A gang drugs war leads to a shooting and the police are expected to put all their eforts into resolving the case. However DI Helen Grace diverts her team to the case of a missing teenager who she believes has been abducted…
Forget Me Not is the 12th book in the DI Helen Grace series. I read (and LOVED!) the 11th Book Cat and Mouse.
We meet troubled teen Naomi at the start of the book. She has been dumped by her no-good boyfriend and, now homeless, tries to settle down in a underpass for the night. A kind stranger rescues her but she finds herself in a dreadful situation, held against her will with another girl who has been abused.
Helen has a battle to face with her team and her superiors who all believe that she has her priorities wrong. Luckily she sticks to her convictions even though it puts her career at risk. We know of the danger and horror that Naomi is facing so Helen’s passionate leadership is reassuring that there are people who care.
We see the police investigation, the suspects’ suspicious behaviour as well as Naomi’s terrible situation. The race against time to save the girls is hampered by the police’s attitiude which ramps up the tension. Thankfully, the nature of the abuse Naomi and MIa face is not described in detail. In some ways though, this is worse as it leaves it to your own vivid imagination to fill in the gaps.
The chapters are short and the plot speeds along. There are some great action scenes alongside the relentless pursuit of clues and suspects. The writing style is easy to read and the characters are vivdly imagined. I love Helen and Charlie’s characters as they fight for the vulnerable and challenge stereotypes. I am also familiar with the setting of Southampton and felt that the geography also contributes effectively to the plot.
Forget Me Not is a tense and gripping police thriller.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A city on the brink.
A mother on the edge.
A nightmare that only DI Helen Grace can end.
Sometimes, the darkest secrets hide in plain sight…
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
A gang war grips the city, and the police force is under fire from all sides. But Detective Inspector Helen Grace defies direct orders as she becomes drawn to the case of a missing teenager.
LOST BUT NOT ALONE
Naomi’s mother is desperate for help – and Helen is her only hope. Keeping the investigation secret, she finds a disturbing trail of questions – and more who have vanished off the streets…
WILL THEY FIND HER IN TIME?
Sometimes, the truth hides in plain sight. But proving it is another matter entirely. The clock is ticking – and the only person looking for Naomi is about to meet her match.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
MJ. Arlidge has worked in television for the last twenty years, specialising in high-end drama production, including prime-time crime serials Silent Witness, Torn, The Little House and, most recently, the hit ITV show Innocent. In 2015 his audiobook exclusive Six Degrees of Assassination was a number-one bestseller. His debut thriller, Eeny Meeny, was the UK’s bestselling crime debut of 2014 and has been followed by ten more DI Helen Grace thrillers – all Sunday Times bestsellers.
1912, Maud and Daisy are invited to a Scottish castle to investigate the disappearance of a valuable statuette. The chief suspect is Lord Urquhart who the pair of detectives have met several times before. But while they are at the castle, a murder takes place…
Death in a Scottish Castle is the 4th and possibly final (I hope not!) book in the Scottish Ladies’ Detective Agency series.
Maud and Daisy disguise themselves as a writer and her assistant to go undercover at the castle. They are focussed on their investigation into a theft when another guest is found murdered in his locked bedroom. Now they have two cases to work on and are keen to rise to the challenge. Together they face and combat the class and gender stereotypes of the era and I felt this added an air of authenticity to their activities.
The remote Scottish location and violent weather reflect the turmoil and isolation of the characters. I enjoyed the Scottish dialect indicated by the dialogue and felt this brought the characters to life effectively. I did actually guess the who and how of the murder so was feeling very smug. The crime has a very classical feel to it (think Agatha Christie) with a locked room mystery. I loved the romantic tension between Maud and Lord Urquhart (no spoilers!)
Death in a Scottish Castle is a very enjoyable cosy historical murder mystery.
Book Description:
When Maud McIntyre and her assistant Daisy travel to a remote Scottish castle, the last thing they expect to find is a locked room murder mystery. Can they prise open this case and catch a killer?
Scotland, 1912: When Maud and Daisy travel to Clachan Castle on the Isle of Mull to investigate the theft of a valuable statuette, at first the case seems straightforward. But when their prime suspect, bad-tempered fellow guest Mr Tremain, is found dead in his bed, the detective duo realise the castle is under attack…
At first, it appears the murder is impossible. All the doors and windows to the room were locked from the inside, and there was no way for the killer to escape. But then Maud and Daisy find a secret panel with the stolen statuette hidden behind it, and learn that the mysteries are linked!
When the local sergeant investigating the case is found dead, the crime suddenly seems to have more twists and turns than the castle’s sweeping staircases. And with the estate full of potential suspects, Maud and Daisy must work fast to uncover the murderer. Could it be the castle’s owner, Magnus Carmichael, avenging his stolen statuette? Or pretty Jane Tremain, disgruntled daughter of the deceased?
Facing their most difficult case yet, Maud and Daisy must find the key to solving the mystery. But with so many suspects, which one will finally unlock the truth?
