BLOG TOUR: The Measure - Nikki Erlick

Eight ordinary people. One extraordinary choice.

It seems like just another morning.

You make a cup of tea. Check the news. Open the front door.

On your doorstep is a box.

Inside the box is the exact number of years you have left to live.

The same box appears on every doorstep across the world.

Do you open yours?

 

What did I think?

The Measure has to be one of the most unusual books I've ever read with an incredibly thought-provoking dilemma at its heart.  If there was a way to find out, would you want to know how long you have to live?

Mysterious boxes are delivered across the world to everyone over the age of 22 on one single day and each box contains a string.  The length of the string tells you how long you have left to live.  Where did the boxes come from?  Who sent them?  Would you open yours?

Told from the perspectives of eight fascinating characters with a mixture of long and short strings as well as unknown lengths in unopened boxes, this is a book that really tugs at the heartstrings.  So much so, that I actually cried at the end.  I didn't realise how deeply invested I was in the book and I totally didn't expect to experience such strong emotions.

The Measure is sure to be the book that everyone is talking about this year so do not miss it!  I can't stop thinking about it, long after I turned the final, soggy, tear-stained page.  Nikki Erlick is an exciting new talent to hit our bookshelves and her stunning, mind-blowing debut novel is very highly recommended.

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

My rating:

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About the author:

Nikki Erlick’s writing has appeared on the websites of New York Magazine, Harper's Bazaar, Newsweek, Cosmopolitan and The Huffington Post. She graduated Harvard University summa cum laude and is a former editor of The Harvard Crimson. She earned a master's degree in Global Thought from Columbia University. The Measure is her debut novel. 

@nikkierlick 

@BoroughPress

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BLOG TOUR: The Museum of Ordinary People - Mike Gayle

Still reeling from the sudden death of her mother, Jess is about to do the hardest thing she's ever done: empty her childhood home so that it can be sold.

But when in the process Jess stumbles across the mysterious Alex, together they become custodians of a strange archive of letters, photographs, curios and collections known as The Museum of Ordinary People.

As they begin to delve into the history of the objects in their care, Alex and Jess not only unravel heartbreaking stories that span generations and continents, but also unearth long buried secrets that lie much closer to home.

Inspired by a box of mementos found abandoned in a skip following a house clearance, The Museum of Ordinary People is a thought-provoking and poignant story of memory, grief, loss and the things we leave behind.

What did I think?

I love Mike Gayle books and The Museum of Ordinary People is no exception.  You can't help but read it with a smile on your face as it's just the most original idea to have a museum filled with sentimental treasures.

We meet Jess at a difficult point in her life: her mum has just died and Jess is clearing her house.  Many things can be donated to charity but a set of encyclopaedias remind Jess of so many happy memories that she can't bear to part with them.  Her annoying boyfriend Guy is not impressed when she brings them home to his immaculate flat so when Jess' friend tells her about the museum of ordinary people, Jess decides to donate the books.  

Jess should have chosen the encyclopaedias and left Guy right there and then, but then she wouldn't have discovered this fabulous museum that sets her life on to a different path.  Jess always dreamed of being a museum curator and she has never seen anything like this museum so she is excited to have the opportunity to open this museum to the public.  Many of the exhibits are not of high value or historical interest but they each have a wonderful story behind them and they mean something to somebody.

There are many strands to this story and I loved following every single one; I was surprised, delighted, shocked and angered as I experienced a wealth of emotions throughout the novel.  Jess is a lovely character and I really wanted everything to work out well for her; whether it does or not, you will just have to find out for yourself by reading the book.

Charming, uplifting and heartwarming, The Museum of Ordinary People is a beautiful story filled with a colourful cast of characters.  Grab your ticket to the museum and experience the magic for yourself.

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

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The Dark Remains - William McIlvanney and Ian Rankin

In this scorching crime collaboration, bestselling author Ian Rankin and Scottish crime-writing legend William McIlvanney join forces for the first ever case of DI Laidlaw, Glasgow's original gritty detective.

Lawyer Bobby Carter did a lot of work for the wrong type of people. Now he's dead and it was no accident. Besides a distraught family and a heap of powerful friends, Carter's left behind his share of enemies. So, who dealt the fatal blow?

DC Jack Laidlaw's reputation precedes him. He's not a team player, but he's got a sixth sense for what's happening on the streets. His boss chalks the violence up to the usual rivalries, but is it that simple? As two Glasgow gangs go to war, Laidlaw needs to find out who got Carter before the whole city explodes.

William McIlvanney's Laidlaw books changed the face of crime fiction. When he died in 2015, he left half a handwritten manuscript of Laidlaw's first case. Now, Ian Rankin is back to finish what McIlvanney started. In The Dark Remains, these two iconic authors bring to life the criminal world of 1970s Glasgow, and Laidlaw's relentless quest for truth.

What did I think?

I haven't read any William McIlvanney books before so when I saw this collaboration with Ian Rankin I just had to read it and what a gem it is.  It's dark, as the title suggests, but it's often humorous which makes it a well-balanced, highly entertaining novel.

