Hallie has grown up in foster care after the death of her mother. Now an adult, she tracks down her father via a DNA testing website. Robert is thrilled to meet her and immediately invites her to stay in his luxurious home with his family and work in their restaurant. But Hallie is keeping secrets, and she’s not the only one…
The Wrong Family is a psychological thriller set in America.
Hallie has had a tough past and is used to living on her wits. But with no family, no boyfriend, no job and no home, she has hit rock bottom. Her biological father offers her a fabulous opportunity to join his family and business but it is too good to be true. Hallie hasn’t been honest about the successful life she portrays but a number of sinister events prove to her that the Thompsons have their own dangerous secrets.
I liked the spark in Hallie. She is brave and goes for what she wants, yet also has a softer and vulnerable side. There is A LOT of build up in this book as clues and events pile on top of each other to create an uncomfortable atmosphere. It is interesting that Hallie isn’t to be trusted but she could also be in danger at the same time. I did want the pace to speed up a little although I thought the tension was created and maintained effectively.
One additional element that I enjoyed were the letters and emails from other Robert Thompsons that are interspersed through the main narrative. This was an interesting extra and added some light relief.
The Wrong Family is an intriguing and tense psychological thriller.
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Title: The Wrong Family
Author: Ellery Kane
Pub date: August 30th 2023
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He tells you he’s your father. He welcomes you into his family. And now you’re trapped…
I’ve never met my father. It was always just me and Mom, so when she died, I was completely alone. But today, years since I first mailed my DNA to Family Ties, I finally have a match. They’ve found my biological father.
When I meet Robert, he’s warm, dependable, sturdy. I’m desperate for him to like me. I want to be part of his perfect, high-flying family more than anything.
Except, I’m not so sure they are perfect. Every day, strange things go wrong in the Thompsons’ grand Lake Tahoe house. A family photo is found burning. Robert’s car is tampered with. My mother’s necklace goes missing.
Though that’s nothing compared to the horror of finding the huge family portrait violently slashed in its ornate gold frame… But someone is trying to blame me for everything—all eyes are on me. I can’t run now.
And then I receive an email from Family Ties that makes my blood run cold.
Robert Thompson is not my father.
Now I’m trapped in a house full of strangers, with no idea who I can trust. And I’m terrified my life is in grave danger…
An absolutely unputdownable psychological thriller packed with twists that will leave you reeling. Perfect for fans of The Family Upstairs, The Happy Family and Shari Lapena.
Author Bio:
Forensic psychologist by day, novelist by night, Ellery Kane has been writing–professionally and creatively–for as long as she can remember. Just like many of her main characters, Ellery loves to ask why, which is the reason she became a psychologist in the first place. Real life really is stranger than fiction, and Ellery’s writing is often inspired by her day job. Evaluating violent criminals and treating trauma victims, she has gained a unique perspective on the past and its indelible influence on the individual. And she’s heard her fair share of real life thrillers.
Ellery lives in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, a picturesque setting that provides the backdrop for many of her novels. If you don’t find Ellery interviewing murderers behind prison walls or pecking away at her latest novel, she is probably at the gym landing a solid jab-cross to a punching bag; riding bicycles with her special someone; or enjoying a movie the old-fashioned way–at the theater with popcorn and Milk Duds.
Ellery was previously selected as one of ten semifinalists in the MasterClass James Patterson Co-Author Competition, and she recently signed a three book deal with Bookouture for her new Rockwell and Decker mystery thriller series. The first book is scheduled for release in 2020.
If you’d like to receive a notification when new books are released, please sign up for Ellery’s newsletter at ellerykane.com. Ellery also signs e-books on authorgraph.com.
TRIGGER WARNING: Nazi brutality, domestic abuse
Mia heads to the Poland-Germany border to visit her dying grandmother Ilse. Ilse cries out for Szymon and Mia finds a series of postcards between Szymon and Tadeusz at Ilse’s home. Can she find Szymon and bring her grandmother solace in her final days?
The Postcard is a dual timeline historical novel set in 1999 and during the 1930s and 40s.
Mia’s parents died years ago. Now she has escaped a violent relationship but her heart endures more heartache as her beloved grandmother lies dying in hospital. Ilse wants forgiveness for the past but also reassurance that Mia will be looked after in the future. Secrets from the past need to be exposed and atoned for but time is running out.
