Inside a Los Angeles church, on the altar steps, lies the blood-soaked body of a priest. Later, the forensic team discover that, on the victim’s chest, the figure 3 has been scrawled in blood.
At first, Detective Robert Hunter believes that this is a ritualistic killing. But as more bodies surface, he is forced to reassess. All the victims died in the way they feared the most. Their worst nightmares have literally come true. But how could the killer have known? And what links these apparently random victims?
Hunter finds himself on the trail of an elusive and sadistic killer, someone who apparently has the power to read his victims’ minds. Someone who can sense what scares his victims the most. Someone who will stop at nothing to achieve his twisted aim.
My thoughts: It’s another twisted case for detectives Hunter and Garcia, starting with a dead priest in a church, his head replaced with that of a dog. The killings are nasty and replete with meaning known only to the killer, but Hunter must get inside this murderer’s head to understand the motivation and stop him before more people are killed.
Each victim is made to confront their deepest, darkest fears as they die, and the deaths are gruesome and sadistic. Whoever the killer is, he knows a lot about his victims. The duo dig into the lives of the deceased to hunt for their killer, a warped and cruel mind.
Another chilling case for Hunter and Garcia, utilising Hunter’s remarkable ability to think like a killer and Garcia’s straight down the line policing. They balance each other well, Garcia providing a grounding presence as Hunter turns inwards and mentally becomes the monster they seek.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
Welcome to the tour for The Marigold Trail by Stefani Tanner. Read on for more details!
The Marigold Trail
Publication Date: February 13, 2025
Genre: Time Travel Romance/ Romance
Best friend’s brother
Childhood best friends to lovers
High Stakes
Agent MCs
Romantic Comedy
Secret Pining
Friends to Rivals to Lovers
13 Going on 30 meets Miss Congeniality in this time travel romantic comedy about an FBI agent trying to navigate her way through betrayal, love, and time.
Atta Suarez’s life consists of crossword puzzles and sampling appetizers while obliterating her friend group every couple of weeks in a battle of board game wits. That’s on top of being knee-deep in criminal cases at the Denver Bureau trying her best to keep up with Agent Ben Brown, her best friend’s brother.
Ben’s been around since elementary school, but for the last five years they’ve been working the same hours, living in the same apartment complex, and sharing the same FBI agent lifestyle. Their close connection is undeniable. Atta only wishes they could take it one step further. Because with Ben, it’s always been a romantic connection that she’s craved.
But when Atta finds herself under perplexing circumstances and becomes threatened by her own FBI department after stumbling upon a gruesome crime, Atta is separated from Ben by time. She finds herself in 1987 where helpful clues litter the mountains and streets of Colorado.
Navigating 1987 brings answers for the future and—by some miraculous twist of fate—an unexpected chance at love. With an opportunity to pursue her ‘perfect match’ and potentially take down the FBI threat from the past, Atta might be able to get everything she wants. But time is in her way and every decision has its consequences. And then there’s also the question of whether or not the rules of this alternate 1987 universe will even allow it.
Her perfect home. Her perfect man. How wrong can she be?
After a bitter divorce, criminal solicitor Laila moves to idyllic Violet Lane, where she quickly falls for Max—her charming, piano-playing neighbour. They begin a wildly passionate affair, and Laila feels she is really starting to live again.
But the tranquility of this close-knit community is shattered when Jackie, a young mother from across the street, goes missing. Her husband is the chief suspect and Laila agrees to act as his lawyer.
As she investigates Jackie’s disappearance, Laila discovers that this quiet street hides deadly secrets, and someone is watching her every move. Anonymous threats pull her ever deeper into a twisted web of deception. Meanwhile, her intense relationship with Max is starting to feel like a runaway train. And Laila begins to wonder if her gorgeous new man may have a hidden dark side.
She desperately needs to uncover the truth. And when she does, Laila realises that she’s put herself in terrible danger, and that she may lose everything – including her life.
Miranda Rijks is a writer of fast-paced, twisty psychological thrillers many of which have been Amazon bestsellers. She has an eclectic background ranging from law to running a garden centre. After surviving bone cancer, Miranda turned to writing and is now living the dream, writing suspense novels full time. She lives in West Sussex, England with her Dutch husband and two black Labradors and spends as much time as she can in the Swiss Alps. This is her twenty-third psychological thriller with Inkubator Books.
My thoughts: Laila moves into her new home after a bruising divorce, starting a new job at the same time. Her neighbours seem friendly and close knit, she hopes to get to know them a bit better. Then Max from next door starts his seduction plan, at first it’s mostly physical and she sees this as a release.
Then one of her neighbours is murdered, and the husband is the police’s number one suspect, Laila agrees to represent him, but he warns her off Max and it gets a bit awkward.
As Laila and Max get closer, she starts to wonder why he doesn’t share anything about his life before moving here eighteen months ago. As she looks into her new man, she starts to worry, is he dangerous?
There are lots of twists and turns in this, Laila never really knows who she can trust, everyone has their own agenda and underneath that friendly veneer, not so friendly neighbours lurk. For a smart woman, she doesn’t lead with her head, but her heart, and that’s a risky way to go.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
One witness who can’t be trusted. Seven actors who’ll never stray from the script. And a costumed killer, waiting in the wings . . .
Behind the front door of Mr and Mrs Morgan’s elegant Norwich townhouse, something is terribly wrong. Detective Sara Hirst pushes it open to find a scene of utter devastation. Furniture upended. Shattered china and torn papers strewn across the floor. And, amid it all, James Morgan himself. A frail old dementia sufferer, crying out for his wife. Where’s Carole?
Amateur actress Carole Morgan was out late last night, running lines with her castmates at the Rosegarden Theatre. James waited up for her for hours. But now he knows, she’s never coming home. A stranger came calling in the night to tell James as much. A masked stranger, draped in a monk’s habit.
Now, James urges Sara to hunt for the person behind the mask, certain that the trail will lead straight to his missing wife. Sara takes his ramblings with a pinch of salt. It’s just his distressed mind playing tricks on him. But when a body is found, hidden beneath the boards of the Rosegarden stage, she’s forced to think again. Now Sara’s in a race against time to track the ruthless killer. With a cloaked figure watching her every move from the shadows . . .
Yorkshire born, Judi has lived, worked and made theatre in Norfolk for the last forty years. She completed her MA in Creative Writing (Crime Fiction) at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in 2019, and her debut novel was shortlisted for the Little, Brown UEA writers prize. That novel became Under Violent Skies, which was long-listed for the CWA John Creasey New Blood Dagger in 2021. Judi was a working actor with a portfolio career spanning twenty years of theatre, film and television; directing; workshops; audio narration and medical roleplay. These days she writes full time from her study in a North Norfolk village. She also enjoys crafting, art history, watching horror films and going on cruises, none of which she has much spare time for!
My thoughts: This was a very dark and sinister case, a tale of revenge and madness as people connected to an amateur theatre are murdered by someone dressed like the theatre’s supposed ghost of a monk.
The police are struggling to locate their suspect, and then a young social worker who has been helping a homeless military veteran, is kidnapped. I actually think she’s the hero of this book, kind, believes in doing the right thing and wants to help her clients like Vince to have a better life.
The police are following every lead and are pretty sure it has to be someone linked to the theatre in some way, they just don’t know how. Unfortunately the killer isn’t done and two detectives are at risk. Sara Hirst, one of the team, finally corners the killer, at great risk.
Both the theatre’s recent past and the much older past of Norwich play a part in what happens and how the police solve this one, which was clever and gripping.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
A glamorous media darling, a surprise heiress, and the magical competition of a lifetime.
