Rewind, recap: Weekly update w/e 14/07/19

Now you could be forgiven for thinking I am recycling pictures, but these are all new honestly. Quick trip back to London this week for the launch of The Closer I Get by Paul Burston, and what a fab day it was too. Walked over 22k steps, had a lovely lunch with Mandie, then a great evening catching up with friends and celebrating the hardback and paperback release of the book at Goldsboro Books. Picked up my (double) signed copy of the hard back too which now looks lovely on my shelf with my other Orenda titles.

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It does mean I have the book in all four formats now – paperback, kindle, audio and hardback. The ultimate collection. Tidy. I did have a fifth version – cake – but I ate that …

Only the one bit of book post this week, The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell, courtesy of Century, and a bit of ebook post in the shape of The Sleepover by Carol Wyer. This is the fourth book in the Natalie Ward series and what a book it is.

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Just the two book purchases in the week. Sins of the Dead by Lin Anderson and The Dinner Party by R.J. Parker.

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Books I have read

Little Siberia – Antti Tuomainen

The arrival of a meteorite in a small Finnish town causes chaos and crime in this poignant, chilling and hilarious new thriller from the King of Helsinki Noir

A man with dark thoughts on his mind is racing along the remote snowy roads of Hurmevaara in Finland, when there is flash in the sky and something crashes into the car. That something turns about to be a highly valuable meteorite. With euro signs lighting up the eyes of the locals, the unexpected treasure is temporarily placed in a neighbourhood museum, under the watchful eye of a priest named Joel.

But Joel has a lot more on his mind than simply protecting the riches that have apparently rained down from heaven. His wife has just revealed that she is pregnant. Unfortunately Joel has strong reason to think the baby isn’t his. As Joel tries to fend off repeated and bungled attempts to steal the meteorite, he must also come to terms with his own situation, and discover who the father of the baby really is.

Transporting the reader to the culture, landscape and mores of northern Finland Little Siberia is both a crime novel and a hilarious, blacker-than-black comedy about faith and disbelief, love and death, and what to do when bolts from the blue – both literal and figurative – turn your life upside down.

Time For The Dead – Lin Anderson

Time for the Dead is a gripping crime novel by Lin Anderson and sees forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod discover that a terrifying war is unfolding on Scotland’s Isle of Skye.

When forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod returns to her roots on Scotland’s Isle of Skye, a chance encounter in the woods behind a nearby activities centre leads her to what seems to be a crime scene, but without a victim. Could this be linked to a group of army medics, who visited the centre while on leave from Afghanistan and can no longer be located on the island?

Enlisting the help of local tracker dog Blaze, Rhona starts searching for a connection.

Two days later a body is found at the base of the famous cliff known as Kilt Rock, face and identity obliterated by the fall, which leads Rhona to suspect the missing medics may be on the island for reasons other than relaxation. Furthermore, elements of the case suggests a link with an ongoing operation in Glasgow, which draws DS Michael McNab into the investigation.

As the island’s unforgiving conditions close in, Rhona must find out what really happened to the group in Afghanistan, as the consequences may be being played out in brutal killings on Skye . . .

The Sleepover – Carol Wyer

Roxy had a secret. Now she’s gone. 

When fourteen-year-old Roxy says she’s going for a sleepover at her best friend Ellie’s house, Cathy sees no reason to check her daughter’s story. The two families are neighbours, and the girls are in and out of each other’s homes every day. 

It is a decision she will regret. A day later, Roxy is found murdered in exclusive Linnet Lane, miles across town, in a house owned by two brothers with no apparent connection to Roxy. Detective Natalie Ward, called to lead the investigation, is determined to get to the bottom of why Roxy was in the basement of this grand Victorian mansion when she should have been eating chocolate in her pyjamas with her best friend.

As Natalie begins to look closely at Roxy’s stepfather and three brothers, she discovers that Roxy had recently been admitted to hospital with suspicious injuries. Her mother Cathy seems very jumpy and Ellie refuses to talk. Who are the people that knew Roxy best in the world protecting? 

Then Roxy’s mother Cathy disappears. 

When Cathy’s body is discovered close to where her daughter was found, Natalie is forced to face the grim fact that the killer is just getting started. She is troubled by the reaction of Roxy’s brother Seth to the tragedies and when his alibi falls through she brings him in for questioning, certain she is making headway.

But while Seth is in custody, one of Roxy’s school friends is found murdered and Natalie knows she must cast her net wider. Things take a more sinister turn when Ellie vanishes, her mobile phone switched off. What is Ellie hiding about the night Roxy died that could put her in terrible danger? And can Natalie work it out before another innocent life is taken?

Gripping, fast-paced and nail-bitingly tense, this book will keep you flying through the pages long into the night. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott and Karin Slaughter.

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I had a quiet enough week on the blog, an unexpected cover reveal mid week, but otherwise as expected. Recap below:

I Saw Him Standing There – Holly Kerr
Cover Reveal – Nine Elms – Robert Bryndza
Child’s Play – Angela Marsons
The Dead Wife – Sue Fortin
The Closer I Get – Paul Burston

The week ahead is pretty slow too. Well it is the summer. Four tours for The Girl In The Grave by Helen Phifer, Truth or Die by Katerina Diamond, The Chain by Adrian McKinty and Meet Me On The Riviera by Fliss Chester. After that I’m taking the weekend off to enjoy the bookish delight that is Harrogate and the Theakston’s Crime Festival. Well, that and Betty’s.

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Did make a couple of small impulse purchases this past week, one I am very happy with. I have a new tote bag, Jen Med’s Book Reviews themed, and a new lamp. A Moomin lamp. Isn’t it fabulous?

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I also have a new mug which was an early birthday gift from Mandie. I think it sums me up rather well. Rory approves. (She’s more interested than she appears, honestly …)

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Have a fabulous week all. See you on the other side.

Jen