Her Charming Man #RachelSargeant #HerCharmingMan

By Rachel Sargeant https://www.rachelsargeant.co.uk/welcome/ @RachelSargeant3

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

346 pages ISBN 9781915817464

Publication date 14 May 2024

Her Charming Man is the second novel in the Gloucestershire Crime Series. Click on the link to read Her Deadly Friend the first book in the series.

I was sent an electronic copy to enable me to take part in this Blog Tour. I would like to thank Rebecca at Hobeck Books and the author for the invitation to participate.

The cover

What is a normal picture of (presumably) Gloucester Cathedral is made to look much more dramatic with a stunning colour scheme. Possibly hints at gothic horror but this is an unusual and quirky police procedural.

My review

The Cathedral is there in the opening scene, as a journalist is in the grounds at 5:30 am waiting to meet a contact. There are few people around at that time in the morning, as the somewhat oddball guest house owner Tracey Chiles, who is walking her Scottie dog Hamish, notices although she does cross paths with a smartly dressed man who is in a hurry.

DI Steph Lewis cancels the brain scan that has been arranged for her, her headaches may have reduced but they have not gone away entirely. Is she afraid of any diagnosis? When she arrives at the office DCI Richards dumps a metaphorical headache her way; there has been reports of a murder outside the Cathedral.

Then a brusque woman reports her beloved husband as being missing, but it’s barely been more than a day since she last saw him. Initially this hardly seems anything to worry about, after all he is a grown man. He is quite a distinctive man though, always dapperly dressed and wearing a hat, surely somebody will spot him.

When Tracey Chiles reads about the murder in her paper, her mind goes into overdrive, surely she can’t have come across a second murder victim in only a matter of months. She speaks to the police and what she says indicates there could be a connection with the murder and the missing man, but how reliable witness is she.

What might at first glance, after reading the blurb, appear to be a straightforward story, turns out to be something different thanks to some quirky characters. It develops into a tale of secrets and the facades we build to avoid the truth, which becomes an overriding motivator.

The story has two central strands, a murder investigation and a missing persons search, that appear to be tenuously linked by a chance passing, but of course the reader feels there is more to it than that. Our author has carefully placed a plot voucher for us to pick up on and then forget until much later. If you do not forget but are waiting for the ‘second shoe to fall’ it is a long time coming but when it does you get the satisfying sense of a job well done. So, this is a story where our detectives’ job can be likened to pushing a boulder uphill, slow, careful and deliberate. Unlike Sisyphus though they get to the apex and the boulder runs out of control down the other side as the story unravels. It is certainly worth the wait and the build-up. Then right at the very end we are left with a hook for book three, bravo.

Steph is an agreeable protagonist, albeit one if she were a real-life friend you’d be having stern words with. She worries about her near adult son, but at the same time neglects her own health, something I fear will lead to bad news in future instalment in this series. She is hamstrung by events of the past and the desire for them to remain secret will bind her, at least for now, to the eccentric Tracey Chiles.

She is the unfortunate dog walker, surely it must be just bad luck to come so close to two deaths, making her the character that fascinates me. I cannot work out if she is just stupid or has a mendacious streak to her, as she appears to be rather opaque. Tracey could reveal the events of the past which could bring Steph’s world crashing down, so effectively holding the key to Stephs happiness, but does she realise it. I’m certain there will be more to hear from Tracey in future stories.

They say that opposites attract, and it is certainly true that there will be few married couples who reflect this better than Gerald and Anna Gittens- Gold. He is gregarious, easy going and charming, whereas she is solitary, spiky and abrupt. How they have remained together is as much a surprise as how they can manage to job share a position of counsellor at a holistic health centre. Gerald is a man of mystery though, or at least he would be if wasn’t for his capacity for telling a ripping yarn. Gerald is an expert photographer with the Australian army, often supporting special forces which means he must disappear at the drop of (his) hat. Unable to keep a secret, each time he retells a story it becomes more dangerous and his heroism all the greater, making him a popular guy. Why would he want to stay with such a difficult woman? Gerald is the standout character, yet we come across him almost entirely through the eyes of others, which is a clever piece of writing. It is the wonderfully judged character interactions throughout the story that maintain the interest.

Her Charming Man is a tightly plotted tale of murder and deception.

Her Charming Man can be purchased direct from the publisher here

The author

Rachel Sargeant joins Hobeck with her new Gloucestershire Crime Series. The first book Her Deadly Friend features Steph, a fun-loving detective inspector with secrets to keep and an unpredictable killer to catch. And Steph is back in action in book two, Her Charming Man, published in May 2024. Rachel’s previous titles have been translated into other European languages and include a suspense story, a police whodunit and a Top-Ten Kindle bestselling psychological thriller. Her short stories have appeared in women’s magazines and charity anthologies, and she is a winner of Writing Magazine’s Crime Short Story competition. After many years in Germany, Rachel now lives in Gloucestershire with her family. Her hobbies are reading (of course), visiting country parks and coffee shops, and watching amateur theatre. She recently gained a doctorate from the University of Birmingham.

Source: Publisher’s website

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

Indie Press Network Spring Showcase – Genre Fiction #IndiePressNetwork

On 10 April the Indie Press Network held its Spring Showcase via a Zoom meeting, which I was fortunate to be invited to join. The presentation was hosted by Marina Sofia of Corylus Books and featured six small independent published talking about their books that are about to be published this spring, or recently published.

To receive more information about the Indie Press Network sign up for their regular newsletter.

Arachne Press

Arachne Press is a small publisher of fiction and poetry by writers who are LGBTQ+, disabled, Global Majority, older women, and/or geographically isolated.

Getting by in Tligolian

The City-State of Tligol is ruled by dictators, holds monthly public executions and is haunted by a benign, fishing, giant, but by and large the inhabitants are content, and the food is amazing. The perfect place for a city break, just as long as you don’t want to leave. Ever.

Language has its own relationship to time.

When Jennifer falls for Sam at his execution, she doesn’t immediately realise that she can still find and live with him; but the city of Tligol has trains that will take her anywhere, including her own past, and future, and multiple possible variations, just as long as she doesn’t leave the city. Jennifer rides the trains, loops around in time and sets an unplanned series of events in motion. For lovers of The City and The City… and Hotel California!

