Two Heads Are Better Than One

TJ Newman

Publication Date: 8 June 2023

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

SYNOPSIS

Six minutes after Flight 1421 takes off, it crashes into the ocean. The passengers who survive the crash think it’s a miracle
They believe they’re the lucky ones. Then the plane begins to sink to the ocean floor. The
survivors are trapped inside.
Against all odds, a massive rescue operation is launched to save them. There is not much time. There is even less air.

MY REVIEW

I expected a cracking thriller, but I didn’t expect all the emotions! I was absolutely glued to this book. 

The main storyline is obviously the plane which has crashed into the sea, but there is a deeper story going on. The heartbreaking story of Will, Chris and Shannon. Will and Chris separated after the loss of one of their young daughters. Now Will is at the bottom of the sea, trapped inside the plane with their other daughter along with a handful of passengers and crew, and nothing will stop Chris trying to save them. Will is the voice of calm and reason and someone I would rely on completely in an emergency. Being an engineer, he has the best ideas of how to try to survive this impossible situation.

Will and Chris both reflect on their lives as they struggle to survive this disaster and wonder why they didn’t try harder to make their marriage work. If only they can all survive this unimaginable disaster.

The characters were all written incredibly well and I felt I got to know them, and I was desperately hoping they would be saved. The whole book played out like a film in my head as I was so immersed.

Believe the hype. This one lives up to all the hype. Had me on the edge of my seat from the moment the plane started to malfunction after just a few minutes in the air. Also had me in tears a number of times. What a talented writer. 

Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for my spot on the tour.

BLOG TOUR HOSTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

T. J. Newman is a former bookseller and flight attendant whose first novel Falling became a publishing sensation and debuted at number two on the New York Times bestseller list. The book was named a best book of the year by USA TODAY and Esquire, among many others, and has been published in over thirty countries. The book will soon be a major motion picture from Universal Pictures. T. J. lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Drowning is her second novel.

Diane Jeffrey

Publication date:14/6/23

Publisher: HQ

SYNOPSIS

Two couples. A fatal accident. And a decision that changes everything…

Kirsten and Nick are enjoying a weekend away until, on their drive home, they accidentally run over and kill a man. They should call for help – but they have too much to lose, and no one can know the real reason they’re here. Instead, they make a split-second decision to conceal the accident.

Amy and Greg have just celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary. Amy is expecting a baby, and they couldn’t be happier. So when Greg fails to come home from a dog walk one weekend, Amy knows the police are wrong to believe he left of his own accord. Someone must be behind Greg’s disappearance, and Amy won’t give up until she gets justice – or revenge.

If you had nothing left to lose, how far would you go to find the truth?

Purchase Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Other-Couple-gripping-psychological-breath-taking-

ebook/dp/B0BZTJP1PF

US – https://www.amazon.com/Other-Couple-gripping-psychological-breath-taking-

ebook/dp/B0BZTJP1PF

MY REVIEW

Wow what a page-turner! I was glued from the beginning to the last page as the tension builds and builds!

A particularly unlikeable couple, Kirsten and Nick, are on a romantic break when they cause an accident killing a man and taking his wife’s happy life away from her. And more. With so much to lose, they decide to cover up the accident.

As the victim is being dealt with by the local police as a missing person, his wife becomes increasingly convinced something very bad has happened to him and vows to find who is responsible and make them pay.

This is one of those books that you just want to read in one sitting! I managed to do it in three, but only because life and responsibilities got in the way! 

I was hoping Amy, the victim’s wife, would find the couple and make them pay. Every step closer she got to them I was silently urging her on further!

I loved the way the book was written in alternating chapters from Amy and Kirsten, and I enjoyed how Kirsten was spiralling downwards, just waiting for that knock on the door.

I will be reading more from this author.

Thank you to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the blog tour.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Diane Jeffrey is a USA Today bestselling author. She grew up in North Devon and Northern Ireland. She now lives in Lyon, France, with her husband and their three children, Labrador and cat.

