blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: Poison Sky – Paul McNeive

Airplanes are mysteriously falling from the sky and a deadly toxin is spreading through the streets of the world’s major cities. New York, London and Munich are filled with panic, paranoia and terror. And nobody knows who’s behind it all. Somewhere, a twisted genius is masterminding a global crisis.

New York detective John Wyse and maverick cop Deke Hansen face the biggest challenge of their lives in a race to out-think the cunning and dangerous terrorists who are bringing the world to its knees using medieval warfare tactics. But the terrorists will stop at nothing to prevent Wyse unravelling their evil plot. As the bodies pile up, the threat suddenly gets very personal when the woman Wyse loves becomes a target. With time running out, Wyse has to convince his bosses that a powerful psychopath is taking deadly revenge in the most bizarre and unpredictable way. Can he persuade the authorities to act, or will he have to take the law into his own hands?

Poison Sky-“Sometimes the old ways, work better than the new!”

Signed trade paperback “A format” copies from the author’s website to readers in the UK. will be £16.99 (includes approx. £7.50 postage.) Amazon UK Amazon US

Living in the mountains of County Wicklow, Ireland, Paul McNeive is an author and motivational speaker and writes a weekly opinion column for the Irish Independent newspaper.

“Poison Sky” is Paul McNeive’s  second thriller and reflects his passion for fast paced stories, in international settings. “Poison Sky” continues to track the life of New York detective, John Wyse, as he pits his wits against  an evil genius bent on revenge, who has come up with an extraordinary plan to bring terror to western cities. 

Paul McNeive’s first thriller, “The Manhattan Project,” was published in Ireland by a UK publisher and was a bestseller. It was then published in the UK and there were subsidiary rights sales, including to Germany, and audio books. “The Manhattan Project” was inspired by Paul McNeive’s experiences as a double amputee with the dangers of antibiotic resistant bacteria. The novel was launched and championed by the then Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Dame Sally Davies, who proclaimed it a huge help in raising awareness of this global threat.

Paul McNeive’s first book, “Small Steps,” is an autobiographical business book, which tells how Paul McNeive applied the lessons he learned in rehabilitating from his accident, to his business career, and life generally, with great success. “Small Steps” was also a bestseller in Ireland. 

Paul McNeive is on the board of Ireland’s National Rehabilitation Hospital and is an ambassador for the Douglas Bader Foundation.

Paul has three children and lives with his wife Kate, and their lurcher, “Glenda,” who features in both thrillers.

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My thoughts: firstly, I loved Glenda the dog, based on the author’s own beloved family pet, all author’s should include animals, and the bit narrated by her was very funny.

The terrorist plot at the centre of this book was absolutely horrifying and brilliant at the same time – proof that some humans need their genius applied elsewhere so they don’t carry out such terrible things.

I really liked the team of Hansen, Wyse and Dani. They were incredibly smart, determined and knew all sorts of brilliant people who could help them solve the crime. I also thought Dani and Kate were brave and needed more Glenda the dog time.

Overall this was a shocking, gripping thrill ride, with global implications and utterly brilliant, if truly terrifying. I hope the author sticks to writing and doesn’t decide to become a super villain, he certainly has the ideas for it!

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

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: The Second Marriage – Jess Ryder

‘They’re lying,’ my little stepson whispers, his blue eyes shining with tears as I tuck him into bed for the first time. ‘They think I’ve forgotten, but I remember everything. I know my mummy is still alive.’

My best friend warned me that it was too soon to marry Edward, a widower with an adorable but troubled little boy. She said we were moving too fast. But all I could see was a kind, loving man, struggling with grief, who needed my help.

Yet as storm clouds gather above our small wedding ceremony, my hopes and dreams fall apart. None of my husband’s family turn up to support us. Instead of a honeymoon, we have a quiet night in. My wedding bouquet is placed on his first wife’s grave. And then my new stepson tells me he’s sure his mother is still alive.

What does Noah remember and why is his father trying to make him forget? Have I been completely wrong about my husband? What happened to the woman who came before me, and how far will he go to stop me finding out the truth?

An utterly unputdownable, gripping, twisty psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Before I Go To SleepThe Girl on the Train and Gone Girl.

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Jess Ryder is the pseudonym of Jan Page, author, screenwriter, playwright and award-winning television producer. After many years working in children’s media, she has recently embarked on a life of crime. Writing, that is. So she’s very excited about the publication of her debut thriller Lie to Me. Her other big love is making pots.

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My thoughts: this was a gripping, complex thriller, it isn’t Edward’s first marriage Lily should be worried about, it’s the sheer volume of secrets and lies he’s got going on. Little Noah knows more than he’s willing to say, being terrified of his father, the ghastly duo of Georgia and Tara definitely have secrets too. I felt sorry for Lily, so naively trusting of a man who doesn’t deserve it. But when someone’s built such a convincing web of total misdirection and obfuscation what else can she do? Thankfully her best friend sees through him and together with Noah, she’s going to get the truth.

More proof, if it’s needed, that you shouldn’t marry someone you don’t really know.

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

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: Blind Date – Wendy Clarke

When Mel is set up on a blind date by her best friends Chris and Simon, she’s as anxious as any woman would be. Her divorce came as such a shock and she’d been feeling lost and lonely, but that didn’t mean she was desperate to date again. It was a terrible day at work that made her say yes: it could be a bit of fun, a distraction at least. What did she have to lose?

When Mel meets Malik, she knows instantly that they could have more than just a fling. She tells him her deepest, darkest secrets and it doesn’t make him run away. He makes her feel wanted for the first time in years, and when she wakes up in his bed in the early hours she feels completely content.

Until she notices that he’s no longer lying beside her.

She’s tangled up in his sheets alone in his bedroom and she can’t remember how she got there.

And then she hears the metallic scrape of a key in the door and realises that Malik has locked her in. Is her dream man going to turn into her worst nightmare?

Thrilling and gripping until the final page, Blind Date is a dark and unsettling story about deception and how much we can trust the people we love. For fans of Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train and anything by Lisa Jewell.

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Wendy Clarke was a teacher until the small primary school where she worked closed down. Now she is a writer of psychological suspense but is also well known for her short stories and serials which regularly appear in national women’s magazines.

Wendy has two children and three step-children and lives with her husband, cat and step-dog in Sussex. When not writing, she is usually indulging in her passion for dancing, singing or watching any programme that involves food!

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My thoughts: this was a clever, twisting thriller where you can’t be sure who it is who’s stalking Mel. Is the same person sending her texts? Or is that Malik? What about Chris, there’s definitely something off about him, the new flatmate, Simon the best friend? Maybe her ex-husband is the creep? It’s all very confusing, as is Mel, she can’t work out what’s going on either. Keeping you guessing right until the very end, and then chucking in a few more twists for good measure.

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

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: Far from the Light of Heaven – Tade Thompson

The colony ship Ragtime docks in the Lagos system, having travelled light years from home to bring one thousand sleeping souls to safety among the stars.

Some of the sleepers, however, will never wake – and a profound and sinister mystery unfolds aboard the gigantic vessel. Its skeleton crew are forced to make decisions that will have repercussions for all of humanity’s settlements – from the scheming politicians of Lagos station, to the colony planet of Bloodroot, to other far flung systems and indeed Earth itself.

Arthur C. Clarke Award winner Tade Thompson makes a triumphant return to science fiction with this unforgettable vision of humanity’s future in the chilling emptiness of space.

My thoughts: this was very good. Inspired by Poe’s The Murder in the Rue Morgue, doctor and author Tade Thompson set out to write a locked room mystery in space. And he definitely succeeded. Trapped on the Ragtime, with passengers in suspended animation, Captain Michelle ‘Shell’ Campion and investigations Fin and Salvo attempt to find out who or what murdered a number of those sleeping travellers. Aided by the arrival of space governor Lawrence, Shell’s Uncle Larry, and his daughter Jokè, they’re in a race against time (and oxygen running out). A blend of traditional science fiction and afrofuturism, this is a clever and innovative novel from an author who is fast becoming a favourite, he’s also great to follow on Twitter.

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

blog tour, books

Blog Tour: Cut and Run – Annabelle Lewis

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Welcome to the book tour for Annabelle Lewis’s novel, Cut and Run. The perfect thriller for the spooky season!

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Cut and Run 

Publication Date: August 14th, 2021

Genre: Contemporary Thriller

Their story continues . . .

The four Boston clairvoyants, blessed—or cursed—with special powers, must fight a ruthless enemy and stop injustice. In Dead Cat, Run, the Sisters of Fate drove them together, but at what cost? The God Apollo wasn’t playing around. He’s still dead set on vengeance.

Sinister forces will have a wicked agenda. An energy grab, a mineral rights war, and deadly mercenaries create a mortally serious game. But the psychics’ sibylline abilities aside, they’re only human. At least three of them are. (What’s up with that?)

Can they stop the killers? And who will survive?

An energetic contemporary thriller, Cut and Run will have you on the edge of your seat as the dance between good and evil resumes.

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About the Author

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Annabelle Lewis is a pseudonym for the author who lives in Minneapolis with her husband, children, and a wild thug of a dog who sleeps beside her. A multi-genre writer and publisher of 9 novels to date, her humorous mystery caper books have a theme – taking down the bad guy. Villains beware! She also writes a scathing blog and highly entertaining monthly newsletter.

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Giveaway: Enter for a chance to win signed copies of both Dead Cat, Run and Cut and Run

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Book Tour Schedule

October 25th

R&R Book Tours (Kick-Off) http://rrbooktours.com

@bookscoffeehappiness (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/bookscoffeehappiness/

The Magic of Wor(l)ds (Spotlight)  http://themagicofworlds.wordpress.com

Stine Writing (Spotlight) https://christinebialczak.com/

October 26th

The Faerie Review (Spotlight) http://www.thefaeriereview.com

@thefaeriereview (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/thefaeriereview/

Reads & Reels (Spotlights) http://readsandreels.com

@chasethestories (Review) https://www.instagram.com/chasethestories/

October 27th

B is for Book Review (Spotlight) https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com

Liliyana Shadowlyn (Spotlight) https://lshadowlynauthor.com/

Rambling Mads (Spotlight) http://ramblingmads.com

Crossroad Reviews (Spotlight) http://www.crossroadreviews.com

 October 28th

  @amymertz (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/amymertz/

Books, Rambling & Tea (Spotlight) https://booksramblingsandtea.com/

Nesie’s Place (Spotlight) https://nesiesplace.wordpress.com

@Fle_d (Spotlight)  https://www.instagram.com/fle_d/

October 29th

Books + Coffee = Happiness (Spotlight) https://bookscoffeehappiness.com/

MacroMicoCosm (Podcast Interview) https://www.vraeydamedia.ca/macromicrocosm-online

Paige Warren (Spotlight) https://paigewarren.Wordpress.com

Misty’s Book Space (Spotlight) http://mistysbookspace.wordpress.com

Book Tour Organized By: 

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R&R Book Tours

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: Èkleipsis: The Abyss – Tamal Wino

Ékleipsis: The Abyss is the second short story collection by the award-winning author.

Tales of depravation and insanity are woven together with unrelenting style and depth, scrutinizing human nature’s degeneration when compromised by tragic, vicious circumstances.

These complex, wretched individuals and the irremediable conditions they are desperate to claw out of—or into—invoke the unfathomable question: What devastation are we truly capable of when left with no way out but down . . . into the obscurity of the abyss?

” It is at times appalling, strange and outright frightening, but Wino’s way with character development is outstanding. The display of artistic creativity and character creation really sets “Èkleipsis: The Abyss” apart in the field of short story collections.”
― Reader Views

“The stories are well-packaged and generally have the feel of watching a syndicated crime drama. Fans of this form of entertainment will likely enjoy these well-crafted stories about everyday people whose lives are shattered by lunatics.”
― The US Review of Books

“Wino’s writing is vivid, unsettling and filled with brilliant hints that contribute to the exhilaration of its pacing. Ékleipsis: The Abyss is a clever and creative horror offering worth checking out.”

―Independent Book Review

” Tamel really captured that essence of society and the dark side of people. Readers will appreciate the dark undertones of this horror anthology. Ekleipsis: the Abyss will surprise you more that you can imagine.”

―Literary Titan

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Tamel Wino is a Canadian fiction writer from the resplendent British Columbia whose works focus largely on degeneration of sanity and morality. He studied Health Sciences and Psychology, which only furthered his interest in human nature.

With inspirations including Alice Munro, Joe Hill, Stephen King, Margaret Atwood and Edgar Allan Poe; Tamel’s expositions are strongly grounded in traditions of dark fiction. Yet, with his bold narrative voice and incisive plot construction, Wino is paving a new movement within the space.

