The Deal by Jonathan Whitelaw

I'm delighted to be taking part in today's blitz fanfare for The Deal by Jonathan Whitelaw as I loved his previous books, and all proceeds from the sale of The Deal are going to the Samaritans. Thank you to Kelly Lacey at Love Books Group for inviting me. I bought my own copy of the book.

The Blurb:

Following the sinful shenanigans of Hellcorp and The Man in the Dark, the hellishly handsome Devil turns his attention to the most frightening of all holidays … Halloween.

Jonathan Whitelaw has written a unique, one-off special tale starring Ol' Nick himself - and set in the wild Wild West. After lending a hand to a down-on-his-luck prospector, The Devil returns thirty years later to collect his debt - but as ever when The Devil is involved, nothing ever goes to plan.

A prequel to the bestselling HellCorp, this enthralling and very funny tale is the perfect read for Halloween and fans of Ben Aaronovitch, Christopher Fowler and Benedict Jacka.

All proceeds from every sale of The Deal will be donated to Samaritans.

The Deal was published by Urbane Publications Ltd on 19th October 2020 and you can buy it here.

Interview:

You can see Jonathan chatting about The Deal with Dr Noir, Jacky Collins here. 

My Mini Review:

Can we just show some love for this cover? It's partly purple (my favourite colour)! Seriously, I love the blocky graphics on Jonathan's covers. This short volume is only available as an eBook but a paperback would've looked smashing on my shelf alongside Jonathan's other books. 

It's always a pleasure to spend pleasure with the Devil, or at least it is with the one in universe created by Jonathan Whitelaw. I loved both Hellcorp and The Man in the Dark but The Deal sees the Devil going back in time to the 1800s and across the water to California. Although a prequel to the other two, it works perfectly as a standalone.

Abner is a young man trying to make his fortune by panning for gold but it's not going very well. That is until a stranger appears in the middle of the night with an offer that seems almost too good to be true... The Deal is humourous and devilish delicious. And it was brilliant to read the Devil's first encounter with someone playing a small, but vital, role here who would become invaluable to the Devil in the future. A quick, fun and entertaining  read raising much needed funds for a vital service. Go buy it! 

The Author:

Jonathan Whitelaw is an author, journalist and broadcaster.

After working on the frontline of Scottish politics, he moved into journalism. Subjects he has covered have varied from breaking news, the arts, culture and sport to fashion, music and even radioactive waste - with everything in between.

He's also a regular reviewer and talking head on shows for the BBC and STV.

The Comfort of Distance by Ryburn Dodds - Blog Blitz

I'm shining a spotlight on The Comfort of Distance by Ryburn Dodds today as part of the Love Books Tours Blog Blitz. I love the sound of this one and am really looking forward to taking part in the full blog tour in December. My thanks to Kelly Lacey at Love Books Tours for the invitation.

The Blurb:

Sgt Hank LeGris stares down at the crushed and gaping skull in the dirt. It’s the second time in just a few weeks that human remains have been found in the Black Hills. Citizens are getting restless. Is it a rogue mountain lion, as many people suspect? Or something even more sinister?

Sebastien Grey is a brilliant forensic anthropologist with debilitating social phobia. When he is asked by his estranged brother to come to South Dakota and help identify who, or what is leaving body parts scattered across the county, he discovers much more than the cause of these strange deaths.

Doesn't that sound brilliant? I think so and hope you do too. The Comfort of Distance is out today and you can buy it here.  And remember to check out for the blog tour in December. 

The Author:

Ryburn Dobbs taught biological anthropology and forensic anthropology at several colleges throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and spent ten years as a forensic anthropologist, working dozens of death investigations. In addition to his anthropological pursuits, Ryburn also worked as an investigative analyst specializing in homicides and unsolved cases.

The Comfort of Distance is Ryburn’s first novel and the first in the Sebastien Grey series. For more information about Ryburn, his blog, and updates on new books please visit www.ryburndobbs.com.

 

Betrayal by Lilja Sigurðadóttir (translated by Quentin Bates)

I'm thrilled to be taking part in the blog tour for Betrayal by Lilja Sigurðadóttir as I loved her Reykjavik Noir trilogy. This novel moves into the world of politics and I loved it! Huge thanks to Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for the invitation and to the author and publisher for my review copy. You can read my thoughts below.

The Blurb:

Burned out and traumatised by her horrifying experiences around the world, aid worker Úrsula has returned to Iceland. Unable to settle, she accepts a high-profile government role in which she hopes to make a difference again.

But on her first day in the post, Úrsula promises to help a mother seeking justice for her daughter, who had been raped by a policeman, and life in high office soon becomes much more harrowing than Úrsula could ever have imagined. A homeless man is stalking her – but is he hounding her, or warning her of some danger? And the death of her father in police custody so many years rears its head once again.

As Úrsula is drawn into dirty politics, facing increasingly deadly threats, the lives of her stalker, her bodyguard and even a witch-like cleaning lady intertwine. Small betrayals become large ones, and the stakes are raised ever higher...

The award-winning internationally bestselling author Lilja Sigurðardóttir returns with Betrayal, a relevant, powerful, fast-paced thriller about the worlds of politics, police corruption and misogyny that feels just a little bit too real…

Betrayal was published by Orenda Books as an eBook on 1st July 2020 and in paperback on 1st October 2020. It is available to purchase from the publisher, Hive (supporting independent bookshops), Waterstones, Amazon or your usual bookseller.

My Review:

I was excited for this one from Lilja as I had really enjoyed Snare, Trap and Cage, and I'm happy to say I wasn't disappointed at all!

Betrayal takes place over seventeen or eighteen days beginning with Úrsúla Aradóttir taking over her new role as Interiors Minister with the Icelandic Government. She's an unusual appointment as she doesn't come from a political background but the role is only for a year. She has come back from Ebola frontline hospitals in Liberia and the war zones of Syria and has taken on this ministerial job to help immigrants arriving in Iceland. On her first day she promises Rosa that she will find out what's happening with her daughter's rape case. Soon after she starts receiving bizarre, unsettling handwritten notes, then vile, threatening emails. And that's just the beginning ...

Úrsúla is really interesting and a brilliantly written character. It's hard not to like her, she just wants to help people. And although traumatised by her experiences abroad, she is desperate for another challenging role. She's brave and doesn't compromise easily but she's unhappy and unable to connect with her husband and children in the way she wants to. Her nightmares are horrific, even to the reader. It's not easy settling into the new job as she learns that there are accepted practices, procedures to follow and things don't always move as fast as she would like. And not everybody is thrilled to see a female minister...

I also loved assistant Eva and cleaner Stella. We don't learn too much about Eva but she keeps Úrsúla right and has an endless supply of clean blouses at hand. Stella is such an interesting character. She's had a difficult and sad upbringing and hasn't always made good choices as an adult. Thanks to her Faroese grandmother she believes in magic and spells, and isn't averse to casting one or two. But possibly my favourite character was Gunnar, a man who just wants to do his dream job well. And he does.

The story? Oh goodness. With threats coming from all directions, Betrayal is never dull. Sigurðadóttir has weaved together different threads that eventually come together in a nailbiting denouement. There is political scandal, police corruption and death threats amongst the pages, and I stayed up way too late reading it! I just couldn't put it down. Betrayal is a very effective political crime thriller but,more than that, it's about the people and the love, loss, fear, grief, trauma and hope they experience, Beautifully written, full of rich detail and authentic, I loved every minute of Betrayal. More please Lilja! 


The Author:

Icelandic crime-writer Lilja Sigurdardóttir was born in the town of Akranes in 1972 and raised in Mexico, Sweden, Spain and Iceland. An award-winning playwright, Lilja has written four crime novels, including Snare, Trap and Cage, making up the Reykjavik Noir trilogy, which have hit bestseller lists worldwide. The film rights have been bought by Palomar Pictures in California. She lives in Reykjavík with her partner.

Dead Perfect by Noelle Holten

I am delighted to be taking part in the blog tour for this, the third DC Maggie Jamieson book from fab author, friend and blogger extraordinaire Noelle Holten. Huge thanks to Sarah Hardy at Book on the Bright Side for inviting me and to the author and publisher for my review copy. Can't wait to buy the paperback when it's out! 

The Blurb:

A murdered woman…

When the body of a young woman is found in a local park, DC Maggie Jamieson knows she’s dealing with no ordinary killer. The murder victim has been disfigured; her outfit changed to resemble someone else. Someone Maggie knows all too well…her close friend Dr Kate Moloney.

A determined detective…

Maggie is determined to keep her friend safe, but with Kate already struggling with a threatening stalker, Maggie now fears Kate’s life is in real danger. Who else would want to harm Kate and why else would the killer be turning his victims into exact replicas – his living dolls?

Can Maggie find the depraved killer? Or will Kate become his next living doll?

Dead Perfect was published as an eBook by One More Chapter on 16th October 2020. It will be released in paperback on 24th December 2020. You can buy/pre-order it from Hive, Waterstones, Amazon or your usual bookseller.

My Review:

I was so looking forward to reading this after thoroughly enjoying Dead Inside and Dead Wrong, which ended on a bit of a cliffhanger! So, very excited for this one. And I'm very happy to say I wasn't disappointed. 

In the last book Maggie's friend and colleague Dr Kate Maloney received some unnerving correspondence and at the beginning of this one Maggie is worried about her, So when Maggie can't reach her and a body matching Kate's description is found, Maggie is beside herself... But this is just the beginning of a creepy, complex, troubling investigation which Maggie struggles with due to her feelings for Kate. But there is a killer out there and Maggie must put her personal feelings and anxieties aside and, together with the rest of the team, solve the case. 

I've said it before and I'll say it again - I really like Maggie. Noelle has created a well rounded character who whilst easy to root for can also be frustrating. Maggie is tenacious and hardworking, fiercely loyal to those around her, and often able to look at things slightly differently from her colleagues. She becomes deeply invested in her cases, and this one more than others as it involves someone she cares about. She does sometimes rub people up the wrong way, particularly if they can't see her point of view, and can be a touch abrasive. And I really worry that she has no life to speak of it outside of work! The team dynamic is interesting with former colleague Nathan now her boss, but his promotion doesn't seem to cause any problems. Most of the time, anyway. With the exception of Nathan and Maggie's brother Andy, the key players are mainly women which is great to see. I have to give a shout out to Bethany, who beavers away behind a computer - easily one of the hardest working members of the team, I reckon! Journalist Julie Noble certainly adds something to the story, even if Maggie does find her involvement less than palatable. Or does she?

From the very creepy prologue, this book grabs you. The crimes are horrific and there is plenty of detail given here. The chapters from the point of view of the perpetrator had the hairs standing up on the back of my neck, they were so disturbing! Many of the chapters end on a mini cliffhanger, meaning you just have to carry on reading, regardless of the time! I did, anyway. The storyline is terrific and terrifying, with a great denouement. I didn't guess who the perpetrator was and I was certainly surprised by their motivation. 

Dead Perfect is a tight police procedural reflecting Holten's many years of experience working in probation and dealing with the police service. She also has the qualifications to back up her writing. It is a tense, thrilling drama that rattles along at a real pace, and easily stands up there with her first two books. And the wonderful thing is there's another wee cliffhanger at the very end - hopefully book four will be along soon! An all round great read. 

The Author:

Noelle Holten is an award-winning blogger at www.crimebookjunkie.co.uk. She is the PR & Social Media Manager for Bookouture, a leading digital publisher in the UK, and worked as a Senior Probation Officer for eighteen years, covering a variety of risk cases as well as working in a multi agency setting. She has three Hons BAs – Philosophy, Sociology (Crime & Deviance) and Community Justice – and a Masters in Criminology. Noelle’s hobbies include reading, attending as many book festivals as she can afford and sharing the booklove via her blog.

Dead Inside – her debut novel with One More Chapter/Harper Collins UK is an international kindle bestseller and the start of a new series featuring DC Maggie Jamieson.


Author Social Media Links:

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Blog FB page 
Instagram (@author_noelleholten) 
Website
Bookbub author page 

Stranded by Stuart James

Today is my stop on the blog tour for Stranded, the new dark psychological thriller from author Stuart James. Huge thanks to Sarah Hardy at Book on the Bright Side for inviting me to take part and to the author and publisher for my review copy. 

The Blurb:

A family trapped. A psychopath on the loose. Let the game begin…

What could be more innocent than going on holiday?

As a family drive along a quiet country lane on their way to the airport, they meet a stranger standing alone in the middle of the road.

Steering them along another path, he tells the driver, Ben, that a tree has fallen and there’s no way through.

But as they make their way along the diverted route, they come across a coach blocking the road.

Getting out of the car Ben goes to investigate and is horrified to find the passengers tied to their seats.

Then a discarded phone starts to ring…

If Ben calls the police, everyone on board will die.

Let the horrific game begin…

Stranded was published yesterday by Bloodhound Books as an eBook and in paperback and you can buy it here.

My Review:

As soon as I saw the blurb for Stranded I knew I had to read it! I laughed when some of the earlier reviews nicknamed it 'Speed 3'. To be fair, there's not too much speeding in it, but there are plenty of edge of the seat thrills... I had previously enjoyed Stuart's work, and you can read my review of Apartment 6 here, so was keen to see what he had in store for us this time. 

Ben, Laura and daughter Milly are diverted of the main road on their way to the airport. When they get stuck behind a coach which wasn't moving Ben goes to investigate and enters a nightmare. A madman has tied several people to their seats and draws Ben and his family into his sick games of retribution. 

Well, James has definitely gone over to the dark side with this one! It's seriously twisted and very creepy - I actually stopped reading it in bed because I scare easily! Everything takes place in the dark in the woods and the scene setting is fantastic, very atmospheric. The challenges that the caller (communication is via a mobile phone), his 'games', are very inventive, often bloody and brutal. And as I said earlier, twisted! I am a little concerned as to what was going on in the author's head when he came up with these ideas - his mind must be a very dark place! 

The characterisation is very detailed and there is a colourful cast of characters. The stand out would obviously be Ben, a regular guy caught up in the night from hell. But he doesn't run, stays calm (mostly) and tries to do the right thing. I really liked him but was surprised how calm the family stayed - I felt they would have freaked out more - I certainly would have done! It's a horror story! Other than Ben, I liked Stephen, Mary and Lydia, three very different characters, but all interesting in their own way. Edward was very unlikeable, but deliberately so. 

This is a story about how grief can send someone over the edge, about how dark secrets also get out, and about one family's determination to do the right thing and the price they might pay for that. I loved how the threads of the different passengers' stories all weaved together. The story crackles with tension, and danger is on every page. James does a great job in maintaining pace and building even greater tension at the denouement, which is exciting and terrifying. And there is some real emotion here - love, fear, hope, betrayal and grief. There is one scene between a father and son that is just heartbreaking and, ultimately, gut wrenching. 

I did feel there was some unnecessary repetition and I wasn't totally keen on the ending. Don't get me wrong, it's good, but I thought the story could have ended just a teeny tiny bit sooner. But as you can tell from my comments above, neither of those things spoiled my enjoyment of the book too much. James is full of creative and original ideas and I look forward to seeing what he comes up with next. 

The Author:

'I have always loved scary stories, especially ones that shocked me, left me terrified, looking under my bed or in the wardrobe before going to sleep.

'There was just a fantastic buzz whenever I watched or read something that took my breathe away.

'I remember going to my nan’s house in Ireland as a youngster with my mother and sister, on the West Coast, staying in a cottage, surrounded by miles of fields and my family sitting around the table in the kitchen at night telling ghost stories. Going out and exploring derelict farmhouses in the middle of nowhere. I remember clearly the field at the end of the road was supposed to be haunted by headless nuns.

'My cousins often remind me of the great times we had, frightening each other and running for our lives whenever we’d see something that didn’t look right.

'This is why I love nothing more than to tell a story.

'I started writing three years ago, penning The House On Rectory Lane which has just won The International Book Award in horror fiction. I got the idea from something that has often seemed scary to me. I know that a terrifying story has to be something that you’re frightened of doing, something that makes the hairs stand on the back of your neck, something that fills you with dread, yet also with excitement.

'To me, the thought of going to a house in the middle of nowhere, upping and leaving a busy town and moving to the country is something that scares lots of people and me: the seclusion, the quiet, the darkness. That’s what inspired me to write my first novel.

'My second thriller is called Turn The Other Way, which was a world wide number 1 best seller and stayed at number 1 for 19 weeks in the US.

'I have multiple stories running, past and present. A family who want answers from the surgeon responsible for their daughter’s death. A young woman looking for her parents after they go missing from a party. A couple driving home and hearing screams for help from the back of the van in front of them. A serial killer on the loose in North London, dragging victims off the street.

'I’m so grateful when people not only read my thrillers but also take the time to get in touch and leave a review. To me, that is the greatest feeling, hearing from people that have enjoyed my work. I know then that I’m doing something right.

'My third thriller, Apartment Six, was published in January of this year and was a number 1 hot new release on Amazon for 4 weeks.

'Stranded goes on pre-order Monday October 12th on Amazon and is released October 19th.

'I’m 47, married and have two beautiful children. Currently, I’m a full-time plumber but would love nothing more than to make a living from my writing. I hope I write stories and people continue to enjoy them for years to come. That would be completely amazing and a dream come true.'


Author Social Media Links:

Website
Facebook
Twitter

The Creak on the Stairs by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir (translated by Victoria Cribb)

Today is my stop on the tour for The Creak on the Stairs, the first book in the new Forbidden Iceland series, and the debut crime thriller from Eva Björg Ægisdóttir. Huge thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for the invitation and to Orenda Books for my review copy. I have since purchased my own ebook. 

The Blurb:

The first in the electrifying new Forbidden Iceland series, The Creak on the Stairs is an exquisitely written, claustrophobic and chillingly atmospheric debut thriller by one of Iceland’s most exciting new talents.

When the body of a woman is discovered at a lighthouse in the Icelandic town of Akranes, it soon becomes clear that she’s no stranger to the area.

Chief Investigating Officer Elma, who has returned to Akranes following a failed relationship, and her colleagues Sævar and Hörður, commence an uneasy investigation, which uncovers a shocking secret in the dead woman’s past that continues to reverberate in the present day…

But as Elma and her team make a series of discoveries, they bring to light a host of long-hidden crimes that shake the entire community. Sifting through the rubble of the townspeople’s shattered memories, they have to dodge increasingly serious threats, and find justice … before it’s too late.

The Creak on the Stairs was published by Orenda Books as an eBook on 14th March 2020 and in paperback on 1st October 2020. You can purchase it from Orenda, Hive, Waterstones and Amazon. 

My Review:

Orenda Books has opened up a whole new world to me with their wonderful selection of translated fiction. I always know I'm in for a treat, and this was no exception. So a huge shout out to the amazing translators, in this case Victoria Cribb, who have enabled me to read these wonderful books. And I loved the wee Icelandic pronunciation guide - so helpful! 

Elma has returned to her home town of Akranes following the end of a relationship & taken up a job with the Akranes police, having previously been with the Reykjavik force. She worries that the pace of life in Akranes will be too sedate for her but not long after her she takes up her new role the body of a woman is found on rocks near the lighthouse. Once the body is identified Elma discovers that although the woman grew up in Akranes she had moved away and held a deep hatred for the town. The key to the solving her murder must be discovering what brought her back, and the investigation finds possible links to some prominent members of the community, stirs up unpleasant memories and uncovers dark secrets. 

The prologue to this book is in two parts and the first of these is incredibly descriptive and evocative. I found myself holding my breath as I read... The story is told in a dual timeline, one in the present day (2017) and the second made up of flashbacks to the late 1980s and early 90s. 

I loved Elma. Damaged and fragile, she has moved back to escape the pain of her recent relationship, but holds some doubts about returning to her childhood home. However, she slips into her new role with relative ease and is accepted by her new colleagues. She soon develops a good relationship with Sæver and boss Hōrður and they make a good team. Elma is hardworking, tenacious and not easily discouraged. In fact, she's not averse to going behind her boss's back of she feels it necessary. I liked that alongside her strengths, we caught glimpses of her sadness and uncertainties, doubts about herself and her feelings. It made for a more rounded, believable character, one with whom I'd like to share a bottle of wine and a good blether! 

The storyline. Oh gosh, what can I say about that? It's a painful, powerful one, with threads like a spider's web all linking together. We learn how events in the 80s and 90s shaped one woman's life and rippled right though to 2017. My stand out characters (other than Elma) are Elisabet and Ása. Neither wholly likeable but both with hidden depths. Ása, particularly, touched me. This is a female centred story, with a difficult theme (which might be uncomfortable for some) handled with a delicate touch. But we see the pain, nevertheless, as dark truths surface. 

This book touched me. I was thinking about it long afterwards. There is a photograph mentioned early on which is so well described I could see it, and it troubled me. Read the book and you will see why. Also, reading it is like peeling an onion, discovering layer after layer. And I just wanted to cry at the denouement. So well written. Powerful, poignant and emotive, this is a very strong start to a new series which I am really looking forward to. 

The Author:

Born in Akranes in 1988, Eva moved to Trondheim, Norway to study her  MSc in Globalisation when she was 25. After moving back home having completed her MSc, she knew it was time to start working on her novel. Eva has wanted to write books since she was 15 years old, having won a short story contest in Iceland.

Eva worked as a stewardess to make ends meet while she wrote her first novel. The book went on to win the Blackbird Award and became an Icelandic bestseller. Eva now lives with her husband and three children in Reykjavík, staying at home with her youngest until she begins Kindergarten.

Final Second by John Ryder

Today I'm helping to close off the #BooksOnTour blog tour for Final Second by John Ryder and I'm delighted to share my review below. Huge thanks to Noelle Holten at Bookoutre for my invitation and my review copy which I received via Netgalley. 

The Blurb:

Sometimes it takes a stranger to find a killer…

In a small farming town in rural Wisconsin—where generations of families have lived in peace for decades—no one expects trouble to come calling.

But then a farmer’s beautiful young wife is found brutally murdered, with a chilling calling card that suggests she’s just the first victim of a serial killer. And the FBI elect not to send one of their own. Instead they send a stranger to town—former Royal Marine turned mercenary, Grant Fletcher. And they’re giving him no choice. Find the killer. Because we know what you’ve done.

With the threat of the executioner’s chair hanging over him, Fletcher finds himself in an impossible situation—and a race against time. Catch a murderer whose killings are escalating with every day that passes. Or face certain death…

Fans of Lee Child's Jack Reacher, Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne and David Baldacci’s Amos Decker will love the Grant Fletcher series.

Final Second was published by Bookoutre on 5th October 2020 and you can buy it here.

My Review:

This is the second outing for Grant Fletcher, following on from First Shot. You don't need to have read the first book to enjoy Final Second as anything you need to know that happened previously is explained, but done with a light touch. You should read First Shot, though, because it's ace. 

The best friend of FBI Special Agent Zoey Quadrando is murdered. Tied up with her own case and unable to investigate Jane's death herself she asks ex Royal Marine Grant Fletcher to look into it for her. He knows that he is being tested, but doesn't know by whom so he heads off to Wisconsin troubled by the request but determined to do right by Quadrado, who he met on a previous case.  Medford is a small town with a close knit community who are all shocked by the violence that has visited their neighbourhood. But Jane's death is just the beginning ... 

I liked Grant Fletcher very much. He is a caring, decent man still mourning his wife many years after her death. He will always do the right thing until he has to do the wrong thing. And his fighting and survival skills are well honed from his years in the Marines. But he is not a thug, far from it. He's beautifully written, a three dimensional, well rounded character. He and Quadrado, who is young and ambitious, make a good team. 

The book is full of twists and turns, red herrings and dead ends. It's full of action with tension rising as the story progresses. Ryder has clearly done a ton of research into farming and milking processes and there are also impressively detailed fight scenes. 

The storyline easily held my attention and kept me turning the pages (or in this case swiping right!) and I read it in just a few hours as I was so desperate to find out what happened next. The denouement was tense, violent  and bloody. And throughout there is a shadowy threat hanging over our protagonists which keeps everything interesting. 

A brilliantly written, exciting story full of thrills and spills with two beautifully drawn, engaging protagonists, Fletcher particularly, and a cast of colourful characters.  I loved it and look forward to reading more from Ryder.  

The Author:

John Ryder is a former farmworker and joiner. He’s turned his hand to many skills to put food on the table and clothes on his back. A life-long bibliophile, he eventually summoned the courage to try writing himself, and his Grant Fletcher novels have drawn inspiration from authors such as Lee Child, Tom Cain, Zoe Sharp and Matt Hilton. When it comes to future novels, he says he has more ideas than time to write them.

When not writing, John enjoys spending time with his son, reading and socialising with friends. A fanatic supporter of his local football team, he can often be found shouting encouragement to men much younger and fitter than he is.

You can find him on Facebook and Twitter.

Gravity Well by Marc Rahe

Regular visitors to this blog will know that I'm always delighted when an opportunity to review some poetry pops up. And today is no exception. It's my stop on the blog tour for Gravity Well by Marc Rahe and you can find my thoughts below. Huge thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for the invitation and to the publisher for my review copy. 

The Blurb:

In Gravity Well, Marc Rahe’s incisive third collection, the poems beckon readers through an ever-shifting series of landscapes, drawing our gaze across a dynamic tableau— an octopus wearing a sweater, a white sky over the bridge we’re standing on, flowers pressed into a forgotten book — as a means of revealing the most particular thrills and anxieties of the human condition. Unafraid and unwavering, careful and concerned, Gravity Well propels its reader through the imagined apertures of the universe one striking image at a time, leaving us ocularly magnified in a world now seen anew. A singular voice in American poetry, Rahe deftly centers the body in relation to ailments such as love, decay, aging, friendship, and grief. His powerful, meditative plea is resounding: “Earth, turn me.”

Gravity Well will be published by Rescue Press on 20th October 2020 and you can pre-order it now direct from the publisher or from Amazon. 

My Review:

Gravity Well is a collection of 60 poems split into four sections titled with phases of the moon - Waxing Crescent, Waxing Gibbous, Waning Gibbous, Waning Crescent in which he explores life, love, aging and grief. There is a strong science feel to many of the pieces and I wonder if this is the author's background. 

This wasn't a collection I responded to immediately. Rahe has a writing style I'm not used to, although I feel it is quite akin to our thought process, mine anyway - flitting about like a butterfly in places. I read every poem twice, some three times for them to speak to me. With each reading I discovered new things, paused at a certain section of phrasing, smiled to myself at a thought, an image. And I imagine with each subsequent reading other elements will jump out at me. Not every poem worked for me, sometimes there was imagery that didn't connect with me, and that's OK - poems are designed to bring out different responses for different people. 

There were several standouts for me. Previous Lives takes a simple calendar with crossed out squares as the starting point for a detailed discussion of aging and the passage of time. Momentum contains my favourite line of the whole collection - 'These check stubs are marked and perforated foreshadowings of our regret.' I thought that was beautiful. Fable of the Cephalopod has the most wonderful imagery - no simple frog in the throat for Rahe, but a sea creature instead! In Winter, about the circle of life & death, made me a little sad and How I Miss You contains another beautiful line - 'What is warmth without your arm on me?' ,The Sky without Air fascinated me and I loved Design Specification, Is Coincidence a Spring of Romance and Not Yet, all about navigating the choppy waters of relationships. 

Gravity Well is a rich, multilayered collection of poetry with much to discover within its pages. I found new things on every reading and know I will continue to do so. An intimate, imaginative portrayal of life, love and loss, told with a singular voice. Rahe picks up on the tiniest details and uses them as his focus, resulting in a unique collection I am happy to recommend. 

The Author:

Marc Rahe is the author of The Smaller Half (Rescue Press, 2010), On Hours (Rescue Press, 2015), and Gravity Well (Rescue Press, 2020). His poems have appeared in The Iowa Review, jubilat, MAKE Literary Magazine, PEN Poetry Series, Sixth Finch, and other literary journals. He lives in Iowa City.

A Prayer for the Broken by Mark Tilbury

I'm delighted to share my review of A Prayer for the Broken by Mark Tilbury for today's stop on the blog tour. This is a dark, brutal story which will stick with me for some time. Thank you to Mark for my review copy.

The Blurb:

They promised the boy he’d be safe – they lied! When eleven-year-old John McCormack’s mother is murdered, he is placed in the care of Pastor Ian Stone and his family. Clearwater House is a far cry from the squalid flats he’s been used to, but John soon learns that Pastor Stone’s perverted form of religion is anything but compassionate. As Stone attempts to purify John’s soul of “dangerous levels of toxicity”, it becomes increasingly clear he’s at the mercy of a madman. Who can John talk to when no one wants to listen? Who can he trust when all he knows is betrayal? A Prayer for the Broken is the story of one child’s desperate fight to escape a sadistic killer who has complete control over him. The perfect book for fans of Chris Carter and M W Craven.

A Prayer for the Broken is published on 5th October 2020 and is available for pre-order here.

My Review:

Before I get started can we just show some love for this cover? Superbly atmospheric, it's just perfect for this book. It was designed by Emmy Ellis who also designed the cover for Mark's last book, The Last One To See Her (review here) and will be doing new covers for his earlier books as he re-releases his back catalogue over the coming months. 

Young John McCormack didn't have the best start in life but he did have a mother who loved him fiercely. Until one morning when  he wakes to find her dead.  At the age of 11 finds himself in the foster care of Pastor Ian Stone and his family. Pastor Stone is known for his good works and is well respected in the community and the social worker impresses upon John how lucky he is. And if anyone deserves a little bit of good fortune it's John. Unfortunately, it turns out that he hasn't struck gold with his new foster family. Nothing could be further from the truth... 

John is a poor wee soul and my heart just broke for him. He arrives at the Stone house traumatised and grieving, needing love and support. He gets neither from Pastor and Mrs Stone, nor from their son Timothy. He does find a friend, though, in Brendan, another boy fostered by the Stones. Some of their exchanges provided some lighter moments and made me smile. Others were so poignant, so sad, that they had me tearing up. Their scenes together were my favourite parts of the book. 

This is not an easy read. It's not a comfortable read. It's dark, brutal and  uncomfortable to read in places. But it is beautifully written and powerful. Stone is a horribly good (goodly horrible?) creation from Tilbury. It's always great to find characters I love to hate, and Ian Stone has gone on my list. He is evil and dangerous.  I picture him perfectly calm, which makes him even more sinister. 

John is pushed to the limit, punished and abused. There are violent moments, but not too graphic. But it is dark, with a constant sense of foreboding. And the Stones' twisted religious beliefs, and resulting actions, took my breath away in places. The writing is hugely atmospheric and descriptive, and we feel John's pain, confusion, despair, fear, happiness (occasionally!) and hope. 

The frightening thing is that this could happen in real life, or something similar anyway. Last year I read a true account of abuse and neglect within the UK care system (Oi by Snowball) which routinely featured food deprivation, amongst other things, and A Prayer for the Broken brought that book, and its author's real life experiences to mind. 

I can't say too much more about the plot without giving spoilers, which I absolutely don't want to do! As the story progressed I had to remind myself that John was just a wee boy. A child. Because with some of the things that happen to him it's easy to forget that. The tension really rises as the story progresses, with some real surprises and the denouement is shocking, tense and exciting. 

Due to the subject matter, this will not be a book for everyone. But if you're looking for something suitably dark and twisted then this is for you. It's a powerful read with richly written characters that will touch you and stay with you long after you've finished it. There is evil lurking in these pages but it's also a tale of friendship, resilience and determination. I would have liked to have seen the very end expanded a little but, otherwise, I loved this book. Twisted Tilbury lives up to his name yet again! 

The Author:

 

Mark lives in a small village in the lovely county of Cumbria, although his books are set in Oxfordshire where he was born and raised.

After being widowed and raising his two daughters, Mark finally took the plunge and self-published two books on Amazon, The Revelation Room and The Eyes of the Accused.

He's always had a keen interest in writing, and having had seven books published by an indie publisher, has decided to return to self publishing. After successfully publishing The Last One To See Her, A Prayer For The Broken is following in October 2020.

When he's not writing, Mark can be found playing guitar, reading and walking.


Author Social Media Links:

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Remember to check out the other fab blogs taking part in the tour!