Leo Moon: The Aries Billionaire #RachelWells #JessicaAdams #LeoMoonTheAriesBillionaire

By Rachel Wells @RachelWellsuk and Jessica Adams https://www.jessicaadams.com/ @jessicacadams

Narrated by Oliver Chris

Published by Audible Original https://www.audible.co.uk/ @audibleuk

5 hours 25 minutes

Publication date 23 November 2023

I was sent an audiobook to enable me to take part in this Blog Tour. I would like to thank Anne at Random Things Tours @RandomTTours for the invitation to participate and of course the Authors and the Publisher.

The cover

There’s a lot of text on the cover but there’s also enough to hint at what the listener can expect.

The narrator

Not so much a narration as a full theatrical performance and an excellent one at that. A vast array of male and female voices across the adult age range and some good accent work. I found a couple of the voices quite irritating (intentionally so I think) making me wish they were to be killed off. The sort of performance that the listener is immediately drawn into the story.

My review

Meet Mike Kirby, star sign Aries, who is about to celebrate his fiftieth birthday in some style with a rocket display. These are not your run of the mill pyrotechnics though, because Mike is a billionaire. He is going to celebrate his birthday by blasting off into space in his own rocket, before safely returning to earth in time for the party he is holding. Truly a sight to behold because its also the weekend of an eclipse.

Leo Moon is a young man who gave up his university studies to be the manager (and general dogsbody) of his mother, the renowned astrologer to the stars, Eleanor Moon. Eleanor is a woman Mike Kirby places great faith in, and he values her opinion on the influences of the stars and planets on his business decisions and personal choices. Both she and Leo are invited to the weekend bash, which is being held on Mike’s private island, off the coat of Ireland. Leo’s friend the freelance journalist Karen Penn is also tagging along in the search of a story. It promises to be a weekend to remember…

On the island things don’t go to plan, an accident leaves Mike in a coma and then there is a murder. Can Leo along with Karen, as Watson to his Holmes, playing amateur detectives, uncover the truth?

The plot is wonderfully ludicrous, fittingly so because the lives of billionaires have no terms of reference to the average listener. There are so many billionaires entering the space travel business that is ‘old hat’. Indeed, it’s almost at the prerequisite stage of needing to have a rocket to be a proper billionaire; private jets are so common and for little people. They are also the kind of people open to more unusual suggestions, so why not be guided by the stars, after all he is shooting for them.

The situation that unfolds is a variation of the classic country house mystery updated for the 2020’s. Even the motive for murder falls within the theme, so if you love the golden age you are going to enjoy this story. This type of story calls out for a varied cast of interesting characters, with the occasional outrageous one as a bonus, and we are indulged here.  

Leo wants life to be straightforward, he even takes Steve Job’s lead when it comes to dressing, reducing the number of decisions to be made each day. He lives on a houseboat at Brighton and loves surfing as well as astrology. He’s great at reading signs but less so people, finding women very confusing. Perhaps this is throwback to his boarding school days, either way it leads to frustration in the fairer sex.

Eleanor is forthright and certain in her abilities even though she dresses like a minor character from Dallas or Dynasty, favouring 1980s power suits and shoulder pads. Her true colours are displayed by the appearance of Mystic Marjory, ‘that fraud’. Marjory claims to commune with the spirits, though they mainly seem to be the ones in a bottle and consumed with very little mixer. Still, she says her spirit guides Freddie and Will (Mercury and Shakespeare) will guide her, though she did think Rod Stewart was trying to contact her until it was pointed out he wasn’t dead yet. The interaction between the two bring out some great humour, that had me chuckling along whilst walking the dog.

With this type of story we must look to the staff, in the true ‘the butler did it’ spirit. Here we have useless but friendly Brummie housekeeper Alice and the slightly peculiar island manager Julian to divert the reader’s attention.

The story is short in length but is fully formed and much more than a novella, and as such moves along at a fair clip. Admittedly its not an incident packed story, but one of personalities and interactions within a classic situation superimposed on a modern setting. It’s a gentle satire on wealth, the super-rich with their way of life and attitudes. Most of all though, it is entertaining and amusing listen and a great way to pass a few hours.

Leo Moon: The Aries Billionaire can be purchased from Amazon here

The authors

RACHEL WELLS is the author of eight books in the Sunday Times bestselling Alfie series (HarperCollins) and has been in the Top Ten a number of times. Alfie has been translated into Japanese, Italian, Chinese, French and German, Portuguese, Spanish, Polish, Finnish, Dutch and Russian. Rachel’s latest collaboration with Jessica Adams is The Leo Moon Mysteries for Audible UK. They also worked together on the #9 travel bestseller in Australia, The Holiday Goddess Guide to Paris, London, New York and Rome (HarperCollins) and the global Top Ten fiction hit series Girls’ Night In and Kids’ Night In (Penguin, HarperCollins). 

JESSICA ADAMS is the author of the #1 US and Australia Amazon horoscope bestseller, 2020 Astrology: Your Five-Year Horoscope Guide. She began her career at ELLE and her work can be found in VOGUE and on ITV with 1+ million YouTube views. She hosts The Astrology Show Podcast, the #1 Apple spirituality chart show in the UK, Greece, Hong Kong, Singapore and New Zealand. Her books include Essential Astrology for Women (HarperCollins) and Handbag Horoscopes (Penguin).

Don’t forget to check out all the previous reviews on this Blog Tour:

City on Fire #GrahamBartlett #CityOnFire

By Graham Bartlett https://policeadvisor.co.uk/ @gbpoliceadvisor

Published by Allison & Busby https://www.allisonandbusby.com/ @AllisonandBusby

350 pages ISBN 9780749030513 (HB)

Publication date 21 March 2024

City on Fire is the third novel in the Chief Superintendent Jo Howe series. Click on the link to read my review of the second book in the series Force of Hate.

I was allowed access to a pdf review copy on Net Galley.  Thanks to Josie at Allison & Busby for the invitation to join the blog tour and of course the Author.

The cover

A curious but quite striking cover. A picture of the Brighton sea-front but the title font picked out in flames, for reasons which will become clear.

• 

My review

Chief Superintendent Jo Howe is determined to tackle the scourge of drugs on the streets of Brighton, a city that is turning into the drugs capital of England. Jo is only too aware that drug habits fuel crime, as addicts need easy cash to feed their addiction, and it destroys lives. This she knows from bitter experience as her sister Caroline succumbed to heroin, a life in dirty squats and on the streets, which led ultimately to her death. This death is still raw to Jo, she feels she let Caroline down, that she could have done more to help her. She now cannot atone for this sense of guilt to Caroline, but she is determined to help as many as she can who are in this predicament. She is the driving force behind Operation Eradicate, a two-pronged attack at the problem. Not only is there a concerted effort to reduce supply but also to get users into rehabilitation programs, and a new pharmaceutical heroin substitute being trialled is having a positive result. A somewhat controversial approach that needs time to mature, but not everyone is so positive.

The new drug is made by Respite Pharmaceuticals a company owned by Sir Ben Parsons, a formidable self-made millionaire with a vast web of useful contacts, people in high places. Respite has obviously invested millions is developing and patenting the drug, money that Sir Ben needs to earn back. However, in his eyes Operation Eradicate is proving to be too successful, curing addicts reduces his customer base which is bad for business. He wants complacent addicts hooked for the long term on the substitute. He needs to stop Howe and her scheme, and he thinks he knows how to do it.

Dark days ahead for Jo in a city about to explode.

One thing guaranteed from the author is authenticity, the policing, their actions and communications feel right, but without being dragged down by an obsession with procedure. The action is given every chance to develop and flow. Its not just the policing though, where he writes about the inter-agency work, the voluntary sector NGOs and prisons it comes over as though from experience rather than research. What a great asset when a writing a novel such as this.

If you have read the earlier novels in the series, you will know Jo is a strong and determined woman who is respected and admired by her peers. In this story she is really put through the wringer, dropped into heaps of jeopardy both personal and reputational, such that it almost brings about her complete mental destruction. A woman who is schemed against but also making poor judgement calls when under extreme pressure, which is both understandable and realistic. Stress effects people in different ways but we can all get to the point that Jo does where every step, every choice makes the situation worse.

It starts with a betrayal, from her loving and understanding journalist husband of all people. It is a professional one, forced to do it by editor, rather than a relationship betrayal with another woman. Once under the media microscope the pressure starts to mount, and Jo’s professionalism comes into doubt. That is merely the start as officers face threats and personal attacks causing support for Jo to dwindle and an increase of sick leave. When the supply of the synthetic drug dries up (thanks to carefully planning by Sir Ben) the streets boil over.

A fabulous description of a cold and calculating plan being executed step by step. Sir Ben has the contacts, the wealth and he also has the dirt on people and is not averse to a spot of blackmail to get his way. There is a suspicion amongst the public that some within the establishment can orchestrate cover ups, but here we can see such power wielded to destroy an individual. Something truly chilling to read.

It is the motivation of Sir Ben that interested me. Here we have a hugely successful businessman, one who enjoys the trappings of success, who is willing to destroy lives just to earn his drug development costs back. Apparently heartless, but then we learn of his poor mother, suffering from early onset dementia, whom he cares dearly for and lives at his house. There are some very touching scenes where he is comforting her which I am sure some carers will recognise. A real dichotomy of a man. I would have liked the relationship with his mother developed more, as we never discover how the dynamics were forged. Was she domineering, was he repressed, there is no mention of a love life for Sir Ben.

His obsession with finding a cure for his mother leads to a magnificently dramatic confrontation, one that has building up from the start. Action fans you are well catered for too, with bursts of aggression, bloodshed and personal jeopardy as momentum and tension are skilfully built up and released throughout, and at times you have to catch your breath.

At the core of the story is the notion that drugs companies just want to treat patients, to alleviate their symptoms rather than cure them. For them it’s a high stakes gamble to develop a drug, but being corporations, they want to earn profits and not just benefit mankind. What begins as an unlikely concept becomes a chilling possibility the more you think about it. There is a huge health and charity sector dedicated to developing and curing a vast array of diseases form cancer to Alzheimer’s, yet any success is a threat to their existence. A moral conundrum which we can only hope is addressed in an ethical way.

City on Fire is a convincing police procedural where a chilling businessman is determined to destroy the lives of those who get in his way.

City on Fire can be purchased via the publisher’s website here

The author

Graham Bartlett rose to become chief superintendent and the divisional commander of Brighton and Hove police. His first non-fiction book Death Comes Knocking was a Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller, which he then followed with Babes in the Wood. He co-wrote these books with bestselling author, Peter James, and has since published Bad for Good and Force of Hate starring Chief Superintendent Jo Howe. Bartlett is also a police procedural and crime advisor helping scores of authors and TV writers inject authenticity into their work.

Source: Publisher’s website

Don’t forget to check out the other great reviews on this blog tour:

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Best Served Cold #HillyBarmby #BestServedCold

By Hilly Barmby https://www.hillybarmbyauthor.com/ @Hilly_Barmby

Published by Hobeck Books https://www.hobeck.net @HobeckBooks

320 pages ISBN 9781915817259

Publication date 14 November 2023

I was sent an electronic copy in exchange for a fair review.  I would like to thank Rebecca at Hobeck Books and the Author for the invitation to participate in the Blog Tour.

The Cover

A woman paddling and a view of Brighton beach. Quite wistful and reflective which matches the scope and content of the story.

My thoughts

The title gives an indication of the motive behind the plot and it isn’t how to serve the perfect pint of lager or gelato. Everyone knows the idiom ‘revenge is a dish “best served cold”’ (from Les Liasons Dangereuses by Pierre Ambroise Francois Choderios de La Clos) and this is what the title refers to. The payback from revenge is most satisfying when it is carefully planned and the timing deferred to the appropriate moment. The desire for revenge can also be self-destructive, like a poison eating away at the core of ones being. It can also come at great cost, as Confucius said “if you seek revenge, dig two graves.” So just how will this most basic of human desires manifest in this thoughtful novel?

A curious start to a novel as Lily, an illustrator, celebrates the publication of her latest work with a brief paddle on Brighton beach, in November. It’s a tradition of hers and as the reader will see rituals, traditions and habits form a central thread which highlights some of the incidents throughout. The very things we create to make us feel comfortable, appear to work against us when they are disrupted and that ultimately come to play on Lily’s mind.

Lily’s book launch passes its first test, people turn up, so the nightmare of the empty room is avoided. The second nightmare is the fixated fan, the obsessive and here Lily has a problem in the form of Rose, who says she attends all her events and asks for a strange inscription in her book. Is she a dangerous stalker, or is she someone who is lost and lonely? Later in the evening when Lily and best friend Alice meet her in the pub they think the former; Rose even makes a reference to Annie Wilkes in Stephen King’s Misery, which is a nice knowing touch. As the night progresses though they become to warm to her and decide to offer her friendship.

Lily has never really got over her student days boyfriend Harry. Rose persuades her to try a dating app and, with the help of Alice, discovers Jack, who they consider excellent boyfriend material. They agree to meet up and a relationship quickly develops. Is Jack the answer to Lily’s prayers? Just as things are blossoming with Jack, strange things start to happen at home, filling her with self-doubt. Is she doing things subconsciously, is her mind paying tricks on her, or is it ghosts of her past resurfacing. Is the past really the past and dead to her.

This is a character-based story and great efforts have been made to create fully formed, interesting and engaging characters along two timelines, the current and a past centring on Lily and Alice’s student days. The whole central portion of the novel is given way to the development of Lily’s relationships with Harry, in the past and Jack in the present. We see Harry was her perfect partner but how he managed to betray her, that his ex, Jo, still had a hold over him and how their love withers on the vine. Jack appears to the man to finally repair her heart and we can feel her relief and joy recovering from a cathartic past. Keeping the cast small allows meatier roles for Rose and in particular Alice (my favourite) who is the caring but slightly mad bestie we would all want. The complexity of inter-relationships is allowed to flourish and the story is more convincing for it.

On top of these love stories is laid a web of psychologically damaging lies and deceits to build a suspenseful story. To me it’s a Hitchcock-lite story, not one of visceral shocks but rather one where the central character thinks their mind is playing tricks, developing paranoia and tension. So often seen on film as the silly, hysterical woman, but it goes beyond coincidence and then happenstance to where they realise that something is going on, when usually it is too late. The author has done a brilliant job on this slow build-up and gradual deterioration of mind set towards the finale which will result in bated breath for the reader. To all-out action fans, it may feel a little pedestrian, but it does get quite frantic when it needs to. As the title implies revenge will be sweeter for the waiting.

The story is not devoid of action and jeopardy, as it is bookended by it. Early on there is a #MeToo incident which arrives with a bit of a shock like a slap to the face. The ending is quite fitting to the long build up where the readers patience is rewarded with a satisfying conclusion.

Best Served Cold is a beautifully crafted suspense story of poisonous revenge.  

Best Served Cold can be purchased direct from the publisher here

The author

Hilly attended Rochester College of Art to experience an excellent Foundation Course, which led to a degree course in Graphic Design at Central School of Art and Design in London. Here, she led a colourful life, which she has woven into many of her stories.

After her degree course, she went on a woodworking course to make furniture. Combining her art and woodworking skills, she got a stall at Covent Garden Craft Market to sell hand-made chess and backgammon sets.

She moved to Brighton, a fabulous city and this is where Best Served Cold is set. After teaching Design Technology for fifteen years, she gave it all up to relocate to Órgiva in southern Spain. She has been here for the last seven years, living happily in an old farmhouse on an organic fruit farm in the mountains, with her partner and two rescue dogs.

Hilly is also part of Artists’ Network Alpujarra (ANA), a community of artists who have exhibited extensively in the region of the Alpujarra. She also makes ceramics, jewellery, and up-cycles anything not nailed down.

Source: Publisher’s website

Don’t forget to check out all the other great reviews on this Blog Tour:

The First 48 Hours #SimonKernick #TheFirst48Hours

By Simon Kernick @simonkernick

Published by Headline https://www.headline.co.uk/ @headlinepg

389 pages ISBN 9781472292407

Publication date 9 November 2023

I was sent a paperback proof copy in exchange for a fair review. I would like to thank Joe Thomas from Headline for sending me my copy and of course the author.

The Cover

A clock just to hammer home the importance of The First 48 Hours. Clearly the reader can expect a lot to happen in these 48 hours.

My thoughts

Critics, reviewers and bloggers all stress the importance of the beginning of the novel. The author must grab the reader’s attention. This is especially important in the case of those who preview for the press, often they will receive dozens of books many of which they will not read. They all adopt a filtering procedure and for many that will be reading the first x pages or first chapter and they will only read on if its good. The prologue here includes a kidnapping that goes wrong, with disastrous consequences, so we are immediately up and running and in safe hands. It passes the reviewers acid test.

Much less is said about endings though, perhaps it’s the risk of giving away spoilers, but for me it’s a big disappointment to work your way through three or four hundred pages and then be fobbed off with a weak ending. Sometimes the ending might be ambiguous, as in setting up a sequel, which can be forgiven. Here the ending is simply superb, the build up to it is frantic, the action dramatic and the conclusion produces an outlet of bated breath. If you are reading in the privacy of your home you might want to do a little fist pump, nobody will look down on you. Bravo Mr Kernick, what a great ending, one of the best I’ve read this year.

The story revolves around a kidnapping, a crime much overlooked in the genre, and so the plot appears straightforward, and in many ways it is. However, there is a high degree of complexity added to the mix by relationships, knowledge and motivations, which keep being introduced to throughout the storyline. Each new piece of information changes the perception of what is going on. It is clear what has happened but who is pulling the strings and why is difficult to determine amongst all the bluff and deception.

The simplicity of structure allows much more space for the characters to fully develop and they are a fascinating and gruesome collection for us to delight over.  

The kidnappee is a young woman called Elle who works as a nurse and is probably the most likeable one, someone who we can at least feel empathy for. Her mother, Becca, is a defence lawyer who has developed a bit of a reputation in achieving acquittals seemingly against the odds. Yes, there is the taxi rank rule (where when you make it to the top of the list you take the next job) and everybody deserves a good defence, but Becca pulls out all the stops. This means she has connections in low places, who ooze real menace, which may one day prove useful. The ransom demand confuses her, she feels she must deliver if she wants to see Elle again, but this comes after years of putting her job first.

The kidnappers, who have earned the sobriquet ‘The Vanishers’ are a delightfully grotesque (from the more original meaning) couple who provide much of the entertainment and slapstick moments in a story with few light spots. She is a part-time dominatrix, early middle-aged but still decidedly sexy, who survived her first husband and inherited his funeral directors business. Forthright and determined she has a heart as cold as liquid nitrogen. Her second husband is not exactly a charmer, but she has managed to knock off some of the rougher edges since she met him, when he was known as ‘The Slice’ for being adept with a craft knife. Now he is her submissive and something of a loyal puppy. A decidedly odd couple they appear to be and they harbour secrets.

The crack police team on their case are specialists from the National Crime Agency (NCA) Anti Kidnap and Extortion Unit, the two principles having their ranks flipped following the initial disaster laid bare in the prologue. One of them has a secret though and is not all he seems to be.

There is a lot of activity crammed into the novel, with two incident packed days, but even so it is one you glide through with ease. Not quiet as full on as Relentless, but then few novels are, even so you will not be discarding this once you have started, and the final few chapters will have you on the edge of the seat.

It is said that the first 24 to 48 hours are vital in the cases of missing persons and kidnaps and that is clearly apparent from the storyline. The constant risk of discovery or detection, the anxiety and frustration waiting for the next call with instructions are truly gripping. This must clearly have a devastating effect on loved ones in real life situations.

The First 48 Hours is a gripping crime thriller from one of the best in the business.

The First 48 Hours can be purchased via the publisher’s website here

The author

Simon Kernick is a number one bestseller and one of the UK’s most popular thriller writers, with huge hits including KILL A STRANGER, GOOD COP BAD COP, RELENTLESS, THE LAST 10 SECONDS, SIEGE and the BONE FIELD series.

The Last Line #StephenRonson #TheLastLine

By Stephen Ronson @Stephen_Ronson

Published Hodder & Stoughton https://www.hodder.co.uk/ @HodderBooks

336 pages ISBN 9781399721257

Publication date 16 November 2023

I was allowed access to a pdf review copy on Net Galley in exchange for a fair review. I would like to thank Net Galley https://www.netgalley.com/ @NetGalley, and of course the Author and Publisher for granting this access.

The Cover

A dog fight over the chalk cliffs of Southern England, with a Messerschmitt on fire. That certainly grabs the attention, which is the primary function, but it’s slightly misleading if you are expecting aerial battles, although fighter planes and their pilots have a role to play in the story.

My thoughts

It is May 1940 and Europe, in particular Great Britain, is becoming aware of the enormity of the task ahead of them. The so-called ‘phoney war’ is over and cold reality has arrived like a slap across the face. The Wehrmacht have stormed through the Low Countries, thereby somewhat un-sportingly circumventing the impressive fortifications of French Maginot line, and the British terror weapon of George Formby signing “Imagine Me in the Maginot Line.” This war is not going to be fought in trenches, the German’s have developed Blitzkrieg and soon the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) is about to be encircled and cut off with a huge loss of manpower and weaponry. For them the army life is not fine, George helped to keep spirits high, but now the war may be lost before its even started. This is the backdrop for a fine novel that captures the dawning realisation of what lies ahead for people back in Britain.

John Cook is a prosperous farmer, a veteran of the First World War, who then went on to create commando units in the Far East, thereby developing an array of unorthodox fighting skill. He wants to serve his country but is turned down. Instead, they want him set up an off-the-books clandestine auxiliary unit to fight back once the Germans invade. As the title implies, they will become The Last Line of defence. Weaponry will be provided but they would be on their own and if discovered before invasion they could be taken as German spies. Desperate measures for desperate times. Here the author has done an excellent job picturing the sense of inevitability amongst civilian population as it prepares for invasion along with the tentative steps taken. The barbed wire on beaches, Cook preparing his land to prevent the progress of tanks across it, the sort of touches easily overlooked but which add real period detail. The scenes set in the pub manage to convey the sense of trepidation as the coming invasion takes over conversations. With recent societal changes its easy to overlook the importance of the public house at that point in time as a place for people to gather and express themselves.

The Germans are not the only enemy though, as we find ones closer to home. The black marketeer in fiction is so often portrayed as a loveable, cheeky spiv (think James Beck as private Walker in Dad’s Army) the man who could lay his hands on what you wanted for a price. Here they are more accurately seen as serious criminals, willing to exploit anyone and anything at the right price. For me their only redeeming factor is their dress sense. The author pays a small homage to Brighton Rock by Graham Greene, with the spivs based in Brighton and sharing the cold-blooded psychosis of Pinky Brown. Young men of fighting age dodging call up and their duty who decide to put self-interest ahead of anything else. As Cook muses ‘nothing good ever came out of Brighton’ and he is eventually proved right, though it does prove the backdrop for some great action scenes against real villains.

The plot centres on the criminal activity of the spivs, complicity within the police force and instances of missing persons. I don’t want to give too much away, but much of the plot could almost be transplanted into 2023 and work just as well. There are no new crimes they just manifest in different guises. That Cook gets drawn into an investigation is a given but the flow of it still manages to surprise even when you think you know the answer. It’s a case of good versus evil, but one in which the boundaries between the two are a little smudged, which add to the interest.

The pacing is perfectly judged, starting off on the slow side before increasing as action set pieces, of which there are several, become imminent but all the while still building up a head of steam for the finale. The early chapters can feel a little short (it is the current trend) but in the latter third they really do inject a sense of urgency There is bloodshed and violence, how could there not be in such a story, but it’s nicely handled without being too gratuitous (and they deserved it!) An excellent job for a debut novel.

Cook is a killer too, but a trained one with a sense of morality, albeit with rules set by himself. A violent man, but a considered one, with an outlook moulded from bitter personal experience, thereby being part hero part antihero. Here we have an honest portrayal of the effects of war which is often glossed over by other authors, a whole generation who survived but returned changed men. Cook couldn’t switch himself off when the fighting ended and Nob is so shellshocked he is effectively dumb, but even minor characters carry physical and mental scars. The interaction between Cook, his best friend Doc and Doc’s wife (and Cook’s ex-fiancé) Jane is both complex and subtle, with mere looks conveying more than words. Lady Margaret is the woman to keep Cook on his toes and possesses much more spirit than hard cash, a formidable young woman to say the least. The novel has the feel of a stand-alone, but after introducing the reader to an interesting cast of characters I hope there is more to come.

Packed with action, superb characters and a real feel for the time and place for the setting, The Last Line is everything you would want from an intelligent war-time thriller.

The Last Line can be purchased via the publisher’s website here

The author

Stephen Ronson grew up in Sussex, and spent a large part of his childhood exploring the woods and fields around Uckfield, many of which were still dotted with reminders of WW2 – pill boxes, tank traps, nissen huts, and graffiti left by soldiers awaiting D-Day. He is a passionate student of local history, and when he learnt about Auxiliary Units – groups of men who were instructed to lay low during the predicted nazi invasion and lead the fight back, he knew he had to write about a Sussex farmer, one with a love of the land, and a natural desire and ability to get the job done. Many of the locations and characters in the John Cook series are inspired by real places and real people. In particular, Stephen was inspired by his grandparents, Eric, Bessie, Peter and Vera, each of whom did their bit on the home front. Nowadays, Stephen divides his time between Vermont, USA, and Uckfield, East Sussex. When he’s not writing, he can be found renovating his house, or walking the woods and the fields.

Source: Publisher’s website

Three Card Murder

By J.L. Blackhurst @JennyBlackhurst

Narrated by Candida Gubbins https://www.voicesquad.com/artist/candida-gubbins/

Published by Harper Collins Audio https://harpercollins.co.uk/ @HarperCollinsUK

352 pages (9 hours 49 minutes) ISBN 9780008567262

Publication date 31 August 2023

I was allowed access to an audio review copy on Net Galley https://www.audible.co.uk/ @audibleuk.  Thanks to the Author and Publisher for organising this.

The cover

Bold and quite clever, mimicking a playing card, albeit with the heads upside down. One woman is clearly a police officer from the uniform, although the sister is a plain clothes detective, the other presumably is the trickster.

The narration

Good narration, the sisters are excellently voiced, some of the male voices are less convincing but overall, an engaging listen.

My thoughts

The title here alludes to the famous card trick of street hustlers everywhere. Often called ‘find the lady’ the premise is simple three cards are shown to the mark (customer) and are then moved around at speed. To win all he must do is follow the movement of the cards and point out which is the Queen, easy. Only it isn’t of course, there is sleight of hand, distraction and they let a confederate win to show the mark how easy it is. In this novel the reader needs to follow more than one ‘lady’ amongst all the distraction and subterfuge.

DI Tess Fox has landed her first murder investigation, but things are far from straightforward. The victim appears to have been thrown from the balcony of a locked flat and has had his throat cut into the bargain. As if that were not enough Tess knows the victim and really ought to recuse herself from the investigation. She’s desperate to be involved in the case for the prestige it will give her career CV and because she needs to keep control to prevent a deadly secret from being revealed.

So, Tess has a locked room mystery to solve. How can the murderer have escaped without being noticed, surely he would be covered with blood? She needs help, but without Johnathan Creek to fall back on she must rely upon family.

Tess’s half-sister Sarah is a confidence trickster, one of the best. Sarah needs to warn her about the victim and the chance of their briefly shared past unravelling. At the same time, she could question her for an idea of how the murder was pulled off. Eventually she agrees to give her access to the crime scene. Unethical, illegal and ill-advised action but Tess is at her wits end, desperate times call for desperate measures.

Two more murders occur both equally impossible and connected to that fateful night, causing Tess to doubt her sister. Is placing her faith in a law breaker, even though she is family, a huge mistake, one that could jeopardise her liberty too?

An engaging and amusing tale of opposites that collide. Tess the police officer is serious and dedicated to the job such that it is the most important thing in her life. The catalyst for joining the force was the events of the night 14 years ago, which drives her forward to do good as if in penitence. If the secret were revealed, then it would destroy her life as well as her career.

Sarah is the happy-go-lucky type, seemingly breezing through life and happy to work in the family ‘business.’ The fact that this business is somewhat illegal means she is reluctant to have romantic relationships for fear of entangling the two, so she seems destined to be lonely.

The relationship between Tess and Sarah is one of those ‘odd couple’ ones that either make or break a novel, and here the chemistry works brilliantly. Their interactions are a delight, bickering, sour comments and mistrust are melded together in can’t live with or without setting. The dialogue crackles with intensity and wit as Tess mistrusts and is disdainful to Sarah but it is her who delivers the telling home truths.

Family is also at the core of the story too. Tess forsakes he criminal family, swapping it for the force. She finds that the police force is no substitute family though, as she is unpopular with her colleagues, which leads to her burying herself in work and thereby making things worse. She believes that her and Sarah’s father Frank loathes her for the treachery of abandoning the family, but he is unaware of her reasons for doing so. When Sarah drops a bombshell there is angst for all those lost opportunities, alas none of us can turn back time.

Sarah is happy within the security of the family, although she is to discover there are secrets that she even she doesn’t know. The question is, can the women find a reproachment to solve the case and learn to build bridges, no easy task once Sarah becomes the prime suspect.

The plot is as tricksy as you might expect, with twists and reveals and imaginatively constructed. At the start you may be a little confused, then you think you have it only to discover that the author has tricked you as adroitly as any card shark. A true Three Card Monty of a plot for the reader to enjoy.

Most of all it is highly entertaining with a real sense of fun and humour, as Sarah takes on disguises and Tess is appalled by the filth of a victims flat. If you love illusionists and stage magicians, then you are going to love this. 

Three Card Murder is a highly creative and entertaining story of murder, regrets and family love.

Three Card Murder can be purchased through the publisher’s website here

The author

Source: Publisher’s website

J.L. Blackhurst is a pseudonym for Jenny Blackhurst who was born and grew up in Shropshire, where she still lives with her husband, two boys and two beagles. She has a Masters degree in Occupational Psychology and has worked in administration for the Fire Service and retail management before leaving to write full time.

She wrote her first book, How I Lost You after giving birth to her son in 2011 and since has written seven psychological thrillers, her first of which won her a silver Nielsen award and became a kindle number one bestseller in the UK and a Spiegel Bestselleren in Germany. She can solve a Rubix cube in three minutes.

Source: Goodreads profile

The narrator

Candida Gubbins studied Drama at Birmingham University, and has worked extensively in theatre, film and television ever since. Most recently she was in Whodunnit – Unrehearsed at Park Theatre playing the West Country Housekeeper with a different celebrity each night playing the Detective. Favourite roles include Lady Macbeth, Millie Crocker Harris in The Browning Version, Babs in Spike with Richard Briers and Lorene in 5@50.

She has recorded characters for computer games, dubbed numerous cartoons (into American as well as English) and is experienced in ADR. Candida has recorded numerous audiobooks for companies including Penguin, Red Apple, Hachette, Strathmore, Isis, Oakhill and the RNIB. Thanks to her skill at accents and young voices she is very experienced at ELT and her warm and authoritative tones have also been heard on many radio ads for Classic FM and Heart, as well as travel guides and corporate work.

Source: Voicesquad.com website

Force of Hate

By Graham Bartlett https://policeadvisor.co.uk/ @gbpoliceadvisor

Published by Allison & Busby https://www.allisonandbusby.com/ @AllisonandBusby

352 pages ISBN 9780749028671

Publication date 23 March 2023

Force of Hate is the second novel in the Chief Superintendent Jo Howe series.

I was allowed access to a pdf review copy on Net Galley https://www.netgalley.com/ @NetGalley.  Thanks to the Author and Publisher for organising this.

The cover

Dark and moody, in keeping with the subject matter and location.

From the blurb

When a firebomb attack at a Brighton travellers’ site kills women and children, Chief Superintendent Jo Howe has strong reason to believe the new, dubiously elected, far-right council leader is behind the murders.

Against the direct orders of her chief constable, Jo digs deeper into the killings. She uncovers a criminal ring of human trafficking and euthanasia all leading to a devastating plot which threatens thousands of lives and from which the murderous politician looks sure to walk away scot-free.

My thoughts

This novel runs with an interesting ‘what if’ premise. No not what would have happened if Hilter had been victorious, that one has been done to death. The premise here is what might happen if a genuine far-right organisation took over a city council. Local council elections, with their often very low turn outs and protest votes, are notorious for producing odd results. Independents can win seats on single issues, so whilst perhaps improbable, it’s by no means impossible for an organised group to pull off such a coup. That it occurs in Brighton, seen by some as the ‘Gay Capital of England’ promises an interesting read ahead.

The story starts with Ajee, who is fleeing the war in Syria. On her arrival in England, she quickly brings her survival instincts to the fore as the lorry they are travelling in is stopped, but she manages to escape. From this point onwards she must live of her wits and the goodwill of others. A true refugee, like so many others, trying to avoid the clutches of those who would exploit her.

Following this there is a fire bomb attack at a travellers camp with devastating effect. Two adults and two children are killed as a result and there are two further deaths as the attackers make their getaway. Such deaths may not have been expected but it is clearly an orchestrated attack, one designed to send a clear message.

Chief Superintendent Jo Howe is battling on many fronts. She is still processing the fall-out from the previous major case (in Bad for Good) and a misjudged affair. Her professional relationship with the Chief Constable Stuart Acers is strained as he seems too busy trying to please the local council. Jo must work with the Council Leader Tom Doughty and Chief Executive Russ Parfitt but they show her no respect and delight in making her position uncomfortable. They represent the far right British Patriot Party (BPP) and are busy setting their own agenda which includes undermining the position of the police in areas where they can’t exercise control.

The paths of Ajee and Jo cross by accident as they both play prominent roles within the plot before their paths cross once again towards the finale. The plot itself is the execution of a dastardly master plan by the BPP, aimed at disrupting social harmony and setting citizens against each other and particularly those who are incomers or in some way different. Certainly audacious, but also credible enough to have me wondering if such plans have been contemplated and thwarted by the authorities.

The novel tackles many of the serious issues facing the Western World today. There is war and devastation that creates huge numbers of refugees which in turn produces the incentive for human trafficking, together with the physical and sexual violence they potentially face en route. Once at their destination, there is the issue of modern slavery and sexual exploitation. To this is added racial tensions and violence and being set in Brighton some homophobia. A potent mixture handled well with considerable tact and a firm moral stance, here there are no blurring of the lines, whilst essentially remaining an entertaining crime novel.

There is plenty happening throughout, and the action moves along at a fair pace to accommodate this. The style builds up a sense of urgency in the latter third through chapters shortening and narratives switching leading up to a breathless final set-piece. It is here the tables are turned and Jo asserts control over Doughty.

As a lead character Jo is both interesting and engaging, she has flaws, but no more than any other normal person. She possesses steely determination, is loyal to her colleagues and sensitive to the public. She is also pragmatic, not everything can be done by the rule book, but that doesn’t mean the rule book should be ripped up. Whilst her railing against her superior and facing suspension is a familiar trope in police procedurals, it is crucial to the plot and dealt with really well here.

The one aspect throughout is the authentic feel to the writing and a quick check of the author’s biography demonstrates why this is the case. Excellent judgment is shown in the areas where the envelope has been pushed in the name of entertainment. Complete authenticity would make for a dull read but here there was no point in the action where I thought ‘I’m not buying that’.

The supporting characters were excellently portrayed. There’s the hopes and fears of Ajee and a real feeling of jeopardy for her part. Doughty and Parfitt are textbook villainous bullies, obnoxious and nasty, brave in control but weak in isolation and Acer is a pathetic man who has risen too high and is determined to protect himself at all costs. In Bob and Gary, Jo has 100% reliable officers in support, which the author adroitly uses to build structure to the investigation whilst Jo is being ‘Mrs Maverick’, the sort you hope to come across if ever you need a police officer.

The interactions between the officers are perfectly judged if a little sanitised, but for me the standout is the interviews, never overplayed but convincing, clearly written by someone with first-hand experience. Covering serious themes means light-hearted moments are few, though Jo’s frustration at the council when one of their officers tries to make her life difficult was a standout bit of schadenfreude.

Force of Hate is a fast-paced procedural with an authentic feel that is action packed and tackles serious themes. A series I can recommend and intend to stick with.

Force of Hate can be purchased direct from the publisher here

The author

Graham Bartlett rose to become chief superintendent and the divisional commander of Brighton and Hove police. His first non-fiction book Death Comes Knocking was a Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller, which he then followed with Babes in the Wood. He co-wrote these books with bestselling author, Peter James, and has since published Bad for Good and Force of Hate starring Chief Superintendent Jo Howe. Bartlett is also a police procedural and crime advisor helping scores of authors and TV writers inject authenticity into their work.

Source: Publisher’s website