The book is written from multiple perspectives, both in the first and third person, in the 1930s/40s and 1999. I felt a little separated from the emotion of the book, possibly due to the varying viewpoints. The pace is quite slow at the beginning as we get to know Ilse in the past and present. The plot speeds up as the wartime secrets begin to be revealed to us and to Mia.
I thought that the angle of the book showing the Polish experience of the Nazi regime was quick fresh. The brutality is described almost objectively as the characters have become immune to the suffering in order to survive mentally and physically.
The Postcard is an interesting and well researched historical novel.
The Postcard: A completely gripping and heartbreaking World War 2 historical novel
Holding the faded postcard in her trembling hands, Mia begins to read the one story her grandmother could never tell her, revealing a secret that will change her own life forever…
When her beloved grandmother, Ilse, is taken into hospital, Mia drops everything to travel to Germany and care for the woman who raised her. But when her grandmother briefly wakes up and asks for a man called Szymon, Mia is confused. Who is he? And why does her grandmother need to see him so desperately?
Later that night, Mia returns to her grandmother’s apartment to search for clues. She soon discovers a small parcel hidden inside one of Ilse’s suitcases. When she removes the wrapping, she finds a stack of faded postcards neatly bound together, signed with a name that makes her heart stop in her chest: Szymon.
Desperate to find Szymon before it is too late, Mia unearths a story her grandmother never told her. A childhood friendship and heartbreaking young love on the eve of the Second World War, and of a plan to rescue a young man imprisoned by the Nazis. Mia can’t quite believe her grandmother was so brave, and risked so much to save this man’s life… But did she succeed?
As the final pieces of the past come together, Mia realizes that she is about to find out what really happened to her grandmother during the war. But she doesn’t expect to uncover a secret that will change everything…
Based on a true story, this page-turning and emotional wartime novel follows one woman’s brave decision to save the man she loves from the Nazis. An unputdownable and moving story about courage in the face of unimaginable odds, perfect for readers of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Nightingale and The Alice Network.
Author bio
Carly Schabowski worked as a journalist in both North Cyprus and Australia before returning to Oxford, where she studied for an MA and then a PhD in creative writing at Oxford Brookes University. Carly now teaches at Oxford Brookes University as an associate lecturer in Creative Writing for first and second-year English literature students.
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Instagram: @carlyschabowskiauthor
Daisy Harrap looks on longingly at her perfect neighbours, the Kelleways. Winnie and Bernie are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary but what secrets are the family hiding from the wider world…?
All Good Things is a domestic and family drama about two neighbouring families set in the UK
Poor Daisy has an upsetting homelife. Her mother has depression and her father is trying his best to make ends meet. Her neighbours project an image of being the perfect family. Daisy is desperately in love with their grandson Cass despite rarely speaking to him. She envies Cass’ parents for being so dynamic compared to her own.
But the Kelleway family is keeping secrets from each other and the whole world. I did guess some twists but not all! One really blew my socks off as I wasn’t expecting it at all! Lawrence flashes the cash but his finances are not great. Dom and Cass appear to be paragons of virtue but both are hiding their true behaviour. Cleo has always felt second best but now she is set to become a mother herself and wants to escape from her mum’s shadow.
Each chapter shows one character’s perspective in the third person. I really felt that I got to know the characters and was interested in their lives and lies. Relationships are in turmoil and I was eager to know how events would play out as truths are gradually revealed. I wanted more from the ending as I felt that I cared about the characters and wanted more information about how their lives were going to play out.
The emotion in this book is really strong. There are also some big topics that the book covers sensitively (no spoilers from me!) My heart went out to Daisy and her teenage angst, hormones and sad situation with her mum.
All Good Things is an engaging and emotional book about the danger of secrets.
All Good Things
In this captivating story from the bestselling author of Picking up the Pieces, Daisy has always envied the perfect family next door. But will a weekend of unexpected drama prove that the grass isn’t always greener?
Daisy Harrop has always felt like she exists in the background, and since her mother stopped getting out of bed, her life has come to a complete standstill. Daisy would give anything to leave the shabbiest house on the street and be more like the golden Kelleways next door, with their perfectly raked driveway and flourishing rose garden…
Winnie Kelleway is proud of the beautiful family she’s built. They’ve had their ups and downs—hasn’t everyone? But this weekend, celebrating her golden wedding anniversary is truly proof of their happiness, a joyful gathering for all the neighbours to see.
But as the festivities get underway, are the cracks in the ‘perfect’ Kelleway life beginning to show? As one bombshell revelation leads to another and events start to spiral out of control, Daisy and Winnie are about to discover that things aren’t always what they seem.
Amanda Prowse would like to give a prize to the best review – any length, any star rating of a Fire Tablet. Will ship it anywhere worldwide.
The prize for the best review is a:
Fire HD 10 tablet | 10.1″, 1080p Full HD, 32 GB, Black – Without Ads.
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Fast and responsive: powerful octa-core processor and 3 GB RAM. 50% more RAM than previous generation.
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Up to 12-hour battery life and 32 GB of internal storage. Add up to 1 TB with microSD (to be purchased separately).
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Brighter display: vivid 10.1″ 1080p full HD display is 10% brighter than previous generation, with more than 2 million pixels.
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Enjoy your favourite apps like BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Now, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and more through Amazon’s Appstore (Google Play not supported, subscription fees may apply).
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Stay connected: download apps such as Zoom or ask Alexa to make video calls to friends and family.
Please ensure your review is posted by midnight on Sunday 17th September in order to be eligible. Please tag Amanda Prowse on social media with a link to your review, wherever it is posted. The winner will be selected and notified by Close of Play on Friday 22nd September.
Author Bio –
Amanda Prowse is an International Bestselling author whose twenty-eight novels, two non-fiction titles and seven novellas have been published in dozens of languages around the world. Published by Lake Union, Amanda is the most prolific writer of bestselling contemporary fiction in the UK today; her titles also consistently score the highest online review approval ratings across several genres. Her books, including the chart-topping No.1 titles ‘What Have I Done?’, ‘Perfect Daughter’, ‘My Husband’s Wife’, ‘The Girl in the Corner’ and ‘The Things I Know’ have sold millions of copies across the globe.
A popular TV and radio personality, Amanda has appeared on numerous shows where her views on family and social issues strike a chord with viewers. She also makes countless guest appearances on BBC national and independent Radio stations including LBC, Times Radio and Talk FM, where she is well known for her insightful observations and her infectious humour. Described by the Daily Mail as ‘The queen of family drama’ Amanda’s novel, ‘A Mother’s Story’ won the coveted Sainsbury’s eBook of the year Award and she has had two books selected as World Book Night titles; ‘Perfect Daughter’ in 2016 and ‘The Boy Between’ in 2022.
Amanda is a huge supporter of libraries and having become a proud ambassador for The Reading Agency, works tirelessly to promote reading, especially in disadvantaged areas. Amanda’s ambition is to create stories that keep people from turning the bedside lamp off at night, great characters that ensure you take every step with them and tales that fill your head so you can’t possibly read another book until the memory fades…
Praise for Amanda Prowse:
‘A powerful and emotional work of fiction’ – Piers Morgan
‘Deeply moving and emotional, Amanda Prowse handles her explosive subjects with delicate skill’ – Daily Mail
‘Uplifting and positive, but you will still need a box of tissues’ – Hello!
‘A gut-wrenching and absolutely brilliant read’ – The Irish Sun
‘You’ll fall in love with this…’ – Cosmopolitan
‘Deeply moving and eye opening. Powerful and emotional drama that packs a real punch.’ – Heat
‘Magical’ – Now magazine
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A storm is brewing and Jem Jago, the Scilly Sleuth, is trapped safely in a hotel watching a Bake Off competiton when the judge dies on stage from poison. Will the killer go free once the lockdown ends…?
A Death at Bay View Hotel is the fifth book in the Jem Jago murder mystery series.
The book starts with the death on stage and then goes back in time to show the events leading up to the poisoning. Jem has had some personal issues to deal with and needs some space so agrees to join her friend Pauley at the competiton. But she never imagined being trapped there with a killer!
There is quite a claustrophobic atmosphere as the hotel is locked down with many people who don’t want to be there. Hack has had an allergic reaction so gives Jem his blessing to investigate on his behalf. The victim seems to have made a lot of enemies which means there are plenty of people for Jem (and us!) to suspect.
The tone of the book is lighthearted and there are little snappy comments that made me smile. Although written in the third person, I felt that the personality of the main characters is brought to life by the almost intimate style of writing. I admit that I struggled to connect with Jem in the first book in the series but now I really like her and her escapades.
A Death at Bay View Hotel is an enjoyable and entertaining cosy murder mystery.
A Death at Bay View Hotel: A completely addictive English cozy mystery novel (A Jemima Jago Mystery Book 5)
Join Jemima Jago—librarian, cake lover and fearless super-sleuth—on her next puzzling case, when an entry at a baking competition proves delicious… but deadly!
It’s time for the Bay View Hotel’s annual bake-off and Jem is looking forward to sampling all the cake she can. But when head judge and successful local critic Lemmy Beaglehole drops dead in the middle of tasting a chocolate gateau, Jem can’t resist throwing herself into the investigation.
Jem interviews everyone present and discovers that Lemmy had plenty of enemies at the bake-off and was famous for his venomous reviews. But who could have hated him enough to actuallypoisonhim? Was it the long-suffering hotel manager? The local busybody who hated Lemmy enough to stage a protest over his inclusion as head judge? Or the aspiring baker, whose dreams of running his own pastry shop were dashed by a terrible review?
Finding a crumpled rose-patterned envelope that may have contained the poison, Jem feels certain she’s close to the truth. But when a huge storm blows in over the Isles of Scilly, trapping everyone—bake-off contestants, staff and guests—in the hotel overnight, Jem must work fast to untangle the clues and catch the killer before their next toxic treat ends up on her plate!
A fun and page-turning cozy mystery set in the beautiful Isles of Scilly, from the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Emma Jameson. Fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Betty Rowlands will be utterly hooked!
Author bio:
Emma Jameson writes mysteries that readers call witty, romantic, and full of surprises. An aspiring novelist since age seven, she took a long, twisty route to the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists. After years of working at a major medical center, her first novel, cobbled together on nights and weekends, became a runaway e-book bestseller. Now she writes full-time and has sold over half a million books. A compulsive reader and information hoarder, Emma is always searching for that fascinating nugget or startling fact that will spark another novel. A lifelong Anglophile, she resides in the United States, where she enjoys swimming, yoga, and serving the needs of not one, not two, not three, but four cats.
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1915, London. Hannah Merrill opens the bookshop on the first day after sacking her manager. She discovers her friend Lily-Anne dead on the premises with a knife through her heart. Later she makes a discovery that there could be a traitor in their midst…
Murder in the Bookshop is a cosy murder mystery set during WW1.
Hannah is in charge of her suffragette aunt’s bookshop and is peeved to find the manager had been taking advantage of her aunt’s absence. She sacks him and is determined to make a success of the business. But the very next day she walks in to find her friend dead in a chair in the shop. The she finds a coded message among the possessions of the former manager. Could the two incidents be linked?
I really liked Hannah’s character but LOVED her aunt Violet who defies convention at every turn. Both women are trying to find a role in Edwardian society during the war and are constrained by social norms. The author has researched the era well and I thought the historical element underpinned the plot effectively.
The style of writing is easy to read and there is a light hearted tone to soften the murder and war content. There is a personal element to the book as Hannah wants to move on from her grief at her fiance’s death and her desire to find her friend’s killer. We are offered a few red herrings along the way to keep us guessing until the final reveal.
Murder in the Bookshop is an enjoyable murder mystery and I look forward to reading future books in this series.
Murder in the Bookshop
Someone’s been read their last rites…
1915, London: Working in the dusty bookshop that her Aunt Violet mysteriously inherited, Hannah Merrill is accustomed to finding twists in every tale. But discovering her beloved best friend Lily-Anne – with a paperknife through her heart – in the middle of the bookshop, is not a plotline she saw coming.
The case is anything but textbook. With the discovery of a coded German message, and Hannah’s instinct that Lily-Anne’s husband is keeping secrets, she determines to get to the bottom of it.
She can’t do it alone though. To crack this case, Hannah will need the enlist the help of her outrageous, opinionated, only-occasionally-objectionable Aunt Violet.
They think they’re making progress until one of their chief suspects is found dead. And Hannah realises that she is herself now in the murderer’s sights. Will the final chapter be the ending of a killer… or just a killer ending?
A totally addictive, WW1-set cozy mystery, perfect for fans of Verity Bright, T.E. Kinsey, and Agatha Christie
Author Bio –
Anita Davison is the author of the successful Flora Maguire historical mystery series. Previously published by Aria, she is writing a new cosy mystery series for Boldwood, the first title of which, Murder in the Bookshop, will be published in August 2023.
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