A Brew To A Kill #TheLastParty #TheLastPartyEvent

I’m excited to let you know of a brilliant event taking place on Zoom on the 7th July at 7pm. If you love a murder mystery and if you’re a fan of crime fiction you do not want to miss it.

Detectives Clare Mackintosh, Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware. Clare, Lucy and Ruth will act as lead detectives who are in a race against time to discover who murdered Artie Bean, owner of the No Filter Coffee Shack, on the shores of Llyn Drych, set in the universe of The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh. However, these seasoned writers need help to solve the mystery. Audience members will be included in group chats with the authors to review the evidence and decide upon their theories. Once the murderer has been revealed, the three authors will be in conversation with host, Lauren North, to discuss their latest books.

Each ticket includes a hardback copy of The Last Party which publishes on the 4th August 2022. When you book your ticket, you will receive an e-ticket via email with the event details so you can access the online event taking place on the 7th July. You will then receive your copy of The Last Party in the post when it publishes in August. Tickets are £26.15.

Everyone who purchases a book + ticket will be entered into a prize draw to win two tickets to Harrogate Crime Writing Festival. The festival runs from the 21st to the 23rd of July and tickets will include access to Little Brown’s Crime Vault Pop-up Event where you will be able to meet Clare Mackintosh in person! The prize also includes 3 nights of accommodation at the Crown hotel. A winner will be spot picked and announced during the event.

What does every detective need whilst on the case? A good cup of coffee. We are therefore super thrilled to announce that Missing Bean Coffee Roasters have joined us to sponsor the event. With Missing Bean on board, we will be sending out coffee samples to the first 100 people to purchase their tickets!

Keep reading for some further insight into our Detectives and Host for the evening…

Clare Mackintosh is the multi-award-winning author of five Sunday Times bestselling novels. Translated into forty languages, her books have sold more than two million copies worldwide, have been New York Times and international bestsellers and have spent a combined total of 64 weeks in the Sunday Times bestseller chart. Clare’s next book, The Last Party, will publish on the 4th August

Lucy Foley studied English Literature at Durham and UCL universities. She then worked for several years as a fiction editor in the publishing industry – during which time she wrote The Book of Lost and Found, which was a bestselling debut of 2015. Lucy now writes full-time, with her crime novels The Hunting Party and The Guest List being published in 2018 and 2020 respectively to critical acclaim.Her newest novel, The Paris Apartment, published in March 2022, instantly took the number one spot on The New York Times bestseller list. It has sold in over 40 territories and the movie rights have been acquired by Sony.

Ruth Ware is an international number one bestseller. Her thrillers In a Dark, Dark Wood, The Woman in Cabin 10, The Lying Game, The Death of Mrs Westaway, The Turn of the Key and One by One have appeared on bestseller lists around the world, including the Sunday Times and New York Times. Her books have been optioned for both film and TV, and she is published in more than 40 languages. Ruth’s next book, The It Girl, will publish on the 4th August

Lauren North writes psychological suspense novels that delve into the darker side of relationships and families. Her most recent novels are Safe at Home and All The Wicked Games (Out summer 2022). Lauren also writes high-concept book club thrillers as L.C. North. Her first L.C. North book – The Ugly Truth – is out in March 2023. Lauren lives on the Suffolk borders with her family and dog, Rodney. When she’s not writing, she co-hosts the popular crime thriller podcast, In Suspense.

Click here to purchase tickets

The Guilty Couple by C.L. Taylor #bookreview

On my blog today, I’m sharing my thoughts on the gripping new novel by C.L. Taylor, The Guilty Couple.

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What would you do if your husband framed you for murder?

Hello. My name is Olivia Sutherland. I used to be just like any other woman. A wife. A mother.

Then I was wrongfully convicted of conspiracy to murder. Five years is a long time to spend in prison when you’re innocent.

Now I’m finally free, there are three things I must do:
– Repair my relationship with my daughter
– Clear my name
– Bring down my husband: the man who framed me.

I’ll do anything it takes – even break the law. I’ve already done the time, so might as well do some crime.

But what if this time, it’s not just my freedom he plans to take from me – but my life?

MY THOUGHTS

I love C.L. Taylor’s novels, so when her new book, The Guilty Couple dropped through my letterbox, I was desperate to open it up and read it straight away. Her latest book is a rollercoaster of a read and I was gripped from the first page. I had to get to the bottom of what was really going on with her new cast of characters.

We meet Olivia Sutherland, who has just been released from prison, after serving years for a murder which her husband, Dominic helped framed her for. As well as trying to rebuild her life and her relationship with her daughter, she is out to get revenge on her husband for framing her for a crime she didn’t commit.

I immediately connected to Olivia and her situation. It was so intriguing. How could her husband do this to her? I was rooting for her to get justice from page one. I really wanted to know why Dominic had Olivia framed all those years ago, and I really didn’t like him as I was reading, especially as C.L. Taylor delved more into his character, and what he has been up to since Olivia was sent to prison.

You can really see how desperate Olivia is to rebuild her relationship with her daughter, and I felt sorry for her as her daughter rebuked her. I did find myself shaking my head though, at some of the reckless decisions Olivia was making, in order to try and get closer to her daughter. But this adds to the tension in the novel as you have no idea how things are going to pan out for Olivia. Will she get the justice she deserves or will she end up back in prison because of a mistake on her part? Olivia has to make some big decisions as to how far she is willing to go to get her relationship with her daughter back on track, and get justice.

I really liked her friendship with her fellow inmate who has also been released from prison. I loved the scenes when it was the two of them together, and I thought the dialogue between them was done really well. There was real tension here as well, as Olivia relied on her for back up, and I felt that she was putting both of them in danger. I was glad that Olivia had her friend around as she had no one who she could trust or rely on.

The Guilty Couple is an utterly addictive read. C.L. Taylor’s novels always have such a gripping quality to them, and I flew through her latest book. If you’re looking for a tense thriller with taut writing and characters who you’ll root for, then you need to pick up this book.

Publisher: Avon

Publication date: 23rd June 2022

Print length: 352 pages

The Guilty Couple is available to buy:

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Nothing Else by Louise Beech #bookreview #blogtour @LouiseWriter @RandomTTours @OrendaBooks

On my blog today, I’m delighted to be taking part in the blog tour for the new novel by Louise Beech, Nothing Else.

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Heather Harris is a piano teacher and professional musician, whose quiet life revolves around music, whose memories centre on a single song that haunts her. A song she longs to perform again. A song she wrote as a child, to drown out the violence in their home. A song she played with her little sister, Harriet.

But Harriet is gone … she disappeared when their parents died, and Heather never saw her again.

When Heather is offered an opportunity to play piano on a cruise ship, she leaps at the chance. She’ll read her recently released childhood care records by day – searching for clues to her sister’s disappearance – and play piano by night … coming to terms with the truth about a past she’s done everything to forget.

An exquisitely moving novel about surviving devastating trauma, about the unbreakable bond between sisters, Nothing Else is also a story of courage and love, and the power of music to transcend – and change – everything.

MY THOUGHTS

Louise Beech is a writer who really knows how to delve into the emotions of her characters. Nothing Else, her latest book, is a powerful read that will pull at the heartstrings. It’s not the type of book I normally read, but I was completely and utterly hooked by Heather and Harriet’s tragic tale. It’s really a novel to savour.

We meet Heather as she is contemplating taking a job on a cruise as a pianist, but she is reluctant about this at first. Only after some gentle pushing by her friends does she apply. Heather teaches piano, but she doesn’t perform herself in front of crowds. As Heather sets sail on the cruise, we begin to see just how tragic her backstory is, and how this adds a deeper meaning to the music she plays, particularly her own compositions.

I could really feel Heather’s loss. She hasn’t seen her sister in more than thirty years, after they were cruelly separated by social services, after the death of their parents. Their grandmother, who neither Heather, nor her sister Harriet liked, didn’t even offer to take care of them. You can feel Heather’s yearning to have her sister in her life again. I wanted to find out what had happened to Harriet after they were separated.

We also see what happened in Heather and Harriet’s childhood, and these are some tough scenes to read. But there is also some hope for the future in these scenes, especially as they both learn to play the piano together and you can see how much joy this brings them. This also helps strengthen their bond further and they both know they can rely on the piano in the times of darkness.

I really enjoyed the scenes when Heather is on the cruise and I loved the interactions that she has with the other passengers, as well as the other people in the same quarters as her. I particularly liked the friendship she developed with Frederica, a writer who is running creative writing workshops on the ship. I loved Frederica’s personality and I was glad that Heather had her as a friend on the ship.

Nothing Else is a deeply moving story. Heather and Harriet’s tale engaged me right from the start and I was rooting for Heather all the way through to find out what happened to her sister. If you’re a fan of Louise Beech’s work you need to read this book as soon as possible.

Publisher: Orenda Books

Publication date: 23rd April 2022 (kindle) 23rd June 2022 (paperback)

Print length: 352 pages

Nothing Else is available to buy:

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The Sinner by Caroline England #bookreview #blogtour @CazEngland

On my blog today, I’m delighted to be taking part in the blog tour for the new novel by Caroline England, The Sinner.

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EVERY SAINT HAS A PAST

To the unsuspecting eye Dee Stephens has a perfect life as the vicar’s wife: a devoted marriage to her charismatic husband Reverend Vincent, an adoring congregation and a beautiful daughter.

EVERY SINNER HAS A FUTURE

But beneath the surface, Dee is suffocating. Vincent is in control, and he knows her every sin. Desperate, Dee escapes into a heady affair with Cal, an old schoolmate.

EVERY CONFESSION HAS A PRICE

But is Cal the saviour she thinks he is? What dark secrets does he harbour? And to what lengths will Vincent go to when he uncovers the truth?

MY THOUGHTS

I really enjoy Caroline England’s writing and The Sinner sounded really intriguing. I think one of Caroline’s real writing strengths is her characters. They always feel like real people and they are characters who you want to go on a journey with.

We meet Dee, who on the surface appears to be the perfect vicar’s wife, and mother to their daughter, Chloe. But there is a darkness to Dee’s relationship with her husband. Soon Dee meets a former childhood friend, Cal, and they begin a passionate affair. To Dee, Cal seems like her saviour from her marriage. But what isn’t Cal telling her, is he really as good as he seems?

I thought Caroline England did a brilliant job of creating tension around Dee’s affair with Cal. This builds and builds throughout the novel and I could feel it simmering away. I kept wondering what would happen if Dee’s husband, Vincent, would find out. This isn’t a particularly fast paced book, but I liked the short chapters and Caroline England kept me reading on, I really wanted to know what was going to happen to Dee next.

There are some heartbreaking reveals as Caroline England moves the plot along as we get to learn more about Dee and Vincent’s past. I also liked how Caroline England explored the relationship between Dee’s sister, Mari and her partner Britt. There are tensions in Mari and Britt’s relationship as well and this really adds to the darkness that there is in the book. There is real tension as the book reaches its finale, especially as Dee begins to find out things about her husband she never knew before. It made me wonder what else he was keeping secret from her. There is an absolutely brilliant ending that I thought Caroline delivered really well.

The characters are what really draw you into Caroline England’s books. She really gets to know them well and you feel as though they are real people who you want to find more about. I really enjoyed reading The Sinner and I flew through it. Fans of character-driven psychological thrillers, you need to pick this book up.

Publisher: Piatkus

Publication date: 16th June 2022

Print length: 448 pages

The Sinner is available to buy:

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Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister #bookreview

On my blog today, I’m sharing my thoughts on the stunning new novel by Gillian McAllister, Wrong Place Wrong Time.

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It’s every parent’s nightmare.

Your happy, funny, innocent son commits a terrible crime: murdering a complete stranger.

