**BLOG TOUR** "Death at the Seaside" Frances Brody

It is my privilege to kick off the Blog Tour for "Death at the Seaside" by Frances Brody today!

Nothing ever happens in August, and tenacious sleuth Kate Shackleton feels like she deserves a break. Heading off for a long-overdue holiday to Whitby, she visits her school friend Alma who works as a fortune teller there. 

Kate had been looking forward to a relaxing seaside sojourn, but upon arrival discovers that Alma’s daughter Felicity has disappeared, leaving her mother a note and the pawn ticket for their only asset: a watch-guard. What makes this more intriguing is the jeweller who advanced Felicity the thirty shillings is Jack Phillips, Alma’s current gentleman friend.

Kate can’t help but become involved, and goes to the jeweller’s shop to get some answers. When she makes a horrifying discovery in the back room, it soon becomes clear that her services are needed. Met by a wall of silence by town officials, keen to maintain Whitby’s idyllic façade, it’s up to Kate – ably assisted by Jim Sykes and Mrs Sugden – to discover the truth behind Felicity’s disappearance.

And they say nothing happens in August . . .

This book from Little, Brown Book Group has to have one of the most appealing covers around at the moment! A classy vintage look with such a stylish font makes it very eye-catching and captures the 1920s setting perfectly. 

There has been a bit of a resurgence in "cosy crime" novels recently and Brody's latest title in the Kate Shackleton series definitely fits into the genre! 

The Independent refers to the book as a "winning tale full of colourful shenanigans". I really like the use of the word "shenanigans" as that's exactly what this story is full of. It's a lightweight, entertaining tale with a likeable protagonist whose amateur sleuth work shows her to have intelligence, resilience and perseverance. Shackleton seems a little weary of the demands of her role at times and by the way she is under-appreciated by the other characters, but this makes her more endearing and amiable. 

This is a charming read. There is a serious crime, a real investigation and a mystery to solve but this book feels as if it should read while sipping tea from bone china, helping yourself to a thin cucumber sandwich from a three tier cake stand and listening to some rhythmic twenties jazz music. Brody's writing allows the reader to relax and enjoy the very visual story with it's gentle humour and soft smiles. 

So from the outset, it's clear Kate isn't going to get the relaxing break she's expecting on her return to Whitby. As soon as she arrives, her Goddaughter Felicity has gone missing and Felicity's mother, Alma, reveals her husband's bigamy:

"....he was an enthusiast for matrimony. ....bigamist is an unkind term. ...." 

The twenties obviously was a very different time for women and marriage so the shame of Alma's plight and Felicity's illegitimacy are of much more significance. As Alma candidly points out, Felicity has enough on her plate with a fortune teller for a mother. I really enjoyed Alma's dialogue. Her  quips, blunt acknowledgements and frank statements such as, "I do tell other people's fortunes and see their futures but my own evades me entirely," are refreshing and funny. Not only does Alma tell fortunes, she also does automatic writing when the spirits send her messages. This was an intriguing plot device - and added a level of suspense to the plot but again, Brody's expression while recounting these scenes remains wry; Alma's frustration and impatience with the more mundane messages keeps the scene light.

Whitby is a great setting for a murder story. Birth place of Stoker's "Dracula", a town already seeped in connotations of darkness, with cliff faces and one-hundred-and-ninety-nine step climbs to the ruined Abbey, it's suitably atmospheric. Brody captures it well, as she does the historical era with convincing and well researched details.

Mrs Shackleton's relationship with Sergeant Garvin is well developed. I enjoyed their exchanges and interactions. For example when Kate is caught late at night exploring the Abbey grounds, Sergeant Garvin questions  her:

"Not that I am well-acquainted with ladies' bags, but the contents seem rather unusual....If one were are war, which thankfully we are not, then some of those items would arouse suspicion. Camera, torch, knife, hip flask,  unauthorised police whistle, set of keys.... You might explain why these items rather than a purse, comb and powder compact."

Readers are invited to form a direct relationship with Kate as her chapters are told in first person and her narrative more frequent but we also follow Alma and Felicity. The chapters following Felicity are  very short and create a real sense of mystery and suspense as the reader works to piece together the clues as to where she is, who she is with and what they are doing. Again, Brody uses the setting of Holy Island and sand shifting tidal waters to suggest further danger. 

I would recommend this book to those who like a traditional mystery thriller and historical fiction. 

My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group for a copy of the paperback in return for a fair and honest review. Thank you also for inviting me on the Blog Tour! 

