Last Week on the Blog
I started the week with a review for one of my favourite contemporary crime series; Play Dead by Angela Marsons which I awarded five stars for this brilliant fourth book.
On Tuesday I featured the intro from my favourite series of all time featuring Roy Grace in readiness for publication of the twelfth book in the series later in the week.
And on Wednesday I kept you updated on my reading choices for the week which include the exciting looking My Husband’s Wife by Jane Corry
My review of Love You Dead by Peter James went up on publication day 19 May 2016 and this book met all my expectations and more – a superb read!
Friday saw me looking at the recent phenomenon of authors producing short stories to tie-in with longer novels. What’s your opinion?
Yesterday I looked at book discoveries I’d found by chance and for which I’m eternally grateful.
News
On Thursday I was thrilled, and quite frankly amazed, to find out I’d been nominated at 2nd Annual Bloggers Bash Awards 2016 in the category Best Book Review Blog Award
Which book reviewer do you love? This isn’t about being prolific this is about quality reviews. Who’s the most thoughtful reviewer? Perhaps their thoughts on a book persuaded you to read it, maybe they use their blog as a platform for authors as well, or perhaps you love them for their scathing honesty!
If you click on the logo you can view all the categories and the nominees.
Stacking the Shelves
I’ve had a few additions to the TBR this week – I confess to a NetGalley splurge but in my defence the publication dates are for the most part way away.
First up I have a genealogy mystery which the author M J Lee kindly gave me called The Irish Inheritance and it will be published on 16 June 2016
Blurb
June 8, 1921. Ireland.
A British Officer is shot dead on a remote hillside south of Dublin.
November 22, 2015. United Kingdom.
Former police detective, Jayne Sinclair, now working as a genealogical investigator, receives a phone call from an adopted American billionaire asking her to discover the identity of his real father.
How are the two events linked?
Jayne Sinclair has only three clues to help her: a photocopied birth certificate, a stolen book and an old photograph. And it soon becomes apparent somebody else is on the trail of the mystery. A killer who will stop at nothing to prevent Jayne discovering the secret hidden in the past
The Irish Inheritance takes us through the Easter Rising of 1916 and the Irish War of Independence, combining a search for the truth of the past with all the tension of a modern-day thriller.
It is the first in a series of novels featuring Jayne Sinclair, genealogical detective. Amazon
I also pounced before the sale ended in the kindle sale and bought the second in the Callum Doyle series; The Helper by David Jackson on the strength of my enjoyment for A Tapping At My Door
Blurb
An anonymous caller is willing to give you clues that will help you solve a series of murders.
But there’s a catch: You can’t tell anyone about the help you’re getting.
What do you do?
If you turn the offer down, you will have nothing to go on, and more people could die.
But if you accept it, and fail to interpret the clues correctly, they will still die, and you will have concealed information that could have stopped a killer.
Such is the dilemma faced by New York detective Callum Doyle.
The decision he takes will have consequences that will haunt him for the rest of his life. Amazon
Too Close by Gayle Curtis is to be published in eBook format on 30 June 2016 by Twenty7 books, who publish debut novelists.
Blurb
A devastating and unsettling story of a powerful and unshakeable twin bond, Too Close is a twisty and gripping tale of secrets and lies. For fans of The Twins by Saskia Sarginson.
Cecelia and Sebastian have a connection like no other – more than just brother and sister, they’ll go to any lengths to protect each other. Growing up in a bleak old farmhouse, their mother gone and their father violent and abusive, the twins have only each other to keep them alive.
But when the secrets of their mother’s disappearance start to emerge, and truth and lies are thrown into question, events take a terrifying turn . . .
As Cecelia tries to break away from the ties that bind her to her brother, Sebastian is determined that the twins should be together – whatever the costs. Amazon
I also have another from Twenty7, this time due for publication in eBook on 16 June 2016; My Husband’s Son by Deborah O’Connor, another psychological thriller
Blurb
Heidi and Jason aren’t like other couples.
Six years ago, Heidi’s daughter was murdered. A year later, Jason’s son Barney disappeared. Their shared loss brought them together.
By chance, Heidi meets a boy she’s certain is Barney.
But Jason is equally convinced it’s not him.
Is Heidi mad? Or is Jason hiding something? And can their fragile marriage survive Heidi’s newfound quest for the truth . . . NetGalley
From the publishers Zaffre (also part of the Bonnier publishing house) I have yet another psychological thriller The Ice Beneath Her by Camilla Grebe – so my vow to cut back on this genre seems to have fallen by the wayside! But how could I resist this compelling sounding synopsis?
Blurb
The Ice Beneath Her is a gripping and deeply disturbing story about love, betrayal and obsession that is impossible to put down. Fast-paced and peopled with compelling characters, it surprises at every turn as it hurtles towards an unforgettable ending with a twist you really won’t see coming . . .
A young woman is found beheaded in an infamous business tycoon’s marble-lined hallway. The businessman, scandal-ridden CEO of the retail chain Clothes & More, is missing without a trace.
But who is the dead woman? And who is the brutal killer who wielded the machete? Rewind two months earlier to meet Emma Bohman, a sales assistant for Clothes & More, whose life is turned upside down by a chance encounter with Jesper Orre. Insisting that their love affair is kept secret, he shakes Emma’s world a second time when he suddenly leaves her with no explanation. As frightening things begin to happen to Emma, she suspects Jesper is responsible. But why does he want to hurt her? And how far would he go to silence his secret lover? NetGalley
Lastly from NetGalley I was extremely surprised and excited to be invited to read a copy of I See You by Clare Mackintosh, the author of I Let You Go which was a huge hit last year.
Blurb
You do the same thing every day.
You know exactly where you’re going.
You’re not alone.
When Zoe Walker sees her photo in the classifieds section of a London newspaper, she is determined to find out why it’s there. There’s no explanation: just a grainy image, a website address and a phone number. She takes it home to her family, who are convinced it’s just someone who looks like Zoe. But the next day the advert shows a photo of a different woman, and another the day after that.
Is it a mistake? A coincidence? Or is someone keeping track of every move they make . . . NetGalley
I See You will be published on 28 July 2016!
TBR WATCH
Since my last count I have read 2 books, discarded 1 as I’d already read it and shifted 3 shorts – I have however gained 6 books – the total this week is now standing at 178 books!
94 physical books
68 e-books
16 books on NetGalley
What have you found to read this week? Please don’t tempt me too much!
You have my vote…well deserved nomination.
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Why thank you 🙂
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I am so impressed by the frequency of your posts – I don’t know how you do it! Congratulations on the well deserved nomination 🙂
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Thank you – I have to admit I usually write them at the weekend and schedule but I had a day off before going away for the weekend and did a couple then this week – I just need to find time to read some books now so I can post some reviews 🙂
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Huge congratulations on the nomination!
I love your round-up…so many books! And I’m always impressed that you manage to post everyday as well.
The Ice Beneath Her looks really good! Might have to add that one to my wishlist.
Have a great week 🙂
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Why thank you – It was a bumper week for books this week! You have a great week too – I’m hoping to get some actual reading done at some point as I’ve been a bit slack in May 😉
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Congratulations on your well-deserved nomination! 🙂
I am absolutely grabbing Too Close as soon as possible. A story about twins + published by Twenty7books, this is a winning pick! My husband’s Son and The Ice Beneath Her sound good too. I know I can’t resist a good psychological thriller!
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Thank you! I know they are irresistible despite vowing to cut back on them I’ve now got some excellent ones to read!
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Congrats on the nomination, voted for you, of course:-) Good luck!
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Aw thank you Malia 🙂
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Congratulations on your nomination, Cleo! That’s wonderful! And it’s well-deserved, too. You’ve gotten some interesting titles this week, too. I’m really interested in The Irish Inheritance; I enjoy history very much and that one looks good. I’ll be keen to know what you think of it.
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Thank you Margot – it was a huge surprise to be nominated amongst so many excellent bloggers. I was planning on taking June off from reviewing new titles but I couldn’t resist a genealogical mystery, even more so when I saw the subject matter – I’m very interested about this one.
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Congrats on your nomination!
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Thank you!
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The Mackintosh book is the one i am trying to get
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I was delighted with this one – I really enjoyed I Let You Go and have recommended it widely, I can’t wait to see what Clare Mackintosh has in store for us this time.
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Congrats on the nomination!
I see several books there that appeal to me, but I’m especially drawn to Too Close and I See You. Enjoy! Thanks for sharing, and here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
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Thank you!
I have to admit to being especially excited about I See You – and I do have a great selection of psychological reads this time around.
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Good luck Cleo 😀 thanks for sharing
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Thank you for organising 😊
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Would love to read I see you too. I’ve read the other novel and really liked that one already. Congrats on the nomination, you really deserve it!
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Congrats on being nominated! How exciting. 🙂 It looks like you’ve got some really interesting new books to read.
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com
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Thank you Lauren 🙂
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I like this weekly wrapup, very interesting and a great idea!
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Thank you Moira – It seems like a good way to end a week!
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The chocolate hasn’t arrived yet, but I went ahead and voted anyway… of course, it’s a secret ballot so I’m not saying who for… 😉
I’ve had a truly terrible week and am nearly equalling your 178 now – could you please acquire some more books urgently???
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Haha it’s on its way honest 😉 No can do as I’m doing more acquiring than reading at the moment – impending disaster fast approaching!!
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Congrats. You have some great looking books and I hope you enjoy them all.
sherry @ fundinmental My Sunday Memes
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