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Ros makes a new friend on holiday and the pair go out for the night. Alcohol is flowing and in the morning, Ros can’t remember what happened, if she cheated on her husband or revealed the secret that has been haunting her. But a holiday friendship is temporay so she relaxes knowing she won’t see Lotte again. Until Lotte moves in around the corner and her daughter is in the same class at Ros’…

The Mother at Number 5 is a psychological thriller about two women whose lives become interconnected.

Ros and Lotte make friends with each other while on vacation. But a night out dancing and drinking leaves Ros hungover and scared. She can’t remember what she said or did that night but hopes she kept her devastating secret to herself. Then Lotte turns up back in Ros’ hometown, firmly planting herself ino her life and hinting that she knows something.

The book is written from the third person perspective of Ros and the first person narrative of Lotte. There are hints about what Lotte’s motive could be and this maintained the mystery until the reveal occurred.

Ros had the added pressure of her older daughter’s behaviour which is becoming more disturbing and even violent. I didn’t trust Lotte right from the start but she isn’t the only one hiding devastating secrets. The clues are hinted at throughout the first half of the book, building tension and anticipation. The ending was a little abrupt and there are sudden reveals in the epilogue (I was starting to wonder if I’d missed something) so I wish there had been further plot and character detail to conclude the story fully.

The Mother at Number 5 is an entertaining and intriguing psychological thriller.

1925, Cressida Fawcett is visiting Ayrton Castle in Scotland to offer interior design advice. Her trip is interrupted by the murder of the previous owner in a locked room. Cressida begins to investigate while she waits for DCI Andrews to arrive but is she putting herself in danger?

Death in the Highlands is the third book to feature Cressida and DCI Andrews. I have previously reviewed the second book in the series, Death by a Cornish Cove. There are mentions of the earlier cases but no spoilers about the culprits.

Cressida is on hand for the discovery of a body, stabbed to death while in a locked room. How did the killer escape and could it really be someone on the estate? Luckily Andrews is on holiday in Scotland but it still takes him a while to arrive so Cressida gets started on the investigation on her own.

There is a whole host of suspects as Hamish had a lot of enemies among his employees, family and wider social circle. Cressida searches for motive and finds plenty but which were worth killing for? Andrews doesn’t arrive until halfway through the book so Cressida has already made significant progress in the hunt for the killer all by herself.

There are lots of clues and red herrings to keep the reader guessing. Cressida’s dog Ruby adds a touch of humour and the overall tone of the book is quite light despite the murderous content. I felt that the historical and geographical setting provided an interesting backdrop to the plot and characters.

Death in the Highlands is an enjoyable historical cosy murder mystery.

Book Description:

There’s a dangerous killer lurking by this loch… and only canny Cressida can track them down.

Scotland, June 1925.Socialite Cressida Fawcett has been invited to cast her interior design eye over the Stirling family’s new seat, Ayrton Castle, up in the Scottish Highlands. Thrilled to be spending the summer at the historic estate, Cressida fills her suitcase with this season’s hunting jackets – and some tartan for her little pug Ruby, of course!

But before the party is ready to tramp through the glens, shocking news puts paid to their plans. Hamish Glenkirk, former owner of Ayrton, has been found dead inside a turret room of the castle. The door was bolted from the inside, and the room is three storeys up, surrounded by impenetrable stone walls… How did the murderer get in? And out?

With Detective Andrews of Scotland Yard at least a day’s journey away, Cressida knows she needs to get to the bottom of this case – and fast. There’s no end of suspects among the hunting party. Could it be the local doctor whose wife left him for a fling with the now-dead laird? Or is the gamekeeper hiding secrets under his kilt?

Just as Cressida is closing in on the truth, a blood-curdling scream echoes through the mist. Another member of the party, and one of the suspects, has been shot. With a wee dram in hand, can Cressida find the killer before the bagpipes play for another victim?

An unputdownable and gripping cozy mystery which fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Lee Strauss will love.

Author Bio:

Buy Link:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0BWYKCZWGsocial

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Jane Darcy has always been delicate and sickly, especially in contrast to her vivacious twin Anne. Now she is heartbroken and angry at her twin’s betrayal. Can she finally step out of her twin’s shadow and find happiness?

Jane is the 4th book in the Cousins of Pemberley series which follows the next generation from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. I have previously reviewed the earlier three books in the series: Catherine, Cassandra, and Miriam.

Jane was sickly at birth and has been delicate ever since. The whole family have been protective of her but now she wants freedom and passion. Her love affair is in tatters after the gentleman proposed to her sister instead of her and now she escapes to her godfather’s house to get some distance and perspective.

This series is a must for all Jane Austen fans. I loved being immersed into the heart of the Bennett family again. Jane is the archetypal delicate female yet she has an inner core of strength that not even she is aware of. As well as broken heart and a domineering twin, Jane has to contend with a rather sly distant cousin and the potential of a new love interest.

Once again I was swept back in time to the 1800s and the social and gender roles felt accurately depicted. The writing is reminiscent of Jane Austen’s but there is more direct insight into the emotions of the characters.

Jane is an enjoyable historical romance novel that Austen fans will enjoy.

Jane’s Book Links

Goodreads- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123579816-jane

Amazon – https://geni.us/QAMG

Book Blurb

Many years have passed since the dramatic events of Pride and Prejudice. In The Cousins of Pemberley series we follow a new generation of heroines – cousins with lives as different and interesting as those enjoyed by their mothers.

Jane:

The Darcys have always worried about their daughter Jane.

Gentle and delicate, she has been cosseted and protected from the world.

But all the Darcy wealth and power cannot save Jane from heartbreak and betrayal.

Can she find a courage no one believes she has?

Can she break free from the golden cage that imprisons her?

Author Bio

Fiction has always been my go-to world, a place of entertainment, excitement and imagination – I am told that I wrote my first story when I was four about a lady who had twenty children!   Sadly it has been lost for posterity.

I have been writing all my life in the time I could spare from having a “proper job”, mostly for children under the name of Linda Blake, stories of ballet dancers, pony riding and talking animals!  Not all in the same book!

But my love of romance, a great tendency to say “What if..?” and the endearing characters of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice have now resulted in a series of books that will take the reader forward to the next generation of heroines.

I am retired, live in Kent and am a keen member of my local drama group.  Directing and acting take up a lot of my time – I have been given the onerous task of writing the Christmas pantomimes – but I still need to cope with a large garden, doing daily battle with the heron who thinks my pond is his own breakfast buffet and keeping in touch with friends and family scattered all over the world.

Linda’s Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/linda.obyrne.7

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wonda36/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/linobyrne

Detective Amanda Steele’s niece Ava calls her to help locate a friend’s sister. But Reese’s body is found murdered and mutilated on prom night. Can Amanda catch the killer before he strikes again?

Taken Girls is the 8th book to feature Amanda Steele. There are mentions of old cases but no spoilers. The plot threads about Amanda’s personal life have developed over the series.

Reese has run away several times before but always come home. She is due to be prom queen and has never ignored calls from her younger sister Nadine. So Nadine is sure that something bad has happened and asks Ava to get her aunt Amanda involved. Amanda doesn’t usually investigate missing person cases but due to the young age she agrees to take on the case. But she returns to her usual homicide role when Reese’s body is discovered.

The book is written mostly from Amanda and the police investigation perspective. However there are some chapters which show the viewpoint of the killer. I did feel some sympathy for the trauma in this person’s past but the hideous and grisly treatment of the victims is unpleasant and inexcusable.

The writing is fast paced as the chapters are short. There are plenty of twists and turns in the plot as the investigation progresses. We see another personal dimension to Amanda in this book through her family dynamic with her sister and niece.

Taken Girls is a chilling and tense detective thriller.

MEDIA PACK

Book: TAKEN GIRLS 

Author: Carolyn Arnold 

Pub Day: JUNE 20TH 2023

Buy Link(s):

https://geni.us/B0BV2SL7K1social

About the Book: 

Music from the busy dancefloor echoes into the deserted room where the Prom Queen lies deadly still. A tiara rests on her soft blonde curls, but her face is frozen with fear, and her painted red lips are forever sealed shut in a silenced scream…

When Detective Amanda Steele’s niece, Ava, begs her to look for a missing schoolfriend, she immediately agrees to take on the case. Eighteen-year-old Reese left home three nights ago after fighting with her mother and hasn’t been seen since. But when the teenager’s body is discovered brutally murdered, poised dramatically at the prom venue, Amanda is devastated she didn’t save the girl in time.

Haunted by the scene, Amanda dives headfirst into the case. Chasing every lead, she is horrified when she discovers a potential key witness strangled in her own home. It soon becomes clear that the killer will stop at nothing to silence anyone who might reveal their identity. So when Ava mentions she saw someone acting strangely at the prom venue that night, Amanda’s heart stops.

And when Amanda’s worst nightmare comes true, and her beloved niece is taken, she knows that every second counts to uncover this twisted killer’s identity and bring Ava home safely. But can she crack the secrets of this killer’s deadly game before it’s too late?

A completely pulse-pounding and unputdownable crime thriller, perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine.

Author Bio

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has many published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from police procedurals, hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.

Social Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolynArnold/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Carolyn_Arnold

Website: https://carolynarnold.net/

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TRIGGER WARNING: Nazi ideology and brutality

1960s England, Leah receives a letter from Magda who she hadn’t contacted in over 2 decades. 1930s Berlins, two girls grow up and grow apart under Nazi rule…

The Children of Berlin is a historical novel about a friendship that is split apart by Nazi ideology.

Magda and Leah grew up together in the same apartment building but the friends are driven apart as Hitler takes power in Germany. In her letter, Magda admits her naiveity and mistakes as she fully embraced the racial and political doctrine of the Nazis. I found the detail about the gradually increasing prejudice and racism deeply disturbing.

The book is written from Leah’s first person reflections in tandem with a letter from Magda about the same events. It was fascinating to witness the opposing perspectives and the realisation of hindsight that both characters have. Leah and Magda are both complex and authentic, very human with flaws and vulnerabilities.

I found myself utterly immersed in the dual narrative and enjoyed the historical detail as well as the emotional depth. The initial casual racism builds insidiously and it was devastating to see how the Jews were treated by their friends and neighbours as well as the national policies.

The Children of Berlin is a vivid and engaging historical novel about the deepening horrors of the Holocaust.

Book Description:

‘I will never forgive you! You had a choice. You could have listened to your mother, your brother, your father, but you chose to listen to those monsters. And that choice remains with you. Forever.’

Berlin, 1933. Leah and Magda have been inseparable for as long as they can remember, and one beautiful summer’s day in their courtyard, they vow nothing will ever come between their friendship. But Leah could never have predicted the darkness looming just around the corner…

As Hitler comes to power and the Nazi Party gain even more influence, Magda proudly tells Leah she has decided to join the Hitler Youth. Leah’s blood runs cold before she begs Magda to change her mind – because Leah is Jewish. Magda refuses, and heartbroken Leah knows this will not only destroy their friendship, but put her life in mortal danger. Suddenly, the only light in her life is Magda’s brother Markus, who is furious at his sister and vows to do everything he can to keep Leah safe.

As Magda becomes more entrenched in the Nazi Party, Leah’s life starts to shatter as the Gestapo raid her home, sending her beloved brother Aaron to a concentration camp. Devastated, Leah and her parents are forced to flee and hide. Desperate to save Leah, Markus decides the only way he can help stop the Nazis and his sister is to infiltrate the party as an undercover resistance fighter. But will Magda see through his lie, and how far will she go to prove her loyalty to her Führer?

A powerful and heartbreaking novel about love, family, betrayal and sacrifice perfect for fans of The Alice Network, The White Rose Network, The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The Nightingale.

Author Bio:

https://www.sharonmaas.com/

https://www.instagram.com/sharonmaaswriter/

https://twitter.com/sharon_maas

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