Diane has written six psychological thrillers, all published by HQ / HarperCollins. THE GUILTY MOTHER, Diane’s third book, was a USA Today bestseller and her fourth novel, THE SILENT FRIEND, was a Karin Slaughter pick for ASDA. THE COUPLE AT CAUSEWAY COTTAGE, Diane’s fifth thriller, is set on the remote island of Rathlin, off the Northern Irish coast and has recently been shortlisted for an International Thriller Writers award. She is currently working on her seventh psychological thriller. Diane is an English teacher. When she’s not working or writing, she likes swimming, running and reading. She loves chocolate, beer and holidays. Above all, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Social Media Links –
https://www.dianejeffrey.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianefjeffrey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dianefjeffrey/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dianejeffreyauthor

Giveaway to Win a previously released Diane Jeffrey book of your choice (Open Internationally)

Prize – you can choose between the following books – The Couple at Causeway Cottage, The Silent Friend, The Guilty Mother, He Will Find You or Those Who Lie.

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter link below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494556/?

James Comey

Publication date: 30/5/23

Publisher: Head of Zeus – an Aries Book

SYNOPSIS

One chance to crack the case. A million ways to lose.
Federal prosecutor Nora Carleton has spent years building a case against a powerful New York mobster. She finally has a star witness whose testimony will lock the defendant away for good.
But the courtroom is an unpredictable place. While the killing of a disgraced former governor appears unconnected to the trial, the fallout from his death means a guilty verdict hangs in the balance.
Desperate to stop the mobster walking free, Nora investigates the darker side of the city to find out how everything connects. The more she uncovers, the deeper the corruption runs. And Nora knows better than most that the truth is a fragile thing – especially in court.

Drawing on James Comey’s thirty years in federal law enforcement, Central Park West is a fast-paced thriller, bursting with tension and authenticity – perfect for fans of John Grisham.

MY REVIEW

This is crying out for a film to be made! 

Written by the ex FBI Director who was fired by Donald Trump. There are plenty of references to his feelings about the president!

The story had me engrossed. I love a gritty courtroom drama and this ticked lots of boxes of things I like to read in a good US thriller including FBI, the mafia and, of course, murder!

As authentically as it could be written, plenty of explanations about the US justice system, and putting right things we see in films which are not true to life. Con Air is not what the air transport system for criminals is called for one. And I have learned about the quality of bagels depending on hole size which is something I absolutely wasn’t expecting to know after reading this book!

Fabulous larger than life characters from the first court case of mobster Dominic D’Amico aka The Nose, a member of the Gambino Crime Family, the most powerful of New York’s five mafia families to the widow of the deceased to the hit woman. Plenty of threads which unravelled as I read and kept me guessing to the end. Did they have the right person? 

I enjoyed getting to know a little about the private life of Nora, Assistant US Attorney and devoted mum. 

The importance of family is a strong theme throughout the book.

A brilliant debut and I hope there will be more to come from James Comey.

Thank you to the publisher for my proof and my spot on the blog tour. 

BLOG TOUR HOSTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James Comey was born in New York City and attended the College of William and Mary and Chicago Law School. He worked as an assistant district attorney in New York, prosecuting organised crime figures, and on
terrorism cases as assistant DA in Virginia. He moved into federal law enforcement, serving as the seventh Director of the FBI from 2013 until May 9, 2017, when he was fired by President Donald Trump.

AUTHOR Social Handles

Twitter: @Comey
Facebook: James Comey Author
Instagram: @Comey
Website: https://www.AUTHOR.co.uk/

By Victoria Williamson

Illustrated by James Brown

Publication date: 11/5/23

Publisher: Tiny Tree Books

SYNOPSIS

In a strange little village called Witchetty Hollow, eleven-year-old Florizel is the first to run into the curious visitors who’ve come to open a brand-new Daydream Delicatessen and sack-baby factory. At first, the poor folk of the Hollow are delighted – after all, who has the money to rent a real child from Storkhouse Services these days? But soon the daydreams turn sour. The Delicatessen’s products are expensive, and villagers trading their worldly goods in the newly-opened Pawnshop begin to disappear. With no money for rent payments, the real children of Witchetty Hollow are being reclaimed by Storkhouse Services at an alarming rate. Can Florizel and sack-boy Burble stop the daydream thieves’ evil business before it’s too late to save the Hollow?

MY REVIEW

Think Grimm’s Fairy Tales crossed with 10% Enid Blyton and you will be about there!

This is a dark and creepy fairy tail which I lapped up! It is the story of a small village where children have to be rented from a company, as babies are no longer born because of the polluted water. Florizel is one of the rented children, who must pretend to be a dunce at school or her rent will go up, her gamma won’t be able to afford to keep her and she will be taken away by the Child Collector (think the child catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!).

