BLOG TOUR: House of Straw - Marc Scott

‘Beautifully brutal, dark and twisted’  

Traumatised by the tragic death of her twin brother, Brianna falls into a state of deep depression, isolating herself from the world and all those that care about her. When a twist of fate reveals that she has a half-sister she finds a new purpose in her life and sets out to find her sibling, desperately hoping she can fill the void left in her world.

Poppy has not enjoyed the same privileged lifestyle as her sister while growing up. Abandoned into the care system at the age of eight, she has encountered both physical and sexual abuse for most of her life. Passing through the hands of more care homes and foster families than she can remember, the damaged product of a broken upbringing, Poppy has never found a place to feel truly safe. Kicking back at society, she turns to drug abuse and acts of extreme violence to escape from reality.

When the two siblings are finally united, they discover that they have much more in common than their DNA. Their paths are shrouded with sinister secrets of betrayal and regret and both girls share a deep-rooted hatred for one of their parents. As the dark truths of their lives are unveiled they realise that nothing can ever be the same again...  

What did I think?

House of Straw turned out to be a lot darker than I expected from reading the synopsis and it's always good when a book surprises you.  It's very hard-hitting from the start as we read about the death of Brianna's twin brother, Jamie, but there's much more to this story than meets the eye.

Brianna, who prefers to be known as Bree, spirals into a pit of despair after Jamie's death and she only has one friend for support.  Bree's relationship with her mother is almost non-existent and it only gets worse when she finds out that she has a half-sister, Poppy.  If I thought Bree was a damaged character, Poppy is smashed beyond repair.  

Poppy's life is a stark contrast to Bree's and it was heartbreaking to read about her past and present.  Poppy's story is so devastating that it was often hard to read the graphic details and I felt myself recoiling in horror as her abuse was described.  As much as the violence had me wincing as each blow was dealt, some of the words used in the sex scenes had me cringing.  I'm not a prude by any means but I think it's better to leave some things to the imagination.&nbsp

Although the storyline is gripping and intriguing, it took me a little while to get used to the writing style as the speech is quite stilted.  It feels a bit odd for characters who are a little rough around the edges to be speaking the Queen's English, for example using 'I am' instead of 'I'm'.  I did get used to it though, it just meant that speech didn't flow as well as it could have done.

I found it really interesting that both Poppy and Bree try to pin the blame for absolutely everything and anything on anybody but themselves; it's almost as if it's in their genes.  It's really quite startling that some people don't accept responsibility for their own actions and waste so much time blaming others that they get stuck in a rut of negativity.  I loved the thread of blame running throughout the novel; it's woven into the story brilliantly.

Shocking and hard-hitting, House of Straw is a very good first novel from Marc Scott and I'll be keeping an eye out for his new novel coming later this year.

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

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon




About the author:

Marc Scott was born and bred in the heart of East London. His dark and gritty writing style has earned him much praise with readers.

He worked in the film and video industry for more than twenty years, the highlight of which was spending twelve months based in Hollywood, organising marketing campaigns for a UK film distributor.

More recently he spent several years working with young offenders as part of his role associated with the court service. It was during this time he became deeply moved by the tragic story of one young girl who was struggling to come to terms with the neglect and abuse she had suffered throughout her life. Her tragic case inspired him to write his first novel HOUSE OF STRAW.

The book has already received excellent reviews from bloggers and buyers and his second book is planned for release at the end of 2020.

His favourite book is Birdy by William Wharton, which he confesses to have read at least half a dozen times. He also enjoys the works of Kazuo Ishiguro. ‘I love authors that can find something that is extraordinary in ordinary people’ he says. ‘A reader wants to feel like a bystander all through the journey and that only happens if they can feel an emotional attachment to the main characters’.

Marc lives in Buckinghamshire and has three grown-up children George, Marissa and Amie. He says his daughters have been the main motivation behind his love of writing. ‘I always run everything past them. Their honest appraisals definitely keep me on the right track’ he says.

He is a keen sports fan and has an undying passion for Leyton Orient Football Club.

Twitter: @MARCO1918253109

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BLOG TOUR: The Fear - C.L. Taylor

Sometimes your first love won’t let you go…

When Lou Wandsworth ran away to France with her teacher Mike Hughes, she thought he was the love of her life. But Mike wasn’t what he seemed and he left her life in pieces.

Now 32, Lou discovers that he is involved with teenager Chloe Meadows. Determined to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself, she returns home to confront him for the damage he’s caused.

But Mike is a predator of the worst kind, and as Lou tries to bring him to justice, it’s clear that she could once again become his prey…

What did I think?

Although many things cause excitement on social media, one thing that is guaranteed to get book bloggers in a frenzy is a new C.L. Taylor book.  There was a lot of hype around her latest book, The Fear, but did it live up to the hype?  OH YES!!!  I feel like a broken record as I proclaimed The Escape to be my favourite C.L. Talyor book but I think The Fear is the best book she has written to date - it's dark, disturbing and exceptional.

Lou was 14 years old when she fell in love with Mike.  Mike showered her with affection, making her feel loved and beautiful but Mike was her older, married karate teacher and he knew exactly what he was doing.  When Lou snuck away from home to meet Mike for a romantic weekend in France, she didn't think Mike had no intention of returning to England.  Kept locked away in hotel rooms, it's a part of Lou's life that has naturally left deep scars in her psyche, resulting in her leaving Malvern for the bright lights of London but unable to form any lasting relationships.

After her latest relationship breaks down, Lou returns to Malvern and finds that Mike is up to his old tricks.  Mike may be 18 years older but he still has a taste for grooming young teenage girls and vulnerable 13 year old Chloe Meadows has fallen under his spell.  Lou can't stand by and do nothing but Mike has quite a hold over Chloe and to some extent he still has a hold over Lou...but Lou isn't a starry-eyed teenager anymore and she wants REVENGE!

You just never know what to expect with a C.L. Taylor book.  There is just so much going on: not only is Lou trying to stop Mike but someone else isn't keen on Lou being back in Malvern and they are intent on messing with her life.  I felt like my head was inside a kaleidoscope (in a good way) with all of the colourful pieces spinning around until the completed picture was revealed and I could finally exhale the breath I didn't even realise I had been holding.  

The subject matter of a repeat offending paedophile is not easy to read about but what C.L. Taylor has done marvellously is shown how easily vulnerable youngsters can get drawn into the net of these despicable predators.  Every time I read a new C.L. Taylor book, I think it is the best one yet but then she goes and does it again!  The Fear didn't just get under my skin, it made my skin crawl; you will be sickened, you will be angry but you won't be able to stop reading The Fear.

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

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon


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A Mind to Kill - John Nicholl

The hunters become the hunted…

She watched as he slowly approached the room and stopped for a moment, seemingly weighing up his options. And then she called out in a hushed, well-practised childlike whisper she’d perfected over time and come to love infinitely more than any living person. ‘I’m in here. Come on. I’m in here. Come and play with me. I’ve been waiting for you…’

When Rebecca's childhood abuser avoids prosecution, it sets her on a path to revenge, revenge on any man who preys on the innocent.

Twenty-three-year-old Rebecca poses as a child online and sets her trap, luring one predatory sex offender after another to their deaths.

When a severed head and other male body parts are found washed up on a windswept estuary beach, the police begin their investigation.

The internationally bestselling author of White is the Coldest Colour is back with a heart-racing, electrifying psychological thriller packed with suspense.

Brilliantly gripping, A Mind To Kill will have you hooked from the very first page and holding your breath to the heart-stopping and shocking ending.

What did I think?

Never one to be afraid of tackling difficult subjects, John Nicholl's latest novel is set around grooming on the internet BUT with a twist.  On this occasion, roles are reversed as the paedophiles are lured into a web from which they can't escape.  A web woven by 23 year old Rebecca, who was abused as a 6 year old child and saw her abuser go unpunished and walk free.  Rebecca poses as a little girl online and selects her victims with care.  Only the most deviant and disgusting men will be invited to walk into her carefully planned trap but one thing is certain, they won't be walking back out.

"Won't you come into my parlour?" said the Spider to the Fly.

Rebecca blames the detective who was in charge of her case for it all falling apart.  Known by his workmates as Grav, he's a bit of a wreck of a man these days.  Rebecca is closer to Grav than he realises and only he can provide the missing piece of the jigsaw to finally put Rebecca's tortured mind at rest.

It is a subject that is difficult to read at times, but that's what makes John Nicholl's books so real.  Some of the torture and dismemberment scenes are quite gruesome and I almost read it with one eye closed, but it didn't put me off reading it in the slightest.  Rebecca has suffered so much, and continues to suffer - her abuser definitely broke her and in her eyes her vigilante acts are stopping other little girls from being broken by these sick men.

Kudos to John Nicholl for tackling such a difficult subject that many people would shy away from.  It's no good burying our heads in the sand - these things are happening in the world now!  Yes, this is fiction but parts of it are shockingly very real indeed.

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

My rating:

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Little Girl Lost - Carol Wyer

Her breath rose and fell in fearful gasps but it was too late. She could already see what she dreaded most. The back seat was empty.

Her little girl was gone.

Abigail lives the perfect life with her doting husband and adorable baby Izzy. But someone knows a secret about Abigail and they want the truth to be told.

When Izzy is snatched from a carpark, it becomes a case for Detective Robyn Carter.  Someone has been sending threatening messages to Abigail from an anoynmous number.  What is Abigail hiding?

Robyn’s instincts tell her there’s a connection between Izzy’s abduction and two murders she is investigating. But the last time she acted on impulse her fiancé was killed. To break this case and earn her place back on the force, she must learn to trust herself again – and fast. Robyn is on the hunt for a ruthless serial killer. And unless she gets to the twisted individual in time a little girl will die ….

What did I think?

What a brave move from Carol Wyer to make the transition from writing funny, lighthearted books such as the fabulous Life Swap to something so intensely dark and disturbing in Little Girl Lost.  A move which completely paid off, I might add.  I found Little Girl Lost quite uncomfortable to start with as there are some disturbing opening scenes but real life is unfortunately filled with such darkness.

There are a lot of characters at the start and I found it slightly confusing, but out came my trusty notebook to jot down all the relevant names.  In a 'before' setting we are introduced to Alice who's about to become the stepdaughter of actor Paul Matthews.  Paul has two children of his own: sick and twisted Lucas and goth-girl Natasha.  Alice still hears the voice of her dead father speaking to her through her toy bunny and when something terrible happens to Alice and her mother's relationship with Paul breaks down, she only has her bunny for comfort as nobody believes her.

Meanwhile in a 'now' time setting, Abigail is happily married to Jackson and they have a beautiful baby called Izzy.  Abigail starts to get texts, emails and phone calls telling her that Jackson is having an affair.  She doesn't believe it at first, but then photographic evidence turns up in her inbox.  Her tormentor takes things a step further and tries to alienate Abi's friends by hacking her Facebook account and posting vicious messages on friends' pages purporting to be from Abi.  It becomes clear that her tormentor must be somebody who is close to her and has access to her house...

So what does Abi have to do with Alice, you might ask.  Well, Carol Wyer has managed to cleverly weave an intricate web of secrets and lies that ties your brain in knots!  I haven't even mentioned the excitement of bodies starting to turn up with toy rabbits placed at the scene.  Alice is back for revenge and she may very well be hiding in plain sight.  Nobody is safe, however tenuously linked to her past, in her quest for retribution.

A cracking first thriller from Carol Wyer that had me reading late into the night - I absolutely could not rest until I had discovered all the dark secrets of Little Girl Lost.

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

My rating:

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A Hint of Silver - Mark Hudson

As a former ranger and CIA field operative, Gordan Hudde was used to operating far from friendly support; he never thought that one day that would be the case in Otter, Georgia his adopted new town. Sheriff “Big” John Schmidt convinces Hudde that he may be able to help on a missing children’s case and Gordan is forced to decide between the rules of the law and the rules of what is just. Powerful forces try to derail Gordan, the sheriff’s department, and the FBI agent who has been sent to help. Every minute could mean life or death and when a fourth child disappears, Gordan is put to the test.

What did I think?

I gave the first Gordan Hudde novel, A Deep Purple Hue, a well deserved 5 stars and perhaps I enjoyed it so much that any further instalments would struggle to live up to the bar that was set.  As I previously mentioned in my review of the second book, An Angry Orange Sky, Mark Hudson loves numbers even more than me.  Every detail to the last millimetre is described - does it really matter whether someone is 6ft 7" or 6ft 8"?  Just say he's tall.  I work with numbers every day and my brain naturally seeks them out so it took me a while to get into the story.

Children across America are being abducted to order, to satisfy the sick perversions of some of America's richest and most powerful people.  Gordan Hudde stumbles across this case when looking for a new town to set up home.  He takes a liking to the town of Otter, probably something to do with the mouthwatering barbecue restaurant, and gets involved in the search for missing children being abducted from their homes.  If anyone can find them, Gordan can!

A Hint of Silver is definitely not for the faint-hearted and some people might find parts of it distressing.  There are some disturbing scenes which I would much rather have been left out, but equally I'm sure that real victims of such crimes wish it had been left out of their ordeal too.  I think anyone who has children would struggle to read this book and, although it is fiction, the fact remains that this sort of thing does happen in the real world.

I'd be interested to see where Gordan's story takes him next in the fourth novel, An Emerald Abyss, and I'd like to see the slide in my star ratings picking back up to where I know they have the potential to be.

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

My rating:

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The Widow - Fiona Barton

We've all seen him: the man - the monster - staring from the front page of every newspaper, accused of a terrible crime.

But what about her: the woman who grips his arm on the courtroom stairs – the wife who stands by him?

Jean Taylor’s life was blissfully ordinary. Nice house, nice husband. Glen was all she’d ever wanted: her Prince Charming. 

Until he became that man accused, that monster on the front page. Jean was married to a man everyone thought capable of unimaginable evil.

But now Glen is dead and she’s alone for the first time, free to tell her story on her own terms.

Jean Taylor is going to tell us what she knows.

What did I think?

This must be one of the most highly anticipated books of 2016 and I'm really grateful to Ben Willis from Transworld for sending me an early review copy.  The hype is totally correct; once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down - if I hadn't needed to sleep I would definitely have read it in one sitting!

I loved the layout of the book with each chapter being told from the perspective of the widow, the reporter, the detective, the mother or the husband.  It gave a brilliant investigative feel to the story and I felt like I was sitting on the jury myself.

I felt so sorry for Jean, she doesn't even realise that she is an abused wife.  Glen has taken all her self esteem and made sure that her whole world revolves around him.  Only he hasn't quite managed to take all of her dreams...she has a secret dream that she has hidden from him but that in turn becomes a piece of evidence in the case against Glen.

Whilst there are no massive shocks or surprises, this book had me clamouring for more as each chapter ended.  I felt like I was gathering evidence and trying to prove a cast-iron case against Glen.  The psychological effect Glen's mental abuse had on Jean was fascinating and made me wonder how many women like Jean are out there.  Some of her actions were quite shocking and completely unexpected, but it's almost like she had to keep her emotions bottled up with Glen and now she's free she's like a stick of unexploded dynamite.

I definitely recommend reading this book; it is written with such precision that it is not surprising to learn that Fiona Barton is an award winning reporter.  I feel like she stripped the case down to its bare bones and we were all present for the autopsy.  I think that is the magic of this book - the story is told from every single aspect so that no stone is left unturned as we uncover the truth about what really happened to little Bella and the effect that this devastating event had on all concerned.

I received this book from the publisher, Transworld, in exchange for an honest review.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon