Geiger by Gustaf Skördeman (translated by Ian Giles)

When I read the blurb for Geiger I was immediately hooked - I needed to know more. Huge thanks to Tracy Fenton at Compulsive Readers for inviting me on the tour and to the publisher for my gifted review copy.

 

The Blurb

The incredible story of a codeword, an extraordinary murder, and the woman who must solve both to stop a deadly plot fifty years in the making. Perfect for fans of I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
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The landline rings as Agneta is waving off her grandchildren. Just one word comes out of the receiver: 'Geiger'.

For decades, Agneta has always known that this moment would come, but she is shaken. She knows what it means.

Retrieving her weapon from its hiding place, she attaches the silencer and creeps up behind her husband before pressing the barrel to his temple.

Then she squeezes the trigger and disappears - leaving behind her wallet and keys.

The extraordinary murder is not Sara Nowak's case. But she was once close to those affected and, defying regulations, she joins the investigation. What Sara doesn't know is that the mysterious codeword is just the first piece in the puzzle of an intricate and devastating plot fifty years in the making . . .

Geiger is published in the UK on 29th April 2021 by Zaffre in hardback, audio and eBook formats.

My Review

The opening of Geiger is pretty explosive, as described in the blurb. Following a phone call Agneta kills her husband Stellan. Sara Novak, now a police officer, had been a childhood friend of Agneta's daughters Lotte and Malin and is informed of Stellan's death by a colleague. She insists on attending the crime scene and afterwards can't drop it, even though it's not her case, and her investigation uncovers things she struggles to believe. 

I loved the characterisation in this book. Agneta is nearly seventy and it's clear from the writing that at times she feels every one of those years. But she's tough, resilient and determined. And she loves her grandchildren very much. Although Stellan meets his end early on, he is very much a central character and we learn much about his life throughout the story. We find that his public face is very different from his private one. And Sara. I really liked her - fierce, tenacious and thorough. Both in her 'proper' job arresting  men using prostitutes and in her unofficial investigation into Stellan's murder. I loved her relationship with her mother or, rather, I loved how her view of her mother changed as things from the past come to light. I found that quite moving, actually. There are, of course, other brilliant characters but I am loathed to mention more for fear of spoilers.

It's a hefty tome, coming in at over 400 pages, and there is much to take in  about history and politics here - I found it all quite fascinating, and consider myself better educated - always a good thing! The book seems well researched, has an authentic feel. This additional information is absolutely necessary to the story and I didn't feel it particularly slowed the plot. The pace is cracking throughout leading to an explosive denouement. 

Geiger opens with a crime and plenty more are carried out or exposed throughout. It's a story of a family full of secrets. It's a story of loyalty, love, dedication and fanaticism. I love to see a tale led by strong women and I think Skördeman does this well. This is a complex story, well crafted and populated by well drawn characters. It's tense, exciting and full of fantastic reveals - I really enjoyed it.

The Author

Gustaf Skördeman was born in 1965 in Sweden and is a screenwriter, director and producer. Geiger is his literary debut.

Resourceful Living by Lisa Dawson

Something a bit different today. As someone who moved into her home with little money to furnish it, I am always looking for ideas to make the most of it for as little money as possible. So I am delighted to be taking part in the blog tour for Resourceful Living by Lisa Dawson, a fabulous book all about buying pre loved items as well as looking to make the most of what we already have. Many thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for inviting me and to the publisher for my gorgeous review copy.

The Blurb

It's often thought that restyling your space comes with a hefty price tag and unavoidable waste. But in Resourceful Living, award-winning interiors blogger Lisa Dawson shows how, with a little creativity, you can revamp your home with existing pieces, vintage finds and key purchases.

The clever ideas in this beautiful book cover:

- The most important ways we use our homes, from eating to sleeping, living and working.

- The Basics of steering clear of interiors 'fast fashion', multi-purposing furniture and making the most of what you have.

- Styling Your Home with simple solutions for re-imagining each room, from gallery walls to home bars, repainted storage to retro accessories.

Including her top ten key vintage buys and tips for in-store and online thrifting, Lisa's inspiring advice shares the fun of creative sourcing as a more sustainable way to keep your home feeling fresh.

'Resourceful Living feels like reading a recipe book, not only because of the delicious interiors images, but because of the simple ingredients and easy methods that are shared to achieve beautiful living spaces for yourself.' Melanie Sykes

'I've been a long-time fan and follower of Lisa's interiors tips. This book really is super practical as well as beautiful - perfect for anyone looking to be more interiors savvy.' Rachel Khoo

Resourceful Living was published by Kyle Books on 15th April 2021.

My Review

As mentioned above, after buying my house I had very few funds left with which to decorate and furnish it, and almost everything in it is second hand, but not vintage. Four years on, I still haven't really put my stamp on it. Four years on, I still don't have curtains up! Panic not, dear reader, my neighbours are saved from blushes - I do have blinds.

So I was thrilled to look through Lisa's beautiful book, packed with gorgeous photographs, of her own home and those of other influencers, and great ideas for making your own home look fabulous.

She covers how to make the most of your space and mixing old with new. How great vintage furniture is and how a few key pieces can make all the difference. I loved the section on getting a gallery wall right - I will definitely be going back to that section and following some of the advice. And I particularly loved the idea of 'shopping your home' - looking at furniture you already own and thinking whether it might work elsewhere in your home, perhaps serving a different purpose. Dawson is an advocate for multitasking or repurposing pieces, and she gives plenty of examples throughout - a chair as a bedside table, a repurposed filing cabinet as a sideboard, and a vintage tea trolley for pretty much anything! 

There is inspiration everywhere you look in this book. Discussions about flooring, textures, greenery and lighting. I smiled at the arguments she has with her husband when he likes it bright and she likes subtle lighting. No husband now but been there, done that! Except it was me for the bright lights. There are photographs of beautiful rooms and features throughout the book. Some are Dawson's own, some belong to other lifestyle writers and bloggers, a couple of whom she interviews about their style. But they are all beautiful. Not necessarily my style but I can appreciate and be inspired by them. And I loved the mood boards she did for her main rooms - loads of ideas there. 

I wholeheartedly support the idea of thrift shopping and repurposing - we need to significantly reduce our waste - and this book is a great starting point. The author suggests some online shopping and auction sites, really helpful for anyone looking for vintage pieces for their home. She also included her top ten vintage but which I was heartened to see included crochet blankets and books. I own a couple of blankets made by my grandmother and am busy making several blankets of my own which I hope will become vintage one day. Books was the only thing I really disagreed with Lisa Dawson about. She seems to view them purely for design purposes - to place artfully on a coffee table topped with a vintage glass vase, or collected by colour on a shelf. I have a house full of books, but they are here to be read and talked about. I love to own beautiful books, but only ones I want to read. I suppose I just can't view books they she does. Having said all that, this is a perfect coffee table book - but one that is meant to be picked up and read.

Resourceful Living was a delight to read. Filled with gorgeous photographs and fabulous ideas and suggestions, you can't help but be inspired! if you have want a beautiful home but don't have loads of money to spend, or even if you do, then this is a book for you. Right, if you'll excuse me, I'm away to make a gallery wall...

The Author

Lisa Dawson is a multi-award-winning interiors blogger, writer, workshop presenter and social media influencer. She writes a popular weekly blog, is a regular contributor to Frank magazine and creates professional social media content for brands such as John Lewis and Loaf Home. She is co-founder of the popular Instagram hashtag #myhomevibe

which has over 1.5 million posts and was the first UK-based interiors community hashtag when it was launched in 2016. She lives in York with her husband, three children and a

badly behaved Lhasa Apso called Buddy. Lisa shares her home inspiration on her Instagram @_lisa_dawson_. You can find out more at www.lisadawsonstyling.com

Be sure to check out the rest of the bloggers on the tour! 

Blood Loss by Kerena Swan

Today I am sharing an extract from Blood Loss by Kerena Swan as part of the blog tour. My thanks to Rachel Gilbey at Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me and to the author and publisher for my review copy.

 

The Blurb

Sarah

With one eye on the rear view mirror and the other on the road ahead, Sarah is desperate to get as far away from the remote Scottish cabin as she can without attracting attention. But being inconspicuous isn’t easy with a black eye and clothes soaked in blood…
… and now the fuel tank is empty.

DI Paton

When a body is discovered in a remote cabin in Scotland, DI Paton feels a pang of guilt as he wonders if this is the career break he has been waiting for. But the victim is unidentifiable and the killer has left few clues.

Jenna

With the death of her father and her mother’s failing health, Jenna accepts her future plans must change but nothing can prepare her for the trauma yet to come.

Fleeing south to rebuild her life Sarah uncovers long-hidden family secrets. Determined to get back what she believes is rightfully hers, Sarah thinks her future looks brighter. But Paton is still pursuing her…

… and he’s getting closer.

Kerena Swan’s brilliant novel explores how honest mistakes and human frailty can have terrifying and long-reaching consequences. It’s a tale of family ties and loyalty, revenge and redemption that you won’t want to put down.

Blood Loss was published by Hobeck Books on 19th March 2021.


Purchase Links

US 
UK

Blood Loss will be just 99p for a limited time only!

 

Extract

Jenna

My breath wheezes through my constricted throat, my heart thuds against my ribs and my eyes bulge as I stagger around the kitchen. Where’s my EpiPen? I’m sure I left it on the table, but it’s not here now. Oh, God, help me.

‘Mum!’ A faint rasp is the only sound to emerge through the sadistic grip on my windpipe. I don’t know what to do. If I try to make it to the lounge I might pass out. Mum may not find me in time. My throat will carry on swelling until it closes completely. My lips and cheeks are tingling and my skin is on fire. I must find my EpiPen. Only an injection of adrenalin will save me now.

I swivel my head frantically from left to right, scanning the worktops. My vision blurs as the room flashes past my eyes. I can’t focus. I want my mum. I need Mum. I see the vase of bright sunflowers on the table and in a flash of inspiration I sweep my arm out and send it crashing to the hard stone floor. Shards of china and water explode across the kitchen and hit my legs.

‘Are you all right, Jenna?’ Mum calls from the other end of the house.

I can’t reply. My vision is turning red and I’m going to pass out any minute now. I push a chair over and it hits the floor with a clatter then I lean against the wall and slide down it to avoid falling.

‘What’s going on?’ It’s as though Mum is calling to me from a distant hilltop and there’s a whole valley of countryside between us. The sun drops beyond the horizon and darkness descends.

I wake to the soothing sensation of a hand stroking my hair back from my forehead and Mum’s gentle, comforting voice.

‘It’s okay, Jenna. I’m here. I’m looking after you.’

I feel disorientated but safe. Mum will care for me as she always does. She knows what to do. I relax under her calming ministrations, then, without warning, I see with sudden clarity an image of Mum on her death bed and me stroking her hair. Cold dread takes a bite from my heart. No, no, no! It’s not meant to be like this. I’m too young to lose my mum, the most important person in my world. I can’t bear it. I want to die with her. Tears well in my eyes, run across the bridge of my nose and gather in my right ear.

‘Don’t cry, love. You’re okay. We’ll give you another injection in ten minutes and the ambulance will be here soon.’ Mum takes a seat pad from a kitchen chair and places it under my head with aching tenderness. ‘What have you eaten?’

My mind struggles to grasp what has happened. I raise my head and see an EpiPen cartridge lying on the floor in a puddle of water. Fragments of china, like broken teeth after a fight, are littered around the empty medication tube. The blue cap has been ripped off and discarded nearby and the needle is encased in the retractable orange plastic again. I remember gasping for breath. ‘Where was my pen?’ I can only whisper but Mum understands me.

‘I couldn’t find it so I fetched a spare one. You really should keep it in your pocket, Jenna. In fact, remember what the doctor said? You’re supposed to carry two on you.’ Mum reproaches me but she’s only trying to keep me safe.

‘It was on the table. I got changed to muck out the stable and I didn’t have a pocket so I’d been carrying it around,’ I rasp. I know I put it on the table when I came in.

‘We need to buy you one of those little bags to strap around your waist for when you don’t have a pocket.’

‘You don’t understand, Mum. I definitely put it on the table.’


The Author

We are thrilled to be introducing DI Dave Paton and his son Tommy, the stars of the first novel in Kerena Swan’s new series, to the world. Before coming to Hobeck, Kerena had published three novels, Dying To See You, Scared to Breathe and Who’s There? and has built a solid fan base around her writing career thus far. She is a juggler extraordinaire: driving forward a successful care business she runs with her husband yet finding time to write. She loves to write, here and there and everywhere when she’s not working. We don’t know how she does it but we are glad that she does! Kerena talks about her writing, her influences and how she came to Hobeck in this video.


Author Social Media Links

Website: https://kerenaswan.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @kerenaswan
Facebook : @kerenaswan · Author


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

I'm Still Here!

Hi guys, how is everyone? Happy Friday! This isn't my usual post, no review today. I just came on for a wee quick chat.

So, how are you all? Here in Scotland we're just starting to emerge from lockdown (although more slowly than in other parts of the UK), the vaccination process is going well, the sun is shining, The birds are singing and everything seems a bit brighter, a bit more hopeful. I hope it's the same where you are.

You might have noticed (or not, of course!) that I haven't been around very much recently - not on here nor on social media. At the end of last year, I decided that this year I would take part in less blog tours and share some reviews of my own books. Don't get me wrong, I've taken part in some brilliant blog tours and discovered wonderful books (and still am) but I wasn't getting round to the roomful of books I have at home and the 300 odd on my Kindle. So that was the plan.

Unfortunately, I am a little unwell again. I've been off work (but hoping to return ASAP) since the beginning of March with nausea and light-headedness (which appeared around the time of a bad migraine) and increased anxiety. There is no obvious medical cause for the nausea so it may be linked to the anxiety. I'm taking new additional meds and doing various things to help myself and things seem to be improving.

I'm telling you all this because the nausea is aggravated by so many things - walking, driving and screen time amongst them. So reviews have been difficult to write and social media harder to deal with. But bear with me, they will get up slowly - they might be shorter than usual, but perhaps that's a good thing! If it comes to it, I might end up posting a photo of a handwritten review, but hopeful I won't need to do that! 😂 I'll also be introducing a new occasional feature - Sorry Saturdays and Sundays, where I will be finally sharing reviews of books that were sent to me some months ago, in some cases over a year, and saying a big sorry to the author and/or publisher. 

That's all for now. Posts might be a bit sporadic for a while until things improve but please hang in there with me. Big love to you all. ♥️ xx

Save Her by Abigail Osborne - Cover Reveal

I'm delighted today to be part of the cover reveal for Abigail Osborne's new book, Save Her, which is out next month.

But before I show you the cover, here's a little bit about the book and its author.


The Blurb

Bonded by their traumatic childhoods, Flora and Sophie are inseparable friends who married brothers.

What they could not have anticipated was their mother-in-law, Cecelia. Disappointed that her children have married beneath them, Cecelia takes every opportunity to belittle and taunt her daughters-in-law.
When Cecelia learns that Flora and her son are moving away, her wrath escalates, and Flora’s world begins to fall apart.

Meanwhile, Sophie’s life is also crumbling around her. Her marriage is not what it seems, and she is desperate to escape the clutches of the poisonous family she has married into.

Is Flora being tormented or is she losing her mind?

Will Sophie and Flora be forced to leave their husbands in order to survive?

With a mother-in-law like Cecelia, anything is possible…

Save Her is published by Bloodhound Books and will be out on 5th May 2021. 


The Author

Abigail is originally from the Lake District but moved to the West Midlands for University where she completed an English Literature & History degree. She lives in Worcestershire with her husband and is a board game fanatic, owning over 70 games. She has a huge collection of books, plays the violin, and used to play the piano until her husband sold it because it was too heavy to keep moving. Save Her is Abigail’s second novel. 

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And finally, here it is....
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The Cover

So there you have it. I hope you'll agree that it looks, and sounds, fantastic. I'm really looking forward to reading it and will be sharing my thoughts on May 25th as part of the blog tour.

The Point of No Return by Neil Broadfoot

I read The Point of No Return by Neil Broadfoot back at the very end of last year but, as per usual, I was all over the place and didn't get my review up. So today, it's paperback publication day, seemed like a good time to share it! I received a gifted review copy from the author but now the paperback is out I will be putting an order in!  

The Blurb

How far would you go to find the truth?

After more than a decade of being in prison for the brutal murder two Stirling University students, Colin Sanderson has been released after his conviction was found to be unsafe.

Returning home to a small village not far from Stirling, Sanderson refuses police protection, even in the face of a death threat. But the PR firm that has scooped him up to sell his story does know of a protection expert in Stirling. They want Connor Fraser.

Connor reluctantly takes the assignment, partly as a favour to DCI Malcolm Ford, who is none too keen to have Sanderson on the loose, particularly as he was involved in the original investigation that saw him imprisoned.

When a body is found, mutilated in the same way as Sanderson's victims were, all eyes fall on the released man. But how can he be the killer when Connor's own security detail gives him an alibi?

As Connor races to uncover the truth, he is forced to confront not only Sanderson's past but his own, and a secret that could change his life forever.

'A true rising star of crime fiction' Ian Rankin

Tense, fast-moving and bloody. Broadfoot's best yet' Mason Cross

'Wonderfully grisly and grim, and a cracking pace' James Oswald

'Neil Broadfoot hits the ground running and doesn't stop. With the very beating heart of Scotland at its core, your heart too will race as you reach the jaw dropping conclusion of this brilliant thriller. First class!' Denzil Meyrick

'Crisp dialogue, characters you believe and a prose style that brings you back for more . . . a fine addition to a growing roster of noir titles with a tartan tinge' Douglas Skelton

The Point of No Return was published in e-book, audio and hardback formats on 3rd September 2020. It is released in paperback today and available from all good booksellers. 

  

My Review

Woohoo, Connor Fraser is back! I love this series - you can check out my reviews of No Man's Land and No Place to Die to see my thoughts. The Point of No Return works perfectly as a standalone so don't let not having read the others put you off reading this one. But I always think with a series that you get a richer reading experience if you start at the beginning. And the previous two are well worth checking out! 

Connor Fraser is not too enamoured with his latest security job - providing protection for a newly released, acquitted prisoner who doesn't really want any security. But Connor accepts the job at the request of DCI Ford, with whom he has worked before and who is a man he respects. Also Fraser's friend, journalist Donna Blake, will be interviewing the newly released Sanderson so he'll be able to keep a protective eye on her, when she'll let him! A new murder casts suspicion once again on Sanderson but could it really be him? Meanwhile, Connor's having a few difficulties of his own. 

I love Connor Fraser. For me, he's Stirling's answer to James Bond but without the gadgets or string of women. He's an action man - handsome, fit, lean and alert. The kind of guy that women want and men want to be - in my head anyway! He struggles to relax though and, in top of work, he's got a few things on his mind. I love his tender relationship with his grandmother. 

It was great to see Donna back too. She's great - feisty, fierce (although maybe not as much as she things she is),  determined, and always after the next big story, willing to put herself into the occasional risky situation to get it. Her friendship with Blake is brilliant - they've been through some stuff together, they like and respect one another, but can each be frustrated by the other. 

I must mention Paulie too, because he might well be my favourite character! He always makes me think of Luca Brasi! 

The storyline sees Fraser, Blake, and the police, looking at older crimes for links with a present day one and finding that things move in very unexpected directions. A subplot sees Connor looking for a different, more personal kind of truth. The book is action packed from the get go and it really doesn't let up. Broadfoot doesn't waste words, every one counts, and this helps keep up the tension that runs throughout. As do the chapters presented in the first person from an anonymous point of view - they're pretty creepy. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough! There is a touch of humour throughout - loved Donna's description of the Scottish Parliament building '...like some kind of demented love child of Ikea and B&Q.' And we get to visit some of Stirling's landmarks. 

The Point of No Return is a brilliant, tense, action packed crime thriller that hurtles along from beginning to end. The scene setting and characterisation are spot on. It's about misjudgements, love, loyalty, obsession and murder. And it's a story about fathers and sons. Loved it and wholeheartedly recommend it. 

The Author

Neil Broadfoot worked as a journalist for 15 years at both national and local newspapers, including The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday and the Evening News, covering some of the biggest stories of the day.

Falling Fast, which was shortlisted for the Dundee International Book Prize, is the first in the Edinburgh-set McGregor and Drummond series of thrillers.

His new Stirling-set series, which begins with No Man's Land and features close protection expert Connor Fraser, has been hailed as "tense, fast moving and bloody" and "atmospheric, twisty and explosive" with a "complex cast of characters and a compelling hero". No Man's Land was longlisted for the 2019 McIlvanney Award.

As a husband and father of two girls, Neil finds himself regularly outnumbered in his own home. He is also one of the Four Blokes In Search of a Plot, a quartet of crime writers who live write a story based on suggestions from the audience. The Four Blokes have appeared in England, Spain and Scotland.

Keep up to date with news on Neil's books by signing up to his mailing list.