HOW FAR ARE YOU WILLING TO GO TO KEEP YOUR SECRETS?
After years of living as a lady in the Givensmir court – a life of luxury and opulence – Eve’s past has slowly come back to haunt her. One of secrets and magic that courses through her veins, thought to have been long forgotten.
Now, a princess lies mysteriously dead before her in the great hall.
The eyes of the duplicitous court are everywhere.
And there is nowhere left to hide.
In a realm known for its witch hunts and the ongoing conflict with the Blackthorn, the kingdom of witchcraft across the treacherous Dallise Sea, Eve now finds herself on the wrong side of this war.
A dense, brilliantly rendered novel by a new master of Southern gothic’ Kirkus
In this thrilling debut, Henry Wise transports readers to the Deep South, to a town poisoned by corruption and haunted by its past.
Will Seems has not returned to Euphoria, Virginia County, since his mother’s death. Now, taking a job as a Deputy Sheriff, he is forced to confront the turbid currents of this backwater town. Will is confronted by his past when a mysterious homicide claims the life of a close friend. The brutality of the crime serves as a grim reminder of the true reason for Will’s return — to atone for the past.
The local police rush to close the homicide case by arresting a man Will knows to be innocent and he faces a community that refuses to confront its history. Personal grievances and deep-seated prejudices undermine his every attempt to uncover the truth. Will’s hunt for answers leads him to Snakefoot, a dense wilderness long serving as a refuge for outcasts. It is here that old secrets lie buried, waiting to be unearthed.
Henry Wise is a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute and the University of Mississippi MFA program. A writer across multiple genres, his poetry has been published in Shenandoah, Radar Poetry, Clackamas, Nixes Mate Review, and elsewhere. His non-fiction and photography have appeared in Southern Cultures. Holy City is his first novel.
My thoughts: The tangled web of secrets, some dating back decades, that connect the residents of this small town continue to impact their present, even when they try running from them.
Will Seems is hiding a fugitive in the form of his childhood friend Sam, despite being a Sheriff’s Deputy, because he feels he owes him following a violent incident in their childhood. When another childhood friend is murdered, Will is desperate to prove that Sam’s father isn’t the killer, despite being caught fleeing the scene.
The Sheriff however is sure they’ve got their man, no motive, but plenty of circumstantial evidence, and isn’t willing to look any further. Especially not at the dead man’s girlfriend, who he secretly swore to protect and look out for years before.
When a private detective is hired to actually look into to case, by the victim’s mother and the wife of the man in custody (because they both know he’s innocent), Will is asked to help her out, even as it brings him into conflict with his boss. I lost track of how many times Will quits/gets suspended/is fired/quits again.
It all ends in an even bigger mess, with shots fired, a confession, and Will being encouraged to run for Sheriff over the corrupt and frankly hopeless incumbent.
Will feels he’s failed his friends, and while he remains in the town, at his family’s old farm, he’s still haunted by his demons and ghosts, which may well be the death of him.
Many of the characters are deeply conflicted and held back by the past, to the point where the wrong person is arrested and could be charged with murder in a state with the death penalty. Those old wounds linger and make people commit terrible mistakes. The Sheriff doesn’t come out of any of this well, holding what he thinks he knows over people to control them. Will is broken by his losses and what he perceives as his failures, unable to see another way. This isn’t a happy book, but it is certainly an interesting 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.
Struggling to separate her dreams from reality, a young woman investigates the disappearance of her sister ten years earlier … worried that she might be next. A breathtaking, twisty standalone thriller from the international bestselling author of the Forbidden Iceland series…
**WINNER of the Blood Drop Award for Iceland’s Best Crime Novel of the Year**
**SHORTLISTED for the Glass Key Award for Best Nordic Crime Novel**
November, 1967, Iceland. Fourteen-year-old Marsi has a secret penpal – a boy who lives on the other side of the country – but she has been writing to him in her older sister’s name. Now she is excited to meet him for the first time.
But when the date arrives, Marsi is prevented from going, and during the night her sister Stína goes missing – her bloodstained anorak later found at the place where Marsi and her penpal had agreed to meet.
November, 1977. Stína’s disappearance remains unsolved. Then an unexpected letter arrives for Marsi. It’s from her penpal, and he’s still out there…
Desperate for news of her missing sister, but terrified that he might coming after her next, Marsi returns to her hometown and embarks on an investigation of her own.
But Marsi has always had trouble distinguishing her vivid dreams from reality, and as insomnia threatens her sanity, it seems she can’t even trust her own memories … and her sister’s killer is still on the loose…
Twisty, dark and utterly chilling, Home Before Dark is a breathtakingly accomplished psychological thriller where nothing and no one are what they seem, and smouldering secrets from the past reach into a present where everything is at risk, including Marsi’s life……
To outsiders, twins Mia and Kate have always been close, like good sisters should be. But in private their relationship is one of jealousy, resentment and bitterness. Popular and attractive Mia is always the centre of attention, loved by all. Quiet and reserved, Kate is overlooked and underestimated, and has tried to build a life away from Mia and her manipulation. Finally she is happy and content.
But then Mia returns and makes it clear that she wants to be part of her sister’s life again, to have everything Kate has…including her new fiancé Scott.
Kate can’t allow Mia to ruin her life again. She’s done this too many times in the past – always taking things that don’t belong to her.
As old tensions, secrets and lies return, tragedy strikes. And one sister will use the opportunity to live the life she has always wanted…the life she has always deserved.
Alex Stone is an accountant from the West Midlands, who uprooted her life to pursue her dream of living by the sea and becoming a writer. She is proof that if you stick at it, anything is possible, and is now a psychological thriller author based in Dorset. This beautiful and dramatic coast is the inspiration and setting for her novels. Alex has a keen interest in psychology, and her novels examine how situations in the past can shape a person for the better and the worst. Her debut novel, The Perfect Daughter, has been described as; ‘cleverly written, powerful, shocking, and totally believable.’
My thoughts: Sisters, a complicated relationship, throw in being twins and the daughters of seemingly unhappy parents, a good dose of trauma from losing their mother young, some guilt, blame, secrets and jealousy and you have the recipe for a really messy situation.
Mia is a translator and lives a glamorous life overseas, while her twin sells flowers from a stall in the park, perfectly happy with her life, it might not be as high flying or impressive, but it’s hers. As is the handsome police officer boyfriend. Then Mia returns, supposedly to sort out their father’s estate, but Kate isn’t so sure.
After a horrific incident, one sister seizes the opportunity to become the other and heads to the family’s old apartment by the sea. But what she learns about the past, about her sister and about herself, turns everything she thought she knew upside down. Can she make it right?
Clever, full of twists and turns, with two very different protagonists, for all they look alike. This is a complex story about our memories, our beliefs and how they can affect us for years, even when it turns out they’re maybe not quite as clear as we think.
*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 Stone Guardian, a sweet paranormal romance by Gayle Katz!
Stone Guardian: A Sweet Paranormal Gargoyle Romance (Masonry, Magic, and Love Book 1)
Tropes:
– No spice gargoyle shifter romance
– Small town paranormal romance
– Magical library and town
– Different walks of life: human librarian meets cursed gargoyle hiding from his evil witch
– Also love interest in jeopardy!
– Self-discovery: Main character librarian takes charge of her life by the end of the book
– Noble sacrifice
– Heartwarming happily-ever-after ending
Gargoyles are immovable statues of stone. Lifeless, the librarian thought, until one of them takes flight to save her from an untimely demise.
A kindhearted but lonely librarian. Nancy is drowning under the weight of an abusive boyfriend, failing grades, and looming unemployment. While at work, she confides her deepest, darkest secrets to the gargoyle perched near her desk. But she’s unprepared when the strange stone statue comes to life.
