Stolen by Rebecca Muddiman

 

Abby Henshaw and her eight-month-old baby Beth are traveling to visit a friend when Abby's car is forced into a ditch by a van on a country road. After being sexually assaulted Abby struggles back to her car to discover her daughter missing. 

I've recently joined a book group and Stolen by Rebecca Muddiman is the first book I've read for the group. We've not met yet to discuss the book so all thoughts are my own. I am interested to find out what the rest of the group thought about the book though. The group meets in our local library and I don't know who decided on this book for the group to read. I can understand the choice however, we're based in the northeast and the book is set around Redcar and Middlesbrough.

Abby and her husband Paul are happily married and both are devoted parents. Following a routine visit to the doctor, Abby sets off to visit a friend. The trip turns into a nightmare when her car is forced off the road by a van. After being sexually assaulted Abby discovers her daughter has disappeared from her car. 

DI Michael Gardner, recently transferred to Middlesbrough police station, is in charge of the investigation, a dedicated officer, he refuses to give up even when the case runs out of clues. Gardner is the biggest issue for me in the book. Apart from one small instance, he is a very one-dimensional character. Considering this is the first in a series of four books I do hope that some character development has taken place.

The author keeps the pace moving by the use of short chapters and portrays the emotional state of Abby Henshaw well. I'd guessed one of the storylines as it takes inspiration from a real-life case that garnered much media coverage, however, I didn't have a clue regarding the main storyline.

Author Details

Rebecca was born and raised in Redcar. She has lived and worked in Holland and London, and travelled across America on a Greyhound bus in 2002. She won a Northern Writers' Award in 2010 and the Northern Crime Competition in 2012. When not writing she spends her time watching Game of Thrones and dealing with her two unruly dogs.

#BlogTour The Woman Who Met Herself by Laura Pearson

 

Synopsis

What would you do, if you met your double?

Debbie Jones thinks life is an adventure. Even having lost her husband a year ago, she’s ready for whatever the world might throw her way. Being in her sixties doesn’t mean it’s all over for her yet, and she loves her new job doing neighbourhood support for a charity. Then she knocks on a stranger’s front door.

Ruth Waverley doesn’t like surprises. Her life isn’t perhaps all she once dreamed off, but what other options are there for a woman in her sixties? She’s proud of her home and children. And she likes her life well enough. Then she hears someone knocking at the door.

As the door opens, both Ruth and Debbie get the shock of their lives. As their eyes meet – the recognition is instant. Not because they’ve met before. But because they have the same face. They’re completely identical.

And everything is about to change, for both women. In ways they couldn’t possibly imagine…

My Review

I am delighted to be taking part in the blog tour for The Woman Who Met Herself. Laura Pearson has written some wonderfully heartwarming novels. The last two novels have had a slightly mystical theme, with The Woman Who Met Herself the author is firmly back to reality. 

The reader is quickly introduced to the two protagonists. Debbie Jones and her husband Richie relocated to Loughborough and then Richie died of a heart attack. Feeling lonely she's signed up to work for a mental health charity trying to encourage people to make regular donations. Ruth Waverly is also sixty-two, is married to Nigel and has two grown sons. Ruth runs a small bakery business from her own home.

It's the knock on the door that sets everything in motion. When Debbie knocks on Ruth's door both women are shocked to see their own faces looking back at them. Unable to process what she is seeing Ruth closes the door, leaving Debbie floundering. 

The women are obviously related, and when we learn that Ruth's sons are twins it is clear that the two women must also be twins. The big questions are why didn't they know about the other's existence and why were they separated? It's impossible to turn to family for answers, Debbie's mother died when she was a teenager and she never knew her father. Ruth's father is dead and her mother has Alzheimer's. Working together Ruth and Debbie unearth the mystery of their past and find out about each other.

The Woman Who Met Herself is a story about motherhood and identity. It is easy to understand the confusion both women feel as they wonder about the mothers who raised them. My heart went out to Debbie who didn't have an easy childhood and looks at Ruth with a hint of, understandable, jealousy. Ruth seems to have it all, a comfortable home, a loving husband, healthy and happy sons, and a family she knows. Meeting Debbie forces Ruth to question her life, realising that she can do more, be more. It was encouraging to see each woman inspire the other to step out of their comfort zone. 

The Woman Who Met Herself by Laura Pearson is available in paperback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for a review copy.

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/WomanWhoMetHerself

Author Details

Laura Pearson is the author of the #1 bestseller The Last List of Mabel Beaumont. She founded The Bookload on Facebook and has had several pieces published in the Guardian and the Telegraph.

Births, Deaths And Marriages by Laura Barnett

 

Twenty years after first meeting at university, a group of six friends grapple with big events in their lives over the space of a year.

When I saw that Births, Deaths And Marriages by Laura Barnett was being described as a cross between Four Weddings And A Funeral and One Day I leapt at the chance to read it as both feature characters you feel a connection with, individuals you wanted to succeed, people you cared about.

In Births, Deaths And Marriages we meet our six main characters, Yas, Rachel, Zoe, Rob, Indie and Al towards the end of their second year at university in London. Having formed a bond early on in the first year, four of the group have moved in together, but the other two are at the house so often it's as if all six live together. Twenty years later and the individuals haven't moved far, with the majority still living in London. While they don't meet up as often as they would like, they have remained in contact. It is Rob's upcoming wedding that sees the group connecting more frequently.

Over the space of a year, we learn that the lives of each individual have varied greatly, some have achieved their ambitions, others have given up careers to start a family and some have found themselves doing things they had never dreamed of. At the age of twenty, they all assumed that twenty years later they'd have their lives sorted, but we discover that unexpected events get in the way. Reading the book I was reminded of the saying "Man plans and God laughs" as this really summed up the story.

Although all of the characters are personable I really didn't engage with any of them apart from Al, who came across as philosophical and easy-going. I found the career he'd ended up with, and the changes he wanted to bring about, very interesting. I found the remaining characters quite shallow and some of them were extremely self-centred. This is possibly a book that will resonate more with millennials, who may see themselves, or their circumstances, brought to life by characters they can identify with.

Births, Deaths And Marriages by Laura Barnett will be published on 12th June 2025 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday for a review copy.

Author Details

Laura Barnett is the author of four novels including the number one bestseller, The Versions of Us, Greatest Hits, Gifts and This Beating Heart. As an arts journalist and theatre critic, she has written regularly for the Guardian, Observer, the Daily Telegraph and Time Out London. Laura lives with her husband Andy, son Caleb and cat Eno in rural Kent.

Broken Country By Clare Leslie Hall

 

Beth, wife to farmer Frank, is content with her life until writer Gabriel Wolfe returns to his family home. Beth and Gabriel had been intensely in love as teenagers and the spark is re-ignited with Gabriel's return. 

I went into Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall knowing nothing about the story. There has been so much praise online for the book, with some readers declaring it their book of the year, that I desperately wanted to see for myself what all the buzz was about. I held the book back for a few days as I had a holiday booked and I wanted to be able to devote lots of time to the book just in case it required lots of concentration. I needn't have worried, this was one of the easiest books I've read so far this year. I flew through the pages as I became so absorbed by the love triangle of Beth, Gabriel and Frank.

The story flits between 1955 and 1968 and is centred around a Dorset village where Beth has lived all her life. Growing up it has always been assumed she would marry Frank, the eldest son of a local farmer. Beth has never questioned this assumption until she meets the son of the local landowner. Gabriel opens Beth's eyes to a whole new world. This isn't a case of discovering wealth and luxury and finding your current life wanting, it's about finding a soulmate, a like mind, someone who understands your thoughts and encourages you to want more from your life. Gabriel encourages Beth to think about university, and to consider leaving the village she's known all her life.

When the story jumps to 1968 we meet a very different Beth. Now married to Frank, she appears to be happy and content. There are hints of a tragic event that has impacted her life but as a busy farmer's wife, she doesn't have time to dwell on this. The sudden return of successful writer Gabriel Wolfe to his family home throws Beth's life into turmoil as the attraction between them is re-ignited, leading to shocking consequences.

I found myself completely engrossed by the love triangle. The elements set in 1955 are heady and intense; set against an idyllic backdrop of a seemingly never-ending summer at a time when life was simpler, it is impossible not to be captivated by the love affair and envisage a future for the young lovers. The time jump to 1968 had me perplexed, wondering why Beth had married Frank and what became of Gabriel. Slowly, we uncover how events in the past unfolded, resulting in Beth ending up with Frank. As Beth resumes her affair with Gabriel, she is torn, particularly as she becomes attached to Gabriel's young son. The discovery of the secret affair leads to devastating consequences as we learn what it truly means to love someone. 

I really didn't want this story to end. The characters of Beth, Gabriel and Frank are so engaging and sympathetic that you don't want any of them to suffer heartbreak but you know that there could never be three winners where love is concerned.

Author Details

After several years of living and working in London as a journalist and writing Pictures of Him and Days You Were Mine, Clare, her husband and three children moved to an old farmhouse in Dorset. The house, the ancient fields surrounding it and the farmers who have a deep connection to the land inspired the setting for Broken Country. Broken Country will be published in thirty-one countries.

