Death, Adjourned (Charles Holborne Legal Thrillers Book 9) - Simon Michael

A gritty urban legal thriller you don’t want to miss! Perfect for fans of John Grisham, Robert Bailey, Michael Connelly and Robert Dugoni.

Has Charles picked the wrong side…?

London, 1969

The Kray twins, the nemeses of Charles Holborne, barrister, are finally convicted of multiple murders and sent away for the longest prison terms ever imposed by a British court.

But with London in the grip of a housing crisis and unscrupulous landlords hiking rents, there are new ruthless enforcers terrorising destitute East Enders.

When a tenant dies during a violent altercation with bailiffs, Charles is instructed to represent the businessmen charged with conspiracy to murder. There is motive, an eyewitness and a confession – seemingly an open and shut case.

But Charles suspects his clients are pawns in a much more dangerous game being played by shadowy Establishment figures.

But are his instincts wrong this time? Is he being manipulated into defending a guilty man?

And as dark secrets are revealed, will he have to choose between moral integrity and professional success?

DEATH, ADJOURNED is the ninth crime novel in an exciting historical series, the Charles Holborne Legal Thrillers — gritty, hard-boiled mysteries set in 1960s London.

 

What did I think?

I am delighted that Simon Michael has decided to continue his fantastic Charles Holborne series after Charlie's final showdown with the Kray twins in book 8, Nothing But The Truth.  The Krays may be behind bars but crime is continuing in London and Charles has a new defendant to represent and it's one who might be guilty this time.

As with all of the Charles Holborne books we are whisked away to court as the trial plays out and I did actually feel as if I was sitting in the public gallery, especially when one particularly jawdropping, gasp-out-loud scene plays out.  I almost dropped my Kindle!

The writing as always is flawless, vivid and immersive and the plotting is perfect.  I couldn't have put money on the outcome of the trial as I flipped between guilty and not guilty so often.  The subject matter of council built housing is actually very thought-provoking and I've always worried about companies tendering for jobs at a price that is too good to be true as they will inevitably cut corners in order to cut costs.  The historical note at the end is very sobering (and scary) to read.

As riveting as Charles' legal cases always are, I also enjoy reading about what's going on in his personal life as it really brings the character to life and I feel like I am catching up with an old friend.  My heart always goes out to Charles when he visits his parents in the residential home as his mother's vicious tongue may be silent now but Charles still loves her unconditionally, despite her never having done the same for him.

Gripping, immersive and thought-provoking, Death, Adjourned is another riveting instalment in the fabulous Charles Holborne Legal Thrillers series and long may it continue.  Keep ‘em coming, Simon!

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The Small Museum - Jody Cooksley

A chilling historical mystery set against the gothic backdrop of Victorian London, The Small Museum won the Caledonia Novel Award in 2023 and is inspired by the extraordinary treasure trove of curiosities that is the Hunterian Museum in London.

London, 1873. Madeleine Brewster's marriage to Dr Lucius Everley was meant to be the solution to her family's sullied reputation. After all, Lucius is a well-respected collector of natural curiosities, his 'Small Museum' of bones and things in jars is his pride and joy, although kept under lock and key. His sister Grace's philanthropic work with fallen women is also highly laudable. However, Maddie is confused by and excluded from what happens in what is meant to be her new home.

Maddie's skill at drawing promises a role for her though when Lucius agrees to let her help him in making a breakthrough in evolutionary science, a discovery of the first 'fish with feet'. But the more Maddie learns about both Lucius and Grace, the more she suspects that unimaginable horrors lie behind their polished reputations.

Framed for a crime that would take her to the gallows and leave the Everleys unencumbered, Maddie’s only hope is her friend Caroline Fairly. But will she be able to put the pieces together before the trial reaches its fatal conclusion?

What did I think?

Now that's what I call gothic!  With an array of weird and wonderful curiosities, a dark and brooding doctor and a Victorian murder trial, The Small Museum is a delightfully dark and chilling read.

Maddie's sister brought shame on the Brewster family so when an eminent doctor steps forward to marry her, her parents couldn't be happier.  Marriage to Lucius is not what Maddie expected and she feels like a visitor in her new home, especially when the staff take orders from her sister-in-law, Grace.  Even without the trial chapters, it is clear that something is not right in the Everley household.

I loved the way this book is written with a curiosity from Lucius' collection heading each chapter and it was like hunting Easter eggs seeing where this same item was hidden in the immaculate prose.  The trial chapters add intrigue and suspense as the clock ticks down to the verdict.

Beautifully written and incredibly intriguing, The Small Museum is a chilling, haunting and disturbing gothic novel.  Jody Cooksley's beautiful writing paints such a vivid picture of Victorian London that I felt as if I had stepped back in time.  It's a very unusual book and one I would recommend.

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

About the author:

JODY COOKSLEY studied literature at Oxford Brookes University and has a Masters in Victorian Poetry. Her debut novel The Glass House was a fictional account of the life of nineteenth-century photographer, Julia Margaret Cameron.

The Small Museum, Jody’s third novel, won the 2023 Caledonia Novel Award.

Jody is originally from Norwich and now lives in Cranleigh,Surrey.

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BLOG TOUR: You Had It Coming - B.M. Carroll

 

WOULD YOU SAVE THE MAN

WHO DESTROYED YOUR LIFE?

When paramedic Megan Lowe is called to the scene of an attempted murder, all she can do is try to save the victim. But as the man is lifted onto a stretcher, she realises she knows him. She despises him. Why should she save his life when he destroyed hers?

Jess Foster is on her way home when she receives a text from Megan. Once best friends, the two women haven't been close for years, not since the night when they were just the teenage girls whom no-one believed; whose reputations were ruined. All Jess can think is, you had it coming.

Now Megan and Jess are at the centre of a murder investigation. But what secrets are they hiding? Can they trust one another? And who really is the victim?

What did I think?

It's really unusual to have a paramedic as a main character and I loved the moral dilemma that Megan is faced with in You Had It Coming.  You can't help but wonder what you would do in the same circumstances and as tempting as it would be to put a pillow over his face and press down, a paramedic is there to save lives not end them.

When barrister William Newson is despised by so many people, it's impossible to guess who killed him and I didn't even try to work it out as I was so engrossed in the story anyway.  The chapters are told from three points of view: paramedic Megan who is first at the scene, Megan's old friend Jess who swore to kill William Newson at the end of their trial and detective Bridget whose job it is to find out the truth.  

There are excerpts from Jess and Megan's trial scattered between the chapters and I loved these although it did make me rather incensed at the way defence lawyers turn the tables on the victims.  It made me wonder how defense lawyers can do that job, it must be difficult to defend someone when they know they're guilty so they must really have to distance themselves and just do their job.  Personally, I couldn't do it but it did give me pause for thought and I love it when books have points like this that make me continue to think about it long after I have turned the final page.

It felt like a number of professions were put under the microscope in You Had It Coming; not only paramedics and lawyers but also the police.  Bridget constantly puts her job before her family and she's so lucky to have such an understanding husband.  It's just a shame that Bridget's work/life balance is so top heavy as she is missing out on so much family time but her job is never ending as crime never sleeps.  

The well developed, strong female characters carry the story effortlessly and I found myself completely engrossed in this extremely well-written novel.  Filled with tension and suspense, You Had It Coming is an incredibly intriguing murder mystery that invites so much discussion that it would be perfect for book clubs.  It's a book I will continue thinking about for a very long time.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

About the author

B.M. Carroll was born in Blarney, a small village in Ireland. The third child of six, reading was her favourite pastime (and still is!). Ber moved to Sydney in 1995 and spent her early career working in finance. Her work colleagues were speechless when she revealed that she had written a novel that was soon to be published. Ber now writes full-time and is the author of ten novels, including Who We Were, published by Viper in 2020. Find her on Twitter @bmcarrollauthor.

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The Coincidence (The Trial Trilogy) - David B. Lyons

How wide can a coincidence stretch your beliefs?

Joy Stapleton is Ireland’s most infamous prisoner.

She was incarcerated for two life sentences, after the bodies of her two young sons were found buried in a shallow grave in the Dublin mountains.

But she has always maintained her innocence, and argues the only reason she was ever arrested in the first place comes down to mere coincidence.

But it’s a coincidence that didn’t convince detectives.

