Category: reviews

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: The Hero Virus – Russell Dumper

ramblingmads


The Hero Virus tells the thrilling story of Chris Taylor, who is hanging on to life by a thread. Recently widowed, his only reason to carry on is his faithful Labrador, but even that doesn’t stop his willingness to gamble with death every day. When his companion suffers a violent demise, Taylor thinks he has nothing left to live for, until he discovers he has chanced upon a precious gift… when he gets very ill.

The sickness gives him powers and, fairly soon, the authorities are swooping on to the ever-increasing list of cases. The Hero Virus might be different to other illnesses, but it’s no less dangerous. The effect it has on the world, though, is wildly different to any other virus that has come before. The unique reaction of the human body to infection means that everyone wants it. And some will do anything to get it.

How do you stop a pandemic when there are people who will kill for the virus? How do you stop people getting infected when they’re willing to die for it? How do you stop the infected when they have abilities nobody has ever seen before?

Amazon UK Amazon US


The Hero Virus is the second novel from Russell Dumper, after releasing Britannia Rises to widespread acclaim last year, winning him three categories in the 2024 Bookstagram Awards, for Debut Author, Thriller and Historical Fiction. He lives in the east of England with his family and still
has many more books in the pipeline. Next, he will be concentrating on The Britannia Series, more of which will be released in the near future.
Instagram handle – russ2000_uk

My thoughts: Chris has had a really terrible time, his wife and unborn baby were killed by a drunk driver, he’s struggling to find meaning in his life and then his beloved dog dies too. Falling ill is the last in a long line of bad things, and then he wakes up. Four days have passed and he’s bizarrely strong. Like super hero strong.

As more and more people become infected with this strange new virus – 50% develop powers, the other 50% tragically die, scientists are trying to solve it. A vaccine, a cure, anything, as it’s getting out of control. Some of the powers people develop are truly rubbish, others are extremely dangerous. And one man discovers he can absorb others’ new gifts. Could he be a cure? Or will he become a megalomaniac intent on world domination? Can Chris stop this from happening and will the scientists ever find a way to halt this virus and save lives? 

I liked Chris, he never loses his humanity, despite being patient zero and developing this new super strength. He just wants to live his life quietly and for as short a time as possible, considering his losses. Instead he’s being poked and prodded in the name of science, and then asked to basically save the world. Can a man be miserable in peace? 

The virus at first seems amazing, but people continue to be people, and are the worst. Trying to get infected in case you’re in the 50% who don’t die, and then your power is that you can make people piss themselves if you touch them? Sounds rubbish. (If you’ve seen the show Extraordinary you might see what I mean, some people’s powers are really crap).

And when they’re rounding up infected people and putting them into comas while the scientists try to unravel the virus? That’s not exactly better. I think I’d rather not bother.

This is an interesting exercise in what happens to people, some get greedy and one goes way, way too far, power corrupts and all that. But Chris remains a bastion of genuine niceness in all of this, yes being super strong is pretty cool, but it doesn’t make him an arrogant monster, and that’s really intriguing.

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

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: Death in an English Village – Fliss Chester

ramblingmads

When the family gardener is murdered near a site of legendary buried treasure, dog-lover and mystery-solver Cressida Fawcett is on the case!

1926, Sussex. The Honourable Cressida Fawcett is delighted to return to her parents’ rambling mansion to introduce them to her pug Ruby’s puppies. But when the pups go running off with Cressida in hot pursuit, they lead her to a bubbling stream – Hell’s Ditch. And the body of Bob the gardener is floating there, his outstretched hand clutching a soggy cheese and pickle sandwich.

Everyone assumes Bob died of natural causes. But when Cressida finds a glittering gold coin grasped in his other fist, she realises this is part of the long-hidden Saxon hoard. Was Bob struck down by the gold’s ancient curse? As Cressida interviews the colourful members of the local historical society, she learns that Bob had been boasting of new-found wealth, much to the annoyance of his wife, and perhaps deadly jealousy of the other members…

Luckily for Cressida, eminent historian Sir James Colston, friend of the family, arrives at the mansion with tantalising information on the whereabouts of the rest of the Saxon gold. He promises to tell all, but the very next day he collapses into his morning porridge…

To Cressida’s horror, Marian – Bob’s widow and her parents’ cook – is accused of poisoning both the porridge and Bob’s sandwich and is carted off to jail. But Cressida is sure the answers are buried in the past. Just how far would a history boffin or a hard-up local go for an ancient pot of gold? And can Cressida dig up the truth before poison worms its way into her family’s kitchen again?

