#TheHidingPlaces #KatherineWebb #Review

Wiltshire, 1922. Fifteen-year old Pudding Cartwright has begun the career she always wanted, as girl groom to the Hadleigh family's horses at Manor Farm. Irene Hadleigh is struggling to adjust to her new life in sleepy Slaughterford, having married Alistair to escape a scandal in London. At a loss to occupy herself, Irene sets about restyling Manor Farm, and during the work the chance finding of a strange object, hidden away in the house for years, will change everything. 

When somebody close to both of them is murdered, Pudding and Irene are thrown together to seek out the identity of the killer in their midst, unaware of just how deep the roots of the crime lie.

The Hiding Places is a delicious 400 page read which truly immerses you in a bygone world full of vivid characters and tangles you up into a gripping story of a violent death and a dark past. Essentially it has all the ingredients for a perfect read with which to treat and indulge yourself. I do like a story with appealing characters and a family full of secrets where the ramifications of all the lies have much more far reaching consequences than anyone can imagine.

From the opening I knew I was going to be rewarded with a very satisfying tale.

"Death was common enough, in Slaughterford. But not this kind of death."

What a name - Slaughterford. Isn't that alone enough to wet your appetite?!

I loved The English Girl Webb's previous novel and was happy to find myself back amongst her words, her description and her characterisation. Webb has a great ability to capture people through small details which reveal more about their personality, effortlessly breathing life into them until they are clearly pictured in your mind.

Pudding is endearing and immediately likeable. She is a strong character and she is bright. She has a lovely relationship with her family, particularly her brother who has been ill since his return from the war. The sub plot of Donny, her brother, and his role as the novel continues is very well handled and once more reinforces the historical and social setting of the novel. Webb has chosen a moment in history which is rich and interesting and a perfect backdrop for the her story. It allows her to add several layers to a plot that she weaves expertly across the whole of the 400 pages.

Despite the restrictions of the time and society, Pudding felt like a woman ahead of her time and a character that would resonate and appeal to a contemporary audience. I liked the relationship between Pudding and Irene - it's an unlikely but very satisfying friendship. But I think my favourite character was Irene. I loved the description that Webb used to introduce her and convey the sadness or apathy for the situation in which she finds herself - newly married yet not in love, privileged yet not happy.

"...the long day yawned ahead of her, a void to be filled..."

Irene is detached and caught in limbo as she finds herself in a new home, new marriage and with a new role but she's unable to fully embrace this new life as she is still taunted and haunted by the recent past she is trying to escape. A sense of grief delicately lingers over her.

"...her courtship with Alistair had been far more a case of him picking her up and setting her back on her feet, rather than sweeping her off them..."

I really enjoyed Pudding's description of Irene when she first meet her. There is a lot of resentment or prejudging towards Irene before anyone at the Manor meets her which reflects the social attitudes of the time as well as introducing the tensions that will unfold as Irene tries to integrate herself into the house. Having heard a little from Irene's point of view it is exciting to see her through the eyes of another character and this description not only creates a fantastic image of Irene but is also a great example of Webb's delightful writing.

"....[Irene had] the kind of elfin delicacy that Pudding longed for. Her dark hair was cut into a glossy bob across her ears; her eyes were similarly dark, with smudges underneath them, stark in her pale face. And there was something so immobile about her face, something so frozen that Pudding couldn't imagine her laughing. She was like a china doll, and quite unreadable....."

There was something of Irene and her husband's aunt, Nancy, that reminded me of the relationship between Du Maurier's Rebecca and Mrs Danvers - or perhaps Maggie Smith's character in Downton Abbey. The aunt is fierce, controlling, domineering and quick to point out Irene's failings or her new responsibilities.

"You're a Hadleigh now, young lady. And Hadleighs set the standard around here."

I found Irene very easy to relate to and very easy to empathise with. The sense of her restlessness and an underlying sadness is well captured and then contrasts very well when the drama of the novel begins to build towards it's gripping and exciting climax.

I loved the moment that triggers the 'change' and sets the story off on a course of discovery - the revelation of a doll found up a chimney.

"blackened, dishevelled, incongruous amidst the dreck, was a doll"

For me, this was truly chilling. Apparently signifying "witchery in these parts", the appearance of the doll is frightening and I thought it was a really inspired moment in the story. It is highly memorable and is haunting me from beyond the page! This discovery does indeed mark a "change" and from here on in, the reader can settle back for a story of friendship, heartache, jealousy and revenge. Absolutely great stuff.

I do enjoy Webb's writing and I do enjoy her stories. If you are a fan, this will not disappoint. There are some fabulous characters to watch and this is a great historical drama to relish. Enjoy!

The Hiding Places publishes on the 4th May with Orion.

KATHERINE WEBB


I was born in Kent in 1977 and grew up in rural Hampshire before reading History at Durham University. History remains a passion, and I write character-led mystery dramas, often with historical settings. I love to explore the way past events can reverberate in the present, and I'm fascinated by the vast grey areas in human morality and behaviour.

My debut novel 'The Legacy' was voted viewers' choice for Best Summer Read on the Channel 4 TV Book Club in 2010, and was nominated for Best New Writer at the National Book Awards in the same year. Subsequently, 'The Unseen','A Half Forgotten Song' and 'The Misbegotten' were all Sunday Times Top Ten bestsellers, and my books have been translated into 24 languages around the world.

KWebbAuthor

And don't forget to look me up on Twitter @KatherineSunde3 or at bibliomaniacuk.co.uk for more reviews and recommendations!

#SeeWhatIHaveDone #SarahSchmidt

This is a fantastic historical thriller and I am staggered that it is Schmidt's debut novel as her use of language and clever reimagining of such a haunting crime is nothing less than stunning.

Based on a true event from August 1892, Massachusetts, See What I Have Done is based on the story of Lizzie Borden, a thirty two year old woman who discovered the mutilated body of her father and then the body of her step mother who had been hacked to death.

"I wiped my hand across my mouth, tasted blood. My heart beat nightmares, gallop, gallop, as I looked at Father again, watched blood river down his neck and disappear into suit cloth. The clock on the mantlepiece ticked ticked."

It's a shocking opening. The language is rich yet economical, the dialogue disjointed yet flowing, the descriptions brief yet vivid and the images conjured up by Schmidt's precise detail are unforgettable.

"I cracked my heel into the floorboards, made the house moan then howl...........I heard my voice fold around doors and corners. The house; brittle bone under foot. Everything sounded louder than it should, hurt the ear." 

I was unsure how to respond to Lizzie at the beginning which left me feeling unnerved and decidedly ill at ease as I watched the scene unfold before me. Her cool, detached way of explaining what has happened was disturbing. I was total fascinated by her character and by what was happening in this house.

"'Mrs Churchill, do come in. Someone's killed Father.'" 













Very quickly it is clear that something in this house- and in this family -is not right; there is more hidden in the shadows and more to be revealed. Who is the main suspect? Lizzie? Her sister? Bridget the maid or the 'thug' Benjamin? Each of them appears to have a motive, a strangeness about them, a tendency not to be trusted or a side which hints at a violent nature. The narrative moves between them as events running up to the day are recounted and then events on the day told from their varying perspectives. What they saw, what they knew, what they thought all creating a complicated and gripping picture of a truly terrible crime.

This is an intense read. The weather is described so effectively that the reader feels beaten by the oppressive heat and is constantly made to feel physically uncomfortable from the descriptions of sweaty atmosphere. The setting too is intensely claustrophobic. The action is all held within the house - a house in which there are two brutally murdered bodies. We are constantly reminded of their presence and the gory circumstances of their bodies. Schmidt does not hold back with her descriptions which are even more vivid because of the blunt, stripped back way in which they are described. I loved her brutal style and found it captivating.

I thought the use of repetition was also effective in creating some further intensity and suspense. The clock that "ticked ticked" adds an authenticity to the scene and immediately triggers the reader's sense of sound to also exaggerate the deeply evocative setting of this story. There are also some images that are repeated and referred to several times which is also effective and claustrophobic. Schmidt uses all the senses to increase the tension, suspense and oppressive atmosphere. Her constant reference to blood also makes the crime inescapable.

