Two Heads Are Better Than One

Lora Jones

Publication Date: 20th February 2025

Publisher: Sphere / Little Brown

SYNOPSIS

Paris, 1789. The Oberst Factory, which crafts exquisite wallpaper for the most fashionable French homes, is a place shrouded in mystery. Most enigmatic is the woman pictured in each of its prints, rumoured to be the late Mrs Oberst, who died in peculiar circumstances.

When sisters Lara and Sofi arrive there for work, they quickly form a friendship with Josef Oberst, the motherless heir to the factory. Whilst Sofi’s political fervour intensifies, Lara is disturbed by the uncanny way her life appears mirrored in the wallpaper. Meanwhile Hortense, Josef’s spoilt aristocratic wife, is similarly unnerved by the scenes that line the walls of her new home. With the mobs growing ever more violent, is she in danger of meeting the same untimely end as the last Mrs Oberst?

As revolution blazes across France, the lives of Sofi, Lara and Hortense are set to collide in unimaginable and irrevocable ways. Can they change what lies ahead, or are some patterns destined to be repeated?

MY REVIEW

I saw this book keep popping up on X and it quickly got added to my list of must reads. I was very lucky to have received a beautiful hardback proof copy from Little Brown group which was an absolute joy to read.

The story dates back to 1789 where we meet Sofi and Lara, teenage sisters living a difficult life of poverty with their parents. After a heartbreaking accident they move to Paris to take up menial work in the flourishing Oberst wallpaper factory. The Obersts have their own personal tragedy in their past. The son and heir to the factory, Josef, bonds very quickly with Lara.

On the other side of the coin is the rich, spoiled, Hortense. Living in the palace with her aristocratic parents and her ridiculously pampered pooch. I’ll bet she was so much fun to write! 

I was completely absorbed by this book. Following Lara and Sofi and hoping their lives would get easier. And hoping Hortense would be taken down a peg or ten.

The book is narrated by the three main female characters and we find just how nasty and conniving Hortense can be. 

There is one scene in particular which is going to stay with me for some time. You will know which when you reach it!

I will definitely read Lora’s next book.

Really huge thanks to Lucie at Little Brown for sending me a stunning hardback proof copy .

It is a long book but it doesn’t feel drawn out at all and I would happily have read more.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

After studying English Literature at the University of Durham, Lora began her career working in the TV industry in London, reading scripts for ITV’s Drama Department, and writing factual programme content and comedy material for the BBC, Channel 4 and others. She also spent over a decade assisting professional TV and stage magicians, and gathering up their secrets.

Lora now lives amongst the rugged hills of North Wales where she is currently rewilding an 18th century sheep farm. In her spare time she paints wildlife and sells her work in aid of wildlife conservation charities.

Passionate about creating and writing original stories, The Woman in the Wallpaper is Lora’s first novel. She is also the co-creator/host of The Magician’s Wife podcast.

Louisa Treger

Published : 4th July 2024

Publisher : Bloomsbury

My rating : ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SYNOPSIS

‘Living with him was like living at the centre of the universe. It was electrifying and humbling, blissful and destructive, all at the same time.’

Paris, 1936. When Dora Maar, a talented French photographer, painter and poet, is introduced to Pablo Picasso, she is mesmerized by his dark and intense stare. Drawn to his volcanic creativity, it isn’t long before she embarks on a passionate relationship with the Spanish artist that sometimes includes sadism and masochism, and ultimately pushes her to the edge.

The Paris Muse is the fictionalized retelling of this disturbing love story, as we follow Dora on her journey of self-discovery and expression. Set in Paris and the French Riviera, where Dora and Pablo spent their holidays with their glamorous artist friends, it provides a fascinating insight into how Picasso was a genius who side-stepped the rules in his human relationships as he did in his art. Much to Dora’s torment, he refused to divorce his wife and conducted affairs with Dora’s friends. The Spanish Civil War made him depressed and violent, an angst that culminated in his acclaimed painting ‘Guernica’, which Dora documented as he painted.

As the encroaching darkness suffocates their relationship – a darkness that escalates once the Second World War begins and the Nazis invade the country – Dora has a nervous breakdown and is hospitalized. 

Atmospheric, intense and moving, The Paris Muse is an astonishing read that ensures that this talented, often overlooked woman who gave her life to Picasso is no longer a footnote.

