What a week!

Hello readers!

It's been a busy week here! Not managed to read as much as I would like, and been a little pre-occupied with a possible new venture! I will keep you posted on that.

I have almost finished my current read, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. This is another that has been on my to-read list for ages. I still don't know how it ends, but I have really enjoyed it so far. The reviews I have read have been a bit like Marmite. People seem to either love it or hate it. But one thing almost everyone agrees on is how beautifully it is written.

Hoping to finish it tonight, so keep your eyes peeled for my rating and short review.

Rachael xo

Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible...

So, you may have noticed already, but I've been a little quieter than normal on the blog! Fear not fellow literature lovers, I am still here! I have been inundated with book review requests, end of term madness, (normality with 3 children!) and taken some time out to actually read the books I need to review! (It does help if you actually read them first, trust me!)

This is just a little update for you. My current read is The Roanoake Girls by Amy Engel. It's been on my 'to-read' pile for quite a few months now and I am enjoying it immensely. My last read was the amazing Lie to Me by J T Ellison. I was fortunate to receive an advance copy and gave it the 5 stars it fully deserved. A brilliant psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Gone Girl, kept me guessing until the end.

My next post will be a short review of The Roanoake Girls once I have finished it. I will then be moving on to a few independent authors of differing genres, so watch this space for details.

Rachael xo

Latest read: Trust Me by Angela Clarke

Today's short review is my latest read 'Trust Me' by the amazing Angela Clarke. Book 3 in the 'Social Media Murders' Series featuring DS Nasreen Cudmore and her long-time friend and ex-journalist turned Police analyst Freddie Venton.

From the book...

YOU SAW IT HAPPEN. DIDN’T YOU?

What do you do if you witness a crime…but no-one believes you?

When Kate sees a horrific attack streamed live on her laptop, she calls the police in a state of shock. But when they arrive, the video has disappeared – and she can’t prove anything. Desperate to be believed, Kate tries to find out who the girl in the video could be – and who attacked her.

Freddie and Nas are working on a missing persons case, but the trail has gone cold. When Kate contacts them, they are the only ones to listen and they start to wonder – are the two cases connected?

Dark, gripping, and flawlessly paced, Trust Me is the brilliant third novel in the hugely popular social media murderer series.

Angela Clarke

About the Author...

Angela is an author, playwright, columnist and professional speaker.

Her debut crime thriller Follow Me (Avon, HarperCollins) was named Amazon’s Rising Star Debut of the Month January 2016, long listed for the Crime Writer’s Association Dagger in the Library 2016, and short listed for the Good Reader Page Turner Award 2016. Follow Me has now been optioned by a TV production company.

The second instalment in the Social Media Murder Series Watch Me (Avon, HarperCollins) is out January 2017. And the third Trust Me (Avon, HarperCollins) is out June 2017.

Angela’s humorous memoir Confessions of a Fashionista (Ebury, Penguin Random House) is an Amazon Fashion Chart bestseller.

Her play, The Legacy, enjoyed its first run at The Hope Theatre in June 2015.

An experienced and entertaining speaker, Angela has given talks, hosted events, and masterclasses for many, including Norwich Crime Writing Festival, Camp Bestival, Panic! (in partnership with Create, the Barbican, Goldsmiths University and The Guardian), Meet a Mentor (in partnership with the Royal Society of Arts), Northwich Lit Fest, St Albans Lit Fest, BeaconLit, and the London College of Fashion. She also hosted the current affairs radio show Outspoken on Radio Verulam in 2015, and has appeared regularly as a panel guest on BBC 3 Counties, BBC Radio 4, and the BBC World Service, among others.

In 2015 Angela was awarded the Young Stationers' Prize for achievement and promise in writing and publishing. She also works for The Literary Consultancy critiquing manuscripts and mentoring. Angela, a sufferer of the debilitating chronic condition Ehlers Danlos III, is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, volunteers with Womentoring, Meet a Mentor and at HM Prisons. She is passionate about bringing marginalised voices into the industry. You can find out more about her at www.AngelaClarke.co.uk

My thoughts...

Like many others, I first discovered Angela when 'Follow Me' was released back in early 2016. I raced through it, hoping there would be a sequel. Delight at the news that there was to be another in the series quickly turned to despair knowing I would have to wait months and months for it to be released! 

As expected, when 'Watch Me' was released I grabbed my copy on publication day and devoured it! I was extremely fortunate to be allowed access to an advance reader copy of 'Trust Me' and again, I could not wait to read it. It delivered, just as much as the previous two, perhaps even more so as we witness the friendships and relationships evolve further, bringing a new depth to the characters.

