"The House in Quill Court" Charlotte Betts

          

‘Romantic, engaging and hugely satisfying’

Katie Fiorde on The Apothecary's Daughter

‘A highly-recommended novel of love, tragedy and the power of art’

Daily Mail on The Painter's Apprentice

‘Full of passion and drama . . . I was captivated by this moving, heart-warming and beautifully woven story - gripping, atmospheric, eloquently told and full of rich detail’

Kate Furnivall on The Chateau on the Lake

The House in Quill Court

CHARLOTTE BETTS

Published 25^th August 2016

Paperback Original | £8.99

From the multi-award-winning author of The Apothecary’s Daughter, The House in Quill Court is a gorgeously evocative Regency novel bursting with historical flavour and characters you won’t forget. If you love Philippa Gregory and Joanne Harris, you will adore Charlotte Betts.

1813. Venetia Lovell lives by the sea in Kent with her pretty, frivolous mother and idle younger brother. Venetia’s father, Theo, is an interior decorator to the rich and frequently travels away from home, leaving his sensible and artistic daughter to look after the family. Venetia designs paper hangings and she and her father often daydream about having an imaginary shop where they would display the highest quality furniture, fabrics and art to his clients.

When a handsome but antagonistic stranger, Jack Chamberlaine, arrives at the Lovell’s cottage just before Christmas bringing terrible news, Venetia’s world is turned upside-down and the family have no option but to move to London, to the House in Quill Court and begin a new life. Here, Venetia’s courage and creativity are tested to breaking point, and she discovers a love far greater than she could have ever imagined . . .

 MY REVIEW OF "THE HOUSE IN QUILL COURT"

The opening of this story reminded me of aspects of "Beauty and the Beast" - a father, travelling away with work often at the compromise of his family, and his attractive, creative daughter with whom he shares a dream of owning a shop full of gorgeous fabrics and furniture until his untimely death under tragic and suspicious circumstances.....Or perhaps, more conventionally, "Sense and Sensibility" where the beloved daughters are usurped by distant relatives due to the sexist laws regarding inheritance. Albeit slightly contrived, the Lovell's move to London establishes a pleasing start to a novel about family, money, dreams and love and gives Betts the perfect setting to show off her knowledge of the Regency era and life in London for both the wealthy classes and the underclasses.

Betts is quick to establish characters and again, in keeping with the romantic genre of the book, they are enjoyably predictable. Venetia is clearly a woman before her time; she has a good understanding of finance, business and design, with the feel of a very competent, self assured young lady who takes the responsibility of looking out for her mother and brother in her stride. Like Elinor Dashwood in "Sense and Sensibility" she is the 'sense' and copes more readily with the sudden upheaval and revelation that there is no money, no income and no more house run by several servants now her father is dead. Unlike her mother.......

"'Your late husband invested heavily in a business venture and there are no savings left for you to draw upon. .......'
'Live together? Support ourselves!' Mama clapped one hand to her breast, 'We can't, it's monstrous!'"

Major Jack Chamberlaine is a brooding character who casts a shadow on their lives and continues to challenge their attempts to settle in London. Unsupportive and derisory, the tension between him and Venetia is actually quite delicious.

Betts excels in creating handsome heroes, loveable rouges and intimidating, dastardly villains. King Midas is one such unpleasant character whose reign of power and hold over Kent and London makes him as feared as the Krays.

"Kitty stared back at the man, an ice-cold shiver running down her back, just as if she'd turned over a stone and found a poisonous snake underneath. She recognised his hooded eyes and the bullyboys at his side, and broke out into a cold sweat. The last time she'd him it had been by moonlight on a windswept beach as he watched the guineas for Napoleon being loaded into the galleys, King Midas."

Once the family move to London, the story splits into two threads. Venetia and her ambitious attempts to reclaim her father's shop and turn it into a viable business venture, and then the plight of Kitty, her maid, who leaves everything she knows behind her in Kent to stay with the Lovells, then quickly falls in love, marries and witnesses a very different kind of side of London. Both girls are strong, resilient, clever, kind and likeable. It did take me a while to warm to them but once the story picked up pace I found that I was more involved in their story lines than I realised!

I think I did enjoy Kitty's story more than Veneita's and preferred her a little more as a character too.

The characters are firmly planted in the Regency era and the backdrop of the Napoleonic wars adds more tension and excitement. Any necessary historical information is deftly explained through dialogue or imagery; the descriptions of the more slum like areas are evoked effectively creating a dark, dank, dirty atmosphere that contrasts with the more luxurious houses of the more wealthy. I liked the sense of Kitty and Nat actually living in a "rat run" in which she literally could not find her way around without a guide. I also liked the detail about the fabrics, furniture, wall paper hangings and ornaments Venetia sourced for the shop. Nat, Kitty's beau, is a very helpful source of historical detail and often fills us in with any necessary details about the Napoleonic Wars, politics or crime. Betts has clearly done her homework and adds authenticity with the use of regency slang which flows through the dialogue with fluency and conviction.

