Kim Ebner's Blog, page 5

How To Be Brave

Goodreads DescriptionAll the stories died that morning … until we found the one we’d always known.When nine-year-old Rose is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, Natalie must use her imagination to keep her daughter alive. They begin dreaming about and seeing a man in a brown suit who feels hauntingly familiar, a man who has something for them. Through the magic of storytelling, Natalie and Rose are transported to the Atlantic Ocean in 1943, to a lifeboat, where an ancestor survived for fifty days before being rescued. Poignant, beautifully written and tenderly told, How To Be Brave weaves together the contemporary story of a mother battling to save her child’s life with an extraordinary true account of bravery and a fight for survival in the Second World War. A simply unforgettable debut that celebrates the power of words, the redemptive energy of a mother’s love … and what it really means to be brave.My ReviewThis book is part memoir, part autobiography and part fiction novel. It's a beautifully crafted tale in which the author tells the story of her grandfather, Colin, who survived the sinking of his battleship and survived on a raft out at sea, and the story of her daughter's diabetes diagnosis, and the effect it had on their lives and their relationship.After finishing Sweetpea (by C.J Skuse) a few days ago, which I absolutely loved and which rocketed into my top 3 reads of the year, I was really worried about what to read next. I felt that nothing would compare and that any thriller that I read next would fall flat in comparison. The only way to deal with that potential problem, was by reading something totally and completely different, something that was definitely not a thriller. So off I went to scan my bookshelf and my eyes landed on this book, which I'd actually been meaning to read for some time. It was the perfect read to get me over my book hangover.I felt that the author had a very natural and easy writing style. The pages flew by without any effort on my side, and the story unfolded so effortlessly. The bravery shown by Colin, but also by the author and her daughter, was quite clear. In Colin's case, I know that it's human instinct to fight to survive, but I couldn't help wondering if I would ever have been able to endure the hardships that he endured. And as for young Rose, and how difficult it must be to have to prick your finger four times a day, draw blood, inject yourself, and all at the tender age of 9, her bravery, and that of her mother was also clear.This is a lovely and uplifting story that I'm sure most Bookworm's will enjoy. It was a book that I loved, and it was totally outside of the genres that I normally enjoy. Need I say more.My Rating: * * * *Publication Date: July 2015Genre: Memoir, Autobiography and FictionFormat: PaperbackSource: My own purchased copy. (Note: this book is published by Orenda Books, and as such is not available in stores in SA. You can, however, order it online, which is where I bought mine. Try www.loot.co.za)

Sweetpea

Goodreads DescriptionThe last person who called me ‘Sweetpea’ ended up dead…I haven’t killed anyone for three years and I thought that when it happened again I’d feel bad. Like an alcoholic taking a sip of whisky. But no. Nothing. I had a blissful night’s sleep. Didn’t wake up at all. And for once, no bad dream either. This morning I feel balanced. Almost sane, for once.Rhiannon is your average girl next door, settled with her boyfriend and little dog…but she’s got a killer secret.Although her childhood was haunted by a famous crime, Rhiannon's life is normal now that her celebrity has dwindled. By day her job as an editorial assistant is demeaning and unsatisfying. By evening she dutifully listens to her friend’s plans for marriage and babies whilst secretly making a list.A kill list.From the man on the Lidl checkout who always mishandles her apples, to the driver who cuts her off on her way to work, to the people who have got it coming, Rhiannon’s ready to get her revenge.Because the girl everyone overlooks might be able to get away with murder…My ReviewSorry Bookworms, for the words that I'm about to use, but really, it must be said: Holy. Sh!t.This book is dark, daring, crass, crude, rude, obnoxious, disturbing, offensive, uncomfortable, and I flipping loved it! I can honestly say that I've never read anything like this before, and I very much doubt that any of you would have either. But I must warn you, if you have a problem with swearing, then you won't like this book. If you have a problem with crass language, then you won't like this book. If you have a problem with explicit scenes (sexual and otherwise), then you won't like this book. But, and this is a big but, if you want to read something that is so unusual in its brilliance, then rush out and buy this one today.Every now and then I stumble across a book that just blows me away, and this was one of them. This author is actually a Young Adult author and this is her first adult novel, which just blows my mind, because this is SUCH an adult book, and it contains SUCH explicit adult content, that it's difficult to imagine a YA author coming up with this. But hey, I'm not complaining.  I loved being inside Rhiannon's head even though it was incredibly dark and equally disturbing. But it was also fascinating. Being inside her head is being inside the head of a serial killer. And here I draw some similarities to the popular TV series, Dexter, which I loved. The desire to kill. The calming effect that killing has on these people. The pull, the tug, the need. And then on top of that, Rhiannon also seemed to be so clever, witty, sarcastic, thinking things about people that many of us would think at times, being irritated with strangers and friends alike, except that in her head one never knew where such thoughts would lead.And I must tell you, she is exceptionally funny. There were many times when I laughed out loud at some of her thoughts. And there were other times when I just had to read certain lines and paragraphs to my hubby, as I thought they were just so funny, or clever, or crass, or shocking, and I needed to share them with someone.Oh man, this book is nothing short of fantastic! To those of you that rush out and buy it, read it and love it because of this review, well I'm glad I managed to lead you astray. To those of you that rush out and buy it, read it and hate it, well, I apologise, but it's not totally unexpected. This is a book that's going to split the crowd, I have no doubt about that. I think you really need to have a very open mind when you read this book, you cannot be easily offended, and you need a tough constitution. If you are a Kristin Hannah fan, don't read this book. But if you like your reads to be unusual, dark and disturbing, then this one's for you.And that ending...I'm getting a whiff of a sequel. Oh, I do hope so!This one has rocketed up into my top 3 reads of the year. 5 big, fat stars from me!My Rating: * * * * *Publication Date: June 2017 (South Africa)Genre: ThrillerFormat: Trade PaperbackSource: My own purchased copy.

The Choice

Goodreads DescriptionWhat if you had to choose between your children?  Then: Madeleine lived for her children. She'd always believed she'd die for them, too. But on the morning of her twins' tenth birthday her love was put to the test when a killer knocked on their door and forced her to make a devastating choice: which child should live, and which should die - her son, or her daughter? Now: Madeleine stands silent on the periphery of her now fractured family, trying desperately to unravel why her world was so suddenly blown apart. But while everyday life continues around her, memories of everything leading up to that tragic day return in agonising flashes. And that's when she realises her family's life still hangs terrifyingly in the balance... My ReviewThere I was, happily reading along, Part One going well, enough so that I was totally gripped. Yes, there were strange things happening and things that didn't really add up, but I knew that everything would come together by the end. And then I started Part Two...and bam! Wow, a twist right there that I didn't see coming. That's how this book went along, and I enjoyed it. By the end of Part Two, there's another twist, which unfortunately for me, I did see coming, but a twist nonetheless. I love books with twists and it's one of the reasons that I'm such a fan of psychological thrillers. For me, the more twists and turns, the better. This book had a number of them, which made me very happy. On the slightly negative side, there were parts that tended to be a little slow, and Madeleine's pain and longing for her child did feature heavily in the story, perhaps a little too heavily at times. Yes, I understood her pain, but the frequent comments about the emotional pain, physical longing and desire to hold and cuddle her child, were perhaps a little overplayed. Then again, the author was trying to show the reader the absolute turmoil that the main character was going through, so perhaps those scenes could be justified.Also, this isn't a book in which a lot actually happens. Part One is pretty strong, with a fair amount of action, and thrilling aspects. But then it seems to slow down and the rest of the book tends to creep along. I can't say that it ever totally lost my interest, but towards the end I was looking forward to reading some more explosive scenes. Did they come? Sort of. The pace picked up towards the end but I can't say it rocketed forward. By the end of the book, I felt that I'd been entertained, but I also felt so-so about the read. It was never fully explained exactly why a specific character acted the way that they did, and I felt that I'd been left hanging slightly. The change in their nature from the first page to the last, remains a mystery.Despite my criticisms, I did enjoy this book. I liked the twists and turns, the suspense and the wondering: who was the man that arrived at the front door on the day of the twins birthday, who was the man referred to in the diary, and so on. There was enough in this story to keep me engaged. It's worth reading if you can get your hands on a copy. My Rating: * * *Publication Date: June 2017 (South Africa)Genre: Psychological ThrillerFormat: Trade PaperbackSource: My own purchased copy.

You Don't Know Me

Goodreads DescriptionAn unnamed defendant stands accused of murder. Just before the Closing Speeches, the young man sacks his lawyer, and decides to give his own defence speech. He tells us that his barrister told him to leave some things out.Sometimes, the truth can be too difficult to explain, or believe. But he thinks that if he's going to go down for life, he might as well go down telling the truth. There are eight pieces of evidence against him. As he talks us through them one by one, his life is in our hands. We, the reader- member of the jury - must keep an open mind till we hear the end of his story. His defence raises many questions... but at the end of the speeches, only one matters: Did he do it? My ReviewAh, I feel so torn with this one. It was a book that I really wanted to love, and that I thought I was going to love. It was, after all, a courtroom drama, and I love those. To be honest though, I battled with this read.Basically, this story is written as one long monologue. The defendant is giving his closing argument in his own trial after having fired his advocate. The way that the story is written didn't totally grab me. I would have enjoyed the whole experience much more if the structure had been different. I think the story would have been so much more engaging if the defendant had been in the witness box, giving evidence. Both advocates could have been asking questions, the defendant answering them and the reader left to decide whether they believed the defendants version of events. Instead, the monologue seemed exceptionally long and drawn out. This is another issue that I had. The monologue and in turn, the book itself, was too long. In real life, a closing argument would never last for the length of time that this one did. It just doesn't happen that way. And the language used by the defendant would never be allowed either. In real life, a court room is a very serious place, with tradition, a judge that everyone respects and a very intimidating atmosphere. In this story, the defendant, in using "street" language, swore at various times and throughout the monologue. As a reader, I have no issue with swearing, but in this case, it was unrealistic. It wouldn't happen in a real court. Every now and again, the defendant would apologise to the judge, but most of the time he didn't. And lastly, I did battle with the "street" talk used in this book. I must give the author credit and say that he captured the character of the person perfectly by using this language, but for a girl like me, from a certain background, never having spent any time on the streets, or as part of a gang, the language was difficult. And yes, ultimately this is a story about gangs, street life, violence, drugs and young people growing up on the streets. And that didn't grab me.Did I like anything about this book? Actually, yes. The author is clearly very talented. He created a main character that was really well formed and clear in my mind. By using street language, the reader is left with a very vivid understanding of who the main character was, and of the world he lived in. The structure of the book was also very different, and a novel concept. I've never read anything else quite like it before. And being innovative is always a good thing, even if it doesn't always work out perfectly.Although this book wasn't for me, I will read the next book by this author. I think he has definite writing talent. Unfortunately, this story didn't work for me as I found it too long, a little dull and I couldn't relate to the whole gang vibe, but that doesn't mean that I wouldn't give this author a second chance. Something about his writing appeals to me, so I'll try one more.My Rating: * *Publication Date: July 2017 (South Africa)Genre: Courtroom dramaFormat: Trade paperbackSource: Review copy received from the publisher. Many thanks to author, Imran Mahmood and Penguin Random House SA for my copy. 

The Mayfly

Goodreads DescriptionIt's happening again. A mutilated body discovered in the woods. A murderous plan conceived in the past. A reckoning seventy years in the making . . . Charlie Priest, ex-detective inspector turned London lawyer, is hired by influential entrepreneur Kenneth Ellinder to investigate the murder of his son. But Priest is no ordinary lawyer. Brilliant, yet flawed, this case will push him, and those closest to him, to the edge. Priest traces the evidence back to the desperate last days of the Second World War. Buried in the ashes of the Holocaust is a secret so deadly its poison threatens to destroy the very heart of the establishment.  With more victims going missing, Priest realises that not everyone should be trusted. As he races to uncover the truth, can he prevent history from repeating itself? My ReviewThis is the author's debut novel and to be totally honest, I thought it showed. Sometimes you read a debut that is just so well written that you can't believe the author is new to the task. In this case, I felt that the writing wasn't quite as polished as some other debuts that I've read this year.Before turning his hand to creative writing, the author was a lawyer in private practice specialising in corporate and commercial litigation and employment law. I'm not sure if that perhaps led to a more formal writing style, but I felt like the writing didn't flow quite as easily as it should, especially in the first half of the book. I found it a tad forced. I also found some of the dialogue a little bit off, and at times I found myself thinking that people just wouldn't say that to each other, or wouldn't interact with each other in the way described.Okay, so enough about that. On the positive side, I did enjoy Charlie Priest and his character. He was definitely weird and more than a little bit unusual, which I liked. I probably wouldn't be far wrong in describing him as a bit of a misfit actually. He has a brother in a mental institution, who is there for committing some serious crimes, and it almost seems as if mental instability runs in the family. So, Charlie seems a little bit different. I liked that. This, coupled with the strange crimes he is investigating, involving some disbursing forms of death, and the insertion of a mayfly into the throats of certain victims, makes for a really good read.I enjoyed this story, I really loved how different and odd many of the characters were, and despite my criticisms above, I would read the next book in the series as I believe that Charlie Priest has a lot of potential, as do a few of the peripheral characters. I'll also be interested to see how the author develops in terms of his writing style. In fairness, I feel that I must mention that I have read a number of reviews of this book, none of which have mentioned the writing issues that I mention above. So, it might just be me, and you shouldn't be put off reading the book because of my feelings. I can only express honestly how I felt and the thoughts I had while reading the book. It would seem that many other readers had no problem at all with the writing style. Overall, an entertaining read that I enjoyed, and I look forward to the next one in the series.PS, the South African cover is different to the one in the picture in that the primary colours are white and pink, and not blue.My Rating: * * *Publication Date: July 2017 (South Africa)Genre: Crime ThrillerFormat: Trade PaperbackSource: My own purchased copy.

