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.