Blog Tour Spotlight: One Chance by Terroll Lewis (Non-fiction, Crime, Young Adult)

 

21st January 2021, Ad Lib Publishers, 256 pages, Hardback,

Summary from press release

“It’d be easy for me to go back to my old life, but I know where that old life leads you. You’re either behind prison bars or six feet underground.”

Born and raised on Brixton’s notorious Myatt’s Field and Angell Town estates, Terroll Lewis has lived a crazy life. Surrounded by gang culture from an early age, like so many other young inner-city people, he found it hard to resist the lifestyle.

By the time he was 15, he had already joined a gang, been stabbed, shot at, and was selling drugs. A chance to play professional football at Stevenage offered him a way out, but the short-term allure of a glamorous street life — the promise of girls, money, and cars — compared to the £50 a week he was being paid to play football, led Terroll back to South London and the notorious OC, or Organised Crime, gang. 

Violence and drug dealing were the norm in OC, and in 2009, aged 20, Terroll was accused of being involved in an extremely serious crime. After spending 11 months inside Thamesmead’s Belmarsh prison, he was acquitted of all charges and released back into mainstream society, which signalled the start of a new life.

Having used fitness, and calisthenic exercises in particular, as a coping mechanism while in prison, Terroll soon realised that there were other people like him who couldn’t pay for a gym membership, but still wanted to keep fit. Determined to spread the word further, he created a YouTube video demonstrating his workout regime. The views and messages quickly began rolling in, which encouraged Terroll to start conducting classes in local parks. As his client base grew, so did his ambition and self-belief. Leveraging his rapidly growing social media fame to reinforce his case, Terroll was granted a spot – a converted depot on Somerleyton Road in Brixton – to turn the newly titled Block Workout into a fully-fledged street gym.

 

Through Block Workout and Brixton Street Gym, Terroll is now able to give something back to the community he was raised in, offering young people an opportunity to follow a different road to the one he took during his adolescence — helping them to develop their minds as well as their bodies — and the chance to live a better life.

Not only is One Chance a truly authentic guide for the urban youth, steering them through the world we live in today – from education and relationships, to jail, social media and mental health issues – it also has the power to educate wider society on the experiences that this frequently demonised demographic face. Whichever form it takes, the aim of the book is to increase understanding on both sides, leading to a more harmonious, progressive, and positive society.

 

Nayu's thoughts

It being winter and given the state of the world I had to decline reviewing this book as from the info it isn't a light read. However I asked to be a spot on the tour because I have reviewed other crime books, with issues affecting young adults and feel that some of you may like to go check it out! It's impressive how much Terroll has turned his life around, he really is inspirational to other young people who also get lured in by the appeal of being a gang. Gangs are not good, but there are ways out and ways to stay away from them. I have faith this is an excellent read and may yet read it one day when life is less chaotic.  

More about Terroll from the press release

Terroll Lewis is the founder of the Brixton Street Gym, a charity-based community gym that has gained a huge cult following in the short time that it has been around. He also founded the BlockWorkOut Foundation — the charitable base that supports this amazing gym, making it accessible to everyone regardless of income — and The ManTalk, an online platform that promotes male positivity.

Terroll had been embroiled in some of the most serious street gang warfare even seen in London, leading a band of armed and dangerous young men through the streets of the city, a wild time that ended in him being accused of murder. He was eventually acquitted of the crime and proven innocent, but is thankful for his time in prison, as it enabled him to re-evaluate his life and come out a better man, the man he is today.

You can find Terroll on Youtube, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. 

The Good Mother by Karen Osman (Crime, Thriller, 10E/10E)

 1st October 2017, Aria, 432 pages, Ebook, Review copy

Summary from Aria

How far would you go to protect your children?

Catherine is a good mother and a good wife. The family home is immaculate, her husband's supper is cooked on time, but when she starts writing to Michael, a prisoner convicted of murder, she finds herself obsessing about his crime and whether he can ever truly be forgiven...

Kate has no time for herself. Caught in the maelstrom of bringing up two young children with no money, and an out-of-work husband, she longs to escape the drudgery of being a wife and a mother. And she soon starts taking dangerous risks to feel alive...

Alison has flown the nest. But university life is not what she had hoped for, and she finds herself alone and unhappy. Until the day her professor takes a sudden interest in her. Then everything changes...

Three women – all with secrets. And as the days tick down to Michael's release, those secrets can no longer be ignored.

Nayu's thoughts 

This book is cleverly written! There are mega plot twists at the end which completely surprised me. By chapter 15 I realised there were several characters who might get murdered. Later on I guessed accurately who it was, but what happens after I can't talk about without the spoilng the intricate plot. To come up with the big plot twist some clever writing tricks are used, which I only realised the significance of at the end. 

