zooloosbooktours – On The Shelf Reviews

#LetSleepingMurderLie by Carmen Radtke @CarmenRadtke1 @zooloo2008 #BookReview #ZooloosBookTours

Title: Let Sleeping Murder Lie by Carmen Radtke

Date Published: 1st March 2021

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Description:

American Eve Holdsworth is living her quintessential English dream in a picturesque village in the countryside. Meeting an attractive stranger adds to the appeal.

But Ben Dryden is a pariah in Eve’s new neighbourhood, since his wife was murdered five years ago, and he was the only suspect.

Eve, who is absolutely sure someone as charming as Ben could never be a killer, is

determined to solve the case and clear Ben’s name, even if it’s against his will.

Soon enough Eve finds herself in deep waters, and with her life at stake, she can only pray that her romantic notions won’t be the end of her …

You can buy your copy here:

Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08W2JCD68

Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08W2JCD68

Review:

I want to thank Zoe at Zooloo Book Tours for inviting me on this tour and the author for providing me with a copy of Let Sleeping Murder Lie in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read a couple of Carmen Radtke’s historical mysteries so I was eager to read a book of hers set in more modern times.

Eve moves to an English village living her dream but gets herself embroiled in a murder mystery concerning the handsome Ben Dryden who was accused of murdering his wife Donna five years earlier.

Let Sleeping Murder Lie is a cozy mystery with a good helping of romance, all set to the backdrop of your average country village.

Eve is a great character who I really warmed to, even though some people might see her as introverted and not willing to take part in village clubs which personally I’d feel the same about.

I felt sorry for Ben. Looking after his elderly father and running a large house would be tough enough without everyone thinking he murdered his wife.

Another great secondary character was Hayley who runs the local pub and becomes a sort of Watson to Eve’s Holmes, helping her pump the locals for information.

I feel the village atmosphere is really captured in this book, with petty rivalries, gossip and some outspoken characters.

I felt it was at times a little heavier on the romance than the mystery, but I enjoyed the will they/won’t they, between Ben and Eve.

Let Sleeping Murder Lie is a gentle read which will satisfy any cozy mystery lover out there.

About The Author:

Carmen Radtke has spent most of her life with ink on her fingers and a dangerously high pile of books and newspapers by her side.

She has worked as a newspaper reporter on two continents and always dreamt of becoming a novelist and screenwriter.

When she found herself crouched under her dining table, typing away on a novel between two earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand, she realised she was hooked for life.

When Carmen is not writing cozy mysteries, reading or dreaming of travel, she is busy acting as resident cat servant or tap-dancing (badly, but enthusiastic).

She is currently working on her next Jack and Frances mystery.

Follow her at:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarmenRadtke1

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/carmen-radtke

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/authorcarmenradtke

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/scribbler25/

Website: carmenradtke.com

#EchoesofHome by M.L. Rayner @M_L_Rayner @QuestionPress @zooloo2008 #QuestionMarkPress #ZooloosBookTours

Title: Echoes of Home by M.L Rayner

Date Published: 1st January 2021

Publisher: Question Mark Press

Genre: Ghost story

Description:

After accepting a generous opportunity to start afresh, Leslie Wills, a young man from Stoke-on-Trent, eagerly begins his long-distance journey to the Scottish Highlands of Elphin, a settled village that sits huddled amongst the dominating mountains. Its people are welcoming, and the beauty of the land is great. But deep within its Highland paths, a location rests hidden from the public’s eye. A location which entices you to learn the truth of its troubled past. But once you bear witness to its sights and sounds, its presences will never allow you to forget.

Uncover the truth, Journeying back to a forgotten time. With a plot full of secrets and suspicion that will leave you longing for answers.

Review:

I want to thank Zoe at Zooloos book tour for inviting me on this tour and Question Mark Press for providing me with a copy of Echoes of Home in exchange for an honest review.

I love a ghost story so when I read the blurb for Echoes of Home it piqued my interest.

His long-lost brother gifts Leslie a cottage and he grabs the opportunity for a fresh start, but the cottage has a terrible past that he’s about to discover.

Goodness, I didn’t realise this was going to be quite such an emotional ride, with some really moving and tragic moments. Of course, there were some good spine chilling and spooky instances too.

Leslie is the kind of character you may not exactly like but you feel sorry for. He’s the youngest of five and seemed like a person who’d got a bad lot in life through no fault of his own.

The story was reinforced with some nice historical research including the potato famine, which started in Ireland and spread over which I honestly had no idea about.

I found this a bit of a slow burn, particularly the first half and some of the dialogue felt a little stilted at times but of course that’s just my opinion.

Echoes of home is a quick read full of sinister and spooky moments. A definite must if you love ghost stories!

About The Author:

Born and bred in the county of Staffordshire. Matt is a keen reader of classical, horror and fantasy literature and enjoys writing in the style of traditional ghost stories. During his working life, Matt joined the ambulance service in 2009, transporting critically ill patients all over the UK. After writing his first novel, Matt was welcomed into the family of Question Mark Press publishing and now dedicates his time on future releases. His hobbies include genealogy and hiking, and he enjoys spending time with his wife, Emma, his children, and his family.

Follow him at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MLRayner
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/m.l.rayner/
Twitter https://twitter.com/M_L_Rayner

Amazon : https://www.amazon.co.uk/M.-L.-Rayner/e/B08LTXNSH4

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20902655.M_L_Rayner

#Comatose by Jane Badrock @janebadrock @QuestionPress @zooloo2008 #QuestionMarkPress #ZooloosBookTours

Hello lovelies! I’m excited to have an excerpt from thriller Comatose by Jane Badrock closing out the blog tour organised by Zoé over at Zooloos book tours! First a little about the book:

Title: Comatose by Jane Badrock

Date Published: 22nd April 2021

Publisher: Question Mark Press

Genre: Thriller

Description:

COMATOSE…and her nightmare is just beginning.

Two car crashes, one location, one survivor.

Newly promoted DS Karen Thorpe is determined to prove these are no accidents. But the only witness is in a coma.

Now there’s a rapist on the loose.

Karen’s in the fight of her life… and her boss isn’t on her side.

Excerpt:

Macy smiled as she turned her back on Karen. She was still grinning when she got home. This is going to be fun. Karen was right, she had a large and colourful wardrobe which included several short skirts and low tops. She put together the most noticeable outfit she could and fluffed up her hair. To complete the effect, she added loads of bling and some oversized sunglasses. Stepping into high-heeled shoes, she set off to the yard. She parked a hundred yards or so from the back of the industrial estate, where the dealership was.

When she arrived at the entrance, the gates were open. She wandered in and had a good look round. Macy could pick out a Triumph Herald on a cold night in the fog, but she saw nothing remotely resembling one. She checked the picture on her phone and tried to work out exactly where it had been taken. She could make out the edge of the cabin office from the picture and quickly took another photo from the same angle for comparison.

That’s it. No need to hang around now. As she turned to walk back to her car, she heard the sound of an engine revving. What’s that? That’s not a car.

She double-backed, following the direction of the sound and watched as a lorry with a large trailer came out of a side road. She could make out a car-shaped canvas cover in the back. Snapping the lorry as discreetly as she could, she called Karen as she hurried along.

‘I think there’s a car being moved in a lorry,’ she said.

‘Can you follow it?’

‘Not in these heels,’ she puffed.

About The Author:

Jane writes novels, short stories and poems, usually with a good dose of humour in them. She probably owes it all to her late grandmother who, she’s just found out, also wrote short stories and poems. She tends to get an idea and then run with it whether it be a 100 word short story or an 80 thousand word novel. It all depends on the voices in her head at the time…

Follow her at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janebadrockauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janebadrock/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/janebadrock

Amazon : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jane-Badrock/e/B07HZ2HD3Q

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18510015.Jane_Badrock

#TheCrazySeason by Jim Ody @Jim_Ody_Author @QuestionPress @zooloo2008 #ZooloosBookTours #BookReview #QuestionMarkPress

Title: The Crazy Season by Jim Ody

Date Published: 4th May 2021

Publisher: Question Mark Press

Genre: Thriller

Description:

Joel Baxter is infamous for solving weird and bizarre cases that others avoid. So, when he receives an email from a teenage boy Tim saying his town is cursed, he cannot turn it down.

“…I will more than likely be dead when you read this. There is nothing I can do about it. It’s the curse, and we’ve hit The Crazy Season.” Every 20 years, there are a handful of unexplained teenage deaths and it’s started again.

With the help of his straight-talking friend Melody, they set out to get to the bottom of the alleged curse. Everybody in Black Rock has secrets and nobody wants to speak.

The closer they get to truth the more Joel and Melody realise that their involvement is far from coincidental.

You can buy your copy here:

Amazon UK : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crazy-Season-Joel-Baxter-Book-ebook/dp/B08YXJG4RF

Amazon USA : https://www.amazon.com/Crazy-Season-Joel-Baxter-Book-ebook/dp/B08YXJG4RF

Review:

I want to thank Zoé at Zooloos Book Tours for inviting me on this tour and the author for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read a couple of Jim Ody’s books now, but I have to say I think The Crazy Season is my favourite so far!

I saw the author posting about this a few weeks ago saying it was like a cross between the X-Files and Jonathan Creek and I can safely say that’s about right, a mix of the paranormal/weird along with an intriguing mystery.

The Crazy Season is the kind of novel that drags you in, and you just sit back and enjoy the rollercoaster ride.

The story follows Joel, complete with sidekick Melody as they investigate a string of teen suicides, twenty years apart in a small coastal town. When they dig a little deeper they find more and more lies, secrets and a whole heap of teen angst.

I loved the characters. Joel with his slightly awkward demeanor but he has a kind heart, who’s still grieving for the loss of his daughter and his wife in a coma. Then we have Melody, fierce and unapologetic, she brings Joel out of his shell. The two of them together were just a joy to read.

There was also a fantastic secondary cast of quirky characters that really added depth and a little dark humour to the story.

I felt the tension waned a little in the middle and I found my attention wandering a little, but the story pulled me back in with a nail biting ending.

The Crazy Season is a fantastic paranormal mystery, with a great cast of characters, that keeps you guessing until the end.

About The Author:

Jim writes dark psychological/thrillers, Horror and YA books that have endings you won’t see coming, and favours stories packed with wit. He has written over a dozen novels and many more short-stories spanning many genres.

Jim has a very strange sense of humour and is often considered a little odd. When not writing he will be found playing the drums, watching football and eating chocolate. He lives with his long-suffering wife, three beautiful children and two indignant cats in Swindon, Wiltshire UK.

Follow him at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/JimOdyAuthor

Instagram: @jimodyauthor

Twitter: @Jim_Ody_Author

Amazon : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jim-Ody/e/B019A6AMSY/

#Excerpt #Amalie by EJ Wood @E_J_Wood @zooloo2008 @QuestionPress #QuestionMarkPress #ZooloosBookTours #Promo

Hello lovelies! I’m very excited to have an excerpt from new release Amalie by EJ Woods as part of the first ever blog tour organised by Zoé over at Zooloo’s book tours! First a little about the book:

Title: Amalie by EJ Wood

Date Published: 15th April 2021

Publisher: Question Mark Press

Genre: Historical Thriller

Description:

HEY MURDERED FAMILIES
THE FUHRER CANNOT PROTECT THEM NOW

It’s not wise to murder the family of a budding assassin. Created by Auschwitz, her skill is honed by revenge.

A very different type of serial killer is loose in 1950s Europe. In Britain, a Brotherhood of powerful men takes notice and enhances the expertise and artistry of a killer.

DCI John Owen was born to serve. Recruited by MI6, he tracks an accomplished executioner whose love of luxury and the arts is second only to the love of watching an early death come to those who truly deserve it.

Join the chase. Then ask yourself…
Can there ever be only one winner?

Excerpt:

Wiesenthal without a doubt was soon on the rise to becoming one of the most famous Nazi hunters the world would ever see. A survivor of Mauthausen, he began to dedicate his life in the war crimes section of the United States Army gathering evidence to convict German war criminals. He wasn’t about to let anyone who had committed the crimes against humanity just walk away.

Another such man was called Hanns Alexander. Although Alexander was born in Germany during World War 1 into an assimilated wealthy household, his Jewish family had fled to Britain when Hitler’s rise to power threatened his family. His father was a popular doctor who was known to hold elaborate parties for the social elite including Albert Einstein. After the war ended, Alexander was one of the first volunteers wanting to investigate war-related crimes. A deep-seated rage fuelled his interest, and he’d drive around Europe with a dead Nazi strapped to his car. Amalie smiled as she recalled the memory when she read about his mission, she felt it far more interesting than the capture of Rudolf Höss; the exact details are unknown but he was either beaten by Jewish soldiers or forced to walk naked along a snowy road. However his fate ended, it wasn’t enough, and later he was taken into custody and hanged a short while later.

William looked into Amalie’s eyes. ‘What will you do when you have completed your quota?’

You can buy your copy here:

Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08XQRPJ7C

Amazon USA – https://www.amazon.com/AMALIE-J-Wood-ebook/dp/B08XQRPJ7C/

About The Author: