Human Remains by Jo Callaghan

 

The discovery of human remains on a riverbank has the Future Policing team investigating possible links to the Aston Strangler, the case that made DCS Kat Frank's career, and is suddenly in the public eye because of a podcast series.

From the chilling opening through to the ominous close, Human Remains by Jo Callaghan will have you gripped. This is the third book in the Kat and Lock series, which features an experienced detective working alongside a holographic AI assistant. The first book in the series, the award-winning In The Blink Of An Eye (review here) introduced the characters and the premise for using Artificial Intelligence in solving crime. In the second book, Leave No Trace (review here) we find Kat getting used to her new partner and Lock adapting as he learns. Book three takes a darker tone.

Following the events at the end of Leave No Trace, the Future Policing team are back to working cold cases because of the public reaction to the use of AI. Frustrated by this Kat argues to be given the investigation into the skeletal remains found on the riverbank since they could be seventy years old. When it turns out that the remains are only a year old the press and public immediately jump to conclusions and assume it is the work of the Aston Strangler.

The Aston Strangler was Kat's first big case and has recently returned to the public eye because of a podcast raising doubts about the conviction. With the discovery of a body, the media begin to stir up fear that the real killer has never been caught.

Over a series of books character development is key. Kat is much more comfortable relying on Lock, however, there are times when she feels awkward in his presence even though he's just a hologram. There is also the issue of Lock following instructions to the letter, which can result in him disregarding vital information. Kat's reliance on Lock begins to cause animosity with other team members who feel they are being overlooked.

The biggest development is in Lock. We've seen Lock use data analysis and interactions with people to learn and adapt. This continues throughout the book, but the big question is what is the end goal? And is everyone in agreement concerning that goal? As I read, my big concern was how sentient Lock is. I cannot wait to see what the next book in the series brings.

Author Details

Jo Callaghan works full time as a senior strategist, carrying out research into the future impact of AI and genomics on the workforce. She was a student of the Writers' Academy Course (Penguin Random House) and was longlisted for the Mslexia Novel Writing Competition and Bath Novel Competition. After losing her husband to cancer in 2019 when she was just forty-nine, she started writing In the Blink of an Eye, her debut crime novel, which explores learning to live with loss and what it means to be human. She lives with her two children in the Midlands, where she spends far too much time tweeting as @JoCallaghanKat and is currently working on further novels in the series.

By Your Side by Ruth Jones

 

Arranging the funeral and tracking down relatives of a loner who died on a remote Hebridean island is the final job of Linda Standish before she retires. Little does she realise the impact it will have on her future.

By Your Side is the fourth book from Ruth Jones and easily her best, it offers the reader everything; romance, humour, mystery and heartbreak. Filled with a multitude of remarkable characters, I could have happily turned back to the beginning and started reading again once I'd finished.

Linda is happy with her life, although she's divorced she isn't lonely as her son and grandson currently live with her, she also loves her job working for the local council in the Unclaimed Heirs Unit. When someone dies and there's no obvious next of kin it's Linda's job to arrange the funeral and try to trace any distant relatives. Unfortunately, downsizing at the council is forcing early retirement on Linda. In the run-up to Christmas she has one last job to do, travel to a Hebridean island and bring back the body of Levi Norman, a loner who has lived on the island for six years.

You get an immediate idea of Linda's character, in her role working for the council she is extremely professional, the rest of the time she is cheerful and easygoing, apart from where her ex-daughter-in-law is concerned. Linda is accompanied on her trip by a local undertaker, someone she went to school with. The pair delight in annoying each other and it's very funny the way they always address each other by their full names, Linda Standish and Fergus Murray.

Once the pair arrive on the island of Storrich we are introduced to a host of wonderful characters and a relaxed way of life. Everyone knows everyone else, doors are never locked and everybody helps out when the need arises. As Linda and Fergus are welcomed by the community, mystery surrounds why Levi never integrated. We are given a glimpse into the past and meet a younger Levi, a solitary figure, happy in his own company, with a strong sense of right and wrong. This leads to Levi unexpectedly finding happiness. I felt my heart breaking for Levi as the happiness was torn away from him in the cruelest possible way.

