The Undoing of Arlo Knott, a book about a man who has an āundoā button for life, is out in August 2019. It is available to pre-order in paperback from Waterstones and Amazon.
Arlo Knott develops the mysterious ability to reverse his last action. It makes him able to experience anything, to charm any woman and impress any friend. His is a life free of mistakes, a life without regret.
But second chances aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. As wonderful as his new life is, a mistake in Arlo’s traumatic childhood still haunts him and the temptation to undo, undo and keep undoing could be too much to resist.
Mainstream crossover fiction for fans of Matt Haig, Gail Honeyman and Rowan Coleman, from the author of Everything About You.
Today I’m taking part in the blog blitz for The Paramedic’s Daughter, and I’ll be sharing my review with you all a little further down!
About the author:
Tara is a crime/psychological thriller author from London, UK. Turning 30 in 2015 propelled her to fulfil her lifelong dream of becoming a writer. She studied English Literature at Brunel University and was Assistant Editor at an in-house magazine for 8 years,
In the Shadows is the author’s solo debut novel self-published in March 2016. Bloodhound Books later re-published it, and the rest of The DI Hamilton series followed suit. Tara is now working on standalone novels, the first of which will be published in May 2019.
When she’s not writing, Tara is kept busy by her two young children.
About the book:
Would you ever lie to your family to protect yourself?
Paramedic Abi Quinn is hailed as a hero by the patients she saves with the London Ambulance Service; but a secret sheās kept since she was a teenager now threatens to shatter that perfect illusion.
When her daughter Rose goes missing while studying at Brighton university, and ghosts from her past return to haunt her, Abiās caught in a race against time to untangle the web of lies she set in motion over twenty years ago.
Everyone has something to lose.
Everyone is trying to protect themselves.
Everyone is broken.
But what lengths will they go to in order to stop the truth from being exposed?
The Paramedic’s Daughter is the latest novel by Tara Lyons, and its a step away from her previous books as its a standalone psychological thriller dealing with family secrets and how they can change lives forever.
I read most of this book in one sitting, such was the need to see where Tara was going to take the reader. I’ll hold my hand up and say I figured this one out early, but it in no way detracted from my reading experience. I thoroughly enjoyed The Paramedic’s Daughter.
Tara is a super-talented author and she has showcased this beautifully in this book. Weaving together the past and present and showing the damage that keeping secrets can do, it keeps the reader turning those pages.
The Paramedic’s Daughter is a great addition to the psych thriller genre. It is dark, emotive and engaging.
Today I’m shouting out about May’s forthcoming First Monday Crime Panel with a review for Chris Carter’s newest book, Hunting Evil. First though, here’s all the info you need to know about the May 2019 FM panel! And can I just say, what a panel it is!!!!
Mark Billingham is one of the UK’s most acclaimed and popular crime writers. A former actor, television writer and stand-up comedian, his series of novels featuring D.I. Tom Thorne has twice won him the Crime Novel Of The Year Award as well as the Sherlock Award for Best British Detective and been nominated for seven CWA Daggers. His standalone thriller IN THE DARK was chosen as one of the twelve best books of the year by the Times and his debut novel, SLEEPYHEAD was chosen by the Sunday Times as one of the 100 books that had shaped the decade. Each of his novels has been a Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller.
A television series based on the Thorne novels was screened in Autumn 2010, starring David Morrissey as Tom Thorne and a BBC series based on the standalone thrillers IN THE DARK and TIME OF DEATH was shown in 2017.
Mark is also a member of Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers. Performing alongside Val McDermid, Chris Brookmyre, Stuart Neville, Doug Johnstone and Luca Veste, this band of frustrated rockers murders songs for fun at literary festivals worldwide.
Chris Carter – ‘Hunting Evil’
I was born in Brasilia, Brazil where I spent my childhood and teenage years. After graduating from high school, I moved to the USA where I studied psychology with specialization in criminal behaviour. During my University years I held a variety of odd jobs, ranging from flipping burgers to being part of an all male exotic dancing group.
