SAMPLER "Little Sister" Isabel Ashdown

If you can't trust your sister, then who can you trust? A gripping, twisty thriller about family secrets and betrayal for fans of CJ Taylor, Katerina Diamond and Lisa Hall

'A missing baby girl, a marriage ravaged by mistrust, a sibling rivalry with a very dark heart: LITTLE SISTER had me gripped from start to finish.' Louise Candlish, author of THE SWIMMING POOL

After sixteen years apart sisters Jessica and Emily are reunited. With the past now behind them, the warmth they once shared quickly returns and before long Jess has moved into Emily's comfortable island home. Life couldn't be better. But when baby Daisy disappears while in Jess's care, the perfect life Emily has so carefully built starts to fall apart.

Was Emily right to trust her sister after everything that happened before?

"Little Sister" will be published on 27th April by Trapeze.

I received the first three chapters from NetGalley for this novel and although I'm delighted to have read the sampler, I am now so disappointed not to have the whole book! I am desperate to read the entire novel and it's going to feel a long wait until April when I'll finally be able to get my hands on it! 

I normally avoid samplers for this very reason but I could not resist this title. I love the front cover and all it implies about the characters, the atmosphere and what might happen. I have seen publicity for "Little Sister" appearing all over social media and seen tantalising reviews from authors. I'm also a bit of a sucker for a story about sisters, having one myself and understanding how emotionally complex the dynamics between siblings can be - and how perfect the uncovering of a family's relationships can be for a psychological thriller.  

There is lots of ambiguity and confusion in the opening as we start Chapter 1 with the narrative of Jess who conveys her state of mind through captivating prose:

"Am I drunk - or dreaming - or dying even? My head feels submerged, as though I'm looking up through water, yet at the same time there's a feeling of clarity that frightens me.....I gasp for air, my memories suddenly, horrifically breaking through the surface awake, aware, remembering." 

We find ourselves in the middle of a crime scene -in the middle of a scene of which has left the main characters in a state of devastation, chaos and distress. We are only privy to Jess's point of view initially and this cleverly places us in the situation of desperately trying to piece together exactly what has happened as Jess appears confused and unsure of what is going on- immediately raising questions about her reliability as a narrator. The response of the detective towards Jess also implies suspicion. 

"Her voice is solid and reassuring, and I feel her eyes drilling right down inside me, as if she's lifted the top off my head and peered in. She's giving me a second chance." 

And then Jess's behaviour and panicked thoughts left me wondering just what had happened and just what was going on. They are convincing for someone suddenly finding themselves in the worst situation they could ever imagine while simultaneously raising endless questions in the reader's mind.

"even when I'm telling the truth, my voice says I'm lying. How am I supposed to behave? how are you meant to arrange your hands on the desk- to focus your gaze - to pitch your tone of voice-  when all the while you know they're on the lookout for tiny signs of nervousness and deceit?" 

We then hear from Emily who offers another point of view about the relationship between the sisters and Jess. 

"After all these years, Jess had faded until she had begun to take on the sepia tones of a distant memory or of a tim watched long ago, the images patchy and incomplete." 

It seems that Ashdown's writing is exactly the kind of writing I love - dark, chilling, descriptive, reflective, compelling prose, full of effective images that create intrigue and tension. I really liked her description of the crime scene:

"They gather like portrait studies: the devastated parents bent over the dining room table, a police officer on either side; the huddle of strangers through the archway, poised to photograph the island worktop, the bloodied kitchen floor......" 

And then the really intriguing sentences about lies which subtly reveals so much more about the character and prepares us for a read that will obviously be totally gripping:

"Little fibs, everyday untruths, the tweaking of facts to help us sail through life more smoothly......Are they lies?" 

The ending of this short sampler left me completely hanging on for more -I was frustratingly pressing my kindle button hoping there were more pages lurking beyond as I was totally hooked and so full of questions about so much....... This is definitely going on my TBR pile for 2017 and I am very excited about reading it when it comes out in April! 

In the meantime, I now need to go and check out Isabel Ashdown's previous novels as I have not read any of her other books and hopefully these will keep me satisfied until April! 

"Little Sister" is out on 27th April 2017 and available for preorder on Amazon.

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

Isabel Ashdown



Dark, compelling and beautifully twisty ... have you read Isabel yet?

Isabel Ashdown was born in London and grew up on the south coast of England. The opening of her debut won the Mail on Sunday Novel Competition, going on to be published as GLASSHOPPER (Myriad, 2009) and being named as one of the best books of the year. Today, she writes full-time, walks daily, and volunteers in a local school for the charity Pets as Therapy. Isabel lives in Sussex with her carpenter husband, their two children and dogs Charlie and Leonard. Isabel is represented by Kate Shaw of the Viney Literary Agency, London.

Her latest novel, LITTLE SISTER is out in ebook April 2017 / paperback July 2017 (Orion/Trapeze).

http://www.isabelashdown.com
@IsabelAshdown
@TrapezeBooks

"Scared to Death" Rachel Amphlett

A serial killer murdering for kicks. A detective seeking revenge.

When the body of a snatched schoolgirl is found in an abandoned biosciences building, the case is first treated as a kidnapping gone wrong. 

But Detective Kay Hunter isn’t convinced, especially when a man is found dead with the ransom money still in his possession.

When a second schoolgirl is taken, Kay’s worst fears are realised.

With her career in jeopardy and desperate to conceal a disturbing secret, Kay’s hunt for the killer becomes a race against time before he claims another life.

