Today’s team review is from Liz. Liz blogs here https://lizannelloyd.wordpress.com/ Liz has been reading Burke And The Lines Of Torres Vedras by Tom Williams This was my second meeting with the charismatic James Burke although the seventh of Tom Williams’ … Continue reading
Today’s team review is from Olga.
Olga blogs here https://olganm.wordpress.com/
Olga has been reading Jigglyspot and the Zero Intellect by P D Alleva
I discovered PD Alleva thanks to his novel Golem, which showed a peculiar world vision and writing style, and much of what I wrote about that novel could apply to this one: his ability for combining elements of a variety of myths, literary genres, horror subgenres, occultism, demonology, without relying on standard religious tenets. In this case, we also have elements of science-fiction, and galactic horror, and some of the scenes and events brought to my mind some of the classic 1950s sci-fi/horror movies, where aliens managed to infiltrate the Earth and humanity. But this is not the whole of the story, and the narrative is much more complex and with many more layers than those we can find in some of those beloved (and often revisited) stories. And I shouldn’t forget a nod at Lovecraft or two.
The description of the plot, although not too detailed, provides a good glimpse of what you might find, and it is difficult to elaborate much more on the story without spoiling it, so I will not be too detailed in my comments. One thing I have to say, though; do heed the author’s warning about the content. This is not a book for the faint-hearted, and even those who love extreme and hardcore horror might find it heavy going.
The novel is divided into 7 parts, told from multiple points of view (although always in the third person), and there is an extremely varied and large cast of characters, human, “other” (some of those, like Kera —a favourite of mine— more than human sometimes), and anywhere in between; and most of them are not particularly likeable, easy to engage with or root for. Having said that, readers are likely to re-evaluate their thoughts and opinions on most of the characters at some point or other, and good and evil, innocence and guilt are moveable feasts. This is a very ambitious book, with a complex narrative, served extremely well by the various point of view, some of them pretty uncomfortable to share, and readers are often left wondering if things are happening in our world, in a parallel universe, or in the mind of a character whose sanity is, at the very least, suspect. These narratives appear, at first, totally unconnected, and although readers might wonder about the chronology, we eventually realise that all the stories are taking place in the same place and time and in roughly chronological order, and there is a ticking-clock effect towards the end that ramps up the tension and accelerates the pace of the narrative into a frenzy.
From the warning, readers will surmise this is not a story for those who prefer gentle tales and loveable characters. Quite the opposite. Almost all types of depravity, crimes, and evil deeds one can think of —and some most of us would prefer not to contemplate— appear in this book. The characters “literally” got to Hell and back, and we have warlocks, clowns, gods, goddesses, demons, extraterrestrial beings, teenage murderers, aspiring actresses with few scruples, teachers, mothers, tough book reviewers, FBI and CIA agents, children, adults, and a very singular carnival with all its inhabitants. The author manages to combine all those elements and create complex imagery and mythos, a world where the characters might be pawns in someone else’s game, but things are not that straightforward either. The nature of good and evil is questioned, and there are many possible readings and interpretations of the events. The author’s imagination knows no bounds, and he manages to create a total more horrific than all of these seemingly disparate parts.
This is an ambitious and fairly long novel, but it does not feel slow, and readers need to pay close attention to all the details, as they might miss something that later on plays an important part, although thanks to the spiralling and multipronged shape of the narrative, it is not difficult to pick up the thread and get a full picture of the story. The ending makes us question everything we’ve read before and is perfect for a horror book. And, by the way, there is a link between this novel and Golem, but you’ll have to read both (if you dare) to find out what (or who) that is.
Despite the terrible things that take place in the novel, there are moving and poignant moments and funny retorts and events (for those who love black humour, really funny at times). This is a book in which the horror reaches beyond the story and creates an uneasy feeling that will stay with the readers for a long time.
I recommend this book to hardcore readers of horror who enjoy mix-genre books, don’t shy away from extreme cruelty and gore, and especially those with a taste for complex narratives, conspiracy theories, and not looking for a reassuring ending. If you have a thing for clowns… beware, and if you don’t, well, that might have changed by the end of the book.
Although readers might want to check a sample of the book to see if it suits their taste, I thought I’d share a couple of quotes that can be easily understood without much context, as examples of the special sense of humour of the book, and also because… well, I like them.
Here, one of the characters notices that another one, a female character (Cassandra, she is quite something) is bleeding, and tells her so, and she replies:
“I don’t have time to bleed.”
Here, the main character, Jigglyspot, talks about some of the things he will not put up with.
“The first was idiocy. He loathed stupidity to his core, idiocy has no place in the world and if you were born without enough brain cells then you were better off dead, because one day you might become president and then that stupidity would run the nation and the world for that matter. And there’s too many of them already.” I’ll leave you to imagine the rest.
And during a particularly scary scene, one of the characters calls out to God and this is the reply she gets.
“God, my lady… is not allowed in this place.”
Carnivals, Cannibals, and Clowns. Oh My!
Wanna go for a ride?
Meet Jigglyspot, a five-foot tall half human half warlock carnival clown who spends his free time moonlighting as a drug dealing pimp and lackey for demonic entities who prey on the weak and vulnerable, casting their dark shadow across humanity through manipulation, and fear.
Jigglyspot was selected to serve as the event coordinator for 2019’s Summer Solstice Celebration at the prestigious Cannibal Café. A celebration that brings together both demon and human alike. But with less than two weeks before the celebration, Jigglyspot’s got so much to do and little time to do it. And the feds are hot on his tail. Between securing new recruits for demonic possession, choosing fresh bodies to slice and dice for dinner, and the fact that his girlfriend, Kera, is eating up most of his time, Jiggly’s at his wit’s end.
Hopefully, those demons appreciate all his sacrifices. Hopefully, but unlikely. Those demons can be hell to deal with. Jigglyspot knows; he’s been dealing with them for decades.
Will he rise above, or will tragedy and mayhem lead to dire discoveries poisoned with manipulation and betrayal that will ultimately destroy all Jigglyspot holds dear?
Discover Jigglyspot and his cast of clowns, killers, demons, and wretched fiends, in a novel like you’ve never experienced. Horror, mayhem, thrills, chills, fantasy, and spoils are waiting for your reading eyes with an escape into the underworld of mind control and human slavery.
Warning: This book contains scenes with profound psychological suffering, and graphically violent acts, behaviors, thoughts, deeds, and ridicule. No one has been spared, and no label is safe. Although we are proud to report, no animals were harmed during the writing of this novel, so that’s a good thing. Everyone else is fair game. After all, if you were a demon, what would you think of humanity?
Fans of Grady Hendrix, Catriona Ward, Clive Barker, and Stephen King will be captivated by this edge of your seat, eye-popping, wtf horror novel that is certain to be your next addictive read. As they say, you don’t just read Jigglyspot… You DEVOUR Jigglyspot!
Expected to be published on October 31st.
Today’s team review is from Cathy.
Cathy blogs here https://betweenthelinesbookblog.wordpress.com/
Cathy has been reading Dark Highland Skies by Lizzie Lamb
Halley Dunbar has returned to Lochaber in the Scottish Highlands from her home and job in Hawaii, after a long absence, to represent her family and organise her great uncle Tam’s funeral, as well taking on the emotional task of sorting out his belongings. She used to stay with Tam every summer when she was a teenager in his bothy by Loch Morar, which was part of Sir Montgomery Strachan’s estate. Tam had been the laird’s batman and he and Sir Monty had shared a special and long standing friendship. Sir Monty had gifted the bothy to Tam despite his wife’s strong objections.
Halley is devastated that she left it too late to see the great uncle she loved, and although they did keep in touch over the years, it wasn’t the same as in person. After her last visit and the resulting trauma, Halley found it impossible to return. Now she wished wholeheartedly she had tried to explain why she felt the need to stay away. There was nothing to keep here in Scotland now and she planned to leave straight after the funeral.
‘Luckily, the moment she set foot on the silver sands, the clouds parted, and the pale light of a gibbous moon showed the way to the old salmon bothy. Straightening, Halley looked across the loch towards the lights on the far shore and despite her earlier resolution, memories crowded in thick and fast. Voices. Laughter. The touch of a hand on her skin. A Judas kiss. Now she could finally admit that putting her uncle’s affairs in order wasn’t the only reason for making this trip.
She had ghosts to lay.’
Halley hoped she could avoid meeting any of the Strachan family but an unexpected encounter with the eldest of the laird’s children, Hector, put paid to that in a very unexpected way. Hector, or Tor as he is known, is trying to come to terms with his experiences and a severe injury in Afghanistan, also the resulting PTSD, by living alone in his converted Airstream. Halley and Tor both have issues to work through, and with questionable activity going on there’s never a dull moment.
