Murder on the Downs – Julie Wassmer #BlogTour @randomttours

About the book

A controversial new property development is planned in Whitstable which will encroach upon the green open space of the downs, to the dismay of Whitstable residents who view this as the thin end of the wedge with regard to local wildlife conservation.

A campaign springs into life, spearheaded by a friend of Pearl’s family, Martha Laker. A committed environmentalist, Martha is no stranger to controversy herself. She has also managed to divide opinion across town, with the locals viewing her as their fearless champion while establishment figures seeing only an interfering agitator.

Tensions escalate between the developers and Whitstable residents, straining Pearl’s close relationship with London-born police officer, DCI Mike McGuire, who harbours concerns that the local campaign will spiral out of control. Pearl’s loyalties are torn, but the protest duly goes ahead – and newspaper headlines claim a moral victory for the residents in this David and Goliath battle.

But the victory is short lived when Pearl discovers a dead body on the downs…

My review

Thank you to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for my invitation to the tour and to Constable Books for my copy of the book in return for a fair and honest review.

Although this is the seventh book in the series of The Whitstable Pearl Mysteries, I had no trouble at all in getting up to speed with the characters and the setting quickly.

Pearl has just returned from a weekend away with DCI Mike McGuire and is feeling rested and happy she gets a message from her mother Dolly to ask her to get in touch with her son Charlie who is working at her restaurant. Charlie needs to come back home for a while after his landlord gives them notice.

Pearl find the town in a state of flux after a property developer wants to build on the open space of the downs and she finds herself inadvertently in the middle of it all.

Martha Laker is a DFL ( Down from London) but now lives in a house in the Benacre Wood with her partner Jane. She is leading the campaign against the developers and this makes her unpopular with them.

Pearl tries to stay impartial as the owner of a restaurant in the town but finds herself being protective of her home and its residents. When one of the developers Jason Ritchie offers her money to work for him she doesn’t tell anyone but vows not to do it but when a murder is discovered Pearl is a implicated in the evidence. When two further murders occur Pearl starts to uncover even more secrets about some of the town.

I really enjoyed this book, I like cosy crime and Pearl reminded me of Agatha Raisin who I love. Pearl is a strong woman and her Mother Dolly is hilarious with her ever changing hair colours and strong activism background. The setting was great and I enjoy a book that is set around a place in which you get to know the residents and see them develop throughout the stories. I will be checking out the other books in the series as I read this one in sitting.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Murder-Downs-Whitstable-Pearl-Mysteries/dp/147213009X

About the author

Julie Wassmer was born in the East End of London, studied at Kingston University and had a variety of different jobs before she finally settled down to become a professional television drama writer.

She worked on several TV series, including ITV’s London’s Burning, C5’s Family Affairs and the popular BBC soap, EastEnders, which she wrote for almost 20 years.

In 2010, her autobiography More Than Just Coincidence was published by Harper Collins/True. The book entered the Sunday Times Best Selling Non Fiction Top Twenty and went on to become Mumsnet Book of the Year.

In 2015, Julie’s debut crime novel, The Whitstable Pearl Mystery, was published by award-winning publisher, Little, Brown Book Group. Six other books have since followed in the series with more on the way, and the television rights to the series have been optioned by the TV production company, Buccaneer, the makers of Marcella, starring Anna Friel.

Julie moved to Whitstable twenty years ago where she shares a home with her husband, Kas, and three cats, Charlie, Lily and Maisie. She also spends a great deal of time campaigning on environmental issues.

Murder on the Downs is the seventh book in the Whitstable Pearl Mystery series.

Summer Strawberries at Swallowtail Bay – Katie Ginger @rararesources @katiegauthor #Blogtour

Summer Strawberries at Swallowtail Bay

Grab your strawberries and cream and get ready to return to the beautiful Swallowtail Bay!

Summer is in full swing and the locals are getting excited for the launch of the Swallowtail Bay strawberry food festival. But will all run smoothly when festival organiser Hetty’s heart is torn between lord of the manor John Thornhill and successful bakery owner Ben?

My review

Thank you to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for my invitation to the tour and for my copy of the book in return for a fair and honest review.

I really needed this book, it’s a summery delight. The story starts with Hetty, who is a events organiser and lives in Swallowtail Bay, she is fed up with children’s parties and wants a new challenge. So she finds herself agreeing to resurrect an old village custom The Strawberry Festival and make it last across a whole weekend as a grand food festival.

I liked how the village comes together to try to do this but first can persuade the local landowner and manor owner John Thornhill of Thornhill Hall to let them hold the festival there. Rumours are rife that Thornfield Hall is in trouble and John has to try and save the family home which he is battling with his Mother and Brother to find ways to do.

Can Hetty help ?

I always enjoy book set around an old house and this book is lovely, the sense of place and people are joyful and this is the perfect read for these times. This was my first Katie Ginger novel but I will definitely checking out more as this one made me smile and feel very calm.

Purchase Links

UK Amazon ebook: https://amzn.to/3bGn0yi

US Amazon ebook: https://amzn.to/2KuIdPf

Author Bio –

KATIE GINGER lives in the South East of England, by the sea, and she really wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Summer Strawberries at Swallowtail Bay is her fifth novel. The first, Spring Tides at Swallowtail Bay is available now. Her debut novel The Little Theatre on the Seafront was shortlisted for the Katie Fforde Debut Novel of the Year award, and her stand- alone Christmas novel Snowflakes at Mistletoe Cottage was a US Amazon bestseller.

When she’s not writing, Katie spends her time drinking gin, or with her husband, trying to keep alive their two children, Ellie and Sam. And there’s also their adorable King Charles Spaniel, Wotsit (yes, he is named after the crisps!).

For more about Katie you can visit her website: www.keginger.com, find her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/KatieGAuthor, or follow her on Twitter: @KatieGAuthor

Instagram: @katie_ginger_author

Monstrous Souls- Rebecca Kelly @agorabooksLDN #MonstrousSouls @RKelly1 #BlogTour

Monstrous Souls

What if you knew the truth but couldn’t remember?

Over a decade ago, Heidi was the victim of a brutal attack that left her hospitalised, her younger sister missing, and her best friend dead. But Heidi doesn’t remember any of that. She’s lived her life since then with little memory of her friends and family and no recollection of the crime. Now, it’s all starting to come back.

As Heidi begins retracing the events that lead to the assault, she is forced to confront the pain and guilt she’s long kept buried. But Heidi isn’t the only one digging up the past, and the closer she gets to remembering the truth, the more danger she’s in.

When the truth is worse than fiction, is the past worth reliving?
An addictive thriller about a case gone cold and the dangers lurking on our doorsteps, Monstrous Souls will have you gripped to the very end.

My review

Thank you to Agora Books for my invitation to the tour for this book and also for my digital copy of the book in return for a fair and honest review.

The book starts in 2001 just after the attack on Heidi which leaves her with no memory her best friend is dead and her younger sister missing.

The book then switches between the present 2016 and 2001, Heidi is now an adult and after years of not being able to remember anything about the attack. She starts to have some flashbacks, small things to begin with but they get bigger. Heidi was horribly injured in the attack and left for dead.

There are people in the story from the past that do not want her to remember and are watching from a distance to see if she does and have plans to deal with her if she does.

This book is dark and you know from the beginning that it is going to expose a lot of bad things about what happened and the person who did it. It is an unsettling read but yet I felt compelled to read on knowing that it would probably be horrific. The conclusion was really shocking and I did not see that coming.

If you like your crime dark, twisty and unsettling then this is the book for you.

Author Bio:

Rebecca Kelly was brought up with books but denied the pleasure of a television. Although she hated this at the time, she now considers it to have contributed to a life-long passion for reading and writing.
After a misspent education, Rebecca had a variety of jobs. She’s spent the last years raising her children but has lately returned to her first love – writing.
Rebecca lives in the UK with her husband and youngest son and an over-enthusiastic black Labrador,who gives her writing tips.

The WatchMaker of Filigree Street- Natasha Pulley.

Audiobook review

In 1883, Thaniel Steepleton returns to his tiny flat to find a gold pocketwatch on his pillow. When the watch saves Thaniel’s life in a blast that destroys Scotland Yard, he goes in search of its maker, Keita Mori – a kind, lonely Japanese immigrant. Meanwhile, Grace Carrow is sneaking into an Oxford library, desperate to prove the existence of the luminiferous ether before her mother can force her to marry.

As the lives of these three characters become entwined, events spiral out of control until Thaniel is torn between loyalties, futures and opposing geniuses

My review

There are a lot of things that I love about my job and lockdown has really helped me to be able to do one part that I really enjoyed which is author events. Since lockdown we have had four great online author events and Natasha was the latest.

This book has beckoned to me for a long time. The cover is striking and the description exciting. However, it has eluded me so when I knew I would be chatting to Natasha, it was the perfect time to read.

I really enjoy audiobooks and we have two free platforms called Borrowbox and Libby at Devon Libraries like most library services. It has been a godsend in lockdown to access ebooks and audiobooks for free when you are a library member.

The book begins with the reader being introduced to Thaniel, he works as a telegrapger and one day he finds a beautiful and ornate watch in his rooms. Nobody knows how it got there and he can not open it. He carries it around with him and one day it opens and saves Thaniel from certain death.

He does not know how the watch could have saved him and goes to find its maker Keita Mori to find out how it saved him and why.

The other main character in the book is Grace, she is an independent woman who due to the times has to sneak into the library to do her research, as woman are not allowed which is shocking to me.

Grace’s mother wants her to marry but all Grace wants is a laboratory to do her experiments.

The three are brought together through a set of strange circumstances and I loved the dynamics of this complicated relationship. I do not want to give any spoilers as I knew nothing about the book before I read it and I think this is the best way to enjoy it.

If you would like to hear me chatting to Natasha about her books and travels see the link to Exeter Library You Tube Channel.

https://youtu.be/1R8a06A3bls

About the author

The writing is a joy, detailed, intricate and imaginative, plus the addition Katsu the clockwork octopus who was a favourite of mine gave me a real journey into a world that I had never experienced. The story has a great back story and when it all comes together is amazing. This is one of the best parts of reading in my opinion. I loved it and can not wait to find out what happens next.

You can watch me talking to Natasha about this book and her others and her travels here :

https://youtu.be/1R8a06A3bls

Natasha Pulley is the author of The Watchmaker of Filigree Street and The Bedlam Stacks. An international bestseller, The Watchmaker of Filigree Street won a Betty Trask Award and was shortlisted for the Author’s Club Best First Novel Award, the Locus Awards, and remained on the Sunday Times bestseller list for much of summer 2016. The Bedlam Stacks was longlisted for the Walter Scott Award and shortlisted for the Encore Award.

Natasha has lived in Japan as a Daiwa Scholar, as well as China and Peru. She was a 2016 Glastone Writer in Residence, and she teaches on Bath Spa University’s Creative Writing BA, alongside short courses at the Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education.

The First Lie – A.J Park @orionbooks @AJParkauthor @alexxlayt #blogtour

About the book

Blog Tour

When Paul Reeve comes home to find his wife Alice in the bathroom, bloodied and shaking, his survival instinct kicks in.

And Alice never meant to kill the intruder – she was at home, alone, and terrified. She doesn’t deserve to be blamed for it. Covering up the murder as a couple is their only option. But as the crime eats away at them, they soon realise that they can’t trust anyone, even one another…

My review

Thank you to Alex at Orion Books for my invitation to the tour and for my #gifted copy of the book in return for a fair and honest review.

A book with a shocking beginning always grips me. I am a huge Columbo fan and anyone who has watched those will remember the murder usually takes place at the beginning and I really like that format.

When Paul comes home after receiving six missed calls from his wife Alice, he could never have been prepared for what greets him when he walks into the upstairs bathroom. Paul is successful and very ambitious and is hoping to be made a judge and he can not let anything get in his way. So they get rid of the body and try and move on with their lives but things change and the story heads off at a great speed.

The other part of the story is regarding DS Katherine Wright who is investigating what they think maybe a serial killer. This part of the book was really gripping, grim and a bit gruesome loved it ! The killer thinks he’s clever but Katherine thinks there is more to it than that.

This is an excellent read I read it in two sittings. I saw that many reviews called it a page turner and I totally agree with that.

It had so many twists, turns and red herrings, I thought I knew what was happening and then I obviously did not. A great read and I look forward to reading more from this author.

About the author

After studying literature, linguistics and Spanish at university, A.J. Park trained as an English teacher and actor. He has edited magazines, and taught English, Media Studies and Drama in secondary schools across England. He was also a competitive fencer for seven years.

The Old Girl’s Network – Judy Leigh- #BlogTour @rararesources @JudyLeighWriter @BoldwoodBooks #boldwoodbloggers

About the book

The Old Girls’ Network

Is it ever too late to change…

After a health scare, 77 year-old spinster Barbara goes to convalesce in the sleepy Somerset village of Winsleigh Green with her sister Pauline, who is now a widow. The sisters are like chalk and cheese – Barbara, outspoken and aloof and Pauline, good natured and homely – so it’s not long before the tension starts to rise.

But when Pauline accidentally knocks down a vagrant who goes by the name of Bisto Mulligan, the ladies find themselves with another houseguest. As he recovers, it becomes apparent that Bisto is not who he first seemed, and as the sisters get to know the kind and courageous man he really is, it’s clear Bisto has the potential to change both of their lives.

As the spring turns to summer, and Winsleigh Green comes to life, can the three friends make the changes they need to, to embrace fresh starts, new loves, new lives and new horizons. Or do old habits die too hard?

Funny, joyful and with a spring in its step that reminds you to live every day like it’s your last. Judy Leigh has once again written the perfect feel-good novel for all fans of Dawn French, Dee MacDonald and Cathy Hopkins.

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/2SLuNDu

My review

Thank you Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my invitation to the tour and to Bold wood books for my copy of the book via Net Galley.

I loved the description of this book as soon as the invitation came through, two elderly sisters who do not really get on end up living together after Barbara has a nasty fall and can not return to her own home.

She visits her sister Pauline, who has been widowed and has integrated herself into the village and is not overly excited to have her sister visit.

Things take a turn when Pauline has an accident and Bisto comes into their lives. I loved Barbara prickly and abrupt and Pauline who much more gentle. They are both set in their ways and when Pauline brings Bisto into the house, Barbara is not impressed. I enjoyed watching Barbara realise that she could also have fun like Pauline.

I loved this funny story and the older characters were a joy, the sibling arguments and the addition of Bisto made me laugh. Bisto is down on his luck and Pauline believes that there is more to him that first meets the eye.

It is a lovely uplifting novel and the characters developed through the story which was great to see. Dizzy the hairdresser, Chrissie the vicar Yvonne who runs the post office make up a gorgeous setting for this story. It is an endearing book and I found it really perfect for reading at this difficult time.

About the author

Judy Leigh is the bestselling author of Five French Hens, A Grand Old Time and The Age of Misadventure and the doyenne of the ‘it’s never too late’ genre of women’s fiction. She has lived all over the UK from Liverpool to Cornwall, but currently resides in Somerset.

Tweets by JudyLeighWriter

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A Village Murder- Frances Evesham – #blogtour @FrancesEvesham @rararesources @boldwoodbooks

A Village Murder

An English village can be deadly, when your past catches up with you…

In the beautiful rural Somerset village of Lower Hembrow, crammed full with English eccentrics, something is amiss…

Landscape gardener Imogen Bishop has spent the last thirty years trying to forget one fateful school night but when her estranged husband Greg Bishop is found dead in the grounds of her fathers Georgian hotel, danger threatens to overwhelm her.

Retired police officer Adam Hennessey, hoping for a peaceful life running his traditional Somerset country pub, finds himself drawn into the unfolding drama in the hotel across the road.

Imogen, Adam and Harley the stray dog form an unlikely partnership as they try to untangle a knot of secrets, solve a murder mystery, and bring a killer to justice.

Purchase Link: – https://amzn.to/3cHCtgV

My review

Thank you to Rachel at Random Resources Tour for my invitation to the tour and for my copy of the book via Net Galley.

This book gets off to a cracking start with Imogen coming back to the village for the funeral of her father who is a local hotelier. She is not comfortable with returning to the village and after the funeral she offers Adam an ex police officer now pub landlord to the orangery for a drink when they get a huge shock.

Adam is retired but finds himself interested in the case but Imogen has some secrets of her own and when she meets up with Toni someone who went to school with her who is organising a school reunion. Imogen loves her job as a gardener and knows nothing g about running a hotel.

Imogen and her husband have spilt up and when he is found dead she is a prime suspect so she asks for Adams’ help to find the killer.

This is a really engaging read and gets off to a rapid start and keeps up the fast pace throughout the story. I liked Adam and the setting in the Somerset village seemed very familiar to me being a Devon girl. I have not read the Exham-on-Sea books so I will also be checking those out as I really liked the West country setting of this book. A great quick and enjoyable read.

About the author

Frances Evesham is the author of the hugely successful Exham-on-Sea mysteries set in her home county of Somerset.

Social Media Links –

http://facebook.com/frances.evesham.writer

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The Miseducation of Evie Epworth – Matson Taylor #blogtours @RandomTTours @simonbooks @scribnerbooks @matson_taylor_

About the book

Cold Comfort Farm meets Adrian Mole in the funniest debut novel of the year. Yorkshire, the summer of 1962. Sixteen year-old Evie Epworth stands on the cusp of womanhood. But what kind of a woman will she become?

Up until now, Evie’s life has been nothing special: a patchwork of school, Girl Guides, cows, milk deliveries, lost mothers and village fetes. But, inspired by her idols (Charlotte Bronte, Shirley MacLaine and the Queen), she dreams of a world far away from rural East Yorkshire, a world of glamour lived under the bright lights of London (or Leeds).

Standing in the way of these dreams, though, is Christine, Evie’s soon to be stepmother, a manipulative and money grubbing schemer who is lining Evie up for a life of shampooand-set drudgery at the local salon.

Luckily, Evie is not alone. With the help of a few friends, and the wise counsel of the two Adam Faith posters on her bedroom wall (‘brooding Adam’ and ‘sophisticated Adam’), Evie comes up with a plan to rescue her bereaved father, Arthur, from Christine’s pink and over-perfumed clutches, and save their beloved farmhouse from being sold off.

She will need a little luck, a dash of charm and a big dollop of Yorkshire magic if she is to succeed, but in the process she may just discover who exactly she is meant to be.

My review

Thank you to Anne Cater Random Things Tours for my invitation to the tour and to Scribner for my copy of the book in return for a fair and honest review.

The story begins with us being introduced to Evie who decides to take her Dad Arthur’s car for a drive she comes across a very alarming sight and crashes the car and the book the reader then meets Arthur and his hideous girl-friend Christine and her family.

Evie can not remember her Mother as she died when she was a toddler, but Mrs Scott- Pym an elderly friend in the village is determined that Evie should and gives her a recipe book that had belonged to her mother. She is also fiercely protective of Evie and goes to extreme measures to try and rid of the awful Christine from her life. This takes an unexpected turn and a glamorous visitor comes to the village.

This book is such a joy, a great story and the characters, whether you loved or hated them are fantastic. I loved the strong women in the book and having family in Yorkshire this really resonated with me as I have been brought up with strong women who loved to bake.

The book had a Cinderella feel however, instead of the handsome prince rescuing Evie she is loved and supported by a band of female friends who want the best for her. The 60’s setting was delightful and I would love to see what Evie does next.

This is such a lovely book, it’s funny it made me laugh out loud with the descriptions of Christine’s wardrobe and Evie’s escapades with the glamorous and worldly Caroline were heartening. As with all good stories good overcomes bad and this is a fantastic debut and I look forward to reading more from this author.

About the author

Matson Taylor grew up in Yorkshire but now lives in London. He is a design historian and academic writing tutor and has worked at various universities and museums around the world; he currently teaches at the V&A, Imperial College, and the RCA.

He has also worked on Camden Market, appeared in an Italian TV commercial, and been a pronunciation coach for Catalan opera singers.

Little Whispers K L Slater @KimLSlater @audibleuk @midaspr @amberachoudhary #audiobook

About the Book

You shared a secret with the wrong person.

Janey Markham is thrilled to be moving with her family to Buckingham Crescent, the smartest address in a desirable suburban town.

Worried she’ll be excluded by the glossy local mothers, Janey is thrilled when she meets Tanya, the kind of woman she has always looked up to. Tanya takes Janey under her wing, and her teenage daughter Angel is amazing with Janey’s little boy. As Janey and Tanya grow closer, Janey feels she can finally leave her troubled past behind.

But then everything changes…

In a weak moment over a bottle of wine, Janey finds herself telling Tanya her most shocking secret. Why wouldn’t she trust her new friend?

The following day, Janey sees Angel, with a man old enough to be her father, pushing someone into a car. The next day a body is found and police appeal for witnesses – and share a picture of the same car…

When Janey tells Tanya she is going to the police, Tanya turns threatening. She’ll stop at nothing to defend Angel, even if her daughter is guilty. If Janey says anything, Tanya will make sure that her dark secret gets out.

Janey faces an impossible choice. Stay quiet about what she saw that terrible day. Or speak up, and destroy the family she has worked so hard to protect…

From million-copy bestseller K.L. Slater comes this twisty and absolutely unputdownable roller-coaster ride of a read. Fans of The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl will be totally hooked on Little Whispers.

My review

Thank you to Amber at Midas PR for my invitation to the blog tour for this great audiobook.

Janey is looking forward to a new start with her husband Issac and her young son after the death of her mother.

Her husband has a new job and her marriage has been stale for a while and she is looking forward to an exciting new life away from the debt and and problems they had. She is hopeful that their marriage will be revitalised by Isaac’s new job and their new lifestyle.

Janey is desperate to fit in with her new neighbours but she is shunned at the school gates and the new Mums seem to be aloof and rude and dressed perfectly. Janey has always felt like she has not fitted in even when she was a child. So when she meets Tanya she is flattered and excited to fit in. Janey was not a hugely likeable character as she has a huge chip on her shoulder. This friendship takes a different turn when Janey sees Angel in a compromising position and she wishes that she had not confided in Tayna.

This is dark book with lots of hidden secrets which Janey uncovers about her family and her husband. This is my second book by KL Slater’s and I loved the dark thriller aspect of this book and it a fast paced and has lots of twists. I enjoyed the narration by Lucy Price- Lewis which can make all the difference when listening to good audiobook.

https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Little-Whispers-Audiobook/B088RLPSBJ

About the author

Kim is the million-copy bestselling author of twelve standalone psychological crime thrillers.

Her titles are published in eBook by Bookouture and in paperback by Sphere (UK) and Grand Central (USA). She also writes Audible Originals which are subsequently published in ebook and paperback formats by Amazon Publishing.

For many years, Kim sent her work out to literary agents and collected an impressive stack of rejection slips. At the age of 40 she went back to Nottingham Trent University and now has an MA in Creative Writing.

Before graduating in 2012, she gained literary agent representation and a book deal. As Kim says, ‘it was a fairytale … at the end of a very long road!’

Kim is a full-time writer. She has one daughter, two stepsons and lives with her husband in Nottingham.

The Truants – Kate Weinberg – @bloomsburybooks #kateweinberg @RandomTTours

About the book

Think The Secret History meets Agatha Christie. This might be Kate Weinberg’s debut novel, but her assured writing and ability to create compelling characters makes me hope there’ll be many more novels to come’
Red, ‘10 of the best books on friendship’

People disappear when they most want to be seen.

Jess Walker, middle child of a middle-class family, has perfected the art of vanishing in plain sight. But when she arrives at a concrete university campus under flat, grey, East Anglian skies, her world flares with colour.

Drawn into a tightly-knit group of rule breakers – led by their maverick teacher, Lorna Clay – Jess begins to experiment with a new version of herself. But the dynamic between the friends begins to darken as they share secrets, lovers and finally a tragedy. Soon Jess is thrown up against the question she fears most: what is the true cost of an extraordinary life?

My review

Thank you to Anne Cater for my invitation to the tour and my PDF of the book in return for a fair and honest review. I know that this is one of those books that I am really going to struggle to put into words just how good it is.

Jess chooses her university on the basis of one its tutors Lorna Clay, author of a book that she was gifted at Christmas The Truants. Jess is not happy with her lot and she cannot wait to escape her mundane life in Milton View where she lives with her parents. When Jess reaches the university she finds out that she has not got a place on Lorna’s course ‘The Devil Has the Best Lines’, she is distressed beyond belief and she writes to Lorna and begs her to reconsider.

Her room mate Georgie is on Lorna’s second course ‘Murdered by the Campus’ about Agatha Christie and Lorna offers her a place on this course instead. As a huge fan of Agatha I really enjoyed the inclusion of this in the book and how the author weaves her into the story was really clever.

The story draws you in to the bubble that Jess finds herself in with Georgie and Alec who are in a relationship and Jess’s own relationship with Nick. I loved the way the book has a real darkness from the outset. You know that Jess’s obsession with Lorna is not healthy and she spends her life at university wanting what she can not have and in this case it is Alec and when she decides to act on this she puts everything at risk and things take a darker turn.

Jess’s actions tip her whole world and her friendships upside down.

I loved this book so much and I read it really slowly so that I could savour the writing. The characters and the story totally engrossed me and I found the love triangle element intriguing and knew that was never going to end well.

This is one of my favourite reads of the year and I was besotted by it and will be recommending this one far and wide. An amazing book!

About the Author

Kate Weinberg was born and lives in London. She studied English at Oxford and creative writing in East Anglia. She has worked as a slush pile reader, a bookshop assistant, a journalist and a ghost writer. The Truants is her first novel.