LONGLIST FOR THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2024 REVEALED @HarrogateFest @ed_pr #TheakstonsAwards #TheakstonsCrime

I’m honoured to be sharing the longlist for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2024. It’s one of the most prestigious crime writing prizes, not least because the public are able to vote towards it. A link to vote is further down this post but make sure you check out the longlist first!

 LONGLIST FOR THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2024 REVEALED

Rising stars compete with previous winners for coveted award.

Festival Dates: 18 – 21 July 2024

Harrogate International Festivals announced today the 18 titles longlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2024, the UK and Ireland’s most prestigious crime fiction award now in its twentieth year.

The longlist, voted for by an academy of crime writing authors, agents, editors, reviewers and members of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival Programming Committee, features stories that transport readers from the burning heat of the Chihuahuan Desert to the chill of nineties Berlin, from down-at-heel Blackpool to the splendour of Georgian London. Crime fiction fans are now invited to vote for their favourite novels to reach the shortlist, with the winner of the coveted Award announced on the opening night of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, Thursday 18 July.

Six former winners are vying for top honours, including 2023 champion MW Craven, who is longlisted for his high-octane US-set thriller Fearless, alongside Queen of Crime Val McDermid for cold case mystery Past Lying, and Mick Herron, the author behind Apple TV’s smash-hit series ‘Slow Horses,’ for his elegant stand-alone spy novel The Secret Hours. Also nominated are Chris Brookmyre’s edgy thriller about a murderous hen party on a remote Scottish island, The Cliff House, two times winner Mark Billingham’s The Last Dance, the first novel in his captivating new Blackpool-set detective series and Clare Mackintosh’s reality TV set thriller A Game of Lies. Ann Cleeves, who was awarded the Theakston Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award in 2023 adds to this illustrious list, nominated for her atmospheric detective novel The Raging Storm.  

Among the five hugely talented rising stars longlisted for the first time are Jo Callaghan, nominated for her stunningly original debut In the Blink of An Eye, which introduces intriguing detective duo DCS Kat Frank and her AI colleague Lock, and William Hussey for serial-killer thriller Killing Jericho featuring crime fiction’s first Traveller detective. They are up against Jack Jordan’s addictive legal thriller Conviction, missing persons investigation The Last Goodbye by Tim Weaver, and Oxford-set detective novel The Broken Afternoon by Simon Mason.

Showcasing the range of crime fiction subgenres, Laura Shepherd-Robinson’s atmospheric Georgian-set historical crime novel The Square of Sevens, Lisa Jewell’s tantalising domestic noir None of This is True, propulsive thriller You Can Run by New Blood 2020 alumni Trevor Wood and The Last Remains, Elly Griffiths’ final Dr Ruth Gallow mystery, join the 2024 longlist.

Completing the line-up are two phenomenally talented Irish crime writers: Jane Casey for her gripping DS Maeve Kerrigan novel The Close and four-times Irish Book Award winner Liz Nugent for her unnerving thriller Strange Sally Diamond.

The full Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2024 longlist (in alphabetical order by surname) is:

• The Last Dance by Mark Billingham (Sphere; Little, Brown Book Group)
• The Cliff House by Chris Brookmyre (Abacus; Little, Brown Book Group)
• In the Blink of an Eye by Jo Callaghan (Simon & Schuster UK)
• The Close by Jane Casey (Harper Fiction; Harper Collins)
• The Raging Storm by Ann Cleeves (Pan Macmillan)
• Fearless by M W Craven (Constable; Little, Brown Book Group)
• The Last Remains by Elly Griffiths (Quercus)
• The Secret Hours by Mick Herron (Baskerville; John Murray Press)
• Killing Jericho by William Hussey (Zaffre, Bonnier)
• None of This is True by Lisa Jewell (Century; Cornerstone)
• Conviction by Jack Jordan (Simon & Schuster)
• A Game of Lies by Clare Mackintosh (Sphere; Little, Brown Book Group)
• The Broken Afternoon by Simon Mason (riverrun; Quercus)
• Past Lying by Val McDermid (Sphere; Little, Brown Book Group)
• Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent (Sandycove; Penguin Ireland)
• The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd-Robinson (Pan Macmillan)
• The Last Goodbye by Tim Weaver (Michael Joseph; Penguin Random House)
• You Can Run by Trevor Wood (Quercus)

Simon Theakston, Chairman of T&R Theakston, said:

“We are delighted to announce the 2024 longlist for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year, which truly showcases the depth and breadth of the UK and Ireland’s best crime fiction novels from the past year. The Award is an exciting part of the Festival, and with so many talented writers nominated – both new and established – we’re excited to find out who the public vote for this year.”

The Award is presented by Harrogate International Festivals and sponsored by T&R Theakston Ltd, in partnership with Waterstones and Daily Express, and is open to full-length crime novels published in paperback between 1 May 2023 to 30 April 2024. The public are invited to vote to help create a shortlist of six titles from 8am on Thursday 25 April at www.harrogatetheakstoncrimeaward.com

Voting closes on Thursday 16 May, with the shortlist announced on Thursday 13 June. The winner will be revealed on the opening night of Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, Thursday 18 July, receiving £3,000 and a handmade, engraved beer barrel provided by T&R Theakston Ltd.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME WRITING AWARDS VISIT www.harrogatetheakstoncrimeaward.com

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME WRITING FESTIVAL VISIT www.harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

About the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year:

The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year is now in its twentieth year. Presented by Harrogate International Festivals, the Award recognises the best crime novels published in the UK and Ireland in paperback over the past year. The eighteen longlisted authors are selected by a panel of crime writing authors, agents, editors, reviewers, members of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival Programming Committee, and representatives from T&R Theakston Ltd, Daily Express, and Waterstones. The winner is announced on the opening night of Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, Thursday 18 July, and receives £3,000 and a handmade, engraved beer cask provided by T&R Theakston Ltd. www.harrogatetheakstoncrimeaward.com

#TheakstonsAward

About Harrogate International Festivals:

Harrogate International Festivals is a charitable organisation with a mission to present a diverse year-long programme of live events that bring immersive and moving cultural experiences to as many people as possible. Delivering artistic work of national importance, the Festival curates and produces over 300 unique and surprising performances each year, celebrating world-renowned artists and championing new and up-coming talent across music, literature, science, philosophy and psychology. The HIF+ ongoing education outreach programme engages schools, young people and the local community with workshops, talks, projects and inspiring activities, ensuring everyone can experience the Festival’s world-class programme and the transformative power of the arts. Established in 1966, Harrogate International Festivals is an artistic force to be reckoned with and a key cultural provider for the North of England.

About the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival:

The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival is the world’s largest event dedicated to the celebration of crime fiction. Taking place annually over four days each July at the Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate, the Festival programmes over 100 best-selling UK and international crime authors and over 30 events. It is delivered by the north of England’s leading arts Festival organisation, Harrogate International Festivals. The event features the prestigious Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Awards.

About T & R Theakston Ltd:

Festival sponsor since 2004, Theakston Old Peculier beer is produced by T & R Theakston Ltd. It is one of the country’s most famous and highly regarded traditional beer brewers. Theakston was established in Masham, North Yorkshire in 1827 by Robert Theakston. After a brief period in the 1980s when the company was acquired by Scottish & Newcastle plc, the company has been back under family ownership since Autumn 2003. It now operates as an independent brewer producing five permanent brands in the Theakston range including the iconic Old Peculier – its best-known beer with a rich, dark flavour, celebrated by ale enthusiasts all over Britain and around the world. http://www.theakstons.co.uk    

 

 

The Dream Home by @TMLoganAuthor @ZaffreBooks @JoyKluver

Happy publication day to TM Logan for The Dream Home. This is Logan’s eight book and he doesn’t seem to be slowing down which is great news for readers! Thank you Zaffre for an early read of The Dream Home.

The Blurb

Adam and Jess move into a new house with their three young children: a rambling Victorian villa in a nice neighbourhood right at the very top of their price range. Before long Adam discovers a door hidden behind a fitted wardrobe, concealing a secret room . . .

Inside Adam discovers a collection of forgotten items: a wallet, an expensive watch and an old mobile phone. Jess thinks they should simply throw them away. But Adam resists. He is fascinated by these items and how they came to be inside the hidden room.

But like the house, Adam has his secrets too. And soon he will find himself setting in motion a series of events that will place his family in terrible danger . . .

My Review

I’ve had the pleasure of reading most of TM Logan’s books and The Mother is still my favourite. However, The Dream Home sent shivers down my spine. I think it’s the creepiest novel that Logan has written, not least because it seems like it could actually happen.

