BLOG TOUR - Mystery at Mistletoe Place

DESCRIPTION:

Mistletoe, mulled wine… and murder? When a party turns fatal, Eve Mallow is on the case! 

Arthur’s Boatyard is a jewel in the crown of Saxford St Peter, a famous firm that’s been fixing barges and boats for a hundred years. But their centenary celebration shows it’s not all plain sailing… The owner, Anthony Mottram, seems to be at daggers drawn with half the village. So when he turns up dead in his own workshop, Eve Mallow knows she needs to chart her path carefully if she’s to find his killer.

Accompanied by her stalwart sidekick, dachshund Gus, Eve sets out on decidedly choppy waters. Why did Anthony’s sister send him to the boatyard the night he died? Where has his ex-girlfriend vanished to? And what is his best friend and business partner hiding?

With her only clues a scarf, a scrap of paper and the smell of perfume, Eve must navigate an ocean of suspects who all have reasons to lie. But when the new owner of the boatyard is murdered, she knows she’s sailing close to the wind. Despite all the mince pies and the carol singing, someone is feeling far from festive. Can Eve make it through the storm and land her suspect, or will she be left dead in the water?

A completely charming and gripping English cozy mystery, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Emylia Hall and J.R. Ellis.

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Title:   Mystery at Hideaway House

Author:  Clare Chase

Series:  An Eve Mallow Mystery Book #15

Publisher:  Bookouture 

Genre:   Cozy Mystery 

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:  338

Date of Publication: December 1, 2025

My Rating:  5 Stars 

MY THOUGHTS:

Murder at Mistletoe Place is another thrilling installment in Clare Chase’s captivating series, which never fails to deliver. Arthur’s Yard will soon be celebrating its centennial celebration. The festivities are barely underway when the owner of the boatyard is soon found murdered. The event proves stressful to Eve Mallow, journalist, obituary writer and an excellent amateur detective, as it doesn’t take long for her follow her intuition that the victim was a result of murder. 

When it comes to writing obituaries, Eve liked to learn full histories of her subjects. As she begins digging deep into Arthur’s life, there are some things that just don’t add up. On the surface, Arthur seemed well-liked. But things just weren’t ringing true, as a gnarled web of secrets begin to unfold. This makes getting solid information about Arthur near to impossible for Eve. 

Obituary aside, Eve makes it her aim to find out who is hiding what, and of course, who killed Arthur. With her characteristic flair, Clare Chase puts Eve in the driver’s seat, guiding her through a complex web of clues and revelations. Before long, pieces of a very complicated puzzle begin to fall into place. Eve may be missing her husband Robin as he is away, but her best friend Viv and her adorable dachshund Gus are right there by her side. 

Can Eve solve Arthur’s murder, write a comprehensive obituary, and still find time to get ready for the holidays? We hope so, as Eve, Robin, and their friends deserve a relaxing holiday. In the meantime, readers eagerly anticipate the sixteenth book in the series.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Clare Chase writes classic mysteries. Her aim is to take readers away from it all via some armchair sleuthing in atmospheric locations.

Her debut novel was shortlisted for Novelicious’s Undiscovered Award, as well as an EPIC award post-publication, and was chosen as a Debut of the Month by LoveReading. Murder on the Marshes (Tara Thorpe 1) was shortlisted for an International Thriller Writers award.

Like her heroines, Clare is fascinated by people and what makes them tick. Before becoming a full-time writer, she worked in settings as diverse as Littlehey Prison and the University of Cambridge, in her home city. She’s lived everywhere from the house of a lord to a slug-infested flat and finds the mid-terrace she currently occupies a good happy medium.

As well as writing, Clare loves family time, art and architecture, cooking, and of course, reading other people’s books.

You can find Clare's website and blog at www.clarechase.com

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BLOG TOUR - Murder at the Scottish Ball

DESCRIPTION:

Holly wreaths, eggnog by a roaring fire and… A body by the Christmas tree? Opal Laplume is on the case!