When he’s not reading or scribbling away on his laptop, Tamel loves listening to jazz, rewatching good ol’ classic shows and traveling. EkleipsisFacebook | Instagram

Giveaway: Signed copies of Ékleipsis and Ékleipsis: The Abyss. a Rafflecopter giveaway

My thoughts: this collection of short stories explores the horror of humanity – ordinary horror, not monsters from beyond, but the ways in which human beings inflict terror and trauma on one another. From kidnapped wives and hitchhikers, lovers who kill and domestic psychopaths. Every terrible thing here is caused and created by a person not a creature of nightmare. Which makes them all the more sinister and insidious. Some of the victims are easier to empathise with than others, particularly the sadistic prison guards dished out some ice cold revenge. A clever and chilling collection examining the worst of human behaviour.

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

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: Cruel Castle – Bryony Pearce

Having survived the horrors of Savage Island, Grady is now stuck working for Gold, the psychopath who masterminded the gruesome competition. Sent on a “team-building exercise” in a remote castle, he starts to plot his escape. Ben and Lizzie are in hiding, presumed dead after escaping the island. If they’re ever to return to their families, they need to bring Gold down. So they secretly join Grady in the castle. But as the doors slam shut and the series of deadly challenges between them and freedom are revealed, it looks like history is going to repeat itself…

About Savage Island When reclusive millionaire Marcus Gold announces that he’s staging an “Iron Teen” competition on his private island in the Outer Hebrides, Ben, Lizzie, Will, Grady and Carmen sign up. They’d be mad not to when the prize is one million pounds … each. But when the competition commences, the group begin to regret their decision –this is no ordinary contest. Other teams are hunting their competitors and attacking them. As the pressure intensifies and their survival instincts kick in, the friends struggle to stick together. Who can they really trust?

Bryony was a winner of the 2008 Undiscovered Voices competition and is the author of ANGEL’S FURY and THE WEIGHT OF SOULS,winner of the Wirral Grammar School Award –Best Science Fiction. She has written PHOENIX RISING, PHOENIX BURNING and SAVAGE ISLAND for Stripes. Bryony lives with her husband and two children in a village in Gloucestershire. Visit bryonypearce.co.uk | Twitter

My thoughts: I hadn’t read Savage Island, but I am definitely going back and rectifying that ASAP, this was so good and I need to know all the details about what happened to Ben, Lizzie and Grady on the island. However, it’s not essential to know as there’s plenty of information given in Cruel Castle to give you the back story to their relationship and trauma.

A sort of Battle Royale/Hunger Games but British, and darkly funny, Cruel Castle pits a group of young psychopaths against each other in the ultimate escape room challenge – solve the puzzles and get out of the castle alive. Ben, Lizzie and Aaday aren’t psychopathic but are still dealing with their traumatic experiences. They want to live but not to the cost of anyone’s life, this makes them vulnerable but also very brave. They were definitely likeable, unlike the rest of the group – I don’t think I’d have been so willing to work with them.

Grady is playing his own long game and I couldn’t quite work out his motives, I think book three might have the answers…

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

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: The Perfect Daughter – Alex Stone

The perfect daughter…
Jess Harper has spent her whole life trying to make her mum, Abigail happy and proud. And everything Jess does, from the clothes she wears, the job she has, the men she dates, are all approved by Abigail first.
The perfect boyfriend…
So when Jess announces that she has a new man in her life – plumber Adam – Abigail is less than impressed. ‘A plumber? Really, Jessica….’ Adam encourages Jess to break free from her mum’s manipulation, can’t she see what’s happening?
The perfect mother….
But Abigail is only doing these things to keep Jess safe, to protect her from getting hurt again…isn’t she?
Or the perfect liar?
Jess, caught in the middle, doesn’t know who to believe or trust. And then Adam vanishes without trace.
Now Jess is the police’s prime suspect and they want to know if Jess really is as perfect as she seems….
A gripping new psychological thriller for fans of Sue Watson, Shalini Boland and S.E.Lynes.
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About the Author
Alex Stone, originally an accountant from the West Midlands, is now a psychological suspense writer based in Dorset. This beautiful and dramatic coastline is the inspiration and setting for her novels.
She was awarded the Katie Fforde Bursary in 2019 and her debut thriller The Perfect Daughter will be published by Boldwood in October 2021.

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My thoughts: Jess has a monster for a mother, controlling, manipulative and cruel. Isolated from friends, with no one else to turn to. She meets Adam, who she starts to realise is very similar to her mum.

Then Adam disappears and Jess starts to question things that have happened in her past, her dad leaving, her only friend turning against her, the way her relationships fell apart. Her mother always telling her things were her fault. But what if they weren’t?

A dark, twisted psychological thriller about manipulation, gaslighting and finally seeing the truth. Gripping and clever, this was a highly enjoyable read and I rooted for Jess to find her way out of the lies and finally live for herself.

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

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: Dark Secrets – Sally Rigby

An uninvited guest…a deadly secret….and a terrible crime.

When a well-loved family of five are found dead sitting around their dining table with an untouched meal in front of them, it sends shockwaves throughout the community.

Was it a murder suicide, or was someone else involved?  

It’s one of DCI Whitney Walker’s most baffling cases, and even with the help of forensic psychologist Dr Georgina Cavendish, they struggle to find any clues or motives to help them catch the killer.But with a community in mourning and growing pressure to get answers, Cavendish and Walker are forced to go deeper into a murderer’s mind than they’ve ever gone before.

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Sally Rigby was born in Northampton, in the UK. She has always had the travel bug, and after living in both Manchester and London, eventually moved overseas. From 2001 she has lived with her family in New Zealand (apart from five years in Australia), which she considers to be the most beautiful place in the world.

After writing young adult fiction for many years, under a pen name, Sally decided to move into crime fiction. Her Cavendish & Walker series brings together two headstrong, and very different, women – DCI Whitney Walker, and forensic psychologist Dr Georgina Cavendish. Sally has a background in education, and has always loved crime fiction books, films and TV programmes. She has a particular fascination with the psychology of serial killers.

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My thoughts: it’s no secret that I’m a big fan of this series, and its spinoff, so I was thrilled to start reading this new book. It’s another cracking case for Walker and Cavendish, with a family murdered and a rather odd meal left on the table for them. It seems the parents both had secrets, and one of them has led to the deaths of the whole family.

As well as that both Whitney and George have plenty going on in their personal lives, but manage to keep their investigative skills sharp as they sort through the suspects and find not only the killer but the motive too. Unfortunately the delightful Chief Super, aka Dickhead, is connected to the case personally and is breathing a little too heavily down Walker’s neck. It’s a race against the clock before he finds a reason to reassign the case. Another cracking read. And now I impatiently wait for the next one!

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

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: The New Mother – Julia Crouch

Who would you trust with your precious family?

Wanted: full-time, live-in help for expectant mother. Must be organised, friendly and willing to do anything.

Rachel is determined to be the perfect mother. She has a birth plan, with a playlist and a bag ready by the door. She’s chosen a lovely light cream paint for the nursery, and in wide-eyed, innocent Abbie she’s found the perfect person to help her with her baby.

After all, every mother needs a bit of help, don’t they?

But Rachel needs a little more than most.

She still makes sure her bedroom door is locked before she goes to sleep. She still checks the cameras that are dotted throughout the house.

Rachel trusts Abbie. Even if Abbie’s smiles don’t always reach her eyes, and the stories she tells about her past don’t always add up, it doesn’t matter.

Because Rachel knows better than to trust herself…

From the bestselling author of Her Husband’s Lover, this is a truly gripping story about how far people will go to find a family. Filled with tension and twists to keep you glued to every page, it is perfect for fans of Ruth Ware, Shari LaPena and The Girl on the Train.

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Julia started off as a theatre director and playwright. While her children were growing up, she swerved into graphic design. After writing and illustrating two children’s books for an MA, she discovered that her great love was writing prose. The picture books were deemed too dark for publication, so, to save the children, she turned instead to writing for adults. Her first book, Cuckoo, was published in 2011, and she has been writing what she calls her Domestic Noir novels ever since. She also writes for TV and teaches on the Crime Writing MA at the University of East Anglia. She has three grown up children and lives in Brighton with her husband and two cats, Keith and Sandra.

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My thoughts: at first I felt sorry for Abbie, her life seemed lonely and Rachel’s behaviour was exploitative and a little cruel, making her change her body to fit an unrealistic ideal just for social media. But then the balance shifted and Rachel became a lot more sympathetic.

Both women have had hard and traumatic childhoods, with loss and violence, but they’ve reacted in different ways, Rachel has, over a long time, chosen to make the most of herself and move on, while Abbie has internalised her pain and blames everyone else. In this case, Rachel.

I really liked Fran, she might get frustrated with Rachel, and worry endlessly about her, but she has her back through everything. And she’s prepared to do whatever she has to to protect her friend.

A really interesting, twisted thriller about friendship, dealing with our pasts and learning about who to trust.

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