Judge Walden: Call The Next Case

Author – Peter Murphy graduated from Cambridge University and spent a career in the law, as an advocate, teacher, and judge. He has worked both in England and the United States, and served for several years as counsel at the Yugoslavian War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague. He has written eight other books: two political thrillers about the US presidency, Removal and Test of Resolve; five historical/legal thrillers featuring Ben Schroeder, A Higher Duty, A Matter for the Jury, And is There Honey Still for Tea?, The Heirs of Owain Glyndwr and Calling Down the Storm; and Walden of Bermondsey, the first in this new series featuring Judge Charlie Walden. Peter Murphy lives in Cambridgeshire.

Peter Murphy

Publisher – No Exit Press

Pages – 416

The Blurb – Charlie Walden, the irrepressible Resident Judge (RJ) of Bermondsey Crown Court, is back with a new selection of cases.

As ever, there is little rest for the RJ as he does his best to deal with: the church-going carer who steals from the old lady under her care; the cleaver-wielding chefs with different ideas about how to make a Caesar salad; the man with a penchant for ‘marrying’ multiple women; and the astrological guru accused of fraud. Not to mention the shock-horror when colleagues get into trouble – Judge Hubert Drake for writing an angry letter to the press, and Judge Marjorie Jenkins for storing suspected pornography on her judicial computer.

Oh, and not to mention the ongoing wars against the Grey Smoothies, who try to frustrate Charlie at every turn with their bureaucracy and their endless quest for value for money for the taxpayer.
Today is my stop on the Judge Walden: Call The Next Case blog tour.  Many thanks to Anne Cater for the chance to read and review.

My thoughts – This is a brilliant book, with excellent forewords by Baroness Hale and Judge Rinder.

This book sees Judge Walden preside over several complex cases such as, a woman being injured by a knife wielding chef and an elderly woman being conned by a so called friend.

This is the third book in the Judge Walden series and I look forward to reading the others.  It is brilliantly written with a great cast of characters, which include his fellow judges, his wife and the various people who appear before him in court.  Alongside the cases, he reflects on the state of the justice system in this country and the lengths the establishment will go to reduce costs.

Purchase Links – Judge Walden: Call The Next Case

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The Reunion

Author – Guillaume Musso was the number one bestselling author in France in 2011 and 2012. Born in 1974 on the Cote d’Azur, he knew from an early age that he wanted to write novels and to touch the largest possible number of people.

In 2004, ‘AFTERWARDS’ was published in France by XO Editions and was an immediate bestseller and established a loyal following for his unique brand of storytelling which blends romance, adventure, suspense and the supernatural. It was later made into a film starring John Malkovich, Evangeline Lily and Romain Duris.

Since then, with every one of the six novels which have followed, his loyal readership has grown significantly, making him the most widely-read author writing in French today.His stories have universal central themes: missed opportunities, second chances,the passage of time, lost love and redemption.

Cop drama’WHERE WOULD I BE WITHOUT YOU?’ and romantic thriller ‘THE GIRL ON PAPER’ is now available for the first time in English published by Gallic.

Social Media Links –

Twitter – @Guillaume_Musso

Pages – 289

The Blurb –

FRENCH RIVIERA, WINTER 1992
On a freezing night, as her high school campus is engulfed by a snowstorm, 19-year-old Vinca Rockwell runs away with Alexis, her philosophy teacher.

No one will ever see them again.

FRENCH RIVIERA, SPRING 2017
Formerly inseparable, Thomas, Maxime and Fanny – Vinca’s best friends – have not spoken in twenty-five years. But when they receive an invitation to their school reunion, they know they must go back one final time.

Because there is a body buried in that school…

…and they’re the ones who put it there.