"Death at the Seaside" is published in paperback by Little, Brown Book Group on 6th October 2016 

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FRANCES BRODY 

Frances Brody is the author of the Kate Shackleton mysteries, as well as many stories and plays for BBC Radio, scripts for television and four sagas, one of which won the HarperCollins Elizabeth Elgin Award. Her stage plays have been toured by several theatre companies and produced at Manchester Library Theatre, the Gate and Nottingham Playhouse, and Jehad was nominated for a Time Out Award.

www.francesbrody.com

www.facebook.com/FrancesBrody

www.twitter.com/FrancesBrody 

For more information please contact Clara Diaz on

Clara.Diaz@littlebrown.co.uk | 020 3122 6565 | @ClaraHDiaz

DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW THE OTHER BLOG TOUR POSTS TODAY AND FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK! 

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

Bloggers Recommend: 20 Books To Make You Laugh

So one day, after a very long week in "the real world" and staring at an overwhelming pile of psychological thrillers and police procedural novels which were either read and reviewed or awaiting to be read and reviewed, I was ailing.

I self medicated. I needed a quick, laugh out loud, well written story with colourful, carefree characters who would drag me along in their comfortable arms and spin me around with a giddy giggle or two. I love thrillers, I love crime, I love police procedurals and I love a dark dystopia, but sometimes, there has to be a little bit of sunshine.

I needed a prescription. No, google or amazon would not be able to help - I needed expert advice. I turned to all my fellow book bloggers.

Actually this is a complete "cheat" post for which I cannot take any credit as all the books listed below are based on their recommendations. Some of them I have read, or heard of, or been meaning to read and some are completely new to me.

Therefore I'm dedicating this post to all the wonderful bloggers out there who recognised a medical emergency and responded instantaneously with an epic list of "Books to make you Laugh".

For the health and safety of all readers out there, it is my duty to share it with you all.

And thanks, yes, I am fully recovered now. But I am keeping a stash of these titles on the bedside table in case of a relapse. I think a regular dose of one of these books will keep you fit and well throughout the dark winter months!

Book Bloggers of the world - I salute you and your warmth, support and down right incredible knowledge of all things bookish! You are the best!


Marian Keyes is possibly the most famous Chick-Lit author around. She has written lots of books and they are well known for their humour and their female characters who try to negotiate life with families, independence, dating, marriage and generally the plights of a twenty something modern gal. Always a guaranteed smile, always witty and always a great distraction from the dilemmas of your own world.



Joe Keenan was a writer for the TV series "Frasier" which is renowned for its sharp, witty, one liners and wise cracks. This book comes heavily recommended from the critics, it's extremely popular in the States and a story which sounds as if it is clever, intelligent, insightful and very funny. I've bought it!






Well I think the title says it all here! This is a collection of short stories, which is always great when you need to break up your reading pile or need a quick shot of humour. Handler has drawn on personal experience to tell tales based on her family, relationships and career and reviewers say it is a fresh voice, full of candour and very entertaining scenarios albeit often ridiculous and outrageous. Definitely one to look up and keep close at hand!


Albert Trollop takes refuge at his allotment and the betting office, while his wife, Gretyl, lives for the shopping channels, car boot sales and local gossip. After fifty years of marriage, she’s thinking of a new life, somewhere hot. He’s thinking of the crematorium. She’s thinking of stuffing herself in a bikini. He's thinking of a taxidermist. The Londoners continue their separate lives until a mysterious letter turns their world upside down. In Essex, Dave and Sharon Soddall are struggling on benefits and looking for a get-rich-quick solution. With the help of a devious financial advisor, they concoct a plan and ‘Costa Soddall Travel’ is born. 

Will the Soddalls pull off the con of a lifetime? Can Gretyl be silenced? Will Albert end up missing Gretyl? (Goodreads blurb) 

With reviewers claiming this is laugh out loud, british comedy writing at its best, I think this rather quirky sounding book would offer anyone total escapism from their own lives. It sounds hilarious. 

This cover looks like the perfect comic read! Several book bloggers have been raving about this book recently and I trust them all implicitly in their recommendation. Who can't resist a heroine with such a fabulous name and such an intriguing title?! I definitely want to read this!

She’s single, addicted to sugar and super heroes, her family are officially bonkers, and she sees dead people. Is it any wonder no-one’s swiping right on Tinder? 
Waking up lonely on her twenty seventh birthday, Melody finally snaps. She can’t carry on basing all of her life decisions on the advice of her magic 8 ball; things have got to change. 



This book is billed as hilarious and heart warming, it has cups of tea and polka dots on the cover and the words New York in the strap line. It's compared to "You've Got Mail" and "Shirley Valentine". What's not to like? I'm there.



I have read these two books and really enjoyed them. They are great stories, great characters and very well written. They have poignancy and sadness sprinkled throughout them and deal with relationships, family and love but all in all are upbeat and original. They received multiple votes from the book bloggers.

