"Lying in Wait" Liz Nugent

I first saw this book listed on cleopatralovesbooks.wordpress.com "Stacking the Shelves" post and knew that I had to read it!

My husband did not mean to kill Anne Doyle, but the lying tramp deserved it.

This has got to be a top contender for novel with the best opening line! And it doesn't just stop after the first line - I had raced through the first chapter without even noticing.

"Lying in Wait" is about respected judge Andrew and his reclusive wife Lydia, who become irrevocably mixed up with drug addict and prostitute Annie. One of the most compelling things about this story was the way it fused the lives of two very different families, from very different backgrounds - different accents, values, wealth and education. Their paths should never have crossed; only they did, at first quite deliberately and then by chance. Both encounters changing the lives of every character in the book forever.

So as with all well written, fast paced thrillers, the book opens with a dramatic scene - in this case we are presented with Andrew, Lydia and a dead body. Immediately we are filled with curiosity. They are a respectable couple living in a large property with high profile jobs and positions in society - how could they possibly be involved with a dead body of a young girl? Is it an accident? Is it murder? And what of their son Laurence, seemingly disengaged from his family and over protected by his mother, is he really as naive as Lydia believes?

The narrative alternates between the voices of Lydia, Laurence and Karen (Annie's sister). Each is distinctive and realistic. The rotation of perspectives help not only to create tension and compulsive reading but also accentuate the menace of Lydia, vulnerability of Karen and awakening of Laurence. The story also returns to the 1980s to trace the story from its roots, gradually moving forward to the present day of 2016. The pace and structure are well crafted to intensify the spine chilling atmosphere evoked by the characters and events.

Lydia is an absolute monster. She is one of the most captivatingly frightening characters I have met in a little while. I found it very refreshing to read a book where the wife is actually the one with the power and strength; the husband the pitiable victim. She is the original Lady MacBeth. She is unrelentingly calculating, manipulative and controlling. Her feelings for her son are worryingly all consuming. She has the drive, ambition and maternal love to rival any Shakespearean or legendary matriarch. Her forward planning is as cunning and incredible as Amy's in "Gone Girl". Even in her descent into madness, revelation of her past family life and her more recent pain of trying to have children, limited sympathy is created as she remains so ruthless, cruel, selfish and heartless. She is disturbing and I know I will not forget her anytime soon!

Laurence is an interesting character. Not always likeable, at first he appears to be a bit of a victim; weak and naive. But as the novel progresses, the reader sees him learn to understand himself more and begin to exert more control and direction over his own life. Some moments of this transition are cringe-worthy and some reveal an unpleasant side, but there is also some redemption and some cause to feel an inkling of sympathy.

Karen is a very likeable character - and much needed in this dark tale. She is a survivor, a fighter and a very straight character in comparison to Lydia and Laurence who seem to thrive on disguise and deceit.

The collision of the two families and the impact of their past actions on each other makes for a fascinating plot twist. Although extremely dramatic, the "penny dropping" moments are exquisitely handled, slowly presenting themselves. I found myself holding my breath as I watched the action unveil itself in front of my eyes. This is the work of an accomplished storyteller.

Issues of how we present ourselves publicly, privately, to our family, to our loved ones are all explored in this book. Nugent also raises questions about reputation, prejudice, judgement and entitlement. But most of all deception, secrets and the extremities of a mother's love for a child. As another reviewer on Goodreads commented, this book shows how madness and matriarch can be mixed together with chilling effect.

As well as Lady Macbeth - the ultimate controller and domineering wife whose desire for power leads to a descent into madness- Lydia also reminded me of great female villains like the nanny in "The Hand that Rocks the Cradle". I was also reminded of Diana Rigg in the 1989 BBC TV series "Mother Love" - if anyone remembers that!!

I have literally just finished reading this a couple of hours ago and have read it in about 2 sittings. I think this book is truly a psychological thriller - the protagonist is seriously psychologically frightening and the ending made me shudder, sending real shivers down my spine. This novel is a little different from some of the other thrillers currently on the shelves as it is as much about the relationship between a mother and a son rather than a murder. It feels more controlled and sedate in some ways, probably because of the grand setting of the family house Avalon, the agoraphobic behaviour of Lydia, the sheltered life of Laurence and the family's preference for a rather solitary existence. But this does not in any way mean it is not an edge of your seat, gripping read. I found it a refreshing take on the genre and was even more delighted to find out it was Nugent's second novel which means I can read more of her - something I am very keen to do!