A coincidence that didn’t convince a jury.

And a coincidence that hasn’t impressed the inmates of Mountjoy Prison.

That is until eight years into her sentence, when new evidence emerges, and everybody — including Joy’s long-suffering husband Shay — is forced into a rethink.

Take your seat in the courtroom for the retrial of the century… and see just how wide you’re willing to allow a coincidence stretch your beliefs…

What did I think?

I absolutely love books set in the courtroom for their high drama and edge of your seat thrills and David. B. Lyons delivers drama and thrills in abundance in The Coincidence, the third book in The Trial Trilogy.  It's such very compulsive reading and once you pick it up, it's impossible to put down.  David B. Lyons’ writing is so vivid and immersive I actually felt as if I was sitting in the courtroom; in fact it felt like I was in the judge's seat as the reader is privy to judge Delia's thought processes.

The case in this book is a retrial so the defendant, Joy Stapleton, is already in prison serving two life sentences for the murder of her sons.  Joy was convicted after being caught on CCTV near to the burial site, however, Joy claims it wasn't her in the video and the image isn't clear enough to confirm this.  New evidence is brought before the court to cast doubt on the person's identity in the video and a retrial is granted.

David B. Lyons paints such a vivid picture of life behind bars that my kindle virtually hummed with the underlying tension and the threat of violence.  An extra layer of suspense is added by the reader first meeting Joy 3,000 days ago when she is brought to Mountjoy Prison and the days count down to the verdict.  As if there wasn't enough tension already, the countdown clock made me put on my literary running shoes so I could race to the end of this very cleverly crafted and completely addictive book.

I had to take a few moments at the end of the book to gather my thoughts as I had so many questions flying around my head.  Some of these questions could have been answered along the way if I'd read a bit slower, but once I sat down and thought it over I fully appreciated the brilliantly clever plot.

The Coincidence is so gripping and fast paced, I couldn’t put it down; you’d think it was made out of chocolate the way I completely devoured it.  With clues to collect along the way, there’s so much to absorb and discuss which makes The Coincidence the perfect read for book groups.  A fantastic book and highly recommended.

Thank you to David B. Lyons for sending me an ARC to read; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

BLOG TOUR: The Law of Innocence (Lincoln Lawyer Book 7) - Michael Connelly

 

THE MOST IMPORTANT CASE OF HIS LIFE.

ONLY THIS TIME THE DEFENDANT IS HIMSELF

"The law of innocence is unwritten. It will not be found in a leather-bound code book. It will never be argued in a courtroom. In nature, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. In the law of innocence, for every man not guilty of a crime there is a man out there who is. And to prove true innocence the guilty man must be found and exposed to the world."

* * * * *

Heading home after winning his latest case, defense attorney Mickey Haller - The Lincoln Lawyer - is pulled over by the police. They open the trunk of his car to find the body of a former client.

Haller knows the law inside out. He will be charged with murder. He will have to build his case from behind bars. And the trial will be the trial of his life.

Because Mickey Haller will defend himself in court.

With watertight evidence stacked against him, Haller will need every trick in the book to prove he was framed. But a not-guilty verdict isn't enough. In order to truly walk free, Haller knows he must find the real killer - that is the law of innocence...

* * * * *

CRIME DOESN'T COME BETTER THAN CONNELLY.

What did I think?

It's a Michael Connelly book so you know it's going to be awesome but oh my word, The Law of Innocence is THE best Michael Connelly book I have ever read.  I'm a huge fan of the Harry Bosch novels and I'm still in the process of reading them but I haven't read any of the Lincoln Lawyer series.  Despite The Law of Innocence being the seventh book in The Lincoln Lawyer series, you can most definitely read it as a standalone, which is what I did and absolutely loved it.

Mickey Haller is The Lincoln Lawyer and when he is pulled over on an apparently routine traffic stop a body is discovered in the trunk of his Lincoln.  All of the evidence points to Mickey being guilty and he wants the best lawyer in town to defend him.  He is that lawyer.  Knowing that a not-guilty verdict will still tarnish his reputation, he sets out to prove his innocence by finding the real killer and, to my delight, enlists Harry Bosch to help him.

