Red as Blood by Lilja Sigurðardóttir (translated by Quentin Bates)

Wishing a very happy publication day to Lilja Sigurðardóttir for the brilliant Red as Blood translated into English by Quentin Bates and out today from Orenda Books. So it's the perfect day to be sharing my review as part of the blog tour. Huge thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for The invite and to the publisher for my review copy. I've since bought my own paperback copy.

The Blurb

When entrepreneur Flosi arrives home for dinner one night, he discovers that his house has been ransacked, and his wife Guðrún missing. A letter on the kitchen table confirms that she has been kidnapped. If Flosi doesn’t agree to pay an enormous ransom, Guðrún will be killed. Forbidden from contacting the police, he gets in touch with Áróra, who specialises in finding hidden assets, and she, alongside her detective friend Daníel, try to get to the bottom of the case without anyone catching on. Meanwhile, Áróra and Daníel continue the puzzling, devastating search for Áróra’s sister Ísafold, who disappeared without trace. As fog descends, in a cold and rainy Icelandic autumn, the investigation becomes increasingly dangerous, and confusing. Chilling, twisty and unbearably tense, Red as Blood is the second instalment in the riveting, addictive An Áróra Investigation series, and everything is at stake.

My Review

This is the follow up to Cold as Hell which saw Áróra, happily settled in the UK, reluctantly returning to an Iceland she'd barely visited for years to search for her missing, estranged sister Ísafold. In Red as Blood several months have passed, Ísafold is still missing but Áróra is feeling much more settled in Iceland, even beginning to put down roots. Her job as a kind of forensic accountant, searching for hidden money, means she can work from anywhere. A Scottish colleague calls her with an unusual favour. The wife of an Icelandic client of his has been kidnapped, a hefty ransom note left and strict instructions not to involve the police. Can Áróra help? And so the story begins. The police do get involved,  but do so very cleverly, which brings Áróra back into contact with old family friend Daníel who she has not spoken to in some months. As police investigation moves forward, and Áróra carries out one of her own, things become more confusing for all concerned and potentially more dangerous too. 

I love Áróra. She's strong, fierce and determined. She might have begun the search for her sister reluctantly but now she's fervent about it, spending days driving down miles of tracks painstakingly searching Iceland's vast lava fields by bit, looking for the smallest sign of Ísafold. This part of the story is heartbreaking, actually, but her determination is inspiring. And the main storyline of Guðrún's abduction and the random note, gives her something meaty to get her teeth into and she soon discovers the odd thing that doesn't look quite right, making her a little suspicious that someone isn't telling the truth... Financial fraud is something that the author has clearly researched (it's a subject that has been touched upon in earlier books) and it shows. 

I must talk about Daníel. Handsome, caring, fair, he seems like the ideal man! His interactions with his drag queen nextdoor neighbour are very sweet, his interactions with his colleagues are very fair and balanced, with interviewees and suspects he's calm, almost friendly. And then there's Áróra. Honestly, I could just bang their heads together, I really could! But they work well together, even though Áróra isn't part of the police team. Finally in this bit, I have to mention Helena, who is a breath of fresh air. No desire for a romantic relationship but she likes her needs met, has been fortunate to meet other similar women and has a system that works for her. 

The main storyline becomes more and more twisted and tangled as time goes on as more people, more facts and more secrets come out of the woodwork. It's cleverly done and had me racing to turn the pages to see what came next. The financial element to the crime is explored also, and you'll need to keep your wits about you to keep up with it all. This isn't a guns blazing kind of novel but there is plenty of tension and intrigue making it a quick and very enjoyable read. 

Red as Blood is a story of marriage, family, love, lies and betrayal. It explores happiness and sadness and undercovers secrets. But running through all of it is the tale of a woman desperately searching for her sister or, at least, some trace of her. It's incredibly poignant and sad. A thoroughly interesting story full of well written colourful characters, I loved it. 

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 six crime novels, with Snare, the first in a new series and Lilja’s English debut shortlisting for the CWA International Dagger and hitting bestseller lists worldwide.Trap soon followed suit, with the third in the trilogy Cage winning the Best Icelandic Crime Novel of the Year, and it was a Guardian Book of the Year. Lilja’s standalone Betrayal, was shortlisted for the Glass Key Award for Best Nordic Crime Novel. In 2021, Cold as Hell, the first in the An Áróra Investigation series was published, with Red as Blood the follow up. The film rights to Cold as Hell have been bought by Palomar Pictures in California. Lilja is also an award-winning screenwriter in her native Iceland. She lives in Reykjavík with her partner.