At sixteen, Honora “Nora” Holtzfall is the daughter of the most powerful heiress in all of Walstad. Her family controls all the money–and all the magic–in the entire country. But despite being the center of attention, Nora has always felt like an outsider. When her mother is found dead in an alley, the family throne and fortune are suddenly up for grabs, and Nora will be pitted against her cousins in the Veritaz, the ultimate magical competition for power that determines the one family heir.
But there’s a surprise contestant this time: Lotte, the illegitimate daughter of Nora’s aunt. When Lotte’s absent mother retrieves her from the rural convent she’d abandoned her to, Lotte goes from being an orphan to surrounded by family. Unfortunately, most of them want her dead.
And soon, Nora discovers that her mother’s death wasn’t random–it was murder. And the only person she can trust to uncover the truth of what happened is a rakish young reporter who despises everything Nora and her family stand for.
With everyone against her, Lotte’s last hope is hunting for the identity of her father. But the dangerous competition–and her feelings for Theo, one of the Holtzfalls’ sworn protectors–turns her world upside down.
Incredible tests, impossible choices and deadly odds await both girls. But there can only be one winner.
Alwyn Hamilton was born in Toronto and spent her childhood bouncing between Europe and Canada until her parents settled in France. She grew up in a small town there, which might have compelled her to burst randomly into the opening song from Beauty and the Beast were it not for her total tone-deafness.
She instead attempted to read and write her way to new places and developed a weakness for fantasy and cross-dressing heroines. She left France for Cambridge University to study History of Art at King’s College, and then to London where she became indentured to an auction house. She has a bad habit of acquiring more hardcovers than is smart for someone who moves house quite so often.
Alwyn’s New York Times-bestselling debut, the YA fantasy REBEL OF THE SANDS, was published by Viking Children’s Books in the US and Faber Children’s Books in the UK, and in 14 other territories. The trilogy continues in TRAITOR TO THE THRONE and HERO AT THE FALL. Alwyn was named the 2016 Goodreads Choice Award winner for Best Debut Author.
My thoughts: With fairytale elements, this is both a murder mystery and a fantasy in which four cousins must compete to be named their grandmother’s heir, after the mother of one of them, Nora, is killed.
Nora joins forces with a journalist, August, to try to solve the mystery of her mother’s murder – that’s being called a mugging gone wrong, but doesn’t make sense.
Her aunt has produced an illegitimate daughter, Lotte, which complicates the succession trials, and Lotte, who is smarter than some of them realise, wants to find out more about her family and forms an alliance with Nora, discovering that at least one of her relatives isn’t a terrible person.
Meanwhile a resistance to her family’s wealth and power is getting stronger and starting riots in the streets, prompting reprisals from the authorities.
The Holtzfall family founded the town, and with their magic protected people from the creatures of the forest. But generations later, they’re now incredibly wealthy and corrupt. They hold too much power and the growing pressure against them is close to explosive as the inheritance trials the cousins are in demolish parts of the town and add fuel to the fire.
I loved Lotte and Nora, and rightly detested fhe rest of their awful family. Their grandmother is a monster and the rest are spoilt, entitled and selfish. But considering that each generation has been raised to see their siblings (and cousins) as competition, as well as being over-privileged in a place where no one ever questions their family’s dominance (at least not openly), it’s not surprising.
The story was clever, filled with references to the original Grimm versions of the stories we know so well. It’s a chunky book and I was surprised it was the first in a series, as opposed to a standalone at this size. I’m definitely intrigued to see where it goes next, considering the events of the closing pages.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
Welcome to the tour for the third book on the Heroes of the Empire series, The Emperor!
The Emperor (Heroes of the Empire #3)
Publication Date: November 24, 2024
Genre: Young Adult/ Epic Fantasy
Character Driven
Found Family
Slow Burn Romance
Foretold Prophecy
War For The Throne
Unlikely Allies
Unique Magic System
Morally Grey Characters
Chosen One
“Because this is your destiny.”
The crown prince of the Empire, Honzio Hartinza, has become a prisoner within his own palace. Uluzar control has overtaken Hearcross, and with the Tariqin threat remaining too, the battle is far from over. To restore order, Honzio allies with a Savorian warrior and darkness itself in the form of a despised adversary, but it’s belief in himself that will be key to saving his land, people, and crown.
Velamir chooses between his great love and best friend, leaving Jax’s fate in Coralie’s hands until he can track down Natassa’s captors. His desperate search leads him to Devorin. In the icy kingdom, he encounters a group proclaiming him the hero they’ve been searching for and learns the last words of a father he barely knew, whose own past reveals the course of Velamir’s future and knowledge that could end the war and bind the lands forevermore.
Natassa evades her abductors and finds refuge with the Elders. She seeks the order’s aid in battling her shadows, but when she’s forced to wield them to her advantage, she learns of a pact made with them long ago. The shadows want something from her. The Golden Phoenix, the Elders call her, telling her of a prophecy. Natassa must accept her role in it and cross one of two paths: risk everything to destroy evil for good or open the portal to a realm of spirits and burn the world to ashes.
Beneath the tranquil surface of Whidbey Island, a sinister force lurks. When a ruthless polygamist cult leader and his deadly enforcer unleash chaos, Deputy Sheriff Roger Wilkie is drawn into a relentless game of cat and mouse. He knows the truth—but capturing these cunning killers may be his toughest challenge yet.
With the help of the island’s eccentric residents—including a formidable ex-con who’s always in the thick of trouble—and two sharp-witted German Shepherds, Wilkie navigates a world of danger, dark humor, and razor-sharp sarcasm. Fast-paced and gripping, this thriller will keep you hooked until the final, heart-stopping twist.
Part of the Whidbey Island series, but can be read as a standalone
Ted Mulcahey has lived most of his life in the Pacific Northwest. He is an Army Veteran, sales and marketing VP, entrepreneur, business owner, avid reader, one of nine children, and proud husband who attributes his sense of humor to his mother and his wife.
The cabin was rustic and smelled of old wood. A queen bed was shoved against a pine-clad wall, and a small writing desk with a lamp and a chair sat opposite. He presumed a stained, knotty pine door on the far side of the room led to the bathroom. One other item was shoved in the corner on the far side of the bed—a puffy, plaid dog bed.
Francis seemed unsure of his next move, but Henry…not so much. The three-year-old eighty-pound GSD vaulted into the center of the bed, turned three circles, then plopped down and stared expectantly at his human.
Jesus, he thought, what have I gotten myself into? He rested his muscular body on the small chair and looked at his new friend. “What do you think, Henry? What’s going through that brain of yours?”
The shepherd perked his ears even higher and twisted his head, seemingly trying to understand. He held that pose for a few seconds, then lowered his head on his two front paws, his eyes never leaving Francis.
He had heard dogs could be smart, but this one almost scared him with its intelligence. He was out of his league, so he did what he always did when unsure—he took action.
He stood up, and as he did, so did Henry. “Come on, buddy, let’s take a walk.”
The large rust and black mass of fur jumped from the bed, stopped at his feet, and sat, still looking up.
“What? What is it?” Francis sensed the dog wanted something…but what?
After a few seconds of staring at each other, he got it. “The leash, right? The leash?”
Two sharp barks answered his question. Francis shook his head in wonderment at this marvelous animal as he snapped on the leash and headed out the door. “Let’s go, boy, c’mon.”
At dusk in Kanab, the surrounding rocks and mountains gave off an unearthly, deep red glow. Francis and Henry took one of the many trails through the boulders and small crevasses surrounding Dogtown. The temperature was a comfortable seventy degrees, and the wind was nonexistent. The quiet was broken only by the swish of Francis’s boots through the sand and the rapid huffing of Henry.
He found himself talking to his companion, asking him about the case, where Driggs was, and what made Mullins such an evil man. Every time he paused, so did Henry. He was astonished at the animal’s awareness and constant search for threats. He started to understand why GSDs were the workhorses for police, search and rescue, and the military. Still, though, as much as he liked him, he wasn’t inclined to take care of a pet.
They circled back to the cabin just before dark. Opening the door, he saw a brown paper bag on the desk, several grease stains providing clues to its contents. On the floor next to the dog bed was a large bowl of water and another with kibble piled high. Francis had never heard of this place, but it was clear they had their shit together.
He scarfed down the still-warm hamburger and fries while Henry did the same with his dinner. Francis knew enough to take his pal for a short walk after eating to do his business.
They returned to the small TV-less cabin, with only each other for company. Francis thought it was silly for people to talk to their pets like humans, but now he found himself doing precisely that. He was tired from the day’s events and the exhilarating walk and was looking forward to crashing early.
Making sure Henry was in his bed, he showered, brushed his teeth, shaved his head, and returned to the bedroom. Henry’s bed was empty, and he was once again perched in the middle of the bed designated for humans.
“Henry…down, boy.” Francis snapped his fingers as he said this.
The large shepherd dutifully stepped from the bed and went to his designated sleeping place. Francis climbed under the covers, switched off the bedside lamp, and immediately fell asleep in the room’s pitch darkness.
At some point in the middle of the night, he turned over to get up to relieve himself but found Henry nestled next to him. The dog seemed determined to sleep in the same bed, so Francis turned the opposite way to get to the bathroom rather than protest. He wondered what thoughts were going through the dog’s mind and why he seemed to latch on to someone like him.
He stumbled back to bed in the darkness, climbed back in, even pushing the animal over a few feet so he could fit, and soon fell back asleep. He didn’t stir until daylight crept through the curtains the next morning.
Reaching over, he found Henry was no longer lying next to him. He sat up to see his new best friend sitting alertly in his dog bed, apparently awaiting instruction. “Ya know, Henry, you sure are an interesting fellow. How about I get you a little food? Then we can get to finding these Barlow people.”
After Henry finished the last of his kibble, they headed for his truck. Francis opened the rear door of the crew cab and urged his companion to jump up into it, but the dog just sat there staring at him.
“What? You can’t jump?”
When Francis attempted to help the animal up, he pulled away.
“C’mon, Henry, what’s the problem? We gotta get going.”
Frustrated, Francis opened the front passenger side to put his duffle in. Looking like an Olympian, Henry launched himself inside the truck and onto the passenger seat. He sat there alertly, looked down at his partner, and barked sharply as if to say, close the damn door, buddy.
Shaking his head, Francis threw his duffle into the back, closed both doors, and headed for the Best Friends Welcome Center. They arrived to find Terri standing by the entrance.
“Well, Francis, how was your night with Henry?”
They were standing on the step, Francis holding the leash and Henry practically glued to his leg.
“I’ll admit, he’s an amazing animal. He sure has a mind of his own, but we got along well.”
“Would you like to adopt him?”
“I think he’s wonderful, Terri, but I don’t see me having a dog.”
She looked disappointed but accepted his decision. “I understand. If you still want to talk to the Barlows, you can find them in the cafeteria, across the street.”
He thanked her, handed her the leash, and turned to leave. As he did, Henry began a high-pitched keening that nearly buckled his knees. He stopped momentarily but then continued walking to find the two men who might be able to help him find Driggs.
Abe and John Barlow were not brothers, but if looks meant anything, they could have been. They were both slightly built and somewhere in their mid-twenties. They seemed to be gentle souls and appeared to love their jobs working with the animals at Best Friends. Unfortunately, they were of little help in supplying any information that might help locate Joseph Driggs.
The two men had discovered that caring for animals and spending time with others of like minds was far more rewarding than living with the FLDS’s strict and sometimes bizarre rules and practices. According to the Barlows, Driggs may have had altruistic intentions at one time, but their impressions were that he grew increasingly greedy and self-absorbed as the years passed. They felt he would never be far from Shane Mullins, especially if money were involved.
Disappointed but determined, Francis returned to his rented truck across the street. As he opened the door to get in, he heard Terri yell, “Henry…HENRY, come…get back here.”
He turned just in time to witness what a full-grown German Shepherd traveling at thirty miles per hour looks like. In a blur, Henry vaulted into the pickup, hopped over the console, and sat in the passenger seat.
Terri rushed over and said, “I’m sorry, Francis. He pulled the leash from me as soon as he saw you. Let me get him out of there.”
Francis looked up at the dog, sitting silently and alert, his intelligent eyes begging to stay. He melted. He’d never had a dog or even a goldfish, but there was a connection with Henry he’d never felt with anyone before, human or animal. “Never mind, Terri.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“It seems I don’t have much choice here. I think he’s adopted me, not the other way around. What do I need to do to take him with me?”
The paperwork was taken care of on the hood of his truck while Henry supervised and never moved from his shotgun position. Francis had planned to return his ride to the Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport, but now, with his additional passenger, he opted to make the seventeen-hour drive back to Whidbey Island. He figured they’d make Twin Falls by nightfall, then do the ten-hour stretch the following day.
A little over an hour after leaving Kanab, they merged onto I-15 and settled in for the next four hundred miles. Henry had finally curled up on the passenger seat and was snoring quietly. Every time he glanced at his new pal, he felt a little twinge in his gut. He knew his buddy, O’Malley, owned a German Shepherd and was rarely seen without her. He began understanding how attached this breed could become to a single individual or family. He recalled what Terri had told him: “Remember, these dogs are pack animals, and if you and your family are their pack, they will defend and protect you until they die. It’s their sole purpose in life.”
She also told him how important it was to socialize Henry with others, including other canines. As the miles passed, the more he thought about it, the more he realized he was now responsible to and for another creature. It was the same way he felt about his brother…sort of. This was a little different. He wondered what Jake would have to say about his new roomie.
Author Interview
On writing:
How did you do research for your book?
Much of the background for Ferry Tails is the result of my travels in Southern Utah and Arizona. My friendship with a retired Ferry Captain was invaluable in detailing the inner workings of the Washington State Ferry System
Which was the hardest character to write? The easiest?
The most difficult was the leader of the breakaway religious cult. The easiest, of course, was Roger Wilkie.
How did you come up with the ideas for your books?
Because of many hours spent on the ferries to Whidbey Island, I had always entertained the idea of a murder on one of my trips. Ferry Tails was my chance to bring the thought to life.
Where do you get inspiration for your stories?
Mostly the quirky characters I bump into while living on an island.
What makes your books different from other cozy mysteries out there?
The locales and perhaps the sarcastic sense of humor from the principal characters.
What advice would you give budding writers?
Sit down and write. Then when you’re done for the day, think about what you’ve written, but write without thinking first—that’s when the real you happens.
Your book is set in the Puget Sound area. Have you ever been there?
I live there.
If you could put yourself as a character in your book, who would you be?
There’s a good deal of Kevin O’Malley in me, but he’s likely an improved version.
Do you have another profession besides writing?
Nope.
How long have you been writing?
Off and on since my high school newspaper.
Do you ever get writer’s block? What helps you overcome it?
Not block, per se, but sometimes it’s difficult coming up with a satisfactory resolution that is somewhat unique.
What is your next project?
A mystery surrounding a murdered CEO of a pharmaceutical company whose demise is the result of an unknown organism.
What genre do you write and why?
Cozy Mysteries, mostly for an enjoyable humorous journey that takes the reader somewhere else, if only for a little while.
What is the last great book you’ve read?
