You Are Here by David Nicholls- General Fiction

 

You Are Here by David Nicholls- General Fiction

From the author of “ One Day” is a very different new novel. I read One Day when it first came out and have recently watched the new series of it, so seeing this I was drawn like a moth to a flame. It’s brilliantly written and cleverly draws the reader in and has maps of the walk along the way. Beautifully described it tells of a group on a walking holiday and mostly about Marnie and Michael. Most have done little walking and even being out in the countryside is a new experience being embraced. It's more about people and personalities than anything else and what drives people or indeed quite the opposite. It's a brilliant observation of human life and as the blurb says about finding the way home- in more ways than one. A compelling, warm, more than thoroughly enjoyable read. One that stands out from the crowd and one I hope becomes a TV programme/film. Stunning, brilliant. 

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Murder on the Clyde by Daniel Sellers

Murder on the Clyde by Daniel Sellers- Crime

DCI Lola Harris is concerned. There is talk of a man pushing people into the Clyde after hitting them on the head and now with a possible witness, the higher-ups don’t appear to want this investigated. Why on earth not? It potentially would solve eight murders which occurred over several years. She is meant to be investigating a possible fraud where a witness was run over- several times. What is going on in the city and why the possible cover up?

I really enjoy this series- they do stand alone quite happily so no worries if you haven't yet found the first two. Lola is a determined tenacious woman seeking justice for the victims and their families, politics be gone. I thoroughly enjoyed this and found myself reading that “ one more chapter”, to me the sign of a good read. A very solid four stars and I look forward to the next in the series.

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LOOKING GOOD DEAD by Stephen Puleston

 

LOOKING GOOD DEAD by Stephen Puleston- Crime

A woman is found murdered in her exclusive clothes shop, Looking Good, dressed in clothes from a bygone era which she was fond of. She has a string of businesses, so the police wonder if this and money could perhaps be the motive. Inspector Drake and team are on the case and when another body is found in clothing of the same era something strange is going on. Alternate chapters tell of the perpetrator making his plans. 

This is part of a series but happily stands alone - I hadn’t read all of the others (but may well do in the future). I liked Drake who came across well and found myself turning the pages very easily as this is well written and captivating. There are lots of twists and turns keeping the reader invested right the way through. A well thought out plot and clever writing make this an enjoyable, entertaining read. 

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Looking Good Dead (Inspector Drake Book 12)

Can DI Drake uncover the mysterious connection between two unconnected victims dressed in 1930s attire before more deaths? Two startled shop assistants find the body of well-known businesswoman June Bennett hanging in a shop premises she owns. Drake and his team immediately suspect her death is linked to the parties she organised where revellers wore 1930s style clothes. As suspicion falls upon her husband, the investigation takes an unexpected turn when the team uncovers 'spin-off' parties of a more scandalous nature. With the sudden death of an unrelated bank manager, Inspector Drake faces the formidable task of establishing a motive that links both victims. Tension escalates as the killer taunts Drake with chilling photographs from the scene of the second murder, attracting a deluge of media attention. Yet, Drake is determined to stay resolute, drawing upon the echoes of his past battles? Looking Good Dead is the twelfth book in the dynamic Inspector Drake crime series. If you like police procedurals, clever mysteries, and gripping page-turners, then you’ll love Stephen Puleston’s unnerving whodunit.

STEPHEN PULESTON Stephen Puleston was born in Holyhead/Caergybi, Ynys Môn, in Wales. After leaving university he trained and practised as a lawyer. He is now a full time author presently writing two crime series. Both are based in Wales, a country rich in history and spectacular scenery. The Inspector Ian Drake books involve a detective inspector based in North Wales, the area where he was born and raised, who faces his own demons while solving gruesome murders. The Inspector John Marco series follows the adventures of John Marco an inspector based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales. He’s from a Welsh-Italian family catching the killers at large in the bustling city of Cardiff. All the novels in the Inspector Drake and Marco series are available as audiobooks. All are narrated by experienced professional actors. Stephen lives with his family in Ynys Môn/Anglesey.

The Writer by Miranda Smith

 The Writer by Miranda Smith-psychological thriller

Becca is trying to be a writer but struggling. She has written one book which so far has been rejected and now appears to have writer's block. She is encouraged by her writing group to do short stories to “clear the palette” and slowly begins to write long into the night after having a nightmare. For the last ten years she has been occasionally receiving black hearts with short rather threatening messages on them, she knows not from whom and hence the police can't do anything. Ten years ago, she and a friend were unwittingly caught up in a crime that happened to another close friend. Becca then discovers that local crimes are reflecting her work and the crime of the past. Could someone in the group be behind this and if so why?

