The Scholars by MacKenzie Common

 

Five brilliant scholars are awarded postgraduate scholarships to Oxford University. The scholarships are a stepping stone to greatness; recipients go on to be leaders in their field, Nobel prize winners, and even world leaders. This year's students have all the hallmarks of greatness, until one of them dies mysteriously and secrets are uncovered.

Last year I read The Six Murders Of Daphne St Clair, a riveting story of a 90-year-old serial killer who suddenly decides to confess (you can read my review here). When I was offered the opportunity to read MacKenzie Common's new novel, The Scholars, I leapt at the chance.

I find that the genre of dark academia can be very hit and miss; much of the time, it is down to the accessibility of the writing. I want something that grabs my attention quickly, keeps me engrossed, and is easy to read. Luckily, MacKenzie Common manages to do all of this in her latest offering. We are introduced to the protagonists immediately; Azelle, Finn, Hadley, Mabel, and Hugo are all shining lights in their respective fields and have their feet planted firmly in the modern world. 

Not long after we meet the five students, one of them is dead, the result of a fall. Initially, it is assumed that it was a tragic accident. However, when it is revealed that the individual was going to disclose extremely dark secrets about at least one of the other scholars, all thoughts turn to the possibility of murder.

I found my feelings for the characters swing wildly. Initially, I found them condescending, as if there was some kind of competition to see who was the most deserving among them. Following the accident, I was sympathetic as they were collectively treated with suspicion. As rumors swirled, my skepticism went into overdrive, wondering which of the remaining four could be trusted. The use of message board posts within the narrative is used effectively to slowly reveal lies and deceit. Not only did I begin to doubt the amazing claims made by each scholar, but we also witnessed the characters begin to turn on each other.

The author keeps you in suspense regarding the identity of the murderer until the very end, and then produces a sublime twist, thoroughly in keeping with the nature of all the characters involved.

The Scholars by MacKenzie Common will be published on 24th September 2026 in paperback and ebook format. My thanks to NetGalley and Headline for a review copy.

Author Details

MacKenzie Common is a Canadian author who was born in Newfoundland, spent most of her childhood in North Bay, Ontario and then at 21 moved to the UK where she lived for twelve years. She has a PhD in Law and worked as an expert on human rights issues in social media content moderation. MacKenzie loves swimming, travelling, paddleboarding, good chocolate, bad TV, Mexican food and comedy. As a child, she was frequently called morbid but she seems to have found a market for that. She currently lives in Alberta, Canada with her partner, two children, and one very spoiled pug.

The Cornish Halloween Murder by Fiona Leitch

 

Jodie Parker is asked to investigate the appearance of strange dolls that are found around an old convent that is in the process of being redeveloped. Are residents, upset at the work taking place, trying to scare off the developers, or is there something more sinister happening?

I cannot believe that The Cornish Halloween Murder by Fiona Leitch is book 11 in the Nosey Parker cozy crime series. I have enjoyed every single book in the series, but this is definitely my favourite. Each time I revisit Jodie and her family and friends it feels as if I'm spending time with friends, and catching up on their lives.

The initial investigation stems from a property developer uncovering strange dolls as they strip back an old convent that is being converted into flats. Local residents are unhappy as they feel that a medical centre would be more appropriate, so the developer isn't sure if the dolls have been planted to try to scare him and his builders off. I really found this whole aspect of the story unsettling. The dolls, or poppets, have links to witchcraft, and their description is extremely creepy.

During the investigation, a body is found in the convent. Jodie, along with her husband, a police detective, then has to figure out if the death is linked to the dolls. The ominous feeling intensifies as the building was locked, and CCTV shows no one entering or leaving.

There are a variety of themes that are interwoven to keep the reader guessing: balancing profit and need in property development, toxic masculinity, and the historical treatment of young single women who get pregnant. As I read, my feelings swung between dread, anger, and sadness. One scene in particular was immensely poignant, and shocking to consider that the events described took place only 50 years ago.

This is cozy crime, so there are some humorous moments to help lighten the tone, Jodie's mother is in classic form as usual, and I always enjoy the scenes involving her friend Debbie (a much underused character, in my opinion). While I thought the murderer became fairly obvious towards the end of the story, I did like the way everything was concluded.

The Cornish Halloween Murder by Fiona Leitch will be published on 24th September 2026 in paperback, ebook, and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for a review copy.

Author Details

Fiona Leitch is a writer with a chequered past. She’s written for football and motoring magazines, DJ’ed at illegal raves and is a stalwart of the low budget TV commercial, even appearing as the Australasian face of a cleaning product called ‘Sod Off’. After living in London and Cornwall she’s finally settled in sunny New Zealand, where she enjoys scaring her cats by trying out dialogue on them. She spends her days dreaming of retiring to a crumbling Venetian palazzo, walking on the windswept beaches of West Auckland, and writing funny, flawed but awesome female characters.

Her debut novel ‘Dead in Venice’ was published by Audible in 2018 as one of their Crime Grant finalists. Fiona also writes screenplays and was a finalist in the Athena Film Festival Writers Lab, co-run by Meryl Streep’s IRIS company.

Truth Will Out by N. J. Hatton

 

Jack Kilby is filled with panic as he rushes his pregnant wife to hospital; it's far too early for their baby to be born. A momentary distraction results in him hitting and killing a cyclist. Leaving the body at the side of the country lane, he continues on to the hospital. In the aftermath, wracked with guilt, he realises that he needs to turn himself in to the police, but when he gets there, he discovers they've already arrested the person they believe is responsible.

I spotted a review for Truth Will Out by N. J. Hatton on Instagram, and it sounded like the type of thriller I'd enjoy. I certainly wasn't wrong. This is incredibly twisty, with the type of moral dilemma that makes you think about how you'd react in the same situation. Jack isn't trying to avoid owning up to his crime; he's simply hoping that he can buy himself and his wife a little extra time to ensure the survival of their unborn child. Luckily, he's a defence lawyer, so he is able to represent the wrongly accused man, keeping him out of jail for as long as possible.

While Jack is the main character, we also gain the perspective of others involved in the story. It is difficult not to empathise with the individuals involved in this tragic tale. Jack wants to buy time, but he's torn when he begins to see the effect representing the accused has on his family. Callum, the accused, is desperate to prove his innocence, a difficult thing to do when he's part of a notorious criminal family. Alongside this, we see the reactions of the victim's family. Alice wants revenge for her brother's death, and Harry is frantically trying to protect his daughter while coming to terms with the tragedy.

By using a variety of POV's, the pace never lets up, and the numerous twists leave you slack-jawed. My heart was racing as I frantically turned the pages towards the end, wondering if anyone would survive the shocking events. Then just as my heart rate started to settle, N. J. Hatton managed to throw in one almighty twist, something that made me question a lot of my assumptions.

Truth Will Out by N. J. Hatton will be published on 10th September 2026 in paperback, ebook, and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Hera Books for a review copy.

Author Details

N. J. Hatton is an award-winning screenwriter and director whose work has screened on Netflix, BBC, Sky, and Disney+ and a recent Alumnus of Faber Academy. My second novel will be published in June 2027.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

 

Elderly Sybil Van Antwerp spends her days tending her garden, reading books, and writing letters. Given a glimpse into the letters she writes, we learn of the diverse relationships she has with family, friends, and acquaintances.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans has been on my radar since it was first published. Having recently purchased a copy of the paperback, I moved it to the top of my TBR. I do enjoy novels written in epistolary format, short passages keep me turning the pages, and the voyeuristic aspect is difficult to avoid. 

I liked the main character, Sybil. She's a highly educated woman, having been a successful lawyer. Divorce and a difficult relationship with her children have led to her living alone. Sybil is a stubborn woman and is adamant that, despite being alone, she's not lonely; she has lots to fill her time, particularly her insistence on keeping the art of letter writing alive. I loved the way in which Sybil would write to authors if she wanted to share her opinions of their books, and some authors wrote back! 

Through the content of various letters, we learn of aspects of Sybil's life which give us a greater understanding of her character. Both grief and guilt have impacted the choices Sybil has made, and continues to make (I did say she was stubborn). With her eyesight failing, Sybil finally begins to address the issues that have troubled her in recent years. Building bridges, accepting the hand of friendship, and travelling are not easy when you are in your seventies, and even harder when you are never sure if your vision will suddenly disappear, so it was lovely to see Sybil lowering her defences and finding joy in whatever life still had to offer.

Author Details

Virginia Evans is from the east coast of the United States. She attended James Madison University for her bachelor’s in English literature. After starting a family, she went back to school for her master’s of philosophy in creative writing at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, where she had the good fortune to study under Carlo Gébler, Eoin McNamee, Claire Keegan, Harry Clifton and Kevin Power. She now lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with her husband, Mark, two children, Jack and Mae, and her Red Labrador, Brigid.