Florizel meets Burble, a sack boy made in the local factory, who, now that he is 10, was going to be recycled but escaped. Burble wants to go to school and learn things, but he only knows his alphabet as far as A, and can’t count. He is accident prone but just wants to help and be included. I adored him.

Between them, they uncover the dastardly doings of the Gobbelino family.

An enchanting read, set in a fantasy world for brave middle graders. I enjoyed the fact it was a child who led the way to save her village from the bad adults, having also eventually taken Burble under her wing.

It was quite a short read at just over 200 pages. I would have happily read twice the number of pages to have been immersed a little longer in that world and got to know more about the residents and the other sack children.

Thank you to John at The Write Reads for my E copy of the book and my spot on The Ultimate Blog Tour.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Victoria Williamson grew up in Glasgow, Scotland, and has worked as an educator in a number of different countries, including as an English teacher in China, a secondary science teacher in Cameroon, and a teacher trainer in Malawi. 

As well as degrees in Physics and Mandarin Chinese, she has completed a Masters degree in Special Needs in Education. In the UK she works as a primary school special needs teacher, working with children with a range of additional support needs including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, physical disabilities and behavioural problems.

She is currently working as a full time writer of Middle Grade and YA contemporary fiction, science fiction and fantasy, with a focus on creating diverse characters reflecting the many cultural backgrounds and special needs of the children she has worked with, and building inclusive worlds where all children can see a reflection of themselves in heroic roles.

Victoria’s experiences teaching young children in a school with many families seeking asylum inspired her debut novel, The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, an uplifting tale of redemption and unlikely friendship between Glaswegian bully Caylin and Syrian refugee Reema. 

Twenty percent of her author royalties for The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle are donated to the Scottish Refugee Council.

You can find out more about Victoria’s books, school visits and upcoming events on her website: http://www.strangelymagical.com

A B Morgan

Publication Date: 6 June 2023

Publisher: Hobeck Books

SYNOPSIS

Peddyr and Connie Quirk head for the Isle of Man, hoping for a well-deserved break from their private investigation business. However, in an underhand move by Peddyr’s cousin Superintendent Eddie Cadogan, their hotel booking is changed, and they are redirected to Hodge Fell Farm, with its farm shop, butchery, café and quaint holiday cottages.

When they meet their hosts – including a certain Nick Popadopoulos – a relaxing holiday of bracing walks by the sea is quickly replaced by pigs, adultery, soap-making, drag queens, smoked sausages, scams and skulduggery. In their quest to work out what despicable scheme Nick has underway, Peddyr and Connie soon realise that not everyone is being honest with them. Time is not on their side, and they must rely on their wits to act before someone gets away with murder.

MY REVIEW

Connie and Peddyr Quirk are back in the fourth instalment of The QuirkFiles with another cosy crime mystery.

This time the couple, who run a private investigation company, are heading to the Isle of Man where Peddyr lived as a child, supposedly on a holiday. An email received en route soon puts an end to that idea as Peddyr’s cousin Eddie, who just happens to be the police superintendent on the island, asks them to investigate a situation the police are unable to.

Eddie cancelled their hotel, much to Connie’s annoyance, but on arrival at their new accommodation on a farm, complete with farm shop and personal hot tub, she was more than happy. Their cover story is they are searching for a holiday home on the island which becomes a reality as they decide it is actually a great idea. 

Their investigation into Nick; a scheming, womanising, two timing husband commences in their own jovial, quick witted way with a bit of dark humour added to the mix. Only the Quirks could encounter, during their investigation, drag queens, a soap making class, piglets, and murder. There were plenty of laugh out loud moments along the way as I come to expect from this Quirks!

This is a great series with Connie and Peddyr two likeable characters who would be great to have at a dinner party!

There are plenty of clever twists along the way which kept me guessing who Nick actually was and what his end game would be. It wasn’t quite what I had in mind.

Thanks to Rebecca at Hobeck books for an advance copy of the book and my blog tour spot. 

BLOG TOUR STOPS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alison Morgan: A former mental health nurse, Alison sings along to the radio, argues with the TV, and chats to the dog. People are her inspiration and she watches them closely… all the while plotting a murder. Not that she would ever do such a thing, because she loves to laugh, eat sausages, paddle in the sea, ride a motorbike and banter with family and friends.

Her crime thrillers have a strong cast of characters helping to define the style and pace of each story inspired by her life, her career and her fascination with the extremes of human behaviour.