While reading Betts's novel, I was reminded of other historical fictions which probably reflects her ability to create a strong sense of historical setting and identifiable characters with set roles rather than a weakness of any sort. I felt Nat's involvement with pickpockets and young orphaned children was reminiscent of "Oliver Twist" (although an exceptionally more gentle and kind version of Fagin and Sikes!) and the burglary was very like a scene from the novel.

"'Hold up your glum,' whispered Lennie. Nat opened the lantern and held it up while Lennie forced a small window. 'Up you go, Benny,' said Nat. He slid the boy's feet through the casement, gripping him by the waist. '....the key's hanging in the larder....stand on the chair to reach the top bolt.'"

Venetia reminded me of Denise from the BBC's "The Paradise" and Kitty perhaps a more diluted version of a character from a Wilkie Collins or Sarah Waters novel. This book certainly had the feel of an ITV Sunday night drama and it would be great to see it on the screen.

The second half of the novel gathers speed and the relationships between the characters become more compelling. There is plenty of tension, romance, heartache, violence and recriminations. It is quite melodramatic but actually, I found I was rather more caught up in it all than I had realised and was quite gripped by all the different dynamics between the characters. Betts cleverly pulls all the various characters - however small or large their role has been- plot lines and themes together in a way where no detail is left unaccounted. It is dramatic, fast paced, exciting and, although perhaps just a little contrived or cliched, it certainly made for a very satisfying read.

I was quite interested in the further reading list Betts acknowledged at the end of the book and one title -"Eavesdropping on Jane Austen's England" by Roy and Lesley Adkins - sounded like a good book to seek out a later stage - especially for anyone interested in this particular era.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a light, romantic, historical read, or for fans of a very watchable ITV-weekend-style costume drama. I did enjoy this book more than I thought I would as it is not necessarily my usual choice and I have already perused Betts back catalogue on Amazon with interest!

My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group for a copy of the novel in return for an honest review. The book will be released by Little, Brown on 25th August 2016.

MORE ABOUT CHARLOTTE BETTS

Charlotte Betts began her working life as a fashion designer in London. A career followed in interior design, property management and lettings. Always a bookworm, Charlotte discovered her passion for writing after her three children and two step-children grew up. 

Her debut novel, The Apothecary’s Daughter, won the YouWriteOn Book of the Year Award in 2010 and the Joan Hessayon Award for New Writers, was shortlisted for the Best Historical Read at the Festival of Romance in 2011 and won the coveted Romantic Novelists' Association's Historical Romantic Novel RoNA award in 2013. Her second novel, The Painter’s Apprentice was also shortlisted for the Best Historical Read at the Festival of Romance in 2012 and the RoNA award in 2014. The Spice Merchant’s Wife won the Festival of Romance's Best Historical Read award in 2013. 

Charlotte lives with her husband in a cottage in the woods on the Hampshire/Berkshire border.

www.charlottebetts.com | @CharlotteBetts1

For further information please contact Clara Diaz on 020 3122 6565 | Clara.Diaz@littlebrown.co.uk

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"The Sudden Departure of the Frasers" Louise Candlish

When Christy and Joe Davenport move into number 40 Lime Park Road - their perfect, dream, forever family home in a perfect, dream street -they are delighted to have managed to stretch their budget to buy something they never thought they could own. But why was the house on a such a low price? Why did the previous owners spend a year renovating then move out so suddenly? And without a trace? Why won't any of the neighbours speak to Christy and why will no one tell her the truth about Amber Fraser, the previous owner -a mythological sexy, beautiful, perfect hostess and neighbour. Christy finds herself becoming obsessed with finding out what happened and revealing the dark secret that tore the street apart......

At around 500 pages long this is a book that requires a bit more of an investment than Candlish's recent bestseller "The Swimming Pool". Candlish takes time to develop the characters in detail, establishing the setting of Lime Park Road carefully and introducing the characters fully so that actually it is less of a "thriller" and more of a character led story. I did find it a bit slow to start with but persisted as I knew Candlish would deliver - and deliver she does!

Told in alternating chapters between Christy and Amber we are taken backwards and forwards through the events leading up to the Fraser's sudden departure. Amber's narrative is told in first person and Christy's sections are told in third person, although interestingly Christy is definitely the easier character to relate to. I suspect Candlish enjoyed writing Amber's character more as she is quite unlikeable, deliciously arrogant and manipulative. She is caustic in her comments about her so called friends and neighbours:

"She had the most hectic haircut I had ever seen- it was as if it had been scribbled on her head by Quentin Blake - and make up so poorly applied I wondered if she'd handed crayons to her sons and given them free reign." 

