The Neighbour's Secret by Sharon Bolton

 

A new neighbour, alongside the annual gathering of an evangelical church with questionable practices, proves alluring to one resident of a small village in the Lake District.

I've been a fan of Sharon Bolton since she burst onto the scene back in 2008 when, writing as S. J. Bolton, Sacrifice was published. I loved her previous novel, The Fake Wife, but freely admit that I didn't like the opening pages and could easily have abandoned it. Her new novel was similar, The Neighbour's Secret is definitely a slow burner. The interaction between the neighbour, while being creepy, didn't hold my attention until a couple of other elements were introduced.

The narrator is a definite nosy parker, someone who knows everything that is going on in the small village. They are intrigued when Anna Brown moves in next door and opens a small bakery. Intrigue probably isn't the correct description, borderline obsession is definitely a better fit, particularly as it's obvious that Anna is hiding a secret.

While the obsession grows we are introduced to members of an evangelical church who descend on the village every year for "The Gathering", a fortnight-long convention that takes place just outside the village. The actual events which take place during the convention are a closely guarded secret but the event itself is tolerated by the villagers as the congregation brings in as much revenue over the two weeks as they make the remainder of the year. I always find the presence of fervent religious groups adds a creepy element to any storyline, particularly when their practises are secret. Rumors surround the events taking place at the gathering, adding a sinister tone to the proceedings.

The malevolent tone is increased rapidly with the introduction of another character and storyline. Seventeen-year-old Jago Morgan ran amuck through his school canteen and attempted to stab one of his teachers. We join him as he is taking part in meetings with a psychiatrist to determine if his mental health was a contributing factor. Initially, it appears to be an unrelated thread, but slowly the storyline begins to merge with the others. Jago is a psychopath, highly manipulative and one of the most terrifying characters I've come across recently.

Author Sharon Bolton has you unsettled from the very beginning of this psychological thriller as you are never really sure who is hiding secrets. There is a strong sense of evil and you begin to wonder who the villain of the story is. Lots of red herrings meant that I found myself holding my breath and constantly on edge, curious as to what was going to happen.

The Neighbour's Secret by Sharon Bolton will be published on 7th November 2024 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing for a review copy.

Author Details

Sharon (formerly S J) Bolton lives in Buckinghamshire with her husband and, occasionally, her grown up son and is working on her eighteenth novel; her eighth with Orion. Her first book, Sacrifice, was voted Best New Read by Amazon.uk, whilst her second, Awakening, won the 2010 Mary Higgins Clark Award (part of the prestigious Edgars) in the US. In 2014, she won the CWA Dagger in the Library. She has been shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger, the CWA Steel Dagger, the Theakston’s Prize for Best Thriller, the International Thriller Writers’ Best First Novel award, the Prix Du Polar in France and the Martin Beck award in Sweden.

You All Die Tonight by Simon Kernick

 

Seven people find themselves locked in a house and monitored by cameras. A disembodied voice tells them that unless one of them confesses to murder they will all die within twelve hours. 

Author Simon Kernick writes pacey thrillers that hook you from the very start and are full of twists. I still remember picking up my first novel by the author, Relentless, and being unable to put it down. You Will All Die Tonight continues in the same vein.

From the very beginning, I felt as if I was in something from the Saw franchise as Colton Lightfoot wakes from a drugged state to find himself locked inside a large house and no knowledge of how he got there. He quickly learns he's not alone as six more people surface, all waking from being drugged. Colton quickly realises that the people around him are not strangers, they are all people who were linked to the Black Lake massacre, an unsolved murder that happened four years earlier.

Black Lake House was the home of George Barratt and his family. Barratt looked after the investments of wealthy clients. Four years previously intruders had broken into the house murdering Barratt, along with his wife and son. Barratt's business partner, Gary Querell, along with his wife Claire, were also staying over. Claire was also murdered and Querell was left for dead.

Alongside Colton and Querell, others trapped in the house are Querell's girlfriend, Barratt's brother and sister-in-law, a Russian gangster that Barratt was laundering money for and the detective who was investigating the murders.

The animosity between the various characters is obvious from the beginning, with each accusing the others of being responsible for their current predicament. The situation quickly takes a turn for the worse when a disembodied voice explains that they've all been injected with an unidentifiable poison that will kill them within twelve hours unless the person responsible for the murders confesses. This causes the tension to rise rapidly, with open hostility visible as they accuse each other. Each of them continues to deny they had anything to do with the murders.

As the storyline switches between the present and the police investigation four years ago we learn that virtually everyone had a motive and the alibi's offered were spurious. Simon Kernick delivers one shocking twist after another as lies and secrets are uncovered. It is impossible to guess who is guilty and as the deadline approaches it looks as if the murderer is prepared for everyone to die in order to keep their crime hidden.