The language is gripping and the dysfunctional relationships within the family are convincing. This book will definitely appeal to a contemporary audience because of its use of history. This is a murder that took place well over a hundred years ago and although Schmidt's writing coveys the sense of time and place effortlessly and realistically, it's appeal is the characters and what actually happened within those four walls.

Lizzie is a thrilling character. She is complex and deliberately ambiguous in a way which plays havoc with the reader! She is naive yet knowing and callous yet pitiful. She is character that everyone will remember. But I also liked Bridget the maid a lot. She sees perhaps the details others miss. She knows other sides to the characters and what lies under their beds or stuffed into their pockets.

The story is narrated by four characters and all in first person but there is never any confusion as to who we are listening too. This is real testament to Schmidt's skill. Each character remains distinctive and clear. It's a multilayered story that explores several characters but it is accessible and gripping.

Lizzie is arrested and tried for the crime but later released and no one was ever convicted for the murder of Andrew and Abby Borden. I think this real truth makes the story even more chilling.

I enjoyed this book. I was very impressed with the writing style. The narrative style is fresh, original, unsettling and often makes for uncomfortable reading - the prose won't be to everyone's taste but ultimately this is captivating and very clever. It is intense and it is a sensory overload but I recommend it. Haunting, chilling, gory and fascinating.

See What I Have Done is published by Tinder Press on 2nd May 2017.

You can find out more about the novel and the author using these links:
@TinderPress

sarahschmidt.org

@ikillnovel

If you did enjoy this book or like the sound of it, why not look out for these too:




For more from me, you can follow me on Twitter @KatherineSunde3 and via my website bibliomaniacuk.co.uk

#BlogTour #TheNightMarket #DanielPembrey #NoExitPress

When Henk van der Pol is asked by the Justice Minister to infiltrate a team investigating an online child exploitation network, he can hardly say no - he's at the mercy of prominent government figures in The Hague. But he soon realises the case is far more complex than he was led to believe... Picking up from where The Harbour Master ended, this new investigation sees Detective Van der Pol once again put his life on the line as he wades the murky waters between right and wrong in his search for justice.

Sometimes, to catch the bad guys, you have to think like one. . .

It's an honour to be on the Blog Tour for Daniel Pembrey's Night Market today! Thanks to No Exit Press and Anne Cater for inviting me along!

What's even more exciting is that I have a guest post from the lovely CQ at No Exit Press who gets to join us on the "other side" for a change!

So I'm going to hand you straight over to CQ and let her tell you all about why she loves working with Daniel and why she loves his writing!

I’m delighted to join Daniel Pembrey’s Night Market blog tour – we editors don’t always get the chance to be involved in this fun stuff!

Should you ever happen to find yourself at one of the many fab UK crime festivals, such as Deal Noir, CrimeFest, or the mighty Bloody Scotland (at which Daniel was a spotlight author last year!), you’re sure to find him on stage, in the audience supporting his cohort of author friends, or even, dare I say it, propping up the bar - the sociable gent that he is! 

In fact, this enthusiasm when it comes to supporting the crime-writing scene was how I first met Daniel: at a Waterstones Piccadilly event about European crime fiction, Daniel described his Amsterdam-inspired detective series to me, and I was instantly intrigued:

-        Beautiful, atmospheric setting? Check.

-        Plot with depth and sophistication? Check.

-        Brilliant characterisation? Check.

Soon after, I read The Harbour Master and was totally gripped, and then became hooked on its sequel, Night Market, which is out now.

It’s not often that authors submit to No Exit with a second book in the pipeline practically ready to go. That’s where I believe this series is unique: both books investigate individual cases, but together they uncover one central, absorbing conspiracy (no spoilers!). The other thing that truly makes the Henk Van der Pol books stand out for me is their structure: each instalment is written in three parts, creating an episodic, almost filmic reading experience, from the motorcycle chases to the confrontations deep inside the forests. I could see the series doing so well on screen!

What I personally loved most about the stories was Daniel’s evocation of Amsterdam. He sure knows his subject matter, from the street names right through to the almost tangible pulse of the city.

As his detective, Henk Van der Pol, travels from Amsterdam to Rotterdam, London to Oslo, hot on the trail of his investigation, Daniel’s ability to capture a sense of place remains outstanding and, crucially, adds an all-important sense of authenticity to the narrative. Having been struck by this initially, I’m so glad that so many of his reviewers felt the same way!

It’s been a pleasure to work with Daniel on his books, not least because he’s such a positive-minded, proactive author. A publishing house really couldn’t ask for more than a writer with such willing and I know this has been a bonus for the publicity team. Daniel’s additional work as a journalist has put him in the perfect position to write around his subject and has made him an expert at writing short, stylish prose, both non-fiction and fiction. You only need to check out his other self-published novellas to see that: http://amzn.to/2oOR2ry

Night Market is available now, why not grab yourself a quiet spot, treat yourself to a drop of Henk Van der Pol’s favourite tipple (‘Jenever’ gin, never wrong...) and sink your teeth into this utterly absorbing thriller – you won’t put this one down in a hurry.  

CQ
No Exit Press

Thanks so much CQ - I'm pretty sure anyone who has not read it will now be searching out Night Market and The Harbour Master and adding it to their TBR pile! Thanks for a great Guest Post CQ, and a little insight for us readers about the 'other side' of the book world! 

The Night Market is published by No Exit Press April 2017.

To read my review of Daniel's first book The Harbour Master click here.

DANIEL PEMBREY 



Daniel Pembrey grew up in Nottinghamshire, England — beside Sherwood Forest. He studied history at Edinburgh University and spent over a decade working in America and more recently Luxembourg, coming to rest in Amsterdam and London — dividing his time now between these two great maritime cities. He is the author of the Henk van der Pol detective series and several short thriller stories, and he contributes articles to publications including The Financial Times and The (London) Times. In order to write The Harbour Master, he spent several months living in the docklands area of East Amsterdam, counting De Druif bar as his local.

To receive occasional email updates and offers of free exclusive content, please sign up at  danielpembrey.com Daniel is also on Twitter @DPemb

To find out more about No Exit Press you can visit their website here noexit.co.uk or follow them on Twitter @noexitpress 

Follow me at @KatherineSunde3 or visit my website bibliomaniacuk.co.uk

#BibliomaniacsBookClub #May #Paperlight #Reservoir13

MAY'S BIBLIOMANIA IS FOR

RESERVOIR 13 by JON MCGREGOR

published by Forth Estate April 6th 2017

What is it about?

From the award-winning author of If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things and Even the Dogs, Reservoir 13 tells the story of many lives haunted by one family's loss.

Midwinter in the early years of this century. A teenage girl on holiday has gone missing in the hills at the heart of England. The villagers are called up to join the search, fanning out across the moors as the police set up roadblocks and a crowd of news reporters descends on their usually quiet home.

Meanwhile, there is work that must still be done: cows milked, fences repaired, stone cut, pints poured, beds made, sermons written, a pantomime rehearsed.

The search for the missing girl goes on, but so does everyday life. As it must.

As the seasons unfold there are those who leave the village and those who are pulled back; those who come together or break apart. There are births and deaths; secrets kept and exposed; livelihoods made and lost; small kindnesses and unanticipated betrayals.

Bats hang in the eaves of the church and herons stand sentry in the river; fieldfares flock in the hawthorn trees and badgers and foxes prowl deep in the woods – mating and fighting, hunting and dying.

An extraordinary novel of cumulative power and grace, Reservoir 13 explores the rhythms of the natural world and the repeated human gift for violence, unfolding over thirteen years as the aftershocks of a stranger’s tragedy refuse to subside. 

To read my full review click here

Thirteen questions about Reservoir 13:

McGregor uses a lot of repetition in this book. Find some examples that you found particularly effective and explain why these sentences or images appealed to you.

There is quite a large cast of characters in this novel. Which were your favourite? Why?

Why do you think McGregor chose the reservoirs as his setting for this novel? How does he evoke such a strong sense of place in this novel?

Fireworks and New Year celebrations feature a lot in this book. What else are they used to symbolise in this novel?

McGregor often writes in long sentences and long paragraphs. How did this affect your reading and enjoyment on the novel? Why do you think he writes in this style? What does it add to the novel?

How did you find the pace of the novel?

What issues is McGregor exploring in this novel? What observations is he making about families. communities and tragedy?

