BLOGTOUR Leigh Russel "Murder Ring"

"Murder Ring" is Book 8 in the DI Geraldine Steel series and is now available in paperback. 

SYNOPSIS:

     Hearing footsteps pounding along the street behind him he glanced back, fleetingly worried, then laughed because the street was deserted. All the same, he felt uneasy. Everything looked different in the dark. Then he heard more footsteps approaching, and a hoarse voice called out. Turning his head, he made out a figure hovering in the shadows and as it raised one arm, the barrel of a gun glinted in the moonlight… The dead body of unassuming David Lester is discovered in a dark side-street, and DI Geraldine Steel is plunged into another murder investigation. The clues mount up along with the suspects, but with the death of another man in inexplicable circumstances, the case becomes increasingly complex. As Geraldine investigates the seemingly unrelated crimes, she makes a shocking discovery about her birth mother.

Today I am delighted to welcome Leigh Russell to take part in my first ever post for a BlogTour! My huge 

thanks to Leigh and No Exit Press for letting me participate in this tour, and for giving me the exciting

opportunity to put some questions to Leigh about her writing and latest publication "Murder Ring". 

Welcome Leigh! I am impressed with your knowledge of police procedure. Do you have any

experience of working in the police force? How do you ensure you keep up to date with the latest

detective procedures, technology and acronyms?

I have never worked for the police, but have some very supportive contacts in the Met. At first I was surprised by how many police officers are fans of my books. I'm very relieved that they are forgiving of the occasional liberties I take with police procedure. To write detective novels with an authentic feel, it's probably essential to have contacts who are actually doing the job and able to advise. Of course, like most crime writers, I don't adhere strictly to the facts, but it is helpful to have an idea of what happens in the real world. This makes it possible to sustain the illusion that the world of my books is real. I try to keep up to date with developments in forensics. It's a fascinating field, and can be quite inspiring. In Murder Ring Geraldine makes use of one of the latest techniques in forensics to help her solve the crime, and researching it also helped me to work out how I was going to resolve the plot in the book.

This is the 8th book in the series. Did you always plan to write a series? Did you always have a "journey" or subplot for Geraldine or is it something which evolved as the series progressed? There's clearly another instalment on its way - have you planned how many more there will be or is it more organic than that?

When I wrote the first in the Geraldine Steel series, Cut Short, I had no idea my story would ever be published, let alone become the first in a long running series. I had never even planned to become an author. Always an avid reader, I literally had an idea one day, started to write, and haven't been able to stop since. So Geraldine's development through the series has been evolving from book to book. I really do make it up as I go along! I am currently writing the ninth in the series, with at least another three under contract with my publisher, which will take us up to twelve in this series. And I don't think I'll stop there. As long as people keep reading my books, my publisher will continue to publish them, and I'll carry on writing them.

This book is about gun crime. I remember from listening to your talk at Harpenden Library that is something you feel quite strongly about. Why? Was there a particular incident or case which made you want to write about it? Do you want your book to carry a message about gun crime or was it just something you wanted to explore?

Having written seven books in the Geraldine Steel series, with four set in North London, I felt I couldn't continue indefinitely setting a contemporary detective series in North London without ever mentioning guns. So although I hate guns, I decided to tackle the issue. The topic turned out to be far more interesting than I had anticipated. Of course many people who own guns are not evil master criminals, but dysfunctional people, often acting irresponsibly because they are extremely young. One of the reasons crime fiction is so interesting is that it examines difficult social problems. Murder Ring does not offer any solutions, but it does raise the issue of gun crime.

Who are your favourite detectives? Have any other detective writers influenced your own work?

There are so many brilliant fictional detectives - Dalziel, Poirot, Rebus, Reacher, Lincoln Rhyme, Roy Grace - that it would be impossible to pick out my favourites. That said, I admit my original influence was probably Conan Doyle. Although forensics have moved a very long way from Sherlock Holmes' magnifying glass, Conan Doyle was very skilled at presenting the reader with all the clues necessary to work out the identity of the criminal, without making the answer obvious. This puzzle solving aspect of crime fiction is part of its appeal. I find it very difficult to keep one step ahead of my readers, without introducing a twist that would be impossible to predict.

If the series was televised, who would play Geraldine and what soundtrack would you choose for the opening credits?

The brilliant actress I would like to see as Geraldine is very keen to play the role. As the series is currently in development for television, without anything being finalised, I am not allowed to say more than that! The soundtrack would not be my choice. Although I have a few ideas, producing a television series is a very different artistic endeavour to writing a book. I know something about writing books, but nothing about producing television shows. So if the current project ever succeeds, I'll be happy to leave all the decisions to the experts. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that Geraldine appears on our screens one day.

As am I! I think the series would transfer brilliantly to the screen. Good luck! Thank you so much Leigh for your time and for answering my questions. I wish you all the best with "Murder Ring" and the next instalment - which I will be looking out for! If you want to find out more about "Murder Ring", please see my review below.

Murder Ring is available to buy on amazon by clicking on the link below:

My Review of "Murder Ring" by Leigh Russell

This is the 8th book in the DI Geraldine Steel Mystery Series. It is only the 2nd one I have read - I fully intend to rectify this but as far as I can tell, these books work equally well as stand alone crime thrillers. 

Geraldine is an appealing character. She is considered, professional, successful but also human; "she had investigated so many murders...she remembered them all." She is also in deep emotional turmoil herself following the death of a colleague in the previous novel. There is a contrast between her personal and professional self. She is able to shut off her personal problems and emotions, focussing so wholly on her work that no one suspects how fragile things behind the facade really are. There is a clever "drip feed" of information about her birth mother -just enough to intrigue the reader but not to distract from the main crime or over complicate the novel with too many contrived sub plots. Russell has established a good balance. The reader is empathetic towards her. She appears to be a hard police woman but has her own weakness and vulnerability. She is lonely, a little isolated and struggling to work through her own grief. She generates sympathy but also interest and respect. The reader wants to learn more about her. 

There is clearly a back story with Geraldine which has obviously been gradually established over the previous 7 books but the reader is brought up to speed quickly and neatly with any necessary details. This will not be boring or repetitive for those who have already read the other titles but will probably help refresh everyone's memories over what is important as we move forward into the next "chapter" of Steel's life. As I said, this works as a stand alone novel but actually, I liked Geraldine a lot and would like to learn more about her backstory.

The chapters are short, full of pace and deftly switch between the different characters who are either involved in the investigation or a potential suspect. It is impossible not to be drawn straight into the action and finding yourself turning the pages to find out more about the story line you've left behind or intrigued by the new developments presented from the range of characters and the various subplots which Russell swiftly sets in motion and effectively controls in a way which ensures tension and suspense are well maintained throughout the whole book. 

The ending is good. There is a clear resolution and conclusion but also a few seeds are sown for the next instalment. I must admit, I am a little hooked! I didn't solve the crime, I fell for all the red herrings -Russell is too clever for me! My attention was held until the last page and I liked the fact that the revelations were held until the very ending of the book. It's an enjoyable, satisfying, easy read. Russell has clearly researched police procedure well and it is not a gratuitously graphic or violent crime novel. The reader is captivated by the characters - their motivation and deception, the tangled web that people spin through greed and opportunism. 

This has all the key aspects of a great detective novel. It has multiple characters who are all authentic and convincing. There is good dialogue, plenty of action, a great pace and the plot is well structured. There are complications and revelations which ensure the reader is kept guessing. It is very readable and written in a very fluent style.

For more recommendations and reviews please follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacUK) or sign up below to receive future posts by email

Guest Post: Horrible Histories by a MiniBibliomaniac

"Horrible Histories Angry Aztecs" is an amazing easy-to-read book that's full of fascinating facts. Starting with a great timeline, the information in this book is very accurate, reliable and extremely interesting. Seeing as my class are studying the Aztecs at school, I have been given a head start because of this book and have discovered things that I was surprised to find out.

Some of the gobsmacking facts I have found out are:
-many priests ate the arms, legs and hearts of sacrificial victims
-King Nezahualpilli had 2,000 wives and 144 children
-after failing to conquer the Aztecs, Herman Cortes soon came back to Mexico for a re-match with the Aztecs
-people of Mexico had never seen horses before until the Spaniards came
-if a Mayan child died then their mother would cut the end off one of her own fingers and have it buried with the child

The book is really helpful when studying Aztecs as it covers the Maya and a little bit about the surrounding tribes at the time as well. "Angry Aztecs" includes some spectacular illustrations by Martin Brown which match the text perfectly. The book also features many many jokes which really DO make you laugh out loud. Terry Deary has given the "Angry Aztecs" a more fictional sense by joking around and adding remarks such as "That would have done her a good job" and "lucky her" when things aren't really good for them or lucky!

5/5 stars!

Thanks to my 10 year old son for requesting to have his (unedited) review featured on my blog!