These books were all mentioned several times by the bloggers who joined in my thread about books to make you laugh. I have added them all to my To Be Read pile. "e." and "Ordinary Joe" look a quite interesting as they involve male characters as their protagonists and therefore might offer a good alternative if you have already exhausted the "Chick Lit" section in the library!



The great thing about my emergency call out was how many people recommended books from past decades. As book reviewers and avid readers, we often forget about the gems that lay buried right at the back of our bookcase shelf, over shadowed by the now three deep row of more recent titles. I have read all of these books many years ago, but indeed they are funny, warm and very entertaining. I have a friend who "binge reads" novels by her favourite author in the same way some of us have a special film or food that we turn to when feeling low, tired or a bit jaded. These books should definitely see the light of day again and be filed under "comfort reads".


Yes, I have to add this one. It is one of the first books I read that actually made me laugh out loud consistently and almost on every page. It was fresh, original and highly entertaining when it was published in 1997 and offered me a protagonist that truly spoke to me when I read it all those many many years ago. The character has not lost her appeal even now and for me, "Bridget Jones' Baby" has been one of the funniest, most feel good films I have seen this year. So perhaps this is my ultimate "comfort read" and nicely rounds my list up to 20 titles that myself and the wise book bloggers - who have shown they can treat any condition with a book recommendation or two!

Hope you find something to make you smile, or maybe you have a title to add to our list? Please drop a note in the comments box below if you want to make any more suggestions.

Thanks so so much to all the bloggers who helped me to collate this post. I can't list you all here, but I am very grateful for your contributions and enthusiasm to always talk books! 

"Ward Zero" Linda Huber

Horror swept through her. Had she been buried alive? 

On Sarah’s first visit to see her foster mother, Mim, in Brockburn General Hospital, she is sucked into a world that isn’t what it should be. 

Someone is lying, someone is stealing. And someone is killing – but who? With a grieving child to take care of, as well as Mim, Sarah has to put family first. She doesn’t see where danger lies – until it’s too late. 

If you think you’re safe in a hospital, think again. 

.....The Dead Ward...... What a subtitle! And what a cover!

I am a big fan of Huber's books having read three of her previous titles and really enjoyed them all. In my opinion, she can be relied upon for a psychological thriller that will unsettle and haunt you even after you've long finished it. Her characters are always deliciously unhinged, vivid creations. Her chilling stories are not far fetched, not beyond the realms of reality, not gratuitously gory or offensive- just solid, reliable, satisfying "does what it says on the label" psychological thrillers and I will always be excited to read anything she publishes.

Therefore when I saw a sneak preview of this dark, disturbing cover for her latest novel "Ward Zero" on Twitter, I was very keen to read it!

The book opens with an anonymous male voice; predatory, menacing and clearly threatening to any of the other characters. By the end of the first page we read that:

"Once he had her safely locked up he could organise her death in peace and quiet. It shouldn't be too difficult, he'd already had a practice run."

This opening reminded me of John Fowles "The Collector" and "You" by Caroline Kepnes. Automatically, the insinuations and implications from the character have us fearing for the worse. Huber has immediately established suspense, tension and interest. There is also much intrigue from one of the final lines of the prologue where we hear his thought that "when Sarah was gone too, he'd be safe". I dare you not to want to read on!

We then move to follow one of the protagonists Sarah as she goes to hospital to visit her foster mother, Mim. As we already know someone is out to harm Sarah, Huber sets a fast tempo to her writing, pulling us straight into the story. A hospital is a great place to set a thriller as the suggestion of tragedy, death, illness and sadness seep into the reader's mind almost before Huber has a chance to start her first sentence. Then, Sarah's likening of the hospital to 'Colditz',calling it a "compound", her "plummeting" mood alongside references to panic, wailing sirens, pounding and hysterics continues to effectively establish a tense setting and atmosphere. When Sarah bumps into Jack, a childhood acquaintance, their conversation conveniently exposes sad and possibly traumatic pasts from both characters. More seeds sown for future twists, turns and dramatic climaxes!

There is a huge cast of characters in "Ward Zero". By the end of the first chapter we have met about four or five characters and then the following chapter starts with yet another. They are all interlinked and their stories woven together, with the mysterious anonymous voice from the prologue also interjected amongst the running storyline to maximise intrigue and tension.

At first I was concerned that I would find it a little hard to keep track of so many people, how they were connected and the timeline. I think, if my memory serves me right, some of Huber's previous novels focus on a smaller group of people, making the plot more intense and claustrophobic. However, I should never doubt her skill as a writer!

