REVIEW: Five by Five by Claire Wilson

Five by Five by Claire Wilson

Genre: Crime thrillers, Mystery

Read: 29th September 2024

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Published: 29th August 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

'Tense, chilling and distinctive, this is a one-sitting read' Guardian

'A bloody good read' Val McDermid

----

What if the killer she's hunting turns out to be the woman she's falling for?

Just because the most dangerous criminals in society are caught and locked up, doesn’t mean they stop committing crime.

That’s where Kennedy Allardyce comes in – working in one of Scotland’s toughest prisons, monitoring not just the prisoners, but also the staff.

And she’s just stumbled across her most dangerous foe yet – rumours of a corrupt guard, nicknamed Scout, with lethal influence. And what’s worst, it seems they’ve already realised Kennedy is on their tail.

Despite her growing fear, there is one thing going right for Kennedy. The enigmatic new prison officer Molly is beautiful and ready to sweep her off her feet.

But Kennedy can’t afford to let her guard down. Because with Scout hiding very close by, her next mistake might just be her last . . .

MY THOUGHTS:

Just because the most dangerous criminals in society are caught and locked up, doesn’t mean they stop committing crime...

OK, I admit. I was one of those who thought the book title was in reference to the size of the prison cell but in actual fact it is the nickname for the intelligence reports submitted by officers to the intelligence unit. Something Claire knows a lot about in her job as an intelligence analyst within the Scottish prison service. Now this is not normally my type of book but I opted to read it as I'm friends with her mum and admittedly, after reading an article about the new release, I was intrigued. So I grabbed myself a copy and I read it in a day. I stayed up in the wee hours of the night just to finish it...and then it ended where it did!

Kennedy Allardyce's job as an intelligence analyst at HMP Forth Valley was meant to be rewarding. Instead it almost gets her killed. She has picked up some intel regarding not just prisoners but the possibility of a corrupt officer on the wing and she will stop at nothing to uncover their identity. But does that also mean at the cost of her life? Is it really worth it? Kennedy thinks so, much to the annoyance of her ex-girlfriend/best friend Ellie with whom she still shares a flat.

And then Kennedy meets Molly, an officer on one of the wings. But Kennedy doesn't mix business with pleasure (though she states it a little less eloquently a few times) and yet that still doesn't stop her from getting involved with Molly. But almost from the outset Kennedy is suspicious. Why is Molly suddenly paying her so much attention? And what role does Molly play on the wing that houses some of the most violent offenders? Worst of all, Kennedy thinks she's falling for this woman who could well be her downfall?

Suited and booted with lashings of violence, corruption and with a taste of "Line of Duty", this debut which is the first in the series (of which there are to be eight, I believe) packs a hell of a punch and is not for the fainthearted. Not a fan of the excessive language, though I know that's all in a day's work at a prison, and the cliffhanger ending left me feeling a little off kilter. I'm not a fan of cliffhanger endings as I prefer everything resolved (even in series) and also usually when the next book comes out I've forgotten where the previous one ended. But then, I remember the makers of Line of Duty left fans hanging as to the identity of The Caddy for three seasons which spread over about four years! I hope we don't have to wait that long to find out who Scout is. I have my suspicions so we'll see.

Overall, a cracker of a debut with snappy chapters and a fast pace that kept me turning the pages into the night until I finished it. 

MEET THE AUTHOR:

​

Claire Wilson is a crime writer from central Scotland. Her crime books are based on her day job as an Intelligence Analyst in a Scottish Prison. She loves gritty crime and grew up reading Martina Cole and Stephen King. Her debut novel, Five by Five was previously a finalist in the Capital Crime / Amazon Publishing New Voices Award in 2021 and Adventures in Fiction New Voices in 2022. 

 

Claire was picked to pitch her novel at the Pitch Perfect event at the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival in 2022.

 

In 2023, Claire won the Penguin Michael Joseph Undiscovered Writers Prize. Five by Five was published by Penguin Michael Joseph in August 2024.

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REVIEW: They Thought I Was Dead by Peter James

They Thought I Was Dead: Sandy's Story by Peter James

Genre: Crime thrillers, Mystery

Read: 28th September 2024

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Published: 14th May 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Some will know how it begins . . .

Her name is Sandy. You might know her as the loving wife of Detective Superintendent Roy Grace.

But there's more to her than meets the eye. A woman with a dubious past, a complicated present and

an uncertain future. Then she was gone.

Some will think they know how it ends . . .

Her disappearance caused a nationwide search. Even the best detective on the force couldn't find her.

They thought she was dead.

But nobody knows this . . .

Where did she go? Why did she run? What would cause a woman to leave her whole life behind and

simply vanish?

For the first time, the number one, multi-million copy bestselling author Peter James reveals the

truth behind Sandy Grace's dramatic disappearance. They thought I Was Dead will thrill fans

and new readers alike with its gripping story of a woman on the run. This is Sandy's story.

MY THOUGHTS:

Her name is Sandy...you will know her as the wife of DSP Roy Grace...but there is more to her than meets the eye...

I've known of the Roy Grace series for some time but as I already had loads of books TBR and other series on the go, I never added them to my ever growing list. And then I watched the TV series. And I fell in love with the totally lovely Roy Grace. Apart from the powers that be, the series didn't have the same angst amongst the ranks that others do. And so I went out and got my hands on the entire series which I intend to read (sometime) but I began with Sandy's story. I was interested to see how close it was to the TV adaption and while it correllated with the screen, there were some differences. But I won't spoil it by saying what they were for those who haven't read the book or are up to date with the TV series.

This book is soley Sandy's story and we see very little of Roy so the first question I asked my friend (who has read the series) was "Is Roy as lovely in the books as he is on TV?" and she said that he was. Because the Roy Sandy was describing was just how I knew him from TV. 

As I watched the series, I had so many questions as to what happened to Sandy. Because like the books, viewers got snippets of her, and it made us wanting to know more about her and what happened to her. Did she die? Did she leave him? And if so, why? Roy is so lovely why would she? And thus THEY THOUGHT I WAS DEAD was born. 

Given that this was Sandy's story thought it would be more of a novella, inserted in between books in the rest of the series, but no. It is a full length book of around 400 pages and 113 short(ish) snappy chapters. My favourite kind. The pace was steady in places, fast in others. And as with the rest of the series where we got snippets of Sandy from Roy's perspective, we get Roy from Sandy's.

Having never read a Peter James novel before I wasn't sure what to expect. But I really enjoyed it. I could have slapped Sandy so many times. I think she would have been better off to have stayed as Roy would have remained loyal and stood by her. But on the other side, I think Roy is better off WITHOUT her as she was such a flibbety-jibbet, unsatisfied with her lot in life and thinking the grass was greener elsewhere...only to discover it had always been green where she was. She was fickle and her decision-making left a lot to be desired. Simply put, I wanted to slap her at every opportunity for being so stupid. 

I never liked Sandy...after all, she left Roy! How could she? Because she couldn't hack it as a policeman's wife? Well, she knew what he was when she met and married him. It was hardly going to change. And Roy was devoted to her and balanced his work and home life as best he could. But she wanted more. And although this book throws a little more light on what made her tick, I liked her even less. I actually liked her more in the TV series. This book just made me dislike her even more. Still...the hole she dug herself, which only got bigger as time went on, her fear, her sadness and the questions she kept asking herself kept me turning the pages and hooked throughout.

I'm glad Sandy has had her ending and Roy has finally had closure. My only complaint is that I would have liked to see her actually stand up and stop that wedding. I have never seen someone do that and actually stop a wedding. But as she was legally declared dead already, where did she and Roy stand in that case? Would it have been bigamy as she's still alive? I would have liked to see the questions it would have raised. But...at any rate, we got our ending. As did Sandy. And Roy got closure to that chapter of his life.

Overall, an ominous and entertaining tale that finally gives us insight and answers to what became of Sandy Grace. I can't compare it to other Grace books as I have yet to read them but others have said it is different but still a must read if you are a Grace fan. I can't wait to delve into Roy's story and follow his cases (despite having watched them on TV already).

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Peter James (born 22 August 1948) is a British writer of crime. He was born in Brighton, the son of Cornelia James, the former glovemaker to Queen Elizabeth II.

Peter James is an international best-selling crime thriller novelist who has had his books published in 36 languages. His series featuring Brighton-based Detective Superintendent Roy Grace has sold 17 million copies worldwide and has given him eight consecutive UK Sunday Times number ones.

Much loved by crime and thriller fans for his fast-paced page-turners full of unexpected plot twists, sinister characters, and accurate portrayal of modern day policing, he has won over 40 awards for his work including the WHSmith Best Crime Author of All Time Award and Crime Writers' Association Diamond Dagger.

During his childhood Peter attended Charterhouse School and then, in later years went on to study at Ravensbourne Film School. As a result of his training there, he travelled to North America, and spent several years as a screenwriter and film producer. It was in 1994 however, that Peter’s name became known worldwide due to the controversial publication by Penguin of his novel, Host, officially “the world’s first electronic novel” on two floppy discs (a far cry from a Kindle!). Peter has since become a media spokesperson for electronic publishing. When he’s not writing his international bestselling stories of Brighton-based Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, Peter has many hobbies, one of which means that Peter holds an international racing licence and often competes in the Britcar Racing Series! 

Peter currently divides his time between his Sussex home, a Victorian Rectory, and his apartment in Notting Hill.

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REVIEW: Rose's Fight by Rosie Clarke

Rose's Fight (The Trenwith Trilogy #3) by Rosie Clarke

Genre: Historical fiction, Post-WW1

Read: 19th September 2024

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Published: 7th September 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

The war has changed everything, but has it changed society enough?

London, 1917.

Rose Barlow has loved and lost. She has done her fair share during the war and seen her dreams shattered. As the British class system crumbles Rose is determined not to return to service at Trenwith Estate instead, she’s keen to pursue new opportunities and her own happiness now the war is over.

Luke Trenwith survived the war and has returned home as the next Trenwith Baronet. But the life he once accepted as his fate feels cold and empty. He is left wanting more.

But has the world changed enough to allow him to live his dream?

The war changed their world, but do Rose and Luke have the courage to carve out a new future that could shock society?

If you love this, have you tried Rosie Clarke's Mulberry Lane, Blackberry Farm, Dressmakers Alley and Harper's series?

Previously Published as Forbidden Love by Linda Sole

MY THOUGHTS:

The war has changed everything...but has it changed society enough...?

Rosie Clarke is one of my favourite authors and I eagerly devour every one of her sagas, whether they be a series or standalone, enjoying every sojourn with them. This is the third and final in the Trenwith Trilogy with the story this time centring on Rose, who we met at the beginning and have followed her since.

Although the book doesn't necessarily state what year it is, I can only surmise it is now 1919 with the Great War behind them having signed the Armistice on 11th November 1918. With that thought in mind, many young men are now returning from the Front whilst the memory remains of those who are not. 

Rose Barlow, former housemaid at Trenwith and now close friend of Sarah Pelham, had intended to take up studying nursing as a vocation after the war, having served as a VAD for its duration. A splendid VAD, she had the makings of a promising nurse. However, she married in secret to Canadian fighter pilot Rod Carne (and nurses were not permitted to marry). Then when Rod was killed shortly after their wedding, Rose was heartbroken.

Now the war was over, Rose had no intentions of returning to service. Besides, times were changing and the days of service were from another era. She decided to try her luck on the stage as she had always enjoyed singing and had an ambition to see where it could take her. Having lost her husband, she reverted to her maiden name for the stage and soon became something of a star.

But her heart remained at Trenwith and the childish crush she'd harboured for the son and heir to the Trenwith estate - Luke Trenwith. But she was a servant and there was a clear social divide that separated them. But those days were past, for the most part though for some they remained. Little did Rose know that Luke had shared those feelings she had and whilst societal rules dictated that he should marry someone with money and breeding and thus producing an heir, Luke could not help but be drawn to Rose.

And so they began a clandestine affair, declaring their love for each other and forsaking all others. Until Luke returned home and was thrust into an engagement with "the right sort of girl". How would Rose take the news that he was to marry someone else? She did not want to be his mistress and she deserved far more than that but how could he fulfill his duty and his promise to the woman he loved?

Has the world changed enough to allow Rose and Luke to follow their dream to be together? Or must they sacrifice each other for the sake of the social class divide?

There is so much packed into this tale of love and woe. I found I grew frustrated with Rose and her stubborn streak but then I guess that's how society carved out these women in those days. We are reunited with Sarah and Troy at Pelham and Louise and Jack in Paris, though Rose is still in the dark as to her brother's fate. How will she react should Luke tell her the truth? And how will society react to Rose and Luke being together? Or is it still too soon for them to cross the social divide? And then there is the biggest secret of all. How will it all end?

I must say, this was my least favourite of the three books with the first one being my favourite. Though I was happy with the outcome nonetheless. Having said that, I still enjoyed this wonderful tale and reuniting with old friends and some enemies again. 

As always, I look forward to the next Rosie Clarke novel.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Rosie Clarke has been writing for several years and has written under various names for a variety of publishers.  She lives in Cambridgeshire, is happily married and enjoys life with her husband.  She likes to walk in the Spanish sunshine and eating out at favourite restaurants in Marbella is a favourite pastime, but writing is her passion.

Rosie loves shoes, especially those impossibly high heels you can buy and has a gorgeous pair of Jimmy Choos but can't wear them so they sit on the mantlepiece.

Rosie also writes under the name of Anne Herries and Linda Sole.

 

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REVIEW: The Orphan with No Name by Shirley Dickson

The Orphan with No Name by Shirley Dickson

Genre: Historical fiction, WW2

Read: 15th September 2024

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Published: 19th September 2024

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

England, 1942: ‘Will I ever find my mammy or daddy?’ She looks up, her bright blue eyes full of unshed tears, but the kind nurse gently says, ‘Sweetheart, if you can’t remember your own name, I don’t think you’ll ever find them…’

Waking up in a rickety hospital bed, the sweet ten-year-old girl with soft blonde hair and flushed cheeks is lucky to be alive. But all she can remember is the screech of the air raid siren. The nurses call her ‘Rosie’, and hope someone will save her. But no one does, and without a family, she is taken to Blakely Orphanage in Scotland under the supervision of the strict Miss Black.

The only glimmer of hope is her new friend Alice and the two lost girls decide to become make-believe sisters. They help each other through the long, hard hours with Miss Black standing over them as they work in silence, wondering if they will ever escape.

One day, Rosie watches a beautiful woman in a pretty dress and a tall, handsome man step through the gates. Her heart squeezes as she hopes they might be her mammy and daddy. But Rosie’s heart shatters when they take the hand of a little boy and leave the orphanage.

Slowly, Rosie begins to piece together the mystery of her past despite Alice telling her they don’t need any adults. But if she does find her mammy and daddy, will she remember them? And will she ever have a happy family again – or is there more heartache to come?

From the bestselling author of The Orphan Sisters comes a page-turning and unputdownable World War Two story of a little girl who loses everything and her journey to finding a place she can call home. Perfect for fans of Lisa Wingate, Nadine Dorries and Diney Costeloe.

MY THOUGHTS:

Welcome back, Shirley Dickson! It has been so long since the author has released a book I had begun to wonder where she'd got to. But her latest book has arrived to deliver a wonderful yet heartbreaking tale that will warm you from the inside out and keep you snuggled until you turn the final page.

I have read all of the author's books and I love how she incorporates something or other into each of her books to link them without being a series. In this case, it is Blakely orphanage, which evacuated to Scotland after the orphanage itself suffered a hit in an air raid.

The story begins in South Shields once again as we meet the little girl who survived an air raid when so many others were killed but her injuries meant that she had no memory of who she was, her name or where she came from. The nurses called her Rosie and after being shifted from the children's ward to the women's ward, Rosie is sent north to Scotland to Teviot Hall where Blakely orphanage now resides. The journey is both unfamiliar and frightening as Rosie watches South Shields disappear from view and into unfamiliar territory.

At he orphanage, run under the strict hand of Miss Black, Rosie befriends the spiky Alice who herself was a foundling left on the doorstep of the old Blakely orphanage almost 14 years before. The orphanage is the only thing Alice knows but she is approaching the age where she will soon leave to go into domestic service. With a huge chip on her shoulder, Alice is unruly, spiky and argumentative at almost every turn. But Rosie brings a calmness to Alice and the two become inseparable...make believe sisters.

Rosie dreams of recovering her memory and finding what became of her parents and why they never came looking for her, which is a bone of contention with Alice who harbours nothing but resentment for the woman who abandoned her on the cold doorstep without a second thought.

The two girls are unlikely friends and while they all suffer under Miss Black's harsh rule, kindness soon comes to the orphanage. First, in the way of the visiting American airmen who wish to sponsor the orphans and then in Miriam, Miss Balfour, who has been with the orphanage for many years. When an accident sees Miss Black housebound to recuperate, the orphanage gets a new lease of life under Miss Balfour's caring hand. But there is always the shadow of Miss Black's imminent return.

This is a moving tale from start to finish in Shirley Dickson's trademark way and I couldn't put it down until I turned the last page, reading it in one day. It is naturally predictable but in a good way and ends with that feelgood sense you have when finishing a wonderfully emotional story. 

I hope it's not another three years before Shirley Dickson brings out another as I love her books and can't wait for the next one. If you like Lindsey Hutchinson, you will love Shirley Dickson.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Shirley Dickson was born and grew up in the seaside town of South Shields. She left school at fifteen and can’t remember a time when she didn’t write. She entered her first short story competition in ‘School Friend’ when she was eleven. After Shirley retired from auxiliary nursing, she was able to devote her time to writing.

After living in various locations, she settled under the big skies of Northumberland and has lived with her husband in the same house for over forty years. Shirley has three daughters and four grandchildren and likes nothing better than family gatherings.

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REVIEW: The Housekeeper by Joy Fielding

The Housekeeper by Joy Fielding

Genre: Domestic suspense

Read: 14th September 2024

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Published: 16th August 2022

★★★ 3 stars

DESCRIPTION:

A woman hires a housekeeper to care for her aging parents--only to watch as she takes over their lives inthis riveting novel of suspense from the New York Times bestselling author called "an ingenious master of domestic suspense" (Samantha M. Bailey).

In the end, I have only myself to blame. I'm the one who let her in.

She's the breadwinner, a top-notch real estate agent. Her husband, Harrison . . not so much. Once, he had big dreams. But now, he's a middling writer who resents his wife's success.

Jodi's father, Vic, now seventy-nine and retired, is a very controlling man. His wife, Audrey, was herself no shrinking violet. But things change when Audrey developed Parkinson's eight years ago, and Vic retired to devote himself to her care.But while still reasonably spry and rakly handsome, Vishic is worn bywife's iorating condition.

Exhausted from trying to be all things to all people, Jodi finally decides she's had enough and starts interviewing housekeepers to help care for her parents. She settles on Elyse Woodley, an energetic and attractive widow in her early sixties, who seems perfect for the job. While Vic is initially resistant, he soon warms to Elyse's sunny personality and engaging way.

And Jodi is pleased to have an ally, someone she can talk to and occasionally even confide in. Until .

She shuts Jodi out. And Audrey's condition worsens--rapidly. Who is this woman suddenly wearing her mother's jewelry? What is she after? And how far will she go to get it?

MY THOUGHTS:

"In the end, I have only myself to blame. I'm the one who let her in."

Joy Fielding was an author I discovered in the 90s and I devoured her books back then at a rapid rate along with Mary Higgins Clark. Now the market is flooded with so many books in the genre that it's hard to keep up with who's bringing out what!

So when I saw this book come up as a new release some time back I put it on my "to read" shelf, which is ever growing. I finally got around to picking it up, feeling like a revisit with an old friend again, and so I delved into this tale of domestic suspense with plenty of woe.

Jodi Bishop is someone I sympathised with as everyone, and I do mean everyone, simply took advantage of her or was just downright rude. Despite her fractious relationship with her parents she wanted what was best for them in their ailing years. Her father had been caring for her mother who had Parkinson's and he was 80 himself. And so she decided to hire a housekeeper for them, one who would help her father care for her mother and keep the house in good order so that he didn't have to. He was very wealthy and could afford the expense.

Enter Elyse Woodley. Perfect housekeeper. But no truer was the old age adage of "if it seems too good to be true, then it probably is" as little by little, Elyse inveigles her way into the Dundas' lives and little by little, shutting Jodi and her sister Tracy out. What was meant to be godsend for her parents, turned out to be her family's worst nightmare.

Their mother Audrey deteriorates at a rapid rate under Elyse's care and the housekeeper wearing some their mother's belongings, giving Jodi reason to invesitgate the so-called perfect housekeeper. Just who is this Elyse Woodley and what does she want with their family? I would have thought that was obvious given how wealthy Jodi's father is. So it came as no surprise to find her mother dead and her father in bed with the help. Elyse is nothing if not resourceful and manipulative.

But when her father begins acting strangely, Jodi becomes concerned. She tries raising her thoughts with husband Harrison, but he's too wrapped up himself to notice much of what is going on around him. He even abandoned his wife for a "writing retreat" when her mother died and she needed his support most. The guy was a selfish prat, resentful of Jodi earning the money that supported them. 

As for the other characters...her sister Tracy came across as mostly fickle and shallow but she was smarter than she looks and had more depth to her than at first seen. Their father Vic Dundas was a controlling bully who could see no good in Jodi and yet the sun shone out of Tracy. He treated Jodi with disdain constantly sniping at her looks, her weight, anything and everything about her. Harrison was a self-obsessed philanderer who I wouldn't trust as far as I could throw. And Elyse? Well, the proof is all there as to what that two-faced cow was like.

This book had vibes of John Marrs' "The Stranger in Her House" where handyman inveigles his way into the home and life of a woman with dementia, soon taking over her life and shutting her daughter out. I feel John Marrs did it so much better and the twists were greater and more fantastic. There are so many scams out there that target the elderly and while it highlighted that fact, it played out predictable and not quite as enjoyable as some of her earlier ones I've read. It took me three weeks to read this book (but I have been in a slump for some months which didn't help) but at the same time, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed some of her earlier ones. "See Jane Run" and "Kiss Mommy Goodbye" were one of my favourites along with "Missing Pieces", which was one of the last books by her I think I read.

I struggled with this book, mainly because the characters were all so unlikeable. Even Jodi was barely likeable despite sympathising with her at times. I kept hoping we'd be wowed at the end with a surprising twist and it did come...but maybe a little late. And her father still showed no gratitude.

Overall, it is an engaging read with despicable characters and somewhat entertaining in a mindless way in that it whiles away the hours. It did feel tedious in parts, but that could be due to the fact I took so long to read it.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Joy Fielding (née Tepperman; born March 18, 1945) is a Canadian novelist and actress. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Born in Toronto, Ontario, she graduated from the University of Toronto in 1966, with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. As Joy Tepperman, she had a brief acting career, appearing in the film Winter Kept Us Warm (1965) and in an episode of Gunsmoke. She later changed her last name to Fielding (after Henry Fielding) and began writing novels.

Fielding is also the screenwriter of the television film Golden Will: The Silken Laumann Story.

At the age of 8, Joy Tepperman wrote her first story and sent it into a local magazine, and at age 12 sent in her first TV script, however both were rejected. She had a brief acting career, eventually giving it up to write full-time in 1972. She has published to date 22 novels, two of which were converted into film. Fielding's process of having an idea to the point the novel is finished generally takes a year, the writing itself taking four to eight months. Joy Fielding sets most of her novels in American cities such as Boston and Chicago. She has said that she prefers to set her novels in "big American cities, [as the] landscape seems best for [her] themes of urban alienation and loss of identity. Fielding is a Canadian citizen. Her husband's name is Warren, and they have two daughters, Annie and Shannon. They have property in Toronto, Ontario, as well as Palm Beach, Florida.

Fielding had an interview with the Vancouver Sun in 2007, just after her publication of Heartstopper. She enjoys catching readers off guard with the endings of her stories, but insists that "[it] isn't what her fiction is about", but rather more about the development of her characters. Discussing her novels with the Toronto Star in 2008, she said "I might not write fiction in the literary sense. But I write very well. My characters are good. My dialog is good. And my stories are really involving. I'm writing exactly the kind of books I like to write. And they're the kind of books I like to read. They're popular commercial fiction. That's what they are."

Fielding has been noted as a novelist who is more popular in the United States and foreign countries, rather than in her native Canada. For example, the novel Kiss Mommy Goodbye was more popular in the States, and See Jane Run in Germany. In addition, she had an American agent and publisher, although she has now switched to a Canadian publisher. 

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