Category: books

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: Nocturne – K.G. Bolingbroke

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Nocturne is the type of gothic tale we live for at R&R Book Tours! This is the book for you if you love:

  • Arranged marriage
  • First person POV
  • Gothic vibes
  • Moral ambiguity
  • Political intrigue
  • Ottoman Empire
  • Vlad the Impaler

Nocturne

Release Date: March 25, 2025

Genre: Gothic Historical Fiction

After a series of humiliating betrothal rejections from princes throughout Europe, the eldest daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor gets engaged to the mysterious Prince of Romania. Wary of a betrothal to this enigmatic prince, she has no choice but to follow her father’s orders.

In a new land that borders the Ottoman Empire where hostilities and conflicts could escalate any moment, her new role is to help her husband secure political alliances. At the same time, she discovers that the prince she married is the son of the infamous Vlad the Impaler, whose atrocious actions are nightmarish. This shocking revelation is followed by a host of unfathomable and seemingly supernatural incidents, leaving her isolated and afraid in a foreign land.

Dreading to discover if her husband inherited the cruelty of his father, but unable to flee unescorted due to the looming threat of seen and unseen enemies, she must find out the truth behind the strange events in order to convince the Emperor to allow her return home. In her pursuit to return to the safety of Austria, she learns that there is more to her husband, his deceased father, and this land brimming with superstition and folklore.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

Trigger Warnings:

  • Violence 
  • Sexual assault 
  • Stillbirth
  • Adult innuendo

My thoughts: This was a really interesting take on Dracula, incorporating historical information about Romania in the 1500s, the way Europe was ruled (Hapsburgs, Holy Roman Empire), the war against the Ottomans, and the real Vlad Dracul, aka Vlad the Impaler.

A fictional additional daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor is sent to marry the Prince of Romania, son of the mysterious, and supposedly dead, Vlad. The country is at war with the Ottoman Empire and keen to have the might of the church behind it, the marriage is a political union, and as far as her new husband is concerned, that’s all it needs to be.

With few friends, and a limited understanding of her new home, our heroine, Shoshana, is understandably wary, of her husband, of his court, and of the stories about his father’s brutality.

I enjoyed the mix of real history and fantasy, this is the first in a new series, and considering the prologue, going to be quite a different take on the Dracula story Bram Stoker wrote, which will be interesting.

IG: @kgbolingbroke.author @rrbooktours

TIKTOK: @k.g.bolingbroke @shannon_of_rrbooktours

Tags:

#rrbooktours #rrbtNocturneTour #nocturne #historicalfiction #gothicfiction #ottamanempire #vladtheimpaler #supernaturalbooks #historicalfictionbooks #dracula #vampirebooks #booktours

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.

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Cover Reveal: Foxes & Poisons – Adina Chiles

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We’re thrilled to present the cover for Foxes & Poisons! This is the first book in a brand-new series by Adina Chiles! Pre-order today!

Foxes & Poisons (The Queen’s Favor #1)

Expected Release Date: November 13, 2025

Genre: Romantic Fantasy

🦊 Predominantly Black Cast
🌿 Seamstress Turned Spy
🪻 Rival Kingdoms & Political Intrigue
🦊 Cozy Vibes Meets High-Stakes Adventure
🌿 Asthmatic Rep
🪻 Banter, Swoon, and Slow-Burn Tension

To escape an arranged marriage, asthmatic seamstress Ariah Tyddle strikes a deal with the Queen of Haymel. In exchange for her freedom, she joins the Foxes— skilled individuals trained in espionage—and struggles to keep up in her new life.

Proving her worth, Ariah is assigned to get close to a rival prince. As she gains his trust and secrets, she unexpectedly, gains his heart. But love for a Fox is forbidden, and when Ariah’s feelings for the prince become requited, she toys with a dangerous fate.

Meanwhile, Prince Iann, the youngest son of the Queen’s sworn enemy, arrives in Haymel with a secret. Iann is on a mission to end a feud and secure access to Farella Isle, where a mythical flower, said to grant immortality, lies hidden. But his growing feelings for Ariah threaten to derail everything.

In a world where secrets bloom like poison and love is the deadliest risk, Ariah and Iann must choose between each other or everything else.

PRE-ORDER ON AMAZON

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Blog Tour: Madame Elridge’s Peculiar Home for Unruly Boys – Benjamin Ryan

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Madame Eldridge’s Wayward Home for Unruly Boys was the 5th place finalist in BBNYA 2024!

About BBNYA

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists (16 in 2024) and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads. 

