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I love true crime books, TV shows, films and I also love fictional crime stories in all these formats too. Therefore, I was definitely intrigued and enticed by the title of this book.

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Blurb:

‘What happens to those girls who go missing? What happens to the Zoe Nolans of the world?’

In the early hours of Saturday 17 December 2011, Zoe Nolan, a nineteen-year-old Manchester University student, walked out of a party taking place in the shared accommodation where she had been living for three months.

She was never seen again.

Seven years after her disappearance, struggling writer Evelyn Mitchell finds herself drawn into the mystery. Through interviews with Zoe’s closest friends and family, she begins piecing together what really happened in 2011. But where some versions of events overlap, aligning perfectly with one another, others stand in stark contrast, giving rise to troubling inconsistencies.

Shaken by revelations of Zoe’s secret life, and stalked by a figure from the shadows, Evelyn turns to crime writer Joseph Knox to help make sense of a case where everyone has something to hide.

Zoe Nolan may be missing presumed dead, but her story is only just beginning…

My thoughts:

This is such a brilliant book on so many levels. It is compelling, highly original and thought provoking.

Reading this book, which is a mixture of emails and interview transcripts, definitely feels like watching a finely edited and impactful true crime documentary.

As a result, this is pacey read that grabs your attention and doesn’t let you go easily. You become completely immersed in the perspectives and perceptions of the characters.

This is definitely a character driven book and I loved how, through the wonderfully stylistic narrative, each character was given a definitive and distinctive voice.

The characters are complex, the story is full of twists and turns and raises questions about perceptions, identity, but also editing and crime writing in and of itself.

This has been a unique, exciting and addictive book that I have got completely lost in and loved! I would definitely recommend this book to fans of the crime genre and I’m definitely going to look out for other books by this author.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was drawn to this book by the unusual cover and the fact that the blurb sold it as a domestic drama novel with a twist!

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Blurb:

When Mark Darling is fifteen years old, he is the golden boy, captain of the school football team, admired by all who know him. Until he kills his best friend in a freak accident.

He spends the next decade drifting between the therapy couch and dead-end pursuits. Then along comes Sadie. A mender by nature, she tries her best to fix him, and has enough energy to carry them both through the next few years.

One evening, Mark bumps into an old schoolfriend, Ruby. She saw the accident first hand. He is pulled towards her by a force stronger than logic: the universal need to reconcile one’s childhood wounds. This is his chance to, once again, feel the enveloping warmth of unconditional love. But can he leave behind the woman who rescued him from the pit of despair, the wife he loves? His unborn child?

This is a story about how childhood experience can profoundly impact how we behave as adults. It’s a story about betrayal, infidelity and how we often blinker ourselves to see a version of the truth that is more palatable to us.

My thoughts:

This was an easy and compelling read. I felt I connected well with the characters as they were well developed.

I definitely identified with, and felt sorry for Sadie. I know that Mark was the driving force behind the story but I thought this was told in a multi-faceted way in order for the reader to be able to draw their own conclusions about the situation and the characters.

It is written in such a direct way that you also can’t help putting yourself in each of the character’s shoes at different points and evaluating their actions against the ones you think you might take in their position.

This book explores a lot of important themes, such as IVF, infidelity and parenthood, but probably the most interesting for me was the hints at the difficulties of dealing with mental health and trauma, specifically for men.

Overall, this has been an original take on the domestic fiction genre and a book that has kept my attention from cover to cover, through a slow burn build up of relationships, themes and drama.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was drawn to this book by the author’s name, as I think she is truly wonderful and I am always intrigued when an author writes in more than one genre. Of course, the cover also gives the sense that this will be a dark domestic suspense novel, which is one of my favourite genres too!

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Blurb:

She seems too good to be true. And now she lives in your home…

Lily wants to be happy for her father when he tells her he’s getting married again. Even if it feels too soon after the death of Lily’s mother.

He’s madly in love with Maria. And he thinks she’s going to the perfect stepmother to Lily’s much-younger sister, Emma. And perhaps he’s right. Because no one seems to have a bad word to say about Maria.

It’s only Lily who can’t trust her. Who thinks no one is that perfect. Who notices no one had ever heard of Maria until exactly ten years before.

And then Emma goes missing…

A totally gripping and unmissable psychological suspense novel about dark family secrets, perfect for fans of Shalini Boland, Claire McGowan and Gone Girl.

My thoughts:

There is nothing bad I can say about this book. The fact that I have been just as impressed by this book as I have this author’s romantic fiction books, shows that Karen King is clearly just a multi-talented writer.

This book has everything I look for in a domestic suspense novel. The story is told from multiple perspectives, and the timeline is altered in order to ensure maximum build up of tension and suspense.

There is also a wonderful mix of characters. There are victims, an innocent child, the ‘Stepmother’ character whose obsessive, careful and secretive behaviour causes you to become increasingly suspicious and unnerved.

Last but not least, there are the unpredictable twists and turns, as well as the explosive ending that you won’t see coming.

Overall, a gripping and satisfying read that I have devoured from start to finish. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of Jill Childs, Arianne Richmonde and Shalini Boland.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My attraction to this book came about as a result of the blurb. I think it sells the book so well and it definitely intrigued me. I was also amazed to discover that the author is an English teacher (like me!) and that this is his first published novel.

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Blurb:

Cullrothes, in the Scottish Highlands, where Innes hides a terrible secret from his girlfriend Alice, a gorgeous, cheating, lying schoolteacher. In the same village, Donald is the aggressive distillery owner, who floods the country with narcotics alongside his single malt; when his son goes missing, he becomes haunted by an anonymous American investor intent on purchasing the Cullrothes Distillery by any means necessary. Schoolgirl Jessie is trying to get the grades to escape to the mainland, while Grandpa counts the days left in his life.

This is a place where mountains are immense and the loch freezes in winter. A place with only one road in and out. With long storms and furious midges and a terrible phone signal. The police are compromised the journalists are scum…

My thoughts:

Wow, Alan Gillespie needs to take a bow as this is a masterpiece of a debut novel. This is a book written with confidence and precision. I personally loved the short chapters and I quickly got used to the lack of dialogue markers, which to me just added another layer of originality to an already unique book.

The characters and their brutal, deceitful and sometimes desperate actions will leave you shocked and bewildered, but ultimately wanting more! I loved the use of multiple perspectives as this really ramped up the drama and allowed the fast paced plot and quick twists and turns to come across really well. This has been a rollercoaster which I have not wanted to get off.

I have definitely been converted as a fan to this author and the so called “Tartan Noir” genre that he writes in. The setting is bleak, and the characters’ actions are bleaker, but this book is a dazzler!

I look forward to reading more from this author and definitely have a huge respect for him for the journey he has gone on to get this book written and published.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

P

Okay, confession time. I’ve never actually read a book by Jill Mansell until this one. “Outrage!” I hear you cry. I know, I know. You are 100% right. My mum has bought, read and loved every single book Jill Mansell has ever released. At first, in my younger years, it was a case of it not being ‘cool’ to read the same books/authors as my mum. I can now see how foolish that was!

So apart from the fact that this author has been on my TBR for a while now, I was drawn to this book by the bright cover and image, suggesting this book will be a lighthearted read, possibly about a journey or new beginnings.

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Blurb:

One magical night in Venice, Didi fell in love. But it ended – and he left without even saying goodbye.

Now, thirteen years on, Shay Mason is back.

The old spark is still there, but Didi’s determined to ignore it. As manager of a stunning Cotswolds hotel, she’s happy at last, and soon to be married. Anyway, Shay isn’t staying. He’s made a promise to his father. He’s going to keep it. And then he’ll be gone.

But Shay’s return stirs up long-forgotten emotions, and the scandal that led him to leave raises its head once again. It’s time for buried secrets to come to light. And it seems that this was someone’s intention all along . . .

My thoughts:

This was a wonderfully escapist read. I love it when a romance read transports me to a beautiful and enchanting setting, and this book takes you to not one, but two. The descriptions are detailed and evocative, so you are able to feel like you too are there with the characters.

This is also a dramatic read with lots of twists and turns along the way. It is definitely one that has given me all the feels due to all the ups and downs.

It is a clearly character driven story, and I was introduced to a whole host of likeable main and supporting characters.

This book is a feel-good, uplifting and easy read that is perfect for fans of this genre and authors such as Milly Johnson and Jessica Redland. Jill, for me, has definitely set a high standard for her work and I look forward to reading more by this author, and finally digging into her expansive and impressive back catalogue.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was drawn to this book by the dark and enchanting cover. The title is also really intriguing and the blurb suggested this book would be a little out of my comfort zone. It seemed this would definitely unsettle me, play mind games and leave me guessing, which I was looking forward to.

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Blurb:

One twin ran. The other vanished. Neither escaped…

DON’T TRUST ANYONE
Cat’s twin sister El has disappeared. But there’s one thing Cat is sure of: her sister isn’t dead. She would have felt it. She would have known.

DON’T TRUST YOUR MEMORIES
To find her sister, Cat must return to their dark, crumbling childhood home and confront the horrors that wait there. Because it’s all coming back to Cat now: all the things she has buried, all the secrets she’s been running from.

DON’T TRUST THIS STORY…
The closer Cat comes to the truth, the closer to danger she is. Some things are better left in the past…

My thoughts:

“A memory, after all, just like a belief, can still be a lie.”

At university, gothic fiction was one of my favourite genres but not one that I really read much of as part of my general reading habits, almost 10 years on. I am slowly discovering that there is such a thing as well-written modern, gothic fiction and this book definitely falls into this category.

This is a gripping story that explores the present, the recent past and the childhood of the two main characters: El and Cat. This ensured that the characters were complex and well-developed, though I didn’t find either of them, nor their love interest Ross, particularly likeable at all.

Despite this, I was still ultimately hooked on the story and wanted to find out what had happened to El, and what memories they’d buried from their possibly traumatic childhood.

This is definitely a dark story with some possible triggers, including discussions about abuse and suicide. I felt like these topics were handled well by the author.

The ending was unexpected for a number of reasons and rounded things off quite neatly, which I also didn’t expect.

Overall, this has been a dark and dramatic book that is quite addictive and definitely intriguing.

⭐⭐⭐.5

I am re-sharing my review today for this incredibly original and poignant book, which was one of my favourite books of 2020.

Blurb:

An emotionally charged and captivating novel about the complexities of female friendship and motherhood

Lizzie Thomson has landed her first job as a music teacher, and after a whirlwind romance with Markus, the newlywed couple move into a beautiful new home in the outskirts of Edinburgh. Lizzie quickly befriends their neighbour Morag, an elderly, resourceful yet lonely widow, whose own children rarely visit her. Everything seems perfect in Lizzie’s life until she finds out she is pregnant and her relationship with both Morag and Markus change beyond her control.

Can Lizzie really trust Morag and why is Markus keeping secrets from her?

In The Memories We Bury the author explores the dangerous bonds we can create with strangers and how past memories can cast long shadows over the present.

My thoughts:

I was drawn to this book first by this amazing cover. It might seem a bit out there to say “it spoke to me” but it really did. It is mysterious and eyecatching. The person on this cover has her head in the clouds, but to me is also trying to bury memories that need to be faced head on…

This is very true of the main characters, both Lizzie and Morag. Lizzie both have memories which they try to bury in order to achieve a happy and peaceful life. However, they discover that this can actually lead to loneliness and mental health issues. What will happen when these two lost souls become neighbours? Will it end as a dreamworld or a disaster?

The themes in the book are handled sophisticatedly and sensitively. I enjoyed reading about the enjoyed characters memories and experiences of motherhood, and how their character both builds and unravels as the plot develops. As Lizzie discovers, you cannot run from your past. A favourite quote from the book is “But the earth could not lay to rest painful thoughts and experiences from your past, because they were the very building blocks that shaped your personality, your beliefs and behaviour patterns.”

I really thought I had the ending sussed early on but the way the multiple perspectives were handled really made me question everything until the very last page, and I loved that!

This is a serious book that deals with the loneliness of motherhood, the difficulties of parenting, and the psychological lifelong impact of memories. However, there are some light scenes with elements of friendship, romance and family bonding. This delicate balance made this book an easy and excellent read, which I highly recommend to readers of domestic drama/supsense.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was attracted to this book by the gorgeously bright and eye-catching cover, as well as the interesting and unusual title. I was looking forward to an entertaining and romantic read!

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Blurb:

Carl has just announced he has bought their first home at auction without telling Natalie where it is, never mind showing her a picture of it.

Natalie is horrified to discover that the dream home is in Little Wyford, mere minutes away from Carl’s ex-wife Antonia. And to make matters worse, Antonia’s palatial country mansion has a fully-functioning roof (and a heated swimming pool!), unlike the ramshackle cottage Carl has bought for them…

Antonia is Little Wyford’s Queen Bee, mistress of the book club, organiser of the Christmas Fair and leader of the ladies-who-lunch. No matter how hard she tries, Natalie just doesn’t fit in, and when Antonia insists on referring to Carl as ‘Our Husband’, Natalie’s dreams of happily-ever-after take another nose dive.

Second-hand furniture has much to recommend it, especially when doing up a country cottage, second-hand clothes can be ever-so chic, but second-hand husbands are proving to be a very bad idea indeed… Can Natalie ever escape the label of Wife Number Two or is she destined to share her husband forever?

Hilariously funny, wickedly witty, but with a heart of gold and a warmth and wisdom that are all its own, A Second-Hand Husband is Claire Calman’s tour de force.

My thoughts:

Well I have to admit that this book wasn’t the romantic escape I was first expecting, but I actually really liked and respected that about it. It was refreshingly honest and steeped in realism about the complexities of relationships, extended families and work/life balance.

For every humorous or light-hearted moment in the book, there is also a more serious or dramatic one, and this gives the book a good balance.

I loved the characters in this book. Neither Carl nor Natalie come across as perfect, and they both go on a journey in which they learn the fallout of keeping secrets from one another. They both have their faults and their redeeming features. Carl is a hard-working, impulsive, dedicated man. Natalie is a creative, loving and self-conscious person. I loved that both these characters were developed and complex.

Overall, this has been a lovely book about the importance of friendship, communication, loyalty and learning to enjoy life. Second hand furniture and the idea of a “second hand” husband in the book serve as a reminder that nothing is perfect but when we understand its history, we can create something beautiful.

I would definitely recommend this book to fans of Camilla Isley, Judy Leigh and Shari Low. I look forward to reading more by this author.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was drawn to this book as I enjoy reading a mix of fiction and non-fiction, and I have read a lot of non-fiction about other people’s experiences which are different to my own, but I have never read a non-fiction book about the experience of being, or becoming, transgender or non-binary.

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Blurb:

So often when we see pop culture portrayals of trans people’s lives, hear stories shared by trans people about their transitions, or accounts by the media about trans people’s lives, those stories focus on misery and discomfort. Gender dysphoria, a feeling of deep discomfort with your birth-assigned gender, is a powerful catalyst for many non-cisgender people coming out or transitioning, but it’s not the be all and end all of our experiences.

For many non cisgender people, it’s not gender dysphoria that pushes forward transition, but gender euphoria, a powerful feeling of happiness experienced as a result of moving away from that birth-assigned gender. It’s that joy the first time a parent calls you by your new chosen name, or the first time you have the confidence to cut your hair short like you’ve always wanted, joy at embracing the self.

Featuring essays from 15 trans, non-binary, agender, gender fluid, and intersex authors, as well as several essays from author and trans woman Laura Kate Dale, Gender Euphoria: Stories of Joy from Trans, Non Binary and Intersex Writers seeks to show the world the sheer variety of ways being non cisgender can be a beautiful, joyful experience.

Laura Kate Dale has experienced countless moments of elation, pride, confidence, freedom, and ecstasy as a direct result of coming out as a trans woman the better part of a decade ago, and she is not alone. There are countless stories from trans, non binary, agender, gender fluid, and intersex people about the ways that coming to terms with gender brought unimaginable happiness and love into lives.

The anthology contains essays from a vast array of non-cisgender writers of different orientations, backgrounds, and with a varied selection of experiences to share. From an agender dominatrix being called ‘Daddy’, to an Arab trans man getting his first tattoos in spite of cultural taboo, a non-binary intersex writer not having to choose between puberties to a trans woman embracing her inner fighter.

My thoughts:

This is a ground-breaking book that explores in some depth issues of gender and sexuality. Also, within these themes it explores issues surrounding love, loyalty, family and generational progress and difference.

As a woman who was born this way and is happy to identify myself in this way, in some ways I expected to find this book quite hard to identify with and get into.

However, this is an easy, pleasant and poignant book that quickly encouraged me to reflect on my own (admittedly limited) experience of this topic, or feeling.

My most marked memory is a time when I entered a classroom as their new English teacher and was introduced to a boy called “Joe” (tbe name has been changed for privacy reasons). Imagine my confusion when there was no ‘Joe’ on the register but the only person who remained unaccounted for was a ‘Kayleigh’. Joe, to my eyes, was clearly a boy. He looked smart and comfortable in his shirt, trousers and shiny shoes. His haircut was stylish, and he spoke with a low, quiet voice. Whilst reading this book, I was reminded of the happy reaction my confusion had caused on this day. I had no name for it then, but I suppose what I helped ‘Joe’ experience on that day was gender euphoria.

Though of course, as we are reminded in this book, not every tale of transition is straightforward. In fact, most are not, but the fact that the people are able to share happy and non-judgemental stories of relationships, marriages, parenting and and non-nuclear families is testament to how far the world has come when it comes to understanding gender and sexuality.

Regardless of your feelings on these issues, which remain controversial despite the best efforts of many influential people and groups across the world, I really do urge you to read this book. I also challenge you to finish it without finding yourself wishing for, and appreciating the moments of ‘euphoria’. This is an uplifting and forward thinking book which has been insightful and provoked debate and thought. It has been a book which I have thoroughly enjoyed reading and I am glad exists.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I knew I had to be involved in the tour for this book as I had really enjoyed the previous book, House at Magpie Cove. Once again, the cover is beautifully illustrated and the title is intriguing and got me thinking.

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Blurb:

Lila had a favourite rock to sit on towards the back of the cove, where she often ate her breakfast, gazing out at the tumbling Cornish sea. As the sun rose that morning, Lila wished with all her heart that the grey-green waves could wash away her old life. That Magpie Cove would help her move on, and to forget…

When aspiring pastry chef Lila Bridges flees her life in the city after a heartbreaking tragedy, she finds herself working behind the counter at Magpie Cove’s most beloved local establishment – Serafina’s Café. The sweet, buttery aroma of freshly baked chocolate croissants, the cheerful gossip of the regulars and the elderly owner Serafina’s feisty humour are a much-needed balm to Lila’s broken heart. For the first time since it happened, Lila is beginning to laugh again…

But when Serafina unexpectedly passes away, the future of the café looks bleak. Nathan Da Costa, Serafina’s estranged son, inherits, and returns to Magpie Cove determined to inject some big-city glamour into the place. To Lila, it seems impossible that dour, money-obsessed Nathan could be related to dear Serafina. He may have his mother’s mop of curly dark hair and deep brown eyes, but he has none of her warmth or heart.

Lila needs this job and the sense of peace the town has brought her, so she’s determined to make it work with Nathan as her new boss. But her resolution is tested when the secret Lila has been keeping about what brought her to the cove begins to unravel, just as she discovers an unexpected, sweeter side to Nathan. Will trusting Nathan Da Costa with her long-held secret be Lila’s new beginning in Magpie Cove, or her emotional undoing?

Be totally transported to the windswept beaches of Cornwall with this heart-warming and unputdownable story that will leave a huge smile on your face. Perfect for fans of Shari Low, Veronica Henry and Heidi Swain.

My thoughts:

Kennedy Kerr has definitely done a great job of transporting me once again to the beautiful scenery of Cornwall and Magpie Cove. I can see the benefit of having read the first in the series as I already had a sort of emotional connection and familiarity with the place and the style of writing. However, this is also a book that works well as a standalone if you’re not a typical series reader.

Lila is a lovely, hard-working and genuine character who I was rooting for. However, Nathan also plays an important role in the story and Kennedy does a great job of creating two well‐developed and complex characters here.

The setting is beautiful, atmospheric and gives the book a much needed escapist feel. The story-line is engaging with elements of mystery, humour but overall a strong sense of community through the use of supporting characters.

After reading this lovely book, I am definitely looking forward to reading more by this author and would recommend her work to fans of Jessica Redland and Heidi Swain.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

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