AB Morgan, critically acclaimed author of crime mystery and suspense, has been applauded for being ‘refreshingly different within the genre.’

Her latest series The Quirk Files is published by Hobeck Books.

Jo Thomas

Paperback Publication date: 8/6/23

Publisher: Penguin

SYNOPSIS

A dream home
Beca Valentino is ready to escape the city. When she sees the perfect house for sale in her hometown, it seems like fate. Is this her chance to build the foster family she dreams of, on the beautiful Pembrokeshire coast?

A big mistake?
Returning home isn’t as easy as she thought, however. Her family’s beloved ice cream café is gone – turned into a soulless wine bar by her hateful ex-boyfriend. Reconnecting with her oldest friend, fisherman Griff, isn’t straightforward either. And when, instead of the children she expected to take in, two wary teenage boys appear on her doorstep, Beca fears she’s made a terrible mistake.

A recipe for change
But an old family recipe book is just the inspiration she needs. Soon, with a little help from friends old and new, Beca is selling mouth-watering homemade gelato from a pop-up café on the beach.

Then disaster strikes. Will the Valentino family legacy be lost forever? Or can Beca create a new recipe for happiness?

MY REVIEW

This is the perfect summer read. I laughed as much as I cried! 

Beca moves back to the small town in Wales where she grew up. She left 29 years ago after a failed relationship and fled to London. She built up a successful cleaning business but now regrets moving away and not spending more time with her family.

The opportunity arose to buy one of the big houses, complete with resident cows, and she grabbed it. She has a plan for her future. She never had children but she intends to foster young children. Make sandcastles and fish fingers. 

With a heavy heart, she finds the gelateria her beloved nonno and nonna used to run has been taken over, the name changed, and redecorated beyond recognition. And worse still it was bought by Ed, her ex!

When her first charges hastily arrive in the unexpected shape of two teenage boys, she wonders if she has made a mistake. How can she entertain a sullen Blake who is constantly stuck to his phone and a super positive Joe. Can she make a small difference to their lives in the short time they will be with her? Can she even keep them safe and stop them running away? 

And will her old romance be rekindled?

Gorgeous book and I’m going to be buying the paperback for my forever shelf and reading more from this author. Uplifting, feel good fiction at its best.

Now I need to get my ice cream maker out as I’m inspired to make some gelato!

Thank you Anne at Random Things Tours for my spot on the blogger day, celebrating publication day of this gorgeous book.

Blogger Day Bloggers!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mark Edwards

Published 1/6/23

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer / Amazon Publishing

SYNOPSIS

After twenty years apart, Matthew and Helena have rekindled their college romance and are away in Iceland on their first holiday together. Swept up in the romance on a mountain hike, one moment they are taking the perfect photo, the next Helena is hanging from the cliff edge…

Terrified, Matthew almost misses Helena’s sudden and shocking confession―but what he hears chills him to the bone. And when Helena reveals the full truth Matthew is horrified, not only by what she’s done, but why she did it. Does he really know her at all?

His shock turns to horror when, back in England, they discover that someone not only overheard Helena’s confession but plans to blackmail her. Now Matthew must decide whether to go to the police or help Helena keep her secret―and as events spiral out of control, how far is Matthew willing to go to protect his ‘perfect’ girlfriend?

MY REVIEW

When they return from Iceland, Matthew loses his job and feeling sorry for himself he goes to stay with Helena in the stunning cliff top house her dead husband built. They are trying to rekindle their university romance.

Their lives begin to spiral out of control when an acquaintance from their Iceland holiday appears on the doorstep and they lock her in the basement! She turned up at the house demanding a huge sum of money, and with incriminating evidence which would put Helena in prison. Now Matthew and Helena just have to find the copies, destroy them, let Helena go and carry on with their lives. If only it were so easy!

Mark is an exceptionally talented writer of psychological thrillers, setting his stories around ordinary people in extraordinary situations. I have read most of his books, so I knew I had a fantastic read in my hands. From Helena’s near fatal fall from a cliff in Iceland then her confession to Matthew, I was hooked. What a page turner with some delicious twists along the way. And OMG THAT ENDING!!! I have a grin on my face but also goosebumps! Brilliant!

I enjoyed the story being told in alternating chapters from the POV’s of Helena and Matthew. 

If you don’t follow Mark on Facebook I would recommend doing it now. He does the best Facebook lives, the last one to launch this book he did from his hotel in New York!

