I am a Norfolk girl living in leafy Cheshire with my grumpy Scotsman. A mum and nana who lives for my family but who is also addicted to reading (and Marmite!) I will read almost anything but my preferred genres to review are psychological thrillers, crime procedural novels or women's fiction. My kindle is my life but I also have a substantial bookshelf in my cosy reading room where I can go to escape the stresses of family life with plenty of tea and chocolate.
I am a member of netgalley and bookbridg. I review on Amazon, where I'm a Top 500 reviewer, and Goodreads. You can always find me over on Twitter @jocatrobertson for any review requests.
She thought she trusted her husband with her life; but a lot can happen in a week…
Handsome doctor Matthew Delaney and his wife Nicole have a perfect life. So when Matthew suddenly vanishes, Nicole is in shock.
As Nicole searches for answers, she uncovers a trail of deceit leading straight to the mysterious Glasshouse – a staggering palatial home constructed out of cut glass and icy granite, clinging to the hillside in a gravity defying show of power and wealth.
But the more Nicole learns about the Glasshouse and all its secrets, the more she begins to doubt her husband. Matthew’s words before he disappeared were so reassuring, but now they are simply chilling…
‘Trust me, Nic, I’ll fix this.’
I’m an Amanda Reynolds super fan and will always pick up her latest book without even reading the blurb. Her style of writing and storytelling is very much my cup of tea as she really captures the drama of relationships and the secrets kept hidden behind the closed doors of “respectable” marriages! And be honest, we all get a frisson of smugness when we find out that all is not perfect behind the flawless and impeccably polished lives of those couples!
Nicola and Matt are one of “those” couples”. He is a dashing doctor and Nic keeps their beautiful home flawlessly styled and their intelligent teenage daughter happy and safe. But problems start rearing their ugly heads when Matt suggests selling the family house amid financial difficulties related to his reputation as a GP. And then Matt goes missing…
It was weird how my emotions were all over the place whilst reading this! Full of unlikeable and untrustworthy characters, I didn’t know who to believe and my thoughts on who to blame for the situation constantly fluctuated between every single one of them! Just how I like it!! There were so many twists and turns and plenty of shocking moments towards the end that kept me reading “just one more chapter” until the powerful moment everything came together.
I went into this book blind but I wasn’t disappointed as it was the great read I have come to expect from Amanda Reynolds. If you read and enjoyed Close to Me (which has a space on my bookshelf that’s reserved for my most favourite books EVER!) then you will love Her Husband’s Lie.
Many thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources and the publisher Boldwood for my review copy of Her Husband’s Lie and my invite onto the blog tour. Check out what other bloggers think by following them on the schedule below.
Amanda Reynolds is a best selling author of psychological thrillers. Her debut novel, Close To Me, published in 2017 by Headline, was adapted by NENT Studios UK as a major six-part TV series starring Connie Nielsen and Christopher Eccleston. The series aired in 2021, on Channel 4 in the UK and on Sundance AMC in the US, as well as many other countries worldwide.
She is the author of five further psychological suspense novels, Lying To You and The Hidden Wife with Headline, and The Assistant and The Wife’s Secret (formerly The Screenwriter) with Boldwood Books. Her sixth book, Her Husband’s Lie is publishing in May 2024.
Amanda Reynolds lives in the Cotswolds with her husband and their dog. She is an author coach with The Novelry, specialising in Crime and Suspense.
Marlow has always lived in unusual places. But when she accepts a position as a live-in property guardian, she finds herself moving somewhere she swore she’d never return to.
Right from the start, she knows it’s a terrible mistake. The elegant Victorian school is due to be turned into luxury apartments, but its eerie, empty corridors are full of Marlow’s worst memories.
And now something sinister is happening on the site. One of the other tenants has disappeared without warning, and Marlow suspects that the nine other guardians know far more than they’re letting on. She’s determined to find out what happened to the missing woman – but which of these strangers can she trust?
And can she uncover the truth before her own past catches up with her?
I’m thrilled to be sharing my review today as part of the Random Things blog tour for The Other Tenant by Lesley Kara. Many thanks to Anne Cater for the blog tour invite and review copy of the book.
I’ve been a big fan of this author since her first book and always find her books to be gripping and thoroughly enjoyable! The Other Tenant is another great read, full of twists and turns with a cast of unlikeable and untrustworthy characters.
Marlow is a house sitter or as they are called here-a property guardian . There has been a lot in the press lately about these jobs where people stay in unoccupied houses and buildings to watch them whilst they are awaiting their fate. Marlow moves from her solitary life in an old church to more of a group guardianship even though it is in her old high school-a place that played a big part in her former life. But it soon becomes apparent that the guardian she is replacing left very quickly and possibly not of her own free will! So Marlow decides to investigate further…
There was a different vibe here to Lesley Kara’s other books but that made it no less gripping as I thought the plot such an interesting one and such a uniquely compelling story that it was difficult to put down. Marlow has to face up to her own past as she investigates what happened to the previous guardian and I loved how there was another viewpoint running alongside hers with a very creepy feel! I had no idea who the other pov was or why they were watching Marlow and the way these stories unfolded and came together was very clever indeed. There were some unexpected surprises and I found myself constantly second guessing myself as I found out what happened and, more importantly, why.
The Other Tenant is beautifully written as always and I thoroughly recommend it.
Lesley Kara is a Sunday Times Top Ten and Amazon #1 bestselling author of psychological thrillers. Her debut, ‘The Rumour’ was the highest selling UK crime fiction debut of 2019, sold in 18 countries and is optioned for TV. Subsequent novels are: ‘Who Did You Tell?’, ‘The Dare’ and ‘The Apartment Upstairs’.
Lesley worked for many years as a lecturer and manager in a large college of further education in London. She now lives in Kent and writes full-time. Her next novel, ‘The Other Tenant’ is out in April 2024
To the outside world, Emily looks like a typical girl, with a normal family, living an ordinary life. But inside, Emily does not feel typical, and the older she gets, the more she realises that she is different. As she finally discovers when she is 16, Emily is autistic. Girl Unmasked is the extraordinary story of how she got there – and how she very nearly didn’t.
Still only 21, Emily writes with startling candour about the years leading up to her diagnosis. How books and imagination became her refuge as she sought to escape the increasing anxiety and unbearable stresses of school life; how her OCD almost destroyed her; how a system which did not understand autism let her down; and how she came so close to the edge that she and her family thought she would never survive.
In this simple but powerful memoir, we see how family and friends became her lifeline and how, post-diagnosis, Emily came to understand her authentic self and begin to turn her life around, eventually becoming a mental health nurse with a desire to help others where she herself had once been failed.
Ultimately uplifting, Girl Unmasked is a remarkable insight into what it can be like to be autistic – and shows us that through understanding and embracing difference we can all find ways to thrive.
As soon as I heard about this book I knew it was one I had to read. Obviously as a SEN Teaching Assistant I am always looking for new ways to understand the children I work with and what could help more than reading a first hand account of how autism has affected the life of somebody who is autistic themselves? But I also have personal reasons too -one of my granddaughters also has a diagnosis of ASC, ADHD plus associated SEMH issues and I wanted an insight into her world as that world is a very different one to the one we live in and one that she often struggles to open up about.
Emily Katy writes with a beautifully engaging style and I found myself warming to her immediately, liking her honesty and her ability to articulate her thoughts throughout her difficult journey to her diagnosis and then beyond. It’s often a difficult read but I don’t believe in trigger warnings as that could put off some people from reading what is an essential read for those living with autism or with someone who is autistic. As a neurotypical reader I could also read outside the box especially as Emily went through her teenage years and I just wanted to protect her from the big bad world that just doesn’t get it when it comes to autism awareness and support. In fact it’s the perfect time to read this book with it being Autism Awareness Month and I really do urge anyone with an autistic family member to read this book to get that other perspective and understanding. This is such an honest and open account of one person’s experiences and it’s incredibly hard hitting delivering a mighty punch of emotions.
As a lover of lists myself I think it was this tool that I found the most useful whilst reading Girl Unmasked. The lists bring everything together in a positive and informative way and I got so much from them as I’m sure others will too. The book is one girls story but by telling that story she is helping other autistic girls and those who love and support them.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has been touched by autism (especially teenager girls) and I know my granddaughter wants to read it now that I’ve finished it. It’s also ideal for those professionals working with teenage girls. You get to know an amazing young woman and one her family should be incredibly proud of. This is an amazing story and one everyone should be aware of. Buy it now!
To the outside world, Emily looks like a typical girl, with a normal family, living an ordinary life. But inside, Emily does not feel typical, and the older she gets, the more she realises that she is different. As she finally discovers when she is 16, Emily is autistic. Girl Unmasked is the extraordinary story of how she got there – and how she very nearly didn’t.
Still only 21, Emily writes with startling candour about the years leading up to her diagnosis. How books and imagination became her refuge as she sought to escape the increasing anxiety and unbearable stresses of school life; how her OCD almost destroyed her; how a system which did not understand autism let her down; and how she came so close to the edge that she and her family thought she would never survive.
In this simple but powerful memoir, we see how family and friends became her lifeline and how, post-diagnosis, Emily came to understand her authentic self and begin to turn her life around, eventually becoming a mental health nurse with a desire to help others where she herself had once been failed.
Ultimately uplifting, Girl Unmasked is a remarkable insight into what it can be like to be autistic – and shows us that through understanding and embracing difference we can all find ways to thrive.
As soon as I heard about this book I knew it was one I had to read. Obviously as a SEN Teaching Assistant I am always looking for new ways to understand the children I work with and what could help more than reading a first hand account of how autism has affected the life of somebody who is autistic themselves? But I also have personal reasons too -one of my granddaughters also has a diagnosis of ASC, ADHD plus associated SEMH issues and I wanted an insight into her world as that world is a very different one to the one we live in and one that she often struggles to open up about.
Emily Katy writes with a beautifully engaging style and I found myself warming to her immediately, liking her honesty and her ability to articulate her thoughts throughout her difficult journey to her diagnosis and then beyond. It’s often a difficult read but I don’t believe in trigger warnings as that could put off some people from reading what is an essential read for those living with autism or with someone who is autistic. As a neurotypical reader I could also read outside the box especially as Emily went through her teenage years and I just wanted to protect her from the big bad world that just doesn’t get it when it comes to autism awareness and support. In fact it’s the perfect time to read this book with it being Autism Awareness Month and I really do urge anyone with an autistic family member to read this book to get that other perspective and understanding. This is such an honest and open account of one person’s experiences and it’s incredibly hard hitting delivering a mighty punch of emotions.
As a lover of lists myself I think it was this tool that I found the most useful whilst reading Girl Unmasked. The lists bring everything together in a positive and informative way and I got so much from them as I’m sure others will too. The book is one girls story but by telling that story she is helping other autistic girls and those who love and support them.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has been touched by autism (especially teenager girls) and I know my granddaughter wants to read it now that I’ve finished it. It’s also ideal for those professionals working with teenage girls. You get to know an amazing young woman and one her family should be incredibly proud of. This is an amazing story and one everyone should be aware of. Buy it now!
Twenty years ago, Mari vanished while backpacking through Thailand with her boyfriend, Luke. He was accused of murder, but has always insisted he’s innocent. Besides, her body was never found.
Now, he’s finally ready to talk. And filmmaker Cassidy Chambers wants to be the one to uncover what really happened, back then, in the dark of the jungle.
But as she delves deeper into the past, Cassidy begins to fear what lies ahead, and the secrets buried along the way.
So I had a lot to do this weekend (and I mean A LOT!) but I made the mistake of just taking a look at Her Last Summer to set it up ready to read at some point in the coming weeks. OMG the rest of the day just passed me by as I physically couldn’t get off the sofa to do anything else other than read this book! It’s been a long time since a storyline grabbed me as instantly as this one did and I finished it yesterday evening. So did that initial spark I felt on those first few pages develop into the flames I wanted? YES IT DID!! What a read and what an amazing and utterly shocking twist (one of quite a few I have to add) it had part way through-one of those twists where you doubt what you’ve just read and have to reread to make sure it’s not just been some sort of misprint!
The writing here is beautifully authentic with attention to detail in both character and setting-I was there with Cass and Luke every step of their journey as though I was travelling alongside them as they search for the truth about the disappearance of Mari 20 years ago. The scenes in the UK were intrinsically connected to those in the jungle in such a seamless way that you could easily have believed this was a real case they were following and I was beside them every step of the way. This is already a contender for my book of the year-absolutely brilliantly breathtaking from start to incredible finish.
In my other life, I make TV. I’ve worked on award winning television programmes including Educating Yorkshire, First Dates, and SAS: Who Dares Wins – as well as developing original programming for all the main broadcasters. This lifelong fixation with story and character is the thread that runs through my work, and ultimately led to the pursuit of a writing career.
Quercus Books published my debut ‘My Best Friend’s Secret’ in 2021, ‘What She Left Behind’ follows in 2022.
I live in London, with my husband and two small children.
If you are still reading at this point, may I suggest following me on // Instagram @emilyfreud_ // Twitter @MsEmilyFreud – or joining my mailing list at http://www.emilyfreud.com. I love to hear from fellow writers and readers alike.
Look around you, because the person sitting right next to you could be a cold, heartless murderer. . .
In Talking With Psychopaths, bestselling author and criminologist Christopher Berry-Dee takes readers deep inside the dark minds of some of the most pitiless and dangerous people alive.
Having spent years interviewing imprisoned criminals – including notorious serial killers – he discovered that the lack of remorse these people showed was in many ways even more terrifying than the crimes they had committed. Yet in the course of these conversations, the author also had the chance to interview his subjects’ psychiatrists and, in doing so, uncovered a terrible truth: a monster can be hidden behind a friendly face.
Some of these experts, he found, proved to have more in common with their patients than he would ever have expected. This book examines horrific crimes committed by some of the most remorseless and merciless people ever to have lived. If it reveals a mindset wholly alien to most people, it also, shockingly, demonstrates that some of the people who treat these psychopaths have their own demons.
This chilling study of darkest of criminal minds will inevitably shift the reader’s view of psychopaths, and in doing so, reveals that horror can be much closer to us than we think…
Considering I’m a very quiet and introverted person who hates anything scary like horror films, I have a really keen interest in any form of true crime! I watch so many documentaries and read so many books on quite graphic and disturbing cases that many people are surprised when I tell them about my favourite hobby! But I’ve never read any books by this author before so I was intrigued to see what his obvious experience in talking to some very high profile criminals would bring to the table! And for me it definitely delivered!
The book had a very different feel to it from the start with lots of interesting details and insights from other professionals about what actually makes a psychopath or a “savage”. It then goes on to detail “case studies” revealing the extent their crimes are related to this psychological disorder. Some of the case studies used were from cases I knew of previously and I felt the author gave lots of personal information that I’d never come across before due to his own communication or connection to the crime. But some were crimes I had never heard about before and it was these ones where I felt there wasn’t quite enough detail for me personally to understand the context or the perpetrator as much as I would have liked. To be fair to the author though, he does advise that many of these cases he has covered in previous books and I know that I could check those out if I have any unanswered or unfulfilled questions. I certainly want to look at the book he wrote on John Cannon as my interest was definitely piqued more by his case study (and I’m sure that’s how he worked when he was out in the wider world too!!)
I thoroughly enjoyed reading A Journey Into The Evil Mind. The author has a very dry sense of humour that balances well with some of the rather disturbing and shocking details contained within the pages here. He has obviously spent many years building up relationships between himself and the darker side of our society and that shows in his communications that are recorded here. I can certainly see why he is the UKs number one true crime writer.
A noted writer and criminologist, Christopher Berry-Dee’s recent books include Talking with Psychopaths and Savages: A journey into the evil mind, the UK’s bestselling true-crime title of 2017, and Talking with Psychopaths and Savages: Letters from Killers (2023). He is the country’s No. 1 true-crime author.
Well if you’re reading this then I just want to say thank you for still being here and for your support during the last year! If you’re a regular visitor then you will have noticed that 2023 hasn’t been my finest year and I’ve not shared or written reviews anywhere near as much as I usually do or would have liked to! My Goodreads challenge was also a huge fail this year for the first time ever and that’s even with me adjusting it mid way through the year when it became obvious that my reading mojo had left the building! There are a few reasons for this including some changes both in my work and home life that have left me so exhausted I’ve hardly had the energy to pick up a book let alone read one! And I can’t see it changing much for 2024 either especially as my dreams of an early retirement now seem just that!
But I have still read 170 books this year so I will take that but won’t put myself under so much pressure next year and will be lowering my Goodreads Challenge to a more SMART target!!
But enough of me!! You are here for the books and I know that my recommendations really help those who have similar tastes to me so here are my favourites of 2023!
In The Blink of An Eye by Jo Callaghan
In the UK, someone is reported missing every 90 seconds. Just gone. Vanished. In the blink of an eye.
DCS Kat Frank knows all about loss. A widowed single mother, Kat is a cop who trusts her instincts. Picked to lead a pilot programme that has her paired with AIDE (Artificially Intelligent Detective Entity) Lock, Kat’s instincts come up against Lock’s logic. But when the two missing person’s cold cases they are reviewing suddenly become active, Lock is the only one who can help Kat when the case gets personal.
AI versus human experience. Logic versus instinct. With lives on the line can the pair work together before someone else becomes another statistic?
In the Blink of an Eye is a dazzling debut from an exciting new voice and asks us what we think it means to be human…
Insomnia by Sarah Pinborough
From the outside, Emma has the dream life – a loving husband, a beautiful house, two gorgeous children.
But something is keeping Emma awake.
Scratching at her sanity at 1am.
She’s tried so hard to bury the past, to protect her family. But witching hour loves a secret – and Emma’s is the stuff of nightmares . . .
The Forgetting by Hannah Beckerman
When Anna Bradshaw wakes up in a hospital bed in London, she remembers nothing, not even her loving husband, Stephen. The doctors say her amnesia is to be expected, but Anna feels cut adrift from her entire life.
In Bristol, Livvy Nicholson is newly married to Dominic and eager to get back to work after six months’ maternity leave. But when Dominic’s estranged mother appears, making a series of unnerving claims, Livvy is sucked into a version of herself she doesn’t recognise.
A hundred miles apart, both women feel trapped and disorientated, and their stories are about to collide. Can they uncover the secret that connects them and reconstruct their fractured lives?
Issac and The Egg by Bobby Palmer
Heartbreaking and heart-stealing, this modern-day fable is an unforgettable novel about sorrow, joy, friendship and love.
It is early. A young man stands on a bridge and lets out a heart-wrenching scream. From deep in the woods, something screams back.
It sounds improbable. But this is how Isaac meets the egg.
The two are unlikely companions. But their chance encounter will transform Isaac’s life in ways he cannot yet imagine.
Maybe he will finally understand why he went there that morning. Maybe he will find a way to tell the truth.
Sometimes, to get out of the woods, you have to go into them.
The Woman Who Lied by Claire Douglas
Emilia Ward lives quietly in suburban London with her husband and two children.
Just an ordinary wife and mother. But also a bestselling crime writer.
When she starts writing her tenth Detective Miranda Moody novel, however, life takes a frightening turn: an incident straight out of one of her novels occurs in real life.
Just an unsettling coincidence, she thinks. Until it happens again.
Then someone she knows dies exactly like a victim in the book she’s still writing . . .
Why is someone doing this?
How do they know what she is writing?
And how long before Emilia and her family are next?
The Other Couple by Diane Jeffrey
Two couples. A fatal accident. And a decision that changes everything…
Kirsten and Nick are enjoying a weekend away until, on their drive home, they accidentally run over and kill a man. They should call for help – but they have too much to lose, and no one can know the real reason they’re here. Instead, they make a split-second decision to conceal the accident.
Amy and Greg have just celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary. Amy is expecting a baby, and they couldn’t be happier. So when Greg fails to come home from a dog walk one weekend, Amy knows the police are wrong to believe he left of his own accord. Someone must be behind Greg’s disappearance, and Amy won’t give up until she gets justice – or revenge.
If you had nothing left to lose, how far would you go to find the truth?
The Red House by Roz Watkins
IT WAS THE CRIME THAT SHOCKED A NATION.
The Flowers were the perfect family. Until the day fifteen-year-old Joseph shot dead his parents and baby brother whilst his younger sister Eve hid. The family home became known as ‘The Red House’, the place where the walls were covered in blood.
THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD THE KILLER.
No one knows why Joseph murdered his family: the following day he crashed his car and has been in a coma for two decades. Eve’s always known he did it; she saw the crime, after all.
WHAT IF THEY WERE WRONG?
Now an adult, Eve is forced to re-examine her memories when disturbing new evidence about the case comes to light. Rumour has it that Joseph created a hidden level in his game that night, which might hold the key.
But if Joseph didn’t do it, then the killer’s still out there – and they’re coming back for the girl who escaped. . .
All Of Us Are Broken by Fiona Cummins
The Family After a year they want to forget, the Hardwicke family set out to the Scottish Highlands for a much needed holiday.
The Crimes They are about to cross paths with a violent and dangerous young couple hell-bent on infamy, their love story etched in blood and a dark past which must be uncovered.
The Detective As the clock ticks down, Detective Saul Anguish is on the hunt to find the couple before more lives are lost.
The Mother – who will be forced to make an impossible decision.
The Silent Midwinter by Jamie-Lee Brooke
Kate processes the mail day in, day out at Standington Prison. 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.
And there you go! Nine 5 ⭐️ reads that I absolutely loved and that took me out of my reading slump in 2023! Have you read any of these? And did any make YOUR best books of 2023 lists? I’ve already got plenty of preorders to look forward to in 2024 plus my TBR shelf is nearly collapsing under the weight of unread books so here’s to another year of reading and reviewing!
Her son Ruben is staying with his dad this year and Chloe is planning to ignore the holidays all together. Her only nod to the season is the advent calendar Ruben left her, to help count down the days till he’s home again.
But then, a voicemail from Berry and Brandy, Heir Hunters, changes everything…
In Québec, Canada, there’s a plot of land Chloë may be entitled to. Surely, it’s a scam. Or could it be just the escape she needs right now? They’re offering to pay for her flights . . . and Ruben’s latest note in the advent calendar tells her to ‘say yes!’
So with 22 days until Christmas, Chloë finds herself on a plane to Canada
And suddenly, her new countdown to Christmas involves a log cabin in the middle of a snowy forest, a community that’s worried for its future, a gruff lumberjack who gives her butterflies and a lot of pancakes with maple syrup . . .
This Christmas is full of surprises!
Jo Thomas is one of my go to feel good authors-I truly believe that her books should be available on prescription from your GP because her books always seem to make the world a better place for me. This last month has been really tough with a lot of stress and anxiety especially in work as we had the “visit” that all schools dread so my reading mojo disappeared and the one thing I have to do everyday to keep my mental health on track was put on the back burner. But as soon as I took Countdown to Christmas off the bookshelf, I could feel that tension start to evaporate and the more I read the more relaxed I felt. It was just like slipping into a warm bubble bath with an ice cold glass of Chablis and I didn’t want it to end!
If you’re looking for a Christmas book with romance, good food and a sense of belonging then Countdown to Christmas needs to be on your radar. Chloe and her son Reuben are beautifully drawn, realistic characters and their journey is an engaging experience. I’ve never been to Canada but have always wanted to go and Jo Thomas has made that dream a reality for me as I really felt I was there in the freezing cold wilderness with Chloe as she travels out of her comfort zone to discover the missing parts of her family tree. For me, the romantic connection between the characters is always secondary to how the women in Jo’s books find themselves and the places that they truly belong.
Countdown to Christmas is a stunning book and definitely one of my favourites. The combination of relationships and food is always a sure fire winner for me and I came away craving pancakes and bread and butter pudding plus a determination that one day I will set off on my dream holiday to Canada. But until that day comes, thank you Jo Thomas for transporting me to a place where friendship and family collide to create the perfect festive experience. A highly recommended Christmas treat-just add a warm cosy fire and maple syrup pancakes!
Jo Thomas worked for many years as a reporter and producer, including time at Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and Radio 2’s The Steve Wright Show.
Jo’s debut novel, The Oyster Catcher, was a runaway bestseller and won both the RNA Joan HessayonAward and the Festival of Romance Best eBook Award. Her recent book Escape to the French Farmhouse was a #1 bestselling eBook and in every one of her novels Jo loves to explore new countries and discover the food produced there, both of which she thoroughly enjoys researching.
Jo lives in Pembrokeshire with her husband and three children, where cooking and gathering around the kitchen table are a hugely important and fun part of their family life.
When Lyra Thomas finds a bottle on a Galway beach containing a poem from America, she’s elated. As an author living by the sea, she always dreamt of finding a message from a distant prince or a swashbuckling saviour.
But this is NO fairy tale.
Lyra learns in a phone call that the sender, Dee Warren, a wife and mother, died by suicide one week after the bottle set sail. After losing her own mother to suicide, Lyra quickly bonds with Dee’s teenage daughter, Chloe, and is invited to America to meet her.
At the Warren’s beachfront mansion, it soon becomes apparent that beneath the glossy surface of success and local standing, there’s more to this welcoming family, than meets the eye…
I’ve been a fan of Gemma Metcalfe for a while now as I do love her dark and twisty storylines that feature very disturbed characters! And I’ve also been enjoying the partnership she’s formed with Joe Cawley so when I heard Gemma and Joe had a new book out and were defying anyone to guess their “WTAF?” twist in Eyes of Glass then I was definitely up for the challenge!
I absolutely loved the premise of this book and it had an incredibly powerful and strong start as we meet Dee who is about to throw her message in a bottle over a cliff. This bottle will eventually be found by Lyra hundreds of miles away on the Galway coast. When Lyra calls the number contained with the message, she connects with Dee’s daughter Chloe and finds out that Dee is dead. Lyra thinks the message must be a suicide note and, after building up a friendship with Chloe, is then persuaded to fly to the US and meet the family Dee left behind. But it quickly became obvious that this family have a lot to hide…
This is a book stuffed full of unreliable narratives as we watch Lyra start to untangle the truth about what has happened or does she?! And I’m not saying anymore for fear of spoiling the plot! But I will say that the epilogue certainly did deliver that “WTF have I just read?” shock that I have come to expect!
A deliciously dark psychological thriller.
Eyes of Glass is published by Spellbound and is out now.
Gemma Metcalfe resides in Bolton, England, with her young son, Jude. With over 50,000 books sold worldwide, she has a knack for weaving intricate plots filled with twists and turns that leave readers spellbound. Her novels are known for featuring unreliable narrators, providing a glimpse into the fascinating psyche of her characters. Gemma loves to connect with her readers and can be found on Instagram and Facebook.
Joe Cawley is an award-winning author and travel writer. He lives in the hills of Tenerife with his family and other wildlife.
His first book, More Ketchup than Salsa, was voted ‘Best Travel Narrative’ by the British Guild of Travel Writers. It has since gone on to sell over 100,000 copies.
Joe also writes thrillers with co-author Gemma Metcalfe. Their debut, Our Little Lies, was published in September 2021.
His travel writing has been published in many national and international publications including The Telegraph, New York Post, Conde Nast Traveller and Taipei Times.
When Tracy Fenton contacted bloggers about taking part in a cover reveal for the new Sharon Bolton book The Fake Wife, I was straight into Amazon to preorder it! And only after that did I say YES PLEASE to Tracy’s request! Yes, I am a HUGE Sharon Bolton fan so had to get my priorities straight!! Now let me tease you a little more about the book before sharing that cover…
Olive Anderson is dining alone at a hotel when a glamourous stranger joins her table, pretending to be her wife. What starts as a thrilling game quickly turns into something dangerous. But as much as the fake wife has her secrets, Olive just might have more . . .
The Fake Wife is an unputdownable thriller that will shock and surprise you like the best television boxsets. If you enjoyed Netflix shows like Behind Her Eyes, The Stranger and Obsession you will love The Fake Wife.
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