There is a guilty pleasure in waiting to see what might happen to this dishonest, self satisfying woman! As Amber tells her story retrospectively, she peppers her narrative with clues that things will end in disaster and this creates intrigue.

"It was all so effortless, so natural. You'd think I'd been born to betray." 

"And where was I in this catastrophized tableau? Hiding in the wardrobe or under the bed, my clothes clutched to my naked body, a high heeled shoe left behind, just visible from the door?"

I also liked the perspective the neighbours threw on Amber's character. Caroline looked at a photo as if "she longed for the glory days, for that golden age when Queen Amber presided. Like a deposed aristocrat dreaming of the last days of Versailles." 

There is a level of suspense sustained throughout the novel but this is really a slow burner of a book. Both characters have significant back stories and through the two different women Candlish is able to explore different kinds of ideas about marriage, trust, friendship, hope and obsession. By about a third of the way through the book I had engaged with both narratives and I was enjoying the description, characterisation and plot development. I felt like I was a resident on Lime Park Road and a keen observer on the antics between the neighbours.

For the last third of the book I found myself settling back into the sofa and rubbing my hands with satisfying glee as the twists begin to unfurl and Candlish revealed her skill as a writer who can pull the carpet out from under your feet. I watched with horror as Amber's final actions rip through Lime Park Road, her marriage and her friendships.

This novel is full of astute observations and thoughtful characterisation. It is realistic; not far fetched or requiring any kind of suspension of belief which I really enjoyed and found quite unsettling. There is something very appealing about stories that centre on neighbours and small communities - perhaps because we all live with neighbours and all wonder what goes on behind closed doors? How well do we know anyone living alongside us? How fragile are our relationships within our street?

I suspect the ending may divide readers - those who love to be completely stunned and those who prefer a neat tying up of all the threads. Me, I loved the ending! My jaw literally dropped and I hurriedly flicked back through the pages to re-read chunks, trying to absorb what Candlish is implying with her final words. Clever....... or cruel?!

I enjoyed this book. I'm giving it a 3.5 /5 just because I found it a bit of a slow start. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy a more thorough character led suspenseful novel and for readers of Mark Edwards "The Magpies", Cass Green "The Woman Next Door" and Shari Lapena's "The Couple Next Door".

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

"The Sudden Departure of the Frasers" was published in May 2015 by Penguin.

"The Crossing Places" Elly Griffiths

   When she’s not digging up bones or other ancient objects, quirky, tart-tongued archaeologist Ruth Galloway lives happily alone in a remote area called Saltmarsh near Norfolk, land that was sacred to its Iron Age inhabitants - not quite earth, not quite sea.

      When a child’s bones are found on a desolate beach nearby, Detective Chief Inspector Harry Nelson calls Galloway for help. Nelson thinks he has found the remains of Lucy Downey, a little girl who went missing ten years ago. Since her disappearance he has been receiving bizarre letters about her, letters with references to ritual and sacrifice.

      The bones actually turn out to be two thousand years old, but Ruth is soon drawn into the Lucy Downey case and into the mind of the letter writer, who seems to have both archaeological knowledge and eerie psychic powers. Then another child goes missing and the hunt is on to find her. 

      As the letter writer moves closer and the windswept Norfolk landscape exerts its power, Ruth finds herself in completely new territory – and in serious danger.

I had to read this while we are on holiday on the North Norfolk coast seeing as this is where the story takes place! And the author quotes from "The Moonstone" by Wilkie Collins which just made it irresistible!

I loved the atmospheric setting of the saltmarshes - or as Griffiths describes them, the "drowned landscapes", which have a "peculiar magic of their own" and trigger a fear in people of what is "buried" and what they can not see. Just as the Romney Marshes in "Great Expectations", the North Norfolk saltmarshes are a brilliant location for murder, tension and excitement. The silent stillness of these marshes masks their deadly danger as the apparently dried out craters lure walkers from the paths into the mud which will suddenly swallow them up. We have walked along some of the marshy coast line and I always thought it was a great location for a thriller. The narrow, weaving pathways are littered with warnings not to stray and to be mindful of the tides which sweep in unsuspectingly in a patchwork of trickling streams, cutting you off from any route back to the mainland.

Griffiths ably captures the menacing landscape. I really enjoyed the historical detail about causeways to Sweden and prehistoric rituals about the sacredness of a place where land meets sea and life meets death. I found the passages where the characters were retracing the causeway paths out to the mythological "Henge Circle" gripping.