MY REVIEW

Treger has thoroughly researched the relationship between Pablo Picasso and Dora Maar and the resulting fictional retelling of their story is sometimes uncomfortable to read but constantly compelling. I found it hard to put down as I was so absorbed in this tumultuous relationship. 

Both Picasso and Maar had difficult childhoods and followed the creative path, with Picasso favouring painting and Maar initially photography but later painting.

Picasso is painted (no pun intended) as narcissistic with no ability to love anyone but himself. He lives by his own rules and everyone must fall in line. Since meeting Maar in 1935, he keeps returning to her for inspiration and validation and although there are tender moments the overwhelming narrative depicts him as being coercive and controlling. He has various lovers but keeps coming back to Maar; a situation she hates but she is so completely obsessed with him she has to accept it. Her mental health is badly affected by him, his constant womanising and his looking down upon her talent and accomplishments.

The description of the historical events happening during the course of the novel really transport the reader to Paris, and to feel the tension as the second world war is starting to affect the lives of the people of France. 

I know this story will stay with me for a long time. The characters were not likeable although I presume that was the intention and is a large part of the dark intensity of the story. I enjoyed the first person narrative writing style which made me feel like I was listening to Dora tell her story. Outstanding. Will read more from this author.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Louisa Treger, a classical violinist, studied at the Royal College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and worked as a freelance orchestral player and teacher. 

She subsequently turned to literature, earning a Ph.D. in English at University College London, where she focused on early-twentieth-century women’s writing and was awarded the West Scholarship ‘for distinguished work in the study of English Language and Literature.’ 

Louisa’s first novel, The Lodger, was published in 2014, and her second novel, The Dragon Lady, was published by Bloomsbury in 2019. She lives in London.

Find out more about Louisa at louisatreger.com or https://www.facebook.com/louisatregerwriter or @louisatreger

Book 2 in the New Rock series

By Richard Sparks

Artwork courtesy of Christina P. Myrvold.

Publication Date: 26/11/24

Publisher: Caezik SF & Fantasy

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SYNOPSIS

The Highly Anticipated Sequel to New Rock New Role

Shortly after surviving—against overwhelming odds—their epic quest in New Rock New Role, battlemage Daxx and his crew (dual-wielding sword-dancer Qrysta, heavily-armed Orc Grell and sneakthief Oller, with his mutt companion Little Guy) are off on their next adventure. A mysterious ghost ship arrives, carrying a cryptic message for them. Setting sail full of good intentions, they are soon embroiled in the eternal struggle between the forces of good and the forces of evil. If they are to find a way out of an impossible situation, each must complete a separate mission in a realm where nowhere is safe for them.

New Rock New Realm is a captivating tale that will enthrall lovers of epic fantasy. Told with his customary wit, Richard Sparks’ skillful storytelling weaves a tapestry of adventure, mystery, suspense and emotional depth—with plenty of comic moments spicing up events as they progress.

Memorable characters, imaginative settings and challenging quests all combine to make the New Rock series an unforgettable addition to the genre.

MY REVIEW

I absolutely loved Richard’s first book in this new series – New Rock, New Role – and I couldn’t wait to join Daxx, the battlemage, Grell, the Orc and Qrysta the dancing warrior again. 

And the action and adventure continues just where it left off. I was again completely engrossed in this world created from the very clever and witty mind of Mr Sparks. I found myself laughing out loud on a number of occasions.

In the first book, which I would recommend reading before this one, the three gamers win a gaming tournament and are to their surprise immediately transported into their game as their own avatars but without the knowledge and skills their gaming avatars had. They must actually live in this new world and find each other, as well as learning the skills their gaming avatars know.

Ever wondered what living in a game would be like? Well these books give you an idea of exactly what it would be like.

In this book, they continue honing their skills and pick up one or two more along the way as they carry on with their quests which involve meeting many rather unique characters, travelling to some dangerous places and fighting some scary monsters and bosses. A Helldragon. A lava monster. A werewolf. To name but a few. Oh and they get themselves involved in a war between good and evil they fear they might not survive. And there’s a ghost ship. And so much more.

Little Guy the dog companion of Oller the thief has some great scenes. He helps save the day a number of times.

An action packed book with such memorable characters and settings and I loved it. My husband even commented on how quiet I was the book must be so good.

If you love epic fantasy and enjoy gaming, you need these books in your life!

Thank you to Richard for sending me a copy to review. Very much appreciated. Can’t wait for book three!