It’s an old one, but Word of Honor by Nelson DeMille made an indelible impression. Probably because I was a junior officer in the US Army during the same period as the story.
What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
“I really had fun reading it”, is always my favorite.
How are you similar to or different from your lead character?
Similar in life experiences but I have considerably more foibles than Kevin O’Malley.
If your book were made into a movie, who would star in the leading roles?
Paul Rudd and Sandra Bullock.
If your book were made into a movie, what songs would be on the soundtrack?
“Ripple” by the Grateful Dead
What were the biggest rewards and challenges with writing your book?
The reward is in solving the riddles and completing the story.
In one sentence, what was the road to publishing like?
Long.
Which authors inspired you to write?
Justin Scott, DeMille, and Rosenfelt.
On rituals:
Do you snack while writing? Favorite snack?
Not much
Where do you write?
In my basement office.
Do you write every day?
Pretty much. Unless I’m playing golf.
What is your writing schedule?
Every morning about 9 am until I get too stiff to sit in the chair.
Is there a specific ritualistic thing you do during your writing time?
Not really, I try to do a HIIT workout in the early afternoon.
In today’s tech savvy world, most writers use a computer or laptop. Have you ever written parts of your book on paper?
Not since thirty years ago.
Fun stuff:
If you could go back in time, where would you go?
Not sure I want to do that, really.
Favorite travel spot?
Ireland
Favorite dessert?
Pie
If you were stuck on a deserted island, which 3 books would you want with you?
Three that I haven’t read yet.
What’s the funniest thing that ever happened to you? The scariest? The strangest?
Brushed my teeth with glue instead of toothpaste as a kid. (I think that’s the answer for all three questions)
What’s the most courageous thing you’ve ever done?
Exposed my books to criticism.
Any hobbies? or Name a quirky thing you like to do.
Love golf.
If there is one thing you want readers to remember about you, what would it be?
I tried to lighten their day.
What is something you’ve learned about yourself during the pandemic?
Being home alone with my wife is really, really nice.
What TV series are you currently binge watching?
Slow Horses
What song is currently playing on a loop in your head?
Still waters run deep in this baffling new case for the Charity Shop Detective Agency!
Wild swimming in February? No, thank you . . .
To Fiona, Daisy and Partial Sue, the retired ladies behind the counter at Dogs Need Nice Homes charity shop, it sounds like torture. Still, no one ever died of plunging themselves into the icy sea waters. Until now.
When the body of Colin Barclay — retired PE master and wild-swimming fanatic — washes up in a secluded cove, the ladies begin to realize just how dicey this wellbeing trend can be.
Especially when a shifty new customer comes calling at their charity shop. Is this where you solve murders? She asks, her eyes darting wildly round the shelves of bric-a-brac. I think I have one . . .
This woman knows Colin better than most. And she’s convinced his death was no accident. It was murder. But she’ll need the ladies to dive in and help her prove it . . .
After studying to be an architect, Pete realised he wasn’t very good at it. He liked designing buildings he just couldn’t make them stand up, which is a bit of a handicap in an industry that likes to keep things upright. So he switched to advertising, writing ads for everything from cruise lines to zombie video games. After becoming disillusioned with working in ad agencies, he switched to writing thriller novels (or was it because he just wanted to work at home in his pyjamas?). He soon realised there’s no magic formula. You just have to put one word in front of the other (and keep doing that for about a year). It also helps if you can resist the lure of surfing, playing Nintendo Switch with his son, watching America’s Next Top Model with his daughter and drinking beer in a garden chair.
My thoughts: The Charity Shop Detectives are back, and this time with a strange case that’s been ruled death by misadventure, but a friend of the victim insists it must be murder.
So Fiona, Partial Sue (I love Partial Sue) and Daisy start learning about wild swimming, tides, currents and surfing as they look into the death of a member of the local wild swimming group (those rather crazy people who swim in the sea when it’s freezing cold) who supposedly drowned.