‘ONE OF THE MOST SUSPENSEFUL NOVELS I’VE READ IN YEARS – AND AMONG THE MOST ENJOYABLE, TOO’ A.J. Finn, author of The Woman in the Window

THE BIGGEST #1, MEGA-BESTSELLING AUTHOR YOU’VE NEVER READ… UNTIL NOW

* THE #1 AUTHOR IN FRANCE
* A TOP 10 HIT AROUND THE WORLD
* OVER 33 MILLION COPIES OF GUILLAUME MUSSO’S NOVELS SOLD WORLDWIDE
* THE UNPUTDOWNABLE THRILLER OF SUMMER 2019

***********************************************

For fans of Joel Dicker’s THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAIR, Harlan Coben’s TELL NO ONE and Gillian Flynn’s GONE GIRL. With the atmosphere of Donna Tartt’s THE SECRET HISTORY and David Lynch’s TWIN PEAKS

Today is my stop on The Reunion blog tour.  Many thanks to Tracy Fenton for the chance to read and review.

My thoughts – This is an excellent read which revolves a school reunion.  Which are already for most people a thing of dread.  Imagine you have to go to yours because the school holds secrets that have been hidden for 25 years.  In 1992 the girl you loved, disappeared with her teacher, neither of them were ever heard of again.

This is the scenario that Thomas Degalais finds himself in, he is a successful author now living in the USA but travels back to France to attend his school reunion.  It is 25 years years since he left the school and the body that is hidden in the gym behind.  With the school about to be modernised the gym is going to pulled down, and his secret is about to be exposed.

This is an excellent mystery as Thomas and a couple of friends return to the school to face their demons.  Told with flashbacks to 1992, the author weaves a brilliant story that has you quickly flipping the pages.

Purchase Links – The Reunion

The Closer I Get

Author – Paul Burston is the author of five novels and the editor of two short story collections. His most recent novel The Black Path, was a WHSmith bestseller. His first novel, Shameless, was shortlisted for the State of Britain Award. His third novel, Lovers & Losers was shortlisted for a Stonewall Award. His fourth, The Gay Divorcee, was optioned for television. He was a founding editor of Attitude magazine and has written for many publications including Guardian, Independent, Time Out, The Times and Sunday Times. In March 2016, he was featured in the British Council’s #FiveFilms4Freedom Global List 2016, celebrating “33 visionary people who are promoting freedom, equality and LGBT rights around the world”. He is the founder and host of London’s award-winning LGBT+ literary salon Polari and founder and chair of The Polari First Book Prize for new writing and the newly announced Polari Prize.

Paul Burston

Social Media Links – Paul Burston

Publisher – Orenda Books

Pages – 276

The Blurb – Tom is a successful author, but for the first time in his life, he has writer’s block. His main distraction is an online admirer, Evie, who simply won’t leave him alone. Evie is smart, well read and unstable; she lives with her sick father and her social media friendships are not only her escape, but everything she has. When she’s hit with a restraining order, her world collapses, whilst Tom is free to live his life again, and to concentrate on writing.

But things aren’t adding up. For Tom is also addicted to his online relationships, and when they take a darker, more menacing turn, he’s powerless to change things.  Because maybe he needs Evie more than he’s letting on.

Today is my stop on The Closer I Get blog tour.  Many thanks to Anne Cater for the chance to read and review.

My thoughts – What a great read this is!  I was hooked from the first page and read it in almost one sitting.

Take two flawed characters and a chance meeting and sit back and watch the fireworks go off. It is a insight to how dangerous our online lives can be, how quickly things can escalate. Our cyber lives often mask our true personalities as we contrive to make ourselves out to be something other than we are, a more perfect persona.

The book follows Tom and Evie, Tom is a writer who is struggling to live up to his early success.  Evie wants to be a writer and is a huge fan of Tom, but her lines get blurred after a book signing, where Tom signs an off hand comment in her book.

This is a dark story of obsession and internet stalking, and you initially read it thinking you know exactly what is going to happen.  However this is where the exceptional writing comes into play, nothing is what it seems and you find yourself swapping your sympathies continually.

