Kate processes the mail day in, day out at StandingtonPrison. With her home life turning stale, she spends her days obsessing over the correspondence between an inmate and his girlfriend. Who is sexy Anna West and what does she see in a cold-blooded killer?
Kate also suspects her husband of having an affair. Harper, her stepdaughter, is full of teenage angst and resentment towards her. Her other stepdaughter, seven-year-old Felicity, has selective mutism, brought on by the trauma following her mother’s death.
One risky move follows another as Kate delves deeper and deeper into Anna West’s life. She’s not prepared for the danger she stumbles into – danger that will threaten her whole family as they are swept into a web of secrets and lies.
Just how far will Kate go to save her family?
The Silent Midwinter is an edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller with a shocking twist that will floor you.
As you have probably noticed I am not taking part in as many blog tours this year. This doesn’t mean I’m not reading though but it has to be a VERY special book to tempt me into the blogosphere nowadays. I actually met the author of this book in Harrogate last year at the Theakstons Crime Festival and she told me a little bit about her upcoming novel. Someone who had already read an early copy told me it would be right up my street as it had (in their opinion) an unguessable twist! Well, that sold me straight away so when the lovely Zoe from Zooloosbooktours asked me whether I wanted to take part in the blog tour for The Silent Midwinter, my reply was a great, big YES PLEASE! So thank you Zoe and Brooke for inviting me onto the blog tour and my copy of The Silent Midwinter.
The Silent Midwinter has such a unique premise that it grabbed my attention immediately and you’ll see why when you read the jaw dropping first page! Kate has the job of checking and censoring the Mail coming into prison-not the sort of job that would appeal to me but Kate enjoys it and it keeps her mind off the problems at home. Her husband seems distracted, her teenage stepdaughter is doing a fine job of being a teenager and the youngest member of the family doesn’t speak to anyone. So I could totally understand why Kate becomes slightly obsessed by one of the prisoners and his gorgeous girlfriend especially after reading their very explicit correspondence! But she doesn’t leave her interest at the door when she leaves work and THAT’S when the trouble starts…
I can’t begin to tell you how much I adored this book! IT’S BOOKS LIKE THIS THAT MAKE ME LOVE READING SO MUCH! It was shocking, addictive and completely unexpected! I love to read psychological thrillers that surprise and delight me with their cleverly crafted characters and storylines and The Silent Midwinter is up there with the best in the genre. Dark and disturbing, I wanted to read it with my eyes closed at times as the full extent of the horrific events unfolded. This is definitely a book for you if you love the darker side of the psychological thriller genre and it has been of the best books of 2023 so far for me-yes, it’s that good! Just brilliant from start to finish!
Jamie-Lee Brooke is the pen name of Brooke Venables who lives with her twin sons in the Worcestershire area. She is an author of both horror and thrillers and works as a dental nurse which gives her plenty of scope to imagine putting people in uncomfortable situations. She loves her job and takes great satisfaction in helping people to smile.
Jamie-Lee’s biggest achievement to date is graduating after studying with the Open University for six years, achieving a BA Honours in Humanities with classical studies and creative writing. It was no mean feat whilst working and being a mum to twins who both have autism and learning difficulties.
mychestnutreadingtree 
WOW! What a review to close the tour- thank you so much for supporting the tour and for sharing epic review x
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