"The Year of Living Danishly" Helen Russell

Denmark is officially the happiest nation on Earth. When Helen Russell is forced to move to rural Jutland, can she discover the secrets of their happiness? Or will the long, dark winters and pickled herring take their toll?

A Year of Living Danishly looks at where the Danes get it right, where they get it wrong, and how we might just benefit from living a little more Danishly ourselves. 

I read about this on Twitter - it was recommended as a summer read. I ordered it through the library. 

This is a really interesting but light and easy read. 

Russell has divided her book into 13 chapters - one for each month of the year and an extra one for Christmas. Each looks at a different aspect of the Danish culture. My favourite chapters were "Forgetting the 9-5" and "The Kids are Alright" but there were some really fascinating insights into the Danes attitudes to equality  as well. At the end of each chapter there are about four or five short summarising bullet points which capture the more flippant sense of fun in Russell's writing, for example: "Denmark is really really cold in January", "Being a toddler in Denmark is off the scale fun," and "Danes are adept at looking on the bright side even in the bleak mid winter." 

Reading this book is like sitting over coffee with Russell or receiving a letter from an old friend - or maybe checking in to their blog post! Russell's writing is colloquial, humorous, relatable and contains a good balance of perspectives and areas of the Dane's culture to appeal to everyone and give a rounded account of all she experiences. It's a mix between a travel journal and a self help book - in fact the introduction is subtitled "The Happiness Project". 

Indeed I am tempted to join Russell in Denmark! There seems to be a lot of interest in the Dane culture at the moment with the recent number of "Nordic Noir" tv series and crime fiction available, but perhaps the overwhelming darkness of these shows and books is misleading. It seems that the Danes are a nation of sharing folk with admirable family values, plenty of wholesome hobbies and a good sense of equality - all of which makes them proud, happy and content. I'm not sure how I would fair with the darkness of the winter but the concept of "hygge" where the whole country basically hunkers down, only socialise at home with close family, insist on a lot of eating and focus on staying cosy and warm did sound appealing. I would also be delighted if my husband was able to keep to their working hours and would love to see more businesses adopting the concept that overtime meant inefficiency! 

I enjoyed this book and certainly learnt a lot about Denmark. I might not be able to move there, but what's to stop me attempting to adopt a few of their attitudes and trying to nurture my own "Happiness Project" here in Hertfordshire! 

You can follow Russell on Twitter @MsHelenRussell 
For more recommendations and reviews you can follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk) or sign up to receive future posts via email.

"Ignoring Gravity" Sandra Danby

"I've been surrounded by lies all my life, who can you trust if your parents lie to you?"

Meet Rose; confident, self assured, grounded and a woman who knows who she is. Except she doesn't. While clearing out her mother's belongings following her death, Rose comes across her mum's diaries. At first she enjoys reading the extracts, entertained by her mum's young voice which is so different from the adult character Rose knew and loved. But, as she reads on she discovers a deep secret. Rose is adopted. All that she thought was true is in fact a lie.

Rose, a journalist, sets out to uncover the truth about her family in a very practical manner as if it was a research project from work. She is methodical and thorough even when what she uncovers is confusing and upsetting. The reader is with her every step of the way.

Rose can be quite sharp and caustic at times which reflects her trauma from not discovering that she is adopted until she is an adult. She feels deceived and let down by her family. It affects her relationship with her father and her sister. She has to deal with her bitterness and jealousy:"If I was so special, why have you never told me?"

I liked her references to literature as she tried to come to terms with her past:
"Reading Harry Potter made two things clear. First don't believe everything people tell you about your parents. Second, never trust your initial assumptions."

The revelations affect everyone close to Rose and Danby's story has several twists and turns. As Rose's friend observes, "You've really unleashed the genie haven't you?" As more secrets and revelations present themselves, Rose struggles to come to terms with the truth she is uncovering.

Alongside this thread is another storyline concerning Rose's sister, Lily, who is desperate for a baby. The book explores her heartbreak, hopefulness and roller coaster of emotions as she tries to work out why she is having so much trouble conceiving. The suggestion that it might be heredity again reflects Danby's interest in families, inheritance, nature v nurture and the importance of knowing where you come from and where you belong.

This is a book which deals with a lot of complex, sensitive emotional issues. As well as topics such as pregnancy, menopause and adoption, it also includes themes of jealousy, rivalry, obsession and love.  Danby must have spent a great deal of time researching both main plot lines to be able to explain adoption and infertility in the depth and detail that she does.

Danby plans to continue the story introduced in "Ignoring Gravity",  featuring Rose as an "Identity Detective". I think her writing will become stronger as her series progresses. In this novel, both Lily and Rose are very obsessive in their quests which at times, for me, became a little overwhelming. I think this book will definitely appeal to anyone who has experienced adoption or enjoys novels about family issues. The reviews on Goodreads are very impressive with an array of 5* ratings.

Thank you so much to Sandra Danby for sending me a copy of her novel in return for a fair and honest review. I wish her all the luck with the second instalment her series and the continuing story of Rose.

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

"A Boy Made of Blocks" Keith Stuart

This is a tender novel, inspired by Stuart's own relationship with his son who has autism, about a father trying to rebuild his complicated relationship with his son and how they begin to bond over the computer game of Minecraft. It's an emotional read with moments of sadness, frustration and anger but yet full of humour, warmth and love. It reads very much like a Nick Hornby or David Nicholls book; accessible, fluid, easy and engaging- a good light read.

The book opens with Alex, the father, separating from his wife Jody as the pressure of raising a son whose condition is so consuming and demanding that it has sadly become too much for both of them. Alex gives an honest and frank admission of the effects of parenting a child with autism:

"We've basically spent out whole marriage worrying about Sam - his outbursts, his silence, the days he'd scream at us, the days he'd hide in his bed and shrink from any contact at all. Days and days, stretching out to months, trying to anticipate the next breakdown. And while we were coping with that, the things that Jody and I had together somehow faded away."

It's difficult enough to prioritise your relationship with small children anyway, so I can certainly understand Alex and Jody's situation - neither are to blame and neither are too angry but there is a sense of mental and emotional exhaustion which makes the effort of each other too much. However, Stuart's writing is humorous and the fact that the story comes from Alex's point of view rather than Jody's probably helps distance the reader from becoming overwhelmed by the emotional issues in the novel. I really enjoyed Stuart's wry comparisons about how Alex and Jody respond to their separation, for example, the women go out to lunch with that "effortless unguarded frankness that most men are incapable of. You know:'Have some of this lemon cake, it's lovely and also, tell me more about the emotionally apocalyptic disintegration of your nine-year marriage?'" The men have a conversation about football which includes a couple of very loose similes for Alex's situation. Other than that it is largely ignored and Alex finds himself camping on a flat airbed in his friends flat, seeking refuge in the pub or in a video game.

However, Alex is not shallow and he is not unaffected by the separation. He is a dedicated father who loves his son Sam deeply. He fights for Sam - "you learn the rules and exploit them..you fight for every test, every consultation, every specialist.." He just struggles with how to parent him at times. And this is not something he can be admonished for - in fact, it encourages more empathy - it is his care, love and responsibility for his son that has lead to his sense of failure and helplessness.

"Sam is the planet of concern and confusion that we have been orbiting for most of our relationship."

And he feels guilty that they have struggled so much when their diagnosis is that Sam is on the upper end of the autism spectrum - "the easy end. The shallow end....the underlying message being: you've got it easy compared to other parents." But as Alex states, "labels only get you so far." When Sam is screaming and shouting they can say "it's Autism" but "Autism is a sort of malevolent spirit, a poltergeist, a demon. Sometimes it really is like living in The Exorcist." Labels don't "help you sleep, stop you from getting angry and frustrated".