You don’t know who.
You don’t know why.
You only know your teenage boy is in custody – and his future lost.

Somewhere in the past lie the answers, and you don’t have a choice but to find them . . .

MY THOUGHTS

I’ve been excited to read Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister for such a long time now, so when my copy arrived, I jumped to read it straight away. I’ve been a fan of Gillian’s books ever since I read her debut, and her latest book is definitely, in my opinion, her best yet. I love the idea she explores here which makes this novel so different and so compelling. I was so eager to find out what was going to happen and I flew through it in just a couple of sittings.

We meet Jen, who witnesses something so unimaginable; she can’t even begin to comprehend it. Her son has killed someone, right in front of her. Now she has to face the chaotic fallout. But after the night her son becomes a killer, something unusual happens, Jen wakes up the next morning, only it’s the day before the incident has taken place. Has she imagined the whole scenario? But each morning following, when she wakes up, she begins to realise that she is living her life backwards, each day, she is travelling further and further backwards in time. But why is this happening? How can this be happening? Is there a higher purpose here? Does she have the opportunity now to prevent her son from carrying out such an awful crime?

Jen felt very real as I was reading this book. You can feel her anguish as she realises what her son has done. As she begins to realise that she is travelling backwards in time, you can see just how scared and frustrated she feels. Jen has no idea why this is happening. Like Jen, I wanted to know what was happening to her, and I wanted to see if there was any way she could prevent what was going to happen to her son in the future.

We also hear from the point of view of a person called Ryan. It isn’t quite clear how Ryan fits into the story, but Gillian McAllister reveals why he is there in such a clever way. I thought the chapters told from his point of view were very intriguing. I have to say there is a jaw dropping moment as the final truths come to light.

I’m certain Wrong Place Wrong Time will be in my top ten reads of the year. It is such a clever, original novel and I highly, highly recommend it.

Publisher: Michael Joseph

Publication date: 12th May 2022

Print length: 416 pages

Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister is available to buy:

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The Memory Wood by Sam Lloyd #bookreview

On my blog today, I’m sharing my thoughts on the brilliant novel by Sam Lloyd, The Memory Wood.

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Elijah has lived in the Memory Wood for as long as he can remember. It’s the only home he’s ever known.

Elissa has only just arrived. And she’ll do everything she can to escape.

When Elijah stumbles across thirteen-year-old Elissa, in the woods where her abductor is hiding her, he refuses to alert the police. Because in his twelve years, Elijah has never had a proper friend. And he doesn’t want Elissa to leave.

Not only that, Elijah knows how this can end. After all, Elissa isn’t the first girl he’s found inside the Memory Wood.

As her abductor’s behaviour grows more erratic, chess prodigy Elissa realises that outwitting strange, lonely Elijah is her only hope of survival. Their cat-and-mouse game of deception and betrayal will determine both their fates, and whether either of them will ever leave the Memory Wood . . .

MY THOUGHTS

The Memory Wood by Sam Lloyd has been on my TBR pile for some time now and I’m so pleased I’ve finally got round to reading it. This is one of the most original crime novels I’ve read in recent years. It’s tense, atmospheric, and I thought the characters were so well drawn. Sam Lloyd really makes them feel like real people. I’d heard this book had a big twist, so my expectations were high, and I have to say I was knocked for six with the revelations that came.

The novel opens with the abduction of a young girl, Elissa, as she is on her way to a school chess tournament with her mother. But she isn’t the first child to have disappeared and the police fear that the same person might be behind the abductions. When her abductor takes her to a new location, Elissa meets Elijah, and there is something peculiar about him. I was never quite sure what was going on here, when Elissa is taken to this place Elijah calls The Memory Wood, and what her abductors reasons were for taking her. It’s what makes the novel so intense and so gripping. I really had no idea if Elissa was going to survive.

The book is so cleverly well plotted. I liked the growing bond that there is between Elissa and Elijah, even though Elissa is in an unimaginable and horrific situation, he does seem to be, to her, the only source of hope she has, and this is what keeps her going. But I was also fearful that Elijah might snap, leaving Elissa alone. I felt as though I couldn’t trust Elijah as I was reading these scenes.

I also liked the chapters told from the point of view of the Detective, Mairead. You can feel her determination to find Elissa and bring her abductor to justice. I liked her and her voice and I would be interested to see her return in a future book. She also has a very personal story in this book, which made me feel for her, and her emotions came through strongly on the page.

If you have not read this book yet, then you need to pick it up as soon as possible. I’m kicking myself that it’s taken me this long to get round to reading it. I’m sure now that Sam Lloyd will become an auto buy author for me and I’m already looking forward to reading his next novel. I highly recommend The Memory Wood.

Publisher: Transworld

Publication date: 13th February 2020

Print length: 375 pages

The Memory Wood is available to buy:

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The Companion by Lesley Thomson #bookreview #blogtour @LesleyjmThomson @HoZ_Books @soph_ransompr

On my blog today, I’m taking part in the blog tour for the new novel by Lesley Thomson, The Companion. With thanks to Sophie Ransom at Ransom PR for inviting me to take part.

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James Ritchie was looking forward to a boys’ day out with his son, Wilbur – even if he was a little late picking him up from the home of his ex-wife, Anna. Annoyed by his late arrival, and competing for their son’s attention, Anna leaves the two of them to their day with the promise of a roast dinner when Wilbur returns.

But Anna will never see her family again. That afternoon, James and Wilbur are found dead, the victims of a double stabbing on the beach.

DI Toni Kemp, of Sussex police, must unravel a case which has shocked the county to its core. What she discovers will lead her to Blacklock House, a grand country mansion, long ago converted into flats. Here in the middle of nowhere, where a peacock struts the lawn, and a fountain plays intermittently, seven long-term residents have seen more than they should.

But this is a community who are good at keeping secrets…

MY THOUGHTS

If you love a good old fashioned English murder mystery, then you need to pick up The Companion by Lesley Thomson. This is the first novel by Lesley that I’ve read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There’s a real sense of mystery and I loved how Lesley put the spotlight on various characters, I was never able to guess who the killer was.

The novel opens with a shocking murder when a family are murdered during a day out as well as a father and son. This creates a sinister tone right from the beginning as DI Toni Kemp and his team grapple with the case and attempt to bring the perpetrator to justice before they kill again. What would give anyone a reason to want to kill these people? The crimes are so shocking, and I could see just how terrifying it was for the residents, fearing that at any moment the killer could strike again. I was rooting for the police to catch the killer.

The novel shifts its focus to an old manor house, converted into apartments. It is also the home of Rex, who is seventy years of age. Rex has just employed Timothy Mew, who is twenty-five years old to be a live in companion, following the death of Rex’s wife five years earlier. It is around the time that Timothy arrives that the murders start. The manor house falls under the spotlight of the police’s investigation, and it is clear to see that there are more than a few strange happenings going on in the former mansion. This adds to the chilling atmosphere of the novel, and I could feel danger lurking around every corner.

I liked how Lesley Thomson kept me guessing about her characters and I liked trying to work out what their real motives are. Is it too much of a coincidence that Timothy arrived at around the same time the murders take place? The character’s individual personalities come through so well on the page, really making you think about them. There are so many mysteries surrounding them which kept me utterly gripped as I was reading. I think this would make an excellent television drama.

The Companion is a highly addictive read and I was drawn into the mystery from the first page. I thought this was a highly entertaining read. It’s the type of book that you can lose an afternoon to. I really enjoyed it. The Companion is the perfect murder mystery novel.

Publisher: Head of Zeus

Publication date: 9th June 2022

Print length: 364 pages

The Companion is available to buy:

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One of the Girls by Lucy Clarke #bookreview #blogtour @lucyclarkebooks @fictionpubteam @RandomTTours

I’m delighted to be taking part in the blog tour for the new novel by Lucy Clarke on my blog today, One of the Girls. With thanks to Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part.

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WE WERE DYING FOR A HOLIDAY

The six of us arrived on that beautiful Greek island dreaming of sun-drenched beaches and blood orange sunsets, ready to lose ourselves in the wild freedom of a weekend away with friends.

On the first night we swam under a blanket of stars.

On the second night the games began on our clifftop terrace.

On the third night the idyll cracked, secrets and lies whispering on the breeze.

And by the final night there was a body on the rocks below . . .

WHO WOULD KILL FOR IT?

MY THOUGHTS

One of the Girls is the first book by Lucy Clarke that I’ve read and I really enjoyed it. I loved the Greek island setting, and as we get to know the group of women who have travelled there for Lexi’s hen weekend, I got the sense that something wasn’t quite right. Some of the women have been friends since their school days, but I could feel the tension simmering in the background, and we know very early on, that one of them will end up dead, but we don’t know who this will be.

I really enjoyed trying to work out what was going to happen to the characters. Lucy Clarke gradually ups the tension as she begins to reveal more about the lives of the women. I liked how this was done through the different narrations. It is more of a slow burner, I think, but the tension gathers pace as we race towards the pivotal moment, when we find out which one of them will be killed.

The setting of the Greek Island adds to the tension, especially the sharp drop of the cliffs, not far from the property where they are staying, that the girl’s discover when they first arrive. I really liked how Lucy Clarke brought the setting to life. I could picture the villa clearly and the various different locations on the island. The characters each have their own intriguing backstories and it’s their backstories that begin to drive the tension as their pasts are unravelled. I wanted to know the secrets they were all hiding and how this would have an impact on the events that they were about to be faced with. I loved the drama that Lucy Clarke created between them and you can see their true colours begin to emerge. I didn’t know who to trust.

One of the Girls is a tension filled character driven read that kept me utterly gripped. Lucy Clarke’s writing effortlessly draws you in, and I wanted to find out what was going to happen to the group. I could sense the imminent threat of danger that was surrounding them. I really enjoyed this book and I will definitely be catching up on Lucy’s previous novels.

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication date: 26th May 2022

Print length: 441 pages

One of the Girls is available to buy:

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Cat and Mouse by M.J. Arlidge #bookreview #blogtour

On my blog today, I’m sharing my thoughts on the new novel by M.J. Arlidge, Cat and Mouse. With thanks to Tracy Fenton from Compulsive Readers for inviting me to take part.

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When you think you’re safe,
When you think you’re all alone,
That’s when he’ll come for you…

A silent killer stalks the city, targeting those home alone at night, playing a deadly game of cat and mouse with the victims.

As panic spreads, Detective Inspector Helen Grace leads the investigation, but is herself a hunted woman, her every step shadowed by a ruthless psychopath bent on revenge.

As she tracks the murderer, Grace begins to suspect there is a truly shocking home truth that connects these brutal crimes. But what she will find is something more twisted than she could ever suspect…

Check the windows, lock the doors – this is a twisted page-turner that will prey on your darkest fears, in the way only M.J. Arlidge can.

MY THOUGHTS

Whenever M.J. Arlidge releases a new novel, you know you are going to be in for a highly entertaining and an utterly gripping read. I was thrilled to see that his character, Detective Inspector Helen Grace would be returning in his latest book, Cat and Mouse. Helen is never given an easy ride. She has faced a tough few years and the tension around her has only built since the first book.

The novel opens with a shocking opening with a brutal murder, and we know that this is going to be another tough case for Helen. M.J. Arlidge knows how to write novels filled with suspense and he creates such a dark atmosphere that pulls you into the book. As has always been the case in this book, he draws on the setting of Southampton so well and you feel as though you are there, chasing the suspects with Helen, or speaking to witnesses. As always, journalist Emilia Garanita is up to her old tricks again and tensions between her and Helen really begin to spill over.

Helen Grace has faced several challenges in her career in this series and she is up against another difficult one that will push her to the limits. It’s what really adds to the tension in this book, and I could sense the fight she was going to have on her hand, on top of the investigation. It feels as though Helen is on her on her own in this book, although she always has DS Charlie Brooks there by her side.

M.J. Arlidge is a master at creating suspense and I thought the twists and turns in this book were very well done. I was also kept engaged by the lives of the people who are on Helen’s team

M.J. Arlidge’s books are always the types of reads that can be read in one sitting. I flew through Cat and Mouse, if you’re a fan of this series, then you definitely need to bump this book right to the top of your TBR pile.

Publisher: Orion

Publication date: 9th June 2022

Print length: 500 pages

Cat and Mouse is available to buy:

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Truly Darkly Deeply by Victoria Selman #bookreview @VictoriaSelman @1stMondayCrime @QuercusBooks

On my blog today, I have all the details about June’s First Monday Crime panel. I also have a review of Truly, Darkly, Deeply by Victoria Selman, who’ll be appearing on tonight’s panel. I’ll have all the details about who else will be appearing and how you can access the event at the end of this post, but first, let’s find out more about Truly, Darkly, Deeply.

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Twelve-year-old Sophie and her mother, Amelia-Rose, move to London from Massachusetts where they meet the charismatic Matty Melgren, who quickly becomes an intrinsic part of their lives. But as the relationship between the two adults fractures, a serial killer begins targeting young women with a striking resemblance to Amelia-Rose.

When Matty is eventually sent down for multiple murder, questions remain as to his guilt — questions which ultimately destroy both women. Nearly twenty years later, Sophie receives a letter from Battlemouth Prison informing her Matty is dying and wants to meet. It looks like Sophie might finally get the answers she craves. But will the truth set her free — or bury her deeper?

MY THOUGHTS

I love Victoria Selman’s writing, having recently read her gripping Ziba Mackenzie series. So I jumped at the chance to read an early copy of her new novel, Truly, Darkly, Deeply. Her new book explores a fascinating topic when it comes to true crime as well as crime fiction. Whenever a person is convicted of a heinous crime, we often look at the perpetrator’s families and friends, and wonder, how could they not know what this person in their lives was doing. It seems impossible to us.

Victoria Selman tells her novel from the point of view of Sophie, who is living with her mother and occasionally her mother’s boyfriend, Matty. Sophie and her mother recently moved to London from America and Sophie is struggling to adapt at school. Victoria Selman explores the relationship Sophie has with Matty, and it is clear to see that he does have a deep affection for her, and she for him, even though there are definitely some chilling moments as Victoria explores this. Matty comes under suspicion for being involved in a series of shocking murders across London and this shatters Sophie’s world.

I loved the tension Victoria Selman created as she takes us back to the years when Sophie is a child and living with her mum. Throughout the novel, some people doubt the claims that Matty is the person responsible for the murders. Victoria did keep me thinking about this, even though we know that Matty has already been charged for the murders. It made me wonder just what went on during Sophie’s childhood that she might not have seen, or understood, at the time. For me this was what made this book so gripping, as I wanted to know what really happened.

There are some chilling reveals as Victoria reveals to us just what went on during Sophie’s childhood and everything does make so much sense.

I raced through Truly, Darkly, Deeply. Victoria Selman’s writing has such an addictive quality to it that this is a book that you could quite easily finish in one sitting. Although this is fiction, I believe this will also appeal to fans of true crime. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it. I’m sure it’ll be one of my favourites of the year.

Publisher: Quercus

Publication date: 7th July 2022

Print length: 319 pages

Truly, Darkly, Deeply is available to buy:

Amazon UK Waterstones

First Monday Crime is back live on their Facebook page at 19.30 p.m. on Monday, 6th June 2022. Alongside Victoria Selman, appearing on the panel are authors, Will Carver author of The Daves Next Door, Sarah Vaughan author of Reputation and Sinead Crowley author of The Belladonna Maze.

If you would like to watch the panel, you can do so by clicking the link below which will take you through to the First Monday Crime Facebook Page.

First Monday Crime