Corylus Books

Corylus Books is a place to discover new voices, translated crime fiction with a social edge.

Corylus had two books to promote, one of which I have already reviewed and blogged (Rodolfo Walsh’s Last Case), the other (Murder under the Midnight Sun) I will be blogging on 10 May.

Rodolfo Walsh’s Last Case

A key figure in the politics and literature of Argentina, Rodolfo Walsh wrote his iconic Letter to my Friends in December 1976, recounting the murder of his daughter Victoria by the military dictatorship. Just a few months later, he was killed in a shoot-out – just one of the Junta’s many thousands of victims.

What if this complex figure – a father, militant, and writer who delved the regime’s political crimes – had also sought to reveal the truth of his own daughter’s death?

Elsa Drucaroff’s imagining of Rodolfo Walsh undertaking the most personal investigation of his life is an electrifying, suspense-filled drama in which love and life decisions are inseparable from political convictions as he investigates the mystery of what happened to his own daughter.
The head of intelligence for Montoneros, a clandestine Peronist organisation co-ordinating armed resistance against the dictatorship, Rodolfo Walsh was also a prolific writer and journalist, seen as the forerunner of the true crime genre with his 1957 book Operation Massacre.

What if beneath the surface of his Letter to my Friends lay a gripping story lost to history?

Murder under the Midnight Sun

What does a woman do when her husband’s charged with the frenzied murder of her father and her best friend? She calls in Stella Blómkvist to investigate – however unwelcome the truth could turn out to be.

Smart, ruthless and with a flexible moral code all of her own, razor-tongued lawyer Stella Blómkvist is also dealing with a desperate
deathbed request to track down a young woman who vanished a decade ago.

It looks like a dead end, but she agrees to pick up the stone-cold trail – and she never gives up, even if the police did a long time ago.
Then there’s the mystery behind the arm that emerges from an ice cap, with a mysterious ruby ring on one frozen finger? How does this connect to another unexplained disappearance, and why were the police at the time so keen to write it off as a tragic accident?
Brutal present-day crimes have their roots in the past that some people would prefer to stay forgotten.
As Stella pieces together the fragments, is she getting too close to the truth and making herself a target for ruthless men determined to conceal secret sins?

Hobeck Books

Hobeck Books, based in Staffordshire, is a family-run independent publisher of award-winning crime, thriller, mystery and suspense books. They publish approximately twelve titles per year.

Hobeck Books also had two books to showcase, one of which I have already reviewed and blogged (Edge of the Land), the other (The Midnight Man) I will be blogging on 1 May.

Edge of the Land

The waterways of the Liverpool docks contain many ghosts and shadows. It’s a place to disappear… or die.

Detective Inspector April Decent and Detective Sergeant Skeeter Warlock fear for the welfare of a vulnerable young man injured in an attack ordered by drug dealers. Originally questioned at the scene, Danny Maynard denies the attack and refuses to co-operate with the police. He soon disappears. Clues to his whereabouts are seeded, a cry for help maybe, but he continues to be elusive.

The team are also dealing with a spate of deaths in the city, with one thing in common: the victims are all homeless and seemingly ravaged by addiction. Once that connection is realised – the hunt for a potential serial killer is on.

Is there a link between the missing man and the other deaths? Could he be the missing piece of the puzzle which will solve the mystery behind the brutal murders?

The Midnight Man

Winter 1946

One cold dark night, as a devastated London shivers through the transition to post-war life, a young nurse goes missing from the South London Hospital for Women & Children. Her body is discovered hours later behind a locked door.

Two women from the hospital join forces to investigate the case. Determined not to return to the futures laid out for them before the war, the unlikely sleuths must face their own demons and dilemmas as they pursue – The Midnight Man.

BEWARE THE DARKNESS BENEATH

Jantar Publishing

Jantar Publishing is an independent publisher of Central European Contemporary Literary Fiction, Classic Fiction, Science Fiction and Poetry based in London.

Newton’s Brain

A genius and trickster, apparently dies at the Battle of Königgrätz in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. However, he has not died and instead is able to procure the brain of Isaac Newton to replace his own. Subsequently, he uses Newton’s knowledge of the laws of nature to overcome them, using a strange device to travel faster than the speed of light, and also to photograph the past. Newton’s Brain was published 18 years before H.G. Wells’s The Time Machine, and has been considered a strong influence on Wells.

The author. Jakub Arbes (12 June 1840, Prague (Smíchov) – 8 April 1914) was a Czech writer and intellectual. He is best known as the creator of the literary genre called romanetto and spent much of his professional life in France.In 1867, he began his career in journalism as editor of Vesna Kutnohorská, and from 1868 to 1877, as the chief editor of the National Press. Arbes was also an editor of political magazines Hlas (The Voice) and Politiky (Politics), and a sympathizer of the Májovci literary group. During this time, Arbes was persecuted and spent 15 months in the Czech Lipa prison, for leading opposition to the ruling Austro-Hungarian Empire.[1] He left Prague soon after, spending time in Paris and the South of France as part of the intellectual community there. In France, he was an associate of other “Bohemian Parisiens” such as Paul Alexis, Luděk Marold, Guy de Maupassant, Viktor Oliva, and Karel Vítězslav Mašek, as well as the French writer Émile François Zola.

Sans. Press

Sans. PRESS is a Limerick-based indie press with a love for short stories. Under the motto fresh & weird, we celebrate new voices and narratives.

Stranger

This will be an anthology of short stories and if the cover is anything to go by they are likely to be very strange indeed.

Wild Hunt Books

Wild Hunt Books’s mission is to foster strong and distinct literary voices and those experimenting with narrative, plot, structure, and authors dabbling in darker genres and liminal spaces.

Bear Season

When Jade Hunter goes missing in the Alaskan wilderness, everyone is shocked. She was scheduled to speak at an academic symposium but never turned up. What was Jade really doing in Alaska?  

Blood is found in the woods and suspicion immediately falls on the reclusive survivalist Ursula Smith. She is swiftly arrested and convicted of Jade’s murder – even though a body has not been found.   

Several years later, Jade’s doctoral thesis leaks online, fuelling rumour and conspiracy over the true nature of her disappearance, leading investigative journalist Carla Young to dig through Jade’s life and discover what did happen to Jade Hunter. 