"Because of autism, there is no Jody and I, there is Jody, me and the problem of Sam. That's how it feels. But I can't say that. I can barely think it."

The novel also offers insight to the day to day struggle of living with autism. Stuart's convivial language easily conveys situations and provides pertinent, striking examples without sounding in any way educative or text book like. This is not a "guide to dealing with autism" or an autobiography but there are some descriptions which I thought really captured what parents with children who have autism must feel. As Alex tells us "Autistic children do not all have special powers.... To Sam, the world is a gigantic engine that needs to function in a certain way, with predictable actions, in order to ensure his safety...... everyone else is playing this huge game and he's got to try to figure it out as he goes along. It's exhausting ....we have to explain everything over and over...some rules will never make sense to him."

But such heart rendering explanations are often contrasted with comments that will raise a smile and reestablish the balance of this ultimately "feel good" read. I especially liked the things Sam has "shared" with people as he often says the first thing that comes into his head and with very little awareness of what's appropriate and what should not be repeated to people's faces, although excruciating for Alex and Jody, it did make me giggle! Or Alex's account of breakfast:

"CAREFULLY CUBED fruit. Have you ever cut apples into exact one-centimetre cubes at five in the morning? It's tough- especially when the recipient makes Gordon Ramsay look laid back and amenable."

Or during a very public tantrum:
"Jody had to restrain me from picking Sam up, handing him over to the concerned woman on the deckchair next to us and saying. "Here, honestly, you take him."
Although I think there is not a parent among us who has not had that feeling at some point!

Then there is a shift in the novel. Alex and Sam discover Minecraft. With three young children myself, this is a game I am very familiar with and to be honest, what attracted me to the book in the first place. For those not in the know, Minecraft is basically like lego but on screen. You create virtual worlds, build the most awesome structures, raise animals and it seems to have endless potential. I think it is a very imaginative and creative game which probably teaches engineering, planning, maths, architecture and story telling. For Sam, it gives him a world which he can control. A world in which the the rules can be ambiguous and ever changing but ultimately, a world in which he is in charge and he understands how to operate within.

To begin with, Alex and Sam simply find the gentle background music of the game "hypnotic" and then when Sam explains some aspects of the game to Alex he speaks the longest sentence Alex has ever heard; "It pours out unselfconsciously. No stutters, no breaks.....it feels revelatory." They then use the world of Minecraft to navigate the real world, using it as a distraction when they are out or making parallels and comparisons so that Sam is suddenly walking past dogs or things that usually act as a trigger obliviously, so deeply engaged in his virtual universe. And then they are able to use Minecraft to talk about autism.

"I am like a Creeper!"
"What because if people get close to you, you explode?"
"Yes!"

While finally managing to connect with Sam, Alex has a series of epiphany like moments about his relationship with Autism, with Sam, with Sam's education, with Jody and suddenly by seeing the world from a different perspective, he gains clarity and understanding. Alex almost "wakes up" after having travelled as a "passenger staring out the window at the rolling scenery" and now wanting to "drag the driver out, punch him in the face and steal the car." He wants to "reconnect with the world." By the end of the novel I was wondering who Minecraft really saved and who really was the character needing saving.

What is really engaging about this book is the down to earth tone of narrative and the very "up front" and honest voice of Alex. He is a very likeable character; he is ordinary, he is fallible, he mishandles things, he makes mistakes. He is a parent trying to do his best. This book is an emotional journey for him but it is written with a gentle warmth. It is not moralistic or patronising. Although a very valuable and interesting account of autism, it is as much about parenting, marriage and facing responsibilities and a great read for anyone with children. It didn't feel like a novel "about autism", it felt like watching Hugh Grant in an amiable Saturday afternoon movie. In fact, I hope it does make it to the screen as I think it would be an excellent BBC drama.

Stuart has added an afterword about the true story behind the book. He says:
"Video games get a bad rap; we often think of them as things we need to control and limit- by they can also be a permissive space where people learn and share and create, without judgement or confinement."

And I'd like to leave you with his final thoughts:
"Life puts up so many barriers to people who are different. Any tool that helps us to appreciate those people - whoever they are, however they differ from us- is a precious thing. This is what I learned and what this book is about."

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for approving me an advanced copy of this novel in return for an honest and fair review. I really enjoyed it and rate it a 4/5 read.

If you like the sound of this book, try Lisa Genova "Love Anthony" for another story about the parent of an autistic child - also reviewed on this blog, use the search box to help find it.

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

"Local Girl Missing" Claire Douglas

Twenty years ago, Frankie's best friend Sophie went missing in their home town of Oldcliffe on Sea, leaving just one trainer behind on a deserted, deteriorating pier. Out of the blue, Frankie, who has moved away to try and overcome her heartbreak from loosing Sophie, is coerced into returning to Oldcliffe by Sophie's brother Daniel as a body has been discovered. A body they believe to be Sophie. Finally having to confront the truth that Sophie is dead, Daniel and Frankie try to once and for all unearth the truth behind that night and at last follow up their resounding feelings that Sophie's death was not accidental. Who was Sophie with? Why was she on the pier? Did she jump? Is her boyfriend Leon hiding something? Can Daniel and Frankie ever find the closure they need?

"It's a dreary afternoon just after lunch when I finally find out that you're dead." What an opening line! Its 2016 and this is Frankie, addressing (the dead) Sophie. Daniel has informed her that they've found a body and Frankie realises she "can't delude myself anymore." Sophie isn't travelling, hasn't assumed a new identity, isn't stumbling around somewhere having lost her memory. She's dead. She disappeared from a club late one Saturday night and somehow, met her death by the pier. Death by misadventure. Frankie's fingers start to pull at her hair - a bad habit she has tried to retrain herself away from - as her feelings of grief well up inside her. Her response to Daniel's conversation reflects the depth of her trauma and the significance Sophie's death has had on her. I loved the fact all of Frankie's narrative was addressed to "you" - Sophie. This was incredibly effective!

I had barely finished the first chapter when I found myself physically settling back into my chair, tucking my legs under my knees and assuming a position in which I was not prepared to move for some time. I knew from the opening that this was going to be an excellent book. I knew from the opening that I would not be parted from this book until it was finished!

Although there seems nothing untoward or unlikable about Frankie, there is an atmosphere of foreboding from the outset. Her reluctance to return to a "town where a dark secret of the past is never forgotten or forgiven", a place she "vowed never to return", immediately creates tension. As she tells Sophie more about her current life, her comparison of her relationship with partner Mike to their new kitchen - "it's all looks so clean and new on the outside but on the inside the hinges are loose and there are cracks in one cabinet" is very revealing. Her reflection that Mike lacks the "emotional capacity to cope with me or rather my issues" and how they have too quickly (after a mere 2 months) become too "intricately bound, financially and emotionally like two threads tied in a knot" immediately alerts the reader to some deeper issues. Sophie's death appears to have had a much more dramatic impact on Frankie that possibly it should have. Why?

Douglas then incorporates extracts from Sophie's diary twenty years ago in the run up to her disappearance. I was very taken with this narrative device, hearing from a "dead" character is intriguing and very effective - if not slightly chilling. As we hear more from Sophie, I began to question Frankie's account of the friendship. The dynamics between the pair clearly more complex than it first appears. As Sophie writes, Frankie is in "some of my most treasured childhood memories; and in some of my worst." Please tell us more Sophie......Just what happened all that time ago on that Saturday night? Has Frankie's memory distorted over time? Or because Sophie died, is it impossible to remember how things really were? Is she a reliable narrator? She's a troubled soul- in her late thirties, childless, divorced, a stressful job and with a very sick parent in hospital....what effect does this have on her perspective and memory?

But what about Sophie? She is more naive, more vulnerable and more in awe of Frankie. But ultimately this is her teenage diary - can this really be any more reliable?