The dark and dangerous streets of 1970s Glasgow are brought to life so vividly that I felt as if I was walking in DC Jack Laidlaw's shoes.  I absolutely loved Laidlaw - he really doesn't care what people think about him and he'll do whatever's necessary to get the job done.  

This is Laidlaw's first case and I am already chomping at the bit to read more.  I don't know how I haven't read any William McIlvanney novels before so thanks to Ian Rankin, McIlvanney will definitely pick up more new fans after reading The Dark Remains.

Flawless, gritty and gripping, The Dark Remains is a fantastic collaboration between two of Scotland's finest crime writers.  The writing is exceptional and completely seamless;  there's no way to tell where McIlvanney ends and Rankin begins.  I loved it - McIlvanney has a new fan here!

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

My rating:

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Amazon

About the authors:

William McIlvanney is the author of the award-winning Laidlaw trilogy, featuring Glasgow’s original maverick detective. He died in December 2015.

Both Laidlaw and The Papers of Tony Veitch gained Silver Daggers from the Crime Writers’ Association, while the third in the series, Strange Loyalties, won the Herald’s People’s Prize.

The McIlvanney Prize, named in his honour in 2016, is awarded annually for the best Scottish crime novel of the year.

Ian Rankin is the number one bestselling author of the Inspector Rebus series. The Rebus books have been translated into thirty-six languages and are bestsellers worldwide.

He is the recipient of four Crime Writers’ Association Dagger Awards, including the prestigious Diamond Dagger, and in 2002 he received an OBE for services to literature. He lives in Edinburgh.

@beathhigh  

ianrankin.net

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BLOG TOUR: One Last Secret - Adele Parks

One last client

A week at a beautiful chateau in the south of France – it should be a straightforward final job for Dora. She’s a smart, stunning and discreet escort and Daniel has paid for her services before. This time, all she has to do is convince the assembled guests that she is his girlfriend. Dora is used to playing roles and being whatever men want her to be. It’s all about putting on a front.

One last chance

It will be a last, luxurious look at how the other half lives, before Dora turns her back on the escort world and all its dangers. She has found someone she loves and trusts. With him, she can escape the life she’s trapped in. But when Dora arrives at the chateau, it quickly becomes obvious that nothing is what it seems…

One last secret

Dora finds herself face to face with a man she has never forgotten, the one man who really knows her. And as old secrets surface, it becomes terrifyingly apparent that one last secret could cost Dora her life…

From the Sunday Times Number One bestseller Adele Parks comes a blisteringly provocative novel about power, sex, money and revenge. 

What did I think?

OMG, Adele Parks, you devious little minx!  This book is filled to the brim with secrets and I devoured it in my quest to discover every single one of them.  Just when you think you have it all worked out, Adele Parks throws another curve ball to spin you in a completely different direction.  

Dora is a character with an unusual and unique voice; she is so blunt about everything, which shouldn't come as a surprise as her job as an escort doesn't require emotion.  It's actually really interesting to read about such an unusual character from her own perspective.  Of course, being an escort isn't something that little girls aspire to be but it is a necessary evil to pay the bills for a lot of women.

It took me a little while to warm to her as Dora is a very unemotional character, but I really liked her when I scratched beneath the surface.  I love how her personal and professional lives are so very different and it was lovely to read about her friendship with Evan, which comes under threat when she takes one last job as an escort.  A job that takes her to a luxurious chateau in France where nothing is as it seems.

I didn't manage to predict a single thing in this book.  Oh I had plenty of ideas and suspicions but I was completely wrong on all counts.  Reading books is one instance when I'm happy to be proved wrong as it shows how good the book is when you don't manage to predict any of it.  

One Last Secret is twisty, addictive and unpredictable.  I really enjoyed it and don't think I have read anything like it before; the main character is so unique and the twisty plot just keeps on delivering, even when you think all has been revealed there's still more to come. 

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

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The Vacation - John Marrs

How far would you run to escape your past?

Venice Beach, Los Angeles. A paradise on earth.

Tourists flock to the golden coast and the promise of Hollywood.

But for eight strangers at a beach front hostel, there is far more on their mind than an extended vacation.

All of them are running from something. And they all have secrets they’d kill to keep . . .

 

What did I think?

Originally published as Welcome to Wherever You Are, The Vacation is another outstanding novel from John Marrs.  I found it a bit daunting at first as there are a lot of characters but oh my word, I enjoyed every second of it.

Set in Venice Beach, Los Angeles this is a brilliant character driven novel with a whole range of colourful characters who are thrown together in a rundown hostel.  They all have different reasons for staying there and I devoured each and every one of their wonderful stories.

With short, punchy chapters written from a particular character's perspective, The Vacation is a real page turner as something might happen to that character at the end of the chapter and you can't wait to continue their story but it's time for someone else's perspective to take over.  It definitely exercised my speed reading muscles as I just couldn't read it fast enough.