Unless you move into a brand new home, there’s often something the previous owners have left behind. We found newspapers in our loft dating back to the 1930s. Adam, though, finds another small room in his attic space – one that isn’t on the house plans. From that moment on, things spiral out of control as Adam seeks to solve the riddle of the hidden room and the secrets contained within.

It took me a while to settle into the book (I’m like that with most books at the moment) but once I was in, I was heavily invested. TM Logan has paced this book just right, with the reveals at the right time and casting doubt on everyone. I didn’t guess who was responsible (so frustrating!) but in some ways, I do love that. I think this is another book that could be heading for a TV adaption.

You can buy The Dream Home here.

The Author

TM Logan’s thrillers have sold more than two million copies in the UK and are translated into 22 other languages for publication around the world.

Tim’s latest novel, THE MOTHER, is a twisty, fast-paced thriller about a woman betrayed and her search for redemption against all the odds. She has to discover who framed her for murder – or she will never see her sons again.

THE DREAM HOME (coming Feb 2024) follows Adam, Jess and their three children, who find the family home they’ve always dreamed of and move in full of plans for the future. But it’s not long before they start to discover their perfect new place is full of secrets, and stirring up the past can be a dangerous game . . .

THE HOLIDAY was a Richard & Judy Book Club pick and spent ten weeks in the Sunday Times paperback top ten. It has since won a Nielsen Bestseller Award and been made into a four-part TV drama with Jill Halfpenny.

THE CATCH has also been made into a TV drama for Channel 5, starring Jason Watkins, Poppy Gilbert, Aneurin Barnard and Cathy Belton – currently available on Netflix UK. His other books are THE CURFEW, TRUST ME, LIES and 29 SECONDS.

A former national newspaper journalist, Tim lives in Nottinghamshire with his family and writes in a cabin at the bottom of his garden.

For exclusive writing, new releases and a FREE deleted scene from Tim, sign up to the Readers’ Club at TM Logan dot com. You can also follow him on Twitter @TMLoganAuthor, find him on Facebook at /TMLoganAuthor, on Instagram @TMLoganAuthor

Book review – #WhatWeDidInTheStorm by @TinaBakerBooks @ViperBooks @JoyKluver

Happy publication day to Tina Baker for What We Did In The Storm! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will share a few thoughts below. Thank you to Miranda Jewess and Drew Jerrison for the advance copy.

The Blurb

Everyone brings their secrets to the island…

On the beautiful and windswept island of Tresco, two worlds live side by side. The wealthy visitors come by helicopter to stay at their lavish time-share properties. The estate staff travel by boat, and work all hours to keep them happy, to keep the money flowing in.

But while the blue skies and savage waves make the island seem a wild paradise, under the surface the inhabitants are concealing more than they dare reveal. The truths about their marriages, their love affairs, and what they do in the darkness while their neighbours are sleeping.

As black clouds come rolling in and a storm hits the island, truths and rumours begin to tumble out, wreaking terrible damage. In the midst of the tempest, two women are attacked and one goes missing. The secrets of this fragile community can no longer be hidden if it hopes to survive. The islanders must finally reveal what they did in the storm, no matter the cost.

My Review

The one thing you can say about Tina Baker is that she knows her soap operas. For a long time on TV, she was the fount of all knowledge about the cobbles of Coronation Street and the tribulations of Albert Square. When I first starting reading What We Did In The Storm, I could see the opening credits of a new series, maybe called Islanders, where the wealthy come to stay on Tresco and the true islanders have to serve them. It starts off glamourous, with an extravagant wedding. Slowly but surely though, the façade begins to drop. Superficial layers of the characters’ lives are stripped away as we discover their darkest secrets. Razor-sharp observations are mixed with quick-witted humour, creating a compelling read. We turn from soap opera to dark thriller. Brilliant!

You can buy What We Did In The Storm here.

About the Author

Tina Baker was brought up in a caravan after her mother, a fairground traveller, fell pregnant by a window cleaner. After leaving the bright lights of Coalville, she came to London and worked as a journalist and broadcaster for thirty years. She’s probably best known as a television critic for the BBC and GMTV. What We Did In The Storm is her fourth novel.