Deep in the heart of Virginia’s dense backwoods, the Wayward Home for Unruly Boys hides more than just troubled youth. Under Madame Eldridge’s watchful eye, three strict rules govern their behavior

1. What happens here stays here.

2. You must complete all eight steps—no exceptions allowed.

3. Forget your name; you’ll be known only by your problem.

But, there’s one unspoken rule that sends shivers down the boys’ never enter the forbidden third-floor bedroom of the boy who vanished, leaving nothing behind but whispers.

When Vandalize and Stealer defy this warning, they uncover a treasure trove of bewitched artifacts, each with a strange and powerful ability. Using these relics, the boys tackle Madame Eldridge’s whimsical—and often bizarre—challenges, only to learn magic always demands its price.

Amidst the chaos, Fibbsy stumbles upon a peculiar object that sends him hurtling back in time, revealing an unfathomable truth about Madame Eldridge, the eerie town, and the missing boy’s fate. But who will trust the words of a liar?

Bound by the house’s darkest mysteries, Fibbsy, Defiance, Slob, and Secret form an unlikely friendship as they race to unveil the shrouded secrets surrounding the Wayward Home. Together, they confront their deepest fears, uncovering that the real magic lies in facing their own personal demons—and each other.

Amazon Canada USA UK 

Goodreads The Story Graph

Once upon a time, there was a military brat named Benjamin Ryan, who traveled the world and embraced every unique experience he encountered. Being the new kid in town wasn’t always easy, and as he struggled with weight issues, he also had to deal with the hardships of teasing, male friendship, and acceptance. But, he was determined to find his place in the world and used his love for writing to create adventures that would transport him to a different world, where he could see things from a new perspective.

Through his writing, Benjamin Ryan discovered his authentic self and found a way to inspire others. Armed with degrees in Art History, Education and World Religions, he became a New York City public Special Ed teacher, where he uses whimsy, creativity, and acceptance to inspire the youth of tomorrow. And thus, Benjamin Ryan was born—an author that embraces the power of storytelling to inspire and create change. With a deep understanding of the struggles that come with being different, Benjamin Ryan creates content that speaks to the heart and soul of their audience. He is active on twitter in the writing community (@BRClothwrites), hosting writing prompts, engaging with life’s unique perspectives, and inspiring others to create their truths.

My thoughts: This was a really interesting and fun book about being different, finding your strengths and making friends. A group of boys is sent to a residential home to make them “better”, all of them are what their parents and teachers consider bad. But in Madame Eldridge’s Home they learn that they can use those bad behaviours, and do something else instead. Set a series of challenges and required to work together, a number of the boys form a bond and discover the house’s secrets.

They’re bright, resilient and in working together, learn their strengths, rely on one another and become true friends, it seems that Madame Elridge isn’t who she claims to be and the boys are more special than anyone has ever told them.

I really enjoyed this book and I think there’s plenty of readers out there who would too. We’ve all been made fun of, got into trouble for things I’m sure, so learning that actually you’re good for something is a pretty important lesson.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.

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Blogathon: One By One – Chris Carter

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‘I need your help, Detective. Fire or water?’

Detective Robert Hunter of the LAPD’s Homicide Special Section receives an anonymous call asking him to go to a specific web address – a private broadcast. Hunter logs on and a show devised for his eyes only immediately begins. But the caller doesn’t want Detective Hunter to just watch, he wants him to participate, and refusal is simply not an option.

Forced to make a sickening choice, Hunter must sit and watch as an unidentified victim is tortured and murdered live over the Internet. The LAPD, together with the FBI, use everything at their disposal to electronically trace the transmission down, but this killer is no amateur, and he has covered his tracks from start to finish.

And before Hunter and his partner Garcia are even able to get their investigation going, Hunter receives a new phone call. A new website address. A new victim. But this time the killer has upgraded his game into a live murder reality show, where anyone can cast the deciding vote.

My thoughts: Another gripping and stomach churning case for detectives Hunter and Garcia, this time with a killer who is manipulating them with technology. Turning death onto a reality show, where the audience votes on the method of execution.

Of course that audience probably believes they’re watching something staged, not real deaths. But Hunter and Garcia know differently and they are racing to shut this horror show down.

Hunter’s insomnia, always an issue, means he can’t let go of the things he’s seen and now countless others are watching murder happen in front of their eyes, whether they believe it’s real or not. The killer is exploiting new technology and people’s inability to look away.

Bringing in the FBI and their own advanced tech in order to try to track and locate the killer, and the site of his home made nightmare, is deemed necessary, even as it causes resentment. Hunter doesn’t really enjoy collaboration or being told what to do. But even he can see that the LAPD doesn’t have the resources to do this on their own. But it’s still his case, and he will find the killer. 

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.

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Book Blitz: Storms of his Wrath – Zoey Ellis

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Storms of His Wrath is now available which means the Myth of Omega trilogy is now complete for your reading pleasure!

Storms of His Wrath by Zoey Ellis (Myth of Omega: Wrath Book 3)

Release Date: June 10, 2025

Dark Fantasy Romance

  • Enemies to Lovers
  • Kidnapping/Captivity
  • Fated Mates
  • Forced Proximity
  • Jealous/Possessive and Obsessive Anti-Hero
  • Touch Her and Die
  • Only I Can Hurt Her
  • Hurt/Comfort
  • Hero With a Tragic Past
  • Chosen One
  • Warring Kingdoms

Bound to the storm of his obsession.

Torn from Akoro’s palace, Naya awakens in a hidden world that shatters everything she thought she knew about her brutal Alpha King.

Their bond hanging by a thread, Akoro will stop at nothing to bring her back. Not ancient secrets, not the Omegas who shelter her, not even Naya’s own devastating rejection—will keep him from what belongs to him.

As a deadly magical storm barrels toward his kingdom, their passion burns hotter than ever.

Each time he claims her, Naya faces an impossible choice: surrender to the Alpha who ruins her with obsession, or walk away forever to protect the empire that depends on her.

Time is running out. The storm is coming. And Naya must decide—will she surrender to the Alpha who refuses to let her go, or claim the crown she was born to wear?

GET IT HERE

Trigger Warnings

  • Dub-con
  • Violence
  • Depiction of torture and immediate wounds
  • Death (not main characters)
  • Graphic threats
  • Kidnapping and captivity
  • Explicit language
  • Depictions of PTSD Symptoms

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Blog Tour: Paoletta –  J.R. Powell

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Exiled to a Caribbean island, Paoletta Cadoville and her family cling to the
hope of one day returning to their Parisian home. But in a single, devastating moment, that dream is shattered. Alone and horrifically scarred, Paoletta embarks on a perilous quest to uncover the truth behind
her family’s tragic fate, only to become entangled in a web of political intrigue, secret societies, and dangerous alliances.

In a Paris overshadowed by the guillotine, Paoletta must decide how much of her humanity she’s willing to sacrifice in pursuit of vengeance. Will she achieve justice for her family or lose herself to the darkness that threatens to consume her?

Paoletta – An Eye for an Eye is a gripping historical thriller set during the French Revolution and a stark reminder that in times of upheaval, innocence is the first to fall, and revenge demands a price paid in blood.

Goodreads Purchase

J.R. Powell is a British-born writer and professional translator based in Switzerland. A lifelong history enthusiast with a particular interest in the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, he began writing Paoletta – An Eye for an Eye while living in Paris. He’d long wanted to create a thriller with the pace and punch of modern crime fiction, but set in a period too often left in the margins of the genre.
The book began as a few lockdown notes and quickly took on a life of its own. When he’s not writing or translating, Powell is a drummer in the United Nations jazz band and an avid traveller.
Paoletta is his debut novel.

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My thoughts: I know a bit about the French Revolution, I studied history at school and we had a whole year on Napoleon so we did some of the revolution too, to understand his rise and I’ve since read a fair few books on the period. It’s a fascinating, dark time and as a British person, knowing we “have no stomach for revolution” as a nation (we tried it, didn’t like it, put a king back on the throne) it’s always interesting to see how that change in the way a country is governed happens.

Paoletta’s family experienced the Revolution and have been exiled to the French Caribbean, living in relative poverty instead of the wealth they once enjoyed as well connected Parisians.

When a terrible event kills most of her family and leaves her horrifically scarred and with only one eye, Paoletta is distraught but also furious. Determined to get answers that her uncle refuses to give her, she stows away on a ship bound for France. Making her way to family friend, the Irish Doctor Spice in Paris, she determines to find out who killed her family.

The Revolution grips the capital, Madame Guillotine has never been busier, the infant Republic’s enemies must be destroyed. The king has recently been executed, Marie Antoinette languishes in prison and the citizens are paranoid and afraid.

Worming her way into the Mariannes, a gang of rabid revolutionary women close to the centre of power, a group of actresses, whose leader is hiding plenty of her own secrets, while also assisting Dr Spice in his own illicit missions for a mysterious group based in Switzerland, Paoletta puts her own safety on the line.

But will she ever get the answers she’s looking for? Undercover as Neopolitan Gabriella, she’s neither French enough for some, or as committed as others. But when approached by a rival group of Royalists who claim to know who killed her family, she doesn’t hesitate. Caught between these different lives and identities, can she find the truth?

