#Blogtour The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin

It’s an absolute pleasure to take part in the BlogTour for One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin. It’s a fantastic debut novel.

About the Author

Marianne Cronin was born in 1990. She studied English and Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning a PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of Birmingham. She now spends most of her time writing, with her newly-adopted rescue cat sleeping under her desk. When she’s not writing, Marianne can be found performing improv and stand up in the West Midlands, where she lives.

Her debut novel The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot is to be published around the world and is being adapted into a feature film by Sony/Columbia Pictures. It has been sold in 25 territories to date.

Follow @itsmcronin on Twitter, on Goodreads, on Amazon, on Instagram, Buy One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot

About the book

Life is short – no one knows that better than 17 year-old Lenni Petterssen. On the Terminal ward, the nurses are offering their condolences already, but Lenni still has plenty of living to do. For a start, she has questions about her fate she needs answers to, and stories yet to uncover. 

When she meets 83-year-old Margot, a fellow patient in purple pyjamas offering new friendship and enviable artistic skills, Lenni’s life begins to soar in ways she’d never imagined.

As their bond deepens, a world of stories opens up: of wartime love and loss, of misunderstanding and reconciliation, of courage, kindness and joy. Stories that have led them to their combined one hundred years, to the end of their days.

Review

I love finding rare gems like this book. It’s so simple in the set-up and yet driven by complex emotional turmoil. No need for loads of characters with backstories, the story is driven predominantly by Lenni and Margot at a perfect pace and conclusion. They are larger than life, which given the storyline, is both poignant and remarkably heartbreaking.

Lenni is a teenager confined to the rooms of her hospital ward and living with the thought of her limited life. Death is soon to be upon her, which other people tend to react to rather strangely. She herself is resigned to her fate, albeit reluctantly at times.

She makes an unlikely connection with another patient, Margot an octogenarian who likes to rummage in rubbish bins. The two are drawn to each other because they share this sense of being alone in a world full of people. Together they find something they both crave.

Part of the story is the way Lenni starts exploring the notion of faith and religion. Of the concept that some higher power could be out there listening or perhaps waiting to embrace her. It never overshadows the rest of the story, but is extremely important when it comes to the expectations after death.

One can only hope that someone will recognise the potential in a visual representation of this story, a story full of love, kindness, loneliness, fear and above all connection and support. It’s those small connections and moments that keep us going when it feels like the sky is falling. A truly beautiful read.

Buy One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Transworld Digital; pub date 18 Feb. 2021. Buy at Amazon com. Hive. Bookshop org. Waterstones.

#BlogTour One Step Behind by Lauren North

Today it’s my turn on the BlogTour One Step Behind by Lauren North.

About the Author

Lauren North writes psychological suspense novels that delve into the darker side of relationships and families. She has a lifelong passion for writing, reading, and all things books. Lauren’s love of psychological suspense has grown since childhood and from her dark imagination of always wondering what’s the worst thing that could happen in every situation. Lauren studied psychology before moving to London where she lived and worked for many years. She now lives with her family in the Suffolk countryside.

Follow @Lauren_C _North @TransworldBooks on Twitter, or Lauren on Facebook, on Amazon, on Goodreads,Visit Lauren-North.com, Buy One Step Behind

About the book

Jenna is a wife, a mother, a doctor. She’s also the victim of a stalker. Every time she leaves her house, she sees him. Disturbing gifts are left at her door. Cruel emails are sent to her colleagues. She  has no idea who this man is but she feels powerless against him.

Until the day he is brought into her hospital after a serious accident, and Jenna is given the chance to find out once and for all why this man is tormenting her. Now, the power is all hers. But how many lines is she willing to cross to take back control of her life?

Review

It’s not paranoia when there really is someone out to get you, right? The whole core of this story revolves around the way the main character is perceived. It’s easy to call someone crazy when you’re not on the receiving end of a stalker. It’s easy to brush off the worries of someone else when you’re not the one being threatened on a daily basis.

Jenna feels as if her stalker has invaded every part of her life, even the house and her privacy. He is there when she opens her door, takes her kids to school and when she goes home from work. He is everywhere all the time. Then one day he ends up in a situation where his life and death is in her hands.

North builds her story around a very important scenario, which was not acknowledged as a crime for many years. Only in recent years certain countries have started to address the fact that stalking is a crime, a crime that usually escalates into something more dangerous for the victim.

For too long victims have been told they had to wait until an actual crime had been committed until the police could intervene – many of those victims are dead thanks to an outdated criminal justice system.

North delivers a read that throws up some interesting dilemmas at times. Would you have made the same choice in the A&E for instance? Just throwing that out there. It’s a fast-paced read full of creepiness, betrayal and secrets.

Buy One Step Behind at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher:Transworld; Paperback | pub date 3rd September 2020 | £7.99 | Corgi Ebook available from 16th July 2020. Buy at Amazon com.

Read my review of The Perfect Betrayal by Lauren North.

#BlogTour Lost by Leona Deakin

Today it’s a pleasure to take part in the BlogTour Lost by Leona Deakin, it’s the second book in the Dr Bloom series.

About the Author

Leona draws inspiration for her writing from her own experiences having started her career as a psychologist with the West Yorkshire Police and her successful work in psychology since. Leona was part of a team responsible for designing methods of selection for recruiting and promoting officers from PC to Chief Superintendent. Her role was to create realistic policing scenarios – from personnel issues to large scale incidents (plane crash, terrorist bomb etc) – that could be used to test leadership skills. To do this she spent a great deal of time interviewing and observing officers at various ranks and reviewing cases. This gave Leona an insight into the police culture that helps her to write authentic character interactions in her novels. Leona is now an occupational psychologist and lives with her family in Leeds.

Follow @LeonaDeakin1 on Twitter, on Amazon, on Goodreads, Buy Lost

About the book

In the second compelling thriller from Leona Deakin, Dr Bloom returns to solve another mystery. But how can she solve the crime when the victim can’t remember anything?

There is an explosion at a military ball. The casualties are rushed to hospital in eight ambulances, but only seven vehicles arrive. Captain Harry Peterson is missing.

His girlfriend calls upon her old friend Dr Augusta Bloom, who rushes to support the investigation. But no one can work out what connects the bomb and the disappearance. When Harry is eventually discovered three days later, they hope he holds the answers to their questions. But he can’t remember a single thing.

Review

This is the second book in the Dr Bloom series and although both books can be read as standalone novels I do think reading the first gives readers a better insight into the connections between the characters. In particular the strange one between Bloom and Seraphine.

In this book Bloom is asked to help a man regain his memories after he is caught up in a bombing and disappears soon after the event.

I enjoyed the interaction between Bloom and Seraphine in the first book in the series, Gone. I think Deakin has made the right decision to follow that particular storyline and flesh it out more.

Indeed instead of a Jameson and Bloom combo, it’s much more intriguing to have Bloom interact with Seraphine, despite the fact we know she has certain traits that make her different from others. Being curious about what happens when she takes a path that offers multiple choices. Bloom is aware of that however and feels it’s safer to keep her close than out of sight, which would make her an invisible threat.

Deakin does her research, which adds an air of authenticity to certain elements of the read, even if others take on a fictional stretched atmosphere of their own.

I’m looking forward to reading where Deakin takes this dysfunctional duo, there are certainly enough journeys to take them on. Will Seraphine always be Bloom’s Moriarty – waiting patiently in the shadows and only appearing when it suits her own narrative?

Buy Lost (Dr Bloom #2) at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Transworld Digital; pub date 9 July 2020. Paperback pub date 29th October 2020 | £7.99 | Black Swan. Buy at Amazon com.

Read my review of Gone (Dr Bloom #1) by Leona Deakin.

#BlogTour Gone by Leona Deakin

It’s my turn on the BlogTour Gone by Leona Deakin. It’s the first in the Dr Bloom series and it’s a cracking read.

About the Author

Leona draws inspiration for her writing from her own experiences having started her career as a psychologist with the West Yorkshire Police and her successful work in psychology since. She is now an occupational psychologist and lives with her family in Leeds.This is her debut thriller.

Follow @LeonaDeakin1 on Twitter, on Amazon, on Goodreads, Buy Gone

About the book

Four strangers are missing. Left at their last-known locations are birthday cards that read: Your gift is the Game. Dare to Play?

The police aren’t worried – it’s just a game. But the families are frantic, and psychologist and private detective Dr Augusta Bloom is persuaded to investigate. As she delves into the lives of the missing people, she finds something that binds them all.

And that something makes them very dangerous indeed. As more disappearances are reported and new birthday cards uncovered, Dr Bloom races to unravel the mystery and find the puppeteer. But is she playing into their hands?

An addictive debut thriller with an ingenious hook that turns the missing person plot on its head – what if the missing people are the dangerous ones?

Review

This is the first in the Dr. Bloom series and if this anything to go by then it’s going to be a popular one, because this is a cracking read.

When random people start going missing there doesn’t appear to be any connection between them until someone notices the invitations they have been receiving. Daring them to be true to their real selves and play a game – a game only a small number of people can play, because they are the only ones who understand the rules.

Jameson gets pulled into the mystery when a friend goes missing and leaves her teenage daughter behind. His friend Augusta Bloom slowly gets drawn in, especially because the subject matter and actions of the disappeared seem oddly familiar. Simultaneously we follow her story with a young girl called Seraphine, who struggles to keep her true identity a secret and quite frankly is annoyed she even has to.

It’s an engrossing and well thought out psychological thriller. Deakin plants red herrings here and there to try and trip the reader up, but they are easily found if you pay attention to the subject at hand.

What would you do if you found out someone close to you was a psychopath. Would it change the way you think about them, would you question their motives and reactions or would you just accept that they had different personality traits and way of processing things?

The truth is there are many among us, perhaps even someone you know. A lot of successful people in high positions have to be ruthless to the point of feeling no empathy or having no conscience. Perhaps one day they might be traits to embrace, as opposed to being uncertain or fearful of.

Buy Gone (Dr Bloom #1) at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Transworld Digital; eBook – 9th August 2019 – Paperback | Black Swan – 12 Dec 2019 | £7.99. Buy at Amazon com. Buy at Hive.co.uk

#BlogTour Truth Hurts by Rebecca Reid

Today it’s my turn on the BlogTour Truth Hurts by Rebecca Reid. It’s a dark psychological thriller, a manipulative game of emotions and secrets.About the Author

Rebecca is a freelance journalist. She is a columnist for the Telegraph Women’s section, works for Metro Online and has written for Marie Claire, the Guardian, the Saturday Telegraph, the Independent, Stylist, Glamour, the iPaper, the Guardian, Indy100, LOOK and the New Statesmen amongst others.

Rebecca is a regular contributor to Sky News and ITV’s This Morning as well as appearing on Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, LBC, BBC News 24 and the BBC World Service to discuss her work.

She graduated from Royal Holloway’s Creative Writing MA in 2015 and Perfect Liars is her debut novel. Rebecca lives in North London with her husband.

Follow @RebeccaCNReid on Twitter, Buy Truth Hurts

About the book

Poppy has a secret. It was a whirlwind romance. And when Drew, caught up in the moment, suggests that he and Poppy don’t tell each other anything about their past lives, that they live only for the here and now, for the future they are building together, Poppy jumps at the chance for a fresh start.

Drew says he has nothing to hide. But it doesn’t take long for Poppy to see that this is a two-way deal. Drew is hiding something from her. And Poppy suddenly has no idea who the man she has married really is, what he is hiding from her or what he might be capable of.

Drew is lying. Which is more dangerous, a secret or a lie?

Review

Reading this made me want to go back and read Perfect Liars again. Reid really knows how to write a wicked plot.

The story is presented in flashbacks and the present. At first it appears to be the lives of two separate people, but as the tale unravels the truth becomes clearer. Poppy meets Drew in a bar in the middle of a crisis. She has just been fired and hasn’t got two cents to rub together to get home.  A few weeks later her she has gone from downstairs to upstairs. Is it all too good to be true?

The author, whether it be through research or personal experience, describes the relationship between au-pairs or nannies and their employers accurately. The upstairs, downstairs mentality of those who can afford to hire people to help raise their children. Some of them think nothing of paying a mere pittance for a 24/7 nanny who is also expected to cook, clean, shop and play waitress. It’s often those with wealth and reputations to uphold who are tighter than a nun’s knicker.

Then Reid takes the plot further by adding the element of suggestive situations in an environment where a third person is intruding upon the family dynamics. Ask yourself whether you would consider physical beauty a valid reason not to hire a nanny? Does that mean you are insecure or is it just a question of if temptation is dangled in front of someone’s face often enough then eventually temptation will probably win? Food for thought.

I’m going to be purposely vague about where the author takes her readers with this story. I loved it, but then I do have a thing for cracking plots with a twist of wicked and a slice of evil. I’ll have mine on the rocks please.

It’s a dark psychological thriller, a manipulative game of emotions and secrets.

Buy Truth Hurts at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Transworld Digital pub date 27 Aug. 2019. Buy at Amazon com.

Read my review of Perfect Liars by Rebecca Reid

#BlogTour The Perfect Betrayal by Lauren North

Happy Publication Day to The Perfect Betrayal by Lauren North, and it’s also my turn on the BlogTour today! It’s a psychological thriller, and in equal measures a story about grief and mental health.

Copyright Lindsay Wakelin Photography

About the Author

Lauren North writes psychological suspense novels that delve into the darker side of relationships and families. She has a lifelong passion for writing, reading, and all things books. Lauren’s love of psychological suspense has grown since childhood and her dark imagination of always wondering what’s the worst thing that could happen in every situation.

Lauren studied psychology before moving to London where she lived and worked for many years. She now lives with her family in the Suffolk countryside.

Follow @Lauren_C _North @TransworldBooks on Twitter, or Lauren on Facebook, on Goodreads,

Buy The Perfect Betrayal

About the book

After the sudden death of her husband, Tess is drowning in grief. All she has left is her son, Jamie, and she’ll do anything to protect him – but she’s struggling to cope.

When grief counsellor Shelley knocks on their door, everything changes. Shelley is understanding and kind, and promises she can help Tess through the hardest time of her life.

But when a string of unsettling events happens and questions arise over her husband’s death, Tess starts to suspect that Shelley may have an ulterior motive. Tess knows she must do everything she can to keep Jamie safe – but she’s at her most vulnerable, and that’s a dangerous place to be.

Review

I’m going to try and be careful not to give away anything that might reveal the plot in its entirety, because the emotional crescendo at the end and psychological aspect of the story is what makes it such a captivating read.

When Tess loses her husband unexpectedly her grief envelopes her whole world. She becomes fiercely protective of her young son Jamie, almost to the point of being paranoid and self-destructive. A grief counsellor called Shelley tries to help Tess deal with her loss, but ends up making her doubt herself and her surroundings even more.

The paranoia Tess experiences is magnified tenfold by her brother-in-law Ian. He is pushing Tess to deal with the financial aftermath of the death, pushing entirely in his favour of course. His greed and the fact there seem to be discrepancies and unanswered questions about the death of her spouse make Tess even more sensitive to the odd things that start happening around her.

The author captures the intensity of the grief process and how it manifests differently in each of us. In some people it manifests in feelings of anger, guilt, fear, perhaps even relief depending on the circumstances of the loss. Grief isn’t necessarily rational and can cause an altered state of mind.

I think the most difficult thing is that the people outside of that intense inner ring of grief often lack compassion, empathy and understanding about the way a grieving person may react. They expect the grieving person to deal with it, get over it and just move on to the next chapter of their lives. It isn’t that simple. Grief is a pit of embers that alights when triggered. Those embers may be less likely to precede a fire with time, but make no mistake they are always hidden somewhere deep inside.

It’s a psychological thriller, and in equal measures a story about grief and mental health. How the emotional turmoil caused by despair, death and losing the people you love the most can drive a person to the brink.

North brings the story full circle at the end, and in a way brings the most realistic element of this tale into the last few pages. Tess makes a decision for her own well-being, perhaps not what everyone thinks is best, but in that moment in time it’s the right thing for her or is it?

Buy The Perfect Betrayal at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Published in paperback format by Corgi Books on 27th June 2019. (also available in ebook and audio formats). Buy at Amazon com. Buy at Kobo. Buy at Waterstones. Buy at Book Depository. Buy at Hive.

