My Review for Death at Fakenham Races by Ross Greenwood

'A large, dark shape materialised to his right, as though plunging through a thick cloud. The drumming faster, relentless'.

I read my first Ross Greenwood novel, earlier this year and loved it, so of course I was going to read this one. Another day and another Norfolk murder! This one reminded me of a Dick Francis book. If you don't know, Dick was a former jockey, turned author and many of his books were set in the horse racing world and featured a murder or two!

As Ross was writing about the stable yards, and the beauty and grace that comes with the horses who reside there, I could smell the wood shavings and the gorgeous horsey smell. I could sense the love the people who worked there, had for their charges, and I dropped myself right into the middle of it all, as I set about trying to solve the murder(s) along with DI Ashley Knight.

A perfectly written police procedural. Ross kept me guessing most of the way through, and my choice of murderer changed from one chapter to the next as one curveball after another was thrown into the mix. I had just one thought at the end.....poor Barry! 😉

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Death at Fakenham Races by Ross Greenwood. 

About the Book

When everyone is lying, how do you catch a killer?

A brutal attack at Fakenham Racecourse plunges DI Ashley Knight into the competitive world of horse racing, where fortunes are won and lost in the blink of an eye. As the investigation unfolds, a chilling discovery reveals a darker side to this glamorous sport. In these high-stakes arenas, where winning is everything and everyone has something to hide, a few are willing to cross the ultimate line.

Can Ashley, an outsider in a world of whispers and long-held grudges, unmask the murderer before they kill again?

About Ross - by Ross

I was born in 1973 in Peterborough and lived there until I was 20, attending The King's School in the city. I then began a rather nomadic existence, living and working all over the country and various parts of the world.

I found myself returning to Peterborough many times over the years, usually when things had gone wrong. It was on one of these occasions that I met my partner about 100 metres from my back door whilst walking a dog. Two children swiftly followed. I'm still a little stunned by the pace of it now.

My first book Chancer was written after I decided to do something challenging while my knees permitted. No skydiving for me. I became a prison officer for four years. Ironically it was the four a.m. feed which gave me the opportunity to finish the book as unable to get back to sleep I completed it in the early morning hours.

It's surprising for me to realise I've written twenty books now. There are three strands, one where the books concern lives affected by prison, and then my detective series starring DI John Barton. The first Barton book, The Snow Killer hit the coveted number one spot on KOBO and AUDIBLE, with the rest of the series not far behind.

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My Review for One Cornish Summer With You by Phillipa Ashley

'He felt that Seaspray was simply waiting for someone to come along, hack through the thorns like the prince in Sleeping Beauty and save it from eternal slumber.'

I loved reading Phillipa's new book. It was full of sunshine and happiness, beautiful sand art and the promise of a gorgeous garden - reminding me of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. 

Tammy and Ruan have a really sweet meet-cute, as he sits on the seawall, watching her create her amazing art on the beach, and you just know that they're going to end up together. Of course there are some obstacles which pop up along the way, secrets that they keep to themselves for just a little bit too long and Tammy's inability to trust someone with her heart. But of course it all comes good in the end, as all great romance reads do. 

We nearly moved to Cornwall a few years ago, but opted for Norfolk instead, so I relish a book where I can lose myself in the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean, with the dramatic cliffs looming over the beaches. The North Sea doesn't crash (well, not often), and there are huge expanses of beach rather than cute little coves!

Thank you to Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review One Cornish Summer With You by Phillipa Ashley.

About the Book

Tammy loved her childhood growing up in the harbour town of Porthmellow. But when her father went bankrupt and her mother abandoned them, she was quick to learn that nothing lasts forever.

Now, Tammy spends her days creating works of art in the golden Cornish sand, and is determined to protect herself from further heartache. But everything changes when she meets Ruan – a gorgeous solicitor who has moved to Cornwall for a fresh start.

Just as Tammy starts to question if Ruan could be the one to break down her walls, she discovers he has a secret – one that unravels everything she thought she knew about her past.

Can Tammy find the courage to trust again? Or will Ruan’s secret push her away forever?

About Phillipa - by Phillipa

I started writing fiction in 2005, after joining an Internet creative writing site. My first novel, Decent Exposure, a romantic comedy set in the Lake District, was published in October 2006. It won the RNA New Writers Award and was made into a TV movie called Twelve Men of Christmas which aired on the Lifetime channel in December 2009. 

Since then, I’ve now had 27 books published including two Sunday Times best-sellers, an Audible number 1 and many Amazon Top 10 best selling ebooks.

My books have been or are being translated into many languages including German, Thai, Turkish, Bulgarian, Italian and Russian.

I live in a Staffordshire village with my husband and love being in the great outdoors, especially Cornwall and the Lake District.

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My Review for The Bell Jar by Sylvia Path, read by Maggie Gyllenhaal

“If you expect nothing from somebody you are never disappointed.”

The Bell Jar was the book we chose to read for #classiclitbookclub in August 2024, and I have finally managed to find the time to write a review. I listened to this one, narrated by Maggie Gyllenhaal and I loved it.

It's semi-autobiographical and so, so sad, as Esther takes the reader (or listener) through her inner turmoil, whilst her friends and family, are seemingly living a happy and perfect life. As it becomes apparent that she suffers severely with mental health issues, I found myself wondering if she had been born into today's society. Would she have perhaps been diagnosed with ADHD and received the help she needed, earlier than she did. 

This is another book that I would be happy to revisit at another time, to see if I take anything more away from it, now I know the story. 

Sadly, Sylvia took her own life, aged just thirty, but her writings live on and have been translated into many languages throughout the world.

About the Book

'I was supposed to be having the time of my life'.

When Esther Greenwood wins an internship on a New York fashion magazine in 1953, she is elated, believing she will finally realise her dream to become a writer.

But in between the cocktail parties and piles of manuscripts, Esther's life begins to slide out of control. She finds herself spiralling into depression and eventually a suicide attempt, as she grapples with difficult relationships and a society which refuses to take women's aspirations seriously.

The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath's only novel, was originally published in 1963 under the pseudonym Victoria Lucas. The novel is partially based on Plath's own life and descent into mental illness, and has become a modern classic. The Bell Jar has been celebrated for its darkly funny and razor sharp portrait of 1950s society and has sold millions of copies worldwide.

About Sylvia

Sylvia Plath was an American poet, novelist, and short story writer, widely regarded as one of the most influential and emotionally powerful authors of the 20th century. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, she demonstrated literary talent from an early age, publishing her first poem at the age of eight. Her early life was shaped by the death of her father, Otto Plath, when she was eight years old, a trauma that would profoundly influence her later work.

Plath attended Smith College, where she excelled academically but also struggled privately with depression. In 1953, she survived a suicide attempt, an experience she later fictionalized in her semi-autobiographical novel The Bell Jar. After recovering, she earned a Fulbright Scholarship to study at Newnham College, Cambridge, in England. While there, she met and married English poet Ted Hughes in 1956. Their relationship was passionate but tumultuous, with tensions exacerbated by personal differences and Hughes's infidelities.

Throughout her life, Plath sought to balance her ambitions as a writer with the demands of marriage and motherhood. She had two children with Hughes, Frieda and Nicholas, and continued to write prolifically. In 1960, her first poetry collection, The Colossus and Other Poems, was published in the United Kingdom. Although it received modest critical attention at the time, it laid the foundation for her distinctive voice—intensely personal, often exploring themes of death, rebirth, and female identity.

Plath's marriage unraveled in 1962, leading to a period of intense emotional turmoil but also extraordinary creative output. Living with her two children in London, she wrote many of the poems that would posthumously form Ariel, the collection that would cement her literary legacy. These works, filled with striking imagery and raw emotional force, displayed her ability to turn personal suffering into powerful art. Poems like "Daddy" and "Lady Lazarus" remain among her most famous, celebrated for their fierce honesty and technical brilliance.

In early 1963, following a deepening depression, Plath died by suicide at the age of 30. Her death shocked the literary world and sparked a lasting fascination with her life and work. The posthumous publication of Ariel in 1965, edited by Hughes, introduced Plath's later poetry to a wide audience and established her as a major figure in modern literature. Her novel The Bell Jar was also published under her own name shortly after her death, having initially appeared under the pseudonym "Victoria Lucas."

Plath’s work is often classified within the genre of confessional poetry, a style that emphasizes personal and psychological experiences. Her fearless exploration of themes like mental illness, female oppression, and death has resonated with generations of readers and scholars. Over time, Plath has become a feminist icon, though her legacy is complex and occasionally controversial, especially in light of debates over Hughes's role in managing her literary estate and personal history.

Today, Sylvia Plath is remembered not only for her tragic personal story but also for her immense contributions to American and English literature. Her work continues to inspire writers, artists, and readers worldwide. Collections such as Ariel, Crossing the Water, and Winter Trees, as well as her journals and letters, offer deep insight into her creative mind. Sylvia Plath’s voice, marked by its intensity and emotional clarity, remains one of the most haunting and enduring in modern literature.

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My Review for The Crucifix Killer by Chris Carter

“No-one would mess with a detective that looked like a pi$$ed-off Shrek”

I read The Crucifix Killer back in August for ##bookstabritsbookclub - now known as #thatindiebookclub, and wow! I thought I'd hate it, I was put off by the genre 'horror', but as I've mentioned recently, I think the horror genre is subjective. In my opinion, if the subject is about something that can happen in real life, then it's more of a dark thriller than a horror.

This was horrific, and so, so descriptive. I cringed, I hid behind virtual curtains and wondered whatever was going to come next as Chris continued to type those words. It did make me wonder what gruesome scenes the author had seen, read or heard about in his career as a criminal psychologist. 

I loved both Robert Hunter, the LAPD detective and his rookie sidekick, Carlos Garcia. They brought a touch of humour and lightheartedness to their difficult days. I can't wait to go back and read the next in the series. 

The Crucifix Killer is full of gore, mutilated bodies and deeply disturbing scenes, but if you're ok with all that then I would thoroughly recommend this one.

About the Book

When the body of a young woman is discovered in a derelict cottage in the middle of Los Angeles National Forest, Homicide Detective Robert Hunter finds himself entering a horrific and recurring nightmare. Naked, strung from two parallel wooden posts, the victim was sadistically tortured before meeting an excruciatingly painful death. 

All the skin has been ripped from her face - while she was still alive. On the nape of her neck has been carved a strange double-cross: the signature of a psychopath known as the Crucifix Killer. But that's impossible. Because two years ago, the Crucifix Killer was caught and executed. Could this therefore be a copycat killer? Or could the unthinkable be true? 

Is the real killer still out there, ready to embark once again on a vicious and violent killing spree, selecting his victims seemingly at random, taunting Robert Hunter with his inability to catch him? Hunter and his rookie partner are about to enter a nightmare beyond imagining.

About Chris - by Chris

Biographies can be an absolute drag, so I won’t bore anyone with a long life story.

I was born in Brasilia, Brazil where I spent my childhood and teenage years. After graduating from high school, I moved to the USA where I studied psychology with specialization in criminal behaviour. During my University years I held a variety of odd jobs, ranging from flipping burgers to being part of an all male exotic dancing group.

I worked as a criminal psychologist for several years before moving to Los Angeles, where I swapped the suits and briefcases for ripped jeans, bandanas and an electric guitar. After a spell playing for several well known glam rock bands, I decided to try my luck in London, where I was fortunate enough to have played for a number of famous artists. I toured the world several times as a professional musician.

A few years ago I gave it all up to become a full time writer.

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My Review for My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier, read by Jonathan Pryce

'..If we killed women for their tongues all men would be murderers.'

Back in 2024 I listened to My Cousin Rachel for the September read for #classiclitbookclub and as always, Daphne's writing just blew me away. A storyteller like no other, she kept me enthralled for the entire book. Just as with Rebecca and Jamaica Inn, the gothic atmosphere shines through and once again, there are some really, really dark turns of events. 

Philip is naive and immature and just doesn't seem to understand why Rachel doesn't want to be with him - she's just lost her husband for goodness’ sake, give the woman some space! I didn't like Philip at all, I'm not sure whether Daphne du Maurier's intention was for us to feel sorry for him or get annoyed with him. He was just a namby-pamby who had been molly-coddled his entire life and hadn't a clue how to live in the real world. 

Ambrose, in my opinion, expected far too much of Philip as he asks him to take over the running of his estate. Philip doesn't have the experience or knowledge to even begin to understand where to start.

Rachel - well, you'll probably change your mind, time and again in regard to Rachel. Is she evil, clever, yet manipulative? Or is she just a very sad widow who has lost her husband and is looking for something which was close to her dead husband for comfort? I'll leave you to ponder on that one as you read it - and long afterwards. 

I will be suggesting Frenchman's Creek for inclusion on the list for next year for #classiclitbookclub. It's been many years since I read that one, but I'm pretty sure I enjoyed it!

About the Book

I threw the piece of paper on the fire. She saw it burn ...Orphaned at an early age, Philip Ashley is raised by his benevolent older cousin, Ambrose. Resolutely single, Ambrose delights in Philip as his heir, a man who will love his grand home as much as he does himself. But the cosy world the two construct is shattered when Ambrose sets off on a trip to Florence. There he falls in love and marries - and there he dies suddenly. In almost no time at all, the new widow - Philip's cousin Rachel - turns up in England. Despite himself, Philip is drawn to this beautiful, sophisticated, mysterious woman like a moth to the flame. And yet ...might she have had a hand in Ambrose's death?

About Daphne

Daphne du Maurier (13th May 1907 - 19th April 1989) was first and foremost a really excellent storyteller but she was also part of the remarkable du Maurier dynasty - a granddaughter, daughter, sister, military wife, mother and grandmother. Daphne is often thought of as reclusive; she was perhaps solitary, comfortable with her own company and the make-believe world that she lived in and which enabled her to bring us her wonderful novels and short stories. Her social media accounts are approved by her estate.

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My Review for A Fresh Start at Polkerran Point by Cass Grafton

'The sing song of conversation was punctuated by cups clinking in saucers and plates being passed around. A Mad Hatter's tea party of sorts - with less hats and perhaps slightly more madness'.

'It's beginning to feel like all roads lead to Polkerran Point.'

In this visit to Polkerran Point, we are with Kate, who has made the move to Polkerran to get away from her ass of an ex-husband, and brought along her teenage daughter Mollie. I predicted that the love-interest this time around would be Dev, and I was right! 

Once again, Cass has brought me sunshine and joy with her book, as I excuse myself from real life and disappear into the gorgeous community that makes up Polkerran. I love that Cass can pick me up and deposit me around Anna's kitchen table, as I mingle with the batty locals. Or sit me on Kate's terrace with a glass of wine, listening to the sea in the distance and contemplating life. 

The 'Friends' reference at the beginning of each chapter relates to what the chapter is about and  is brilliantly thought out - you know what I mean 'the one with......'

Of course there is a 'happy-ever-after', I wouldn't expect anything less. Cass's books always make me feel as though someone has picked me up and wrapped me in a massive hug, and no matter what sort of day I was having, I always feel better as I turn the last page. 

I'm thinking Bella might be next - presuming there is another book - please don't stop writing Cass, your books make me happy. 💛

Thank you to Canelo Books, Love Book Tours and Cass Grafton for the gifted copy of A Fresh Start at Polkerran Point.

About the Book

They've both been burned by love before, but will they take a second chance? A year on from the demise of an unhappy marriage, Kate Stretton grabs the opportunity to move to the other end of the country and start afresh in Cornwall with her teenage daughter, Mollie. Unused to the slower pace of life, Kate leaps at the chance to take on Polkerran Point’s ailing annual arts and music festival.

Soon, though, she locks horns with local Rick Devonshire, the main sponsor for the festival. Rick’s marriage has fallen apart in spectacular fashion, and the last thing he needs is Kate pushing to go against the festival’s traditions.

Between unhelpful locals, taunting messages from her ex and trying to be present for her daughter, Kate’s life is rapidly spiralling out of her control. It will take the whole village to make the festival a success, but with her determination and growing friendship with Rick, she might just do it…

About Cass - by Cass

I began my writing life in Regency England, enlisted Jane Austen's help to timetravel between then and the present day and am now happily ensconced in 21st century Cornwall.

Well, in my imagination and soul; my heart and physical presence reside in northern England with my ever-patient husband and Tig and Tag, our cute but exceptionally demanding moggies.

A bit of a nomad, I’ve called three countries home, as well as six different English counties, but my aspiration is to one day reunite with my beloved West Country.

In the meantime, I write feel-good contemporary romances set in Cornwall and, in doing so, manage to live there vicariously through my characters and settings.

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My Review for Shaedes of Fire by Jenny Grimes

'A dragon will always catch you when you fall.'

This is such an incredible sequel to the first book, and if it was possible, I adored it even more. Opal, Farris and Edmym - I did not see that coming! 🌶️ But they handled the whole situation with maturity and even a little bit of humour!

As our adventurers are tasked with their missions, the amazing Jenny Grimes does an awesome job of taking us along for the ride - quite literally in some cases! Who doesn't want to be able to pop into a hole and transport to another realm, or even just get somewhere that little bit faster - it definitely beats catching the bus!

I loved Nell and that's all I'm going to say about her, you need to read this for yourself and continue along with Nell on the High Shaedes journey, as they encounter wizards, sarcastic dragons, and make some difficult decisions. 

If you haven't read Shaedes of Power, then read that first. If you love Fourth Wing and ACOTAR then I guarantee you will love this too. Now I'm off to make myself some 'honey cakes and daphweed tea' whilst I find my next read!

Thank you so much to Jenny Grimes for including me on her ARC team for Shaedes of Fire. How long do I have to wait for the next book??!!

About the Book

“Lesson A dragon will always catch you when you fall.”

Months have passed since Opal returned to the Shaede Court after defeating the Night Prince and experiencing the epic loss of her family. While so many things seem like they are falling into place for the High Shaedes, Opal must now navigate the dueling affections of her charming faerie lover, Farris, and Edmyn, the handsome and relentless Moon King.

In addition to dealing with all the complications that are revealed about her magical bond, dragons have come out of isolation and attacked the Night Court for no known reason, leaving the faerie realm both puzzled and crippled with fear. Add some drama with the faerie-worshipping wizards in the south and some unusual nightmares plaguing her best friend, and the hard-won peace that Opal and her friends thought they’d achieved begins to quickly unravel, leading them to places they have never been before.

What begins as a journey to discover the truth in Opal’s heart, quickly transforms into a high stakes quest, which involves a magical rock hunt, dragons with bad attitudes, wizards who become family, and a spicy love triangle that wants to be so much more. Welcome back to the Seam, where magic abounds, dysfunction festers, and love grows.

About Jenny

Jenny Grimes writes fantasy romance novels that focus on the blurred lines between worlds, the darkness you’ll find in all of them, and the love that resides there too. She creates her characters and spins her stories from her home in the human realm, where she raises her three little book dragons with her husband, and spends a healthy amount of time reading, travelling, and creating art.

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