December 1934. Spending the holidays in a Scottish castle has made Opal Laplume’s festive wishes come true. Sir Blair’s Christmas Eve ball is legendary, and Opal dons her finest gown for an exquisite night of bubbles, baubles, and tartan kilts. But the festivities come to a screeching halt when their gracious host is electrocuted by some faulty Christmas lights.

The mood soon turns from festive to frosty when Opal discovers that what seemed like a tragic accident was in fact a deadly sabotage. Everyone has something to hide. Sir Blair’s marriage was crumbling like a piece of Scottish shortbread. Did his wife take ‘til death do us part’ too far? The butler was promised a large sum from Sir Blair’s will. Did he want an early Christmas bonus? And who is the ghostly figure playing bagpipes in the tower at night?

Just as the killer proves as difficult to find as the Loch Ness Monster, one of the guests is found smothered in their bedroom. Opal soon discovers Sir Blair was hiding a deadly secret on a small island off the rugged Scottish coast. Can she find the key to the mystery there, before the entire party perishes? Or will this Christmas be her last? 

An addictive and twisty Golden Age murder mystery set in the Scottish Highlands. Fans of Agatha Christie. T.E. Kinsey and Verity Bright won’t be able to put this down!

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Title:  Murder at the Scottish Ball 

Author:  Millicent Binks 

Series:   An Opal Laplume Mystery Book 3

Publisher:  Bookouture 

Genre:  Cozy Mystery 

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:  269

Date of Publication:   November 28, 2025

My Rating:   5 Stars

MY THOUGHTS:

Opal Laplume is very much looking forward to her family’s Christmas travel plans. They’ll be spending the holidays at an elegant Scottish castle and attending the much-anticipated Scottish Ball. Opal couldn’t be more excited. What promises to be a warm, festive gathering quickly turns chilling, however, when their host, Sir Seamus Blair, is found dead—electrocuted by the castle’s Christmas lights.

At first, everyone assumes it was a tragic accident caused by faulty wiring. But as the layers of the story unfold, it becomes clear that something far more sinister is at play. Opal, who has a knack for solving mysteries—though not without putting herself in danger—can’t resist the urge to investigate. Despite her family’s concerns and her own haunting memories from a previous case, she’s determined to uncover the truth behind Sir Seamus‘s death. But will her curiosity once again put her life at risk?

I loved the eerie, atmospheric feel of this story. Millicent Binks masterfully blends cozy mystery charm with a touch of Gothic suspense. The Scottish castle setting—with its snow-covered hills, flickering candlelight, and shadowy corridors—creates the perfect backdrop for a holiday murder. As the author describes, it’s an “airy Gothic atmosphere”—moody yet elegant, dark yet full of seasonal sparkle.

Opal, a delightful heroine, is clever, determined, and wonderfully relatable. Her inner strength shines through even as danger looms. The brisk pacing, cleverly planted clues, and satisfying yet surprising resolution make this a perfect read for mystery lovers who relish a touch of the macabre wrapped in holiday warmth. It’s a festive whodunit that keeps you guessing until the very end.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Millicent Binks is a writer, former costume designer and burlesque performer. Her work includes a column for  The Evening Standard  and a cover story for  The Sunday Times Magazine that was optioned for TV by NBCUniversal. Her first book series, featuring English milliner and amateur sleuth Opal Laplume, is set in Paris, Hollywood and Scotland. She enjoys writing in libraries and cafes all over London with her laptop or occasionally writes while lounging at home on the settee with her two cats Tarquin and Madame de Pompadot.

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AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - Unmarried

Title:  Unmarried

Author:  Emily Shiner

Publisher:  Bookouture

Genre:   Psychological Thriller 

Series:   Perfect Couples #2

Format:  Audiobook ALC 

Length:  8 hrs 26 mins

Narrator:  Ashley Rose Kaplan

No. of Pages:  330

Date of Publication:  November 19, 2025

My Rating:   4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

He killed his first wife. But I married him to protect my own secrets…

I never expected to find my happily ever after with Dr Mitch Ellis. I wore a lace dress with an extravagant train to our wedding at the biggest church in town. Mitch wanted to be sure everything was flawless. Now I can see I’ve made a grave mistake. Mitch wants me to be his quiet, perfect little wife, just like his last one. He doesn’t know who he is dealing with this time.