Kate, Alison, and Catherine are three very different women, each with their own problems and guilty secret. While at different stages in their lives they all get entangled with an evil man, which has repercussions for the rest of their lives. I liked when Catherine wrote to a prisoner because it had me Googling what prison was like for 20 mimutes. She is lonely despite having a fulfilling life, unlike Alison, who is struggling in her first year at uni which is very different from Kate's issues of raising 2 young daughters while her husband works. 

They all find company in the wrong type of person, they all have a lot to lose if their secrets are revealed to their families, and they all have an important role to play. Once I got used to them all I didn't mind the frequent point of view switches (which naturally happened at tense moments). I like that the difficulty of being in an abusive relationship was brought up because domestic violence sadly still exists today and victims all too easily can make excuses for the abuser's behaviour. 

I'd love to know if anyone else has guessed the big plot twist before it happened, as it's a brilliant turn of events. I don't yet know i I will reread it, because these types of books rely heavily on me not knowing whats happening, which doesn't happen so much in a reread, but I most definitely recommend it! 

Suggested read

Another thriller that kept me guessing was Deep Down Dead by Steph Broadribb (Thriller, 9/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

 

The Decorator Who Knew Too Much by Diane Vallere (Cozy Mystery, 10E/10E)

18th April 2017, Henery Press, 264 pages, Ebook, Review copy 

Content: murder, mystery, some romance, humour, 

Summary from Henery Press

When Interior Decorator Madison Night accepts an assignment in Palm Springs with handyman Hudson James, she expects designing days and romantic nights. But after spotting a body in the river by the job site, she causes a rift in the team. Add in the strain of recurring nightmares and a growing dependency on sleeping pills, and Madison seeks professional help. She learns more about the crime than she’d like thanks to girl talk with friends and smack talk with the local bad boys. After the victim is identified as the doctor she’s been advised to see, she wonders if what she knows can help catch a killer. But this time, what she doesn’t know might be the one thing that saves her life.

Nayu's thoughts 

I can't put my finger on it but this is an incredible read. Considering I haven't read any of the other books in the series I didn't feel like I was in the dark about background stories, in fact the opposite is true. I felt like I already knew Madison, and was returning to be with old friends. Unlike Madison whose friends turn a bit less friendly with what looks like a mistake on her part but ends up being something sinister. I love how she doesn't give up her investigations especially when people are mad at her and danger seems to be coming from all angles. I liked the creativity of her decorating job, how it helped her spot clues others wouldn't notice. I liked how she struggles with both her past and medicine addiction which I know is a reality for many - it's refreshing to have a heroine with obvious flaws (that aren't personality driven).

There are several big plot mysteries that unravel and lead to a surprising end. Related to the end is the fact I was sad to see the story finish. Madison's voice is appealing and I'm glad I had a few hours in a row to read this, so I could read it uninterrupted. There's a good mix of humour and drama that makes it not too scary a read, unless you are on your own. Madison had help some of the time, but her independent streak nearly costs her her life on more than one occasion if I remember correctly. 

This would make an amazing audiobook if it isn't one already! Edited to add it is!!! Not knowing what was going on, the family drama and interfering police provided Madison with a lot of hurdles to get over. I'm looking forward to reading more of her adventures! 

Find out more on Diane's website.  

Suggested read

Another great Cozy Mystery read is Knock On Wood by Linda O. Johnston (Cozy Mystery, 10E/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

 

Best Served Cold: The Five Doors by Andrew Crossland (Thriller, Crime, 10E/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

 April 2016, Off the Ground Publishing, 278 pages, Ebook, Review copy 

Content: brutal murder, mystery, occasnal humour, drug and alcohol use, stron language, adult romance,

Summary from Off the Ground Publishing

A young landlord is struggling to make ends meet in his first ever business venture; the conversion and renting of flats in a rundown hotel that he has bought. A need for money and a lack of interest of the intentions of the applicants, leads him into a situation in which eleven residents living on the same floor all hold terrible secrets and live shady lives.

From affairs, drugs and a suspicious history with the building, the young landlord struggles to keep the ever increasing tensions of the residents, down. To top things off, the residents share a secret so dark, that it results in deadly consequences for them. One of the residents are brutally murdered and the others become trapped on the third floor of the building with the unknown culprit.

They must put together the pieces of their fragmented pasts to uncover the truth about what is really going on if they hope to survive the night.

Nayu's thoughts 

The way the story is crafted gave me thrills right up until the last sentence. I had no clue when I started how the story would end. It all seems so innocent and a bit straight forward, and then it's not. Because every single part of each character's story is vital to the end I feel limited in what I can say. 

Usually I talk about the characters, which I'm a bit stuck on because most of them had a horrid or devious side which affects the story, despite some seeming nice. I can talk about the cute baby who got a raw deal thanks to the guilty parties. Oh and the fish too are innocent, and made me smile up until close to the end. 

I can also say almost everything is important. I was mildly annoyed that the item so many people died for wasn't full explained, but given the amount of times I 'ooh-d' & 'aah-d' at plot twists and multiple story layers I'm not bothered, and I can kind of guess what it was. I didn't guess anything that went on. The surprises are huge and turn all that I thought I knew on it's head. Even though I disliked a lot of the characters for their lack of morals they were intriguing and I cared about them. You must read this to understand what I mean!

The Puffin of Death by Betty Webb (Cozy Mystery, Crime, 10E/10E, NetGalley, short 'n' sweet review)

They are gorgeous!

  November 2015, Poisoned Pen Press, 259 pages, Paperback, Review copy 

Content: murder, humour, major peril

Summary from Poisoned Pen Press

California zookeeper Theodora Bentley travels to Iceland to pick up an orphaned polar bear cub destined for the Gunn Zoo’s newly installed Northern Climes exhibit. The trip is intended to be a combination of work and play.

But on day two, while horseback riding near a picturesque seaside village, Teddy discovers a man lying atop a puffin burrow, shot through the head. The victim is identified as American bird-watcher Simon Parr, winner of the largest Powerball payout in history. Is Teddy a witness—or a suspect? Others include not only Parr’s wife, a famed suspense novelist, but fellow members of the birding club Parr had generously treated to their lavish Icelandic expedition. Hardly your average birders, several of them have had serious brushes with the law back in the States.

Guessing that an American would best understand other Americans, police detective Thorvaald Haraldsson grudgingly concedes her innocence and allows Teddy to tag along with the group to volcanoes, glaciers, and deep continental rifts in quest of rare bird species. But once another member of the club is murdered and a rockfall barely misses Teddy’s head, Haraldsson forbids her to continue. She ignores him and, in a stunning, solitary face-off with the killer in Iceland’s wild interior, concludes an investigation at once exotic, thrilling, and rich in animal lore.

 

Nayu's thoughts

Puffins play a part in this fun read which is part of series I'm looking forward to reading more of. My love of ouffins started with Neil the puffling (baby puffins have suuch a cute name!) in Jenny Colgan's Little Beach Street Bakery books including Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery. 

While Teddy doesn't end up wih a pet puffin, or do leaps of joy when she sees them in a murder investigation, she has a job which iis super varied, interesting, and one I'd love to have if I had a healthy body. 

She runs into a lot of trouble, some of which is more humourous than harmful and made me smile a lot, a plus for any book. There are many heart in mouth moments, again balanced by Teddy's humour and her slightly gun ho attitude. Thankfully there are friends to help her out of tricky situations which most definitely stick close to Teddy. While it's the 4th book in the series I didn't feel that I missed out by not knowing the backstory to both Teddy and her friends, which is another plus point. There's no reason not to read this fun book! 

Find out more on Betty's website.

Pane and Suffering by Cheryl Hollon (Cosy Mystery, Crime, 10E/10E, short 'n' sweet review, NetGalley)

Gorgeously inviting cover!

September 2015, Kensington Books, 320 pages, Ebook, Review copy, NetGalley

Content: murder, lots of danger, humour by the bucketful 

Summary from Kensington Books

To solve her father’s murder and save the family-owned glass shop, Savannah Webb must shatter a killer’s carefully constructed façade…

After Savannah’s father dies unexpectedly of a heart attack, she drops everything to return home to St. Petersburg, Florida, to settle his affairs—including the fate of the beloved, family-owned glass shop. Savannah intends to hand over ownership to her father’s trusted assistant and fellow glass expert, Hugh Trevor, but soon discovers the master craftsman also dead of an apparent heart attack.

As if the coincidence isn’t suspicious enough, Savannah discovers a note her father left for her, warning her that she’s in danger. With the local police unconvinced, it’s up to Savannah to piece together the encoded clues. And when her father’s apprentice is accused of the murders, Savannah is more desperate than ever to crack the case before the killer seizes a window of opportunity to cut her out of the picture…

 Nayu's thoughts

This is a funny read with lots of twists, learning about glassmaking and a murder to solve! Humour in books is a must with me at the moment, which made this an ideal read. I've always admired glassmaking because it's a skilled craft which takes years to master, and like all craft there's always more to learn. I loved how slowly I learnt more about glassmaking, which wasn't overwhelming in the amount of information, purely because it was a book about life and trying to figure out a murder. 