My Top Ten Reads of 2023 @TMLoganAuthor @h_critchlow @FionaAnnCummins @KennyImafidon @writer_north @JaniceHallett @willrdean @LauraPAuthor @LouiseWriter @JoWallaceAuthor @JoyKluver

As we head towards Christmas and the end of the year, it’s time for me to reflect on my favourite books of 2023. There are still lots of books on my TBR pile but I do have a top ten to tell you about. And not all of them are crime fiction!

So, in no particular order… 

The Mother by TM Logan

You wake up, your husband is dead and YOU are the prime suspect. Your children have been taken away, your life sent into freefall – and yet you can barely remember anything about the night you lost everything.

Ten years later you are released from prison. What do you do? Do you accept your fate, your conviction and leave your children to be raised by someone else?

Or do you stop at nothing to find out the truth about what really happened that night – and to get your family back?

I absolutely loved this from TM Logan! A couple of his books have been made into TV adaptations and this one will be joining them soon.

End of Story by Louise Swanson

YOU KNOW HOW THIS STORY BEGINS

Once upon a time, there was a writer named Fern.

She was a bestseller. An award-winner. Loved by readers and critics alike. With her words, she changed the world.

Until her story took a turn.

Now Fern is a cleaner in a hospital. Condemned to anonymity. Because reading books is now a crime.

Only, Fern doesn’t plan on going down without a fight. She’ll keep writing, no matter the consequences. She will make her voice heard.

Because Fern’s story is only beginning.

BUT CAN YOU GUESS HOW IT WILL END?

This Dystopian novel rings scarily true with the book bans happening around the world but especially in the US. Also check out Eighteen Seconds by Louise Beech (Swanson). It’s an incredible memoir from the author.

That Peckham Boy by Kenny Imafidon

‘When you’re writing the story of your life, make sure you’re holding the pen. In this life you can be whoever you want to be.’

Two days after his eighteenth birthday, Kenny Imafidon was charged with the murder of a seventeen-year-old boy in south-east London. The middle child of a single mother with ambitions for her children, Kenny grew up near an estate in Peckham where deprivation and hopelessness were rife, and gang culture flourished in his community. Kenny faced a minimum of thirty years behind bars – longer than the life he had lived.

When the case against Kenny collapsed, he quickly realised that his name was still inextricably linked with a horrific crime he hadn’t committed. He decided to rewrite his story. It began with The Kenny Report, which he delivered to the House of Commons and which detailed the experiences of marginalised young people who drift into gangs, and has led to extensive work with charities, communities and policy-makers that is helping to change the narratives of other young people just like Kenny.

A candid and unfiltered take on some of the most challenging topics that define our times, That Peckham Boy is a personal manifesto exploring what it means to be young, Black and poor in the city. It is shaped by Kenny’s difficult childhood, his transformative time in prison, and the people and conversations that took him from being on trial for murder into the company of some of the most successful people in the world.

Talking of memoirs, this is the incredible true story of Kenny Imafidon. His transformation from being on remand to talking to politicians is a remarkable and gripping story.

Unsolved by Heather Critchlow

He won’t rest until he finds out the truth…

Cal Lovett is obsessed with finding justice for the families of missing people. His true crime podcast is his way of helping others, even if he can’t help himself.

His sister, Margot, disappeared when he was a child. Only one man seems to know something. But he’s behind bars and can’t be trusted.

So when the family of a missing Scottish woman begs for his help, he heads to Aberdeenshire in search of the truth.

Does Cal have what it takes to unearth the secrets hiding in the hills? And what if he finds something that leads him back to the heart of his own family’s past?

True crime podcasts are big now and Heather Critchlow has used that as a vehicle for her debut novel. It’s a great way to look at an investigation without getting tied up in police procedure.

The Last Passenger by Will Dean

A luxury cruise liner, abandoned with no crew, steaming into the mid-Atlantic.

And you are the only passenger left on board.

Caz Ripley, a cafe owner from a small, ordinary town, boards the RMS Atlantica with her boyfriend Pete and a thousand fellow passengers destined for New York.
The next morning, she wakes to discover that everyone else on board has disappeared.
And that’s just the beginning. Caz must prepare for a crossing that will be anything but plain sailing …

 

 

This is such an unusual read and I couldn’t work out where Will Dean was going with it. I won’t say more than that, other than, I’ve almost forgiven Will for the ending.

 

 

The Half Burnt House by Alex North

Katie Shaw always looked after her younger brother Chris – until she left him alone one carefree afternoon and he was savagely attacked. He hasn’t spoken to her since.