This was a read that bloomed as I read it. A nice steady beginning and then the pace accelerated. There are lots of twists and turns which kept me wondering right the way through and I couldn't wait to find out as to who the perpetrator was and if my guess was correct (which switched a few times along the way- I was still wrong!). A brilliant premise, so very well executed. A thrilling, gripping read.

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Book Description:

Her body was found close to the university. She was on her way home after a night out. Just like in the story I wrote…

Every Monday, I meet my writing group in a warm, lively bar to drink a glass of wine or two. It’s the highlight of my week. But now something terrible is happening.

At first, it didn’t seem like a big deal. My tires were slashed. A woman was hit by a car outside my apartment. Then, yesterday, someone was murdered. And all the details are copied from the stories we shared.

Am I going mad, or is someone in my group a killer?

I thought they were the only people I could trust, since what happened ten years ago. But now I’m terrified one of them knows the truth that lies buried in all my work—the secret I’ve tried so hard to hide. And they want to make me pay for it.

I have to know who’s bringing my stories to life… but will the answer cost me everything?

A completely unputdownable psychological thriller that will have you glued to the pages! If you like Lisa Jewell, Ruth Ware and The Wife Between Us, then you’ll love The Writer.

Author Bio:

Miranda Smith writes psychological and domestic suspense. She is drawn to stories about ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Before completing her first novel, she worked as a newspaper staff writer and a secondary English teacher. She lives in East Tennessee with her husband and three young children.

https://mirandasmithwriter.com/

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Buy Link:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0CS6QFGL9social

Bloodshed on the Boards by Judy Leigh

 

Bloodshed on the Boards by Judy Leigh- Crime/ Mystery

We are back in Cornwall with Morwenna and her friends. This is the second in the series but happily stands alone. There’s a play in town and when the unpopular director, owner and lead is killed on stage for real there are plenty of suspects, but there is one who knows Morwenna will be using her detective skills to discover the real perpetrator. The police have said it's a natural death from a heart attack but Morwenna is sure that there is more to it and the more she finds out the more someone is threatening her- but who?

This is one of those reads that you can happily sit by the fire and snuggle down with. One that puts the reader in the heart of the action and in Cornwall, and occasionally in the sea as Morwenna swims. There’s a great cast of characters who make you feel at home and mentions of scones and jam and toasted teacakes after a bracing swim. This is another of Judy’s wonderful reads that is more than thoroughly enjoyable. It's a cozy type mystery with family, drama and even a little romance thrown in, showing that you are never too old- for anything if you put your mind to it. A brilliantly entertaining read, I look forward to more in the series. 

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Bloodshed on the Boards There is excitement in the air as the travelling theatre arrives in Seal Bay. When The Spriggan Travelling Theatre Company arrives in Seal Bay to perform a Cornish version of King Arthur the locals flock to be entertained. But for Morwenna Mutton, sexagenarian librarian, wild swimming enthusiast and amateur sleuth, the theatre brings intrigue too. Actor and director Daniel Kitto is not the most popular member of the cast and unbeknownst to him, his role of Uther Pendragon on the opening night is to be his swansong. In front of a horrified audience, he collapses during the dying moments of the performance in a pool of fake blood, and although the police are content that the causes of his death are natural, Morwenna isn’t so sure. And once it becomes clear that there are a number of people who stand to gain from Daniel’s death, Morwenna’s investigation takes a dangerous turn. If you love Miss Marple and The Thursday Murder Club, then you'll love The Morwenna Mutton mysteries. Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/bloodshedboardssocial

Author Bio – Judy Leigh is the USA Today bestselling author of The Old Girls’ Network and Five French Hens and the doyenne of the ‘it’s never too late’ genre of women’s fiction. She has lived all over the UK from Liverpool to Cornwall, but currently resides in Somerset. Social Media Links – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/judyleighuk Twitter: https://twitter.com/JudyLeighWriter Instagram: Judy Leigh (@judyrleigh) • Instagram photos and videos Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JudyLeighNews Bookbub profile: Judy Leigh Books - BookBub

My Perfect Marriage by AJ Campbell

 

My Perfect Marriafge by A.J. Campbell-psychological thriller

Ashleigh and her family are at the lavish birthday party of their friends Lucy and Lee’s daughter who is friends with their son. Lucy and Lee were childhood friends of Lucy’s husband Danny so when there is a noise and a shout, no one is more surprised than Ashleigh to find her husband holding a hammer, covered in blood and standing over a body. What on earth has happened? Danny wouldn't hurt anyone…. Would he?

OMG! A brilliantly written book that had me racing through it. It's incredibly well crafted, with short snappy chapters each one making the reader want more. There are umpteen twists and turns, each leading to different possible scenarios as to what happened and why. I felt for Ashleigh and her predicament and how she wants to protect her family. It’s an edge of your seat read, one that had my heart racing. Loved it.

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My Perfect Marriage: A completely addictive and unputdownable thriller with heart-racing twists

 

My husband is accused of killing my best friend. Can I trust anything he says?

It feels like all the air has been knocked out of me. My best friend is dead, killed at her own daughter’s birthday party. All I want to do is run into my husband’s loving arms. But he’s in handcuffs, covered in her blood. His voice quivers, almost sobbing as officers put him in the police car. ‘You don’t think I did this, do you? I was trying to save her.’

At first, I’m sure he couldn’t have done it. The man I love wouldn’t hurt anyone. But as I try to prove that he didn’t murder Lucy, secrets begin unravelling…

It starts with the messages between the two of them. Initially, they seem innocent enough. But the more I look, the more I become convinced they were having an affair. Then I find out about his divorce lawyer…

Suddenly my whole life feels like a lie. If he was hiding his plan to leave me for Lucy, can I believe his protests that he is innocent? And if he really did murder his lover, what else is he capable of?

An unputdownable thriller that will keep you up all night! This gripping read is perfect for fans of The Housemaid, The Woman in the Window and Shari Lapena.

 

https://geni.us/B0CQP9HSLQsocial

 

AJ CAMPBELL is an Amazon bestselling author of six psychological suspense novels and promises stories full of twists, turns and torment. Her fourth book The Phone Call was released in July 2022, and it topped the Amazon charts for several months. It was shortlisted for the Adult Prize for Fiction at the Selfie Book Awards 2023. She released her fifth novel The Wrong Key in January 2023.

AJ draws inspiration for her stories from seemingly unbelievable situations in which ordinary people find themselves. She creates compelling characters that resonate with her readers. AJ lives in the UK on the Essex / Hertfordshire border with her husband, sons, and cocker spaniel, Max. She is a dog lover, Netflix junkie, and a wine and Asian food enthusiast. And, either reading, watching TV, or writing, AJ enjoys nothing more than getting stuck into a twisty story!

Thank you for visiting my Amazon author page. Click the 'follow' button to hear about my new releases. I love to chat with my readers, so please connect with me via the links below:

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The Day Shelley Wodehouse Woke Up by Laura Pearson

 

The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up by Laura Pearson- Women's Fiction

Shelley wakes up to find herself in hospital, in intensive care so she knows things are fairly bad. No-one will talk to her about what happened and she asks if there have been any visitors as it transpires that she has been there a few days. As she begins to think about things she is taken back to her childhood and alternating chapters tell about Shelley growing up and about some of her past. There’s a shadow to both parts, something recurring which Shelley can't quite piece together as yet but as she does she starts to see a pattern. What really happened and will Shelley be able to remember?

I love Laura’s books. She has the fantastic skill of writing a character so that the reader quickly feels in on the story and invested in the person and situation they find themselves in. I had to stop several times and take a breath as it was poignant, reminding me of different times in my own life and feeling for Shelley in her situation. It's one of those books that I desperately wanted to find out what happened but at the same time didnt want it to end, it's so beautifully written. Laura is one of those very special authors, one whose books I would read without hesitation or even reading the synopsis. Stunning, brilliant and every other superlative. One of my books of the year. 

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The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up When Shelley Woodhouse wakes up in hospital from a coma, the first thing she says is that her husband must be arrested. He’s the reason she’s in here. She knows it. She remembers what he did. Clearly as anything. But there are things Shelley has forgotten too, including parts of her childhood. And as those start to come back to her, so do other memories. Ones with the power to change everything. But can she trust these new memories, or what anyone around her is telling her? And who is the mysterious hospital volunteer who brings her food and keeps making her smile? Is it possible to find your future when you're confused about your past. Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/shelleywoodhousesocial

Author Bio – Laura Pearson is the author of four novels. The Last List of Mabel Beaumont was a Kindle number one bestseller in the UK and a top ten bestseller in the US. Laura lives in Leicestershire, England, with her husband, their two children, and a cat who likes to lie on her keyboard while she tries to write. Social Media Links Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraPAuthor Twitter (20) Laura Pearson (@LauraPAuthor) / X (twitter.com) Instagram Laura Pearson (@laurapauthor) • Instagram photos and videos Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/LauraPearsonNews Bookbub profile: Laura Pearson Books - BookBub