For the killer, the game has only just begun…

This is Book One in a new Detective series from Amphlett - who has quite an extensive back catalogue of crime fiction novels already, unbeknownst to me when I came across her on social media! Amphlett has a high profile on Facebook and Twitter so I was keen to read "Scared to Death" after having seen such positive feedback from other bloggers and read a lot of Amphlett's own blog posts and Facebook updates. Then she mentioned the book was set in Maidstone - where my family live - and I decided I had to read it! I bought it, read it, then bought a few more for some of my family to read over Christmas! 

Kay Hunter, the protagonist, is very likeable. She is sensible, intelligent, focussed and isn't afraid to speak her mind. Her strength and appeal often comes from the fact she asks deeper questions and doesn't settle for the most obvious explanation. She has an eye for missed details and I enjoyed the way she would, almost nervously, bring them up during the police discussions that would then set them off on a new course of investigation. 

Although Kay is a new character and this is a new series, there are hints of a back story. It's cleverly worked into the novel so hints and clues are laid and enough interest generated for the reader to want to know more and to develop a relationship with Kay that will sustain itself beyond just one book, but without detracting or distracting us from the main plot. 

The story starts with a great premise. There is a kidnapping, a ransom, a death. The novel is very plot driven and we go headlong into the story straight away. The rapid pace continues throughout the whole book. There is lots of well written dialogue which strikes the perfect balance of revealing enough detail about the characters so that they are three dimensional without slowing the pace as the crime investigation rattles along. The short chapters also help generate suspense and plenty of action. 

This book is enjoyable because it has all the ingredients needed for a classic crime fiction novel. It has a good cast of characters all fulfilling the necessary roles, a good level of police procedural detail, pace, twists and complications all delivered at the right moment. Although it might feel a little straight forward and formulaic to some, I think it's actually very satisfying and it feels like Amphlett will become a 'go to' author for a reliable read which fits firmly in the category of crime drama.

With Kay Hunter, Amphlett has struck a good balance. Kay is not overtly flawed or hiding any deep traumas but at the same time is not a simple character. Her partner is a doctor, there is a sub plot about their relationship which adds another layer to the story and there is also the fact that Kay's career is in jeopardy and a back story about this lurks in the shadows.  This stops her becoming too predictable and flat. 

"She'd certainly found out who she could trust and who would stand by her assertions of innocence after the whole debacle." 

Although generally very stable and balanced, her dynamism is shown through her ability to notice detail and ask questions in front of her superiors who are sometimes too quick to judge her. She is willing to risk her reputation and alienate herself in order to get things right and make sure nothing is missed or conclusions are not drawn from misinformed presumptions. 

"I can't help thinking this wasn't simply a kidnapping. Maybe Melanie's death was deliberate."
"I keep wondering if there's more to this than what we're seeing at the moment.' 

This quiet, understated character who then thoughtfully raises a new point of view is very likeable, admirable and believable. Kay Hunter will appeal to readers and will gain their support and interest as so many people will be able to relate to this sort of person or indeed recognise it as the kind of detective they might make if they found themselves in this position. She also has grit and strength shown not just through the fact she has faced a Professional Standards Investigation but also through her comments before investigating the crime scene:

"Right, she muttered, Let's see what you did to her." 

Most of the story is told from the point of view of Kay but there are some chapters that come from another character, Eli Matthews. These chapters are chilling and immediately get the reader asking plenty of questions about who this person is, what they might have done and whether they are good or bad. There is ambiguity in the voice to keep the reader guessing and as we read more chapters about Eli, his storyline grows and develops with its own twists and surprises. I liked following the voice of the villain and that Amphlett had given him his own storyline to play out alongside the main investigation. 

For me, the moment when the significance of the title of the book was revealed was really chilling and created a lot of tension and suspense. 

By Chapter 50 the writing has become so tense and dramatic that Amphlett has created a real sense of desperation and of time running out for both the victim and the police. The descriptions are great and the locations used are spot on for a crime scene, lending themselves perfectly for the dark and thrilling atmosphere of fear and danger which Amphlett evokes. 

The ending was very good and we are fully prepared for the second instalment. Amphlett is not done with Kay Hunter - and neither am I! I look forward to the next book in the series and getting to know more about this character and the crimes she will work on. I would recommend this book for all fans of police procedural crime fiction. It is an easy read, a plot that delivers and with enough intrigue, twists, drama and suspense to keep you engaged and turning the pages. 

"Scared to Death" published on 6th December 2016 and is available on Amazon. 



Rachel Amphlett is the bestselling author of the Dan Taylor espionage novels and the new Detective Kay Hunter series, as well as a number of standalone crime thrillers.

Originally from the UK and currently based in Brisbane, Australia, Rachel is a member of International Thriller Writers and the Crime Writers Association, with the Italian foreign rights for her debut novel, White Gold, being sold to Fanucci Editore's TIMECrime imprint in 2014.

An advocate for knowledge within the publishing industry, Rachel is always happy to share her experiences to a wider audience through her blogging and speaking engagements.

You can keep in touch with Rachel by signing up to her mailing list via her website (http://www.rachelamphlett.com), or via Facebook (http://on.fb.me/TN7rpu) and Twitter: @RachelAmphlett 

If you would like to see more of my reviews and recommendations, you can follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk)

"Good Me Bad Me" Ali Land

It is impossible to ignore this cover - it's so eye-catching and totally implies this book is going to be dark, complex and psychologically thrilling. I was desperate to read it as soon as I saw it appearing on Twitter and NetGalley -especially as the promise of a really high quality thriller continued with the inciting strap line that "Good Me, Bad Me" was......