The Moose Paradox by Antti Tuomainen (translated by David Hackston)

I'm thrilled to be sharing my review today of The Moose Paradox by Antti Tuomainen, translated by David Hackston. And it's Orentober too, so perfect timing! This is the follow up to The Rabbit Factor which some of you might remember was one of my favourite books last year, so I have been eagerly, and rather impatiently, awaiting this one. I wasn't disappointed. More mayhem and madness in the adventure park business! Huge thanks to Anne Cater for the invitation and to the publisher, Orenda Books, for my review copy.

The Blurb

Insurance mathematician Henri Koskinen has finally restored order both to his life and to YouMeFun, the adventure park he now owns, when a man from the past appears – and turns everything upside down again. More problems arise when the park’s equipment supplier is taken over by a shady trio, with confusing demands. Why won’t Toy of Finland Ltd sell the new Moose Chute to Henri when he needs it as the park’s main attraction? Meanwhile, Henri’s relationship with artist Laura has reached breaking point, and, in order to survive this new chaotic world, he must push every calculation to its limits, before it’s too late. 

My Review

Actuary Henry's life is ruled by mathematics. Every decision is made after careful calculations, every problem dealt with in the most efficient way possible. He thrives on logic and order. All of that was thrown into chaos when he inherited an adventure (not amusement) park from his late brother, together with its quirky employees. His early adventures here are described in The Rabbit Factor. Six months on he has settled into his time and the park is running well. But to beat their competitors and increase visitor numbers, the park needs new equipment. Specifically, the Moose Chute. But Henri finds his previously good relationship with supplier Toy of Finland has soured since it was taken over by three new owners. And that's not how only problem. There are threats to him and threats to the park, a face from the past and rebellious staff. And a relationship to navigate. It's a lot.

I love, love, love Henri. He's 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. His description of being caught short when out an about, and also his parents' joint funeral are very chucklesome, especially when the latter really shouldn't be. But what I really love is his burgeoning relationship with artist Laura Helanto. Every mention of her includes both her first name and surname. Henri is new to the vagaries of love and we see him struggle with telephone conversations and text messages, which I agree are a total minefield! And his description of love making is... well, read it for yourself! 😂 But the effect Laura, and her art, have on him is beautiful to read. Time spent with her is 'fuller and denser than usual.' He's such a carefully created character and it feels like this was done with a real affection for him. Laura, of course, is another character I love, and amongst the park employees I have affection for Kristian, an eager young puppy, keen to learn, taking courses to improve himself, although not, it should be noted, Henri's course on 'The Fundamental Principles Of Adventure-Park Mathematics, and Head of Security Esa, who I suspect might be as mad as a box of frogs! 

But it's not all love and fun. Threats to YouMeFun come from every direction and Henri finds himself in some absurd, and dangerous, situations. He has to make some difficult, but always calculated, decisions and must decide how honest to be with DI Osmala, a big man with tiny feet! The descriptions of all these encounters are so entertaining, brilliantly written. 

This book is brilliamtly written and skilfully translated by David Hackston. Amongst the giggles are some beautiful descriptions:

'...it's light was like an endless cascade of white gold and silk.'

'Outside it is dark, save for the illuminated windows of the building opposite, which seem to be floating in mid-air. Golden, multicoloured, dim, bright floating squares in a sea of black or in an endless universe, all set in soothing, regular formation.'

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! 

The Author

Finnish Antti Tuomainen was an award-winning copywriter when he made his literary debut in 2007 as a suspense author. In 2013, the Finnish press 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 was an immense success, with Marcel Berlins (The Times) calling Tuomainen ‘the funniest writer in Europe’. Little Siberia (2020), was shortlisted for the CWA International Dagger, the Amazon Publishing/Capital Crime Awards and the CrimeFest Last Laugh Award, and won the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year. The Rabbit Factor (2021), the first book in Antti’s first ever series, is in production by Amazon Studios with Steve Carell starring. The Moose Paradox is the second book in the series.

 

An Honourable Thief by Douglas Skelton (full review)

Today I am thrilled to be sharing my full review of An Honourable Thief by Douglas Skelton, published yesterday by Canelo. Some of you may have seen my teaser review ten days ago, and if you search Douglas's name on the blog, you'll find reviews of many of his other books. But back to this one. Huge thanks to Kelly Lacey at Love Books Tours for inviting me on to the blog tour and to the publisher for my review copy. I've since bought my own handsome hardback.

 

The Blurb

1715. Jonas Flynt, ex-soldier and reluctant member of the Company of Rogues, a shady intelligence group run by ruthless spymaster Nathaniel Charters, is ordered to recover a missing document. Its contents could prove devastating in the wrong hands.

On her deathbed, the late Queen Anne may have promised the nation to her half-brother James, the Old Pretender, rather than the new king, George I. But the will has been lost. It may decide the fate of the nation.

The crown must recover it at all costs.

The trail takes Jonas from the dark and dangerous streets of London to an Edinburgh in chaos. He soon realises there are others on the hunt, and becomes embroiled in a long overdue family reunion, a jail break and a brutal street riot.

When secrets finally come to light, about the crown and about his own past, Jonas will learn that some truths, once discovered, can never be untold…

An atmospheric and utterly compelling blend of crime, history and thriller, to delight fans of SJ Parris, Andrew Taylor and CJ Sansom.

My Review

Just after I finished reading An Honourable Thief last month I posted the following on social media: 'Oh. My. Days. You are in for such a treat! This book has a bit of everything - history, crime, adventure, heroes, villains, muskets, swords and even a mysterious sexy woman! Will have more to say. I LOVED IT!!!' Whilst there are muskets in the book, I'd actually meant pistols, but had stayed up very, very late finishing the book and was tired! Anyway, I almost feel that I could just leave that as my review. Tells you all you need to know, right? No? You want more? OK, I'll tell you a wee bit more.

It is 1715. Queen Anne has just died and rumours abound of a secret letter to her half brother, James Stuart, making him the successor to the throne. The Jacobites feel this would be in their favour, a point of view not shared by the government who are desperate to ensure the document, should it exist, doesn't fall into the wrong hands. Particularly in light of the Jacobite rebellion building in Scotland. Jonas Flynt, a reluctant member of Colonel Charters' Company of Rogues, is tasked with retrieving it. He soon discovers he's not the only person searching for the letter, coming into contact more than once with the attractive, mysterious Madame de Fontaine. And the trail takes him back north to Edinburgh and to the family and friends he left years ago. Returning home means he has to face some hard truths... whilst also trying to complete the job at hand.

Firstly, I have to say how much I learned reading this book. Yes, it's a work of fiction, but it's rooted in real history, real events are unfolding which frame the story, and Skelton knows his stuff. My history knowledge generally is very weak and these were events I knew shamefully little about. Well, now I know more. Partly from what's in the book and partly because it sparked my interest to look into it a wee bit further. It's peppered throughout with historical words and phrases, and some are brilliantly descriptive.

Jonas Flynt is an interesting, intriguing character. Not afraid to steal or cheat, he also has a strong sense of what is right. Whilst extremely adept at fighting, it's not something He enjoys, it's not done for pleasure. He feels things deeply. And he's a tortured soul, something that Skelton explores to great effect over the course of the novel. Whilst generally controlled with his emotions, we sometimes see a glimpse of them escaping, but only in front of the right people. I found his homecoming to Edinburgh heartwarming and sad, in equal measure. He can be very humorous and has the best names for his pistols! But, whilst he is undoubtedly the central character in this story, he is supported by a large, colourful supporting company with each character beautifully described. Standouts for me were Cassie and Rab.

The scene setting is incredible. The streets in both London and Edinburgh are so vividly described. And the smells... oh my goodness! I don't have a sense of smell but even I could detect the aroma! We are totally transported back to the 18th century - the outfits, the ale houses, style of dress, the way people carry themselves, speech, attitudes to and expectations of women, attitudes to people of colour, everything. It's marvellous and immersive. The backdrop to the story is the Jacobite rising following the unification of England and Scotland so politics gets a fair airing here. And, it would seem, that we haven't moved on much since 1715 - I certainly recognised a lot of the feelings and anger expressed, I see it around me every day. And politicians and governments haven't got any better since then either.

