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.
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Book: Two Mothers
Author: Kathryn Croft
Pub Day: July 5th 2024
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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
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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.
1924, Lady Eleanor Swift attends the Empire Exhibition in London. During an accidental hot air balloon flight she spots a murder and bravely plunges to the ground. But there is no sign of any wrongdoing and her beloved butler and fiance both doubt her…
Murder in Mayfair is the 18th book in the Lady Eleanor Swift series of cosy historical murder mysteries.
Ellie has plenty of action at the start of the book! The hot air balloon she is visiting breaks free of its moorings and an impromtu flight ensues. From the basket she spies one man shooting another and she creates a harness and launches herself towards the ground. The only evidence she can find is a broken piece of jewellery and she has to stop investigating to avoid an international incident. Then she meets with a desperate friend whose necklace has been stolen and Ellie agrees to go undercover as a governess to find the thief.
The warm and drole relationship between Ellie and Clifford is particularly wonderful in this book. Even when he doubts her, she knows she can rely on him in any situation. Her fiance Hugh is in a difficult situation as he tries to manage the exhibition and avoid any international scandal. Yet he wants to support his fiancee, even when there is no evidence of any wrongdoing!
I loved the historical aspect to the book and the accurate details that the author has used to bring the setting to life (I wish I could have seen the statue of the Prince of Wales made of butter!) Ellie sbverts the class and gender norms through her modern outlook in a refreshing way with Clifford looking on in dismay.
Murder in Mayfair is a wonderful addition to this enjoyable series.
Book Description:
Tea and cake at The Ritz, a stolen pearl necklace and a missing dead body… Lady Swift is back on the case!
Lady Eleanor Swift has been eagerly awaiting her trip in a hot air balloon to take in London’s amazing sights. But what she witnesses instead is a murder! From way up high she sees a man in a dark coat shoot another man dead, but by the time she arrives back on the ground, Eleanor can find no trace of the body. Just the broken piece of a pearl necklace clasp, trodden into the dirt.
Back at The Ritz hotel, over afternoon tea, Eleanor’s old friend Lady Philomena Chadwick confides in her about a scandalous theft. Lady Chadwick is certain someone on her staff has stolen her priceless pink pearl necklace. Eleanor is immediately suspicious when the description matches the jewellery she spotted at the crime scene.
Much to her butler Clifford’s amusement, Eleanor goes undercover as a governess in the Chadwick’s sparkling Mayfair mansion. As she sets about questioning the disgruntled staff, she uncovers a treasure trove of gossip. But how do a secret love affair, a flirty footman with a fondness for spying, and a housemaid hiding a nightly visitor connect to the murder?
And when Eleanor’s beau, Detective Hugh Seldon, is brought in to investigate a string of further robberies in Park Lane, Eleanor is certain that Chadwick House is hiding the unlikeliest gang of jewel thieves below stairs…
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but will this necklace get Eleanor killed before she uncovers the hidden gem she needs to crack the case?
Murder in Mayfair is a totally gripping and twisty Golden Age whodunnit set in London, perfect for fans of T.E. Kinsey, Agatha Christie and Catherine Coles!
Author Bio:
Verity Bright is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing partnership that has spanned a quarter of a century. Starting out writing high-end travel articles and books, they published everything from self-improvement to humour, before embarking on their first historical mystery. They are the authors of the fabulous Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series, set in the 1920s.
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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 murder
Maggie Riley is haunted by the disappearance of her little brother 5 years ago. Now another little boy has vanished and her emotions are in turmoil as she relives the past whilst trying to investigate…
One Little Sigh is the fourth book in the Detective Maggie Riley series.
A four year old boy disappears from his home and his mother is frantic whilst his father is disinterested. Maggie fears the worst and is proved right when a little body is found in the lake (we know this from the prologue). She wants to find the killer to offset her guilt that she couldn’t save her own brother 5 years earlier.
The majority of the book is written from Maggie’s first person perspective so we see her emotions and the progress of her investigation. Other chapters are from 5 years in the past as we witness her frustration at being unable to solve her brother’s case. There are also chapters in the present day from Maggie’s fiance Steve as he is struggling to keep a massive secret.
Any book that involves child death is bound to be heart wrenching and upsetting. This is balanced by Maggie’s fierce determination to catch the killer and fight the shadow that has blighted her life and destroyed her family. Her strength brings reassurance that there are good people in this cruel world.
One Little Sigh is an emotionally charged and engaging detective thriller.
MEDIA PACK
Book: ONE LITTLE SIGH
Author: Shannon Hollinger
Pub Day: JUNE 28TH 2024
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About the Book:
The small child floats so gently in the water, he could be peacefully but the cold blue of his skin reveals his fate. One mother’s little boy is never coming home again.
When Chief Maggie Riley sees the body of the small boy still dressed in pyjamas in Beaverhead Lake, her heart breaks. Little Patrick Warner went missing last night. Despite immediately calling the entire town of Coyote Cove into action, Maggie’s desperate search failed. Even worse, it’s clear it was Patrick took his last breath long before he entered the water.
Maggie is devastated—Patrick reminds her so much of her beautiful younger brother, gone for so long. Visiting the tiny, rumpled bed where Patrick’s teddy bear still lies, and where Patrick was last seen by his mother Jenny, Maggie’s grief turns to rage. She is determined to bring whoever hurt Patrick to justice.
In this isolated community, someone must know something. But no one will talk. And if his family had nothing to do with it, why are they so secretive? As Maggie’s investigation gathers pace, her emotions threaten to overwhelm her. She still doesn’t know her brother’s fate—she won’t let that happen for little Patrick.
But when Jenny suddenly disappears, suspicions whirl around her role in Patrick’s death. Could she have been lying all this time? Or is Jenny herself in terrible danger too? To uncover the truth before more innocent lives are lost, and lay her demons to rest, Maggie will have to risk not only those closest to her but her own life too…
An utterly addictive crime thriller perfect for fans of Lisa Regan, Mary Stone and Melinda Leigh.
About the author
With degrees in Crime Scene Technology & Physical Anthropology, Florida author Shannon Hollinger hasn’t just seen the dark side of humanity – she’s been elbow deep inside of it! She finds writing to be a much cleaner way to spend her time than the autopsy suite. Most days it smells better, too.
Her debut novel, the psychological thriller Best Friends Forever, is the first of a five-book deal with publisher Bookouture.
Her short fiction has appeared in Suspense Magazine, Mystery Weekly, and The Saturday Evening Post, among a number of other magazines and anthologies, and her story Lady Killer was a finalist for the 2021 Al Blanchard Award sponsored by the New England Crime Bake.
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