The Alliance by Matt Brolly

It's my pleasure to share my review for a book that just grabbed me as soon as I read the blurb - The Alliance by Matt Brolly. Big thanks to Zoe at Zooloo's Book Tours for inviting me to take part in the tour And to the publisher and Netgalley for my review copy.

 

The Blurb

Four cities, four killers, four murders. The Alliance is just getting started.

When four unconnected serial killers simultaneously commit identical murders across four different US cities, FBI Special Agent Shannon Wallace faces an unprecedented threat—a cooperative of killers working in unison. Each homicide is witnessed by a survivor, and now these lucky ones need to decide how to tell their stories to the world.

Their posts about the horrific murders create a media storm and a new term is soon coined for the killers: The Alliance. As they recruit new killers into their ranks and more innocent people linked to the initial murders are killed it becomes clear that Wallace is dealing with an unprecedented threat—a deadly alliance formed to terrorize the nation with coordinated strikes.

With the killers always one step ahead, the very fabric of society threatens to unravel and Wallace battles to decipher The Alliance’s endgame before they dismantle civilization city by city. In a desperate race against time, can Wallace uncover the members and motives of the Alliance and end their reign of terror before more victims wind up dead.

Book Links

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199135685-the-alliance
Buy Links - https://mybook.to/thealliance-zbt

My Review

I read and reviewed one of Matt Brolly's earlier US set books, The Controller, a few years back and really enjoyed it. So that fact, along with the blurb (shown above) piqued my interest in this one. I wasn't disappointed. 

Icarus (Ike) Glass - great name - is a Brit who came to the US years ago, settled in San Antonio and became a journalist. He's pretty washed up and definitely drinks too much. One evening he shares a few beers with a man he meets in a bar - it turns out not to be a great idea...

I didn't find Ike Glass particularly likeable but it was hard not to feel sorry for him as he gets caught up in a bizarre string of events. Shannon Wallace was much more relatable - in her forties, a strained relationship with her son and trying to establish herself at Quantico after years of working in the field. She's in the Behavior Analysis Unit (the one often imagined on the small screen), specifically the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program, which I imagine is a tough gig at the best of times. But here she is presented with a case like no other, with identical incidents across the US - it's unprecedented. But I think my favourite character was Lieutenant Michael Boyd, who takes initial charge of the San Antonio crime scene. He's world weary, mourning the death of his wife but there seemed a gentleness around him. I liked him a lot. 

I really liked the idea of crimes taking place simultaneously across the US. And ones that are creatively staged too. Yes, they are far fetched but suitably creepy and pretty darn scary! For various reasons that become clear as the book progresses much of the action here is in San Antonio but we hear plenty of details of incidents happening across the country. 

I loved the use of both more traditional media and social media in this novel. It shows both how quickly news can travel - instantly, really - and people's fascination with the darker side of human nature. As events build and the Alliance themselves make more use of social media, there is no shortage of folk ready and waiting to watch whatever horror is perpetrated. And I really don't know if that wouldn't be the case in real life - there seems to be a real appetite for true crime. It's funny, as regular visitors here will know, I read (and watch) a lot of fictional crime but very rarely the true life stuff. But plenty of people are fascinated by it. So is it such a big leap to imagine us watching it on our screens in real time? Subscribing to social media accounts set up by killers? I'm not so  sure.

The Alliance is a hard book to review in detail without giving plot spoilers, which, of course, I'm not going to do. It's tense almost from the get go and only gets more so until we reach a denouement full of surprises. The writing is tight - there's always something going on, moving the plot forward. It's exciting and I was genuinely invested in what happened in the end. And more than a little shocked. Worth a read. 

The Author

Matt Brolly is the Amazon number one, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the DI Blackwell novels set in Weston-super-Mare, as well as the DCI Lambert crime novels, the acclaimed near future crime novel, Zero, and the US thrillers, The Controller, The Railroad, and The Running Girls. His books have sold over one million copies in 16 countries. 

Matt lives in London with his wife, their two children, a dog called Herbie, and a cat called W.G Snuffy Walden.