Watching Edie

Goodreads DescriptionBeautiful, creative, a little wild… Edie was the kind of girl who immediately caused a stir when she walked into your life. And she had dreams back then—but it didn’t take long for her to learn that things don’t always turn out the way you want them to. Now, at thirty-three, Edie is working as a waitress, pregnant and alone. And when she becomes overwhelmed by the needs of her new baby and sinks into a bleak despair, she thinks that there’s no one to turn to… But someone’s been watching Edie, waiting for the chance to prove once again what a perfect friend she can be. It’s no coincidence that Heather shows up on Edie’s doorstep, just when Edie needs her the most. So much has passed between them—so much envy, longing, and betrayal. And Edie’s about to learn a new lesson: those who have hurt us deeply—or who we have hurt—never let us go, not entirely… My ReviewThis was a strange read in a way, and not exactly what I was expecting. But I also found it a rather clever psychological thriller. I don't want to say too much about the cleverness of the writing so as not to give anything away, but I will say that I found the way that the author dealt with the characters very interesting. When I was first introduced to the main characters, Edie and Heather, I very quickly worked out who I liked and who I thought was a nutter. But this is where the writing gets intriguing. It didn't take long before I started second guessing myself. Was my favourite character really nice? Or was she actually the nutter? And then I would change my mind again. But, by the time I had finished reading the book, everything had fallen properly into place, and it was very clear who had treated who badly.This book was actually rather chilling and disturbing in a way. It wasn't chilling in the serial killer type of way - there was no blood and guts and sick, depraved psycho's waiting to torture people. The chilling behaviour was far more subtle, and I actually didn't feel the chill for the majority of the book. However, by the time I turned the last page I felt slightly disturbed. I thought back over the book and what had happened, and I felt that the actions of a certain character had been despicable. I wanted to jump right into the pages and give said character a slap across the face! Okay, so enough said about that.This was a really good read. I must be honest and say that I didn't find myself absolutely riveted, dying to rush home and read, but I did look forward to seeing how everything ended. And I found the ending really strong. It pulled the story together and everything became clear. I absolutely raced through that last 50 odd pages of this book. It was a great read and I have no problem recommending it highly.My Rating: * * * *Publication Date: July 2016Genre: Psychological ThrillerFormat: Trade PaperbackSource: My own purchased copy.

The Girlfriend

Goodreads DescriptionThe Girlfriend by Michelle Frances is a gripping and chilling debut psychological thriller, based on the fall-out following an unforgiveable lie. It looks at the potentially charged relationship between girlfriend, boyfriend and his mother, which most women can identify with, and locates it in an extreme but believable setting.Cherry comes to the family wide-eyed and wants to be welcomed with open arms, but Laura suspects she's not all that she seems. Laura has it all. A successful career, a long marriage to a rich husband, and a twenty-three year-old son, Daniel, who is kind, handsome, and talented. Then Daniel meets Cherry. Cherry is young, beautiful and smart but she hasn't had the same opportunities as Daniel. And she wants Laura's life.When tragedy strikes, an unforgivable lie is told. It is an act of desperation, but the fall-out will change their lives forever.My ReviewThis must be one of the most entertaining reads that I've read this year. So, let me say it right upfront: this book is getting 5 big fat stars from me! Whenever I get through a book in a matter of days, I know it deserves a great rating.This was a book that got my blood pumping. I just couldn't stand Cherry, and I couldn't wait to see if she was going to get their comeuppance. She was manipulative, secretive and rude. I couldn't believe that a nice person like Daniel had chosen her as his partner.One thing that I love about books and reading in general is how they make us feel different things and certain emotions. This book made me feel constantly on edge, constantly irritated and wanting to get revenge on the trouble maker. And even though these feelings and emotions are negative ones, I was thrilled to be feeling so much.To all you bookworms out there with sons of your own, this book will be a real eye opener, and I'm sure it will be a read that some people will be able to identify with. I can only image how devastating it must be to be the mother of a son who has chosen a partner who you really don't like, and who you think has a hidden agenda.I flew through this read. It was fast paced, intriguing and even chilling in places. At one stage, Cherry does something so awful that I needed to re-read the offending paragraph to make sure that I had read it correctly. This is a great beach read, and if like me, you're currently in the grips of winter, then this will be just as good on the couch, in front of the fire. Loved this one. Loved it. Buy it.My Rating: * * * * * Publication Date: June 2017 (South Africa)Genre: Psychological thrillerFormat: PaperbackSource: Review copy received from the publisher. Many thanks to author, Michelle Frances and Pan Macmillan for my copy. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.

He Said / She Said

Goodreads DescriptionIn the hushed aftermath of a total eclipse, Laura witnesses a brutal attack. She and her boyfriend Kit call the police, and in that moment, it is not only the victim's life that is changed forever. Fifteen years on, Laura and Kit live in fear, and while Laura knows she was right to speak out, the events that follow have taught her that you can never see the whole picture: something, and someone, is always in the dark. My ReviewInitially I found this book strange in its pacing. One minute I found it slow and plodding, and the next minute I'd be absolutely glued to the page. This is definitely a book that I'd describe as a slow burn, and so you probably need to be in the right mood for that type of read before you dive in. But let me tell you something, the growing tension in this book is absolutely great.I loved how the book started off, with the very first page describing the different phases of an eclipse. After that, the book is divided into different parts, each with a different heading being the different phases of an eclipse. This may sound strange, but it's actually very clever and all will become clear once you've read the book.The first part of the book was very slow, and I actually wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy the book. But it was too soon to call it and so I kept going, and boy, am I glad that I did. Suddenly things hotted up, and as is clear from the blurb, an attack takes place and from there, I was gripped. I think I've mentioned before that I love courtroom scenes, and I often find novels that deal with court cases really entertaining. I'm not sure if that's down to the fact that I'm a lawyer by day, and I've always been fascinated by criminal law, a branch of law that I stayed away from due to its notoriously bad pay and difficult working conditions. But for whatever reason, I love the courtroom scenes found in books, and in movies for that matter. Part one of this book has a great courtroom scene and so I was in my element. I flew through those pages, gripped by the witnesses testimony, all the while asking myself, who did I believe?Like I mentioned earlier, this book went through high's and lows in terms of pacing. From being gripped by the courtroom scene, things then slowed down, but I could constantly feel the tension building. What happened to these two main characters? Why did they need to change their names? Why does Laura scratch at her arms? Why are they so fearful all the time? All these questions exist, and they surface pretty close to the beginning of the book. It's clear that they've been through something really terrible, but the reader doesn't know what happened, whether it was linked to the trial, who did the bad thing, and so on.I thought this was a great psychological thriller. It was very clever, it had some great scenes, I loved the references to the eclipses, and the characters were clearly cast. There was plenty to love with this one. My Rating: * * * *Publication Date: April 2017 (South Africa)Genre: Psychological ThrillerFormat: Trade PaperbackSource: My own purchased copy.

Lying In Wait

Goodreads DescriptionThe last people who expect to be meeting with a drug-addicted prostitute are a respected judge and his reclusive wife. And they certainly don't plan to kill her and bury her in their exquisite suburban garden. Yet Andrew and Lydia Fitzsimons find themselves in this unfortunate situation. While Lydia does all she can to protect their innocent son Laurence and their social standing, her husband begins to falls apart. But Laurence is not as naïve as Lydia thinks. And his obsession with the dead girl's family may be the undoing of his own.My ReviewThis book has one of the best opening sentences that I've ever read. I don't want to spoil it for you bookworms and so I won't mention it here, but trust me, it sucks you right into the story from the very first line. As soon as I read that line, I knew I was going to love this book. And boy, did I love it!This is what I would call a genuine psychological thriller. Yes, there is a murder involved, but from there, the book becomes about people: it's about their psyches, their characters, what makes them tick, how they think, how they deceive, how they act in certain situations. This is one of the best examples of a true psychological thriller that I've ever read.The characters are so interesting and so well described. I was enthralled by them all. I was hanging onto each page, clawing my way through to the end, dying to know how everything was going to pan out. Annie was a fascinating, weird, double-sided character, Laurence was a total enigma, Lydia was an unlikable nutcase, and Helen was just plain bizarre, but yet something about her was so genuine and honest. And there are many other characters that were equally enthralling. Oh my, what a read.This is a very easy novel to read, and it flows effortlessly towards its shocking conclusion. The book does lag perhaps a tiny bit in the middle, but it by no means grinds to a halt. I was still absolutely hooked. And my word, that ending, although not a true twist in the genuine sense of the word, still enough of a twist to leave me reeling. I finished the book, put it down, turned off my bedside light and then spent the next 30 minutes thinking about it. I love it when books do that!This is a book that delves into the dark and deep nature of the soul. It's about people acting in ways that you would never expect, but which are totally possible. It's a book that left me asking questions about human nature, about love, about selfishness and about independence.Oh my...yes, it's another one that's been recorded in my diary as one of my 2017 favourites. I can't believe that I bought this book last year and only got to reading it now. Boy, was I missing out! It's fantastic.My Rating: * * * * *Publication Date: July 2016 Genre: Psychological ThrillerFormat: Trade PaperbackSource: My own purchased copy.

The Child

Goodreads DescriptionAs an old house is demolished in a gentrifying section of London, a workman discovers a tiny skeleton, buried for years. For journalist Kate Waters, it s a story that deserves attention. She cobbles together a piece for her newspaper, but at a loss for answers, she can only pose a question: Who is the Building Site Baby? As Kate investigates, she unearths connections to a crime that rocked the city decades earlier: A newborn baby was stolen from the maternity ward in a local hospital and was never found. Her heartbroken parents were left devastated by the loss.But there is more to the story, and Kate is drawn house by house into the pasts of the people who once lived in this neighborhood that has given up its greatest mystery. And she soon finds herself the keeper of unexpected secrets that erupt in the lives of three women and torn between what she can and cannot tell.My ReviewThis is another novel that has been much anticipated by lovers of psychological fiction, myself included. Last year, I listened to the author's debut novel, The Widow, as an audiobook and I absolutely loved it. I could't wait for this book to be released and to get my hands on a copy.This is a very easy reading novel, with short, punchy chapters. The chapter headings consist of different dates and names. So, each chapter is told from a different perspective and written by a different woman. As with many psychological thrillers, things aren't totally clear in the beginning and I wasn't sure how the four woman's stories tied up together, but that all fell perfectly into place as the story progressed. I've read a number of reviews by others stating that the book gets off to a very slow start, but I didn't really find that. It's pacing is like most psychological thrillers, meaning that it's slow to build, but it does build.I felt that the character development was good, but with short chapters moving between the different people, it's quite difficult to really get to know any of them deeply. Having said that though, I did get a very clear sense of who each characters were and how different they were. And the characters on the periphery were also great.  There weren't many twists and turns throughout the story, and the one twist that I came across was somewhat foreseeable and it didn't come as a shock to me. But don't cry in your cups quite yet people, because the twist at the end of the story is a knock out...Wowzers! I never expected the twist, and any book that can stump me at the end, gets the thumbs up from me.My Rating: * * * *Publication Date: 27 June 2017 (South Africa)Genre: Psychological thrillerFormat: Trade paperbackSource: Review copy received from the publisher. Many thanks to author, Fiona Barton and Penguin Random House SA for my copy. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.