You All Die Tonight by Simon Kernick will be published on 7th November 2024 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Headline Publishing for a review copy.

Author Details

Simon Kernick is a number one bestseller and one of the UK’s most popular thriller writers, with huge hits including KILL A STRANGER, GOOD COP BAD COP, RELENTLESS, THE LAST 10 SECONDS, SIEGE and the BONE FIELD series.

What A Way To Go by Bella Mackie (Audiobook)

 

Wealthy financier Anthony Wistern is found dead in the lake at his exclusive property during the lavish birthday party is wife Olivia is hosting. The manner of his death is suspicious. As the police and a local amateur detective investigate the list of suspects keeps increasing.

What A Way To Go by Bella Mackie is deliciously devious. If you enjoyed the author's debut novel, How To Kill Your Family, then you have an idea of the satirical style to expect but this time around it is raised a notch as fun is poked at the wealthy.

Based around the possible murder of Anthony Wsitern, the story is told from three different points of view, Olivia, his widow, Jade, a YouTube detective, and Anthony himself. The three different narrators, Kimberley Capero, Gabrielle Glaister and Colin Mace each voice their respective characters perfectly. Using three very distinct voices means that it is easy for the listener to follow the storyline as it jumps between the different characters.

Olivia Wistern is the ultimate snob. She's not upset at all by her husband's death. We quickly learn that as far as she's concerned image is everything. Thanks to the brilliant narration of Gabrielle Glaister Olivia comes across as cold and calculating, with little affection for her four adult children. The children are spoilt as a result of their upbringing and seem to expect their parents to maintain the lifestyle in which they were raised.

The amateur detective, Jade Evans, has a bit of a grudge against Anthony Wistern and this amplifies her delusion. She feels that because she is investigating a possible murder she can say what she wants, challenge anyone and access anywhere.

The final part of the trio is Anthony Wistern. The author has placed his "soul" in limbo, you can only move on to the "next place" once you figure out how you died. Being in limbo means that Anthony can see how his family behaves following his death, but he can't interact with them in any way. Pompous beyond belief and refusing to accept any responsibility for the way he lived means that Anthony is stuck in limbo for far longer than anyone else ever has been.

As the story jumps between the three main characters we get a real sense of how self-centered, spoilt and greedy everyone is as the author pokes fun at the lifestyle of the wealthy. There are lots of twists along the way to keep you listening, I was quite upset when this irreverent tale ended.

What A Way To Go by Bella Mackie is available in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK Audio for a review copy. 

Author Details

Bella Mackie’s debut novel How to Kill Your Family was a #1 Sunday Times bestseller and spent 47 weeks in the top 10 in paperback. She is the author of the Sunday Times bestselling nonfiction Jog On, and has written for the Guardian, Vogue and Vice. In 2023 she judged the Women’s Prize for Fiction and her work has been shortlisted for the British Book Awards.

September 2024 Reads

 

Another month where I don’t seem to have read much, concentration lacking again, but most of what I did read was brilliant. What did happen was that I completed my Goodreads 2024 reading challenge with three months to spare!

September opened with an absolute cracker, The Examiner by Janice Hallett. Six mature students are enrolled on a multi-media MA course. Through a variety of messages and emails it soon becomes obvious that one of the students is missing, possibly murdered. The clash of personalities, twists and shocks keep you gripped. This is the sort of book that you could devour in one sitting, I kept distracting myself, trying to drag it out, as I didn’t want it to end.

An addition to the cosy crime genre is Miss Beeton’s Murder Agency by Josie Lloyd. Alice Beeton, a distant relative of Mrs Beeton, runs an agency vetting domestic staff for wealthy clients. When one of her placements is murdered Alice goes undercover, thanks to her love of crime fiction, to investigate. I loved the wealth of characters but felt the pacing let the story down.

In Too Deep by Lee Child and Andrew Child is book 29 in the hugely popular Jack Reacher series. The book opens with Reacher on the back foot as he wakes after a car accident with no knowledge of the hours leading up to the accident. One of his captors offers him help if he helps him in return. Undercover FBI agents, high-end art theft and a mysterious document all feature.

Richard Osman has started a new series with We Solve Murders. Social media influencers are being murdered and all clues point to Amy Wheeler, a bodyguard for the rich and famous. In an effort to clear her name, she enlists the help of her father-in-law, Steve, an ex-police officer. The hunt to find the real killer takes them jet-setting around the globe. Luckily, they are able to use the private jet, and much more, of Amy’s latest client, Rosie D’Antonio, the world’s second bestselling novelist. The plot is convoluted but the characters are absolutely wonderful.

The sixth book in the Skelf series, Living Is A Problem, by Doug Johnstone has all the things that fans of the series love. The three women who run a funeral business investigate a missing Ukrainian refugee, a feud between criminal gangs and the desecration of a grave. All of this is done under the shadow of the aftermath of the previous book. This is a story about connections, kindness and support, but there is a price to pay for some of them.

The Crow Trap is the first book I’ve read by author Ann Cleeves and gave me an introduction to DI Vera Stanhope. This is very much a psychological thriller surrounding the suicide of a farmer’s wife followed by the murder of a conservationist who is working on an environmental impact study for a possible quarry on land adjacent to the farm. Vera is barely mentioned until halfway through, but when she does arrive this unconventional character is difficult to forget.

Only one audiobook finished this month, A Most Unusual Demise by Katherine Black. This cosy murder mystery was originally published in paperback and ebook format in 2023, it has now been released as an audiobook. This cosy mystery is slightly darker in tone than many books in the genre, with an opening chapter that grabs your attention. The mix of eccentric characters carry the story along. I’ll certainly be checking out other books in the series.

Publication dates to watch out for are:-

In Too Deep by Lee Child and Andrew Child will be published on 22/10/24 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

Miss Beeton’s Murder Agency by Josie Lloyd will be published on 24/10/24 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

The Crow Trap by Ann Cleeves

 

The work of three female conservationists close to an isolated farm is disrupted when the farmer's wife commits suicide. When one of the conservationists is found murdered questions begin to arise about the suicide victim and her reason for taking her own life. DI Vera Stanhope arrives to investigate, probing into the lives of everyone connected.

The Crow Trap by Ann Cleeves is not only my introduction to Vera Stanhope (I've not seen any of the TV series - yet) but also the first book by the author I've read. I've no idea why it's taken me this long to pick up a novel by Ann Cleeves but I was determined to read something before going to the Bay Tales Crime Festival in March 2025 (If you are interested in finding out more about this check out @bay_tales on Twitter/X).

This is very much a murder mystery, rather than a police procedural; I was very surprised that Vera didn't really make her mark until almost halfway through what is quite a chunky book. The three women, Rachael, Annie and Grace, have all been employed to carry out an environmental impact report on land close to Black Law Farm. A quarry is to be opened on nearby land, bringing mixed fortunes for the local community. While carrying out the study the women have access to a rundown cottage nearby.

Rachael, the assumed leader of the trio, has built up a relationship with Bella, the farmer's wife, and is understandably shocked and saddened when she discovers Bella's body. Questions swirl about possible reasons and there is even doubt surrounding whether Bella actually took her own life. It soon becomes apparent that no one actually knows anything about Bella before she arrived in the area seven years ago. As Rachael digs into Bella's background she uncovers dark secrets.

Each of the women is hiding secrets and as a result, there is a lack of trust between all three. I didn't particularly warm to any of the women, although when we discovered their backstories I felt more sympathetic towards Grace.

It is the murder of one of the women that prompts the arrival of DI Vera Stanhope. There are a couple of very fleeting references to a "bag lady" earlier in the book but it is when she arrives to investigate the murder that we see her in all her unconventional glory. Vera doesn't care for appearances or feelings, although she's not emotionally illiterate. She likens her job of investigating and uncovering clues to listening to gossip. Vera's appearance gives people the wrong impression, assuming because of her unkempt appearance she will be poor at her job, but she's a keen observer, she listens into conversations, sometimes when people don't realise she's nearby.

There is a long list of suspects and none of them are particularly likeable. Sex, greed or power seems to be the driving factor for most of them. As the investigation continues we dig deeper into the background of the suspects and also learn about Vera's upbringing, which gives us a greater understanding of her character.

I will certainly be reading more books in the series and I'll even check out the TV series at some point.

Author Details

Ann Cleeves is the author of more than thirty-five critically acclaimed novels, and in 2017 was awarded the highest accolade in crime writing, the CWA Diamond Dagger. She is the creator of popular detectives Vera Stanhope, Jimmy Perez and Matthew Venn, who can be found on television in ITV’s Vera, BBC One’s Shetland and ITV's The Long Call respectively. The TV series and the books they are based on have become international sensations, capturing the minds of millions worldwide.

Ann worked as a probation officer, bird observatory cook and auxiliary coastguard before she started writing. She is a member of ‘Murder Squad’, working with other British northern writers to promote crime fiction. Ann also spends her time advocating for reading to improve health and wellbeing and supporting access to books. In 2021 her Reading for Wellbeing project launched with local authorities across the North East. She lives in North Tyneside where the Vera books are set.

Miss Beeton's Murder Agency by Josie Lloyd

 

Alice Beeton runs The Good Household Management Agency, a company that vets domestic staff for wealthy clients. When one of her placements is murdered Alice, along with her friends, investigate the murder and she finds herself closer to the action than she expected.

Josie Lloyd has written Miss Beeton's Murder Academy with a lightness of touch and gossipy style, which puts it firmly in the cosy crime genre. Combined with the cosy crime is another popular addition, the inclusion of recipes. This works particularly well as the main character, Alice Beeton, is a distant relative of Mrs Beeton.

Alice is the wrong side of fifty but is mainly content with her life. She has a wide circle of friends, a successful business and her beloved dog, Agatha. There are a couple of niggles; the noisy upstairs neighbours and the fact that her brother seems to be letting the family home fall into ruin.

Serendipity is at work when a young woman, Enya, signs on with the agency. At almost the same time Alice fields a call from a client desperate for a replacement housekeeper immediately. Enya seems to be the perfect fit and is able to start right away. Within days Enya is found murdered and the police are struggling to discover the culprit. Alice, thanks to her love of crime fiction, decides to go undercover as the new housekeeper to investigate and finds herself embroiled in high-end art theft.

During the investigation, Alice is supported by a host of friends. I loved the two women who work at the agency, Helly and Jinx. Jinx is a complete contrast to Alice. She's flamboyant, outspoken and seems to know everyone. There are also a couple of characters who have highly prized skills thanks to their previous employment working for the security services.

The first two-thirds of the book is really just developing the characters and setting the scene, the action doesn't begin to happen until the final third, and I felt this let the story down. I loved all of the characters and the gossipy style but just felt the pace was too slow. I would certainly read a sequel now that I've got to know all the characters.

Miss Beeton's Murder Agency by Josie Lloyd will be published on 24th October 2024. My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for a review copy.

Author Details

Mother of three teens and a beloved dog, Ziggy, Josie lives in Brighton in the UK with her husband, Emlyn Rees, with whom she sometimes co-writes. Together they have written seven internationally best-selling novels, including Come Together, which was number one for ten weeks, published in twenty-seven languages and made into a Working Title film. They've also written several parodies of their favourite children's books, including 'We're Going On A Bar Hunt', 'The Very Hungover Caterpillar' and 'The Teenager Who Came To Tea'.

Living Is A Problem by Doug Johnstone

 

Still coming to terms with the near-death attacks by a local police officer, the Skelfs find themselves investigating the disappearance of a Ukrainian refugee, gangland warfare and a case very close to home.

A new addition to the Skelf series by Doug Johnstone is always a highlight of the year. Book 6 in the series, Living Is A Problem, is probably my favourite. I'm still not sure how a book about three women who run a funeral business and solve crimes works, but it does. I suspect part of it is that the books make you think; think about your place in the universe and about connections. The other element is enlightening the reader about death, normalising conversations about the topic and making you aware of how the business of death has moved with the times and that we now have far more options available to us.

As usual, the book opens at a funeral service, this time around it's for the head of one of Edinburgh's criminal gangs. More often than not the opening chapters of the series have a humorous element, this time around the tone is far more serious and sees Jenny desperately try to prevent open warfare between rival gangs.

Dorothy finds herself struggling to help her partner Thomas. Following the attacks at the end of the previous book, The Opposite Of Lonely, Thomas is in a dark place, refusing any type of counselling. The sense of community Dorothy gets from being involved in a collective of musicians has certainly helped her to come to terms with the brutal attack, but it has also brought her a new case. Yana, a Ukrainian refugee, who is part of the choir has gone missing, leaving behind her children.

Hannah is trying to decide what to do next after finishing her PhD in astrophysics. Helping out at the funeral home she learns that Brodie, one of their employees, is worried that someone has attacked the grave of his stillborn son. As Hannah investigates she uncovers more about Brodie and also becomes intrigued by panpsychism (the belief that everything is conscious).

The investigation by each member of the family leads to greater problems for each of them, but overshadowing it all is the threat posed by Don Webster, the police officer who almost killed Dorothy and Thomas. This threat fills you with a sense of foreboding as you read, wondering where the danger will surface next.

It was lovely to see Jenny being kinder to herself and in a happy place. However, Doug Johnstone, has this knack of showing us that in the universe everything is connected and there needs to be balance. With one of the family discovering happiness, another seems to pay the price, leading to an ending that left me quite bereft.

Author Details

Doug Johnstone is the author of Fourteen novels, includingThe Great Silence, the third in the Skelfs series, which has been optioned for  In 2021, The Big Chill, the second in the series, was longlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. In 2020, A Dark Matter, the first in the series, was shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year and the Capital Crime Amazon Publishing Independent Voice Book of the Year award. Black Hearts (Book four), was published in 2022, with The Opposite of Lonely (book five) out in 2023. Several of his books have been bestsellers and award winners, and his first science fiction novel, The Space Between Us, was a BBC2 Between the Covers pick. He’s taught creative writing, been writer in residence at various institutions, and has been an arts journalist for twenty years. Doug is a songwriter and musician with five albums and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers. He lives in Edinburgh.