#ForgottenHeroesOfComedy by Robert Ross @RobertWRossEsq @Unbounders @RandomTTours #RandomThingsTours

Title: Forgotten Heroes of Comedy: An encyclopaedia of the comedy underdog by Robert Ross

Date Published: 28th October 2021

Publisher: Unbound

Genre: Non-fiction

Description:

Do you remember growing up in the 1970s? Dick Emery was the most famous comedian on British television. His shows would attract millions of viewers. Now, those shows are never repeated. What about Larry Semon? How about little Jimmy Clitheroe?

In this long overdue and affectionate salute, celebrated comedy historian Robert Ross pays tribute to some of the finest, funniest and most fascinating names in comedy – from both sides of the Atlantic. 

With an introductory piece by Monty Python pioneer Terry Jones, this book will enthral and enlighten the most die-hard of comedy admirers.

Delving into the careers of the beguiling Avril Angers, the forgotten Stooge Shemp Howard,

Hollywood golden girl Thelma Todd, Italian film-maker Mario Zampi and many more between — Ross honours these legends of humour who, for a variety of reasons, didn’t quite reach the heady heights of stardom – or, once they did, they couldn’t cope with the pressures.

Whether it is a favourite from the distant smoke-and ale-stained world of the Music Hall like the great George Robey, or the downbeat poetry of Hovis Presley, who dropped disenchanted bombs on the late 1990s the Forgotten Heroes of Comedy will finally elevate them to the Hall of Fame where they belong. Forgotten, no longer.

Review:

I want to thank Anne Cater for inviting me on this blog tour and Unbound for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a big comedy lover, so when I read the description for Forgotten Heroes of comedy, it really appealed to me. 

At over six hundred pages, Forgotten Heroes of comedy is packed with interesting and well-researched facts on comedians of the past, looking over the highs and lows of their careers. 

As a mid-eighties baby, a lot of the names in this book were a bit before my time, but I was surprised to find I actually recognised a few faces even if I didn’t know their names before I read this book.

I loved that in the centre were replicas of old pictures and posters which were an absolute delight to look at.

I felt that this is not the kind of book you can just sit down and read from cover to cover. There is such a lot of information you might, like me, get a bit overloaded. It is perfect, however, to dip in and out whenever you fancy.

Forgotten Heroes of Comedy is a fun frolic through the past, which was both entertaining and informative. 

I also think, with Christmas coming up soon, Forgotten Heroes of Comedy is the perfect stocking filler for any comedy lovers out there.

About the Author:

Robert Ross is the leading authority on the history of British comedy.

His sixteen books include The Monty Python Encyclopedia, The Carry On Story, Sid James – Cockney Rebel, The Complete Terry-Thomas and official BBC celebrations of Fawlty Towers, Last of the Summer Wine and Steptoe and Son. 

His latest book is a critically-acclaimed biography of Marty Feldman. He is a frequent guest on radio and his many television credits include interviews for What’s A Carry On?, Top Ten: Comedy Records, Will the Real Basil Fawlty Please Stand Up?, What the Pythons Did Next, Richard & Judy and BBC News. He lives in Buckinghamshire. http://www.robertross.co.uk

#OneMustDie by Mark Tilbury @MTilburyAuthor #BookReview

Title: One Must Die by Mark Tilbury

Date Published: 24th June 2021

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Description:

I have both your sons, Mr Levitt. One of them must die. You choose.

Widower Sean Levitt receives the ominous message in the post a few days after his teenage boys go missing on their way to army cadets. As time progresses, the abductor makes increasingly horrific demands of Sean by sending him DVDs, and telling him to post videos online of the shocking assignments he sets him.

One Must Die is the story of one man’s fight to keep his sons alive, and the terrible lengths he must go to in order to do so.

Can Sean do what the police have failed to do and find his sons?

Or will the abductor achieve his twisted aim of destroying his entire family?

