Elodie was beautiful. Elodie was smart. Elodie was troubled. Elodie is dead.
Sylvie hasn’t been back to her crumbling French family home in years. Not since the death of her eldest daughter Elodie.
Every corner of the old house feels haunted by memories of her – memories she has tried to forget.
But as temperatures rise, and forest fires rage through the French countryside, a long-buried family secret is about to come to light.
Because there’s something Sylvie’s been hiding about what really happened to Elodie that summer.
And it could change everything.
MY THOUGHTS
Oh how I loved this book!
It had all the ingredients I like in a novel. A tense psychological thriller, a buried past, sun, heat and the South Of France. What a great book to loose yourself in at the moment.
I was whisked off to the building heat and tensions of a heatwave gripping The South of France as we follow Sylvie, as she heads back to France, to her old family home after receiving a letter to say there has been some damage to the empty property after a small fire. Born and raised in France, Sylvie has been living in London for over 10 years, seemingly leaving home after traumatic events. Needing to take her daughter with her she reluctantly heads off with a view to sort things out and finally put the house on the market, where it can be sold and finally gotten rid of once and for all.
As we enter the house and dust off its cobwebs so too do we learn, via flashbacks, of the mysteries that surround Sylvie’s first daughter Elodie, a brilliantly created character. The fear, pain and love that Sylvie experienced back then is wonderfully written along with the day to day happenings, some compellingly mysterious, that take place as we stay at La Reverie. Evocative and captivating, tiny details in the narrative superbly evoke time and place with wonderful characters and the gradual build of tension throughout the book.
We slowly learn of the story that surrounds Elodie and read the reactions of both family and locals as the truths begin to surface. Like the summer fires that surround the village, enclosing in on the house, so does the past and bringing with it it’s present danger.
Wonderful smaller characters add even more to the novel, bringing with then their own perspectives and past actions.
I don’t want to give any more of the story line away and spoil it for another reader but I was utterly absorbed in this book and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. A sultry thriller that also had a wonderful dose of the french sun and way of life. This has definitely gone into my top five reads of the year so far. Loved it!!!
Today is my stop on the blogtour for this excellent fast paced spy thriller from Ava Glass
SYNOPSIS
LONDON. EARLY MORNING.
A body is found in a padlocked suitcase.
Investigator Emma Makepeace knows it’s murder. And it’s personal.
She quickly establishes that the dead man had been shadowing two oligarchs suspected of procuring illegal weapons in the UK. And it seems likely that an insider working deep within the British government is helping them.
To find out who the traitor is, Emma goes deep undercover on a superyacht owned by one of the oligarchs.
But the glamorous veneer of the rich hides dark secrets. Out at sea, Emma is both hunter and prey, and no one can protect her.
Never has the turquoise sea and golden sands of the Rivera seemed so dangerous.
As the hunt intensifies, Emma knows that she is in mortal danger. And that she needs to find the traitor before they find her . . .
MY THOUGHTS
This second book in the series finds Emma sent undercover to work as a crew member on board a super yacht owned by Oligarch Andrei Volkov. Young, keen, fluent in Russian and above all darn good at her job, Emma seems the perfect agent for the task, but on board with no quick exit, it’s a dangerous assignment.
Once on board Emma quickly needs to fit in. Deciding which’ chatty’ crew member to befriend and which to watch out for. Living and working so close to those she has been assigned to watch is very risky, and as a last minute addition to the yacht’s work force, they are caution of her and immediate take the only form of contact she has…her phone.
As Emma gets to know the layout of her luxurious surroundings and the comings and goings of it’s owner and his girlfriend, this wonderfully claustrophobic and tense thriller sucked me into it’s story and I was hooked.
The decadence of yacht and the glamorous locations it visits running parallel to the dark and ruthless nature of Volkov and those that work for him make a wonderful cocktail for a fast moving, action packed espionage thriller. As Emma digs deeper finding possible evidence of illegal weapon deals while also with the knowledge that there could well be a traitor within the British Government, the risk increases and the tension mounts.
A thoroughly enjoyable read, which could easily be read as a stand alone novel.
Many thanks to the publisher and author for my review copy and place of the tour.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
About Ava Glass
The Traitor is the highly anticipated follow up to Ava Glass’ 2022 debut spy thriller The Chase.