Clever, intense, gripping and filled with historical details, this is a really enjoyable thriller set during a tremendously turbulent time.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.

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Blog Tour: The Catch – Michael Leese

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Meet the Met’s Detective Martha Munro, in the most pulse-pounding page-turner you’ll read this summer.

First comes the win. Then comes the catch . . .

For years, Martha Munro dreamed of taking down her mother’s killer. The charming, and rotten-to-the-core, DCI Tony Green.
Martha exposed his corruption. The crimes he tried so hard to bury.
Now he’s back with a chilling new obsession: burying Martha.
A string of threatening letters lands on the doorstep of Martha’s cozy Victorian terrace.
Scrawled in red ink, the message is always the same: Die, bitch. Die.

It’s game on between Martha and her old adversary — and Tony’s playing dirtier than ever.
Before long, Martha realizes that someone is leaking secrets to Tony. Secrets that only those closest to Martha could possibly know.
Can she hunt Tony down? Before he catches her first…

Goodreads
Purchase

Before taking up writing, Michael Leese was a national newspaper journalist for over 25 years, with the last part of his career working for the London Evening Standard. The most memorable stories he covered ranged from Tiananmen Square, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the death of
Princess Diana, the 9/11 attacks and the two Gulf wars.
In the latter part of his career, Mike was a news editor. In this role he gained insights into many specialties from crime and court reporting, to political and science news and the behind-the-scenes working of government, the City and other institutions. Mike’s passion for news and
current affairs remains very strong and influences the writing of his books.

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My thoughts: This was very good, Martha and her pals are having to work outside of the law, her nemesis, former detective Tony Green has way too many eyes on the inside, she doesn’t trust this new task force to be clean of his malign influence, especially as someone is feeding him information.

The two MI5 agents on the task force don’t trust her, they think she might even be working with Green, a ridiculous prospect for Martha, he killed her mother. Thankfully Harry, Julie and the rest of their team are hot on his trail, but he’s still coming for Martha and she might have to do some things that are pretty dangerous to keep her daughter, Betty, safe.

Gripping and shocking, I was completely hooked from page one and cannot wait for the next one.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.

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Cover Reveal: Love, Lies and Family Ties – Florence Keeling

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A heartwarming, feel good romantic comedy. ‘I absolutely adored this book. It gave me all the feels! A charming read full of warmth and heart.’ ***** Kim the Bookworm

Bea Winters is in desperate need of a fresh start. Being bullied at work is not her idea of fun and she longs to follow her dream of becoming a published author. When an advert appears in her local paper to work in a publishing house in the sleepy village of Bloomsdale, it sounds too good to be true.

She strikes up an instant friendship with gorgeous aspiring author, Eddie Richards and her dashing millionaire boss Scott Summers. But all isn’t as it seems in the sleepy village of Bloomsdale.

How does the local clairvoyant know her name? Who does the little black dog that keeps appearing belong to and why does she keep bumping into the mysterious Charlie?

As she starts to unravel the truth, it seems that everyone in Bea’s life is keeping secrets.

An uplifting romantic comedy that will warm your heart – perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Milly Johnson and Carole Matthews.

Purchase

Author Bio – 

I was born in Coventry but now live in Nuneaton. I married the love of my life over 20 years ago and we have two almost grown up children. We share our lives with two mad dogs as well.

Writing is a great passion of mine, that one day I hope to be able to turn into a career but until that day comes, I will continue working in accounts and payroll.

Social Media Links – @KeelingFlorence

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Blog Tour: Dead as Gold – Bonnie Burke-Patel

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Adam Conlan has made a new life for himself in Morrow-on-Sea. After a wild youth, the goldsmith had settled down, determined to be around for his young son.

But now Ophelia Richards appears at his studio door, asking if he will buy her gold. The writer entices and unsettles him; he sees she is adrift in the same cold pain and loneliness as he is. At the same time, faces begin appearing at the studio window, an unwelcome gift arrives in the post, gold goes missing.

Then comes death, then comes Detective Inspector William Kent.

Woven through with Morrow’s fairy tales, Dead as Gold is a modern gothic crime novel veined with love, violence, family, and desire. Humans still use fairy tales to explore their deepest truths. So who is a wolf, and who is a sparrow?

Born and raised in South Gloucestershire, Bonnie Burke-Patel studied History at Oxford. After working for half a decade in politics and policy, she changed careers and became a preschool teacher, before beginning to write full time. She lives with her husband, son, and dog in south east London.

My thoughts: The use and retelling of fairy tales and folklore is actually my academic catnip (and the focus of my current PhD research) but I won’t bore you with theory, this is a really good book.

