Aurora by David Koepp stood out as being something a little bit different from other books I have read and I really enjoyed it. I started out thinkingAurora by David Koepp stood out as being something a little bit different from other books I have read and I really enjoyed it. I started out thinking it was science fiction but it is scarily realistic and a thriller element is added to keep the pages turning at lightning speed.
The main part of the story is a coronal mass ejection (CME) hitting earth and taking out the power. The book starts by telling us about The Carrington Event, the CME that hit earth in 1859, and expected to occur every 150 years. Three little words at the end of that section chilled me to the bone: "We are overdue."
The scene is set and I was already thinking how real this could be. Scientists check and double check their data, governments refuse to believe the scale of the event, and billionaires race to their bunkers. Aubrey and Thom are siblings but their lives couldn't be more different. When the world goes dark, Aubrey is stuck in Aurora, Illinois with a layabout stepson and Thom is in his state of the art bunker in California.
I love how the different character storylines flow and intermingle; I thought I wouldn't remember who certain characters were but they each have a role to play and fit into the story perfectly. Just seeing how different people react to such massive challenges is so interesting to read - it's amazing how people can react to change and it's heartwarming to see that instead of being selfish, it's better to work together. Of course, some people are only looking out for themselves and they will never change.
The writing is so vivid and the storyline is so gripping that I'm not surprised it's being made into a film. I could have read so much more than the 400 pages included in the book, in fact I was disappointed to reach the end as I wanted to find out more.
Scarily realistic, Aurora is gripping, thrilling and eye-opening; I can't wait to watch it on the big screen.
I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion....more
OMG!!! This book is AWESOME!! I absolutely LOVED it. I have never been so gripped by a book when you already know who the murderer is. It's the secondOMG!!! This book is AWESOME!! I absolutely LOVED it. I have never been so gripped by a book when you already know who the murderer is. It's the second book in a series but you can most definitely read it as a standalone as I haven't read book one (Be Sure Your Sins) but boy, do I want to now!
DI Mel Cooper is a cracking character, I love her and the whole team and I couldn't read fast enough to see how they would deal with their latest case. It looks like they have an easy case when a body is found and all the evidence points in one direction, however, Mel thinks it's just a little too easy and something about the victim's husband isn't sitting right with her. Edwin Fuller is a horrible little man; he thinks he's executed the perfect murder but his ego could end up being his own worst enemy.
This book is so clever, the plot is razor sharp and the writing is perfectly balanced between detailed police procedural and entertaining dark humour. It's just brilliant from start to finish and I simply couldn't put it down. This is a series that I definitely want more of and I'm already adding it to my favourites list, even though I've just jumped in at book two. Yes, it's that good!!
Yes, I Killed Her is fast-paced, gripping, entertaining and very clever. It's an outstanding police procedural that's a little different from the norm and I loved every second of it. VERY highly recommended - don't miss this one, crime fans!
I received an ARC from the publisher to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion....more
Oh my goodness, what a rollercoaster of emotions I experienced when reading Claire Frost's new novel, The One. I absolutely loved it, despite my heartOh my goodness, what a rollercoaster of emotions I experienced when reading Claire Frost's new novel, The One. I absolutely loved it, despite my heart breaking, as the beautiful writing and heartwarming plot put my heart back together again. I also have to say that I think the publisher has done a wonderful job with the cover, it's stunning.
Lottie and Leo only knew each other for three months before Leo dies, so Lottie's place in the hierarchy of Leo's life is confusing to her; she's grieving his loss as his partner but she never even met his parents so she feels like a bit of a gatecrasher at his funeral. Leo's parents and his cousin, Ross, welcome Lottie into their family and you can't help but wonder what might have been.
I know it says in the blurb that Leo dies but I still got a shock. Lottie was so happy to have finally found her 'One' and she could imagine a whole future ahead of her where she would be blissfully happy, just like her sisters. Leo was everything that Lottie had ever wanted but they were still in the honeymoon period when he died so she obviously doesn't know everything about him - those old rose coloured glasses do have a lot to answer for sometimes!
I loved the relationships between Lottie and her sisters; they are like the three musketeers as they are always there for each other. They are sisters first but they're also the best of friends and I just loved how they rallied round Lottie when she was grieving. Seeing Lottie picking herself back up was so uplifting, of course she will never forget Leo but she can't give up on life...and love.
So heartbreaking but incredibly heartwarming, The One is a beautifully written novel of love and loss. It's emotional, uplifting and hopeful - a book for anyone who has ever loved and lost.
I received an ARC from the publisher to read and review for the blog tour; all opinions are my own....more
I think The Gifts is a novel that we will be hearing about a lot this year, and rightly so. The writing is beautiful, the plot is completely immersiveI think The Gifts is a novel that we will be hearing about a lot this year, and rightly so. The writing is beautiful, the plot is completely immersive and the finished copies (complete with illustrations) will be stunning.
Through the character of surgeon Edward Meake, Liz Hyder has really captured the Victorian obsession with science and the workings of the human body. So it's no wonder that Edward's interest is piqued when he hears rumours about the body of an angel being found in the Thames. Intent on capturing and studying a live angel, Edward begins his quest to acquire the impossible: a live angel.
It's both fascinating and horrifying to see the way that women were treated in the 19th century. Not just the angels, who were treated as things rather than women, but Edward's wife Annie and budding writer Mary. Annie is very much kept in the dark about her husband's work and Mary has to adopt a male pseudonym for her writing to be taken seriously. I absolutely loved the character of Mary; she's bold, courageous and strong, especially when she's following a story.
Although the story is completely immersive, I had difficulty getting into the rhythm of the book as most of the chapters are very short and they swap between the viewpoints of several characters. I think the finished copy with illustrations will be better as it allows the reader to pause and absorb what they have just read. I loved the newspaper articles that are scattered throughout the novel - it really brings the book to life.
Haunting, powerful and mesmerising, The Gifts is an astonishing novel that combines historical and feminist fiction with a touch of the ethereal.
I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion....more
I really enjoyed this book. A M Edwards has really got into the mind of a psychopath and serial killer and once I started reading I couldn't put it doI really enjoyed this book. A M Edwards has really got into the mind of a psychopath and serial killer and once I started reading I couldn't put it down.
Jez is not a character anyone will warm to because he's a psychopath, but his observations of people and situations are painfully honest and absolutely hilarious. I laughed out loud so many times, especially when I read Jez's observations of the workplace - I'll not share any of it here as it will spoil it for others but it's so true!
You really don't want to get on the wrong side of Jez as he is very likely to kill you. Jez is an academic with a wife and a son and it's surprising to find someone like him living an apparently normal life, although it just shows that appearances can be deceptive. You never really know who you work with or live next door to, so be careful if you cross them as they might be a secret psychopath.
The story is written from the point of view of Jez and his uniquely strange voice comes across loud and clear. Although I loved it, I think some people might struggle with this but if you want a warm, fuzzy read then you shouldn't pick up a book named The Psychopath. It is exactly what it says on the cover!
Dark, disturbing and surprisingly funny, The Psychopath is a highly original novel - I don't think I have ever read anything quite like it. If you have a dark sense of humour and you like watching shows such as Dexter, then you will love this book.
I received an ARC from the publisher to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion....more
The House of Ashes is the first Stuart Neville book I have read and it certainly won't be my last. The writing is sublime and the voice of Mary is porThe House of Ashes is the first Stuart Neville book I have read and it certainly won't be my last. The writing is sublime and the voice of Mary is portrayed magnificently in a unique colloquial manner.
Sara's new home has a deep, dark secret that only the previous owner Mary can help uncover but Sara's husband is determined to keep the two women apart. The house refuses to remain silent and it's time for its secret to be revealed. I don't think I've ever had so many goosebumps when reading a book; it's so dark and creepy.
The storyline is very much a past and present tale with the house in common but there's also a darker undercurrent of domestic violence and controlling relationships. I really disliked Sara's husband Damien and his father, for very good reason which becomes apparent as the story progresses, but it's the horror of Mary's childhood that remains with me long after I turned the final page. I'm being purposely vague about Mary's past as each reader needs to experience it for themselves.
Creepy, dark and chilling, you need to wrap up warm when reading The House of Ashes as it's a spine-tingling and goosebumpy read.
I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion....more
What an amazing debut! There has been a lot of buzz around The Maid on social media so I couldn't wait to read it and I was not disappointed; I absoluWhat an amazing debut! There has been a lot of buzz around The Maid on social media so I couldn't wait to read it and I was not disappointed; I absolutely loved it. I'm really not surprised to learn that it is being made into a film and it's definitely one I will want to watch.
Molly is such a brilliant character; she is so literal and socially inept that you can't help but root for her, especially when she is mocked and taken advantage of. After the death of her beloved gran, Molly is completely alone in the world - she has no family or friends, all she has is her job as a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. A job in which she takes great pride and excels at.
When Molly discovers a dead body in the hotel one day, there's nothing in her mental rule book that tells her what to do so she inevitably does things that make the police take a closer look at her. The police interviews with Molly are absolutely hilarious and this is where Molly's charm really comes through; she may be naive but she is totally honest...or is she?
The Maid is so easy to read that I would probably have read it in one sitting if I hadn't been participating in a Tandem readalong. It's a charming cosy mystery but it also makes you think about people who are seemingly invisible. I think this is possibly more apparent in the hospitality industry where hotel guests treat doormen, maids and cleaners etc as servants but they're all important cogs in the machine.
A delightful cosy mystery, The Maid is an outstanding debut from Nita Prose. It's warm, funny, original and unforgettable; an absolute must read from an author who is definitely one to watch.
Many thanks to Tandem Collective and HarperCollins for sending me a copy to read and review for the readalong. This is my honest and unbiased opinion....more
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