What did you think of the way the police are portrayed in this novel?

Is the mystery of the missing girl the main story in this novel? Was the resolution of this police investigation why you kept reading?

Which three words would you use to sum up this book?

What did you like or dislike about McGregor's prose style? Is this the first book of his you've read? Would you read another?

Did the novel answer all your questions about the missing girl and the villagers or did you have any more questions still waiting to be answered? What questions did you have during reading and were the answers satisfying?

How important is nature and the natural world in this novel?

What props might you use to start a conversation about Reservoir 13?

• a map 
• a torch
• a local newspaper 
• a white hoodie 
• an invitation to a New Year's Eve party 
• a dreamcatcher

What might you serve?

• hot chocolate
• prosecco 
• hot dogs 

Where might you hold your meeting?

• a reservoir
• a country walk 
• a village hall 

If you liked this you could try:





JON McGREGOR 



Jon McGregor is a British author who has written three novels. His first novel, If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things was nominated for the 2002 Booker Prize, and was the winner of both the Betty Trask Prize and the Somerset Maugham Award in 2003. So Many Ways to Begin was published in 2006 and was on the Booker prize long list. Even the Dogs was published in 2010 and his newest work, Reservoir 13 is published in April 2017.

For more reviews and recommendations and book club reads follow me on Twitter or via my website
@KatherineSunde3 bibliomaniacuk.co.uk

#BibliomaniacsBookClub #May #Paperweight #ADangerousCrossing #RachelRhys

MAY'S BIBLIOMANIA is for 

A DANGEROUS CROSSING by RACHEL RHYS 

published by Transworld 23rd March 2017 

WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

1939, Europe on the brink of war. Lily Shepherd leaves England on an ocean liner for Australia, escaping her life of drudgery for new horizons. She is instantly seduced by the world onboard: cocktails, black-tie balls and beautiful sunsets. Suddenly, Lily finds herself mingling with people who would otherwise never give her the time of day.

But soon she realizes her glamorous new friends are not what they seem. The rich and hedonistic Max and Eliza Campbell, mysterious and flirtatious Edward, and fascist George are all running away from tragedy and scandal even greater than her own. 

By the time the ship docks, two passengers are dead, war has been declared, and life will never be the same again.

'Thrilling, seductive, utterly absorbing.' PAULA HAWKINS, author of The Girl on The Train

'A gorgeously atmospheric read, prepare to be transported . . .' RUTH WARE, author of The Woman in Cabin 10

‘A sumptuous and thrilling read which reminded me of Daphne du Maurier. It captivates you in its spell right until the end. I loved it.' KATE HAMER, author of The Girl in the Red Coat

'An exquisite story of love, murder, adventure and dark secrets, Rachel Rhys brings this dangerous crossing brilliantly and beautifully alive' LISA JEWELL, Author of The Girls

To read my full review please click here: Bibliomaniac's Review of A Dangerous Crossing 

*** WARNING: I fell in love with this book so there are a lot of questions......Please pick a few that appeal to you and your reading group unless you would like to join me in writing a dissertation on the fabulousness of this book!!***



A DANGEROUS CROSSING Questions:

Quick Fire Questions:

How many lines are crossed in A Dangerous Crossing? 

Who was the most dangerous character?

This is the author’s first historical novel. Would you read another by her? 

What detail about life in 1939 did you find more interesting or fascinating?

How convincing do you think Eliza’s reactions to Max’s death are? 

What is each of the characters running away from? Will any of the characters be able to escape what they are running away from in Australia? 

How effective did you find the repetition of blood and the repetition of Lily’s dreams about Mags? 

What do you think of the role of women in 1939? What does the novel reveal about equality? 

This novel is written under a pseudonym. Does this help or hinder the novel? 

Long haul Questions: 

Several of the characters travelling on the ship are doing so through the Government initiative 'Assisted Passage'. What does this show about attitudes towards immigration / emigration at this time? How have attitudes changed and why? 

What did you think about Rhys’ portrayal of Lily’s father and her relationship with him? What impact does his illness and suffering have on Lily and the themes in the novel?

What do you think about the portrayal of the Italian passengers on the ship?

How does the fact that the passengers are different nationalities create more tension in the novel?

The ship is a microcosm for what is happening in Europe. How many of the issues facing Europe in 1939 are also played on out the ship?

When passing a small island Lily wonders:

What would it do to a person to live out here, cut off from everything? What would it do to a society? (p252)

In a way this could also be said of the passengers on the cruise ship. Can you answer her questions? What happens to the people on the ship while they are cut off from society and everything else? 

On page 65 Lily says to Maria that “her reasons for leaving home are selfish.” Do you agree? What are her reasons for leaving home?

How did you respond to Maria’s character?

By placing Lily on the ship, Rhys exposes her to many more relationships, nationalities, classes and experiences that she would not have encountered if she stayed at home. Which moments or people do you think will have had the most impact on Lily and why?

“I want to see where you live so I can picture you when I’m stuck up there dying of boredom.” Eliza regularly seeks Lily out and is more keen to spend time with her than on the first class deck where she belongs. What does Eliza really want from Lily? How do you think she sees their relationship?

Eliza refers to her time “up there” as if it is some kind of prison, a purgatory where she feels trapped. Rhys repeats contrasting imagery between 'up there' and 'down below'. Why does Rhys repeat these phrases and these images?

How did the revelation of what happened to Eliza and Max’s child affect the way you related to them as characters? Did it ever excuse their behaviour on the ship? How would you summarise their relationship and marriage?

“Happiness is so fragile it can break apart in the air for the wind to disperse.” (p230) Can you think of any moments of true happiness during the time the characters are on the ship?

“This is where my real life begins. Here in the Indian Ocean at the very mid-point of the world.”  Lily p 240. How has Lily changed while on the ship? Think of three ways her character may be different in Australia from the girl who left England?

How is the theme of dissatisfaction and fulfilment explored in the novel?

"What an unpleasant little person" says Eliza of Ida. What did you make of Ida?

“I feel like I’ve crossed half the world only to go back in time.” (Lily p306) Although Lily is making a flippant comment about the music, how far is this statement true? How much has really changed by the end of the cruise?

Why does Max like to collect ‘vulnerable people’? (p319)

The ship is a kind of limbo for the characters. A place somewhere between what is real and what is unreal, past and future, war and peace. Which character takes the most advantage of this limbo?

“We’re in Australia now. Everything is different……Life can begin again. Everything is left behind.” Is it?

It seems that Edward’s ‘crime’ shocks the passengers the most and outweighs all the other crimes and prejudices that have taken place on the journey. How did you react to the ending and to Edward’s ‘crime’? Did it shock you? Did the characters’ reaction to it shock you? How would the reaction of passengers on a ship today compare or differ to the scenes depicted in the novel?

Are any of the relationships Lily forms on the ship real and sincere?

Imagine each of the characters five or ten years after they disembark from the Orontes. What are they doing?

     

Quotes to start a conversation with:

“Yes, but they’ll keep quiet if it comes to war….. at least until we’re off the ship.  Half the passengers would be our enemies.”

….an awareness that they are here on this floating world, apart from all other worlds, all of them bound together by the country they have come from and the one they are going to, and by the thousands of miles of travel that lie in between....

“On a boat like this,” says Maria,  “Everyone is running away from something.”

“You can do what you want on a boat, behave as badly as you like, and when you get to wherever you’re going it’s as if it never happened. When the ship sails away your sins go with it.” (Eliza p 193)

“Damaged people are dangerous people.” (Ian p 199)

Where to hold your book group for title:

• A cruise ship 
• A dining room table 
• Poolside 
• Cramped bedroom

What could you serve?

• Snacks and drinks
• Cocktails
• Champagne 
• Crudities and canope

What props could you use to start a conversation about title?

• Map of the world
• Model ship
• Passport
• Cocktail glass
• Seasick tablets
• A party dress
• scarf

If you liked this book and want to read similar novels try:







RACHEL RHYS 



Rachel Rhys is the pseudo name for Tammy Cohen, author of several best selling psychological thrillers. To find out more about Tammy you can follow her on Twitter @MsTamarCohen or check out her website where you can sign up for a newsletter to keep up to date with all her latest news and books! tammycohen.co.uk

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter for more recommendations and reviews @KatherineSunde3