Deadly Deep (Dread Wood Book 4) - Jennifer Killick

The brand new must-read middle-grade novel from the author of super-spooky Crater Lake. Perfect for 9+ fans of R.L.Stine’s Goosebumps and Stranger Things!

It’s summer term and time for a school trip with a difference! Year 8 are on a boat off the coast of France, learning about ocean life. But things are about to get WEIRD . . .

Who is the creepy man on board the ship? And what IS the vast, shadowy creature seen lurking at the bottom of the ocean?

When the ship is sunk Club Loser realise that they are the only ones who can save the day, and their classmates. Can they outwit and defeat a giant, deadly sea monster from the depths? It’s a fight for survival and if they fail, Club Loser will find themselves in a watery grave . . .

 

What did I think?

Deadly Deep is aimed at 10-12 year olds but I’m in my fifties and I loved it.  I actually didn’t realise this was book four in the series when I ordered it, but I didn’t feel at a disadvantage at all having not read the first three books as I quickly got to know the vividly drawn characters.

The classmates from Dread Wood High are onboard a boat on a school trip and this is one trip they will never forget.  They are set to learn much more than they expected about ocean life as they get up close and personal with one particular creature of the deep.

I found this book incredibly entertaining and could totally visualise everything that was happening on board the boat.  So much so that my heart was pounding and my pulse was racing as events unfolded.  

The only thing I struggled with (as an oldie) was some of the teenage slang words but I made a good guess at their meanings as I didn’t want to stop reading to look them up.

Deadly Deep is massively entertaining, incredibly funny and a little bit scary.  I really enjoyed it; it’s something completely different for me and I’d highly recommend it.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

BLOG TOUR: The Ghost Ship (The Joubert Family Chronicles book 3) - Kate Mosse

The Barbary Coast, 1621. A mysterious vessel floats silently on the water. It is known only as the Ghost Ship. For months, its captain - Louise Reydon-Joubert - and her courageous crew has hunted pirates to liberate those enslaved during the course of their merciless raids.

But now the Ghost Ship is under attack – its hull splintered, its sails tattered and burnt, and the crew at risk of capture. But the bravest among them are not who they seem. Louise is fleeing a miscarriage of justice; her lover, Gilles Barenton, is at risk of being exposed - she is forced to masquerade as her brother. The stakes could not be higher: if arrested, they will be hanged for their crimes. Can they survive the journey and escape their fate?

A sweeping and epic queer love story, ranging from France in 1610 to Amsterdam and the Canary Islands in the 1620s, The Ghost Ship is a thrilling novel of adventure and buccaneering, love and revenge, stolen fortunes and hidden secrets on the High Seas. Most of all, it is a tale of defiant women in a man's world. 

What did I think?

I have been adding Kate Mosse novels to my book collection for a number of years but shockingly, The Ghost Ship is the first of her novels that I have read.  The Ghost Ship is the third book in The Joubert Family Chronicles and it can totally be read as a standalone as I absolutely loved it and didn't feel at all disadvantaged that I hadn't read the earlier books in the series.  

I love historical fiction and particularly enjoy seeing a cast of characters and maps in a book.  The Ghost Ship has both...and more; there's not just one map, there are three and that's without counting the maps on the beautiful endpapers.  The maps add an extra dimension to the fully immersive experience already created by Kate Mosse's vivid and evocative writing.   

Set in the early 17th century, Louise Reydon-Joubert is breaking down the barriers that hold women in their place.  Louise doesn't just own a ship, she's the captain of it and she is respected and loved by her crew.  Of course, there are some that would see Louise put back in her place and there's some delightful skulduggery afoot.

I was completely riveted by the whole story and the blossoming romance between Louise and Gilles is beautifully portrayed.  I am even more eager to read the earlier books in the series now and I will be returning to The Ghost Ship when I read the whole series.

Filled with adventure, passion and danger, The Ghost Ship is an outstanding historical fiction novel with a feminist slant.  It's an instant classic and very highly recommended.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: The Last Lifeboat - Hazel Gaynor

September 1940. 

In the immediate aftermath of a U-boat attack on an evacuee ship, one lifeboat of terrified  survivors endures a fierce storm in the Atlantic. 

May 1940. 

Four months earlier, two very different women – Alice King, a teacher, and Lily Nicholls, a young  widow- confront life-changing choices as Britain prepares for German invasion and the  devastating Blitz bombing raids begin. 

In Kent, Alice sees a chance to play a part in the war and volunteers as an escort on the ‘seavac’  ships; in London Lily faces the agonizing decision of whether to keep her children with her as  the Blitz begins, or send them to safety in Canada. 

The dramatic events of one fateful night in the mid-Atlantic, and the eight unimaginable days  that follow, bind the two women together in the most devastating way…

 

What did I think?

The Last Lifeboat should be printed with reinforced waterproof pages as I wasn't just virtually gripped, I was physically gripping the pages as I willed the survivors to hang on.  I was completely moved throughout and I was completely overcome with emotion as I turned the final page and audibly exclaimed: 'That was fantastic'.

This heartbreaking historical fiction novel is based on a true story and, although I had heard of children being evacuated to the countryside during World War II, I don't recall hearing about them being shipped to Canada, America and Australia.  Even more shocking then, is never learning about the sinking of the SS City of Benares by a German torpedo in the Atlantic.  Hazel Gaynor puts that right by bringing this haunting story to light.

I lived and breathed every second of this book and I felt a complete wealth of emotions as I experienced the war from various perspectives.  From the difficult decisions made by parents to send their children so far away to the fear of the nightly bombing and hoping that their children were safe.  It must have been so difficult for all concerned and it completely broke me as I experienced every emotion with them.

Devastatingly breathtaking, incredibly poignant and completely stunning, The Last Lifeboat is a beautiful written haunting novel that will stay with you long after you have turned the final page and dried your tears.  I will certainly never forget it and I wouldn't be surprised if it becomes one of my most recommended books; I simply cannot recommend it highly enough.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

About the author:

Hazel Gaynor is an award-winning, New York Times, USA Today, and Irish Times bestselling author of historical fiction, including her debut The Girl Who Came Home, for which she received the 2015 RNA Historical Novel of the Year award. The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter was shortlisted for the 2019 HWA Gold Crown award, and The Bird in the Bamboo Cage was shortlisted for the 2020 Irish Book Awards. She is published in twenty languages and twenty-seven countries. Hazel lives in Kildare with her family.

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: Winter People - Gráinne Murphy

The wild Atlantic coast of Ireland.

Three strangers.

One question: who are we without the people who love us?

Sis Cotter has lived her whole life in a small house by her beloved beach. Here, she grew up, reared her family, and buried her husband. Now her children are far away and, in three days, her house will be taken from her.

Next door, Lydia has withdrawn from her husband, her friends, her life. She watches the sea as her own private penance for a wrong she can never put right.

Peter’s best friend is dying, and his long-time foster mother is slowly forgetting who he is. Adrift without his two anchors, and struggling with the ethics of displacing people for a living, he looks for something to remind him of who he is and who he wants to be.

Winter People is a story of forgiveness, resilience, and the power of the sea to unlock what we are most afraid to say.

 

What did I think?

Winter People is a literary feast for the eyes; it's so beautifully written with calm, gentle and soothing prose that reminded me of small waves lapping the shore.  The cover itself perfectly encapsulates the keen sense of place that is evident throughout the novel and I could look at this gorgeous artwork for hours.

There are three characters: Sis, Lydia and Peter, and three parts to the book: Storm, Sea and Sky.  I loved the layout of the three parts that brought the coastal atmosphere to the front of my mind and the long chapters that allowed me to really get to know the characters.  Each character has their own demon to face and Gráinne Murphy explores this sensitively and exquisitely.

This novel may be described as a slow burn but that's the best way to fully appreciate the sublime writing.  The cover of the novel mentions three days, three strangers, one question but I have to say that I wouldn't have been able to tell you what the question was if it wasn't in the blurb.  I think perhaps it's there if you look for it but I was carried away with the rhythm of the prose and simply enjoyed the beautiful writing.

Beautifully written, Winter People is a wonderful literary novel that should be savoured rather than devoured.  Gráinne Murphy is an author to watch and Winter People has the feel of a classic novel that will be enjoyed for generations.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: The Bay - Allie Reynolds

The waves are to die for. It's a paradise they'd kill to keep.

There's a darkness inside all of us and The Bay has a way of bringing it out. Everyone here has their secrets but we don't go looking for them. Because sometimes it's better not to know.

Kenna arrives in Sydney to surprise her best friend, shocked to hear she's going to marry a guy she's only just met. But Mikki and her fiancé Jack are about to head away on a trip, so Kenna finds herself tagging along for the ride.

Sorrow Bay is beautiful, wild and dangerous. A remote surfing spot with waves to die for, cut off from the rest of the world. Here Kenna meets the mysterious group of people who will do anything to keep their paradise a secret. Sky, Ryan, Clemente and Victor have come to ride the waves and disappear from life. How will they feel about Kenna turning up unannounced?

As Kenna gets drawn into their world, she sees the extremes they are prepared to go to for the next thrill. And everyone seems to be hiding something. What has her best friend got involved in and how can she get her away? But one thing is rapidly becoming clear about The Bay: nobody ever leaves.

 

What did I think?

Don't be misled by the gorgeous cover; something dark and dangerous is lurking inside The Bay.  I really enjoyed it; it's action-packed, gripping and hugely entertaining.

Kenna and Mikki have a puzzling relationship; they've been best friends since school in England but Mikki is not exactly thrilled when Kenna turns up on her doorstep in Australia.  Kenna is determined to stop Mikki from rushing into marrying Jack, although Kenna didn't even receive an invitation to the wedding.  Strange - something is definitely afoot!

Jack invites Kenna to join him and Mikki on a trip to Sorrow Bay, a secret part of the coast that only a few people know about.  The tension really begins to mount when Kenna meets other members of the group who really don't like sharing their waves with strangers.  Just what has Mikki got herself tangled up in?

I absolutely loved all of the different characters in this book; everybody is hiding something and I couldn't read fast enough to uncover all of their secrets.  The surfing and extreme challenges they partake in had my heart racing and I even found myself holding my breath at certain points as if I was underwater too.

The characters and the scenery are so vividly drawn by Allie Reynolds that I felt as if I was on the beach with them.  The Bay is one of those books that you can easily imagine being made into a film or series and I would definitely want to watch it.

Tense, gripping and thrilling, The Bay is a brilliant thriller that not only has you on the edge of your seat, it has you gripping the armrests and holding your breath.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: The Lamplighters - Emma Stonex

 

They say we'll never know what happened to those men.

They say the sea keeps its secrets . . .

Cornwall, 1972. Three keepers vanish from a remote lighthouse, miles from the shore. The entrance door is locked from the inside. The clocks have stopped. The Principal Keeper’s weather log describes a mighty storm, but the skies have been clear all week.

What happened to those three men, out on the tower? The heavy sea whispers their names. The tide shifts beneath the swell, drowning ghosts. Can their secrets ever be recovered from the waves?

Twenty years later, the women they left behind are still struggling to move on. Helen, Jenny and Michelle should have been united by the tragedy, but instead it drove them apart. And then a writer approaches them. He wants to give them a chance to tell their side of the story. But only in confronting their darkest fears can the truth begin to surface . . .

Inspired by real events, The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex is an intoxicating and suspenseful mystery, an unforgettable story of love and grief that explores the way our fears blur the line between the real and the imagined.

What did I think?

Wow!  This stunning book blew me away!  It's such a mysterious, intriguing story filled with to the brim with secrets that I was totally gripped and completely mesmerised by the beautiful writing of Emma Stonex.

Inspired by the true story of three lighthouse keepers who went missing in 1900 from a lighthouse in the Outer Hebrides, the mystery in The Lamplighters is set in Cornwall in 1972.  As the twenty year anniversary of the disappearance approaches, an author picks up the story and interviews those left behind.  Rather than their loss bringing them together, the three women barely speak to each other and the reader must uncover a web of secrets, lies and misunderstandings.

The sea could very well be the main character in The Lamplighters; it is so dramatic and described with such vigour that really brings it to life; I wouldn't have been surprised to taste salt on my lips whilst I was reading.  It truly is a force of nature and we will never know all of its secrets.  The sea knows what happened to the missing lighthouse keepers but that's one secret it will never reveal.

I really loved everything about this book: the mesmerising writing style, the intriguing plot and the mysterious inspiration behind it.  I read it in two sittings but if I'd timed it right, it would definitely have been a one sitting kind of book.  I have also been googling the original story of the missing keepers from Flannan Isles Lighthouse in 1900 and it's absolutely fascinating; many thanks to Emma Stonex for bringing this to my attention and I can totally see why it inspired her wonderful novel.

Mesmerising, intriguing and mysterious, The Lamplighters is an absolute must read.  It's a breathtaking, suspenseful novel that totally consumed me, much like the hypnotic calling of the sea.  A truly magnificent and unforgettable book; do not miss it!

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

My rating:

Buy it from

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: The Storm - Amanda Jennings

Doesn't every marriage have a dark side?

To the outside world Hannah married the perfect man. Behind the closed doors of their imposing home it’s a very different story. Nathan controls everything Hannah does. He chooses her clothes, checks her receipts, and keeps her passport locked away. But why does she let him?

Years before, in the midst of a relentless storm, the tragic events of one night changed everything. And Hannah has been living with the consequences ever since. Keeping Nathan happy. Doing as she’s told.

But the past is about to catch up with them.

Set against the unforgiving backdrop of a Cornish fishing port in the ‘90s, this is a devastating exploration of the power of coercive control in a marriage where nothing is quite as it seems…

What did I think?

The Storm is a dark, disturbing and exceptional story from the fabulous wordsmith, Amanda Jennings.  Not only is there a storm in the book of the same name, but it's almost as if a storm has been written into the book itself.  The atmosphere is so charged and the tension is palpable that you really do need to brace yourself for the inevitable boom of thunder that heralds the peak of the storm.  

Something terrible happened after the storm that saw a Cornish fishing boat lucky to return to port; sometimes it's more dangerous on land than at sea.  The storm caused more destruction than it planned as it changed Hannah's life forever and drove her into the arms of Nathan.  Nathan is an repulsive man; he's handsome, successful and rich on the outside but psychotic, controlling and completely unstable underneath.  Hannah is trapped in the marriage as Nathan holds something over her that he threatens to reveal when he thinks she has stepped out of line.  Hannah succumbs to Nathan's control to protect their son, Alex, but now he is a teenager he's starting to answer back and this causes Nathan's temper to flare even more.

Oh Hannah, what have you done?  I couldn't understand her marrying Nathan after such a short space of time but it all becomes clear through the flashbacks to that fateful night in 1998.  Nathan is a bully and an abuser, hiding it all under the banner of love in his twisted little mind.  My heart really went out to Hannah who was just about to start a relationship with fisherman, Cameron Stewart before the storm blew her into the path of rich lawyer, Nathan Cardew.  It really felt like Nathan was holding Hannah underwater and only letting her up for air now and again in order to keep her alive; that's no way to live and Hannah has no life to speak of.  I don't know how she didn't poison his hotpot, is all I can say!

The Storm is a dark and brooding tale from the immensely talented wordsmith, Amanda Jennings.  It's a compelling read and so very difficult to put down that you just need to ride the waves until the storm has unleashed its fury.  An absolutely outstanding novel and highly recommended.

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

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon




Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: Mystery Island - Jim Ody

The Island of dark secrets lies close to Maui. Few have ventured there, fewer have returned.

With a map in hand, extreme-sports enthusiasts, Kyle and Donna, descend to the depths of the Pacific Ocean in search of treasure. Will they find it? And will they survive?

Peering eyes are everywhere, lurking and in wait, ready to take back what's theirs.

Some things are better left buried.  

What did I think?

I'll say one thing about Jim Ody's Mystery Island: I definitely didn't see THAT coming!  I think Jim Ody has included just about everything except the kitchen sink in his hugely entertaining and completely surprising new novel, Mystery Island; it's action packed, funny, scary, exciting and absolutely riveting.