Dr Ruth Galloway is a likeable enough character - perhaps a more unusual and unassuming heroine and I liked this aspect of the novel too. She is educated, intelligent, lonely, awkward and fallible-not a particularly conventional or cliched protagonist. I liked the fact that she is engrossed in her own forensic archaeology research and how her studies aid DCI Harry Nelson. I think Griffiths has created quite a refreshing partnership and I was pleasantly surprised by Galloway's influence and contribution to the investigation.

This has all the ingredients for an engaging and enjoyable detective novel. There's tension, suspense, atmosphere, credible characters, a few twists and a few shocks along the way. It was an easy read; it's not gratuitous, overly violent or graphic. There is a very manageable cast of characters and the plot is focussed and not overly distracted by too many red herrings or concurrent sub plots - although complex enough to stop me from working it all out! I would read more by this author.

This is the first book in a series and I am interested in reading a few more - particularly while on holiday in the fabulous Norfolk!

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

"The Art Teacher" Paul Read

Patrick Owen had managed seven years at Highfields Secondary School without punching a pupil in the face. 

Art Teacher Patrick finally snaps under the pressure of repeated taunting, intimidation and complete insolence from one of his students, Denis. As events escalate, another student comes to Owen for help and in aiding and trying to protect her, he finds himself dragged more deeply into a compromising, dangerous situation which finds him facing decisions which will lead to devastating consequences. 

The book hurtles towards a dramatic and gripping conclusion with plenty of last minute revelations and recriminations. 

This is a gritty read. Its portrayal of teaching in a London school is brutal, as is the frightening reality of gang culture and its impact on teenagers. I'm not sure how I would categorise the genre of this book as essentially it is a story of crime, intimidation, bullying, murder and gangs. It is compelling and there is plenty of tension so it could be defined as a thriller or crime thriller. However, for me, what really stood out wasn't the plot, but Read's writing. His descriptions of characters, teenagers, teaching, schools and the community in which he based the novel, were so vivid, intelligent, insightful and humorous I could have read volumes of it. I found the emotions, decisions and dilemmas of his protagonist Patrick the most engaging and well written passages.

I found the novel easy to get stuck into and really enjoyed the tone of voice and style. The opening chapters focus on the setting of the school, the challenges of behavioural management and the distance and alienation between Patrick and his students:

'Kids today communicated with words he simply didn't understand. It was the same mangling, freeform approach they took to walking, of all things. Denis was doing it now; a lounging gangsta gait. Why was walking in the upright manner which homo sapiens had historically preferred now deemed so embarrassing? ....surely something to do with the unnecessary exposure of boxer shorts. 'Underwear,' he kept telling the. 'You wear them UNDER.'"

Read rapidly escalates the already poor relationship between Patrick and his students. The classroom feels claustrophobic and although it is tempting to cringe at Patrick's weakness, the sheer gaul and contempt shown towards him is so intimidating and relentless that it is impossible to not to feel empathy towards him.

"'What's the magic word?' Patrick asked.
'Bender. Apologise for jacking my phone.'"

Roles are reversed. Patrick is not the one with the power or holding the student's attention. It is not him they will listen to. In his own classroom, it is Denis who is calling the shots and controlling the future of Patrick's teaching career. The respect is for the gang - and the lessons they teach, not the professional educator.

......'You can go now.' Desperately he addressed the class. Still, no one moved. They knew there was more to come."

It's painful viewing. But it does ensure the reader will continue to root for Patrick enough to stay with the story to the end, as his few -sorely ill advised decisions -lead him down a path of no return. This is basically the story of an ordinary man; a man who wants to teach but is worn down by the system, the daily challenge of the students disinterest in his subject and is surrounded by uninspiring leadership or support. It shows how quickly anyone could find themselves in a situation where their life is changed forever.

The characters are portrayed with such clarity. The dialogue feels authentic and each character is very three dimensional. No one is particularly likeable, trustworthy or attractive - even Patrick can feel like a man weary with the world, often a little hopeless or short sighted, deeply frustrated and full of resentment and anger. Although his anger and frustration with his students is understandable considering the behaviour, rudeness and taunting he is exposed to daily. No sane person could cope with such cruel ridicule and such unsupportive colleagues.

Read's observational insights show an author who has a skilful command of language; who can conjure scenes with ease and can inform the reader of so much through shrewd comments and asides.

"....he felt the rain of pure hatred upon his back and his quickening footsteps echoed off the walls like gunfire..."

 He captures the menacing atmosphere of the estates surrounding the school and the threatening behaviour of the boys involved in the gangs. His descriptions of the school, such as the staff room where teachers aggregated around a computer fuelled on a lifetime of coffee, were so wryly accurate they really resonated with me. I particularly loved the description of the exam hall (which I now frustratingly cannot find) but it evoked such a strong visual image and indeed, memories, that I am very taken and impressed with his descriptions. There is a tight balance struck between the dark, violent, story line of crime and acidic, biting humour and wry asides as Patrick sighs his way through his working day. It's a really effective mix and I liked it.

This is a more literary crime thriller. Patrick's almost mediative thoughts are as compelling as the page turning police investigation.

"They either looked at him blankly, or pretended he wasn't talking. Unperturbed, he explained how backgrounds should be soft and uncluttered, with light, delicate colour-bending. He explained stability, rhythm, depth and calm. All things he used to have in his life, he thought rueful, before the palette changed and everything became conflict, distance; a canvas hanging off-centre from a broken nail." 


Patrick Owen is an ordinary man but a very memorable character. Read's writing is very clever; it conveys an atmosphere of depression, dead-end hopelessness, apathy and quite a bleak picture of society through eloquent, striking, powerful images. It's intense but distinct and will leave a huge impression on the reader. It is a literary read with an original blend of menacing yet engrossing characters and imagery. I imagine this book to be a bit like a film captured in black and white, grainy shots that are cut together with deliberately abrupt editing, seemingly improvised and unscripted.

It's well worth a read and I am definitely going to look out for any further novels from this writer. It's an impressive debut. Bold. Original. Controversial. Maybe not for everyone as Patrick is not always an easy character to relate to, but ultimately Read's writing is a treat.

My thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in return for a fair review.

For more reviews and recommendations you can find me on Twitter @katherinesunder3 (bibliomaniacuk)

"Heidelberg Requiem" Wolfgang Burger

Alexander Gerlach assumes his promotion to Police Chief of Heidelberg will bring with it a quieter life, but on his first day in his new job, the body of a chemistry student is discovered and what at first seems to be an open-and-shut case with a clear culprit quickly changes into something more complex. Soon there will be another murder, which will cast doubt on all previous assumptions. 

The race is on for Gerlach to unravel the cruel conspiracy, before it's too late ...

I have read a lot of police procedural /detective fiction novels recently - all very commendable - but most of them have female protagonists who are quirky, vulnerable, harbouring their own issues and heartache while they simultaneously transcend all boundaries to solve murders and violent crimes. Although I cannot deny I hugely enjoy these sorts of stories which are incredibly exciting and appealing, this novel was a kind of back-to-basics detective story and for this reason, I found it very refreshing and enjoyable. 

This is a quite a "straightforward" novel. The writing is simple and direct, the crime is suitably complex but easy to keep up with and the protagonist is not plagued by numerous emotional issues - he has a family, a love interest and a back story, but largely he is an ordinary, up front, capable professional policeman. It is an easy read and feels very much like Sunday night TV - engaging, engrossing, exciting, but not too demanding or harrowing.

The story opens cleverly with Gerlach, our protagonist, publicly accepting his new job - a promotion in a new city and with a police force entirely new to him, and meeting his new colleagues. Simultaneously a crime is taking place:

"This must have been around the time when Patrick Grotheer died. Slowly, bleeding to death, drop by drop. For around ninety minutes." 

As the story unfolds, the crime scene and investigation is well described, evoking an atmosphere full of suspense. There is a kind of matter- of-fact style to Burger's writing and a directness that actually creates further tension. 

The body of a fully grown adult contains around five litres of blood. Half a bucketful, no more......All in all the dead man probably lost no more than two litres of blood. But when these two litres are spread over a seventy square metre room, which is largely decorated in white, then it's a lot. 

Further intrigue is created through the surrounding characters. Vangelis, who also applied for Gerlach's job and is already highly established within the team, does not hide her animosity towards him or her power over her colleagues. 

Vangelis allowed the nervous officers to report to her and acted as if Balke and I were not there. ......

......'That woman is an animal,' he mumbled, 'Does she ever smile?'.....

Gerlach is not afraid to tackle this head on. His gentle and non threatening approach, and subsequent relationships within the team, reflect his professional experience and affable nature. 

"You probably would have been a better choice for the job. You know your way around the place. You know the city, the people."

"But I'm a woman." 

He is a "good guy". He is likeable and easy to relate to and respect. It is clear that he will be successful and is always well meaning and considerate towards anyone who he interacts with. In the words of the author himself, the protagonist, Chief Inspector Alexander Gerlach, "is not a doomed alcoholic, not frustrated by his life and his job, not bullied by his boss or colleagues, not a lone wolf, but a person like you and me. He has issues but he also has strengths. He has worries and hardships and also successes and beautiful moments. Sometimes he muddles his way through like we all do; occasionally he is really very good. Often things become too much for him, but then somehow he manages to make it work."

Indeed Gerlach is very likeable central character. He is also reflective and I liked his moments of observation, insight and comment. 

"instead [I had} a lot of new questions. But it didn't matter. Questions are the beginning of everything." 

"Are we responsible for thoughts we don't think because we fear that they would hurt us? Can we be blamed for knowledge that we hide away in our subconscious because we don't want to face it?" 

Gerlach is a single parent and has 13 year old twin daughters which provide a bit of "light relief" at times with their high jinks and general adolescent tricks. He manages them as best he can. I must admit, I was intrigued by his ability to set them chores and tasks while he went out to work all day and was a little suspicious about how believable this really was, but maybe this reflects a different cultural approach to parenting. Or because Gerlach is a man and in the police force...or my children are younger and I cannot envisage a point where I could ever turn my back on them for five minutes let alone a day! The girls did appear to be older than their 13 years but perhaps attitudes to freedom and independence are different in Heidelberg or when you are a single parent family. 

What does work well is how the girls' behaviour inadvertently leads to Gerlach making several breakthroughs with his investigation and I liked this. It also shows us that Gerlach is human, fallible and juggling a high profile job with a needy family. 

I also enjoyed the love interest and how this adds some mystery and another dimension to both Gerlach's character and the plot. His relationship with the mystery woman is a welcome sub plot and equally results in a further twist towards the end of the novel. 

I'd like to finish by quoting the author again as he sums up what he hoped to achieve through Gerlach's character: 

My Gerlach doesn't believe in the bad in people, even if he persistently gives a different impression in conversation. Deep down he holds the same beliefs, the same fundamental optimism as his creator. You constantly fear for him. Sometimes you want to give him a shake; occasionally you want to hug and comfort him, but in the end, I am invariably happy with Gerlach, when against the odds, things turn out alright after all. Even when he hasn't been able to remove the bad from the world or at least create order on his desk. 

I enjoyed this novel and would be happy to read future books about Gerlach and his twin daughters. I hope this is the beginning of a series as I think it would appeal to a wide readership. The European setting is effective and no longer a barrier or distraction as I think with the growth of "Nordic Noir" and the recent increase in crime series set in Amsterdam, Germany or other European cities- on TV as well as in fiction - appeals to readers and has opened up a whole host of "new" authors for crime readers to enjoy and discover.

My thanks to Bonnier Zaffre Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this novel in return for a fair review.

"Heidelberg Requiem" was published by Manilla on the 18th August 2016.

Please read on to see the press release accompanying this novel:

HEIDELBERG REQUIEM

By WOLFGANG BURGER

Published by Manilla eBook, 18th August 2016, £4.99

FOR FANS OF DONNA LEON AND BERNARD MINIER: A PAGE-TURNING MURDER MYSTERY FROM BESTSELLING AUTHOR WOLFGANG BURGER

Alexander Gerlach assumes that his promotion to Police Chief of Heidelberg will bring with it a quieter life. A widower and a single parent raising twin teenage daughters, Gerlach is slowly beginning to rediscover not only himself, but also the dating scene again.

On his first day in his new job, however, the body of a chemistry student is discovered, and what at first seems to be an open-and-shut case with a clear culprit quickly changes into something more complex.

When another murder casts doubt on all previous assumptions, Gerlach must unravel the conspiracy before it’s too late....

About the Author: Wolfgang Burger is a bestselling author, whose Alexander Gerlach series of novels were twice nominated for the esteemed crime-writing award, the Friedrich Glauser Prize.

Burger has a doctorate in engineering and worked for many years at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. He has three adult daughters and lives in Germany.

For interviews, review copies and further information about the book please contact Carmen Jimenez PR Assistant at Manilla

carmen.jimenez@bonnierzaffre.co.uk | +44 (0) 20 7490 3875

"Missing, Presumed" Susie Steiner

I had resisted this book for a long time despite the frenzy of praise all over social media and now I am kicking myself for not having read it sooner!

It wasn't the crime thriller, "Gone Girl" esq book I had "presumed" it to be from the front cover. This novel actually transcends genres - it's hard to explain quite where it fits in - there is a missing person, there is a criminal investigation, there is plenty of police procedural sections and the main character is a detective. There are twists, shocks, suspense and gripping revelations but, despite being quite compulsive, it's not a page turner- there is more to be savoured here. This is as much a character study of Manon, the protagonist, as a police procedural book and the writing has a more literary feel. Characters such as Miriam, the missing girl's mother, reflect a more intellectual voice than perhaps usually drawn upon in a crime thriller. Steiner has been compared to Kate Atkinson and I think this is a really fair comment. It was a real pleasure to have my expectations usurped and to discover a novelist from which I hope we will see much more in the future!

So what is it about?

At thirty-nine, Manon Bradshaw is a devoted and respected member of the Cambridgeshire police force, and though she loves her job, what she longs for is a personal life. Single and distant from her family, she wants a husband and children of her own. One night, after yet another disastrous Internet date, she turns on her police radio to help herself fall asleep—and receives an alert that sends her to a puzzling crime scene.

Edith Hind—a beautiful graduate student at Cambridge University and daughter of the surgeon to the Royal Family—has been reported missing for nearly twenty-four hours. Her home offers few clues: a smattering of blood in the kitchen, her keys and phone left behind, the front door ajar but showing no signs of forced entry. Manon instantly knows this case will be big—and that every second is crucial to finding Edith alive.

The opening is quite intriguing, albeit a little confusing as it doesn't start in the usual manner of detective fiction. Steiner begins her story with Manon's hopeless evening internet dating and it's a bit like a rather dark version of "Bridget Jones" as Manon wryly despairs of the night and her ineptitude to meet anyone half decent. Later she comforts herself with "the low murmurings about road traffic accidents or drunken altercations outside Level 2 Nightclub, all of which she can ignore because they are far too lowly for the Major Incident Team." Unusual and interesting behaviour! The final sentence of the chapter claims that it is the "sound of vigilance...rapid response to hurt and misdeed....human kindness in action..." that helps her to sleep. It's a cliffhanger but not a cliffhanger! I was hooked!

I really quickly engaged with Manon. She is sharp, witty, sarcastic and her text messages with Bryony made me smile. Her observations and conversations (including the profanities!) with Bryony and Harriet (her boss) bring an unexpected humour to the novel; it felt strange to be laughing and snorting while reading a book about a missing person! But it works. It really works. I particularly enjoyed the description of herself she imagines to post on the internet dating website:

"Misanthrope, staring down the barrel of childlessness. Yawning ability to find fault. Can give off WoD (Whiff of Desperation). Educated: to an intimidating degree. Can be needy. Often found Googling "having a baby at 40."

Edith Hind, a 24 year old Cambridge student and daughter of the doctor to the Royal Family, has gone missing. Her boyfriend arrives home one evening to find the door open, signs of a struggle, and no Edith. The family are immediately placed under scrutiny but as the detectives surmise; "'.....So he was at the theatre with the Home Secretary. All that means is his alibi probably stacks up.' 'Ye think?' says Harriet..." I liked the sense of panic and pressure immediately felt by the team as they realise exactly what sort of people they are now dealing with and how the press and public might now respond to their investigation. It felt very real - and to be honest, quite refreshing. As was Manon's subsequent text to Bryony: "'Go away please, am in the middle of Very Important Investigation.' 'All right, Mrs Big Tits. Laters. PS it's always the uncle. Or the stepfather. Or the boyfriend. Or possibly a complete stranger.'"

But don't be fooled by these entertaining exchanges. This is a very serious book too. There is plenty of depth, emotion and highly developed characters. Manon is also a complicated character; trying to come to terms with her age, loneliness and disappearing hopes of motherhood. Although the story almost breaks away from the central action to focus on Manon's entanglement with Alan and their brief but intense relationship, she is also highly dedicated to solving the mystery surrounding Edith and clearly intelligent and passionate -not just about justice, but about saving people.


Although the following quote is actually from Miriam, Edith's mother, it does illustrate Steiner's command of language and her ability to effectively describe the pressure of time that the detectives are up against.

"And she is aware of the passage of time- forty eight hours now by police reckoning - is like a growing tumour for a missing person, as if time itself drains the life from their bodies." 

I liked Steiner's writing style a lot. She is able to capture moments, people and situations with quite unassuming descriptions that actually reflect her gift for insight and highly perceptive observations. For example, following a television appearance about Edith's disappearance she writes:

"(the host's) voice is laden with condolence, while along the bottom of the screen, Miriam notices, the next item is on flattering trousers, followed by a discussion on toddlers who bite. Something about the lighting on the show makes its world seem thin and breakable." 

I also liked Manon's shrewd reflection that "people can seem normal and yet grief swirls about like an unseen tide working against the currents of life...the bereaved should wear signs, she thinks, saying: Grief in Progress - for at least a couple of years."

The latter half of the book is really engaging as we return to the police investigation and events begin to move towards the climatic denouement. The emotional tension is quite raw and the characters become very three dimensional. It was a surprising, complex and very clever journey of suspense, tension and grief.

The best thing about the book was that all the characters are very relatable, authentic and convincing. The dialogue and relationships between them all is engaging, believable and the links between the characters are really well developed. I really hope there is more to see of Manon in the future as I feel she has an awful lot more to bring to the world and I for one would love to meet her again.

Oh, and I also learnt a new word- "rapaciously". Fabulous word!!

My thanks to NetGalley of the ARC of this book in return for a fair review.

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

"What We Didn't Say" Rory Dunlop

Jack and Laura have separated. Jack thinks it's all Laura's fault.

Laura disagrees.

Jack writes to Laura, desperate to put across his side of the story.

Laura interrupts.

Wryly sarcastic and intensely well-observed, What We Didn't Say is about that gap between words and feelings where relationships live - and die.


This is the story of college sweethearts Jack and Laura. It is the story of a marriage in crisis; a reflection on relationships, love, hope, misunderstanding and trust. We meet Jack after the couple have been separated for a while and the story is narrated largely from his point of view. What makes this story unique and one to stand out from any others written about these themes, is the way in which it is told. Jack emails Laura his diary entries and she then adds her comments to his account, giving us her opinion or interpretation of specific events and conversations. For example:

"'Oh Jack won't have any,' Laura said, in the dismissive way a child might speak of their younger brother. [That was the opposite of what I meant. I was proud that you never took drugs. You weren't judgemental or prudish or close-minded, like some of my friends. You just had the strength of character to decide drugs weren't for you. I respected that.] "

As this is an unbiased review, I do feel I need to be honest and admit that sadly I did struggle a little with the format of the narrative. I totally understand what the author was attempting to do and it is a clever way to show how two conversations can be interpreted in such different ways; how one character was really feeling, or what they meant to convey through their words and how they didn't mean to be hurtful or judgemental, but for some reason it didn't quite work for me and it irked me a little. However, I seem to be a minority judging from the rave reviews on Goodreads!!

The relationship between Jack and Laura is a little unbalanced. To me it felt as if Jack is far more in love with Laura than she in him - there is an age difference between them and as time goes on it's clear that Laura began to feel a little constrained by Jack's reluctance towards some ideas and that there was a shift in their relationship. Jack speaks so beautifully about her and his comments reflect a deep understanding of her personality. The metaphors and comparisons show Dunlop's skill as a writer and his ability to capture moments and characters with assured deftness.

"For Laura's spirits were a kite to which I held the string - most of the time she flew above me, lifting me with her, but every now and then she'd drop to the floor and then I'd rush to detangle any crossed strings, and run and drag and jump until she was up in the air again."

Dunlop's writing is quite mesmerising and insightful. I liked the way he wrote about mental and emotional anguish and thought he captured the complexity of Jack's feelings very convincingly. For example:

"emotions and memories are dangerous when they're not articulated- they rattle around the mind, smashing up things. the logic of language puts everything in its proper place........I was using words to put my shame and anger in proportion"

"of course it was a bad idea but bad ideas often look like good ideas in the dark of a sleepless night"

I think ultimately, I found the novel very sad. Perhaps Dunlop is too acute in his ability to capture the bitterness and resentment that can build up in a relationship -particularly when it's not checked and the characters retreat further into misunderstanding. Perhaps his writing is so well observed that it is unsettling and the underlying tragedy too well perceived.

I had a collection of half true one-sentence criticisms of Laura, built up over twenty years, which I kept, like business cards, in the back of my mind for when I'm angry with her. As I stared at the taxi door, I flipped through them: she's selfish; she's thoughtless; she's a flirt. [Which halves are supposed to be true? Being friendly doesn't make me a flirt and I'm no more selfish or thoughtless than you are.]

It is quite hard to read the breakdown between the couple and at times a little frustrating as so much pain could have been avoided if the conversations that happen in the email could have happened at the time. But Dunlop's writing is unfaltering throughout the whole story; his description and style fluent, imaginative and always authentic. When he moves in with a friend, Jack writes that "we pulled each other through the day, from game show to microwave meal to sitcom, like two old drunks on a pub crawl" which I thought was very visual and very well captured.

There is some humour and sarcasm within the prose but for me, I think I found it too overwhelmingly dark and sad. It is a poignant novel and it is definitely one with a message for all in relationships but even though there is some hope of overcoming the worst and rekindling love and friendship, the ending remains heartbreaking.

I think it is well written, original and would make an interesting tv adaptation. Readers who enjoy Nick Hornby and David Nicholls will probably enjoy this novel. It reminded me a little of the film "The Break Up" which also charts the ups and downs of a couple.

"What we didn't say" was published by Bonnier Zaffre on 30th June 2016.

My thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Publishing for a copy of the book in return for a fair and honest review.

You can follow me on Twitter for more recommendations and reviews @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk)