"The Bad Things" Mary Jane Riley

I enjoyed this a lot. For me, it started off as a very competent thriller with all the usual ingredients, but the last third really packed a punch and even when I thought I had it all worked out, Riley had a few last minute twists to throw in!

This is quite a harrowing story about loss, parenting, relationships and mental illness. There are some incredibly sad passages and deeply traumatised characters but Riley handles all these things with sensitivity and balance. The writing is emotive but this also ensures tension, suspense and a real engagement with the characters.

The main protagonist is Alex, sister to Sasha. Sasha's two young children disappeared 15 years ago - only the body of one of them found. Life has never been the same since and each sister still struggles to continue with every day life even after such a long period of time. Sasha's marriage has disintegrated and Alex finds it hard to commit to relationships, as well as juggling the parenting of her own son who has grown up in the shadow of the family's terrible history. Then Jackie Wood, the woman jailed as an accessory to the children's murder, is released from prison and Alex, a freelance journalist, decides to chase her for an interview........

As soon as I had read the blurb of this novel, I knew I wanted to read it. For any parent, it is unnerving to read about children who are taken as it has to be our worst nightmare, but at the same time, it always makes for a compelling, emotional read, particularly with recent memories of some of the more high profile cases reported in the news.

Riley expertly creates convincing characters in detail. Alex's character is consumed by the dilemma of meeting with Jackie Wood - her professional duty, her duty to her sister, her duty to her nephew and niece, her duty to her own son and to her own boyfriend. She struggles to deal with her own issues as well as the responsibility she feels towards her sister. Following an intense opening sequence, Alex's poor judgement and panic lead her into the very thick of the investigation following Jackie's release and this is exciting- I did question how convincing her behaviour was, but don't worry, Riley has it all worked out and as events continue to unspool, Alex's reticence to tell the truth become explained by the hints about the further darker secrets she is trying to hide.

Inspector Kate Todd, who was involved with the children's disappearance 15 years ago, is recalled to the case. She is an equally engaging character. Once again, haunted by the memories of finding the little boy's body all those years before and the repercussions of this trauma case still affecting her personal life today.

Crime writer Corrie Jackson appeared in an article recently about a top tips for writing. She quoted something she always tries to keep in mind when writing - every character, however big or small in the overall story arc, is the protagonist in their life. I thought this very fitting when I read "The Bad Things." There is quite a wide cast of characters but, like Agatha Christie also does, she encourages us to focus on a couple of main people, becoming absorbed in their narratives and not really taking that much notice of the people milling about in the background. Then as the book reaches its climatic ending, we realise that actually we have been looking at the wrong faces and listening to the wrong voices. Riley develops an intense backstory for each of her characters and the importance of this is increasingly obvious in the final stages of the story. The way the threads converge together and join up all the dots is exceptionally rewarding and gripping.

Although I had some inklings and suspicions about what I thought was going on, which were largely proved to be right, I enjoyed the fact that Riley allows you to do this. In fact, she leads you happily down this path- but then suddenly trips you up a few times just when the end is in sight; just enough to knock your breath out of your sails as you race through the final pages. She is the story teller here and she is in control of the story!

On a totally different note, the location and settings are also very visual. Set in Norfolk / Suffolk, the description is vivid and I enjoyed reading about places I could easily imagine while on holiday in the county.

"The Bad Things" is a good read. I am really keen to read the next book in the series now and will definitely be keeping track of anything Riley publishes. I'm pleased to have discovered her books!

For more recommendations and reviews follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk)

"You Belong To Me" Samantha Hayes

I am a Samantha Hayes fan and although I have only read a couple of her titles, I have bought more and am saving them up for when I need a "go to" thriller that I know will grip me and hold me in a suitable mode of suspense and tension for the duration of the pages.

This is the second in a series featuring DI Lorraine Fisher, but I haven't read the first book and it didn't affect my understanding - it seemed to work equally well as a standalone novel. It was interesting see read a police procedural thriller from Hayes as the other titles I have read by her do not have a detective as a protagonist. Hayes has obviously researched her writing and the all the details regarding the police investigation  are faultless.

Hayes doesn't hold back - the opening of the book feels like she's pulled a pin on a grenade and lobbed it straight into her reader's path. Several different plot lines erupt in the opening chapters and the repercussions continue to rise and ripple like a tsunami until the final pages - all 480 of them! I literally did not know what had hit me when I started reading!

The prologue and first chapter reminded me of Elizabeth Haynes "Into the Darkest Corner" as we meet a character clearly broken by a dangerously controlling relationship. Hayes establishes fear, tension and suspense immediately. Then, in Chapter 2, we meet DI Lorraine Fisher at an appointment with her Doctor where she confesses to suffering from anxiety. She seems very much under pressure following a murder case where she feels she failed the victims and thinks she did not do enough to save them. As well as her demanding job she is juggling a family of teenage girls and her husband also works on the force, which seems to provoke further tension between them. It seems to be very popular to have a troubled female detective as a protagonist who fights their own inner demons alongside the real ones, so this book really does include all the necessary ingredients for a gripping thriller and Hayes has created a compelling detective with whom we are invited to relate to and invest in. Although Fisher's situation is complicated and we become very involved in her emotional fragility, this is clearly justified as I'm guessing Hayes has plans for subsequent books and an ongoing series. Fisher has to be very three dimensional and intriguing enough to pull this off, which I think she is.

Isabel is equally demanding on the reader. Hearing of her parent's death while in India, she comes home with the assistance of an apparent stranger who then proceeds to offer her further hospitality. I was a little dubious about her willingness to accept so much from Owen and of some of her decisions, but I was hooked enough to want to read on and was happy to overlook a few slightly contrived moments for the greater good of a well paced read. Isabel is clearly devastated, upset, grieving and also hiding from a deep and dark past. Her narrative is confused and peppered with clues, hints, references which all come together at the end and clearly Hayes has done this deliberately to develop character and tension, but it does mean the book requires 100% of your concentration!

This is quite a long book at around 480 pages and there is a lot going on. Each character is significantly complex and battling many issues. Each has an intense back story and each story thread is absorbing and compelling. I did find that I had to concentrate quite a lot more on keeping up with everything that was happening and a few times had to be really clear which narrative I was involved in as the chapters alternate between Lorraine and Isabel and both are written in first person.

Ultimately I liked the incredible twists and turns that flung my mind around faster than a high speed carousel. The ending was suitably shocking and rewarding. I read it relatively quickly which helped me to keep track of everyone - particularly as the reliability of the character's narratives are discredited and truth behind their stories are quite intertwined. Some of the reviewers have criticised the plot for being a little too far fetched. Perhaps this is so. Hayes has been ambitious and has juggled a lot but I was happy to be carried along for the ride. I mean, it's fiction after all and for me, a bit of pure escapism.

I do have to say I preferred "Until You're Mine" and "In Too Deep" (which I gave 4/5 and 5/5 stars respectively) and they are both stand alone thrillers. I am looking forward to working my way through Hayes other titles as I think she is a good writer of contemporary psychological thrillers.

"You Belong To Me" was published in 2015 by Random House.

For more reviews and recommendations please follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk)

"Can Anybody Help Me" Sinead Crowley

It was crazy really, she had never met the woman, had no idea of her real name but she thought of her as a friend. Or, at least, the closest thing she had to a friend in Dublin.

Struggling with a new baby, Yvonne turns to netmammy, an online forum for mothers, for support. Drawn into a world of new friends, she spends increasing amounts of time online and volunteers more and more information about herself.

When one of her new friends goes offline, Yvonne thinks something is wrong, but dismisses her fears. After all, does she really know this woman?

But when the body of a young woman with striking similarities to Yvonne’s missing friend is found, Yvonne realises that they’re all in terrifying danger. Can she persuade Sergeant Claire Boyle, herself about to go on maternity leave, to take her fears seriously?

I liked this thriller. It's a relatively easy read - although not light in content, the writing is fluent, effortless and not gratuitous. The main characters feel authentic with relationships, concerns and problems that will be recognisable to anyone with any experience of motherhood, marriage, extended family and social media. What is perhaps most refreshing about Crowley's novel, is the angle at which she decides to explore the risks of social media. Rather than focusing on how the misuse of social media can affect teens and younger children, she reveals how adults unwittingly expose themselves and make themselves vulnerable. How many of us have Twitter accounts, Facebook pages, instagram accounts? How much information could a stranger find out about you in a matter of clicks, however careful you think you've been? And how many hundreds of people do you communicate with daily based on a minute profile of less that 100 characters that could have been penned by anyone? *puts hand up sheepishly* 

The real appeal of this book is how Yvonne, a new mother, a new wife and new to the city, ends up becoming part of a group of mums who swap parenting advice, or gather to "whinge and moan" about the endless routine of changing nappies, feeding, husbands and sleepless nights. There is nothing unusual about this - in fact, how many of us have bonded with complete strangers during those early days of motherhood when you suddenly feel almost alienated from your single friends or colleagues; your world completely redrawn by the arrival of your new child? For Yvonne, this bonding takes place via an internet forum. Again, nothing unusual or untoward about this in today's current obsession with social media sites and our craving for an online presence. And for Yvonne, and some of the other members, it offers a chance to socialise without having to negotiate leaving the house or an opportunity to hide the real you behind an online nickname. 

Then one of her "friends" disappears from the conversations and fails to post anything for a while. This is when the suspense and mystery build and alongside a police inquiry, Crowley also raises questions about just how much we are revealing of ourselves online through our supposed coded statements. I can't say much more without spoiling it for those who have not read it, but I found the role of the online community in this police inquiry and crime thriller really interesting and enjoyed the interjection of the online threads in and amongst the main narrative sequence. It reflects how many of us process our news, feelings and friendships in this day and age. 

I also like the characters. Yvonne and Claire are well crafted. Both women want to embrace and enjoy motherhood but also find it tiring, demanding and exhausting. Sergeant Claire Boyle is particularly frustrated by how her pregnancy is affecting her ability to work as she is a diligent, committed police officer with an admirable drive to do her job the best way she can. They are fallible, they are not perfect but they are real and this makes them appealing and likeable. Crowley particularly captures the effect of tiredness and sleep deprivation on the rational and emotional disposition of a woman - as well as the loss of identity that can sometimes come with the initial period of being a stay at home mother - and how this can prove to be the downfall of some of the characters in this fast paced read. 

There are several different threads to hold on to tightly as Crowley develops the story line with two main protagonists and a colourful cast of many more- all mothers -whether of young children, newborns or expectant. The chapters are also broken up with "live" forum conversations from the website "netmammy" which initially seem a little random and indicative of the sort of comments to be found on these kind of sites, but as the story progresses the reader needs to scan these excerpts more carefully as the names, clues and comments become more significant to the dramatic finale. Even through these brief snippets of advice, comment, humour and despair, the character are very much alive and vivid and it is a credit to Crowley that she can make them so viable from such succinct and deft use of dialogue. 

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a modern, fast paced page turner with realistic characters who are not afraid to share their real feelings about motherhood and partners. Sergeant Claire is a determined character who captures the dilemma of many modern career women and Yvonne is an equally relatable character who finds herself struggling to function in the haze of early motherhood. Crowley evokes an atmosphere of exhaustion, blurriness and mental haze through her protagonists which also creates tension, suspense and empathy. The main plot line of a missing person has all the ingredients of a satisfying police procedural novel with the right amount of twists, turns, revelations, shocks and suspense. It is a solid crime read. 

I guessed the ending wrong. Twice. The last paragraph left me with a shudder. 

For more recommendations and reviews please follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk) 

"In Her Wake" Amanda Jennings

I approached this book with slight trepidation as the back cover and first few pages are absolutely rammed with glowing reviews from all the best psychological thriller writers and bloggers. Words like "exquisite", "haunting", "mesmerising", "atmospheric" and "immersive" litter each of their quotes and I wondered how a book with such accolade would manage to match my expectations.

I had nothing to worry about!

Well, other than that it is impossible to find any new adjectives or succinct phrases to sum up my reaction to this novel!

I raced through this despite its 364 pages and small print! The chapters are very short and alternate between Bella's narrative- set in the present - and then the narrative of Henry Campbell, which jump backwards and forwards through the preceding years as the reader gradually puts together all the pieces in the jigsaw and finally sees the full heartrending and deeply chilling ending.

I enjoyed the fact that although this most defiantly is a psychological thriller, it is a little different. The main perpetrators of the crime are dead and Bella is haunted by ghosts, memories and secrets which are as threatening as any shadowy figure hiding in the dark alleyways. The characters are complicated, multi-layered, damaged and unsuspectingly terrifying.

Jennings takes her time developing the characters so that they are authentic; their motives, behaviour and emotional fragility presented with care and deliberation so that the story remains compelling rather than melodramatic. Jennings manages the complex web of threads with impressive control, revealing details, twists, conversations and feelings with a precision that ensures tension and suspense throughout the entire novel. Some of Jennings' description of Bella's memories of life in the "Old Vicarage" reminded me of Elizabeth Haynes thrillers and the sense of claustrophobia, control and duplicitous behaviour was palpable. I was desperate for Bella to see the parallels between her childhood and marriage as her new relationship with Alice and Dawn help her realise her capabilities and give her the self confidence of which she has stripped for so long.

