause uncontrollable laughter so be careful where and when you read it.  An easy and well-deserved five stars.

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

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About the author:

John Donoghue has served Queen, King, and Country over forty years in the Royal Navy, British Army, and Police. These days, he’s swapped handcuffs for heraldry as a guide at a medieval castle. He also has a dog, Monty, who’s yet to break any known laws, but has taken on the role of farting jester perfectly.

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