It starts with a bang and, if by some miracle the reader isn't immediately hooked, it's closely followed by the existence of a treasure map.  X marks the spot in the sea surrounding the Hawaiian island of Maui and experienced divers, Kyle and Donna, can't wait to get out there to begin their treasure hunt.  With Kyle's friend Jez and his wife Cass tagging along uninvited, let the adventure begin!

The sunken treasure is a local legend so the islanders are used to treasure hunters descending on their own little part of paradise and it's clearly not something that they're happy about.  There's an air of menace behind the smiles of the islanders but Kyle and Donna are determined to dive for treasure, whatever the risk.  They may be grateful that Jez and Cass tagged along after all, although I'm not sure that Jez and Cass would agree...but I'm not saying what the twisted mind of Jim Ody has in store for them!

This is my first Jim Ody book and most certainly won't be my last.  I loved his vivid style of writing and the unexpected twists and turns that the story took.  It seems that there is no limit to Jim Ody's imagination and I love such unpredictability that constantly keeps the reader on their toes whilst enjoying a massively entertaining story.

Surprising, entertaining, compelling and completely twisted, Mystery Island is an action packed mystery thriller.  I wouldn't hesitate to pick up another Jim Ody book after reading this one and I can't wait to see where his extremely imaginative mind will take him next.

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

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon




About the author:

Jim writes dark psychological/thrillers that have endings you won’t see coming, and favours stories packed with wit. He has written ten novels and well over a dozen short-stories spanning many genres.

Jim has a very strange sense of humour and is often considered a little odd.  When not writing he will be found playing the drums, watching football and eating chocolate. He lives with his long-suffering wife, three beautiful children and two indignant cats in Swindon, Wiltshire UK.

Author Links:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/JimOdyAuthor

Jim Ody’s Spooky Circus Street Team: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1372500609494122/

Amazon Author Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jim-Ody/e/B019A6AMSY/

Email: jim.ody@hotmail.co.uk

Twitter: @Jim_Ody_Author

Instagram: @jimodyauthor

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/jimodyauthor/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jim-ody




Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: Underwater Breathing - Cassandra Parkin

On Yorkshire’s gradually-crumbling mud cliffs sits an Edwardian seaside house. In the bathroom, Jacob and Ella hide from their parents’ passionate arguments by playing the ‘Underwater Breathing’ game – until the day Jacob wakes to find his mother and sister gone. 

Years later, the sea’s creeping closer, his father is losing touch with reality and Jacob is trapped in his past. Then, Ella’s sudden reappearance forces him to confront his fractured childhood. As the truth about their parents emerges, it’s clear that Jacob’s time hiding beneath the water is coming to an end.

What did I think?

Anything can happen, and often does, in a Cassandra Parkin book.  What I find unique about Cassandra Parkin's writing is her ability to turn a normal everyday story into something special and unforgettable with her inimitable hint of ethereal darkness.  

Cassandra Parking completely nailed it in Chapter One, in my opinion, as Jacob and Ella are playing their Underwater Breathing game.  Jacob is holding his breath underwater in the old bathroom trying to listen only to the steady counting of his sister, Ella, but being interrupted by the disturbing sounds of his parents arguing in the room below.  This is not a happy family and the parents are so intent on destroying each other that they don't even notice the effects it is having on their children.  I was terrified that something would go wrong during this 'game' that the parents didn't even know their children were playing.  It is no surprise therefore that Ella and her Mum run away one night, leaving Jacob with his abusive, alcoholic father.

Jacob never recovered from the loss of his sister; it was like losing half of his heart and it felt as if his life was pointless without Ella.  Jacob is sleep deprived and often attacked by his father whose mind is gradually fading to dementia, so Jacob easily conjures the presence of his missing sister but one day she really does appear before him.  The joy when Ella returned was immense but I was worried what secrets she would reveal and how she would cope with their father not knowing who she was.  At least one constant remains for Ella: strange Mrs Armitage still lives in the house overlooking the sea.  The same North Sea that Ella was so frightened of as a child, as the cliffs crumbled and threatened to take theirs and Mrs Armitage's house to a watery grave.

