REVIEW: Lies to Tell by Marion Todd

Lies to Tell (DI Clare Mackay #3) by Marion Todd

Genre: Crime fiction, Police procedural

Read: 30th March 2021

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Published: 25th June 2021

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer…

Early one morning DI Clare Mackay receives a message from her boss DCI Alastair Gibson telling her to meet him in secret. She does as he asks and is taken from St Andrews to a secure location in the remote Scottish hills. There, she is introduced to ethical hacker Gayle Crichton and told about a critical security breach coming from inside Police Scotland. Clare is sworn to secrecy and must conceal Gayle’s identity from colleagues until the source is found.

Clare already has her hands full keeping a key witness under protection and investigating the murder of a university student. When a friend of the victim is found preparing to jump off the Tay Road Bridge it is clear he is terrified of someone. But who? Clare realises too late that she has trusted the wrong person. As her misplaced faith proves a danger to herself and others, Clare must fight tooth and nail to protect those she cares about and see justice done.

A page-turning crime thriller perfect for fans of Alex Gray, D. K. Hood and Rachel Amphlett.

MY REVIEW:

It's always a pleasure to dive into Marion Todd's series set in the beautiful St Andrews featuring DI Clare Mackay. The first two books were solid procedurals and this one is no different with something a little different for Clare to sink her teeth into. This time she had three investigations to supervise and all three were tough. A breach in security, keeping a witness safe and a murder investigation. But were they all linked? 

After her sculptor boyfriend Geoffrey Dark took the opportunity to take up a position in Boston in America, Clare found herself wondering if he had also moved on. His communication was either cryptic or self-absorbed which left her questioning if they still had a future. But there was no time to ponder. A brief text message from her boss DCI Alistair Gibson averted her thoughts to the present. They have been summoned to a secret and secure location in the highlands by ethical hacker Gayle Crichton due to a security breach within Police Scotland. Faced with the formidable problem, Clare and Alistair are to keep the meeting secret and to discuss it with no one.

Under the guise of setting up a new comms system, Gayle is installed at Clare's station in St Andrews to monitor activity and identify the source of the leak. Under no circumstances is Clare permitted to reveal the real reason she is there or discuss it with anyone. Should she ignore the warning, her career could be over. Trust no one means TRUST NO ONE! For anyone, even those closest to her, could be the leak.

As they are returning to St Andrews, both lost in their own thoughts, Alistair receives word that a protected witness' location has been compromised and they divert via Perth to collect her. Tamsin Quinn, wife of criminal weapons supplier Phil Quinn, has agreed to testify at the upcoming trial against her husband in exchange for immunity. Hence her being kept in a safe house out of harms way. But it seems Phil's right hand man, Paddy Grant, has discovered where she's been hiding and now they must move her to another safe house. This time on Clare's patch in St Andrews. Clare didn't even know they had a safe house in St Andrews but Alistair informs her they have them everywhere.

For Tasmin's protection, Clare takes her back to the nick until the new safe house has been cleared and ready for her where a distraught student is trying to report his friend missing. But before he can give them any more information, he scarpers leaving the desk sergeant scratching his head. Then Clare is called to a suspicious death is Craigtoun Park where she finds a young man who had been beaten before being strangled though with little blood at the site it is clear he died elsewhere. Police on scene found his ID which revealed him to be the young man Johannes the student back at the station had been trying to report missing. At least he had left his name before his disappearing act, so Clare and her DS, Chris West, head over to his flat to see if they can question him further. But upon arrival, they discover the student Marek has not returned and has seemed to have disappeared completely. A search of his room reveals £1,000 stuffed into a pair of boots, which is a lot of cash for any student to have. But a search of the dead boy Johannes' room throws up nothing but a few expensive items that he had been in no position to pay for himself. And soon Clare and her team find themselves thrust into an investigation of money laundering using unsuspecting students to move the money around.

In the midst of juggling three investigations, Clare still manages to find time to wind down at her newly purchased cottage in a more rural area of St Andrews. She has no one but her beloved bull terrier Benjy to come home to, who she rescued at the end of her first case after moving to St Andrews a year ago, and together they enjoy walks in the crisp fresh air. In her downtime, she finds herself wondering what's really happening with Geoffrey as he appears to have made plenty of new friends in America. But she also finds herself growing closer to Alistair, who was once a thorn in her side, and the pair enjoy a quiet evening together before taking things upstairs. Thoroughly confused as to what this means for her and Geoffrey, Clare throws herself back into the investigations as Gayle reveals her work in St Andrews is almost complete. Does that mean she's found the source of the breach? And would she tell her if she had?

With her eye on several balls at once, Clare suddenly finds herself thrown into the deep end without a life-jacket with a serious error made on an invoice for police services for £8,000 instead of the £80,000 it was meant to be as her past comes back to haunt her once again, leaving her fighting for her life. Will Clare's career come to a grinding halt as a result of the error? Or will it be too late for her to save herself?

What a delightful addition to this series as Marion Todd keeps us on our toes throughout. And while I had several suspects lined up as the breach, she completely hoodwinked me on that score. I didn't see it coming but when it did, it all made perfect sense. It was wonderful to meet up with the team again and of course the lovable Benjy. So glad nothing happened to him either!

While this is a series, LIES TO TELL works just as well as a standalone and can be read without having read the first two as Todd gives us enough backstory to keep readers in the loop. However, if you want to delve further, then I recommend starting from the beginning which is always preferable with regards to a series.

A fast paced book, LIES TO TELL takes us on a merry chase with not but three investigations and storylines as we try to work out how they all link together...if at all. When the ending comes, each of the mysteries are tied up nicely however readers are left with cliffhanger regarding Clare's personal life. Which I found frustrating...lol

A solid police procedural, LIES TO TELL is an enjoyable read that I read almost in one sitting...but I needed sleep. I love the St Andrews setting, although I've never been there, I feel as if I am and it makes a pleasant change from the bigger cities like Glasgow, London or Newcastle.

I look forward to seeing what's in store next for Clare and her team, as well as for Clare personally.

Recommended for fans of crime fiction and police procedurals.

I would like to thank #MarionTodd, #NetGalley and #Canelo for an ARC of #LiesToTell in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

A native of Dundee, Marion studied music with the Open University and worked for many years as a piano teacher and jobbing accompanist. A spell as a hotel lounge pianist provided rich fodder for her writing and she began experimenting with a variety of genres. Early success saw her winning first prize in the Family Circle Magazine short story for children national competition and she followed this up by writing short stories and articles for her local newspaper.

Life (and children) intervened and, for a few years, Marion’s writing was put on hold. During this time, she worked as a college lecturer, plantswoman and candle-maker. But, as a keen reader of crime fiction, the lure of the genre was strong, and she began writing her debut crime novel. When she isn’t writing, Marion can be found tussling with her jungle-like garden and walking in the beautiful Scottish countryside.

Now a full-time writer, Marion lives in North-east Fife, overlooking the River Tay. She can often be found working out plots for her novels while tussling with her jungle-like garden and walking her daughter’s unruly but lovable dog.

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REVIEW: Bring Him Home by Nicole Trope

Bring Him Home (previously titled "The Child Who Was Silent") by Nicole Trope

Genre: Mystery, Crime thriller, Women's fiction, General fiction

Read: 15th March 2021

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Published: 30th March 2021

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

Where is he? Where’s my beloved child with his father’s blue eyes and a halo of golden curls? My little boy is out there on his own. Please keep him safe, I silently beg, please, please just keep him safe.

‘Your son is missing,’ they say, and life as I know it is over. ‘Where would he go?’ the police ask. ‘Where would he be?’ my daughter begs.

My heart races as images flash in my mind. The cabin we rent every autumn, surrounded by fiery red maple trees. Voices raised. Tears falling. A marriage falling apart. And worst of all my husband telling our child, Theo, to run.

The rest is a blank in my memory. If I close my eyes I can almost see it. A betrayal that has left me alone, in tatters, grieving for what we had.

It wasn’t meant to be like that. It should have been precious time as a family, with boardgames, walks in the mountain and pancakes for breakfast.

Instead my little one is has vanished. ‘They are looking for him,’ the nurse told me, ‘but the storm is slowing down the search.’

The police think Theo has the answers, that he knows what tore our family apart. But I have no idea where he is. No clue if he is safe. I won’t survive unless I bring him home. But if I do, and the truth comes out, will I survive that?

A completely gripping, beautifully written and totally heartbreaking page-turner, which examines what happens behind closed doors, and the secrets that can shatter a family. Fans of Jodi Picoult, Diane Chamberlain and Liane Moriarty will be totally addicted to this breathtaking novel.

MY REVIEW:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Nicole Trope's emotional tale BRING HIM HOME (formerly titled "The Child Who Was Silent").

As a fellow Australian, I am a huge fan of Nicole Trope and am always looking forward to the next one (though I still haven't read them all...lol) Her books are based in Sydney and/or the Blue Mountains both of which I am familiar with and, although some places she does fictionalise, the areas about which she writes I can visualise. In BRING HIM HOME, the village of Mt Watson is fictional and possibly a play on the actual area Mt Wilson, particularly as one of the character's surnames is Wilson.

I also have to say that the original title "The Child Who Was Silent" I believe is a far better title than BRING HIM HOME because while it is a mystery, it is also Theo's story. And Theo is the child who was silent. I think they should have left the title as is.

The story opens with a young woman, Amber, lost in the bush and trying to find her way out. She comes across a cabin and hopes they will be able to help her find her way out. She knocks. There is no answer. The door is slightly ajar so she pushes it open whilst calling out "Hello?" She ventures into the living area and cannot believe what her eyes are seeing. A man lays prone on a cream rug with a woman seated beside him, holding a knife. Amber screams and flees the scene, calling for help immediately.

It is clear from the beginning that something has terrible happened at the cabin that day but Cecelia cannot remember anything. She remembers her and Nick arguing, something they have done a lot of in recent times, and then her husband telling her son "Run, Theo! Get help!" But why did he tell him to run? Was Nick scared? Of who? Of her? The police certainly think she stabbed him and now she is being held for attempted murder. But she loves Nick - why would she stab him? But she was found holding the knife. But try as she might, Cecelia cannot recall what actually happened. She only remembers fragments. It's like a sheet of opaque glass has been erected in her brain, preventing her from remembering. The psychiatrist they had come see her told her that it was her brain's way of protecting her. Protecting her from what? What does she need protecting from? The truth? That she DID stab Nick? But it's hopeless...no matter how much she tries she just cannot remember. And even if she could remember, she couldn't tell them anyway because when she opens her mouth to talk nothing comes out. Cecelia has become silent, just like Theo. 

Her beloved Theo. Where is he? Nick told him to run and get help...but it's cold and raining relentlessly out there and Theo doesn't like shoes. He doesn't wear them. So he will be out in the cold, the dark and with no shoes to protect his feet from the bush. The police tell her they have a search party out there looking for him but with thie relentless rain it is hindering the search for him. She and Nick have always told Theo to shelter in place, they have instilled it in him. Shelter in place. So with any luck Theo will be sheltering in place somewhere out of the rain until somebody can find him.

Eighty five year old Rose has lived in her bush cabin for most of her life. She lived there with her mother, sister and little brother Lionel. But they have all gone now and it's just Rose. She loves to wake in the morning and hear the bush awaken. The sounds of the birds, the call of the wild. But this morning, Rose hears a different sound. Last night she thought it was possums under the cabin but this morning she's not so sure. Now it's like a keening sound of something, or someone, in distress. As she goes out in her dressing gown to investigate, she sees a shape and tells it "get out of here" but it soon becomes clear that it's a little boy. And he is clearly distressed. She softens her voice and coaxes him out and leads him back inside the cabin where it is warm. He is soaked through and wearing no shoes - he must be frozen to the bone, especially if he has been there all night. She asks him if he is hungry and he nods his head. So she gives him her toast. As Rose observes the boy, she is aware that he is different and not like other children. His behaviour and demeanour are similar to that of her brother Lionel, and society didn't understand him back in those days. But it's with her knowledge and experience with Lionel that she knows how to treat this young boy. She asks him his name and he starts signing rapidly to her. It's been so long she can't keep up with his speed and asks him to slow down. Slowly he spells out his name. Theo. 

Rose knows from experience that people like Theo don't like to be touched. Instead she lets him lead. At the moment he is happy eating toast and lining up her sets of knives, forks and spoons. When he gets distressed about the odd number of them, she merely takes away some of the others to make them all the same. She knows people like Theo. When thunder booms loudly overhead, Theo shrieks and hides under the table. Lionel used to do that too. So Rose climbs down and sits under the table with him and, although he doesn't like to be touched, he does allow her to hold him tightly until the thunder subsides. But what to do with the child? What happened to him? Why was he under her cabin? Where were his parents? Someone must be missing him? She asks Theo and he begins to tell her in his broken language that he needs help. 

I am Theo. I am help. Dad told me to run, so I ran. I get help. I found Rose. Rose is help. It's wet. I'm cold. I shelter in place. Mum told me "Theo, shelter in place." Dad told me to shelter in place. So I shelter in place. I found Rose. Rose is help. Too many words. Too much noise. I bang my head on the floor to stop the noise. But dad said "Run, Theo. Get help!" I get help. Rose is help.

BRING HIM HOME is a touching, poignant and beautifully written tale centring around Theo, an eleven year old boy with autism. The pace is slow to begin with and it is not until around 50% that the story really comes into itself and from then on I couldn't swipe the pages quick enough to reach the end. At first the reader is thoroughly confused as to what happened in the cabin and it is told in such a way that keeps us in the dark until just the right time. When the pieces began falling into place, I soon put them together so the ending wasn't a surprise. But that didn't deter me from enjoying this beautiful story.

The characters are well developed and are honest as well as vulnerable but completely likeable. While I was frustrated with Cecelia, who could speak, at her sudden silence. Why could she not tell what happened? At least, what she remembers? What was stopping her? Why did she not remember? And why has she suddenly become silent? The daughter Kaycee who came up from Sydney with the barman from the bar she was drinking at in tow to help find her missing brother. I loved Jonah. He was there for Kaycee and he helped with the search...and yet he didn't have to drive her 100+km to the Blue Mountains when she drunkenly asked him to. And he didn't have to stay either...but he did.

But my favourite character was Rose, who lives a secluded life in her cabin in the bush, carrying a trauma of her own from her past that still haunts her. She has a beautiful understanding soul and a heart of gold as she helps the family through her care, kindness and understanding with Theo.

Theo himself was a remarkable character also. Despite his difficulties and the challenges he faces with his autism, he understands what he is meant to do. Despite being out of his comfort zone, he reaches out for help and to help. OMG...there were a couple of times in the book that I was in tears with regards to Theo. I'm not overly maternal and don't generally cry over children but this...I was so moved by one particular scene that I literally bawled. It was so beautiful, so moving and oh so touching I could have cried...and I did. 

Nicole has done a wonderful job in encapsulating the world of an autistic child, which must be a feat in itself. They see the world so differently to us that it is so hard to understand just what the world is like through their eyes. I think Nicole captured it beautifully. She made Theo seem so real and so relatable that even the most hardened hearts could have wrapped their arms around him...had he been comfortable with that. I will never hear "This Little Light of Mine" in the same way again.

Although I pieced together the twist and saw it coming, I still thoroughly enjoyed BRING HIM HOME...more than I thought I would. When I began and I found the pace somewhat slow and Theo's narrative very repetitive - but that's how it is in his world - I wasn't sure if I would enjoy the book as much as Nicole's previous ones. But I was wrong. Once that pace picked up and I started piecing things together, I couldn't devour it quick enough.

Beautifully descriptive and tender, BRING HIM HOME will pull at your heart strings and bring tears to your eyes. Have the tissues handy because there are a few scenes in which you will need them, so touching they are.

While BRING HIM HOME is a mystery, the focus is mainly on Theo. It is his story and his journey to get help for his family. It is for this reason I believe the titled should have remained "The Child Who Was Silent"...because he was and he is the focus throughout. It is about learning about Theo, growing with Theo and then searching for Theo. It is about looking at the world through Theo's eyes and about understanding him. He is the child who was silent so for me that title is far more appropriate and fitting.

BRING HIM HOME is the story of a little boy lost, a mother traumatised, a father fighting for his life, and a daughter (who has always felt forgotten) left to pick up the pieces. A beautiful, moving and emotional read that I thoroughly recommend!

I would like to thank #NicoleTrope, #NetGalley, #Bookouture for an ARC of #BringHimHome #TheChildWhoWasSilent in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Nicole Trope went to university to study Law but realised the error of her ways when she did very badly on her first law essay because-as her professor pointed out- ‘It’s not meant to be a story.’ She studied teaching instead and used her holidays to work on her writing career and complete a Masters’ degree in Children’s Literature. After the birth of her first child she stayed home full time to write and raise children, renovate houses and build a business with her husband.

The idea for her first published novel, The Boy under the Table, was so scary that it took a year for her to find the courage to write the emotional story.

She is now published by Bookouture and is an Amazon top 100 bestseller in the USA, UK, AUS and CAN.

She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children.

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REVIEW: Not Without My Sister by Marion Kummerow

Not Without My Sister by Marion Kummerow

Genre: Historical fiction, WW2, Holocaust

Read: 13th March 2021

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Published: 25th March 2021

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

1944, Germany. Two sisters seek to overcome impossible odds to be reunited, in this utterly devastating and unforgettable novel about sisterhood, courage and survival.

All they had left was each other. Until the Nazis tore them apart.

After years of hiding from the Nazis, Rachel Epstein and her little sister Mindel are captured by the Gestapo and sent to the concentration camp at Bergen-Belsen. The only ray of light for either girl is that they are together.

But on arrival they are separated. As she’s seventeen and deemed an adult, Rachel is sent to work in a brutal factory whilst four-year-old Mindel is sent into the so-called “star” camp for Jewish prisoners. All on her own, Rachel knows her sister will have no chance of survival—unless she can find someone to take care of her.

Working in the windowless, airless factory—filling munitions casings with chemicals that burn her fingers and make her eyes sting—the only thing that keeps Rachel going is the thought of her little sister. Because if there’s even a chance Mindel is alive, Rachel knows she must try to save her.

But, separated by barbed wire, and treated brutally by SS guards who do not even see them as human beings, can either of the orphaned sisters ever dare to hope that they’ll find their way back to each other? And to freedom?

A completely heartbreaking, utterly gripping tale of courage, loss and overcoming impossible odds, perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Ragged Edge of Night and The Orphan’s Tale.

MY REVIEW:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Marion Kummerow's beautiful but heartbreaking story NOT WITHOUT MY SISTER.

Although the market is literally flooded with these types of books, there are some that stand out amongst the rest. NOT WITHOUT MY SISTER is one of them. Unlike many others of its kind, it is not bogged down with historical fact and descriptions, giving it a textbook-type feel, but focuses on the actual on the two sisters and their stories. This makes it a page-turner, but not in the usual sense, but rather in the way the reader wants to know if the sisters survived the terror and deplorable circumstances in which they found themselves in.

I must add that this book was inspired by author Marion Kummerow visiting the former concentration camp Bergen-Belsen in Germany where she was viewing an exhibition about children in concentration camps. There was one particular photo that caught her eye. It was of a very young girl - of no more than 4 or 5 years old - with a stuffed animal in her arms. The photo is indeed very moving and heartbreaking. You can see the photo and read about Marion's visit to Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp. After seeing this photo, Marion was inspired to create the character of 4 year old Mindel.

Enjoying a quiet, hardworking life on their small farm in Bavaria Germany, Rachel and Mindel Epstein live with their parents and two brothers, Israel (10) and Aron (7). They are Jewish, but non-practicing, though that matters not to the Nazis. Mindel has just turned 4 and the children have been sent out to collect fruits to preserve for the winter months, although Mindel has eaten half of her basket already. As they neared their farm, the old woman Mindel was always frightened of as being a witch warns them not to return home as the Nazis have arrested their parents and laid claim to their farm. With nowhere to go, the children survive by hiding in the outbuildings of neighbouring farms and finding small morsels of food to fend off starvation. When they receive word that a convent will take them on as orphans, a friend of their's arranges for papers to be falsified to allow them entry into the safe haven.

Then in the blink of an eye, 4 year old Mindel and her 17 year old sister Rachel were snatched by SS officers and sent to various Nazi concentration camps before ending up at Bergen-Belsen. Upon arrival, the sisters are immediately separated with Rachel imprisoned in the women's camp and Mindel sent to the neighbouring compound known as star camp. 

All at once, Mindel went from the safety of Rachel's presence to being all alone with only her rag doll Paula. She didn't even have her cup for the tasteless soup that was dolled out to them in rations as Rachel held on to them both...and the rule in the camp is "no cup, no food". So Mindel found herself not only alone, but without food also. Star camp, she was to discover, was filled with young children like herself and women of various nationalities like Dutch and Russian...although Mindel had no idea what that meant. A young lad named Laszlo took Mindel under her wing, found her a cup so she could receive rations and introduced her to the other children. Although Laszlo was just 7 years old, he became Mindel's best friend, brother and protector. He taught her how to survive the deplorable conditions of the camp by teaching her how to get scraps of food and collecting various items that could be used as currency in the future. They survived by making everything a game - such Jews and the SS as well as who could wrap their hands around their ankles or wrists the most and who was the thinnest.

One day a woman told Mindel about the orphan's barracks at the far end of the camp, run by a woman and her husband who take in various children and care for them as their own. Mindel thought this sounded wonderful and told Laszlo about it...but he wasn't so thrilled. He said they take care of each other and don't need anyone else. Besides, he says, you can't trust adults. But Mindel begged and pleaded until Laszlo relented on the proviso that he would make no promises. But as soon as they met Mother Brinkmann, Mindel felt safe and knew that she wanted to stay there. Laszlo wasn't so keen but he grudgingly agreed. Soon, it felt as if it were a real home outside of the confines of the camp. Here, in the orphan's barracks, they were largely left alone. There were no roll calls and the SS left them to their devices. Although there were around forty children, and they each had to share their bunks, it was clean and they were cared for. Mother Brinkmann read them the same story every night from the only book they had but the most favourite part of all was the stories about Fluff. All the children loved the adventures of Fluff, a dog who took them out of the confines of the camp and into a whole different world of adventure and discovery. Everyone looked forward to hearing about Fluff each night with the children taking turns in choosing his adventure.

Despite her new home in the orphan's barracks with Laszlo and Mother Brinkmann, Mindel still yearned for her sister and wondered if she was still alive. She knew she had been taken to the compound beyond the wire fence but she had never seen or heard from her again...her parting words "I love you Mindel. I promise I will find you again!" rang in her ears but after many many months Mindel wondered if it were true. Would she ever see Rachel again? She had to believe she would. So when Laszlo came up with a plan to escape to Switzerland, Mindel refused to leave for fear of never finding her sister again. Besides, at least here she was safe with Mother Brinkmann.

When Rachel was wrenched away from her sister and imprisoned in the women's camp, she made every effort to find out where Mindel was. She knew her little sister would not survive these harsh conditions on her own but her questions largely fell on deaf ears. In Bergen-Belsen, you needed all your energy to look after yourself. There was nothing left for anyone else. But Rachel would not be swayed. She despaired over how a little girl, a toddler no less, could  possibly manage the deplorable conditions they were in. She soon learnt that Mindel would more than likely be in star camp which was just beyond the wire fence in the next compound. But the fenceline was heavily patrolled and there was no way to cross over. Unless she went to the infirmary...then she could get a message to the star camp than she was looking for her sister. But that came at a cost...usually in cigarettes. But as Rachel had none she had to find ways to earn the coveted cigarettes. When she finally had enough, she was suddenly selected and sent to another camp miles away to work at the munitions factory. Rachel could have cried...she was so close.

Life was tough at the munitions factory. While the work wasn't hard, her body paid the price with the chemicals used to pack the bullets turning her hair orange, her skin yellow and creating breathing difficulties. After an accident resulting in burns to her hands and broken ribs, she is sent back to Bergen-Belsen to recover from her injuries. She finds herself in the camp's infirmary - ironically, where she had been trying to get all along - and asks makes enquiries about Mindel. When she next sees the nurse she learns that a little girl who says she is 4 is looking for her sister called Rachel. It's Mindel! Rachel is elated. Her sister is alive. She asks the nurse for another favour but is declared well enough to return to work and is sent back to her barracks. Before she could make any further enquiries, she is sent out to yet another camp to work in the salt mines. Conditions are so bad that Rachel gives up. She sees no point in going on anymore. Every time she gets close to finding Mindel, something happens to stand in her way. Mindel is probably dead anyway...so what is the point anymore?

With so many books relating the atrocities of the horrible experiences endured in these camps, Marion Kummerow has given us something so uniquely different. A child's perspective. As seen through the eyes of Mindel. And  while what Rachel suffered was deplorable, it was Mindel's story that touched me the most. It is unique and heartbreaking to say the least as little Mindel navigates her way through the horrid conditions to find hope through compassion. Some of the things she saw no child should ever have to see. There is even a short appearance of two well known real life siblings who are wise beyond their years and help give Rachel hope. And you'll wish you could hug all of the children in star camp, some of whom were born there and know no other way of life, but mostly the toughened seven year old Laszlo for his care and protection of a frightened little girl.

Written in an easy style, NOT WITHOUT MY SISTER is a touching story that will tug at your heartstrings and you will find yourself reading through tears as it comes to a close. Although fictional, the appalling conditions and the cruelties of the Nazis are well documented truth upon which books of this genre are generally based. The vivid descriptions are horrific and a stark reminder of the atrocities that took place in reality and in the hope that they will never ever happen again.

I enjoyed the oscillating perspectives of both Rachel and Mindel in each alternate chapter as the sisters take turns to tell their stories. They are both complementing and different in contrast to the other. While Rachel sees the horrors and the camp for it is amidst the systematic neglect and starvation and cruelties, Mindel's naivety protects her unaware of the depths of horror that take place around her. Your heart will break as you follow Mindel's story and you just want to wrap her in your arms and keep her protected forever.

NOT WITHOUT MY SISTER is poignant and heartbreaking but is not without hope. That even in those darkest times when it would be easier to give up, there is hope. As Rachel and Mindel carry hope in their hearts that they will see each other again, that this war will end and that there is a better and brighter world out there waiting for them...if they can just survive the war.

Grab your tissues because you will need them! NOT WITHOUT MY SISTER is so emotional, so heartbreaking and so brutal at times that it will live with you long after you have finished. 

A book to inspire, NOT WITHOUT MY SISTER is perfect for fans of this genre. A definite 5 star read!

I would like to thank #MarionKummerow, #NetGalley, #Bookouture for an ARC of #NotWithoutMySister in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Marion Kummerow was born and raised in Germany, before she set out to "discover the world" and lived in various countries. In 1999 she returned to Germany and settled down in Munich where she's now living with her family.

Inspired by the true story about her grandparents, who belonged to the German resistance and fought against the Nazi regime, she started writing historical fiction, set during World War II. Her books are filled with raw emotions, fierce loyalty and resilience. She loves to put her characters through the mangle, making them reach deep within to find the strength to face moral dilemma, take difficult decisions or fight for what is right. And she never forgets to include humor and undying love in her books, because ultimately love is what makes the world go round.

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REVIEW: Last Seen by Joy Kluver

Last Seen (DI Bernadette Noel #1) by Joy Kluver

Genre: Crime fiction, police procedural

Read: 12th March 2021

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Published: 26th March 2021

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

I can see her, shouting with laughter as she swings as high as she can, her beautiful blonde curls flying out behind her. I can feel her tiny hot hand in mine, and my heart aches. My little girl. If only I’d listened to my gut. Then maybe she’d be safe here with me…

When five-year-old Molly Reynolds is snatched from the park in the small village of Otterfield, Detective Bernadette ‘Bernie’ Noel throws herself into the search, sick with worry for the quiet, sensitive little girl and her distraught mother.

Wasting no time, Bernie finds a small green cardigan under a bush in the park. It still has the smiley face sticker Molly won that week at school. It’s the first in a chain of clues – and Bernie can’t shake the feeling that it was left deliberately, as a message.

But Bernie encounters a wall of silence. Otterfield is a close-knit community, yet no one in the village seems to care that Molly is missing at all. Why?

And then Bernie makes a chilling discovery: twenty-five years ago, another little girl went missing from the area. Her name was Sophie, and all they ever found of her was her teddy bear, hidden under a bush. Now Bernie knows she’s in a race against time to save Molly’s life.

Bernie’s team work round the clock to find a connection between the two girls, and just when they think they’re making progress a devastating tragedy strikes at the heart of the case. Molly’s family have been hiding a secret, and now their little girl is in greater danger than ever.

Can Bernie outwit the most warped criminal she has ever faced and bring Molly home safe, or will another innocent life be lost?

A completely addictive crime thriller with mind-blowing twists that will have you reading late into the night. If you like Val McDermid, D.S. Butler or Angela Marsons, you’ll love Joy Kluver.

MY REVIEW:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Joy Kluver's compelling debut crime thriller LAST SEEN.

A mother's back is turned. A child goes missing. The first 24 hours are the most crucial and with each passing hour, the chances of finding her alive continue to shrink. Door to door enquiries are undertaken but police are finding the community reluctant to help to the point of refusal. Why?

DI Bernadette "Bernie" Noel came to Wiltshire from the Met to escape. With her move came a promotion after a successful conviction in London which resulted in her receiving death threats. A move to the West Country was to put all that behind her and to protect both herself and her family. But despite her rank and her stoic exterior, Bernie is as emotional and fallible as the next person. But she cares. And that, and her tenacity, is what makes her a good detective.

Now six months later Bernie is on her way back from her grandfather's funeral in London when she receives the call and races to the scene. She arrives to find a search already underway and her crime scene trampled. With no clue as to how 5 year old Molly Reynolds left the playground, police can only surmise possible scenarios with no real idea as to what actually happened. Had Molly been taken? Was it a stranger? Was it someone known to her? Was she playing her favourite game of hide and seek and had hidden herself just a little too well? Or had she just wandered off and gotten lost? Police dogs are brought in to track her scent...but only get as far as the gate before the trail goes cold. If Molly had left the playground - which she obviously did as she was no longer there - then why does her scent end at the gate? She didn't grow wings and fly away...so where did she go?

Bernie's questions of the community fall on deaf ears. She is met with belligerence, has doors slammed in her face while others don't even answer the door! No one, it seems, wants to help find little Molly. Why is the community of Otterfield so intent on being unhelpful?

When Bernie questions distraught mother Jessica Cole, she learns that Molly has no friends and plays by herself. When they arrived at the playground after school, Molly even had to wait around half an hour before the other children left and allow her play on the equipment. Bernie found this strange behaviour and it appeared the entire community was against both Molly and her mother. But even so, wouldn't the community want to help find little Molly, regardless of how they felt about her mother?

Not only has Bernie got this troubling case on her hands, she also has office politics to deal with when her superior, DCS Wilson, announces that a new DS is being foisted upon her who "has a great deal of experience" and will take over as FLO for the family. As Bernie already had an FLO in place, she feels undermined and outranked. And given Wilson's praise of the newcomer from Scotland, that he doesn't have the faith in her to investigate this case and close with a good result.

Needless to say when DS Dougal (Dougie) Anderson arrives, swooping in to take over FLO duties, he dismisses the uniformed PC guarding the Coles' house as well as the volunteer home help Bernie called in to assist Jessica in caring for baby Sam. This leads to conflict between Anderson and Bernie as she reminds him that she is his superior officer and he had no authority to dismiss those she had put in place without first clearing it with her. It is soon clear to Bernie that DS Anderson is used to giving orders, making him something of a mystery. The fact that they don't always see eye to eye creates a simmering layer of conflict between them. Thankfully, there isn't too much of that and Anderson ends up being an essential member of Bernie's team.

The rest of Bernie's team - DS Kerry Allen and DC Matt Taylor along with Sgt Alan Turner, DCS Wilson and media liaison Jane Clackett - are an interesting bunch and despite conflicts with the latter two, the team are like a well-oiled machine that moves along smoothly. And if anyone can solve the disappearance of Molly Reynolds, it's Bernie.

The story is told in the third person perspective of Bernie throughout with the exception of little snippets, inserted every few chapters, from the villain. These fragments create another aspect to the story as we try to figure out who is behind the disappearance...and why. Part of the fun in reading crime fiction is trying to guess the culprit but Joy Kluver had me well and truly hoodwinked. Although some aspects I did manage to figure out successfully.

With a fast moving plot, there is a lot packed into LAST SEEN, from a missing 5 year old, a series of thefts at betting shops in the county and surrounds, an historic child abduction to a fact from Bernie's past she has not yet met and the underlying threats from a past case as well the ongoing power struggles and office politics. But it was all well written and each facet complemented the rest of the story.

I found it slightly ironic, however, that Bernie - who had made the move to Wiltshire to keep a low profile - spends a lot of time appearing at press conferences, interviews and in the public eye and yet still survives unscathed. If her superiors are truly aware of her circumstances, I'm sure they would have made allowances to keep her safe and out of the public eye. After all, she is meant to be keeping a low profile. But whether they are or not, I'm not sure. Surely they aren't as it would be professional suicide to place a member under their command at risk. However, I'm sure there is more to come on that front as the series progresses.

A promising start to the series, I thoroughly enjoyed LAST SEEN and look forward to reading more about Bernie and her team. I recommend this book/series to fans of crime fiction, police procedurals and those of Carol Wyer, Val McDermid, Helen Phifer, Angela Marsons and Carla Kovach.

I would like to thank #JoyKluver, #NetGalley, #Bookouture for an ARC of #LastSeen in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Joy Kluver has been an avid reader and writer since childhood. More recently she's been escaping the madness of motherhood by turning her hand to crime novels. A book blogger, she's also part of the First Monday Crime team and if you've been to any of their events it's likely you've eaten one of her cookies. She also organises author talks for her local library. Joy lives in SW London with her husband and three children. 'Last Seen' is her debut novel and the first book in the DI Bernadette Noel series.

Joy is represented by Anne Williams at the Kate Horden Literary Agency.

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REVIEW: You Let Me Go by Eliza Graham

You Let Me Go by Eliza Graham

Genre: Historical fiction, WW2

Read: 10th March 2021

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 25th March 2021

★★★ 3.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

A secret family history of love, anguish and betrayal.

After her beloved grandmother Rozenn’s death, Morane is heartbroken to learn that her sister is the sole inheritor of the family home in Cornwall—while she herself has been written out of the will. With both her business and her relationship with her sister on the rocks, Morane becomes consumed by one question: what made Rozenn turn her back on her?

When she finds an old letter linking her grandmother to Brittany under German occupation, Morane escapes on the trail of her family’s past. In the coastal village where Rozenn lived in 1941, she uncovers a web of shameful secrets that haunted Rozenn to the end of her days. Was it to protect those she loved that a desperate Rozenn made a heartbreaking decision and changed the course of all their lives forever?

Morane goes in search of the truth but the truth can be painful. Can she make her peace with the past and repair her relationship with her sister?

MY REVIEW:

I'm thrilled to be taking part in the #BlogTour for Eliza Graham's compelling dual timeline tale YOU LET ME GO.

What drew me to this book initially was the premise and two things I further noted - Cornwall and dual timeline. I seemed to be drawn to stories set in Cornwall, particularly one that is dual timeline. And the mystery to one's past sounded like an exciting aspect I looked forward to peeling away.

But...I won't lie. YOU LET ME GO is a slow starter. So slow I wondered when it was ever going to get there. I wouldn't say the first half of the story is superfluous because it does give you the background of what's to come. I just wish it got there quicker. It's not until the second half of the book, after Morie makes the decision to travel to Brittany to uncover the truth of her grandmother's past that things really start to get interesting. Does it make trudging through the first half worth it? I think so...eventually.

Devastated by the loss of her beloved grandmother Rozenn, Morane is equally at a loss to learn that her sister Gwen is the sole beneficiary to inherit Rozenn's beautiful home, Vue Claire, in Cornwall. All that Morie had been bequeathed was an old silver compass with initials engraved on the back. Feeling somewhat guilty, Gwen assures Morie that she would have the deeds changed to reflect both sisters as co-owners. But Morie refuses. Rozenn had her reasons...if only Morie could understand why.

Having suffered her own tragedies in recent times with an accident (not fully revealed till about halfway through), the loss of her business and partner, Morie is now struggling to rebuild her own business as a property manager rebuilding and renovating properties for clients. Her business is based in London but her heart is in Cornwall, and so she finds herself making any excuse to travel back to Vue Claire and help Gwen redecorate the house. It's while she is there that she makes a puzzling discovery. A single page from a letter in a hand Morie didn't recognise. The contents are equally puzzling as they don't appear to make much sense despite her name being mentioned. Who wrote this letter to Rozenn and why did the writer mention making contact with her? She has received no communication from anyone to do with Rozenn. So what is this all about?

The letter takes her back to some old photos she'd come across in an old album along with some sketches of birds and mice. It seems her grandmother had a deft hand at drawing though she never seemed to pursue it, choosing instead to become an architect. Some of the photos seem to puzzle her also...particularly two of Rozenn as a little girl in the 20s, sitting on a beach. In one she appears serious and contemplative whilst in the other she is beaming at the camera. And although the photos appeared to be taken on the same day, she is wearing two different bathing costumes. Why? It made no sense to Morie at all. Then when she discovers a second page to the letter it is then that Morie makes the sudden decision to travel to Brittany and to the village St Martin, which is mentioned more than once. What does St Martin have to do with Rozenn? And more importantly, what does it have to with her?

It's 1941 and eighteen year old Rozenn has had to leave all that she knows and love in Paris as she and her family travel to St Martin to live for an indefinite period. France under German occupation is a dangerous place and the family need special permits to travel to the village port of St Martin, a restricted zone. But they are desperate. Germany is bringing in forced labour for men of working age, and that includes Rozenn's brother Yann who has only just recovered from his time in a German camp. As French residents, they are required to register with the German authorities as to where they are living and while they are registered in St Martin, Rozenn's brother Yann is not. And so they keep him hidden in the outbuildings of the house on the cliff in which they now live...a far cry from the pampered lifestyle of their apartment in Paris.

In the village, Rozenn keeps to herself while not drawing attention to herself or her family but a woman with her looks is not forgotten in a hurry. She meets some of the locals - Luc, Martine and a delightful Irish woman, Madame O'Donnell. But she still yearns for Paris. Life in the house on the cliffs is primitive at best. In Paris she had a bidet; here the privy is in an outbuilding. But like her family, Rozenn had to make the best of things. It wasn't forever...just until they could get Yann to safety. Her doctor father didn't appear to be making any headway with this so Rozenn made enquiries with local boy Luc about fishing boats aiding an escape. It was a dangerous move, as Luc reminded her, for if they were caught...but Rozenn's family were desperate. It wouldn't be long before the Germans discovered an unregistered man living in their outbuildings and then they would all be punished.

The boat was to take Yann to Britain, where he could maybe join the Free French and fight for their freedom, but on the night of the escape things go horribly wrong...changing the course of Rozenn's history of which she would never speak again.

So what became of Yann? And Rozenn's family? And their primitive house on the cliff? How had Rozenn come to be in England? And why would she never talk about it? And what is it about St Martin that holds the secrets to Rozenn's past?

After the initial first 50%, I couldn't put the book down. But that first half was dreadfully slow and seemed to be weighed down with a few unnecessary aspects and could have moved a little quicker had they been removed. For example, Theo. I don't understand the point of his presence at the beginning. It didn't go anywhere, it wasn't integral to the story and then he was barely mentioned throughout the rest of the book...so why was it even there? And the constant referral to Morane's "accident" throughout the first half without actually saying what it is until she gets to France...what's the big secret? Again, not integral to the story. It was just an incident which occurred that didn't seem to be wholly important, except to keep Morie from actually moving forward. Once it was revealed, I was like...so, that's it? 

That being said, YOU LET ME GO is a compelling tale taking us back to the past as well as keeping us in the present. It alternates between 1941 and the present day in each chapter from Rozenn's and Morane's perspectives. There is one chapter from Rozenn's sister Claire's perspective towards the end but apart from that, it is Rozenn and Morane's story. At first I was confused as to where I was as there was no "header" as such to each chapter letting the reader know in which era the chapter is set, but after a while you become familiar with how the story is told and it no longer becomes an issue...but at first it was.

Although I didn't much care for Rozenn, her story was intriguing but she wasn't very nice to her sister and she was a bit of a snob. The villagers could see it and the reader can see it. The turning point for her was probably the escape which was more than likely a penultimate time in her life. I think part of Rozenn remained as such because even after her death she seemed to be unreachable. No one, not even her son or granddaughters, knew anything of her past apart from the fact she came from Paris. Was she ashamed of the part she played in whatever became of her family? Did she feel guilty that they may have all been captured and thus suffered at the hands of the Germans while she got away? Guilty that it was meant to be Yann's escape, not hers? I don't know. Rozenn was a closed book both during her life and after her death.

I wasn't particularly enamoured with Morane either, but I applaud her doggedness at seeing her journey through. She got her answers in the end as did the reader. She just she seemed to be submerged in her misfortune a little too much whilst refusing help from those around her. And then when she found something to sink her teeth into she kept second guessing herself. I don't know - maybe it was that, maybe it wasn't. It's just something about her didn't endear me to her.

I did, however, thoroughly enjoy the second half of YOU LET ME GO which was intense and had me engaged from 50% onwards. I found myself trying to work out what went wrong, what happened and what it all meant. There were twists and even I didn't guess how it would end.

If you love your books quick and fast-paced, then this one isn't for you. The beginning is very slow and did not really start until about 50% but if you are patient, I promise it will be worth it in the end.

I would like to thank #ElizaGraham, #RachelsRandomResources, #Netgalley and #AmazonPublishing for an ARC of #YouLetMeGo in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Eliza Graham's novels have been long-listed for the UK's Richard & Judy Summer Book Club in the UK, and short-listed for World Book Day's 'Hidden Gem' competition. She has also been nominated for the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction and the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction.

Her books have been bestsellers both in Europe and the US.

She is fascinated by the world of the 1930s and 1940s: the Second World War and its immediate aftermath and the trickle-down effect on future generations. Consequently she's made trips to visit bunkers in Brittany, decoy harbours in Cornwall, wartime radio studios in Bedfordshire and cemeteries in Szczecin, Poland. And those are the less obscure research trips.

It was probably inevitable that Eliza would pursue a life of writing. She spent biology lessons reading Jean Plaidy novels behind the textbooks, sitting at the back of the classroom. In English and history lessons she sat right at the front, hanging on to every word. At home she read books while getting dressed and cleaning her teeth. During school holidays she visited the public library multiple times a day.

Eliza lives in an ancient village in the Oxfordshire countryside with her family. Not far from her house there is a large perforated sarsen stone that can apparently summon King Alfred if you blow into it correctly. Eliza has never managed to summon him. Her interests still mainly revolve around reading, but she also enjoys walking in the downland country around her home and travelling around the world to research her novels.

Social Media links:

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REVIEW: The Heatwave by Katerina Diamond

The Heatwave by Katerina Diamond

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 22nd March 2021

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 25th June 2021

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

One summer. One stranger. One killer…

Two bad things happened that summer:

A stranger arrived. And the first girl disappeared.

 

In the wake of the crime that rocked her community, Felicity fled, knowing more than she let on.

 

But sixteen years later, her new life is shattered by the news that a second girl has gone missing in her hometown.

 

Now Felicity must go back, to face the truth about what happened all those years ago.

 

Only she holds the answers – and they’re more shocking than anyone could imagine.

 

The heatwave is back. And so is the killer.

MY REVIEW:

A dark psychological thriller, THE HEATWAVE is the latest tale from the venomous pen of Katerina Diamond, who has a knack for delving into the darker side of human nature and their crimes. It is her first standalone and it was quite different from the DS Imogen Grey series, but just as cleverly crafted and just as disturbing. Beginning with a slow build, it tells a sinister tale of a missing girl and an elusive killer that brings the past rushing back into the present.

It's been sixteen years since Felicity escaped her hometown of Sidmouth in Devon. She thought she had put her old life behind her but it's always been there on the periphery threatening to unbalance the life she has built herself with her husband in the Lake District, far away from Devon...and her memories. But when news of a young teenage girl going missing in Sidmouth reaches her, Felicity is so shocked that she drops everything and heads back to Devon in search of answers. 

The truth is that Felicity hasn't set foot in Sidmouth since the disappearance of another teenage girl when she was just 16. Heather Torrance disappeared after the fair that summer and was never seen again. The similarities of both cases is not lost on Felicity and with this new disappearance, she feels compelled to return to the past and face her demons once and for all.

Rewind sixteen years and we meet Jasmine, Felicity's best friend. Jasmine lived a privileged life in a beautiful house with the perfect parents who devoted their time to helping others less fortunate than themselves. Every summer, Jasmine and her parents would travel to third world countries with their charity and help people rebuild their lives. But this summer is different. Jasmine's father has had surgery and they are unable to travel this year so for the first time Jasmine is able to spend summer with her friends in Sidmouth.

But then a stranger comes to town. Knocking on her door one day, Tim looks indifferently at Jasmine and asks for her parents. And suddenly, her parents announce that this stranger is moving into their guest house while he paints, builds and renovates the house for them. Jasmine is immediately put on edge.  There is something unsettling about Tim. Something dangerous. This man is a stranger. And they are letting him live there? Just metres away from their teenage daughter? What do they know about him?

Then one morning Jasmine wakes to the news that a girl - Heather Torrance - disappeared after the fair the night before. Jasmine was there. She saw Heather. But then she was caught up in her own troubles. She and Felicity had gone to the fair together and while Felicity was lining up for tickets, Jasmine went to the loo but was accosted by their former teacher, Mr Morrell. She freezes. He pleads to hear him out. Mr Morrell was dismissed from his position for advances he made on Jasmine the year before. He kissed her and insisted she had flirted with him. Now he stands there and says he knows she wanted it too. Jasmine is frozen. He is not allowed within a hundred metres of her, or any child for that matter, and yet here he is. Suddenly Tim is beside her. The look in his eyes is like nothing she has seen before. It's threatening and dangerous. But she feels safe now. After that, she asked Tim to take her home. And now Heather was missing.

Then when news reaches her about Mr Morrell's suicide from the clifftop a few days later, Jasmine can't help but wonder if he had a little help. Tim had virtually threatened him. And there was something sinister about him. Did he have something to do with his death? The idea made her feel warm and safe, like he was looking after her. Despite there being something dangerous about him, Jasmine found herself attracted to Tim and was somewhat put out when Felicity flirted shamelessly with him. Felicity had a confidence that she didn't. But still, she felt safe with Tim. 

And then...one night she woke to find him stealthily searching her parents bedroom while they were away. Why? What did he hope to find? This was someone her parents let into their home. Someone they had trusted with their teenage daughter while they went away. So what was he really doing here? Who was he really? 

Suddenly, Jasmine didn't feel all that safe anymore. But then she uncovers something much more shocking, something she never ever anticipated...and she doesn't know what to do. So she runs to Felicity.

Now all these years later, Felicity has returned to face her demons and the memories of her past. She has returned to Sidmouth to get to the truth of what really happened sixteen years ago to Heather Torrance and the link to Mandy Green's disappearance today. But is she strong enough to revisit the past and get the answers that only she can provide?

A dark and disturbing psychological thriller, THE HEATWAVE is cleverly spun between the past and the present and the tale of two missing girls. Katerina Diamond has that knack of delving into the darker side of human nature and this is no different. She takes us where we would least expect it, though admittedly I had begun to figure it out and piece the puzzle together even if I still didn't have the complete picture. The links between the past and the present become clearer as does the sinister events surrounding Jasmine. I found myself immersed in Jasmine's story moreso than Felicity's. But how the two collide will shock you.

The story is told from the perspectives of Felicity in the present and Jasmine in the past and it is easy to become wrapped up in the tension as both girls try to puzzle out their respective mysteries. The links between the characters and the stories unravel well as secrets are slowly revealed. There are plenty of twists and revelations as well as that shocking surprise at the end. While some of the plot is a little far fetched, this is fiction and it is the probing into the dark side of human nature that makes it so appealing.

My only criticism is the pace. I found it quite slow and uneventful for a good 30% with Felicity pretty much drowning herself in vodka at every turn with a generous side of guilt. I am not particularly a fan of slow builds though I do see their value sometimes. It just makes it harder for me to engage with the story and the characters when the build is do slow. However, having said that THE HEATWAVE does come into itself and delivers that killer ending.

Deliciously dark, THE HEATWAVE is perfect for fans who enjoy slow burn psychological thrillers.

I would like to thank #KaterinaDiamond, #NetGalley and #AvonBooks for an ARC of #TheHeatwave in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Katerina was born into a large Greek family in Weston-super-Mare. She lived in several places including Northern Greece, South Devon, Cyprus, Derby and East London before settling down in East Kent with one husband, two children and three rats.

As a child, Katerina was an avid reader from an early age, with a particular affection for Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie.

Katerina is a big fan of television dramas, movies and world cinema. This led to her writing and co-writing several screenplays before joining a novel writing group. After beginning her first novel in 2013, Katerina entered a local writing competition and won. She is now the Sunday Times and Amazon bestselling author of a series of psychological crime novels set in Exeter. 

Katerina burst onto the crime scene with her debut The Teacher, which became a Sunday Times bestseller and a number one Kindle bestseller. It was longlisted for the CWA John Creasey Debut Dagger Award and the Hotel Chocolat Award for ‘darkest moment’. The Teacher was followed by sequels The Secret, The Angel, The Promise, Truth or Die and Woman in the Water, all of which featured detectives Adrian Miles and Imogen Grey. The Heatwave is her first standalone thriller.

Katerina now lives in the East Kent Coast with her husband and children. She is a Sunday Times and Kindle bestseller.

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