BLOG TOUR: Festival Days (The Clapham Trilogy book 3) - Julie Anderson

May 1951

Celebration is in the air with the Festival of Britain and for the first time in years the mood is one of hope rather than hurt.

For Detective Constable Faye Smith, London is not as safe as it seems. The criminal underworld is gaining strength, enjoying a lively existence below the surface. Then two bodies are found in the war-time shelters, a man and a woman. Who are they?

What’s their story? Why were they murdered and how did they end up in the shelters?

Meanwhile, Ellie Peveril is busy with a celebration of a different kind. Ellie does all she can to support her friend but has her own worries, with ex-fiancé Patrick Havistock looming in the shadows. Faye, keen to unravel the mystery of the double murder, finds herself tangled up in crimes that stretch far beyond a simple killing.

Faye and Ellie must face their toughest case yet as their lives change, irrevocably, for the future.

What did I think?

Festival Days is the third and final book in The Clapham Trilogy and it's a real firecracker.  I only joined the series at book two so I enjoyed catching up with DC Faye Smith again but you can definitely read it as a standalone and still enjoy it.

Set in 1951, Faye is a woman in a man's world and it's unheard of to have a woman on the force in the 1950s but her colleagues are more accepting of her now.  Faye's latest case that this book centres around is quite tricky as it looks like a gangland execution so she needs all the help she can get.  

Faye's friend Ellie should be looking forward to her wedding day but she is convinced her ex-fiancé will turn up to ruin her day.  Even with all her own worries, she finds a way to help Faye but it puts her in grave danger.  What a wonderful friendship they have!  It makes me quite sad that this is a trilogy and not a long-running series as I could read more about these amazing characters.

Incredibly atmospheric, gripping and tense, Festival Days is a fantastic conclusion to an outstanding trilogy.  Whilst I'm sad it has come to an end, it does give me the opportunity to read book one for the first time and experience the trilogy in its entirety.  This is a highly recommended read that is sure to pick up new fans to the series.

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

My rating:

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Hobeck Books

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BLOG TOUR: The Strange Lives of Eleanor Teague - M K Hill

There's something wrong with Haddon Hall...

In 1876, Eleanor Teague lives in a lonely house far from the glamorous London Society she once knew. Confined to Haddon Hall by agoraphobia, bedevilled by nightmares of the death of her daughter, and haunted by the guilt of a terrible crime she committed, Eleanor depends on the household servants and on her husband Ezra, who is kind, patient… and controlling.

But when an apparition appears at her bedside, and mysterious voices urge her to find the 'Shadow House', she’s convinced an uncanny presence dwells within the walls of Haddon Hall, and that the staff are lying to her – they, in turn, fear she’s descending into madness.

As Eleanor’s world starts to fracture, the very foundations of Haddon Hall seem to shake. Why is the attic room locked? What is the Shadow House? Who is the strange woman in the woods?

The shocking truth will shatter everything Eleanor thought she knew about her life.

A haunting, high-concept thriller with a jaw-dropping twist, The Strange Lives of Eleanor Teague will enthral readers of John Marrs, Gillian McAllister and Stuart Turton. 

What did I think?

Wow!  What an absolute corker of a book!  It's not a spoiler to mention the jaw-dropping twist as it's stated in the blurb but it is MINDBLOWING!  

The main character of Eleanor Teague is complex and I really felt for her.  Not only is she grieving for her young daughter but she is filled with guilt over her death.  It's no wonder that she's frightened to leave the house.  Luckily for Eleanor, she lives in a large house with servants and her doting husband Ezra so she is well looked after...or so it would appear.

Mental health wasn't even considered in Victorian times so Eleanor is just seen as a weak and hysterical woman.  Haddon Hall is both her sanctuary and her prison and now it looks like it's haunted too.  Eleanor doesn't know what to believe or who to trust and the suspense and tension ramps up with every turn of the page.

Mind-bending, addictive and highly original, The Strange Lives of Eleanor Teague is completely unpredictable and incredibly suspenseful.  I was already hooked on the book when M K Hill delivered an ingenious twist that really pulled the rug out from beneath me and I take my hat off to you, sir!  The Strange Lives of Eleanor Teague is unmissable and highly recommended.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

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About the author:

M.K. Hill was a journalist and an award-winning music radio producer before becoming a full-time writer. He's written the Sasha Dawson series - The Bad Place, The Woman In The Wood - and the Ray Drake series - The Two O'Clock Boy and It Was Her - as well as acclaimed psychological thriller One Bad Thing, and the espionage thriller Zero Kill. He lives in London.

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BLOG TOUR: Jan the Dutchman (Mike Kingdom Thrillers Book 6) - David Jarvis

When a deadly enemy from her past appears alive and well, can Michaela ‘Mike’ Kingdom finally face up to her demons?

On holiday in The Gambia, Terry Bailey is enjoying his retirement from MI6 when he receives a shock. He spots a man in a car. It’s a fleeting glimpse. But it’s enough. He swears it is Jan the Dutchman, a drug overlord linked to a Colombian cartel. It can’t be Jan, as Jan is dead. Terry should know, he killed him.

Only one other person knows that Terry killed Jan – Michaela ‘Mike’ Kingdom, a CIA analyst based in London. Seven years ago, Jan had orchestrated the ambush in Holland that had killed Mike’s husband Dylan leaving her severely injured.

Was Terry tilting at windmills, Dutch windmills, or was Jan really alive seeking revenge? Terry tells Mike about the sighting and it re-opens wounds they both thought were long-healed.

It is now the beginning of a race to find Mike’s nemesis. But where to start? All Mike knew for certain is that he was not called Jan and he wasn’t a Dutchman. Apart from that, the search should be straightforward, shouldn’t it?

Jan the Dutchman is a thought-provoking and gripping sixth geo-political thriller that will delight fans of Frederick Forsyth and Mick Herron.

 

What did I think?

I was late to the party where the Mike Kingdom thrillers are concerned as I jumped in at book five but it's definitely a case of better late than never as they are fantastic. Jan the Dutchman is book six in the series and it's an absolute belter.  I think you could read it as a standalone and you will be hooked on Mike's story, like I was with the previous book.

Mike (Michaela) thought Jan the Dutchman was dead after causing the death of her husband and leaving her injured.  Now Jan is back and wants to finish the job, which puts Mike in terrible danger.  With her wedding day just around the corner, will Mike and Wazz get to the registry office on time?

Wow!  I could not put this book down!  The pacing is blisteringly fast and the plot is sharper than a razor blade.  There is so much going on, but it never gets confusing, and I think I was gripping the book tighter and tighter when Mike started to get closer to identifying Jan and the danger levels ramped up.  That ending, though!  Chef's kiss, Mr Jarvis!

Exciting, suspenseful and highly original, Jan the Dutchman is an outstanding thriller that kept me riveted from first page to last.  A very highly recommended read that is sure to result in new fans of this magnificent series.

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

My rating:

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Hobeck Books

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Erased - Miha Mazzini

She Doesn't Exist.

Neither Does Her Baby.

Now What?

When a “software error” erases Zala from the system, she discovers that officially, she and her newborn don’t exist.

As Zala fights desperately to prove her existence, and save her child from adoption, she uncovers the Kafkaesque reality of Slovenia’s system — one that erased 25,671 citizens on February 26, 1992.

A chilling thriller about bureaucracy as violence, and one mother’s battle against the state. 

What did I think?

Oh my word, Erased by Miha Mazzini is an emotional and heartrending book that is astonishingly based on real events.  It just blew my mind that this could happen but also reminded me how easy it is to press the delete button on a keyboard.  I thought identity theft was scary but deletion of identity is even worse!  This isn't an imaginative dystopian novel; this deletion actually happened in Slovenia in 1992. Wow!

Zala is about to give birth to her first child so she attends her local hospital, only to be told that she doesn't exist on the computer system.  She is accused of being an illegal immigrant and presented with a bill for her hospital stay, oh and the hospital is keeping her baby.  I can only imagine what Zala felt like and I had feelings of shock, outrage and devastation as I followed every step of her journey as she fights for her baby and her identity.

It's an incredibly emotional read as I really felt for Zala as she is on her own.  She is a very strong character though and there's nothing more powerful than a mother fighting for her child.  Miha Mazzini's evocative writing brings Zala to life so the reader can't help but take her to their heart.  I actually forgot that it was a translated novel when I was reading it so I have to give a shout out to the impeccable translation by Gregor Timothy Čeh.

Shocking, disturbing and harrowing, Erased is a poignant and thought-provoking novel that really makes you think about your own electronic identity and how easily it could be erased.  I would highly recommend this outstanding book to readers of all genres.

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

My rating:

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The Shrine (The Detective's Daughter book 10) - Lesley Thomson

A decades-old murder. A haunting legacy. A plot for revenge.

Stella Darnell knows her partner Jack is hiding something. After following him one evening, she discovers he's been consulting a psychic in a desperate attempt to reach his dead mother. A sceptic by nature, and feeling betrayed by his lies, Stella fears what this means for their relationship.

Seeking distraction, she accepts DI Toni Kemp's invitation to join her for a holiday in a small village in Gloucestershire. But the visit is derailed when a body is discovered at a shrine where a woman died decades earlier.

Drawn into the investigation, Stella must confront the legacy of a once-famous psychic whose shadow still hangs over Prestbury – while in the darkness, someone bent on revenge waits patiently for the perfect moment to strike...

Perfect for fans of LJ Ross and Kate Rhodes, this is the tenth gripping mystery in this must-read series that can be enjoyed in any order.

What did I think?

The Shrine is book 10 in The Detective's Daughter series but don't be put off if you haven't read any of the earlier books as it works brilliantly as a standalone.  I joined the series at book 8 so it was great to catch up with Stella again but there's enough information about her personal history for new readers to not feel lost.

This story is told from a dual point of view as we follow Stella's investigation and learn Jane's heartbreaking story.  The way that the stories interweave is breathtaking and I was completely riveted from start to finish.  It's like a double hook with the mystery of the present day murder and the avenging of an older tragedy.  Add in the story of the famous village psychic and the book becomes impossible to put down.

The beauty of The Detective's Daughter books, thanks to Lesley Thomson including concise recaps where necessary, is that you can pick each one up and enjoy the self-contained mystery without having to know Stella's history.  It does, however, make you want to find out and I definitely want to read the earlier books in the near future.

Compelling, intriguing and incredibly atmospheric, The Shrine is an entertaining and enthralling mystery with a fantastic female main character who virtually pops out of the page.  Another cracker from Lesley Thomson and a highly recommended read.

I received a gifted hardback to read and review for the Rachel's Random Resources blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Purchase links:

UK

US

About the author:

©Michael White

Lesley Thomson is the bestselling author of The Detective’s Daughter series, which has sold over 850,000 copies worldwide. The tenth instalment, The Shrine, marks a major milestone in the acclaimed series. Renowned for her atmospheric, character-driven mysteries, Thomson’s writing has been likened to Barbara Pym for its keen psychological insight and wit. Her debut, A Kind of Vanishing, won the People’s Book Prize, cementing her reputation as a distinctive voice in crime fiction. She lives in Sussex with her partner and their dog. 

Visit her website at www.lesleythomson.co.uk

Social Media Links:

Instagram: @lesleythomson

Twitter: @LesleyjmThomson

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BLOG TOUR: The Commune - Danny Dagan

Escape the rat race. Join our commune. Don't worry, it will be fine…  

Luke Stonebride flees London for a fresh start in a remote, off-grid commune. Nine days later, he is found in a coma. His fellow commune members lie lifeless in the forest.

Was it the work of a brutal intruder or something darker lurking within?

To find out, we need to go back to the beginning: a rainy day in July, a clearing in the forest, thatched cabins and woodsmoke – and the ominous signs of the dangers to come.