Author Social Media Links

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattbrollyuk

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/mattbrollyuk

Twitter : https://twitter.com/MattBrollyUK

Website : https://mattbrolly.com/

Maman by FE Birch

Today is my stop on the blog tour for Maman by FE Birch. I love the cover on this one! My thanks to Heather Fitt at Overview Media for the invitation and to the author for my review copy.

 

The Blurb

A twisted suspense novel

DS Joanna Armstrong, a top child protection detective, becomes the accused when one of her twin babies develops facial bruising - sending her into a spiralling post-natal psychosis.

Her life falls apart in an instant. Her team are torn, the doctors think she’s fabricating her illness, and even one of her own colleagues appears hell bent on destroying her.

Can Joanna clear her name when everything seems stacked against her? Can she break through all the prejudice before time runs out? Or is she really mad like they all say?

Maman is a gripping tale of family, loyalty, and integrity, but most of all, truth and justice.

My Review

Jo Armstrong's nightmare begins one afternoon when she suddenly finds herself filled with confusion and fear as she doesn't understand how she got where she is, what is happening or why her police colleagues in the child protection team are behaving the way they are towards her. And there will be a lot of time, pain and heartache before everything is resolved one way or another.

Jo's decline in mental health is well described, as is her confusion at all going on around her. We see her thoughts whirring about, all over the place and her self doubt, a hatred for herself, even. It's sometimes a hard read but often relatable for anyone who has struggled with their mental health to any degree. 

I loved Jim, Jo's husband. Equally confused by the events that have taken place and the situation in which he finds himself, he never once doubts Jo, and never stops fighting for things to be resolved. Also very likeable is social worker Effie (now there's a name that's a little familiar...!). She's warm, approachable and compassionate whilst remaining professional. She's wonderfully described and I could picture her perfectly. Jo's police colleagues, on the other hand, are anything but sympathetic and understanding, particularly DC Claire Bristow, who is pretty openly hostile towards Jo and Jim. Happily, I have no experience of anything like this in real life but I'd like to think (hope) there is a little more compassion is offered to families whilst the truth is being established - innocent until proven guilty and all that. 

Maman is a story about depression, grief and trauma, love, a fight for justice and a spotlight on hidden illnesses. It is tense throughout and an interesting read. 

The Author

FE Birch is an ex-cop from the North East but she’s not a Geordie. She is a prolific short story writer with a trail of pseudonyms and publications behind her. With a penchant for dark, deep and the disturbing, her crimes are rarely cosy. She has self-published two collections of competition winning short stories and her debut novel, She’s Not There was published early 2023 by Red Dragon. She is also published by Harper Collins (2013) with stories about being an undercover cop …

With a bendy EDS body, GSOH and a little bit of clumsiness, she wears many hats and loves wigs. Her friends call her Effie.

How to Start a Riot in a Brothel in Thailand by Ordering a Beer and Other Lesser Known Travel Tips by Simon Yeats

Today I'm helping to close the blog tour for How to Start a Riot in a Brothel in Thailand by Ordering a Beer and Other Lesser Known Travel Tips by Simon Yeats, which is part memoir, part unorthodox travel guide! My thanks to Rachel Gilbey at Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me and to the author for my review copy.

There is also an opportunity to win a set of all three books in the series in the giveaway at at the bottom of the page. But be quick, it closes soon! 

The Blurb

Book 1 of a hilarious series of travel misadventures and dubious personal introspection by Australian author Simon Yeats, who from an early age learned that the best way to approach the misfortunes of this world is to laugh about them.

Simon shares his comedic insights into the unusual and uproarious elements of living life as an Aussie ex-pat and having a sense of Wanderlust as pervasive as the Spanish Flu in 1918.

From how to keep yourself entertained when unwittingly forced to watch 11 hours of live sumo wrestling in Japan, to surviving heartbreak in India at the hands of a French flight attendant, to 48 hours spent in Nepal that qualify as the funniest most gut wrenching travel experience since Captain Bligh was set adrift in the Pacific, to his unsuccessful attempts at avoiding going to a brothel in Thailand.

Simon Yeats has gone into the world and experienced all the out of the ordinary moments for you to sit back and enjoy the experience without the need to break a leg or rupture a pancreas.


Purchase Links

UK 
US 

My Review

I have to say I was drawn to this book just by the title. I mean, look at it! Figured I was in for something fun and I was right. And as someone who hasn't actually travelled much I was looking forward to reading about far going places. This first book in a series of three focuses on the author's travels in Asia, whilst the other two cover tales from Europe, the USA and South America. 

Despite my limited travel experience, I loved the part of Yeats's introduction where he shares (in full, because it's quite short) the speech he would give if invited back to his old high school (all boys) graduation ceremony which, summed up, would basically say 'Travel as much as you can. You will never regret travelling and discovering new things.' And it would seem that this is a mantra the author lives by, having travelled to far flung places all over the world. We get a small taste of some of these adventures here. 

There were a couple of things I didn't like so I'm just going to get those out of the way quickly.  There was the occasional off colour comment (in my opinion, of course, maybe not for others) and I felt there was too much signposting to the author's other books within the text. The book would definitely benefit from a tighter edit. But these are niggles - there is much to enjoy in this book. 

Each chapter is headed up with a joke which I thought was a novel idea. Some are groan worthy, though! 😂   Several trips/incidents are covered in the book and they are all entertaining. The incident mentioned in the title is funny, his exchange with an immigration officer on his return to the US from Japan had me giggling but, for me, the pièce de résistance is the story of his white water rafting trip in Nepal. The tears were running down my face reading that one and I'm smiling now just thinking about it. 

Yeats has an easy manner and a relaxed way of sharing his stories - it's easy to imagine he's actually telling you these tales over a beer one night! He's also quite funny, one of my favourite moments was when confronted by his brother-in-law's German Shepherd his 'testicles receded into the panic room of my stomach'. Yes, he has a humorous turn of phrase. 

How to Start a Riot... is full of funny, entertaining stories  and some dubious money saving tips. 😂 But what I really loved is that it's a celebration of travelling, exploring, taking risks, having adventures and embracing everything. Being rewarded with fabulous (and some not quite so fabulous, to be fair, but still valid) experiences. And I think that should be applauded and encouraged.

The Author

Simon Yeats has lived nine lives, and by all estimations, is fast running out of the number he has left. His life of globetrotting the globe was not the one he expected to lead. He grew up a quiet, shy boy teased by other kids on the playgrounds for his red hair. But he developed a keen wit and sense of humor to always see the funnier side of life.

With an overwhelming love of travel, a propensity to find trouble where there was none, and being a passionate advocate of mental health, Simon’s stories will leave a reader either rolling on the floor in tears of laughter, or breathing deeply that the adventures he has had were survived.

No author has laughed longer or cried with less restraint at the travails of life.

Author Social Media Links

Tik Tok 
Instagram 

Giveaway to Win 1 set of all Three Books in Simon Yeats' Lesser Known travel tips series in paperback and 1 set in epub (Open to UK / US / Canada).

Prize includes copies of:
- How to Start a Riot in a Brothel in Thailand by Ordering a Beer and Other Lesser Known Travel Tips
- How to Avoid Getting Mugged in Rio de Janeiro by Singing Songs by The Police and Other Lesser Known Travel Tips
- How to Survive Making Yourself Look Silly While Dancing with the German Mafia at a Bavarian Nightclub and Other Lesser Known Travel Tips

2 winners – first winner will win the paperbacks, second winner will win the epubs .

*Terms and Conditions –UK / US / Canada entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

Enter here: 

Giveaway

I will be reviewing Simon's memoir, My Second Life (not part of this series) on 4th May so do look out for that. 

The Translator by Harriet Crawley

Edited to add: Posted a day late due to illness. Sincere apologies to all concerned.  

Today is my my stop on the blog tour for The Translator by Harriet Crawley, a love story set against the politics of Moscow and a threat to the UK. My thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for my invitation and to the publisher for my review copy. 

The Blurb

A passionate love story, centred on a devastating Russian plot to sabotage the undersea communication cables linking the US to the UK. Clive Franklin, a Russian language expert in the Foreign Office, is summoned unexpectedly to Moscow to act as translator for the British Prime Minister. His life is upended when he discovers that his former lover, Marina Volina, is the interpreter to the Russian President. Together they will try to stop the attack that could paralyse communications and collapse the Western economy.

The Translator is published by Bitter Lemon Press and came out on 21st March 2024.

 

My Review

My Review

I don't normally read a lot of romance novels but this one involved a bit of espionage so how could I say no? Also, a story set in a country we only see in the headlines on the news - in recent years anyway. And something told me that, in this one, love wasn't necessarily going to run smoothly!

It's 2017. Clive Franklin, a Russian interpreter, or translator, as he appears to be known, for the British Foreign Office, is in Scotland when he receives a phone call advising him he has been seconded at short notice to the Prime Minister's office and will leaving immediately for Moscow. After the Prime Minister's meeting with the Russian president has finished, Clive is to remain in Moscow to translate at some trade talks, whilst trying to find information on suspicious Russian activity in the seas off Britain's South West coast. Intelligence gathering is not currently in Clive's skill set but he hadn't reckoned on the Russian president's interpreter being a face from his past...

Clive comes across as a nice chap, intelligent, polite, well mannered - perfect for his role in Moscow. Well, dual roles, I should say, although he is understandably hesitant about the whole intelligence gathering thing. However, needs must, and he soon receives an offer of help from  unexpected quarters. 

Marina is a Russian interpreter, favoured by the Russian president. Again, she knows exactly how to behave, with higher stakes for her as punishment could be harsh. She comes across as quite a lonely woman who carries a lot of sadness, but there are hints that this was not always the case. I worried that she didn't seem to have any friends other than Lev, the president's private secretary, who rebellious streak I adored. One person I certainly didn't adore but who was, for me, one of the most beautifully drawn characters was General Grigory Varlamov, the deputy director of the FSB. The vice president is also colourfully described. 

I loved the plot. I enjoyed the formalities of the hierarchical society. I loved all the intrigue, secrets, coded messages, hushed conversations and dangerous risks. It's a race against time but there's a lot going on with meetings, business trips and conversations, some engineered, some not, so it's quite wordy.  Which, for me, gave it a really interesting feel of being both fast and slow. It's hard to explain. It's obviously very tense but I felt that occasionally that was lost a little. Overall, The Translator is an intelligent novel, obviously political, very interesting and ended in a way I hadn't anticipated. I really enjoyed it. 

The Author

A fluent Russian speaker and former journalist, Harriet Crawley lived and worked in Russia for twenty years. She sent her son to state school in Moscow which, until 2016, was her second home.


Do remember to check out the other stops on the tour!

Crow Moon by Suzy Aspley

I'm always excited to read debut novels. Particularly crime ones. And particularly ones set in Scotland. And as the author has the same name as me (my Sunday version, anyway) and is also an English woman who now calls Scotland her home, like me, how could I resist? Welcome to my blog tour stop for Crow Moon by Suzy Aspley. Many thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me to take part and to the publisher for my review copy. 

The Blurb

When the crow moon rises, the darkness is unleashed…

Martha Strangeways is struggling to find purpose in her life, after giving up her career as an investigative reporter when her young twins died in a house fire.

Overwhelmed by guilt and grief, her life changes when she stumbles across the body of a missing teenager – a tragedy that turns even more sinister when a poem about crows is discovered inked onto his back… When another teenager goes missing in the remote landscape, Martha is drawn into the investigation, teaming up with DI Derek Summers, as malevolent rumours begin to spread and paranoia grows.

As darkness descends on the village of Strathbran, it soon becomes clear that no one is safe, including Martha…

Crow Moon is published by Orenda Books and came out on 14th March 2024. 

My Review

Well, what a debut! Sinister and creepy throughout, The tension is ratcheted right up! Crime and witchery all in one place. 

Martha and her teenage son Dougie live in the village of Strathbran with ex partner Jamie close by. The family have been rocked by tragedy following a house fire a couple of years earlier that injured Jamie and killed their two young boys. Martha is just about keeping it together, and staying strong for Dougie. When the body of a close friend of Dougie's is found in local woods with a strange poem inked on his back, Martha's journalistic instincts begin to twitch but, also, she wants to make sure her son is protected and safe. She begins to conduct her own investigation, eventually teaming up with DI Derek Summers. But the discovery of Fraser's body is just the beginning of a spell of fear and darkness for Martha, Dougie and the people of Strathbran...

Oh, my heart ached for Martha! She carried so much grief, sadness and guilt, it's almost too much to bear. For this reader at least. And, oh goodness, the matchbox! (That last comment will make sense when you read the book, I promise.) So, despite the gruesome nature of her  investigation, I was glad she had something to sink her teeth into, to take maybe her mind off things a little bit. I felt for Dougie too. On the cusp of adulthood, he's already dealing with the loss of his brothers, then his best friend goes missing and ends up dead - it's a lot to deal with. He has his own grief and guilt to deal with. 

I loved the injection of folklore, local legends and witchcraft into the story. The crows, not so much! Whilst most of the story is told from Martha's point of view, we also hear from the perpetrator, and an unknown woman, whose identity becomes clear towards the end of the book. I did work out some of what was going on but not all of it, nor why it was all happening. It's certainly a dark story, and with much of it taking place in the woods near Strathbran, which at night feel dark and threatening, it's quite claustrophobic. The scene setting is great. And the tension never lets up from when Fraser goes missing to the frantic denouement. 

Crow Moon is a dark, tense story of love, grief, guilt, legend,  witchcraft and madness. A relatable protagonist, brilliant setting, genuine threat and a high level of tension. A very assured debut that I very much enjoyed. I'll probably look at crows differently now though! 

The Author

Originally from the north-east of England, former journalist Suzy Aspley has lived in Scotland for almost thirty years. She writes crime and short stories, often inspired by the
strange things she sees in the landscape around her. She won Bloody Scotland’s Pitch Perfect in 2019 with the original idea for her debut novel and was shortlisted for the Capital Crime New Voices Award. In 2020, she was mentored by Jo Dickinson as part of the Hachette future bookshelf initiative. Crow Moon was also longlisted for the Caledonia Novel Award. She’s currently working on the second book in the series, and when she’s not writing, she’s either got her nose buried in a book, or is outside with her dogs , dreaming up more dark stories. She lives in Stirlingshire with her family.

Be sure to check out the other stops on the blog tour!

 

Save Me From The Waves by Jessica Hepburn

This was such an interesting read for me and I loved it. Wasn't sure I would, if I'm honest, but happily I did! Big thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for inviting me and to the publisher for my paperback review copy. Welcome to my blog tour stop for autobiography Save Me From The Waves by Jessica Hepburn.

The Blurb

An adventure story – with a difference

Jessica Hepburn is an unlikely athlete – she was labelled the ‘arty’ not the ‘sporty’ one in school. She hates exercise and believes the only reason to do it is for food, booze and box-sets on the sofa. However, in her forties, following a succession of hard and sad life experiences she started to try and exercise her way out of heartbreak. She has now become one of the world’s most extraordinary endurance athletes. The first and only woman (currently) on the planet to have completed the ‘Sea, Street, Summit Challenge’ – which is to swim the English Channel, run the London Marathon and climb Mount Everest (which she calls Chomolungma – the mountain’s original Sherpa name). And possibly the only woman (although this can’t be officially certified) to have listened to eighty years and over 3,000 episodes of her favourite radio programme - Desert Island Discs.

Save Me From The Waves is an inspirational story of physical and mental endurance which starts on the streets of London and culminates on top of the world, fuelled by
song. It explores the redemptive power of music and mountains. How family and friends can be lost and found in the most unusual places. And encourages everyone to live big and bravely when life doesn’t go to plan. Because sometimes we all need saving from the waves. And whether it’s high and far away or closer to home and in your head, an adventure will always change your life for the better.

My Review

I was staying with my parents when I read this which meant a couple of things. I don't get as much h time to read, otherwise I might have got through this in a day, and I watch TV programmes that I wouldn't normally watch. One such programme was extolling the virtues of Somerset and visited the city of Bath during it's annual Jane Austen Festival - bear with me here - and I was struck by the level of enthusiasm and commitment, geekiness if you will (and I say this with affection) of the people taking part, full of admiration for them. It's not my thing but it was theirs, and they had embraced it wholeheartedly! But it brought to mind Jessica Hepburn and her love for Desert Island Discs, and her enthusiasm and commitment with spreadsheets, thousands of notes and cross references dedicated to the show. And that's before we even mention her walking! Or Everest/Chomolungma!

Desert Island Discs is Jessica Hepburn's favourite radio show. Having read this book, I doubt she's got time for any other programmes! After trauma, heartache and heartbreak she started to listen to episodes of the show, and took to walking, initially around London, listening all the while on her headphones. And found that the two together helped her process her emotions. Somewhere along the line, she got the idea she would climb Everest, so the walls for longer and further afield and she had time to listen to more Desert Island Discs episodes. And she casually mentions  that she ran the London Marathon and swam the English Channel! It's all a bit bonkers - again said with affection - and I am here for that. 

For anyone not from the UK or unfamiliar with Desert Island Discs, it's a long running radio programme featuring renowned people from all walks of life - arts, science, industry, sport, social enterprise etc. The guest has to imagine being stranded on a desert island, and asked to pick eight pieces of music to take with them (which are played for the listeners), one book (in addition to the Bible and the complete works of William Shakespeare) and one luxury item, whilst talking to the host about their life and the reasons behind their choices. Then at the end of the show, the guest must pick just one piece of music to save from the waves. I must confess I have never listened to a full episode (this book has made me want to though!) But Jessica has listened to 3000+ episodes. That's a lot of guests and a lot of music - hence the spreadsheets! I loved how she describes listening, as if she was walking along with the interviewee, having a conversation with them.  For example, about Paul McCartney she writes:

'However, we were together (Paul and I) in Glencoe in Scotland...For more Munro-bagging...Which is why I took him there.'

And just a page or two later, about actor Penelope Wilton:

'...she shared with me a love of walking...And I knew we were going to get on well.'

Her castaway friends give her advice, pass on wisdom and  share experiences. The author has found comfort listening to other women talk about being unable to have a child, as she herself has been. And the castaways have reminded her of music she loved and introduced her to music she's come to love. But I also loved her descriptions of all the different places she walked, in London and beyond, and the wee pubs she visited.. Was happy to see the Malvern Hills get a mention as I grew up in nearby Worcester (where I was reading the book) and was pleased to see she loved her visits to Scotland as that's now where I'm based. 

The book is split into sections where the author chooses her eight songs for different situations - songs of childhood, sad and happy songs, songs for climbing mountains etc - and shares the details of the Desert Island Discs guest that chose them and why, and discusses the memories or emotions they invoke in her. It's fascinating reading. Jessica Hepburn is the same age as me and I am astounded by all that she has achieved, more so given all the endurance stuff has only happened in the last ten years. But I'm also saddened by the amount of heartbreak, grief and trauma she has had to deal with, much of which is discussed here but some I got the sense she is still processing. Her ascent of Chomolungma, Mother Goddess of the World, a mountain which clearly means so much to her, was such an incredible achievement but even that was marred by injury and trauma. But Jessica is still standing, to paraphrase Elton John, and I hope still smiling, because I think she's pretty incredible. 

Save Me From The Waves is a pretty unique book, I think. A memoir with a difference. Definitely an adventure story, although that comes later, but a kind of diary of a healing process. I loved all the music references and will be looking a few up to listen to, and maybe some other episodes of Desert Island Discs too! Whilst there are sad and poignant moments along the way, I think this is a tale of overcoming and healing. Maybe she still has a way to go but Jessica Hepburn has achieved so much. I loved the geeky aspect of her list making and spreadsheets and was well up for the endnotes - think I checked every one - which she apologises for at the beginning. I might not want to climb Everest after reading this book, but I do want to start a spreadsheet to note all the pieces of music I now want to check out, and that's because of this book. Highly recommend. 

The Author

Jessica Hepburn is an award-winning author, arts producer and adventure activist, and one of the UK’s leading voices on fertility, family and endurance sport. The Pursuit of Motherhood (2014) and 21 Miles (2018) are under option to Erebus Pictures, adapted by rising star and novelist Anoushka Warden, and being developed for the screen with funding from the British Film Institute.

Finding Sophie by Imran Mahmood

I'm delighted to share my review of Finding Sophie by Imran Mahmood today for my stop on the blog tour. Many thanks to Tracy Fenton at Compulsive Readers for the invitation and to the publisher for my review copy. 

The Blurb

Sophie King is missing.

Her parents, Harry and Zara, are distraught; for the last seventeen years, they've done everything for their beloved only daughter and now she's gone.

The police have no leads, and Harry and Zara are growing increasingly frantic, although they are both dealing with it in very different ways. Increasingly obsessed with their highly suspicious neighbour who won't open the door or answer any questions, they are both coming to the same conclusion. If they want answers, they're going to have to take the matter into their own hands.

But just how far are they both prepared to go for the love of their daughter?

My Review

Seventeen year old Sophie has been missing for seven weeks and her parents are distraught. According to their police liaison, everything possible is being done but they don't believe that's true. Zara is planning Sophie's birthday celebrations and taking too much diazepam. Harry is being as proactive as he can in looking for their day - quizzing the neighbours and beyond, leaving questionnaires when folk don't answer the door. But both are suspicious of the neighbour who never answers his door.  Very suspicious. As they become more distant from each other their fixation with the neighbour grows, leading to a drastic situation. 

I'm a parent. And if one of my kids went missing I'm pretty sure that I would do anything and everything I possibly could to try to find them. What would be the line I wouldn't cross? Well that's the million dollar question. Because I reckon logic and normal moral standards could easily go  out of the window if my kid was involved. So this was a super interesting premise for me and it's hard to imagine the agony Zara and Harry are going through in this book. 

I had every sympathy with both parents. As mentioned above I have no idea how I would react in that situation. I like to think I'd be proactive, like Harry, but as someone who has struggled with her mental health, I could just as easily be Zara. However, in both cases, some of their actions were dubious at best, risky at worst. But lots of empathy for them and I wanted them to find answers and see justice done. 

As the author is a barrister, I knew there would likely be a significant legal side to the story, and this part was just fascinating! It's hard to say too much without risking spoilers but I learned all about what would happen in a very particular set of circumstances - super interesting! It is all teased out very skilfully as we progress through the book. 

Finding Sophie is a well written, taut thriller with an intelligent plotline and two relatable main characters. It's full of surprises and has a brilliant legal angle. Hard to say any more without spoiling it for you but it's a very enjoyable,  meaty novel which I would happily recommend.

The Author

Imran Mahmood is a practising criminal barrister in England and Wales. His debut novel You Don’t Know Me was chosen by Simon Mayo as a BBC Radio 2 Book Club Choice for 2017 and longlisted for the Theakston Crime Novel of the Year, the CWA Gold Dagger Award, and the Glass Bell Award and was made into a hugely successful BBC1 adaptation in association with Netflix, reaching no.3 in the World and in the UK received a BAFTA nomination for best actor. His second novel I Know What I Saw was chosen as a Sunday Times crime novel of the month and reached no. 2 on the Audible charts. It was also long-listed for both the CWA Gold Dagger Award and Theakstons Crime Novel of the year. His third novel All I Said Was True was also long-listed for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2023

His fourth novel Finding Sophie is to be released in the UK and in the USA in March 2024.

Imran was born and raised in Liverpool but now lives in London with his wife and 2 daughters.