I worked as a criminal psychologist for several years, during which I interviewed and worked on over one hundred cases involving serial killers, murderers and serious offenders, before moving to Los Angeles, where I swapped the suits and briefcases for ripped jeans, bandanas and an electric guitar. After a spell playing for several well known glam rock bands, I decided to try my luck in London, where I was fortunate enough to have played for a number of famous artists. I toured the world several times as a professional musician.
A few years ago I gave it all up to become a full time writer.
Deborah O’Connor – ‘The Dangerous Kind’
Deborah O’Connor read English at Newnham College, Cambridge before going on to become a television producer. Having worked on everything from The Big Breakfast to Big Brother she produced the BAFTA award-winning poetry documentary Off By Heart and is currently the head of factual development at TV production company, CPL.
Born and bred in the North-East of England, she now lives in East London with her husband and three-year-old daughter.
Vanda Symon – ‘The Ringmaster’
Vanda Symon is a crime writer, TV presenter and radio host from Dunedin, New Zealand, and the chair of the Otago Southland branch of the New Zealand Society of Authors. The Sam Shephard series has hit number one on the New Zealand bestseller list, and also been shortlisted for the Ngaio Marsh Award for best crime novel. She currently lives in Dunedin, with her husband and two sons.
Hunting Evil by Chris Carter
‘Every story one day comes to an end.’ As roommates, they met for the first time in college. Two of the brightest minds ever to graduate from Stamford Psychology University. As adversaries, they met again in Quantico, Virginia.Ā Robert Hunter had become the head of the LAPDās Ultra Violent Crimes Unit.Ā Lucien Folter had become the most prolific and dangerous serial killer the FBI had ever encountered.
Now, after spending three and a half years locked in solitary confinement, Lucien has finally managed to break free. And heās angry.
For the past three and a half years, Lucien hasĀ thought of nothing else but vengeance. The person responsible for locking him away hasĀ to pay,Ā he hasĀ to suffer. That person … is Robert Hunter. And now it isĀ finally time to execute the plan.
I have been a huge fan of Chris Carter ever since I read The Crucifix Killer, so after working my way through the entire series, I was super excited to be able to read Hunting Evil and its safe to say I was NOT disappointed.
In Hunting Evil, Carter brings back one of the most cunning antagonists I’ve ever read, Lucien Folter. I’m not ashamed to say I love a good villain, and Folter is the epitome of a villain. He is devious, scary, patient and thoroughly twisted in his methods and I AM HERE FOR IT!
That being said, I have a soft spot for Robert Hunter, so I spent the entire book holding my breath as Hunter and Garcia worked towards trying to corner Lucien. Vengeance is key for Lucien, so its safe to say that othing is what it seems with him here. Every move, every action has a consequence for those involved. It truly was a nail-biting read.
Hunting Evil is Chris Carter at his best. It is tense, dark, gruesome and gripping in equal measure. I cannot wait for the next book in the series.
Highly recommended for sure!
In case you need it again, here’s the link to grab your free ticket to the FIRST MONDAY CRIME PANEL MAY 7TH 2019:
*For any of you who donāt know, this is where I list the books that have made Bibliophile Book Club their new home in the previous month. The books are usually bought books, ARCās sent from publishers, Netgalley review books and just basically any books I get go on here.
So, hereās what Iāve added to my library since last month:
A Boy and his Dog at the End of the World by C. A. Fletcher
Tick Tock by Mel Sherratt
The Closer I Get by Paul Burston
The Last Stage by Louise Voss
With Child by Andy Martin
A Time of Dread by John Gwynne
A Time of Blood by John Gwynne
Rewind by Catherine Ryan Howard
Seven Signs of Life by Aoife Abbey
One Word Kill by Mark Lawrence
The Wicked King by Holly Black
The Passengers by John Marrs
The Wedding Date by Zara Stoneley
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
The Hundredth Queen by Emily R. King
The Victim’s Club by Jeffery Deaver
The Wedding Guest by Jonathan Kellerman
Sworn to the Night by Craig Schaefer
The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie
Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor
Dark Shores by Danielle L. Jensen
The Bad Mother’s Book Club by Keris Stainton
The Trouble With Rose by Amita Murray
When Darkness Calls by Mark Griffin
The Never Game by Jeffery Deaver
Bridesmaids by Zara Stoneley
The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg
The Whisper Man by Alex North
Unsub by Meg Gardiner
Open Road Summer by Emery Lord
How To Build A Girl by Caitlin Moran
Fat Chance by Louise McSharry
So thatās all the books I bought or was lucky enough to receive over the course of March! Have you read any of these?Ā Would you?! Let me know in the comments!
Today, Ellen is taking part in the blog tour for Night by Night by the lovely Jack Jordan, and I’ll be sharing her review with you all just a little further down!
About the author:
Jack Jordan is the global number one bestselling author of Anything for Her (2015), My Girl (2016), A Woman Scorned (2018), and Before Her Eyes (2018).
To find out more about Jack, enter numerous annual giveaways to win signed copies of his books, and be one of the first to hear of new book releases and news, follow him here:
Facebook: JackJordanOfficial
Twitter: @JackJordanBooks
Instagram: @JackJordan_Author
Goodreads: JackJordanOfficial
About the book:
‘If you’re reading this, I’m dead.’
Rejected by her family and plagued by insomnia, Rose Shaw is on the brink . But one dark evening she collides with a man running through the streets, who quickly vanishes. The only sign he ever existed – a journal dropped at Rose’s feet.
She begins to obsessively dedicate her sleepless nights to discovering what happened to Finn Matthews, the mysterious author of the journal. Why was he convinced someone wanted to kill him? And why, in the midst of a string of murders, won’t the police investigate his disappearance?
Rose is determined to uncover the truth. But she has no idea what the truth will cost her…
You can grab your copy by clicking the link below:
I am honoured to be kicking off the blog tour for this fantastic book! Iām a huge fan of Jack Jordanās books and couldnāt wait to read Night by Night. I was shook from the very start as the main character Rose who has suffered with insomnia since the birth of her twin daughters is involved in a tragic accident. I have recurring nightmares about driving/being driven off a bridge into water so to then read this (and have two daughters myself) really got me, I think I held my breath for the duration. Obviously I had the nightmare after reading so I reckon Jack owes me some therapy!
This tragedy rips the family apart and Rose is left drifting through her life; estranged from her husband and despised by her remaining daughter. She is an outsider and feeling ostracised when one evening she is knocked to the ground by a stranger who drops a journal. Within the pages are notes from local man Finn Matthews diarising his escalating abuse at the hands of a rejected male admirer and his struggle to be taken seriously by the local police. With this journal Rose finds purpose for the first time in years, the plight of this young man and attitudes towards his sexuality mirrors the struggles her brother Jay endured in his short life. Rose was unable to save her brother and is determined to make a difference this time. Her interest in the journal leads to the discovery of underlying homophobia in the police and her claims are not taken seriously. Further investigation on her part lead to the discovery that there have been other local gay men that have gone missing or their deaths ruled as suicide and someone does not want Rose to get to the heart of the mysteryā¦
This is a tense and fast paced thriller and one that elicited a surprise emotional response from myself; a few days after finishing I was randomly thinking about Finn and the other missing men and suddenly burst into tears! This is a first for me, Iām not a massive crier when reading so for a book to hit me that hard days later is testament to the power of Jack Jordanās writing. The knowledge that this book is inspired by Stephen Port who murdered at least four gay men in 2014-15 and the failings of the police in the investigation hit me even harder and I could not stop thinking about the victims.