 

What did I think?

Whoosh!  That's the sound of me being blown away by Danny Dagan's fantastic novel The Commune.  Danny Dagan is a local author based in Northumberland and I totally missed his debut novel The Game but I will definitely be adding it to my TBR after reading this outstanding book.

I was riveted by the dual timeline of before and after the tragic events in the Northumbrian countryside.  There's a continual sense of unease and life in the commune is not as idyllic or simple as new resident Luke expects.  Luke is also running away from something and he's not the only character with secrets to hide.

Sandra Saint-John, the sister of the commune leader is quite a character and I don't mean that in a good way.  She's more bothered about her inheritance than the death of her sister Dorothy and nephew Joel.  Dorothy's will leaves the commune to the fellow members and with one of them still alive Sandra hires a private investigator to prove that that Luke killed the others and therefore can't profit from a bequest.

I really liked Alex Czerniak who Sandra hires to investigate the deaths at the commune.  His wife Mary is a Detective Chief Inspector and there seems to be a decent amount of pillow talk going on regarding this case.  Alex and Mary do work well together off the books, whilst keeping it professional in the public eye. 

The rugged Northumbrian countryside is almost a character in its own right and it is very easy to imagine living off grid up in the sticks. Without giving away any spoilers, I loved the nod to a local landmark in such an unusual way that it made me smile. Simply brilliant!

Unputdownable, unpredictable and unmissable, clear your schedule when you pick up The Commune as you won’t be able to put it down until you’ve devoured every single word.  Danny Dagan is clearly a very talented writer and he’s certainly one to watch.  Very highly recommended.

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

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The Mark of Eternity (The Egyptian Stones Book 2) - Murray Bailey

An ancient code. A deadly killer. A truth buried beneath the sands of time.

FBI Special Agent Charlie Rebb thought the Surgeon - a notorious serial killer - was a ghost from the past. But when a new series of murders erupts, each marked with strange, arcane symbols, the trail leads Rebb across continents to Egypt... and to a chilling revelation: the Surgeon has returned, and this time, his killings follow a pattern—one tied to a purpose more terrifying than anyone imagined.

Meanwhile, in Egypt, Alex MacLure has uncovered more encoded messages in ancient tablets. An ancient Egyptian was searching for a forgotten symbol. His name appears in a programme written by a brilliant AI student. The student reaches out with a wild theory - but before MacLure discovers the truth, he’s arrested for a murder he didn’t commit.

Thrown together by fate and hunted by forces beyond their understanding, Rebb and MacLure must unlock an ancient secret. They must stop the Surgeon before he unleashes a plan, millennia in the making.

 

What did I think?

Murray Bailey is really giving Dan Brown a run for his money with this fantastic Egyptian Stones series and having read The Heretic Cypher, I couldn't wait to read The Mark of Eternity.  You could definitely read it as a standalone as it has its own contained storyline featuring Egyptologist Alex MacLure.

Now I have to say that I thought I had opened the wrong book on my Kindle when I started reading as the story starts with what looks like religious murders in Atlanta, Georgia.  Well this isn't Egypt, I thought...but it's not my first Murray Bailey book so I knew that everything I was reading would fit together somehow and wow it sure does.

The pacing is blistering as the case in Atlanta moves to Cairo and there's always that magical element of mystery and buried secrets where the ancient Egyptians are involved.  I had my heart in my mouth at the end and couldn't read fast enough to get to the breathtaking conclusion.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that I am enjoying The Egyptian Series more than The Robert Langdon series.  Yep, Bailey is better than Brown!  It almost feels unfair to compare them but with codebreaking and ancient mysteries they do have similarities.  I am completely invested in Alex MacLure's story and Murray Bailey is such a skilful writer that every word is there for a reason and there's no padding required.

Riveting, action-packed and mysterious, The Mark of Eternity is an absolutely cracking thriller and I can't wait for the next book in the series.  Very highly recommended.