#BlogTour The Perfect Betrayal by Lauren North

Today it’s an absolute pleasure to take part in the BlogTour The Perfect Betrayal by Lauren North. It’s a psychological thriller, and in equal measures a story about grief and mental health.

About the Author

Lauren North writes psychological suspense novels that delve into the darker side of relationships and families. She has a lifelong passion for writing, reading, and all things books. Lauren’s love of psychological suspense has grown since childhood and her dark imagination of always wondering what’s the worst thing that could happen in every situation.

Lauren studied psychology before moving to London where she lived and worked for many years. She now lives with her family in the Suffolk countryside.

Follow @Lauren_C _North @TransworldBooks on Twitter, or Lauren on Facebook,

Buy The Perfect Betrayal

About the book

‘I thought she was our friend. I thought she was trying to help us.’

After the sudden death of her husband, Tess is drowning in grief. All she has left is her son, Jamie, and she’ll do anything to protect him – but she’s struggling to cope. When grief counsellor Shelley knocks on their door, everything changes. Shelley is beautiful, confident and takes control when Tess can’t bear to face the outside world. She is the perfect friend to Tess and Jamie, but when Jamie’s behaviour starts to change, and Tess starts to forget things, she begins to suspect that Shelley might not be the answer to their problems after all.

When questions arise over her husband’s death and strange things start to happen, Tess begins to suspect that Shelley may have an ulterior motive. Tess knows she must do everything she can to keep Jamie safe – but who can she trust?

Review

I’m going to try and be careful not to give away anything that might reveal the plot in its entirety, because the emotional crescendo at the end and psychological aspect of the story is what makes it such a captivating read.

When Tess loses her husband unexpectedly her grief envelopes her whole world. She becomes fiercely protective of her young son Jamie, almost to the point of being paranoid and self-destructive. A grief counsellor called Shelley tries to help Tess deal with her loss, but ends up making her doubt herself and her surroundings even more.

The paranoia Tess experiences is magnified tenfold by her brother-in-law Ian. He is pushing Tess to deal with the financial aftermath of the death, pushing entirely in his favour of course. His greed and the fact there seem to be discrepancies and unanswered questions about the death of her spouse make Tess even more sensitive to the odd things that start happening around her.

The author captures the intensity of the grief process and how it manifests differently in each of us. In some people it manifests in feelings of anger, guilt, fear, perhaps even relief depending on the circumstances of the loss. Grief isn’t necessarily rational and can cause an altered state of mind.

I think the most difficult thing is that the people outside of that intense inner ring of grief often lack compassion, empathy and understanding about the way a grieving person may react. They expect the grieving person to deal with it, get over it and just move on to the next chapter of their lives. It isn’t that simple. Grief is a pit of embers that alights when triggered. Those embers may be less likely to precede a fire with time, but make no mistake they are always hidden somewhere deep inside.

It’s a psychological thriller, and in equal measures a story about grief and mental health. How the emotional turmoil caused by despair, death and losing the people you love the most can drive a person to the brink.

North brings the story full circle at the end, and in a way brings the most realistic element of this tale into the last few pages. Tess makes a decision for her own well-being, perhaps not what everyone thinks is best, but in that moment in time it’s the right thing for her or is it?

Buy The Perfect Betrayal at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Transworld Digital (14 Mar. 2019). Ebook pub date 14 March 2019, Paperback pub date 27 June 2019

#BlogTour The Secretary by Renee Knight

Today it really is a pleasure to take part in the BlogTour The Secretary by Renee Knight. It’s a contemporary story with the vibe of a psychological thriller. 

About the Author

Renée Knight worked as a documentary-maker for the BBC before turning to writing. She is a graduate of the Faber Academy ‘Writing a Novel’ course, and lives in London with her husband and two children. Her widely acclaimed debut novel, Disclaimer, was a Sunday Times No.1 bestseller. The Secretary is her second novel.

Buy The Secretary

About the book

Look around you. Who holds the most power in the room? Is it the one who speaks loudest, who looks the part, who has the most money, who commands the most respect?

Or perhaps it’s someone like Christine Butcher: a meek, overlooked figure, who silently bears witness as information is shared and secrets are whispered. Someone who quietly, perhaps even unwittingly, gathers together knowledge of the people she’s there to serve – the ones who don’t notice her, the ones who consider themselves to be important.

There’s a fine line between loyalty and betrayal. And when someone like Christine Butcher is pushed to her limit, she might just become the most dangerous person in the room . . .

Review

Even though the reader technically knows who the bad guy is, for me the lines are a little skewed. No matter what separates Christine and Mina, whether it is status, money or goals in life, they also have a lot of similarities. Neither of them recognises that fact in the other though.

Mina is used to being at the top of the food chain and expects everyone around her to act accordingly, especially those closest to her. She also expects Christine to put everything and everyone, including family members, way behind what Mina wants and needs. Of course this leads to Christine neglecting those closest to her.

Christine is meticulous when it comes to the finer details of her work. She is everything a PA is supposed to be; punctual, takes care of things before her employer thinks she needs it and loyal to a fault. She admires Mina, and in a way she perhaps wants to be her. 

This story pits two very different women against each other, and yet they are also two peas in a pod. Willing to sacrifice everything to excel at their own personal goals, whilst pretending to the world to be something they are not and never will be. It’s an ode to the insincerity in our society, the hunger for fame and the willingness of the public to lap it all up. 

Simultaneously it also speaks to the fragile nature of trust and loyalty, and the impact on relationships with an imbalance of power. They become a breeding ground for unhealthy obsessions and accusations.

I particularly enjoyed the ending. It was satisfying, It wasn’t what I expected, which is always a plus, but in general it just felt as if the author managed to bring the story full circle. It’s a contemporary story with the vibe of a psychological thriller. 

Buy The Secretary at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Doubleday; pub date 21 Feb. 2019, Buy at Amazon com

Follow @DoubledayUK @TransworldBooks

#BlogTour The Rumour by Lesley Kara

Today it is my turn on the BlogTour The Rumour by Lesley Kara. Kara gives the reader a run for their money with this exceptionally well-plotted read.

About the Author

Lesley Kara is an alumna of the Faber Academy ‘Writing a Novel’ course. She completed an English degree and PGCE at Greenwich University, having previously worked as a nurse and a secretary, and then became a lecturer and manager in Further Education. Lesley has relocated to a small town on the North Essex coast, where she is currently working on her second novel.

Follow @LesleyKara @TransworldBooks on Twitter, on Instagram on Facebook, Visit lesleykara.com

Buy The Rumour

About the book

One casual remark. One whispered confidence.

That’s all it takes to set the wheels in motion and change the course of a life.

Imagine innocently passing on a rumour you’ve heard, a snippet of information, a story someone told you one morning … You don’t realise that this particular rumour isn’t just idle gossip – it is something far more dangerous. And once it’s out there, there’s no getting it back. You’re about to regret the day you ever said a word…

This is what happens to Joanna, single mother, part time estate agent when she hears a rumour that a notorious child killer is living in a safe house in her home town. Sally McGowan was just ten years old when she stabbed little Robbie Harris to death 47 years ago. No photos of her exist since her release from prison as a young woman. Joanna passes this rumour on without realising the repercussions.

The Rumour shows how easily secrets and lies and whispers can poison a small community. Tongues wag in the street, at the school gates, in book clubs, at children’s birthday parties – and whilst some people realise it needs to be stopped, others are fanning the flames… everyone you meet sparks suspicion. This is not a ‘whodunnit’, more of a which of your neighbours is it?

Review

Joanna inadvertently becomes one of the first of a long domino wall when she repeats a rumour in an attempt to fit in with her peers and neighbours. She has no idea what ramifications her loose mouth will have, especially when it comes to her own safety and that of her child.

In a small village or town everyone knows everyone else’s business and rumours can take on a life of their own. When Joanne overhears someone mentioning the fact that the notorious Sally McGowan, a ten-year-old who killed a child nearly 50 years ago, may be living in their town, she doesn’t think twice about using the juicy gossip to ingratiate herself with her new acquaintances.

Looking at a horrific crime from the outside is easy, especially when it comes to making snap judgements and having an opinion. The media tends to gaslight and sensationalize in an attempt to get more readers. Everyone has an opinion and solution to the problem. A few months ago I moved from the outside looking in to being in the midst of one these situations, and now I see things a lot differently.

One of the points Kara is trying to make is that although in a small minority of cases a child who kills is also a psychopath, sociopath or too damaged by abuse or trauma to be helped, the majority can be rehabilitated.

What happens when the killers try to live a normal life after being released, when they are hunted by the media and overzealous vigilantes? Don’t they have the right to try and live their lives after fulfilling their debt to society via the prison system? Does it depend on the crime, the intent during the crime or the age of the victim?

The other side of the coin is the way the victim’s family feels about the crime. It isn’t unusual to want revenge and be filled with a longing for vengeance. The fact that their child can never grow up, have children or build a life is seen in direct comparison to the perpetrator who will one day walk the streets again, and able to do all the aforementioned. Even a life sentence doesn’t mean life. When a child kills they are kept in secure environments for under-aged criminals, and then usually released at the age of 21. A lot of families find it hard to accept that they are allowed to live and enjoy their lives, whilst their child is a memory.

I really enjoyed this book, perhaps more so because it shines a light on so many underlying issues surrounding children who kill, the way the media influences our society and the danger of Chinese whispers. By putting all of these together with a captivating plot and intriguing characters the author creates the right recipe for a perfect story. Everyone is nearly always the right fit when it comes to being the suspect, and Kara gives the reader a run for their money with this exceptionally well-plotted read.

Buy The Rumour on Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Buy The Rumour at Amazon Com

#BlogTour Perfect Liars by Rebecca Reid

This is week three of the BlogTour Perfect Liars by Rebecca Reid. I was due to post at the end of the second week, but couldn’t due to personal circumstances. So… I am just going to sneak my blog post into the third week instead.

About the Author

Rebecca is a freelance journalist. She is a columnist for the Telegraph Women’s section, works for Metro Online and has written for Marie Claire, the Guardian, the Saturday Telegraph, the Independent, Stylist, Glamour, the iPaper, the Guardian, Indy100, LOOK and the New Statesmen amongst others.

Rebecca is a regular contributor to Sky News and ITV’s This Morning as well as appearing on Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, LBC, BBC News 24 and the BBC World Service to discuss her work.

She graduated from Royal Holloway’s Creative Writing MA in 2015 and Perfect Liars is her debut novel. Rebecca Lives in North London with her husband.

Follow @RebeccaCNReid @TransworldBooks on Twitter

Buy Perfect Liars

About the book

Sixteen years ago, best friends Nancy, Georgia and Lila did something unspeakable whilst attending an exclusive British boarding school. Their crime forged an unbreakable bond between them, a bond a bond of silence. But now, one of them wants to talk.

One wrong word and everything could be ruined; their covetable lives, careers and relationships. It’s up to Georgia to call a crisis dinner. But things do not go as planned.

Three women walk in to the dinner, but only two will leave. Murder isn’t so difficult the second time around…

Review

Georgia, Lila and Nancy share memories, experiences at boarding school, friendship and they also share a very tragic secret. The kind of secret that changes and influences lives. The kind of secret that may make you question whether your friends stay in touch because they care about you or keep in touch to make sure their secret stays hidden.

The relationships between the three of them are driven by their upbringing, their new socio-economic statuses and their dominant personalities. Their interactions are often hesitant and only take place after plenty of thought and self-doubt, which makes the reader wonder why they meet up at all. The answer – to make sure each one of them keeps stumm about what they did when they were young girls.

Reid has a knack of presenting the kind of plot you need to follow as a reader just so you can find out where she is taking the story, and believe you me, it isn’t where you expect it to go. Not only does she make it a necessity when it comes to finding out their secret, but also how the three of them are going to keep sitting on said secret.

I especially enjoyed the fact the author didn’t feel the need to tie all the ends together and present the perfect package or solution at the end. Crime is dirty, impulsive and muddied by emotions, and so is this plot.

It’s gripping, intense and ruthless. Possibly because it is based on a situation that could happen to anyone. Making a self-serving and selfish decision to protect yourself might be cruel and thoughtless, but it doesn’t necessarily make you a sociopath. Even accidental killers will try and save themselves., right?

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