It's beautifully written, Skelton has a way with words. He talks of nights of 'sup and sin' and mists that swirl like 'sinuous creatures'. I want to visit The Black Bear 'prone to rowdiness, drunkenness and licentiousness' - sounds just my kind of place! And there are a few fantastic, colourful insults, my favourite coming from a brothel madam - I'll leave you the joy of discovering it.

The storyline itself has everything you could ask for - part crime story, part spy thriller and part epic adventure. There's politics and plenty of fighting, secrets, lies and betrayal. A public hanging and a visit to the battlefield at Sheriffmuir. And a man coming home, facing family and friends for the first time in years. It's not an easy homecoming and there were moments my heart ached for Jonas and one that brought tears to my eyes.

I don't know if this review even makes sense, I just wanted to share some of my love for the book. I haven't read all of Douglas's books but I think this is the eighth I have read and I'm pretty sure this is my favourite so far. Different from his other stuff, this has it all. Will easily be one of my books of this year.


The Author

Douglas Skelton has published 12 non fiction books and 12 crime thrillers. He has been a bank clerk, tax officer, shelf stacker, meat porter, taxi driver (for two days), wine waiter (for two hours), reporter, investigator and editor.

His first thriller Blood City was published in 2013. The gritty thriller was the first in a quartet set on the tough streets of Glasgow from 1980 onwards. It was followed by Crow Bait, Devil's Knock and finally Open Wounds, which was longlisted for the first McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year in 2016.

His two Dominic Queste thrillers, The Dead Don't Boogie and Tag - You're Dead lightened the tone but didn't skimp on thrills.

He followed these with his New York-set chase thriller The Janus Run in 2018.

Thunder Bay, a dark and atmospheric tale of secrets, lies and murder on a Scottish island, was published to great acclaim by Polygon in 2019. It was longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for 2019. This was followed by The Blood is Still in 2020 and A Rattle of Bones in 2021, which was longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for 2022. The fourth in the series, Where Demons Hide, was released earlier this year.

An Honourable Thief is his 12th novel and the first in the Company of Rogues series featuring Jonas Flynt. 

Douglas is often recruited by documentary makers to contribute to true crime shows on TV and radio and is a regular on the crime writing festival circuit.

He takes part in comedy shows with other crime writers. To date he has written three Carry on Sleuthing plays in which he also appears along with Caro Ramsay, Michael J. Malone, Theresa Talbot, Pat Young and Lucy Cameron, with occasional guests Alex Gray, Lin Anderson and Neil Broadfoot.

He is also one quarter of Four Blokes in search of a Plot, along with Gordon Brown, Mark Leggatt and Neil Broadfoot. This is a fun show in which they invited the audience to give them a murder weapon and a protagonist. They then take it in turns to create a crime story (usually developing into something wild and wacky) while also answering audience queries about the craft.

His one man event, You the Jury, invites audiences to deliver verdicts on real life but heavily disguised cases from around the world. In 2019 the format was extended into a court drama, thanks to the Faculty of Advocates in Scotland, within Stirling Sheriff Court played to three sell-out houses during the Bloody Scotland festival.

He is, with bestselling author Denzil Meyrick, a regular on the SBOOKS podcast.

Any Day Now by Gordon J Brown

I'm delighted to share my review today of Any Day Now by Gordon J Brown, aka Gordon Brown (no, not that one), aka Morgan Cry. Published on 8th September by Red Dog Press, this is a bit of a departure for Gordon, moving away from crime fiction. Big thanks to Sean at Red Dog for inviting me and for my review copy. Looking forward to buying my physical copy soon!

The Blurb

FATE HINGES ON THE CHOICES WE MAKE

It’s 1982 and sixteen-year-old Catherine Day has been abandoned for good by her mother in their Glasgow home. Alone, in trouble, and desperate for money, Catherine is quickly ensnared by local criminals. In an attempt to escape a life of crime, she joins a local rock band.

She battles hard to succeed in the fickle music world, aided by a mysterious, and ever-present guardian angel – a man who has connections to her missing mother, her unknown father, and who, it transpires, is hiding a secret about her family and the Cold War that could change Catherine’s life forever.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine meets Daisy Jones and The Six in this heart-warming, heart-breaking coming-of-age story filled with humour and pathos.

Purchase Link

https://www.reddogpress.co.uk/product-page/any-day-now


My Review

Regular readers will know I love my crime fiction, and I really enjoyed Gordon's previous two books, written as Morgan Cry, Thirty-One Bones and Six Wounds. But occasionally it's nice to step away from crime fiction which is what I (and Gordon, of course) have done here, stepping into the world of another of Brown 's passions - music. 

We're transported back to the 1980s where teenager Catherine has been abandoned by her unreliable mother. She comes home to an empty, dark house, no power, no food, no money and no idea where her mum has gone. Desperate for money, and falls in with the wrong types, but doesn't really have the heart for a life of crime. However it's not always easy to get away from it. She struggles for a while, finding solace in alcohol but finds that she can sing and joins a local band. After a personnel change, they have the possibility of making it big. As long as Catherine doesn't sabotage their chances before they begin. 

Catherine is easy to relate to - we were all young once. And if I think really, really hard, I can almost remember being sixteen! The trials and tribulations at school (and Catherine has plenty of these! One particular confrontation is described brilliantly), the waiting for exam results, the Saturday/after school job. Happily though I had a stable home life and enough money to get by, which poor Catherine doesn't. And when her mum leaves her, all Catherine wants to know is where she is. An understandable need that grows over the years. I loved the description of the hair salon she works in, so easy to picture, and the pecking order of the punters there. Brilliant. The description of the dole office brought back a few memories and The conversation between Isobel and Billy in the queue cracked me up. I changed my opinion of them as the book went on, right enough. 

There is a lot of waiting in the book and I love how Gordon describes all the waits. I think many of us can relate to The Sleep Wait: 'The wait that gets longer the less you want it to. The wait that provides all The time your head needs to think about all the things you don't want to think about.' He also sums up Glasgow in a sentence: 'Ask a question, get a tale.' Yup. Some beautiful descriptive writing such as when Catherine is having some negative thoughts '....unfurl in my head like cheap tablecloths.' Loved that. 

It was brilliant to read about a band trying to make it big in that era, which was The time I was growing up. Love the wee peek into the music world. And how easy it is not to make it. 

But this is a story about friends, strangers, strangers who become friends but ultimately about the decisions and choices we ourselves make. How easy it might be to change our lives, if only we could see it, if only we c an be brave, if only we can let go of the past, or whatever. And it's about having the right people around us, the ones who care, the ones who support us, the ones who lift us up, the ones who cheer for us. Any Day Now is a bittersweet coming of age story that is about all of these things but it's also a mystery with a guardian angel and a possible link to a Russian empress. There are laugh out loud moments, and moments of heartbreak on this journey of discovery. Really enjoyed it, great to read something a bit different. 

The Author

Gordon Brown has eight crime and thriller books published to date, along with a novella and a number of short stories.

Gordon also helped found Bloody Scotland, Scotland’s International Crime Writing Festival (see www.bloodyscotland.com), is a DJ on local radio (www.pulseonair.co.uk) and runs a strategic planning consultancy. He lives in Scotland and is married with two children.

In a former life Gordon delivered pizzas in Toronto, sold non-alcoholic beer in the Middle East, launched a creativity training business, floated a high tech company on the London Stock Exchange, compered the main stage at a two-day music festival and was once booed by 49,000 people while on the pitch at a major football Cup Final.

An Honourable Thief by Douglas Skelton - Teaser Review

Hey folks, it's been a while, hasn't it? Over six weeks, I think. I'm so sorry if you've been waiting for a new post to drop in your inbox. I didn't intend to take such a long break but I hit a bit of a wall early in August and my body just said 'Nope. No more'. I needed to stop. So I did. It's been a strange few weeks - slept a lot, rested a lot, watched more TV than usual, crocheted and read just a little. And I'm only just, slowly, getting back into things. The blog will be quieter than usual until at least the end of the year - partly because of where I am mentally and emotionally and partly because of a big holiday in October and November. But I will be around.

Right, so that's housekeeping dealt with, let's get to the important stuff! In under two weeks, on 22nd September, the absolute beauty that is An Honourable Thief, the new historical crime thriller from Douglas Skelton, is published by Canelo. I was lucky enough to receive an early proof copy, it was one of the few books I read last month and the day after publication I'll be sharing my full review as part of the blog tour. But it's such a fabulous book and I'm so excited for it, I wanted to tell you a wee bit about it now. Because I'm a wee tease! And so you can get your pre-order sorted!

