Lee Allen's Blog, page 9

Agatha Christie's Autumn Chills - Review

Autumn Chills: Tales of Intrigue from the Queen of Crime by Agatha Christie

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A thrilling collection of devilish mysteries for the autumn season.

Poirot investigates a locked-room murder…
Parker Pyne assists a rich woman in finding her happiness…
A woman finds herself haunted by her lost love…
Poirot untangles a perilous love triangle…
Miss Marple unearths the truth behind a young woman’s drowning…
A spirit board brings a message from the mysterious Mr Quin…
Poirot exorcises a family curse…
Tommy and Tuppence hunt a dastardly poisoner…
Miss Marple assists in the investigation of an apparently clear-cut domestic murder…
Satterthwaite and Quin are on hand to unravel a tragic family drama…
Poirot’s suspicions are aroused by the strange behaviour of a fellow diner…
A defence team must contend with an unexpected prosecution witness…

'Autumn Chills' is the fourth seasonal collection of Agatha Christie's short fiction, featuring a selection of her famous detectives and standalone mysteries across eleven short stories and one novelette, ‘Murder in the Mews’, which opens the collection. Every one of the twelve tales is an absorbing delicacy; a riveting selection of sinister mysteries, fiendish villainy and clever detection, along with flourishes of romance and the supernatural.

The stories starring Poirot and Miss Marple always shine, both detectives never failing to captivate us with their insight and ingenuity. Plus, included are perhaps two of my favourite stories to feature Quin and Satterthwaite, providing us those supernatural vibes for the season, while chilling fable 'While the Light Lasts' stands out as a gem. Tommy and Tuppence and Parker Pyne also make appearances, while the classic legal mystery ‘Witness for the Prosecution’ concludes this masterful showcase of fiction.

I devoured the entire collection, as I have the previous three. With many of these being re-reads, there were enchanting moments of nostalgia; perfect comfort-reads for getting into the autumn spirit while cozily wrapped up indoors as the nights begin to darken. Each of these seasonal collections has been a pure pleasure, complete with their beautiful artwork and deluxe hardcover editions. No sooner had I finished reading, I was already anticipating the next time I revisit Christie’s work. Whether on the page, stage or screen, the Queen of Crime’s plots and characters continue to stand the test of time, never failing to intrigue, entertain, and take us back to a bygone era.



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Peter James' Want You Dead - Review

Want You Dead by Peter James

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


An intense investigation for Roy Grace and the team.

A doctor is burnt alive, while a series of arsons and accidental fires around Brighton and Hove have only one link in common – estate agent Red Westwood.

Ambitious and hopeful for the future, Red finds herself the epicentre of an insidious campaign to terrorise and possess her.

She is the object of an obsession; in the sights of a malignant narcissist who will not stop until he has broken and destroyed her.

‘Want You Dead’ is the tenth novel in Peter James’ police procedural series featuring Detective Superintendent Roy Grace. Smouldering with suspense and distilled with the chill of an autumnal atmosphere, this dark thriller delves deep into the nature of psychological abuse, the insidious nature of the abuser’s manipulative and controlling behaviour and how it escalates into dangerous obsession and the threat of violence.

We meet Red in the aftermath of an abusive relationship, now dating a new man, but her ordeal is far from over. An endearing and empathetic central character, Red remains vulnerable and struggling to move on, but possessing an inner strength and determination to fight through – proving herself a survivor. Her ex-partner Bryce makes for a disturbing and ruthless villain, ever-resourceful and hell-bent on his quest for vengeance and total dominion over Red, his obsession and pyromania now entirely out of control. At each twist of the plot, the tension ratchets up, Bryce always one step ahead and Red ever deeper into danger. Meanwhile, Roy and Cleo are about to be married, Noah now almost four months old. Unknown to Roy, his own wedding threatens to be derailed by more than the launch of this new murder investigation.

With tragic and emotional moments and detailed insights not only into the police investigation, but also into the mind and history of the perpetrator, a keen focus on the victims, in particular Red, and also touching on the personal lives of the police team, this tenth installment once again masterfully brings all these elements together to craft a riveting and absorbing police thriller that remains engrossing from the shocking opening scenes through to its suitably blazing, yet chilling, conclusion. It’s perhaps one of my favourite entries in the series so far, though it's difficult to make that distinction in such a consistently high quality series. Once again, we are left poised to dive into the next in the series, ‘You Are Dead’.