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

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Realm of Fear (Mirror Wars Book 3) - Alan Bayles

After cheating death with the aid from a mysterious cosmic entity, Dave Barnes and Claire Tulley find themselves on the parallel world of Terra, where the sudden appearance of Claire’s supposedly deceased twin sister, a revered Terran resistance leader throws them off balance.

A former enemy, now potential ally, may hold the key to returning home and continuing their battle against the sentient AI, Oracle.

New threats emerge, forcing Claire and Dave to make an impossible choice: keep the portal sealed, stranding them on Terra with a hostile inhuman presence, or do they jeopardise the whole multiverse just to get home?

GRAB YOUR COPY OF REALM OF FEAR NOW TO DISCOVER THEIR FATE!

 

What did I think?

Even though I don't usually read science fiction, I am really enjoying the Mirror Wars series and Realm of Fear is the thrilling third book in this gripping series.  It's a book I wouldn't advise reading as a standalone as you need to have read the earlier books to understand the various worlds and how they and the characters link together.

What links all of the worlds is Oracle, a scary AI that sends chills down my spine.  When you take emotions out of the equation, you really can't predict what Oracle will do next.  I loved how the Tulley sisters are reunited in this book but they have some unfinished business to deal with first to do with the last time they saw each other.

It's quite thought-provoking to see different versions of people in each world and it is surprising how similar they actually are.  I like to think that would be the case if I ever did run into another version of me from another world.

The pacing really ramps up in this instalment and especially so at the end where the reader is left right on the edge of the cliff with a beady eye out for book four.  I can't wait to read the conclusion. 

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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A Stranger in Corfu - Alex Preston

On the Greek island of Vidos the past lingers like salt in the air. The inhabitants - former members of MI6 - are sent here to be forgotten. Exiled. Either too damaged or too compromised to be allowed to live freely.

For years, residents make the best of their fate - old enemies reconcile, long-lost friends swim together in the warm sea and estranged lovers share a bed once more. But secrets bind tightly. And when one of their own washes up dead, alliances fracture and a tide of suspicion begins to rise.

A vivid reimagining of a real, hidden slice of the British Intelligence Service's history, A Stranger in Corfu is an exquisitely tense and masterfully spun novel about shadowy morality, unravelled secrets and the futility of trying to outrun the past.

 

What did I think?

It was really interesting to read A Stranger in Corfu because although it is fiction it did make me wonder what happens to spies when they are no longer active.  Are they trusted to they keep their secrets or are they too much of a risk?

These former spies are exiled on the island of Vidos in Corfu and they live together rather like a dysfunctional family.  The Greek police have their work cut out when one of the ex-spies is found dead.  Is it an accident or was it murder?  The spies know better than most that it's a dangerous world out there and you don't know who you can trust.

The timeline flips back and forth between the current setting and previous assignments and although the pacing is quite slow I was mesmerised by the eloquence of Alex Preston's writing. 

Atmospheric, poignant and intriguing, A Stranger in Corfu is an enthralling literary thriller that I really enjoyed reading.  It's well worth a read if you enjoy spy thrillers as it's something a bit different from the norm.

I received a gifted hardback for the Adventures With Words readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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The Perfect Lie - A. Barker

For years, Anna chased hope, desperate to outrun the lies she'd told herself.

Convinced her future can only be found in the past, she returns back to Brighton, where it all began.

She's older. Wiser. More determined.

Then she meets Patrick.

The man she should never have met.

The son of the only man she ever loved.

The son of the man she murdered over twenty years ago.

This fast-paced, twisted psychological novel will keep you hooked until the final, jaw-dropping twist.

Be prepared for a thrilling descent into the dark side of love with a story so unbelievable you will think it's actually true.

Perfect for fans of books by Freida McFadden, Claire Douglas and Lisa Jewell.

 

What did I think?

Well this book certainly kept me on my toes and on the edge of my seat!  The Perfect Lie is filled with so many lies and twists that I really didn't know what was going to happen next.