My thanks to @cleo_bannister for bringing this book to my attention and NetGalley for sending me an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

"How to Calm a Challenging Child" Miriam Chachamu

Half term was lovely, but there were definitely some moments that could have been handled better (by both myself and the children!!). Although we have left the toddler years behind us, the tantrums still continue, along with the emotional roller coaster of those pre-teen hormones and testosterone surges. Everyone's needs are changing and that means I need to change the way I react to things and deal with situations. Time for a bit of "contemplative reflection" - after that crucial, much needed strong coffee with a group of fellow mothers once the school gates were shut 9am Monday morning!

This book offers a "concise, quick and easy read with straightforward explanations of everyday family dynamics". It claims to give "practical advice that works" in a way that is "accessible under the most difficult of circumstances".

This is really a book for parents who feel frazzled and have got a bit lost with what is the most effective way to manage their children (we've all been there!). I also think it's quite good as a general "refresher" as the suggestions are obvious, achievable and doable- and mostly things we all do "on a good day"! There's no jargon, no complicated psycho babble or confusing rhetoric. I found that I was able to flick through it, skimming certain parts, reading the bits that were more applicable. The illustrations, diagrams and tables are really helpful for condensing information and gleaming the key points efficiently.

There was a really helpful section on giving praise. Again, things I have read / heard / done before but it was a good reminder and there are loads of examples so it's really easy to imagine how you could do this with your own child. It helped me clarify that I need to make sure the children's needs are being met; things go wrong when they feel their needs are being ignored - the tricky bit is understanding what they consider their "needs" to be and what you consider their "needs" to be! Under pressure, it's easy to overlook or misinterpret these. I'm not talking about the big stuff here, more that when they say they won't do something it could be because they are not sure what you mean and are too embarrassed to ask, or they don't want to be seen to be failing at it. There's a great table translating "Childish" speak into possible meanings in English. I think I might have to rip that out and pin it on the fridge! There's also an English into "childish" table - equally helpful and highlighting that often phrases like "stop it" and "how dare you speak to me like that" result in a child feeling unloved, frustrated or misunderstood. Chachamu advocates taking a moment to put aside your own feelings, frustrations and external pressures and trying to imagine what the child is feeling. Tell them what you think they are feeling and why and try to get to the root of the problem.

Another piece of advice that resonated with me was that during an argument, you should try to keep your voice lower than theirs and make sure you have eye contact. I so often find myself shouting instructions with my head hidden behind a cupboard door or to the backs of children at the other end of the hallway. Who knows who has actually heard me or realised they are actually being addressed! I also took away the very obvious reminder that sometimes we overwhelm them with a barrage of instructions or information, and, something I am guilty of, expect too much to be achieved in too short a time. But it is tricky when it's always a bit of lottery trying to work out exactly how long it might take someone to put toothpaste on their brush or find their other sock - a constant variable in our household!

I wish I could reproduce Chachamu's "Pizza" diagram to combat anger - or "hot thoughts" as she calls them. You can introduce it to them in a neutral situation, like a story so that they may then be able to use it independently next time they find themselves feeling angry or upset. For example: say a boy wants to join in with a game that another child is playing but their request is ignored. Divide a circle into 8 slices and ask them to write down 8 different explanations as to why the boy was ignored. Was it because no one likes him? No one ever wants to play with him? Or is the other boy rude? Or could it be something more "reasonable" like the boy was so absorbed in his game, he didn't hear - or wasn't wearing his glasses so didn't see who it was..... As they work their way around the 8 slices, the thoughts should "cool down" and then they can see the most probable reason rather than the most irrational and damaging one. A great technique - one that anyone could use for those moment of self doubt! There is a positive parenting checklist table which would be a great page to have bookmarked and ready to refer to every once in a while.

I liked the concept of an "emotional bank account" where you make "deposits" of positive comments, fun time together and avoid criticism so that when a "withdrawal" has to be made (shouting, criticising, ignoring needs) the child should have enough "deposits" to ensure they stay in "credit". I've also heard about this as a technique for couples. Chachamu underlines the importance of making sure siblings still get some individual time with a parent but points out this can be done very simply, it just needs to be pointed out to the child. For example, very unusually, my son and I ended up having some time together today - just 30 minutes to walk home before collecting the others -which we filled with a few jobs and mundane shopping so I didn't feel like I was getting behind, but we were able to chat. I involved him in my decisions in the supermarket and then said how much I was enjoying his company. He didn't respond to this with any kind of show of emotional intelligence but kept up a rather complicated explanation of the latest computer game he is obsessed all the way home which probably is his way of showing me that he was appreciative and did recognise our "special time" together. Interestingly it did have a positive impact on our relationship for the rest of the day.