Another five star book from Jack Jordan and I predict big things in the future for this author.
Today one of my favourite fictional characters, Lisbeth Salander, celebrates her birthday and I’m taking part in a little appreciation post for her!
I remember reading the Millennium trilogy years and years ago, and I’m pretty sure its where my love of Scandinavian crime fiction began.
Lisbeth was unlike any character I had read before. She was damaged, vengeful and fierce. I got so caught up in her stories that I was bereft when I finished the trilogy.
BUT, David Lagercrantz stepped in and took over the series after Stieg Larsson’s death, and I was grateful to see Lisbeth live on with a new voice at the helm.
Lisbeth will always stay with me, and I am forever grateful that I read these books as they opened up a whole new reading world for me when I was younger.
I can’t wait to see where the series takes us next, and with The Girl Who Lived Twice coming out this year, we won’t have long to wait.
Happy Birthday Lisbeth, here’s to you always being a kick-ass female protagonist, and not taking crap from anyone!
Today, Ellen is taking part in the blog tour for Him by Clare Empson and I’ll be sharing her review with you all a little further down.
About the book:
It all started with … HIM. Catherine has become mute. She has witnessed something so disturbing that she simply can’t speak – not to her husband, her children, or her friends. The doctors say the only way forward is to look into her past. Catherine needs to start with Him. Lucian. Catherine met the love of her life at university and was drawn into his elite circle of privileged, hedonistic friends. But one night it all falls apart and she leaves him, shattering his life forever. Still, fifteen years later, Lucian haunts every one of Catherine’s quiet moments, and when they are unexpectedly reunited, their love reignites with explosive force. But they can’t move on from what happened all those years ago. In fact, uncovering the truth will cause their lives to implode once again. This time, with disastrous consequences.
Clare Empson is a journalist with a background in national newspapers and has worked as a small business editor, finance correspondent and fashion at the Mail on Sunday and the Daily Express. Clare freelances for The Sunday Telegraph, The Sunday Times, the Evening Standard and Tatler amongst others. She currently works as editor/founder of experiential lifestyle website http://www.countrycalling.co.uk. Him is her debut novel. Her second novel Mine is an exploration of the fraught relationship between a birth mother and her adopted son set against a backdrop of a passionate love affair in the 70s. Mine will be available August 2019.
Ellen’s Review:
After hearing the author speak about Him at Harrogate Crime Writers Festival I had to read the book and was not disappointed. In a way it wasn’t what I expected and I certainly didn’t bargain on the emotions it put me through or that Iād be in tears by the end!
The main character Catherine has elective mutism after witnessingā¦something devastating. She refuses to speak to anyone including her husband and two young children. I was puzzled from the start, what on Earth could have happened that was so bad she couldnāt speak of it to her closest family? Slowly the tale is revealed as we dip in and out of the past. Fifteen years earlier Catherine met the love of her life and the eponymous Him of the novel, Lucian, at university. They are from different sides of the track so to speak and Catherine is soon swept up into an elite circle of friends intent on having the best (and most hedonistic) times of their lives. Catherine and Lucian are so obviously made for each other and their love borders on the obsessive so we are left wondering what happened to shatter this relationship and for Catherine to end up breaking up with Lucian abruptly without explanation and later marrying Sam, a dependable admirer.
I did feel sorry for Sam (and the children) as their time together feels like a chapter, possibly even an inconvenience, in her life that Catherine has settled on while still pining for her lost love. Obviously by the end of the novel and the big reveal I had a better understanding of this but at times Iāll admit to being irritated by Catherine at first.
Him is a love story with a dark and tragic heart. It isnāt very often that I am moved by a book (I have an icy heart when reading!) but Him absolutely punched me in the guts and tore that icy heart right from my chest when I was least expecting it. I am stunned that this book is Claire Empsonās debut and Iām a little scared about what sheāll do with my emotions next time! All the stars for this stunning book.