SET TO BE ONE OF THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY, CONTROVERSIAL AND EXPLOSIVE DEBUTS OF 2017! 

And I totally agree, I really think it is. This is an unnerving, unsettling, eerie read with a protagonist who is truly psychologically fascinating. The suspense and tension created from this fresh, original and disturbing voice will absolutely delight and terrify fans of  "Grip Lit" - and, as the publishers suggest, it will make a perfect choice for a reading group as Land has created a character you will want to talk about as soon as you've finished the last sentence! 

Here's a bit of the blurb to entice you further or if you prefer, the official trailer.......

https://youtu.be/MCi2d3GVzMI

'NEW N A M E .
NEW F A M I L Y.
S H I N Y.
NEW.
ME . '

Annie's mother is a serial killer. The only way she can make it stop is to hand her in to the police. But out of sight is not out of mind. As her mother's trial looms, the secrets of her past won't let Annie sleep, even with a new foster family and name - Milly. A fresh start. Now, surely, she can be whoever she wants to be.
But Milly's mother is a serial killer. And blood is thicker than water.

Good me, bad me. She is, after all, her mother's daughter...

The opening pages firmly place the reader inside the mind of Milly. Her short statements, blunt observations, economical use of language and jolting punctuation create a unique voice of a troubled teenager who seems distracted, distant and on edge. This is really effective in presenting a character who is complicated from the first line. We can't immediately relate to her; we want to feel sympathy for her but somehow feel held back as the narrative is so controlled and sparse.  This is a child who we want to feel sympathy for, we want to rescue and redeem but something niggles away - some little sense of unease that nags you not to rush too quickly into taking her under your wing. 

The use of 'you' is also really effective as it pulls us straight into the story, almost like an accomplice. Although Milly is actually talking to her mother, there is an intimacy created through this directness which shows the reader that Milly is caught in a complete dilemma about how she should feel towards her mother and to what extent she is still being controlled by her. 

Forgive me when I tell you it was me.
It was me that told.
The detective. A kindly man, belly full and round.

I liked the way Milly described her visit to the police station to confess the crimes of her mother. For a young girl who has witnessed such atrocities and who has taken themselves to the police station to report their own mother, there seems something very cool and detached about her voice.

Come now, he said. You need to hear this. The silence waiting for his superior to arrive. Bearable for me. Less so for him.

I found this eerie and unnerving. It also raised lots of questions in my mind about Milly's role in what had happened and whether I should feel sorry for her or be wary of her - a question which Land made sure the reader kept asking all the way through the novel. From the beginning there are little comments which make the reader wonder about the relationship between Milly and her mother and I did have to reread a few sentences in that kind of blink-and-you'll-miss-a-vital-clue kind of way.

You said nothing to them, yet everything to me. I nodded.
But only when no one was watching.

It was a brilliant way of keeping me completely hooked to see how the story would play out.

So Milly is sent to live with Mike, Saskia and their daughter Phoebe. Milly is terrified of being "found out"; she is scared of finding out what she might be as well as being found out by the family - although what might be found out is left ambitious and to the imagination of the reader. Land builds great suspense from this fear that Milly herself seems to be frightened of herself. What is it that she is frightened of? What is it that she's worried about them finding out? What is it that scares her about herself so much? Especially now her mother is locked up behind bars.

The voice of Milly continues in its very distinctive style. Initially I did wonder that despite admiring the author's skill in creating such a clever narrative voice, could it sustain itself throughout the whole novel or would it become too jarring? Would the novelty wear off? But actually, Milly's voice becomes strangely addictive. I couldn't always identify with her, I didn't always like her but ultimately she was so fascinating I could not keep away from her.

Glances, I work hard to decipher them, harder than most. My psychologist at the unit enlightened me. You may have a compromised ability to read emotions, he said. He meant: my mind does not function the same way an average person's does.

Milly is articulate and I liked the way she reported things from her sessions with psychologists, doctors and therapists. At times her voice reminded me of some of the most famous dysfunctional characters in literary fiction and I think it's a real credit to Land that she has brought Milly to life with such authenticity and conviction.

There are many indications that Milly has had a hideous time. There are references to sleepless nights, inappropriate touch, violation and a darkly chilling metaphor about a snake to convey the horrors her mother subjected her to and the level of indoctrination and control.

I've managed to keep your nighttime visits a secret so far. The fact you come as a snake, underneath the door. Up into my bed. Lie your scaly body next to mine, measure me. Remind me I still belong to you.

However, the crimes of Milly's mother are never fully articulated and for this I was very grateful. There was no need for Land to gratuitously add details or in fact fully clarify what had happened. In fact, I think this made the book more successful, more compelling, more edgy and actually perpetuated more fear and horror within my mind. The fact that the mother is such a huge character but remains without a voice, without her own narrative and almost completely anonymous is incredibly powerful. This is a book which is truly psychologically disturbing because of the thoughts and rationalisations the character shares with us; because of the glimpse into the workings of their mind rather than the crime scene and destruction they have run from. As Milly says when Mike talks about using hypnotherapy to 'unlock her':

Better left locked, I wanted to tell him.

Just as Milly's voice is vivid so too are the other characters in the book. I think the most captivating character aside from Milly is definitely Phoebe. There were times I loved to hate her, times when I admired her front, times when I winced at her cruelty and times at which I felt her pain. She's as complex and as damaged as Milly.

On a more lighter note, I also particularly liked the description of the Art Teacher:

"A corduroy skirt, a paisley shirt, a walking project not quite finished, the kind of chaotic style you'd hate, Mummy. Colours and layers. Layers and colours. Hands twist around each other, oversized rings clink and collide, dodgem cars."