Review:

I want to thank Mark Tilbury for inviting me on this blog tour and providing me with a copy of One Must Die in exchange for an honest review.

Mark ‘Twisted’ Tilbury certainly lives up to his nickname with One Must Die!

The story starts off with every parent’s worst nightmare, Sean’s sons go out but don’t come back. A DVD arrives asking Sean to do tasks to keep his sons alive. The tasks start out a minor, slowly getting more and more sinister. But why is he being targeted?

The story is told from several points of view, from Sean, to his son Peter, to the kidnapper. Getting inside the mind of the kidnapper was particularly entertaining, even if he was a deeply deranged individual.

Sean is a heating engineer and widower, who doesn’t seem to have a nasty bone in his body, which makes it even more shocking that he’s been targeted in such an irrational manner. His son Peter, was also a solid character who I really rooted for throughout. 

I will warn you that there are a few scenes which are fairly graphic/unsettling, meaning that it may not be for you if you like your crime fiction on the lighter side.

There were a few aspects of the story I found a little unbelievable, but of course that’s just my opinion.

One Must Die is a dark and disturbing read packed with tense moments that will keep you hooked throughout.

About The Author:

Mark lives in a small village in the lovely county of Cumbria, although his books are set in Oxfordshire where he was born and raised.

He’s always had a keen interest in writing and after being widowed and raising his two daughters, Mark finally took the plunge and began self-publishing. Mark’s writing has earned him the name #TwistedTilbury due to the dark and twisted nature of his books. He’s published 10 thrillers, and an 11th is due out 24th June 2021

When he’s not writing, Mark can be found playing guitar, reading and walking.

#DeadInTheWater #StonebridgeMysteries @cmacwritescrime @RedDogTweets

Title: Dead In The Water by Chris McDonald

Publisher: Red Dog Press

Date Published: 27th March 2021

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Description:

The Stonebridge Regatta is looming. The town’s annual face-off against neighbouring Meadowfield is usually a weekend filled with sunshine, laughter and camaraderie. 

This year is different.

A week before the race, the body of Stonebridge team captain Matthew Henderson is found dead in the water. The police file his passing as a tragic accident however, his grieving widow disagrees and suspects foul play is involved. She enlists the help of Adam and Colin, the town’s amateur (self-proclaimed) private detectives to unearth the truth.

Did Matthew simply slip and fall into the water, or is there more to his death below the surface?

You can buy your copy here:

Amazon: mybook.to/DITW

The Red Dog Shop: https://www.reddogpress.co.uk/product-page/dead-in-the-water

Review:

I want to thank Red Dog Press for providing me with a copy of Dead In The Water in exchange for an honest review.

I’m so glad to be back with Adam and Colin for the second in the Stonebridge mysteries. If you haven’t read the first, The Curious Case of Daniel Costello, Dead In The Water can be read as a standalone, but I would personally recommend reading the first as it’s such a good novella!

If you don’t know this series, they are cozy mysteries set in the small Irish town of Stonebridge following two amateur sleuths and best friends Adam and Colin.

A grieving widow comes to Adam, convinced that her husband didn’t drown by accident. Adam is busy with his new gardening business but the lure of a mystery is too much for him to turn down, even roping poor put upon Colin to help.

As I said in my previous review, both Adam and Colin are very likeable sleuths and I enjoyed the fact Colin got a more central role in this book rather than just being a sidekick type character.

This story has a snappy pace and even though it’s only a short book, there’s still plenty of suspects, clues and red herrings to keep you guessing.

I felt the actual mystery wasn’t quite as funny as the first, but of course that’s just my opinion.

Dead in the water is a well-written whodunnit with likeable sleuths underpinned with some subtle humour. I’m looking forward to more Stonebridge mysteries in the future!

About the Author:

Originally hailing from the north coast of Northern Ireland and now residing in South Manchester, Chris McDonald has always been a reader. At primary school, The Hardy Boys inspired his love of adventure before his reading world was opened up by Chuck Palahniuk and the gritty world of crime. A Wash of Black is his first attempt at writing a book. He came up with the initial idea whilst feeding his baby in the middle of the night, which may not be the best thing to admit, considering the content. He is a fan of 5-a-side football, heavy metal and dogs. Whispers in the Dark is the second installment in the DI Erika Piper series, and Chris is currently working on his latest series, The Stonebridge Mysteries, published by Red Dog Press in 2021. 

#BlogTour #BookReview Trust Me by T.M. Logan @TMLoganAuthor @ZaffreBooks @Tr4cyF3nt0n

Title: Trust Me by T.M. Logan

Date Published: 18th March 2021

Publisher: Zaffre Books

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Description:

Two strangers, a child, and a split second choice that will change everything . . .

Ellen was just trying to help a stranger. That was how it started: giving a few minutes respite to a flustered young mother sitting opposite her on the train. A few minutes holding her baby while the mother makes an urgent call. The weight of the child in her arms making Ellen’s heart ache for what she can never have.

Five minutes pass.

Ten.

The train pulls into a station and Ellen is stunned to see the mother hurrying away down the platform, without looking back. Leaving her baby behind. Ellen is about to raise the alarm when she discovers a note in the baby’s bag, three desperate lines scrawled hastily on a piece of paper:

Please protect Mia

Don’t trust the police

Don’t trust anyone

Why would a mother abandon her child to a stranger? Ellen is about to discover that the baby in her arms might hold the key to an unspeakable crime. And doing the right thing might just cost her everything . . . 

Review:

I want to thank Tracy Fenton for inviting me on this tour and Zaffre books for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This is my third T.M.Logan book and having enjoyed those novels I was very excited to see what this one had to offer.

Trust Me may be just over four hundred pages long, but with its quick pace and short chapters it didn’t feel that long at all. 

The story follows Ellen, a woman in her forties who’s just received the diagnosis that she won’t be able to have children. On the train home she’s asked to look after baby Mia while her mum makes an urgent call. Time passes, but her mum doesn’t come back. Looking for clues to the woman’s disappearance it leads Ellen down a dangerous path but she knows one thing, she must protect Mia at all costs.

Ellen was an excellent character with hidden depths. At first you think she’s just an average person who I felt more than a bit sorry for, but it turns out she’s a bit of a badass. Her determination and stubbornness to let things go really drew me on through the novel.  

There’s a good deal of intrigue and tension running through the story, and you’re really not sure who to trust. Unfortunately, the author tried so hard to deceive that I felt it made the real bad guy a bit obvious.

Trust Me is a quick and addictive read, perfect to lose yourself in for a few hours. 

About The Author:

Tim’s thrillers have sold more than one million copies in the UK and are published in 19 countries around the world including the USA, South Korea, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Poland, Hungary, Serbia, Greece, Romania and the Netherlands.

His brand new novel TRUST ME has been described as ‘Everything you want from a thriller, and more…’ TRUST ME is out now in hardback, e-book and audiobook.

His debut thriller LIES was one of Amazon’s biggest selling e-books of 2017 and was followed by 29 SECONDS in 2018. THE HOLIDAY was a Richard & Judy Book Club pick for summer 2019 and spent ten weeks in the Sunday Times paperback top ten.

THE CATCH is about a father who becomes convinced his daughter is about to marry a man with terrible secrets.

Tim was born in Berkshire and studied in London and Cardiff before becoming a national newspaper journalist. He lives in Nottinghamshire with his wife and two children, and writes in a cabin at the bottom of his garden.

For exclusive writing and new releases from TM Logan, sign up to the Readers’ Club: www.bit.ly/TMLogan.

Miniskirts Are Murder (Porter & The Gliss 2) by Des Burkinshaw @rararesources @DesBurkinshaw #BookReview #BlogTour

I took a bit of time off due to a death in my family but now I’m back today with a review Miniskirts Are Murder by Des Burkinshaw but first a little about the book:

Title: Miniskirts Are Murder by Des Burkinshaw

Date Published: 7th March 2021

Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Paranormal

Description:

Porter Norton, his friends and his sarcastic spirit guide, The Gliss, are on the trail of a young actress who went missing in Soho, London, in the Swinging Sixties. Still recovering from their last adventure in the battlefields of WW1, the gang are confronted by a transatlantic conspiracy.

You can buy your copy here:

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Miniskirts-are-Murder-investigation-Investigations-ebook/dp/B08THXTBGB   

US – https://www.amazon.com/Miniskirts-are-Murder-investigation-Investigations-ebook/dp/B08THXTBGB 

Review:

I want to thank Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me on this tour and the author for providing me with a copy of Miniskirts Are Murder in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second in the Porter and The Gliss series, I read and enjoyed the first back in 2019 and I was very much looking forward to the sequel! I will say you should read the first Dead and Talking as some of the story carries over into this one.

Miniskirts are murder is the same mix of historical, paranormal and mystery as the first but this time instead of being set in the trenches of WW1 we’re taken to the Swinging Sixties, travelling to both LA and Germany to investigate the disappearance of a young actress named Rose.

There’s so much packed into this novel. Ghostly visions, gangsters, racism, women’s rights, spies, the Cold War and of course murder.

I was so glad that the gang of Porter, Feng, Namita, Karin and of course the Gliss were back together for this story, albeit with a lot more scars than the first book. We got to know each character a little better, each getting their own minor storyline weaved into the main story.

The sixties are a bit of a fascination to me. It seemed like such an interesting time, especially in Britain, and I feel it’s much romanticised by film and TV shows. This book really shines a light on the seedier side of the time, especially when it came to filmmaking. 

At the forefront of this novel is women’s rights and racism, which at times made it a little intense to read, I had to put the book down for a bit to get my emotions under control! 

Miniskirts are murder is an original and thought provoking read with plenty of mystery and mayhem along the way. I’m looking forward to the next adventure featuring Porter and The Gliss.

About The Author:  

Des, 52, is a former Times journalist/BBC TV producer. Miniskirts are Murder is the second in the Porter and The Gliss Investigations series, following Dead & Talking in 2019.
Des likes to live out as much of the stories as possible and spent 3 months in the US researching this novel. He runs a film school in London and has just been commissioned to write a limited season TV series intended for Netflix. He is also a keen musician and through work has jammed with people like Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson and Jeff Lynne. He is married with 1 daughter.

Social Media Links – 

www.desburkinshaw.com   twitter.com/DesBurkinshaw, facebook as Des Burkinshaw  

#BookReview Smoke Screen by Thomas Enger and Jørn Lier Horst @RandomTTours @OrendaBooks #RandomThingsTours

Title: Smoke Screen by Thomas Enger and Jørn Lier Horst 

Translated by: Megan Turney

Date Published: 18th February 2021

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Description:

Oslo, New Year’s Eve. The annual firework celebration is rocked by an explosion and the city is put on terrorist alert.

Police officer Alexander Blix and blogger Emma Ramm are on the scene, and when a severely injured survivor is pulled from the icy harbour, she is identified as the mother of two-year-old Patricia Semplass, who was kidnapped on her way home from kindergarten ten years earlier … and never found.

Blix and Ramm join forces to investigate the unsolved case, as public interest heightens, the terror threat is raised, and it becomes clear that Patricia’s disappearance is not all that it seems…

The second in the hard-boiled and furiously compelling Blix & Ramm series, created by Thomas Enger and Jørn Lier Horst, two of the biggest names in Nordic Noir.

Review:

I want to thank Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for inviting me on this tour and Orenda Books for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

So I read the first in the Blix/Ramm series last year, Death Deserved, which was one of my top reads of 2020, so I was very excited to get my hands on a copy of Smoke Screen!

The story starts off with a bang, literally. Journalist Emma Ramm is on the scene at a bombing during the annual New Year’s eve festival. One of the victims is identified as Ruth-Kristine Smeplass, whose daughter Patricia disappeared as a baby years earlier. It’s up to Blix and Emma to find out if she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time or is there more to Ruth-Kristine’s daughter’s disappearance than they thought.

Smoke Screen is a brilliant mix of thriller and police procedural, with the short and concise chapters it’s easy to devour in a few sittings.

For me, the characters really make this novel. Everyone from our main characters Blix and Emma to the suspects are well thought out and believable. I also enjoy the contrast of the experienced police officer Blix with the young and tenacious Emma. They seem an unlikely pairing and at times butt heads, but it’s great to read.  

The beginning of the book really grabbed me, but I felt there was a bit of a lull after the first few chapters, but the tense and nail biting end made up for it.

Smoke Screen is an entertaining and engaging read with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. I’m eagerly awaiting book three!

About The Authors:

Jørn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger are the internationally bestselling Norwegian authors of the William Wisting and Henning Juul series respectively. Jørn Lier Horst first rose to literary fame with his No. 1 internationally bestselling William Wisting series. A former investigator in the Norwegian police, Horst imbues all his works with an unparalleled realism and suspense. Thomas Enger is the journalist-turned-author behind the internationally acclaimed and bestselling Henning Juul series. Enger’s trademark has become a darkly gritty voice paired with key social messages and tight plotting. Besides writing fiction for both adults and young adults, Enger also works as a music composer. Death Deserved was Jørn Lier Horst & Thomas Enger’s first co-written thriller. They are currently working on the third book in the Blix & Ramm series.

Murder In The Belltower by Helena Dixon @bookouture @NellDixon #BooksOnTour #CozyMystery

Title: Murder In The Belltower by Helena Dixon

Date Published: 1st February 2021

Publisher: Bookouture

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Description:

Kitty Underhay’s hymn book is open… at murder.

Winter, 1933. Kitty Underhay is enjoying a restorative break from sleuthing on a visit to her family at Enderley Hall. The only thing marring her peace – aside from the uncomfortable sensation she has of being watched – is the obvious history between her beau, ex-army captain Matthew Bryant and another guest, the beautiful Juliet Vanderstafen. So, when the parish clerk is found dead on her front doorstep, Kitty leaps at the chance of distraction.

The police are happy to conclude that Miss Plenderleith met her unfortunate end on a patch of ice, but Kitty isn’t convinced this was a case of bad weather and worse luck. And when the Reverend Crabtree fails to show for tea the next day, she heads to the church to speak to him. But she arrives to find the clergyman hanging from the bell rope, dead.

With Matt seemingly wrapped up with his alluring Austrian, Kitty must solve the case on her own. But as she snoops into parish affairs, she makes some less-than-saintly discoveries. Just who has broken the sixth commandment? Meanwhile the killer is preparing a churchyard grave for Kitty, and she’ll have to use all her wits to avoid falling in…

An addictive, absorbing and completely unputdownable Golden Age cozy murder mystery, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Lee Strauss.

You can buy your copy here: https://geni.us/B08LKT7HSRCover

Review: 

I want to thank Bookouture for providing me with a copy of Murder In The Bell Tower in exchange for an honest review.

It’s so fun to be back with Kitty and Matthew! I absolutely love this series and I can’t believe we’re already on book five! It can be read as a standalone but I would recommend at least reading the previous book in the series, Murder On The Dance Floor first as there’s a little of the storyline that runs over.

It’s Christmas and Kitty has decided to spend it with her cousin Lucy and the rest of her family at Enderley hall, along with of course Captain Matthew Bryant as they are now officially ‘walking out together’. She’s hoping for a nice relaxing but unfortunately for her things don’t quite go to plan as Juliet Vanderstafen, a mysterious woman from Matthew’s past, is also a guest at Enderley hall. Things get worse, Miss Plenderleith, the local Parish clerk is found dead and Kitty gets herself wrapped up in the mystery.

Murder In The Belltower is such an additive read, I always get caught up in the story, feeling like I’ve actually been taken back in time to the 1930s.

What I always love about these stories is the attention to detail that Helena Dixon always puts into them. From the fashions, to the language, to the Christmas traditions and even there’s even a mention of tensions within Europe with a bit of foreshadowing for the Second World War.

I will say it took a bit longer than I remember from the previous books for someone to actually show up dead but I didn’t mind too much as I loved watching Matthew and Kitty navigating their new relationship whilst being surrounded by the tension in the air of Enderley hall.

Murder In The Belltower is a great addition to this wonderful series and I for one can’t wait for more!

About The Author:

Nell Dixon was born and continues to live in the Black Country. Married to the same man for over thirty-five years she has three daughters, a cactus called Spike, a crazy cockapoo and a tank of tropical fish. She is allergic to adhesives, apples, tinsel and housework. Her addictions of choice are coffee and reality TV. She was winner of The Romance Prize in 2007 with her book Marrying Max, and winner of Love Story of the Year 2010 with her book, Animal Instincts. She also writes historical 1930’s set cozy crime as Helena Dixon.

Author Social Media Links:

Website: http://www.nelldixon.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/nell.dixon

Twitter:      https://twitter.com/NellDixon

#BookReview The Burning Girls by C.J Tudor @cjtudor @MichaelJBooks @GabyYoung

Title: The Burning Girls by C.J Tudor

Date Published: Michael Joseph

Publisher: 21st January 2021

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Description:

500 years ago: eight martyrs were burnt to death

30 years ago: two teenagers vanished without trace

Two months ago: the vicar committed suicide

Welcome to Chapel Croft.

For Rev Jack Brooks and teenage daughter Flo it’s supposed to be a fresh start. New job, new home. But, as Jack knows, the past isn’t easily forgotten.

And in a close-knit community where the residents seem as proud as they are haunted by Chapel Croft’s history, Jack must tread carefully. Ancient superstitions as well as a mistrust of outsiders will be hard to overcome.

Yet right away Jack has more frightening concerns.

Why is Flo plagued by visions of burning girls?

Who’s sending them sinister, threatening messages?

And why did no one mention that the last vicar killed himself?

Chapel Croft’s secrets lie deep and dark as the tomb. Jack wouldn’t touch them if not for Flo – anything to protect Flo.

But the past is catching up with Chapel Croft – and with Jack. For old ghosts with scores to settle will never rest . . . 

Review:

I want to thank Gaby Young at Michael Joseph for inviting me on this tour and providing me with a copy of The Burning Girls, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I’m struggling to put into words how much I enjoyed this book!

Reverend Jack Brooks and her daughter Flo move from Nottingham to Chapel Croft after a tragedy in Jack’s former parish. It’s immediately apparent that there’s something off about Chapel Croft. Twig dolls burnt every year to commemorate villagers burned at the stake. Missing girls. Suicide. Ghostly visions. Secrets. Lots of secrets.

I love a good mystery but I also love a good spooky story and The Burning Girls combines these two things into a gripping story.

I absolutely loved the characters. Jack is not your typical vicar. She smokes, has modern views on a lot of subjects which in a small village like Chapel Croft rubbed a few people up the wrong way. Her teenage daughter Flo was realistically done too, she has the naivety of a child but still wants to be seen as an adult. She’s headstrong and does not like to be told she’s wrong, she reminded me a lot of my own teenage son. 

I will say that the ending wasn’t entirely a surprise but I still enjoyed it and it fitted perfectly with the story.

The Burning Girls is a well written supernatural thriller that just sucked me in from that very first chapter.

About The Author:

C. J. Tudor was born in Salisbury and grew up in Nottingham, where she still lives with her partner and young daughter.

She left school at sixteen and has had a variety of jobs over the years, including trainee reporter, radio scriptwriter, shop assistant, ad agency copywriter and voiceover.

In the early nineties, she fell into a job as a television presenter for a show on Channel 4 called Moviewatch. Although a terrible presenter, she got to interview acting legends such as Sigourney Weaver, Michael Douglas, Emma Thompson and Robin Williams. She also annoyed Tim Robbins by asking a question about Susan Sarandon’s breasts and was extremely flattered when Robert Downey Junior showed her his chest. 

While writing the Chalk Man she ran a dog-walking business, walking over twenty dogs a week as well as looking after her little girl. 

She’s been writing since she was a child but only knuckled down to it properly in her thirties. Her English teacher once told her that if she ‘did not become Prime Minister or a best-selling author’ he would be ‘very disappointed.’ 

The Chalk Man was inspired by a tub of chalks a friend bought for her daughter’s second birthday. One afternoon they drew chalk figures all over the driveway. Later that night she opened the back door to be confronted by weird stick men everywhere. In the dark, they looked incredibly sinister. She called to her partner: ‘These chalk men look really creepy in the dark . . .’

She is never knowingly over-dressed. She has never owned a handbag and the last time she wore heels (twelve years ago) she broke a tooth.

She loves The Killers, Foo Fighters and Frank Turner. Her favourite venue is Rock City. 

Her favourite films are Ghostbusters and The Lost Boys. Her favourite authors are Stephen King, Michael Marshall and Harlan Coben. 

She is SO glad she was a teenager in the eighties. 

She firmly believes that there are no finer meals than takeaway pizza and champagne, or chips with curry sauce after a night out.

Everyone calls her Caz.

The Woman Inside by Anna-Lou Weatherley @Bookouture @annaloulondon #BooksOnTour #BookReview

Title: The Woman Inside by Anna-Lou Weatherley

Publisher: Bookouture

Date Published: 13th January 2021

Genre: Police Procedural/Psychological thriller

Description:

Daisey Garrett wakes up in a hospital bed. She remembers her boyfriend has left her for another woman but she doesn’t remember what happened to her. The night she was attacked in her own home.

Daisey shouldn’t be alive but against all odds, she’s survived an ordeal most would never recover from. And her new friend and roommate Iris will help her get back on her feet.

But Daisey’s mind is broken. She’s on edge, drinking too much and as she sits across from her cheating ex, Luke, in the beautiful home they once shared together, she can’t shake the feeling that she is being watched.

Yet tiny fragments of Daisey’s memory are starting to come back to her.

The missing pieces of that fateful summer night are beginning to surface…

The lies she told the police.

The lies Luke told her.

Iris will help her find the truth, won’t she?

A tense, twisty, addictive page-turner,The Woman Inside takes you within the tangled mess of people’s lives and the dark secrets they hold close. Perfect for fans of Gone Girl, Before I Go to Sleep and The Wife Between Us.

You can buy your copy here:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B08M9YFVSZCover

Apple: http://ow.ly/Yhj850C8LWB

Kobo: http://ow.ly/pJOo50C8LQ4

Google: http://ow.ly/CKaS50C8LZz

Review:

I received a copy of this book from Bookouture, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

So this is actually the fourth in the Detective Dan Riley series, a fact I wasn’t aware of until after I’d finished reading. I’ve not read any of the other books in the series but it didn’t spoil anything for me, in fact I’m even thinking of going back and putting other books on my tbr pile now I’ve finished this one.

The Woman Inside is a great blend of psychological thriller and police procedural that created a very intriguing read.

The story switches between Daisey and Dan Riley. Daisey survives an attack after a night out, an attack she shouldn’t have survived but has no memory of it. Dan is tasked to investigate the crime, but with no leads he and his team are having a hard time cracking it.

Dan is a fairly likeable character, trusting his gut instincts and not always following protocol.  I had mixed feelings over Daisey. On one hand, I found her likeable but there were occasions where I got a bit annoyed with her, specifically when it came to her cheating ex Luke, and I just wanted her to stand up for herself.

The grand reveal of the killer and motive fell into the ‘bit out there’ category for me, but it didn’t spoil my overall enjoyment of the book.

The Woman Inside is a solid mystery with well-drawn characters and a good deal of suspense. 

About the Author:

Anna-Lou began her career as a dancer but a moped accident in Ibiza put paid to those aspirations and so she went back to her first and one true love – writing! She re-trained as a journalist, specialising mainly in women’s interest and celebrity, becoming the Editor of J-17 and Smash Hits as well as writing for a host of women’s magazines.

Anna-Lou has written three Adult Fiction titles – Vengeful Wives and Wicked Wives, both published by Avon in the UK and Bookouture in the US and Canada and Pleasure Island published by Bookouture.

To find out more about Anna’s novels, go to https://www.facebook.com/annalouweatherleyauthor/ or follow https://twitter.com/annaloulondon on Twitter.

#BlogTour The Curious Dispatch of Daniel Costello by Chris McDonald @cmacwritescrime @RedDogTweets #TheCuriousDispatchOfDanielCostello

Title: The Curious Dispatch of Daniel Costello by Chris McDonald

Publisher: Red Dog Press

Date Published: 12th January 2021

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Description:

Wedding bells are chiming in the idyllic, coastal town of Stonebridge. For Sam and Emily, it should be the happiest day of their lives. But, on the morning of the ceremony, the best man is found dead. The police quickly write his death off as a tragic accident, but something doesn’t seem right to wedding guest and groomsman, Adam Whyte.

Armed with an encyclopedic, but ultimately ridiculous knowledge of television detective shows and an unwarranted confidence in his own abilities, Adam and his best friend (and willing Watson) Colin, set out to uncover what actually happened to Daniel Costello.

Amazon Link: mybook.to/Stonebridge 

Red Dog Press: https://www.reddogpress.co.uk/shop

Review:

I want to thank Meggy at Red Dog Press for inviting me on this tour and providing me with a copy of The Curious Dispatch of Daniel Costello in exchange for an honest review.

The Curious Dispatch of Daniel Costello is only just over a hundred pages but let its short length fool you, there’s plenty of mystery, mayhem and a good bit of humour packed into the story!

Best friends Adam and Colin are invited to the wedding of an old school friend but when the best man, Daniel Costello, turns up dead and the police don’t take it seriously. Adam decides they should look into it, pulling a reluctant Colin along for the ride.

Both Adam and Colin are likeable characters. Adam is a bit directionless, living at home with his mum. Colin works in a retirement home, enjoys following the rules. They make an unlikely pair of detectives, especially as Adam is exceptionally squeamish, but using their love of the TV show Sherlock they manage to ferret out clues.

I will say I felt the ending l was a bit rushed, but of course that was just my opinion.

The Curious Dispatch of Daniel Costello is a quick and fun read that I couldn’t get enough of! I will definitely be on the lookout for more adventures featuring Adam and Colin.

About The Author:

Originally hailing from the north coast of Northern Ireland and now residing in South Manchester, Chris McDonald has always been a reader. At primary school, The Hardy Boys inspired his love of adventure before his reading world was opened up by Chuck Palahniuk and the gritty world of crime. A Wash of Black is his first attempt at writing a book. He came up with the initial idea whilst feeding his baby in the middle of the night, which may not be the best thing to admit, considering the content. He is a fan of 5-a-side football, heavy metal and dogs. Whispers in the Dark is the second installment in the DI Erika Piper series, and Chris is currently working on his latest series, The Stonebridge Mysteries, to be published by Red Dog Press in 2021.