An absolutely addictive, warm and witty whodunnit that will keep you reading late into the night, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Verity Bright.

Amazon

Fliss Chester lives in Surrey with her husband and writes historical cozy crime. When she is not killing people off in her 1940s whodunnits, she helps her husband, who is a wine merchant, run their business. Never far from a decent glass of something, Fliss also loves cooking (and writing up her favourite recipes on her blog), enjoying the beautiful Surrey and West Sussex countryside and having a good natter.

Instagram

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Fliss Chester here

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you’ll love.

My thoughts: Cressida is back, and my favourite detective pug, Ruby, has had six adorable puppies (chugs? Porgies?) who are causing havoc at Cressida’s parents’ country residence. They keep escaping and running wild, and then rounding them up, Cressida and her mother find the gardener, Bob, floating in the stream running through the estate. Sadly, he’s dead, and it’s not natural causes.

Cressida is on the case, and with Dotty and Alfred down for a visit, and keen to help out, she’s soon looking into Bob’s life, and his claims to have come into a tidy sum. His wife, Marian, the cook, doesn’t know anything about this. And then a house guest keels over at breakfast.

There’s a poisoner on the loose, and poor Marian is the chief suspect! But why would she kill her husband and her employer’s guest, historian Sir James? It doesn’t make any sense.

As Cressida and co investigate further, they find the motive might go a long way back to two pairs of lovebirds decades ago and a killer who hasn’t given up on true love.

Another clever whodunnit, with the delightful Cressida, Dotty and Alfred getting to grips with the case, and trying to wrangle some very wriggly puppies at the same time! Delightful.

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

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: Felix Grey & the Descendant – Mario Theodorou

ramblingmads

In this historical mystery, a string of abductions and rising tensions thrusts a young leader into a world of murky politics and dark secrets – written by award-winning BAFTA scriptwriter and film director, Mario Theodorou.


London, 1904.


Edward VII sits on the throne, the economy is faltering, and one of the youngest Prime Ministers in history has been thrust into office on the crest of a populist wave. Battling self-doubt and fierce opposition within the Commons, Felix Grey is plunged into a world of murky politics and hidden secrets when a lord is mysteriously abducted from a gentlemen’s club.


With tensions rising between the government and trade unions amidst a series of fatal factory disasters, Felix must quickly connect the dots between the missing politicians and the growing chaos in the country. A rapidly escalating chain of events is threatening to tear apart Parliament and Nation…


Can Felix crack the case and protect his country, or will he bear witness to a grim repetition of history?

About the Author

Mario Theodoru is an award-winning screenwriter, director, and author known for his diverse body of work across both comedy and drama. Selected for the BBC’s prestigious Drama Writer’s Programme, he was named one of the BBC’s 200 emerging talents on their Hotlist. His original commissions include projects for BBC Drama and Sky, and his radio drama The Cyprus Missing aired on BBC Radio 4 and BBC America. Mario’s short films Anonymous, Echo, and The Gifted Hypothesis have garnered numerous awards, selections and nominations at Oscar, BAFTA, and BIFA-qualifying film festivals. His accolades include Best Drama at Cannes Shorts, Best Narrative Short and Best Male Actor at FIFF, as well as a nomination for the Short Film Award at the Oscar-qualifying Austin Film Festival and selection for the Oscar-qualifying Flickers Rhode Island Film Festival. Mario attended Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan and taught soccer for the MLS in Arizona and Los Angeles before returning to London. He is also a BAFTA member and serves on the board of the Kingston International Film Festival.

My thoughts: Felix Grey is the somewhat beleaguered Prime Minister during Edward VII’s reign. The country is in turmoil, strikes threaten to bring the mines, factories and mills to a standstill, the Opposition are demanding an election, and two members of the Lords have been kidnapped, a card with a strange symbol printed on it the only clue.

Somehow Felix is able to conduct his own investigation despite being one of the most recognisable faces around, and the police guarding Downing Street are completely oblivious. I cannot imagine any present day PM a) caring that much and b) risking themselves in such a way. He’s a very noble and brave, if a little stupid, man. 

He does have allies in the form of his friend Amelia, an Oxford professor originally from Texas, and Alfred, a young man he meets during his investigation and gives refuge to. He should however trust the police a bit more – they do know what they’re doing it turns out.

The case has links to a dark, and never forgotten, moment in British history, but is there more to it. Who is the person pulling the strings?

Clever, entertaining and well researched, I look forward to Felix and his friends carrying out more heroic investigations to protect the country and try to get it on an even keel once more.

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

blog tour, books, reviews

Blogathon: Crucified – Lynda La Plante

ramblingmads

The fifth book in Lynda’s brilliant Detective Jack Warr crime series.

Jack, after taking paternity leave for the birth of his son, is forced to take even more time due to emotional fatigue and depression. Jack’s wife Maggie is more than aware of Jack’s issues, attempting to persuade him to accept private medical help as he has refused any form of counselling given to officers in the Met. Jack is suffering a nightmare consuming rage. After having to deal with the lengthy horrific murder trial detailing the tragic victims of the serial killer Rodney Middleton, he is haunted by the unidentified remains of more of the killers victims.

Jack finds solace in renewing a dangerous relationship with the artist Adam Bolder. They meet in Portobello market, in a shop selling frames. The enigmatic Adam, has taken up working on fake art in an old disused school out building. The fascination of watching Adam work, the brilliance of his artistic work and the obvious criminal activity in producing these paintings enthrals Jack.

Maggie becomes equally interested in the world of fake art. Jack collecting books and watching art programs, his renewed friendship encourages him to return to work. As he settles back into the old regime at the station, a new female DCI is a force to be reckoned with. One weekend visiting Portobella market again, going to purchase some photo frames for pictures of his new son, the street is cordoned off by police crime scene officers. Ambulances and patrol cars blocking all traffic. A body has been found in the framer’s shop. The naked murder victim has had his features destroyed, and horrifically nailed to a giant cross.

The murder is not in Jack’s jurisdiction, so another team have been allocated in to lead the enquiry and attempt to identify the victim. But Jack is too involved to steer clear – is he detective or witness?

My thoughts: Jack is struggling with the aftermath of his last horrific case, even with the killer behind bars, there are still unidentified victims whose families deserve answers.

He’s also struggling with a sleep disorder that makes him cranky when awake and violent when asleep. He’s been signed off work and Maggie is redesigning their house now they have two children, to get more space. Which is driving him crazy. Both of them need to go back to work!

When he does it’s to a new boss and new cases, firstly a domestic that his new DI is a bit too invested in. But a chance encounter with a suspect from an old case, has Jack headed down a rabbit hole into the world of art forgery and the millions made each year by a network of sellers, dealers and those linking them to clients.

Getting involved in a brutal murder in a frame shop in Portobello Road draws unwanted attention to Jack, and has higher ups suspicious of him and his behaviour, especially at an art gallery. He’s now on their radar. Can he toe the line and do his job?

I really felt for Maggie, Jack pushes her patience to the limit, he’s combative and secretive, when she tries to get him to open up, he pulls away. She just wants him to be well and happy, to spend time with his family and stop keeping so many secrets.

This is probably the book that explores Jack’s family and his past the most, in that he starts remembering before he was adopted a little, and being at home he’s spending time with his children and with Maggie and Penny. It’s also where he makes a decision about his career that will change everything.

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

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: The Cure – Eve Smith

ramblingmads

LIVING FOREVER CAN BE LETHAL…

Ruth is a law-abiding elder, working out her national service, but she has secrets. Her tireless research into the disease that killed her young daughter had an unexpected outcome: the discovery of a vaccine against old age. Just one jab a year reverses your biological clock, guaranteeing a long, healthy life.

But Ruth’s cure was hijacked by her colleague, Erik Grundleger, who hungers for immortality, and the SuperJuve – a premium upgrade – was created, driving human lifespan to a new high. The wealthy elite who take it are dubbed Supers, and the population begins to skyrocket. Then, a perilous side-effect of the SuperJuve emerges, with catastrophic consequences, and as the planet is threatened, the population rebels, and laws are passed to restore order: life ends at 120. Supers are tracked down by Omnicide investigators like Mara … and executed…

Mara has her own reasons for hunting Supers, and she forms an unlikely alliance with Ruth to find Grundleger. But Grundleger has been working on something even more radical and is one step ahead, with a deadly surprise in store for them both…

Eve Smith writes speculative thrillers, mainly about the things that scare her.

