Oh, I Do Like To Die Beside The Seaside

Some of you will have seen my post of 15th April explaining my recent absences from the blog and my promise to do better. I should have added a caveat that things will continue to be a little erratic until the beginning of June, while I recover from all that has been going on. 

But I am still getting out and doing some stuff and last Thursday evening (23rd April), my wing woman Lynsey Linn @booksbybindu & I set off for Helensburgh for a Noir at the Bar at the seaside.

It was a beautiful, sunny evening and the view from the front of the venue, The Commodore on Helensburgh's seafront, was gorgeous. Inside, the function room was jam packed for a sold out event. It was hosted by local author Daniel Sellers, with books for sale from Daydreams Bookshop (Milngavie). All the authors were appearing free of charge, and the money raised by ticket sales was going towards Dolly Parton's Imagination Library which helps provide books to 350 pre school children in the Helensburgh area.

 

The first panel of readers were:

DV Bishop, lecturer of creative writing at Napier University and author of the Cesare Aldo series, set mainly in 16th century Italy. He read two passages, one from the first book, City of Vengeance, & one from the fifth book Carnival of Lies. (He was a late addition as George Paterson was unable to be there.)

Alex Kane, author of over ten gangland crime novels and is published by Hera books. She read from the fourth novel The Angels, set in a gentleman's club in Glasgow, featuring three women who work for a crime boss. And sticking with the theme, her piece included a dead body in the beach.

Louise Welsh, author of 11 novels, most recently The Cut Up, published by Canongate Books and has won several awards and is Professor of Creative Writing at Glasgow University. She read from The Cut Up, the third in the Rilke series

Lesley McDowell, author of four novels, most recently Love and Other Poisons, and one non fiction book Between the Sheets on the literary liaisons of mine 20th century women writers and has a PhD on the works of James Joyce. She read from Love and Other Poisons, which is set in the early 20th century and has links with Helensburgh. Her excerpt including a bit of singing!

 

All four authors were available to sign books bought from the bookshop during the break. Before the second panel we heard from a member of the Helensburgh Hub (so sorry, I didn't note her name) and her sidekick Dolly Patron about the Imagination Library and the important work it does.

The second panel of readers was:

Alex Gray, Sunday Times bestselling author of the Inspector William Lorimer series and a co founder of the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing festival. The latest book in the series, number 23, Blood on Old Stones, is out now. To keep with the death at the seaside theme, she read from the 12th book, Keep the Midnight Out

Inga Vesper moved from Germany to UK to be a carer but moved into journalism. She has written two novels and read from The Long Long Afternoon set in California 1959..

Suzy Aspley is a former journalist, and author of gothic novels featuring journalist Martha Steangeways. Winner of Bloody Scotland Pitch Pefect prize with her debut Crow Moon. The second book in series, The Bone Mother, is coming out on 7th May. Read from an Artic set thriller she's been working on but it's not published yet.

There was another pause before the final panel for comfort breaks, refilling glasses (I felt sorry for the young man behind the bar, he was run off his feet at the beginning and during the breaks) and buying books, of course, and having them signed by this batch of authors.

The final panel of readers were:

Ann Cleeve, author of 39 novels and winner of the CWA Diamond Dagger and several other awards. She is the creator of Vera Stanhope ( from TV's 'Vera'), Jimmy Perez (from 'Shetland') & Matthew Venn (from 'The Long Call'). She read from The Killing Stones, the new Jimmy Perez novel, set in Orkney, which came out in paperback last Thursday.

Caro Ramsay was born in Govan and has spent most of her life working out how to kill people. She has been shortlisted for various awards. She spends lots of time in Greggs (these were her words). She is currently working on her 19th and 20th books, and she read from Where She Lies, which is set in Oban.

Russel D McLean is writer, editor, former bookseller and general miscreant (again, his own words). Most of his books are set in Dundee including his latest one, The Friday Girl, set in 1978. Originally from Fife, he now lives in Glasgow. He read from The Friday Girl.

 

There was a final chance for book buying and signings before the evening wrapped up. It was a really fun night, and good for me to get out and about a bit. It was my first visit to Helensburgh, the sun was shining and the venue was great (although I would've appreciate a sign on the ladies loo door! Following the sign on the wall, I reached the external doors before I realised I'd made a mistake!). A lovely time, and I'm really glad I went. Do check out the authors, they're all worth a look!

Secrets from the Grave by Leigh Lewis

As I mentioned in yesterday's post this is hopefully the beginning of my slow return to regular blogging - see yesterday's post for more on that. But I love a political thriller so I'm glad to be coming back with one. Secrets from the Grave is the debut novel from retired senior civil servant Sir Leigh Lewis. But thanks to Tracy Fenton at Compulsive Readers for inviting me on the tour and to the author and publisher for my hardback review copy. 

Yesterday's post also mentioned my crochet book blanket. You'll be able to see my granny square for this book at the bottom of the post. 

The Blurb

Left-of-centre Labour Prime Minister Jack Higson has enjoyed a spectacular rise from backbencher to the highest political office in the land in just a few short years. He is popular, well-liked and supported by a loving wife. But when a prominent Spanish lawyer In Madrid asks to see the British Ambassador, and tells him a story about Higson's grandfather's time in Spain during the Spanish Civil War, Higson's world begins to unravel.

And when that story becomes linked to a skeleton in his personal life of which his wife knows nothing, Higson is suddenly faced with an existential threat to both his political career and his marriage. Over a period of just a few weeks he must make the most momentous decisions of his life. Can he be saved? Or is he the only one who can save himself?

My Review

As I mentioned above I enjoy a political thriller and looked forward to this one as the author has merged his knowledge of the world of politics with his long time interest in the Spanish Civil War to write this book. 

Prime Minister Jack Higson has always been proud of his grandfather's role in the Spanish Civil I'm War, and made much of it in his campaigning to become PM. So he is naturally concerned when it comes to light that perhaps his grandfather was not the man Jack thought he was. A small group of senior civil servants is tasked with finding out more. Meanwhile a more personal issue for the PM is mentioned and he just doesn't know what to do or who to trust. 

There are a lot of characters featured here, but the main players form a fairly small group. Key amongst them is retiree John Warren, at home caring for his sick wife,  called back into active service to help solve the Spanish mystery. An upstanding man, full of integrity, I really liked him. I loved the peak behind the scenes in the world of politics and diplomacy, and the author's insider knowledge really shine through here. The information included in the Spanish Civil War (about which I knew nothing) is interesting and enlightening, whilst never boring. 

The two storylines are both good, the Spanish one particularly, and are intertwined successfully. This is not a book that's full of action, although there is some, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable. And there is even a hint of romance! It could perhaps have been a little shorter, and I did feel the ending was a little flat. But, overall, I found Secrets from the Grave to be an enjoyable and entertaining read, populated by interesting characters and an intriguing storyline.  

The Author

Former top civil servant, Sir Leigh Lewis, brings his personal knowledge of Whitehall, counter-terrorism and both modern-day and Civil War Spain to his first novel. Leigh remains close to his former world and features regularly in The Times' letters page.

The Secrets from the Grave granny square for my 2026 book blanket.

Hello!

Hello! I know I haven't been around very much in recent weeks and months and I must wanted to share a little bit of the reason why. But also to pledge to be better going forward.

It's been a difficult few months for me, and for my family. They are in England and I am up in Scotland so I have spent a lot of time travelling backwards and forwards due to ill health in the family, and sadly subsequent death. Twice over. So as well as dealing with grief and sadness, there have also been, and still are, many practical matters to sort out.

All of that, as I'm sure you can understand, has taken me away from not only my computer, but much of my usual day to day life. I am still 'in it' for the next few weeks, but then I will have some time to process everything, and recover. I have big plans for this year which I haven't had the chance to start working on properly yet, but aim to do so in the coming weeks and months.

One of the things I plan to do is reinvigorate this blog, and post to it much more frequently. I have not been doing many blog tours recently, mainly due to that explained above, and that will continue, at least for now. There will be some, of course, including one tomorrow, but not too many. That doesn't mean there will be no reviews though. I have been reading steadily from my own collection - I have a wall of over stuffed bookshelves and over 400 books (I think) on my Kindle, and I am trying to get through some of those. I'm trying to #beatthebacklog! I have made notes and there will be reviews in due course.

As well as being an avid reader I also love to crochet and, inspired by Alexandra Martin (instagram.com/alexandra.mmartin), I am making a book blanket for this year, with a granny square for each book I read this year, based on the colours of the book cover. The colours might not always match exactly, depending on what yarn I have available, but they'll be as close as I can get them. Don't worry if you don't know what a granny square is, I'll be sharing some of them along the way, as well as my finished blanket (although it will be early next year when it's all put together).

So, this post is both an apology for my recent absences and a promise to do better. Thank you so much for sticking with me, and here's to better days.

The Death Watcher by Chris Carter #blogathon

We've reached book 13 in our epic Chris Carter blogathon,and the last review for him for a wee while, but he has a new standalone thriller, Hide and Seek, coming out in July. Anyway, back to this one. The Death Watcher is the thirteenth book in the Robert Hunter series, and whilst I've sometimes struggled to read some of the more violent parts of some of the books, I will miss time spent with Robert and Carlos. My thanks to Tracy Fenton at Compulsive Readers for inviting me to take part, and to the publisher for my review copy.

The Blurb

FIRST HE TAKES YOU. THEN HE BREAKS YOU. The 13th adrenaline-packed Robert Hunter thriller and Top Ten Sunday Times bestseller . . .

It should have been a routine autopsy on a straightforward hit-and-run.
It should have been an open and shut case.
It shouldn’t have led them to a serial killer – or put one of their own in danger.

When the LA Chief Medical Examiner, Dr Carolyn Hove, discovers some inconsistencies in a routine autopsy, she calls in Detective Robert Hunter of the LAPD Ultra Violent Crimes Unit. Not only was the victim not killed in a hit-and-run, but Dr Hove also found signs that they’d been severely tortured prior to death.

Their investigation leads Hunter and his partner, Carlos Garcia, on the trail of a twisted and clever killer who hides in plain sight. A serial killer no one even knew existed – a killer who has always operated under the radar, expertly disguising every gruesome murder as an accidental death.

But how do you investigate a murder when you have no victims? How do you catch a killer who leaves behind no crime scene? How do you stop a ghost who no one can prove even exists?

My Review

Well, goodness, I can't believe we've been doing this for thirteen months - what a journey it's been. And we're ending it, for now anyway, with The Death Watcher - another fine entry into the Robert Hunter series. 

Robert Hunter and Carlos Garcia are taken aback when their boss hands them the autopsy report of a man who had apparently been killed in a road traffic accident. Except the autopsy showed that that wasn't the case, and the man had a slew of other injuries. Something else had happened to this man, something very, very bad...

I found this book to be a much easier read than some of the others. Don't get me wrong, the crimes are horrific, but there isn't so much detailed description of the violence, for which I was appreciative. But as in all these books, the crimes are awful, but creative. Thirteen books in and Carter is still finding new ways to do horrible things to people! 

I love Robert, but also Carlos, and I really like their partnership. We've really seen Carlos grow across this series, and now the pair work seamlessly together. Of course, Robert knows more - he reads a lot - but he never belittles anyone, he's never arrogant. He's calm and considered, even in moments of high tension. All of these things make him a fabulous central character that keeps me coming back time and time again. 

There has been a theme through these books that there is often sadness and hurt at the centre of these crimes, and I very much felt that here. The antagonist is complicated and clever and hard to find, and the denouement is tense and horrifying and shocking, but at the heart of it all there is pain. Physical, emotional and psychological. A great read.

The Author

Born in Brazil of Italian origin, Chris Carter studied psychology and Criminal behaviour in the USA. As a member of the District Attorney's Criminal Psychology team, and working together with the Police Department in numerous cases, he interviewed and studied many criminals, including serial and multiple homicide offenders with life imprisonment convictions. He now lives in London, UK.

Tombstoning by Doug Johnstone

Wishing a very happy publication day to Doug John's for Tombstoning! Well, more a happy republication day, as this is actually a 20th anniversary release of Doug's first published novel. Any regular visitor to the blog will have realised I'm a Doug Johnstone fan - you only have to search his name on here to find reviews of a good number of his books. But the first of those was Breakers, published in 2019, and I hadn't read anything from before then, so was excited to get into Tombstoning. Many thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for inviting me and to the publisher for my review copy.

The Blurb

Your best mate just fell off a cliff in mysterious circumstances. You were the last person to see him alive. What do you do?

If you're David Lindsay from Arbroath, you leg it – and don’t go back. Not for fifteen years.

Then Nicola Cruickshank – yes, that Nicola, the girl you always fancied but never had the guts to speak to – gets in touch. She wants you back for a school reunion. At the very place it happened. Of course you say yes. Not to lay ghosts to rest, but because you still fancy Nicola.

The thing is, if you are David Lindsay, then returning to Arbroath isn’t going to bring closure. Because when someone else tumbles off the cliffs – an act the locals now call tombstoning – David has a choice: run away again, or finally find out why people around him keep dying…

My Review

It was interesting going back in time, back to the beginning of someone's writing career, when you only know their work from the last few years. I needn't have worried. The story is as taut and tense as I would expect, whilst being very character driven. Doug Johnstone is a great observer of people. 

Following the death of his best friend, Colin, David Lindsay left Arbroath for Edinburgh and never looked back. He's not made a huge success of his life, killing time in an unfulfilled job and drinking too much. But going back to Arbroath would bring all the memories back, and he doesn't want that. His mind is changed, though, by Nicola, his crush at school, who is helping organise a school reunion. He doesn't want to go but when he gets together with Nicola, they hit it off, so he agrees to head back to Arbroath for the reunion. Unfortunately, that's not all that happens whilst he is there. 

David wasn't a character I was quick to like. He drinks way too much, and isn't doing much with his life. But the email from Nicola changes things. Gives him a focus. I really liked Nicola - she's authentic, lovely, focused, more dynamic, doing something with her life whilst bringing up a young daughter, but missing the wilder side of her teenage life. And whilst a return to Arbroath brings back memories of Colin and his demise, particularly for David, they're both impacted by a further death. But what we see in the aftermath of this tragic event is a growth of sorts for David. He doesn't shy away from the hard stuff, far from it. 

Tombstoning is a layered tale. Whilst it's a crime story with mystery and tension, it's as much about friendships, relationships, the heady teenage years, the responsibilities of adulthood, it's about growing up, and it's about doing the right thing. It's about hope. It's about all these things and more, and I'm delighted it's been re-released. Loved it. 

The Author

Doug Johnstone is the author of nineteen novels, many of which have been bestsellers. The Space Between Us was chosen for BBC Two’s Between the Covers, while six of his
books have been shortlisted or longlisted for the Theakston Crime Novel of the Year or the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year. Doug has taught creative writing or been writer in residence at universities, schools, writing retreats, festivals, prisons and a funeral directors. He’s also been an arts journalist for twenty-five years. He is a songwriter and musician with ten albums released, and drummer for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers. He’s also co-founder of the Scotland Writers Football Club.

Genesis by Chris Carter #blogathon

I think we're now on the twelfth book in Chris Carter's epic series - unfortunately, personal circumstances meant I wasn't able to review the last three on the appropriate tour dates - and this one is called Genesis. It's another nail biting ride from Carter. Big thanks to Tracy Fenton from Compulsive Readers for inviting me to take part in this project, and to the publisher for my review copy.

The Blurb

A killing like no other.
A killer more twisted than he’s ever seen before.
A case that will test him to the limit.
Has Robert Hunter finally met his match?

‘Do you believe the Devil exists, Detective?’ the officer at the end of the line asks. ‘Because if you don’t . . . I’m sure you will once you get here.’

Robert Hunter is called to the most vicious crime scene he has ever attended. It is made even more disturbing when the autopsy reveals a poem, left by the killer, inside the body of their victim.

Soon, another body is found. The methods and signature of the murder differs, but the level of violence used suggests that the same person is behind both crimes. Hunter’s fears are confirmed when a second part of the poem is found.

But this discovery does more than just link the two killings – it suggests that this is the work of a serial murderer.

With no forensic evidence to go on, Robert Hunter must catch the most disciplined and systematic killer that he has ever encountered, someone who thrives on the victims' fear, and to whom death is a lesson that needs to be taught.

My Review

If you search the blog with the author's name you'll find the reviews for most of the previous books in this series, and Genesis follows the same kind of format. As the name suggests, the Ultra Violent Crimes Unit of Los Angeles Police's Robbery Homicide Division, made up of just Robert Hunter and his partner Carlos Garcia, deals with the very worst of the worst crimes. See the quote in the blurb from an officer at the first crime scene to get an idea of what they, and us as readers, are dealing with - horrific, awful crimes. This time, the murder victims seem unconnected, the killing style varies, but it becomes clear that the crimes have been carried out by the same perpetrator. 

I have mentioned before that some of these books have been quite difficult reads for me - I can't read them last thing at night, or if I'm home alone in the evening. They are not for everyone - they are very violent, and very detailed. I found Genesis the hardest so far and there was one part I couldn't read at all and had to skip over - judging by the reaction of a seasoned police officer in the book to the same part, I think I made the right decision. I'm not sure that level of violence is necessary but, of course, the darkness is one of the things that this series is known for. 

What brings me back each time is the protagonist, Robert Hunter. Twelve books in, I still find him fascinating. And full of information - he reads a lot - so every book feels like an education. But Hunter, and therefore the writing, is never stilted or preachy, and the knowledge he imparts just slots into the story. And he has a great sense of justice, and feels things very deeply. Carlos is a great partner for him, I've lived seeing their relationship develop. And Carlos has grown throughout the series. 

As with so many of the books in this series, the reasons behind the twisted crimes in Genesis is complicated and  tragic, and this one hit me hard. This is a great addition to the Robert Hunter series - it's tense and nerve wracking,  heart stopping in moments. But go in prepared - it's very, very dark. 

The Author

Born in Brazil of Italian origin, Chris Carter studied psychology and Criminal behaviour in the USA. As a member of the District Attorney's Criminal Psychology team, and working together with the Police Department in numerous cases, he interviewed and studied many criminals, including serial and multiple homicide offenders with life imprisonment convictions. He now lives in London, UK.

The Hope by Paul E Hardisty

It's a bit late to be wishing you all a happy new year, but I decided that, for me, last Monday, 13th, was New Year's Day, so Happy New Year everyone! The last couple of years have been difficult for me for various reasons but at the end of last year, moving into the beginning of this year, there was a family bereavement and everything that goes along with that. Other things remain unresolved, and these may prove difficult going forward but, having got the worst out of the way, I'm looking forward to this year with plans for good things. 

So, that's where I've been and why the blog has been so quiet. But I'm back now, and hoping to improve things along the way. And I'm jumping back in with an absolutely brilliant book, one which I've been so excited about for so long. Welcome to my review of The Hope, the new book from Paul E Hardisty. Big thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me and to the publisher for my review copy. I will be buying my own paperback copy. The Hope comes out on 29th January. 

 

The Blurb

The year is 2082. Climate collapse, famine and war have left the world in ruins. In the shadow of the Alpha-Omega regime – descendants of the super-rich architects of disaster – sixteenyear-old Boo Ashworth and her uncle risk everything to save what’s left of human knowledge, hiding the last surviving books in a secret library beneath the streets of Hobart.

But Boo has a secret of her own: an astonishing ability to memorise entire texts with perfect recall. When the library is discovered and destroyed, she’s forced to flee – armed with nothing but the stories she carries in her mind, and a growing understanding of her family’s true past.

Hunted and alone, and with the help of some unlikely allies, she must fight to save her loved ones – and bring hope to a broken world.

My Review

The Hope is the third book in Paul's climate-emergency thriller series The Forcing Trilogy, following The Forcing and The Descent. I have been looking forward to it since finishing The Descent, which described the chaos brought on the world by big business, greedy powerful individuals, ineffective or corrupt politicians - wars, famine, extreme weather, destruction of nature. This all started in an alternative 2024 that felt uncomfortably close to home. 

It's now 2082 and our narrator for The Hope is 16 year old Becky, known as Boo, who lives with her uncle, aunt and cousin in what is left of Hobart, Tasmania. There are also other members of her extended family involved in the story. The family scavenge for food and Aunt Julie is sick, dying, and there isn't enough, or the right, medication to save her. Aside for caring for Julie, Boo helps her uncle categorise the books in their library, books saved from destruction by the Alpha-Omega regime - the descendants of powerful, corrupt business people and politicians who took all that they wanted, the more the better - who don't want people to read about what life used to be like before the world was destroyed. Tasmania is essentially ruled by one such descendent, the Valliant Junior, as he holds all the power, all the medicines, etc, and has an army of men and women and drones to do his bidding. During Boo's adventures she crosses paths with this young man, as she comes to realise that she has a key role to play in bringing hope back to a broken world. 

I love Boo. She's scared and vulnerable, and we see that. But she's brave, so brave, in the face of some horrible stuff. And she is remarkable, as she can recall every page she's ever read. Ever. In some cases, she just absorbs the words, then 'reads' them later in her head. And it's this skill which has brought her understanding about her family and her place in the world, and her greatest asset for what she must do. 

In my review of The Forcing back in 2023, I called it a 'book for our time'. I felt the same about The Descent and I feel the same about The Hope. Now even more so, in a world of wars, attempted hostile takeovers, megalomaniac presidents wanting what's not theirs to have, and major powers ignoring the ongoing climate crisis. Some of this book might seem far fetched to some, but I don't think so. Paul Hardisty knows what he's talking about after spending years involved in environmental science. As an aside, if you get chance to hear him speak, please do, he's fascinating. I was lucky enough to hear him at the fabulous Book Nook in Stewarton and I think the whole audience would happily have listened to him all night - an hour just wasn't long enough! But back to the book - The Hope is where we could be if we don't act soon to save our world, and, by we, I mean especially our leaders, but we can all do our bit. But it also reminds us that, however bad things get, there is always hope. 

The Author

Canadian Paul Hardisty has spent twenty-five years working all over the world as an environmental scientist and freelance journalist. He has roughnecked on oil rigs in Texas, explored for gold in the Arctic, mapped geology in Eastern Turkey (where he was befriended by PKK rebels), and rehabilitated water wells in the wilds of Africa. He was in Ethiopia in 1991 as the Mengistu regime fell, survived a bomb blast in a café in Sana’a in 1993, and was one of the last Westerners out of Yemen at the outbreak of the 1994 civil war. In 2022 he criss-crossed Ukraine reporting on the Russian invasion. His debut thriller The Abrupt Physics of Dying was shortlisted for the CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger and was a Telegraph Thriller of the Year, and The Forcing (2023) and The Descent (2024) were a SciFi Now Book of the Month and shortlisted for the Crime Fiction Lover Awards. Paul is a keen outdoorsman, a conservation volunteer, and lives in Western Australia.