More details of Richard Sparks’ fantasy novels New Rock New Role and New Rock New Realm are at http://richardsparks.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Richard Sparks

Born in England, and a graduate of Oxford University (Exeter College, where, like both JRR Tolkien and Philip Pullman before him, he studied English Language and Literature), Richard started out as a writer of stage plays, comedy revues and TV, for such shows as Not the Nine O’clock News. Rowan Atkinson performed his Schoolmaster sketch in John Cleese’s The Secret Policeman’s Ball. UK TV credits include The Famous Five, The Flying Kiwi, The Optimist, The Worst of Hollywood, and a lot of script editing. On being hired by Columbia Pictures TV, Richard moved with his family to Los Angeles. His lyrics have been recorded by talents as diverse as Dom de Luise, Eric Idle, Vanessa Williams and Plácido Domingo. He has written libretti for several new operas composed by Lee Holdridge (TV’s Beauty and the Beast, et al.), produced by the LA Opera, as well writing new English versions of German and Italian classics. His non-fiction books, Diary of a Mad Poker Player, and its sequel, Getting Lucky, chronicle his adventures in the poker boom of the 2000’s. Along the Cherry Lane is his biography of the music producer, Milt Okun.

“High Adventure Spiced with Low Comedy,” inspired by his love of online role-playing games, New Rock New Role is the first of four volumes Richard has written so far in the New Rock fantasy series, and is his fiction debut.

Tim Sullivan

Publication Date: 16/1/25

Publisher: Head of Zeus / Aries

SYNOPSIS

SOMEONE’S ABOUT TO TURN THEIR LAST PAGE…

THE SETTING
The body of a bookselle is discovered, lying in a pool of blood in his Bristol bookshop. Police have one question: how did the man meet such a violent, murderous end in this peaceful place?

THE CONFLICT
DS Cross’s ability to dismiss red herrings is challenged by a worrying development in his personal life. Hopelessly distracted, he needs to rely on those around him in a way he has never been comfortable doing before.

THE MURDER PLOT
It may be a quiet profession, but it’s full of passionate, ambitious characters who know the value of a rare book. Their extensive reading means they also know how to get away with murder.

But is that enough to fool the tenacious DS George Cross?

MY REVIEW

This is the first George Cross book I have read. It is the seventh book and I have just found a new favourite murder detective. The books can be read in any order and I don’t feel I have missed out on any back story but I want to read the others anyway.

George is autistic and therefore he sees things in black and white and is unemotional, a great personality for a detective! His colleagues understand him – mostly – and know not to be offended by any comments he may make which are not quite socially correct.

I thoroughly enjoyed joining George as he investigated the murder of a bookseller in his father’s bookshop. Just as a normal investigation, there are plenty of lines of investigation to follow although mostly with dead ends. A Russian Oligarch, another bookshop owner and various other leads are thoroughly investigated by a very competent DS Cross. 

As the case began to reveal the correct thread, I was so hooked I couldn’t stop reading until the last page.

During this case, George also has to deal with his father’s illness and his mother returning. An emotional rollercoaster for a neurotypical but George gets through it in his no nonsense way. 

Brilliant. Loved it. Loved the storyline of the bookshop and all the book related facts. Great characters. 

Thanks to Andrew at Head of Zeus for my spot on the blog tour. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tim Sullivan is an acclaimed screenwriter. He originally read English and Law at university – the latter forced on him by his Dad – but instead he wriggled free of those parental ambitions and pursued his own, to make films. His writing credits include A HANDFUL OF DUST, starring Kristen Scott Thomas, WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD, starring Helen Mirren and Helena Bonham Carter, JACK AND SARAH (which he also directed) starring Richard E Grant, Judi Dench and Ian McKellen and LETTERS TO JULIET, with Amanda Seyfried. He is also a Television director whose credits include SHERLOCK HOLMES and COLD FEET and CORONATIONSSTREET. He has written extensively in Hollywood in both live action and animation, working with Ron Howard, Scott Rudin and with Jeffrey Katzenberg on the fourth SHREK movie. 

He has now embarked on a series of crime novels featuring the autistic, and brilliantly persistent DS George Cross. 

He self-published the first two books and once they’d achieved over 200,000 downloads he came to the attention of Head of Zeus publishers. So thanks to all his readers for this success and their shared love of George. 

The novels are set in Bristol in the south west of England, Cross’ methods often infuriate his colleagues and superiors “not so much a thorn in my side as a pain in my arse,” according to his boss DCI Carson. But his conviction rate, thanks to his dogged persistence and attention to detail, is the best in the force. Tim has now written the first four in the series with The Patient being published on March 3rd 2022. 