Milly's attitude towards adults is quite derisory. She seems to be able to see Saskia's failings and flaws better than anyone else. She seems to see the fallibility in Mike's therapy sessions but at the same time her desperation to be accepted and part of a real family reveal her true age and true needs.

Mike is an interesting character; a man who means well, has good intentions, wants to help but at the same time there are moments when it is so obvious that he is unable to see the issues within his own family and own relationship. But the more you read on the more you wonder whether he is a victim or a villain. In fact, at the end of the book this is the most burning question I have - who is the victim and who is the villain? How much are all the characters to blame  / responsible for the events? Who do we believe? Who do we trust?

All I know is I really enjoyed this read and was hugely impressed by the author's writing. Land's has managed to construct a very disturbing and complex character with a voice that will send chills down your spine long after you've finished the last line. There is something deliciously dark and truly thrilling about this novel. Read it. If you dare.

"Good Me Bad Me" will be published on 12th January 2017 by Michael Joseph.

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

Ghostly Tales for Christmas Eve

I love a good gothic tale full of suspense and eerie suggestion and as it's a tradition to tell a ghostly tale on Christmas Eve I thought my last post before Christmas should be a recommendation for some of the best books to end shivers down your spine tonight! 

This is just 160 pages long and can be read in one sitting. Although you will not sleep after reading it.  

It's such a famous tale now that I'm sure you are all familiar with the premise. Arthur Kipps, a junior solicitor in London is summoned to deal with the papers of Mrs Alice Drablow who has recently died. Her house is across a causeway and Kipps is forced to stay the night there alone to complete his task. But what is the mystery surrounding this woman and what is her legacy? And what will happen to Kipps alone on this island for the night?

I love this book. I have read it and read it and taught it and bought it and seen the play and seen the film and read it and taught it and seen the play again and again and again. I have not slept because of it, I have seen the woman in black hiding in my curtains, in the corridor and literally jumped out of my skin watching it at the theatre even after five times of seeing it! Susan Hill is a brilliant writer and this tale will creep under your skin and haunt you long into the night of Christmas Eve! 

In a dusty post-war summer in rural Warwickshire, a doctor is called to a patient at Hundreds Hall. Home to the Ayres family for over two centuries, the Georgian house, once grand and handsome, is now in decline, its masonry crumbling, its gardens choked with weeds, the clock in its stable yard permanently fixed at twenty to nine. But are the Ayreses haunted by something more sinister than a dying way of life? Little does Dr Faraday know how closely, and how terrifyingly, their story is about to become entwined with his. 

I bought this in hardback when it was first released and absolutely loved it. Waters has achieved a truly masterful tale that is so full of suspense that it is the reader's own imagination which reacts to Waters' suggestions and makes it all the more terrifying and chilling. Even thinking about the book now, 7 years later, I can remember key passages that literally made me shiver with fear. It's a long book at over 450 pages but absolutely well worth it. 

1867. Eliza Caine arrives in Norfolk to take up her position as governess at Gaudlin Hall on a dark and chilling night. As she makes her way across the station platform, a pair of invisible hands push her from behind into the path of an approaching train. She is only saved by the vigilance of a passing doctor.

When she finally arrives, shaken, at the hall she is greeted by the two children in her care, Isabella and Eustace. There are no parents, no adults at all, and no one to represent her mysterious employer. The children offer no explanation. Later that night in her room, a second terrifying experience further reinforces the sense that something is very wrong.

John Boyne's novels are always a guaranteed good read and this is no exception. It's a mix of "Turn of the Screw", "Rebecca", "Jane Eyre" and Dickens but hugely readable, accessible and chilling. Another 5 star rating from me!! 


Classic ghostly reads from the original inventors of the psychological thriller and detective fiction, these short story collections will satisfy any reader looking for a dose of ghost stories. The stories are short, chilling, accessible and haunting. Recommend! 

In 1935, young medic Stephen Pearce travels to India to join an expedition with his brother, Kits. The elite team of five will climb Kangchenjunga, the world's third highest mountain and one of mountaineering's biggest killers. No one has scaled it before, and they are, quite literally, following in the footsteps of one of the most famous mountain disasters of all time - the 1907 Lyell Expedition.

This relatively shorter novel of 288 pages is subtitled "A Ghost Story" and that is exactly what it is! A clever, chilling, compelling read that is short enough to enjoy in a couple of sittings thus ensuring that the tension is taught and beautifully controlled throughout the whole length of the book. Paver's writing easily captures the style of the 1930s, placing you firmly in that era; her ability to narrate so convincingly in the believable voice of a male protagonist is commendable. I liked the tone and it reminded me of several other very established authors - particularly Susan Hill.

Biographer Margaret Lea returns one night to her apartment above her father’s antiquarian bookshop. On her steps she finds a letter. It is a hand-written request from one of Britain’s most prolific and well-loved novelists. Vida Winter, gravely ill, wants to recount her life story before it is too late, and she wants Margaret to be the one to capture her history. The request takes Margaret by surprise — she doesn’t know the author, nor has she read any of Miss Winter’s dozens of novels.

As Vida Winter unfolds her story, she shares with Margaret the dark family secrets that she has long kept hidden as she remembers her days at Angelfield, the now burnt-out estate that was her childhood home. Margaret carefully records Miss Winter’s account and finds herself more and more deeply immersed in the strange and troubling story.

Both women will have to confront their pasts and the weight of family secrets... and the ghosts that haunt them still. 