Now a mother, Katie vows not to repeat her mistakes. Carelessness cost her one family, and she won’t let it destroy another.

Then she receives a call from the police.

They’re investigating a particularly brutal murder, in a half-ruined house that once belonged to a notorious local serial killer. The case has thrown up many unsettling questions, but only one prime suspect: Chris.

The detective wants Katie’s help finding him, but she has only one thing on her mind: proving her brother’s innocence, and finally making up for her negligence all those years ago. But soon it becomes clear that the killer isn’t finished yet.

Which means that even as she attempts to save her old family, Katie is placing her new one in deadly peril . . .

 

 

Alex North tends to have a slightly supernatural feel to his books but he’s also weaved some philosophy into this story too.

 

 

 

The Last List of Mabel Beaumont by Laura Pearson

 

The list he left had just one item on it. Or, at least, it did at first…

Mabel Beaumont’s husband Arthur loved lists. He’d leave them for her everywhere. ‘Remember: eggs, butter, sugar’. ‘I love you: today, tomorrow, always’.

But now Arthur is gone. He died: softly, gently, not making a fuss. But he’s still left her a list. This one has just one item on it though: ‘Find D’.

Mabel feels sure she knows what it means. She must track down her best friend Dot, who she hasn’t seen since the fateful day she left more than sixty years ago.

It seems impossible. She doesn’t even know if Dot’s still alive. Also, every person Mabel talks to seems to need help first, with missing husbands, daughters, parents. Mabel finds her list is just getting longer, and she’s still no closer to finding Dot.

What she doesn’t know is that her lis

And now for something completely different! This is a lovely story about a recent widow searching for the life she lost decades before.

Seven books so far! Now for my top three reads of 2023.

Coming in third

You’d Look Better As A Ghost by Joanna Wallace

I have a gift. I see people as ghosts before they die.
Of course, it helps that I’m the one killing them.

The night after her father’s funeral, Claire meets Lucas in a bar. Lucas doesn’t know it, but it’s not a chance meeting. One thoughtless mistyped email has put him in the crosshairs of an extremely put-out serial killer. But even before they make eye contact, before Claire lets him buy her a drink, before she takes him home and carves him up into little pieces, something about that night is very wrong. Because someone is watching Claire. Someone who is about to discover her murderous little hobby.

The thing is, it’s not sensible to tangle with a part-time serial killer, even one who is distracted by attending a weekly bereavement support group and trying to get her art career off the ground. Claire will do anything to keep her secret hidden – not to mention the bodies buried in her garden. Let the games begin…

With very black humour throughout, I never thought I’d have empathy for a serial killer but you can’t help liking Claire. Not so keen on her hammer though. Brilliant debut from Joanna Wallace.

In second place

All Of Us Are Broken by Fiona Cummins

The Family

The Crimes
They are about to cross paths with a violent and dangerous young couple hell-bent on infamy, their love story etched in blood and a dark past which must be uncovered.

The Detective
As the clock ticks down, Detective Saul Anguish is on the hunt to find the couple before more lives are lost.

The Mother – who will be forced to make an impossible decision.

I’ve loved all of Fiona’s books and they’re all fantastic but there’s something truly special about this book. There’s an emotional depth that’s breathtaking. If you’re not broken before you read this, you will be by the end. 

And coming in on top, in first place

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett

THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAIL…

With all the cultists now dead – apart from their charismatic leader – it seems like there’s nothing new to say about the Angels… until now. The Alperton baby has turned eighteen and can finally be interviewed, and if Amanda can track them down, it will be the scoop of the year. But rival author Oliver Menzies is just as smart, better connected, and is also on the baby’s trail.

As Amanda and Oliver are forced to collaborate, they realise that what everyone thinks they know about the Angels is wrong. The truth is something much darker and stranger. And the devilish story of the Alperton Angels is far from over…

We already know that Janice Hallett writes in a very unusual way. This time, she tells the story through WhatsApp and audio transcripts. It’s incredible how she manages to convey so much through a simple message – not just plot but characterisation too. It’s much darker in tone from her first two books but if you’re missing the humour from The Appeal, then there’s always The Christmas Appeal to read!