This series is one of my favourites. It is super fresh, relevant and current. The social media aspect brings in everything we rely on day-to-day in our 21st Century lives in order to present fast-paced, gripping thrillers with characters you are destined to fall for. Freddie Venton has been my favourite since day one. She is wild, brutally honest and totally unpredictable and compliments Nas' more conservative nature perfectly. 

'Trust Me' go and read it!

Get your copy...

  

Blog Tour: Day of the Dead by Mark Roberts

Today I am pleased to get my turn on the blog tour of Mark Roberts' new thriller 'Day of the Dead'. Let me introduce you to a fantastic author and a really, really great book!

About the author...

Mark Roberts

Meet Mark Roberts. Born and raised in Liverpool and educated at St. Francis Xavier's College. Mark taught in mainstream schools for twenty years and for the past twelve in a school for teenagers with severe learning difficulties. He received a Manchester Evening News Theatre Award for Best New Play of the Year. and was long listed for the Golden Dagger for 'What She Saw'. 'Blood Mist' is the first novel in the DCI Eve Clay series and is set in his native Liverpool.

About the book...

A serial killer. A hero to some. A wanted criminal to others.

The man who calls himself Vindici broke out of prison last year. Now he's filmed himself torturing and killing paedophiles in Liverpool's affluent suburbs.

Half the city are celebrating: the streets are now safer for their children. But for DCI Eve Clay and her team at the Merseyside Police, it's a nightmare. Their job is to solve crimes and lock up the killer – hard enough without being despised by the public they are trying to protect.

And now, just when they think they've cracked the case, they receive a photo of Vindici at a Day of The Dead parade in Mexico. If Vindici is 5,000 miles away, who are they hunting in Liverpool? DCI Eve Clay must draw on all her cunning to unmask a killer who is somehow always one step ahead.

What I Thought...

The Day of the Dead is my first experience of the talented Mark Roberts, and what an experience it was! Described as 'intricate and fast-paced' it is everything a modern day thriller should be.

Spread over three intense action-packed days, it seems like weeks have passed since the beginning. Roberts' attention to detail and character depth is phenomenal, bringing an entirely believable story to life in spectacular fashion. The running theme of 'neither one thing, nor another' is as fresh and current as it is confusing and forces you to constantly question events and characters.

Full of unexpected twists, just when you think you may have a clue what is going on, the rug is swept from under your feet and chaos descends once more.

Genuinely one of the best serial killer thrillers I have read this year, I am looking forward to reading more from Mark Roberts.

. 

Also by this Author...

   

Book Review: The Child by Fiona Barton

The Child by Fiona Barton

When a paragraph in an evening newspaper reveals a decades-old tragedy, most readers barely give it a glance. But for three strangers it’s impossible to ignore.

For one woman, it’s a reminder of the worst thing that ever happened to her.

For another, it reveals the dangerous possibility that her darkest secret is about to be discovered.

And for the third, a journalist, it’s the first clue in a hunt to uncover the truth.

The Child’s story will be told.


The Child by Fiona Barton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Absolutely fantastic. 5 star read. If you liked Fiona's previous novel, The Widow you will love this. The Child brings the return of heroine reporter Kate Waters, investigating the discovery of a newborn skeleton found on a building site. We are told the story of the baby through various narratives, but mainly focusing on Kate and two other characters, Angela and Emma. Who does the baby belong to, and how did it end up being buried decades ago?
A gripping thriller, expertly written. Unpredictable and un-put-down-able!

View all my reviews

Book Review: Out of Reach by Elizabeth McGregor (Cooke)

This book was one of the first ever books I was approved for on NetGalley. It has sat on my 'to-read' shelf for nearly 7 months. Having read it today, all I can say is, why did I wait so long? I am a huge fan of the relatively recent 'psychological thriller' genre and despite Out of Reach originally being published in 1997, it is as fresh and as current as its modern counterparts.

The truth is always just out of reach…

Kate McCaulay thinks she has rebuilt her life. She has a job as a local newspaper reporter, a flat above an antiques shop in a village by the sea, and a close group of friends.

But one day her carefully erected existence collapses when tragedy explodes back into her life.

Ten years ago Kate’s eight-week-old baby, Jamie, was stolen.

The loss destroyed her marriage and still haunts her dreams with guilt and longing.

And now letters have started arriving on her doormat, anonymous letters that read, ‘I know where he is…’

Tragedy strikes again when her colleague and close friend, Maggie, is found, dead.

Kate is torn between running once again or finding out who sent the letters so she can finally have some answers.

She enlists the help of Johnathon Reeve, a psychiatrist, to help her work through her issues.

He seems to be exactly what she needs – someone who listens, understands, and is willing to help.

Kate soon comes to the realisation that she must put her fear to one side and find the truth behind her son’s disappearance.

Even if the child will always remain just Out of Reach...

Out of Reach by Elizabeth McGregor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Outstanding. Well written, beautiful descriptive language. With this originally published in 1997, McGregor was way ahead of her time and Out of Reach should be topping the charts with the likes of Gone Girl and Behind Closed Doors.

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Book Review: Persons Unknown by Susie Steiner

Persons Unknown by Susie Steiner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

'Manon Bradshaw is back.

As dusk falls a young man staggers through a park, far from home, bleeding from a stab wound. He dies where he falls; cradled by a stranger, a woman’s name on his lips in his last seconds of life.

DI Manon Bradshaw can’t help taking an interest – these days she only handles cold cases, but the man died just yards from the police station where she works.

She’s horrified to discover that both victim and prime suspect are more closely linked to her than she could have imagined. And as the Cambridgeshire police force closes ranks against her, she is forced to contemplate the unthinkable.

How well does she know her loved ones, and are they capable of murder?'

It has been a while since I read the first in the DS Manon series. I remembered Missing Presumed as a great read, but had forgotten Manon to a large extent. It didn't take many chapters for her witty character to come flooding back to me. Persons Unknown is a fantastic follow up to Missing Presumed. Having gone back to her old job with her old force and a whole set of different personal circumstances, Manon's personal life is focused on more intently here than previously.

A gripping thriller. A real page-turner. Steiner has great strength in character development and the story unfolds by way of different narratives. Despite it's core plot, I found myself smiling, sometimes even laughing out loud at the hilarious one-liners planted throughout, such as one character's opinion of perhaps moving to Spain, "It'll just feel disappointing and also irritating because you won't know the Spanish for pile cream."

Missing Presumed was one of the bestselling books of 2016, a Richard & Judy Book Club pick and was named a New York Times 'Must-read thriller of the Summer.' I believe Persons Unknown will follow in the footsteps of it's older sibling and top the charts this summer.

Pre-order your copy today.



View all my reviews

With thanks to NetGalley UK for the advance reader copy.

Book Review: Western Fringes by Amer Anwar

Western Fringes: Winner of the CWA Debut Dagger by Amer Anwar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Deserves every one of those stars! This is the Punjabi answer to Guy Ritchie's hit movie Snatch. Fast paced, violently thrilling with hints of humour throughout; a cracking read and more than worthy of its Dagger Award.

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Book Review: Friend Request by Laura Marshall

Today's review is a thriller set to be released in the UK on 27th July this year. Firstly, as always, thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy. Friend Request by Laura Marshall is described as "a pulse-pounding psychological thriller for fans of The Girl on the Train, I See You and The Darkest Secret" (Amazon) and 'A read-it-in-one-sitting thriller... Twisty and gripping but always relatable, Friend Request is the ultimate it-could-happen-to-you read' (Erin Kelly).

I was hooked from the moment I saw the blurb...

Maria wants to be friends.

But Maria is dead.

Isn't she?

When Louise Williams receives a message from someone left long in the past, her heart nearly stops.

Maria Weston wants to be friends on Facebook.

Maria Weston has been missing for over twenty-five years. She was last seen the night of a school leavers' party, and the world believes her to be dead. Particularly Louise, who has lived her adult life with a terrible secret.

As Maria's messages start to escalate, Louise forces herself to reconnect with the old friends she once tried so hard to impress. Trying to piece together exactly what happened that night, she soon discovers there's much she didn't know. The only certainty is that Maria Weston disappeared that night, never to be heard from again - until now. . .

Friend Request is a true 'read in one sitting' novel. Totally unputdownable! I love thrillers of this nature, especially ones that are as unpredictable as this. Guessing the ending of a thriller always disappoints me, but there was not a chance of that happening here. Told through the narrative of the main protagonist Louise, through her current situation and her past, we go on a journey back to high school to try to unpick the events that have lead to that unexpected friend request.

The novel is fresh and current, and as a thirty-something myself, I experienced profound bouts of nostalgia about my own friendship groups in high school. Louise's character really resonated with me, so much so that I often found myself nodding along in agreement with her throughout. It is well written, has great character depth and fantastic structure. The plot is brilliant and kept me guessing until the end.