Edge of the Land #MalcolmHollingdrake #EdgeOfTheLand

By Malcolm Hollingdrake https://malcolmhollingdrakeauthor.co.uk @MHollingdrake

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

262 pages ISBN 9781915817419

Publication date 16 April 2024

Edge of the Land is the third book in the Merseyside Crime Series. Click on the link to read my review of Catch as Catch Can the first book in the series.

I was sent an electronic copy to enable me to take part in this Blog Tour. I would like to thank Rebecca at Hobeck Books and of course the author for the invitation to participate.

The cover

A distinctive local landmark is always a great bet for a cover and this one is magnificent. It’s a clocktower from Liverpool Docks which ends up playing a part in the story. If you visit Liverpool it’s something to look out for.

• 

My review

The waterways of the Liverpool docks contain many ghosts and shadows. It’s a place to disappear… a place to die. (from the blurb)

Well, that should grab the attention of the potential reader and it’s a great summary of the novel.

The death of one homeless alcoholic on the streets sadly is no shock; just another tragic statistic, someone with bad luck, let down by the system or by family and friends. A second death in similar circumstances a couple of days later, registers as unusual with the police, but there seems to be no connection or suspicious circumstances for now. However, it will soon become clear that they have a serial killer on their hands…

Danny Maynard is a young man who is no stranger to trouble and has already served time for drugs offences. When attacked and savagely beaten on the orders of a drugs gang, he denies it to the police and goes on the run. Slipping into the shadows, he is off their radar but DI April Decent and DS Skeeter Warlock are fearful for his safety. Danny does appear to be a survivor though and a resourceful one, as he leaves a series of clues behind like a trail of virtual breadcrumbs.

A two-strand storyline with one baffling and motiveless; the other with a puzzle at its core. The plotting is very clever to make this story come together and maintain the intrigue throughout.

The murder of the homeless people is quite shocking in its callousness, such that the reader will think who would do such a thing and why? This feeling is accentuated by the humanity which the author gives these victims, their circumstances may tragic, but these are people with feelings trying to keep hold of some semblance of dignity. There are sadly many such people on our streets and they all have a story to tell, sometimes it is just bad luck or a need to escape abuse that sees them there.

The puzzle is a cracker, it takes the form of photographs left behind on a mobile phone. These are subtle clues though, the pictures are not easy to decipher as they’re taken odd angles, are close ups or part details. A real rebus for the squad to solve, as they embark on a Magical Mystery Tour of the City requiring a team effort to solve. Different officers latch onto things they recognise, which is more realistic than a Sherlock like supersleuth figuring it all out. It’s all very cleverly assembled and I’m sure that people familiar with Liverpool will enjoy identifying the locations as they read along. It’s a little bit harder for those of us with little knowledge of the city, it’s a shame that these photographs are not reproduced even if just on his website.

One thing is clear though is the affection the author has for Liverpool, which brings a vibrancy to the prose. He doesn’t avoid the grubby, seedy, run down parts of the city, they are used to pronounced effect, as are the waterways of canals and working dock areas. Overall, though, the portrayal is that of a modern, vibrant city, one that is changing but steadfastly proud of its heritage and welcoming to the visitor. Buy the book, organise your city break now and check out the landmarks, statues and musical past.

Another fine aspect is that not all the characters are polarised, but rather shown is shades of light and dark. Danny can hardly be regarded as good, but as the reader discovers more of his background he will be seen in a more sympathetic light, and I found myself rooting for him. A common theme throughout is whether characters possess the capacity to change, to escape their past and even break the cycle of brutality. It has been established that the victims of abuse can go on to be an abuser themselves, but it doesn’t have to be so if other opportunities are presented. It can also fester as a desire for revenge.

April and Skeeter are great central characters, determined but also well balanced and they provide counterpoint to the angst of the storyline. It’s not all about them tough as DC Kasum Kapoor DC Tony Price do much of the leg work, as you would expect their rank to. They also inject banter and light-hearted moments. Overall, the chemistry between the team members becomes believable.

The clues are a fantastic way of controlling the pace of the narrative; no matter what resources and urgency the police introduce there is always a feeling that they are a couple of steps behind. Then the tipping point is reached, and everything unwinds a race against time. Nothing about the story is given away cheaply, so the jigsaw pieces only start to fit together in the final chapters, leaving a satisfying finale that demonstrates we all need a plan in life.

Edge of the Land is an thrilling police procedural packed with contrasts and mystery.

Edge of the Land can be purchased direct from the publisher here

The author

Photograph (c) Tony Bithell

You could say that the writing was clearly on the wall for someone born in a library that they might aspire to be an author, but to get to that point Malcolm Hollingdrake has travelled a circuitous route. Malcolm worked in education for many years, including teaching in Cairo for a while. Malcolm has been happily married to Debbie for over forty years. They met in their first weekend at Ripon college through strange and unusual circumstances. Serendipity was certainly cupid on that occasion. Malcolm has written a number of successful short stories, has twelve books now published in the Harrogate Crime Series. He is also working on the third book of the Merseyside Crime Series which Hobeck will be publishing. The books introduce us to DI April Decent and DS Skeeter Warlock. Malcolm has enjoyed many diverse hobbies including flying light aircraft, gliders and paragliders, learning to fly at Liverpool Airport, designing and making leaded windows and collecting works by Northern artists.

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

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Never Forgive You #HillyBarmby #NeverForgiveYou

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

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

317 pages ISBN 9781915817396

Publication date 26 March 2024

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 very attractive cover with a great strapline.

My review

The briefest of prologues, you killed him and we won’t forgive or forget…

Hetty has been Davey’s girlfriend for a year. They are from very different backgrounds, but they are good together. Now they are heading over to France, with his twin sisters Ailsa and Juliette, for the wedding of their cousin Isabelle to Jean-Jacques (JJ) a right leaning politician. The prospect of a glamorous country wedding at a house as big as a chateau should them buzzing with joy, but Hetty is already feeling out of her depth being a council estate girl whilst the others are wealthy and well educated. The vibes are not good either, she realises there are some unresolved family tensions.

Ailsa for one doesn’t want to return to the house, despite it being a place of many happy childhood memories. Something happened during their last visit eight years ago which almost split the family asunder. Still, they must go through with the wedding celebration and put the past aside for the sake of the family.

