#BlogTour: Tsarina by Ellen Alpsten @EAlpsten_Author @BloomsburyBooks @annecater #Tsarina #EllenAlpsten #RandomThingsTours #RussianHistory

Book Synopsis:

Lover. Murderer. Mother. Meet TSARINA, the most powerful woman history ever forgot.

Spring 1699: Illegitimate, destitute and strikingly beautiful, Marta has survived the brutal Russian winter in her remote Baltic village. Sold by her family into household labour at the age of fifteen, Marta survives by committing a crime that will force her to go on the run.

A world away, Russia’s young ruler, Tsar Peter I, passionate and iron-willed, has a vision for transforming the traditionalist Tsardom of Russia into a modern, Western empire. Countless lives will be lost in the process.

Falling prey to the Great Northern War, Marta cheats death at every turn, finding work as a washerwoman at a battle camp. One night at a celebration, she encounters Peter the Great. Relying on her wits and her formidable courage, and fuelled by ambition, desire and the sheer will to live, Marta will become Catherine I of Russia. But her rise to the top is ridden with peril; how long will she survive the machinations of Peter’s court, and more importantly, Peter himself?

Tsarina is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

Tsarina was a fascinating, enthralling historical novel which really brings Russian history to life.

Firstly Catherine was truly an amazing woman. The fact she managed to get to such a high position when she was born a peasant, couldn’t read or write and was a woman in a male dominated society was truly remarkable. I found I admired her more as the book went on and I was firmly on her side, hoping that she succeeded.

The author has clearly done a lot of research into this period and all the little details about life back then helped bring the period to life. I knew nothing about this period so greedily absorbed everything I could. As the blurb says Catherine has mainly be forgotten from history which is really sad, and not much is known about her early life so the author has had to use some imagination at times which I found completely enthralling. Peter was definitely an interesting character who did much for modernising Russia. He was definitely a cruel man and some of his actions were very brutal which made for uncomfortable reading sometimes. One particular scene made me feel slightly sick so just be warned it’s quite graphic at times.

Overall I thought this was a fast paced, addictive read which I flew through in a few days. I found myself so completely emersed in the world she’d created that I found myself confused when I had to come back into the present. The author definitely knows how to make history interesting and I thought this book was brilliantly written and just draws the reader into the story. I will definitely be looking out for this author in the future.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Bloomsbury publishers for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

About The Author:

Ellen Alpsten was born and raised in the Kenyan highlands, before attending L’Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris. Whilst studying for her Msc in PPE she won the Grande École short story competition with her novella Meeting Mr. Gandhi and was encouraged to continue writing. Upon graduating, she worked as a producer and presenter for Bloomberg TV in London. She contributes to in ternational publications such as Vogue, Standpoint and Conde Nast Traveller. Tsarina is her first novel. She lives in London with her husband and three children.

#BlogTour: Her Darkest Hour by Sharon Mass @sharon_maas @bookouture @sarahhardy681 #HerDarkestHour #SharonMass #BooksOnTour

Book Synopsis:

In the small French town of Colmar, swastikas hang from lampposts, tanks are lined up outside the town hall, and twenty-one-year-old Marie-Claire is in love. She will do anything for her childhood friend Jacques, including spying on her German boss, Dietrich Kurtz. Anything to make Jacques see her in a new light, as something more than just a silly little girl.

But when Jacques rejects her, everything changes. Mortified and stung, Marie-Claire feels the need for revenge. She turns her back on those she loves and is catapulted into a new life.

Her little sister Victoire is aghast at her sister’s traitorous behaviour, not least because Marie-Claire is endangering Victoire’s own life-threatening mission, hiding Jewish refugees in their mother’s wine cellar. And when Marie-Claire marries Kurtz, Victoire knows her relationship with her sister has been poisoned for ever.

But when Victoire learns someone she loves is in terrible danger, her only choice is to trust the sister who betrayed her. Kurtz, Marie-Claire’s cruel and heartless husband, has key information and Victoire must persuade Marie-Claire to obtain it, even if it means risking Marie-Claire’s life. As secrets come to light and close bonds are broken, will the sisters be able to heal old wounds?

An unforgettable and unputdownable story of two sisters ripped apart by World War 2. Fans of The Nightingale and The Ragged Edge of Night will fall in love with Her Darkest Hour.

Her Darkest Hour is available in ebook and paperback now. The ebook is currently the bargain price of £1.99. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

I’m a huge fan of this author’s historical novels so you can imagine how excited I was to hear she had another one out. Once again she has managed to write an atmospheric, heartbreaking and powerful book that I really enjoyed.

The author fully transports the reader to war time France with her vivid descriptions of life under the Nazis. I truly felt that I was there living among the villagers myself, experiencing fear alongside them. It must have been an incredibly difficult time to live through and the author definitely shows that with her brutal and realistic descriptions which are quite hard to read at times.

I couldn’t make up my mind whether I like Marie or not. At first I really disliked her as she came across as being quite vain and selfish but over the course of the book she grew on me so that I ended up admiring her for her bravery. The author has clearly done a lot of research and I loved learning about the little details of Marie and her sister’s lives like the clothes they wore or how they furnished their house.

Overall I thought this was a beautifully written, heartbreaking read which had a powerful message at its heart. The first half of the book is a little slow as the author sets the scene but things soon pick up and I found myself completely absorbed into the story.

Huge thanks to Sarah Hardy for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Bookouture for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

About The Author:

Sharon Maas is the author of eight novels of historical fiction. She has lived in Germany for 43 years. She now lives in Ireland.

What readers are saying about The Girl From The Sugar Plantation

‘I loved, loved, loved this. An easy 5 stars. One of my top reads of this year.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘I absolutely adore Sharon Maas’s books – she is one of my favourite authors, someone whose stories give me hours of reading pleasure. And this wonderful book is one of her best! I loved this book from start to finish, savouring every word, the author’s beautiful prose. An evocative, powerful story of a family and a country. LOVED every word and I absolutely cannot wait for more from this amazing author.’ Renita D’Silva, 5 stars

‘The Girl from the Sugar Plantation is a beautifully written story that has it all. I whizzed through this beautiful book, unable to put it down. A wonderful and heartrending story with lovely characters. Very highly recommended.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘This is a powerful book of love, relationships and trust What great writing from a great author… Five Stars!’ Stardust Book Reviews, 5

#BlogTour: The Goodbye Man by Jeffrey Deaver @JefferyDeaver @HarperFiction @fictionpubteam @annecater #TheGoodbyeMan #JefferyDeaver #RandomThingsTours

Book Synopsis:

Say goodbye to your problems
In pursuit of two armed fugitives in the wilderness of Washington State, unique investigator Colter Shaw witnesses a shocking suicide. This leads him to the Foundation – a cult that promises to transform peoples lives. But is there more to it than meets the eye?

Say goodbye to your freedom
Shaw goes undercover to expose the Foundation’s real purpose. Before long he meets the charismatic leader Master Eli, a man who commands terrifying loyalty from his followers.

Say goodbye to your life
Something truly dark is going on beneath the surface of the idyllic community. And as Shaw peels back the layers of truth, he begins to see there is only one way to escape the Foundation… and the price for that freedom might well be your very life.

The Goodbye Man is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy of both using the link below.

My Review:

The Goodbye Man is another entertaining, absorbing and thrilling read from this talented author. It’s going to be hard to review this book as I don’t want to give anything away.

Firstly I absolutely loved the main character Colt who was a fascinating, brave man who seemed incredibly skilled at what he does. I liked that he seemed to have a conscience and seemed to care about others which is quite unusual in this type of character. I really enjoyed following him in his undercover work and seeing how he manages to investigate things.

I’ve got a bit of a fascination with cults so found that part of the book to be very interesting. I’m definitely glad I don’t belong to it as I felt trapped just reading about it. The fact that Colt was there undercover added an uncertain element to the story as I was never sure what would happen next whilst he was there and when he would be discovered. I found myself reading faster and faster as I was anxious to find out.

Overall I thought this was a fast paced, thrilling read which I really enjoyed. I didn’t actually realise it was the second book in the series so it can easily be read as a standalone as everything is explained. I liked how the different storylines drew together and how the ending hinted at a sequel. I’m very excited to read more about Colt.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Harper Collins for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

About The Author:

Jeffery Deaver is the #1 international bestselling and award-winning author of more than forty novels, three collections of short stories, and a nonfiction law book. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into twenty-five languages. A former journalist, folksinger, and attorney, he was born outside of Chicago and has a bachelor of journalism degree from the University of Missouri and a law degree from Fordham University.

#BlogTour: Before I Say I Do by Vicki Bradley @vbradleywriter @simonschusterUK @annecater @jessbarratt88 #BeforeISayIDo #VickiBradley #RandomThingsTours

Book Synopsis:

HER DREAM WEDDING
IS ABOUT TO BECOME A NIGHTMARE

It’s Julia’s wedding day. Her nerves are to be expected – every bride feels the same – but there’s another layer to her fear, one that she cannot explain to her soon-to-be husband, Mark. She’s never told him the details – and she is determined he never finds out.

As she begins down the aisle, spotting Mark in his tailored suit, she knows she is taking her first steps to happiness – her past is behind her, it can’t catch her now. Mark turns to face her . . .

But it isn’t Mark in the beautiful suit – it’s his best man.

Because Mark is missing.  

And Julia’s past is closer than she thinks . . .

Perfect for fans of Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll and Now You See Her by Heidi Perks, this is a dark, twisty psychological thriller that asks the question, how well can you really know anyone?

Before I Say I Do is available in ebook and paperback on the 28th May 2020. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

This was a fantastic, fast paced crime novel which is hard to believe is the author’s debut.

The story is told from the point of view of Julia and Alana as they investigate what happened to Julia’s fiance Mark after he disappeared on his wedding day. What initially looks like a simple case of cold feet turns out to be a lot more complicated and it was great fun to go on the investigation with them. As the story progresses we slowly learn more about them and their past which made for interesting reading.

The author does a great job with the storyline in this book and I thought the plot unfolded at a great pace, keeping me in suspense the whole way through. There were lots of twists which kept me guessing and ensured that the ending took me completely by surprise which I always love. I can’t wait to read more from this author and hope that some of the characters in this book make an appearance in a future book.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Jess Barratt for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Vicki Bradley is the author of the psychological thriller, BEFORE I SAY I DO, published 28th May 2020.

She completed a Creative Writing Novel MA at City University of London in 2016. She won the Write Here Right Now competition 2018, came 3rd place in the First Novel Prize, and has been shortlisted for the Virago New Crime Writer and Peter Fraser Dunlop prize with her debut novel BEFORE I SAY I DO.

Vicki is a detective constable in the Metropolitan Police Service and has had a varied career as a uniformed response driver in Brent and then as a detective in Southwark CID. She has managed High-Risk Sex Offenders and worked on the Serious Organised Crime Command. She is currently on a 5-year career break while she focuses on writing.

https://vickibradleywriter.comhttps://twitter.com/vbradleywriterhttps://www.facebook.com/vickibradleywriterhttps://www.instagram.com/vickibradleywriter

#BlogTour: When We Fall by Carolyn Kirby @novelcarolyn @noexitpress @annecater #WhenWeFall #CarolynKirby #RandomThingsTours #ww2

Book Synopsis:

From the acclaimed author of The Conviction of Cora Burns, longlisted for the Historical Writers’ Association Debut Crown Award

England, 1943. Lost in fog, pilot Vee Katchatourian is forced to make an emergency landing where she meets enigmatic RAF airman Stefan Bergel, and then can’t get him out of her mind.

In occupied Poland, Ewa Hartman hosts German officers in her father’s guest house, while secretly gathering intelligence for the Polish resistance. Mourning her lover, Stefan, who was captured by the Soviets at the start of the war, Ewa is shocked to him on the street one day.

Haunted by a terrible choice he made in captivity, Stefan asks Vee and Ewa to help him expose one of the darkest secrets of the war. But it is not clear where everyone’s loyalties lie until they are tested…

Published to coincide with the 75th anniversary of VE Day and based on WWII war atrocity the Katyn massacre, When We Fall is a moving story of three lives forever altered by one fatal choice.

When We Fall is available in ebook and paperback now. The ebook is currently only £1.89. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

I absolutely loved this author’s first book so I was very excited to read more from her. Once again she blew me away with another beautiful, heartbreaking and thoroughly engrossing read.

Firstly I hadn’t heard of the Katyn massacre before so I found it very interesting to learn more about it especially as it’s a part of ww2 history which is one of my favourite periods of history. The author has cleverly weaved real life facts from the event, like there being one women victim, into the story which makes the story seem more realistic and made me care about the characters. It was great to learn more about the roles women played in the war too as I feel they are sometimes overlooked.

One of the things I most enjoy about this author is her ability to create storylines that the reader can get completely absorbed into. I felt like I was living events alongside the characters, feeling everything that they did. This book manages to be a gripping thriller but also a heartbreaking read which helped keep me glued to the page. I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to No Exit Press for my copy of this book via Netgalley. If you are a fan of beautifully written, absorbing historical fiction then I thoroughly recommend this book!

About The Author:

Carolyn Kirby’s debut novel The Conviction of Cora Burns was published in March 2019 by No Exit Press the UK and Dzanc Books in North America. The book has received great praise from reviewers and journalists. The Sunday Mirror called it “a great historical novel with bite,” and it was chosen by The Times as an historical fiction book of the month. Before being a full-time writer, Carolyn worked in public housing and as a teacher. She has two grown-up daughters and lives with her husband in Oxfordshire. To find out more, go to http://www.carolynkirby.com

#BlogTour: The Secret Of The Château by Kathleen McGurl @KathMcGurl @HQDigitalUK @rararesources #SecretsOfTheChâteau #KathleenMcGurl

Book Synopsis:

Everything is about to change…

1789. Pierre and Catherine Aubert, the Comte and Comtesse de Verais, have fled the palace of Versailles for their château, deep in the French Alps. But as revolution spreads through the country, even hidden away the Auberts will not be safe forever. Soon they must make a terrible decision in order to protect themselves, and their children, from harm.

Present day. When Lu’s mother dies leaving her heartbroken, the chance to move to a château in the south of France with her husband and best friends seems an opportunity for a new beginning. But Lu can’t resist digging into their new home’s history, and when she stumbles across the unexplained disappearance of Catherine Aubert, the château begins to reveal its secrets – and a mystery unsolved for centuries is uncovered…

Unlock the secret of the château today. Perfect for fans of Kate Morton, Fiona Valpy and The Forgotten Village!

The Secrets Of The Château is available in ebook now for the bargain price of £2.99 and in paperback on the 23rd July 2020. You can purchase or pre-order your copy using the link below.

My Review:

This was another wonderful dual timeline story from one of my favourite authors.

The story is told in two timelines, switching in alternate chapters from present day France and France at the time of the revolution. I actually enjoyed both timelines and found them both to be very easy to follow with no confusion between the two when they switched. This made for easy reading and meant that I raced through the book in a couple of days.

There is lots of fantastic historical detail in this book about what life was like in Versailles during Louis XVI reign. I’ve always been fascinated by this period of history so found it very interesting to learn more about that time. The great gap that existed between ordinary people and the aristocracy was huge and made it quite a harrowing time to live through. It’s unbelievable to think of the conditions that some people lived in now.

Overall I thought this was a fast paced absorbing read which I really enjoyed. I did guess what the secret was but that didn’t stop me really enjoying the story. I can’t wait to read more from this author in the future.

Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and to HQ Digital for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

About The Author:

Kathleen McGurl lives in Bournemouth, UK, with her husband. She has two sons who have both now left home. She always wanted to write, and for many years was waiting until she had the time. Eventually she came to the bitter realisation that no one would pay her for a year off work to write a book, so she sat down and started to write one anyway. Since then she has published several novels with HQ and self-published another. She has also sold dozens of short stories to women’s magazines, and written three How To books for writers. After a long career in the IT industry she became a full time writer in 2019. When she’s not writing, she’s often out running, slowly. Website: kathleenmcgurl.com Twitter: @KathMcGurl

#BlogTour: The Brave Daughter by Mary Wood @Authormary @EllisKeene @panmacmillan #TheBraveDaughter #MaryWood #ww2 #saga #5Stars

Book Synopsis:

A moving and emotional family drama set between France and Britain from bestselling author, Mary Wood.

They would fight for their country, at all costs . . .

When Sibbie and Marjie arrive at RAF Digby, they are about to take on roles of national importance. It’s a cause of great excitement for everyone around them. Perhaps they will become code-breakers, spies even? Soon the pair embark on a rigorous training regime, but nothing can prepare them for what they’re about to face . . .

Amid the vineyards of rural France, Flora and Ella can’t bear the thought of another war. But as the thunderclouds grow darker, hanging over Europe, a sense of deep foreboding sets in, not just for their safety but for the fate of their families . . . With danger looming, as the threat of war becomes real, Flora and Ella are forced to leave their idyllic home and flee. Can they make it to safety, or will the war have further horrors in store for them?

The Brave Daughters is the fourth book in the Girls Who Went to War series by Mary Wood.

The Brave Daughter is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

As I might have mentioned once or twice I’m a huge fan of this author and I have thoroughly enjoyed this series. This was a fantastic way to end this series even though I’m sad that’s it’s ending.

It was great to catch up with Flora, Ella, Mags and their children as they take on new challenges in the second world war. I can only imagine what it must have felt like to be dropped behind enemy lines but thanks to the author’s vivid descriptions I felt I was able to live some of the experience through the characters.

As a parent myself I can well imagine how hard it is letting your children go off to help in a war when you have experience of it. As we have come to expect from this author she doesn’t hold back in describing the gritty, harrowing reality of war which does make for difficult reading at times. It’s hard to imagine that ordinary people put themselves through so much and it helps the reader to understand what a brave thing they did for their country.

Overall I thought this was a fast paced absorbing read that I flew through in a few days. This is the final book in the series but the author does include updates from previous books so you could maybe read it as a standalone – though it’s best to read from the beginning in my opinion. I’m very sad to have finished the series and left behind all the fabulous characters. I can’t wait to see what Mary comes up with next.

Huge thanks to Ellis from Pan Macmillan for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Born in Maidstone, Kent, in 1945, the thirteenth child of fifteen children, Mary’s family settled in Leicestershire after the war ended. Mary married young and now, after 54 years of happy marriage, four children, 12 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren, Mary and her husband live in Blackpool, United Kingdom during the summer and Spain during the winter – a place that Mary calls, ‘her writing retreat’. After many jobs from cleaning to catering, all chosen to fit in with bringing up her family, and boost the family money-pot, Mary ended her 9 – 5 working days as a Probation Service Officer, a job that showed her another side to life, and which influences her writing, bringing a realism and grittiness to her novels Mary first put pen to paper, in 1989, but it wasn’t until 2010 that she finally found some success by self-publishing on kindle. Being spotted by an editor at Pan Macmillan in 2013, finally saw Mary reach her publishing dream. When not writing, Mary enjoys family time, reading, eating out, and gardening. One of her favourite pastimes is interacting with her readers on her Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/HistoricalNovels And on her web page: http://www.authormarywood.com She is also on Twitter: @Authormary Mary welcomes all contact with her readers and feedback on her work.

#BlogTour: The Hopes And Dreams Of Libby Quinn by Freya Kennedy @AuthorFreya @ClaireAllan @BoldwoodBooks @rararesources

Book Synopsis:

A gorgeous new romantic comedy about taking chances and realising your dreams.

Libby Quinn is sick and tired of being sensible.

After years of slogging her guts out for nothing at a PR company, she finds herself redundant and about to plough every last penny of her savings into refurbishing a ramshackle shop and making her dream of owning her own bookshop become a reality.

She hopes opening ‘Once Upon A Book’ on Ivy Lane will be the perfect tribute to her beloved grandfather who instilled a love of reading and books in her from an early age.

When her love life and friendships become even more complicated – will Libby have the courage to follow her dreams? Or has she bitten off more than she can chew?

The Hopes And Dreams Of Libby Quinn is available in ebook and paperback. You can purchase your copy of both using the link below.

My Review:

This was a wonderful, absorbing story about love, friendship and chasing your dreams which was hugely enjoyable. It was just the book I needed to distract me from normal life.

One of my biggest day dreams is opening a book shop of my own so I must admit to being a little bit jealous of her. It was great fun however to live precariously through her and be able to experience exactly what running a book shop would be like. It’s perhaps a little more difficult then I anticipated and I started to feel a little protective of Libby when things started to go wrong as I had grown quite fond of her. I found I had to keep reading to find out how things would work out for her.

Overall I thought this was a really compelling, well written book which drew me in from the start. The characters were really realistic and I felt a great connection to them which made me feel quite involved in the story. I’m a big fan of this author’s psychological thrillers and I’m now a huge fan of these books too. I can’t wait to read more!

Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Boldwood Books for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

About The Author:

Freya Kennedy is the pen name of Derry based author Claire Allan – who is perhaps best known for her psychological thrillers!
However, before turning a life of crime, Claire wrote women’s fiction for Irish publisher Poolbeg Press, her reinvention as Freya Kennedy will see her bring some love, laughter and heart-warming happiness to readers.
A true Derry girl, Freya Kennedy has lived all her life in the north of Ireland. She worked for 18 years as a journalist and has been writing full time since 2016.
She is a huge fan of all kinds of books, from Marian Keyes (she cried the first time she met Marian), to Rowan Coleman, to Jane Fallon, to Jojo Moyes.
She also enjoys a good murder!
She continues to live in Derry with her husband, her two children, two cats and the best dog in the world.

#BlogTour: Beyond The Yew Tree by Rachel Walkley @RachelJWalkley @rararesources #BeyondTheYewTree #RachelWalkley

Book Synopsis:

Whispers in the courtroom.
Only one juror hears them.
Can Laura expose the truth before the trial ends?

In an old courtroom, a hissing voice distracts reluctant juror, Laura, and at night recurring nightmares transport her to a Victorian gaol and the company of a wretched woman. Although burdened by her own secret guilt, and struggling to form meaningful relationships, Laura isn’t one to give up easily when faced with an extraordinary situation.

The child-like whispers lead Laura to an old prison graveyard, where she teams up with enthusiastic museum curator, Sean. He believes a missing manuscript is the key to understanding her haunting dreams. But nobody knows if it actually exists.

Laura is confronted with the fate of two people – the man in the dock accused of defrauding a charity for the blind, and the restless spirit of a woman hanged over a century ago for murder. If Sean is the companion she needs in her life, will he believe her when she realises that the two mysteries are converging around a long-forgotten child who only Laura can hear?

Ordinary women.
Extraordinary experiences.

Beyond The Yew Tree is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

I so enjoyed this book which is part historical, part ghost story with a little bit of crime thrown in. I’m a big fan of dual timeline stories so this book really appealed to me.

This story goes between a modern day juror called Laura and her investigation into the weird dreams she’s been having since joining Jury service and a woman from the Victorian era who is in jail for murder which was an interesting mix. Unusually for me I enjoyed following both timelines equally so I felt I could relax and just enjoy the story. It was really interesting to follow Laura on her investigation especially as she visits some real historical buildings which were fun to look up on the internet. The descriptions of the Victorian jail were really vivid and allowed me to understand what it would have been like being incarcerated there. It was definitely a bleak, hopelessly place and I was very glad that it wasn’t me!

The pace of the story does start off quite slowly as the author sets the scene but it soon picks up and I found myself totally absorbed. The different timelines weave together nicely and it was very satisfying to see how everything is connected at the end. This was the first book I’ve read by this author and I’ll definitely be interested in reading more from her in the future.

Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Born in the Midlands, I grew up in East Anglia and am now firmly lodged in the North West of England. My first writing achievement was my Brownie badge and after that I’ve never let go of the dream of becoming of an author. Once a librarian and caretaker of books, I’m now a teller of tales and want to share with you the secrets that hide in the pages of my books. Please stop by my website – rachelwalkley.com and find out more about my books in the making.

#BlogTour: The Soul Killer by Ross Greenwood @greenwoodross @BoldwoodBooks @rararesources #TheSoulKiller #RossGreenwood

Book Synopsis:

How do you stop a killer that believes life is a rehearsal for eternity, and their future is worth more than yours…?

When a suicide devastates a happy family, they can’t accept their loved one would take his own life, so they ask the brilliant DI Barton to investigate. But with no obvious suspicious circumstances, the case is soon closed.

Shortly afterwards however, the family is rocked by another blow – this time a shocking accident. And when the remains of a man are found, and the victim has an odd connection to the same family, everything points to one suspect.

The Soul Killer is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

I absolutely loved this author’s first book so I was very excited to learn that he had a new book out especially as it featured the fabulous DI Barton again.

This was another dark and chilling crime novel which is told in two perspectives, one following Barton in his investigation and the other following the killer as he goes about his business. This was really affective as it helped the reader get inside the killers head so they better understand their motivations. Through him we start to learn a bit more about his past and how it has caused his twisted actions in the presence. It’s very unsettling to realise how in charge of the situation he is and to see how he is always one step ahead of everyone.

Once again Barton comes across as a very competent, likeable character who seems very normal as he doesn’t have any of the stereotypical quirks normally given to such characters. The banter or interactions between him and his team were great to read about, especially as they brought some light moments to an otherwise dark book. They are obviously a close knit team who genuinely like each other which makes it easy to care about them.

Overall I thought this was a fast paced, addictive thriller which was very hard to put down. There were so many twists and turn that it completely threw me off and I was unable to guess the ending which is always great. I can’t wait to read more in this series!

Hige thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Boldwood Books for my copy of this book via Netgalley. If you are looking for a thrilling, addictive crime series I really recommend this one.

About The Author:

I was born in 1973 in Peterborough and lived there until I was 20, attending The King’s School in the city. I then began a rather nomadic existence, living and working all over the country and various parts of the world. I found myself returning to Peterborough many times over the years, usually when things had gone wrong. It was on one of these occasions that I met my partner about 100 metres from my back door whilst walking a dog. Two children swiftly followed. I’m still a little stunned by the pace of it now. Fifty Years of Fear book was started a long time ago but parenthood and then after working in sales management all my life, i randomly spent four years as a prison officer. Ironically it was the four a.m. feed which gave me the opportunity to finish the book as unable to get back to sleep I completed it in the early morning hours. I’ve now written five further books. My second book, The Boy Inside, was picked up by a publisher, and Lazy Blood is also out. All my books are thought provoking, and told with a sense of humour. Reading the reviews has been great. The first three books are stand alone, however, some of the characters cross over, and you can see how at times, their lives overlap. Abel’s Revenge is something a bit different. It’s a modern day love story set against the backdrop of an escalating serial killer. There’s a whodunnit element to it, and some smiles along the way. Shadows of Regret was inspired by my time on the women’s side of the jail in Peterborough, and analyses the close relationship between victim and villain. You won’t have read a book like it. I hope you enjoy reading them. Please feel free to get in touch. https://www.facebook.com/RossGreenwoodAuthor/