Chachamu is realistic in her approach. She understands the ups and downs of parenting, the reality and the pressure, the frustration and the weariness. I didn't find it patronising, but honest, accessible and very easy to get the gist of a few techniques that could help. I admit, I did not read every single word in this book but did browse it a few times and certainly read some sections fully - I think that is often the best way to approach a parenting manual. It's given me a bit of a chance to step back and look at things in a fresher light. I'm sure a lot of the ideas in this book would help any parent, not just those of us with "challenging" children - particularly as that is a rather subjective and relative label.

My children are not overly challenging (although if I had £1 every time they were described as "spirited"....)  but parenting takes a lot of energy and resource so in a sense we all need a bit of extra support when feeling drained. I think this book would be a quick, affirming read for any parent.

Thank you to my two friends who recommended this book to me and who have been exceptionally good listeners when most needed!

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

"Without Trace" Simon Booker

This is billed as a taut, psychological thriller for fans of "Gone Girl" - for me, it definitely delivered! As with the most successful titles currently dominating the "grip lit" genre, Booker introduces us to compelling characters, frightening situations and unexpected twists. The most appealing part of this novel was that you never knew who to trust, who was acting out of revenge and who was acting out of genuine goodness. I was constantly changing my opinion of who I felt empathetic towards - who was a victim and who was dangerous - and every time I thought I had it sorted, Booker would come along and trip me up with another twist or revelation!

The novel is about Morgan, single mum and journalist, who has been campaigning for the release of Danny from his prison sentence for murdering his daughter and possibly his wife. They were childhood sweethearts and share a past from which Morgan is still recovering. For Morgan, Danny is the "one that got away" and she is convinced of his innocence. He is released after four years and with nowhere else to go, he turns to Morgan, befriending her teenage daughter who is at first unhappy about having a murderer in their house. Slowly Morgan fights to change the public's opinion of Danny, which reminds steadfast in believing him to be guilty. Then Lissa goes missing. And suddenly Morgan is no longer sure if she can trust Danny and begins to questions everything she knows about him. Has the past blinded her to the present? Is Danny capable of murder? Is he a dangerous man that has been wrongly released or does he want to find Lissa and support Morgan in her traumatic search for her daughter?

This is a real cliffhanger of a book. Each chapter leaves you dangling and forces you to read on. The chapters are short but fast- that fatal trick of being short enough to squeeze in "just one more" and then finding you are still there thirty minutes later! The writing is efficient and despite the short sentences, it is easy to visualise setting and atmosphere. They also build tension and suspense incredibly effectively. The dialogue is often also brief, but deftly used to create believable three dimensional characters.

The main characters, Danny, Morgan and Lissa, are very well crafted and I really bonded with Morgan. On one hand she is a slight victim, a little fragile and damaged from her past which is cleverly intertwined through flashbacks at various points in the novel; she is vulnerable and fallible. She could generate pity but actually she is strong and resourceful and dedicated - the way that she fights to find her daughter reveals drive and a deeper inner strength.

Danny is gloriously menacing. Yet, the backstory reveals a much more caring, sensitive, loving character and helps to explain why Morgan is so quick to defend him and let him manipulate her. There are some fantastically threatening passages where he hovers like a ghostly shadow; a creepy predatory presence. I loved the way Morgan finds "the toilet seat raised" but then realises she is alone.... Booker keeps us guessing about Danny and as I said before, just as you believe he is involved, he does something which makes you question this, reminding you of how he is struggling to adapt to life on the outside, the constant prejudice everywhere he goes as he also tries to overcome the bullying he endured in prison.

Booker uses telephone conversations between Morgan and Danny to heighten the tension. As with the dialogue, they are used to make the characters feel more exposed and confused. The conflict explored in the relationship between Danny and Morgan is interesting. How do you deal with someone who has been the biggest part of your childhood, a knight in shining armour, a wronged victim......but then someone who has changed and whose behaviour implies that actually they could be more dangerous than you think.

No one is this book is what they seem. The police officers working on the case and the other journalist are equally deceptive and manipulative in their behaviour. All have motives and hidden agendas. Morgan's true strength of character is tested as she battles to identify who she can depend on and who can help her to save Lissa. It is utterly impossible to guess the ending of this captivating, white knuckle ride of a story!

The setting is Dungeness beach and the marshes - already stirring up images of Dicken's "Great Expectations" and a place perfect for murderers and a bleak, unfriendly landscape. Some of the events, observations and dialogue reminded me of the film "Sleeping with the Enemy" which still has the power to send shivers down my spine!

