Sharp Glass by Sarah Hilary

 

A young woman is hired to pack up an isolated empty house. When she arrives she is knocked unconscious and wakes to find herself held captive in the basement. Her captor is convinced she knows something about the murder of a teenage girl. 

Having purchased a ticket for the crime and thriller festival Bay Tales 2025 I was acutely aware that I hadn't read anything by some of the authors appearing. In an effort to rectify this, I've added a few  books to my TBR pile. Sharp Glass by Sarah Hilary was next on my reading list in preparation for the event.

I went into this book completely blind. Obviously, I knew it was a thriller, but other than all the praise it has garnered on Twitter I knew nothing about it. Dare I even admit I didn't read the blurb beforehand, not that it would have made any difference to me selecting the novel.

This is one of those twisty thrillers where you really have to keep your wits about you as you read. We are faced with not one but two unreliable narrators. Grace Maddox (or is it Gwen Leonard?) is hired to pack up the contents of an empty house. As she arrives at the isolated property she is knocked unconscious. When she wakes she finds herself trapped in a basement. Her captor, Dan, promises her she is safe, all he wants is information from her.

Dan, a gifted doctor, is grieving. The daughter of close friends was murdered a year ago. The murder remains unsolved and desperate for some closure for himself and his friends he's kidnapped Grace, convinced she can shed some light on the murder.

Over a number of days, the questioning goes back and forth. I was reminded very much of two well-matched fighters circling each other; ducking, weaving, and feinting. Trying to land a decisive blow that would bring their opponent to their knees. Both characters are tenacious and neither can be relied upon for total honesty and reliability. Various suspects are offered up as the interrogation continues, suspects who have means and opportunity. There are red herrings galore though, not just in the unreliable narrators. 

By the conclusion I felt as if I'd been a punching bag for both characters, my head was reeling. I didn't like either character at the beginning but by the end I had some sympathy and respect for both.

Author Details

Sarah Hilary’s debut, Someone Else’s Skin, won the Theakston Crime Novel of the Year Award and was also a World Book Night selection, a Richard & Judy Book Club pick and a finalist for both the Silver Falchion and the Macavity Awards in the US. No Other Darkness, the second in her DI Marnie Rome series, was shortlisted for a Barry Award. The series continued with Tastes Like Fear, Quieter Than Killing, Come and Find Me and Never Be Broken. Black Thorn is her second standalone novel, following Fragile.

Stay Awake by Megan Goldin (Audiobook)

 

Liv Reese wakes in the back of a New York taxi with no knowledge of how she got there. Scrawled across her hands and arms is the message "Stay awake" and in her pocket is a blood-covered knife. In desperation, she heads to the sanctuary of her apartment only to discover she no longer lives there and two years seems to have disappeared from her memory.

As I was scrolling through BorrowBos to find my next audiobook I came across Stay Awake by Megan Goldin and the blurb immediately grabbed my attention. The outline of the plot sounded twisty enough to keep me enthralled. When I first started listening I was put off by the narration, it was very soporific. This was probably intentional, to play alongside the story of a woman trying to stay awake for fear of what will happen if she falls asleep. Thankfully, BorrowBox offers the facility to speed up the narration so I listened to it at x1.25 speed and found it much better.

The storyline is full of twists, jumping between the present day when Liv finds herself running from the police, the suspect in a gruesome murder, and trying to find out how two years have disappeared from her memory, and two years ago. The time jumps are clearly labelled but I found it difficult at times to remember whether I was in the past or the present, keeping track of the time period is probably easier reading a print version.

Following Liv through her attempts to discover what she has done you get a real sense of fear, alongside her confusion. Not knowing who she can trust, her only hope is to turn to the people she was once close to, her flatmate and her boyfriend. Unfortunately, they prove elusive as she tries to track them down while evading the police.

We slowly learn what has happened to Liv and why two years have disappeared from her memory, however, the sense of menace is all-pervading. 

Fans of the film Memento or the novel Before I Go To Sleep by S. J. Watson would enjoy this creepy and unsettling story.

Author Details

Megan Goldin worked as a correspondent for Reuters and other media outlets where she covered war, peace, international terrorism and financial meltdowns in the Middle East and Asia. She is now based in Melbourne, Australia where she raises three sons and is a foster mum to Labrador puppies learning to be guide dogs. She is the author of The Escape Room, The Night Swim, and Stay Awake.