Douglas is unrelenting in building tension and unfailingly ends each chapter on a powerful cliffhanger. This book is captivating. If anyone is sitting next to you, they will soon tire of your sharp intake of breath every time you reach the end of the section and can barely get your fingers to turn the page quickly enough as the urgency to read on is so compelling.

As Daniel and Frankie try to revisit the past and put together the few clues and weak, unsatisfying pieces of evidence, things begin to take a more harrowing and gripping turn. We meet the dark and mysterious - possibly violent- characters of the girl's boyfriends, Leon and Jason. Frankie says if she'd known she'd be forced to see them again "I'd have never agreed to come back".........

Or what about Daniel, Sophie's protective older brother? After all, he's the one that's insisted Frankie returns to her home town and now she's here, she's haunted, chased and terrified by her past and the ghost of Sophie.

I can't tell you anymore without accidentally revealing any spoilers even though I would love to write more about the characters, the plot, the tension.... the brilliance! This book is a web of self deception, insecurities, jealousy, hatred with predatory characters. I found this book totally gripping and I really enjoyed the writing. Douglas had me completely hooked from the first page to the last and this was absolutely my cup of tea. Dark, twisted, suspenseful, complex and full of surprises. As chilling as Elizabeth Haynes, Sam Hayes, Cass Green and as unsettling as Liz Nugent and Mark Edwards.

My only tiny tiny tiny tiny reservation was about the Epilogue. Satisfying and not out of place, but for me, I wasn't totally convinced it was needed. What did you think?

I have Douglas's other novel "The Sisters" on my TBR pile. I assure you, it will not be sitting there for very long. More and more please Claire Douglas - this was a 5* read!

My thanks to NetGalley for an 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 via email.

"I See You" Clare Mackintosh

"You do the same thing everyday. You know exactly where you are going. You're not alone."

Zoe Walker is shocked one day on the way home from work when scanning through the Classified section of the newspaper she sees a picture of herself. The next day there is a photo of another woman, and then again a different woman the following day. And then there are reports of women going missing.....And the uneasy sensation that someone is following her.....Is Zoe right to feel scared or simply suffering from a over active imagination? Who or what is she really frightened of catching up with her?

This has to be the most anticipated novel of 2016 and the most coveted ARC in the history of book blogging! Mackintosh's first novel "I Let You Go" was an overnight success and certainly one of my favourite psychological thrillers with a twist to literally take your breath away. So, can she do it again?

Yes, she can!

We meet Zoe first on her daily commute back home. She's an ordinary, average, mum of two children who are in their late teens / early twenties, with a partner who cares about her and has happily adjusted to inheriting a new fully grown family as part of his relationship with Zoe. But there are hints of unhappiness and stress. Zoe hates her boss, she has financial concerns, she has a new partner and despite the stability and security he offers, she can't shake off the need to be in control of her life and retain some independence. She has an edge of vulnerability as well as an admirable display of independence and resilience. But before we can really begin to assimilate what this might mean for the future of our protagonist, we are distracted with the appearance of the photo of herself that Zoe sees staring right back at her from the newspaper advert.

Our second character, Kelly Swift,  is introduced in Chapter 2. She is a police officer, working shifts, living in a flat share with relative strangers and single. She has a twin sister and as the story unfolds there is an interesting sub plot exploring the relationship between the sisters and Kelly's inability to overcome a trauma that befell her sister 10 years ago. Kelly is a worrier, anxious and taking life very seriously - a contrast to her calm, relaxed and more self assured twin. And like the best police officers in crime fiction, Kelly is committed and dedicated with a real sense of justice which often forces her to break the rules and put herself at risk. She is also emotionally fragile and flawed. A fantastic combination, creating a wealth of suspense, tension and anticipation.

There is also a third voice. In italics, it stealthily creeps across the page, as if not truly meant to be there. Wheedling its way into your head with its anonymous voice of terror. Short sections that send shivers down your spine and increasing your already palpitating heart rate! Addressed to you directly there is a palpable sense that actually someone is in the room with you - I caught myself checking over my shoulder several times and today I ran a completely different route to my normal Friday jog! You just never know.......... Who sees you?

Zoe continues to try and dismiss the "coincidence" of her photo. Does she really recognise the other women in the subsequent pictures? Or is she looking for a connection which isn't there? Simon, her partner, is a journalist who "deals in facts, not supposition and paranoia." Zoe's need for Simon's protection, for the need for his sureness, to be with someone "strong and steady" does begin to suggest to the reader that she possibly is behaving somewhat irrationally and over emotionally. Her relationship with her daughter is strained and shows the reader that she does not always handle situations as well as she could. The constant mention of money, interactions with her first husband and her fears for her children's ability to get good jobs and earn some independence, reflect a mother under pressure. She is susceptible and insecure. But is she right to be scared? Or is this some kind of fantasy?

Yes, it's brilliant. Every single chapter is a cliffhanger. Kelly and Zoe are haunted - by their past and by their present. Their terror is catching; the reader constantly pulled between wondering whether it is real or imagined and trying to piece together their back stories as they gradually emerge.

This is much more of a police procedural crime novel than "I Let You Go". It is as sinister and there are the same questions of who to trust, who's telling the truth, what is coincidence and what is genuine. It is an interesting exploration of modern life where we can be tracked, watched, chased and trapped without any inkling. Does technology keep us safe or expose us further?

I thought the premise of the novel was clever, original, relevant and exciting. The ending was quite simply brilliant. It's a cliche I know, but I really couldn't put it down. Just excellent. This book also felt very different from Mackintosh's first novel and shows us how accomplished her writing is and how many more captivating stories must be waiting to escape her imaginative mind. Here, Mackintosh shows off her knowledge of police procedure as the emphasis is more on crime and mystery - but with enough sprinkling of psychological thriller to satisfy all her readers. I would happily like to read another story featuring Kelly on another police job. I'm sure there could be a sequel to this book but I also can't wait for what Mackintosh might do next. Clare Mackintosh has earned her place alongside all the best psychological thriller and crime writers and I'm pretty sure this book will be in the top ten lists for weeks and months to come. Highly recommend (in case that wasn't already clear!!)

Zoe is just like you or me. We've all had the same thoughts she has walking home. We all like routine. We all like our spot on the platform, the tube carriage, the coffee shop. Who's watching you?

"How fast can you run? You're late home from work.....you haven't charged your phone and no one knows where you are....It's just you and whoever is behind you....It doesn't matter how fast you run. Because there's always someone who can run faster."


My enormous thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for approving me an advanced copy of such a wanted title! I am very grateful for the chance to read it and this is my honest review of the book.

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

"The Sugar Planter's Daughter" Sharon Maas

I'm embarrassed to say that this the first book by Sharon Maas that I have read - something I will be urgently rectifying now I've finished "The Sugar Planter's Daughter"! It's really exciting to discover a "new" author - particularly one with a great looking back catalogue. It seems this is actually the second book in a trilogy but it was completely accessible as a stand alone story and it did not affect any of my understanding or enjoyment because I hadn't read the previous sequel.

I was attracted by the cover of this book-and the title too - it reminded me of a Dinah Jefferies novel, or some of the other titles which I am collecting on my kindle which are all set in historic, exotic places featuring "daughters".

So what's the story about? Meet Winnie Cox, a white, privileged daughter living a life of luxury on her father's sugar plantation in Guiana, South America. She is about to marry the man of her dreams, George Quint; a black postman from the slums. When Winnie has to travel to seek medical help for her son, George is left behind. Yoyo, Winnie's sister, is fed up with living in her shadow playing second fiddle to her mother's favourite daughter. Full of resentment, Yoyo sets out to seek revenge against Winnie while she is away, laying the grounds for a trap which will have devastating consequences for them all.