I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a thrilling, exciting read with a genuine, cliche-busting protagonist. If you like to be kept guessing and continuously challenged, you will love this. If you like a fast paced, well written novel full of believable and realistic characters, you will love this!

My thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy in return for a review and my thanks to Simon Booker for another sleepless night!

For more recommendations and reviews, follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk)

"Cut to the Bone" Alex Caan

This book opens with one of the most captivating introductions I have read in a while! Caan's use of short sentences creates tension effectively, gripping the reader and pulling them straight into the dark and frightening situation which sets the tone for the rest of this compelling thriller.

"Her clothes are gone. She wears a sack, tied at the waist. ...... Help me. Who is she speaking to? .........Ruby is gone. Only her screaming remains."

The chapter continues by telling us "she is strapped to a chair, arms and legs bound, mouth taped." Ruby's panic and fear are well captured with the description of her imprisonment and sense of desperation: "The walls are coming in . The darkness has icy fingers. Her skin is on fire. She wants her mother. She can't breathe. She is drowning."

In Chapter 2 we meet our protagonist DCI Kate Riley - a highly experienced detective with a doctorate from Browns. She receives a phone call at 2.38 am about a 20 year old girl who has been missing for 8 hours. Justin Hope, the Commissioner, has requested an investigation even though it is quite unprecedented at this early stage given the age of the missing girl. It is unclear why he is involved as the parents dialled 999 and have no apparent connection with Hope.

Chapter 3 introduces another key character, DS Zain Harris. He is first on the scene at the missing girl's house - the girl we now know to be Ruby. Ruby is a Vlogger and YouTube star who posts lifestyle tips, make up tutorials and fashion advice. She is making an impressive income through freebies, sponsorship and advertising. She has an incredible 2 million followers. That night, she had just gone out for a walk and never returned. As Zain listens to the parents' answers to his questions, he can't help but feel that they are "prompting each other for answers....playing a part....their responses were scripted," but he tries to "switch off his paranoia". The theme of playing parts, and scripted scenes is repeated throughout the novel as Caan explores the world of social media; the blurred lines between someone's real and on line persona. Paranoia is also a key theme in the book - both Zain and Katy seem to suffer from it, although the roots and causes are mysteriously secret and buried deep in their back stories which Caan tantalises the reader with, only dropping the odd clue or half picture so their characters remain as mysterious as the actual crime they are investigating. It is very intriguing and I was very impressed with his handling of not only a complex plot, but also his management of complex characters. It is hard to believe it is a debut novel.

The chapters continue to alternate between Kate and Zain. They are very short and this book definitely moves with great pace and action. Although quite different characters, Kate and Zain form a bond quickly and even at the first interview with Ruby's parents the "silence was heavy between them, acquiring layers of something unspoken." I also liked the way that the mystery of Kate's home life - the baby monitor she kept by her bed with the blond wig she had to put on before responding to it, the dark fear shrouding her arrival in London- were entwined with the main criminal investigation of trying to find Ruby. As I said, this novel has a multi layered, intricate plot with lots of different threads for the reader to wonder about, be distracted by and ensuring that they are kept very much on the edge of their seat until the last page.

Zain is also a fascinating character. Is he good? Is he bad? Is he right in some of the procedural decisions he makes? What is his motive and to whom is he truly loyal? What is he caught up in? Nothing is quite as it seems and he is also compromised and full of internal conflict.

The case is difficult. Kate "was paddling...going through the motions, picking up everything she could, throwing it in the air and seeing what landed." As the book continues into the last third, the police investigation suddenly delves much deeper and into something much much bigger and more sinister than anyone could have anticipated. We learn more about Ruby, her violent and unpredictable boyfriend Dan, the mercenary world of Vlogging and the manipulative power of huge corporations. This story is more than a police procedural crime novel, it dances with conspiracy; searching and uncovering the sort of answers that will lead to people being murdered rather than revealing the truth.

This really is a novel for 2016; the world of Vlogging and those that build careers out of creating YouTube videos is such a recent phenomenon. Ruby's character is so interesting - she is lonely and has very few real friends, yet she is "lonely in the glare of 2 million people watching her." I thought it was very thought provoking in a sense as it made me really consider the growing role of social media networks and the affect they could be having on young people and their emotional intelligence or social skills. It highlights the dangers of exposure, the competition and resentment that can grow from a harmless Vlog. YouTubers and Vloggers can create a high level of perfection which can cause as much trouble for them as their viewer. And they seem relatively unprotected from praying companies seeking to exploit or manipulate them.