The Blurb

1715. Jonas Flynt, ex-soldier and reluctant member of the Company of Rogues, a shady intelligence group run by ruthless spymaster Nathaniel Charters, is ordered to recover a missing document. Its contents could prove devastating in the wrong hands.

On her deathbed, the late Queen Anne may have promised the nation to her half-brother James, the Old Pretender, rather than the new king, George I. But the will has been lost. It may decide the fate of the nation.

The crown must recover it at all costs.

The trail takes Jonas from the dark and dangerous streets of London to an Edinburgh in chaos. He soon realises there are others on the hunt, and becomes embroiled in a long overdue family reunion, a jail break and a brutal street riot.

When secrets finally come to light, about the crown and about his own past, Jonas will learn that some truths, once discovered, can never be untold…

An atmospheric and utterly compelling blend of crime, history and thriller, to delight fans of SJ Parris, Andrew Taylor and CJ Sansom.

My Mini (Teaser) Review

I always said historical crime wasn't my bag, but the more of it I read, the more I enjoy, and An Honourable Thief is up there amongst my favourites. My history knowledge generally is very poor and I knew nothing of UK history in the early eighteenth century. I'm happy to say, having read this book, I now know a good deal more. Yes, it's a work of fiction but it's rooted in real history.

Jonas Flynt is an interesting, intriguing character. Not afraid to do wrong to achieve his aim he also has a strong sense of what is right. He feels things deeply. And he's a tortured soul, something that Skelton explores to great effect over the course of the novel. Whilst generally controlled with his emotions, we sometimes see a glimpse of them escaping, but only in front of the right people. Oh, and he has the best names for his pistols!

The scene setting is incredible. The streets in both London and Edinburgh are vividly described. And the smells... oh my goodness! We are totally transported back to the 18th century - the outfits, the ale houses, style of dress, speech, attitudes, everything. It's marvellous and immersive.

The storyline itself has everything you could ask for - part crime story, part spy thriller and part epic adventure. There's politics and fighting, secrets and lies. And it's also the tale of a man coming home, facing family and friends for the first time in years, and there were moments my heart ached for him. Beautifully written, I loved it!

My full review will be on 23rd September together with a wee bit about author Douglas Skelton. In the meantime, if you are in the area he is appearing this coming Saturday afternoon as part of the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival (digital tickets are available) and in Aberdeen on 22nd September. Check his social media for details. And I'll see you back here on 23rd! Happy reading!

The Daves Next Door by Will Carver

Today is my last tour stop of what has been a busy reading and reviewing month, for me anyway. But I'm going out with a bang! Today it's the turn of The Daves Next Door by Will Carver. Now, having read a few of Will's previous books I knew it was probably going to be a mind blowing read and... it was! Big thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for inviting me on the tour and to publisher for my review copy. 

The Blurb

A disillusioned nurse suddenly learns how to care.

An injured young sportsman wakes up to find that he can see only in black and white.

A desperate old widower takes too many pills and believes that two angels have arrived to usher him through purgatory.

Two agoraphobic men called Dave share the symptoms of a brain tumour, and frequently waken their neighbour with their ongoing rows.

Separate lives, running in parallel, destined to collide and then explode. Like the suicide bomber, riding the Circle Line, day after day, waiting for the right time to detonate, waiting for answers to his questions: Am I God? Am I dead? Will I blow up this train?

Shocking, intensely emotive and wildly original, Will Carver’s The Daves Next Door is an explosive existential thriller and a piercing examination of what it means to be human … or not. 

My Review

Having read four of Will Carver's previous books, beginning with the outstanding Nothing Important Happened Today at the end of 2019, as well as being mind blowing and unpredictable, as mentioned above, they have been nigh on impossible to review! Well, again, this one is no different. I honestly have no idea were to start. 

A summary, I'll start with a summary! A small group of strangers, with no connection, will find themselves inextricably linked. Saul, mourning a lost love and attempting suicide, the sportsman - we never know his name or his sport, Vashti, a jaded nurse who finds herself beginning to care again, the Daves of the title and our narrator, who might be God or a terrorist or just simply our narrator. Or all three. We meet each of them, and a small cast of supporting characters, over the course of a few days, culminating in life changing events for all of them. 