Excellent read, highly recommended.

PRAISE FOR PAUL BURSTON
‘Deliciously creepy and surprisingly emotional’ Alex Marwood
‘The Black Path twist and turns and introduces crime fans to an exciting new talent’ Sarah Hilary
‘Properly dark and human and twisty. I loved it’ Lisa Jewell
‘Gripping and unsettling’ Jonathan Harvey
‘An intense, tightly calibrated thriller’ Huffington Post

Purchase Links – The Closer I Get

Dead & Talking

Author – Des Burkinshaw.

Born in the middle of the Summer of Love on a pre-fab council estate in Luton, teenage bitterness and a chance viewing of the Watergate movie, All the President’s Men, made him vow to become a journalist and bring down the government.

First he had to pay for his journalism course, so he became a civil servant. Literally the day he had enough for his fees, he packed it in.
Twelve years on from watching the film, he was a journalist at The Times and had a big hand in bringing down John Major’s government. News ambitions sated, he packed that in too.

Several years of working for Channel 4, ITV and the BBC as a senior producer saw him working across the world, but he eventually got fed up with asking bands how the new album was coming along, and packed it in.

He set up his own production company magnificent! in 2002 and simultaneously worked on the BBC Live Events team for another 10 years. But then six years of work on the Olympics came along, so he packed the BBC in. Again.

Des has jammed with many of his heroes from Paul McCartney to Brian Wilson, Queen to Nancy Sinatra. He has interviewed many A-listers, including David Bowie, Michael Caine, John Cleese and even Noam Chomsky.

He has directed/produced a fairly long list of people – Muse, Coldplay, Michael Jackson, Jay-Z, produced BBC3’s Glastonbury coverage for a couple of years, made films about leprosy in India, comedy shorts with Miranda Hart and Lenny Henry and played guitar for Chas and Dave at the Hackney Empire.

He has made 300+ short films for the Queen, MI5, the BBC, Sky, Discovery, EMI, the British Academy and dozens of authorities, charities and private sector firms. His most recent publication was a series of interviews with leading academics like Mary Beard on the state of the humanities which was published as a standalone magazine by the British Academy.

Fed up with travelling and determined to be a half-decent dad, he now works in London as often as he can. He runs the Young Directors Film School making movies with young people and is about to head up the Digital Film and Video MA at Tileyard. An avid musician and producer, he releases his third album as Romano Chorizo (he plays drums, bass, piano, guitar and really bad sax).

He hates to be pigeon-holed, thinks creativity is a learned state of mind and wishes they would teach people memory and learning techniques at school.

Dead & Talking is his first novel, the first in a series of Porter & The Gliss investigations.

Social Media Links –

www.desburkinshaw.com  

twitter.com/DesBurkinshaw,

facebook as Des Burkinshaw   

Pages – 356

The Blurb –

If a ghost appeared from nowhere, rescued you from suicide and then ordered you to start solving crimes to help dead people, what would you do? When it happens to Porter Norton, he just wants to put his head in his hands and have nothing to do with it. But now he has to atone for the family curse that has seen all the men die at their own hands for five generations. The Gliss, the sarcastic spirit that rescues him, says he can now and see and hear the Dead – if he’s close to their remains. Porter has to use his unwelcome gift to clear up past injustices. Or else. Forced to investigate the murder of a WW1 British Tommy executed for spying in 1917, he begins to suspect the case has links to his own family history. Along the way, Porter enlists the help of a bickering group of misfits, who struggle to stay involved – because only fools believe in the supernatural, don’t they? Full of pop culture references, banter and twists, the story takes us from present-day London and Flanders to scenes from World War 1. As Porter, The Gliss, and friends, get deeper into the explosive case, they discover their own lives and sanity are at stake. An evil from WW1 pursues them all.

Today is my stop on the Dead & Talking blog tour.  Many thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for the chance to read and review.

My thoughts – I love how different this book is, I haven’t read anything else like it before.

