Category: Blog Tour

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Cursed by Thomas Enger – Blog Tour Review.

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About the Book

When Hedda Hellberg fails to return from a retreat in Italy, where she has recently been grieving for her dead father, her husband discovers that her life is tangled in mystery. Hedda never left Oslo, the retreat has no record of her and, what’s more, she appears to be connected to the murder of an old man, gunned down on the first day of the hunting season in the depths of the Swedish forests…

My Review

Cursed is the fourth book in the series to feature Henning Juul. I was a little concerned at first, I’m not very good at reading out of sequence. But there was enough information, with no spoilers to follow the story and the relationship between the characters.

The start is brutal with the murder of an elderly hunter in a wood but it then switches immediately to Henning, Nora and their respective searches. They used to be married but the marriage fell apart with the death of their son. However, they still have strong feelings for each other which they both try and ignore.

Henning is trying to find out who was responsible for the death of their son despite the danger that it places him in. Nora has been asked to help find an old friend from university who has disappeared after telling her husband she needed some time on her own.

This is a novel, that once I worked out the back story I really enjoyed.

I have always struggled with novels that feature journalists before, probably because they are portrayed as being without morals or loyalty. But both Henning and Nora were warm, honest and approachable. Henning, especially faced danger with his quest and there were a few times that I wasn’t optimistic about him surviving. Nora was unaware of how much danger she could be in. Her friend was from a very wealthy and powerful family, some of whom who didn’t like questions being asked. Most of the novel focused on Nora. I liked both, but loved her strength and loyalty. She still grieved the loss of her son and felt guilty being optimistic about the future.

The cases joined very well, I didn’t see how they would do but it was all believable. Power, greed and money are never far from anything. The ending was a huge shock. I purposely covered the last paragraph with my hand so I didn’t accidently see a name. and the name it revealed was one that had me aching for an immediate follow up. Book five will not come quick enough.

With thanks to Karen Sullivan, as always for the copy received.

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Posted on

Cursed by Thomas Enger – Blog Tour Review.

515ppmic7ol-_sx324_bo1204203200_

About the Book

When Hedda Hellberg fails to return from a retreat in Italy, where she has recently been grieving for her dead father, her husband discovers that her life is tangled in mystery. Hedda never left Oslo, the retreat has no record of her and, what’s more, she appears to be connected to the murder of an old man, gunned down on the first day of the hunting season in the depths of the Swedish forests…

My Review

Cursed is the fourth book in the series to feature Henning Juul. I was a little concerned at first, I’m not very good at reading out of sequence. But there was enough information, with no spoilers to follow the story and the relationship between the characters.
The start is brutal with the murder of an elderly hunter in a wood but it then switches immediately to Henning, Nora and their respective searches. They used to be married but the marriage fell apart with the death of their son. However, they still have strong feelings for each other which they both try and ignore.
Henning is trying to find out who was responsible for the death of their son despite the danger that it places him in. Nora has been asked to help find an old friend from university who has disappeared after telling her husband she needed some time on her own.
This is a novel, that once I worked out the back story I really enjoyed.
I have always struggled with novels that feature journalists before, probably because they are portrayed as being without morals or loyalty. But both Henning and Nora were warm, honest and approachable. Henning, especially faced danger with his quest and there were a few times that I wasn’t optimistic about him surviving. Nora was unaware of how much danger she could be in. Her friend was from a very wealthy and powerful family, some of whom who didn’t like questions being asked. Most of the novel focused on Nora. I liked both, but loved her strength and loyalty. She still grieved the loss of her son and felt guilty being optimistic about the future.
The cases joined very well, I didn’t see how they would do but it was all believable. Power, greed and money are never far from anything. The ending was a huge shock. I purposely covered the last paragraph with my hand so I didn’t accidently see a name. and the name it revealed was one that had me aching for an immediate follow up. Book five will not come quick enough.

With thanks to Karen Sullivan, as always for the copy received.

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All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda – Blog Tour Review.

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About the Book

It’s been ten years since Nicolette Farrell left her rural hometown after her best friend, Corinne, disappeared without trace. Then a letter from her father arrives – ‘I need to talk to you. That girl. I saw that girl.’ Has her father’s dementia worsened, or has he really seen Corinne? Returning home, Nicolette must finally face what happened on that terrible night all those years ago. Then, another young woman goes missing, almost to the day of the anniversary of when Corinne vanished. And like ten years ago, the whole town is a suspect. Told backwards – Day 15 to Day 1 – Nicolette works to unravel the truth, revealing shocking secrets about her friends, her family, and what really happened to Corinne. Like nothing you’ve ever read before, All the Missing Girls is a brilliantly plotted debut thriller that will leave you breathless.

My Review

All the Missing Girls, apart from being a well written novel is unique. It starts off just like every other novel I’ve ever read but then after the introduction goes to Day 15 in the investigation into the disappearance of Annaleise. Subsequent chapters countdown to day one where everything is revealed.
I found it very strange to read at first, I had to resist the temptation to start at the back of the book and read towards the beginning. As I got further in, however I’m glad I went with the way the author wanted. There were a couple of times I had to flick back but they did lessen as I progressed.
I loved the description of the area, the people, even the accent that Nic did her best to disguise. I didn’t like Everett at all. I thought him cold, elitist and controlling. His only redeeming grace was that he was the only character in the entire book who had to be innocent.
Did it work? Yes, in hindsight it did, helped by the beauty of the writing, the characterisation and the story which was very powerful. I don’t think it would have the same impact if it had been a conventional novel. I had no idea at all who was responsible for anything that had happened either in the past or the present and I like to think that it was a happy ending.
I have never read any of Megan Miranda’s previous books which I gather are a different genre but I would be interested in the future. I would like to thank the publisher for the copy received and the introduction to a new author to read.

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Sealskin by Su Bristow – Blog Tour Review.

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About the Book

What happens when magic collides with reality? Donald is a young fisherman, eking out a lonely living on the west coast of Scotland. One night he witnesses something miraculous …and makes a terrible mistake. His action changes lives – not only his own, but those of his family and the entire tightly knit community in which they live. Can he ever atone for the wrong he has done, and can love grow when its foundation is violence? Based on the legend of the selkies – seals who can transform into people – Sealskin is a magical story, evoking the harsh beauty of the landscape, the resilience of its people, both human and animal, and the triumph of hope over fear and prejudice. With exquisite grace, Exeter Novel Prize-winner Su Bristow transports us to a different world, subtly and beautifully exploring what it means to be an outsider, and our innate capacity for forgiveness and acceptance. Rich with myth and magic, Sealskin is, nonetheless, a very human story, as relevant to our world as to the timeless place in which it is set. And it is, quite simply, unforgettable.

My Review

Donald is very much a loner until he sees Mairhi on the beach. He is fixated, not only is she beautiful she is also a selkie. After he has made it impossible for her to return to the sea he takes her to his home and his mother tells him what needs to be done. From that moment, his life changes completely.
I absolutely adored this novel. I didn’t get into it immediately but from the moment they met the priest I was hooked. The way everything was described – a community full of hard working fishermen and their mainly strong women living in a remote area at the mercy of the weather. Most of whom she touched, including this reader, she entranced. By her simplicity, faith and innocence she gave courage to the ones that needed it and humility to the rest. The ones who were not as nice were terrified by the images that Mairhi could reveal and how that contributed to making that person realise what they were and what they had to lose. Donald was the main beneficiary. I felt that she forgave him and she helped him change from an object of ridicule into a person to look up to.
The story, combined with the setting and having no sense of when it was set in time made for an unforgettable and mesmerising read that had me lost for words when I finished. A gorgeous, heartbreaking book, the only thing missing was a soundtrack to listen to as I read.

With thanks to Karen Sullivan for the copy received and for the chance to participate in the blog tour. You can also see a review at damppebbles where one of my favourite bloggers Emma has a guest post.

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The Evolution of Fear by Paul Hardisty- Blog Tour

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Claymore Straker is a fugitive with a price on his head. Wanted by the CIA for acts of terrorism he did not commit,
his best friend has just been murdered and Rania, the woman he loves, has disappeared. Betrayed by those
closest to him, he must flee the sanctuary of his safe house in Cornwall and track her down. As his pursuers close
in, Clay follows Rania to Istanbul and then to Cyprus, where he is drawn into a violent struggle between the
Russian mafia, Greek Cypriot extremists, and Turkish developers cashing in on the tourism boom. As the island of
love descends into chaos, and the horrific truth is unveiled, Clay must call on every ounce of skill and endurance to save Rania and put an end to the unimaginable destruction being wrought in the name of profit. Gripping,
exhilarating and, above all, frighteningly realistic, The Evolution of Fear is a startling, eye-­‐opening read that
demands the question: How much is truth, and how much is fiction..

My Review:

The Evolution of Fear is the follow up novel to The Abrupt Physics of Dying. I hadn’t read the first one due to time issues and while I would recommend doing so, I could still follow and enjoy this novel very much.
Claymore goes on the run when he arrives back at the cottage where he has been in hiding to find men who turn out to be killers waiting for him. He knows there is a price on his head and also that the woman he loves, Rania, is also in danger. He has to leave England to try and protect her but can’t leave by the usual means, so starts his journey by sailing to Spain.
I did struggle slightly at first, knowing absolutely nothing about sailing the terminology went way over my head but the thrill and sense of danger more than made up for any confusion. There is violence everywhere, Claymore is wary of making friends with people in case he places them in danger so doesn’t settle easily. But as well as the violence there is also a love story, the storyline that concerns the problems in Cyprus after the war and the turtle conservation there.
I always feel that when you know something about an area where a novel takes place it has more of an impact. I have seen the beauty of the Agamas Peninsula, the quiet beaches, deserted villages and a Nicosia split in two. And the unease at certain points about any atrocities that occurred.
Paul Hardisty does a fantastic job in showing the struggle on both sides and at showing how important wildlife preservation is and how much danger it is in from people who are in power and are obsessed with having more.
I thought all the characters worked well, like Claymore I had no idea who he could trust and got it wrong a few times. There are some good, plenty of bad and just like in real life a few who have done things in their past that they wish they hadn’t.
With thanks to Karen Sullivan for the copy received and the opportunity to take part in the blog tour.

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