Queen Bee by Jane Fallon (Audiobook)

 

Newly divorced Laura urgently needs somewhere to live after the house she was buying falls through. The annex to a mansion on an exclusive close seems to offer the perfect temporary solution she needs, until one of the female neighbours suspects Laura is after her partner. Appalled, Laura is determined to clear her name.

I was quite surprised when I looked at author Jane Fallon's back catalogue that I haven't actually read any of her books. Queen Bee offered me something light, as a relief from what I was actually reading. I am pleased to say that the story didn't quite live up to expectations. I anticipated light and frothy, but was pleasantly surprised by the slight mystery element and then the idea of a wronged woman getting her own back.

When Laura moves into the studio apartment on an exclusive estate she is very apprehensive. The people around her, and their lifestyles, are out of her league. Fortunately, her landlady is very approachable and makes every effort to integrate Laura with the other women. Things seem to be going well until Stella, the eponymous Queen Bee, suspects Laura is chasing her fiance, Al. Laura is taken aback. She knows Al as her cleaning company cleans his offices, but other than that she has no contact with him. Following the accusation the other women begin to shun Laura, making her very uncomfortable.

Determined to clear her name, Laura uses her access to Al's office to spy on him. When she uncovers his secret she decides to break the news to Stella. Being the bearer of bad news is not an easy thing, many people would shy away from this, deciding not to get involved. It is completely understandable that Laura rises to the challenge; not only has her name been tainted but she's also still trying to come to terms with her own divorce.

I enjoyed the turn of events when Stella believed Laura, particularly when she learnt the shocking news that she was about to be left penniless. Stella has lived a privileged lifestyle, she has a nanny to look after her children and a housekeeper to cook and clean, and she doesn't even know how to make a cup of coffee. Stella is on a steep learning curve as, aided by Laura, she learns basic household skills and, more importantly, begins to squirrel money away. Some of the expenses mentioned in the story are eye-watering, showing that I really don't know how the other half lives.

The secretive nature of trying to keep Al in the dark while Stella built up her nest egg stopped this story from becoming too trivial. There were unexpected twists for both Stella and Laura to deal with. Strong supporting characters enhanced the story as they helped Laura in her quest.

Author Details

Jane Fallon is the multi-award-winning television producer behind shows such as This Life, Teachers and 20 Things to Do before You're 30. Her debut novel "Getting Rid of Matthew' was published in 2007 and became a Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller as have her subsequent books 'Got You Back', 'Foursome', 'The Ugly Sister', 'Skeletons', 'Strictly Between Us','My Sweet Revenge', 'Faking Friends' and 'Tell Me a Secret'

Goodbye Birdie Greenwing by Ericka Waller

 

Elderly Birdie Greenwing has received the devastating news that she has terminal cancer. With only a matter of months left to live, she expects her decline to be a lonely one. Thankfully, chance brings some of her neighbours into her life, ensuring she's not alone.

I heard about Goodbye Birdie Greenwing by Ericka Waller pre-publication thanks to lots of amazing praise on Twitter. Desperate to read the book I bought it and then let it sit on my TBR pile for months. After a glut of thrillers, I decided a switch of genre was needed and plumped for a visit with Birdie.

I hesitate to say I needed some light relief, this book certainly isn't "light". While there are moments of joy, laughter, and hope, the main story is filled with sadness. Writer Ericka Waller has handled the main themes with a lightness of touch that makes the book immensely readable and fills you with optimism.

Birdie has lived alone since the deaths of her husband and twin sister. She's a proud woman, stoic and uncompromising. Loneliness surrounds Birdie, her only companion is her dog, and she knows that her death with be a lonely one. Jane, and her daughter Frankie, are Birdie's neighbours. They've recently moved to Brighton and have issues of their own. Living on the same road is Ada, who is also Birdie's oncologist. Ada has built a barrier between herself and the people around her, she refuses to let anyone get close to her. An accident brings the three women together and as a result, their lives blossom.

Birdie reminded me so much of my mother and the women of her generation. Capable of virtually anything, they accepted whatever life threw at them and just got on with it. Help was not something they would seek out, or easily accept, but tight-knit communities would always find a way of ensuring those that needed help received it. 

I did shed a tear, and then immediately started laughing, as the curtain was lowered on Birdie's life. In her final few months, she learnt that by letting people in she was given a new lease on life; a message we should all take to heart.

Author Details

Ericka Waller is 38 and lives in Brighton with three daughters, too many pets and a husband. She is an award winning blogger and columnist. When not writing she can be found walking her dogs, reading in the bath or buying stuff off eBay.

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.