The Opposite of Lonely by Doug Johnstone

A body lost at sea, arson, murder, astronauts, wind phones, communal funerals and conspiracy theories … This can ONLY mean one thing! The Skelfs are back, and things are as tense, unnerving and warmly funny as ever…

The Opposite of Lonely is the hugely anticipated fifth instalment in the unforgettable, critically acclaimed Skelfs series, featuring three generations of women in the Skelf family: funeral directors and part-time private investigators…

I'm delighted to welcome you to my review of The Opposite of Lonely by Doug Johnstone as part of the blog tour. Huge thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part and to the publisher for my review copy. I have since bought my own paperback copy to complete the set (so far).

The Blurb

EVEN DEATH NEEDS COMPANY…

The Skelf women are recovering from the cataclysmic events that nearly claimed their lives. Their funeral-director and private investigation businesses are back on track, and their cases are as perplexing as ever.

Matriarch Dorothy looks into a suspicious fire at a travellers’ site, and takes a grieving, homeless man under her wing. Daughter Jenny is searching for her missing sister-in-law, who disappeared in tragic circumstances, while grand-daughter Hannah is asked to investigate increasingly dangerous conspiracy theorists, who are targeting a retired female astronaut … putting her own life at risk.

With a body lost at sea, funerals for those with no one to mourn them, reports of strange happenings in outer space, a funeral crasher with a painful secret, and a violent attack on one of the family, the Skelfs face their most personal – and perilous – cases yet. Doing things their way may cost them everything.

The Opposite of Lonely is published by Orenda Books and came out on 14th September 2023.

My Review

I LOVE this series! I had got a little behind so read the fourth book, Black Hearts, just before starting this one so that I was up to date. Each of the books can be read as a standalone but, as with any series, I feel you'll get a richer reading experience of you read from the beginning and in order. 

For anyone unfamiliar with the series, the Skelf women comprise of matriarch Dorothy, daughter Jenny and granddaughter Hannah. Together they run a funeral directing business alongside a private investigating one, following the death of Dorothy's husband Jim. Black Hearts saw the women go through some terrible ordeals but things are more settled at the beginning of this book. Jenny, particularly, is noticeably calmer and happier.  But, of course, things don't stay like that for long. A funeral for a member of the traveller community goes awry, Jenny has to revisit a difficult time and Hannah gets to meet a really inspiring woman, and subsequently takes on a case for her. In all of this, they are supported by their close network - Archie and Indy, Hannah's wife, who both work on the funeral side of things, policeman Thomas, Dorothy's partner, and new in this book, Brodie. And all are involved in a terrifying denouement...

I love Dorothy! She is the funkiest septuagenarian you could meet, playing drums as she does with The Multiverse, a multi-generational, multicultural band. They cover tracks by bands I've never heard of because I'm not hip and Dorothy is. As is author Doug Johnstone. And she has a lover fifteen years her junior! Go Dorothy! But more than that, she is the heart of this family and the heart of their story. Mainly involved in the funeral side of the business, she is full of compassion and understanding. It's evident with everyone she meets, every conversation she has. A good example is Brodie, who Hannah meets at a funeral. He's a wee bit lost and living out of his car, but Dorothy sees potential in him and helps him start to turn things around. 

It's great to see more of Archie in these more recent books, another waif that Dorothy took under her wing a long time back. He's always been there, stoic and dependable, but it's lovely to see his friendship with Jenny, and the happiness that brings each of them. Jenny has been the woman I've always struggled most to connect with, but found it easier in this book. To be fair she's been through some pretty awful stuff in previous books, and although she needs to confront at least the memories of it in this book, she is more comfortable with where she's at now, which helps her respond to things in a much more measured way. And it's  lovely to see a new character joining the fold in Brodie. Johnstone writes this grieving young man with such care and gentleness, it's beautiful. 

I must mention the wind phone because it's one of my favourite things in this story, and proves very popular with others too. Gifted by a grateful client in the previous book, it is a white telephone box, where the phone line is cut, and it is for people to talk to their loved ones who have passed on. It comes from Japanese culture but gets plenty of use in this wee corner of Edinburgh. Such a lovely idea. 