Huber manages the characters, the story arc and the denouements with accomplished control. Her language and writing style is so fluid, so accessible and so straight forward that the reader flies through the pages at quite a pace. I actually enjoyed the range of characters and the level of dialogue as I felt it made the story more compulsive. To me, this felt a little different from Huber's previous novels, but as enjoyable and successful.

I'm not saying any more or I will end up revealing something or saying too much! I was amazed how quickly I read this and how the pages almost turned themselves as the story rattles along. The front cover is very different from Huber's usual style and this is a slightly more dark and murderous novel than some of her others, but Huber's style remains assured and confident. This is a great weekend read or one for any winter evening!

Once again, Huber has come up with a great premise, unsettling characters and a very enjoyable, engaging and satisfying read. If you enjoy Samantha Hayes, Elizabeth Haynes and any other contemporary psychological thriller writers, you should definitely add "Ward Zero" to your reading pile!

Thank you so much to Linda Huber for sending me an advanced copy of this novel in return for an unbiased review. I was thrilled to accept a copy and this is my honest review.

"Ward Zero" is available to preorder now on Amazon and will be published on October 1st 2016.

For my reviews of Linda's novels "Cold, Cold Sea", "The Attic Room" and "Chosen Child" please click on the following links:
http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-cold-cold-sea-chosen-child-linda.html
http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/02/like-griplit-like-these.html

More about Linda Huber: 

Linda Huber grew up in Glasgow, Scotland, where she trained as a physiotherapist. She spent ten years working with neurological patients, firstly in Glasgow and then in Switzerland. During this time she learned that different people have different ways of dealing with stressful events in their lives, and this knowledge still helps her today, in her writing.

Linda now lives in Switzerland, where she works as a language teacher in a little town on the banks of beautiful Lake Constance.

Her debut novel The Paradise Trees was published in 2013 and was followed by The Cold Cold Sea in 2014 and The Attic Room in 2015. she has also had over 50 short stories and articles published in magazines. 



You can follow Linda on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads or via her website - which includes a great blog!

www.lindahuber.net
Twitter @LindaHuber19 
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1123145.Linda_Huber

If you would like to read more reviews and recommendations, please follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk)

**AUTHOR Q&A** SAM CARRINGTON "SAVING SOPHIE"

\

It is my very great honour and privilege to welcome Sam Carrington to my blog today!

*Grab the nearest paper bag and breathe!*

For those of you who have seen some of my previous posts and tweets, I am a huge fan of Sam's debut psychological thriller "Saving Sophie". The novel is about Karen and her 17 year old daughter Sophie who returns home one evening drunk and accompanied by the police. She has no memory of how she got into such a state. The next day there is still no news of her friend Amy and then a dead body is discovered. Karen makes it her priority to work out what happened despite battling her own issues - including suffering from severe panic attacks and the need for a paper bag to help regulate and calm her breathing. Myself and fellow book blogger Kaisha Holloway (The Writing Garnet) both agree that the publishers ought to make the sale of a paper bag alongside the paperback essential as it is such a gripping and literally breathtaking read!

So it is a great pleasure to introduce you all to Sam and hear all she has to say about her reading and writing habits.

Which book do you wish you’d written and why?

Oh, that’s actually quite difficult. There are a huge number of books I’d love to be able to say I’d written, all for different reasons! I am in awe of most of the authors whose books are in my favourite genre – psychological and crime (shocker there) – and I often stop in the middle of one of them and think, wow, that was a great twist, wish I could think of something that original and brilliant! Just for the fact I loved it so much and it’s the one that always stays with me, I will name Into The Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes. It has all the elements that make a great psychological thriller – a brilliant dark edge, characters with depth, tension and good story-telling. It also tackles the frightening topic of domestic abuse. From the reviews I read, it affected a lot of other readers as well as myself and is one of the most recommended books I know.

Great choice - one of my favourites too! The protagonist's fear is absolutely palpable and I was totally absorbed in her predicament. Great writing!

Which fictional character makes you reach for a paper bag?

From a book, Hannibal had the edge for me when it came to raising my pulse and respirations, although that was some years ago! Psychologically I found his character intriguing yet scary, and then when the physical aspects of his behaviour were described (or visualised in the films) my anxiety raised to a whole new level. I always wonder if it was my fascination with his character that drew me to my prison role years later. More recently though, Spector, the killer from the TV series The Fall (one of my favourite series) also had me tense and holding my breath. It's almost just the fact he appeared as a normal, everyday husband and dad but hid his murderous tendencies, that was terrifying.

Ooohh, more great choices! Also love "The Fall" - I take it you'll be watching the third series this week when it returns to TV - if we dare! 

Which films or TV series have made you wish you had a paper bag with you while watching?

Other than The Fall and the Hannibal films and TV series, the film Hush was a particularly anxiety-ridden hour and a half for me! I think I held my breath for part of the film, then in the action scenes (which were really quite horrible), I hyperventilated. I didn’t relax for the entire film. 

I’m useless with scary films and have lately taken to actually screaming loudly at the jumpy bits. The TV series The Enfield Haunting also produced that reaction from me. And, if we’re talking panicky paper bag moments – any programme or film involving people crawling/squeezing through small spaces makes me clutch my chest in sheer panic. Don’t even get me started on Buried, the film where Ryan Reynolds spends the entire time in a coffin … yikes!

*hands slowly reach for a paper bag as I remember "The Enfield Haunting"....* And I'll skirt over "Remember Me" which I had to watch in daylight with a friend....!

Which authors would you recommend for readers who enjoy a story which leaves them gasping for breath?

There haven’t been many novels that have left me actually gasping (that I can think of). For me, it tends to happen more when watching films – I think that’s mainly because of the music and visuals that add significantly to the feeling of terror and anxiety. But, there have been books that have given me lots of ‘holding your breath’ moments – the authors that come to mind are: Mo Hayder, Sharon Bolton and Chris Carter. There are scenes in a number of their books which build tension brilliantly and also give an air of menace which certainly could cause someone to reach for a paper bag! The novel, Room by Emma Donoghue also contained a particular scene that produced a lot of anxiety – I won’t put a spoiler in here, but I imagine if you’ve read it, you might well know which one I’m referring to.

Absolutely. And, amazingly as great books don't always transfer to great films, I practically passed out watching the film of "Room"!

What was the hardest part of writing Karen’s character? Did you find it a very emotionally draining book write?

I think the hardest part was ensuring I captured the very real physical symptoms of agoraphobia as realistically as possible. I read a number of articles but also searched for real-life stories from sufferers, which also included reading help forums where people’s experiences were detailed. I also suffer from claustrophobia and so could draw on the anxiety I feel when I even think about being in an enclosed space, let alone if I was to find myself in one. The parts of the novel where Karen’s condition prevented her from being with her friend were difficult to write, and the scenes between them were emotionally draining. And, as I have a daughter, I often thought ‘how would I be feeling?’ and ‘what if that happened to my girl?’ which definitely gave me some sleepless nights.

What do you do to stay calm? How do you relax and unwind after a day of writing a psychological thriller?

I’m not sure that I DO stay calm! Or relax. I suppose I must – although even when asleep my mind works overtime and I have very vivid dreams! I do read as much as possible. But, depending on the book it doesn’t necessarily mean I’m unwinding! I guess the most relaxing thing is taking my two border terriers for walks. I’m often accompanied by one of my sons and we have long, sometimes whacky chats that make me laugh – we end up talking about such weird topics that my mind can be taken away from my writing.

What three pieces of advice would you give to aspiring writers about creating tension and suspense in their writing?

1) Keep your chapters quite short. It helps the pace if you’re quickly moving from one scene to the next, and it can create an urgency which keeps the reader turning the pages.

2) End those short chapters with cliff-hangers. They don’t have to be huge story-changing ones, as that would soon become wearing – but give the reader a reason to read on to find out what you’ve hinted at previously. The reader has (hopefully) become attached to the character, so it’s like foreshadowing that something bad might be going to happen to them. That should create a good level of suspense as the reader moves along with a sense of dread at what might be around that corner…

3) Don’t always follow straight on to the next part of the story with the same character, shift to another character’s viewpoint or to a different period of time – make the reader wait another chapter to get back to where you left off.

Brilliant advice - thank you for sharing! These devices definitely work very successfully in "Saving Sophie"! 

What are you working on next and will we need another paper bag?!

My next novel focuses on forensic psychologist, Connie Summers. After she recommends a prisoner’s release, he commits a serious offence which Connie feels responsible for, so she trades her role working with offenders for running her own counselling consultancy helping the victims of crime. One of her newest clients is Steph, a troubled young woman relocated by the Protected Persons Service, who is fearful for her and her son’s life. When Connie begins to unpick these fears, she uncovers the tragic circumstances that led to the death of Steph’s dad sixteen years ago. Meanwhile, DI Wade and DS Mack pay Connie a visit to tell her that an absconded prisoner has been murdered and his body dumped outside the prison gates. Initially, Connie thinks they are asking for her expert opinion and help in profiling the perpetrator. But then they tell her who the victim is, and that her name is written on the dead man’s hand. Suddenly the past catches up, threatening to reveal Steph’s true identity and ruin Connie’s new career – possibly even her life. Will you need a paper bag? Well I've tried to induce fear in a number of the scenes - so it's a possibility! No actual paper bags in this one, though. 

Wow! I'm so intrigued! This sounds fantastic! I cannot wait! 

Thanks so much Sam for coming on my blog today and answering all my questions with such interesting responses! It's been lovely to learn more about you and to chat "scary books /TV" with you!

Good luck with completing your new novel and we look forward to hearing more about it nearer publication time! 

A BIT MORE ABOUT SAM CARRINGTON....... 

Sam Carrington lives in Devon with her husband and three children. She worked for the NHS for 15 years, during which time she qualified as a nurse. Following the completion of a Psychology degree she went to work for the prison service as an Offending Behaviour Programme Facilitator. Her experiences within this field inspired her writing. She left the service to spend time with her family and to follow her dream of being a novelist. SAVING SOPHIE is her debut psychological thriller novel.

You can follow Sam on 

Twitter at @sam_carrington1

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15308494.Sam_Carrington\

Facebook: Sam Carrington Writer (@samcarringtonauthor)

For my review of "Saving Sophie" please click on the following link:

http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/08/saving-sophie-sam-carrington.html

For a few more suggestions about heart stopping books click here:
http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/02/like-griplit-like-these.html

For my review of "Room" please click on here: http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/02/emma-donoghues-room-fantastic-book.html

For more reviews, recommendations and author Q&As please follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk) 

"The Good Enough Mother" Anoushka Beazley

Which mother wouldn't be drawn by this cover? A bloodied knife, a cake...... And a great title - as we all struggle just to be "good enough". Turn to the first page and read the opening quote- it will hook you right in. The quote in itself a clear warning that this book is not going to be quite the story you expected. This is something for readers who are looking for something edgy, risk taking and refreshing.

"Oh how I hated the school run. It was like a living thing. Every day, just at the point I thought I had no more hate left in me, I found a way to hate it more. It was like a mutated lizard's tale that, if cut off, would not only grow back but grow back even bigger, with festering pustules, making it even more loathsome."

Blogger Joanne Robertson drew my attention to this book with such an enthusiastic recommendation it literally leapt out from my Twitter and Facebook feeds. She called it a hidden gem - one which she, and therefore me and many others- could easily have missed. I am so grateful that I decided to give it a go completely based on Joanne's review as otherwise I would have missed one of the most darkly comic, satirical and witty reads of this year.

When Drea's boyfriend walks out on her for another woman, she is left in the house with his teenage daughter Ava. Not a natural mother, not a conformist and not a typical "Chelsea-Tractor-Lady-Who-Lunches", Drea struggles not only parent but more importantly, find the fees to keep Ava at her prestigious private school. But watching the wealthy Yummy Mummies inspires her to hatch a daring (and criminal) plan which will upset every single resident in the quiet, affluent town of Gatlin and propel Drea into the thick of a compelling, dramatic, catastrophic and entertaining story of crime, murder, love, relationships and the politics of the school gate.

This book is not for the fainthearted. Drea is a woman who says all the things we keep to our inner voice, aloud. She is crude, she uses expletives, she is blunt. She is witty, sharp, observant and most definitely her own person. I envied her gall, her frankness and her attitude. But I loved her. She made me laugh out loud, choke on my drinks and even hold my lips together so I could try to keep a straight face and not draw too much attention to myself when I was reading in a cafe. I snatched time to read this book whenever I could, taking photos of a few pages to text to friends like a naughty school girl passing an illicit note during class.

Drea appears disinterested in Ava and parenting. She is lazy. She smokes and drinks and is not the typical role model or parent in this small, leafy suburb. Her hopes for Ava are not the same as the competitive alpha mothers she faces on the school run.

"Ava had come to live with us when she was four years old. It might have been nice to think some of me had rubbed off on her. However......her need to achieve was more than a little disappointing." 

But despite this, Ava and Drea seem to get on well - or at least understand where they stand with each other. As Drea says: "Ava and I had unspoken agreements. I wasn't interested in any of her friends or her school life and she in turn, would not force me into situations where I needed to behave as if I was." 

For me, as a parent, there was something very liberating reading about Drea. Her voice is a real breath of fresh air. We know she will not be winning any parenting awards or penning a guide to parenting book (more's the pity!!) but she is a kind of anti hero.

"'I never actually married your father and I'm the only mother you've got coz the real one doesn't give a s***,' I screamed. There is an outside possibility I could have handled that better." 

"'Plus I feel very sad today,' Ava continued. The 'plus' was a clue. It meant I should have started listening earlier than I had."

