Thursday 14 March 2024

Review - Anna O by Matthew Blake

Anna O by Matthew Blake
Publisher: Harper Collins UK
Release date: 1 February 2024
Back cover blurb: Anna Ogilvy hasn’t opened her eyes for four years. Not since that night at The Farm when she was found asleep with a kitchen knife in her hand, her clothes bloodstained, the bodies of her two best friends lying close. She’d committed the crime of the century – but nothing and no-one could wake her from the nightmare. Believers in her innocence call her Anna O. Believers in her guilt call her Sleeping Beauty. But no-one can take their eyes off the story . .









 

Sometimes when a novel gets a lot of hype I don't want to read it straightaway. I've never been one for following trends... However, I think this is justifiable of the hype (so please just read it!) and I have been a little behind on reviews for personal reasons, so hopefully this review won't get lost amongst all the others. Because I really want you to understand how good this book is....!

It is SO clever.

I've seen a couple of reviews comparing it to Alex Michaelides Silent Patient, and whilst I can (sort of) see why you would compare the two. I personally don't think it's necessary. For me, they are two totally different books, and I actually think I preferred this one.

Anno Ogilvy hasn't opened her eyes for four years. Not since that night at The Farm when she was found with a knife in her hand, her two best friends lying close. 

Blood everywhere... 

It was the crime of the century. 

But Anna slept through it all, and hasn't woken since.

Believers in her story call her 'Anna O', those more cynical call her 'Sleeping Beauty'. And everyone wants to know how the story ends.

The Ministry of Justice are keen to get her on trial. Which they obviously can't do whilst she's asleep, so they take the step to move her to an infamous sleep clinic 'the Abbey'. Used by the rich and famous and known for it's discretion.

One of the Abbey's best 'Sleep Doctors', Dr Benedict (Ben) Prince is called in late one night under mysterious circumstances to find his boss and mentor, Dr Bloom, and a representative from the Ministry of Justice asking him to sign the official secrets act before they will disclose why they are there at the ungodly hour.

Ben is reluctant at first, he has his own thoughts and theories about the 'Anna O' case, and he isn't sure he wants the responsibility of trying to wake her. But he can't resist the chance to prove one of his own research theories right. 

But at what cost?

Anna O is available now via Amazon online and all good book shops.

Thank You to the publishers who approved my request via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.




Wednesday 13 March 2024

Review - Five Nights by Rachel Wolf

Five Nights by Rachel Wolf
Publisher: Aria and Aries (Head of Zeus)
Release date: 29 February 2024
Back cover blurb: A powerful family. A luxury cruise. A killer on board… You’re invited to join the infamous Scarmado family on a five night voyage aboard their glamorous new ship. It’s a chance to see your best friend, Belle, newly married to Mattia Scarmado. You haven’t seen her in years. FIVE. On the first night, you’ll be wrapped up in the glamour of the ship. FOUR.  On the second night, you’ll wonder who is sending you threatening notes. THREE. On the third night, someone will die. TWO.  On the fourth night, you’ll discover that someone knows the truth of what you did. ONE. On the last night, you’ll be left for dead...Will you make it back to shore alive?








When Emily receives an invitation for a five night cruise onboard a prestigious new ship she only hesitates for the smallest moment. She doesn't want to leave her elderly Father and young Son, and isn't really sure of Belle's motives, as she hasn't seen her best friend in Five years. 

But her Father insists she needs a break and encourages her to go. Emily agrees. Perhaps it is time for them to build some bridges...

Belle is now married to Mattia Scarmado, one of the wealthiest businessman. He is old enough to be her own Father, but Belle appears to be very much in love. Much to the disgust of Mattia's own children, still mourning the sudden loss of their Mother, and all vying for their Father's affections ... and inheritance.

They are the very definition of spoilt brats. Every single one of them is so entitled, it's vulgar (but brilliant), and they all seem to share a hatred of Belle. But you would never know. The four words; 'appearances can be deceiving' have never been so apt.

When Emily tentatively makes her way on to the ship to meet with Belle for the first time in Five years, she can't deny that she's nervous, but they've been friends for so long, that they should be able to pick up where they left off. Right?

Well maybe once. But now their worlds are so different, that Emily feels hideously out of place. She can't keep up with the Scarmado's. Even if she wanted to. And it's clear that somebody doesn't want her too. Whether it's because she friends with Belle, or they just don't think her face fits, somebody in the party has taken a dislike to Emily and is sending her threatening notes.

There are many twists in this story, but I think it's safe to say that the 'main' twist in this novel isn't the one that I thought I saw coming, but it works very well within the context of this story.

By the time you get to it, you'll know exactly what I mean!

A thoroughly enjoyable novel, which hasn't put me off cruising - Thankfully I don't move in the same circles as the Scarmado's!

Five Nights is available now via Amazon online and all good book shops.

Thank You to the publishers who approved my request via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Tuesday 12 March 2024

Review - the Shadow Network by Deborah Swift

the Shadow Network by Deborah Swift
Publisher:
HQ
Release date: 15 February 2024
Back cover blurb: One woman must sacrifice everything to uncover the truth in this enthralling historical novel, inspired by the true World War Two campaign Radio Aspidistra… England, 1942: Having fled Germany after her father was captured by the Nazis, Lilli Bergen is desperate to do something pro-active for the Allies. So when she’s approached by the Political Warfare Executive, Lilli jumps at the chance. She’s recruited as a singer for a radio station broadcasting propaganda to German soldiers – a shadow network. But Lilli’s world is flipped upside down when her ex-boyfriend, Bren Murphy, appears at her workplace; the very man she thinks betrayed her father to the Nazis. Lilli always thought Bren was a Nazi sympathiser – so what is he doing in England supposedly working against the Germans? Lilli knows Bren is up to something, and must put aside a blossoming new relationship in order to discover the truth. Can Lilli expose him, before it’s too late?




Lilli Bergen's life is turned upside down when her Father is captured by the Nazi's. 

His crime? 

Having been married to Lill's Mother, who was a Jew. Lilli herself being half Jewish is told to flee and hide by her Father before he is captured. 

She doesn't want to leave him, but eventually see common sense, and flees to a neighbouring apartment. She soon learns that it was her Irish ex-boyfriend who has betrayed the family, and see vows to steer well clear of him.

Lilli soon finds herself in England, working as a singer in nightclub, before she is made to flee again, this time to the Isle of Man. It is here that she is recruited (for her voice) by the Political War Executive as part of a secretive mission to foil the Nazi's.

Lilli may be German, but she has no loyalty to the country or political party that cost her her Father. She wants to help in anyway that she can. If that means she has to pose as a singer for a fictional radio station, then so be it.

Lilli's new world is shattered when a new 'recruit' appears at the station. Her ex-boyfriend, Bren. 

She doesn't understand what he is doing there, as she is certain that he would never betray the Nazi's, as he holds so many of their views himself. She pretends not to know who he is, so she can find out what he is doing, and who for.

She doesn't realise until it is too late that she has put herself in grave danger. 

Can she save herself, and those around her before it's too late?

The Shadow Network is another brilliant WW2 novel from Deborah Swift, and I can't wait for the next.


The Shadow Network is available now via Amazon online and all good book shops.

Thank You to the publishers who approved my request via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Monday 11 March 2024

Review - A Guilty Secret by Philipa East

A Guilty Secret by Philippa East
Publisher:
HQ
Release date: 18 January 2024
Back cover blurb: 2003: Carrie and her friends spend their days studying at boarding school, and their nights sneaking out to the woods. It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. They agree never to reveal the truth about what happened. But someone won’t keep that promise… 2019: Finn receives a shocking call from his ex-wife, Mhairi, informing him of their friend Kate’s death. The pair have a complicated past, but psychotherapist Kate was always the one who solved their problems, so neither is prepared for what they uncover. Kate had secrets, leading Finn and Mhairi to unearth a history that others would do anything to keep buried.









This is the first Philippa East novel that I've read, and I'm certain it won't be the last!

2019: Finn receives a shocking call from his ex-wife, Mhairi informing him of their mutual friend Kate's death.

It is sudden, unexpected and tragic.

Their past has always been complicated but Kate was usually the one who solved the problems, not caused them...

It's almost inconceivable that she had secrets.

2003: Carrie and her friends spend their days studying at a remote boarding school, and their nights sneaking out in to the woods

It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt.

They agree to never reveal the truth of what happened.

But sometimes the past comes back to haunt us.

What happens when the truth can't stay buried?

But what possible connection could there be between these Kate's death, and a boarding school?

Well, it's a little complicated... and I don't want to give anything away, as I really think you need to read this one for yourself...

Told from multiple perspectives, and time lines, this novel requires an element of concentration, but it is well worth it when the complexities all start coming together.

A Guilty Secret is available via Amazon online and all good book shops.

Thank You to the publishers who approved my request via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Saturday 6 January 2024

Review - the Children we lost by Catherine Hokin

The Children We Lost by Catherine Hokin
Publisher: Bookouture
Release date: 24 January 2024
Back cover blurb: ‘No! Not my child!’ she screams, her voice breaking as she pounds the window uselessly. But no one looks up as the man in uniform cradles her precious baby and strides away…Berlin, 1944. Nineteen-year-old Annaliese arrives at the imposing stone building, clutching her small suitcase. She has nowhere else to go after her father threw her out, ashamed of his pregnant, unmarried daughter. But Bruno promised they would live together as a family once the baby was born – and until then she’d be taken care of at this home for expectant mothers. But Bruno never comes, and Annaliese starts to feel unsettled by the silent, stone-faced nurses and the heavy doors that are always locked behind them. Nursing her perfect, pink-cheeked baby, her heart swells – she never imagined she could feel such overwhelming love. But a cold fear has caught hold of her. Has coming here been a terrible mistake? Berlin, 1979. Lawyer Evie has come to the city to investigate the horrifying stories of infants torn from their mothers during the war. One of the cases is Sebastian, whose yellowing birth certificate tells a heartbreaking tale. Evie is drawn to this lost man, and vows to do all that she can to help him. But poring through old records, it is Evie who recognises the faded photo in a newspaper article. Her heart stops as she realises her whole life has been a devastating lie – and that her and Sebastian’s pasts are impossibly, unimaginably connected…


I absolutely love this author's work, and this novel is no exception. 

1944 in Berlin and Annaliese is abandoned at the Lebensborn home, cast out by her own family and left to get on with things by her Nazi officer lover. She knows he will come for her eventually, but until then she must make the most of the situation she has found herself in, for there are many worse off.

1979 in the US and Lawyer Evie has been set a new task by her boss, dealing with Nazi war criminals who may have come the US legally under Operation paperclip but now need to be held accountable for their crimes.

Her first task is to investigate children who were misplaced during the war at the hands of the Nazi regime. A chance meeting with Sebastian who is looking for his birth Mother leads them both to travel to Berlin.

Neither of them are prepared for what they are about to discover, for the truth is worse than either of them could ever have imagined. 

Sebastian who has so desperately sought the truth is now wishing that he hadn't bothered as he learns that both his parents are potentially Nazis, and Evie who only wanted to help, has her own life turned upside when when she stumbles across a newspaper article featuring a high society Nazi wedding. 

It seems that everything she's understood about her own life up until then has been a lie. She now has her own story to deal with alongside Sebastian's. Which only makes her more determined than ever to bring the guilty to justice, no matter how dangerous that might be...

The Children we lost by Catherine Hokin is available to pre-order now via Amazon online and all good book shops.

Thank You to the publishers who approved my request via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thursday 4 January 2024

Review - the Woman on the ledge by Ruth Mancini

The Woman on the Ledge by Ruth Mancini
Publisher:
Century
Release date: 4 January 2024
Back cover blurb: A woman falls to her death from a London bank's twenty-fifth-floor roof terrace. You're arrested for her murder. You tell the police that you only met the victim the previous night at your office party. She was threatening to jump from the roof, but you talked her down. You've got nothing to do with this tragedy. You're clearly being framed. So why do the police keep picking holes in your story? Even your lawyer doesn't seem to believe you. It soon becomes obvious that you're keeping secrets. But who are you trying to protect? And why?










The Woman on the ledge is an original thriller and a definite rollercoaster of a read.

Tate is an actress who needs to perform the role of her life. 

When she meets Helen at a party being held at the high rise building she works in, she is on a ledge at the top of the building, considering jumping, but Tate manages to talk her down.

The following day a woman falls to her death from the very same building and Tate is unsurprised when the Police come knocking at her door. 

When she is arrested for a murder she didn't commit, she knows that all the evidence (albeit circumstantial) points to her. As she is questioned by the Police and they find holes in her story, she worries that she may have failed in her role. But they are forced to release her on bail.

And that's when things start to get even more interesting.

Just when I thought I'd worked out what was about to happen, I was thrown in a new direction. There are so many holes in Tate's story that you wonder why the Police let her go, but then she begins to clarify things to her solicitor and we learn that things are not exactly what they seem.

Combined with flashback from when Tate and her friends were fourteen, we begin to see the bigger picture and gain an understanding in to why certain things that seemed to make no sense at all, now make perfect sense.

I think that's about all I can say without giving too much away, but this is a very very clever book, and I am looking forward to reading more by this author. 


The Woman on the Ledge is available now via Amazon online and all good book shops.

Thank You to the publishers who approved my request via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.