As the investigation proceeds there are plenty of technical conversations about how people use social media; how the police's work is made more difficult now so many people can hack / delete / wipe information - even though conversely we can also be tracked and traced by innocently opening apps on our phone. Caan's knowledge and research into the details of the technology, the internet and police procedure where vastly impressive and showed a deep understanding of everything he wrote about.

I have more to say...more quotes to use....but actually on reflection, I think they might give too much away. The best thing about this book is the way you are mislead, constantly unsure about some of the characters, shocked and tricked so I think for that reason, the less said the better! What I will say is that this is a very accomplished and considered novel and, as I am finding with all Bonnier Twenty7 debut authors, it is a book which really reads as if it has been written by an established writer with a catalogue of titles preceding them.

The final words of the book left me begging for a bit more! They are as compelling as the opening lines! I hope this means there is more to come from Caan, Kate and Zain.

This story reminded me of a lot of films and TV series I have seen recently in terms of the scale of the mystery and turns that the investigation take - the "grey" morality of a detective and another who carries an emotional burden. There is a lot of police procedure and jargon, and it was probably more intense than most crime novels I read, but even though I wasn't sure if I was always keeping abreast with Kate, I certainly recognise the talent of the author and the potential in this book. Recommend!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy of this book in return for a fair and honest review.

For more recommendations and reviews please follow me on Twitter @Katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacUK) or sign up to receive future posts by email.

Author JAMES SWALLOW talks to me about "NOMAD"

‘An intelligent, likeable and, above all, believable hero is faced with a frighteningly credible threat in a thriller that hits the tarmac running and doesn't stop accelerating until its terrifying conclusion.’ - Ben Aaronovitch

‘A terrific white-knuckle, lip-chewing thriller. Marc Dane is the British Jason Bourne. About bloody time!’ - Rhianna Pratchett

A pulse-racing terrorist thriller with a sickening twist - perfect for fans of I Am Pilgrim, Bourne, 24 and Homeland

NOMAD
JAMES SWALLOW

Published by Zaffre, 2^nd June 2016, hardback, £12.99
eBook published 2^nd June 2016, £8.99

NOMAD is a fast-paced espionage thriller for the digital age, inspired by the works of Ludlum, Fleming and Clancy but firmly set in a Post-WikiLeaks world where private military contractors, agile terror cells and corporations wield as much power as national intelligence agencies.

Marc Dane is a MI6 field agent at home behind a computer screen, one step away from the action. But when a brutal attack on his team leaves Marc as the only survivor - and with the shocking knowledge that there are traitors inside MI6 - he's forced into the front line.

However the evidence seems to point towards Marc as the perpetrator of the attack. Accused of betraying his country, he must race against time to clear his name.

With nowhere to turn to for help and no one left to trust, Marc is forced to rely on the elusive Rubicon group and their operative Lucy Keyes. Ex US Army, Lucy also knows what it's like to be an outsider, and she's got the skills that Marc is sorely lacking.

A terrorist attack is coming, one bigger and more deadly than has ever been seen before. With the eyes of the security establishment elsewhere, only Lucy and Marc can stop the attack before it's too late.

Q: How did you get started with your writing career and what has the journey been like?

I began writing stuff for small press fanzines and the like, which became a stepping stone to articles for genre media magazines. That taught me a lot of good habits about writing to deadlines! After a brief diversion into scriptwriting, I made the jump to prose and rocked on from there.

It’s been a trip, for sure. While it hasn’t always been easy, I relish the challenge and the rewards are worth it. I can’t think of myself as anything else than a writer, and I consider myself very lucky that I get to do this job for living.

Q: You’ve written lots but nothing like NOMAD, why the change in direction?

I did dip a toe into the world of thrillers a couple years ago with a book called DEADLINE, which was based on the TV show 24, but NOMAD is my first piece of long-form original fiction for several years and it’s a departure from my more usual military sci-fi work.

Action-thrillers have always been a favourite genre of mine, and I’ve always wanted to try my hand there. I wanted to write NOMAD as a challenge to myself, to reach out to a different audience, but mostly because I love these kinds of books.

Q: How long has Marc Dane been in your mind and when/how did you “find” him?

I’ve been living with Marc in my head since around 2008, when I first started gathering material for my hypothetical thriller project – but the sketch of him has been around for a lot longer than that. 

He grew out of a realization I had that almost every action protagonist I was seeing in media were these super-competent, near-flawless guys who had little to no tech-literacy. You had your hero (the trigger-puller/door-kicker) and your backseat guy (the hacker in the van working a laptop). I asked myself what would happen if the latter was forced into doing the job of the former – someone who had to work a little harder for every victory, who was smart and resourceful...but sometimes fallible. That’s Marc Dane; he has to work at being a hero, and I think that makes him more relatable.

Q: How much ‘on location’ research did you do? And where?

Pretty much every location in NOMAD is a place I’ve visited personally – London, Washington DC, Rome etc. – and I think being there can give you a unique confidence about writing a place that comes through in the text. And sometimes, being on the ground can spark ideas – for example, there’s a chase down the side of Mt. Etna in Sicily that was inspired by traveling that route myself.

Q: Did your characters come to you before the plot or did the plot come to you first?

A bit of both, really. Some of the key elements of the plot were inspired by real-world events like the predictions of security consultants on the War on Terror, and the explosion in cyber-warfare. The characters evolved from themes and ideas I wanted to explore, taking on shape as the plot grew alongside them.

Q: How much control do you have over the characters? Did the book ever take completely unexpected turns?

I outlined NOMAD very thoroughly before I wrote a single word of it, so the narrative of the final book is more-or-less the one I wanted it to be. But I also tried to leave places for the characters to evolve as they went, and there are moments where a character’s growth led me to rewrite a few things.

Q: Tell us about the key differences between writing for games and novels.

Books are a more lonely pursuit, because it’s largely just the author and an editor or two, and because of that smaller circle you have more creative control of the work. Games, on the other hand, are the product of a team which can be anything from four or five folks in a small indie studio right up to hundreds of programmers, artists and designers for a top tier “Triple-A” project. That means there are more cooks in the kitchen, but you also get a shared energy from working with talented, passionate people. 

In terms of the actual nuts-and-bolts of it, working on a game can involve several different kinds of writing – scripted scenes, prose, radio-style dialogue, pure plotting, world-building and character design – and that’s part of what makes it so interesting.

Q: You have researched exotic weapons systems, intelligence service operations, terrorist methodology, drone technology, hacking and computer security for NOMAD. Tell us a little bit about what you’ve learnt. Anything surprising? Where do you begin?

I could fill another novel with all the stuff that I uncovered during my research – and that old adage about “truth being stranger than fiction” certainly proved itself to me along the way! I took a deep dive into technology blogs, military-industrial reports, digital security and hacking groups. I read up on private military contractors, drone warfare, terrorism – anything I could get my hands on – and then I asked the “what if?” questions. If something was happening today, I tried to extrapolate what would happentomorrow. But the real world has a way of overtaking! 

I lot of what I learned was pretty hair-raising things about modern cyber-security and the lack thereof in our wired society. One of the crazier examples I came across were a group of hackers who could actually duplicate digital passwords by sound– literally listening to the changes in ultrasonic frequency emanating from a computer’s CPU and decoding them into data, with no physical contact required!

Q: What’s next for Marc Dane?

He’ll be back for another adventure in 2017...and hopefully, more to follow that!

Q: And what’s next for you? Tell us a little bit about your other projects.

    

As well as working on the follow-up to NOMAD, I’ve been involved in a couple of videogame projects that will be arriving at the end of the summer – NO MAN’S SKY, a sci-fi exploration epic in a near-infinite universe; and DEUS EX: MANKIND DIVIDED, a futuristic cyberpunk conspiracy thriller. I’ve also written BLACK LIGHT, a novel that serves as a prequel to MANKIND DIVIDED, and an episode of a new radio adaptation of the classic DAN DARE adventure comics.

JAMES SWALLOW is available to write features on, but not limited to, exotic weapons systems, intelligence service operations, terrorist methodology, drone technology, hacking and computer security. James is available for interview. For further information please contact Emily Burns, Head of PR at Zaffre Emily.burns@bonnierpublishing.co.uk or 07540763179.

About the Author

James Swallow is a veteran author and scriptwriter with over 15 years of experience in fiction, television, radio, journalism, new media and videogames. He is the three-time New York Times bestselling author. He was nominated by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) for his writing on the critically acclaimed DEUS EX: HUMAN REVOLUTION, 2013’s blockbuster videogame with over 2.18 million copies sold.

@jmswallow               http://jamesswallow.blogspot.co.uk/

‘Exciting and thought-provoking in equal measure, NOMAD is a thinking reader’s white knuckle thrill ride. James Swallow has written a benchmark technothriller for the 21st century, one that’s as engrossing as it is plausible.’ - Richard Dansky, writer of video games including SPLINTER CELL, GHOST RECON, RAINBOW SIX and most recently worked as lead writer on TOM CLANCY'S THE DIVISION, which has been this year's biggest game release.

"The Fire Child" S K Tremayne

I loved "The Ice Twins" and rated it 5/5 stars so when I saw that there was a new title from Tremayne I knew I had to read it! I was thrilled when my request for an advanced copy from NetGalley was approved!

This story is set in Cornwall and the setting is evoked as strongly and with as much atmosphere as Scotland was in her previous novel. Rachel Daly has left London, giving up a job and a "supposedly exciting life" to marry the handsome David; an older, richer widower with an 8 year old son, Jamie. She feels happy to have left London behind reflecting that she is "no longer hanging on to dear life anymore" and embraces her new start with her new husband, new son, new house which they share with her new mother in law Juliet. Rachel is excited by the prospect of continuing the renovation of the ancestral home with its 18 bedrooms, huge hall ways and drawing rooms- such a contrast from her own council estate upbringing. She also has a deeply buried past which she hopes to have truly left behind, making sure it is forever carefully hidden from David.

Rachel wants to "heal" David and Jamie who are both still in the grips of grief following the death of wife and mother Nina, who died in an accident 18 months ago in the Morvellon Mines which are owned by David's family and close to the house. Although Rachel is highly conscious that she is struggling to live in the shadow of the perfect Nina, she still sees it as her job "to rescue things" and repair this hurting family.

From the beginning Tremayne sows the seeds of suspense with the chilling description of West Cornwall as a land where "hard granite glistens after the rain, rivers run through words like deep secrets, terrible cliffs conceal exquisite caves where moorland valleys cradle wonderful houses." The landscape's rich history and captivating natural raw beauty are a perfect setting for a story full of ghostly shadows from the past. David's family have run the mines for centuries; a business which has made them wealthy and powerful but at the expense of the lives of many of their employees who were sent deep into the tunnels that run under the sea. From the drawing room, David's ancestors would sip their claret and "hear the picks of the miners working the tin that paid for the wine...crawling under the sea that sometimes broke through and poured into the tunnels .. the sea claiming them while (we) sat in Carnhallow eating canapés." Imagery is vivid and it reminded me of "Jamaica Inn", "Moonfleet", "Lorna Doone" and a very brooding version of "Poldark"!

The chapter headings count down the days before Christmas so the reader is already tense, sensing events will build towards a dramatic climax. They will not be disappointed! Tension increases as Rachel's new home, Carnhallow, though stunning, it "glares at (her) with disapproval" and she is never far from hearing the "brutal sea in the distance, kicking at the rocks beneath Morvellan...like an atrocity that will never stop." Rachel is also haunted by the shadow of Nina as her presence lingers in a way Rebecca haunted the narrator in the brilliant novel by Daphne Du Maurier. It is highly compelling.

Rachel is the prime narrator but we also hear from David and this adds a more complicated layer to the plot. There is a suggestion that Nina's death was not an accident. David reveals "only he knows the truth", a truth which torments him daily. Jamie also seems to have seen and heard things he shouldn't have on the night of Nina's accident and it seems everyone is keeping secrets about what actually happened. Although David is in love with Rachel and sees her as a refreshing contrast to Nina, admiring her as a survivor with opinions he never usually hears in his highly pressured, workaholic life as a talented QC, this affection and respect is not always obvious to Rachel. It is also questioned by the reader as Rachel's behaviour begins to change following Jamie's strange predictions about the future as he develops an unnerving conviction that he can still see Nina and Rachel overhears him to "talking" to her. Jamie makes frightening statements that threaten Rachel and claim she will be dead by Christmas. David becomes compromised and suspicious of her- disbelieving her claims about Jamie and trying to ignore her persistent search for answers. He thinks she is becoming rather unstable but she in turn becomes fearful of him, suspecting that he might have been involved in Nina's "accident" and is therefore capable of violence or even murder. Both begin to believe the other of committing murder, both see the other as dangerous and the reader is unsure who to trust and who to believe. Both narrators seem unreliable and this confuses the reader who has been led to form a fond affection for Rachel, identifying with her and rooting for her to succeed in "mending" her new family. All the way through I was kept guessing as to what had actually happened - there were so many possible explanations planted by Tremayne and several twists and revelations. Is Nina really dead? Has she come back? Is David seeing her? Did he kill her? Did Jamie? Did his mother, Juliet? How dangerous is David? How unstable is Rachel? As I said before, compelling stuff!

I liked the way the house still seemed to belong to Nina and it was impossible to escape her legacy. Rachel even imagines seeing her with them while she sleeps with David. Juliet tries to get her to wear some of Nina's clothes, observing that there is an uncanny likeness between them. As the novel progresses, Rachel seems to become more haunted. Tremayne then begins to mix the two stories - David's and Rachel's secret pasts, to create fantastic tension and mounting suspense. There is more confusion, repetition and subtle hints. The atmosphere becomes more foreboding and I honestly couldn't drag myself away from the pages! Tremayne's use of weather and location are deeply eerie and affecting. My fear was palpable and literally heart-stopping. I was truly gripped and truly scared.

This is the best ghost story I have read in a long time. Jamie's character is convincing and authentic and he helps to influence the reader of Rachel's reliability. He is a little like the boy in "Sixth Sense", as sensitive and as receptive to atmosphere and emotion but more exaggerated because of his grief and confusion. I was impressed with how Tremayne manipulated me to respond to David and how I was still trying to fit the puzzle together until the last minute. The plot is well controlled and skilfully managed.

And I was too scared to turn the light off when I eventually finished reading it late at night!

I highly recommend this book, especially if you are fans of the film "Sixth Sense" or books like Du Maurier's "Rebecca", Stephen King's"The Shining" and Sarah Water's "The Little Stranger."

My huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers Harper Collins for approving an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review - it has been a real treat to review this book!

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

"Four Weddings and a Fiasco" Catherine Ferguson

This was a very enjoyable, entertaining, feel good romantic comedy - absolutely perfect for the summer!

As the title suggests, this is a story about four weddings and a fiasco! Katy Peacock runs her own business as a successful, hardworking wedding photographer. She makes her money from snapping away at everyone else's big day, capturing the drama, the tears, the happiness and ultimately the love, from the couple's big day. But behind her fun loving facade, Katy is full of her own troubles. Firstly she is unable to shake off an ex boyfriend who follows her around in a threatening and intimidating manner as she tries desperately to pay back the money she owes him. Secondly, she is estranged from her former business partner and sister who walked out on her - and the business which they ran jointly - leaving her penniless and vulnerable. Thirdly, while working at a wedding, she meets the handsome and enigmatic Gabe, who she finds herself falling for. And so ensues a serious of cringeworthy and laugh out loud incidents as she tries to remain professional, disinterested and alluring all at the same time!

Although this novel follows a well worn path typical of chick lit rom coms, it still feels fresh and funny. The story is well structured into four parts based around four weddings and this helps move the plot along swiftly and with focus. Katy is a very likeable character; the reader empathises with her as she tries to face her problems alone- juggling a job, a recently bereaved mother, an estranged sister, a best friend and a potential love interest without letting anyone see how desperate she feels or the pressure she finds herself under. There are several different threads of storyline going on which gives the book more depth; twists, revelations and moments of seriousness carefully balanced against the humour and romantic moments. It is a light hearted read, largely humorous and witty, but Katy also has real problems that give the book more gravitas and prevent it from being too frivolous.

There are a cast of many characters but all are created well and feel believable. Katy's best friend is particularly engaging and it feels like Ferguson enjoyed writing this character with her down to earth comments and observations. She is a great tonic for Katy and prevents the book from becoming too serious or bogged down with the difficult reality of living with family complications and debt. Ferguson also writes convincingly about the relationship between Katy and her mother which feels heartfelt and real. Her mother's friends offer Ferguson an opportunity for a bit more fun and colourful characterisation too!

Even though I was pretty sure I could guess the outcome of each plot line, I still enjoyed the ride and still felt engaged throughout the novel. I still found myself wondering what would happen between Gabe and Katy and also how things would work out with her sister. I wanted to read to the end and I found this a very easy read in which the pages kept turning without me really realising. Ferguson's writing is fluid and natural. A great read to have taken away with me over half term - particularly as I had just attended a wedding myself!

The role of a wedding photographer is a great angle (excuse the pun!) for a romantic comedy and provides a perfect set up for a story about love and marriage. It is a great way to explore couples, relationships, love and how moments captured publicly are often not a true representation of what is going on behind the scenes - even between the lucky couple themselves on their special day!

Ultimately this is a feel good story about love, friendship, families and happy endings and will suit anyone who enjoys a bit of light relief, escapism and a gentle holiday read! If you like novels like "Bridget Jones" and "The Rosie Project" and authors like Marion Keyes, Lucy Diamond, Sophie Kinsella and Cecelia Ahern, I would recommend you give this book a whirl!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book in return for a fair review.

For more recommendations and reviews, follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk) or sign up to receive future blog posts via email.