It's set in 1912 and therefore the dynamics between the two families are fascinating, as is the relationship between George and Winnie. It is not a period of history I know much about but there is always something compelling about people who transcended barriers and break with convention. Particularly as it is a woman choosing to marry not only for love, but choosing someone who is such a contrast to her own social standing and race. I thought this inversion of the woman being white and the man black, created a more original take on a story set within a plantation.

The chapters alternate between Winnie, George, Yoyo and occasionally, Winnie's mother. Maas' use of multiple narrators is deftly handled to help us become more involved with Winnie and George as we are more privy to their thoughts and perspectives. I liked hearing so much from George as he grappled with bringing a white woman into his community and fiercely hoping love and dedication would protect them from outside danger. What was also compelling about this novel was how quickly I was transported to another time and place. I was so caught up in the exotic location- Maas' description of her character's actions, behaviours, dialogue so effective - that I got a shock every time I glanced up from the page and out the window at the dark rain clouds outside the window of my modern, gadget filled kitchen.

This is a heartwarming saga of love, marriage and families. Winnie and George are so totally besotted with each other; so patient, understanding, thoughtful and kind to each other, they immediately gain the admiration of the reader. George says that "Winnie and I filled spaces in each other's souls" and even after some distressing arguments and overcoming various challenges, George comments on how desperately they need each other. Winnie knows the "real" him and they need each other in order to fulfil their own potential and recognise who they really are. At the beginning of the novel, I did feel a sense of foreboding as their relationship was so perfect I knew that it was surely going to be tested and wasn't quite sure how they would survive that. However, as Mama says, "We live in order to learn the lessons of love."

George is a character of integrity, loyalty and morals. His empathy and constant consideration of how his wife might be coping with having to leave her huge, comfortable home and live with his parents in the slums is charming. Winnie is a character of great strength. Occasionally she imagines what might have happened had she followed in a more conventional path but she is not perturbed by her sudden need to learn to cook, clean and raise a family without any assistance or paid help. She is unfailingly positive and embraces the challenges.

Conversely Yoyo has married more "appropriately" and is running the family business. She is married but unhappy and childless. She is almost the opposite to Winnie. She is a jealous and bitter woman who is manipulative and clever. Although not the main protagonist, Yoyo undergoes a real journey throughout the novel and although hard to like, she can rustle up some sympathy from the reader as more of her past and present is revealed. But her role in the novel is well handled - powerlessly watching her orchestrate a monstrous plan creates so much tension and suspense, that it is difficult to read on without feeling slightly sick with nerves!

This is a story about love, secrets, obsession, social conventions and pressure. There is laughter, happiness, strength and fortitude but there is also grief, helplessness and sadness. It's not a roller coaster ride of a novel, more a meandering along undulating countryside with some hidden and unexpected sharp corners. I liked the atmosphere, tone and pace of the novel and it very much suited the era and characters. And of course, the uplifting message about love - when genuine and truthful - really is able to heal, help and rebuild bridges.

This is going to be a hit this summer and would be the perfect addition to any suitcase. Maas can certainly write a great tale, full of ups and downs, strong characters; evoking a moment in history effortlessly and authentically. I would recommend it to fans of Dinah Jefferies, Katherine Webb, Kate Riordan and anyone who enjoys a saga where the lines between families are crossed, broken and tested.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this novel 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 via email.

BLOG TOUR with Alex Caan "Cut to the Bone"

 
It is my absolute pleasure to welcome Alex Caan to my blog today as part of his blog tour to celebrate the publication of his gripping crime debut novel "Cut to the Bone". Today Alex  is taking part in a Q&A session with me!

Welcome Alex! Congratulations on "Cut to the Bone" - a truly great debut novel!

What was your inspiration for "Cut to the Bone"? 

I came up with my detectives Kate Riley and Zain Harris first, they just got into my head and wouldn’t leave. It was then about finding the right case for them. This came up after a conversation with a nephew. I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. Instead of the cliché doctor/lawyer/astronaut he said he wanted to be a vlogger. And that’s when I started researching their world, and came up with the idea for my novel.