Tim feels confident in his claim that he is the only crime writer around who has also co-produced and written a My Little Pony movie for Hasbro. MY LITTLE PONY – A NEW GENERATION is now available on Netflix.

Tim lives in North London with his wife Rachel, the Emmy award-winning producer of THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA and PIONEER WOMAN. Their daughters live near by.

Follow AUTHOR

Facebook: Tim Sullivan novels

X: @TimJRSullivan

Instagram: @timsullivanauthor

TikTok: timsullivanauthor

Website: timsullivan.co.uk

 

Follow Aries

X: @AriesFiction

Facebook: Aries Fiction

Instagram: headofzeus

TikTok: headofzeus

Website: http://www.headofzeus.com

 

By Antony Johnston

Publisher: Allison & Busby

Publication Date: 23 January 2025

SYNOPSIS

Gwinny Tuffel is on location in the misty Yorkshire Dales filming a small part in Draculania, a genderswapped remake of Bram Stoker’s classic tale, when life begins to imitate art a little too closely. One of the cast members is found dead inside a locked trailer, with a stake through their heart.With a prima donna in the starring role, filming is already facing delays, while Gwinny is being run ragged by Lily, the Jack Russell terrier she’s looking after for a friend in hospital. Against the backdrop of Hendale Hall with its own vampire legend, a flesh-and-blood killer has struck. Will Gwinny be able to find the murderer before the production or any further victims are cut?

MY REVIEW

⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another compulsive read in this brilliant series! 

This time Gwinny is out of retirement for financial reasons and acting in a new film. She is staying in Yorkshire at an old Manor House where the filming is taking place.

Of course there is a murder for her to investigate. She loves a good puzzle, and to Gwinny solving a murder is just like putting puzzle pieces in the right order. 

The setting was great! An old Manor House set in the Yorkshire countryside. A vampire legend. A pea soup fog. A locked room murder – well actually a locked trailer murder in this case. And of course a dog! Lily the Jack Russell is such a character and even helps solve the murder. 

I enjoyed reading about the ins and outs of filming on location.

Antony has a way of writing such interesting characters, and he certainly knows how to add a few surprises along the way. I absolutely did not guess the murderer! 

I highly recommend this series if you enjoy a modern cosy murder mystery with wonderful settings, great characters and dogs! 

Huge thanks to Allison and Busby and to the author for my gorgeous signed hardback copy of the book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Antony Johnston is one of the most versatile writers of the modern era. 

The Charlize Theron movie ATOMIC BLONDE was based on his graphic novel. His murder mystery THE DOG SITTER DETECTIVE won the Barker Book Award for fiction. The BRIGITTE SHARP spy thrillers are in development for TV. And his productivity guide THE ORGANISED WRITER has helped authors all over the world take control of their workload.

Antony is a celebrated videogames writer, with genre-defining titles including DEAD SPACE, SHADOW OF MORDOR, and RESIDENT EVIL VILLAGE to his credit. Having also consulted on SILENT HILL ASCENSION, he is the only writer in the world to have worked on all of the ‘big three’ horror gaming franchises.

His immense body of work also includes Marvel superheroes such as DAREDEVIL and SHANG-CHI, the ALEX RIDER graphic novels, the post-apocalypse epic WASTELAND, and more. He wrote and directed the film CROSSOVER POINT, made entirely in quarantine during the coronavirus pandemic.

An experienced podcaster and public speaker, he also frequently writes articles on the life of an author, and is a prolific musician.

Antony is a former vice chair of the Crime Writers’ Association, a member of International Thriller Writers and the Society of Authors, a Shore Scripts screenwriting judge, and sits on the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain’s videogames committee. He lives and works in England.

Heidi Stephens

PUBLICATION DATE: 24/10/24

PUBLISHER: Headline Accent

SYNOPSIS

WHEN THINGS SNOWBALL, CAN FROSTY FEELINGS THAW?

Lucy hasn’t left the country in years. In fact, she’s barely left Bristol’s city limits. So, when the opportunity presents itself to join a work trip to the Swiss Alps, she’s wary, especially when she learns that it will coincide with that weekend – the one that, eleven years ago, tore her world in two.

But how can she turn down an all-expense-paid trip to the snow-capped Alps? Lucy knows what Leo would say if he were still with her, and besides, she’ll have her work husband, Jonno, there for emotional support.