'"The Spider in the Corner" Nikki Owen

Synopsis:

Plastic surgeon Dr Maria Martinez has Asperger’s. Convicted of killing a priest, she is alone, in prison and has no memory of the murder. DNA evidence places Maria at the scene of the crime, yet she claims she’s innocent. Then she starts to remember… A strange room. Strange people. Being watched. As Maria gets closer to the truth she is drawn into a web of international intrigue and must fight not only to clear her name but to remain alive.

To me, I found this book was a real mix of genres. There's conspiracy, mystery, murder, mental illness. The ambitious combination of all these different themes is really well handled by Owen, making it a highly original and fresh voice in the world of crime fiction.

Maria Martinez is a plastic surgeon who has Aspergers. The book opens with her already in prison, convicted of a killing a Catholic Priest, Father Reznik. She has no memory of this and is certain she is innocent. I found this a truly intriguing opening - starting off with your protagonist already in prison is a really clever idea and within the first page the link between crime, murder, religion and Aspergers are already filling the reader's mind with a multitude of questions and curiosity about the characters, set up and plot.

Martinez is struggling in prison. Lonely, isolated, confused and unable to cope without her fixed routine, her vulnerability is further exposed with the invasive prison procedures and constant intrusion of any personal space. The conversations and interviews between her and the police, prison officials, other inmates and her therapist are fascinating and depict her intelligence and emotional state with real conviction. She retains every detail, she collects data obsessively. Her social interaction with her peer group is so awkward - her responses and reactions so different from the other prisoners- it could almost humorous at times, but without a doubt, it creates substantial tension.

Martinez is also struggling as she tries to piece together what has happened to her. With the help of the arrival of a new cell mate Patricia, Martinez begins to establish a relationship and a routine. She has found someone in whom she can confide and talk to. "I have learnt not to put my faith in anyone, not to trust, because no one, not a man in a priest's outfit, not a judge in a robe, not a God in the sky can be relied upon. But Patricia seems different, pure, a white sheet of cotton, a dandelion in the wind. She believes me." Martinez knows that Reznik taught her how to detect patterns and codes and trained her to fix things fast. He frequently tested her with advanced mathematical challenges and now she realises it must have all been for a reason. She just needs to find out what the reason was. Fixated with the idea of everything having a purpose, she now seeks the purpose of Reznik's "training" and the way she can recall data she doesn't even remember learning.

It's hard to say much more without revealing too much about the book. I found Martinez an interesting creation. She is definitely the main character but at times I found it a little hard to build a deep relationship with her. I wonder if this is because Owen has depicted someone with Asperges with such authenticity, that actually part of this has to be that there is a distance or boundary around them reflecting their social awkwardness or preference for remaining slightly more removed from others. Despite this, she is a compelling character who is consistently convincing and authentic.

Martinez frequently asks questions and there are several paragraphs which contain many questions as she mulls over events, memories and conversations. This is effective in several ways; it creates tension and suspense, mimics Martinez's thought process and encourages the reader to relate to her confusion and panic. At times I did find it a little overwhelming but appreciate this was probably the author's intention! It's also important as Martinez's memories are called into question. Kurt challenges her saying "perhaps your memory is not what you believe it to be....is your memory reliable?" Later Dr Andersson says that she finds her version of events hard to believe, she suspects Maria of making things up, of "mis-recollecting" things. So not only is Martinez trying to operate in a world with which she already feels detached from, where she already struggles to make herself understood, now no one will believe her. This also challenges the reader to consider how reliable she is as a narrator and whether we can actually believe her and what she claims to be remembering- an incredibly effective device in a novel about conspiracy!

I thought the character of Kurt, the therapist, was also very well crafted. From the outset I was unsure how to respond to him as often his questioning or counselling was quite blunt, more direct and more confrontational than he perhaps needed to be. I was constantly wondering whether to trust him, whose side he was on and what his motives were. Trust and distrust are important themes in the novel and Owen also uses this concept to explore the fragility and vulnerability of people while in prison or within the judicial system. Her ability to control these themes, complex characterisation and also maintain a plot of murder, mystery, memory and conspiracy shows her to be an accomplished writer.

This is a good read. It certainly feels similar to series like "The Bourne Identity" and Stieg Larsson. It also reminded me a little of some of the more recent TV series like "Marcella" and "The Bridge". It's full of pace, the chapters are often quite short and it's very readable. If you like conspiracy thrillers and slightly unconventional characters then this book is definitely for you.

