BLOG TOUR: The Colour of Thunder - Suzanne Harrison

One small island, six troubled lives, and the storm of the century is on its way.

In one of the world’s most vibrant international cities, present day Hong Kong, the lives of six people become irreversibly intertwined. The past is catching up with those running from it, while the futures of others hangs dangerously in the balance. But who knows the most? And what will they do to keep it that way?

What did I think?

The Colour of Thunder captured my attention from the very start with a murder at an orphanage in China.  The story then moves on to Hong Kong and the reader is introduced to a multitude of colourful characters, all the while wondering how this would all link back to the first chapter, which it does beautifully when all is revealed later on.

The synopsis mentions six troubled lives and as each character was introduced, they brought their own little backstories with them.  I made a note of nine characters as I was reading, as I wasn't sure who would turn out to be pivotal to the story, and I'm glad I jotted them down as I sometimes got confused as to who was who.  Five of the main characters are vividly drawn, multi-dimensional women who are linked together by businessman Johnny Humphries and the intertwining of their lives makes for compelling reading.  

There isn't just the mystery of the murder at the orphanage to unravel, there's also the mystery of the kidnapping and ransom of Madeline Chung.  I loved this tantalizing thread weaving through the story and it really held my interest and it's particularly personal to one of the characters.  Two mysteries in one kept me rapidly turning pages, especially as the stories ebbed and flowed like the tide and I couldn't wait for the direction to change so I could unravel more of each tale.

Very well plotted and wonderfully atmospheric, The Colour of Thunder is a very intriguing and compelling mystery set against a vividly painted backdrop of Hong Kong.  Suzanne Harrison's writing is filled with so much suspense and intrigue that I couldn't tear my eyes from the page until I had read every single word.  It's very addictive reading and I really enjoyed my virtual trip to Hong Kong from the comfort of my sofa.

Thank you to Legend Press for sending me an ARC to read and review for the blog tour; all opinions are my own.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

About the author:

Suzanne Harrison is an Australian journalist and Editor who has lived in Hong Kong since 1999. She currently works freelance writing lifestyle and news features for the South China Morning Post.

Twitter: @suzannej123

Instagram: @suzannejs.455 

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BLOG TOUR: The Diabolical Bones (The Brontë Mysteries) - Bella Ellis

 

It's Christmas 1845 and Haworth is in the grip of a freezing winter.

Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë are rather losing interest in detecting until they hear of a shocking discovery: the bones of a child have been found interred within the walls of a local house, Top Withens Hall, home to the scandalous and brutish Bradshaw family.

When the sisters set off to find out more, they are confronted with an increasingly complex and sinister case, which leads them into the dark world of orphanages, and onto the trail of other lost, and likely murdered children. After another local boy goes missing, Charlotte, Emily and Anne vow to find him before it's too late.

But in order to do so, they must face their most despicable and wicked adversary yet - one that would not hesitate to cause them the gravest of harm . . .

What did I think?

After admiring the absolutely gorgeous cover, I squealed with delight when seeing one of my favourite things printed on the endpapers: a map!  It's not just for decoration either; I found it really useful to refer back to the map as the story progresses to put into perspective how far the Brontës must travel (mainly on foot) to get to their various destinations.  I have to share a photo of the endpapers as they are so fabulous.

Although I have read The Vanished Bride, the first book in The Brontë Mysteries series, you can definitely read The Diabolical Bones as a standalone because other than the continuation of the characters' lives, it's a completely separate mystery.  With a poignant undertone, the story begins in 1852 with Charlotte, the last remaining Brontë sibling, reminiscing about a mysterious case in Christmas 1845 that she and her siblings investigated.

It is a freezing December night when the bones of a young child are discovered hidden in a chimney breast in Top Withens Hall.  Rather fortuitous for our nosy spinsters, their brother Branwell is friends with the owner's son which allows them to gain access to the house.  The owner is reluctant to let the sisters see the bones as he wants to bury them on his land but this doesn't deter the sisters as they are determined to identify the child.  When another child goes missing, it seems like something sinister is afoot in Yorkshire.

What an absolutely brilliant mystery!  I'm not going to say anything about the plot for fear of inadvertently spoiling it for others, other than to say it was very well done indeed.  Neither fast nor slow paced, I found the pacing to be just perfect to allow me to be fully consumed by the life of the Brontës.  

The sisters are just reaching out to publishers with their poetry and Bella Ellis includes two wonderful poems by Emily and Anne at the beginning and end of The Diabolical Bones.  At a time when women were to be seen and not heard, we can see how difficult it was to be a woman in the 19th century, always having to rely on men to gain access to places or giving the illusion that they are working for men.  The sisters do have Branwell for this, but he's pickled in gin most of the time!  As I was reading I could see the germination of ideas for their novels as the locations are described so exquisitely that you can't help but wonder if a certain place was the inspiration for Thornfield Hall, Wuthering Heights or Wildfell Hall.  This is something that Bella Ellis explores further in her Author's Note but it really does come through in the wonderful prose.

I simply adored The Diabolical Bones.  The history of the Brontë family interwoven with a fabulous mystery results in a compelling, exquisite and fascinating novel.  An absolute treasure of a novel, I can't recommend it highly enough and I didn't hesitate for a second before awarding the full five stars.

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton for sending me a beautiful hardback to read and review; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

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