The chapters are short and sharp, keeping things rattling along. They are written in the present tense, giving a feeling of immediacy, and in the third person, except those from the point of view of Narrator/God/Terrorist, which are in the second person, addressing the reader directly. I've seen this in the author's earlier books too and it is very effective. Sometimes, it's quite aggressive. Here, our Narrator/God/Terrorist asks constant questions, forcing the reader to really think. About the small stuff - Diagnosis Murder gets a mention, the huge subjects and questions about the story so far. 

All the characters are interesting and incredibly well written. Standouts would be Saul, heartbroken after the death of his wife and confused by the angels he finds in his home and Vashti, tired and worn down by her work, as are many of her colleagues and, of course, as are so many of our actual NHS workers. And a shout out for the Daves, the most inspired, in my opinion, of this collection of creations. 

The Daves Next Door is brilliantly written - 'Time passes. Haemophilic seconds bleeding furiously into seconds that feel like weeks...', darkly 

comic in places and full of fascinating characters. It discusses big issues - racism, religion, radicalisation, apathy, addiction to social media, lack of engagement with the real world, what it is to feel, what it is to be human. It is not an easy, relaxing read. It questions, shocks, confronts and challenges. And it's absolutely worth the effort. 


The Author

Will Carver is the international bestselling author of the January David series. He spent his early years in Germany, but returned to the UK at age eleven, when his sporting career took off. He turned down a professional rugby contract to study theatre and television at King Alfred’s, Winchester, where he set up a successful theatre company. He currently runs his own fitness and nutrition company, and lives in Reading with his two children. Will’s most recent title, prior to this one, published by Orenda Books, The Beresford came out last July. His previous title, Hinton Hollow Death Trip, was longlisted for the Not the Booker Prize, while Nothing Important Happened Today was longlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. Good Samaritans was book of the year in the Guardian, Telegraph and Daily Express, and hit number one on the ebook charts.

Dead Money by Keith Nixon

Today I'm shining my spotlight on Dead Money, the second book in the DI  Jonah Pennance, by Keith Nixon. You can read my review of the first in the series, Blood Sentence, here, and if you search under Keith's name on the blog you'll find reviews of many of his earlier books too. My thanks to Zoe at Zooloo's Book Tours for the invitation and to the publisher for my review copy.

 

The Blurb

With a reputation for solving bizarre murders Detective Inspector Jonah Pennance, recently transferred to the National Crime Agency, is brought in to investigate the mysterious death of celebrity fund manager, Grady Carnegie – choked to death, then his body arranged and ready for a wake.

Then a second corpse turns up under identical circumstances – that of washed-up investigative reporter, Stan Thewlis. But how are the two men connected?

Soon, Pennance’s partner, Sergeant Simone Smithson, comes under suspicion for the deaths – the evidence seems overwhelming. To save her Pennance must determine what role the shadowy organisation Blackthorn plays and who is in the background, pulling all the strings…


Buy Link - https://geni.us/AIBnWQ

My Review

DI Jonah Pennance is new to the National Crime Agency and immediately sent to work with the City of London police force looking into a bizarre death. And he soon crosses paths with his old colleague Simone Smithson. As the investigation develops and evidence mounts against Simone for involvement in the crime, Pennance is determined to prove her innocence...  

Pennance is a good, stand up guy - one you can always see coming as he stands taller than everybody else! He's an imposing presence but the police teams he's working with soon learn he's worth keeping on their side. The investigation is deep and multi-layered and delves into the underside of the corporate world. Keith Nixon has clearly done his research for this book. It's packed with fascinating information about post mortems, religious practices, economics, NFTs and crypto currency. It's all really interesting stuff but I did feel at times there was a bit too much information as it took away from the pace of the story. But things really pick up towards the end and get very exciting and tense. 

Dead Money is a fascinating look at bizarre deaths and corporate crime. It's a little detail heavy but tense in the latter half and overall a good read. Looking forward to the next one.

The Author

Keith Nixon is the best-selling author of sixteen novels and one million words in print, including the Margate based Solomon Gray series of over 250,000 copies in circulation and reached no.1 on Amazon in the UK, US, Canada and Australia.

Keith lived near the gritty seaside town of Margate, where many of his novels are based, for 17 years before relocating to the edge of the Peak District with his family where he lives today. Keith works in a senior sales role within a high-tech industry and has regularly travelled all over the globe.

His novels are published by Gladius Press and Bastei Lubbe (German)


Author Social Media Links

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Website: www.keithnixon.co.uk