Anna is a character I loved to hate; she is completely deluded and she literally got away with murder.  When Anna returns to the scene of the crime many years later, she meets Patrick, the son of the man she killed, and it's not long before he is drawn into her dangerous web.  Is history about to repeat itself?

Eeeeeek!  I couldn't read this book fast enough to discover all of the secrets and lies buried within.  I'm keeping my review brief as I don't want to inadvertently release any spoilers but I will say that the plot is super-sharp and the pacing is blisteringly fast.

Impossible to put down and even more difficult to predict, The Perfect Lie is perhaps one of the most twisty books I have read for quite some time.  A very highly recommended and completely thrilling read. 

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

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Oracle's Vision (Mirror Wars Book 2) - Alan Bayles

The battle for the fate of Earth has only begun as Detective Inspector Dave Barnes and his team must fight against a malevolent AI hell-bent on dominating multiple worlds.

With Terra, a counter-Earth in a parallel dimension, under its control, the tyrannical AI known as Oracle continues her relentless march across the multiverse‚ and now she holds Earth Prime in her sights.

While Dave Barnes and members of The Castle battle to stop the dangerous AI from succeeding in her invasion, all is not lost on Terra where a group of resistance fighters are marshalling their forces to free those who have been assimilated as mindless foot soldiers.

With conflict waging on both worlds, and Oracle tightening her grip, hope comes from an unlikely source when the duplicitous Colonel David Barnes offers information that could prove vital. But can this master of deception be trusted to aid in the fight for two worlds?

As Oracle becomes increasingly unhinged, and with the fate of humanity at stake, it becomes clear to those who resist that the AI will stop at nothing to rule the multiverse. In a desperate struggle to survive, can those on opposite sides unite in a mission to save two worlds? And, with the stakes so high, will all who fight live to see freedom from Oracle's reign of terror?

 

What did I think?

After reading Double Jeopardy, the first book in the Mirror Wars series, I raced on to book 2, Oracle's Vision and it's a fantastic sequel.  

The story has taken a dark turn now that Oracle has arrived to take control of our world and whilst it sometimes is a bit techy (and Trekkie) for me, I was completely invested in the story.  You can tell that Alan Bayles is a big Star Trek fan so this book will definitely appeal to Trekkies and sci-fi fans alike.  There are also some movie references to look out for and although I haven't seen any Star Trek, I did notice the Back to the Future ones.

As it's the second book in the series, I think you do need to have read the first book to fully understand the different dimensions and the story behind some of the characters,  I think I would have been completely lost if I'd tried to read it as a standalone.

The pacing is fast and the plot is gripping so, even though it's quite a chunky book, I read it a lot quicker than I expected.  I can't wait to find out what happens next and I will be reading book 3, Realm of Fear very soon.

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

My rating:

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Morph: Demise of Knacc (The MorphEn Files Book 1) - Tim Ferguson

Dan Fletcher was never meant to exist. Now someone wants him dead.

Enhanced at birth without his knowledge, Dan is one of the MorphEns—a covert generation of genetically engineered humans, designed to be faster, stronger, and smarter than everyone else. He’s spent thirty years believing he’s normal. That illusion ends in a brutal ambush in the French Alps.

Hunted across Europe, Dan is forced on the run with his brother and sister as the Apfel—a ruthless organisation with unlimited reach—closes in. Assassins strike without warning. Safe houses burn. And the people chasing him know exactly what he is.

As MI6 fights to keep him alive, the CIA and FSB wage a silent war to seize control of the programme that created him. Trapped between rival agencies, betrayed at every turn, and pursued by enemies who never miss, Dan must rely on instinct, courage, and the few people he can still trust to survive.

No one can be trusted. Nowhere is safe.

And when evolution makes you a weapon, how do you outrun the people who built you? 

What did I think?

Morph: Demise of Knacc is a cracking debut novel from Tim Ferguson.  It took me a few chapters to get into it as the scene is set but once the danger levels ramp up I couldn't put it down.

I can't say too much about the story without spoiling it but the plot is so sharp, intelligent and gripping.  It's like taking a combination of Jason Bourne, Jack Bauer and James Bond and making a family of super-humans.  The best thing is that the Fletchers don't even know they are special until someone tries to kill them.

It's a very accomplished debut novel that is filled with action and danger.  The pacing is blistering and I couldn't read fast enough to try to keep up.  It's definitely a 'just one more chapter' kind of book!

Mixing espionage with genetic engineering, Tim Ferguson has found the formula to create a blistering modern-day espionage thriller.  It's a fantastic start to a new series and I can't wait to read more. 

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

My rating:

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Behind Her Smile - Caroline England

 

Buried secrets are dangerous.

Unearthing them might be deadly ...

Laurie Dunn has returned to her childhood attic bedroom and her old nightmares have come rushing back. Terrorised by a client-related mugging, her job as a criminal solicitor causes more problems than solutions.

Finn Ballentine yearns for a fresh start, but even the glossy façade of his new law firm can't protect him from the past he's running from.

After a disturbing remark by her confused father, Laurie joins forces with Finn to uncover dark truths. But the long-buried secrets they unearth are laced with danger for them both.

What did I think?

I love Caroline England books as you never know what to expect but you're definitely guaranteed a good read.  The creepy doll on the cover gives you some idea of how dark Behind Her Smile is and I absolutely loved it.

Laurie has been brought up by her father and sister after her mother died in childbirth.  The subject of memories is explored as Laurie thinks about her childhood and whether what she can remember is real or false.  You also wonder whether her family are protecting her or hiding something from her.  Needless to say, every guess I had was wrong!

I really liked Laurie and it was lovely to see her reviving her relationship with Finn but there are so many obstacles in their way.  Caroline England just kept reeling me in with the ups and downs of Laurie's life until hitting me with the big reveal.  Absolutely brilliant!

Dark, disturbing and completely addictive, Behind Her Smile is an unpredictable and unsettling read that gripped me from start to finish.  A highly recommended read.

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

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Double Jeopardy (Mirror Wars Book 1) - Alan Bayles

 

Called to the scene of a grisly double murder in a northern English village, Detective Inspector Dave Barnes thinks he's seen everything - until the threads of his investigation unwind an otherworldly secret.

As the Inspector and his team delve deeper into the case, a former history professor, with a personal interest in the crime, steps forward to provide bizarre clues that seem too impossible to be true. And, as Professor Claire Tulley shares her discoveries dating back to a failed military experiment 90 years earlier, DI Barnes realises that he's embroiled in a cover-up that reaches the highest levels of the government and beyond.

On a parallel Earth, Colonel David Barnes observes his doppelgänger with contempt as the detective edges closer to learning the truth about alternate worlds and the multi-dimensional portals that link them. But, as the Colonel seeks to assume control, he will do whatever it takes to overcome those in his way, even if that means assassinating the man reflected in the mirror.

With the fate of his Earth at stake, and realizing that not everyone around him is who they appear to be, Detective Inspector Barnes and his team must battle for their survival. But how can he win the fight when his own reflection is plotting against him?

What did I think?

I don't usually read science fiction but I was drawn to Double Jeopardy by the amazing cover and the fact that Alan Bayles and I support the same football team.  I read it a lot quicker than I expected as it cleverly combines science fiction with a police procedural.

Alternate worlds and the multiverse is a fascinating subject and I loved how Alan Bayles' vivid imagination sets out two different dimensions for this story.  The County Durham setting is unusual and I love that actual buildings I know of (and some I didn't) are included in the book.

I set aside a good few days to read Double Jeopardy but I was surprised how hooked by the story I was and I absolutely raced through it.  Alan Bayles includes a number of references to his favourite books and films and it was fun picking them up, although I will have missed a lot as I'm not a Trekkie.

Incredibly imaginative and completely compelling, Double Jeopardy is a fantastic start to a new series and I don't have to wait long for more as I'm heading straight on to book 2: Oracle's Vision.

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

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