The Green Feathers (Mike Kingdom Thrillers book 5) - David Jarvis

When a butterfly flaps its wings in the Caribbean, it causes storms in Europe.

The British King and Prime Minister have arrived in Georgetown, Guyana, along with the leaders of the other fifty-five countries in the Commonwealth, for its biennial meeting. Two shots ring out causing panic on the steps of the Mahaica Convention Centre.

The previous month, Tina Persad, an MI6 agent with Caribbean experience, had been sent to find out whether rumoured threats to the meeting were real or not. Then days before it was due to start, she had disappeared without trace.

Michaela 'Mike' Kingdom, a CIA analyst in London, may have been the last person to see her alive when they had a drink together in The Green Feathers. With Tina missing, Mike makes it her mission to find her friend, despite warnings not to get involved.

The butterfly may have already flapped its wings, but can Mike find Tina before the Heavens open?

 

What did I think?

The Green Feathers is book 5 in the Mike Kingdom Thrillers series but it's the first one that I have read and I am HOOKED!!!  I was a little concerned about jumping into such a well-established series at such a late point but I needn't have worried as I couldn't put it down.

The first thing that surprised me is that Mike is female (it's short for Michaela) and she is such an intriguing and fiery character; she's like a stick of dynamite and you really don't want to light her fuse!  I really want to read more of her back story so I will definitely be adding the earlier books to my TBR tower.

The prologue is an absolutely brilliant hook and the shooting is mentioned in the blurb so it's not a spoiler to say that I couldn't read fast enough to discover who had got shot.  Like a boxer on the ropes, the hooks just keep on coming when Mike's friend Tina goes missing.  What did Tina discover and why don't the security services want Mike to look for her?

I'm surprised I didn't get blisters on my fingers I was turning the pages so fast.  The Green Feathers has all the adjectives that thriller readers devour: it's intriguing, gripping, thrilling, fast-paced, compelling, tense and suspenseful to name but a few.  I'm so pleased that I wasn't put off about starting the series so late and I will definitely be reading the earlier books and looking out for future instalments.

The Green Feathers is an outstanding spy thriller that has a razor-sharp plot, a blisteringly fast pace and is exquisitely written by David Jarvis.  An easy five stars and a very highly recommended read.

I received a gifted paperback from the author that I chose to read; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: Hamilton's Deepcatch (The Catch Series Book 3) - Douglas Roberts

A raging Atlantic storm batters a deep-sea oil rig – the perfect place to murder enemies, smuggle contraband, and bribe officials without leaving a trace. Beneath the surface lies a network of corruption as vast and dark as the ocean itself.

At the heart of this nefarious conglomerate are two piratical masterminds, operating with near impunity. Their ambitions know no limits: sinking ships, destroying oil rigs, and eliminating anyone who threatens their pursuit of unimaginable wealth. But this time, their greed and violence have triggered a deadly investigation.

As Detective Inspector Patricia Eyethorne OBE and her partner Justin hunt for the truth, their investigation explodes into a life-or-death chase across violent seas. With corrupt politicians like Maurice ‘Bloody’ Hamilton MP entwined in the conspiracy, the question remains – will justice finally catch up with them, or will these masterminds escape into the shadows once more?

 

What did I think?

Hamilton's Deepcatch is book three in The Catch Series and, whilst you could read it as a standalone as the main story is self-contained, it is much better when you've read the earlier two books, simply because you know more of the background of the characters. 

If there's anything dodgy going on, you can bet your bottom dollar that Maurice ‘Bloody’ Hamilton MP will be up to his neck in it.  The plot is very clever and intriguing so the security services have called on DI Patricia Eyethorne OBE to help them uncover the conspiracy.  It's a very dangerous mission as people have already been killed in their search for the truth.