I am very much looking forward to reading more from Laura Marshall, and I hope that Friend Request goes on to be one of the bestsellers of the summer.

Rachael xo

You can pre-order Friend Request here

Review Requests

Since starting this blog I have received some wonderful novels for review and I hope to continue to do so.

Please note that I am currently not accepting new requests for review. If you have emailed me before today with a review request and I have not yet responded, I will be undertaking your review as soon as possible. I hope to be able to accept new requests again soon.

Thank you!

Summer Life!

I'm back! (Again!)

We all have that time of year that is super busy and it seems like nothing gets done; now is that time for us! The past few weeks have been a blur of revision, exams, school trips, children's parties and more! It's a wonder that I have managed to do any reading, but as any book lover knows, you fit it in somewhere!

For those of you who follow me on Goodreads, you already know what I've been reading! For those of you that don't, see my list below! I have varied my choices quite significantly this year and I am really enjoying reading novels that I would normally avoid. Most of what I have read has been phenomenal, with the exception of just a few. Take a look below and let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

The Stranger in the Woods - Michael Finkel
Will Grayson, Will Grayson - John Green and David Levithan
Butter - Erin Lange
The Perks of being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky
The Circle - Dave Eggers
Fat Chance - Nick Spalding (hilarious!)
Last Breath - Robert Bryndza
The Caller - Chris Carter
Everything Everything - Nicola Yoon
The Dive from Clausen's Pier - Ann Packer
The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint Exupery
Medical Medium - Anthony William (not a believer in psychic/medium stuff but this book makes a lot of sense!)
Into the Wild - Jon Krakauer
Long Walk to Freedom - Nelson Mandela (really long book, lots of political references (obviously) but fascinating nonetheless)
Her Husband's Lover - Julia Crouch
Into the Water - Paula Hawkins

Some time has passed since reading a lot of these, hence the no reviews, but one that stuck out for me, surprisingly, was The Dive from Clausen's Pier. A simple tale of young love and small town life and tragedy, it drew me in more than I ever thought possible.

I am looking forward to seeing the movie adaptation (gasp!) of The Circle, mainly because I adore Emma Watson but also because I really enjoyed the book. Into the Wild was another one that surprised me. I often enjoy the tales of free spirited individuals and the story of Chris McCandless is as enthralling as it is tragic. Her Husband's Lover was an enjoyable psychological thriller in the vein of Gone Girl et al. Into the Water, the second novel from the writer of bestseller The Girl on the Train was unfortunately hugely disappointing. It had the bones of a good plot, but was somewhat drowned out by the curious mix of different narratives.

That's all from me today. Keep an eye out for my upcoming 'Must-read books for Summer 2017' post. :-)

Review: Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes

Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Elizabeth is fast becoming one of my favourite thriller writers. Into the Darkest Corner is simply stunning. A chilling, mind-twisting tale of domestic abuse and its effects long after the fact. Couldn't put this one down!

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Review: All Fall Down by Tom Bale

All Fall Down by Tom Bale
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After reading See How They Run I was very much looking forward to more from Tom. All Fall Down did not disappoint. Initially, for reasons unknown, I struggled to really connect with the novel. Eventually, however, the Turner family and their hidden pasts hooked me. Tom has a seemingly effortless ability to create an aura of fear and anticipation somewhat akin to Paula Hawkins and Gillian Flynn. All Fall Down is a gripping thriller and one to watch out for this year.

View all my reviews

World Book Day

I couldn't be more excited for World Book Day this year! My eldest two children have decided they would like to dress as Hermione Granger and Quidditch Harry Potter. Costumes ordered and delivered ready! Now just the small matter of deciding what the toddler and the dog will wear!

I, on the other hand will be spending the day at my local Waterstones and any other bookshops that I may come across, breathing in the atmosphere and sipping tea with my latest read. Don't forget World Book Day is Thursday 3rd March!

March is actually shaping up to be pretty exciting so far. Aside from the usual reviews and offers we have our very first guest blog post from the lovely Lauren Westwood. Lauren's upcoming novel Finding Secrets is due for release on March 1st and I am looking forward to reading it and of course chatting with Lauren very soon.

My newest Amazon haul has just arrived as we speak and today I have decided to add some true classics to my shelf in the form of the Bronte sisters and Jane Austen. Excited to re-read these as a grown up to see how my perception of them changes.

My current read is All Fall Down from Tom Bale, so stay tuned for the review!

Until next time!