It is hard for writers to strike a balance with "yummy mummy / slummy mummy" characters. I find often authors can make them either too saccharine, too cliched or they become too much of a caricature or too unpleasant. Beazley does not do this. For me, Drea was believable. Everyone has an inner Drea in them some days and I think Beazley managed her protagonist very well. I was rooting for her and I was very much involved in her plight throughout the whole novel.

As well as dark humour there is also sadness and seriousness in this novel. Drea is depressed and has a bottle of pills in her bag - enough to commit suicide when the right moment presents itself. As with everything, Drea is upfront and matter-of-fact about this.

"Today was the day I was planning to kill myself but then I read Alex's note and, from there, I became unreservedly and altogether distracted."

This issue adds tension to the situation. As the novel continues and things become more serious and more sinister, it helps to create more intrigue and complexity.

Beazley is clearly a talented writer. Not only are her characters full of vividness and colour, but her attention to detail is thorough, her imagery and description is effective. There are moments when the wry voice of Drea comes through, for example; "The most modern thing about our house was our neighbours" but also when the description is simply impressive:

"The sun twinkled like a girlish courtesan, hopping from cupboard to dresser, unsure where to lay her balmy touch. A yellow bath of colour tinged the bedroom from the large bay windows, all the way to the faded flowery wallpaper behind the bedstead."

So the financial pressure mounts and mounts until Drea spots Regina's gigantic rock sized diamond ring that "sat fat on her yoga-stretched fingers, like the missing aid for a third world country" and a plan starts to form in her mind. Drea's initial foray into illegal activity begins with her usual dry observations which make the reader wonder just how aware Drea is of her actions and potential consequences:

"I was covering every role on this job, doubling up as my own get-away driver.I guess that's how all small business ventures start out."

But things quickly take a more sinister and chilling turn of events. The pace of the novel cranks up as Drea becomes caught up in a more complex web of crime; a journey which also forces her to confront her issues, her past and her role as a mother. The freshness and originality in this novel comes from the fact that it is like a cross between 'Bridget Jones' and an episode of 'Midsummer Murders' penned by Caitlin Moran. It is a bit of popular women's fiction and crime fiction all pilled in together and, with all credit to Beazley, it's a successful combination that doesn't ever feel too far fetched, too ridiculous or too contrived. There are serious comments made and serious issues explored. It is not a farcical novel nor is it flippant about the relationship between a mother and a daughter or even a privileged community like Gatlin.

I really enjoyed this book. I don't think it will be for everyone as Drea's comments can be quite shocking and there is a lot of swearing but it was the perfect tonic for me at the start of term! I would love to have Drea in my life. After all, who hasn't been to a baby and toddler group where the women are all sat "convincing each other and themselves that merely having squeezed a human out of their vagina is basis enough to both begin and sustain a friendship" and who hasn't felt like Drea, who while listening in their "cacophony of banal high-pitched incomprehensible chatter" observes, "Why not just say 'Your baby is fat' and 'I was hoping not to see you here'?" 

This was not a book I would have necessarily sought out or perhaps even picked up but I am immensely grateful to Joanne for bringing it to my attention. I will be rereading it and I will be recommending it. I have genuinely enjoyed being made to laugh out loud this week while engrossed in the pages. I am absolutely so grateful to Anoushka Beazley for sending me a copy of "The Good Enough Mother" to read in return for a fair, honest and unbiased review. I will definitely be looking out for her next novel as I think she shows great promise.

Thanks again to Anoushka Beazley for a copy of "The Good Enough Mother" which published in July 2016.

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

"Beside Myself" Ann Morgan

Helen and Ellie are identical twins - like two peas in a pod says everyone- except the girls know this isn't true. Helen is the leader and Ellie is the follower. 

One day they decide to swap places, just for fun. Just for one day. 

But then Ellie refuses to swap back. And so begins Helen's nightmare from which she cannot wake up.......

The quotes adorning this novel are striking hyperboles like "compelling", "gripping", "ingenious" and "blistering clever". However, in this case, I have to completely agree with every single adjective used both on the inside and outside of its cover!

Any story about twins - and there have been some excellent ones published recently - is usually captivating, but this novel really is compulsive.

The atmosphere set up in the prologue is cold and unpleasant- the narrative voice is so unkind, so cruel and so full of malice that automatically a high level of tension and anticipation is established. The spine chilling final sentence, "We're going to play a game," was literally left ringing in my ears as I turned to Chapter One.

The writing is clever. The prose is sometimes quite lyrical; often only short phrases or deliberately vague imagery is used to convey character and setting. At other times the voice of the young Helen is captured with sincere authenticity and conviction. Morgan has set herself the challenge of writing two story lines - one in the present day as "Smudge" receives a phone call forcing her to confront her past, and one in the past, following the story from the moment of the swap. Both voices are the same character but both voices are very different - just as the character is so very different as a result of the disastrous effect their game.

Morgan's novel is about identity and how the way we are defined and treated by others affects us. What I found really fascinating was the judgements made against Ellie and the lack of fairness or opportunity offered to her. Then Helen becomes Ellie - Helen who is supposedly the intelligent, pretty, graceful and popular child- she is automatically treated unfairly and never once given the chance to prove herself. Helen's outrage and frustration is so palpably created by Morgan that it was impossible not to become emotionally involved with these three dimensional characters.

The children's world of school and family is exceptionally well evoked. The twins first day back at school after the swap was compelling reading - I've just tried to skim back for a quote and ended up rereading three pages, once again totally absorbed in Helen's childlike observations and hopes. It's so vivid. It's so emotive.

Morgan allows us to care for both girls even though they can both be equally monstrous in their behaviour towards each other. At first I did not believe I could ever sympathise with Helen, but when she tries to trick Ellie using the same cruel game herself and Mary have frequently tormented her with and it backfires so she is suddenly the victim, I felt a surge of shock and sympathy.

It's incredible that Ellie, always thought to be so slow, dimwitted and weak, has the power, insight, confidence and brazenness to reinvent herself as Helen with so much conviction. But then I guess this idea of prejudice and never allowing people to shake off labels is a fascinating theme which Morgan wants to explore in her writing.

Helen gradually becomes "Smudge". A woman who has lost her own identity and become a shadow. Her musings do become more muddled, the blurring between the truth, the past, the present, which girl is which and keeping track of whether it's Ellie / Helen or Helen / Ellie reflects a kind of descent into madness and conveys how devastating the consequences of a malicious game can be. The shockwaves from the Ellie's decision to suddenly not relent to Helen throw huge crashing waves thought the entire family for the rest of their lives. I liked that at times I felt I was drowning in the novel, spiralling into madness alongside Helen. It is not often that you can become so absorbed that it feels as if you are truly inside the disturbed, confused mind of the protagonist.

It is not just a thriller - it is more than that. It is gripping as there is a constant confusion about which twin is which, if they will ever be discovered and then the shock revelations about some dark secrets hidden behind the closed doors of the family home. It is a sinister page turner. But this novel is more unsettling than that. This book is psychologically unnerving; it examines mental illness, fragility and the sense of self. The ending raises shocking questions about secrets, game playing and parenting. The protagonists are complex, the plot is multilayered, the writing often beautifully metaphorical. It is immensely thought provoking and an impressive debut.

I can't wait to read more from Ann Morgan and as Heat says on the back cover - I do feel a little haunted even after nearly a week of finishing the last page!

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

"The Devil Wins" Reed Farrel Coleman

Synopsis:

In the wake of a huge storm, three bodies are discovered in the rubble of an abandoned factory building in an industrial part of Paradise known as The Swap. One body, a man’s, wrapped in a blue tarp, is only hours old. But found within feet of that body are the skeletal remains of two teenage girls who had gone missing during a Fourth of July celebration twenty-five years earlier. Not only does that crime predate Jesse Stone’s arrival in Paradise, but the dead girls were close friends of Jesse’s right hand, Officer Molly Crane. And things become even more complicated when one of the dead girls’ mothers returns to Paradise to bury her daughter and is promptly murdered. It’s up to Police Chief Jesse Stone to pull away the veil of the past to see how all the murders are connected.

This is number 14 in the New York Times bestselling Jesse Stone series. Coleman was selected by the estate of Robert B Parker to take over the writing of the Jesse Stone series of novels when Parker died in 2010. The Huffington Post states that "'The Devil Wins' is such a winner of a novel that Parker's loyal fans, and Coleman's new ones, will be equally delighted." This is quite a claim to make with such confidence, but this reviewer is not alone in their praise for Coleman's work.

I am intrigued by this book - and even more so by the fact that I have not heard more about this author! I love that the Sunday Times has said the Parker "packs more meaning into a whispered 'yeah' than most writers can pack into a page."

The Guardian states that Robert B Parker is one of the "greats" and Newsday says the "sentences flow with as much wit, grace and assurance as ever, and Stone is a complex and consistently interesting new protagonist." 

This definitely looks like a book to add to your TBR pile for lovers of crime and police procedural novels.

Author Bio:
Reed Farrel Coleman is the Edgar nominated author of 18 novels and 3 novellas, including the critically acclaimed Moe Prager series. He teaches at the Hofstra University and is a founding member of the MWA University.

Robert B Parker was the best selling author of over 60 books and lived in Boston until he died in 2010.



Contact info:
@noexitpress
noexit.co.uk/thedevilwins
01582 766348