Fiona takes up swimming with the group, all of whom seem to be rather nice. She also talks to the owner of the local surf shop, not exactly a successful business, but another fairly benign person. Daisy’s neighbour, a surfer, helps them out with some technical knowledge (and eats a lot of cake).
It’s a really clever case that requires a lot of local knowledge and understanding of human nature. When the trio put together the clues, and the information they’ve gathered to crack the case and find a killer.
Another brilliant outing from the Charity Shop Detectives.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
I first saw her on the platform on my way home from work a few weeks ago. She had an aura about her that made people stop and stare. Then I saw her again. And again. Our twice weekly commute into London Waterloo insync. She was always so poised, so pretty, so perfect. Everything I’m not.
In my head, her name’s Lucia, and she’s a glamorous catwalk model from Milan who commutes from Winchester to attend casting calls in the city. But this morning she’s late, barely making the train as the doors close. She doesn’t take her usual seat, instead staying close to the doors…
Then it hits me – she looks terrified. I feel compelled to help her, and against my better judgement I stand up and move towards her. It’s then the illusion crumbles. Her name’s not Lucia, but Allie. Not a model, but a woman in need of dire help. She tells me she’s in danger, that she’s done something dreadful and I don’t know why I do it, but I promise to keep her safe. But I shouldn’t make promises I know I can’t keep.
Because my life isn’t as picture perfect as I like to pretend, and I can’t stop wondering if maybe I’m not the only one pretending…
M.A. Hunter is the author of psychological and crime thrillers, including The Boat Party, One Wrong Turn, and Every Step You Take. Born in the north-east of England, he now lives in Southampton where many of his stories are set, allowing him to use his insider knowledge to deliver realistic and unsettling suspense on every page. Away from writing, M.A. loves to read anything that will keep him awake at night. He’s also a passionate advocate for contemporary cinema and binge-watching the latest offerings from streaming services. He is married with a son and a daughter, and two dogs. M.A. also writes under the name Stephen Edger.
My thoughts: when I used to commute across London for work, aiming to get the same train every day, I did sometimes recognise some of my fellow passengers (the 8am pigeon for example) but I never spoke to any of them. Unlike Jenna who offers assistance to a woman she recognises when she sees her in distress.
Unfortunately for Jenna, Allie isn’t the innocent victim she pretends to be, she’s a cuckoo in the nest. She uses Jenna’s fears, her struggles to read people (she’s autistic) and her family’s mental health issues (her mother is sadly very unwell) against her. Or is Jenna just paranoid?
This is a twisted psychological thriller, is Jenna the victim or the aggressor? Is Allie who she claims to be or there to destroy Jenna? As Allie seems to be taking over her life, can Jenna fight back or will she lose everything?
The twists are so good, you won’t see them coming. Promise. I gasped at the ending. So good.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
We’re celebrating the release of Even Vampires Bleed with a tour! This is the next book in The Even After series and if you enjoy paranormal/ shifter romance, you are going to want to read it!
Even Vampires Bleed (The Even Ever After Series Book 2)
Expected Publication Date: March 28, 2025
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy
🦇She is a bat-shifter/he is a cockatoo
🦇Forced proximity
🦇One bed
🦇Who did this to you?
🦇Grumpy/sunshine
🦇Amnesia
🦇Female rage
They have deceived the humans, led them to believe they’re archangels, ruling over the world for far too long.
But the bird shifters have nothing angelic or good.
They maim, they torture, they kill.
When they don’t toy with people’s brains…
That’s what happened to my father. That’s what happened to my other half, Léandre.
I found the first, his skull open on an operation table, after he was taken prisoner, and the second still has a chip in his brain, ready to blow up his mind.
My world is one thread away from unraveling.
But I won’t let them win.
My name is Cassiopé. I’m a bat-shifter, a vampire, as humans like to call us, and those birds are going to pay for what they’ve done to the men I love.
ramblingmads 