The theme of abuse is really intriguing in this book. The reader is invited to really consider its different guises - from the obvious, to the menacingly stealthy.

The last chapters are extremely compelling. I was utterly hypnotised by Jennings' writing as I tried to keep up with the rapid revelations and final few twists. I loved the ghostly atmosphere of the book and how formidable and unnerving some of the characters were.

"In Her Wake" didn't feel like a "Grip Lit" read even though it clearly is. It felt more like a story about families, motherhood, love, and the lengths people can be driven to under extreme pressure and after suffering immense loss and trauma. There are plenty of fascinating questions to ask about the motives of some characters (can't be too specific without spoiling it for anyone who has not read it yet!) and how we decide to judge them. As one reviewer comments, Jennings' skill is in her ability to "put her character's motivations and behaviour under the microscope, magnify the darkest, most unpalatable workings of the human psyche whilst balancing a clever sympathy for the main characters."

This book reminded me a little of "The Light Between the Oceans" in terms of some of the emotional trauma, but is actually much more deeply twisted. It probably was not the right choice for an afternoon on the beach but I thoroughly enjoyed becoming lost in Bella's journey. I found myself immersed in her personal journey, fully involved in her attempts to reconcile what she knows with what she thought she knew and as afraid of the next blurred memory as she was herself.

Recommend!

For more reviews and recommendations follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk)

"Escape to the Riviera" Jules Wake

Gentle, comfortably predictable, undemanding, brimming with romance, comedy and a happy ever after ending -this book basically delivers exactly what it promises! It is a light hearted, playful summer holiday read that would fit nicely next to your chilled glass of wine as you recline in your sun lounger and take a break from a few lazy laps in the pool!

And if you can't get to the Riviera yourself this summer, let Wake transport you there! The location of this novel sets a perfect atmosphere for a satisfying chick lit / rom com read. The backdrop of the celebrity lifestyle of parties, posh restaurants and private beaches is obviously appealing to any day-dreaming reader. The contrast between protagonist Carrie's home life with Alan and the luxurious life of Richard is clearly going to engage readers - it's a bit like finding yourself on the film set of "Pretty Woman", and who doesn't hope to be served endless champagne while outfits for a cocktail party are flown in by a PA especially! Carrie's opportunity to remind herself of the person she was and consider the person she wants to become is attractive to all of us as we inevitably take stock of our own lives, away from the monotony from our usual routine.

There is plenty of humour surrounding Carrie's niece Jade as she can't help but WhatsApp her friends and the dialogue is suitably wry, sarcastic and witty throughout the novel, reflective of their relationship. Carrie's sister, Angela, is more restrained and conservative - again, showing the contrasts within the novel as Wake explores siblings, motherhood, love, responsibility and choice.

Wake writes well. Even the more cliched lines like when Carrie first sees Richard and reels at his "perfectly chiselled jawline, which she used to tease he'd borrowed from Action Man" don't feel overly saccharine. Wake's prose washes over you like the lull of lapping waves; light, calming and pleasantly relaxing.

Carrie has two weeks to see if Richard can win her back. Does she want to join him and be part of his celebrity lifestyle? Be spontaneous? Remember who she was and the ambitions she had for herself as a young actress? Or does the fact that she knows these two weeks are merely an escape for them both to be other people for a while - who doesn't want to escape their real life for a while?- mean that she can't seriously consider his proposal? And what of Alan? Jade? Angela? Her safe life; controlled and predictable?

Carrie's fear of further disappointment and bitterness keep resurfacing and Wake poses the dilemma between being choosing to be "content" or "happy", settling for "good" over "fun", throughout the novel in a very pleasing and amiable manner as we join Carrie on her meandering journey to find answers.

If you are looking for a light hearted, easy, summer read with affable characters, touches of charm and humour, something that will soothe your weary spirit as you relax on holiday, then this is the perfect book for you. To be honest, it's not my usual read and so I have only given it a 3/5 rating but I did enjoy it and I did feel transported to the Riviera through Wake's description. I was interested in finding out what happened and it made a refreshing change to read a book full of harmless, convivial, good humoured people and not to be too terrified to switch the light off at bedtime!

"Sweet Home" Carys Bray

Accomplished, moving and unnerving, Sweet Home is a small tour de force - The Independent

With psychological insight and a lightness of touch frequently found in fairy tales, Carys Bray delves under the surface of ordinary lives to explore loss, disappointment, frustrated expectations and regret. 

Shades of Angela Carter... that deceptively light touch delivers swift, hard punches to the solar plexus.
- The Guardian 

Suburbia in all its tarnished glory - Carys Bray teases at the cracks, and pulls at all the loose threads dangling, in short stories that are funny and sad and achingly true.
- Robert Shearman

They say there's no place like home. It's where the heart is...

Meet the little boy who believes in miracles.

Meet the mother who loves to bring babies home from the newborn aisle of her supermarket.

Meet the husband who carves a longed-for baby out of ice as a gift for his wife.

Meet the widow who is reminded of romance whilst standing at the kitchen sink

"Bray explores parenthood, loss, childhood and belonging with razor sharp prose....never afraid to epode the darkness that exists behind suburban front doors." Jenn Ashworth 

I have shamelessly borrowed lots of other quotes (largely taken from Bray's website www.carysbray.co.uk) as other reviewers have been able to capture the impact this book has on the reader much more eloquently than I ever will.

I adored this collection of 17 short stories.

Every now and again, usually when I am thinking about having a go at writing myself, I come across a book which shames me into screwing up every sheet of scribbled plot ideas I have as I stand humbled and in awe of the utter and complete skill of a seriously talented writer, realising I should never attempt to compete and just stick to reading! This book did just that.

This collection of short stories is only 180 pages long; each story ranges from very brief -almost flash fiction style- to three or four pages long, to six or seven pages maximum, so it can very easily be picked up and enjoyed whenever you have a spare minute. It's perfect for dipping in and out of -although you will not want to, as this is a book that needs to be truly savoured.

If like me, you try to read these tales without allowing for that ten minute period of stunned reflection after the last sentence has run like cold water down your spine, then you will end up burning dinner, letting your hundredth cup of tea go cold and come back to earth to find your children have quietly destroyed the house and eaten the entire secret supply of chocolate biscuits.

These stories are intense, powerful, emotionally and at times, heartbreaking. Above all, they are very original and show Bray to be an accomplished storyteller. They explore grief, motherhood, families and "home". It is a rich collection of dark, perceptively chilling tales.

Often in a collection of stories there are those that are stronger and weaker, but I did not find that here. I could quote endlessly from all of them. From the opening paragraph of the first story I knew I had discovered a real gem of a book of which I was going to love every sentence:

"She felt like an actress who has learned the wrong lines. She has rehearsed Mary Poppins only to find herself appearing in Night Mother." 

The opening story, "Everything a parent needs to know", sees a mother battling her way through a child's swimming lesson as words from her "hard-backed, hard-faced, hard-to-follow" parenting manuals haunt and taunt her. I loved the fictitious quotes which resonated deeply, as did their inappropriateness and smugness as the mother struggles through a trying situation. "Just in Case" left me with a shudder but also a sadness and "My burglar" was equally poignant.

"Sweet Home" is a fantastic retelling of "Hansel and Gretel" and also subtly shows the reader how these short stories could also be fables and fairy tales for a contemporary audience as they echo many of the traits and lure the reader into the same kind of hypnotic, mediative state.

Short stories are a real art form and I think, deceptively hard to write. This collection gives Bray a chance to flaunt the full range of her talent and her intelligent - and brave- insight into aspects of "home" which are sometimes considered taboo or highly emotive and sensitive. She handles them expertly. This is a very dark collection of tales but I did not find it depressing or oppressive. Bray's lyrical writing is captivating and a treads a well judged balance between heartbreak, shock and humour. Bray seems to have a wealth of experience and understanding of human nature beyond her years and I am impressed with her ability to write about a range of issues and themes with such conviction, acuteness and awareness. As The Times said, "Bray writes with clarity, intelligence and authenticity."

Bray is a talented writer - read everything she's written and cross your fingers for more.

For more recommendations and reviews please follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk).

In Conversation with author GJ Minett

I was lucky enough to meet with Graham, author of "The Hidden Legacy" (ebook published Nov 2015, paperback Aug 2016) and the hotly anticipated "Lie in Wait" also releasing in August 2016.

I discovered "The Hidden Legacy" after reading a review by @cleo_bannister (cleopatralovesbooks.wordpress.com) - book guru and book blogger extraordinaire! My crippling To Be Read pile is almost wholly down to her fantastic recommendations! Since reviewing his debut novel, we have kept in touch and I was fortunate enough to be able to grab a coffee with him recently giving me a chance to meet him in person and hear more about his life as a writer.

For Graham, one of the biggest things he has discovered is that actually the life of an author is not one of tranquil isolation, where you are left undisturbed at your desk to write to your heart's content; it is actually very social and the impact of this interaction is invaluable. "I probably spend a few hours a day on Twitter," he told me, "The first thing my publisher insisted on was getting myself an account and embracing the whole world of social media, which was a bit scary but actually has been such an enjoyable eyeopener." It's not just a way to market and promote his own novel but Graham discovered "book bloggers"! "All these people who will give up their own time to read other people's books -not just one or two but hundreds and hundreds of them! And then review them! It's such a huge job, so time consuming...." But also one that actually generates sales and can have a direct influence on the success of a book - particularly a new writer. "My first review on Goodreads was a 5 star rating," - there are many many more now, in fact on Amazon, 85 out of the 129 reviews are 5 star and a further 26 are 4 stars - "Two days later, I went back to have another look, we all do obviously, despite what we say! - and there were 17 comments posted under this first post, all saying they were now or would soon also read my book following this recommendation from a trusted reviewer. And then things just flew! I've written a post all about book bloggers," he continues, "I'm just so grateful for what they do and admire their time and commitment to reading and supporting writers."

Graham still works part time but is hoping that in the next 18 months or so, he can fully "retire" from his "day job" and concentrate completely on his career as an author. "A few years ago I made the decision to really make a go of writing. It was something I wanted to do for a long time and it was too easy to make an excuse up not to get on with it. The time was right and I enrolled on an MA in Creative Writing at Chichester University." The course was very professional and as it took him seriously as a writer, Graham could take himself seriously as a writer. Not only was the course and the teaching paramount to honing his creative skills and helping him become more expert at characterisation, plot development and all the other things you'd expect to study, Graham actually found the structure of having to meet a deadline, submit your pieces and then have them workshopped with really constructive feedback was the most motivating and valuable element of his time there.

The MA gave him the chance to complete several short stories that were redrafted and redrafted until they could redraft no more, and he then began to submit them to competitions and win prizes! This gave him a few credentials with which to include in his letters to agents when he began to submit "The Hidden Legacy". He'd completed the opening 3 chapters of this as part of his dissertation.

"I would highly recommend an MA in Creative Writing to anyone who is serious about writing," Graham says. "I learn so much - not just about writing and how to be a critical reader but, perhaps even more importantly, how the book publishing industry worked."

So the idea for "The Hidden Legacy" had been in existence for a while? "I'd created this character, Ellen. I have completed pages and pages of character sheets with every detail of information about her from the colour of eyes, to what she had for breakfast, to the last song she'd bought. I'd sit watching the news on telly and in my head I'd be wondering what she was making of it all! I had to write about her." The tricky part was transferring all Graham knew about Ellen into the story at the right time and in the right way. Sometimes when you know someone too well you can miss out the crucial detail. "I had two sheets of paper. One with every single scene I wanted to do in the book. Another with every single thing I wanted to use about Ellen. Then I highlighted a characteristic and matched it with a specific scene so the whole novel was colour coded and minutely planned out by the time I came to pull it all together."

Graham is also an avid reader and gets through about 75 - 80 books a year. He's currently reading "The Spy of Venice" by Benet Brandreth and also highly recommends "Tall Oaks" by Chris Whittaker, "Cut to the Bone" by Alex Caan and "Without Trace" by Simon Booker. Graham often posts recommendations on Twitter and I read "The Lonely Life of Biddy Weir" by Leslie Allen following his advice and it has been one of the best books I have read this year!

It was great to meet with Graham, hear all his news and learn a little bit more about his writing life. His new book, "Lie in Wait" is out on August 25th 2015. Thank you so much Graham for making some time to catch up and giving me the opportunity to write about our conversation. I wish you all the best with the sales of the paperbacks of both your books this Autumn!

UPDATED STATS - Hidden Legacy has now received 140 reviews on Amazon, 119 are 4 or 5 stars!



For more recommendations and reviews follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacUK)

"The House in Quill Court" Charlotte Betts

          

‘Romantic, engaging and hugely satisfying’

Katie Fiorde on The Apothecary's Daughter

‘A highly-recommended novel of love, tragedy and the power of art’

Daily Mail on The Painter's Apprentice

‘Full of passion and drama . . . I was captivated by this moving, heart-warming and beautifully woven story - gripping, atmospheric, eloquently told and full of rich detail’

Kate Furnivall on The Chateau on the Lake

The House in Quill Court

CHARLOTTE BETTS

Published 25^th August 2016

Paperback Original | £8.99

From the multi-award-winning author of The Apothecary’s Daughter, The House in Quill Court is a gorgeously evocative Regency novel bursting with historical flavour and characters you won’t forget. If you love Philippa Gregory and Joanne Harris, you will adore Charlotte Betts.

1813. Venetia Lovell lives by the sea in Kent with her pretty, frivolous mother and idle younger brother. Venetia’s father, Theo, is an interior decorator to the rich and frequently travels away from home, leaving his sensible and artistic daughter to look after the family. Venetia designs paper hangings and she and her father often daydream about having an imaginary shop where they would display the highest quality furniture, fabrics and art to his clients.

When a handsome but antagonistic stranger, Jack Chamberlaine, arrives at the Lovell’s cottage just before Christmas bringing terrible news, Venetia’s world is turned upside-down and the family have no option but to move to London, to the House in Quill Court and begin a new life. Here, Venetia’s courage and creativity are tested to breaking point, and she discovers a love far greater than she could have ever imagined . . .

 MY REVIEW OF "THE HOUSE IN QUILL COURT"

The opening of this story reminded me of aspects of "Beauty and the Beast" - a father, travelling away with work often at the compromise of his family, and his attractive, creative daughter with whom he shares a dream of owning a shop full of gorgeous fabrics and furniture until his untimely death under tragic and suspicious circumstances.....Or perhaps, more conventionally, "Sense and Sensibility" where the beloved daughters are usurped by distant relatives due to the sexist laws regarding inheritance. Albeit slightly contrived, the Lovell's move to London establishes a pleasing start to a novel about family, money, dreams and love and gives Betts the perfect setting to show off her knowledge of the Regency era and life in London for both the wealthy classes and the underclasses.

Betts is quick to establish characters and again, in keeping with the romantic genre of the book, they are enjoyably predictable. Venetia is clearly a woman before her time; she has a good understanding of finance, business and design, with the feel of a very competent, self assured young lady who takes the responsibility of looking out for her mother and brother in her stride. Like Elinor Dashwood in "Sense and Sensibility" she is the 'sense' and copes more readily with the sudden upheaval and revelation that there is no money, no income and no more house run by several servants now her father is dead. Unlike her mother.......

"'Your late husband invested heavily in a business venture and there are no savings left for you to draw upon. .......'
'Live together? Support ourselves!' Mama clapped one hand to her breast, 'We can't, it's monstrous!'"

Major Jack Chamberlaine is a brooding character who casts a shadow on their lives and continues to challenge their attempts to settle in London. Unsupportive and derisory, the tension between him and Venetia is actually quite delicious.

Betts excels in creating handsome heroes, loveable rouges and intimidating, dastardly villains. King Midas is one such unpleasant character whose reign of power and hold over Kent and London makes him as feared as the Krays.

"Kitty stared back at the man, an ice-cold shiver running down her back, just as if she'd turned over a stone and found a poisonous snake underneath. She recognised his hooded eyes and the bullyboys at his side, and broke out into a cold sweat. The last time she'd him it had been by moonlight on a windswept beach as he watched the guineas for Napoleon being loaded into the galleys, King Midas."

Once the family move to London, the story splits into two threads. Venetia and her ambitious attempts to reclaim her father's shop and turn it into a viable business venture, and then the plight of Kitty, her maid, who leaves everything she knows behind her in Kent to stay with the Lovells, then quickly falls in love, marries and witnesses a very different kind of side of London. Both girls are strong, resilient, clever, kind and likeable. It did take me a while to warm to them but once the story picked up pace I found that I was more involved in their story lines than I realised!

I think I did enjoy Kitty's story more than Veneita's and preferred her a little more as a character too.

The characters are firmly planted in the Regency era and the backdrop of the Napoleonic wars adds more tension and excitement. Any necessary historical information is deftly explained through dialogue or imagery; the descriptions of the more slum like areas are evoked effectively creating a dark, dank, dirty atmosphere that contrasts with the more luxurious houses of the more wealthy. I liked the sense of Kitty and Nat actually living in a "rat run" in which she literally could not find her way around without a guide. I also liked the detail about the fabrics, furniture, wall paper hangings and ornaments Venetia sourced for the shop. Nat, Kitty's beau, is a very helpful source of historical detail and often fills us in with any necessary details about the Napoleonic Wars, politics or crime. Betts has clearly done her homework and adds authenticity with the use of regency slang which flows through the dialogue with fluency and conviction.

While reading Betts's novel, I was reminded of other historical fictions which probably reflects her ability to create a strong sense of historical setting and identifiable characters with set roles rather than a weakness of any sort. I felt Nat's involvement with pickpockets and young orphaned children was reminiscent of "Oliver Twist" (although an exceptionally more gentle and kind version of Fagin and Sikes!) and the burglary was very like a scene from the novel.

"'Hold up your glum,' whispered Lennie. Nat opened the lantern and held it up while Lennie forced a small window. 'Up you go, Benny,' said Nat. He slid the boy's feet through the casement, gripping him by the waist. '....the key's hanging in the larder....stand on the chair to reach the top bolt.'"

Venetia reminded me of Denise from the BBC's "The Paradise" and Kitty perhaps a more diluted version of a character from a Wilkie Collins or Sarah Waters novel. This book certainly had the feel of an ITV Sunday night drama and it would be great to see it on the screen.

The second half of the novel gathers speed and the relationships between the characters become more compelling. There is plenty of tension, romance, heartache, violence and recriminations. It is quite melodramatic but actually, I found I was rather more caught up in it all than I had realised and was quite gripped by all the different dynamics between the characters. Betts cleverly pulls all the various characters - however small or large their role has been- plot lines and themes together in a way where no detail is left unaccounted. It is dramatic, fast paced, exciting and, although perhaps just a little contrived or cliched, it certainly made for a very satisfying read.

I was quite interested in the further reading list Betts acknowledged at the end of the book and one title -"Eavesdropping on Jane Austen's England" by Roy and Lesley Adkins - sounded like a good book to seek out a later stage - especially for anyone interested in this particular era.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a light, romantic, historical read, or for fans of a very watchable ITV-weekend-style costume drama. I did enjoy this book more than I thought I would as it is not necessarily my usual choice and I have already perused Betts back catalogue on Amazon with interest!

My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group for a copy of the novel in return for an honest review. The book will be released by Little, Brown on 25th August 2016.

MORE ABOUT CHARLOTTE BETTS

Charlotte Betts began her working life as a fashion designer in London. A career followed in interior design, property management and lettings. Always a bookworm, Charlotte discovered her passion for writing after her three children and two step-children grew up. 

Her debut novel, The Apothecary’s Daughter, won the YouWriteOn Book of the Year Award in 2010 and the Joan Hessayon Award for New Writers, was shortlisted for the Best Historical Read at the Festival of Romance in 2011 and won the coveted Romantic Novelists' Association's Historical Romantic Novel RoNA award in 2013. Her second novel, The Painter’s Apprentice was also shortlisted for the Best Historical Read at the Festival of Romance in 2012 and the RoNA award in 2014. The Spice Merchant’s Wife won the Festival of Romance's Best Historical Read award in 2013. 

Charlotte lives with her husband in a cottage in the woods on the Hampshire/Berkshire border.

www.charlottebetts.com | @CharlotteBetts1

For further information please contact Clara Diaz on 020 3122 6565 | Clara.Diaz@littlebrown.co.uk

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"The Sudden Departure of the Frasers" Louise Candlish

When Christy and Joe Davenport move into number 40 Lime Park Road - their perfect, dream, forever family home in a perfect, dream street -they are delighted to have managed to stretch their budget to buy something they never thought they could own. But why was the house on a such a low price? Why did the previous owners spend a year renovating then move out so suddenly? And without a trace? Why won't any of the neighbours speak to Christy and why will no one tell her the truth about Amber Fraser, the previous owner -a mythological sexy, beautiful, perfect hostess and neighbour. Christy finds herself becoming obsessed with finding out what happened and revealing the dark secret that tore the street apart......

At around 500 pages long this is a book that requires a bit more of an investment than Candlish's recent bestseller "The Swimming Pool". Candlish takes time to develop the characters in detail, establishing the setting of Lime Park Road carefully and introducing the characters fully so that actually it is less of a "thriller" and more of a character led story. I did find it a bit slow to start with but persisted as I knew Candlish would deliver - and deliver she does!

Told in alternating chapters between Christy and Amber we are taken backwards and forwards through the events leading up to the Fraser's sudden departure. Amber's narrative is told in first person and Christy's sections are told in third person, although interestingly Christy is definitely the easier character to relate to. I suspect Candlish enjoyed writing Amber's character more as she is quite unlikeable, deliciously arrogant and manipulative. She is caustic in her comments about her so called friends and neighbours:

"She had the most hectic haircut I had ever seen- it was as if it had been scribbled on her head by Quentin Blake - and make up so poorly applied I wondered if she'd handed crayons to her sons and given them free reign." 

There is a guilty pleasure in waiting to see what might happen to this dishonest, self satisfying woman! As Amber tells her story retrospectively, she peppers her narrative with clues that things will end in disaster and this creates intrigue.

"It was all so effortless, so natural. You'd think I'd been born to betray." 

"And where was I in this catastrophized tableau? Hiding in the wardrobe or under the bed, my clothes clutched to my naked body, a high heeled shoe left behind, just visible from the door?"

I also liked the perspective the neighbours threw on Amber's character. Caroline looked at a photo as if "she longed for the glory days, for that golden age when Queen Amber presided. Like a deposed aristocrat dreaming of the last days of Versailles." 

There is a level of suspense sustained throughout the novel but this is really a slow burner of a book. Both characters have significant back stories and through the two different women Candlish is able to explore different kinds of ideas about marriage, trust, friendship, hope and obsession. By about a third of the way through the book I had engaged with both narratives and I was enjoying the description, characterisation and plot development. I felt like I was a resident on Lime Park Road and a keen observer on the antics between the neighbours.

For the last third of the book I found myself settling back into the sofa and rubbing my hands with satisfying glee as the twists begin to unfurl and Candlish revealed her skill as a writer who can pull the carpet out from under your feet. I watched with horror as Amber's final actions rip through Lime Park Road, her marriage and her friendships.

This novel is full of astute observations and thoughtful characterisation. It is realistic; not far fetched or requiring any kind of suspension of belief which I really enjoyed and found quite unsettling. There is something very appealing about stories that centre on neighbours and small communities - perhaps because we all live with neighbours and all wonder what goes on behind closed doors? How well do we know anyone living alongside us? How fragile are our relationships within our street?

I suspect the ending may divide readers - those who love to be completely stunned and those who prefer a neat tying up of all the threads. Me, I loved the ending! My jaw literally dropped and I hurriedly flicked back through the pages to re-read chunks, trying to absorb what Candlish is implying with her final words. Clever....... or cruel?!

I enjoyed this book. I'm giving it a 3.5 /5 just because I found it a bit of a slow start. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy a more thorough character led suspenseful novel and for readers of Mark Edwards "The Magpies", Cass Green "The Woman Next Door" and Shari Lapena's "The Couple Next Door".

For more reviews and recommendations please follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk)

"The Sudden Departure of the Frasers" was published in May 2015 by Penguin.

"The Crossing Places" Elly Griffiths

   When she’s not digging up bones or other ancient objects, quirky, tart-tongued archaeologist Ruth Galloway lives happily alone in a remote area called Saltmarsh near Norfolk, land that was sacred to its Iron Age inhabitants - not quite earth, not quite sea.

      When a child’s bones are found on a desolate beach nearby, Detective Chief Inspector Harry Nelson calls Galloway for help. Nelson thinks he has found the remains of Lucy Downey, a little girl who went missing ten years ago. Since her disappearance he has been receiving bizarre letters about her, letters with references to ritual and sacrifice.

      The bones actually turn out to be two thousand years old, but Ruth is soon drawn into the Lucy Downey case and into the mind of the letter writer, who seems to have both archaeological knowledge and eerie psychic powers. Then another child goes missing and the hunt is on to find her. 

      As the letter writer moves closer and the windswept Norfolk landscape exerts its power, Ruth finds herself in completely new territory – and in serious danger.

I had to read this while we are on holiday on the North Norfolk coast seeing as this is where the story takes place! And the author quotes from "The Moonstone" by Wilkie Collins which just made it irresistible!

I loved the atmospheric setting of the saltmarshes - or as Griffiths describes them, the "drowned landscapes", which have a "peculiar magic of their own" and trigger a fear in people of what is "buried" and what they can not see. Just as the Romney Marshes in "Great Expectations", the North Norfolk saltmarshes are a brilliant location for murder, tension and excitement. The silent stillness of these marshes masks their deadly danger as the apparently dried out craters lure walkers from the paths into the mud which will suddenly swallow them up. We have walked along some of the marshy coast line and I always thought it was a great location for a thriller. The narrow, weaving pathways are littered with warnings not to stray and to be mindful of the tides which sweep in unsuspectingly in a patchwork of trickling streams, cutting you off from any route back to the mainland.

Griffiths ably captures the menacing landscape. I really enjoyed the historical detail about causeways to Sweden and prehistoric rituals about the sacredness of a place where land meets sea and life meets death. I found the passages where the characters were retracing the causeway paths out to the mythological "Henge Circle" gripping.

Dr Ruth Galloway is a likeable enough character - perhaps a more unusual and unassuming heroine and I liked this aspect of the novel too. She is educated, intelligent, lonely, awkward and fallible-not a particularly conventional or cliched protagonist. I liked the fact that she is engrossed in her own forensic archaeology research and how her studies aid DCI Harry Nelson. I think Griffiths has created quite a refreshing partnership and I was pleasantly surprised by Galloway's influence and contribution to the investigation.

This has all the ingredients for an engaging and enjoyable detective novel. There's tension, suspense, atmosphere, credible characters, a few twists and a few shocks along the way. It was an easy read; it's not gratuitous, overly violent or graphic. There is a very manageable cast of characters and the plot is focussed and not overly distracted by too many red herrings or concurrent sub plots - although complex enough to stop me from working it all out! I would read more by this author.

This is the first book in a series and I am interested in reading a few more - particularly while on holiday in the fabulous Norfolk!

For more recommendations and reviews you can follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk)

"The Art Teacher" Paul Read

Patrick Owen had managed seven years at Highfields Secondary School without punching a pupil in the face. 

Art Teacher Patrick finally snaps under the pressure of repeated taunting, intimidation and complete insolence from one of his students, Denis. As events escalate, another student comes to Owen for help and in aiding and trying to protect her, he finds himself dragged more deeply into a compromising, dangerous situation which finds him facing decisions which will lead to devastating consequences. 

The book hurtles towards a dramatic and gripping conclusion with plenty of last minute revelations and recriminations. 

This is a gritty read. Its portrayal of teaching in a London school is brutal, as is the frightening reality of gang culture and its impact on teenagers. I'm not sure how I would categorise the genre of this book as essentially it is a story of crime, intimidation, bullying, murder and gangs. It is compelling and there is plenty of tension so it could be defined as a thriller or crime thriller. However, for me, what really stood out wasn't the plot, but Read's writing. His descriptions of characters, teenagers, teaching, schools and the community in which he based the novel, were so vivid, intelligent, insightful and humorous I could have read volumes of it. I found the emotions, decisions and dilemmas of his protagonist Patrick the most engaging and well written passages.

I found the novel easy to get stuck into and really enjoyed the tone of voice and style. The opening chapters focus on the setting of the school, the challenges of behavioural management and the distance and alienation between Patrick and his students:

'Kids today communicated with words he simply didn't understand. It was the same mangling, freeform approach they took to walking, of all things. Denis was doing it now; a lounging gangsta gait. Why was walking in the upright manner which homo sapiens had historically preferred now deemed so embarrassing? ....surely something to do with the unnecessary exposure of boxer shorts. 'Underwear,' he kept telling the. 'You wear them UNDER.'"

Read rapidly escalates the already poor relationship between Patrick and his students. The classroom feels claustrophobic and although it is tempting to cringe at Patrick's weakness, the sheer gaul and contempt shown towards him is so intimidating and relentless that it is impossible to not to feel empathy towards him.

"'What's the magic word?' Patrick asked.
'Bender. Apologise for jacking my phone.'"

Roles are reversed. Patrick is not the one with the power or holding the student's attention. It is not him they will listen to. In his own classroom, it is Denis who is calling the shots and controlling the future of Patrick's teaching career. The respect is for the gang - and the lessons they teach, not the professional educator.

......'You can go now.' Desperately he addressed the class. Still, no one moved. They knew there was more to come."

It's painful viewing. But it does ensure the reader will continue to root for Patrick enough to stay with the story to the end, as his few -sorely ill advised decisions -lead him down a path of no return. This is basically the story of an ordinary man; a man who wants to teach but is worn down by the system, the daily challenge of the students disinterest in his subject and is surrounded by uninspiring leadership or support. It shows how quickly anyone could find themselves in a situation where their life is changed forever.

The characters are portrayed with such clarity. The dialogue feels authentic and each character is very three dimensional. No one is particularly likeable, trustworthy or attractive - even Patrick can feel like a man weary with the world, often a little hopeless or short sighted, deeply frustrated and full of resentment and anger. Although his anger and frustration with his students is understandable considering the behaviour, rudeness and taunting he is exposed to daily. No sane person could cope with such cruel ridicule and such unsupportive colleagues.

Read's observational insights show an author who has a skilful command of language; who can conjure scenes with ease and can inform the reader of so much through shrewd comments and asides.

"....he felt the rain of pure hatred upon his back and his quickening footsteps echoed off the walls like gunfire..."

 He captures the menacing atmosphere of the estates surrounding the school and the threatening behaviour of the boys involved in the gangs. His descriptions of the school, such as the staff room where teachers aggregated around a computer fuelled on a lifetime of coffee, were so wryly accurate they really resonated with me. I particularly loved the description of the exam hall (which I now frustratingly cannot find) but it evoked such a strong visual image and indeed, memories, that I am very taken and impressed with his descriptions. There is a tight balance struck between the dark, violent, story line of crime and acidic, biting humour and wry asides as Patrick sighs his way through his working day. It's a really effective mix and I liked it.

This is a more literary crime thriller. Patrick's almost mediative thoughts are as compelling as the page turning police investigation.

"They either looked at him blankly, or pretended he wasn't talking. Unperturbed, he explained how backgrounds should be soft and uncluttered, with light, delicate colour-bending. He explained stability, rhythm, depth and calm. All things he used to have in his life, he thought rueful, before the palette changed and everything became conflict, distance; a canvas hanging off-centre from a broken nail." 


Patrick Owen is an ordinary man but a very memorable character. Read's writing is very clever; it conveys an atmosphere of depression, dead-end hopelessness, apathy and quite a bleak picture of society through eloquent, striking, powerful images. It's intense but distinct and will leave a huge impression on the reader. It is a literary read with an original blend of menacing yet engrossing characters and imagery. I imagine this book to be a bit like a film captured in black and white, grainy shots that are cut together with deliberately abrupt editing, seemingly improvised and unscripted.

It's well worth a read and I am definitely going to look out for any further novels from this writer. It's an impressive debut. Bold. Original. Controversial. Maybe not for everyone as Patrick is not always an easy character to relate to, but ultimately Read's writing is a treat.

My thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in return for a fair review.

For more reviews and recommendations you can find me on Twitter @katherinesunder3 (bibliomaniacuk)

"Heidelberg Requiem" Wolfgang Burger

Alexander Gerlach assumes his promotion to Police Chief of Heidelberg will bring with it a quieter life, but on his first day in his new job, the body of a chemistry student is discovered and what at first seems to be an open-and-shut case with a clear culprit quickly changes into something more complex. Soon there will be another murder, which will cast doubt on all previous assumptions. 

The race is on for Gerlach to unravel the cruel conspiracy, before it's too late ...

I have read a lot of police procedural /detective fiction novels recently - all very commendable - but most of them have female protagonists who are quirky, vulnerable, harbouring their own issues and heartache while they simultaneously transcend all boundaries to solve murders and violent crimes. Although I cannot deny I hugely enjoy these sorts of stories which are incredibly exciting and appealing, this novel was a kind of back-to-basics detective story and for this reason, I found it very refreshing and enjoyable. 

This is a quite a "straightforward" novel. The writing is simple and direct, the crime is suitably complex but easy to keep up with and the protagonist is not plagued by numerous emotional issues - he has a family, a love interest and a back story, but largely he is an ordinary, up front, capable professional policeman. It is an easy read and feels very much like Sunday night TV - engaging, engrossing, exciting, but not too demanding or harrowing.

The story opens cleverly with Gerlach, our protagonist, publicly accepting his new job - a promotion in a new city and with a police force entirely new to him, and meeting his new colleagues. Simultaneously a crime is taking place:

"This must have been around the time when Patrick Grotheer died. Slowly, bleeding to death, drop by drop. For around ninety minutes." 

As the story unfolds, the crime scene and investigation is well described, evoking an atmosphere full of suspense. There is a kind of matter- of-fact style to Burger's writing and a directness that actually creates further tension. 

The body of a fully grown adult contains around five litres of blood. Half a bucketful, no more......All in all the dead man probably lost no more than two litres of blood. But when these two litres are spread over a seventy square metre room, which is largely decorated in white, then it's a lot. 

Further intrigue is created through the surrounding characters. Vangelis, who also applied for Gerlach's job and is already highly established within the team, does not hide her animosity towards him or her power over her colleagues. 

Vangelis allowed the nervous officers to report to her and acted as if Balke and I were not there. ......

......'That woman is an animal,' he mumbled, 'Does she ever smile?'.....

Gerlach is not afraid to tackle this head on. His gentle and non threatening approach, and subsequent relationships within the team, reflect his professional experience and affable nature. 

"You probably would have been a better choice for the job. You know your way around the place. You know the city, the people."

"But I'm a woman." 

He is a "good guy". He is likeable and easy to relate to and respect. It is clear that he will be successful and is always well meaning and considerate towards anyone who he interacts with. In the words of the author himself, the protagonist, Chief Inspector Alexander Gerlach, "is not a doomed alcoholic, not frustrated by his life and his job, not bullied by his boss or colleagues, not a lone wolf, but a person like you and me. He has issues but he also has strengths. He has worries and hardships and also successes and beautiful moments. Sometimes he muddles his way through like we all do; occasionally he is really very good. Often things become too much for him, but then somehow he manages to make it work."

Indeed Gerlach is very likeable central character. He is also reflective and I liked his moments of observation, insight and comment. 

"instead [I had} a lot of new questions. But it didn't matter. Questions are the beginning of everything." 

"Are we responsible for thoughts we don't think because we fear that they would hurt us? Can we be blamed for knowledge that we hide away in our subconscious because we don't want to face it?" 

Gerlach is a single parent and has 13 year old twin daughters which provide a bit of "light relief" at times with their high jinks and general adolescent tricks. He manages them as best he can. I must admit, I was intrigued by his ability to set them chores and tasks while he went out to work all day and was a little suspicious about how believable this really was, but maybe this reflects a different cultural approach to parenting. Or because Gerlach is a man and in the police force...or my children are younger and I cannot envisage a point where I could ever turn my back on them for five minutes let alone a day! The girls did appear to be older than their 13 years but perhaps attitudes to freedom and independence are different in Heidelberg or when you are a single parent family. 

What does work well is how the girls' behaviour inadvertently leads to Gerlach making several breakthroughs with his investigation and I liked this. It also shows us that Gerlach is human, fallible and juggling a high profile job with a needy family. 

I also enjoyed the love interest and how this adds some mystery and another dimension to both Gerlach's character and the plot. His relationship with the mystery woman is a welcome sub plot and equally results in a further twist towards the end of the novel. 

I'd like to finish by quoting the author again as he sums up what he hoped to achieve through Gerlach's character: 

My Gerlach doesn't believe in the bad in people, even if he persistently gives a different impression in conversation. Deep down he holds the same beliefs, the same fundamental optimism as his creator. You constantly fear for him. Sometimes you want to give him a shake; occasionally you want to hug and comfort him, but in the end, I am invariably happy with Gerlach, when against the odds, things turn out alright after all. Even when he hasn't been able to remove the bad from the world or at least create order on his desk. 

I enjoyed this novel and would be happy to read future books about Gerlach and his twin daughters. I hope this is the beginning of a series as I think it would appeal to a wide readership. The European setting is effective and no longer a barrier or distraction as I think with the growth of "Nordic Noir" and the recent increase in crime series set in Amsterdam, Germany or other European cities- on TV as well as in fiction - appeals to readers and has opened up a whole host of "new" authors for crime readers to enjoy and discover.

My thanks to Bonnier Zaffre Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this novel in return for a fair review.

"Heidelberg Requiem" was published by Manilla on the 18th August 2016.

Please read on to see the press release accompanying this novel:

HEIDELBERG REQUIEM

By WOLFGANG BURGER

Published by Manilla eBook, 18th August 2016, £4.99

FOR FANS OF DONNA LEON AND BERNARD MINIER: A PAGE-TURNING MURDER MYSTERY FROM BESTSELLING AUTHOR WOLFGANG BURGER

Alexander Gerlach assumes that his promotion to Police Chief of Heidelberg will bring with it a quieter life. A widower and a single parent raising twin teenage daughters, Gerlach is slowly beginning to rediscover not only himself, but also the dating scene again.

On his first day in his new job, however, the body of a chemistry student is discovered, and what at first seems to be an open-and-shut case with a clear culprit quickly changes into something more complex.

When another murder casts doubt on all previous assumptions, Gerlach must unravel the conspiracy before it’s too late....

About the Author: Wolfgang Burger is a bestselling author, whose Alexander Gerlach series of novels were twice nominated for the esteemed crime-writing award, the Friedrich Glauser Prize.

Burger has a doctorate in engineering and worked for many years at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. He has three adult daughters and lives in Germany.

For interviews, review copies and further information about the book please contact Carmen Jimenez PR Assistant at Manilla

carmen.jimenez@bonnierzaffre.co.uk | +44 (0) 20 7490 3875