Longlisted for the Not the Booker Prize and described by Waterstones as ‘an exciting new voice in crime fiction’, Eve’s debut novel, The Waiting Rooms, set in the aftermath of an antibiotic resistance crisis, was shortlisted for the Bridport Prize First Novel Award and was a Book of the Month in the Guardian, who compared her writing to Michael Crichton’s.

It was followed by Off-Target, about a world where genetic engineering of children is routine, and ONE, about survival in a world ravaged by climate change.

Eve’s previous job at an environmental charity took her to research projects across Asia, Africa and the Americas, and she has an ongoing passion for wild creatures, wild science and far-flung places. She lives in Oxfordshire with her family.

My thoughts: Eve Smith likes to write books that give you the creeps, and this one is no different. Scientists have discovered a “cure” to ageing, essentially to death, but of course there’s an evil scientist and his billionaire backers who want to live forever – even if it does send you psychotic and mean you have to be put down by law enforcement like a rabid raccoon.

Ruth was one of those scientists, but she was searching for a cure for a rare disease, one that killed her own daughter, not eternal youth. A colleague took her formula and now chaos. Those who can afford it extend their lives, while those who can’t continue to die at the same rate. There is hatred from the have-nots that spills over into violence as poverty sky rockets, resources are stretched to their utter limits. New rules are introduced to manage resources and keep the world turning, but the rogue scientists are still out there and more dangerous than ever. 

Teaming up with an investigator, Mara, Ruth heads to Jamaica on the trail of her nemesis. He supposedly died with the rest of his team in an explosion, but they’ve recently learnt that’s not true, and a sighting of one of his associates, has them on the move.

They will learn the extreme lengths this dangerous man has gone to and fight for their lives, and the future of humanity.

And I will have nightmares. Because honestly, if this was a real thing, I can easily imagine certain individuals being very keen on this and wrecking utter havoc with it. More so than they already are.

It was a really good read, but not a particularly settling one. So be prepared.

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

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: Eva is Waiting – Romola Farr

ramblingmads


Following the death of her mother, Lily is sent to a remote girls’ boarding school, tearing her away from all the excitement of London in the Swingin’ Sixties. Bereft, she develops a relationship with Rainer, the husband of Sylvia, the headmistress.

One day, Bella, the school Collie, goes missing whilst playing on the shore below sheer cliffs. Despite a rising tide, Lily is determined to find the beautiful dog and discovers her trapped between rocks in
a cave. Deepening water swirls around them as her fingertips dig into the sand and touch the smooth surface of what she believes to be an animal skull. From that moment on, she is haunted by a young
girl pleading for help.

Lily speaks to her headmistress and learns that eleven years previously a pupil went missing. Eva was a refugee from Hungary, and it was assumed by the police that she had run away.
Forced to stay on at school during the Christmas holiday, Lily is caught between those who know what really happened and wish to silence her, and her determination to end Eva’s wait for justice.
But is history about to repeat itself?

Amazon UK Amazon US


Romola Farr first trod the boards on the West End stage aged sixteen and continued to work for the next eighteen years in theatre, TV and film – and as a photographic model. A trip to Hollywood led to the sale of her first screenplay and a successful change of direction as a screenwriter and playwright.

Bridge To Eternity was her debut novel, and Breaking Through the Shadows and Where the Water Flows are standalone sequels. All are contemporary stories located in the fictional town of Hawksmead. Eva is Waiting is set in a remote girls’ boarding school in 1965.

Romola Farr is a nom de plume.

My thoughts: Lily has a terrible time of it at this horrific boarding school – already mourning her mother, her twin brother, resident at a nearby boys’ school, drowns, various adult men take advantage of her, a cruel and monstrous doctor forces unwanted examinations and drugs her, the headmistress is too distracted by her terrible marriage and the school’s financial issues to care about the single student at the school in the holidays, and there’s a conspiracy going on with links to the Second World War and the Cold War.

When Lily starts to be haunted by the ghost of a missing, and probably murdered, schoolgirl, who nobody really bothered to look for, things get even worse. Asking questions about Eva’s disappearance draws unwanted attention and makes her situation worse.

Cut off from anyone who might help her, Lily takes risks trying to escape from her school. But orders have been issued, her father is a diplomat in Moscow and his remaining child is leverage. Can Lily survive the threats against her and stop the conspiracy that threatens her and the school? Can she also get justice for Eva?

Shocking, dark and violent, this is basically the inverse of every boarding school story Enid Blyton ever wrote, replete with murder, anti-semitism, violence and cruelty. I liked it, but feel a bit like I really shouldn’t.

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

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: Tusks, Tails & Teacakes – T.L. Stone

ramblingmads

We’re celebrating the release of Tusks, Tails & Teacakes by T.L. Stone! If you like your romantic fantasy cozy with a healthy sprinkle of cottagecore, you’re going to love this!

Tusks, Tails & Teacakes: A Slice-of-Life Cozy Romantic Fantasy (Tales from the Tavern Book 1)

Publication Date: April 4, 2025

Genre: Cozy Romantic Fantasy
High fantasy
He falls first
Cinnamon roll hero
Low stakes
Slow-burn romance
Found family
Cozy vibes
Tavern makeover
Coming home
Mythical creatures
Neurodivergent orc

A scoop of high fantasy, a spoonful of Hallmark rom-com, and a generous sprinkle of cottagecore coziness.

Welcome to The Tusk & Tail Tavern where the fire is always crackling, the meat pies are rich and savory, the air is filled with laughter and bard-song, and friends are like family. At least, it used to be…

Half-elf Lira is eager to return to The Tusk & Tail Tavern, where she and her companions set off on their adventures many years ago. But the rundown tavern is no longer the bustling hub where dwarf mercenaries and halfling farmers shared pints over a friendly game of dice. More crucially, what Lira came back for—what she buried in the tavern’s basement—is now bricked over.

What better way to stay close to her hidden treasure—and figure out a way to retrieve it—than to offer to restore the tavern? After all, her grandmother taught her to bake, and she still remembers the recipes—for the most part.

She doesn’t count on having to partner with a dwarf warrior named Sassy or have a surprisingly clever, winged ermine take up residence in her kitchen. And she’s grateful for the shy orc soldier who offers to fix her stove and everything else that keeps breaking in the tavern, but why does he seem afraid to talk to her?

As she and her rag-tag group breathe life back into The Tusk & Tail Tavern, Lira remembers the joy in an evening by the fire, the value of a true friend, and what it’s like to fight as hard for the quiet moments in life as the ones marked by glory and treasure.

But leaving your past in the past isn’t always so easy. Danger has a way of finding Lira no matter how far she runs, but now she has more to protect than herself. And if she wants to leave her days of deception behind her, she’ll have to reveal the truth to those she’s grown to love.

Tusks, Tails & Teacakes is a wholesome, low-stakes, slice-of-life cozy fantasy chock full of mythical creatures and magic. It features no kingdoms to be saved, no epic journeys or warring armies. Only gentle intrigue, the power of unexpected friendship, and the hope that you can make the world a better place one buttery teacake and warm cup of chai at a time.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

My thoughts: If you’re like me and you’re waiting for the next Legends & Lattes, read this. I loved it. It’s a sweet and charming story of friendship, found family and falling in love.

Lira leaves her crew and returns to the village she grew up in, hoping to retrieve something she hid there. Unfortunately someone has concreted over it, in the cellar of the inn, the Tusk & Tail.

Things have gone downhill since the inn keeper’s wife died, and he longer serves food. Teaming up with dwarf Sassy, Lira sets to work cleaning up the inn and baking her grandmother’s recipes.

As the duo make changes, the customers come, including members of the town’s guards, an orc Lira remembers from her childhood. A few old friends make their way there too and soon Lira is building a new crew to help her retrieve her grandmother’s recipe book from under the inn.

This was so lovely and cute and I can’t wait to read book two!



IG: @tlstoneauthor @rrbooktours

Tags:
#rrbooktours #rrbtTTANDT #cozyfantasy #cottagecore #tlstone #cozythedayaway #cozyfantasybooks #cosyfantasy #cosyfantasybooks #romanticfantasy #lowstakesfantasy #TusksTailsandTeacakes #slowburnromance

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

blog tour, books, reviews

Blogathon: The Executioner – Chris Carter

ramblingmads

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.

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: Violets are Blue – Miranda Rijks

ramblingmads

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.

Goodreads  Purchase


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.

Facebook Twitter Instagram Website

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.

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: The Norfolk Theatre Murders – Judi Daykin

ramblingmads

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 . . .

Goodreads Purchase


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!

Facebook Twitter Instagram Website

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.