I love courtroom thrillers and you really do feel like you're in court when reading The Law of Innocence.  Michael Connelly writes a courtroom thriller that isn't just up there with the best of them, it blows them out of the water.  It's filled with suspense and tension as we see the tactics employed by the defense and prosecution as they both try to come out on top and win the case.  

The plot is beyond exceptional as the story goes in directions that nobody could predict; it kept me riveted from start to finish and I simply couldn't put the book down, reading later into the night than I planned.  It has certainly piqued my interest to start reading the Lincoln Lawyer series without feeling like I'm being disloyal to Bosch, as I suspect that Bosch may make an appearance in one or more of the previous books too.

Absolutely brilliant, The Law of Innocence is an outstanding courtroom thriller and I loved it so much that I could read it all over again right now.  Reading perfectly well as a standalone, Michael Connelly has certainly scooped up a new fan for his Lincoln Lawyer series.  So very highly recommended and without doubt a 5 star read.

Many thanks to Compulsive Readers for sending me an ebook to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: The Curious Case of Faith & Grace - David B. Lyons

The damppebbles blog tours Blog Tour for The Curious Case of Faith & Grace by David B. Lyons is visiting my blog today and I'm releasing my review as part of the tour.  This is my first David B. Lyons book and it definitely won't be my last.  It's an absolute cracker!  Scroll down to read my review of this outstanding book.

Pretty... or pretty twisted?

ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO FAITH AND GRACE TIDDLE ARRIVED HOME FROM THEIR USUAL SATURDAY MORNING DANCE CLASS TO FIND BOTH OF THEIR PARENTS FACE DOWN IN POOLS OF BLOOD.

Five days later, the twins — only nine years old at the time — were arrested for the double homicide.

And now, twenty months on, the entire country awaits with bated breath as the jury are dismissed to deliberate their verdict on a case that has become a national phenomenon.

But if Lead Detective Denis Quayle — the man who knows the case better than anybody else — isn’t fully convinced of the twins’ guilt…

Can a twelve-person jury be?

GET READY TO EXPLORE…

THE CURIOUS CASE OF FAITH & GRACE

What did I think?

If you like thrillers set in the courtroom then The Curious Case of Faith & Grace is definitely the book for you.  I love virtually going to court so I was riveted from start to finish at the trial of 11 year old twins Faith & Grace Tiddle.  With a creepy cover that makes the twins from The Shining look like sweet little angels, David B. Lyons lets us examine the evidence to decide whether the Tiddle twins are angels or devils.

It seems inconceivable that two 9 year old twins could murder their parents and then calmly trot off to dance class, but this is what the prosecution would have us believe.  It is such a heinous crime that the case is being brought before Dublin's Criminal Court where a jury of 12 adults will deliberate the verdict.  With all but the lead detective on the case convinced of the twins' guilt, it should be an easy decision for the jurors to make...but one of them is being blackmailed.  If the twins are convicted her life will be destroyed.

What an excellent storyline; not only do you have the very intriguing murder case but the blackmailing of the juror took the story to another level.  I loved reading the deliberations of the jury and the counter-arguments that were being put forth to save the juror's own skin.  I really liked Detective Denis Quayle; he has his own personal problems but he never stopped believing in the twins and I loved how he fought to hold onto the case when a neighbouring station tried to take over.

With only two choices: guilty or not guilty, I must have changed my mind hundreds of times over the course of the book.  Creepy, chilling and compelling, The Curious Case of Faith & Grace is an outstanding novel that I won't forget in a hurry.  Very highly recommended.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:
Amazon UK
Amazon US




About the author:

David B. Lyons is an international bestselling author -- a writer of psychological thrillers.

He has reached No.1 in charts in Ireland, the UK, Canada and Australia.

David grew up in Dublin - the city his novels are set - but currently spends his time between Birmingham in the UK and the Irish capital. David is married to a Brummie, Kerry, and they have one daughter, Lola.

He has lectured in Creative Writing in colleges and universities in both Ireland and in the UK and coaches people how to write with free tutorials at TheOpenAuthor.com.

