#HalfPastTomorrow by Chris McGeorge @crmcgeorge @orionbooks @Tr4cyF3nt0n #BookReview

Title: Half Past Tomorrow by Chris McGeorge

Date Published: 5th August 2021

Publisher: Orion Publishing

Genre: Thriller

Description:

Shirley Steadman, a 70 year old living in a small town in the North East of England, loves her volunteer work at the local hospital radio. She likes giving back to the community, and even more so, she likes getting out of the house. Haunted by the presence of her son, a reluctant Royal Navy officer who was lost at sea, and still in the shadow of her long dead abusive husband, she doesn’t like being alone much.

One day, at the radio station, she is playing around with the equipment and finds a frequency that was never there before. It is a pirate radio station, and as she listens as the presenter starts reading the news. But there is one problem – the news being reported is tomorrows. Shirley first thinks it is a mere misunderstanding – a wrong date. But she watches as everything reported comes true. At first, Shirley is in awe of the station, and happily tunes in to hear the news.

But then the presenter starts reporting murders – murders that happen just the way they were reported.

And Shirley is the only one who can stop them. 

Review:

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

I’ve not read any books by this author before but when I saw it was about a radio station that reports about murders before they happen I was like, yes, I need to read that! 

The story centres around Shirley who, while volunteering at the local hospital radio station, comes across Mallet AM, a pirate radio station that reports tomorrow’s news. At first, the incidents that are reported were simple accidents, but it slowly becomes more sinister and reports a murder. Shirley can’t leave it alone and sets out to stop the murder from happening.

I love an older main character, especially in a mystery, and I thought Shirley was wonderfully done. She’s headstrong, determined, and won’t let even her frail health stop her from getting to the bottom of the mystery. She also carries pain and guilt around from her past, making her you root for her even more.

I also loved the hospital radio setting, as it gave me a bit of nostalgia for the days when I used to listen to the radio myself.  

There were some good shocks and surprises along the way, but for me, the story was a little slow burn. That’s not a bad thing, but I was just expecting some more chills and thrills.

Half Past Tomorrow is a solid thriller with memorable characters and an original and intriguing storyline.

About The Author:

Chris McGeorge studied MA Creative Writing (Crime/Thriller) at City University London where he wrote his first novel as his thesis. His interests are broad – spanning film, books, theatre and video games. He is a member of the Northern Crime Syndicate, a supergroup of writers from Northern England. He lives in County Durham with his partner and many, many animals.

#BookReview Found Her by N.J. Mackay @NikiMackayBooks @orionbooks

Title: Found Her by NJ Mackay

Publisher: Orion

Date Published: 10th February 2020

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Description:

Belle Moriarty was there one moment and gone the next. Her older sister Eve was walking her home from school when she disappeared, ten years ago.

Eve has never recovered from the guilt of turning her back.

But then she receives a phone call that changes everything. Belle has been found – alive.

But who took her? Why did they keep her alive all these years? And now that Belle has escaped, will they try to silence her for good?

With Belle in a coma and Eve receiving increasingly terrifying threats, she must discover the kidnapper’s identity before they return to finish what they started…

Review:

I received an arc copy of Found Her from Orion via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first novel by NJ Mackay and after reading Found Her it won’t be my last!

Goodness me where do I start? Found Her had me utterly gripped from the very first chapter. I have to say it’s one of the best psychological thrillers I’ve read for a while, perfectly paced and tension packed.

Eve is a complicated character, not all that likeable but very compelling to read. She’s been punishing herself for ten years after the disappearance of her little sister Belle, unable to sustain relationships apart from those stubborn enough to ignore her prickly exterior. She’s been on an even keel but that all goes out the window when her little sister is found alive but in critical condition. That’s when the story really comes into its own, as Eve’s paranoia gets worse until she’s almost at breaking point and all of her old unhealthy behaviours surface again.

I would have liked the ending to have been a little stronger but of course that’s just a minor thing.

Found Her is a genuine page turner and a must for anyone who loves a good thriller.

About The Author:

Niki Mackay studied Performing Arts at the BRIT School, and it turned out she wasn’t very good at acting but quite liked writing scripts. She holds a BA (Hons) in English Literature and Drama, and won a full scholarship for her MA in Journalism.

#Review The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides @OrionBooks

Title: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

Publisher: Orion

Date Published: 7th February 2019

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Description:

 ALICIA

Alicia Berenson writes a diary as a release, an outlet – and to prove to her beloved husband that everything is fine. She can’t bear the thought of worrying Gabriel, or causing him pain.

Until, late one evening, Alicia shoots Gabriel five times and then never speaks another word.

THEO

Forensic psychotherapist Theo Faber is convinced he can successfully treat Alicia, where all others have failed. Obsessed with investigating her crime, his discoveries suggest Alicia’s silence goes far deeper than he first thought.

And if she speaks, would he want to hear the truth?

Review:

So I feel like at the beginning of the year you couldn’t escape The Silent Patient. I know it shouldn’t but I’m always a little wary of this type of novel, just because I find them very hit or miss but with this novel, I found my worries were unwarranted.

The Silent Patient is a psychological thriller at its best, there’s plenty of mystery, intrigue and lots of suspense. I also enjoyed that it wasn’t a slow burn type of novel, you’re dropped straight into the good stuff, with a mix of first person perspective and diary entries. 

Both Theo and Alicia are so well drawn, they felt almost real. I enjoyed getting inside Theo’s head, seeing his troubled past and the way his obsession with Alicia grows until…well you’ll just have to read the book to find out!

I don’t know whether this is being made into a movie or TV show but someone needs to get on that asap!

Unfortunately, I kind of figured out the ending but I still enjoyed it as it worked perfectly for the story.

The Silent Patient is a fraught, tension packed thriller, that is just a must read! I can’t wait to see what Alex Michaelides comes up with next!

About The Author:

Alex Michaelides was born in Cyprus to a Greek-Cypriot father and English mother. He read English at Cambridge University and received an MA in screenwriting from the American Film Institute. He wrote the film Devil You Know, starring Rosamund Pike, and co-wrote The Con is On, starring Uma Thurman and Tim Roth. The Silent Patient, his first novel, is a Sunday Times, New York Times, Australian and Irish bestseller.