For more recommendations and reviews please follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacUK)

An Evening With Renee Knight ("Disclaimer")

On Friday 20th May I was lucky enough to get tickets to attend a talk from Renee Knight about her recent psychological thriller "Disclaimer" at the Flamstead Book Festival, held in the beautiful church of St Leonards in the centre of the village of Flamstead, Hertfordshire.

Knight began the talk with a reading from her book. Here is the blurb from the back of the book for anyone who has yet to read it:

When an intriguing novel appears on Catherine's bedside table, she curls up and begins to read. But as she turns the pages, she is horrified to realise she is a key character, a main player. This story will reveal her darkest secret. A secret she thought no one else knew.....

This really is a gripping read with a clever twist and the back cover is littered with praise from Val McDermid, Lee Child and The New York Times.

Knight began by explaining where the concept for Disclaimer came from. "Disclaimer is my first published book but my actual first novel was about what happens when the son of a friend comes to live in a room in your house. I wanted to explore the idea of privacy and what it would be like to have a stranger who isn't really a stranger, living in your house. It was based on a real friend, so once finished, I sent it on to her to read. While awaiting her response, I began to think about how odd it must be to start reading a book and then realise it is actually about you.......And so came the premise for Disclaimer."

The theme of privacy intrigues Knight, particularly in our current world of social media and the way people can present a public persona which may differ hugely to the real persona; the way our privacy can so easily be invaded through our 24 7 culture, our addiction to apps and social media and how people can literally "invent" a personality online too. "I'm intrigued by the way we judge and assume things about people and situations when actually life is much more complex. I suppose I'm interested in the grey area!"

"What also appealed to me was the idea that when you are at home reading, you are in a very safe, comfortable, secure place, physically and emotionally, therefore finding out the book was about you and about your deepest, darkest secret, would immediately make you incredibly vulnerable and threatened - and this is what happens to Catherine."

Originally a BBC documentary maker, Knight began writing once all her children were at school and she realised she could not return to the kind of work she had been doing now she had a young family to fit around. "I didn't start to write with the idea of becoming published, it was more just to write, and I knew I would always write even if it was only for me." This was something she could do that fitted around the children and didn't take her away from the house, even though it was often frustrating to keep having to clear up all her research and paperwork every time the family wanted to sit down for a meal! Knight now has a "Shed"; she begins her day straight after taking her daughter to school. "It's essential to have a disciplined routine. I take my coffee and the crossword, then I have to write at least 1000 words a day, which can take anything from 2 hours to over 4 depending on how things are going."

She started with writing TV Scripts and secured an agent but "the real turning point for me was attending some Creative Writing Courses," Renee explains. "I did a course with City Lit which was really like a bit of group therapy! We had to read our work out aloud which I hadn't done since childhood! The beauty of being on a course is that actually it is a very safe way to expose yourself and the critical feedback is absolutely invaluable. It also gave me the confidence to write, a deadline and a momentum." Knight also completed a six month course with Faber and Faber which really accelerated her completion of Disclaimer as one of the demands of the course was to submit 10,000 words by the end. On completion, Knight approached her agent for some advice about submitting the manuscript and after working alongside an Editor - "the most lovely of experiences!" adds Knight - the book became published. "Although it was rejected at least ten times first - but if you want to write, you have to be able to cope with rejection sometimes. Just don't let it put you off."

While writing the book, it was the structure that possibly caused the most consideration rather than the plot. "That was easy to work out - the premise was straight forward and I knew everyone's story, their motive, what they were doing when and where, but what was tricky was balancing two timelines, two families and two narratives - one of which is written in third person and one in first." Initially it was Stephen who was written in third person but Knight soon swapped this around. "Stephen needs to be the hunter; he needs to be more frightening, the reader needs to feel trapped by him and almost claustrophobic. This is more easily managed through the first person." Interestingly it wasn't Stephen's character that was the hardest to write (without giving too much away to anyone who has not read the book, he is essentially the character threatening Catherine with revealing her secret) and in fact, Knight seemed particularly "fond" of him! Does this mean she has a hidden dark side? "Only on the page! I guess I see the same situation as everyone else but look at it differently....always asking what if.......! I think Stephen is so far removed from me and the person I am, it is easier to write about him. Funnily enough it was Nick - Catherine's son - who was the hardest character to write."

Knight has signed a two book deal but she does not feel under any particular pressure with her next project. "Perhaps if it was part of a series I would need to get the next book out more quickly but there isn't too much pressure at the moment - more of a looming deadline." Her second book is looking at the relationship between two characters so there is more detail and depth to consider as well as the basic plot and action of the story. "It's taken me a while to get fully stuck in to the book as I wanted to establish the characters firmly - although I know I will probably have to edit most of this out at a later stage so that's affected my progress in getting to the crux of the story. Also, although I have the plot worked out in reasonable detail, often things crop up or change as I am writing. For example, in Disclaimer I changed the ending when I was about half way through. If the overall plot is looser there's more room to change the outcome as new things present themselves."

Since the publication of "Disclaimer" in February and indeed over the last year or so, there has been a real boom in the popularity of psychological thrillers and "Grip Lit" novels with female protagonists. "I don't think I was influenced by other titles - in fact I hadn't read "Gone Girl" until after I'd finished writing which was a good thing as there are some similarities. I wasn't particularly thrown by the fact my novel is part of this prolific genre, nor did I feel any extra pressure from such a label." Knight sites her literary influences as Daphne du Maurier -"Rebecca is an absolutely fantastic book!"- Lionel Shriver, Graham Swift and she adores Notes on a Scandal by Zoe Heller. Knight also praised the Crime Writing Community for their amazing support and encouragement. "Actually, I am as influenced by TV as books," Knight commented. "I love watching creepy shows like Tales from the Unexpected and there was a particularly gripping show on in the 70s which I would curl up in front of every Friday night in the dark and watch all night long. I was never freaked out by anything and rarely frightened."

Perhaps more frightening is when you first share your book with friends and family. "You have to hope that they'll forget it's you once they start reading. I think the readers I was most apprehensive about were my children!" As well as taking on board feedback from friends, the whole editing process can't be rushed. For Knight, once her novel is finished, she follows the invaluable advice from her Faber and Faber course. "I left my manuscript for 2 weeks, then I read it in another form. I read it on Kindle and in print. Then rewrote, then did the whole process again. Space and distance are really important to help you get some perspective."

Once the book was finished and ready to go, there was great discussion about the title. "I'd initially thought of a very long winded title like Any resemblance to actual persons is... but clearly that wasn't going to help books fly off the shelf! The British publishers like Exposure but the American publishers favoured Disclaimer." A fascinating fact she then revealed is that no other language has a word  for "disclaimer". "The French edition is called Reveal and in Germany it is Dead Life. Perfect Life is also used on some European editions."

The film rights for Disclaimer have been optioned and Knight has written a screenplay. Her first version of this was rejected as it was too removed from the original book. "I tried to do a few things I couldn't do within the text version but they wanted it to be much closer." Knight is delighted about the prospect of a forthcoming film but also filled with trepidation as she really does want it to be a film people will enjoy. "There's always that debate about books of films isn't there, but when it's done well, it's a brilliant celebration of the author's work. I mean, isn't Emma Donoghue's Room just amazing? She wrote the screenplay and both the film and the book are totally breathtaking."

And who might play the leads in the film? "I've no idea - I'm rubbish at this sort of thing!" Knight laughs. "I'm not sure about Catherine - Stephen I probably have more stronger ideas about.....especially his cardigan!"

Thank you to Vikki Orvice who interviewed Renee Knight and is one of the main organisers of the Flamstead Book Festival. It was such an interesting evening and a real privilege to hear her speak - and get my book signed! Something to treasure! It was a really inspiring evening and fascinating to get an insight into the whole process of writing and publishing a book as well as the honour of meeting a real live author! I will definitely be looking out for next years festival. If you haven't already read the book then I highly recommend you get yourself a copy and enjoy the enthralling thriller.

For more recommendations and reviews, please follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacUK).

Please see below for my review of "Disclaimer".

This is an excellent psychological thriller and a fine example of "GripLit"! Catherine Ravenscroft finds a book on her bedside table all about her and the dark secret she has kept buried from her husband and son. Knight uses the popular pattern of alternating chapters between the voice of Catherine and Stephen Brigstoke  - the retired teacher who has set out to destroy her life - to effectively build tension and drive the plot forward at a great pace.

I don't want to give too much away but as the narratives develop, Stephen becomes more sinister and vengeful; the increasing references to his dead wife show him to be more unhinged and dangerous which complicates the reader's relationship with him which is initially more sympathetic. His announcements in his very opening chapter where he states "I am not a cruel person......I have allowed things to slide..." imply a hidden malevolence.

Similarly our reaction to Catherine, which is not always sympathetic, is also completely challenged by the end of the book. The last third of the novel hurtles at such an accelerated pace, crammed full of plot twists, that the minute you finish the last page you feel the need to go back to the beginning and start again. The revelations are so clever that you have to reconsider everything you've just read.

I was completely gripped from the opening chapter. It's been a long time since I have been grabbed so firmly and so fully catapulted headlong into a story. You feel like you are trying to catch up with events from the first line and I was reading so rapidly just to try and uncover the secrets and the truth about Catherine's buried past. This can make the start feel a bit jerky and confused but it mimics Catherine's emotions as she realises the book on her bedside table is about her and her overwhelming fear of being discovered. Although the reader remains in the dark, Catherine's fear of being watched and her trauma from the near death of her son create a jittery tension which makes you read on. Knight's unique skill is her ability to force you to read on in order to try and make sense of what's happening and constantly having to piece together the secrets, the revelations, the actions of the various characters and which narrator is in fact reliable enough to listen to.

It's a winning easy read. It has all the right ingredients for a psychological thriller. It's a page turner, full of twists and surprises. I liked the fact that the story centred around a bitter, hurt and frustrated man's calculated personal revenge rather than a psychopathic criminal as it was more unsettling and realistic. Ordinary people, people that you think you know inside out, that you have lived with all these years, have deep secrets - which once revealed could destroy everything you have.  Be prepared to put everything else on hold once you pick up this book!

"For Reasons Unknown" Michael Wood

Two murders. Twenty years. Now the killer is back for more…

Twenty years ago, 11 year old Jonathan Harkness witnesses the brutal, cold blooded murder of his parents, Miranda and Stefan, which rendered him catatonic. There were multiple leads and suspects as the couple were wealthy and powerful. Stefan was engaged in a controversial cancer research programme involving animal testing so they were not unused to death threats and had many enemies. With too many lines of inquiry and no real evidence, the case remained unsolved. Twenty years later Jonathan remains a shadow; a frail, fearful, thin young man still traumatised from his childhood experience.

Chapter One brings us back to modern day and we meet the fantastic DCI Matilda Darke. After a nine month absence, Matilda returns to work to find she is no longer head of MIT but instead given the Harkness case to solve; their family house is about to be demolished and it seems timely that the case is reviewed for a final time. She is immediately frustrated by this, seeing the fact she has been given a cold case quite insulting and annoyed that it appears she will have to prove herself all over again. We discover she has had time off for depression following the death of victim during her previous investigation, but more dramatically, she has also recently lost her husband. Matilda is an intriguing character as she is struggling with her own issues of grief and guilt. She is flawed which makes her more interesting and more appealing. I found her a very likeable and believable character and was rooting for her from the outset.

Jonathan is an equally well drawn character. He is clearly unable to "break free from that night when he had stood in the doorway of his parent's bedroom and seen the nightmare unfold before him." He has "grown up in the shadows". He looks like a "strong gust of wind would snap him in half". He trusts no one and his whole emotional development has been stunted by his parents and what happened - but "even when his parents were alive he didn't accept their love." Jonathan surrounds himself with crime fiction as he tries to leave his own troubles behind him and "dream of detectives rather than the horror that haunts his real life". He returns to watch the demolition of his family home, hoping for a chance to put the ghosts to rest, but really this proves only to be the beginning of a new nightmare. Is Jonathan as innocent and as weak as he appears? Is his crippling social awkwardness hiding the potential for psychopathic behaviour or is he really just a tragic victim who deserves our pity and sympathy? Wood ensures you are never truly sure until the final few pages!

Further twists and layers are added to the story. Jonathan has a brother, Matthew, who went missing for three days after the murder of his parents. As the story continues we learn more about Matthew and how he was always able to "get away with murder" being the favoured son of his parents. The description that "to their faces, he had the smile of an angel but behind their backs his halo slipped and the smile changed to a lethal sneer" is unnerving and menacing. What was his real involvement? Why are he and Jonathan estranged? Where is he now? Will he and Jonathan be reunited through the demolition of their family home? Can Matilda track down Matthew to answer her questions about the murder 20 years ago when he was 15?

And then another murder takes place. Whoever killed the Harkness couple is clearly determined that the case should remain unsolved.

DCI Ben Hales, Acting Head of MIT, is a great character. Ambitious, greedy, jealous of Matilda and married to the daughter of the Chief Constable he is desperate for promotion; bitter that his calculated (and unhappy) marriage has not opened any doors for him. The tension between him and Matilda is palpable and their strained relationship cleverly adds another layer of tension and suspense to the novel. For me, he was a character you could love to hate! How far is he prepared to go to undermine Matilda? What lengths will he go to make an arrest and solve the crime before her? How ethical is he and can he be trusted not to abuse his position?

My other favourite character was Jonathan's neighbour, Maun Barrington. She is creepy! Lonely and hiding her own dark past, she has developed an obsession with Jonathan and is clearly deluded about their relationship. She is so quietly threatening and menacing. She reminded me of Annie Wilkes in Stephen King's "Misery". She has some brilliant lines and some of her thoughts are really unsettling and sent shivers down my spine! What exactly is her role in everything? What is she really capable of harming Jonathan with her increasingly psychopathic behaviour?  Is she merely harmless or does her secret past present her as another possible suspect?

Wood is extremely good at giving a clear description of each character. They are easy to visualise and all vivid and realistic. He is also very good at creating intrigue with each character. For example, Matilda suffers from panic attacks and it is a while before the reason for these is revealed but her vulnerability suggests guilt, a buried past, an internal struggle which begs more questions from the reader. Conversations like "I'll screw up again.....I killed a child" also litter the pages with clues and suspense. Her back story has been meticulously worked out and Wood is able to reveal some of it in a controlled manner, adding further depth to the plot and indicating this could be the beginning of a successful series. Flawed but determined female detective leads are ever popular in crime fiction and in TV dramas at the moment and Matilda easily deserves recognition alongside these canny, shrewd women.

This book was a really enjoyable read.  I was caught up in the story instantly. I liked that each key character could be a suspect - each has a motive, each has a past. I was definitely kept guessing as I raced towards the ending. The title "For Reason's Unknown" is  a perfect choice as it really summarises the crux of the novel.

It is hard to accept that "For Reasons Unknown" is a debut novel. Wood's writing is accomplished, polished, confident and shows a secure ability to entrap the reader in a thrilling murder story. I am eager to read on and spend more time with Matilda Darke. I am looking forward to his second instalment, "Outside Looking In" which is available for preorder on Amazon at the moment for the bargain price of £1.99.




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"Moonstone: The Boy Who Never Was" Sjon

This is a very short novel of 160 pages, organised into quite short chapters. The atmospheric front cover caught my eye and it seemed like something which would be a little different. I have not read any Icelandic literature before and the blurb claimed this was a "mesmerising and original" voice with an author who "did not waste a word." From a literary point of view, it sounded like a very interesting read.

The story is about Mani Steinn (Moonstone) who is 16 years old, living in Reykjavik in 1918; it tells of his fascination with films and the cinema, his survival of Spanish Flu and his love for Sola G. His is also engaged in homosexual activities which were strictly illegal at this time and if discovered, would result in a prison sentence or time in a mental asylum.

The writing is very good and there were some very effective passages. We are kept at a distance from Mani as he is only ever referred to as "the boy" and this distance is also felt by Mani himself who appears somewhat removed from his immediate surroundings. When Spanish Flu ravishes Reykjavik, the narrator says that "no matter how distressing the scenes, the boy remained impassive. Reykjavik has assumed a form that reflects his inner life." Mani is perhaps as much an observer of life as the reader. He amuses himself "by analysing the life around him with an acuity honed by watching some 500 films in which every glance, every movement, every expression and every pose is charged with meaning and clues to the subject's inner feelings and intentions, whether for good or evil.....All mankind's behaviour is an open book to him."

Spanish Flu dominates the novel. It is described in horrific detail; it's appearance, symptoms, development and then the effects on the population. It clearly has a devastating impact on everyone and kills a huge number of people - "an uncontrollable force unleashed".

There is also an interesting debate about the immorality of the cinema and how it "fosters perversion in its viewer." Dr Garibaldi, another important character in the book, links the rapid infection of Spanish Flu to the cinema as somewhere where many people gathered regularly in a confined space. It is then used to develop an argument to support the idea of the cinema being responsible for mental disorders. This also shows the attitudes to sexuality at the time as well.

This book is a snap shot of a specific period in time in a country's history seen from the perspective of someone treated as an outsider. The prose is controlled and carefully chosen, it's brevity effective in creating a melancholy atmosphere.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.

"My Husband's Wife" Jane Corry

This book opens with a murder and then goes back in time by 15 years to introduce Lily, a 25 year old newly qualified lawyer, just back from her honeymoon with her new husband, artist Ed. The novel then continues with a story of secret, lies, revenge and murder told through the viewpoints of Lily and Carla - a young daughter from the neighbouring flat.

This opening section where the reader is presented with a situation then the story jumps back to another point in time, or another character's narrative, sets the precedent for the way the novel proceeds. Corry has a great talent for making a throwaway comment, dropping in a sudden clue, raising a half thought (or half answer!) and then leaving the reader dangling as she charges ahead with another part of the multilayered plot. This is such an effective technique and it totally ensured that I kept reading - rapidly! - all the way through the 528 pages of this debut thriller. The opening murder scene remains a mystery until almost the very last pages. The reader frequently thinks they may have solved the crime but then there will be another twist and you will find yourself having to re-evaluate all you thought about the characters.

The thing I enjoyed most about this novel was the creation of atmosphere and suspense. So many of the sentences have double meanings and I was never sure in which way I needed to interpret them. For example, in the first chapter, Lily announces "On my first day back from our honeymoon, I'm preparing to go to prison." Immediately the reader is full of questions. And even when these questions are answered, sometimes showing our worst conclusion to be way off line, Corry has still laid the foundations of a sense of foreboding, crime, danger, unfamiliarity. The mere repetition of "new" and all the new starts Lily is facing on her first day back - new job, new flat, new husband, new marriage - creates a sense of nervousness or unfamiliarity. Lily seems unsure of life and there is an implicit sense that things are not secure or strong - there is a definite sense that something will go wrong -that this marriage may be more fragile than Lily wants it to be. The description of "his taste of toothpaste that I haven't got used to", checking the lock on the door as "it's new to us both" and the sense of this couple entering new territory together raises real intrigue. Then Lily says "Two lies. Small white ones. Designed to make the other feel better. But that's how some lies start. Small. Well meaning. Until they get too big too handle." A fantastic opening. Already, the reader is posed for a story of lies and deceit.

Lily is a great character. I never quite knew how to feel about her. When she first meets the young Clara she says "It occurs to me that it would be very easy to take a child if the circumstances were favourable." And then later she comments, "How easy it would have been to let Ed choke to death. To pretend it was an accident." Corry is brilliant at these kind of statements and it means I never quite knew where I stood with Lily. Yes, she's a great lawyer, professional, diligent, seemingly ethical and honest yet......do we really know what she is capable of? She is also hiding a deep secret from her husband (and the reader!) and the mystery of her back story certainly left me wondering what she might have done or how she might be connected with the murder from the first page. For example, a couple of times she nearly "confesses" to Ed but reminds herself that if she does confess to whatever it is she is hiding, she will lose him forever. Is she guilty of something? What is so dreadful that she can't tell her husband? This is a book where you are empathetic and yet suspicious of the protagonist both at the same time!

Although Lily is really the main character, it is Carla who surely steals the show. Introduced as a solitary, odd, friendless 9 year old who craves attention from anyone as her mother frequently abandons her to spend time with her boyfriend, she then grows into a wonderfully manipulative, calculating, dedicated, vengeful young woman. Again, she is difficult to empathise with as she is at times quite unpleasant, even when the circumstances are pitiful. I found her captivating; a real study of the psychology of a young girl who isn't likeable, but is a product of circumstances of which you can be understanding and sympathetic, and how this affects the adult she becomes - how events from her childhood completely control her future.

I really wanted to see how the two story lines would become linked and what exactly would connect these two women. Part One ends with shattering revelations, lots of loose ends and many questions. There is a precarious sense of uncertainty and unease.

Part Two is 12 years later and Clara is now 23, returning to London from Italy. A clear agenda and purpose in mind. I liked Corry's way of listing "Sugar? Sellotape? Sharp implements? Crisps?" every time Lily enters a prison or police station. I felt so often that Corry was throwing me clues, or burying me deeper in secrets, and I never knew quite how to use the information I had been given. Every time I thought I had it figured out, something would happen leaving me unsure what to make of Lily and Clara yet again. This is shows real skill from the writer and an exceptional control over the structure and narrative. As Lily says "If....If.....If....." Who is telling the truth? Who has the biggest motive? Who is the better actress? Who can you trust?

This is a bit of a slow burner of a thriller if that's not too much of an oxymoron! There are cliffhangers, many moments of suspense and surprising revelations and the book moves at a reasonable pace, assisted with the alternating chapters from Lily and Clara. But there are several complex threads of story to follow. Each character has their own back story, motive and secret and all of these need resolution. The plots intertwine effectively but it is quite complex and these are fully developed characters with hidden depths.

I really wanted to finish reading this book because I just couldn't fill in all the blanks and I wanted to know what the truth behind the opening murder really was. I wanted to find out the truth behind the husband, the wife and the husband's wife. You will too. And you won't be disappointed by this intriguing novel of successive twists which span 15 years of secrets and revenge.

My thanks to NetGalley for an advanced review copy of this book.

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