Halley’s plans to steer clear of the Strachans took a further knock when she learned how devastated Sir Monty was by Tam’s death and that he wanted to do as much as he could with regard to the funeral. She found herself becoming involved with the family as her old friend Rowan, who had succeeded her father as undertaker, introduced her to Tor’s sister, Lexie. Her friendship with Tor blossomed and she couldn’t help but like Sir Monty. But her life and work were thousands of miles away and she wanted to get back to it.
I always enjoy Lizzie Lamb’s books for the beautiful settings and sense of place, also the wonderful, sometimes quirky, well developed characters and of course the writing. The characters are engaging, with a couple of exceptions, and realistic. I enjoyed the historical details also. Recommended for those who enjoy a slow burn, believable romance, great characters and stories set in Scotland.
Astrophysicist Halley Dunbar has spent her career peering into the space hoping to find the one-in-a-billion exoplanet outside our solar system capable of sustaining life. Such a find would be the climax of her scientific career and establish her as a force majeure in a male-dominated world. When her great-uncle dies, she travels to Lochaber in Scotland to arrange his funeral, reluctant to leave her research and her million-pound telescope behind in Hawaii. In Scotland, she encounters an assortment of characters who make her realise there’s more to life than searching for something that might not exist. The years are ticking by and Halley (35), starts to question the life she’s chosen. When the laird’s son, Tor Strachan, rocks up, he turns her world upside down and Halley discovers, not the new exoplanet she’s spent her academic life searching for, but the one-in-a-billion man who can make her happy. Forced to question her life choices, Halley wonders if she’ll be able to return to stargazing and leave behind a place and a man she’s come to love. However, Afghan veteran Tor has demons of his own to confront before he can be the man Halley deserves. And, as for Halley, she has secrets of her own; ones she can’t share with anyone, including Tor.
Of Water and Dragons by Kelley Heckart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Of Water And Dragons is a tale of Celtic mythology set in Roman Britain.
An injured Roman soldier is rescued and healed by a water fairy. Nemu has spent many years alone in her forest; she hasn’t realised that she felt loneliness until patient is ready to return to his legion.
Ambiorix is both attracted to and horrified by Nemu; her wings frighten him, but he is also romantically drawn to her. When Ambiorix goes back to civilisation, Nemu wanders through some of Celtic Britain, then goes in search of Ambiorix’ home on the borders; his stories of it intrigued her.
This is a story of battles, druids, Romans and magical mysticism. I could easily picture the settings of the era and Nemu was a wonderful character. The Celtic and spiritual aspects drew me into this story, but I also enjoyed the touches of Roman Britain.
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Do you like enemies to lovers romances with magic, mythology, and Roman history?
Of Water and Dragons weaves the Roman history and Celtic lore of ancient Britain and Scotland to create an unforgettable story of love and sacrifice. They were destined to meet, but they will have to fight everything they believe in to stay together. Nemu, a half-human, half-water faery woman, lives in the untamed land the Romans call Caledonia. Soon after the devastating battle of Mons Graupius ends, she finds a wounded Roman soldier named Ambiorix. Despite her distrust of humans, she takes him in and heals his wounds. Ambiorix is a Roman soldier with a strong sense of duty. He’s been taught that the Celts are barbaric and need to be conquered, but when Nemu heals him after the Romans win a key battle over the Celtic armies, he questions everything he has been taught. Though they are from different worlds, they are mysteriously drawn to each other, but unforeseen forces keep them apart until their worlds collide in a fury of fire, blood, and darkness. ˃˃˃ This compelling story mixes Roman military history with Celtic mythology. Of Water and Dragons takes place on the mystical island of Britannia from the dark enchanted lochs of Scotland to the grand bathhouses of Roman Britain. The battle of Mons Graupius in AD 84 is one of the most profound battles in history when the Romans, though greatly outnumbered, defeated the Celtic tribes of ancient Scotland and furthered the expansion of the Roman Empire.
Today’s team review is from Sandra.
Sandra blogs here https://www.firthproof.co.uk/index.php/book-reviews
Sandra has been reading Dark Highland Skies by Lizzie Lamb.
Having enjoyed a few of Lizzie Lamb’s novels before, I was looking forward to reading Dark Highland Skies and was not disappointed. Halley Dunbar has come back to Scotland to arrange the funeral of her great-uncle Tam whom she had not seen for twenty years. She plans to clear out Tam’s bothy, and go back home to Hawaii straight after the funeral, but life is never that simple. She had not reckoned on the various members of the Strachan family she would have to deal with, and once again falling under the spell of this beautiful part of the world.
Lizzie Lamb obviously loves the highlands of Scotland as she visits every year to research her books, and this shows in the vivid descriptions of the Silver Sands of Morar. I spent many holidays there and can vouch that she does it justice. If you remember the 1983 film Local Hero, some of the beach scenes were filmed there. After reading Dark Highland Skies, I’m sure many readers will be keen to visit and see the silver sands and dark skies for themselves.
Tor Strachan is portrayed in a believable and sympathetic light, as an ex-Major in the army coming to terms with a life-changing injury and the ongoing effects of PTSD. Halley Dunbar is a highly intelligent woman with a promising career ahead of her, but needs to come to terms with what happened to her all those years ago before it colours the rest of her life. They are supported by a wonderfully drawn cast of characters who range from the quirky to the downright nasty. The story is told from both Halley and Tor’s points of view so we get a more rounded picture. They both have issues to work through before there is room in their lives for a relationship, but they have a strong connection so hopefully it will all work out. I really enjoyed my trip back to Morar in Dark Highland Skies, and look forward to Lizzie Lamb’s next Highland adventure.
Astrophysicist Halley Dunbar has spent her career peering into the space hoping to find the one-in-a-billion exoplanet outside our solar system capable of sustaining life. Such a find would be the climax of her scientific career and establish her as a force majeure in a male-dominated world. When her great-uncle dies, she travels to Lochaber in Scotland to arrange his funeral, reluctant to leave her research and her million-pound telescope behind in Hawaii. In Scotland, she encounters an assortment of characters who make her realise there’s more to life than searching for something that might not exist. The years are ticking by and Halley (35), starts to question the life she’s chosen. When the laird’s son, Tor Strachan, rocks up, he turns her world upside down and Halley discovers, not the new exoplanet she’s spent her academic life searching for, but the one-in-a-billion man who can make her happy. Forced to question her life choices, Halley wonders if she’ll be able to return to stargazing and leave behind a place and a man she’s come to love. However, Afghan veteran Tor has demons of his own to confront before he can be the man Halley deserves. And, as for Halley, she has secrets of her own; ones she can’t share with anyone, including Tor.
Snail’s Pace by Susan McDonough-Wachtman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
3.5 stars
Snail’s Pace is a science fiction novella. Although the story opens on the streets of Hong Kong in 1884, the majority of the book takes place on a spaceship.
Susannah, is so desperate for employment that she quickly accepts the chance of adventure. She is employed to teach English etiquettes to the son of her employers. On a ship filled with intergalactic beings, Susannah is thrown deeply into a new world.
For her part Susannah accepts most of her new surroundings easily, however, her ability to act sensibly leaves her in some difficult situations.
I liked the concept of this story and the aliens were refreshing to read about; this was a character led story, but the short length of the tale made it feel rushed in places, especially at the end.
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Orphaned and penniless in Hong Kong in 1884 — what’s a young gentlewoman to do?
Impulsive, adventurous, and self-confident, Susannah accepts an offer to become the governess to a young foreigner on a ship. She does not expect the ship to be in space, or the foreign child to be an alien who looks like a giant snail. Nevertheless, she throws herself into the job of bringing Victorian decorum to the natives.
But when she is accused of spying and put on trial in an alien court, Susannah has to challenge the law of the aliens to save herself — and her young and slimy student.
Today’s team review is from Fiona.
Fiona has been reading The Misery House by David Kummer
Five stars
“New Haven: This rural town has never seen a string of tragedies like this. A local store burns to the ground with two bodies inside. A newlywed couple goes missing, and all signs point to the abandoned house. With no answers, the townsfolk grow more and more worried.”
If I tell you that this tale starts out with a creepy old house you might think that a cliche was on its way, but it is done so beautifully, the cliche is avoided. Small town ordinariness is built in to a narrative out of which the shocking arises almost naturally.
As a Brit reader, I don’t have an idea of where New Haven is but I still managed to appreciate the picture drawn in this book of the constant tension that small town life engenders – security or suffocation? The descriptions of the hills, the weather and Kaia’s beloved forest are beautiful, adding yet another layer to New Haven.
Events are sparked off as a middle school baseball game is played out under a baking sun. I found this opening excellent, building the sense of unease gradually from something as innocent and wholesome as a family attending the game. The fire that starts the action devastates the town but brings out some people’s suspicion of outsiders. The action is complicated by the fact that most of the characters have known each other all their lives: they have a natural reluctance to judge one another.
From the beginning though, the Woods family stand out because Cliff married Naomi, a girl he met a college, different in her appearance and her willingness to challenge the easy road, the acceptable version. Their children Nathaniel and Kaia are also given the chance to be different, and Kaia in particularly dreams of leaving New Haven despite her love for it, and her close friendship with Allison who has already married the loathsome Maliki. Led by Naomi’s strength the Woods family are going to challenge the easy assumptions of others, the people who want to believe that “…strangers mean trouble. New people mean trouble.”
The creepiness surrounding the abandoned old house is beautifully built up and unusually for me I read the book in one go. In fact, I was surprised when I reached the end – the story really does grab you and hold you. Watch out though – it ends on a terrific cliffhanger and you are going to wait impatiently for the next installment!
Sometimes the quietest little towns are haunted by the darkest secrets.
A psychological thriller and a family you’ll never forget.
New Haven: This rural town has never seen a string of tragedies like this. A local store burns to the ground with two bodies inside. A newlywed couple goes missing, and all signs point to the abandoned house. With no answers, the townsfolk grow more and more worried.
The Woods family has lived here forever. But when their friends and their own children are put in danger, the threat hits home. This close-knit family must risk everything to find answers, but time is running out.
New Haven has secrets. And a haunted house like you’ve never seen before.
The Misery House is a chilling, suspenseful novel that will keep you guessing until the very end and set the stage for an epic three-book haunting. With its twists and turns, a likable family thrust into danger, this page-turner will keep you up late into the night.
It’s up to the Woods family. Some fates are worse than death. Is it too late to save their town… and each other?
Expected publication July 7th 2023.
Today’s team review is from Olga.
Olga blogs here https://olganm.wordpress.com/
Olga has been reading Misadventures In The Screen Trade by Alison Ripley Cubitt
Memoirs and biographies are not among my go-to genres when it comes to books, although I do read some, especially if I am interested in the protagonist, the subject matter, or they come highly recommended. In this case, I didn’t know the author beforehand, but the subject matter is one I’ve always been interested in (I think most of us are intrigued by what goes on behind the cameras and what the development and production process of our favourite TV series and movies entails), and some of the bloggers I follow had reviewed this book favourably. So, two out of three won the day. And I am pleased it was so.
The author’s experience in screenwriting comes through clearly in this book. The narrative follows a chronological order and it is written in the first-person, as is typical in memoirs, but the author picks up some events and moments and focuses on those, writing about them in the present tense, while providing enough information to allow us to join the dots and get an idea of what her life and experiences (her professional experience in particular) have been like. We “see” her being bowled over by watching her first Disney movie (even though it was dubbed into a language she didn’t understand a word of); we suffer with her through a tough time in Florence (when due to a strike of the banks she cannot access her money); we follow her from one dead-end job to the next, and from one country and city to another. We see her apply for jobs (with more or less success); study; write; gain some fascinating experience in British TV (including a trip to film a special of the Big Breakfast in Los Angeles); get what sounds like her dream job (Disney, here I come!); and share in her disappointment with big corporations and toxic work environments. All of this in short chapters, which keep up the pace and move the story along without ever getting repetitive or tiresome.
Bad things happen as well, and not only in her professional life, but Alison is nothing if not resilient, and she does not spend too long dwelling on the negatives, especially the personal ones. She briefly mentions some events which it is easy to realise had a profound impact on her, but she sticks to the title. Although she might, occasionally, reflect upon the price she had to pay for her chosen vocation and lifestyle (travelling and commuting all the time, spending long periods away from her home and her husband, not being able to see some projects through…), she never blames anybody else, accepts her situation and circumstances, and makes the best out of every moment, with determination and a wry sense of humour.
This is not a tale full of gossip and scandal, neither personal nor of any of the famous people she has come across. Not that there are no names you might recognise here, but she does talk about her experience working with them and never reveals anything beyond that. Of course, all this does not mean she likes everybody she comes across, and she does refer to people and practices that make one feel stressed on her behalf, but she is pretty measured and witty when it comes to expressing her negative feelings. There are moments of joy, discovery, hope, but also of disappointment and betrayal. Ultimately, this is a story of such a varied and dynamic life that most readers are bound to find some experience they can identify with and will recognise some of the emotions and the thoughts the protagonist shares with us. And, it ends up on a positive and creative note, so it covers all bases.
In sum, this is a highly entertaining memoir that shows how the road to “success” (self-defined success, the only one that truly matters) is hardly ever straightforward and without obstacles. It will inspire those who perhaps didn’t choose a standard career path, and entertain and inform anybody eager to know more about the screen trade and the media. I also recommend it to all readers who enjoy a well-written book full of adventures, especially those who appreciate stories and memoirs about indomitable women.
A young woman in a man’s world takes on the media industry. Can she hit the heights of her dreams, or will she fall flat on her face?
Sydney 1981 Alison Ripley Cubitt couldn’t wait to make her mark. Having escaped her fractured New Zealand family only to end up dying of boredom behind a Mad-Men-era reception desk, she was determined to shatter the media’s glass ceiling. Thrilled to score an unpaid television internship in London, she still needed to survive alone…
Climbing her way up the career ladder, only to fall down again, Alison’s life-changing moment finally arrived when she landed her dream job at Disney. But after a documentary presentation to the masters of animation ended in disaster, the driven young woman refused to let her march to the top miss out on a spectacular finale.
In this entertaining true tale of the reality of working in the cutthroat world of show business, Alison shares the highs-and-lows of chasing bold goals. Navigating a patriarchial industry with wit and determination, her straight-to-the-point style will have you laughing out loud, and in awe of her courage.
Misadventures in the Screen Trade is a dazzling peek into one woman’s climb from rural New Zealand to Tinseltown. If you like fiery heroines, self-deprecating humour, and insightful tales from backstage, then you’ll love this spirited memoir.
Today’s team review is from Noelle.
Noelle has been reading The Misery House by David Kummer
The story is set in a very small rural town called New Haven that time and tide have passed by. It’s a skeleton of a place, slowly dying, and the author does a great job making it a character, although an unpleasant one.
The Woods family has lived there a long time, long enough to be called ‘native.’ The father, Benjamin Woods is a farmer, his wife is Naomi, and they have two children, Kaia and Nathaniel. By implication, they are a mixed race family, and their interrelationships initially appear to be strong, but rifts appear. The author shifts between these four characters in the telling.
Overlooking the town is an old, decaying house, another character, which holds memories of terror for Naomi. She wants nothing more than for her children to stay away from it. But when one of the few remaining stores in town burns to the ground along with the owner and his son, who are found tied up, and a newly-wed couple disappears, signs indicate this house is somehow involved. The bride is Kaia’s only real friend, while the groom is a feckless James Dean wannabe who yearns after Kaia. Is the Woods family as strong as it seems, and will the house draw Kaia to it?
The author does a good job creating the atmosphere of the town and these events. I feel like I am looking through a glass stained in translucent sepia. And the house – it couldn’t be creepier. The descriptions are excellent and compelling. All the adult characters are pretty well drawn, although only the children really got my interest.
Although the tension was real and I could feel it, it took a long time to develop. The author spends a lot of time with his narrative to the detriment of the story’s progress. There were points where things really slowed down and I wanted to get on with it. Having four different points of view did not make the story difficult, although I had to take a breath with the shifts and carefully note whose mind I was in.
The author left a lot of loose threads: the reader never discovers why Naomi has this persistent memory or nightmare about the house, the murders of the store owner and his son are unresolved, and while one of the wedding couple returns (the groom), Kaia’s best friend does not. Kaia’s search of the old house yields nothing but a traumatizing experience. What exactly is going on with the house?
All of these questions will undoubtedly be answered in the next two books in this trilogy, but I think the author left too many things unresolved. Better he had tied up a few things in this one.
Sometimes the quietest little towns are haunted by the darkest secrets.
A psychological thriller and a family you’ll never forget.
New Haven: This rural town has never seen a string of tragedies like this. A local store burns to the ground with two bodies inside. A newlywed couple goes missing, and all signs point to the abandoned house. With no answers, the townsfolk grow more and more worried.
The Woods family has lived here forever. But when their friends and their own children are put in danger, the threat hits home. This close-knit family must risk everything to find answers, but time is running out.
New Haven has secrets. And a haunted house like you’ve never seen before.
The Misery House is a chilling, suspenseful novel that will keep you guessing until the very end and set the stage for an epic three-book haunting. With its twists and turns, a likable family thrust into danger, this page-turner will keep you up late into the night.
It’s up to the Woods family. Some fates are worse than death. Is it too late to save their town… and each other?
Expected publication July 7th 2023.
Today’s team review is from Fiona
Fiona has been reading Burke and the Lines of Torres Vedras by Tom Williams
This is the seventh in the Burke series and you know at once that you are in the hands of an experienced storyteller who loves his history. I haven’t read anything about the nineteenth century Napoleonic wars between Britain and France and their allies since my youthful addiction to Ronald Welch, but I am glad I picked up this book, with its likeable hero and realistic depiction of undercover operations.
James Burke and his sergeant are already experienced undercover operatives so it is no surprise that they are given a new mission in Portugal. The action is set in and around Lisbon, with the shifting relationships between the British, French and Portuguese well-delineated. One thing I noticed straight away is that Tom Williams neatly avoids all temptations to explain his material, but cleverly reveals it through the characters and their actions. I am not a particular fan of “war” novels, and explanations of battle tactics, even in the case of my beloved Romans, turn me off, but here I was fascinated by the background of the alliance between Britain and Portugal, and above all, the eponymous Lines themselves. I found myself drawn in by the description of the Lines’ purpose and construction, and looked up far more about the war in Portugal than I would ever have imagined! Throughout the novel, Williams gives the reader enough to comprehend the action – a chase through Lisbon’s dark back streets for example or the background to Portugal’s own place in events – and if your interest is sharpened, you can find out more in the author’s notes at the end and his excellent website.
The mainstay of the book for me was the partnership between Burke and his sergeant William Brown. The action and excitement are shared between Burke and Brown, and they have a relationship of trust and reliance that is believable. They are also believable as spies in their practical and occasionally cynical approach to their mission. The range of supporting characters adds tone and depth to the narrative: I particularly enjoyed the encounters between Burke and the oh-so-superior Marshall Beresford, while the young artist Marta is no sex-bomb or female foil but a well-rounded and important character. And so, a well-structured and pacy plot carries the reader along to a highly satisfying conclusion.
And the ultimate praise? I’ve already sent a copy to my dad.
1810 and Wellington needs to protect his army against Napoleon’s stronger forces in the Peninsula. His answer? The Lines of Torres one of the greatest defensive works the world has ever seen. But for his strategy to work, the Lines must stay a secret until the French arrive.
Fresh from a successful mission in Paris, Burke is sent to Lisbon. The Portuguese capital is home to French sympathisers, disaffected aristocrats, and desperate men who will do anything for money. Can Burke hunt down Napoleon’s agents hidden among them? The outcome of the Peninsular War could depend on his success.
The latest of the James Burke stories finds the soldier-spy fighting French plots against a background of real people and historically accurate events.
James Burke appeals particularly to fans of Bernard Cornwell’s ‘Sharpe’ stories, but also to people who like spy tales of any period.
A blog about life in Wellington, New Zealand
Book reviewer and garden enthusiast. Updates from my Hampshire garden. Usually talking about books and plants. People do not forget books or flowers that touch them or excite them—they recommend them.
My little piece of heaven on earth
Book reviewer and garden enthusiast. Updates from my Hampshire garden. Usually talking about books and plants. People do not forget books or flowers that touch them or excite them—they recommend them.
a London garden
Garden Thoughts from Florida's Treasure Coast
inspired by the colours of the land, sea and sky of Cornwall
Gardening in Asheville, North Carolina
The Corner Garden
Book news, reviews and recommendations
I read.....therefore I am..
Book reviewer and garden enthusiast. Updates from my Hampshire garden. Usually talking about books and plants. People do not forget books or flowers that touch them or excite them—they recommend them.
Book reviewer and garden enthusiast. Updates from my Hampshire garden. Usually talking about books and plants. People do not forget books or flowers that touch them or excite them—they recommend them.
Plants, veg and chickens: a cottage garden on the edge of Brussels
For all who appreciate the beauty of words, flowers and homecooking
Books, Reviews, Recommendations and occasionally Poetry
ruminate vb. to chew (the cud)
Rosie Amber 