I love the character of Patricia; it's so good to have a strong female protagonist who is more than a match for any man.  Maurice Hamilton knows that only too well and he is as obnoxious as ever in this instalment but his past deeds are about to catch up with him.  It was great to see some familiar faces, to the reader at least, and I couldn't read fast enough to see if Hamilton would finally get his comeuppance.

Hamilton's Deepcatch is a fast-paced, gripping and intriguing novel that is filled with adventure and danger.  The whole series is well worth a read and I think it would be brilliant if it was made into a TV series.

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

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BLOG TOUR: No Safe Place To Hide (The Philippines Thrillers Book 1) - Murray Bailey

A gripping noir thriller that exposes the dark heart of a nation in turmoil.

Journalist Martin Gillie has vanished, and his wife wants him found. It seems like a straightforward case for newly arrived Ash Carter. But in post-war Philippines, nothing is ever straightforward.

Carter follows a trail that leads from the smoky boxing rings of Manila to the rebel-haunted provinces. And as Carter digs, with each uncovered clue, the stakes rise higher. The police can't be trusted. The military has its own agenda.

Carter begins to wonder: Is Martin Gillie hiding from something—or someone? And if Carter finds him, will either of them live to tell the story?

 

What did I think?

If you haven't read any of Murray Bailey's Ash Carter Singapore series then you've missed out on some cracking thrillers BUT No Safe Place to Hide is a new spin-off series set in the Philippines that is going to result in a new legion of fans discovering Ash Carter.  You definitely don't need to have read any of the previous Ash Carter books to enjoy No Safe Place to Hide as it's absolutely brilliant.

Set in the 1950s it's like a full-colour step back in time as the story unfolds.  Ash Carter can't help getting himself into trouble but he's so quick-witted and clever that there's almost no situation he can't escape from.  He's supposed to have left the country but he ends up investigating a missing journalist and getting tangled up in political corruption.  The danger signs were flashing in front of my eyes and I had no idea who Ash could trust.

There is lots of action and plenty of shocks and surprises in this atmospheric, gripping and fast-paced thriller.  I couldn't put it down and I can't wait for the next book in the series.  Very highly recommended.

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

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BLOG TOUR: The Catch Series - Douglas Roberts

A minor crime deserves a minor punishment and a serious crime a more serious punishment. But you have to get caught first and it certainly helps if you get someone else to do your dirty work for you. Then there’s the question of who is going to catch you, and if caught, one has to be particularly devious to be able to get away with it. Even if one is as powerful a Member of Parliament and cabinet minister as Maurice Hamilton.

Abhorrence is a way of life for those with such a black heart which feeds off the goodwill of others but vengeance is a two-edged sword which can cut you down in the blink of an eye.

What did I think?

Catch of the Day is the first book in The Catch Series and it certainly got me well hooked as I couldn't put it down.  I absolutely loved it and I don't even like politics but MP Maurice Hamilton is one of those detestable characters that you love to hate.

The first couple of chapters set the scene and it soon becomes clear that there are a lot of people who would want to kill Maurice 'bloody' Hamilton.  Getting close enough to do so when he's a Member of Parliament needs an ingenious plot and this one is sublime.  

DI Patricia Eyethorne is a talented young detective who teams up with Justin Crawford from Hamilton's security team to try to foil the plot.  I loved seeing the romantic relationship between Patricia and Justin blossom despite being put under so much stress in their jobs.  It definitely made me want to read the next book in the series to see where life would take them next.

Catch of the Day is tense, suspenseful and action-packed; it's a cracking political espionage thriller and I couldn't put it down.  I almost forgot to breathe near the end as Patricia and Justin race against time.  Brilliant!  Well worth a read.

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

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Is the assassin manipulating the world price of platinum and how many has he murdered? Many such questions challenge Inspector Eyethorne OBE and her Fiancée who haven’t yet decided upon a name for their detective agency and neither have they had the time to fix a wedding date. Their pan-European investigations reveal that the answers are connected and despite Special Branch directing operations, they find themselves being pursued by ruthless gangs across London. Their only options are high-level escapes. Cabinet minister Maurice ‘bloody’ Hamilton enters this toxic mix and he’s out to make a killing; in both senses of the word.

 

What did I think?

Having read Catch of the Day, I raced straight on to Slipscatch to continue The Catch Series.  It's difficult not to compare the sequel to the first book as I absolutely loved Catch of the Day but Slipscatch didn't grip me as much.  It's still a good thriller though.

I loved catching up with Patricia Eyethorne and Justin Crawford as they investigate a platinum mining conspiracy.  Of course if there's something dodgy going on, you just know that Maurice 'bloody' Hamilton is in thick of it (spoiler alert: he didn't get killed in the first book).

The plotting is very sharp and the action is fast-paced as danger increases with every turn of the page.  I didn't quite find my reading rhythm for various reasons so I didn't race through it as quickly as the plot perhaps warranted.   

Slipscatch is like a cross between Spooks and 24 so it would be great to see it made into a series.  It is very tense and suspenseful and I can't wait to read the next book, Hamilton's Deep Catch.

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

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BLOG TOUR: The Lobbyist - Lionel Zetter

Parliamentary lobbyist Damian Beaufort is a professional manipulator – clever, charming, ruthless – but when Labour wins power his Tory-heavy agency spirals towards bankruptcy. And the rest of his life looks like going the same way.

Salvation comes not from booze or sex – despite his best efforts – but a far less likely quarter: the UK’s Secret Intelligence Service.  It also comes at a cost.

Beaufort finds himself entangled in a lethal web of conflicts: an internecine turf war between MI5 and MI6; underhand Westminster manoeuvrings; Eurocrats bent on reversing Brexit; and, seemingly pulling all the strings, the sinister head of Russia’s FSB.

Soon the lobbyist-turned-spy isn’t just fighting to save his agency, his reputation and his country. He’s fighting for his life, and he’s fighting for revenge. 

First-time author Lionel Zetter brings dazzling insider knowledge to bear in this fast-moving contemporary thriller with a totally unexpected denouement in the Chamber of the House of Commons.

 

What did I think?

Wow!  What a cracking political thriller!  I actually couldn't be less interested in politics so I didn't expect to enjoy a book filled with politicians so much.  I really couldn't put The Lobbyist down.

The strapline says it all really: 'He may be a bastard. But he's our bastard.'  Damian Beaufort doesn't know who his father is so he is literally a bastard.  He's a bastard by name and a bastard by nature which makes him a successful and much sought after lobbyist.  When the Tories lose the election, Beaufort has no intention of going down with the ship but it's not as simple as just switching sides.

The disturbing prologue is set in Russia and, although it wasn't difficult to see how it related to the rest of the story, it's a great hook.  With the Russians involved, there's espionage and assassinations to add an extra layer of entertainment and suspense to the already gripping storyline.

Fast-paced, compelling and intriguing, The Lobbyist is a fantastic debut novel from Lionel Zetter.  With an intoxicating mixture of politics, espionage and danger, The Lobbyist is just crying out to be made into a TV series so I wouldn't be surprised to see it on our screens in the future.  Very highly recommended.

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

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BLOG TOUR: Fatal Image (DC Mel Cotton Crime Series Book 5) - Brian Price

RUTHLESS AMBITION

Hugh Ventham MP, tipped for high office, can’t shake off the mental image of a sordid party he attended many years ago. Any one of the people there could derail his career if they talk about it. So he must eliminate them all.

A COMPROMISING PHOTO

But someone took a photo. And one of the attendees will stop at nothing to ensure it is never discovered. If they fail, they will face ruin.

A BAFFLED POLICE FORCE

As the murders mount up, Mexton CID struggle to see the connection between them. Are they random killings or is there a link? If so, who would want to kill such a disparate group of people? And who is the mysterious figure in the background with their own lethal agenda?

With police resources stretched to breaking point, DC Mel Cotton and her team face deadly challenges as they hunt for the killer. And when the mysterious figure strikes, will she get out alive?

 

What did I think?

As with all books in the DC Mel Cotton crime series, you can read Fatal Image as a standalone as the particular case that is being investigated is absolutely brilliant.  I have read the series in order and they're all fantastic but I think this is the best one yet.

It's quite unusual for a book to let the reader know who the killer is from the start but Fatal Image still had me completely gripped and I couldn't put it down.  Set in the fictional town of Mexton, DC Mel Cotton and the team are as busy as ever with a spate of seemingly unrelated murders.  Mel needs to look outside of Mexton to find the link so she joins forces with a creepy copper in the Met.  Eeeew, I think I need a shower just thinking about DC Plover.

I loved catching up with some of my favourite characters in crime fiction and it's wonderful to see how the characters have developed over the series.  That's why I almost dropped the book in shock at the end with THAT cliffhanger - OMG!!!  I simply can't wait for the next book now!

Incredibly fast paced and a real page-turner, Fatal Image is so meticulously researched that I often forgot I was reading fiction, especially with the character epilogue at the end.  It's an outstanding book in an outstanding series and an easy five star rating from me.

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

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BLOG TOUR: Disturbing the Bones - Andrew Davis and Jeff Biggers

Chicago detective Randall Jenkins has not been back home to the historic Civil Rights hotspot of Cairo, Illinois since the disappearance of his mother, a well-known journalist, several decades ago.

That all changes the day Dr. Molly Moore, an ambitious young archaeologist in the national spotlight for her groundbreaking high-tech discoveries, uncovers a set of strange bones at a huge 12,000-year-old site at a highway construction project.  With retired military general and contractor William Alexander breathing down her neck to cover up the dig, Molly and Randall soon find themselves in the middle of a wild military conspiracy.

The detective and archaeologist’s entwined family mysteries suddenly thrust them into the central position as the only people who can ensure the safety of the ongoing Chicago global peace summit. They must take on the rogue general who views any disarmament agreement as a clear and present danger to the United States. The fate of global peace and the lives of Molly and Randall hang in the balance.

Disturbing the Bones is a rip-roaring techno-thriller in the grand tradition of Michael Crichton, Scott Turow and Frederick Forsyth - a perfect Autumn blockbuster for those cosy nights in.

 

What did I think?

I was drawn to Disturbing the Bones because I have a keen interest in archaeology so I loved the setting; it's not Cairo, Egypt but Cairo, Illinois.  Finding bones at such a site is to be expected, but these bones are not ancient...

I loved Molly and her passion for archaeology, along with her protectiveness about the site, even when it places herself and her team in danger.  Veteran Chicago detective has a vested interest in Molly's find as he thinks the bones are those of his mother.  While all this is going on, America has a new president and she has plans to amend the constitution to which lots of people are opposed.

The plot is more political than I expected but it adds some extra spice to a gripping thriller.  I was incensed when certain things happened at the dig and I couldn't read fast enough to see how it would all play out.  The pacing certainly ramps up in the final third of the book and I couldn't put it down.

Fast-paced and action-packed, Disturbing the Bones is an entertaining and thought-provoking thriller.  I wouldn't be surprised to see it on the big screen at some point, especially as Andrew Davis is a renowned film director.  I enjoyed the book and would definitely be interested in seeing it on the big screen.

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

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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.

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BLOG TOUR: Zero Ri$k - Simon Hayes

 

Ten days. Seven Deadly Sins. Zero Ri$k.

What’s not to like when your bank account gains an extra zero or two at Christmas?

When customer complaints on Christmas Eve about tenfold inflated bank balances herald not early Christmas gifts, nor a botched computer system upgrade, but the most sophisticated cyber attack in history, National Bank Chief Operating Officer Rob Tanner finds himself in the eye of a ‘Black Swan’ storm no one predicted, but anyone could have anticipated.

Tanner enlists the help of brilliant American cyber security expert Ashley Markham, but the attacks only worsen: bank balances rise remorselessly and spread to all the nation’s banks. The only clues to the hacker’s intentions are cryptic daily emails, centred on Hieronymus Bosch’s medieval representation of the seven deadly sins—and packed with colourful artistic and cultural references—taunting Tanner and the newly incumbent Prime Minister, James Allen.

With financial markets—and the very world as he knows it—on the brink of collapse, Tanner races against the clock to decode not just the bizarre emails but their deeper meaning, and the implications for who he can really trust. All the while, his former boss “The Toad” is seeking revenge... and answers of his own.

This enthralling, multi-layered debut follows the story of a disillusioned banker facing unthinkable financial Armageddon, where money has no value, stock and bond prices are meaningless, and the economy is destroyed. Can Tanner unravel the mystery of the hacker’s obsession with Bosch, sin and retribution before modern society returns to the dark ages?

What did I think?

WOW!  What a debut!  Zero Ri$k is absolutely brilliant - I actually uttered those exact words after I had turned the final page and finally released the breath I didn't realise I had been holding.  It's a chunky book at 780 pages long but I flew through it as I couldn't put it down.

Rob Tanner deserves a medal for working for 'The Toad' for so long and when their bank is hit with a cyber attack on Christmas Eve, The Toad will blame anybody but himself.  As quickly as the attack started, it appeared to have finished so things can get back to normal right?  WRONG!

I felt like my nerves were balanced on a knife-edge as the action played out before me on the page.  Simon Hayes' writing is as vivid as the Hieronymus Bosch paintings that depict the seven deadly sins.  I loved how Bosch's famous artwork is woven into the plot and it's very thought-provoking to consider what Bosch would make of our current society where few people could claim to never have experienced greed, pride, gluttony, lust, sloth, envy or wrath.

If I thought the writing was exquisite, the plot is even more so.  Although I do have a financial background myself, you don't need any financial knowledge to fully appreciate the sublime plot.  Just the thought of how much trust we put into banks to keep our money safe and the odd occasion we hear of banks having issues that stops people accessing their money is enough to give me nightmares.  Simon Hayes takes that fear and increases it a hundredfold as people's bank balances change at will.

Incredibly imaginative, heart-poundingly thrilling and scarily realistic,  Zero Ri$k is easily one of the best books I have read this year and it's even more astonishing that it's a debut novel.  Although the book will always be better, I think it's destined for the big screen and I would be very surprised if it's not snapped up by a movie producer.  I really can't recommend this unmissable novel highly enough - an easy five stars.

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

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About the author:

Simon Hayes is a seasoned professional with a diverse background spanning financial services, executive search, and consultancy. With over three decades of international experience, he has lived in the US, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Simon began his career with Bank of Boston, Morgan Grenfell and James Capel, before spending much of the 90s in Asia, serving as Head of Equity Research for Warburg in Japan and later as Managing Director for Salomon Bros and UBS in Hong Kong. Simon is a Trinity Hall, Cambridge, Law graduate and the creator of rubriqs®. Recognised as a top-ranked securities analyst by Extel and II, and later as the "Best Headhunting Executive" in Japan byAsiamoney, he has also been an executive coach, mentor, and financial consultant, spending much of 2023 in Zimbabwe on a major fraud case. Born in Ealing, he is a lifelong supporter of Brentford FC. A proud father to India and Ivo, Simon now lives near Tower Bridge.

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BLOG TOUR: The Rebel Daughter - Miranda Malins

A country torn apart by war. A woman fighting for her future...

Ely, 1643. England is convulsed by Civil War, setting King against Parliament and neighbour against neighbour. As the turmoil reaches her family home in Ely, 19-year-old Bridget Cromwell finds herself at the heart of the conflict.

With her father's star on the rise as a cavalry commander for the rebellious Parliament, Bridget has her own ambitions for a life beyond marriage and motherhood. And as fractures appear in her own family with the wilful, beautiful younger sister Betty, Bridget faces a choice: to follow her heart, or to marry for power and influence, and fight for a revolution that will change history...

A gripping evocation of the Civil War, and the hidden stories of women at the heart of power... Perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory and Anne O'Brien 

What did I think?

I couldn't wait to read Miranda Malins' new novel, The Rebel Daughter, as I loved her stunning debut, The Puritan Princess, and I was not disappointed.  The Rebel Daughter is every bit as stunning as its predecessor as Miranda Malins sweeps the reader away to the 17th century and the English Civil War.

The story follows Bridget Cromwell, Oliver Cromwell's eldest daughter.  Bridget is intelligent and forthright, character traits that are not terribly attractive to suitors, and she is overshadowed by her younger sister's beauty.  Henry Ireton is a great admirer of Oliver Cromwell and he sees Bridget as very much like her father, but his marriage proposal comes as a shock to Bridget.  Seeing Bridget growing to love Henry really warmed my heart and I loved that Henry valued Bridget's opinions.

Miranda Malins' writing is stunning, creating such vivid imagery of this historical period that I felt as if I was walking in Bridget's footsteps.  It's so refreshing to read about such strong women in history as they are so easily forgotten about in favour of the achievements of their menfolk.  It's lovely to see women playing such important roles in historical fiction from a feminist perspective.

The Rebel Daughter is completely compelling historical fiction. Informative and engaging, it's a fascinating glimpse into the past with characters brought to life by the talented pen of Miranda Malins.  I loved it and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour; all opinions are my own.

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BLOG TOUR: The Puritan Princess - Miranda Malins

1657. The youngest daughter of Oliver Cromwell, eighteen-year-old Frances is finding her place at England's new centre of power.

Following the turmoil of Civil War, a fragile sense of stability has returned to the country. Her father has risen to the unprecedented position of Lord Protector of the Commonwealth, and Frances has found herself transported from her humble childhood home to the sumptuous palaces of Hampton Court and Whitehall, where she dreams of romance.

But after an assassination attempt on the Cromwell family, Frances realises the precarious danger of her position - and when her father is officially offered the crown, Frances' fate becomes a matter of diplomatic and dynastic importance.

Trapped in the web of court intrigue, Frances must make a choice. Allow herself to be a political pawn, or use her new status to take control - of her own future, and of her country's...

What did I think?

I make no secret of the fact that I love historical fiction so I was very excited to read The Puritan Princess as I know very little about the Stuart period of history, although I certainly know a lot more after reading this wonderful book.  Miranda Malins' stunning debut effortlessly brings history to life and I was completely hooked by the Cromwell's life from the jaw-droppingly brilliant prologue.

As you find with a lot of historical novels, there is a cast of characters included at the start of the book.  Spanning 6 pages, I was a little daunted and thought I would be constantly referring back to the list, however, each and every character is introduced so perfectly that I hardly referred back to it at all.  There's also a wonderful addition of the Cromwell family tree from 1657 that I pored over with delight.

The story focuses on Frances Cromwell, particularly her life at court and her relationships with her siblings and parents.  Family is at the heart of the story and it certainly shows Oliver Cromwell in a different light to the vague impression I had of a civil war inciting, Christmas cancelling army general who was instrumental in the execution of Charles I.  The characters are drawn so vividly that I now understand Cromwell's motivations and ideas through seeing the man beneath the persona of Lord Protector.

Maintaining a perfect balance between politics and passion, I was completely swept away by The Puritan Princess as I devoured every perfect word that Miranda Malins had written.  The writing is breathtaking, the plot is outstanding and the novel is exceptional.  Historical fiction fans take note: there's a new author in town and Miranda Malins is definitely one to watch.  A stunning debut that deserves nothing less than a 5 star rating.

Many thanks to Orion for sending me an ARC to read and review for the blog tour; all opinions are my own. 

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