To Kill The Truth by Sam Bourne | @QuercusBooks @ellakroftpatel

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Author : Sam Bourne
Title : To Kill The Truth
Series : Maggie Costello #4
Pages : 447
Publisher : Quercus
Publication date : February 21, 2019

| ABOUT THE BOOK |

Someone is trying to destroy the evidence of history’s greatest crimes.

Academics and Holocaust survivors dead in mysterious circumstances. Museums and libraries burning. Digital records and irreplaceable proofs, lost for ever.

Former White House operative Maggie Costello has sworn off politics. But when the Governor of Virginia seeks her help to stop the lethal spiral of killings, she knows that this is bigger than any political game.

As Black Lives Matter protestors clash with slavery deniers, America is on a knife-edge and time is running out. This deadly conspiracy could ignite a new Civil War – but who stands to gain most from the chaos?

| MY THOUGHTS |

To Kill The Truth presents the reader with a frightening and incredibly thought-provoking premise. Someone is trying to re-write history by destroying evidence of the world’s greatest crimes. History professors and Holocaust survivors are found murdered and the greatest libraries in the world are on fire. If there is no written proof of something, then surely it didn’t happen. Just let that sink in for a minute. No proof of slavery, no proof of the Holocaust, no proof of ethnic cleansing. To name a few.

Enter Maggie Costello. As a former White House operative, she has completely sworn off politics. She enrolled at university, desperately wanting to get away from all things Washington, DC. But then the governor of Virginia asks for her help and Maggie realises something far more sinister is going on. Who is behind these events? Who stands to gain? But more importantly, can they be stopped before it’s too late?

To Kill The Truth is the fourth instalment in the Maggie Costello series, which I wasn’t aware of when I picked this one up. A mere few pages in though, I was already wondering how Sam Bourne had evaded my radar. With jumping into an established series like this, I was slightly worried but luckily I never felt lost or confused by references to Maggie’s experiences in the previous books. Actually, it left me intrigued and determined to catch up on the other books in this series. And if you’ve not read any of these, then I definitely recommend starting at the beginning.

This is a really tense and exciting thriller. One of those books you can easily imagine being turned into a film. It’s well-paced, brilliantly plotted and makes you think. Obviously it’s politically charged and depending on which side of the fence you fall, you’ll either nod in agreement or shake your fist in anger. Because while the author never mentions any names, it’s quite obvious who he’s talking about.

A topical thriller then, one I found extremely compelling and despite it being well over 400 pages, I absolutely devoured it. Sam Bourne will not be evading my radar any longer. I can’t wait to catch up with the rest of the Maggie Costello series and very much look forward to what the author comes up with next.

To Kill The Truth is available to buy!

Affiliate link : Bookdepository
Other retailers : Amazon US | Amazon UK | Kobo | Wordery

The Glovemaker by Ann Weisgarber | @AnnWeisgarber @EllisKeene @panmacmillan | #blogtour #TheGlovemaker

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Delighted to join the blog tour for The Glovemaker by Ann Weisgarber today! Huge thanks to Ellis Keene at Pan MacMillan for the invitation to join and for the gorgeous review copy!

Author : Ann Weisgarber
Title : The Glovemaker
Pages : 289
Publisher : Pan MacMillan
Publication date :

| ABOUT THE BOOK |

In the inhospitable lands of the Utah Territory, during the winter of 1888, thirty-seven-year-old Deborah Tyler waits for her husband, Samuel, to return home from his travels as a wheelwright. It is now the depths of winter, Samuel is weeks overdue, and Deborah is getting worried.

Deborah lives in Junction, a tiny town of seven Mormon families scattered along the floor of a canyon, and she earns her living by tending orchards and making work gloves. Isolated by the red-rock cliffs that surround the town, she and her neighbors live apart from the outside world, even regarded with suspicion by the Mormon faithful who question the depth of their belief.

When a desperate stranger who is pursued by a Federal Marshal shows up on her doorstep seeking refuge, it sets in motion a chain of events that will turn her life upside down. The man, a devout Mormon, is on the run from the US government, which has ruled the practice of polygamy to be a felony. Although Deborah is not devout and doesn’t subscribe to polygamy, she is distrustful of non-Mormons with their long tradition of persecuting believers of her wider faith.

But all is not what it seems, and when the Marshal is critically injured, Deborah and her husband’s best friend, Nels Anderson, are faced with life and death decisions that question their faith, humanity, and both of their futures. 

| MY THOUGHTS |

In the late 1880’s, the federal government of America declared polygamy a felony. Bad news for the Mormons then. Men with multiple wives suddenly found themselves on the wrong side of the law and with warrants out for their arrest, many fled not just to save themselves but also to protect their families.

In the small town of Junction, we meet Deborah. She is the odd one out in this town. Married, but to a husband who is away for months at a time and with no children, the other villagers don’t quite know what to make of her. I, on the other hand, warmed to her from the moment I was introduced to her. When Deborah’s husband doesn’t make it back home on the date he should have returned, little does she know her life will be turned upside down even more.

Deborah is used to strangers showing up at her door, seeking help. She, her husband and his stepbrother run some sort of underground network and try to get men guilty of polygamy to safety. But when someone knocks on Deborah’s door, she instinctively knows trouble has arrived. Because no stranger ever comes calling in January. This unforgiving stretch of land deep in Utah territory is far too dangerous this time of year. Yet, Deborah sees no option but to help this stranger. That decision will change the lives of all the residents in Junction.

The Glovemaker is historical fiction from the top shelf. A lot of it is steeped in facts, which is always a bonus to me. This period in history was completely new to me. I learned quite a bit and am rather determined to find out more. Not every Mormon is a polygamist and the people in Junction much prefer to practice their faith in their own way. Nevertheless they will never turn their backs on their own.

The setting almost acts as a character on its own. It’s harsh and I have nothing but admiration for the people who tried to carve a life out in that place. They make it work somehow and there’s something quite comforting about knowing you can always rely on your little community, no matter what.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Glovemaker. It was easy to understand how hard it was for Deborah to make certain decisions. The wintery conditions added to the sense of isolation and throughout the story I felt quite unsettled, feeling something was coming but never really sure what that something would be. The Glovemaker is an utterly immersive story of love, faith and survival. My first introduction to Ann Weisgarber was an immense success and I look forward to reading more by her!

The Glovemaker is available to buy!

Affiliate link : Bookdepository
Other retailers : Amazon US | Amazon UK | Kobo | Wordery

| ABOUT THE AUTHOR |

Ann is the author of “The Glovemaker,” “The Promise,” and “The Personal History of Rachel DuPree.” She was nominated for the UK’s Orange Prize, the Orange Award for New Writers, and the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction. In the United States, she won the Stephen Turner Award for New Fiction and the Langum Prize for American Historical Fiction. She was shortlisted for the Ohioana Book Award and was a Barnes and Noble Discover New Writer. Ann was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters. 

She was born in Kettering, Ohio, a suburb of Dayton. She graduated from Wright State University in Dayton with a BA in Social Work and earned a MA in Sociology from the University of Houston. She has been a social worker in psychiatric and nursing home facilities, and taught sociology at Wharton County Junior College in Texas. 

In addition to Ohio and Texas, Ann has lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Des Moines, Iowa. She lives in Galveston, Texas, where she’s working on a novel about a World War II German POW camp in Hearne, Texas. 

My Last Lie by Ella Drummond | @drummondella1 @HeraBooks @BOTBSpublicity | #blogtour

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It’s a pleasure to welcome you all to my stop on the blog tour for My Last Lie by Ella Drummond! My thanks to Sarah Hardy for the invitation to join and to the publisher for my review copy!

Author : Ella Drummond
Title : My Last Lie
Pages : n/a
Publisher : Hera Books
Publication date : February 20, 2019

| ABOUT THE BOOK |

New beginnings. Old secrets.

Theo and Pilar. The perfect couple. 

Successful, beautiful and very much in love. 

Until a year ago – and the tragedy that nearly tore them apart. When their baby died, a part of them died with him. 

Now they’re trying to rebuild themselves, moving to a stunning house in rural Cornwall. But someone knows all their secrets – and will stop at nothing to disturb their fragile peace. 

Theo and Pilar are about to learn that you can try to hide – but you can never outrun your past. 

| MY THOUGHTS |

After a devastating tragedy and a long road to recovery for Pilar, she and her husband Theo move to Cornwall for a fresh start. But you can’t leave the past behind when someone knows all your secrets.

Pilar starts to notice odd things around their new house. Items that have been slightly moved or suddenly end up in a place where she’s sure she didn’t leave them, that horrible feeling of being watched and odd noises from time to time. Is she just forgetful? Imagining things? Losing it? Or is it Theo playing games with her? Can he be trusted?

My Last Lie is one heck of a slow-burner and admittedly, I prefer my psychological thrillers with a bit more “thrill” and tension to them. Nevertheless, I couldn’t help but get utterly invested in the lives of Theo and Pilar although I never quite warmed to either one of them. Then again, I thought the stand-out character was Pilar’s mother; quite a vile and toxic woman who spits venom everywhere. She intrigued me no end. I’m not entirely sure what says that about me.

As to the character who knows all of Pilar’s secrets, with a move to another part of the country come new friends and acquaintances and not all of them are particularly likeable. Pretty much every single one of them seems to have something to hide or act in a rather suspicious way. That said, I quite quickly zeroed in on a “suspect”, even though I was left guessing at their motives for it all. Nor did I have any clue as to what that big last lie could be and I just had to keep reading to find out what it was.

All in all, My Last Lie is an enjoyable debut by Ella Drummond which, I’m sure, has added quite a few frown lines to my forehead. I look forward to seeing what the author comes up with next.

My Last Lie is available to buy!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Kobo

| ABOUT THE AUTHOR |

Ella Drummond recently signed a two-book deal with Hera Books. Her first psychological thriller, My Last Lie is out now.

She lives with her husband on the island of Jersey

This Week in Books (February 20)

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Hosted by Lipsy Lost and Found, my Wednesday post gives you a taste of what I’m reading this week. A similar meme is run by Taking on a World of Words.

| LAST BOOK I FINISHED READING |

TWO GIRLS GO TO A PARTY, ONLY ONE RETURNS ALIVE

Toni, the surviving teenager, is found delirious, wandering the muddy fields. She has been drugged and it’s uncertain whether she’ll survive. She says she saw her friend Emily being dragged away from the party. But no one knows who Emily is or even if she’s still alive. . .

Meanwhile the drowned body of another girl has been found on an isolated beach.

And how does this all relate to the shocking disappearance of a little girl nearly a decade ago, a crime which was never solved? The girl’s mother is putting immense pressure on the police to re-open the high-profile case.
Each one of them is someone’s daughter and the police must give their familiar justice and closure.

DI Rowan Jackman and DS Marie Evans of the Fenland police are stretched to the limit as they try to bring the perpetrators of these shocking crimes to justice.

[Technically, I listened to this one but that still counts, right? 😂]

| THE BOOK I’M CURRENTLY READING |

Someone is trying to destroy the evidence of history’s greatest crimes.

Academics and Holocaust survivors dead in mysterious circumstances. Museums and libraries burning. Digital records and irreplaceable proofs, lost for ever.

Former White House operative Maggie Costello has sworn off politics. But when the Governor of Virginia seeks her help to stop the lethal spiral of killings, she knows that this is bigger than any political game.