The Chase is currently shortlisted for Best Spy Novel at the 2023 Crime Writer Awardsalongside established names including Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling) and Linwood Barclay. No small feat for a debut novelist.
Film rights to The Chase and The Traitor have been acquired by Ink Factory, producers of The Night Manager, who are currently working on a pilot in conjunction with Sky Atlantic, now in the final stages of editing. Next step will be casting!
Ava Glass is a former civil servant with the highest security clearance bar one. She has seen just enough of the inner workings of espionage to ensure that she will always be fascinated by spies.
Prior to working at the home office, Ava Glass worked as a crime reporter, covering multiple homicides, making her writing both fresh and dangerously believable.
I loved the author’s previous book The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart so when Olivia Le Maistre emailed me about reviewing The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding, I jumped at the chance. I had only just posted the previous day about the up coming TV series of The Lost Flowers, starring, amongst others, Sigourney Weaver, which starts August 4th, on Prime Video and looks great.
SYNOPSIS
Booktopia’s 2022 Book of the Year
The last time Esther Wilding’s beloved older sister Aura was seen, she was walking along the shore towards the sea. In the wake of Aura’s disappearance, Esther’s family struggles to live with their loss.
To seek the truth about her sister’s death, Esther reluctantly travels from Tasmania to Copenhagen, and then to the Faroe Islands. On her journey, Esther is guided by the stories Aura left behind in her treasured journal; seven fairy tales about selkies, swans and women, alongside cryptic verses Aura wrote and had secretly tattooed on her body.
The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding is about the far-reaches of sisterly love, the power of wearing your heart on your skin and the way life can transform when we find the courage to feel the fullness of both grief and joy.
‘It’s impossible to come away from this magical story unchanged’ Sally Piper
‘Richly immersive. A mysterious and magical journey through loss and grief’ Fiona Valpy
MY THOUGHTS
Ester has been called back home, by her parents, for a party to remember her sister Aura, who disappeared a year previous, but with everyone still suffering with their loss, the atmosphere at the family home is not a good one. Her mother hands her Aura’s journal and asks Esther to travel to Copenhagen, where Aura had been studying and living, prior to her return, a shell of her former shelf, and before her disappearance. Esther is reluctant, she wants to bury her grief deep inside, not face it, but after reading it she finally decides to go, staying with a relation of her mother’s called Aberlone. The story follows Esther as she searches for clues from the journal trying to fit together what had happened to her sister to change her so, and a very touching and meaningful story of grief, loss, and self discovery interwoven with magical fairy tales, symbolism, beliefs and old cultural stories unravels.
It took me a few chapters to get into the story, as there were a number of references I did not understand, so searching them, although interesting, perhaps affected the flow of reading but they gave me a greater understanding of the characters and once Esther decides to go to Copenhagen I was by then definitely engrossed with the story and sped through it. As before, the author once again writes with a magical dreamlike quality, and wonderfully describes the setting and place within the story. The evolution of Esther’s grief is beautifully told and the book portrays the importance of Aura’s and the family’s spirituality and cultural connections.
The treasury’s coffers are bare and tensions with the powerful Dutch Republic are boiling over. And now, an investigator sent by the King to look into corruption at the Royal Navy has been brutally murdered. Loathe to leave the pleasures of London, Samuel Pepys is sent dragging his feet to Portsmouth to find the truth about what happened.
Aided by his faithful assistant, Will Hewer, he soon exposes the killer. But has he got the right person? The truth may be much more sinister. And if the mystery isn’t solved in time, then England could be thrown into a war that would have devastating consequences . . .
The diaries of Samuel Pepys have enthralled readers for centuries with their audacious wit, gripping detail, and racy assignations. Pepys stopped writing at the age of 36. Or did he? This action-packed historical thriller, described as “Bridgerton meets Sherlock” imagines what might have happened next.
ABOUT THE BOOK
The Lost Diary of Samuel Pepys by Jack Jewers picks up a week after Pepys’ last diary entry, and follows Pepys on a mission to investigate the death of a Crown agent in Portsmouth – the home of the Royal Navy. Events spiral out of control, embroiling Pepys in a deadly plot that reaches higher than he ever could have imagined. And along the way he is forced to confront some uncomfortable truths about who he is and what he really believes…..
Jack Jewers reimagines one of Britain’s greatest historical figures through a 21st century lens. Readers will love how Pepys not only turns detective but must confront his own prejudices along the way. What better allies for one of history’s most infamous womanizers than a secret society of dangerous outlaws, made up entirely of women.
The modern diary as we know it owes its popularity to the 17th century diarist Samuel Pepys. Quite simply without Pepys’ secret diary, discovered 150 years after his death, there may have been no Bridget Jones, no Dracula, no Adrian Mole, and no Secret Diary of a Call Girl.
But this is no dry, lifeless old document. Pepys’ diaries have enthralled generations of readers with their exciting, often crude and frequently hilarious confessions about day-to-day life during the Restoration. From slating Shakespeare’s plays to detailing his secret love affairs, Pepys’ diary reads like a 17th century Hello! Magazine.
Pepys witnessed some of the most dramatic events in English history, from the return of Charles II to the horrors of the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London, but put his pen down for the last time in the early summer of 1669. Jack Jewers’ inventive crime caper, The Lost Diary of Samuel Pepys imagines what happened next.
For those unfamiliar with the Restoration period, this was when Charles II returned to the throne after Oliver Cromwell. It was a time of hedonism and excitement, which saw the theatres reopen and women take to the stage for the first time. Brothels and ale-houses could once more operate freely. But it was also an era rocked by disaster, from the Great Fire of London in 1666, to devastating wars with the Dutch – that England lost. It was the best of times, and the worst of times.
MY THOUGHTS
Full of political intrigue, suspense and historical detail, we ‘catch up’ with Pepys at a very turbulent time in history when war with the Dutch is very much at the fore of peoples lives.
From London to Portsmouth, from the grimy streets and alleyways to the ships in the docks, I found this debut novel from director, producer and screenwriter Jack Jewers a thoroughly great adventure.
I found the story very imaginative with great atmosphere and use of the current historical and political climate at that time. With some wonderful action pieces the authors screenwriting skills shine through.
With Pepys turned investigator, conspiracies upon conspiracies, tensions, twists and turn this is a really vivid and imaginative historical crime romp.
Hugh thanks to Funmi Lijadu at Midas PR for sending me my proof copy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jack Jewers is a filmmaker and writer, passionate about history. His career has been spent telling stories in all media, and his body of work includes film, TV, and digital media. His films have been shown at dozens of international film festivals, including Cannes, New York, Marseille, Dublin, and London’s FrightFest, garnering multiple accolades, including an award from the Royal Television Society and a nomination for Best Short Film by BAFTA Wales. The Lost Diary of Samuel Pepys is his first novel.
Many thanks to Hannah Hargrave for the advanced paperback copy of Through Three Rooms by Sven Elvestad. Originally published in 1915 in Norwegian, there has never been an English translation, so Kabaty Press bring us this new edition, translated by Lucy Moffatt, with an introduction by Nils Nordberg to a new generation of readers. Sven Elvestad also wrote under the pseudonym Stein Riverton, with his best known novel The Iron Chariot also having been translated by Lucy.
SYNOPSIS
“A vile crime is being planned,” he said.“And heaven knows, it may even have been executed.”
When an old schoolfriend whisks private detective Asbjørn Krag away by train to an isolated snow-covered manor house, his curiosity is aroused.
John Aakerholm, a wealthy landowner with peculiar tastes, refuses to disclose why he is utterly terrified. Every evening at midnight he retires to bed, locking himself within three different chambers – and access is strictly forbidden. When a shocking murder takes place, Krag must use his sharp wit and skills to uncover the killer before he strikes again….
A brilliantly ingenious story, Through Three Rooms amply displays Elvestad’s gift for storytelling and style. Available in English for the very first time, this book will delight fans of vintage crime fiction. This new translation features an introduction by Nils Nordberg, radio drama producer and Norwegian authority on crime fiction.
MY THOUGHTS
Having read and enjoyed the strange and wonderful The Iron Chariot I was delighted when Hannah sent me an email with a chance to read another book from this author.
The story opens on a wintery evening, with Asbjorn Krag sitting by his fire in his apartment reading through documents, when the doorbell rings. A new client! (Sherlock Holmes vibes for sure here). Doctor Rasch is concerned for one of his elderly patients, who has been acting strange and seems to be greatly fearful of something. He explains the particulars of the case and with Krag willingly saying he can help, heads of with the doctor, to catch the night train south.
The couple arrive at Kvamberg Manor, where Aakerholm, the patient, who is soon to be married to a much younger woman, lives with his grown up adopted son. Aakerholm has a very strange sleeping arrangement, where no one is allowed to entered his bedroom after the man has gone to bed. So much so that he locks the two rooms approaching the bedroom and his bedroom every night and has wire up at the windows. The doctor is worried about Aakerholm as he has seen such a drastic change in his manner.
‘I assure you, my dear Krag, that in all my years as a doctor I have never seen a man undergo so abrupt and dreadful a change. Handsome old Aakerholm with his calm, courageous eyes and vigorous bearing had become a trembling, timorous old man.’
With the mystery of the three locked rooms, the change in the old man’s manner and the upcoming marriage, Krag’s keen eye soon seeks out something far more than the doctor imagined.
A short novel, novella even, at 136 pages, this really had me thinking of similarities between this and a Sherlock Holmes book. The characters, language and mood of the story, plus the detective skills of Krag felt very Sherlokian to me. Pistols drawn, lanterns shone from windows and a somewhat ghostly feel to the scared behaviour of Aakerholm gave this a wonderful atmosphere all set in the cold and snow cover grounds of the manor. A good pace and well described action made for an entertaining and quick read.
Many thanks to Olivia at Legend Times Group for my advanced digital copy of Cuckoo in the Nest and for my invite onto the blog tour.
SYNOPSIS
It’s the heatwave summer of 1976 and 14-year-old would be poet Jackie Chadwick is newly fostered by the Walls. She desperately needs stability, but their insecure, jealous teenage daughter isn’t happy about the cuckoo in the nest and sets about ousting her.
When her attempts to do so lead to near-tragedy – and the Walls’ veneer of middle-class respectability begins to crumble – everyone in the household is forced to reassess what really matters.
Funny and poignant, Cuckoo in the Nest is inspired by Fran Hill’s own experience of being fostered. A glorious coming of age story set in the summer of 1976.
MY THOUGHTS
Set in the hot summer of 1976, teenager Jackie Chadwick and her Dad are struggling after the death of Jackie’s Mum. Her Dad’s turned to drink and life has become unstable for Jackie.
She is sent to first time foster carers The Walls. Bridget, Nick and their daughter Amanda. Conservative and straight laced Bridget at first clashes with what Jackie is used to. Nick, a teacher, is more approachable but Amanda clearly seems uncertain and against her parents decision to foster. Just as Jackie is starting to get accustomed to this family, as it’s clear her stay with them is to be longer than originally thought, Amanda tries to get Jackie into trouble with her parents and soon the problems and issues that this outwardly stable family start to show.
A wonderful character driven novel, with tough and sad topics at it’s core but the writing style and the character of Jackie herself bringing humour and lightness, which balances the book perfectly.
Wonderful little references to 1976 life in the UK, sparkly blue eyeshadow and pic n mix from Woolworths, all add to the warmth within it’s pages. The author does a great job of showing Jackie trying to fit in with this new family and making the best of her new temporary situation, but still thinking about how her Dad is coping.
Along side this, the reader is also allowed to become familiar with the characters and habits of The Walls and we see yet another family dynamic on show. The story moves along at a good pace leading up to a crisis point not just for Jackie but the Walls too.
With delicacy, deep understanding and sensitivity, this novel highlights a number of issues within these two families but I came away from this book with feelings of love, warmth and hope. A lovely read.
The ending is left fairly open…….a follow up book perhaps!!?
Many thanks to the publisher for my advanced digital copy via NetGalley.
SYNOPSIS
Minnie and Bert are over the moon to have their three grown-up children home for the first time in a decade. But having Lizzie, Jess, Owen and the grandchildren under one roof isn’t without its dramas.
Lizzie is off the alcohol (although emergency gin doesn’t count), Jess is juggling a toddler and a newborn, but it’s Owen who has the power to throw a grenade into everything.
It all stems from an incident that happened years ago. And it involves Nora Skelly – a name you don’t mention in front of Minnie.
With Nora also back in town, the past is about to come crashing into the present. And what better time to revisit old secrets and resentments than around the family dinner table?
MY THOUGHTS
A story about a somewhat dysfunctional family, most who have experienced troubled and upsetting times in their past, are all coming back home to spend Christmas day together. The mother just wants one ‘perfect’ day as they have not all been together as a family for some time, but tensions are present as on top of the estranged son/brother coming home from Australia with his daughter his old girlfriend is back home too, as she deals with the sale of her old home, following the recent death of her farther. As the story moves back and forth in time, and as we learn of each of the characters past, we find out that there has been a lot left unsaid between this family… and I mean ALOT! The death of their farther, the way the mother handled a situation many years ago, the previous relationship of one of the daughters, and the unanswered questions the youngest daughter has, are all simmering in the background, like a bomb ready to explode, as this family comes together. It took me a little while to get into this book, and to engage with the characters, but something seemed to click and from then on I was thoroughly hooked. My understanding of the mother character’s behaviour wasn’t always positive, but as I got further into the book the story took me away from this and I found it an interesting read. There are sad and serious topics in this book, but the characters, partially of the adult female children gave it that touch of humour and lightness. A novel full of discussion not had.
Many thanks to the publisher for my digital advanced copy via Netgalley
SYNOPSIS
An isolated castle, a deadly crime. Is this real or a nightmare?
In a remote castle high up in the Tuscan hills secrets are simmering among its glamorous English residents:
The ailing gentleman art-dealer His dazzling niece Her handsome Fascist husband Their neglected young daughter The housekeeper who knows everything and Connie, the English widow working for them.
Every night, Connie hears sinister noises and a terrible wailing inside the walls. Is she losing her grip on reality?
Or does someone in the castle want her gone?
MY THOUGHTS
Feeling like there must be more to life than her present day mundanity, widow Connie answers an advert for a companion/carer to an invalid gentleman in Italy. Her son seems both disapproval and astonished at his mothers actions, but when Connie arrives at her new post, not only is she surprised at the age of the gentleman (he is somewhat younger than she imagined) she is both struck with the beauty of the castle and it’s surroundings, but also the strangeness of the castles occupants. Is it her? or is there something going on? Lack of sleep, weird noises and the unsettling relationship she appears to have growing for her ‘patient’, leaves Connie thinking she is losing her mind and can not trust herself to make sense of her surroundings. But when her son comes to visit, and opens her eyes to those around her, the light is soon shone onto those who are out to get what they can.
I enjoy Rachel’s books and the settings she takes the reader off to. There is a strong sense of unease in the castle which clashes with the beauty around it. Good description of it’s characters and flow and continuous movement in the story make it an easy and enjoyable read.
LIZ NUGENT | S.J. PARRIS | ROB RINDER | LAURA SHEPHERD-ROBINSON |
C.L. TAYLOR | C.J. TUDOR | SARAH VAUGHAN | LUCA VESTE | RUTH WARE | LUCY WORSLEY
L-R: Lee & Andrew Child, Janice Hallett, Dorothy Koomson
Rob Rinder, Ruth Ware, Femi Kayode
Harrogate, Tuesday 28 March 2023. Harrogate International Festivals has announced the programme for this year’s 20th anniversary Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, the world’s largest celebration of crime fiction and thriller writing, which runs from 20 – 23 July 2023 at Harrogate’s Old Swan Hotel.
The 2023 Festival Chair, award winning crime and thriller author Vaseem Khan, has curated a ground-breaking programme. Alongside the special guests headlining the Festival, including literary legends Lee Child, Andrew Child, Lisa Jewell, Ruth Ware, Ann Cleeves, Jeffery Deaver, Lucy Worsley, S. A. Cosby, Val McDermid,and Chris Hammer, the full programme includes some of the biggest names in crime fiction.
Exploring everything from the perfect murderous opening, police procedurals and dark obsessions to legal thrillers and the golden age of crime, this year’s 20th anniversary programme will see a variety of acclaimed crime and thriller authors discussing the genre and influences on their writing, including Janice Hallett, Shari Lapena, Louise Candlish, Abir Mukherjee, Steve Cavanagh, Elly Griffiths, Ragnar Jónasson, Clare Mackintosh, Mick Herron, Will Dean, Laura Shepherd-Robinson, Chris Brookmyre, and many more!
The Festival will start with Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award ceremony, where the winner of crime writing’s most prestigious accolade will be revealed alongside the recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award.
This year’s Festival also includes two ‘who dunnit?’ themed author dinners, giving a unique opportunity for crime fans to get to know authors in a fun and informal environment. Richard Armitage, Stuart Neville, David Hewson, Emma Christie, Steph Broadribb, Alex Dahl, Greg Mosse, Leigh Russell, S.E. Lynes andmany otherswill partake in a murder mystery with a twist!
The all-star line-up of events includes the return of Val McDermid’s New Blood panel, celebrating four brilliant debut crime writers, and the popular Late-Night Quiz, hosted by McDermid and Mark Billingham, armed with trivia, titles and tricks to test the knowledge of crime fiction fanatics.
Vaseem Khan, award winning author and 2023 Festival Chair, said: “It’s a privilege to chair this year’s Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival. My late father and I watched Poirot together and we’d never imagined that decades later I would chair a Festival so closely connected to Agatha Christie. It feels special to be the first British Asian crime writer to chair the Festival, and even more special for the monumental 20th anniversary. The Festival team have pulled together an Avengers Assemble line-up of crime writers to celebrate the monumental anniversary. You’d be (criminally) insane to miss it.”
The full programme for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival 2023:
A staple of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival line-up, Creative Thursday offers a unique opportunity for aspiring crime writer to learn from the best in the business. Chaired by crime reviewer Natasha Cooper (NJ Cooper) and Mark Billingham, on the panel are authors Mark Edwards, Rachel Abbott, Claire McGowan, Graham Bartlett, and Dr Chris Merritt will share tips of the trade for budding writers as Workshop Leaders, accompanied by publishing experts Ruth Tross, Ellis Moore, Maddalena Cavaciuti, Juliet Mushens and Finn Cotton.
20:00 – Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award
Crime writing’s most wanted accolade returns to highlight the very crime novels published by British and Irish authors over the last year. The longlist will be on announced Thursday 27 April, followed by the shortlist on Thursday 15 June and the winner announced at the awards ceremony on Thursday 20 July hosted by Mark Lawson.
Friday 21st July
9:00 – Special Guest: Val McDermid
Festival co-founder and doyenne of the crime world Val McDermid will reflect on her illustrious career and 20 years of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival with Mark Billingham.
10:30 – PANEL: Starting With A Scream
Crime novels often begin with a chilling killing. C.J. Tudor, Liz Nugent, Simon Toyne, Will Carver and Fiona Cummins dissect exactly what goes into the perfect murderous opening.
12:00 – PANEL: Law & Disorder
Police procedurals are the cornerstone of the crime fiction canon. But what happens when cops are forced to cross the line? Cara Hunter, Nadine Matheson, Neil Lancaster, Jane Casey and Graham Bartlett, will tell us whether the end justifies the means.
14:00 – PANEL: Literary Crime
Great crime fiction is as good as any highbrow literary offering. Laura Shepherd-Robinson, Abir Mukherjee, Will Dean and Jacob Ross have received acclaim for books that combine prose and plot into a glorious whole that has even diehard littérateurs purring. Expertly chaired by S.J. Parris.
15:30 – PANEL: Obsession Makes The World Go Round
Simmering secrets and murderous impulses make for dark deeds. Hear Alex North, Sarah Hilary, Dorothy Koomson, Mark Edwards discuss how deadly obsession shapes so many of the deliciously dark stories we’ve come to love, chaired by Erin Kelly.
17:00 – IN CONVERSATION: Lisa Jewell & Ruth Ware
Crafting gripping thrillers filled with creepy chills and unforeseen twists takes an expert hand. Lisa Jewell introduces her new nail-biting suspense None of This is True with Ruth Ware, author of the unputdownable The It Girl, as the pair reveal what it takes to master the form.
18:15 – Author Dinner
A unique opportunity for crime fans to get to know authors in a relaxed, but fun, dinner environment. Join A.A. Chaudhuri, Alex Dahl, Amen Alonge, Craig Robertson, D.L. Marshall, Tracey Whitwell, Greg Mosse, Jo Callaghan, Leigh Russell, Jenny Blackhurst, Nicola Williams, Rachel Abbott, Simon Mason, William Shaw and S.E. Lynes for dinner as together you try to figure out ‘who dunnit?’ in this murder mystery with a twist.
18:30 – PANEL: Words! Camera! Action!
From Netflix to Hollywood, crime dramas now rule the roost. Chris Brookmyre will chair the panel of authors, including A.A. Dhand, Imran Mahmood, Louise Doughty, and Mick Herron, as they tell us about their journey from page to screen, and the ins and outs of how literary creations are brought to life.
20:30 – SPECIAL GUEST: Ann Cleeves
Bestselling creator of the Vera Stanhope, Jimmy Perez and Matthew Venn book series Ann Cleeves will be interviewed by Festival Chair Vaseem Khan.
22:00 – Fun Loving Crime Writers
Prepare for some killer tunes as the world’s greatest crime writing superband Mark Billingham, Val McDermid, Chris Brookmyre, Stuart Neville, Luca Veste and Doug Johnstone keep Harrogate rocking until the early hours.
Saturday 22nd July
9:00 – IN CONVERSATION: S.A. Crosby & Chris Hammer
Mastermind of the “Southern noir” genre S. A. Cosby and Australian crime novelist and creator Chris Hammer will talk about their works and how the varied landscapes of their respective homes influence their works.
10:30 – PANEL: Modern Gumshoes P.I. For Hire
Chaired by Doug Johnstone, Femi Kayode, Holly Watt, Robert Crais, and Tim Weaver will discuss how crime fiction has evolved from the laconic cool of a Philip Marlowe to African lady detectives, with private investigators being historic fan favourite.
12:00 – PANEL: New Blood with Val McDermid
Always a sell-out, the New Blood panel provides a showcase for some of the year’s most outstanding debut novelists. Val McDermid will once again be personally selecting four brilliant first novels to discuss with their authors. This panel is always a highlight of the Festival and gives today’s readers a unique opportunity to discover the stars of tomorrow.
14:00 – PANEL: Presumed Guilty
If recent celebrity trials have shown us anything it’s that our fascination for a good legal brawl has never been greater. Judicial hijinx, miscarriages of justice and courtroom battles are at the heart of the legal thriller. Authors Helen Fields, Kia Abdullah, Sarah Vaughn, and Steve Cavanagh are joining Rob Rinder to explore the world of the legal thriller.
15:30 – PANEL: Murder Most Joyful
From parish murders to kitchen killers, the sheer breadth of ‘cosy’ crime is astonishing. Antti Tuomainen, Elly Griffiths, Mark Billingham and Rev. Richard Coles will examine the success of the genre and its modern resurgence, chaired by S.J. Bennett. Nobody puts cosy in the corner.
17:00 – SPECIAL GUEST: Jeffery Deaver
Jeffery Deaver, author of the bestselling Lincoln Rhyme series, will make his return to the Festival in 2023 to talk about Hunting Time, the latest thriller featuring “reward-seeker” Colton Shaw, with Mark Lawson.
18:15 – Author Dinner
Crack the case with Richard Armitage, Alex Marwood, Christie J. Newport, D.V. Bishop, David Hewson, Emma Christie, Holly Seddon, James Oswald, Jude O’Reilly, Katy Watson, Lisa Gray, Olivia Kiernan, Sam Blake, Steph Broadbribb, Sue Watson, Susi Holliday, Tina Baker, and Stuart Neville in the second Author Dinner.
20:30 – SPECIAL GUEST: Lee Child & Andrew Child
Lee Child and Andrew Child will share their experiences of collaborating on the iconic Jack Reacher and what the process has taught them, with TV presenter Steph McGovern.
22:00 – Late Quiz Night
Val McDermid and Mark Billingham return as the ultimateQuizmasters for the crime fiction Late Night Quiz.
Sunday 23rd July
9:00 – PANEL: The Never Ending Golden Age
Agatha Christie continues to inspire crime writers the world over. Inventive puzzles, strong characters, and a Golden Age sensibility. Stig Abel will chair the discussion about why fascination with the Golden Age endures between Janice Hallett, Ragnar Jónasson, Clare Mackintosh, and Vaseem Khan.
10:30 – PANEL: When Sally Killed Harry
Domestic noir is now one of the biggest selling genres in publishing. C.L. Taylor, Claire Douglas, Louise Candlish, Shari Lapena and T.M. Logan, experts in writing about the darker side of love and friendship, will discuss dodgy husbands, scheming wives, murderous siblings.
12:00 – SPECIAL GUEST: Lucy Worsley
Historian and TV presenter Lucy Worsley will be revealing more about the life of the Queen of Crime and former resident of the Old Swan Hotel, Agatha Christie, in conversation with Natasha Knight.
A quick run down of what I’ve been reading, listening to and watching this month.
Not a great reading month this month. I’ve had a lot going on and unfortunately found it quite difficult to settle into a book. I DNF’d 3 others not mentioned here and found most just a little slow for my current mood. So my comments below will reflect that. Possibly more me than the book. However I have watched some good TV!
Books
The Walled Garden by Sarah Hardy – I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I thought the idea of the story and the way the emotions of characters were delicately depicted was good but I found it a little slow and repetitive and not enough distinction between the fairly large number of characters.
The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald – an engaging enough story but didn’t like the characters much.
The Kind Worth Saving by Peter Swanson This was my favourite read by far this month. Great pace from the get go. Dark, engaging, fast paced with twists and turns. another great read from this author.
Forbidden Notebook by Alba De Cespedes (translated by Ann Goldstein) – An intimate and detailed look at one women’s day to day life in post war Rome as she starts to keep a secret diary.
House of Trelawney by Hannah Rothschild – I have very nearly finished this one. A light read. Somewhat predictable and not many characters to like but a quick read. I did like the writing style, so will check out her other novel.
Radio
I’ve had much better joy this month with listening to the radio. Some great easy to follow detective classics.
Paul Temple and the Geneva Mystery
Stand By For West – Inspector West at home
Agatha Christie’s The Moving Finger
TV
Endeavour ITV1 – thoroughly enjoyed this last series in this wonderful TV show. Loved the last clip as the two cars passed each other.
Slow Horses season 2 Apple TV – Another very entertaining series about this dysfunctional team of MI5 agents. Based on the books by Mick Herron
Beyond Paradise BBC 1 – A very easy to watch spin off series from Death in Paradise, based on the books by Peter Thorogood. Light-hearted plots but with a surprisingly deep and hearth felt storyline of the couples journey with IVF, which is brilliantly played by Sally Bretton.
Funny Woman NOW TV – after the first couple of episodes this really gets going. Funny and entertaining.
Pick of the month
TV – Shrinking – Apple TV – Fabulous TV series starring Harrison Ford, Jason Segel and Jessica Williams as therapists who work together to help each other as much as their clients. Laugh out loud, moving and with wonderful characters. LOVE IT! HIGHLY RECCOMEND!
Many thanks to Phoebe Williams for sending me a proof copy pack of this new novel by Peter Swanson. I love his books and this new novel features the return of Henry Kimball and Lily Kintner from The Kind Worth Killing, which is a fab read!
Book 2 of 2 in the Henry Kimball story
SYNOPSIS
TWO’S COMPANY, THREE’S FATAL
‘Do you remember me?’ she asked, after stepping into my office.
When private detective and former teacher Henry Kimball is hired to investigate an ex-pupil’s cheating husband, he senses all is not quite what it seems, and before he knows it he’s gotten far too close to the other woman.
As the case gets ever stranger, he turns to the only person he can trust, Lily Kintner, someone with dark secrets of her own…
MY THOUGHTS
Henry is now working as a private detective, when an old student from Henry’s short time spent as a teacher, walks into his office asking him to follow her husband. She is certain he he having an affair with a woman he works with at his real estate company and wants Henry to find proof. Henry decides to accept the job but it brings back memories of a very traumatic event which happened at the school the year Henry taught there.
Back in time, to when Joan was a teenager, we read of a summer vacation spent with her family at The Windward Resort (Nine Lives). She meets another teenager, a meeting of minds, if you like, which starts a very dark and twisted tale of events.
As the book flips between the two timelines, we read as events unfold in both storylines. I was equally as engaged in both timelines, which is always good as sometimes I tend to prefer one over another, but I found these two equally interesting and twisty in their own different ways.
The second book following The kind Worth Killing, which I read some years ago now, also has us meet back up with Lily Kintner, who has somewhat kept in touch with Henry and we learn more in this second novel of how their strange but meaningful relationship has developed.
I enjoyed reading this book. An engaging, fast read, as the story moves quickly along, keeping you looking out for what may happen, and what danger Henry or Lily is likely to get themselves into. Quite dark in places but with the author’s usual appealing writing style and vivid dialogue.
Babbage and Sweetcorn 