There is a LOT to unpack in this novel. Doug Johnstone is not a man to waste words and every single one here serves a purpose. As well as the body lost at sea, we have an arson attack and more, prejudice against the traveller community, Jenny coming full circle with her story arc whilst dealing with a missing person case, discussion of big themes for Hannah and her astronaut case, unhelpful policemen, green funerals and the future of the Skelfs's business, threats and violence. A big theme running through this for me was abuse - physical abuse, sexual abuse, abuse of trust and abuse of power and confronting all of that. It's powerful stuff. 

For all I've said above, and The Opposite of Lonely is about all of those things, at the heart of this book, and this whole series, is connection, family, community, respect, care and love. Yes, there is death and grief, danger and violence, but there is also beauty and joy, and it all comes back to these three women, their strength and bond, and to the family they have created around them. Connections, community and love. A beautiful book, absolutely loved it, so glad there will be more to come. 

The Author

Doug Johnstone is the author of sixteen novels, many of which have been bestsellers. The Space Between Us was chosen for BBC Two’s Between the Covers, while Black Hearts and The Big Chill were longlisted for the Theakston Crime Novel of the Year. Three of his books – A Dark Matter, Breakers and The Jump – have been shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize. Doug has taught creative writing or been writer in residence at universities, schools, writing retreats, festivals, prisons and a funeral home. He’s also been an arts journalist for 25 years. He is a songwriter and musician with six albums and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers, a band of crime writers. He’s also co-founder of the Scotland Writers Football Club and lives in Edinburgh with his family.

The Nigerian Mafia: Mumbai by Onyeka Nwelue

And now for something completely different! Today I'm closing the blog tour for The Nigerian Mafia: Mumbai by Onyeka Nwelue. This is the first book in a planned series of ten, based in some of the many places the author has visited. May thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for the invitation and to the publisher for my review copy.

 

The Blurb

Nollywood actor, Uche Mbadiegwu leaves his Surulere neighborhood in Lagos, to Bandra in Mumbai to join Bollywood, so he could make it big, hoping to play exceptional roles. Like a flash, Periwinkle appears in his life and changes everything. Tired of living in a pigsty, Efemena wants to live a life in independence, but there is more to being a Nigerian in Mumbai – a constant escape from Indian police and narcotics agents. The Nigerian Mafia is a tale of violence, drugs, human trafficking, murder and sex.

The Nigerian Mafia: Mumbai is published by Enklima, an imprint of Abibiman Publishing, and came out on 4th April 2023.

 

My Review

Actor Uche has been successful in Nollywood, the Nigerian film business but he dreams of more. So he leaves his home and community in Lagos and moves to Mumbai, with hopes of making it big in Bollywood. But things don't quite work out like that and Uche ends up living a very different life from the one he'd imagined. 

This was a very different book for me but I was drawn to it to find out more about different countries and cultures. And The Nigerian Mafia: Mumbai certainly gave me a window to learn a little about Nigerian culture, and Indian also. When we meet Uche it is clear early that things have not turned out as he hoped they might. The book is written in the first person, feels like he is directly addressing the reader. It feels like a letter, or maybe a confession.   Parts of it are written in Pidgin English which was a surprise. I found some of it a little difficult to understand but loved seeing it there as it's a language I'm not familiar with at all. 

I'm not sure how I feel about Uche. He tells us he will be totally honest with us, and maybe he is, but he feels like an unreliable narrator. I was never sure that I could trust him! He never really tries very hard to follow his dream but falls very easily into drug dealing. Interestingly, all the dealers we meet are Nigerians - clearly finding legitimate work in Mumbai is not easy for them. Uche fits in with them well, but would have us believe he is better than them somehow. He considers himself a good man in a tough situation but he thinks nothing of dealing drugs or trafficking women. The supporting cast is full of colourful characters - cafe owner Efemena, Periwinkle who is crucial to Uche's story, Priscilla and Nasir, who I had a soft spot for - he's a good friend to Uche. And the author himself makes a brief cameo appearance! 

The Nigerian Mafia: Mumbai feels like a real story, a little exaggerated, of course, of what could happen to a young person alone and adrift in a foreign country, where crime is rife. But I loved how much I learned in this book about two cultures I knew nothing about. There are details of the Nigerian class system and the different regional languages. And also about the city of Mumbai. A really interesting read. 

The Author

Onyeka Nwelue is a Nigerian filmmaker, talk-show host, bookseller and author whose book, Hip-Hop is Only for Children won the Creative Non-Fiction Book of the Year at the 2015 Nigerian Writers’ Awards. He adapted his novella, Island of Happiness into an Igbo language film, Agwaetiti Obiụtọ and won Best Feature Film by a Director at 2018 Newark International Film Festival, and went on to be nominated for Best First Feature Film by a Director and the Ousmane Sembene Award for Best Film in an African Language at the 2018 Africa Movie Academy Awards.

He is the director of the Oxford-based James Currey Society and founder of La Cave Musik, a record label, based in Paris.

The Trail by MA Hunter

The first of two blog tours up today. The blurb intrigued me for The Trail so was pleased to be able to review it. My thanks to Rachel Gilbey at Rachel's Random Resources for the invitation and to the publisher for my review copy. 

The Blurb

Sometimes it's best to let the past stay buried...

Thirty years ago, Jess's mother, Nora, disappeared while on a charity hike in the US. The devastating loss has afflicted Jess well into her adult life and even inspired her decision to become an investigative journalist.

So when Jess receives an anonymous tip telling her that remains have been recovered in the spot her mother disappeared, she wastes no time in jumping on a plane.

They say the Appalachian Mountains have secrets, but as she begins to ask around, she learns that the locals do too. But no matter how much they lie, she is determined to find the truth - even if it will irrevocably change her future.

Someone wants to keep the past buried. And they will stop at nothing to keep Jess as quiet as the tranquil mountain trail itself...

The Trail is published by Boldwood Books and came out earlier this month.

Purchase Link

https://mybook.to/TheTrailSocial

My Review

Jess has always been plagued by her mother's disappearance thirty years previously. At the time, Nora was taking part in a charity hike, along with three others, doing a section of the Appalachian Mountains. They were raising money for medical treatment for Jess's now best friend, Ashley. Jess has always wanted to know what happened to her mum and when she hears a body has been found near the trail she catches a flight over to find out more.

The story is told in a dual timeline as we join Nora on her hike and Jess on her search for the truth and the chapters alternate between the two women, which I really liked as it kept things moving along nicely and helped make this a quick read. 

The Appalachian Trail is very much a character itself and the woods and rocky outcrops and so forth are very well described. I've no idea how accurate it is but it feels very real. And very creepy! I loved reading all the tales that folk told Nora As she meets them the way. Stories of mystery and magic, often scary. There is a sense of threat around More's story, and she feels it deeply. The towns dotted along the trail seem to put Nora at unease, as they do Jess thirty years later. They are not welcoming places for either woman. 

A constant in both stories is Bruce. He was one of Nora's companions on the trail and then became a friend and father figure to Jess. He was probably my favourite character and such a support for both women. And through him Jess is able to find out more about the final days before her mother's disappearance. And both women meet some interesting, colourful characters whilst on their journeys. Many of them speaking of the fabled Trail Magic. 

I am unsure how I feel about the ending but this was an easy, enjoyable read and I particularly enjoyed Nora's story, full of mystery and magic. 

The Author

MA Hunter is the alter ego of Stephen Edger, the bestselling author of psychological and crime thrillers, including the Kate Matthews series.


Author Social Media Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMAHunter/
Twitter https://twitter.com/Writer_MAHunter
Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/MAHunterNews

Be sure to check out the other fab bloggers on the tour! 

The Crash by Robert Peston

My second tour today is for The Crash by Robert Peston in which a banking crisis looms. Big thanks to Tracy Fenton at Compulsive Readers for my invitation and to the publisher for my lovely review copy. 

The Blurb

As the world falls apart, a deadly conspiracy comes together ...

London, 2007. It's summer in the City: the economy is booming, profits are up and the stock market sits near record highs.

But journalist Gil Peck is a lone voice worrying it can't last. Deep in the plumbing of the financial system, he has noticed strange things happening which could threaten the whole economy. But nobody wants to hear it: not the politicians taking credit for an end to boom and bust, not the bankers pocketing vast bonuses, not even Gil's bosses at the BBC, who think it's irrelevant.

When Gil gets a tip-off that a small northern bank has run out of money, everything changes. His report sparks the first run on a UK bank in 140 years. The next day, Marilyn Krol, a director of the Bank of England dies in an apparent suicide.

For Gil, it's personal. Marilyn was his lover: was his scoop connected to her suicide? Or is there something more sinister in her death? Gil is determined to find out.

The more he investigates, the more he is drawn into the rotten heart of the financial system, where old school ties and secret Oxbridge societies lubricate vast and illegal conflicts of interest. The whole economy has been built on a house of cards, and Gil is threatening to bring it down.

When simply reporting the facts can make or break fortunes, Gil has to ask himself: is he crossing the line between journalist and participant? Are his own conflicts of interest making him reckless? And in a world ruled by greed where nothing and no-one is too big to fail, what price will he pay for uncovering the truth?

The Crash is published by Zaffre and out today.

My Review

The Crash is a big chunk of a book, the hardback coming in at close to 400 pages. Gil Peck, a BBC journalist, uncovers a story about a bank that has essentially run out of money, and goes public with it. This sets off a chain of events beginning with the death of his lover then hurtling along to the explosive denouement. 

This is a book you need to pay attention to when you read it, keep your wits about you. It's full of banking terms throughout. They are explained well but it took me a while to get my head around them. But it's worth understanding them as they are key to the story. And the cast of characters is huge, including bankers, journalists and politicians, even the Prime Minister! I loved how Peston features real BBC presenters and programs in the middle of this work of fiction. 

Gil is very driven and work focused, it's all about getting the next story. And, here, that leads to all sorts of trouble and he needs someone to lean on, to support him. Enter Jess, his best friend, also a journalist, but for a financial publication. I loved Jess. She's Gil's anchor, a sounding board, a voice of reason. Gil has a tendency to make everything about him and it's often Jess that pulls him up on it. They make a good team as they work together to get to the bottom of the story. 

The other main players in this story are bankers, investors, and politicians and this is where you need to pay attention to who is doing what and so forth because there is a lot going on! You wouldn't necessarily expect a novel set in the world of banking to be exciting but this one is. The more truth Gil unearths, the more he puts himself in danger. There are people who don't want it all to go public and will do anything to silence Gil. And by association, Jess.

As the story progresses the tension builds as we see Gil peel back the layers to find the true extent of what's happening. But the more he discovers, the more he puts a target on his back. 

The Crash is an intelligent, well written, enjoyable read. There are a few things to get your head around, but once you've done that you'll be swept along with the story, and you'll be rooting for Gil from the get go. I loved his relationship with Jess and the support she  offers him. Everyone needs a Jess in their lives. But I digress. The writing is great and the tension builds well. The denouement was not what I expected (although I'm not sure how else I wanted it to end!) but it works well for the story. I loved the glimpse into the worlds of journalism and TV. I enjoyed it and would happily recommend it.

The Author

Robert Peston is ITV's political editor, presenter of the politics show 'Peston', founder of the education charity, Speakers for Schools (www.speakers4schools.org), and vice president of Hospice UK. He has written four critically acclaimed non-fiction books, How Do We Fix This Mess?, Who Runs Britain?, Brown's Britain and his latest, WTF?, which was described by the Financial Times as 'mandatory reading' for anyone seeking to understand Brexit, Trump and the collapse of confidence in western liberalism. For a decade until the end of 2015, he was at the BBC, as economics editor and business editor, and in the 1990s he was at the Financial Times, as political editor, financial editor and head of investigations. At the BBC he played a prominent role in exposing the causes and consequences of the credit crunch, banking crisis and Great Recession. Peston has won more than 30 awards for his journalism, including Journalist of the Year and Scoop of the Year (twice) from the Royal Television Society. The Crash is his second novel, after 2021's The Whistleblower. 


Author Social Media Links

Blog: itv.com/robertpeston
Facebook: facebook.com/pestonITV
Twitter: twitter.com/itvpeston 

The Silent Man by David Fennell

I am delighted to be taking part in the blog tour for The Silent Man by David Fennell. It's the third Grace Archer novel and I loved the first two, The Art of Death and See No Evil, so was excited to read this one. My thanks to Tracy Fenton at Compulsive Readers for the invitation and to the publisher for my review copy. 

The Blurb

WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T MAKE A SOUND . . .

The stunning new crime thriller from one of British crime writing's brightest talents, and one of the twistiest, most gripping and emotional reads of the year.

A father is murdered in the dead of night in his London home, his head wrapped tightly in tape, a crude sad face penned over his facial features. But the victim's only child is left alive and unharmed at the scene.

Met Police detectives Grace Archer and Harry Quinn have more immediate concerns. Notorious gangster Frankie White has placed a target on Archer's back, and there's no one he won't harm to get to her.

Then a second family is murdered, leaving young Uma Whitmore as the only survivor.

With a serial killer at large, DI Archer and DS Quinn must stay alive long enough to find the connection between these seemingly random victims. Can they do it before another child is orphaned?

The Silent Man is published by Zaffre and came out on 31st August 2023. 

 

My Review

As mentioned above, this is the third novel to feature DI Grace Archer, and this time around she has no less on her plate to deal with. Maybe even more. Her beloved grandad's health is declining and gangster Frankie White blames her for taking something of his. And that's before the body of a young father is found, his head bandaged like a mummy with a childish face drawn on it. His son has been left unharmed and untouched. Archer's team have very little to go on...

I've said in previous reviews that I really like Grace. She's tough but fair and has bedded in well with her team. Most notably Harry, her right hand man. There's a very genuine friendship, respect and trust between them which I love. And that is more evident in this book than in the previous two. Of course, they know each other much better now, but both of them are impacted by events in this book and the depth of feeling they obviously have for each other is a joy to read. 

The deaths that feature are as creative and creepy as I've come to expect from David Fennell. As is the antagonist although I found their story quite emotional. Frankie White, meanwhile, is determined to do harm to Grace, and doesn't care how he gets to her. This makes everything quite tense with a feeling of threat throughout. It was also interesting to see how different police personnel have responded to Frankie over the years. All of it impacts both Grace and Harry. The book is written entirely in the present tense but not all of it happens in the same time period which I did find a little confusing

The Silent Man is a quick and enjoyable read with a great protagonist and sidekick. The main storyline is creepy and horrible whilst the subplot has plenty going on too. I loved the creativity of the crimes, always wonder where the ideas for this kind of thing comes from? Perhaps I shouldn't ask! Really like it. Very emotional at the end though! 

The Author

David Fennell was born and raised in Belfast before leaving for London at the age of eighteen with £50 in one pocket and a dog-eared copy of Stephen King's The Stand in the other. He jobbed as a chef, waiter and bartender for several years before starting a career in writing for the software industry. He has been working in CyberSecurity for fourteen years and is a fierce advocate for information privacy. David has played rugby for Brighton and has studied Creative Writing at the University of Sussex. He is married and he and his partner split their time between Central London and Brighton.

 

Author Social Media Links

Website: www.davidfennell.co.uk
Twitter: @davyfennell
Facebook: DavidFennellAuthor
Instagram: @MrDavidFennell
TikTok: @davidfennell_author

Bloody Scotland 2023 - Fulton Ross & Antti Tuomainen

I'm finally sitting down to plan my weekend at the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival which is happening in a couple of weeks, 15th -17th September, in Stirling. There are so many brilliant events it's hard to choose what to pick! But two events I know I'm not going to miss feature authors I'm delighted to spotlight for my stop on the Bloody Scotland blog tour. Fulton Ross wowed me with his dark debut, The Unforgiven Dead, full of Highland folklore and mythology, which has been shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize. And I have been a fan of Finnish writer Antti Tuomainen for a good while, loved his last book, The Moose Paradox, and I'm super excited for the follow up, The Beaver Theory, which comes out in October. Read on for more about the authors, their recent books and the fantastic events they're taking part in. I've included links to booking and to view the whole festival brochure too. 

Fulton Ross

Fulton Ross is a writer and journalist from the Scottish Highlands. A graduate in Scottish literature and history from Glasgow University, he has worked on national newspapers for more than a decade. Inspired by Gaelic folk tales, The Unforgiven Dead is his debut novel. Set amidst the brooding landscape of the West Highlands, the novel is envisaged as the first in a series featuring Constable Angus ‘Dubh’ McNeil. Fulton now lives in Northern Ireland with his wife and three children. He is a lover of tartan noir, history, beagles, and shinty.

 

Mini review of The Unforgiven Dead (full review still to come)

The Unforgiven Dead is a police procedural with a difference. Angus 'Dubh' MacNeill has the dà-shealladh, second sight. A vision of a young woman facing death sends him racing to the beach where he discovers the body of the daughter of a local landowner and she has suffered what appears to be a ritualistic death. He was too late. But this is just the beginning...

What an enjoyable read! But a dark and creepy one too. Full of pretty sinister legends and stories, it's clearly well researched and really fascinating. The sense of place is terrific, making it hugely atmospheric, with vivid descriptions of the landscape, surroundings and weather. Beautiful writing too. I loved quirky, geeky Gills and his relationship with Angus. The Unforgiven Dead is a tale of folklore, witchcraft, murder and tragedy. But it's also about one man's struggle to accept who he is and everything that goes with it. Angus has plenty more to offer (I hope), as does Fulton Ross. 

Fulton is appearing in the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize Shortlist event together with Kate Foster, Calum McSorley and Heather Critchlow (fifth shortlister Heather Derwent is unable to be there) at Stirling Central Library on Friday 15th September, 5-6pm. The Debut Panel has unfortunately sold out but there will be an opportunity to meet the shortlisted authors at the Opening Reception from which they will lead the Torchlit Procession to the Albert Halls where the winner of the Debut Prize will be interviewed on stage. you can buy your tickets here. The books will be available in the festival bookshop for the whole weekend.

 

He is also appearing earlier on Friday, 1.30-2.30pm at Trinity Church in Alex Gray's New Crimes panel, along with Jo Callaghan, Martin Griffin and Alex Hay, and presented by Alex Gray herself. You can buy tickets here. 

Antti Tuomainen

Finnish Antti Tuomainen was an award-winning copywriter when he made his literary debut in 2007 as a suspense author. The critically acclaimed My Brother’s Keeper was published two years later. In 2011, Tuomainen’s third novel, The Healer, was awarded the Clue Award for ‘Best Finnish Crime Novel of 2011’ and was shortlisted for the Glass Key Award. The Finnish press labelled The Healer – the story of a writer desperately searching for his missing wife in a post-apocalyptic Helsinki – ‘unputdownable’. Two years later, in 2013, they crowned Tuomainen ‘The King of Helsinki Noir’ when Dark as My Heart was published. With a piercing and evocative style, Tuomainen was one of the first to challenge the Scandinavian crime genre formula, and his poignant, dark and hilarious The Man Who Died became an international bestseller, shortlisting for the Petrona and Last Laugh Awards. Palm Beach Finland (2018) was an immense success, with The Times calling Tuomainen ‘the funniest writer in Europe’, and Little Siberia (2019) was shortlisted for the Capital Crime/Amazon Publishing Readers Awards, the Last Laugh Award and the CWA International Dagger, and won the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel. The Rabbit Factor is the first book in Antti’s first-ever series and is in production as a Hollywood movie. The Moose Paradox is the follow up and The Beaver Theory, out next month, is the third in the trilogy. I have a review copy of this to read in the coming weeks but will also be buying my own hardback copy to complete the set.

From my review of The Rabbit Factor

I'm not going to tell you much about the story because, honestly, you need to read it for yourself, but it features spreadsheets, sinister cinnamon rolls, loan sharks, a three metre high plastic rabbit, freezers and love. It's quite a ride! And the ending is just perfect.

The Rabbit Factor is an absolute gem of a book. Antti Tuomainen has brought together the slightly absurd and the everyday and created a fantastic story with a brilliant central character. Who else would write a crime story where the hero is an actuary?! This is a beautifully told tale, full of humour and warmth, and jeopardy, with keen observations on society and relationships. There was absolutely nothing I didn't like. It was just perfect and I loved it. Roll on the next book!

From my review of The Moose Paradox

I love, love, love Henri. He'd never admit it but he is just as quirky as his park employees. I love his ability to apply maths and logic to everything he faces, even the ridiculous. And how that calm, organised approach can get him out of the stickiest of situations. And, without realising it, he's very funny! So brilliant from Tuomainen.

The Moose Paradox is madcappery and mayhem, with some genuine peril thrown in. Add to that an awkward love story and one of my favourite protagonists ever and it is everything I could ask for. Loved it!

Antti is appearing with Mark Billingham (whose new book I have to read and have heard great things about) at the Albert Halls on Saturday 16th September, 6-7pm, for what promises to be an entertaining hour. You can book your ticket here. https://bloodyscotland.com/events/mark-billingham-and-antti-tuomainen/quote

There are tons of other fabulous events happening over the weekend. You can view the brochure here and book your tickets for all events here. It's always a fabulous weekend so do come along if you're able. And if you can't join us, a good number of the events are available to view online so do check that out. Roll on 15th September!

 

 

The Murmurs by Michael J Malone

Today is my stop on the blog tour for The Murmurs by Michael J Malone, a creepy gothic thriller I really enjoyed. Big thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for the invitation and to the publisher for my review copy.

 

The Blurb

A young woman starts experiencing terrifying premonitions of people dying, as it becomes clear that a family curse known only as The Murmurs has begun, and a long-forgotten crime is about to be unearthed…

On the first morning of her new job at Heartfield House, a care home for the elderly, Annie Jackson wakens from a terrifying dream. And when she arrives at the home, she knows that the first old man she meets is going to die.

How she knows this is a terrifying mystery, but it is the start of horrifying premonitions … a rekindling of the curse that has trickled through generations of women in her family – a wicked gift known only as 'the murmurs'…

With its reappearance comes an old, forgotten fear that is about to grip Annie Jackson.

And this time, it will never let go…

A compulsive gothic thriller and a spellbinding supernatural mystery about secrets and small communities, about faith, courage and self-preservation, The Murmurs is a startling and compulsive read from one of Scotland's finest authors.

The Murmurs is published by Orenda Books and out on 14th September 2023.

My Review

Wow, this is some story! I've read a couple of Michael's previous books, A Song of Isolation and Quicksand of Memory (there are lots more I need to catch up on), so I knew what a great wordsmith he is, and The Murmurs is just as beautifully written. 

Annie has been drifting a bit but has a new job in a care home. However, her first day doesn't quite go to plan as she sees an awful vision when talking to one of the residents and suddenly knows that he is going to die, and how. Unsurprisingly, this unnerves her as she worries it'll happen with everyone. Around the same time she starts to hear voices, murmuring voices, and as she was already having bad dreams, she finds herself completely lost and overwhelmed. She turns to her main support and biggest cheerleader, her brother Lewis, and starts to recall memories that she lost following a childhood trauma. And together, she and Lewis begin to unravel long buried secrets...

I loved Annie. When we meet her she's a bit aimless, hasn't really discovered what she wants to do with her life. But we journey with her through ups and downs, see her at her worst and at her strongest. She's a beautifully written character and you can't help but root for her, and feel for her as she faces so much. Lewis is great too. A supportive and understanding brother but one who has his own secrets too. There is a small main cast with Annie at the centre. One other character who stood out for me was Sister Teresa. A good woman, trying to do the right thing but, again, holding on to secrets. 

Annie's nightmares, visions and the murmurs themselves are described in detail and some of it is really quite dark and chilling. They seem so real. And the scene setting is brilliant. I can't say too much about the plot as so much is revealed, bit by bit, as we follow the story and also learn about Annie's mother. The siblings learn so much about their own family and community.

The Murmurs is an immersive and emotional read. Secret after awful secret is revealed. Often hard hitting, the description of the effects of the curse are beautifully written. And Annie is a brilliant, vulnerable and resilient protagonist. A tale of family, faith and untold truths. Such a great read. 

The Author

Michael Malone is a prize-winning poet and author who was born and brought up in the heart of Burns’ country. He has published over 200 poems in literary magazines
throughout the UK, including New Writing Scotland, Poetry Scotland and Markings. Blood Tears, his bestselling debut novel won the Pitlochry Prize from the Scottish Association of Writers. His dark psychological thriller, A Suitable Lie, was a number-one bestseller, and is currently in production for the screen, and five powerful standalone thrillers followed suit. A former Regional Sales Manager (Faber & Faber) he has also worked as an IFA and a bookseller. Michael lives in Ayr, where he also works as a hypnotherapist.