He thinks I haven’t noticed her jewellery still tucked away in our room. And that the details on her death certificate don’t add up. He believes I’m happily under his thumb, sunning myself all day by his pool where his staff can keep an eye on me.

Mitch should pay for what he did to the woman before me, and I won’t let him get away with it this time…

Unmarried is a totally gripping psychological thriller packed with twists, perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, The Perfect Marriage and Gone Girl .

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you'll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo

MY THOUGHTS:

Aimee is preparing to marry Mitch, but she’s bringing far more to this union than a simple “I do.” Behind her poised exterior lies a plan—one that promises happiness for her, but for deeply sinister reasons. This isn’t a marriage built on love or trust; it’s a union forged by a contract and bound by a dark, buried secret. Mitch may walk into the relationship with high hopes, but he quickly discovers he hasn’t married a sweet, compliant wife. Aimee has plenty of surprises in store, and none of them are good.

To fully appreciate the tension and twisted dynamics at play, I strongly recommend reading Uninvited by Emily Shiner first. It sets the stage beautifully and provides the context that makes Unmarried even more gripping.

Ashley Rose Kaplan delivers an outstanding narration, adding intensity and atmosphere to every chapter. This psychological thriller never lets thanks to tight pacing, with sharp twists. It just might keep you on tenterhooks right through the final page.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Emily Shiner always dreamed of becoming an author. After spending years devouring stacks of thrillers, she decided to try her hand at writing them herself. Now she gets to live out her dream of writing novels and sharing her stories with people around the world. She lives in the Appalachian Mountains and loves hiking with her husband, daughter, and their two dogs.

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AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - Vanishing Hour

Title:  Vanishing Hour

Author:  Laura Griffin

Publisher:  Berkley

Genre:   Romantic Suspense

Format:  Audio ALC and Kindle ARC

Narrator:  Julia Atwood

Length:  9 hrs 17 mins

No. of Pages:   322

Date of Publication:   October 25, 2022

My Rating:   5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

When a cold case in Texas leads to a sinister string of disappearances, a newcomer to the small town helps a detective piece together the clues in this new romantic thriller from New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin.

Corporate lawyer Ava Burch has had enough of the big city and the daily grind. She grew up with her father, who raised search-and-rescue dogs, in rural Texas and has moved to the small town of Cuervo to spend time in the dry, rugged wilderness near Big Bend National Park. When she and her dog, Huck, discover an abandoned campsite on a volunteer search-and-rescue mission, she's perplexed, but she carefully photographs it all the same.

All Grant Wycoff can see when he looks at Ava is a city slicker--with her designer jeans and shiny car--who has no business on a serious team made of seasoned outdoorsmen and retired cops. But when she tells him of her findings on the trail, he sees there's more to her than meets the eye.

Ava's discovery reminds Grant of the unsolved case of a young woman who went missing two years ago. As they look into the campsite further, another woman disappears under odd circumstances. With time running out, Ava and Grant must work against the brutal heat from both the Texas sun and their own electric chemistry to solve the case.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

Ava Burch’s life may have been spiraling, but her bold decision to walk away from her corporate law career leads her somewhere unexpected—and far more dangerous. Hoping to reinvent herself as a nature photographer, she’s out capturing the Texas wilderness when she finds evidence of a gruesome crime. Soon her path crosses with Deputy Sheriff Grant Wycoff. Grant is ready to dive into what just might be a troubling case, and he’s stunned to discover that someone has already taken dozens of detailed photographs of his crime scene—someone who definitely isn’t on his team.

His initial irritation with Ava quickly fades once he realizes she’s far more than an overcurious bystander. Not only does her camera capture crucial clues others have missed, but her instincts and persistence open new angles on both the active investigation and a lingering cold case. Ava also brings along Hank, a Search and Rescue dog inherited from her estranged father, and together they become indispensable to Grant’s work. As more than one woman goes missing, Ava and Grant find themselves in a race against time, each discovery raising the stakes.

As a romantic suspense, Vanishing Hour delivers on both fronts. The slow-burn chemistry between Ava and Grant blends naturally with the escalating tension of the investigation. And Julia Atwood’s excellent narration adds depth and atmosphere, making the story even more immersive. With its excellent pacing, this gripping book will definitely keep the reader invested from the first chapter to the last.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Laura Griffin is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty books and novellas. She is a two-time RITA Award winner, as well as the recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award. Laura got her start in journalism before venturing into the world of suspense fiction. Her books have been translated into fourteen languages. Laura lives in Austin, Texas, where she is working on her next novel.

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AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - Good, Bad Girl

Title:   Good, Bad Girl

Author:  Alice Feeney

Publisher:  Flatiron Books/Macmillan Audio

Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers

Format:  Audio ALC

Narrator:  Katherine Press; 

  Stephanie Racine

Length:  9 hrs 21 mins

No. of Pages:  400

Date of Publication:  August 29, 2023

Rating:   5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Sometimes bad things happen to good people, so good people have to do bad things.

Our Queen of Twists, bestselling author of Daisy Darker and Rock Paper Scissors Alice Feeney, returns with another thrilling mystery filled with drama and her trademark surprises.

Twenty years after a baby is stolen from a stroller, a woman is murdered in a care home. The two crimes are somehow linked, and a good bad girl may be the key to discovering the truth.

Edith may have been tricked into a nursing home, but at eighty-years-young, she’s planning her escape. Patience works there, cleaning messes and bonding with Edith, a kindred spirit. But Patience is lying to Edith about almost everything.

Edith’s own daughter, Clio, won’t speak to her. And someone new is about to knock on Clio’s door…and their intentions aren’t good.

With every reason to distrust each other, the women must solve a mystery with three suspects, two murders, and one victim. If they do, they might just find out what happened to the baby who disappeared, the mother who lost her, and the connections that bind them.

In the style of Daisy Darker and Rock Paper Scissors, Good Bad Girl is a thriller in which nobody can be trusted and the twists come fast and furious.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

“People say there’s nothing like a mother’s love. Take that away, you’ll find there’s nothing like a daughter’s hate.”

“I wish my daughter would disappear.”

“When you lose a child, you see them everywhere forever.”

Alice Feeney delivers yet another spellbinding psychological thriller with Good Bad Girl, a story packed with complicated and dysfunctional women, tangled motives, and more than a few deliciously disorienting twists.

At the center of the novel is Frankie, a woman who has learned to survive the life she was born into by sheer determination. She calls herself a “good bad girl”. A woman doing the best she can despite the circumstances and the internal battles she fights daily. Her OCD shapes almost every decision she makes, creating a constant push and pull between what she wants and what her mind will allow.

Then there’s Clio, whose strained relationship with her mother, Edith, adds an emotional layer that simmers throughout the book. Edith resents being placed in a nursing home, a decision she blames entirely on Clio. But once there, she forms an unexpected bond with a staff member named Patience, yet another character whose role unfolds with increasing intrigue.

As I am definitely an Alice Feeney fan, I love how she delivers each and every one of her books. This book is a perfect example of what we can expect from her. The beauty of Feeney’s storytelling lies in how she makes us question everyone. Frankie, Clio, Patience. Are any of them truly reliable? The shifting truths and subtle misdirections keep you guessing from start to finish.

Feeney has earned her reputation as the “Queen of Twists,” and Good, Bad Girl is a prime example of why. The title itself is an oxymoron, and that contradiction sets the tone for a novel filled with a high level of suspense and as well as being full of twists.

Smartly written and impossible to predict, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves psychological suspense served with heart, depth, and Feeney’s signature flair for surprise. The bonus for me was the dual narration given to the voice of each of the characters.

Many thanks to Flatiron Books/Macmillan Audio and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Alice Feeney is a New York Times million-copy bestselling author. Her books have been translated into over thirty-five languages, and have been optioned for major screen adaptations. Including His & Hers which is being made into major TV series by Netflix. 

Alice was a BBC journalist for fifteen years, and now lives in Devon with her family. 

Beautiful Ugly is her seventh novel.

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