An unputdownable historical whodunnit, perfect for fans of Helena Dixon, Verity Bright, T.E. Kinsey and Catherine Coles.
Author Bio:
Lydia Travers was born in London. She moved progressively north until settling with her husband in a village on the edge of the Scottish Highlands. She has raised children, bred dogs and kept chickens; and for as long as she can remember has written for pleasure. A former legal academic and practitioner with a PhD in criminology, she now runs self-catering holiday accommodation, sings in a local choir and is walked daily by the family dog.
Lydia also writes as Linda Tyler and her first novel under that name, Revenge of the Spanish Princess, won a 2018 Romance Writers of America competition for the beginning of an historical romance. Her second novel The Laird’s Secret was Commended in the 2021 Scottish Association of Writers’ Pitlochry Quaich competition for the beginning of a romantic novel. Mischief in Midlothian won the 2022 Scottish Association of Writers’ Constable Silver Stag trophy. She has had a number of short stories published in magazines, journals and anthologies in the UK, the USA and Australia.
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You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you’ll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo
TRIGGER WARNING: child death, psychological and physical abuse
Holly is caring and supportive when Rachel’s daughter dies in a tragic accident. And when Holly’s daughter goes missing, Rachel goes out of her way to search for the toddler and be there for her friend. But then Rachel goes missing and Holly can’t help but wonder if her best friend stole her child…
Two Mothers is an emotional psychological thriller that deals with some very tough subjects. The death of a child is handled sensitively but is still naturally upsetting.
Holly and Rachel are close friends and had daughters the same age. But now Rachel’s daughter is dead and Holly’s is missing. Rachel’s disappearance sets the rumour mill into action but Holly is desperate to believe the best in her friend despite the evidence to the contrary.
The book is written in the third person throughout from Holly and Rachel’s perspectives in the present and past. I felt immersed in both timelines and didn’t know who to trust. Holly is a journalist so is experienced in investigating which leads her to doubt her friend.
Poor Rachel is treated terribly by her husband and his family but is too scared and proud to tell anyone. Holly doesn’t know who to trust as secrets begin to be revealed. I wanted to know more about Rachel’s plan as this element of the plot seemed underdeveloped. I admit that I felt a little dissatisfied by the ending as I didn’t think characters got the resolution that was anticipated.
Two Mothers is a tense and often dark psychological thriller that deals with upsetting scenarios.
MEDIA PACK
Book: Two Mothers
Author: Kathryn Croft
Pub Day: July 5th 2024
Buy Link(s):
Audible:
About the Book:
Her daughter died. Did she take mine?
A year ago, my best friend Rachel’s daughter died. Ever since then I have held my own beautiful little girl tighter. I watch Luna shriek with laughter as she tips her toys all over the floor and I look anxiously at Rachel, sipping her tea. But Rachel reassures me that being near Luna helps fill the gaping hole of her grief, just a little.
And when I face my own worst nightmare when Luna is snatched from her bed in the middle of the night, it is Rachel who holds me tightly as I wail. She looks at the blue and white police tape crisscrossing my little girl’s bedroom and promises me they will find Luna. What happened to her daughter was different.
And Rachel is right. Two days later I’m holding my precious girl in my arms after she is found in a nearby park. But my joy is short-lived. Rachel’s husband reports her missing. And when the police find Luna’s cuddly lamb in Rachel’s house, I am forced to face the shocking truth. Did my best friend take my daughter?
Or did someone want Rachel out of the way, to frame a vulnerable, grieving woman? When I receive an anonymous note telling me to stop asking questions, I am certain I don’t know everything.
Who is in the most danger – my best friend, my child, or me? And if I make one wrong move, what will I lose?
A gripping and jaw-dropping page-turner with twists to die for. If you love Lisa Jewell, K.L. Slater and Claire Douglas you’ll love Two Mothers.
Author Bio
Kathryn is the bestselling author of ten psychological thrillers and to date she has sold over one million copies of her books. Her third book, The Girl With No Past spent over four weeks at number one in the Amazon UK chart, and she has also appeared on the Wall Street Journal’s bestsellers list.
Kathryn writes full time and is now hard at work on her next book.
After twelve years living in London, she now lives in Guildford, Surrey, the place she grew up, with her husband, two children and two crazy cats.
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Henry VIII’s Imprisoned Women is a non fiction book about 6 women who were imprisoned in the Tower of London during the reign of Henry VIII.
I love the Tudor peiod so was eager to read this book. The majority of the information was not new to me but I was thrilled to discover the tale of Alice Tankerville and the reference to the Vaux Passional, neither of which I had heard of before.
The book begins with a history of the Tower of London and the main events and prominent people of Henry VIII’s early life and reign. The book then looks at the specific Tower experiences of Alice Tankerville, Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth Barton, Katheryn Howard, Margaret Pole and Anne Askew. Incredible women with powerful stories.
The research that has gone into the book is obvious. However, the writing itself was a bit clunky at times with either non sequiturs or repeated phrases within the sentence. The use of language was odd on occasion, sometimes being chatty and other times being high brow. Some words made no sense (women do not sire children!) I also felt that there were some omissions, for example the discussion of Elizabeth of York’s life jumped several years and left out her marriage and coronation.
Henry VIII’s Imprisoned Women is an enjoyable book but history buffs may be frustrated at the style and missing detail.
Book blurb
The year is 1534. Henry VIII sits on the throne of England. He has set aside his first wife, Queen Katharine of Aragon, and has married a second time. The marriage to Anne Boleyn brings a new wave of Reformation in England dividing the people and even leading to arrests and executions, even that of some noteworthy people.
The stories of women, including Henry’s two queens, who were persecuted, condemned and ultimately executed will be explored in this book. Alice Tankerville, the first woman to escape the infamous Tower of London, albeit for a short while; Elizabeth Barton, The Nun of Kent and the only woman to be dealt the dishonour of having her head spiked on London Bridge; Queen Anne Boleyn, whose fall was as tragically spectacular as her rise to fame; Margaret Pole, the last living Plantagenet princess who was denounced as a traitor and met a merciless end in her twilight years; Queen Katheryn Howard, whose daring yet seemingly foolish decisions ultimately led to her downfall; and finally, Anne Askew, the brave Protestant who gained infamy as the only woman to be racked at the Tower.
Through the lives of these women, we will get a glimpse into the reign of the capricious monarch who changed the face of England forever. Apart from this, the book will also delve into the history of the Tower of London, provide a brief glimpse into the life of Tudor women and also into the lives of some noteworthy people of that era.
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Recently retired and widowed, Sarah Vane moves to the seaside to be near her close friend Daphne. The pair decide to use Daphne’s new beach hut for storage but find it packed full of boxes already. One contains a body…
Murder at an English Pub is the first book in a new series of amateur sleuth series set in Kent, England.
Poor Sarah is heartbroken after the death of her beloved husband. Now she is proceeding with their retirement plans alone. Luckily she has the wonderful Daphne to lift her spirits but the two women are set on another path when they start to investigate the murder discovered in their beach hut. The body is the local pub landlord and the beach hut has been through many owners recently: lots of potential suspects and motives!
I really liked Sarah and Daphne’s characters. Sarah is very down to earth and pragmatic while Daphne is spiritual and vivacious. Their personalities balance each other out nicely. Of course one other character shines… Hamish the dog!
The mystery is sustained well and I was kept guessing. There are a host of suspects acting suspiciously and Sarah has to unpick their alibis to get to the truth. Secrets unfold but which relate to the crime? I liked the way that Sarah investigates and isn’t afraid to get stuck in, although I can also see that the murder gives her a distraction from her grief.
Murder at an English Pub is a good start to the series and I look forward to reading more about Sarah’s retirement.
Media Pack
Author: Alice Castle
Book: Murder at an English Pub
Publication Day: July 3rd 2024
Buy link(s) https://geni.us/B0CW1FJHF7social
Audible:
Description:
When retired doctor Sarah Vane moves to Merstairs, she has no idea that the quaint seaside town isn’t quite as friendly it seems, and something sinister is bubbling under the picturesque surface…
Recently widowed and looking for a fresh start away from city life, Sarah Vane moves into a lovely little cottage by the sea. The rustic charm is everything she hoped it would be, but her new home doesn’t quite have enough space for her things. Her old friend Daphne offers to store Sarah’s boxes in her messy beach hut, but while clearing it out, they are shocked to find a heavy trunk… containing a dead body.
They immediately recognise the poor man as pub landlord Gus Trubshaw. Sarah concludes that he was suffocated, but who could have wanted jolly Gus dead? Unimpressed by the police’s lack of interest, Sarah realises she will have to solve the case herself.
Soon, Sarah discovers that not everyone loved Gus as much as she’d thought. Could the killer be scoutmaster Bill, who was recently banned from the pub? Or perhaps it was antique store owner, Charles, who owned the beach hut before Daphne? Or was it brewery director Mr. Grimes, who was livid with Gus for squeezing him on the purchase price of his delicious ale?
Just when the clues are starting to fall into place, the prime suspect is found strangled on the beach. And when Sarah discovers a deadly secret that links the two murders, she’s certain that a dangerous killer is roaming the streets of Merstairs. With the town in a panic, time is ticking for Sarah. Will she solve the mystery before it’s last orders for another victim?
Set off for the breezy English seaside and join Sarah on her adventures in quirky Merstairs, where nothing is quite as it seems! Fans of Agatha Christie, Betty Rowlands and Katie Gaylewill be instantly hooked by this deliciously gripping cozy mystery.
Author Bio:
Before turning to crime, Alice Castle was a UK newspaper journalist for The Daily Express, The Times and The Daily Telegraph. Her latest cozy mystery, set in fictional seaside town Merstairs, stars retired GP Sarah Vane. It will be published in July by Bookouture, who also publish Alice’s nine-book Beth Haldane Mysteries series set in south east London. Alice also writes psychological thrillers for HQDigital as A.M. Castle.
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