The Countdown Killer by Sam Holland

 

DCI Cara Elliott and her team are still recovering from the harrowing events caused by the serial killer, The Puppet Master, when they find themselves dealing with a new foe, a killer who is exacting retribution on individuals who seem to have evaded punishment for crimes they committed.

The Countdown Killer by Sam Holland is book 4 in the Major Crimes series. This book draws together lots of threads from previous books, if you're new to the series I'd recommend reading the previous three books first to get a full understanding of the dynamics between the characters. The Countdown Killer also contains lots of spoilers for the earlier books.

The opening pages, the murder of a man held captive, are gritty and give an idea of what is to follow in the rest of the book. The level of violence is brutal, enough to shock the members of the Major Crimes team who end up investigating the crime. Cara and her team are at a relatively good point in their lives, although they are still coming to terms with past events. Cara knows that realistically they don't have the capacity, emotionally and in terms of numbers, to deal with another possible serial killer but she fights for the case.

Investigations lead to the shocking discovery that a killer has been operating in the area for years. The motive is revenge against people who have either gotten away with a crime or it was felt they were dealt with too leniently. The form of punishment follows 48 hours of captivity and is a more horrific and twisted version of the crime they committed. During the investigation, Cara soon discovers links to a previous case, one that had devastating consequences for her team.

You can understand Cara's turmoil, wondering how the two cases are connected. Doubts begin to arise as she questions if they caught the right man previously. Cara becomes obsessed with the case, causing problems in her personal relationships. Other members of the team are also adjusting to normality after everything they suffered and the rise of a new killer brings difficult memories to the surface. If you've read the previous books this is a group of characters you care about, people who have suffered unimaginable horrors, individuals who you don't want to have to deal with any more sorrow.

As I read I felt one of those niggles, a feeling that something major was about to be revealed. Sam Holland keeps you dangling, with lots of tantalising hints. When the reveal happens it's not one but two big shocks and I wanted to punch myself for not spotting them earlier. I do hope that this isn't the end for the Major Crimes team.

The Countdown Killer by Sam Holland will be published on 5th June 2025 in paperback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Hemlock Press for a review copy.

Author Details

Sam Holland is the award-winning author of the Major Crimes series, following detectives as they investigate murders committed by brutal serial killers in the south of England. Her debut, The Echo Man, shocked and enthralled readers and reviewers alike with its sinister depiction of a serial killer copying notorious real-life murderers of the past.

Her books have been published in 11 countries worldwide, including the US, Germany and the Netherlands, where she became the first author to win the Bronze Bat for her debut and the Silver Bat for best thriller in consecutive years at the Nederlands Thrillerfestival.

Joe Country by Mick Herron

 

A new face at Slough House causes problems for the Slow Horses and a plea from Min Harper's ex-wife has Louisa facing danger.

Joe Country by Mick Herron is book 6 in the Slough House/Slow Horses series. The opening prologue has such an ominous ending, one that makes you aware from the outset that lives will be lost. I didn't want to put the book down until I'd finished, desperate to know who would survive the latest adventure. 

There is a lot going on from the very start; River's grandfather dies, Catherine appears to have fallen off the wagon and Slough House has a new face in the form of disgraced spy Alec "Lech" Wicinski. Lech isn't a team player, not that any of the slow horses really are, but this causes friction from the beginning. Most of the friction is between Lech and Roddy Ho who continues with his comedic and delusional belief that he's something akin to James Bond and Jackson Lamb's second-in-command. Ho is intrigued by Lech, wondering what transgression resulted in him ending up with the rest of the failures at Slough House, but any mention of Lech has been scrubbed from the network - and that makes Ho even more interested. 

The funeral of David Cartwright, River's grandfather, sees the return of a few old faces and sets in motion the events that lead to the menacing events mentioned in the prologue. Louisa also receives an unexpected phone call from Min Harper's ex-wife asking for her help. As a result, Louisa takes a leave of absence from Slough House and sets her sights on tracking down Min's teenage son who has gone missing. Assuming it to be a simple case of tracking the boy to an old holiday haunt, Louisa finds herself in a far more dangerous situation than expected, and proceedings aren't helped by a snowstorm that is blanketing the country. 

I loved the pace and tension as Louisa's rescue mission became a cat-and-mouse chase through snow-covered countryside no one was familiar with, or equipped for. As I read I kept thinking back to the opening pages, wondering how events were going to unfold and the dreaded proceedings would come to pass.

Despite the constant bickering between the regular inhabitants of Slough House fans will know that they are loyal to each other when all hell breaks loose. They are well aware that if they don't support each other when times are tough there is no safety net to fall back on. All this leads to the team working together under extreme conditions, fighting for survival. Danger, harsh conditions, unfamiliar terrain and a secret that goes to the highest level keep you turning the page. Mick Herron tantalises throughout, withholding the answers you desperately want but fear reading, until the very end. I was left shocked and saddened.