The story starts with Porter struggling  with his life, he decides to make the ultimate decision to end it all.  Despite his best intentions he is saved and discovers he can now hear and see the dead.

In return for his life he finds himself solving mysteries of the past, seeking justice for those who were wronged.  With the help of his new found talent, he looks into the death of a soldier in WW1, who was accused of spying.

A truly delightful read and I’m happy it is the first in a series.

Author Giveaway –

Giveaway to Win 3 x Signed Copies of Dead & Talking (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for dispatch or delivery of the prize.

To enter click here

Purchase Links –

US – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PLLNB4M

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PLLNB4M

The Secret – Violet’s Story

Author – Eliza J Scott

Eliza lives in a 17th-century cottage on the edge of a village in the North Yorkshire Moors with her husband, their two daughters and two mischievous black Labradors. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found with her nose in a book/glued to her Kindle or working in her garden. Eliza also enjoys bracing walks in the countryside, rounded off by a visit to a teashop where she can indulge in another two of her favourite things: tea and cake.

Eliza is inspired by her beautiful surroundings and loves to write heartwarming stories with happy endings.

Social Media Links –

Blog: Eliza J Scott – elizajscott.com

Twitter: Eliza J Scott – @ElizaJScott1

Instagram: Eliza J Scott – @elizajscott

Facebook: Eliza J Scott – @elizajscottauthor

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/ElizaJScott

Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/authors/eliza-j-scott

Pages – 287

The Blurb –

It’s been two years since glamorous and ambitious Violet Smith fell head-over-heels in love with blacksmith Jimby Fairfax, and moved back home to the North Yorkshire village of Lytell Stangdale to be with him.

Life couldn’t get much sweeter. Their romance is blooming and Romantique – the business she set up with Jimby’s sister Kitty, designing luxurious underwear and burlesque costumes with the odd wedding dress throw in – is thriving.

But on a romantic weekend break, a face from her past triggers a series of events which send Violet into turmoil. She finds herself with no alternative but to reveal a secret she’s buried deep for the past sixteen years. A secret she hasn’t shared with anyone, not even her best friends, Kitty and Molly, and they share everything.

With the revelation forcing a wedge between herself and Jimby, heartbroken Violet fears that he won’t ever be able to think of her in the same way again and won’t want anything more to do with her.

As ever, Kitty and Molly rally round, offering their advice and support but Vi is worried that keeping her secret was just a step too far for Jimby.

Will she succeed in showing him their love is strong enough to overcome it?

The Secret – Violet’s Story is book 3 in the Life on the Moors Series.

Today is my stop on The Secret -Violet’s Story blog tour.  Many thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for the chance to read and review.

My thoughts – This is the second book in the Life on the Moors series I have read.  The first being The Talisman which featured Molly’s story.  You can read this as a standalone but I advise reading the other in the series first so you become familiar with all the characters.

This book concentrates on Violet’s story and her relationship with Jimby, just as they are about to make a change in their relationship.  Violet finds herself facing a dilemma when a secret she thought was long buried, resurfaces.

With her life turned upside down she turns to her friends, Molly and Kitty to help her.

Purchase Links –

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07RNLR4M5

US – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RNLR4M5

 

Cover Reveal – The Emerald Tablet

Author – JM Hart.

JM Hart was born in Sydney, Australia and has been a storyteller from a young age, with a particular interest in horror and things that go bump in the night.  Favorite authors include Stephen King, Clive Barker, Dean Koontz, to name but a few.  After being told at the age of 11 that writing about dead bodies and newlyweds dying in a plane crash was unbecoming, JM’s life was instead directed towards bookkeeping and finance.

For the next twenty years, immersed in a point-of-sale advertising company, JM occasionally wrote advertising blurbs, learnt how to ride a motorcycle, taught color physiology to spiritual mediums, meditation and relaxation, studied Religions, Kabbalah, tarot cards, astrology, creative and professional writing, philosophy and volunteered at palliative care, and worked on the local church newsletter – not quite the appropriate outlet for a writer interested in the supernatural. And she became a grandmother.

J M Hart

Social Media Links –

https://www.pinterest.com.au/jmhartwriter/

https://www.facebook.com/JM-Hart-Writer208264706568204/

https://twitter.com/JMHartWriter

https://www.instagram.com/jmhartwriter/

Pages – 454

The Blurb –

The Emerald Tablet Omnibus Edition; three books in one.

Shaun can’t shake the deep anger over his mother’s death. But when his father’s desperate actions release parasitic hell-beasts upon the world, he has a much bigger fight on his hands.

Kevin hoped his country would be immune to the pandemic turning everyday people into psychopaths. But as his horror grows, an incredible new power could be the only thing that prevents Earth’s destruction.

Sophia is terrified of God’s plan for her. Plagued by visions of planetary devastation, she prays she can reach her allies in time to save humanity.

As doomsday approaches, can the teens accept their destiny in time to protect their world?

The Emerald Tablet: Omnibus is three books of dark speculative fiction in one. If you like brave teenage heroes, intriguing mystical connections, and apocalyptic international settings, then you’ll love JM Hart’s incredible collection.

Buy The Emerald Tablet to unlock the adventure today!

Purchase Link:  http://books2read.com/The-Emerald-Tablet-Omnibus-book-1-2-3

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QH8KWDZ  Reduced price for a limited time: $4.99 ebook only on Amazon

Convergence

As doomsday approaches, can the teens accept their destiny in time to protect their world?

 Seven special teens. A deadly ancient evil. Can they combine their unique powers and halt the infection before humanity is obliterated?

 Shaun is dying. The plane’s engine is failing.  Kevin must open a portal to catch the falling plane and save Shaun’s life.

Sophia is terrified of God’s plan for her. Plagued by visions of planetary devastation, she prays Shaun and Kevin can reach her in time to save humanity.

Convergence book three in The Emerald Tablet Series

Purchase Link – http://books2read.com/Convergence-book-3-in-the-emerald-tablet-series

For a limited time only book one, of the trilogy Shadows of Doubt is only  $1.00 on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K69DXG4

The Dead Wife

Author – Sue Fortin.

Sue Fortin is an award-winning USA Today and an Amazon best-selling author, an international bestseller and has reached #1 in the Amazon UK Kindle chart. Sue writes mystery, suspense and romance, sometimes combining all three.

Sue was born in Hertfordshire but had a nomadic childhood, moving often with her family, before eventually settling in West Sussex where she now lives with her husband, children and grandchildren.

Social Media Links –

Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/suefortinauthor/?ref=bookmarks

Twitter : www.twitter.com/suefortin1

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sue_fortin/

Website www.suefortin.com

Publisher – HarperCollins

Pages -416

The Blurb –

SINCLAIR WIFE DEAD!  HUSBAND CLEARED!

Police have ruled out suspicious circumstances in the investigation into the death of Elizabeth Sinclair, wife of charismatic entrepreneur Harry Sinclair, found drowned in the lake of the family’s holiday park.

It’s been two years since the Sinclair case closed but when reporter Steph Durham receives a tipoff that could give her the scoop of the year, she’s drawn deeper and deeper into the secretive Sinclair family.

Elizabeth’s death wasn’t a tragic accident. And the truth will come at a deadly price…

Today is my stop on The Dead Wife blog tour.  Many thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for the chance to read and review.

My thoughts – This is a really well written book with a cast of great characters that are all hiding something.

Two years Elizabeth Sinclair was found drowned, and the police ruled out any suspicious circumstances,  However reporter Steph Durham has been given some information that might shed more light onto the case.

The book is full of twists and turns as Steph tries to find out the truth of what happened to Elizabeth Sinclair.  Highly recommended.

Purchase Links – https://amzn.to/2Vk9Z84