BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: Fifteen Minutes - Amanda Prowse

‘One last touch, one last word, one last I love you…’ Fifteen Minutes – the new novella from Amanda Prowse that will take you on the wildest emotional adventure.

It gets us all in the end, time.

What if I told you that time was not as unyielding as you might have believed? What if I told you it was in fact a fluid, bendable thing and that there are gaps in it, if you know where to look.

Interested? You should be.

What if I told you that the makers of time made a small error, an oversight if you will that allows us to give time back.

Fifteen minutes to be precise - gifted to the most deserving, where they get to spend precious time with someone they have lost.

A chance to right a wrong, ask that burning question or maybe just be held, one last time…

I guess the question is, who would you choose or more importantly when?

 

What did I think?

Amanda Prowse never fails to make me cry with her incredibly emotional novels and if I thought I was getting away with it by reading a novella, I was sorely mistaken.  Fifteen Minutes is packed with emotion and these beautiful stories of loss and grief are both poignant and uplifting.

It's such a lovely idea to be given the gift of a precious 15 minutes with a lost love one.  This is a gift that Chen gives to six unforgettable characters and I felt very honoured to share the experience with them.

Every single story gave me a lump in my throat and at least half of them made me cry.  I'm even getting a little tear in my eye just thinking about them now.  It's very thought-provoking and powerful as it made me think about all of the little moments that pass us by and, as we can't all meet Chen, you never know when you might get the chance to say 'I love you' again.

It's impossible to read Fifteen Minutes without considering with whom you would choose to spend a final 15 minutes, if you were given the chance, but it also reminds us to cherish the time we do have with our loved ones.  A very highly recommended read and an easy five stars for an unmissable and emotional Amanda Prowse novella.

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

My rating:

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Amazon

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Six Mile Store - A. M. Belsey

SOMETHING UGLY’S WAITIN’ FOR YOU

Honey’s working weekends down at the Six Mile, trying to figure her life out. Her boyfriend’s about to leave the country, her college advisor hates her guts, her momma ain’t listening, and she’s got this cop breathing down her neck just about all the time.

She finds a friend in her new colleague Lisa, but when one of their regular customers turns up dead, everything goes sideways faster than a greased hog at the county fair…

 

What did I think?

Six Mile Store is a novella with 113 pages so it's a very quick read that I read in one sitting and I really enjoyed it.

The store is in the middle of nowhere but there's a lot going on with the characters to really draw the reader in.  Through the eyes of Honey, who works at the store, we peek into her life and encounter a wealth of colourful characters.  It reads like an episode of a bingeworthy TV series with vibes of Breaking Bad and Hillbilly Elegy.

It's very character driven and I was invested in Honey's story but also intrigued by the other quirky characters.  I mean what does Billy Wayne do with all that toilet paper and who is this Lisa woman who seems to turn up out of the blue to start managing the store?  There may not be many pages in the book but there's a lot going on and it is very addictive reading.

Atmospheric, gritty and dark, Six Mile Store is a compulsive and unusual book that shocked and entertained me.  It's well worth a read if you're looking for something a bit different.

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

My rating:

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Waterstones

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BLOG TOUR: The Clockmaker - Roxan Burley

When Elenora Grey inherits her late aunt’s flower shop in the sleepy Devon town of Totnes, she hopes for nothing more than a quiet fresh start. But Time & Thyme is no ordinary florist. Beneath the ticking clock of East Gate Arch, strange things begin to stir — flowers bloom out of season, a cash register writes its own orders, and upstairs, behind a locked door, is a man who shouldn’t exist.

He calls himself the clockmaker. Calm, unreadable, and impossibly out of time, he knows more about the shop — and Elenora’s past — than he ever admits. As Elenora rebuilds her life from the ashes of fear and regret, she’s drawn into a world where grief takes root and time itself can heal… or haunt.

Tender, atmospheric, and quietly magical, The Clockmaker is a story about second chances, the ghosts we carry, and the courage it takes to let time move forward again.