I loved each and every character and I couldn't pick a favourite as I was deeply affected by many of their stories.   John Marrs' wonderful writing brings the characters to life and the way that their stories ebb, flow and intertwine is sublime.

Completely addictive and filled with suspense, The Vacation is the perfect holiday read for 2022, although it's so addictive that you're sure to finish it well before your holiday ends.  An easy five stars from me for this highly recommended book.

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

My rating:

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Sun Damage - Sabine Durrant

The heat is intense.

The secrets are stifling.

She just needs to escape . . .

Nine guests arrive at a remote villa in the south of France.

They know each other well. Or think they do.

But at least one of them has plenty to hide - and nowhere to run.

Under the relentless sun, loyalties will be tested, secrets revealed, and tensions pushed to the point of no return.

 

What did I think?

I've enjoyed some Sabine Durrant novels in the past and Sun Damage is no exception, although strangely the blurb doesn't seem to accurately reflect the novel.  So much so, that you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd picked up the wrong book when you first start reading.  Bear with it though, as this is a tense and claustrophobic novel that is so easy to read.

Ali and Sean are con artists, preying on the wealthy without a second thought.  When a con takes an unexpected turn, Ali sees her chance to escape Sean's clutches and finds herself masquerading as a chef for a British family who have rented a holiday villa in the south of France.  How the other half live, eh?

It's hard to actually like Ali as a character as she is a con artist so you're never sure who the real Ali is.  The family dynamic and the relationships between the guests was very interesting to read, as was Ali's relationship with Sean.  I found it fascinating how quickly and easily they managed to glean information about their marks, which is of course a lot easier in this digital age.

I didn't find it as twisty as I expected from the blurb, I think my imagination must have been working overtime as I worked out most of the plot quite early on and even expected more twists to be revealed from clues I thought I'd picked up, but they didn't materialise.  So, even though I was left with a few unanswered questions I still enjoyed the book.

Sun Damage is quite a slow burner but it's compulsively readable.  It's beautifully written as you would expect from a Sabine Durrant novel, with characters that you love to hate.  It's a good book to take on holiday to read by the pool and a stark reminder to not post your whole life on social media.

I received a gifted hardback copy from the publisher as part of the Tandem Collective readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Hostage - Clare Mackintosh

Save hundreds of lives. Or save your child?

You're on board the first non-stop flight from London to Sydney. It's a landmark journey, and the world is watching.

Shortly after take-off, you receive a chilling anonymous note.

There are people on this plane intent on bringing it down - and you're the key to their plan.

You'd never help them, even if your life depended on it.

But they have your daughter . . . So now you have to choose.

DO YOU SAVE HUNDREDS OF LIVES? OR THE ONE THAT MATTERS MOST?

 

What did I think?

WOW! What a book!  This is one of those books where I want to tell you to stop reading my review and just buy the book now - it's THAT good.  So for anyone still with me, I'll try to sum up my thoughts of a book that left me completely speechless (and incredibly tired as I really couldn't put it down).

The moment I opened this book, I knew I was going to be hooked.  The prologue is an emergency call transcript that is so chilling it made all of the hairs stand up on the back of my neck.  It haunted me throughout the book and I couldn't read fast enough to get to that point but also felt terrified of reaching it.

Mina is in the middle of a marriage breakdown so she signs up to be a flight attendant on the first ever non-stop flight from London to Sydney, even though this means she will be separated from her daughter Sophia for several days.  Someone on the plane knows all about Sophia and they're banking on Mina being willing to do anything to keep her safe.  Can Mina really sentence hundreds of people to death just to save one life?  That's all I'm going to say about the outstanding plot that kept me reading late into the night.

There is a lot going on behind the scenes of Mina's life and I was very intrigued as to how she ended up becoming a flight attendant.  Clare Mackintosh very cleverly weaves a story into the main thread that shows we can be physically held hostage but also metaphorically held hostage to our past.  This felt like a pearl of wisdom from the Dalai Lama; how often do we hark back to something we wish we'd said or done differently?  Let it go!  It's holding you hostage.

Claire Mackintosh scoops all the stars as well as all the adjectives in her exceptional new novel.  Hostage is breathtaking, jawdropping, awesome, stunning, gripping and terrifying; it's an absolute must read and very highly recommended.

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

My rating:

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About the author:

Clare Mackintosh is the multi-award-winning author of five Sunday Times bestselling novels, including I Let You Go, which was the fastest-selling debut thriller in the year it was released.

Translated into forty languages, her books have sold more than two million copies worldwide, have been New York Times and international bestsellers and have spent a combined total of 64 weeks in the Sunday Times bestseller chart.

Clare spent twelve years in the police force, including time on CID, and as a public order commander. She left the police in 2011 to work as a freelance journalist and social media consultant and is the founder of the Chipping Norton Literary Festival. She now writes full time and lives in Wales with her husband and their three children.

www.claremackintosh.com / www.facebook.com/ClareMackWrites / @ClareMackint0sh

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