REVIEW: The Forgetting by Hannah Beckerman

The Forgetting by Hannah Beckerman

Genre: Domestic suspense, Domestic drama, Contemporary fiction

Read: 31st August 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 1st April 2023

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

From the bestselling author of If Only I Could Tell You comes the story of two women feeling trapped and powerless. Can they find their way back to life?

When Anna Bradshaw wakes up in a hospital bed in London, she remembers nothing, not even her loving husband, Stephen. The doctors say her amnesia is to be expected, but Anna feels cut adrift from her entire life.

In Bristol, Livvy Nicholson is newly married to Dominic and eager to get back to work after six months’ maternity leave. But when Dominic’s estranged mother appears, making a series of unnerving claims, Livvy is sucked into a version of herself she doesn’t recognise.

A hundred miles apart, both women feel trapped and disorientated, and their stories are about to collide. Can they uncover the secret that connects them and reconstruct their fractured lives?

MY THOUGHTS:

How can you trust the present when you don't remember the past...?

What a delightful little gem this read turned out to be. It's certainly not a thriller though it does sit within that genre, but more of a drama with a touch of mystery and suspense. It has a slow unfold of events with a storyline that is both addictive and intriguing, enveloping you immediately. And believe me, you won't want to put this down.

The story unfolds in two separate threads and the perspectives of two women. Anna Bradshaw in London and Livvy Nicholson in Bristol. Throughout much of the tale the reader is puzzling over how these two women cross paths and how the two threads intersect. I suddenly got a light bulb moment and could see the entire thing play out to the point I detailed it all to a friend and then said I'm only halfway through but I'll let you know. To me, it just made sense...a perfect clever sense.

Anna wakes up in hospital with no memory of how she got there or even of who she is. The strange man standing beside her bed claims to be her husband Stephen but she doesn't recognise him. They were involved in a car accident with Stephen driving for which he blames himself as he walked away and she ended up with amnesia. After a couple of days of tests and observation, the doctor is happy to discharge her citing that the best place for her to be is at home in familiar surroundings. But as soon as Stephen guides her through the front door, Anna is immediately disoriented. Nothing at all feels familiar. Stephen tells them they have been living here a year but Anna finds herself hard pressed to envision herself in the stark white kitchen or any other room for that matter. She notes that their furniture doesn't seem to match the starkness of the home's decor and, while she feels the pale blue of their bedroom would be calming, she is shocked to discover that their chunky bed takes up most of it eliminating that tranquility that would be otherwise present. Stephen tells Anna that she worked as a librarian before being made redundant and that they have been married twelve years. Before he leaves for work each day, he places the books of what apparently were her favourite authors on the table for her to while away the hours. But she finds she cannot engage in the stories and cannot reconcile herself with choosing these for herself.

But then as the days turn into weeks, Anna begins to wonder about her life before. Where is her family? Why have they not visited? And what about friends? When she ventures out of the house after tiring of the same four walls day in day out, she meets Zahiera and her three year old boy, and it strikes her where are her friends. Why has no one called around to see how she is? And when Zahiera asks for her number, Anna says that she doesn't have a mobile phone. Why not? Everyone has a mobile...don't they? When she confronts Stephen with her questions, he bats them away with soothing overtures that she needs time to heal and that he'll order her a new phone since her one broke in the accident.

But with her need for answers, comes even more questions. And she continues to ask Stephen who is slow to remind her of her past. Why? What heartaches is he keeping from her?

Livvy never thought she would be a mum but when she fell pregnant at 37 just a few weeks into her relationship with Dominic, she feared she would be trudging this path alone. But her fears were unfounded because rather than dump her upon learning the news, Dominic proposed and the couple wed in a small ceremony before baby Leo entered the world in December later that year. Livvy cannot believe her luck. How did she manage to land such a perfect husband as Dominic? Now Leo is six months old and Livvy cannot imagine her life before him. But she is also itching to return to work at the end of her maternity leave.

As an engineer, Dominic received a four month contract in Sheffield which would take him away from them for four days of the week, coming home Friday afternoons to spend the weekend together. His tenure is due to finish at the time Livvy is due back from her maternity leave. Everything seems to be falling into place for her, especially when she is unexpectedly offered a promotion when she does return to work. This is when her picture-perfect world begins to show cracks.

After waving Dominic goodbye one Monday morning, she is shocked when Dominic's estranged mother turns up on her doorstep and pleas with Livvy to listen to her. She wants to reconnect with Dominic after the death of his father and build a relationship with her grandson but Dominic is having none of it. He cut off his parents three decades ago, confiding in Livvy about his difficult childhood. Livvy slams the door on her but despite this, Imogen continues to harass her. She follows Livvy to the park with baby Leo, calls her mobile and when Livvy refuses to take her calls, she texts her or leaves messages on the landline..but only when Dominic is away in Sheffield. Coincidence?

And then Dominic returns from Sheffield one day with a bombshell which is sure to change everything.

This is a very clever tale, expertly told and drip-feeding the reader with just enough information to keep them engaged and turning the pages, longing to find out more. The fact I correctly figured out the major plot twist didn't ruin my enjoyment of this wonderful tale. Because the enjoyment is in the telling, the unfolding, the ability to keep me engaged throughout. And Beckerman managed all of that. Of course, the major plot twist doesn't occur till around 88% and I'd figured out where it was heading about halfway. Just something I picked up on just clicked something inside my head and I thought "that's it!"

While it is a slow unfolding tale, it is not a slow paced one. The pace is steady throughout with the end of each chapter leaving us wanting more. And while we have the two stories of both Anna and Livvy unfolding, it is not difficult to keep pace with each individual story. They are both clearly marked, and Anna's in particular is in the first person while Livvy's is in the third. I wouldn't, however, rate this as a thriller. More of a contemporary fiction/domestic drama/suspense. But it was as intriguing as any thriller...probably more so than some I've read.

The characters are fairly easy to navigate, though not always entirely likeable. It soon becomes clear that there is a level of abuse in the form of gaslighting and coercive control taking place and, while some reviewers despaired over the characters' weakness and inability to take back control, it's not so easy as that in reality. That's what makes them so good at what they do; they are master manipulators and with every idea put forth, they appear welcoming and on board with it all but then reveal some concerns which in all honesty are quite valid but are also meant to seem as such in a way that then makes the other person re-evaluate things and end up agreeing. So really, the master manipulator has just engineered circumstances into the direction they have already predetermined but in such a way that makes the unsuspecting person think that they made the decision themselves. They are not called master manipulators for nothing. And quite honestly, both men displayed these passive-aggressive abusive traits which was indeed a worry for both women. They are quite clearly keeping their fair share of secrets, so how will it all unfold?

A highly emotive story, I cannot say enough wonderful things about this book. When I re-read the premise before starting, I did wonder why I requested it as it really didn't seem at all my thing. But I'm sure glad I did! It is by far one of my favourites. My only complaint is the ending is a little ambiguous. I would have preferred a more conclusive outcome rather than the promise of one. But it wasn't enough to shave anything off my rating.

A solid 5 stars.

I would like to thank #HannahBeckerman, #Netgalley and #LakeUnionPublishing for an ARC of #TheForgetting in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Hannah Beckerman is an author, journalist, event chair and broadcaster. After studying at King's College London and Westfield College, she worked with The Observer, The Guardian, the FT Weekend Magazine and The Sunday Express and has worked for twelve years in television. She also appears as a book critic on BBC Radio 2 and Times Radio. She regularly chairs at literary events and panels across the UK and has judged numerous book prizes including the Costa Book Awards.

Before becoming a writer, Hannah was a TV and film producer both in the UK and the US.

She lives in London with her husband and daughter.

Social media links:

Wesbite | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: Be Careful What You Wish For by Lorraine Murphy

Be Careful What You Wish For by Lorraine Murphy

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 26th August 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 20th August 2023

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

A mother determined to hide the truth. A sister about to expose it.

When Tara Ryan gets the results of a DNA test one rainy afternoon, all her dreams come true. She discovers she’s not an only child, she has a long-lost sister, Cassie.

What she doesn’t know is that Cassie is homeless, strung out, and praying for a break.

As socially awkward Tara lets street-wise Cassie into her life, shocking secrets come to the surface – a dark web of illegal adoptions, betrayal and death. All rooted in a horrifying children's home scandal which occurred many years before.

Has Tara's mother been deceiving her for her entire life, or is Tara looking to the wrong person for the truth?

Someone is lying - and they must pay the ultimate price.

Be Careful What You Wish For is a gripping tale of lies and deceit that will astound and enthrall until the very last page.

MY THOUGHTS:

Having read Lorraine Murphy's fantastic debut "Into the Woods" I was excited by the prospect of her second offering. The concept is something of a complex tale, sad even, and definitely intriguing. It begins as a slow burn which remains steady throughout and yet there was still something compelling me to keep reading. It's a quick read which I easily unravelled in a few short hours in one sitting.

Tara is an only child with an elderly mother, Mary, whom she now cares for solely since a car accident which claimed the life of her father and confined her mother to a wheelchair some twenty years ago. Her life is but a small one. She has no friends, no significant other, with her whole life devoted to caring for her ailing mother. But when a DNA test reveals a "full match" - meaning parent, sibling or child - through a family website, Tara unexpectedly finds she has a sister she knew nothing about and her ordered world suddenly falls into chaos. She contacts the woman, Cassie, and agrees to meet her. But the two women couldn't be more different.

Cassie finds herself homeless after a drinking binge sees her in hospital and out of the refuge where she had been living. But upon receiving the news of a DNA match with a woman, Cassie sobers herself up and arranges to meet her long lost little sister in Dublin. But their first meeting doesn't go as planned, leaving both women feeling dissatisfied and disappointed. However, Tara has always wanted a sister and seeing how lucky she has been in life compared to the hand Cassie had been dealt, she takes her under her wing...albeit maybe a little too naively.

Amidst the goings on is the news that is currently sweeping Ireland of the children's home scandal, which was rife in Ireland up to the 1980s, that saw children wrenched from their biological mothers and sold to the highest bidder with non-disclosure agreements preventing either party from revealing the details of the adoption...or even that there had been an adoption. I would have liked to see this play more of a part in the story than it actually did. It was dangled in the background and offered something of an explanation without really explaining anything.

And then there is Mary. Ailing, frail and elderly Mary. Widowed and talking fondly of her her husband Frank RIP - what in the hell was that? She referred to him as Frank RIP and Tara referred to him as Daddy RIP. Sure, he died and it was tragic but they branded the RIP on the end like it was a medal of honour. It was tacky and senseless. And Mary, who wears her ailments like a garment she cloaks herself with each morning was exhausting to read. The woman beat Tara down at every turn, gave her panic attacks, allergies and then demanded she not take a promotion offered to her. Why? What did she hope to gain from it? Of course the promotion meant Tara had a week's training in London which Mary simply would not hear of, nor would Tara leave her. Until Cassie stepped in and offered to care for her in Tara's absence. Oh no, that just would not do. But why?

Honestly, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive...as quoted by Shakespeare but Tara cites it as someone called Scott. Whoever first quoted it, no truer words were spoken. These three women weave a tangled web between the lot of them. And I liked none of them. Tara was weak and spineless and at her age could not stand up for herself in any way. She dressed dowdy and had no self esteem. Of course, this was down to the environment in which she had grown up, and Mary's devious ploy to keep her close. Cassie was secretive and had her own ulterior motives. I could feel no sympathy for any of them.

This is a tough book to review and rate because of this. And because I felt it had so much more potential. So much more could have been done with the children's home scandal, of which were rife in Ireland and there would be no shortage of stories there. I remember watching a documentary of a Catholic children's home in which there revealed to be a mass grave of children's bodies secretly buried there as well as many illegal adoptions that took place from there. Now that could be the basis of a brilliant thriller I would love to read.

Overall, this was still a good quick read that could easily be devoured in a few short hours. It was compelling, that's for sure. I just kept wanting to turn the page and find out that little bit more and what secrets bubbled beneath the surface.

I would like to thank #LorraineMurphy, #Netgalley, #InkubatorBooks and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Lorraine Murphy loves to take everyday situations and twist them into terrifying tales. Although she has published many flash fiction stories, "Into the Woods" is her first novel.

A software engineer by profession, Lorraine as had many jobs including slimming club leader, adult educator, charity co-founder, chairperson, activist and entrepreneur. Oh, and mother and carer. As a teenager, she adored Stephen King and later found herself on the jury of Ireland’s longest Murder Trial.

When she's not writing, she's always into something, whether it be competing in/ for her Toastmasters club or jumping out of a fully functional airplane.

Lorraine lives in Westmeath, Ireland with her husband Brendan and three taller children.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

 

REVIEW: Not My Baby by Anya Mora

Not my Baby by Anya Mora

Genre: Domestic suspense

Read: 29th August 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 26th August 2023

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

The book everyone is talking about.

Never question a mother's intuition...

My water isn’t supposed to break while there’s a storm raging, when my husband isn’t on the island, and as the power flickers out. Darkness covers the cabin as I cling to my belly. I never imagined it happening like this.

Trained as a midwife, I’m confident I can deliver my daughter.

* * *

I look at her, and I see her, and I know her. I’ve always known her.

She’s perfect. Sweat and tears streak as my face I kiss her over and over again. Reaching for my bag of midwifery supplies, I wipe her nose and press her tiny body to my chest.

I fall asleep with her in my arms.

* * *

When I wake, my husband is home, the lights are back on — but the baby he’s holding — it’s not mine.

I’m not crazy.

I gave birth to a girl, and that baby in his arms is a boy.

He’s not my baby.

You won’t want to put this down until you find the shocking truth about what happened.

MY THOUGHTS:

"I gave birth to a girl...so why's my husband holding a boy?"

I came across this book after reading a review for it and thought that it would be right up my alley. I love missing baby tropes, no matter the style. And given that it was just 120 pages long I thought perfect! Another one off my Netgalley shelf and towards my yearly goal which I could easily devour in a couple of hours...which I did. 

So Magnolia, a midwife herself, goes into labour three weeks early in the middle of a storm. Given that she was not yet due, she had no one in attendance and, given that there was a brutal storm outside, the island on which she lived with husband Ivan was cut off from the nest of islands that make up the San Juan Islands, off the coast of Washington state. Her waters break and in the midst of contractions she calls Ivan who is at a yoga retreat on another island. But this baby is coming now.

And so the story goes...she gives birth alone, in the dark in the midst of the storm, but when she sees her newborn daughter she is elated and knows everything is going to be alright. But giving birth is a tiring business so after placing a cap she lovingly knitted on her daughter's head, she swaddles her tightly and places her in the bassinet, cleans herself up and collapses on the bed to sleep. With her hand reaching into the bassinet to lay on her daughter's chest...she will just sleep for a few minutes. Then when she wakes, it's daylight and when she reaches into the bassinet, it's empty. Then she sees Ivan cradling their child in his arms, congratulating her on a job well done and that their son is perfect. Son? No, that's not right. Magnolia knows she gave birth to a daughter. But now they have a son?

No matter how loud Magnolia cried or how much she protested, nobody believed her when she told them she gave birth to a daughter and that this child her husband has put to her breast is not her baby. It was easy to see why they questioned Magnolia's assertion, given her history. A year ago, she had a stillbirth - a daughter - and now everyone seems to think she is projecting those emotions onto her new baby, convincing herself that she had a girl when she really had a boy. Yes, it was easy to see this on the surface. But...as her husband I really think Ivan should have listened more to his wife, humoured her more even if he didn't believe her. By telling her otherwise and threatening the psychiatric facility was counterproductive.

No one believed Magnolia. And yet she is so sure...she is willing to risk everything to prove she had a baby girl and to get her daughter back.

So first and foremost, I must say my biggest gripe with this book is the names. Magnolia and Clover were bad enough, but Park and Scout? And then there were names that were more like surnames that first names...Hollis and Yardley. Next, there is a disclaimer at the beginning of the book stating that it is written using British English...and then proceeds to use words like cell phone, mom and spells labor without the U. That isn't British English. That's American English. And lastly...the editting errors. The Ford Focus couldn't even remain the same colour (with a U, thank you), switching from red to black and then it became and SUV.

That aside...this story is fast paced, taking place in the first week after Magnolia gives birth, and an incredibly quick read at just 120 pages in length. It took me a mere 3 hours to devour it and get to the bottom of the mystery. While on the one hand you are rooting for Magnolia, on the other you question if she is just an unreliable narrator, convinced she gave birth to a girl.

A thoroughly entertaining read that had me questioning in parts despite fully backing Magnolia all the way. Recommended.

I would like to thank #AnyaMora, #Netgalley and #JoffeBooks for an ARC of #NotMyBaby in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Anya Mora lives a ferry ride from Seattle. She's a wildly sentimental mother of five in a love affair with hot yoga, positive affirmations, and to-do lists. She unabashedly uses emojis and wears her heart on her sleeve. Her novels, while leaning toward the dark, ultimately reflect light, courage, and her innate belief that love rewards the brave.

Social media links:

Wesbite | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

When You Buy a Book...

Shared with permission from its original author Sean Campbell

Some food for thought when next time we are considering purchasing a book and wanting to get it as cheap as possible.

Many authors spend a year or more working on their books. If they're also the publisher, they'll be out of pocket for many, often large, sunk costs like editing, cover art, formatting, image and font licences, and much more.

If they're traditionally published, they're probably getting a smaller proportion than in this image (think 8% on a paperback, 12.5% on a hardback, 25% of the net on an eBook and you're in the ballpark) so you can assume the image below represents the best-case scenario for most authors.

Amazon take 30-65% (and in some cases charge a digital delivery fee). If you pay 99p, the author gets 35p. If you pay £1.99, the higher royalty rate kicks in (and so does the digital delivery fee which is typically a few pence) so these estimates are slightly on the high side.

There is a higher rate for "countdown sales" at 70% or 70p on a 99p eBook but that's very limited.

We're seeing a huge number of authors put box sets out for 99p lately.  If they're giving you a 7 book box set for your 99p, they're effectively earning FIVE PENCE per book which is, obviously, ridiculous.

So please, if you can afford to do so, pay full price occasionally. It's still likely to be cheap as chips but it'll be slightly less likely to make the author's landlord/ bank manager cry.

There's a big list of authors available on CrimeFictionAddict.com if you don't know who to try.
(and yes, I know it's the old pound coin!)

For anyone using screen assist technology, the image shows a "You pay, the author gets" graphic denoting that the author gets 35p for a £1 book, £1.40 for a £2 book, and £2 for a £3 book. 

REVIEW: The Last Woman by Mark Hurst

The Last Woman by Mark Hurst

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 28th August 2023

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

THE LAST WOMAN is a free short story offered to Mark's readers upon signing up to his newsletter (links below).

MY THOUGHTS:

As a huge fan of Daniel Hurst, I was excited to hear his father venture into the world of psychological thrillers himself and promptly signed up to his newsletter which thus gave me access to his free short story THE LAST WOMAN. 

What to say about this story? Well, it is a quick read at just 50 minutes and around 40 pages in length, but it was cleverly constructed in a not dissimilar vein to his hugely talented and prolific son Daniel, though it did have something of its own uniqueness to it.

The story opens on the morning commute with Simon and Becky closely followed by the evening commute home with Rachel and Becky. It then continues throughout alternate chapters between the three characters and how their lives become entwined. I could see it could only end in tears...but maybe Mark had other plans for his characters.

To find out more, you'll have to sign up to his newsletter or visit his website to grab a copy. It's an entertaining read that is fast paced and addictive. I cannot say more than that. To do so would just give it away.

Check it out - you won't be sorry.

In the meantime, Mark Hurst's first full length book "The Lie" will be published on 9th September, which I can't wait for.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Born and raised in Bolton, UK, a true Lancastrian and a child of the sixties, Mark finally decided to pursue his passion for storytelling after a long and eventful career in a completely different industry, that sometimes involved more fiction than fact!

He entered construction at the age of 18 and has been involved with hundreds of large civil engineering projects for the last 40 years as a Civil Engineer and Surveyor, Estimator and Commercial Director, working in various far flung locations such as Hong Kong, Scandinavia and Wigan.

Mark has a passion for reading legal, crime and psychological thrillers; he often claims he can predict the end to a story … and when he gets it wrong, he’s pleasantly surprised. He also enjoys first hand accounts of military and espionage events and when he’s not reading and writing, he can be found watching the History Channel.

Married with two grown children and four grandchildren, his son Daniel convinced him it was time to start committing some of his own stories to print … and there are a few.  Drawing on his own life experiences, Mark weaves them into his stories but with a twist … it all could have happened.

Why Wooded Hill Books?

The origin of the surname Hurst – ancient Anglo-Saxon topographic name for someone who lived near a wooded hill or thicket.

Social media links:

Wesbite | Free Book/Newsletter SignUp

REVIEW: All the Little Liars by Victoria Selman

All the Little Liars by Victoria Selman

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 28th August 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 31st August 2023

★★★★ 4.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

What REALLY happened at Turtle Lake?

You think you know. Think again…

CALIFORNIA, 2003

A thirteen-year-old girl disappears from a party at Carlsbad’s Turtle Lake. Discovered on the trunk of a nearby cottonwood tree is the word ‘LIAR’ graffitied in blood.

WHAT YOU KNOW . . .

Three teenagers went to the lake that night but only two came back. Later, they confess to murdering their friend.

. . . IS ONLY PART OF THE STORY

But did they really kill her? And if not, why say they did?

Told across two timelines and tapping into a horrific crime, All the Little Liars is a novel about sisterly love and toxic friendship that asks: how much would you sacrifice to belong?

MY THOUGHTS:

Inspired by a shocking true crime...

I have only read one Victoria Selman book - "Snakes and Ladders" -  which was part of a series and I totally loved it. It was dark and it was twisted but it was so up my alley. So I was excited to dive into this one. It was a little different to what I expected. Three teenagers go to a party but only two return. What happened to the third?

The story unfolds through the eyes of the sister of one of the girls in a dual timeline format of then and now. I particularly love this style as a little bit more is revealed at just the right time, yet leaving you wanting more.

Honestly...I usually give a little more depth to my reviews but in my opinion I think it's best to go into this one with fresh eyes. Without knowing what's to come. You won't be sorry.

A totally twisty read that had me enthralled from start to finish I read it in one sitting with my eyes popping out of my head...

Overall, compelling...addictive...fast paced...nail biting...superb.

I would like to thank #VictoriaSelman, #Netgalley and #QuercusBooks for an ARC of #AllTheLittleLiars in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Victoria Selman read History at Oxford University and holds certificates in criminal profiling and criminal psychology.

She is the author of the Ziba MacKenzie criminal profiler series (Thomas & Mercer). Her first novel, Blood for Blood was an instant Amazon #1 bestseller topping the Kindle charts for five weeks. It was shortlisted for the CWA Debut Dagger Award and has sold over half a million digital copies.

Victoria also compiles and contributes to the hugely popular Afraid of the Light charity anthology series which is independently published. The most recent volume, Afraid of the Christmas Lights featuring Val McDermid, Mark Billingham and Sophie Hannah, sold over a thousand copies on its first day and was a December Times Pick of the Month.

​

Victoria’s short story, Hunted, was picked out for review by Alison Flood writing in the Guardian and the Observer and shortlisted for the 2021 CWA Short Story Dagger Award.

 

As well as writing, Victoria co-hosts a true crime podcast with two other authors which was recently featured on a Sky Crime documentary. She also writes freelance opinion pieces on true crime for the Independent and presents the crime fiction podcast, Crime Time FM with Barry Forshaw and Paul Burke.

Victoria lives in London with her husband and two sons.

Social media links:

Wesbite | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Will by Rebecca Reid

The Will by Rebecca Reid

Genre: General fiction, Mystery

Read: 27th August 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 3rd November 2022

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

The Mordaunts aren't like most families . . .

For one, their family home is Roxborough Hall - a magnificent, centuries-old mansion in the Norfolk countryside. For another, the house isn't passed down from parent to child - but rather to the family member deemed most worthy.

Cecily Mordaunt is dead. On the evening of her funeral, her family will gather for dinner and each will be given a letter, revealing who is the next custodian of Roxborough Hall.

The house is a burden, a millstone, a full-time job . . . but they all want it. And some are willing do anything to get it.

MY THOUGHTS:

One family. Eight letters. Who will get what they deserve...?

What a thoroughly entertaining read. Reading about wills and entails was slightly reminiscent of the early "Downton Abbey" days when no one knew who was to take up the reigns as Downton's heir apparent, with the estate being entailed down the line to male heirs. THE WILL is somewhat different in that respect...in a lot of respects, in fact...with the entail being decided by she who now holds the reigns.

The Mordaunt family extended have been summoned. Matriarch Cecily Mordaunt has died. And now the fate of Roxborough Hall on its sprawling Norfolk estate lay with the entail. A letter to each of them explaining why he or she did or not inherit the beautiful historic stately home. This is how it has always been done since the 1600s. A letter is given to all those in line to inherit with the one deemed most worthy to receive it bequeathed the vast estate. So who will it be?

David, the eldest but rather pompous son, and his ghastly second wife Bryony? Or maybe it's the youngest son, aging playboy Grant? It couldn't be Cecily's only daughter Elspeth, who hasn't graced Roxoborough's halls for three decades vowing never to return...could it? Or what about the grandchildren? David's daughters from his first marriage - Lizzie and Willa? Or even Jonty, Grant's adopted son? Who of these are the most deserving? Who wants Roxoborough the most? And who needs it the most? And more importantly, what plans do each of them have for Roxborough should they inherit?

Overseeing everything is Cecily's lifelong companion Violet, who first joined her as a ladies maid on her 21st birthday in the 1958. But what if Cecily left Roxborough to Violet? Surely not? She is, when all is said and done, basically a servant. A servant? Owning Roxborough Hall? The family would be a laughing stock. But who knows with flighty Cecily?

THE WILL is a twisty character-driven whogetsit with a vast array of character hopefuls. Almost everyone has a reason for wanting Roxborough but only one of them will get it. Who will it be?

I quite enjoyed this romp through the Norfolk countryside by way of Roxborough Hall. I did guess one major plot twist involving two of the characters and what a long buried secret meant to them. But the reason everyone has gathered to find out which one of them has been bequeathed Roxborough is the piece-de-resistance in a clever fait accompli delivered by Cecily herself.

A deliciously deviled tale filled to the brim with secrets. I especially love the flashback chapters which might seem a bit random at first but their place within the story comes at exactly the right time. Thoroughly entertaining.

I would like to thank #RebeccaReid, #Netgalley and #RandomHousePenguin for an ARC of #TheWill in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Rebecca is a freelance journalist. She is a columnist for the Telegraph Women’s section and has written for Marie Claire, the Guardian, Metro.co.uk, the Saturday Telegraph, the Independent, Stylist, Glamour, the iPaper, the Guardian, Indy100, LOOK and the New Statesman amongst others. Rebecca is a regular contributor to Sky News and ITV’s This Morning as well as appearing on Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, LBC, BBC News 24 and the BBC World Service to discuss her work.

She graduated from Royal Holloway’s Creative Writing MA in 2015. She is the author of Perfect Liars, Truth Hurts, Two Wrongs and The Power of Rude.

Rebecca lives in North London with her husband.

Social media links:

Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Widow's Boyfriend by E.V. Seymour

The Widow's Boyfriend by E.V. Seymour

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 19th August 2023

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Published: 17th August 2023

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Verity’s widowed mother has a new boyfriend. But is he really all he seems?

Verity finds out her mother is secretly dating a man she met online. After five long years of widowhood, Eleanor is finally happy — and back to her old self.

But Verity’s suspicions are aroused when she meets the charming, seemingly perfect Roger Scott-Jefferies. Something about him doesn’t ring true.

Verity starts asking questions about her mother’s new man. And she doesn’t like the answers. At the same time, strange things start happening.

A cryptic postcard turns up, which her mother refuses to explain. Then a dead bird is left on the doorstep. Surveillance photos of Eleanor, Verity, and her brother are delivered to the house.

As Verity peels back the layers of her mother’s past, she realizes that Eleanor has been keeping dangerous secrets.

And someone is determined to keep those secrets hidden.

Verity is about to find out that some truths are best left buried.

MY THOUGHTS:

Firstly, I had to chuckle when I began this book having just finished Daniel Hurst's "The Doctor's Widow", only to dive into yet another tale in which another widow has herself a new man by the name of Roger. And one who isn't all he seems. The similarities made me smile. But there, any similarities ended.

When Verity learns that her mother is seeing someone after five years of widowhood she is immediately concerned. Then she meets Roger and her fears are allayed...for a short time...until she does some digging. And it appears that Roger Scott-Jeffries isn't all he seems. OK, so her first impressions is that he is hot. Too hot to be her mother's new boyfriend. And then upon further digging, she uncovers a few inconsistencies. When she confronts her mother with them, she bats them away unconcerned. But Verity will not be swayed.

Then a few strange things begin to happen. An odd postcard addressed to someone else, a decapitated bird on the doorstep and then an envelope containing photos of her family arrive through the post-flap. Now things are beginning to feel threatening. What is Roger's game? And how long has he been stalking her family? Because some of these photos were taken before he came on the scene!

With her sister-in-law cheering her on, Verity stops at nothing to uncover the truth about her mother's boyfriend, despite the inevitable distance it puts between mother and daughter. But what she doesn't factor in is the inevitable Pandora's box she opens...and the long buried secrets that she unearths. 

What then ensues is a series of events that leads Verity down a rabbit hole from which she can find no escape, putting both her life and her mother's in danger. The question then becomes more not what is Roger hiding than what secrets has Eleanor been keeping?

I really enjoyed this story, though admittedly I preferred the first half to the second. With Part Two, the story took on a whole different meaning as new secrets began to emerge making Verity question all she thought she knew about her mother. I loved Seymour's style. It was funny and witty, which I love thrown into a story, especially the internal dialogue. Lines like "Alex went quiet. Dido went ape-shit." just made me chuckle.

The plot is simple enough to start with. What it leads to is far more complex with tales of institutional abuse, murder and kidnap to name a few. The pace is steady throughout though with its snappy chapters and intricate threads weaving their way to a satisfying conclusion. I did feel it got a little off track and dragged a little in the second part but on the whole I was impressed by this author and I like her witty "internal dialogue" style. I will be sure to keep a look out for her in future.

I would like to thank #EVSeymour, #JoffeBooks and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #TheWidowsBoyfriend in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Born in West Bromwich and with her family roots deep in the Black Country, Eve has spent much of her life 'on the run'; she has probably lived in more houses in various parts of the country than most people eat dinners. Currently settled in Herefordshire with her husband, she often has a houseful of offspring, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, partners and a growing tribe of little ones.

When not writing she can be found playing the piano, enjoying a glass of wine and/or reading, and has a particularly soft spot for historical and spy fiction.

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REVIEW: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Genre: Gothic, Thriller, Suspense, Classics, Historical fiction

Read: 25th August 2023

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First published: August 1938

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

'Rebecca is a masterpiece in which du Maurier pulls off several spectacular high-wire acts that many great writers wouldn't attempt' JIM CRACE, GUARDIAN

On a trip to the South of France, the shy heroine of Rebecca falls in love with Maxim de Winter, a handsome widower. Although his proposal comes as a surprise, she happily agrees to marry him. But as they arrive at her husband's home, Manderley, a change comes over Maxim, and the young bride is filled with dread. Friendless in the isolated mansion, she realises that she barely knows him. In every corner of every room is the phantom of his beautiful first wife, Rebecca, and the new Mrs de Winter walks in her shadow.

Ancient, beautiful Manderley, between the rose garden and the sea, is the county's showpiece. Rebecca made it so - even a year after her death, Rebecca's influence still rules there. How can Maxim de Winter's shy new bride ever fill her place or escape her vital shadow?

A shadow that grows longer and darker as the brief summer fades, until, in a moment of climatic revelations, it threatens to eclipse Manderley and its inhabitants completely...

Not since Jane Eyre has a heroine faced such difficulty with the other woman. An international bestseller that has never gone out of print, Rebecca is the haunting story of a young girl consumed by love and the struggle to find her identity.

'As a new generation of readers are introduced to the wicked housekeeper Mrs Danvers and learn Maxim de Winter's terrible secret, this chilling, suspenseful tale is as fresh and readable as it was when it was first written' DAILY TELEGRAPH

MY THOUGHTS:

"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again..."

What a divine classic this is! After reading several novels recently set in Cornwall and channelling the late great Daphne du Maurier I felt I had to revisit Manderley again. And I was not disappointed. This is the second time I have read it and I've lost count of the number of times I have watched Alfred Hitchcock's rendition of it...and he does it wonderful justice. I rewatched it after finishing reading it and I recall several lines in the movie were word for word from the book.

So who is Rebecca? Or rather, who was Rebecca? REBECCA is the story of widower Max de Winter and his young bride who he met when she was serving as a companion to a wealthy and rather snobbish American woman, Edith Van Hopper, in Monte Carlo. Mrs Van Hopper was boorish and intent on an invitation to Manderley, a sprawling estate in the county of Cornwall known for miles around. It was rather amusing the way her companion and Max de Winter had hoodwinked her while she was laid up with influenza and they traipsed all about Monte Carlo. But the piece-de-resistance came when he announced that they were to be married and she was to continue on to New York without her companion.

And so became Mrs de Winter. And after honeymooning in Italy, the happy couple returned to greener shores and the new Mrs de Winter arrives at her new home on the arm of her husband Max. Manderley. It was all she had ever dreamed about. So beautiful, so grand and so big. The new Mrs de Winter is not used to such a lifestyle and soon finds herself lost in the sprawling structure.

Upon arrival, she meets the house staff headed up by the rather daunting Mrs Danvers. Polite she may be, her comments are cleverly barbed designed to injure. Danvers is not to be trusted, it is clear, though for reasons Mrs de Winter is not yet sure. She meets Max's sister Beatrice and her husband Giles as well as the estate manager Frank Crawley. All of whom are perfectly nice to her and bear no malice. Only Mrs Danvers seems to dislike her so. But why?

And then there is the silent whispers that tinker through the great halls of Manderley, and across the rose garden, and along the cove that runs into the sea. The shadows that are seen everywhere - in the morning room, in the west wing, everywhere she turns is the ghost of Rebecca, the late Mrs de Winter, Max's first wife. And Mrs Danvers is her greatest devotee, her ally. She ensures Rebecca's memory is kept alive even as the new Mrs de Winter tries to take her place she cannot command the same respect held for the late Mrs de Winter. 

Perhaps this is the reason why du Maurier omitted to name our main character - as she is only known as Mrs de Winter - for where ever she turned, she stood in the shadow of Rebecca.

"Rebecca, always Rebecca. Wherever I walked in Manderley, wherever I sat, even in my thought and in my dreams, I met Rebecca. I knew her figure now, the long slim legs, the small and narrow feet. Her shoulders broader than mine, the capable clever hands. Hands that could steer a boat, could hold a horse. Hands that arranged flowers, made the models of ships, and wrote ‘Max from Rebecca’ on the fly-leaf of a book. I knew her face too, small and oval, the clear white skin, the cloud of dark hair. I knew the scent she wore, I could guess her laughter and her smile. If I heard it, even among a thousand others, I should recognise her voice. Rebecca, always Rebecca. I should never be rid of Rebecca."

So who was the main character of this classic gothic tale? The new Mrs de Winter? Or Rebecca, whose ghost of a memory remained everywhere at Manderley? Or was the main character Manderley? The amount of times it is mentioned gives its position credence. And after all, it is the epicentre of the tale. One would think that Manderley was Rebecca's childhood home, the way Mrs Danvers defined it, particularly in the closing scenes. And yet it is described in detail by the new Mrs de Winter which, at the time of narration, many years have since passed as the opening chapter suggests...she dreamt she was at Manderley again and the way she drifted through its ruins as she herself were a ghost. When Manderley itself was now just a ghost of itself.

REBECCA is a classic tale of gothic proportions, so atmospheric and chilling on the pages as well as on the screen under Hitchcock's expert hand. Du Maurier was ahead of her time in her characterisation as well as her ability to thrill and chill readers. From the terrifying housekeeper to the crashing waves of the sea to the echoing halls of Manderley. Such a clever twist towards the end that unfolded in superb detail by du Maurier's deftly written hand. I never tire of this tale and I doubt I ever will. A true classic.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Daphne du Maurier, in full Dame Daphne du Maurier, married name Lady Daphne Browning, was born 13th May 1907 in London, England. She was an English novelist and playwright, daughter of actor-manager Sir Gerald du Maurier, best known for her novel Rebecca (1938).

Although she married Major Frederick Browning, she continued writing under her maiden name, and her subsequent novels became bestsellers, earning her enormous wealth and fame. Many have been successfully adapted into films, including the novels Rebecca, Frenchman's Creek, My Cousin Rachel, and Jamaica Inn, and the short stories The Birds and Don't Look Now/Not After Midnight. While Alfred Hitchcock's films based upon her novels proceeded to make her one of the best-known authors in the world, she enjoyed the life of a fairy princess in a mansion in Cornwall called Menabilly, which served as the model for Manderley in Rebecca.

Du Maurier’s first novel, The Loving Spirit (1931), was followed by many successful, usually romantic tales set on the wild coast of Cornwall, where she came to live. She also wrote historical fiction, several plays, and Vanishing Cornwall (1967), a travel guide. Her popular Rebecca was made into a motion picture in 1940. Du Maurier was made a Dame Commander in the Order of the British Empire in 1969. She published an autobiography, Growing Pains, in 1977; the collection The Rendezvous and Other Stories in 1980; and a literary reminiscence, The Rebecca Notebook and Other Memories, in 1981.

Daphne du Maurier died 19th April 1989, aged 81, in Cornwall.

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REVIEW: The Doctor's Widow by Daniel Hurst

The Doctor's Widow (The Doctor's Wife #2) by Daniel Hurst

Genre: Domestic thriller, Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 18th August, 2023

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Amazon

Published: 23rd August 2023

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

She trusted him. Now she’s paying the price…

I loved my husband, Doctor Drew Devlin, but he betrayed me. And now he’s dead.

As I put the key in the lock and open the door to the luxurious new home I’ve purchased with Drew’s life insurance money, I’m certain the worst days are behind me. My secret is safe, and I can’t wait to enjoy my new wealth and freedom.

Then I meet handsome Roger. I wasn’t looking for a relationship but as we spend our evenings drinking wine on my sunny terrace, I realise he’s just what I need right now. Roger is nothing like Drew, he’s spontaneous and romantic. And most of all, he’s honest.

He thinks I’m a rich, lonely woman. He’s wrong of course, there’s so much more to me…

But then one night, when we’re curled up in bed together, Roger says something that makes my blood run cold. I think he knows the truth about my life as the doctor’s wife.

I will do anything to stop my past from catching up with me… But is Roger really who he says he is? Or is my life now in danger?

An absolutely gripping psychological thriller packed with jaw-dropping twists from the number one bestselling author of The Doctor’s Wife. If you love Behind Closed Doors, Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train you’ll be hooked on The Doctor’s Widow.

MY THOUGHTS:

"While there are some differences between the two men, namely Drew having a much more prestigious job than Roger has, not to mention my late husband had a far nicer home when I firts met him than the one Roger currently resides in, there is one big difference that makes Roger the clear winner between them when all things are considered.

Unlike Drew, Roger has no secrets."

She's baaack!!

Fern Devlin, the doctor's widow, is back and enjoying the fruits of her labours. That is, the generous life insurance policy hubby Drew took out, not to mention the spoils of his estate left behind for his grieving widow. And boy, has she been enjoying those spoils!

First on the agenda was the sports car - a Mercedes. But now that that novetly has worn off, Fern has just completed the purchase of a large house just shy of a million pounds which she then has repainted and redecorated to her tastes. Unfortunately, that also means the smell of paint fumes. But needs must.

"I am doing even better as the doctor’s widow than I was as the doctor’s wife."

It's been four months since the demise of the illustrious Dr Drew Devlin and the incarceration of his lover Alice Richardson. Fern thought herself quite clever to outsmart the pair, killing off her adulterous husband then setting up his lover to take the fall, and getting the sweetest revenge on them both for the ultimate betrayal. Of course she had help. Alice's poor betrayed husband Rory assisted Fern in her devious plan and when he served no further purpose, she assisted his suicide also.

But no one knows any of this. Not even suspects slightly. All the evidence pointed so clearly to Alice that the police looked no further and the jury wasted no time in convicting. To all intents and purposes, Alice is guilty and paying for her crimes whilst Fern is nothing but the grieving widow.

But Greg knows different. Or at least, he suspects as much. You see, Greg knew Drew and he knew something about Fern no one else did. And now after his friend's demise, Greg is intent on uncovering the truth about what really happened to Drew and how Fern carried out her dastardly plan. Of course he has no evidence. But he intends to get it by any means necessary...

Enter Roger. Fern's new love interest. They met in a bar one night and have tentatively been out on a few casual dates, had a few booty calls and taking it one step at a time. For Fern, it's early days and she wants to see where this will lead, while for Roger, he wants to earn Fern's trust enough that she will confess all to him. For Fern, she's falling in love and thinking babies with her new man, while for Roger, he just wants to get that confession on record and hightail it out of there.

But...Fern's clever. She's devious. She's always been one step ahead of the police and everyone else. Can he outsmart her and get what he needs? Will his plan for entrapment be successful? Or will Fern discover the truth?

I thoroughly enjoyed Daniel Hurst's latest wild ride throughout England's north once again with Fern once again at the wheel. We are joined by Greg, Alice and Detective Tomlin who share the narrative with the doctor's widow. Although this one was lacking Hurst's trademark dark witty humour, I still enjoyed my foray with him in the passenger seat of this thrill ride.

Fern Devlin is a character readers love to hate. She's guilty as sin, we know she is, and yet she's got away with her crimes and continues to do so. But is her luck about to run out? With the insertion of Drew's former tennis buddy Greg, in the form of her new love interest Roger, we are counting down the seconds until BOOM! the inevitable happens. Which is what, exactly? He's found out? Or Fern is?

Hurst cleverly pulls us in as we ride by the seat of our pants in this addictive sequel to "The Doctor's Wife". While there is no mystery aspect to this story - everything is as you see it - Hurst is still able to keep the tension palpable as you turn the pages and race towards the shocking end...or is it?

I admit, I emitted a groan as I flipped that final page. NOOO! Now there HAS to be a third book, which I don't mind, but I really thought everything would be neatly wrapped up this time round. I guess I was wrong. In that, Hurst has pulled a shocker of an ending. Now I eagerly await book 3.

As always, Hurst never fails to thrill or entertain - both of which he has done once again.

I would like to thank #DanielHurst, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheDoctorsWidow in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Daniel Hurst was born in the northwest of England, a part of the world famous for its comedians, pasties and terrible weather.

He has been employed in several glamorous roles in his lifetime, including bartending, shelf stacking and procurement administration, all while based in some of the most exotic places on the planet, like Bolton, Preston and South London.

Daniel writes psychological thrillers and loves to tell tales about unusual things happening to normal people. He has written all his life, making the progression from handing scribbled stories to his parents as a boy to writing full length novels in his thirties. He lives in the North West of England and when he isn’t writing, he is usually watching a game of football in a pub where his wife can’t find him.

Since following his lifelong passion for writing in 2020, he has amassed a loyal and devoted set of readers, and regularly has several books in the top 100 of the Psychological Thriller Charts on Amazon. His title The Passenger became the #1 selling psychological thriller in the UK in October 2021. The Doctor's Wife is his first publication with Bookouture.

A prolific writer, Daniel likes to keep readers on their toes by self publishing even more books in between those released through his publisher.

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