The day is running like clockwork until the groom becomes unwell. Initially thought to be down to nerves and then a mild stomach upset is suggested, but as the day goes on, he doesn’t show signs of recovery. No matter, the party must go on…

The setting is fabulous, a big house in the French countryside and the preparations for the wedding. The reader is given a glimpse of another life and the different traditions surrounding a familiar event. There is also the sense of another way of life for Archie and Romilly, Isabel’s parents, who behave like they are lord and lady of the manor, well he is a High Court judge. The locals may go the events and parties that they organise, but they will forever be English outsiders and the local gypsies are especially wary.

The story can be split into two sections the preparation for the big day and the events that follow. The preparation essentially sets the scene in France, fleshes out the relationships between the characters both current day and through the events of the past. The reader is left in no doubt that something serious happened eight years ago, that someone knows the truth and it is going to be told. This section I think will particularly appeal to younger readers as it centres on the young adults.

Whilst the first part might feel a little pedestrian, the big day onwards explodes into incident much like poor JJs digestive tract. Again, there is a thread from eight years ago which is played out along with the current day and there are regular switches between the two. What results is two reveals, as the momentous events are exposed, together with the implications for the current day. Here the plot is wonderfully constructed, with actions mirrored and moral conundrums faced as the truth is ‘bleached in the sunshine’ and revenge sought. Revenge is the driving force but ultimately love is the key. Readers who love the ‘golden age’ style of reveal will appreciate how this is all exposed.

The feeling of change is all pervading throughout the story. The past incidents of 2016 follow straight from the Brexit vote, with the characters realising change was inevitable, but at that time nobody knew just how much or in what way. Then there are the events which hasten the separation and change the relationships for good. Throughout the current scenes there is the sense that there will be some kind of resolution, though what exactly is unknown.

The story is told through multiple perspectives, mainly Hetty and Ailsa, so the flow is not always linear as occasional back steps are taken to see events through the eyes of another.

Hetty is the central character and is quiet and unassuming, mainly due to her background, so she tries to avoid the limelight. She does want to become accepted by the family though, if just for her relationship with Davey. She has something of an inferiority complex, coming from humble beginnings unlike the rest of the characters, but there is an honesty about her. All she needs to do is develop a little self confidence and brazen things out, she’s the equal of any and better than most around her. She’s also a crime fiction reader, which raises her to an elite status in my mind, and this reading preference ends up becoming useful. True crime aficionados will also be nodding in agreement as Hetty demonstrates her knowledge on one aspect of the crime, with actions that echo a notorious UK killer.

Ailsa appears to be the main antagonist, doing little to elicit the approval of the reader; she is a snobbish clotheshorse of a young woman with an acid tongue, referring to Hetty as ‘the ginger mouse’. A perfect character for just such a story and I found myself thinking please don’t change. She is the epitome of the attitudes of the family, where image, prestige and position trump all feelings, where ‘marrying well’ matters more than love.

Never Forgive You skewers the pretentions of wealth, class and status with a searing tale of revenge.

Never Forgive You 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 the other great reviews on this Blog Tour:

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The Thief of Joy #StaceyMurray #TheThiefOfJoy

By Stacey Murray https://thestacemeister.wordpress.com/ @TheStacemeister

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

360 pages ISBN 9781915817303

Publication date 19 March 2024

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 large house in the leafy suburbs (Didsbury as the reader will discover) that looks all warm and welcoming. Then we notice the silhouette of a woman observing the activities from the well-lit within, a hint that not all is warm and cosy.

My review

A dramatic start to capture our interest. We’re introduced to Roz, the central character, as she is preparing for a night out, a date with Daniel, a man who she has recently started dating. The have only been on a handful of nights out but Roz is upbeat, thinking Daniel just might be ‘the one’. Then she receives a phone call from one of Daniel’s friends; Daniel is dead, killed that morning by a massive brain aneurysm. Roz is distraught.

Roz is a single mum of 39 who is mindful that time for her is running out. She just wants what everyone else has; a nice home, a settled marriage and perhaps a baby while she still can. Surely this is not too much to want or expect?

Poor Roz gets little support or sympathy from those around her, in particular her mother. They say life can hardly be over for her, after all she hardly knew Daniel. She was just being silly, projecting a future based on nothing more than dreams. She’s 39 and not 19, it’s been a bit of a shock to her but it’s merely a bump on the path of her life and she should simply move on.

Feeling that nobody understands her, Roz signs up with an online grief support group. The reactions to her posts are mixed, some sympathetic whilst others agree with her mother. Moderator Mark offers her support, and they quickly become friends, with the prospect of more developing. Mark is a widower whose wife and daughter (who would be around the age of Roz’s daughter Chloe) were killed in a tragic road accident. Mark is a bit older, lives in a fine house in Didsbury and is an anaesthetist at a local hospital, a bit of a catch for a single mum, but he likes to be in control and is domineering at times…

As the title suggests the reader must discover whom or what is The Thief of Joy. All is revealed towards the end of the story, though not in this review.

This is a slow burn story with great emphasis placed on describing Roz’s life. Her hopes, fears and expectations as well as her friendships, and the relationships with her seemingly cold mother and star quality sister, her mother’s favourite. To Roz her life may appear mundane, but she has a job, a home and a lovely daughter, which would leave most people content. The problem is she is surrounded by and reminded of those who are doing better in life, sister Fiona has a posh new home and now Roz discovers her friend Kate is going to marry girlfriend Sam. Gradually we can see Roz is not jealous but just feels that everyone is getting on with their lives whereas hers is stagnating. There may appear parallels to Bridget Jones, but their predicaments are very different, this is no romantic comedy but is a psychological story with distinctive creepy edge.  

Momentum gathers once Mark establishes himself within Roz’s orbit. At first, he seems like a good fit as a potential long-term partner, a man willing to commit and used to children and a family life. As time passes though he lets Roz and Chloe down regularly, well he does have an important job and is often on call. Then when they do meet up, he is controlling and is reluctant to reveal his life, his friends, his family or even let them visit his home. Gradually almost imperceptibly the seeds of doubt are sown. This is written with great subtlety; I expect there will be a range of reactions from different readers. I’m sure most will have been in the position where those close to them are advising on a partner (or potential partner) but there is a refusal to accept what is said. People delude themselves through love and there are those who will take advantage.

The pace increases in the final quarter leading to a dramatic and unexpected course of action for the finale. It all gets rather frantic at an inopportune time, producing a real ‘heart in the mouth’ moment.

The answers to the reader’s questions then come thick and fast, fit together nicely and make perfect sense. The motivations are not quite what we think they are, and the reader has only been exposed to a single perspective, which is what makes the story work. Roz is simply too self-absorbed, once she realises this her life looks very different, for her it’s like looking behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz. She comes to understand there can be a different reality behind the façade. Just because other people’s lives look better doesn’t mean that they don’t have problems of their own.

I don’t subscribe to the notion that there are men’s books and women’s books, that is clearly nonsense, but I think this is the sort of novel that will elicit different responses from different demographics. I’m sure there are many women who will identify with Roz’s predicament and no doubt some older women will take her mother’s non nonsense standpoint. The reaction of men will differ, I’m sure, depending on whether they have children. Me? I’m firmly in Mum’s camp!

The Thief of Joy is a cleverly constructed story that shows what can happen when we become too absorbed with what we want from our lives to actually live it.

The Thief of Joy can be purchased direct from the publisher here

The author

A native of Glasgow, Stacey Murray was an international finance lawyer in London and Hong Kong, before changing career to become an independent film producer. Her first film, A Boy Called Dad, was acquired by the BBC and nominated for the Michael Powell Award for Best British Film at the Edinburgh International Film Festival (which meant she got to chat with Sean Connery). She lives in the dramatic Derbyshire Peak District which is the setting for her tense psychological novel The Thief of Joy. Her first novel was the acclaimed The Curious Case of Maggie Macbeth. 

Source: Publisher’s website

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

Sleeping Dogs #WendyTurbin #SleepingDogs

By Wendy Turbin

Narrated by Judi Daykin https://judidaykin.co.uk/ @norfolknovelist

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

376 pages (9 hours 44 minutes) ISBN 1913793087 (PB)

Publication date 9 December 2020 (audio 6 January 2022)

Sleeping Dogs is the first book in the Penny Wiseman Murder Mystery series.

I reviewed the audiobook version purchased from Audible. https://www.audible.co.uk/ @audibleuk

The cover

A seaside pier, the sea and a ghostly figure, they’re all relevant to the story. A nice cover, I like it.

The narration

The choice of narrator is vital with audiobooks, and here they have made an excellent choice. The performance is light and upbeat which is perfect for the story. A nice variety of voices and accents and a good deadpan comic delivery.

My review

Penny Wiseman is a gumshoe, not through choice but through necessity. The business was that of her late father and she is struggling just to keep it afloat. He was less choosy with who he worked for, and Penny believes some clients were not exactly legitimate. His books seem more fiction than fact, leaving her with debts to settle. With few of his major clients willing to employ her, she has had to sell her beautiful seafront apartment and pawn her most treasured possession.  

Desperate, she takes on a case of looking into the activities of a secretive husband, who it is feared is being blackmailed. This then opens a series of other mysteries for Penny to follow.

There is also a complication; Penny can see the dead. Since a near death experience which lead to the drowning of her babysitter, Gail Monterrey, she has been able to see ghosts. A gift? Maybe, or perhaps a curse for the guilt she feels. Either way she is stuck with it and must do her best to use it to her advantage.

A bright and breezy story, not so much a cosy crime as a feel-good crime. There is plenty of humour, quirkiness, a nice line in cutting sarcasm and all-round silliness. I’m sure most will read with a smile on their face, but it is not without moments that on reflection could be darker were it not for the upbeat prose. There are also moments of danger and jeopardy and even a car chase (of sorts) which provide a nice contrast to the remainder of the story and add a sense of urgency to the gentle pacing.

The plot is a little bit silly, as befits the overall style, but is delivered with the necessary conviction and all the tangled threads end up being woven together nicely. Set at the seaside what better than a talent show, but one with a difference and a hint of entertaining chaos. The British obsession with pets also figures strong, with cats and dogs, both real and ghostly, and an accommodating veterinary practice. This is a very English private investigation story.

Our central heroine is of course Penny, a woman drifting through her life, concentrating on the business surviving just another week. She is trying to put her troubles behind her, but when she sees ghosts, she tries to first understand and then help them. During the investigation Penny must face up to her own personal demons. Her parts are told in the first person and like all good PIs she shoots from the lip, which is just as well as this is the UK and not 1940s San Francisco.

Her assistant is the nephew of her father’s former assistant, and the best thing about Nathan is he comes cheap. Tall and thin with a shock of red hair he is useless at undercover work, well at most things other than answering the phone, as he is part Frank Spencer and part Private Pike. He is obsessed with technology as are many young men of his age are and this coupled to his personality produce some slapstick moments and comic gems. A little cruel at times but all done in good faith, they love him really.

Penny’s sister is Sarah, and they bounce off each other with sparky sibling rivalry. Sarah becomes concerned after hearing of the financial problems of the business and is keen to help Penny out of her predicament. In doing so she crosses the path of glamourous, tall, slender and stylish Alice, with her long legs to die for and decidedly large hands and feet. There follows an interesting a problematic relationship as Penny has Alice down on her list of suspects.

The test of the first book in a series is does the reader want more. A definite yes please from me. This is light-hearted crime fiction of the highest order that deserves a follow up.

Don’t let these Sleeping Dogs lie, grab a copy soon, settle down and enjoy.

Sleeping Dogs can be purchased direct from the publisher here

The author

Wendy Turbin lives near the sea, walks a dog or two for the Cinnamon Trust, and is owned by Little Ernie, a cat who spooks at invisible things. An avid reader of crime fiction, she has long been a fan of the private detective from Chandler to McDermid, from Grafton to Galbraith.

This combination of facts may explain why her debut novel contains a PI, a pier and a pet – and a ghost girl in need of help.

Over the years, Wendy has worked in international logistics, customer service banking, and education – but she has always been a writer. Like many others who doubt themselves, few of her tales have seen the light of day, despite the Creative Writing core of her OU Bachelor’s degree.

But recovery from a severe bout of depression a few years ago led Wendy to re-evaluate her priorities and then she came across the UEA’s amazing MA Creative Writing Crime Fiction. Ever the ‘learnaholic’, the idea appealed. Write a whole novel while studying crime fiction? Yes! In a ‘seize the day moment’ she applied. She was thrilled and terrified when offered a place.

Fuelled by huge mugs of tea and a lake of prosecco, she wrote the book and achieved the MA.

Now her world is all murder and mayhem – and she’s very happy with that!

Source: Amazon profile

The narrator

Yorkshire born, Judi has lived, worked and made theatre in Norfolk for the last forty years. She completed her MA in Creative Writing (Crime Fiction) at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in 2019, and her debut novel was shortlisted for the Little, Brown UEA writers prize. That novel became Under Violent Skies, which was long-listed for the CWA John Creasey New Blood Dagger in 2021.

Judi was a working actor with a portfolio career spanning twenty years of theatre, film and television; directing; workshops; audio narration and medical roleplay. These days she writes full time from her study in a North Norfolk village. She also enjoys crafting, art history, watching horror films and going on cruises, none of which she has much spare time for!

Source: Amazon profile

Blood Ribbons #LinLeVersha #BloodRibbons

By Lin Le Versha @linleversha

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

288 pages ISBN 9781915817327

Publication date 6 February 2024

Blood Ribbons is book 4 in the Steph Grant Murder Mystery Series. Click on the links to see my review of Blood Ties book 3 in the series.

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 very atmospheric scene in misty woodland that harks back to the past as well as the current day. The fabric tied to the tree takes on a significance within the story. A great cover with a perfect strapline.

My review

The college where Steph Grant works are over in the Netherlands on an educational trip. They are visiting Arnhem with a group of veterans of Operation Market Garden, the audacious but ultimately fruitless plan to capture three bridges over the Rhine. An operation whose success might have shortened the war, but it ended up as one of those military disasters we British seem to fixate upon. Brave men let down in what was literally A Bridge Too Far. The project intends to expose the students to the events of 1944, though the visiting museums, the war graves, the drop zone and talking to the veterans on site. Then they are to collaborate and produce a book of their experiences ready for the 75^th Anniversary. What a fabulous idea to keep memories alive and final closure for the old soldiers.

For one student, Zoe, this is going to be an especially poignant visit. Her great grandfather private Duncan Shaw was part of the operation, and he recorded his thoughts, feelings and experiences as they battled for survival. His diary, written in a school exercise book, is going to be in part a guide for the students to follow. Sadly, Duncan did not return and as a result his family suffered greatly. His death changed their futures forever. Stepping into Duncan’s shoes through his diary is going to be an emotionally charged experience for Zoe, but it also proves to be a catalyst to uncovering uncomfortable family secrets.

Steph sees the visit as a chance for her and Chief Inspector Philip Hale to have a mini-break and hopefully get some quality time together, amongst the chaperoning of the students. However, when a body is found tangled in rushes in the river close by, it naturally turns into a bit of a ‘busman’s holiday’ as he lends a hand to the Dutch police.

A story set in the present day, but references back to the past, to dark days of 1944, through a diary and reminiscences of old soldiers. The structure is cleverly worked as Zoe reads from the diary in public and then the students and veterans discuss it in both public and private. This allows for Zoe to develop as a character and gain confidence, which is helpful as she takes an emotional battering thanks to the revelations over the course of the story.

The sections of the imagined diary are exceptional. The author has managed to capture the fear and desperation of a young man facing an enemy in battle, but also the boredom and inactivity that joins it. For many war is a series of short intense periods of fighting punctuating long periods of waiting, of killing time and building up a sense of dread of what is to come. It also introduces the mystery of what happened to Duncan as there is confusion and uncertainty of how he was killed. Much happens in the fog of war as the reader is about to discover along with the significance of the title. All this is beautifully written and sensitively handled.

The idea of mixing the veterans, who by this stage will be into their nineties, with the students is another winner. Much fiction is written along generational lines, so it is nice to read such a varied profile. Respect for our elders is seen as declining in the western world, projects like this would help to redress the balance. Certainly, in terms of this story it works so well and helps to unlock the mystery of what happened to Duncan. It was nice to see the veteran portrayed as a feisty as well as wise bunch.

The modern-day crime is well handled and of the sort that will happen every week. Whether the detectives would be given such a free reign falls under artistic licence for me, it sets the plot up nicely as the action moves from the Netherlands to the UK. It also keeps officers from both countries within the story.

Steph and Hales are a great fictional couple, albeit a very sensible one for modern crime fiction. Somewhat middle of the road, middle class and edging towards comfort of sitcom suburbia, but they provide a sense safety and security, which dovetails with the experiences of students. We are not chasing psychotic serial killers but dealing with crimes in a down to earth and logical manner where their ordinariness is a strength. With them on your side you feel that all will come good in the end, though you may end up with a bit of a lecture and a risk of detention. Derek only plays a small part this time, but as usual deserves an award for best supporting canine.

This series is never going to be gritty and urban, but that doesn’t mean that it is all comfortable and cosy, as there are dark elements within the story. The crimes they tackle are a real problem in Britain and the central characters are put in danger and jeopardy that fit with the theme. The section in Arnhem is nicely paced as the contents of Duncan’s diary are absorbed, then it moves up a gear back in Suffolk before it suddenly careers of to a frantic finale. The reveal is clever and surprising with some bluff and deception.

Blood Ribbons is a poignant marrying of a painful the past and present within a gripping murder mystery.

Blood Ribbons can be purchased direct from the publisher here

The author

Lin Le Versha has drawn on her extensive experience in London and Surrey schools and colleges as the inspiration for her debut crime novel which Hobeck were thrilled published in 2021. That novel, Blood Notes, introduces Steph Grant and her four-legged companion, Derek. Shortly after came Blood Lines and in 2023 Blood Ties. In addition to crime writing, she has written over twenty plays exploring the issues faced by secondary school and sixth form students. Commissioned to work with Anne Fine on The Granny Project, she created the English and drama lesson activities for students aged 11 to 14.

Creative writing courses at the Arvon Foundation and ‘Ways with Words’ in Italy, encouraged Lin to enrol at the UEA MA in Creative Writing (Crime) and her debut novel was submitted as the final assessment for this excellent course.

