Katharine Johnson's Blog, page 7

Book review: Dear Child by Romy Hausmann

Dear Child has already been a big hit in Germany where it was written.

I was intrigued by the premise, especially as it deals mainly with the aftermath rather than the day-to-day imprisonment of a woman and two children, so I was very excited to be given the chance to read it ahead of publication.

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There are other books about the return of a missing person but for me this was exceptional. I loved the writing style and the setting, a small town near Munich – but most of all I was drawn in by the complex characters.

Jasmine who has been held captive is strong and courageous although she’s also flawed and not always likeable.

I had so much sympathy for Matthias who has spent the last thirteen years looking for his daughter Lena but his frustration at the lack of help from the authorities drives him to do something regrettable.

But most fascinating is Hannah, who’s both charming and chilling. Her Aspergic-type view of the world has been largely created by her experience of growing up as a prisoner so she’s very knowledgeable about certain things but naive in others and in many ways appears much younger than her thirteen years.

She knows the importance of sticking to rules such as “You must always be helpful” but shows little emotion when comparing the sound of a watermelon being dropped on the floor to the sound of someone’s head being bashed, making the reader wonder exactly what she’s witnessed. She knows that on some occasions people use their “lion voices.”

Throughout the story the mystery of what happened to Lena and Jasmine and the identity of the abductor is teased out in this cleverly crafted novel which builds to a heart-in-mouth ending.

Would I recommend this book? Absolutely – especially to fans of Room and the second TV series The Missing.

Dear Child will be published in the UK in May by Quercus. My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a review copy.

Book review: The Guest List by Lucy Foley

I was immediately grabbed by the premise for this book: a wedding on a remote island – which one guest won’t leave alive.

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From the first chapter it’s beautifully written, full of brooding tension and hints in the language of a violent incident to come: “Clots of wine spatter the wooden floor; a crimson stain spreads across white linen”

We soon find out that this event has happened but how it’s happened, who’s involved and the circumstances leading up to it remain a mystery to be teased out over the next chapters.

The scenes are well sign-posted and I didn’t get confused between the different timelines although it jumps about a lot.

The island setting off the coast of Ireland is crucial to the plot, creating a locked-room feel and adding to the sense of danger with its bog, tides and Celtic gravestones.

As we get to know the characters there are also hints of shocking events in the past which have been covered up – until now, and are threatening to explode.

The characters are superbly drawn. Due to past experiences they include entitled, embittered, shallow, damaged and vengeful people. All are complex and flawed; all have secrets, all have motives. Any one of them could be the killer.

I sometimes find that stories told by several narrators can get repetitive and the characters feel superficial but I didn’t find that the case with this book at all. The multi viewpoints were so well done and really helped me understand the characters’ reasoning.

This is a thrilling story packed with twists and although I anticipated some of these I was kept guessing about others and one at the end was a complete surprise but made perfect sense.

If you love psychological thrillers my guess is you’ll love this one!

The Guest List is published by Harper Collins. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a review copy of this book.

Book review: Hunter’s Blood by Val Penny

I love a good crime story so was very excited to see that Val Penny had a new book out. Hunter’s Blood, the fourth title in the fabulous Edinburgh Crime Mysteries series, has poor DI Hunter trying to solve not just one mystery but several.

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Here’s the blurb :

DI Hunter Wilson never has just one problem to solve. He finds three elderly women he knows dead in mysterious circumstances. A little girl is lost on a cold winter night and then his team finds cocaine hidden around the farm where she is living. Hunter is worried that he cannot keep his family safe.

Why did the women die? What did the child witness?

Hunter must find the answers to these questions to ensure his family and his city are safe.

Although Hunter’s Blood could be read as a stand-alone, I think you’ll get most out of the book if you’ve read the previous ones or at least the first book in the series, Hunter’s Chase. The reason I say this is that the core cast of characters appears throughout the series and these characters develop as they go through their experiences. You’ll also have a clearer idea of who’s related to whom and how different people have been connected in the past, although explanations are given.

If you have read any of the other books it will feel like being reunited with old friends (and enemies) including the hapless and irrepressible cousins, Jamie and Frankie, Hunter’s son Cameron, and, on the other side of the prison walls, Arjun Mansoor.

My favourite character is Hunter himself – he’s smart, dedicated and determined but also has lots of empathy.

But while the story is character-driven, it’s by no means short on plot. It opens with a fatal road accident which we see from several viewpoints including one of the victims and from there the mysteries keep coming. I wondered how the author was going to be able to bring all these elements together but she does, with apparent ease.

This was a particularly chilling crime for DI Hunter Wilson to solve and involves some grisly details including mutilation and autopsies but as usual these are counterbalanced by warmth and humour elsewhere.

I found it an engrossing read and can’t wait to see what the author has up her sleeve for Hunter next.

Hunter’s Blood is published by Darkstroke, an imprint of Crooked Cat Books and is available in kindle and paperback versions.

About the author

Val Penny is an American author living in SW Scotland. She has two adult daughters of whom she is justly proud and lives with her husband and two cats. She has a Law degree from Edinburgh University and her MSc from Napier University. She has had many jobs including hairdresser, waitress, lawyer, banker, azalea farmer and lecturer. However, she has not yet achieved either of her childhood dreams of being a ballerina or owning a candy store. Until those dreams come true, she has turned her hand to writing poetry, short stories and novels. Her crime novels, Hunter’s Chase Hunter’s Revenge, Hunter’s Force and Hunter’s Blood are set in Edinburgh, Scotland, published by Crooked Cat Books. The fifth book in the series, Hunter’s Secret, follows shortly.

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Find out more or get in touch here:

http://www.authorvalpenny.com

http://www.facebook.com/valerie.penny.739

 www.facebook.com/groups/296295777444303

myBook.to/HuntersChase

myBook.to/HuntersRevenge

Book review: The Perfect Child by Lucinda Berry

I was attracted to this book by the cover and was intrigued by the title so couldn’t wait to see if it matched my expectations.

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The story’s about a couple who adopt a traumatised child believing they can give her a happy home and help make up for her appalling start in life. However, six year-old Janie turns out to be anything but the perfect child and a master at divide-and-rule. While Hannah is on the receiving end of Janie’s rage, Christopher remains unaware and increasingly concerned about his wife’s mental state. Can Hannah make him see what’s really going on before it’s too late?

First off, this is not a book I’d recommend to anyone thinking of adopting!

I found it a dark, disturbing and compulsive read, bordering on horror.

The story’s told in several viewpoints – Hannah, Christopher and the social worker, Piper. Although given their medical experience the couple seem rather naive, it’s easy to imagine the awful situation in which they find themselves, torn between wanting to get help but not wanting to admit they can’t cope, not wanting to lose Janie or damage her further by letting her down. Janie’s behaviour is truly disturbing, and all the more so when you discover that Dr Lucinda Berry is a trauma psychologist and researcher in childhood trauma.

I had such a feeling of helplessness watching Hannah try to handle the child’s behaviour while also trying to save her marriage and questioning her own sanity while trying to get support from the one person whose support she should be able to count on.

I felt frustrated by Christopher’s inability – or refusal – to see that he was being manipulated and was reminded of the relationship in We Need to Talk About Kevin.

As the tension among the family builds some decisions are made which have a horrible inevitability about them and lead up to devastating outcomes.

Although the ending left some questions unanswered, this is a powerful read which I’d recommend to fans of visceral psychological thrillers.

The Perfect Child is published by Thomas & Mercer, Amazon’s publishing unit.

Book review: The Move by Felicity Everett

Having read and very much enjoyed The People at Number 9 by this author, I was very much looking forward to reading this.

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Karen has packed up her life in London for a fresh start in an idyllic country cottage that her husband Nick has painstakingly renovated, complete with pottery studio for her. But is it really so easy to leave their marriage problems behind? It’s soon clear that Karen is recovering from some sort of mental breakdown, so is moving to an out-of-the-way place with the person responsible for her unhappiness a wise solution? Cut off from her old friends and family, she can’t help wondering if her husband has plans of his own – and if history might be repeating itself.

The setting is ideal for the story – a pretty but claustrophobic village with some larger-than-life characters. Despite the lovely surroundings and thriving village life something doesn’t feel right and soon develops into a growing air of menace.

Having read the author’s first book, I was expecting a beautifully written drama rather than a suspenseful thriller and that’s what I got. I found it a riveting, voyeuristic read which felt tauter and darker than The People at Number 9 and has a strong psychological element.

My advice would be: don’t read it expecting an action-based thriller but if you love explosive, character-driven domestic dramas then you’re in for a treat.

My thanks to the publisher HQ and NetGalley for a review copy which has in no way influenced my opinion.

Book review: The House on the Lake by Nuala Ellwood

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When Lisa needs to escape her controlling husband, a friend offers her the use of a rambling old home in the wilds of Yorkshire seems like the perfect place. It’s miles away from the closest town, and no one there knows Lisa or her little boy, Joe. But when a woman from the local village comes to visit them, Lisa realises that she and Joe aren’t as safe as she thought.

What secrets have Rowan Isle House – and her friend – kept hidden all these years? And what will Lisa have to do to survive, when her past finally catches up with her?

I found this a dark, troubling story about control and the long-reaching effects of abuse. There are two story lines – Lisa’s and an eleven year-old girl called Grace who lived at Rowan House in 2002 with her dad, a former soldier suffering from PTSD. He trains Grace as a soldier, keeping her away from the outside world. It’s clear the two stories will come together at some point but how?

The dilapidated house is ideal for the setting – both a sanctuary and a prison and the bleak location provides a brooding, atmospheric backdrop.

I loved the small cast of characters and thought three year-old Joe was particularly well-drawn – a disturbed, damaged, scary child, the product of what he has witnessed – as of course is Grace.

I’d recommend this book to fans of psychological suspense who like stories about old houses harbouring dark secrets.

My thanks to Penguin and Netgalley for a copy of this book which will be published on 20 February.

Book review: Lake Child by Isabel Ashdown

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I’ve taken a break from blogging recently for health and holiday reasons so am now catching up on reviewing books that have really stuck in my mind.

When 17 year-old Eva Olsen comes round after a horrific road accident she finds herself bedbound in her isolated home in a Norwegian forest. Why is the room locked? Are her watchful parents protecting her or themselves? Who was Eva in the vehicle with and is that person responsible for her pregnancy? As memories begin to surface that don’t tally with the story she’s given, she has to discover the truth but what if someone doesn’t want her to escape?

If you read this blog regularly you’ll know that I’m a big fan of psychological thrillers but with so many around it sometimes seems quite hard to find one that feels fresh and delivers on its promise.

But Lake Child is exactly that book!

It’s an all-consuming, beautifully-crafted mystery that had me in its thrall.

What makes it so good? For starters, there’s the noirish Scandinavian setting which is perfect for the story and so well described. The house, dark forest and snow add to Eva’s sense of isolation, confusion and claustrophobia, and there’s an underlying sense of menace throughout.

Eva herself is a very complex character. Angry and suspicious, she’s not particularly likeable but she is compelling and my sympathy for her grew as her confusion continued and the secrets unravelled.

I haven’t read anything by this author before but am looking forward to catching up on other books she’s written.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book.

Author visit: Howard Levine

My guest today is Howard Levine whose explosive political thriller has had fantastic reviews.

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Hello, Howard – lovely to see you in the coffee shop today. What can I get you?

Hello Katy – I’d like a mango lassi if you have one.

I have mangos, cardamom pods and yoghurt so I can certainly rustle one up. Might have to raid the recipe books though. Here’s one from Jamie Oliver that looks delicious! https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/fruit-recipes/mango-lassi/

I’ve been looking at your book Last Gasp and am so intrigued. What’s the story behind the story?

Last Gasp centers around a “terrorist” attack staged by a right-wing US government, which then lays the blame on Islamic jihadists.  The main characters are two formerly estranged brothers, one an NYPD detective whose daughter has died in the attack. They are seeking to bring out the truth, in the face of scorn and danger to their own lives. My inspiration was simply an idea that came up: what if a US government staged a terrorist attack with its own political aims in mind? It’s likely that the idea came up as a result of the Bush administration using falsehoods to start a disastrous war In Iraq, among other instances of governmental deception. More recently, with Trump and his cohorts in power, lying has become the rule rather than the exception.

Why did you choose to write in this genre?

Last Gasp is a thriller, one with political overtones.  I chose to write in that genre because I had a compelling idea for a novel that would fall into that category, if it was done well.  It’s the only thriller that I’ve written.  I enjoyed working on it because the twists and turns of the plot seemed to present themselves as I went along.  Other novels I’ve written, including Leaving This Life Behind, my first published work, do not be fall into the thriller category. If anything, most of them would be considered cross-genre.  My main consideration in writing a novel is that it’s engaging.

If your story was made into a film or television series, who would you cast as the main character?

I’d cast Tom Hanks, because he’s capable of projecting both “masculinity” and vulnerability.  Frank Tedeschi, the main character in Last Gasp, is placed in a situation which requires of him both courage and the ability to empathize.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I’m more of a pantser, I guess.  I would love to be able to outline a novel
from beginning to end, but thus far haven’t managed to do so with any of the
novels that I’ve written.  Generally, I
start out with a central idea and plan ahead as much as I can.  But as with Last Gasp, ideas for the
direction of the plot, and the evolution of the characters, develop as I go
along.  A lot of rewriting is often
necessitated as the work progresses.

When did you start writing and what got you started?

I started writing in college, simply because I felt drawn to the process of creating fiction, and also because I wanted to express certain understandings about life—connected to my practice of Transcendental Meditation–in a fictional context.  I learned that I had a long way to go before I could consider myself a capable writer.  Also, I learned that honest, objective feedback is very necessary.  It’s difficult to see one’s own work clearly.

I agree – early feedback is so helpful. How do you deal with rejection?

In the days before the publication of my first novel, rejections from editors at publishing houses or literary agents often came with constructive criticism.  Much of that proved valuable, even if initially frustrating.  I’m hoping that handling rejections is now a thing of the past.  In any case, the best way to deal with them is to just keep on keeping on, and do what you can to maximize the quality of what you write.

Great advice! Thanks so much for coming along today, Howard and best of luck with the book.

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Frank Tedeschi’s niece is dead, one of thousands of victims of a terrorist attack, which has been laid at the feet of “Islamic radicals” by a right-wing US government.  Frank, based on a chance encounter, is one of the very few people who question the government’s explanation.  He is a Vietnam veteran who wants nothing more than to live without further controversy or conflict.  Can he and his grieving brother Rob, a detective with the NYPD, obtain the necessary evidence to uncover the truth, in the face of scorn and incredulity?  Can they overcome their long-term estrangement to work together, given that they are putting their lives in danger?

 In LAST GASP—a novel that resonates with today’s politics—the answers to these questions unfold in a way that mingles personal and societal issues and intertwines the past and present while moving relentlessly forward.

Read an excerpt/ buy it here:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Last+Gasp+by+Howard+Levine&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/last-gasp-howard-levine/1129239530?ean=9781626949836

More about Howard

Howard Levine is the author of one previously published novel, Leaving This Life Behind.  He is a retired teacher of special education and English as a second language. Before his first public school teaching position—at a high school in the Bronx, NY—he taught Transcendental Meditation, which he still practices regularly.  Howard now lives in suburban Washington DC, where he hikes, bikes, and writes.  He and his wife volunteer at a soup kitchen and a senior citizens center.

Author visit: Jessica Norrie

I’m delighted to say that today’s guest is Jessica Norrie, whose books reflect her love of travel and her experience of working with children. Hello Jessica, thanks for visiting the coffee shop. What would you like today?

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I’d like a cappuccino, please, in a proper Italian round cup with a saucer and a pretty barista swirl on the top. Since it’s virtual, I’ll add an almond croissant with lots of virtual calories! Thank you!

Oh I do like my coffee in a proper round cup too – no chunky mugs here! It’s great to have a chance to chat about you and your writing. One thing I was wondering – if you could be any fictional character for a day who would you choose?

Generally
speaking I think children’s book characters have a more interesting time – they
don’t have to worry about love affairs and Brexit and stuff like that. So I’d
go back to the classics and be Anne of Green Gables or Laura Ingalls Wilder as
children. They’re so positive, enjoy or at least learn from everything they encounter
and both have a fantastic imagination. If any of your readers can’t connect to them,
how about a few hours as Hermione Granger, mixing up whizzo potions and changing
the course of everything?

All great choices – I adored Little House on the Prairie when I was little and who wouldn’t want to be Hermione Granger? How about if you could invite just two authors (alive or dead) to dinner – who would they be?

My father was a London bookseller so we did occasionally have authors to dinner. My mother’s great friend was Joan Aiken who wrote The Wolves of Willoughby Chase series. She was very tiny and quietly spoken but she packed a devastating wit into the shortest of statements and had a sort of whispered chuckle that opened up all sorts of possibilities. I’d also invite Helen Dunmore from beyond her recent and too early grave. I’m hoping she’d tell me how she mixes impeccable research with exactly the right language and readability

Wonderful. I’d love to have met Helen too, having grown up in Bristol where Birdcage Walk is set. How does where you live inspire what you write?  

My first book The Infinity Pool was inspired by holidays on a Greek island, but the second The Magic Carpet has echoes of almost everywhere I’ve lived – diverse communities in London and Sheffield where I hear different languages spoken around me and can try fruit and veg I’ve never seen before from shops that stay open until midnight. As a writer in such a place you don’t have to worry about throwing in characters from any background you feel like introducing, because it’s entirely feasible they’d be there (you still have to research them properly though).

What’s the story behind your story?

I
was a teacher in communities like the ones I describe above. It’s no
exaggeration to say “all human life is there”. At least eight classes a year,
thirty children per class, umpteen ethnicities, languages, religions and
backgrounds for over thirty years… On retirement, I needed to make sense of all
the clamour and individual stories by pinpointing what they had in common and
where the conflicts were and that’s what The
Magic Carpet tries to do.

So loads of inspiration to draw on for your characters. If you could have a special gift what superpower would you choose?

It
isn’t really a superpower, in most people’s eyes, until you start losing it.
I’ve inherited my mother’s glaucoma in both eyes and the wonderful surgeons at
Moorfields hospital in London are doing their best to safeguard the vision that
remains. If they can keep blindness at bay I’ll settle for that.

Yes, it’s easy to take these things for granted, isn’t it? Can you tell us a bit about how you write? Are you a plotter or a pantser? 

Oh,
a pantser. But it’s less clear cut than that. I start from a setting and themes
I want to write about. A character who fits in that setting usually emerges
pretty quickly, although sometimes I have to try several to see who’s best
(that’s how I end up with multiple points of view which drives editors mad).
Then as the character moves through the setting a story arises naturally,
albeit often quite a subtle one that I must develop. I’ve never been able to
say, like a plotter: I’m going to write a love affair/a bankruptcy/a crime etc
without knowing the broad surrounding and some everyday features first.

When did you start writing and what got you started?

I was luckier than most to grow up in a house full of books. My parents both read and wrote, showing their children writing is as natural as eating and drinking. As part of playing we wrote stories, newspapers, diaries, plays… The more you write, the better you get, so I got praised at school, and wrote more. It’s a virtuous circle. But I wish I’d started writing full length novels before I was 50!

How do you deal with rejection?

With judicious amounts of chilled white wine and remembering tomorrow is another day. Rejection is a common part of every author’s life whether or not they ever make the big time; you just have to keep it in proportion like any other dismal aspect of any job.

Thanks, that’s good advice. What’s the best tip on writing you’ve been given?

If you don’t write anything down, you’ll have nothing to improve by editing, so get on with it. But conversely, don’t beat yourself up if you planted bulbs or read books or did something that really does earn some money that day instead.

I agree – writing should be a pleasure not a chore. And what are you working on next?

A novel
set in a remote village in Derbyshire. I’ll have to do my research very
carefully, as I started it on a whim and can’t let go of the idea, but I’m not
sure I have the credentials to write it.

Sounds great – I love Derbyshire. Best of luck with this and thanks for dropping in today!

The Magic Carpet



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Outer London, September 2016 and neighbouring eight-year-olds have homework: prepare a traditional story to perform with their families at a school festival. But Nathan’s father thinks his son would be better off doing sums; Sky’s mother’s enthusiasm is as fleeting as her bank balance, and there’s a threatening shadow hanging over poor Alka’s family. Only Mandeep’s fragile grandmother and new girl Xoriyo really understand the magical powers of storytelling.

As national events and individual challenges jostle for the adults’ attention, can these two bring everyone together to ensure the show will go on?

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The Infinity Pool

In this thoughtful novel set on a sun-baked island, Adrian Hartman, the charismatic director of the Serendipity holiday community, is responsible for ensuring the perfect mindful break, with personal growth and inner peace guaranteed. People return year after year to bare their souls. For some, Adrian IS Serendipity.

But Adrian disappears, and with him goes the serenity of his staff and guests, who are bewildered without their leader. The hostility of the local villagers is beginning to boil over. Is their anger justified or are the visitors, each in a different way, just paranoid?

As romance turns sour and conflict threatens the stability of both communities, everyone has to find their own way to survive. This evocative story explores the decisions of adults who still need to come of age, the effect of well-intentioned tourism on a traditional community, and the real meaning of getting away from it all.

About Jessica Norrie

Jessica Norrie was born in London and studied French
Literature and Education at Sussex and Sheffield. She taught English, French
and Spanish abroad and in the UK in settings ranging from nursery to
university. She has two adult children and divides her time between London and
Malvern, Worcestershire.

She has also worked as a freelance translator,
published occasional journalism and a French textbook, and blogs at https://jessicanorrie.wordpress.com

Jessica sings soprano with any choir that will have
her, and has been trying to master the piano since childhood but it’s not her
forte.

She left teaching in 2016. The Infinity Pool was her first novel, drawing on encounters while
travelling. Her second novel The Magic
Carpet is inspired by working with families and their children. The third
is bubbling away nicely and should emerge from her cauldron next year.

The
Magic Carpet
is available at http://getbook.at/TheMagicCarpet

The
Infinity Pool
is available at http://getBook.at/TheInfinityPool

Connect with Jessica here:

Blog: https://jessicanorrie.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wordsandfictions/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jessica_norrie

Book review: The Family by Louise Jensen

I’m drawn to stories about cults and have hugely enjoyed Louise Jensen’s other books so was thrilled to get the chance to read this one. I love the creepy cover too!

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ONCE YOU’RE IN, THEY’LL NEVER LET YOU LEAVE.

Laura is grieving after the sudden death of her husband. Struggling to cope emotionally and financially, she is grateful when a local community, Oak Leaf Organics, offer her and her 17-year-old daughter Tilly a home.
 
But as Laura and Tilly settle into life with their new ‘family’, sinister things begin to happen. When one of the community dies in suspicious circumstances Laura wants to leave but Tilly, enthralled by the charismatic leader, Alex, refuses to go.
 
Desperately searching for a way to save her daughter, Laura uncovers a horrifying secret but Alex and his family aren’t the only ones with something to hide. Just as Laura has been digging into their past, they’ve been digging into hers and she discovers the terrifying reason they invited her and Tilly in, and why they’ll never let them leave…

My review

I flew through this story, gripped by the complex characters and shadowy secrets. I felt for Laura who wants above anything to protect her daughter and hold onto her. Tilly also feels very real and it’s easy to understand her attraction to Alex and the Family given what she’s been through. Alex, the leader of the Family is a less distinct character which adds to his mystique and the sections in his viewpoint gradually get the reader wondering about his true intentions.

The story explores two types of family ties – blood relatives and community – and is about trust, secrets and revenge. It’s tense, creepy and frantic, bordering on horror in places. I found it an addictive read.

Thanks to publishers HQ and Netgalley for a review copy which has in no way influenced my opinion.