BLOG TOUR - Murder at Sea

DESCRIPTION:

A glorious ocean liner setting sail, sunset on the horizon, and champagne on deck. All seems shipshape… until Kitty discovers a body on board. Time for some sleuthing! 

Devon, 1938. Kitty Underhay is enjoying a well-deserved rest when her very upset cousin Hattie suddenly bursts in. She sobs that the gentleman she had been seeing, Richard Westonholme, seems to have vanished, taking all of her jewellery with him. As Hattie describes Richard, he sounds eerily familiar, and Kitty and her husband Matt board a ship in hot pursuit – only to find him lying in a lifeboat… dead.

As they’ve set sail, the murderer has to be on board too, but there are suspects as far as the eye can see. Could Richard’s wife have something to do with the murder? What about the rich heiress and her guardian? And is the steward hiding something fishy?

Kitty and Matt are all too aware that the clock is ticking while the suspects are trapped with no escape. Can they net the killer before the ship docks? Or will one of them be dead in the water before they reach dry land? 

Fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey or Verity Bright will adore this totally charming murder mystery. The perfect treat for cozy crime fans!

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Title:   Murder at Sea

Author:  Helena Dixon

Series:  Miss Underhay #23
Publisher:  Bookouture 

Genre:   Cozy Mystery

Format:  Kindle ARC 

No. of Pages:  280

Date of Publication:  February 23, 2026

My Rating:  5 Stars 

MY THOUGHTS:

Kitty Underhay is looking forward to her friend Alice’s wedding coming up fairly soon. However, when her cousin Hattie bursts in with upsetting news, Kitty and her husband Matt take action. Kitty and Matt had looked forward to meeting the man Hattie was seeing during the holidays, but he begged off as he said he was feeling unwell. It was much more than that sadly. He has disappeared, but not without absconding with Hattie’s money and her jewelry.

Naturally, Kitty and Matt spring into action. As Matt begins making inquiries, it quickly becomes clear that this scoundrel is wanted for far more serious offenses than defrauding Hattie. When they discover he is about to sail across the ocean, they make a bold decision to board the ship themselves, determined to confront him and see justice served.

But before Matt can even question the man, he is found dead in a lifeboat.

With a murderer clearly aboard and the ship bound for its destination, Kitty and Matt—now well established as private investigators—must unravel the mystery before the vessel docks. The confined setting heightens the tension, and the stakes feel deliciously high as the couple races to uncover the truth.

I have been thoroughly enjoying this series, and this installment is no exception. Kitty and Matt are a delightful pair whose partnership—both personal and professional—continues to charm. Their teamwork feels natural and engaging, and the maritime setting adds an extra layer of intrigue. I’m already looking forward to seeing what adventure awaits them next.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Helena Dixon is the author of the internationally bestselling Miss Underhay cozy mystery series. She is a Black Country girl living in Devon. Married to the same man for over thirty-five years she has three daughters, a cactus called Spike, and a crazy cockapoo. She was the winner of the RNA Romance Prize in 2007 and the RNA Love Story of the Year 2010.

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COVER REVEAL - Love Blooms at the Cornish Cottage

Love Blooms at the Cornish Cottage

by Kim Nash

The BRAND NEW instalment in the gorgeously uplifting, romantic Sandpiper Shores series, perfect for fans of Veronica Henry, Trisha Ashley and Cathy Bramley. ✨ 

Every book in the Sandpiper Shores series can be read as a STANDALONE

💔 How do you mend a broken heart? 💔

Michelle finally thought she’d found love with her hot Greek doctor. But when Demetri reveals he’s returning home to care for his sick mother, Michelle’s dream future crumbles. Choosing not to follow him feels like losing more than just love - it feels like losing who she’d started to become.

Determined not to fall apart, Michelle decides to throw herself into rebuilding her life in Sandpiper Shore, but then unexpectedly, Demetri’s brother, Makkis, arrives on her doorstep. Offering him a room seems like the kind thing to do… but the constant reminder of her lost love is difficult for her heartbroken soul.

And the more time she spends with Makkis, the clearer it becomes: there are parts of Demetri she never knew… Just as Michelle starts to heal with a little help from her friends, she’s faced with a decision: fight for the love she knows she deserves, or finally learn how to let go…

A heartwarming and hopeful story about second chances, rediscovering yourself, and finding love that feels like home. Perfect for fans Jessica Redland and Jo Bartlett.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kim Nash is an author of uplifting, funny, heartwarming, feel-good, romantic fiction.

She lives in Staffordshire with son Ollie and Englis Setter Roni, is Head of Publicity for Bookouture and is a book blogger at www.kimthebookworm.co.uk

.

Kim won the Romantic Novelists Association's Media Star of the Year in 2016, which she still can't quite believe. She is now quite delighted to be a member of the RNA.

When she's not working or writing, Kim can be found walking her dog, reading, standing on the sidelines of a football pitch cheering on Ollie and binge watching box sets on the TV. She's also quite partial to a spa day and a gin and tonic (not at the same time!) Kim also runs a book club in Cannock, Staffs.

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases. Your e-mail will not be shared with anyone else and you will only contacted about Kim's books.

Amazing Grace was her debut novel with Hera Books and came out in April 2019. Escape to Giddywell Grange is Kim's second novel and was published in September 2019. Sunshine and Second Chances is Kim's third novel and will be published on June 4th 2020.

You can read Kim's Blog here: www.kimthebookworm.co.uk

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Review - The Last Days of Kira Mullan

Title:  The Last Days of Kira Mullan

Author:  Nicci French

Series:   Maud O’Connor Mysteries

Publisher:  William Morrow Paperbacks

Genre:   Psychological Thriller 

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   464

Date of Publication:  March 4, 2025

My Rating:   5 Stars

*First published April, 2024

DESCRIPTION:

From international bestselling master of suspense Nicci French comes a chilling new psychological thriller about a woman determined to get justice for a murder no one else believes happened.

Nancy North is ready to put her life back together. After suffering a psychotic break that ruined friendships, stalled her fledgling restaurant, and forced her to move out of her comfortable flat, she’ll do anything to get back to normal. She and her partner Felix—who has been a saint through her recent troubles—move into a new flat for a fresh start.

Nancy is taking her pills, seeing her therapist, and avoiding unnecessary stress. She’s doing absolutely everything right, but something is still very, very wrong. On the first day in the new flat, she hears them again; the mysterious voices that triggered her first episode. It could just be the unfamiliar sounds of water in the pipes, or the screaming baby across the hall, but deep down she knows something more sinister is going on. Her fears are confirmed when the young woman in the downstairs flat, Kira, is found dead. Felix, her neighbors, and even the police insist it’s a tragic suicide, but the pieces aren’t adding up for Nancy. Can she trust her own instincts, or is it all in her head?

Meanwhile, Detective Inspector Maud O’Connor has misgivings about her colleagues’ investigation of Kira’s death. The boys club at the top seems intent on closing the case as quickly as possible, especially since the only person who thinks it could be anything other than suicide is known to be unreliable. But Maud knows what it’s like to be dismissed as an overemotional woman and isn’t so quick to discount Nancy’s claims. As tensions reach an explosive breaking point, the line between fact and delusion becomes dangerously blurred, but Maud will stop at nothing to ensure that the truth comes to light.

Link to shop this series

MY THOUGHTS:

The Last Days of Kira Mullan is a tense and emotionally charged installment in the Maud O’Connor Mysteries series that explores truth, justice, and the devastating impact of not being believed.

Nancy is a woman who has battled serious mental health challenges and has previously been hospitalized. After working hard to rebuild her life, she is shaken when her neighbor, Kira Mullan, is found dead in what is quickly ruled a suicide. Nancy is convinced - almost to the point of obsession - that Kira was murdered. What makes her determination so heartbreaking is the way those around her dismiss her outright. Friends, acquaintances, even those on the fringes of her life, weaponize her mental health history against her. The gaslighting she endures is painful to witness and adds a deeply human layer to the mystery.

Detective Inspector Maud O’Connor has decided to review Kira’s death. Though the original investigation closed the case as a suicide, Maud cannot ignore Nancy’s insistence that something is wrong. Where others see an unreliable witness, Maud sees a woman desperate to be heard. I found myself hoping for more scenes between Maud and Nancy, wanting that bridge of trust to grow stronger. Maud’s willingness to listen played into her questioning what others have accepted. This sets her apart. Nancy wants justice for Kira. Maud wants the truth. That shared determination drives the story forward with steady tension.

What stood out most to me was the author’s sensitive handling of mental illness. Rather than portraying Nancy as unstable or delusional, the story challenges assumptions about credibility and reminds readers how easily vulnerable people can be dismissed. Maud’s faith in Nancy becomes a quiet but powerful statement: past struggles do not erase present truth.

I very much enjoyed the first book in the series, Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter?, and this follow-up only deepened my appreciation for these characters and the thoughtful, layered mysteries they inhabit. I am more than ready to continue with book three, What Happened That Night?

Many thanks to William Morrow Paperbacks and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nicci Gerrard was born in June 1958 in Worcestershire. After graduating with a first class honours degree in English Literature from Oxford University, she began her first job, working with emotionally disturbed children in Sheffield. In that same year she married journalist Colin Hughes.

In the early eighties she taught English Literature in Sheffield, London and Los Angeles, but moved into publishing in 1985 with the launch of Women's Review, a magazine for women on art, literature and female issues.

In 1987 Nicci had a son, Edgar, followed by a daughter, Anna, in 1988, but a year later her marriage to Colin Hughes broke down.

In 1989 she became acting literary editor at the New Statesman, before moving to the Observer, where she was deputy literary editor for five years, and then a feature writer and executive editor.

It was while she was at the New Statesman that she met Sean French.

Sean French was born in May 1959 in Bristol, to a British father and Swedish mother. He too studied English Literature at Oxford University at the same time as Nicci, also graduating with a first class degree, but their paths didn't cross until 1990. In 1981 he won Vogue magazine's Writing Talent Contest, and from 1981 to 1986 he was their theatre critic. During that time he also worked at the Sunday Times as deputy literary editor and television critic, and was the film critic for Marie Claire and deputy editor of New Society.

Sean and Nicci were married in Hackney in October 1990. Their daughters, Hadley and Molly, were born in 1991 and 1993.

By the mid-nineties Sean had had two novels published, The Imaginary Monkey and The Dreamer of Dreams, as well as numerous non-fiction books, including biographies of Jane Fonda and Brigitte Bardot.

In 1995 Nicci and Sean began work on their first joint novel and adopted the pseudonym of Nicci French. The Memory Game was published to great acclaim in 1997 followed by The Safe House (1998), Killing Me Softly (1999), Beneath the Skin (2000), The Red Room (2001), Land of the Living (2002), Secret Smile (2003), Catch Me When I Fall (2005), Losing You (2006) and Until It's Over (2008). Their latest novel together is What To Do When Someone Dies (2009).

Nicci and Sean also continue to write separately. Nicci still works as a journalist for the Observer, covering high-profile trials including those of Fred and Rose West, and Ian Huntley and Maxine Carr. Novels include Things We Knew Were True (2003), Solace (2005) and The Moment You Were Gone (2007). Sean's last novel is Start From Here (2004).

BLOG TOUR - A Country Manor Murder

DESCRIPTION:

The sweeping lawns and old stone walls of Coates House make it the perfect backdrop for a baking competition. But Sarah Vane must put her scones aside to figure out who would kill for it…

Sarah Vane’s making the most of her retirement, entering the annual baking competition at the stately Coates House. Normally it runs like clockwork under the eagle eye of Madeleine Brett-Coates. But when Sarah stumbles across the body of the lady of the manor, a string of bunting wrapped tightly around her neck, the event is plunged into chaos.

Mrs Brett-Coates’s children appear heartbroken but soon Sarah learns that the kind old woman ruled her roost with an iron rod. And as well as whispers of a secret fling, Sarah discovers that someone’s name was hastily crossed out of her will just days before her death…

Everybody at the manor, even the staff, had a motive and all of them have secrets they’d kill to keep. But when one of the Brett-Coates heirs vanishes, and a threatening note is sent to the others, Sarah suddenly sees a much bigger plot unfolding. Can Sarah track down the killer before another victim is claimed?

A delightfully cozy and utterly unputdownable murder mystery, perfect for fans of Faith Martin, J.R. Ellis and Clare Chase who are looking for their next addictive read.

BUY LINK:

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Title:   A Country Manor Murder

Author:  Alice Castle

Series:  Sarah Vane Mysteries Book 5

Publisher:  Bookouture

Genre:   Cozy Mystery 

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:  295

Date of Publication:  February 18, 2026

My Rating:   4 Stars 

MY THOUGHTS:

In the delightful fifth book of the Sarah Vane Mysteries series, Sarah eagerly anticipates participating in a baking competition. However, her excitement is short-lived when she discovers the body of the manor’s lady of the manor, Madeleine Brett-Coates, at the Coates House where the competition is being held. Clearly, this is a murder case that Sarah must investigate.

Initially, it appears that the victim’s heirs are devastated, but Sarah soon uncovers a web of conflicts and secrets within the household. She is determined to uncover the truth and determine if one of the victim’s heirs is responsible for her death.

Despite being retired, Sarah finds joy in this new chapter of her life. Baking competitions are enjoyable, but she has discovered a hidden talent: she’s a brilliant armchair detective. Having achieved success in solving crimes in the past, Sarah sets high standards for herself and delivers another satisfying mystery.

I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the Sarah Vane Mysteries series. I admire the strength and resilience of women of a certain age who prove that life doesn’t have to end. I eagerly anticipate the next installment in this captivating series. 

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion. 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Before turning to crime, Alice Castle was a UK newspaper journalist for The Daily Express, The Times and The Daily Telegraph. Alice is an avid reader of crime fiction, her favourite stories are cozy crimes with a strong sense of place. When she couldn’t find a series about her beloved south London, she decided to write her own – and single mum amateur sleuth Beth Haldane was born. Alice also writes twisty psychological thrillers for HQ Digital under the name A.M. Castle.  The Perfect Widow was a top selling audiobook in 2019 and  The Invitation hit the top 50 on Amazon UK in 2021. Alice lives with her two children and two cats and, if she isn’t writing or reading a whodunit, she’ll be watching one on telly.

Author Social Media Links
Website:https://alicecastleauthor.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/alice.castle.355
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/AliceMCastle

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

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Review - Worse Than a Lie

Title:  Worse Than a Lie

Author:  Ben Crump

Series:   Beau Lee Cooper #1

Publisher:  Ballantine

Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers 

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   368

Date of Publication:   February 17, 2026

My Rating:   5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

In this gripping thriller, truth and justice are called into question when a Black man is gunned down in cold blood—the first novel in a riveting series from renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump.

“A sensationally good crime and legal thriller . . . This is exactly what a book should be.”—Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of the Reacher series

It’s the night of November 4, 2008. America’s first Black president has just been elected. And fifty-three-year-old Hollis Montrose—a Black ex–police officer from the suburbs of Chicago—has become the latest victim of a brutal attack. As the result of a traffic stop gone wrong, Hollis is shot ten times in cold blood, by four white men who could have been his colleagues back in his police days.

Beau Lee Cooper was born serious, as if on an urgent mission with little time to waste. Raised in the tumultuous world of 1970s Texas, he always dreamed of becoming a lawyer and fighting for what’s right, ever since he was a little boy reading To Kill a Mockingbird. And now, ten years into running his own law firm with his best friend and partner in crime, Nelson “Nellie” Rivers, and his suave right-hand-man, Brent “Cape” Capers, he feels he’s finally making a difference. When Beau Lee learns about Hollis’s situation, he’s determined to help.

Miraculously, Hollis survives the encounter, but the Chicago police department has already spun the narrative in its favor, and Hollis is given a wrongful prison sentence with an unreasonable bail. What really happened that night the car was pulled over? Was it random or was Hollis targeted? Beau Lee knows he’s treading in dangerous waters, and finding evidence of the truth will be his biggest challenge yet, but with troubling powers at play, one innocent man’s life hangs in the balance.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

From a young age, Beau Lee Cooper was known as the “serious child.” After reading To Kill a Mockingbird dozens of times, he knew with certainty that he wanted to become a lawyer. Inspired by the moral courage he found in those pages, Beau Lee grows into a man determined to stand for justice. It is now 2008. Barack Obama is in office, symbolizing hope and change for many. And yet, systemic racism remains pervasive that is very much alive and well.

After briefly meeting the adult Beau Lee, we are introduced to Hollis Montrose, a hardworking police officer who has worn his badge honorably for twenty-five years. One night, while driving home and passing the residence of a younger officer he works with, Hollis is pulled over. What follows is tragic and infuriating and an all-too-common case of racial profiling. Hollis is violently thrown to the ground. Officers, along with backup who quickly arrive, refuse to hear his pleas that he is one of them. That they have the wrong man. His badge means nothing. His years of service mean nothing. In that moment, only the color of his skin matters.

The injustice is heartbreaking. I was in tears for Hollis. Even after surviving a brutal shooting he is miraculously clinging to life. Sadly, that is not the only battle Hollis will be experience. Several officers close ranks, twisting the narrative to protect themselves. They manipulate reports and align their stories so that Hollis, the victim, appears unquestionably guilty. The betrayal cuts deep. The corruption feels suffocating.

Beau Lee, aware of the system’s treatment of his own, is reluctantly tasked with handling this fabricated case. Beau Lee and his small team confront an entrenched system determined to safeguard its interests. Despite the mounting evidence of dishonesty among some law enforcement officers, Beau Lee accepts the challenge and files a multi-million-dollar lawsuit. As the legal battle unfolds, the blatant dishonesty becomes increasingly apparent. And quite frankly, it is disgusting. While we, as readers, are privy to Hollis’s innocence and the truth, proving it in a court of law remains a formidable task. The burden of dismantling the lies rests squarely on Beau Lee’s shoulders.

Because Ben Crump is himself a celebrated civil rights attorney, Worse Than a Lie carries undeniable weight. The authenticity in the legal maneuvering and the emotional gravity of the case make the story feel urgent and real. This novel delivers a powerful message about systemic racism and its devastating impact on Black and Brown communities. It does not shy away from discomfort, as well it shouldn’t. .

I love that this is the first book in a series because I am eager to follow Beau Lee as he continues to fight the battles that matter. The cases that make me feel. Make me think. Make me cringe. Make me feel seen. Make me feel vindicated. That is exactly what this book does.

Many thanks to Ballantine and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Through a steadfast dedication to justice and service, renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has established himself as one of the nation’s foremost lawyers and advocates for social justice. He has worked on some of the most high-profile cases in the U.S., representing the families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and Stephon Clark, among others. He has been nationally recognized as the 2014 NNPA Newsmaker of the Year, the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Lawyers, and Ebony Magazine Power 100 Most Influential African Americans. In 2016, he was designated as an Honorary Fellow by the University of Pennsylvania College of Law. He is the founder and principal owner of Ben Crump Law.

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AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - Her Last Breath

Title:  Her Last Breath

Author:  Taylor Adams

Publisher:  HarperAudio

Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers

Format:  Audio ALC and Kindle ARC

Narrator:  Sophie Amoss

Length:  10 hrs 8 mins

No. of Pages:   336

Date of Publication:   February 17, 2026

My Rating:   5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

From the critically acclaimed author of No Exit and The Last Word comes a story of two friends who embark on an ill-fated caving expedition—and the dark truth of what happens deep underground.

After years of excuses, Tess has finally agreed to go caving with her best friend Allie. Their lives have diverged sharply since high school—Allie is a self-made travel influencer, while Tess is a shy (and claustrophobic) legal assistant struggling to pay for law school. Maybe she’s a little jealous of Allie's globe-trotting life. Who wouldn’t be?

As Tess and Allie descend into the depths, they realize they’re not alone. A stranger who claims to be a fellow caver harasses them. Confident, take-no-shit Allie insults the guy—and he retaliates. Soon, Tess is trapped inside a narrow crawl space hundreds of feet underground, fighting to stay alive.

Twenty-four hours later, as a hospitalized Tess recounts her harrowing story of survival, the detective interviewing her shares new and shocking secrets about Allie's true past. Together, they begin to suspect the brutal attack wasn’t so random after all.

Who was Allie, really? Why did this man target them? And did Tess really leave the danger behind when she escaped the cave?

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

Tess and Allie have been best friends for years. Allie has a passion for caving, and has been all but begging Tess to go caving with her. Allie is determined to introduce Tess to her favorite hobby. Finally agreeing to go, the two embark on an adventure that turns into a horrifying ordeal. With meticulous preparation and the right supplies, they set off into the depths of the cave. However, tragedy strikes when they encounter another person in the cave, setting the stage for a fight for survival.

Tess faces the fight of her life, battling against all odds. Despite the odds stacked against her, she manages to survive and is hospitalized. While recovering, she recounts her harrowing experience to the older detective handling the case. Alongside Tess’s story, another chilling narrative emerges, laced with an undercurrent of envy.

Taylor Adams masterfully crafts a claustrophobic nightmare that grips the reader from the very first page. I was captivated by Tess’s journey underground, finding myself both surprised and shocked by the unexpected and shocking ending.

Many thanks to HarperAudio and to NetGalley for this free ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Taylor Adams is the author of several acclaimed thrillers including No Exit and Hairpin Bridge. No Exit has been published in 32 languages and was recently released by 20th Century Studios as a Hulu Original Film. Adams lives in Washington State.

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