Lin is the Director of the Southwold Arts Festival, comprising over thirty events in an eight-day celebration of the Arts.

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

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Catch as Catch Can #MalcolmHollingdrake #CatchAsCatchCan

By Malcolm Hollingdrake https://t.co/3FU8Z3YsGg @MHollingdrake

Narrated by Adrian Hobart @adrian_hobart

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

310 pages (7 hours 45 minutes) ISBN  9781913793272

Publication date 16 April 2021 (audio 31 January 2022)

Catch as Catch Can is the first book in the Merseyside Crime series.

I reviewed an audiobook version purchased from Audible.

The cover

Fits in with so many these days, a figure seen from behind at a waterfront, which presumably is part of the Mersey Estuary. Could it be one of Antony Gormley’s figures?

The narration

Excellent general narration that doesn’t try too many different voices, which is fine. Enjoyed the Merseyside accents which clearly of the region without becoming full blown Lily Savage.

On a couple of occasions there was a scene change during a chapter where a slight pause would have made it clearer, but this is a minor grumble.

Pete’s ponderings

Most crime readers when they pick up a novel are expecting a murder, usually the more the merrier, after all it is only fiction. The simple fact is it is murders that have impact, are usually shocking and have a perverse glamour in the eyes of some. In The Silence of the Lambs, it is Hannibal Lecter that grabs the attention not Clarice Starling, even though despite being cultured and educated he is still the baddest of the bad. Thankfully in the UK, even though crime always appears to be at an all-time high, murder is still relatively rare, with random killings and serial killings amongst the rarest.

Low level crime can still produce wonderful fiction if the author manages to capture the grimy and grittiness of real life in the deprived areas and sink estates. There are a couple of murders in this novel, but they arise through other crimes. It centres on the sort of crimes that plague many communities that if not acted upon can escalate out of control.

My review

April Decent is a fast-track graduate officer, already at the level of Detective Inspector, who has moved from her native Yorkshire to the other side (the wrong side) of the Pennines to Merseyside for her promotion. She faces a fresh start with new colleagues and settling into a new home, a coastal cottage with her brindle greyhound Tico*.

April starts has she means to go on, setting ground rules for her team to the annoyance of some, who perhaps are not fully behind the team. There is one person who she cannot immediately get a handle on, Skeeter Warlock. Skeeter is an intense, stocky woman with a piercing stare whose effect is enhanced by her having heterochromia, different coloured irises. These are two women who decide that they must earn each other’s respect and trust.

Metal detectorists (who are now starting to rival dog walkers in fiction) discover a washed-up mutilated corpse on a beach, along with a medal and a plastic disc. Not a great deal for April and her team to go on, but if he has been tortured then it is presumably for information, but what?

With any first novel in a series there is a balance between introducing a back story and keeping a flow of action and here I think the author has just about got it right. The series is presumably centred on April as the principal character, but Skeeter is so striking I can see it developing into a two-hander. Both characters are interesting and have complementary skills and personalities and it is going to be fascinating how their interaction develops further.

April is the more reserved of the two, happy with a degree of solitude, going for beach walks with Tico or working on her hobby of making stained glass windows. Skeeter may appear menacing, but she is more outward going. Her hobby is wrestling, not the ‘Sports Entertainment’ nonsense of WWE but proper grappling known as Catch or Catch as Catch Can, similar in style to Greco-Roman. She is never happier than when training youngsters in this martial art. I can’t remember the last time I read a novel featuring two characters with such leftfield interests, bravo Mr. Hollingdrake.

The story moves along at a cracking pace, there is a lot going on with a real sense of danger at times and violence not glossed over. The low-level crime is convincingly covered, with the scooter gangs and drug distribution using youngsters through county lines, working for a modern-day Bill Sykes. There is a whole stratum of people on the fringes our communities who drift or are dragged into crime and a separate sub-culture, where crime becomes a way of life. The lure of easy money, of getting rich quick, is like a drug, but all addictions eventually come at a cost. It clearly demonstrates that the escalation of these crimes leads to greater risks being taken and ultimately to danger.

The local environs are well used, the run down and deprived areas of Liverpool provide the stark grittiness, but then there are the more affluent areas and the Antony Gormley statues on the beach. These bold contrasts make for an atmospheric read.

Of course, Liverpudlians like to think that they are hilarious, so it is fitting that there are some good one-liners, put downs and nicknames. The gang taking names from Snow White’s Seven Dwarfs is the sort of silliness I can get behind; these are not sophisticated criminals. Then there is how Skeeter came to be so ludicrously named and her life of nicknames, that in the end makes perfect sense.

Catch as Catch Can is an engaging police procedural with plenty of action and a seam of gritty realism throughout. Looking forward to reading more about April and Skeeter.

* Tico a black greyhound famously won both the English and Irish Greyhound Derbies in 1986

Catch as Catch Can may published direct from the publisher here

The audiobook version that I listened to can be purchased from Audible/Amazon here

The author

Photograph (c) Tony Bithell

You could say that the writing was clearly on the wall for someone born in a library that they might aspire to be an author, but to get to that point Malcolm Hollingdrake has travelled a circuitous route. Malcolm worked in education for many years, including teaching in Cairo for a while. Malcolm has been happily married to Debbie for over forty years. They met in their first weekend at Ripon college through strange and unusual circumstances. Serendipity was certainly cupid on that occasion. Malcolm has written a number of successful short stories, has twelve books now published in the Harrogate Crime Series. He is also working on the third book of the Merseyside Crime Series which Hobeck will be publishing. The books introduce us to DI April Decent and DS Skeeter Warlock. Malcolm has enjoyed many diverse hobbies including flying light aircraft, gliders and paragliders, learning to fly at Liverpool Airport, designing and making leaded windows and collecting works by Northern artists.

Catch as Catch Can and Syn published in 2021. The third book, Edge of the Land, will be out in 2024.

Source: Publisher’s website

The narrator

Hobeck Books is the brainchild of author and broadcaster Adrian Hobart and publisher Rebecca Collins, and is based in a big old barn in the Staffordshire countryside.

Adrian has been a broadcaster and journalist with the BBC for twenty-five years, and is an audiobook narrator, filmmaker and a writer. 