Interwoven with the story of goldsmith Adam and writer Ophelia, both very interesting names to choose, and the crimes that bring DI Kent into their lives, is a fairy tale featuring gold, chosen family, fathers and a child with a silver tongue and a heart of gold, deep in the forest.

Adam’s small shop is robbed and Ophelia is the first on the scene, there’s blood but no body, that comes later, pulled from the sea. Adam is alarmed, more about the safety of his son in the flat above the shop than the actual robbery. His slow-burn relationship with Ophelia feels almost secondary to the other ones he has – with his agent, his brother, his son, his son’s mother.

The police interview all of the adults around him, unravelling some other concerns that Adam isn’t entirely aware of, circling him, is this an insurance job?

The writing is lush and the small coastal town of Morrow feels ripe with its own stories, both dark and light. Ophelia visited as a child and it has drawn her back, despite the events of her last visit. Her Own familial relationships are strained, she’s not close to her parents and her first meeting with Adam was to sell him gold jewellery they gave her, devoid of the sentiment they imagine she will feel for it (being previously owned by her mother and grandmother).

A fascinating, dark and enjoyable book about stories, family and the ripples small events cause in our lives.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.

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Blog Tour: Deadly Reckoning – Liz Mistry

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A DEADLY DISCOVERY

Enjoying a rare day off, DS Jazzy Solanki’s peaceful spring walk is interrupted when a body is discovered along her path. Instinct tells her it’s not a coincidence.

A HIDDEN THREAT

Could Jazzy’s estranged, vengeful stepsister – consumed by grief over their brother’s death – be sending her a deadly message?

A RACE AGAINST TIME

Then a child goes missing. The crimes appear unrelated, but Jazzy’s gut insists there’s a sinister connection, one that points straight at her. With time running out, Jazzy and her team must uncover
the truth before the killer finds them.

Purchase


Liz Mistry moved to West Yorkshire in the late 1980s. Her gritty crime fiction police procedural novels set in Bradford embrace the city she describes as ‘Warm, Rich and Fearless’ whilst exploring the darkness that lurks beneath. Yet, her heart remains in Scotland, where childhood tales of bogey men, Bible John and grey lady ghosts fed her imagination.
Her latest work, The Solanki and McQueen crime series is set around West Lothian, where she uses the distinctive landscape, historic heritage and Scottish culture as a backdrop to her gritty yet often humorous stories.
Struggling with clinical depression and anxiety for many years, Liz often includes mental health themes in her writing. She credits her MA in Creative Writing from Leeds Trinity University with helping her find a way of using her writing to navigate her ongoing mental health struggles. The
synergy been creative and academic writing led Liz to complete a doctorate in creative writing researching the importance of representation of marginalised groups within the genre she loves.
Her husband, three children and huge extended British Indian family are a constant support to her. In her spare time, Liz loves visiting the varied Scottish and Yorkshire landscape, travelling, listening to music, reading and blogging about all things crime fiction on her website blog, The Crime Warp.
Liz is represented by Lorella Belli literary agency. For rights enquiries contact
lorella@lorellabelliagency.com
You can contact the agency at: info@lorellabelliagency.com

You can connect with Liz here:

Website X (Twitter): LizMistryAuthor
Facebook Instagram: @liz.mistry

My thoughts: The Jazz Queens are back, with Jazzy finally getting to investigate the whereabouts of her estranged and increasingly strange half-sister, serial killer Mhairi, whose twin, Simon, has required Jazzy to organise his funeral in a twisted request from death.

Will Simon’s funeral draw out the vengeful Mhairi, or will it all come to a head as she increasingly loses what little grip on reality she has left? She hates Jazzy for what happened when they were children, the neglect and abuse they suffered, even though none of it was Jazzy’s fault.

As events unfold, a body is found stuffed in a bottle kiln, another in a Loch, all connected to old cases Jazzy worked on, they know Mhairi and her collection of disguises is around, but when her boss (and biological father)’s daughter is kidnapped, it’s up to the Jazz Queens to find her before Mhairi can do anything else.

If Jazzy can finally bring this reign of terror to an end, her friends will be safe, her lovely parents and especially the vulnerable and increasingly struggling teenagers who have appointed themselves her watchdogs, will also be free. The Jazz Queens will be able to focus on solving crimes not connected to one of their own and maybe DI Dick will leave them alone too. It’s a race against time, a fight against someone consumed by hate and rage and only Jazzy’s brain and Queenie’s incredible memory can solve this. 

Absolutely cracking stuff from one of my favourite crime writers with some of my favourite crime fighters.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.