All of the different threads had me completely immersed, desperately wanting a happy ending for everyone involved. Ruth Jones has managed to tread a fine line between uplifting and melancholy, with a huge dollop of comfort thrown in for good measure. I would love to see a return to the island of Storrich in the future. 

By Your Side by Ruth Jones will be published on 22nd May 2025 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Transworld Publishers for a review copy.

Author Details

Ruth Jones MBE is well known for her television work, most notably BBC One’s multi-award-winning Gavin and Stacey, co-written with James Corden, in which she played Nessa Jenkins. The 2019 and 2024 Christmas specials of this well-loved show garnered viewing figures of 18 million and 21 million respectively. Ruth also created and co-wrote several series of Stella for Sky TV, for which she was BAFTA nominated. Other TV work includes Hattie, Nighty Night and Saxondale. In 2024 Ruth played Mother Superior in Sister Act the Musical at London’s Dominion Theatre. Her latest acting role is Elena Ravenscroft in Harlan Coben’s Run Away for Netflix.

Ruth’s novels have sold over a million copies. Never Greener was a Sunday Times bestseller for fifteen weeks, three weeks at number one, as well as WHSmith Fiction Book of the Year 2018, a nominated Debut of the Year at the British Book Awards, and a Zoe Ball Book Club pick. Her second novel, Us Three, and her third novel, Love Untold, were also instant Sunday Times bestsellers. Love Untold was a Waterstones Paperback of the Year, as well as a Richard & Judy Book Club pick.

Dead Water by Simon Toyne

A body, missing its head and hands, is washed up on the banks of the Thames. When a name is found scrawled on the body it hints at danger for Dr. Laughton Rees.

Dead Water by Simon Toyne is a fitting addition to the Rees and Khan series. I loved the first two books in the series, Dark Objects (review here) and The Clearing (review here). The Clearing has recently been republished as Blood Traces. While you don't need to read the first two books in the series to enjoy Dead Water they do give an understanding of the history and relationships of the people involved in the story, both of which are very significant.

The story takes place almost a year after the events of The Clearing and Laughton Rees and DCI Tannahill Khan are ready to take their relationship to the next level - moving in together. The only stumbling block is Laughton's teenage daughter, Gracie, who hasn't really warmed to Khan. The plan is to sit down together and break the news to Gracie when Khan is called to the discovery of a body.

The rising tide puts time constraints on the inspection of the body, but a scrawled message on its arm immediately makes Khan believe that Laughton may be in danger. Across town Laughton and Gracie are having a heated discussion, Gracie is resentful of Khan becoming part of their lives. One of the major reasons for Gracie's hostility is that she doesn't know who her own father is. Deciding that Gracie is old enough to understand, Laughton explains what happened to her as a teenager.

All of this is the build-up to a knock on the door which plunges Laughton back into a past she thought she'd put behind her. Shadowy figures strain relationships and put lives in danger as someone linked to Laughton's dead father is out for revenge. The pace never lets up in a frantic race against time, the use of the tide patterns of the River Thames really adds to the time pressure of the storyline. I particularly enjoyed the way in which policing, the media and political ambition were woven into the story, reflecting the things that we are seeing in life.

As the momentum built I found my heart racing, wondering how more deaths could be prevented. The final scenes are enough to make you hold your breath, literally! The ending leaves a feeling of uncertainty, I hope we don't have to wait long for the next book in the series.

Dead Water by Simon Toyne will be published on 22nd May 2025 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a review copy.

Author Details

Simon Toyne is the international bestselling author of Dark Objects, the Sanctus trilogy and the Solomon Creed series. He wrote Sanctus after quitting his job as a TV executive and it became the biggest selling debut thriller of 2011 in the UK. His books have been translated into 29 languages and published in over 50 countries.

 

The Lost by Mari Hannah

 

When a young boy is reported missing detectives Stone and Oliver find themselves involved in a missing persons case that soon evolves into murder. 

I have a vague recollection of reading Mari Hannah's debut novel, The Murder Wall, when it was first published but nothing since then. Discovering that the author was going to make an appearance at my local library I decided that I would make sure to have read at least one book beforehand. In the end, I opted for The Lost, the first book in the Stone and Oliver series. 