Author Details

Mick Herron is the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of the Slough House thrillers, which have won the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year award, two CWA Daggers, been published in twenty-five languages, and are the basis of a major TV series starring Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb. He is also the author of the Zoë Boehm series, and the standalone novels Nobody Walks and The Secret Hours. Mick was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, and now lives in Oxford.

The Midnight King by Tariq Ashkanani

 

Following the death of his father Nathan Cole returns home seventeen years after he left. The return brings back the dreadful memories he thought he'd escaped from.

There were a lot of early reviews around  The Midnight King by Tariq Ashkanani saying how brilliant the book is. I'm pleased to say that fans of dark and twisted thrillers will not be disappointed. This will be a spoiler-free review, so all the deep dark secrets will be yours to discover as you read.

We meet Nathan and Isaac as adults at the beginning of the book. They were childhood friends but both left Nashville and have now returned. Isaac left to join the police force but one particular case, and his actions during the investigation, resulted in him losing his job. He now works as a private investigator and has been hired by a family to find their missing child.

Nathan fled Nashville to escape his abusive father. It is only his father's suicide that has forced him to return. In his childhood home, Nathan discovers a manuscript written by his father. Lucas Cole was a well-known author of trashy Western novels, the manuscript discovered by Nathan is nothing akin to those novels. The manuscript is the fictional account of a serial killer - it most definitely isn't a confession. As Nathan reads, dreadful memories resurface, and the lives of Nathan and Isaac become intertwined. 

The shocking revelations in the manuscript, and their implications, really bring you up short, making you rethink everything you had already assumed. I found myself re-evaluating my feelings towards some of the characters in light of what I'd read. The more that is revealed, the greater the shock. The merging of fiction and reality leaves you wondering about the depths of depravity some of the characters have sunk to and also leaves you questioning where the next unbelievable twists will come from.

Just when you think you've got everything straight in your head Tariq Ashkanani introduces another almighty twist that leaves you reeling. I found myself dreading what would happen next. Thankfully, this isn't a novel filled with graphic descriptions, it's more about what is implied. There's one scene in particular where your imagination is left to run wild, I felt very unsettled as I read and filled in the blanks.

It's impossible to run from so much mayhem and evil, and every character suffers as a result. For some you are left feeling sympathetic, for others, there is a sense of justice having been served. For a few, I had very mixed feelings, ones that are difficult to put into words; profound sorrow, some level of understanding, and the hope that they have finally found peace.

Author Details

Tariq Ashkanani is a solicitor and co-host of the writing podcast Page One. His debut novel, Welcome to Cooper, won the Bloody Scotland Debut Award 2022, as well as being shortlisted for both the CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger and Capital Crime Fingerprint Award. His second novel, Follow Me to the Edge, was published in 2022. He lives in Edinburgh with his wife and two sons.

It's Always The Husband by C. L. Taylor

 

Single mum Jude is relatively new to the area of Lowbridge and doesn't want to become embroiled in school gate politics with the other mothers. The only person she's really clicked with is single dad Will. There's an attraction between the pair until one of the other mothers goes out of her way to warn Jude that both of Will's wives died under suspicious circumstances.

C. L. Taylor has written such a twisted story with It's Always The Husband that I felt dizzy every time I picked up the book. At times I thought I was going to follow the practice of TV detectives and put up a murder wall filled with suspects, clues and red wool linking everything just to keep track of everything that was happening. What begins as a warning to Jude about Will quickly spirals into a complex web of lies, deceit, blackmail and murder.

I liked Jude's character, she isn't intimidated by the school gate posse of mothers, she just doesn't want to get dragged into the politics. However, she's aware that she needs to play her part for the sake of her daughter, the reason they've moved to the area. One of the other mothers, Sorrell, seems to stick to the periphery too and is approachable. Sorrell has issues at home and doesn't need to be caught up in playground machinations.

Initially, the group of mothers who seem to dominate proceedings come across as bitchy and unlikeable, particularly their leader, Victoria. Victoria likes to be in control and to know everything that is going on, to her knowledge is power. In the process of going through a less than amicable divorce little does she realise how little knowledge and power she truly has.

Piqued by the comments regarding Will's wives, alongside her attraction to the man, Jude flirts with danger as she tries to learn more. Pretty soon both Sorrell and Victoria are dragged into the investigation as it becomes apparent they have links to at least one of the dead women.

As clues are uncovered you are left gasping at the intricate way everything is woven together. I couldn't even begin to pinpoint a suspect. The more that was revealed, the more I felt my sympathies towards certain characters changing, some for the better and some for the worse. The author keeps the reader dangling thanks to one particular plot line so that the big reveal is a complete shock.

It's Always The Husband by C. L. Taylor will be published on 5th June 2025 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for a review copy.

Author Details

C.L. Taylor is a Sunday Times bestselling author. Her psychological thrillers have sold over a million copies in the UK alone, been translated into over twenty languages, and optioned for television. Her 2019 novel, Sleep, was a Richard and Judy pick. C.L. Taylor lives in Bristol with her partner and son.

We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough

 

Emily and Freddie have relocated from London to a remote country house. As soon as they move in Emily begins to get a strange feeling and is convinced the house is haunted.

We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough has just the right level of creepiness to keep you turning the pages, desperate to know what is going on, but all too prepared to slam the book closed if things get too much. A little bit like watching a scary film from behind a cushion.

Emily is rebuilding her life after an accident in which she almost lost her life. Months in a coma have left her weak and jobless. During the time she was in a coma her husband, Freddie, sold their London apartment and bought a remote house, convinced this was what Emily wanted. Freddie's employer has arranged for his job to be relocated but in the meantime he has a few weeks left to work in the London office. As a result of this Emily is frequently alone in the house during the week.

Strange things begin to happen around Emily, all the classic signs of a haunting; strange smells, noises, objects moving. While Emily is convinced there is a supernatural element at play, no one else has witnessed anything and her husband tries to convince her that it is more likely to be a post-sepsis hallucination. My first thought was that Emily had brought something back with her after being technically dead for a few minutes but I did also consider that this could be a case of gas-lighting.

There is far more to the story than the sinister goings-on within the house. Past residents deny ever witnessing anything and both Emily and Freddie are hiding secrets. You begin to wonder how far they are willing to go to prevent their secret from being uncovered. All of the different threads made for a pacey story.

I felt empathy for both main characters as they tried desperately to deal with the situation they were in. The harder they tried to keep their secret hidden, the worse the situation became and the more drastic the solution seemed. When the secret of the house is finally revealed I loved how it was used by various characters and led to a wonderfully apt conclusion. 

We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough will be published on 5th June 2025 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Orion for a review copy.

Author Details

Sarah Pinborough is a New York Times bestselling and Sunday Times Number one and Internationally bestselling author who is published in over 25 territories worldwide. Having published more than 25 novels across various genres.

Sarah was the 2009 winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Short Story and also the 2010 and 2014 winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Novella, and she has four times been short-listed for Best Novel. She is also a screenwriter who has written for the BBC and is currently working on three TV projects and the film adaptation of her novel The Death House.

Same Time Next Week by Milly Johnson

 

Amanda is good at her job but going through menopause means that she isn't always at the top of her game. The company CEO wants to be more understanding and supportive so allows her to set up a support group to gather ideas for how the company could support its female employees. Through this group, five women find the encouragement and friendship they need to tackle the serious issues going on in their lives.

I've long been a fan of Milly Johnson, loving the slightly irreverent way in which she writes about women and many of the issues they have to manage in daily life. Same Time Next Week is in the same vein as we meet Amanda, Mel, Sky, Astrid and Erin. Some are complete strangers, and others have tentative connections, but what they are all lacking is strong female friends to turn to for help and advice. This is at odds with many of Milly Johnson's previous books where female friendship is at the heart of the story. However, mirroring what is becoming far more common in life, we learn that not everyone has close friends they can share personal issues with.

Amanda is the main character, she's in her mid-fifties, single and has a successful career. She's also trying to balance her life and work with looking after her aging mother. Menopause symptoms, an unsupportive GP, a misogynistic boss at work and a lazy half-brother all add to the pressure she is feeling. Many women can probably picture themselves in a similar situation, and understand the frustration of having nowhere to turn for help. 

A wide variety of issues are covered within the book, I am sure that some of them will resonate with readers; grief, unrequited love, lack of direction, and a cheating spouse. There is also a slightly darker element to the storyline with references to a serial killer, a historic crime that still looms large over one of the women.

There are no quick-fire solutions to many of the problems the women face, in fact, most of them are so cowed down that they seem prepared to leave everything to time and fate rather than decide for themselves. Luckily, meeting through the support group gives them a new perspective, and courage, to see a way through their respective problems. Sometimes it takes a fresh set of eyes to see the whole picture and offer sage advice.

I found myself willing each of the women on as they found the determination to take a leap of faith and do what was right for them, regardless of what others would think. After all, if you don't take risks things will never change!

Author Details

Milly Johnson was born, raised and still lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. A Sunday Times bestseller, she is one of the Top 10 Female Fiction authors in the UK, and has sold millions of copies of her books sold across the world. Same Time Next Week is her twenty-second novel.

Milly’s writing highlights the importance of community spirit and the magic of kindness. Her books inspire and uplift but she packs a punch and never shies away from the hard realities of life and the complexities of relationships in her stories. Her books champion women, their strength and resilience, and celebrate love, friendship and the possibility and joy of second chances and renaissances. She writes stories about ordinary women and the extraordinary things that happen in their ordinary lives.

Into The Fire by G. D. Wright

 

Wandering home after an evening socialising with his wife and friends Steve Minchin spots a house on fire. Without hesitating he plunges into the burning house and rescues a baby. Thanks to the power of social media he's soon labeled a hero but his life begins to crumble when his past catches up with him.

Author G. D. Wright has written a powerful novel that examines the essence of morality, showing clearly that right and wrong aren't always binary, it's far more of a spectrum. The opening of Into The Fire gives you a hint that Steve has a past, something that upsets him, a long-kept secret.

When Steve runs into the burning building you can feel his rising panic, particularly when he is filled with indecision about which way to turn. He knows the time available is limited, too long spent trying to decide risks his own life as well as anyone in the property. Unable to rescue all of the occupants of the property, Steve is filled with sadness and wracked with guilt. When you consider the way in which Steve feels and the fact that he didn't hesitate before running into the burning building, you know that at his core Steve is a good man. This is amplified when we witness his interactions with his family.

The nature of the society we live in means that Steve's actions were filmed and shared on social media, with the clip quickly going viral. In a world obsessed with celebrities and influencers Steve's unselfish act captures the hearts of the nation and he is labeled a hero. The press quickly picks up on the story and we see the unpleasant side of overnight fame, with Steve's family becoming prisoners in their own home as they are besieged, something Steve didn't want.

A brewing storm echoes the turmoil Steve is facing. It is impossible not to empathise as he grapples with feelings of guilt, uncertainty, humility and the terror that his past will become known. When his past does come to light the hero worship quickly turns into a braying mob, I could almost visualise the pitchforks and torches. Emotions are heightened as Steve struggles to explain to his wife, however, he can't find the words to express himself, to describe traumatic events he's built a wall around.

I was convinced I knew exactly where the conclusion was heading, but author G. D. Wright had me completely stunned by the twists that I didn't see coming. I was left reflecting on the nature of good and evil, how they aren't absolutes, and wondering if an act of goodness can atone for something an individual has done in the past.

Into The Fire by G. D. Wright will be published on 5th June 2025 in paperback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for a review copy.

Author Details

Gary Wright joined Kent Police at the age of 18 and worked in a variety of uniformed roles. At the age of 29, and completely out of the blue, he suffered two cardiac arrests that led to the diagnosis of a life limiting and incurable disease of the heart. Following the implantation of an internal defibrillator into his heart, he was unable to continue policing and retired at the age of 30. He bought a coffee shop in Ramsgate Harbour, and spent years looking out over the sea and dreaming up stories. He now writes full time, committing those very stories to paper.

Julie Tudor Is Not A Psychopath by Jennifer Holdich (Audiobook)

 

Forty-nine-year-old Julie is madly in love with one of her colleague, Sean. She just knows Sean feels the same way, unfortunately, another woman stands in the way of their true love. Not to worry though, Julie has dealt with stumbling blocks like this before.

Julie Tudor Is Not A Psychopath by Jennifer Holdich is so much fun, I loved every second of it and could easily have gone straight back to the beginning once I reached the end. With the story being told from Julie's perspective this works brilliantly as an audiobook, probably better than the print version. Clare Corbett's excellent narration adds to the enjoyment.

The hilarious opening immediately grabs you and gives you an idea of Julie's personality. Self-assured, decisive, intelligent and standoffish. Julie looks down on the people she works with, apart from Sean. Sean is much younger than Julie but she's convinced they have a connection and that he feels exactly the same. Julie knows that Sean is meant to be with her, unfortunately, he's already got a girlfriend and is far too kind to simply break up with her. Julie hatches a cunning plan so that Sean can finally be free to be with her.

As Julie puts her plan into action we are also given glimpses of Julie's past, learning that she has been in a similar situation before. Everything is very tongue-in-cheek, from Julie's hobbies through to her interactions with her neighbours. 

Julie is so delusional that she's convinced no one at her place of work knows she and Sean are in love, yet to everyone else, it's clear that she is an obsessed stalker. When Sean and his friends are huddled together and looking at her from across the office she mistakes the glances as an unspoken sign of his true feelings. Even Gareth, Julie's closest colleague, can't avoid whistling 'Every Breath You Take'.

The big question is can anything stand in the way of Julie being with Sean, her one true love? Luckily, Julie is resourceful and manipulative enough to deal with every mishap. I was in stitches as each incident cropped up and was swept aside in Julie's increasingly unbalanced desire.

Julie Tudor Is Not A Psychopath by Jennifer Holdich will be published on 5th June 2025 in Hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a review copy.

Author Details

Jennifer Holdich obtained an MA in Scriptwriting in 2014, won the Cardiff Writers’ Circle Short Story competition in 2021 and has had multiple short stories and pieces of flash fiction published. Julie Tudor Is Not A Psychopath is her debut novel. 

In The Family Way by Laney Katz Becker

 

It's 1965 and to avoid bringing shame on her family Betsy Eubanks is sent to a home for unwed mothers. While at the home Betsy is sent to work in the home of doctor's wife Lily Berg who is also pregnant. Little do the two women realise the profound effect they will have on each other's lives.

When I was first offered a review copy of  In The Family Way by Laney Katz Becker neither the title nor the unfinished cover leapt out at me. Rather than dismiss it out of hand completely I read the blurb and noticed the comment "for fans of Lessons In Chemistry or The Help". Lessons In Chemistry was one of my favourite books of 2022 so that sealed the deal for me.

When I started the book I was expecting quite a whimsical and nostalgic read, what transpired was something far more powerful, emotional and relevant. Set in 1965 suburban America, feminism hasn't reared its head yet, although there are indications that it is on the way. Fifteen-year-old Betsy Eubanks finds herself pregnant. Determined not to have her future tainted by an unwanted pregnancy she is sent to another state to "stay with an aunt who is ill". In reality, she's sent to a home for unwed mothers where the baby will be put up for adoption as soon as it is born. From the parent's reactions you know that this move has more to do with respectability rather than Betsy's future.

Lily Berg isn't much older than Betsy but her life is a world away. Lily married as soon as she graduated high school with her husband being a doctor. They already have one young child and a second is on the way. Betsy is placed with the Bergs as a type of au pair. Through the placement Betsy meets Lily's friends and comes out of her shell.

The book is like a time portal, I enjoyed the nostalgia but, more importantly, it shows how far we have progressed as a society in sixty years. The first thing that really struck me was how women didn't have their own identity, they were seen as an extension of their husbands. Lily is always referred to as Mrs David Berg and her sister, Rose, is Mrs Marty Seigel. Rose is a successful teacher, however, she would be expected to give up her career should she become pregnant. Only married women can access birth control, which wouldn't have helped Betsy anyway as she had received no sex education from school or her parents. These are just a few of the instances where women are seen as second-class citizens.

Dealing with unwanted pregnancies plays a big part in the story. From teenagers like Betsy being shipped off to homes for unwed mothers to married women not wanting to carry another child. We learn of the illegal, dangerous, and often unscrupulous, ways in which these unwanted pregnancies are dealt with. I was surprised to learn that some hospitals had specialist wards set up simply to deal with the after-effects of illegal abortions. Absolutely nothing is mentioned about dealing with the psychological implications, women are simply patched up and sent home.

Betsy's time with Lily Berg is limited, shortly before her due date she returns to the home for unwed mothers to have her baby, with the women having no further contact. The author uses a time jump very effectively to update us on each of the character's lives, lives that have been moulded by those few months in 1965.

In The Family Way by Laney Katz Becker will be published on 3rd June 2025 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley, HQ and Rachel Quin for a review copy.

Author Details

Laney Katz Becker is an award-winning author, writer, and a former literary agent. Her books include Dear Stranger, Dearest Friend, In the Family Way, and the nonfiction anthology, Three Times Chai, a collection of rabbis’ favourite stories. When she’s not writing, Laney enjoys drawing, sewing, reading, long walks, playing tennis, and canasta. She is a graduate of Northwestern University, raised her two children in Westchester County, New York, and currently lives on the east coast of Florida with her husband and their Havanese.

April 2025 Reads

 

April has been busy, busy, busy and I know my reading has taken a knock because of this. It’s always a fine balance between finding time to read and getting out and about doing stuff. One of the highlights of the month was going to an author talk at my local library featuring Mari Hannah. Although I’d seen her just a month before at Bay Tales 25 (you can find out all about the festival here) when she was one of a panel of four, this time around it was just Mari. The hour just flew by. April is rounded off with a much-needed holiday. My Kindle is choc-a-block with books I want to read.

The month began with Dead Water, the third book in the Rees & Khan series from Simon Toyne. When a headless body is washed up on the banks of the Thames Khan immediately realises that Laughton Rees could be in danger. The body has links to an old case Laughton’s father worked on and has a very personal link to Laughton.

They Had It Coming by Nikki Smith is a destination thriller. Following a break-in, Jude and Sophie decide the time is right to visit their friends Nate and Layla in Bali. Obvious tensions between the two women cause problems but it soon becomes obvious that everyone is hiding secrets. The big question is how far will they each go to keep their secret hidden.

The Lost by Mari Hannah is the first book in the Stone and Oliver series. Recently paired detectives Frankie Oliver and David Stone investigate the disappearance of a young boy. When the case quickly evolves into murder the pair wonder what secrets the wealthy couple are hiding. I enjoyed the interactions between the detectives who complement each other perfectly, Frankie isn’t frightened of telling her boss exactly what she thinks.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the previous books I’ve read by Laura Pearson, so was over the moon to get a review copy of her latest, The Woman Who Met Herself. When Debbie Jones knocks on a stranger’s door the last thing she expects to see is her own face looking back at her. The two women hunt through their past to uncover why they grew up apart. A moving story about family and motherhood.

By Your Side from Ruth Jones has it all; humour, romance, mystery and heartbreak. Linda Standish is approaching early retirement working for the local council in the Unclaimed Heirs Unit. Her final job is to travel to a remote Scottish island to see if she can find the heirs of Levi Norman, a man who spent his final years on the island and died alone. The whole book is populated with wonderful characters, however, both Linda and Levi are superb.

I was looking forward to the nostalgic aspect of In The Family Way by Laney Katz Becker since it is set in 1965 but this book turned out to be so much more. Told from the perspective of three very different young women we learn how restricted life was for women in America in the 1960s, especially if you were an unmarried mother or in an unhappy marriage. This book really highlights how far we have come as a society and it is frightening to think that some women don’t have the freedoms we take for granted.

Into The Fire by G. D. Wright has an action-packed opening when a man risks his life rescuing a baby from a burning building. Everything is filmed by passers-by and he becomes an overnight hero. Unfortunately, his past, one he’s kept hidden from even his closest family and friends, returns to haunt him and he quickly becomes a hated figure by many. We’re left wondering if we can atone for something we did wrong in the past by doing something good now.

I fully expected twists from C. L. Taylor in It's Always The Husband but didn't realise I'd be left reeling after finishing the book. Single mum Jude is new to the area and one of the other mums tells her to avoid single dad Will, hinting that he's suspected of killing his two wives. This piques Jade's interest and she sets out to investigate, leading to lies, deceit, blackmail and more.

Human Remains by Jo Callaghan is the third book in the Kat and Lock series which has a detective paired with a holographic partner. The use of AI is at the forefront of everything these days, so its use in policing, particularly the analysis of evidence and data, is entirely plausible. If you've read the previous two books in the series, and you really should, then the character development continues leaving a shocking and ominous ending.

Milly Johnson creates a microcosm of life in a quiet corner of Yorkshire in Same Time Next Week. Five women, ranging in age from mid-twenties to mid-fifties, all have issues in their personal lives. A newly created support group helps them address the problems they face. As with all of Milly's books, it's amazing to see what life offers if you are willing to take a risk.

My first audiobook of the month was The Show Woman by Emma Cowing. Set in Scotland in 1910 we meet a group of young women determined to form their own circus to avoid marriage, poverty and abuse. We get a fascinating glimpse of life on the road and the women struggle against prejudice and hostility, all while someone is out to sabotage their acts.

Julie Tudor Is Not A Psychopath by Jennifer Holdich is one of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to. Told from the perspective of Julie, a forty-nine-year-old office manager, we learn of the crush she has on a younger colleague, a yearning that she is sure is reciprocated. The only thing standing in the way is a fiancé! So Julie sets out to get rid of the fiancé and the listener discovers that this isn’t the first time Julie has had to deal with this kind of problem. I adored the dark humour throughout.

Publication dates to watch for:-

They Had It Coming by Nikki Smith will be published on 15/5/25 in ebook and audio format. The paperback will be published on 22/5/25.

Dead Water by Simon Toyne will be published 22/5/25 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

By Your Side by Ruth Jones will be published on 22/5/25 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

The Woman Who Met Herself by Laura Pearson will be published on 23/5/25 in paperback, ebook and audio format.

In The Family Way by Laney Katz Becker will be published on 3/6/25 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

Julie Tudor Is Not a Psychopath by Jennifer Holdich will be published on 5/6/25 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

Into The Fire by G. D. Wright will be published on 5/6/25 in paperback, ebook and audio format.

It’s Always The Husband by C. L. Taylor will be published on 5/6/25 in hardback, ebook and audio format.