I felt as if the whole essence of the North Sea is written into this book: it's cold, dark, dangerous and cruel, yet beautiful in its tempestuousness.  The depth of the characters is outstanding as layer upon layer is peeled away to reveal surprisingly flawed, raw people.  I loved the character of Mrs Armitage - she is so mysterious and although she doesn't like people, she really took a shine to young Ella.  Mrs Armitage tells it like it is; she was trying to help young Ella overcome her fear of the sea by telling her that her house would crash into the sea before theirs but it must have given Ella nightmares.  For me, Mrs Armitage stole the show and I wouldn't have had it any other way; every time I look out over the North Sea I shall be reminded of this fearless, strong, independent woman.

Underwater Breathing is another exceptional, hauntingly beautiful book by Cassandra Parkin, who is fast becoming a firm favourite author of mine.  A highly recommended read.

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

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon



About the author:

Cassandra Parkin grew up in Hull, and now lives in East Yorkshire. Her short story collection, New World Fairy Tales (Salt Publishing, 2011) won the Scott Prize for Short Stories. Cassandra's writing has been published in numerous magazines and anthologies. 

Follow Cassandra on Twitter @ cassandrajaneuk

Follow the tour:

BLOG BLITZ: Pressure - Betsy Reavley

When the submarine departed, none of the ten people on board knew it would turn into a nightmare.

Trapped on the sunken vessel on the bottom of the ocean and unable to escape, one of them is discovered dead. The tension escalates as the survivors realise there is a murderer among them, who is preparing to strike again and again…

With mounting desperation, people begin to turn on each other. While they struggle to identify who is responsible, each must contend with their own past, the claustrophobia and the secrets they are hiding.

But who is who?  And which of them will be next to die?

Below the surface, the pressure is building and time is running out…

'Betsy Reavley is back with a novel of such impact and power; nothing is clear, the tension so strong it holds you from the first page to the last. Pressure delivers on every level, leaving breathless readers in its wake.'  Bestselling author of Captor and 34 Days Anita Waller

What did I think?

Crikey!  I didn't think claustrophobia could be written so effectively into a book but my goodness, Betsy Reavley managed it in Pressure.  A super-fast paced thriller that I felt I had to read just as fast, as if my own reading-oxygen was in short supply.

I think it was a very novel idea to not just set the book on a submarine, but for the characters to be actors and film crew rather than sailors.  It added to the tension when things went wrong and the sub became trapped at the bottom of the sea because nobody knows how to fix it.  Add to the already tense mix that there's a killer on board and I could barely breathe with an equal mix of excitement and terror.  As characters begin to be killed off, I was both looking for the killer and wondering who would be next.  

With so many characters, books tend to get confusing and although I couldn't remember exactly who everybody was at times, some of the characters stuck in my mind due to the amazing back-stories that Betsy Reavley has created.  Everyone is on the submarine for a different reason, some to make a name for themselves and some to get revenge.  With so many reasons for a person to become unhinged, it makes Pressure totally unpredictable as even down to the last few chapters, I didn't know who to suspect.

Unusual and thrilling, Pressure kept me guessing right to the very end.  It certainly showed how appearances can be deceptive and the danger lurking beneath the masks that so many people wear.  Beneath the surface certainly has a double meaning in Pressure; beware what lies beneath...

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

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon




About the author:

Author of The Quiet Ones, The Optician's Wife, Frailty, Carrion, Beneath the Watery Moon and the poetry collection The Worm in the Bottle. Betsy was born in Hammersmith, London.

As a child she moved around frequently with her family, spending time in London, Provence, Tuscany, Gloucestershire and Cambridgeshire.

She showed a flair for literature and writing from a young age and had a particular interest in poetry, of which she was a prolific consumer and producer.

In her early twenties she moved to Oxford, where she would eventually meet her husband. During her time in Oxford her interests turned from poetry to novels and she began to develop her own unique style of psychological thriller.

Betsy says "I believe people are at their most fascinating when they are faced by the dark side of life. This is what I like to write about."

Betsy Reavley currently lives in London, with her husband, 2 children, dog, cat and chickens.

You can follow her on Twitter @BetsyReavley

Follow the tour: