Katharine Johnson's Blog, page 9

Book review: The Mother’s Mistake by Ruth Heald

I was in the mood for a proper psychological thriller so was thrilled to get my hands on this one.

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Description

Everyone makes mistakes. But does everyone deserve to be forgiven? 

She runs past the tinkling of children’s laughter that fills the park. Heart hammering, she reaches the riverbank, breath catching in her throat as her eyes take in the small body, tangled in the reeds, pale and lifeless. 

Three years later. 

Claire’s life is picture perfect. A new home in the countryside. A new-born baby. A doting husband by her side. 

But behind closed doors, it’s a different story.

And when a threatening note is posted through her letterbox, saying she doesn’t deserve her daughter, it’s clear that someone knows… 

Someone knows that Claire doesn’t deserve her perfect life. Someone’s going to make sure of it.

My review

I was immediately hooked by the setup with Claire moving into a house belonging to her husband’s family and the claustrophobic tension as she tries to assert her independence from her difficult and domineering mother-in-law. It reminded me of Philippa Gregory’s The Little House and I already felt I was in for a treat. As the story unfolds she becomes increasingly isolated and unsure of her own sanity.

I thought the characters were brilliantly drawn, especially the mother-in-law. From the beginning it’s hard to know who to trust. One person in particular was obviously not what they seemed but I had to keep turning the pages to find out what their motivation was. I was also intrigued by Claire’s past and desperate to find out what it was she’d done.

Trust, deceit and betrayal are at the heart of the story.

Suspense builds throughout, there are twists aplenty and lots of angst and paranoia. So it absolutely delivers as a psychological thriller and I can’t wait to read more books by this author.

The Mother’s Mistake is published by Bookouture and is available in kindle and audiobook formats.

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of the book. My review is my unbiased opinion.

Book review: I Looked Away by Jane Corry

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I’m always fascinated by how one mistake can change someone’s whole life so was immediately drawn to this book.

It starts with Ellie, who’s in an unhappy marriage and has just made a startling discovery, looking after her grandson Josh when the unthinkable happens. We’re then taken back into her past where another, similar, terrible incident took place.

A second storyline is narrated by Jo, a Big Issue seller who Ellie encounters. Dual narratives are tricky to get right and I often find myself more engaged by one story then the other and skipping sections to get back to my preferred narrator. However, this wasn’t the case here as both stories were so compelling, intriguing and authentic.

If you’re an emotional reader be warned – this story is heart-warming one moment, heartbreaking the next. For me it switched at all the right moments, taking me on a rollercoaster and making it very hard to put down.

Ellie’s childhood is tragically changed by her mother’s death and her father’s marriage to a woman who doesn’t have much time for her. When a new baby comes along things start to get complicated and it’s clear Ellie’s life has taken a shocking turn but how did she end up in prison?

Jo has endured an abusive past and is now trying to survive on the streets when she meets a young boy and they help each other – but what is she hiding?

There were one or two things that confused me at the start but if you feel the same, my advice is to read on because it will all make sense!

A bonus for me was that I recognised all the places in the book which made it even easier to visualise.

I’d highly recommend this cleverly crafted book to anyone who enjoys a true psychological thriller.

I Looked Away is published by Penguin. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for sending a copy of this book which has in no way influenced my opinion.

Book review: When I Lost you by Merilyn Davies

Today I have a review of a thriller written by a former crime analyst so if you’re looking for a dark summer read, take a look!

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The blurb

When a young couple are the lead suspects for the murder of their only child, crime analyst Carla Brown and DS Nell Jackson are assigned to investigate. The evidence seems conclusive but something just doesn’t feel right. The case is quickly cast into doubt when the lead forensic pathologist starts receiving threatening letters – containing details only the police should know. Who’s sending them? What do they want? And how did they get hold of the information? As Carla and Nell dig deeper it soon becomes clear that this case isn’t the first of its kind. They must stop at nothing to find the truth – even if it hits close to home.