Source: publisher’s website

The Last Bird of Paradise #AJAberford #TheLastBirdOfParadise

By AJ Aberford https://ajaberford.com/ @AJAberford

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

448pages ISBN 9781915817280

Publication date 28 November 2023

The Last Bird of Paradise is the fifth novel in the Inspector George Zammit series. Click on the links to read my reviews of the other books in the series – Bodies in the Water, Bullets in the Sand, Hawk at the Crossroads and Fire in the Mountain.

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

Very much in keeping with the rest of the series. A refugee camp and a young boy, arms outstretched, perhaps symbolic of wanting to fly, for freedom. Captures a lot of what the novel is about.

My thoughts

We begin with a young child, wide eyed in wonder, as he climbs the terraces of a football stadium in London. An amazing experience is about to become the ultimate sacrifice on his uncle’s instructions. This Bird of Paradise is going to spread his wings and fly off to paradise, or so he has been told, leaving carnage in his wake.

George is contemplating being a grandfather, as Gina will shortly be giving birth, but his hopes for a quiet life always seem to be just out of reach. That is mainly down to Assistant Commissioner Gerald Camilleri, who once again has him in his sights. The EU need an independent investigator to search for evidence of a potential aid fraud at a Syrian refugee camp. Gerald thinks that George is the man for the job, the one he trusts the most, well the man he can easily manipulate the most. George is getting a bit too old for all these adventures so Gerald decides that his son Denzil, who is now a sergeant in the force, can go with him, it will be good experience… Wife Marianne is not happy and is adamant that they return in time for the birth of Gina’s baby.

The trip to Syria goes remarkably well until George sees a face from his past and Denzil’s digging uncovers something unexpected. Once again George is in grave danger with secrets to disclose if he can get back home safely, only now he has Denzil to worry about too… and getting back for the birth.

So, we reach the fifth outing of Europe’s most unlikely supercop on another mission impossible, like a rotund, superannuated Ethan Hunt with emergency pastries in his pocket. George loves his food and pastizzi is as synonymous to George as spinach to Popeye (and a lot tastier.) For me the beauty of the series is how a plausible task is allowed to free wheel and become entertainingly implausible and yet he manages to come out relatively unscathed. At moments of crisis fortune favours the brave, well the foolhardy in the case of George, and opportunities fall in his lap, quite literally in this case. The inclusion of Denzil this time is a masterstroke, with their father-son bonding a particular joy. Denzil’s eyes are opened regarding his father, who adopts the army approach of eat when you can sleep when you can to extremes but then battles through situations of mortal danger. I loved the don’t tell your mother entreaty as she has no idea how dangerous it is.

The series has the perfect blend of action and characters which offer so much. Be it the adoration of George by US special forces, a Polish female bodybuilder or the most dangerous woman in Europe there is always something to pique the reader’s interest.

AC Camilleri is becoming increasingly frail and is seriously ill, he appoints George to fill in for him temporarily, but it looks like retirement is coming soon. George ponders the maxim, better the devil you know, whilst Marianna asks Gerald to be baby Joseph’s godfather!

Malta’s femme fatale (in this case very fatal) Natasha Bonnici appears to have finally gone too far and forces are combining to oppose her. Even her latest on-off lover ‘The Hawk’ is keen to distance himself. Not a great situation for a woman already deranged by power. The timely arrival of Greca, Sergio’s daughter provides her with a potential ally and something of a protégé. Greca was cut off by The Family from managing to get her share of Sergio’s supposed wealth and is keen to strike back. Naturally Natasha sees a bit of herself in Greca and decides to guide her, but unbeknown to her Greca has bolder plans too. Time is running out for the beautiful Natasha in terms of her looks and her fortunes.

There is a big humour injection to the storyline by the reappearance of computer whizz and ace gamer Savvi Azzopardi, whom Natasha has tracked down to Madrid. Our typically deluded man-child has matured slightly and is no longer incel as he has a girlfriend, Mia. His warped perception of real life is always a delight, an easy target perhaps but these people do walk amongst us. Mia, who must have the patience of a saint, turns out to be something of a surprise and I’ll add no more.

Its not all action and laughs though, there are moments of reflection. Life in the refugee camp is not glossed over, it is a tough existence and the indoctrination of the children to be suicide bombers feels very real. That said these are issues that have no easy solutions.

If you are already a fan of the series then you won’t feel let down, you know what to expect. Guns, explosions, helicopters, henchmen, psychopathic women, Machiavellian scheming, rabbit pasta, greasy kebabs and a whole lot more are jammed in. It does seem to be at a crossroads with the long narrative arc of the series, Gerald retiring, George getting old and Natasha sidelined, so it will be interesting to see how it develops. Perhaps George will be handing the baton on to Denzil soon?

Most readers when describing a book will liken it to that of another author, but I can’t think of anyone else who manages to meld serious geo-political issues and Southern European corruption into a thriller with regular injections of comedy genius.

The Last Bird of Paradise is another superb thriller that balances action with great comic moments.

The Last Bird of Paradise can be purchased direct from the publisher here

If you would like to hear more about the George Zammit series and the inspiration behind it then listen to episode 150 of the Hobcast Book Show, when the author Tony Gartland is the guest of Adrian Hobart and Rebecca Collins, the publishers.

The author

AJ Aberford has enjoyed a varied career, having been both a corporate and banking lawyer, owning and running a private investment company and founding a leading Yorkshire craft brewery. Changing direction again, he is now a debut author of the Inspector George Zammit crime and thriller series.

AJ Aberford still keeps his house in Yorkshire, but lives primarily in Malta, which is the inspiration for the Inspector George Zammit series. Upon moving there, he soon became enthralled by the culture and history of the island that acts as a bridge between Europe and North Africa.

Malta’s position at the sharp end of the migrant crisis, as well as the rapid growth of its commercial and offshore-financial sectors, provide a rich backdrop for his writing. The culture, politics and geography of the southern Mediterranean continually throws-up surprises in this fascinating part of the world, nothing is ever what it seems, with the lines between right and wrong often blurred and twisted.

AJ Aberford is married and has has two grown-up sons, as well as grandchildren. He is a keen cook, an adventurous traveller, a cyclist and is currently writing the fifth book in the Inspector George Zammit series.

Source: Author’s website

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

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: