The Girl Who Came Back by Kerry Wilkinson @kerrywk @bookouture #blogblitz

~ noveldeelights ~ 4 Comments

** advanced copy received via publisher **

Delighted to be kicking off the blog blitz for The Girl Who Came Back by Kerry Wilkinson today, alongside a bunch of other fabulous bloggers! Many thanks to Kim Nash for the opportunity to join!

35616667

Author : Kerry Wilkinson
Title : The Girl Who Came Back
Pages : 303
Publisher : Bookouture
Publication date : September 8, 2017

aboutthebook

Thirteen years ago Olivia Adams went missing. Now she’s back… or is she?

When five-year-old Olivia Adams disappeared from her back garden, the small community of Stoneridge was thrown into turmoil. How could a child vanish in the middle of a cosy English village?

Thirteen years on and Olivia is back. Her mother is convinced it’s her but not everyone is sure. If this is the missing girl, then where has she been – and what happened to her on that sunny afternoon? If she’s an imposter, then who would be bold enough to try to fool a child’s own mother – and why?

Then there are those who would rather Olivia stayed missing. The past is the past and some secrets must remain buried.

mythoughts

Cor! Kerry Wilkinson strikes again with this absolutely incredible page turner!

Thirteen years ago, five year old Olivia disappeared from her back garden. Now she’s back. Or is she? Her mother is convinced her daughter has returned but not everyone shares her conviction. Is the girl who came back Olivia or merely an imposter?

With The Girl Who Came Back the author has once again delivered a brilliantly executed plot. It is completely engrossing and compelling with tons of complex, and some quite unlikeable, characters. Its slow pace works like a charm, as does the setting of this sleepy village where everybody seems to know everybody’s business. Although maybe not quite because how is it possible that a five year old can just disappear like that?

Slowly but surely family secrets will be revealed and some skeletons will fall out of the closets. And in the middle of all of that, there’s the always interesting topic of nature versus nurture that has you wondering if things might have turned out differently in an alternate universe.

Tension bubbles away underneath the surface throughout the story and there was this subtle threatening vibe that had me on the edge of my seat. There are tiny clues along the way that are sometimes quite easy to miss but when you pick up on them, they’ll have you wracking your brain trying to figure out what’s going on. And just when you think you know, there’s a twist or two that’ll make your head spin.

This is quite a quick read but utterly absorbing. Kerry Wilkinson is an amazing writer whose stories constantly manage to reel me in and keep me hooked. All I can say is, I’d like some more, please.

Many thanks to Bookouture for the opportunity to join the blitz tour and my advanced copy, which I received via Netgalley and as always, chose to review honestly!

The Girl Who Came Back is out today!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Goodreads

abouttheauthor

Kerry Wilkinson is from the English county of Somerset but has spent far too long living in the north. It’s there that he’s picked up possibly made-up regional words like ‘barm’ and ‘ginnel’. He pretends to know what they mean.

He’s also been busy since turning thirty: his Jessica Daniel crime series has sold more than a million copies in the UK; he has written a fantasy-adventure trilogy for young adults; a second crime series featuring private investigator Andrew Hunter and the standalone thriller, Down Among The Dead Men.

Facebook – Twitter – Website

***

TGWCB - Blog Tour

Flowers for the Dead by Barbara Copperthwaite @BCopperthwait

~ noveldeelights ~ 6 Comments

26243475

Author : Barbara Copperthwaite
Title : Flowers for the Dead
Pages : 353
Publisher : BLC Publications
Publication date : September 21, 2015

aboutthebook

Adam Bourne is a serial killer who thinks he is a saviour. When he murders young women and cuts off their lips, he believes he has done it to make them happy.

How did he become warped from the sensitive four-year-old who adored his gran and the fairy tales she read to him? What turned him into a monster who stalks his victims? And what is he trying to say with the bouquets he sends?

When he meets Laura Weir, Adam weaves a fairy tale romance around them. A tale she has no idea she is part of. As he hatches his twisted plan for their fairy tale ending, can anyone stop him before he creates the ultimate sacrifice to love?

mythoughts

Adam hasn’t had the best of childhoods. The only person he truly adored and felt safe with was his beloved grandmother. She’d read stories to him and taught him all about flowers and gardening. All Adam wants is to make someone happy, but why do women always turn on him? What is it that he does so wrong?

In case you missed it in the book description, Adam is a stalker and a serial killer. Prepare yourself for a whole host of complicated and mixed feelings that will leave you utterly confused. Because Adam isn’t like any other serial killer I’ve ever read about. In fact, in many ways he’d make the perfect boyfriend. Leaving you flowers, cleaning your house, anticipating your every need. It all sounds fantastic, doesn’t it? But “you” don’t know who’s doing these things or why.

Throughout the book, we learn more about his childhood and it’s one heartbreaking tale. In a twisted sort of way, I found myself rooting for him, desperately wanting him to find his one true love and make someone happy while finally finding happiness himself.

Laura is struggling with life after losing her parents and her brother in a car accident. When she finally makes the decision to pick up the pieces and move on, Adam sets his sights on her. I found these parts of the storyline particularly terrifying as it truly hits home how little there is you can do when you think you’re being stalked.

This is one brilliantly executed psychological thriller. As it’s obvious from the beginning what Adam is and what he gets up, there aren’t really any twists and turns but I didn’t expect there to be any. What we do have is an incredible character study and it’s a credit to the author’s writing that I somehow found myself sympathising with Adam. That old chestnut of nature versus nurture will never grow old although in this instance, it’s quite clear where things went wrong. Barbara Copperthwaite has written an utterly creepy, gripping and compelling read and I look forward to reading more by her!

Flowers for the Dead was published in 2015.

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Goodreads

The Blood of Kings by Angela King @AngelaS969 @bombshellpub #blogtour

~ noveldeelights ~ 2 Comments

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for The Blood of Kings by Angela King! I’ll be sharing my review for this historical fiction novel, right after I tell you a little about the book.

41dWXE0c7JL._SY346_

Author : Angela King
Title : The Blood of Kings
Pages : 400
Publisher : Bombshell Books
Publication date : September 1, 2017

aboutthebook

1559. A girl arrives in London to search for her brother.

Aalia, an awkward, arrogant teenager plans to bring William to his senses, until she discovers that both their lives are based on a lie.

Aalia must unravels a web of secrets but has the weight of her past to contend with.

Courageous and undisciplined, Aalia gradually comes to terms with the truth that William, her brother, has royal blood.

Deciding to undermine the men who want to use him as a pawn, Aalia must negotiate a world where secrecy arms the powerful. But unwilling to ask for anyone’s help she is forced into making a fateful decision.

Who can she trust when everyone around her is plotting? Is the truth really something worth dying for?

mythoughts

The year is 1959. The place is London. The ship Cornucopia arrives after a long journey from India. On board is Aalia. She’s come to England to find her brother, William. William seems to think he’s a long lost son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour and thus the rightful heir to the throne. He quickly becomes a pawn in a deadly game. Some know the truth and will go to desperate lengths to keep that truth hidden at all costs. There’s a lot of sneaking around and dubious meetings from multiple players with their own ambitions, not at all necessarily noble, which is exactly how I would imagine things to have been in those days.

Set in the era of Elizabeth Tudor’s reign, The Blood of Kings is full of a healthy dose of intrigue that’s to be expected from a life at court and a time when kings and queens weren’t safe from anyone. Aalia must unravel a web of deceit and lies but with so many people around her plotting, is there anyone left she can trust?

Aalia is quite likeable and very different from what women were supposed to be like or act like in those days. She’s fiery, feisty, tempestuous and incredibly stubborn. She’s not someone you can control but she can take excellent care of herself.

I must admit that I often felt a tad confused about the large cast of characters, although it’s entirely possible that was due to my concentration levels not being up to scratch. I also found some chapters to be rather on the slow side, which broke the flow of the story and I didn’t always understand their relevance.

However, the author truly manages to create a wonderful atmosphere of London life in the 1500’s from the pubs to the docks to court. If you like historical fiction, the Elizabethan era and a great dose of mystery and intrigue, then this is the book for you!

The Blood of Kings was published on September 1st.

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Goodreads

abouttheauthor

I’ve always loved words, those little black squiggles dancing around the page lead inside a secret world – the world of imagination.

I’ve always loved writing – diaries, stories, letters – I’m a compulsive writer. My favourite task is pinning the imagined world into words – it’s also the most exciting but I’d rarely let anyone read my work.

While my children were growing up I studied with the Open University. I also worked for a small company which made docu-history films for museums and wrote articles for magazines and specialist publications. Then, in 2008, two very close friends died, kicking me into action – if I didn’t write my novel soon it might never be written. I joined a couple of local creative writing groups and finally allowed my imagination to run free.

In 2016 I had short stories published in three different anthologies: Dark Minds (Bloodhound Books), Happily Never After (C & P Writers) and Dot, Dot, Dot, (Wiza Words).

My first novel – The Blood of Kings – is due to be published by Bombshell Books later this year.

Twitter | Blog | Email

***

BLOG TOUR (6)-2

The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde by Eve Chase @evepchase @MichaelJBooks

~ noveldeelights ~ 8 Comments

31851231

Author : Eve Chase
Title : The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde
Pages : 336
Publisher : Michael Joseph
Publication date : July 13, 2017

aboutthebook

From the present day . . .

Applecote Manor captivates Jessie with it promise of hazy summers in the Cotswolds. She believes it’s the perfect escape for her troubled family. But the house has an unsettling history, and strange rumours surround the estate.

to the fifties . . .

When teenage Margot and her three sisters arrive at Applecote during the heatwave of ’59, they find their aunt and uncle still reeling from the disappearance of their daughter, Audrey, five years before.

The sisters are drawn into the mystery of Audrey’s vanishing – until the stifling summer takes a shocking, deadly turn. Will one unthinkable choice bind them together, or tear them apart?

mythoughts

Creepy gothic manor in the country? A mystery surrounding a missing girl? Dual time line historical fiction? I didn’t really need anything else to persuade me to pick up this book. But this is also one of those times when writing a review is a real struggle for me as I find it hard to find the words to say how beautiful and special this novel is.

The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde centres around two families in two different eras. In the present day, Jessie moves her family to Applecote Manor in the Cotswolds. They need a fresh start, new surroundings, a chance to come together as a family. But the manor and its grounds haven’t always been a happy place, causing Jessie to feel like she made a mistake in moving there.

Back in 1959, Margot and her three sisters spend a scorching summer at Applecote Manor, which is owned by their aunt and uncle. Their daughter Audrey disappeared without a trace five years ago and her parents have had a hard time moving on. Margot was especially close to Audrey and has always wondered what happened to her. Will these scorching summer weeks finally reveal the answer?

I found myself completely absorbed in the atmosphere of this story from the very first page. Often I feel one era appeals to me more and I can’t get wait to get back to it but I didn’t find that the case here. As eager as I was to find out what happened to Audrey, I was equally invested in the circumstances of Jessie and her family, in particular her stepdaughter Bella.

The mystery surrounding Audrey’s disappearance is revealed bit by bit, which really held my attention. Throughout the story, we explore the bonds between sisters, the secrets they keep , the squabbles they have and the boys they like. And each sister is so different from the other, you will have no problem whatsoever relating to at least one of them. The story also covers the importance of family, loss and grief and the different ways people deal with those events. It just has everything to keep you utterly enthralled.

There’s something quite magical about Eve Chase’s writing. With such vivid descriptions, I could almost feel the sun burning on my skin or imagine the sweet relief of water in a pool or river. This is such a delightful and beautifully written novel and I absolutely loved it! I will soon be picking up the author’s previous novel, Black Rabbit Hall, and very much look forward to whatever is next.

The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde is available now!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Bookdepository | Goodreads

Death in Dulwich by Alice Castle @DDsDiary @EmmaMitchellFPR #blogtour #guestpost

~ noveldeelights ~ 5 Comments

Today I’m hosting a stop on the blog tour for Death in Dulwich and it’s my pleasure to  welcome author Alice Castle to the blog to talk about her road to publication. Many thanks to Alice and to Emma Mitchell for the opportunity to join the tour!

35375844

Author : Alice Castle
Title : Death in Dulwich
Series : The London Murder Mysteries #1
Pages : 281
Publisher : Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Publication date : May 31, 2017

aboutthebook

Thirty-something single mum, Beth Haldane, has her hands full – with a bouncy young son, a haughty cat, a fringe with a mind of its own, and bills to pay. She loves her little home in plush London suburb Dulwich, but life here doesn’t come cheap.

She is thrilled to land the post of archivist at top local school, Wyatt’s, though she secretly fears she’s not up to the job. But even Beth couldn’t have imagined how badly things could go, until she discovers a hideous crime and finds herself prime suspect.

Setting out to clear her name, Beth encounters a cast of characters who will follow her through the London Murder Mystery series, proving along the way that the nicest places can hide the nastiest secrets.

guestpost

THE ROAD TO PUBLICATION

My journey to publication has been a long and winding road, like all the most interesting stories! I had my first idea for a chick-lit novel while I was living in Brussels and I got an agent quickly, by writing off with a synopsis and the first three chapters to about twenty people. That agent couldn’t find me a publisher, so I changed to another agent, and then another, before getting my first deal with, to my surprise, the very well respected German publisher Ullstein. So, my novel, Hot Chocolate, was duly translated into German and was a bestseller as Schokohertz, selling out in two weeks. It’s now available in German and English on Kindle. I blush to admit that I don’t speak (or read) a word of German!

After this, I thought I’d go for another genre I love, the cozy crime mystery. I’ve always loved reading crime fiction and had become more and more intrigued by the way plots work. Then I thought up an idea for a story. Last April I started writing Death in Dulwich, inspired by my years living there. I thought the beautiful setting and the concentration of ambitious parents and precocious children would provide a rich setting for a whodunit. I also loved the idea of a clever and determined single mother solving the crime where the Met police, so strapped for resources, was doomed to failure. I finished and edited the book over the course of the year.

By this time, my previous agent had decided to concentrate only on non-fiction, so I went it alone and submitted to Crooked Cat just after Christmas. I’d heard of them as a great indie publisher and had been keeping my eye out for signs that they were open to submissions. As soon as the page went up I sent Death in Dulwich off. I crossed my fingers, then had an email from them that was very short. I was sure it was a rejection – but it just pointed out I hadn’t attached the book file! Once I’d stopped kicking myself, I sent it over and, days later, I got an email saying they loved the book and wanted to publish.

I’ve been very lucky with Crooked Cat, they’ve been hugely supportive and really encouraging. Every email is answered swiftly, there’s so much advice on offer and I had lots of input in the choice of cover. The editing process was really thorough but painless, as no major changes were asked for. I really feel we’re a partnership and they are just as concerned as I am to try and give the book every chance in what is a very crowded market.

If I could do it all again, I would save myself my early moments of despair at thinking the book would never get published. But, apart from changing my name to Dan Brown and getting my hands on a massive marketing team and unlimited publicity budget, I’m not sure I would change a thing. I think the book cover looks great and I really hope it’ll find some kind readers who’ll enjoy being transported to a pretty, and gently murderous, corner of our great capital city.

***

Thanks so much Alice for taking the time to share your road to publication!

Death in Dulwich will be published as an ebook on September 6th but the paperback is available now!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Goodreads

***

09042017_dulwich

Weekly Wrap-Up (September 3)

~ noveldeelights ~ 26 Comments

weekly-wrap-up

I don’t even want to think about how it’s September already. I’m pretty sure it was Christmas last week! Still, 5 more sleeps and I’ll be on my way to Tuscany. I’ve made the awful mistake of checking the weather forecast which promises little sunshine and lots of rain. So, basically the same as the rest of this miserable summer. Fabulous! 😂

It’s been a productive reading week and I managed to remove 7 books from my TBR. Not counting The Text since it was a short story.

Books I read this week :

 

Books I bought this week :

Brace yourself! Are you ready?

NONE! Nada! Zip! I struggled and almost accidentally had another moment where my finger slipped but I made it. Not sure it’s worth it though. Feels an awful lot like the most horrendous punishment. 😉


ARC’s received via Netgalley :

This would have been zero too but then Bookouture threw a spanner in the works, as per usual!

 

Bookpost that arrived this week :

This totally made up for the not buying any! I won Floating Theatre in a giveaway run by the lovely Cathy! The Fourteenth letter was sent to me by the publisher. As was Murder Most Foul because they sympathised with my self-imposed book buying ban which I thought was absolutely brilliant and made me laugh! The other three were sent to me by my dear friend Vicki!

 

On the blog this past week :

Still busy, busy, busy!

Monday : Reviewed I Know Where She Is

Tuesday : Shared my review for Friend Request

Wednesday : Shared my thoughts on Final Girls

Thursday : Hosted a stop on the blog tour for Witch Dust

Friday : Shared my publication day review for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Seek and my thoughts on the free Kindle short story The Text

Saturday : Joined the blog tour for Hide and Seek

Sunday : Joined other fab bloggers on the blog blitz for The Accident

 

Next week on noveldeelights :

I may be a mere five days away from my holiday but there’s no slowing down on the blog! I’ll be hosting three blog tours : Death in Dulwich, The Blood of Kings and The Girl Who Came Back. I have two other reviews ready to go to fill up the other two days.

But from Saturday onwards, this blog is on holiday. I thought about scheduling posts but since I’ll most likely be without wifi, I wouldn’t be able to check if they posted anyway so I figured I’d save myself the stress. Now all I need to do is decide which books I’m taking with me. How hard can that be? 😂 Oh, and clothes. Guess I should pack that as well.

And that’s it for another week. Have a great one and happy reading! xx

The Accident by S.D. Monaghan @SeanMonaghan16 @bookouture #blogblitz

~ noveldeelights ~ Leave a comment

** advanced copy received via publisher **

Welcome to my stop on the blitz tour for the gripping The Accident by S.D. Monaghan!

35541623

Author : S.D. Monaghan
Title : The Accident
Pages : 258
Publisher : Bookouture
Publication date : September 1, 2017

aboutthebook

One mistake could change your life forever.

Tara has it all. Married and about to move into her dream home, she can’t explain why she is tempted by one last fling with her ex before she settles down.

David would do anything for Tara. So when he finds her with another man, his world starts to crumble around him.

Ryan isn’t prepared for the punch David throws at him. Stumbling, he slips over the balcony and falls three storeys to the patio below.

In one split second a man will be killed. In one split second David and Tara’s life will change forever.

How far would you go to save everything you have?

mythoughts

David and his wife Tara have it all. Wonderful careers, a baby on the way and they have just completed work on their multi-million euro house. But the day before they are meant to move in, David discovers his wife has been sleeping with their builder. During the confrontation that ensues, David hits out at the builder, who stumbles and falls three storeys. Oops. David’s life has changed forever but what he doesn’t know, is that things are about to become much worse.

Well now, this one starts out with a bang and it’s such an excellent way to reel a reader in. What’s frightening is this accident is completely believable and could happen to anyone. Just a wee push and someone hits their head, with devastating consequences. That’s exactly what happens here. And it makes you wonder what you would do, as David does.

Like I said, things are about to get much worse but I won’t get into that as it would give away far too much information. Suffice to say there’s quite the tense ride and with a few chapters ending on a cliffhanger, this is one of those books where you tell yourself you’ll just read a few more pages until you realise it’s gone past midnight and you might as well stay up late and finish the thing in one go.

I did feel that some of the chapters were a tad too slow and broke the flow of the story, specifically those dealing with David and Tara’s past. Although they do shed light on why David does the things he does. Try as I might though, I just can’t understand the reason for Tara’s fling at all.

However, The Accident has a complex and brilliantly executed plot and I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s writing style. While I guessed something out quite early on, I couldn’t at all predict the ending and there were twists galore to keep me hooked until the rather satisfying conclusion. S.D. Monaghan is an exciting new voice in the psychological thriller genre and I look forward to his next book.

Many thanks to Bookouture for my advanced copy and the opportunity to join the tour!

The Accident is available now!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Goodreads

abouttheauthor

S. D. Monaghan grew up in Dublin before travelling extensively in Asia, Europe and America. After teaching English in Thailand for two years, he moved back to Ireland and gained an honours degree in psychology.

While living in Canada for four years, he studied screenwriting in Toronto. S. D. Monaghan completed the Masters in Creative Writing at Trinity College, Dublin with the editorial guidance of the Pulitzer Prize winner Richard Ford and Orange Prize nominee, Deirdre Madden. On the strength of his work there, he was chosen to represent both the university and the Oscar Wilde Writers’Centre to read excerpts at the Dublin Publishers Festival and on Dublin Culture Night.

He lives in Dublin with his wife, where he is currently working on his new novel. He is represented by Zoe Ross at United Agents.

***

09032017_accident

Hide and Seek by Richard Parker @Bookwalter @bookouture #blogtour

~ noveldeelights ~ 8 Comments

** Advanced copy received from publisher **

Welcome to my stop on the tour for the deliciously creepy Hide and Seek by Richard Parker.

35528918

Author : Richard Parker
Title : Hide and Seek
Pages : 393
Publisher : Bookouture
Publication date : August 31, 2017

aboutthebook

The sun is out. Your little boy is smiling. The next time you look… he’s gone.

When Lana and Todd win a trip to Blue Crest Adventure Park, their four-year-old Cooper is ecstatic, but when Lana goes to meet them, Todd is out cold, and Cooper is missing.

No one stopped the man with the sleeping boy. The cameras don’t show where he went. Then Lana finds her family picture on an online map detailing bloody murder sites. This is no random attack.

Whoever took Cooper is playing a twisted game, and if Lana wants to find him, she must participate. Can she uncover her tormentor’s identity before it’s too late?

mythoughts

Author Richard Parker made quite an impression with his previous offering Follow You. This one is a bit different and I was pleasantly surprised as it shows the author is able to diversify and still produce a most excellent thriller. Think less gore and icky stuff, more deliciously creepy. With a character called Mr. Whispers, how could it possibly be anything else?

Nine months ago, someone tried to kidnap four year old Cooper from his garden. His mother, Lana, foiled the attempt but has been suffering from anxiety since that day. She’s also rather obsessed with finding out who tried to take her son. So much so that she’s often glued to an app on her phone that points out murder sites in her neighbourhood. Seriously? I shudder at the thought. So anyway, when the family wins a trip to an adventure park, it is the break they desperately need. But things soon take a turn for the worse.

The relatively short chapters make for a quick and fast-paced read. The points of view switch effortlessly between Lana and Todd as they both set out to find their son. Hide and Seek is a brilliantly tense ride full of intrigue and I’m pretty sure my forehead now has added wrinkles from frowning so hard as I tried to figure out what was going on!

This is a pretty intricate and complex plot and with twists, turns, a red herring or two and a satisfying conclusion, it all results in a truly enjoyable and gripping thriller. Bring on the next one, Mr. Parker!

Many thanks to Kim and Noelle at Bookouture for the opportunity to join the tour and for the advanced copy, which I received via Netgalley and chose to review honestly!

Hide and Seek is available now!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Goodreads

abouttheauthor

Richard Parker was formerly a TV script writer, script editor and producer before turning his hand to penning twisted stand alone thrillers.

HIDE AND SEEK is his fifth book and is published August 2017.

***

Hide and Seek - Blog Tour

The Text by Claire Douglas @Dougieclaire

~ noveldeelights ~ 18 Comments

35685642

Author : Claire Douglas
Title : The Text
Pages : 40
Publisher : Penguin
Publication date : August 31, 2017

aboutthebook

A single text changed her life. Did it end his?

Emily Latimer is furious. Her boss Andrew is being so unreasonable, as always. She fires off a text to her boyfriend, only in her haste she sends it to her whole office group.

In it she says Andrew’s being difficult about letting her have time off work. That she is angry. That she hopes he dies. The next day her face burns in the office. No one believes her when she says it was a typo, she meant to say does. She hopes he does.

It’s a nightmare. But it gets worse – Andrew doesn’t turn up for work. And then the police come knocking. Because Andrew Burton has been murdered.

mythoughts

The Text is a free kindle short story by one of my favourite authors. And that’s also the only reason why I picked it up because I don’t normally read short stories. I find them, wait for it, too short. 😄. Just when you feel you’re getting to grips with things, it’s over. But did I mention this is Claire Douglas? I’ll pretty much read anything she comes up with, to be fair.

Emily Latimer is angry at her boss, Andrew. She’s planned a weekend away with her friends but Andrew is reluctant to give her the time off. On her way home, Emily fires off a text message to her boyfriend. But there’s one gigantic typo and the text doesn’t just get sent to her boyfriend, but to the entire office. And then Andrew turns up dead.

This scenario is particularly scary because it’s so realistic and believable. We’ve all been there with the unfortunate typos, the annoying autocorrect and sending things to the wrong person.  Now, at 40 pages short, you wouldn’t expect much, would you? And yet, Claire Douglas manages to weave an intricate web, provide us with quite a few suspects and even a twist or two. So we have a thoroughly enjoyable mystery but most of all, it just leaves you wanting so much more and I’m very much looking forward to this author’s next book!

The Text is available to download for free now!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Kobo | Goodreads

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Seek by Anthony O’Neill @bwpublishing

~ noveldeelights ~ 15 Comments

36063016

Author : Anthony O’Neill
Title : Dr. Hyde and Mr. Seek
Pages : 256
Publisher : Black & White Publishing
Publication date : September 1, 2017

aboutthebook

Seven years after the death of Edward Hyde, a stylish gentleman shows up in foggy London claiming to be Dr Henry Jekyll. Only Mr Utterson, Jekyll’s faithful lawyer and confidant, knows that he must be an impostor – because Jekyll was Hyde. But as the man goes about charming Jekyll’s friends and reclaiming his estate, and as the bodies of potential challengers start piling up, Utterson is left fearing for his life … and questioning his own sanity.

mythoughts

Sometimes you just decide to read a book because you fell in love with the cover.

I’m sure I don’t need to tell anyone the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Even if you’ve never read the original novella by Robert Louis Stevenson, you undoubtedly know the gist of it. And in case you really don’t, there’s no need to worry as things are explained quite brilliantly without breaking the flow of the story.

If he be Mr Hyde, I shall be Mr Seek

Seven years ago, Edward Hyde died and Dr. Jekyll went missing. A mere week before Dr. Jekyll will be officially declared dead and his trusted friend and lawyer, Gabriel Utterson, will inherit his belongings, a gentleman shows up claiming to be Dr. Jekyll. Only Mr. Utterson knows this man can only be an impostor but proving it is an entirely different matter.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde compliments the original novella beautifully. It seems like quite a brave thing to do, to pick a classic and decide to write a sequel. They are always so hard to do right, especially by another author. The story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde lends itself to it though and the language and the setting made it feel as if it was deliberately written in those days. It’s delightfully atmospheric from the very first sentence.

A sulphurous yellow fog, so thick it muffled the chimes of the Sunday church bells, had fastened overnight to London and refused to be dislodged by even the stiffest of breezes.

And with little details like someone knocking on a door with a cane or the mention of chimney sweeps, I was immediately transported back to that era. The story is quite dark, gritty and depressing and I’m not entirely sure I liked the ending. Having followed Mr. Utterson on his journey and to have him suddenly replaced by another narrator at the end didn’t sit well with me. There are also questions that remain unanswered, where I might have preferred some closure.

However, I thoroughly enjoyed this trip back in time and the author’s writing style. This is a beautifully written mystery full of intrigue and I think it has every reason to stand proudly on the bookshelf next to the original.

Many thanks to Black & White Publishing for my advanced copy, which I received via Netgalley and chose to review honestly!

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Seek is published today!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Goodreads