I liked that both children and pets featured in Savannah's life because they add another dimension to the story, and help solve the murder with her. If only it was murder alone that was her problem. I was intrigued by what danger she was in (a lot, as it turned out), and was on tenderhooks in most chapters as I watched the mystery unravel. As expected when one clue was solved many more popped up, which was frustrating for Savannah as she had to keep her father's classes while juggling with the other parts of her life. I hope to read more books about Savannah as she's an admirable character and fun to be with. 

Find out more on Cheryl's website. 

Candy Corn Murder by Leslie Meier (Cozy Mystery, Crime, 10E/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

 August 2015 (US) August 2016 (UK), Kensington, 304 pages, Ebook, Review copy from NetGalley 

Content: murder, lots of humour, some tense moments,

Summary from Kensington 

Halloween is coming to Tinker’s Cove, Maine, and local reporter Lucy Stone is covering the town’s annual Giant Pumpkin Fest for the Pennysaver. There’s the pumpkin-boat regatta, the children’s Halloween party, the pumpkin weigh-in…even a contest where home-built catapults hurl pumpkins at an old Dodge! But not everything goes quite as planned…

Lucy’s getting very annoyed that her husband Bill and his friend Evan have been working seemingly nonstop on their potentially prize-winning pumpkin catapult. But when the day of the big contest arrives, Evan is nowhere to be found…until a catapulted pumpkin busts open the trunk of the Dodge. Amid the pumpkin gore is a very deceased Evan, bashed in the head and placed in the trunk by someone long before the contest started.

Bill is on the hook for the Halloween homicide—he was the last one to see Evan—so Lucy knows she’s got some serious sleuthing to do. The crime’s trail seems to always circle back to Country Cousins, the town’s once-quaint general store that’s now become a big Internet player. Though the store’s founder, Old Sam Miller, is long gone, his son Tom and grandson Trey now run the hugely successful company. But whispered rumors say things aren’t going well, and Lucy finds that this case may have something to do with an unsolved, decades-old Miller family mystery…

With each new lead pointing her in a different direction, Lucy sees that time is quickly running out. If she wants to spook the real killer, she’ll have to step into an old ghost story…

 

Nayu's thoughts    

This is an brilliant murder mystery with emphasis on family life. I dislike halloween intensely, but because it's a cozy mystery I knew there would be a lot of humour, and took the precaution of reading it in daylight so I didn't scare myself silly.

I got to know the characters pretty quickly, so within a few chapters it felt like I'd known them forever, making it hard when some were implicated in the bizarre murder which followed. The stakes get higher as the plot thickens, but Lucy is lovable and I rooted for her all the way. Most people in the friendly community helped her out, and those who didn't weren't necessarily the murderer but had secrets they'd rather keep hidden. 

Lucy got into a fair amount of danger which made her family and friends worry – it's this compassion which helped make it such an enjoyable read. I enjoyed learning about how Lucy interacts with her family, who love her ever so much. I so hope there will be more stories with both Lucy and them in! 

 

Gone But Knot Forgotten by Mary Marks (Cozy Mystery, Crime, 10E/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

Gorgeous cover which suits the craft theme of the book!

 August 2015, Kensington, 288 pages, Kindle, Review copy from NetGalley

Content: murder, major peril, lots of humour, a few scary parts, tissues needed

Summary from Kensington Publishing

Sorting through the estate of a wealthy recluse may sound like a fascinating task, but when the skeletons in the closets turn out to be real, Martha and her quilting pals wish they'd stuck to basting and batting. . .

Martha Rose is stunned when she hears that her best friend from high school has passed away. Her shock doubles when she learns that Harriet Oliver made her the executor of her estate. But when investigators determine that Harriet was murdered, Martha recruits her fellow quilters to help find the culprit. She's mastered the art of piecing together blocks to create intricate quilts, but piecing together her friend's murder will prove far more challenging. . .

Nayu's thoughts    

Diving in partway to an incredible craft based series whose protagonist has fibromyalgia, which has a few symptoms like mine, was a wonderful way to spend a few hours. The humour filled read filled me with joy even at the darker moments of finding out that the killer from many years ago wanted to get rid of anyone who knows the truth. The high levels of friendship made it a delight to read. It was easy to relate to some of Martha's health issues, which in itself was exciting because reading books where the heroine has health restrictions doesn't happen that often for me. It's nice to have more elements in Martha's life that I can understand – the eerie parts freaked me out a little kept my reading to daylight hours only.

Previously I didn't know much about house clearance, so enjoyed learning about what happens in the process, as well as the strength of both the craft community and the wider community which Martha and her friends live in. Yes there is a fair amount of craft related work, which is crucial to solving the mystery of the suicide which turns out to be a murder. I enjoyed seeing how Martha figured everything out, how she narrowed down suspects, how she managed to gather all the suspects up together, and the odd mistake she made which demonstrated she is as human as the rest of us. This is one to reread, and to search out the other books in the series!

Find out more on Mary's website.

Tourist Trap Mystery #5: Killer Run by Lynn Cahoon (Cozy Mystery, Crime, 10/10E)

Cafe & bookshop based murder!

August 2015, Lyrical Underground (Kensington Books), 198 pages, Ebook, Review copy from NetGalley

Content: murder, some danger filled scenes, lots of humour, 

Summary from Kensington Books

Jill Gardner—owner of Coffee, Books, and More—has somehow been talked into sponsoring a 5k race along the beautiful California coast. The race is a fundraiser for the local preservation society—but not everyone is feeling so charitable…

The day of the race, everyone hits the ground running…until a local business owner stumbles over a very stationary body. The deceased is the vicious wife of the husband-and-wife team hired to promote the event—and the husband turns to Jill for help in clearing his name. But did he do it? Jill will have to be very careful, because this killer is ready to put her out of the running…forever!

Nayu's thoughts 

I've yet to find a cozy mystery lead which I don't like. I was attracted by Jill being a coffee and bookshop owner – tea and books = amazing! I loved discovering the details behind her daily life in her business, with highs and lows (including the murder but also local drama which is hard to escape in a tight knit community). It's not just Jill who is likeable, her family and friends are amusing and made me laugh a lot, even among the grimmer moments (discovering a body is never pleasant). 

I love the closeness of the community - ok, and the distance that some members try to keep from others. The scenarios that certain characters endure are realistic and ones many readers will be able to relate to. I didn't know there was so much involved with setting up a run, so I learnt something new. I liked that mistakes were made by both individuals and the community as a whole, some which were easier to bounce back from than others, which added to the realism of the tale.

As for who the murderer was...it took a while before I could narrow it down, but once I knew who it was the tension mounted every time that Jill went near them. While there is a lot of humour I do advise reading this in daylight if you're like me and are easily spooked, as the murder made my spine tingle despite having family around me.

As the tension mounted while the mystery thickened, I early turned the pages to find out what happened next. While I'm sure there are some issues and story arcs which have started in earlier books, I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything by this being the first Tourist Trap Mystery that I've ever read. I'm certainly eager to read other books in the series as I fully expect them to be as drama and humour filled as this one, plus I'll get a bit of background on Jill's life. 

Find out more on Lynn's website. 

Suggested read

For another great cosy mystery involving baking and murder check out Easy Bake Coven by J. D. Shaw (Cosy Mystery, 10E/10E) 

Blog Tour: Review + Q&A: Murder On Sea by Julie Wassmer (Cosy Mystery, Shop fiction, Food fiction, Crime, 8/10E)

 1st October 2015, Little, Brown, Hardback, Review copy 

Content: some murder, lots of suspense, some humour 

Book summary

The festive month is kicking off in style and Pearl is rushed off her feet with her restaurant, The Whitstable Pearl. She's also busy planning her own family Christmas and providing mulled wine for a charity church fundraiser when Christmas cards begin arriving all over town - filled with spiteful messages from an anonymous writer. 

Pearl's curiosity is piqued but having pledged not to take on a case at her detective agency before Christmas, she reluctantly agrees that Canterbury's DCI Mike McGuire should take over; poisoned pen cards are after all a matter for the police. And with only the church fundraiser now between Pearl and Christmas, she invites McGuire along as her guest. The event appears to be a great success; St Alfred's church hall is packed and Pearl happily finds herself standing close to McGuire beneath some mistletoe . . . but then a guest suddenly collapses. Too much of Pearl's delicious mulled wine - or could it be something more sinister?

The last thing Pearl expects for Christmas is murder but soon the bodies are piling up. Can Pearl possibly solve the mystery in time to make 25th Decemberan unforgettable day - or will the murderer contrive to ensure her goose is well and truly cooked before then?
 

Nayu's thoughts

I was super eager to dive back into Pearl's world since I enjoyed book 1, The Whitstable Pearl so much (see suggested read below for the link to my review). It's a fairly good 2nd in a series book filled with humour, chaos and murder. I liked feeling that I knew most of the characters, especially Pearl's mother who always makes me smile with her antics. I was a little sad that her son Charlie didn't have more page time, since he had such a prominent role in book 1, but the mysterious note sand murder kept me nicely distracted. 

There is an awful lot of suspense and spine tingling moments, which in my eyes are elements of a brilliant book. I only figured out the murderer right before they got revealed, as they hid their tracks from me, Pearl, & McGuire well. However I guessed what the poison was fairly early on, which pleased me!

 

 I spent most of the book caught up in the drama, rolling my eyes semi-good naturedly about Pearl's feelings for McGuire, getting spooked by the messages which made the murderer that bit more sinister. I did like that McGuire ended up being further involved in the murders than he'd have liked, as it altered how Pearl investigated it a bit. As ever I adored all the restaurant goings on - you know how much I love what I call 'shop fiction'!

 

Ordinarily such a good read would gain full marks, but there was one thing which I really wasn't keen on. Please bear in mind this is my own opinion, as both a reviewer and a writer. Because I enjoy the rest of the book so much, and Julie is very lovely, I'm finding it hard to phrase what I feel, so apologies if I'm a bit blunt. There was one chapter in the book which I felt was unnecessary as it was predominantly full of description rather than action. There was a smidge of information about the plot revealed at the start, but the rest of it had me bored. I'm not against descriptions of places, and I know Julie lives in Whitstable so knows it well, I just didn't see the point of such an extensive description. I stopped at the end of the chapter to figure out my views on it, and the fact that I did that instead of just continuing on reading impacted the overall grade. I feel that if that chapter had been axed it wouldn't have affected the plot. 

That chapter aside, I truly love Pearl's friends and family, who have their own quirks and provide entertainment when murder arises. I like the depth of the characters, how Pearl has several things going on in her life alongside the murder, which is realistic because life never happens neatly. I am excited for book 3, though I'm not sure when that's going out! 

Follow Julie on Twitter to get the latest information about her books.

Available to buy at many bookstores including NRC affiliate Foyles. 

Suggested read

Naturally you need to read book 1 in this series,The Whitstable Pearl Mystery by Julie Wassmer (Cosy, Fiction, 10E/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

 

 

Question and Answer session with Julie Wassmer

Nayu here! It's with great delight that I was able to ask Julie some questions as part of this blog tour. I'm sure you'll love her answers as much as I do! Many thanks to Julie for writing a fun series!

Nayu: Q1) Of all the characters Pearl and her mother are my favourites - what led to their individual creation as well as the amusing dynamics between them?

  Julie: It's so nice to learn that you like Pearl and her mother, Dolly! And your question is an interesting one because, for a time, I toyed with the idea of having a male protagonist  until I decided I wanted to explore the dilemma of a mother faced with "empty nest syndrome" after her son has gone off to university, leaving her with time to pursue old ambitions....

Pearl and her own mother are opposites in so many ways. Dolly is a rebel while Pearl likes order and Dolly is a hopeless cook while Pearl is an excellent chef with her own restaurant, The Whitstable Pearl, but they do complement one another which can be a great help when solving crime and, at the end of the day, in spite of all their disagreements theirs is a relationship based on a  firm foundation of love.

Q2) Is there a reason why Pearl had an older son? Sometimes heroines are single at the story’s start, without children, which Pearl isn’t.

 Pearl's life as a private detective actually begins when her son, Charlie, heads off to university and she tries to fill some of the vacuum created by his absence by starting up Nolan's Detective Agency. It's a time of adjustment for Pearl as, in the first book of the series, The Whitstable Pearl Mystery, she's confronting her 40th birthday as well as  Charlie leaving home, so the books begin at a point when she's embarking on a new stage of life. If this were a play, we could call it the second act  - a time in Pearl's life when she can revisit old dreams and see if she really can become the detective she always felt herself to be. 

 Q3) Trouble and Pearl go hand in hand - what research do you do to spark off new ideas for how/when/where/why someone gets murdered?

 Good question! I think writers use anything and everything for their inspiration. As Murder-on-Sea is set during the run up to Christmas I began to think about Christmas cards and what would happen if someone used them to send poison pen messages. I also thought about Christmas drinks parties and the possibility of someone being poisoned at such an event. Often, however, ideas simply emerge very organically from the personalities of my characters. What is it about them that would provoke someone to murder them? Is there something in their past or something that's about to happen in their future which spurs the murderer to act? Settings infuence things too. My first book, The Whitstable Pearl Mystery, was set during the town's annual oyster festival so it seemed natural that the very first murder should be of a local oyster fisherman - at sea. I then worked backwards to discover who might have the greatest motive...

Q4) Pearl’s restaurant plays a role in the story - what made you choose a seafood restaurant instead of a coffee shop or a café? Why choose it for Pearl’s main career?

Whitstable is a fishing town and Pearl's father was an oyster fisherman from whom she inherited a love of the sea. The town is also famous for its native oysters, cultivated since Roman times, so it seemed natural for Pearl to open a restaurant that specialised in seafood - especially oysters. Canterbury police detective, DCI Mike McGuire insists he's allergic to oysters - but he's clearly attracted to another Whitstable native - Pearl.

Q5) Where’s your favourite writing spot? Do you like to eat or drink anything in particular while you work?

Another interesting question! My favourite writing spots are always outdoors.  Ideas seem to come to me best when I'm either in the garden or on the beach here in Whitstable - but my very favourite writing spot is in my beach hut, on the porch, looking out to sea with a flask of tea to keep me going. But once there, I usually need one more thing - warm weather!

Blog Tour: A Death in the Dales by Frances Brody (Cosy Mystery, Crime, 10E/10E)

Check out the other stops in the tour!

 September 2015, Piatkus, Paperback, Review copy 

Content: murder, lots of mystery and spooky parts, teen and adult antics, humour, 

Book summary

A murder most foul

When the landlord of a Yorkshire tavern is killed in plain sight, Freda Simonson, the only witness to the crime, becomes plagued with guilt, believing the wrong man has been convicted. Following her death, it seems that the truth will never be uncovered in the peaceful village of Langcliffe . . .

A village of secrets

But it just so happens that Freda's nephew is courting the renowned amateur sleuth Kate Shackleton, who decides to holiday in Langcliffe with her indomitable teenage niece, Harriet. When Harriet strikes up a friendship with a local girl whose young brother is missing, the search leads Kate to uncover another suspicious death, not to mention an illicit affair. 

The case of a lifetime

As the present mysteries merge with the past's mistakes, Kate is thrust into the secrets that Freda left behind and realises that this courageous woman has entrusted her with solving a murder from beyond the grave. It soon becomes clear to her that nothing in Langcliffe is quite as it appears, and with a murderer on the loose and an ever-growing roster of suspects, this isn't the holiday Kate was expecting.

Nayu's thoughts

I only had to see the title and author for this ace read to know I wanted to review it. I've only read 1 of Frances' books before, (see suggested read) and this one was just as good. I liked that I knew a few of the charaters, and the new ones soon felt like old friends. I'm ever so fond of stories where the main character has to take care of a minor. Kate's niece has an investigative mind which she definitely gets from her aunt, who unfortunately yet understandably tries to keep her niece out of the investigation. Happily I can report that isn't successful, and Harriet ends up providing key insight into the death. 

The truth about the missing brother was as riveting as the rest of the book. There are a few red herrings on this and other mysteries, and the truth seems far stranger (and dangerous) than fiction. I was hesitant to keep reading this after dark, when I do freak out more if I'm startled while reading a crime novel, but I simply had to find out what happened next. 

Kate gets to show her motherly side, although at one point her housekeeper turns up, which is good as Kate isn't exactly on top of planning meals in advance, which made me laugh. She goes through a lot with regards to romance, and her decisions were in some respects a surprise because the situation seemed to be matter of fact but there were small hints which direction Kate would take. Sorry if I'm a bit vague, I'm trying not to use spoilers! 

Knowing all the plot points I'm looking forward to rereading this adventure with Kate, filled with some expected stereotypes, and others just being plain mean and nasty. I'm looking forward to Kate's next mission! 

Find out more on Frances' website. 

Available for pre-order from most bookstores including NRC affiliate Foyles. 

Suggested read

Do check out earlier books in the series including Blog Tour: Death of An Avid Reader by Frances Brody (Cozy Mystery, Fiction, 10E/10E)

Biography of Frances Brody

Frances Brody is the author of the Kate Shackleton mysteries, as well as many stories and plays for BBC Radio, scripts for television and four sagas, one of which won the HarperCollins Elizabeth Elgin Award. Her stage plays have been toured by several theatre companies and produced at Manchester Library Theatre, the Gate and Nottingham Playhouse, and Jehad was nominated for a Time Out Award.

Nayu's News #196 NetGalley Tips & Mayhem

You can be this too!

Despite joining NetGalley several years ago, for some reason I've been afraid of going on there. I think that I thought it would be complicated to a) choose books & b) get said books onto reading device. 

I stuck with 'normal' hardback/paperback review books, as well as some pdfs.

I'm pleased to say that both those assumptions are false! I investigated further this year (or at the start of the year) to see what NetGalley was about, since I was starting to accept mobi/other ebook formats directly from publishers/authors so figured NetGalley wouldn't be much different, and it's not. I'm not a NetGalley affiliate (although by the amount of reviews I'll be doing this year I'd like to be if they did such a thing, which I'm not sure of), I just really like it.

For those of you who don't know what I'm going on about, NetGalley is in essence a gateway for book reviewers of all types - including bloggers  - to access digital proofs prior to books coming out. Once downloaded you can keep them. For more info be sure to hop over to NetGalley for details which I'm not going over. 

Tip time!

There are probably lots of NetGalley Tips online but I'm writing my own just because you might learn from my mistake which isn't really a mistake more like a giant oopsie. 

1) Fill in all your details - this goes without saying, put up all your links, fill in your bio, tick all the metaphorical boxes so publishers know more about you. 

2) Browse through the books, and pick a realistic amount that you can review in a timely fashion. 

#2 is precisely why this post is being written. I've done this thing I'm about to tell you once before although to a lesser degree, and I know I'll do it again in the future, but this is a case of do what I say rather do what I do. 

What did you do?

So the thing is I got very mouse click happy (touch-pad happy since my laptop doesn't have an actual mouse) and clicked an awful lot of books which I liked the sound of the other night. Amish books, cosy mysteries, family drama, thrillers, a craft book, a few children's books. I clicked a lot which were looking for US/Australian/Canadian reviewers, on the off chance that they might say yes and let me review their books. I truly thought most of them would say no, or else I might not have chosen so many. (Doubtful)

First there was 1 book...

...then a few more. Initially I had 20 new books, which is about normal for me. Then the number kept climbing. Around 50 ebooks later, I can safely say - as a friend kindly pointed out after I'd gone on my book spree - to not be put off by region specific requests because publishers may very well say yes to you reviewing the book.  Rather than being daunted by the ever increasing number of books dropping onto my virtual shelf (I did keep checking back every few hours), I laughed with every increase and thoroughly looked forward to all the reading material. 

Books are so AWESOME!

It's a good thing I read a lot, with a little over 50 NetGalley books ready for me to read! I might be less click-happy in future, but knowing me I probably won't ever learn my lesson. The books do get read & reviewed in a timely fashion so I'm smiling at the tall stack of virtual books awaiting me. I hope my cautionery tale has helped you learn a little bit more about NetGalley - enter at your peril!!!

While I love physical books, virtual ones do save on shelf space!

Murder Freshly Baked by Vannetta Chapman (Amish fiction, Christian fiction, 10E/10E)

You might not want to eat this pie...

June 2015, Zondervan, 352 pages, Ebook, Review copy 

Content: murder, humour, tense moments, mild romance, tissue needed 

Summary from Zondervan 

When delicious baked goods become lethal, a trail of poetry leads to a sweet-toothed killer.

Don’t taste it / Don’t share it /Just throw it away / If you try my bakery pie / You won’t live to see another day.

The Amish Artisan Village of Middlebury, Indiana, might be the last place you would ever expect to find a murderer. But Amber has been managing the Village for decades and there’s nothing she hasn’t seen. Or so she thought.

When poetic notes begin appearing around the bakery, warning that some of the pies have been poisoned, Amber is as confused as she is concerned. Who poisons pies? And more to the point, who leaves poems of warning after they’ve done it? When Amber decides to help the police track down the sweet-toothed saboteur, she enlists Hannah Troyer for another round of Amish-style detective work.

Can Amber and Hannah help the police before the Poison Poet strikes? Both women will need to draw on their faith to preserve the peaceful community they’ve built in Middlebury . . . and to protect the girls who work in the Amish Artisan Village.

Nayu's thoughts

I love all of Vannetta's Amish stories, and am rather fond of Middlebury. In some ways this is more fun a storyline that the previous two books (which I've listened to the audiobooks but not yet reviewed). The summary leaves out an important question - why would anyone want to warn people of the poisoned pies? I won't spoil any details but my personal view is that it's far more fun for the culprit to see those who may eat the pies be scared and on edge by the notes than simply poison them without warning. 

Amber and Hannah make the perfect duo, with Amber knowing some 'English' ways, and Hannah knowing how to get information and help from those in the Amish community without scaring them away. This third adventure is the creepiest yet, giving me lots of shivers waiting in anticipation for the next note to arrive. There's more to be learnt about the Amish, the story involves a lot of baking which, from other Amish fiction I've read, is a key focal point for the Amish. That & I like cakes and bread, although thankfully I don't eat too many pies - I'll certainly be looking at the next one carefully, even though I should be safe as I'm on a different continent and this is fiction! I say that but Vannetta sets the scenes and characters so well that this could easily be real life. I've visited an Amish market once when I visited Maryland, so it is easy to picture all the Amish stores and dress. Yet another wonderful addition to my happily growing pile of Amish themed reads!

Suggested read 

Check out other books by Vannetta, including the first book in the series involving Middlebury, Murder Simply Brewed (Amish Fiction, Christian Fiction, 10E/10E)