What – or who – she didn’t bank on, however, was moody (read: rude) Nate stepping in at the last minute. And what’s worse, they’re the only two in the group who don’t ski, so they’re stuck with each other . . . up the side of a mountain in the middle of a snowstorm.

With the weather closing in, an avalanche leaves them snowbound in an alpine bar with an eclectic cast of fellow refugees. But with roaring log fires and steaming mugs of glühwein (and maybe a shot or two of Jägermeister), it’s a chance for Lucy and Nate to discover there might be more to one another than meets the eye.

Where will their mountainside adventure leave them when the snow finally melts?

MY REVIEW

Oh my heart is full after finishing this beauty!

I laughed. I cried (lots). But mostly I just absolutely loved every word of this slightly unusual love story.

Lucy and Nate hardly know each other when they join a small group from their workplace on a skiing trip to Switzerland which is part holiday and part work and being paid for by a very wealthy client.

When they find themselves stranded in a bar at the top of a mountain due to an avalanche, they get to know each other pretty well! We are also introduced to an interesting and eclectic group of characters also stranded in the same bar. If I were ever to be stranded in an avalanche, this is where I would like to be!

But what happens when the adventure is over? Is this just a holiday romance for Lucy and Nate or could it be more?

I was completely gripped from beginning to end. I adored Lucy’s story and had a very big soft spot for the gorgeous Nate. Lucy had some pretty big baggage to carry through life and I could understand her inability to want to commit to a proper relationship, although she feels she may be missing out on something special.

This is an extraordinary novel I would highly recommend if you want some wonderful escapism. I will be reading more from Heidi!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Heidi is a British marketing consultant-turned-romcom novelist – Two Metres From You is her debut novel, and her second, Never Gonna Happen, was out in all formats in May 2022.

Since 2008 she has also written lots of liveblogs for The Guardian, about everything from The Apprentice to Big Brother. Now she focuses on two of her favourite things – the Eurovision Song Contest and Strictly Come Dancing. 

She lives in the lovely market town of Chippenham in Wiltshire with her boyfriend Pip and her dog Mabel. She has two grown-up children and can bake a very decent Victoria sponge. You’ll find her website at heidistephens.co.uk, and she is on Twitter/Insta @heidistephens.

Anna Bailey

Publication Date: 24/4/25 in Hardback

Publisher: Doubleday

SYNOPSIS

‘There is nothing like it. The way the world gets real quiet when a gator’s nearby…And then the water, suddenly boiling as that black head surfaces and the ancient reptile erupts into the air hissing like a devil…The way the crack of the rifle seems to come from deep inside Cutter. The way she feels it in her throat; she knows she’s a good killer – and yet. She is stalling…’

The Labasques aren’t like other families. Living in a shack out in the swamps, they scrape a living hunting down alligators and other animals just to get by. To the good people of Jacknife, Louisiana, they are trouble-makers, outcasts, the kind of people you wouldn’t want living on your doorstep. So when Cutter Labasque is found face down in the muddy swamp, no one seems to care, not even her two rough-cut brothers. The only person who questions the official verdict of suicide is Cutter’s childhood friend, Loyal May, who has just returned home to care for her ageing mother. Loyal left town at the age of 18, having betrayed Cutter. Now there may be no way to find forgiveness, but there may be restitution…

MY REVIEW

Oh my goodness Anna Bailey has done it again. What a talent. Phenomenal.

I absolutely loved Tall Bones and have been eagerly anticipating Anna Bailey’s next book. So when the publisher offered me an advance copy all my other reads had to be put on hold whilst I absorbed the claustrophobic atmosphere of the swamps and the small town of Jacknife in Louisiana.

Anna’s writing is incredibly descriptive. I could vividly visualise the setting and the characters. The absorbing storyline hooked me from page one as we join the alligator hunters who are the Labasque family. Orphaned, the three now adult brothers and sister live a meagre existence from the sale of the alligators they risk their lives to capture and kill.

When Cutter Labasque is found dead, her old reporter friend Loyal, who has recently returned to Jacknife to address her own family issues of a mother with dementia, feels she needs to investigate the death as the local police are not interested. Not many people in Jacknife are interested in the Labasques.

Many issues are explored in this story of relationships, regrets, family bonds, drug addiction and much more, set against the bleak backdrop of the swamps and the local chemical factory killing its workers and polluting the environment.

I’ll be a while moving on to my next read as my brain continues to process the depth of the narrative. An absolutely compulsive read.

Huge thanks to the publisher for sending me an early proof copy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tall Bones, a literary crime thriller and Anna’s debut novel, was inspired by the years she spent living in small-town America, particularly in the Colorado Rocky Mountains where this book is set. Anna drew a lot of influence from TV shows such as Twin Peaks and True Detective, a childhood’s worth of creepy films, and the brooding Americana music of Johnny Cash and Colter Wall. Anna is extremely fortunate that the good folks at Goldsboro Books also enjoyed these things and selected Tall Bones as one of their their Books of the Month.

Raised in Gloucestershire, Anna is a West Country girl at heart, but now lives in France.

Anna can be found on Instagram @annabaileywrites.

Rosie Green

Publication Date: 30/11/24

SYNOPSIS

With the wedding of the year approaching, excitement is running high at the café! But there’s just 

one problem. Maddy is grappling with a secret. Could it derail all of hers and Jack’s glorious plans for their big day? Will there actually be a wedding?

PURCHASE LINK:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CR8BYQ1V

MY REVIEW

Yet again, Rosie comes up with the goods! Another gorgeous story in this wonderful Little Duck Pond series of novellas. 

This time we get to know Maddy more as we focus on her Christmas wedding preparations and her Lapland hen do which I just lapped up! Having always wanted to go to Lapland, even just reading about it filled me with joy!

Poor Maddy should be so happy as she prepares for her perfect wedding, but after some shocking news can it even still go ahead?

As well as the happy bits of the story, Rosie tackles some difficult subjects in her usual tactful and authentic way. Just as I would expect discussions between friends and family would actually go when there is potentially life changing news. 

I just can’t get enough of this series and yet again I’m excited for the next one!

Thank you to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for having me along on the blog blitz.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rosie Green burst onto the writing scene at the age of nine, anonymously penning a weekly magazine for her five-year-old brother (mysteriously titled the ‘Willy’ comic) and fooling him completely by posting it through the letterbox every Thursday.

Rosie’s continuing love of writing saw her study English at Dundee University and spend her twenties working on various teenage magazines, including Jackie and Blue Jeans, and meeting pop stars. Then she got serious and worked as a newspaper sub-editor at the Dundee Courier before moving to Surrey and setting up an organic veg box delivery business. 

These days, she lives with her family in the beautiful county of Northumberland and has finally realised a life-long dream of becoming a published author. She currently writes the Little Duck Pond Cafe series of novellas, which is centred around life in a village cafe. Each book can be read as a stand-alone story.

Rosie has also written books under the name Catherine Ferguson. 

New for Christmas 2024: Cosy Nights & Snowball Fights, and Maddy’s Christmas Wedding (out November 30th).

Follow Rosie on X / Twitter – https://twitter.com/Rosie_Green88

Brian Price

Publication date: 26 November 2024

Publisher: Hobeck

SYNOPSIS

RUTHLESS AMBITION
Hugh Ventham MP, tipped for high office, can’t shake off the mental image of a sordid party he attended many years ago. Any one of the people there could derail his career if they talk about it. So he must eliminate them all.

A COMPROMISING PHOTO
But someone took a photo. And one of the attendees will stop at nothing to ensure it is never discovered. If they fail, they will face ruin.

A BAFFLED POLICE FORCE
As the murders mount up, Mexton CID struggle to see the connection between them. Are they random killings or is there a link? If so, who would want to kill such a disparate group of people? And who is the mysterious figure in the background with their own lethal agenda?

With police resources stretched to breaking point, DC Mel Cotton and her team face deadly challenges as they hunt for the killer. And when the mysterious figure strikes, will she get out alive?

MY REVIEW

This is another fantastic book in the DC Mel Cotton series. 

I’m absolutely loving this series. Really well developed characters I feel I know quite well now. Great teamwork and proper close friends in the Mexton police department- this team will do anything for each other including risking their lives. And lives are risked many times in this book. 

Hugh Ventham; a politician on the cusp of his next big position in a ministerial post. He does not wish details of a particular sordid sex party he attended in 2007 to become known so he sets about murdering everyone who was in attendance. And he is rather ingenious in his methods. But what about that polaroid photo which was taken on the night? Who has it? 

Mel and her talented team are investigating an increasing number of murders in their town. They are struggling to find anything the victims could have in common. Then they meet a podcaster who may just give them a break in the cases.

This is a page turning heart racing edge of the seat crime thriller from first page to last. I couldn’t put it down.

I think this is Brian’s best yet in this series which just goes from strength to strength! Roll on book 6 (I hope!)

I highly recommend this whole series.

Thanks to Hobeck books for my e copy of the book. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brian Price is a chemist and biologist who retired from the Environment Agency in 2016. He is the author of Crime Writing: How to write the science and runs a website offering tips on science for crime writers (www.crimewriterscience.co.uk). He taught science and technology courses for the Open University for 26 years. He has advised number of leading crime writers on scientific aspects of crime.

Brian’s first crime novel, Fatal Trade, was published, as an ebook and paperback, by Hobeck Books on 14th September 2021. A free novella, Fatal Beginnings, is available from Hobeck Books at http://www.hobeck.net. The sequel, Fatal Hate, was published in April 2022 and third novel in the series, Fatal Dose, came out on 31st January 2023. Fatal Blow, the fourth book, was out on 17th October 2023.

Several of his short stories appear in the anthologies Cuckoo, Lock and Key and Seventy Three, produced by the writing group Writers in Stone, and he has had stories published in the charity anthologies, The Dark Side of Christmas and Cooking the Books (published by Hobeck). His short story The Scent of an Ending appeared in the Crime Writers Association collection Music of the Night.

Find out more about Brian at http://www.brianpriceauthor.co.uk

Maureen Myant

Publication date: 19/11/24

Publisher: Hobeck

SYNOPSIS

A family Christmas to remember

An idyllic, snow-covered landscape. A cottage in rural Northumberland.  Full of love, laughter, food, wine and mince pies. The recipe for a joyous Noel, or is it?

They seem like the perfect family

With her seemingly perfect family, Lisa Truett is envied by all her friends. Husband David is solid and dependable, salt of the earth, adores his family. Enigmatic adult twins Emilia and Rosamund are on the path to successful careers in journalism and music. Her youngest, Oliver, is blessed with brains and beauty. He can expect a brilliant future. No wonder they’re known as the ‘too good to be Truetts.’

But they never thought it would end like this

Someone is stalking them but who? Whose footprints mingle with theirs in the snow around their cottage? It turns out the family is far from perfect, after all. Will Ros ever stop seeking male approval? Is Em’s eating disorder back again? What is Oliver hiding, or, rather, who is he hiding from? David has been distant and aloof recently. Is he having an affair? But it is Lisa who hides the biggest secret of all and it could tear the family apart. 

MY REVIEW

I’m delighted to be sharing my review as part of the blog tour.

To those who are dreading the annual family get together for Christmas, read this! Your problems will pale into insignificance!

I was fully invested in this book from the start. The tension never let up for a minute. 

A claustrophobic psychological thriller set in a house in a remote part of Northumberland which is cut off by heavy snow. Then the electricity goes off due to the weather.

Lisa is looking forward to having her family back together for Christmas, but not so keen on welcoming Ian into their family Christmas. He is the new boyfriend of one of her daughters, but the other daughter thinks there is something strange about him.

Lisa is one of those mothers who likes everything to be perfect, right down to those home made mince pies. 

The family all have their own secrets and problems which have been well hidden over the years, but as things come to a head in the pressure cooker of a house the cans of worms begin to open. 

I absolutely loved this. The mix of family dynamics, relationships and secrets is already a story in itself, but the author also introduces the fact that there may be someone prowling around with the intention to harm them. 

I could empathise a lot with Lisa being a mum myself and understanding many of her thoughts about her family. I can understand how she wanted a lovely happy family Christmas, but once children are grown up and have their own lives this gets more difficult to achieve!

And that epilogue! Brilliant! 

Huge thanks to Hobeck books and Miranda Saintey for my spot in the tour.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Maureen Myant has a PhD and MLitt in Creative Writing from the University of Glasgow. Her first crime novel, The Confession, was published in 2022 by Hobeck Books and is the first in a series featuring DS Mark Nicholson and DI Alex Scrimgeour. Books two and three in the series, The Deception and The Shame were published in 2023 and 2024 respectively. She is currently writing the fourth in the series. A standalone psychological drama, What Lies Beneath will be published by Hobeck Books inNovember 2024. Maureen is also the author of a historical novel, The Search, which is set in wartime Czechoslovakia, Poland and Germany. A former psychologist, Maureen lives in Glasgow.