"Cut to the Bone" is a very complex, modern thriller that has clearly been meticulously researched. Can you tell me a little bit more about the research and writing process?

I had no idea what vloggers were, so it was an education in learning all about them. I spent hours watching their videos, reading up on the psychology of those that post videos and those that watch them. The forensic IT came from my work, so that was more easily written. But there was so much more that I needed to find out, which I won’t say because I’ll give away too much. I did it through the internet, speaking to experts and reading a lot of academic papers. Once I was satisfied I had the science right, I started writing. When I write I do it at a frenzied pace whenever I find time. Working fulltime means a lot of this took place in the middle of the night and at weekends. Once that first draft is done it’s like being winded, and then you can take your time to really knock your work into shape.

There are a lot of characters in the novel and they are all very well crafted. They are all individual and intriguing- nothing is black and white or as it seems. How did you find writing such complex characters?

Thank you, that’s really kind of you to say. I read a lot of crime series, and I enjoy reading about the car crash of their personal lives as much as the mysteries themselves, and wait in anticipation for what they will do next. I think if you have flat characters there’s very little you can do with them in the long run, and I think if I get the opportunity to write a long series there’s enough in the characters to hopefully keep readers involved and interested. I also think people are never really black and white in real life, and I wanted to reflect that in my fiction. I find that grey area fascinating-when you’re under pressure how will you react?

There is clearly lots more to hear about Kate and Zain. I for one am desperate to find out more about them. What plans do you have for them? Is there a sequel coming?

Yes I’m writing the sequel now, which again will combine my favourite topics of politics, corruption and a whole new crime for them to solve. I also want to explore both their backgrounds more in future novels, and see how they cope when their pasts catch up with them.

This is your debut novel. What five tips would you give aspiring writers?

I feel odd giving people advice, but I remember the years of struggle I went through to get here, and other writer’s experiences and advice were always useful. You take from them what works for you I think. My top five tips would be: read a lot, forget about writing what you know but write what you want to know, try different genres/styles/voices until you find your natural fit, surround yourself with people who will be objective and supportive and most importantly make up your own rules for how you’re going to write your novel. And don’t give up. This isn’t the first novel I’ve written, and I find a lot of other writers tell me the same.

This would make a fantastic film and rival the Bourne trilogy! Have you considered who might play the lead roles if you had the opportunity to make it into a film? 

I love you for saying that, I love the Bourne trilogy! If someone is making a film they can cast whoever they want looks wise. As long as they get the sensibilities right, so Kate Riley’s strength and intelligence, and the damage/edginess of Zain.

For those who have not read "Cut to the Bone" yet, could you sum it up for us in no more than 200 words?

Cut to the Bone starts with the disappearance of Ruby Day, a YouTube star, heroine to millions of teenage girls. But right from the off something isn’t right. A new elite police unit set-up under the first Police Crime Commissioner for London is called in to investigate. Kate Riley and Zain Harris are the lead detectives but they both come with their own agendas, and soon you start wondering who you can trust. As the investigation deepens, secrets and lies, politics and corruption, all come into play, and what seemed like a simple case soon turns into something much more complex and terrifying. Especially as Ruby’s kidnapper begins to upload videos of her...and issues a threat that Ruby isn’t the only one at risk. It’s an edge of the seat thriller that will hopefully keep you turning the pages.

Brilliant summary! Thanks so much Alex for some great answers and an insight into the writing of the book. I'm very pleased to hear there is a sequel on its way! Thanks for participating in a Q&A for my blog! And thanks to Emily Burns and Bonnier Zaffre for letting me be part of the Blog Tour.

Don't forget to follow the rest of Alex's Blog Tour to find out more about him, his writing and what others bloggers thought about his book!

Read on if you'd like to see my review of "Cut to the Bone".


                   

My Review of "Cut to the Bone" 

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.

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