To buy any of the books, click on the links below

TM Logan

Louise Swanson

Kenny Imafidon

Heather Critchlow

Will Dean

Alex North

Laura Pearson

Joanna Wallace

Fiona Cummins

Janice Hallett

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Secrets and Suspense! Author event at #WestBarnesLibrary with @writerjac @AAChaudhuri @HeraBooks @PointBlankCrime @mertonlibraries #MurderInMerton

On Monday 20th November, we welcomed psychological thriller authors, Jacqueline Sutherland and AA Chaudhuri, to West Barnes Library for a #MurderInMerton event in conjunction with the Friends of West Barnes Library. We had a great evening and the authors gave us a little taster of their books with a reading each.

I wish I could remember everything that they said but there are a few key points that have stuck in my mind. I asked what came first – the secret or the overall story? Both Alex and Jac agreed that the secret came first and it had to be really good! No matter how good the overall story might be, if the secret doesn’t hook the reader, then the book won’t work. Jac also liked to keep going with the secrets until the very end of the book. Having read Twin Truths, I can assure you she does exactly that.

I was also intrigued as to how Alex managed to write six different points of view in both the past and the present day. She wrote quite extensive character bios before starting The Final Party so she knew what her characters would say and how they’d behave. It’s a feat of writing engineering that she pulls off to great aplomb.

If you’d like to read the books for yourself then click on the links below.

The Final Party by AA Chaudhuri

Twin Truths by Jacqueline Sutherland

Both books are currently a bit cheaper on Amazon so get them while you can!

Thank you so much to AA Chaudhuri and Jacqueline Sutherland for joining us. There’ll be more #MurderInMurder crime writing events in 2024.

Book review #Geneva by @RCArmitage @FaberBooks @JoyKluver

Happy publication day to Richard Armitage for Geneva! Although it’s been out for a while on Audible, it’s now available in hardback. Thank you to Faber Books for an early read via NetGalley. Before I share my thoughts, here’s the blurb.

The Blurb

Nobel Prize-winning scientist Sarah Collier has started to show the same tell-tale signs of Alzheimer’s disease as her father: memory loss, even blackouts. So she is reluctant to accept the invitation to be the guest of honour at a prestigious biotech conference – until her husband Daniel, a neuroscientist, persuades her that the publicity storm will be worth it. The technology being unveiled at this conference could revolutionise medicine forever. More than that, it could save Sarah’s life.

In Geneva, the couple are feted as stars – at least, Sarah is. But behind the five-star luxury, investors are circling, controversial blogger Terri Landau is all over the story, and Sarah’s symptoms are getting worse. As events begin to spiral out of control, Sarah can’t be sure who to trust – including herself.

My Review

Starting with a cinematic opening in the Swiss Alps, it’s clear that Richard Armitage has brought his acting experience into Geneva. I was thrown initially with all the different POVs and it took me a while to settle into it. But once settled, I was gripped. I’m a very visual person and so when I read, I see the chapters as scenes in my head.  We’re never too sure who the antagonist is and for poor Sarah, struggling with Alzheimer’s symptoms, she has less of a clue.

The idea of ‘Neurocell’, a biotech invention capable of overriding neurological conditions, seems both preposterous and plausible at the same time. Richard Armitage plays the balance well, knowing how far to push the plot.

I’ve only spent a few hours in Geneva, and most of that was around the lake, so it wasn’t that easy for me to picture some of the places. Although the traffic jams were captured pretty well! But the whole idea of a biotech billionaire living in his medical institute in the mountains was something I could buy into. There’s a scene where VR headsets are used and I actually felt quite disorientated afterwards. That’s how good the descriptions are.

Overall, it’s a fast-paced thriller, with memorable characters and a plot that, in the near future, could be a reality.

You can buy Geneva here.

The Author

Richard Armitage is a multi-award winning stage, screen and voice actor best known for his roles in Peter Jackson’s trilogy of The Hobbit, Captain America, Alice through the Looking Glass and Oceans 8. Geneva is his first novel

Book review – #TheScorned by @alexkhanauthor @HeraBooks @JoyKluver

Happy publication day to Alex Khan for The Scorned! This is the second book in the DS Mumtaz ‘Moomy’ Ali series. Thank you to Hera Books for an early read. Before I give you my thoughts, here’s the blurb.

The Blurb

Sidra Hussain has just made it home after a date. Opening the door, her blood runs cold as she realises the caller is here to take her life…

When a young Asian woman is found brutally murdered in her North London home, DS Mumtaz ‘Moomy’ Ali begins the investigation, but is blindsided by a case with no obvious motive.

When a second female victim is found, with no obvious links to Sidra apart from also having her throat slit, it seems Moomy is up against every detective’s nightmare… a serial killer bringing terror to the streets of London.

As the case deepens, Moomy and her detective partner Sarah Heaton uncover a sinister underground group brought together by their hatred of women. But their roots run deep, and they count some very powerful people in their number.

To stop the bloodshed, Moomy must delve into the darkest corners of the internet, a place where hatred festers, unchecked – but she needs to be fast, because the killer has their sights set on her…

My Review

I loved the first in the DS Mumtaz ‘Moomy’ Ali series and couldn’t wait to start this. The pace is swift from the beginning and doesn’t let up once. Switching between viewpoints gives 360 degrees of the story, providing the reader with plenty of information. Having said that, I couldn’t work out who was responsible and that doesn’t happen often! Alex Khan maintains the balance between the main plot and the story arc of the two main protagonists – Moomy and DI Sarah Heaton, as well as introducing a couple of new characters in Damian and Jules.

The murder of Sabina Nessa as she walked through a park was in my mind as I read this. Alex Khan taps into those fears, shines a light into the dark world of toxic masculinity and violence against women, and finds a way to bring justice. He unapologetically examines forced arranged marriages and the damage caused by them in Moomy’s life. I also like the juxtaposition of Moomy rejecting her Muslim faith and culture, whereas recent Muslim convert Sarah, embraces the comfort her new religion brings.

I really hope there’ll be more books in the series as Alex Khan gives us a very different perspective on the police.

You can buy The Scorned here.

The Author

Alex Khan

Alex Khan has spent over a decade working in Information Systems Security for a number of government organisations. A lifetime passion for writing was sparked by the encouraging words of an English Teacher in school, and eventually led to Alex successfully completing an MA in Creative Writing.

Events, events, events! @wimblestones @wimbookfest @JoyKluver

Hi all. Hope you had a good summer and that it was better than mine. I was ill with Covid for most of it but managed to be well enough to go on holiday in Croatia. Lots of other stuff happened too but I’ll save that for a future post. 

I want to tell you now about some events that are coming up this term. This Thursday, 21st September, is proving to be a popular date for all things bookish! There are lots of things on but one I want to highlight is an event at Wimbledon Waterstones. It’s great to have things happening so close to me. Graham Bartlett and Kia Abdullah will be in conversation with Craig Sisterson at 6.30pm. You can buy your tickets here.

Autumn is book festival season and I’m really proud to be taking part in Wimbledon Bookfest this year. I’ll be interviewing Janice Hallett on Saturday 21st October at 4pm. The good news is this year the festival isn’t in a tent! We’re in the very dry spaces of Wimbledon High School, Wimbledon Theatre and Wimbledon Library. It runs from the 12th-22nd October and includes two of my favourite authors, Alexander McCall Smith and Philippa Gregory. Full details and tickets can be found here.

 

Save the date! On Monday 20th November at 7.30pm, at West Barnes Library, I’ll be chatting to AA Chaudhuri and Jacqueline Sutherland about their latest books. More news on that soon!

Happy publication day to @VictoriaGoldma2 for #TheAssociate @3CPublishingUK @JoyKluver

Happy publication day to Victoria Goldman for the second instalment in her Shanna Regan series – The Associate. Thanks to Victoria and Three Crowns Publishing for an early read. Before I give you my thoughts, here’s the blurb.

The Blurb

When an architect vanishes in East London, her concerned fiancé asks journalist Shanna Regan to find her. The missing woman has been leading an interfaith Jewish-Muslim charity project that’s become the target of malicious damage and racist threats.

After Shanna witnesses a teenage girl fall to her death, she’s convinced the architect’s disappearance is also linked to a local youth outreach project. And then another woman is reported missing.

Amid rising local tensions, danger appears to be lurking around every corner. Even the safest sanctuaries seem to be hiding the darkest secrets. As Shanna uncovers a tangled web of lies, she puts her own life on the line. Will she find the missing architect before it’s too late?

The Associate is the compelling and thought-provoking sequel to The Redeemer.

My Review

I loved The Redeemer when it came out last year so I was thrilled to see journalist, Shanna Regan, back for another story. Last time, it was a much more personal story that Shanna was chasing. This time round, Shanna is working for a bigger news outlet, so she’s in London looking for a scoop when she’s asked to use her investigative skills in a different way. She’s reluctant to take a missing persons case but intrigued enough to find out more. And maybe bag a story at the same time.

Shanna has really grown as a character in The Associate and that’s testament to Victoria Goldman’s writing. In The Redeemer, Shanna was still finding her feet after being away for a long time but there’s a sturdiness to her now and I feel I’ve got to know her better as a result. Topical themes come into play in the story, mixed with mystery and suspense. I loved the idea of an inter-faith project between Jews and Muslims and Goldman uses this to inform and educate in an entertaining way. Tension steadily builds throughout the story until we reach the climatic moment. I really enjoyed The Associate and hope there’ll be another Shanna Regan story at some point.

You can buy The Associate here.

Book Review #AllOfUsAreBroken by @FionaAnnCummins @panmacmillan

I first published this in March but I’m resharing it now as it’s publication day for Fiona Cummins. A huge thank you to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for an early review of All Of Us Are Broken by Fiona Cummins. Before I give you my thoughts, here’s the blurb.

The Blurb

It’s been a long time since the Hardwicke family has been on holiday. But thirteen-year-old Galen has wanted to see the wild dolphins at Scotland’s Chanonry Point for as long as she can remember, and her mother Christine – a lone parent since her beloved husband left – is determined she gets her wish. But their serene trip is about to be interrupted.

When DC Saul Anguish is called to investigate the shooting of an ex-police officer in Midtown-on-Sea, Essex, he quickly discovers that this is the first in a string of killings by Missy and Fox, a damaged young couple hell-bent on infamy, their love story etched in blood. In pursuit, Saul follows their trail north.

The paths of the Hardwickes’ and the deadly couple are about to collide. When Saul and his forensic linguist partner, Blue, arrive on the scene, they witness the unthinkable: a mother forced to make an impossible choice.

Saul must uncover the truth about the couple. But can he find the strength to lay the ghosts of his past to rest before they break him?

My Review

I’m not sure where to begin. This isn’t going to be a long review as I don’t want to say any more about the plot. This really is a book you need to discover for yourself.

I’ve read all of Fiona Cummins’ books and they’re all brilliant. With All Of Us Are Broken though, it’s as if all the fine tuning that Fiona has done over the last several years with her books, has come into play in this story. There are still the trademark unusual names (Galen), the time stamps, and brave children who face and endure trauma. But the emotional thread is stronger than I’ve seen it before in her novels. Grief and melancholy wrap themselves around you as you read, the pain ragged and raw. There were some things in there which meant so much to me, that Fiona wouldn’t even know about. It’s a story that’s going to sit in my head for a long time, mulling it over and dealing with the emotions that surface. If you aren’t already broken before reading All Of Us Are Broken, you will be by the end. Stunning.

All Of Us Are Broken is out on the 20th July and you can order here.

The Author

Fiona Cummins is an award-winning former journalist and a graduate of the Faber Academy, where she now teaches her own Writing Crime course. She is the bestselling author of five crime thriller novels, all of which have received widespread critical acclaim from household names including Val McDermid, Lee Child, David Baldacci, Martina Cole and Ian Rankin. Three of her novels have been optioned for television.

Rattle, her debut, has been translated into several languages and Marcel Berlins wrote in The Times: ‘Amid the outpouring of crime novels, Rattle is up there with the best of them.’ Fiona was selected for McDermid’s prestigious New Blood panel at the 2017 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, where her novel was nominated for a Dead Good Reader Award for Most Exceptional Debut. A sequel, The Collector, was published in February 2018 and David Baldacci described it as ‘A crime novel of the very first order’.

Her third novel – standalone thriller The Neighbour – was published in April 2019. Ian Rankin called it ‘creepy as hell’. Her fourth novel When I Was Ten, an Irish Times bestseller, was published in April 2021. Into The Dark, Fiona’s fifth novel, was published in April 2022 and was described by Sarah Vaughan, author of Netflix smash-hit Anatomy of A Scandal, as ‘Complex. Inventive. Twisty. Unsettling.’ The Daily Mail said it was ‘breathtakingly good’. Her sixth novel, All Of Us Are Broken, will be published in July 2023.

When Fiona is not writing, she can be found on Twitter, eating biscuits or walking her dogs. She lives in Essex with her family.