Relentless and intoxicating, ‘Want You Dead’ is a superb psychological thriller and another gripping chapter in the case files of Roy Grace.



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The Ghost Tree & Happy Autumn Equinox!

🍂 Hello autumn! 🍁

My brand new book, "The Ghost Tree", is out now! A huge thank you to everyone who has supported and encouraged me leading up to its release today! It's the second book in "The Ghost Legends" series for children, following "The Ghost Train". I'm very excited to hear what you think of it!

Not only that, today is the Autumn Equinox (in the Northern Hemisphere) and the official beginning of my favourite season. The Wheel of the Year continues to turn, this equinox marking the gateway into the darker half of the year, a time for reflection and gratitude, celebrating the harvest and preparing for winter.

Modern Pagans and Wiccans celebrate today as Mabon - named after the Welsh god and hero, son of Modron (the Welsh Mother Earth goddess). According to Celtic mythology, Mabon was kidnapped as a baby and spirited down into the Underworld (reminiscent of the springtime Greek myth of Persephone); and would in later years go on to be one of King Arthur's knights.

Spooky season has now fully begun. It's really no coincidence that we associate both darkness and spirituality with this time of year, both literally and figuratively, as we begin our approach to Samhain and the end of the year; and, from there, to Yule and the beginning of a new one. From today, the hours of darkness will grow longer, the chill in the air sharper, and we'll begin to hear the whispers on the wind. Time to light a candle, snuggle under blankets with a warm drink, listen to the rain outside and escape into ghost stories and spooky movies.

I have always felt a deep affinity with this time of year - often when I feel at my most peaceful, my most creative. Autumn is, after all, the season of the soul.

Jessie Burton's Medusa - Review

Medusa by Jessie Burton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A tragic mythological tale of true humanity and heartbreak.

Hidden from the world in her cave on a secluded rocky island, Medusa feels lonely and isolated and longs for connection.

When a young man, Perseus, moors in the cove beneath the cave, Medusa cannot resist reaching out to him.

Hidden from view, they connect on a deeper level as they share their stories of what led them here, to a fateful day neither could have anticipated.

'Medusa' is a novella by Jessie Burton, based on the Greek myth of the monstrous gorgon with living snakes for hair, one glance from whom will turn you to stone. But this time, the tale is told from the perspective of Medusa herself - a sweet-natured and beautiful young woman, cursed and shunned and having fled from society. Not only a tale of myth and heroism, 'Medusa' is a love story, a coming-of-age story - beautifully written, poetic, almost sensual and musical in its prose.

Spellbinding from the opening sentence to the very last, the story touches on many universal and important themes through the telling of Medusa and Perseus' stories, exploring expectations placed on young women and young men - in how they should look, how they should behave, who they should be; and the masks people wear for the world, often forming in our teenage years. The narrative ponders on the burden of physical beauty; whether it is a blessing or a curse and how others wish to claim possession of it - especially if you are female. We also witness horrific abuse of power; how that can manifest as coercion, control and sexual violence.

Like all the best myths and legends, fables and fairy tales, there are messages and lessons woven into the story - and while they may be as old as time, they still feel fresh and sharp. In 'Medusa', they are heartbreaking, delivering such incredibly important messages, for people young and old alike. Ultimately, this is a story that holds up a mirror and shows us how true beauty comes from deep within the soul, how we all long to be seen and desire to be loved.

A tale of inner strength and overcoming diversity, ‘Medusa’ is a timely and thought-provoking retelling of a timeless tale.



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The Ghost Tree - Preview

A dark and twisted fairy tale of myth, mystery and magic...

Read on to preview the first chapter of The Ghost Tree:

Chapter I
Jasper

Jasper was not a nice man. He had lived in the village for many years, but everyone liked to pretend that he wasn’t there. His house looked dilapidated and abandoned. His front door was cracked and rotten. Rags hung in the windows for curtains. His front garden was overgrown with weeds and brambles. He had to force the gate shut behind him whenever he left the house, which didn’t happen very often.

He had only one neighbour. She never spoke to him. A family had lived on the other side of him at one time, but they had moved out after their little girl got scared of him. They hadn’t been able to sell the house, and now their garden was as overgrown as Jasper’s.

On the odd occasion when Jasper did leave his house, he liked to walk down to the local school and watch the children playing for a while. Usually the police would turn up in their panda car and ask him to move on, as he was scaring the children.

Jasper knew he scared the grown-ups even more.

He would smile to himself, and then take a walk through the woods, high above the meadow, past the little cottage where the pretty little girl and the handsome little boy stayed on their holidays. They were growing up fast, the girl a teenager now, the boy not so far behind. Jasper liked to watch from the edge of the forest as they walked in the fields.

Today was one of those days when Jasper left the house. He had trouble opening his gate and shutting it tight again, dragging it over the grass and weeds, banging his thumb on the gate post, making it bleed. He cried out and hit back at the post, giving up and leaving the gate wedged slightly open.

It was home-time at the school, the first day of term after the summer holidays. The sun was shining through the drizzle of rain that kept on falling. The grown-ups eyed him suspiciously. Jasper stood at the end of the road, watching through the gap in the fence from across the street.

One little boy was on his own, waiting just inside the school gate.

Jasper waited, watching the teachers through the fence. They were looking the other way, paying no attention to him.

Checking for traffic, Jasper quickly crossed the road and bent down in front of the little boy. Reaching into his coat pocket, he pulled out a toffee wrapped in shiny foil and offered it to him.

“Thank you,” the boy said timidly as he unwrapped the foil and popped the toffee into his mouth.

“Shhhh,” Jasper whispered, putting his dirty finger to his lips. “I’m glad you like toffees. I like toffees too! Do you want to know a secret?”

The little boy’s eyes were wide as he looked up at him. He didn’t answer at first, then slowly nodded his head.

“Have you ever heard of the Ghost Train?” Jasper asked him.

The little boy shook his head shyly.

“I can show it to you. It’s in the Enchanted Forest. Do you want to come and see it with me?”

The little boy shook his head again, nervous now.

“Why not?” Jasper asked him. “It’s really exciting. I’ll look after you.”

“Joseph!!” It was one of the teachers shouting.

Jasper quickly turned and started walking up the street, away from Joseph and the pesky teachers who were running up to the gate.

He looked back and saw one of them was following him. He quickened his pace until he was running, trying not to turn around and look back in case he tripped and fell over on to his face.

He didn’t stop until he had reached the forest, hidden by trees. He leaned against one, panting, looking back the way he had run, thinking that they had stopped following him.

There was a sound in the undergrowth.

They must still be chasing him! He needed to keep moving.

Breathing heavily, he held the stitch in his side as he stumbled through the trees.

Before long, he realised he was somewhere he hadn’t been to before, deep into the forest. Looking around him, he tried to remember the bluebells that lined both sides of the path, but couldn’t. He definitely had never been here.

It was getting dark. He was now walking even slower, struggling to see.

He collided with something, knocking his sore thumb and crying out.

It was a tree.

An old, gnarled tree. It reached up towards the sky, too far for him to see it properly, thick branches snaking off the trunk and twisting above his head. There were no leaves on the branches, only this tangle of wood that looped and knotted, like the tree was strangling itself. There was something cruel about it.
___

The story continues this autumn...

Pre-order the Kindle edition from Amazon now, ready for release next Saturday, 23rd September!

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Robert Thorogood's Murder in the Caribbean - Review

Murder in the Caribbean by Robert Thorogood

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A thrilling mystery under the tropical sun of Saint-Marie.

A boat explosion off the coast of the island initiates another investigation for the team, leading them to quickly identify a suspect in the crime.

Recently released from prison, Pierre Charpentier has waited twenty years to get his hands on his share of the proceeds from a jewellery robbery. But on release he discovers his money has been spent.

Now, his fellow armed robbers are being murdered one by one. But as the police pursue the killer, always one step behind, they discover there may be more to this revenge mission than first meets the eye.

‘Murder in the Caribbean’ is the fourth novel in the ‘Death in Paradise’ series, written by creator of the TV series Robert Thorogood. Part revenge thriller, part comic mystery, Thorogood has once again captured the magic of the series on the page, the story featuring the original cast of characters led by DI Richard Poole. Cleverly written and plotted, the narrative leads you into a warren of red herrings in the hunt for a relentless killer. There are also excerpts from a confession by the guilty party inserted into the narrative, allowing for a slightly different approach to the format.

For the first two thirds of the novel, the case appears very straightforward as the team hunt for a recently released ex-offender intent on revenge against his fellow armed robbers. This is interlaced with the comedic interplay between the lead characters – specifically Richard in his quest to catch Dwayne in the act of slacking with his new girlfriend during study time for his sergeant’s exams. All along, the mystery has been subtly woven, ready for the twist and the final conclusion, Richard revealing the truth in a gothic edge-of-your-seat twist on classic detective fiction’s 'drawing room summing-up'.

Part of the beauty of a whodunit is putting your own detective skills to the test. The clues present multiple theories to pursue, each of which is ultimately explored by the characters; it’s as equally satisfying to find your theory proven correct (as mine was) as it is to be surprised by the outcome. The true beauty of this series is of course the characters, with hilarious interactions and clever deductions – both Richard and Dwayne shone in this novel, as much as their portrayal by the actors did on screen.

For now, this is the last novel in the series, though I hope Robert Thorogood will return to this series in the future. In the meantime, he’s concentrating on his new cosy mystery series ‘The Marlow Murder Club’. On the screen, ‘Death in Paradise’ will soon air its third Christmas special ahead of its thirteenth series, while spin-off ‘Beyond Paradise’ began this year and will also be returning for a Christmas special and a second season next year, so there is still much to look forward to.

Another slice of pure escapism, ‘Murder in the Caribbean’ is an entertaining mystery that takes you to sun-kissed beaches, tropical jungles, and into the dark heart of paradise.



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Lee Child's Persuader - Review

Persuader by Lee Child

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A ghost from the past returns to haunt Jack Reacher.

Thwarting a kidnap attempt brings Reacher into the inner sanctum of the Beck family and husband and father Zachary’s criminal enterprise.

But all is not as it first appears: Zachary Beck may be little more than a puppet on a string, he and his family held to ransom by a bigger and more ruthless villain.

Reacher is on a personal mission, a vendetta to right wrongs of the past and finish something he started many years ago.

‘Persuader’ is the seventh novel in Lee Child’s series featuring Jack Reacher, once again approached from a slightly different perspective to previous entries. As we dive into the action in the opening chapter's attempted kidnap scene, we are left wondering what has happened to the Reacher we've got to know in the previous six novels. As we discover what led Reacher to where we meet him again, it becomes clear that he has unfinished business and is entirely driven to correct this error.

In a rapidly evolving plot, multiple layers are at play as Reacher delves deeper into the circumstances surrounding what may be one of his most personal missions explored in the series so far. Flashbacks to Reacher's army days also feature throughout the narrative, the first time in the series we've delved into his history in this depth. One of his subordinates, Dominique Kohl, was probably one of my favourite characters in this installment, both her character and story vividly realised in her relatively few scenes.

I particularly enjoyed both the gothic elements woven into the plot - the secluded house, the long shadows of the past haunting the present, the family secrets and strife; and the isolated coastal setting, the cold ferocity of the ocean its own force beside the machinations of the criminals and those fighting against them. Once again, Lee Child delivers a gripping novel that explores a deeper layer to Reacher’s vigilante justice and never-ending habit of being drawn into wrongs that need righting in his vagabond’s journey across America. As always, we are left eagerly awaiting his next adventure.

Brutal and tragic, ‘Persuader’ is another action-packed thriller that delivers justice in Reacher’s own personal style.



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David Wilson's Murder at Home - Review

MURDER AT HOME by David Wilson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Professor David Wilson explores murders in our safest of places – our homes.

There is no place like home: our sanctuaries, the scenes of family drama and tranquillity, host to social gatherings, witness to the entire span of our lives. But within the bricks and mortar that we transform into a home, there may be hidden darkness.

Statistically, you are more likely to be murdered in your home than in a public place. While we may be familiar with the dictum that you are more likely to be murdered by someone known to you (the data fluctuates year on year, with significant difference between genders), it is not only these ‘domestic’ situations which impact the location statistics – even stranger attacks and the relative anomalies of serial murder contribute to this sobering data. Criminologist David Wilson investigates how our safest space is actually where we are most in danger.

Fascinating, informative and as gripping as fiction, Wilson takes us on a tour through the home – from the public threshold of the front door step to the back garden, into the semi-privacy of our living rooms and bedrooms, and the shadowy recesses of our attics and cellars. Alongside the case studies and analysis of the crimes, there is also exploration into the general psychology of our perceptions of these rooms – their differing and sometimes conflicting levels of access and privacy – something to which everyone can relate. Wilson never fails to keep the narrative grounded in our everyday experience, juxtaposed as it may be with these horrific crimes.

Detailing a mix of infamous and lesser-known cases – amongst them the crimes of Ian Brady (and Myra Hindley), Mary Ann Cotton, Fred and Rose West, and Peter Tobin, and a review of the Clydach Murders – each chapter groups them by the location within the home where significant elements of the crimes took place. Where necessary, there are some graphic crime scene descriptions and insights into the murders as they were committed, though Wilson ensures the victims are front and centre of his analysis and treats them with respect. The subject of dark tourism is also touched upon: murderers fascinate us – perhaps certain types of murderers more so – their psychology and the circumstances surrounding their crimes never failing to mystify and intrigue, but it is always important, specifically when dealing with true crime, to remember that people have tragically lost their lives and the impact still felt by their loved ones to this day.

Spanning over a century and a half of murder, the narrative interrogates how time has impacted these spaces and individual rooms, as the result of changing social attitudes and even technology. In recent times, we have only to open our social media feeds to see inside people’s homes; yet, perhaps, never before has there been such a veneer over those private spaces. Sometimes, the more we can see, the less we are seeing. We truly never know what is happening behind closed doors.

A riveting and thought-provoking study of murder, ‘Murder at Home’ is a superb addition to Wilson’s already expansive library of criminological works.



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Janice Hallett's The Appeal - Review

The Appeal by Janice Hallett

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A thrilling and captivating modern-age whodunit.

Amateur theatre group The Fairway Players gather to prepare for their next performance, amongst them both longtime members and some new, unfamiliar faces.

In the wake of the devastating diagnosis of their director and leading lady's granddaughter's brain tumour, a fundraiser is launched in the hope to raise funds to pay for treatment currently only available in the US.

But beneath the surface of the play and fundraiser, tensions are bubbling and personal agendas are being drawn. One of the players is soon to meet their end in the most brutal of ways…

'The Appeal' is the debut novel by Janice Hallett, a riveting murder mystery narrated through a dossier of emails, text messages, transcripts, notes and letters. This modern epistolary style is immediately immersive, hooking you from the outset and keeping you reading on. Cleverly written and intricately plotted, the plot navigates multiple twists and turns as we uncover the events leading up to murder.

We quickly gain an insight into each of the characters, building an image of their personalities from their messages alone. No doubt we all recognise some of them from our social and work lives - some interactions will make you laugh out loud, while you cannot help but roll your eyes at how tiresome some may appear; and you also feel for the emotive and tragic circumstances dealt to some of the characters, in particular the devastating illness suffered by young Poppy Hayward. But, be warned, all is not as it seems and some characters hide far darker depths beneath the veneer of what they reveal about themselves.

The appeal of the title is twofold - both referring to the fundraiser and in the legal sense. Robert Tanner, QC, believes his client has been wrongly convicted. Enlisting his two proteges Femi and Charlotte, he requests they read through the dossier without any additional context, an exercise to determine if they reach the same conclusions from review of this evidence as he has. Along with Femi and Charlotte, we sift through the evidence, all the clues and red herrings laid out for analysis. As with all the best mysteries, we have everything we need to solve this mystery ourselves, while keeping us on the edge of our seats all the way through to the final email.

Thoroughly entertaining from beginning to end, ‘The Appeal’ is a superb debut mystery novel; I shall certainly be reading all of Hallett's other books very soon. Excitingly, a sequel to this debut will be released later this year – a novella, 'The Christmas Appeal'.



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J. Sheridan Le Fanu's Uncle Silas - Review

Uncle Silas: A Tale of Bartram-Haugh by J. Sheridan Le Fanu

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A classic Gothic novel of horror and mystery.

Maud Ruthyn, young and lonely in her father's home, is being prepared for her coming out in society by her sinister new governess.

When her father dies, her guardianship passes to her uncle Silas, whom she has never met. Intrigued and mystified by his past, while still bearing her grief, Maud moves to his home of Bartram-Haugh.

Unsettled and fragile, Maud is to soon find herself at the centre of conspiracies for claim of her fortune, her sanity and her life.

'Uncle Silas' is a gothic horror mystery novel by Irish author J. Sheridan Le Fanu, adapted from one of his own short stories, originally published in three volumes on 1864, following a serialisation in the Dublin University Magazine. It's a classic example of the gothic drama that became so popular during the Victorian era - featuring isolated and foreboding locations, family secrets, an atmosphere rife with claustrophobia, unease and mystery, a host of both sinister and eccentric characters, escalating threat - both of insanity and physical harm; and the looming spectre of death.

Narrated by Maud, we follow this time in her life, on the cusp of adulthood and beginning with her experience at the hands of her sinister governess Madame de la Rougierre, then followed by the death of her father and her being willed under the guardianship of her Uncle Silas, and ultimately her time at his home of Bartram-Haugh. Somewhat naive and knowing little of the world outside her childhood home, Maud is vulnerable to the influence of others. Throughout the entire narrative, unrealised by Maud herself, she is being subtly manipulated, suffering an insidious psychological abuse that ultimately culminates in a devious plot for murder.

Silas Ruthyn, the eponymous Uncle Silas, haunts the prose like a spectre. Even before we are aware of his influence, it is there, as he manipulates events from the wings. His presence lurks in the background of every chapter from that first introduction through Maud's fascination with his portrait and the mystery surrounding her estranged uncle. Almost vampiric in nature, he barely ventures from his rooms in his home; his self-imposed solitude, his illness and substance abuse rendering him a character of the shadows. Frequently acting through other characters, the true extent of his manipulation of Maud and others is only fully realised in the later chapters; yet, despite his frequent absence, he commands every scene in which he appears; reminiscent of a Shakespearean antagonist, Machiavellian in nature and having suffered a tragic fall from grace largely as a result of his own flaws.

Though Silas' villainy may largely lurk in the shadows (from Maud's perspective), Madame de la Rougierre is instantly sinister on her introduction in the early chapters. Like the witch of the fairy tale and the crone of folklore, she delights in her wickedness and exercising her power over Maud; always listening and plotting, always with an agenda, sometimes working with accomplices in her schemes. Maud's terror at Madame's villainy creeps into her psyche, haunting her even in her absence when she is dismissed by Maud’s father.

While parts of the first half may feel slow in places, this is one of those books where all becomes clear and each and every scene builds to those final moments. Like a gothic labyrinth, there are many clues and red herrings peppered throughout the plot - the locked room mystery is presented early, laced within the revelations on the dark family history that has left Silas in his self-imposed isolation. An early example of what would develop into the psychological thriller, the narrative focuses on Maud's thoughts and feelings and increasingly fragile mental state as twists and turns in the plot accelerate towards the final chapters, these climatic scenes brilliantly and vividly realised, the suspense having built to a fine point as we await the endgame to the nefarious scheme born of avarice.

The novel has been adapted for the screen four times - the earliest being a feature film in 1947. The latter three adaptations were for television: a British TV film in 1968; a German TV series in 1977; and a 1989 British TV series under the changed title 'The Dark Angel'.

Standing the test of time in its themes, plot and characters, 'Uncle Silas' is a Victorian Gothic classic and a significant ancestor of the gothic, horror and crime fiction we enjoy today.



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