The Pumpkin Pie Book Nook by Harper Graham (Audiobook)

 

Robyn is taking a sabbatical from her job as a professor at Yale. During her time off, she is looking after The Pumpkin Pie Book Nook in Maple Falls for a friend. Challenges await Robyn: finding the parts of an old manuscript, preventing someone from buying the shop to turn it into a grocery store, and, toughest of all, not falling for her colleague, Tyler.

I do enjoy visiting Maple Falls on a regular basis. If you haven't read any of the series, I would heartily recommend starting at the very beginning. In The Pumpkin Pie Book Nook, book 5 in the series, author Harper Graham takes us back to Maple Falls during autumn. This is the season that shows the small town and its tight-knit community at its best. Using the same narrator, Andie Eloise, for the whole series certainly helps you feel as if you are part of the story.

Both Robyn and Tyler are likeable characters, and the chemistry between them is instant. It is easy to understand the reluctance they both display. Not only is Robyn recovering from a broken heart, but she is only staying in Maple Falls for a few weeks. Tyler has his daughter to think about; he doesn't want Emma to become attached to someone who isn't going to be around for long.

The pair find it impossible to resist the attraction they feel, and there are some hot and steamy scenes (if you listen to this as an audiobook, I would definitely recommend earphones). Both Robyn and Tyler are grappling with the growing feelings they have for the other person, and time isn't helping. Added to all of this is the fact that the book shop is looking for a new owner, and the only person interested intends to turn it into a grocery store. 

With the help of the wonderful community of Maple Falls, things turn out exactly as you would expect, and we are given a hint as to what will follow in book 6, The Sugar And Spice Kitchen, which is due out in October.

The Pumpkin Pie Book Nook by Harper Graham is available in paperback, ebook, and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a review copy.

Author Details

Harper Graham lives with her mischievous spaniel in a cozy small town in Connecticut. Her quirky neighbours may or may not have inspired the residents of her Maple Falls series. When she’s not hiking with her daughter, baking her grandmother’s recipes or reading in her favourite coffee shop, Harper can be found writing the sweet and spicy romance stories of her own dreams.

Serenity Falls by C. J. Tudor

 

Dan Barker and his daughter Sadie, inherit a house in the model town of Serenity Falls. The chance to start a new life seems perfect, until they move into their new home and strange things begin to happen. Is Serenity Falls as perfect as everyone makes out?

I'm not a fan of horror in general, so I tend to shy away from the genre in my TV, film, and reading selections. However, I know that C. J. Tudor will serve up just the right level of terror to keep me feeling unsettled, but unable to stop reading, without giving me nightmares. The author's latest book, Serenity Falls, does just that. Even the cover is enough to make you feel perturbed, the juxtaposition of the beautiful sunset with the tag line "Once you're here, you're here to stay..."

The mystery begins early in the story when Dan inherits a house in Florida worth millions of pounds. He's puzzled that his mother had never mentioned an expensive property she had owned for decades. A fresh start is just what Dan needs; his daughter isn't so keen.

Both Dan and Sadie are extremely likeable characters; their relationship is strong, having been forged in the decade since their wife and mother, Nat, disappeared. Dan is a flawed individual; he's very protective of his daughter, which is understandable since he's a lone parent. He's also well aware that trying to wrap Sadie in cotton wool is likely to backfire. The mystery surrounding Nat's disappearance is one that recurs throughout the book, keeping you undecided about Dan's true nature. Sadie is independent and intelligent, slightly rebellious, but always considerate of other people. It's her inquisitive nature that drives the story forward.

As for Serenity Falls itself, on the surface, it looks and sounds perfect, a community where crime doesn't happen. Hearing from various residents of the town throughout the narrative makes you realise that not everything is picture perfect, with bizarre accidents making you hesitate. As Dan and Sadie search for answers about one of the accidents that happened at their new home, you realise that something sinister lurks just below the surface.

There are a variety of reasons why people don't leave Serenity Falls. When the shocking truth is finally revealed, you feel sympathetic towards some of the characters trapped by circumstance and horror at the vision imagined by the creator of the idyllic community.

Serenity Falls by C. J. Tudor will be published on the 10th September 2026 in hardback, ebook, and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph for a review copy.

 

Author Details

C. J. Tudor’s love of writing, especially the dark and macabre, started young. When her peers were reading Judy Blume, she was devouring Stephen King and James Herbert. Over the years she has had a variety of jobs, including trainee reporter, radio scriptwriter, dog walker, voiceover, television presenter and copywriter.

She is now the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Chalk Man, The Taking of Annie Thorne, The Other People, The Burning Girls, The Drift and The Gathering. All of her books are in development or optioned for TV. The Burning Girls is available on Netflix.

She is also the author of a short story collection, A Sliver of Darkness.

To All The Men I've Killed Before by Katy Brent (Audiobook)

 

Kitty Collins is on a mission. She's determined to seek revenge on the man who brutally attacked her best friend. Kitty heads to Los Angeles on the trail of Aiden Ward, but she's not alone this time. Alongside Kitty is her newly found half-sister, Antoinette, a serial killer in training.

To All The Men I've Killed Before by Katy Brent follows on directly from I Bet You'd Look Good In A Coffin (you can read my review here). This is the third book in the Kitty Collins series, and is definitely my favourite. While you can read them as standalone stories, I would recommend reading them in order to see the character development. I found the audiobook engrossing. I was totally consumed by the story, thanks to the wonderful narration of Victoria Morrison and Imogen Front. I found myself losing huge chunks of time as I listened to "just one more chapter".

After the events of the previous book and the end of her relationship, mellow Kitty is no more; we're back to the empowered woman determined to rid the world of predators. First and foremost, however, is her determination to avenge her friend. The perpetrator has fled to LA. and Kitty doesn't hesitate in following him. The addition of her half-sister to the storyline certainly adds to the narrative. Kitty has honed her skills over the years, but being in an unfamiliar location brings problems of its own without the added complication of Antoinette discovering how much she enjoys killing. The humour is dark and firmly tongue in cheek, but there is a strong ethical message focused around the #MeToo movement.

I did like the range of characters introduced, particularly the private investigator Travis. The array of different characters keeps you guessing as to the identity of the villain, and there are plenty of twists to add to the uncertainty. As the story sped towards the conclusion, not only was I still unsure, I was also worried for the fate of Kitty and Antoinette. The twist involving Kitty herself certainly puts a new spin on things, opening a whole host of new problems for any future books.

To All The Men I've Killed Before by Katy Brent will be published on 27th August 2026 in paperback, ebook, and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a review copy.

Author Details

Katy Brent is the author of three novels. Previously an award-winning journalist, she always dreamed of writing a book and lockdown finally gave her the excuse to do it.

The Day Our Lives Collided by Laura Pearson

 

Hayden, Tash, and Adam literally bump into each other during their first week at university. Over the next seventeen years, we follow the complexities of their friendship through the weddings they attend.

You can never be too sure what you are going to get when you pick up a novel by Laura Pearson. It could be something with a quirk in the tale, such as the narrative being seen through the eyes of children before they are conceived, or being able to see the different routes your future could take. Other times, the author delivers a 'standard' tale, for example, twins raised separately and suddenly finding each other, or a woman surviving domestic abuse. What you can always be sure of is a story that digs deep into emotional territory and characters that become such a part of you that you don't want the book to end.

The Day Our Lives Collided is a straightforward story about three people who meet at university and form a close friendship. I loved the way in which we followed the lives of Hayden, Tash, and Adam, along with their social circle, through the years by focusing on weddings. Weddings are emotional events in their own right, but using them as a vehicle to examine the way in which relationships, both romantic and friendship, developed and changed over the years really helped to focus on how people were feeling.

Every emotion is covered, but the main focus of the story is how a strong friendship can be damaged when jealousy rears its head. It is impossible to pick a side, as you sympathise with all the characters involved. I simply wanted a happy ending for everyone involved, without the book actually ending. I would have happily read on for another 200 pages, following how the lives of such engaging characters developed.

The Day Our Lives Collided by Laura Pearson will be published on 6th September 2026 in paperback and ebook format. My thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a review copy.

Author Details

Laura Pearson is the author of eleven novels. The Last List of Mabel Beaumont was a Kindle number one bestseller in the UK and a top ten bestseller in the US. Laura lives in Leicestershire, England, with her husband, their two children, and a cat who likes to lie on her keyboard while she tries to write. Her latest book, The Last Marriage of Dot Brightmore, came out in May.

Wrecked by Katie Mitchelson

 

Desperate to escape terrible home lives, teenagers Jake and Minnie agree to be participants in the trial of a new technology that is designed to help young people deal with trauma. Their lives begin to spiral out of control when another member of the trial goes missing.

I picked up Wrecked by Katie Mitchelson as she is a local author. I don't read much YA fiction, but I do enjoy novels that are slightly dystopian; just different enough to make things unsettling, but not too different that they are implausible. Wrecked certainly fit the bill. Young people are offered the chance to have a microchip implanted in their brain which will record their thoughts. These thoughts can then be shared with a therapist to help the young person deal with the trauma they have suffered. The young person is assured that they are completely in control of what they share.

Both Jake and Minnie have chaotic backgrounds. Jake's stepfather is abusive, and his mother is too frightened to stand up to him. All Jake wants to do is find somewhere he can live with his mother and young sister, well away from the abuse. After her mother died, Minnie ended up in the care system, separated from her siblings. Her recent foster placement has fallen through as the foster carer was apathetic towards Minnie; the only thing she was interested in was the financial reward.

Spectrotext, the company behind the implant, runs The Hive, an accommodation unit for the young people taking part in the trial. From this base, both young people become involved in the world of drugs thanks to a local drug dealer. It was frightening how quickly and easily both Jake and Minnie were drawn into this world. The chance of easy money, the promise of much more to come, and peer pressure all work their magic on two susceptible individuals. Danger is never far away, and the pair are drawn deeper into this nefarious world when a friend goes missing. I was shocked at how casually life is treated.

As Jake and Minnie search for their friend, they have to consider how much of their thoughts are being recorded. I would have liked to see the technology side of the story play a bigger part than it actually did. By the end, however, you are considering who is more morally bankrupt: the drug dealers who are open and honest about the products they supply, or the technology companies secretly monitoring your every thought and action?

Author Details

Katie Mitchelson has worked as a youth worker in the North-east. Her work with young people inspired a lot of her writing during her creative writing PhD, compelling her to write about teenagers who do not realise that they are victims, who do not realise that they are being groomed for criminality, and the wider problems of country lines.

Making sense of existence is the undercurrent of Katie's writing, as she seeks to unravel the complexities of inequality and raise awareness of important issues in the hope of inspiring important social reforms. Child criminal exploitation is just one of the sociological injustices Katie hopes to explore.

Love Unlocked by Cecelia Ahern

 

Podcaster Melody is intrigued when she hears about relationships breaking up on the day that a couple's 'love lock' was cut off a bridge in Dublin. Determined to find out more, she decides to track down the man responsible for the removal of the locks, Al.

I'm really not sure what I was expecting when I started reading Love Unlocked by Cecelia Ahern. I know I certainly didn't expect to become fully invested in the lives and relationships of two wonderful characters. It was refreshing to see that the main characters were both in their late thirties, a time when most people would hope to have their lives sorted out.

Melody is very much a free spirit; she doesn't like the thought of long-term commitment and runs at the idea of spending her life with one person. Unfortunately, she's also terrified of being alone at night (one of her many foibles), so this can be an issue. It's Melody's honesty and vulnerability that make her so likeable. I certainly understood her choices to buck societal norms around marriage.

Al is the complete opposite; he's a true romantic, he loves grand gestures. So when his fiancée breaks his heart, you can't help but sympathise with him. There were times when I found his actions hilarious, and other times that left me feeling really uncomfortable; however, his behaviour was understandable. Music plays a big part in Al's emotional journey; I could hear the songs playing in my head as he went through the different stages of his break-up. There definitely needs to be a Spotify playlist made.

It is under these inauspicious circumstances that the couple first meet, and the chemistry between them is palpable, even though we know they are complete opposites. There is a spark, but they both seem determined to fight it. Melody is adamant she isn't looking for anything long-term, and Al is convinced he's still in love with his fiancée. As the pair spend time together, they begin to realise what has brought them to this point in their lives, but is this realisation enough to make them want something different?

Love Unlocked by Cecelia Ahern will be published on 27th August 2026 in hardback, ebook, and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a review copy.

Author Details

Cecelia Ahern is an Irish novelist whose work was first published in 2004. Her debut novel PS I Love You was an international bestseller and was adapted to film starring Hilary Swank. Her second novel, Where Rainbows End, was adapted into Love, Rosie starring Lily Collins. Her books have been published in over thirty-seven languages, and have sold over twenty-five million copies. In addition to her novels, she is also the author of a highly acclaimed collection of stories, Roar, which is now an Apple Original series starring Nicole Kidman on Apple TV+.

July 2026 Reads

 

The month began with The Blackbird Conspiracy by Tariq Ashkanani. This is the second book in the Callie Munro series. Discovering her friend and colleague dead, Callie learns that someone in the government will go to any lengths to stop their plans from becoming public. The sparse writing keeps the pace flowing and adds to the sense of urgency. I was really pleased to learn the book three has already been written.

Dissection Of A Murder by Jo Murray has been all over my social media for months, having now read it, I can understand why everyone is talking about it. Leila Reynolds is given her first murder case to defend. There are a couple of problems, though. Firstly, the defendant refuses to explain what happened on the night he is accused of murdering a crown court judge. Secondly, the prosecution barrister is her husband. From the very first page, you are drawn in by the intrigue, you are kept turning the pages, desperate to know what happened.

Washington Poe returns in The Killer’s Mark by M. W. Craven. In the eighth book in the series, Poe and Tilly are now ‘Gumshoes For Hire’, when a teenage girl asks for their help. For the past year, she had assumed her mother was dead until she caught a glimpse of her in a pornographic film. The hunt for answers sees the duo come up against the Triads. Having left the police force, Poe doesn’t have his usual backup, however he still has friends he can call on when desperate. Tilly’s continuing work for the security service also proves to be handy.

Death Writ Large by Susie Dent is the second book in the Clarendon Lexicographers series. Martha is called on to use her expertise in constructed language when an Oxford scholar is found dead. Strange runes near the body are attributed to the writing of a contemporary of Tolkien. When more runes begin to appear, it becomes obvious that someone is seeking revenge. This mystery is perfect for fans of cryptic crosswords, but don’t worry if you struggle with them (like me), as all the clues are explained well.

A complete change of genre next with The Stray Dogs by Ruth Hogan. Vet Leona Lennox is feeling jaded, so she decides to sell her share in her practise and move to the countryside to open a rescue centre for dogs. In her new home, she meets Desmond Leaks, who is also looking for a fresh start after his marriage failed. Years ago, Desmond was part of a band, and he decides to get the group to reform to raise funds for the rescue centre. This is a charming tale of second chances that will tug at your heartstrings.

Frank And Red by Matt Coyne is one of my favourite books of recent years. Everyone I’ve recommended it to (and there have been quite a few) has loved it. So, the pressure was on the author to see what his next novel would be like. I’m happy to report that The Trouble With Sister Francis is filled with nostalgia, humour, joy, and friendship as we meet a group of eleven-year-old boys who are ‘persuaded’ by an elderly nun to join the boys’ club run by the church. I was snorting with laughter throughout, but in floods of tears towards the end.

My book group read for the month was A Time Of Mourning by Christobel Kent. Having left the police force under a cloud, Sandro Cellini has set up as a private investigator. His first case is to investigate the apparent suicide of a man whose widow is convinced his actions are completely out of character. Following quickly on the heels of this case is the disappearance of a young woman. Are the two cases linked? Set in Florence during a bout of torrential rain that threatens to flood the city, this is a slow and bleak mystery.

In Love Unlocked by Cecelia Ahern, podcaster Melody is intrigued when she hears of numerous relationships ending on the same day. Further investigation reveals that each couple had a love lock attached to a Dublin bridge, and the relationships ended the day those locks were cut off the bridge. Melody decides to confront the man responsible for their removal, Al. What happens when an anti-love individual meets a heartbroken romantic? I loved the characters of Melody and Al, as well as the mystery surrounding the love locks.

Only one audiobook this month, The Campervan Detectives by Maeve Haran. Discovering her husband in bed with her best friend, Sadie Sutton walks out on her marriage, buys a campervan, and flees to the seaside. When she discovers a dead body, a group of women who have also embraced ‘van-life’ come to her aid. This is an easy-going cosy crime, with an unlikeable victim and plenty of suspects.

Fuller reviews for each book are available on my blog.

Publication dates to watch for:-

The Killer’s Mark by M. W. Craven will be published on 13/8/26 in hardback, ebook, and audio format.

Death Writ Large by Susie Dent will be published on 13/8/26 in hardback, ebook, and audio format.

The Blackbird Conspiracy by Tariq Ashkanani will be published on 14/8/26 in paperback, ebook, and audio format.

The Stray Dogs by Ruth Hogan will be published on 27/8/26  in paperback, ebook, and audio format.

The Trouble With Sister Francis by Matt Coyne will be published on 27/8/26 in hardback, ebook, and audio format.

Love Unlocked by Cecelia Ahern will be published on 27/8/26 in hardback, ebook, and audio format.