I read this many many years ago but I can still recall the haunting atmosphere and mystery surrounding the story of Vida. There are twists, shocks, confusion, suspense and tension and all set in a rambling country house revolving around a family's hidden secrets. Compelling. It has also been adapted by the BBC in 2013 very successfully with a stunning cast of Olivia Coleman and Vanessa Redgrave. 

Mire House is dreary, dark, cold and infested with midges. But when Emma Dean inherits it from a distant relation, she immediately feels a sense of belonging.

It isn't long before Charlie Mitchell, grandson of the original owner, appears claiming that he wants to seek out his family. But Emma suspects he's more interested in the house than his long-lost relations.

And when she starts seeing ghostly figures, Emma begins to wonder: is Charlie trying to scare her away, or are there darker secrets lurking in the corners of Mire House? 

This has overtones of Susan Hill and "The Woman In Black" and although there is a supernatural twist to the story, it certainly still unnerved me and kept me jumping from shadows after staying up too late to finish reading it! 

The Fire Child:
When Rachel marries dark, handsome David, everything seems to fall into place. Swept from single life in London to the beautiful Carnhallow House in Cornwall, she gains wealth, love, and an affectionate stepson, Jamie.

But then Jamie’s behaviour changes, and Rachel’s perfect life begins to unravel. He makes disturbing predictions, claiming to be haunted by the spectre of his late mother – David’s previous wife. Is this Jamie’s way of punishing Rachel, or is he far more traumatized than she thought?

As Rachel starts digging into the past, she begins to grow suspicious of her husband. Why is he so reluctant to discuss Jamie’s outbursts? And what exactly happened to cause his ex-wife’s untimely death, less than two years ago? As summer slips away and December looms, Rachel begins to fear there might be truth in Jamie’s words:

‘You will be dead by Christmas.’

The Ice Twins:
A year after one of their identical twin daughters, Lydia, dies in an accident, Angus and Sarah Moorcraft move to the tiny Scottish island Angus inherited from his grandmother, hoping to put together the pieces of their shattered lives.

But when their surviving daughter, Kirstie, claims they have mistaken her identity—that she, in fact, is Lydia—their world comes crashing down once again.

I loved both these books. Chilling. Haunting. Ghostly. Suspenseful. Highly highly recommend. 

When I was growing up we adapted the ghost story telling tradition and always saved something spooky to watch on New Year's Eve which we always spent with friends.  Here's are a few recommendations:

So all that's left is for me to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year! Thanks to everyone who has supported me with my blog this year and all the publishers, authors and book bloggers who make Bibliomaniac possible and have helped feed my passion for books! 

"Little Deaths" Emma Flint

It's 1965 in a tight-knit working-class neighborhood in Queens, New York, and Ruth Malone--a single mother who works long hours as a cocktail waitress--wakes to discover her two small children, Frankie Jr. and Cindy, have gone missing. Later that day, Cindy's body is found in a derelict lot a half mile from her home, strangled. Ten days later, Frankie Jr.'s decomposing body is found. Immediately, all fingers point to Ruth.

Did Ruth Malone violently kill her own children, is she a victim of circumstance--or is there something more sinister at play? 

This novel is inspired by a true crime case from the 1960s in New York when Alice Crimmins was suspected of strangling her two children. Flint says that she has always had an avid interest in true crime and read about the case in "Murder Casebook" series; the story stuck with her. It is intriguing to read about a murder case that is actually inspired by true events - perhaps it makes the characters more unnerving and unsettling. As they say, truth is stranger than fiction.

The protagonist of "Little Deaths" is Ruth Malone (based on Alice) and what is really fascinating about her character is that throughout the novel she never behaves in the way society expects;  she is continually judged in the way she parents - both before and after the deaths of her children. I thought this was a really interesting angle for Flint to explore and felt there were some really fascinating ideas, prejudices and attitudes raised within the novel which are as pertinent to us today as the society of the 60s when the story is set.

Although this book is about murder and includes plenty of mystery, doubt, secrets and flawed characters, it feels very different from the other titles in the best seller crime lists at the moment. The social and historical context of the 60s automatically gives it a different vibe and the setting of New York equally creates a very different atmosphere. Flint's presentation of the role of women, the investigation procedures and the court case from fifty years ago make this an intriguing and emotive read. There are twists and turns, there are moments of pain, raw grief, confusion and revelation but it all unfolds at a different pace than is generally expected from a psychological thriller. Yet still it works. It's effective and gripping.

This strange atmosphere of calmness despite the chaos and devastation surrounding everyone seems to grow from the portrayal of Ruth. I found the opening powerful as Ruth's external image of a young, beautiful woman who takes great care of her appearance contrasts with the screaming and shouting the neighbours all claim to hear from behind the closed door and through the walls. In fact this is the first clue that Ruth is a complicated, multilayered character for whom we cannot quite untangle our feelings and sympathies. Her need to perfect her appearance and dress before anything else give the scenes a slightly surreal feeling of detachment. However, there is a reason for this detailed ritual.

Each morning she smeared on foundation with fingers that trembled depending on how much the view in the mirror had upset her, or on what kind of night she'd had. There were days when her hands were shaking and sweating so that her makeup was patchy, or when her skin was so marked that two layers of foundation seemed to make little difference. ....She was Ruth then.

But Ruth is a complex character. She drinks. She has a series of shady relationships. She seeks solace at bars and with the company of men. She is not a traditional role model mother. She is a single parent. She loves her children. She would not harm them and is devastated by their disappearance. The reader spends the entire novel wondering whether to believe her, support her, sympathise with her, judge her or blame her. Flint has created a fantastic unreliable narrator and ensures the reader is continually changing their minds about whether she is involved or not - a continuous sense of she must have done it / she can't have done it - which is sustained until the final pages and then possibly beyond. People are not black and white. We can't judge a person- circumstances, relationships and evidence are never black and white.

I think it is easy to feel sympathetic towards Ruth, there is enough revelation about her life and her relationship with Frank - the children's father, to show that life has been disappointing for her.

It wasn't supposed to be this way. Everything about Frank that had once made her heart race- his way of saying her name, the way he'd looked at her - after nine years and two kids together, all of that had become like the throb of a familiar headache.

Flint's use of the third person narrative is a good choice. Flint manages to create a contrast between the different passages that show Ruth in different situations and from different points of view. The narrative feels close enough to Ruth that we relate to her and build a relationship with her, but we are also privy to what else is going on around her too.  I liked the fact that Flint's prose is stripped back, abrupt and although missing adjectives, creates a brilliant sense of location, emotion and tension very effortlessly.

She remembers a windowless room. Wooden chairs. Then a click. The hiss of static. A man clearing his throat, giving time and date.

Step on a crack and break your back
Step on a crack, kids ain't coming back

Ruth is a contradiction. I liked the way the narrative switched between scenes when Ruth appeared unfazed by what was happening and then the scenes when she is emotionally raw and we realise that she is deeply distraught. We are not to judge how she handles her predicament. It does not make her guilty. As I said earlier, this constant contrast also perpetuates the reader's question as to what her role in the children's disappearance really was.

She went to the bedroom and changed her clothes. Put on a clean blouse that flattered her figure. She knew that there would be men, strangers, looking at her, asking questions. Their eyes all over her like hands. She had to be ready for them. She had to look right.

She tried to speak but was afraid that when she opened her mouth, the tears in her throat would spill out. Something inside her, something instinctive and ancient, kept her from letting go. Instead she hunched over, holding the rabbit against her, holding in the sickness and the fear, bent double with the effort.

The other intriguing character in the novel is Pete Wonicke, tabloid reporter. His sections give us insight into the press coverage, the need to find a story, how they want to portray Ruth, the influence the press can have on the case. Pete is confused by Ruth's appearance when he first sees her:

[He had expected] someone wild, he thought. Tangled hair, disordered clothes. Hysterics. Instead, she was easily recognisable as the glossy woman in the photograph.

The paper's interest in the story wanes but Pete is obsessed. He can't leave the case alone. He begins to follow Ruth, to find out as much as he can about the police and the investigation. He begins to feel distaste towards his boss who is very clear about how to make the case a headline story - continuously asking him to look for more "colour". Pete finds it difficult that Ruth is giving the press and the public what they want.

Ruth had enough colour for neon and stained glass and Christmas. Pete didn't need to make her up, all he had to do was follow her and take a picture with his pen and pad and his memory, and there she was: Kodak-bright on the page.

But his persistence - although at times a little creepy and suspicious, actually results in uncovering the darker workings of the police and the press. He realises that in fact, he now doubts everything he though he knew. And this is what adds a layer of palpable tension and excitement to the story as it reaches its dramatic denouement.

I liked Flint's style a lot. It's unfussy, it's stripped back, it creates ambiguity and confusion. It's extremely readable. And at times, it is delicate and the tiniest observations create an image of huge impact and poignancy.

she felt a hand on her arm and a squeeze, a rough friendliness that interrupted the polite press of the others. She stared at the hand, with its bitten cuticles and cheap rings, and she couldn't look up because she knew that the understanding in Gina's face would break her.

she looked like a pale shimmering moth fluttering behind the glass. She looked trapped

This, then, was grief. It came to her as heaviness. It came as a stone in her throat, preventing her from swallowing....

I enjoyed this book. It will be a success. Flint has produced something that follows the forms and conventions of a successful crime thriller but with an edge and an individuality which makes it feel different. Despite being based on a true crime event and set in the past, it feels fresh and new. Ruth Malone is captivating and compelling. Flint's interest, passion and obsession for this character is obvious and has ensured that readers will also come to share a fascination, interest and obsession in her and the fate of her children.

"Little Deaths" is published on 12th January by Pan MacMillan

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

"Relativity" Antonia Hayes

Twelve year old Ethan is an exceptionally gifted young boy, obsessed with physics and astronomy. His single mother Claire is fiercely protective of her brilliant, vulnerable son. But she can't shield him forever from learning the truth about what happened to him when he was a baby; why Mark, Ethan's father, had to leave them all those years ago. Ethan is now becoming increasingly more curious about his past, especially his father's absence in his life and when he intercepts a letter to Claire from Mark, he opens a lifetime of feelings that, like gravity, will pull the three together again.

Told from the alternating points of view of Ethan and each of his parents, Relativity is a poetic and soul-searching exploration of unbreakable bonds, irreversible acts, the limits of science, and the magnitude of love. 

I first read about this book on social media but as Hayes is Australian I didn't think I'd be able to get hold of a copy so I was absolutely over the moon when I received one from Clara Diaz at Little, Brown. It must have been all that wishing upon a star and the forces of the cosmos working in my favour!

Who knew I would fall in love with a book about astrophysics and physics? Certainly not my forte ever, or something I've ever really been able to get to grips with but oh my, in this book Hayes makes science full of colour, shape, vitality and creativity. Her ability to write so lyrically and poetically about forces, meteorology, mathematics and the brain is impressive and makes this book unputdownable. In the way that Mark Haddon also achieved with his character with autism, Hayes has portrayed the mind of a young child -whose genius is also sometimes his disability -with authenticity and created a character that we immediately care about, engage with and become very fond of. This sensitive balance between Ethan's narrative, his issues, the story lines of Claire and Mark as they navigate their way through relationships, parenthood and their own emotional journeys and the delicate writing style has resulted in a book which I felt was fresh, original and very readable.

From the beginning we can see that Ethan is different. He sees things in a different way to everyone else. His obsession with stars and astronomy affects the way he perceives the world around him.

"The constellation of Ethan. Made up of his symptoms, his ancient stars: subdural haematoma, haemorrhages, cerebal oedema. They made a picture, told a story. His story." 

"He saw radar pulses and radio waves, spirals and loops unfurling into time and space......He saw the hydrogen and helium that make up incandescent stars, whirling distant pinwheel galaxies.....all the ripples of a universe, spinning in a galactic soup around him." 

Hayes imagery is thoughtful and highly imaginative. It continues to be throughout the entire novel. The use of colour also helps Hayes to convey Ethan's sense of the world and I thought his understanding of his diagnosis was simple, naive and innocent:

"sitting on the spectrum made Ethan think of a row of chairs running along a rainbow." 

And a good contrast to the rather dampening Doctor's definition that sometimes an extraordinary skill is "compensation for an extraordinary deficiency."

Ethan's love for his mother is clear and their relationship is captured from the way he first describes her:

"When Ethan looked at his mum, he saw another universe, a world intact, of soothing shapes and soft textures, of beautiful angles and the warmest light. His universe."

They have a very close bond and Claire is fiercely loyal about protecting Ethan. She understands the dangerous implications of being "gifted" and she too is carrying several deep secrets not only about Ethan's past and the estrangement with his father, but also complex issues about her own childhood and relationship with her parents. There were numerous lines that I highlighted while reading and Claire's more blunt and pragmatic observations strike a contrast against Ethan's happy oblivion. They also ensure a balance within the pace, structure and tone of the novel, but a subtle reference or inference to astrology is never far away.....

"Motherhood could easily annihilate whatever came before it........Parenting a shining star meant being overshadowed.....[she had] eclipsed her mother but her mother couldn't live without the light."

There are plenty of moments when you just want to hover over a line or sentence for a while and absorb the weight of the words and the gravity of the idea that Hayes is probing. This is a ponderous book but at the same time, moves on at a reasonable pace, propelled by the domestic drama and human interest provided by Claire and Mark.

Some of the themes and ideas I would love to spend more time reflecting on were the idea of dreams, memory, second chances, mistakes, the past and gravity. There are some beautiful conversations between the characters and Claire and Mark's understanding that although their relationship is troubled, they remain each other's constant. Hayes implies that there is a gravitational pull between people, a traumatic past can not be revisited or undone as time travel is a physical impossibility, but the past can become a stronger foundation for a more successful future.

"The most difficult steps in the choreography were always the most memorable of the dance."

Hayes did something for me which no teacher or scientist has managed before and that was to show physics as something beautiful and intriguing. As one of the characters points out, It isn't the certainty of physics that makes it interesting but the "discovery.....the beauty of the unknown." This novel is all about possibility, making the impossible happen, realignment, rediscovery, forgiveness and new beginnings. All things which happen in fiction and in science. Ethan uses science to help him look for a better future and to give him hope.

"Physics was full of paradoxes and duality."
"Theories were disproven all the time. There were no universal truths, just views of the world yet to be proven wrong."

It's too long to quote but there was some lovely passages about Gravity towards the end of the book. There were some great phrases about all it does, from making tears run down our faces to keeping our feet on the ground, from attraction to a bond that binds us together. 

The final thing to mention are the chapter headings. They are all key words from physics - time, space, momentum, acceleration, inertia, magnetism ....... This yet again reinforces the key metaphors and themes that Hayes explores within science, within fiction and within a family. I really enjoyed this story and really enjoyed the writing style. It is Hayes first novel and I am seriously excited about looking out for this writer in the future! 

If you enjoyed "A Boy Made of Blocks" then you will enjoy this book. I thought there were similarities between the father / son relationship in this novel. 

"Relativity" is published on 17th January by Little,Brown. 

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

"Swimming Lessons" Claire Fuller

Gil's wife, Ingrid has been missing, presumed drowned, for twelve years. Believing to have spotted her from afar, Gil chases after her but unfortunately this results in him injuring himself which brings his daughters Nan and Flora back home to his side. As they care for him, they begin to confront the mystery surrounding their mother and her disappearance. And the answers lie in all the books around them that clutter up the shelves, hallway and practically any available space in the house.

This book overwhelmed me. I thought "Our Endless Numbered Days" was a treat but with "Swimming Lessons" Fuller has truly revealed her talent as a writer whose use of language is eloquent, exquisite, enchanting and endearing. This is an absolutely beautiful book, completely deserving of its golden cover that will, like the story inside it, shimmer like a star in any book shop display and on any book shelf at home.

Prepare yourself. This review contains excessive gushing and extreme bibliomania.

After Gil's apparent sighting of his wife that went missing over a decade ago, we meet his daughter Flora who has never really accepted that her mother may be dead and continually hopes for her return. Water is an intrinsic metaphor, theme, image and character throughout the entire novel and this starts immediately with Flora's return home on the ferry. I loved the whole paragraph about Flora travelling to "the Pinch" - "the curl of land shaped like a beckoning finger" and her imagining of the ferry sinking subconsciously prepares the reader for Fuller's exploration of death, drowning, swimming, survival and being overwhelmed or suffocated by life. I was completely captivated by the description and lyrical power of Fuller's words.

Flora's story, set in the present, is interspersed with letters from Ingrid from 1992 - just before she went missing. The letters are written from the Swimming Pavilion at night, and she has hidden them in amongst Gil's extensive and eclectic collection of books. Gil has collected books for the "forgotten ephemera used as bookmarks," for the photographs, letters, receipts, drawings, tickets and any bit of paper from which "he could piece together other people's lives, other people who had read the same books as he held and who had marked their place."

"Fiction is about readers. Without readers there is no point in books and therefore they are as important as the author, perhaps more important. But often the only way to see what a reader thought, how they lived when they were reading, is to examine what they left behind."

It's a fascinating concept and I loved the fact that the title of the book in which Ingrid's letters had been hidden was also included- and that the books chosen were as diverse, eclectic and as pertinent as the contents of the letters.

Ingrid's letters begin with the voice of a young woman on the cusp of adulthood in the late 1970s; a voice of romance, hope, excitement and potential. With her best friend Louise they talk about how they want to be different from their mothers who were "parochial and pointless," tied down by families and houses. As Ingrid says, they were so critical and uncompromising then, in a way only young minds can be - and should be. But for the more astute reader amongst us there is a sense of wary inevitability. The story of Gil and Ingrid's initial courtship really is the stuff of dreams, a enchanting exchange of sharp, witty, clever interaction where both are equal and both are able to shine as individuals. However, very quickly the tone of the letters changes and Ingrid's thoughts become more desperate, more unhappy, more trapped and more hopeless. This with Gil's repeated comments that he should have told her more often how he loved her, chart the changing relationships, dynamics and sadness that starts to threaten the marriage and the whole family.

Ingrid's letters explore motherhood, marriage, being a wife and being a writer. Flora's sections reveal further insight into the family, her relationship with her mother, her father and her sister. Flora is more chaotic, deluded, emotional and Nan for the most part is pragmatic, short tempered, rational and frustrated. She acts as Flora's mother more than her sister and having been older and more aware of what was happening within her family, has suffered differently from the disappearance of Ingrid. The sisters' relationship needs rebuilding. I felt a lot of sympathy for Nan and thought Flora's observation that in a certain light Nan "could be beautiful for a moment like sunlight on the peak of a wave" was an extremely effective way of capturing the effect events had had on the her. The contrast between Flora and Nan - rational v romantic, practical v artistic, realist v dreamer, were well drawn and well employed not just to create good characters but also to add further layers to the plot and themes.

Ingrid's story was totally absorbing. Her voice was so strong and so compelling. Her story is hard, heartbreaking, harrowing and told with such honesty it will haunt me and stay with me for a long long time. I loved the sentence from Flora that "her mother's story trailed along behind her like a second shadow."

I found my feelings towards Gil more complex and more indecipherable. Despite making more notes of quotes he said and underling more statements from him that I found more affecting, despite his apparent emotional intelligence and intellect, he was not a man easy to like. At times he is selfish, self absorbed, thoughtless and short sighted. There is a sense of remorse at the end and a sense that he failed Ingrid and Fuller definitely asks some questions about this family, which although seemingly earns its living from communication, cannot actually communicate with each other. There is too much unsaid, hidden or disguised.

There is a sense of deceit throughout the whole novel. There is a really interesting conversation about the need to find Ingrid's body when a similar story about a disappearance hits the news. Gil argues that finding a body is "more terrible" as "with a body there is no possibility of hope." But the counter argument is that actually, what kind of life is a life when you are left hoping forever: "You can't exist like that, with not knowing." This idea of duality is repeated throughout the novel -again as Gil states several times, "it is hard to live with both hope and grief."

There were parts of Ingrid's story that nearly moved me to tears. Yet there were also parts of Flora's story that were equally upsetting. Flora's recollection of her childhood friend's mother and how much she wanted to pretend she was part of her family were so poignant and revealing. And the misinterpretation of the word "lost" immensely powerful.

I was reminded of Hemmingway and his wife Hadley - or the depiction of their marriage in "The Paris Wife". Hemmingway was a enigmatic character whose artistic devotion had a detrimental affect on Hadley in the long run. I could see similarities between the women and their stories.

I was also reminded of books by Claire King and Carys Bray and the novels "The Finding of Martha Lost" and "The Red Notebook." If you enjoy these, then you will enjoy Claire Fuller -and vice versa!

"Swimming Lessons" is a stunning book. I have written pages of notes, underlined hundreds of quotes, wished that the writing would never end and already thumbed through the pages again and again to indulge myself in the beautiful writing and character studies once more. I don't expect to have done justice to the book with this review and I don't expect to really have managed to articulate my passion for this novel, but I do hope you read Fuller's book and I do hope you enjoy it as much as I did. This is a novel which will be enjoyed by people wanting to read a story about women, marriage, motherhood and coming of age. This is a novel that will be enjoyed by those are interested in the social and historical setting. This is a book that will engage many a book group and hopefully even many a academic discussion. Its appeal will be as wide ranging and multi faceted as the layers hidden within the plot, imagery and characters.

In case you weren't sure, it's 5 star read from me.

"Swimming Lessons" by Claire Fuller will be published on 26th January by Penguin.

Oh, and I found a faded envelop in amongst the pages when I was reading - an envelope with a Christmas card in it from 1951. Wow. Clever. Excellent marketing Penguin Books!

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