As Black Lives Matter protestors clash with slavery deniers, America is on a knife-edge and time is running out. This deadly conspiracy could ignite a new Civil War – but who stands to gain most from the chaos? 

| WHAT I’M (PROBABLY) READING NEXT |

When the high school in the small Norwegian village of Fredheim becomes a murder scene, the finger is soon pointed at seventeen-year-old Even. As the investigation closes in, social media is ablaze with accusations, rumours and even threats, and Even finds himself the subject of an online trial as well as being in the dock… for murder?

Even pores over his memories of the months leading up to the crime, and it becomes clear that more than one villager was acting suspiciously… and secrets are simmering beneath the calm surface of this close-knit community.

As events from the past play tag with the present, he’s forced to question everything he thought he knew. Was the death of his father in a car crash a decade earlier really accidental? Has his relationship stirred up something that someone is prepared to kill to protect? It seems that there may be no one that Even can trust. But can we trust him?

What are you reading this week? Let me know! I can always use recommendations! Happy reading! xx

Apple of my Eye by Claire Allan | @ClaireAllan @AvonBooksUK | #blogtour #AppleOfMyEye

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Delighted to welcome you all to my stop on the blog tour for Apple of my Eye by Claire Allan today. My thanks to Sabah at Avon for the invitation to join and for the wonderful review copy!

Author : Claire Allan
Title : Apple of my Eye
Pages : 400
Publisher : Avon UK
Publication date : January 24, 2019

| ABOUT THE BOOK |

When a mysterious note arrives for six months pregnant Dr Eliana Hughes, she begins to doubt every aspect of her life – from her mixed feelings about motherhood to her marriage to Martin, who has become distant in recent months.

As the person behind the note escalates their campaign to out Eli’s husband as a cheat, she finds herself unable to trust even her own instincts, and as pressure builds, she makes a mistake that jeopardises her entire future.

Elsewhere, someone is watching. Someone who desperately wants a baby to call their own and will go to any lengths to become a mother – and stay a mother…

| MY THOUGHTS |

I really enjoyed Claire Allan’s debut novel, Her Name Was Rose, and have eagerly been awaiting her next offering ever since. And here it is! Second novels are always a tad tricky, or so they say, so I couldn’t wait to see if Claire Allan managed to come up with another brilliant plot.

Eliana is six months pregnant when mysterious notes start to show up, making her question everything about her life. Who is sending these notes and what do they want? Struggling with her pregnancy and unsure about impending motherhood, now she also has to face the fact that her husband may be a cheating you-know-what. And that’s all I’m telling you about this storyline because you really need to discover the rest for yourself.

Now, I read a lot in this genre and I’m also extremely suspicious by nature, which meant that I quite early on figured out what was going on. However, that didn’t impact my enjoyment of this book at all and I was eager to keep on reading to see if I was right or wrong. It’s a testament to Claire Allan’s writing that I never once felt like giving up on it because even though the element of surprise was gone for me, the journey to get there was still just as thrilling.

Apple of my Eye touches on some sensitive topics, like miscarriages and still-births. The impact those have on a character’s life is threaded throughout the story. Watching their struggle made for some uncomfortable reading sometimes and in an odd sort of way, that’s exactly what I like in my psychological thrillers lately. This kind of emotional level you don’t always get, that maybe makes you sympathise with the wrong character because you feel their pain even though you don’t necessarily agree with their actions.

This is another suspenseful, gripping and addictive page-turner from Claire Allan. She’s an author who should be on your radar for sure. Apple of my Eye didn’t disappoint at all with its intriguing characters and compelling storyline. I can’t wait to see what Claire Allan comes up with next!

Apple of my Eye is available to buy!

Affiliate link : Bookdepository
Other retailers : Amazon US | Amazon UK | Kobo | Wordery

| ABOUT THE AUTHOR |

Claire Allan is an Irish author who has previously written women’s fiction. Apple of My Eye is her second psychological thriller following 2018’s Her Name Was Rose.

The Shape of Lies by Rachel Abbott | @RachelAbbott @MauraWilding | #blogtour

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Delighted to welcome you all to my stop on the blog tour for The Shape of Lies by Rachel Abbott! My thanks to Maura Wilding for the invitation to join! Do please also make sure you visit Jo at My Chestnut Reading Tree who shall be reviewing the book today. Because over here on my blog, we’re doing something else altogether! It’s time for some fun and games but first, let’s see what The Shape of Lies is all about!

Author : Rachel Abbott
Title : The Shape of Lies
Series : DCI Tom Douglas #8
Pages : 314
Publisher : Black Dot Publishing
Publication date : February 12, 2019

| ABOUT THE BOOK |

Yesterday, Scott was dead.
Today, he’s back.
And Anna doesn’t believe in ghosts.

Fourteen years ago Scott was Anna’s boyfriend. She loved him, but he ruined her life. When he died, she should have been free.

But today Scott is on the radio, talking about her. Threatening to spill her secrets.

Anna is a mother, a wife, and head teacher of a primary school. And she’s a very good liar. She has been lying about herself for so long, she doesn’t really know who she is any more.

Anna used to think she was a good person. She made one stupid mistake, and now she is having to pay for it – over and over again.

Scott is the only person who knows the truth about her past. But how can Scott be alive?

Soon, DCI Tom Douglas is going to knock on her door looking for answers. But Anna is already running scared: from the man she used to love; the man she watched die all those years ago; the man who has come back to life.

She has one week to find him. One week to stop him.

I don’t know about you but I’m ridiculously excited! This is one of my favourite series and I can’t wait to read this!

Affiliate link : Bookdepository
Other retailers : Amazon US | Amazon UK | Wordery

| THE SHAPE OF TRUTH AND LIES GAME |

To celebrate the publication of The Shape of Lies we are playing a game of truth and lies. Play along, follow the blog tour to collect all the truths and you could be in with a chance of winning a signed copy of The Shape of Lies.

How to play: Rachel Abbott has come up with two big lies and one absolute truth about her life. Can you channel her beloved detective, Tom Douglas, and detect the one truth? Pick carefully, then follow the blog tour to collect all the truths and enter the prize draw. Once you have all seven truths email your answers to rachelabbottcomps@gmail.com. 

Full T&Cs can be found here. The next round of The Shape of Truth or Lies continues over on Off The Shelf Books tomorrow.

Play the game and be in with a chance of winning your very own signed copy.

Sounds easy enough, right? Are you ready? Let’s play!

Sport

  1. I have done the London Marathon twice, once dressed as a ballerina.
  2. When I was at school I had a trial for the Lancashire netball team. I used to practice taking 100 shots at goal per day (I was Goal Attack). 
  3. Having learned ballroom dancing at Turner’s Dancing School, I was chosen to represent the North West in an under 18s Ballroom Dancing contest in Blackpool. I was runner up, scoring top marks for my cha-cha. I do love a triple shuffle.

Which one is truth? A, B or C? Keep your answer safe, collect the next six truths and send all seven to: rachelabbottcomps@gmail.com

Hm. Not so easy after all. 🤔

Remember to head to Off The Shelf Books tomorrow for the next stop of The Shape of Lies blog tour and the next game of The Shape of Truth or Lies.

| ABOUT THE AUTHOR |

Rachel Abbott, born and raised in Manchester, founded her own interactive media company in the 1980s, before selling it and retiring in 2005. She then moved to Italy where she worked on the renovation of a 15th century Italian monastery, and it was here that, one day, she found herself snowed in and decided to begin writing for pleasure. This became her debut novel, Only The Innocent, which she went on to publish via Kindle Direct Publishing, topping their chart for 4 weeks.

A true self-publishing pioneer, The Shape of Lies is Abbott’s ninth novel.

She splits her time between Alderney in the Channel Islands and Italy

Author links : Facebook | Twitter | Website

All The Little Lies by Chris Curran | @Christi_Curran @KillerReads | #blogtour

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Happy Monday and welcome to my stop on the blog tour for All The Little Lies by Chris Curran! My thanks to the author for the invitation to join and to the publisher for my review copy.

Author : Chris Curran
Title : All The Little Lies
Pages : n/a
Publisher : Killer Reads / Harper Collins
Publication date : February 15, 2019

| ABOUT THE BOOK |

One email is all it takes to turn Eve’s world upside down. It contains a picture of her true birth mother, Stella, and proves that Eve’s entire life with her adoptive parents has been a lie.
 
Now she must unravel the mystery of Stella’s dark past. But what Eve finds will force her to take enormous risks, which put her – and her new-born baby – in immediate danger…

| MY THOUGHTS |

After having really enjoyed Chris Currant’s previous novel, Her Deadly Secret, I was delighted to be asked to read her next offering and discover what devilish plot she came up with this time.

Eve has always known she was adopted. But when she receives an email from a friend about her birth mother, Eve’s world is completely turned upside down. Her adoptive parents have been lying to her for years and now Eve is determined to find out the truth.

And off we go on a thrilling ride with so many twists and turns, it almost left me with whiplash. There are so many questions that need answers, so many lies that need to be discovered and just when you think there couldn’t possibly be any left, up pop a few more. Nobody in this story can be trusted to tell the truth about anything.

The chapters alternate between Eve in the present day and her birth mother, Stella, in the past. Slowly but surely a picture starts to form of what happened back then and why Eve may now find herself in danger. Because some people will stop at nothing to stop the truth from coming out. Now, I must admit that the chapters filling us in on Stella’s life were the ones that really gripped me. I truly felt for her and all the things she went through and as I am an incredibly impatient person, I just wanted to get to those reveals. That’s not to say Eve’s chapters don’t make for compelling reading either. It’s just the way my brain is programmed.

There was one event I figured out but there was a heck of a lot more that I didn’t see coming at all. All The Little Lies is a well-paced and gripping read full of untrustworthy characters. Maybe not quite for those with trust issues but for those who enjoy a twisty psychological thriller, I have no doubt you’ll enjoy this one.

All The Little Lies is available to buy!

Affiliate link : Bookdepository
Other retailers : Amazon US | Amazon UK | Kobo | Wordery

| ABOUT THE AUTHOR |

All the Little Lies is Chris Curran’s fourth psychological thriller for Harper Collins Killer Reads. She lives in East Sussex and writes, standing up, in a room with no view. When inspiration falters she finds tea (Earl Grey, hot) and a bout of ironing are very therapeutic. In breaks between books she dusts, cooks, walks by the sea and reads – but mostly reads. 

Author links : Instagram | Twitter | Website

Weekly Wrap-Up (February 17)

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After the longest January ever, February is positively flying! We’re currently having some lovely sunshine and Spring temperatures and that just makes all the difference, doesn’t it?

I can’t say it’s been a productive week though. Unless you count the three hours I spent on cleaning my oven. Yes, it was necessary. The hubby, who’s also the chef in our house, made a right mess of it. After all these years, I still haven’t managed to add “cleaning” to his list of duties 😉

Reading-wise, well …. why don’t we take a look?

| BOOKS I READ THIS WEEK |

Well. Erm. I don’t even have an explanation. In my defense, I have been listening to an audiobook which takes a lot longer to finish obviously. But somehow that doesn’t seem like a sufficient excuse to end the week with two finished books under my belt. Must do better.

| BOOKS I BOUGHT THIS WEEK |

None. I didn’t even realise until I started writing this post. All the books I really, really, really want to read aren’t published yet.

| ARC’s RECEIVED VIA NETGALLEY |

All The Little Lies for a blog tour, courtesy of Killer Reads. My Lovely Wife was a wonderful present from Michael Joseph. I’ve had my eye on that one for a while already so I was very excited to get that one!

| BOOK POST THAT LANDED ON MY DOORSTEP THIS WEEK |

Ooh yes, it was a good week at Casa Eva. Huge thanks to Transworld, Atlantic, Headline, OneWorld and Pan MacMillan. That’s probably it until Summer 😂

| ON THE BLOG THIS PAST WEEK |

Monday : Shared my review for The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths

Tuesday : Joined the blog tour for East of England by Eamonn Griffin with a guest post by the author.

Wednesday : Hosted a stop on the blog tour for Where She Lies by Michael Scanlon and shared My Week in Books

Thursday : Joined the blog tour for Flowers over the Inferno by Ilaria Tuti

Friday : I was going to post my Silent Patient review but a) I didn’t want to interfere with the blog tour and b) I haven’t actually written it yet. 😳

Saturday : Nothing

Sunday : Weekly Wrap-Up

| NEXT WEEK ON NOVEL DEELIGHTS |

Monday : Blog tour | Review | All The Little Lies by Chris Curran

Tuesday : Blog tour | Truths and Lies | The Shape of Lies by Rachel Abbott

Wednesday : Blog tour | Review | Apple of my Eye by Claire Allan

Thursday : Blog tour | Review | My Last Lie by Ella Drummond

Friday : Blog tour | Review | The Glovemaker by Ann Weisgarber

Saturday : Social Media Tour | Review | To Kill the Truth by Sam Bourne

Sunday : Weekly Wrap-Up

It’s fine! Everything is fine! I have it all under control! 😨😂

In other news, thank you so much to the wonderful person who nominated my blog for the Best Book Blog award at the Blogger Bash thingamajig. It’s very much appreciated and I’m truly grateful. I don’t stand a chance in hell but for once it’s true what they say, being nominated is fabulous enough as it is.

That’s all I have for this week. I have reviews to write (three to begin with) and books to read (also three and that’s just for the upcoming week) so I should probably get to it. Although …. mmmm, lunch. 🤔😂

Wishing you all a wonderful week and lots of happy reading! Until next time! xx

Flowers over the Inferno by Ilaria Tuti | @orionbooks @wnbooks @Tr4cyF3nt0n | #blogtour

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It’s a pleasure to welcome you all to my stop on the blog tour for Flowers over the Inferno by Ilaria Tuti today. My thanks to Tracy Fenton for the invitation to join and to the publisher for my review copy!

Author : Ilaria Tuti
Title : Flowers over the Inferno
Series : Teresa Battaglia #1
Pages : 360
Publisher : Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Publication date : February 7, 2019

| ABOUT THE BOOK |

In a quiet village surrounded by ancient woods and the imposing Italian Alps, a man is found naked with his eyes gouged out. It is the first in a string of gruesome murders.

Superintendent Teresa Battaglia, a detective with a background in criminal profiling, is called to investigate. Battaglia is in her mid-sixties, her rank and expertise hard-won from decades of battling for respect in the male-dominated Italian police force. While she’s not sure she trusts the young city inspector assigned to assist her, she sees right away that this is no ordinary case: buried deep in these mountains are whispers of a dark and dangerous history, possibly tied to a group of eight-year-old children toward whom the killer seems to gravitate.

As Teresa inches closer to the truth, she must also confront the possibility that her body and mind, worn down by age and illness, may fail her before the chase is over.

| MY THOUGHTS |

Well, this is a novel experience. After all the Scandi-Noir that’s flooding onto the crime fiction market, Flowers Over The Inferno leaves Scandinavia far behind and takes us south. To Italy, as a matter of fact. Although, the setting is in the Alps so you know, it’s still cold and there’s still snow. But still.

There we meet Detective Teresa Battaligia. If you’re a wee tired of the stereotypical detective in your crime fiction, you’ll absolutely love Teresa. She’s not your average spring chicken being as she’s in her sixties, slightly overweight, definitely a diabetic and also struggling with some other health issues she’s not yet quite ready to face when we first meet her. But Teresa has decades of experience, knows a thing or two about profiling, and is an indomitable force to be reckoned with.

A naked man is found dead in the forest with his eyes gouged out. Teresa’s instincts immediately tell her this is no ordinary case but can she catch the killer before they strike again? A young city inspector, Marini, is assigned to her team to help out but Teresa isn’t sure about him. Despite Marini’s various attempts to win over his new boss, she seems to think he’s the most incompetent person ever.

Most of the action plays itself out in the present day but we also get glimpses into events from the past that are rather harrowing from the get-go. I don’t want to say anything else about that but suffice to say someone’s dark and tragic past will heavily influence the present. These bits of information are fed to the reader throughout the story, always immensely enticing but not giving away too much information so I was trying insanely hard to pick up clues somewhere along the way and true to form, failing miserably. It’s not the easiest of topics and in a somewhat odd way, I was left to sympathise with the wrong characters.

Flowers over the Inferno is intense, gripping and incredibly addictive. It’s easy to see why this introduction to Teresa Battaglia was the biggest debut of last year in Italy. It’s not only the investigation into the murder that keeps the reader’s attention, it’s also the fabulous character that is Teresa herself. While her health may make her vulnerable, she refuses to give in, which makes her someone to be admired and someone you root for.

This is the first instalment in a trilogy and I absolutely can’t wait for the next book and an opportunity to catch up with Teresa again.

Flowers over the Inferno is available to buy!

Affiliate link : Bookdepository
Other retailers : Amazon US | Amazon UK | Kobo | Wordery

| ABOUT THE AUTHOR |

ILARIA TUTI lives in Friuli, in the far north-eastern part of Italy. FLOWERS OVER THE INFERNO, her debut novel and the first book in the Teresa Battaglia trilogy, was a top 10 bestseller on publication and the biggest debut of 2018 in Italy.

This Week in Books (February 13)

~ noveldeelights ~ 15 Comments

Hosted by Lipsy Lost and Found, my Wednesday post gives you a taste of what I’m reading this week. A similar meme is run by Taking on a World of Words.

| LAST BOOK I FINISHED READING |

The Stranger appears out of nowhere, perhaps in a bar, or a parking lot, or at the grocery store. His identity is unknown. His motives are unclear. His information is undeniable. Then he whispers a few words in your ear and disappears, leaving you picking up the pieces of your shattered world.

Adam Price has a lot to lose: a comfortable marriage to a beautiful woman, two wonderful sons, and all the trappings of the American Dream: a big house, a good job, a seemingly perfect life.

Then he runs into the Stranger. When he learns a devastating secret about his wife, Corinne, he confronts her, and the mirage of perfection disappears as if it never existed at all. Soon Adam finds himself tangled in something far darker than even Corinne’s deception, and realizes that if he doesn’t make exactly the right moves, the conspiracy he’s stumbled into will not only ruin lives—it will end them. 

| THE BOOK I’M CURRENTLY READING |

When a mysterious note arrives for six months pregnant Dr Eliana Hughes, she begins to doubt every aspect of her life – from her mixed feelings about motherhood to her marriage to Martin, who has become distant in recent months.

As the person behind the note escalates their campaign to out Eli’s husband as a cheat, she finds herself unable to trust even her own instincts, and as pressure builds, she makes a mistake that jeopardises her entire future.

Elsewhere, someone is watching. Someone who desperately wants a baby to call their own and will go to any lengths to become a mother – and stay a mother…

| WHAT I’M (PROBABLY) READING NEXT |

One email is all it takes to turn Eve’s world upside down. It contains a picture of her true birth mother, Stella, and proves that Eve’s entire life with her adoptive parents has been a lie.

Now she must unravel the mystery of Stella’s dark past. But what Eve finds will force her to take enormous risks, which put her – and her new-born baby – in immediate danger…

To give you a clue as to how my reading week is going, I finished The Stranger late on Saturday night and started Apple Of My Eye on Monday. Looks like it’s another slow one for me. Oops.

What are you reading this week? Let me know! Happy reading! xx