A gentle gargoyle born under a curse. Treyton can’t believe it. In the past century that he’s been guarding the beloved Victorian library he calls home, the lonesome man never had anyone notice him until now. And he’s enchanted by the beautiful woman yearning for true love under his watchful gaze. But the witch who gave him life wants him back. And she’s willing to kill anyone who stands in her way.
As his vile witch plots against them, will Nancy and Treyton be torn apart forever, or can they overcome the evil threatening their love — and their lives?
When murder hits close to home, Iris must fight to clear her name…
Spring, 1924. Reporter Iris Woodmore plans to move to London to avoid a shocking hometown scandal. Longtime enemy Archie Powell has been threatening to reveal her darkest secret – and she’s desperate to flee before he does. But when he’s found murdered after a violent argument with her, there’s no escape. Iris must stay and clear her name even though the truth could ruin her reputation.
With the police closing in, Iris has to find the real killer if she’s to keep her secret. Can she prove her innocence without revealing the identity of the one man who can provide her with an alibi?
A gripping new mystery for fans of Verity Bright, Clara McKenna, and Helena Dixon.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by my author page. You’ll see all my books are classic murder mysteries – because golden age whodunnits are the stories I enjoy reading most. I love to create memorable characters and devise intriguing plots with a focus on mystery rather than violence. I live in Hampshire, England, and it’s the setting for many of my books. My standalone novel, Murder at Merewood Hospital, features Sister Helen Hopgood, the last nurse left in a military hospital in Hampshire at the end of the First World War. I also have family connections to Devon, and the fourth Iris Woodmore Mystery, A Killing at Smugglers Cove, is set on the south coast of Devon in 1923. Iris is back in her native Hampshire for A Corpse in Christmas Close, set in Winchester over Christmas 1923, and Murder at Mill Ponds House, which begins on 1st May 1924. You can read all of my books as standalone novels, even the Iris Woodmore Mysteries, as each is a separate story, although the characters develop as the series progresses. I hope you enjoy reading or listening to my books.
My thoughts: Poor Iris, creepy stalker Archie Powell has moved to her home town and hardly anyone seems to understand what a nasty piece of work he is. He keeps up his reign of terror, threatening Iris with a gun and saying he’ll expose her for having an affair with a married man (even though she isn’t).
Then someone shoots him, and Iris is the prime suspect. There are some others too, but Iris needs to clear her name before the police arrest her. Who else hated Archie so much they they’d shoot a man in the back, or is there something else going on?
Luckily Iris has fantastic friends and they all rally round to help her find out who the killer is. By interviewing the residents of the respite home Archie was managing, and the people who worked there perhaps they’ll find something.
As Iris works to solve the case, it becomes apparent that not everyone is telling the truth, and plenty of people’s secrets are going to have to be brought out into the light before the case is solved.
Another excellent case for Iris, though perhaps not one she’ll be recounting in her job as journalist, at least not the parts about her being a suspect or Archie’s threats.
*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 calculated killer. A life hanging in the balance. A decision that changes everything…
For the first time in her life, DCI Emma Gardner finds herself unable to concentrate on the job she loves. Her thoughts are now always with her old colleague Paul Riddick, who lies desperately ill in hospital – a tortured man in life, now facing death.
When a young woman dies from seemingly natural causes, Emma can’t help feeling that something isn’t quite right with the case, but she needs her team to pick up the slack whilst she focuses on Paul.
The case proves more complex than anyone imagined and will test the team like never before. But unbeknownst to everyone, there is another threat lurking even closer to home – Emma’s unpredictable brother Jack. And with Emma distracted, he has free rein to put right the dark and twisted grievances from his own past.
But his actions, when they come, will be devastating. And will destroy everything Emma loves…
Wes Markin lives in Harrogate and is the bestselling author of the DCI Yorke crime novels set in Salisbury. He is also the author of the Jake Pettman series set in New England.
