Josy Fox is undercover at Hursley House trying to investigate the death and possibly traitorous behaviour of a young man. Bram Nash, her childhood friend, lover and employer is also called upon to investigate the case by the young man’s father. Could both of them be in damger…?
Time has skipped forward a couple of years and Jo has been seconded to a secret mission while Bram is approached by an old friend. They are both looking into a suspicious death which directly relates to potential espionage. Important papers are at risk of being given to the enemy and there could even be a Nazi presence in leafy Hampshire (perhaps not that leafy as it is winter!)
Jo feels out of her depth and very isolated as she is separated from Bram and her other friends. She is almost grateful when Bram turns up to look into the death as well. Of course this leads to their personal relationship coming to the fore again. Both lead characters have a lot of emotional baggage but are unable to deny their feelings completely.
I liked the historical detail, and the descriptions of the weather and location bring the secens to life. The narrative is once again from Jo’s first person perspective and Bram’s third person but our empathy is with both equally.
Treachery at Hursley Park House is an entertaining historical murder mystery and there is a great personal cliffhanger ready for the next book!
Book blurb:
December 1942. As the war rages on, the accidental death of a young man is almost unremarkable. Except this young man was patrolling the grounds of Hursley Park House, where teams are designing crucial modifications to the Spitfire – and he was found clutching part of a blueprint.
January 1943. Josephine Fox is given a code name and a mission as she is seconded to Hursley: uncover the network responsible for information leaks to the enemy. And when the dead man’s father visits Bram Nash convinced that his son was innocent of espionage and the victim of murder, her friend is also drawn into the investigation.
But as Jo and Bram circle closer to the truth, danger is closing in around them….
Lillian and Matthew have the perfect co-parenting situation. Both are moving on with their lives whilst bringing up their daughter together. They share the family home as well as an apartment, taking it in turns to live in each. But one morning Lillian wakes to find a body in the apartment bedroom…
The Family Home is a psychological thriller and murder mystery set in America.
Lillian and Matthew are hiding a secret but what is it and does it connect with the dead body in the apartment? They seem like a really nice couple who have survived an amicable divorce and are trying their best for their daughter’s sake.
The book is written from the first person perspectives of both of the couple. This allows us to empathise with both characters, understand their emotions and personal situations. They both hint at a secret which destroyed their marriage but united them too.
I liked the twists as the dead man’s identity is revealed and the secret is slowly revealed. The suspense is successfully developed and maintained over the course of the book. I suspected everyone and trusted no-one!
The Family Home is an entertaining and enjoyable thriller that kept me guessing.
Book Description:
There’s a dead man in my apartment. Only me and my ex have a key. But neither of us would have done this. We have too much to lose…
I wake on the sofa, my head throbbing. How did I get here? In the darkness, I make my way to my bedroom. I turn on the lights. And then I scream.
There’s a body in my bed. And I know this man: we went on two dates together. Who could have killed him? And how did he get in? Only two people have a key to the house: me and my ex-husband Matthew.
I trust Matthew. With what we’re hiding, I have to. And I can’t risk the police digging into our past, or learning about the night when we drank champagne on the cliff and ruined everything.
Someone knows our secret. We have to find out what they want. But am I wrong to believe Matthew, when I know how well he can lie? And how can I save myself, when the truth might destroy me?
An absolutely gripping thriller that will keep you reading late into the night, unable to put the book down for a second. Perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, Ruth Ware and Lisa Jewell.
Author Bio:
Miranda Smith writes psychological and domestic suspense. She is drawn to stories about ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Before completing her first novel, she worked as a newspaper staff writer and a secondary English teacher. She lives in East Tennessee with her husband and three young children.
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TRIGGER WARNING: sexual abuse
1941: years ago Josephine Fox left Romsey under a cloud, rejected by her family due to being illegitimate. Now she returns to search for her father. She arrives just after a devastating bomb attack on the local pub. But one body was a murder victim instead of dying in the bomb blast…
The Unexpected Return of Josephine Fox is a murder mystery set in war torn England. The gender and class norms of the era play a significant role in the plot as well as character development. There are references to sexual abuse in the past but they are not explicit or graphic.
I felt so sorry for Josy: the rejection of her family for circumstances beyond her control seems so cruel yet authentic in light of the era the book is set in. She also has issues in her marriage which are revealed over the course of the book. Her childhood and recent past with Bram Nash leads to both conflict and affinity as they work together on the case.
A teen’s body is pulled out of the bomb destroyed pub with no damage to it. Bram, the coroner, refuses to sign the death certificate until he is satisfied on the cause of death. Josy becomes Bram’s assistant and begins to investigate which puts her and others in danger. Meanwhile she is searching for a connection to the father that ruined her mother’s life and never acknowledged his child.
The narrative flits from Josy’s first person experience to other perspectives in the third person (almost all Bram but a little from the victim). There are some peeks at the past for Bram and Josy but also Ruby just before her death. This adds depth to the characters and their circumstances. Josy and Bram find themselves judged due to their pasts and I was keen for them to rekindle their friendship, if not more.
The Unexpected Return of Josephine Fox is an enjoyable murder and mystery novel with strong lead characters.
WINNER OF THE RICHARD & JUDY SEARCH FOR A BESTSELLER COMPETITION
April 1941, Romsey, England.
Josephine ‘Jo’ Fox hasn’t set foot in Romsey in over twenty years. As an illegitimate child, her family – headed by her controlling grandfather – found her an embarrassment. Now, she wants to return to what was once her home and uncover the secret of her parentage. Who was her father and why would her mother never talk about him?
Jo arrives the day after the Luftwaffe have bombed the town. The local pub has been completely destroyed and rescue teams are searching for the remains of the seven people known to have been in the pub at the time the bomb hit. They are shocked, however, to uncover eight bodies instead. The eighth, unidentified, body is that of a teenage girl, who no one in the town claims to know. Who is she, how did she get there, but most importantly – who killed her?
Teaming up with local coroner and old friend, Bram Nash, Jo sets out to establish the identity of the girl and solve the riddle of her death. In doing so, she also uncovers her own personal mystery.
Everyone has secrets – some are just more deadly than others . . .
The Fashion Fix is a non fiction fact and activity book aimed at helping pre-teens (8-12) to make conscientious and eco friendly choices about their wardrobe.
Anya is a complete fashionista and has very strong opinions on her own style. I shared this book with her so that she could give consideration to her fashion choices, supporting her own style while looking at the environmental issues and impact.
This is an interactive book with many sections to complete. There are also ideas for recycling or repurposing textiles, with helpful tips and hints for making ethical choices. In light of the current financial crisis it is also of huge benefit to be able to reuse current items rather than buy new ones.
The Fashion Fix is carefully balanced between facts, activities to complete on its pages, and craft ideas for updating clothing. It is the latter two which will appeal most to children but I think the inclusion of the information gives them the knowledge to encourage their choices moving forward.
The Fashion Fix: Activities and ideas for a stylish and sustainable wardrobe
If you love fashion, this activity book will help you create a wardrobe which reflects your personal style AND is mindful of the impact the fashion industry has on the environment and human welfare.
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Learn the shocking facts about fashion
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Make better choices when shopping
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Develop your own unique style
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Get creative with friends and family
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Discover fun ways to upstyle and upcycle your wardrobe
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Be crafty with recycling garments and fabrics
“Beautifully designed and bursting with ideas to help you get creative, The Fashion Fix is a smart, savvy and practical guide that will inspire you to dress more sustainably without sacrificing your personal style. It’s packed with important facts but never feels depressing or preachy – instead it shows you how joyful it is to set yourself free from fast fashion and build a wardrobe that’s uniquely yours, without costing the earth. I wish I’d had it when I was growing up! But it’s still taught me a thing or two now.” Lauren Bravo, author of How to break up with fast fashion
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Author Bio –
Lexi Rees was born in Scotland but now lives down south where she’s slave to carrot obsessed gelding, a frisky mare, a dog who’s convinced he’s not been fed in a month, and a house of hungry boys.
She writes action-packed adventures and fun activity books for children. She’s passionate about reducing her footprint on the planet and becoming more self-sufficient.
She has an active programme of school visits and other events, is a Book PenPal for three primary schools, and runs a free online #kidsclub and newsletter which includes book recommendations and creative writing activities.
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A family win the house of their dreams. But the neighbours soon start to suspect that something isn’t quite right between the couple…
The New Couple is a psychological thriller set in London.
In the first part of the book we see Jane Headley who is convinced that there is something odd about her lucky new neighbours. She starts to investigate but is warned off with threats. Parts 2 and 3 show the perspective of two other characters which makes the situation clear and shows the true danger.
From the start we get an uneasy feeling alongside Jane as she notices her neighbours’ starange behaviour. The tension grows slowly then really ramps up when part 2 arrives. The secret is revealed and it was quite gripping to watch the drama unfold. I felt that the ending was a little underwhelming as it didn’t match the anticipation I had developed.
The characters had flaws and vulnerabilities even though some committed evil acts. There is plenty of drama and personal relationships play a key role in the plot and character development.
The New Couple is very entertaining and I think the different viewpoints really helped to develop the tension.
The New Couple: An absolutely addictive psychological thriller with a shocking twist by Alison James
The perfect marriage. The perfect house. The perfect secret…
As I step through the cherry-red door of my new home, I know I should feel like the luckiest woman alive. I have a handsome husband, a beautiful daughter and now the house of my dreams. And to everyone else my life looks perfect…
When the neighbours stop by to welcome us, I tell them my name is Stephanie Hamlin and, under the watchful gaze of my husband Richard, I introduce him and our curly haired little girl Poppy. I smile as wide as I can and desperately hope I can fit in to this exclusive place with its pretty communal gardens. Because I’ve risked everything to be here.
Behind closed doors I try to relax, to unwind in the huge clawfoot bath and forget about my complicated past. It’s hard being the new couple on the street when you’ve got secrets.
Because the truth is, my charming husband isn’t really my husband.
And I’m not Stephanie Hamlin…
An absolutely gripping psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the last page. If you love Behind Closed Doors, My Lovely Wife and The Perfect Couple, you’ll be hooked.
About the author:
Alison James was born in the Cotswolds but spent most of her formative years abroad. She studied languages at Oxford, then became a journalist and author, returning to university after her two children to take a law degree. After a three-year stint as a criminal paralegal, she worked as a commercial copywriter and then a TV storyliner, before coming full circle to write fiction again.
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