 

What did I think?

The Clockmaker is a wonderful novella that is quick and easy to read.  It may be a short book with just 57 pages but it is incredibly poignant and heartwarming.

It's such a lovely story of a niece inheriting her aunt's flower shop and Elenora feels as if her aunt is still there when strange things start to happen.  It's a bit like an Enid Blyton book for adults with a magical cash register and a mysterious tenant in an upstairs room.

I can't really say much more about the book without spoiling it for others but it is definitely well worth a read.  I loved it and would recommend it if you're looking for a quick and poignant read.

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:

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: Mimeograph - Eira A. Ekre

What if the future isn’t malfunctioning... it’s unfolding exactly as predicted?

Talia spends her days untangling the strange objects produced by Mimeographs, machines that seem to know more about their owners than they should. But when one of them prints an anomaly that can’t be explained, her entire world begins to collapse. Faced with the incomprehensible, Talia must confront the possibility that the Mimes aren’t malfunctioning at all. They’re evolving.

Mimeograph is a haunting tale of unravelling, desire colliding with dread, and a future that may already be written.

 

What did I think?

I really enjoyed reading Mimeograph and I was surprised to learn that the author is Swedish as her English is word perfect.  It's a short novella at 61 pages long, which makes it perfect for reading in one sitting and also great for reading again to re-experience this unusual story.

Just re-reading the first line gives me goosebumps and sets the scene for the story that is about to unfold.  I'm not going to share the line or the plot in my review as it will spoil it for others but it's certainly a highly original idea that will provoke lively debate.  I think it would be a wonderful book for book clubs to discuss.

Mind-bending and thought-provoking, Mimeograph is an unforgettable book that stays with you long after turning the final page.  The L'il Factory hardback is a stunning edition that is as mesmerising inside as out.  A very highly recommended read.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon

About the author:

Eira A. Ekre is a Swedish writer and narrative designer who has worked in the game and tech industry since the early 2010s. She runs the studio Might & Delight, whose cozy adventure Twinkleby launches in September 2025. Her award-winning YA audio drama Klara, färdiga..., created with the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, was named “Podcast of the Year” and distributed to teens across Sweden.

Ekre’s work blends the fantastical with the everyday to explore identity, art and technology. She writes in both English and Swedish and teaches narrative design nationwide.

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BLOG TOUR: Brain Fruit - Stephen Oram

Can empathy survive the next stage of evolution?

Nurtured by the neural networks of a bee, a brain fruit is born. To become a symbiotic trioid and continue the evolutionary crawl upwards they need to combine with an insect bug. And they need to deal with those that would destroy the givers of life. 

Stephen Oram’s zoefuturist story explores the fragility of emerging relationships - how we welcome, how we trust and how we keep becoming.

A mind-bending, bio-digital fable that pulses with poetic strangeness. Oram’s Brain Fruit is daring, disorienting, and deeply human.

 

What did I think?

I'm maybe not sure what I've read or even that I picked up the main message, but I can't stop thinking about Brain Fruit since I turned the final page.

It's a short novella at just 44 pages long but it is definitely mind-bending as the synopsis states and it's incredibly thought-provoking.  The writing is extremely lyrical as Stephen Oram draws the reader into the story and I had amazing visualisations of the scenes in my head as I was reading.

For me, Brain Fruit is about how we live and die together, how we destroy the environment through lack of care and knowledge, how we overlook and judge beings on appearance, and (at the risk of sounding like a politician) how we are better and stronger together.

Intelligent, imaginative and peculiar, I enjoyed Brain Fruit and think everyone will get something different out of reading it.  It's strange and unusual but it's so beautifully written and completely unforgettable.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: Burns - David Polfeldt

In a universe where silence reigns and loneliness is the default setting, Burns, a search droid with a penchant for existential musings, embarks on a cosmic odyssey to find life among the stars.

 

What did I think?

Burns is a book that definitely takes a huge leap out of my comfort zone as I don't usually read sci-fi but I really enjoyed it.  It's a short novella at 52 pages long and it's a quick and worthwhile read.

It is set in space with a search droid called Burns that is searching for life.  The story opens when Burns' dog dies and this is an event that Burns relives every 246.7 years when its system reboots.

The loneliness of a search droid is heart wrenching at times and even though Burns isn't human, a solitary existence is difficult to cope with so I could completely understand the creation of a canine companion.

I loved the intelligence of Burns and how it tried to beat the system.  It's very thought-provoking and made me question "Who am I to say that a machine doesn't have feelings?"

Wonderfully written to appeal to both sci-fi fans and readers new to the genre, Burns is an imaginative and heartwarming tale that surprised and delighted me.  A highly recommended read for anyone looking for something a little bit different.

I received a gifted hardback 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

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The King's Spy (The Rebellion Series Book 1) - Mark Turnbull

Northamptonshire.

14th June 1645.

The Battle of Naseby is set to decide the outcome of the civil war in England.

The armies of King Charles I face those of Parliament and its untested New Model Army. Yet amidst the carnage, an intensely personal battle takes place between two men.

Captain Maxwell Walker is a royalist cavalry officer, widower and father. Loyal and brave, but haunted by his grief, Maxwell thirsts for revenge. His life has never been the same since his encounter with the parliamentarian Gervase Harper, a man whose ruthless streak sees him prosecute the war with vigour. Harper cuts down anyone who gets in his way. Maxwell’s wife was no exception.

The outcome of Naseby causes Maxwell to be tasked with a royal rescue mission. The King’s most personal possession must be retrieved. His cypher would allow Parliament to decode captured royal correspondence and that would deal a major blow in the propaganda war.

The soldier must play the spy.

His actions, however, earn him the enmity of both sides. The hunter becomes the hunted.

Facing a murder charge, as well as a great siege, Maxwell makes a discovery that might just save himself and the King’s remaining cavalry.

However, all of this rests upon his next encounter with Gervase Harper.

 

What did I think?

I love historical fiction and I have been choosing to read more books set during the English Civil War so I was eager to read The King's Spy and I was not disappointed.  It's a period of history I used to know very little about, but my knowledge is gradually increasing thanks to wonderful authors such as Mark Turnbull bringing the period to life.

The King's Spy is a 125 page novella but there is so much going on that it reads like a full length novel.  There's not just war on the battlefield, there's a personal battle for the main character as he comes back into contact with the man who killed his family.

The writing is so vivid that it drew me into the story and I experienced all of the sights and sounds of the Civil War.  I loved the revenge story that adds depth to the characters and made me want to read more.  I often feel unfulfilled by novellas but Mark Turnbull has got the balance right between writing a satisfying conclusion and leaving the reader thirsty for more.

Filled with adventure and danger, The King's Spy is an incredibly entertaining and impressive novella.  It's a wonderful start to an exciting new historical fiction series and one I'd definitely recommend.

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

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

Three Pint Problems (The Accidental Detective Book 3) - Melvyn Small

Doctor John Watson has reached into his archives to treat us to three feature-length adventures. In The Darlington Substitution, The Devil’s Advocate and Murder on the Teesside Princess we see Boro’s greatest detective at the height of his wisecracking, foulmouthed, law disregarding and deductive brilliance.

If the devil is in the detail, he has nowhere to hide.

 

What did I think?

I absolutely love Melvyn Small's Sherlock Holmes stories and Three Pint Problems has a hat trick of stories that delighted and entertained me.  This Sherlock Holmes may have the same deductive reasoning as the original but he's been brought completely up-to-date by adding razor sharp wit and a Teesside postcode.

The three stories are all brilliant and I couldn't pick a favourite out from among them as I loved them all.  They read perfectly as standalones but with the same characters throughout, it's good to follow their lives too.  It's definitely a book I would read again as this is actually the second time I've read The Darlington Substitution, as it was previously published as a novella, and I enjoyed it just as much the second time round.

The stories are told from the perspective of Doctor John Watson and they're sharp, clever and incredibly entertaining.  I love how the spirit of the original Sherlock Holmes has been perfectly encapsulated and reinvented as a witty, sweary Boro lad.  Melvyn Small's writing is fantastic, creating imaginative problems that only the brilliant mind of Sherlock Holmes can solve.

I'm not usually a fan of short stories but I'm a huge fan of Boro's Sherlock Holmes and I could (and will) read these over and over again.  Melvyn Small also pays homage to Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes with several references to the original stories, for example Boro Holmes drinks pints of Engineer's Thumb in The Twisted Lip which are nods to two of Conan Doyle's short stories.  There are probably loads more references hidden in the stories like Easter Eggs for Sherlock Holmes fans to discover.

I really can't recommend Three Pint Problems highly enough; it's funny, entertaining and absolutely brilliant.  It's a book not to be missed and worthy of every single one of the five stars I have rated it.

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

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

BLOG TOUR: The Curious Dispatch of Daniel Costello (The Stonebridge Mysteries 1) - Chris McDonald

Wedding bells are chiming in the idyllic, coastal town of Stonebridge. For Sam and Emily, it should be the happiest day of their lives. But, on the morning of the ceremony, the best man is found dead. The police quickly write his death off as a tragic accident, but something doesn’t seem right to wedding guest and groomsman, Adam Whyte.

Armed with an encyclopaedic, but ultimately ridiculous knowledge of television detective shows and an unwarranted confidence in his own abilities, Adam and his best friend (and willing Watson) Colin, set out to uncover what actually happened to Daniel Costello.

What did I think?

I'm a huge fan of Chris McDonald's DI Erika Piper series so when I heard that he was writing a cosy crime series I couldn't wait to read it, or in this case listen to it.  The Curious Dispatch of Daniel Costello, narrated by Stephen Armstrong, is the first novella in the Stonebridge Mysteries series and it's a cracker!  It's quite a short audiobook at only 2 hours 56 minutes long so it's very easy to listen to it in one sitting, which is just as well as it's impossible to stop once you start anyway!

There's a wedding in Stonebridge but the groom and best man appear to be at loggerheads on the night before the wedding.  When best man Daniel doesn't turn up for breakfast the next day, groomsman Adam goes looking for him and is shocked to find Daniel dead in his bed.  The police are called and declare that there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding Daniel's premature demise, however, some things don't add up for Adam.  Being a fan of TV detective shows, Adam enlists his friend Colin to help him investigate Daniel's death.

A bit of a couch potato, Adam is such an unlikely amateur sleuth but when he dons his metaphorical deerstalker he proves that he really does know his stuff.  Although some things are different from TV in real life, Adam knows a suspicious death when he sees one.  Adam and Colin relish their roles as a modern day Holmes and Watson and I love how they are so meticulous in their search for evidence.  Having been friends since primary school, Adam and Colin are a great pairing and I love how well they work together.

The narration is fantastic, with Stephen Armstrong's dulcet tones and lyrical Northern Irish accent bringing the book to life.  What I found quite stunning about the narration is that the narrator doesn't attempt to do different voices for each character, it's simply read with such vivacity to entertain and enthrall the listener.  Another thing I loved was the quirky and often humourous chapter names that set the scene for the chapter ahead.  One in particular had me laughing out loud and I found myself looking forward to new chapters to see what ingenious title Chris McDonald would come up with next.

Hugely entertaining, The Curious Dispatch of Daniel Costello is a fun, addictive and riveting whodunnit that captivated me from start to finish.  Chris McDonald's stupendous writing and Stephen Armstrong's wonderfully entertaining narration make this audiobook another winner from Isis Audio.

Many thanks to Isis Audio for sending me the audiobook to review; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

The Curious Dispatch of Daniel Costello is narrated by Stephen Armstrong and is out on 1st January on Audible and other trade download platforms, on Isis Audio's digital library platform ulibrary, and on physical CD and MP3 both in libraries and from Isis Audio's website The Reading House. https://thereadinghouse.co.uk/

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BLOG TOUR: Twelve Dates 'Till Christmas - Jennifer C. Wilson

Callum and Lexie are perfect for each other - at least, that's what everyone tells them. But they're just good friends, aren't they? And neither wants to ruin the solid friendship that's treated them so well since university.

But when an old school friend of Callum's asks Lexie for a date, and passions overflow on a work night out, could it be the trigger to show each of them what they have been missing out on all this time?

With twelve weeks until Christmas, that's a lot of opportunity for romance - and for misunderstandings...

What did I think?

I already know that Jennifer C. Wilson is an amazing author as I love her Kindred Spirits historical fiction series so I couldn't wait to read her contemporary romance debut, Twelve Dates 'Till Christmas.  

It's a 99 page novella so it's easy to read in one sitting, especially when I was desperate to find out the answer to the underlying question in the book: will they/won't they?  Callum and Lexie are like a comfortable pair of slippers to each other, they are friends with a sort of benefit as they can both count on each other to be their plus one for any occasion.  They are clearly perfect for each other but their friendship is too good to risk...but some risks are worth taking.  So will they/won't they?  You'll just have to read it for yourself to find out!

Oh I just loved this book!  There is so much entertainment packed into this novella and I enjoyed every single minute.  There are misunderstandings, pangs of jealousy, fun party games, a little help from friends and the magic of romance which results in an adorable story that warmed the cockles of my heart.

As the nights draw in and sunshine becomes a distant memory, Twelve Dates 'Till Christmas is just the tonic to beat the winter blues.

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

My rating:

Purchase link: https://mybook.to/12Dates

About the author:

Jennifer C. Wilson stalks dead people (usually monarchs, mostly Mary Queen of Scots and Richard III). Inspired by childhood visits to as many castles and historical sites her parents could find, and losing herself in their stories (not to mention quite often the castles themselves!), at least now her daydreams make it onto the page. 

After returning to the north-east of England for work, she joined a creative writing class, and has been filling notebooks ever since. Jennifer won North Tyneside Libraries’ Story Tyne short story competition in 2014, and in 2015, her debut novel, Kindred Spirits: Tower of London was published by Crooked Cat Books. The full series was re-released by Darkstroke in January 2020. 

Jennifer is a founder and host of the award-winning North Tyneside Writers’ Circle, and has been running writing workshops in North Tyneside since 2015. She also publishes historical fiction novels with Ocelot Press. She lives in Whitley Bay, and is very proud of her two-inch view of the North Sea. 

 

Social Media Links – 

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/inkjunkie1984 

Blog: https://jennifercwilsonwriter.wordpress.com/ 

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

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jennifer-C-Wilson/e/B018UBP1ZO/ 

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Wish You Were Dead - Peter James

Wish You Were Dead is a Quick Read short story from bestselling author Peter James.

Roy Grace and his family have left Sussex behind for a week’s holiday in France. The website promised a grand house, but when they arrive the place is very different from the pictures. And it soon becomes clear that their holiday nightmare is only just beginning.

An old enemy of Roy, a lowlife criminal he had put behind bars, is now out of jail – and out for revenge. He knows where Roy and his family have gone on holiday. Of course he does. He’s been hacking their emails – and they are in the perfect spot for him to pay Roy back . . . 

What did I think?

I'm way behind with my reading of the fantastic Roy Grace series but I've wanted to try a Quick Reads book for quite some time.  So as 2021 is the 15th anniversary of the Quick Reads programme, which makes reading entertaining and accessible for less confident readers, I thought it was an excellent time to try one. 

At 124 pages long, Wish You Were Dead is a fantastic novella that possibly comes after book 17 in the Roy Grace series.  As I've only read two so far (shocking, I know), this was quite a jump in Roy Grace's personal story for me, however, the main storyline is completely gripping and thrilling which makes it very easy to read the book in one sitting.

Although the Roy Grace series is so very well established now, I don't think readers will feel terribly disadvantaged if they jump into the series at this stage.  This little intriguing insight into the Roy Grace series is highly likely to make new readers want to discover more of the series and that's an absolutely fabulous result for the wonderful Quick Reads initiative.  

I thoroughly enjoyed Wish You Were Dead and it's given me the nudge I needed to tackle my leaning tower of Roy Grace novels.

I received a gifted ARC to read and review; all opinions are my own.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

BLOG TOUR: The Curious Dispatch of Daniel Costello (The Stonebridge Mysteries 1) - Chris McDonald

Wedding bells are chiming in the idyllic, coastal town of Stonebridge. For Sam and Emily, it should be the happiest day of their lives. But, on the morning of the ceremony, the best man is found dead. The police quickly write his death off as a tragic accident, but something doesn’t seem right to wedding guest and groomsman, Adam Whyte.

Armed with an encyclopaedic, but ultimately ridiculous knowledge of television detective shows and an unwarranted confidence in his own abilities, Adam and his best friend (and willing Watson) Colin, set out to uncover what actually happened to Daniel Costello.

 

The Curious Dispatch of Daniel Costello is the first in the Stonebridge Mysteries series of cosy crime novellas.

What did I think?

I'm a huge fan of Chris McDonald's DI Erika Piper series so when I heard that he was writing a cosy crime series I couldn't wait to read it.  The Curious Dispatch of Daniel Costello (what a great book title) is the first novella in the Stonebridge Mysteries series and it's a cracker!  It's a quick read at less than 90 minutes so very easy to read in one sitting, which is just as well as it's impossible to put down anyway!

There's a wedding in Stonebridge but the groom and best man appear to be at loggerheads on the night before the wedding.  When best man Daniel doesn't turn up for breakfast the next day, groomsman Adam goes looking for him and is shocked to find Daniel dead in his bed.  The police are called and declare that there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding Daniel's premature demise, however, some things don't add up for Adam.  Being a fan of TV detective shows, Adam enlists his friend Colin to help him investigate Daniel's death.

A bit of a couch potato, Adam is such an unlikely amateur sleuth but when he dons his metaphorical deerstalker he proves that he really does know his stuff.  Although some things are different from TV in real life, Adam knows a suspicious death when he sees one.  Adam and Colin relish their roles as a modern day Holmes and Watson and I love how they are so meticulous in their search for evidence.  Having been friends since primary school, Adam and Colin are a great pairing and I love how well they work together.

Another thing I loved was the quirky and often humourous chapter names that set the scene for the chapter ahead.  One in particular had me laughing out loud and I found myself looking forward to new chapters to see what ingenious title Chris McDonald would come up with next.

Hugely entertaining, The Curious Dispatch of Daniel Costello is a fun, addictive and riveting whodunnit.  Chris McDonald's tremendous talent bursts from every single page of this magnificent novella.  A quick but quality read.

Thank you to Red Dog Press for sending me an ARC to read and review; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Red Dog Press

Amazon

About the author:

Originally hailing from the north coast of Northern Ireland and now residing in South Manchester, Chris McDonald has always been a reader. At primary school, The Hardy Boys inspired his love of adventure before his reading world was opened up by Chuck Palahniuk and the gritty world of crime. A Wash of Black is his first attempt at writing a book. He came up with the initial idea whilst feeding his baby in the middle of the night, which may not be the best thing to admit, considering the content. He is a fan of 5-a-side football, heavy metal and dogs. Whispers in the Dark is the second instalment in the DI Erika Piper series, and Chris is currently working on his latest series, The Stonebridge Mysteries, to be published by Red Dog Press in 2021. 

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BLOG TOUR: Six Feet Under (The Terry Bell Mysteries Book 4) - Colin Garrow

I hadn't come across the Terry Bell Mysteries by Colin Garrow until I received the damppebbles blog tours invitation for Six Feet Under, the fourth book.  Colin Garrow very kindly offered to provide copies of the previous books to anyone signing up to the tour and I was delighted to accept.  You can read my reviews of Death on a Dirty Afternoon, A Long Cool Glass of Murder and The Jansson Tapes here on my blog (click the link in the book name or find them in the Index) and scroll down to read my review of Six Feet Under.

 

A murder victim, a deserted airfield, a sinister project. Can Terry untangle the mystery before someone else dies?

Asked to investigate the death of a building contractor, taxi-driver and amateur sleuth Terry Bell thinks the dead man’s widow may be wasting her money. But when the trail leads to an old airfield and a brace of brutal thugs, he begins to wonder what they’re trying to hide. Tracking down one of the builder’s former workmates, Terry finds him unwilling to answer questions. When the man is beaten up, the canny cabbie gets a visit from his favourite detective inspector. But DI Charis Brown and her latest sidekick seem determined not to get involved. Until the man is attacked again… 

In this murder/mystery series set on England's northeast coast, Six Feet Under is book #4 in the Terry Bell Mystery series.

What did I think?

Having binge-read the first 3 books in the fantastic Terry Bell Mystery series, I timed it perfectly for the release of book 4 so I could go straight onto Six Feet Under.  I've loved every single book in this outstanding series but in Six Feet Under it feels like the danger levels have been ramped up for Terry and his focus is fully on sleuthing rather than driving his taxi around Whitley Bay, which is supposed to be Terry's real job.

I love the chemistry between Terry and his girlfriend Carol, who tags along like Watson to Terry's Holmes.  Carol also works in the taxi office but more often than not she finds herself on the run from the bad guys when Terry's investigating stirs up trouble. Carol deserves a medal for not only tolerating but being part of Terry's escapades.  I love the way the banter bounces back and forth between them and some of Terry's witty retorts are comedy genius.  For any readers struggling with the Geordie words, Colin Garrow has included a little Geordie Glossary at the end of the book and I loved this added touch, even though I'm a North Easterner so Ah divvent need it like.

The storyline in Six Feet Under is absolutely superb and had me on the edge of my seat, racing through the pages as fast as I possibly could.  I really don't know how Colin Garrow packs so much into such a small number of pages; Six Feet Under comprises only 210 pages in the paperback, the shortest book of the series so far, but so much happens that you feel like you're reading a full length novel.  I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Colin Garrow is the master of quality over quantity, writing fantastic books without fluff.

The whole Terry Bell Mystery series is binge-worthy reading, with Six Feet Under being an absolute cracker of a mystery.  Although you could read Six Feet Under as a standalone, I wholeheartedly recommend reading the whole series to fully understand and appreciate the characters.  Six Feet Under is absolutely brilliant; it's Geordie mystery with mirth and very highly recommended.

Many thanks to the author and damppebbles blog tours for sending me an ebook to review; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Smashwords

About the author:

True-born Geordie Colin Garrow grew up in a former mining town in Northumberland and has worked in a plethora of professions including taxi driver, antiques dealer, drama facilitator, theatre director and fish processor, and has occasionally masqueraded as a pirate. 

Colin has published three stage plays, six adventures for middle grade readers, two books of short stories, the Watson Letters series and the Terry Bell Mysteries. His short stories have appeared in several literary mags, including: SN Review, Flash Fiction Magazine, The Grind, A3 Review, Inkapture and Scribble Magazine. 

These days he lives in a humble cottage in North East Scotland where he writes novels, stories. poems and the occasional song.

Social Media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/colingarrow

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

Website (adults): https://colingarrow.org/

Website (childrens): https://colingarrowbooks.com/

Website (The Watson Letters): https://thewatsonletters.com/

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

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/colingarrow

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B014Z5DZD4

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