You can connect with David here:

Website: TheOpenAuthor.com

Twitter: @TheOpenAuthor

Facebook: AuthorDavidBLyons

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BLOG TOUR: Clear My Name - Paula Daly

I was really excited when I saw that the fabulous Paula Daly had a new book coming out but it was fastest fingers first when Emma from damppebbles sent out the blog tour invitation for Clear My Name as all the spots were snapped up within 10 minutes flat.  That's got to be some kind of record, right?  So I must express my thanks to the lovely publishers at Bantam Press/Transworld Digital for not only expanding the tour, but I, along with Feminisia Libros, have the great honour of opening what I'm sure will be a fantastic tour for this brilliant book.

Innocent?

When Carrie was accused of brutally murdering her husband’s lover, she denied it. She denied it when they arrested her, when they put her in front of a jury, and when they sent her to prison.

Now she’s three years into a fifteen-year sentence, away from the daughter she loves and the life she had built. And she is still denying that she is to blame.

Guilty?

Tess Gilroy has devoted her life to righting wrongs. Through her job for Innocence UK, a charity which takes on alleged miscarriages of justice, she works tirelessly to uncover the truth.

But when she is asked to take Carrie’s case, Tess realises that if she is to help this woman, she must risk uncovering the secrets she has struggled a lifetime to hide…

We’ve all done things we’re not proud of.

What did I think?

I have always been a huge fan of Paula Daly's books so I was terribly excited when I heard that she had a new book coming out.  I first came across Paula Daly when I read her second novel, Keep Your Friends Close, in 2015 and I was completely blown away.  Since then I have been eager to read everything that Paula Daly writes so I definitely was not going to miss her sixth novel, Clear My Name.  I also can't wait for the TV adaptation of Deep Water, based on Paula's books, starting in August on ITV.  See! Her books are so good they have made them into TV dramas.

I don't think I've read a book like this, where there has been a murder and the guilty party is already in jail.  Or is she guilty?  Carrie professes her innocence but as we all know, the guilty nearly always say that they're innocent.  This is where the charity Innocence UK and Tess Gilroy comes in as they take on Carrie's case to see whether there has been a miscarriage of justice.  I really loved this storyline as I felt a bit like a super sleuth, examining all of the evidence that had been put before the court and resulted in Carrie's conviction.  I always remind myself that there are two sides to every story but it's actually quite scary to think that a jury can be swayed by the way evidence is portrayed.  It was very thought-provoking to consider how much juries are blinkered by DNA evidence at the scene without perhaps fully taking into account other conflicting evidence.  It was also interesting to read how quickly science progresses; tests that were not available 5 years ago could now prove the innocence of someone wrongly convicted if their case went to appeal.

The whole murder investigation kept me riveted but the additional storyline of Tess Gilroy's mysterious past and her inability to get close to people felt like the cherry on the top.  I loved how she was really miffed to be paired with a young trainee at the beginning but their relationship develops over the course of the book and you see a different side of Tess coming out.  It was like her carefully built emotional brick wall was being slowly dismantled brick by brick and the real Tess would finally be revealed so she could stop running and hiding from her past.

I have to mention a fabulous acronym that Paula Daly invented that completely resonated with me.  We've all heard of FOMO - Fear Of Missing Out, but Carrie describes herself as more of a WINJI - Wish I'd Never Joined In.  I love that!  That is so me and I'm definitely going to steal this one and use it to describe me as even though I rarely join in things, I always regret it when I do.  I would never have thought that being called whingey would have amused me so much.

I could write so much more about this book; the amazing cast of characters and the intriguing storylines but ultimately all you need to know is that Clear My Name is brilliant.  This intriguing and captivating crime thriller is a truly exceptional novel and is one that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend; I expect I shall be recommending it for a long time to come yet! 

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

My rating:

Buy it from:
Amazon UK
Waterstones
Book Depository
Hive
Foyles




About the author:

Paula Daly © Stephen Lea

Paula Daly is the critically acclaimed author of six novels. She has been shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger for Crime Novel of the Year award, and her books have been developed for the new ITV television series, Deep Water, starring Anna Friel. She was born in Lancashire and lives in the Lake District with her husband, three children, and whippet Skippy.

Social Media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaulaDalyAuthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Paula-Daly-490968164379299

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He Said/She Said - Erin Kelly

Don't be left in the dark.

In the hushed aftermath of a total eclipse, Laura witnesses a brutal attack. She and her boyfriend Kit call the police, and in that moment, four lives change forever.

Fifteen years on, Laura and Kit live in fear.

And while Laura knows she was right to speak out, she also knows that you can never see the whole picture: something is always hidden . . . something she never could have guessed.

What did I think?

Well there could have been a total eclipse of the sun and I would not have noticed whilst reading He Said/She Said; I'd no sooner picked it up than I was engrossed and unable to put it down until I'd finished.  The mark of a good book!

Laura and Kit are looking forward to the birth of their twins, although Kit is heading off to the Faroe Islands for an eclipse and Laura is suffering palpitations of fear.  Fear that Beth will turn up to threaten their happy existence.  The story flash backs to 1999, when Laura and Kit first meet Beth as they stumble upon her allegedly being raped.  Laura and Kit become key witnesses in the trial but how much did they really see and how much of what Beth is saying is true?  Clearly something went sour as Laura is afraid of running into Beth now so my fingers literally could not turn the pages fast enough to find out the whole story!

This is a book that I intended to start and read over the next few days...I couldn't have been more wrong as I read it as fast as I possibly could.  I picked it up and could not put it down, I ended up reading until my eyes hurt.  I swung back and forth between whether Jamie was guilty or not but there was so much more to uncover.  Beth reminded me of Jennifer Jason Leigh's creepy character in Single White Female; she seemed to latch on to Laura like a limpet and even a crow bar wouldn't get her off.

Aside from the story around the court case, I loved the description of the eclipse; the coolness of the wind and the eerie silence as the moon crossed infront of the sun.  I also have to give a special shout out to Newcastle Central Station and our famous bridges for getting a mention in Kit's journey to the Faroe Islands.

I was hooked, intrigued and totally addicted to He Said/She Said, putting Erin Kelly firmly on my radar of authors to look out for.  A scorching novel that kept me riveted from start to finish and barely able to breathe until I turned the final page.

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

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

Praying For Sleep - Jeffery Deaver

Michael Hrubek, a young schizophrenic, has escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane. And he's making his way towards Lis Atcheson, the teacher who testified at his trial.

Four people are racing to intercept him before he finds her. His psychiatrist; the hospital director; a professional tracker. And Lis's husband, who plans to stop Hrubek before the madman reaches his wife.

But Michael's mind - with its delusions of murder and betrayal - is crystal clear about one thing. He knows Lis better than she knows herself. And he carries with him a monstrous secret that will tear apart many lives in the course of one horrifying night...

What did I think?

I apologise in advance for the short review as I wasted too much time reading this book to write about it.  I've read Jeffery Deaver for many years now and this doesn't even come close to the Lincoln Rhyme and Kathryn Dance thrillers.  I wasn't hooked, I wasn't thrilled, I was praying for it to end.

Michael Hrubek has escaped from a mental institution and despite everyone knowing where he is going - to find Lis Atcheson, who was a witness at his trial, they feel the need to track him across country.  Even Lis's husband joins in the chase, with me thinking he would be better off at home protecting his wife if he cares that much about her.  Why go looking for someone when you know where they will be? So after MANY days of tracking Hrubek, he finally turns up at Lis's farmhouse and you know that not everyone will leave there alive.

I really struggled with this one; I found it boring with too many characters and I had little care about who they were or how they fitted into the story.  If this was my first Deaver, I wouldn't read any more.  I do think I have been spoilt by reading so many good books of late, but I will definitely stick to the Rhyme and Dance books from now on.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

Alchemy: turning silver to gold - Chris James

The Sequel to "Alchemy: a story of perfect murder" - available for Pre-Order at Amazon. Launch date: 14 December 2015.

After finding Jacob Silver's body missing from his grave at Pentonville Prison, Lizzie Weston battles to prove he is immortal - and clear his name.

Detective Inspector George Neville searches for Jacob's missing remains and learns that Nicolas Flamel is not only alive but cooking another brew - and leaving dead bodies wherever he goes.

Portraits and heads in jars, exhibits from Jacob Silver's "trial of the century" cause havoc as Jacob's murdered victims seek revenge.

Sir Robert Weston is honoured by Queen Victoria for services to medicine - after stealing with Jacob's discoveries.

But where is Jacob Silver?

A new trial, the sensation of the next century, reveals all.

What did I think?

Alchemy: turning silver to gold takes us on another trip to Victorian London, following the sensational hanging of Jacob Silver.  This definitely needs to be read in conjunction with Alchemy: a story of perfect murder as it won’t make much sense as a stand-a-lone novel and it follows on directly from the first book.

Where the first Alchemy book was about the quest for immortality, this second book in the series examines whether immortality has actually been achieved, thanks to the elixir that Jacob gave to his friend Lizzie Weston.  Lizzie emerges unscathed from some life-threatening events and she begins to believe she is immortal, all the while you feel that all of these strange happenings are being orchestrated by the legendary Nicolas Flamel.

Although Jacob doesn't appear until halfway through the book, Lizzie is a main character who had me enthralled.  She has an air of the supernatural about her, having miraculously survived consumption and an explosion, and I felt she almost glowed from within the pages of this book.

I did really enjoy this but not as much as the first book as some parts were a bit too fantastical for my liking; I was okay with the chattering evil decapitated heads in jars but Lizzie's effect on them was a bit puzzling.  Perhaps it will become clearer in the third book, for which I can't wait, thanks to the amazing cliffhanger at the end of this book.  Chris James has certainly mastered the art of making the reader eager for more!  As with the first book, I thought the spectacle of the trial was described brilliantly; the writing is so vivid that I felt I could have been sat in the public gallery myself.

As with the first book, there are some famous faces making an appearance in the story and this all adds to the authentic flavour of the book.  Chris James has managed to completely immerse the reader in the Victorian era, although I did question whether the ‘f’ word was in use back then.  I can see this being a series of books I will re-read over the years, they are very entertaining and I'm such a greedy reader as I'm already looking forward to the next one.

I received this e-book from Booklover Catlady publicity in exchange for an honest review.

My rating:

Alchemy: a story of perfect murder - Chris James

How far would YOU go to bring back a lost love?

Alchemy is a chilling psychological tale of mystery, murder and suspense and reveals an extraordinary decade in the life of a talented, sweet young and innocent genius, as he transforms into a monster. The author, well used to murder and the macabre, was a criminal trial lead detective in the British police.

In Victorian London, England, close to the end of the 19th century, a young artist unravels what he believes to be the formula for immortality and raising the dead, prescribed in an ancient tome: Alchemy

Just when he cracks the secret code for the final components of his elixir, his mistress and inspiration, dies. His life is devastated, his mind fragile, destroyed by drugs. He knows he has the power to revive her. But obtaining the last ingredients means resorting to murder, taking innocent lives.

He just has to decide whose.

His only surviving model, our narrator, infatuated with this painter of her portrait, attends the trial of the century, where she finally learns someone got away with murder. 

Based on a true story? Why not decide for yourself?

What did I think?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book – it’s a dark gothic tale with a twist and is an absolutely stunning debut from Chris James.  It’s a veritable who’s who of the Victorian era with many famous faces making an appearance, including the grand old lady herself.

Jacob is such a tortured character and being an artist as well as an alchemist, it is little wonder that we are encouraged to question his sanity.  Jacob is standing trial for murder and the circus of the courtroom is described wonderfully.  In between chapters of the trial, we find out about Jacob’s life and I soon found myself questioning whether some things were real or imagined.

Whilst reading, I felt fully immersed in the late 19^th century and could feel Jacob’s sanity slipping away as his painting became darker and he became more addicted to his potions.  Was he living alone, or with the people with whom he claimed to be living?  My mind was a-whirl as the story progressed and as the end of the trial approached, I could see only one outcome…but what an ending!  There’s an amazing revelation and cliff-hanger at the end, ensuring that the reader will be hot-footing it over to Amazon to pick up Alchemy: turning Silver into Gold as soon as it is released.

It’s such an atmospheric, dark and brilliant book; I was reminded of Jekyll and Hyde, The Picture of Dorian Gray and even Harry Potter, ultimately causing my mind to run into overdrive as it pushed my eyes to read faster.  I really can’t wait to read book 2.

I received this e-book from Booklover Catlady publicity in exchange for an honest review.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon