[Blog Tour] Review - All the Good Things by Clare Fisher

All the Good Things by Clare Fisher
Publisher: Viking
Release date: 1 June 2017
Rating: *****

Back cover blurb: Twenty-one year old Beth is in prison. The thing she did is so bad she doesn't deserve to ever feel good again. But her counsellor, Erika, won't give up on her. She asks Beth to make a list of all the good things in her life. So Beth starts to write down her story, from sharing silences with Foster Dad No. 1, to flirting in the Odeon on Orange Wednesdays, to the very first time she sniffed her baby's head. But at the end of her story, Beth must confront the bad thing. What is the truth hiding behind her crime? And does anyone-even a 100% bad person-deserve a chance to be good?

All the Good Things is one of those books that really makes you stop and consider life.

Bethany Mitchell is only Twenty One but she has done a very bad thing. This bad thing has landed her in a Women's prison.

Bethany is a shadow of her former self - what she needs to do, is think of all the good things in her life. That is according to her counsellor Erika.

Bethany thinks Erika is mad.

But she does open up to Erika...

Slowly as Bethany starts to tell her story, we learn of her tragic upbringing, her desire to fit in, and her desire to be loved, wanted.

That desire to be loved is the one that ultimately leads her tragically to her fate.

Bethany is a prickly character, but her ordeal only made me warm to her more. Her actions in the end when given a choice over doing the right thing or taking the easy way out shows that she isn't all bad, even if she did do a very bad thing...

 

All the Good Things is available from 1 June 2017.

 

You can pre-order it now via Amazon online or all good book shops.

 

Don't forget to follow the rest of the blog tour;

 

 

Thank You to the publishers who sent me an advanced proof copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

 

[Blog tour] Review - You Don't Know Me by Imran Mahmood

You Don't Know Me by Imran Mahmood
Publisher: Michael Joseph
Release date: 27 June 2017
Rating: ****

Back cover blurb: An unnamed defendant stands accused of murder. Just before the Closing Speeches, the young man sacks his lawyer, and decides to give his own defence speech. He tells us that his barrister told him to leave some things out. Sometimes, the truth can be too difficult to explain, or believe. But he thinks that if he's going to go down for life, he might as well go down telling the truth. There are eight pieces of evidence against him. As he talks us through them one by one, his life is in our hands. We, the reader - member of the jury - must keep an open mind till we hear the end of his story. His defence raises many questions... but at the end of the speeches, only one matters: Did he do it?

You Don't Know Me is a crime novel with a difference, not only is it from the defendant rather than the victim's perspective, but we also never know the name of our perpetrator. On trial for murder he sacks his lawyer just before the closing speeches and decides to deliver his own defence.

In a sense we the reader, are an additional member of the jury, but we hear none of the preceding trial evidence, hear no witness statements, no cross examination. All we have is the defendant's word.

As he talks through the evidence that has been previously presented we are allowed an insight into this young mans life. His upbringing, his family and friends, and the path that led him to be tried for Murder.

Gangs and criminals in London may not be anything new, but to delve into them in the depths that this novel does, from the perspective of this nameless character certainly is. And it works. Sure, it may put us into a world in which we are unfamiliar and uncomfortable, but as the defendant argues, we don't always get to chose what happens to us.

His is a convincing argument, whether it is convincing enough, well sadly the jury is still out on that one. And there lies my one and only frustration with this novel is that we don't learn the outcome of the trial. I understand that this is deliberate, that we are supposed to make our own decisions, but it would have been interesting to get the authors perspective.

You Don't Know Me is a brave and clever debut novel that is sure to have you gripped. The voice of the defendant is raw and gritty as he appeals to the jury to believe his story, but you will want to know who he is and if you can trust him to tell you the truth. Do we know him at all, is he guilt-free? Or is he just another murderer trying to convince himself and the jury of his false innocence?

You Don't Know Me is available now via Amazon online and all good book shops.

Don't forget to check out the previous stops on the blog tour;
 

 

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

 

[Blog tour] Review - Before the rains by Dinah Jefferies

Before the rains by Dinah Jefferies

Publisher: Viking
Release date: 23 February 2017
Rating: *****

Back cover blurb: A gripping, heart-wrenching tale of love against the odds from the Number One Sunday Times bestselling author Dinah Jefferies. 1930, Rajputana, India. Since her husband's death, 28-year-old photojournalist Eliza's only companion has been her camera. When the British Government send her to an Indian princely state to photograph the royal family, she's determined to make a name for herself. But when Eliza arrives at the palace she meets Jay, the Prince's handsome, brooding younger brother. Brought together by their desire to improve conditions for local people, Jay and Eliza find they have more in common than they think. But their families - and society - think otherwise. Eventually they will have to make a choice between doing what's expected, and following their heart. . .

 

Before the rains is yet another beautifully written historical novel by Dinah Jefferies. I really don't know how she does it. Every detail is perfect, you can really immerse yourself into 1930s India and almost believe that you are there.

Eliza Fraser, recently widowed has accepted a British Government assignment to a princely state in India, where she is to photograph the Royal family. Determined to make a name for herself as a photographer, Eliza is nervous as she arrives.

One of the first people she meets, Jay, instantly puts her at ease. But he is a member of the Royal family that she has been sent to capture film, so she realises that she should get close to him. Sadly, this is easier said than done.

Although slow burning, theirs is a mutual attraction, despite their cultural and social differences. As Eliza travels the state photographing both the Royal family and the outside communities she has her eyes opened to a world of colour, and poverty...

Vowing to help improve the conditions for local people, Eliza joins forces with Jay. As they make plans for the future of the local community their attraction to each other becomes undeniable. But Jay's family and Eliza's sponsor in India are against the two becoming close.

Not only would it be unheard of for a member of Indian royalty to court and maybe even marry a Britsh woman, but Eliza is a widow. And in parts of the country they still believe in and practice the illegal custom of widow burning.

Despite every little thing seeming to be against them, Jay and Eliza continue to grow closer. With their attraction to each other intensifying, and the world around them changing, they must decide whether to succumb to tradition or follow their hearts..

Before the rains is available now via Amazon online and all good book shops.

Thank You to the publishers who invited me to view this novel via netgalley in exchange for an honest review (and a spot on the blog tour!)

Blog tour - Micro Thriller Challenge [The Sixth Window by Rachel Abbott]

Today I'm thrilled to be taking part in the micro thriller challenge to celebrate this week's release of Rachel Abbott's latest novel, The Sixth Window.

THE TRUTH HURTS – BUT LIES ARE DEADLY

After eighteen months of grieving for her husband Bernie, killed in a horrific hit and run accident, Natalie Gray has found love with her husband’s best friend - Ed Cooper - and has moved herself and fifteen-year-old daughter, Scarlett, into his home. But Natalie begins to suspect Ed has a dark side - and even darker intentions.

Desperate to get her daughter to a place of safety, she and Scarlett move to a new home that holds secrets of its own. But has removing Scarlett from one potential threat placed her in far greater danger?

DCI Tom Douglas is also chasing the truth, as his investigation into the suicide of a teenage girl draws him ever closer to Natalie and Scarlett. But will he be too late to protect them from the peril they face, or from the truths that will tear their lives apart?

 



  The Sixth Window is available now via Amazon online and all good book shops.

About Rachel Abbott:

Rachel Abbott, who was born and raised in Manchester, founded her own interactive media company in the 1980s, before selling it and retiring in 2005. She then moved to Italy where she worked on the renovation of a 15th century Italian monastery, and it was here that, one day, she found herself snowed in and decided to begin writing for pleasure. This became her debut novel Only The Innocent, which she went on to publish via Kindle Direct Publishing, topping their chart for 4 weeks. Abbott has since written The Back Road, Sleep Tight, Stranger Child , Kill Me Again and a novella, Nowhere Child. She splits her time between Alderney in the Channel Islands and Italy.

Website:                http://www.rachel-abbott.com

Blog:                       http://rachelabbottwriter.com

Twitter:                  @RachelAbbott

Facebook:             RachelAbbott1Writer

Video:                    https://vimeo.com/202737785 / https://youtu.be/LZlqqhW6gAs

The Sixth Window Blog Tour:

[Blog tour] Review - Ragdoll by Daniel Cole

Ragdoll by Daniel Cole
Publisher: Trapeze
Release date: 23 February 2017
Rating: *****

Back cover blurb: The nation is gripped by the infamous 'Ragdoll Killer'. Every news bulletin and headline is obsessed with this story. Your friends, your family and your neighbours are all talking about it. Believe the hype. Sold in over 32 countries and counting, RAGDOLL is the standout thriller of the year. A body is discovered with the dismembered parts of six victims stitched together like a puppet, nicknamed by the press as the 'ragdoll'. Assigned to the shocking case are Detective William 'Wolf' Fawkes, recently reinstated to the London Met, and his former partner Detective Emily Baxter. The 'Ragdoll Killer' taunts the police by releasing a list of names to the media, and the dates on which he intends to murder them. With six people to save, can Fawkes and Baxter catch a killer when the world is watching their every move?

Ragdoll is Daniel Cole's debut novel. And wow, what a debut it is... Born from the idea of a tv series/show, this novel showcases Daniel Cole's writing talents from the outset.

4 years before the nation is gripped by the Police pursuit of the so called "Ragdoll killer", Detective William Oliver Layton-Fawkes (Wolf) is restrained and confined to a secure unit after attacking Naguib Khalid (the notorious "Cremation killer") on the final day of his murder trial.

Many think that Wolf shouldn't return to the Met, but his former partner Detective Emily Baxter is delighted to have her old friend and colleague reinstated. It isn't long before they are thrown head first into their first investigation.

A body has been discovered hanging from a ceiling in a macabre display in a building opposite Wolf's flat. But this is not just any old body. This hanging display feature has the dismembered parts of six different victims stitched together to make one 'body'. Earning the killer the "Ragdoll killer" moniker.

If this wasn't bad enough, the press, namely Wolf's ex-wife Andrea, have got themselves a list of six people, supposedly the killer's next victims - Along with the dates that they are to be murdered. The media frenzy that follows the release of the list supposedly is to help support the Met in their quest to catch the killer.

Their efforts to assist are laughable to say the least. Their motives purely selfish. Wolf and Baxter certainly have their work cut out for them and the media scrutiny isn't helping. Their priority to ensure the first person on the list is safe, is equal to that of finding and bringing the killer to justice.

Wolf is not the only detective on his team with a colourful past, and Ragdoll is full of some truly troubled detectives. Although the content is often dark, Ragdoll has some funny moments. But then I would imagine you'd have to have a pretty screwed up sense of humour to get through most days as a detective on this kind of case.

Ragdoll is a pretty perfect debut. My only disappointment was the ending - simply because I didn't want it to end. I really hope there is more to come from Wolf and Baxter.

Ragdoll is available from 23 February 2017.

You can pre-order it now via Amazon online.

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