Many thanks to FMcM Associates for my advance copy of the book and my spot on the blog tour.

BLOG TOUR HOSTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mark writes books in which scary things happen to ordinary people, the best known of which are Follow You Home, The Magpies, Here To Stay and The Retreat. His novels have sold over 4 million copies and topped the bestseller lists numerous times. He prides himself on writing fast-paced page-turners with lots of twists and turns, relatable characters, dark humour and a straightforward, easy-to-read style.

His latest book is Keep Her Secret (May 2023), a psychological thriller about a couple with a dark secret that they will do anything to protect – but the more they do to try to escape their situation, the worse things get… It’s a fun, fast-paced read with a killer ending.

To make sure you never miss a new release or special offer, you can sign up to his newsletter and get a free box set of stories here: http://www.markedwardsauthor.com/free

He lives in the West Midlands, England, with his wife, their three children, two cats and a golden retriever, and he can be contacted in the following ways:

Email: mark@markedwardsauthor.com

Twitter @mredwards

Facebook/Instagram: @markedwardsauthor

He is particularly proud of his Facebook community and runs lots of live parties and giveaways, so come and find him over there and meet like-minded readers.

Author photo © Expressandstar.com

S. A. Harris

Publication Day: 15/5/23

Publisher: Salt Publishing

SYNOPSIS

Evie Meyer and her son Alfie flee from her abusive partner Seth in Toronto to spend New Year with her half-brother Luke at their late father’s summer home on the Suffolk Coast, only to find Seahurst abandoned and Luke missing.
As Evie searches for her brother, she is filled with a deepening dread that something is very wrong at Seahurst and that their father’s death may not have been suicide after all. Can Evie uncover Seahurst’s sinister secrets and keep Alfie safe before the souls of the dead claim yet
another terrible revenge?

MY REVIEW

⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a spooky, atmospheric read this is!

The first chapter had me hooked. January 1286 on the Suffolk coast. An accused witch and her siblings are found hiding in a room and brought before a roaring crowd and executed, but not before she places a curse on the crowd and on the town.

In the present day Evie takes her teenage son Alfie from their home in Canada back to the Suffolk coast where her father lived before his suicide, to escape her abusive partner. She is hoping to spend some time in the safety of Seahurst and the company of her half brother, Luke. She has no idea what is waiting for her.

When they arrive at the remote house all the lights are on, the doors are open but there is no sign of Luke. 

They sleep at the house, hoping he will return but strange things happen. An awful smell in the bathroom. A scratching sound. Shadows which look like someone is there but surely just a trick of the light? A strange object turns up which looks like a very old child’s rattle.

Evie’s father did a lot of research before his death, on the history of the site the house is built on and the abbey which will soon be taken by the erosion of the sea.

Luke believed there was something strange about his father’s death – which may not have been suicide.

As the hunt for Luke carries on, Evie and Alfie are in danger as events at the house intensify.

This is not one to read late at night! Extremely addictive I love a ghost story and even better that it involves a witch! 

Very highly recommended.

BLOG TOUR HOSTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

S.A. HARRIS
Sally Harris writes ghost stories and gothic fiction as S. A.
Harris. Her first novel, Haverscroft was long listed for Not
The Booker Prize, was one of Den Of Geek’s best books of
2019, a semi-finalist in the Book Bloggers Novel of the Year
Award 2020, and a Halloween recommended read in Prima
Magazine. Sally is a family law solicitor living with her
husband and children in Norwich.
For more information visit https://saharrisauthor.com/
Follow Sally on Twitter @salharris1
PRAISE FOR

Atmospheric

Jennie Ensor

Published: 23/5/23

Publisher: Hobeck Books

SYNOPSIS

In March 2020, the Covid pandemic hits the sleepy English village of Brampton. At the start of lockdown, local busybody Tara Sanderson sets up a community group to help vulnerable residents through the crisis. Elderly Elspeth Chambers, her longstanding neighbour and friend, accepts Tara’s offer to buy food and collect medicine for her.

But it isn’t long before neighbourliness and community spirit turn sour. Tensions arise when Tara becomes jealous of Elspeth’s emerging friendship with Ashley Kahn, a recent arrival in Wilton Close. Suspecting there is more to Tara’s hostility toward them than meets the eye, Ashley and Elspeth start to uncover their neighbour’s long-buried secrets…

MY REVIEW

Set in a small village at the start of lockdown, this is one absorbing psychological thriller with a spattering of dark humour and plenty going on to keep you turning those pages.

When lockdown hits, Tara, who lives alone, decides she will set up a residents group to support the vulnerable and needy, especially since her next door neighbour is shielding. Tara does her neighbours shopping and picks up her medications but becomes increasingly annoyed that she is not getting the thanks she deserves. She begins to buy a little something for herself out of the shopping money. And now her long term neighbour and good friend seems to be getting friendly with the new neighbour. That does not suit Tara.

As lockdown begins to affect their lives more, tempers begin to fray. 

Tara begins to turn into a neighbour no one wants next door. And as for the dark secrets from her past she is hiding and the neighbours are desperate to uncover ….

Jennie has encompassed what lockdown felt like for us, from the worry of catching the virus and keeping our most vulnerable safe, to the strange face masks and social distancing and the ever changing rules we had to follow. Not to forget the Zoom meetings – and those who broke the lockdown rules!

I enjoyed the book being written from the POV of a few main characters so we got plenty of understanding of what was going on in their own lives and how they were trying to get through this difficult time. 

I will be reading more from this author! 

Thank you to Rebecca at Hobeck for my E-arc and my spot on the blog tour. 

BLOG TOUR HOSTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jennie Ensor is a Londoner with Irish heritage, and lives with her husband and their Airedale terrier in London and the mountains of south-west France. She writes dark-themed, daring fiction: mainly crime, psychological suspense and thrillers, occasionally with a dash of humour.

She began her writing career as a freelance journalist, writing investigative pieces on subjects from corporate malpractice to forced marriages, turning to writing fiction in her thirties. As well as novels she writes short stories and poetry, some of which has been placed in competitions. Her poem Lost Connection placed second in its category in the 2020 Fish Lockdown Prize. In her spare time (?) she reads widely, sings in a choir, practices yoga and cycles. When not doing all that she loves watching TV drama (Happy Valley, The Sinner, etc etc).

Author website: https://jennieensor.com

Publisher website: http:/hobeck.net

Crime Writers Association profile: https://thecwa.co.uk/find-an-author/ensor-jennie

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JennieEnsorAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennie_ensor

Instagram: instagram.com/jennieensor

By Sussie Anie

Publication date: 25/5/23

Publisher: Phoenix

SYNOPSIS

When Kwasi and his family move abruptly from one side of London to the other, he sets out to explore his new home. Escaping the watchful eyes of Ma and Da and his irrepressible Aunties, he discovers the local high street and a hidden river. Back at the yellow house, he spends hours drawing, distracting himself from thoughts of the new school that awaits.

As the years pass, the high street remains a source of fascination for Kwasi. But behind the ever-changing shopfronts, it’s a different story. Business is slow and times are getting tougher. Widower Rupert has been trying to hold on to the dreams he and his wife poured into their eclectic charity shop, The Chest of Small Wonders, but now he is close to giving up.

One October night, Kwasi finds himself in trouble and takes refuge in the Chest, and an unexpected friendship begins. As he and Rupert unite to save the shop, they each find a sense of belonging. But old patterns are hard to change, and as tensions around them escalate, difficult choices lie ahead.

Lyrical, witty, moving and timely, To Fill a Yellow House is a story of community, friendship and the power of creativity and connection. It is as vibrant and surprising as the city it is set in and marks the arrival of a bright and bold new talent.

MY REVIEW

A beautiful story which pulled at the heart strings and I devoured. 

I enjoyed getting to know Rupert, running his shop – The Chest – selling second hand items and donating the profits to a charity chosen every 6 months by the local community. He opened the shop with his wife who died 15 years before the story began, and he can’t let go of it now; running it in her memory despite hardly covering the bills. All the plans and dreams they had for the place stay with him.

I also loved getting to know Kwasi, initially seeing the world and his new neighbourhood through the innocent eyes of a child but then his troubles begin as he starts a new school and starts to fall behind with the work, preferring to spend his time drawing, and has issues with his ‘friends’.

The unlikely friendship which develops between the two is heartwarming. There are difficult times ahead but perhaps they may just be ok.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sussie Anie is a British-Ghanaian writer, born in London in 1994. Her writing has been published in Lolwe, and was shortlisted for the 2020 White Review Short Story prize. She has an MA in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia, where she was the recipient of the 2018-19 Kowitz Scholarship. To Fill a Yellow House is her debut novel.