“An explosive and visceral debut with the most terrifying of killers. Wes Markin is a new name to watch out for in crime fiction.” – Bestselling Crime Author Stephen Booth
Perfect for fans of Chris Carter, James Patterson, Chris Brookmyre, and Stuart Macbride.
My thoughts: I really enjoyed the previous books in this series and a lot of the long running plots come to a head here as Emma tries to deal with her brother leaving prison, her former colleague Paul being in a coma, critically ill, and her relationship with Lucy, while also juggling a rather complex case.
Her brother’s return is troubling, he’s a sociopath who murdered a man in front of her and shot Lucy. Now he’s out and she’s worried about his plans and how his presence will affect his daughter, who Emma adopted. Then there’s the presence of the somewhat sinister Neville, who has engineered Jack’s release for his own ends.
The case itself is a puzzle, what young woman with no history of heart trouble just drops dead of a heart attack? Emma is convinced there’s something else going on, especially as the victim’s husband seems somewhat unaffected and is a bit of a mystery himself. The team dig into the case as Emma sits by Paul’s bed, waiting for him to either wake up or possibly die, as a dangerous infection has set in. In his coma Paul is plagued by a mix of memories and dreams, puzzling and troubling.
Can the team solve the case and catch a killer? Will Paul wake up? And what consequences are there following Jack’s release? Well, you’ll have to read the book. There’s plenty of twists and a really shocking ending to keep you hooked. Great stuff.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
It was supposed to be a simple case: a young man arrested for armed assault.
But it was just the beginning.
As Rodney Middleton awaits trial, Detective Jack Warr is warned by his mentor DCI Ridley that they have only scratched the surface of the man’s crimes.
Then DCI Ridley is suddenly removed from his post. No one is to contact him – and no one will say why.
As Warr digs into Middleton’s past, Ridley calls pleading for help, now accused of a murder he insists he didn’t commit.
To catch a monster and exonerate his friend, Warr must weed out the lies. But what awaits Warr if he uncovers the truth?
My thoughts: This is definitely the darkest and most shocking book in the series so far, the case takes Jack into the nasty recesses of a terrifying sociopath and deals with human trafficking, kidnap, murder and psychological control.
Jack’s boss DCI Ridley is also in trouble too and needs Jack’s help to clear his name.
Dealing with both cases and needing to be very secretive about Ridley’s leaves Jack feeling pulled in different directions and he isn’t seeing the issues in his own home as his mother seems to be struggling.
Another brilliant, knotty, intelligent read from the queen of crime, this had me hooked from page one and as Jack does his best to solve the mysteries surrounding Rodney Middleton and his peculiar girlfriend, as well as help Ridley, he puts his job at risk and a strain in his marriage, leaving Maggie handling their personal lives as well as working long hours in the hospital.
*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 killer is stalking the illustrious Fitzwarren family. And any of the clan could be next . . .
Lord Hugo may be heir to the Fitzwarren millions. But everyone knows who rules the roost in his noble old family. His formidable mother, Lady Beatrice. It’s been that way since her husband met his watery end. In a boating accident, poor thing. Now, on the eve of her seventieth birthday, Lord Hugo plans to give his mama a gift she’ll never forget: a portrait of her dear, departed husband.
Guests gather at the Fitzwarrens’ decadent ancestral pile, waiting with bated breath for a glimpse of the painting. Detective Jack Dawes is among them, his wife Corrie on his arm. A cord is pulled. The curtain falls . . . and Lady B lets out a blood-curdling scream. It’s not the likeness that has her spooked. It’s the dagger, plunged deep in her husband’s chest. Scrawled beneath, in blood-red paint, there’s a single word. Killer. Is it a spiteful prank . . . or something more?
Detective Jack’s determined to find out. But he’s got his work cut out — with the frosty Fitzwarrens seeking to shut him down at every turn and Lord Hugo himself mysteriously missing. Lord Hugo’s family are certain he’ll turn up in his own time. But Jack knows the clock is ticking to solve this baffling case. Before something worse than paint is spilled . . .
This entertaining and absorbing mystery is perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, LJ Ross, J.R. Ellis, Faith Martin, Catherine Moloney and P.F. Ford.
Frances Lloyd was born in Essex but spent a nomadic childhood being carted between RAF stations until mercifully, she was allowed a crack at a proper education in Cheltenham, studying English and Classics. As an adult, she became something of a wandering minstrel with no physical or spiritual roots apart from a strong work ethic. Frances has always been a writer. The job that paid the mortgage was in government communications, She also worked as a freelance journalist and photographer but her ambition was always to write crime novels. She now lives in Northumberland – “Vera” territory – and writes full time. She has published ten DI Dawes murder mysteries. Married three times but now a widow, Frances’ hobbies are reading, wine tasting and cooking.
My thoughts: This was very good, enjoyable and with several excellent twists. The Fitzwarren family are pretty ghastly and unpleasant a bunch, but after the nasty incident at Lady Beatrice’s birthday and then the disappearance of Lord Hugo, Detective Jack Dawes has been tasked with investigating who has it in for the family.
Following two other attacks against them that are more serious, Jack tries to once again get the family to talk, but they seem determined to take all the secrets to the grave. Daughter Charlotte is the only one who’ll talk, and she doesn’t really know anything. Her awful parents and brother aren’t much help and Lady Bea, who knows everything refuses to blacken the family name further.
Their obsession with the family legacy, the bloodline that supposedly stretches back to the Norman Conquest, all of this otherwise completely ridiculous stuff is suddenly on vital importance as the clues are there in Hugo’s plans, which Jack eventually uncovers. The person holding a grudge against the family (which I felt some sympathy for) has had years to plan their revenge but when the family secrets finally come to light, the family were pretty busy destroying their legacy all along.
Hard to feel sorry for most of them, although I liked Charlotte and Louise, neither of whom were responsible for any of the mess. I’m glad Jack eventually got to the bottom of things, proving that once again, the aristocracy is utterly mad and totally bizarre, and that truth and honesty is important to avoid long held grudges.
*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 thrilled to present the cover for the next book in The Unchained series, Never Bound by Everly Claire!
Never Bound (The Unchained) Expected Publication Date: April 25, 2025 Genre: Dark Dystopian/Forbidden Romance 💀Enemies to Lovers 💔 Who did this to you? (Her to HIM!) 🌑 Dark dystopian world 👑 Rich, naive good girl x her dad literally OWNS him! 🔥 Whips & chains & cuffs, oh my (mostly the bad kind 😈) 🕰️ Slow Burn 📇 He has no name, just a number (really!) ❌ They’re literally not allowed to touch! 👊 Touch her & you’re gonna 💀 (twice) 🎭 Plotting, scheming, twists and reversals! 773496S6 In an alternate 2025, our world is built on the backs of slaves. Louisa is the daughter of the enemy who’s become my master, and I’m not even allowed to look at her, let alone touch her. But I’ve already done way more than that. By day, they make me scrub floors and weed the garden. By night, I ignite her in dark basements and secret rooms. She used to think slaves weren’t people, but I’ve opened her eyes to the horror of her world, and there’s no going back. But I’m here on a mission to find my sister. And Louisa is about to discover that when I charmed my way into her bed, it wasn’t just because I wanted her. It was because I wanted something from her. But now? I do want her. Forever, preferably. But the world thinks I belong in a cage, and I’ve got new enemies determined to put me in one. They’re plotting to blow our secret right out of the water. In this snake pit, neither of us knows who to trust. But when they go after Louisa, I’ll prove that even though I’m a slave, she belongs to me in every way that matters — even if it costs me everything I’ve fought for. NEVER BOUND, book 2 in a dark dystopian forbidden romance series THE UNCHAINED, picks up where Never Broken left off. The books must be read in order. Never Bound ends on a hard cliffhanger and picks up in Never Lost, scheduled for release in summer 2025. Together, all three books form a complete arc with a guaranteed HEA.
ramblingmads 