Arriving home after a week's holiday with her sister, wealthy Alex Parker learns that her son is missing. Detectives Frankie Oliver and David Stone, a relatively new pairing, are tasked with the investigation. Suspicion initially falls on the boy's stepfather, Tim Parker, who was looking after the boy. The following day events take an unexpected turn, leading everyone to believe that a simple misunderstanding took place. DS Frankie Oliver isn't so sure and holds a kernel of doubt, convinced that there is more to the situation. When a fatal hit-and-run takes place a week later both Oliver and Stone are convinced everything is connected, but how?

I loved the fact that what started out as a missing person, possibly a kidnap, case morphed quickly into a murder investigation. The fact that the two investigations have links makes the whole thing more intriguing. What initially appeared to be a tight-knit family unit of mother, stepfather and child quickly begins to show cracks, leading to the reader wondering who is being honest and what secrets are lurking behind the wealthy facade. 

The detectives, DS Frankie Oliver and DI David Stone work well together. Stone has recently relocated from London, taking a demotion in rank to do so. He is originally from the north and still has links to the community in the form of a brother and nephew. Frankie is a third-generation police officer and while policing has moved on since her father and grandfather were active officers she still lives by many of their rules. The characters of the two officers are vastly different but complement each other. David is reserved, methodical and a rule follower, whereas Frankie is impulsive, empathetic and intuitive. This intuitiveness highlights the way in which police investigations are carried out, with small clues or vague links leading inquiries to pivot completely. Having been raised around police officers has added to Frankie's bravado, she's certainly not frightened of telling her boss exactly what she thinks. While this means she oversteps the mark now and again, most of the time it's a breath of fresh air for David as he appreciates Frankie's honesty.

There are hints of past problems for both Stone and Oliver, issues that have affected them greatly and continue to cast a shadow over their lives. Mari Hannah has chosen not to reveal all in this novel, instead, she has skillfully made vague references. As a reader I'm now desperate to know more about the characters so will definitely be diving into book two very soon.

Although suspicion falls on a number of different characters throughout the book, none of them seem to have a real motive. I found it impossible to second-guess what was happening. The addition of an almighty twist certainly left me scratching my head. When all of the pieces finally fall into place the revelation is shocking and lives are put at risk in an intense conclusion.

Author Details

Mari Hannah is a multi-award-winning, bestselling author/screenwriter. She writes across three crime series: DCI Kate Daniels (in development for TV with Sprout Pictures & Atlantic Nomad); Stone & Oliver and Ryan & O’Neil. Among her numerous awards is a Crime Writers’ Association Dagger in the Library 2017. In 2019, Mari was the programming chair of Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival. In 2020, she was the recipient of Capital Crime International Crime Writing Festival’s Crime Book of the Year. She lives in rural Northumberland with her partner, an ex-murder detective.

They Had It Coming by Nikki Smith

 

After an unsettling experience in their home in London Sophie and Jude decide the time is right to take up the offer from close friends Nate and Layla to visit them in their new home in Bali. However, the simmering tension between Sophie and Layla puts the dream holiday at risk of turning into a nightmare.

They Had It Coming is my first foray into the novels of Nikki Smith, well-known for her destination thrillers. After the gradual revelations, the proliferation of secrets and the wicked twists I don't think it will be my last.

Recently married Sophie and Jude have successful careers and the plans for their future are well underway. Their lives could be described as perfect. Returning home from work one day Sophie disturbs a burglary taking place in their flat, an event which really unsettles her. The couple decide that now is the ideal time to put their plans on hold and visit their close friends in Bali. Nate and Layla moved to the island a year ago and have had a luxury villa built, perfect for them to host a visit from Sophie and Jude.

When the couple land they discover that everything isn't as ideal as Nate had described, problems with the contractor have delayed the completion of the villa, however, they have plenty of space in their rented accommodation. However, this isn't the biggest stumbling block in what should be the reunion of close friends and a dream vacation, there is a lot of hostility between Sophie and Layla. The reason for the acrimony is events that took place at Sophie and Jude's wedding a year ago, events that Layla is responsible for.

I immediately wanted to know what had happened at the wedding but author Nikki Smith keeps the reader in suspense, drip-feeding us little snippets of information to feed our curiosity. And then, just at the perfect moment, there's a whisper of something else, this time involving Nate and Jude and far more sinister. It soon becomes clear that the four friends are all harbouring secrets, that they have very weak morals and self-preservation is the only thing they care about. The underlying tension between the women in particular is palpable and the desperation from everyone to keep their secrets hidden becomes a vicious spiral, dragging them deeper and deeper into despair. Friendships hang in the balance as each person looks to protect their own interests, simply not caring for the impact it will have on others, leading to masterly plot twists.

As the conclusion approached all of the secrets were finally revealed. The brilliant writing which slowly exposed each misdeed meant that I wasn't rooting for any of the characters as they'd proved themselves to be so narcissistic and untrustworthy. While some received fitting punishments, others escaped, but you get a sense that karma is waiting in the wings.

They Had It Coming by Nikki Smith will be published on 15th May 2025 in ebook and audio format while the paperback will be published on 22nd May 2025. My thanks to NetGalley and Viking for a review copy.

Author Details

Nikki Smith worked in finance until 2017, when a 'now or never' moment prompted her to apply for the Curtis Brown Creative writing course. She is the author of five novels and the co-host of the podcast In Suspense. She lives in Guildford with her family and loves to travel, ideally somewhere hot and sunny.

When The Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen

 

Since his wife was moved into a care home, elderly Bo has lived alone in his house on the outskirts of a village in Sweden, his only companion his dig Sixten. Unfortunately, his son now thinks looking after the dog is too much for his father and wants to re-home Sixten, setting father and son at loggerheads.

Oh my, I do hope that when When The Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen is published each purchase comes with a free packet of tissues because they'll certainly be needed. 

Bo is eighty-nine and fiercely independent, determined to see out his days in the home he's known all his life. Acknowledging his fathers ever-increasing limited mobility his son has arranged for carers to visit throughout the day to see to Bo's personal needs. 

My heart went out to Bo, the frailties of an aging body are so sad. He hates the revolving door of carers, some are familiar and respectful, others temporary, young and distant. Alongside this is the loss of dignity as they bathe and dress him. 

The only things Bo has for company are his dog and his memories. As he whiles away the hours alone he reflects on his life; the strict upbringing he had as a child, his love for his wife and the fractious relationship he has with his only child, Hans. Unfortunately, even the good memories can bring heartbreak. Bo hasn't slept in the marital bed since his wife was moved into a care home, he now sleeps on a day bed in the kitchen. He keeps a scarf that belonged to his wife in a jar to preserve her perfume but his hands no longer have the strength and dexterity to open the jar.

Bo's faithful companion is his dog, Sixten, an elkhound (imagine something similar to a Husky/German Shepherd cross). As Bo dozes, lost to his memories, the dog lies next to him. Hans is worried that the dog has become too much for his father to look after, concerned that he'll fall and be unable to seek help. The suggestion that Sixten be re-homed does not go down well and puts pressure on an already strained relationship. It was clear that the suggestion was made from a place of love and concern but lacked a real understanding of Bo's motivation. Having Sixten around helped to overcome the loneliness and looking after the dog's needs were the only thing keeping him active and determined to get out of bed each day.

As time moves on we see Bo become frailer and frailer. I was very surprised that I managed to hold back the tears at one poignant moment. Having survived this point in the story I thought I was going to be ok, and then the final few pages were my undoing. I gave up fighting back the tears as the story reached its natural conclusion, an emotional and sentimental one. This is a story that is going to stay with me for a very long time.

When The Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen will be published on 15th May 2025 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday for a review copy.

The Show Woman by Emma Cowing (Audiobook)

 

Desperate to avoid marriage, abuse or worse, a group of young women in 1910 form their own circus. The general public is intrigued by 'The Women's Circus', however, the group faces hostility from a number of sides.

The Show Woman by Emma Cowing was an enjoyable listen, offering a fascinating glimpse into an unusual lifestyle. Wonderful narration from Samara MacLaren really helped immerse me in the story, allowing me to feel like a member of the audience at one of the shows.

The Show Woman in question is Lena, a young woman who has spent her whole life traveling the country with the circus and helping her father run his carousel. When her mother disappears and then her father dies Lena is left with some difficult choices. The only options that are offered to her are to marry someone within the circus community or leave and find work in a town or city.

Another performer, Violet, suggests a third option - set up their own circus featuring women only. Violet is desperate to escape the confines of her close-knit family and make a name for herself as the world's greatest trapeze artist. Aided by the money from the sale of her father's carousel Lena and Violet form 'The Women's Circus' and are quickly joined by horsewoman Rosie, escaping abuse by her father, and acrobat Carmen. The women quickly learn that everything isn't straightforward.

Despite Lena and Violet having spent their whole lives as part of the circus they haven't thought through the logistics involved in running their own show. Thankfully, they have enough money and some support to help them solve the problems they encounter. Fortunately, audiences are fascinated by the idea of a circus featuring women only.

I was completely absorbed by the highs and lows of life on the road for the four young women, learning their backstories and how they overcame the obstacles life threw at them. The animosity shown towards them from the general public was one I expected, alongside the perception that those working in the circus are dirty. When some of the women are in the city they are dismayed at the dirty, smog-filled streets, a world away from the clean open air that they are used to.

The aspect that surprised me was the prejudice within the traveling community. Sexism is rife, with the women being harassed because they didn't have a male escort. Even greater danger lurked as a result of jealousy, leading to repeated attempts to sabotage their show. I was shocked by the completely unexpected turn the story took and the aftermath. 

Time flew as I listened to the story of the four brave entrepreneurs, I was so mesmerised by the story that I could easily have listened to hours more, filled with optimism and encouragement as they pushed boundaries, determined to find success and acceptance.

The Show Woman by Emma Cowing will be published on 1st May 2025 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a review copy.

Author Details

Emma Cowing is an award-winning journalist and writer. She has written for a wide number of publications including The Sunday Times, Mail on Sunday, Guardian Weekend Magazine, Spectator and Scotsman. Emma is a former Feature Writer of the Year at the Scottish Press Awards, and two-time Interviewer of the Year. She holds an Ochberg Fellowship in Journalism and Trauma at Columbia Journalism School in New York, for her work covering the war in Afghanistan, and its aftermath. Emma was shortlisted for the 2023 Cheshire Novel Prize, and longlisted for the 2023 Bath Novel Award and Blue Pencil First Novel Award. The Show Woman is her first novel.

The Man Made Of Smoke by Alex North

 

When Daniel Garvie gets a phone call telling him that his father is missing, presumed dead, he returns to his childhood home. This return brings back childhood memories of his brush with the Pied Piper, a serial killer who abducted and murdered young boys.

I've not read anything by author Alex North before but have seen a lot of mentions on social media for his latest novel The Man Made Of Smoke and the consensus is 'prepare to be terrified'. It's been a little while since I read anything that truly scared me so I thought I'd give it a go.

Daniel Garvie is a psychiatrist who works with prisoners who've committed truly horrific crimes. His choice of career is probably linked to an incident that happened when he was twelve years old. During a trip out his family, along with a childhood friend, stopped at a motorway service station. When Daniel walked into the bathroom he saw a boy, not much younger than himself, standing in front of one of the stalls. Although nothing was said he knew the boy was terrified and the look on his face was pleading for help. Rather than help Daniel hid in an empty stall. Not long after it became clear that the boy was a victim of a serial abductor and murderer known as the Pied Piper. Daniel has lived with the guilt of not helping ever since.

A phone call informs Daniel that his father, John, a retired police officer, is missing and that it looks like he's taken his own life. Returning home brings back unpleasant memories, particularly about his brush with the Pied Piper. Life on the small coastal island hasn't changed much since Daniel left and he is astonished to find that one of the boys who bullied him as a child is now a police officer investigating his father's disappearance. The police are convinced John Garvie took his own life but Daniel doesn't believe he would do such a thing so sets out to track his father's movements in the days leading up to his disappearance. He is shocked to learn that there are links to the fateful day when he didn't help the young boy at the service station.

The story alternates between John investigating a body found on the island and Daniel tracking his father's movements. I enjoyed the way the two stories mirrored each other, just a matter of days apart. As possible witnesses are tracked down we learn of horrific events. Thankfully, Alex North avoids graphic details, it's the implication of what happens and the threats that follow that add to the suspense. The avoidance of lurid details keeps the storyline just short of terrifying but I did feel my anxiety levels rising as Daniel got closer and closer to answers. Had the Pied Piper resurfaced? Was one of his victims now on a crime spree? The author keeps the big reveal well hidden throughout.

The Man Made Of Smoke by Alex North will be published on 8th May 2025 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph for a review copy.

Author Details

Alex North was born in Leeds, where he now lives with his wife and son. He studied Philosophy at Leeds University, and prior to becoming a writer he worked there in their sociology department. The Whisper Man was a Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller, and is being published in more than 30 languages.

Bad Influence by C. J. Wray

 

Elderly Jennifer 'Jinx' Sullivan keeps to herself in the sleepy little village in which she lives, if only the rest of the villagers would leave her alone. Jinx's plans to visit Florence are disrupted thanks to the meddling of some of her neighbours. Since time is of the essence she has no option but to join the village coach trip to Italy.

Early last year I read The Excitements (read my review here) by C. J. Wray and adored the tale of the Williamson sisters so I was very excited to read Bad Influence. While Penny, and Josephine to a lesser extent, do appear in Bad Influence this is really Jinx's story. If, like me, you loved the first book and wanted to know more about the adventures of the Williamson sisters don't let that put you off, Jinx is a fascinating character and her story is engrossing.

Jinx lives a quiet life in a small village, she'd be more than happy if the other residents left her alone but the local postman likes to keep an eye on the elderly residents and it's one of those villages with a strong community spirit so lots of events are organised, events that Jinx always manages to avoid. It's during the VE Day celebrations, at which Jinx makes a reluctant appearance, that disaster strikes. Ending up with a broken collarbone means that Jinx can't go on her solo trip to Florence, a trip she is desperate to make. Luckily, the village has a coach trip to Italy planned which includes a visit to Florence. 

The trip itself, featuring a coach full of aging villagers, gives rise to lots of hilarity, particularly the Colonel's attempts to speak Italian (my Kindle was a godsend for translating), and could have been the whole novel. However, the big question is why is Jinx so keen to make the trip.

Throughout the story we learn of Jinx's background, discovering that as a child she was raised in Malaysia before WWII and when the Japanese invaded Singapore she was held in an internment camp for over three years. I'm old enough to remember the TV series Tenko which was about the women's internment camps, but didn't really grasp the horror and deprivation the women and children lived through. Reading Jinx's story gave me a better understanding of what happened.

Following liberation Jinx, along with her mother and brother, returned to England and it was then that she met Penny Williamson. After WWII ended Penny worked for a charity and Jinx's family was one of many that she worked with. Seeing something in Jinx, Penny took her under her wing and trained her in many of the skills she had developed during the war. Thanks to Penny, Jinx lived an exciting life of parties and travel, often funded by illicit means. It was when Jinx discovered what Penny had been doing that the pair parted ways.

The question still remains as to why Jinx so passionately wants to return to Florence. The answer is a surprising one, but you'll have to read the book to learn what it is.

Bad Influence by C. J. Wray will be published on 8th May 2025 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Orion for a review copy.

Author Details

CJ Wray is the pseudonym of Christine Manby, a Sunday Times bestselling author with more than forty books to her name. Raised in the west of England, she studied psychology before embarking on an entertaining and wide-ranging career that has seen her selling kitchens, editing erotica, interviewing an armed robber, and impersonating a princess.

Where Do We Go From Here? by Nick Alexander (Audiobook)

 

Things at home aren't great, life seems to be stuttering along. Wendy begins to question what she really wants from life so she books a remote cabin in France so that she can spend time alone and figure out her future.

The cutesy cover for Where Do We Go From Here?  by Nick Alexander drew me in and the blurb had me believing this was going to be the story of an English person struggling with life in France; misunderstandings, new friendships, some personal growth, all leading to a magical epiphany. How wrong I was!

There is a serious note to the opening chapters. Wendy was a nurse during the worst of COVID. Desperate to protect her family she lived in an Airbnb during the peak of the pandemic. Isolated from her husband and two children Wendy didn't realise that the tight unit they formed got used to her not being around. COVID was a bump in the road for lots of relationships, but for Wendy, it became a mountain. Unsure if she wanted her marriage to survive, even if her family still wanted her around, she decided she needed some "me time" in the form of six months alone in southern France. 

It's at this point that things begin to take a more humorous turn. The cabin Wendy has rented is more rustic than she expected, cue issues with heating and electricity. Wendy quickly realises that her schoolgirl French is distinctly lacking and winter in her remote location is just as bleak, if not worse, than winter at home. 

A visit from her teenage daughter over Christmas, along with a comment from the postwoman who delivers her groceries, brings things to a head when Wendy is forced to acknowledge her drinking. Wendy reasons that lots of people enjoy a drink on holiday, but when she looks back at her first few months she realises that her drinking is out of control, and has been an issue for a long time. 

Once Wendy accepts her reliance on alcohol is a problem she then has to address why. My heart went out to Wendy as we learned about some of the difficulties she had faced. For me, the harrowing impact of being on the front line during the pandemic would have been a good enough reason to use drink as an emotional crutch, but for Wendy, her reason is far more personal and heartbreaking. Brilliant narration from Eilidh Beaton allowed me to empathise fully with everything Wendy was going through.

As Wendy addresses her drinking problem she also has to address the relationships she has with friends and family. What really hit home for me here is that we can never fully know what people are dealing with in their everyday lives, particularly people who don't openly share information. It was also gratifying to see that the author didn't wave a magic wand and make the ending magical, with everything suddenly being perfect, this reminds us that relationships have to be nurtured and not taken for granted.

Where Do We Go From Here? by Nick Alexander will be published on 23/4/25 in paperback, ebook and audio format.

Author Details

Nick Alexander is a bestselling British Author of nineteen novels. He has sold more than two million copies of his books to date. His works have been translated into nine different languages and he has had bestsellers in France, Germany and Norway.
Nick lives in a sleepy village in the southern French Alps with his partner, three cats and a mischief of screechy magpies that the cats just love to hate.

March 2025 Reads

 

March was a bumper month for me in terms of reading. Not only did I get through twelve books and four audiobooks I also attended my first book festival (you can read about Bay Tales here) and took part in my first blog tour.

March began with a blog tour read, Where The Light Is Hottest by Catherine Yardley and gives a warts-and-all look at what it takes to achieve fame. The story not only highlights the fact that success rarely happens overnight but also shows that once you are famous the press like nothing more than trying to dig up dirt on you.

I went into Fair Play by Louise Hegarty completely blind. The book opens with a group of friends celebrating New Year’s Eve at a country house. The following morning one of them is dead. The story then splits. The modern-day version follows the sister of the dead person trying to come to terms with her grief, constantly wondering how she hadn’t spotted her brother’s mental health issues. The second storyline has the characters set in a 1930s-style murder mystery with a detective investigating.

Catherine Ryan Howard writes those twisty kind of thrillers that make you want to go straight back to the beginning once you’ve finished reading. Burn After Reading has an intriguing foreword that explains how she got the idea for the book, then leads into a terrifying opening chapter. A writer is asked to “ghostwrite” the memoir of a famous athlete. The only problem is that everyone assumes the athlete murdered his wife and the memoir will feature his hypothetical confession.

Elderly protagonists are one of my favourite genres so I was pleased to meet hoarder Alfred in The Secret Collector by Abigail Johnson. After a drinking binge teenager Kian vandalises Alfred’s home and he is forced to help Alfred clear out some of his junk. No sooner has Kian gotten rid of some of the clutter and Alfred is moving it back in. As the pair lock horns they begin to learn about the struggles they’ve each gone through.

The Maid’s Secret by Nita Prose sees the return of Molly the Maid. The storyline features Molly’s gran recounting her early life through diary entries, alongside this there is a mystery story when a valuable antique disappears during a televised auction at the hotel. The two stories are linked and the big question is will there be a happy ending for Molly?

Next up was The Death Of Us by Abigail Dean, a book that is in contention for my book of the year. Twenty-five years after being victims of a serial rapist and murderer couple Isabel and Edward are able to confront their attacker during his trial. The author avoids the descriptions of gratuitous violence, focusing on the impact the crimes have on the victims instead, making this a powerful read.

Another book featuring an elderly protagonist is The Margaret Code by Richard Hooton. Margaret Winterbottom’s friend is found murdered and Margaret is sure she has pertinent information, if only those pesky senior moments would let her remember. Aided by her teenage grandson, Margaret decides to investigate in this poignant story about the frailty of growing old.

The Cornish Castle Murder from Fiona Leitch is book 8 in the Nosey Parker cosy crime series. Jodie and fiancé Nathan find their wedding at an exclusive country house in doubt when a body is found on the grounds. Fans of the series will know that Jodie finds it impossible not to get involved in any investigation. The big question for the reader is will the wedding go ahead?

Romance isn’t my normal genre of choice but I found myself enjoying  Five Things I Love About You by Clare Swatman more than I expected. Miranda keeps dreaming about the man she almost collided with on her bike. When life offers the opportunity to do something different she moves from London to Newcastle in the hope of finding her dream lover.

I was over the moon to see that C. J. Wray had written Bad Influence, a sequel to The Excitements. This time around the Williamson sisters are side characters to Jinx Sullivan, an old woman determined to get to Florence. I loved finding out all about Jinx’s background, discovering the reason for her determination to get to Italy, and the influence Penny Williamson had on her life.

The Man Made Of Smoke is the first book I’ve read by Alex North and having read a lot about it on social media I was prepared to be scared. Thankfully, it wasn’t terror-inducing but the serial killer element certainly had me feeling anxious. A psychiatrist returns to his childhood home following the death of his father, a home that reminds him of his brush with a man who abducted and murdered young boys.

I rounded the month off with an emotional read, When The Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen. Elderly Bo is living out his final days, and his dog Sixten is his constant companion. Worried that looking after the dog has become too much for his father to manage, Bo’s son wants to rehome Sixten. As a battle of wills ensues we learn of Bo’s life and his hopes that he has been a better father than his own. Make sure you have plenty of tissues to hand when you read this.

Audiobooks

The Love Intervention by Caroline Khoury features a woman who is career-focused and as a result has forgotten how to live. Her friends stage an intervention, forcing her to visit three men she was previously involved with in the hope that she will realise what she is missing out on. Fun, sunshine and romance are guaranteed.

Murder On Line One by Jeremy Vine is a slow burner. Edward Temmis, local radio talk show host, finds himself investigating the mysterious death of one of his listeners and discovers that there could be links to his radio show. Once the story got going I was gripped by the different turns it took.

Work Trip by Chloe Ford was a perfect enemies-to-lovers story. Being a fairly short audiobook the story zipped along as Fliss and James found themselves on the team-building exercise from hell as they were dumped in the middle of the Scottish Highlands with a tent and very few supplies. The only way to get home is to rely on each other.

Following Covid, family life has stuttered for Wendy. Questioning what she wants to do, she takes herself off to a cabin in France in Where Do We Go From Here? By Nick Alexander. Initially, this seems like a fish-out-of-water story as Wendy grapples with life in rural France with only schoolgirl French to get by. But, as the story develops, we learn that Wendy has a number of issues in her life that she needs to deal with if her marriage is to survive.

Publication Dates

Fair Play by Louise Hegarty will be published on 3/4/25 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

Burn After Reading by Catherine Ryan Howard will be published on 10/4/25 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

The Secret Collector by Abigail Johnson will be published on 1/4/25 as an ebook, the paperback and audio format will be available 10/4/25.

The Maid’s Secret by Nita Prose will be published on 10/4/25 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

The Death Of Us by Abigail Dean will be published on 10/4/25 in hardback and ebook format. The audiobook is available now.

The Margaret Code by Richard Hooton will be published on 10/4/25 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

Where Do We Go From Here? By Nick Alexander will be published on 23/4/25 in paperback, ebook and audio format.

Murder On Line One by Jeremy Vine will be published on 24/4/25 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

The Cornish Castle Murder by Fiona Leitch will be published on 24/4/25 in ebook and audio format, and in paperback on 8/5/25.

Five Things I Love About You by Clare Swatman will be published on 24/4/25 in paperback, ebook and audio format.

Work Trip by Chloe Ford will be published on 24/4/25 in paperback, ebook and audio format.

Bad Influence by C. J. Wray will be published on 8/5/25 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

The Man Made Of Smoke by Alex North will be published on 8/5/25 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

When The Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen will be published on 15/5/25 in paperback, ebook and audio format.