Rachael xo

Review: The Bone Field by Simon Kernick

The Bone Field by Simon Kernick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I think Simon is definitely on my favourite author list after reading this. I couldn't put it down. Something about cold cases always piques my interest so I had a feeling I would enjoy this. After reading a guest blog post by Simon I was in equal parts horrified and excited to discover that The Bone Field is just the start of the story with the remainder split over several books to come.
I was unsure how this would end and whether I would be left bereft waiting for the rest of the tale. Simon wrapped it up satisfyingly enough but with a humdinger of a cliff hanger! The Bone Field was the first of Simon's novels for me but definitely won't be the last. I loved his style and flow and found this book unpredictable which was a refreshing change from predicting the ending. One to watch out for in 2017 and eagerly anticipating the next installment.

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Goodreads Review: A Year and a Day by Isabelle Broom

A Year and a Day by Isabelle Broom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh, my heart is bursting after reading this! It's not my usual choice of genre, but in the spirit of widening my reading choices I gave it a go. I am so pleased that I did. The book is set in the beautiful city of Prague during the winter time. Having visited Prague many years ago myself, and with a little help from Google Earth (don't judge me!) I felt myself reminiscing the sights and sounds which made the reading experience even deeper for me. I loved the trilogy of tales woven intricately together to create one single saga. I have never read anything from Isabelle before, but I can truthfully say that next time I won't hesitate. I fell in love with the characters in the book so much so that it almost felt like my emotions were tied to theirs. A tale of love, expression, wonderment and loss, a beautiful release from reality. Da Iawn Isabelle Broom.

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Goodreads Review: Rattle by Fiona Cummins

Rattle by Fiona Cummins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow! Just, wow! The first novel I have read by Fiona and I just loved it! I knew from the first few chapters that it was going to be a good one! I love her style, the ease of reading and attention to detail. The pace of the story was perfect and the character depth was just enough to get to know them, without all the extra baggage. Overall it was much better than I had expected. The synopsis didn't scream at me to make me want to read it, but having done so, I would highly recommend it and I am looking forward to more from Fiona.

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Book Review: The Woman in Cabin 10

Happy Publication Day to the amazing Ruth Ware and The Woman in Cabin 10! I gratefully received an advance reader copy of this last year and I loved it! Read my short review and grab your copy today!

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved In A Dark Dark Wood by Ruth and I hoped that The Woman in Cabin 10 would be as good. It was better! The mysterious plot outline of a supposed murder occurring on a ship where all its passengers are present and accounted for is riveting. Fantastic thriller and looking forward to more from Ruth Ware.

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Get your copy today!

What is your reading speed?

Whilst browsing online book stores yesterday I came across a book called Speed Reading; How to increase your reading speed and comprehension by Bryan Botwin. I like to think of myself as a relatively fast and competent reader, but thought I would read it anyway. Any of us bookworms will admit that being able to read faster can only be a good thing as it enables us to read more and more books in less time.

Speed Reading: How To Increase Your Reading Speed And Comprehension by Bryan Botwin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A few helpful tips to increase your reading speed. Short and sweet.

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I have encountered the notion of speed reading before and vaguely remember doing an online test to discover my reading speed. Taking an online test is recommended by the author to establish your current speed and to be able to monitor any progress made in future.

I took this speed reading test today and I was genuinely shocked by my results. The site says that the average speed at which we read is around 200 words per minute and we retain roughly 60% of the information before us. I was pretty confident of beating this, being an avid, long-time reader. I was incredibly pleased to see my reading speed was a whopping 550 words per minute and my retention rate was 91%!! I took the test again as instructed and my words per minute had increased to 638! Apparently only 1% of readers have a retention of more than 85% and can reach speeds of up to 1000 words per minute! Pretty interesting stuff! If you want to take a look at the book, get it now for free below.

Book Review: The Breakdown by B A Paris

Wow! What a read! After the halfway point I genuinely could not put this down!! I became a huge fan of B A Paris after last year's Behind Closed Doors (who didn't?!) and The Breakdown has only cemented my opinion.

Fast-paced and gripping, it will leave you wanting more and more. Just as with Jack and Grace in Behind Closed Doors, here we are introduced to Cass and Matthew, a seemingly ordinary couple with run of the mill jobs and a few close friends to hang out with. Paris' character development is pure genius and the attention to detail second to none. On a personal level I really connected with Cass as someone who has suffered with anxiety and memory problems. We follow her as her life is almost falling apart at the seams, with the ever present and dependable husband to lean on. When a murder occurs a little too close to home, and with a murderer still at large, will the strange things going on around her be enough to send Cass over the edge before its too late?

Pre-order your copy today! Release date 9th February!