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.

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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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BLOG TOUR: A Christmas Caroline - K.L. Crear

Caroline’s got frugality down to a fine art. She can make a tin of soup stretch for days, considers “reduced to clear” her love language, and thinks Christmas is just a daft excuse for people to throw their money away on tinsel trimmed tat. 

 

But Christmas Eve night takes a turn when her best mate, Marlene, drops in for a chat. Lovely, right? Except Marlene’s been dead for seven years and she’s got a message for Caroline, she will be visited by three spirits and if she doesn’t pay attention, her future’s looking bleaker than the contents of her fridge freezer. 

 

Caroline’s convinced she’s having a hallucination. Ghosts? Surely not! But as the night goes on, she starts to wonder if she might just learn something worth more than her latest discount voucher. And for someone who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing, this might be the wake-up call she didn’t see coming. 

 

Move over Ebenezer! This modern, laugh-out-loud retelling of the Dickens classic has a new Scrooge in town. Perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella. 

What did I think?

A Christmas Caroline is a fun festive read and it's a fresh, modern twist on a Christmas Classic.  I really enjoyed it and at just 161 pages it's short enough to read again every festive season.

I thought I was frugal but Caroline makes me look frivolous!  Her penny pinching is hilarious and I laughed out loud so many times as I was reading.  On the flip side of the coin though, it made me think of people who really don't have two pennies to rub together and how difficult it must be to worry about where your next meal is coming from nevermind paying any bills.

I loved the retelling of A Christmas Carol and the quirky characters that K.L. Crear has imagined in place of Scrooge, Marley et al.  With the same thought-provoking messages running through the prose, it's a fun and faithful nod to the original book.

Hilarious, entertaining and evocative, I defy anyone not to laugh when reading A Christmas Caroline.  I like to read the Dickens' classic over the festive period but I'm going to add A Christmas Caroline to my festive repeat reading list.  It's a real Christmas Cracker and not to be missed.

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

My rating:

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About the author:

Karen (K.L. Crear) is an author, over-sharer, and walking cautionary tale. Think: a sweary teenager trapped in the body of a menopausal woman who can’t sneeze without risking a wardrobe malfunction. You’re welcome.

Once upon a time, she worked in banking, the Civil Service, and property management, or as she likes to call it, The Beige Trilogy. She spent decades being respectable (ish), responsible (occasionally), and quietly losing the will to live. Then one day she found herself broke, baffled, and built entirely out of biscuit crumbs and unresolved trauma. So she did what any sensible woman would do, she wrote it all down and flogged it in paperback.

Karen has battled cancer twice, and her coping strategy was to laugh at wildly inappropriate moments and shout “F*ck off!” at inspirational quotes. Spoiler: it worked. Her sense of humour is deeply questionable, but it’s kept her just about sane through grief, illness, love, lies, and the time she gave herself food poisoning with a dodgy prawn ring from Iceland.

After years of procrastination (and one too many vinos), she finally swapped Pinot for a pen. She now writes jaw-dropping memoirs and hilarious women’s fiction about women who’ve had enough, snapped slightly, and are thriving in spite of it all, usually with a glass in hand, some top mates, and a solid alibi.

Her hobbies include eating anything wrapped in pastry, shouting at the Real Housewives (“She’s definitely had something done - she’s melting!”), and threatening to adopt an axolotl because they look so absurdly cheerful. She once turned down hugging a sloth in Mexico, it dangles upside down, pees on itself, and honestly felt like a warning from the future.

Karen lives in a sleepy Northern town with her long-suffering husband (he’s partially deaf, which helps) and their cat Pickle, who looks permanently disgusted with their life choices and the ongoing Dreamies rationing.

A portion of every book sale goes to Women’s Aid, Great Ormond Street, the Epilepsy Society, and Macmillan. because she knows what it’s like to need help. The world’s a shitshow, but we can all make a little difference in our own way.

Social Media Links

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

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

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@klcrear_author

Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/K-L-Crear/author/B0BTZ22HBD

Website: https://www.klcrear.com

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The Pod Couple: A Love Story in Episodes - Adam Leigh

When Chloe Adams embarked on the publicity tour for her new book, she didn't expect to appear on a live radio interview alongside Joe Harris promoting his memoir on the same subject.

Relationships.

They had last met years ago when Chloe abruptly ended theirs. Now a successful journalist, she is married to an equally ambitious film director, while Joe, still single, has struggled to move on.

The spiky reunion leads to an offer they can't refuse - hosting a podcast about failed relationships - and three months later they launch Ex-Communicate, exploring other people's heartbreak while tiptoeing around their own complicated history. Their on-air chemistry makes the podcast a rapid hit, but as their professional success grows, they're forced to confront the feelings they've buried for over a decade. Soon they realise there is a price to pay for discussing their emotions so openly in the pursuit of downloads.

The Pod Couple is a witty examination of our cultural obsession with failed relationships, exploring the uncomfortable truth that time rarely heals. It just makes things more complicated.

 

What did I think?

The Pod Couple is a fresh and modern love story with a podcast setting.  It's not a traditional love story but it's probably more realistic as their failed relationship is put under the microscope.

The book starts with a break-up and whilst Chloe didn't think of Joe until they meet again years later, Joe has never got over it.  Joe's life has been a string of failures from his relationships to his career and it can all be traced back to that break-up with Chloe.  Chloe meanwhile, is married with two children but she's not exactly happy.

Oh Chloe, I bet she wishes she could go back in time and have a word with her younger self but then she wouldn't have her two lovely children.  I'm not sure that would bother her though as she is quite selfish, which I thought would annoy me but it actually made me laugh.

Joe on the other hand, really tried his hardest to make me laugh but, as you might have guessed from his failed career as a stand-up comedian, he's just not that funny.  Put him in the same room as Chloe though, as they discuss their failed relationship on a podcast, and the chemistry between them results in lots of laughs (usually at Joe's expense).  

The Pod Couple is a very entertaining and thought-provoking book that does make you wonder "what if?".  Not just what if Chloe had never broken Joe's heart, but also what if you had made different choices in your own life.  

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

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BLOG TOUR: Love Forever Lindisfarne - Kimberley Adams

Take a summer break to stunning Northumberland via the pages of this feel-good romantic comedy by award winning writer Kimberley Adams. Full of love and laughter, it will leave you yearning to visit this iconic location in person!

When a stranger appears in the middle of a very important celebration, no one can foresee the island connections that will later come to light. Kittiwake Penaluna is drawn to the island at a sad time in her life; she’s broken, but it doesn’t take long for the islanders to rally round and take her under their wing.

Ellie and Zen are busier than they’ve ever been, jumping from task to task with little time for themselves. Will they ever find a moment together away from all the drama that constantly follows them around the island?

The forthcoming arrival of nine new mini animals puts even more pressure on the islanders, but Bert is resolute, and it’s all hands to the pump to prepare for their arrival. The Mini-Fest fundraiser gets off to a great start, until a despised face from the past appears and throws everything into chaos.

Full of heart, Love Forever Lindisfarne is a story steeped in love and community. You'll reunite with beloved characters who feel like old friends and meet a few lively newcomers with big personalities! Each page will pull you deeper into island life and leave you with a wide smile and a warm glow!

 

What did I think?

I love Kimberley Adams' Lindisfarne books and couldn't wait for the tide to go out so I could cross over to my favourite island once again.  Love Forever Lindisfarne is my third virtual visit to Lindisfarne (although I am lucky enough to have previously visited it in real life) and whilst it can be read as a standalone, the whole series is brilliant and it brings so much more to this book when you have read the others.

It's like catching up with old friends when I opened the first page of Love Forever Lindisfarne and how I loved to read about Ellie and Zen, Bert and Meg and the menagerie of animals that is about to grow a lot bigger.  Those 'little hairy coos' on the front cover melted my heart before I even read about them in the book.  I've also got to take a moment to draw your attention to the stunning cover created by Sarah Farooqi and the Northumberland flag on Zen's top is a lovely touch.

Community spirit plays a huge part in the Love Lindisfarne books but it is even stronger and more evident in Love Forever Lindisfarne.  Not only does the community come together to rescue some new animals, but they also open their hearts to a visitor who is feeling very lost and lonely.  Awww man, I just loved Kittiwake and how the villagers all rally round to make her feel welcome and loved.

Love Forever Lindisfarne is the loveliest and most heartfelt love letter to Northumberland you will ever read.  There's lots of love and laughter sprinkled throughout this cracking book like magical Northumberland fairy dust.  I think everyone will want to visit Holy Island after reading these books and I can honestly say that it is as breathtaking as Kimberley Adams paints it with her beautiful words (just watch out for the tides).  Very highly recommended; unforgettable and unmissable!

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

My rating:

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About the author:

Kim writes heartwarming romantic comedies which are set in glorious Northumberland on the iconic Holy Island of Lindisfarne. Kim is an award-winning writer and her books are amongst the highest rated romcoms on Amazon. Kim’s beautiful book covers are bespoke artwork by a Northumbrian artist and a representation of a scene within the book!

FACEBOOK Kimberley Adams-Writer or Love Lindisfarne
X kim_adamsWriter
INSTAGRAM love_lindisfarne

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Glorious Exploits - Ferdia Lennon

Ancient Sicily. Enter GELON: visionary, dreamer, theatre lover. Enter LAMPO: lovesick, jobless, in need of a distraction.

Imprisoned in the quarries of Syracuse, thousands of defeated Athenians hang on by the thinnest of threads.

They’re fading in the baking heat, but not everything is lost: they can still recite lines from Greek tragedy when tempted by Lampo and Gelon with goatskins of wine and scraps of food.

And so an idea is born. Because, after all, you can hate the invaders but still love their poetry.

It’s audacious. It might even be dangerous. But like all the best things in life – love, friendship, art itself – it will reveal the very worst, and the very best, of what humans are capable of.

What could possibly go wrong?

 

What did I think?

Wow!  Glorious Exploits has to be one of the most original and brilliant debuts I have ever read.  It's like nothing I have read before nor expect to read again and I absolutely loved it.

The quarries are home to prisoners of war from Athens and if they don't starve to death they will be baked alive by the sun.  Syracusians Gelon and his friend Lampo come up with a get rich quick scheme to put on a play starring the Athenians, if they survive long enough to perform.  What follows is a heartwarming tale of humanity with a comedic edge that had me rooting for the characters and chuckling at their escapades.

It's almost impossible to describe this book.  It's almost a retelling of Greek myth in the style of Monty Python with an Irish slant.  It also feels like an homage to a few of my favourite comedies.  Imagine the Life of Brian with Del Boy and Rodney mixed with Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer and a bit of Father Ted.  There is a lot of subtle humour and I couldn't help but laugh out loud on a few occasions.

Highly original, humourous and heartfelt, Glorious Exploits is a magnificent debut and a veritable feast for the eyes.  I devoured it and loved every minute of it.  An easy five stars and a highly recommended read. 

Glorious Exploits is longlisted for Swansea University's Dylan Thomas Prize with the shortlist to be announced on 20th March.  Good luck to Ferdia Lennon - I have my fingers crossed that I have read the winning book.

I received a gifted ARC to celebrate the Dylan Thomas Prize longlist and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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Benidorm again (The Benidorm Series Book 2) - Jo Lyons

Benidorm again is the second book in the The Benidorm Series. Follow Connie as she embarks on her first classical tour.

Connie never dreamed she’d get the chance to follow in the footsteps of her beloved late mother, to become a classical singer. But when she attracts jealous comments from the choir, more attention than she would like from the lead tenor and some unwanted scandalous publicity involving the Royal family, she starts to wonder if she is doing the right thing.

Connie soon finds herself caught in a reluctant love triangle with a difficult choice to make - the gorgeous, moody-eyed music producer who was love at first sight, or the exceptionally talented aristocratic millionaire? Determined to follow her heart, she turns to The Dollz and her newly engaged best friends, Ged and Liam, for help, only to find they all have problems of their own.

Who knew touring with the Royal Northern Sinfonia would involve so much drama or so many Royals?

 

What did I think?

I absolutely loved meeting Connie Cooper and The Dollz in Benidorm, Actually so I couldn't wait to read the next book in the series, Benidorm again, to see what happens next and I was not disappointed.  My laughing muscles got a good workout once again at the escapades and drama in this hilarious book.

It's a bittersweet moment for Connie when she is given a starring role in the Northern Sinfonia as it is her dream to follow in her mam's footsteps but her mam isn't here to see Connie shine on stage.  I couldn't feel sad for long though as Jo Lyons shakes her virtual giggle stick and instantly transforms the poignant moment of Connie stepping on stage for the first time into an absolutely brilliant laugh out loud moment that made me almost choke with laughter.  I won't be able to watch Harry Potter again without laughing now!

The Northern Sinfonia tour is filled with drama as the leading man has the chorus girls all aflutter but he only has eyes for Connie.  Connie has to admit that there is amazing chemistry between her and Luke that sets the stage alight but her heart lies with Matteo.

I loved that Connie's new romance from her trip to Benidorm is still going strong, albeit she has only known Matteo for a week before he jets off to work in LA and Connie comes home to join the Northern Sinfonia.  Despite their busy schedules, the couple make plans to meet up in Las Vegas but it's soon hijacked by Connie's friends and before she knows it, her romantic trip to Vegas has been turned into a Barbie and Ken themed group outing.

Connie's friends, Ged and Liam and The Dollz, provide much of the hilarity as their lives are a constant drama show.  I absolutely love The Dollz; their antics make the cast of Geordie Shore look tame!  I really can't wait to read about the Vegas trip so I have book 3, Benidorm Cocktail Hour, already lined up to start reading.

Benidorm again is an absolutely brilliant sequel to a sparkling debut novel.  I didn't think it would be possible to contain even more laughs and drama but Jo Lyons packs the hilarity and high jinks in once again to leave her readers clamouring for more.  A very highly recommended read filled with fun, laughter and drama.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: A Bonsai Tree Called Geoff - John Donoghue

Is he the best cop on the streets?... No.

 

But does he go to work with a positive attitude and put 100% into every incident he attends?... Also No.

 

What he does is write about the funny, unusual, and bizarre jobs he goes to.

 

From arresting a bride at her own wedding, an Aztec style sacrifice, subversion in the ranks, a naked dog thief, an accidental kidnapping, disappointing a nun… these are true tales from the front line of policing, where fact is often stranger than fiction!

 

These are the tales he probably shouldn’t share.

 

What did I think?

You know that kind of wheezing laugh you get when something is just TOO funny?  Well that's what happened to me when I was reading A Bonsai Tree Called Geoff.  This is easily the funniest book I've ever read and what's even more funny is that each chapter is based on a true story.  

We've all had funny things happen to us in work that made us think "you couldn't write it" well John Donoghue has done just that.  Thank goodness he's saved up all of these hilarious stories from his time in the police force and decided to share them with us.  The tales are so funny and bizarre that you really couldn't make them up and I think it makes them even funnier knowing that these things actually happened.

There's a lot of toilet humour in the book and it's all the better for it!  I laughed, chortled, sniggered, belly-laughed and guffawed my way through it and I wouldn't have been surprised to find that I'd laughed so much my sides had split.  Honestly, this book is SO funny that my other half thought I was hyperventilating but I was just laughing ultrasonically.

I would usually say don't read A Bonsai Tree Called Geoff in a public place as you will definitely laugh out loud, however, the more people that know about this book the better - we could all do with a good laugh.  My only disappointment was when I finished the book but I was delighted to find that John Donoghue has a number of books in his back catalogue to keep me entertained while he's writing his next one.

Hilarious don't quite cover it when describing A Bonsai Tree Called Geoff; it's ultra-hilarious and completely unmissable.  Anyone with half a sense of humour will absolutely love this cracking book; I've never laughed so much.  Very highly recommended - buy one for yourself and all of your friends and give your laughing muscles a good workout.

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

My rating:

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About the author:

Having served Queen, King & Country over 40 years in the military and Police, John Donoghue has also been awarded the Chief Constable’s Commendation for Bravery after saving a family of seven (and their dog and cat) from a house fire one Christmas Eve… and routinely been castigated for telling it like it is.

His previous police memoirs include:

Police, Crime & 999

Police, Lies & Alibis

Police, Arrests & Suspects

He has also previously written a humorous book about his military service and travels with his dog around the funny places in Great Britain – described as “Bill Bryson on Magic Mushrooms” when it first came out, it has now been updated and republished as ‘Tails of the Unexpected.’

 

He says: “I am also a public speaker, conducting tongue in cheek presentations about the ‘Ten Life Lessons I’ve learnt in the Police’, and conduct medieval tours in my spare time.”

 

He also enjoys an X (Twitter) following of over 65k - @johndonoghue64

Website: www.policecrime999.com 

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Don't Stir the Goldfish - Eileen Wharton

Meet Amy, who’s juggling a bustling household with five children, a job organising historical re-enactments, and a broken heart caused by her husband’s betrayal and abandonment.

As she navigates the emotional rollercoaster of the break-up, Amy finds solace and guidance in her unique bond with Gupta, her AI confidante. Is artificial intelligence the answer? Can a woman really fall in love with a robot? Or will her manny steal her heart?

 

What did I think?

I love Eileen Wharton's books and, having had a cousin who did actually stir the goldfish with a wooden spoon, I just knew that I would love Don't Stir the Goldfish and indeed I did.  What I didn't expect was to feel such a wealth of emotions for Amy and her brood as I laughed, cried and felt everything in between while I was reading this fabulous book.

Single mother Amy's life is a bit like the circus as she juggles all of her commitments and tries to tame her five children.  Thank goodness she has Gupta (her AI assistant) to add a sense of calm to her busy life.  Amy is approaching her 40th birthday and the book is set out as a sort of diary as she counts down to the big day.  A lot can happen in a year and it certainly does for Amy.

This is easily the funniest book I have read this year but it's also the most poignant.  I totally expected to laugh out loud (and I did many times) but I didn't expect to cry too.  I know this is a book I will read again as I loved all of the characters and I was thoroughly entertained by all of their shenanigans.

Laugh out loud hilarious and tearjerkingly poignant, Don't Stir the Goldfish is a book I will be recommending for a long time.  It's completely unmissable and it's an easy five stars from me.

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

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The Burning Stones - Antti Tuomainen

Saunas, love and a ladleful of murder… 

A cold-blooded killer strikes at the hottest moment: the new head of a sauna-stove company is murdered … in the sauna. Who has turned up the temperature and burned him to death? 

The evidence points in the direction of Anni Korpinen – top salesperson and the victim’s successor at Steam Devil. 

And as if hitting middle-age, being in a marriage that has lost its purpose, and struggling with work weren’t enough, Anni realizes that she must be quicker than both the police and the murderer to uncover who is behind it all – before it’s too late… 

 

What did I think?

Antti Tuomainen has a very unique sense of humour and it completely shines through in his writing.  Mixing crime with humour in a Scandi setting, it's almost like a genre in its own right as there is nothing else quite like it.

The Burning Stones is set in a sauna-stove company where it would appear that one of the employees will kill to get promoted.  As she is the favourite to get promoted, and the evidence is pointing towards her, Anni is the prime suspect and the police have a grudge against her family so they don't want to listen to her side of the story.  Anni needs to catch the killer before she is arrested for the crime herself.

It's a very race against the clock sort of book as Anni attempts to identify the killer before the police gather enough evidence to arrest her.  Speaking of races...I actually snorted out loud at Anni's husband watching old Formula 1 races and discussing the result with his friends as if the race had just happened.  It's that sort of subtle humour that is sprinkled throughout the book and it made me laugh when I least expected it.

The Burning Stones is a fun crime caper that both gripped and amused me.  You definitely need a good sense of humour to read it and I can totally see this following in the footsteps of Antti Tuomainen's previous novels and being adapted for TV.  If you're looking for something a bit different to read then I would recommend The Burning Stones.

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

My rating:

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About the author:

Finnish Antti Tuomainen was an award-winning copywriter when he made his literary debut in 2007 as a suspense author. In 2011, his third novel, The Healer, was awarded the Clue Award  for Best Finnish Crime Novel and shortlisted for the Glass Key Award. Tuomainen was one of  the first to challenge the Scandinavian crime-genre formula, and his poignant, dark and  hilarious The Man Who Died became an international bestseller, shortlisting for the Petrona and Last Laugh Awards and now a Finnish TV series. Palm Beach, Finland (2018) and Little Siberia (2019) have both been adapted for the screen, airing shortly, and also shortlisted for the  Capital Crime/Amazon Publishing Readers Awards, the Last Laugh Award and the CWA International Dagger, and winning the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel. The international bestselling Rabbit Factor trilogy is filming now for Amazon Studios, starring Steve  Carell. Antti lives in Helsinki with his wife. 

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Cat Society - Ray Sadri

Cat Society is a witty and bonkers story of life and politics in Westminster – reimagining the debates, events and headlines of recent years had the world been run by cats. A lot changes. A lot doesn’t.

The country is on the brink of bankruptcy, and backbencher Douglas Schnitty is disappointed with the thousands of homeless cats sleeping by the bins. He gets frustrated with higher powers who only seem to care about their own interests and preserving the country’s finances.

He schmoozes and sabotages his way through the political elite, from assisting the bombastic Hector Perp Pahpousson to disrupting the plans of the Prime Minister. Can his conscience save him, and the slum cats, as events spiral out of control?

***

The Westminster Cats are here! And if you like cats and politics with a dose of humour, this comic novel is for you. Check out the reviews:

“I’m sure most cat owners have looked over at their sometimes mysterious, scheming-looking furry friend and at some point quietly wondered whether they’re planning on taking over the world. This “claws out” paw-litical drama takes that idea and runs with it. From how the Government spends its British Mews and interacts with journalists at The Meowington Times, to its rocky relationship with the Global Cats Alliance, it’s a hilarious and somewhat realistic insight into what life could look like if our beloved felines did take the reins.”

 

What did I think?

With the way that people pander to their dogs, I've always said that dogs will be our overlords one day, but maybe it's the cats that are biding their time.  In this hugely entertaining and ingenious novel, Ray Sadri imagines what would happen if the cats were in charge.

You would think it was all highly imaginative fiction but, rather embarrassingly for us Brits, the plot is inspired by some true stories.  Who could ever forget Labour's plans to pledge £300,000 to pay 10,000 new police officers a salary of £30 per annum?  I'm not a great fan of politics but I love the way that Ray Sadri has taken some real events and made them more entertaining by amplifying, or perhaps just highlighting, the absolutely craziness of our politicians.

While the country is overrun with homeless cats, politicians feast on fountains of cream, sleep for 18 hours a day and love their gold décor as much as Donald Trump.  The backbenchers are crying out for the Prime Minister to take action but she has a lot on her plate with backstabbing and treachery afoot, as well as an underhand plan to topple the PM and take Britain out of the Global Cats Alliance.

Amusing, entertaining and very insightful, Cat Society is a tongue-in-cheek look at politics over the last few years and I'm not sure whether the book or the true story is more bonkers.

Many thanks to the author for sending me a copy to read and review; and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

BLOG TOUR: The Stand-Up Mam - Kay Wilson

Georgie Chancellor has worked hard to have a perfect life, and it is, on the outside. She has a beautiful home, successful husband and two wonderful children. Everything she dreamed about as a girl is hers. Not that she ever thinks about her past, anymore.

But when her family enters her into a stand-up comedy competition. Georgie finds on stage, only the truth will do.

Encouraged by Jaz, her handsome mentor, she riffs about her family and what life is really like behind the facade. Audiences love it, and Georgie's star begins to rise.

Will stand-up success destroy everything she has created?

 

What did I think?

As soon as I saw 'Mam' in the title, I knew I had to read The Stand-Up Mam to support a local author.  Kay Wilson's debut novel is fabulous and a lot darker than you'd expect from the title, but it's filled with heart and north-east wit.

Georgie Chancellor feels invisible; she's like a house-slave for her family, preparing meals and doing laundry without a word of thanks or appreciation.  It's quite a surprise when her family enter her into a stand-up comedy competition and I don't think they expected her to do so well and the joke is on them when it takes her out of the home and into the comedy clubs.

It's cathartic for Georgie to vent her frustration on stage, with her family life providing most of her material.  Finally, somebody is listening to her and she can reveal her dark heart in all its nasty glory.  As the competition progresses, so does the drama in Georgie's life and she has even more to talk about on stage.  Her family are so self-centred and disinterested in what's going on with Georgie, other than how it affects them, so they have no idea what Georgie talks about on stage.

I loved seeing Georgie's confidence grow throughout the book and I was torn between thinking she should be honest with her family and thinking that it serves them right for taking her for granted.  Set in comedy clubs, there is obviously a sprinkling of humour but there's a whole lot of drama when Georgie rencounters a face from her past.

Powerful, inspirational and very entertaining, The Stand-Up Mam not only encourages you to follow your dreams but also to tell someone you appreciate them.  I loved it and would definitely recommend giving it a read.

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

About the author:

Kay Wilson lives in South Tyneside. Her novel features many of her own experiences of stand-up comedy - a bucket list ambition she achieved after surviving a near-fatal brain haemorrhage.

She has worked in PR for 30 years and won the New Writing North/Journal Flash Fiction competition. She has had short stories published in various anthologies.

"I would love my book to empower women to make each day the best it can be for them and, it might sound trite, to challenge themselves and follow their dreams."

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