My review

A very intriguing story with a complex plot that I couldn’t wait to get back to every time I was forced to stop reading. As there are different timelines and lots of characters you do need to give the story full attention but it does reward. The procedural story line set in the present day is interesting but for me, the past story line is where this book really shines. The issue of grooming is very topical and the two girls and their relationship with each other and their groomer are brilliantly depicted. Although I had a hunch about what was going on I enjoyed seeing how the team got to the truth. I think the story would appeal to fans of The Ice Cream Girls.

When I Lost You will be published as an ebook (Cornerstone Digital) on 1st July; paperback (Arrow) and audiobook (Penguin Audio) on 22nd August.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

Author visit: Alice Castle

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My coffee shop guest today is Alice Castle, author of the fabulous London Murder Mysteries, who’s here to spill the beans about her new book, the sixth in the series, which will be published next week.

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Hi Alice, what can I get you today?

Hi Katy, thanks so much for having me in your coffee shop! I feel really at home as the heroine of my cozy crime whodunits, Beth Haldane, spends a huge amount of time in the cafes of Dulwich, and of course I have to research her enthusiasms very carefully… I’d love an Earl Grey tea if the kettle is on…

It absolutely is – and a great choice as Earl Grey tea was established in London, although whether by Twinings or Jackson’s of Piccadilly seems to be a matter of debate. I’m excited about your new book – but will it really be the last in the series?

The Body in Belair Park is about to come out on 25th June. It’s a special book for me because originally I designed the stories to be a six-book series, so this one ties up a lot of loose ends. But, as I was finishing it, I realised that Beth still had a lot further to go and I’m already working on book seven. 

That’s a relief! What gave you the idea for this one?

One of the reasons that I had such fun writing The Body in Belair Park is that it’s set in such a beautiful place. The house is without doubt one of the finest in this pocket of south east London. It’s a gorgeous white stucco building, dating from 1785, which some say was designed by Robert Adam. In a Jane Austen novel, the house would be the seat of the local eligible bachelor, who’d sweep Beth away to dance in the candlelit ballroom. In real life, it was built by a maize farmer by the name of John Willes, who’d made his fortune in Whitechapel. Nowadays, the place is a Grade II listed events venue. For the purposes of my whodunit, it has been taken over by the imaginary Dulwich Bridge Club, a collection of sharp-elbowed, competitive retired folk who used to have top jobs and still want to trump the opposition wherever possible. Beth’s difficult mother, Wendy, likes to think she’s a leading light of the club. Tragedy strikes when her long term bridge partner, Reggie, dies suddenly. Wendy is convinced it’s murder, and Beth finds herself reluctantly dragged into the mystery. 

While Beth rushes around investigating, Belair House stands tall and aloof, as it has done for more than two centuries now. It still has its own lawns, but most of its grounds are now owned by the Council. It is here, on a park bench, that the body of Reggie Pole is found in my story. The park now has a very modern skatepark, which no doubt Capability Brown, Robert Adam and John Willes would have been astonished at. 

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It was such a joy to set my book in this corner of Dulwich. Belair House would be a gorgeous backdrop to any story but it really lent itself to a cozy crime. Although in the past it’s been open as a restaurant and bar, for the moment you can only book it for larger events. Could it be the perfect spot for Beth’s own wedding to irascible Metropolitan Police Detective Inspector Harry York? I’m laughing even as I type that – and Beth is blushing furiously behind her fringe

Book review: The Nanny by Gilly Macmillan

If you follow this blog you’ll know I can’t resist a story about an old house with a dark secret so it will be no surprise I snapped up this book! So did it live up to expectations?

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Blurb:

Seven-year-old Jocelyn loves her nanny more than her own mother.
When her nanny disappears one night, Jo never gets over the loss.
How could she vanish without saying goodbye?

Thirty years on, Jo is forced to return to her family home and confront her troubled relationship with her mother. When human remains are discovered in the grounds of the house, Jo begins to question everything.

Then an unexpected visitor knocks at the door and Jo’s world is destroyed again as, one by one, she discovers her childhood memories aren’t what they seemed.

What secrets was her nanny hiding – and what was she running away from? And can Jo trust what her mother tells her?

Sometimes the truth hurts so much you’d rather hear the lie.

My review

This absolutely lived up to expectations – in fact it exceeded them. A superb story that would translate perfectly to the screen. Beautifully written with convincing, fully fleshed-out characters and a wonderful setting, it was so easy to visualise. I loved the dynamic between Jo and her mother and the different versions of events the reader is given. Although I guessed what was going on I had to keep reading to find out how it had been done. I’ll definitely be reading more books by this author and would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good mystery involving a dysfunctional family, especially fans of books like The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield.

Book details:

This book is available in hardback (Century), paperback (Arrow), ebook (Cornerstone Digital) and audio (Random House Audio Books)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nanny-Gilly-Macmillan/dp/1982688432

Book review: Little Darlings by Melanie Golding

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The blurb

Everyone says Lauren Tranter is exhausted, that she needs rest. And they’re right; with newborn twins, Morgan and Riley, she’s never been more tired in her life. But she knows what she saw: that night, in her hospital room, a woman tried to take her babies and replace them with her own…creatures. Yet when the police arrived, they saw no one. Everyone, from her doctor to her husband, thinks she’s imagining things.

A month passes. And one bright summer morning, the babies disappear from Lauren’s side in a park. But when they’re found, something is different about them. The infants look like Morgan and Riley―to everyone else. But to Lauren, something is off. As everyone around her celebrates their return, Lauren begins to scream, These are not my babies.

Determined to bring her true infant sons home, Lauren will risk the unthinkable. But if she’s wrong about what she saw…she’ll be making the biggest mistake of her life.

Compulsive, creepy, and inspired by some our darkest fairy tales, Little Darlings will have you checking―and rechecking―your own little ones. Just to be sure. Just to be safe.

My review

This unsettling and bewitching tale soon had me under its spell. I must admit to initially feeling a little bit disappointed that it wasn’t the conventional psychological thriller that I thought it was going to be. However, I soon got over that as the nightmarish situation drew me in and I had to keep reading to find out where it was all leading.

I’m very interested in the origins of, and dark side to, fairy tales so I found the folklore passages fascinating. Lauren’s situation felt real and terrifying and I found myself questioning along with her what was real and what wasn’t.

I’d recommend this to anyone who likes chilling stories with a supernatural element.

I received a copy of this book by HQ via Netgallery

Book Details

Publisher: HQ (2 May 2019)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0008293678

ISBN-13: 978-0008293673

Little Darlings is available in hardback, paperback, ebook and audiobook. It’s available from bookshops or Amazon here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Darlings-Melanie-Golding/dp/0008293678

Author visit: Miriam Drori

My guest today is Miriam Drori, author of Cultivating a Fuji. The central theme of this book is social anxiety, a subject Miriam knows well as she has experienced it herself, given talks and written an excellent non-fiction book about it.

KJ Hello Miriam, welcome to the coffee shop. What can I get you to drink?

MD Thank you Katy, I’d like a Baileys and some cashews, please.

KJ Coming right up! Your book looks amazing and I can’t wait to read it. In the meantime please can you tell us about Martin and his social anxiety?

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Failing Martin

Throughout his childhood and beyond, people failed to help
Martin, the main character of my new novel, Cultivating a Fuji, and help
was something he could have done with because, as a child and as a young man,
he didn’t have the emotional tools to help himself.

But Martin’s parents were too wrapped up in themselves, and
his teachers – in the 1960s and ’70s – didn’t see his problems as coming within
the scope of their jobs. His colleagues? They were the ones who’d pushed him into
his quiet, withdrawn, socially anxious state. And other people he meets on his
path through life have worries of their own and aren’t able to make space for
someone who’s so strange and different.

I don’t think any of them should be blamed for their failure to help. If they could have done more for Martin, that would have been something out of the ordinary. But most people, even the nice ones, just don’t know how.

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Sadly, this is the case for so many sufferers of social
anxiety. Yes, even today with all the procedures in place for identifying and
treating children in need of therapy. Social anxiety still isn’t noticed as it
should be. Why is that? It’s partly due to the very nature of the beast:

Embarrassment causes people with social anxiety
to avoid discussing their problems.Many people with social anxiety live in fear of
being “found out” and feel this is the worst thing that could happen
to them.

And it’s partly due to the reactions of the rest of society.
Many people don’t see the symptoms as being problematic. They acknowledge a
certain “shyness” and assume the owner of these symptoms is happy to be quiet
and withdrawn.

So many sufferers of social anxiety could be happier and
more productive members of society if only they received recognition and help.
That’s why we need to talk about social anxiety.

In Martin’s case, circumstances provide the impetus for him
to move on in his life. It all starts with that trip to Japan…

Cultivating a Fuji

Convinced that his imperfect, solitary existence is
the best it will ever be, Martin unexpectedly finds himself being sent to
represent his company in Japan. His colleagues think it’s a joke; his bosses
are certain he will fail. What does Martin think? He simply does what he’s
told. That’s how he’s survived up to now – by hiding his feelings.

Amazingly, in the land of strange rituals, sweet and
juicy apples, and too much saké, Martin flourishes and achieves the
impossible. But that’s only the beginning. Keeping up the momentum for change
proves futile. So, too, is a return to what he had before. Is there a way
forward, or should he put an end to the search now?

Gradually, as you’ll see when Martin looks back from
near the end of his journey, life improves. There’s even a woman, Fiona, who
brings her own baggage to the relationship, but brightens Martin’s days. And
just when you think there can be no more surprises, another one pops up.

Throughout his life, people have laughed at ‘weirdo’ Martin; and you, as you read, will have plenty of opportunity to laugh, too. Go ahead, laugh away, but you’ll find that there’s also a serious side to all this…

KJ Thanks Miriam – the Book sounds wonderful and I know a lot of us will identify with Martin.

Miriam Drori



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Miriam Drori was born and brought up in London and now lives
with her husband and one of three grown up children in Jerusalem.



With a degree in Maths and following careers in computer programming and
technical writing, Miriam has been writing novels and short stories for
fourteen years. After some success with short stories, Miriam turned her hand
to longer fictional works, publishing NEITHER HERE NOR THERE and THE WOMEN
FRIENDS: SELINA, co-written with Emma Rose Millar.



Social anxiety features in Miriam’s latest publications. SOCIAL ANXIETY
REVEALED is a non-fiction guide that explores this common but little-known
disorder from multiple points of view. The book has been highly recommended by
‘sufferers’ as well as professionals in this field. CULTIVATING A FUJI is the
story of a fictional character who battles against social anxiety before
learning to make friends with it.



When not writing, Miriam enjoys reading, hiking, dancing and touring.

Cultivating a Fuji is available from mybook.to/cultivatingafuji.

Miriam Drori can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads,
Pinterest, Instagram, Wattpad and on her website/blog and social anxiety blog.

Amazon page: Author.to/MiriamDroriAtAmazon.

Author visit: Jo Fenton

I’m thrilled to welcome Jo Fenton to the coffee shop today. I’m a huge fan of Jo’s writing as is obvious from the cover of her new book which I was lucky enough to read before publication next week.

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As well as being author of The Brotherhood, a story about a religious sect, Jo blogs about writing including #ThursdayThemes. Today she’s here to tell us about the themes in The Refuge.

Thank you for welcoming me onto your blog today, Katy.

With less than a week to go until the launch of The Refuge, it’s all getting very exciting.

I started writing The Refuge in December 2017, almost as soon as Crooked Cat signed me up for The Brotherhood. It had been bubbling away under the surface for quite a while, and it was a great relief to be able to start writing.

The Refuge follows on directly from The Brotherhood, and delves into what happens to the sect after those dramatic events. 

What happens when you mix a disorientated community, a new and fragile mother, and the reappearance of an abducted sister?  Add in a stalker, an untraceable murder suspect, and a desire for redemption…

The Refuge deals with some challenging themes (you know I love my themes!), and I’d like to discuss a few of them in more detail here:

Friendship:

In the Abbey, in the aftermath of the Brotherhood, friendship is the foundation of the community. The new leaders of the Abbey are old friends – bound together by common experiences and affection.

New members join the community; seeking refuge from horrors outside. The friendships they form are vital to get them through the troubles ahead.

When Jess arrives in the Abbey, she makes friends quickly with Tina, Karen, Jimmy, and later on, Dawn. Not all of those friendships are good for her, and she has to learn whom she can trust. She’s overwhelmed by the horrors of her past and threats of the future. Critical choices are coming her way, and she needs all the support she can get.

Love:

Different types of love are important in this novel. The love of Mel and Mark for their new baby is a key driver in the plot, and influences many of the decisions that are made.

Mel and Mark know that they love each other, but guilt, anger and jealousy are powerful factors, and an abundance of these emotions threaten the relationship.

Jess and Jimmy, on the other hand, are on the threshold of a new relationship, but each has enough baggage to fill the Abbey and beyond. Will they be able to find common ground, and help each other through the many challenges to come?

Abuse:

Several residents of the Abbey have already suffered abuse in some form. When Mel opens the Abbey as a refuge for victims, they are joined by a mother and her daughter who are in a vulnerable state. 

So many vulnerable people in one building! Will the Refuge continue to feel like a place of safety, or will it become a prison?

There are several other themes: deception, secrets, guilt; to name just a few more. However, each time I talk about one, I risk spoilers, so I’m going to finish here.

I hope you all enjoy reading this book as much as I loved writing it. I’m writing a new series now, and although I love my new characters, I’m definitely missing the inhabitants of the Abbey!

Blurb for The Refuge:

Following the death of The Brotherhood’s charismatic but sinister leader, Dominic, Melissa and her husband Mark resolve to turn the Abbey into a refuge for victims of domestic abuse. But when Melissa’s long-lost sister, Jess, turns up at the Abbey, new complications arise.

The Abbey residents welcome the new arrival but find it hard to cope with the after-effects of her past. As Jess struggles to come to terms with what she’s been through, her sudden freedom brings unforeseen difficulties. The appearance of a stalker – who bears a striking resemblance to the man who kept her prisoner for nine years – leads to serious problems for Jess.

Meanwhile, Mark also finds that his past is coming back to haunt him. When a mother and daughter venture from the Abbey into the local town for a shopping trip, there are dreadful consequences.

A build-up of tension, a poorly baby and a well-planned trap lead Mel, Jess and their family into a terrifying situation.

Can Jess overcome the traumas of her past to rescue her sister?

The Refuge and The Brotherhood are available from Amazon. Together they make up The Abbey Series (NB. The Kindle version of The Refuge is available for pre-order, and will be released on 28th May):

The Brotherhood (The Abbey Series Book 1): https://t.co/YXdn8AM506

The Refuge (The Abbey Series Book 2): https://t.co/fASWKtKeUt

About the author:



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Jo Fenton grew up in Hertfordshire. She devoured books from an early age and, at eleven, discovered Agatha Christie and Georgette Heyer. She now has an eclectic and much loved book collection cluttering her home office.

Jo combines an exciting career in Clinical Research with an equally exciting but very different career as a writer of psychological thrillers.

When not working, she runs (very slowly), and chats to lots of people. She lives in Manchester with her family and is an active and enthusiastic member of two writing groups and three reading groups.

Website www.jofenton137.com ​      

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jl_fenton

Book review: The Perfect Neighbours by Rachel Sargeant

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The blurb

The perfect neighbours tell the perfect lies…

*** A TOP TEN KINDLE BESTSELLER ***

A dark and twisty psychological thriller from a rising star in the genre, perfect for fans of THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR. When Helen moves into an exciting new neighbourhood, she finds herself in a web of evil with no escape.

Behind the shutters lies a devastating secret…

When Helen moves abroad with her loving husband Gary, she can’t wait to meet her fellow expat teachers from the local International School. But her new start is about to become her worst nightmare…

As soon as the charming family across the way welcome Helen into their home, she begins to suspect that all is not as it seems. Then Gary starts to behave strangely and a child goes missing, vanished without a trace.

When violence and tragedy strike, cracks appear in the community, and Helen realises her perfect neighbours are capable of almost anything…

My review

I was immediately attracted by the closely-confined ex-pat neighbourhood concept and couldn’t wait to see what would unravel in this claustrophobic situation. I love books where the main character is out of their comfort zone and being in a foreign country maximises Helen’s sense of isolation.

Helen’s a likeable character who’s doing her best to make her situation work but is she right to place her trust in the man the rest of the neighbours hate? She copes admirably with the horrendous incident and turns detective to try and figure out who was responsible (including herself).

The setting was great and I enjoyed the first half as you get to know the different neighbours and their suburban dramas while becoming increasingly aware of a dark backstory and gathering menace. Then wham! Something catastrophic happens. The pace picks up, the mystery deepens, revelations unfold and you fear for Helen’s safety.

I hated being parted from this book until I’d finished it because I had to know what would happen – and I wasn’t disappointed. It’s the first book I’ve read by Rachel Sargeant but I’ll now be catching up on her others.

If you’re looking for a domestic noir story with a fresh twist, I’d highly recommend this one.

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think?

The Perfect Neighbours is published by Killer Reads and is available as en ebook and paperback (333 pages). You can buy it here 

Author talk: Sue Barnard on Finding Nina

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Today I’m really happy to have Sue Barnard as my coffee shop guest once again to tell us about her new novel which is coming out in a couple of weeks and is perfect for romance fans. Over to you, Sue!

Hello Katy, and thank you for inviting me to your blog today to talk about Finding Nina.

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Although I didn’t realise it at the time, Nina’s story really began several years ago, when I was writing my second novel, Nice Girls Don’t.  That book was originally intended to be a stand-alone story, with no plans for a sequel.  Only after it was published (in 2014) did it dawn on me that one loose end had been unintentionally left dangling. Nice Girls Don’t was set in 1982, but in one key scene, mention was made of something which had occurred almost forty years earlier: the secret birth, during World War Two, of a baby girl who was given up for adoption.  Thankfully this didn’t affect the outcome of that story, but it did fortuitously leave open the possibility of another one: What could have happened to that wartime baby?

The eventual result was Finding Nina, which is part-prequel, part-sequel to Nice Girls Don’t. Nina was born in mid-November 1943, when World War Two was still at its height, and was named Nina after the nurse who delivered her.  Nina’s mother Alice was seventeen and unmarried, and although the war had changed many things, the prevailing post-Victorian attitude to illegitimacy was not one of them.  So one month later, just before Christmas 1943, Nina was handed over to a childless couple who formally adopted her and changed her name to Stella.

The next sixty-one years took Stella on a fascinating journey of discovery.  What did she find at the end of it?

***

FINDING NINA is already available for pre-order. The book is officially released on 3 June 2019, when there will be an online launch party on Facebook, with guests, competitions and giveaways.  To add yourself to the guest list, click here then select “Going”.  See you there!

MORE ABOUT FINDING NINA:

1943: A broken-hearted teenager gives birth in secret. Her soldier sweetheart has disappeared, and she reluctantly gives up her daughter for adoption.

1960: A girl discovers a dark family secret, but it is swiftly brushed back under the carpet. Conventions must be adhered to.

1982: A young woman learns of the existence of a secret cousin. She yearns to find her long-lost relative, but is held back by legal constraints.  Life goes on.

2004: Everything changes…

MORE ABOUT SUE:

[image error]Sue Barnard is a British novelist, editor and award-winning poet who was born in North Wales some time during the last millennium.  She speaks French like a Belgian, German like a schoolgirl, and Italian and Portuguese like an Englishwoman abroad.  She now lives in Cheshire, UK, with her extremely patient husband and a large collection of unfinished scribblings.  

Her mind is so warped that she has appeared on BBC TV’s Only Connect quiz show, and she has also compiled questions for BBC Radio 4’s fiendishly difficult Round Britain Quiz. This once caused one of her sons to describe her as “professionally weird.” The label has stuck.

Sue’s own family background is far stranger than any work of fiction. She would write a book about it if she thought anybody would believe her.  

Finding Nina, which is her sixth novel, is not that book.

Thanks for stopping by, Sue. I can’t wait to read Finding Nina!

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ALSO BY SUE BARNARD:

The Ghostly Father  Nice Girls Don’t  The Unkindest Cut of All  Never on Saturday  Heathcliff